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Three giant pandas born in Belgium return to China

Xinhua) 08:49, December 11, 2024

This photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows panda-shaped cupcakes at Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Despite the chilly December weather, nearly a thousand visitors gathered at the zoo to bid farewell to the beloved pandas. Giant panda parents Xing Hui and Hao Hao will remain in Pairi Daiza until 2029.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei, three giant pandas born at Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium, embarked on their journey back to China on Tuesday, marking an important milestone in the panda conservation program between the two countries.

Tian Bao, born in 2016, along with his younger siblings, twins Bao Di and Bao Mei, born in 2019, will join the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Bifengxia, Sichuan Province. There, they will participate in conservation and breeding projects.

People bid farewell to pandas at Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Despite the chilly December weather, nearly a thousand visitors gathered at the zoo to bid farewell to the beloved pandas. Calm but inquisitive, the trio sat in specially designed enclosures prepared for their trip.

At a farewell ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Fei Shengchao said: "Giant pandas are not only adorable and rare animals that bring joy to people, but also serve as a bridge that connects people's emotions and promotes cultural exchange. They symbolize the shared commitment of China and Belgium to protecting nature and living in harmony with it."

Since they arrived in Belgium in 2014, the parents of the three pandas, Hao Hao and Xing Hui, have captivated millions of visitors while raising awareness about the protection of giant pandas.

People bid farewell to pandas at Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Eric Domb, founder of Pairi Daiza zoo, expressed both pride and sadness at the giant pandas' departure. "We will continue to care for giant pandas with all our love, just as we always have. We will keep striving to help them produce more cubs in the near future," he said, emphasizing the zoo's dedication to panda conservation.

The giant pandas began their quarantine period on Nov. 11 to ensure they were ready for this journey. Although their return was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are now ready to contribute to conservation efforts at the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base, where they will continue to grow and thrive.

A vehicle transporting giant pandas Bao Di and Bao Mei leaves Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Xing Hui and Hao Hao will remain in Pairi Daiza until 2029, continuing their role as ambassadors for China-Belgium relations and fostering cultural exchange and environmental awareness.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
People enjoy First Friday at the Blue Star Arts Complex on March 3, 2023. The Southtown complex announced in December that its famously free parking lot will be paid starting in the new year. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer Business owners and patrons have complained that they can't find parking at Blue Star Arts Complex on the weekends. Courtesy /Blue Star Contemporary Art Museu The owner of San Angel Folk Gallery at Blue Star said non-shoppers parking in the lot has been a problem for years. BOB OWEN, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Blue Star Arts Complex, home of the "last free parking lot in town," will start charging visitors to park next year.

The Southtown complex will begin charging customers to park in January 2025, according to a spokesperson for Lifshutz Companies, a local developer that owns Blue Star Arts Complex.

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"Yep, the last free parking lot in town is going away! But don't despair  rates will be affordable and validations will be available in many cases!" a flyer announcing the change reads. "Sorry, but we are trying to ensure that there are always spaces for Blue Star customers!"

The new parking process will be facilitated by LAZ Parking, which offers a text-to-pay system for parking spaces, according to the Lifshutz spokesperson. The developer is conducting a parking study and will release more information once the study wraps up.

"Our goal is to ensure that Blue Stars customers always have a parking spot and that the transition is seamless!" the spokesperson said.

Richard Lee, owner of San Angel Folk Gallery at Blue Star, said Wednesday that people parking in the lot who aren't shopping at the complex has been an issue "for years."

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"What happens on the weekends is people quit trying to come," he said.

FL!GHT Gallery, another Blue Star business, agrees that customer parking is a problem for the dozens of small businesses operating at the complex. Gallery owner Justin Parr voiced support for the paid parking policy in response to the flyer, which was posted in a local Facebook group.

"There will be validations for customers and rates will be affordable," Parr wrote. "Its going to help us have parking available for our customers."

Local residents were also among those complaining under the Facebook post that parking spots at Blue Star are frequently taken by people running or biking on the trail along the river.

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However, others weren't as thrilled about the upcoming change.
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A-25-year-old housewife, Bosede Oguntade, has been allegedly killed one Mr. Dotun Ogunlade, who claimed to be a pastor in Igboora, in Ibarapa geo-political zone of Oyo State.

We gathered that Bosede, who hailed from Ilorin in Kwara State was lured to Igboora in Oyo State with a view to finding a solution to her economic and marital problems by the pastor who is also known as Arole Jesu.

The Oyo State police command accused Dotun Ogunlade of strangling Bosede Oguntade in Igbo-ora, in Ibarapa local government area of Oyo State. He had invited her over from Ilorin in Kwara State.

The suspect narrated to journalists, while he was paraded on Thursday at the state police headquarters in Ibadan, how he met and killed the woman.

I and the woman had been chatting on Facebook since January this year. I later invited her to Igbo-ora. Meanwhile, Mutiu, a friend had already told me about his challenges in life. He told me he was ready for money rituals. So, I decided to use the woman for money for him. When the woman later arrived from Ilorin, I went to pick her to Igbo-Ora from Iseyin. On her arrival at my house, on 31st of May, this year, I gave her sleeping drugs after she complained about pains in her body. She slept off and I cut off her head and arms. Her head was later burnt to ashes for money rituals.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Shina Olukolu, who led a team of police officers to the location where the victim was buried, said Mr Okunlade removed the head and arms of the victim before burying the remains.

Mr Olukolu told journalists after visiting the location on Thursday that the suspect injected the woman with an overdose of sleeping drugs and subsequently strangled her.

He said the suspect took the head and arms away for rituals before burying the remains in a shallow grave at Ogboja Area of Igbo-Ora.

Further investigation revealed that parts of her body were allegedly crushed into powdered for rituals to become powerful and rich. Two knives used to kill and cut her body parts, a white cloth bag containing substance inside a gourd where the alleged powdered parts were kept and a bottle of Stallion Schnapps were also recovered.

The police chief advised members of the public against trusting strangers, especially those they met on social media and those who claim to possess supernatural power.
The recent threat by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to demolish over 8, 000 telecommunications masts belonging to some telecommunications providers across the country, has again shown the double -speak on protection of critical infrastructure.

The country refractory and sore-footed approach to the protection of critical infrastructure particularly ICT resources is worrying.

The government claims that telecom infrastructure are critical national and security assets; but its agencies see ICT infrastructure as fat cow which everybody must milk.

Only recently, NCAA flexed its muscles drawing from powers under the Civil Aviation Act, 2006, which said that without the approval certificate, all masts and towers constitute danger to safety of air navigation.

Under the Civil Aviation Act, 2006, Section 30(3)(1), the NCAA is empowered to prohibit and regulate the installation of any structure which by virtue of its height or position is considered to endanger the safety of air navigation.

Furthermore, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) Part 12.1.7.1.3.1 stipulates that no person or organisation shall put up a structure (permanent or temporary) within the navigable airspace of Nigeria unless such a person or organisation is a holder of AHC Certificate granted under this Regulation

This is in addition to other sister agencies which claim one regulation or another over telecom infrastructure or operations. Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is also there.

But either out of ignorance or by refusal to do the right thing or both; governments at all levels have paid insignificant attention to the protection of critical infrastructure.

It is disturbing because critical infrastructure is the backbone of Nigerias economy, security, and health. In simple terms, it provides the essential services that underpin Nigerian society.

In the absence of strategic guidance to public and private partners to promote the security and resilience of the nations critical infrastructure; there have been growing targeted attacks on these infrastructures particularly on ICT equipment, infrastructure and their workers.

Vandalism of ICT infrastructure is a clear and present danger hampering the provision of quality services to Nigerians as well as causing headaches for operators and the government.

Such disruptions not only disconnect subscribers, but also cause embarrassment to businesses and national security.

It also has ripple effect on the economy, including; reduced investment, job losses and reduced taxable income.

It is therefore important to raise awareness on the critical nature of the infrastructure and begin to change Nigerians mind-sets.

The aim is to make Nigerians see ICT infrastructure as a national resource which must be protected just like railway and electricity infrastructure.

Government should also beef up security around telecommunication infrastructure nationwide to prevent vandals from destroying critical economic infrastructure.
According to Sun News, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), confirmed on Friday, that the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has been directed to investigate the allegation of r*pe against the Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA).

It said that two weeks had been given to the investigative panel to make its findings, listen to the aggrieved parties and submit its report.

CAN President, Dr. Samson Olasupo, told journalists at a press conference in Abuja, that although the church is uncomfortable with the allegation of immortality against the pastor or anyone else, it wont take a stand until the outcome of the investigation.

He said: A lot has been said about the allegation against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo. But it remains allegation until investigation is concluded by people assigned to do so. CAN will never allow itself to be involved in miscarriage of justice.

We have directed PFN to investigate the matter thoroughly. The reason is that CAN doesnt deal with individual churches. We have blocs through which we reach our members.

Howbeit, I can confirm to you that PFN has set up the panel to investigate the matter. Report of the panel is expected in two weeks. The two concerned individuals have also been invited by the panel and I hope justice will be served to all.

CAN cannot allow the name of the church to be dragged through the mud neither will it support immorality in any way. Immorality is alien to the church and its culture. Theres never a pulpit where God dwells that members are taught immorality.

Nevertheless, we would neither condemn nor commend until there is reason for that. We would also allow the investigation to be concluded and a report submitted. Until then, we wont take a stand on the matter. CAN is too big to commit such an error.

On the state of the nation, the Vice President of CAN, Dr. Caleb Ahima, said CAN has not taken a position on the recent letter by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, in which he raised concerns about the level of insecurity in the country.

However, he said the level of insecurity in Nigeria has gone beyond expectation, suggesting that urgent attention ought to be taken by relevant agencies to solve the problem.
Some overseas graduates have been returning to the country to undergo the National Youth Service Corps, despite being above 30, The PUNCH has learnt.

Two of the corps members, who are in their 60s and based in the United States, Louis Ebodaghe and Olusegun Abebe, passed out with the 2019 Batches A and B respectively.

It was learnt that they both served in Abuja, where they were involved in some community development service projects, including the donation of 25 stethoscopes to the Gwarimpa General Hospital.

Abebe, 60, who obtained his first degree in International Affairs from the University of Wisconsin in 1983, told our correspondent that his age was a huge advantage during the service year.

He said, I started with Batch B 2018. I served in Abuja. My experience was nice and sad at the same time, knowing what the corps members experienced. Personally, I dont like the way they are being treated. Generally, it was a nice experience; getting together and getting to know new people from different states and socio-economic backgrounds.

Although I participated in the scheme at a time when I could be a father to most of the corps members, my age was a huge advantage to me. Nobody molested me; I was well respected. When I returned to the country, there was no exemption for me because I got my degree before the age of 30 years. So I was told I had to serve.

Exemption will only arise if I graduated overseas after the age of 30. In the FCT, there was just one other corps member, Mr Ebodaghe (Loius), who is about my age. He was in Batch A. My intention was just to serve my fatherland. I had heard a lot about the NYSC and I wanted to participate in it. It was not for any political reason at all.

Our correspondent learnt that the other sexagenarian, Ebodaghe, had his first degree in Microbiology and Medical Technology in North Dakota University and graduated in 1983. However, efforts to speak with him were not successful as of the time of filing this report.

According to the NYSC Act, CAP N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, Nigerians who graduated overseas have to go through the national service, no matter their present age, if they graduated before 30.

The NYSC Act expects elderly Nigerians, like Abebe and Ebodaghe, to present themselves for the national service or risk a one-year jail term as stipulated in the act.
He stated that though the military has defeated Boko Haram, its currently facing the challenge of terrorism, and that would remain in Nigeria for years.

He said: We have defeated insurgency, but facing the challenge of terrorism.

There is no where you will not find Boko Haram  even in Lagos here, there are Boko Haram. In Kaduna, there are Boko Haram. There are more across the North-east. Many have been arrested here in Lagos. We have been tracking them. We arrest them and take them into custody.
SHELBYVILLE  Shelby County Coroner Brad Phegleys cause of death was drowning, it was revealed Monday.

Shelby County Sheriff Brian McReynolds, speaking with Lee Enterprises, listed drowning as the preliminary cause after an autopsy in Bloomington Saturday. But he said that did not rule out some sort of preceding medical event.

That is a possibility, but we dont know at this time, said McReynolds.

I think they are waiting on other blood tests that might show enzymes and proteins in the blood that could answer that question," he added. "But at this time we dont know if (some kind of medical emergency before the drowning) is possible.

McReynolds said Phegley had no obvious history of illness outside some of the health problems that a 67-year-old might have, but nothing serious.

The coroner had been found at 2:49 p.m. Friday floating in Lake Mattoon, where duck decoys were set up, and there was a hunting blind onshore.

McReynolds said Phegley, who was pronounced dead on the scene, had been discovered by a hunting partner who had gone to work earlier that day, and only came out to check on his friend later.

Asked if the Phegley might have been there for some time before he was discovered, the sheriff replied, Yes, that is correct.

He added, On Friday morning the temperature was in the teens. There was a skim of ice on the water which was probably around 33 to 34 degrees; so that would have caused somebody to struggle very quickly once they went into it.

Phegley was a keen hunter and his body was near the floating bird decoys, where McReynolds said the water was not particularly deep.

Really, where the decoys were at, you are able to stand up in the water, but we dont know if Mr. Phegley slipped, or if he had been going out beyond where the decoys were to possibly retrieve a duck and then slipped.

With no witnesses there, we really dont know exactly what he was doing or what happened to him at that moment.

The sheriff said its always good hunting practice, whether on water or hunting on the land from a deer stand, to have a buddy along with you and in sight of you.

Just in case something should happen to you or there is some kind of emergency, he added.

Phegley's service to county praised

In a statement issued Monday, Shelby County Board Chair Tad Mayhall, R-Shelbyville, praised Phegley for his 12 years of service as both coroner and deputy coroner.

His service to the county and his compassion to the families of Shelby County are a huge part of his legacy as a public servant and man of compassion, Mayhall said.

I have communicated with members of Mr. Phegleys family to share with them my condolences as well as offer my support to them and any needs they may have. Mr. Phegley was deeply loved by his family and I have vowed that the Shelby County Board will promote and secure his commitment to service as part of his legacy.

That will involve finding someone to take the coroners place, and Mayhall said he is working with the sheriff, Shelby County States Attorney Ruth Woolery, Shelby County Clerk Jessica Fox, and County Board Vice Chair Teresa Boehm, D-Shelbyville, to accomplish that.

Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed is helping to provide coroner services in the meantime, and Mayhall said Reed was also advising the board as it worked to navigate our path forward.

Visitation, funeral planned this week

Phegley was a native of Shelbyville, having been born there April 10, 1957, and graduating from Shelbyville High School in 1975, according to his obituary. He went on to attend Lake Land College and to serve in the U.S. Army, and he worked for Illinois State Police for 28 years.

He was elected Shelby County coroner in 2020, and had been deputy coroner for eight years before that.

He was active in Windsor Christian Church, Altamont Masonic Lodge No. 533 and the Shelbyville Horseshoe Club, and he enjoyed fishing trips to Ontario and the Great Lakes, his obituary said.

Visitation will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Lockart-Green Funeral Home in Shelbyville.

A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at Lockart-Green. A motorcade of ISP officers will then escort Phegley to Glenwood Cemetery, where he will be buried with military honors by the Shelby County Honor Guard.
Cinch Wireline Services President Frank Thomas Tom Shumate Jr. must pay $22,127 in sanctions, a bankruptcy judge ruled this week. Shumate is shown arriving at the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building and Courthouse for a court hearing in May. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The bankruptcy trustee administering Cinch Wineline Services LLCs Chapter 7 case alleges in a lawsuit that the companys books and records were burned on orders from its certified public accountant. A photo of the alleged burn pit was included with the lawsuit. court documents

A bankruptcy judge has declined to assess more than $8 million in sanctions against Frank Thomas Tom Shumate Jr., president of a San Antonio-area oil field services company whose bankruptcy led to accusations that business records were burned.

Shumate still has to pay up, though.

Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta ordered him to pay $22,127 in sanctions within two weeks. If he fails to do so, the judge indicated he will issue a bench warrant for Shumates arrest or impose a $1,000-a-day fine.

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He also must turn over any cash or money orders received by Marion-based Cinch Wireline Services LLC to a bankruptcy trustee.

Attorneys for John Patrick Pat Lowe, the trustee administering Cinch Wirelines Chapter 7 case, had sought $8.2 million to penalize Shumate for bankruptcy crimes they said he had committed. They also sought reimbursement of $260,000 in attorney fees.

Shumate and Cinch Wireline gained notoriety earlier this year when Lowe alleged in a lawsuit that its books and records were burned and buried after an accountant was served with a subpoena to turn them over.

Gargotta previously found that, at a minimum, Shumate and/or Timothy Gaines Pollard, a Cinch Wireline executive vice president, were complicit in the burning of (Debtors) documents.

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In May, the judge had issued an interim order granting Lowes motion for sanctions against Shumate for the intentional violation of a temporary restraining order and an order compelling production of business records.

But Gargotta postponed a request for monetary sanctions until evidence was presented. He conducted subsequent hearings in July and September.

Butch Boyd, a Houston lawyer representing Lowe, asked for the $8.2 million in sanctions at the September hearing.

We think monetary sanctions are warranted against Mr. Shumate given all of the criminal activity, the fraud, the lying, the stealing, all the bad acts, Boyd told the judge. He couldnt be reached Wednesday for comment.

At the September hearing, Pollard testified about a June 10 contract for the sale of land owned by Cinch Wireline  a date after the entry of the temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction prohibiting liquidation of property, the judge noted in his ruling. The trustee alleged Shumate directed Pollard to sign the contract.

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Austin lawyer Jameson Watts, who represents Shumate, argued that monetary sanctions were not appropriate to either compensate an aggrieved party or to obtain future compliance with the courts orders.

Much of the conduct alleged by Lowe goes to the merits of his lawsuit, which should be addressed at trial rather than at a sanctions hearing, Watts said. He couldnt be reached for comment.

In his ruling, Gargotta said the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a court must exercise its power to sanction with great restraint and caution. 

Gargotta found that from the filing of (Cinch Wirelines bankruptcy) petition, Shumate lied to the Court.

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Shumate claimed that he was unaware of the Courts TRO, but evidence shows he directed (attorney Paul) OFinan to block, or at least, substantially limit Trustees first inspection of Debtors Corpus Christi property, the judge said in his ruling.

The trustee proved by clear and convincing evidence that Shumates conduct violated several court orders, rendering Shumate in contempt of Court, Gargotta added. The judge declined to address any of Shumates conduct before the TRO and other protective orders.

At this stage of Lowes lawsuit against Shumate and other parties, Gargotta said it would be premature for the court to make any finding that Shumate, through two of his companies, stole property belonging to Cinch Wireline to operate a wireline business after bankruptcy. That issue must be addressed during a trial, the judge added.

As part of the sanctions, Shumate must name Lowe a signatory on all of Cinch Wirelines bank accounts.

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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:

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam by Maxar Technologies (2022). Credit: Maxar Technologies

One of the biggest conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Africa is brewing over natural resources. In this casethe water from the Nile River and how upstream damming affects the countries Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt, and their share of water and hydropower.

A new article in Communications Earth & Environment provides a scientific framework for operating the Nile's "mega" dams during prolonged droughts to balance generating sustainable hydropower while minimizing the water deficit for people living downstream.

The research, co-authored by Essam Heggy, co-principal investigator at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering Center for Arid and Water Research Exploration (AWARE) within the USC Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, evaluates the efficiency of multiple drought-mitigation policies related to the operations of the Nile's mega-dams.

Most of the Nile River flows originate from the highlands in Ethiopia and flow northward to the lowlands in Egypt and to the Mediterranean. The rising dispute is over what control the dam operators should have over the flowing water during prolonged periods of drought. While Egypt relies on the Nile for water, Ethiopia relies on its newly completed mega-dam, named Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), for hydroelectric power.

Corresponding author Essam Heggy explains the source of tension as follows, "Nile upstream hydropower dams will bring electricity to 60% of the population of Ethiopia while 98 % of Egypt's annual renewable water resources come from the same river; the upstream is in a dire need for energy and downstream is in a dire need for water."

He adds, "Over a decade of negotiation, no cooperative operation framework has been reached due to the lack of a metric assessment of the mega-dam operations on both the up and downstream interests during prolonged drought (multi-years of drought). These droughts are expected to worsen, causing severe consequences to the river riparian."

The challenge, says Heggy, is to determine how to operate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during prolonged drought and to accurately predict what the gains and losses are, both up and downstream of the Nile's Dams.

The new paper reframes the notion of prolonged drought and tries to come up with what the authors believe is an ideal operation policy allowing GERD to generate sustainable energy. The framework suggests allowing for ~87% of GERD's optimal hydropower without a dam-induced downstream water deficit for Egypt in the midst of hydro-climatic extremes.

The authors hope to increase the resilience for prolonged droughts to the more than 300 million inhabitants of the Eastern Nile Basin who live under highly uncertain climatic projections.

Heggy and colleagues from Catholic University of Louvain, Northern Michigan University, NARSS and National Research Centre in Egypt, utilized an up-to-date hydraulic model to assess the efficiency of several suggested policies that address the uncertainty around the impacts of upstream dams during prolonged drought. They also looked at 100-year-long historical data and simulated several operations policies to generate sustainable hydropower and minimizing downstream water stress.

Their simulated policies get at the heart of the issue: determining mitigations by better defining prolonged drought condition in the Eastern Nile Basin with one metric: the critical level of the Aswan High Dam. Heggy references other journals to show the competing definitions of drought held by countries in the region.

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.

A new approach to reduce conflict

The Nile in Egypt is fed by two branches: The Blue Nile from the Ethiopian Highlands accounting for more than 80% of the river's flow, and the White Nile from Lake Victoria accounting for the rest.

Heggy and colleagues suggest the following: Instead of only looking to the current flow of the Blue Nile as an indicator of prolonged drought, policymakers should rely on the level of the Aswan High Dam as the indicator of this extreme hydro-climatic condition, coming up with a figure of Aswan High Dam being at 165 meters (~78 billion cubic meters) as the figure at which drought should be declared and the mitigation measures should be activated.

The authors' belief is that this approach can resolve disagreement on what constitutes "dry years" and "flow volume." It also incorporates water budget contributions from the White and Blue Nile flows. In addition, the study's authors outlined what they believe is an optimized policy in which the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia can still generate sustainable energy of more than 87% of its optimal hydropower without triggering a dam-induced downstream water deficit in Egypt.

Mohamed Ramah, a Ph.D. graduate researcher at Catholic University of Louvain, stated, "Only the metric assessment of both demands of upstream hydropower and downstream water budget can resolve the conflict, not only calling for increasing upstream hydropower dams while undermining downstream water deficit as advocated by scientific interest groups."

Heggy says, "Sharing the Nile's water and hydropower resources under increasingly uncertain climatic forecasts is a wake-up call for policymakers to fight this uncertainty together with open science and bring water and climate research to the level where they can achieve peace and prosperity."

More information: Essam Heggy et al, Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam can generate sustainable hydropower while minimizing downstream water deficit during prolonged droughts, Communications Earth & Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01821-w Journal information: Communications Earth & 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:

ACCESS-NRI/The ACCESS ESM1.5 model. Credit: ACCESS-NRI

Just as astronomers use powerful telescopes to peer into the vast expanse of the universe, climate scientists use sophisticated climate models to gaze into the future and look back into the distant past, simulating the complex interactions that shape our planet's climate.

An Earth system model (ESM) is a type of climate model that combines components of the Earth's system: the atmosphere, oceans, land, ice, and biogeochemical cycles, to simulate interactions and feedback processes that influence global and regional climates.

Developed by CSIRO, the ACCESS Earth System Model 1.5 (ACCESS-EM1.5) has been heavily used by the research community in many areas, both globally and in Australia, as a tool for understanding and projecting climate change with a unique Australian focus.

Now, Australia's climate simulator (ACCESS-NRI) has improved this essential climate research infrastructure.

"The model now uses the ACCESS-NRI software pipeline and best practices including continuous integration, deployment and testing to ensure reliable results and make it easy for researchers to use," says Dr. Aidan Heerdegen, team leader of the ACCESS-NRI Model Release team.

"The build pipeline creates a unique fingerprint that identifies all the code and software used, providing essential provenance information, and so that it can be reliably built again," says Dr. Heerdegen.

CSIRO's climate scientist Dr. Tilo Ziehn, lead developer of the ESM1.5 model, points out that "the latest release of ESM1.5, as well as the training and technical support provided by the ACCESS-NRI has been a big game changer for the climate research community.

"It has allowed researchers to run the model themselves, and now we have a common approach on how to set up the model with different configurations. The infrastructure and the support that comes from the ACCESS-NRI enable everything that we do, including the development of the next version of the model, ESM1.6."

ESM1.5 has an impressive user record ranging from researchers using it to understand climate variability and drivers, future emission pathways, consequences of meeting or failing to meet Paris agreement targets and changes in natural carbon sinks to the role of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and El Nino Southern oscillation (ENSO), as well as to educate the next generation of climate scientists.

"ESM1.5 is crucial for Australian researchers as it gives us the ability to focus on the regions that are of interest to us and to address the kind of research and policy questions that are important to us. We know that ACCESS-ESM1.5 performs very strongly over the Southern Ocean and for the terrestrial carbon cycle, compared to other models. The model is also unique in that it includes phosphorus limitation, which could be an important limiting factor for plant growth and carbon uptake in nutrient-poor areas like the Australian continent," says Dr. Ziehn.

ESM1.5 has also been used by the paleoclimate community to understand the climate of the Earth from thousands to millions of years ago. Paleoclimates provide a unique perspective on climate change by allowing researchers to test and improve climate models, ensuring they can accurately simulate past climate conditions and project future scenarios. The ACCESS-NRI team has included some new features in this release that makes their work easier, faster and more precise.

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.

"We designed preset model configurations for the paleoclimate community because they run the model for thousands of years, producing an incredible amount of data. It can take approximately two months to run 1,000 years of simulations continuously. These presets allow the researcher to more easily choose which data they want to keep or discard, accelerating the process of setting up an experiment," says ACCESS-NRI research software engineer Spencer Wong, who developed this new feature.

"This release also includes a way to change the degree of the tilt of the Earth's axis, also called orbital parameters. We have added a 'time dial' into the model, so researchers can match the right value of the orbital tilt at different past climates," he says.

Dr. David Hutchinson, a paleoclimate researcher from the University of New South Wales and user of the models, says, "We know the tilt of the Earth plays a critical role in shaping the planet's climate as it affects the distribution of solar radiation between the equator and the poles. It has been a key driver of the ice-ages in the last one to 2 million years.

"Previously, it was quite difficult for us to modify this variable in the model's code. This new feature of the model enables us to change the orbital parameters ourselves, which has been on the wish-list of the paleoclimate community for a long time," he says.

ESM1.5 has also been used to contribute to many multi-model studies and in international collaborations like the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP). "I have used ESM1.5 as one of 16 models around the world, to compare its performance and outputs to other climate models," says Dr. Nicola Maher, a researcher from the ARC Center of Excellence for Weather of the 21st Century. "I think it is extremely important to have an Australian model, so we can further improve the focus on the region and answer the questions that are important for us," she says.

The importance of ESM1.5 in helping us navigate the challenges posed by a changing climate in Australia and in our region can't be overstated. Maintaining and improving this essential software infrastructure and enabling it to evolve according to researchers' needs is critical to better understand and predict climate change.

Provided by ACCESS-NRI
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

British children's lives are being devastated by the UK's unprecedented use of citizenship stripping, says new research from Lancaster University.

The former UK government's failure, says the study, to repatriate children means they are stuck in dire camp conditions in North-East Syria during pivotal formative years.

The research article "British children associated with ISIS in camps in North-East Syria: Counter-terrorism, security and children's rights concerns in repatriation decision-making" is just published in the Ethnic and Racial Studies journal.

The article is authored by Dr. Madeline-Sophie Abbas, a Senior Lecturer in Racism and Anti-racism in the Department of Sociology.

While some unaccompanied or orphaned children have been repatriated, says the article, children who are with their mothers are particularly at risk and raise concerns of human rights violations and right to family.

"Unprecedented use of citizenship deprivation powers has been devastating for children where their parents have lost their British citizenship and enforces separation of children from their parents, even forcing parents to make the decision to agree to being separated from their children to ensure they are safe," explains Dr. Abbas.

The research article draws from interviews with key NGOs working on statelessness and children's rights to explore whether ISIS-associated children should be treated as victims or security threats.

It also examines the impact that the UK government's failure to repatriate British children has for children's rights and what a children's rights approach would mean for affected families and the international community.

The article calls for 'a children's right approach to repatriation decision-making' to ensure British children's safe return and right to family.

Accounts suggest that a different policy response is required that treats children foremost as victims within contexts of armed conflict in keeping with international human rights law, including those who traveled to ISIS-governed areas when children and who are now adults.

The UK lags behind international allies concerning repatriation efforts, says the article.

London-based Rights and Security International, interviewed in this research, launched its Global Repatriation Tracker in 2022 documenting estimated numbers of repatriated children, women, and men since 2019 to aid transparency and pressure states, including the UK, to act.

At the time of writing this article, approximately 38 countries had repatriated some or most of their nationals compared to the UK which had only repatriated 18 children (mostly orphaned or unaccompanied) and three women since 2019.

An estimated 2025 British women or families were detained within North-East Syrian camps not withstanding those denied citizenship appealing decisions within UK courts.

The article uses several powerful case studies to highlight the situation, including the heartbreak of British children seeing children from other countries they have been living closely with for years being repatriated while they are forced to remain.

"Prioritizing children's rights makes the question of agency moot within contexts of humanitarian crises in order to protect British children," says Dr. Abbas.

"This means reinstating citizenship where deprived and for the UK government to take responsibility for its citizens. British children must be able to return with caregivers to prevent further trauma of family separation."

More information: Madeline-Sophie Abbas, British children associated with ISIS in camps in North-East Syria: counter-terrorism, security and children's rights concerns in repatriation decision-making, Ethnic and Racial Studies (2024). DOI: 10.1080/01419870.2024.2431163 Journal information: Ethnic and Racial Studies
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Mapping an altermagnetic vortex pair in MnTe. The six colors, with arrows overlayed, show the direction of the altermagnetic ordering within the material. The size of the region shown is 1m2. Credit: Oliver Amin, University of Nottingham

A new class of magnetism called altermagnetism has been imaged for the first time in a new study. The findings could lead to the development of new magnetic memory devices with the potential to increase operation speeds of up to a thousand times.

Altermagnetism is a distinct form of magnetic order where the tiny constituent magnetic building blocks align antiparallel to their neighbors but the structure hosting each one is rotated compared to its neighbors.

Scientists from the University of Nottingham's School of Physics and Astronomy have shown that this new third class of magnetism exists and can be controlled in microscopic devices. The findings have been published in Nature.

Professor Peter Wadley, who led the research, explains, "Altermagnets consist of magnetic moments that point antiparallel to their neighbors. However, each part of the crystal hosting these tiny moments is rotated with respect to its neighbors. This is like antiferromagnetism with a twist. But this subtle difference has huge ramifications."

Magnetic materials are used in the majority of long term computer memory and the latest generation of microelectronic devices. This is not only a massive and vital industry, but also a significant source of global carbon emissions. Replacing the key components with altermagnetic materials would lead to huge increases in speed and efficiency while having the potential to massively reduce our dependency on rare and toxic heavy elements needed for conventional ferromagnetic technology.

Altermagnets combine the favorable properties of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets into a single material. They have the potential to lead to a thousand-fold increase in the speed of microelectronic components and digital memory while being more robust and more energy efficient.

Senior Research Fellow, Oliver Amin led the experiment and is co-author on the study. He said, "Our experimental work has provided a bridge between theoretical concepts and real-life realization, which hopefully illuminates a path to developing altermagnetic materials for practical applications."

The new experimental study was carried out at the MAX IV international facility in Sweden. The facility, which looks like a giant metal doughnut, is an electron accelerator, called a synchrotron, that produces X-rays.

X-rays are shone onto the magnetic material and the electrons given off from the surface are detected using a special microscope. This allows an image to be produced of the magnetism in the material with resolution of small features down to the nanoscale.

Ph.D. student, Alfred Dal Din, has been exploring altermagnets for the last two years. This is yet another breakthrough that he has seen during his project. He comments, "To be among the first to see the effect and properties of this promising new class of magnetic materials during my Ph.D. has been an immensely rewarding and challenging privilege."

More information: Oliver Amin, Nanoscale imaging and control of altermagnetism in MnTe, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08234-x. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08234-x Journal information: Nature
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Credit: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

When she passed her Ph.D. viva, literature researcher Ally Louks posted a picture of herself and her thesis on X (formerly Twitter) in November 2024. The photo shared her thesis title: "Olfactory Ethics: The politics of smell in modern and contemporary prose." The post garnered over 11,000 responses, some deeply negative. Louks received rape and death threats.

Academics in UK universities are increasingly encouraged to share their research with the public. This could be on social media, in media appearances, or by writing for non-academic outlets such as The Conversation.

This work can be extremely valuable and can come with social and professional rewards. The institutions that offer funding for research often ask for a plan for "impact" as part of the applications academics must submit. Having a public profile can have career benefits within a university: it may be considered when researchers seek promotion, for instance.

Beyond the university, this work has the potential to make a positive impact on society, and to make academic research available to a much wider audience than might encounter it otherwise.

However, our research with UK academics who conduct public engagement work shows that this public access to academic expertise is under threat. For some researchers, fear of an abusive backlash now renders the cost of entry into public debate too high.

The extent of abuse

We have collected 85 survey responses and carried out 13 in-depth interviews with UK academics across disciplines in arts, humanities, health and environmental sciences. We found that 74% of the survey respondents said they had experienced online harms as a result of sharing research, whether in blog posts, traditional mediasuch as television and radio appearances and news articlesor social media.

The academics told us they lacked training on how to deal with online abuse, harassment and misrepresentation. This left them in vulnerable circumstances and unsupported by universities and research organizations. One said, "They [universities] offer training in how to communicatewrite, be interviewed, etcbut absolutely nothing on how to deal with the difficult stuff."

Some of the academics we spoke to had, like Louks, received rape and death threats. They had faced Twitter pile-ons, abusive mail and emails, hacking and doxxing (having identifying information about them made public). Some had experienced stalking and targeted harassment at their workplaces and around their homes. In many cases, the academics' workplaces had been contacted with calls for them to resign.

One academic told us they had a folder in their email marked "hate mail." Another described their experience of the hostile tapping of their phone:

"I kept having to tell the police all the time about these threats, and my phone was tapped  That was really bad, because I couldn't seek support from my support network  not on my phone anyway."

Some described the abuse as a continuous, long-term problemfor example, the respondent who had been targeted "on a daily or weekly basis for years  It put me in a 24/7 cycle of having to think about and respond to abuse."

A further respondent talked about the strain that managing the abuse put them under: "It just takes all of your time and energy."

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The effects of abuse

Our research has found that this hate has a massive impact on victims. It takes a professional toll, because time spent managing abuse takes away from doing a job. But it also spills into their personal lives, health and well-being. The experiences reported by people in our study included hospitalizations, suicidal ideation, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

This led to some taking long-term sick leave, while others had to leave their job or move house. One academic said, "I couldn't go walking on my own, because of  all the threats."

These are not just harms that stay in the workplace, but are severely affecting researchers' everyday lives.

Lack of support

Many of our respondents said they felt their institutions were more interested in protecting their reputations than providing adequate support or defending their academics who were subject to this toxic media coverage and abuse.

Safety issues rarely come up when the value of engagement or research impact is discussed. These discussions tend to focus only on an academic's role in service of society, without recognition that they exist within and as part of the same society.

Impact and engagement activities aren't simply projects that academics complete and move on fromthey may have ramifications that last for years and spill over from professional into personal lives.

We are developing training and guidance for organizations to provide better support for academics in the public eye. Universities and higher education leaders have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees, and more must be done to provide institutional support for those who are subject to digital hate.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Horizontal split down the middle. At left, thousands of overlapping objects at various distances are spread across this galaxy cluster. A box at bottom right is enlarged on the right half. A central oval identifies the Firefly Sparkle galaxy, a line with 10 dots in various colors. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, C. Willott (NRC-Canada), L. Mowla (Wellesley College), K. Iyer (Columbia)

For the first time, the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has detected and "weighed" a galaxy that not only existed about 600 million years after the Big Bang, but also has a mass that is similar to what our Milky Way galaxy's mass might have been at the same stage of development.

Other galaxies Webb has detected at this period in the history of the universe are significantly more massive. Nicknamed the Firefly Sparkle, this galaxy is gleaming with star clusters10 in alleach of which researchers examined in great detail. Their work is published in Nature.

"I didn't think it would be possible to resolve a galaxy that existed so early in the universe into so many distinct components, let alone find that its mass is similar to our own galaxy's when it was in the process of forming," said Lamiya Mowla, co-lead author of the paper and an assistant professor at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. "There is so much going on inside this tiny galaxy, including so many different phases of star formation."

Webb was able to image the galaxy in sufficient detail for two reasons. One is a benefit of the cosmos: A massive foreground galaxy cluster radically enhanced the distant galaxy's appearance through a natural effect known as gravitational lensing. And when combined with the telescope's specialization in high-resolution imaging of infrared light, Webb delivered unprecedented new data about the galaxy's contents.

"Without the benefit of this gravitational lens, we would not be able to resolve this galaxy," said Kartheik Iyer, co-lead author and NASA Hubble Fellow at Columbia University in New York. "We knew to expect it based on current physics, but it's surprising that we actually saw it."

Mowla, who spotted the galaxy in Webb's image, was drawn to its gleaming star clusters, because objects that sparkle typically indicate they are extremely clumpy and complicated. Since the galaxy looks like a "sparkle" or swarm of fireflies on a warm summer night, they named it the Firefly Sparkle galaxy.

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, C. Willott (NRC-Canada), L. Mowla (Wellesley College), K. Iyer (Columbia), N. Bartmann (ESA/Webb) Music: Stellardrone - Twilight

Reconstructing the galaxy's appearance

The research team modeled what the galaxy might have looked like if its image weren't stretched by gravitational lensing and discovered that it resembled an elongated raindrop. Suspended within it are two star clusters toward the top and eight toward the bottom. "Our reconstruction shows that clumps of actively forming stars are surrounded by diffuse light from other unresolved stars," said Iyer. "This galaxy is literally in the process of assembling."

Webb's data show the Firefly Sparkle galaxy is on the smaller side, falling into the category of a low-mass galaxy. Billions of years will pass before it builds its full heft and a distinct shape. "Most of the other galaxies Webb has shown us aren't magnified or stretched, and we are not able to see their 'building blocks' separately. With Firefly Sparkle, we are witnessing a galaxy being assembled brick by brick," Mowla said.

Stretched out and shining, ready for close analysis

Since the image of the galaxy is warped into a long arc, the researchers easily picked out 10 distinct star clusters, which are emitting the bulk of the galaxy's light. They are represented here in shades of pink, purple, and blue. Those colors in Webb's images and its supporting spectra confirmed that star formation didn't happen all at once in this galaxy, but was staggered in time.

"This galaxy has a diverse population of star clusters, and it is remarkable that we can see them separately at such an early age of the universe," said Chris Willott of the National Research Council Canada, a co-author and the observation program's principal investigator. "Each clump of stars is undergoing a different phase of formation or evolution."

The galaxy's projected shape shows that its stars haven't settled into a central bulge or a thin, flattened disk, another piece of evidence that the galaxy is still forming.

The Firefly Sparkle is a redshift z spec = 8.296  0.001 gravitationally magnified arc lensed by the MACS J1423.8 + 2404 cluster. Credit: Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08293-0

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'Glowing' companions

Researchers can't predict how this disorganized galaxy will build up and take shape over billions of years, but there are two galaxies that the team confirmed are "hanging out" within a tight perimeter and may influence how it builds mass over billions of years.

Firefly Sparkle is only 6,500 light-years away from its first companion, and its second companion is separated by 42,000 light-years. For context, the fully formed Milky Way is about 100,000 light-years acrossall three would fit inside it. Not only are its companions very close, the researchers also think that they are orbiting one another.

Each time one galaxy passes another, gas condenses and cools, allowing new stars to form in clumps, adding to the galaxies' masses. "It has long been predicted that galaxies in the early universe form through successive interactions and mergers with other tinier galaxies," said Yoshihisa Asada, a co-author and doctoral student at Kyoto University in Japan. "We might be witnessing this process in action."

"This is just the first of many such galaxies JWST will discover, as we are only starting to use these cosmic microscopes," added team member Marusa Bradac of the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia.

"Just like microscopes let us see pollen grains from plants, the incredible resolution of Webb and the magnifying power of gravitational lensing let us see the small pieces inside galaxies. Our team is now analyzing all early galaxies, and the results are all pointing in the same direction: we have yet to learn much more about how those early galaxies formed."

The team's research relied on data from Webb's CAnadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS), which include near-infrared images from NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) and spectra from the microshutter array aboard NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph). The CANUCS data intentionally covered a field that NASA's Hubble Space Telescope imaged as part of its Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble program.

More information: Lamiya Mowla, Formation of a low-mass galaxy from star clusters in a 600-million-year-old Universe, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08293-0. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08293-0 Journal information: Nature
Brooklynn Chandler Willy, CEO and president of San Antonio-based Texas Financial Advisory, was arrested Tuesday at her Stone Oak offices by IRS agents. She was indicted last week by a federal grand jury. YouTube

Embattled San Antonio investment adviser and financial radio show host Brooklynn Chandler Willy remained behind bars Wednesday after being arrested by FBI and IRS agents at her Stone Oak office.

The arrest Tuesday came six days after a federal grand jury indicted her on three charges including obstruction of justice and aggravated identity theft. Its the latest in a string of legal and regulatory trouble shes faced in recent years.

Willy, restrained in shackles, made an initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Betsy Chestney set a detention hearing for Friday to determine whether Willy, 45, can be released on bond.

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Chestney said prosecutors asked that she remain in custody because she poses a substantial risk for obstructing justice.

San Antonio attorney Roy Barrera Jr., who represents Willy, declined to address the charges against her other than to say they would be dealt with in court at the appropriate time.

This is obviously an extreme shock to her (and) her family and were going to do everything we can to represent her to the best of our ability, he said after the hearing. Were hoping for the best.

According to the indictment, which was unsealed late Tuesday afternoon, the FBI and IRS began a criminal investigation in November 2023 into an investor fraud scheme involving Willy. A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas as part of the investigation, which is ongoing. The investigation started less than 10 days after the San Antonio Express-News reported on multiple lawsuits against her.

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Willy, owner of Queen B Advisors LLC, which does business as Texas Financial Advisory, is charged with impeding the federal grand jury proceeding by providing a false revolving line of credit agreement in response to a subpoena.

She told federal agents that a revolving line of agreement to her for $500,000 had been signed by two individuals identified as Victim 1 and Victim 2, the indictment says. The two never entered into the agreement, the charging document says. Willy is charged with forging their signatures on the credit agreement and promissory note.

If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison on the obstruction charge. Making a false statement carries a prison sentence of up to five years, while identity theft is a minimum of two years in prison  to run consecutively with any other sentence. Each charge also carries a maximum penalty of $250,000.

Willy already is facing at least three civil lawsuits by former clients who accuse her of various wrongdoing. In one of the suits, 71 plaintiffs have alleged she violated state securities laws, breached her fiduciary duties and committed fraud.

A lawyer representing her in that ligation previously said the allegations were unfair and would be fought.

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Four years ago, she landed in the crosshairs of the Texas State Securities Board for engaging in the sale of alternative investments without being registered as a securities dealer or an agent of a dealer. That activity cost her her job.

As part of the states disciplinary order, she agreed to a one-year suspension of her license as an investment adviser and to pay back almost $2.8 million in commissions she received from the sale of the alternative investments.

She forged many clients signatures on a document purportedly waiving their right to receive a commission refund as ordered by the state, according to the lawsuit filed by 71 plaintiffs.

She also is is accused in the suit of pitching risky, unregistered investment contracts issued by various businesses, including Lubbock-based Ferrum Capital LLC. Some of the investors money was used to fund loans to Austin debt collection agency Collins Asset Group LLC to buy distressed accounts receivable, also known as bad debt, the suit says.

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Willy assured clients their investments were safe and profits guaranteed, the suit says. In reality, Ferrum was a Ponzi scheme and its unlikely investors will get their money back.
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Native grasses, like wildrye, can help reduce the number and size of new buckthorn. Credit: Mike Schuster

New University of Minnesota research suggests that seeding native plants alongside invasive removal efforts may turn the tide in the battle against buckthorn.

Buckthorn is one of Minnesota's most widespread invasive species. Each year, millions of dollars are spent trying to remove it from the state's woodlands and forests. Most attempts offer a temporary reprieve as buckthorn quickly re-establishes dominance in the following years.

In an article recently published in Ecological Engineering, researchers show that heavily seeding native grasses, like Virginia wildrye, alongside buckthorn removal efforts, greatly reduces the number and size of new buckthorn trying to reclaim the site.

They found:

Returning buckthorn were 47% less abundant and 81% smaller in areas where grasses were establishedabout a 90% decrease returning from seed overall.

Seeding is most effective in woodlands with enough light to support vigorous grass growth. Grasses do not establish well in dark forests but can form nearly impenetrable thickets in more open woodlands.

To be effective, seeding must be paired with other management strategies that prevent larger trees from resprouting.

Buckthorn poses the biggest threat to forest restoration in the first couple of years after mature trees are removed, but this is also when the seedlings are most vulnerable to competition from native species. Establishing cover of grasses or other native species needs to happen as quickly as possible to prevent buckthorn from exploiting this critical period.

"There are no easy solutions when it comes to buckthorn, but this work clearly demonstrates that by investing in native biodiversity we can make our natural areas more resistant to invasion in a way that means less time and money combating those invaders, fewer herbicides put into our environment, and healthier ecosystems overall," said lead author Mike Schuster, a researcher in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

Managers interested in applying this technique should plan to seed native species in the early spring following fall or winter buckthorn removal and treat resprouting buckthorn the following summer.

"This is one way we can interrupt the seemingly endless cycle of buckthorn management that so many of our woodlands find themselves trapped within. It gives us an opportunity to choose a different path forward," said Peter Wragg, a lecturer in the Department of Forest Resources.

The research team is currently working on honing the technique by exploring the most effective and cost-efficient seed mixtures and seeding rates, as well as evaluating how seeding efficacy varies across Minnesota's diverse woodlands and forests.

More information: Michael J. Schuster et al, Revegetation of Elymus grasses suppresses invasive Rhamnus cathartica in deciduous forest understories, Ecological Engineering (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107438 Journal information: Ecological Engineering
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Overview of the "Google Air View" mobile monitoring routes (orange dots) in Dublin city from May 2021 to May 2022. The blue dots indicated the location of the urban background, suburban background, and urban traffic sites. Credit: Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34903-5

Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines have been found in hotspots across Dublin city, according to a new study.

Data collected by University College Dublin and Dublin City University (DCU) researchers shows high levels of NO 2 and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) across Dublin's inner city.

Areas of particularly high concentrations included Cork Street, O'Connell Street, along the Quays, and in the area around Temple Bar.

The data showed that during the sampling period, 49.4% of days exceeded WHO guidelines for NO levels, with peaks during rush hours, especially in winter. The findings are published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

Collected as part of the Google Air View project over a period of 16 months, using electric Google Street View cars equipped with air sensors, the data showed that during the sampling period, almost 50% of days exceeded WHO guidelines for NO levels, with peaks during rush hours, especially in winter.

Carried out by Dr. Jiayao Chen, Dr. Anna Molter, Dr. Jose Pablo Gomez-Barron and Professor Francesco Pilla, UCD's School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, and Dr. David O'Connor from DCU's School of Chemical Sciences, the study suggests the potential of a mobile monitoring approach to investigating hyperlocal air pollutants across cities.

"Traffic pollution is a critical issue in urban cities, often contributing to or exacerbating environmental or social-economic inequalities," said Dr. Chen.

"Our finding represents a unique case for Dublinon highly polluted days, domestic heating emerged as the dominant contributor to PM 2.5 at street level. Our research emphasizes the need for detailed temporal guidance, especially for vulnerable populations, to help guide safe indoor and outdoor activities.

"With the EU recently introducing stricter air quality guidelines, our findings underscore the need for long-term, localized monitoring to inform strategic mitigation plans tailored to both local and regional scales."

Dr. O'Connor added, "As more cities adopt hyperlocal sensing, the potential to create healthier urban environments grows. Localized air quality data provides the foundation for tailored, evidence-based policy solutions that can tackle pollution at its source, particularly in high-risk and vulnerable areas."

More information: Jiayao Chen et al, Evaluating background and local contributions and identifying traffic-related pollutant hotspots: insights from Google Air View mobile monitoring in Dublin, Ireland, Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34903-5 Journal information: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Corporations that partner with auditors who specialize in the company's industry reap cost savings and get a better picture of their finances, which boosts investor confidence, a new study has found.

Co-authored by professors Birendra Mishra and Theodore Mock from UC Riverside's School of Business, the study examines how the industry experience of auditors can influence audit fees and quality.

The study, "The Effects of Audit Partner Industry Experience on Lowballing, Subsequent Audit Fees, and Audit Quality", was published in the journal Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory.

The findings are based on a comprehensive analysis of 32,000 audit engagements in Indiawhich has corporate finance rules like those in the U.S. They reveal that audit partners with extensive industry experience deliver higher-quality audits while also offering cost savings to clients in their initial engagements. In the study, auditors are referred to as "partners" with their clients in the finance industry.

"Expertise matters. An experienced audit partner in your industry can navigate complexities more efficiently, saving costs while ensuring better quality," said Mishra, a professor of accounting. "Think of an audit partner like a skilled surgeonthe more experience they have, the quicker and more precise they are, and that efficiency translates to savings for clients."

The study also found that companies should avoid auditors who "low-ball" their fees to compensate for a lack of experience. These auditors offer low prices during the first year but then hike fees in subsequent years to make up for the earlier discounts. The companies then wind up with higher costs and lower-quality audits.

"Audit partners with more industry experience don't rely on low-balling," Mishra said. "Their efficiency allows them to offer competitive initial pricing without the need for large fee hikes later. Low-balling can compromise audit quality because the focus shifts to recovering costs rather than delivering a thorough and accurate audit."

The research utilized audit data from India, where regulations have long mandated the disclosure of lead auditors in financial reports. This dataset enabled researchers to track the industry-specific experience of individual auditors.

The team developed a novel metric, which they called "INDEXP_PTNR." It measures an auditor's cumulative years of industry experience. The researchers also employed statistical models to assess the impact of this experience on initial-year pricing, subsequent fee adjustments, and audit quality.

"The Indian auditing standards are remarkably similar to those in the U.S., making the findings highly applicable internationally," Mishra noted.

The study's insights could transform how companies select audit partners and reshape regulatory perspectives in the U.S. and beyond. In the U.S., publicly traded corporations are required by law to undergo annual audits that detail their costs, revenues, profits, and losses. Audit costs range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the size and type of company.

Good auditing can potentially boost a company's value. "High-quality audits strengthen the link between earnings and stock prices, boosting investor confidence in your company," Mishra said.

Mishra and Mock collaborated with researchers Naman Desai of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India, and Siddharth Purohit of University College in Dublin, Ireland.

"If you're selecting an auditor, go for someone with lots of industry-specific experience. They'll deliver better results and keep audit costs down over the long term, and are likely to give your stock a boost," Mishra said.

More information: Naman Desai et al, The Effects of Audit Partner Industry Experience on Lowballing, Subsequent Audit Fees, and Audit Quality, Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory (2024). DOI: 10.2308/AJPT-2022-133
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Average marginal effects of labor force gender/racial composition on gender/EDI language in job ads. Linear effects in A) and nonlinear effects in B). Credit: PNAS Nexus (2024). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae526

In the UK, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) language in job advertisements (ads) could unintentionally have the reverse effect on attempts to create a more gender-balanced workplace, says a new study led by Lancaster University.

The study also shows that actively using EDI language designed to appeal to racial minorities in job ads is not working.

Workforces with a larger share of women tend to include language associated with family-friendly policies and flexible work arrangements in job ads. Such language, the study suggests, tends to appeal more to female rather than male applicants, which, in turn, intensifies gender segregation in these workforces.

While workforces with a larger share of racial minority workers tend to include more EDI policy pledges and language signaling workplace EDI culture in job ads, such pledges and language have little impact on workforce racial composition, says the research.

The study, "Language in job advertisements and the reproduction of labor force gender and racial segregation," is published in PNAS Nexus.

The findings provide a labor-market-wide audit of how gender/EDI language in job ads helps shape workforce gender/racial composition, as well as how labor force gender/racial composition influences gender/EDI language in job ads.

This collaborative research, bringing together researchers from universities across the UK, Canada and the U.S. as part of a large-scale project looking at AI and labor market equality.

Working in collaboration across multiple disciplines, the team of sociologists, management scholars and data scientists used cutting-edge natural language processing techniques to analyze 28.6 million job ads in the UK in combination with ONS labor force statistics between 2018 and 2023, making it the most comprehensive and up-to-date study of its kind.

"Understanding and tackling persistent labor force gender and racial segregation are crucial to facilitating equality and diversity in the labor market," says the lead author, Professor Yang Hu, of Lancaster University.

"Job ads are important because they are the first point of contact between job seekers and employers," said Associate Professor Nicole Denier of the University of Alberta.

"By signaling characteristics expected of an "ideal candidate," job ads "gatekeep" the labor force and configure its composition by shaping both candidates' tendency to apply for a job and the criteria used for shortlisting and interviewing."

The study develops a novel inventory of language in job ads, capturing six dimensions of language related to gender and EDI:

Explicit gender references such as "he," "she," "men" and "women"

Gendered psychological cues such as 'caring' and "attentive" vs. "authoritative"

Gendered work roles and skills, such as "soft" and "social" skills vs. roles involving "multitasking" and high "pressure"

Family-friendly policies (e.g. flexible work, work-family balance) vs. family-unfriendly arrangements (e.g. irregular shifts, long hours)

EDI policy pledges, such as references to the Equality Act and Stonewall

EDI cultural references, for example, signaling the workplaces as "supportive," "accessible," "diverse" and "inclusive"

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Using this newly developed inventory, the study characterized and mapped the gender/EDI language used in job ads across occupations and industries to the gender and racial composition of the corresponding workforce in these occupation and industry groups across the full UK labor market.

The study is the first of its kind to disentangle how language in job ads shapes labor force gender/racial composition and how labor force gender/racial composition shapes language in job ads in both directions.

The findings reveal three distinct ways in which the interplay between language in job ads and labor force composition reinforces or disrupts labor force/gender segregation:

First, language in job ads could reinforce workforce segregation. For example, the study finds that job ads for workforces with a larger share of women tend to include more family-friendly cues and language signaling workplace EDI culture; in turn, such cues and language contribute to increasing the share of women in the workforce.

Secondly, language in job ads has the potential to disrupt workforce segregation. For instance, the findings show that while job ads for workforces with a larger share of women tend to include more feminine rather than masculine psychological and work role cues, such cues are found to reduce the share of women in the workforce, thus tilting the gender composition of the workforce toward a more masculine direction.

Finally, language in job ads may have little impact on workforce composition. The study shows that despite the efforts of workforces with a larger share of racial minority workers to include EDI policies and workplace EDI culture in job ads, EDI language does not seem to have any bearing on racial minority representation in the workforce.

These findings demonstrate both the benefits and limitations of intervening in the language used in job ads to help reduce labor force gender/racial segregation.

"They provide insights that are crucial to mitigating the impact of job ads on labor force gender and racial segregation," said Professor Hu, "but they also show that 'window-dressing' EDI language in job ads is not sufficient in actually creating EDI in the labor market, at least when labor force gender and racial composition is concerned.

"Our study calls for a major rethink on how employers frame their job ads and coming up with meaningful ways of communicating and doing EDI to help reduce gender and racial segregation in the labor market."

Professor Monideepa Tarafdar, of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, U.S., co-Principal Investigator of the ESRCSSHRC project and a Visiting Professor at Lancaster University, added, "With the proliferation of large language models, AI-automated text processing tools are increasingly used to help draft and debias job ads. Our research provides a roadmap for building labor market equality into the design of these tools."

Professor Karen Hughes, of the University of Alberta, added, "Our project also demonstrates the value of collaboration across multiple disciplines to tackle the grand challenges of our time."

More information: Yang Hu et al, Language in job advertisements and the reproduction of labor force gender and racial segregation, PNAS Nexus (2024). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae526 Journal information: PNAS Nexus
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Aircraft have proved vital in the fight against the fire raging through Malibu.

A wildfire burning through Malibu that has sent thousands of people fleeing for safety, including Hollywood celebrities, forged west on Wednesday, as firefighters battled to save homes from the blaze.

At least seven properties are known to have been destroyed in one of California's most exclusive communities, as powerful winds pushed flames through steep canyons.

Around 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) have been charred by the Franklin fire since it erupted late Monday in the hills above Pepperdine University, where staff corralled students in fire-resistent buildings to ride out the danger in scenes that were captured on cellphone cameras.

Firefighters had been able to get a measure of containment by Wednesday morning, Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone told reporters, with the eastern and northern flanks of the fire slowing, but he cautioned that the area was not out of danger, with the western front growing overnight.

"Weather conditions, including strong winds and low humidity, will be closely monitored today as they will play a critical role in fire behavior," he told reporters.

Marrone said a Red Flag Warningan alert about strong winds issued by meteorologistswas expected to remain in place for much of the day.

"The entire fire area remains under threat as long as these red flag weather conditions persist," he said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said around 20,000 people had been ordered or advised to leave their homes, with the first evacuations beginning when his deputies went door-to-door in the moments after the blaze broke out.

Crews have been tackling the flames from the ground and from the air.

Actor Dick Van Dyke, who celebrates his 99th birthday on Friday, said on Facebook that he and his wife had fled their Malibu home.

"Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for (a cat that) escaped as we were leaving. We're praying he'll be OK and that our community... will survive these terrible fires," he wrote.

Malibu, which sits a short drive from Hollywood's major studios, has been home to some of the biggest names in show business, with present and former residents including Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Aniston and Cher.

Climate change

Around 1,500 firefighters were spread out tackling the fire, with aircraft dumping water and retardant along the firelines.

A large part of Malibu remained without power on Wednesday, complicating efforts to communicate with residents still in the area.

Wildfires are a feature of life in California, and are often exacerbated at this time of year by fierce so-called Santa Ana winds that blow dry desert air from the interior.

Scientists say climate change, fueled by humanity's unchecked burning of fossil fuels, is altering our weather patterns, making dry periods longer and increasing the likelihood of destructive fires.

At the same time, decades of land management policies that stressed a zero-tolerance approach to wildfire has left much of the countryside overstocked with fuel, so when fires erupt, they tend to be hotter, faster and more dangerous.

 2024 AFP
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Hajdi Moche and Nathalie Hallin. Credit: Linkoping University

Religious believers are no more generous than atheistsat least as long as they don't know what the recipient believes in. Finding this out increases generosity significantly, mainly because people give more to those who share their religion. This is the conclusion of a study carried out in Sweden, the U.S., Egypt and Lebanon by researchers at Linkoping University, Sweden.

Nathalie Hallin is an atheist. Her colleague Hajdi Moche is a Christian. They both have a postdoc position at the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning at Linkoping. Together, they wanted to find out if a religious belief makes a person more generous, which research has so far disagreed on and they themselves have discussed a lot.

To find the answer, together with their co-authors Gerhard Andersson and Daniel, they have carried out three studies: one in Sweden, one in the U.S. and a combined one in Egypt and Lebanon. The results are published in the journal Judgment and Decision Making.

The Swedish study included 398 people. These were given the task of distributing fictitious money between themselves and three hypothetical recipients over six rounds. They then answered questions about religious affiliation and political beliefs, but also about things such as favorite hobby, favorite film genre and the like.

In all rounds, participants were told something about the recipients, for example, about hobbies, political conviction or which films they liked. In one of the rounds, information about religion was given. The researchers then examined how the participants' generosity was affected by what they were told.

In most of the rounds, it turned out that religious and non-religious people gave away the same amount of money. But when they learned about the recipients' religion, there was a clear difference. Religious believers became more generous than the non-religious participants. This was shown mainly by them giving more money to those of the same faith as themselves. But atheists also proved to favor their own group.

Amount given in the religion round for study 1, as a function of religious affiliation of the participant and recipient in Dictator Game. Credit: Judgment and Decision Making (2024). DOI: 10.1017/jdm.2024.14

"I was actually surprised because the only thing that unites atheists is that you don't believe in a god," says Hallin.

Follow-up studies with just over 700 people in the U.S. and about 600 in Egypt and Lebanon gave the same results: Religion was the factor that had the greatest impact on generosity, and the participants favored the group that had the same faith as themselves.

In all three studies, Hallin and Moche also investigated whether generosity differed between different religions and outlooks on life. The participants were divided into three groups: Christians, Muslims and atheists.

The analysis showed that Muslims in the U.S. were more generous to their own kind than Christians and atheists were. There were also signs of this in Sweden, but the number of Muslims who participated was too low to say for sure. In Lebanon and Egypt, however, there was no difference in how much Christians and Muslims gave. Whether this is due to different cultural norms, the position of Muslims in American society or something else is uncertain. In Egypt and Lebanon there were too few atheists in the survey to make a comparison.

As researchers, Hallin and Moche find it interesting that the relationship to religion has such a strong impact on generosity and group feeling but are careful not to evaluate this. According to them, favoring one's own can be considered unfair, but can, for example, be seen as better than not being generous at all.

"At the same time, you can be generous in different ways. You can be generous with time, with love or with care. So whether there is anything in religion that says you should be generous with money in particular is something to think about anyway," says Moche.

More information: Nathalie Hallin et al, Who is generous and to whom? Generosity among Christians, Muslims, and atheists in the USA, Sweden, Egypt, and Lebanon, Judgment and Decision Making (2024). DOI: 10.1017/jdm.2024.14
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The red line shows the aggregated direct economic shocks. The blue line and ribbon depict total output reductions after simulating the economic model for two months. The two vertical dashed lines show the economic impact of cooperating or not cooperating at EU level. Credit: Complexity Science Hub

Russia's Gazprom stopped supplying Austria's OMV last month, prompting a number of headlines. However, there was no major panic this time. It was a completely different story almost three years earlier: when Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Europe was thrown off balance for various reasons.

"One of them was dependence on Russian gas. Many countries, especially those like Austria, which purchased around 80% of its gas from Russia in 2021, had to take action quickly to reduce this dependence and ensure supply security," explains Anton Pichler from the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) and the Vienna University of Economics and Business. "We had to reactand in a highly dynamic environment."

This was the basis for a study now published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization and released as a policy brief in May 2022. In a hypothetical scenario where Russian gas imports to Europe were completely halted from June 1, 2022, the researchers quantified the effects of different measures.

"That way, we won't have to start the discussion about the catastrophe, but with possible solutions already on hand," says CSH President Stefan Thurner.

Five times less damage

The researchers analyzed various measures to mitigate the potential economic impact, including alternative gas imports, gas storage, a switch to different fuels, and savings in heating and pipeline operations. Additionally, they modeled their impact on individual sectors as well as the economy overall.

"As early as spring 2022, we were able to point out that a coordinated distribution of scarce gas supplies among the EU members could reduce production declines five times less than if Austria tried to secure additional gas individually," explains Thurner.

"In fact, the first steps were taken at EU level in the following months, such as filling gas storage facilities, which was subsequently given a strong political push," adds Pichler.

Coordinated EU action

Full gas storage facilities are one of the most important levers for being prepared for a gas supply freeze in the short term, but a coordinated crisis response at the EU level is also crucialas foreigners own about half of Austria's gas reserves.

"Austria has well-filled storage facilities today, with nearly 50TWh of stored gas, i.e. two thirds of annual consumption in 2023, under Austrian ownership. Along with alternative supply routes, these gas storage facilities are one of the reasons why we are much better able to compensate for Gazprom's current gas supply freeze to OMV," says Pichler.

In contrast, even a partial interruption of Russian natural gas supply in Austria in 2022 would have led to a loss of several hundred million euros per month in gross value added, according to the study.

The scientists considered a complete hypothetical shutdown of Russian gas imports to Austria as of June 1, 2022. As first step, they analyzed factors on the supply and demand side that have the potential to mitigate the immediate shortfall in gas supply. Second, after taking mitigation factors into account, they quantified gas supply shocks to industrial production. Third, they estimated direct production losses caused by gas shortages. Fourth, using a dynamic inputoutput model, they quantified total (direct plus indirect) impacts on the economy. Credit: Complexity Science Hub

Austria: Still Russian gas

Austria imported 82% of its gas from Russia in August 2024, while other European countries have long since reduced their imports from Russia. Only 8% of all EU gas imports come from Russia.

Because other European countries are now significantly less dependent on Russian gas supplies, the expected economic consequences will be much smaller than in June 2022, according to the two researchers.

"In our policy brief, we showed that alternative trading partners can play a key role in reducing damage. Now that our neighboring countries are hardly dependent on Russian gas, it is much easier to import non-Russian gas than it would have been two years ago," says Pichler.

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Mild to severe effects

Based on the hypothetical scenario of a complete halt to Russian gas imports to Europe from June 1, 2022, the study shows that the potential economic consequences can range from relatively mild to extremely severe, depending on countermeasure implementation and success.

The study suggests that securing alternative gas imports, managing storage, and providing incentives to switch to other fuels are the most important short-term policy levers.

"The results seem almost obvious in retrospect. However, in spring 2022 there was great uncertainty about the potential economic consequences and our study quantified the effectiveness and feasibility of each individual measure," explains Pichler.

In light of the critical situation, what have we learned? "Back then, we reacted to a crisis for which we were unprepared. It is possible for crises like this to occur in other important areas as well. It would be extremely important to conduct similar analyses for other critical sectors and technology areas in order to implement preventative countermeasures systematically," the researchers conclude.

More information: Anton Pichler et al, Economic impacts of a drastic gas supply shock and short-term mitigation strategies, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106750 Journal information: Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organisation
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TESS light curves of TOI-4994 at 30 (top), 10 (middle), and 2 (bottom) minute cadences, combining 6 different sectors. Credit: Rodriguez et al., 2024.

Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), an international team of astronomers has detected a new exoplanet orbiting a distant star. The newfound alien world, designated TOI-4994 b, is warm and slightly smaller than Saturn. The finding was reported in a research paper published Dec. 3 on the pre-print server arXiv.

To date, TESS has identified more than 7,300 candidate exoplanets (TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI), of which 571 have been confirmed so far. Since its launch in April 2018, the satellite has been conducting a survey of about 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun with the aim of searching for transiting exoplanetsranging from small, rocky worlds to gaseous giants.

Now, a group of astronomers led by Romy Rodriguez of the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has confirmed another TOI monitored by TESS.

They identified a transit signal in the light curve of TOI-4994a G-type star about the size and mass of the sun, located some 1,079 light years away. The planetary nature of this signal was confirmed by follow-up observations using ground-based telescopes, including the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT).

"A transit-like signal with a period of 21.5 days was first detected in Sector 12 of TESS and subsequently confirmed with follow-up photometry from the ground," the researchers explained.

The newly detected planet has a radius of about 0.76 Jupiter radii and its mass was estimated to be 0.28 Jupiter masses, which yields a Saturn-like density at a level of 0.78 g/cm3. TOI-4994 b orbits its host every 21.5 days at a distance of 0.15 AU from it, and its equilibrium temperature is some 717.6 K.

Therefore, the properties of TOI-4994 b are similar to those of Saturn and can be classified as a warm Saturn exoplanet. In general, the number of known warm Saturns is still relatively small as less than 20 planets of this type have been discovered to date, which makes TOI-4994 b a valuable addition to this sample.

The authors of the paper note that the properties of TOI-4994 b also suggest a history shaped by planetplanet scattering and a possible merger. However, further observations are required in order to confirm this. They add that the planet is a good candidate for follow-up stellar obliquity measurements.

When it comes to the parent star, TOI-4994 (also known as TIC 277128619), its radius is approximately 1.05 solar radii, while its mass is comparable to that of the sun. The star, which is estimated to be 6.3 billion years old, has an effective temperature of 5,640 K and its metallicity is at a level of 0.165 dex.

More information: Romy Rodriguez Martinez et al, Discovery and Characterization of an Eccentric, Warm Saturn Transiting the Solar Analog TOI-4994, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2412.02769 Journal information: arXiv

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How to get the perfect cup of coffee? Credit: MarkSweep/Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roasted_coffee_beans.jpg.

A new study in published in Scientific Reports suggests that the perfect cup of coffee is influenced by a complex blend of variables such as bean processing method, brewing time, and grind size, not just the roast level.

Caffeine content and extraction yield are two of the most vital variables for coffee enthusiasts, especially those who approach it with precision.

Extraction yield is a measure of the amount of soluble material from the coffee grounds that gets dissolved in the brewed coffee. It essentially reflects the efficiency of the brewing process in extracting compounds from the coffee grounds.

Led by Dr. Zachary R. Lindsey, Assistant Professor of Physics at Berry College, U.S., the study focuses on how the degree of roast affects these two variables. Phys.org spoke to Dr. Lindsey, a self-proclaimed coffee nerd about the study.

"Over 20 years ago, I heard a barista claim that dark roasts have more caffeine, but a decade later, I was exposed to the contrasting idea that light roasts were the king of caffeine. Yet, I couldn't find any convincing data."

"It wasn't until I picked up coffee roasting as a hobby in 2022 that I started to see the missing pieces of the puzzle. Luckily, two passionate undergraduate students on my research team were also intrigued by this mystery, and we got to work," said Dr. Lindsey.

Choice of coffee, roast, and brew method

The researchers chose Ethiopian coffee to conduct their study. Ethiopia has a long tradition of producing coffee dating back centuries as it is the country where Coffee arabica, aka the coffee plant, originates.

In this, they are investigating natural and washed processed coffee.

In the natural method, the coffee cherries are dried with the seeds still inside. The seeds are separated after drying, resulting in fruity and complex flavors in the coffee beans. On the other hand, in the washed method, the seeds are separated from the coffee cherries and then dried, leading to a cleaner and brighter flavor profile.

The researchers then used five different degrees of roasts for the green coffee beans, choosing a brewing time of one, two, and ten minutes.

The researchers chose the AeroPress brewing method with a 15:1 water-to-coffee ratio. The AeroPress is a pressure-based brewing method, similar to an espresso machine, but on a smaller scale. The AeroPress steeps the coffee and uses pressure to extract the brew through a paper filter.

Dr. Lindsey explained the choice behind the AeroPress, saying, "When selecting a brew method, the main goal was to implement a procedure that could consistently produce brews within a wide range of extraction yields by only varying the brew time."

"The AeroPress stood out as a means to achieve these desired outcomes with minimal variation across all roast batches."

Overall, the researchers had 30 unique combinations of brewed coffee to study.

Analyzing the coffee

The researchers used three analysis techniques to analyze caffeine content and extraction yield.

To measure compounds like caffeine, chlorogenic acids, and other soluble compounds in the brewed coffee, they used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

SEM image of roasted coffee seed (left) and overlaid ellipses mapped to pores (right) for determination of fractional porosity (scale bar = 100 m). Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-80385-3

This method separates different compounds in the coffee based on their interactions with a standard material, quantifying individual concentrations.

Next, they used refractometry. This method measures the bending of light through the brewed coffee, indicating the extraction yield, i.e., how much soluble material is dissolved from the coffee grounds.

Finally, they used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe the surface of the coffee beans and grounds. This helped them to examine the grain size and porosity. SEM provides information about the impact of roasting on the physical features of the coffee beans.

"SEM allows for a straightforward characterization approach that provides two-dimensional information about the structure of the roasted coffee. The evolving porosity of the roasting coffee plays a pivotal role in compound mobility during roasting and brewing," explained Dr. Lindsey.

Porosity, caffeine, and extraction

The researchers found that caffeine content in the brewed coffee depended on the roasting process and the extraction yield.

"During roasting, the volume and porosity of the coffee seeds increase as the roast progresses, which makes it easier for compounds to move in or out of the system," explained Dr. Lindsey.

A greater porosity implies more of the inner surface area of the coffee grounds is exposed, making it easier for water to penetrate and dissolve compounds like caffeine and flavors. This has an impact on the entire extraction process that occurs during brewing.

For the caffeine content, the researchers found that when using identical brewing setups, light and medium roasts had a higher caffeine content than darker roasts. This is due to the caffeine loss during roasting, resulting in typically lower extraction yields for darker roasts.

Conversely, they found that the darker roast's caffeine content was higher when the extraction yield was kept consistent for all the roasts.

"However, darker roasts consistently exhibited lower extraction yields than light and medium roasts, so it was not always possible to achieve a common extraction yield for all degrees of roast," added Dr. Lindsey.

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New insights

The competing mechanisms of increased porosity improving extraction efficiency and darker roasts losing extractable compounds revealed a unique insight contradicting previous assumptions.

Caffeine sublimationthe process of caffeine transitioning directly from a solid to a gasoccurs at higher temperatures than previously thought.

"Although the interplay between roast degree and caffeine content has been addressed over 20 times in the literature, the prevailing theory is that caffeine remains stable during the roasting process."

"However, we establish a clear relationship between roast degree, caffeine content, and extraction yield," said Dr. Lindsey.

The researchers plan to extend this work to study the relationship between roast degree and extraction yield for decaffeinated coffees. They also aim to test it with percolation-based brewing methods to see if they yield similar results.

The bottom line is, if you want a cup of coffee with the maximum caffeine content choose a medium roast, says Dr. Lindsey.

More information: Zachary R. Lindsey et al, Caffeine content in filter coffee brews as a function of degree of roast and extraction yield, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-80385-3 Journal information: Scientific Reports

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Dr Rebecca Duncan. Credit: Stuart Thomson

Rapid sea ice loss and ocean acidification from climate change are altering the growth and nutritional value of microscopic algae. These algae are an essential food source for fish, krill, and other small organisms that sustain larger animals such as whales, seals and penguins.

Sea ice is a vital habitat for microalgae, but the thickness and coverage of sea ice has reduced significantly. Antarctic sea ice has experienced record lows for the past four years, and researchers predict that by 2050, the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free during summer.

Polar marine ecologist Dr. Rebecca Duncan has spent the last eight years undertaking field work in polar regions, examining the changing composition of sea ice microalgae. She received her Ph.D. from the University Technology Sydney (UTS) with UNIS Svalbard in 2024.

Her Ph.D. thesis was recently awarded the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering Thesis Gold Medal. She is also a passionate advocate for women in field research and science, and has just been appointed a "Superstar of Stem" by Science and Technology Australia.

"One-tenth of the global oceans are frozen, including the rapidly changing Arctic, Antarctic, and Southern Ocean. These fragile ecosystems depend on microscopic algae as the foundation of their food webs," said Dr. Duncan.

Sea ice algae. Credit: Rebecca Duncan

"These tiny algae provide essential nutritionlike fats, proteins, and carbohydratesfor creatures ranging from krill to fish, polar bears and whales. However, the nutritional value of these algae depends on their species and how they respond to environmental changes."

Dr. Duncan's research reveals that ocean acidification, ocean temperatures and the amount of light under the ice impacts microalgae composition. Increased light and rising water temperatures boost fat content in common species, but a critical threshold exists where they stop accumulating essential fats and proteins, altering food quality for the marine animals.

"The krill and other zooplankton depend on microalgae as a food source at certain times of the year to reproduce. If zooplankton fail to reproduce, it disrupts the food chain, threatening fish populations and, in turn, seals and other large animals.

"If we still have some sea ice, but it's melting more rapidly, then it's not a hospitable environment for the microalgae because there is too much light, and the ice is melting too quickly underneath, so it can disrupt their lifecycle.

"If we lose sea ice altogether, then the microalgae that rely on the sea ice will have no substrate to live on. Can this ecosystem function without sea ice algae? Will something else fill the gap? We don't know the answer to that."

Polar bear. Credit: Rebecca Duncan

Dr. Duncan has published five papers based on her Ph.D. research, with the most recent, "Seasonal environmental transitions and metabolic plasticity in a sea-ice alga from an individual cell perspective," in the journal Scientific Reports.

To collect the samples, Dr. Duncan, alongside a small international research team, stays in Longyearbyen in Svalbard, an Arctic island north of Norway. They use snowmobiles, or venture out on icebreaker ships, to drill into the frozen ocean.

She then analyzes the samples back in Australia using advanced technology, from microscopy to particle accelerators, including s-FTIR microspectroscopy at the Australian Synchrotron, to unlock unique, species-specific insights at the single-cell level.

Her current research project aims to compare microalgae in land-connected sea ice with those in drifting ocean ice. Land-connected ice is disappearing at a faster rate, and so these microalgae populations are under greater stress.

More information: Rebecca J. Duncan et al, Seasonal environmental transitions and metabolic plasticity in a sea-ice alga from an individual cell perspective, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65273-0 Journal information: Scientific Reports
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Not just hurricanes and droughts: less extreme but more frequent weather events, such as thunderstorms, can have significant and lasting economic impacts, with effects that vary across different socio-economic groups. This is one of the main findings of a study recently published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management . It was conducted by researchers from the Institute of Economics and the Department of Excellence L'EMbeDS at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, the Department of Statistics at the Pennsylvania State University, and the Department of Economics at Northwestern University.

The study highlights how these phenomena, while less destructive than hurricanes, affect wages and incomes in ways that exacerbate existing economic inequalities. In particular, labor income is the most affected.

The study used detailed data on over 200,000 weather events that occurred in the United States between 1991 and 2019.

"These are events that, although not considered true extreme phenomena, still cause significant damage, and their frequency leads to an accumulation of damage over time," explains Matteo Coronese, author of the study and researcher at the Institute of Economics and the L'EMbeDS Department of Excellence of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna. By combining meteorological data with economic information at the county level, the researchers analyzed the trends in wages and incomes after exposure to these storms.

"The results indicate that wages experience persistent losses over time, while incomes tend to recover gradually," continues Coronese. "Since wages constitute the majority of income for the poorest segments of the population, these dynamics imply a worsening of already high income inequalities."

"The estimated impacts, although significantly lower than those of extreme events like the one recently observed in Valencia, are still non negligible," highlights Federico Crippa, author of the study and Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Economics of Northwestern University. "Over a five-year period, a significant increase in exposure to thunderstorms leads to wage losses equivalent to about half of the contraction seen after the 2007 financial crisis."

"The geographic and social distribution of these impacts is notable," adds Francesco Lamperti, author of the study, professor at the Institute of Economics and the L'EMbeDS Department of Excellence of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, and scientist at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.

"The poorest counties suffer more severe losses, highlighting a lack of adaptation compared to wealthier areas. However, the study emphasizes that public intervention can play a crucial role: counties that receive federal aid immediately after one of the storms considered in our study do not experience significant losses in either wages or incomes."

"Another important aspect concerns the impact on productive sectors," explains Francesca Chiaromonte, author of the study, professor at the Institute of Economics of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna and at the Department of Statistics of the Pennsylvania State University, and scientific coordinator of the L'EMbeDS Department of Excellence.

"We have observed that sectors with higher physical capital intensity, such as manufacturing, suffer the most significant losses, along with a reduction in employment. It will be essential to extend the analysis to other regions of the world to understand similar dynamics in different contexts."

"Our study is part of a growing focus on the economic impacts of weather events," comments Andrea Roventini, author of the study, director of the Institute of Economics at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, and member of the L'EMbeDS Department of Excellence.

"With climate change threatening to increase both the frequency and the intensity of these phenomena, it is crucial to strengthen adaptation and mitigation policies to reduce local vulnerabilities and promote greater economic resilience.

"This study demonstrates how integrating large datasets from various sources can offer new perspectives on the socio-economic dynamics linked to weather events. Such approaches, central to the mission of the Institute of Economics and the L'EMbeDS Department of Excellence, provide crucial tools for understanding and addressing global challenges related to climate and inequality."

More information: Matteo Coronese et al, Raided by the storm: How three decades of thunderstorms shaped U.S. incomes and wages, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2024.103074

Provided by Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa
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Credit: Queensland Museum

Queensland Museum scientists have described a 400-million-year-old fossil, which is possibly the smallest vertebrate fossil animal known from QueenslandPalaeospondylus australis. Details about this ancient fish, found in the Georgina Basin (west of Boulia and close to the Northern Territory border), were recently published in National Science Review.

This is a remarkable addition to Queensland's fossil record, at the other end of the size scale to prehistoric giants like dinosaurs Rhoetosaurus and Australotitan cooperensis.

What makes P. australis even more intriguing is its connection to a similar species from northern Scotland, P. gunni. First described in 1890, Palaeospondylus has puzzled paleontologists for more than a century due to its unique skeletal features and uncertain classification.

The Scottish fossils, though abundant, are typically compressed, making detailed analysis challenging. However, Queensland's fossils, while disarticulated, are exceptionally well-preserved in 3D, offering new insight into this enigmatic species.

The discovery of a braincase in Queensland in 2010 confirmed the presence of P. australis, marking the first time this genus has been found outside Scotland. The fossils' honeycomb-like structure and intricate internal features hint at the fish's early evolutionary significance. Although the exact relationships of P. australis remain unclear, with features indicating it retained many larval characteristics, it is likely a distant relative of sharks.

This breakthrough in fossil research not only enriches our understanding of ancient Australian ecosystems but also highlights the global connections of early vertebrate life across continents. The study of Palaeospondylus australis promises to unravel more mysteries about the evolution of jawed vertebrates.

More information: Carole J Burrow et al, A 3D braincase of the early jawed vertebrate Palaeospondylus from Australia, National Science Review (2024). DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae444

Provided by Queensland Museum
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Distribution of businesses and taxable income (20152018). Note: Authors calculations based on data provided by RRA. Credit: Journal of Development Economics (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103292

Businesses in Rwanda whose tax affairs were audited paid on average an additional $17,246 in taxes over the three years following the audit, a recent study shows.

The figure represents 5.9% of all corporate income taxes collected during that time.

In Rwanda, the government needs to spend 18.7% more of its GDP every year to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 in health, education, water and sanitation, roads and electricity.

If businesses underreport their income, it leads to less funding for such essential services so designing effective tax audits is vital.

The research, published in the Journal of Development Economics, saw the Tax Administration Research Centre at the University of Exeter Business School team up with the Rwanda Revenue Authority to evaluate the latter's business tax audits.

Crucially, the researchers found that the type of audit made a significant difference to tax compliance.

Comprehensive audits, consisting of face-to-face reviews of a business's financial records, had a strong positive effect on tax compliance, encouraging businesses to report their income more accurately for several years afterwards.

In contrast, narrow-scope audits, which are quicker, less detailed and often done through correspondence, produced mixed results. Tax reporting improved only in the first year and then reverted back, leading to an overall net negative impact.

The findings suggest that comprehensive and narrow-scope audits are not perfectly substitutable tools for improving compliance.

Professor Christos Kotsogiannis, from the Tax Administration Research Centre (TARC) at the University of Exeter Business School, said, "By focusing on the right kind of audits, Rwanda could make its tax system fairer and more efficient, helping fund the critical services the country needs and make progress towards meeting the Development Sustainable Goals.

"Although narrow-scope audits may seem cheaper and faster, they don't improve tax compliance as effectively and could even hurt efforts to collect taxes in the long run. Therefore, how these instruments are designed should be reconsidered. Investing in comprehensive audits may cost more upfront but offers a better return on investment by increasing future tax revenues."

The findings align with research from the United States that finds correspondence audits to be much less consistent in improving taxpayer reporting than detailed, face-to-face audits.

Drawing on the wider implications of the research, Professor Kotsogiannis added, "Improving tax enforcement is undoubtedly a major challenge for Revenue Authorities across the world particularly in developing countries where the need for tax revenuesthe only form of sustainable public financeis significant.

"What this research points to, in general terms and from a policy perspective, is that Revenue Authorities should pay close attention to the evaluation of their tax audits portfolio. We are delighted to have cooperated in this project with the Rwanda Revenue Authority, and that our research has such an impact in the way the tax audits are now designed."

More information: Christos Kotsogiannis et al, Do tax audits have a dynamic impact? Evidence from corporate income tax administrative data, Journal of Development Economics (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103292
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted schooling on a global scale, challenging teachers with a flood of unmanageable demands.

These demands have persisted, resulting in an echo-pandemic of educator absences and attritioneducators leaving their jobsthat threatens the health of schools.

We wrote about ways to support teachers during the pandemic based on our 2020 national survey of more than 1,300 Canadian teachers.

Since then, we have followed more than 7,000 educators in their navigation and coping efforts during and after the pandemic. From these findings, we published more than 25 research articles, including 13 peer-reviewed articles, plus 12 articles for educators' journals, reports to government and to the Canadian Mental Health Association, and one podcast.

Since the pandemic, we've seen notable and important conversations about educators' burnout and self-care in media and academic publications. An upside to this is increased awareness in the education sector around mental health needs and the importance of resources for both students and employees.

A downside is these conversations reflect education systems that are out of balance in terms of resources and needs.

Absentee issues

In the United States, the National Center for Education Statistics reported a rise in teacher absenteeism after the pandemic.

In Canada, research based on data collected from educators in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador from September 2022 to August 2023 found "a significant association between sick days and the prevalence and severity of high stress, low resilience, burnout, anxiety, and depression among educators." This study, by psychiatry researcher Belinda Agyapong and colleagues, also noted "short-term sick leave can escalate into long-term absences without adequate support for teachers."

Rampant absenteeism has severe financial costs. In 2023, the cost of educator absences was $213 million in the Toronto District School Board alone.

There are academic and social-emotional costs to students when their schooling is disrupted by educators' frequent absences.

Schools across Ontario face shortages of administrators, teachers, educational assistants and office staff on a daily basis.

So, why is this happening?

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Demands, resources are unbalanced

An important step in solving a problem is defining its nature. A framework called the job demands-resources model, developed by psychologists from the Netherlands, provides a useful lens for understanding why educators are missing so much time at work. It posits how personal and job characteristics foster employee well-being, suggesting workplaces can be understood as a teeter-totter with demands on one end and resources on the other.

When employees have enough resources to meet demands, the system is in balance. Its workers function well, and the organization's goals are more likely to be met.

It is expected that resources in schools are supplied by employers, such as reasonable class sizes, adequate prep time and supports to meet complex student needs. It is important to note that resources are also supplied by employees, such as self-care practices and job skills.

Educators, administrators in charge of available resources and provincial policymakers in charge of overall funding for education must work together to achieve and maintain the balance between demands and resources.

So how have the demands experienced by educators changed since 2020?

Survey of educators

Our most recent research, a survey of 243 educators, showed 60 percent of survey respondents have experienced large increases in students' academic, social and behavioral needs. Survey data were collected in Manitoba during the first four months of 2024 at voluntary, school-based workshops provided by a national health organization.

Alarmingly, over 30 percent of respondents said they are rarely or never able to meet all these needs with their current resources.

Within education systems across the country, the demands are of greater number and intensity than prior to the pandemic without adequate resources to keep up.

Increased student needs are not being met within the current education system, and teachers' workload and work-life balance are suffering.

Educators looking for new jobs

UNESCO's predicted 2030 global teacher shortage of 44 million teachers provides an impetus to solve this issue quickly.

Although there are calls for higher salaries for teachers in some countries, Canadian teachers are paid well and some have received recent salary increases. However, salary raises alone do not make a job sustainable.

A lack of resources and supports to foster student success has resulted in significant dissatisfaction not only for teachers, but also for others across educator roles. In 2024, among the Manitoba educators we surveyed, 29 percent of teachers, 25 percent of principals, 33 percent of clinicians and 20 percent of educational assistants reported looking for new jobs in the past few months. The collective research indicates a system in crisis.

So how can we remedy the situation to bring back not only the effectiveness of our educational settings but also the joy of schooling?

Finding solutions

Recognition of the current imbalance has resulted in some "bright lights" that show the way for other school systems to curb educator absences and attrition.

Examples include:

These initiatives suggest some governments and policymakers are aware of the imbalances and are working to address them.

Importantly, attention to the needs of education sector employees beyond teachers like educational assistants, principals and clinicians (for example, psychologists) is necessary to re-establish balance.

When educators are properly resourced to do their jobs and are allowed to see the results in positive learning and growth of their students, they will be more inclined to be at work. If, in time, the education system is adequately and proactively resourced to meet the demands, schools can become better places to work and learn. Reduced educator attrition and absences will be good indicators of a system regaining its balance.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Seven Western states that depend on the Colorado River are ending the year at an impasse in negotiations over the writing of new rules for dealing with chronic water shortages.

Representatives of California and other states who attended an annual Colorado River conference in Las Vegas last week said they remain deadlocked in their talks on long-term plans for reducing water use to prevent the river's reservoirs from reaching critically low levels.

Disagreements over competing proposals have created a deep rift between two camps: the three states in the river's lower basinCalifornia, Arizona and Nevadaand the four states in the river's upper basinColorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico.

Those on both sides say they are willing to continue trying to reach a deal on how to apportion cutbacks in water use after 2026, when the current rules expire. But they also say easing the stalemate will be difficult.

Negotiations over the last year have brought "zero progress," said JB Hamby, California's Colorado River commissioner. He blamed the upper basin states for an entrenched position resisting participation in the cutbacks, which he said is untenable.

It's worrying that there is a "widening chasm" between the sides, Hamby said. "We are running out of time, and we're no closer to much of anything at this point than at the beginning."

The Biden administration last month outlined a range of alternatives for the new guidelines, which will replace interim rules that were adopted in 2007. Along with that ongoing federal review process, President-elect Donald Trump's administration is set to inherit a role in searching for a plan that all seven states can accept.

The impasse has raised the possibility that if disagreements aren't resolved, the states could enter a legal battle, a path riddled with uncertainty that water managers in both camps have said they hope to avoid.

The tensions were apparent during last week's Colorado River Water Users Association conference in Las Vegas, an event that often features negotiating sessions in addition to speeches outlining proposals for reducing demands on the river.

One public disagreement emerged over the lack of a meeting of the seven states' representatives at the conference, a closed-door discussion that was usually scheduled in previous years.

Becky Mitchell, Colorado's top negotiator, said during one public session that she had expected representatives of all seven states to meet before the gathering started, but "that did not occur."

Hamby took issue with her comment in an interview after the conference, saying it was untrue to suggest the lower basin states had denied a request to meet. Hamby said Mitchell had emailed him and others Dec. 2 to ask if they would have time to meet on Dec. 3 before the start of the conference, but he told her that wouldn't work because his flight was scheduled to arrive later.

Hamby accused Mitchell of trying to portray representatives of California, Arizona and Nevada as being unwilling to talk.

"It was a last-minute pointed request meant to not generate a meeting, and then use it as a media sound bite," Hamby said. "It begs the question, why would we want to talk to them when this is the sort of childish antics that seem to be increasingly dominating the upper basin's manner of behavior? Not focused on actual issues, but how do we play gotcha games in the media that misrepresent each other."

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Mitchell denied that, saying she emailed hoping all the states' representatives would meet during the week, but that didn't happen.

"My intention is to find a way to move forward," she said. "And so I'd be willing to meet any timeZoom, phone, in person, anywhere."

The Colorado River provides water for cities from Denver to Los Angeles, 30 Native tribes and farmlands from the Rocky Mountains to northern Mexico.

The river has long been over-allocated, and its reservoirs have declined dramatically since 2000. The average flow of the river has shrunk about 20% since 2000, and scientists have estimated that roughly half that decline has been caused by global warming driven by the burning of fossil fuels and rising levels of greenhouse gases.

The decline in flow is projected to worsen as temperatures rise.

In recent years, the states have adopted a series of incremental water-saving plans to try to prevent reservoirs from reaching perilously low levels.

California water agencies say they have reduced water use by more than 1.2 million acre-feet over the last two years, decreasing the state's usage of Colorado River supplies to the lowest levels since the 1940s. Some of those water savings have come through the Biden administration's funding of programs that pay farmers to temporarily leave fields dry to reduce water use.

Those efforts have helped conserve water in Lake Mead, the country's largest reservoir. As of this week, the reservoir near Las Vegas is 33% full.

Upstream on the Utah-Arizona border, the water level of Lake Powell, the nation's second-largest reservoir, stands at 38% of capacity.

With the negotiations on future water reductions at an impasse, some experts at the conference discussed the possibility of a legal fight being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Summarizing the mood at the meeting in an article for the news site Aspen Journalism, reporter Heather Sackett wrote that "speakers invoked Dr. Strangelove, the Hunger Games and Alice in Wonderland to convey the dire, darkly dystopian and illusory state of the negotiations."

Mitchell told The Times in an interview that the hard discussions reflect the difficulty of making substantial changes to adapt when the reservoirs are at low levels.

"When you're negotiating at or near crisis points within these reservoirs, it becomes more and more difficult," Mitchell said.

Still, Mitchell said she is hopeful the negotiators will be able to progress in the talks.

"I really feel like we might want to spend some time looking at where we have some common ground, and see what we can build on from there," Mitchell said. "We have to look at what the supply is and share that."

The two groups of states have presented starkly different proposals, disagreeing on how triggers for mandatory cutbacks should be determined, and how the reductions should be apportioned.

Representatives of California, Arizona and Nevada say the upper states' proposal is unworkable because it would require the lower states to shoulder the burden of the cuts, while the lower basin's proposal would spread the cuts throughout the region when reservoirs reach low levels.

Representatives of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico say they are seeking proportionate reductions. Officials from those states have said because water users in their region largely depend on snowmelt rather than water releases from reservoirs, they already regularly face serious shortages.

Water managers in the upper basin states have come under criticism recently from environmentalists and officials in other states for moving ahead with plans for new dams and diversions that would take more water from the river.

Hamby said those plans are a source of concern.

"This is not the time for putting a further strain on an already stressed river that's only going to be getting smaller in the future," Hamby said.

Mitchell said agencies in Colorado are developing such projects with the understanding that their water rights will likely be curtailed in many years because of limited supplies.

"In many cases, new storage projects will essentially simply help folks store water in wet years so they can survive in the dry years," she said. "We need to take advantage of those."

The river continues to be managed under a legal framework based on the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which allocated the water among the states.

The 1922 agreement requires the four states of the upper basin to deliver an annual average of 7.5 million acre-feet to California, Arizona and Nevada over any 10-year period.

Arizona officials have warned that projections show water deliveries might decrease below that required minimum in the coming years, which would enable the lower basin states to make a so-called "compact call" and require the upper basin states to meet the requirement by cutting their water usage.

Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, requested $1 million from state leaders this year to prepare for the potential costs of going to court if the states fail to reach an agreement.

"We'd rather find a negotiated way," Buschatzke said. "But the challenge for all seven of us is to create an outcome in which we do not back each other into a corner."

John Entsminger, Nevada's representative and general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said despite the tensions, the situation is not hopeless. He said he has continued having productive discussions one on one with officials from other states.

Early next year, Entsminger said, "the states need to get back to work and start forging a solution."

2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A storage pond near Anadarko Wolf Camp Lodge near Mentone. In October, 17 American white pelicans were spotted at Reeves Countys Lake Balmorhea with oiled feathers. Lake Balmorhea, a private lake about a mile southwest of the Balmorhea State Park, is near numerous oil wells and waste pits, which are a known hazard to birds. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

As birds migrate through arid West Texas, there are few bodies of water where they can take a rest. Some end up landing in oil field waste pits or ponds.

That is apparently what happened to 17 American white pelicans that were spotted at Reeves Countys Lake Balmorhea in October with oiled feathers.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is investigating where the birds were exposed to oily waste before they reached the lake. Lake Balmorhea, a private lake about a mile southwest of the beloved Balmorhea State Park, is near numerous oil wells and waste pits, which are a known hazard to birds.

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Texas adopted a rule to protect birds from oil field waste in 1991. But the rule has not been updated since the fracking boom increased the volumes of waste across the state. The Lake Balmorhea incident shows that the oil fields can still be a hazardous place for birds.

No one knows exactly how many birds die each year in waste pits. A 2006 study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that oil pits cause the deaths of 500,000 to 1 million birds per year nationwide.

The Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the oil and gas industry, is updating its waste management rules. But despite being over 300 pages, the most recent draft doesnt include a single mention of birds.

The best practices recommended by the federal wildlife service for storing waste from drilling and fracking include limiting the time oil pits are open and using closed loop systems, which separate the liquids from solids without the use of pits and allow for the fluids to be reused, instead of open pits, to protect birds. Some of these recommendations remain optional in Texas.

The RRC enforces its rules, including Rule 22 to protect birds, through permitting and inspections processes, Railroad Commission spokesperson Patty Ramon said. Inspectors in district offices help ensure rules are followed during their daily inspections, and if violations are cited, operators are required to come under compliance.

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Oiled pelicans land at Lake Balmorhea

Local landowners reported the pelicans to TPWD on Oct. 18, according to agency spokesperson Kirk McDonnell, who said TPWD staff observed the birds with varying degrees of oiling on their feathers.

An American white pelican flies over Mitchell Lake on San Antonio's South Side. In October, 17 American white pelicans were spotted at Reeves Countys Lake Balmorhea with oiled feathers. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is investigating where the birds were exposed to oily waste before they reached the lake. William Luther

The birds left the site several days later, and no mortalities were observed, McDonnell said.

The American white pelican is one of the largest birds in North America, with a wingspan reaching 9 feet. The birds migrate in the fall from their breeding grounds in the Canadian prairie provinces and upper Midwest states to the Texas coast and Mexico.

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The pelicans were migrating south for the winter and stopping at water bodies like Lake Balmorhea along the way, but TPWD has not pinpointed an exact location where the oiling may have occurred, McDonnell said. The investigation is ongoing.

Operators dig reserve pits next to oil rigs to dispose of drilling muds, well cuttings and other waste products from the well. Once drilling is complete, the contents of the reserve pits are left to dry. The leftover solids are then buried underground. These pits filled with toxic waste present a hazard for birds, especially in areas like the Permian Basin that have few natural sources of water.

Even when birds survive an encounter with a waste pit, which can store both produced water and drilling mud, the exposure can be detrimental to their health. Birds preen to remove the waste from their feathers and end up ingesting oil, which can be fatal in high quantities. Birds that consume oil in nontoxic amounts can later be more vulnerable to disease and predators. Waterfowl also can transfer oil from their feet and feathers onto eggs during breeding season.

The TPWD investigative report, which Inside Climate News requested through a records request, is not yet finalized. The Railroad Commission of Texas inspected pits adjacent to Lake Balmorhea and did not identify any potential sources of the oil.

We have also sent word to operators to send personnel to their pits in the area, agency spokesperson R.J. Desilva said.

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Birders at Lake Balmorhea have spotted more than 60 species of birds, including great blue herons, red-tailed hawks and green-winged teals, according to Ellen Weinacht, who manages the Sandia Wetland on her nearby property. Weinacht said several dead pelicans were found in a separate incident in fall 2023, though she did not indicate they were injured in oil pits.

Oil field waste threatens migratory birds

A wildlife advocate in Midland brought national attention to the plight of birds in the oil fields in the 1970s and 1980s. Midge Erskine ran a wildlife refuge and documented countless birds dying in open pits around Midland. Her advocacy pressured the industry and regulators to do more to protect birds.

American white pelicans are seen at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center on the South Side. In Reeves County, landowners reported seeing pelicans with oiled feathers at Lake Balmorhea, according to TPWD spokesperson Kirk McDonnell, who added that agency staff observed the birds with varying degrees of oiling on their feathers. William Luther /San Antonio Express-News

The Railroad Commission adopted State Rule 22 in 1991 requiring operators to screen, net, cover, or otherwise render harmless to birds open-top tanks and pits during drilling and exploration. The rule includes several methodologies that can be used to achieve compliance. The rule also states that Texas cooperates with federal and state wildlife agencies to protect birds.

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Bird deaths in the oil fields have continued.

In 2007, Spindletop Drilling paid fines after 12 Northern mockingbirds and one mourning dove were found dead in its oil pits in East Texas. In 2013, Phillips 66 in the Texas Panhandle was fined after 260 waterfowl, mostly teal, died in the facilitys 22-acre brine pond.

Although law enforcement and industry efforts have produced genuine progress on this issue, oil pits remain a significant source of mortality for birds in the United States, Pepper W. Trail, a forensic ornithologist with the federal wildlife service, wrote in the 2006 study.

Federal authorities have used the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to penalize companies whose waste pits have killed migratory birds.

In 2017, the administration of President Donald Trump rolled back an Obama-era directive to prosecute companies for incidental or unintentional bird kills under the act. President Joe Biden reinstated the rule in 2021. When Trump returns to office, he once again could remove this tool to penalize companies.

So far in 2024, Railroad Commission inspectors have issued more than 250 violations of State Rule 22, the bird protection rule, to oil and gas companies. The TPWD spokesperson said that in the past 10 years, the agency has documented nine cases of birds landing in oil pits with 44 confirmed mortalities and another 16 oiled birds that were rehabilitated.

Railroad Commission updates waste pit rules

The Railroad Commission is updating its rules for oil field waste pits, known as Chapter 4, for the first time since the 1980s.

While the draft rule does not specifically mention bird protections, Railroad Commission spokesperson Patty Ramon said the Rule 22 requirements and corresponding liabilities apply to all companies and will be enforced on pits covered by Chapter 4.

But Commission Shift, a nonpartisan organization focused on reforming oil and gas regulation in Texas, would like the updated waste pit rules to go further to protect birds. The organization submitted extensive public comments on the draft rule.

Pits are a known danger for birds and wildlife, yet the Commission is not proposing to update Rule 22 or add additional rules to protect other animals from these pits, their comments read.

The language is vague and operators can get around it, said Virginia Palacios, Commission Shifts executive director. The RRC should have done more in these draft rule amendments to incorporate best practices.

Regulations vary from state to state for how long the reserve pit can be left open to the elements with birds overhead. Some states cap it at 30 days. Texas allows a full calendar year. There is also no limit to the size of reserve pits in Texas.
On Thursdays this past semester, Yukari Tadano has stood at the front of a Black Hills State classroom. In her soft, warm voice, Tadano, a native of Japan, informed attendees on Japanese culture through a new, two-year long program BHSU added called the Japanese Outreach Initiative.

Sometimes, its sharing how Christmas in Japan is celebrated with KFC and little fanfare. Other times, it's teaching the complicated craft of Japanese calligraphy.

Tadano sees it as a way to build a culture rapidly growing in America and to give back. Over a decade ago, after natural disasters upended her home in rural Fukushima, a study abroad trip to America helped her find peace, strength and purpose.

"I hope my efforts will inspire my people to take an interest in Japan and by extension the wider world," Tadano said.

Megan Lipp, who attended several classes with her daughter, Fran, feels grateful Tadano left her home "to expose the kids to all sorts of different people. Especially the climate now  with people's attitudes toward immigrants."

Lipp loves the scenic hiking trails and community of Spearfish, but also recognizes its lack of diversity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 97% of the roughly 13,000 residents only speak English; almost 90% are White; and less than 1% are Asian, let alone Japanese.

Given some aspects of the current political climate, Lipp harbors concerns that younger generations in a community like Spearfish can develop a prejudice toward foreign groups. Which is why she's enthralled that denizens of Spearfish can experience someone like the kind, soft-spoken Tadano, who regularly gifts Japanese candy after every class.

"It's so important just to see the humanity in everybody, Lipp said.

Tadano's inspiration to bring cultural diversity to the Black Hills traces back to tragedy.

In 2011, an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster ravaged her surrounding community in rural Minamisoma, Fukushima. To move past this, she enrolled in a study abroad program in far-flung Findlay, Ohio.

"I was mentally and physically exhausted; that study abroad program dramatically changed my life," said Tadano, who lived in the U.S. from August of 2012 through July of 2013.

Her three host families provided shelter, support and a window into American culture. She got to see first-hand how an Ohio State win  or loss  over Michigan feels life-defining for some. Through it all she considered the experience healing" and perspective-shifting.

I became a minority, which challenged many of my preconceived notions. And this experience transformed me, Tadano said.

She flew back to Japan, finished her schooling and from April of 2018 to June of 2021 went back to her home to learn more about the natural disaster and help rebuild the community. After this, she participated in a multicultural center and, as her interest in coming back stateside had grown, she got an opportunity to do it via the Japanese Initiative Outreach.

We are incredibly excited to welcome Yukari Tadano to our campus and community, Kaitlin Palmer, coordinator of the International Relations and Global Engagement Office at BHSU, said in a press release. Her expertise and passion for cultural outreach will be invaluable in enriching and strengthening our international programming. We look forward to the innovative and engaging activities she will bring to our students and the wider community.

Megan Lipp, meanwhile, had heard about the program from a neighbor and thought it would be perfect for her daughter, Fran, and her best friend, Rose. Both are part of the national trend of Americans fascinated with Japanese culture. The rise has been fueled by anime  a distinct style of Japanese animation  and manga  best described as a type of Japanese comic.

During that first class, Lipp was drawn in through Tadanos sincerity and genuine passion for teaching rudimentary topics. It started with how to count from one to 10 in Japanese (ichi, ni, san, shi (yon), go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyuu and juu, for those who are curious). Plus, the three systems that Japanese is written in (hiragana, katakana and kanji).

"Gosh, to travel across the world, from Japan to South Dakota, I just think how hard that would be. It's so impressive to me ... to have the initiative and the desire," Lipp said.

As classes went on, Lipp found Fran leaping into her 2010 red Dodge pickup truck excited to see the next aspect of Japanese culture they could explore.

Together, they learned about the most popular attractions in Japan, cultural nuances like how tipping isnt expected, and learned Japanese onomatopoeias for a growling stomach, a horse, a mouse and a cat. Not long ago, they learned that Christmas is so minor its celebrated with KFC and no days off from school or work.

That one was really fun, Lipp said of the lesson.

After the most recent class they attended, Tadano gifted them a hodgepodge of bright, cute Japanese candies and a gigantic cheesy puff.

Not multiple in a bag. Just a single one. The size of a Snickers bar, Lipp said.

She laughed while reflecting on the differences between the American and Japanese version of the fingertip-staining, crunchy delights, but was aware it held a deeper meaning.

For Lipp, it was another example of how Tadano provided an experience  and human connection  that Fran and Rose may not have had anywhere else.

I just think it's so important that they meet as many different people as they can and see the world is not South Dakota. There's just so much more to it, Lipp said.
Speeding islander dies crashing into concrete power pole

Cozumel, Q.R.  A Cozumel driver was killed early Tuesday morning in a single vehicle accident. According to Cozumel Police, the male driver was speeding when he hit a concrete power pole, breaking it in two.

The accident happened at Puerto de Abrigo in the northern Hotel Zone of Cozumel. According to police, the driver, who was traveling at excessive speed, lost control on a corner. He hit a concrete CFE pole, breaking it in half before downing a pal tree.

Public Safety and Traffic officers along with Civil Protection, firefighters and emergency units attended to the accident. At the scene, police found a destroyed Mexico City-plated Mitsubishi with a trapped driver behind the wheel.

Parts of the car were found scattered for several meters around the accident scene due to the severity of the impact. The driver of the car is reported to have been the sole occupant.

In a statement, the Seguridad Ciudadana of Cozumel reported that a serious accident occurred involving a vehicle traveling at excessive speed in the northern Hotel Zone of Cozumel at the height of the second curve of Puerto de Abrigo.

Public Safety and Traffic officers, Civil Protection and firefighters, as well as emergency units, were on site carrying out the corresponding procedures. Both roads in that section were closed at kilometer 3.5 while the corresponding procedures were carried out.

Additional details, including the identity of the driver, have not been released.
Tulum International receives it first direct flight from Bogota, Colombia

Tulum, Q.R.  On Tuesday, Tulum International received its first direct flight from Bogota, Colombia. The Avianca plane landed at 4:00 p.m.. with 160 passengers on board after leaving the Colombian city at 12:30 p.m.

The new international link strengthens the destinations connectivity with South America and marks a key step in its tourism expansion. Avianca flight 94 was welcomed at the Tulum International Airport with the traditional water arch.

Local authorities have said this first flight not only strengthens ties between Colombia and Mexico, but also promises an increase in the arrival of Colombian tourists to Tulum, a destination recognized for its natural, cultural and archaeological wealth.

With this new direct link, the aim is to consolidate Tulum as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Mexico, increasing the flow of international visitors and generating significant economic benefits for the region.

The incorporation of this route reinforces Tulums position as a benchmark for tourism in the Mexican Caribbean, opening up new development opportunities for this constantly growing destination.
Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net.

A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band.
While we Americans tend to deplore the Old Worlds stark class distinctions and snooty ways, theres still much to be learnedor re-learnedfrom old ways of doing things. Ask a Habsburg.

Many years ago, an acquaintance of my wifes and mine married a Habsburg. She was not of noble stockjust a good ol American girl whose beauty piqued the interest of a European archduke during a visit to the states. Several of our friends attended the wedding, excited not only to play dress-up (the ladies were encouraged to sport fashionable wedding hats) but also to rub shoulders with European aristocrats. The whole thing made me sick.

Let me explain. I have no principle objection to nobility or royalty per se. If your culture and nation prefers kings and queens, dukes and duchesses, have at it. Rather, as an Americaneven a Catholic Americanraised to love our republic and its founding, I possess a certain instinctive antagonism toward the idea of a formal aristocracy. We fought a war to rid ourselves of that kind of thing, and the framers of our Constitution decidedly rejected reconstituting it. Thus, to witness my fellow Americans giddy at the first sign of someone with a title smacks me as, well, un-American.

Nevertheless, there is a certain interest in, perhaps even obsession with, monarchies and titled nobility among Americans, usually of the young, conservative, Catholic variety. I suppose I can appreciate why: In an increasingly post-Christian culture that eschews religion, tradition, and even family, the prospect of returning to a system governed by pious royalty and a peerage system operating out of a sense of noblesse oblige seems far superior to our atomized, narcissistic materialism. Thus post-liberals and integralists represented by the likes of New Polity have persuaded a new generation of intelligent youth (again, mostly Catholics) to reject republicanism in favor of neo-monarchism.

I presume that explains, in part, why the Habsburgs are enjoying a certain renaissance among traditionalist Catholics. The British Catholic Herald in October wrote of the growing US following of Blessed Karl of Austria (the last Habsburg emperor), about whom there is a recent book celebrated in Catholic media. There was even a symposiumearlier this year in, of all places, Plano, Texas, honoring Blessed Karl. It is this popularity, I would speculate, that explains Building a Wholesome Family in a Broken World: Habsburg Lessons from the Centuries by Eduard Habsburg, Archduke of Austria.

Archduke Eduards book is built upon the premise of what he calls the Habsburg Way, a modus vivendi he describes as having defined the extended Habsburg family for many centuries, one rooted in, among other things, faith, family, and tradition. Now I confess that, in one sense, I care as much about the Habsburg Way as I do Carlitos Way. Indeed, the very idea of a certain way that defines an extended family spanning an entire continent over the course of centuries strikes me as a bit tenuous, if not also patronizingperhaps my Polish ancestors, many of their names lost to history, would also have developed a distinguishable way if they hadnt worked as serfs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

That said, theres no reason why the good archdukea married father of six childrenwouldnt know a thing or two about raising a family, and we Americans, even if unenthusiastic about hereditary titles or monarchies, shouldnt respectfully give Eduard Habsburg his rightful due.

He certainly starts out the book on solid enough ground, citing Aristotles description of man as a zoon politikon, or political animal, while noting that it is not in an individualistic vacuum but the tiny society of the family that man develops the qualities that will prepare him for participation in the polis. For it is in the family, before any other community, that man first learns of love, friendship, trust, and solidarity, the very traits required for responsible citizenship.

Habsburg warns that his advice may seem old-fashioned or reactionary, beginning as he does with a discussion of chastity. We have an old saying in my family, he writes. If you are not faithful to your future wife before you marry her, you wont be faithful to her after you have married her. Given the decline in marriage among younger generations, coupled with the proliferation of pornography, thats not a message to which many Americans will be receptive.

Then again, as our recent election demonstrated, there is a political and cultural realignment underway in our nation, particularly among younger males, who, reacting against the feminization of our society, are interested in cultivating masculine virtue. When such influencers as Russell Brand denounce the ills of promiscuity and pornography, perhaps we may indeed witness a renewed interest in chastity, too. And, as Habsburg rightly notes, premarital sex fosters a false sense of relational intimacy that tends to obscure our ability to soberly evaluate the complementarity of a prospective partner, because the couple is subsisting on a hormonally caused emotional high.

As Building a Wholesome Family in a Broken World is from a Catholic publisher, faith looms large in the archdukes account. The author urges families to make prayer and religious observance the centerpiece of their lives, which, whether one is Catholic or a member of another religious tradition, is sound advice supported by extensive data. Sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox, for example, has for decades conducted research demonstrating the many positive outcomes for parents and children if faith is integral to daily family life.

Habsburgs book is filled with wise, practical advice. He urges those seeking a spouse to get to know the potential spouses family. It may sound unromantic but not only do ones in-laws say a lot about a potential spouse you may not have noticed beforethey also offer a glance into what lies in your shared future. Though we may seek to repudiate our upbringing, its inevitable that habits formed by our parents early in life will eventually manifest themselves. Talk to any couple married for a while and they will have a story to share about how they came to realize, for better or worse, the influence of their spouses mother or father on the one they love. Moreover, whatever traits you observe in a prospective spouse during dating, its best to accept that, while people can change, youre unlikely to be the one to cajole them into that change.

As for moving toward marriage, Habsburg warns women against delaying tying the knot because of how much harder it will be to conceive childrena caution also backed up by extensive data. He also exhorts readers to avoid turning an engagement into a social media moment, but instead to cherish the intimacy of that moment. Id go further and urge people to make very, very few of their experiences together social media moments: Our relationships, like prayer, are highly personal.

When it comes to kids, Habsburg prefers Christian names over novelty or singularity. Though family histories can be complicatedand sometimes filled with unusual monikersId also recommend considering family names. All our (five) children have both Christian and family names. And if you go back far enough in your family tree, the name may be unusual anyway!

As for child-rearing, the archduke encourages new mothers to get out of the workforce for the early years of parenting. Thats important given the unparalleled bond between babies and nursing mothers. (I recently supervised a first-time mom who struggled daily to be available to her newborn, find private office space at work to pump, and stay on top of her workload.) If finances allow women to avoid this terrible grind, even if only for a year or two, they need to resist the exhausting pressures of our career-obsessed culture.

Moreover, as Habsburg regularly reiterates, we should celebrate the joys of raising children. What an incredible opportunity to form our progeny, both in the same traditions and passions our parents bequeathed to us and whatever unique interests we possess (theres a reason my children like bluegrass). Your children wont do what you tell them to do; they will do what they see you doing yourself, he correctly writes. I can attest: If kids see you spending your leisure time reading and exercising, they will read books and exercise. If they see you wasting your time in front of a screen, theyll presume thats what they should do, too. If you homeschool, as we do, you have even more opportunity to shape your children (my eldest daughter, not even a teenager, is familiar with most of Shakespeares corpus).

Habsburg cautions that parenting will likely bring some friendships to an end, as those without children, or who dont care for children, have interests that diverge from yours. Id go further: You may in time even lose friends who embark on the same journey of marriage and children as you. This is because marriage and children affect people in profoundly different ways. Some couples become obsessively focused on their relationship and practically or even entirely unavailable; others become so consumed by their children that they become uninteresting; others in our digital age will literally try to monetize their family life or child-rearing.

All this to say that Habsburgs opening citation of Aristotle is decidedly appropriate. For, like all things in life, the Greek philosophers golden mean, the truly virtuous middle ground between extreme behaviors, is what all marriages should aim for. And, as the good archduke argues, theres nothing about the virtuous life that requires an inherited title to realize. Humility, charity, and faith, qualities all Americans are capable of acquiring, are sufficient for the job.
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The new book "The Texas Cheese Trail" highlights offerings from 11 creameries across the state. Paul Stephen/Staff

Everybody knows beef is big in Texas. The state is home to more than 4 million head of cattle  twice that of our closest competitor.

A less well-known fact is that with all those cows parading on our prairies comes milk. A lot of milk.

Texas is one of the nation's top dairy producers as well. And wherever you have cream, you're bound to find cheese.

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Those curds are the star of a new book, "The Texas Cheese Trail," published by Rachel and Bob Pineda. As the owners of Otto's Cheese Shop in New Braunfels, the Pinedas may just be the cheesiest couple in Texas, and they're eager to share their experiences exploring the state's creameries.

"I went to the conference for the American Cheese Society in 2022 and just kind of realized there wasn't really much on Texas cheese. There were no resources, no information to gather from," Rachel Pineda said. "We wanted to have something out there that people could use and learn about Texas cheese since there isn't a lot of information out there on it."

Rachel and Bob Pineda have published a new book, "The Texas Cheese Trail," highlighting 11 of the state's creameries. Paul Stephen/Staff

The new book "The Texas Cheese Trail" highlights offerings from 11 creameries across the state. Otto's Cheese Shop Otto's Cheese Shop is located at 344 Landa St. in New Braunfels. Paul Stephen/Staff Rachel Pineda, left and Bob Pineda, center, have published a new book called "The Texas Cheese Trail" that highlights 11 of the state's creameries. Otto's Cheese Shop

The new title examines the offerings from 11 Texas cheesemakers, many of them clustered around San Antonio. The Pinedas dive deep into cheese history here, noting that, "for more than a century, makers throughout the state have quietly produced cheese with little fanfare, honoring an age-old tradition relatively new to the Lone Star State when compared to other parts of the world."

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From an industry that mostly relied on milk imported from Northern states to today's vibrant homegrown dairy farms, the Pinedas say we're now home to enough "cheese-from-scratch producers to rival Vermont," a state known to have the nation's highest ratio of cheesemakers per capita.

That doesn't mean everything is cheddar. The unique geography and climate of Texas brings its own flavor to the table.

Otto's Cheese Shop at 344 Landa St. in New Braunfels offers a wide selection of international and Texas cheeses. Paul Stephen/Staff

"The cheese is going to taste different from what you get in Vermont, Wisconsin, California," Rachel Pineda said. "It's just a different taste, depending on how each maker utilizes their milk, from how their cows are fed to what cultures they put in there, you're going to get different tastes out of all of these cheeses. We have two makers that actually use the same dairy, and their cheeses taste completely different. So it's kind of cool to see the variations amongst makers themselves, and how they age it and care for the cheeses, the end result that you get out of it."

While Texas is home to an outsized number of dairy cattle, cows are far from the only creatures providing the base material for the state's cheeses. Goats, water buffalo and sheep all play a role as well. The Pinedas said goats are particularly well suited to the state's rugged terroir for cheesemakers. And it's not all the same tangy chevre on the beet salad you had at that trendy new restaurant.

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"Depending on the goat milk, you're going to get different products," Rachel Pineda said. "They do have some aged goat cheeses, like this one from Goatilicious (one of the creameries featured in the book) here in New Braunfels. It's something else."

While the state is home to many more cheesemakers than the 11 featured in "The Texas Cheese Trail," the Pinedas wanted to focus on the artisanal producers who potential customers can find with relative ease.

"In the book, we listed stores where they could find them at. With some of those stores, they offer shipping," Rachel Pineda said. "They may not have every single cheese all at once, but they'll have some sort of selection from Texas makers in rotation."

Here in San Antonio, that can be as easy as a drive to Central Market. The store stocks offerings from River Whey Creamery (Schertz), Veldhuizen Cheese (Dublin) and Mozzarella Company (Dallas), among other state producers featured in "The Texas Cheese Trail."

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"The Texas Cheese Trail" provides pairing tips with state-made cheeses. Otto's Cheese Shop

The Pinedas provide some particularly helpful pairing tips in their book for anyone hoping to build a memorable cheese board this holiday season. They suggest partnering bright chevres such as Pure Luck's (Dripping Springs) Silver Lining with honey. The Whey Blue from River Whey Creamery matches well with a pungent salami. A hard cheese such as the Elso from Haro Cheese Co. (Bertram) is the right choice to go along with a glass of Texas tempranillo.

If you're new to exploring the world of cheese and want to expand your palate beyond a bag of shredded cheddar, Otto's Cheese Shop is worth a visit.

"We like to let people try the things in the store before they go home with them, so that way they can feel confident in going home with something they're going to love," Rachel Pineda said. "There's that one-on-one that you get at a cheese shop, versus just picking up cheese at the grocery store that really helps consumers make an informed decision."

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Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication.

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman, narrated by Nicholas Guy Smith

Collum, the bumpkin protagonist of Lev Grossmans postlapsarian take on the Arthurian epic, arrives at Camelot with a head full of dreams, only to find out that King Arthur is dead. Collum then teams up with a ragtag band of Round Table leftovers to try to restore some chivalry to the land. Only the most skilled of narrators can pull off this kind of novel, with dozens of charactersmen and women, young and old, peasants and aristocrats. But Nicholas Guy Smith is more than up to the task of performing the witchy glee of Morgan le Fay while also sustaining Collums wryly hopeful perspective as he encounters wonders and disappointments in equal measure. (Full disclosure: Grossman is a friend.)

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

Cool and poised, with an ever-so-slightly husky voice, Saskia Maarleveld confidently takes charge of this gothic saga set in an Adirondack summer camp in 1975. A camper, the daughter of the wealthy family that funds the camp, goes missing, and it is not the first time a child has disappeared from the grounds. The search threatens to expose all sorts of secrets, from past misdeeds to the ugly inequities that prevail in the nearby town that ostensibly benefits from the camp. Liz Moores immersive story combines such fervid elements as illicit summer affairs, a half-mad lady of the house, and an ambitious young female detective looking to make her reputation in a hidebound department, all of which Maarleveld handles with aplomb, transforming a story that pushes the boundaries of plausibility into an entirely convincing ride.

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James by Percival Everett, narrated by Dominic Hoffman

Percival Everetts retelling of Huckleberry Finn might be the years most praised (and awarded) literary novel, but it also makes for a terrific listening experience. Everetts novel envisions a secret Black world, invisible to the whites of the antebellum South. Forced to flee his home to avoid being sold down the river, James faces ordeals more perilous than his young companion can imagine, and yet the pair form a bond whose power remains perplexing until the novels end. Less witty and ferocious than Everetts contemporary fiction, James is a work that lives by its narrators expansive humanity, beautifully portrayed in Dominic Hoffmans sensitive narration.

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The Road From Belhaven by Margot Livesey, narrated by Ell Potter

Margot Livesey is one of those If you know, you know authors, who writes novels that feel as pure and still as the air in winter woods. Set in 19th-century Scotland, this one is the story of a country girl who, like many of Liveseys heroines, has an uncanny gift. Lizzies dream of inheriting her grandparents farm runs afoul of love and custom, and she ends up pregnant by an increasingly elusive young tailor. Lizzies premonitions never threaten to take over her story, and instead serve mostly to spur on the plot. The novels true aim is to reproduce Lizzies time and place and the difficulties of being a young woman in both. Ell Potters serene narration, with its lilting brogue, intensifies the atmosphere. Her main character may occasionally glimpse the future, but Livesey has a masterful command of the past.

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Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion, narrated by Maya Hawke

The softnessalmost breathinessof Maya Hawkes voice might seem a too-marked contrast with Joan Didions often icy prose style in this iconic essay collection, but the combination turns out to be inspired. After all, Didion herself reminds the reader that she was a small and shy social presence, qualities she (disingenuously) suggests made her a poor reporter. When she is voiced by Hawke, it becomes easier to imagine the mild feminine presence that enabled Didion to become a merciless, relatively unnoticed fly on the walls of the counterculture. Didion wrote of the importance she attributed to placing herself within the stories she told, so that the reader knew who was talking. Hawkes performance conveys this in a way that print on the page simply cant.

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, narrated by Andrew Fallaize

A perfectly balanced mix of fantasy and mystery, this novel is narrated by Dinios Kol, a rookie assigned to assist the eccentric but gifted detective Ana Dolabra in the investigation of the murder of a high-ranking imperial officer. The victim was exploded by a tree that grew from within his bodywhich should give you a sense of the strange world this Sherlockian pair inhabit, an empire whose technology derives from altering biological forms. The twisty case permits Dinios and Ana to infiltrate many levels of the empires stratified class system and gradually reveal them to the reader, unfurling Robert Jackson Bennetts setting in a fashion that never overwhelms. Andrew Fallaizes narration slides delightfully from the stalwart gawkiness of Dinios to the whinnying high-handedness of his peculiar boss, maximizing the novels comic brio.

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Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout, narrated by Kimberly Farr

They say that Elizabeth Strouts fans tend to be either Olive Kitteridge people or Lucy Barton people, but in this most recent installment in Strouts series of novels set in and around the small town of Crosby, Maine, you dont have to pick. Olive and Lucy finally meet, and the result is an cornucopia of storytelling about other peoples lost loves, wayward children, and untimely deaths. Kimberly Farr, a longtime narrator of Strouts work, understands that her novels must be read as if they are part of an unfolding conversation, full of updates and rumors about neighbors, friends, and strangers. Olive and Lucy each has her own, distinct way of doing this, and getting the chance to hear them perform as a duet feels like a much-anticipated treat.

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The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard, narrated by Juliet Stevenson

Juliet Stevenson may be every audiobook listeners preferred narrator of British classics, and if Shirley Hazzards 1980 novel is not so venerable as Austens or the Brontes, in many quarters it is just as revered. The story of the fortunes of two sisters from the provincesAustralia, to be preciseas they make their way through the treacherous terrain of 20th-century England, The Transit of Venus is a subtle work that doesnt offer up its treasures easily. Few narrators could master Hazzards elliptical prose, with its sudden foreshadowing and Olympian ironies, as expertly as Stevenson does here.

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We Solve Murders by Richard Osman, narrated by Nicola Walker

I confess Ive never taken to Richard Osmans twee Thursday Murder Club series, with its retirement-home sleuths, but this launch of a new series is pure catnip. Amy, a private security officer, gets hired as the bodyguard of Rosie DAntonio, an aging bestselling novelist with a private island and a long and colorful personal history. (Think Jackie CollinsI guess it wouldnt be an Osman novel without a sassy oldster.) Then a series of influencers turn up dead in a fashion that implicates Amy, and she and her father-in-law, a retired policeman, try to get to the bottom of it, with a delighted Rosie coming along for the ride (and picking up the check). To add to the giddy, jet-setting fun, Nicola Walkeran actress beloved by British TV buffsbrings her trademark gentle wit to a story that is, at heart, about the deep love between two stoic do-gooders.

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Whale Fall by Elizabeth OConnor, narrated by Dyfrig Morris, Gabrielle Glaister, Gwyneth Keyworth, Jot Davies, and Nick Griffiths

Set on a small, sparsely populated Welsh island in the late 1930s, Elizabeth OConnors novel portrays a way of life on the verge of vanishing, as seen through the eyes of a young woman who longs to leave it behind. Id seen girls married at 16, Manod relates, with children by 20, widowed by the sea by 25, worn out and lost. When two English ethnographers arrive on the island to study the local customs, Manod at first thinks they offer a lifeline to an alternative. Too late, she comes to suspect their motives, and readers will recognize their link to ominous developments in the outside world. A single narrator might have pulled off the diverse accents this story requires, but the cast of Welsh and British voice actors emphasize the tragic culture clash at the center of this beautiful novel.
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Poor Kimberly Guilfoyle. Or  lucky Kimberly Guilfoyle? The former Fox News host has received either a demotion or a promotion, depending on how you look at it. As of this week, it seems as if longtime rumors that shes no longer in line to be President-elect Donald Trumps daughter in law are bearing out. But in true when one door closes, a window opens fashion, instead shell be the United States next ambassador to Greece.

Trump announced the appointment on Tuesday, the same day a British tabloid published photos of Guilfoyles once and possibly still current fiance, Donald Trump Jr., out with another woman, Florida socialite Bettina Anderson. Don Jr. and Guilfoyle got engaged in 2020, and although no one has officially confirmed a split, this weeks photos follow months of speculation about the status of the conservative power couple.

While banishing one of his childrens exes to another country does sound like something Trump would do, thats probably not whats going on here. I mean, maybe for Ivanka, but for Don Jr.? Nah: If anyone is being rewarded, its probably Guilfoyle. Shes been a loyal soldier to Trump for a long time, and she arguably kept Don Jr. out of his hair for six years. Ambassador to Greece is a plum gigin Trumps eyes, its an important country but also a vacation countryand giving it to Guilfoyle is a way of thanking her for her service. (Unnamed Trumpworld sources are also advancing the idea that Greece will be strategically important because of developments in Syria. Maybe Guilfoyle will have more luck with peace in the Middle East than Jared Kushner ever did?)

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For Guilfoyle, itll be just another wrinkle in an interesting political evolution. From 2001 to 2006, she was married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, and back then she looked every bit the prim political spouse. After the two divorced, she found her way to Fox News, and eventually the MAGA orbit. Will she do another political 180 to match the next person she dates? Just one more reason to stay tuned for her ambassadorship.

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As for the new woman in Don Jr.s life, Anderson is a 38-year-old from Palm Beach and reportedly a friend of his ex-wife, Vanessa Trump, with whom he shares five children. Andersons birthday was this week, and she shared a photo on her Instagram Stories of a bouquet and card she received, which read, Many have said that youre aging out but I think youre perfect. Though she didnt say outright that it was from Don Jr., she tagged him in the post, which is extremely messy considering that, as far as most people knew, he was still engaged to someone else. Also, what kind of birthday wish is it to be told that youre aging? (For context, Don Jr. is 46, and Guilfoyle is 55.) And what is with those Trump men always repeating what many are saying? Wishing this promising new couple the best, obviously.

If this all seems pretty humiliating for Guilfoyle, look at the bright side: Now she doesnt have to spend the rest of her life with Don Jr. She gets to be ambassador to Greece! At the very least, it seems like a fun country in which to be single.
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A freezer has been rolled out at my local grocery store to house the last few turkeys that went unsold through Thanksgiving weekend. Theyll lie there, a mass grave of Butterballs, before undoubtedly being spirited away from the aisles for the next calendar year. If you were buying any other proteinchuck roast, pork shoulder, even a few Cornish game hensthis would be an absolute steal. Whats better than having a reliable dinner for a family of five on hand? With leftovers to boot? But alas, according to our social contract, whole roasted turkey can only be served on exactly two dates in late November and late December. If you pull a sizzling bird from the oven in the middle of June? You might be subject to a wellness checkor maybe even a government watch listno matter how good it tastes.

This year, Im breaking that cycle. On my next grocery run, Ill be returning home with one of those lingering Butterballs, so that its bountiful carcass may lie in the bowels of my freezer. And someday soonMarch? August? October?that turkey is getting denuded, oiled, and roasted, for no occasion whatsoever, adding a vibrant splash of color to a random weekend. Thanksgiving 2025 is so far away it might as well not exist, but to hell with itIll still be keeping a turkey in the chamber. After all, whole roasted turkey isand should bea year-round food.

I know what youre thinking. Doesnt this break the rules? Isnt there an elemental axiom about intact turkey that restricts it to the early winter? Maybe youre assuming that theres something perverse about keeping a frozen turkey around for months on end, becauseon the day of its roastingit will have become poisonous and inedible. Thats not true at all. Frozen turkey retains its premium quality for at least one year, providing plenty of coverage for my future banquet. Perhaps youre thinking about all of the elbow grease that goes into a Thanksgiving Day prepthe countertop cluttering, and in-law wrangling, and gravy rationingand are loath to go down that road twice in one year. But remember, those concerns are specific to the feast, not the main course. Want to experience the delectable mildness of turkey meat, and the subsequent turkey sandwiches and turkey stock, without the logjam of the holidays? Sounds like you need a turkey in the chamber!

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Of course, this practice would be much more accepted if whole turkeys were more readily available. Yes, my grocery store is replete with the minor exports of the turkey industryI often have at least two pounds of ground turkey on handbut plucked, broiler-ready birds are brought in specifically for the Thanksgiving festivities. For instance: Trader Joes didnt start hawking turkeys until Nov. 14, and its leftovers after the holiday are typically sent back to butchers who reduce the protein into more flexible foodstuffs. I understand why that is. Chicken, the other poultry, is still, by far, the most popular meat in the world, to the point that human beings slaughter 74 billion of them every year. (Compare that number to the mere 218 million turkeys produced in U.S. farms during the same interval.) Its a fact of life that Americans have been conditioned to mold their poultry intake around the smaller, more versatile bird, whose protein must be recontextualized with a pounding of spicemasalad, battered, dissolved into a roiling gumbo, or submerged in an ocean of arrabbiata saucefor it to ever taste interesting. You know what would break up that monotony? You know what would be a deliriously fun impulse buy to use sometime in February? Guys, Im going to keep saying it: Have a turkey in the chamber.

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Think of all the experimentation you could do! Every Thanksgiving were subjected to endless trendy turkey recipes, assaulting our inboxes en masse. Should you brine your turkey in buttermilk? Or cover it with red pepper flakes? Or dunk it in a slow-cooker with lemons? Who has time to dream up the perfect turkey when youre only presenting it once per year? Well, now that youre going to be roasting a bird within the bubbling humidity of July, the world is your oyster. There is at least one summer turkey recipe listed among the recipes of the New York Times. It calls for allspice berries and mustard seeds. Dont want to fire up the oven and suffer in the sweatbox that will become your home for four hours? Maybe its time to embrace the black magic of smoked turkey. I know youre just as excited as I am.

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You realize, too, that for centuries, before we slowly poisoned the bounty of North America with expansion and extraction, this land teemed with wild turkeys, right? The Indigenous people of the continent domesticated turkeys thousands of years ago, and by the 16th century, turkey farms were popping up all over Europe, where the bird became a favorite among aristocratic tastes. In fact, it wasnt until the 1800sas Thanksgiving celebrations were becoming more widespreadthat turkey became most closely associated with the holidays.

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And if you arent able to scoop up one of the leftover post-Thanksgiving turkeys at your grocery store, dozens of artisanal turkey farms will gladly sell you a fresh (or frozen!) whole bird off-season, for they respect ancestral tradition, and understand that turkey is delicious even when its served completely out of context. (Though, it should be said, those turkeys are going to be much more expensive than what you can find in the grocery store right now. In a counterintuitive bit of market manipulation, the price of whole turkey actually goes down around Thanksgiving. Get in before its too late!)

At this point, Ill admit that Ive failed to address the elephant in the room. Turkeys are pretty freaking big, and most people arent cooking for more than one to four people on a given night. If you dont have a big family or a well-populated dinner party on the calendar, those scrumptious leftovers will be hard to eat before they start to wilt. But to that, Ill say again: Freeze the remains. Make a stock. Make turkey-salad sandwiches. Open a decadent can of cranberry sauce and drizzle it over the half-devoured carcass. Invite your friends over. Throw away all your forks. Eat like a king for a week.

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Of course, until that time, youll have to store your bird in the freezer. This, too, is hairythey take up so much space, and itll definitely necessitate some culinary reorganization. (Might I suggest spatchcocking one, refreezing it, and laying it flat at the bottom of the unit to save space?) But seriously, have you ever considered how much junk is clogging up your refrigeration unit? Ice cream pints with a quarter-scoop left, chalky veggie burgers that will go forever uneaten, browning bananas for the bread youre never going to makeits all sad, the grim detritus of a depression meal. So cleanse thyself! Start anew! Purge all of that garbage for a dinner that will spark joy! Something that will bring a smile to your face every time you open the freezer! An enduring opportunity to spruce up an empty afternoon! Joie de vivre in a roasting pan! Let me say it one more time, loud and clear: Keep a turkey in the chamber!
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Once upon a time, politicians refrained from using slurs to describe members of minority groups. Instead, they expressed their hatred through euphemism and impersonal fearmongering, lest they be deemed uncivilized. For public officials, it seemed like enough to pass discriminatory laws and promote negative stereotypesthey didnt need to name-call too.

That era is over. Last week, a group of trans-rights activists staged a sit-in at the Capitol to protest a resolution, proposed by South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, that would prohibit transgender women from using womens restrooms in the building. After a few of them were arrested for protesting, Mace herself headed down to the offices of the U.S. Capitol Police to make a video at the scene.

Heres how Mace explained the situation: Some try protesters showed up at the Capitol today to protest my bathroom bill. To make sure no viewers would miss the slur, Mace posted it with subtitles.

Mace read it like a throwaway line, but it was clearly calculated. Her Republican peers in the House have already made a practice of calling transgender peopleincluding their soon-to-be colleague, incoming transgender Rep. Sarah McBrideby the wrong pronouns and names. If Mace wanted to be the national face of keeping trans people out of bathrooms, she had to go further. So she used a slur. Later that day, she did it again.

Her escalation marks a new stage of U.S. anti-transgender politics. When the current backlash against trans visibility began, about five years ago, right-wing politicians limited their rhetoric mostly to fantasies of protection: protecting trans children from medical therapies, protecting cisgender children from being beaten in sports, and protecting all children from malicious abusers in bathrooms. Conservatives have since expanded their pearl-clutching to transgender adultsbut often, its still under that same guise of protection. Medicaid shouldnt pay for gender-affirming care for anyone, they saidunless patients jump through a series of arduous and time-consuming hoopsbecause it protects against future regret. However disingenuous all this was, it still suggested that most right-wing politicians considered it politically smart to refrain from trashing trans people in extreme ways.

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Now, Mace is evidence of a shift in the GOP sensibility. In the wake of the most anti-trans campaign cycle in U.S. history, mainstream conservatives are starting to envision some political upside to abandoning any feigned concern for trans peopleand dehumanizing them in the starkest, most shocking terms.

Its easy to become desensitized to the shock-jock grandstanding of conservative officials these days, especially if youre not one of the people theyre targeting. In the Trump era, there is no limit to the rank bigotry political leaders are empowered to promote. Decorum is no longer required, and mean-spirited name-calling is no longer discouraged. Puerto Rico can be an island of garbage. Immigrants can be poisoning the blood of our country. Women who support abortion access look like a thumb that nobody wants to impregnate. Americans have come to expect ad hominem insults and racist, sexist tirades from Republicans at all levels of political power, from humble podcasters and internet personalities to the highest office in the country.

It can be hard, standing at the business end of this fire hose, to notice shades of difference in the stream. But the deployment of a slur still stands out as a different kind of rhetoric. Slurs are used precisely because theyre maximally hurtful and taboo, and thus meant to expand the boundaries of acceptable discourse. Rather than making an argument against a group of people on supposed merit, slurs posit that those people are detestable precisely because they are who they are. Research on hate speech has shown that people who use it are drawn not just to the negativity of the terms but also to the simplicity of their portrayal of minority groups. Slurs suggest that their subjects are irredeemably objectionable as a demographic, no matter what they do or who they are as individuals.

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Maces use of an anti-trans slur is troubling as an indicator of where the Republican Party now stands on the treatment of trans people. But its also doing damage on its own. One study found that subjects who read homophobic slurs had an increased tendency to ascribe dehumanizing terms to gays and physically distance themselves from a gay man in a shared space. Being exposed to hate speech erodes empathy and leads to lower estimations of the group of people targeted. And among the victims, hate speech is linked to post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Already, the war the GOP is waging on LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender youth, is affecting how trans and queer people are treated across the country. A Washington Post analysis of FBI data found that anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in K12 schools have more than doubled since the ramping-up of this culture war, spiking to by far the highest level this century. But the increase isnt spread evenly across the country. In the 28 states that have passed laws restricting the rights of trans students and outlawing classroom discussions of gender and sexuality, the number of such crimes has more than quadrupled.

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As conservatives begin to use increasingly demeaning terms to describe trans people, civilians may feel ever more emboldened to intimidate trans individuals in public, or worse. At the risk of overdramatizing things, its worth noting that the United Nations recognizes hate speech as a common precursor to violence against marginalized groups. That Maces anti-trans hate speech is part of a coordinated GOP propaganda campaign led in part by the president makes it even more likely that we will see rates of transphobic harassment and abuse continue to climb.

Mace is striving to become the most transphobic member of Congress for only one reason: to stand out among her colleagues. Over the course of her first two terms, she has become well known in Congress for her obsessive drive for viral fame. Former staffers have said that her thirst for attention dwarfed all other priorities, sending them scrambling to chase press hits on whatever hot topic dominated the news at any given moment. The media element drove the legislative element, one senior staffer told Slates Jim Newell.

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Related From Slate Even Marjorie Taylor Greene Cant Top the Nations Most Dysfunctional Congresswoman Read More

Maces virulent transphobia appears to be a new look shes donned to fit the political moment. In 2021 she positioned herself as a supporter of transgender equality and said that having gay, lesbian, and transgender people in her life has taught her that they should be treated fairly. Her recent turn appears to have been prompted by the apparent success of the GOPs anti-trans ad blitz and the election of McBride, a Democrat from Delaware, who will be the first openly transgender member of Congress. It was McBride who prompted Maces bathroom banand since Mace proposed it, she hasnt stop talking about it. In one 72-hour period, Mace posted and reposted 326 times about transgender women in bathrooms.

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This speaks to the other aspect of Maces video that makes it feel like a turning point. Though Mace wasnt directly referring to McBride when she called the protesters an anti-trans slur, she was, by association, disparaging her future colleague. Her invocation of mens balls in her posts is a shameless assault on McBrides dignity (and makes a wildly inappropriate assumption about her body). And while there are many norms of decorum and respectability in government proceedings that could stand to be relaxed, the stigma against launching a precision-targeted crusade to humiliate a colleague for her identity is not one of them.

Its almost laughable at this polarized, virality-poisoned moment to think about the point of Congress. Historically, its been appropriating funds and making laws, ostensibly through negotiation between various voting blocs and ideological groups. Taxpayers are still funding Maces office for that intended purpose, while she has opted to use her position to perform cruelty for her own political benefit, with the follow-on effect of dehumanizing trans people. Public hate speech is an undeniable escalation for the mainstream GOP. And once that line of propriety has been moved, theres no nudging it back.
Mike Sutter is the Express-News restaurant critic. He can be reached at msutter@express-news.net.

Before joining the Taste Team in 2016, he served as a restaurant critic for the Austin American-Statesman and editor of FedManWalking.com. Hes appeared on NPRs All Things Considered, ABCs To Tell the Truth and written for The Guardian, Bon Appetit and The Wall Street Journal.
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Donald Trump probably isnt a Russian agent, but he wouldnt be behaving much differently right now if he were.

Among the main goals of the Kremlins foreign policy are to sow chaos and distrust within Western democracies and to disrupt the alliances that join those countries together, especially the links between the United States and Europe. The idea is that a weaker West makes for a stronger Russiaa connection all the more important as the measures of Russias strength on its own (economic, political, and military) are diminishing.

Many have noted Trumps open antipathy toward alliances and his aversion to any foreign commitments that dont yield immediate transactional gains.

His actions since he won the electionespecially his nominees for high-level positionsreveal his affinity for chaos, his keen desire to sow distrust within the American political system. His aim here is not to strengthen Russia (and other authoritarian countries), though that may be among its consequences. The aimas he and some of his more ideological cronies have proclaimed for a long time nowis to destroy the deep state, to concentrate power in the White House, and to weaken or punish (perhaps even incarcerate) those who try to obstruct his ambitions.

Trump is not stupid. He must know that many of his nominees to be Cabinet secretaries, agency directors, and ambassadors have no apparent qualifications to run vast bureaucracies, parse complex problems, or engage in delicate diplomacy. Thats not the point. He wants them to empty out the bureaucracies or run them into the ground. He wants them to twist the agencies into empty shells or blunt instruments of his vendettas. He wants to insult the diplomatic corps and to show foreign leaders how slight he regards their status.

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Related From Slate The Real Danger of Tulsi Gabbards Nomination Read More

Some of his nominees are meant to carry out his most perniciously personal and political campaigns. He named Pete Hegseth, a man who has never run an organization of any impressive size, to helm the Defense Departmentwith its $840 billion budget, 3 million employees, and wide-ranging global responsibilitiesbecause Hegseths commentaries on Fox News (where he anchored a weekend show) indicate hed happily carry out Trumps intention to fire senior officers who dont express utter loyalty to Trump.

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He named Kash Patel to head the FBI because Patel is not just willing but sweating-ready to go after Trumps personal and political enemies, including within the FBI itself. Patel has drawn up an enemies list already. (Trump tried to make Matt Gaetz attorney general for the same reason, but Gaetz proved too blatant a henchman for even Trumps loyalists in the Senate to swallowas, by the way, some of his other nominees may prove to be too.)

He named Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence because he wants to blow up the intelligence agencies, many of which he sees as teeming with enemies to himself and the country (which he views as a mere extension of himself, as in letat, cest moi).

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He named Dr. Mehmet Oz, a heart surgeon turned TV doctor with financial interests galore to run Medicare and Medicaid, because he wants to gut Medicare and Medicaid.* He named Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota, to run the Department of Homeland Securitya hodgepodge of 22 once independent departments and agencies with a combined budget of $108 billion (more than 16 times that of South Dakotas state budget)because he wants to gut homeland security.

The list could go on.

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Trump has saidand may genuinely believethat he can run the country, the economy, the military, social services, and all the rest, just fine all by himself. (Axios once assembled a list of topics that Trump has said he knows more about than anybody. It included money, infrastructure, the economy, trade, ISIS, energy, taxesjust about every topic involving government.)

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Many of Trumps voters think its great that he plans to blow up the system. Thats a big reason why many of them voted for him. No doubt, much of the system could use reforms or outright overhaul. But the people Trump wants to put in charge have no idea how to improve the system, nor are they expected to. Many citizens may come to feel buyers remorse when they realize just how closely their own lives and interests are intertwined with the functioning of governmentsomething that is often taken for granted, until it doesnt function. By that time, it may be too late.

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And while the direct connection may not be clear, people might also come to take note of new dangers to national security. Foreign governments may no longer share highly sensitive information with an intelligence director who parrots Kremlin propaganda; allies who no longer regard the U.S. as a reliable protector may go their own way or make deals with adversaries; and adversaries may take Americas passivity as a green light to go bold. The Western-led rules-based order, which is already in grim shape, will turn to tatters.

It may not be Trumps intention, but as the Trump Cabinet takes shape, Putin is no doubt smiling, Putins propagandists are laughing (the hosts of the main Kremlin-run TV news show gleefully welcomed Trumps nominees as totally wonderful), and much of the rest of the worldthose who rely on the United Statessigh and tremble.
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As of next month, were going to have a president in the White House who has been uniquely hostile to the press. Donald Trump has threatened to take cable networks who are too critical of him off the air, and to jail reporters who dont give up their sources.

In the weeks before the presidential election, the billionaire owners of two of the nations biggest newspapersseemingly anticipating a Trump win and wanting to get in his good gracesmade some troubling moves. Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos demanded that the paper, for the first time in decades, not endorse anyone for president. It will also cease offering endorsements in future presidential races. And the owner of the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Soon-Shiong, killed an already-drafted endorsement of Kamala Harris at the last minute.

Soon-Shiong and Bezos both defended their decisions by arguing that this will allow readers to make up their own minds about candidates while also helping their papers mitigate a perception of bias. However, Bezos has a clear conflict of interest. His space company Blue Origin has been competing for government contracts, and Bezos himself spoke with Trump days before his paper announced it would no longer be issuing presidential endorsements. Meanwhile, Soon-Shiong has been making controversial changes at the Times since the election. He said he plans to introduce a bias meter, powered by A.I., to accompany stories in the news and opinion sections, and he hired conservative commentator Scott Jennings to sit on the papers editorial board.

In response, tens of thousands of readers of both papers ended up canceling their subscriptions. Several frustrated journalists have been resigning.

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Harry Litman is an opinion columnist who worked at the L.A. Times for over 15 years and was also a contributing columnist at the Post from 201820. Hes one of many journalists who have quit recently over the newsrooms decision to no longer publish presidential endorsements. After explaining his resignation on his Talking Feds Substack, Litman spoke with Slate about his decision and how he sees the future of journalism under a second Trump administration.

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Heres our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Shirin Ali: At what moment did you decide you wanted to leave the L.A. Times?

Harry Litman: Like a lot of people, including people who read either the Washington Post or the L.A. Times, I was struck and unnerved by the decision to pull the plug on the endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and to do it in a pretty brutal way. The papers editorial page has been giving all kinds of arguments and covering different angles of the political landscape for a couple years, and they led pretty naturally to an endorsement of Harris. But to just decapitate an already drafted endorsement for one candidate struck me as pretty unusual and alarming, especially when it was done around the same time as it happened with the Washington Post, so two of the most prominent papers in the country had done it. This didnt seem to be motivated by particular policy positions or thinking that the editorial boards had been biased or negligent in some way. It was the fact that we got a president-elect who was threatening the mediathreatening pretty much all the guardrails of democracy, the media being a really important one.

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So it struck me that the media, at least those papers, blinked at a really important time. From there, there were additional moves by the L.A. Times ownership, and it was obvious that the owner wanted to move the editorial direction of the paper, which he characterized expressly on Fox News as fair and balanced. It seemed to me that the notion was to curry favor with TrumpI thought the papers movements toward Trump werent about being more accurate, but rather being more pleasing to the would-be autocrat, and that struck me as really pretty bad, especially in tandem with the other things that Trump is doing.

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How do you think newsroom executives should be operating under a second Trump presidency?

On the one hand, it seems very simple to me. Id be very happy if there was a robust media in the country just playing its traditional role, telling the truth about whats going on through reporting and uncovering news. On the other hand, its an extraordinarily complicated problem. The legacy media is facing all kinds of financial reversals, and I think its tied up in the ownership of a lot of papers by big corporate consortiums who have to worry about their shareholders.

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And maybe in the case of the two billionaires, their papers are a small part of their holdings, but if Trump wants to go after them, then they have other larger holdings that stand to be really impacted and vice versa. Traditional media hasnt succeeded in responding to the exodus of so many readers in favor of things like YouTube, and theres the problem that, ultimately, the shots are called from higher levels for reasons that have to do with more than just editorial policy. I would also add in the terrible ravaging of local newspapers, so many of which did great jobs sounding the alarm in individual communities. Those are now drying up.

In one sense, God bless Jeff Bezos, God bless the owner of the L.A. Times for stepping up and trying to revive a paper with failing fortunes. But when these benevolent billionaires acquire papers, whats the best thing to do? Its sort of what Bezos had been doing beforeI worked at the Post, and we used to say, Our billionaire is better than their billionaire. Thats because Bezos was hands-off. If newspapers are a kind of trophy in an overall business empire thats meant to serve the civic function that a great paper serves, whats the best thing to do? Keep your hands off and just let the paper flourish as it did before. Another way of saying that is: Keep putting money in and subsidizing what is a commercially losing proposition. I think, in a very elementary sense, newspapers have to keep as their North Star facts, reporting, and whats happening out there.

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Trump has been criticizing the press for a long time, but after his decisive win in this years presidential election, those threats have taken on a darker tone. Do you think the media is seriously in danger under a Trump presidency?

I come from a law background, and in that world, Trump has been absolutely teeth-bared, savage. Hes been eager to mow down norms within our justice system that are completely integral, for justice without fear or favor, which has got to be a hallmark of democracy. I believe we are at a real crisis point here.

I see the stakes for the media as super high, because I survey a landscape where [norms] you would never have thought could be mowed down, the way Trump is bidding to do, are in big danger. If you think its unduly alarmist or crazy, then the stakes for the media become less, including for newspaper owners.

Democracies do erodethey can become greatly compromised, and I dont think theres been such a tangible risk of it since the Civil War, or maybe ever. Trumps saying what hes doing and doing it. Certainly one thing hes saying is that hes going to make life miserable for and go after the media, whom he feels aggrieved by. That really is his whole platform. Hes especially mad at Liz Cheney, and she didnt do anything different from the other House Select Committee membersah, but she was supposed to be loyal.

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Theres a sort of third grade mentality at play. Trump will exercise the power of the most powerful position in the world to not just go after enemies, but I think he also has a broader agenda of rewriting history in a way that the media should be standing up against. Just over the weekend, Trump refused to say he lost the 2020 election. He really means to lionize and make heroes of the marauders whom we saw storm the Capitol and threaten democracy. It really seems like a very serious time, and without the media there, we become like autocratic societies. So, Im pretty nervous.

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In your Substack, you argued: The idea of balance is fundamentally misplaced when on one side of the balance is a sociopathic liar like Donald Trump. Can you explain that?

I think this dovetails in an interesting way with the proposal that the owner of the L.A. Times has just advanced to use A.I. to calibrate bias, which assumes somehow that what his reporters are doing is inherently biased. I think reporters should try to be objective and the media should try to be objective. I understand the view that political preconceptions and prejudices can seep in, so I have nothing against the idea of turning the ship more toward the center. Its just so plain to me that thats not what this is about. When you are trying to call out whats happening under a president-elect who gets up lying, and lies all day, the medias role then cant be balancedbecause to be balanced is to abandon [newspapers] most critical, axiomatic, democratic function of informing their audience.

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Everything Im sayingall my objections, the reason I resigned instead of just keeping onis because I take us to be at a moment of extraordinary peril. Instead of just hanging in there, I wanted to stand up and try to say something that feels like a canary in a coal mine. Facts matter so much, and the media has to be accurate. Thats why I took this opportunity to bring some attention to an overall problem. Not even so much the owner of the L.A. Times, but just legacy media and its potential contribution to an autocratic agenda. When you really push on it, its about truth vs. lies, and the media has got to stand up for the truth.
We love dogs! We need more dogs on Sprudge. Thankfully, we have Onda Origins, who have two adorable pups (in woodblock form) on their Ivonne Herrera release out of Guatemalasee the full, beautiful work below. Its part of the companys design refresh that uses powerful imagery coupled with bright colors.

After 8 years, weve grown into a playful, community-driven specialty coffee company that takes specialty coffee seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. We wanted this to come through in captivating colors, place-based artwork, and a handcrafted aesthetic, whether in packaging, merchandise, cups, or our in-person cafe, says Onda Origins Creative Director Taylor Buck.

We spoke with Onda Origins Creative Director Taylor Buck to learn more.

What was the core inspiration behind this design?

The new branding draws inspiration from the vivid signage and artistry of coffee-growing regions, as well as the landmarks, wildlife, and natural resources found on our growers farms and within their communities  from Congo to South America. Our growing partners provided specific imagery to be included on each bag, and were consulted throughout the process. The refreshed logo and design elements embody a profound sense of place that resonates with our mission.

Who designed it?

Parker Studio in Seattles Ballard neighborhood.

How does collaboration play a role in your design process?

We wanted our growers to have a lot of agency in how their coffee is visually represented, so we asked them directly: What do you want on your bag? The block print style art on each bag is directly representative of what the grower felt best represented their farm, community, country, and experience of growing coffee. Collaboration is core to our mission (we source directly, nurture personal relationships with all growers, and share revenue after roast and sale), so it felt important to integrate that approach into the design process.

From first vision to final product, how long did the design process take?

About a year.

When did it launch?

Oct. 15, 2024.

How does the package design reflect the companys overall branding and messaging?

After eight years, weve grown into a playful, community-driven specialty coffee company that takes specialty coffee seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. We wanted this to come through in captivating colors, place-based artwork, and a handcrafted aesthetic, whether in packaging, merchandise, cups, or our in-person cafe.

Tell us about some of your favorite design details.

We love the interchangeable wordmarks (there are four iterations), and the expansive but cohesive color palette. It gives us a lot of room to play, while still maintaining a sense of cohesion. The block print style bag art is also really beautiful; the representation of our Costa Rican farming partner Enriques family vehicle (a legend and a staple on the farm) is a favorite.

Are there key elements of the packaging meant to educate the consumer?

On every bag, the name of the grower is front and center, followed by their location. The back of each coffee bag details our mission and our Revenue Share model, and gives a little insight into the person or people behind the coffee. We also feature tasting notes, MASL, process, and roast level.

Is the design optimized for shelf presence? How does it aim to stand out?

Yes! With bright, variant colors that all complement each other, an eye catching wordmark, beautiful artwork, and a sleek matte aesthetic, these bags are definitely optimized for shelf presence.

Are any of the packaging materials recyclable or compostable?

The bags are fully compostable outside of Seattle, and can be returned to our in-store Ridwell box (or placed in any other Ridwell) within Seattle city limits. (We offer a $1 discount on the next bag when someone brings in an empty bag.)

Where is this available to purchase?

ondaorigins.com, Onda Origins cafe in Hillman City, Seattle, or at any Fresh Flours Bakery location around Seattle.

Visit Onda Origins official website. Follow Onda Origins on Instagram @ondaorigins.

Coffee Design is an original feature series on Sprudge curated by Sprudge co-founder Zachary Carlsen. Read more from our Coffee Design archives.
Coffee and cheese may seem like they make for strange bedfellows, yet their combination has been encountered multiple times in specialty coffee. Denvers Mercantilea Michelin Guide recommended restaurant by Chef Alex Seidel that features cheeses from Fruition Farms and Creamery, one of his side projectsoffered multiple coffee- and espresso-and-cheese pairings. The Caffe by Mr. Espresso in Oakland recently featured a Filipino flavors-inspired specialty beverage using ricotta cheese. And always willing to try something wild with coffee (see: a coffee kombucha and coffee licorice), Denmarks Coffee Collective once made their own coffee cheese.

The intermingling of coffee and cheese goes back at least a decade at this point, almost old enough to be called a more-or-less time honored tradition. But even still there are limits, boundaries that need not be pushed. One of those is goat cheese. Fetas creamier, tangier cousin has just gotten a cold brew and donut-flavored facelift, and this time weve gone too far unless its actually good?

As reported by Dairy Foods, the undisputed home for dairy food news and culture, Milwaukee, Wisconsins Montchevre have released what they are dubbing a first-of-its-kind goat cheese flavored to mimic cold brew and donuts. More to the point, the new cheesewhich is found under the websites Fresh Logs section, a regrettable choice of words on their partis said to have rich coffee flavor to go along with a donut sweetness.

Jenny Englert, the Marketing Director at Montchevres parent company Saputo USA, states, Were always analyzing consumer insights to stay ahead of the trends, and the demand for adventurous goat cheese profiles and flavor mashups continues to increase year over year. Launching a first-of-its-kind Cold Brew & Donuts goat cheese on the market is one more example of how we continue to offer our customers an even wider range of flavors to explore.

So how exactly is one meant to enjoy cold brew and donut goat cheese, an amalgam of bitter and tangy and sweet? According to Montchevre, breakfast toast and brunch charcuterie boards are the prime avenues for such gustatory exploration. Which feels a little phoned in if we are being honest. Oh really, coffee and donuts for breakfast? You dont say. What about dinner? Coffee rubs and sugar glazes are great with ham, so why not bring in a little coffee flavor to a pork tenderloin via a cold brew and donut goat cheese. Or maybe stuff a mushroom. If we want to adventure, lets adventure.

Either way, Montchevres Cold Brew and Donut Goat Cheese is available in retailers nationwide. Or you could drink a nice coffee and have an artisanal donut with some sort of goat cheese frosting or something. That sounds better actually.

Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241210/acting-syrian-prime-minister-says-interim-government-formed-will-operate-until-early-2025-1121145595.html

Acting Syrian Prime Minister Says Interim Government Formed, Will Operate Until Early 2025

Acting Syrian Prime Minister Says Interim Government Formed, Will Operate Until Early 2025

Sputnik International

Caretaker Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said on Tuesday that the country's interim government is formed and will operate until March 2025.

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Earlier in the day, al-Bashir, the head of the so-called "salvation government," said that the Syrian opposition had authorized him to form an interim government in the country. "An interim government has been formed, it consists of several ministers from the 'salvation government'. It is an interim government that will operate until March 2025 until the constitutional issues are resolved," al-Bashir was quoted as saying by the Al-Watan newspaper.Syrian armed opposition groups captured Damascus on Sunday. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said that he and 18 other ministers had decided to remain in the capital. Jalali also said he was in contact with the leaders of militant groups that had entered the city. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Syrian President Bashar Assad had stepped down and left Syria after negotiations with some participants in the Syrian conflict.The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group and a number of other armed groups launched a large-scale operation against the Syrian government on November 29, advancing from the north of the northwestern region of Idlib towards the cities of Aleppo and Hama. A day later, Aleppo, Syrias second largest city, came under complete control of the militants for the first time since the beginning of the conflict in the country in 2011.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241208/its-too-early-to-say-the-syria-crisis-is-close-to-an-end--pundit-1121123943.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/anyone-claiming-stopping-russian-gas-flows-to-eu-isnt-self-destructive-is-fool---slovak-mp-1121146605.html

Slovak MP Slams EU Leaderships Idiotic Russian Gas Sanctions

Slovak MP Slams EU Leaderships Idiotic Russian Gas Sanctions

Sputnik International

If the EU wants to drive its economy off a cliff, its self-destructive goal of halting Russian gas flows will get that result, Andrej Danko, deputy speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, told Sputnik.

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If the EU wants to drive its economy off a cliff, its self-destructive goal of halting Russian gas flows will get that result, Andrej Danko, deputy speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, told Sputnik.Ending imports of Russian gas will be a huge problem, he warned, adding that whoever claims that this is not true is a fool. The Slovak politician is set to visit Moscow in January to discuss prospects for Russian gas supplies in 2025.He weighed in on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's crusade of totally banning both Russian piped gas and LNG, specifically, recent remarks about wanting to discuss with US President-elect Donald Trump an increase in purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to replace Russian supplies.The Slovak lawmaker admitted he was puzzled by her proposal.Gas prices exceeded $500 per thousand cubic meters in Europe in November, with European gas futures reaching around 46 ($48.6) per MWh as Russia suspended fuel deliveries to Austria's OMV. Furthermore, Ukraine is about to stop the transit of Russia's gas through its territory by the end of the year, which could affect several European nations, including Austria and Slovakia. Unless the EU changes its self-harming policy course, it wont exist in 10 years time, Danko speculated. EU sanctions on Russian energy have generated a terrible situation, according to him, and people like Ursula von der Leyen are only driving the blocs economy into the ground.He also voiced hope for dialogue between Moscow and Washington under incoming President Donald Trump. As for Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky, he does nothing for his people, he only creates problems, Danko noted, likening the expired Kiev regime leader to a chattering con artist.The EUs energy problems are also linked to the Green Deal, Danko said, which some jokers had come up with, and foolhardy talk about scrapping nuclear energy.He claimed the biggest problems were created by shutting down nuclear power plants under Germanys then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.Codified in a 2002 law, the nuclear phase-out in Germany was finalized after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. The country's last trio of operating nuclear power plants, Emsland, Neckarwestheim 2, and Isar 2, were finally shuttered on April 15, 2023. Assessing the litany of mistakes made by the European Union, Danko speculated that if the continent hopes to achieve progress in energy and the economy, a fresh influx of parties of the people is needed to breathe new life into the EU.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241108/von-der-leyen-wants-to-discuss-with-trump-purchases-of-us-lng-to-replace-russian-supplies-1120824370.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/damascus-resident-says-people-not-in-panic-majority-not-leaving-city-1121148526.html

Damascus Resident Says People Not in Panic, Majority Not Leaving City

Damascus Resident Says People Not in Panic, Majority Not Leaving City

Sputnik International

The situation in Damascus is relatively calm absent evidence of panic, with a number of shops and cafes trowing their doors open as majority of people appeared to have decided to stay in the capital, city resident Hassan told Sputnik.

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Syrian armed opposition captured the capital of Damascus on Sunday. Russian officials said that President Bashar Assad had stepped down after negotiations with participants of the Syrian conflict, and left Syria for Russia where he was granted asylum. Mohammed al-Bashir, who ran an Idlib-based administration formed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other opposition groups, was named interim prime minister on Tuesday. Some shops and cafes are open in Damascus, although there are not as many customers and the traffic is less intense, the resident said, adding that people in the cafes are mostly discussing the future of Syria and the elections of new leadership. Hassan also said that many Syrians do not see their future without Russia. Russia has been helping and supporting Syria for many years, has always been Syria's friend and partner, and has never deceived Syria or used it as a means to influence the entire Middle East, Hassan added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241210/syrian-crisis-keeping-you-updated-1121140231.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/eurasian-economic-union-uae-complete-talks-on-economic-partnership-1121146767.html

Eurasian Economic Union, UAE Complete Talks on Economic Partnership

Eurasian Economic Union, UAE Complete Talks on Economic Partnership

Sputnik International

Eurasian Economic Commission Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev and UAE Foreign Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi have concluded negotiations on an economic partnership agreement, the commission announced on Wednesday.

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"Andrey Slepnev, the minister of trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission, and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the minister of state for foreign trade of the United Arab Emirates, announced the completion of negotiations on an economic partnership agreement," the commission said in a statement. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is actively establishing a network of economic partnerships with friendly countries, the statement said, adding that the agreement with the UAE is an important milestone, taking into account the countrys role as a global hub in the region. Al Zeyoudi said that the UAE and the EAEU are developing "fruitful relations, based on common commitment to long-term growth and economic diversification." The minister also expressed certainty that the talks would deepen economic interaction between the UAE and the EAEU and enable the development of "numerous synergic ties." The agreement will establish a preferential trade regime covering over 90% of mutual trade and over 85% of the commodity nomenclature, the commission said. The decision to start negotiations with the UAE was taken in 2022, and four rounds of talks took place in 2023 and 2024. The EAEU was founded in 2014. The union has five member states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240320/russia-to-host-10-year-anniversary-meeting-of-eurasian-economic-union-on-may-8---putin-1117434544.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/israeli-delegation-arrives-in-cairo-to-discuss-gaza-ceasefire-deal---egyptian-govt-1121146335.html

Israeli Delegation Arrives in Cairo to Discuss Gaza Ceasefire Deal - Egyptian Govt

Israeli Delegation Arrives in Cairo to Discuss Gaza Ceasefire Deal - Egyptian Govt

Sputnik International

A senior Israeli delegation has arrived in Cairo to discuss the Gaza ceasefire agreement, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave, the Egyptian State Information Service said.

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"A senior Israeli delegation has arrived in Cairo as part of Egypt's efforts to achieve a truce in the Gaza Strip and support the flow of aid," the agency told reporters on Tuesday. Last week, Palestinian movement Hamas said that its delegation had held a meeting in Cairo with Egyptian intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, during which they discussed efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the formation of a public support committee in the enclave. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, fighters of Palestinian movement Hamas 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. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave. The death toll from the Israeli attacks has surpassed 44,700, according to local health authorities.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241205/israel-sends-hamas-updated-draft-of-gaza-ceasefire-deal-1121093187.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/lebanese-foreign-ministry-condemns-israels-seizure-of-syrian-part-of-golan-heights-1121148402.html

Lebanese Foreign Ministry Condemns Israel's Seizure of Syrian Part of Golan Heights

Lebanese Foreign Ministry Condemns Israel's Seizure of Syrian Part of Golan Heights

Sputnik International

The Lebanese authorities denounce Israel's seizure of the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights and the adjacent Syrian territories, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

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"Lebanon strongly condemns Israel's recent seizure of the buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights and surrounding areas, considering this to be an additional act of aggression against Syrian sovereignty and a clear violation of international law at a time when Syria is going through a difficult period," the statement read. The ministry also called on the international community to denounce Israels activities and put them to an end by pressuring the Jewish state. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the agreement with Syria on the Golan Heights reached soon after the Yom Kippur War of 1973 had collapsed, as the Syrian forces left their positions. Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces to "temporarily" occupy a buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. On Monday, Netanyahu stated that the Golan Heights would remain an integral part of Israel "for eternity." The prime minister added that the Israeli control of the Golan Heights and the buffer zone ensures the country's security and sovereignty.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241209/whats-behind-israels-land-grab-in-golan-1121137726.html

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lebanese authorities denounce israel's seizure, golan heights, syrian territories
District Attorney Joe Gonzales waits to brief members of the Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales and First Assistant District Attorney Tamara Strauch talk to Bexar County commissioners on Tuesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales prepares to address the Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Facing a backlog of more than 6,300 felony cases last November, the Bexar County District Attorneys Office made a concerted push to tackle thousands of pending cases. Dozens of prosecutors worked overtime on evenings and weekends as part of a High Risk Intake Team.

More than a year later, the backlog of cases has actually gotten worse.

ALSO READ: Bexar County DA says overtime work is making a dent in backlog of felony cases

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There are nearly 6,500 overdue cases waiting to go before a grand jury for a potential indictment, District Attorney Joe Gonzales told the Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. The backlog was at 6,330 last November, when commissioners approved allowing Gonzales to use nearly $300,000 that had been budgeted for unfilled positions to pay prosecutors to work overtime.

The current backlog amounts to nearly 39% of the county's 16,700 felony cases awaiting formal charges.

The number of people in jail awaiting formal charges has also nearly doubled compared to last year, Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody said during an exchange with Gonzales.

"There was some progress being made, and then there were some factors in our control, some factors maybe outside of our control, that have negatively impacted that so we're actually worse off than we were 12 months ago," Moody said.

While 45 prosecutors put in extra hours and addressed 5,000 cases, they weren't able to make a significant dent in the total number of outstanding cases.

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In February, Gonzales had told commissioners that his team had trimmed the backlog by 11%, reflecting a bump in total indictments. Indictments increased by 41% in January through May compared to the same months the previous year, jumping from 4,627 to 6,520 indicted cases, according to the district attorney's office.

But the effort stalled in the latter half of the year, seeing a 10% decrease in total indictments compared to last year.

The county reviews 23,000 felony cases each year, Gonzales said.

Gonzales pointed to five factors that he said contributed to the delays:

malfunctions with Odyssey, the new case management system

a backlog at the Bexar County crime lab

a persistent attorney staffing shortage

an increase in the amount of digital evidence prosecutors must sift through

delays in getting evidence from arresting agencies

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The amount of digital evidence connected with each case has increased exponentially. The amount of photo evidence increased by 19,552% since 2014, Gonzales said. For videos attorneys must review, the increase shot up 1,518%.

Gonzales said his office is waiting for the San Antonio Police Department to send over evidence on 3,388 cases. Next year, the county will use a new database called Evidence.com that will streamline and likely resolve these issues, Gonzales said.

Another backlog awaits at the Bexar County Criminal Investigation Lab, which performs DNA, drug and firearms testing often needed for indictments. Gonzales said he is waiting on 2,786 test results from the lab.

On top of all these issues, the district attorney's office struggles with chronic understaffing, Gonzales said. Since October 2023, the office has averaged 21 attorney vacancies per month, Gonzales said.

Gonzales on Tuesday asked commissioners to allow his office to use the remaining $121,762 that had been budgeted for unfilled positions to instead pay prosecutors to work overtime. The court approved the motion unanimously.

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"The issue is complex," Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said. "We've heard it's not just Odyssey. It's just not IT. It's not just the DA. It's not SAPD or the Bexar County sheriff. It's digital evidence. It's evidence transfer. It's a backlog with other stakeholders, such as the crime lab."
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/neither-thaad-nor-any-other-existing-air-defense-system-can-stop-oreshnik--expert-1121150054.html

Neither THAAD Nor Any Other Existing Air Defense System Can Stop Oreshnik  Expert

Neither THAAD Nor Any Other Existing Air Defense System Can Stop Oreshnik  Expert

Sputnik International

Claims that the US-made THAAD can intercept the Russian Oreshnik missile is nothing but propaganda, Yuri Knutov, military expert and historian of the Air Defense Forces, told Sputnik.

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"This is propaganda designed to reassure the American and European public that NATO countries are not lagging behind Russia technologically," Yuri Knutov, military expert and historian of the Air Defense Forces, told Sputnik. He was responding to Western reports that the US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system can intercept Russia's Oreshnik. The expert explained why THAAD cannnot stop Oreshnik:

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/putin-joins-plenary-session-of-russias-ai-journey-2024-conference--1121147414.html

Putin Joins Plenary Session of Russia's AI Journey 2024 Conference

Putin Joins Plenary Session of Russia's AI Journey 2024 Conference

Sputnik International

Sputnik goes live as Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the plenary session of the AI Journey 2024 international conference.

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Sputnik comes to you live as Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the plenary session of the AI Journey 2024 international conference.The International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, known as AI Journey, will take place in Moscow from December 11 to 13. As is customary, the AI Journey program will be organized into three thematic blocks: science, business, and society. These sessions will feature prominent researchers, scientists, and representatives from government and industry, both from Russia and around the globe Follow Sputnik's live broadcast for more!

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Vladimir Putin takes part in the plenary session of the international AI Journey 2024 conference Sputnik International Vladimir Putin takes part in the plenary session of the international AI Journey 2024 conference 2024-12-11T14:35+0000 true PT1S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/putin-orban-discuss-ukrainian-conflict-during-phone-talks---kremlin-1121148283.html

Putin, Orban Discuss Ukrainian Conflict During Phone Talks - Kremlin

Putin, Orban Discuss Ukrainian Conflict During Phone Talks - Kremlin

Sputnik International

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban discussed Ukrainian issues during a phone conversation, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

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"At the initiative of the Hungarian side, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban... A thorough exchange of views on Ukrainian issues was held," the statement read. The leaders also discussed trade and economic cooperation, in particular, the promotion of mutually beneficial projects in energy sector, the statement added. Putin and Orban also discussed the tense situation in the Middle East in the context of the recent developments in Syria, the Kremlin said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240907/orban-says-not-in-europes-interests-to-take-ukraines-stance-in-conflict-with-russia-1120068476.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/seizure-of-frozen-russian-assets-is-eu-setting-a-legal-trap-for-euroclear-1121149600.html

Seizure of Frozen Russian Assets: Is EU Setting a Legal Trap for Euroclear?

Seizure of Frozen Russian Assets: Is EU Setting a Legal Trap for Euroclear?

Sputnik International

Valerie Urbain, CEO of Euroclear which holds $200 billion in frozen Russian Central Bank assets, told Bloomberg that if the European Union (EU) decides to confiscate the money, the financial services company should be exempt from any liabilities.

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What are Euroclear's concerns?Urbain suggests Russia's frozen money may be seized if incoming US President Donald Trump cuts off aid to Ukraine.Confiscating the Russian assets poses severe risks to the euro currency and the broader stability of Europes finances, she warns. Euroclear could also face legal challenges from Moscow to any moves to confiscate its foreign-held funds, a senior EU official told Reuters in March. Moscow could seize the 33 billion ($34.6 billion) of Euroclear money held in Russia and take legal action to sequester Euroclear assets in Hong Kong and Dubai, the official cautioned.Sputnik pundit and French economist Jacques Sapir warned in October 2023 that the confiscation of Russia's frozen assets would be theft  leading to legal action.Urbain's predecessor Lieve Mostrey warned the EU in February against seizing the frozen Russian money, adding that "the risk is a bit lower" if the EU appropriates the interest owed on the frozen sovereign assets.But in October the European Commission moved to consider allowing Euroclear to take the frozen Russian assets, despite the risks. Euroclear complains that it faces a significant number of legal proceedings ongoing, almost exclusively in Russian courts.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240313/theft-of-frozen-russian-assets-may-lead-to-financial-crisis-in-the-west-1117312032.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/south-korean-police-conduct-searches-in-presidential-office-police-hqs-1121145916.html

South Korean Police Conduct Searches in Presidential Office, Police HQs

South Korean Police Conduct Searches in Presidential Office, Police HQs

Sputnik International

South Korean police have raided the office of President Yoon Suk-yeol, as well as police departments, as part of an investigation into Yoons failed attempt to impose martial law, the Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday.

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Searches were conducted at the offices of the Seoul Metropolitan Police and the National Assembly Police Guards, the report said. The South Korean president was not inside the presidential office building during the raid, the report added. Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, currently under arrest after last week's attempt to impose martial law in the country, has attempted suicide, Shin Yong-hae, the head of the correctional center where the minister is held, said on Wednesday.The center's staff immediately interfered and prevented the attempt by the ex-minister, the penitentiary official said, adding that Kim is currently under guard and his health does not cause alarm.On December 3, Yoon declared martial law, claiming that the opposition was sympathizing with North Korea and plotting a "rebellion." The parliament defied the presidential declaration and voted to lift the martial law. The office of the speaker of the parliament, Woo Won-shik, said that the president's declaration of martial law was invalid following the lawmakers' vote. Shortly after, Yoon lifted the martial law and apologized to the nation. The president was later banned from leaving the country amid an investigation into the botched martial law, while former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested as part of a probe into a potential treason case.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241209/south-korean-investigators-plan-to-ban-president-from-leaving-country-amid-investigation-1121129039.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/us-repels-houthi-attacks-on-its-ships-in-gulf-of-aden-1121145785.html

US Repels Houthi Attacks on Its Ships in Gulf of Aden

US Repels Houthi Attacks on Its Ships in Gulf of Aden

Sputnik International

The US Navy shot down drones and a missile fired at US merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden by Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday.

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On Tuesday, the Houthis said that they carried out missile and drone attacks on US destroyers and supply ships in the Gulf of Aden. The statement added that the destroyers escorted three US merchant vessels. The attack "resulted in no injuries and no damage," the command noted. The movement has previously declared its support for Palestine and its intention to attack any ships linked to Israel, calling on other countries to recall their crews and not approach them at sea. The movement has also pledged not to interfere with freedom of navigation in the region and not harm the ships of other countries. Some companies decided to suspend shipping through the Red Sea amid the attacks.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240616/houthis-say-verbena-bulk-carrier-sank-in-gulf-of-aden---statement-1118981000.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/west-uses-transition-in-syria-as-smoke-screen-to-establish-presence---ex-uk-ambassador-1121145447.html

West Uses Transition in Syria as 'Smoke Screen' to Establish Presence - Ex-UK Ambassador

West Uses Transition in Syria as 'Smoke Screen' to Establish Presence - Ex-UK Ambassador

Sputnik International

The so-called transition period in Syria is a pretext for Western countries that need time to establish working relations with the country's new authorities, ex-UK Ambassador to Syria and Middle East expert Peter Ford has told Sputnik.

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"All talk of 'transition' is a smoke screen to create a window of one or two years in which the Western powers can develop an open master-client relationship with people who yesterday were Al-Qaeda and ISIS [both banned in Russia as terrorist]. For Western powers, the optics of doing business with gangs and warlords designated as terrorist groups present a problem. This can be got round, however, by pretending to have a 'transition,'" Ford said. The militants of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham are trying to establish in Damascus an authority similar to the "salvation government" it had created in Idlib to cover its rule, he added. "This is akin to the administration Hamas installed in Gaza, although Hamas, of course, were elected," the ex-diplomat said. The true transition process would require the participation of many groups, Ford continued. The armed opposition coming to power in Syria will have significant consequences for the Middle East, with Lebanon and Palestine facing the greatest risks, Peter Ford said.Israel and the new Syrian authorities are capable of reaching a peace agreement, he added."The jihadi groups are more than ready to ally with Israel (like the Gulf states) for the purpose of fighting their common enemies [Hezbollah] and Iran. The Palestinian cause has been dealt what may be a final death blow. It now has not a single Arab state champion. The way is now clear for Israel to finish its work of creating Greater Israel," Ford continued.Armed opposition that has captured power in Syria will try to suppress Kurds that will be left without the support from the US after the ouster of President Bashar Assad, Ford stressed."The clear intention of the jihadis is to carry out the orders of their Turkish controllers and neutralize the Kurds by destroying the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia. The US forces in the Kurdish areas are unlikely to protect their Kurdish clients because now, [when Assad] has gone, they do not need them," Ford said.The Kurdish groups' aim was to stop the Syrian government from rehabilitating economically after the war, "by assuming control over Syria's oil and grain resources located in the Northeast," he continued, adding that such measures are no longer necessary.The Syrian opposition may attempt to stabilize relations with Washington, but it "may not go as smoothly" as they think, Ford said.At the same time, under the opposition's authority, Syria may become more united despite the fact that it has "not been united for many years," the former ambassador said.Syrian armed groups captured the capital of Damascus on Sunday. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said that he and 18 other ministers had decided to remain in Damascus. Al-Jalali also said he was in contact with the leaders of militant groups that had entered the city. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that President Bashar Assad had stepped down and left Syria after negotiations with some participants of the Syrian conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241207/russia-warns-against-geopolitical-use-of-terrorists-in-syrias-conflict-1121118122.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241211/what-is-the-strategic-importance-of-deir-ez-zor-and-could-it-cause-new-kurdish-syrian-conflict-1121150295.html

What is the Strategic Importance of Deir ez-Zor and Could It Cause New Kurdish-Syrian Conflict?

What is the Strategic Importance of Deir ez-Zor and Could It Cause New Kurdish-Syrian Conflict?

Sputnik International

Syrian militants have seized the city of Deir ez-Zor from US-backed Kurdish militants. Dr Lorenzo Trombetta, a UN Consultant on Middle East, explained the provinces significance.

2024-12-11T19:11+0000

2024-12-11T19:11+0000

2024-12-11T19:11+0000

analysis

middle east

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syria

deir ez-zor

the united nations (un)

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sunnis

shiites

kurds

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"Deir ez-Zor is a crucial hotspot between central and eastern Syria," Trombetta told Sputnik, and "the main hub along the Euphrates River running from Turkiye towards the Gulf." According to some estimates, Deir ez-Zor holds 70% of Syrian oil reserves and a major gas field. It is linked via a pipeline to Syria's other fossil fuel deposits in Al-Hasakah and Homs.But he suggests that the US might abandon its Kurdish allies at any time and "replace them with other tribal Arab clans on the Euphrates River." While the US seems ready to negotiate the Kurdish withdrawal up to north-eastern Syria, Washington wants to retain control over Syrian oil and gas, the expert argued. Trombetta expects short-to-mid-term battles between the Kurdish and Syrian militants  which would not translate into a long-term conflict, as it is the US which will call the shots in the region.Will Syria Fragment Along Sectarian Lines or Stay United? After president Bashar al-Assads resignation, the question is how Alawites, Druze, Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds will coexist in the "patched-up" state. Trombetta outlines potential scenarios: Trombetta says the Lebanese scenario would be "the most comfortable one for the international community" with a new state able to work with the West, Gulf kingdoms, Turkiye, Russia and Israel. "The Sunnis are the majority, but for many decades are not fully in power. In the Lebanese scenario, the Sunni can count more than other factions," the pundit says, adding that the future Syria should adopt a more sensitive approach. He suggests that the model for a new Syrian state should not be a pseudo-unified society suffering from sectarian and ethnic divisions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241210/israel-incursion-in-syria-not-a-protective-move-but-full-blown-offensive--middle-east-expert-1121145022.html

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World's highest wind farm powers up clean energy development

Xinhua) 08:53, December 11, 2024

This aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 22, 2024 shows a view of the wind farm project with the highest nacelle at an altitude of 5,305 meters in Baxoi County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. China has achieved another breakthrough in wind power development at ultra-high altitudes, with the world's highest wind power project in Xizang Autonomous Region generating over 22 million kWh of electricity as of Tuesday. (Photo by Song Xianji/Xinhua)

LHASA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved another breakthrough in wind power development at ultra-high altitudes, with the world's highest wind power project in Xizang Autonomous Region generating over 22 million kWh of electricity as of Tuesday.

Invested and constructed by companies including the Datang Xizang Energy Development Co., Ltd., the project with the highest nacelle at an altitude of 5,305 meters set a new record for China, as well as the world, in wind power projects in terms of altitude.

The project consists of 20 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5 megawatts, and generates 223 million kWh of clean electricity annually, which can meet the yearly power needs of approximately 230,000 people, said Xu Qiduo, manager of the wind farm, adding that this smart project only needs eight to 10 people for wind turbine operations.

Areas located at altitudes between 3,500 and 5,500 meters are usually considered ultra-high altitude areas. These areas are rich in wind resources but pose greater demands on wind power technology and equipment performance.

At the wind farm in Xizang's Baxoi County, which began operation on Oct. 31, workers overcame a range of technical challenges, including blade stall and atypical condition control in the ultra-high altitude area, Xu said.

The wind turbines were specially designed to withstand extreme environments and weather conditions, including extremely low temperatures, strong ultraviolet radiation, and frequent thunderstorms at ultra-high altitudes, explained Losum Tsering, a technical worker at the wind farm.

Losum Tsering, a local Tibetan, expressed his gratitude for the improvements in the power grid in recent years as villagers like him now no longer face extended power blackouts lasting several consecutive days.

The green power project can save about 73,100 tonnes of standard coal annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 182,800 tonnes, according to the wind farm.

In recent years, several wind power projects in Xizang, which is rich in wind energy resources, have expanded into ultra-high-altitude areas. The second phase of a wind farm in the city of Shannan and a 300,000-kW wind and photovoltaic power project in the city of Xigaze have both become operational and connected to the state grid over the past two years, with the highest nacelle altitudes exceeding 5,100 meters.

Xizang has made ecology a priority, deeming it as one of the region's four main tasks. A white paper issued last year states that clean energy accounts for nearly 90 percent of the region's installed electric power capacity.

China has continued to make breakthroughs in clean energy and green industry technology innovation in recent years. The installed capacity of hydropower, wind power, and photovoltaic power each exceeded 300 million kW, all ranking the highest in the world, according to a white paper titled China's Green Development in the New Era released last year.

In 2019, China issued a national standard for high-altitude wind turbines, stipulating various technical requirements applicable to such wind turbines in plateau areas from 2,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level.

Shi Lei, a professor at the School of Ecology and Environment, Renmin University of China, said that wind power has injected vitality into Xizang's clean energy development, serving as a vital complement during low-output periods of photovoltaic and hydropower generation.

"The stable operation of this wind power project at an ultra-high altitude is expected to provide a reference for wind power generation in high-altitude areas globally," Shi said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Judge Joel Perez, pictured at a hearing on Monday for Brad Simpson, issued a gag order on Tuesday in the case. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Brad Simpson leaves the courtroom following his first court appearance on Monday. Simpson has been indicted for the murder of his wife Suzanne Simpson, who has not been seen since early October. Judge Joel Perez issued a gag order on Tuesday in the case. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

A judge has issued a sweeping gag order that bars disclosure of information about the criminal case against Brad Simpson, charged with murder in the disappearance of his wife, Olmos Park real estate agent Suzanne Simpson.

The order prohibits attorneys and their staffs, law enforcement officers and witnesses from discussing the case with the media or the public.

Judge Joel Perez, who presides over the 437th Court, signed the order on Tuesday, and prosecutions and defense attorneys acknowledged and signed it.

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"This Court has a duty to preserve the defendant's right to a fair trial by an impartial jury and, if possible, to ensure that potential jurors will not be prejudiced by pretrial publicity," the order states. "The Court is also mindful of the First Amendment rights of the parties, counsel for the parties, the media, as well as the Open Courts Provision of the Texas Constitution."

The order states that courts can impose restraints on public statements only in "extraordinary circumstances and only if there is the threat of imminent, severe harm," and that before issuing a gag order, a court must find that extensive media coverage will harm the judicial process.

It is not clear who requested the order. A courthouse source said that information was confidential.

Simpson, 53, is charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, tampering with a corpse and possession of a prohibited weapon. He is being held at the Bexar County jail in lieu of $5 million bail.

Suzanne Simpson, 51, was last seen alive Oct. 6, and authorities have found no trace of her remains, despite extensive searches. The couple had four children, ages 5 to 20.

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Brad Simpson's lawyer, Steven Gilmore, is seeking to have the murder charge against his client thrown out, arguing that the indictment does not detail "the manner and means" by which Suzanne Simpson was killed.

In a motion filed Dec. 3, Gilmore wrote that the allegations in the indictment are "vague, indefinite, ambiguous, uncertain" and do not "properly apprise the defendant of the nature of the proof" against him. Gilmore argued that the lack of specifics violates Simpson's constitutional rights "because he is not able to prepare a defense."

Gaps in the indictment stem at least in part from authorities' inability to find Suzanne Simpson's remains. Investigators said Brad Simpson has refused to assist them in locating her body.

The indictment, handed down by a Bexar County grand jury earlier this month, says Simpson killed his wife "by a manner and means unknown." It says that after her disappearance, "knowing that an investigation was in progress," Simpson concealed a power saw and an automatic weapon so they could not be used as evidence against him.

Police investigators found Suzanne Simpsons DNA on the power saw, Brad Simpson's brother, Bart, told the San Antonio Express-News.

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On Monday, Brad Simpson appeared in court for the first time since he was charged. Family and friends of Suzanne Simpson watched the brief hearing from the gallery.

In another appearance on Monday, Simpson appeared on Zoom during a Children's Court hearing to check on the well being of the Simpsons' two minor children. When an attorney asked questions about his wife, he took the fifth, invoking his right under the Fifth Amendment to remain silent and refuse to answer questions.

The next court session, in which Gilmore will seek to ease Simpson's bond conditions, is scheduled for Dec. 19.

In an affidavit supporting Simpson's arrest, Olmos Park Police Lt. Hector Ruiz described his movements the night Suzanne Simpson was last seen alive and the next day, Oct. 7, when she was reported missing by a friend.

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According to the affidavit, Olmos Park police officer Jarrod Tubbs said a teacher at the Simpsons 5-year-old daughters school said the child told her that on that the night of Oct. 6, a Sunday, her father had pushed her mother against a wall, hit her on the face and hurt her elbow. Her father also turned off her mothers cell phone, the girl said.

In addition, a neighbor told police he witnessed Brad Simpson and Suzanne Simpson loudly arguing and physically struggling after 10 p.m. on Oct. 6 in front of his home.

The neighbor said he later heard screams from a wooded area across from his home. About an hour later, he heard Brad Simpsons truck start and leave the area, Ruiz wrote.

By viewing security video, police tracked Brad Simpson to his daughters school, a Boerne Whataburger and a local Home Depot, where he purchased concrete, heavy duty trash bags and Clorox disinfectant spray, among other items. The items were visible on his truck bed in the surveillance video.

A man told police that Simpson walked up to him in the Home Depot parking lot and asked him where the nearest dump was in Boerne. The man gave him directions to the solid waste site in Boerne.

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Surveillance video captured Brad Simpson leaving the Boerne waste site and going to a nearby gas station.
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Building footprints with associated prediction error in Phoenix, Arizona, US.; Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.; and Albany, New York, U.S. Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66467-2

As cities continue to grow globally, characterizing the built environment is essential to understanding human populations, projecting energy usage, monitoring urban heat island impacts, preventing environmental degradation, and planning for urban development. Buildings are a key component of the built environment and there is currently a lack of data on building height on a global level.

Clinton Stipek with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory is using machine learning to provide a more complete picture of building geometries that include building height to within 3 meters of accuracy, a feat difficult to achieve until now.

Previous methods for determining building height required information about more than just the structure itself, such as roads or the number of people inside. Using features of a building and surrounding structures, Stipek and colleagues designed an algorithm to figure out how to estimate height for buildings anywhere in the world.

"We developed an open-source code that uses building morphology features at a building level to predict a height," Stipek said. "The algorithm can be used anywhere in the world, removing former barriers such as how to define a building or measuring shadows that create false positives." The team published their results in Scientific Reports.

Stipek's colleague, Taylor Hauser, became interested in filling in the gap of building height while working on the U.S. Structures project, an ORNL dataset that inventories structures across the nation larger than 450 square feet and is used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other U.S. government organizations.

"We had people manually going through this massive dataset to identify incorrect data, such as where building shadows caused the previous machine learning models to miscalculate results," said Hauser, a geospatial data analyst.

"I began to develop a tool that can generate a significant number of measurements collectively known as building morphologies to describe aspects of a building, particularly in relationship to neighboring buildings."

By pulling information about surrounding structures, more accurate inferences about the data could lead to higher confidence in the data. Hauser began thinking, if building morphologies can be used to identify incorrectly detected structures from satellite imagery, what else could they do?

Hauser and Stipek worked together to incorporate 65 building morphology features into height calculations. Stipek used a gradient boosting tree algorithm called XGBoost to cluster pieces of information together that work in a tree structure to come to an inference about building height. The results point to what Hauser refers to as a hidden signal to predict the third dimension, height, just by using two-dimensional building morphologies.

The results of Stipek and Hauser's work are being incorporated into other major projects such as LandScan, an ORNL population mapping program in its 25th year, and Global Building Intelligence, which aims to fully attribute building features including purpose, height, materials, age and roof shape.

Building height, population mapping and other research into understanding where people are in the world is part of ORNL's national security mission. The lab's geospatial datasets give policy makers and first responders information to provide services to those impacted by manmade and natural events. Hauser said these different datasets are derived from similar data used in distinct applications.

"We can learn more about city planning, buildings, roads, infrastructure," Hauser said. "We're trying to fill in gaps where information doesn't exist."

More information: Clinton Stipek et al, Inferring building height from footprint morphology data, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66467-2 Journal information: Scientific Reports
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Credit: Jaguar Land Rover

At first glance, Jaguar's new electric Type 00 concept car is surprising, shocking or perhaps even jarring to some. This is largely due to its bright pink color (it also comes in blue).

On first seeing it, my thoughts immediately went to Lady Penelope's Ford Thunderbird car from the Thunderbirds movie (2004), which can be seen at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon in the English county of Warwickshirecoincidentally, where Jaguar's research and development department is located. Perhaps there was some unconscious inspiration from a lunch break visit.

There has been much talk in recent weeks of the Jaguar rebrand and the marketing and PR teams' efforts were clearly effective. My social network feeds, for one, have been dominated by discussion of it for well over a week. The purists clearly weren't happy. But, there is a definitive need to reform and change, due to diminishing sales over the past 12 months, industry wide dips in sales of new cars and increased competition from China in the production of electric vehicles.

The rebrand is a timely opportunity to recenter the carmaker's product range and the Type 00 GT is clearly a step in the traditional direction and focus of Jaguar as opposed to Jaguar SUV's introduced in 2016 which are more the preserve of their sister brand, Land Rover. Ensuring that Jaguar remains its own distinctive brand and doesn't succumb to a victim of "badge engineering" (the marketing of the same model under different brands and models) that was the downfall of many British car brands in the 1970's is important.

In some respects, the approach to the launch has been rather Tesla-esque: a slick, high profile, highly charged and curated introduction, such as that used on the Cybertruck. As opposed to the traditional unveiling at a car show, Jaguar chose Miami Art Week and it's a bold statement. This is not the first time that Jaguar and Land Rover cars have been identified as art, with the original 1970 Range Rover being the first car to be exhibited at the Musee du Louvre in Paris.

Criticism of the design and branding has accused Jaguar of ignoring tradition. This sort of talk appears to stem from a particular market demographic who negate or misunderstand the importance of change and innovation that Jaguar has employed throughout its history to transform the company and appeal to newer and, importantly, younger markets. In this respect, parallels have been drawn historically with ambitious redesigns that have emboldened Jaguar.

For instance, the iconic Jaguar E-type (1961), which Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari called the most "beautiful car in the world." Or the introduction of the XJ6 in 1968, which was a complete departure in terms of styling from the models it replaced. Both cars were incredibly important to Jaguar's tradition and image but, more importantly, their survival and growth at a time when the British motor industry was struggling.

Jaguars E-Type was considered a major departure for the manufacturer and one of the most beautiful cars in the world when it was launched in the 1960s. Credit: Jaguar Land Rover

So the Type 00 GT is on-brand if you look at the manufacturer's history. But as my 9-year-old son, who has encyclopedic top trump knowledge of car stats, asked: "It looks really cool, but how fast is it?" An answer we don't know. Real technical details seem to be missing from these announcements and marketingbeyond the fact it will be electric and some estimates on battery size and range.

What will set it apart? What innovations will the higher 120K price tag afford? What level of autonomy or comfort will be offered? What will it be like to drive? These are surely far better indications of the essence of Jaguar and its historic racing pedigree than just styling and aesthetics. But in the great furor, speculation and sea of opinions, what has gone largely unnoticed is that this is a "concept car," not a production ready model. It doesn't even have the same number of doors that the final 2026 production version will have.

Concept cars have been routinely used by automotive manufacturers since the late 1930's and while these can serve as indicators of future models or directions, they are also used to promote futuristic visions or measure market approval before tooling commitments. Even as pre-production concepts, as we are told the Type 00 is, there are typically distinct differences in the eventual production models.

I suspect that the overall silhouette and stance will remain, but some key styling details may differ. Perhaps the front and rear grills will have more definition or be smaller to ensure crash worthiness. The legal requirements of lights, indicators, number plates and so on, will all have subtle impacts, as will the manufacturing restrictions.

Regardless of what you think of the new Jaguar Type 00 or Jaguar's controversial rebrand, it has been a major marketing success. Perhaps the rebrand has affirmed the adage "there's no such thing as bad publicity" with the internet circling with speculation, admiration or disdain for the rebrand. This carefully curated relaunch has brought the Jaguar brand and name into the public consciousness, especially that of the younger target demographic.

I do hope the rebrand will be a financial success, partly because I want the iconic and historic Jaguar brand to survive, even thrive, especially considering the fate of many of its British motoring contemporaries. More importantly though, it needs to for the many livelihoods of those who work at their facilities in Gaydon, Halewood, Solihull and Castle Bromwich and the suppliers who depend on it.

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:

Schematic illustration of aqueous zinc-sulfur batteries. On left: in water, on right: with polymer and zinc-iodide additives. The additives improve the stability, reducing dendrite growth and enhancing the longevity of the battery. Credit: Chase Cao/Angewandte Chemie

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power everything from electric vehicles to wearable devices. But new research from Case Western Reserve University suggests that a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative may lie in zinc-based batteries.

In a study published in Angewandte Chemie, researchers announced a significant step toward creating high-performance, low-cost zinc-sulfur batteries.

"This research marks a major step forward in the development of safer and more sustainable energy storage solutions," said Chase Cao, a principal investigator and assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Case School of Engineering.

"Aqueous zinc-sulfur batteries offer the potential to power a wide range of applicationsfrom renewable energy systems to portable electronicswith reduced environmental impact and reliance on scarce materials."

Lithium-ion batteries, though widely used, are expensive, rely on relatively rare materials and are complex to manufacture. In contrast, zinc-sulfur batteries use more abundant and inexpensive materials and have fewer environmental and safety concerns.

However, challenges such as zinc-anode corrosion, low conductivity and dendrite growth have historically hindered their commercial viability.

Cao's team overcame these obstacles by introducing two key additives: propylene glycol methyl ether and zinc-iodide. This technology delivered several crucial improvements: enhanced energy capacity by 20%, improved conductivity and stability and inhibited the growth of zinc dendrites.

If the dendrites connect the positive and negative sides of the battery, it can short out and cause a fireanother major problem with lithium-ion batteries.

"These additives not only enhance battery efficiency, but also address long-standing safety concerns by mitigating dendrite formation," said Guiyin Xu, professor at Donghua University in Shanghai and co-senior author. "The result is a compact, higher-density battery that can recharge more times without significant degradation."

The implications of this breakthrough extend beyond affordability and safety. Zinc-sulfur batteries have a higher energy density than lithium-ion counterparts, enabling smaller, longer-lasting designs. This could be transformative for renewable energy storage and devices that demand reliability and efficiency.

Cao's primary interest in developing better batteries is for novel soft robotics and advanced sensing systems, both of which rely on high-capacity, long-lived batteries. For example, he's developing biologically inspired swimming robots, whose endurance relies on durable, lightweight batteries that can power long missions without failurethe robot can't run out mid-mission or will never come back.

Cao, who directs the Soft Machines and Electronics Laboratory at CWRU, is also developing new technologies for space exploration and farming, as well as for removing ubiquitous and dangerous space debris.

The research was also conducted with researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Mariah Desire Cabrera, 21, was charged with murder and sentenced to prison for the death of 19-year-old David Rezentes. Police said Cabrera and a group of people robbed and fatally shot Rezentes during a drug deal on March 25, 2023. record/Courtesy BCSO

A San Antonio woman who participated in a fatal drug deal robbery has been sentenced to prison.

Mariah Desire Cabrera, 21, was sentenced to 35 years in prison by Judge Christine Del Prado on Tuesday for the death of 19-year-old David Rezentes.

Cabrera will receive credit toward her sentence for the 467 days she spent at the Bexar County jail, court records show.

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In October, Cabrera was charged with murder and pleaded guilty to the charge.

Authorities said Cabrera, along with four other people, robbed and fatally shot Rezentes during a drug deal on March 25, 2023.

READ MORE: Man accused of being getaway driver in fatal West Side shooting arrested

Police responded to the 3200 block of El Paso Street and found a vehicle that was still running and had the driver's side door open, an investigator wrote in an arrest affidavit supporting Cabrera's arrest. Officers also located a single bullet hole on the passenger side door.

On the passenger seat, officers found a small bag with a white powdery substance that authorities believed was cocaine.

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At the same time, police received a call about an injured person at Elvira and SW 19th Streets. Officers found Rezentes unresponsive on the sidewalk near the intersection. He had a gunshot wound on his upper right torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators later learned that Rezentes was sitting on the passenger side of the vehicle during the shooting.

A witness told police they were with Rezentes when they were robbed by Cabrera and a group of people during a drug deal that was set up on social media.

Police also arrested Jayveon Johnson, 23, and Jonathan Garza, 21, in connection to the shooting. Both are still awaiting trial.

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District Attorney Joe Gonzales released a statement about the sentencing on Tuesday.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg, center, City Manager Erik Walsh, Airport Director Jesus Saenz and others wield shovels at a groundbreaking for a new $1.7 billion terminal at San Antonio International Airport. Jessica Phelps Atendees of the San Antonio Airports groundbreaking ceremony for the new terminal, record a video rendering of a walkthrough of what the new terminal will look like. Jessica Phelps Heavy machinery breaks ground for a massive new terminal at San Antonio International Airport. Jessica Phelps Mayor Ron Nirenberg speaks at a groundbreaking for a new $1.7 billion terminal at San Antonio International Airport. Jessica Phelps Jesus Saenz, Airport Director for San Antonio International Airport speaks, to a crowd of people at the groundbreaking ceremony for the airports new terminal. Jessica Phelps Mayor Ron Nirenberg speaks at a groundbreaking for a new $1.7 billion terminal at San Antonio International Airport. Jessica Phelps

Construction on San Antonio International Airports massive new $1.7 billion terminal, the cornerstone of a planned 20-year expansion of the airport, is officially underway.

The 850,000 square-foot Terminal C will be larger than the airports two existing terminals combined. It will connect to the existing Terminal B and is set to open in the second quarter of 2028.

The project is designed to ease crowding at the airport, accommodate more flights and create a spacious, visually striking gateway to the nation's 7th largest city. Today, many visitors' initial impressions are shaped by the outdated and threadbare Terminal A, whose 75-foot wide concourse is one of the narrowest among major U.S. airports.

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This is the largest and most important capital improvement project that our city has ever taken on to date, Airport Director Jesus Saenz said at a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday.

Saenz, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Manager Erik Walsh and other VIPs posed for the cameras holding shovels full of dirt. A barbed-wire airport perimeter fence served as a backdrop. But the groundbreaking wasn't entirely a photo op. A piece of heavy equipment clawed at a stretch of parking lot within the footprint of the new terminal, evidence of actual construction activity.

Terminal C will include up to 17 gates, bringing the total at the airport to 40. It will have eight security lanes, and the city plans to bump that up to a dozen eventually. There also will be more room for restaurants, shops and other concessions and larger waiting areas for passengers.

In addition, the city will build a connector between Terminals A and B, allowing passengers to pass back and forth between those terminals after clearing security. Currently, they are confined to whichever terminal theyre flying from.

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Security will be in a central location instead of having security checkpoints in each terminal, as is the case today.

Terminal C is the core of the citys $2.5 billion airport expansion plan. Its also at the center of a lawsuit between the city and Southwest Airlines, which is suing the airport because it is not slated to receive gates in the new terminal.

Construction at the airport is largely paid for with revenue generated by the facility, but the city has also been seeking federal dollars. So far, the project has received $18 million in federal grants.

The expansion is in response to rapid growth in the region. Last year was the busiest in the airports history, with nearly 10.7 million passengers. Saenz said the airport has experienced 18 straight months of record-breaking travel volume.

Between 2010 and 2020, the San Antonio metro area grew by more than 400,000 people, an increase of 16 percent. Airport officials expect annual passenger totals to exceed 14 million by 2040, which would outstrip the capacity of existing facilities.

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The expansion will make the region more appealing to companies interested in relocating to or expanding in San Antonio, according to Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, president and CEO of Greater: SATX, the regions main economic development arm.

Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our city and our region, she said at the ceremony. This isnt just about constructing a terminal. Its truly about setting a foundation for economic opportunities across the region.

After construction is completed on the new terminal, Saenz said officials will turn to renovating Terminals A and B. And other airport improvements are already in the works.

A 38,000-square-foot Ground Load Facility will allow passengers to board aircraft from the tarmac. It will be connected to Terminal A and will include passenger seating, restaurants, shops, charging stations for electronics, workstations and a lactation room.

The facility will include three gates and will have the capacity to expand to five. It will bring Terminal As gate total to 22. Its slated to open in fall 2025.

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A Ground Transportation Center, opening in fall 2027, will boost the airports cramped parking facilities, adding as many as 2,000 spaces. The airport currently has about 10,000 spaces. The center will cost about $125 million and will include drive-thru space for VIA Metropolitan Transit buses, hotel shuttles, taxis and ride-hailing services.

Southwest brawl

Southwest and the San Antonio airport are fighting over a long-term lease agreement that would keep the airline out of Terminal C.

Southwest contended in a lawsuit filed in September against Saenz and the city that Saenz told the airline it would get all, or most, of the 10 gates it requested in the new terminal. Southwest alleges the city reversed course and later told the airline it would remain in Terminal A. It also says the airport used unlawful criteria for determining which airlines would be allotted gates in the new terminal.

The city disputes those assertions.

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Eight other airlines have signed a new use and lease agreement to operate at the airport, which lasts a decade and has a five-year renewal option.

Southwest has refused to sign, and as a result, it is paying higher fees to operate on a month-to-month basis. The carrier could pay $6 million in added fees and lose out on $4 million in revenue sharing if it doesnt sign a lease within the next year.

The lease agreement sets aside $200 million for renovations to Terminal A, but Southwest has said thats not enough money to relieve the overcrowding that often chokes the facility, which opened in 1984.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and several international carriers are slated to take up Terminal Cs 17 gates.

Southwest is the San Antonio airports dominant carrier, serving nearly 40% of the facilitys domestic passengers.

In September, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez denied Southwests bid to block a new lease agreement for other airlines from taking effect.

Southwest and the city of San Antonio were slated to return to federal court in December, but Rodriguez pushed the matter off this months court calendar and has yet to set a new date.

Saenz said theres a chance Southwest and the airport will negotiate a settlement out of court.
Christopher Joshua Garay, 35, was arrested on Nov. 29 in San Antonio. Texas Department of Public Safety Johnny Leon Wilson, 54, was arrested on Dec. 2 in Grand Prairie. Texas Department of Public Safety Michael Wayne Petterson, 55, was arrested on Nov. 27 in Dayton. Texas Department of Public Safety

Three of Texas' 10 Most Wanted criminals are back behind bars. One was arrested in San Antonio the day after Thanksgiving.

Christopher Joshua Garay, 35, was apprehended on Nov. 29 in San Antonio by the U.S. Marshals, Texas Department of Public Safety agents, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Office of the Inspector General.

A tip helped lead law enforcement to his whereabouts.

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Garay was convicted of five counts of aggravated robbery in 2011. He was sentenced to 90 years in prison but was later released on parole in 2018 by the TDCJ, according to DPS.

The 35-year-old has been wanted by law enforcement since January after the Bexar County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was also issued a second warrant for parole violation from his prior aggravated robbery conviction.

The two other arrests happened in other Texas cities.

On Dec. 2, Johnny Leon Wilson, 54, was arrested in Grand Prairie by the U.S. Marshals, DPS, Fort Worth Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Mansfield Police Department and the Department of Criminal Justice Office of the Inspector General.

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A tip also led to his arrest.

Wilson was arrested for murder by the Houston Police Department in 2019. He bailed out of jail with an ankle monitor, but later removed the monitor, DPS said.

State law enforcement had been chasing Wilson since February of 2023 after the Harris County Sheriff's Office issued a murder warrant for him.

On Nov. 27, Michael Wayne Petterson, 55, was arrested in Dayton by DPS agents, state troopers, the Chambers County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals.

Petterson's extensive criminal history dates back to 1991 after he was convicted of aggravated sexual of a 17-year-old girl. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, DPS said.

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In 2003, Petterson was convicted of harassment. Five years later, he was convicted of failing to comply with registering as a sex offender.

The 55-year-old was convicted of assaulting a family member by impeding breath/circulation. He was sentenced to five years probation.

Petterson had been wanted since November of 2023 after the San Augustine County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to register himself as a sex offender, DPS said.

In partnership with the Office of the Governor and the Texas Crime Stoppers program, DPS works with local agencies to select criminals for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders, and Criminal Illegal Immigrants lists. The lists  with photos  are on the DPS website.
A school bus idles in front of North East Alternative Center, located on West Rampart Drive in San Antonio, before students are dismissed on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

North East Independent School District students who flee from campus or refuse to be searched will soon face more serious disciplinary consequences as administrators say they are cracking down on misbehavior.

At a board meeting Monday, school officials informed trustees that starting next semester, students who refuse to comply with administrative searches will be sent to the district's alternative school. Students would be sent to alternative school for 15 days, with an opportunity for review after 10 days.

This is an opportunity for us to have some additional leverage where we have pretty much had our hands tied, said Tyler Shoesmith, who oversees discipline for San Antonios second-largest school district as NEISD's executive director of pupil personnel services.

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Shoesmith said administrators have encountered greater challenges in the past few years addressing issues on campus.

He said there has been an increase in students who are suspected of having prohibited items running from administrators or refusing to comply with legally allowed searches. Some of the students are being instructed by their parents to refuse the searches, he said.

Under NEISDs current policy, students who fail to comply with an administrative directive could be suspended, or put into the district's in-school suspension program. Shoesmith said those consequences are not enough to deter the behavior since students would rather resist a search and risk suspension than get caught with prohibited items like vaping materials or a weapon and receive much harsher penalties.

This isnt the large population of students with discipline infractions, Shoesmith said. This is a very small microcosm but essentially these pose potential risks to our campus and the safety of our broader school community.

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Administrators can search students if there is reasonable suspicion that a violation of the student code of conduct or law has occurred. Law enforcement can only search students if they have probable cause, a higher standard requiring evidence of a potential crime.

This means that district police officers cant always assist with student searches. If a student is resisting a search, administrators are often unable to forcefully open a backpack or pat them down without risking injury to themselves or the student, Shoesmith said.

Sometimes, students choose to flee when approached by an administrator regarding a potential disciplinary infraction. In most cases, Shoesmith said this is to destroy or conceal prohibited items, avoid being evaluated under the influence or prevent identification.

A major issue has been students running to throw e-cigarettes into school toilets, which Shoesmith said has caused damage to pipes across NEISD high schools. District officials said at least two campuses recently experienced blockages from students flushing e-cigarettes.

Shoesmith said the district hasnt updated its policy until now because failure to comply with administrative directive is such a broad offense. There are a myriad of ways it could be abused, including sending kids to alternative school for more minor offenses like not sitting down when told.

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Administrators could be subject to possible violations when it comes to violating someones civil rights, so we have to be very careful about how we judiciously use this in application, he said.

Shoesmith said his department plans to follow a strict protocol and comb through every case to ensure there is justification before sending students to alternative school. He said school officials will receive training on reasonable suspicion and the levels of evidence they must establish before a search.

Trustees largely applauded the move after ensuring the district had the capacity in its alternative schools to serve the additional students.

Shoesmith said there were more than 90 cases of failure to comply with administrative directive last year involving students running from administrators or resisting a search. This year there have been about 50, he said.

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Churchill High School Principal Todd Bloomer said hes experienced it twice in the past two weeks. Both cases involved suspicion of students vaping in a bathroom.

In the first instance, administrators walked a group of students toward the office when one bolted from campus. Bloomer said he returned later ready to be searched, but he had obviously run for a reason. In the second instance, a student suspected of vaping refused to have his backpack inspected.

It doesnt happen often, but Bloomer said there has been an increase in parents who show up on campus and pull their kids from school before discipline occurs.

Superintendent Sean Maika said he had massive heartburn about students telling administrators not to do their jobs.

I was shocked to learn about the parents who show up and take their kid and say, Youre not searching them, he added. They are literally helping the child circumvent it.

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Maika said the insubordination has gotten worse since the September 2023 enactment of House Bill 114, which requires students who are found with vapes to be put into disciplinary alternative education program placement, commonly known as DAEP.

Last year, 361 NEISD students received disciplinary consequences for bringing an e-cigarette to school. More than 470 were caught with marijuana or THC, according to data from the Texas Education Association.

This year, the district has reported 187 e-cigarette cases and 216 THC cases.

Maika, a former principal, said that without more serious consequence, word will spread that students are better off running from campus or ignoring administrators than complying with disciplinary rules. He said the district has the opportunity to "curb this new trend" now before it becomes pervasive enough that administrators lose control of their campuses.
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, talks with journalists at Texas State University on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in San Marcos, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar was elected last week to head the Congressional Progressive Caucus, following in the footsteps of liberal icons like U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. The Austin Democrat is taking over the post at a critical moment, when his party is searching for an identity after getting trounced in November and losing the White House to former President Donald Trump.

The caucus has seen its membership swell to include nearly half of House Democrats in recent years, giving it an increasingly influential role in primary elections. While Democrats will remain in the minority next year, Republicans are heading into the new Congress with a narrower majority.

READ MORE: Greg Casar to rally with Bernie Sanders in San Antonio as he seeks to lead House Progressive Caucus

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Casar, a former labor organizer and Austin city councilman who is finishing out his first term, said in an interview with Hearst Newspapers that Democrats need to rethink their priorities and more readily defend against Republicans' "attention hog" strategy on cultural issues like LGBTQ rights.

Here are his full remarks, edited and condensed, on what happened in the election and where he wants to see the party go.

Q: I'm interested in your perspective on the election. Considering the losses sustained by the party, where do you think Democrats went wrong?

A: Were still awaiting the full voter file, but even with the information we have now, I think that the Democratic Party needs to reform and rebrand itself, to once again really be the party of working people. If you look at what people associate with the Democratic Party starting in the post World War 2 era up to 2010, that was how we were perceived. But then we started to lose that. Obviously Republicans have been relentless in attacking Democrats and lying about the Democratic Partys policy priorities  even the birth place of the president. At the same time, Democrats also started to turn more towards the kinds of trade agreements that pushed union jobs and industrial jobs out of the United States.

Q: Democrats have also taken some criticism from some members that they are too focused on diversity and equality. Former President Bill Clinton suggested recently they were too "arrogant" on the issue . You have a reputation for being a champion of LGBTQ rights, but recently I read youre concerned about not getting too far ahead of the American people on these issues. Does that mean the party needs to back off on, say, issues like transgender rights?

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A: In my view, if you're really trying to sit in the back seat of public opinion, you aren't leading and why are you doing this job? I've always had that critique, but, as a progressive, I am now really communicating to progressive legislators to never lead out more than one arms length ahead of the American people  to make sure that we are communicating with people in a way that the average voter agrees with and understands.

And second, we have to have a tent thats big enough to bring people along even if theyre not fully comfortable yet with some of the important and expanding rights in this country. That's okay. We have plenty of those folks in our families and our neighborhoods and our party too. I think that it is okay for the Democratic Party to say that's a complicated issue and we're going to try to work on in it.

Q: But that is very different from how Democrats have messaged around these social issues, right?

A: Heres something I would say differently now than maybe I did when I started on this. When someone like Congresswoman (Nancy) Mace would try to bully and attack a trans person  in this case her own colleague, a member of Congress  in the past I might have just said LGBTQ rights are basic rights and Congresswoman Mace is just being discriminatory and awful. Frankly, I think that's still true, but now I think I would give a different message. I would say that Congressman Mace is being an attention hog and she's trying to distract people from the fact that Donald Trump is about to give billionaires a tax break, at that same time trying to put (former U.S. Rep.) Matt Gaetz into the attorney general's seat, which is about the craziest thing anyone has ever heard. Everyday voters really don't care much about the marble bathroom in the Capitol and who uses it or not.

Q: Was the result of the election surprising to you, in particular the swing among voting groups that typically support Democrats? For instance, Im thinking about the 20-point Republican gain among Hispanic men in Texas between the 2020 and 2024 elections.

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A: I was hopeful that the results would be different, but I wasn't surprised. I heard so many people disaffected with Congress' ability to improve their daily lives. And when people are disaffected and feel like maybe we should give up, that's really where I think Trump fills in the void. Democrats have to get back to showing that we're going to be willing to fight tooth and nail no matter what. We can't see rising prices and say, well, prices are rising less fast here than in other developed countries. Instead, we have to say the consolidation of gigantic companies in the food sector is unacceptable and we're going to have to bring down the cost of food. And if Republicans block us, then you're going to see us go down on the mat, bleeding, fighting, trying.

Q: In the aftermath of the election, progressives are taking a lot of heat for pushing the party to the left. How do you answer those criticisms and how do you avoid being relegated to irrelevance in the coming Congress?

A: Thats the narrative out there, in the media and in general, but if you actually look at what's going on during the Biden administration, it's been progressives that have pushed the Democratic Party to focus on economic issues first. They pushed Democrats to pass bold plans to reduce housing costs, to reduce childcare costs and to reduce healthcare costs. It was the more corporate parts of the party, (U.S. Sens.) Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema, that blocked legislation to lower housing costs.

Q: As you say, Republicans have been very effective at messaging around the economy. How do Democrats plan to counter that?

A: We have to be able to call out who the villains in the story are. You know, the Republicans have told a really consistent story since the beginning of the Trump era. Trump says your rent is going up because of immigrants. Your health insurance is getting worse because of wokeness. If Democrats just sit there and present some policy solutions, its like showing up with a policy book to a gunfight. I think we have to much more clearly say it's not an undocumented migrant or an asylum seeker raising your rent. It's a Wall Street hedge fund that's run up all the housing prices, and we're willing to stand up to those Wall Street hedge funds, who Republicans are trying to deregulate.

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Q: The hedge funds youre talking about are in many cases big donors for the Democratic Party. How do you send the message youre for the working class when youre taking Wall Street money?
China is deploying dozens of ships in its biggest maritime mobilisation around Taiwan in years, Taipei said Tuesday, after Beijing voiced fury at President Lai Ching-te's recent visit to the United States.

Taiwanese forces were on high alert in anticipation of Beijing's People's Liberation Army (PLA) staging war games in response to Lai's US stopovers and call with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Taiwan's defence ministry said the number of Chinese ships in the waters around the island exceeded Beijing's maritime response to then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022, which was the largest-ever war games.

In those drills, Beijing deployed ballistic missiles, fighter jets and warships in what analysts described as practice for a blockade and ultimate invasion of Taiwan -- and was a display of how far China's military had come since the last Taiwan Strait crisis in the mid-1990s.

Nearly 90 Chinese naval and coast guard ships were currently in waters along the so-called first island chain, which links Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines, a senior Taiwanese security official told AFP.

Taiwan's defence ministry said earlier it had also detected 47 Chinese aircraft near the island in the 24 hours to 6:00 am (2200 GMT).

That was the highest number of aircraft detected in a single day since a record 153 reported on October 15, after China staged major military drills in response to Lai's National Day speech days earlier.

Speaking in Tokyo, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that China's "coercive behaviour" threatened regional stability.

"Now we're clear-eyed about the challenges to peace and stability in this region and worldwide," Austin said as he met his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani.

"That includes coercive behaviour by the People's Republic of China in the East China Sea and the South China Sea and elsewhere in the region," said Austin, who did not directly mention Taiwan in his remarks.

China -- which regards Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control -- has held four large-scale military exercises in just over two years, including the drills in response to Pelosi's visit and two since Lai took office in May.

"It can indeed be said that the scale of these maritime forces exceeds the four drills since 2022," defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang told reporters.

Sun said the latest exercises drew forces from three separate Chinese regional commands, while another defence ministry official said China's actions were "not solely directed at Taiwan".

There has been no public announcement by the PLA or Chinese state media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean, where Taiwan said Chinese ships had been detected.

However, a Beijing foreign ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday that China will "resolutely defend" its sovereignty.

The lack of an announcement from Beijing was unusual and, if drills were under way, could be a "deliberate strategy to sow confusion and exert psychological pressure," Duan Dang, a Vietnam-based maritime security analyst, said.

"China's current movements resemble what we would see during preparations for real combat, exceeding the scale of previous exercises," he added.

Taipei-based security analyst J. Michael Cole said the mix of PLA navy vessels and coast guard ships highlighted Beijing's efforts to "increase interoperability" between the two.

"Such efforts also blur the lines between civilian and military components and thus complicate Taiwan's ability to respond proportionally," Cole told AFP.

Beijing has asserted its claims over contested territories in the region far more boldly in recent years, as its military strength has grown.

The escalating actions -- over islands in the East China Sea claimed by Japan, self-ruled Taiwan, and reefs and islands in the South China Sea that are also claimed by Southeast Asian nations -- have come as Beijing's rivals have drawn closer to the United States.

Washington is Taiwan's most important backer and biggest supplier of arms, but has long maintained "strategic ambiguity" when it comes to putting boots on the ground to defend the island.

Lai said Friday he was "confident" of deeper cooperation with the next Donald Trump administration, a day after he spoke with House Speaker Johnson that angered China.

China's foreign ministry warned Taiwan on Friday that "seeking independence with the help of the United States will inevitably hit a wall", and called on Washington to "cease meddling in Taiwan-related affairs".

The dispute between Taiwan and China goes back to 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces were defeated by Mao Zedong's communist fighters and fled to the island.
A wildfire raging in Southern California has triggered evacuations and caused damage in Malibu, the iconic and affluent beachside community northwest of Los Angeles.

The fast-moving Franklin Fire ignited late Monday and quickly expanded, prompting firefighters to go door-to-door evacuating parts of Malibu. By Tuesday night, the blaze had scorched over 3,000 acres, spreading from the Santa Monica Mountains to the Malibu coast with 0% containment, according to CalFire officials.

Efforts to contain the fire have been hampered by strong winds, low humidity, and challenging terrain. Over 1,500 firefighters are battling the flames, while the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department manages evacuations and road closures in the affected areas.

During a Tuesday night news conference, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed that a small number of homes in Malibu had been destroyed or damaged by the Franklin Fire. While the exact figures are still being assessed, preliminary reports indicate that seven structures were destroyed and eight others sustained damage.

"This was from an aerial view that we were able to look at," according to Marrone. "Damage inspection teams have been assigned to the incident, and they will assist with a more accurate accounting of incident losses tomorrow."

Marrone reported no deaths or serious injuries related to the fire, though a sheriff deputy's cruiser was damaged.

The Franklin Fire was intensified by strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity, resulting in red-flag conditions across the region. According to Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, the red flag warning will remain in effect through at least Wednesday and possibly longer as the powerful winds persist, he told USA TODAY.

"We're still getting gusting and erratic winds as we're expecting more winds up to 50 mph overnight in the highest elevations of the fire area," Sirard said. "It's just a very dangerous situation. The crews are obviously doing their best to fight the fire, but it's still hard to contain at this time."
Gia vang the gioi sang nay ap sat moc 3.000 USD/ounce  muc ky luc chua tung co trong lich su. Trong nuoc cung khong ngoai le, khi lan luot tang tu 700 en 1 trieu ong/luong. "Vang ang trong thi truong tang gia dai han. Chung toi du bao gia se giao dich trong khoang 3.000-3.200 USD trong nam nay", Alex Ebkarian, giam oc ieu hanh tai Allegiance Gold cho biet.
New Murabba, a PIF company, has showcased at the MIPIM Asia Summit held in Hong Kong its investment opportunities to the global real estate market, emphasising its commitment to shaping the future of urban living.

The prestigious event convened key industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss the future of urban development.

This years MIPIM Asia Summit marks New Murabbas second engagement with the MIPIM platform, following its participation in MIPIM Global in France earlier this year.

A highlight of New Murabbas presence at MIPIM Asia was its participation in the panel discussion titled Belt and Road Initiative: A Shared Vision for Real Estate and Beyond. This session explored the transformative impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on real estate development and highlighted successful partnerships, such as New Murabbas collaboration with China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd. This existing relationship underscores New Murabbas commitment to international cooperation and is exemplified by China Harbours current work on the earthworks excavation for the first phase of the development, which includes the basement structures underneath the Mukaab and surrounding podiums.

Innovative design and commitment

During the Summit, the New Murabba team showcased this ambitious and transformative development, highlighting its innovative design and commitment to creating a sustainable and connected community. Central to this vision is the Mukaab, the worlds largest and most complex structure ever created.

Set to open at the end of 2030 as part of Phase 1 of the core downtown, the Mukaab will serve as a modern-day marvel and a grand Capital City icon. Furthermore, it will act as a Gateway to Another World, housing the worlds largest immersive experience with over 400,000 sq m of continuously operating background immersion technology.

Michael Dyke, CEO of New Murabba, said: MIPIM Asia provided an invaluable platform to showcase New Murabba to the world and connect with key players in the international real estate market. As we are creating a global destination that will redefine urban living, New Murabba welcomes international partners and investors to join us in this transformative journey. Together, we can shape a future where innovation, sustainability, and cultural vibrancy converge to create a truly exceptional urban experience.

New Murabba is poised to become a premier global destination where residents, visitors, and businesses seamlessly integrate within a vibrant ecosystem. With cutting-edge technology, world-class amenities, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, New Murabba redefines urban living. Anchored by 15-minute City principles, this transformative development sets a new standard for future cities  born smart and designed to enhance livability. New Murabba will play a key role in supporting Riyadhs ambition to become one of the worlds ten most livable cities.--TradeArabia News Service
BITS Pilani Dubai Campus (BPDC) has achieved an impressive 80% campus placement rate for its 2023-24 batch of students, with a striking 95% securing roles in UAE-based firms.

This accomplishment underscores BPDCs strong industry connections within the region and highlights its pivotal role in preparing students for successful careers.

This milestone represents a 5% improvement over the previous academic year, showcasing the institution's unwavering commitment to shaping future-ready professionals in a dynamic global job market. Notably, BPDC achieved almost 100% placement for students in core engineering streams, including Mechanical, Electrical, and Chemical Engineeringan exemplary feat that reflects the institution's emphasis on excellence in these critical disciplines.

Leading companies

Prestigious organisations such as Schindler Middle East, ESAB Middle East, AstraZeneca, Zomato UAE, Al Tayer, CAFU, Sharaf DG, Easa Saleh Al Gurg, Al Ghandi, and Landmark Group were among the many leading companies that recognised the exceptional talent of BPDC graduates.

BPDC also strengthened its relationships with employers, inviting 17% more companies for campus placements compared to the previous year. This proactive strategy expanded opportunities for students across diverse sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and marketing, further cementing BPDCs reputation as a premier talent hub in the UAE.

Professor Souri Banerjee, Director of BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, commended the collective efforts of students, faculty, and industry partners, statingThis remarkable achievement reflects the synergy between our rigorous academic curriculum and our industry-oriented career development Programmes. At BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, we strive to ensure that our students are not only academically excellent but also equipped with the skills and confidence to excel in the workplace. We are grateful for the trust our industry partners place in our graduates and look forward to strengthening these collaborations in the future.

BPDCs innovative and holistic approach to career development has been instrumental in achieving these exceptional outcomes. The Career Readiness Programme, an intensive pre-placement initiative, played a crucial role in preparing over 200 graduating students to meet industry demands. The Programme featured workshops on resume building, professional communication, mock interviews with industry experts, and skill enhancement sessions in technical areas.

Practice School

Additionally, BPDCs Practice School, an educational innovation integrating industry experience with academic learning in the penultimate year, significantly enhanced the students readiness to enter the workforce and contributed to the outstanding placement rates.

Abdul Razzak, Manager of Career Services at BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, said: At BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus, we are committed to empowering our students to thrive in UAE's competitive job market, often dominated by seasoned professionals. We bridge the gap by offering tailored career readiness programmes, fostering industry connections, and equipping our talent with the skills and experiences necessary to stand out. Our goal is not just to find opportunities but to go the extra mile to equip students to excel in them.

The 2024 placement success highlights the collective dedication of BPDCs faculty, Career Services Department, and students, as well as the robust collaborations with industry leaders.--TradeArabia News Service
Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC), a logistics leader, announced that its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on December 10 approved setting up a QR2 billion ($550 million) Sharia-compliant Sukuk programme.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, GWC Chairman, commented: Our strategy focuses on diversifying funding sources while maintaining strong operational performance. We are committed to reinforcing our leadership in logistics and supply chain solutions, improving business agility and mitigating potential risks. We are also prioritising sustainability efforts while supporting SMEs, which play a key role in the economy.

He explained: GWCs comprehensive expansion strategy is designed to deliver long-term value to our clients and investors. In 2023, the company launched its wholly owned subsidiary, GWC Energy Services, which offers specialised logistics solutions for the energy sector. This supports Qatars national strategy to increase LNG production capacity through the North Field Expansion Project, the largest gas project under construction in the world.

FLAG subsidiary

By 2030, this project will increase Qatars LNG production capacity by 85%, from its current 77 million metric tonnes per year (mtpa) to 110 mtpa. Furthermore, in early 2024, GWC launched its FLAG subsidiary (100% owned company) logistics Hub at Khazaen Economic City in Oman, marking a significant step in expanding its presence across the GCC markets."

Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, GWC Group Managing Director, said: The companys expansion strategy is underpinned by forging strategic partnerships. Notably, the signing of Head of Terms with GFH Financial Group to develop 200,000 sq m of Grade A logistics facilities across key locations in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Additionally, GWC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a strategic partnership to develop 100,000 sq m of Grade A logistics facilities at Ras Al-Khair Industrial Port in KSA.

He said: We are committed to sustainability, innovation, and enhancing our competitive edge to sustain our leadership in the logistics sector. At the same time, we actively contribute to Qatars Third National Development Strategy and the Qatar National Vision 2030."

GWC Fine Art

He said: GWC Fine Art has enhanced its capabilities, providing institutional and private collectors, museums and galleries with the highest international standards of fine art logistics. As a carrier, packer, customs broker, and airfreight agent, GWC Fine Art offers the best guarantee of care, discretion, security and efficiency for any move or installation request for a wide variety of fine art logistics requirements. Hence, GWC has become one of the rare in the region equipped to take on the highly specialised activity of transporting works of art.

He added: Empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), improving their efficiency, and boosting their competitiveness in the market are top priorities for GWC. The first two phases of Al Wukair Logistics Park have already attracted a significant number of MSMEs, solidifying Qatars position as a promising and attractive destination for such businesses. Spreads across 1.5 million sq m, GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park is dedicated to light industry infrastructure required for the operational success of MSMEs. With various light industrial units, warehouses, and open yards, the park has been designed to meet all types of warehousing and distribution requirements for small and medium enterprises.--TradeArabia News Service
ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East, a fully owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, has signed an MoU with Satys Aerospace to open a dedicated aircraft paint facility at Dubai South's Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

Under the terms of the MoU, ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East has expressed its intention to utilise the new Satys paint facility for aircraft livery services as soon as it becomes operational during Q1 2025. Both companies have also agreed to explore potential joint marketing initiatives.

ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East provides line and heavy maintenance for a wide range of aircraft types, including those from: Dassault Aviation, Bombardier, Embraer and Hawker. The company also specialises in cabin refurbishments and frequently manages and oversees aircraft livery projects for its clients.

Growing hub

Until now, aircraft livery work has typically been sent to Europe, but with the opening of Satys dedicated facility in Dubai, we have identified a trusted local partner to keep this work in the region, with associated positive environmental impact, says Nick Weber, Regional Vice President Middle East at ExecuJet MRO Services. This will further enhance Dubais position as a growing hub for aircraft MRO services.

Weber and Paul Woods, Commercial Director at Satys ASP International, formally signed the MoU ahead of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) Conference and Exhibition, which is taking place from December 10 to 12 in Dubai South.

The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing regions for business aviation, and its crucial that we have a dedicated paint hangar for business jets. This strategic partnership with Satys significantly enhances our service offerings for clients in the Middle East, Africa and beyond, Weber adds. It will enable us to offer a comprehensive suite of MRO and aircraft refurbishment services at competitive prices, reducing aircraft downtime and improving customer satisfaction.

After commencing our relationship with Dassault Falcon Service back in 2001 at Le Bourget France, we are honoured to have Execujet as our partner and customer at our new facility at Dubai South Al Maktoum International Airport, says Satys Aerospace.

ExecuJet is globally recognised as being a provider of quality services to the business jet market sector and together we will be able to provide a high quality, one stop shop solution to clients seeking both aircraft maintenance and paint services, says Satys

Satys new paint facility in Dubai

Satys state-of-the-art aircraft paint facility is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025 at Al Maktoum International Airport. The climate-controlled facility, covering an area of 2,831 sq m, will be capable of accommodating business jets, Boeing BBJ, Airbus ACJ as well as commercial airliners up to Boeing 737-10 Max and Airbus A321XL. With an annual capacity to paint up to 35 aircraft, the facility will cater to business, commercial and VVIP aviation sectors.

Satys, headquartered in France, brings over 30 years of experience in aircraft painting and sealing. The company is approved by leading aircraft manufacturers and, in certain instances, operates co-located facilities at aircraft manufacturers' final assembly lines.

Satys paint hangars are designed with high-tech, temperature- and humidity-controlled environments that adhere to the highest standards of quality, safety, and environmental compliance.--TradeArabia News Service
WEG, a leading electric motor, variable frequency drives and gearbox manufacturer, will support the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) in creating a critical oil pipeline.

WEGs integrated drive package, including flameproof electric motors, variable speed drives (VSDs) and transformers, will help maximise the efficiency, reliability and safety of the horizontal centrifugal pumps underpinning the infrastructure.

The over 300-kilometre-long (186-mile) pipeline will carry around 1.5 million barrels of crude oil daily and comprise pumping and booster stations to maintain flow efficiency. This $3 billion infrastructure will boost the UAE's energy export and security, transporting crude oil from Jebel Dhanna in Abu Dhabi to the Fujairah oil terminal on the eastern coast.

Multiple horizontal centrifugal pumps

WEG solutions will drive multiple horizontal centrifugal pumps designed for heavy-duty industrial applications. 20 medium-voltage flameproof motors will be core to this project. These motors include nine W22Xdb 3.3kV, 50Hz units in frame sizes 500-560, with power rating between 850kW and 990kW, and eleven 900-frame 6.6 kV M-Line motors with power rating between 6,710kW and 6,980kW. Designed for the Arabian deserts harsh environmental conditions, these motors can withstand extreme heat of up to 55C and are IP55-certified against dust and water.

The W22Xdb flameproof motors maximise safety and efficiency in hazardous environments, meeting global standards such as ATEX and IECEx. These motors feature robust construction with cast iron or welded steel frames and advanced cooling options combined with thermal and vibration monitoring for optimal reliability. Other core benefits include high energy efficiency and customisable configurations, with multiple mounting options and terminal box designs, ideal for applications demanding flexible installation like oil pipelines.

The WEG M-Line (Master Line) comprises highly versatile and customisable three-phase induction motors designed for the most demanding industrial applications. The motors optimal design and high-quality materials minimise losses while maximising efficiency. In addition, the motors structural rigidity provides low vibration levels, enhancing durability and reliability in demanding applications.

Integrated arc-resistant VSDs

To optimise energy efficiency further while ensuring safety, the WEG solution features integrated arc-resistant VSDs. These drives are capable of absorbing any explosions caused by sudden electric arcs, protecting pump operators and maintenance personnel working on site. In addition, the touchscreen HMI allows easy programming and access to key parameters, enhancing the user experience while reducing errors and downtime.

The fact the OEM supplying the centrifugal pumps for this critical pipeline project turned to us is a testament to WEGs reputation for highly reliable customised drive solutions designed to minimise downtime and costs, commented Kiran Kumar, HVS Development Sales Manager for HVS Motors & Drives. Our integrated solution team worked closely with all stakeholders to meet the stringent requirements of this demanding application, including flame and arc resistance. Our ability to design an integrated drive package promptly was instrumental in enabling us to secure this important $22 million project.

WEG expects to deliver the drive packages by September 2025.--TradeArabia News Service
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) launched its transformative Golden Package for registering and operating private and business aircraft at the MEBAA Show on Wednesday.

Aligning with the UAEs Vision 2031 to drive economic diversification, the new package introduces innovative measures aimed at streamlining processes, enhancing flexibility, and reinforcing the UAEs position as a global hub for aviation excellence.

The GCAA also issued the first Approved Maintenance Organization Certificate to Falcon Technic as part of its Flexibility Initiative, aimed at supporting business aviation in the UAE.

The tenth edition of the MEBAA Show 2024, on its second day, welcomed further discussions among business aviation leaders and innovators and more examples of industry collaboration. Reaffirming the shows reputation as a key platform for impactful deals and announcements, Day 2 featured further milestones poised to shape the future of business aviation.

Other announcements included a MOU agreement signed between SKYNA and KAMS Global to agree on future cooperation in aircraft leasing and purchase inside Saudi Arabia and globally, while Comluxs new state-of-the-art service centre at DWC became operational, with its grand public unveiling during the show.

The BizAv Talks conference continued with insightful sessions focused on the daily theme, Driving a Sustainable Future for Business Aviation. The first session of the day saw Rolland Vincent, Creator/Director of JETNET iQ, launch the industry report Future casting BizAv: Key trends and forecasts.

During the presentation, he commented: The UAE ranks among the top 20 markets globally for business aircraft. While many countries are experiencing low growth, this region stands out with business aircraft activity being three times the GDP amount. The Middle East fleet is predominantly composed of large, ultra long-range jets.

He continued: Global business jet departures have increased by 30 points compared to 2019. We are witnessing a strong recovery from the pandemic, with 5.1 million global business jet and turboprop flights year-to-date. Business aviation accounts for 13% of these departures. Al Maktoum Airport is the leading departure point for business jets in the region. If you purchased a plane recently, its value has likely appreciated. Currently, there is a backlog for purchasing new airplanes. Positive feedback and increased demand, especially following the US election, have driven demand up by 25 points.

Vincent then moderated a panel to unpack the key trends with global industry representatives, including Kurt H. Edwards, Director General of IBAC; Douglas Carr, Senior Vice President, Safety, Security, Sustainability & International Operations of NBAA; Robert Baltus, Chief Operations Officer of EBAA; and Jenny Lau, Vice Chair, Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) & Founder and Vice Chair of Sino Jet.

With sustainability and innovation as key themes, the session titled "What has changed in the evolving BizAv landscape?" saw David Van Den Langenbergh, Chief Industry Affairs Officer of Luxaviation Group, and Youssef Mouallem, Executive Vice President-International of Vista, discuss how market demands, alternative fuels, and emerging business models are shaping the future of fleet strategies and operations in business aviation.

Van Den Langenbergh commented: "We are experiencing a remarkable period, and Dubai stands as a safe haven in these challenging times. The significance of hospitality and business aviation in the UAE is well understood. To drive sustainability, we need high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) to invest in cutting-edge technologies like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

He continued: "The challenge with SAF is the significant cost. There is a demand from certain customers and on every flight we offer to use SAF. We are consistent and are investing in SAF on the production side."

The MEBAA Show will conclude with the final day tomorrow (12 December), with more BizAv Talks sessions set to offer strategic insights focused on the daily theme of The Business of Business Aviation. - TradeArabia News Service
China to issue commemorative coins, note to celebrate Chinese New Year

People's Daily Online) 09:06, December 11, 2024

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, will issue a set of commemorative coins and a note to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan. 29, 2025. The set, all legal tender in China, consists of a gold coin, a silver coin, a copper alloy coin and a note. The issuance will begin from Dec. 16, 2024.

Photo shows the front side of the copper alloy coin. (Photo/PBOC)

The front side of the copper alloy coin features the name of the bank, the face value, patterns of flowers and other elements.

Photo shows the front side of the note. (Photo/PBOC)

The front side of the note showcases a snake-shaped design, along with the national emblem of China, the face value, a hologram, the serial number, and other elements.

Photo shows the reverse side of the copper alloy coin. (Photo/PBOC)

The reverse side of the copper alloy coin showcases a snake image that blends the traditional paper-cutting art with a New Year's painting. It also includes patterns of a lamp and ginseng, an herb in traditional Chinese medicine, among other elements.

Photo shows the reverse side of the note. (Photo/PBOC)

The reverse side of the note features a pattern showing children putting up Spring Festival couplets, with residential buildings in north China's Shanxi Province in the background. It also includes images of flowers, a hologram, the face value, and the Chinese characters "Zhongguo Renmin Yinhang Ershi Yuan" in Pinyin, as well as in languages of the Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur, and Zhuang ethnic groups of China.

The copper alloy coin has a face value of 10 yuan (about $1.38), and a diameter of 27 millimeters. It has a total issuance of 100 million pieces (including 10,000 pieces retained for historical currency archives).

The note has a face value of 20 yuan, with dimensions of 145 millimeters in length and 70 millimeters in width. It has a total issuance of 100 million notes (including 20,000 notes retained for historical currency archives).

The front sides of the gold and silver coins feature traditional Chinese auspicious elements, symbolizing happiness and blessings.

Photo shows the front side of the one-gram round gold coin. (Photo/PBOC)

Photo shows the front side of the 8-gram rhombic silver coin. (Photo/PBOC)

The reverse side of the one-gram round gold coin features a combination design of the Chinese character "Fu" (meaning good fortune), persimmons, and bat patterns, with the face value displayed.

Photo shows the reverse side of the one-gram round gold coin. (Photo/PBOC)

The reverse side of the 8-gram rhombic silver coin showcases a scene with the Chinese character "Fu" and displays the face value.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 8-gram rhombic silver coin. (Photo/PBOC)

The one-gram round gold coin contains one gram of pure gold, with a maximum issuance of 150,000 pieces. The 8-gram rhombic silver coin contains 8 grams of pure silver, with a maximum issuance of 1,500,000 pieces.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Construction was seen along Texas 242 in 2020. Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray said county leaders needed to stop kicking the can down the road and move forward with developing a road bond for May 3 elections. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray said county leaders needed to stop kicking the can down the road and move forward with developing a road bond and identifying projects to include on the May 3 election ballot.

We have been talking about this bond for quite some time, Gray said of commissioners pushing the bond to May due to the recent presidential election. We have kicked the can and the goal is to put it to the people that put us in office to decide if they need new roads, more mobility.

Commissioners agreed to defer voting on a contract with Houston-based LJA Engineering for consulting service for the bond until its Dec. 17 meeting in a 4-1 vote. Gray was against deferring the issue.

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During Tuesday meeting, commissioners discussed retaining LJA to help craft the bond package but several commissioners said they didnt need the help. LJAs proposal for the first phase was not to exceed $250,000.

I dont see a whole lot of reason to have an engineering firm tell me what to do on a bond issue, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said. Im getting with all the pertinent people, the cities, The (Woodlands) Township on what they want in my precinct and Ill go from there.

Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said the court did a superb job putting together the countys last bond for $280 million, which was approved by voters in November 2015.

I just dont think this is the type of help we need from LGA, Noack said. They are a fantastic engineering firm, I just dont think we need them to guide us through the selection process of the projects.

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Jason Millsaps, chief of staff for County Judge Mark Keough, said the first day the county can call the bond is Feb. 3, and it has until Feb. 14 to decide if it will be included on the May ballot.

Budget Officer Amanda Carter said approving a contract with LJA doesnt need to be county-wide, and commissioners could choose whether or not to contract for the consulting service.

BANKRUPTCY SALE: Montgomery County Mental Health Treatment Facility operator to be sold under bankruptcy plan

In April, the court formally began discussing a potential road bond to address growing mobility issues across the county, but the court has differed in how large the bond should be.

John Robuck, the countys investment adviser with BOK Financial Securities, said that while there are many unknowns, the county does have several options.

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Robuck said preliminary numbers indicated the county could propose a $165 million bond without raising the tax rate. However, a $500 million bond would increase the tax rate by 1.5 cents per $100 valuation, and a $750 million bond would increase that rate by 2.9 cents.

Robuck did not support a $1 billion bond, which would push the tax rate up by 4.3 cents per $100 valuation. He said a bond closer to $500 to $600 million would be a good target for the county.
Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africas first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) operator, has announced the resumption of its direct flights from Sharjah (UAE) to Beirut (Lebanon).

The reinstated service underscores Air Arabia's commitment to offering accessible and convenient travel options to its passengers, the airline said.

Starting December 18, Air Arabia will operate daily non-stop flights between Sharjah International Airport and BeirutRafic Hariri International Airport.

Air Arabia operates a modern fleet of 79 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. Offering passengers, a value-added onboard experience, the aircraft is equipped with SkyTime, a free in-flight streaming, and SkyCafe an onboard catering service at affordable prices. In addition, Air Arabia offers Air Rewards an innovative and generous loyalty program through which passengers can earn, transfer, and spend points. - TradeArabia News Service
Texas Sen. Joan Huffman speaks during a press conference at a DPS Crime Lab with Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday, July 14, 2022 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Legislators across Fort Bend County and the state of Texas have already filed hundreds of bills that could come up for a vote during the state's 89th legislative session.

Some of the most notable bills in the county include legislation that would prevent a sexual assault victims sexual past from being admissible in court, a bill that would prohibit sex offenders from buying firearms and a bill that would cap property taxes for elderly homeowners.

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Heres a look at the most notable bills submitted by Fort Bend legislators.

SB 535: Making past sexual behavior inadmissible in court in sexual assault or trafficking cases

Senate Bill 535, filed by state senator Joan Huffman, (R- SD17) would render a victim's past sexual behavior inadmissable in prosecutions of certain trafficking, sexual, or assaultive offenses, according to the bill.

The bill would also bar defendants from offering an opinion on a victims reputation or past sexual behavior.

"Senate Bill 535 is essential to reform how a victim's past sexual behavior is treated in court, especially in human trafficking and sexual assault cases," Huffman said.

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"This proposed legislation ensures that the focus remains on the accused's actions, and not the victim's history, which will better protect trafficking victims in court by preventing their past from being used to question their credibility or suggest consent. The hope is that this proposed change will foster a justice system where survivors feel safe to seek justice."

HB 260: Prohibiting sex offenders from purchasing firearms

House Bill 260, filed by Suleman Lalani, (D- HD26) would prohibit sex offenders from purchasing firearms. The bill would mandate that anyone subject to registration (as a sex offender) may not purchase a firearm once released from a penal institution.

Lalani could not be reached for comment.

HB 770: Prohibiting sex offenders from possessing a firearm

A similar bill to HB 260, Lalanis HB 770 would bar sex offenders from owning firearms.

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A person with a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense occurring on or after September 1, 2025, may not possess a firearm, the bill states. Sex offenders whose crimes occur after that date would have their firearms seized upon conviction or release from a holding facility.

HB 484: Prohibiting smoking devices on college campuses

HB 484, filed by Lalani, would ban the use of smoking devices from colleges and universities. While the use of smoking or tobacco products is already banned at elementary, middle school and high school campuses, the bill would extend that ban to other educational institutions.

HB 455: Property tax caps for elderly or people with disabilities

Mike Schofields HB 455 would establish a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that certain taxing units may impose on the residence homesteads of individuals who are disabled or elderly and their surviving spouses.

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Schofield did not respond to requests for comments, but he has previously stated that increased property taxes cause unfair strain on older homeowners.
PNM Tobago Council leader Ancil Dennis has claimed the wicked Tobago House of Assembly (THA) administration has continued to deny Tobagonian contractors while other businesses have also suffered.

The former THA chief secretary was responding to a hearing on Wednesday which saw the THA fail in its attempt to have the High Court overturn a default judgment in which it was directed to pay more than $18 million to construction company Nazvic Contractors Ltd for breach of contract.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says she is prepared to have her United States visa revoked, as she urged Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries to ensure they are able to explain...what the Cubans have been able to do for us as they seek to defend the Cuban health brigade programme.

This matter, with the Cubans and the nurses, should tell us everything that we need to know. Barbados does not currently have Cuban medical staff or Cuban nurses, but I will be the first to go to the line and to tell you that we could not get through the (Covid-19) pandemic without the Cuban nurses and the Cuban doctors, Mottley said in a statement in Parliament.
The regions economic development agency and the citys chamber are merging.

Sun Corridor Inc. and the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce will merge next year to represent the business interests of Southern Arizona and address the challenges and opportunities that impact business relocation, both organizations said.

This move will solidify Tucson and Southern Arizona as a region exploring new ways of leading and bringing together businesses of all sizes as well as diverse business, trade and civic groups to develop bold, creative solutions to regional issues, they said Tuesday evening in their announcement.

The new chamber organization will include a board of directors, investors, committee members and staff representing both entities. The organizations name will be announced later.

Functions will include business attraction, retention and expansion, talent attraction, competitiveness, advocacy, public policy, emerging leaders and small business support.

Susan Gray, President and CEO of Tucson Electric Power, will chair the new organization. Joe Snell will serve as president and CEO. Michael Guymon will serve as chief advocacy officer.

Both our boards recognized the need for a powerhouse organization that will advocate for a strong business center in Southern Arizona, Gray said. We applaud both boards vision to make this happen and look forward to working together with our business memberships, elected officials, and others to launch this in 2025.

In its joint statement, the newly merged group said, the last several years have caused fundamental shifts in the economy that impact not only what we compete for but also how we compete.

They said feedback from the business community was that Southern Arizona had too many competing business groups and that a collective voice has been diluted, limiting its ability to meaningfully influence decisions that impact our regions economy and business success.

Their hope is a larger staff, and more resources and combined membership will increase its political clout.

The merger will not mean that small businesses in the region will be overlooked, the new group said.

Its a misconception that Sun Corridor only focuses on large business and the chamber only focuses on small business, their statement said. The size of the business is not the focus of building an economy  the focus of economic development is primary/direct job development in targeted high-wage industries, resulting in ripple effects of indirect jobs and additional business opportunities to retail and local businesses.

The separation of public and private funding of the two groups will be evaluated and no staff reductions are anticipated.

The office location for the new organization will be determined after a financial analysis.

Sun Corridor, formerly known as Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities Inc. (TREO). TREO was formed in 2005 after the Greater Tucson Economic Council was disbanded. GTEC began in 1989 to spearhead local economic development. The Regional Economic Development Corp. was formed in 2005 to broaden the groups reach.

It carried the acronym REDC, which member pronounced Red Sea and the name was changed to Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities that year.
Bob Casey United States Court House is photographed on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

A Houston park ranger is accused of using his job to sexually assault and extort at least eight people in several parks.

The FBI opened a civil rights inquiry into Joey Ellis, 34, in September after an earlier arrest by Houston police in June over accusations he extorted money from a man in exchange for not being arrested.

Another case alleged Ellis threatened to arrest a man in Cullen Park for trespassing, then forced him to perform oral sex and took $200, according to prosecutors.

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He was arrested Tuesday morning while appearing in the 208th District Court on misdemeanor official oppression charges and one count of sexual assault, his lawyer Ryan Fremuth said.

I was surprised it happened today, but not surprised that it came up, Fremuth said. We knew there was an investigation and something was coming.

Ellis later appeared at an initial hearing in Houstons downtown federal court on Tuesday afternoon. He was shackled and wearing a black sweatshirt. Minutes before going in front of a judge, he was handed a packet of papers describing the charges against him.

Ellis said he understood his rights and the charges against him. A federal public defender was tapped to to represent him.

Federal prosecutors asked Ellis to be held in custody until trial, declaring him a serious flight risk and danger to the community. He will appear at a detention hearing next week.

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Earlier this year, the FBI announced it was looking for more people who may have been victimized by Ellis, and said the government might seek "color of law" violations against him. A grand jury ultimately indicted Ellis earlier this month on 20 counts involving eight different accusers ranging from deprivation of rights under the color of law, witness tampering and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The indictments accuse Ellis of forcing one person to strip without his consent, potentially at gunpoint, in June and to pay money to avoid being arrested.

Investigators outlined several more allegations from different people in March. In one incident, Ellis allegedly groped someone and similarly ordered them to strip their clothing.

Federal prosecutors contend Ellis often parked his city-issued vehicle behind his victims to stop them from leaving. He would then take their drivers license and phones. He also threatened to arrest them or have their cars towed, according to court records.

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University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella has named a committee to search for a senior vice president for academic affairs/provost, with a goal of naming one within this academic year.

The position is of key importance to the university because its the senior academic officer who oversees the faculty and the academic mission. But it has been in flux since the end of the 2023 school year, when Liesl Folks stepped down.

After a nationwide search, Joseph Glover then held the post  briefly. Just one month after starting at the UA in July 2024 with a salary of $550,000, Glover announced he was leaving to become interim provost at the University of Florida.

Glover, who was picked by then-lameduck UA President Robert C. Robbins, announced his departure less than a week after the Arizona Board of Regents chose Garimella to succeed Robbins.

Ron Marx, a faculty member in the UA College of Education, served in the interim role after Folks tenure and is doing so again after Glovers departure.

Garimella has asked Dean David Hahn of the College of Engineering and Lucinda Rankin of the College of Medicine  Tucson to serve as co-chairs of a search advisory committee, he wrote this week in an email to the UA community.

The 14-member committee will begin work immediately with consultant SP&A Executive Search to advertise a position description in early January and then to identify candidates and finalists, Garimella said.

There will be avenues for input and counsel from members of our university community. We will also plan campus visits by finalists, to include meetings with campus leaders and our shared governance partners, as well as public forums. I anticipate these finalists to be identified and the campus visits to take place during the spring semester, he wrote.

UA Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson had pushed in August for the UA to choose an internal candidate for the permanent provostship.
result in staff relying on outdated procedures and producing an inefficient or ineffective emergency response.

Perry also pointed out that Arizona, unlike most other states her staffers reviewed, lacks a mechanism to ensure that all schools have emergency operations plans that meet minimum standards.

Arizonas lack of a process for monitoring schools compliance with EOP standards likely contributed to the deficiencies we identified, Scott Swagerty told the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on Tuesday. He is director of the Auditor Generals Division of School Audits.

That monitoring would make it easier for the Arizona Department of Education and the state Division of Emergency Management to identify schools that have not developed emergency plans and provided targeted support for those who need help meeting the standards, Swagerty said.

The audit does not say which 47 schools, including traditional and charter schools, were examined, citing potential safety concerns and the sensitive nature ... of the findings and recommendations. That information will be available only in limited use, confidential reports.

Swagerty told lawmakers his office chose from a variety of types, sizes and locations of schools.

He acknowledged this doesnt necessarily mean the same conditions exist in the same ratio at the more than 2,600 school sites across the state. But the report does point up shortcomings that likely exist on a broader scale.

Auditors said the issue of planning is crucial. They cited the number of school shootings  219 since Education Week began tracking data in 2017, including 37 this year with 16 killed and 52 injured.

Although Arizona districts and charters have not yet experienced school shooting tragedies on the level seen elsewhere in the country, there have been numerous incidents of weapons and other threats to schools and students, the new report says.

It cites a January incident at a Douglas school where the emergency operations plan was activated because of a man with a knife near campus.

More recently, in April a Phoenix elementary school student was found with a gun on a school bus, and the following month a gun was found in a Mesa high school students backpack. A Phoenix high schooler was arrested in August for bringing a gun to a school campus, and in September a school in San Luis was locked out as police investigated reports of shots being fired.

The failure of schools to conduct the legally required four lockdown and shelter-in-place drills each year is significant, auditors said.

Those drills involve actions such as locking classroom doors, closing windows, shutting window coverings and moving to a specified location in the room while remaining quiet and still, the report says.

Without practicing the behaviors and skills expected during lockdowns, schools increase the risk that students may not follow procedures due to panic or stress, the audit says. Theres also the danger that staff may not be aware of students who have adverse reactions during drills, potentially increasing safety risks during real emergencies.

State Sen. Justine Wadsack related her own real-world experience and why she thinks this planning is crucial.

The Tucson Republican, who sits on the audit committee, noted she has a 21-year-old non-verbal child with limited cognitive abilities who is in a a wheelchair in school. Wadsack said there are no paraprofessionals sitting with her.

So when a classroom ends up just emptying out, theres nobody assigned to her to make sure that they grab that wheelchair and wheel her out, she told colleagues.

If you have a child that cannot walk themself out of a room, they cannot wheel their wheelchair out of a room, theyre nonverbal, they dont know whats happening, the room would burn down around her and not move, Wadsack continued. She would literally sit there and let the room burn around her.

Then theres the question of access to the emergency plans. The report says they should be readily available and posted where visible and accessible to students.

According to the audit, some schools instead had binders or booklets. But there were situations where staffers had to search for the materials, and a few cases where they could not find them when asked.

Some of the problems mentioned in the audit appear to be more technical.

For example, it says state law specifically requires district and charter schools to develop their emergency operation plans in conjunction with law enforcement and other emergency response agencies. But the report says most of the plans lack signatures showing that was done.

State Rep. Kevin Payne, R-Peoria, said theres an overarching issue: the minimum standards schools are expected to meet when coming up with and implementing emergency plans.

It seems to me theyre kind of the backbone of this whole thing, he said. But he called them woefully inadequate.

The audit report does not use those words. It does say there should be a comprehensive review of the standards in place in other states to determine if things are missing from whats required in Arizona.

Among the issues are cyber breaches, disaster recovery and continuity of operations to ensure schools can remain open during and after an emergency.

Some other states also have requirements relating to prevention, such as procedures for addressing behavioral threats and potentially suicidal students, the audit states.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday met with a delegation of 18 Chinese enterprises in Hanoi, suggesting them to invest in Vietnams major infrastructure projects including bridges and railways.

The delegation is visiting Vietnam to explore cooperation and investment opportunities.

Yan Jiehe, who leads the delegation, is the founder and chairman of two Fortune 500 companies: China Pacific Construction Group and Susun Construction Group.

In his welcome address to the group, PM Chinh praised Chinese businesses for boosting cooperation and investment activities in Vietnam and stressed his desire to continue the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

He also recognized the contributions of the Chinese business community and their role in creating bountiful development in bilateral relations.

The PM noted that bilateral trade has quadrupled over the past decade, with Vietnam being China's largest ASEAN trading partner and China becoming Vietnams largest import market.

China ranks sixth among 146 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

The premier believed both countries are contributing to building a strategically significant Vietnam-China community with a bright future.

The Vietnamese government is encouraging Chinese enterprises to expand investment cooperation in areas of their strength and Vietnam's needs, such as infrastructure, creative innovation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, Internet of Things, green development, renewable energy, smart urban building, digital transformation, and high-quality manufacturing industry.

PM Chinh underlined that Vietnam is a transitional economy and focuses on strategic breakthroughs, including developing key infrastructure, especially transport systems.

He therefore suggested the China Pacific Construction Group and other Chinese enterprises consider major traffic infrastructure projects like the Tu Lien Bridge and Ngoc Hoi Bridge spanning the Red River in Hanoi.

Chinese investors could also join the Van Cao-Ngoc Khanh-Lang-Hoa Lac railway route in Hanoi, metro lines or urban railways connecting Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh International Airport under construction in southern Dong Nai Province, and many cross-border railway routes in northern provinces, including the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, Lang Son-Hanoi, and Quang Ninh-Hai Phong lines.

He stressed that all investment projects should aim for mutual benefit, guided by the principle of 'harmonized benefits, shared risks.'

Echoing PM Chinh's vision, Yan and other Chinese business leaders voiced their interest in strengthening cooperation and expanding investments in Vietnam across various sectors, including construction, energy, trade, real estate, electrical equipment, electronics, environmental protection, healthcare, biotechnology, chemicals, new materials, and agricultural production.

Yan assured that Chinese investors would prioritize progress, quality, and fair pricing in all their projects in Vietnam.

He said that Chinese businesses view Vietnam as their second home and are committed to supporting the country's development in the long term.

Appreciating these sentiments, PM Chinh pledged to instruct relevant agencies to create favorable conditions for foreign investors and to swiftly address any challenges they encounter while operating in Vietnam.

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed a delegation from the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in Hanoi on Tuesday, suggesting that investment in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing would align with Vietnam's vision for the future.

The delegation, led by SIA President John Neuffer, included leaders from Intel, Ampere, Marvell, Cirrus Logic, Infineon, and Skyworks, who are on a visit to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam.

Welcoming the delegation, PM Chinh praised Neuffer and the SIA for their role in connecting its member companies, including NVIDIA, AMD, Cadence, Marvell, ARM, Qorvo, and LAM Research, with opportunities to do business in Vietnam in the past years.

PM Chinh affirmed that creative innovation, particularly in the semiconductor industry, is a new and crucial pillar of the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership, and that Vietnam is making a breakthrough in science, technology, creative innovation, and digital transformation.

He urged the SIA to encourage its members to expand investments in Vietnam, focusing on sectors where U.S. strengths align with Vietnam's needs, particularly semiconductors, AI, and cloud computing.

The prime minister also called on SIA members to set up training facilities and research and development centers in these areas within Vietnam and to support local firms in integrating into global supply chains.

He also suggested that the SIA, which accounts for 99 percent of the revenue of the U.S. semiconductor industry, prompt the U.S. government to lift restrictions on high-tech product exports to Vietnam and recognize it as a market economy.

SIA president Neuffer, who visited Vietnam twice in 2023, praised the countrys rapid development and the strengthening ties between Vietnam and the United States.

He emphasized that Vietnam has become an important and attractive destination for investors.

Neuffer expressed admiration for Vietnams ambitious initiatives in the semiconductor industry, including its program to train 50,000 semiconductor engineers by 2030.

Acknowledging Vietnam's significant progress, particularly in diversifying and enhancing its supply chain, Neuffer highlighted the countrys key advantages.

These include a globally recognized, diligent workforce, steadily improving infrastructure, and a roster of enterprises with strong international collaboration capabilities, such as Viettel, a leading telecom provider.

Neuffer stated that SIA members and American enterprises in general are interested in the U.S. Vietnam relations and will continue to support Vietnam in developing the semiconductor industry and building a strong supply chain.

Vietnam has become increasingly important to the U.S. semiconductor industry as well as to the business strategies of many SIA members, Neuffer said, affirming that he will return to Vietnam many more times to promote bilateral cooperation.

Neuffer, along with several other delegation members, shared their intentions to expand cooperation and explore future investment opportunities in Vietnam during the meeting.

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Vietnam's leading postal firm Viettel Post Joint Stock Corporation on Wednesday morning inaugurated its 143-hectare Viettel Logistics Park, built at a cost of nearly VND3.3 trillion (US$130 million), in Lang Son Province, about five kilometers from the Vietnam-China border.

The development of the facility is aimed at streamlining customs clearance, reducing costs for agricultural export, and improving logistics efficiency.

Hoang Trung Thanh, general director of Viettel Post, highlighted the heavy logistical burden on Vietnams agricultural exports to China.

He elaborated that strict quality requirements and lengthy customs processes often lead to losses, especially in hot weather conditions where product shelf life shortens.

For instance, durian shipments from Vietnams Central Highlands or Mekong Delta worth VND2-3 billion ($78,800-$118,200) per truck incur logistics expenses of VND70-100 million ($2,750-$3,900) per trip.

Similarly, trucks carrying dragon fruits and watermelons, valued at VND200-300 million ($7,800-$11,800) per vehicle, bear the same high costs even when their prices drop.

Hoang Trung Thanh, general director of Vietnam's leading postal firm Viettel Post Joint Stock Corporation. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

With the launch of the facility, Viettel Post, a subsidiary of Vietnamese military-run telecom group Viettel, looks to team up with businesses to address such hefty expenses, Thanh said.

By leveraging advanced technologies like autonomous vehicles, robots, and smart gates, the Viettel Logistics Park is expected to cut storage costs by 30-40 percent and improve efficiency.

The facility is capable of processing up to 1,500 trucks daily, double the current customs clearance capacity in the Lang Son border gate area.

The park features AI-powered smart gates for vehicle and driver identification, biometric verification, and optimized traffic flow.

It also employs autonomous robots for e-commerce and express delivery operations, and automated delivery drones will further enhance efficiency, according to Le Tuan Anh, deputy general director of Viettel Post.

Besides, an eight-hectare railway terminal is planned to manage future surges in goods volume.

The park also has dormitories, restaurants, and vehicle maintenance facilities, creating a comprehensive logistics ecosystem.

Viettel Post said it will integrate hardware and software systems to support border guard, customs, and quarantine agencies in managing information, ensuring cybersecurity, and protecting data confidentiality.

The postal firm unveiled future plans to develop logistics centers in other key locations such as border crossings, agricultural hubs, industrial parks, and trade centers in Hanoi and Hung Yen Province, both located in northern Vietnam.

It is working closely with Chinese partners to integrate advanced technology and develop business strategies.

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Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on Tuesday for a delegation of the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association led by its Chairman John Neuffer.

-- According to the latest exhibitor list released by the organizing committee, many world-renowned defense and aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Rostec, and Boeing, will have booths at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024, scheduled to take place at Gia Lam Air Base in Hanoi from December 19 to 22.

Society

-- According to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, between December 2 and December 8, the city reported 357 measles cases, marking a 47.8-percent increase compared to the average number of cases over the previous four weeks.

-- The Peoples Committee of Dong Nai Province announced on Tuesday the approval of a new monkey farm dedicated to exports. Covering nearly 70,000 square meters, the facility is designed to supply 14,000 monkeys annually for medical research. This comes after the earlier licensing of another farm spanning over 53,000 square meters, with a yearly output of 12,000 monkeys.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Management Center of Public Transport has announced that it will promptly verify and address footage from a cars dashcam that captured bus No. 88 running a red light at the intersection of Nguyen Duy Trinh and Do Xuan Hop Streets in Thu Duc City on Tuesday.

Business

-- Viettel Logistics Park, covering over 143 hectares with a total investment of nearly VND3.3 trillion (US$130.1 million) and located in Lang Son Province, about five kilometers from the Vietnam-China border, is set to open on Wednesday with the aim of shortening customs clearance times and reducing the cost of agricultural products.

World News

-- A wildfire fanned by strong winds was burning on Tuesday just northwest of Los Angeles forced some residents in Malibu to evacuate as it threatened homes, knocked out power and closed roads in the beach community, Reuters reported.

-- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was recovering in an intensive care unit on Tuesday, Reuters quoted doctors as saying, after being rushed to a Sao Paulo hospital for emergency surgery to drain a bleed on his brain linked to a fall in October.

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Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles speaks before the districts first public budget workshop for the 2024-2025 school year at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, May 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles speaks before the districts first public budget workshop for the 2024-2025 school year at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, May 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Houston ISD Board President Audrey Momanaee is photographed during the board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Hattie Mae Educational Center in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles speaks before the districts first public budget workshop for the 2024-2025 school year at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, May 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Houston ISD's Board of Managers approved December budget amendments on Tuesday to allocate more money to instruction, campus maintenance and operations, and student transportation, despite an enrollment decline of nearly double what was anticipated.

Budget expenditures for this fiscal year increased by $125.5 million, which State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles attributed in part to a $57 million recapture payment to the state  coded as Contracted Instructional Services Between Public Schools in the budget amendment.

HISD leaders said Tuesday that enrollment is unofficially at 175,644 students. HISD had expected to drop by about 4,000, but its enrollment slipped by 7,600. Enrollment has been in a freefall since 2019-20, when HISD had nearly 210,000 students. The district's official enrollment figure, as reported to the Texas Education Agency in October, isn't expected to be released publicly until January.

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Even though spending is higher than expected, Miles noted that the district's fund balance exceeded the budgeted amount by $114.5 million in fiscal year 2024, mainly because of unfilled vacancies, non-salary expenditure reductions, and carried over projects from last year. HISD aims to have a fiscal year 2025 ending fund balance of more than $800,000 and eliminate the deficit by fiscal year 2027, Miles said.

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles is photographed during the board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Hattie Mae Educational Center in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

What will HISD do about enrollment declines?

Appointed board member Rolando Martinez noted the enrollment estimate was off substantially and asked why.

"It's hard to say," Miles began. He named multiple factors including that large urban districts are losing students and the district has been hemorrhaging students for years.

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"I think the whole notion and the criticism around the takeover may have something to do with it," he said. "I think, who knows what the impact of not having a bond pass is going to do for the next year. There's lots of outside factors related to that. And so, we thought we would turn the corner a little bit, which we didn't."

Martinez also asked how the district is training principals to recruit more students, to which Miles said boosting academic achievement will help enrollment and "getting a handle on discipline and even the perception of discipline." The superintendent said the biggest percentage of decline came from the New Education System (NES) schools and other "struggling campuses," with enrollment loss even at popular schools outside NES that Miles tied to accountability scores.

"Having said all that, we do have to do a better job, and we will this year, of training principals especially of all the campuses that they have to, when it comes to enrollment, act like charter school leaders," Miles added that they shouldn't be afraid of saying that and describing charter school leaders emailing, leaving flyers and making phone calls to enrolled students. "We haven't focused that a lot on the principals, because they've got a lot to do already, but we're definitely going to have to get back into that mode."

HISD will buy new buses and spend $32M on facilities and maintenance operations

Miles will order smaller buses for $7 million, and he said he can't order those buses as late as June because those buses won't arrive before August.

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"Right now we have an overabundance of these large yellow buses," he said, adding that the district has 900 of the 60-to-70 passenger buses. "They can never be cool in the heat. You cannot cool buses that size when it's 90 degrees outside, and then the kids put the windows down anyway. Plus the average ridership has been around 12 to 15, which is crazy."

He said HISD is in the process of overhauling routes, as well and will bring a plan forward to the district soon.

Board member Cassandra Auzenne Bandy said the district was talking about $23 million for over 200 buses, to which Miles said the order was placed prior to his appointment. The district tried to sell some of its bus fleet, and it will try to sell more.

Miles said the district is planning to optimize routes and the board may discuss parameters, such as the amount of time it is acceptable for a student to spend on a bus.

Miles said the district has to cover weather-related damage and severe facility needs with $32 million  including heating, ventilation and air conditioning units and security issues.

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Spending more on instruction while enrollment declines

Instruction is costing $23 million more than budgeted after schools did not budget for special education staffing and services that the district picked up, Miles said, also noting that more students needing these services were identified this year. Services such as speech language therapy will need to come from outside the district since there is not enough inside the district, he said.

HISD left some assistant principals in smaller enrollment schools to bring achievement up, instead of cutting. And after cutting 1,400 central office positions, the district will bring back "a few" central office positions, Miles said.

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Miles also pointed out that some schools did not budget for pre-K teaching assistants, so HISD is covering those costs instead of pushing that onto schools.
Many world-renowned defense and aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Rostec, and Boeing have secured booths at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024, scheduled for December 19 to 22 at Gia Lam Air Base in Hanoi, according to the latest exhibitor list released by the organizing committee.

In particular, more than 140 companies from 27 countries and territories have put their names down as exhibitors for the expo.

Thirteen of them originate from the U.S., including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Teledyne FLIR.

A model of Indias BrahMos supersonic cruise missile carried by an Su-30MKI aircraft at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022 in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

The event will also see 13 Russian units, including Rosoboronexport, part of the Rostec State Corporation; 13 units from Japan, 13 from Singapore, 10 from India, two from China, two from Israel, and Airbus from France.

The exhibitor list includes 77 units from Vietnam, consisting of Viettel, companies under the Vietnam Defence Industry, and firms under the Ministry of National Defense.

As many as 69 types of weaponry and military equipment will be showcased, with the majority researched and produced by the Southeast Asian countrys military since 2022.

Guests visit the booth of Vietnams military-run telecom group Viettel at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022 in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

According to the organizer, the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024 will introduce the latest equipment and technologies, including air defense systems and equipment (fighter jets, helicopters, trainer aircraft, drones, air-to-air missiles, man-portable air-defense systems, and others), naval equipment (submarines, battleships, auxiliary ships, reconnaissance equipment, sonars, and torpedoes), and equipment of ground forces (weapons, field artillery, self-propelled artillery, multiple rocket launchers, anti-aircraft guns, surface-to-surface missiles, anti-tank missiles, tanks, armored vehicles, military vehicles, motorcycles, and engineering equipment).

Security equipment will include border security systems; civil defense, customs and immigration, anti-terrorism and state security systems; and rescue equipment.

Communications equipment ranges from chemical weapon prevention and control equipment, weapons for special forces, surveillance radars, fire control systems, and aerial, ground, and underwater robots.

The organizer also announced that 56 international delegations from 36 countries have registered to attend the expo, specifically those led by ministers and heads of the national defense agencies from 10 ASEAN countries and eight ASEANs partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, the U.S., and South Korea.

Weapons and equipment are displayed outdoors at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022 in Hanoi. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

After the opening ceremony, the exhibition will open to the public from 1:30 pm on December 21 to December 22, and entry for all ages will be free.

This year, the organizer has not put an age restriction on visitors. To attend, visitors must bring identification cards. Advanced registration is not required.

Vietnam hosted the first Vietnam International Defense Expo in 2022, attracting 174 enterprises from 30 countries.

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The administration of Dong Nai Province in southern Vietnam said on Tuesday that it had granted environmental approval to a new monkey breeding farm which will produce 14,000 monkeys annually for export to serve biomedical research.

Operated by Vietnam Primate Breeding and Development Corporation, the farm will span nearly 70,000 square meters upon completion, with over 17,000 square meters dedicated to enclosures, in Tam Phuoc Ward in the provincial city of Bien Hoa.

The company is required to comply with strict environmental regulations, including properly operating waste treatment facilities to meet environmental standards, taking measures to minimize noise and vibrations, and managing all waste.

This is the second monkey breeding farm in Dong Nai that has received environmental approval under the same operator.

The first one, also situated in Tam Phuoc Ward, was licensed on June 27 this year and covers 53,000 square meters, with an annual capacity of 12,000 monkeys.

The corporation has been operating for over 30 years in Bien Hoa, specializing in breeding monkeys for export to the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

According to the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, these exports are primarily for biomedical research focusing on advancing human health.

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2024 is a pivotal year for Long An Province in soutnern Vietnam to focus on speeding up and making breakthroughs on three key traffic infrastructure projects, said director of the provincial Department of Transport Dang Hoang Tuan.

Promptly building new infrastructure

The first major traffic infrastructure project completed is a beltway in Tan An City, the provincial capital.

By the end of last year, the province inaugurated the first phase, opening 23 kilometers of roadway, including five four-lane bridges.

According to Dang Hoang Tuan, the project is now undergoing final settlement procedures. With a total investment of over VND3.1 trillion (US$122.2 million), the project has transformed the southwestern region of Tan An.

It has alleviated congestion on National Highway 1 and National Highway 62, while improving connectivity between Tan An City, neighboring Tien Giang Province, and other southwestern provinces.

The second project is the under-construction Provincial Road 830E, which is connected with Provincial Road 830 and National Highway 1.

This project plays a crucial role in reducing traffic congestion in the center of Ben Luc Town, located in the namesake district.

It will also connect to Ho Chi Minh City's Beltway No. 4, serving as a vital link between industrial parks, clusters, and districts in eastern Long An, which borders Ho Chi Minh City.

The project enhances connectivity to Hiep Phuoc Port in Ho Chi Minh City and Long An International Port in the eponymous province, further boosting the region's logistics and trade capabilities.

The new beltway in Tan An City, Long An Province, will help facilitate traffic circulation in the southern Vietnamese province.

The first phase of the project is underway, with 9.4 kilometers of two-lane parallel roads being developed in Ben Luc and Can Duoc Districts.

Site clearance efforts are progressing, with compensation provided for 787 of the 878 affected households in Ben Luc.

In Can Duoc, the Long An Peoples Committee has approved the construction of a section connecting National Highway 1 to a road leading to Provincial Road 830.

The third key project is Provincial Road 827E, a 35.6-kilometer route linking the Can Giuoc River -- a natural boundary between Ho Chi Minh City and Long An -- in Long Hau Commune, Can Giuoc District to the border with Tien Giang Province in Hiep Thanh Commune, Chau Thanh District, Long An Province.

Once completed, the six-lane Provincial Road 827E will serve as a critical corridor, enhancing connectivity between the southeastern and southwestern regions.

In 2024, the Long An Department of Transport has proposed that the provincial Peoples Committee finalize procedures and seek the prime ministers approval for the project.

Leaders of the Long An authorities survey the construction site of a road leading to a bridge on Provincial Road 827E.

Provincial Road 827E will feature three key bridges spanning the Can Giuoc, Vam Co Dong, and Vam Co Tay Rivers, with a total estimated investment of over VND4.797 trillion ($189 million). The funding is planned to come from ODA loans and matching capital sources.

The provincial authorities have approved the construction of access roads to these bridges and are in the process of obtaining approval for an environmental impact assessment report from relevant agencies.

Meanwhile, the pre-feasibility study for site clearance related to the bridges and their connecting roads is currently underway.

Traffic infrastructure projects in Long An Province receive care and supervision to meet deadlines.

Many highly-anticipated projects near completion

One of the highly-anticipated projects in 2024 is Beltway No. 3, which connects Ho Chi Minh City and three neighboring provinces, including Long An.

Work on a 6.8-kilometer section of the Long An beltway began in June 2023, with a total investment of VND4.208 trillion ($165.7 million). This includes VND3.04 trillion ($119.8 million) allocated for construction and VND1.168 trillion ($46 million) for site clearance, compensation, and resettlement.

According to Dang Hoang Tuan, the project is now 51 percent complete, with no major obstacles. It is on track to be finished and open to traffic by December 31, 2025, adhering to the timeline set by the national government.

Two bridges along Long An Provinces Provincial Road 830E are being constructed in the center of Ben Luc Town.

Project updates include package XL1 to construct the main expressway being 41 percent complete, package XL2 to build the Tan Buu Bridge on the main expressway and a parallel road on the left of the expressway being 50.1 percent complete, and package XL3 to develop an intersection at the end of the route being 51.57 percent complete.

Procedures are being completed for two other packages to build branches, traffic safety facilities, lighting systems, and fences.

The intersection at the end of the route that connects to the Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway will be opened to traffic at the end of October next year.

Regarding the compensation and site clearance for a Beltway No. 3 section passing through Long An, Tuan reported that a resettlement area, whose construction started in mid-June 2024, requires an investment of over VND90 billion ($3.5 million) and spans 3.5 hectares in Tan Buu Commune.

Leveling work is now at 99 percent and roads leading to the resettlement area are 90 percent complete. The resettlement area will be handed over to the affected households this year, the official confirmed.

Another large project is a section of Ho Chi Minh Citys Beltway No. 4 passing through Long An. The consulting unit has completed the pre-feasibility report for the project.

The national government has asked the administration in Ho Chi Minh City to submit the report.

Workers at the construction site of Provincial Road 823D in Long An Province, southern Vietnam

Provincial Road 823D is another highly-anticipated project. The 14.2-kilometer road was envisaged to begin at an intersection in the northwestern region of Ho Chi Minh City and end at the intersection of National Highway N2 and Ho Chi Minh Road.

It will have four lanes stretching a width of 14 meters and two parallel lanes measuring seven meters. Contractors are leveling the site, installing the wastewater drainage system and median strips, and constructing the Kenh Ranh and Lang Ven Bridges.

The government in Long An Province has worked with Ho Chi Minh City authorities, urging them to complete the new road in its northwestern region and connect it with Provincial Road 823D.

Dang Hoang Tuan (R), director of the Long An Department of Transport, reports the progress of a section of Ho Chi Minh Citys Beltway No. 3 passing through Long An Province to secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Duoc (L).

Tuan reported that the department has disbursed 80 percent of the public investment, amounting to over VND1.919 trillion ($75.6 million), this year.

To ensure the quality of ongoing projects, the department has continuously worked to improve all phases, from design and preparation to construction. It has also reviewed legal documents related to the management of quality, progress, and costs for traffic infrastructure projects.

In 2025, the department plans to continue monitoring and pushing forward the execution of traffic infrastructure projects, with a focus on projects facing site clearance challenges to help accelerate their completion.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A date is locked in for the 2024 Death in Paradise Christmas special to screen in Australia.

We return to sun-drenched Saint Marie, joining the police team and a new Detective Inspector -Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson- in a feature-length special.

A Season 14 premiere is yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile ABC screens the 2023 Christmas Special on Sunday December 29.

When holiday maker Stuart Fullwell (Marcus Brigstocke), fresh from performing karaoke dressed as Santa, is found shot dead on the beach by a young boy Ollie  son of Jamie (Jim Howick)  the Saint Marie police team kick into action. But with no Detective Inspector in place of the recently departed Neville Parker, are they capable of tackling such a big case?

With the pressure mounting, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) is relieved to receive some encouraging news as he learns a British detective is holidaying on the island. Following a somewhat disappointing solo trip, DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) is aboard a flight back home to London ready to take off, though is informed by his boss that hes to be seconded to Honore, whether he likes it or not

11:05am AEDT Monday 23 December 2024 on BritBox.
Four-part documentary series, The Reserve, directed by filmmaker Paula Grusovin, produced Natalie Coleman for Byron Bays Definition Studios, takes viewers deep into the heart of Africas Balule Nature Reserve where rangers, conservationists, and K-9 units are engaged in a relentless battle to protect one of the worlds most iconic species The rhino.

In 2018, the reserve faced a crisis: rampant poaching had pushed the rhino population to the brink, claiming the lives of over 65 rhinos, with 17 lost in a single year.

The Reserve delves into the toll this brutal reality has taken on both the rhino population and the lives of those fighting to save them. Facing an escalating threat, the team at Balule implemented drastic measures: dehorning remaining rhinos to deter poachers, transforming wardens into anti-poaching specialists, deploying K-9 units, and using polygraph testing to eliminate inside threats. Their efforts yielded a remarkable 1,089 days without a poaching incident, a milestone that offered a brief reprieve and the hope of a brighter future.

Grusovins directorial journey began years earlier. When I first visited South Africa in 2016, whilst working on Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, I was unaware of the rhino crisis they were facing. Visiting a rhino orphanage and seeing the baby rhinos while hearing the stories of their poached mothers was a profound and unsettling experience, one that inspired me to one day create a series about rhinos and the collective fight to protect and conserve these magnificent creatures, Grusovin reflects.

In 2022, a serendipitous meeting with Balules Head Warden, Ian Nowak, reconnected her with the cause and revealed a story of profound dedication to conservation. This encounter led to hours of conversation about the very real conservation challenges faced by the team at Balule not just in terms of the rhino, but all the animals that live in this incredible ecosystem.

I knew I had found the story I was looking for.

The Reserve immerses viewers in the lives of Balules team members, capturing their resilience, their camaraderie, and the emotional toll that this line of work takes. The series follows the team as they tackle enormous conservation challenges and the harrowing realities of poaching, all while offering unprecedented access to life on the reserve.

In the opening episode, No Man is an Island, viewers witness the emotional and physical demands of dehorning the rhinos to protect them from poachers, while subsequent episodes explore the critical roles of K-9 units, the complexities of balancing species populations, and the heart-wrenching losses that are inevitable in the fight against poaching.

Throughout, the series reveals the human side of conservation, highlighting the pressures and mental health struggles faced by these defenders, as well as the unbreakable bonds they share. Episode highlights include:

Episode 1: No Man is an Island  We join the Balule Team for the most critical conservation project of the year: the follow up dehorning of their rhino population.

Stepping into the past we explore the onslaught on Balules rhinos and the measures that were taken to save them.

Episode 2: Its Not a Job, its a Lifestyle  Riding shotgun we follow the daily lives of Balules protectors, showcasing their camaraderie and the unique bonds they share with mans best friend (Balules K9 Unit). A wandering rhino is relocated, and the reserve welcomes the arrival of 16 wild dogs.

Episode 3: The Cost of Protection  The Reserve faces tragedy after 1089 days of peace as poaching returns. This episode explores the emotional toll on the frontline team, the cycle trapping poachers, and how The Balule is uniting with communities to protect its future.

Episode 4: Balancing Act  This episode explores the intricate web of challenges faced in conservation efforts. From the explosion in elephant numbers and the devastating damage to the environment, to how the poignant loss of a beloved rhino signals hope for the future.

Paula Grusovin, cut her teeth with industry icons like George Miller and Scott Hicks, brings her storytelling prowess to this series. Her goal? To present an authentic portrayal of life on Balule, beyond the polished social media narratives. By the end of the series, I hope viewers will gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to protect our natural world and fall in love with Africa along the way just as I have.

With The Reserve, we set out to capture the raw beauty and hidden stories of these landscapes and their people, says David Gross, Founder of Definition Studios. This series invites viewers to connect deeply and take part in preserving these natural wonders. Were thrilled to bring The Reserve to its new home on Stan.

The Reserve is a powerful exploration of dedication, hope, and the untamed beauty of Africaa story told through the eyes of those who risk everything to preserve it.

Sunday December 22 on Stan.
Changes are coming to the Eurovision Song Contest after the 2024 in Malmo drew headlines for incidents outside of celebrating music.

Malmo 2024 saw protests against Israels participation, withdrawal threats before the Grand Final, audience booing and a historic disqualification of Netherlands artist Joost Klein.

Now the European Broadcasting Union has announced a series of enhancements aimed at safeguarding participant wellbeing, ensuring positive experiences for artists and delegations, and promoting the core values of community, respect, and inclusion.

These include the introduction of a new Code of Conduct and Duty of Care Protocol, based on the existing rules and contracts, which will ensure clear roles and responsibilities for all those involved in the event.

For the first time, agreeing to abide by the Code of Conduct will be a requirement for accreditation to the event.

The Code of Conduct mandates adherence to local laws, prohibits instrumentalisation of the Contest and outlines expectations for professional behaviour, fair competition, and responsible communication.

The Duty of Care Protocol is focused on ensuring the safety, well-being, and success of all participating artists.

It emphasises the shared responsibility of the EBU, Host Broadcaster, and Participating Broadcasters in safeguarding artists from unnecessary physical or emotional distress. The Protocol provides guidelines for Heads of Delegations to support artists effectively, minimise risks, and promote a positive experience throughout their participation.

The EBU is also implementing new measures at the 2024 ESC in Basel.

These include:

No filming zones within key artist areas to provide participants with private spaces to prepare for their performances.

More closed-door rehearsals to help artists focus on their performances without distractions.

Optimised rehearsal schedules to ensure artists have plenty of time to rest and to enjoy the Host City

Introduction of a Welfare Producer to be a key point of contact for artists and staff to ensure a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.

These changes are designed to ensure that artists are confident on stage before performing to media and audiences.

In 2024, 163 million viewers saw the ESC on TV. Our digital platforms also experienced exponential growth. These successes reinforce the need to continually adapt the shows structure to meet the evolving demands of both participants and audiences, said Martin Green, the new ESC Director.

We are United by Music  its up to all of us to ensure the Eurovision Song Contest remains an event that promotes unity, diversity and inclusion.

We believe the changes were making for Basel 2025 make the Eurovision Song Contest the best experience it can be for our participants, our staff, and our audiences.

Bakel Walden, Chair of the ESC Reference Group, the Contests governing board added These new measures, which will be implemented for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, are a first, important step to ensure the successful and responsible development of this iconic music event.

On behalf of all participating artists, delegations, and staff members, the Reference Group remains firmly committed to championing a positive, creative, and safe Eurovision Song Contest in an ever-changing global landscape.
Seven this Saturday night screens two state Schools Spectaculars, but there are different playouts in different cities.

Victorian Schools Spectacular 2024

Melbourne 7pm

Sydney 9:30pm

Home and Aways Ada Nicodemou hosts an exhilarating concert special featuring some of Victorias most talented young musical artists and a three thousand strong student cast and crew.

2024 NSW Schools Spectacular

Sydney 7pm

Melbourne 10pm

Brisbane 10:20pm

Adelaide 9:20pm

Perth 9:20pm

Schools Spectacular is the highest profile arts event for the NSW Department of Education. More than 5,500 students from over 400 schools take part. All 4 One is about teamwork, respect, dedication.

EMG / Gravity Media Australia, which has been behind the NSW Schools Spectacular broadcast since 2016, again served as the production, design, broadcast, and post-production partner for the 2024 event.

Mike Purcell  Head of Production, EMG / Gravity Media Australia said EMG / Gravity Media is proud of its almost decade long partnership with The Arts Unit on the broadcast production and facilitation of Schools Spectacular. The level of trust and collaboration between EMG / Gravity Media and the Arts Unit is valued along with the mutual commitment in providing fresh creative and innovations to the broadcast each year. The calibre of the performances and the event is world class.

Both specials will screen on 7Plus.
Robert Irwin is in demand, fronting magazine covers, having photo exhibitions, hosting awards, working at Australias Zoo and ready to jet off to South Africa for his second season hosting Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

Hes so busy theres little advance so far on a second television project in the pipeline for 10 / Paramount, which was teased at 2024 Upfronts twelve months ago. But never say never

Theres been a lot of different discussions here and there about various different things and I would absolutely love to work with the the Paramount family further on more projects, he told TV Tonight.

At this point, its still a lot of finding out when thats going to work, putting all the puzzle pieces in place.

There are few details on the format or the producers, but TVT understands it to be animal-related, should it come to pass.

Were going to be cooking something up hopefully soon.

Meanwhile Irwin, along with trusty host Julia Morris, can be seen on Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! from Sunday January 19.
SBS recently acquired Australian rights to UK crime thriller In Flight, starring Katherine Kelly (Mr Bates vs the Post Office).

The six part series is written and co-created by Mike Walden (Marcella, Whitstable Pearl) and Adam Randall (Slow Horses, iBoy) and directed by Chris Baugh (Wreck, Tin Star).

Kelly leads the cast as a flight attendant who finds her life turned upside down when she is blackmailed into drug smuggling after her son is arrested for a murder he swears he did not commit.

Set across global locations including Bangkok, Bulgaria, Istanbul and London, filming has been underway in Belfast, with funding support from Northern Ireland Screen.

A premiere date is yet to be announced.

Source: C21
A Milby High School student crossing the train track to go to school Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at Milby High School in Houston. A 15-year-old student was struck and killed by a train while on the tracks Monday morning. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Milby football players walk along the tracks adjacent to Milby High School on on Tuesday December 10, 2014 in Houston, TX. Their teammate, Sergio Rodriguez, 15, Rodriguez was struck and killed by a train around 7:30 a.m. on his way to school in Houston, TX on Monday December 9, 2024. Sharon Steinmann A Milby High School student crossing the train track to go to school Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at Milby High School in Houston. A 15-year-old student was struck and killed by a train while on the tracks Monday morning. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A memorial for the 15-year-old Milby High School student who was struck and killed by a train while crossing the train track to go to school Monday morning Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at Milby High School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Houston Homicide Division Sgt. Bill Elsbury, far right, and others investigate after a Milby High School student was struck by a train around 7:30 a.m. near campus in Houston, TX on Monday December 9, 2024. A Union Pacific train appeared to be moving slowly when the teen was hit, according to witness accounts, Houston Homicide Division Sgt. Bill Elsbury said. Sharon Steinmann/Houston Chronicle A Milby High School student crossing the train track to go to school Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at Milby High School in Houston. A 15-year-old student was struck and killed by a train while on the tracks Monday morning. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Milby High School students crossing the train track to go to school Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at Milby High School in Houston. A 15-year-old student was struck and killed by a train while on the tracks Monday morning. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A Milby High School student crossing the train track to go to school Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at Milby High School in Houston. A 15-year-old student was struck and killed by a train while on the tracks Monday morning. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

A petition calling for the removal of Milby High School Principal Ruth Pena had more than 850 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon after a 15-year-old student was struck and killed by a train Monday morning.

The student, who was identified as Sergio Rodriguez in the family's GoFundMe, was struck and killed on the railway as a train crossed Broadway Blvd. at around 7:30 a.m. Monday. After a brief lockdown, the school day resumed as scheduled Monday, the petition stated, which was a response petition organizers labeled as "utterly tone-deaf and lacking in compassion."

"In the wake of this heartbreaking event, our principal, Ruth Pena, chose to proceed with the school day as if nothing had happened, disregarding the immense grief that enveloped our student body," the petition read. "Her response ... was a clear sign of her failure to lead with the empathy and care that students deserve, especially during times of crisis."

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Students and community members said trains regularly cross during school arrival and departure times and frequently stop, blocking Broadway Boulevard for minutes at a time. Some petition commenters and students said Milby enforces a strict attendance policy, potentially incentivizing students to make riskier choices to attend class on time.

Several students said they or their classmates have crawled past halted train cars to get to class.

"That pressures the kids ... they want to make it there on time, and I guess that's what he was trying to do," sophomore Veronica Villafana said. "I guess they're saying, 'School is more important.'"

The petition called for HISD's school board to review Pena's conduct and "take immediate action" to replace her with leadership who can "guide us through challenging times with the care, compassion, and professionalism we deserve."

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"Our school deserves better," the petition read. "Let us ensure that this disregard for our grief and welfare is never repeated."

Pena is a Milby graduate who has served as the school's principal since at least June 2023, when the district's leadership was taken over by the state.

An HISD spokesperson on Monday said a crisis response team with counselors would be on campus.

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HA NOI  Viet Nam and the United States are in the final stages of negotiations over phytosanitary measures for fresh passion fruit, with the process expected to conclude by 2025. This milestone will pave the way for Viet Nams passion fruit to be officially exported to the US market.

Deputy head of the Post-Import Plant Quarantine Centre I under the Plant Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Van Chien has confirmed the update.

The technical negotiation process has been completed, with only legal formalities remaining. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association estimates that passion fruit exports to the US could generate annual revenues of between US$50 million and $100 million.

In addition to the US, Viet Nam successfully negotiated the export of fresh passion fruit to Australia in August 2024. This makes it the fifth fruit officially exported to Australia, following mango, longan, lychee and dragon fruit.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam currently has nearly 9,500 hectares of passion fruit plantations, primarily concentrated in the Central Highlands, yielding approximately 190,000 tonnes annually.

Passion fruit ranks among the top 18 fruits in Viet Nam with an annual production of over 100,000 tonnes, 80 per cent of which is processed for export. In 2023, passion fruit exports surpassed $222 million, with European countries being the primary market for processed passion fruit products.

To ensure sustainable exports, businesses must adhere to strict phytosanitary regulations, maintain rigorous standards for growing areas, packaging and processing, thereby enhancing their reputation and securing stable access to international markets.  VNS
HA NOI  While mergers and acquisitions in the Vietnamese life insurance sector have been relatively quiet, M&As in the non-life insurance sector have been quite strong, with the participation of both foreign and domestic investors.

Experts said the small market size, the potential and growth rate are the reasons why the Vietnamese non-life insurance market is attractive to new investors, especially large global financial groups.

According to the Ministry of Finances Vietnam Insurance Market Yearbook 2023, at the end of that year, Viet Nam had 82 insurance companies, of which 32 were non-life insurance companies.

Meanwhile, according to the Vietnam Insurance Association, as of September 30 this year, total insurance premium revenue in the whole market was nearly VN164.98 trillion, of which non-life insurance premium revenue exceeded VN58.44 trillion. This represents an increase of 12.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2023, while life insurance premium revenue reached more than VN106.5 trillion, a decrease of 6.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

Domestic non-life insurance companies will gain more business capital and technical support through foreign investment.

For example, with PetroVietnam Insurance Corporation (PVI), major foreign shareholders such as HDI Global and International Finance Corporation have helped PVI apply advanced governance models and adopt international practices. Currently, PVI is the first domestic insurance company to implement International Financial Reporting Standards in the insurance sector (IFRS 17) and has developed a risk management framework aligned with international standards.

BIDV Insurance Corporation (BIC) has also made strong progress after the participation of foreign strategic investor Canadas Fairfax Asia Limited. BIC is currently in the top five non-life insurance companies in terms of original insurance market share and is among the top three non-life insurance companies with the highest profitability in the market.

Ranked among the top ten insurance companies in terms of market share, the Military Insurance Corporation (MIC) is looking for a suitable strategic shareholder and has recently attracted attention from many partners, including a Korean group.

The Vietnamese non-life insurance market has always been attractive for foreign investors, especially Korean investors. Most non-life insurance companies in the top 10 market share have capital contributions from Korean investors. For example, Koreas DB Insurance and Post and Telecommunication Joint Stock Insurance (PTI), Koreas Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and Petrolimex Insurance Corporation (PJICO), and Koreas Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance and VietinBank Insurance.

Observers cite two reasons for the influx of Korean insurance companies into Viet Nam.

Firstly, the Korean insurance market is starting to saturate, so Korean insurance companies seek to expand their business operations into foreign markets.

Secondly, the Vietnamese insurance market is growing steadily, experiencing an average double-digit growth rate each year. Viet Nam has a large population and a low proportion of insurance buyers, so there is still much untapped potential.

In addition to foreign investors, M&A activities in the non-life insurance sector has also involved Vietnamese groups acquiring domestic insurance companies with small market shares to complete their ecosystems. For example, Tasco bought 100 per cent of the charter capital of Groupama Assuances Mutuelles insurance company and renamed it Tasco Insurance Company Limited. In early October 2024, Techcom Non-Life Insurance Company (TCGIns) was officially established, in which Techcombank contributed 11 per cent capital.

In contrast to the strong development in the non-life insurance sector, the Vietnamese life insurance sector has not seen any notable deals in recent years. The countrys life insurance market currently has 19 companies, of which only two companies BIDV MetLife and MB Ageas Life operate in the form of joint ventures.

Industry insiders forecast instead of selecting the form of joint ventures as previously, investors no tend to prioritise full ownership of Vietnamese insurance companies. One reason for this trend is the lacklustre development of life insurance joint ventures in the Vietnamese market, making this form of investment unpopular with financial corporations.  VNS
HCM CITY  The Fairtrade certification can help exporters of fruits and vegetables better utilise the United Kingdom  Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), as many British consumers care for social responsibility.

The certification aims to ensure that a product is manufactured in a fair manner, meaning that labourers are paid well, work in a safe environment and their opinions are heard.

Businesses also have to adhere to strict environmental standards, limiting the use of dangerous chemicals and preserving bio-diversity.

According to market research and data analysis firm YouGov, seven out of 10 adults in the UK said they bought a Fairtrade product this year produced by farmers and agricultural workers overseas, Cong Thuong (Industry and Trade) magazine reported.

Another research by Fairtrade revealed that many British customers support fair prices and fairer terms of trade for overseas farmers.

Many believe that farmers in low-income countries should get stable payments, and that buying Fairtrade products means supporting the lives of farmers.

This highlights British consumers attention to social issues, and thus Fairtrade certification.

Many UK brands and retailers partake in this initiative.

The UKVFTA offers great export potential for Vietnamese agricultural produce.

Tariffs for many produce such as lychee, rambutan, longan, dragon fruit, and mango have been eliminated, making it easier for high-quality produce to enter the lucrative UK market.

The fact that many British consumers prefer Fairtrade products and are even willing to pay higher prices for them means that Vietnamese products certified with Fairtrade can do well in the UK.

According to experts and certification businesses, Fairtrade certification can help elevate a Vietnamese brand in the eyes of consumers, especially ones who care for social responsibilities.

However, businesses have to adhere to Fairtrades strict standards on environmental protection, ensuring labour rights, transparency, good trade practices, and others.

This requires businesses to invest time and resources in upgrading their manufacturing processes and training their employees to fulfill those standards in a sustainable manner.

Many Vietnamese produce from sustainability-conscious businesses in the country have been Fairtrade certified, including coconut and coffee.

The UK is Viet Nam's third largest export market in Europe after the Netherlands and Germany.

In the first eight months of 2024, Viet Nam's exports to the UK topped US$5 billion, a 23.5 per cent increase year-on-year. VNS
JAKARTA  Indonesia's Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming plans to establish an European Union (EU) desk to enhance trade cooperation with the bloc, said Minister Rosan Roeslani, who is also head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

This decision follows a meeting between the ministry and members of the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Jakarta on December 9.

Europe is Indonesia's fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment. The Netherlands, France, and Germany are investors with the highest investment.

Over the past five years from 2019 to 2024, EU member states have invested approximately US$18.7 billion in Indonesia.

Minister Roeslani emphasised Indonesia's appeal to European investors due to its robust economy, vast market potential, and strategic position as a regional leader. The archipelago nation accounts for 41 per cent of ASEAN's population and 36 per cent of its economy, powered by a growing economy and stable democracy.

EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei, Denis Chaibi, highlighted the bloc's commitment to strengthening trade ties and addressing global challenges in partnership with Indonesia.

He also reaffirmed the EU's support for the Golden Indonesia 2024 vision through initiatives such as the Global Gateway and the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

Through these efforts, the EU aims to foster transformative investments, driving a greener and more inclusive future for Indonesia. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  In the first 11 months of 2024, Viet Nam spent nearly US$1.6 billion on importing meat and meat by-products, marking a 14.2 per cent increase year-on-year, according to the General Department of Customs.

At the current rate, Viet Nam's spending on these imports is projected to exceed $1.7 billion by the end of this year.

India remains the main supplier of meat and meat products, accounting for nearly 23 per cent of the country's total imports in this category. Over the first ten months, Viet Nam imported about 160,000 tonnes of meat from India, valued at $531.5 million, an increase of 13 per cent in volume and 28 per cent in value year-on-year.

Viet Nam's meat imports from other markets have also grown year-on-year, including Australia, the US, Canada, Poland, South Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Belgium and France.

Over the past 11 months, Viet Nam imported pork from 40 markets, with Brazil leading at 39.28 per cent of total pork imports, followed by Russia at 29.88 per cent.

The main imports include fresh chilled or frozen poultry meat and edible by-products, fresh frozen buffalo meat, fresh chilled or frozen edible by-products from pigs, buffaloes and cattle, and fresh chilled or frozen pork and beef.

While imports of most types increased, fresh chilled pork saw a decline compared to the same period last year.

The implementation of several free trade agreements (FTAs) in recent years has created favourable conditions for imported meat products to accelerate in volume terms into Viet Nam.

Gradual reductions in import tariffs under these agreements have lowered imported meat prices, prompting many domestic businesses to ramp up imports for local supply.

Viet Nam is among the top ten pork-consuming countries globally. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Viet Nam's pork production is forecast to reach four million tonnes by 2025 and 4.7 million tonnes by 2030, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 3.1 per cent.  VNS
HA NOI  The stock market continued its downward adjustment on Wednesday, with the VN-Index falling below the critical 1,270-point threshold. Liquidity slightly increased, while foreign investors extended their net-selling trend.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index concluded the session at 1,268.86 points, a decrease of 3.21 points or 0.25 per cent.

Market breadth was negative, with 183 stocks declining, 120 advancing and 62 remaining unchanged. Liquidity saw a modest uptick, reaching VN15.3 trillion (US$602.9 million), up 6.2 per cent from the previous session.

The VN30-Index, which tracks the top 30 stocks by market capitalisation on the HoSE, edged up slightly by 0.63 points, or 0.05 per cent, to close at 1,336.48 points. Within the VN30 basket, 16 stocks fell, 10 advanced and four remained unchanged.

The decline was led by large-cap stocks in the manufacturing and banking sectors, with the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) experiencing the sharpest drop, falling by 1.27 per cent, which shaved more than 1.6 points off the VN-Index.

Other notable decliners included the Vietnam Rubber Group - Joint Stock Company (GVR), down 0.94 per cent, and Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG), which dropped 1.32 per cent.

Market losses were somewhat mitigated by gains in select stocks. FPT Corporation (FPT) rose by 0.67 per cent, contributing over 0.35 points to the VN-Index.

Further positive performers included Saigon Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB), up 2.42 per cent, KIDO Group Corporation (KDC), which surged by 4.77 per cent, and Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDB), up 1.07 per cent.

Analysts from Viet Dragon Securities said: The market failed to sustain its recovery, retreating back to the MA(200) zone around 1,268 points. Liquidity increased compared to the previous session, indicating mounting supply pressure as support flows remain relatively limited. The MA(200) zone may still provide some support and aid the market in recovering shortly.

However, selling pressure remains assertive, particularly from foreign investors selling off large-cap stocks. As a result, investors should remain cautious and wait for clearer supply-demand signals within the 1,2651,275-point range, as these signals will influence the market's next steps.

Investors should slow down and closely monitor the supply-demand dynamic to reassess the market's condition. Given the market's low stability and inherent risks, managing portfolios prudently and avoiding overbuying is advisable.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also ended slightly lower, dropping by 0.46 per cent to 228.18 points.

During the session, shares worth over VN1.1 trillion were traded, with a total volume exceeding 55 million shares on the northern bourse.

Foreign investors extended their net-selling streak, with net sales surpassing VN179 billion on the HoSE.  VNS
Houston ISD District II Trustee Savant Moore speaks to the HISD Board of Managers during the board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Hattie Mae Educational Center in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Ivy Rivera, 4, draws on a banner Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at Love Elementary School in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Houston ISD student Katie Moore leaves the podium after speaking at the board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Hattie Mae Educational Center in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Houston ISD's appointed board discussed modifying its policy so that it would be harder for the superintendent to make major changes to magnet programs without wide support.

The policy change would dictate that the superintendent cannot "make significant changes, directly or indirectly, to magnet or other specialized programming" without first conducting and communicating to the board and community an analysis of stakeholder engagement, projected impact on board-adopted student outcome goals, budget and enrollment; and any related research-based studies, according to the policy.

The board defines "significant changes" based on the number of impacted students, such as more than 30% of students at any school or program; more than 10% of the students in any grade level across the district; more than 10% of the students in any division; or "any part of a group of students that is impacted in a way that both the Board and the Superintendent agree is significant."

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Board member Adam Rivon, citing the elimination of Fondren Middle School's International Baccalaureate program, asked what the policy's addition of "directly or indirectly" referred to.

Janette Garza Lindner said that the phrasing refers to the budget, because a change in funding could cause an indirect impact on programs.

"And so that was where we had a lot of discussion about what could that look like then," Garza Lindner said, "And how would we try to  and again, we'll go back to the section of the percentages  how would we try to then measure what an impact would be to our student population, and where do we draw that line of significance?"

Cassandra Auzenne Bandy noted enrollment declines could change what "significant change" percentage thresholds mean in the policy.

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"Thirty percent today is not going to be, potentially, 30% tomorrow for a school, or division, or whatever," she said, giving an example with differing school sizes and what 30% could mean for each of them. My thought is that we should monitor this constraint, just like we have. We lived it, and we realized we needed to improve it," she added.
HA NOI  The SIB Connect 2024 event brought together leaders, investors and entrepreneurs to celebrate the strides being made in Viet Nams social impact business ecosystem on Wednesday.

Organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Affairs Canada and the Ministry of Investment and Planning (MIP), the event highlighted the critical role of SIBs in fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.

SIB Connect emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration among Government agencies, private enterprises and international organisations.

The event showcased the potential of SIBs to drive Viet Nams progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while navigating challenges such as financial access and regulatory hurdles.

SIB Connect 2024 also marked the conclusion of the Supporting the Eco-system of Social Impact Businesses in Vietnam in Response to COVID-19 (ISEE-COVID) project, a transformative initiative, that began as a response to the economic challenges of the pandemic.

Over the past three years, the project has supported over 400 social impact businesses, with 60 per cent of SIBs managed by female leaders, creating nearly 15,000 jobs for marginalised groups, including women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

This project has transformed a loose network of socially minded businesses into a robust ecosystem, said Ramla Khalidi, resident representative of UNDP in Viet Nam.

She emphasised that the initiative has enabled businesses to expand into new markets, with fund raising of over US$25 million.

These achievements embody what social businesses stand for: a commitment to profit with purpose, Khalidi said.

UNDP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Viet Nams SIB ecosystem through initiatives targeting young entrepreneurs, businesses led by vulnerable groups, and those adopting circular economy practices.

Together, we can weave a future where the SIB ecosystem thrives, driving Viet Nam toward sustainable and inclusive growth, Khalidi said.

Connecting enterprises and opportunities

The event served as a dynamic platform for SIBs to connect with each other, large enterprises, intermediaries and funds.

Collaborative projects, such as joint gift sets and tourism programmes created by ten SIBs, demonstrated the tangible impact of these partnerships.

In 2024 alone, 30 SIBs successfully sold their products through other SIB-led outlets, while six companies initiated collaborations with pioneering firms.

However, the event also highlighted challenges faced by SIBs, particularly in accessing capital.

According to Nguyen Hoai Chau, Senior Programme Officer at the Embassy of Canada, while there is ample interest from investors, many SIBs struggle to meet the stringent requirements for funding or hesitate to weaken ownership by sharing equity.

Innovative financial models have emerged to support SIBs, particularly in the agricultural sector.

The Rabo Foundation, a Dutch agricultural bank, which has been active in Viet Nam for over a decade, offers collateral-free loans tailored to the needs of enterprises like SIBs.

"Our loans are designed to enhance business growth, create jobs and promote sustainable farming practices," said Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, a representative of the Foundation.

Nevertheless, she acknowledged that compliance with stringent EU regulations has extended loan processing times, posing an additional challenge for SIBs looking for capital.  VNS
NEW DELHI  Viet Nam has made remarkable strides across areas, not only in trade growth and attracting investment but also in raising per capita income, an Indian scholar has said.

Prof. Reena Marwah from the University of Delhi, who is also Secretary-General of the Association of Asia Scholars (AAS), told the Viet Nam News Agency that the social progress in Viet Nam is highly commendable as in less than 40 years of implementing its oi Moi (renewal) process since 1986, Viet Nam has achieved remarkable accomplishments.

The increase in Viet Nam's per capita income from around US$200 to over $4,000 by 2024 demonstrates breakthrough growth, he said.

According to the scholar, Viet Nam has a strong and resilient economy which has never experienced any major financial crises. It has emerged as a key location for large industries and multinational corporations. This is why foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country reached $27.26 billion as of October 31 this year, and it has continuously stayed among the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Recently, Viet Nam has been recognised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), and the Lowy Institute as one of the countries with an outstanding economy that has overcome numerous shocks and demonstrated excellent resilience after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marwah highlighted several reasons why Viet Nam has maintained high growth rates, including the signing of many free trade agreements (FTA) and the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnerships with many nations, along with its prominent economic transition process.

Viet Nam has also joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), he said, adding that the Southeast Asian nations economy has performed well in 2024 and is expected to maintain strong growth next year.

Marwah also predicts that in 2025, Viet Nam will face certain challenges related to the trade imbalance with the US; the lifting of the European Commission's "yellow card" warning for Vietnamese seafood over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; energy security; and the improvement of the workforce's skills.

Viet Nam needs to further develop its own industries and, as a result, requires more skilled labourers, he suggested, adding that the country also should pay heed to improving the quality of its agricultural products and developing sustainable agriculture as it still relies heavily on agricultural export.

Regarding foreign relations, the Indian scholar emphasised that Viet Nam has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with not only Russia, the US, China, and India but also many others.

In recent years, it has continuously hosted many top world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Joe Biden, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This once again spotlights the increasingly important role of Viet Nam in the international arena, according to Marwah.  VNS
HA NOI  Coffee prices have increased by over 50% on average this year, enabling the export revenue to potentially surpass US$5 billion for the first time.

o Ha Nam, Vice President of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA) and Chairman and CEO of Intimex Group, considered 2024 as a special year for the coffee industry as Vietnamese coffee prices have reached the world's highest for the first time. The export price of Robusta, accounting for some 97% of the coffee output in the country - the world's biggest Robusta producer, is higher than that of Arabica, which is unprecedented.

Since the beginning of the year, Vietnamese coffee export prices have risen continuously.

In January, the price was just over US$3,000 per tonne, but it surged to 5,855 per tonne in October. It shot up over 90% within just 10 months.

Export prices during the first 11 months of 2024 averaged $4,037 per tonne, up 56.9% compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Between January and November, the country shipped nearly 1.2 million tonnes abroad, with a revenue of $4.84 billion. Although this represented a 15.4% decrease in volume, the value still went up by 32.8% year-on-year.

Germany, Italy, and Spain are the three largest markets for Vietnamese coffee. Exports grew in all the top 15 markets, with the most significant increases seen in Malaysia and the Philippines  both more than doubling.

Viet Nam has just entered the 2024 - 2025 coffee crop year. Looking back on the 2023 - 2024 crop year, coffee exports achieved a new milestone. Despite a more than 12% decline in the export volume to 1.46 million tonnes, the revenue soared by over 33% to reach $5.43 billion, the highest revenue recorded in a single crop year and marking the first time exports exceeded $5 billion in a crop year.

VICOFA said the new harvest season began in November, with this season's production expected to reach around 1.6 million tonnes. Domestic coffee consumption in Viet Nam is forecast to be between 270,000 and 300,000 tonnes. The rise in domestic demand, coupled with lower production, could significantly impact the supply of raw materials for export.

Meanwhile, experts noted that Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, already finished its harvest season, and its growers are currently reluctant to sell as they wait to see the next crop's output. Therefore, the global coffee market from now through the first quarter of 2025 will depend on coffee-producing countries in the northern hemisphere, especially Viet Nam.

As a result, though the harvest season is ongoing, domestic coffee prices are still on an upward trend. Besides, farmers in the Central Highlands, the coffee farming hub of Viet Nam, are not rushing to sell due to good revenues from other high-priced farm produce like durian and pepper.

VICOFA are confident in many advantages for Vietnamese coffee exports thanks to increased supply from the new harvest season 2024 - 2025 and high export prices. This year's export revenue is predicted to set a new record of $5.5 billion.  VNA/VNS

VNA
Experts noted that the sharp increase in November is expected, as Viet Nam is in the peak international tourism season from October to March. The previous record for monthly international arrivals was set in November 2019, with over 1.8 million visitors.
HA NOI  The Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has provided stakeholders guidance on the implementation of legal regulations on the gradual reduction of the consumption of environmentally destructive substances.

The department has also given stakeholders detailed information regarding the national policy and roadmap for the management and phase-out of controlled substances, in line with the National Plan for the Management and Elimination of Ozone-Depleting Substances and Controlled Greenhouse Gases.

This was presented at a seminar, which also offered possible technological solutions for the businesses involved, held in Ha Noi on Tuesday morning.

Deputy Director of the Department of Climate Change Nguyen Tuan Quang said that the seminar would help participants better understand the management measures aimed at reducing emissions to protect the ozone layer.

That would also assist businesses in developing their medium and long-term business plans in line with the national roadmap for the management and phase-out of these substances.

The seminar was attended by representatives from relevant units across ministries, industrial park management boards, businesses involved in the maintenance, repair, production of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, organisations and businesses importing controlled substances, those importing products and equipment containing controlled substances or owning high-capacity refrigeration and air conditioning equipment along with customs agencies.

Quang said in line with the provisions set out in the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection and Decree No. 06/2022/N-CP in January 2022 on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and ozone layer protection, the ministry had led the development and submission of the national plan to the Prime Minister.

The plan, approved in June 2024, integrated comprehensive management requirements and aligned with international commitments, climate change response initiatives, ozone layer protection and sustainable cooling efforts that Viet Nam was actively involved in.

There were several specific objectives outlined in the plan for implementation through to 2045. The first was effectively honouring the commitment not to produce, import, temporarily import, re-export, or consume substances and products containing or produced using substances that have been fully phased out, in line with the prescribed timeline.

The second was reducing the use of controlled substances in products and equipment, in accordance with the roadmap outlined in the plan as well as improving the average energy efficiency of products and equipment using controlled substances.

Another objective was that technicians involved in the installation, operation and maintenance of products and equipment containing controlled substances must possess the appropriate qualifications, certificates and relevant certifications. Controlled substances must be collected, stored, transported, reused, or recycled in line with technical requirements, or disposed of if they do not meet these standards.

Moreover, addressing the need to reduce the urban heat island effect and enhance resilience against extreme heat would be integrated into national and provincial urban development programmes, plans and regulations. This includes gradually improving technical standards for designing, constructing and operating buildings that meet energy balance requirements and green building criteria.

2024 marks the 30th anniversary of Viet Nams participation in the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol.

According to statistics released by the Ozone Secretariat in July 2024, Viet Nam has successfully eliminated the consumption of 220 million tonnes of carbon equivalent through its phase-out activities since 1994.

Viet Nam is internationally recognised as an active and highly responsible member, having made significant efforts in implementing tasks, solutions and achieving important results in the management and elimination of controlled substances.

The country has also joined the United Nations Environment Programmes Cooling Efficiency Improvement Alliance, the Japan-led Fluorocarbon Lifecycle Management Initiative, and the Global Cooling Pledge, with a goal to reduce global cooling-related emissions by at least 68 per cent by 2050 compared to 2022 levels, in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Currently, most substances that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to the greenhouse effect are used in the fields of refrigeration and air conditioning. Ozone depleting substances include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, methyl bromide, carbon tetrachloride, hydrobromofluorocarbons, chlorobromomethane and methyl chloroform. VNS
HAI PHONG The 2024 ASEAN Graphic Arts Exhibition, held at the Hai Phong Museum, is open to the public until December 20.

The free exhibition showcases 153 pieces of art from 131 artists across ASEAN nations, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The exhibits highlight the culture, people, and nature of each nation, address contemporary issues, promote peace, and celebrate the strong, ongoing multilateral ties within ASEAN.

They are created using a wide range of materials and techniques such as metal engraving, wood carving, monotype printing, embossing, gum printing, and screen printing.

Ngo Tuan Phong, deputy head of the culture ministry's Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, emphasized that the quality of the works this year shows significant technical advancement.

Artist Trinh Tuan from the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association said that the quality of Vietnamese art has notably improved compared to previous events, placing them on par with countries like Thailand, which have a strong tradition in graphic design.

The quadrennial ASEAN Graphics Competition and Exhibition, which began in 2016, aims to foster cultural and artistic exchange among ASEAN countries.

This year's competition received an impressive 530 graphic submissions from 283 artists.

At the opening ceremony on December 6, Ta Quang ong, deputy minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said the events main purpose is to celebrate the creative achievements of ASEAN artists.

This helps strengthen the solidarity of the ASEAN community, he said.

He pointed to Viet Nam's ongoing efforts to promote cultural exchanges, citing previous events like the ASEAN Film Week, the ASEAN Cultural Colours Exhibition, and the ASEAN Arts Festival as examples of the countrys commitment to the ASEAN Cultural and Arts Strategic Plan for 2016-2025.

Thus, this event will not only encourage people-to-people and cultural exchanges within the region but also confirm Vietnams proactive role in promoting ASEAN cultural and artistic exchange, ong said.

Le Khac Nam, vice chairman of the city Peoples Committee [Municipal administration], said that the exhibition provides an opportunity for the city to showcase its culture and people, while also enhancing international relations and establishing Hai Phong's growing reputation.

On the same day, 16 outstanding works were awarded by a panel of seven experts in Vietnamese graphic design and international professionals.

The awards included one Grand Prize, three Second prizes, five Third prizes, and seven consolation prizes.

Filipino artist Benjamin Torrado Cabrera won the Grand Prize for his piece Unspoken Longing.

Second prizes were awarded to artists from Thailand and Viet Nam, while Thai artists took home the Third prizes.

The awards are expected to inspire ASEAN graphic artists to continue producing high-quality work, contributing to the development of the regions graphic design and art scene. VNS
HCM CITY  Flavours Vietnam, an annual food and beverage series, is officially teaming up with HOZO International Music Festival to bring a grand international celebration of food, music, and an F&B awards ceremony to Nguyen Hue Walking Street from December 13-15.

Co-organised by Vietcetera and Mastercard, Flavours Vietnam celebrates the contributions and achievements of Viet Nam's F&B industry.

Flavours Vietnam 2024 officially commenced in June with the theme "Crafting Shared Culinary Experiences", featuring various F&B events, including a Flavors Conference, Bar Week, and Flavours Restaurant Month, highlighting emerging and classic eateries around HCM City.

HOZO, Viet Nams largest community music festival, has become a key cultural event, attracting both local and international artists to HCM City.

Now in its fourth year, HOZO has successfully placed Vietnamese culture on the global music festival map, drawing tourists to HCM City and supporting the citys cultural development for 2020-2030.

United by a shared mission to elevate Vietnamese brands on the international stage, Flavours Vietnam has teamed up with HOZO to present the Flavours Vietnam 2024 and HOZO International Food Fest. This three-day festival offers open access for visitors to immerse themselves in a variety of exciting activities.

Visitors can explore over 60 food stalls featuring renowned F&B brands like Phuc Long and Nam Me Kitchen & Bar. Beyond enjoying the flavours, they can participate in physical activities, engaging workshops, mukbang challenges, or explore interactive AR games at the Vikki Digital Bank booth to win exciting prizes.

To enhance convenience for festival-goers, all food vendors will fully support cashless payment options, including bank transfers, and contactless payments via cards and digital wallets.

Mastercard is delighted to celebrate and support the dynamic growth of Viet Nams F&B industry once again through our partnership with Vietcetera on Flavors Vietnam for the fifth year running. This year, we are elevating the experience by bringing HOZO together with Flavors Vietnam, creating an extraordinary festival that will foster meaningful connections and unforgettable memories through a vibrant fusion of food, music, and culture, Winnie Wong, Mastercard country manager for Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, said.

This collaboration also provides an excellent platform to encourage local businesses in Viet Nam, to adopt secure and seamless digital payments, keeping pace with evolving consumer preferences.

On the second evening on Friday, the Flavors Awards ceremony will take at Nguyen Hue centre stage, recognising outstanding businesses and services in Viet Nams F&B industry.

This year, Flavors Awards 2024 will present three awards categories: the Flavors Collection, voted by the public, the Editors Pick voted by Vietceteras editors, and the Grand Prize, selected by top F&B industry experts like Michelin-starred chef Peter Cuong Franklin of Anan Saigon; Niklas Wagner, general manager of New World Saigon Hotel; and Eve Manne, head of Modern On Trade at Diageo Vietnam. Young artists such as 52Hz will also perform to add energy to the evenings celebrations.

Hao Tran, Vietcetera CEO, said: "Im proud to see Flavors Vietnam grow from a small awards ceremony to an annual event series and now a music-food festival. This journey with our Mastercard partner has been long, but weve stayed true to our mission: to celebrate Viet Nams F&B industry and elevate Vietnamese cuisine globally. This year, were excited to collaborate with HOZO, a like-minded partner dedicated to bringing Viet Nam to the world."

The most anticipated activities of the festival will be three nights of electrifying performances on the main stage of the HOZO Music Festival, featuring top Vietnamese and international artists like My Tam and Henry Lau.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Thuan Transport Co., Ltd. was honoured with two prestigious awards, including Top 10 Green Enterprises and Sustainable Development and Green Eco-Friendly Tourism Products, for its sustainable yacht project at the Green Economy Forum for a Sustainable National Development 2024.

As a maritime transport company, in 2023, Viet Thuan marked its transition into the tourism sector by launching its luxury yacht brand, Grand Pioneers.

The two yachts within the project are designed with modern features, meeting international safety standards, while integrating environmentally friendly solutions to minimise the impact on marine ecosystems.

Earlier, the company was awarded several prestigious honours, including the Worlds Best Green Cruise Line 2024 title at the World Cruise Awards.

Deputy Project Manager of Viet Thuan, Trinh uc Thuan, said: "Being recognised at the Green Economy Forum 2024 is a great honour for us. This recognition reflects Viet Thuan's ongoing efforts in developing green solutions and serves as motivation for us to continue leading the way in harmonising the economy, environment and society.

"With the philosophy 'We only exist when we preserve nature,' Viet Thuan is committed to continuously innovating and contributing positively to the sustainable development of Viet Nam."

The Green Economy Forum for a Sustainable National Development 2024, organised by the Viet Nam Association of Environmental Industries, aims to recognise outstanding efforts in green economic development and environmental protection, while affirming the importance of sustainable development trends in a global context.

Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Environmental Industries, Tran Van Luong, emphasised that green and sustainable economic development is becoming an inevitable global trend, a model that many countries are striving towards.

In Viet Nam, major policies such as the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party have focused on environmental protection, sustainable resource use and the construction of a green economy that is environmentally friendly.

Luong emphasised the crucial role of the environmental sector in advancing a green economy, stressing the need for a balanced approach that integrates three essential pillars: the economy, the environment and society.

Businesses must strike a balance between developing clean energy, fostering sustainable growth, ensuring responsible production and consumption, preserving natural resources, promoting the efficient use of ecosystems, improving public health, creating employment opportunities and reducing social inequality.

The forum highlighted the widespread agreement among organisations, businesses and communities in advancing a green economy and fostering a circular, sustainable economy with environmental protection and public health at its core.  VNS
HA NOI  The United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, designating the date as Human Rights Day to honour humanity's tireless efforts in protecting peace and respecting and defending national independence and sovereignty, as well as human rights.

Over the past 76 years, the declaration has served as the norm for nations, individuals, and social organisations to strive for respect for human freedoms and to ensure the global recognition and implementation of these rights, whether in UN member states or non-self-governing territories.

As a result, Human Rights Day is celebrated worldwide, including in Viet Nam.

In the Southeast Asian nation, human rights principles and values regarding freedom and democracy have been enshrined in the 1946 Constitution, even before the adoption of the 1948 declaration. Further, in the subsequent versions of the Constitution in 1959, 1980, and 1992, and especially 2013, Viet Nam has increasingly emphasised universal human rights principles recognised by the international community.

On September 2, 1945, in Ba inh Square, President Ho Chi Minh delivered the Declaration of Independence on behalf of the Provisional National Government, affirming the sacred, inviolable right of the Vietnamese people to independence.

A nation undauntedly fought the French yoke of slavery for 80 years. A nation undauntedly sided with the alliance against fascism for years. That nation should have freedom! That nation should have independence, the 1945 declaration read.

Following the success of the August Revolution, the Party, Government and President Ho Chi Minh enacted a series of policies to implement the freedoms and democratic rights outlined in the declaration. The organisation of the first general election and the first Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam in 1946 marked the realisation of the human and civil rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.

Respecting and protecting human rights remains a consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State. Since its establishment, Viet Nam has fully participated in human rights protection activities led by the UN and international organisations. These efforts include signing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, caring for and protecting the elderly, participating in anti-war activities, promoting peace, protecting the ecological environment, and respecting the right to self-determination of nations.

The Party and State have consistently affirmed that human rights are a common value of humanity. People are both the objective and the driving force in national development and defence, ensuring and promoting human rights is a key factor for sustainable development. Accordingly, human rights standards have been consolidated and fostered and people's lives have steadily improved.

Viet Nam has also taken concrete actions to implement human rights according to the conventions it has signed. Notably, its 2015 Penal Code continued to abolish the death penalty for eight crimes and excluded its application for those under 18, pregnant women, women with children under 36 months and individuals over 75 years old who commit crimes. To date, Viet Nam has ratified seven out of nine major UN human rights conventions and 25 others of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Compared to many countries, Viet Nam is on par in terms of the number of conventions it has signed.

Viet Nam was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (20082009 and 20202021 tenures) and as a member of the UN Human Rights Council (20142016 and currently for 20232025), which reflects international recognition of the countrys efforts to ensure and enforce human rights.

After nearly 40 years of reform, the Party and State have remained consistent in their policies to respect, ensure and protect the rights and obligations of citizens. Every decision is driven by the needs of the people and all development outcomes aim to best ensure human rights.

In Viet Nam's National Report under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in April 2024, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs o Hung Viet highlighted that since 2019, Viet Nam's GDP per capita has increased by 25 per cent, while its poverty rate has decreased by 1.5 per cent annually.

The preventive medicine network is widely established nationwide and closely linked with primary healthcare and the health insurance coverage rate has expanded from over 81 per cent in 2016 to 93.35 per cent in 2023. Furthermore, 85 per cent of disadvantaged people with disabilities receive social assistance, care and rehabilitation services.

The media, press and the internet have flourished, becoming platforms for people and social organisations to express their views and tools for monitoring policy and law enforcement and protecting people's legal rights and interests.

Currently, around 72,000 associations in Viet Nam regularly and actively participate in addressing key socioeconomic issues.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the number of internet users in Viet Nam rose to more than 78 million this year, from only 20 million in 2008, and it is expected to continue growing in the next five years to reach about 100 million by 2029.

Reflecting on Viet Nam's human rights efforts over the years, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: The greatest human right in Viet Nam is to ensure that its 100 million people live in prosperity, happiness, democracy, peace, security and safety, while maximising human potential.  VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant Venezuelan agencies, organised a ceremony on Monday in Caracas to celebrate the 35th founding anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two nations (December 18, 1989 2024).

Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Vu Trung My highlighted the significance of the event, saying that the celebration marks a milestone in the diplomatic relations. He stressed that Viet Nam and Latin American countries in general and the Southeast Asian nation and Venezuela in particular, have a good traditional friendship and solidarity, originating from similarities in the history of strugle for national liberation, and the love of peace, freedom and justice.

During Viet Nam's struggle for national liberation and reunification, alongside peace-loving progressive forces worldwide, the peoples of Latin American countries, including Venezuelan people and progressive forces, were at the forefront of anti-war movements and staunch supporters of Viet Nam's just cause, the diplomat said, adding that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam always deeply value this noble and pure international solidarity for Viet Nam's revolutionary cause.

My reviewed key achievements in bilateral cooperation in recent times, noting that those have actively contributed to the development of each country, as well as improving the international position of both nations.

He underlined the need for the two sides to effectively implement and further deepen the Viet Nam -Venezuela comprehensive partnership across all sectors, with priorities given to key areas such as oil and gas, agriculture, telecommunications, and tourism.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto affirmed that the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two countries have been strengthened across three pillars of Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy.

Additionally, parliamentary diplomacy and local-level relations between the two nations have also been solidified, especially the friendship and cooperation between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), providing a favourable political foundation for bilateral relations, he stressed.

The two countries have exchanged numerous high-level visits, Gil said, noting that the meeting between Maduro and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia BRICS in October this year demonstrated the level of political trust and the close relationship between the two parties and governments.

He expressed his belief that building on the achievements of their traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership, along with the two governments determination, Venezuela and Viet Nam will enter a new era of cooperation, contributing positively to the development of both nations and promoting peace, happiness, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world.

In the framework of activities in celebration of the diplomatic ties, a wide range of activities have been arranged, including a Vietnam Day in Venezuela, photo exhibitions spotlighting the beauty of Vietnamese people and land, and the 35-year relations between the two nations; a film screening event, and seminars.  VNS
Claire Partain is a Houston ISD reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering student achievement. She can be reached at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

She got her start as sports editor at Texas State University (go Cats!) before covering professional soccer team Austin FC and other Austin news at digital startup Austonia.

Claire has also freelanced with her hometown paper, appearing in the Fairfield Recorder, Teague Chronicle and Corsicana Daily Sun.
HA NOI  Vietnamese embassies in Moscow, New Delhi and Tel Aviv held ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam Peoples Army (VPA) and the 35th anniversary of the All-People Defence Festival (December 22) on Tuesday.

In Moscow, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia ang Minh Khoi recalled the history of the VPA as well as its glorious victories over the past 80 years, while affirming the army and people Viet Nam will never forget the heartfelt assistance from the former Soviet Union and Russia today.

Lieut. Gen. Aleksandr Kshimovsky, head of Russia's Main Department of International Military Cooperation, underlined the enduring support Russia has extended to Viet Nam, a tradition from the Soviet era. He hailed Viet Nam as a reliable partner of Russia in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region in general.

Military and technical cooperation with Viet Nam is crucial for enhancing its defence capabilities, especially amid current global complexities, he said.

In New Delhi, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai reaffirmed Indias support for Viet Nam, both during its struggle for independence and in its ongoing pursuit of peace and development. He underscored the profound, longstanding friendship between the two nations, which continues to thrive, particularly in the field of national defence-security.

Both countries have effectively realised the Joint Vision Statement on India-Viet Nam Defence Partnership Toward 2030 and are actively exploring new avenues for cooperation in peacekeeping operations, disaster relief, and maritime security, he said.

Defence attache Col. Trinh Ngoc ai recounted the VPAs illustrious accomplishments, from its role in the nations liberation to its ongoing contributions to national building and safeguarding, saying that the VPA always actively pushes forward global integration and defence diplomacy at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti affirmed that defence ties form the cornerstone of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marked by mutual trust, respect and shared strategic interests.

In Tel Aviv, Vietnamese defence attache Col. Vu uc Phuc highlighted defence diplomacy as a key pillar of Viet Nam's foreign policy, serving as an essential channel to build strategic trust and foster friendship with other nations and international organisations, contributing to elevating the stature of the country, its people and VPA.

According to him, Viet Nam has actively joined numerous multilateral defence and military mechanisms and forums at both global and regional levels. The country has established defence ties with over 100 nations and maintained defence or military attache offices in 35 countries and the United Nations.

Delegates at all ceremonies also watched a documentary chronicling the establishment of the Viet Nam Liberation Army Team, now known as the VPA, under the directive of President Ho Chi Minh.  VNS
BUENOS AIRES  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela held a meeting in Caracas on December 11 to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Viet Nam (December 18, 1989  2024) and review glorious milestones in bilateral traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

Addressing the event, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto highlighted the strong and growing traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two nations. He stressed that over the past more than three decades, despite the challenging global and regional landscape, the two sides have continuously maintained and deepened their solidarity, friendship and cooperation for the benefit of people in each country and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the two regions and the world as a whole.

Pinto underlined that the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the Government and people of Venezuela always treasure the ties with Viet Nam, affirming that his country always keeps the door open for cooperation with Viet Nam across all fields, especially in areas such as oil, agriculture, telecommunications, tourism, and science and technology. He also emphasised Venezuelas interest in learning from Viet Nam's experience in building socialism.

For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My thanked the Venezuelan leaders and people for their warm sentiments and solidarity, underlining the Vietnamese Party and States high evaluation of the legacy of friendship established by late President Hugo Chavez and Viet Nam's past leaders. He reaffirmed Viet Nam's commitment to tightening and deepening the sound traditional friendship with Venezuela, promoting the strengths of each side, and contributing to the development of the two countries on the basis of solidarity, closeness of views on international issues, and common interests in the process of national construction and development.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy and the administration of Caracas launched a photo exhibition spotlighting the land and people of Viet Nam and 35 years of Viet Nam-Venezuela relations, featuring nearly 100 photos provided by Viet Nam's Ministry of Information and Communications.

The Mayor of Caracas, Carmen Mernendez, praised the exhibition as an opportunity for Venezuelans to learn more about Viet Nam's achievements and its cultural heritage. She noted that Caracas and Ha Noi are working on an agreement to boost cooperation between the two capitals in the future.

Within the framework of the exhibition, the Vietnamese embassy hosted a range of cultural events, including traditional dance performances, music, and culinary showcases, giving Venezuelan friends a taste of Viet Nam's rich traditions.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam has made impressive strides in advancing human rights and sustainable development, drawing recognition at home and abroad.

With a focus on improving the quality of life for its people, the countrys achievements reflect its long-standing commitment to inclusivity and progress.

Viet Nams human rights philosophy, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh put it, centres around ensuring all its citizens enjoy a life of dignity, peace and prosperity, and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Guided by the philosophy, the countrys human rights efforts have touched all aspects of life, from economic growth to social welfare.

Between 2019 and 2024, its GDP per capita grew by 25 per cent, while the national poverty rate decreased by 1.5 per cent annually.

By late 2024, only 1.93 per cent of households nationwide were considered poor, thanks to targeted programmes to alleviate poverty and improve living standards.

Efforts to build social housing have mobilised over VN6 trillion (US$236 million), replacing inadequate homes with safe and comfortable living spaces.

The country has also climbed to 54th out of 166 countries in the Global Sustainable Development Index, reflecting steady progress in balancing economic and social priorities.

Viet Nams achievements have not gone unnoticed.

Emeritus Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy praised the countrys robust economic growth and its success in reducing poverty. Annual increases in wages and pensions were also highlighted as key policies enhancing the lives of Vietnamese workers.

Professor Reena Marwah from the University of Delhi commended Viet Nam for its remarkable economic transformation. Per capita income, which once hovered around $200, has now exceeded $4,000.

Improvements in healthcare and universal health insurance coverage, now reaching 94.1 per cent, demonstrate the countrys commitment to social well-being.

Sharing with Viet Nam News on December 10, Pauline Tamesis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, pointed out the countrys efforts in justice, equality and inclusion in honour of International Human Rights Day.

She noted how human rights shape policies that improve access to education, healthcare and legal protection, especially for vulnerable groups.

Tamesis applauded Viet Nams inclusive reforms, such as amendments to the Employment Law to support people with disabilities and the expansion of Family and Juvenile Courts, which prioritise rehabilitation over punishment for children in conflict with the law.

Viet Nams recognition of LGBTIQ+ rights, including destigmatising sexual orientation and gender identity, has paved the way for non-discriminatory healthcare services.

Tamesis also highlighted Viet Nams commitment to addressing climate change, noting the countrys ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and its efforts to support communities affected by natural disasters.

Viet Nam has emerged as an active and respected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 20232025 term. At the Councils recent 57th session, the country led initiatives promoting equitable access to vaccination and contributed to ASEAN statements on human rights.

Its human rights record, especially in areas like gender equality, public health and education, has received widespread recognition. Programmes addressing the needs of ethnic minorities and the LGBTIQ+ community further underscore the countrys inclusive approach to development.

World Peace Council's Executive Secretary Iraklis Tsavdaridis and UN Development Programmes resident representative in Viet Nam Ramla Khalidi agree that the countrys progress reflects its focus on sustainable development and human-centered policies.

As the country prepares to celebrate significant milestones in 2025, its achievements in reducing poverty and enhancing quality of life remain a source of national pride.

In a letter to a national symposium on human rights in October, Party General Secretary To Lam reaffirmed Viet Nams commitment to putting people at the centre of development.

"A steadfast commitment to human rights is essential for building a strong and united nation." he wrote.

Viet Nams journey toward ensuring human rights has made it a global model of resilience and inclusivity. Pauline Tamesis summed it up best: building a brighter, more equitable future requires collective efforts from all sectors of society.

With its focus on progress and inclusion, Viet Nam is well-positioned to continue improving the lives of its people while inspiring others worldwide.  VNS
ONG THAP  Party General Secretary To Lam visited and presented gifts to 80 policy beneficiaries, heroic Vietnamese Mothers, and war veterans in the Mekong Delta province of ong Thap on Wednesday, ahead of the 80th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam Peoples Army (December 22, 1944 - 2024), and the 35th anniversary of the All-People Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2024).

On behalf of Party and State leaders, Lam extended his heartfelt regards and profound gratitude to the heroic Vietnamese mothers, heroes of the armed forces, wounded and sick soldiers, families of martyrs, and those who rendered service to the nation in ong Thap.

Speaking highly of the spirit of self-reliance and resilience of war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs, and other revolution contributors who have overcome disabilities, losses, sacrifices, and hardships, the Party chief emphasised that the Party and State have consistently prioritised and directed the effective implementation of policies to honour and support those having contributed to the revolution.

Numerous guidelines of the Party as well as policies and laws of the State on preferential treatment for revolution contributors have been enacted, he stated, adding that the scope of beneficiaries has been expanded, and preferential regimes gradually supplemented and improved, reflecting the Party, State, and people's respect, gratitude, and care for them.

The General Secretary asked all-level Party committees, agencies, sectors, and organisations in the province to build on their achievements, and continue to perfect and effectively implement the policies and laws targeting those who have contributed to the nation and the revolution.

He called on localities, agencies, units, and individuals to take concrete and practical actions with a strong sense of responsibility, considering this as a duty, responsibility, and expression of profound gratitude to those dedicating themselves to the cause of national liberation, reunification, and safeguarding.

ong Thap is home to over 62,000 policy beneficiaries. Over the past three years, the province has mobilised resources to support the construction and renovation of over 2,000 houses for revolution contributors and families of martyrs, with a total budget exceeding VN78 billion (US$3 million).

On the same day, General Secretary Lam presented three STEM education laboratories to the Tram Chim High School in Tam Nong District, and the Tan Hong High School in Tan Hong District, and the Chau Thanh 1 High School in Chau Thanh District.

The STEM education model is an interdisciplinary approach that enables students to apply knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solving real-life problems in specific contexts.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony at the Tram Chim High School, the top leader stressed the need to transform teaching methods from knowledge transmission to skill development; increase practice, encourage students to self-learn, self-explore, and work in group; integrate the English language into other subjects to create a foreign language learning environment starting from the primary education level; and restructure the education system to boost lifelong learning opportunities for everyone.

Additionally, fostering strong connections among schools, businesses, and the community is crucial, he said, affirming that this collaboration allows students to gain real-life exposure, better understand societal needs, and have opportunities for personal development.

On this occasion, the Party General Secretary inspected the construction site of the Cao Lanh - An Huu expressway project.

It is part of the national road network development plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision toward 2050, aimed at meeting transportation demand, reducing logistics costs, and contributing to restructuring the transportation market share along the North - South corridor in an optimal and sustainable manner.

Lam urged provincial leaders to accelerate the progress and called on contractors to complete the project promptly and open it to traffic as soon as possible, thus facilitating the transportation of goods for ong Thap in particular and the Mekong Delta region in general.  VNS
HA NOI - After more than 12 years of implementing tobacco control measures, the rate of active smoking among adults in Viet Nam has decreased, but ultimately, it remains high compared to global numbers.

The overall smoking rate across both genders is 20.8 per cent, with the prevalence among adult men at 41.1 per cent in 2021, placing Viet Nam among the countries with the highest smoking rates globally.

The information was shared by Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan at a recent conference reviewing the results of tobacco harm prevention activities in 2024, and outlining goals for 2025, organised by the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund.

According to Thuan, active and passive smoking is the second-leading risk factor for death and diseases. In 2022, the estimated economic losses due to active and passive smoking - including healthcare costs and productivity losses from illness and premature deaths caused by smoking - amounted to 1.14 per cent of GDP, equivalent to VN108.7 trillion (US$4.28 billion).

These costs are five times higher than the revenue generated from tobacco taxes, he noted.

According to the deputy minister, preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco still faces challenges. Although the rate of tobacco use has decreased, Viet Nam is still among the countries with the highest rate of male smokers in the world.

Tobacco is sold everywhere. Tobacco products are easily accessible. The price of tobacco in Viet Nam is currently low compared to other countries in the region and worldwide. Viet Nam has not met the target of reducing the consumption of tobacco products, he said.

The deputy minister added that during the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, a resolution was passed to ban the production, trade, import, transportation and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other substances harmful to human health. This regulation will take effect in 2025.

This decision aims not only to safeguard public health but also to contribute to maintaining social order and safety, he said.

In 2025, the Viet Nam Tobacco Control Fund aims to continue raising public awareness of the dangers of using tobacco, e-cigarettes and other harmful products and promote the legal regulations on tobacco harm prevention.

Specifically, the fund aims to achieve the following targets in 2025: one hundred per cent of leaders from ministries, sectors and localities are well-informed about the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms; 98 per cent of the public understand the harmful effects of tobacco use, particularly its contribution to non-communicable diseases; 95 per cent understand the diseases caused by smoking; and 75 per cent are aware of the new regulations.

Since 2014, the Tobacco Control Fund has played a significant role in providing resources to ministries, sectors, socio-political organisations, localities and units to effectively implement the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms.

Many localities such as Ha Long, Hoi An, and Thua Thien-Hue have pioneered smoke-free areas, especially smoke-free tourist cities, affirming the determination of the Government and the community to protect public health.

In 2024 alone, the fund has supported 93 agencies and units to implement key activities, including enforcing regulations on smoke-free environments, enhancing diverse communication efforts to raise awareness and support smoking cessation, especially in rural areas where smoking rates remain high. VNS
HA NOI  Ten Vietnamese universities have secured spots in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025, which were recently released by the UK-based education organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

This marks a notable increase from last year, when only eight universities in Viet Nam were listed. The Hue University and the University of a Nang have entered the rankings for the first time this year.

The QS rankings evaluate universities based on their sustainability efforts across three core areas: environmental impact, social impact, and governance. They assess how institutions contribute to sustainable development through research, teaching, and community engagement.

The Vietnamese universities featured in the 2025 rankings include the Viet Nam National University, Ha Noii (325th), Duy Tan University (538th), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (653rd), Ha Noi University of Science and Technology (702nd), Viet Nam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (880th), Ton uc Thang University (921-930), Can Tho University (1,061-1,080), Nguyen Tat Thanh University (1,451-1,500), Hue University (1,501+), University of a Nang (1,501+).

The Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, stands out with a remarkable rise of 456 places, now ranked 325th, making it the top-ranked institution in Viet Nam. This significant improvement is attributed to its enhanced performance across all three sustainability criteria: governance, environmental impact, and social impact.

The universitys success reflects its long-term commitment to sustainable development. With a strong focus on research in climate change, clean energy, and biodiversity conservation, the Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi has made substantial contributions both at home and internationally. Its partnerships with global research institutions have amplified its impact, while initiatives in gender equality, community support, and public health have furthered its role in improving social well-being.

The inclusion of more Vietnamese universities in the QS sustainability rankings highlights the growing recognition of their contributions to global sustainability efforts.  VNS
HA NOI  Ha Noi Police, in collaboration with various departments of the Ministry of Public Security, have dismantled a criminal network engaged in fraudulent activities through illegal forex and stock trading platforms.

The group was led by Pho uc Nam, better known as "Mr Pips" on social media, especially TikTok.

Since 2021, Pho uc Nam, 30, from Vung Tau City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, and his associate Le Khac Ngo, from Ha Noi's Bac Tu Liem District, conspired with a Turkish national operating out of Morgan Tower in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

They orchestrated their scam by instructing seven accomplices in Viet Nam to establish multiple shell companies in Ha Noi, HCM City, and other provinces.

One such entity, ARTEX VINA Co., Ltd., headquartered in District 1, HCM City, operated 44 representative offices nationwide, including 24 in Ha Noi.

Although these companies lacked licences to conduct securities or financial operations, they recruited approximately one thousand employees to run illegal forex and derivative trading activities.

To lure victims, the suspects developed and managed five English-language websites, including Alpha.com, Gtmx.com, Btfx.com, Enzofx.com, and Gkfx.com, which they falsely presented as reputable international trading platforms.

These sites were linked to bank accounts controlled by the group and connected to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, popular trading platforms for forex and securities worldwide.

Nam and Ngoc assigned responsibilities to their associates ao Dieu Thuy, 27, from Quang Ninh Province's Cam Pha City and Tran Thi Cam Tu, 28, from Cam Xuyen District, Ha Tinh Province.

These associates were tasked with recruiting employees and organising the workforce into departments such as accounting, human resources, IT, business operations, and customer service.

Using platforms like Zoiper, Zalo, and Telegram, these departments coordinated to mislead victims and gain their trust.

Victims were initially guided to make small transactions, which appeared profitable and allowed withdrawals, fostering a sense of trust.

The suspects then employed various manipulative tactics to coerce victims into gradually increasing their investment.

When victims suffered losses or exhausted their accounts, the group continued to deceive them into transferring more funds under the pretext of recovering their losses.

This cycle persisted until victims were financially drained, at which point the suspects severed contact and appropriated the stolen funds.

On October 25, Ha Noi Police, in collaboration with the Criminal Police Department, Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, and other units, dismantled this transnational criminal network.

Authorities have identified 2,661 victims nationwide and seized or frozen assets worth over VN5,200 billion (US$211.8 million).

The Ha Noi Police Investigation Agency initiated criminal proceedings for "Fraudulent appropriation of property," "Money laundering," "Failure to report a crime," and "Harbouring and consuming criminal assets."

A total of 31 individuals have been prosecuted, including 26 for fraud, three for money laundering, one for failing to report a crime, and one for harbouring criminal assets.

An international arrest warrant has been issued for fleeing Le Khac Ngo.

The police urged Ngo to surrender and seek leniency under the law.

The case is under further investigation.  VNS
HA NOI  A delegation of Nhan Dan (The People) newspaper led by Editor-in-Chief Le Quoc Minh had a working session in Ha Noi on Wednesday with a delegation from the Republic of Korea (RoK)s Yonhap News Agency led by its President and CEO Hwang Dae-il.

General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang also attended the event.

Minh, who is member of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chairman of its Commission for Information and Education, and President of the Vietnam Journalists' Association (VJA), said that Nhan Dan newspaper is currently developing a Korean language version to provide mainstream and accurate information about Viet Nam-RoK relations, contributing to further strengthening the bilateral relationship. This version is expected to be launched in 2025, he added.

Emphasising that modern journalism must change its approach to adapt to the needs of readers, Minh highlighted that the newspaper and other media agencies in general still need to make greater efforts and continuously innovate themselves to fulfill their tasks, alongside the support of technology.

Next year, the VJA will conduct training on artificial intelligence (AI) technology for about 5,000 Vietnamese journalists.

Hwang informed Minh of the outcomes of his talks with the VNA General Director, affirming that the cooperation activities between the two news agencies are very practical and align with their respective missions as the national news agency of each country. He expressed his hope for substantive collaboration with Nhan Dan newspaper in the coming time.

Sharing information about the Vietnamese-language news service that the agency is currently providing, he welcomed Nhan Dan newspaper's upcoming launch of the Korean-language version, as the availability of more information about RoK-Viet Nam relations, as well as news about both countries, will contribute to strengthening mutual understanding between the two countries' people.

At the meeting, the two sides exchanged and shared experience in responding to common challenges, as well as opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the digital transformation of journalism.  VNS
SINGAPORE  The Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore has said that it is coordinating with local authorities to clarify the cause of a knife attack that killed a Vietnamese woman in Hougang on December 10.

Singaporean authorities confirmed that the woman was ao Thi Hong, a 34-year-old Vietnamese national and a mother of three.

The embassy has contacted the victim's family to assist funeral arrangements.

Hong had moved to Singapore from Ha Noi five years ago and worked at the Quan Long Nippon Paint hardware store.

A 26-year-old man, reportedly an employee at the store, attempted to intervene the attack and was injured in the process.

Police have not disclosed the identity of the suspect, who was reported to be another employee of the store. He is set to be charged with murder on December 12, an offense punishable by death, according to local media.  VNS
BANGKOK  Thailand has recorded a decrease of 20 per cent in low-quality imports, mainly from China, since imposing restrictions on cheap imports that are hurting business in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, government spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan said on December 9.

Cheap goods from China are said to have disrupted production and business activities in Thailand, contributing to a slew of factory closures and job loss.

Responding to calls for action from businesses, since July, the Thai government has tightened regulations and increased inspections of cheap imports, focusing on agricultural, consumer and industrial goods. Thanks to the above-mentioned measures, the value of low-quality goods import has decreased sharply, Sasikarn said.

The government also seized 506 million THB (US$14.97 million) worth of imports including counterfeit goods, shirts, shoes and e-cigarettes, according to official data. In addition, Thailand began levying a 7 per cent value-added tax (VAT) in July for goods under 1,500 THB. According to the Finance Ministry, it has so far collected 707 million THB.

Sasikarn also said the government will roll out more measures to support domestic businesses, including requiring foreign online businesses to incorporate in Thailand and register to pay VAT.  VNA/VNS
Alex Jones speaks to the media outside the 459th Civil District Court on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022 in Austin, TX. Sergio Flores/For Hearst Connecticut Media

AUSTIN, TEXAS  After four hours of deliberation, a jury awarded two Sandy Hook parents defamed by Alex Jones $45.2 million in punitive damages Friday.

Jones was not in the courtroom when the verdict was read.

The award comes one day after the same jury required Jones to pay the parents $4.1 million for intentional infliction of mental anguish they endured during years of Jones Infowars broadcasts that claimed the death of their son Jesse in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings was a hoax committed by crisis actors.

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This means the parents will be awarded $49.3 million in total damages. This falls about $100 million short of the parents request of $150 million  $1 in compensation and $1 in punishment for the estimated 75 million Americans who experts claim dont believe or doubt the shooting occurred.

The parents have said their goal is to punish Jones for his lies in the hope that he and others will think twice about promoting conspiracy theories.

Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis won their defamation lawsuit last year against Jones, who promoted repeatedly that the Sandy Hook shootings that killed their son Jesse were staged or a government cover up.

The trial that concluded Wednesday focused on how much the jury would award for intentional infliction of mental anguish to the parents, who are claiming Jones lies are causing fear, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, on top of the grief that comes with losing a child.

Jurors then heard additional testimony on Friday from an economist who estimated Alex Jones net worth was up to $270 million. That testimony was meant to help them determine the punitive damages Jones and his parent company, Free Speech Systems, must pay.

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Jones took to his Infowars platform Thursday night to discuss the $4.1 million verdict which he called a major victory for truth.

Thats more money than my company or I personally have, but we are going to work on trying to make restitution there, Jones said on his Infowars platform after the verdict was read.

What I did to those families was wrong, but I didnt do it on purpose, Jones said before giving his audience a pitch to send money to keep Infowars on the air. Were in bankruptcy, were all maxed out, and then added, if you dont fund us, if you dont buy products (from his platform) we will shut down.

The parents have already said they plan to put the $4.1 million toward the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, the nonprofit started by Lewis following her sons death.

What a way to honor Jesse, their attorney Mark Bankston said Thursday after the jurys initial verdict. To know that with this money thats being disgorged from Alex Jones, school children across this country are going to be taught social emotional learning.

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In the first phase of deliberations, the jury decided compensation for Heslin for the loss of his reputation for Infowars coverage that occurred in 2017  including a report questioning whether he held his son in the hours after he died. The 12-member jury also had to decide how much Heslin and Lewis should receive for the intentional infliction of mental anguish caused by Jones false reports that spanned from 2013 to 2018.

The second phase was based on the same incidents of defamation. But the jury had to come back with a unanimous verdict that took into consideration Jones net worth.

Jones is probably worth between $135 million to $270 million and has been siphoning money from his main company, Free Speech Systems for years, especially after he lost three defamation lawsuits by default in 2021, according to an expert paid by two Sandy Hook parents in their lawsuit for damages.

Jones withdrew $65 million in September 2021 after Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled that he had lost the lawsuits to Sandy Hook families by default for not complying with court orders, said forensic economist Bernard Francis Pettingill, Jr. on the stand in a Texas courthouse on Friday.

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TOKYO  Overtourism is becoming more serious in the municipalities in the northern foothills of Mt. Fuji, which has finally been crowned with snow for this year. Many foreign tourists are flooding into the area, trying to take pictures of the spectacular scenery. Traffic congestion and littering have also worsened, and local governments are working on countermeasures, but lacking radical solutions, those in charge are severely frustrated.

On Monday morning, a 54-year-old tourist from India was in Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, enthusiastically snapping pictures with her smartphone. She said she felt very lucky to get to see the beauty of snowcapped Mt. Fuji, and that this was what she had hoped for in making her first visit to Japan.

The park has become popular for its panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and the five-story pagoda. Although the fall foliage season is over, the observation deck was overflowing with tourists taking pictures, making it difficult for people to move.

The park, located in a quiet residential area, used to be a place for residents to relax. But the spectacular view became a hot topic on social media, resulting in a flood of tourists. In addition to littering and trespassing on private property, the park is plagued by chronic traffic jams, regardless of day or time.

The total number of visitors to the park between April and the end of November this year was a record 1.02 million, with 147,151 in November, an increase of 10,000 from the same month last year and a record high for that month. If the number of visitors continues to increase at the current pace, it is expected to exceed the previous fiscal years total of 1.3 million. In December, the city plans to allocate about 19 million in a supplementary budget plan to add more traffic wardens.

In addition, a total of eight parking lots, including temporary ones, have been opened in the surrounding area, but no improvement has been seen. A city official says that finding a fundamental solution is difficult.

The cost of countermeasures has continued to balloon, with about 80 million spent last fiscal year on traffic guides and restroom cleaning among others. It is possible that the amount will increase further this fiscal year, said one city official.

This situation is not limited to the park.

At the Lawson convenience store in Fuji-Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, which previously became a topic of discussion as a hot spot for photographing Mt. Fuji, people are once again starting to gather and, according to the town, constantly crossing the road unsafely.

In addition, on the Fujikyu Railway line which runs at the foot of Mt. Fuji, people have often been observed entering the tracks from railroad crossings to take pictures of the snow-capped Mt. Fuji.

The company has installed warning signs and a device that automatically plays warning sounds near railroad crossings. A representative of the company said, This is very dangerous, and we want them to stop it. We will continue to warn them about it.

The village of Yamanakako, Yamanashi Prefecture, which opened an observation deck on Nov. 20 that offers a panoramic view of Mt. Fuji, Lake Yamanakako and the mountains at the foot of Mt. Fuji, has posted security guards on weekends and holidays to prevent traffic jams. A shuttle bus service from a remote parking lot has also begun operating on a trial basis.

An official at the villages tourism department said, There have been concerns about overtourism due to the spectacular scenery. So we took steps immediately after the opening of the deck to prevent problems such as traffic accidents. THE JAPAN NEWS/ANN
Dong Thap provinces investment and business environment has consistently been regarded highly by the business community. For 16 years, the provincial competitiveness index (PCI)s ranking has been in the top 5 localities with the best governance quality nationwide, as mentioned in this years PCI report.

MUFG Bank (Japan) works with Dong Thap leaders to seek investment and cooperation opportunities, Photo: Viet Tien

The report is conducted annually by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the United States Agency for International Development.

Pham Thien Nghia, Chairman of Dong Thap Peoples Committee, noted that effectively improving the investment and business environment was one of the key solutions to bringing in more resources for the provinces development.

Local authorities regard this as a critical and ongoing task, and are consistently implementing the policy of supporting enterprises from the provincial level to grassroots units.

The provinces Party Committee has integrated the goal of improving the PCI into its resolutions on business development and startup promotion in the province to unify its direction and vision. Along with this, it has issued numerous directives to enhance local investment and the business landscape.

Key measures include resolving obstacles in the implementation of projects under its jurisdiction, advocating for the removal of barriers to business and investment, advancing IT applications, and ensuring seamless data sharing among government agencies to improve administrative procedures.

The province is also committed to reducing the processing time for administrative procedures, especially in crucial areas for businesses such as land, construction, taxation, and access to capital.

Vision for a thriving province

Dong Thap continues its efforts towards establishing the image of an action-oriented government that serves the people. It strives for flexible and effective governance, aiming to transform the province into a prosperous locality, with an ecological agricultural base, modern rural areas, cultured farmers, and a dynamic and compassionate community.

With a population of over 1.6 million, Dong Thap boasts a young labour force, over 40 per cent of whom are well-trained. Additionally, more than 11,000 workers have gained international experience through overseas employment programmes. This skilled and disciplined workforce, combined with the provinces robust entrepreneurship movement, fosters collaboration and partnerships with investors.

In the past, underdeveloped transportation infrastructure posed a significant bottleneck for the provinces development and investment attraction. This dilemma, however, has been tackled with substantial investments to modernise key transportation systems.

In recent years, Dong Thap has prioritised resources for building and upgrading essential infrastructure, creating a foundation that integrates agriculture, industry, and tourism development while harmonising urban growth. These projects have also bolstered inter-regional connectivity, bringing the province closer to major economic hubs. Notable infrastructure milestones include the operational Vam Cong bridge and the Cao Lanh cable-stayed bridge.

Moving forward, the government has invested intensively in improving transport networks in the Mekong Delta region. The first phase of the Cao Lanh-An Huu Expressway is accelerating construction, with the bridge component targeted for completion in 2024 and the second phase expected to finish by October 2025. Once operational, the project will reduce travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap to just two hours.

Other key projects underway include upgrading the Cao Lanh-Lo Te route, raising bridge clearances along national inland waterways in the first phase, and improving the National Highway 30 in Cao Lanh City. The first phase of the My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway is undergoing investment adjustments and is slated for completion in 2025. The My An-Cao Lanh Expressway, also in its first phase, is scheduled to begin construction by the end of next year.

To ensure new advantages for business development, the province is accelerating the development of industrial parks and clusters, including Tan Kieu, Tan Lap, Truong Xuan, Quang Khanh, and the Dong Thap Border Gate Economic Zone, which features two international border gates.

The province leads the way in deploying digital platforms for agriculture, including systems for traceability and data-driven management. It is committed to advancing ecological, organic, and circular agriculture while minimising carbon emissions.

In the agricultural sector, the province seeks partnerships and investments to develop high-quality, diverse crop varieties and expand the agro-processing industry. The focus is on enhancing value chains for agricultural products, especially high-tech value chains in key sectors like rice, mango, basa fish, lotus, and ornamental flowers.

It is also forming organic farming zones and high-quality aquaculture areas integrated with processing industries and market-oriented value chains, while building strong product brands to bolster competitiveness.

Dong Thap boasts great potential for expanding cooperation and attracting investment in many sectors, Photo: dongthap.gov.vn

An exemplary model

Dong Thap is endowed with much tourism potential, particularly in ecological and cultural areas. The province boasts numerous attractions and cultural spaces that captivate visitors, including the Tram Chim National Park, home to the rare sarus crane, a species listed in the global Red Book; and the Xeo Quyt historical site, featuring a 20-hectare primeval melaleuca forest ecosystem.

It also boats Gao Giong ecotourism site, which features a 36-ha bird sanctuary, and the Go Thap historical site, which preserves the remnants of fortifications from the ancient Funan Kingdom and artefacts from the Oc Eo civilisation.

Additionally, Dong Thap is home to numerous temples, pagodas, and traditional craft villages, such as the Kien An Cung pagoda, Huong pagoda, Buu Lam Tu pagoda, Tan Phu Trung communal house, and Van Thanh temple; and traditional craft villages such as the Dinh Yen mat weaving village and the Lai Vung fermented pork roll village.

Located in the low-lying areas of the Mekong River Basin, Dong Thap benefits from fertile land and a year-round supply of fresh water. It is a key agricultural province, ranking among the top in Vietnam for rice and aquaculture production. The province accommodates more than 195,000ha of rice fields, yielding 3.32 million tonnes annually, making it the third-largest rice producer nationwide.

For aquaculture, Dong Thap leads the delta region, with 2,450ha of basa fish farms producing 525,000 tonnes per year. The province is also renowned for its fruit cultivation, with distinct products such as Cao Lanh mango, Chau Thanh longan, Lai Vung mandarin, and Thap Muoi lotus.

Of particular note is the Sa Dec flower village, one of Vietnams oldest and largest flower-growing regions. With over 3,000 flower varieties and an annual output of 12 million products, the village is not only a major supplier of flowers but also a popular destination for tourists.

Earlier this year, Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of the Dong Thap Party Committee, noted that Dong Thap is prioritising investment attraction in industries such as urban development, trade and services, tourism, environmental protection, the green economy, the digital economy, and the circular economy. The province focuses on developing modern and integrated information infrastructure and sci-tech databases, while supporting programmes, projects, and innovative startups to operate effectively.

It is also important to efficiently expedite the agricultural restructuring plan through innovative and breakthrough approaches, positioning agricultural economics as a foundational sector, with processing industries and services as key drivers. The goal is to establish Dong Thap as a leading and exemplary locality in building an ecological agriculture, cultured farmers, and modern rural areas model, said Phong.

Dong Thap inspires with its green tourism development Dong Thap province in the Mekong Delta is adopting innovative approaches to green tourism, aligning with global trends and unlocking significant opportunities for its tourism industry.
According to the results, 81 per cent of surveyed businesses are positive about and satisfied with their current operations. Half expect to see growth, while 35 per cent plan to increase local investments, showing an increase over the 24 per cent seen in spring. 35 per cent anticipate economic growth in Vietnam over the next 12 months, while 54 per cent are confident about Vietnams steady pace. Furthermore, 54 per cent of respondents intend to maintain their workforce over the next 12 months, while 35 per cent plan to hire new employees.

German investment in Vietnam reached new heights this year, reflecting a strong and growing partnership between the two nations. With over 530 German companies actively operating in Vietnam, the country remains a key market for Germany's global expansion strategies.

German enterprises have invested an impressive $3.6 billion, showcasing their confidence in Vietnam's economic potential. These investments span diverse sectors, including manufacturing, advanced technology, logistics, and the rapidly growing renewable energy industry, underscoring Vietnam's pivotal role in supporting sustainable and innovative growth.

In Europe, the economic outlook is underwhelming. Although German companies operating internationally remain optimistic about the future, they still remain cautious due to these global economic fluctuations.

These businesses have identified several key challenges stemming from this volatile environment. Chief among these are subdued global demand (60 per cent), economic policy uncertainties (30 per cent), and infrastructure constraints (27 per cent). Other pressing issues include trade barriers (24 per cent), increasing labour costs (22 per cent), legal uncertainties (22 per cent), and ongoing supply chain disruptions (22 per cent), all of which influence the strategic priorities of German businesses, including those in Vietnam.

Additionally, German companies are defining factors influencing their competitiveness in the Vietnamese market. The biggest influences include the rising cost of preliminary products (47 per cent), intense local competition (33 per cent), and competition from third-market players (26 per cent). These factors further underscore the complex landscape that firms must navigate to sustain growth and remain competitive globally.

Despite the challenges, German businesses see significant growth potential in Vietnam's promising market. Over half (53 per cent) of surveyed firms have noted a positive competitive position over the past five years. Vietnams steady economic growth and strategic role as a manufacturing and export hub offer German companies a stable alternative amid global uncertainties, enabling supply chain diversification and risk mitigation.

The countrys focus on renewable energy and sustainability aligns with Germanys strengths in green technologies, presenting vast opportunities for innovation and collaboration. A strong and growing German business community in Vietnam further underscores the potential for partnerships and joint ventures. By addressing challenges like infrastructure gaps and local competition, German firms can strengthen their presence in Vietnam and leverage their dynamic economic landscape to achieve sustainable growth.

The AHK World Business Outlook is based on an annual survey by the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, involving members of the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad, delegations, and representative offices. This most recent survey was taken between September 23 to October 16, gathering responses from almost 3,500 companies worldwide.

AHK Vietnam at 30: a remarkable journey of partnerships In 2024, the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam) celebrates a significant milestone  30 years of dedicated presence in Vietnam. This journey stands as a testament to our commitment to fostering robust trade cooperation between Vietnamese and German businesses. Throughout this three-decade expedition, AHK Vietnam has been a stalwart companion, witnessing and contributing to numerous milestones in Vietnams socioeconomic development.

German groups keen on Vietnams innovation push German companies continue their pivot towards investing in Vietnam and doing business with domestic partners, underscoring their long-term commitment to one of the most lucrative markets in the region.
Held on December 6 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, this landmark event underscored the unity and influence of Malaysian business communities across Southeast Asia, further strengthening regional economic cooperation. The summit provided a valuable platform for networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing with fellow Malaysian business leaders and government officials from across ASEAN.

MBCV participated in the discussion panel at the ASEAN Business Summit 2024

The summit, organised by the Malaysian Business Chamber Cambodia, highlighted the collective influence of Malaysian business chambers across ASEAN. For the first time, chambers from Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia came together under the unified platform of MBCs ASEAN, emphasising the importance of collaboration in promoting cross-border trade and investment.

In his keynote address, MBC Cambodia president Oknha Tan Khee Meng celebrated the transformation of the organisation into MBCs ASEAN network, emphasising its role in fostering regional collaboration and economic growth. He further noted the responsibility of Malaysian entrepreneurs across ASEAN to represent their nation with pride while building bridges of cooperation and innovation.

Prominent figures such as Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia Shaharuddin Onn and Chea Vuthy, secretary general of the Cambodian Investment Board, addressed the summit. Their remarks underscored the vital role of regional business networks in driving innovation and sustainable economic growth. The transformation of this platform into MBCs ASEAN reflects a shared commitment to deepening ties and fostering mutual prosperity across all 10 ASEAN member states.

Attended by around 300 participants, the summit was presided over by Chea Vuthy, secretary general of the Cambodian Investment Board of the Council for Development of Cambodia (CDC), and Shaharuddin Onn, the Malaysian ambassador to Cambodia, signifying the strong support for the event from both the Cambodian and Malaysian governments.

Vietnam continues to be a key economic force within ASEAN, showcasing remarkable resilience and opportunity. With GDP growth projected at 6.1 per cent in 2024 and foreign direct investment exceeding $20 billion, the nation is strengthening its position as a hub for regional and global trade. Vietnams strategic policies, young workforce, and increasing focus on sustainability make it a prime destination for Malaysian investors, aligning closely with the vision of Malaysian business leaders.

The MBC Vietnams representative emphasised the importance of leveraging collective expertise to unlock new opportunities. Their efforts have been instrumental in strengthening partnerships between Malaysian businesses in Vietnam and their ASEAN counterparts, fostering innovation and supporting Vietnams growing focus on green and sustainable development.

MBCVs chairman was honoured to receive a certificate of appreciation

Under his guidance, MBC Vietnam has facilitated key foreign projects, promoted bilateral trade, and supported Vietnam's ambitious economic transformation. The chambers initiatives align with Vietnams evolving economic landscape, which prioritises sustainability, digital transformation, and diversified trade partnerships.

Malaysia is currently Vietnam's second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and the 11th largest trading partner globally, with two-way trade increasing from over $8 billion to over $14 billion between 2014 and 2022. In the foreseeable future, the two nations hope to raise the amount to $18 billion. Malaysia is also the second-largest ASEAN investor in Vietnam and ranks 11th among 143 nations and territories investing in the country, with a total registered capital of over $13 billion.

Angus Liew delivered a speech at the ASEAN Business Summit 2024

The ASEAN-Malaysian Business Chambers Summit 2024 serves as a testament to the power of regional collaboration and the vision of leaders. MBC Vietnams role in driving economic development and fostering partnerships underscores its commitment to building bridges between Malaysia and Vietnam. As ASEAN continues its journey towards a future of shared prosperity, the contributions of institutions like MBC Vietnam will remain integral to shaping the regions success.

"MBCV is committed to fostering stronger ties between Malaysian businesses in Vietnam and our ASEAN neighbours. We look forward to continuing to contribute to the growth and development of the Malaysian business community in Vietnam and the broader ASEAN region," Angus Liew said.

Gamuda Land acquires $315 million project in Ho Chi Minh City Gamuda Land, a property arm of Malaysian Gamuda Bhd, is continuing to expand its portfolio in Vietnam by acquiring a third project in Ho Chi Minh City after two acquisitions done last year.

Gamuda Land starts construction of Eaton Park Gamuda Land, the investor from Malaysia, and its constructor partner Unicons started construction of the towers A5, A6, phase 1 of Eaton Park on March 26, marking the next important milestone in the construction process.
Social lending programmes have truly become an effective tool for the locality to successfully implement the National Target Programme for Sustainable Poverty Reduction. In 2023, the poverty rate in Moc Chau dropped to an impressive 3.5 per cent, with preliminary evaluations in November showing a continued decrease.

Moreover, social lending has also played a key role in implementing policies to create new jobs, reduce unemployment, and ensure stable incomes and improved living standards for rural workers.

Vietnam Bank for Social Policy's credit officers in Moc Chau visit ethnic households using policy loans to reduce poverty and stabilise their lives

Nguyen Manh Cang, vice chairman of Tan Lap Commune Peoples Committee, reported that 164 poor and near-poor households in the commune had accessed preferential loans, with a total outstanding debt of over $1.2 million. These households have used the loans for purposes such as investing in intensive rice cultivation, hybrid corn, VietGap-certified clean tea, and breeding cattle for reproduction and fattening.

"Many Mong and Dao ethnic households in Tan Lap commune have effectively used loans from the Moc Chau branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policy (VBSP) to develop their family businesses, apply scientific techniques to production, and help transform agricultural production into a more focused and sustainable model. As a result, with the average income per person in the community is now $2,718 per year and the poverty rate in the commune decreasing to 5 per cent," said Cang.

According to Pham Viet Hai, director of the Moc Chau branch of VBSP, for the past two decades, particularly in the last 10 years, the widespread implementation of Directive 40 by the Party Central Committee on strengthening leadership in social lending programmes has ensured a continuous flow of social lending programmes to Moc Chaus highlands, contributing significantly to improving the lives of local people and supporting production and business activities.

By the end of November, VBSPs lending in Moc Chau stood at over $5.25 million with 2,436 borrowers for the year so far. The outstanding loan balance at the end of November reached $15.8 million, an increase of more than $2 million compared to the end of 2023.

Social lending programmes in the highlands of Moc Chau help people develop production and business activities

In addition to expanding credit access, VBSP and local associations have paid particular attention to improving the quality of loans. As a result, the quality of social lending programmes has been steadily maintained and improved, with overdue debt now only accounting for 0.2 per cent of total outstanding loans, and overdue loans at 0 per cent. Furthermore, 11 of the 15 communes and towns in the district now have no overdue loans.

According to Tran Dan Khoi, Secretary of the Moc Chau District Party Committee, the efforts of VBSP and the political system have contributed significantly to reducing poverty, ensuring social welfare, maintaining public order, and protecting national borders.

"Social lending programmes have reached every corner of the vast Moc Chau Plateau, helping 677 households escape poverty, created jobs for over almost 8,500 workers, built and renovated 8,218 clean water and sanitation facilities, supported the breeding of more than 9,730 cattle, planted 1,418 hectares of fruit trees, and built homes for 137 poor households," said Khoi.

Pham Viet Hai, Director of VBSP in Moc Chau, said, "We expect that social lending programmes will continue to help to reduce poverty and contribute to the rural development goals of the district for many more years"

Policy credit supporting ex-prisoners in their new lives Policy credit sources from Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) have helped former criminals reintegrate into the community and lead a better life.

Visitors participate in Moc Chau plum harvest festival As part of the series of events celebrating the announcement of Moc Chau as a national tourism area, the eighth Moc Chau Plum harvest festival was held, a vibrant affair attracting locals and tourists.

Moc Chau announced as national tourism area On the evening of May 18, Son La province held a ceremony to recognise Moc Chau as the eighth national tourism area in Vietnam. The event featured an artistic programme themed Moc Chau, Van Ho - Beautiful Highlands with nearly 450 artists and performers, attracting many locals and tourists.
To create an unforgettable festive atmosphere, Muong Thanh hotels have been decorated to ensure visitors feel the Christmas spirit from their very first steps. Across 61 hotels within the group, festive decorations  including glittering Christmas trees, stars, and snowflakes  adorn hotel lobbies and other areas under the theme of a peaceful Christmas.

Muong Thanh hotels are filled with Christmas spirit. Photo: Muong Thanh Hospitality

Notable highlights include the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which will take place at key locations such as Muong Thanh Luxury Halong Centre and Muong Thanh Luxury Danang. These events aim to bring the festive spirit alive and connect guests through joyful celebrations.

Adding to the festive cheer, Muong Thanh is offering special promotional packages. The Night Deal package provides savings of up to 75 per cent on accommodation, ensuring affordable yet luxurious getaways. Meanwhile, the Winter Promotion package allows visitors to experience 5-star services at a remarkable price, starting from just VND650,000 ($27). These unprecedented offers aim to stimulate domestic tourism and attract international visitors during the holiday and New Year season, contributing to Vietnam's tourism industry.

Beyond physical offerings, Muong Thanh Group hopes this Christmas will inspire meaningful journeys through its message, Send a wish, receive a miracle. The group envisions each wish as a seed of hope that blossoms into miracles in everyday life.

Complementing this spirit, the group has organised exciting activities, including the Wow Services  Creative Christmas competition for its staff, fostering innovation in guest services and adding delightful surprises to visitors stays. Another highlight is the mini-game Send a wish, receive a miracle, offering attractive prizes for participants. These initiatives promise to make this festive season uniquely memorable and full of vibrant moments at Muong Thanh properties.

Muong Thanh Group invites everyone to embrace the festive season, enjoy heart-warming moments with family and friends, and welcome 2025 with the spirit of love and sharing. With this years message, the group strives to provide not only a radiant Christmas, but also an emotional journey where every wish carries the potential to transform into a simple yet extraordinary miracle.

Muong Thanh New Year welcomes spring to the northwest At a time when ban flowers, the distinctive blossoms of the northwestern mountains, are in full bloom, thousands of Muong Thanh Group employees across the country earnestly prepare for their own traditional new year celebration.

Muong Thanh strives to promote Vietnamese hospitality in global market Muong Thanh Hospitality why does the rest of the sto has once again been nominated for Asia's Leading Hotel Brand at the 2024 World Travel Awards.
Quang Ngai province boasts 30 seaports in operation, with an output of about 45 million tonnes per year. Among them, the Dung Quat port possesses a strategic location in the middle of Vietnam. It is also directly connected with important traffic routes such as the National Highway 1A, the North-South railway, the Danang-Quang Ngai expressway, and routes connected with Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.

The location of the province means it has a key role as a logistical hub for neighbouring areas and beyond

The port plays an important role as a major logistical hub in the Dung Quat Economic Zone (EZ) and for nearby provinces, promoting cargo transportation nationwide and global transport network. Therefore, the province is now proposing to adjust its master planning to increase the exploitation capacity of the strategic port up to 90 million tonnes per year.

The Dung Quat EZ, covering an area of over 45,000 hectares, is one of the five national coastal EZs with priority to invest in infrastructure and offer the highest incentives to pull in high-quality investors and manufacturers in refining, petrochemicals, and energy, creating opportunities to engage strategic financiers.

Economist Tran Dinh Thien stated that the development of Quang Ngai province cannot be separated from the Dung Quat EZ, one of the first marine EZs in Vietnam to be planned for the petrochemical and heavy industry.

The presence of Vietnams first oil refinery in the EZ has created a huge attraction for capital flows, including from Doosan Heavy Industries in South Korea and the Hoa Phat Steel factory. Their success has created momentum for the province as well as shaped the development direction for the coming years, Thien said.

Nguyen Van Trong, director of the Quang Ngai Department of Planning and Investment, said that the province holds an important position in the eyes of domestic and foreign backers, and takes creating a healthy investment environment as the top criterion.

The consensus of the administrative apparatus along with the strategic decisions of the provincial Party Committee and Peoples Committee have created a trustworthy image for Quang Ngai, Trong said.

Furthermore, the provinces strategic location makes it easy to access Quang Nams Chu Lai airport and Chu Lai Open EZ. The connection between Dung Quat and Chu Lai will be further promoted to form a key industrial centre of the central coastal region, and contribute to create a driving force for the development of the region as well.

The best conditions

According to Trong, Quang Ngai has been creating strong attraction for capital flows. Explaining this, Trong said that, along with the Dung Quat oil refinery, Doosan heavy Industries, and Hoa Phat Steel, the presence of VSIP Quang Ngai is a crucial factor in creating an investment environment for the land.

Additionally, Quang Ngai is also developing a synchronous, modern, and convenient logistics system to become a multimodal transport and transit centre connecting the central region, the Central Highlands, and other Southeast Asian countries, as well as a gateway for transporting goods across the East Sea.

Funding opportunities in the province will open wider and wider when the locality extends infrastructure to create an economic framework as a strategic vision.

Nguyen Phong, director of the Quang Ngai Department of Transport, said that the locality will study and fund the construction of the Quang Ngai-Kon Tum Expressway when it is added to the National Road Network Planning, ensuring the conditions for resource allocation and current regulations, in order to increase connectivity in Central Highlands region in general.

The expressway will open up opportunities for trade connection for both the Central Highlands and the central coast. This expressway is proposed to have four lanes and a speed of up to 100km per hour. With the initial estimate, the venture is to cost $1.85 billion and will be implemented in phases, of which the Quang Ngai-Mang Den section will be built before 2030, at a cost of $954 million.

According to Phong, Quang Ngai will focus on synchronous, modern, and effective socioeconomic infrastructure in a connected direction, capable of spreading great benefits and serving multiple purposes, and is expected to mobilise a total social capital of about $17 billion.

In the coming period, the province will put money into a series of large transport infrastructure projects to create momentum. For example, it will start the Hoang Sa-Doc Soi road with a total investment of $145.8 million, nearly 27km long, directly connecting the centre of Quang Ngai city with the Dung Quat EZ, Phong said.

In addition, the province is currently investing in thte Tra Khuc 1 bridge at a cost of $87.5 million, spanning the Tra Khuc River connecting the north and south banks of Quang Ngai city.

Impressive industries

Dam Minh Le, deputy director of the Management Board of Dung Quat EZ and Quang Ngai Industrial Parks (IPs), said that by 2030, the province plans to develop 10 eco-IPs, supporting IPs, and high-tech parks with a total land area of about 6,650ha. At the same time, it wants to shape the Dung Quat EZ into a specialised, green, smart and sustainable area.

Up to now, Quang Ngai has four IPs in operation, pulling in 178 projects that cost about $1.57 billion; of which, 159 projects have come into operation, creating jobs for about 45,000 workers.

Currently, the demand for funding in IPs in Quang Ngai province is massive, while available land in the area to attract secondary projects is still limited. Therefore, more IP infrastructure is necessary, Le said.

Le added that business in IP infrastructure will enjoy the highest incentives according to the provisions of current law on corporate income tax policy, exemption from land rent, and more.

We are focusing on synchronous investment in infrastructure, accompanying and supporting financiers throughout the research and implementation of projects; focusing on attracting those with experience and capacity to put money into IPs. Identifying the infrastructure implemented in IPs is a prerequisite to lure in secondary ventures, especially foreign-led ones, Le said.

Quang Ngai calls for infrastructure backing for ventures at industrial parks and clusters

- Operating infrastructure in Binh Thanh industrial, urban, and service parks (1,287.8 hectares)

- Investment in Binh Hoa-Binh Phuoc I IP (342 ha)

- Investment in Dung Quat II industrial, urban, and service parks (765 ha)

- Construction of technical infrastructure of An Phu IP (276 ha)

- Construction of technical infrastructure of Binh Long multi-industry IP (341.89 ha)

- Operation of infrastructure of 23 clusters (925.6 ha).

Quang Ngai harvests upbeat results via policy credit sources The central province of Quang Ngai has yielded inspiring results after a decade-long deployment of a directive on strengthening the Party's role in policy credit implementation.

Convenience and modernity head ambitions for Quang Ngai province The central province of Quang Ngai is expected to make several large calls for infrastructure investment in the coming years.
Kitchen cabinets have been an important export for the Vietnamese wood industry. What's your view on the continued growth potential of this segment?

The export of kitchen cabinets has seen significant shifts due to changes in international manufacturing strategies. Many end buyers in the US have moved their manufacturing facilities from China to Vietnam, resulting in substantial investments. Although the market experienced a downturn in 2023, it is expected to grow in the mid to long term as economic conditions stabilise and the Federal Reserve's measures support the US economy, housing, and associated markets.

Gregoire Mercie, regional commercial director at Wood Finishes & Adhesives at AkzoNobel Asia

With orders returning after a temporary market freeze, are there new requirements for manufacturers?

The major change now involves increasing sustainability requirements. Nearly every market demands products that comply with the latest environmental regulations. Manufacturers of both interior and exterior furniture must meet these standards.

Additionally, manufacturers look for products that boost productivity and cost efficiency, thereby enhancing their competitive advantage. These demands drive AkzoNobel to continually improve both efficiency and quality. Choosing suppliers who offer higher quality helps businesses reduce overall production costs.

Given the rapid changes in consumer behaviour, where cabinets choices often vary with seasons or styles, is maintaining quality still crucial?

AkzoNobel collaborates with both foreign and domestic high-end furniture and cabinet manufacturers. In the kitchen cabinet segment, for example, clients expect consistent operational excellence from their suppliers. At AkzoNobel, quality remains our top priority. We strive to innovate continuously across all aspects: sustainability, quality, productivity, and especially design.

As mentioned earlier, reducing costs remains a priority for manufacturers. We believe innovation will address both quality and cost.

How does AkzoNobel support kitchen cabinet manufacturers in Vietnam?

AkzoNobel's focus extends beyond furniture to include the cabinet industry. We believe in creating strategic partnerships rather than merely supplying products. As one of the few global paint suppliers operating in Vietnam, we support businesses throughout their journey from design to production and market entry, whether activities occur in Vietnam or design studios in the US or Europe. Our global experts are ready to work directly in furniture workshops, assist with surface design, and provide after-sales support for specialised issues.

AkzoNobel has established global colour research studios, particularly in major furniture hubs like the US, helping manufacturers stay ahead in colour trends and surface design. Could you highlight the unique aspects AkzoNobel offers to furniture and cabinet manufacturers?

One key distinction is AkzoNobels technical teams working directly onsite with furniture and cabinets producers, ensuring precise execution of surface techniques and application processes. Historically, cabinets primarily featured traditional clear finishes, but there is a rising demand for pigmented colours, catering to modern styles favoured by the younger generation.

As a corporation committed to sustainable development, AkzoNobel reduced construction times to save both energy and manpower for businesses.

What are your projections for the kitchen cabinet market by year's end?

Vietnam's kitchen cabinet export market is expected to grow by about 8 per cent in 2024 compared to last year. However, AkzoNobel experienced over 50 per cent growth in this segment during the first half of 2024, indicating that we are outpacing the market and that our solutions are highly effective.

As the US market stabilises, Vietnamese cabinet manufacturers will continue to benefit from favourable conditions. AkzoNobel identifies Vietnam as a crucial supply hub for the international kitchen cabinet market. Consequently, we are increasing investments in production and research and development to provide maximum support for manufacturers. This strategy supports mutual growth for us and our customers.

According to Mordor Intelligence, the global kitchen cabinet market is estimated to be worth over $75.5 billion by the end of this year and is expected to exceed $96 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of almost 4.9 per cent from 2024-2029.

AkzoNobel sets standard in consumer electronics with sustainable and innovative coating solutions Maximilien Schreder, commercial director of the Global Consumer Electronics Coatings and Automotive and Refinish Coatings North Asia, AkzoNobel, highlights the company's strategic emphasis on sustainability through the adoption of sustainable solutions such as waterborne technology, catering to the global and Vietnamese demand for durable, high-quality consumer electronics coatings.

AkzoNobels investment for sustainable growth in South Asia-Pacific Earlier this month, AkzoNobel inaugurated new production facilities at its Bac Ninh site to bolster its leading position and enhance sustainable manufacturing in the region. Jeff Jirak, managing director of AkzoNobel's Powder Coatings business, and Sirvan Cantez, regional commercial director of Powder Coatings in South Asia-Pacific, talked to VIR's Linh Le about the company's strategic plans and sustainable works.
Upon completion of the deal, SBI Holdings will contribute to FPTs initiatives to foster AI innovation in Japan, especially Generative AI with FPT AI Factory. The contract is expected to be fulfilled by the end of January next year.

Research indicates that the global GenAI market will be worth $130 billion for this year and reach $1.3 trillion annually by 2032. In Japan, the AI market value is rising to $5.9 billion this year with a growth rate of more than 31 per cent, according to IDC. This enormous market potential offers an opportunity for FPT Smart Cloud Japan to cultivate its AI research and development capabilities, enabling Japanese businesses and organisations to create a quantum leap in operation efficiency.

FPT Corporation launched AI Factory in November when it established FPT Smart Cloud Japan to develop a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services fuelled by AI and cloud technologies.

By leveraging thousands of Nvidia Hopper GPUs and the latest Nvidia AI Enterprises software and frameworks, FPT's AI Factory provides cloud services, consisting of three main components. FPT AI Infrastructure offers accelerated computing GPU cloud services to accelerate large AI model development. FPT AI Studio provides a set of smart tools to effortlessly develop, train, and fine-tune AI models. Deployment and scalability is enabled by FPT AI Inference with great efficiency.

Founded in 1999, the SBI Group operates a financial services business, centring on securities, banking, and insurance. As the pioneer of internet-based financial services in Japan, the group is committed to providing lower-cost and highly convenient products and services through the internet. In addition to its core financial services operations, the SBI Group also engages in asset management business, investment business, crypto-asset business, and next-gen business on a global scale.

AI transforming Vietnams businesses for the better While AI is a key in the process of innovation and accelerating economic development, it needs support from many sides to strengthen the workforce and related startups.

FPT partners with China's Yonyou to provide enterprise management solutions FPT Corporation signed an agreement with Yonyou Network Technology Co., Ltd.  a top 10 global enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution provider  on November 26.
At a panel discussion last week between the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Forvis Mazars Vietnam in Hanoi, experts explored the green transitions impact on Vietnams financial sector.

ACCA and Forvis Mazars Vietnam are to work together on green transition efforts

The event brought together representatives from regulatory agencies, international organisations, and industry associations, highlighting the opportunities and challenges posed by sustainability.

There are two main drivers of the green transition: business performance and mandatory regulations requiring compliance with green standards, said To Quoc Hung, country manager at the ACCA Vietnam.

Hung pointed out that the ACCA, in collaboration with the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh stock exchanges, has evaluated sustainability initiatives among listed companies. Recent years have seen a marked increase in sustainability reporting. In 2024, the number of companies publishing sustainability reports surged by 33 per cent, with the banking sector witnessing a significant rise from one to five institutions reporting annually.

Vietnams regulations are increasingly aligning with global trends, particularly those in Europe, Hung added. The ACCA has collaborated with the State Audit Office of Vietnam on environmental auditing and is optimistic that upcoming regulations will encourage local businesses to adopt sustainability practices.

According to Hung, sustainability initiatives not only enhance business performance but also drive financial gains.

Research indicates that 78 per cent of studies link sustainability practices with better financial outcomes. As part of the ACCAs efforts, we are launching a professional-level sustainability certification equivalent to the UKs IQF Level 6 framework. This globally recognised certification, to be rolled out in 2024, will help professionals contribute meaningfully to green transformation, he said.

Greater sustainability

Nguyen Hai Minh, chairman of Forvis Mazars Vietnam, emphasised that adopting sustainability goes beyond superficial commitments.

Simply attaching the term green to activities does not suffice. International frameworks such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the UN, and others provide critical guidelines for implementing sustainable practices effectively, which in turn enhance competitiveness and reputation, Minh said.

He highlighted that free trade agreements between Vietnam and the EU incorporate sustainability commitments. These include supply chain transparency requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and stringent measures like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

While these regulations pose challenges, they also create opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to leverage green energy, enhance competitiveness, and position themselves favourably in global markets, Minh said. The EUs ultimate goal is to encourage responsible business practices, fostering a fair and sustainable global economy.

Lang Trinh Mai Huong, deputy director general of the Department of International Cooperation at the State Audit Office, highlighted the essential role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in international business.

In Europe, financial institutions only fund businesses meeting ESG standards. Banks are introducing green bonds and sustainability-linked loans to incentivise emissions reductions and improve environmental performance, Huong said.

However, she stressed that ESG adoption is not just a compliance requirement but a strategic shift. Businesses must recognise both the costs and long-term benefits of implementing ESG practices. Failing to demonstrate value could lead to missed opportunities, especially during financial crises.

Building internal capabilities and proactively aligning with ESG principles are critical steps for Vietnamese businesses seeking to expand internationally. Examples of companies successfully leveraging green financing include seafood firms, which have secured concessional credit to enhance their supply chains sustainably.

Even traditionally brown industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals can benefit from the transition. By reducing emissions and adopting sustainable practices, these sectors can access green financial products such as bonds and loans designed to support environmental improvement.

Nguyen Tung Anh, vice chairman of the Sustainable Finance Committee at the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, highlighted the importance of collaboration between businesses, governments, and financial institutions to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

Despite the complexities of the green transition, it offers significant opportunities for Vietnam to strengthen its global position while advancing sustainability, he said. For instance, textile companies receiving green credit packages are upgrading technology to meet stringent environmental criteria in international markets.

Anh also noted BIDVs role in supporting Vietnams green transformation. The banks ESG loans and collaborations with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) exemplify how financial institutions are helping businesses align with global green standards.

BIDVs trade financing frameworks ensure that Vietnamese businesses using ADB funding meet green standards, supporting both the transition and global market demands, Anh added.

Pros and cons

While many Vietnamese businesses are already embracing sustainability, challenges remain. Strict international standards require companies to invest in new technologies and overhaul traditional practices.

Complying with regulations like the CBAM or CSRD can be costly, but they are essential for long-term competitiveness, Minh said. Businesses that successfully adapt will find themselves at the forefront of the global green economy.

The panel discussion last week underscored the need for four key elements to achieve sustainable development: technical expertise, clear strategies, motivation, and access to investment capital.

With global green standards tightening, particularly in Europe, Vietnam is suggested to also focus on fostering innovation and collaboration. Businesses adopting sustainable practices will not only benefit from enhanced financial outcomes but also play a pivotal role in shaping a fair and resilient global economy.

Vietnams commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 reflects its determination to balance growth with sustainability. However, the journey requires collaboration across sectors.

With stricter green standards in international markets, including Europe, BIDV is offering green credit packages to help textile companies upgrade technology and meet these environmental criteria, said a BIDV representative.

Additionally, BIDV is collaborating with the ADB to refine trade financing frameworks, ensuring Vietnamese businesses importing goods through ADB funding comply with the banks green standards. This initiative aims to support the green transition while helping businesses meet global market demands, he added.

ACCA and Forvis Mazars Vietnam sign MoU The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Forvis Mazars Vietnam signed an MoU in Hanoi on December 3 on fostering a green workforce and advancing sustainable development in Vietnam's accounting, auditing, and finance sectors to support national environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.
Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones speaks to the press before his bankruptcy hearing Friday, June 14, 2024 at Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones speaks to the press before his bankruptcy hearing Friday, June 14, 2024 at Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

A federal bankruptcy judge lateTuesday stopped the Onion, the satirical news outlet, from completing its purchase of Alex Jones right-wing conspiracy website Infowars.

The auction through which the Onion bought Infowars was confusing and potentially left money on the table, judge Christopher Lopez said.

I need you guys to try to go out and get every dollar, Lopez said.

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Lopez made his decision around 10 p.m. Tuesday night, at the end of two days of hearings that featured more than 10 hours of testimony and dozens of exhibits.

The judge said he believed Christopher Murray, the bankruptcy trustee, had made good faith efforts to sell Jones assets but that a bidding process that featured blind bids, novel noncash components and post-bid negotiations over the exact meaning of the Onions bid had caused unnecessary mental gymnastics.

Lopez didnt award Infowars to the only other bidder, First United American Cos., in the November auction, but didnt immediately order another either.

Lopez told Murray to come back to the court in 30 days with a new plan for the bankruptcy.

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Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones appears for a bankruptcy hearing Friday, June 14, 2024 at Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Still, Lopezs decision sided with objections made by Jones and First United, a company affiliated with him, which said it offered $3.5 million for the Infowars website and affiliated assets.

They argued First United offered the most money and should have won the auction, and also called into question the process the auction was conducted under.

Murray, the court-appointed trustee in charge of the sale, decided that the Onions offer was better for Jones creditors, to whom he owes hundreds of millions of dollars.

Jones put Infowars, its studio and intellectual property rights up for auction earlier this year as part of bankruptcy proceedings caused by civil lawsuits he lost in Texas and Connecticut in 2022.

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Jones was found liable for defamation against the families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, after he used his show to spread lies that the massacre in which 26 people were killed, 20 of whom were children between 6 and 7 years old, was a hoax.

Juries ordered Jones to pay $1.4 billion in damages, though its unlikely hell ever pay back the whole amount.

Infowars was put up for auction in October. In November, the Onion announced its parent company, Global Tetrahedron had won the auction by submitting a bid in partnership with some of the Connecticut families.

In the Onions proposal, Global Tetrahedron would pay $1.75 million in cash and the families would give up their portion of the judgment against Jones. By doing so, the families said more money would go to families not participating in the purchase.

Onion CEO Ben Collins said his company intended to turn Infowars into a parody of itself.

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Neither Jones nor Collins appeared at the hearing. At the start of proceedings on Monday, Jones was broadcasting from his Austin studio, talking about the overthrow of the Syrian government and not his own legal issues.

Conservative conspiracy theorist Alex Jones walks out of Bob Casey Federal Courthouse for a lunch break of his bankruptcy hearing Friday, June 14, 2024 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

By Tuesday night, his attention had turned to the hearing. The Infowars website promised to broadcast the fate of the website, and soon after the decision posted a picture of a smiling Jones hugging one of his employees.

In a statement, the Connecticut families said they were disappointed by Lopezs ruling.

These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses account for the harm he has caused, the statement said. This decision doesnt change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes.

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In a statement, Collins said he was deeply disappointed with the decision but vowed to continue his attempt to buy Infowars.

We appreciate that the court repeatedly recognized The Onion acted in good faith, but are disappointed that everyone was sent back to the drawing board with no winner, and no clear path forward for any bidder, Collins said.

The only witnesses to testify were Jeff Tannenbaum, whose company ran the bankruptcy auction, and Murray, the trustee.

Tannenbaum testified that he believed the auction was run fairly, and that the way the auction was run created value by causing the two bidders to increase their offerings throughout the process.

Tannenbaum said he considered the Onions bid to be worth $7 million, and said he shot down a proposal by the company to potentially lessen the amount if First United had proposed paying far less.

First Uniteds attorney, Walter Cisack, accused Tannenbaum and Murray of violating the rules they set out, while Jones attorney, Ben Broocks, called the auction a result of a plan to not just destroy Alex Jones but put him in his grave

During a cross-examination late Tuesday, Cisack got Murray to admit that after he accepted the Onions bid for assets, the trustee learned that his interpretation of the bid was different from what Global Tetrahedron intended.

In conversations that happened after naming Onions offer the best, Murray said he got the company to agree with his $7 million interpretation, a change that Cisack called unfair.

Murray testified that his analysis found that while the Onion purchase would result in a smaller cash flow, it was better because of the money that would get into the hands of the remaining creditors.

Ive got to look at whats better for the estate and its creditors, Murray said. If the unsecured creditors get less, thats a worse outcome in my view.

Lopez, however, disagreed, saying he believed that a more open process could have led to a higher return for the Jones estate and the creditors.

While the auction for Infowars assets was initially advertised as a live auction, Murray decided to switch it to a sealed bid procedure, where the participants dont know who else is bidding or how much they might have propose. Lopez expressed skepticism about that decision and noted other cases he had presided over  which also involved Murray  where bidding was live and transparent had resulted in a higher end result.
As the organiser of the event, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) connected Vietnamese consumers with 250 products from Malaysia.

MATRADE has been operating in Vietnam and many other countries with a mission to develop and promote Malaysian exports to the world, and to assist foreign organisations who are looking for any products and services from Malaysia.

Firdauz Othman, consul general of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City (right), and Mohd Firdaus Mohammad, assistant trade commissioner (middle), joined the Taste of Malaysia at MM Mega Market, An Phu, Ho Chi Minh City

During the two-week event, the "Taste of Malaysia took place at 11 MM Mega Market stores in Vietnam, including MM An Phu, MM Binh Phu, MM Hiep Phu (Ho Chi Minh City), MM Thang Long and MM Ha Dong (Hanoi), MM Hung Loi (Can Tho), MM Danang, MM Hong Bang (Haiphong), MM Bien Hoa (Dong Nai province), MM Long Xuyen (An Giang province), and MM Rach Gia (Kien Giang province).

The promotion gave locals an exciting opportunity to update and explore new products and fresh tastes from the historic Asian country.

Sharing at the event, Firdauz Othman, consul general of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City, assessed the event as not just promoting Malaysian products, but also promoting the cultural exchanges, mutual understanding, and the spirit of collaboration for Vietnam and Malaysia.

By showcasing the best of Malaysian products at the event, MATRADE aims to enrich the Vietnamese market and elevate the shopping experience for the local customers, said Othman.

During the event, 250 Malaysian products were showcased, such as lobster balls, fish tofu, herring in tomato sauce, bean curd in tomato sauce, milk tea, chocolate, and soft drinks.

A wide range of food and beverages and consumer brands were also displayed, including A1 Ak Koh, Sundrin, Nysha White Beauty, Sunquick, Pureen, Carrie Junior, Fishermans Friend, Novelle Home, Tehki Food, Glinter, and Teh Tarik.

Locals enjoyed the experience of shopping and exploring Malaysian cuisine and products.

MATRADE acts as a bridge to connect trade between Malaysian and Vietnamese enterprises

According to Mohd Firdaus Mohammad, assistant trade commissioner, Taste of Malaysia is more than just a showcase of food or products, but a vital bridge for cultural appreciation and an economic catalyst that can lead to enhanced trade relationships and business opportunities for both Malaysia and Vietnam.

Although the first Taste of Malaysia has concluded successfully, it also opens grand new chances for Vietnamese buyers to enhance Malaysian products and services. With the support of MATRADE, many more trade events and business networking follow, bringing beneficial bilateral corporation for both countries, Mohammad said.

For more information, and to connect with Malaysian exporters, please contact MATRADE at Room 11.09, Me Linh Point Tower, 2 Ngo Duc Ke street, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Email: hcmc@matrade.gov.my. Phone: 02838221468. Website: www.matrade.gov.my
Kearney, a top global consulting firm, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, released a report on December 10 titled, 'Beyond Cost: Country Readiness for Manufacturing and Supply Chains,' which examines the evolving global manufacturing landscape and the critical factors shaping country competitiveness. The report is based on insights from over 300 global operations executives and 60 in-depth consultations.

Global value chains are undergoing a profound transformation following recent elections, escalating global conflicts, shifting sustainability priorities and the rapid adoption of transformative technologies like AI.

As manufacturers assess their footprints and network strategies, the trend of making location decisions based on cost is evolving into a more complex decision-making process, factoring a countrys readiness to provide an environment that aligns with strategic priorities.

To guide policymakers and industries, the report identifies seven country readiness factors driving private sector investment and shaping countries' attractiveness amidst the ongoing rewiring of global value chains.

Specifically, the report highlighted Vietnams strategic advantage. With trade agreements like the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement eliminating tariffs, Vietnam is leveraging its position to expand its manufacturing exports to the EU. The countrys modern industrial parks and improving logistics make it a compelling destination for companies seeking cost-effective, scalable operations.

Meanwhile, Malaysias National Semiconductor Strategy is designed to solidify Malaysia's role in the global semiconductor value chain through investments in advanced infrastructure, workforce development, and industry partnerships, reinforcing its position in high-tech manufacturing.

Recognised as a model for high-tech and sustainable manufacturing, Singapore combines advanced infrastructure, pro-business policies, and solid trade connectivity. Initiatives such as Siemens partnership with the Economic Development Board to create smart manufacturing facilities powered by renewable energy to meet the nations commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 further demonstrate its leadership.

While Indias economy has traditionally been service-driven, its manufacturing sector is on the rise, with states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra emerging as hubs for automotive, electronics, and textile production. This reflects the government's push to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness.

Keat Yap, partner and Asia-Pacific co-lead of Operations and Performance at Kearney, said, "The Asia-Pacific region is at the forefront of a seismic shift in global manufacturing and supply chains. From Singapores leadership in high-tech, sustainable manufacturing to Vietnam and Malaysias emergence as neutral and innovative manufacturing hubs, Asia-Pacific nations are demonstrating their ability to adapt, innovate, and compete in a rapidly evolving landscape. As businesses prioritise regionalisation and environmental, social, and governance considerations, we believe the region is well positioned as a critical driver of resilient and future-ready supply chains."

Vietnam semiconductor manufacturing industry ready to join global supply chain Vietnam has the opportunity to become a hub for semiconductor equipment manufacturing and strengthen its integration into the worldwide semiconductor value chain.

Vietnam poised to become hub in global semiconductor supply chain Vietnam is showcasing the potential to become a key link in the global semiconductor supply chain, with growing appeal in Southeast Asia, improved infrastructure, and a clear development strategy.
Unidentified employee of Enron take their boxes home after as many as 4000 employees were laid off at Enron Houston headquarters today Monday December 3, 2001. Enron filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. Photo by Carlos Antonio Rios Carlos Antonio Rios/Houston Chronicle

As Enron's new owners stage its return, the Chronicle asked readers to weigh in on how the company's spectacular fall has impacted their families more than two decades later.

From lost savings and despair to silver linings and rebirth, here's what a former employee and several family members of employees had to say:

Trust lost

Enron verdict pages - HOUSTON CHRONICLE ENRON EXTRA EDITION - May 25, 2006 - Ken Lay: Convicted on all 10 counts / Jeff Skilling: Convicted on 19 of 28 counts / Guilty! Guilty! / Verdict will mean prison for ex-Enron chiefs Entron verdict pages/Houston Chronicle

John Schaff, a 62-year-old retired HISD teacher and part-time ethics lecturer at the University of St. Thomas, was around 40 years old when the Enron scandal broke.

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A newspaper vendor holds up a paper with a banner headline outside the federal courthouse after Enron founder Ken Lay and former CEO Jeff Skilling were convicted in Houston on May 25, 2006. Twenty years ago, on Dec. 2, Enron filed for what was then the largest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history. TIM JOHNSON / REUTERS 12/4/2001--The day after....outside the Enron building, Tuesday, as the dust settled following yesterday's big layoffs. Photo by Steve Ueckert / Chronicle. HOUCHRON CAPTION (12/05/2001): A day after Enron Corp. let half of its Houston workforce go, the corporate flag is reflected in the windows of its downtown headquarters. As the investigations heat up, the energy giant said it intends to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Steve Ueckert/Houston Chronicle

But 23 years later, the multi-colored Enron E still sends a flash of anger through his mind.

I think it's a shame that someone would use that name, because I think it has been permanently tainted, Schaff told the Chronicle. I'm shocked that someone would even want to revive Enron and that the name has any value.

Schaffs father married his mother after her previous husband died of polio, and he worked six days a week as a clerk at a now-defunct grocery chain to provide for their family  pinching pennies that were judiciously invested on the advice of a broker.

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But that advice, as time would tell, proved disastrous.

Enron, apparently, was a performing stock, Schaff said. My father put a seventh of his retirement portfolio into the company, under the recommendation of his financial advisors. He lost all that money  every last penny of it.

Schaffs father was a smart man, Schaff said, but he never had the opportunity to attend college. His father trusted his financial advisors  after all, they were the experts, he said. But when Enron collapsed and took a large portion of Schaffs fathers retirement savings with it, that trust was broken.

The collapse of Enron and similar financial scandals that broke in subsequent years  such as the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis and the 2002 Worldcom and 2005 American International Group scandals  shook Schaffs faith in American institutions as a whole.

The slew of revelations surrounding financial mismanagement and corporate deceit that broke in the years following Enrons demise proved to Americans that the system is truly rigged, according to Schaff. Over time, that mistrust has metastasized throughout the public psyche, ultimately contributing to the division in U.S. politics, he said.

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Enron was the first cut that opened a wound that has festered over the past 20 years, Schaff said. Its gotten so bad now that politicians are starting to play off it. They can say look at how messed up our system is, we need someone to fix it,  and that kind of rhetoric just further divides us.

The loss of public trust in American financial institutions is a problem that hasnt improved since Enrons downfall, according to Mark Lee, a retired accountant who helped found a consulting business tasked with implementing regulations passed in the wake of the scandal.

In a lot of ways, theres more shenanigans going on now than there was then, Lee said. At the end of the day, capital always finds a way to work around regulations.

Employees who chose new paths

While Enrons legacy will forever be associated with the fraudulent practices that brought it to its knees, for some residents, the scandal brought them closer to their families.

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Staci Holtzman never returned to work after her stint at Enron. Then a young lawyer and mother working on the 47th floor of the then-Enron Building  now named 1400 Smith Street, an innocuous title derived from its address  Holtzman remembered the general feeling of terror that pervaded American culture in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The Continental Airlines building at 1600 Smith Street, left, is shown Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006, in Houston. Chevron has leased 465,000 square feet at 1600 Smith. The company also purchased former Enron Tower South, far right. The original Enron tower is shown in the center. BRETT COOMER/HOUSTON CHRONICLE

9/11 had just happened and from my office in the Enron building, I could see the flight path to Hobby airport, Holtzman said. Every time a plane passed by, I would have a small anxiety attack.

Holtzman said working at Enron at the time felt similar to working at a modern-day tech giant. The company had the market dominance of Google and the slick, futurist feel of Apple. So when the stock started to tank in mid-2001, Holtzman bought more.

At that time, I really didn't think Enron could go under, Holtzman said. When Enron's stock started to tank in October of 2001, I thought it was just a bump in the road, and I bought more to add to my already-Enron-heavy 401k.

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Holtzman was one of the lucky few to keep her job after the company declared bankruptcy in December 2001 and sent a large portion of their 20,000-strong workforce packing. But with a newly-worthless 401k, general anxiety after 9/11 and the final straw, a nanny who quit on Christmas Eve, Hotlzman resigned from her position and became a stay-at-home mom.

Patti Laynes family found themselves in a similar situation after her husband was one of the nearly 5,000 employees laid off from Enrons Houston headquarters in December 2001. Disillusioned with corporate America, Laynes husband transitioned from his accounting role at Enron to a teaching position, she said.

He felt like he somehow owed it to the world to give back for all that we had and becoming a teacher was a way to do that, she said. We talked at length and I could see the pain in his eyes and felt like this was a lifeline that he needed.

Her husband's dismissal from Enron meant Layne would ultimately have to take over the role as the primary breadwinner. Although her husbands decision to pursue a career in teaching meant the family would have to cut back significantly, it also afforded them the opportunity to grow closer together.
Chinese scientist among 2024 UNEP's Champions of the Earth Award winners

Xinhua) 09:23, December 11, 2024

Lu Qi poses for a photo at an experimental center in Dengkou County of Bayannur, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Oct. 13, 2024. (Photo by Justin Jin/UNEP/Handout via Xinhua)

NAIROBI, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Lu Qi, a Chinese scientist, is among the six winners of the 2024 Champions of the Earth Award, announced Tuesday by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya's capital.

Honored in the Science and Innovation category, Lu has spent three decades working in science and policy, helping China reverse environmental degradation and reduce desertification, according to the UNEP.

Additionally, Lu played a pivotal role in implementing the world's largest afforestation project and in establishing expert research networks and partnerships, the UNEP said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

As the chief scientist at the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Lu has championed multilateral cooperation to combat desertification, land degradation and drought.

"This award is the highest recognition and greatest encouragement for China's forestry and grassland efforts, especially for the scientists and technologists dedicated to sand control," Lu said in a statement to Xinhua.

He said China's efforts to combat desertification over the past seven decades have been rooted in scientific and technological advancements supporting ecological progress.

The Champions of the Earth Award would inspire more scientists and ecological practitioners, particularly younger generations, to contribute actively to global environmental protection and the achievement of the UN's 2030 Goals, he said.

He also expressed a desire to see more effective and adaptable desertification control technologies shared globally through initiatives such as China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative.

"Together, we can contribute to building two 'Great Green Walls' for the planet and make China's contribution to a greener Earth," Lu said.

Since 2005, the Champions of the Earth Award, UNEP's highest environmental honor, has recognized trailblazers at the forefront of protecting the planet and its inhabitants.

The award has honored 122 laureates for their exceptional ecological stewardship, with the 2024 winners celebrated for their outstanding leadership, bold actions and sustainable solutions to tackle land degradation, drought and desertification.

Among the six winners of the 2024 UNEP Champions of the Earth Award are Sonia Guajajara, Brazil's minister of indigenous peoples; Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate from the United States; Gabriel Paun, a Romanian environmental defender; Madhav Gadgil, an Indian ecologist; and SEKEM, a sustainable agriculture initiative from Egypt.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said the accomplishments of the 2024 Champions of the Earth Award winners remind humanity that the fight to protect vital ecosystems, such as land, rivers and oceans, is achievable.

"Almost 40 percent of the world's land is already degraded, desertification is on the rise, and devastating droughts are becoming more frequent. With the right policies, scientific breakthroughs, system reforms, activism, and the vital leadership and wisdom of Indigenous peoples, we can restore our ecosystems," Andersen said.

Lu Qi poses for a photo at an experimental center in Dengkou County of Bayannur, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Oct. 13, 2024. (Photo by Justin Jin/UNEP/Handout via Xinhua)

Lu Qi (R) works with a colleague at an experimental center in Dengkou County of Bayannur, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Oct. 11, 2024. (Photo by Justin Jin/UNEP/Handout via Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
An accordionist plays a tune to passersby at the Tomball German Christmas Market on Sunday afternoon in downtown Tomball. The festival returns this Friday through Sunday. Tony Gaines

Holiday celebrations in the Houston suburbs continue for a second weekend in December.

Here's what to know about holiday events taking place in the suburbs this weekend:

DO HOUSTONIANS CARE?: Houston lands on list of most caring cities in America, according to WalletHub study

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Lake Conroe's Christmas Boat Parade is this Saturday night with fireworks at Margaritaville. Photo courtesy Margie Taylor

Lake Conroe

The Lake Conroe Christmas Boat Parade kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday by Grand Harbor Cove, heading to Margaritaville on the lake.

Margaritaville hosts a viewing party. Watch the fully decorated boats sail across Lake Conroe in a stunning display of festive lights and creativity. As the boats light up the water, the sky will dazzle with a fireworks show hosted by the resort.

The event is free and open to the public. RSVPs are requested. Restaurant Conroe Lake House hosts the boat parade after-party from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

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A member of the Marine Corps League waves as he rides on a float during the Christmas Parade portion of the 2023 Toby Powell Conroe Christmas Celebration, Conroe, Saturday, December 9, 2023. This year's parade is at 1 p.m. Saturday. Doug Sweet Jr/Contributor

Downtown Conroe

Make plans to bring the family to Heritage Park in downtown Conroe from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday for the Toby Powell Conroe Christmas Celebration. This free annual event that is named for Conroe's late mayor who had a love for Christmas is home to snow hills, face painting, petting zoo and pony rides, games and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

As a part of the festivities, the Kiwanis Christmas Parade kicks off in downtown Conroe at 1 p.m. Don't miss marching bands, community groups and Christmas-themed floats with Santa making his appearance at the end. The parade starts at Texas 75 and FM 2854 and winds through the downtown square.

Saturday also brings the Conroe Symphony Orchestra's "Christmas Around the World" concert at 2:30 p.m. at First Methodist Conroe. See the Conroe Symphony Orchestra website for ticket information.

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Willis

The city of Willis' "Oh, What Fun!" Christmas parade is at 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Willis. Lineup starts at 8:30 a.m. at Wildkat Drive. The parade will travel on North Danville Drive, Thomason Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Campbell Street and return to Wildkat Drive.

Kimberley James, superintendent of Willis ISD, is the 2024 Parade Grand Marshal.

Karen Hailey, second from right, picks up cookies during the annual cookie walk, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in Montgomery. This year's Cookie Walk is Saturday. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Historic Montgomery

Montgomery's Christmas celebration has a full day of activities Saturday hosted by the Montgomery Historical Society. The city of Montgomery sponsors the holiday parade which begins 10 a.m., starting on Liberty Street and heading north across Eva Street then winding through the downtown area.

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The famous Cookie Walk is in the Community Building at 14420 Liberty Street from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day winds down with the 47th Annual Candlelight Tour, from 4 to 7 p.m. where visitors get to tour a few of the historic buildings, including several private homes, some dating back to the mid-1800s decorated in Christmas finery.

Visit the Montgomery Historical Society website for tickets to the home tour and more information.

The Woodlands Children's Museum hosts its Merry Mingle event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The Woodlands

Santa Claus is coming to town from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to visit with children during the annual Santas Merry Mingle event at The Woodlands Childrens Museum.

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This festive holiday experience offers children the opportunity to share their Christmas wishes while capturing memorable photos with jolly old St. Nick. Santa's Merry Mingle will include a meet and greet and framed professional photo with Santa. New this year, Mrs. Claus invites guests to participate in her Gingerbread House workshop.

Colby Hope, right, and partner Prila McIntyre, then students at Whitney High School, performed with their school's German Club during Tomball's 12th German Christmas Market. The festival returns this Friday through Sunday. Jerry Baker/Contributor

Tomball German Christmas Market

This annual event returns Friday through Sunday in Old Town Tomball, 201 S. Elm Street. Admission and parking are free. Enjoy the family-friendly ambience  Gemutlichkeit  of this unique music/street festival with three stages of live music and an open-air market along with antique shops in the old town area.

An estimated 163 unique and interesting street vendors will line Market and South Walnut Streets, selling German Heritage items, arts and crafts, and much more.

Galveston

The Galveston Municipal Police Association Christmas Parade is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday and features floats from the community. Attendees are invited to bring at least one unwrapped toy for the Blue Santa program.

The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. on 25th Street and Postoffice.

Lighted holiday dancers perform on the deck of a decorated boat as they pass the Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, Texas during the League City Christmas boat lane parade on Clear Lake Friday. The parade returns this Saturday night. Kirk Sides/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kemah

The Kemah Christmas Boat Parade takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday. Hundreds of boats will be decked out for the holidays as they cruise along Galveston Bay. Come early for the best view. Boats will pass the Kemah Boardwalk at approximately 7 to 8 p.m. with hundreds of onlookers.

The 63rd Anniversary Christmas Boat Lane Parade is produced by the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

The parade starts in the Nassau Bay Lagoon or South Shore Harbour Marina. Fireworks sounding from Nassau Bay is the starting signal.

Attendees ride bumper cars during the annual A Holiday To Remember event hosted by the East Montgomery County Improvement District, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in New Caney. This year's event returns outside and kicks off Friday. Gustavo Huerta/Staff photographer

East Montgomery County

The East Montgomery County Improvement District hosts its "A Holiday to Remember" holiday event Friday through Dec. 22. This year festivities are in a new location at 22296 Market Place Drive, New Caney in the Valley Ranch Town Center.
Plaid Cymru faces day of reckoning on draft budget says Drakeford

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Dec 11th, 2024

Mark Drakeford warned Plaid Cymru will face a day of reckoning on whether to block the Welsh Governments 26bn spending plans for next year.

Wales finance secretary laid down a challenge to Plaid Cymru after unveiling the Welsh Governments 2025/26 draft budget which included an extra 1.5bn for public services.

Prof Drakeford said he remains open to talks with Plaid Cymru about how the budget can be improved, with Labour one seat short of the majority needed to pass its spending plans.

But, addressing opposition benches, he warned: If thats not the business you are in then, believe me, the people of Wales will see through you and the political games you think you can play with their future.

He added: Theres 253m for local government and when you vote against the budget, you will be saying to those local authorities that you dont want them to have a single penny of it.

This is a budget for hope

Thats what serious politics is about  and that day of reckoning is coming your way.

The cooperation agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru collapsed in 2023, and the party has said it intends to vote against this years budget on March 4.

Leading a debate yesterday, the former first minister told the Senedd the spending plans for the 12 months from April seek to protect the most vulnerable people in society.

He said: It is a budget for priorities, it is a budget for growth, it is a budget that reminds people in Wales why, time after time, they have put their trust in a Labour government.

A government which shares their values of trust, ambition, care for one another, and especially those who need that care the most. And that  is why this is a budget for hope, a budget which sets out on that path to deliver a brighter future.

Tax-and-spend frenzy

Peter Fox, the Conservatives shadow finance secretary, criticised Labours tax-and-spend frenzy and raised concerns economic growth could slow.

Mr Fox said: Both Labour governments just dont understand business, as he described national insurance increases as a tax on growth and a broken manifesto pledge.

He rejected fictitious claims of a 22bn blackhole in the UKs finances left by the Tories, adding that the Welsh budget has increased due to tax rises and vast amounts of borrowing.

Mr Fox welcomed an additional 253m for local government but cautioned it will still leave councils facing a cliffedge with financial pressures totalling 300m.

The former council leader said the Welsh Government has finally seen sense, agreeing to offer retail, hospitality and leisure businesses the same business rates relief as in England.

Drop in the ocean

Heledd Fychan, for Plaid Cymru, warned the draft budget falls short of the funding Wales is owed following the lowest real-terms increase of all the devolved nations at 1.3%.

The partys shadow finance secretary reiterated calls for billions from HS2 and replacement of the outdated Barnett formula with a fairer model based on population need.

Ms Fychan said: Without this, it is clear despite the uplift many sectors will be left broken and uncertain about the future: cuts will still have to be made, council tax will have to rise and the backlog across the NHS will remain incredibly high.

Yes, the investment is welcome but it is a drop in the ocean of whats needed.

Ms Fychan, who represents South Wales West, warned the budget will largely plug gaps created by Westminster and Labour mismanagement.

Breeds cynicism

Labours Lee Waters said the opposition reaction breeds cynicism in politics, accusing the Conservatives of complaining about revenue raising plans while demanding more money.

Pointing to a need for cooperation, the former minister added: Plaid Cymru have already said before they heard the budget that they would be voting against this budget. So, how is that seriously engaging with the constitutional reality that weve all embraced?

Responding to the debate, Prof Drakeford said: I understand the Conservative party  the problem for them is so do the people of Wales.

Turning his ire to Ms Fychans depiction of 1.5bn extra as a drop in the ocean, he told the debating chamber or Siambr: Well  some drop and some ocean.

She too asked for more money for local government, more money for the arts, she referred, of course, to the sainted Scots. There is a day of reckoning coming for Plaid Cymru, though, isnt there, on the budget?

ICNN Senedd Reporter Christopher Haines
We need a plan to reduce the need for food banks, says Plaid Cymru MS

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Dec 11th, 2024

A Member of the Senedd has called for a plan of action to help reduce the need for food banks across Wales.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru MS for North Wales made the comments after a recent visit to Wrexhams Tesco store, where he met with members of Wrexham Foodbank.

Recent figures released by the Trussell Trust  a leading antipoverty charity and network of food banks  revealed that between April and September of this year 5,032 food parcels were distributed in Wrexham.

A breakdown of the data also reveals that 3,466 emergency food parcels were given to adults while 1,566 were distributed to children.

The figures show the persistent demand being faced by food banks across the Wales  with more than 80,000 emergency food parcels distributed to people facing hunger across Wales during the six-month period.

Mr Gruffydd said that whilst the work of food banks in Wrexham and across Wales provide a vital service, more needs to be done to help address the ongoing and deep-lying crisis that so many people face.

He noted that one in six children across Wales are growing up in homes where families are being forced to cut back on essentials.

The work done by foodbanks across Wales like this one in Wrexham is heartwarming but its becoming more difficult as people generally struggle with the cost-of-living crisis and have less to give, he said.

The support that food banks provide is often essential  ensuring families have enough to survive on at critical times in their lives.

However, this masks the ongoing and deep-lying crisis many people face  there are unacceptably high levels of poverty and hardship across Wales.

We have one in six children that are growing up in homes where families are cutting back on essentials  such as food and bills  or are at risk of doing so. Where people are going without the essentials, struggling to afford food, heat their homes and attend medical appointments.

Where work is not providing a reliable route out of hardship, housing costs are forcing people to go without food to pay their rent, and disabled people and people with health conditions are not afforded the dignity and support needed for a decent life.

He has now called for urgent action from both the UK and Welsh governments to introduce a plan to reduce the need for food banks.

Mr Gruffydd said inspiration should be drawn from Scotland, which in 2023 set out nine actions to reduce food bank usage within the next three years.

This includes efforts to boost incomes and working alongside organisations to held reduce food insecurity.

Mr Gruffydd said: Without targeted action from both the UK and Welsh governments, thousands more people in Wales are expected to be pulled into hunger and hardship over the next couple of years.

It doesnt have to be this way, we must have hope for a future that looks different; where everyone has enough money to get by and, when things are hard, people can get the right support, at the right time.

There are clear solutions to the hunger and hardship that so many people are experiencing.

As much as I am grateful for the tireless work done by foodbanks such as the one in Wrexham, I want to see a Wales without the need for food banks, where everyone has enough money to afford the essentials.

If governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay wanted to achieve this, we know change is possible. In Wales, Trussell is calling on the First Minister to tackle these issues head on, through a plan to reduce the need for food banks  similar to the one recently published in Scotland.

That change is desperately needed after years of allowing this crisis to grow.

Pictured from left to right: Alison Roberts and Suzanne Nantcurvis of Wrexham Foodbank with Llyr Gruffydd MS at Wrexham Tesco.
A train crash involving a propane truck in northwest Harris County Wednesday morning sent two people to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Houston Chronicle

A propane truck and train collided Wednesday morning along U.S. 290 in northwest Harris County, sending two people to the hospital.

The Harris County Sheriffs office said deputies responded to the scene of the crash at the 24800 block of Northwest Freeway 290 around 10:45 a.m.

The propane truck was crossing a railroad trestle at the time of the crash. The two occupants of the truck suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, where they were in stable condition, according to the sheriffs office.

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.@HCSO_D4Patrol is assisting at a train and truck crash scene at 24916 Highway 290. A work truck was struck by a train while crossing a railroad trestle. Thankfully, the two occupants of the truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are in good condition at a hospital. pic.twitter.com/F4qskbsgKR  HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) December 11, 2024

Officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety Southeast agency were investigating the crash, according to the sheriffs office. Around 11:30 a.m, one lane of the frontage road was closed, the sheriffs office said.
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
In his first interview since winning the 2024 election, President-elect Donald Trump laid out priorities for his first 100 days in office, which included ending birthright citizenship on Day 1. Alex Brandon/AP

In his first interview since winning the 2024 election, President-elect Donald Trump laid out priorities for his first 100 days in office, which included ending birthright citizenship on Day 1.

During the hour and a half interview with NBC News' Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, Trump said one of his plans was to address the U.S. border and deport anyone who has entered into the country illegally. Trump said he would like to work out a deal for people who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as Dreamers, but he planned to deport families with mixed immigration statuses, such as children who are considered U.S. citizens, while their parents might not be.

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This could also mean that Trump could try to subject people protected under the 14th Amendment to being deported.

Here's what to know about Trump's immigration plan and claims:

What is the 14th Amendment?

According to the 14th Amendment, "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

The amendment was created after the Civil War to guarantee equal civil and legal rights to Black citizens, according to the National Archives.

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In his interview, Trump said he wanted to get rid of birthright citizenship through executive action.

"We're going to end that, because it's ridiculous," he said, while hinting that he had plans to end it through executive action during his first term as president, but was unable to due so the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump has stayed consistent on his stance on birthright citizenship during his first run for president and throughout his first term. According to an NPR article from 2015, an outline of his plans in office included ending the more than century-old protection. However, there was no specification on how he planned to do that. The link attributed in the article to a webpage on his campaign site is no longer accessible.

During an interview with Axios on HBO in 2018, Trump said that he could get rid of the protection through an executive order, while not providing other details.

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"You know we're the only country that has it  if somebody sets a foot, just a foot, one foot, you don't need to own land, congratulations, you are now a citizen of the United States of America," Trump falsely claimed during the interview with Welker. A person can claim asylum when they enter the country, but they are not immediately granted citizenship.

Fact-checking claims about birthright citizenship

The U.S. is not the only country that has implemented protections for birthright citizens, contrary to Trump's claim.

According to the Global Citizens Solutions, an international consultant firm, there are 24 nations that grant citizenship to people born in the country, with some countries such as Canada mimicking the U.S. by granting citizenship at birth  regardless of the parents' nationality. Other countries have certain restrictions, such as one or both parents needing to have been born in the country in order to grant citizenship.

Birthright citizens are different from naturalized citizens and DACA recipients.

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Naturalized citizens are people born outside of the country and become citizens through the process of naturalization, while DACA recipients are young immigrants who are given temporary protection from deportation and work authorization through the U.S. policy. Birthright citizens are people who were born in the country and are granted immediate citizenship.

While Trump has stated in the past that he would not need to make a constitutional amendment to end birthright citizenship, scholars have argued otherwise. Litigation is certain, said Omar Jadwat, a lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union told NBC News.

For DACA recipients, Trump said he would work with Democrats on a plan.

"We have to do something with them," he said, giving no further details on the plan.

Trump's history with the 14th Amendment

Trump's nomination and presidency has recently come under fire by voters who say he should be barred from being sworn into office for his connection to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riots, according to a report by PolitiFact with the Poynter Institute. Under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, anyone who engaged in insurrection against the U.S. is prohibited from holding federal or state office.

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States such as Colorado, Maine and Illinois tried to disqualify Trump from being on the ballot, but were overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in March.

No federal court has found that Trump engaged in insurrection, and he has not been found guilty under the Insurrection Act or any other federal law that would disqualify him from office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Families with mixed immigration statuses affected

According to the Center for Migration Studies, a think tank based in New York, there are approximately 4.7 million households with both undocumented residents and residents with permanent legal status.

In Trump's 100 day plan, U.S. citizens in mixed status households could be deported along with their family members that came into the country illegally. In his interview with Welker, Trump said he didn't want to "break up the family, you keep them together and you send them all back."

"I'll tell you what's going to be horrible, when we take a wonderful young woman, who's with a criminal, and they show the woman and she could stay by the law, but they show the woman being taken out...and your cameras are focused on her as she's crying, as she's being taken out of our country," Trump said in his interview. "Then the public turns against us. But we have to do our job."

Trump's claims on murders in the country

During his interview, Trump had claimed that more than 13,000 immigrants were convicted of murder over the last three years. But those numbers span decades, including during Trumps administration, according to a report by the Associated Press. And those who are not in ICE custody may be detained by state or local law enforcement agencies, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, told the Associated Press.

Claims that immigrants coming into the country are from mental intuitions and gang members were also made by the President-elect, but have not been proven to be true.
The holidays arrived early this year for drivers. U.S. gas prices fell to $3.01 per gallon on Dec. 9, down from an all-time high of $5.01 three years ago, according to a AAA report. Fuel costs slid 8.1 percent over the past 12 months, even as overall prices rose 2.7 percent during that period, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Russias invasion of Ukraine caused gas prices to soar, but prices have come back down as the oil market has improved, says Andrew Gross, a AAA spokesperson who writes the companys weekly fuel reports.

Members only

The cooler weather is also playing a factor in lower gas prices, Gross says. Put simply, Americans drive less in the winter, reducing demand at the pump. This is the time of year that gasoline prices tend to bottom out, he says.

Its good news for the millions of Americans who are planning to drive to visit family over the holidays. A record number of Americans traveled by car for Thanksgiving, and were forecasting a robust period of holiday travel this month, Gross says.

AAA predicts the average national gas price will fall below $3-per-gallon in the coming days. But gas prices often vary state by state. Thirty-two states are already below the $3 mark. Currently the least expensive gasoline markets in the U.S. are Oklahoma ($2.52 per gallon), Mississippi ($2.62), Texas ($2.63), Arkansas ($2.63), Kansas ($2.67), Missouri ($2.69), Tennessee ($2.70), Iowa ($2.70), Louisiana ($2.73) and Kentucky ($2.74), according to AAAs most recent weekly report. Hockley County, Texas has the lowest county average in the nation, at $2.30 per gallon.

The most expensive gasoline markets are Hawaii ($4.56 per gallon), California ($4.39), Washington ($3.99), Nevada ($3.66), Oregon ($3.53), Alaska ($3.46), Washington, D.C. ($3.22), Pennsylvania ($3.21), Illinois ($3.20) and Arizona ($3.18).

Gas prices tend to be higher in states that are farther from major oil supply sources such as refineries, ports, and pipeline and blending terminals, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Local and state taxes can also drive up prices at the pump.

How to save money on gas

Here are six ways you can save even more on fuel.

Compare prices. The next time you need to fill up your tank, dont just pull up to the closest gas station. There could be a difference of up to 60 to 80 cents per gallon between gas stations that are close to each other, Gross says. You could even find significantly cheaper gas at the gas station across the street.
Former Army Sgt. Daniel Perry, at left, shot and killed Garrett Foster during a Black Lives Matter protest in the summer of 2020. Foster, at right, was armed with a rifle at the time. Courtesy photos

Daniel Perry is a 37-year-old former U.S. Army Sergeant from Dallas. He made national news after fatally shooting an armed Black Lives Matter protester named Garrett Foster in Austin on July 25, 2020. After a Travis County jury convicted him of murder three years later, Gov. Greg Abbott made the extraordinary decision to pardon him last spring.

What happened on July 25, 2020?

According to witness testimony and evidence presented at his murder trial, Perry was driving for Uber in downtown Austin on July 25, 2020, when he made a right turn at a red light into an intersection full of protesters. Some scattered and others surrounded his car, pounding it with their hands and kicking it with their feet.

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One of the protesters in the crowd  a 28-year-old Air Force veteran named Garrett Foster  had frequently attended demonstrations in Austin that summer while openly carrying his AK-47 rifle. Foster approached the drivers side window of Perrys car while carrying his rifle on a sling. Perry then shot at Foster with his own .357 magnum pistol five times, hitting him at least four times, the evidence shows. Perry then drove a few blocks away and called police.

What was the initial reaction to the shooting?

Austin police declined to charge Perry with a crime, calling the incident a justifiable homicide. A few days later, his defense lawyers made Perrys name public and said he had acted in self-defense. But many of Fosters friends and his fiancee, who had been protesting with him that night, said he never pointed his rifle at Perry or threatened Perry with it in any way.

About a year after the shooting, the Travis County District Attorney's Office presented the case to a grand jury, which indicted him for murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His defense attorneys condemned the indictment as politically motivated, as did the police detective who originally investigated the case.

What happened during Perrys trial?

Perry went to trial in Austin in the spring of 2023. His attorneys argued that he was forced to defend himself after taking a wrong turn. They pointed to testimony from some witnesses  including the Austin Police detective who investigated the case and believed Perry was innocent  who said Foster had been carrying his gun in a threatening manner.

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Prosecutors contended that Perry had provoked the confrontation with Foster by driving into the crowd of protesters, which they said meant he lost his right to self-defense under Texas law.

They also presented dozens of electronic messages and social media posts extracted from Perrys phone. The material showed that in the months leading up to the shooting, Perry spoke derisively of the Black Lives Matter movement and extensively discussed other incidents in which people in cars got into confrontations with protesters. He also contemplated what he would do if he got into such a situation, including what he would tell police and whether self-defense laws would protect him from prosecution.

He had very strong feelings that he very strongly put out there for the world to see, Travis County prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez told the jury during the trial. And when you put all of those things together, I think we have a very volatile situation, and its what led us here today.

Perrys defense attorneys countered that his messages and social media posts were taken out of context as part of a politically-motivated effort. They also tried to introduce evidence of offensive social media postings and statements by Foster from that summer, but prosecutors argued it wasnt relevant and the judge agreed.

You might not like Daniels social media posts. You might not like the text conversation. But thats all the government has, Doug OConnell, one of Perrys attorneys, said during the trial. Its not evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

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The jury voted to acquit Perry of the aggravated assault charge and to convict him of murder.

During the sentencing phase of the trial, prosecutors introduced more evidence of offensive rhetoric displayed by Perry on social media and in private messages before the shooting. O'Connell said many of the some of the newly-introduced messages were wildly out of context and an attempt to be funny in a manner that may not make sense to you and me. Witnesses who had served with Perry in the military also testified that the offensive content hed shared was a way of easing the daily tensions of military life.

Its a coping mechanism, said former Army Sgt. Ronald Wilson, who described himself as Perrys best friend in the military when he testified. When prosecutors showed him an explicitly racist image Perry had sent to another military colleague, Wilson said it doesnt offend me.

The judge sentenced Perry to 25 years in prison.

How did Perry end up on Gov. Greg Abbotts radar?

Just hours after Perrys murder conviction was announced, prominent Republicans across Texas and the country began denouncing it as a miscarriage of justice. The most notable among them was then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who urged Abbott to come on his show and to pardon Perry.

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Carlson drew parallels between Perry and Kyle Rittenhouse, who had attended a demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020 and killed two protesters there. Prosecutors claimed Rittenhouse had provoked the confrontation and charged him with several first-degree felonies, including intentional homicide. A jury acquitted him of all the charges.

The day after Carlsons broadcast, Abbott vowed on social media that he would pardon Perry. It was an unprecedented announcement coming from the Texas governor, who had only pardoned a handful of people while he was in office, none of whom had been convicted of a violent crime. It also marked an escalating standoff between Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, a Democrat, and state Republican leaders who have labeled him a rogue prosecutor.

Last May, about a year after Abbotts announcement, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles  whose six members are all appointed by Abbott and can be removed by him at any time  unanimously recommended that Perry be pardoned. The same day, Abbott pardoned Perry, who was released from prison immediately afterward.

Texas has one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney, Abbott said in a statement.

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In his first public comments about the incident last month, Perry told the news site The Daily Wire that he felt blessed by Abbotts decision. He said the prosecution was unfair and that the messages and posts used against him during the trial were taken out of context.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who controls the state Senate and repeatedly clashed with Phelan for not passing a school voucher bill, has already attempted to put his thumb on the scale by congratulating Cook and noting his vote count continues to climb. Attorney General Ken Paxton, accusing Phelan of prioritizing Democrat interests over his own caucus, dismissed Burrows as "Dade 2.0" and said supporting him for speaker would be a "betrayal of the conservative movement."



Conservative? We're frankly not sure what that means anymore. After all, Burrows voted to ban abortion and transgender surgery for minors, and to greenlight permitless carry of handguns and property tax relief. He authored the Death Star Bill which prevents cities and counties (including the menacing big blue ones!) from passing ordinances that pre-empt many state laws. Hes even advocated for school vouchers, a top priority of Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott. That hardly sounds like the record of a moderate Republican eager to give Democrats free reign in the chamber.



He sounds like a conservative who's on board with many of the major priorities of Texas Republicans these days. Paxton is still settling scores after Phelan led some of their fellow Republicans in an impeachment inquiry after House members refused to roll over and pay $3.3 million in taxpayer money to resolve a lawsuit against Paxton by whistleblowers. Paxton had fired the whistleblowers after they went to the feds to report his misconduct in office.



Paxton was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate, whose members took their duty to hold Paxton accountable a little less seriously than they took their political careers. We don't call that conservative; we call that cowardice.



That kind of calculation is perhaps what Paxton expects the current House members to make in the next high-stakes controversy. And many may. Perhaps Cook isnt one of them. He has a moderate voting record and was one of 60 Republican House members who voted to impeach Paxton  although he was also reportedly the only member who made it clear in the House record that he didnt support every article of impeachment.



Maybe thats enough to get Paxtons seal of approval. Maybe Cooks support for school vouchers and the fact that he wasnt a top lieutenant of Phelans give him cover.



House members and Texas voters should demand more than partisan loyalty from the far-right flank of the Republican Party. We hope there are a few who still believe in the "will of the House," the idea that the speaker's most sacred duty is to allow 150 individual members to serve the districts they were elected to represent as each sees fit.



Phelan abided by that principle on vouchers and that's why they didn't pass  not because of pesky Democrats holding too many chairmanships. Phelan listened to his members, including Republicans in rural districts, who didn't want to gut public education or throw taxpayer money at private institutions that won't be held to the same standards of accountability as public schools.



We Texans can disagree on a lot of urgent, painful, divisive things. Border policing. Immigration. Medicaid expansion. We should agree, though, that dirty or self-serving politicians arent good for this proud state and shouldnt be playing an outsized role in dictating the Legislative agenda.



We know Burrows agrees with that. We are eager to see if Cook still does as well. Future battles requiring ethics and integrity await us. We should all hope that the House chooses a leader who wont punish members for having integrity, or Democrats for wanting to represent their constituents. The best candidate believes that being a true conservative means targeting the real enemies  corruption, fiscal waste, infringements on personal freedom and politics that get in the way of everything else.
Resolution Life, a global life insurance group focusing on the acquisition and ongoing management of portfolios of life insurance policies, today announces that Nippon Life Insurance Company (Nippon Life) has agreed to acquire 100% of the company. Nippon Life will consolidate its ownership interest by paying $8.2 billion to acquire the remaining shares from Resolution Lifes investment limited partnership, valuing Resolution Life at $10.6 billion, with shareholders also retaining final dividends before completion. Following the acquisition, Resolution Lifes institutional business in the US, the UK, Bermuda and Singapore will become a subsidiary of Nippon Life, creating a new division that complements Nippon Lifes Japanese life business as well as its international asset management and retail businesses. Resolution Life will continue to be led by Clive Cowdery as Chairman and CEO and Resolution Life Group Holdings Ltd will remain the primary regulated entity. Resolution Lifes Australasian business will be combined with Nippon Lifes Australian company, MLC, to form Acenda, a new primary life insurer open to new business, which will be run as a joint venture between Nippon Life and Resolution Life. The transaction completes a partnership that began in 2019 when Nippon Life first invested in Resolution Life. Since then, it has remained the companys largest investor and supported the growth of Resolution Life into a company with over $85bn of reserves and over 4m policies. For Resolution Life, this transaction enables the company to secure its position as a leader in the multi-trillion-dollar global life and annuity consolidation sector. Having a single well-capitalised parent will enable Resolution Life to accelerate its growth and continue to serve the needs of policyholders and the broader life insurance industry. For Nippon Life, this transaction is a further step towards achieving their stated medium-term plan to grow their international business and deliver long-term growth and stable dividends from overseas markets. It will enhance Nippon Lifes product offering as well as expanding the application of asset management, liability management and digital skills by leveraging Resolution Lifes existing capabilities, including a highly experienced global team. Resolution Life will continue its mission of being a global custodian to the life insurance and annuity industry by providing capital for growth, removing stranded costs and mitigating long-term risks so that the industry can continue to respond to the needs of policyholders. Resolution Life is regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority with a strong group capital position, high solvency ratios and investment grade ratings. Blackstone will continue its relationship with Resolution Life as the companys investment manager for directly originated assets across the private credit, real estate and asset-based-finance markets  reflecting the significant value Blackstones origination platform has provided to the business and its policyholders. Resolution Life will also continue as Blackstones strategic partner in the life and annuity consolidation sector globally. Hiroshi Shimizu, President of Nippon Life said: As a mutual company owned by our policyholders, Nippon Life has always had a culture which puts customers at the heart of everything we do. We believe the acquisition of Resolution Life and the formation of Acenda demonstrates our commitment to working with exceptional businesses and teams to deliver innovative products and services. We are aligned with Resolution Life and our investment management partner Blackstone in continuing to deliver on the trust policyholders have placed in us to protect them and their families when they need us. Sir Clive Cowdery, Founder and Executive Chairman of Resolution Life said: For 22 years, Resolution Life and prior Resolution companies have raised our capital from institutional investors and the public markets. I am delighted that we are now going forward under the single ownership and capital support of Nippon Life, an institution I admire and respect. There is a strong foundation of shared values, clarity of vision and breadth of capabilities across our organisations. Combining Resolution Lifes strengths, the investment management expertise of our partners at Blackstone and a well-funded parent gives us the opportunity to accelerate our growth and serve the needs of policyholders into the decades ahead. Gilles Dellaert, Global Head of Blackstone Credit and Insurance (BXCI) said: We are very pleased with this outcome for Resolution Lifes policyholders and investors. Clive Cowdery has built a tremendous insurance platform, and we believe that this expanded partnership with the world-class team at Nippon Life will help drive its accelerated global growth. We look forward to continuing to deliver the benefits of Blackstones leading private credit and asset origination capabilities to Resolution Life and its policyholders in this next chapter with Nippon Life. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and anticipated to be completed in H2 2025. The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of the company is Claire Singleton, General Counsel.
The vibrant advertising and marketing communication industry in Kerala's capital city marked a significant milestone with the formation of Advertising Club Trivandrum (ACT), an exclusive platform aimed at foster- ing creativity, collaboration, and professional excellence among advertising and media professionals.

The Club, formed with the active participation of professionals across various domains of advertising and media, aims to serve as a hub for knowledge-sharing, networking, and nurturing talent in the region.

Inspired by established advertising clubs across the country, the initiative aspires to elevate Trivandrums advertising and media landscape while fostering meaningful collaborations.

On 2nd December 2024, the Club held its first general body meeting, attended by around 100 profession- als from media and advertising fraternity in Trivandrum. During the meeting, the club's office bearers were elected. Laj Salam, CEO of PlainSpeak was elected as the President and Vishnu Vijay of Mathrubhumi was chosen as the Secretary of the Club. Other office bearers include Manikandan R. K. (Mangalam Daily) as Treasurer, B. Sunil (Kairali TV) as Vice President and Thomas George (Stark Communications) as Joint Secretary.

Speaking to the media, the Club President Laj Salam, expressed enthusiasm: "The formation of Ad Club Trivandrum is a dream realized for many of us in the industry. Our mission is to create a platform where creativity meets collaboration, enabling professionals to connect, learn, and grow together. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey.

Adding to the sentiment, Secretary Vishnu Vijay remarked: ""This Club is a collective effort by passionate individuals from the industry who believe in the power of collaboration. Were committed to organizing events, workshops, and forums that will benefit the industry and its professionals.

With its newly formed Managing Committee and well-defined objectives, the Advertising Club Trivandrum is set to lead the way in redefining advertising and marketing standards in the region.

The Managing Committee includes Krishnanunni (The Hindu), Krishnakumar (Malayala Manorama), Santosh Kumar (Mathrubhumi TV), Pradeep Prabhakar (News Malayalam), Geetha G. Nair (Hues Advertis- ing), Thanseer (Adworld), and Pratheesh (Club FM). An Advisory Board was also established, comprising senior advertising and media professionals: Koshy Abraham (Malayala Manorama), K.K. Joshy (The Hindu), R. Raghunath (Mediamate), Roy Mathew (Stark Communications) and Deepu S. (Asianet).

Also Read: The Advertising Club re-elects Rana Barua as President for the second term
Is Call Me Bae an Android ad in disguise? Or is the Android campaign just extended outtakes from the series? Honestly, we dont know the differenceand were loving it.

The show follows Bae, an old-money fashionista navigating a new life in Bombay. Along the way, she finds an unlikely support system in two Android users, Saira and Tammarrah, who help her hustle through the chaos of Bombay.

This unique dynamic inspired the campaign, where FCB India collaborated with the creators of Call Me Bae to rewrite iconic scenes and even create new ones. These scenes seamlessly blend into the shows storyline, highlighting how the #BehenCode gang comes to Baes rescue using Android-exclusive features.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-GNVk1DR5Hs

The campaigns #DeletedScenes spotlight everyday moments where the #AndroidAdvantage empowers Gen Z to ace their lives without skipping a beat. Whether theyre hanging out with friends, scrolling through social media, watching YouTube videos, or chatting at a party, the films show how Android seamlessly integrates into their vibrant lifestyles.



Speaking about the campaign, Mayuresh Dubhashi, CCO, FCB India, shared, This campaign could very easily have been just a celebrity endorsement for the coolest and best OS (Android) out there. Instead, its a campaign that feels like contentouttakes, deleted scenes, whatever you want to call.It doesnt look like an ad, and that was our intent. Through this collaboration with Prime Videos chart-busting 'Call Me Bae' and the rigor we brought to make it look authentic, weve told the story of the #AndroidAdvantage in a way that feels as real and engaging as the series itself.





Credits:

Agency: FCB India

Brand: Google India

Group CEO, FCB Group India & South Asia: Dheeraj Sinha

Chief Executive Officer: Ashima Mehra

Chief Creative Officer: Mayuresh Dubhashi

National Creative Director: Udayan Chakravarty

Creative Team: Abhishek Deshwal, Hiya Mukherjee , Koushiki Banerjee, Dora K

Account Management: Tanisha Sharma, Preksha Shinde, Sahil Nagpal

Strategy Team: Pratyush Sharma

Studio Team: Harmeet Singh

Google Brand Team: Prithviraj Mazumdar, Pranav Varma, Pooja Baluja

Amazon Prime team: Tejas Ravindranath, Rahul Singh, Sonal Kabi

Production House: Jouska Films

Director: Shakun Batra

Producer: Vincent L. Gomes

Cinematography: Vikas Vasudevan

Production Design: Jyoti Tulsyan, Shravan Ravikant Patil

Music: Raghav Mehta

Also Read: Lisa Mishra joins Zeenat Aman in The Royals after Call Me Bae
The Coca-Cola Company today announced that it has reached an agreement with the Jubilant Bhartia Group, a multi-billion conglomerate with global presence in diverse sectors, to acquire a 40% stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of the largest Coca-Cola bottler in India, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd.

Coca-Cola has a long-standing commitment to deliver quality products and experiences to consumers and is continuing to drive sustainable, long-term growth by investing in the opportunities available in India.

Coca-Colas locally owned franchise partners in India are positioned to drive successful outcomes. The investment by the Jubilant Bhartia Group will contribute to the companys ongoing success and help strengthen its position in the Indian market.

Sanket Ray, President of Coca-Cola India, said, We welcome the Jubilant Bhartia Group to the Coca-Cola System in India. With its diverse experience in various sectors, Jubilant brings decades of rich experience that will help accelerate the CocaCola system, enabling us to win in the market and provide greater value to local communities and consumers.

Juan Pablo Rodriguez, CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, said, This strategic investment represents an important milestone in our journey. Jubilant Bhartia Groups expertise, complements our strengths, ensuring that we continue delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders while driving innovation and sustainable progress.

Shyam S. Bhartia, Founder and Chairman and Hari S. Bhartia, Founder and Co-Chairman of Jubilant Bhartia Group, said the investment is an ideal addition to their business. The Coca-Cola Company is home to some of the most respected global brands and we are delighted to be associated with them, Bhartia said. Together, we will leverage opportunities to grow the business to greater heights and ensure more Indian consumers can enjoy The Coca-Cola Companys refreshing portfolio of iconic local and international brands.

These changes and investment represent a significant milestone for Coca-Cola as the company continues to pursue its purpose to refresh the world and make a difference.

Also Read: Coca-Cola India pays artistic tribute to women farmers
FNP (Ferns N Petals), Indias premier gifting brand, has unveiled its latest campaign, Make It Special, celebrating the beauty of lifes everyday moments. The campaign highlights how thoughtful gestures can transform even ordinary situations into extraordinary memories.

At its core, the Make It Special campaign celebrates relationships and the emotional depth that thoughtful gifting can bring. FNP aims to inspire people to go beyond conventional gifting, encouraging them to express their emotions in meaningful ways that create lasting connections.

The campaign redefines gifting, presenting it not just as an act of giving but as a way to craft unforgettable moments. Whether for a loved one or oneself, the initiative showcases how small, thoughtful gestures can make everyday moments extraordinary.

Two Heartwarming Films

Anniversary Film:



This film celebrates the intimacy and beauty of anniversaries, showing how thoughtful surprises and meaningful gestures can make these milestones truly unforgettable.





This film celebrates the intimacy and beauty of anniversaries, showing how thoughtful surprises and meaningful gestures can make these milestones truly unforgettable. Birthday Film:



Focused on the joy of heartfelt celebrations among friends, this film demonstrates how personalized touches can transform a simple birthday gathering into a cherished memory.





Avi Kumar, Chief Marketing Officer at FNP, shared: The Make It Special campaign is about more than just occasionsits about embracing the idea that every moment can hold meaning when we choose to make it special. Whether its a birthday, an anniversary, or simply a gesture of self-love, our goal is to inspire people to turn the ordinary into something extraordinary. With FNPs range of thoughtful gifts, we want to help our customers create moments that bring joy, no matter how big or small.

Also Read: Elevate celebrations uniquely by FNPs #MakeItSpecial Campaign
India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), in collaboration with the Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI), organized a landmark industry conference on the Future of Digital Radio Broadcasting in India on Wednesday. The pivotal event brought together leaders and visionaries from the entire radio broadcasting ecosystem  including radio operators, equipment manufacturers, technology providers, and device manufacturers  to discuss the transformation of India's radio broadcasting landscape as it embarks on the digital journey.

The conference was graced by the esteemed presence of Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), and Sanjiv Shankar, Joint Secretary, MIB. Their participation underscored the government's commitment to advancing digital radio technology and its integration into Indias media ecosystem.

This initiative arrives at a crucial juncture as the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) engage in public consultations for a Digital Radio Broadcast Policy for private broadcasters.

Addressing the conference, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said: We stand at the threshold of a new era brimming with possibilities and opportunities in broadcasting. Light-touch regulations will enable innovative content creation and deeper listener engagement, empowering Indias creators. Radio derives its strength from localised content choice embracing diverse community interests and cultural preferences.

Technology adoption, even in far-flung areas must happen while developing an ecosystem to facilitate deployment of digital radio broadcasting in India. As part of our efforts, we are set to roll out digital FM radio broadcasting in 13 metros and major cities in the coming months, marking a significant step forward, Jaju added.

Highlighting the significance of digital radio, Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA, said, Radio has been a revolutionary force in connecting people and communities, and it remains an incredible national asset. The transition to digital radio is not just essentialit is overdue. We need to adopt a technology which is proven and can go across various product segments, enhancing the efficiency of the existing radio operators without disruption. With India's rich cultural landscape, the digital radio technology offers unparalleled opportunities for innovation, multilingual content, and varied genres tailored to India's diverse demography.

Uday Chawla, Secretary General, AROI, said: Todays interaction marks a historic milestone, bringing together two transformative industries  radio, with its unparalleled reach of nearly 80% and status as a free-to-air medium, and the electronics manufacturing sector, which has positioned India as a global export leader. By fostering collaboration, we empower consumers with choices and create a solid foundation for the growth of both sectors. Developing an advanced ecosystem, supported by technologies like HD Radio, strengthens Indias vision as a global manufacturing hub for digitally-enabled devices, boosting exports, especially in markets like the Americas. This synergy drives innovation and growth across industries.

One of the major advancements discussed at the conference was HD Radio technology, developed by Xperi Corporation. HD Radio has emerged as a leading global digital radio platform, with more than 2,500 radio stations, offering superior audio quality, multicasting capabilities, and proven market success with commercial rollouts. This cutting-edge technology has the potential to revolutionize India's radio broadcasting industry by providing enhanced user experiences and new revenue models for broadcasters.

The conference concluded with a strong consensus among industry leaders on the need to fast-track the adoption of digital radio. The discussions emphasized the immense potential of digital radio broadcasting to enhance accessibility, diversify content offerings, and support Indias vision for a technologically advanced and inclusive media ecosystem.

ICEA and AROI reaffirm their commitment to working closely with the government, broadcasters, and technology providers to ensure a smooth transition to digital radio and harness its full potential for the benefit of the nation.

Also Read: ICEA-EY: Digital radio can double broadcast sectoras revenue in five years
KRBL Ltd., a global leader in the food industry and parent to India Gate Basmati Ricethe Worlds No.1 Basmati rice brand and other consumer food products has announced the addition of key strategic leadership roles, with the appointments of Rajesh Kumar Sharma as General Manager - Supply Chain Management and Virender Singh Rana as Assistant General Manager - Media and Brand Experience. These experienced professionals will play important roles in steering KRBLs growth trajectory, bolstering supply chain efficiency, and elevating brand engagement to foster deeper customer connections.

Rajesh Kumar Sharma joins KRBL with over two decades of distinguished experience in supply chain strategy, warehouse management, distribution, and operational excellence. He has previously held pivotal roles at leading organizations like Merino Industries Limited, Arvind Fashions Limited, Nestle, and Coca-Cola.

Commenting on his appointment, Kunal Gupta, Head Dhuri Plant, KRBL, said, As KRBL continues to solidify its position as a trusted household name, the need for a robust and agile supply chain becomes paramount. With the expansion of our product offerings, such as the launch of Classic Biryani Masala and upcoming healthy edible oils, ensuring smooth distribution across multiple city tiers is essential. Additionally, our milling capabilities, with a production capacity of 1.3 million metric tons annually and 4,500 metric tons per day, play a crucial role in meeting the growing demand. We are confident that Rajeshs expertise in supply chain optimization will further strengthen our ability to efficiently meet market needs and drive continued growth and innovation.

Rajesh holds a PGDM in Operations Management from SP Jain, Mumbai, and a BE in Mechanical Engineering from BIT Mesra, Ranchi. He will lead the supply chain management division at KRBL.

On the marketing front, Mr. Virender Singh Rana brings over 17 years of experience in media planning, brand strategy, and creating impactful campaigns for sectors including FMCG, e-commerce, healthcare, and lifestyle. Known for his innovative approach, Virender has been instrumental in designing strategies that align with business objectives while maximizing ROI.

Kunal Sharma, Head of Marketing & Business Head, Modern Trade and Ecommerce, KRBL, speaking on the new addition said, We are excited to welcome Virender to the KRBL family at a time when the brand is charting bold new paths. With an expanding product portfolio and ambitious growth plans, his expertise in media strategy and market analytics will be instrumental in shaping our future. Virenders forward-looking approach ensures that every media investment delivers maximum impact, creating unique opportunities that align seamlessly with our vision. As we focus on crafting transformative brand experiences, his leadership will be key to driving innovation and deepening connections with our consumers for years to come.

Renowned for his data-driven decision-making and fostering impactful collaborations that yield measurable results, Virendra brings a stellar track record of executing impactful campaigns across various business verticals.

The new appointments come at a time when KRBL is enhancing its focus on expansion. Both Rajesh and Virender will be instrumental in steering the company toward its ambitious growth objectives.

Also Read: KRBL bolsters leadership team; appoints Prabhakar Jha & Kamal Kant Kanaujia
Authored by Elizabeth Venkataraman, Executive Director - Marketing, Shriram Finance Limited



India is a land of endless diversity, where traditions, languages, and aspirations come together to create a unique cultural fabric. For any brand, thriving here means finding the perfect balance between honouring age-old traditions and embracing the rapid changes of a modern world. Its not just about selling products; its about building a meaningful connection with people from all walks of life, across generations.

When brands truly understand Indias cultural richness and combine that understanding with fresh, forward-thinking ideas, they dont just gain customersthey form lasting relationships. The future belongs to brands that can honour the past while shaping a vision for tomorrow, telling heartfelt stories, being inclusive, and using technology to preserve and share what makes our culture so special.

Brand communication thrives when it tells authentic, relatable stories, and the dosa provides a perfect example of how cultural heritage can drive meaningful connections. Rooted in South Indian tradition, the dosa is more than just food; it represents warmth, togetherness, and a sense of belonging. For generations, its preparation and sharing were rituals that brought families closer, turning everyday meals into moments of connection.

In the realm of brand communication, it stands as a fascinating case study of how tradition and modernity intersect to create a compelling narrative. From its historical roots to its modern-day adaptations, Dosa shows how a cultural tradition can evolve into a strong tool for storytelling and connection in todays connected world. The dosa has transcended its humble origins to become a cultural and global phenomenon. This cultural richness is what makes the dosa a bridge to heritage, a memory of home, and a comforting embrace of nostalgia.

But whats remarkable about the dosa is its ability to evolve without losing its soul. As lifestyles and food preferences change, the dosa has kept up, blending tradition with innovation; be it fusion dosas stuffed with global flavours, dosa wraps for busy urbanites, or gluten-free and vegan options for health-conscious eaters. These modern twists show how heritage can adapt to meet contemporary tastes while staying true to its roots. In a world moving at breakneck speed, the dosa is a reminder of simpler, more grounded times.

Brands have embraced this evolution in creative ways. Companies like iD Fresh, Atta Girl and others with their ready-made batter, make dosa accessible to modern households while holding onto the essence of "homemade authenticity." At the same time, upscale restaurants have reimagined dosa as a gourmet experience, with culinary sophistication.

In the digital age, the dosa has found new ways to shine, becoming a social media star. From viral videos of robots crafting dosas to massive six-foot creations served at local eateries, its appeal knows no bounds. Influencers and bloggers have amplified its charm, turning it into an Instagram sensation. Celebrities, too, have played their part in its modern-day fameDiljit Dosanjhs impromptu visit to Rameshwaram Cafe sparked a social media frenzy, while Deepika Padukones frequent indulgence at Benne Bombay made headlines for her love of this culinary classic. For younger audiences who value both tradition and innovation, these moments solidify the dosa as a cultural icon with contemporary relevance.

For brands, the dosa offers invaluable lessons in storytelling. Its a masterclass in staying rooted in cultural authenticity while embracing innovation. It shows how to cater to diverse audiences, appealing to nostalgia while adapting to new trends. Most importantly, it demonstrates the power of emotional connection, turning a simple dish into a global ambassador of Indian culture.

Today, the dosa is celebrated on menus from Chennai to New York, a testament to its universal appeal. Its simplicity, adaptability, and rich cultural story make it a symbol of inclusivity and a bridge across borders. For brands looking to connect deeply with their audiences, the dosa offers a roadmap: honour the past, embrace the present, and always make room for something new.

In a nutshell, the dosa with its rich heritage and modern adaptations, epitomizes the intersection of tradition and modernity in brand communication. It highlights how cultural icons can evolve while preserving their essence, providing a roadmap for brands looking to balance authenticity with innovation. As a symbol of both heritage and adaptability, the dosa continues to inspire not just palates but also powerful narratives in the ever-evolving world of brand storytelling.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it.

Also Read: The Intersection of sustainability and interior Design: Eco-friendly trends
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan's recent decision to withdraw from the speakers race has readers concerned about the Texas Legislature's rightward shift. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Dade Phelans exit

Regarding Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan to step down amid Republican infighting, (Dec. 6): Just when I thought Texas couldnt move any further right into the conservative Republican abyss, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, has withdrawn from the House speaker race, ushering in an even more conservative legislative session. Phelan is paying the political price of backing Attorney General Ken Paxtons impeachment and not supporting Gov. Greg Abbotts school voucher program. The result is a unified ultra-conservative Republican agenda with little to no Democratic input.

When former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (2009-2019), a Republican, stepped down, Texans lost a strong voice of reason and a guardrail against Republicans' worst conservative priorities. Once again, Texas two-steps even further to the right, leaving Texas Democrats in Austin on the outside looking in, fighting a losing battle to be heard.

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Linda Rehm, Houston

Texas House Democrats say theyll back a Republican candidate for speaker that puts people over politics. Good luck with that one, folks! Now that the governor has bought and paid for enough Republican House members to prevent any chance of his will being thwarted, theres no one left in the building that will put anything over politics  people included.

If all that voters in this state want is for 150 House votes to line up with the governor, we can spend a lot less on campaigns and payroll by simply installing bots in those nice leather chairs. And when theyre not busy voting Aye, they can make robo phone calls trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty.

Gene Fisseler, Houston

Public school lawsuits

Regarding Ex-Fort Bend ISD superintendent files lawsuit against trustees alleging defamation, breach of contract, (Dec. 4): Reading several recent Houston Chronicle articles about litigation against local public school districts and their employees or board members (at Fort Bend and Conroe independent school districts, for example), it is painfully obvious that property taxpayers have minimal to no representation as large taxpayer-paid settlements are arranged.

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Despite many ISDs experiencing declining enrollments and lagging test scores, numerous school bond issues are requested for additional school infrastructure, but I believe more money in the pot also encourages the public education lawsuit supercycle. Texas is (or was) recognized as a leader in tort reform and business-friendly rules, but nothing is taxpayer-friendly about the endless ISD lawsuit cycle and settlements.

Brian Beebe, Houston

As a taxpayer, I really do not blame former Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck for filing a suit for alleged defamation. I saw the video of the FBISD board meetings, and I too felt that comments from the board were caustic to Ms. Whitbeck. I do not feel that the school board acted in a professional manner.

Deb Zygmunt, Missouri City

Indoctrination

Regarding Texas approved a Bible-infused curriculum  whether parents want it or not | Opinion, (Nov. 25): Moral values and reading can be taught without injecting religion by restoring fairy tales, myths, old nursery rhymes and Aesops fables. I loved when our third-grade teacher read such things to us, and the kids can read aloud or silently as well. They lend themselves beautifully to class discussions of right, wrong, character, motives,and consequences for ones choices. No one is left out or shamed based on religious background or lack thereof. The attempts to bring the Bible into it are just slimy efforts at indoctrination.

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David Sherron, Houston

Mattress Macks surgery

Regarding Mattress Mack to undergo open-heart surgery, Houston furniture mogul announces in social media post, (Dec. 4): You gotta love this guy. Here he is, about to go under the knife, and true to form he asks not only for prayers but more notably that we [c]ome out and buy furniture because thatll ease a lot of my anxiety.

Mack, Im with you. Ill head to your Galleria-area store this morning and buy something to help with that anxiety. I wish you well, and Im pretty sure youll be fine.

Robert Loiseau, Houston

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Dynamic Duo

Regarding Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy bring Trumps DOGE to Capitol Hill, (Dec. 5): Only two Democrats have shown an interest in working with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to eliminate government waste. Isnt that telling?

In the end, it will be interesting to see who does and does not work with their Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Unfortunately, there will also be some Republicans who like the power that funding overblown agencies gives them, and they will resist cuts.

One thing that concerns me is funding cuts to the Department of Defense, given the state of international affairs. Relocation of funding to meet the DOD mission needs is more prudent than cutting their budget just to be cutting their budget, dont you think? But then, that thought could apply across all the government agencies. Hopefully, the Dynamic Duo, Musk and Ramaswamy, already thought of that.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt did in 1906 what Congress was unwilling to do through legislation: He used his new authority under the Antiquities Act to designate Devils Tower in Wyoming as the first national monument.

Then came Antiquities Act protections for the Petrified Forest in Arizona, Chaco Canyon and the Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley in California, and what are now Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks in Utah.

The list goes on, as all but three presidents have used the act to protect unique landscapes and cultural resources.

President Joe Biden has created six monuments and either restored, enlarged or modified boundaries for a handful of others. Native American tribes and conservation groups are pressing for more designations before he leaves office.

The proposals range from an area dotted with palm trees and petroglyphs in Southern California to a site sacred to Native Americans in Nevadas high desert, a historic Black neighborhood in Oklahoma and a homestead in Maine that belonged to the family of Frances Perkins, the nations first female cabinet member.

Looting and destruction

Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act after a generation of lobbying by educators and scientists who wanted to protect sites from commercial artifact looting and haphazard collecting by individuals. It was the first law in the U.S. to establish legal protections for cultural and natural resources of historic or scientific interest on federal lands.

For Roosevelt and others, science was behind safeguarding Devils Tower. Scientists have long theorized about how once-molten lava cooled and formed the massive columns that make up the geologic wonder. Narratives among Native American tribes, who still conduct ceremonies there, detail its formation.

Biden cited the spiritual, cultural and prehistoric legacy of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante areas in southern Utah when he restored their boundaries and protections through his first use of the Antiquities Act in 2021.

The two monuments were among 29 that President Barack Obama created while in office. Amid concerns that Obama overstepped his authority and limited energy development, President Donald Trump rolled back their size, while adding a previously unprotected portion to Bears Ears.

Biden called Bears Ears  the first national monument to be established at the request of federally recognized tribes  a place of healing.

Saving sacred places

Early designations often pushed tribes from their ancestral homelands.

In one of his final acts as president in 1933, Herbert Hoover used the Antiquities Act to set aside Death Valley as a national monument. Its now one of the largest national parks  not to mention the hottest, driest and lowest.

While establishing the monument brought an end to prospecting and the filing of new mining claims in the area, it also meant the Timbisha Shoshone were forced from the last bit of their traditional territory. It took several decades for the tribe to regain a fraction of the land.

Bidens administration has made strides in working with some tribes on managing public lands and incorporating more Indigenous knowledge into planning and policymaking.

Avi Kwa Ame National Monument was Bidens second designation. The site outside of Las Vegas is central to the creation stories of tribes with ties to the area.

Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo said at the time that the White House didnt consult his administration before making the designation in 2023  and in effect blocked clean energy projects and other development in the state.

Similar opposition bubbled up when Biden designated Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni National Monument in Arizona just months later. This time it wasnt the prospect of clean energy projects sprouting up across the desert, but rather uranium mining near the Grand Canyon that had tribes and environmentalists pushing for protections.

Creating conservation corridors

Biden certainly didnt break any records with the number of monuments he designated or the amount of land set aside. But conservationists say more strategic use of the authority under the Antiquities Act will be valuable going forward as developers look to build more solar and wind farms and mine for lithium and other minerals required for a green energy transition.

They are pushing for Biden in his final weeks to expand Californias Joshua Tree National Park and establish a new monument that would stretch from the Joshua Tree border to the Colorado River where it divides California and Arizona. The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument has the support of several tribes.

Such a designation would add a significant piece to one of the largest contiguous protected corridors in the U.S.  spanning thousands of square miles along the Colorado River from Canyonlands in Utah, through the monuments already designated by Obama and Biden to the desert oases of Southern California.

The concern out there is that so much land is getting used for renewable energy and it just kills the desert completely. And so if were not more proactive about protecting these places in the desert, we could lose them forever, said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association.

More than sweeping landscapes

Bidens designations have gone beyond the canyons and mesas of the West.

In May, he designated a national monument at the site of the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois. That designation came as he tried to retain relevance in his final months in office and boost Vice President Kamala Harriss presidential campaign while Trump cut into Democrats' historic edge with Black voters.

In 2023, Biden created a national monument across three sites in Illinois and Mississippi in honor of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Emmett Till was the Black teenager from Chicago who was abducted, tortured and killed in 1955 after he was accused of whistling at a white woman in Mississippi.

A petition still is on the table for designating the Greenwood area of North Tulsa, Oklahoma  the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre  as a national monument. So is a proposal to establish a monument along the Maah Daah Hey Trail in the North Dakota Badlands, where tribes want to shift the narrative to include stories about the lands original inhabitants.

 By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The Biden administration has approved plans for a sale of oil and gas leases in Alaska that leaves open the door for drilling in a portion of the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The sale will be held Jan. 9, less than two weeks before President Joe Biden leaves office. It will include a fraction of the land total that was available for bidding roughly four years ago in a sale held during the Trump administration.

President-elect Donald Trump pledged during his latest run for the White House to expand oil drilling in the U.S., and hes pointed to the passage of a 2017 law that enabled Mondays announcement as a highlight when it comes to Alaska policy.

The 2017 law mandated two lease sales by late 2024, but major oil companies sat out the first sale. The Biden administration reviewed the leasing program, and seven leases from the first sale ultimately were canceled.

Does this mean there will be drilling in the refuge?

Its unclear. A lease sale is one step in a long process  one that can often get mired in litigation. There are ongoing lawsuits surrounding the first lease sale, and environmentalists have vowed to go to court to keep drilling out of the refuge.

There are other examples, too: the Biden administrations approval of the large Willow oil project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, west of the refuge, has yet to be settled in the courts, nearly two years after it got the green light to proceed. The company behind Willow, ConocoPhillips Alaska, has been continuing work on the project in the meantime.

Once any leases are issued for the refuge, potential exploration or development plans would still have to undergo environmental review, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has said.

What does a sale involve?

The law called for lease sales in the refuges coastal plain, a roughly 1.5-million acre (more than 6 million hectare) swath of the vast, wild refuge that borders the Beaufort Sea. The coastal plain accounts for a small part of the refuge, which boasts an array of landscapes and provides habitat for wildlife including polar bears, caribou, musk ox and birds. Debate over whether to open the coastal plain to drilling has gone on for decades.

Indigenous Gwichin leaders consider the coastal plain sacred, and caribou the Gwichin rely on calve there. Meanwhile, leaders of the Inupiaq community of Kaktovik, which is within the refuge, have supported drilling.

The Bureau of Land Management said the area that would be available for lease next month calls for the smallest footprint of potential surface disturbance and avoids key polar bear denning and caribou calving areas. It would involve 400,000 acres (nearly 162,000 hectares), the minimum required by the 2017 law, the agency said. That compares to about 1.1 million acres (4.4 million hectares) included in the first sale.

Bids in the first sale covered nearly 553,000 acres (about 224,000 hectares) the agency said at the time. Two of the leases were later given up by the small companies that held them amid legal wrangling and uncertainty over the drilling program. Seven leases that were acquired by a state corporation were canceled by the Biden administration. Litigation surrounding the lease cancellation is pending.

What happens next?

Erik Grafe, an attorney with Earthjustice who has been involved in litigation surrounding the refuge, said his organization would go to court as often as necessary to protect the refuge from oil drilling.

Many environmentalists and climate scientists have pushed for a phase-out of fossil fuels to avert the worst consequences of climate change.

While the Bureau of Land Management has said the coastal plain could contain 4.25 billion to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil, there is limited information about the amount and quality of oil thats there.

Drilling supporters, including some Alaska political leaders, have expressed frustration with the constraints set on the planned lease sale and said they hope for a change in approach under Trump.

Nagruk Harcharek, president of Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, an advocacy group whose members include Alaska North Slope leaders, characterized the scope of the new lease sale as a deliberate attempt by the Biden administrations Interior Department to kneecap the potential of development in the refuge.

He said it goes against the wishes of North Slope Inupiat, particularly those in Kaktovik.

 By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
Aizlin Romero lives in Birmingham and has been in the United States for 17 years after arriving from Mexico with her family as a 7-year-old.

Romero is a dreamer, meaning she has legal status in the country under the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals program.

She knows the future of the program is uncertain, and since Donald Trumps election, she perceives that people look at her differently when shes out in public.

Not so long ago, maybe the day after he was elected, I went to a restaurant, and it was very intense just because I was getting a lot of looks, and I just felt like I was not safe there, so I just left.

Romero says she worries about being attacked.

As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, immigrants in Alabama without legal status are facing uncertainty and anxiety about the possibility of deportation.

Trump promised in his campaign to enact the biggest deportation effort in American history.

Trump has made conflicting statements about so-called dreamers, who arrived here with their families as children, and whether they will be allowed to stay.

Worry and uncertainty about the future permeate immigrant communities in Alabama, said Carlos Aleman, executive director of HICA, a non-profit that focuses on helping immigrants build prosperity.

Aleman said for undocumented people, there is little help his organization can provide.

Were just encouraging people to inform themselves and to make themselves aware of what rights they already have, he said. Were definitely hearing concerns, but it hasnt necessarily led to a mass exodus of any sort.

Recently, about 20 men of various ages stood in groups in the parking lot of a gas station one November morning in Hoover.

They were immigrants, waiting in hopes of someone to hire them for a day of work, and demand was low. AL.com agreed to not use their names because they fear possibly being deported.

One was a 30-year-old man from Mexico who crossed the desert by foot for four days to work in the United States for opportunities to help his family.

He did not speak English and said his time in the U.S. has been lonely this past year. He said if he has to leave, it will be the end of his dream to purchase a home for his family and to help his son have a different kind of life.

More than anything, (Im here) so that my son has a better future and doesnt have to be here in my shoes. I dont want to see him here, he said.

Another young woman said her family immigrated to the United States when she was 8 years old, in 2008, just a few months after the cutoff for her to qualify for DACA. Because of that, she is undocumented.

At 24, she has earned a masters degree and is working as a social worker with immigrants and high school students.

Being able to even start a professional career, I dont know that thats something that I wouldve accomplished in Mexico, she said.

Aleman said it is not possible to know how many undocumented immigrants are in Alabama.

He estimates about 20 percent of the Latino immigrant population is undocumented.

According to the American Immigration Council, about 3.6 percent of the states population are foreign-born. Immigrants make up about 9.1 percent of entrepreneurs in the state and 12.1 percent of construction workers.

For the social worker, her family is in the United States, and the idea of possibly being forced to leave them scares her. She recalls two different occasions when she was pulled over by police officers and asked for her drivers license.

Ive been here for most of my life, Ive been able to build all of this for myself, and I would not willingly return to my home country. And so those are my thinkings, which is why I havent taken very tangible steps to prepare for that. But in turn, its just a lot of anxiety because all of that is out of my control as well, she said.

She is on a Facebook group with dreamers from around the country who talk about leaving the country in advance of possible deportation. The conversations range from how to transfer a bank account to how to get a job back in the countries their families once fled.

She said those kinds of online conversations dont happen in Alabama because the immigrant communities here are too scared to form groups.

Alabamas undocumented immigrants went through a period of heightened concerns in 2011 after the state passed one of the nations toughest immigration laws.

HB 56 allowed Alabama police officers to demand documentation paperwork and required school officials to identify undocumented students. By 2013, courts had blocked most of the law from being implemented.

On Tuesday, a U.S. Senate committee met to discuss the possibility of mass deportations. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told undocumented immigrants to get ready to leave.

This month, Trump said he would like to allow dreamers to stay in the country. In his first term in office, Trump tried to end the program.

We have to do something about the Dreamers because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age, Trump said on Meet the Press on Sunday.

In that same interview, Trump was asked about deporting kids (who) are here legally.

Well send the whole family very humanely, back to the country where they came, Trump said.

If they come here illegally but their family is here legally, then the family has a choice. The person that came in illegally can go out, or they can all go out together.

Romero, the dreamer with legal status, says when she is in Mexico, she feels like a foreigner even though she speaks Spanish. The thought of returning there is hard.

It hurts, honestly, because Ive given so much here. I have all my friends here. I dont really have any friends back in Mexico, she said.

Everything is so different over there. The roads are different, the food, the people, I would have a hard time fitting in.
Welp, we seem to have confirmation that Donald Trump Jr. has moved on from Kimberly Guilfoyle.

The Daily Mail has photographic proof of president elect Donald Trumps oldest son walking hand in hand with socialite Bettina Anderson on the street in West Palm Beach.

The outlet reports that they had just dined at swanky restaurant Buccan, near her townhouse where they have been spending days and nights. The day of the recent rendezvous is unclear.

Back in September, the two were pictured at the Honor Bar inside the Royal Poinciana Plaza upscale mall; onlookers said they appeared as if they were on a hot date.

But then Guilfoyle  whos been engaged to Jr. since New Years Eve 2020  was back in the picture, and out on the campaign trail stumping for her soon-to-be father in law (or so she thought).

Now that Election Day is over, and the outcome worked out in their favor, it seems the Republican power couple are done.

No one involved has released a statement, and there have been no cryptic posts, but that cozy snap kind of speaks for itself. As does the fact Guilfoyle hasnt been seen with Jr. in weeks.

The writing was on the wall, though. An insider told RadarOnline last month that Trump and Guilfoyle have been kaput for a while, and that they only put on a united front for political reasons.

It is all a show. The appearances of Don and Kimberly are for the cameras, the source told the gossip outlet. The Trump family does not want to create an enemy in Kimberly; they are concerned about what damage she could do. But make no mistake, the romance is over.

This high-profile split could get complicated, real estate wise. The former Fox reporter and businessman own two homes on adjacent lots in elite gated community Admirals Cove in Jupiter, Florida.

The President-elect on Tuesday said he will make Guilfoyle the ambassador to Greece, The Associated Press reported.

Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trumps 2020. Trump called her a close friend and ally and praised her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified. Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night.

I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First, Don Jr. posted.

AP contributed to this report.

_____

2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The head of a foster care advocacy group is disputing allegations that one of its members assaulted Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) during a reception Tuesday night at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill, saying the two merely shook hands during what appeared to be an amicable greeting.

U.S. Capitol Police said James McIntyre, 33, co-founder of the Illinois chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America, was arrested and faces a charge of assaulting a government official. A spokesperson for the police agency declined to comment beyond a brief statement that did not detail the alleged assault.

Elliott Hinkle, a foster care advocate from Wyoming, said he was standing near McIntyre as Mace headed for the rooms exit. He said McIntyre reached out his hand and Mace reached out hers. He said McIntyre used both hands to shake the congresswomans hand.

What we witnessed was a handshake, a passionate shake, but it didnt look like an assault or intended aggression, Hinkle said of the several people he said witnessed the encounter. He said McIntyre told Mace: Trans youth are also foster youth and they need your support.

Mace, who has introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from female bathrooms in the Capitol, alleged on the platform X that she was accosted by a pro-tr*ns man and that her injuries required a brace for her wrist and ice for her arm. I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women, she posted.

She posted an update Wednesday morning, saying President-elect Donald Trump called her to check up on me. She posted: Im going to be fine just as soon as the pain and soreness subside. January 20th cant come soon enough, referring to Trumps inauguration.

A spokesperson for Maces office did not respond to a request for comment.

McIntyre was held overnight at the D.C. jail complex and is expected to make an initial court appearance Wednesday in federal or local superior court. The charge of assaulting a government official could be a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the severity of the injuries and other factors. It could not immediately be determined whether McIntyre has an attorney.

Details of the arrest were first reported by the Imprint, a publication that covers youth and family news, including child welfare, juvenile justice and youth homelessness.

April Curtis, chair of the Alexandria-based Foster Care Alumni of America, said the allegations and arrest stunned advocates, many of them young people, who came to Washington to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the passage of a law that expanded federal support for foster care.

People are told its safe to come here and educate and advocate, Curtis said, and you shake someones hand and youre accused of assaulting them. She said numerous people she talked with provided versions consistent with Hinkles.

In a statement, Capitol Police said the incident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. and was reported to them by a congressional staffer. Police said officers and agents with its Threat Assessment Section located McIntyre and arrested him on the charge after conducting an investigative interview.

Hinkle, 31, who is the founder of Unicorn Solutions in Wyoming and an advocate for transgender rights and helps youths in foster care navigate the system and provides support, said there were about 50 people at the reception, including Mace and a congressional and state representative from Illinois. Hinkle said Mace, who co-chairs the congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, spoke at the reception, telling attendees she looked forward to working with them.

Given her posture on transgender rights, Hinkle said he was taken aback to see Mace in attendance. The event drew a number of advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, which is overrepresented among foster youths.

As she headed for the exit, Hinkle said McIntyre approached Mace and said hello. McIntyre did not appear angry as he interacted with Mace, Hinkle said, adding that her face when she first saw him appeared welcoming.

After the contested handshake, Hinkle said McIntyre returned to his seat and the congresswoman left. He said a short time later, one of Maces aides approached McIntyre and asked for his name and what message he had. Hinkle said he repeated what he had told Mace and that the aide left.

A short time later, Hinkle said Capitol police officers showed up at the reception. By that time, he said, McIntyre had left Rayburn. He said police contacted him and he returned to the building, and was arrested outside.

It could not be determined whether the encounter was captured on video or whether there is a surveillance camera in the room where the reception was held.
The U.S. State Department has updated two travel alerts for Central American nations, including one where a portion of the country is under a higher level 3 reconsider travel warning.

The updates were issued Dec. 10 for Honduras and Costa Rica. Honduras is under the higher level 3 due to crime, in the most eastern department of the country, Gracias a Dios. In that area, violent crimes such as homicide, armed robbery and kidnapping remain common and gang activity with extortion, rape, narcotics and human trafficking is widespread.

READ MORE: Social Security increase 2025: When will beneficiaries get their raise? How much will it be?

Local authorities may lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime incidents, the warning noted.

Around the resort islands popular with tourists and as cruise stops, including Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja, however, there is a concentration of resources and these areas are better policed, the advisory added.

Visitors are also warned about ongoing demonstrations in the country that can occur without warning, closing roads without notice for extended periods.

Anyone visiting the country should not walk or drive at night, be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs, avoid public transportation, including white car taxis and always remain aware of their surroundings.

Costa Rica is under a lower warning level, a 2, but also for high crime levels. Petty crime is common through Cosa Rica. Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault also affects tourists, the warning noted.

People who travel to Costa Rica are advised to remain aware of their surroundings, avoid walking alone on poorly lit beaches or streets and not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
A Shelby County woman has been charged in the alleged abuse and neglect of a disabled family member.

Cora June Morris, 69, of Wilsonville, is charged with felony neglect/abuse of a disabled adult, sheriffs officials announced Wednesday.

Charging documents state Morris used zip ties to bind the female victim, who has Down Syndrome, to a table on a patio, for hours at a time. The victim sustained injuries from the zip ties.

The victim also didnt properly feed the victim to the point where she became malnourished, according to the criminal complaint.

The investigation began in September when the sheriffs office received a report alleging the abuse by Morris, who was the womans caregiver.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources and Owens House Advocacy Center assisted in the investigation.

A court order was obtained to remove the victim from the home while additional evidence and information could be gathered in the case.

Morris was taken into custody Tuesday and booked into the Shelby County Jail. She was released the same day after posting $15,000 bond.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs office at 205-670-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Theres a non-zero chance that some in north Alabama could see a snowflake or two overnight. Even a very light dusting isnt out of the question in some spots.

The National Weather Service isnt worried about accumulations in Alabama, and there are no winter weather advisories or hazards that are expected to be issued.

But forecasters on Tuesday afternoon said they expect some redevelopment of light precipitation over north Alabama later this evening. That precipitation will fall as mostly light, and cold, rain.

But.....

Some of that rain could briefly mix with snow flurries in north Alabama between midnight and 6 a.m. Wednesday, the weather service said. Surface temperatures will remain too warm to support anything more than perhaps a very light dusting of snow across small portions of north Alabama.

The bigger story will likely be the cold air that will roll into the state through the night.

Low temperatures will range from the low to mid-30s in north Alabama, the upper 30s to low 40s in central Alabama and the low 40s (west) to low 50s (east) in south Alabama:

Here are tonight's expected low temperatures.NWS

High temperatures on Wednesday will be a big departure from today. Highs in north Alabama will only get into the upper 40s and low 50s, with the low 50s expected in central Alabama and the mid-50s in south Alabama.
We might see him as the perfect guy but to Gong Yoo, he is "NOT the type of man women are attracted to."

Gong Yoo confessed that he is 'not really good at being lovey-dovey' or 'showing a lot of care' when he guest starred on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' (via SBS Star). He said, "I'm not that brave when it comes to love."

The Goblin star Gong Yoo, who most recently appeared in The Trunk, has long been at the center of relationship gossip over the years.

Read more: Gong Yoo Faces Backlash Over 2005 Remarks Resurfacing Amid Controversial Martial Law Declaration by President Yoon

Here are the ladies whose names have been linked to him over the years.

Kim Go Eun

Fans fell for Goblin's Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun bond. After the show ended, rumors spread that their on-screen romance had crossed over as well after Kim deleted all of her old posts and posted a photo of herself with Gong Yoo in a wedding dress.

However, both of their agencies later denied that the reports were true.

Im Soo Jung

Scorpio and cancer always comfortable with each other Im Soo Jung date of birth just a day different with Gong Yoo ..

Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun & Im So Jung all are cancerian  pic.twitter.com/NCuGR72DZo  NEOHEE WORLD (@SeaLeedongwook) November 3, 2023

They previously starred together in the 2010 film Finding Mr Destiny.

Their partnership even precipitated rumors of a hush-hush wedding, which tabloids alleged had occurred in the States, but Gong Yoo's agency quickly put the kibosh on such presumptions, insisting the actor was focused on work.

Jung Yu Mi

How Jung Yumi and Gong Yoo enraged anti-feminists and caused couples to split up when they starred in the movie Kim Ji-young, Born 1982



 a thread pic.twitter.com/H8aRHxudYm  Gong Yoo Archive (@ggyoo_rkive) August 28, 2024

Aside from the upcoming series, Gong Yoo and Jung Yu Mi have reunited multiple times for hit films such as "Train to Busan" and "Kim Ji Young: Born 1982," The news of them dating came in 2019 after a netizen posted that they were getting married.

However, both actors' agencies denied the claims, adding that they would be pursuing legal action regarding false rumors.

Lee Min Jung

just found out recently that gong yoo and lee min jung worked together for mind bridge in 2010 so they knew each other even before filming big!! it's so cute that they were able to reunite to film the drama and that they seem to still be good friends until now  pic.twitter.com/LCaQm4Fsno  m  (@gongyoosimp) September 17, 2023

Another one was Gong Yoo, who was dating Lee Min Jung and was known as his co-star in the 2012 miniseries "Big."

Despite no real evidence to substantiate these rumors, their chemistry on-screen gave rise to speculation that there was a romance between the two.

Jeon Do Yeon

Jeon Do yeon  Chae Jung An

Turn Gong Yoo into a SIMP in front of the cameras



The "Oh Dang" ep is out and is great, GY and Jung An really have a wholesome friendship



 https://t.co/TEckDcKPuy#GongYoo # pic.twitter.com/iqTFVxb6Yr  Gong Yoo Archive (@ggyoo_rkive) October 17, 2024

Gong Yoo and Jeon Do Yeon were alleged to be involved in "A Man and a Woman" in 2016. However, neither side would claim to be romantically linked as a result of the alleyway rumors.

Ahn So Hee

Ahn So-hee



During a show, the hosts mentioned that they had heard a rumor about them. "We heard that someone saw you and Gong Yoo spend all night walking on the beach together."



She responded "The cast of the film 'Train to Busan' is very close, so we all went together." pic.twitter.com/q2E55SBSyt  Gong Yoo Archive (@ggyoo_rkive) February 28, 2022

Following the success of the film, the "Train to Busan" co-star had also been linked with a romance with actor Gong Yoo.

However, as with many rumors, this was a claim that was never verified by either actor.

Gong Yoo's Ideal Type

His type is 'cat like' women. In a 2017 interview with Insight, the actor said he would prefer a "self-sufficient woman who knows how to take care of herself" instead of a person who "relies on others."

The dating history of Gong Yoo is surrounded by speculation, but he is basically the one who kept the personal side behind the curtain.

Though fans are interested in examining his relationship with Gong Yoo, he does not pursue speculation on his coupling; instead, he chooses to keep his focus on the work.
Tuesdays round of rain and storms also produced at least one tornado.

The National Weather Service in Mobile said a preliminary storm survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down on Tuesday in Covington County just southeast of Andalusia, causing some damage but no injuries.

The weather service said the tornado touched down at 12:06 a.m. CST Tuesday near the Babbie community and peaked with winds of 80 mph.

It was on the ground for 0.3 miles and was 20 yards wide.

The weather service said the tornado touched down at the intersection of Two Boys Lane and Whatley Road. It damaged a home near Cantaline Bridge Road, ripping off an awning as well as a carport.

See the report from the weather service on the storm here.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham issued a tornado warning for another storm in Hale County on Tuesday, but said no damage was found in the area.

According to information from the weather service the Covington County storm should rank as tornado No. 42 in 2024 -- and the first one since June.
A woman serving time for a gun charge and setting fire to an Alabama church in 2021 managed to escape from a federal prison in Connecticut for about 45 minutes before being captured, prison authorities said Wednesday.

Xiaoqin Yan, 30, a Chinese national, has been at the low-security facility in Danbury since Nov. 20, where shes serving 8 1/2 years for Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien.

Employees at FCI Danbury were notified at around 7 p.m. Tuesday that a security device had been activated and an inmate had escaped. Local police were notified, found Yan at about 7:45 p.m. and returned her to prison officials, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI was notified of the incident and an investigation is underway. An email was sent seeking comment from the attorney who had represented Yan in the Alabama case.

Court records show Yan, who had overstayed her non-immigrant visa and wasnt legally allowed to have a gun, was also convicted at trial for arson.

According to a criminal complaint in the case, Yan was spotted on surveillance video walking into the First Baptist Church of Montgomery in September 2021 carrying two duffel bags and wearing a facemask while church services were happening. She was then seen lighting containers of gasoline in multiple places inside the church, which sustained significant fire damage.

Yan had multiple encounters with the church staff and exhibited unusual behavior prior to the episode, federal prosecutors said.
Redstone Arsenal officials have a piece of advice for morning commuters in the long-and-growing lines outside the gates: get an audiobook, bring coffee, settle in and relax.

The sprawling Arsenal is almost back to full capacity from the coronavirus slowdown, deputy commander Martin Traylor told a crowd of business, government and military officials Wednesday at the Von Braun Center during the Huntsville/Madison County Chambers Redstone Update.

He said the complex hosts about 45,500 during a typical day  just shy of 900 active duty and reserve military, along with over 27,000 civilians and 17,000 contractors  and is poised to grow in the next few years through workforce additions to the FBI and many of its other 65 tenant organizations.

Its the new normal, Traylor said. Its not that were not trying, its just you cant get 50,000 people through the gates in a quick time in the morning. Bear with us, well get there.

The Arsenal already accounts for 58% of the Gross Regional Product for the Tennessee Valley, generates $32.6 billion in economic impact in Alabama and supports 143,000 jobs, Traylor said, calling it the economic engine of the region.

Despite that, Col. Erin Eike, commander of the Redstone Arsenal Garrison, said, we have space to grow on the 38,000 acres. Added personnel and projected growth are creating growing pains, she said, including base access and the need to improve facilities and infrastructure.

In terms of business necessities, as well as quality of life, were looking for areas where we can continue to partner and work with the community to help build, she said.

Plans for Resolute Way, a joint effort by Huntsville and the Arsenal, is likely to help with traffic woes along I-565, Traylor said.

That will be a high-speed approach from 565 there at Cabelas all the way down to basically Gate 9, that ought to relieve a lot of the traffic from 565 and 255 coming down into the Research Park there and help get everyone to the Arsenal faster, he said.

The project to create another off-ramp from I-565 got the greenlight last year, and Huntsville has committed road construction funds in its 2025 budget.

Some of Redstones fastest workforce growth has come from the FBI, which now employs about 2,200, up from 500 in 2018, with a capacity to reach 5,000 by 2028.

We think close to 2030 they may be the largest footprint on the Arsenal, said Eike, whose role as garrison commander is analogous to a citys mayor.

Redstone officials declined to speak to media, and Eike said audience questions regarding the potential for U.S. Space Command headquarters to be moved to Redstone under the incoming Donald Trump administration were off-topic for today. Also off-topic, she said, were inquiries about the dismissal of Gen. Charles Hamilton as commander of Army Materiel Command.

Many observers expect relocating Space Command to Redstone is likely when Trump takes office, which would bring an expected 1,600 jobs initially  and further strains on the Arsenals infrastructure. Two federal reviews of the Air Forces selection process are months overdue, The Huntsville Times reported last month.

FBI Assistant Director Johnnie Sharp said work on its $1.3 billion expansion on the Arsenal is moving forward in full force. The opening of its Innovation Center in 2025 will bring 500 new personnel, he said, with 450,000 new square feet in six buildings at its south campus coming online in 2030.

Some portion of our existing FBI workforce will relocate from the National Capital Region  as they have already  to the Tennessee Valley here, he said.

According to Sharp, the bureau now has two assistant directors posted at Redstone, with a third coming soon  with potentially more brass to follow.

I do see a day, sometime in our near future, where probably an executive assistant director-level position  which would be equivalent to a four-star general  would be located here on our campus at the Arsenal, he said.

The FBIs projected growth at Redstone comes as Maryland and Virginia are jockeying to host the bureaus new headquarters when it moves out of the District of Columbia.

Last year, AL.com reported on a suggestion by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan  and seized on by some Alabama politicians -- to move the bureaus headquarters to Huntsville rather than elsewhere in the DC metro area. The FBI quickly quashed the idea, saying there were numerous operational reasons to remain near the nations capital.

Sharp declined to take additional questions from media.
A successful missile defense test Wednesday off the coast of Guam had Huntsville roots.

The Missile Defense Agency announced in a news release that the first live intercept of a ballistic missile target had been executed from the strategically important U.S. territory in the Pacific. The test involved the end-to-end radar tracking of an air-launched medium range ballistic missile and its interception by a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.

The Standard Missile 3 variant, a joint project by Japan and Raytheon, is assembled at the companys facilities in Huntsville and in Tucson, Ariz. Raytheon was awarded a nearly $2 billion contract in July to perform the work, The Huntsville Times reported.

In April, AL.com reported Raytheon broke ground on a $115 million expansion of its missile integration facility on Redstone Arsenal. The company said at the time the expansion would double the facilitys space and bring 185 new jobs.

The missiles are designed to travel at 13 times the speed of sound for more than 700 miles and deliver a projectile that can intercept and destroy a ballistic missile or satellite, according to Raytheon.

The Guam defense system is designed to defend the territory and shield U.S. and allied forces from potential missile threats in the Pacific region.

This is a tremendous group effort and provides a glimpse of how organizations within the Department of Defense have come together to defend our homeland Guam now and in the future, MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins said in the release. Collectively, we will use this to build upon and validate joint tracking architecture and integrated air and missile defense capabilities for Guam.
U.S. Sen Tommy Tuberville on Wednesday called one of the federal governments most successful initiatives a big Ponzi scheme.

Tuberville claimed Donald Trump and the president-elects pick to run the Social Security Administration will bring much needed reform to the retirement program.

One of the big reasons why the American people elected President Trump ... to be the next president of the United States is because they are tired of being scammed by the federal government, Tuberville said Wednesday on the Senate floor.

What the American people have been tired of for years  decades, even  is how they have been getting scammed out of their retirement money  the money that they pay into this government.

While Tuberville said Trumps promises to maintain the Social Security retirement age of 62 (or 67 to receive full benefits) and eliminate taxes on Social Security will improve the program, the nonpartisan group Committee for a Responsible Budget found the president-elects policies would dramatically worsen Social Securitys finances.

President Trumps proposals to eliminate taxation of Social Security benefits, end taxes on tips and overtime, impose tariffs, and expand deportations would all widen Social Securitys cash deficits, the group said in October.

The Treasury Departments latest Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report projected the Social Security Trust Fund would be depleted in 2035.

Once its funds are depleted, Social Security would be in the position to pay 83% of scheduled benefits, a higher percentage than indicated in previous years.

Tuberville claimed retirees are not getting fair value from Social Security, pointing out Americans are double taxed: when Social Security taxes are taken out of their paychecks and when they pay taxes on their Social Security checks in retirement.

Heres the sad truth: the American people dont have any confidence that they will see all the money they paid into Social Security over the years, he said.

Its a big Ponzi scheme, and everyone is forced to participate in it; you have no choice. It doesnt matter if youre 16 or 76. A little over 6% of your paycheck is taken out to pay for this retirement. Americans have been paying for Social Security for years only to see a fraction of what they have been promised to be returned to, Alabamas senior senator continued.

Tuberville said Washington may be filled with protesters if Congress doesnt fix Social Security.

We better start figuring this problem out because one of these days, millions of people are going to come to D.C. and say, where is my money? and I dont blame them. I dont blame them one bit, he said. We seem to be spending on everything but retired American workers.

Alabamas senior senator said he has confidence in Trump and Social Security Administration nominee Frank Bisignano, the CEO of the financial tech company Fiserv, to right the ship.

If he doesnt, Tuberville said, referring to Bisignano, well change him.

Social Security has long been a target of Tubervilles ire.

In May, the senator railed against the scam.

No, most people wont get Social Security, Alabamas senior senator, a Republican, told Newsmax TVs Carl Higbie FRONTLINE.

Its just unfortunate, Tuberville told Higbie, according to the station. It was a tax that was levied on the American people years ago, sold a bill of goods. Hey, were going to take care of your retirement.

During a Senate hearing in February, Tuberville said he paid $1 million into Social Security and receives $3,000 a month from the program.

He claimed he could have $8 million to $10 million if he had been able to invest his Social Security taxes privately but the federal government wasted his contributions.

This is all a scam. I mean, we got people who are ready to retire thats going to try to live off $2,000 to $3,000 -- impossible, he said. With $35 trillion in debt, we dont have any of your money. Were dead broke.
The magic words global warming are surrounded by left-wing mythology. Weve all heard apocalyptic predictions about what will happen if we dont start walking everywhere we go and heating our homes by burning dried animal manure.

Its time to discuss how that mythology arose and why it needs to be replaced with the truth.

On any given topic, most people wont listen to you unless you flash some credentials. I have two degrees, in statistical analysis and political science.

Statistical analysis can be used to demolish left-wing mythology, masquerading as science in several areas  notably transgender ideology and climate change. The underpinning of all science is statistical analysis.

All science is the collection of data, followed by analysis of that data. Statistical analysis can be applied to see how cherry-picked data points are used to terrify us into abandoning fossil fuels.

So Im at least as qualified as Al Gore (B.A., journalism), John Kerry (B.A., political science), or Greta Thunberg (high school student) to discuss the data behind climate change hysteria.

The focus by the lunatic left-wing fringe is on the past 150 years of carbon dioxide (CO2) increases, correlated increases in global mean temperature (GMT), and what to do about it. This focus is exemplified by the following graph:



Source: ClimateCentral.org. Used with permission.

Notice the alarming shades of red, orange, and burgundy. These are selected to scare the hell out of us. Climate Central might be a left-wing hysteria factory, pretending to be a nonpartisan teller of unbiased, inconvenient truths. (Such practices are extremely common on the left.)

This 150-year focus is best described as myopia, or tunnel vision. If we expand our scope of study to the past 800,000 years, the graph becomes far less alarming, as this one from Wikimedia Commons illustrates.

Notice the white background. Thats how dispassionate, unbiased scientists present their data. Also notice that the big spikes on the graph correspond to a natural cycle of roughly 105,000 years.

The data come from Antarctic ice cores: centuries of snow compressed under its own weight into ice. Air bubbles, trapped in the ice, are perfectly preserved air samples dating back 800,000 years.

Of course, 800,000 years ago, the GMT (red line on the graph) was so high that there was very little ice in Antarctica. Theres our first clue. So we cant get any air samples that are more than 800,000 years old.

John Tyndall discovered the greenhouse effect of CO2 about 150 years ago: when CO2 goes up, the air retains the suns heat better.

Atmospheric CO2 (various shades of blue lines on the graph) and climate change have an amplifying effect on each other. When GMT is high, CO2 naturally increases. But when GMT drops, atmospheric CO2 dissolves back into the ocean, thus amplifying the drop in GMT. So the red line closely parallels the blue line.

The big 105,000-year wave is called a Milankovitch cycle. There are smaller cycles within the big ones, because there are several variables affecting GMT: orbital variations, wobble of the Earths axis, volcanic activity, etc.

Notice also that there were huge variations in GMT for millennia before the first SUV was built. (For Planet Earth, thats a permanent feature, not a bug.) About 300,000 years ago, Antarctica was significantly warmer than it is now.

Here are two inconvenient truths for the left: there are too many wild variables that have nothing to do with SUVs, and our ability to measure them (therefore our ability to precisely predict their behavior) is limited.

Throughout the Stone Age and Bronze Age, GMT was warmer than it is now. Thats the period when civilization started and flourished. Around A.D. 50, GMT dipped below our current level. Then we had the Little Ice Age (1050-1750).

Again, all this happened before the first SUV was ever built.

When the Vikings discovered Greenland, they called it that because it was green. The Little Ice Age turned it to the color of ice and bones. Viking colonies along its coast suffered crop failures, and then they starved to death.

Elsewhere in the world, weve also found ancient underwater cities (eight of the 14 cities on this list found themselves underwater due to rising sea levels), as well as the ruins of a fishing village 100 feet inland from the current shoreline.

So sea levels have been both higher and lower than they are now, just within the few millennia that humans have built cities.

Were still emerging from the Little Ice Age, so its 100% natural for GMT to slowly increase. The problem is that the CO2 level is increasing too rapidly to be explained by natural factors. And our current GMT spike cant be sufficiently explained by any natural Milankovitch variables.

Houston Control, we do have a problem. The myth lies not in whether we have a problem, but what to do about it.

China and, not coincidentally, the lunatic left-wing fringe want us to abandon fossil fuels, and carpet America and Europe with solar farms, battery farms, and wind turbines. China builds almost all the worlds solar panels, wind turbines, and lithium batteries. Again, this is not a coincidence.

But no matter what we do, China and India will make global warming happen. All by itself  between construction in China and construction in third-world countries  China is bringing one new coal-fired power plant online every 72 hours. Its also cranking out liquid-fueled engines faster than ever before. Its much the same for India.

Greenhouse gas emissions by China, India, and the Third World are not limited by the Paris Accords and never will be. The Paris Accords are voluntary. No such nation will ever give up the promise of prosperity that cheap electricity brings.

Do we want to become dependent on China as the source of our energy production? (That would guarantee our second-tier status among nations.) Or do we want to achieve energy independence again? The recent election tells us what the American people want, and it was a wise decision.



Inevitably, the oceans will rise about 30 feet. Coastal cities worldwide will be below sea level. But the Dutch have been building seawalls, starting with medieval engineering, for over 600 years. Most of their cities are already below sea level. The rest of the world can do the same.

We can build seawalls around Boston and New York. A couple more across the Delaware Bay, the Chesapeake Bay...all the way around to Puget Sound. (Our left-wing friends ask us, Why do your solutions always involve building a wall? Because it works.)

If China, India, and the Third World are making global warming unpreventable, then we need to focus on mitigation of its effects, rather than prevention efforts that will ultimately prove futile.

Sparsely populated coastal areas, like Marthas Vineyard and Rehoboth Beach, will have to be abandoned. Its unfortunate for elitists like the Obamas and Bidens, but it wont destroy the planet or make humans extinct. Well have years to move coastal populations inland. We will adapt and thrive, as weve always done.

Jim Davis is an I.T. specialist and paralegal. You can find him as RealProfessor219 on Rumble.

Image via Pixabay.
It was a pleasant surprise to find that there are more, smart, educated women than the supposed number of fools that the mainstream media predicted would turn out to vote for Kamala Harris.

Those poor souls are now shaving their heads and denying men sex to punish them for voting for the allegedly misogynous Donald J. Trump. Another group of pathetic females are having themselves sterilized to punish the nonexistent men they believe plan to impregnate them. The TikTok videos of these narcissistic lemmings screaming in anguish after the election and the GOPs triumph, would be amusing except for the fact that these are people suffering real pain unnecessarily. All of these women really believe the big lie that womens rights are in danger. They never were.

We are living in the 21st Century not Regency England when women did not enjoy the freedoms allowed today. It was so easy for the progressive Democrats to charge that the conservative right was endangering womens reproductive rights because this issue has been successfully exploited for years and women havent bothered to delve into its substance. What the left really means is their sacred cash cow, abortion, is being threatened. This is an issue which began with lies that is still fattening the pockets of an amoral, duplicitous political cabal.

When the Supreme Court destroyed the blatant unconstitutionality of Roe v. Wade, they merely turned the issue of abortion back to the states. Women determined to get rid of their unwanted offspring will find that every blue state will gladly perform that service. New York State just passed an amendment that will allow you to empty your womb up to delivery date if you choose because doggonit, its your reproductive right.

I wish a good reporter would dare to ask one of these hysterical anti-Trump protesters exactly what they mean about their reproductive rights being taken away by the dastardly Republicans.

Women can go to any university they aspire to; labor laws protect all workers rights; they dont have to date or get married; they are free to do whatever they want; and yes, they can still kill their unborn children if its just too inconvenient to be pregnant. What have I not covered?

I am a minority woman and all my life I have done whatever I wanted and never felt the need to have a high-powered lawyer like Gloria Allred file a suit against a boss who dared to make a sexual pass at us. Women of my generation knew how to handle toxic masculinity without resorting to extortion demands.

Not long after I started writing a column for the New York Sun, I was approached by an editor at the Detroit Free Press, a noted liberal publication. She was, I guess, interested in the fact that I was an Hispanic, and thought I would want to join a liberal paper. Then she read an article Id written in which I opined that perhaps, women didnt deserve to vote. She was outraged at my satirical barb I wrote after reading the stupid reasons many women had given for not voting for President G.H.W. Bush and voting for Bill Clinton simply because he was younger. Thus, the editor took back any offer made to join her paper. This confirmed my long-held belief that staunch liberals have no sense of humor.

The mainstream media journalists are also not very adept at vetting presidential candidates as long as they are democrats. Thus, for eight years, they elected Bill Clinton, whom we knew to be a serial womanizer and alleged rapist. We, on the right, did our job checking our resources and learned why Rhodes Scholar Bill Clinton was probably not asked to return to Oxford. Both Eileen Wellstone in the U.K. and Juanita Broderick in Arkansas reported their assaults right after they occurred yet he was never even charged for anything. Yet Donald Trump was charged with assault by Jean Carroll who couldnt even remember exactly when it happened in the 1990s and had no witnesses to back up her story. She also had a past history of making similar claims yet a Manhattan jury awarded her a ridiculous amount because they hate Trump.

I am deeply grateful that there are far more wise women than the harpies and low-info hysterics that appear on the View and MSNBC. I was born in Manhattan, now the seat of all that is blue and wrong with the world. I gratefully moved to the best borough after giving birth to my third child and so enjoyed this child-friendly Staten Island, that I had my last 3 children here. It is the home to many in the NYPD and FDNY and is the only borough that voted for Trump three times.

Recently a large crowd of the Trump deplorables and his garbage supporters gathered in Miller field in Staten Island to do the now infamous Trump dance to celebrate his victory.

There was not one silly woman present.

Alicia Colon can be reached at aliciav.colon@gmail.com




With former President Trump selecting Florida rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and then former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi (R-Fla.) as his attorney general nominee, the press has been widely speculating on what antitrust policy will look like in his incoming administration. Although antitrust policy typically does not attract much public attention, it has over the last four years because of how aggressively the Biden administration expanded it to implement its radical socialist worldview.

Biden antitrust officials rescinded the consumer welfare standard, a policy statement that once assured the public that the government would go after only companies that harmed consumers interests. This gave them the unprecedented opportunity to challenge virtually any businesses it wanted, for any political or ideological reason it wished. It frequently took that opportunity, setting new records for merger challenges. The goal? To punish companies that experienced too much success in the private marketplace in an attempt to bring so-called perfectly competitive marketplaces to the United States  that is, industries where all businesses have the exact same market share, with no standouts. As if consumers having a preferred car brand, hotel chain, or phone-maker is a bad thing!

Based on who his advisers currently are and the proclamations hes made on the campaign trail, most experts expect the incoming Trump administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and let entrepreneurship and innovation thrive.

I agree. I believe that antitrust under President Trump will likely turn on three questions:

Are my core political values implicated? Will an enforcement action help or hinder innovation? Is enforcement clearly within the powers of the Federal Trade Commission or Department of Justice?

One of the main principles of Trumps first-term antitrust doctrine was that big isnt bad unless that bigness became a tool to control what the administration perceived as fundamental American values.

A focus on core values  namely, speech  characterized how the first Trump administration prioritized its antitrust enforcement actions. For instance, the administrations suits against Google and Facebook reflected a perception that both exercised excessive control over the modern public sphere and exploited that control to promote progressive values. Similarly situated companies should be on high alert.

Banks alleged to deplatform clients with conservative values will likely be the subject of antitrust investigations. Similarly, corporations that unduly embrace Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DIE) programs should expect to receive regulatory scrutiny. The thinking goes that such programs have little to do with underlying business imperatives and actively drive out employees who do not celebrate those same values. A large business that intentionally steers clear of interfering with core values seems far less likely to come under the eye of the administrations antitrust enforcers.

Big businesses that foster innovation will likely also dodge antitrust attention because the recently passed Republican Party Platform identified two guiding economic principles, the first of which is championing innovation.

This focus stands in contrast to the antitrust orientation under President Biden. Consider, for example, the Biden administrations recently filed suit against Visa. Whereas Bidens enforcers were inherently wary of companies with high market share percentages and perceived Visas expansive debit card network as a product of coercive and anti-competitive tactics, it seems likely that the Trump administration will instead focus on Visa successfully establishing and expanding a debit card network that allows small businesses and Average Joes to participate in entrepreneurial activity. The upshot is that where innovation seems likely to flourish, the Trump administration will likely take a step back, especially when that innovation has proven to yield cost savings to consumers.

Although Trumps emphasis on a broader set of values, such as individual liberty, suggests he will not return federal antitrust enforcers to adhering to the consumer welfare standard, his campaign and the Republican partys platform have put savings at the center of his economic agenda. Their focus on maximizing the economic returns of each American demonstrates how, when the administration believes that big companies can help little guys, its antitrust enforcers will take a back seat.

A desire to restore Americas manufacturing capacity illustrates this point. Trump and his administrative personnel will likely reinforce  rather than question  the massive companies they believe create new jobs and opportunities in U.S. communities.

Whether antitrust enforcement action would involve stretching the authority of the FTC or DOJ will likely be the deciding factor for companies that the administration deems to be on the cusp of the innovation divide. If it would, the administration would likely deny the use of any additional enforcement resources.

Aggrandizement of the Administrative State is not on the administrations agenda. The first chapter of the GOPs platform identifies cutting excessive regulations as a commitment. President Trump has consistently made an effort to realize that commitment by, for example, eliminating two regulations for every new one during his first term. On the 2024 campaign trail, he pledged to cut even more regulations.

How these three antitrust tests will play out in the next Trump administration remains to be seen. That said, the bottom line is that businesses and consumers can expect the administration to dial back antitrust enforcement on companies it perceives to be promoting innovation while dialing it up on corporations it believes to be threatening classical liberal values. As such, corporations that turn market power into cultural influence should proceed with caution.

Jonathan Dever is a Cincinnati attorney and former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served as chair of the Financial Institutions, Housing, and Urban Development Committee.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr (cropped).
Two days ago (December 9), Daniel Penny, on trial in New York City after being charged with the murder of a black homeless man (criminally negligent homicide and second degree manslaughter) on a NYC subway train last year, was found not guilty on the second lesser charge by the jury who had heard the case. The initial, more serious, charge was dismissed by the judge the previous Friday after the jury could not reach a verdict. CBS News provided a fairly good summary of the end of the trial including statements on the verdict by NYC District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case, and the citys mayor Eric Adams.

The exoneration of Penny came as a surprise to most observers of the proceedings, who expected that another NYC jury  like the one that convicted Donald Trump of trumped up charges last May  would come down hard on Penny, a white person accused of killing a black homeless man who was acting up and threatening passengers with bodily harm during a NYC subway ride.

On May 1, 2023, in New York City, Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless American man, died after being put in a chokehold by Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old United States Marine Corps veteran. Penny was found not guilty of a charge of criminally negligent homicide in relation to Neelys death, while a charge of second-degree manslaughter was dismissed. Neelys death prompted protests and a broader debate around the propriety of Pennys actions.

Other than the voluntary interview that Penny gave to NYC police shortly after the incident and before he was formally charged with Neelys death, the defendant had not been heard from since then. He did not take the witness stand during his trial.

The first interview with Penny was secured by FOX Newss Judge Jeanine Pirro, a co-host of the channels most highly-rated program, The Five.

The full interview will be released online later today on FOX Newss subscription channel, FOX Nation.

On Tuesday, two FOX News prime time programs, Jesse Watters Primetime and Hannity, previewed clips of the Pirro-Penny interview. These are the first times that Penny has gone on the record and been seen or heard from since May 2023.

Transcripts provided by FOX News Media follow. Video of this clip can be viewed here.

JESSE WATTERS, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Daniel Penny breaking his silence in an exclusive interview with Judge Jeanine Pirro. Thats going to be streaming tomorrow on FOX Nation just one day after a jury in Manhattan cleared him in the subway choke hold death of Jordan Neely. The former Marine revealing what was racing through his mind in the moments when he was on the subway floor, subduing Neely, a schizophrenic homeless man who was high on K2 and railing violently at passengers. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DANIEL PENNY, ACQUITTED: He was just threatening to kill people. He was threatening to go to jail forever, go to jail for the rest of his life. And now, where Im on the ground with him, Im on my back in a very vulnerable position. If I just would have let go, now he turns. JEANINE PIRRO, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Why is that a vulnerable position? PENNY: Well, he  if I just let him go, Im on my back now. He can just turn around and start doing what he said to me. So... PIRRO: Killing. PENNY: Killing, hurting. (END VIDEO CLIP) WATTERS: The former Marine enduring years of vicious left-wing attacks, who vilified him as a racist, but Penny has no regrets. And heres why. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PIRRO: What in you caused you to want to get involved? PENNY: I mean, Im not a confrontational person. I dont really extend myself. I think this type of thing is very uncomfortable. All this attention and limelight is very uncomfortable. And I would prefer without it. I didnt want any type of attention or praise, or  and I still dont. The guilt I would have felt if someone did get hurt, if he did do what he was threatening to do, would never be able to live with myself. And I will take a million court appearances and people calling me names and people hating me just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed. (END VIDEO CLIP) WATTERS: Daniel Penny also sending a message to liberal city leaders, whose policies led to what happened on that subway. Watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PENNY: These public officials would do something so self-serving. PIRRO: But how does it serve them to hurt you? PENNY: Just political gain. I mean, these are their policies that are  and I dont mean to get political. I dont really want to make any enemies really, although I guess I have already. But, I mean, these are their policies that have clearly not worked, that the people, the general population are not in support of. Yet their egos are too big just to admit  admit that theyre wrong. (END VIDEO CLIP)

Daniel Penny during his interview with Judge Jeanine Pirro, FOX News Nation, December 10, 2024. Screenshot by Peter B. Chowka used by permission of FOX News Media.

An hour later last night, at 9 PM ET, Sean Hannity previewed an additional excerpt of the Pirro-Penny interview.

DANIEL PENNY: Just very aggressively kind of like ran on and stumbled on. As New Yorkers you kind of come to accept that is unfortunately a normal occurrence. JUDGE PIRRO: And what was he saying? What was he doing? What drew your attention to him? DANIEL PENNY: Well you know I noticed him at first when he came on you know and the doors closed and as soon as the doors closed, he was carrying a jacket, and he whipped the jacket down, and it landed on the feet  I was standing and  it landed on the feet of the passenger sitting down next to me. And the zipper made a very audible noise and it was very loud and very aggressive. At that point the train car went completely silent. It felt like a vacuum. And there was like this hollow feeling and thats when I first kind of gave him my full attention. JUDGE PIRRO: OK so the train becomes silent. What if anything does he say? DANIEL PENNY: You know he first comes on and he starts demanding things. Hes demanding three different things. Certain types of food, certain types of drinks. Some type of fast food. And that he was willing to go to jail forever if he didnt get these things. And then it kind of escalated. He was saying  he repeated I was going to go to jail for life, Im willing to hurt people, Im willing to kill people, Im going to kill people and  keep in mind this is all within fifteen seconds of him getting on the train and it was this escalation of violence and threatening behavior. It was pretty serious. JUDGE PIRRO: When he said he was willing to kill people, did you believe him? DANIEL PENNY: Yeah. Totally. You know because theres outbursts on the train all the time unfortunately in New York City theres always people coming on and talking crazy and this was unlike anything that Ive ever experienced and it was very serious. I completely believed what he was saying. JUDGE PIRRO: OK so what was the reaction by the fellow subway riders? DANIEL PENNY: Like I said when there was that silence, there was that vacuum, I mean he got everybodys attention. JUDGE PIRRO: How close was he to the people as he was telling them or saying Im gonna kill someone? DANIEL PENNY: He started off in the middle of the train by the pole. And then in that escalation he started to get in peoples faces within a foot of people. JUDGE PIRRO: There was a woman with a baby in a carriage? What did she do? DANIEL PENNY: Women. Children. Kids going to school, coming back from school. It was what youd expect on a normal New York City subway train or subway car. The mother was holding her child and the school kids were protecting themselves or holding each other. People were stuck to their chairs and they felt pinned and I felt pinned, I felt nervous, I felt scared.

Needless to say, not everyone was happy with the jurys actions in the case of Daniel Penny. KFOX14 in El Paso, TX, for example, reported a story by The National News Desk:

Walter Hawk Newsome, cofounder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, called for Black vigilantes to act following the ruling in the controversial Daniel Penny case. . . Newsome, while wearing a jacket that reads Klux Busters, condemned the decision during a press conference Friday. We need some Black vigilantes, he said. People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud? How about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us?

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran investigative journalist who has been working for six decades in a variety of media, both mainstream and alternative. On Saturday, Nov. 16, Peter discussed his recent articles at American Thinker on John B. Wellss nationally-syndicated radio program Ark Midnight on the Salem Radio Network. Audio of the segment featuring Peter can be listened to at Peters YouTube channel here.
In the past three decades, Earth's drylands have significantly expanded, transforming vast regions from once-humid landscapes into arid zones.

According to a United Nations report, these drylands now cover 40% of the planet's surface, excluding Antarctica, with approximately 8% of the globe crossing the threshold from non-drylands to drylands.

Expanding Drylands Threaten Ecosystems and Global Economies

The report warns that these changes, driven largely by human-caused climate change, represent a permanent shift in Earth's ecosystems.

Unlike droughts, which are temporary, increased aridity marks a lasting transformation. Drylands are areas where 90% of rainfall evaporates, leaving little for vegetation and agriculture.

Scientists note that the changes to these regions are redefining life on Earth, with severe consequences for biodiversity, agriculture, and water security.

According to The Hill, the report highlights the devastating economic and environmental impacts of expanding drylands.

Between 1990 and 2015, Africa lost 12% of its GDP due to increasing aridity, with projections indicating a loss of up to 16% in the next few decades.

Asia is also expected to see economic losses nearing 7%. Crops like maize, a staple in regions such as Kenya, are at risk, with yields projected to halve by 2050 if current trends persist.

In addition to climate change, poor farming practices, overuse of water resources, and soil degradation are accelerating the spread of drylands.

Experts warn that if global greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, another 3% of currently humid areas could transition to drylands by the end of the century.

Read more: Blue Aurora Seen in Japan Stirs Debate Over Unknown Atmospheric Forces

Global Summit Urges Action to Halt Expanding Drylands and Restore Vital Lands

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue.

A global conference in Riyadh, hosted by Saudi Arabia, aims to foster international cooperation to halt land degradation and restore affected regions, The Guardian said.

However, critics point out that some host countries have been slow to address the root causeclimate change.

Despite the dire outlook, scientists and conservationists stress that solutions are available. Sustainable agriculture, better water management, reforestation, and education initiatives could slow the expansion of drylands and help communities adapt.

Barron Orr, chief scientist at the UNCCD, underlined that immediate action could prevent catastrophic tipping points that would worsen resource scarcity and food insecurity.

With nearly half of Africa's population already living in drylands and the global number projected to double by 2100, protecting these regions is crucial.

Experts call on governments worldwide to curb emissions, implement sustainable practices, and ensure that affected communities are supported. Taking decisive action now could secure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.
In central Pennsylvania, reports say an alert McDonald's customer managed to recognize Luigi Mangione, the Ivy League suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in cold blood in Manhattan a week ago. He got a McDonald's employee to call the cops, who are still functional in that part of the country, and Mangione was scooped up.

The evidence against him looks pretty damning, a trial attorney told CNN:

Mercedes Colwin said the fake ID that police believe Luigi Mangione used to check into the hostel on the Upper West side before the shooting, the document expressing grievances against the insurance industry and a potentially 3-D printed ghost gun  all found on the suspect when he was arrested  are very problematic, she said. Of course, that will have to be lined up with ballistics experts and they will have to show some connection to all of that evidence to the shooting of Brian Thompson. But it is very difficult and something that the defense is going to have to overcome, Colwin said.

In light of this, it's striking to learn about the background of this accused killer.

News reports say he was rich, the son of a prominent resort owner near Baltimore. I don't find that surprising based on the earlier news of his understated $279 tech-oriented gray backpack. Poor kids don't strut around with those.

He wasn't just rich, though, he was accomplished, graduating as a valedictorian at his private high school, and then going on to Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, picking up an undergraduate and graduate degree in non-gut-major computer science. Reports from his classmates suggest he wasn't a social misfit, either.

He was privileged in other ways, too -- traveling widely, showing off his sculptured torso in his social media posts, living in deep blue San Francisco and Hawaii, and apparently coming from an intact and decent family, which stated their shock and sorrow at his evil deed. I feel bad for them.

So now like Richard Cory, the toff who committed suicide in the Edward Arlington Robinson poem, he seems to have pretty much done the same to himself, since the case against him looks pretty strong even to the New York's politicized prosecutors.

What a waste.

All the same, it's hard not to think both good luck and leftism had something to do with this, namely, creating a sense of entitlement, which drives a lot of crooks.

Cops will always tell you that crooks get caught because they think they are smarter than other people. When that starts to infect their sense of right and wrong, bad things happen. Note that in one of his arrest transfers, wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, he bellowed something about "an insult to the intelligence of the American people," focusing on I.Q. in his outrage, rather than right and wrong.

News reports say he seems to have identified with the Unabomber, the elite-college far-left hermit freak who mailed package bombs to academics he didn't like in the 1990s, gravely injuring some of them. Cops on that case have told me that he got caught for this very reason -- that he thought he was smarter, better, superior to other people. In this regard, he resembles another elite college student accused of a heinous murder -- the Moscow, Idaho alleged killer of four University of Idaho students in their rented house, Bryan Kohlberger, who was in a doctoral program in criminal justice at Washington State University. Those who knew him said he always thought he was smarter than other people, too. He allegedly did his planned out killings over a student who wasn't interested in dating him.

But unlike Kohlberger, who seems to have wanted to get his rocks off on his resentment over the girl who spurned him, reveling at his technical prowess at not getting caught, cops say Mangione, was more of an activist in his mindset and motive, like the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, who created a "manifesto" of crazed Luddite ravings that he insisted newspapers print in a special segment for all to read. The Oakland Tribune, acting on the view that it might prompt some people to recognize the writing, actually did that on the grounds that it might help catch the freak. In that pre-Internet era, they guessed correctly, and it did.

Mangione had a manifesto, too, raving about the evils of private health care, and definitely seemed to admire the Unabomber in his social media post. He knew all about the Unabomber.

He also didn't like Jordan Peterson, that advocate of personal responsibility and morality, according to Daniel Kalder, writing on UnHerd after a two-hour conversation with Mangione prior to the accused murder.

And unlike other kinds of crooks, who stay silent to help their cases, Mangione, like Lori Berenson, another elite-college leftist who was convicted of assisting terrorists in Peru, preferred to go out shouting.

And like Radion Raskolnikov, the protagonist college student in Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, who murdered a pawnshop owner and rationalized it as proof of his exceptionalism, him being like Napoleon and all, and the murder target being little more than a plague on humanity, Mangione insisted the murder he allegedly committed "had to be done" in his manifesto. Thompson, his victim, was seemingly collateral damage -- which is what the Bolsheviks used to say on their mass killing sprees to build a New Soviet Man.

Issues & Insights noted the entitlement attitude in its lede here:

A manifesto recovered from the alleged shooter of UnitedHeathCare CEO Brian Thompson says that These parasites had it coming and I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done.

Combine it with leftism, and it's like electrons getting activated, a very ugly picture indeed:

Issues & Insights continues:

This is music to the ears of many on the left, who cheered when they learned that Thompson had been gunned down and are treating the shooter as some sort of folk hero. Social media users have sometimes outright gloated at the killing, is how The Hill put it, describing it as an expression of populist rage and then spending the rest of the article trying to obliquely pin the blame on Donald Trump. The Atlantic dismissed the mockery and disdain of the cold-blooded murder as an expression of widespread fury at a broken system.

CNN has since reported even worse stuff:

After police found the words deny, defend and depose printed on shell casings near the site where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down, merchandise bearing those words started to appear online. Soon after, those words appeared on several items on Amazons store, including hats, T-shirts and pint glasses as the suspect in the case garnered sympathy from social media users who expressed frustration over insurance claim denials. The phrase might be linked to a 2010 book critiquing the health insurance industry titled, Delay Deny Defend, a common description of the industrys tactics. Amazon has pulled the merchandise from the website for violating the companys rules, according to a person familiar with Amazons decision making. Meanwhile, deny, defend, depose merchandise remains on sale on eBay.

They're selling t-shirts now? And eBay, owned by a far-leftist, has let this trash stay up?

There's even more ugly stuff, as CNN described:

The restaurants page on Google and Yelp has since been flooded with negative reviews, calling workers rats and snitches. One now-deleted review on Google that was spotted by Reuters said the location has rats in the kitchen that will make you sick and your insurance isnt going to cover it. A Google spokesperson said that the reviews violate our policies and are being removed. Also, additional protections are being added to the profile page to prevent more of these reviews. Commenters also shared a similar sentiment on Yelp. However, Yelp turned off commenting on the McDonalds locations page.

Combine entitlement at being told one is great all one's life and thus, blameless and morally superior no matter what one does, with radical leftist resentment-cheering as a response, and you can see how murder can become a new normal, how the accused, Mangione, might have thought he do what he is accused of doing, and could think he could get away with what he did.

Kalder, whose piece on UnHerd was featured on RealClearPolitics today, notes that this confluence of mentalities is nothing new:

It is a tradition that goes back a long way. Fyodor Dostoevsky made Stavrogin, the central character of his great study of revolutionary violence The Devils, an aristocrat. At the time, Russia was experiencing a wave of violence at the hands of students and the children of minor nobles that would ultimately lead to the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881. Intellectuals were also participants in the second wave of Russian violence that erupted in the early 20th century, which led to the deaths of thousands; when the intellectuals finally seized control of the country, the death toll reached into the millions. Well-educated practitioners of terrorism can also be found among the radical groups of the later 20th century. The members of the murderous Red Army Faction in Seventies Germany were almost all university graduates. Bill Ayers, co-founder of the bomb-planting Weather Underground, was the son of a CEO and graduate of the University of Michigan, a so-called public Ivy. Ali Hassan Salameh, one of the men behind the 1972 Munich attack, was educated in Germany and married to 1971s Miss Universe. Meanwhile, Mohamed Atta, leader of the 9/11 attackers, studied architecture in Cairo and town planning in Hamburg. Of course, for all that these radicals were college graduates, their beliefs were strikingly Manichaean and simplistic. The advantage of being highly educated is that you can rationalise violent and dark deeds while dressing up your personal grievances in theory.

Eric Hoffer also wrote a lot about these spoiled children of the rich, turning on the civilization and all its blessings bestowed upon them, fusing with leftist entitlement and resentments, and then unleashing destruction.

Which rather suggests that maybe there is a problem with too much abundance for some. Not everyone, of course, but it underlines that some of the young need to be grounded much deeper in Jordan Peterson personal morality and less in wokester grievance culture. This is a sad story, and this kid if he is found guilty, is going to prison for the rest of his miserable life. But that still doesn't bring Brian Thompson back. It shows how weak a reed even justice is in the face of this kind of fusion of evils.

Image: Screen shot from WBFF FOX45 Baltimore video, via YouTube
Eithan Haim is a Texas physician who bravely exposed a Texas hospital that was allegedly abusing children through mutilating procedures, even though those procedures are illegal under Texas law. The Biden administration promptly indicted Haim for violating the rules against exposing peoples private health information...although he did nothing of the kind. Now, the federal judge trying the case has silenced Haim from speaking out while the case is pending. Fortunately, his wife isnt silenced, and shes exposing the judges corruption.

In June 2023, Texas passed a law making it illegal for doctors to mutilate and poison children under the rubric of so-called gender-affirming care. Moving forward, there would be no more toxic drugs and hormones pumped into children. There would also be no more breasts, penises, testicles, or uteruses excised from healthy childrens bodies. Those days were gone in Texas.

Image: Eithan Haim, M.D.. GiveSendGo screen grab.

Or at least, they should have been gone.

However, Haim, who I think is an Orthodox Jewish doctor (that is, someone who believes in the Bibles moral precepts), discovered what he alleged is evidence that Texas Childrens Hospital was continuing to impose those insults on childrens bodies, directly violating the new Texas law. To that end, he gave Christopher Rufo carefully redacted documents that contained no information whatsoever about any of the patients identities. Instead, they simply identified the childrens ages and the procedures done to them.

The Biden administration responded by indicting Haim for violating HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). HIPAA was passed in 1996 to prevent health insurers from denying insurance to people infected with HIV/AIDS. In other words, it was intended to protect sick individuals, not to protect corrupt, potentially law-breaking hospitals.

But of course, the Biden administration, which is all in on so-called transgenderism, is like Lavrentiy Beria, Stalins police chief, who famously said, Show me the man, and Ill show you the crime. So, Bidens DOJ indicted Haim for allegedly violating HIPAA. He now faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for exposing a hospitals potential illegality, even while he took extreme care not to violate HIPAA.

To help raise money for his defense, Haim and his counsel have been sharing information about the case on social media. The governmentwhich moved successfully to muzzle Trump in the federal cases the DOJ brought against himfigured the tactic would work against Haim. Ill let his wife, an attorney, pick up the tale of the horrific procedural abuse that the trial court is imposing on Haim. You can find the original thread here.

My husbands (@EithanHaim) First Amendment rights may be under attack by a de facto gag order  but mine are not. 1/7 On Dec 3, the judge threatened Eithan with FEDERAL PRISON and his attorneys with sanctions if they continue to post so-called inflammatory content on X about the DOJs corruption in this case. He didnt grant or deny the gag order, but kept the governments motion live pending trial in February. This is arguably worse and serves two purposes. (1) The courts instruction to avoid similar conduct leaves unclear what kind of speech represents a violation (presumably that which the DOJ doesnt like? see below) and what the consequences would be  imposition of a gag order merely being one of them. (2) By leaving the matter undecided, the court is shielded from public criticism and appellate review (where it would likely be overturned as unconstitutional in the Fifth Circuit). As a result of this non-gag gag order, the onus is on the defense to muzzle themselves. Its an unconstitutional prior restraint of someone who needs free speech the most: the criminal defendant David facing a corrupt government Goliath. I was not planning on speaking publicly about this case. Im a private person, and I dont really use social media. But Eithans X posts have been the only way he has been able to raise funds for a legal defense and expose the DOJs blatant corruption over the last year and a half. As a wife and attorney, I cant sit by while they extinguish the light hes shone on this case, particularly as newly unsealed evidence proves that this case was malicious all along (more on that later!). 2/7 As background, Eithan is the whistleblower who exposed in a report with @realchrisrufo that Texas Childrens Hospital was lying to the public about the existence of its transgender program for children. They were implanting puberty blockers on kids as young as 11 and hiding it from the public. He is currently facing 4 felony charges on a made-up, baseless HIPAA theory. The DOJs case is falling apart for both legal and non-legal reasons (see @EdWhelanEPPCs and @AndrewCMcCarthys excellent reporting on this in the National Review). Everyone should read this recent article from Tom Bartlett at the Free Press (@TheFP). His thorough reporting really captures what this case is about and what it has been like to live with it. https://www.thefp.com/p/biden-prosecution-eithan-haim-gender-care-childrens-hospital-transitions 3/7 Since January 2024, Eithan has been vocal on X about the corruption we've experienced since the government first showed up to our home in June 2023. Most recently, hes been posting about the prosecutors failures using screenshots of public motions and transcripts, including a motion to dismiss hearing where they really embarrassed themselves. He also posted about serious financial and personal conflicts held by the former lead prosecutor, Tina Ansari (link below). Great reporting from @kendall_tietz. https://www.foxnews.com/media/doj-lead-attorney-prosecuting-trans-medicine-whistleblower-taken-off-case-over-apparent-conflict-interest 4/7 His lawyers at Burke Law Group have been vigorously defending his First Amendment rights. In their opposition to the gag order, they called it the culmination of an abusive and incompetent prosecution and a bad faith attempt to shield the prosecutors from mounting criticism. Absolutely. @X and @Not_the_Bee (represented by @pnjaban) also sought to intervene in this case, recognizing the serious First Amendment issues at stake, but the judge denied their motions. 5/7 So what sort of *horrifying* posts are they concerned about? Among other things, Eithan called them corrupt, incompetent, modern-day woke aristocrats, who were inventing criminal law. The DOJ will run cover for those who harm children and target those who tell the truth. He said they want to intimidate [me] into silence and pointed out that the DOJ had to rescind [its] initial indictment after having to admit its allegations were completely false. I should add, by the way, that what Eithan is saying is true, he provides the publicly available evidence to back it up, and most importantly, his opinions are his right to express. I would even say hes charitable given the failure of multiple indictments, numerous factual and proofreading errors, and the sudden disappearance of lead prosecutor Tina Ansari after her deep ties to Texas Childrens were exposed. 6/7 The DOJs presentation of the so-called "inflammatory" X posts was so absurd that there was audible LAUGHTER in the courtroom, including at a post from one of Eithans attorneys which referred to the bungling, illicit, twitching pile of catastrophe that this [case] is. lol. True. Another where @KyleSeraphin said the number of effeminate clowns at DOJ who blatantly engage in bad faith legal work is stunning. And where @feelsdesperate called the prosecutorial team a clown car of incompetent midwits. The government also cited @MikeBenzCyber who referred to "Merrick's Mafia running a crime department."  Adding to the absurdity, the prosecutors seemed to not realize or care that the laughter was directed at them. I would have laughed even harder if it weren't for the fact that my husband is facing a decade in federal prison because of those clowns and midwits. 7/7 Freedom of speech is a sacred right. Eithans ability to criticize the governments case, to expose the facts of their corruption, and to show the public whats going on is the only way weve made it this far. To take that away is to rob him of his constitutional rights and to push this case back into darkness. I wont let that happen. Ill be posting more updates.

This judge, like the government itself, wants to ensure that Haim cannot raise money to continue his defense. Then, like Michael Flynn and other victims of the Justice Department, hell be forced into a settlement that includes a confession of wrongdoing, prison time, and a huge fine, all to avoid a ten-year prison term in a case in which it very much appears he did nothing wrong.

If you would like to help Haim, you can find his GiveSendGo fundraiser here.
Election Day was pretty red in Texas and a Democrat is switching parties. Check this out:

A Texas judge representing a county flipped by Donald Trump in this year's presidential race announced he is leaving the Democratic Party to become a Republican on Tuesday. Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in November, made substantial gains this year in South Texas, home to a high Latino population that has traditionally leaned toward voting Democratic. Nationwide, he cut into Democrats' margins in several voting groups -- including among Latino, Asian and young voters -- leaving the Democratic Party questioning how it can regain trust from these communities in upcoming elections. Democrats were dealt another political blow on Tuesday in South Texas after Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina announced he would switch his party to Republican during an interview with Fox & Friends. Webb County sits on the U.S.-Mexico border and has become integral to the national debate surrounding immigration. "Over the years, I've watched the Democratic Party shift further and further to the left, and leaving the values that I hold dear to my heart. I've always been a conservative, and the radicalization of the national Democrats pushed me away a long time ago. For that reason, I'm proud to announce I will be leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party," he said.

Judge Tijerina is fed up with a party moving to the Left. Where have we heard that before?

Unfortunately, a lot of Democrats in Texas are more in tune with San Francisco values than the more traditional values, and common sense, that defines our state.

The judge is also fed up with the out-of-control border issues devastating police departments and small-town budgets, the crazy demonization of the oil and gas industry, and transgender women in sports. I cannot speak for the judge but I think he is saying is that his former party has checked its common sense at the door. It's hard to disagree with the judge on that observation.

So goodbye Joe, the judge goes red.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
Daniel Penny was found not guilty in the so-called chokehold trial in NYC. In my opinion, he never should have been arrested and tried in the first place.

If youve ever ridden the subway in NYC, you know what it feels like to be vulnerable to other riders around you in that closed chamber on wheels. If you are unfortunate enough to be on a subway car with someone who suddenly exhibits violent behavior, youre likely to experience the flight or fight response. However, what does one do when there is no way to retreat? Or suppose you could escape the threat but are aware of the threat to others who might not be able to escape? Should you run for cover and leave them unprotected?

This is the dilemma that faced Daniel Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran, when he found himself in a subway car with Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man who had been arrested dozens of times for various crimes including assaults on women in the subway and larceny. Mr. Neely was screaming and threatening violence toward passengers while proclaiming that he was ready to die. Witnesses said they feared for their lives as Neely screamed, I dont mind going to jail and getting life in prison. Someone is going to die today! Mr. Penny ignored Neely until he saw him approach a mother with her small son, hiding behind a stroller. He heard Neely threaten: I will kill.

Thats when Penny got involved. He came up behind the man and grabbed him by the neck, and they both fell to the ground with Pennys arm around Neelys neck. The police arrived several minutes later, and Neely was found to have a faint pulse as he was being transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced DOA. Penny was questioned by NYPD detectives and released without charge.

Yet it didnt take long before the incident sparked accusations of vigilantism and racism. (Neely was black; Penny is white.) The usual race-baiting began, along with demands that Penny be prosecuted. It didnt matter that many passengers, black and white, championed Pennys intervention, or that Neely was a recidivist criminal who was threatening to kill people. Instead, the mob was in control, and the protector of innocents found himself charged with homicide.

After the trial, the judge had instructed the jurors before they went to deliberate that they should consider the main charge, which is manslaughter, and if they didnt prove that case beyond a reasonable doubt, then go to the lesser charge, which is criminally negligent homicide. Seven men and five women, over the course of four days, studied the main charge and the lesser charge, and came back to tell the judge that they were deadlocked. At that point, the judge did something unusual: he dismissed the manslaughter charge but told the jurors to continue deliberating on the lesser charge. By doing so, the judge implied that there was something more they should deliberate on. Thats tantamount to coercion by the judge to influence the jury to come back with some finding of guilt.

When the jury came back the second time, while the predictable mob was protesting outside the courthouse with screams of Penny is a murderer, and Daniel Penny, the Subway Strangler, they were not intimidated into arriving at a guilty verdict. The usual suspects, including Black Thugs Matter and other malcontents, who add nothing positive to the city, state, or country, spewed the tired old racial rhetoric that is as anachronistic as rotary-dial phones.

We owe that jury our admiration for their courage and integrity. This time, the race-baiting mob didnt win.

Image via Pxfuel.
A few weeks ago, Google got an unfavorable ruling in its antitrust case in the US. The jury determined that the Mountain View giant exercises a monopoly in the search engine segment. The Department of Justice (DOJ) suggested some remedies to the situation, including selling Chrome. However, the measures suggested by the DOJ against Google could make it more difficult for smaller browsers to compete.

US authorities want Google to separate itself from Chrome to solve the current monopoly situation. That said, this is not the only suggested measure on the list. The DOJ also wants to prohibit deals where browser developers set Google as the default search engine after a payment from the company.

Potential measures against Google could make smaller browsers less able to compete

Google offers generous payments to other browser developers to set the popular search engine as their default. In fact, in certain cases, deals with Google provide the majority of the funding for browsers, especially the smaller ones. With that in mind, you can intuit why a total ban on such deals would be detrimental.

If the US authorities have their way, they would eliminate most of the funding for smaller browsers as collateral damage. Of course, this will make those smaller browsers less competitive. Without funding, they will not be able to continue developing new features or innovating. Ironically, this proposal in particular, which seeks to solve a monopoly situation, could lead to the strengthening of the big players and the death of the less prominent names.

In that case, the smaller browsers would have no other option than to try to adapt to the situation. They will have to look for new business models that help them survive or continue operating. This could lead to more invasive ads or more lax data privacy policies, for example.

Deals with Google represent the main financing of several small browsers

Google has reached agreements related to its search engine with both large and small players in the tech industry. According to reports, the company paid Apple $20 billion to make Google the default search engine in Safari in 2022. On the other hand, the agreement with Google is the main means of financing Firefox. The DOJs suggested measure could have a negative impact on Mozillas browser development and maintenance.

The prohibition on search agreements with all browsers regardless of size and business model will negatively impact independent browsers like Firefox and have knock-on effects for an open and accessible internet, a Mozilla spokesperson said.
Samsung is reportedly all set to announce the Galaxy S25 series in January of next year. Leaks surrounding the lineup have mentioned that it could be more expensive than its predecessor, at least for the Ultra model. Another report also suggests a possible price increase for the Galaxy S25 series, albeit for a different reason.

New source mentions a potential price increase for the Galaxy S25 series

According to Korean outlets, the current political context in the country could lead to a price increase for the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. While the report focuses on Korea, a price increase in the companys home country could carry over to international markets as well.

The current political situation in South Korea following the emergency martial law declared by President Yoon Suk-yeol is negatively impacting the local economy. The complex context has led to a significant devaluation of the Korean currency against the US dollar, decreasing peoples purchasing power and increasing the prices of many products. Local companies that negotiate with international firms using the US dollar have also been impacted.

Snapdragon hardware price and Korean political context are the main factors

Everything already pointed to the Galaxy S25 series being a bit more expensive than its predecessor. Due to Samsung Foundrys low yield rate issues, the company was unable to implement the Exynos 2500 chip in the lineup. So, Samsung will have to resort to the expensivebut powerfulSnapdragon 8 Elite chip. According to industry insiders, Qualcomm increased the cost of the chipset by 30% compared to that of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

The price of Qualcomms flagship mobile SoC is based on two main factors. First is the jump to a more modern and efficient TSMCs 3nm manufacturing process. Then theres the integration of the Oryon custom cores that the company first launched in its laptop chips. The Korean political situation is now another factor that could lead to more expensive next-gen Galaxy flagship phones.

Samsung had already planned to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in the Galaxy S25 Ultra worldwide. The company adopted that strategy to make its Ultra phones more attractive. However, Samsung will now have to implement the chip in the vanilla and Plus variants as well. Analysts estimate that using its own chips would cost Samsung around $100 per unit. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 8 Elites price of around $200 significantly reduces profit margins.
Google isnt particularly happy about the deal Microsoft has with OpenAI to host its technology on Microsoft servers, so it has now asked the FTC to step in and force Microsoft to end its deal with the ChatGPT maker.

Googles request stems from the fact that Microsoft has an exclusivity deal to hops OpenAI technology on Microsofts cloud servers, which the company says has the potential to harm customers. According to The Information (via Reuters), Google was asked about Microsofts business practices as part of a larger investigation. In that investigation, which the FTC opened on November 28, the US regulator said it was interested in learning more about how Microsoft bundles its services.

Particularly how it integrates its cloud computing services with other services it offers. Such as Office and some of its security products. The FTC was also interested in how it integrates technology from OpenAI into services. Mainly Azure, its cloud hosting service, and Bing, its competitor to Google Search.

Google tells the FTC that Microsoft exclusively hosting OpenAI tech could cost customers more money

The main issue that Google seems to take with Microsofts partnership with OpenAI appears to be one of cost. Google says in its request that it could end up costing customers more money.

According to the report, customers who buy the use of OpenAI through Microsoft may need to cough up additional fees. Although, only if they dont already use Microsofts Azure hosting services. What Google wants is a more fair distribution for its own cloud computing customers. The request mentions that Google doesnt want customers who use Google Cloud to be required to access Microsofts servers to get access to OpenAI.

Googles request is understandable. The company might fear that additional charges would convince customers to switch to using Microsoft for a cheaper rate. The report also mentions competitors share the same concern, but doesnt mention those competitors by name. Its possible and entirely likely that this includes Amazon, which has its own web-hosting service with AWS.

The FTC may take a closer look at Microsofts partnership

While the request doesnt mention the FTCs plans moving forward, the fact that these concerns were brought up could pose a problem for Microsoft. The FTC is already investigating the company over its business practices. So perhaps it was inevitable for these concerns to surface. Now that theyve been voiced, the FTC could choose to take a closer look at Microsofts partnership with OpenAI.

The partnership started a few years ago and resulted in two large investments on Microsofts end. One for around $1 billion back in 2019, and another in 2023 for $10 billion. The second investment cemented Microsofts position as the exclusive cloud provider for OpenAI. Googles concern over the cost to customers, seems like a good reason for the FTC to dig deeper. That being said, this investigation is still fresh. It could be a while before the FTC confirms what it plans to do.
We should be pretty familiar with Gemini nowadays, as Google has been squeezing it into all of its products. While Google has made some significant strides with its AI models, weve all been using Gemini Version 1 and 1.5. Well, Google just announced the next generation of Gemini, Gemini 2.0.

Its important to know that this was just an announcement. Were not going to see Gemini 2.0 implemented into any services just yet. However, were going to see it in one of the most anticipated AI tools that Google showed off.

Google just announced Gemini 2.0.

The companys announcement shows that were truly in the age of AI automation. Google released a short and sweet video detailing some of what the company has in store. In it, we see that Gemini 2.0 will have a focus on capable AI agents that can perform tasks on the behalf of the user. Other companies like Motorola are also working on models that can perform actions across apps.

Googles ambitions are bigger, as you can imagine. Using Gemini 2.0 as a base, the company could develop tools that create an agent that can do just about anything. Multimodality is the key for this to work, as Gemini 2.0 will be able to take in information from several forms of input. Imagine being able to point your phone at an object in the real world and ask questions about it.

Does that sound familiar? This is what Google showed off when it revealed Project Astra. Well, according to the video, Gemini 2.0 will power Project Astra. In case you forgot what it is, itll let you point your phone at an object in the real world and ask questions about it. Youll be able to speak directly to the agent and youll get a vocal response back.

People have been waiting for this tool since Google I/O. We dont know when the company will release this to the public, but were sure that it will be a hit with users.

This could be a super helpful model

Just know that this video showcases what Google is planning. Its not a representation of what the company will launch. One thing that Google showed off in the video was a concept of Gemini 2.0 helping someone play Clash of Clans. The player asked Gemini where to attack the enemy base, and it was able to get the context from what was on the players screen.

Then, we heard a voice explaining where to attack the base from and why. While that seems rather lazy on the players part, it shows that Google wants its AI to extend pretty deeply into your smartphone experience.

Project Mariner

Google gave us a sneak peek at its next biggest project. Project Mariner will have Gemini perform complex tasks with a simple command. Lets just say you want Gemini to find the most famous post-impressionist painter, find a painting of theirs on Google Arts and Culture, then add some colorful paints to your Etsy cart. That sounds rather specific, but you might be able to do that when Google fully realizes Project Mariner.

Right now, the only model that Google is talking about is called Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental. This means that the company is in the process of testing it out. So, we dont know when the company will push a final version to the masses.
A new US defense bill may block Huawei from obtaining the required technology for chip production. The bill will ban those companies working with the US Department of Defense from selling important tools and parts to Huawei. The US government is implementing this measure against Huawei due to security concerns.

Recently, a report revealed that Huawei spends about $22 billion each year on research and development to stay ahead in the innovation competition. An expert said that if the company doesnt continue this, it will fall behind in a few years.

A new NDAA will make it harder for Huawei to access chip-making equipment

According to a report (via GSMArena), a new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), unveiled on Saturday, will make it harder for Huawei to get the equipment it needs to make semiconductors, which are small but very important parts of many electronics. The US government views Huawei as a security risk because of its roots in China, and this law will make it difficult for the company to buy the technology it needs.

The bill would make chip tech suppliers choose: Work with Huawei or lose Pentagon contracts. The Pentagon has a huge budget, spending billions of dollars each year, so losing the chance to work with the US defense would be a big deal for many companies.

If passed, this bill would hurt Huaweis ability to get the tech it needs for its business which is already struggling due to previous US bans.

New US law will tighten restrictions on Huawei

The new law aligns with the US governments ongoing measures to reduce reliance on Chinese technology and address security concerns. Huawei has been banned for several years and this new law would make it even harder for the company to get the parts it needs.

Earlier this year, the US also prohibited companies like Qualcomm and Intel from selling chips to Huawei. This new bill would build on those actions and stop more companies from working with Huawei in the future.

The law would come into effect 270 days after the signature of the President. That is less than a year for companies to decide whether they will continue working with Huawei or lose their US defense contracts. The new law would probably make it harder for Huawei to compete in the tech market, especially in smartphones and 5G.
Samsungs semiconductor business is currently in the midst of a crisis directly related to Samsung Foundry. The companys factories have not been up to par with the most modern chip manufacturing processes, leading to the loss of potential contracts with big clients. However, Samsung has a plan to address the gap with TSMC and try to defeat them in the future, as well as keep SMIC at bay.

Samsungs semiconductor business has been struggling for some time

Samsung Semiconductors and Samsung Foundry are separate but closely related divisions. Samsung Semiconductors, which is in charge of chip design, relies on the smooth running of Foundry, the division that manufactures them. However, the Foundry division is facing significant challenges with its 3nm GAA tech, making the implementation of the Exynos 2500 chip in the Galaxy S25 series unfeasible.

Samsung has been making changes to try to resolve the situation. One of the most significant ones was the promotion of Han Jin-man, who was previously the Executive Vice President of Samsungs US chip business, to the position of Head of the entire foundry business. The first move by the executive was to announce a two-track strategy to regain Samsungs competitive position in the semiconductor market.

This is Samsungs plan to defeat TSMC in the future

According to Han Jin-man, the firm will focus on achieving a high yield rate on its 2nm wafers. Samsung aims to prevent a situation similar to the current one, where the low yield of its 3nm wafers caught them off guard. The second part of the strategy consists of looking for clients who still require semiconductor manufacturing in older processes (10nm and older). This will ensure greater use of Samsung Foundry capacity while earning more revenue.

Currently, the main threats to Samsungs semiconductor business are TSMC and SMIC. TSMC is the undisputed leader with a market share of almost 65%. Samsung wants to boost the yield rate of its 2nm process to prevent all the big names from turning solely to TSMC next year. The companys current situation has caused it to lose important clients such as NVIDIA, the AI chips leader. Even Google will move production of Tensor chipsets to TSMC starting next year.

SMIC has become a potential major threat

The other big threat to Samsung is SMIC, the Chinese chipmaker best known for working with Huawei. Apparently, the market gap between the two companies is closer than ever. By Q2 2024, Samsung had a 5.8% market share lead over the Chinese company. However, the South Korean giants lead quickly shrank to just 3.3% by Q4 2024. At this rate, even SMIC could overtake Samsung if things dont change.
While Samsungs semiconductor division is currently in the midst of a crisis, the company has been working hard to normalize the situation. In a recent development, after much effort, the South Korean giant has finally managed to stabilize its 3nm production process. Moreover, Samsung will implement the Exynos 2500 processor in the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Exynos 2500 will be the processor of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung confirms

Previous reports already mentioned that, after failing to implement the 3nm Exynos 2500 chip in the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung was aiming to use it in its next-gen foldable phones. Now, a high-ranking Samsung Electronics official has confirmed the information in an official statement. It seems that it will be difficult to install it in the Galaxy S25 series because it is not available in quantity, but it will be possible to install it in the premium model of the Z Flip series, he said (translated from Korean).

Since the representative specifically mentioned the premium model of the Z Flip series, its possible that the company plans to integrate another chip into the Galaxy Z Flip FE. According to reports, the latter will be Samsungs most affordable foldable phone by 2025. The Samsung executives statement is in line with previous leaks that claimed the FE model will use the 4nm Exynos 2400e chip. This is the same hardware that powers the Galaxy S24 FE.

Snapdragon hardware for the Galaxy Z Fold 7?

Its interesting that the statement refers only to the Galaxy Z Flip series. This paves the way for the company to partner with Qualcomm on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Galaxy S lineup employs a similar strategy, with the most premium Ultra model using Snapdragon chips worldwide. Anyway, this is just speculation for now. Indeed, prior leaks suggested that the Exynos 2500 chip will also power the Z Fold 7.

Samsung finally stabilized its 3nm process

Samsung has received one of the best pieces of news for its chip business before the end of 2024. The companys top executive also revealed that the Samsung Foundry division managed to stabilize its 3nm GAA wafers. This means that the yield rate of the factories has already reached sufficient levels to make mass production of 3nm chips commercially viable.

Unfortunately, Samsung was unable to implement the chip in time for the Galaxy S25 series. Now, the companys next step should be to focus on optimizing hardware performance. Recently leaked benchmarks showed disappointing results. It will be key for the firm to close the current power gap between the Exynos 2500 and its direct competitors so as not to disappoint their customers.
Ange Postecoglou has revealed Tottenham vice-captain Cristian Romero has apologised after he aimed a dig at the clubs board over its transfer policy.

Defender Romero was forced off after only 15 minutes of Spurs 4-3 loss at home to Chelsea on Sunday with a fresh injury and this latest defeat made it one victory in seven matches.

Romero publicly backed Postecoglou post-match and also urged the club hierarchy  seemingly in reference to chairman Daniel Levy  to follow the lead of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in the transfer market by strengthening the squad.

Those are the things to imitate. You have to realise that something is going wrong. Hopefully they (club board) realise it, Romero told Telemundo Deportes.

It's a great opportunity to overcome the odds and hopefully create something special. Ange on fresh injury concerns ahead of Rangers  pic.twitter.com/Bd2wvbz9QZ  Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 11, 2024

Hopefully they realise who the true responsible ones are and we move forward because its a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.

Inconsistency has blighted Tottenham amid a bad run of injuries and Postecoglou discussed Romeros controversial comments before Thursdays Europa League tie at Rangers.

In the context of the day, Cristian was really disappointed obviously, more than disappointed in the fact that he works hard to get back and it was a big game for us, Postecoglou said.

He knew that, had to go off and then to watch the team sort of have to feel the pain of another defeat in the manner it happened, he was obviously very emotional.

Hes a leader in the club, he hasnt been able to help us and I think it was his way of trying to, as a leader, help us and the group in saying that were going through a tough time but he believes in what were doing.

And then the other part of it probably, he went about it sort of the wrong way in terms of, I think hes passionate about having success at the club.

I think the way he probably expressed it was not the right way, particularly in a public sense because I dont feel and certainly its not my belief that our kind of challenges at the moment are because of one thing or one person. I dont believe that. I never have believed that.

I think whatever we need to do, we have the power to do that, but itll only happen if we kind of stay united as a group, particularly through difficult times, and get through on the other side. I really believe if you can do that, you come out stronger.

Cristian, he realises what he said. A lot of what he said was good. Some of what he said wasnt right and shouldnt be done in the public.

Asked if Romero will be punished, Postecoglou insisted: I think Im pretty consistent in saying I just dont think that thats important.

I think whats more important is an understanding of how we should deal with these things and deal with them better.

Ive already spoken to Cristian about it. Hes apologised for the way he said it, particularly in the public sense, wasnt the right way to go about things.

He is a human being, he got emotional and I think he just expressed what he wanted to express publicly in the wrong way. He does care.

I think it would have been easier for him not to say anything. He does care, but like I said, theres a way to do these things.

Romeros comments overshadowed Postecoglous return to Glasgow where he will be without at least seven players, including Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and Richarlison.

The ex-Celtic boss acknowledged it was the worst injury crisis of his managerial career but is excited about being back in Scotland.

I think you know what kind of reception Ill get, Postecoglou smiled.

European nights here, you know it is something you want to be a part of and hopefully overcome.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Demand for air travel in Africa is focused to increase in 2025 as airlines increase seats available on their routes, the International Air Transport Association (AITA) has said in its industry outlook
An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, a campaign group has said.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, feels abandoned by the British government and Keir Starmer, Detained in Dubai said.

Radha Stirling, the groups chief executive, said the sentence was an utter disgrace and an embarrassment to Britain, adding that the UK has prioritised trade deals over peoples lives.

Mr Fakana was with his parents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the end of August when a holiday romance blossomed with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group previously said.

After returning to the UK and seeing pictures and chats, the girls mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Mr Fakana at his hotel, it is alleged.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.

In a statement posted on social media, Ms Stirling said: The UK was once the most diplomatically influential Western country in the Middle East.

Now, we are seeing countries like Canada, Malaysia, Ireland and the US leaving the UK way behind.

The Labour government should be ashamed they have not secured the freedom of a teenage tourist. It wasnt a difficult job.

Ms Stirling said Mr Fakana, who has been held in Dubai since September, will appeal against his sentence and was desperately hoping to come home this week.

In Dubai, if an adult has a sexual relationship with a person under 18, they can be prosecuted for having a sexual relationship with a minor.

The family have issued a plea to the ruler of Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to spare Mr Fakana.

Ms Stirling added: I urge young people and parents to reconsider holidays in Dubai where so many people find themselves at risk of unfair and lengthy detention in prisons notorious for human rights abuses and torture. Holidaymakers should book elsewhere until Marcus is free.

Mr Fakana has received backing from members of the public, with a Change.org petition calling on the Government to offer him stronger support receiving more than 40,000 signatures.

A fundraiser set up by Mr Fakanas family entitled Help bring Marcus home has raised more than 35,000  to which Game Of Thrones actor Kit Harington gave 500, according to GoFundMe.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is hoping he will not need any of the players that face Astana in Thursdays Conference League match when his side host Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday.

Chelsea have taken a number of special measures for their trip to Kazakhstan  an eight-hour flight before a match due to be played in temperatures expected to reach minus 11  and Maresca will be using the full depth of his large squad to minimise the impact on their league campaign.

Youngsters Ato Ampah, Harrison McMahon, Kaiden Wilson, Richard Olise, Josh Acheampong and Harrison Murray-Campbell have been added to the squad and Maresca said he planned to include at least a couple of them from the start.

5,606km away from home for our next #UECL clash.  pic.twitter.com/5KPsk3MuFj  Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 11, 2024

Chelsea sit top of the Conference League standings with four wins from four and second in the Premier League, four points behind Liverpool.

Asked if he wanted to use two different teams for the next two games, Maresca said: You never know because the ones not involved tomorrow, they are going to be training and they have to train well.

You never know if you need one of the guys who plays tomorrow on Sunday. But ideally we prefer not. We are going to land at 6am on Friday and its not normal for one of them, if they land at 6am on Friday, to play again on Sunday.

Maresca said Acheampong is in line to start his first senior game in Astana and added the 18-year-old academy graduate is close to signing a new contract after his future at the club had appeared to come into question.

Hes in the squad and is probably going to play from the start, Maresca said. With Josh, its quite clear, we all love Josh, the club love Josh and I love Josh. We are trying to find an agreement with the player. Its close, we are almost there.

Josh Acheampong is set to start against Astana (Zac Goodwin/PA).

However, Noni Madueke will remain at Cobham with an eye on Sunday, when he is expected to start against Brentford with Pedro Neto suspended for that match.

Sundays come-from-behind 4-3 win over Tottenham extended Chelseas winning streak to five games across all competitions.

They have scored more Premier League goals than any other side this season, but Maresca also pointed to their strong defensive record when asked about recent success.

Just two teams have conceded less than us, so we are attacking and defending well, he said.

Ive said before, youre not going to win games or titles just scoring goals, you need to defend, but even conceding three goals (against Tottenham), just two clubs have conceded more than us so it means defensively we are doing quite well.
We explore the terrifying world of chemsex where vulnerable gay men are being lured into a dark world thats tearing lives apart. Katy Regan reports.

Omar* lost his son after a chemsex encounter with an older man and a stranger ended in tragedy. Now he wants to save lives by raising awareness of the dangerous chemsex scene. Posed by model, not real name. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Trigger warning: contains graphic descriptions of sex, drug use, addiction and death.

One evening in October 2021, Omar*s youngest son called to tell him that his middle son Malik* was missing. "He was meant to be at work," says Omar. "But nobody could get hold of him." A&E departments and friends were phoned but with no luck.

The next morning, Omar received the call every parent fears: Malik, 27, had been found dead on the bathroom floor of a house in north London.

"All we knew at that point was that it was drugs-related," says Omar, who is in his 50s and divorced. I had no idea my son was even using drugs. Everyone was just in disbelief as to how this could have happened.

Malik was openly gay and, as far as Omar knew, in a loving relationship with his male partner, whom hed lived with for about seven years and hoped to marry. "My son was a responsible, kind and caring young man," says Omar. "He was a successful artist, working in a West End gallery."

Leading a double life

Through the police investigation and subsequent inquest it became clear that Malik had been leading a double life, involved in the world of 'chemsex'.

Chemsex, defined as 'sexual activity that happens while under the influence of drugs with the purpose of sustaining, enhancing, disinhibiting or facilitating the experience,' mainly affects and involves men who have sex with men.

Malik*s family discovered at the inquest that their 27-year-old son (a successful artist in a happy relationship) had been secretly caught up in the chemsex world for years. Posed by models, not real name. (Getty Images) (triloks via Getty Images)

Taking drugs to enhance sex is nothing new, but it is the highly dangerous and unpredictable nature of the illegal, Class A drugs involved in chemsex  mainly GHB, methamphetamine (aka crystal meth) and mephedron (aka miaow, miaow)  and the risky behaviours involved that mean men like Malik are losing, or ruining, their lives.

My son was a responsible, kind and caring young man. He was a successful artist, working in a West End gallery.

A deadly cocktail

"These drugs make you feel confident and highly sexual," says Ignacio Labayen de Inza, chief executive of the charity Controlling Chemsex, which he set up in 2020 to provide online support to those struggling. "Self-esteem soars. You feel invincible and euphoric, which leads to poor decision-making and unsafe sex."

The drugs also increase touch sensitivity and can help with psychosexual issues such as premature ejaculation and loss of libido. All these factors combined, its not difficult to see why theyre so popular  but they're also fraught with risk.

Ignacio Labayen de Inza, who lives in London, set up the UK's leading chemsex support charity and has experienced chemsex addiction himself. (Supplied) (Supplied)

"With chemsex, we're not talking about going to a club, having a bit of cocaine, then meeting someone and having sex," says Labayen de Inza. "This is about calling your dealer, because you plan to have chemsex, getting a bit of this and that [a cocktail of drugs] then going on [the gay hook-up app] Grindr to see who you can find to join you for a chemsex party."

"You dont know who you're going to meet  they might be a stranger, they might be paranoid and dangerous. These drugs can bring unexpected effects too. You can accidentally overdose because you took something half an hour ago and it was so powerful, you cant remember taking it and so you take some more, without waiting enough time in between."

These drugs make you feel confident and highly sexual. You feel invincible and euphoric, which leads to poor decision-making and unsafe sex.

Worryingly, chemsex addiction is on the rise. "The global statistics are very concerning," says substance abuse and sex addiction counsellor, Mell McCracken, pictured below. "A review, analysing global trends in chemsex addiction published in 2019 (covering the period 2010-2018), found that since 2010, theres been nearly a 30% rise in chemsex addiction.

"Then a second more recent study, covering 2016-2024, found a 50% increase in individuals seeking help for chemsex addiction. Over this eight-year period, there has also been a significant rise in the availability of specialised treatment options for chemsex addiction too."

Mell McCracken is a substance abuse and sex addiction counsellor, who says abuse and violence are rife on the chemsex scene. (Supplied) (Supplied)

A nationwide problem

Chemsex isn't just happening in London, but all over the UK and to people of all socio-economic backgrounds and ages, including young, newly 'out' gay men, husbands, retired men and men who arent openly gay.

Matthew Fuller, a care coordinator and chemsex specialist advisor at Controlling Chemsex, says there are various reasons for this, namely the isolation that happened during the pandemic. "This isolation, mental health struggles and the pressure to engage in risky sexual practices all created a perfect storm, making chemsex a significant public health issue," he explains.

Maliks pathology report revealed a cocktail of drugs including ketamine. What ultimately caused his death, though, was an overdose of crystal meth, the acute toxic effects of the drug causing his organs to malfunction.

There seemed to be this idea that my son was a working class, mixed-race gay guy, who through his own misadventure, had lost his life.

Omar says the initial theory was that Malik must have been lured to the flat or given the drugs against his will. But when no foul play was found, the investigation became about going through his phone records to find out why he was at the address in north London.

The family were unhappy by the police's progress on the case and "sensed the investigation was fraught with homophobia and racism," says Omar. "There seemed to be this idea that Malik was a working class, mixed-race gay guy, who through his own misadventure, had lost his life, like, 'Oh well, men like him bring it on themselves.'"

Uncovering the truth

It became apparent that on the night before Malik died (a Saturday) he'd taken a cab to a flat in north London. The flat belonged to a man twice his age whom hed been involved in chemsex with for several years. Theyd bought crystal meth beforehand then, once at the flat, the two men went searching on Grindr, trying to find other men to join them, eventually being joined by one other man on the Sunday.

"Malik had felt unwell, so they had put him in the bath," says his father Omar. "When he still felt ill, they had taken him out of the bath  and thats where he was found dead, on the bathroom floor, with a towel over him. It was devastating to learn this was the way my son had died. I'd never even heard of chemsex. Everything I found out about his life came out in the inquest. When police attended the address, the owner of the flat was heavily intoxicated and 'babbling'."

It was devastating to learn that this was the way my son died. I'd never even heard of chemsex. Everything I found out about his life came out in the inquest.

It emerged in court that Malik had probably been caught up in chemsex since he was a teenager. In 2018/19, worried his chemsex addiction was getting out of hand, Malik had sought the help of a therapist and done a course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which appeared to work.

"A few weeks before he passed away, however, he used that clinic again, explained he was back into chemsex, but had it under control. Whether or not he was just saying that, or he did feel it was under control at that point, well never know," says Omar.

A powerful addiction

The potent mix of drug and sex addiction with chemsex makes the damage it causes to the person and those around them  and the reasons why they become addicted in the first place  both complex and wide-ranging.

"This loop of dependency on both substances and the sexual highs they facilitate, make it extremely difficult to break free," says Fuller. "The dangers lie not only in the immediate physical health risks, but also in the long-term impact on someone's mental health, personal relationships and self-esteem."

You prioritise sex over everything else and soon it takes over your life. You lose jobs because you dont turn up for work. You sleep with people you wouldnt normally sleep with...

One particularly harmful effect of the drugs is that you dont feel tired, so users sometimes dont sleep for four to five days. "You prioritise sex over everything else and very soon, it takes over your life," says Labayen de Inza. "You lose jobs because you dont turn up for work. You sleep with people you wouldnt normally sleep with and then comes the shame, guilt and remorse, which can lead to anxiety and depression."

A dark scene

So why is it that gay men are particularly vulnerable to the lure of chemsex? Labayen de Inza says firstly, its because in the MSM (men who have sex with men) community, sex is so readily available. "You go on Grindr and you can be having sex with a complete stranger within 10 minutes," he says.

Once you have sex on these drugs, you get used to having only chemsex, so its difficult to go back to having sex without them.

"Also, the gay community is rife with low self-esteem, fear of rejection, abandonment and loneliness. So you're much more vulnerable to taking anything that's going to make sex easier for you to achieve. Once you have sex on these drugs, you get used to only having chemsex, so its difficult to go back to having sex without them."

Also, because of the stigma and secrecy surrounding gay sex, people who are not yet open about their sexuality, are particularly vulnerable.

Hitting rock bottom

"Many of the men who come to us are at breaking point," says Fuller. "One individual we worked with found himself attending chemsex parties multiple times a week. His health rapidly declined due to a combination of drug overdoses and HIV-related complications. He lost his job, his home and his sense of self-worth."

Due to the powerful nature of the drugs involved in chemsex, boundaries are crossed with devastating consequences. Blackmail and assault are rife, although experts say its important not to paint everyone who engages in chemsex as criminals, predators or victims.

"When you're high, you feel invincible," says Labayen de Inza. "You might invite someone to your house, you might even allow someone to film you having sex with people."

Fuller explains how then some men are being driven to suicide after being blackmailed into "paying money they dont have, to buy silence over videos of them having sex at these chemsex parties."

Offering support

Matthew Fuller is a specialist chemsex advisor and care coordinator at the charity Controlling Chemsex. He says the men he helps are 'at breaking point'. (Supplied) (Supplied)

Labayen de Inza launched his charity after he himself experienced chemsex addiction and saw the need for a specialist support service. He also got a huge response to a Chemsex First Aid guide he'd co-authored for the gay hook-up app Grindr.

"The guide covered things like, 'What do you do if you're at a sex party and someone has passed out  when do you call an ambulance?'" he says. "It sparked a massive response  in one year, I received enquiries from around 13,000 people."

He spoke to several leading LGBTQ+ organisations, sex clinics and drug services in the UK and built his own team, made up of many specialists who themselves had struggled with chemsex "so they really cared".

Violence and blackmail

More and more disturbing tales poured in and it became clear the chemsex world was also filled with violence. "About 60% of the men I've treated have suffered, witnessed or even participated in abuse or sexual violence, while under the influence," explains McCracken.

About 60% of the men I've treated have seen, suffered or even participated in abuse or sexual violence, while under the influence of drugs.

"I know recently, someone who was desperate to find drugs," adds Labayen de Inza. "He found a dealer on Grindr, and when the dealer arrived at the house, the dealer wasnt a dealer. There were three guys they beat him up and they stole from him. But how can you report something like this? You dont want anyone to know what you were doing because it involves drugs and gay sex."

Providing a lifeline

Treating those with a chemsex addiction is challenging. Fuller, who supports around 10 people a week via the charity, says: "Treatment involves harm reduction strategies, psycho-education and counselling to address both drug use and underlying issues like trauma or mental health conditions We help clients regain control of their lives and plan their next steps."

The charity offers eight sessions with a case worker, with more available if needed. "The police dont always understand," says Labayen de Inza, "but things are improving. They are taking it more seriously than before, and there is now information about chemsex on the Met website, which is a huge improvement."

The most painful thing is that its such a waste of a life. To know Malik felt so out of his depth and couldnt speak about it...

In the meantime, the loved ones of those who die or whose lives are ruined by chemsex are desperate for support. "The most painful thing is that its such a waste of a life," says Omar sadly. "To know Malik felt so out of his depth and couldnt speak about it..."

To parents who suspect or who are told their child is struggling with chemsex, he advises: "Try to be understanding and supportive, however shocked you might be. Be prepared to provide support for the long-term and most importantly, be very, very grateful they have come forward and are talking to you."

"What happened to Malik was not something me or any of the family knew about," he continues. "It was not something he felt able to discuss with anyone. Perhaps if he had, things could have been very different. Thats why I am talking about it now."

*Names have been changed to protect identities. Yahoo has contacted Grindr for comment.

For free, professional support, visit Controlling Chemsex.

Read more on sexual health:
Farmers will protest in Westminster with their tractors on Wednesday, as the Government insists its support for the sector is steadfast.

Hundreds of farmers are expected to bring their machines to the streets around Parliament as Sir Keir Starmer faces Prime Ministers Questions as rural communities continued to express anger over changes to inheritance tax.

The RIP British Farming protest has been organised by Kent Fairness for Farmers and Save British Farming in response to the toxic Budget, which included changes to inheritance tax for agricultural businesses and a faster phaseout of EU-era subsidies in favour of environmental payments.

After 13,000 people rallied in Westminster against the Budget last month, tractors are expected to travel into the capital from across the country, including from Exmoor, Shropshire, Somerset and the home counties, for the latest protest.

The vehicles will line up on Whitehall from 10am, there will be speeches at noon and a slow drive around central London from about 12.45pm.

The protest comes as the Government publishes a report on Wednesday analysing the state of UK food security.

And MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will hear from countryside and farming leaders and financial experts on the impacts of the changes to inheritance tax.

Ahead of the protest, the Environment Department (Defra) said it had put 343 million into the rural economy last week, in payments for nature-friendly farming activities, benefiting more than 31,000 farmers.

Defra also announced new details of its environmental land management schemes, which pay farmers for public goods ranging from healthy soil, rivers and hedgerows, to habitat creation and large-scale nature restoration work.

Jeremy Clarkson joined a protest by farmers last month (Aaron Chown/PA)

Environment Secretary Steve Reed insisted our commitment to farmers is steadfast, as he said the cash was part of a 5 billion two-year farming budget which was the largest ever directed at sustainable food production in our countrys history.

His comments echoed those of Downing Street ahead of the protest on Wednesday.

Asked if Sir Keir was concerned farmers could get more militant and restrict food supplies, a spokesman for the PM said: We have been very clear we are not going to change course on this policy.

It was necessary to take tough decisions at the Budget and the spending review and those decisions remain.

But our commitment to farmers is steadfast and our message to farmers is clear, that is why we provided 5 billion to the farming budget over two years including more money than ever for sustainable food production.

Last month an estimated 13,000 people gathered in Westminster to protest against the Budgets impact on farming, with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, TV personality Jeremy Clarkson and leading politicians Kemi Badenoch, Sir Ed Davey and Nigel Farage among them.
The UK Government has insisted that a proposed tourism tax in Wales will not affect the number of people going on holiday to the country.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said cities in the UK and abroad had a similar levy in place and had not seen an impact.

The Welsh Government is proposing to allow councils to charge 1.25 per night in a tourism tax from 2027, that would affect guests staying in hotels, bed and breakfasts and self-catered accommodation.

Councils would have to opt in to the scheme once the Senedd makes it legal.

The cliff railway in Aberystwyth will be closed for a day as part of a protest against the tourism tax (Alamy/PA)

The Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions (Wava) represents more than 100 tourist attractions across Wales said it could impact visitor numbers at a time when they have not yet returned to pre-Covid visitor levels.

Ms Stevens said: The Welsh Government has introduced a Bill in the Senedd which will give local authorities in Wales the choice to introduce a levy on overnight stays in visitor accommodation.

And it will be for individual councils to decide whether they will introduce a small charge paid by people staying overnight in commercially-let accommodation in Wales to help support a thriving tourism industry.

She added: More than 40 countries and holiday destinations around the world have introduced a form of visitor levy, including Greece, Amsterdam, Barcelona and California and many of us have paid the levy while abroad without noticing.

The money will help support a long-term, thriving, tourism industry in Wales. I am confident that the Welsh Government will work with businesses and tourists alike to get this right.

Farnham and Bordon MP Gregory Stafford said he was concerned that some communities are going to be hit harder than others.

A study on the potential economic impact of the tax by Cardiff Business School and the Welsh Government found that introduction of the levy could lead to a between 250 and 730 full-time equivalent jobs being list.

The brunt would mainly be borne by hotels and food outlets, the report said.

The Wava recommended its members close for the day on Tuesday in protest.

Tourist attractions that are against the introduction of the tax include the Grade-II funicular cliff railway in Aberystwyth.

A final decision may not be made until next year.

Shadow Welsh secretary Mims Davies said: Labours new tourism tax has merely just created attraction closures and strikes, from the zoo in Ynys Mon to the cliff railway in Aberystwyth.

The Welsh Government proposal will put more jobs in jeopardy, hotels rooms left empty and will simply send Welsh families across the border on to flights for their trips, treats and holidays.

Does she really agree with her colleagues in Cardiff Bay that the potential price of 700 tourism jobs and the loss of tourism to Wales together with 40 million of revenue, is a price worth paying?

Ms Stevens replied: Im afraid I dont recognise any of those figures. In Manchester a similar scheme has been introduced, been highly successful and raised 2.8 million in just one year. She should be more ambitious for Wales.
First Minister John Swinney welcomed children to his official residence as he unveiled his Christmas card, which will raise cash to help a leading childrens charity.

Mr Swinneys card features a picture taken by very talented PA news agency photographer Jane Barlow of Loch Faskally in his North Perthshire constituency.

A framed copy of the picture, signed by Mr Swinney, will be auctioned in the new year to raise funds for Children First.

Speaking as children and young people who have been helped by the charity visited Bute House, the First Ministers official residence in Edinburgh, for the launch, Mr Swinney highlighted his commitment to eradicating child poverty.

Meanwhile, a teenager who has been helped by Children First said having the First Minister listen to what she had to say could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The 14-year-old, named only as Jamieleigh, said: Meeting the First Minister, him sitting down with us and hearing what we say, could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not many people get to do this.

Its great that hes chosen Children First for his Christmas card.

A view of Loch Faskally near Pitlochry, Perthshire, taken by PA news agency photographer Jane Barlow (Jane Barlow/PA)

Mr Swinney said: The Scottish Government is committed to making Scotland the best place in the world to grow up. So, it was important to me that this years Christmas card reflected that pledge.

This year saw the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child incorporated into Scots law through ground-breaking legislation, helping to make sure public authorities across Scotland respect, protect and fulfil all childrens human rights and that children live free from discrimination  an ambition championed by Children First.

He praised the charity for its tremendous work protecting children from harm and delivering emotional, practical and financial support for families.

Mr Swinney added: Meeting the children and young people today at Bute House was an excellent opportunity to hear first-hand about the issues affecting them, and their aspirations for the future.

He added: Id like to thank the very talented Jane for contributing her photograph for this years Christmas card.

Loch Faskally is a place of great natural beauty that showcases the very best Scotlands environment has to offer.

First Minister John Swinney with Kayden Cooper (left), 10, and Jacob Millar, 10, as they hang Christmas baubles (Jane Barlow/PA)

Children First chief executive Mary Glasgow said they were delighted and honoured that the First Minister had chosen the charity to benefit from this years Christmas card.

Ms Glasgow said: We are very grateful to John Swinney for thinking of us and to Jane Barlow for sharing her beautiful image to help children across the country.

She added: Through our national support line and in homes, schools and communities across Scotland, our teams are working with families, day in day out, to help protect their children from harm.
Lawrence Dallaglio says search for Tom Voyce echoes his own family tragedy

Lawrence Dallaglio has expressed his sorrow after his former England teammate Tom Voyce was apparently swept away while crossing a flooded river, with the Rugby World Cup winner saying it has echoes of his own family tragedy.

Voyce was believed to have died after trying to flee his car when he got into difficulty crossing a ford on the River Aln, near Alnwick, Northumberland, as Storm Darragh lashed the UK.

The 43-year-old was last seen on Saturday and a major search involving the emergency services and volunteers continued on Wednesday.

The world of rugby expressed its shock and sadness at the apparent loss of the former England winger and full-back.

Dallaglio, whose sister Francesca was killed in the 1989 Marchioness disaster on the Thames when a boat carrying party-goers collided with a dredger, sent his best wishes to Voyces family.

Writing on X on Wednesday, Dallaglio said: Its the most horrific news and all I would say at this juncture is that please let us all respect Toms family and their suffering right now and keep them in all our thoughts.

Having experienced the same emotions myself when Francesca was missing and presumed dead.

Her body wasnt recovered for 4 days after the marchioness sank.

Its just such a tragedy. Sending all my love x

Dallaglio won titles with Voyce when they were both at Wasps and they played in the same England sides.

Searchers gathered at first light on Wednesday and scoured the banks of the river from the ford which is between Bolton and Abberwick, all the way to the sea at Alnmouth.

Searchers looking for Tom Voyce enter the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)

A water level indicator at the ford showed the river was still around one foot deep on Wednesday morning but it would have been much higher at the weekend when the storm drenched the Northumberland landscape.

A bunch of red roses was left on the riverside by the ford.

It is understood Voyces Toyota Hilux was recovered from the river at least 15m downstream from the ford.

Police believed he was swept away while trying to escape his vehicle.

The alarm was raised on Sunday morning when Voyce had not returned home following an evening with friends.

The search has included specialist officers from Northumbria Polices marine section, the National Police Air Service, drones and dog handlers.

A police diver joined the major operation to find Tom Voyce (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Volunteers from the North of Tyne and the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue teams joined them, along with Coastguard rescuers.

Police divers scoured the riverbed, while other search specialists equipped with poles waded downstream from the ford.

Coastguard specialists, with a trained dog on board, used a dinghy to carry out their sweep of the river.

Members of the public were asked not to attend the scene to join searchers.

Tom Voyce celebrating a win with Gloucester (Nick Potts/PA)

Northumbria Police said Voyces wife Anna and all his family were grateful for everyones efforts to find him.

Voyce won nine caps for England during his career and spent six years at Wasps, from 2003 to 2009, where he helped them win European and domestic titles, moving there from Bath and then leaving to join Gloucester in 2009.

He made 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in May 2013.

It was understood Voyce, who was raised in Cornwall, relocated to Northumberland recently after living in London.
Stormonts Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said Executive agreement had been reached on the progression of legislation to include Northern Ireland in a UK ban on puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria.

Mr Nesbitt said young people in Northern Ireland will have equitable access to NHS trials to determine the safety and effectiveness of puberty blocker drugs.

Westminsters Department of Health and Social Care said on Wednesday the Commission on Human Medicines had published independent expert advice that there is currently an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children.

The department said the commission had recommended indefinite restrictions while work is carried out to ensure the safety of children and young people.

While health is a devolved matter, the ban applies across the UK.

In a statement to MLAs, Mr Nesbitt confirmed the step had been taken following agreement with the devolved powersharing Executive.

He said: I am writing to inform members that Executive agreement has been reached on the progression of legislative proposals for Northern Ireland in respect of the making of an indefinite UK-wide order to prevent new patients aged under 18 from beginning to take puberty blockers for the purposes of gender incongruence and/or gender dysphoria, under the care of private prescribers.

A temporary UK-wide ban on the sale and supply of puberty-suppressing hormones  known as puberty blockers  expires on December 31.

This ban applies to the sale or supply of these drugs, prescribed by private UK-registered prescribers for gender incongruence or dysphoria, to under-18s not already taking them.

It also prevents the sale and supply of these medicines from prescribers registered in the European Economic Area or Switzerland for any purposes to those under 18.

Following recommendations from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), it is now intended that we will replace the UKs existing temporary restrictions with an indefinite ban, subject to review in 2027.

The Health Minister has made a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly on legislative proposals in respect of a UK-wide order on puberty blockers. Full statement: https://t.co/PWi26Q3cEN pic.twitter.com/mtTs46t7e3  Department of Health (@healthdpt) December 11, 2024

Mr Nesbitt said NHS clinical trials will be undertaken to determine the safety and effectiveness of the drugs.

He added: Children and young people in Northern Ireland will have equitable access to these clinical trials.

The analysis of the findings from these clinical trials will inform the long-term policy position and inform future decisions.

I am committed to improving wider gender identity service provision for children, young people and adults in Northern Ireland.

This will require investment in gender identity services through a business case which is currently being considered.

Despite the very challenging financial position facing my department, I have advised officials that I will prioritise the development of this service to ensure the appropriate advice and support is available to individuals and their families.
Mohammed Ismail al-Daher shows his scars from cigarette burns all over his body after being wrongly arrested - Heidi Pett for The Telegraph

It did not require much in Bashar al-Assads Syria to run into trouble with the secret police  and it always ended badly.

Mohammed Ismail al-Dahers only crime was having the same name as a suspect wanted by the Palestine Branch, one of the most feared intelligence units in Assads entire security apparatus.

It did not seem to matter what he did, what records he kept to prove he was not that Ismail al-Daher, whoever he was, that he was merely a humble mechanic from Raqqa.

Eventually, he knew he would be stopped, either at a checkpoint or by a passing patrol, bundled into a vehicle at gunpoint and taken into custody.

Then the torture would begin, first the beatings and later the cigarette burns that still cover much of his body.

Discarded army uniforms litter the road to Damascus as soldiers melted away - Heidi Pet For The Telegraph

It happened four times in as many years, most recently in May, and it normally took months for him to convince his tormentors that they had the wrong man.

It certainly did not help that Raqqa, in eastern Syria, was for three years the city that Islamic State, or Isis, chose to make the capital of its self-declared caliphate.

But, as Mr Daher points out, he fled to Damascus in order to get away from Isis  only to find out that life in government-held Syria was just as terrifying.

Those days are in the past  forever, Mr Daher hopes.

On Wednesday evening, he and his friends were celebrating the end of the Assad years at the storied Kamal al-Safi coffee house, a century-old establishment in the Mezzeh district of the Syrian capital.

He often came here to while away the hours, perhaps over a game of cards or backgammon, and smoke a water pipe.

Never in the past, however, would conversation have turned to politics, certainly not if it contained even the merest whiff of criticism towards the regime.

If you were foolish to have that kind of conversation, that would be a surefire way of ensuring that no one ever saw you again, he said with a rueful laugh.

The only time you could criticise Assad was in your dreams when you were asleep.

Things could not be more different now.

Damascus has the feel of a liberated city. Even three days after Assads overthrow, residents of the city were hooting their horns, waving the revolution flag and rejoicing in the streets.

Over the 24 years he ruled the country, Assad made it very clear that Syria was very much his familys fiefdom.

His likeness or that of his father and predecessor Hafez, adorned posters, billboards and statues the breadth of the country, a reminder that his power was absolute.

How little time it has taken, as is so often the case when a strongman is overthrown, for that power to prove ephemeral.

The posters are gone, the statues toppled, the billboards ripped and blowing in the wind as though mocking the fallen dictators Ozymandian conceit.

His army, too, has dissolved. The checkpoints where soldiers would supplement their 8-a-month salary by shaking down passing motorists lie abandoned.

Here and there, though in far fewer numbers, the fighters of the new regime, footsoldiers of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction, stood guard.

Dressed in casual fatigues and clutching kalashnikovs, they waved motorists past with cheerful grins on Wednesday, a conscious effort to show how different to the old guard they are and perhaps, also, that they represented the smiling face of political Islam

People are still waiting outside Sednaya prison seeking information about the missing - Heidi Pet For The Telegraph

How long that remains the case remains to be seen. HTS is a former al-Qaeda affiliate. Its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, had ties not just to al-Qaeda but to Isis as well and has a $10 million bounty on his head in the United States.

Since 2017, however, both Mr Jolani and his movement have sought to present themselves as moderate reformers, still Islamic in outlook, but tolerant and inclusive of others.

When the euphoria that always follows the overthrow of a dictator passes, HTSs true self  moderate or otherwise  will become clearer.

But for the moment, many Syrians are simply revelling in the unfamiliar joy of freedom after half a century of stultifying Assad rule.

Mahmoud Hilal joined HTS four years ago frustrated that he could not find a job - Heidi Pet For The Telegraph

We feel like people who, having been trapped underground, suddenly come to the surface and are able to breathe fresh air, said Ahmad al Matar, a bookseller.

For the moment at least, apres Assad, le deluge predictions of immediate disaster are yet to come to pass.

Two fighters inspect the cells of Sednaya prison where many atrocities took place - Hussein Malla/AP

HTS has maintained discipline in its ranks and order on the streets, roadsweepers are back at work and, despite the suffering Assads opponents suffered over the 13-year uprising, there is little evidence of retribution, misleading claims on social media notwithstanding.

Fighters are keen to point out that their main aim is not to force an unwanted ideology on others but to restore hope after decades of darkness.

I joined HTS four years ago primarily because since leaving school I have been unable to get a job, said Mahmoud Hilal, a bearded 32-year-old fighter standing on a highway scattered with military uniforms discarded by Assads fleeing army.

My ambition is to be an electrical engineer and I came to the conclusion that until Assad was gone I would have no chance of realising it.

The execution block at Sednaya prison - Anadolu

Amid the euphoria and optimism, however, there is also a great deal of grief and trauma.

All day on Wednesday, families trudged up the hill to Sednaya prison, 16 miles north of Damascus, desperate to find out what happened to loved ones who vanished over the civil war, never to be seen again.

Sednaya was known as a slaughterhouse under Assads rule - Ammar Awad/Reuters

Sednayah was Syrias most notorious place of incarceration until its inmates, some of them too weak to walk, were sprung from their cells over the weekend.

Torture was carried out on an industrial scale here, according to rights groups. So many were executed it was known to Syrians simply as the slaughterhouse.

Thousands of people have visited in recent days, trawling through its dank corridors strewn with the paper records of inmates, shrinking away from the nooses hanging from ceilings in some cells and lighting their way through the darkness with their mobile phones.

It soon became clear that there was virtually no hope of finding answers.

People have been searching for prisoners at Sednaya since Assads fall - Ammar Awad/Reuters

Mirvat Alsahli was there to look for her son Tareq, who disappeared in the middle of his university exams in 2015 when he was 20.

Eventually she tracked him down to Sednaya in 2018 and was allowed to visit him twice, although she was never permitted to ask why he had been arrested.

There were always two guards standing right behind him when I visited, she said.

Then I went back a third time, and a soldier said, He is dead. He gave me no other information. I hope it is not true but I just want to find out what happened.

But her search was in vain and she left, weeping, supported by her equally distraught daughter.

Mazhuda Hiban camped outside Sednaya prison hoping for scraps of information about the fate of her husband and three sons - Heidi Pett for The Telegraph

Sitting on the grass outside the prison, Mazhuda Hiban told of a similarly futile search for her husband and three sons who were dragged away from their home in Homs in 2011 as she watched with her youngest son, Khaled, who was then four.

What they had done or where they were taken, she never found out.

For the past seven years she and Khaled, now 17 and holding few memories of either his father or his brothers, have visited every prison in the country hoping for clues.

Her return to Sednaya was a last desperate attempt to solve the mystery.

It feels hopeless, she said. My only hope is that Assad and his family go through just a little bit of what my family has gone through over the past 13 years.
Sir Keir Starmers pledge of 13 million funding comes on top of the 21 million announced by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, in July - Stefan Rousseau/Reuters

Sir Keir Starmer has committed an additional 13 million to the UNs Palestinian aid agency, despite allegations its staff were involved in the Oct 7 massacre.

The money will be used to support services for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank and the wider region, Downing Street said.

The funding was announced after the Prime Minister met with Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), on Wednesday.

Sir Keir expressed his condolences for the agencys staff who had been killed in conflict and they both agreed that more must be done to protect aid workers in Gaza, Downing Street said.

The two reiterated the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and an increase of humanitarian aid.

The move marks another symbolic act of support for the agency despite Israel banning it from operating from the areas under its control.

Sir Keir announced the funding after he joined Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of UNRWA, in calling for more protection for Gaza aid workers - Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

The funding is on top of the 21 million announced by David Lammy in July, when the Foreign Secretary resumed funding the agency after it was paused by the Conservative government because of Israels allegations that 12 staff were involved in the Oct 7 attack.

The Foreign Secretary told MPs he was reassured that after an independent review, the agency would meet higher standards of neutrality and vetting.

Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: Securing the release of hostages in Gaza, getting more aid in to alleviate the humanitarian crisis faced, and establishing a sustainable peace must be a priority for the Government. The Prime Minister needs to explain how these priorities were advanced in his discussions with Philippe Lazzarini.

UNRWA had to fire nine staff after investigations into their involvement in the appalling attack on Israel on Oct 7 last year. All links to the Hamas terrorist group must be severed. It is critical that UN bodies ensure adequate vetting of personnel and activities and Catherine Colonnas reforms need to be fully implemented.

Ministers have now committed more taxpayers money to UNWRA, but they need to prove to us that the 21 million of funding they released in summer reached those most in need.

There are deeply worrying reports that criminal gangs are ambushing aid in Gaza. It would be unacceptable for British aid to be abused, used by terrorists, or if it failed to reach the most in need civilians.

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: The UK Government should not be providing any aid to UNRWA until it has ridded itself of Hamas operatives.

The UN agency was set up in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees, however Israel claims that up to 10 per cent of its staff have links to terror groups and some of its workers participated in the Oct 7 massacre.

UN investigation

A UN investigation found that nine employees from the agency may have been involved in the murder of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of hundreds more.

In October, the Israeli Knesset voted 92-10 to ban the agency from conducting any activity or providing any service inside Israel including East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.

Sir Keir joined Israels Western allies in condemning the move, saying that he was gravely concerned by the decision.

The Prime Minister said the legislation would make the UNRWAs work for the Palestinians impossible and risked jeopardising the delivery of essential aid to the country.
Slaying of U.S. health insurance executive sparks mixed reactions

Xinhua) 09:51, December 11, 2024

NEW YORK, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The killing of an executive with the top-ranking U.S. health insurance company UnitedHealth Group in Manhattan has drawn both condolences from industry insiders and an outpouring of public anger against private health insurers on social media.

Police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday arrested Luigi Mangione, 26, accusing him of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last Wednesday morning outside a luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, was ordered held without bail and appeared in a Pennsylvania court Monday night.

At the crime scene, investigators reportedly found words "depose," "deny," and "delay" on bullet casings, which led to speculation that the attack may have been motivated by frustration with UnitedHealth's policies.

Speaking at a press conference after Mangione's court appearance, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said Luigi Mangione "is no hero."

"Violence has no place in our society, and its presence in our healthcare community is particularly devastating," Don Antonucci, president and CEO of Providence Health Plan, wrote in a LinkedIn post shortly after the slaying.

Yet, sympathy for Thompson has been overshadowed online by widespread frustration with private health insurers. Social media users have amplified grievances over industry practices, including prior authorizations.

UnitedHealth Group disabled comments on its condolence post for Thompson on Facebook, which a dominant majority of users reacted to with laughing emojis.

A post saying "Anyone who helps to identify the shooter is an enemy of the people" on X got 111,000 likes and 9300 retweets as of Sunday night.

Following Thompson's killing, there was a surge of highly engaged posts across social media glorifying the incident, some even calling for additional acts of violence, generating impressions in the tens of millions, said Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), an organization dedicated to identifying and predicting the spread of ideologically motivated threats, disinformation, and misinformation across social media platforms and physical spaces.

"Out of the top 10 most engaged posts on Twitter/X that mention Brian Thompson or UnitedHealthcare, six either expressed explicit or implicit support for the killing or denigrated the victim," said a report by NCRI on Thursday.

A relevant post on X, saying "Are we starting now then?," likely in reference to the start of a larger movement, garnered over 1.8 million impressions, with highly engaged comments referencing a "Class War," according to the report.

"We've gotten to a point where health care is so inaccessible and unaffordable, people are justified in their frustrations," said Celine Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor.

People have very justified hatred toward insurance company CEOs because these executives are responsible for an unfathomable amount of death and suffering, said Taylor Lorenz, a podcaster for Vox Media, on the social media site Bluesky.

"As someone against death and suffering, I think it's good to call out this broken system and the people in power who enable it," said Lorenz.

The display of public outcry over industry practices like "prior authorization" from health plans before a doctor could provide service is expected to pressure authorities to address urgent issues.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - Representatives of the Libyan Presidency Council (PC), House of Representatives (HoR), High Council of State (HCS), as well as legal experts have met to discuss the draft law on reconciliation proposed by the Presidency Council
Jonathan Reynolds says there needs to be a move from narrow negative perceptions of investing in defence - Paul Grover/The Telegraph

The Business Secretary is to condemn protests by small but vocal campaign groups targeted at defence companies.

Jonathan Reynolds will argue not enough is being done to ensure British defence companies get the investment they need.

He is understood to be concerned about how environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment principles deter money being put into the defence industry.

Defence companies have been targeted by critics, especially on the Left, who claim investing in them is tantamount to supporting war.

Industry and government figures have often countered such criticism by arguing that investing in the UKs defence and security firms is a way of ensuring peace, not undermining it.

Mr Reynolds will meet senior figures from defence companies such as BAE Systems, Babcock and James Fisher Defence, as well as financial figures from the likes of Barclays Bank.

The Business Secretary is expected to argue that investing in the UKs defence and security firms helps to ensure peace in Britain in the face of threats from Russia, Iran and other hostile states.

He will say defence companies  and the financial institutions that support them  have been subject to sustained political protests by small but vocal campaign groups.

Facing down threats

He will also argue that there needs to be a shift in attitudes and move narrow negative perceptions of investing in defence.

Mr Reynolds is expected to say: The need for the UK to have its own robust, strong defence sector has arguably never been greater. It is essential we have a healthy defence sector to face down the threats to our security and our way of life.

He will add: I dont think its fair or right for businesses and investors to benefit from the economic security provided by your sector, whilst also ignoring how it is delivered.

The remarks come with Sir Keir Starmer under pressure to increase the amount that is spent on defence by the Government each year.

Rishi Sunak promised in his final months as prime minister to raise defence spending from its current level of about 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by the end of the decade.

Sir Keir said he too had an ambition to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent, but has not given any timeline on the plans. He has more recently said one will be unveiled next year.
Raw milk sales have grown by 20 per cent over the last year despite H5N1 spreading amongst US dairy cattle - Lisa Baertlein/REUTERS

A child who is believed to be infected with H5N1 may have caught the virus from drinking raw milk, health officials said on Tuesday.

The child from Marion County, California, began vomiting and developed a high temperature after drinking a glass of unpasteurised milk, local health officer Dr Lisa Santora told reporters.

After being taken to A&E, the child tested positive for influenza.

Though the exact strain is yet to be determined, officials suspect it is H5N1  the bird flu that has infected almost one thousand herds of dairy cattle in the US this year, the bulk of which are in California.

Other household members who drank the same milk didnt develop symptoms, but had consumed the milk in much smaller quantities by adding it to their coffees, Dr Santora said.

Almost one thousand dairy herds have been infected with H5N1 this year - Natalie Behring/Getty Images North America

If H5N1 is confirmed, it will be the first time a person has contracted the virus directly from drinking raw milk. Most of the 60-odd cases detected in the US this year have been from direct contact with sick cattle or poultry.

However, in May, 24 farm cats contracted the virus from drinking raw milk from infected cattle. Half of the cats died, and all had severe symptoms including stiff body movement, ataxia, blindness, circling, and copious oculonasal discharge, the US Centres for Disease Control said.

The news comes after traces of live H5N1 virus were detected in batches of unpasteurised milk sold at retail stores across California last week. The milk was produced by Fresno-based brand Raw Farm, the largest producer of raw milk in the state.

While pasteurised milk undergoes a rigorous heating process that kills bacteria and viruses such as H5N1, the raw variety can lead to a number of serious health risks, including infections like salmonella, E. coli, brucella, campylobacter and listeria.

For this reason, US health agencies have long since warned of the dangers of consuming raw milk. But several public figures  including incoming US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and celebrity Gwenthyn Paltrow  continue to promote its consumption.

Raw milk sales have grown by 20 per cent over the last year despite the risk of H5N1 growing over the same period.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
Robert Jenrick MP is seen in Westminster in London, United Kingdom. - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing

Robert Jenrick, shadow justice secretary and former Tory leadership contender, joins Kamal and Camilla in the studio to discuss Labours multi-billion pound grand plans to build four new super-prisons.



The prisons will create 14,000 new places, but Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood says were still going to run out of space within three years. They will also be forced through the planning process by Angela Rayner under powers that allow the objections of local towns and villages to be overruled.



Kamal and Camilla ask if forcing prisons through the planning system without properly consulting with local residents is ever a good idea.



Plus Jenrick on first-cousin marriage and whether Shamima Begum should return to the UK now that the Assad regime has fallen.

Watch episodes of the Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to The Daily T newsletter for updates.
Kimberly Guilfoyle. Her role as Greek ambassador will involve managing relations between the US and Greece - OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP

Donald Trump Jrs ex-fiancee has been nominated as the next US ambassador to Greece on the day he was pictured with a new Florida socialite girlfriend.

Kimberly Guilfoyle was named by Donald Trump for the top diplomatic job, which will require her to live overseas for the next four years.

The 55-year-old former lawyer and lingerie model has reportedly split from Mr Trumps son, Don Jr, whom she had dated since 2018.

On Monday he was photographed walking hand in hand with Bettina Anderson, a Palm Beach socialite who has become a fixture at Mar-a-Lago, Mr Trumps luxury Florida resort.

Mr Trump Jr issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, congratulating his former fiancee, writing: I am so proud of Kimberly.

She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First.

Kimberly Guifoyle and Donald Trump Jr in 2023. They had dated since 2018 - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images North America

Ms Anderson, a 38-year-old model, influencer and philanthropist, was pictured sitting directly behind Mr Trump Jr and Ms Guilfoyle at the Republican National Convention in July, before their reported split.

She is the daughter of Harry Loy Anderson Jr, the financier and long-time fixture of Palm Beach society who became the youngest bank president in the country aged 26 in 1970.

Ms Andersons outing with Mr Trump Jr, pictured by the Daily Mail, was to celebrate her birthday at Buccan  a trendy restaurant in Palm Beach.

A source close to the couple told Page Six: Bettina and Don have been together for a few months, and are super cute and happy together. Its just a natural fit  everyone is happy for them!

Their relationship has not been publicly acknowledged by either Mr Trump Jr or Ms Anderson, but she hinted at their romance by posting a picture of a flower delivery on Instagram earlier in the day.

Bettina Anderson is Mr Trump Jrs new girlfriend - John Parra/Getty Images North America

Mr Trump Jr has been married once before, to the model and actress Vanessa Trump. The couple have five children, including Kai Trump, who gave a speech at this years GOP convention.

Ms Guilfoyles marriage to Mr Trump Jr would have been her third. She was first married to Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, between 2001 and 2006, and then to Eric Villency, a businessman.

Between 2006 and 2018, she worked as a presenter on Fox News, before joining the pro-Trump super PAC America First Policies.

Her relationship with Mr Trump Jr began in 2018, and the couple were often pictured together at political fundraisers and campaign events.

The following year, they purchased a $4.4 million home together in the Hamptons, a salubrious enclave on Long Island.

Controversy at fundraiser

In 2020, she was accused of making uncomfortable sexual remarks about her fiancee at a fundraiser, including that Mr Trump Jr liked her to dress up as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

A Trump campaign spokesman said at the time that her remarks were not reported in context and that she had not said anything inappropriate.

If she is confirmed by the Senate, Ms Guilfoyles role will involve managing relations between the US and Greece, which are friendly.

Greece is a member of Nato, and allows the US to operate a naval support base from Crete, in the eastern Mediterranean.

In a statement announcing her nomination, Mr Trump said Ms Guilfoyle had been a close friend and ally for many years and was supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad, but made no reference to her relationship with his son.

Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defence cooperation to trade and economic innovation, he said.
Pairing sprouts with the right ingredients is key to enhancing their charms

Its hard to think of a vegetable more moaned about than Brussels sprouts. Bitter, wind-inducing and odiferous are just some of the complaints levelled against the grandfather of brassicas. And yet, they appear on our festive tables each year, as much a part of a British Christmas as crackers and carols.

Their reputation is anchored in history. According to food historian Pen Vogler in her book, Scoff, weve been munching Brussels sprouts since the 15th century largely because, like potatoes, they thrive in the British climate. Over the years they became a staple and eventually familiarity bred contempt, writes Vogler.

But flavour is their biggest crime. They have an earthy bitterness to them, as well as a sulphurous smell when being boiled, that likely contributes to their lack of broad appeal, explains Alexina Anatole, author of Bitter. And the historic tendency to boil vegetables to mush exacerbates these traits. (Theres a joke that the British way of cooking sprouts is until they are uncountable.)

But Im here to try to convince sprout naysayers to change their minds. Firstly, if your dislike dates back to childhood, sprouts are worth revisiting, as new varieties have fewer glucosinolates, the chemicals that cause bitterness. In some respects, this isnt a good thing, as nutrients and complexity of flavour are often lost in the process.

Secondly, pairing sprouts with the right ingredients is key to enhancing their charms. In my cookbook, I talk about four ways that you can work with bitterness in your cooking: soothe with dairy, temper with salt, balance with sweetness or distract with acidity, Anatole says. All these approaches have the power to make Brussels sprouts delicious.

Ravinder Bhogal, chef owner of London restaurant Jikoni also loves sprouts and values their versatility. Their bold flavour works with a variety of global flavours and condiments from fish sauce, tamarind & chilli oil, to tahini, she says. And I love the way they look  dinky cabbages.

Ive asked chefs and food writers for their favourite ways to cook Brussels sprouts  not just for Christmas but any time  to make them truly delicious.

Orecchiette with Brussels sprouts, brown butter and walnuts

Anatoles pasta dish contains punchy flavours, including toasty brown butter, which mellow out the bitterness of the sprouts beautifully. Plus, theres umami from the pecorino, further toasty bitter notes from the walnuts and aniseed freshness from basil. The flavour is a knockout and perfect for the autumn/winter season, she says.

Christmas panzanella with panettone croutons

Bhogals creative and sustaining festive salad is a perfect post-Christmas meal, as it uses up any glut of vegetables or panettone you might have lurking. It could sway sprouts naysayers says the Jikoni chef because the sprouts are beautifully charred and their cruciferous flavour balances so well with the sweet panettone croutons.

Butterscotch Brussels sprouts

Im willing to bet youve never thought of this before, but serving this classic veggie side coated with a spiced butterscotch glaze really works, says Nisha Katona, founder of the Mowgli chain of Indian restaurants. The sweetness offsets any bitterness in the Brussels, and we all know how well bacon takes to the sweet treatment.

Grilled sprouts with walnut ketchup

Bedfordshire has a long history of growing Brussels sprouts, so theyre often on the menu at The Sun Inn, in Felmersham. Our sprouts are locally grown in the next village and served in a variety of ways, says head chef Pete Pestell. This recipe is a favourite: sprouts are grilled and served with bacon from the pubs own 350-acre Wild Berry Farm, and enjoyed dipped into walnut ketchup.

Sprouts with wind-dried bacon and chestnuts

Amy Poon, restaurateur and founder of Poons London deli, gives sprouts a Chinese twist by pairing them with her house-made bacon, which is cured in soya sauce, Chinese wine and spices, then air-dried.

Put 200g wind-dried bacon on a plate in a steamer and steam for 15 minutes. Reserve the juices and cut into 3mm slices. Roast 1kg halved Brussels sprouts in olive oil for 25 30 minutes until tender and charred. After 15 minutes roasting, add 180g cooked chestnuts  some crumbled, some whole  to the tray with the sprouts. Five minutes before the end, add the bacon and juices to the tray and roast for another 5 minutes.

Sprouts with crispy kale, hot honey and pecans

Simon Hulstone, chef owner of the Michelin-starred The Elephant restaurant in Torquay, has an admission: hes generally not a big fan of sprouts. However, he loves them in this dish. I wanted to make the dish approachable and also a talking point, he says. The sweetness of the honey adds a different taste note and then the heat from the chilli comes through and brings a new dimension. Theres a delicious crunch, too, from the crispy kale and pecans.

Sprout tacos

Our sprout taco is a true celebration of bold flavours and textures, says Ben Boeynaems, executive head chef at ABC Kitchens at The Emory Hotel in London. Sprouts are sauteed until caramelised and tender. To bring it all together, we add roasted peanuts and fresh mint, which lend a nutty crunch and a burst of vibrant aroma, he says. At the restaurant, he serves the sprouts inside corn tortillas with tomatillo salsa and salsa matcha, a smoky crunchy Mexican condiment. Home cooks can buy authentic salsas and tortillas online from Cool Chile.

Sprout tacos

Brussels sprouts with Chinese sausage

David Thompson, chef founder of Long Chim restaurant in London and a world authority on Thai cuisine loves sprouts paired with strong flavours. He suggests the following:

Stir-fry blanched and sliced Brussels sprouts, cooked and sliced Chinese sausage and chopped garlic with lard or neutral oil until golden and aromatic. Add a splash of the sprout cooking water and simmer gently for a minute or so. Add oyster sauce and a splash of fish sauce, a pinch of sugar and white pepper, and serve with jasmine rice.

The earthy bitterness of Brussels sprouts works perfectly with the savoury sweetness of the Chinese sausage, Thompson says. And when they are seasoned with some suave oyster sauce you end up with hearty dish that presents itself nicely, both on the palate and the plate.

Brussels sprouts and onion tarte tatin

In our savoury tart, the Brussels sprouts counterbalance the sweetness of the onion and caramel, creating that classic and delicious combination of sweet, sour, bitter and texture, explains Jan Bretschneider, chef owner of Restaurant Roots in Southbourne. Crucially for sprouts avoiders, the brassicas dont overwhelm, as there are other delicious ingredients  truffle!  to enjoy. The sprouts are part of the flavour, not the whole flavour, Bretschneider says.

Chargrilled Brussels sprouts with cashew mole

Brussels sprouts arent typical in Mexican cooking but Yahir Gonzalez, chef at Zapote restaurant in London, says they pair beautifully with the bold, complex spices and smoky flavours of the cuisine. Theyre especially good cooked over an open flame, as they retain their texture and flavour, he says. He suggests serving charred sprouts with cashew mole. Its made by blitzing together roasted and charred Mexican chillis (Morita and Chili de arbol), onions, and garlic. Extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, fresh tomatoes and chardonnay vinegar are then added. The sprouts are served on the mole with fresh toasted cashews and deep fried tortilla strips, Gonzalez says.

Chargrilled Brussels sprouts with cashew mole

Roasted sprouts with ssamjang butter

Kyu Jeong Jeon, chef owner of Dongnae and Bokman, Korean restaurants in Bristol, loves all kinds of cabbage. So, when I first moved to the UK and discovered these mini cabbages, I loved them instantly and couldnt work out where all the hate was coming from, she says. She loves to serve roasted sprouts with butter made with ssamjang, a spicy Korean condiment. Mix together 50g salted butter, 15g ssamjang and  teaspoon fish sauce. Spoon the butter over 500g roasted sprouts and finish with a sprinkle of toasted seeds and a squeeze of lemon. The ssamjang counters the bitterness in the sprouts and brings out their inherent sweetness, she says.

Salad of blue cheese, sprouts and artichokes

This beautiful salad by food writer Mark Diacono tackles all the different characteristics of sprouts to create a delicious whole. One of the things I love best about sprouts is that they are complicated characters, he says. The olive oil emphasises their bitterness, the artichokes call to the sweetness and earthiness, while the walnuts add to the nuttiness. But I think its the contrasting sourness of the blue cheese that really sets this off.
Graffiti of the now dissolved Basque terrorist group Eta on a wall in Bilbao in 2015. Photograph: Graham Whitby-Boot/Sportsphoto/Allstar

Four former members of the Basque terrorist group Eta have been jailed for almost 75 years each for attempting to murder two journalists and their toddler son by stuffing a plant pot outside the familys home with explosives and shrapnel.

Aurora Intxausti, a journalist for El Pais, her husband, Juan Palomo, a reporter for Antena 3 TV, and 18-month-old son, Inigo, were targeted as part of Etas socialisation of suffering terror campaign, which sought to inflict the maximum possible pain across Basque society in order to achieve independence from Spain.

As the family was leaving their home in San Sebastian at 8am on 10 November 2000, Palomo heard something that sounded like a firecracker go off by their front door. He then noticed a plant pot on the doormat and immediately told his wife and son to get as far away from the door as possible.

When experts examined the pot, they found it contained 2.5kg of dynamite and a similar weight in nuts and bolts that had been put there to act as shrapnel. The device had failed to explode only because Palomo had opened the door too quickly, causing the connection between the detonator and the explosives to fail.

Last month, almost exactly 24 years on, four Eta members admitted attempted murder during a trial at Spains highest criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, in Madrid.

On Thursday, judges sentenced the men  Asier Garcia, Patxi Xabier Makazaga, Jon Zubiaurre and Imanol Miner  to almost 75 years each. They were handed a sentence of 19 years and 10 months for each of the three counts of attempted murder, and a further 14 years and 10 months each for terrorist offences.

In their sentencing remarks, the judges noted that the bomb had been planted with the sole intention of causing the deaths of the couple and their child, adding: Fortunately the device did not explode  although this was due to circumstances than ran contrary to the will of the defendants, who had employed the necessary means, resources and knowledge in the hope that the device would activate and achieve their intended result.

Intxausti said the sentence had brought the family some closure.

Its been proven that they intended to kill us and they didnt care that my son was with us, she told El Pais. It brings an end to a tragic event that took place in 2000.

Eta, which killed more than 800 people during its four-decade armed campaign, renounced its use of arms in 2011. Seven years later, the group apologised for its actions, accepting that it bore direct responsibility for years of bloodshed and misery.

In May 2018, Eta announced its full and formal dissolution.
The region is remote, and communication links to the outside world are poor - Simon Townsley

Ten patients infected with the mystery illness spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo have tested positive for malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

However, multiple diseases may be involved and testing is still ongoing, said director-general of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Of the 12 initial samples collected, 10 tested positive for malaria, although its possible that more than one disease is involved. Further samples will be collected and tested to determine the exact cause or causes, Dr Tedros told journalists at a press conference.

Over the weekend, a team of WHO doctors, epidemiologists, and other outbreak specialists were dispatched to Panzi, the rural part of the DRC where a mysterious illness has sickened more than 400 people and killed 79.

Their task is to determine what is causing the outbreak, in difficult circumstances: the region is incredibly remote, and communication links to the outside world are poor.

While rapid tests were used to detect malaria, other samples have been transported to a more sophisticated regional laboratory in Kikwit, 300 miles away, as well as the national reference laboratory in Kinshasa, a journey of at least two days by road.

Several samples obtained by Africas Centre for Disease Control last week arrived in Kinshasa over the weekend but were too damaged to be usable, according to local news reports.

The mystery outbreak began in late October when hundreds of people began to fall ill with a range of symptoms including fever, a cough, aches, and anaemia. Most cases and deaths have been in children under 14.

The area also suffers from high levels of malnutrition and low vaccination coverage, leaving children vulnerable to many diseases including pneumonia, measles, influenza, and others.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
Lord Saatchi and Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild have been friends for 25 years

Lord Saatchi, the advertising tycoon and former Conservative Party chairman, has found love again at the age of 78.

More than a decade after the death of his second wife, he has revealed his new relationship with American-British businesswoman Lady de Rothschild, 70, who lost her own husband two years ago.

The pair had previously been friends for 25 years.

Its a touching story, a widow and a widower, but its not exactly a romcom, Lord Saatchi told The Times, calling Lady de Rothschild, a former director of The Economist Group, a formidable, fascinating woman.

Lord Saatchi, a Tory peer whose advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi was behind Margaret Thatchers famous Labour Isnt Working campaign, lost his second wife, the novelist Josephine Hart, to primary peritoneal cancer in 2011.

The couple had married in 1984 and had a son, Edward Saatchi.

Lord Saatchi with his late wife Josephine Hart who died of cancer in 2011, aged 69 - Dave Benett/Getty Images

Speaking about Harts death, Lord Saatchi said: I thought life was over. People say I was very miserable and unhappy for years. I dont remember it, but it must have been because I was in mourning.

He added: The nature of Josephines death was dire. It felt like a calamity, a catastrophe.

Lord Saatchi said he was comforted in his grief by Lady de Rothschild and Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, her husband, who was a British financier and a member of the Rothschild family.

When Sir Evelyn died in 2022, aged 91, Lord Saatchi and Lady de Rothschild remained in touch.

He said: We were just friends. It never occurred to me or her, never. I never thought, Wow, Lynn is very attractive, although obviously she is. She never thought, I wonder what hed be like? Until we did.

Lady de Rothschild and her husband Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, who died in 2022 - Arnaldo Magnani/Liaison

He added: I know the exact time we flipped. We were at Harrys Bar for dinner. How you get from a platonic relationship into a romantic one is a mystery. But it happened in a split second, in the eyes. Everything changed.

I really hadnt thought about any woman except Josephine for years. But Lynn suddenly said something and then I felt it. I was shocked. But she is a formidable, fascinating woman and I realised that we could make it happen.

Lord Saatchi said the couple now split their time between their multiple houses and refused to discuss politics together, as she will always be a Democrat; I will always be a Conservative.

He first hinted at his relationship with Lady de Rothschild during an interview about his new book Orgasm with The Telegraph earlier this year.

Speaking about his and Harts friendship with Lady de Rothschild and Sir Evelyn, he said: We were very happy together as four people.

Josephine died first, then Evelyn. So now were left with two: the widow and the widower. And that can work in a sort of fairytale way.

He confirmed it was a romantic relationship, adding: And Im very pleased about that.

He also revealed what his close friend Bob Geldof, the singer and political activist, had to say about their burgeoning romance.

On one occasion I was with Lynn and Bob, and I said in the most serious voice I could muster, Im sure that Josephine and Evelyn are looking down at Lynn and thinking, this is very good.

And Bobs answer was, Self-serving bull----. Hes pretty plain-spoken, is Bob.

Earlier this year, the new couple tabled an indicative 350 million bid for The Telegraph together, which was rejected by RedBird IMI, the Abu Dhabi fund selling the newspaper.
Bridget Phillipson considered repealing the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act after warnings it could have created a platform for hate speech on campus - Paul Grover

New free speech laws will be toothless without a compensation scheme for university staff and students who have been cancelled, academics have warned.

In an open letter to Bridget Phillipson, a group of academics from top universities said it was wholly inappropriate for the Education Secretary to have paused free speech legislation just days before it was set to come into force in August.

They urged Ms Phillipson to reinstate the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, which had been introduced by the previous Conservative government, in full and without delay, following reports that she is poised to bring back the legislation in a watered-down version.

Ministers are understood to be discussing the removal of the crucial statutory tort element within the legislation, which would allow academics and students to bring civil claims for damages if their freedom of speech was proven to have been stifled.

The statutory tort provision is the only mechanism in the Act that provides for judicial enforcement of its duties. A law without a judicial enforcement mechanism is toothless, the academics said.

The free speech legislation would also have rolled out a new complaints scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS), the universities regulator.

The open letter to Bridget Phillipson was organised by Edward Skidelsky, the director of the Committee for Academic Freedom - Jay Williams

Under the Act, the OfS would have been able to hand out fines and other sanctions to any university found to have breached free speech duties  although it is unclear if these would have been legally enforceable. Staff and students would only have been entitled to launch a court case if they had first exhausted the complaints scheme.

The group of 45 academics warned that any penalty that the OfS may impose upon a university under the complaints scheme remains a recommendation.

Without the legal backstop of the tort, universities can simply ignore recommendations, they added.

The letter was organised by leaders of free speech groups among academics and students, including Abhishek Saha, a founding member of the London Universities Council for Academic Freedom, Edward Skidelsky, the director of the Committee for Academic Freedom, and Dennis Hayes, the director of Academics For Academic Freedom.

Professors at Russell Group universities including University College London (UCL) and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have also added their signatures, plus Andrew Neish KC, a barrister and director of the Best Free Speech Practice project.

The same group of academics gained more than 660 signatures in a separate letter they wrote in August calling on Ms Phillipson to reinstate the free speech legislation with immediate effect.

Signed by public figures including Richard Dawkins and a number of Nobel Prize winners, it warned that hundreds of academics had been hounded, censured, silenced or even sacked from British universities for exercising free speech rights.

In the latest letter published on Wednesday, the academics said further speech violations have occurred in the four-month delay since Ms Phillipson paused the legislation.

They cited claims that Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, was forced to postpone a speech at Cambridge University in October, while a student union society was blocked from taking part in Durham Students Unions freshers fair that same month.

The halting of the main provisions of the Act has emboldened those on campus who seek to shut down, rather than debate, views of which they do not approve, the academics warned.

With each new contravention of free speech rights, the public becomes more aware of free speech as a major contemporary problem and perceives the Government as hostile to free speech.

Bridget Phillipson could face legal action for shelving the Act, after the Free Speech Union was granted permission to appeal the move - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing

Sources told The Telegraph that ministers had previously hoped to make a decision on the legislations future by the autumn, although the timeline appears to have been delayed by internal wrangling.

Ms Phillipson now faces potential legal action over her decision to shelve the Act, after the Free Speech Union was granted permission to appeal the move. A judicial review hearing is set to take place in the High Court on Jan 23.

It follows a significant backlash from academics, with officials from the Department for Education (DfE) meeting with 40 professors and representatives of minority groups to discuss their concerns in recent months.

Ms Phillipson announced at the end of July she would pause and consider repealing the Act following warnings it could have created a platform for hate speech on campus.

Critics have branded the suggestion a red herring, insisting that the Act would only have strengthened protections for free speech within the law.

The Education Secretary also said the legislation would have created extra red tape and potentially costly legal cases for universities at a time when the sector faces significant financial pressure.

In their open letter to Ms Phillipson published on Wednesday, academics said: The burdens imposed by the Act pale in comparison to many other existing burdens for universities and are a small price to pay for free speech and academic freedom.

A DfE spokesperson said: We are absolutely committed to freedom of speech and academic freedom, but the Free Speech Act introduced last year risks imposing serious burdens on our world-class universities.

We paused implementation of this legislation so that we can consider next steps and ensure that we protect everyones best interests. Ministers and officials have met a range of stakeholders to discuss their views on the future of the act.

We will confirm plans for the act and long-term plans for continuing to secure freedom of speech in higher education in due course.
Pupae of genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, a vector for transmitting the Zika virus, in Campinas, Brazil. Photograph: Andre Penner/AP

Mosquitoes carry some of the worlds deadliest diseases, including malaria, yellow fever and dengue. But challenging geography, conflict, budgets and insecticide resistance are among the issues hampering efforts to fight them.

With global malaria cases continuing to rise and the climate crisis hastening the spread of virus-carrying mosquitoes into more countries, scientists are searching for low-cost, equitable ways to stop them transmitting disease.

Could harnessing gene drive  a process that can rapidly spread a genetic modification  be the answer?

What is gene drive?

Gene drive is simply a mechanism that enables a gene to spread itself through a population, says Prof Luke Alphey, chair in genetics at the University of York. When it becomes important is when we use it to spread a trait that is useful to humans.

Under normal genetic rules, animals have a 50:50 chance of inheriting a single gene from either parent. But a gene drive is a naturally occurring process where a specific gene is prioritised, meaning its chances of being inherited are up to 99%. Within a few generations, almost all of the species will carry that gene.

Scientists have studied this process for decades but have only recently developed ways to artificially replicate it in the lab. Now they hope to use it to spread genetic modifications through animal populations  such as mosquitoes  to help reduce their numbers or stop them transmitting disease.

In broad terms, genetic modification is where scientists make changes to certain genetic characteristics, such as the ability of mosquitoes to carry the malaria-causing parasite. Whereas in an (artificial) gene drive, scientists alter the way genes are passed between generations to prioritise the spread of a certain gene.

By pairing these processes, scientists can spread desired genetic modifications  potentially throughout an entire species.

Dr Nikolai Windbichler, a geneticist at Imperial College London, describes it as a way of genetically engineering entire populations, rather than individuals.

Why does it matter?

Malaria is transmitted through the bites of the female Anopheles mosquito, which is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. While the Aedes species (the yellow fever mosquito), lives across the Americas, Africa and Asia and spreads other serious viruses, including dengue, yellow fever and Zika  of which there have been outbreaks in the past decade, particularly in South America.

The climate emergency is pushing disease-carrying mosquitoes further afield, with the first mosquito-transmitted Zika case in Europe recorded in 2019, and global malaria cases have risen since the Covid pandemic after two decades of gradual decline. In 2023, there were 263m cases, 11m more than the previous year  and 600,000 deaths, three-quarters of them in children under five. More than 1,200 children a day are dying from malaria.

Dr John Connolly, senior regulatory science officer at research group Target Malaria, says: The tools we developed 10 to 20 years ago  particularly insecticide-treated bed nets  have been really effective in reducing [malaria] prevalence and deaths but the improvements we have seen have stalled.

As well as developing insecticide resistance, mosquitoes are also adapting to bite other than at night-time. Anti-malaria campaigns are limited by human willingness to comply with bed nets and vaccinations, and broader problems such as challenging geography, conflict, fluctuating government priorities and funding issues.

Theres a need to identify innovative tools to integrate into our approach to deal with these factors, Connolly says.

Rather than replacing existing tools, scientists hope gene drives will add to the toolkit in the fight against mosquito-borne disease. And, unlike most other interventions, its effects would be felt equally because it targets mosquitoes rather than relying on human action.

How are gene drives being used?

Different research teams are exploring unique ways of using gene drives, although they all have the ultimate aim of reducing disease burden.

The Target Malaria project, for example, is focused on population suppression. The partnership between Imperial College London and teams in Italy, US, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Uganda hopes to use a gene drive to spread a genetic modification that makes female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes infertile.

Lab-based tests on 1,000 mosquitoes in 5-cubic-metre cages found the gene drive effectively spread the modified gene to most of the population within months (the lifecycle of a laboratory mosquito is about three weeks), leading to an increase in the number of sterile females which caused the population to plummet.

Transmission Zero, a separate Imperial project that works with the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Tanzania, is focusing on using a gene drive for population modification. Its aim is to reduce mosquitoes ability to transmit malaria without affecting their numbers. First, scientists modify mosquitoes so they cannot transmit the malaria-causing parasite (the resistance) and then they use gene drive (the driver) to spread this resistance through mosquito populations.

The University of California Malaria Initiative (UCMI) is also exploring population modification in partnership with teams in Portugal and Sao Tome and Principe, but using a mechanism where the genetic modification and gene drive are combined into one process.

All three projects have received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is prioritising the eradication of malaria.

Could it tackle diseases other than malaria?

The Alphey Lab at York University is researching using gene drive to limit the ability of the Aedes aegypti mosquito to spread dengue and other viruses.

The team are working on local gene drives which will spread a modification in a small target population, but not throughout an entire species. This is particularly important as Aedes aegypti is much more widespread than its malaria-carrying cousins.

We dont always want to modify an entire species  it might be a species is invasive in one area but we want to preserve a native population elsewhere, Alphey says.

Local gene drives are technically more complex than species-wide examples because they require multiple different genetic components in order to both spread and limit the desired trait as needed, but the team expects to have a prototype ready for testing in the wild within 10 years. The Alphey Lab has also received Gates Foundation funding for gene drive research.

Other research teams around the world are at earlier stages of exploring using gene drive to reduce populations of invasive species, such as the golden mussel, and agricultural pests such as mice.

What are the risks?

As with any groundbreaking genetic engineering technology, gene drives are controversial.

A 2021 paper by Connollys team identified 46 potential harms  but he stresses few are likely to be serious or even possible.

Concerns around its use include the unknown potential knock-on effects on the ecosystem of removing mosquitoes, or whether removing or modifying malaria-carrying species could cause other types, carrying other diseases, to thrive.

It is our responsibility to assess and analyse all the possible risks, using modelling and experiments if necessary, and we could only move towards a field trial once we are satisfied, says Connolly, while stressing Target Malaria is focusing on just three species of mosquito out of about 3,500 that exist.

Researchers have carried out large engagement programmes with officials and communities to address concerns, including in Burkina Faso, Uganda and Tanzania.

Alphey believes local gene drives could help allay some fears around the unknown consequences as any impact would be short-lived and not spread throughout the species. We are erring on the side of caution, he says.

What do critics say?

A number of international organisations are critical of genetic modification technology and have campaigned to stop gene drive experiments. These include representatives at Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth in Europe and the US.

Critics main concern is the risk of unintended consequences on wider ecosystems, especially given that gene drive is designed to spread quickly and may be uncontrollable. There are also concerns the technology could be exploited in future for commercial gain (for example, if it is developed to control agricultural pests), or even as a biological weapon.

Some organisations are also critical of the dynamic between research groups, which are largely led by teams based in Europe and the US, and proposed test countries, which are currently all African nations. A paper by the African Centre for Biodiversity said interventions by global north projects meant people in Africa were passive recipients of externally imposed solutions.

There have been conflicting reports of local protests, as well as complaints that local consultations and information outreach have failed to achieve widespread understanding of the issues and fully-informed consent among affected communities, in countries like Burkina Faso.

In 2020, the European Parliament adopted a motion ahead of the Cop15 biodiversity summit which included a call for a moratorium  an enforced pause  on any release of gene drive organisms. As yet, there is no regional or international regulation controlling gene drive research, its permitted uses or agreement over who is responsible if anything goes wrong.

When are we likely to see gene drives used outside the lab?

The results we have in the lab are very compelling, says Connolly. But the real test is what happens to mosquitoes in the field  and then what happens to malaria rates as a result.

Target Malarias Burkina Faso team tested Africas first release of genetically modified mosquitoes (sterile males) in 2019. And last year, Transmission Zeros partner, the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Tanzania, became the first African centre to create a generation of genetically modified mosquitoes.

While neither involved a gene drive, these are essential steps if gene drive mosquitoes are ever to be released into the wild. Scientists hope to start experimental field trials within the next five years  but legal technicalities are impeding progress.

Related: Malaria cases rise for fifth year as disasters and resistance hamper control efforts

As the technology is new, there are no existing processes for approving gene drive experiments. Before any can go ahead, research groups first have to work with each country to establish who will regulate the gene drive and approve its use.

Although existing laws around the use of GM crops could form the basis for gene drive regulation, these typically state there should be no cross-border movement of any modified species without the agreement of the countries affected. Mosquitoes dont understand international borders so we need regional-level agreement in sub-Saharan Africa, says Connolly. The African Union is understood to be considering the issue.

As local gene drives require only local approval, it may prove quicker to roll out  but the technology is taking longer to develop.

But no field tests of any kind will happen until communities and governments approve. We are just developing a technology  whether countries decide to adopt or use it is beyond us, says Prof George Christophides, Transmission Zero co-director.

Windbichler adds: Ultimately the question of when it will happen is not a technical question, its a political one.

 This article includes mention of funding for malaria research by the Gates Foundation. Support for the Guardians global development journalism comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation via theguardian.org. Read more about how the Guardian ensures its editorial independence here.

 This article was amended on 15 January 2025 to add a section addressing some of the criticisms of gene drive.
A 25-year-old man in Rochester is now facing numerous charges after kidnapping a five-year-old child at gunpoint early Monday morning.

Malik Breedlove, 25, allegedly showed up at a house on Fifth Street and began throwing rocks at the home's windows. A woman with whom he shares a child later opened the door to tell him to leave, but the 25-year-old suddenly brandished a handgun and forced his way inside the property.

He then stormed upstairs and forced his five-year-old child out of the house. It was also reported that he fired at least one round through the home's front door before he fled with his child, per 13 WHAM.

"There was some argument going on, that sort of thing, inside the house," Rochester Police Department's Captain Greg Bello told the publication.

"Ultimately, he ended up firing at least one round from a handgun through the front door of the house while running away with it and then running away with the 5-year-old child," he added.

Was Breedlove Captured?

Police officers who responded to reports of the shooting and kidnapping found Breedlove and his five-year-old child near Central Park and Niagara Street within minutes of the incident. The child was unharmed and safely reunited with the mother. That said, Bello said he believes the child will suffer emotional damage from the incident.

Children who are kidnapped often experience a range of psychological issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety disorders. This is even more profound in parental child abduction cases.

Breedlove, on the other hand, was brought to the Monroe County Jail. It was noted that he was carrying a .45 mm handgun with nine rounds when he was arrested.

What Charges Will Breedlove Be Facing?

The 25-year-old is currently facing felony charges of first-degree burglary and reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and kidnapping, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to WHEC.

It was also discovered that Breedlove had two outstanding warrants in City Court prior to his recent arrest. He is set to be arraigned on Tuesday morning.
General Motors is not the first company in the emerging robotaxi industry to scale back ambitions. Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

General Motors announced on Tuesday it will end robotaxi development at its money-losing Cruise business, a blow to the ambitions of the largest US automaker to advance the technology.

GM said it would no longer fund work on self-driving robotaxis given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market.

Instead, GM will prioritize developing Super Cruise, its advanced driver assistance system for personal vehicles, and Cruise will be folded into its group working on driver assistance technology. Mary Barra, the GM CEO, declined to say how many Cruise employees could be moved over to GM.

The development marked a significant shift for GM. The automaker has invested more than $10bn in Cruise since 2016. Just last year, Barra said the Cruise business could generate $50bn in annual revenue by 2030.

Related: My week navigating the awkward teenage years of self-driving cars

But on Tuesday, Barra said the business was expendable. Youve got to really understand the cost of running a robotaxi fleet, which is fairly significant, and again, not our core business, the CEO said on an analyst call.

Marc Whitten, the Cruise CEO, who has been in the role since June, said that Cruises board of directors and its leadership team are working closely with GM on next steps.

Kyle Vogt, the founder and former CEO of Cruise and overall champion of self-driving technology, expressed frustration with GMs decision. In case it was unclear before, it is clear now: GM are a bunch of dummies, Vogt posted on X.

Costly business

GMs decision comes as it has scaled back plans for electric vehicles, selling its stake in one of its joint venture battery plants and restructuring its China business, to focus more on its profitable business of making gasoline-powered pickup trucks and other large vehicles.

But its not the first in the emerging robotaxi industry to scale back ambitions. Ford Motor has wound down its Argo AI operation, which was partly funded by Volkswagen. The company is still working on advanced driver assistance systems in-house. Uber and Lyft also invested heavily in driverless car technology systems they have since shuttered.

The cuts highlight the harsh reality facing others still in the race: it requires a long-term commitment to perfect the technology and deep pockets to fund it.

The decision from GM raises an interesting question of whether AV economics can work at all, Bernstein analysts said in a note. They can, but it requires capable tech and a willingness to spend billions if an AV provider is keen to scale a proprietary network, as we saw in the early days of rideshare.

Left in the field are developers like Alphabets Waymo, the only company that runs paid, unmanned taxis in the US; Tesla, led by the billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump adviser; and Amazon.coms Zoox, which is testing a vehicle that has no manual driver controls such as a steering wheel and pedals. Chinese companies, including Baidus Apollo and WeRide, are also testing autonomous vehicles in the US.

Musk is bullish on the future of robotaxis, even more so amid his deepening ties with Trump.

Waymo last week said it would expand its autonomous ride-hailing services to Miami. Last month, the company opened its ride-hailing services to everyone in Los Angeles, and in October it closed a $5.6bn funding round led by Alphabet.

Headwinds

With nearly $10bn from GM, Cruise had launched commercial operations last year and was once considered an industry frontrunner, but it remained a money-losing enterprise.

Ultimately, it was unable to recover from a 2023 accident in San Francisco when one of its self-driving vehicles dragged a pedestrian 20ft and then stopped on top of her, leaving her critically injured.

Cruise provided video footage of the crash to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which the department said omitted key aspects of the incident. When the DMV got the video 10 days later, it ordered Cruise to immediately halt all operations in California.

In a cascade of events, Cruise recalled and grounded its entire fleet of vehicles and faced state and federal government investigations and fines. Vogt, then CEO, resigned and nearly a dozen other Cruise executives stepped down.

At the time of Vogts departure, Barra wrote in an email to employees that she and the board were intensely focused on setting up Cruise for long-term success. The priority, she wrote at the time, was regaining public trust and accountability would be a big part of that.

An investigation by the justice department said Cruise failed to disclose key details of the crash to regulators. GM paid a substantial settlement to the woman who was injured.

In May, Cruise resumed supervised autonomous driving in Phoenix with safety drivers in a bid to make a comeback. But in July, GM said it would halt development of a planned robotaxi that would not have a steering wheel or other human controls.

Ultimately, Cruise admitted to submitting a false report to influence a federal investigation under the jurisdiction of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and agreed to pay a $500,000 criminal fine as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.

For others still developing or operating robotaxis, Cruises exit sends a clear warning, Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon University professor working on autonomous vehicle safety, told Reuters.

The cost of having a bad crash, especially where it looks like youre not paying enough attention to safety as you should have been, could be the whole company, he said.

Thats a reason to be mindful of safety even as youre under pressure from investors to make quick progress.
Women plant seeds on the outskirts of Gedaref in Sudan, one of the countries suffering most from salt-affected soil. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

The extent of the worlds land affected by excess salt is set to increase rapidly with potentially devastating impacts on food production, research has found.

About 1.4bn hectares (3.4bn acres), amounting to 10% of global land, is affected by salinity, with a further 1bn hectares classed as at risk, a report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has found.

This is already having a serious impact on agriculture, as globally about a tenth of irrigated cropland and a similar proportion of rain-fed cropland is afflicted by excess salt. The potential losses to crop yields are as high as 70% in some cases.

Some of the worlds largest and most populous countries are particularly badly hit, including China and the US, Russia, Australia and Argentina. The central Asian region is also a hotspot, with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan badly affected, while Iran and Sudan also rank among the countries suffering the worst effects. These 10 countries account for 70% of salt-affected soils globally.

Climate breakdown and poor agricultural practices are to blame, the FAOs scientists found, in the first major assessment of the issue in 50 years. As temperatures rise, the extent of salt-affected soils is likely to increase to between a quarter and a third of all land by the end of this century, if current trends are not arrested.

While some salts are needed for crops, excess salinity reduces soil fertility. Too much salt absorbs water, making less available for uptake by plants. The salt also changes the physical structure of soil, causing it to clump together, and makes it more vulnerable to erosion.

Water scarcity, poor drainage, and overexploitation of the soil are key factors behind the increase in salinity. Sea level rises will exacerbate this, with the incursion of saltwater into coastal areas.

Farmers are often driven to poor practice by the pressure to increase short-term yields, which is creating longer-term problems. Global water use has increased by a factor of six in the last century, according to the report, and this overexploitation of aquifers for irrigation is driving groundwater salinisation. Farmers are also irrigating crops with poor quality or salty water, pumping water excessively to feed their crops, and overusing chemical fertilisers. Removing deep-rooted vegetation, including trees, can also increase soil salinity.

The FAO found that, along with tackling the climate crisis, the best ways of restoring the fertility of soils were through a mix of traditional techniques such as mulching, interlayering soils with loose material, and improving crop rotations, and innovations including developing salt-resistant crops, and the use of bacteria, fungi and plants that remove or sequester salts.

Regenerative farming practices, that focus on natural soil fertility, could also play a role. Anand Ethirajalu, project director of Cauvery Calling, which supports more than 250,000 farmers in adopting agroecological practices, said more government support was needed. Without financially supporting farmers to restore their soils, [declining fertility] will impact everyone who relies on food to live  which is all of us, he said.

The report was presented at the International Soil and Water Forum, taking place in Bangkok, on Wednesday. The plight of the worlds soils has also been under the spotlight this week in Saudi Arabia, where two weeks of talks under the UN convention to combat desertification are set to conclude on Friday.

Rising global temperatures and increasing pressure on agriculture are leading to the drying out of land around the world. Along with increasing salinity and declining soil fertility, these factors are combining to create unprecedented threats to food production, experts warned.

Praveena Sridhar, chief technical officer at the Save Soil movement, said: Global famine is no longer a distant threat. The soil crisis is invisible to many, but its impact will be felt in every corner of the world, if policymakers fail to act.
Hannah Kobayashi has been found alive

A missing Hawaiian woman whose father killed himself during an extensive search for her has been found safe.

The Los Angeles Police Department announced on Wednesday that Hannah Kobayashi is alive.

Ms Kobayashis disappearance last month after travelling to Los Angeles sparked a massive search across California and a missing persons investigation.

It was not immediately clear where she has been found, but police previously said she had voluntarily crossed the border into Mexico and they would drop the missing persons case.

We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe, the LAPD said in a statement. Now that we have this new information, this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation.

Family relieved and grateful

Ms Kobayashi has spoken to her family and reassured them she is safe, according to ABC Eyewitness News.

In a statement, her family said they were relieved and grateful she was safe.

This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.

Hannah Kobayashi vanished last month after travelling to Los Angeles

Ms Kobayashi, a budding photographer from Maui, set off on a bucket list trip to New York on Nov 8. She had planned to see relatives, attend a folk festival in Brooklyn and complete a photography job.

Kobayashi seen in different parts of LA

When she landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) en route to New York, Ms Kobayashi had 42 minutes to catch her connecting flight. However, she never boarded the plane.

She told her family she was sleeping at the airport that night and texted them the next day to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles.

In the coming days Ms Kobayashi was seen in different parts of Los Angeles.

Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov 11 after relatives received strange and cryptic, just alarming text messages, according to her aunt Larie Pidgeon.

Once the family started pressing, she went dark, Ms Pidgeon previously said, adding that her phone just went dead.

Family members, friends and local volunteers launched a search party for Ms Kobayashi last month. Among them was Ryan Kobayashi, her father, who flew from Hawaii to Los Angeles to help track down his missing daughter.

He was found dead on Nov 24 having jumped from a parking lot near LAX, 13 days after arriving in California.

Ms Pidgeon told CNN that he died of a broken heart.

Colleagues of Ms Kobayashi have since told the Daily Mail that she had been on her way to New York with Alan Cacace, the Argentine national who she allegedly married.

They claimed that their trip was an attempt to persuade US authorities that their marriage was genuine.

There was no secret, Desiree, who is said to have worked with Ms Kobayashi at a vape shop in Maui, said. She told us about her plans.

It presented an opportunity for photos of their romantic vacation, Desiree, who did not provide her surname, told the outlet.

Pictures sent to Ms Kobayashis family suggest that the pair may have been married in October.

Ms Kobayashis family said last week that they were looking into whether she was involved in a possible green card marriage scam.

However, they stressed in a statement that they had not been able to confirm the legitimacy of a possible secret marriage.

Kobayashi seen crossing into Mexico

As the family grappled with the double tragedy of Ms Kobayashis disappearance and her fathers subsequent suicide, they were offered new hope after police reported the following week that she had in fact crossed into Mexico on Nov 12, the day after her family reported her missing.

A security video from US Customs and Border Protection showed that Ms Kobayashi appeared unharmed as she walked across the border alone near Tijuana about 125 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Police urged Ms Kobayashi to contact her family to let them know she was safe before later drawing the conclusion that she had fallen off the grid on purpose.

Authorities reported that the 30-year-old had retrieved her luggage from LAX days after arriving before using cash to purchase a bus ticket from Union Station to the border.

To date, the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play. She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity, the LAPD said at the time.

Additionally, investigators noted that before departing Maui, Kobayashi expressed a desire to step away from modern connectivity.

Sources previously told NBC News last months disappearance was not the first time Ms Kobayashi had gone missing.
Some imported grapes were found to have residues of as many as 13 pesticides, and 87% of samples contained a chemical cocktail. Photograph: Zoonar GmbH/Alamy

Imported food has been found to have residues of 48 pesticides that have not been approved for use by British farmers, including chemicals linked to cancer and imidacloprid, which is harmful to bees, analysis shows.

Pesticide Action Network (PAN) went through UK government testing data, comparing the results for pesticide tests on imported and domestically produced food. They found there were residues of 46 cancer-linked pesticides in imported produce, compared with 19 in food of UK origin. Exporters include the EU, Peru, Thailand, Turkey and the US.

PAN also found that 29 pesticides linked to endocrine disruption, which can interfere with hormone systems and lead to health problems including cancers and birth defects, were present in imported produce, compared with 12 in homegrown food.

Also detected was the pesticide imidacloprid, which was banned for use on UK crops in 2018. A number of studies have found that the chemical, which belongs to the neonicotinoid group, is extremely harmful to bees. Traces of the pesticide were found on produce including potatoes, peas and grapes.

Nick Mole from PAN UK said: While the results for UK produce are also concerning, when it comes to pesticides that pose a risk to consumer health, imports tend to be far worse than food grown here in the UK. The imported food tested by the government contained almost three times the number of highly hazardous pesticides, including carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and neurotoxins.

The UK government is allowing larger amounts of chemicals to appear in an ever-growing list of common food items. They urgently need to reverse this current trend.

Alongside its analysis, the campaign group launched its annual Dirty Dozen list, which highlights the produce that has multiple pesticide residues present. This is because there is evidence that when a product has more than one pesticide on it, this can result in a cocktail effect which aggravates the health problems caused.

At the top of the list this year is soft citrus fruit, which includes satsumas, tangerines and clementines, of which 96% had more than one pesticide present when tested. The highest number of pesticides found on a piece of soft citrus fruit was nine.

Related: Are some of your household products killing insects and wildlife?

Oranges came second with 95% containing a cocktail of chemicals, and nine pesticides were found on the fruit. Grapes were found to have the highest number of pesticides at 13, and 87% of grape samples contained a chemical cocktail.

By allowing banned pesticides in our imports, the UK is exporting its environmental and human health footprint abroad. Farmworkers and wildlife in countries where our food is grown are exposed to these dangerous chemicals and will suffer the associated harms. It also undermines British farmers at a time when we are asking them to produce more sustainably, said Mole.

But any drop in British pesticide standards will be a major problem for trade with the EU, which could also devastate UK farming. If the government is serious about protecting British consumers and supporting our farmers, it can kill two birds with one stone by not allowing food imports grown using pesticides banned for use domestically to enter Great Britain.

A spokesperson for the department for environment, food and rural affairs said: We have strict limits on pesticide residues in place, set after rigorous risk assessments to ensure levels are safe for the public. These limits apply to both food produced domestically and imported from other countries.

 This article was corrected on 11 December 2024; a previous description wrongly described the EU, Peru, Thailand, Turkey and the US as importers rather than exporters.
The leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has focused on more local causes, dropping transnational campaigns. Photograph: Aref Tammawi/AFP/Getty Images

Islamist organisations and militants around the world have congratulated Syrian rebels on their victory over the regime of Bashar al-Assad, ignoring historic ideological differences, sectarian divides and continuing uncertainty around how rigorously the new rulers in Damascus will impose religious strictures and norms.

The almost universal support for the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant faction among Syrian rebels, suggests the groups fusion of national and religious ideologies will act as a further example for other Islamists. Some senior Islamist activists are already discussing in private the model pioneered by the Sunni rebel group.

Many branches of the Muslim Brotherhood, the veteran Islamist movement which seeks to bring government based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law to countries across the Muslim world and has rejected violence, issued jubilant statements celebrating the victory of HTS, crediting the Syrian people with the overthrow of the Assad regime.

The Lebanese branch of the Brotherhood congratulated and blessed the Syrian people for overthrowing their tyrant and achieving the first goals of their revolution.

In Jordan, the Islamic Action Front, the political party that represents the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood in the kingdom, also congratulated the Syrian people, and some of its senior officials expressed support for the HTS and its campaign.

In a Facebook post that was later deleted, one said the success of the HTS was being studied for its tactics, intelligence operations, technology, media handling, prisoner management, preparation, and surprise strategies.

The Muslim Brotherhood is  looking to HTS as a governance model. HTS is a saviour for the nationalist Islamist project, said Katrina Sammour, an Amman-based analyst.

Congratulating the Syrian people  rather than just HTS  allows for a degree of unity among groups that have long been divided by ideology, method, sponsors and sect, observers said.

Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad are backed by Iran, which had strong links with Assads regime and has previously been strongly critical of the rebels.

However the group, whose ideological roots stem from the Muslim Brotherhood, distanced itself from Assad  a member of the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam  as he cracked down on the mainly Sunni Muslim protesters and rebels.

In recent days, Hamas congratulated the Syrian people for achieving their aspirations for freedom and justice adding that it hoped that post-Assad Syria would continue its historical and pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian people. The Iran-backed, Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued an almost identical statement.

But reaction to HTS has revealed the deep divisions among Islamists, whose views of what means are justified to achieve very different goals has always been diverse.

Afghanistans Taliban, which returned to power in 2021 after a 20-year insurgency, were the first rulers of any state to congratulate HTS by name and so to recognise the faction as the new government of Syria.

In a statement on Sunday, the Talibans ministry of foreign affairs said it hoped for a sovereign and service-oriented Islamic government in line with the aspirations of the Syrian people, that unifies the entire population without discrimination and retribution.

Related: Syrias new leader has two identities  but which one will take the country forward?

Affiliates of al-Qaida have made statements that are supportive of the HTS, but Islamic State, from which HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani split around a decade ago, has been savagely critical, accusing the group of betraying the cause of jihad and collaboration with the enemies of Muslims.

Hamass positive response to the fall of Assad contrasted with that of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Shia Islamist movement which played a major part propping up Assad through years of war. Assads Syria long served as a vital conduit for Iran to supply arms to the group.

Hezbollahs first statement on events in Syria  made by Lebanese parliamentarian Hassan Fadlallah  described a major, dangerous and new transformation.

The Iran-backed group has brought its fighters back to Lebanon over the last year to fight in a bruising war with Israel  a redeployment which weakened Syrian government lines.

Experts said HTS is one of many Islamist militant groups now focusing on local causes, rather than transitional campaigns or distant enemies in the west, and that this had contributed to its success.

Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said Jolani was reacting to a more general trend of what Sunni fundamentalists think  will work.

Al-Jolani found that other Syrian Islamists wouldnt deal with him unless he dropped transnational jihad  One of the biggest problems for all Islamists is that they are seen to be involved in a transitional project and that strikes many Arabs as insufficiently patriotic  You need to wrap yourself in the flag and that is much more effective, at least in the Arab world, Ibish said.
Articles have praised Luigi Mangiones good looks, with calling him a smouldering Italian American

Most decent people feel it now: a precipitous sense that the centre  that subtle but unquestioned edifice which, for the vast majority, used to ensure the separation between good and evil, criminality and anger, between violence and politics  has failed to hold. From the vicious, immoral identity politics that exploded following the murder of George Floyd to the deranged anti-Israel movement that emerged after Hamass attempted second Holocaust on October 7, the consequences have been chilling.

Now we are witnessing another dimension to our societys moral disintegration. There is no clearer illustration of how that centre has collapsed, with the unstoppable force of a black hole where normal human behaviour used to exist, than the morbid reaction to the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, and the disgusting fan culture that has sprung up around his alleged killer, Luigi Mangione.

It started with suggestions that the killing was somehow justified. The headline of a piece in the Guardian whined: Im horrified by the assassination of Brian Thompson. Im also horrified that we let people die without medical care, as if the two  murder in cold blood of an innocent man and a deeply imperfect healthcare system  are one and the same, morally speaking.

But since Mangiones arrest, the sickness has only deepened. Thompson  born in Iowa, the son of a grain elevator worker, a self-made man from a hard-working blue-collar mid-western home, who worked his way up to lead a massive company (admittedly one with its faults)  has been almost completely forgotten. Instead, millions upon millions are salivating over a privileged, privately-educated, scion of a wealthy Maryland family  a smouldering Italian American with a rippling six pack, in the words of one particularly lustful commentator  whose self-regard appears to have been fed on the theoretical rubbish dished out at the elite centres of learning with which he was so familiar.

Thompsons funeral was quietly held in Minnesota this week, his family left to mourn him for the years to come. The rest of us have our own work cut out for us: stopping the yawning maw of the black hole of amorality from engulfing literally everything.

We live in a world where young people see Mangione as a handsome Batman, a brave Robin, getting one over the man, instead of a narcissistic alleged killer and self-appointed arbiter of life and death straight out of a horror film.

We need to hurry and drain the digital swamp Gen-Z lives in before more innocent people are picked off because an entitled brat with grand ideas decides thats theoretically desirable.
Luigi Mangione is the suspect indicted in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson - XNY/Star Max

In 2016, Luigi Mangione took to the stage to deliver his high school valedictorian speech.

The world needs thinkers, leaders, and doers, he told his classmates at the $40,000-a-year Gilman School in Baltimore. Lets be all three.

He received a standing ovation.

Now, less than a decade later, Mr Mangione has been charged as a suspect in the high-profile killing of a UnitedHealth executive in New York City  a brazen shooting that set off a tense five-day manhunt that culminated in his capture.

He could now face the death penalty if he is found guilty after he was hit with a federal murder charge by New York prosecutors. The move is unusual because murder is normally charged at the state level.

It is yet unclear whether federal prosecutors intend to seek death penalty charges, and a decision on capital punishment would fall to the attorney general.

Luigi Mangione studied computer science at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the most prestigious universities in America

The 26-year-old was eating in McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, when a staff member recognised him and tipped off the authorities.

He was found with a three-page manifesto, a ghost gun  a homemade firearm  and a silencer. He also had his passport and the fake ID the suspect used to check in at a hostel on Manhattans Upper West Side.

He had a mask on him which appeared to match the one used by the suspect. He was wearing clothing that matched the suspect. His manifesto showed he had ill will towards corporate America and is said to have listed grievances with the healthcare industry.

Luigi Mangione was carrying a weapon and multiple fraudulent IDs, say police - UNPIXS

What remains unclear is how Mr Mangiones life of privilege led him to be accused of the cold-eyed murder of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare.

Mr Mangione grew up in Maryland and comes from a prominent family whose businesses include a country club and nursing homes, it has been reported.

They also owned a conservative radio station, while a cousin, Nino Mangione, is an elected member of the Maryland House of Delegates.

The branch of McDonalds where Mr Mangione was arrested - CAMERON CROSTON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

His familys business interests, as well as its charity work, make it a well-known name in Baltimore, according to The New York Times.

As a high-achieving mathematical talent with family connections, Mr Mangione appeared set to make his mark on the world.

In one social media post, he said he used to get bummed out in maths class because all the low-hanging fruit has been solved before I was born.

Fox News

He added he was now grateful for his 21st-century education and he would focus on issues including evolutionary psychology, primitive neuroscience, and information networks.

After becoming valedictorian, Mr Mangione went on to study computer science at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the most prestigious universities in America.

A friend at the school described him as being a super normal and smart person.

The university said a person named Luigi Mangione graduated in 2020 with a master of science in engineering, majoring in computer and information science.

Social Media | X/@CollinRugg

Stanford University also said a person by the same name was employed as a head counsellor under the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies programme between May and September of 2019.

Mr Mangione went on to work as a data engineer for TrueCar living in California and later Honolulu, Hawaii, according to his LinkedIn.

His online persona shows him as an outgoing young man. Hes seen posing shirtless on a beach, hanging out with friends and family, or kicking back in his sunglasses  often smiling broadly for the camera.

But dig deeper, and his online activity paints another picture.

Mr Mangione is a high-achieving mathematical talent with family connections

Social media photos paint a picture of a happy and sociable man

According to his Goodreads account, Mr Mangione was sympathetic towards Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, who he described as a mathematical prodigy.

In his review of Industrial Society and Its Future, also known as the Unabomber Manifesto, Mr Mangione wrote: Its easy to quickly and thoughtless[ly] write this off as the manifesto of a lunatic, in order to avoid facing some of the uncomfortable problems it identifies. But its simply impossible to ignore how prescient many of his predictions about modern society turned out.

He was a violent individual  rightfully imprisoned  who maimed innocent people. While these actions tend to be characterised as those of a crazy Luddite, however, they are more accurately seen as those of an extreme political revolutionary.

Police in Pennsylvania had released images of Luigi Mangione appealing for information - PA State Police

Mr Mangione went on to share an online take he said was interesting, which read: When all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive. You may not like his methods, but to see things from his perspective, its not terrorism, its war and revolution.

It went on to criticise fossil fuel companies, adding: They have zero qualms about burning down the planet for a buck, so why should we have any qualms about burning them down to survive?

Were animals just like everything else on this planet, except weve forgotten the law of the jungle and bend over for our overlords when any other animal would recognise the threat and fight to the death for their survival. Violence never solved anything is a statement uttered by cowards and predators.

Police in Pennsylvania had released images of Luigi Mangione appealing for information - PA State Police

Mr Mangiones social media accounts are filled with comments about the state of society and mental health.

In one post on X, formerly Twitter, he shared an analysis of the declining birth rate in Japan, criticising sex toys which he described as custom pornstar pocket p----- and maid cafes where lonely salarymen pay young girls to dress as anime characters and perform anime dances for them.

Mr Mangione reposted comments about a book titled The Anxious Generation and the impact of seasonal and circadian rhythms on mental health.

Luigi Mangiones booking photo - HANDOUT

It has been reported that Mr Mangiones family owns businesses including a country club and nursing homes

X posts from two years ago include critiques of artificial intelligence, reposts of commentaries against diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and remarks on how smartphones harm children and the damage caused by commercial agriculture.

A 2022 post discusses his senior high school speech on topics ranging from AI to human immortality. The posts seem to question some of the technology Mr Mangione appeared in awe of in high school.

A banner on Mr Mangiones X page, which says he lives in Honolulu, includes an X-ray image of what appears to be screws and plates inserted into someones lower back.

It is still unclear what led to the assassination of health insurance boss Brian Thompson

Grievances with the healthcare industry is one key line of inquiry on account of the victim of the shooting being a prominent health insurance executive.

But it is still unclear what set Mr Mangione on the path that led to his arrest.

The New York Times reports that he inexplicably stopped communicating with his friends and family six months ago. Friends, the publication reports, said he had been suffering from a painful back injury before going dark.

Those six months will likely form a key part of the investigation as police try and piece together a motive for his alleged crime.
A transvaginal ultrasound scanner of the internal organs of the pelvis can help diagnose some gynaecological conditions. Photograph: Kateryna Kukota/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Women and girls are enduring years of pain because their reproductive conditions are being dismissed due to medical misogyny, according to a damning parliamentary report.

The report, by the Women and Equalities committee, found that gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis are treated with inadequate care due to a pervasive stigma, a lack of education by healthcare professionals and medical misogyny.

The Commons select committee, which set out to examine the experiences of care women with reproductive conditions get in England, found that symptoms are often normalised and it can take years for women to get a diagnosis and treatment.

The substandard gynaecological care cited by the report also includes routine IUD contraceptive fittings, cervical screenings, and hysteroscopies.

The report said women were being left in pain and discomfort that interferes with every aspect of their daily lives, including their education, careers, relationships and fertility, while their conditions worsen.

It also found there to be a clear lack of awareness and understanding of womens reproductive health conditions among primary healthcare practitioners and concluded that gynaecological care is not being treated as a priority.

Pervasive stigma associated with gynaecological and urogynaecological health, a lack of education and medical misogyny has contributed to poor awareness of these conditions.

The committee heard evidence from broadcasters Naga Munchetty and Vicky Pattison, who detailed the poor care they received when being treated for adenomyosis and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder respectively.

The report calls for the government to allocate more funding for research into womens reproductive health conditions, and for the governments womens health hub model to be allocated long-term and ringfenced funding.

Endometriosis affects one in 10 women in the UK and is caused by tissue similar to the lining of the uterus growing elsewhere in the body, often resulting in chronic pelvic pain and painful periods. Adenomyosis causes the lining of the uterus to grow into its muscular wall, which again causes painful symptoms.

Sarah Owen, Labour MP for Luton North and chair of the Women and Equalities committee, said the report was a wake-up call for the government and the NHS, adding: Our inquiry has shown misogyny in medicine is leaving women in pain and their conditions undiagnosed.

Women are finding their symptoms dismissed, are waiting years for life-changing treatment and in too many cases are being put through trauma-inducing procedures. All the while, their conditions worsen and become more complicated to treat.

Zainab Kaleemullah, a 35-year-old civil servant, was diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis in 2022, despite having experienced the painful symptoms such as heavy periods, nausea and chronic anaemia associated with the diseases for a decade.

In the time before being officially diagnosed, Kaleemullah found her symptoms to be dismissed by healthcare professionals.

I would go to the GP constantly, I was misdiagnosed with depression and irritable bowel syndrome, I was sort of given the impression that it was all in my head and this was completely normal for women to be experiencing, she said.

It made me feel incredibly isolated  I would constantly have to go to my GP, tell them my symptoms and them just turning me away and not taking me seriously.

Emma Cox, the chief executive of Endometriosis UK, said her charity welcomed the report and its recommendations.

She added: These [recommendations], along with the passion for this issue which is expressed in the committees report, should give hope to those impacted by endometriosis and menstrual health conditions that their voice is being heard.

Related: Women in the UK: share your experience of gynaecological pain

Endometriosis UK looks forward to working with governments and health services across the UK to turn the recommendations in the report into reality.

Janet Lindsay, the chief executive of Wellbeing of Women, said: Millions of women and girls suffer with heavy bleeding and severe period pain that disrupts their lives, leading to them taking time off school, work, or their caring responsibilities.

Instead of getting the treatment and support they desperately need, theyre often dismissed and told its just a period. This is unacceptable.

We also want to see better menstrual health education in schools, so that women know when and how to seek help, and increased funding for gynaecological research. We need to do more to ensure that women and girls are no longer held back by their periods.

An NHS England spokesperson said: Too often in the NHS we hear of women whose health concerns have been dismissed, which is why we are taking action to improve services for women, including rolling out womens health hubs across the country.

The hubs are giving thousands more women access to specialist support in the community which not only improves access and womens experiences of care, but also helps to upskill healthcare professionals with a full range of staff working in one place.

The NHS is also developing a network of womens health champions made up of senior leaders in every local care system to drive forward improvements in womens health.
Demonstrators gather on the steps of the Montana state capitol protesting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Helena, Montana, on 15 March 2021. Photograph: Thom Bridge/AP

Montanas ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors has been temporarily blocked by the state supreme court on grounds that it is likely to violate the right to privacy enshrined in the states constitution.

The top court in Montana sided on Wednesday with an earlier district court decision blocking SB 99, the ban introduced last year by the Republican-controlled state legislature. The decision will allow under-18 transgender girls and boys to continue gender-affirming medical treatment pending a full trial.

Montanas supreme court justices agreed with the district court judge Jason Marks who put a stop to the ban in September 2023, just days before it came into effect. Marks ruled: The legislature has no interest  to justify its interference with an individuals fundamental privacy right to obtain a particular lawful medical procedure from a healthcare provider.

The decision to allow gender-affirming treatment to continue for the time being was greeted with delight by the young plaintiffs and advocacy groups. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat who is the first out trans member of the state legislature, said on social media: Montana has a constitutional right to privacy, including in our healthcare decisions. Today our constitution continues to protect individuals from government overreach.

Zephyr was propelled into the national limelight in the spring of 2023 when she spoke passionately against the ban in the Montana house. She was banished from the chamber by the Republican leadership prompting large protests.

Montana is among at least 26 states that have introduced bans on gender-affirming medical care for minors. By contrast, 15 states have enacted protections for under-18s seeking treatment.

The states supreme court ruling comes at a critical moment in the nationwide battle over medical care for trans youth. Earlier this month the US supreme court heard oral arguments in a landmark case brought by the ACLU and others against Tennessees ban on gender-affirming hormonal therapies for trans minors.

The ultra-conservative supermajority of the US supreme court appeared to be minded to uphold the Tennessee ban. However, trans adolescents in Montana would be shielded against any adverse ruling from the countrys highest court because the Montana decision is based entirely on the states own constitution and as such is insulated from the federal courts.

Related: Protesters rally as supreme court considers gender-affirming care: This is about human beings

I will never understand why my representatives are working to strip me of my rights and the rights of other transgender kids, one of the plaintiffs, Phoebe Cross, a 17-year-old transgender boy, said in a statement after the state supreme court issued its decision. Just living as a trans teenager is difficult enough, the last thing me and my peers need is to have our rights taken away.

Crosss parents, Molly and Paul Cross, were also plaintiffs, alongside Jane and John Doe on behalf of their 16-year-old trans daughter. Two medical providers of gender-affirming care in Montana also joined the suit in protest against SB 99 that punishes doctors or healthcare professionals who knowingly violate the ban with suspension from medical practice for at least a year.

Akilah Deernose, director of the ACLU of Montana which represented the plaintiffs, said the ruling permits our clients to breathe a sigh of relief. But she warned: The fight for trans rights is far from over.
Kim Leadbeater and Keir Starmer - Christopher Furlong/Getty

Misleading parliament is generally considered a pretty serious offence. When polled, the public say honesty is the most important virtue in a politician; 73 per cent think parliament would be improved if MPs were expelled for lying. And parliamentarians are bound to uphold the Nolan principles of public life, which include being truthful. But holding them to it isnt easy.

Two recent stories illustrate the current situation. On November 29, in the assisted suicide second reading debate, Kim Leadbeater made  perhaps inadvertently  a string of highly dubious statements. For one of them she had to make a point of order, during the debate itself, to correct the record.

Then last Wednesday Boris Johnson accused Keir Starmer of misleading parliament: Starmer had mocked Johnson for having convictions over lockdown breaches, when all Boris actually picked up was a fixed penalty notice. Of course, it was Boris himself who was condemned for misleading parliament by the Privileges Committee last year.

There are some key differences between Leadbeater and Johnson. Boris was, after all, prime minister, and there was huge political and media interest in his offence. So Keir Starmer was able to win a Commons vote to refer Johnson to the Privileges Committee. Moreover, the then PMs misleading statements could be shown, in the subsequent investigation, to be deliberate and repeated.

Kim Leadbeaters untruths were important ones. Take her three misstatements on the court process. First, Leadbeater implied she had the approval of the serving judiciary when she didnt. Second, she claimed the bills safeguards included a High Court judge when, as she had admitted six days previously, they dont. Third, she claimed that the courts decision could be revoked if other evidence came to light subsequently. As the former president of the Family Division of the High Court, Sir James Munby, commented: there is scant if any support in the Bill for this proposition.

All this helped Leadbeater give an impression of a serious, ironclad process as trustworthy as the court system itself. That impression was false.

But there is little political appetite for a Starmer-style motion referring the matter to the Privileges Committee. It would also be hard to prove that Leadbeaters errors were deliberate  which was key to Boriss offence.

Of course there have to be limits to the House of Commons self-regulation. For instance, Leadbeater told the Commons: Polling shows consistently that around 75 per cent of people would like to see the legalisation of assisted dying. In fact, more than half the public misunderstand what assisted dying means, and when informed of the counter-arguments their support falls to eleven per cent. But this should perhaps be considered everyday political craftiness, not something requiring official action. The same goes for Starmers zinger about convictions. Powerful people need to put up with being mocked, and Starmers exaggeration is within the bounds of normal mockery.

Then there are borderline cases. Leadbeaters speech was full of them. She asserted that doctors are under no obligation whatsoever to participate: actually, and very controversially, they would be forced to refer assisted suicide requests to a colleague.

She claimed that doctors would be taking their cue from the patient, although doctors would be permitted to raise the subject even if it has never crossed the patients mind. And she told parliament that In countries where a bill of this nature has been implemented  the boundaries have never changed, when Canadas extremely similar bill  requiring irreversible illness and foreseeable death  has since expanded rapidly.

Do those statements count as misleading parliament? It would be worth thrashing it out in front of the Privileges Committee. But that is unlikely to happen. You can try and get a motion passed, as with Boris  but that requires some political heft, otherwise the MPs friends and colleagues will just vote it down. In 2012 Labour used an opposition day motion to call for an investigation into Jeremy Hunt for allegedly misleading parliament. The vote failed  and even if it had succeeded, nobody would have actually been obliged to open an inquiry.

Other avenues are no better. You cant refer a false statement to the Speaker: Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said that he cant get dragged into adjudicating questions of truth. You cant refer the matter to the Standards Committee, which doesnt get involved in remarks made in the Commons.

In 2021, a group of MPs wrote to the Procedure Committee to argue that there was a lack of accountability for MPs failing to be truthful. The charity Full Fact agreed, claiming that the House of Commons corrections system is not fit for purpose, and that the lack of a proper system promotes cynicism that affects all MPs. The Procedure Committee looked into the matter in great detail, and concluded that the current system is basically fine  though they did make it easier to fix the official record. (Leadbeater corrected her error about the judiciary using the new system.)

Full Fact tell me that, without commenting on the controversies of the last ten days, We have called on all MPs to correct their mistakes when they get something wrong, particularly now that recent changes to the official process have made it easier than ever for any MP to correct the record.

Of course nobody wants MPs to be under the thumb of unelected committees fact-checking their every statement. It is nice that the present system runs on honour. But it has very few resources when an MP acts dishonourably.
A 17-year-old teen in Houston was forced to travel more than 1,500 miles from home to get abortion care following Texas' ban on the procedure. Her case marks the chilling effect of the ban and underscores the challenges faced by those seeking abortion care in states where the procedure is heavily restricted or outright banned.

The 17-year-old teen, who was only identified as J, wanted to end her pregnancy. However, Texas has a strict abortion law, forcing her to travel 1,500 miles over a two-day period to get her pregnancy terminated at a tiny clinic in New Mexico.

Her story, shared by Houston Landing, is one of the many showing the perilous journey Texan women have to take to get an abortion. Unfortunately, traveling out of the state for abortion could soon be banned.

Texas' Ban on Abortion

The state enacted its most significant ban on abortion in September 2021 as part of an act known as the Texas Heartbeat Act. Under the ban, abortions are banned after approximately six weeks of pregnancy, which is often before many women even know they are pregnant.

This has forced women in Texas to leave the state to end their pregnancies. In fact, Texas leads the nation for the most number of women traveling out-of-state for abortions, with over 34,000 women leaving the state in 2023 to get the procedure, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

However, this journey may not be possible in the future, especially after Texas sued for the right to access the medical records of women seeking out-of-state abortions. Women who obtain abortions are not subject to criminal prosecution, but Texas imposes penalties, including life in prison, for those who aid them in terminating the pregnancy.

In addition, five Texas counties enacted travel bans aimed at preventing its residents from leaving the state to get abortions.

How Texas' Ban on Abortion Affected Women

Since the state banned abortion in 2021, the rate of maternal deaths shot up to 56% in 2022. In comparison, the nationwide rate during the same period was only 11%. A July study from Johns Hopkins also found that infant deaths in Texas rose by 12.9% in the immediate months after the ban was enacted compared to a 1.8% increase in infant deaths across the US.
Shabana Mahmoods warning comes as she publishes a 10-year proposal to tackle overcrowding - Joe Giddens/PA

Prisons will run out of space within three years despite multi-billion pound plans to create an extra 14,000 places, the Justice Secretary has admitted.

Shabana Mahmood said that building alone is not enough to deal with the chronic shortage of prison spaces and the increasing number of criminals being held in jails.

She published a 10-year strategy to tackle the overcrowding crisis that includes the building of four super-prisons to create 6,500 places, house blocks providing 6,500 refurbished and makeshift cells.

But projections by the department show that even in the most optimistic scenario the number of prisoners will overtake supply in November 2027. By November 2032, there will be 5,000 more criminals in jails than there are prison places to house them.

We will run out, Ms Mahmood told the BBCs Today programme. Demand is still rising faster than any supply could possibly catch up with.

Were very honest and transparent in the strategy itself that building alone is not enough because the demand is rising more quickly.

She said this is why she had commissioned a sentencing review by David Gauke, the former justice secretary, to consider alternatives to prison.

Asked whether alternative punishment outside prison walls was a possibility, Ms Mahmood said: We will have to expand the range of punishment available outside of prison, that does mean that we will have more offenders monitored outside.

But I want to make sure that when we are not putting someone in prison but theyre being punished outside, that that is still a punishment they can have confidence in.

Under proposals being considered by the review, courts would have powers to enforce the virtual prisons through the use of technology such as GPS tags, smartphones and special watches that remind offenders to attend meetings with probation officers, drug treatment courses and work placements.

They are likely to be modelled on the current home detention curfews, where prisoners can be freed six months before their scheduled release date to serve the rest of their sentences tagged and barred from leaving their home, effectively under house arrest between, for example, 7pm and 7am.

Shorter sentences of between six months and a year are also expected to be scrapped  a proposal first floated by Mr Gauke.

Ms Mahmood said the current state of prisons was appalling. She said the prison system was under huge stress and was seeing prisoners coming out better criminals than they were before they went in.

Weve got to turn that around, she said. I think that the first step in turning things around is dealing with our capacity problems.

Some 2.3 billion has been secured by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) through the Budget to pay to build the four new prisons, until 2026. Another 500 million will be spent on prison maintenance and the probation service across the next two years.

The Tories pledged to create 20,000 extra spaces by the mid-2020s but only built 6,000. As a result of planning delays, the cost has risen from 5.2 billion to between 9.4 billion and 10.1 billion.

The strategy admits the last Government acquired no new land for prisons between 2014 and 2024. In its absence, the MoJ has pledged to secure land in readiness should further prison builds be required in the future.

Planning laws will be changed so that ministers can force new prisons through the process by treating them as infrastructure of national importance.

Powers will enable ministers to overrule local towns and villages objections. The MoJ will be able to bypass councils who normally decide on planning applications even if they are on the green belt.

MoJ officials will instead submit the plans directly to the planning inspectorate, an agency of Angela Rayners housing ministry, which could give them the go ahead in 16 weeks.

Last week, Ms Rayner approved a super-prison in the green belt in Lancashire despite objections from residents that it would leave their village outnumbered by prisoners.
Nancy Mace wants to ban transgender women from female bathrooms in the Capitol - Nathan Posner/Shutterstock

A female Republican member of Congress claimed she was left in pain and needing to wear a sling after she was attacked in the Capitol by a pro-trans man over a row concerning single-sex bathrooms.

Nancy Mace claimed that she was physically accosted and subjected to an aggressive handshake in the encounter.

Your trans violence and threats on my life will only make me double down, she added in a post on X.

US Capitol Police said its officers had arrested James McIntyre. The 33-year-old is a co-founder of the Illinois chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America.

On Wednesday evening, Mr McIntyre pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting a government official and members of his advocacy group have disputed the version of events which led to his arrest.

Nancy Mace wore a sling (pic by @JoeKhalilTV) on Capitol Hill today following an altercation she described in a post as "violence;" the police report describes her as the victim of a "hand shaking motion." https://t.co/1Fd3uam0lj pic.twitter.com/mO2ECaED3Z  Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) December 11, 2024

Aggressive handshake

The altercation, which allegedly involved an aggressive handshake, took place during a reception at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Tuesday evening.

Ms Mace told officers that Mr McIntyre clasped her hand in both of his and began to aggressively and in an exaggerated manner shake her arm up and down in a hand shaking motion, according to a police report.

The incident lasted three to five seconds and is said to have left her in shock and intimidated.

Ms Mace, whose account was backed up by two witnesses, said she suffered pain in her wrists, arm and shoulder as a consequence of the handshake, but refused help from paramedics.

A spokesman for the congresswoman told The Hill on Wednesday that Ms Mace was in pain this morning, with her arm in a sling, but shes otherwise doing well.

Her account of the incident has been disputed. Elliott Hinkle, a foster care and trans rights activist, said Mr McIntyre reached out his hand and Ms Mace reached out hers, and they shook hands, according to the Washington Post.

Mr Hinkle told The Hill that the handshake took place in front of other people. He said Mr McIntyre told Ms Mace: Trans youth are also foster youth and they need your support, and that Mr McIntyre returned to his seat afterwards, adding that it seemed like a pretty normal interaction.

The incident appeared to be in connection with a resolution introduced by Ms Mace to ban transgender women from female bathrooms in the Capitol.

The resolution was proposed after Sarah McBride, a Democrat, became the first transgender person elected to Congress in Novembers election.

She previously said that she would comply with an order by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on bathroom usage, but called it a distraction from more serious issues.

Mace a target of LGBT criticism

Ms Mace has been the target of criticism from LGBT activists because of the legislation.

She claims it was introduced to ensure the safety of women.

Last month, Ms Mace said she had received death threats, adding that she was being unfairly targeted.

Mr McIntyre was held overnight at a Washington DC jail before his initial hearing on Wednesday.

The Rayburn House Office Building was open to the public and Mr McIntyre had passed through security screening to enter, the police said.

Both Ms Mace and Mr McIntyre were attending a reception of about 50 people when the alleged altercation happened.

Ms Mace said Donald Trump, the president-elect, had contacted her after the incident.

Thank you President Trump for the call just now to check in on me. Im going to be fine just as soon as the pain and soreness subside. January 20 cant come soon enough, she wrote.
dropped butt

A council has told a smoker to pay more than 800 for carelessly discarding a cigarette.

Carl Smith, 31, was issued with a 100 fixed penalty notice earlier this year for dropping the butt on the street, Bromley council said.

He was then prosecuted after failing to pay the notice for littering in the Kent towns Market Square, contrary to the Environmental Protection Act.

Smith, of New Addington in Croydon, south London, pleaded guilty on Dec 3 by the single justice procedure, where cases are decided behind closed doors, often by a single magistrate, without the defendant appearing in court.

He was subsequently ordered to pay 833 by Bromley magistrates court.

The amount included a fine of 293, a surcharge of 117 and costs of 423 to be paid by Jan 14.

Bromley council said it was the 12th prosecution it had carried out for littering since the beginning of September, as part of a crackdown.

Market Square in Bromley where the littering offence happened - Jonathan Wilson/iStock

It added that they serve as a warning to others to not discard unwanted items in the street, but to place them in a litter bin or take rubbish home.

A council spokesman said: On behalf of residents, the council has street-cleaning teams working seven days a week across the borough, keeping our streets neat.

Littering undoes this work and is illegal, with our enforcement team issuing a fixed penalty notice to anyone seen littering.

If payment is not received then prosecution will follow, with fines and costs being considerably higher than the fixed penalty notice.

In November, also in Kent, Dartford council fined a non-smoker 75 for dropping a cigarette in Swanscombe before officials realised she lived more than 160 miles away at the time of the offence and it was a case of mistaken identity.
Thermal power plants are an important part of the countrys energy mix. Photograph: Simona Supino/The Guardian

In the cavernous turbine hall of a coal-fired thermal power plant, deputy chief engineer Oleksandr runs through the extensive damage, pointing out various consequences of numerous Russian strikes over the past two years.

Machinery is covered in thick dark streaks of grime, the residue of heating insulation that burned and rained down on the equipment. A roof girder, 10 metres long, is impaled in the floor. Oil tanks and machines are strafed with shrapnel marks.

A power station is a tricky thing, there were always small things going wrong and things you had to fix, but we could never have imagined anything like this in our worst nightmares, said Oleksandr, who has worked for 27 years at the plant.

Before the war, even a small leak from the roof would have been seen as an emergency situation, said Oleksandr, with everyone running around trying to sort it. Now, rain falls from the open sky, pooling on the floors, as much of the roof has been destroyed in strikes.

Russia has been systematically targeting Ukraines energy system since the start of the full-scale war, leading to regularly scheduled blackouts and frequent emergency power cuts. Even in Kyiv, hospitals and schools, as well as most businesses, now have generators to keep the power going during blackouts.

Two massive attacks on energy in November have again brought the issue into focus, raising fears of a dark and cold winter ahead. Every time the Russians attack, the workers at Ukraines power plants rush to try to repair the damage.

Its an exhausting and expensive routine, but one that Ukraine has become adept at managing, with international help.

Ukraines energy companies have done a very good job in terms of repairing damaged facilities and constructing new ones. The situation seems to be much better than we could have imagined six months ago, said Andrian Prokip, a Kyiv-based energy expert with the Kennan Institute in Washington DC.

But there are two key variables that could make things worse. First is the temperature. So far, the winter has been relatively mild, but temperatures as low as -10C are expected this weekend, and a long cold snap could put additional pressure on the power grid and lead to longer cutoffs.

The other question is whether intensive Russian strikes on the power grid will continue. I have a feeling that they would like to pressure the Ukrainian power system as much as they can before Trumps inauguration. The Russians would like Trump to believe that Ukraine is already destroyed, said Prokip.

About half of Ukraines power comes from nuclear energy and, in late November, Russia targeted substations around nuclear power plants, leading Greenpeace to accuse Moscow of risking a nuclear catastrophe by forcing the power plants off-grid.

Thermal power plants are another important part of the energy mix. These plants, many of which are owned by the private company DTEK, are Soviet-built behemoths, providing employment for hundreds of residents, many of whom have worked there for decades. When the plants are working, the machines roar and crash in an industrial symphony, with jets of steam whooshing from pipes at various angles.

Like all Ukraines thermal power plants, the DTEK plant visited by the Guardian has been hit multiple times during the war, including in recent months. As part of the conditions of the visit, the Guardian agreed not to name the specific plant, nor to reveal information about what stage the repairs are at.

There are also strict rules in place for employees, who are forbidden from posting photographs from the workplace or updates on damage caused by strikes  information which could be used by Russia to prioritise future targets. To be honest, I suspect the enemy knows everything anyway, but were not going to help them if they dont, said Oleksandr.

At the heart of the plant is the control room, featuring a dizzying array of buttons, screens and retro gadgets. Imagine how futuristic all this must have looked back in the 1970s, laughed Oleksandr. There are these memes online about how everything Soviet is low-quality, but this turned out to be very durable.

Now the Russians are using Soviet-designed missiles to attack these Soviet-designed plants. When the air raid siren sounds, the workers hurry to the Soviet-era bomb shelter, built with an attack from the west, not the east, on the mind of the planners. The shock wave from one recent strike ripped most of a grand Soviet-era mosaic, extolling the labour force, from the wall.

Even during air alerts, several key workers have to remain at their posts. Its expensive and dangerous to turn everything off quickly, and so someone has to stay here to keep control, said Yevhen, who has worked at the plant for 17 years and stayed behind during a recent missile attack to keep operations running.

It is not work for the faint-hearted. There was a lot of dust, coal dust, clouds of it everywhere, we couldnt see a thing. At the beginning, it was scary of course, but now weve got used to it. Though thats not a good thing, you stop being scared and your feelings of self-preservation leave you, said Yevhen.

Since 2022, three of DTEKs workers have been killed and 56 injured during their working shifts, according to a company spokesperson. Last month, two employees of state energy outfit Ukrenergo were killed during a Russian attack on an electricity substation in Odesa region.

But the hope is that Ukraines ability to repair plants can outstrip Russias supply of missiles targeting them. Kyiv has spent the summer, with international support, building fortifications around substations and other key infrastructure. Crews were at work on different elements of repair work when the Guardian visited.

Some of the damage, caused by the direct hits of powerful missiles to parts of the plant, cannot be fixed quickly, however hard the management tries. Even if the war stopped tomorrow, it would take years of repairs to get this back to the level it was before the start, said Oleksandr.
People in Seoul take part in a rally on Tuesday to protest against Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

South Korean police have raided the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his role in declaring martial law last week  a move that plunged Asias fourth-biggest economy into crisis and caused alarm among its allies.



South Koreas Yonhap news agency said the search on Wednesday was part of an attempt by law enforcement agencies to establish whether Yoons actions, supported by other senior figures in his administration, amounted to insurrection  a crime that does not carry presidential immunity and can carry the death penalty.

A special investigation unit confirmed it had raided the presidential office and other agencies, but it emerged later that Yoons security guards had prevented officers from getting into the main building.

Investigators had gained access to its civil service office, a police spokesperson said, adding: However, we are currently unable to enter the main building due to access restrictions imposed by the presidential security guards.

News of the raid came as officials said that Yoons former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, had attempted suicide while in custody at a detention centre in Seoul, where he had been held since Sunday.

Kim, who was formally arrested earlier on Wednesday after a court approved a warrant for him on allegations he played a key role in a rebellion and abuse of power, was in a stable condition, Shin Yong-hae, the commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, told lawmakers.

Kim was the first person to be arrested over the 3 December martial law decree and faces charges including engaging in critical duties during an insurrection and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights.

A spokesperson for the Seoul central district court said the formal arrest of Kim came amid concerns that evidence might be destroyed.

Related: K-pop and autocrats: jolt to democracy lays bare South Koreas two sides

Two senior police officials were also taken into custody in the early hours of Wednesday, as the investigation into the political turmoil caused by the martial law declaration gathered pace.

At least several hundred protesters rallied late on Tuesday outside the national assembly, waving glow sticks and holding signs that read, Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, the insurrection criminal.

The offices of ruling party lawmakers were vandalised, local media reported on Tuesday, with one image showing a door covered in what appeared to be ketchup, and eggs and flour scattered on the floor.

Protesters sent condolence flowers, typically reserved for funerals, to the offices to express their opposition to the boycott, with signs reading insurrection accomplices.

Local police in Seouls Dobong district said an unspecified weapon was found in front of the PPP lawmaker Kim Jae-subs residence, and that he had requested additional security.

Yoon suspended civilian rule a week ago and sent special forces and helicopters to parliament, before lawmakers forced him to rescind the decree in a country assumed to be a stable democracy.

Kim was contrite on Tuesday, saying through his lawyers that all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me.

He deeply apologised to the South Korean people and said that his subordinates were merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties.

Earlier on Tuesday, the head of the Army Special Warfare Command, Kwak Jong-geun, told lawmakers that Yoon had ordered him to stop enough MPs from gathering at parliament to vote down the martial law decree.

The president called me directly through a secret line. He mentioned that it appears the quorum has not yet been met and instructed me to quickly break down the door and drag out the people [lawmakers] inside, Kwak said.

Lawmakers passed a motion on Tuesday to appoint a special counsel to investigate the martial law case.

Yoons ruling party said it was forging a resignation roadmap that reportedly could result in him stepping down in February or March before new elections, while the opposition plans to organise an impeachment vote every Saturday.

A day after Yoon was barred from travelling abroad, authorities banned more senior officials from leaving the country, including Cho Ji-ho, the commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, police told AFP.

Cho and Kim Bong-sik, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were arrested early on Wednesday without warrant, Yonhap news agency reported. They can be held for up to 48 hours for questioning before a formal arrest.

Already under a travel ban are the former defence and interior ministers and the martial law commander, Gen Park An-su, who along with other top brass was grilled by lawmakers on Tuesday.

Yoon narrowly survived an impeachment effort in parliament on Saturday as tens of thousands of people braved freezing temperatures to call for his removal. The motion failed after members of Yoons ruling People Power party (PPP) boycotted the vote, depriving the legislature of the necessary two-thirds majority.

The PPP says Yoon, 63, has agreed to hand power to the prime minister and party chief, prompting the opposition to accuse it of a second coup.

A party taskforce was reportedly reviewing two options for a way forward, including for Yoon to resign in February with an April election, or to step down in March with a vote in May.

With the opposition holding 192 seats in the 300-strong parliament, only eight PPP members need to vote in favour of a new impeachment motion for it to pass.

Last week, two PPP lawmakers  Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Yea-ji  voted in favour, and two more said Tuesday they would support the motion this time.

With Agence France-Presse
chagos china

Agalega, which comprises two tiny islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 500 miles or so northeast of Madagascar, is an idyllic-looking spot. White sands, turquoise waters, palm trees. Paradise.



Or it used to be. In 2015, however, Mauritius, which owns Agalega, signed a deal with India enabling the construction of an Indian base there. Zoom in on Google Maps and a vast development is visible on the larger northern island, complete with a 3000m runway, a jetty and two 60m-wide hangars.

The Indian government has been coy about the purpose of the facility. Experts believe it could serve as a vital strategic outpost for India  a major strategic partner for Mauritius  and a base from which it can keep a watchful eye on the Indian Ocean.

Indias long-term strategy is to be the leading power in the Indian Ocean, says Dr David Brewster, a senior research fellow at the National Security College, of the Australian National University, who specialises in maritime security in the Indian Ocean. [Agalega] is an extended airfield that will be used for maritime aerial surveillance by Indian aircraft and naval aircraft in the south-west Indian ocean.

Locals fear the islands experience will echo that of Diego Garcia, in the Chagos Islands, 2000km to the east, where the local population was evicted in the late 1960s and early 1970s to make room for a British-American military base. Many of Agalegas current tiny population, of around 300, have family members who were evicted from Diego Garcia during that period. It will become a restricted area completely for Indians, Laval Soopramanien, president of the Association of Friends of Agalega, recently told the BBC, adding that Agalega will become the story of the Chagos Islands.

The local population of Diego Garcia was evicted in the late 1960s and early 1970s to make room for a British-American military base - Getty Images

Others worry, however, that Agalega might be a model that China could follow as it seeks to expand its influence in the region. Under the terms of Sir Keir Starmers proposed deal, which has yet to be ratified by the British and Mauritian governments, the Chagos Islands would return to Mauritian sovereignty, but with a minimum 99-year lease granted to guarantee the base on Diego Garcia. The handover has raised the possibility of China doing a similar deal to the one India has done on Agalega and establishing a base in the area, too.

Sir Michael Ellis, a former MP who served as Attorney General for Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, is among those who fear the Chagos deal would encourage a greater Chinese presence in the area. Under the terms of the reported deal, he says, there is a real risk the Chinese agree with Mauritius to lease one of the other islands and build their own base in close proximity to Diego Garcia, where American bomber aircraft and warships are stationed.

Furthermore, if the Labour Government gives away sovereignty over the islands, he adds, the Chinese could get permission from Mauritius to send fishing vessels  which are surveillance vessels  into the waters around Diego Garcia thereby compromising the use of the base.

Tom Tugendhat, the Tory MP and former shadow security minister, has also expressed fears that Starmers deal risks opening the possibility of China gaining a military foothold in the Indian Ocean.

Mauritius is free to rent them out to anybody else, he told the BBC when the deal was announced, including, for example, China.

If Keir Starmers deal is ratified Mauritius is free to rent out the Chagos Islands to anybody else, including Xi Jinpings China (pictured during the 2024 G20 summit)

While most experts agree that Diego Garcia is the best natural spot for a base in the region, China has shown geography need not impede its geopolitical aspirations. In the contested waters of the South China Sea, China has militarised at least three artificial islands it has built in the Spratly Islands, arming them with anti-air and ship missiles, fighter planes and jamming equipment, despite President Xi Jinpings previous assurances that they would not be put to such a purpose. The Spratlys occupy a strategic position between Malaysia, the Phillipines and Vietnam, one of the worlds most important shipping routes. In the event of any Chinese attack on Taiwan, these armed islands could play a vital role as a staging post and in denying the surrounding area to enemy forces.

China has shown a willingness to put large resources into making otherwise challenging islands usable for their own military purposes, says Ellis. There is a real risk they could enter into an agreement with Mauritius to do that with part of the [Chagos] archipelago.

Beijing has steadily increased its influence in the region in recent years. Mauritius Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, which was completed in 2013, was built by Chinese contractors using a 197m Chinese loan. It is only one of several large infrastructure projects built with Beijings help.

Although President Joe Biden supported the Chagos deal, which cements Diego Garcias status as a base under international law, members of the incoming Trump administration have expressed reservations. Marco Rubio, incoming President Donald Trumps pick for Secretary of State, has said Starmers agreement presents a serious threat to US Security. Senator James Risch, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a backer of Donald Trump, said the proposed deal gives in to Chinese lawfare [manipulating international law for strategic ends] and yields to pressure from unaccountable international institutions like the International Court of Justice at the expense of US and UK strategic and military interests.

Experts say that any possible Chinese benefit is not likely to be immediate. While I think this does present a strategic opportunity for Beijing, this is in the long term, says William Matthews, Senior Research Fellow for China and the World at Chatham House. What it immediately signals is a reduced commitment on the part of the UK to its traditional security presence in the region. However, from Chinas perspective it is the US presence which is of far greater importance as a strategic threat. A shift from the base being permanent as a possession of a close US ally (the UK) to a temporary, if long-term, lease from Mauritius does signal a shift away from the established security order in the region.

Members of the Chagossian community gather outside parliament to protest against the governments decision to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius, October, 2024 - Getty Images

[But] I do not think it likely that we will see a Chinese base in the Chagos Islands any time soon, he adds. While China does have a growing economic relationship with Mauritius, this is equally or more true of many other countries around the world, including in the Indian Ocean. A close trade relationship, infrastructure investment, and provision of digital infrastructure, as we see in Chinas relationship with Mauritius, do not automatically transfer into a partner country granting basing rights. India has closer security relations with Mauritius than China and has had a security presence in the Indian Ocean for longer.

Tony Blairs former advisor, Jonathan Powell, who is Starmers special envoy in Mauritius negotiations, was more forthright. When you come to see the detailed treaty, he told the i, youll see that this idea of a Chinese base is just hooey. It cant happen, wont happen.

Whatever Chinas long-term aspirations for the region, India has a considerable headstart. Although it might be a model for a Chinese base, Indias Agalega deal also proves they are ahead. I dont see theres any reason to think that China could set up a facility in the Chagos, for a whole bunch of reasons, says Dr Brewster. In terms of security and defence, Mauritius is essentially a client of India. The Mauritius National Security Adviser is a senior officer in [the] Indian intelligence [service] and has been for the last 40 years. The Mauritian coastguards most senior officer is an Indian naval officer. Seventy per cent of the Mauritian population are of Indian origin. Its more or less an Indian client state.

He adds that India will welcome any deal which guarantees a strong US presence in the Indian Ocean.

I havent seen details of the [Chagos] agreement, but I think there is a high chance that it will include an effective veto over any other military facilities in the archipelago, he says. India needs the United States in the Indian ocean, because otherwise there would be an effective power vacuum in which the Chinese would enter. The implicit understanding of the United States is that India will eventually take over responsibilities in the Indian Ocean. But 99 years [of the lease] is about as long as it gets in international affairs. Its a statement that the United States is there to stay as long as it wishes to be. It will exclude China from having a role in the Chagos. Its a good news story.

Barring a sharp change in plan, the UK will soon hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius in exchange for the guaranteed lease on Diego Garcia. The US and India, between them, will provide a bulwark against Chinese expansion. Whatever happens, it seems certain that the great powers will continue to use these tiny islands as chess pieces, regardless of what it means for those who live there. The Chagossians of Diego Garcia were not the first islanders to suffer for the whims of geopolitics; the Agalegans will not be the last.
Rebel fighters surround the burning coffin of Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria for 29 years - Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images

Rebel fighters have set fire to the coffin of Bashar al-Assads father in a symbolic moment for Syria as it grapples with what shape the country will take next.

Pictures and videos showed men circling the burning remains in the marble-clad mausoleum that was the last resting place of Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria for 29 years.

Other fighters dressed in military fatigues posed holding the flag of the revolution over the charred remnants inside the mausoleum in the village of Qardaha, the Assad familys ancestral home.

Stepping on Hafezs coffin, which was later dragged into a car park, one fighter declared it was revenge for my killed cousins.

Fighters raise the flag of the Syrian revolution over the remains of the coffin of Hafez al-Assad - Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images

Another video showed a giant statue of Hafez being shot at with an anti-aircraft gun.

The former air force pilot took power in a military coup in 1971, beginning more than half a century of brutal and bloody rule under the house of Assad.

That came to an end when a rebel coalition toppled Bashar al-Assads government over the weekend, sparking huge celebrations across the country as well as sorrow as stark evidence of decades of atrocities came to light.

In Damascus on Wednesday, families searched for clues to loved ones fates, trying to identify disfigured bodies found in a hospital morgue at the notorious Sednaya prison, where torture and mass executions were common.

Jolani vows punishment

Dozens of blackened, decomposing corpses, some with missing limbs or heads, were found overnight by rescuers digging for hidden cells.

Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of the chief rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), vowed on Wednesday to punish those responsible.

Although an amnesty has been announced for all regime conscripts, Jolani said that those who were involved in torturing and killing detainees in Syrian prisons will not be pardoned, and asked neighbouring countries to hand over those who fled.

The international community is now watching as HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, and a transitional government, begin the task of rebuilding a new Syria from the ashes of the Assad regime.

In his first interview, Mohammed al-Bashir, the interim prime minister, called for the millions of Syrian refugees around the world to return home.

My appeal goes out to all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has regained its pride and dignity. Come back. We need to rebuild, to get our country on its feet again, and we need everyones help, he told Corriere Della Sera, the Italian newspaper.

He added that his other top priorities were restoring security and stability so people can return and resume their normal lives, and strategic planning to provide basic services.

Finance is among biggest challenges

Mr Bashir, who has been appointed to run the country until March 1, also echoed pledges made by Jolani that the new regime would guarantee the rights of all people and communities in Syria.

But key questions include whether they can avert revenge attacks following the bitter civil war and decades of repression often based on sectarian and ethnic lines.

Mr Bashir added that one of the biggest challenges the new government faces is Syrias limited finances.

In the vaults, there are only Syrian pounds worth little or nothing. One US dollar buys 35,000 of our coins, Mr Bashir said. We have no foreign currency and as for loans and bonds, we are still collecting data. So yes, financially we are very bad.

Two US congressmen have urged senior officials in Washington to suspend some economic sanctions on Syria to ease pressure on its shattered economy, while the UK suggested it was also rethinking its designation of HTS as a terrorist group.

In apparent signs that HTS is keen to de-escalate, Jolani met with the leaders of other southern rebel groups on Wednesday, a move considered key to avoiding future tensions.
The gun found in Luigi Mangione's possession is believed to be constructed with parts that can be bought legally in the US

Gun control is dead, reads one message on Deterrence Dispensed, an online forum dedicated to 3D-printed firearms. Ive never been more proud of this community, says another.

Ever since it was revealed that Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man charged with the murder of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson, had been arrested carrying a homemade weapon, the disturbing website has been full of posts debating  and, in some cases, celebrating  the news.

This could very well help the 2a [Second Amendment] community. Itll show the world that 3D printing is actually viable, one amateur gunsmith opined. Another said they hoped it would encourage more people to take their defence into their own hands, while a different gun maker stated: The whole point is that their laws dont matter. Dude hit one of the richest people in the world in a place with some of the strictest gun control in the world.

The writers seeming indifference to the cold-blooded murder of the UnitedHealthcare boss, a husband and father, on the streets of New York illustrates the fervour of a growing online community that regards 3D-printed guns  weapons that can be entirely manufactured at home, without using any traceable parts  as an important bulwark against encroaching gun control in the United States.

Mangione used designs distributed by Deterrence Dispensed, and the designs for his weapon are still circulating on the forum. A chatroom dedicated to testing a similar model of silencer was deleted on Tuesday morning, while its designers online accounts disappeared from multiple platforms.

The handgun that police recovered from Luigi Mangione - UNPIXS

The gun found in Mangiones possession following his arrest at a McDonalds in the town of Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday was not totally 3D-printed, however. A police report stated that it had a metal slide and a plastic handle with a metal threaded barrel, and had a loaded Glock magazine with six 9mm full metal jacket rounds.

Dr Rajan Basra, a researcher from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation who has studied the development of 3D-printed firearms, has identified the weapon from US police photographs as a type of ghost gun that can be made with a combination of commercially-manufactured and homemade parts.

In America, there are parts of a gun that you can legally buy with very minimal, if not zero, regulation because theyre not legally classified as firearm parts, such as the barrel and the slide, he explains.

Mangione photographed in a cell in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following his arrest in the city on Monday - Altoona Police Department/REUTERS

There are a number of manufacturers that make these and one can buy them in the US. Thats where the 3D printing then gets involved, because you make the rest of the gun from plastic, combine the two, and youll get a working gun.

The type of weapon allegedly used by Mangione is known as a Glock frame. Multiple designs have been circulating on the internet for years, and are believed to have become popular among 3D-printed gun enthusiasts in the US and Canada. Their creation allows people to own firearms without going through any legally required registration process or using parts stamped with manufacturers serial numbers, hence the nickname ghost guns.

One could make a gun at home without the authorities necessarily knowing about it, and for those who want to plan an assassination, for example, thats a clear incentive to do so, warns Basra.

While it may take several days for the commercial components necessary to be ordered online and delivered, it would take just hours to print the plastic parts of the gun allegedly used by Mangione and assemble the weapon.

A CCTV image of the suspect outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel on December 4 - NYPD News/REUTERS

The 3D printers that are commonly recommended and used by gunmaking communities are widely available from mainstream retailers, and create the desired parts by running files that can be downloaded for free alongside detailed instruction manuals.

To make a gun like [the one allegedly used in the Brian Thompson murder], someone could use a 3D printer bought on Amazon for around 250, explains Basra. Its about the size of a large microwave and its not a particularly complicated system to operate. You could just have it in your bedroom, in the corner and follow the tutorials online on how to operate it.

He points to the terrifying ramifications of such simplicity. It would take hours to print the gun but assembling it can take minutes, warns Basra. They could do the whole thing in a day. It can pretty much be done by anyone, as long as theyve got a bit of patience, some basic tools and can follow instructions.

Pistols of the type allegedly used in the assassination of Mr Thompson are difficult to make in the UK and other countries with strict gun control because the necessary commercial parts cannot be purchased. But organised criminals and would-be terrorists have been seeking to manufacture other types of 3D-printed guns that can be made completely from scratch.

Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed that there have been more than a dozen cases in recent years involving a model called for the FGC-9 (standing for F*** Gun Control and the 9mm ammunition it fires).

NYPD officers at the scene of Brian Thompsons murder - Spencer Platt/Getty Images North America

It was distributed by the same online collective linked to the frame and silencer allegedly used by Mangione, with its creator calling for people to build the semi-automatic rifle as a means to defend yourself and not be a victim to unjust firearm legislation any longer.

Basra says that, while the type of weapon found following the Thompson shooting is less explicitly ideological, it does fit into the broader ideology that gun control should be made as obsolete as possible, and that its also a human right to bear arms.

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate who grew up in Maryland, has been charged with second-degree murder, two gun charges, forgery and possession of a suppressor by authorities in New York. He has been separately charged in the state of Pennsylvania with five crimes, including carrying a gun without a licence, forgery, falsely identifying himself to the authorities and possessing instruments of crime.

In the UK, 3D-printed firearms have so far proven particularly attractive to organised criminals who are struggling to arm themselves with conventional weapons, and far-Right and anti-government extremists.

Those found in possession of a 3D-printed gun manual can now be prosecuted for a terror offence, but success requires prosecutors to prove an ideological mindset that those possessing the instructions for purely criminal purposes are unlikely to have. Without that, those seeking to make the gun can only be prosecuted if they have already made component parts that breach the Firearms Act 1968.

Home Office minister Lord Hanson announced a review of existing laws on Tuesday, suggesting changes could be introduced through an upcoming police and crime bill.

The Government is exploring all legislative options to criminalise the possession and supply of 3D-printed firearms templates, he told the House of Lords. If a 3D-printed firearm is made, it is treated in exactly the same way as would any other type of illegal firearms. But If there are gaps in the legislation we will review that.

Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare - UnitedHealth Group

The National Crime Agency (NCA) says that manufacturing 3D-printed weapons still takes a high degree of skill and expertise and only small numbers have so far been seized in the UK.

The NCA recognises the recent improvements in technology around 3D printing, the availability of online blueprints and advice, and is working closely with partners to mitigate this threat and suppress the availability of such weapons in the UK market, a spokesperson added.

For now, advocates of homemade guns are divided on whether the UnitedHealthcare shooting will drive more interest to their cause, or galvanise international authorities into a coordinated crackdown.

You can see why the 3D-printed gun crowd is getting nervous that this could mean more eyes on them from law enforcement, and it could also potentially mean further legislation, says Basra. But theres always going to be the chance that these kinds of attacks could also inspire other people to look into 3D-printed firearms.
Nigel Farage told protesters to keep the pressure on the Government - LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES

Hundreds of farmers in tractors have descended on London in protest against the Governments inheritance tax raid.

Tractors lined up in Westminster on Wednesday morning before a planned slow-drive around central London.

Driving around Parliament Square, many tractors were decorated with Union flags and signs that read: No farmers, no food, Not hungry, thank a farmer and Save British Farming.

The RIP British Farming protest is organised by Kent Fairness for Farmers and Save British Farming.

Nigel Farage was among those protesting in Westminster on Wednesday - EDDIE MULHOLLAND FOR THE TELEGRAPH

The Reform UK leader joined hundreds of farmers protesting against Labours inheritance tax - YUI MOK/PA

Attending the protest, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, encouraged farmers to keep campaigning across the country.

He told The Telegraph: In the 100 rural constituencies Labour now holds, they have to keep up this pressure. It has to be persistent in every market town.

I believe this campaign will win but it wont happen quickly and it will take time.

In a direct message to the Government, Mr Farage added: Wake up and smell the coffee, its happening. You are going to lose all the seats in those rural areas if you dont change the rules.

Tractors sporting Union flags were seen driving through Westminster - EDDIE MULHOLLAND FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Martin Brandreth, 37, and his father Joe, 65, woke at dawn to embark on the six hour drive in their tractors from their farm near Coventry, Warwickshire.

They attended last months rally but this time arrived in their own vehicles. Festively decorated with Christmas lights and a sign reading British Farming  Keir Today Gone Tomorrow, the dairy and arable farmers called on the inheritance tax raid to be scrapped.

Mr Brandreth said: The general publics response has been immense. The amount of people saying were backing you is encouraging. We just hope the people up top listen.

I think they will U-turn eventually  if not, then at least an adaption to the rules.

His father Joe, the third generation farmer on the site, added: If there was any other industry where people earn the minimum wage, the government wouldnt expect them to pay 500,000.

Tractors with signs reading Back British Farmers parked up outside Parliament - Eddie Mulholland for the Telegraph

Chris Clowes, who works on his parents 200 acre farm, said the Government had kicked the hornets nest with the tax.

The 28-year-old cattle and sheep farmer said his brother cannot make enough money on the farm so has to get additional work on others.

There is worry and anxiety for all the farmers, he said. He urged the Government to get people eating local food.

Local food is better, its better for the environment. The fact imported food is cheaper is insane.

Last month, more than 10,000 farmers took to the streets of the capital to protest against changes introduced in the budget that would mean farms worth more than 1 million are subject to a 20 per cent inheritance tax.

Campaigners have said the changes would force the break-up of family farms to pay tax bills, undermining the industry and threatening food security.
People at the Umayyad Mosque on Tuesday in Damascus, Syria, after the fall of the Assad regime. Photograph: Dia Images/Getty Images

For a Biden administration in its final days, managing the downfall of Bashar al-Assad was not in the cards. For a Trump administration dedicated to isolationism and America First, Syrias future may be too important to ignore.

Before last week, the frontlines of the countrys nearly 13-year-old civil war had been largely frozen. Conflicts in Ukraine and Israel were dominating attention and US diplomatic efforts around the world. And the trend toward normalising relations with Assad only appeared set to extend his time in power.

The status quo was overthrown in just a matter of days, as rebel forces stormed into the countrys largest cities with Syrian forces melting away in their path, Iran and Russia declined to reinforce the regime, and the eventual overthrow of Assad himself  who has found asylum in Russia, a popular destination for deposed tyrants.

The developments are really the most important reordering of the region since 2003 driving a wedge between a historic alliance between Iran and Syria, and reversing a steady advance of Iranian interests around the region since the Iraq war, said Steven Heydemann, a non-resident senior fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy.

A generation ago, the US might have relished any opportunity to dictate Syrias postwar order. But as they briefed journalists this week, Joe Biden and his administration officials were more cautious, saying that the US would engage with all actors but clearly in a supporting capacity.

I just want to emphasize: the future here will be written by Syrians, a senior administration said during a background briefing. We are not coming up with a blueprint from Washington for the future of Syria. This is written by Syrians. The fall of Assad was delivered by Syrians. But I think its very clear that the United States can provide a helping hand, and we are very much prepared to do so.

The immediate efforts to stabilise Syria and eventually transition to a new government come as Washington is braced for a historic change in leadership. The nuanced horse-trading that will be required in the coming months is not the USs forte  particularly following a heated election in which a considerable portion of voters embraced Donald Trumps viral strain of isolationism.

Influence will be sought by a complex roster of actors, including Turkey and the Gulf states, major regional powers like Iran and Russia whose sway should not be underestimated, a muscular Israel that has bombed Syrian military sites and has begun to take territory in the south, and a constellation of rebel groups ranging from US-backed Kurds to Islamist fighters, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the force that captured Aleppo and Damascus and remains listed as a terrorist organisation in the US.

The situation on the ground does not play into the American instinct of good guys and bad guys, black and white, paint by numbers, which side are you on? said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Its very nuanced diplomacy which the United States instinctually doesnt like and has a very hard time executing in the midst of a presidential transition, he said. Everybody playing is thinking of a 20- or 30-year game. And US administrations have a really hard time thinking of a 20-30-year game.

In fact, the time horizon for the current US policies will last just over another month until Trump is sworn in as president. As the Biden administration loses time and influence, Trump has already made it clear that he does not want to get bogged down in Syria.

Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED! Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social this weekend.

At a turning point for the region, some observers have voiced concerns that the US taking a hands-off approach to Syrias future could leave the country open to a return to civil war or a resurgence of Iran, which sees Damascus as a linchpin of its power projection across the region.

We have a golden opportunity now to reshape how the Middle East is functioning, because Iran has lost its strategic base in the region, so its ability to actually mess things up around the region has significantly, significantly reduced, said Qutaiba Idlbi, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs.

But Syria could easily fall back into conflict as myriad regional powers and groups seek to capitalise on Assads sudden collapse.

Already, Israel has sent tanks and troops further into the Golan Heights, occupying military posts across the border for the first time since 1974. And in the north, the Turkish military have fired on US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, killing at least 20 people according to the group.

On Tuesday, Gen Erik Kurilla, the top US military officer responsible for the Middle East, visited SDF and US troops for a firsthand assessment of force protection measures, the rapidly evolving situation, and ongoing efforts to prevent ISIS [Islamic State] from exploiting the current situation.

While Russia has lost a key ally in Assad, it will still seek to hold on to its air base and naval base in Syria that allow it to project power around the world. Syria also plays a crucial role in Irans strategy for the region. And while Tehran abandoned Assad, observers believe this is not yet the final act.

I worry that if were not engaging, it might not be too hard for Iran to find a comeback if Syria is not a stable country, said Idlbi.

Trump had previously promised to pull the 900 US troops from northern Syria, where they back Kurdish forces fighting against Islamic State.

But his administration is also filled with pro-Israeli and anti-Iran hawks who may see Syrias future as key to those missions. And for a future president who prides himself on cutting deals, the truth is that the lure of the negotiations may prove too much to resist.

The Trump administration is advertising its disinterest but the reality is the whole set of countries from whom they need a whole set of things have a keen interest in how this gets resolved, said Alterman. So [the Trump administration]  wont be able to remain aloof without serious consequences  There are too many players who we care about, both on the positive side and the negative side, to just let the chips fall as they may.
A third-grade teacher with over 30 years of service in Ohio has filed a federal lawsuit after being suspended for including books with LGBTQ+ characters in her classroom library.

Karen Cahall was suspended for three days without pay after New Richmond Exempted Village School District Superintendent Tracey Miller determined that four of her books violated district policy, WCMH reported. The books, part of a larger collection of 100 titles, were not part of the curriculum but available for voluntary reading.

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 2, challenges the constitutionality of the district's policy governing discussion of "controversial issues." The district policy provides no guidelines as to what qualifies as "controversial," but was cited in Cahall's suspension. The lawsuit argues the policy and its enforcement violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits fostering one religion over another.

"Cahall maintained these books in her classroom in furtherance of her sincerely held moral and religious beliefs that all children, including children who are LGBTQ+ or the children of parents who are LGBTQ+, deserve to be respected, accepted, and loved for who they are," the suit said.

The filing also notes a lack of obscene or offensive content in the stories, which center on "characters who are LGBTQ+ and are coming to terms with feeling different."

The suspension followed a complaint from a parent, Kayla Shaw, which led to an investigation by Miller. In a letter, Miller asserted that Cahall knowingly bypassed the approval process for the books and disregarded community values.

"You may believe that some of the books listed above are appropriate for some of your students, but it is not for you to decide," Miller said, warning further action could result in termination.

Cahall's lawsuit seeks damages and a ruling that the district's policy violates constitutional protections. The district has not yet commented.

Originally published by Latin Times.
Kimberly Guilfoyle in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on 26 October 2024. Photograph: Christopher Dolan/AP

Donald Trump has named Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host who has been engaged to Trumps eldest son, to be the US ambassador to Greece.

For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally, Trump wrote in a statement. Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation.

Guilfoyles nomination would require Senate confirmation. She wrote on social media: Im honored to accept President Trumps nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the US Senate.

Related: Trump names Andrew Ferguson as next chair of Federal Trade Commission

The president-elect has been filling out his administration with loyalists, donors and family members. Trump chose Charles Kushner, his son-in-laws father, to serve as ambassador to France, and Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of daughter Tiffany Trump, to serve as a Middle East adviser.

Guilfoyle  who was engaged to Trumps son Donald Trump Jr in 2020  has served as a campaign fundraiser and surrogate for Trump. She has not served in any foreign policy or diplomacy role, working as a prosecutor in California before transitioning to a career in television.

Guilfoyle left Fox News in 2017. In 2020, the New Yorker detailed allegations from a former assistant of Guilfoyle who had accused her of repeated sexual harassment.
Members of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army are believed to have executed injured Syrian Kurdish fighters in their hospital beds - dia images

Turkish-backed fighters have been accused of carrying out a brutal execution of wounded soldiers in a military hospital in northern Syria.

In a gruesome video circulated online, injured men in hospital beds covered in bandages and wires are questioned by men in military fatigues, who then open fire on them.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) reported that dozens of wounded soldiers from the Manbij Military Council, part of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were executed after the area was besieged and evacuation routes out of the city closed.

Factions under the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom on Dec 1 against the SDF to counter what Turkish state media calls the establishment of a terrorist corridor stretching from the Syria-Iraq border to the Mediterranean.

Ankara sees the Peoples Defence Units (YPG), which leads the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has staged a decades-long insurgency against Turkey.

The PKK is listed as a terror group by the US, UK and EU.

Mazloum Abdi, the SDF commander, said his fighters in Manbij continue their resistance to halt the expansion of attacks west of the Euphrates - Baderkhan Ahmad

A ceasefire in Manbij mediated by the US was announced on Wednesday morning after it fell to the SNA, although small clashes are reportedly still taking place.

Mazloum Abdi, the head of the SDF, said in a statement that his fighters in Manbij continue their resistance to halt the expansion of attacks west of the Euphrates but will withdraw from the area as soon as possible.

He said that the SDFs goal is to achieve a ceasefire across the whole of Syria to initiate a political process for the future of the country.

The SDF, which holds Syrias north east, played a vital role in the fall of Islamic State (IS) and is backed by the US in continued efforts to counter remnants of the Jihadist group.

They have controlled Manbij for more than eight years after taking it from IS to cut the group off from the Turkish border.

The executions were carried out by Fajr al-Hurriya, according to the SOHR, which is part of the SNA, an umbrella term for a number of disparate militias backed by Turkey.

Kurdish channels said Fajr al-Hurriya also looted homes, burned them down and killed at least three people, while 10 civilians were killed in artillery shelling by Turkish forces east of Manbij.

The SNA is now advancing on Kobane, a symbol of Kurdish resistance when the town was besieged by IS in 2014. A year later, the SDF claimed full control in an important symbolic victory.

Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), which led the rebels who took control of Syria in a lightning offensive, said on Tuesday that it had also wrested control of the eastern city of Deir Ezzor from the SDF.

Deir Ezzor is home to Syrias largest oil field and the SDF took over as regime forces fled last week.

The collapse of Bashar al-Assads decades-long regime has created a new reality on the ground for the SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias formed in 2015.

The US has vowed to continue its support for the SDF in the fight against IS but continued fighting as Syria transitions to a new government risks further destabilisation of an already volatile situation.
Daniel Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide over the death of Jordan Neely - John Lamparski/Getty Images North America

A former Marine who was acquitted of fatally choking a homeless man on the New York City subway has attacked the arrogant prosecutors who brought the case.

In his first interview since being found not guilty, Daniel Penny said the Manhattan District Attorneys office was trying to get me on something after he put Jordan Neely in a chokehold to restrain him when he was acting in an erratic and threatening manner.

Mr Penny said that prosecutors had a lack of understanding of public perception of crime and they never should have charged him.

Mr Penny, 26, was acquitted earlier this week of criminally negligent homicide over the death of Mr Neely, 30, in March last year.

A judge had earlier directed the jury to clear Mr Penny of the more serious charge of manslaughter.

The case sparked a national debate about vigilantism, crime and race. Mr Penny is white and Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator with severe mental health issues, was black.

Fox Nation / Fox News

Mr Penny did not testify in his defence but has broken his silence in an interview with Fox Nations Jeanine Pirro.

He said that by bringing the case the prosecution really showed their arrogance in kind of their lack of understanding of whats really happening and the public perception of crime.

And no matter whatever anyone says on the news, its pretty prevalent, he said.

According to Mr Penny, the fact that the prosecution was willing to dismiss the manslaughter charge for a lesser one showed that they were going to get me on something.

Mr Penny also appeared to attack policies enacted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has defended his bail reforms even though they have put more violent offenders back on the streets.

He said: These are their policies that have clearly not worked, that the people, the general population are not in support of yet they  their egos are too big just to admit that theyre wrong and they cant reverse what theyve done, because thats a political suicide for them, I guess.

In the interview Mr Penny said that he intervened when Neely entered the subway car because he said he was going to kill people.

Fox Nation / Fox News

Assessing his behaviour, Mr Penny believed Neely was on the drug K2, a synthetic form of marijuana which causes people to act erratically.

Mr Penny described how he got up from his seat after looking at the scared faces of mothers and children on their way to school as Neely went up to them while talking crazy.

Once he put Neely in the chokehold, Mr Penny said he struggled with his extraordinary strength that made him gasp from the effort.

A courtroom sketch of a video showing Mr Penny putting Neely in a chokehold - Jane Rosenberg

After the incident he voluntarily went to a police precinct to be questioned but Mr Penny claimed that detectives were trying to get me to say what they wanted me to say.

He said: At some point when they came back and asked me another question, I was like, you know what, these guys are really trying to get me to say something that I didnt do. Theyre trying to admit to something that I didnt do.

The Telegraph has contacted Mr Braggs office for comment.

In a statement after the verdict, Mr Bragg said he respected the jurys decision but lamented the unacceptable way the prosecution team had been targeted with hate and threats.
Georgia Laurie with her Kings Gallantry Medal while twin sister Melissa wears a reptile brooch - Aaron Chown/PA

A woman whose twin sister saved her life during a terrifying crocodile attack wore a reptile brooch as she met the King.

Melissa Laurie, 31 was left bloodied and unresponsive after being ambushed by the crocodile while swimming in a lagoon in Mexico in June 2021.

She was rescued by her sister Georgia, who courageously fought off the animal three times when it dragged her sibling underwater.

Georgia and Melissa tell the King about their run-in with a crocodile - Aaron Chown/PA

Melissa, an air stewardess, developed sepsis as a result of her injuries and was put into an induced coma, but survived with an open fracture to her wrist, severe wounds to the abdomen and many injuries to her leg and foot. Georgia was bitten on her hand.

The 31-year-old from Sandhurst, Berkshire, was decorated with the Kings Gallantry Medal by the monarch at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

She was seen proudly wearing the award, which acknowledges exemplary acts of bravery, as she chatted to the King alongside Melissa in the Palace.

My sister got it for me which was very sweet of her, said Melissa of her brooch - Aaron Chown/PA

Melissa commemorated the event by wearing a reptile brooch fixed on to her green velvet jacket.

She told The Telegraph: My sister got it for me which was very sweet of her. She thought, I would get Melissa a little celebratory brooch to mark the occasion. She gave me my own medal.

When the honour was announced in May, Georgia said she would share the award with her sister.

Whats made this story so incredible is Melissas unwavering bravery throughout it all because she was so strong during it and I dont think I would be here without her. She really gave me the strength to keep fighting, she added.

The twins were attacked while swimming in Puerto Escondido in south Mexico.

S---! Its a crocodile

Recalling the incident in an interview with the Mail on Sunday in 2021, Melissa said: I saw the outline of its head above the water and its eyes. It was silent and perfectly still at this point.

I knew in that moment we were in trouble. I screamed, S---! Its a crocodile, we need to turn back immediately. My heart rate shot up. I was so scared.

The crocodile then struck, dragging Melissa under the water and inflicting wounds across her body.

Georgia then came to her rescue, punching the crocodile on the nose until it released Melissas body from its jaws.

I had to fight it off, I started bashing it and bashing it with both fists; just thumping it. It felt rock hard, like punching a wall, she said.

Melissa and Georgia at their home in Sandhurst in Berkshire - Aaron Chown/PA

The crocodile then swam away before returning twice to bite into Melissas mauled body.

Eventually, a rescue boat arrived and Melissa, unresponsive and vomiting blood, was brought to safety.

Buckingham Palace said the King held the ceremony to honour exceptional individuals.

This years Civilian Gallantry List, which includes nine people, is the first to be approved by the King.

It included unarmed police officer Constable Zachary Printer, who confronted gunman Jake Davison minutes after he had shot five people dead in Keyham, Plymouth, in August 2021.

Also honoured were off-duty police officer Constable Steven Denniss, of Lincolnshire Police, who was stabbed in the leg while apprehending a violent killer in Louth in 2021.
Former world time trial champion Rohan Dennis has pleaded guilty to a charge following the death of his wife.

Fellow Australian Olympian Melissa Hoskins died aged 32 after being hit by a car outside the couples Adelaide home on December 30 2023.

Dennis, 34, had faced charges of causing death by dangerous driving and an aggravated charge of driving without due care.

Those charges were not proceeded with after a plea deal and Dennis pleaded guilty at Adelaide Magistrates Court to the charge of an aggravated act likely to cause harm.

He was bailed to appear at Adelaide District Court on January 24 for arraignment with sentencing to come at a later date.

Dennis after winning gold at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships (Tim Goode/PA)

Hoskins represented Australia in the team pursuit on the track at the Olympics in London 2012 and Rio 2016, as well as being part of the squad which won the world title in 2015.

The couple were married in 2018 and have two children.

Dennis retired at the end of the 2023 season after a career which saw him twice win the world time trial title, as well as an Olympic bronze medal in the same discipline in Tokyo.

He added a silver in the team pursuit in London and wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France after winning the opening time trial in 2015.
A police officer in Pakistan has described using hard tactics to find Sara Sharifs fugitive family, while a relative said they hid in corn fields when police raided his home during the four-week hunt.

About 17 or 18 members of the wider family were interrogated and officers went undercover to get information about 10-year-old Saras father, Urfan Sharif, 42, stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, the Daily Mail reported.

It came after the trio fled to Pakistan with other children after Sara died at the family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 8 2023.

Ten-year-old Sara Sharif was found dead in her Woking home (Surrey Police/PA)

Sharif called police when he arrived in Islamabad and confessed he had beaten Sara up too much.

Officers went to his home and found Saras broken and battered body in a bunk bed, with a confession note from her father on the pillow.

On August 15, Nasir Mehmood Bajwa, the district police officer (DPO) for Jhelum in Pakistan, received an Interpol request to search and locate the suspects, before a further request came through within 24 hours for an urgent safe-and-well check on children, who were judged to be at risk of significant harm with the three adults, according to the Daily Mail.

Mr Mehmood Bajwa told the paper: They (Sharif and Batool) murdered a girl, so we had to do more for the safety of the children.

We employed hard tactics to ensure their safety.

Officers were sent to the home of Muhammad Sharif, the father of Malik and Sharif, in the suburbs of Jhelum, but he told them he had not seen Sharif since 2010.

The family house on Hammond Road in Woking where the body of 10-year-old Sara Sharif was found (Surrey Police/PA)

Imran Hussain, one of the officers in Pakistan, told the paper they went undercover, and he went to a salon near the Sharif family home and started asking questions.

He said: We decided to use spies, people in civilian clothes.

For that I went myself in plain clothes, on a motorbike.

I saw a small salon in front of the Sharif family house. So I went there, got my beard shaved and got a haircut.

I asked about Urfan, about his family. Then I asked if they had come to Pakistan recently and he said that they had.

Urfan Sharif (left) and Beinash Batool returned from Pakistan a month later (Surrey Police/PA)

He mentioned that he had seen them just two days ago, and that they even came in to see him.

Mr Mehmood Bajwa said they interrogated 17 or 18 family members and later the officers tracked down the children at a property in Jhelum.

Rasikh Munir, a relative of Urfan Sharifs, told the BBC he hid Saras family for weeks during the international police hunt.

Police raided Mr Munirs home in a small village in eastern Pakistan multiple times, but the family hid in corn fields, he said.

Mr Munir said he believed he had done nothing wrong in hiding the family.

He said he drove the family between his house in Sialkot and the city of Jhelum, where Saras grandfather lived, and took them to have haircuts and sometimes for ice cream.

Just over three weeks into the search, police found the children at Muhammad Sharifs home, and Mr Munir said Sharif, Batool and Malik were hiding in a neighbouring house metres away.

Sara Sharifs father, stepmother and uncle going through passport control at Heathrow Airport in London (Surrey Police/PA)

Mr Munir added that the loss of the children and the police pressure prompted the three to return to the UK.

Pressed on whether he felt he had done anything wrong, he told the BBC: I helped Urfan and the young children. If I hadnt helped them, they would have been completely helpless. I helped them to look after the kids, I felt sympathy for them.

They were my people. Had I not stood by them and something bad had happened to them who would have been responsible for them?

The defendants returned to the UK on September 13 2023  leaving behind the children who had travelled with them  and were detained within minutes of a flight touching down at Gatwick airport.

On Wednesday Sharif and Batool were found guilty of Saras murder.

Malik, who lived with them, was convicted of causing or allowing her death after a jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for nine hours and 46 minutes.

Mr Justice Cavanagh adjourned sentencing until next Tuesday.
Stars of the much-anticipated Lion King prequel have stepped out in full glamour to celebrate the film at its UK premiere.

Mufasa: The Lion King, which follows the 2019 remake of the 1994 Disney animated classic, explores the titular lions origin story and his unlikely rise to king of the pride lands.

Told in flashbacks, the film enlists mandrill Rafiki to relay the story to Simba and Nalas daughter Kiara, voiced by Blue Ivy Carter  who is the daughter of music superstars Beyonce and Jay-Z.

Billy Eichner attending the UK premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King, at Cineworld Leicester Square in London (Ian West/PA)

The family appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of the film, with Beyonce writing on Instagram: You worked hard and you did such a beautiful job as the voice of Kiara. Your family could not be prouder. Keep shining.

It came days after Jay-Z said he was at the centre of a blackmail attempt after he was named in a US lawsuit which alleged he raped a 13-year-old girl along with Sean Diddy Combs.

The upcoming film follows Mufasa as an orphaned cub who meets a lion prince named Taka who accepts Mufasa into his family as a brother and sets in motion a journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny, Disney said.

It also features James Bond and Indiana Jones star Mads Mikkelsen, as the formidable antagonist Kiros who is leader of a pride of white lions.

Mikkelsen posed at the premiere outside Cineworld Leicester Square in London in a black three-piece ensemble, as stars of the film arrived.

Mads Mikkelsen plays the leader of a pride of white lions (Ian West/PA)

Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins, the production comes alive with music from Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Jenkins was wearing an orange suit on the carpet of the premiere, in what appeared to be a nod to lions fur.

Reprising their roles as meerkat Timon and warthog Pumbaa, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogan lend their their signature schtick while Donald Glover and Beyonce return to voice Simba and Nala.

Director Barry Jenkins wore a striking orange suit for the premiere (Ian West/PA)

Rogan posed at the UK premiere on the sand-coloured carpet in a three-piece beige ensemble alongside his wife, comedian and actress Lauren Miller, in green and pink.

Eichner wore a navy double-breasted jacket and grey turtle neck jumper.

The film features a star-studded roster of talent, including British star Aaron Pierre as Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr as Taka.

Mufasa: The Lion King is due to be released in UK cinemas on December 20.
Meta said it is 99% of the way there in solving an ongoing social media blackout with its apps.

On Wednesday at around 6pm, thousands of social media users in parts of the UK reported an outage with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The social media giant reported that a technical issue had left users unable to access its services.

DownDetector, a website that monitors social media outages, says the three cities hit worst by the outage were London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Other major cities hit hard by the blackout were Cardiff, Nottingham and Birmingham.

Thanks for bearing with us! Were 99% of the way there  just doing some last checks. We apologize to those whove been affected by the outage.  Meta (@Meta) December 11, 2024

By around 10pm on Wednesday, DownDetector UK said there had been 23,445 reports of Facebook outages, 11,466 Instagram outages and 18,646 on WhatsApp across Britain.

In an update issued at 10.26pm on X, Meta said the problem was now nearly resolved.

A spokesperson said: Thanks for bearing with us! Were 99% of the way there  just doing some last checks.

We apologise to those whove been affected by the outage.

Other parts of the world affected include Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, according to DownTracker.

To find out if your area is affected, visit: downdetector.co.uk/status/facebook/map.
A sea mammal expert has developed a groundbreaking tool that can track dolphins by their regional accents.

Dr Julie Oswald, of the University of St Andrews Scottish Oceans Institute, created the tool, known as the Real-time Odontocete Call Classification Algorithm (Rocca), using AI.

It can categorise dolphin calls by species and comes in different versions linked to different geographical areas.

There are around 42 species of dolphin and they use hundreds of different sounds to communicate.

The mammals learn to mimic the sounds they hear from a young age and some develop a unique signature whistle they use to announce their identity.

Scientists can study them using hydrophones  underwater microphones that capture sounds as dolphins pass by  but analysis of these sounds can be difficult.

Rocca has made it easier by using machine learning to reveal subtle acoustic differences to match sounds to species with regionally specific settings to account for accents.

This allows the tool to identify the type of species present in a particular area.

Dolphins develop region-specific accents, meaning a bottlenose dolphin in the North Sea may produce different sounds compared with one in the Pacific.

Rocca accounts for these regional differences to help conservationists identify dolphin species more accurately and assess the impact of human activities such as fishing and sonar disturbances.

Dr Oswald is currently expanding Roccas applications to other species and ecosystems in regions such as West Africa, Macaronesia and the Mediterranean.

She is also working with scientists and conservationists to train them in acoustic monitoring using Rocca.

The Rocca was one of the winners of the EarthRanger 2024 Conservation Technology Award, which recognises innovations and technology-driven solutions that make measurable conservation impacts.

Jes Lefcourt, Ai2s senior director of conservation technology and director of the EarthRanger programme, said: The Scottish Oceans Institute has been improving the understanding of cetacean communication for 20 years.

Their recent innovations using AI have improved the ability to track and monitor populations of these species and also highlight the individuality of the animals.
Two Government ministers in favour of assisted dying will sit on the 23-member committee set to scrutinise a Bill to legalise it.

Care minister Stephen Kinnock and Justice minister Sarah Sackman will take a line-by-line look at the proposed legislation alongside voices of opposition including Conservative MP Danny Kruger.

The committee is made up of 14 MPs who voted in favour of the Bill and nine who voted against.

During the debate in Parliament on November 29 some MPs indicated their support for the Bill might not continue at a further vote, if they are not convinced of safeguards around potential coercion.

Kim Leadbeaters Bill could see terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge.

She said the presence of ministers on the committee shows the level of engagement and commitment that such an important piece of legislation demands.

The Government is neutral on the issue of assisted dying, with the Cabinet split in how members voted last month, including backing from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and opposition from Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Ms Leadbeater said the committee reflects both the range of views expressed in the debate and the party make-up of the House of Commons.

The committee features 15 Labour MPs  nine who voted for the Bill and six who voted against; four Conservatives  two for and two against; three Liberal Democrats  two for and one against; and one Plaid Cymru MP who voted in favour.

Danny Kruger, who is opposed to legalising assisted dying, will sit on the committee scrutinising the Bill (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

Ms Leadbeater said: The Bill committee will bring together colleagues with differing views and valuable experience in order to give the Bill the detailed scrutiny it deserves and requires.

A total of 330 MPs voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading, with 275 MPs opposing it, meaning it cleared its first parliamentary hurdle by a majority of 55.

Ms Leadbeater said the committee, expected to first meet in January, will have the task of going through it line by line and examining any amendments that are put forward.

She added: This will follow the taking of oral and written evidence. As I promised in my speech, the committee reflects the range of views expressed in the debate as well as the make-up of the House itself.

While the Government remains neutral, I am very pleased that two ministers will also be on the committee, reflecting the level of engagement and commitment that such an important piece of legislation demands.

Ms Leadbeater said the committee process, which is expected to last weeks, is likely to be a demanding and time-consuming process.

She added that she is confident the Bill will receive detailed scrutiny to ensure that both Houses of Parliament are presented with legislation for further consideration that is workable and rigorous in terms of the rights it confers and the safeguards and protections it affords.

The committee considering the Bill will have the power to send for people, papers and records as part of its sessions.

The Bill will face 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.

Ms Leadbeater has said it would likely be a further two years from then for an assisted dying service to be in place.

Encouraging or assisting suicide is currently against the law in England and Wales, with a maximum jail sentence of 14 years.

The MPs on the committee and who voted yes to the Bill are: Kim Leadbeater; Sarah Sackman; Stephen Kinnock; Bambos Charalambous; Marie Tidball; Simon Opher; Jake Richards; Rachel Hopkins; Lewis Atkinson; Kit Malthouse; Neil Shastri Hurst; Tom Gordon; Sarah Green and Liz Saville-Roberts.

The MPs on the committee who voted no to the Bill are: Naz Shah; Juliet Campbell; Daniel Francis; Sojan Joseph; Jack Abbott; Sean Woodcock; Danny Kruger; Rebecca Paul and Sarah Olney.
An actor who appeared on Netflix's Sex Education has been found guilty of raping and sexually abusing two teenage girls who sought him for acting lessons.

Alexander Westwood, 24, was found guilty of a total of 26 sexual offenses, including raping a schoolgirl who attended his acting class and sexually assaulting a child over a period of eight years.

He is scheduled to be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court in February, as first reported by BBC News.

Westwood's Sexual Abuse

During the trial, prosecutor Andrew Wallace said Westwood repeatedly forced his students to watch pornographic materials and act out "the most inappropriate scenes." He would also speak about sex scenes in films such as the 1991 Frankie and Johnny and a certain masturbation scene from Bridgerton.

Between November 2020 and September 2021, Westwood would consistently push one of his teenage students to engage in sexual activity. The prosecutor added that Westwood also kept the student in his classes after threatening that she would owe him 36,000 or over $45,000 if she stopped attending his acting lessons.

Read Also: Florida Teen Collected Own Evidence of Rape After Police Charged Her With Filing False Report

His abuse of the teenage girl overlapped with that of another pupil who attended his classes from May to August 2021. Westwood allegedly gave the second student a script between a father and daughter in Greek mythology and asked the girl to act it in the nude. The victim initially declined but later undressed after Westwood "kept going on about it."

The prosecutor said the actor touched the child's breast and vaginal area. When the child later texted him that the act made her feel "uncomfortable," he said it was all "part of acting."

In addition to the two students, Westwood had also sexually assaulted a woman between September 2020 and October 2021, as well as a boy aged between nine and 10.

Who Is Alexander Westwood?

Westwood is an actor who appeared on Netflix's Sex Education as an uncredited student for 17 episodes. Some of his other acting roles included "Cancer" in the 2020 short film Leaper, a solicitor and an uncredited role in the TV series Doctors, and a fireman in the 2018 film Outlawed, according to IMDB.
Vicky Pattison says male doctors lacked empathy when she sought help for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

The reality star, 37, spoke about her own experiences as a report by MPs found womens health concerns have been dismissed due to medical misogyny, pervasive stigma and a lack of education surrounding common conditions.

Pattison has previously revealed she was initially disregarded by medical professionals as having premenstrual syndrome and she only received a diagnosis of PMDD after turning to private care.

The Geordie Shore and Im A Celebrity star, who gave evidence to the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee which published the report, told ITVs Good Morning Britain: My experiences when I went to discuss my symptoms were horrendous.

Vicky Pattison has premenstrual dysphoric disorder (Ian West/PA)

For years, for five years I was dismissed, I was made to feel ashamed for the majority of the time it was men. I think they lack an understanding and empathy towards what were going through as women, whether that be someone suffering with PMDD, adenomyosis, endometriosis  the list is absolutely endless.

They are not given the correct, I think, information, education to be able to treat a woman going through what those women are.

She says her condition causes her to suffer from aches and pains, exhaustion, cramps as well as mental symptoms such as crippling anxiety, exhaustion and mood swings, your erratic behaviour, feelings of hopelessness, depression, a genuine belief that the world would be a better place without you in it.

Pattison said she is in a ridiculously privileged position, with financial and family stability, but there are thousands, if not millions, of people out there, women who arent getting the same opportunities I did and this report is a step in the right direction.

GP surgeries have been singled out in the report, with the authors highlighting a clear lack of awareness and understanding of womens reproductive health conditions among primary healthcare practitioners, particularly when those conditions occur in young women and girls.

Demi Santana Brown, from Love Is Blind UK season one, has endometriosis and she told BBC Breakfast it was so frustrating when she was told she had irritable bowel syndrome before receiving the right diagnosis.

Women are being left in unnecessary pain and with gynaecological conditions undiagnosed because of what's been called "medical misogyny". On #BBCBreakfast Frances Reed spoke to Sarah Owen MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, spoke to #BBCBreakfast about their report pic.twitter.com/Yy26lcLgSo  BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) December 11, 2024

When asked if the situation is improving, Brown added: I still feel you have to advocate for yourself because I think from experiences other people have told me, theyre so quickly dismissed, so I dont know if it is necessarily getting better.

For me, once I got my diagnosis I kept pushing, but I was taken off the books, put back on the books.

Giving advice to other women, she urged them to reach out to charities and find people who have been through a similar experience.

Endometriosis, which affects 1.5 million women in the UK, occurs when cells normally found in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body.

In response to the report, a spokesperson for NHS England said that too often the health service hears of women whose health concerns have been dismissed, which is why we are taking action to improve services for women, including rolling out womens health hubs across the country.

They added: The NHS is also developing a network of womens health champions made up of senior leaders in every local care system to drive forward improvements in womens health.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson called the situation totally unacceptable and said the Government is investing an extra 26 billion in the health system and also wants to overhaul womens healthcare, placing womens equality at the heart of our agenda, and ensure womens health is never again neglected.
Food & Wine / Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Its inevitable during the holiday season. You get invited to a party, and you need to bring wine. But which one? This year, lean into bottles from California, Oregon, and Washington; or, hop the pond and head to France.

The choices here are impressive, plus they (at least most of them) wont damage your bank account too direly, a consideration during the months when life involves party after party after party. I've chosen great wines here that range from $15 to $130, both white and red, and included one terrific nonalcoholic rose as well.

They're so good, in fact, that the recipient probably won't even regift them, that sad fate that lies in wait for far too many host gifts. Here are 15 to seek out this holiday season.

Related: 14 Red, White, and Rose Wines for $25 or Less to Seek Out This Season

2022 Delas Saint-Esprit Cotes du Rhone Rouge ($15)

A $15 wine that drinks like a $30 wine is a winner of a gift, and this fragrant red, from one of the northern Rhones top producers, is exactly that. The Syrah in the blend  60%  adds a distinctive, peppery kick.

2022 Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($15)

Chalk Hill has been a name in Sonoma Chardonnay since 1972. Their affordable Sonoma Coast bottling is a cool-climate charmer, with fresh red and green apple character and touch of French oak spice.

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Missing Thorn Alcohol-removed Rose ($18)

Most nonalcoholic wines just dont taste like  well, wine. Napa Valleys Missing Thorn Rose is an exception. It tastes as good as actual rose  honestly, better than many  with bright berry fruit and an excellent mouthfeel (rare in de-alcoholized wine).

2021 Hedges Family Wines CMS Red ($18)

The Hedges family has been growing grapes in Washington state since 1990 and farming its estate vineyard biodynamically since 2008. Their CMS red is a raspberry-rich Merlot-Cabernet blend that gets a bit of spice from a touch of Syrah in the mix.

2023 Metier Sauvignon Blanc ($20)

A new, affordable label from Washington states DeLille Cellars, Metiers wines are all priced around $20 and are uniformly impressive. My favorite of them was this fresh, tingly Sauvignon Blanc, with its refreshing melon and citrus flavors.

Related: 5 Tips to Serve Wine Like a Pro at Your Holiday Party  and What to Avoid

2022 Maison LEnvoye Straight Shooter Pinot Noir ($22)

This modestly priced Oregon Pinot Noir doesnt rely on any tricks for its silky, red-cherries-and-spice appeal  just impressive Willamette Valley fruit, fermented and aged in older barrels to let its pure Pinot character shine.



2022 Tapestry Paso Robles Red ($25)

This full-bodied Cabernet blend is ripe and rich, but not too much so.



2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir ($28)

Winemaker Terry Culton uses carbonic maceration, a technique borrowed from Beaujolais, to make this Oregon Pinot in a bright, vivid, lighter style, full of crisp-crunchy berry flavors.



2023 Comte Lafond Sancerre ($45)

When its good, Sauvignon Blanc can walk that perfect line between floral (even sometimes green-grassy) notes and a flinty, edgy mineral character. Thats certainly the case with this aromatic white from one of Sancerres top producers.



Related: Buying Wine by the Case Will Save You Money at Checkout  Here's How to Build the Perfect Case of Wine

2022 Albert Bichot Secret de Famille Bourgogne Blanc ($45)

A supple Bourgogne Blanc (i.e., Chardonnay), this offers complexity without the $100-plus price tag that premier cru Burgundies go for these days. Think cool pear and citrus flavors mingling with subtle vanilla-oak notes.

2021 Chateau du Moulin-a-Vent Moulin-a-Vent ($50)

Moulin-a-Vent is arguably Beaujolais top cru (though Morgon might contest that claim). This is a classic example, full of crisp red fruit, its flavors intense but not weighty. Its a great holiday dinner-party wine.

2022 Nalle Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ($52)

A lot of Zinfandel leans toward a weighty, darkly ripe fruit. Doug Nalle goes in a different direction with this old-vine Dry Creek bottling: This is Zinfandel with grace, its flavors deep and intense but leaning more toward red fruit than black.

Related: Want to Understand California Wine? These 11 Bottles Will Teach You Everything

2021 Chateau La Serre Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe ($60)

Steps from the Unesco World Heritage Site town of St-Emilion lie La Serres Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines. This wine from them is classic Right Bank Bordeaux: dark-fruited and silky, yet bolstered by rich tannins.

2020 Andre Brunel Les Cailloux Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge ($70)

This is ideal, old-school Chateauneuf-du-Pape: fragrant, lightly herbal, full of strawberry and raspberry fruit, and elegant despite its richness. Its a classic vintage, says winemaker Fabrice Brunel.

2016 Carillon dAngelus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru ($130)

Chateau Angelus, one of Bordeauxs great names, sells for $350 a bottle or so and is a lovely gift  but so is the estates second wine. The 2016 is full of dark cherry and cocoa flavors, both precise and generous all at once.



Read the original article on Food & Wine
Authorities have identified the man who assaulted and killed a Washington woman 36 years ago, and they used DNA to solve the case.

Fishermen found a body on Aug. 28, 1988, according to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department. She was found in the Puyallup River near Sumner, authorities said in a news release on Dec. 1.

Two months after the womans death, she was identified by dental records as Tracy Whitney, the sheriffs department said in a video. She was last seen that day at Burger King arguing with her ex-boyfriend.

She walked away from that Burger King and less than 24 hours later, she was discovered in the river deceased, said Det. Sgt. Lindsay Kirkegaard in the video.

Tracy Whitney, a woman who was found dead on August 28th 1988 in Pierce County, Washington.

When Whitney was found, she was nude. Officials conducted an autopsy and determined that Whitney had been strangled to death, or likely smothered. She also had multiple blunt force injuries and was sexually assaulted. Officials ruled her death a homicide and took DNA swabs from her body.

Despite detectives interviewing everyone who knew or dated her, her killer continued to walk free.

There were a lot of suspects, potential suspects, that would come up in this investigation of current boyfriends, previous boyfriends, Kirkegaard said.

Locating the victims killer decades later

In 2005, officials took the DNA collected from Whitneys body and sent it in for testing via the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, a national database that allows federal, state and local forensic laboratories to compare DNA and link violent crimes to specific offenders.

Detectives eventually decided to resubmit the suspects DNA due to new technology at the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. Once a new DNA profile was created, it was uploaded to CODIS but returned no matches, Kirkegaard said.

In March 2022, detectives again submitted a DNA extract to Parabon Labs, where team members traced family lines back to the 1700s, leading investigators to a man named John Guillot Jr.

John died of cancer in January 2022, eight months prior to receiving the results, Kirkegaard said. He had also been cremated, so there was no DNA to compare to the suspect DNA profile.

Detectives reached out to the Washington State Patrol, who said they could confirm the suspects identity by comparing the suspect DNA to a family member.

Guillot had a son, John Guillot III, who had recently died, so investigators compared DNA from Guillots deceased son to the suspect DNA. The test confirmed that the suspect was the father of John Guillot III, or John Guillot Jr., Kirkegaard said.

According to authorities, Guillot and Whitney did not know each other. Police suspect Whitneys death was a stranger abduction, rape and murder. Because he died, no charges could be brought against him.

The Washington State Attorney Generals Office supplied grant money to pay for testing, which solved the case, authorities said.

Kirkegaard said its important for authorities to try and give her family some closure.

Victim was a good kid, father says

Robin Whitney, the victim's sister, spoke in the vided and said she was a good big sister.

"She has been really missed throughout my lifetime, her sister said. It was really hard growing up without a sister, but I'm just happy that we have finally found who did this and she can rest peacefully."

Her father, Ron Whitney, said she was "a good kid. He said the smaller kids in the area looked up to her.

The best way I can describe her is what her best friends mother said, he said. Tracy was sweet. She was family.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia  the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police use DNA to solve 36-year-old cold case murder of Tracy Whitney
The Amazing Kreskin attends the launch party for the book "How To Become Famous In Two Weeks Or Less" by Melissa de la Cruz and Karen Robinovitz at the Paramount Hotel July 1, 2003, in New York City.

Corrections & clarifications: A previous version of this report gave an incorrect full name for The Amazing Kreskin.

George Kresge Jr., better known by his stage name The Amazing Kreskin, has died. He was 89.

His former rep, Augustine Covert, confirmed his death in an email to USA TODAY Wednesday. The Hollywood Reporter and New York Times report the actor and mentalist died Tuesday at his home in New Jersey. He would have turned 90 next month.

The entertainer grew to prominence in the 1970s by demonstrating his intuitive ability dozens of times on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and in live performances.

"What Kreskin said at the end of every show was 'Let's not say goodbye, let's just say to be continued,'" his former road manager, Ryan Galway, told The Morristown Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Mentalist George Kresge, aka The Amazing Kreskin, attends the 2017 DKMS Blood Ball at Spring Place on Oct. 26, 2017, in New York City.

His television show "The Amazing World of Kreskin" aired from 1972 to 1975 in Canada and in syndication in the United States. Kreskin also appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and the "Howard Stern Show" through the years, and he also made annual appearances on CNN to make predictions about the New Year.

Kreskin was especially clear that his talent could not be attributed to psychic ability, but to suggestion and "'extrasensory' perceptions," he wrote in his 1991 book "Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin." One of his most well-known acts was finding the check for his live performances in whatever venue he was in, but if he could not find it, he didn't get paid that night. According to Kreskin, he lost less than a dozen times.

At his peak, Kreskin performed more than 300 times a year, Galway said.

"He was one of the sweetest guys on the planet," Galway told The Record. "There were really two sides to him. One was the Amazing Kreskin, and it was all about business. And the other one was just kindness. I loved my time with him, just hearing the stories. He lived just a phenomenal life."

Contributing: William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kreskin dead: Mentalist and live performer dies at 89
At this point, artificial intelligence (AI) has been discussed enough for investors to know it's a big deal. The explosive growth in Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) business results and its stock price prove the point.

But unless you're closely following Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, you may not comprehend just how big AI can get. Huang has used the term "sovereign AI" in past discussions. He just gave investors a look at what it really means and why it is great news for Nvidia shareholders.

image of "AI" on computer chip.

Image source: Getty Images.

Huang just met with the prime ministers of Thailand and Vietnam on a trip to Southeast Asia in early December. He wants to help countries in the region -- and around the world -- utilize domestic data and labor, along with expanding computing infrastructure, to develop and exploit AI. And the market looks to be massive.

Unparalleled growth

It's hard to imagine that Nvidia can continue on its astounding growth path. Sales exploded in the current fiscal year. Over the past nine months, Nvidia reported revenue of $91.2 billion. That's an increase of 135% over the $38.8 billion reported in the prior year period. It's more than quadruple the sales from two years ago.

Most of that is due to Nvidia's data center segment, as big tech companies are spending large amounts of capital to quickly meet the computing power that is needed for AI applications. Of course, investors have noticed, and the stock has also exploded higher, with a three-year gain of 340%.

One would think that the growth rate will eventually drop, but Nvidia is still capacity-constrained with demand still growing. Nvidia is also working to hold off competition with its Blackwell GPU (graphics processing units) architecture launch this year and is already announcing the Rubin platform to succeed Blackwell. Explaining the company's development plans, Huang has stated, "Our company has a one-year rhythm. Our basic philosophy is very simple: Build the entire data center scale, disaggregate and sell to [customers] parts on a one-year rhythm, and push everything to technology limits."

And Huang knows demand is going to spread beyond the large tech companies. That's where sovereign AI comes in, and that is why Huang has been traveling the globe in recent months.

A $20 trillion market

Huang's recent Southeast Asia trip kicked off with a meeting with Thailand's prime minister. They discussed how investing in AI can propel innovation in the country in many fields that will benefit Thai citizens. Huang promoted sovereign AI for Thailand this way:

The most important part of artificial intelligence is the data. And the data of Thailand belongs to the Thai people. The digital data of Thailand encodes the knowledge, the history, the culture, the common sense of your people. It should be harvested by your people.

And that applies to many countries. A recent paper published by the global market intelligence and data provider International Data Corporation (IDC) says that AI will contribute $19.9 trillion to the global economy just through the remainder of this decade. By 2030, it is believed 3.5% of global GDP will be driven by AI investments.

Nvidia boots on the ground

Nvidia is leading the way, not just with its market-leading AI platform offerings. Huang's visit to Southeast Asia had some concrete takeaways. He announced that Nvidia would be opening a new research and development (R&D) center in Vietnam to accelerate AI development.

The center plans to nurture innovation in several sectors of the fast-growing economy. Huang says it will partner with Vietnamese researchers, start-ups, and other business organizations. The country is not new to Nvidia. The company says it has been investing in Vietnam's technology ecosystem for eight years. That includes engaging with dozens of AI start-up companies and universities in the country.

Investors should be paying attention to what Huang is saying and doing. His recent visit to Southeast Asia provides somewhat of a blueprint for how capital investments in AI will continue to grow. That should continue to make Nvidia shareholders happy in coming months and years.

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A hiker was rescued Sunday from an Oregon state park where she had been missing almost two full days, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The 64-year-old woman's calls for help caught the attention of search and rescue crews that had been looking for her.

The woman showed signs of hypothermia and dehydration when a Coast Guard crew and ground search party located her in a remote area of Shore Acres State Park, according to the agency. Whether she suffered additional injuries was not immediately clear.

Oregon State Police asked the Coast Guard for help when the woman went missing Friday evening. She became separated from her group that day without proper survival gear.

Members of a county rescue team and regional task force joined the Coast Guard in its search for the missing hiker over the weekend, but their efforts were temporarily stalled by challenging weather that grounded the flight crew. They were also unsuccessful trying to locate her using a thermal imaging device on one of the Coast Guard helicopters. They later realized the woman was undetectable on infrared cameras, which should be able to pick up body heat signatures, because she sought shelter beneath a log.

A 64-year-old missing hiker in Shore Acres State Park sits near a fire and sheltered in an emergency blanket after being found by a local government agency search party, Dec. 8, 2024. / Credit: U.S. Coast Guard

Crews searching on land eventually found the woman in an isolated section of the park after hearing her call out for help. She began shouting once she heard helicopters flying overhead.

After bushwhacking through uncultivated wilderness, the ground team found the woman, the Coast Guard said. That team moved her to another location where the flight crew had a clearer path to hoist her up.

Video of the air rescue showed the Coast Guard helicopter lift the hiker on a stretcher from the forest below. She was covered by a hypothermic bag and by then had been warmed by a fire that the ground search team built while they waited for the flight crew to arrive, the agency said.

The Coast Guard flew the woman to Bay Area Hospital in North Bend, Oregon, nearby. She was transferred at that point to emergency medical services personnel.

"The Coast Guard and our partner agencies here on the Oregon Coast routinely train together to ensure we can execute coordinated search and rescue missions whenever we're called upon," said Jay Kircher, a commanding operations officer and helicopter pilot at Coast Guard Air Station North Bend, in a statement about the rescue. "It's fantastic to see this teamwork in action and produce a successful outcome."

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Are President-elect Donald Trumps oldest son and a former TV personality splitsville?

Donald Trump Jr. was spotted Monday night in Palm Beach, Florida, holding hands with local socialite Bettina Anderson amid questions about his relationship with fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle.

The Daily Mail snapped photos of Trump and Anderson strolling around Palm Beach and reported they were celebrating Andersons birthday at a swanky restaurant called Buccan.

Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr.

A few hours later, the president-elect announced that he plans to nominate Guilfoyle as the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host, has not only been romantically linked to Trump Jr. She also campaigned extensively for the president-elect.

Neither Trump Jr. nor Guilfoyle responded to requests for comment.

Trump Jr., 46, and Guilfoyle, 55, have been dating since 2018 and have been engaged since 2020.

Guilfoyle was previously married to California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom when he was serving as mayor of San Francisco. She also worked at Fox News for more than a decade, co-hosted "The Five" and previously served as a prosecutor.

The Daily Mail, citing an unnamed source familiar with the family, reported Wednesday that the couples engagement is definitely off.

If thats true, there seem to be no hard feelings. After his father announced Guilfoyles nomination to become ambassador, Trump Jr. posted a congratulatory message on X.

I am so proud of Kimberly, he wrote. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First.

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Donald Trump Jr. and fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle break up?
FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2017 file photo, former Congressman Anthony Weiner leaves federal court following his sentencing in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner has filed to run for a seat on the New York City Council, launching a potential political comeback after his once-promising career was destroyed by sexting scandals and later a criminal conviction for having illicit online contact with a child.

Campaign finance records list a campaign committee that was set up on Friday for Weiner called Weiner 25, in addition to listing him as a candidate for a council seat in lower Manhattan.

In a phone conversation Tuesday with The Associated Press, Weiner, a Democrat, said he is still exploring whether to actually campaign for the office. He said he opened the committee late last week so he could participate in a forum held by the Downtown Independent Democrats later this week.

He referred additional questions to recent statements he made on his weekly radio show, The Middle with Anthony Weiner, where he said: I haven't decided if I want to do this yet" while considering the personal dynamics of a return to politics.

Weiner represented a congressional district in New York City for about 12 years before he resigned in 2011 after sending lewd photos to several women. He tried to make a comeback in 2013 to run for mayor but was damaged by new revelations of explicit photos Weiner had sent under the online alias Carlos Danger.

Weiner pleaded guilty in 2017 to having illicit online contact with a 15-year-old girl and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. He was released in 2019 and was ordered to register as a sex offender.

___

Izaguirre reported from Albany, N.Y.
Joseph David Voigt

A Florida gamer was arrested Sunday for shooting both his parents  killing his father after the dad reportedly asked him to get a job, according to local police.

Joseph Voigt, 23, was taken into custody Sunday morning after fleeing his family home, where he allegedly gunned down his father and grievously wounded his mother after his old man was riding his a about getting a job, according to Fox 13 News.

Susan Voigt, 58, called police on Saturday night, reporting that her son Joseph had shot her multiple times  including one shot in the head  and killed her husband, Marvin, in Polk County, Florida.

Joseph Voigt, 23, was arrested under suspicion of shooting both his parents in

their Florida family home, killing his father and injuring his mother. Orange County Jail

Marvin, 63, was found lying dead in the driveway by arriving Bartow Police officers. Susan was found sitting on the couch, bleeding from several gunshot wounds, including a single wound to the head, according to the outlet.

Their son fled the tragic scene in the familys car but was quickly scooped up by authorities on International Drive in Orlando.

The youngest Voigt told police that his father was riding his a- - about getting a job and making something of his life  reprimanding his son for wasting his time playing video games, WDBJ7 reported.

The accused killer, who appears pallid and bears an emotionless mien in his booking photo, is no stranger to police  including an encounter that stemmed from indiscriminate shooting of a gun, according to WFLA.

Joseph Voigt at his arraignment, charged with killing his father and attempting to kill his mother, who survived a gunshot

wound to the head and is currently recovering in critical but stable condition. FOX 13

Court records show that Voigt was arrested for firing a gun into the ground 15 times in a residential neighborhood, back in October 2023, according to the outlet.

He told officers at the time that he did it because he was just bored.

Voigt also had a run-in with cops just a week before the alleged murder of his parents, according to local reports.

The Voigt family home in Polk County, Florida. FOX 13

He allegedly maced two people who simply asked why he was in their neighborhood, WFLA reported.

Despite the recent aggressions, cops said the disturbing shooting caught them by surprise.

There were no signs that would lead you to believe this would occur from this gentleman, I would say. At least I dont see any from past behavior, Bartow Police Chief Steve Walker said, according to WFLA.

Ive heard about the victims, theyre really good people, Walker added. Its senseless. You scratch your head and wonder why something like this happens.

Susan Voigt is listed in critical but stable condition at a local hospital, according to WDBJ7.

Joseph Voigt faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
A meal kit facility located in Illinois and owned by HelloFresh is currently under investigation by the US Department of Labor over allegations that there were migrant children working at the facility.

The allegations first came to light when an ABC News report claimed that at least six migrant teenagers were working night shifts at a HelloFresh facility in Aurora, Illinois, as recently as the summer of this year. In the report, the publication said some of the children had migrated from Guatemala.

"They're minors working dangerous jobs," Cristobal Cavazos, the executive director for Immigrant Solidarity, told ABC News.

It is unclear what kind of jobs were given to the minors. Officials from the US Labor Department did not provide additional details, only going so far as to confirm that the allegations are under investigation. It was also noted, however, that they are also investigating Midway Staffing, a temporary staffing agency.

How Did HelloFresh Respond?

In a statement released this week, HelloFresh said it is "deeply troubled" by the allegations and noted that it terminated its relationship with Midway Staffing after learning of the child labor complaints.

HelloFresh also emphasized that Midway was only providing staffing services for its Factor facility and claimed the company and Factor themselves did not directly hire or employ underage employees.

To put it into perspective, Factor (also known as Factor75) is a food facility that HelloFresh acquired in 2020.

Child Labor Allegations Nationwide

The allegations against the HelloFresh facility are the latest in a string of companies investigated by the US Labor Department for employing children.

In November, the department fined a cleaning company in Oklahoma over $170,000 after it hired 11 underaged children to work overnight shifts at a pork processing plant in Sioux City, Iowa, and had them use corrosive cleaners to wash equipment at the facility.

In February, the Labor Department also fined Tennessee parts supplier Tuff Torq nearly $300,000 for employing 10 children as young as 14 in dangerous jobs and subjecting them to "oppressive child labor." The company supplied parts for John Deere, Toro, and Yamaha.
A Florida man is accused of stabbing his estranged girlfriend up to 70 times during a fatal break-in - exactly one month after he was nabbed for assaulting the victim and ordered to stay away from her.

A Florida man is accused of killing his estranged girlfriend by stabbing her up to 70 times during a break-in Friday  exactly one month after he was nabbed for assaulting the victim and ordered to stay away from her.

James Christopher Lindsey, 42, allegedly killed 40-year-old Kristin Stevens after breaking into her Chuluota home around 1 a.m. when he learned she went on a date with another man, according to the Seminole County Sheriffs Office.

The knife-wielding maniac  who was expected to be arraigned on a domestic violence battery charge against Stevens the same day of the vicious murder  was found dead in a rollover crash on Fort Christmas Road in Orange County hours after he fled the victims home, police said.

James Christopher Lindsey, 42, died hours after he allegedly stabbed his estranged girlfriend to death. Seminole County Sheriff's Dept.

The pair, who had a lengthy history of domestic violence incidents involving law enforcement, were in an 18-year off-and-on relationship and shared a 16-year-old son, who was home, but unharmed during the fatal home invasion, NBC 6 reported.

This is a heartbreaking and traumatic incident that will have a lasting impact on families and a community, Sheriff Dennis Lemma said in a statement.

I am proud of our deputies quick response to the scene and our detectives who have been working around the clock to put these cases together. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Our team will continue to work diligently to uncover the full details surrounding the case.

Police responded to Stevens home and found the victim dead with up to 70 stab wounds from an apparent kitchen knife, Lemma told WFLA.

A second victim, an unidentified man, said the accused abuser pounced on the victim and stabbed her dozens of times after using a hammer to break into the home, police said, according to NBC 6.

The man was stabbed in the leg after he attempted to kick Lindsey off of the woman before escaping to a neighbors home where he called the police.

Kristin Stevens, 40, was found dead in her home with dozens of stab wounds. Seminole County Sheriff's Dept.

The madman fled the house and was found dead about four hours later at the scene of the single-car wreck, police said. He had been driving 100 miles per hour and lost control of the car, local outlets reported.

Lindsey was last arrested on Nov. 6 for an attack on Stevens and charged with domestic violence battery. He was forced to relinquish 21 firearms and ammunition and released on a $1,000 bond with a no-contact order.

Police also requested the alleged offender wear an ankle monitor as a condition of his bond  in a plea a judge denied, officials said.

Kori Alvarez Resto, a close friend of the victim, launched a GoFundMe to raise money for the couples surviving son and to help advocate for a new law that would require stricter monitoring of domestic violence offenders.

No one should ever have to fear for their life in an abusive relationship, Resto wrote on the fundraising page, which has since raised more than $6,000.

And no child should have to lose their mother in such a senseless and violent way. Your donation will help us fight for justice for Kristin, help prevent future tragedies, and give her son a chance to heal and succeed.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
My daughter, Kristil, and me, the year I was arrested and went to jail.

Guess what, Mommy? I made a Christmas present for you. Grandma helped me wrap it. Its under the tree!

Her voice was bright and full of joy. It took my breath away. But as I sat on the cold cement bench of a jail cell, gripping the phone, her words felt like shards of glass slicing through me. I couldnt bring myself to tell her the truth  that I might not be home for Christmas, or even the next.

I had been arrested in Madison, Wisconsin, and separated from my 5-year-old daughter, Kristil, three weeks before. As Christmas approached, the weight of my absence grew heavier. She didnt know where I was, only that I wasnt there to bake cookies with her or decorate the tree like wed done every year before.

Her father, J., wasnt there either. Hed been arrested months earlier for burglary and was on his way to serve a 10-year prison sentence. Now I was sitting in jail too, waiting to be extradited to Crown Point, Indiana, facing felony forgery charges.

I prayed to God every night, begging for a second chance. I promised to do better  to be the mother Kristil needed and deserved. But this wasnt the first time Id made such a promise.

When I found out I was pregnant six years earlier, Id vowed to defy the odds stacked against us. I was a single mom. Kristils father had gone to prison the first time when I was pregnant. I knew the statistics: Children born to single mothers and incarcerated fathers were more likely to live in poverty, struggle in school and end up in trouble with the law themselves. I swore Kristil wouldnt be one of those statistics.

As a single mom, I vowed to do everything I could to give my daughter a good life, but a series of bad choices led me astray.

For the first five years of her life, I did everything I could to keep that promise. Being Kristils mom was wonderful, but parenting alone was hard. I never seemed to have enough money, time or energy. I hoped that when J. got out of prison, we could finally be a family, where there were two of us loving and supporting Kristil.

When J. first got out, it seemed possible. I believed prison had rehabilitated him and that after spending three torturous years away from his family, he would never return to prison. He got his old job back, and I went back to school to finish my degree. J. was helping carry the load, and we were finally living together as a family. But after two years, our relationship began to unravel. Arguments turned into fights, and one night, after J. became violent, I packed up Kristil and left.

A few months later, J. called and asked to see Kristil. I agreed, and we met at our favorite bookstore downtown. He looked thin and agitated, and he said he was struggling with depression. When we met again the following week, he admitted that hed lost his job and his apartment and started using drugs to cope. He was living between his moms house in Wisconsin and his uncles place in Illinois. I was terrified for him. I wanted to help, but I didnt know how. I worried he was going to end up back in prison  or worse.

One summer afternoon, Kristil and I came home from a bike ride to find the phone ringing. It was J., and he sounded frantic. Can you come pick me up downtown? Its an emergency, he said. I quickly put Kristil in her car seat and drove to get him. When I arrived, he asked me to drive him to Chicago. Theres a warrant out for my arrest, he said, his voice shaking. I was scared but agreed to drive him.

Three hours later, we checked into a hotel in Chicago. For the next two days, we ignored reality and spent time together. J. bought Kristil new clothes, shoes and toys, and we spent our evenings watching movies and eating dinner. On the last night, we went to the hotel pool so Kristil and her dad could swim.

I sat on the edge of the pool, watching as they played Marco Polo. Kristils laughter echoed off the walls, and for a moment, it felt like everything was OK. Again Daddy, again, she said, asking him to play one more time. But deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time before J.s choices caught up with him. Worse yet, I knew that if I continued seeing him under these circumstances, I was putting myself and Kristil in jeopardy, too.

As Kristil and I drove back to Madison the next day, leaving J. in Chicago, I knew it would be the last time we saw him. As much as I loved him, I loved her more.

Two months later, I got a phone call from J. Hed been arrested and was in the Dane County Jail. I went to visit him and brought a bit of money for his commissary account. Halfway through our visit, a guard approached me. He was holding my drivers license.

Are you aware theres a warrant out for you? he asked.

My stomach dropped. Fear overcame me, and the room began to blur. J. started yelling from behind the glass, She had nothing to do with it. Moments later, the guard arrested me and booked me into the same jail.

They charged me with forgery for signing a $500 check J. had in his possession during our trip to Chicago. Wed crossed into Indiana to cash it. J. had told me we wouldnt have money to get back home unless we cashed the check. What he didnt tell me until we were in line to cash it was that I would be the one who had to sign it. I felt pressured and scared, and deep down, I knew it was wrong. I signed the check anyway.

Sitting in the Dane County jail for over three weeks, I waited to be extradited to Lake County, where Id face my charges. Until I got there, nothing could happen. I didnt know if Id be offered bail or how much it would be. I grew more terrified with every passing day as I overheard inmates and guards talk about others who had gone to prison for charges like mine.

Finally, in mid-December, the Indiana Sheriffs Department came to get me. After making the four-hour trip to Crown Point, Indiana, my horror intensified. The Lake County Jail was much worse than Id imagined. After dragging my mattress down the hall, a guard led me to a vault-like door that opened to a dim, fluorescent-lit area with multiple cells. The cells were small and rusted, with graffiti-covered walls and peeling paint everywhere. Each had four bunks and an open toilet at the back. There was a faint sewage odor that hung in the air.

Within hours, I felt the tension among inmates. By my second day, Id made enemies with two after refusing to act as a lookout when they engaged in intimacy and smoking in their cell. That night, lying on my bunk, I broke down crying.

The next morning, still shaken from the night before, I called my brother Dave.

Youve got to get me out of here, I said.

Are there people who can see you right now? he asked.

Yes, I whispered through my tears.

Stop crying right now, he said. You cant let anyone see you like that.

He understood what it meant for me to show weakness in that environment in a way that I did not.

I pulled myself together, but the fear didnt go away. Every night, I begged God for a second chance. I thought about Kristils voice on the phone and the kind of mother I wanted to be. If I ever got out, I swore I would reprioritize my role as her mother. Nothing and no one would come before her ever again.

Finally, in late December, I was taken to court. I was formally charged and given a bail of $5,000. Two days before Christmas, hanging by a thread, I heard the jail guard call my name. Grab your stuff, youre leaving, he said. My brother had taken up a collection to bail me out. I was never so grateful in my life. My court case wasnt over, but for now, I was able to go home.

It was early evening when we made it back to Wisconsin and pulled up in Moms driveway. Eager to see Kristil, I couldnt get out of my brothers car fast enough. My heart sped up as I made my way to the front door where Mom was waiting. Mom hugged me tightly. Shes upstairs, Mom said.

I rounded the corner toward the living room, which was warm and dim but for the glow of the Christmas tree. Opening the door to the stairway, I looked up. Sitting midway up the winding staircase on the wooden platform, wearing her jammies and holding her teddy, was Kristil. Our eyes met, and her mouth widened in surprise. Mommy, she said as I rushed up the stairs to meet her. I dissolved into tears the moment I held her, feeling her soft cheek against mine, never wanting to let her go.

Today my daughter is an Ivy League graduate and living in France.

A month later, I traveled back to Indiana for sentencing. Because I had no prior criminal record, and because J. came forward and admitted to his part in the crime, my felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. They sentenced me to one year of probation and I never saw the inside of a jail cell again.

Over the years, Kristil and I faced our share of challenges, but we were always together. I raised her on my own, and she flourished. She graduated from an Ivy League university and earned a masters degree in Sweden. Watching her walk across the stage at her college graduation was a reminder that the second chance Id been given had created a brighter future for both of us.

This year, Kristil will be home from France, where shes been living the past three years, for Christmas. Just like when she was 5, well sip hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies together by the glow of the tree. Ill remember that cold December in jail, listening to her tiny voice over the phone, so full of excitement for a mother who wasnt there. Ill remember with gratitude the grace I was given that made all this possible.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
In this undated photo released by family, Cedric Warren folds his hands as a teenager. (Cedric Toney via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)  A judge has overturned a Black man's conviction in a 2009 double homicide that was investigated by a discredited white Kansas City, Kansas, police detective.

The ruling Monday in the case of 34-year-old Cedric Warren came exactly one week after Roger Golubski died in an apparent suicide just before the start of his criminal trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted Black women.

Warren is now jailed in Wyandotte County while the prosecutor decides whether to retry him. A spokesman in the prosecutors office didnt immediately respond to an email or phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Im very thrilled, Warrens father, Cedric Toney, said in a phone interview Tuesday.

He said before Golubski supervised the investigation that led to his son's arrest, the former detective stalked his daughter and his son's mother. The allegation is similar to one raised in the case of Lamonte McIntyre, who served 23 years behind bars for a double homicide before he was freed. McIntyres mother has said Golubski pressured her for sexual favors.

But Wyandotte County Judge Aaron Roberts based his ruling in Warren's case on something different. He ruled from the bench that prosecutors failed to turn over information about the severe mental health issues of a key witness in the drug house shooting that killed Charles Ford and Larry Ledoux.

The witness had schizophrenia, and offered a shifting account of what happened before he became the only person to link Warren to the killing, the defense wrote in court filings.

Attorneys for Warren argued that the prosecution should have known about the witness mental health struggles because they caused issues years earlier when he was charged with passing bad checks. A mental health exam in that case found the man was incompetent to stand trial and highlighted several psychiatric hospitalizations.

Police officers also were aware of the witness' mental health struggles because they took him to a psychiatric facility after questioning him in the double homicide, the defense said.

The defense wrote that the undisclosed evidence undermined his credibility and ability to competently and reliably recount events.

The family's claims that Golubski harassed Warren's mother and sister haven't been aired in court, said Lindsay Runnels, an attorney for Warren. She said that is largely because a judge was focused on their allegations that evidence was withheld.

As far as Cedric Warren is concerned, out is out, she said, adding she is confident he will be released and possibly soon.

But while Golubski's role in Warren's case didn't play a role in Roberts' decision, the allegations have led the county prosecutors office to undertake a $1.7 million effort to reexamine other cases he worked on during his 35 years on the force.

Cheryl Pilate, another attorney representing Warren, is pursuing another claim that a person Golubski investigated is innocent. She stressed that the problems in the community extended beyond one detective and that others also played a role.

This was a one witness case with no corroborating evidence," she said. "And the witness was someone who was very vulnerable and had very significant mental health issues.
The minister for refugees in Afghanistan's Taliban government was killed in an explosion Wednesday at the ministry's headquarters in the capital Kabul, multiple senior officials with Taliban regime told CBS News. The blast at the Ministry of Refugees killed minister Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, two officials told CBS News' Sami Yousafzai.

A senior official at the Taliban-run Ministry of Interior later told CBS News the minister was killed in a suicide attack along with at least four of his associates. The Taliban's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, later confirmed Haqqani's death in the attack and blamed the country's ISIS branch.

The Interior Ministry official told CBS News the assailant had disguised himself as a visitor, pretending to have a physical disability, before targeting Haqqani with his explosive device as the minister left his office to attend prayers.

Afghanistan's minister for refugees Khalil Haqqani (C) is escorted by security as he arrives to inspect a refugee camp near the Afghanistan-Pakistan Torkham border in Nangarhar province, Nov. 2, 2023. / Credit: WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty

The Taliban, the Islamist group that's ruled Afghanistan for the second time since August 2021, has faced repeated attacks on its senior figures and security forces since then, many of them carried out by the regional branch of the ISIS terror group, known as ISIS-Khorasan or just ISIS-K.

Haqqani was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the late founder of the notorious Haqqani network. The closely affiliated group was responsible for some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban's two-decade insurgency in the wake of the U.S.-led 2001 invasion to topple the previous Taliban government. He was also the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the network's commander who is currently serving as Afghanistan's interior minister.

Following the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government in 2021, Khalil Haqqani was one of the few Taliban commanders to enter Kabul. Known for his imposing presence, he often carried his rifle to official meetings, even when meeting with other senior figures.

His death represents a significant blow to the Taliban, particularly to the Haqqani network's leadership. Both the Taliban and the Haqqani network are designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government, and while they overlap and both hold key positions in the de-facto regime currently running Afghanistan, they're also locked in their own internal power struggle.

The U.S. government had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Khalil Haqqani.

Violence has generally decreased in Afghanistan since the Taliban stormed back into power in the summer of 2021, when U.S. and allied NATO forces pulled out in a chaotic withdrawal that remains the subject of intense scrutiny in Washington.

The regional ISIS branch, however, has remained active in Afghanistan and regularly targets both Taliban regime officials, civilians and foreign nationals. Their attacks are seen largely as an effort to undermine the Taliban's rule.

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By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) -Major food companies, including Kraft Heinz, Mondelez and Coca-Cola, were hit with a new lawsuit in the U.S. on Tuesday accusing them of designing and marketing "ultra-processed" foods to be addictive to children, causing chronic disease.

The lawsuit was filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by Bryce Martinez, a Pennsylvania resident who alleges he developed type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diagnosed at age 16, as a result of consuming the companies' products.

His lawyers at the firm Morgan & Morgan, a major U.S. plaintiffs' firm, described the case as the first of its kind.

The other companies being sued are Post Holdings, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestle's U.S. arm, WK Kellogg, Mars, Kellanova and Conagra.

"There is currently no agreed upon scientific definition of ultra-processed foods," Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the Consumer Brands Association, an industry group representing food and beverage makers, said in a statement.

"Attempting to classify foods as unhealthy simply because they are processed, or demonizing food by ignoring its full nutrient content, misleads consumers and exacerbates health disparities."

Evidence has grown in recent years that highly processed foods are linked to a wide range of chronic health problems. Food described by researchers as "ultra-processed" includes many packaged snack foods, sweets and soft drinks made with substances extracted from whole foods or synthesized artificially.

Current U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf has said that ultra-processed foods are likely addictive. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has criticized the food industry and the FDA for failing to regulate it.

Martinez's lawsuit alleges that the food companies have long known their products are harmful and deliberately engineered them to be as addictive as possible. It argues that they are drawing from the same "cigarette playbook" as tobacco giants Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds, which for a time owned the companies that became Kraft Heinz and Mondelez.

The lawsuit includes claims for conspiracy, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and unfair business practices. It seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Aurora Ellis and Tom Hogue)
At least eight buildings have been destroyed and seven others have been damaged in Malibu, California, as a result of the wind-whipped wildfire that has roared through the area.

The Franklin Fire had grown to nearly 4,000 acres Wednesday afternoon with 7% containment, after it grew 600 acres Wednesday morning, the city of Malibu said in an update. No deaths or injuries have been linked to the fire. The blaze, which broke out Monday night local time, has prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders to around 20,000 people in Los Angeles County.

However, conditions were beginning to improve Wednesday, offering a respite and an opportunity to firefighters.

Yesterday, around the Franklin Fire, we had gusts in the 35 to 50 mph range. Now, theyre down to the 10 to 20 mph range, said Ryan Kittell, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Oxnard. He added that a weakening cold front was moving into the region with the potential to bring some light rain Thursday.

But Kittell said he expects more humid onshore winds from the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, as well, which could stir embers.

"Humidities will still be elevated, but wind kind of trumps everything," Kittell said. "It's something to keep aware of."

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a news conference Wednesday morning that a containment line was set Tuesday night.

The weather has changed significantly, so we did take advantage of those higher relative humidities and the lower temperatures and the decreased winds last night. ... Were going in the right direction, he said.

The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation.

Evacuees from Malibu include several famous figures who live in the sought-after beachside community. Actor Dick Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, wrote on Facebook that he and his wife, Arlene, escaped safely on Tuesday with their animals, except a cat named Bobo.

Singer Cher also evacuated to a hotel Monday night with her pets, publicist Liz Rosenberg told The New York Times.

Students at Pepperdine University in Malibu were instructed to shelter in place in the campus library and other buildings overnight Monday and Tuesday.

"We were supposed to be taking finals this week, and with the students that I talked to, wed much rather be taking finals than living through this experience," Rachel Flynn, a Pepperdine senior, told NBC Los Angeles.

"Tonight, its on Dresher Hill, which is the opposite side of campus than it was last night," she said Tuesday. "So thats definitely concerning for me, because thats where my dorm is located. Thats where my car is parked. Im watching the flames expand and grow."

Flynn said some students put couches together as makeshift beds.

A firefighter monitors a burning hillside around Pepperdine University in Malibu on Tuesday night.

Michael Friel, director of communications at Pepperdine, said the sheltering students had food, water and power to charge their phones.

The university said early Wednesday on social media that fire activity surrounding the college had greatly diminished as the Franklin Fire has burned through most of the fuel immediately surrounding campus.

Early Wednesday, the fire stretched across roughly 4.5 miles, from the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area in the east to central Malibu and large beachside properties. More than 1,400 households are in the affected area.

More than 1,500 firefighters and multiple agencies were tackling the blaze Wednesday.

Fire can be extremely unpredictable, and we highly encourage residents in the fire areas to be prepared, have a plan and heed our evacuation warnings and orders, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Capt. Jennifer Seetoo said at a news conference Tuesday night.

She added that deputies would be available to patrol the areas around evacuated homes  some of which are owned by famous and wealthy residents. "We will not tolerate anyone coming to this community to re-victimize our community members," she said.

A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for areas east of Latino Canyon, west of Topanga Beach Driveway and south of Baller Motorway, including the Big Rock and Las Flores communities.

All Malibu schools were closed Wednesday and will remain so Thursday, but they are expected to open Friday.

A combination of winds exceeding 60 mph and dry undergrowth has created the perfect conditions for fire in parts of Southern California. Red flag warnings covered 12 million people Tuesday and Wednesday. The warnings are set to remain through 6 p.m. local time for most valleys and mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to the National Weather Service office in Los Angeles.

Fall wildfires in California are often driven by the famous Santa Ana winds, which travel down mountain slopes and bring relatively hot, dry air to coastal areas. The winds occur when areas of high pressure in the desert and the Great Basin region travel west, pushing over the mountains and toward the coast.

The systems typically drive humidity levels down, and they can rapidly push any fires that start, particularly when the landscape is dry and hasn't had substantial rain.

"We get Santa Ana winds really through October to March. But as we get deeper into our winter season when we should start getting rain, the fire weather will decrease as the plants get wet," Kittell said. "Sometimes we get our first major storm  which we havent had yet  as early as November or as late as January or February. Sometimes, we dont get it at all."
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Three years after the original suspect in a nearly 40-year-old double murder was exonerated based on DNA evidence and freed from prison after 20 years, a Georgia man has been arrested and charged in the killings.

On Monday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of Erik Kristensen Sparre, 61, who was charged with two counts of felony murder and aggravated assault for the deaths of couple Harold and Thelma Swain at a church in 1985.

Sparre had been the subject of a renewed investigation for several years after a judge dismissed all charges against the man originally convicted for the murders, Dennis Perry.

Church deacon and his wife murdered

In the spring of 1985, a man entered the Rising Daughter Baptist in Waverly, Georgia and shot Harold Swain and his wife, Thelma.

Witnesses at the time provided descriptions that were used to make a composite sketch of the killer, and a pair of glasses that did not belong to anyone at the church was recovered from the crime scene, according to the Georgia Innocence Project, which worked to ultimately exonerate Perry for the murders in 2021.

The case, however, remained unsolved for almost two decades, and both Perry and Sparre were initially cleared by police as possible suspects.

Perry was later arrested in 2000, after being identified by a police informant who received $12,000 from law enforcement officials as a reward. He was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to consecutive life sentences, although the payment to the informant was not disclosed during the trial.

Perry's case later became the subject of an investigation by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and was taken up by the Georgia Innocence Project.

DNA samples recovered from the glasses left at the crime scene did not match Perry, but did match a sample that the Georgia Innocence Project obtained from a relative of Sparre. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation also revealed inconsistencies in Sparre's alibi.

In 2020, Perry's conviction was overturned and the case was reopened by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Perry was released from prison and ultimately exonerated of all charges in 2021.

Sparre was arrested in Waynesville, Georgia and booked into the Camden County Jail. Records from the jail did not disclose if he had retained legal counsel.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia man arrested for 1985 murder of a husband and wife at church
The Wisconsin man accused of hatching an elaborate plan to fake his death before he turned up with a woman in western Asia returned to U.S. soil and was arrested, authorities said Wednesday.

Ryan Borgwardt, handcuffed and wearing an orange jumpsuit, appeared Wednesday afternoon before a Green Lake County judge and was charged with obstruction of an officer.

When Circuit Court Judge Mark Slate asked Borgwardt, 45, whether he could afford bail, Borgwardt said: "I have $20 in my wallet in the other room, so thats what I have.

Since Borgwardt "voluntarily turned himself in" on Tuesday from "halfway around the world," Slate said he didn't pose a major flight risk. The judge set bail at $500 leading to Borgwardt posting bond and walking free late Wednesday night, sheriff's officials said.

Borgwardt faces up to a $10,000 fine and nine months in jail in connection with the alleged scheme, which took him across the Atlantic Ocean.

Borgwardt's wife filed a petition for legal separation Thursday that described their 22-year marriage as "irretrievably broken," the Associated Press reported. She is seeking sole custody of their children, according to the AP.

Borgwardt staged his Aug. 12 disappearance on Green Lake, about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee, to look like a fatal kayaking accident, officials said.

After he didn't come home from his day on the lake, searchers found a capsized kayak and his vehicle and trailer parked in Dodge Memorial County Park.

Borgwardt left his life jacket, fishing pole and tackle box in the kayak to "make this believable" so that "everyone, including law enforcement, would think he drowned," according to a criminal complaint filed by District Attorney Gerise LaSpisa.

"Ryan stated 'everything hinged on me dying in that lake,'" according to the complaint. "Ryan also stated, (the) 'whole idea was to sell the death.'"

An air and water search didn't turn up any remains or physical clues about what had become of Borgwardt.

Investigators later found he used a small inflatable boat to return to shore, where he had stashed an electric bike, officials said. Borgwardt rode it to Madison and boarded a bus that took him to Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit and into Canada before he eventually boarded a plane, the complaint said.

His plan was nearly foiled by Canadian border patrol agents who were suspicious of his not having a driver's license, which had been ditched in his wallet in the lake.

He talked his way out of that stop and made it to Toronto, where he bought an Air France flight for Paris and flew from there to another country in "Eastern Europe/Western Asia," according to the complaint.

But when Borgwardt, a married father of three, used his own passport in Canada, that helped authorities trace his long journey overseas.

Once he was at that post-Paris destination, Borgwardt emailed "an adult female" who picked him up, and "they stayed at the hotel for a couple of days," prosecutors said.

While the court document didnt explicitly say where Borgwardt, who had $5,500 cash on him, ended up, prosecutors strongly suggested he was in the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

He told investigators he went online to check news stories about his disappearance, using a virtual private network to "make it look like he was in Russia or somewhere else other than Georgia," the complaint said.

Borgwardt "stated that he knew that Georgia" could extradite him to the U.S. "and he wanted to be informed and prepared," according to the complaint.

The probe also found that Borgwardt had opened a foreign bank account and was in communication with a woman from Uzbekistan, officials have said.

After international calls for help to find Borgwardt went out, a Russian-speaking woman reached out to Green Lake County sheriff's deputies and helped them contact him, authorities said.

Borgwardt knew his plan was coming apart on Nov. 8, when he received an email from Green Lake County Sheriffs Chief Deputy Matthew Vande Kolk, prosecutors said.

Borgwardt said his "heart hit the floor" when he got the email, the complaint said.

"Ryan also stated that he saw the picture of [the woman that he went to meet] and knew that he made a mistake, the one mistake he couldn't make," the complaint continued.

Investigators said they found evidence on the laptop he left at home.

"Ryan stated that he had to sell the death and that he couldn't take his laptop with him, it needed to be believable that he died in the lake," the complaint said.

Sheriff Mark Podoll on Nov. 21 released part of his department's video conversation with Borgwardt, who said on Nov. 11 that he was alive, well and living in an apartment. His exact location wasn't disclosed.

Podoll had appealed to Borgwardt to come home and be with his family for the holidays.

"We just briefly spoke to them, and I can only, only imagine how they feel," he told reporters Wednesday.

It wasnt immediately clear whether anyone from Borgwardts family was in court Wednesday.

Slate entered a not guilty plea for Borgwardt and set his next court date for Jan. 13.

We brought a dad back on his own accord, Podoll said, thanking his staff, federal authorities and local volunteers who worked on the case.

Theyre the ones that kept this going, the sheriff added, his voice cracking with emotion. I couldnt be more proud of them for what they did for a family. We didnt give up. And you can stand here today feeling relieved.
Food & Wine / Getty Images

Martha Stewart is famous for a long list of accomplishments  ranging from her television shows and recipes  but the most recent feat thats put the entrepreneur and cookbook author back in the limelight is a viral Instagram post featuring one of our favorite things: pie.

Stewart surprised the internet at the end of November when she showed off the 35 Thanksgiving pies she baked for her staff, including apple crumb, chocolate pecan, and pumpkin phyllo varieties. Equally as amazing as the number of pies she baked is the amount of ingredients it took to make them, which Martha Stewart outlines in her caption. According to the entertaining expert and founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she used 100 eggs, 14 pounds of pecan halves, 60 ounces of pumpkin puree, 11 jars of corn syrup, and, very specifically, 30 pounds of Plugra butter to bake all of the holiday treats.

For anyone who plans on baking during the holiday season  and if I had to guess, that would be a lot of us  this is an easy tip for taking your recipes up a notch, without any extra effort. Heres why you should add Martha Stewarts baking butter of choice to your grocery list this month.

What is Plugra butter?

Plugra is an American-made European-style butter thats made by the Dairy Farmers of America cooperative. European-style butter is distinct because of its butterfat content. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) only requires that butter have a butterfat content of 80%, whereas the European Union standard is a butterfat content of 82%90%.

While American-style butter can certainly have more than 80% butterfat, a majority of them hit that number exactly. So if you want something with more butterfat, youll want to opt for a European-style product like Plugra, which is 82% butterfat.

Plugra is also slow-churned, which means the cream is churned in smaller batches and at a slower pace. This contrasts with other large-scale industrial butter production practices, which might churn butter in significantly larger quantities, continuously, or at higher speeds.

Related: Ina Garten Eats the Same Breakfast Everyday: Toast with a Generous Schmear of This French Butter

Why is Plugra better for baking?

Many chefs prefer to use European-style butter for their baking because more butterfat also means more flavor. Butter is comprised of three components: fat, water, and milk solids. A higher percentage of butterfat translates to a richer, creamier flavor, which makes a big difference in baked goods that are all about the butter, like pie crust, biscuits, or shortbread.

That said, more fat equals less water, and the water content in butter is important for flaky doughs like pie crust  as the water evaporates in the oven, it creates pockets of steam and generates those flaky layers we love so much. Butter with a lower percentage of water also melts more quickly, and melted butter is not your friend when trying to craft a flaky pie crust. Consequently, you dont want to steer too far in the direction of butterfat, because using something thats 90% fat will likely yield a less flaky end result. Since Plugra is 82% butterfat, it achieves a nice balance between being flavorful and still capable of producing a good flake.

The slow churning process for manufacturing Plugra is also important. Michelle Palazzo, the director of pastry for the Frenchette Group and a brand partner for Plugra explained to Food & Wine that the method "allows more time for better fat separation, leading the butter to develop a richer flavor and creamier texture. Also, slow-churned butter is typically made in smaller batches, minimizing the amount of air that is trapped in the butter, which happens more with rapid churning. This makes slow-churned butter even smoother and more pliable, which helps create superior results for precision baking. "

Related: The Different Types of Butter and When to Use Them

Where can you buy Plugra?

Plugra is a good quality butter, but its also a very accessible one. You can find it at nearly every major grocery store, including chains like Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, and H-E-B  and its typically sold at an affordable price.

For example, if I purchased eight ounces of unsalted Plugra butter from Whole Foods in Brooklyn, New York, it would cost $4.79. In comparison, the same amount of another premium butter, Maple Hill Creamerys Organic Grassfed Unsalted Butter (85% butterfat), would be $6.79, or eight ounces of Breakstone's All-Natural Unsalted Butter (80% butterfat) would cost $4.49. Pricing will vary depending on where you shop, but Plugra is generally more cost-efficient and can compete price-wise with inexpensive American-style brands.

Martha Stewarts choice of butter is indeed an excellent suggestion for upgrading your holiday baking, and its an easy swap to make when youre at the grocery store. But if you cant locate Plugra at your supermarket, thats okay. Just look for another butter that has a high butterfat content. Both Kerrygold and Vital Farms sell American-made, European-style butters that have a fat content of 82% or higher, and wont break the bank.



Read the original article on Food & Wine
A minefield of its own making: New investigation of USAA reveals fundamental breakdown with repeat compliance issues as profits vanish

Although USAA has been a respected financial institution for decades, serving members of the military, veterans, and their families, it has landed in hot water with regulators and customers in recent times.

Don't miss

A new joint investigation by American Banker and the San Antonio Current details the organizations many problems and how the bank and insurer is currently navigating a minefield of its own making.

For instance, its been punished for charging military members more interest than federal law allows. For this and other violations, regulators failed it twice in a row in the Community Reinvestment Act exam that measures how well banks serve communities.

This is an exam most banks pass easily and these failures, in 2020 and 2023, point to "a fundamental breakdown" at USAA, said Adam Rust, the director of financial services at the Consumer Federation of America, in the article. "What's especially shameful about it is that they're serving service members who deserve better," he added.

Even more alarmingly, this year customers reported losing thousands of dollars of their hard-earned money due to mysterious deposits and withdrawals, according to a report from News 4 San Antonio. Some say they were even asked to cover negative balances on their accounts after their money was stolen.

Heres what you should know about whats happening at USAA and what you can do if you have issues with your bank.

Significant Issues Abound at USAA

Overall, it appears USAA did not make sufficient investments in safeguards as it grew to keep in good graces with their longstanding customers and with regulators. It has also been struggling to turn a profit in recent years, reporting a pretax loss of $398 million in 2023.

Three former compliance employees who spoke on condition of anonymity to American Banker and the San Antonio Current complained about the department struggling under pressure, with a lack of cohesiveness, little openness to making processes more efficient and initiatives that "were either falling through the cracks or just getting roadblocked."

In 2023, customers filed 417 complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over the bank's checking and savings accounts, a dramatic increase from 150 in 2018.

Starting in 2019, USAA has also faced a number of fines  $3.5 million over customer-related violations, $85 million over compliance and management issues and $140 million over weak protections against money laundering.

USAA also paid out $64 million to settle a class action lawsuit related to overcharging military members who were entitled to certain protections.

Then theres the many changes higher up. Its not only USAA CEO Wayne Peacock who is leaving (hes planning on retiring in 2025). The past year has seen several leaders part ways with the company, including Bank President Paul Vincent, Chief Audit Executive Gilbert Gitichie, Chief Risk Officer Neeraj Singh, and Chief Security Officer Jason Witty.

Read more: Cost-of-living in America is still out of control  use these 3 'real assets' to protect your wealth today

Experts say that there may be a significant breakdown at USAA.

"Independently, these various violations could be understood, but collectively, they show a pattern that raises concerns," said Mark Williams, a Boston University finance professor and a former bank supervisor at the Federal Reserve, to American Banker and the San Antonio Current. "There's something more fundamental."

Customers interviewed for the article said they felt the quality of customer service they received had fallen and they wished there was more transparency about security issues.

Handling Issues With Your Bank

If youre facing issues with your bank and dont feel like youre getting anywhere when speaking with customer representatives, there are other alternatives. When making attempts to solve any issues, make sure to document any interactions you have.

You can take to social media to draw attention to your problem and air out your grievances or you can send a direct message to the company's social media profile stating your concerns.

Speaking to someone from the CEO's office may convey how serious you are and the need to get your concerns heard. Look up the bank's main telephone number and request to speak with somebody who works at the CEO's office. State your situation and politely explain your frustrations as your goal is to be heard and hopefully the person on the other line is willing to help you.

If you feel youve been discriminated against, or the bank has been harmful or misleading in any way, consider filing a complaint with regulators. The Federal Reserve has a consumer complaint form you can fill out online, or you can call their consumer helpline. Heres where all your documentation about your issue comes in handy.

You can also submit a complaint about financial products and services to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and be sure to provide as many details as possible. The agency will either forward the complaint to the company to help you get a response, or forward it to another agency it feels may be better suited to assist.

You may also submit a complaint to the Better Business Bureau if youre upset about poor customer service. Keep in mind banks may not offer a response.

As a consumer, you have more agency than you may realize. If youre not satisfied with your bank, you should seriously consider switching to another.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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By Anton Bridge

TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital will raise its offer price for Japan's Fuji Soft by around 1.6%, it said on Wednesday, trumping a recently increased tender offer bid from rival KKR.

Bain's increased offer price, at 9,600 yen ($62.88) a share, marks the latest salvo in the running battle between the two private equity giants over the $4 billion software maker.

KKR had initially bid 8,800 yen per share in August but raised this to 9,451 in response to an earlier Bain bid of 9,450 per share.

The bidding war illustrates Japan's growing prominence as a hot spot for deals, as rising demand from private equity firms stokes competition.

Bain has said it will only launch its bid after obtaining company support, which it has not yet received.

Rival KKR split its tender offer into a two-part process which allowed it to first acquire around 34% - enough to block a Bain privatisation - before it acquired a majority stake.

Fuji Soft's management then came out in support of KKR and rejected Bain's bid last month after the completion of KKR's first round, arguing the latter bid would not be viable as KKR could now block it.

Fuji Soft's management then also demanded that Bain refrain from making a higher offer and destroy the confidential company information it had compiled during due diligence.

Bain said this disregarded the interests of shareholders and would like to continue using that information to launch the tender offer as soon as possible.

In the first 10 months of this year, Japan saw a record $81 billion in inbound M&A, up 17-fold from the same period last year, LSEG data shows.

KKR increased its tender offer price to 9,451 yen per share last month, up from its original bid of 8,800 yen.

($1 = 151.5400 yen)

(Reporting by Anton Bridge and Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Jamie Freed and Louise Heavens)
Joe Biden Ayatollah ALI KHAMENEI and Antony Blinken

The Biden administration quietly extended a sanctions waiver that will grant Iran access to roughly $10 billion from Iraq two days after President-elect Donald Trumps Election Day victory.

The controversial waiver, which has been repeatedly extended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken despite strong opposition from congressional Republicans, allows the Iranian regime access to funds from Iraq in exchange for electricity purchases.

On November 7th, the [State Department] did renew Iraqs electricity waiver for the 23rd time since 2018, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel confirmed last week.

It was done so for an additional 120 days, Patel noted  a time frame that will overlap with the early months of Trumps second term in office.

The waiver was extended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Nov. 7  two days after Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris. AP

Under the conditions of the waiver, Iran will receive nearly $10 billion being held in escrow accounts in Iraq that US officials claim may only be used for humanitarian trade.

However, the waiver extension allows the Iranian regime to transfer the electricity payments to accounts in Oman, which can then be converted to other currencies for the Islamic Republic to purchase non-sanctioned products.

Its unclear if Trump, 78, plans on scrapping the Iran sanctions waiver when he returns to office.

In September, the Justice Department brought charges against three members of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for hacking Trump campaign staffers and leaking sensitive information to media outlets and the campaign of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in an effort to undermine the 45th presidents White House bid.

The Trump-Vance transition team did not respond to The Posts request for comment.

The waiver allows Iran to sell electricity to Iraq and convert the cash into foreign currencies. Iranian Supreme Leader's Office via ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com

The State Department was quick to point out that during Trumps first term, his administration signed off on the waiver as well.

Since 2018  as you know, this started in the previous administration  the State Department has permitted Iraq to purchase Iranian electricity while Iraq continues to develop its own domestic generation capacity, Patel said.

We remain committed to reducing Irans malign influence in the region, the State Department official added. Our viewpoint is that a stable, sovereign, and secure Iraq is critical to these efforts.

The Biden administration has extended the Iran sanctions waiver several times since President Biden took office. Getty Images

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) argued Tuesday that the sanctions waiver allows the Iranian regime to fund terror.

The House voted to eliminate these waiver authorities  twice. But the Biden administration is still waiving the sanctions, putting more money in the Iranian regimes pockets to fund its terrorist proxies and nuclear weapons program, McCaul wrote on X.

The U.S. should not be subsidizing Irans malign activities, he added.
The New Hampshire State Capitol building in Concord. Carol M. Highsmith | Library of Congress

(The Center Square)  New Hampshire's state capitol was forced to allow a Satanic "holiday display" under the threat of a free speech lawsuit before vandals tore it down.

The Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple installed the display at the Concord City Hall Plaza across from the State House, which featured a yellow-eyed, goat-headed figure draped in black. It was set up near a Christmas tree and nativity scene over the weekend, but less than 48 hours later, it was vandalized and taken down. Local authorities said they are investigating.

In a statement, City of Concord officials defended the decision to grant a permit for the display, saying the city faced the likelihood of a First Amendment lawsuit if it didn't and "needed to choose whether to ban all holiday displays installed by other groups, or otherwise, to allow it."

"After reviewing its legal options, the city ultimately decided to continue the policy of allowing unattended displays at City Plaza during this holiday season and to allow the statue," the statement said.

"It is anticipated that the City Council will review next year whether permits for unattended holiday displays should be allowed at City Plaza."

Concord Mayor Byron Champlin said he initially objected to the permit but was concerned that the group would pursue a costly lawsuit if the permit request was rejected. He plans to ask the city council to tighten its rules on public displays.

"I opposed the permit because I believe the request was made not in the interest of promoting religious equity, but in order to drive an anti-religious political agenda," Champlin said in a statement.

Other city officials said they support the decision to allow the temple to set up its display, arguing that the group was protected by the same First Amendment rights that allowed the Christmas display on public property.

"It is not the place of Concord City Council to play theologists and decide the definition of religion or if we agree with a particular religion or not," City Councilor Michele Horne posted on social media. "It has to be either all or nothing in this case."

But the "Satanic" display drew ridicule from Cornerstone Action, a conservative religious liberty advocacy group, which called it a "tactic to fundraise through media exposure, and because offending Christian grandmothers brings a sense of meaning to their sad lives."

"They see themselves as conquering the town square for secularism by driving the last nativity scenes and other Christian imagery from public view," Shanon McGinley, the group's executive director, said in a statement. "Christians should either ridicule these displays as cartoonish or else deny 'The Satanic Temple' the attention they use to generate media exposure and funds."
By Ryan Woo, Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China said on Wednesday it takes "necessary measures" to defend the country's sovereignty and will not tolerate "separatist" activities, as Taiwan reported another rise in Chinese warplanes around the island and called on Beijing to halt provocations.

Beijing's military has yet to comment on the military activity and has not confirmed it is carrying out exercises.

A senior Taiwanese official said they believed the surge in activity was meant to send a political message to the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

A security diplomat in the region briefed on the matter told Reuters the scale and size of the ongoing Chinese operations, including the manpower being dispatched, was "unheard of" in recent years.

"We have not seen anything like this in at least the past few years," they said citing their country's assessment while declining to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, had been expected to launch drills to express its anger at President Lai Ching-te's tour of the Pacific that ended on Friday and included stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam.

"We will absolutely not let things go unchecked. We take necessary measures to resolutely defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office said when asked about the increased military activities.

China's government was "highly vigilant to the trend of separatist Taiwan forces colluding with external forces", she said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Wednesday it had detected 53 military aircraft operating around the island over the past 24 hours, as well as 11 navy vessels and eight "official" ships, which refers to vessels from ostensibly civilian agencies such as the coast guard.

"PROVOCATIVE ACTS"

Lai and his government reject Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

Presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement that China's military actions were a "blatant disruption" of regional stability and Beijing should immediately stop all "provocative acts".

It is customary for Taiwan presidents to go overseas and "Taiwan's normal international exchanges with other countries are not an excuse for China's provocations", she added.

Taiwan's military had gone on alert on Monday after saying China had reserved airspace and deployed naval and coast guard vessels.

On Tuesday, Taipei's defence ministry said China was deploying its largest navy fleet in regional waters in nearly three decades, posing a threat to Taiwan that is more pronounced than previous Chinese war games.

However, a U.S. military official said China's naval deployments in the East China Sea and South China Sea were elevated but consistent with other large exercises in the past.

A senior Taiwan security official, offering the government's assessment of China's activities, told a briefing in Taipei it took China's military nearly 70 days to plan and deploy the current sea operations and that they were meant for the incoming Trump government and U.S. allies, rather than specifically Lai's visit to the Pacific.

"They are trying to draw a red line and exert authority for the new master of the White House," the official said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

It was "extremely rare" for China to deploy sea operations of such scale at this time of the year when sea conditions are usually rough, the official said.

Taiwan's government believes China's decision not to announce the drills could be because Beijing is trying to minimise the impact on two major events with Taiwanese businessmen and politicians, one taking place this week and another next week, the official added.

"It's a carrot and stick approach," the official said, pointing to Beijing's annual charm offensive programmes towards Taiwan, including a visit to Taipei by one of Shanghai's deputy mayors next week.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo, Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Saad Sayeed)
By Simon Lewis and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's top aides were heading to the Middle East on Wednesday seeking to advance efforts to reach an elusive Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal and help ensure a smooth transition in Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to visit Jordan and Turkey, while U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan planned stops in Israel, Qatar and Egypt in coming days, U.S. officials said.

The high-level tours could help shape Biden's legacy in the turbulent Middle East in the final weeks of his term before former President Donald Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20. But it is unclear whether Biden has enough leverage in the region to secure major agreements before he leaves office.

Biden administration officials have kept Trump's aides updated on their diplomatic efforts, though they insist they are not directly coordinating with the incoming administration.

High on the agenda for Biden's aides will be the future of Syria, where opposition militias overthrew Assad over the weekend, ending a 50-year family dynasty in a shockingly fast takeover after 13 years of civil war.

Blinken, who will visit Aqaba in Jordan and Ankara through Friday, will "reiterate the United States support for an inclusive, Syrian-led transition to an accountable and representative government," the State Department said.

The Biden administration, along with governments in the region and the West, has been scrambling to find ways to engage with the Syrian rebel groups including leading rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group formerly allied with Al Qaeda and which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., European Union, Turkey and the U.N.

Blinken and Sullivan will also try to make progress toward a deal to end the 14-month war in Gaza and win the release of the remaining hostages held there by the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Such an agreement, which has involved mediation by Qatar and Egypt, has hit one obstacle after another.

Trump warned last week there would be "hell to pay" in the Middle East if hostages held in Gaza were not released before his January inauguration. A U.S. official said the threat was not necessarily counterproductive or helpful to the process.

SEEKING TO BUILD MOMENTUM

The Biden administration hopes that the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon as well as the ouster of Assad, a close ally of Tehran, could help build momentum toward a Gaza accord.

"Hamas has got to be looking out at the world today and realizing that the cavalry is not coming to rescue them," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday. "One would hope that recent developments in Syria reinforce for them that they are just increasingly isolated and ought to take a deal."

Still, the prospects for progress remain tempered after months of unsuccessful diplomacy.

Sullivan's trip is not meant "to suggest that were near completion or have something we can lock down" but the aim instead is to move forward as much as possible," a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Sullivan will meet Israeli leaders on Thursday and then travel to Qatar and Egypt.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin in a phone call that there is a "now a chance" for a deal that will free all of the remaining hostages, Katz's office said in a statement.

A Palestinian official close to the talks described "intensive contacts" but "nothing concrete yet." The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pressure from Trump and his camp "gives the talks a boost," but did not elaborate.

"We are keeping them informed," the U.S. official. "Making sure nothing we say or do is a surprise to them."

Trump's incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, met in late November with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in a push for a Gaza deal before the U.S. inauguration, a source briefed on the talks has previously told Reuters.

Trump's pick for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was due to meet families of the remaining American-Israeli hostages on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Sullivan held his latest in a series of meetings with hostage families on Tuesday, U.S. officials said.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Matt Spetalnick, additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Alexandra Hudson and Deepa Babington)
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President-elect Donald Trump has picked former U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, Ronald Johnson, as the next United States ambassador to Mexico, he said on social media on Tuesday.

Johnson served as the ambassador to El Salvador from 2019 to 2021. Trump also cited Johnson's more than 20 years of experience with the CIA in his announcement.

Trump made illegal immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border a key issue during his election campaign.

Mexico has played a key role in implementing U.S. immigration policy in recent years, accepting migrants from countries to which the U.S. struggles to deport people, such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

U.S. government estimates, though, also suggest nearly half of the immigrants living in the U.S. illegally are Mexican.

"Ron will work closely with our great Secretary of State Nominee, Marco Rubio, to promote our Nation's security and prosperity through strong America First Foreign Policies," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has been tapped by Trump for secretary of state.

Mexico is bracing for the arrival of large numbers of its citizens deported from the U.S. once Trump takes office in January. It has argued, however, the deportations are unnecessary, pointing to the contribution of Mexicans to the U.S. economy.

Mexico is seeking an agreement with Trump to ensure it does not receive deportees from third countries in case of large-scale deportations of migrants from the United States, President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday.

Trump has threatened tariffs on Canada and Mexico until they clamped down on drugs and migrants crossing the border.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Tom Hogue)
MADRID (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez said on Tuesday he was convinced he would return from Spain to his country in time to be sworn in as president on Jan. 10.

"You don't go to war with fear, which is why I'm convinced I will somehow travel to Venezuela to take over," Gonzalez told an event in Madrid, where he has been living in exile since Sept. 8.

Gonzalez has an open arrest warrant against him for alleged conspiracy and other crimes, after President Nicolas Maduro said the opposition was trying to topple him in a coup.

The opposition insist Gonzalez was the real winner of a July election awarded to Maduro.

Gonzalez's vice-presidential pick, Maria Corina Machado, who remains at an undisclosed location in Venezuela, took part in the event through a video link, saying: "Tremendously challenging and dangerous times lie ahead".

(Reporting by Corina Pons; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Inti Landauro and Andrei Khalip)
Kylie Kelce may adore her husband, Jason Kelce, but that doesn't mean she wants him calling her cutesy nicknames.

On Dec. 10, the couple, who are expecting baby No. 4, was on the "Good Mythical Morning" podcast, where Jason Kelce explained that his wife "hates" any kind of lovey-dovey "pet name."

When one of the show's hosts asked Jason Kelce if he calls his wife only Kylie, the former Philadelphia Eagles center explained that he's managed to come up with exactly one term of endearment his wife will allow.

"I call her Joe because when she played field hockey (in college), she reminded me of like a baby kangaroo the way she was like squatted down," Jason Kelce explained as Kylie Kelce laughed. "So I called her Joey and narrowed it down to Joe."

"Yeah, that one's fine," Kylie Kelce conceded.

When the hosts suggested a few other pet names a couple might call each other  such as Sweetie  Kylie Kelce looked visibly perturbed.

"Oh, Sweetie, he's not allowed to say ... There's certain nicknames  Sweetie, Babe, Baby, Hon, Honey  you can only be called those things by, like, a waitress in a diner in South Philly," Kylie Kelce explained, prompting laughter.

Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce in 2023.

"Otherwise, in Philadelphia, it takes on this kind of, OK, Hon, she said, pretending to be irritated.

Its almost like a Bless your heart. Its like sharp, she added. It just feels aggressive in a way that is not welcome.

It seems Jason Kelce isnt the only Kelce brother who has a special nickname for Kylie Kelce.

In January, Travis Kelce reminded listeners of the brothers New Heights podcast that he calls his sister-in-law Princess Kyana, a riff on the royal title of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end came up with the nickname on the Nov. 15, 2023 episode of New Heights after his brother mentioned a Philadelphia Eagles jacket his wife signed that was being auctioned off to raise money for charity.

For those of you that dont know... in Philadelphia, this jacket is actually known as the Princess Diana jacket because there is an iconic photo of Princess Diana wearing this kelly green Eagles jacket, Jason Kelce said.

The Eagles Autism Foundation is auctioning off this jacket that was inspired by Princess Diana and they decided to use none other than Kylie Kelce to model it this year.

Princess Kylie! Travis Kelce responded. He then smiled and added, Princess Kyana.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary Pete Hegseth met on Wednesday with another moderate Republican whose vote will be closely watched in his confirmation battle.

Hegseth sat down with Maine Sen. Susan Collins as he continues to make the rounds to shore up support amid allegations of sexual impropriety and other misconduct, which he denies.

Afterward, he described it as a "great meeting."

"Office after office, having the opportunity to spend time with these senators who have invested their careers in ensuring that our warfighters get what they need, has been amazing educational process," Hegseth said. "And Senator Collins, like her colleagues before her reiterated that.

"It was a wonderful conversation focused on what needs to be done to make sure this Pentagon is focused on warfighting and lethality, and we look forward to stay in touch with her," he added.

MORE: Pete Hegseth, Trump's embattled Pentagon pick, appears to be gaining GOP support

PHOTO: Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be defense secretary, shows a U.S. flag lining on the inside of his suit coat as he arrives for a meeting with Sen. Bill Cassidy on Capitol Hill, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Hegseth added he was "certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands" as he was peppered with questions by reporters.

Collins called it a "good, substantive discussion" for more than an hour on everything from women's role in the military and sexual assault in the military to Ukraine and NATO.

"I asked virtually every question under the sun," Collins said. "I pressed him on both his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him."

Collins did not voice support for Hegseth, instead saying she'd wait until further vetting of Hegseth before deciding how to vote.

"I, obviously, always wait until we have an FBI background check, and one is underway in the case of Mr. Hegseth, and I wait to see the committee hearing before reaching a final decision," she said.

Their meeting came on the heels of his meeting on Tuesday with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is viewed as another possible GOP swing vote. Murkowski said they had a "good exchange" but did not indicate whether she'd been swayed to support him.

PHOTO: Pete Hegseth President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, walks with his wife Jennifer Rauchet to meets with Republican Senator from Maine Susan Collins on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 11, 2024. (Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Hegseth is one of many Trump administration picks who've been on Capitol Hill this week.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, tapped to lead the Department of Homeland Security, met with various Republican senators on Tuesday.

When departing a meeting with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Noem was asked if she'd support Trump's plan for mass deportations of migrants living in the U.S. without legal permission. Deportations were a central promise of Trump's 2024 campaign.

"I am going to enforce the president's agenda," Noem responded.

MORE: MAGA pressure on senators over Trump Cabinet picks shows early signs of paying off

Noem also left the door open for a deal with Democrats to protect "Dreamers," or migrants brought illegally to the U.S. as young children. Trump floated the idea during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," despite his attempts to undermine the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program during his first administration.

"You know, I appreciate the president's word on this issue, and I know he wants our laws to be followed, so I'll work with him to get his vision accomplished," Noem said.

Noem was back for meetings on Wednesday, including one with Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. Noem said she hoped for bipartisan support in her confirmation bid.

PHOTO: President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Homeland Security Secretary South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem arrives for a meeting with Sen. Kevin Cramer on Capitol Hill, Dec. 10, 2024, in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Kash Patel, Trump's pick for FBI director, and Tulsi Gabbard, his choice for director of national intelligence, have also been spotted walking the halls of the Hart Senate Office Building.

For Patel to fill the role, current FBI Director Christopher Wray would need to resign or be fired.

Several Republican senators expressed this week they'd be fine with Wray being forced out or stepping aside.

"I like Director Wray but I think it's time for a fresh start at the FBI," said Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"Obviously, Director Wray would be fired. That is obvious," said Sen. Markwayne Mullin.

Pete Hegseth holds another high-stakes meeting with key Republican senator originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Google Maps St. Ambrose Catholic School

A pre-kindergarten teacher in Illinois is facing a criminal charge after authorities allege she injured a 3-year-old child by dropping her to the ground.

Lisa Jacobs, 44, has been charged with one count of aggravated battery in connection with the alleged incident, according to charging documents filed in Madison County Third Judicial Court on Dec. 6, which were reviewed by PEOPLE.

Prosecutors allege Jacobs picked up the child, who is not named because she is a minor, and dropped her to the ground from five feet in the air, per the documents.

According to local news outlet KSDK, Jacobs was a pre-school teacher at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Godfrey, Ill.

Fr. Steven Janoski, the pastor of the church, noted that Jacobs was initially placed on administrative leave on Dec. 3 when school officials launched an investigation, and she resigned from her post the following day, the news outlet noted. The investigation was then forwarded to the Department of Children and Family Services and the Madison County Sheriffs Office, Janoski said.

Mr. Baird and I acted quickly and decisively when the situation was presented to us, Janoski said in a letter sent to parishioners and school families, per KSDK.

Our priority is the safety of our children and we will always do what is necessary to ensure that safety, he added.

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.

In a motion for additional conditions of pre-trial release, authorities allege Jacobs had previously threatened or perpetrated physical abuse against the child. Further details were not shared by prosecutors.

Jacobs has since been released from custody, per the documents. She is barred from contacting with the alleged victim, caring for any children other than her own, or possessing a firearm.

Its unclear if Jacobs has entered a plea. PEOPLE couldnt immediately reach an attorney to speak on her behalf and contacted the Madison County public defenders office for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

Charging documents show Jacobs is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 13.

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.

Read the original article on People
Federal prosecutors accused top real estate agents Tal and Oren Alexander and their brother, Alon, of drugging and raping dozens of victims over more than a decade.

The brothers were arrested in Miami Wednesday on sex trafficking charges related to the alleged assaults.

They face charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking of a victim by force, fraud, or coercion, an eight-page indictment in U.S. District Court in Manhattan says. Tal Alexander faces an additional count of sex trafficking of a victim by force, fraud, or coercion.

Tal Alexander and Oren Alexander on Sept. 20, 2016, in New York City.

Isabelle Kirshner, an attorney for Alon and Oren, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the unsealed federal indictment.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York scheduled a press conference on the arrests for 1 p.m. ET in Manhattan.

Several women have previously filed lawsuits in Manhattan accusing the brothers of sexual assault. The brothers have denied wrongdoing.

We are glad to hear that there will finally be some measure of accountability for the Alexander brothers and justice for their many victims, David Gottlieb, an attorney for the plaintiffs in a number of the civil cases against the Alexanders, said in a statement.

We applaud all the survivors who have had the strength and courage to speak up about their unimaginable experiences after years of pain and suffering, Gottlieb said.

More from CNBC:
Aubrey Turner Bruce the golden retriever before (left) and after his adoption

Bruce the 9-year-old golden retriever spent most of his life living in a shed as a breeding dog for a backyard breeder

A couple adopted the senior pet in 2024 from Humane Fort Wayne

The dog now enjoys a life filled with toys, affection and TikTok fame

Bruce the senior golden retriever proves that the golden years of life can be some of the best.

Aubrey Turner and her wife adopted Bruce in 2024 after suddenly losing their dog in July.

"She was only 3 years old, and we took her loss very hard. At first, the idea of another dog in the house was unbearable, but after a lot of grieving, we realized how much we missed it, and soon enough, we were applying to local shelters," Turner tells PEOPLE.

While searching for a new dog, the optometrist assistant from Fort Wayne, Indiana, held out hope that a rescue golden retriever would find their way to the couple.

"Golden retrievers have been my favorite dog breed since I was very little, and I had always dreamed of having one," Turner shares.

After starting the search, Turner found Bruce on Humane Fort Wayne's website and felt "immediately drawn" to him. She talked over the canine with her wife, and they agreed that they had to meet the golden retriever.

"Senior dogs have a greatly reduced chance of getting adopted, so with him already being 9 years old and heartworm positive," Turner says of what she read about the dog online. "I knew he wouldn't have as great of a chance at adoption as other dogs would. I thought about him all night, and I still couldn't stop thinking about him at work the next day,"

Aubrey Turner Bruce the senior golden retriever

With Bruce still on her mind, Turner decided to visit the dog at Humane Fort Wayne during her lunch break at work the day after spotting the dog online.

"The first time I saw him, he looked very defeated. His head was hung down low when he walked into the meeting room, his tail was tucked between his legs, and he refused to take any treats from me or the shelter assistant," Turner recalls.

Related: Hero Dog 'Refused' to Leave Owner's Side After Getting Man Help for a 'Significant' Injury

The animal lover learned from the shelter that the golden retriever was used as a breeding dog before arriving at Humane Fort Wayne.

"He lived in a shed outside, never getting the comfort of being inside a warm home or knowing the loving touch from humans. His grooming needs were severely neglected, as he came to us with long, matted hair," Turner says of Bruce's history.

Despite Bruce's initial hesitation, he gave Turner "soft kisses" during their first meeting and looked deeply into the human's eyes.

Aubrey Turner Bruce the golden retriever with his new toys

"When I looked into his eyes, it really felt like love at first sight. His spirit was worn down and battered but never broken. You could tell there was still a happy, joyful dog deep inside; he just needed a little help to let that side of him out," she says.

"He came home with me that day, and he has been thriving every day since," she adds.

Bruce seems to understand he has entered a new, tender stage of his life. Turner says the canine became a "velcro dog" the second he arrived at his forever home, staying close to his pet parents. At first, the senior pup had no interest in toys, which he likely didn't encounter much during his life as a breeding dog.

"Bruce definitely appears to have a little bit of trauma from his past, most notably when it comes to any sudden or loud noise, as this sends him into a panic. He gets very anxious when we are out of his sight, so I believe he has some separation anxiety from being neglected for so many years. Despite his trauma & difficult past, he is still the most loving, gentle dog I've ever met," Turner says.

Related: 'Nurturing' Golden Retriever Wakes Up Deaf Brother When Owners Get Home: 'They're Inseparable' (Exclusive)

With the protection of a loving home, Bruce has had room to explore his gentle and playful side. "His tail once constantly tucked between his legs, now wags fiercely at even the mention of his name," Turner shares. Bruce now "puppy gallops" around the house instead of using a slow, timid walk, and he is "always smiling."

"He is truly a whole new dog from the first time I met him to now, almost two months later, in his forever home," his pet parent adds.

Some of those smiles come from the golden retriever's new collection of toys, delights he didn't get to enjoy in his previous living arrangement.

Aubrey Turner Bruce the golden retriever

"His absolute favorite toy is his Lambchop (Lamby). This was the first toy we bought for him, and he immediately became attached to it. He never chews or destroys it; he just carries it with him to the couch to snuggle," Turner says.

Bruce has discovered that he also loves whipped cream and humans.

"Despite the horrible treatment that people have put him through, he still wants nothing more than to be best friends with every human we meet," his owner adds.

Other animal lovers have witnessed Bruce's amazing transformation through the golden retriever's TikTok (@seniorboybruce), where Turner shares the dog's progress and day-to-day activities.

Bruce already has thousands of social media followers and TikTok clips with over 235,000 viewers.

Turner says she started the TikTok account for several reasons. First, she wanted to document her family's time with their new senior pet.

"I don't want to forget a single moment with him, and because he was robbed of so many experiences that all dogs should get to enjoy, I wanted to be able to capture his 'firsts' to be able to relive them over and over again," she adds. "Second, I wanted to help share the importance of adopting, especially with senior dogs."

According to Turner, not only has her "truly perfect" pup's life changed, but hers has also.

"Since welcoming Bruce into our home, I can honestly say I'm the happiest I've been in a long time. He opened my heart back up and healed wounds inside of me that I didn't think could be healed. He has saved us just as much as we saved him," she says.

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.

Turner hopes Bruce's growing popularity later in life will raise awareness of the dangers and damage of backyard dog breeding and the joy that comes with adopting a pet.

"One of the biggest things I hope people can take away from Bruce's story is the damage that puppy mills and backyard breeding do. The adult dogs suffer, the puppies suffer, and in turn, all dogs in shelters suffer because the demand for puppy mills is still so high. Bruce suffered for 9 years so his "owners" could make a profit. There are so many wonderful, loving dogs in shelters who could be your best friend; you just have to give them a chance," Turner shares.



Read the original article on People
Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Getty A Boeing 777-222(ER) from United Airlines is taking off

A Washington, D.C. man has been arrested for threatening flight attendants on a United Airlines plane traveling from Houston to New Jersey.

Kedus Yacob Damtew, 38, was charged with one count of interference by assault or intimidation after threatening flight attendants and crew members aboard a plane flying to Newark Liberty International Airport on June 12, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, stated in a release.

Damtew took off his shirt shortly before landing and pushed his bare chest into a flight attendant before pinning the attendant against the aircraft exit door as he shouted threats of physical violence, according to documents, per the release.

Gary Hershorn/Getty A United Airplanes jet

Related: Passenger Arrested After Allegedly Attempting to 'Use Force' to Divert Flight from Mexico to United States

Damtew shouted more threats of physical violence and punched an aircraft oven before catching up with the flight attendant as he continued to shout at her and threw a cup of water, the release added.

The flight attendants and crew were helped by several passengers in securing Damtew in flex cuffs and he was relocated to the back of the plane before landing.

Damtew appeared in Washington, DC federal court on Tuesday, Dec. 10 where he was released. He faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Getty A United Airlines planes in San Francisco International Airport

Related: Flight Attendant Arrested After Allegedly Slashing Co-Worker at New Orleans Hotel

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.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Edward T. Cetnar, for its assistance, the release said.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PEOPLE has reached out to United Airlines for comment.

Read the original article on People
The House-passed Social Security Fairness Act enjoys rare bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, yet the odds of it getting enacted are growing smaller with each passing day.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to schedule a vote on the bill that would expand Social Security benefits to roughly 2.8 million retirees. Schumer, a Democrat and cosponsor of the legislation, could invoke a Senate rule that would skip a committee hearing and send the bill directly to a floor vote by the full Senate.

On December 10, first responders gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, to call on Republican Senator Mitch McConnell to support to vote on the measure, according to local CBS affiliate WLKY.

"Retirees shouldn't have to choose between paying their bills or buying medication and groceries," said Eddie Campbell, president of the Kentucky Education Association.

What the bill would do

The legislation would eliminate a provision that cuts Social Security payments to some retirees who also collect a pension from jobs not covered by the retirement program. That includes state and federal workers like teachers, police officers and U.S. postal workers. It would also end a second provision that reduces Social Security benefits for those workers' surviving spouses and family members.

"With just eight legislative days remaining in the 118th Congress, Sen. Schumer, a cosponsor of Senate bill S.597, must now step up and take action. It's time for him to follow through and bring it to the floor for a vote," Shannon Benton executive director of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), told CBS MoneyWatch on Friday.

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) "penalize families across the country who worked a public service job for part of their career with a separate pension," Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy told colleagues earlier in the week. When those workers "have second jobs, second careers or get married, they receive less from Social Security than if they had never worked in public service at all. That's not right."

In an impassioned speech, Cassidy called on Schumer to schedule a vote, saying lawmakers would approve the legislation.

"If Schumer brings it up, it'll pass," Cassidy stated of the bill, which has 62 sponsors.

A similar plea was also made by New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who late last month held a press conference to urge passage of the measure. "Retired teachers &firefighters deserve access to the Social Security benefits they've earned. That's why I'm working to repeal provisions that unfairly reduce Social Security benefits for public servants. Let's get it done!" Gillibrand also posted on social media.

Introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garret Graves, R-La., the bill was passed by the House on Nov. 11 in a 327-75 vote.

The following day, Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, wrote to Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican of Kentucky, urging action.

"You have the opportunity to bring this bill across the finish line," they stated in a letter.

Various forms of the measure have been introduced over the years, but like many legislative proposals, they had failed to get enacted.

"I've been working at the league 25 years, and I don't remember ever not having a version," said Benton. "There is so much momentum, if it doesn't get passed now, a lot of people will lose hope."

Schumer did not respond to requests for comment.

"His office will probably say something about not having time because of the confirmation hearings, etc. We say, 'Add a day to the schedule.' It's been done before," Benton said.

Hermes and the success of the coveted Birkin bag | 60 Minutes

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WASHINGTON  From the White House, President Joe Biden called the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads brutal regime a moment of historic opportunity for the countrys long-suffering people.

What he didnt say: It also could be good news for the United States.

Assads fall not only ends his familys bloody half-century reign, but it also weakens Russia and Irans standing in the Middle East, provides the U.S. with another possible partner in its campaign to contain the Islamic State, and opens the door for the U.S. to finally secure the release of missing journalist Austin Tice, who was captured more than a decade ago in Syria.

This is definitely a golden opportunity, said Qutaiba Idlbi, a Middle East expert at The Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington.

Biden and his administration have signaled that the U.S. is ready to work with a new government in Syria but insist that the future of the country will be determined by the Syrian people.

There are risks involved, however.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the main Islamic rebel group that toppled Assad and is setting up a transitional government, was designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization in 2018. The FBI has offered $10 million for information leading to the capture of the groups leader, Abu Mohammad al-Golani, who was once linked to al-Qaida but has since sought to distance himself from the militant organization.

Now that HTS is in charge, the Biden administration is in the awkward position of dealing with an organization it considers a terrorist group. NBC News reported Tuesday that the administration was considering lifting the groups foreign terror designation.

Regardless, the administration says that it has channels to communicate with groups in Syria and that it has been in touch with those groups to support the Syrians through their transition.

We believe it is in our interest, our national security interest, that Syria be stable and secure, and that, again, the Syrian people are able to determine their future, John Kirby, the White House spokesman on national security issues, told reporters Tuesday.

A man walks on a poster of Bashar al-Assad as a sanitation worker removes it from the street downtown, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria December 10, 2024.

Still, as Biden noted in his remarks Sunday, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses, though al-Golani has spoken in recent days about protecting minority rights.

Theyre saying the right things right now, Biden said. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions.

Assads fall was a serious blow to Russia, and anything bad for Russia will be good for the United States, said Steven Simon, a senior director at the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton who also held senior positions at the State Department under President Barack Obama.

Revo9lution in the Middle East: How Syria rebels' stars aligned for Assad's ouster

Russia, as part of the Soviet Union, backed the former Syrian leaders father during the nearly 30 years he ruled the country. Russia continued its political and military support for Syria when the country dissolved into an internal conflict in 2011 that turned into civil war.

When Assads regime appeared near collapse in 2015, Russia intervened by sending in fighter planes while Iran provided ground forces. When Assads reign ended on Sunday, the dictator fled to Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him asylum.

Assads downfall was an embarrassment for Russia because it showed the limits of Moscows power at a time when it is at war with Ukraine, said Simon, who is now a professor at Dartmouth College and a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washinton-based think tank specializing in foreign policy.

Israeli response: Israel denies pushing past Syria buffer zone, blasts the country's navy

Though the U.S. has had mostly limited interest in Syria, it has in recent years worked to contain the influence of the Islamic State group, or ISIS, which seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. The U.S. has had troops in Syria over the past decade to help contain ISIS, and most of the territory it controlled had been liberated by 2017.

The U.S. still has 900 troops in the northeastern part Syria to keep Islamic State militants in check. Though severely weakened, the group is still active in Syria.

A regime's collapse: Graphics track changes, uncertainty in Syria after rebels banish Bashar al-Assad

The collapse of Assads government should make it easier to contain the terror group, Idlbi said. Neither the Syrian Defense Forces nor the rebel groups that overthrew Assads regime seem to have any interest in the organization regaining strength, he said.

No one is interested really in keeping ISIS as a card on the table, so I think there are more partners for the U.S. to work with on this issue, Idlbi said.

After Assads fall, the U.S. carried out dozens of airstrikes targeting Islamic State camps and operatives inside Syria. U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, said it had struck more than 75 targets to make sure the terrorist group doesnt try to take advantage of the end of Assads reign.

There should be no doubt: We will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who heads the Central Command. "All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way."

The group is unlikely to disappear, Idlbi said, but with this transition, I dont see ISIS as a major threat.

Liberated: Thousands walk out of Syrian prisons as families search desperately for the disappeared

The fall of Assads government gives the U.S. a new opportunity to learn the fate of Tice, the freelance journalist who disappeared in Syria in August 2012 while reporting on the countrys civil war.

Tice, a former U.S. Marine from Houston, has not been seen or heard from since the release of a 43-second video five weeks after his disappearance. In the video, he was blindfolded, surrounded by armed men and being led away by his apparent captors on a rocky hillside.

Biden had accused Assads regime of detaining Tice. Syria denied it was holding him.

Biden said Sunday that the U.S. believed Tice was still alive, but he had no direct evidence of his status.

Idlbi said authorities have a list of locations where Tice could possibly be held and, now that Assad is out of the picture, are working to secure those locations to see if he is there.

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Syria and Assad's ousting: Good or bad for the United States?
The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street was seen near a Port Authority bus station 46 minutes after the shocking crime, New York police said, before he made his way to Pennsylvania, where he was eventually arrested.

Thompson was shot from behind outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel last Wednesday as he was on his way to a UnitedHealth Groups investor conference, officials have said.

Police believe the shooter left the city, triggering an intense manhunt that led to the arrest of Luigi Mangione, 26, at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, days later. He evaded police for several days in Pennsylvania, authorities have said, and his exact whereabouts between the morning of the shooting and his arrest remain a mystery.

Sunday, Nov. 24

10:11 p.m.: The person arrives in New York City. He is seen on video getting off a bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue.

The bus originated in Atlanta but had around six or seven stops on the way, and investigators are unsure where the man got on, Kenny said.

After he arrives at the Port Authority, he takes a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton hotel and remains there for around 30 minutes.

Around 11 p.m.: He takes a cab to the hostel on Amsterdam Avenue on Manhattans Upper West Side.

Friday, Nov. 29

He was checked out of the hostel, but police believe that was an administrative checkout because he didnt appear at a required time.

He checked back in, and police dont believe he stayed anywhere else. He had two roommates whom he didnt know. He kept his mask on the entire time. The man paid in cash but gave an ID.

We believe that the identification was fraudulent, New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

Wednesday, Dec. 4

About 5:30 a.m.: He leaves the hostel. Police believe he is on a bicycle.

5:41 a.m.: Video has him at 54th Street and Sixth Avenue, at the Hilton.

We have him wandering around, walking in the vicinity of the hotel, walking on 54th Street, walking back and forth, Kenny said.

The man enters a Starbucks at some point and makes a purchase.

6:44 a.m.: Thompson is killed. He is shot from behind and is then shot more times.

Three pieces of ammunition recovered had deny, delay and depose written on them in marker, one on each, Kenny said.

6:48 a.m.: The man is seen entering Central Park at 60th Street.

6:56 a.m.: He is seen out of the park on Central Park West, still with the bicycle.

6:58 a.m.: He is at 85th Street and Columbus Avenue, with the bicycle.

7 a.m.: He is northbound at 86th Street and no longer has the bicycle.

7:04 a.m.: He is seen getting into a taxi northbound at 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

7:30 a.m.: He is seen in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge, near a Port Authority bus station.

A combined $60,000 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman.

Wednesday, Dec. 4-Monday, Dec. 9

Before his arrest in central Pennsylvania, Mangione spent time on both ends of the state, authorities said.

This suspect traveled between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, making stops in between, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday.

Shapiro and other state officials pleaded with the public to help them pinpoint Mangiones whereabouts.

We know that hes been in Pennsylvania for several days, and so part of that investigation will also focus on trying to retrace his steps, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said at a news conference. Weve already identified businesses, for example, that he frequented in this area and activities that he engaged in. That led us to more evidence, so all of that has become a mountain of evidence that we have to analyze.

Monday, Dec. 9

9:14 a.m.: Altoona police officers are sent to a McDonalds for reports of a male matching the description of the United Healthcare CEO murder suspect.

A responding officer asks the suspect to lower his mask and asks him whether he has been to New York City recently. The man then became quiet and started to shake, police said.

He became visibly nervous, kind of shaking at that question, Altoona Police Chief Derek Swope said. He didnt really answer it directly. So that statement alone really said a lot. The suspect didnt have to say a lot after that question.

The man is taken in for questioning.

Around 1:45 p.m.: New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announces that Mangione, then considered a person of interest, has been arrested on firearms charges in Altoona.

Luigi Mangione arrives for arraignment at Blair County Courthouse in in Hollidaysburg, Pa., on Dec. 9, 2024.

Around 6:45 p.m.: After a preliminary arraignment in a Pennsylvania courtroom, Mangione is charged with forgery, possession of a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and providing false identification to law enforcement authorities.

Around 10:45 p.m.: Online court records show that Manhattan prosecutors formally charged Mangione with Thompsons murder. He is also charged with three counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of possession of a forged instrument.

Tuesday, Dec. 10

1:40 p.m. Mangione struggles with guards as they try to lead him into Blair County, Pennsylvania, court.

Its completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience, he yells as he tussles with three guards who push him into the courthouse.

He is denied bail and vows to fight extradition to New York.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President-elect Donald Trump made another flurry of job announcements on Tuesday, selecting Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Ron Johnson was nominated to be ambassador to Mexico, and Kimberly Guilfoyle to be ambassador to Greece.

Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior.

Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country, Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Countrys History.

Tom Barrack was chosen as the nominee for ambassador to Turkey. Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trumps purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022.

Trump called him a well-respected and experienced voice of reason.

Johnson  not the Republican senator  served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived to the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency.

Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her a close friend and ally and praised her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified. Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night.

I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First, Don Jr. posted.

The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate.

Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was honored to accept President Trumps nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.

Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, and Dan Bishop as deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management.

The replacement of Khan at the FTC likely means that the commission will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTCs antitrust and consumer protection divisions.

These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined, wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis.

Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command.

For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the countrys two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night.

The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart.

One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing.

Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTCs efforts to block the deal, some experts have said.

And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trumps orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khans scrutiny of Big Tech firms.

___

Associated Press Writers Jill Colvin in New York and Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report.
Syria's transitional prime minister, Mohammad al-Bashir, chairing a meeting of the new Cabinet in Damascus on Tuesday.

When Syrias new interim prime minister, Mohammad al-Bashir, chaired a Cabinet meeting in Damascus on Tuesday, hanging behind him was the flag of the countrys suddenly victorious opposition.

Next to it, however, was a second banner popular with the regions Sunni Islamist fighters, featuring the large Arabic letters of the Shahada, an Islamic declaration of faith.

As a new Syria fast emerges from the ruins of the Assad regime, the world is watching for hints of what that might look like  and that second flag has concerned those hoping for a future of moderation and tolerance.

That path will largely depend on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel organization that led the charge into Damascus and is now stewarding Syrias political overhaul.

Syrians celebrate in the central city of Homs on Sunday.

HTS is banned as a terrorist organization in the United States and elsewhere and grew out of a branch of Al Qaeda. Its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, said a decade ago that there would be no room for religious minorities in the Islamist Syria of which he dreamed about. He also suggested that he could bring terrorism to the West unless it withdrew from the Middle Easts wars.

More recently, however, Jolani, who now uses his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has undergone something of a rebrand, trimming his beard, donning Westernized green fatigues and espousing tolerance for all of Syrias myriad faiths. Nevertheless plenty of observers are reserving judgment until these words become actions.

I think we should be very cautious of him, said Bilal Sukkar, a Syrian-born senior associate with the London-based intelligence consultancy S-RM. That trepidation goes for not only respecting the rights of people belonging to other religious and sectarian groups, he said, but actually looking at them as equal citizens.

Rebel fighters celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus on Tuesday.

Seeing Syrias corridors of power welcome a flag indicating Islamist-Salafist leanings has put people on alert, Sukkar said. Although he does not think deploying the emblem was a wise move, he sees it as more reflective of the rebels origins in Idlib rather than anything else.

Such demographic accommodations are a huge deal in Syria, which is home to a vast diversity of religious and ethnic groups, according to the Harvard Divinity School. Some 74% of the population are Sunni Muslims, another 13% belong to other sects, such as Shia and Alawite, and 10% are Christian.

The classic worry among Western foreign policy watchers was that Assad might be toppled but replaced by something that is not much better: an extremist terror group.

Assads regime was, rightly or wrongly, seen internationally as one of brutal secularism and relative interreligious tolerance. By contrast, HTS has in the past explicitly defined itself as Islamist, meaning it seeks to reorder society along Islamic law.

Displaying the flag in an image meant to represent Syrias new transition government shows how HTS and Jolani are still deeply entrenched in their Salafist-Sunni ideology and worldview, according to Fawaz Gerges, a professor at the London School of Economics and author of the 2024 book, What Really Went Wrong: The West and the Failure of Democracy in the Middle East.

They are not going to rule Syria with the brutality of the Islamic State terrorist group or the Taliban, Gerges added, but it would be disingenuous to say he has shedded his ideology.

Gerges is among observers who see the presence of the flag as a signal that the militant group is intent on keeping its imprimatur on the new era it helped birth. Al-Bashir, chosen after a meeting with Jolani, says he will only be in post until March. But its not clear what happens then.

There have been positive early signals, including an edict that women should not be told what they can and cannot wear, as well as a plea for people not to seek vigilante vengeance.

We will guarantee the rights of all people and all communities in Syria, al-Bashir told the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera on Tuesday. Asked whether the countrys new Constitution would be Islamic, he added, God willing, we will clarify all these details during the constitutional process.

With the group now making more moderate noises, and also in a position of considerable influence, the United States is exploring removing HTS terrorist designation, two current administration officials and a former senior U.S. official told NBC News. Although Washington will watch closely the militant groups moves from its new political vantage point.

The leader of Syria's Islamist HTS group, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Sunday.

Some observers, such as Gerges, see the interim prime minister as little more than an Jolani figurehead.

Even inside Syria, he is not a well-known figure. Previously, he ran the government in Idlib province, a small, rural corner of northwestern Syria where rebels maintained control outside Assads regime until their stunning offensive.

He heads what is being touted by the incoming officials as a technocratic government; he is a trained electrical engineer and has previously backed the digitization of Idlibs public services.

He and his officials are now going about the process of auditing and stripping back what they and independent international watchdogs say was a deeply corrupt regime.

Gerges worries that HTS and its leader have already amassed such power that they may be reluctant to relinquish it, and that there is little sign of checks or balances to contain Jolanis ambitions now that Assad has been toppled.

Syria may be getting rid of a strongman, he cautioned, and replacing him with another strongman.






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Microsoft has launched a new AI skills initiative to help one million people across A/NZ to gain relevant training by 2026.

The software giant will work closely with government, business, education and not-for-profit partners and will provide free resources through its various platforms.

These include the new AI Skills Navigator, which is an AI-powered agent to help learners find the right AI skilling path, and Microsoft Learn, Viva Learning, LinkedIn and GitHub.

It will also deliver curated content specific to the public sector, the education sector and not-for-profit organisations.

In New Zealand, Microsoft will continue working with educational institutions such as Te Pukenga to expand AI-related course materials.

The initiative builds on Microsofts October 2023 commitment to help train 300,000 Australians with digital skills within two years, a target that is on track to be achieved by early 2025.
Two things were common across all the suites: one is AWS embedded into everything and the other was the Infor OS. That significantly reduced the amount of R&D needed to develop new products.

You just do it once, Somasundaram said. We did it for our own benefit but it turned out thats what the customer wanted as well, because no customer is running one application.

That became a platform for transformation, he said.

Where possible, Infor now builds its horizontal applications, such as human capital management, once and then connects these to all of its ERP products.

Samuelson said Infor did really well when there was a lot of change, whether positive or negative.

Those are the situations in which businesses are looking to adjust how they go to market, how they sell, how they manufacture and they often need technology to help with those transitions.

Sales in the US healthcare industry during the pandemic were extraordinary, for instance, because it required a huge amount of change.

While Infors cloud suite is now mature, one new vertical that appeared to hold a lot of promise was construction, with huge amounts of activity evident in some parts of the world.

So, construction engineering is something weve got capability around which we havent focused on as much, but we are seeing more interest, Samuelson said.

Thats a good example of it being quite close to what we do, weve got opportunity and then well think about it. But were very discerning and we dont do that very often.

To go into a new industry also required the strategy to go very deep to deliver the right product, people and support, Samuelson said.

Being a private company also allows Infor to take a different approach, to think about deployment in phases starting with the core before moving on further.

Everyone wants to maximise what they sell up-front, but then the projects get much more complex and theres shelfware. Samuelson said. I think thats also allowed us to win more too, by taking it in phases.

Infor may be good on product but its challenge continued to be it was not as well known as some of the more established ERP providers.

Because weve been private, weve spent a lot on R&D and building great products, but probably not enough on building our name, Samuelson said.

That was changing too, he said, as customers went live and were happy with their new platforms.

Rob ONeill travelled to Infor Velocity Summit as a guest of Infor.
The island, which has been seeking independence from Papua New Guinea since the late 1980s, is looking for funds to start mining activities in Panguna, with the approval of Port Moresby. But a recent report points out that water sources and soil still contain metals and toxic substances, 30 years after the mine shut down due to civil war.

Port Moresby (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Ishmael Toroama, president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Island, has announced that he is looking for foreign investors to reopen the Panguna mine, the third-largest open cut gold and copper mine in the world, run by the Anglo-Australian company Rio Tinto until 2016.

The statement comes after the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape said that the island will have to be able to fund at least half of its budget.

We start with economic independence as a fundamental basis, because once you have the money you are able to sustain, Marape said at a resources conference in Sydney. Bougainville's internal revenue of 7 per cent was insufficient to "get up, get going", he explained. "We need to raise this at the very earliest to about 50 per cent of funding.

The island of Bougainville is geographically part of the Solomon Islands, but belongs to Papua New Guinea, from which it seeks independence.

The environmental damage generated by mining exacerbated the aspirations for autonomy and in 1989 an armed insurrection resulted in civil war, which lasted until 1998, resulting in the death of at least 15,000 people.

The peace process, which began in 2001 with the Arawa Agreement, mediated by New Zealand, led in 2019 to a referendum  not yet ratified by the PNG Parliament  in which more than 98 per cent of voters expressed their support for independence.

In January this year, the government of the autonomous region issued a licence for copper exploration to Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), with expectations that the Panguna mine could generate US$ 36 billion in revenue over 20 years.

Before closing in 1989, the mine represented half of Papua New Guinea's exports.

We have to further sign an MOU with Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Limited for commencement of works of ageing infrastructure that pose imminent and severe risks to affected communities and further the talks, Toroama said. Bougainville continues to stand out as a lesson, a warning, a reminder of what not to do in resource sector development," he added.

But so far no environmental remediation has been carried out. A recent report notes that, even after 30 years of inactivity, the mine continues to be a source of serious environmental damage, paid by the Indigenous population.

The pit, levee, roads and several old buildings are at extreme or high risk of collapse, reads the "Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment", which was drafted after an appeal filed by a group of citizens against Rio Tinto in 2020.

The company did not agree to pay compensation to the population, but funded the investigation by the Tetra Tech Coffey Organization.

The document goes on to say that flooding caused by the mine has impacted farmland, access to water, and essential services. In addition, toxic chemicals were detected in old fuel storage tanks, shipping containers, a sewage treatment plant, and soil samples.

Although the water quality of the Kawerong-Jaba River, whose banks are home to about 12-14,000 people, has improved over the years, some springs continue to be harmful due to metal contamination.

It is now time for Rio Tinto to come out public and make its commitment known to the people so that it can restore its trust as a company, as an institution," said Theonilla Roka Matbob, Bougainville government member.

What's so hard about Real Tinto committing that same energy as it did some 34 years ago in [establishing the mine at] Bougainville, to also manage and control the damage that it has created? she asks.

A first memorandum of understanding between Rio Tinto, Bougainville Copper Limited, and the local government for infrastructural remediation in the city of Panguna was signed in August of this year. But the work envisaged by the agreement does not cover risk areas identified by the environmental impact assessment.

We remain committed to working closely with stakeholders to ensure that the legacy of the Panguna mine is addressed in a fair and equitable manner for the benefit of impacted communities, said general manager Kellie Parker in a statement issued following the publication of the report.
by Dario Salvi

From Istanbul, the director of the Dominican Study Institute spoke to AsiaNews with a mixture of "exaltation" and "surprise at the fall of the Assad regime. Turkey has denied rumours that it was directly involved in the regimes overthrow, highlighting the "need for a transition". For Irans Khamenei, the fall is part of a "plan" by the US and Israel (and Turkey, without naming it).

Milan (AsiaNews)  The collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has been greeted in neighbouring Turkey with a mixture of "exaltation" that goes hand in hand with "general surprise" at the speed with which it took place.

"At least informally," for at least six months, "news about some action to overthrow the Syrian regime in Damascus had been circulating, but no one expected it to be so fast and sudden, this according to Fr Claudio Monge, a 56-year-old Dominican friar and director of the Dominican Study Institute in Istanbul (DoSt-I), who has been in the Turkish city for over 20 years.

He spoke to AsiaNews about the atmosphere of the past few, chaotic weeks in the Middle East region. "Ankara denies rumours of direct involvement in Bashars overthrow in the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) offensive, and has stressed the "need for a transition".

For Turkish "President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, this is necessary for the country to be able to choose its future, minorities included.

Analysing the messy period that has followed the dictators ouster in the wake of the offensive led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani (whose real name is Ahmed al-Sharaa), Fr Monge highlights the "double standards" of the West.

On the one hand, there is concern over Turkeys intervention in Syria, aimed at containing the Kurdish armed groups, which the West chose to fight the Islamic State. On the other hand, there is total silence on the action of the Israeli government, which is carrying out hundreds of attacks in Syria on the pretext of guaranteeing its territorial security with more than 300 airstrikes and troops a few tens of kilometres from the capital and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

There is "greater indulgence" towards Israel than Turkey amid declared and undeclared wars designed to remake the Middle East.

This morning Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that Assads overthrow is part of a "plan" by the United States and Israel, and one of Syrias neighbours", a reference to Turkey without naming it, which backed the rebels, who together with pro-Turkish forces have seized Deir Ezzor from the Kurds.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of informants on the ground, claims that Israel has struck Syrian military bases for a fourth day, actions that Russia has condemned because they would not help achieve peace.

For their part, the rebels have appointed 42-year-old Muhammad Bashir as interim prime minister to lead the transition after years spent in Idlib.

In Turkey, Assad's ouster touches two issues that are important for the countrys leaders, namely the presence of almost five million refugees, almost 3.8 million of whom are Syrian, and the Kurdish question.

The border crossing between Syria and Turkey at Yayladag, closed since 2013, has been reopened, and hundreds of refugees have reached Cilvegozu, also on the Turkish side of the border, seeking to return home "with the few goods they possess.

We should realise that these migratory flows are a consequence of desperate situations, war and deprivation of rights, in addition to the climate issue, Fr Monge explained.

Syrian refugees are now trying to return, dreaming of finding their land liberated from the dictator, but the reality that will welcome them will be very different from the one they left over 10 years ago, with destruction and buildings razed to the ground. Only Bashars fall is certain, but there is also deep uncertainty about the future.

On the mid-run, the repatriation of some Syrian refugees will certainly not displease a country like Turkey, both the government and public opinion, as it reels from a deep economic crisis.

A large part of the Turkish population is struggling to live - or survive - in a dignified way; in many cases, migrants, mostly Syrians, have been the ideal scapegoat to vent their anger, something exploited during the last presidential campaign.

Until a few years ago," the clergyman noted, "it was unthinkable to see people begging on the streets of Istanbul, while now some women are begging with their small children in their arms, he lamented.

The Turkish government, which spent a lot on Syrian refugees in the past in the name of Islamic solidarity, today hopes that many will decide to go home. After all, returning to one's own homeland and living in peace in one's own country is a fundamental human right, Fr Mogne noted, and connected to the desire to " rebuild a country that must start from scratch, including infrastructure.

Another major issue that involves Turkey in the region together with Iran, Iraq and Syria itself, is the Kurdish question, which overlaps with the refugee problem. In the past, Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG) were supported (and exploited) by the West in the fight against the Islamic State.

For some time the [Turkish] government sought to create a buffer zone in northern Syria to 'contain' the Kurdish advance and counter the dream of a 'Greater Kurdistan', which today seems unlikely.

The Kurds were used in the first years as a battering ram in the anti-jihadi fight, then they tried to cash in, but it is equally clear that Turkey cannot accept the erosion of its territorial integrity". In addition, "millions of Kurds born and raised in Turkey certainly have no intention of leaving".

"The question remains open because here too there is a right to live in one's own land, with the recognition of ones language and culture, but it is a process that must be dealt with politically, not with cannons. We need politics and diplomacy to find a solution to world crises! But the politicians are missing.

Finally, for the Dominican, there is the place of Christians, who "wish to be actors in the future of their countries and do not need to be reduced to the status of victim, an exception, which makes them suspect to local authorities,"

"We need to overcome the logic of ethnic Churches, but fight instead for full and recognised citizenship, respectful of religious particularisms, he added.

In Aleppo, parish priest Fr Bahjat Elia Karakach, also noted that these are days "of great importance". In a message to AsiaNews, the friar of the Custody of the Holy Land highlights the "change that most of us had never experienced, given that the Assad regime had ruled for 54 years. People appear "disoriented" with "mixed feelings of joy and relieved, but also anxious about the future".

In a meeting with bishops and clergy at St Francis of Assisi parish church, opposition leaders now in power reiterated their intention to "guarantee security and meet basic needs. After this, we will provide the necessary services so that the activities can resume.

Church properties will be returned and private Christian schools will continue their educational mission, the new leaders promise, noting that, "they do not have a predetermined project, everything depends on the will of the Syrian people", including Christians who are not "foreigners" but "an essential part as we are.

Finally, Fr Bahjat expressed shock at the images "of underground prisons opened to free political prisoners, places of death" that evoke Nazi concentration camps.
Originally from Shanghai, he passed away at the age of 91. He was imprisoned in the 1955 with other Catholics as well as five of his brothers. Their mother visited each in different prisons, bringing them support in the faith. Once he was freed, he resumed his novitiate with the Jesuits, and was ordained in 1994. Speaking to Mondo e Missione that year, he said: "There is joy and peace in my heart because I too know that I have done nothing against God or against my country.

Taiwan (AsiaNews)  The Church in China is mourning the death in Taiwan of Jesuit Fr Matthew Chu Li-teh, 91, a great figure of faithfulness to the Gospel in the hardest years of persecution.

Originally from Shanghai, he was arrested when he was still a seminarian in 1955 in the great raid during which the communists jailed over a thousand Catholics (including Bishop Ignatius Gong Pin-mei himself) in the city that represents the heart of Chinese Catholicism. From that day on, he spent a total of 27 years in prison and forced labour. On 9 January 1994, at the age of 61, he was ordained a priest with the Jesuit order in Taipei (Taiwan).

What makes the story of this Chinese priest singular is that his family was well known in Shanghais Catholic community. On 8 September 1955, he and five of his brothers were arrested, including the one who was already a priest, Francis Xavier Chu Shu-de, also a Jesuit who later died in prison in 1983.

His mother Martina, a widow, found herself shuttling between six different prisons where her sons were locked up. In Shanghai people called her "the sorrowful one"; for almost three years, she went to visit them walking kilometres to save the little money that allowed her to bring some small things (clothes and food) to her boys in prison.

She was regularly insulted for being the mother of six counterrevolutionaries, yet she never gave up," her children said. At every visit, she encouraged each to go forward, to accept suffering willingly, to maintain trust in God." She did this until each was sent to a labour camp in distant provinces: Heilongjiang, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Gansu and Anhui. She never saw them again for the next 20 years.

Although he was released in 1984, Fr Matthew could never become a priest in China because of his refusal to join the Patriotic Association. In 1988 he was allowed to travel to the United States with Bishop Gong Pin-mei in what was to all intents and purposes an exile.

A year later, the bishop, to whom had been close in that first period of great weakness after his long incarceration, pushed him to leave for Taiwan to resume his novitiate in the Society of Jesus. His mother Martina was able to attend his historic ordination in 1994.

That year he also spoke to our editor-in-chief, Fr Gianni Criveller, and the interview was published by PIME magazine Mondo e Missione (World and Mission). In it, he recounted the hardship of life in detention.

I had moments of great fatigue: phases of deep trust in the Lord alternated with others of prostration. My prayers often turned into a laments: 'Why, Lord, have you given me such a heavy cross?'

"I asked myself countless times if I was really, in those conditions, still called to offer my life to Him. In all this, remembering the words and example of my mother, I simply and obstinately asked the Lord every day for the grace to be faithful to the gift of his call.

"There is joy and peace in my heart," Fr Chu said in the interview with Mondo e Missione in 1994. Together with many of my brothers and sisters in the faith, I too know that I have done nothing against God or against my country, which I love intensely. We were sent to concentration camps only because we wanted to keep intact the faith received and to do the will of God who wants us to be real people."

Even in his final years, until his last days, Fr Matthew continued to serve the faithful with a devout heart. Often, 20 minutes before daily and Sunday Masses, it was possible to find him in the small room outside the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Guting District, where he welcomed the faithful for the sacrament of reconciliation.
The once thriving community has been in limbo since Syrian rebels launched late last month a military offensive that led to the ouster of the countrys longtime President Bashar al-Assad.

An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Syrian Armenians still live in Aleppo. Even before capturing Damascus at the weekend, the rebels led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist militant group assured them that it will protect and not discriminate against the Christian minority.

A spokeswoman for the Aleppo diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which has long been representing the local community, said that while the security concerns of its members have been seemingly addressed for now, they are increasingly grappling with the economic fallout from the recent fighting. Maria Gabrielian said that because of the continuing chaos in the country many of them have trouble reopening their small businesses or earning a living otherwise.

Gabrielian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that the diocese has provided $35 worth of one-off financial aid to every Armenian family in Aleppo. The money will support them for just a few days, she said.

We would like you to ask the Armenian government in what ways they can assist Syrian Armenians so that we find out, added Gabrielian.

The government evacuated Armenias consulate in Aleppo and embassy in Damascus as the rebel offensive progressed rapidly. It has announced no plans to reopen the diplomatic missions following the formation of a new, interim government of Syria.

It's not that the government could do something but doesnt, said Zareh Sinanian, Armenias high commissioner for Diaspora affairs. The situation was developing very quickly, it was fluid, and the government, like everyone else, didn't even have a realistic chance to respond.

Sinanian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that shortly before the fall of Damascus the government bought air tickets for 14 Syrian Armenian families that fled Aleppo and were scheduled to fly to Yerevan on December 14. He said the flight has not been cancelled by a Syrian airline operating it and may still go ahead as planned.
11 December 2024 13:54 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Ousting the Assad regime can open new horizons between Azerbaijan and Syria. Although the nations of the two countries share a common culture and religion, Baku has not built a strong relationship with Assad's Syria, due to the pro-Armenian and pro-Iranian politics of the last. Even during the 44-day War, Bashar Al Assad's pro-Armenian speeches irritated many in Azerbaijan. However, Baku tried its best not to damage the relations with the fraternal nation of Syria. Even on 718 December 2015, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Jordan distributed humanitarian aid to 400 Syrian families settled in the said country.

However, all the above is history now. At last, the civil war which lasted 13 years and devastated Syria put an end to the 53-year Assad dicta. Now the Syrian people are trying to heal the wounds caused by the civil war and to create their bright future. Realities on the field uncovers opportunities from which can the both nations benefit.

Like Syria, Azerbaijan suffered devastation caused by the war. As is known, Armenia occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan and levelled to ground many buildings in the formerly occupied territories. Azerbaijan liberated these territories in 2020 and launched restoration and reconstruction works in the said territories. In this regard, Azerbaijan can assist Syria in rising from the ashes. Currently, many Azerbaijani construction companies operate in Garabagh and worldwide. These companies can take part in construction work in Syria. Azerbaijani companies could participate in reconstruction projects, such as rebuilding infrastructure, oil and gas pipelines, and roads.

Secondly, as is known, Azerbaijan is an energy country. Crude oil and natural gas are the main items in Azerbaijans exports. Today, Azerbaijan provides 12 countries with natural gas, and Syria could be 13th among the others. It is worth noting that Syria was one of the first countries that expressed interest in Azerbaijani gas when the country started to export. In 2009, the two countries signed an agreement through which Azerbaijan should have supplied Syria with 1-1.5 billion cubic meters of gas. However, regional and global events hindered the project. Today, Azerbaijan exports its gas through the TAP pipeline which traverses Turkiye and Syria and this is one of the strategic pipelines that facilitates imports of the Azerbaijani natural gas. Strengthening energy ties could lead to long-term contracts between the two countries and in this case, Syria will enjoy supplying its population with cheap energy and boosting its industry. This will also create an opportunity for Azerbaijan to increase its revenue.

Moreover, mine clearance and removing unexploded ordnances (UXOs) are other fields in which Syria can enjoy Azerbaijani assistance. As a war-torn country, Azerbaijan relies on its experience and knows that mines and UXOs not only harm people but also hinder the development of countries. Needless to say, currently these problems stand paramount in Syria's agenda. Because Azerbaijan suffered from landmine problems after both Garabagh wars and still suffers from their repercussions and the worst legacy - the landmines.

Today, Azerbaijan is considered one of the most mine-polluted countries in the world. Every year, thousands of hectares of areas are demined and cleaned from UXOs and handed over to the population. In this regard, Azerbaijani companies with extensive experience can provide their hands as well. Azerbaijan has developed considerable expertise in mine action, having dealt with extensive landmine contamination in its own territory. The Azerbaijani National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have established a Center for Excellence for mine action training in Azerbaijan. This centre can serve as a platform for exchanging demining experiences and technologies with other countries, including Syria.

Azerbaijan companies can provide direct humanitarian assistance by deploying demining teams to Syria. This would involve training local personnel, providing equipment, and conducting demining operations in affected areas.

The agriculture sector is one of the fields in which Azerbaijan has an upper hand and the two countries can benefit from it. The decade-long conflict was a strong blow to Syrian agriculture. The population in rural areas shrunk by 50 per cent between 2011 and 2016, leading to heavy losses in crop and livestock production, as well as the destruction of irrigation systems, and damage to large agricultural areas.

On the contrary, agriculture is the most rapidly growing sector in Azerbaijan. Production and export of fruits and vegetables have increased by several for the past 30 years. For example, the export of fruits increased by 378 times and the export of vegetables skyrocketed by 20 times for 30 years in Azerbaijan. Taking into account the size of the country Azerbaijan exports twice more vegetables and fruits in comparison with Iran and Turkiye.

Thus, with the fall of the Assad regime in the country, new horizons have emerged for the development of relations between the two countries in various fields. This will give impetus to closing the dark page and opening the next page for a new era.
11 December 2024 21:00 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenia is actively engaging in provocations against Azerbaijan under the influence of the West. This is not about the onset of a new war; rather, it involves deliberate short-term provocations in the border areas with Azerbaijan. The Armenian authorities clearly lack the capability to wage a war or secure any meaningful victories. The West, especially France, is working to mislead Yerevan into believing otherwise. Paris is consistently exhibiting provocative actions in the South Caucasus region, and this behaviour cannot be ignored.

For instance, Armenias deepening military cooperation with France, highlighted by the recent signing of a 2025 defence program, exposes a critical flaw in Yerevans foreign policy: a preference for dependency over sovereignty. This latest agreement, touted as a step forward by Armenian officials, lays bare a calculated alignment that not only undermines the South Caucasus peace agenda but also risks entrenching Armenia in a dangerous cycle of geopolitical manipulation and militaristic ambitions.

The strategic consultations at Armenias Ministry of Defense mark more than routine diplomacy. They reflect a conscious effort by Paris to solidify its influence in a region where it has consistently played a disruptive role. France, a vocal opponent of Azerbaijan, has made no secret of its support for Yerevan, often undercutting initiatives aimed at resolving lingering conflicts. By enabling Armenia with military resources and strategic backing, France is fueling revanchist sentiment that runs counter to the peace narrative being championed by Baku.

Armenias military elites, led by General Edward Asryan, may view this partnership as a safeguard, but in reality, it ties Yerevans security agenda to French geopolitical interests. This dependency undermines Armenias autonomy, effectively turning the country into a proxy for Pariss broader ambitions. The question for Armenia is stark: will its leaders choose sovereignty, or will they persist in aligning with external powers at the expense of national stability?

Internal barriers to peace

Meanwhile, Armenias internal politics reveal a deeper malaise. Former Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyans cynical view of the peace process with Azerbaijan underscores a persistent unwillingness among Armenian elites to engage in genuine reconciliation. Ayvazyan's claims that Azerbaijan is "introducing obstacles" into negotiations are a smokescreen for Armenias own failure to address fundamental impediments to peacechief among them, its Constitution.

Armenias legal framework enshrines territorial ambitions that directly conflict with Azerbaijans sovereignty. Without amending these constitutional provisions, the prospect of enduring peace remains a pipe dream. Ayvazyans pessimism is emblematic of an entrenched mindset that prioritizes grievance over resolution, perpetuating a cycle of mistrust and hostilityArmenias pivot toward militarization, emboldened by French support, risks reigniting tensions in the South Caucasus. To achieve lasting peace, amending the Armenian Constitution is essential. There are two significant obstacles obstructing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and one of these is firmly embedded in the Constitution itself. Armenia still has not eliminated territorial claims against Azerbaijan from its constitution. Nikol Pashinyan keeps presenting new justifications and hesitates to make this essential move, which is a significant barrier to peace. Incredibly, the former Foreign Minister of Armenia believes the opposite, asserting that a peace treaty would be ineffective. This viewpoint is unsurprising, considering his track record of failed policies in this area during his tenure. Such thinking is misguided and counterproductive to the goal of peace.

For Armenia, the path forward is clear but challenging. The nation must break free from the toxic influences of external powers like France and recalibrate its policies toward genuine peace with Azerbaijan. This requires courage: revising constitutional barriers, abandoning revanchism, and pursuing diplomacy over dependency.

Armenia is currently caught in a precarious balancing act between Russia and the West, aiming to appease both sides. This strategy is backfiring: both parties are growing increasingly frustrated and are intensifying their pressure on Yerevan. The frequent visits from European officials, and vice-versa, coupled with pointed criticisms from Russian officials regarding Armenia's policies, clearly demonstrate that both sides are intent on asserting their influence over Yerevan and increasing the countrys dependency. The Armenian government must adopt a proactive approach and pursue regional cooperation. Normalizing relations with Azerbaijan is not just a prerequisite; it is the critical first step to securing Armenias independence and stability in the region. The South Caucasus does not need more destabilizing alliances or ideological posturing; it needs a commitment to peace. The onus is on Yerevan to decide whether it will continue to be a pawn in someone elses game or finally assert its sovereignty and work toward a stable and prosperous future.
11 December 2024 19:37 (UTC+04:00)

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During the first nine months of 2024, Azerbaijan attracted a total of $4.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) across both its oil and gas and non-oil sectors, Azernews reports, citing the Director of the Statistics Department of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, Samir Nasirov, as he said during a recent briefing.

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11 December 2024 17:41 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In Azerbaijan, women remain significantly underrepresented in key sectors of the economy, with only 17 per cent of the workforce employed in transport and storage, 11 per cent in energy, and 8 per cent in construction.

Azernews reports that this was stated by Saida Bagirli, Chief Operations Specialist at the World Bank's Azerbaijan Office, at the "Leadership Achievements in Promoting Work and Career Development of Women in Azerbaijan" event.

Saida Bagirli highlighted the persistent gender disparities in these critical sectors. She pointed out that women hold a disproportionately small share of managerial and technical roles in these fields, contributing to a notable gender pay gap. On average, women in Azerbaijan earn approximately 35 per cent less than their male counterparts.

Bagirli also noted that Azerbaijan has made significant strides in addressing these barriers. "In late 2022, with support from the World Bank's analytical work, Azerbaijan took an important step by lifting gender-based legal restrictions on women's employment," she said. "In 2023, for the first time, women were granted the right to work night shifts, further dismantling long-standing gender-based limitations in the workplace."

Despite these advances, challenges remain, particularly in industries such as transport, energy, and construction, where gender inequality continues to persist. However, Azerbaijan has made notable progress in reducing gender disparities in these traditionally male-dominated sectors, with the World Bank playing a pivotal role in supporting these efforts through its Gender Advisory Services program. This initiative is implemented under the EU-funded Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF).

The AZTAF program has been instrumental in assisting the Azerbaijani government in addressing gender-based occupational segregation. This has been achieved through labor code reforms and partnerships with public enterprises, such as Azerbaijan Railways and Baku Port, which were selected as pilot organizations to reduce gender gaps in the workforce.

A key development at the event was the presentation of a new report titled "Eliminating Obstacles to Women's Employment in Azerbaijan", prepared by the World Bank within the framework of the AZTAF program. The report draws on in-depth gender assessments of Azerbaijan Railways and the Port of Baku, focusing on the barriers women face in recruitment, inclusion, career advancement, and leadership opportunities.

The report highlights several critical areas for policymakers and employers to focus on in order to increase women's participation in technical fields and promote equal employment opportunities. Key recommendations include fostering inclusive workplaces, addressing gender biases in recruitment and promotion processes, and implementing policies to support women's career development.

These recommendations are not only relevant to Azerbaijan but also offer valuable insights for other countries seeking to improve gender equality in traditionally male-dominated industries. The report presents best practices from Azerbaijan, outlines key progress indicators, and provides actionable recommendations for both public and private sectors.

In conjunction with the report, the event featured the launch of a new online training course, titled "Labor Safety, Health, and Violence: A Gender Perspective", developed under the AZTAF program. Available in both English and Azerbaijani, the course aims to raise awareness of gender-related risks in the workplace and promote new approaches to safety, health, and discrimination. It is designed for a wide range of stakeholders, including business leaders, industry professionals, workers, and government officials.

By providing targeted training and fostering inclusive policies, Azerbaijan is working toward creating a more equitable and supportive environment for women in the workforce. The continued collaboration between the World Bank, the European Union, and the Azerbaijani government signals a strong commitment to breaking down barriers and ensuring that women can fully participate in the nation's economic growth.
11 December 2024 16:25 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The education and training programs supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) for citizens of Islamic countries between 2018 and 2023 have been instrumental in fostering international cooperation, Azernews reports.

These initiatives, organized by the MFA in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Education, have provided educational opportunities for citizens from more than 80 African countries over the past five years.

Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev emphasized the importance of these programs during his address at the Forum on the Internationalization of Science and Higher Education, as reported by Azernews. He highlighted that, building on the success of these efforts, the International Education and Training Program was established in 2023 with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, creating a new international cooperation platform.

Rafiyev further elaborated, stating: "In addition, we are further deepening relations with countries with which our people have historical, ethnic and cultural ties and expanding our global humanitarian efforts."
11 December 2024 17:19 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A drawing competition has been held among schoolchildren from countries that are TURKSOY members, Azernews reports. The art competition aimed at promoting the common values and cultural heritage of the Turkic world to the younger generation.

The award ceremony took place at the Vaqif Mustafazadeh No. 2 Children's Art School. The guests first familiarized themselves with the works of the young artists on display.

In his speech at the event, TURKSOY Secretary-General Sultan Raev emphasized the special attention given to the youth, who will be the architects of the Turkic worlds future. He stated that the projects implemented in this direction aim to increase young people's interest in national values and art.

Sultan Raev also announced that the city of Anev in Turkmenistan had been declared the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" for 2024, with special events planned to mark the 300th anniversary of the great Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy. He noted that the art competition, which involved students from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Turkiye, is significant in terms of revealing the creative potential of youth and transmitting national values to future generations.

The TURKSOY Secretary-General pointed out that the drawing competition under the theme The Turkic World and Turkmenistan through the Eyes of Young Artists, which reflects the life of the prominent Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy, not only raises young people's interest in cultural heritage but also serves as an important step towards the unity of the Turkic world.

Head of the Baku City Culture DepartmentI brahim Aliyev said that TURKSOY has been holding competitions related to young artists for the second consecutive year. He remarked that this years event is dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great thinker and poet Magtymguly Pyragy of the East.

Ibrahim Aliyev emphasized that the event makes a significant contribution to the education of the younger generation in a national spirit, allowing them to better internalize our national values. He highlighted the importance of such events in strengthening the unity of Turkic states and preserving our national heritage.

Following this, a concert program was presented featuring student performances.

Later, there was an award ceremony for the winners of the drawing and essay competitions held among schoolchildren from TURKSOY member countries. The winners were awarded special diplomas and valuable gifts.

In their concluding remarks, the speakers praised the high level of organization of the competition and the achievements demonstrated by the youth in the creative field. They stated that such events are important initiatives that not only increase young people's commitment to our national-cultural values but also serve the unity of the Turkic world.

Participants and winners of the competition expressed that taking part in such events dedicated to the common values of the Turkic world provides them with significant motivation and a sense of pride.

The International Organization of Turkic Culture, TURKSOY, was established in 1993 upon signature of its founding agreement by the Ministers of Culture of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Turkiye

Over the past years, TURKSOY has made significant contributions to promoting Turkic cultural heritage through different initiatives. Most of these projects have become a tradition and are continued every year.

Since its establishment, TURKSOY has been carrying out activities to strengthen the ties of brotherhood and solidarity among Turkic peoples, transmit the common Turkic culture to future generations and introduce it to the world.

The organization actively collaborates with international bodies like UNESCO and maintains partnerships with institutions such as the Organization of Turkic States and the International Turkish Academy.

Azerbaijan actively participates in TURKSOY's initiatives, hosting events like the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World project in Shusha city.

Many events of cultural significance, including the Kharibulbul International Folklore Festival, the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, the Cultural Days of the Turkic People, the Vagif Poetry Days, the International Festival of Children's Creativity, Wonderland Shusha 2023 International Scout Camp, and other events were organized in Azerbaijan's cultural center in accordance with the Action Plan.
12 December 2024 00:01 (UTC+04:00)

By AzerNEWS

A period of thirty-five years in Azerbaijan's history that spanned over three decades from the late 1960s to the early 21st century is associated with the name of the National Leader - Heydar Aliyev. The responsibility of true leadership within this period reflected the most arduous and difficult trials.

Undoubtedly, when talking about Heydar Aliyev's invaluable services to the Azerbaijani people, it is first necessary to look at the years 1969-1982, the time when he led our republic during the Soviet Union. In their memoirs about the National Leader, statesmen and artists, businessmen, and intellectuals always express their pride in being a contemporary of such an outstanding personality and note that his leadership of Azerbaijan was a fundamental turning point in the history of Azerbaijan. Until that time, the republic called Azerbaijan was not well known not only in the world but even in the former Soviet Union. However, Azerbaijan was distinguished in the union with its rich culture and underground resources. Nevertheless, the Azerbaijan Republic was mentioned as one of the remote national provinces. It was with the appointment of Heydar Aliyev as the head of the republic at the historic July plenum of 1969 that a period of rapid development began in the history of Azerbaijan. Within a short time, on his initiative, important industrial enterprises were built in the cities of Azerbaijan, and decisive reforms were implemented in the fields of economy, science, and education.

As history continued, responsibility grew

The 1990s entered the history of Azerbaijan as a period of severe tragedies. At that time, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Azerbaijan became the only country among the 15 union states where 20 percent of its territory was occupied. The country suffered from the loss of more than 20 thousand martyrs and had more than 1 million refugees and internally displaced persons. After the January 20 massacres that occurred in Azerbaijan due to the cruelty of the Soviet regime, Heydar Aliyev returned to his birthplace, Nakhchivan, and began to lead the Supreme Assembly here by the will of the people. It was thanks to his determination and selflessness that there were no deaths or losses in this land, and people closely united around the wise leader and found salvation in his example.

On November 17, 1990, when the first session of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was held, Azerbaijan's tricolor flag fluttered over the building for the first time at the initiative of Heydar Aliyev. This event is the brightest page in the history of Azerbaijan's struggle for independence, and with it, the period of development of the ideology of national Azerbaijaniism began. Expressing his loyalty to the national flag and spiritual values, Heydar Aliyev put his physical existence at risk and put serving his nation above all else, and did not fear any difficulties or prohibitions on this path.

Having received the historic opportunity to regain independence at the end of the 20th century, Azerbaijan soon faced the threat of losing it. The crisis of power in the country reached its climax in June 1993, and chaos and anarchy engulfed the republic. The conflict, which had escalated to the level of a civil war, directly targeted not only Azerbaijan's independence but even its national existence. The continuous occupation of Azerbaijani lands by the Armenian armed forces, the increasingly tense political situation, and the increasingly difficult social situation of the population necessitated the need for a leader who could save the country from these troubles and lead the people behind him. All layers of society were convinced that the only person capable of bringing the country, which had just regained its independence, out of the difficult and unbearable situation it had found itself in was Heydar Aliyev.

Thus, on June 9, 1993, National Leader Heydar Aliyev, responding to the call of the people, returned to Baku and saved the country from troubles and calamities, where even more terrible events were expected to happen. That day, in the truest sense of the word, was a turning point in the fate of Azerbaijan. So, an important step was taken towards great salvation and the path leading the Azerbaijani people to salvation began directly from that day.

A spirit living in many hearts

December 12, 2003, is the day when the founder of Azerbaijan's modern statehood, national leader Heydar Aliyev, physically said goodbye to life. Despite the many years that have passed since his physical absence, the Azerbaijani people never forget their savior, they always remember him with respect. Not only on December 12 but also on ordinary days, people go to the Alley of Honor to pay tribute to the National Leader. When we think about the immortalized life path of the National Leader, there is only one notion that leaders who dedicated their lives to their people and provided unparalleled services to their nation and state can never be forgotten.

From the very first day, he relied on his people as a wise leader, and the people supported him and demonstrated solidarity around him. Heydar Aliyev addressed the youth of Azerbaijan, explaining that the homeland was in danger and stating that the nation and state also trusted the youth. Inspired by this call, hundreds and thousands of our young people took up arms and set off for war. Eventually, this was clear that the leadership of the state was in reliable hands and the army was led by a wise commander.

Among the very important reforms implemented by the National Leader during the period of independence, it is also important to note the work done in the re-establishment of the national army. In the winter of 1994, it was the National Leader who was the author of the first successful operation of the Azerbaijani Army at the front. The commander, who went to military units and training grounds on the front line, met with soldiers and officers and inspired them to fight for a sacred cause - to protect the territorial integrity of young independent Azerbaijan. Most of the commanders who led those battles were graduates of the Heydar Aliyev School - the Military Lyceum named after Jamshid Nakhchivansky. At one of the anniversary ceremonies of this educational institution, addressing the officers and cadets sitting in the hall, the National Leader did not accidentally say: "Looking at you, I feel an infinite sense of joy that I have created such a school in Azerbaijan and the graduates of this school are as dear to me as my own children."

As a leader of the country Heydar Aliyev deemed it crucial to carry out economic, political, social, and legal reforms and to embed the democratic values in the society. He therefore attached great importance to drafting the new Constitution of the country and governed the process personally. The first democratic Constitution of the independent Azerbaijan was adopted by popular vote after long-winded deliberations on 12 November 1995. The first parliamentary election ever in the period of independence was conducted and the first convocation Milli Majlis began to work on the same day.

The adoption of the Supreme Law of the land created a legal foundation for building the state as much as it did for the future public progress. Thus began the most productive epoch in our history in terms of making the independence of Azerbaijan stronger and acquiring a permanent and irreversible nature. A short while after, the Commission for Legal Reforms was put together to the order of the Head of the State dated 21 February 1996; the Commission drew up draft laws concerned with the various segments of life in the country in a brief period. The Parliament supported Heydar Aliyev in this work.

Speaking of the laws that were passed then, one could mention the following: the Civil Code, the Civil-Procedural Code, the Code of Administrative offences, the Criminal Code, the Criminal-Procedural Code, the Penalty Implementation Code, the Customs Code, the Tax Code, the Merchant Shipping Code and other codes; and the laws  On Land Reform, On the Constitution Court, On Courts and Judges, On the Prosecution Office, On the Police, On Lawyers and the Bar, On the Diplomatic Service and so forth.

Those documents played a role central to the construction of a legislative basis for the legal, democratic, and secular state and the civil society as well as for the market economy in the country.

If one referred to the statistical information, one would see that 975 out of the 1,715 laws and resolutions that the Milli Majlis passed from 10 October 1993 to 30 December 2002 were passed at the instance of President Heydar Aliyev.

Azerbaijan, which created the first democratic republic in the East on Heydar Aliyevs initiative in 1998, was the first once again  this time, as regards the abolishment of the death penalty. That was a clear example of the attention to the human rights and freedoms exercised at the state level.

Heydar Aliyev issued a decree on 2 June 2002 putting on popular vote a draft act of the referendum on constitutional amendments with a view to the continued streamlining of the national laws and accelerating the Euro-Atlantic integration of our country. That was firstly intended to make the state as well as the democratic standards and principles stronger yet, following the logic of Heydar Aliyevs deep philosophical reasoning.

The return of Heydar Aliyev to political power in Azerbaijan began a new political era and a new age of thinking in this region of the ancient Caucasus. It was precisely that new era that gave Azerbaijan the reason to be called a legal and democratic state in the 21st century.
11 December 2024 09:20 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Kenya William Samoei Ruto on the occasion of the national holiday - Independence Day of the Republic of Kenya, Azernews reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend to you and, through you, to your people the most sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the national holiday  Independence Day of the Republic of Kenya.

We attach great importance to the development of relations with Kenya. Over the past two decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kenya, bilateral ties have expanded, and cooperation in various areas has dynamically progressed.

I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts to further strengthen interstate relations based on mutual respect and trust, fully realizing the potential for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

On this significant day, I wish you robust health, happiness, and success in your endeavors, and your friendly people - continuous prosperity and well-being," the letter reads.
11 December 2024 12:07 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The governor of Russias Astrakhan region, Igor Babushkin, has proposed increasing the frequency of direct flights between Baku and Astrakhan to five times a week to strengthen economic ties with Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

Our business centers are actively contributing to the increase in tourist flows. Representatives of Azerbaijan also participate in all international projects of our region, Babushkin stated on his Telegram channel.

During his recent meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Babushkin discussed strategic issues, including the environmental challenge of the Caspian Sea's declining water levels. He noted that Astrakhan experts, acting on directives from Russian President Vladimir Putin, are analyzing the causes of this issue. A bilateral working group involving Azerbaijani specialists has also been formed, with its inaugural meeting held in Baku.

Azerbaijan is our most important partner in the Caspian Sea, Babushkin said, expressing gratitude to President Aliyev for supporting the development of multifaceted cooperation.

Additionally, the meeting reviewed the initial outcomes of a comprehensive program launched in May to enhance collaboration between Azerbaijan and the Astrakhan region. Babushkin emphasized that progress is being made in advancing bilateral projects and initiatives.
11 December 2024 18:02 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation will hold an International Conference titled "Mapping the World in Lexicography: on the 950th anniversary of Diwan Lughat al-Turk," Azernews reports.

The international conference will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on December 13.

The 950th anniversary of the famous work by Mahmud Kashgari, Diwan Lughat al-Turk- one of the most valuable books in the Turkic world-will be celebrated within UNESCO. "Diwan Lughat at-Turk" is the first encyclopedic dictionary of Turkic languages, included in the list of anniversaries that UNESCO will mark in 2024-2025.

According to information preserved in the Istanbul National Library and recorded on the last page of the only existing copy, M. Kashgari began writing this masterpiece in 1072 and completed it two years later. Various sources mention that he intended to present this work to the Turkish ruler of the time, Sultan Muhammad Alp Arslan. However, due to the martyr's death of the ruler, the work was presented to the Caliph of the Abbasid dynasty, Muhammad al-Muqtadi Bi-Amrillah, who ruled in Baghdad from 1075 to 1095.

The work is considered the first dictionary of the Turkic language family, written by M. Kashgari to teach the Turkic language to Arabs and to demonstrate that it is richer than Arabic. During the writing of this work, M. Kashgari visited various Turkic regions of the 11th century and based his work on the linguistic materials he gathered.

In addition to being a dictionary, it also serves as a grammatical compendium that reflects the characteristics of the 11th-century Turkic language, shedding light on phonetic and morphological knowledge. Furthermore, the work provides information about Turkic surnames, individuals, and geographical names and contains rich information about Turkic history, geography, mythology, folklore, and oral literature. It is also notable as an encyclopedic work that offers insights into the medicine and healing methods of that time.

During the conference, scholars, researchers, and representatives from state and international organizations from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and other countries will discuss the historical, linguistic, and cultural significance of Diwan Lughat al-Turk.
11 December 2024 20:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The Social Services Agency under Azerbaijans Labor and Social Protection of the Population sent another group of youth made up of six people with disability to Turkiye to undergo internship courses in vocational associations.

Azernews reports that the sent youth will attend an internship course in relevant vocational associations in the cities of Ankara and Antalya in Turkiye, for 2 months.

During the meeting of the Chairman of the Board of the Social Services Agency, Vugar Behbudov, with these young people, it was reported that vocational courses were organized for 500 young people at the Vocational Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities during the past period of this year. Some 20 of them are people with war-related disabilities.

During the course period, young people with disabilities get acquainted with foreign experience in the professions they have studied at the Center, and based on that experience, they improve their knowledge and skills.

For this purpose, 161 graduates of the Center were sent to vocational associations in Turkiye for internship courses in the past period, including 32 this year. These internship trips are also of particular importance in the social rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
Interview: Germany-China economic ties a stabilizing force for Europe, says ex-Bundestag VP

Xinhua) 10:16, December 11, 2024

BERLIN, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The economic ties between Germany and China can provide stability not just for the two countries but also for Europe as a whole, said Hans-Peter Friedrich, former vice president of German Bundestag and chairman of the German-Chinese parliamentary group.

"In times of uncertainty, you need stability," Friedrich told Xinhua in an interview during the 2024 annual forum of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Germany. "I think the economic relationship between China and Germany can bring stability to both sides and to China and Europe."

Friedrich emphasized Germany's pivotal role in shaping China-Europe relations, noting that as a key player in Europe's economic and political framework, Germany's approach to China-Europe ties is critical.

"The economies of Germany and China work well together, creating significant opportunities for cooperation. There are vast areas for fruitful collaboration, such as ecological technology, health products, and even tourism," he added.

Despite cultural, systemic, and value differences, Friedrich noted that Germany and China have maintained a spirit of collaboration over the past five decades, stressing that focusing on shared interests and fostering dialogue and cooperation are essential for achieving mutual development in a complex international environment.

Reflecting on the successes of globalization, Friedrich praised the global economy's openness in recent decades, which has driven growth and significantly reduced poverty. "These achievements stem from deeper international cooperation, reduced trade barriers, and open markets," he said.

However, Friedrich warned that rising protectionism and new trade barriers pose great threats to globalization.

Global divisions undermine not just economic interests but also humanity's shared future, he said, noting that a fractured international community could jeopardize critical achievements such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

"The mechanisms of global markets have enabled capital to flow where it is most productive, fostering innovation and growth," he said, expressing hope that Germany continues to welcome Chinese investors with open arms, appreciating their ideas, capital, and contributions, while ensuring that German companies and products have fair opportunities in China.

"A balanced trade relationship benefits everyone," he said.

He identified climate protection, clean water resources, and resource management as essential areas where cross-border research cooperation is indispensable. "Knowledge exchange between Germany and China has long been a two-way street, and this cooperation must be further encouraged," said Friedrich.

Looking ahead, Friedrich posed an important question: "Can humanity meet its challenges through confrontation or cooperation?"

He firmly advocated for cooperation and mutual understanding, stressing that hostility has never led to progress. He urged nations to reject confrontation and stay committed to advancing sustainable development goals.

Friedrich expressed optimism for a positive path forward, saying: "The friendship between Germany and China has a bright future."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)


Illegal infiltration: NIA court sentences 3 Bangladeshis with fake documents The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Mumbai has sentenced three Bangladeshi nationals to five years of imprisonment for illegal infiltration into India and the possession of forged documents, a statement of the probe agency said on Wednesday. The convicted individuals -- Mohammed Habibur Rehman Habib alias Raj Jesub Mandal, Hannan Anwar Hussain Khan alias Hannan Baburali Gazi, and Mohd Azarali Subhanallah alias Raja Jesub Mandal -- were also fined Rs 2,000 each.



The NIA in a press release said the case originated in March 2018, based on an FIR registered by Pune Police. It was alleged that several Bangladeshi nationals were residing in Pune without valid documentation and were aiding members of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a front organisation of the banned terror group Al-Qaida.



The NIA took over the investigation and, on September 7, 2018, filed a charge sheet against the three accused, along with two others -- Md Ripen Hossain alias Rubel and Md Hassnali Amirali -- under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Foreigners Act.



Md Ripen Hossain and Mohammad Hassan Ali Amirali were convicted earlier in October 2023, after pleading guilty, and were sentenced to five years of imprisonment under similar charges.



The NIA said the five were working as labourers at various construction sites in Pune without any valid documents.



The latest convictions of Mohammed Habibur Rehman Habib, Hannan Anwar Hussain Khan, and Md Azarali Subhanallah were made under section 14 of the Foreigners Act (overstaying in India without valid documentation), section 471 of the IPC (using forged documents as genuine) and section 120-B of the IPC (conspiracy related to document forgery).



The case was initially investigated by the ATS and the NIA took over the case in September 2018. The accused fraudulently obtained PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, voter IDs ration cards among others by providing fake documents, the agency added.




11 December 2024 16:03 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijan is continuing to implement various initiatives in the education sector for both foreign and local students. One of the state's programs is the individual scholarship program, Azernews reports, citing Science and Education Minister Emin Amrullayev, as he stated at the Forum on the Internationalization of Science and Higher Education.

He noted that this program has expanded over eight years, increasing the number of scholarship recipients from 100 to 500.

Graduates of this program currently work as leading specialists in Azerbaijans public, education, and private sectors. The long-term perspectives of the program indicate that investments in human capital will yield significant results. It is expected that many students will benefit from this program over the next 30-40 years, said Amrullayev.

He added that the government aims to increase the number of students through intergovernmental student exchange programs. While the main focus in the past was sending students abroad, there is now a special emphasis on increasing the number of foreign students studying in Azerbaijan.

The minister noted that the number of foreign students in Azerbaijan has significantly increased in recent years. Currently, this figure stands at approximately 11,000, and there are plans to increase it to 21,000 in the near future.

This is a significant step in enhancing cultural diversity in higher education institutions and promoting Azerbaijan's educational experience globally. Special programs, such as the Heydar Aliyev Scholarship, have created new opportunities for foreign students to study in Azerbaijan. This initiative shows the interest of foreign countries in the higher education opportunities available in Azerbaijan, he added.

The minister emphasized that graduates of Azerbaijani higher education institutions are currently working in important positions in various countries around the world.

Building on this tradition, the goal is to provide more students with high-level education and expand international cooperation in the future. Meetings held within the framework of COP29 have shown that world countries are interested in cooperating with Azerbaijani higher education institutions. Currently, intensive work is being done in this direction, and many countries are encouraging their citizens to pursue higher education in Azerbaijan.

Integration of Azerbaijani scientists into global science and attracting foreign scientists and professors to Azerbaijan are among the important goals, as well.

Amrullayev mentioned that certain bureaucratic procedures hinder the activities of foreign scientists in Azerbaijan.

Existing regulations should be reviewed to allow scientists to work more comfortably. Pilot projects are providing financial support to higher education institutions, but there are some bureaucratic barriers to the effective use of these funds, he said.

Emin Amrullayev also noted that some approaches in Azerbaijan's higher education system are outdated and do not meet modern requirements.

The minister highlighted that outdated procedures and mechanisms in the education system hinder reforms.

More effective, flexible, and results-oriented approaches should be implemented. Innovation requires both the will and legislative regulation, he stated.

He emphasized that speeding up international integration processes, applying flexibility and innovation in the management of higher education institutions, and increasing the involvement of foreign scientists and students in Azerbaijan's scientific and educational environment are essential steps for the development of the education system. Amrullayev noted that implementing reforms will enhance both internal potential and the creation of a stronger educational environment at the international level.

Research activities play a significant role in the formation of university rankings. One of the problems in this area is the fragmented and non-consolidated nature of scientific activities. Conducting more systematic and grouped research can improve university rankings.

Amrullayev mentioned that the number of foreign students and faculty, as well as the student-to-faculty ratio, are key indicators of a university's international standing.

Although rankings are sometimes criticized, they provide important indicators used for management decisions. Based on these indicators, universities can improve their areas of activity, he explained.

Research in Azerbaijani universities is often fragmented, with activities distributed among many small groups and limited collaboration. The individual activities of scientists often do not impact the overall university metrics significantly.

According to the minister, solutions to this problem include uniting research under single institutes or consortia and better coordinating scientific activities at the university level.

The minister also said that the number of scientific articles and products in Azerbaijan is increasing, which shows the country's scientific potential. However, there are problems with the effective organization and presentation of scientific products, limiting the international impact of scientific articles. Scientific activities and results need better structuring and presentation. Priority should be given to enhancing the quality of output rather than quantity. New incentive mechanisms should be created to encourage local scientists to publish more articles in international scientific journals.

Amrullayev believes there is a need for increased cooperation among domestic institutions in Azerbaijan.

Integration of research projects and educational programs is essential. New funding mechanisms, grant programs, and sponsorship opportunities are proposed. These measures can accelerate the development of research and higher education, he said.

Development in higher education occurs gradually. Expecting radical changes in a short period is unrealistic.

The minister noted that if annual progress is ensured, Azerbaijani higher education can achieve higher positions globally within 10-20 years.

If there are any quick and effective solutions, open platforms should be created to discuss these ideas. Efforts should be made to achieve better results each year than the previous one. Goals should be realistic and aligned with available resources and time. Local solutions should be developed by leveraging the successful experiences of other countries. Closer cooperation between government agencies, universities, and scientific institutions should be ensured. This approach presents a comprehensive plan to gradually develop the Azerbaijani higher education system to meet international standards, the minister concluded.
Beaufort County Schools are building a new school on the same ground where Eastern Elementary already exists, at a cost of $10,500,000.00 to Beaufort County's Taxpayers. Is this a wise expense of taxpayer dollars at this time?

22.73% Yes, Beaufort County has been awarded a 42 million dollars of grant money from the state of North Carolina (FREE MONEY) to construct school at 3.00 per squ. ft.65.91% No, this is the wrong time, to build the wrong school, on the wrong placement - its lowest point - of Eastern Elementary's existing location, when community schools work best.11.36% Why should I care about the public's education?
In 2023, the UK's then-Conservative government banned administering "puberty blockers" to children to give time to study their effects. Now that those studies have been done, the new Labour government has extended that ban on puberty blockers indefinitely. These drugs used as puberty blockers have dramatic negative side effects on children, often sterilizing them. One of the main "puberty blockers" used on young boys is also used for chemical castration of rapists.

Separately last year, the UK's National Health Servide issued guidance to doctors that gender confusion in children is usually temporary, and that most will naturally grow out of it. Doctors were directed not to suggest surgery or drugs for gender confused children, or even new names or pronouns.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/11/puberty-blockers-for-under-18s-banned-after-warning/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/12/just-uk-ban-puberty-blockers-children-indefinitely/

A number of countries in continental Europe also ban use of puberty blockers, hormones, and similar drugs on gender confused children.

Here is the US, the National Institute of Health commissoned a study of puberty blockers and their effect on children nine years ago. It was supposed to be made public earlier this year, but was suppressed. It is believed that the results could have hurt the Democrats in the election, but even after the election it is still hidden. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has written a strongly worded letter demanding release of the results of this study.

https://www.wnd.com/2024/10/rubio-demands-transparency-as-nih-seems-to-hide-effects-of-gender-affirming-care/

The doctor who directed that study, Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, is currently being sued for medical malpractice by a patient who is now "de-transitioning" and was administered puberty blockers, male hormones, and breast removal surgery by Dr. Olson-Kennedy.
 Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has reversed its decision on a controversial anesthesia reimbursement policy update, which would have introduced a new reimbursement structure based on CMS physician work time values  14 anesthesiologists (and nine certified registered nurse anesthetists) joined Beckers to discuss their thoughts.

 From reimbursement challenges and staffing shortages to shifting payer policies, three anesthesiologists shared their insights on the last year with Beckers.

 Anesthesiologist John Anderson, MD, died at age 91 on Nov. 21 in Cleveland. He worked in private practice at St. Anthony Hospital in Columbus, Ohio before working as an anesthesiologist and professor at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. He retired in 2005.

 Dallas anesthesiologist Raynaldo Ortiz, MD, has been sentenced to 190 years in prison for injecting a nerve-blocking agent and other drugs into bags of IV fluid at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas. Dr. Ortiz was sentenced for injecting IV bags with bupivacaine, epinephrine and lidocaine into five IV bags and placing them in a warming bin in August 2022 for medical staff to use on patients.
North Carolina recently approved Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth's certificate-of-need application to add 26 beds to its new hospital in Weaverville, according to the Citizen Times.

AdventHealth fended off competition from Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health and Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health, part of HCA Healthcare, for the additional beds.

"This decision is going to increase competition in health care in western North Carolina, which will in turn decrease costs and improve quality for patients," North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said in a Dec. 2 news release. "I called on NCDHHS to reject Mission's application for more beds so that another healthcare provider could grow its presence in western North Carolina. I'm hopeful that this will help people get higher-quality, more affordable care when they need it."

In a July 29 letter to the state department of health, Mr. Stein alleged that Mission's large market share for acute care services "makes it a poor candidate to promote competition in that region" and that the health system "is failing to provide safe, quality, accessible and affordable care in the region at its existing facilities."

A spokesperson for Mission told Becker's the health system believes it can best meet the growing need for complex medical and surgical services in the region.

Mission argued that the utilization of its flagship hospital's services is "very high, including services related to the ICU and adult medical and surgical beds," and the hospital accepts thousands of transfers from other hospitals in the region. Those transfers reflect a need for the addition of higher acuity beds and services offered by Mission, according to the health system.

The decision is another win for AdventHealth in its battle to limit Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA's growth in Western North Carolina. AdventHealth has appealed Mission's recent CON applications for freestanding emergency departments in the state and fought off HCA's appeal of a planned hospital with at least 67 beds in Buncombe County.

AdventHealth received approval in May to build a hospital in Weaverville. Mission previously appealed the state's initial approval of the hospital, leading to a trial last fall. Novant also wanted to build a 67-bed hospital in the area, but dropped out of the process.

The latest CON approval brings the planned Weaverville hospital's total licensed beds to 93. The $109 million facility will include a surgery suite, 12-bed emergency department, 13-bed labor and delivery unit and 12-bed intensive care unit. It is expected to open in October 2027.

Separately, in a Dec. 6 ruling, a North Carolina judge dismissed counterclaims filed by HCA against Mr. Stein in response to his lawsuit alleging the hospital operator breached its 2019 asset purchase agreement for Mission, according to Blue Ridge Now.

Mr. Stein, set to become North Carolina's governor, sued HCA in December 2023, claiming the system failed to uphold commitments to emergency, trauma, and oncology services outlined in the APA.

HCA, which acquired Mission for $1.5 billion in 2019, denied the breach, arguing the agreement did not mandate specific care standards, only that facilities and services remain available to medical staff. Mr. Stein countered that HCA misinterpreted the contract, citing evidence from patient experiences, news reports, and a federal investigation.

"We are confident that Mission has fulfilled its obligations under the Asset Purchase Agreement, and we intend to defend the lawsuit filed by the Attorney General aggressively," Nancy Lindell, a spokesperson for Mission, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "Unfortunately, the lawsuit continues to be a distraction from the important work that Mission continues to do in Western North Carolina."
Across the healthcare industry, many hospital and health system financial leaders are looking for the perfect concoction to boost their operating margins.

From leveraging data analytics and developing strategic financial plans to fostering accountability among department leaders and prioritizing quality over short-term gains, Becker's connected with six hospital and health system CFOs this year to discuss ways to drive margins upward.

Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: What advice do you have for hospital and health system financial leaders looking to get their margins up?

Rob Chestnut. CFO of LMH Health (Lawrence, Kan.): I don't think there's any magic formula. Get your analytics down, figure out what you feel comfortable with and then watch as things start to create problems for you and address them accordingly.

Todd Conklin. Executive Vice President and CFO of Care New England (Providence, R.I.): Constant operational improvement work, both on the clinical operations as well as business-related services, has been very important for Care New England. Operating with lean overhead has been very important. Understanding and driving positive operating margins with an understanding at the service line and business unit level is key.

Anthony DeFurio: Executive Vice President and CFO of Houston Methodist: [Financial leaders should be] disciplined about the capital allocation process when facing competing needs for growth capital, partnerships and acquisitions, and innovation will be the key to achieving sustainable margins over time.

Developing a strategic financial plan that is a critical component of the overall strategic plan and vision of the organization is essential. Margin compression has made this discipline more critical than ever.

Andrew DeVoe. CFO of Tufts Medicine (Burlington, Mass.): I often refer to contract labor, the travelers, as a cancer to the organization. The sooner you can eliminate contract labor, the better you're going to improve quality, reduce cost and improve morale. That's probably the single biggest thing that you can do.

You also need to make sure that you're minimizing the amount of overhead that you're burdening the entities [with]. You need to be as efficient as possible in delivering supply chain, revenue cycle and IT. When you put a system together, one of the primary benefits of that is you gain some scale. If you're not achieving that scale, you're probably defeating the goals of coming together as a system.

Bob Glenning. President of the Financial and Digital Technology Services Division and CFO of Hackensack Meridian Health (Edison, N.J.): Every health system faces unique challenges, and there's no single solution that fits all. I believe in taking a long-term approach to managing finances, focusing on achieving a set operating margin to allow for continued capital upgrades and innovation. This means finding ways to disrupt ourselves, seeking out partnerships that bring value, and asking critical questions about our core values and negotiation points.

Jan Grigsby. CFO of Southeast Georgia Health System (Brunswick, Ga.): Quality drives the bottom line and not the other way around. It drives the bottom line for real and long-lasting margin growth. There's tricks of the trade that will get some short-term satisfaction and some short-term positive margins, but if you're not fixated on quality and being a highly reliable organization, then no mission, no margin.


Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid govt-Oppn face-off over Jagdeep Dhankhar, Soros issues The Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day following a ruckus by the opposition parties over a no-confidence motion against House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. As the session began for the day, the opposition MPs raised slogans and disrupted the proceedings, demanding a discussion on the motion.



Amid the din, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju attacked the Congress over the impeachment notice, calling the allegations against the Chair "baseless".



He said the treasury benches will defend any move to attack the honour and dignity of the Chair.



The Minister raised the issue of the alleged nexus between US hedge fund tycoon George Soros and Congress which allegedly poses a threat to national security. "You stand with forces who are against the country. Notice has been given against the Chairman. It is difficult to find such a Chairman. He has always talked of the welfare of the poor, protected Constitution. We will not allow the drama of notice to succeed. What is the relationship between Soros and Congress? This should be revealed...Congress should apologise to the nation," he said.



This triggered vociferous protests from the Opposition which accused the government of stalling proceedings to divert attention.



Chairman Dhankhar tried to proceed with the scheduled agenda, but the opposition raised the noise prompting him to adjourn the House till noon.



Soon after the Hosue assembled again, the ruckus continued, and the House was finally adjourned for the day.



Union Minister J.P. Nadda said, "Our members (MPs) have been raising the issue of the connection between Sonia Gandhi and Soros. This is a question about the sovereignty of the country.Bringing a no-confidence motion against the Chair is a design to deviate the attention of the nation from the issue of the sovereignty of the countryIt should be condemned by one and all. They have never respected the Chair..."



The Opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday submitted a no-confidence motion against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to the Secretary General of the Upper House.



The opposition alleged that the Chairman has been conducting the proceedings of the Upper House in a highly partisan manner, leaving them no choice but to take this unprecedented step.




Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Health System has become the first health system in the U.S. to achieve The Joint Commission's Responsible Use of Health Data certification, a milestone the organization hopes will set a new standard for healthcare nationwide.

Launched Jan. 1, the voluntary certification program acknowledges hospitals and health systems that uphold ethical standards in utilizing patient data beyond clinical care. This includes applications in safety, quality improvement and operational enhancements. The certification offers a structured framework to guide healthcare organizations in securely using and sharing patient data while prioritizing transparency and accountability.

"This recognition is particularly meaningful given the growing concerns around patient privacy," Matt Kull, chief information and digital officer at Inova, told Becker's. "We are entrusted with highly personal and sensitive information, and in the digital era, protecting this information is integral to achieving the triple aim of healthcare  improving patient care, enhancing health outcomes and reducing costs."

Meeting rigorous certification standards



Mr. Kull detailed the comprehensive steps Inova undertook to meet The Joint Commission's rigorous criteria.

"The certification process was akin to other Joint Commission accreditations, requiring a thorough review of policies, procedures and operations," he said. "They examined our data governance, security controls and even how we de-identify data."

The certification also scrutinized Inova's methods for ensuring fairness and privacy in data use, including avoiding bias in algorithms and providing transparency in patient data usage.

"It's about ensuring our compliance is sustainable and agile enough to adapt to future regulations, standards and societal needs," Mr. Kull said.

This led to Inova earning the recognition for its efforts in de-identifying data, setting strict access controls, clearly defining permitted data uses and validating the safety and fairness of its algorithms, among other efforts.

"The Joint Commission's national reputation made it a clear choice for us," Mr. Kull said. "We wanted to set a high standard, ensure transparency, and have a respected body validate that we're living up to our values every day."

Balancing innovation with ethical practices



When asked how Inova balances data-driven innovation with patient privacy, Mr. Kull highlighted the use of de-identified data in initiatives wherever possible.

"De-identified data is always our preference for quality improvement and operational initiatives," he said. "For research or clinical trials requiring identifiable data, we ensure informed consent and clarity for our patients about how their data will be used."

Inova's responsible data practices have already yielded tangible benefits. For example, during an IV fluid shortage caused by a hurricane, Inova leveraged data to optimize usage without compromising patient care.

"This data-driven decision-making allowed us to conserve resources safely and transparently," Mr. Kull said.

Setting a national standard



Looking ahead, Mr. Kull sees Inova's certification as a potential catalyst for industry-wide adoption.

"We want to help other organizations achieve similar standards," he said. "This certification establishes expectations for privacy and care, and we hope regulatory agencies and lawmakers will recognize it as a benchmark."

Mr. Kull also stressed the importance of fostering innovation while maintaining patient safety.

"The barriers to entry for AI and machine learning are lower than ever. If we can use this certification as a framework, it will enable smaller initiatives and startups to safely innovate in healthcare," he said.
It has been a record year for CEO exits in 2024, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

As of October, more than 1,800 CEOs across industries resigned or retired in 2024, up 19% from 2023, the firm reported Nov. 26. This is the highest year-to-date total the firm has seen since it began tracking CEO changes in 2002.

Hospitals saw 90 CEO exits as of October, compared to 126 in 2023, according to the report.

One reason for the turnover is the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Andy Challenger, senior vice president of the firm, recently told CBS News. Organizations may have been hesitant to make leadership changes during the pandemic, which "created some pent up demand for change," as the country enters a period of greater certainty, he said.

Becker's has reported on more than 150 CEO resignations, retirements and other hospital and health system departures since Jan. 1.

Among the notable exits is Mark Wallace, who retired from Houston-based Texas Children's on Oct. 4 after 35 years in the role. Debra Sukin, PhD, stepped in Oct. 5.

Another significant transition is the retirement of Rod Hochman, MD, president and CEO of Renton, Wash.-based Providence. Dr. Hochman will retire at the end of 2024 after nearly two decades with the organization and will be succeeded by COO Erik Wexler.

Airica Steed, EdD, RN, was dismissed from her role as president and CEO of Cleveland-based MetroHealth System after an Aug. 9 board vote. This was less than three weeks after Dr. Steed took a temporary medical leave of absence July 23. Christine Alexander-Rager, MD, was named acting president and CEO on July 26 and will now serve in the role through 2025.

Some CEOs left their roles for new opportunities, such as Terry Forde, president and CEO of Gaithersburg, Md.-based Adventist HealthCare. Mr. Forde exited the role Aug. 2 to become president and CEO of Brevard County, Fla.-based Health First.
Richard Shadyac Jr. will step down as president and CEO of the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, the fundraising organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., effective March 1.

During the transition, Mr. Shadyac will focus on donor, partner and external relations, according to a Dec. 9 news release from St. Jude. He will then assume an advisory role, the release said.

Ike Anand, ALSAC's COO, will take on administrative leadership during the transition and become interim CEO March 1. Mr. Anand joined the organization in 2020 and has led its digital transformation, overseeing technology and digital platforms, the release said.

Mr. Shadyac became president and CEO in 2009. Under his leadership, philanthropic giving and sponsorship nearly quadrupled, and the organization achieved 59 consecutive quarters of year-over-year fundraising growth, according to the release.
Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare CEO Bob Sehring has shared plans to retire in April 2026.

Michelle Conger will assume the role of president of the system, effective Jan. 1, and will succeed Mr. Sehring when he retires as CEO, according to a Dec. 10 news release shared with Becker's.

Mr. Sehring joined OSF HealthCare as vice president for business support services for OSF HealthPlans in 2002. He was then promoted to CEO of OSF HealthPlans in 2004 and was appointed chief ministry services officer before becoming CEO of OSF's central region in 2025. He has been CEO of OSF HealthCare since 2017.

Under Mr. Sehrings' leadership, OSF HealthCare has grown amid multiple mergers and acquisitions, all while advancing oncology services through the opening of the Peoria-based OSF HealthCare Institute.

"Under his leadership, our ministry has achieved remarkable milestones, including strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions serving 17 communities with hospitals, providing care for more than 1 million patients this past year, demonstrating strong leadership through the pandemic and the post impacts on our health system, advancements in oncology services, including the opening of the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria earlier this year, and an unwavering commitment to rural health care, said Sister Agnes Joseph.
One-day strikes and other "fixed-duration strikes"  defined as those with a short duration and predetermined time limits  are common at hospitals.

While some healthcare unions have held longer or open-ended strikes, most have opted for shorter strikes in 2024.

From 2021 to 2023, the majority of healthcare strikes were of a fixed duration rather than indefinite walkouts, Johnnie Kallas, PhD, an assistant professor at Champaign-based University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations and project director of the Labor Action Tracker, told Becker's. The tracker, a collaboration between Ithaca, N.Y.-based Cornell University and the University of Illinois, serves as a strike activity database.

More than 20 healthcare strikes have been reported by Becker's in 2024, with those lasting fewer than five days being the most common. For example, Honolulu-based Hawaii Pacific Health's Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children experienced a one-day strike in September, and University Medical Center in New Orleans saw a similar strike in October.

Despite their brevity and predetermined endings, fixed-duration strikes still require health systems to activate contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted patient care.

At University of California San Francisco, where healthcare workers held a 2-day strike in November, the system addressed maintaining operations in a statement.

"UCSF Health intends to continue regular operations, including emergency care, and expects to be able to maintain the majority of scheduled appointments and surgeries," the system said. "The health system is working to minimize impacts on patients, with plans in place to bring in qualified replacement staff. Despite these efforts, some procedures may need to be rescheduled. Patients whose appointments are affected will be contacted and the health system will prioritize rescheduling their care."

At Kaiser Permanente locations in Southern California, where mental health workers began an open-ended strike on Oct. 21, the system also highlighted care coordination.

In a statement to Becker's in October, Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente said all its members "will continue to have timely access to individual therapy appointments during the strike. Patients have the opportunity to be seen by a professional in our extensive network of highly qualified, licensed therapists if their regular provider chooses to take part in the strike. Where necessary, we are contacting patients and offering options that meet their needs."

Fixed-duration strikes may be particularly prominent in healthcare due to regulatory requirements mandating a 10-day notice of work stoppages, Dr. Kallas said.

"As part of that notice, they usually will indicate whether the strike will be for a certain amount of time, or will be indefinite in nature," he said. "So that legal apparatus or regulatory state that's unique to healthcare also influences the emergence of this type of strike."

Even short strikes can have significant financial consequences for hospitals, particularly as costs for temporary staffing replacements rise, Dr. Kallas added.

"That economic impact is stronger in the healthcare setting, especially amongst nurses, than it might be in other settings," he said.

Regarding their effect on reaching agreements, fixed-duration strikes do not often result in quick contract resolutions, Dr. Kallas noted.

"You're basically saying, 'At the end of this strike, we're going to return to our work with or without an agreement,' which generally means that it's very rare for these strikes to be immediately followed with a contract agreement," he said. "It usually takes at least a couple months, and in some cases it takes longer than that of continued negotiations until there's some sort of agreement reached."
Albertsons has filed a lawsuit against Kroger just a day after a federal judge blocked a proposed $24.6 billion merger of the companies, which would have combined the two largest supermarket chains in the U.S., The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 11.

The lawsuit, filed in a Delaware chancery court, accuses Kroger of failing to fulfill its contractual obligations to ensure the merger's approval and of acting in its own financial interest, ultimately causing the deal to collapse.

In the filing, Albertsons claims Kroger provided insufficient divesture proposals to regulators and disregarded antitrust concerns raised by the Federal Trade Commission. Albertsons is now seeking billions in damages.

Kroger, in its response, labeled Albertsons' claims as baseless, asserting that the lawsuit was an attempt by Albertsons to deflect responsibility for the deal's failure, according to the Journal report. Kroger maintains that Albertsons repeatedly breached the merger agreement and that the lawsuit seeks to secure the breakup fee despite Albertsons not being entitled to it under the terms of their agreement.

The lawsuit follows a significant legal development just a day earlier, when U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson ruled to block the merger, siding with the FTC's argument that combining Kroger and Albertsons would stifle competition in the U.S. grocery market, according to a Dec. 10 Bloomberg report.

The court found that the proposed divesture of 579 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers, intended to address antitrust concerns, would not be enough to preserve competition. The judge emphasized that the structure of the deal could lead to store closures or reduced sales.

The divestiture was set to include 579 stores across 18 states, which Kroger and Albertsons had planned to sell to Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers for $2.9 billion.

While the companies had pledged to maintain pharmacy and healthcare services under C&S' ownership, the FTC and the court argued that C&S, with fewer than 30 stores in operation, would not have the scale or capability to effectively compete with the enlarged Kroger-Albertsons entity.

Albertsons' lawsuit comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the proposed merger. Initially announced in October 2022, the deal was intended to create a larger competitor to retail giants such as Walmart and Amazon. However, it faced significant antitrust scrutiny from regulators who argued that the combined company would dominate the grocery sector.
Medical experts are questioning whether digital breast tomosynthesis, also known as 3D mammography, will contribute to lowering the breast cancer death rate or normalize the overtreatment of cancers that may never have progressed, The New York Times reported Dec. 9.

"By the time we know the answer, [digital breast tomosynthesis] will already be the default technology," Ilana Richman, MD, assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., told the Times.

Federal data shows that more than 90% of all U.S. breast imaging facilities offer the technology, which uses multiple X-ray image "slices" to create a 3D reconstruction of the breast. Dr. Richman said the layered image can reveal masses hidden behind other tissues, the Times report said.

In a recent study, digital breast tomosynthesis had a higher rate of cancer depiction (5.3 cancers per 1,000) when compared to digital mammography (four cancers per 1,000), out of the 1,407 breast cancer cases analyzed. Fewer cancers were in advanced stages at the time of diagnosis when digital breast tomosynthesis was used (32.7%) compared to digital mammography (43.6%).

Experts said digital breast tomosynthesis's ability to reduce false positive results, which require patients to be recalled for additional screening, is the "most convincing evidence in favor of" opting to use the technology over traditional mammography, the Times report said.

"Even if there is no difference in cancer outcomes, [reducing false positive results] alone means it is a better test," Kathryn Lowry, MD, a physician and diagnostic radiologist at Seattle-based Fred Hutch Cancer Center, told the newspaper.

A separate recent study found that adding MRI to digital breast tomosynthesis may prevent more cancer deaths, but it may also contribute to more false-positive biopsies. However, the trade-off may be beneficial for patients with dense breasts who are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer, the study authors said.
The introduction of ultra high-cost drugs, such as gene and cell therapies, is set to reshape pharmacy practices, according to a forecast published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and ASHP Foundation, its philanthropic arm.

As UHCDs offer new therapeutic possibilities, they also present challenges for health systems and pharmacy departments.

Here are five things to know:
The Environmental Protection Agency has banned two solvents, trichloroethylene and percoethylene, marking a victory for environmental and public health advocates, The New York Times reported Dec. 9.

The move targets chemicals used in products such as cleaners and dry-cleaning solutions that have been linked to cancer and other health issues.

TCE, found in spot removers and lubricants, is known to cause liver and kidney cancer, while Perc, used in dry cleaning, is linked to liver and brain cancers. The ban eliminates all consumer uses of TCE and limits Perc use to certain industrial applications with strict worker protections.

The rule, first proposed in 2023, comes amid concerns over the potential rollback of environmental regulations under the incoming Trump administration. Critics worry that the new administration could challenge these final rules using the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn regulations enacted in the final months of a president's term.

Industry groups, including the American Chemistry Council and the Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute have voiced opposition, argue that the ban could have significant economic repercussions and negatively impact the dry cleaning industry.

Environmental advocates have welcomed the decision, noting that the ban provides hope for communities devastated by exposure to these chemicals.
Heres where it stands going into the next year:

Leaning into AI

Zimmer Biomet made two moves to deepen its reach into the healthcare AI space. In June the company signed a multiyear co-marketing agreement with RevelAi Health. Under the partnership, Zimmer Biomet will commercialize RevelAis artificial intelligence-powered care management platform, care team dashboard and future products. RevelAis products help streamline care workflows while addressing healthcare disparities.

Zimmer Biomet also signed an agreement to acquire OrthoGrid Systems, which develops artificial intelligence-driven guidance for total hip replacement. The acquisition includes Hip AI,two more FDA-cleared orthopedic applications and more than 40 patents. OrthoGrid Systems Hip AI system offers real-time image analysis, automated measurements of leg length and offset and guidance on cup placement. Surgeons can also use the system to align with their own workflows.

Developing total knee implants

Zimmer Biomets total knee replacement portfolio has continued to grow with its traditional and smart implants.

The Persona IQ smart knee implant, which hit the market in 2021, is gaining payer interest with CMS granting it CMS New Technology Add-on Payment in 2023. In an Aug. 7 earning call CEO Ivan Tornos said the company is gearing up for new Persona IQ developments and discussions with payers about risk-sharing agreements. The smart implant has more than 3 billion data points which are used to drive conversations about recovery and performance.

Zimmer Biometalso earned FDA clearance for its Persona SoluTion porous plasma spray femur total knee implant component and the Oxford cementless partial knee implant. The company now has a fully cementless alternative to cobalt-chrome implants.

Anticipated financial growth

On the heels of $1.8 billion in third quarter sales, Mr. Tornos is optimistic about the coming years for Zimmer Biomet. Growth is largely supported by the companys new Rosa shoulder robot and upcoming devices.

We do believe in late 2025 and 2026 is going to be one of the major growth drivers of the company, Mr. Tornos said in an Oct. 30 earnings call, as transcribed by Seeking Alpha. Like where we are with the smart implants, it took a while to get there. But with the recent launch of the short stem, what we call Persona IQ  were going to see meaningful adoption in 2025 and 2026.

He said there are 50 new products anticipated in the next three years including stemless shoulder implants and coated hip devices.
An elderly driver struck a building in San Franciscos West Portal neighborhood on Wednesday, damaging the buildings facade. Provided by San Francisco Fire Department A driver struck a building in San Franciscos West Portal neighborhood on Wednesday, damaging the buildings facade. Provided by San Francisco Fire Department

A motorist crashed a car into a building in San Franciscos West Portal neighborhood on Wednesday, authorities said.

Around 8:30 a.m., firefighters, police and paramedics responded to a Walgreens at 200 West Portal Ave., where the driver had struck the front of the building, causing moderate damage, said San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Jonathan Baxter.

The driver was cooperating with the police investigation of the incident, said San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Paulina Henderson, noting that drugs and alcohol did not appear to be a factor.

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This was an elderly person, it was an accident, Baxter said.

The crash occurred less than two blocks from the municipal bus stop where a family of four was struck and killed by a driver in March, shocking San Franciscans and prompting calls for traffic reform.

The driver and a bystander were medically evaluated for injuries and released Wednesday morning, Baxter said.

The store remained closed as of 10 a.m. awaiting an examination by the Department of Building Inspection, he said. Walgreens representatives did not immediately respond to questions about the incident.

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1. Zavation, a spine device company, named Lane Major as CEO.

2. Smith+Nephew is making about 150 roles redundant at its campus in Memphis, Tenn. The company has not specified when the layoffs will take place.

3. Maxx Orthopedics earned FDA clearance for its medial congruent insert for the Freedom total knee system.

4. Theradaptive earned the FDAs investigational device exemption approval to broaden its clinical research for the OsteoAdapt SP implant.

5. Stryker experienced a data breach. The company filed a notice of data breach with the attorney general of Texas after the company discovered that an unauthorized party gained access to its computer network.
Russell Sloan, who took over the top job from Brendan Mooney in September last year, is stepping down with immediate effect

Russell Sloan (right), who is stepping down as CEO of Kainos plc, to be replaced by Brendan Mooney

The former chief executive of Belfast-based Kainos plc is returning to the top job 15 months after stepping down.

The IT provider, which is the only NI firm listed on the FTSE 250, announced the return of Brendan Mooney in a London Stock Exchange update on Wednesday.

It announced that Russell Sloan, who had taken over from Mr Mooney in September last year, is stepping down with immediate effect.

The firm said its expectations for trading over the year to March 31 2025 were unchanged from interim results announced a month ago.

Shares in the company rose following the announcement.

Mr Mooney first began working for Kainos in 1989, and served as CEO for 22 years. He ushered the company through its IPO in 2015, and turned Kainos into an international business and one of the UK's leading IT providers, the company said.

Mr Sloan had joined the company in 1999, serving in leadership roles such as director of its digital services division.

Rosaleen Blair, chair of Kainos, said: "We are delighted to welcome Brendan back to the role of CEO. Having overseen a hugely successful period of growth for Kainos, he needs very little introduction to anyone connected with the group.

"Brendan's knowledge of the group, its challenges and opportunities is unsurpassed and we look forward to a clear focus on a return to growth."

She added: I would also like to thank Russell for the enormous contribution that he has made to Kainos in his 25 years with the group.

"He played a key role in the development of Kainos. In his time with the business, it went from a small private company to an international business operating in over 20 countries. He leaves with our gratitude and respect and we wish him every success in the future."

Mr Mooney said he was delighted to return to the CEO role, adding that he saw significant growth opportunities ahead.

My time since stepping down as CEO has given me a fresh perspective on Kainos and its potential, and I am looking forward to supporting the team in delivering the next phase of our growth."

Mr Sloan added: "It has been a privilege to work with so many talented people over my 25 year career in Kainos and I'm tremendously proud of everything we have achieved and delivered for our clients. My best wishes for the future success of Kainos."

Last month, the company managed to shrug off a profit warning as it announced a 30m share buyback and a slight increase in pre-tax profits in its interim results.

But it said a slowdown in decision-making resulting from the UKs general election in July had affected some aspects of its work.

It reported a 5% fall in revenue to 183.1m for the six months to September 30 2024.

But Kainos said it had maintained profitability with only a 1% decline in adjusted pre-tax profits to 38.2m.

The interim results also contained an announcement that the board intended to launch a share buyback programme of 30m to take place in the next six months.

The NHS is a major UK customer of Kainos. Its digital services division develops and supports IT service platforms for public sector, commercial and healthcare customers.

It was founded in 1986 as a spin-out from Queens University. It now has a workforce of around 3,000 people across 20 global offices and has been planning a move away from its Upper Crescent location to purpose-built offices in Bankmore Square on Dublin Road.
Retailers in Northern Ireland could end up paying up to 70m a year due to changes in National insurance, according to figures from the NI Retail Consortium (NIRC).

The Northern Ireland Department of Finance said that they were trying to help NI business after the decision by the British Government. HM Treasury said they had delivered a record settlement for NI in the budget and wanted to help businesses grow.
Some of the food on offer at Millar's Brasserie

The interior of Millar's Brasserie on University Road, Belfast

A south Belfast restaurant has announced its now open in the citys university area after relocating in search of more business.

Millars Brasserie, which is operated by Chris Millar and Matthew Roman-Wilkinson, has moved from Finaghy to University Road.

Its new location is the former home of acclaimed eatery, A Peculiar Tea, which closed in June in response to rising costs.

Mr Millar and Mr Roman-Wilkinson also operate Millars Grill & Seafood in Belfast city centre, which remains open.

Millar's Brasserie, a new restaurant opening on University Road, Belfast

They said their new venue would offer a Wednesday to Saturday 12 lunch, and a pre-theatre menu of two courses for 22 or three for 28 from Tuesday to Saturday.

And the pair said theyve hired a new head chef, and plan to set up outdoor dining in the summer.

Mr Millar, the venues executive head chef, said: Moving to University Road was a necessary business decision to ensure the survival and growth of Millars.

"With rising costs, Vat, and rates placing immense pressure on hospitality, relocating to an area with higher footfall allows us to secure the future of the restaurant, extend our opening hours, and create more jobs.

Weve also employed classically French-trained head chef Aaron Donnelly and designed a menu that combines the best of our culinary heritage with exciting new dishes, ensuring theres something for everyone.

Mr Roman-Wilkinson added: "Were thrilled to introduce Millars Brasserie to University Road. This new space perfectly captures our passion for exceptional food and warm hospitality.

"The community here is dynamic and diverse, and we cant wait to welcome them through our doors.
Life-sized statue of blues legend Rory Gallagher granted planning approval by Belfast City Council

Approval has also been granted for two social housing developments in the city

A statue of Irish blues rock legend Rory Gallagher outside Belfast's Ulster Hall has now been granted planning approval

Liam Tunney Tue 10 Dec 2024 at 23:07







A life-sized statue of Irish blues rock legend Rory Gallagher is to be erected in Belfast.
Irish League

Glentoran stars were told their display in draw was simply unacceptable, says coach Tim McCann
The city centre has experienced ongoing traffic congestion in recent months

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton and Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland Liam Kelly pictured with a damaged car. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Recent traffic congestion in Belfast has slowed down police response times, the Chair of the Police Federation in NI has said.

Motorists have had to contend with long delays as a combination of roadworks, accidents and an increased number of vehicles which have brought the city centre to a standstill on numerous occasions in recent weeks.

Both the Chair of Police Federation NI (PFNI) Liam Kelly and PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton have acknowledged the increased congestion has had an effect on police response times.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton

PSNI: Congestion has "certainly slowed down" emergency police response

Mr Kelly said police were doing their best.

"It has certainly slowed down  especially in Belfast city centre- but again, police can only do their best in terms of getting through, he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"Thankfully, other motorists do move and let us through, but it absolutely does slow down the police response, there is no doubt about that.

This week, Infrastructure Minister John ODowd said he himself was limiting his trips into the city centre to avoid contributing to the congestion.

Mr ODowd had told the Assembly on Monday that anyone travelling into Belfast by car should expect congestion.

Business leaders also hit out at suggestions people should avoid the city centre, citing the impact it would have on trade.

A meeting between the Department and a business representative group to discuss the issue has been brought forward to this Thursday, having originally been scheduled for January 2025.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton admitted the traffic had caused some delays to police response, but that normal procedure was usually sufficient to get them through the gridlock.

"Its something that we have to contend with, but of course, thats why we have lights and sirens to make sure that we can be as effective in terms of cutting our way through that traffic, he said.

PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton speaking to reporters on Wednesday. Pic: Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph

Mr Singleton was speaking at a press conference called by the PSNI to highlight the growing problem of cars being used to ram police vehicles during call outs.

He revealed 58 officers had so far been injured in 40 recorded ramming incidents during 2024 and appealed for anyone who knows those responsible to contact police.

"These are not statistics; we are talking about human beings in these uniforms, he said.

"Thats why we and the Federation are so concerned; these are officers that are suffering traumatic incidents and injuries and their families have to go through that ordeal with them.

"Over the last five years, ramming of police vehicles has cost the PSNI  and by extension the tax payer  over 400,000.

"For an under-resourced police service, that is an additional cost that we can ill-afford.

"But of course, when police officers are injured, that means they are not available to do the job that we all want and need to see them do, which is protect the community.
PFNI chairman Liam Kelly and the PSNIs Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton as the number of police cars rammed in the last year was revealed (PSNI/PA)

At least 58 police officers have been injured after their official vehicles were deliberately rammed, the PSNI has said.

The officially recorded injuries were sustained in 40 rammings in the calendar year to November 30.

However, the PSNI says the true total of officers hurt may be higher as individuals may have opted not to report their injuries and simply seek treatment themselves.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said: In fact, many individuals who sustain injuries such as whiplash or sprains, often opt to remain on duty and to continue to serve their communities.

Incidents of police vehicles being rammed occur more frequently in urban areas such as Belfast and Derry City, and also in border areas, as offenders attempt to flee from police.

Mr Singleton added: Most vehicle ramming incidents occur as a result of individuals attempting to evade police or avoid arrest. This can be for a range of offences, from no insurance to more serious offending like robbery or assault.

In these cases offenders are, in essence, using their vehicle as a weapon against us, and this is a scary and traumatising experience for any police officer to go through.

It is a testament to the courage of our people that they will put themselves in situations where they are at risk, in order to protect communities from harm.

The chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, said the figures were shocking and unacceptable as members put their lives at risk during their work.

Mr Kelly added: Our men and women go out to do their best for this entire community. For scores of them to be viciously targeted by those seeking to evade arrest or questioning is a worrying trend that must be stamped out.

These reported figures are the tip of the iceberg and I would encourage all officers involved in such incidents, no matter the circumstances, to formally report what occurred so a true picture of the extent of this issue can be obtained.

More than 400,000 has been spent on repairing police vehicles damaged as a result of being rammed in the past five years, as the PSNI deals with ongoing funding concerns.

Mr Singleton said: Finally, I need those who would choose to deliberately ram a police vehicle to understand the potentially horrific consequences of their actions.

The reality is that you could kill someone.

He added: As police officers, we come to work knowing we could be faced with difficult and dangerous situations, however, no one should ever have to accept a scenario in which their vehicle being rammed and them potentially being injured or even killed as a result is a reality of their work life. It simply wouldnt happen in any other profession.
Investigation into 1978 bombing compromised by acquittal of accused, Ombudsman findsLoss of records and exhibits from the original investigation was frustratingCollusive behaviours not a featureLong and challenging road for victims, says advocatePSNI aware of hurt and anger of the families

Firemen searching through the rubble at the wrecked La Mon House restaurant near Belfast (PA Archive)

Axel Schmidt, UHRW Advocacy Service Manager, speaks to the media along with families, friends, and campaigners outside the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. Image: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

Families, friends, and campaigners outside the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in Belfast. Image: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

There was no evidence of police collusion in the original investigation into the 1978 La Mon House Hotel bombing, a report from the Police Ombudsman has said.

The report also said there had been an earnest endeavour to bring those responsible to justice.

Twelve people were killed and scores injured in the atrocity when the Provisional IRA exploded a bomb at the hotel on the outskirts of Belfast in 1978.

Scene of the La Mon bomb attack

Daughter of La Mon bombing victims speaks after the publication of a report by Police Ombudsman

Survivors of the attack and family members of some of those who died have said they will continue with their campaign to find out the identities of those responsible.

Families, friends, and campaigners outside the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in Belfast. Image: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

Delivering a long awaited report, the Police Ombudsman said that despite concerns that informants may have been involved in the bombing, collusive behaviours were not a feature of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) investigation.

Senior director of investigations with the Police Ombudsmans office, Paul Holmes, said investigators did not find evidence or intelligence that would support the suggestion of malpractice by police officers and found no intelligence which could have forewarned of, or prevented, the bombing.

He said: The substantial police investigation files, associated documentation and intelligence records reviewed by this office, together with explanatory accounts from a number of former police officers and other inquiries, lead me to conclude that there was earnest endeavour by the RUC to bring those responsible for the bombing of La Mon House to justice.

However, maintenance of the investigation did not have the same rigour and this manifested in the loss of investigative material and the failure to interview the person arrested in 1991 in relation to the bombing.

I am of the view, based on all available evidence and information, that collusive behaviours were not a feature of this RUC investigation.

The evidence and intelligence viewed by the Police Ombudsmans investigation attributes responsibility for directing, enabling and perpetrating the bombing of La Mon House to the Provisional IRA, Mr Holmes concluded.

The ombudsmans report, published on Wednesday, considered the effectiveness of the RUC investigation, including the resulting prosecutions against two men.

One of the men was convicted of 12 counts of manslaughter in 1981, while the other was acquitted during his trial in 1980 after he alleged he had been assaulted by police while in custody.

Firemen searching through the rubble at the wrecked La Mon House restaurant near Belfast (PA Archive)

At the 1980 trial, the judge said he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the mans statements had not been adduced by torture or inhuman or degrading treatment and the statements were excluded.

The case was dismissed in the absence of other evidence.

Mr Holmes said the judges comments and trial outcome pointed to a violation of the rule of law by the police officers involved.

He also said a loss of records and exhibits from the original investigation was frustrating and affected investigators ability to properly assess the RUCs response.

Mr Holmes said: My ability to provide a definitive view on the effectiveness of the RUC investigation, including whether all appropriate lines of inquiry were pursued, has been hindered by the unavailability of certain documentation generated by the investigation.

It has not been possible to establish the circumstances in which these records were lost. However, this is a recurring, systemic issue in legacy cases and is not unique to this investigation.

Ombudsman investigators said they could access the majority of records generated by the RUC investigation and concluded the initial response to the attack was prompt and well managed.

The first police officers to attend the scene displayed courage and professionalism in seeking to save lives and tend to the injured, said Mr Holmes.

More than 100 detectives were involved in the murder investigation and almost 400 statements were recorded. Scenes were identified and exhibits seized, and forensic examinations took place.

In the context of the significant pressures and challenges faced by the RUC at that time, I am of the view that the investigation was well resourced and received direction from the highest levels of the RUC.

Axel Schmidt, UHRW Advocacy Service Manager, speaks to the media along with families, friends, and campaigners outside the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. Image: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

A number of bereaved families were briefed on the outcome of the report at the ombudsmans office on Wednesday morning.

They were joined by Axel Schmidt, advocacy manager at Ulster Human Rights Watch, who said it had been a long and challenging road for the victims and relatives of one of the worst terrorist atrocities of the Troubles.

He added: It has taken 46 years to get to this point. We know what happened, but questions remain to this day.

Mr Schmidt said the families had asked the ombudsman to provide them with the identities of the bombmakers and the IRA leaders who sanctioned it.

He said: Sadly, the ombudsman, for security reasons, was unable to make available all the security intelligence.

It is important to note that the investigation carried out by the police ombudsman did not reveal any collusion between the terrorists and any branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

The people here today are satisfied with that outcome.

This campaign for answers and some measure of justice will go on.

Our next step will be to lodge a request with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery to ascertain who were the people responsible for the bombing and the role the Republic of Ireland played in allowing terrorists to make the bomb and provide protection from arrest and prosecution while residing in its territory.

The PSNI said in a statement it is aware of the hurt and anger of the families affected by the La Mon atrocity.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson, of the Justice branch, said the organisations thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured in the cowardly attack on innocent people socialising on a night out.

We are very aware of the hurt and anger still being felt by the families of all those who were affected by this indiscriminate bomb attack and we extend our sincere sympathies to all those families, he said.

We acknowledge the historic issues identified in the report concerning records management in this investigation, however, this was at a time that predated the introduction of the computerised Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (Holmes).

While the Police Ombudsmans report has identified some investigative failings, it also highlights that the investigation was well-resourced, comprehensive and effective.

The report has found that police held no intelligence prior to the attack that could have prevented it and also found that there was no evidence that any persons were protected from prosecution.

I would also like to reflect on the courage, compassion and professionalism and of the police officers who responded to the scene of the bombing.

The difficult and challenging circumstances they faced when dealing with the victims and survivors represented the highest of standards and I welcome the fact that the Police Ombudsman has highlighted this in the report.

Scene of the La Mon bomb attack

News Catch Up: Wednesday 11th December
An incident is alleged to have occurred on a recent Armagh GAA trip to Miami

A man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault as police investigate an alleged incident during Armagh senior footballers recent trip to the US.

It had been reported that a group had gone to Miami, Florida, in November to celebrate the sides All-Ireland win, their first title in 22 years after they beat Galway at Croke Park.

A complaint is understood to have been made by one of the members of the party who travelled to Florida.

Around 30 players, the management team, family members and other senior figures from the Armagh County Board are understood to have spent a week in Miami during the middle of last month.

They stayed in the five-star Eden Roc hotel on the citys beachfront.

On Monday, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said police would wait for an approach from authorities in the US before taking any further action.

A man then presented himself to police for interview in relation to the incident on Tuesday.

The PSNI has now confirmed a man has been arrested.

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, on Tuesday December 10, said a spokesperson.

He has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

It comes after an Armagh man voluntarily presented himself to police to be interviewed in relation to the incident.

In a statement released by solicitor Patrick Higgins from Donnelly and Wall Solicitors, the lawyer confirmed: My client voluntarily presented himself to the PSNI yesterday to be interviewed.

He co-operated fully with the PSNI in the initial stages of the investigation.

"He is innocent of all charges and vows to do everything in his power to clear his name.

The Miami Beach Police Department said they had not received any reports in relation to the incident.

After conducting a thorough review of the limited information available, our records do not indicate that any incidents of sexual battery were reported at the Eden Roc Hotel during the period from November 13 to November 20, said a spokesperson.

The GAA has confirmed it is responding to the reported incident.

"We are aware of a reported incident and are responding to serious allegations, said a spokesperson.

"We can confirm Armagh GAA is continuing to respond to this matter in collaboration with Ulster GAA, the GAA at Central Level and the PSNI.

"Out of respect for those involved and ongoing police enquiries, we are unable to comment any further at this time.
Some 40 separate incidents were recorded in 2024

In the past five years more than 400,000 has been spent on repairing police vehicles damaged in ramming incidents. (Photo by Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton and Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland Liam Kelly discussing incidents where police vehicles have been deliberately rammed. (Photo by Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

More than 50 police officers have sustained injuries in ramming incidents this year, the PSNI has said.

The injuries were sustained in 40 ramming incidents recorded in the calendar year to November 30 2024, however the statistic may not fully reflect the true extent of injuries sustained by police personnel.

It comes as police also revealed in the past five years more than 400,000 has been spent on repairing police vehicles damaged in ramming incidents.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton with a damaged police car (Photo by Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

Deputy Chief Constable: Police ramming incidents have cost the PSNI "over 400,000"

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said: The number of officers injured in these ramming incidents may well be higher than the number of formal reports made to our Health and Safety Branch as many officers opt not to report and simply seek treatment themselves.

"In fact, many individuals who sustain injuries such as whiplash or sprains, often opt to remain on duty and to continue to serve their communities.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton and Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland Liam Kelly discussing incidents where police vehicles have been deliberately rammed. (Photo by Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

Incidents of police vehicles being rammed occur more frequently in urban areas such as Belfast and Derry, and also in border areas, as offenders attempt to flee from police.

Among the recent ramming incidents included one in Crossmaglen back in October in which the police said two of their officers could have been seriously injured or even killed.

In a separate incident that same month, a police pursuit saw two officers injured after their car was rammed in Londonderry.

Deputy Chief Constable Singleton added: Most vehicle ramming incidents occur as a result of individuals attempting to evade police or avoid arrest. This can be for a range of offences, from no insurance to more serious offending like robbery or assault.

"In these cases offenders are, in essence, using their vehicle as a weapon against us, and this is a scary and traumatising experience for any police officer to go through.

"It is a testament to the courage of our people that they will put themselves in situations where they are at risk, in order to protect communities from harm.

The Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland said the figures are shocking an unacceptable.

Liam Kelly added: "Our men and women go out to do their best for this entire community. For scores of them to be viciously targeted by those seeking to evade arrest or questioning is a worrying trend that must be stamped out.

"These reported figures are the tip of the iceberg and I would encourage all officers involved in such incidents, no matter the circumstances, to formally report what occurred so a true picture of the extent of this issue can be obtained.

"Officers are putting their lives at risk and they deserve to know that what they continue to experience in the course of their duties will not be tolerated.

"The Courts have a role here to let would-be offenders know that if they drive at officers and attempt to inflict serious harm, they can expect the toughest sentences to be handed down."

In the past five years more than 400,000 has been spent on repairing police vehicles damaged in ramming incidents. (Photo by Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

Deputy Chief Constable Singleton added: In addition to the impact on our people, there is also a clear financial cost to these incidents as well. Police vehicles are often seriously damaged, some beyond repair.

"Indeed, in the past five years more than 400,000 has been spent on repairing police vehicles damaged as a result of being rammed.

"Policing in Northern Ireland is currently facing a well-documented financial crisis, and this cost obviously impacts on our ever decreasing policing budget.

"Finally, I need those who would choose to deliberately ram a police vehicle to understand the potentially horrific consequences of their actions. The reality is that you could kill someone.

"I also need the community to understand and appreciate the role and the duties that their police officers undertake on a daily basis on their behalf to keep them safe.

"Police officers are members of the community doing a job; a vocation to protect the public and they all work incredibly hard to protect and serve communities across Northern Ireland.

"As police officers, we come to work knowing we could be faced with difficult and dangerous situations, however no one should ever have to accept a scenario in which their vehicle being rammed and them potentially being injured or even killed as a result is a reality of their work life. It simply wouldnt happen in any other profession.
Paedophile pensioner who abused nieces and nephew over 3,000 times is back on the streets

Abuser released after serving half of his 20-year-sentence

Jim Mitchell

Hugh Jordan Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 18:48

A paedophile pensioner who carried out more than 3,000 sex attacks on his own nieces and nephew is back on the streets.
Tragic babys cross-border transfer after heart operation to be raised with Department of Health

The seriously ill infants move to Belfast from Dublin will be raised with Health Department at Stormont after staff in Royal expressed concerns during inquest

The drive from Our Ladys Childrens Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin, to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in west Belfast takes an estimated two hours

Garrett Hargan Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 07:35

A coroner is to write to Stormonts Health Department over the transfer of a seriously ill baby from Dublin to Belfast following a heart operation.
A new study found high levels of nitrogen dioxide across Dublins inner city (PA)

A new study has found high levels of nitrogen dioxide across Dublins inner city  with particularly high concentrations on Cork Street, the Quays, OConnell Street and in the area around Temple Bar.

The data showed that during the sampling period, 49.4% of days exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines of the harmful pollutant, also known as NO2, with peaks during rush hours, especially in winter.

The data was collected as part of the Google Air View project, using electric Google Street View cars equipped with air sensors.

It was collected over a period of 16 months, from May 2021 to August 2022.

Those behind the study said it highlights the potential for a mobile monitoring approach to investigate the hyperlocal distribution of air pollutants in Dublin.

They said that monitoring and mapping would allow for a comprehensive understanding of the air pollution within Dublin city, enabling real-time information about the exposure level and hotspots.

The study was carried out by Dr Jiayao Chen, Dr Anna Molter, Dr Jose Pablo GomezBarron and Prof Francesco Pilla from UCDs School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy  and Dr David OConnor from DCUs School of Chemical Sciences.

Recent research evidence highlighted there was no safe level of air pollutants to cause adverse effects, with poor air quality linked to rises in asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease and heart failure.

The top 10 highly polluted areas included Cork Street, Saint Johns Road West, OConnell Street Upper, the Temple Bar area and along the Wood Quay.

Speaking about the study, Dr Chen said: Traffic pollution is a critical issue in urban cities, often contributing to or exacerbating environmental or social-economic inequalities.

Hyper-local monitoring at community level using Google Street Vehicle car provides reliable data that is comparable to traditional fixed site monitoring stations.

We uncovered distinct spatial and temporal patterns in two major pollutants associated with traffic  fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Our finding represents a unique case for Dublin, on highly polluted days domestic heating emerged as the dominant contributor to PM2.5 at street level.

Our research emphasises the need for detailed temporal guidance, especially for vulnerable populations, to help guide safe indoor and outdoor activities.

With the EU recently introducing stricter air quality guidelines, our findings underscore the need for long-term, localised monitoring to inform strategic mitigation plans tailored to both local and regional scales.

Dr OConnor said: As more cities adopt hyperlocal sensing, the potential to create healthier urban environments grows.

Localised air quality data provides the foundation for tailored, evidence-based policy solutions that can tackle pollution at its source, particularly in high-risk and vulnerable areas.

Hyperlocal monitoring thus represents not only a technological advance but also a shift toward a more targeted, community-focused approach to environmental management.

By addressing the unique pollution dynamics of each city, hyperlocal sensing has the power to drive meaningful improvements in air quality and urban health around the world.
Georgia Laurie (second right), is decorated with the Kings Gallantry Medal by the King and joined by her sister Melissa (centre) (Aaron Chown/PA)

A woman who saved her twin sister from a crocodile attack has received her bravery medal from the King at Buckingham Palace.

Georgia Laurie, 31, from Sandhurst in Berkshire, attended a special investiture at the royal residence on Wednesday with her sister Melissa at her side.

She was among the recipients honoured in the Kings first Civilian Gallantry List and revealed on Instagram how she had given her twin her own badge of honour  in the shape of a crocodile brooch, as a nod to their experience, which she pinned to Melissas velvet jacket ready for the ceremony.

Georgia Laurie (left), with her sister Melissa, after she was decorated with the Kings Gallantry Medal by the King (Aaron Chown/PA)

The sisters were swimming in a lagoon near Puerto Escondido in Mexico in June 2021 when Melissa was dragged underwater by the crocodile.

Georgia punched the animal in the face when it attacked, leaving both women seriously hurt but they survived after treatment.

She was awarded The Kings Gallantry Medal, which acknowledges exemplary acts of bravery, and was seen in pictures proudly wearing her award as she chatted with the monarch, alongside Melissa, in the Palaces Picture Gallery.

Constable Steven Denniss, of Lincolnshire Police, is decorated with The Kings Gallantry Medal (Aaron Chown/PA)

Georgia said in May when her honour was announced: I feel really privileged, its a silver lining to have come out of the terrible ordeal it kind of softens the whole traumatic experience.

She added that she would share the award with his sister: Whats made this story so incredible is Melissas unwavering bravery throughout it all because she was so strong during it and I dont think I would be here without her.

She really gave me the strength to keep fighting.

Buckingham Palace said Charles held the ceremony to honour exceptional individuals.

Constable Zachary Printer, Devon and Cornwall Police, shakes hands with the King as he receives the Kings Gallantry Medal (Aaron Chown/PA)

Others recognised at the investiture with The Kings Gallantry Medal included unarmed police officer Constable Zachary Printer, who confronted gunman Jake Davison minutes after he had shot five people dead in Keyham, Plymouth in 2021.

Also honoured were off duty police officer Constable Steven Denniss, of Lincolnshire Police, who was stabbed in the leg while apprehending a violent killer in Louth in 2021, and Lawrence Elsdon-Dew for protecting others during fierce fighting and a nine-day siege outside the British embassy in Sudan in 2023.

Among those receiving The Kings Commendation for Bravery, awarded for an act of bravery not in the presence of the enemy, were British diplomat Stephen Ellison for rescuing a stranger from a river in China, Chhaganlal Jagatia for helping to rescue people from a burning hotel in Greece, and Paul Martin for seizing a knife from an attacker who stabbed a young couple in Liverpool in 2021.
First Minister John Swinney and PA news agency photographer Jane Barlow at the launch of the First Ministers official Christmas card at Bute House in Edinburgh (Lesley Martin/PA)

First Minister John Swinney welcomed children to his official residence as he unveiled his Christmas card, which will raise cash to help a leading childrens charity.

Mr Swinneys card features a picture taken by very talented PA news agency photographer Jane Barlow of Loch Faskally in his North Perthshire constituency.

A framed copy of the picture, signed by Mr Swinney, will be auctioned in the new year to raise funds for Children First.

Speaking as children and young people who have been helped by the charity visited Bute House, the First Ministers official residence in Edinburgh, for the launch, Mr Swinney highlighted his commitment to eradicating child poverty.

Meanwhile, a teenager who has been helped by Children First said having the First Minister listen to what she had to say could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The 14-year-old, named only as Jamieleigh, said: Meeting the First Minister, him sitting down with us and hearing what we say, could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not many people get to do this.

Its great that hes chosen Children First for his Christmas card.

A view of Loch Faskally near Pitlochry, Perthshire, taken by PA news agency photographer Jane Barlow (Jane Barlow/PA)

Mr Swinney said: The Scottish Government is committed to making Scotland the best place in the world to grow up. So, it was important to me that this years Christmas card reflected that pledge.

This year saw the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child incorporated into Scots law through ground-breaking legislation, helping to make sure public authorities across Scotland respect, protect and fulfil all childrens human rights and that children live free from discrimination  an ambition championed by Children First.

He praised the charity for its tremendous work protecting children from harm and delivering emotional, practical and financial support for families.

Mr Swinney added: Meeting the children and young people today at Bute House was an excellent opportunity to hear first-hand about the issues affecting them, and their aspirations for the future.

He added: Id like to thank the very talented Jane for contributing her photograph for this years Christmas card.

Loch Faskally is a place of great natural beauty that showcases the very best Scotlands environment has to offer.

First Minister John Swinney with Kayden Cooper (left), 10, and Jacob Millar, 10, as they hang Christmas baubles (Jane Barlow/PA)

Children First chief executive Mary Glasgow said they were delighted and honoured that the First Minister had chosen the charity to benefit from this years Christmas card.

Ms Glasgow said: We are very grateful to John Swinney for thinking of us and to Jane Barlow for sharing her beautiful image to help children across the country.

She added: Through our national support line and in homes, schools and communities across Scotland, our teams are working with families, day in day out, to help protect their children from harm.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appears before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, at the Capitol in Washington (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, facing questions for the last time about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The hearing comes at the twilight of Mr Blinkens diplomatic career, with only weeks left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and at the end of the chairmanship of Michael McCaul, who will no longer lead the committee in the next Congress.

It is the end of nearly four years of animosity between the two men over the end of Americas longest war.

This catastrophic event was the beginning of a failed foreign policy that lit the world on fire, Mr McCaul, a Texas Republican, said in his opening statement.

I welcome your testimony today and hope you use this opportunity to take accountability for the disastrous withdrawal.

Antony Blinkens testimony is disrupted by protesters at the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

Mr Blinken opened his appearance before the committee by turning to families of US forces killed in the withdrawal and apologising to them.

Cries of genocide and other protests from demonstrators in the audience repeatedly interrupted him.

Mr Blinken again defended the Biden administrations handling of the withdrawal, saying that the pull-out deal that Mr Trump negotiated with the Taliban before leaving office left him no viable alternative.

To the extent President Biden faced a choice, it was between ending the war or escalating it, Mr Blinken said.

Had he not followed through on his predecessors commitment, attacks on our forces and allies would have resumed and the Talibans assault on the countrys major cities would have commenced.

The 20-year US military occupation of Afghanistan succeeded in routing the al Qaida militants responsible for the September 11 2001, attacks on the United States, whom Afghanistans fundamentalist Taliban militants had allowed a home.

But as the US began its pull-out, as set by Mr Trumps deal and carried out by Mr Biden, Taliban fighters routed the US-allied government and military, capturing control of the country within months.

An extremist groups bombing at the Kabul airport killed 13 US service members and nearly 200 Afghans as Americans, Afghan allies and others thronged the airport in hopes of seats on the last flights out.

Antony Blinken speaks as a photograph from Afghanistan is seen on a television screen during the hearing (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Mr Blinken said all of the hundreds of Americans and dual citizens stranded by the sudden scramble from Afghanistan have now been able to leave, if they have chosen.

His long-awaited testimony comes months after House Republicans issued a scathing report on their investigation into the withdrawal, blaming the disastrous end on Joe Bidens administration. They downplayed Mr Trumps role in the failures even though he had signed the withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

Mr Blinken denied Republican charges that he and others ignored warnings from lower-ranking administration officials that the US withdrawal would go badly wrong, and that the US had to move faster on getting out Americans and the Afghans who had worked for and allied with them.

We anticipated that Kabul would remain in the hands of the Afghan government through to the end of the year, Mr Blinken said. This unfolded more quickly than we anticipated including in the intelligence community.

Waiting until the last minute is not executing a plan, Mr McCaul said.

The Republican-led review laid out the final months of military and civilian failures, following Mr Trumps February 2020 withdrawal deal, that allowed Americas fundamentalist Taliban enemy to sweep through and conquer all of the country even before the last US officials flew out on August 30 2021.

The chaotic exit left behind many American citizens, Afghan battlefield allies, women activists and others at risk from the Taliban.

Previous investigations and analyses have pointed to a systemic failure spanning the last four presidential administrations and concluded that Mr Biden and Mr Trump share the heaviest blame.

Mr Blinken is returning to the Middle East this week on his 12th visit since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year.

It will be his first trip since the ousting of Syrian President Bashar Assad, which has sparked new fears of instability in a region now wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

Mr Blinken will travel to Jordan and Turkey on Thursday and Friday for talks expected to focus largely on Syria but also touch on hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza. Other stops in the region are possible.
The former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch has requested a court hearing to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial as he faces federal sex trafficking charges in New York.

A lawyer for Michael Jeffries made a motion for a competency hearing during a court appearance on Tuesday in federal court on Long Island.

US attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peaces office, which is prosecuting the case, said there was no discussion in court as to why Jeffries was requesting the hearing.

His lawyer, Brian Bieber, declined to comment afterwards, stating in an emailed reply that the request will be dealt with in court as, and when, appropriate according to the judge.

The former boss of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch and his British partner have been charged with luring men into taking part in sex parties (Alamy/PA)

US district judge Nusrat Choudhury gave Jeffries lawyers until December 24 to provide further information to the court, including how much of its motion can be sealed, according to Mr Peaces office.

The judge also set a February 6 date for his lawyers to submit a report from a doctor evaluating Jeffries competency. Prosecutors then have until April 8 to file their own doctors report.

No date was set for the actual hearing before the judge, Mr Peaces office said. For now, Jeffries is next due back in federal court in Central Islip on March 13.

US code allows judges to hold such a hearing if there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant is suffering from a mental disease or defect that prevents them from understanding the nature of the proceedings against them, or assisting properly in their defence.

Jeffries, his romantic partner and a third man were arrested in October on charges of luring men into taking part in sex parties by dangling the promise of modelling for the clothing retailer, once famous for its preppy, all-American aesthetic and shirtless male models.

Jeffries, 80, pleaded not guilty in October and is free on a 10 million-dollar (7.84 million) bail bond. His partner Matthew Smith, 61, pleaded not guilty last week and was similarly released on bond with conditions including home detention and GPS monitoring.

The two are also limited to 125,000 dollars (97,987) in monthly withdrawals from a trust set up for their benefit, and Smith, a dual American and British citizen, was ordered to surrender his passport.

The third man, James Jacobson, 71, was an employee of Jeffries and recruited men for the sex parties, according to prosecutors. He too has pleaded not guilty and remains free on a 500,000-dollar (391,950) bond.

Jeffries served as chief executive of Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014, presiding over the evolution of the company from its roots as a hunting and outdoor goods store founded in Manhattan in 1892 to a fixture of teenage shopping culture during the early 2000s.
A man who spent 32 years in a Syrian prison has finally returned to his home in Lebanon after an offensive by insurgents toppled the government of Bashar Assad.

In 1992, Suheil Hamwi worked as a merchant, selling various goods in the town of Chekka in northern Lebanon. On the night of Eid il-Burbara, or Saint Barbaras Day  a holiday similar to Halloween  a man came to his door to buy some whiskey.

Mr Hamwi said he handed his 10-month-old son, George, to his wife and went to his car to fetch the whiskey and make the sale.

As he approached his vehicle, a car filled with men pulled up, he said, forcing him inside and taking him away.

Suheil Hamwi met his grandchildren for the first time (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

It would be years before his family heard from him again.

Mr Hamwi was one of hundreds of Lebanese citizens detained during Syrias occupation of Lebanon from 1976 to 2005 and believed to be held in Syrian prisons for decades.

On Sunday, freedom came to him and others unexpectedly  prisoners who had heard rumours about Syrias opposition forces and their sweeping campaign found that guards had abandoned their posts.

Mr Hamwi and other prisoners left, he said, and he would soon be among the first from Lebanon to re-enter the country.

Im still scared this might not be real, he told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday from his home  the same one he left more than three decades ago.

Suheil Hamwi spent 32 years in a prison in Syria (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

This new reality feels fragile, but, he said: I found my freedom.

For years after the night of his disappearance, Mr Hamwis family did not know where he was. It was not until 16 years later that his wife discovered he was imprisoned in Syria. Even then, the reason for his detention remained unclear, Mr Hamwi said.

It took another four years before authorities finally told him the charge, he said: He was detained because he was a member of the Lebanese Forces, a Christian political party that also functioned as a militia during the 15-year Lebanese civil war that ended in 1990.

The party fought against Syrian forces and remained opposed to Syrias military presence in Lebanon afterward.

Mr Hamwi said prison interrogations were cryptic.

His family did not know what happened to him after his initial capture in 1992 (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

They asked for my name, my parents names, my age, and where I was from. Thats all, he said. Then he would be sent back to his cell. There was no lawyer, no nothing.

He said he spent his first years in Syrias notorious Saydnaya prison before being transferred to other facilities, eventually ending up in prison in Latakia. Torture marked his early days behind bars, he added, but that stopped after a while.

For years, he said, he lived in nearly complete isolation. He was alone in a small cell, surrounded by other Lebanese detainees as well as Palestinians and Iraqis.

In 2008, he said, his wife was able to visit him for the first time. Then she came about once a year.

Last week, there was some buzz in the prison about what was happening outside. But we didnt know the dream would reach us, Mr Hamwi said.

Early on Sunday morning, chaos erupted as prisoners discovered the guards were gone.

Friends and family welcomed Mr Hamwi home (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

The first door opened, Mr Hamwi said, describing how rebels stormed the prison and started opening cell gates. Then others followed. And for those who couldnt open their gates, they started coming out through the walls.

The prisoners left walking toward the unknown, he said. And I walked with them.

Strangers on the street helped guide him back to Lebanon, Mr Hamwi said. He came into the country through the Arida border crossing in northern Lebanon, where his family waited on the other side.

As Mr Hamwi walked through his door, it was his two grandchildren who greeted him.

This is the first time I met them, Mr Hamwi later told AP, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Mr Hamwi returned to the same home in Chekka, Lebanon, he was taken from more than three decades ago (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

In the living room, Mr Hamwi took in photos of moments hed missed: Georges graduation portrait; George with his wife; Hamwis own smiling wife, Josephine, with granddaughter Tala.

Grandson Chris clung to Mr Hamwis hand, giggling as he called out Jeddo!  Arabic for grandpa.

Mr Hawmi has visited a hospital for tests to assess the toll of 32 years in captivity. And he has to relearn life outside prison walls.

He hoped one of the best moments was yet to come: his reunion with only son George, an engineer working in the Gulf.

In their first phone call, Mr Hamwi said, George told him the words hed been longing to hear: I miss you. I love you. Im waiting to see you.
Most people can dote on animals one day and dine on them the next  but the thought makes my stomach heave
It may not snow in San Francisco during the holiday season, but a blizzard of festive light displays begins to take the city by storm as early as Thanksgiving, transforming it into a winter wonderland.

I love driving around the city and looking at all the decorated houses, said longtime Inner Richmond resident Deborah Israel. Its a lot of fun.

This year she started with a stop at the Fairmont San Franciscos life-size gingerbread house, an annual display created by the hotels pastry team. The two-story house stands at 25 feet tall, 35 feet wide and nearly 11 feet deep. It is composed of more than 10,000 bricks of gingerbread, 3,300 pounds of royal icing and 1,650 pounds of candy.

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Its so grand and beautiful, said Israel, who visited the display with members of the nonprofit organization Next Village, which provides social activities for the elderly.

All ages can enjoy the Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square plaza. Union Square Holiday Ice Rink

Those visiting the Nob Hill hotel after sundown can also walk through nearby Huntington Park to view an assortment of light sculptures.

Down closer to the waterfront, Lets Glow SF is also doing its part to illuminate the city. In its fourth year, the vibrant light projection shows can be seen throughout the Financial District, the East Cut, Yerba Buena and more.

The city is filled with amazing little gems that you just have to explore to find, said San Franciscan Courtney Emritt, 40, who brought her partner Kaya Martin, 31, to the Embarcadero on a surprise date night to watch the light installation series kickoff at the Ferry Building on Dec. 6.

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Even Macys Santa Claus has an appreciation for the extra twinkle throughout the city. He particularly loves watching people skate at the ice rink and take photos in front of the 80-plus-foot Christmas tree at Union Square from his window on the sixth floor of the department store, where children and their pets can visit him through Christmas Eve. (Online reservations must be made in advance.)

San Francisco is packed with festive ways to celebrate the holiday season, including viewing light displays and decorated houses, such as the Castro Street House at 68 Castro St. Joy Jihyun Jeong/The Chronicle Santa Claus will be at the Macys in Union Square awaiting visits from children and pets (by online reservation only) through Christmas Eve. Joy Jihyun Jeong/The Chronicle Lets Glow SF is in its fourth year of illuminating the city with vibrant light projection shows at the Ferry Building, in the Financial District and other locations. Joy Jihyun Jeong/The Chronicle

It really brings out the spirit of Christmas, said the jolly red-suited Santa. I want the kids to get out there and enjoy themselves, enjoy their family, enjoy the Christmas spirit, and let it last you all year.

If you need more holiday cheer, Union Squares multi-block street party known as Winter Walk returned on Friday, Dec. 13, on Stockton Street between Post and OFarrell streets. A range of local food and gift vendors, live performances and more are scheduled through Sunday, Dec. 22. The 25-foot-tall Bill Graham Menorah will also provide additional brightness to the area when it gets lit on the first night of Hanukkah, which coincides with Christmas. Lightings will continue through Jan. 2.

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Winkie Irvine was heavily involved with community workThe loyalist was caught red-handed with gun and ammoPSNI had him under surveillance after Simon Coveney bomb-hoax

The UVF chief Winston Winkie Irvine could be facing jail time after pleading guilty to firearms charges.

Irvine (49), of Ballysillan Road in north Belfast, and Robin Workman (53), of Shore Road in Larne, Co Antrim, were due to go on trial at Belfast.

But their lawyers made applications for their clients to be re-arraigned and both men entered guilty pleas to possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances.

They also admitted two counts of possessing a handgun without a certificate, one count of possessing ammunition without a certificate, possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing a firearm without a certificate.

It perhaps brings to an end to well-known loyalist Irvines dual-career as a tax-funded community worker and paramilitary.

The charges led from Irvine becoming a top target for the PSNI following a hoax bomb alert at a peace conference which forced the then Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney to flee.

Whos Winkie Irvine, how did he get caught, and what does this mean for his role in loyalist transitioning?

Ciaran Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph security correspondent Allison Morris.
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.
If youre going to put on real pants, leave your home and spend money at a restaurant, you dont just want good food. You can get that delivered! You want an immersive experience. An escape.

These 10 new, beautifully designed restaurants offer just that. This is where to marvel at chandeliers, funky wallpaper and a lit-up moving carousel stocked with liquor. This is where youll find trees, inside! And yes, this is where you will probably want to pull out your phone for your social media following.

The eye-catching design at Bar Jabroni in San Francisco. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Bar Jabroni

When I first pitched my editor on including Bar Jabroni on this list, she was hesitant. I understand her skepticism; when you look at photos, the Lower Haight wine bar doesnt scream glamour in the same way that Eos & Nyx or Prelude do. But despite the lack of Calacatta marble or elaborate millwork, the design details at Bar Jabroni are full of cool finesse. The long wall across from the bar is finished in splotchy, textured plaster in pastel shades of pink and pea soup green. The effect is of some beautiful skin disease I would be honored to be stricken with. The high-top tables are finished with 1-inch yellow tiles. From a distance, they seem to be uniform, but run your fingers across them and youll see that some are matte, some glossy. And if you find yourself waiting for the bathroom for an oddly long time, its because Rakis Design has hung framed stills from movies on the walls. Each image is from a scene that takes place in a bathroom, from Ben Stiller in his prom tuxedo in Theres Something About Mary, post-zip and mid-scream, to Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, ahem, powdering her nose.  MacKenzie Chung Fegan

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698 Haight St., San Francisco. barjabroni.com

A living ficus tree is the dining room centerpiece at Elenas, which comes from the family behind Bay Area Italian institution Original Joes. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Elenas

Stepping inside Elenas, the new Mexican restaurant from the family behind the unstoppably popular Original Joes empire, feels like a jolt. Quiet West Portal Avenue yields to a showstopper of a dining room, anchored by 15-foot-tall ficus trees that stretch toward the lofty skylights. Plush, dimpled leather booths, a signature of Original Joes, line the room  though the leather at Elenas is brown, not the familiar red  with enormous arched mirrors and an open kitchen whose walls are lined with colorful tiles. Note the wooden angel wings hanging near the bar, an artifact sourced from a decommissioned tequila distillery. It all adds up to an irresistible vibe, which surely explains why Elenas is still packed at practically all hours.  Esther Mobley

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255 West Portal Ave., San Francisco. elenasmexican.com

The historic Enclos space in Sonoma was reimagined as a modern fine-dining restaurant. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Enclos

Walking over the threshold of Enclos is like passing through a portal from Wine Country to San Francisco. From the outside, this charming, unassuming Victorian residence is quintessential downtown Sonoma; inside, it has the swagger of a Michelin-starred hot spot in the city. This is largely due to the work of Jiun Ho, who designed the two-Michelin-starred Saison and was hired to reimagine the historic Enclos space into a modern fine-dining restaurant  which happens to be the only tasting menu spot in Sonoma. The front dining room is dark and moody, featuring black walls torched with the Japanese shou sugi ban method. This leads to a second, warmer dining room with cozy cedar walls and an open kitchen framed by copper pots and bouquets of dried flowers. There are only 11 tables, most of which were made from purposely imperfect wood slabs inspired by Japans wabi-sabi aesthetic. Ho also selected striking art pieces for the walls, like felted wool panels made from a local artists own flock of sheep, and a massive, three-dimensional landscape created with Kirie, a traditional Japanese paper-cutting art form.  Jess Lander

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139 E. Napa St., Sonoma. enclos-sonoma.com

One of two bars at Eos & Nyx in San Jose. Courtesy Patricia Chang

Eos & Nyx

What used to be an industrial-looking movie theater in downtown San Jose has been reborn as a shining, tree-filled restaurant. The 4,000-square-foot Eos & Nyx opened in November with a two-story dining room connected by a dramatic, jet-black staircase. The Mediterranean restaurant, designed by Basile Studios in San Diego, is the latest project from MO Hospitality Group, which runs popular San Jose bars including Paper Plane and Alter Ego. The space may be the most striking at night, when diners inside and passersby on the street can watch an illuminated rotating carousel stocked with liquor bottles move between bars on each floor.  Elena Kadvany

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201 S. Second St., #120, San Jose. eosnyxsj.com

The interior of Lulu restaurant in Albany, designed by Audrey Smit. Colin Peck/Special to The Chronicle

Lulu

The first incarnation of this Palestinian brunch spot was cute and cozy  too cozy. Reservations flew weeks ahead, and groups of three or more were generally out of luck. When chef-owner Mona Leena Michael moved Lulu to its new Albany digs, she not only gained the room for more tables she desperately needed, but she also brought on designer Audrey Smit of This Little Street to create the sort of warm, vibrant space that her food deserved. Its full of color, patterns and velvet. Theres pomegranate wallpaper, Arabian-inspired mirrors and an unusually attractive changing table in the bathroom. A mural at the entrance shows the thought that went into every detail. It depicts giant, white-and-yellow Matilija poppies; poppies are symbols for both California and Palestine, and these specific ones look like fried eggs.  Janelle Bitker

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1106 Solano Ave., Albany. lulusolano.com

The bar at Moonwake Coffee Roasters in San Jose. Courtesy Kieran Eng

Moonwake Coffee Roasters

Once known for operating out of a blocky Tesla Cybertruck, Moonwake Coffee Roasters has graduated to a charming new shop in West San Jose. It has a keen eye for interior design, shaped by Studio BANAA, with a lit half moon-shaped shelf behind the bar displaying over a dozen pour-over vessels. Wood paneling traces the ceiling, while coffee cherry trees grow in the middle of the space. Vines descend from a curved ceiling shelf as patrons gingerly sip hot coffee beneath. The slick new shop makes the Cybertruck, which is still used for popups and events, look like a jalopy.  Cesar Hernandez

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1412 Saratoga Ave., San Jose. moonwakecoffeeroasters.com

Inside Morella, a new Italian-Argentine restaurant in San Francisco. Courtesy Patricia Chang

Morella

This new restaurant claims to be the first in San Francisco to combine Italian and Argentine food  and its design is similarly eclectic. The dining room at Morella blends styles: A striking black-and-white geometric floor is set against floral wallpaper and dangling chandeliers that are both modern and classic. A large atrium mural and greenery woven into the pink ceiling over the bar are meant to evoke a Mediterranean vibe. There are also aesthetic nods to the restaurants name, a derivative of the morel mushroom, including curvy legs with mushrooms for heads covering the walls of the womens bathroom. Morella comes from Proof Positive, the San Francisco restaurant group behind bars and restaurants including Westwood, Wilder and Last Rites.  E.K.

2001 Chestnut St., San Francisco. morellasf.com

The remodeled dining room at Pedros in Los Gatos. Courtesy Bex Wyant

Pedros

One of the South Bays oldest restaurants got a major facelift this year. Pedros, which opened in Los Gatos in 1972, returned this fall with a fresh look. Its run by Jessica Kapoor, Jag Kapoor and Gary Gauba of the Saison Hospitality Group, which is best known for the two-Michelin-star Saison in San Francisco and also operates the Michelin-star Angler. They brought on Los Angeles designer John Sofio, who replaced classic decor like ceramic tiles and colorful papel picado banners with a more modern feel inspired by Mexico City. The warm dining room is now set with huge curved booths, greenery and light wood chairs. The owners kept the spaces many curved entryways but also covered walls and ceilings with tropical wallpaper and bricks cut out in the shape of a setting sun.  E.K.

316 N Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos. pedrosrestaurants.com/losgatos

Preludes interior design by Avro KO and design lead Sergio Mondragon in San Francisco. Adahlia Cole/Special to the Chronicle

Prelude

Someone (and by someone I mean private equity firm KHP Capital Partners) poured a lot of money into the Jay Hotel, formerly Le Meridien San Francisco. AvroKO, the firm behind some of the most luxurious restaurants and hotels in the world, gave the building a complete overhaul using a design vocabulary theyre calling warm Brutalism. If youve neglected to build in time to wander the hotels common spaces before your reservation at Prelude, on the ground floor, youll have the opportunity when you need to use the bathroom, which requires an elevator or flight of stairs. Prelude itself is awash in marble  the host stand is a stunner  and intricate glasswork, like the herringbone stained glass wall at the far end of the room. Theres plenty of warm wood as well, including the perimeter of the dining room, which is done in end grain flooring. Its as if theres a fancy cutting board underfoot.  M.C.F.

333 Battery St., San Francisco. preludesf.com

The view as seen from the Starlite Room at the Beacon Grand Hotel in December 2023 in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Starlite

It would be hard for any room to be as breathtaking as the views afforded by the nearly 360-degree windows on the 21st floor of the Beacon Grand Hotel, but Starlites Art Deco-inspired space comes close. The bar, formerly home to the legendary Harry Dentons Starlight Room, reopened this year with a new name and a new look, designed by Alice Crumeyrolle, who also worked on Boulevards recent renovation. The lounge chairs are lined with bold animal prints; the banquettes and bar stools are velvet, with fringe that resembles a flapper skirt. Starlite feels moody, playful, fancy and vintage  like stepping back into a bygone era of San Francisco.  E.M.

450 Powell St., 21st floor, San Francisco. beacongrand.com/starlite
BENNINGTON  An undercover informant working with local authorities has led to a Pownal man being arraigned on serious drug charges, including conspiracy to sell Fentanyl on the streets of Bennington County.

The unnamed and ungendered confidential source led investigators, including the Bennington Police Departments Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security, and the Vermont Drug Task Force directly to Christopher Daugherty, 38, of Vien Road in Pownal after the source helped police set up a coordinated drug purchase of 100 bags of heroin/fentanyl last May in Bennington.

Daugherty was arraigned in Bennington Superior Court Tuesday afternoon on two felony counts- Fentanyl trafficking and Fentanyl trafficking/conspiracy. Both counts carry 30-year prison sentences for each count, plus a possible $2,000,000.00 fine if found guilty on both charges.

According to an affidavit in the case, several law enforcement agencies have been investigating suspected drug activity and firearms crimes in the Pownal and Bennington areas, specifically at the location on Vien Road where Daugherty resides. Daughertys name was given to investigators by a confidential source as the front man for an illegal drug supplier who utilizes the Facebook profile Zabada Garcia.

The informant, Frank, a pseudonym for the confidential source, was cited in the affidavit as aiding police in the ongoing investigation into drug activity. Police stated that Frank, identified neither as a male nor female, was being protected by authorities because of a history of threats, assaults, or even murder associated with criminals in similar cases who suspected that people assisted the police.

They also cited the possibility of ongoing investigations and arrests using Frank as the source of information and their history of protecting crucial sources going forward. It was also mentioned that Frank would get possible consideration in possible pending criminal charges in Bennington County.

Sometime in May 2024, police were made aware that Garcia was selling drugs, including Fentanyl and heroin, in Bennington County. A controlled purchase was set up to purchase 100 bags of Fentanyl/heroin through the confidential informant. Frank informed police that Garcia would send a different individual, Daugherty, to the public location to make the deal. Daugherty, already being followed by authorities from the Vien Road location, met the informant, who authorities had wired. An exchange was then made. The investigation continued for several months before Daugherty was arrested in early September.

Daugherty has another pending case in Bennington County related to drug sales. He was arrested the same day on three felony cocaine sales charges. Each of those charges carries five-year sentences. According to a police affidavit, a confidential informant named Fred helped in that investigation. Daugherty was issued a citation after his arrest with a court date of October 21st. He did not show up. An arrest warrant was issued the same day. Daugherty was arrested on the warrant Tuesday. Daugherty also had a failure to appear at a scheduled hearing on the cocaine charges in November.

Daugherty pleaded not guilty to both counts through his stand-in attorney, Thomas Enzor. Judge Jennifer Barrett issued a $1000 bail at Tuesdays arraignment due to concerns that Daugherty was a flight risk. She also issued conditions of release, including no contact with Garcia or anyone associated with the case. Daugherty also has a 24/7 curfew at his Pownal residence. It is unclear whether Daugherty was able to make bail as of press time. Daugherty had a $5,000 unsecured bond in the cocaine case as well.

In his application for a public defender, Daugherty cited that he was unemployed, had no income or debts, and left most of the form blank. Judge Barrett asked that he fill out the form again so she could decide on whether to grant a public defender. At this moment, Daugherty has no official lawyer.

At most of Tuesdays hearing, Daugherty sat at the defense table alone with his head bowed into his hands. Twice, he turned toward a female spectator, who was believed to be his girlfriend, seated right behind him, trying to communicate silently. It is unclear what Daugherty was attempting to communicate. He was led out immediately following his arraignment, the same way he came in, by a Sheriffs Deputy.

The Banner will update this story as more information becomes available.
In her new memoir, "Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old," the actress and advocate challenges outdated views on aging, menopause and women's worth while reclaiming her own power.
As investigations and allegations swirl around multiple Pittsfield High School staff members, we aren't alone in having many alarming questions about what exactly is going on at Berkshires' largest public school district. It's now incumbent on the city's School Committee to step into the breach of controversy and uncertainty and pursue some answers on behalf of citizens, students and parents.
PITTSFIELD  As winter settles in, The Pearl has once again opened its doors to people who need a warm place to spend the night.

ServiceNet opened a warming center in the dining hall of its city shelter located at 21 Pearl St. earlier this month. The warming center opens at 10 p.m. each night, offering people a place to come in out of the cold until the center closes again at 8 a.m., said Amy Timmins, vice president of community relations at ServiceNet.

When its 40 degrees out. its a lot different than when it's 10 below. So we need opportunities for folks to be able to come in, Mayor Marchetti told The Eagle. Some of those people will come into the warming center, but wont take advantage of some other [resources] for whatever reason.

Finding an accessible and affordable place to live has become a daunting task for many as housing prices climb and inventory remains low. Finding a shelter with availability isnt easy either.

In Western Massachusetts alone, the number of people experiencing homelessness rose by 16.9 percent between January 2023 and January 2024.

In Pittsfield, The Pearls 40 beds are regularly full, and theres a list of people waiting for one to open up. ServiceNets apartments that offer temporary shelter to families are also at capacity.

Which leaves people with few options  a park bench, an awninged stoop, the backseat of a car, if they have one.

But with temperatures dropping and snowfall in the forecast, those options, never comfortable, are no longer viable.

That's where the warming center comes in.

ServiceNet won't turn away anyone who comes to the warming center, Timmins said. Last year, they were able to meet demand and no additional warming centers were created in the city. Timmins said she expects the same to be true this year.

If it gets to a point where we cant, we will reengage with our community partners, Timmins said.

In past years, the Christian Center and Salvation Army served as additional warming centers.

There are currently no plans to create a daytime warming shelter, Marchetti said. People who need a warm place to spend the day can visit places like the Berkshire Athenaeum, the Christian Center or the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, Marchetti said.

Housing nonprofit Hearthway recently broke ground on a housing resource center at Zion Lutheran Church that, once finished, will fill the gap in day-time spaces. The resource center will provide a place where people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness can sit down, charge their phone, shower, meet with a case worker and eat a meal.
The pistachio sandwich from Gusto Mio in Walnut Creek. Cesar Hernandez / The Chronicle Italian sandwich from Ocean Subs in San Francisco. Cesar Hernandez / The Chronicle Mortadella sandwich and breakfast sandwich from Cafe Piti, a food truck based in Richmond. Cesar Hernandez / The Chronicle

Ill let you in behind the curtain: You, reader, seem to have an unquenchable thirst for sandwiches. Looking at the data, our Top Sandwiches list is consistently one of our most popular guides. Therefore, to be a critic for the San Francisco Chronicle is to constantly be on the prowl for sandwiches. And after hitting the slots, I think I hit triple 7s. My jackpot: three excellent new sandwich spots.

These triplets could not be more different from each other. One spot is a pint-size trailer truck that feels like the mobile reincarnation of a beloved, shuttered cafe. A new shop in the city is like if Subway was actually good. But my favorite of the bunch puts clouds between two pieces of bread.

So to appease your rapacious hunger for sammies, I offer up three for your enjoyment.

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Gusto Mio

Ill admit I exaggerated about the cloud thing, but Gusto Mio does put a cumulus in its focaccia sandwiches in the form of lush stracciatella cheese  the milky contents youd find inside burrata. Whats most surprising about this banger of an Italian sandwich joint (and pizzeria) is that it landed in Walnut Creek. Inside the white-walled space is a deli counter showcasing a line up of pudgy Roman-style pizza, along with hunks of mortadella, tubes of salami and slabs of prosciutto. Those cured meats are sliced to ribbons, then folded over springy focaccia, which might be smeared with artichoke cream, spicy pork spread known as nduja, potato puree or, my favorite, pistachio butter. The rich but miraculously light pistachio sandwich ($16) combines salty mortadella, thick globs of stracciatella and the fragrant green nut, which comes in two forms: as a spread and a crumbled topping. This is the Rolls-Royce of bologna sandwiches. With a belly full of clouds, I fantasized about soaring the skies like in a Shel Silverstein poem.

1441 Locust St., Walnut Creek. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. gustomiofocacceria.com

Cafe Piti food truck, which is based in Richmond. Cesar Hernandez / The Chronicle

Cafe Piti

Id describe Cafe Piti as scrappy chic. At a farmers market in Richmond, it slings baguette sandwiches out of a slick, chrome-plated trailer thats barely bigger than a Hot Wheels car. Piti, named after founder Henna Papineaus pit bull, has a less-is-more, vaguely European approach to sandwiches, similar to that of the now-closed Bartavelle Cafe in Berkeley and Aint Normal Cafe in Oakland. Try the keen morty dee ($15), filled with a short stack of Italian cold cuts, diced peppers and grainy mustard, or the egg sandwich ($12), where jammy eggs share space with peppery arugula and tart cornichons. Crusty baguettes from Acme give both sandwiches a pleasant chew and crisp texture. Papineau, a self-described sandwich connoisseur, is quite literally a perfect fit for the small truck, which she purchased through Facebook Marketplace. The trucks previous owner apparently encountered a problem: Most interested buyers were simply too tall for its small clearing. Thankfully, Papineau and her partner are both well under 6 feet, she said with a chuckle.

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Marina Bay Park Farmers Market, Regatta Boulevard at Melville Square, Richmond. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday instagram.com/cafepiti

Vegetarian sandwich from Ocean Subs in San Francisco. Cesar Hernandez / The Chronicle

Ocean Subs

Located on the border of Mission Terrace and the Excelsior district, Ocean Subs is one of the latest additions to San Franciscos sandwich scene. You wont find fussy $20 sandwiches here. Instead, subs are straightforward, tasty and, best of all, affordable  a 6-inch runs $9.25, an 8-inch $12.50. For something classic, go with the Italian sub (mortadella-salami-olives) on sweet, textured Dutch crunch. However, the sleeper hit is the vegetarian, where hummus acts like a creamy, flavorful base for crunchy cucumbers and roasted peppers. Ocean Subs comes from chef Lee Opelinia, who previously worked at Michelin-starred restaurant Madcap in San Anselmo before starting Filipino fine dining popup Province. The chef is enjoying the change of pace but hopes to one day host Province, currently on hiatus, at the sub shop.

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18 Ocean Ave., San Francisco. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. instagram.com/ocean_subs
Bernard Calvi's remains were positively identified in September, more than 82 years after he died as a prisoner of war. He's among hundreds of POWs at Cabatatuan whose remains could not be identified immediately after World War II.
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USIBC signs MoU with Government of Telangana, hosts AI and GCC industry roundtable

December 11, 2024 | Wednesday | News

MoU outlines cooperation in key focus sectors including IT, Artificial Intelligence, electronics and Global Capability Centers

The US Chamber of Commerce s US India Business Council Global Private Limited (USIBC GPL) and the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (IT E&C), Government of Telangana, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster US-India collaboration and partnership in technological innovation.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Guest, Minister for Information Technology (IT), Electronics & Communications (E&C), Industries & Commerce (I&C), and Legislative Affairs, D Sridhar Babu and Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana for IT E&C and I&C; Jayesh Ranjan, Guest of Honour, Jennifer Larson, US Consul General Hyderabad, and USIBC Managing Director Rahul Sharma.

The MoU outlines cooperation in key focus sectors including IT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), electronics and Global Capability Centers (GCCs). The signing was followed by an industry roundtable on AI and GCCs, reinforcing Hyderabad and Telanganas role as a global technology hub.

The discussion highlighted Hyderabads thriving ecosystem of skilled professionals and its pivotal role in US-India collaborations. The participants explored AI-driven opportunities across sectors as well as the ways to optimally harness AI technological innovation for global good while at the same time prevent misuse via regulation, governance, ethical use, in a manner that does not stifle innovation.
Healthcare diagnostics startup Neuranics raises $700K funding in seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures

December 11, 2024 | Wednesday | News

Funds will be utilised for technology development and clinical validation

Neuranics, a healthcare diagnostics startup, has successfully raised $700K funding in a seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV). The funds will be utilised for technology development and clinical validation, enabling the company to accelerate its mission to revolutionize blood diagnostics.

Neuranics is developing a point-of-care blood analyser capable of delivering complete blood count (CBC) results in less than 10 minutes using just a finger-prick sample. The device, designed for primary and emergency settings, offers low maintenance and high efficiency, making it a game-changer for the healthcare industry.

Having accurate CBC results available immediately at the point of care, while the physician is still with the patient, allows for better-informed decisions regarding triage, additional testing, and treatment as delays are no longer caused by transport and preparation of clinical samples.

This approach benefits not only the patient, who experiences improved outcomes, but also the physician, who can diagnose, triage, and treat with greater confidence. Society also reaps the rewards through reduced healthcare costs and enhanced quality care. Unnecessary, costly, and potentially harmful medications, such as inappropriate antibiotics, can be avoided. At the same time, life-saving treatments for critical conditions like sepsis, severe anemia, and thrombocytopenia, especially in dengue patients, can be initiated promptly, ensuring timely and effective care.

With their compact dry haematology design and efficiency in delivering results directly at the point of care, Neuranics is ideally suited to address this need effectively.

Founded in 2021 by Praveen Kumar (Co-founder & CEO) and Ashutosh Patra (Co-founder & CTO), Neuranics addresses critical gaps in diagnostics, particularly in primary screening. Praveen, an IIT Delhi graduate, brings extensive experience in healthcare technology, having previously worked with the government on projects like Corona Kavach and Aarogya Setu. Ashutosh, an alumnus of the SiB(Previously Stanford India Biodesign) Program at AIIMS, leads product innovation at Neuranics with expertise in optical sensing technologies and mechanical engineering.

The company has achieved significant milestones, including a patent granted, receiving the CDSCO Test License, Ethical Approval from AIIMS Delhi, and progressing through clinical trials.
Amgen announces senior leadership appointment to accelerate technology and innovation from India

December 11, 2024 | Wednesday | News

Gullapalli joins Amgen from Novartis where he led the development of their Global Center in Hyderabad

Amgen has announced the appointment of Naveen Gullapalli as Managing Director of Amgen India. Gullapalli will lead the Amgen India Technology and Innovation site in Hyderabad leveraging his extensive experience leading global operations and adjoining functions across the pharmaceutical, finance and technology industries.

Gullapalli joins Amgen from Novartis where he led the development of their Global Center in Hyderabad and their network of six centers across the world where he was instrumental in driving strategic growth and innovation for the enterprise. His deep experience in developing specialized skills and enabling business transformation aligns closely with Amgens vision for its Hyderabad site as a global technology and innovation hub.

Som Chattopadhyay, national executive for India at Amgen said, "Amgen India is key to furthering our global vision of unlocking the convergence of biotech and tech to accelerate innovation and help meet the needs of a globally aging population. Naveens wealth of experience and strategic leadership will drive the success of this new site.

Indias talent pool offers a compelling opportunity for Amgen to deliver world-class functional excellence, operational excellence, innovation and technology-led transformation, said Naveen Gullapalli.
Max Healthcare Foundation announces launch of second edition of flagship medical scholarship programme

December 11, 2024 | Wednesday | News

Applications will be open for a 15-day window following the programs announcement

image credit- shutterstock

Max Healthcare Foundation has announced the launch of the second edition of its flagship Max Medical Scholarship Programme, designed to empower meritorious students from economically weaker sections pursuing medical education.

The scholarship will fully fund the medical education of 100 new students every year who have qualified for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET examination) and gained admission to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program in government medical colleges in Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Nagpur and Dehradun for the academic year 2024-25.

In addition to opening new opportunities for fresh applicants, Max Medical Scholarship programme will also continue to fund the education of students who were enrolled last year, now in the second year of academic journey, ensuring continuous support.

The Max Medical Scholarship Programme is part of Max Healthcare Foundations corporate social responsibility programme that aims to encourage and support the aspirations of next-generation medical professionals.

The registrations for this scholarship will open from December 13, 2024 ( www.maxhealthcarefoundation. org ). The Max Medical Scholarships marks one of the largest-ever annual scholarship grants for medical education in India.

The selected students will be granted comprehensive financial assistance for the duration of their 5-year MBBS course. The first year of the scholarship will cover support in tuition fees, a personal laptop, text books and tools like the bone set, dissection kit, stethoscope, and an allowance for monthly expenses, etc.

The initiative intends to support the academic expenses of the students throughout their educational journey. Every year, 100 scholarships will be granted to the eligible beneficiaries.

The applications will be open for a 15-day window following the programs announcement. This will be followed by multiple stages including application review and shortlisting, interviews of shortlisted applicants, and final selection basis submission of mandatory documents. The selection process for these 100 scholars is based on rigorous evaluation criteria that will be assessed by a jury from the Max Healthcare Foundation.
Jagat Pharma & Dr Basu Group endeavours for Rs 250+ Cr revenue by FY 2027

December 11, 2024 | Wednesday | News

Jagat Pharmas ambitious expansion plans extend far beyond Indian borders

image credit- shutterstock

Jagat Pharma, a trusted name in Ayurvedic wellness, is poised for remarkable growth as it targets revenue exceeding 250 crore by the financial year 2027.

Renowned for its expertise in Ayurvedic eye care and wellness products, the company has steadily expanded its reach across India and beyond, combining a legacy of over 42 years with innovative strategies.

The company has an impressive reach in the offline space also, with over 200 distributors across 17+ states. This includes a strong presence in South India with 50+ distributors for a territory that is embracing Ayurvedic solutions in increasing folds.

With yearly 200% growth its online space dominance gives it a 60% market share in the Ayurvedic eye care segment as well. Jagat Pharmas ambitious expansion plans extend far beyond Indian borders. The company is actively preparing to enter the lucrative markets of the Middle East and African countries, tapping into regions with a rising demand for holistic healthcare solutions.

A significant milestone in its international journey is its imminent entry into the United States, with exports slated to begin in December 2024. This step is backed by Jagat Pharmas commitment to quality and compliance, as evidenced by its recent USFDA certification. Combined with its existing WHO-GMP certification, the company is well-positioned to meet the stringent global standards required to compete in international markets.

Domestically, Dr. Basu Group is increasing infrastructure growth by expanding its presence in metropolitan cities, including Mumbai, Noida Gurugram. It is a prudent move by the company to bring Ayurvedic solutions closer to the minds of people who are seeking natural alternatives for health and wellness in urban settings. In alignment with market needs, the infrastructure growth of Jagat Pharma aims to further solidify its leadership in the Ayurvedic wellness space.
DBT supports first-in-human gene therapy using lentiviral vectors for severe hemophilia A

December 11, 2024 | Wednesday | News

Marks a transformative leap in accessible and effective treatments for resource-limited settings

image credit- shutterstock

In a note-worthy scientific achievement for medical science in India, the first-in-human gene therapy using lentiviral vectors for severe hemophilia A has demonstrated transformational results.

Supported by the Department of Biotechnology, this innovative therapy was developed by the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR) at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, a translational unit of BRIC-inStem.

The single-centre study has successfully produced zero annualised bleeding rates in all five enrolled participants while enabling prolonged production of Factor VIII, eliminating the need for repeated infusions.

Hemophilia A, a severe bleeding disorder caused by the deficiency of clotting Factor VIII, significantly affects patients' quality of life, leading to spontaneous bleeding episodes. Although rare, India bears the worlds second-largest burden of hemophilia, with approximately 136,000 cases. Current treatments require frequent Factor VIII replacement therapy, which faces challenges such as high costs, venous access in children, and low patient acceptance.

The gene therapy approach developed by CSCR involves the use of a lentiviral vector to introduce a normal copy of the Factor VIII gene into autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These modified HSCs generate blood cells capable of producing functional Factor VIII over extended periods. The trial, involving five participants, observed zero annualized bleeding rates over a cumulative follow-up of 81 months, correlating Factor VIII activity with vector copy numbers in the peripheral blood.

Participants were monitored for six months following the gene therapy. Results showed a strong correlation between Factor VIII activity levels and the vector copy number in peripheral blood. Remarkably, all five participants achieved a zero annualized bleeding rate, sustained over a cumulative follow-up period of 81 months. This achievement underscores the long-term efficacy and safety of the therapy, offering renewed hope for patients with severe Hemophilia A.
A Marin County child who is suspected of having avian flu may have gotten the virus from drinking raw milk, county health officials said Tuesday. The child and other household members did not have known exposure to poultry or cattle. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

The Marin County child who is suspected of having avian flu may have gotten the virus from drinking raw milk, county health officials said Tuesday.

The child developed flu-like symptoms, including fever and vomiting, after drinking raw milk in November, and was taken to a local emergency department for treatment, said Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Santora. The child has since recovered. No other household members, who also consumed the same raw milk but in smaller amounts in their coffee, had symptoms, which suggests there was no human-to-human transmission.

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The Marin County Health Department initially disclosed the suspected case in a public health status update Friday but did not provide details at that time. The child and other household members did not have known exposure to poultry or cattle.

The child, a toddler, tested positive for Influenza A virus, a group that includes human influenza viruses and H5N1 avian flu. Other household members tested negative.

The specimen was then sent to a public health lab for serotyping to determine whether H5N1 is present. The local health department is awaiting results of that test and expects them by Thursday, Santora said. Its possible the specimen was too degraded, or that there wasnt enough virus in the sample, to detect the presence of H5N1, she said.

Raw milk and cows udders are believed to carry high levels of the bird flu virus, prompting federal and local health officials to issue warnings against consuming raw dairy. California has ordered a voluntary recall of raw milk products in the state. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

If H5N1 is confirmed, it would be the first time in the current avian flu outbreak, which began in the U.S. in 2022, that a person would be known to have contracted the virus from consuming raw dairy.

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This possible case of bird flu linked to raw milk consumption highlights the importance of understanding how diseases can spread from animals to humans, especially through food, the county health department said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.

Raw milk and cows udders are believed to carry high levels of the virus, prompting federal and local health officials to issue warnings against consuming raw dairy. California has ordered a voluntary recall of raw milk products in the state.

Cats have died after drinking raw milk on farms with infected cattle, as have lab mice. Scientists think dairy workers, many of whom reported pink eye as their main symptom, likely contracted the virus after raw milk splashed in their eye.

The pasteurization process kills the virus.

In one previous avian flu outbreak, of 2004, some human cases of H5N1 in Vietnam were potentially linked to consumption of raw duck blood dishes.

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The current U.S. outbreak began in 2022 in birds and has since killed millions of chickens and other poultry. It spread to hundreds of herds of dairy cattle and has infected 58 people, including 32 in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most human cases have been among poultry or dairy workers who reported mild symptoms.


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Shira Stein is the San Francisco Chronicle's Washington correspondent, covering California's role in national politics and policy from the nation's capital. She writes about issues that matter to California residents  like housing, abortion and LGBTQ rights  and California's influence on Congress and the White House. She was the primary chronicler of the last year of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's life, including her health, familial financial feud, and death.

Shira was born and raised in the Bay Area and now lives in Washington, D.C. She joined the Chronicle in 2022 after spending four years as an award-winning health care reporter for Bloomberg Law, where she was key in its coverage of the Covid-19, the fall of Roe v. Wade and health costs. She is a graduate of American University and interned at the Washington Post, Bloomberg Law and the Colorado-based Durango Herald.
An associate of jailed former solicitor and property developer Michael Lynn has failed in his High Court attempt to halt his prosecution on charges of allegedly refusing to comply with a search warrant.

Yavor Poptoshev (48), a Bulgarian national and company director, is charged before the District Court with three counts of failing to hand over passwords for devices seized during a search conducted by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau on foot of a warrant.

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The married father of two, of Kilmacud Road Upper, Stillorgan, denies any wrongdoing and claims he has not committed a criminal offence.

The High Court on Wednesday refused Mr Poptoshevs request to restrain his District Court prosecution.

Mr Justice Conleth Bradley did not agree with Mr Poptoshev that the States power to compel him to provide information to progress a Garda investigation in which he himself was a suspect was a disproportionate interference with his privilege against self-incrimination.

The judge found that the privilege against self-incrimination was not engaged in the case.

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He rejected the claim that this power, under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act of 2001, and another permitting an arrest and charge of someone who refuses to provide a device password are unconstitutional.

The judge said the three devices were covered by the warrant permitting a search and seizure of items at his home. The power to request passwords to operate the devices came from the authority of the search warrant, he held.

The judge said that in the background is a complex investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau into suspected alleged criminal offences, including potential revenue offences, Companies Act offences and social welfare fraud arising out of the conviction of Michael Lynn last year.

Lynn (55), formerly of Millbrook Court, Redcross, Co Wicklow, was sentenced last February to 5 years in prison for stealing some 17.9 million from six financial institutions 16 years ago by taking out multiple mortgages over the same properties.

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He pleaded not guilty and has brought an appeal against his conviction.

Sport Explained: Where GAA concerns are amid Revenue pro... Read More

The Garda search of Mr Poptoshevs home last January came as part of the subsequent economic crime bureau investigation.

Mr Poptoshev confirmed he owned the three password-protected devices but refused to provide gardai with their codes after receiving advice from his solicitor.

In his High Court documents, he said he has known Lynn for about 15 years, having worked with him on projects in Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary and elsewhere

He said he assisted Lynn, a business associate and personal friend, in reviewing large volumes of documents for his trial and retrial. Related materials were in physical and digital form at his home and some are the subject of legal professional privilege, he argued.
Taylor Swifts bass player said he has emerged changed after the end of the Eras Tour, which required the very best I am capable of.

Amos Heller, who has played with Swift for more than 15 years, reflected on the record-breaking tour which engulfed popular culture and dominated news coverage during its 21-month run.

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Its done. No more walking into a ringing stadium feeling like a gladiator, the guitarist wrote in a lengthy post on Instagram.

No more being called upon to dig the deepest I can, requiring the very best I am capable of.

This is the best I can do now. Its a completed work. We watched it go from What If to How Will It Be to Here We Are to Almost Done to Done.

The record books are closed with fresh ink on a lot of pages. Ive emerged changed. As a player, performer, person, partner.

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Heller said he fell to his knees after the final show in Vancouver on Sunday, likening the moment to a graduation day.

I feel so much love and gratitude to be a part of this community, which Ive been privileged to watch grow into so much more than a collective of people who like the same songs, he continued.

Taylor Swift performing on stage during her Eras Tour (Jane Barlow/PA)

And @taylorswift. You command so much respect and admiration from everyone whos fortunate enough to add their effort to yours.

Your blend of focus, heart, stamina and joy calls forth the best of everyone around you.

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Thank you for trusting me with my part of your vision.

It was the ride of a lifetime.

Heller also offered a behind-the-scenes insight into the Eras Tour.

No more slipping into new languages, cultures, cuisines, accented pleasantries, he wrote.

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No more snow in Tokyo, watch factories in Switzerland, museums in Sweden, bass shops in Australia, steaks in Rio, tattoos in Ireland, runs in Germany, flowers in Amsterdam.

Swift made history as the first solo artist to perform at Londons Wembley Stadium eight times on a single tour.

Last week, she was named Spotifys most-played artist of the year with more than 26.6 billion streams.

She also won seven awards at the MTV Video Music Awards and was nominated for six Grammy Awards.
Thirty-one per cent of Irish workplaces are planning smaller celebrations this year, while just under a quarter (24 per cent) say they arent holding any festive celebrations at all, according to a new study.

Research from recruitment agency Robert Walters shows that the Christmas party as we know it is changing, as are professionals attitudes to festive celebrations in the workplace.

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Suzanne Feeney, country manager at Robert Walters Dublin, said: In the face of tighter expenses, many employers are dialing back their festive celebrations. However, there is also mounting pressure coming from professionals who increasingly feel that their companys Christmas budgets could be spent more wisely than in the traditional office Christmas knees-up.

Turnout taking a hit

According to the 1,000 Irish professionals polled by Robert Walters, almost half (46 per cent) plan on giving their work Christmas party a miss this year.

While over three-quarters of professionals now think that attendance at their work Christmas party has become less important since the pandemic. With only 11 per cent thinking the traditional workplace Christmas party has retained its prominence.

Ms Feeney added: The post-pandemic workplace has gone through numerous changes  from most professionals working in at least a partially-hybrid capacity, to a greater proportion of younger professionals embracing alcohol-free socialising and more focus being placed on work-life balance.

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The thought of setting aside an entire evening during the already busy run-up to Christmas can feel like a logistical nightmare for many.

Festive burnout

When quizzed about the Christmas party deterrents, just over two-fifths (41 per cent) of Irish professionals stated that it creates too much pressure to socialise with colleagues.

A quarter feel like their Christmas parties are not inclusive  with alcohol-fueled faux pas highlighting or even creating cracks in company culture.

Meanwhile, a further fifth (20 per cent) state that there are just too many personal costs associated with attendance  including forking out for office secret Santa presents, finding a suitable outfit, and footing the bill of taxis to and from the event itself.

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Ms Feeney said: In a period, infamous for draining both workers pockets and social batteries, it can feel as though work Christmas parties are yet another costly duty professionals must fulfill before the year is up.

However  done right, they serve as an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of workforce throughout the year. Accessible and inclusive parties can provide a great way of ensuring all staff feel valued.

Alternative celebrations

Thirty-five per cent of professionals stated theyd prefer a more casual office Christmas party  one that either took place in the day so they could clock off earlier (50 per cent) or gave them a specific activity or game to take part in (27 per cent).

Ireland Construction jobs most in-demand roles this year Read More

However, according to findings from Robert Walters Benefits reporting  the majority (51 per cent) of professionals dont class employer-organised team building/socialising opportunities as an important workplace perk.

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In fact, almost half (48 per cent) of professionals would select a gift or small bonus over organised celebrations.

Ms Feeney concluded: Christmas parties are a staple in almost every workplaces diary  though they need a revamp. Large-scale office events may place too much pressure on professionals to turn up at the end of the year.

Instead, simpler approaches like immediate team lunches, games, small gifts or perhaps a re-allocation of festive budgets into professionals pay packets as a small December bonus may be the best way for employers to show their staff some holiday spirit.
A parish priest had almost 50,000 stolen from his personal back account in a scam after he tried to pay a connection fee for broadband through his banking online.

Kelvin Kleinovas (24) later allowed 10,000 of the cash that had been stolen from the priests account to be lodged into his own account.

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Kleinovas, of Mayeston Green, St Margarets Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the proceeds of crime in his bank account in August 2019.

Garda Bartholomew McCarthy told Tessa White BL prosecuting that the priest reported the theft to gardai after Bank of Ireland alerted him to the fact that they had frozen his account due to suspicious activity.

He said days earlier the priest received a call to the presbytery indicating that the caller was from a broadband company. He was told the line was being upgraded and the priest needed to pay a once-off fee of 5.

The priest was instructed to pay the fee online. He was told that when the fee was being processed the screen would go blank but it would come back again to continue processing the payment.

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Gda McCarthy confirmed that ultimately the priest tried to make the payment over 40 times over a four-day period which resulted in almost 50,000 being stolen from his account.

The priests bank account was analysed and 10,000 of the cash stolen was traced to Kleinovass bank account.

He was arrested in September 2021 and claimed he had been approached to hand over his bank details for payment. He supplied his details but was never paid.

Kleinovas has seven previous convictions including one for money laundering for which he received a two year suspended sentence.

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Gda McCarthy confirmed that none of the money stolen was ever recovered.

A victim impact statement from the priest said he had expected that there would have been some sort of system in place with online banking that would have prevented the money being taken from his account.

He said it was a serious amount of money taken and the theft has had a devastating impact on him.

The priest said he believes that the bank failed him as a customer and said that the fraudsters involved inflicted pain and suffering  they must surely be emotionally stunted, he continued.

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I suffer my loss and put it down to a hard loss, he concluded. He thanked Gda McCarthy for his assistance and support throughout the investigation.

Gda McCarthy agreed with Marc Thompson BL defending that his clients involvement starts and stops with providing his bank details.

He accepted that while he didnt give any names of individuals, Kleinovas did co-operate with the gardai and he didnt assist further more through fear than obstruction.

Ireland BOI issues urgent fraud alert as customers targete... Read More

The court heard that Kleinovas is involved with the Solas Project and has been actively looking for work which he is finding difficult as he is currently living in homeless accommodation. He spends most of his spare time with his child.

Mr Thompson acknowledged that such frauds cannot be committed without the involvement of people like Kleinovas.

He acknowledged that the priest has had no recompense from the bank but said his client is currently not in a position to assist as he is of limited financial means. He had written a letter of apology to the priest.

Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged that Kleinovas is looking for work and adjourned the case to March 28th next year for finalisation.
A serving prisoner has admitted his part in a plot to amass an arms cache to help the UK boss of the Kinahan organised crime gang.

On Wednesday, Peter Keating (43), from Clondalkin in Dublin, admitted two charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm and two offences of plotting to possess ammunition.

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He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Keating entered his pleas by video link from Belmarsh prison in south London but is expected to be sent back to Ireland where he is already serving 12 years for directing a criminal organisation.

Jack Kavanagh (NCA/PA)

Judge Philip Katz KC said he would sentence Keating at England's Central Criminal Court on Thursday alongside Jack Kavanagh (24), from Tamworth, who pleaded guilty to the weapons and ammunition offences after being extradited from Spain.

Kavanagh was arrested in May 2023 at Malaga Airport by officers from the Spanish National Police, as he was travelling from Dubai to Turkey.

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He admitted helping his father, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh, in a bid to engineer a reduced jail sentence by duping the UK National Crime Agency (NCA).

Thomas Kavanagh (57) had hoped that by leading the NCA to a buried stash of 11 fearsome weapons, he could influence his sentencing in a multimillion-pound drug-smuggling case.

Running the conspiracy from prison, Kavanagh also enlisted the help of Keating, his brother-in-law, 44-year-old Liam Byrne, and associate Shaun Kent (38).

In May 2021, Thomas Kavanagh provided information to the NCA which led them to a field in Newry, Co Down, where two holdalls were unearthed.

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They contained seven machine guns, three automatic handguns, an assault rifle and ammunition.

The plot was foiled after the NCA uncovered incriminating messages on encrypted EncroChat which had been cracked by French counterparts.

Thomas Kavanagh, Liam Byrne and Shaun Kent (NCA/PA)

Between January 2020 and June 2021, the defendants agreed to acquire as many arms as possible from the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland.

At the time, Thomas Kavanagh was in HMP Dovegate where he was serving a three-year sentence for possession of a stun gun and had been remanded on serious drug charges since March 2020.

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Those charges related to smuggling multiple kilos of cocaine and cannabis into the UK for which he was sentenced in March 2022 to 21 years in prison.

In September, Kavanagh, Byrne, from Dublin, and Kent, from Liverpool, admitted the weapons and ammunition plots.

Ireland Senior Kinahan gang members Thomas Kavanagh and Li... Read More

Kavanagh and Kent also admitted conspiring with others to pervert the course of justice.

Thomas Kavanagh was jailed for six years for orchestrating the plot which he will serve consecutively with his earlier jail sentences.

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Byrne  who fled to Majorca after the events  was jailed for five years while Kent was handed a six-year prison sentence.
Ashley Hanson, 29, who is homeless, sits in her tent at Tussing Park in Grants Pass, Ore., on April 9. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle A homeless man named Mark shows the balance he has from tickets he had received for camping in the parks at Riverside Park in Grants Pass, Ore., on April 10. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The years most consequential political story had nothing to do with the election.

Rather, it came in June, when the Supreme Court gave cities broad power to evict people from street encampments and confiscate their property, even if they didnt have shelter beds for them.

The courts ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson stemmed from the small Oregon city of Grants Pass and reverberated to big cities across the nation, reshaping homeless policy from San Francisco to Phoenix. In many instances, that involved major homeless sweeps, in which encampments are leveled, scattering residents, including many who have nowhere to go.

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While the winners of the November election may serve only four to six years before they face voters again, some of the new laws inspired by the Grants Pass decision will alter lives for far longer. The new laws, which coincide with growing tough-on-crime sentiments from voters, make it easier to not only criminalize homeless people for being poor but to use deadly force against them in at least one state.

Little germinating from this new trend will reduce homelessness, only the sight of homeless encampments. Only building more affordable housing with supportive services will help.

The decision has inspired at least 120 cities to pass anti-camping laws, with another 50 cities considering similar Band-Aid solutions, according to the National Homelessness Law Center. The center found that 30 of the cities that have passed such laws are in California, where there are 186,000 homeless residents. In July, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing state agencies and urging local governments to adopt policies to identify dangerous encampments and clear them after giving residents two days notice.

This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them, Newsom wrote. The state has spent $24 billion on homeless programs since Newsom took office in 2019, but the challenges remain.

The order also advised service organizations to connect with people living in the encampment; and collect, label and store property cleared from the site for at least 60 days. According to a November ProPublica investigation into city programs intended to store homeless residents belongings after a sweep, however, many do not actually store property, and the hurdles for residents to reclaim their possessions are typically too burdensome to meet, leaving them without crucial items and documents.

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California has a lot of people who cant afford to live in safe and decent housing. It seems like elected officials are more interested in throwing folks in jail and pushing homeless people into places where they cant be seen than they are in actually addressing their needs, said Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign director at the National Homelessness Law Center.

These crackdowns are being backed by President-elect Donald Trump, who has advocated for tougher homelessness policies through posts on his Truth Social platform. We will use every tool, lever, and authority to get the homeless off our streets, Trump wrote. He later promised to Ban urban camping wherever possible. Violators of these bans will be arrested. And he wants to Open up large parcels of inexpensive land  and create tent cities where the homeless can be relocated.

The national crackdowns on homelessness dovetail with the mood of many California voters, who supported tough-on-crime measures like Proposition 36, which imposes tougher penalties on some drug and theft crimes. Voters in Los Angeles and Oakland ousted progressive district attorneys they thought were too lenient. In San Francisco and Oakland, tech- and business-driven pressure groups drove candidates toward the right in terms of removing encampments. Outgoing San Francisco Mayor London Breed promised what she called a very aggressive plan to remove encampments in her final months in office.

Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie promised to create 1,500 more shelter beds in his first half year in office  which would rely on emergency powers  that he said could help end unsheltered homelessness within six months. He said he would use mostly private funding to pay for his plan, which he estimated would cost $175 million across five years.

The Grants Pass decision made it far easier to criminalize homelessness: Previously, authorities could only ticket homeless people when there was shelter space available that residents refused to utilize. Now, theres no such standard  a reality that dovetails nicely with the conservative Project 2025s calls for the elimination of the housing-first approach, which focuses on getting people into stable housing first and foremost, without requiring that they attend therapy or receive drug treatment. Project 2025 also suggests eliminating the Bidens administrations proposed but not implemented Housing Supply Fund, which would have provided $25 billion to states and localities for affordable housing production and $10 billion to reduce affordable housing barriers.

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California isnt the only expensive place to live. A November study commissioned by the real estate firm Redfin found that 22% of renters surveyed said all of their regular income goes directly to paying their rent. The survey found that 19% of respondents said they worked a second job that they hated to pay the rent.

The Grants Pass decision also set the stage for ballot measures like Arizonas Proposition 312. Arizona voters overwhelmingly (58%) approved the measure, which enables taxpayers to deduct expenses like security cameras, fencing and cleaning services from their property taxes when cities show a pattern or practice of not enforcing laws against camping, loitering or public drug use. It was a sign that voters are pushing cities to take a more aggressive approach to remove homeless encampments.

Other states have passed potentially lethal laws.

Kentucky legislators passed a measure that permitted residents to shoot homeless people if a property owner believes that an unhoused trespasser is attempting to commit a felony or attempting to dispossess them.

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UC Davis law professor Chris Elmendorf, an expert on housing policy, said the courts decision was just creating a space, like a zone of discretion for states to handle this problem however they saw fit.

Given the current mood of the electorate, many municipalities are using that discretion to take a tougher stance to clean up encampments, even if they dont have another place for homeless residents to go.

We are seeing so much creativity going towards ways to punish either people for experiencing homelessness, or to force cities to destroy peoples belongings and criminalize homelessness, Rabinowitz said. And I often wonder what it would look like if people spent that energy and creativity on addressing the cause of homelessness, which is the lack of housing.

Rabinowitz said that city officials, state officials, federal officials, are taking the easy way out there, selling the snake poison that if we punish people for being poor, they will choose not to be poor anymore. And thats just not true. None of these things will actually work.
The Standards Commission (Sipo) pleaded with government not to be put in charge of proceedings where ex-ministers, special advisers or other public servants did not stick to rules around a cooling off period before becoming a paid lobbyist.

In correspondence with the Department of Public Expenditure, Sipo said plans to leave enforcement up to them instead of the courts were completely unworkable".

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They warned that there was a high litigation risk and that offences related to cooling-off periods would be better dealt with through the court system.

The Department of Public Expenditure rejected this approach however, saying that dealing with it as a criminal matter could have a chilling effect".

Records show how Sipo told the government that plans for amended legislation on the regulation of lobbying were fraught with difficulty.

They said they were already struggling with a lack of resources and adding to their work would heighten the risk of under-resourcing, and of error, in relation to [their] portfolio as a whole.

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Sipo also argued there was little reason to keep the process outside of the legal system as each case was likely to be appealed anyway.

An email from the Director General of their office Elaine Cassidy in March 2022 said: Given the financial and reputational impact on the individual, one might anticipate an appeal to the Circuit Court on almost every occasion.

This would result in the Commission engaging in a legal procedure, with processes and safeguards aimed at ensuring procedural fairness in order to be defensible, only to defend a full re-hearing of the same issue before the Circuit Court.

Ms Cassidy said that while she hoped Sipo would be able to defend any appeal, some losses were almost inevitable".

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[This] would have both a reputational and financial impact on the Commission, she wrote.

The records show the Department of Public Expenditure was worried a scenario could arise where a person ended up in prison for taking a lobbying job without following the rules correctly.

They were worried too over ex-politicians and public sector staff being put through the stressful process of criminal proceedings for a breach of lobbying rules.

However, Sipo argued that their hearings were no less stressful, costly or damaging for an individual than the criminal process".

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Ms Cassidy wrote: Investigation hearings are adversarial, held in public and well covered in the media.

In a later email from March 2022, Sipo continued to raise what they said were their significant concerns over being left in charge of the investigation process.

By April, they warned they would have to contact then Minister Michael McGrath directly saying the new legislation on administrative sanctions around lobbying was completely unworkable".

A further note of their concerns warned of having to run multiple investigations simultaneously without enough staff.

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An email said: [It] would give rise to both resource challenges and litigation risk for the Commissioner.

In May 2022, Sipo sent a letter to Minister McGrath saying the four Commissioners in the standards body already had other demanding public service positions.

The Commissions view is that it is more appropriate to maintain a single system of criminal sanctions for all of the contraventions of the Act, with fixed payment notices available in appropriate cases, their chairperson Justice Garrett Sheehan said.

In response, Mr McGrath said it was important the rules around cooling off and employment as a lobbyist did not have a chilling effect".

He wrote: I am confident that this approach is a proportionate policy response; it balances the constitutional right of an individual to earn a living with the need to limit potential conflicts of interest that could undermine public trust.

Asked about the records, which were only released following an FOI appeal to the Information Commissioner, Sipo said they had nothing further to add.
The deputy leader of the Social Democrats is very angry about misleading statements made by a newly-elected party TD over his shares in a company linked to the Israeli military.

Cian OCallaghan said on Wednesday that the parliamentary party had voted unanimously to suspend the politician after what he said was an embarrassing and unacceptable incident.

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Speaking after engaging with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail on government formation talks, he said: It has affected our standing and we have a lot of work to do on this in the future.

He added: Weve taken a knock  and deservedly so  but weve just been elected by people and we got a very strong mandate and people are saying very strongly that they really want us to act on issues like housing, healthcare, childcare, disability services and climate action.

Newly elected TD for Dublin Bay South, Eoin Hayes, centre (Cate McCurry/PA)

The suspended politician, Eoin Hayes, had originally told the media and his party colleagues that he divested shares in his former employer, Palantir Technologies, prior to being elected to Dublin City Council in June.

However, following reporting from the Daily Mail newspaper, he later revealed that he actually sold the shares in July  after taking office  for a pre-tax figure of 199,000. The company supplies technology to Israels military.

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He went on to win a Dail seat in Dublin Bay South in last months general election.

The timing of the sale did not line up with his public comments or statements from the leader of the Social Democrats, who has been a vociferous critic of Israels actions in the war in Gaza.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns (Brian Lawless/PA)

Holly Cairns had called for economic sanctions against Israel in November last year, when Mr Hayes still had shareholding in Palantir.

The Social Democrats said they had suspended Mr Hayes after the correct timing of the disposal of the shares was revealed. He said he would sit in the Dail as an Independent.

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Speaking to reporters about the incident on Wednesday, Mr OCallaghan said the party had been given inaccurate information about when Mr Hayes sold his shares.

He said he had requested that the partys national executive review all of the issues leading up Mr Hayes suspension.

Asked if there was any route for Mr Hayes back into the party, Mr OCallaghan said they were not at the point of knowing what was going to happen into the future.

Pressed on whether complete expulsion was a possibility, he said the review into the matter would take a number of weeks.

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Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon (Niall Carson/PA)

He said that Ms Cairns, who gave birth to a baby girl two less than two weeks ago, was extremely disappointed about the matter.

On the overall situation, Mr OCallaghan said: Media do a very important job holding us to account and at all times information given to me and, indeed, the public and ourselves should be accurate.

Prior to the updated disclosure of the selling of the shares, senior party TD Gary Gannon suggested on a podcast that a journalist pursuing the story of Mr Hayes work in Palantir was looking for a job as a government adviser.

On Wednesday, Mr Gannon apologised for the remarks.

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He said he retracted the comments and that they did not reflect the views of the party: It was a poor comment to make, it wasnt acceptable and I apologise.

It was grossly silly comment and it wont happen again.

He added: I let the party down last week after a heavy general election. I was tired, I wasnt being my best self.

Asked if Mr Gannon had been disciplined, Mr OCallaghan said the comments were not acceptable.

Mr Hayes was given shares in the company, which supplies technology to Israel to assist in its war in Gaza, when he worked for the firm between 2015 and 2017.

He said: I had absolutely no role in anything related to any military contracts  for the Israeli military or anyone else.

As part of my salary package I was provided with shares. The conditions attaching to those shares meant I was unable to sell them until 2021  six months after the company had gone public.

He added: Throughout the course of the past year, Palantirs support for the Israeli military has markedly increased.

In January, the company signed a new strategic partnership with the Israeli defence ministry. I should have sold my shares then and I deeply regret that I did not.

Mr Hayes said he apologised unreservedly for providing incorrect information.
A 19-year old man has escaped jail for causing a disturbance on board a Tenerife bound flight that was forced to divert at great cost to Shannon airport last June.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed cumulative fines of 1,500 on Jay Dalziel with an address at Cornelia Street, Motherwell in Scotland for two public order related offences on board the Glasgow to Tenerife flight on Wednesday, June 12th.

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Solicitor for Mr Dalziel, Stiofan Fitzpatrick said that his client believes that his drink was spiked as he had never behaved like this before and has no previous convictions.

Mr Dalziel travelled over by ferry from Scotland for Wednesday's court hearing.

Mr Dalziel pleaded guilty to causing two breach of the peace charges contrary to Section 20 of the Air Navigation Act on board the jet2.com flight no L3155 on June 12th where he is accused of engaging in behaviour of a threatening, abusive or insulting nature whether by word or gesture with intent to cause of breach of the peace.

Sgt Frank OGrady said that the DPP has directed that three assault charges against Mr Dalziel from the flight be withdrawn.

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Judge Gabbett said that what was left against Mr Dalziel are two public order offences in the air".

The flight departed Glasgow at 3.30pm on June 12th and diverted to Shannon airport in the late afternoon following the incident on board.

Sgt OGrady told the court that Mr Dalziel became abusive and aggressive and assaulted two persons on the flight.

He said that Mr Dalziel had to be restrained because of his aggressiveness and the flight was diverted to Shannon airport and he continued to be aggressive at the Garda station.

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The Garda told the court the costs of the diversion were substantial but did not provide a figure to the court.

Mr Fitzpatrick asked that Judge Gabbett not record a conviction against his client and offered to pay money instead into the court Poor Box of Court Discretionary Fund (CDF). He said that his client has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Mr Fitzpatrick said that Mr Dalziel got bail in court last June by the skin of his teeth and had to spend a night in Limerick prison before a surety was provided to ensure his release on bail.

The defence solicitor said that Mr Dalziel is very apologetic, has never had a brush with law and this has been a very sobering experience. He said that the Tenerife was supposed to be the teenager's first holiday away with friends.

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He added: Mr Dalziels grandfather couldnt understand how this happened as he was never in trouble before. This was totally off the radar for the young man."

After reading references for Mr Dalziel, Judge Gabbett said that he has a good work trajectory.

However, Judge Gabbett rejected the plea not to record a conviction.

He said: It is too serious for that. These are extremely serious charges. It has to warrant a conviction."

Judge Gabbett said that the flight was diverted to Shannon at great cost to the airline and great inconvenience to everyone else on board.

Judge Gabbett convicted Mr Dalziel on the two Air Navigation offences and imposed one 1,000 fine and a second 500 fine.
Two members of a Romanian organised crime gang who used cars to ram raid commercial premises have been jailed for a total of 10 years.

The men were arrested three weeks later as part of operation Docht targeting an organised criminal group responsible for burglaries and high-value vehicle thefts on July 3 and 4 last year.

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Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard last Monday that in one incident, a dummy car was rammed through the front window of a phone shop in Dublin city centre.

A Vodafone shop in Newbridge was also targeted earlier that night. Later that night, a car was rammed through the gates of a motor dealer on the Naas Road.

The arrests were made as a result of an ongoing intelligence-led operation by the Garda Eastern Region and involving units attached to the Dublin Metropolitan Region, Eastern Region and national units of gardai. The court heard all three men were from Romania.

Ricardo Stancu, Daniel Murgea, and Ionut Leonard Petriu appeared before a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

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Stancu (19) of North Circular Road Dublin, and Murgea (31), also of North Circular Road, pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and organised crime offences.

Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Stancu to five years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. She noted that he was a younger man who had limited previous convictions and said she would suspend part of the sentence to incentivise rehabilitation.

Judge Crowe said a headline sentence of eight years in prison was warranted for Murgea before she imposed a sentence of six years having taken into account his significant history of dishonesty  referring to Murgeas previous convictions in both France and Italy for offences involving theft.

Petriu (38) of Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to assisting the group and his culpability was the lowest of the three, the court heard.

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Judge Crowe said Petriu played a different role to Murgea and Stancu. She adjourned his case to March 20th next and ordered the preparation of a probation report for that hearing.

Judge Crowe said the offences before the court were "inherently serious" and said the crimes were committed over two days on three unoccupied commercial premises that had been deliberately targeted in an organised way.

She said it was  a highly organised crime and extensive damage had been caused to the properties.

Judge Crowe acknowledged that Murgea and Stancu had been described as foot soldiers in the operation.

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Each of the accused pleaded guilty on their trial date in October this year and further pleas were entered on Monday. Stancu and Murgea are in custody but Petriu is on bail.

Detective Garda Tom McEvoy gave evidence that gardai received a call to attend the 3 Store in Henry Street after a car crashed into its front window. A silver Mercedes described as a dummy car was abandoned there and extensive damage was done to the front of the shop. The gang left with nothing because the mobile phones were kept in a safe.

The "dummy car" - a stolen Silver Mercedes - was also used to smash through the front window of the Vodafone Shop at the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge just before 2.30am on July 3rd, 2023.

The next day they rammed a car into Leinster Motors in Clondalkin. They used a Citroen C5 there to break through the gates, then stole a 5-series BMW at 12.30am on July 4th, which was later used for their next robbery as a getaway car.

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At around 4am they used the dummy car - the stolen silver Mercedes - to ram the front window of the 3 Store on Henry Street. Gardai established the vehicle had been used at Whitewater Shopping Centre on July 3rd, 2023.

Four suspects were ultimately identified from CCTV using a 5-series BMW as a getaway car. Gardai established the car was stolen the same night from Leinster Motors, Clondalkin.

Ireland Irishman arrested in connection with murder of Ame... Read More

Stancu was not involved in the Leinster Motors incident but was involved in the Henry Street and Whitewater Centre offences.

Det Gda McEvoy told Garret McCormack BL, prosecuting, the total damage to the 3 Store was 49,459 and there was 1,051 worth of damage to stock but nothing was stolen. A further 7,000 was lost from lack of trading following the incident.

The court heard Murgea has no previous convictions in Ireland but has 13 in Italy and three in France for offences including theft, dealing in stolen goods and criminal association.

Stancu has one previous conviction. Petriu has one previous conviction which relates to paying someone else to do a driving theory test, the court heard.
Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes' suspension and the arrest of a woman on suspicion of the muder of Kyran Durnin feature heavily on Ireland's front pages this Wednesday morning.

The Irish Times lead with a story about a BAM subsidiary securing a major state construction contract, a story about the suspension of new Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes after he admitted lying about when he sold shares in a US company that has been providing the Israel Defense Forces with artificial intelligence tools, a story about the arrest of a woman in relation to the muder of Kyran Durnin, and a story about the McVerry trust paying a director's brother's firm 1.7 million.

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The Irish Examiner lead with a story about Syrians seeking asylum in Ireland being left in limbo, a story about Ireland joining G20 after being invited by South Africa, alongside stories about a DPP file being expected on the Kyran Durnin suspect and Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes being suspended.

The Echo leads with a story about the funeral of Vanessa O'Callaghan who died after she was assaulted in Cork last weekend, and a story about Cork city councillors supporing a motion calling for supervised injection facilities in the city centre.

The Irish Independent lead with a story saying that Ivana Bacik has said she has no intention of joining a coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and would only speak to them as a courtesy.

The Irish Daily Star lead with a story about the arrest of a woman on suspicion of the muder of Kyran Durnin.

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The Herald lead with a story about the Criminal Assets Bureau seeking possession of the Viper's home in a 1 million tax debt case.

The Irish Daily Mail and Irish Daily Mirror both lead with the story around new Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes and his links with the Israel Defense Forces.

British newspapers

Headlines from Syria dominate the UKs news agenda on Wednesday.

The Times UK and The Guardian report Israel has launched a series of raids on former regime sites in Syria.

The UK Daily Mirror says rebel forces in the country are targeting members of ousted Bashar Assads murderous torture squads.

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The Independent UK carries a report from the Middle Eastern country as family members search for loved ones who disappeared under the regime.

Meanwhile, Metro says the man suspected of killing an American healthcare executive was found with a 3D-printed pistol.

At home, The Daily Telegraph leads with Labours plan to build four new prisons within the next seven years in a bid to tackle the overcrowding crisis.

A report has found medical misogyny has created a gynaecology care crisis for women in the UK, according to the UK Daily Mail.

The Sun says Kate Moss has split from her boyfriend after nine years together.

The mother of murdered diplomat Rebecca Dykes has vowed to continue her global campaign to stop violence against women, according to the Daily Express.

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The Financial Times reports on a Wall Street boom.

And the UK Daily Star says the boss of Thames Water has defended the firms 770,000 in bonuses for executives.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, facing questions for the last time about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The hearing comes at the twilight of Mr Blinkens diplomatic career, with only weeks left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and at the end of the chairmanship of Michael McCaul, who will no longer lead the committee in the next Congress.

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It is the end of nearly four years of animosity between the two men over the end of Americas longest war.

This catastrophic event was the beginning of a failed foreign policy that lit the world on fire, Mr McCaul, a Texas Republican, said in his opening statement.

I welcome your testimony today and hope you use this opportunity to take accountability for the disastrous withdrawal.



Antony Blinkens testimony is disrupted by protesters at the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

Mr Blinken opened his appearance before the committee by turning to families of US forces killed in the withdrawal and apologising to them.

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Cries of genocide and other protests from demonstrators in the audience repeatedly interrupted him.

Mr Blinken again defended the Biden administrations handling of the withdrawal, saying that the pull-out deal that Mr Trump negotiated with the Taliban before leaving office left him no viable alternative.

To the extent President Biden faced a choice, it was between ending the war or escalating it, Mr Blinken said.

Had he not followed through on his predecessors commitment, attacks on our forces and allies would have resumed and the Talibans assault on the countrys major cities would have commenced.

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The 20-year US military occupation of Afghanistan succeeded in routing the al Qaida militants responsible for the September 11 2001, attacks on the United States, whom Afghanistans fundamentalist Taliban militants had allowed a home.

But as the US began its pull-out, as set by Mr Trumps deal and carried out by Mr Biden, Taliban fighters routed the US-allied government and military, capturing control of the country within months.

An extremist groups bombing at the Kabul airport killed 13 US service members and nearly 200 Afghans as Americans, Afghan allies and others thronged the airport in hopes of seats on the last flights out.



Antony Blinken speaks as a photograph from Afghanistan is seen on a television screen during the hearing (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Mr Blinken said all of the hundreds of Americans and dual citizens stranded by the sudden scramble from Afghanistan have now been able to leave, if they have chosen.

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His long-awaited testimony comes months after House Republicans issued a scathing report on their investigation into the withdrawal, blaming the disastrous end on Joe Bidens administration. They downplayed Mr Trumps role in the failures even though he had signed the withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

Mr Blinken denied Republican charges that he and others ignored warnings from lower-ranking administration officials that the US withdrawal would go badly wrong, and that the US had to move faster on getting out Americans and the Afghans who had worked for and allied with them.

We anticipated that Kabul would remain in the hands of the Afghan government through to the end of the year, Mr Blinken said. This unfolded more quickly than we anticipated including in the intelligence community.

Waiting until the last minute is not executing a plan, Mr McCaul said.

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The Republican-led review laid out the final months of military and civilian failures, following Mr Trumps February 2020 withdrawal deal, that allowed Americas fundamentalist Taliban enemy to sweep through and conquer all of the country even before the last US officials flew out on August 30 2021.

The chaotic exit left behind many American citizens, Afghan battlefield allies, women activists and others at risk from the Taliban.

Previous investigations and analyses have pointed to a systemic failure spanning the last four presidential administrations and concluded that Mr Biden and Mr Trump share the heaviest blame.

Mr Blinken is returning to the Middle East this week on his 12th visit since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year.

It will be his first trip since the ousting of Syrian President Bashar Assad, which has sparked new fears of instability in a region now wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

Mr Blinken will travel to Jordan and Turkey on Thursday and Friday for talks expected to focus largely on Syria but also touch on hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza. Other stops in the region are possible.
The former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch has requested a court hearing to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial as he faces federal sex trafficking charges in New York.

A lawyer for Michael Jeffries made a motion for a competency hearing during a court appearance on Tuesday in federal court on Long Island.

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US attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peaces office, which is prosecuting the case, said there was no discussion in court as to why Jeffries was requesting the hearing.

His lawyer, Brian Bieber, declined to comment afterwards, stating in an emailed reply that the request will be dealt with in court as, and when, appropriate according to the judge.



The former boss of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch and his British partner have been charged with luring men into taking part in sex parties (Alamy/PA)

US district judge Nusrat Choudhury gave Jeffries lawyers until December 24 to provide further information to the court, including how much of its motion can be sealed, according to Mr Peaces office.

The judge also set a February 6 date for his lawyers to submit a report from a doctor evaluating Jeffries competency. Prosecutors then have until April 8 to file their own doctors report.

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No date was set for the actual hearing before the judge, Mr Peaces office said. For now, Jeffries is next due back in federal court in Central Islip on March 13.

US code allows judges to hold such a hearing if there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant is suffering from a mental disease or defect that prevents them from understanding the nature of the proceedings against them, or assisting properly in their defence.

Jeffries, his romantic partner and a third man were arrested in October on charges of luring men into taking part in sex parties by dangling the promise of modelling for the clothing retailer, once famous for its preppy, all-American aesthetic and shirtless male models.

Jeffries, 80, pleaded not guilty in October and is free on a 10 million-dollar (7.84 million) bail bond. His partner Matthew Smith, 61, pleaded not guilty last week and was similarly released on bond with conditions including home detention and GPS monitoring.

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The two are also limited to 125,000 dollars (97,987) in monthly withdrawals from a trust set up for their benefit, and Smith, a dual American and British citizen, was ordered to surrender his passport.

The third man, James Jacobson, 71, was an employee of Jeffries and recruited men for the sex parties, according to prosecutors. He too has pleaded not guilty and remains free on a 500,000-dollar (391,950) bond.

Jeffries served as chief executive of Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014, presiding over the evolution of the company from its roots as a hunting and outdoor goods store founded in Manhattan in 1892 to a fixture of teenage shopping culture during the early 2000s.
An official says South Koreas former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun attempted to kill himself but failed to do so.

Shin Yong Hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, told politicians on Wednesday that Mr Kim tried to kill himself at a detention centre in Seoul. He said his suicide attempt failed after centre officials stepped in and he is in a stable condition.

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At the same parliament committee meeting, justice minister Park Sung Jae confirmed the failed suicide attempt

Mr Kim was arrested earlier on Wednesday after a Seoul court approved a warrant for him on allegations of playing a key role in a rebellion and committing abuse of power. He became the first person arrested over the December 3 martial law decree.

It comes as police were searching South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols office.

Participants stage a rally to demand South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols impeachment in front of the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party in Seoul, South Korea (Ahnn Young-joon/AP)

South Korean police said they sent officers to search Mr Yoons office on Wednesday to look for any evidence related to the martial law introduction.

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The countrys main law enforcement institutions are focusing on finding whether Mr Yoon and others involved in the martial law imposition committed rebellion.

South Koreas national police chief and top police officer for the capital Seoul have been detained for their roles in the short-lived decree.

Police said National Police Agency commissioner general Cho Ji Ho and Kim Bong-sik, head of Seouls metropolitan police agency of the capital, were being held at Seouls Namdaemun police station.

The development comes hours before the main liberal opposition Democratic Party submits a new motion to impeach Mr Yoon on the martial law introduction.

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The party said it aims to put the motion on a floor vote on Saturday.

Earlier, Mr Yoons former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun was arrested after a Seoul court approved an arrest warrant for him on allegations of playing a key role in rebellion and committing abuse of power.

Mr Kim became the first person arrested over the December 3 martial law decree.

The police chiefs have been investigated for their roles in deploying forces to the National Assembly in an attempt to block politicians from entering the parliament to vote to lift Mr Yoons martial law decree.

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The assembly was also encircled by heavily armed troops, which military commanders say were deployed on the orders of the former defence minister. Enough lawmakers eventually managed to enter a parliament chamber and unanimously rejected the decree, forcing the Cabinet to lift it before daybreak on December 4.

During a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday Kwak Jong-keun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command whose troops were sent to parliament, testified that he received direct instructions from Kim Yong Hyun to obstruct lawmakers from entering the assemblys main chamber.

A traffic police officer walks near the National Assembly as a rally demanding South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols impeachment is taking place, in Seoul (Lee Jin-man/AP)

Opposition parties and many experts say the martial law decree was unconstitutional.

They say a president is by law allowed to declare martial law only during wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states and South Korea was not in such a situation.

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They argue that deploying troops to seal the National Assembly to suspend its political activities amounted to rebellion because the South Korean constitution does not allow a president to use the military to suspend parliament in any situation.

In his martial law announcement, the conservative Mr Yoon stressed a need to rebuild the country by eliminating shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces, a reference to his liberal rivals who control parliament.

Since taking office in 2022, he has had near-constant friction with the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which introduced motions to impeach some of his top officials and launched a political offensive over scandals involving Mr Yoon and his wife.

Mr Yoon avoided impeachment on Saturday after most governing party lawmakers boycotted a floor vote in the National Assembly.

If he is impeached, his presidential powers would be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to restore them or remove him from office.

On Wednesday, North Koreas state news agency for the first time reported about the political turmoil and street protests triggered by Mr Yoons martial law decree.

The report mostly attempted to explain the South Korean events although it used its typical abusive language like calling Mr Yoon a traitor and his military gangsters.

Many experts say North Korea is sensitive to the domestic spread of news on massive anti-government protests in foreign countries because its own people have no official access to international news and could be affected by such events.
TikTok has challenged a Canadian government order to shut down the Chinese video-sharing apps business operations in the country amid national security concerns.

The company said it had filed an application for a judicial review with the Federal Court in Vancouver on December 5, which seeks to set aside the order for TikTok to wind up and cease its business in Canada.

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The Canadian federal government last month announced it was ordering the dissolution of TikTok Technology Canada Inc. after a national security review of its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd.

The government is not blocking access to the TikTok app, which will continue to be available to Canadians.

TikTok said it has 14 million users in Canada, which is about a third of the population. It has offices in Toronto and Vancouver.

The popular platform is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020, but is under increasing pressure in the West.

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The company is Chinese-owned, but based in Singapore (AP)

It is facing a possible ban in the US and intensifying scrutiny in Europe over issues including election influence campaigns allegedly co-ordinated by Moscow.

TikTok argues in its court application, which was posted online, that Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagnes decision was unreasonable and driven by improper purposes.

It says the order is grossly disproportionate and the the national security review was procedurally unfair.

The review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate foreign investment with potential to harm national security.

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Mr Champagne said at the time that the government was taking action to address specific national security risks, but did not elaborate.

His office said in response to the filling that the governments decision was informed by a thorough national security review and advice from Canadas security and intelligence community.

TikTok said Mr Champagne failed to engage with TikTok Canada on the purported substance of the concerns that led to the order.

It argues the government ordered measures that bear no rational connection to the national security risks it identifies and that the reasons for the order are unintelligible, fail to reveal a rational chain of analysis and are rife with logical fallacies.

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The platform said there are less onerous options than shutting down its Canadian business, which it said would eliminate hundreds of jobs, threaten business contracts and cause the destruction of significant economic opportunities.
Rescue crews working through the night have pulled two women from rubble more than seven hours after a Russian missile struck a private medical clinic in a southern Ukrainian city, killing nine people and injuring 22 others, authorities said.

The women called rescue services on their mobile phones to say they were buried under the rubble after the attack late on Tuesday in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraines emergency services said.

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Deadly Russian strikes on civilian areas have been a feature of the almost three-year war.

Ukraines Western allies are sending more aid to help it keep fighting Russias invasion, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Zaporizhzhia strike showed that his country still needs more air defence systems.

He urged Western partners to send weaponry they are holding in their arsenals.



Mr Zelensky has urged the West to boot his countrys defences (AP)

We currently do not have enough systems to protect our country from Russian missiles. But partners have these systems, Mr Zelensky said in his daily address to the nation on Tuesday night.

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Air defence systems that Ukraines allies possess should save lives, and not gather dust in storage bases, he said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine kept up its long-range attacks on areas behind Russian lines that are supporting its war effort.





I am deeply grateful to President Biden, the U.S. Treasury @SecYellen, and the bipartisan support of Congress for the disbursement of $20 billion under the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration for Ukraine initiative. This critical support, funded by immobilized Russian assets,  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) December 10, 2024

A Ukrainian drone attack caused a blaze at an industrial facility in Russias Bryansk region, governor Alexander Bogomaz said.

Air defences downed 14 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region early Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

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Also, a Ukrainian missile attack on the city of Taganrog in the Rostov region early on Wednesday damaged an industrial plant, governor Yuri Slusar said.
Chinese medical team donates supplies to Ugandan hospital

Xinhua) 10:25, December 11, 2024

KAMPALA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese medical team has donated a batch of essential medical supplies and equipment to the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

The 24th batch of the Chinese medical team handed over the supplies on Monday, aiming to bolster healthcare services at the hospital.

Li Yun, head of the medical team, presented the donation to Irene Iga, the hospital's executive director, in the presence of Wang Jianxun, counselor for economic and commercial affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Uganda.

Wang noted that 2024 marks 41 years since China began dispatching medical teams to Uganda. Over the past four decades, 24 teams, comprising more than 220 doctors, have collectively treated over one million patients in the East African country.

"The Chinese doctors have not only provided medical services to patients but have also engaged in extensive exchanges with their Ugandan counterparts, aimed at improving the capabilities and expertise of both sides," Wang said.

Li said the donated supplies are designed to support a wide range of hospital activities, including diagnostics, emergency care, and surgical procedures.

"The goal of this donation is to enhance the quality of medical services at the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, improve the diagnostic and treatment environment, and ensure more timely and professional care for the people of Uganda," she said.

"The donation not only reflects the Chinese government's commitment to the health and well-being of the Ugandan people but also underscores the deep friendship and long-term cooperation between China and Uganda," she added.

Iga expressed gratitude for the timely donation, noting the hospital's struggle to cope with an increasing patient load. Initially built by China in 2012 to accommodate 100 patients, the facility is now overwhelmed, receiving over 4,000 people seeking care.

China's contributions to Uganda's healthcare system have been consistent over the years, including vaccine donations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, China donated 500,000 doses of anti-malaria drugs valued at 1 million U.S. dollars to Uganda.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
San Francisco has to permit 82,000 homes by 2031, according to the state of California. Its the same number of homes New York City has to produce in 15 years. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Last week New York housing advocates celebrated the passage of the City of Yes legislation, a plan to rezone the city of 8 million in order to encourage the construction of 82,000 units over the next 15 years, with Mayor Eric Adams calling it the most pro-housing piece of legislation in city history.

But for those who track housing politics in the Bay Area, the news stood out for another reason: 82,000 happens also to be the number of units state housing officials are mandating that San Francisco  a city with one-tenth of the population of New York  plan for in its current eight-year housing element, which goes from 2023 to 2031.

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Depending on how you look at it, the twin 82,000 goals either underscore how ambitious California is about tackling a housing shortage 40 years in the making, or the absurdity of the states expectations.

Every California county and municipality is given a Regional Housing Needs Assessment number, known as RHNA, which tells a given location how many homes it needs to permit in eight years. Through the first two years of the current housing element cycle, San Francisco builders have produced about 3,600 units in San Francisco, less than 5% of the 82,000 goal. Another 4,300 units are under construction, which means that the city is on track to produce about 8,000 new units in the first half of its housing element cycle.

Chris Elmendorf, a UC Davis law professor and housing policy expert, said the magnitude of what New York just did is much smaller than what California is doing.

New York City must create 82,000 homes in 15 years. Its the same number of homes San Francisco must permit, but in almost half the time. Housing advocates call San Franciscos housing goals absurd. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

For example: New Yorks 82,000 goal represents a 25% increase over historic levels of production. In contrast, were San Francisco to succeed in meeting its goal of producing 10,000 a year, it would represent a 300% increase over the roughly 3,000 units per year that have been averaged over the last two decades, according to Elmendorf.

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In addition, Elmendorf said the levels of affordable housing called for in the two plans represent a tale of two cities. New Yorks plan requires developers of some larger projects to make 20% of units affordable to low-income households, which he said is consistent with historic patterns. In contrast, San Franciscos housing element calls for 40% of units to be affordable to low-income families and another 17% aimed at moderate-income households, which everyone knows is an impossible goal without a hefty tax to fund the housing.

Californias housing element process does not require that jurisdictions raise taxes to subsidize affordable housing.

We are in a bizarre universe where the state is requiring something that can only be achieved with billions and billions of dollars in subsidies, Elmendorf said.

The New York City Council rezoning vote was narrow, with 31 council members voting for it and 20 against. Originally, housing advocates had hoped the legislation would result in 110,000 new units, but some aspects of the plan were scaled back in order to generate more political support.

While New Yorks plan may be modest compared with what California is doing, housing advocates there said it was a historic victory given how much opposition there was, according to architect Darrick Borowski of the firm ARExA.

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It was a hard slog. So many community districts voted against it, sadly, he said. It took a lot of courage to vote yes on this given the feedback they were getting.

Andrew Fine, chief of staff for the YIMBY group Open New York, called the City of Yes a great start. The legislation also allows accessory dwelling units in suburban neighborhoods, which are not currently allowed. He said the legislation would fuel everything from big mixed-income buildings in denser areas to smaller three- or four-story apartment buildings in the citys outer boroughs.

The kind of buildings that used to be built but were downzoned out of existence, Fine said. They are going to come back.

One big difference between the two cities is that the California Department of Housing and Community Development has the power to take over local control in cities and counties that are not in compliance with state housing laws, Fine said. That is not the case in New York state.

The California state Legislature has really set specific requirements and standards for its cities to grow and there are consequences if places are not meeting those targets, Fine said. In New York, we dont have that. Every municipality is on its own. There has to be organic, grassroots political support for building in our own backyards.

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But not everyone, even those who work in the housing development industry, think Californias heavy-handed approach and sky-high mandates are productive. Land use attorney Riley Hurd said the state-imposed housing goals are so unrealistic that it actually makes you want to give up.

Dog-walkers stand at a park across from a residential construction site along Stanyan Street in San Francisco, in January. The city is far behind its goal of permitting 82,000 homes by 2031. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

My analogy is you might say, Im interested in getting into running and I think Ill make my goal a three-minute mile, Hurd said. The need for the housing is obvious. The state laws were crucial. But setting the goal at the three-minute mile kind of takes some wind out the sails. Its like, Ah man, I dont think I can ever get there so I think Ill do nothing at all.

Hurd said he has represented developers in the entitlement of 3,000 units over the last three years, and not one of the projects has broken ground.

There is a disconnect between lawmakers and actual developers. They need to be having some conversations about the realities of development right now, Hurd said, referencing the high cost of construction.

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For leaders of the YIMBYs  a powerful pro-development movement that started in San Francisco in 2014 and has spread to high-cost cities around the country  the numbers of units called for in the housing element are realistic if you are actually trying to meet the need, said Michael Lane, state policy director at the urban think tank SPUR.

The whole key is to have an adequate number of zoned sites, Lane said. Not every one of those sites is going to be developed, but the planning function must come first to even set up the opportunity to have production.

Rezoning hundreds of properties for more density can have some downward pressure on land prices and make more projects possible, he said.

Laura Foote, executive director of YIMBY Action, said that calling housing production goals plans is misleading because it makes it seem like the government is in the business of residential construction.

The point of the goal is to create a lot of room for the private market to build housing  both market rate and non-profit affordable, she said. If you dont create that room you are not going to be able to hit the goals.

Housing Action Coalition Executive Director Corey Smith said the New York/San Francisco comparison is not quite apples to apples.

The amount of catch-up we need to play in California and San Francisco is not the same as New York. Our 82,000 number is because we are so far behind, whereas New York has produced more housing over the last 40 years relative to population growth, he said.

Smith said he goes back and forth on whether the number for San Francisco is absurdly high.

On the one hand, San Francisco has not produced the amount of housing ever to trend toward 82,000 units, but, unquestionably, to me, we need to figure out how to do that, Smith said.

A view of downtown San Francisco from the top of the old power station during construction of the Potrero Power Station project site, in 2023. The citys new housing production is at its lowest in more than a decade. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

And some homeowners who oppose adding density in traditionally single-family neighborhoods have seized on the 82,000 unit number as an indication that state housing officials and their YIMBY allies are out of touch with reality.

Lakeside resident Jim Herlihy, who has opposed upzoning on the west side of the city, said New Yorks goals are doable, in contrast to San Franciscos.

They are not airy fairy reaching into the ether of a wish list, he said. For San Francisco (82,000) is not just a stretch  it is absurd. That New York number underscores that. In San Francisco, I dont think anyone took that number seriously.

Lori Brooke of San Francisco Neighborhoods United argues that the 82,000 unit mandate should be recalculated given that the city has lost about 65,000 residents since the pandemic.

Rents have decreased, and vacancy rates have risen, indicating that the immediacy of the housing crisis has, in many respects, waned. Yet, bureaucratic and policy responses continue as if nothing has changed, she said.

But San Francisco remains one of the most expensive cities in the country, and Foote argues that many of the people who left did so because the cost of housing was too steep.
The US Supreme Court is allowing a class-action lawsuit that accuses Nvidia of misleading investors about its past dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency to proceed.

The courts decision on Wednesday comes in the same week that China said it is investigating the microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws.

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The justices heard arguments four weeks ago in Nvidias bid to shut down the lawsuit, then decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. They dismissed the companys appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward.

At issue was a 2018 suit led by a Swedish investment management firm. It followed a dip in the profitability of cryptocurrency, which caused Nvidias revenues to fall short of projections and led to a 28% drop in the companys stock price.



Nvidias share price is up 180% this year (Alamy/PA)

Nvidia had argued that the investors lawsuit should be thrown out because it does not measure up to a 1995 law, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, that is intended to bar frivolous complaints.

A district court judge had dismissed the complaint before the federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled that it could go forward. The Biden administration backed the investors at the Supreme Court.

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This is a win for corporate accountability. When corporations mislead shareholders, they undermine trust in our markets. Ensuring that investors can seek justice is essential to preserving fairness and transparency, Deepak Gupta, who represented the investors at Supreme Court, said in a statement.

In 2022, Nvidia, which is based in Santa Clara, California, paid a 5.5 million-dollar (4.32 million) fine to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it failed to disclose that cryptomining was a significant source of revenue growth from the sale of graphics processing units that were produced and marketed for gaming.

The company did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Nvidias recent performance has been spectacular. Even after the news of the China investigation, its share price is up 180% this year.

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Nvidia has led the artificial intelligence sector to become one of the stock markets biggest companies, as tech giants continue to spend heavily on the companys chips and data centres needed to train and operate their AI systems.

The lawsuit is one of two high court cases that involved class-action lawsuits against tech companies.

The justices also dismissed an appeal from Facebook parent Meta that sought to end to a multibillion-dollar class action investors lawsuit stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm.
Israel denied on Tuesday it had advanced into Syria beyond a buffer zone with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces.

After his flight on Sunday ended 54 years of Assad family rule, Israeli troops moved into a demilitarised zone inside Syria set up after the 1973 Middle East war. Israel calls the incursion a temporary measure to ensure border security.

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Following is a quick guide to the hilly, 1,200-square-kilometre Golan Heights, a fertile and strategic plateau that overlooks Israel's Galilee region as well as Lebanon, and borders Jordan.

Why is the area contentious?

The Golan Heights were part of Syria until 1967, when Israel captured most of the plateau in the Six-Day War, occupying it and annexing it unilaterally in 1981. That annexation was not recognised by most countries.

Syria still holds part of the Golan and has demanded that Israel withdraw from the rest of it. Israel has refused, citing security concerns.

Syria tried to regain the Golan in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, but was thwarted. Israel and Syria signed an armistice in 1974 and the Golan has been relatively quiet since.

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An Israeli military vehicle crosses the fence as they return from the buffer zone with Syria. Photo: AFP via Getty

In 2000 Israel and Syria held their highest-level talks over a possible return of the Golan and a peace agreement. But the negotiations collapsed and subsequent talks also failed.

During US president-elect Donald Trump's first term in 2019, he declared US support for Israeli sovereignty over the Golan.

The dramatic shift reflected Trump's decision in 2017 to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the US Embassy to the city, which delighted Israel but infuriated Palestinians and many Arab political and religious leaders.

Why does Israel want the Golan?

Israel said earlier in Syria's more than decade-long civil war that it demonstrated the need to keep the plateau as a buffer zone between Israeli towns and the instability of its neighbour.

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Israel's government also voiced concern that Iran, a longtime ally of the Assad regime, was trying to cement its presence on Syria's side of the border in order to launch attacks on Israel. Israel frequently bombed suspected Iranian military assets in Syria in the years leading up to Assad's fall.

Israel and Syria have both coveted the Golan's water resources and naturally fertile soil.

Who lives there?

Some 55,000 people live on the Israeli-occupied Golan, about 24,000 of them Druze, an Arab minority who practice an offshoot of Islam, according to analyst Avraham Levine of the Alma Research and Education Center specialising in Israel's security challenges on its northern border.

Many of the Druze adherents in Syria were long loyal to the Assad regime. Many families have members on both sides of the demarcation line.

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After annexing the Golan, Israel gave the Druze the option of citizenship, but most rejected it and still identify as Syrian. Another 31,000 Israelis have settled there, Levine said. Many of them work in farming, including vineyards, and tourism.

Who controls the Syrian side of the Golan?

Before the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, there was an uneasy stand-off between Israeli and Syrian forces.

But in 2014 anti-government Islamist rebels overran Quneitra province on the Syrian side. The rebels forced Assad's forces to withdraw and also turned on UN forces in the area, forcing them to pull back from some of their positions.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the occupied Golan Heights would remain Israeli 'for eternity'. Photo: AFP via Getty

The area remained under rebel control until the summer of 2018, when Assad's forces returned to the largely ruined city of Quneitra and the surrounding area following a Russian-backed offensive and a deal that allowed rebels to withdraw.

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What separates the two sides?

A United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is stationed in camps and observation posts along the Golan, supported by military observers of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).

World Israeli forces seize Golan Heights buffer zone aft... Read More

Between the Israeli and Syrian armies is a 400-square-km "Area of Separation"  often called a demilitarised zone  in which the two countries' armed forces are not permitted under the ceasefire arrangement.

The Separation of Forces Agreement of May 31st, 1974, created an Alpha Line to the west of the area of separation, behind which Israeli military forces must remain, and a Bravo Line to the east behind which Syrian military forces must remain.

Extending 25km beyond the "Area of Separation" on both sides is an "Area of Limitation" in which there are restrictions on the number of troops and number and kinds of weapons that both sides can have there.

There is one crossing point between the Israeli and Syrian sides, which until the Syrian civil war began was used mainly by United Nations forces, a limited number of Druze civilians and for the transport of agricultural produce.
An actor in Netflixs Sex Education, Alexander Westwood, has been found guilty of 26 sexual offences including using his position as a teacher to sexually abuse two teenage girls who attended his acting classes.

Labelled as manipulative and predatory by prosecutor Andrew Wallace, Westwood, 24, repeatedly made his underage victims watch porn, touched them and then pressured them to engage in sexual activities, in what was described in court as an extraordinary catalogue of abuse that happened hundreds of times, the BBC reports.

Actor Alexander Westwood has been found guilty of 26 charges. Credit: Instagram

Westwood, of Albrighton in Shropshire, England, pleaded not guilty to the offences, which related to women and children. According to the BBC, the court heard that the actor had a fascination with pornography from a young age.

Between November 2020 and September 2021, Westwood sexually abused and raped a teenage pupil who dreamed of becoming an actress and came to him for classes, the BBC reports.
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 Sometimes a director gets lucky casting an actor at exactly the right time. That happened when Gregor Jordan was shooting his first film, the crime comedy Two Hands, which was inspired by the young bouncers he noticed outside strip clubs in Sydneys colourful Kings Cross. In fact, it happened twice. The actor he cast as Jimmy, one of those young bouncers, was just 18 at the time: Heath Ledger, who was yet to shoot his Hollywood breakthrough, Ten Things I Hate About You. Opposite him as Alex, a photographer who had just arrived from the country: 18-year-old Rose Byrne, who was almost as unknown. The two stars of Two Hands, Heath Ledger and Rose Byrne, were 18 when they were cast. Success in film is a mysterious alchemy. In the case of Two Hands, which Jordan made after winning Tropfest and the jury prize at Cannes with the clever short film Swinger, so many things that could have gone wrong worked out terrifically. His photogenic young stars were both on the way to stellar acting careers, which, for Ledger, who died in 2008, was tragically cut short. A year after Two Hands, Byrne won best actress at Venice for playing a blind teenager in another Australian film, The Goddess Of 1967. Bryan Brown, who had made Cocktail, Gorillas in the Mist and two F/X movies in Hollywood, initially baulked at playing crime boss Pando because he thought the script wasnt clear about what sort of film it was. But after a rewrite clarified that it was a romance between Jimmy and Alex, he was in. Thats the heart of the thing  two people find each other, Brown says.

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His delivery of the knockabout Aussie humour in the script, memorably doing origami with his young son while having someone killed in a phone call, became a highlight of the film. Other funny scenes had Wozza (Steve Le Marquand) needing to find childcare before robbing a bank and Acko (David Field) stuffing up a hit because hed accidentally put his bullets through the wash. And while things did go wrong  more on that later  Two Hands was a hit in Australian cinemas in 1999, cleaned up at the Australian Film Institute Awards and has become beloved 25 years later. Now Jordan tells Spectrum that he has written a sequel, Two Hands 2, which takes the story forward 25 years and brings back some of the characters. Loading We have a script that I think is really good  that brings it into the modern day, he says. If wed tried to do a sequel five years later, it probably wouldnt have worked, but 25 years later is the right time. Two Hands is about Jimmys attempt to get out of debt to Pando for a job delivering $10,000 that goes wrong, while falling for Alex and being watched over by his dead brother (Steven Vidler). Jordan didnt intend for it to be as much of a comedy as it turned out. I was trying to make it real, but those real people are kind of ridiculous, he says. The idea that hardened killers, bank robbers and drug dealers cant find a babysitter and have to look after the kids is absurd but also real. Bad boys: (from left) David Field as Acko, Tom Long as Wally, and Bryan Brown as Pando.

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The film now seems like a charming portrait of a past Sydney, a time when crims wore tight shorts with thongs and drove around in a V8, banks were robbed and the monorail snaked through the city. But Jordan says it had a retro vibe at the time in that they were driving old cars and they were dressed in slightly outlandish clothes. He says his luck with Two Hands was finding Ledger and Byrne: Heath especially, because this role was tricky to cast. He was an 18-year-old so he probably wasnt going to be very experienced. He had to have a sort of toughness to him but also a softness and approachability. He had to have real acting chops and something about him that could carry a whole movie and make an audience want to pay their money to see him at the cinema. There was a very small pool of people we could consider. Heath was there and perfect for this role. Jordan refutes the idea that he discovered Ledger. He was on a lot of peoples radar, he says. He was a movie star already, just the world didnt quite know it yet. Heath turned it into something special because he was special as an actor and a presence on screen. Likewise, with Rose. She was about to pop as well. Kim Ledger, Heaths dad, remembers Two Hands as a step in a journey that hed pre-programmed into himself many years earlier. We both used to chuckle at it a lot  an Australian gangster movie in shorts and thongs, he says. He loved the film and he loved filming it with everybody. People like Bryan Brown and Susie Porter were really great people and really good to Heath. Its a good piece. Very funny. On the run: Jimmy and Alex take a monorail ride through Sydney. Credit: JAMES ALCOCK

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Jordan says Pando was based on Lenny McPherson, a ruthless criminal who seemed to live a relatively normal life. The costume designer [Emily Seresin] put together this look which included the socks with the shorts, he says. At the first costume fitting, she just sat there going oh my god. She burst out laughing. We were all laughing our heads off at the outfit. She said Im never going to work again. And Bryan said you and me both because it did look ridiculous but it looked great at the same time. Brown doesnt think hes seen Two Hands since it was released, but remembers how funny it was. A bloke said to me the other day that its his hangover movie and that makes perfect sense to me, he says. Bad Saturday night, wake up Sunday morning, dont want to get off the lounge. Whatll I put on? Two Hands. Brown shot the origami scene first up. Thats a really good scene for a character, he says. Hes playing with his kid then he gets on the phone and talks to someone and says kill the c---. Youve got a fabulous understanding of who this bloke is. But Id never heard the term origami  didnt have a clue what it was  so I just said it. Hit goes wrong ... Heath Ledger, Tom Long, David Field and Bryan Brown in Two Hands. Brown was also unfamiliar with Ledger and Byrne when he shot the film. Didnt know em from a bar of soap, he says. But both, absolutely great. As a man, Heath was a lovely fella. Just losing a lovely fella is bad enough but he was a very talented bloke as he showed. And Rose is Rose, isnt she. Delightful. No matter what she does, shes f---ing brilliant. Seeing the pair of them so young, they just lit up the screen. Brown thinks of Two Hands with great affection. Im really glad I played Pando and no other bastard did, he says. You had no idea it was going to jump out like it did. I remember when it first came out and I was walking in the Cross one day and a couple of rather heavy looking dudes walked past and one just looked at me and winked. I thought, Im all right with the boys these days.

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There was another little-known 18-year-old in the cast: Mariel McClorey. As street kid Helen, she avenges the death of young friend Pete (Evan Sheaves) while Powderfingers These Days blasts out at the films climax. I was just starting acting professionally but not really knowing what I was doing, she says. So its a very nostalgic film for me. Writer Gregor Jordan and Heath Ledger after Two Hands cleaned up at the AFI Awards in 1999. Credit: Danielle Smith McClorey remembers being bored in a trailer waiting until she was needed on set one day  shed forgotten to bring a book  when Ledger walked past, doubled back then knocked on the door. He said how are you going? You look really bored. Do you want to borrow my Discman and all my CDs? That was very lovely. McClorey watched Two Hands at the Sydney premiere and remembers feeling like I was having an out-of-body experience in the theatre. It was more powerful than I thought it would be when I read the script. It was intense. She acted until her early 20s, studied painting, then became a prosthetic make-up artist working on the likes of Mad Max: Fury Road, Thor: Love and Thunder and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

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Queensland Museum senior curator Liz Bissell carefully removes the lid of an ageing box, roughly the size of a shoebox.

Once the container for a Dutch-made gas mask, it contains a mass of rusty wires, capacitors and resistors.

This wireless set was built and operated by two Queenslanders while confined by the Japanese in an internment camp in Java during World War II. Credit: Queensland Museum

This is from a prisoner of war camp in Java, she says. They stored it under a square of concrete with stuff over the top, and only a few people knew about it.

They would have suffered huge repercussions if it had been found.
Three weeks since missing persons posters began peeling off lamp posts, Isla Bells presence is still as strong as ever in Melbourne.

The 19-year-old Brunswick creative and permaculturalist, known as Little Red to her friends, has inspired sprawling street art across the city. Red and orange ribbons have been tied to trees and benches, catching the eyes of passers-by, like her striking hair.

Isla Bells loved ones have remembered her through art and a vigil since her body was found.

Graffiti artists painted her name under a bridge in Belgrave, onto a Metro train and above a floral tribute in Abbotsford. Students at RMIT University honoured her in an exhibition with the message: Rest in peace. Rest in power.

The tributes have deeply moved her family, who were devastated when Islas body was found at a Dandenong tip in Melbournes south-east on November 19, 46 days after she went missing.
The construction empire of late tycoon Len Buckeridge has confirmed the sale of its cementitious division to Cement Australia in a deal tipped to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The construction giant confirmed the sale on Wednesday, with the Queensland-based joint venture between Holcim and Heidelberg Materials snapping up an arm of the business that covers asphalt, cement, concrete, quarries, transport and the companys Materials Technology Centre.

The sale of BGCs cement division is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. Credit:

A spokesperson for the company declined to divulge the value of the sale, but it was tipped to net up to $800 million.

Seven Groups concrete maker Boral, controlled by media mogul Kerry Stokes, was among the prospective buyers, having flagged an interest in acquiring the business just three months ago.
Jewish leaders have cautioned against claims that Labor is to blame for a surge in antisemitism after the federal Coalition seized on the latest vandalism to claim the attackers were emboldened and enabled by the government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the Coalition claim as divisive and condemned the attack in eastern Sydney on Wednesday morning as an antisemitic outrage, amid an escalating political dispute over which side of politics was doing the most to stop attacks on Jewish Australians.

Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume levelled the new claim against Labor in the hours after two suspects torched a car and vandalised buildings in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra, days after the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne was set alight.

Hume intensified days of the criticism of Albanese by saying he had taken too long to visit the Melbourne synagogue  a claim the prime minister disputed because had arranged to be in Perth for several days.
Health Minister Ryan Park has sought a preliminary report from the drug summit ahead of the coming music festival season, in a clear sign the government is considering pill testing this summer.

The Sydney Morning Herald can reveal that, at the end of last weeks summit, Park asked co-chairs Carmel Tebbutt and John Brogden to provide interim advice before their final report is tabled next year.

The Minns government is facing pressure from within its caucus to introduce pill testing ahead of the summer music festival season. Credit: James Alcock

The interim advice  which will be presented to cabinet  was requested in part due to the start of music festival season, and is likely to canvass the possibility of a pill-testing trial.

The Minns government faces increasing internal pressure to commit to a significant overhaul of drug policies, with Labor MPs including parliamentary secretary for health Dr Michael Holland publicly calling for the introduction of pill testing.
Seoul: South Korean police raided the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol, a presidential security official said on Wednesday, in a widening investigation into the embattled leaders failed attempt to impose martial law.

Separately, Kim Yong Hyun, former defence minister and a close confidant of Yoon, attempted suicide at a detention centre where he is held after being arrested, a Justice Ministry official told a parliament hearing.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party also plans to submit a new motion to impeach Yoon for his December 3 declaration that imposed martial law.

Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun. Credit: AP

Yoons ill-conceived power grab has paralysed South Korean politics, frozen its foreign policy and rattled financial markets, greatly reducing his chances of completing his five-year term and casting a turbulent shadow over one of Asias most robust democracies.
A tow worker throws canisters from the roof of an RV before towing the vehicle during an August encampment sweep near the corner of Carroll and Ingalls streets in San Francisco. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rescinded RV parking restrictions crafted this fall by Mayor London Breed in what is likely to be one of the last clashes between the progressive majority and the outgoing mayor.

The policy, adopted in early October by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, would have allowed city officials to tow large RVs and trailers parked overnight on city streets where signage was posted outlawing it. City staff would have been required to offer people shelter before towing an occupied RV.

The appeal request, submitted by a coalition of RV dwellers and homeless advocates, was approved in a 7-3 vote by the board. Supervisors Matt Dorsey, Rafael Mandelman and Joel Engardio voted against it.

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This was the wrong decision by the SFMTA board and I think they needed to be more thoughtful, said Supervisor Ahsha Safai. It just reaffirms that theyre more of a rubber stamp for the policies of the mayor.

Breed spokesperson Jeff Cretan said in a statement that the policy would have helped city officials deliver a healthier, cleaner and safer city and get people the services and shelter they needed. The boards reversal of the measure, he said, means it will now remain harder for city workers to do their jobs.

Under the October policy, SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin was going to have sole authority to decide where new signs would be placed, but only after making a written finding that the RVs there were affecting traffic circulation or the health and safety of neighboring residents.

Officials planned to add new signage one to two blocks per month at a price tag of about $230,000 a year. The policy had not yet been implemented, according to SFMTA spokesperson Erica Kato.

Previously, law enforcement could only issue citations, and new signage to ban overnight RV parking required SFMTA board approval.

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SFMTA Director of Streets Viktoriya Wise called it a tool of last resort to address a difficult, difficult issue.

This is a complex problem that requires multifaceted solutions and coordination, Wise said, adding that the citys streets werent designed to accommodate long-term parking of large vehicles and the sewage and waste tied to them.

Overnight parking of large vehicles in San Francisco is currently prohibited only on a small portion of city roads where signs are posted  about 47 miles of the citys more than 900 miles of frontage. Over the past five years, an average of three citations per month were issued for overnight parking violations, according to SFMTA. Living in a vehicle is also prohibited under the citys policy code, but it is not enforced, according to transit officials.

City transit and homeless response officials portrayed the policy as a balanced approach designed to get people who are living in vehicles into safer and more stable housing while also addressing community concerns. Residents in many neighborhoods have put pressure on their elected officials to address the rise in RVs parked on city streets, raising concerns about impaired sight lines for other drivers, illegal dumping of garbage and sewage, and fewer on-street parking spots.

Mandelman, who sided with SFMTA, called the policy compassionate and constrained, adding that some San Franciscans may argue it didnt go far enough.

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But Preston wasnt swayed, arguing that the SFMTAs justification for the policy wasnt remotely compelling against the immense harm that it could cause. No members of the public spoke in support of the measure during the meeting.

Opponents argued the policy was a waste of resources that would increase demand for the citys limited shelter beds, moving people who already have a roof over their heads into shelter beds that could better serve people living on the streets. They further contended that it would unnecessarily exacerbate and criminalize homelessness, displace families and harm elderly people and those with disabilities.

Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said people living in RVs are creatively solving for themselves the housing crisis that city officials have been unable to properly address, and the policy would push them backward into more unstable and temporary housing situations.

Carlos Perez said through a translator that he moved into an RV with his disabled brother after his rent became unaffordable. Perez said he would rather live in an apartment but its not easy to find one right now. Perez pleaded with the board members to think from your hearts and reverse the restrictions.

San Francisco counted 1,444 people living in vehicles in its most recent homelessness census earlier this year, a 37% increase from 2022. About 90% of the citys 130 unsheltered families were living in a vehicle, according to the count.

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People living in vehicles and homeless advocates who spoke at Tuesdays meeting repeatedly criticized the city for failing to create a clear strategy to address the growing number of people living in vehicles and recent moves that they say stand to worsen the citys homelessness crisis, especially for those living in vehicles.

The Department of Homelessness late last week announced that in March they would close San Franciscos only safe parking site for people living in vehicles at Candlestick Point. That announcement came days after the agency set new limits on how long homeless families can stay in city shelters and restrict who is eligible.

If you arent providing a solution, if we dont have an answer, we shouldnt be proposing things without solutions, said Rebecca Jackson, co-chair of the Womens Housing Coalition who previously lived in a vehicle with her children.
Looking ahead, the SQM Research director expects new listings to decline in December due to the holiday slowdown, with activity resuming in early February. Summer holiday markets, such as the Gold Coast, are expected to remain busy throughout January.
There comes a point when you need to pass the reins to someone with the expertise to scale the business from one to 100, he said.
Running for more than 22 years, the MFAA Excellence Awards are regarded as one of the most respected accolades in the mortgage and finance sector.
White said he was treating people the way they want to be treated, and brokers who learned to do it as part of their psyche, rather than as just an act, were likely to see business flow as a result.
Toki Suntory Whisky, from the iconic portfolio of The House of Suntory, hosted the biggest and first-of-its-kind immersive Japanese experience, One Night in Toki-O, at a 100-year-old bungalow in Mumbai. One Night in Toki-O by Toki Suntory Whisky is a window into the timelessness of Japanese culture, where Old meets New Japan. The evening brought the streets of Tokyo to life, blending classic old-world charm with modern flair.One Night in Toki-O represents a vivid world that is dynamic, playful, and whimsical, offering cultural enrichment through the discovery of a new piece of Japan that is exciting, engaging, and fun. The event was an immersive journey through Japan in all its contemporary glory, interwoven with its rich traditions through a modern, innovative approach.Toki is a blended whisky inspired by Japans culture, heritage, and future-forward outlook. It is a fusion of three storied brands from Suntory's portfolio - Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita - creating a blend that excites whisky enthusiasts and beginners alike. Representing the best of old and new, Toki Suntory Whisky blends the rich legacy of The House of Suntory with Japans cultural traditions and modern spirit, resulting in a groundbreaking and timeless whisky., expressed excitement about bringing this unique event to Mumbai. He added, The evening wasnt just about honouring Japans cultural legacy; it was about creating an experience that was lively, sincere, and full of inventive craftsmanship. From the energetic vibe to the nuanced flavours of Toki Suntory Whisky, every detail was designed to evoke the joy and ingenuity that Suntory pours into its craft.At the event, the essence of Japan came alive, offering attendees a journey into the heart of Japanese culture. The evening began with bar takeovers by Santosh Kukreti from Onrique Mumbai , where guests explored Suntorys rich heritage and the art of the Japanese Highballa simple yet refined way to enjoy Toki whisky, beloved in Japan. Toki Suntory Whisky has been instrumental in popularizing the highball, making whisky more approachable for consumers in Japan and worldwide.The night had a vibrant celebration of culture, music, and flavors, featuring Mumbais first vinyl listening bar pop-ups by Wax on Wax Off and Tropical Wax , along with soulful music performances by Palomma Emanuel , and Sindhi Curry . Adding to the vibrant atmosphere was a cozy listening space by Revolvers Club and an interactive Japanese Art Studio by Dirty Hands Company Hosted at Pioneer Hall in Bandra, Mumbai, the event delighted attendees with Japanese Izakaya specialties from Tamari , refreshing matcha creations from Tokyo Matcha Bar and Cafe , and sweet mochi treats by Mochi Co. Offering a captivating blend of music and art, the event successfully immersed guests in the vibrant spirit of Japanese culture.
Renowned for its groundbreaking innovations in computing technology, GIGABYTE Technology continues to spearhead advancements that redefine the industry. From January 7 to 10, 2025, GIGABYTE will participate in CES, showcasing its latest breakthroughs in high-performance computing and personal computing solutions.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210228184/en/

The Next Gen of AI Awaits, GIGABYTE Sets the Benchmark for HPC at CES 2025 (Photo: Business Wire)

Under the theme "ACCEVOLUTION," GIGABYTEs booth will present a diverse range of cutting-edge technologies. Highlights include:

Rack-scale cluster computing solution for large-scale data centers

for large-scale data centers AI servers supporting next-generation  superchips 

Advanced cooling technologies that optimize energy efficiency and performance

that optimize energy efficiency and performance Workstations tailored for smaller-scale workloads

tailored for smaller-scale workloads Mini-PCs, embedded systems, and in-vehicle platforms designed for endpoint deployment and commercial applications



Through these innovations, GIGABYTE demonstrates how computational power is driving AI advancement, enabling enterprises, research institutions, academia, and individuals to achieve new milestones in AI innovation across disciplines and scales.

GIGABYTEs commitment to developing high-performance computing products has accelerated global technological progress and advanced AI innovation. Leveraging strong partnerships with industry leaders, GIGABYTE consistently delivers cutting-edge AI server solutions with rapid deployment following each generational upgrade. At CES 2025, GIGABYTE will unveil:

AI servers featuring the AMD Instinct MI300 series, Intel Gaudi 3 accelerators, and NVIDIA HGX superchips.

featuring the AMD Instinct MI300 series, Intel Gaudi 3 accelerators, and NVIDIA HGX superchips. The revolutionary GB200 NVL72 module, touted as the "worlds most powerful" for AI inference, delivering 30x the performance of H100 GPUs.

With its innovative "rack-as-a-GPU" architecture, the GB200 NVL72 sets new standards for AI computing. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience this groundbreaking technology firsthand and engage with GIGABYTE experts on shaping the future of AI-driven solutions.



High-Performance Computing Meets Sustainability

To further accelerate AI evolution, GIGABYTE is redefining cooling efficiency with its all-in-one Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) solutions. This comprehensive system integrates servers, custom cooling kits, and racks with seamless compatibility with CDUs from industry leaders such as CoolIT and Motivair. By addressing the limitations of traditional air cooling, GIGABYTE ensures optimal computational density, enhanced system stability, and energy-efficient operations in modern data centers.

Equipped with the latest AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA processors, GIGABYTEs servers leverage DLC to balance cutting-edge performance with eco-conscious design. By improving cooling efficiency and enabling higher computational output, these solutions meet technological advancement and sustainability in both ends.

Driving AI Commercialization and Embedded Innovations

GIGABYTEs expertise in motherboard design has positioned it as a key player in industrial computing and AI commercialization. Collaborating with NVIDIA, GIGABYTE offers embedded systems powered by Jetson Orin modules, widely adopted across industries servicing purposes of industrial automation, automated optical inspection (AOI), defect detection, edge computing, and robotics. Meanwhile, the BRIX mini-PC series, featuring processors with integrated Neural Processing Units (NPUs), delivers advanced AI user experiences in a compact design.

Accelerating Autonomous Technologies

The convergence of computational power and AI is fueling advancements in autonomous technologies, including self-driving cars, buses, and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). GIGABYTE continues to pioneer smarter, safer solutions in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Telematics, reinforcing its leadership in critical automotive electronics.

Revolutionizing the High-End PC Experience

GIGABYTEs AORUS AI PCs are setting new benchmarks for gamers and professionals, offering features such as:

AI Boost: Dynamic overclocking for intense gaming sessions.

Dynamic overclocking for intense gaming sessions. AI Power Gear: Intelligent GPU toggling for extended battery life during mobile use.

Intelligent GPU toggling for extended battery life during mobile use. AI Generator: On-device generative AI capabilities for seamless productivity.



At CES 2025, GIGABYTE reaffirms its dedication to empowering technological innovation, shaping the future of AI, and delivering groundbreaking solutions across computing ecosystems.

Visit GIGABYTEs CES event page. https://www.gigabyte.com/Events/CES

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210228184/en/
The Safeway on Webster Street in San Franciscos Fillmore District will close early next year. Salgu Wissmath/The Chronicle

Safeway announced on Tuesday that it will close its Webster Street supermarket on Feb. 7, a blow to San Franciscos Fillmore and Japantown neighborhoods that have pushed the grocery chain to keep the struggling store open.

In a letter to Mayor London Breed, Safeway said it had been set to close 11 months earlier, in March of this year, but extended its operations  to provide a greater transition period for the community.

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The company said it was proud of its 40-year history in the Fillmore but that the decision to close the store was made due to ongoing concerns about associate and customer safety, as well as persistent issues with theft. All employees will be assigned to other stores. Pharmacy customers can elect to have their files transferred to other stores, Safeway said.

San Francisco Police Department incident reports include complaints of frequent car break-ins, assaults, loitering and illegal dumping. The stores self-checkout kiosks were removed last December in an effort to reduce theft.

We remain committed to serving San Francisco at our 15 remaining locations, and to ensure that our unionized workforce can perform their jobs in safe and secure working environments, Safeway said.

The Safeway located at 1335 Webster St. in San Francisco will close early next year, despite pleas from neighborhood residents who have voiced how important the store is to the area. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Rev. Erris Edgerly of the Fillmore United Alliance said there would be a community protest and boycott of Safeway starting on Dec. 23.

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Its obvious the community has been struggling, but to just up and leave without calling a meeting, with no alternative for groceries, is upsetting, he said. There was no community outreach at all.

He said the closure would impact the businesses in the neighborhood, as customers use the Safeway parking lot to shop at neighborhood stores as well as the supermarket.

Its going to make a big impact. I was hoping they would at least come to the table and say, This is the issue, lets work it out, he said.

Safeway is in contract to sell the property to Align Real Estate, which is proposing to build about 1,000 housing units along with retail space. It is unclear whether its bid to buy the property has closed; Align did not immediately respond to an inquiry on Tuesday.

Safeway said it is actively working on a transition plan to ensure a smooth and secure closure of the store, while allowing for continued access and traffic flow to neighboring businesses.

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These are difficult decisions we make as a business with more than 255 stores across Northern California, and we do not take it lightly, the store said in a statement. We appreciate the time and resources youve invested in trying to help us find a way to stay open, but unfortunately, the challenges we face are too great to overcome.

In a statement, Breed said she was saddened by the announcement, saying the Safeway has played a central role in bringing community together in the neighborhood. She said she appreciated the companys willingness to stay open an extra 11 months.

She said the city is committed to ensuring that our residents and seniors continue to have access to healthy food, banking and pharmaceutical needs and will be working closely with the community, local businesses and commercial property owners to attract these vital services to existing storefront vacancies.

She said older adults and people with disabilities could get transportation to other grocery stores through the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agencys paratransit programs.

Last month, the neighborhoods supervisor, Dean Preston, urged Breed to start the process that would enable the city to use eminent domain to take control of the Safeway property, in order to redevelop it into affordable housing. Eminent domain is a law that allows the city to take private land for public use.

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Preston has said that along with affordable housing, future redevelopment of the site should include a grocery store. His office issued a letter of inquiry that requested that Breed explore all options, including eminent domain, to acquire the property. Breed was required to respond by Dec. 3.

Breeds office did not immediately respond to an inquiry from the Chronicle about the letter. A representative from Prestons office confirmed Tuesday that Breed has not responded to the request, but added that city leadership could still pursue the eminent domain path, even if the propertys sale to Align Real Estate closes.

Preston said in a statement that closing the store with no replacement is cruel.

I continue to believe that the best path forward to guarantee a future grocery store and affordable housing on this former redevelopment site is for the city to commence negotiations to acquire the site, he said.
Dave Hodges, founder of the Church of Ambrosia, a nondenominational, interfaith organization that supports the use of cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms for spiritual healing, said city officials are driving the church out of San Francisco. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Zide Door, a psychedelic church in San Franciscos South of Market neighborhood, is set to close its doors by the end of this year, citing what Pastor Dave Hodges described as harassment by city officials.

The controversial church, one of two Bay Area branches of the Church of Ambrosia, offers psilocybin mushrooms as a spiritual sacrament to its 120,000 members.

Hodges, who founded the Church of Ambrosia in 2019, claimed in a press release Tuesday that San Franciscos Planning Department imposed excessive and unwarranted structural demands on the churchs location at 1121 Howard St., many of which were not required when the church opened in 2023.

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He claimed the agency requested costly upgrades to the building, including specialized shutters for broken windows.

Hodges said that the church had already spent $150,000 on upgrades to the building but could not afford the additional $200,000 required to meet the citys demand to upgrade the windows on the first floor, according to SFGATE, which first reported the story (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but operate separate newsrooms.) The windows are boarded up due to repeated break-ins, Hodges added.

Dave Hodges, founder of the Church of Ambrosia, rolls a joint during the Spirituality and Beyond conference and Magic Mushroom Art Fair at Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland on March 30. The Church of Ambrosia is a nondenominational, interfaith organization that supports the use of cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms for spiritual healing. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Records show the city has issued two violation notices for the property, citing safety issues and unpermitted work, including plumbing violations, faulty electrical wiring and inadequate emergency exit signage.

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According to Hodges, the requests are part of a broader effort to shut down the church, which he believes is being targeted due to its unconventional use of psychedelics for spiritual purposes.

Its obviously hostility from people in the Planning Department, he said in a statement, labeling the effort as religious discrimination.

Hodges previously told the Chronicle that consuming mushrooms allows him to connect with God, enabling him to transcend every dimension, heaven, hell and everything in between to end up in a space of pure light.

Building owner Tatiana Takaeva Shiff backed the pastors claims about harassment from the city.

I never had any problems with the planning department until Dave opened the church, she said in a statement.

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The church, which also operates a location in Oakland, will continue to serve its members there, where it has become a hub for those seeking psychedelic experiences under a religious framework.

Despite legal challenges, including a 2020 police raid in Oakland that seized $200,000 worth of cannabis and mushrooms, the church has experienced rapid growth, according to Hodges.

While psilocybin remains illegal in both Oakland and San Francisco, both cities have deprioritized enforcement, leaving the church to operate in a legal gray area.

Daniel Sider, the planning departments chief of staff, has made critical public comments about the churchs activities, with some city officials suggesting that the church may be violating zoning codes by hosting members taking mushrooms in the building.

Hodges has denied these claims, stating that the church does not allow members to consume psilocybin on-site, and that it has worked to address any building code issues.

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He added that the church has worked to improve safety in the area surrounding the previously vacant building by sharing surveillance footage with the police, including a recent stabbing incident. His staff, he said, has also responded to several overdoses by calling emergency services or offering Narcan.

Representatives from the planning department and Mayor London Breeds office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The dispute with the city is set against the backdrop of a broader political climate in California, where efforts to legalize psychedelic-assisted therapy have stalled.

Hodges said that while he is prepared to leave San Francisco, his mission to provide access to psilocybin as a sacrament will continue.

Weve saved lives, the pastor said.

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He said he hopes that under the leadership of Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie, the citys approach to psychedelic churches will change, potentially allowing Zide Door to reopen in the future.
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General Motors has pulled its funding for Cruise, the robotaxi company that began its autonomous driving journey in San Francisco. Danielle Echeverria

General Motors announced Tuesday it is retreating from the robotaxi business.

The Detroit automaker plans to stop funding its Cruise division, which had been testing self-driving cars in San Francisco and other cities, and refocus on partially automated systems for consumer vehicles.

Cruise, which GM acquired in 2016 for over $1 billion, was once seen as a key pillar in the companys vision for the future of transportation.

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The automaker had hoped to build a fleet of driverless robotaxis, with plans to generate $1 billion in annual revenue by 2025.

But mounting challenges, including financial losses and regulatory hurdles, have forced the Detroit automaker to reassess its approach given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market, GM said.

Cruise AV, the General Motors-backed autonomous vehicle company, suspended operations in San Francisco after a 2023 accident on Market Street. It has never returned to the city. Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Perhaps more damaging to the company was a pedestrian-involved crash in San Francisco in October 2023 that exposed serious flaws in the companys safety practices and transparency  as well as eroding public confidence in the technology.

A human hit-and-run driver struck a jaywalking pedestrian, propelling her into the path of one of Cruises robotaxis. The autonomous vehicle attempted to pull over but dragged the victim 20 feet as she was trapped underneath.

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The incident raised questions about Cruises ability to properly handle emergencies and communicate with authorities.

Following an investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fined Cruise $1.5 million for failing to report the crash fully. The fine was part of a broader consent order aimed at improving the companys safety practices, including stricter reporting requirements and more oversight from federal regulators.

Additionally, the California Public Utilities Commission suspended Cruises driverless operations in the state, and the company faced a series of leadership shakeups, including the resignation of founder Kyle Vogt.

That 2023 incident is somewhat similar to a 2018 accident that took the life of a pedestrian in Phoenix after an Uber self-driving car collided with the person. That incident effectively derailed Ubers self-driving car plans.

Despite the financial and reputational damage, GM is not abandoning autonomous vehicles.

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Instead, the company plans to pivot toward developing its Super Cruise system, a hands-free driving technology for consumer vehicles that still requires a human driver to remain present and ready to take control if needed.
The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation at its 85th annual meeting Dec. 3-6 issued its first-ever Social Media Influencer Award, in keeping with the events theme that farmers and ranchers need to tell their stories.

Who is the PR firm for agriculture? award winner Jessie Jarvis, a third-generation farmer and rancher in the King Hill area, told an audience of several hundred people in Boise. It is me and you.

Farm Bureau members should tell their stories  which builds trust, makes ag relatable and tangible, and can help to combat misinformation  even if it means they must get out of their comfort zones to do so, she said.

Im wildly uncomfortable, but Im doing it anyway, she said. Agriculture is the wisest and purest pursuit, and we have to continue to share that message.

Jarvis, who also founded and leads Of the West, a job platform for agriculture and Western industries, was presented the award for her efforts in spreading the word about agriculture through social media and other avenues, according to an IFBF news release.

The award is given to those who go above and beyond to not only support agriculture, but to share agriculture, said Joel Benson, director of the bureaus information division.

You have to be willing to advocate for agriculture, president Bryan Searle said. If you dont tell the story, somebody else will. If somebody else tells that story, it might be false.

You have stories to tell, Benson said. Dont be afraid to tell them.

Every state in America is great  but there is no place like Idaho, and there is no industry like Idaho agriculture, Jarvis said in a social media post following her presentation. I feel so lucky to get to share that story on behalf of my family and all the other hardworking ag families in the Gem State.

The world will have an estimated 9.8 billion people by 2054, and farmers and ranchers will have the responsibility to feed them, said keynote speaker Rick Rigsby, a minister, motivational speaker and author.

What you folks are doing is a calling, he said. You dont walk away from a calling.

State Department of Agriculture director Chanel Tewalt received the Defender of Agriculture Award, the Idaho Farm Bureaus highest award for a state official.

Tewalt is one of us, Searle said in presenting the award. She understands agriculture.  Director Tewalt is a defender of agriculture.

Ag has been foundational in every aspect of my life, Tewalt said. Her relationship with Farm Bureau pre-dates her role as ISDA director.

Other awards went to Bingham County farmers Ralph and Joyce Dayley, Presidents Cup, Idaho Farm Bureaus highest honor; Wilder-area farmers Miguel and Camas Villafana, Achiever; Rigby rancher Paige Nelson, Excellence in Agriculture; Denton Perkins, Discussion Meet winner; and Eliza Dugan of the College of Southern Idaho, Collegiate Discussion Meet winner.

In other action at the annual meeting, the Idaho Farm Bureau House of Delegates voted to add a policy that supports state-funded research to improve and better understand the states aquifers.
A Hawaiian Airlines plane taxis for position at Kahalui, Hawaii, in 2005. A Hawaiian Airlines flight en route from Las Vegas to Honolulu was forced to divert to San Francisco on Wednesday after a passenger required urgent medical attention. Lucy Pemomi/Associated Press 2005

A Hawaiian Airlines flight en route from Las Vegas to Honolulu was forced to divert to San Francisco on Wednesday after a passenger required urgent medical attention.

Flight HA17, which had departed Harry Reid International Airport at 1:39 a.m., was bound for Honolulu on a six-hour journey aboard an Airbus A330-200. The flight carried 263 passengers and 10 crew members, according to an airline spokesperson.

After climbing to 40,000 feet, the aircraft was about an hour into its flight over the Pacific when the crew decided to turn back.

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The flight landed safely at San Francisco International Airport at 5:57 a.m.

Hawaiian Airlines confirmed the diversion was due to a medical emergency involving a passenger.

We diverted our flight to San Francisco International Airport to deplane a passenger requiring medical attention, the airline said in a statement. We plan to resume the flight to Honolulu from San Francisco, and apologize to our guests for the inconvenience.

No further details about the condition of the passenger were available.

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By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

More than 26 million (32 million) has been awarded to an innovative cross-border project that will tackle water pollution in Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

The Water Enhancements through Sustainable Treatment (West) project will see NI Water and Uisce Eireann working to improve water quality in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin, and Donegal Bay  areas of the north-western international river basin district which face toxic pollution issues from agriculture, forestry, urban runoff, and wastewater discharges.

Stormonts Infrastructure Minister John ODowd has welcomed the funding announcement (Liam McBurney/PA)

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), which manages the Peaceplus programme, expects to allocate around 90 per cent of the funding by late spring next year.

Through West, NI Water and Uisce Eireann will work to identify where investment should be made to address pollution.

Outputs from the project will include the development of two strategies and action plans using catchment modelling and sustainable treatment solutions, for acceptance by environmental regulators on both sides of the border.

Additionally, the project will implement four capital wastewater treatment upgrades within Northern Ireland (Belleek and Garrison) and Ireland (Ballybay and Blacklion), to provide improved treatment for at least 5,000 people, with treatment capacity for an additional 1,000.

Beneficiaries of these efforts are expected to include environmental regulators, residents, tourists, the mariculture industry, anglers, surfers, councils, and non-governmental organisations.

The project will be funded under the Water Quality Improvement Programme investment area of the Peaceplus programme.

Stormonts Minister for Infrastructure John ODowd said: The funding includes capital upgrades at both the Belleek and Garrison sites using new wastewater treatment processes which will benefit the border communities by improving water quality in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin and Donegal Bay.

Protecting our water courses, investing, and developing robust catchment modelling and sustainable treatment solutions for our water and sewerage systems, will play an important part in enhancing our environment and ensuring it is equipped for the future.

Darragh OBrien said communities on both sides of the border would benefit from the programme (Niall Carson/PA)

As we tackle the ongoing climate emergency it is more important than ever that we embrace these innovative and sustainable ways of reducing our carbon footprint.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien said: Communities north and south will greatly benefit from the funding for this important and innovative investment in water quality and wastewater capacity.

SEUPB chief executive Gina McIntyre said environmental pressures go beyond borders (SEUPB/PA)

SEUPB chief executive Gina McIntyre said: Our natural environment is one of our most important assets and continued enhancement and protection is critical to future economic and social development.

A clean, green and accessible environment makes a major contribution to people having long, active, healthy lives as well as creating a place where people want to live, visit and invest.

With environmental pressures going beyond borders, the innovative West project considers the entire catchment as a single ecosystem, aiming to promote a greener, lower-carbon environment and decrease threats to local natural habitats.

Underpinned by a strong collaborative approach, the project will introduce unique cross-border catchment models and strategies which, although common in Europe, have never before been trialled on this scale on the island of Ireland.

She added: We are delighted the Peaceplus programme continues to deliver transformational funding at pace, with almost 65 per cent of the programme budget already allocated.

The response to our funding calls to date has been significant, demonstrating the real need and appetite for the investment targeting the various key investment areas.

Peaceplus is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Irish Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive.
By Emily Pennink, PA Old Bailey Correspondent

A serving prisoner has admitted his part in a plot to amass an arms cache to help the UK boss of the Kinahan organised crime gang.

On Wednesday, Peter Keating (43), from Clondalkin in Dublin, admitted two charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm and two offences of plotting to possess ammunition.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Keating entered his pleas by video link from Belmarsh prison in south London but is expected to be sent back to Ireland where he is already serving 12 years for directing a criminal organisation.

Jack Kavanagh (NCA/PA)

Judge Philip Katz KC said he would sentence Keating at England's Central Criminal Court on Thursday alongside Jack Kavanagh (24), from Tamworth, who pleaded guilty to the weapons and ammunition offences after being extradited from Spain.

Kavanagh was arrested in May 2023 at Malaga Airport by officers from the Spanish National Police, as he was travelling from Dubai to Turkey.

He admitted helping his father, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh, in a bid to engineer a reduced jail sentence by duping the UK National Crime Agency (NCA).

Thomas Kavanagh (57) had hoped that by leading the NCA to a buried stash of 11 fearsome weapons, he could influence his sentencing in a multimillion-pound drug-smuggling case.

Running the conspiracy from prison, Kavanagh also enlisted the help of Keating, his brother-in-law, 44-year-old Liam Byrne, and associate Shaun Kent (38).

In May 2021, Thomas Kavanagh provided information to the NCA which led them to a field in Newry, Co Down, where two holdalls were unearthed.

They contained seven machine guns, three automatic handguns, an assault rifle and ammunition.

The plot was foiled after the NCA uncovered incriminating messages on encrypted EncroChat which had been cracked by French counterparts.

Thomas Kavanagh, Liam Byrne and Shaun Kent (NCA/PA)

Between January 2020 and June 2021, the defendants agreed to acquire as many arms as possible from the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland.

At the time, Thomas Kavanagh was in HMP Dovegate where he was serving a three-year sentence for possession of a stun gun and had been remanded on serious drug charges since March 2020.

Those charges related to smuggling multiple kilos of cocaine and cannabis into the UK for which he was sentenced in March 2022 to 21 years in prison.

In September, Kavanagh, Byrne, from Dublin, and Kent, from Liverpool, admitted the weapons and ammunition plots.

Kavanagh and Kent also admitted conspiring with others to pervert the course of justice.

Thomas Kavanagh was jailed for six years for orchestrating the plot which he will serve consecutively with his earlier jail sentences.

Byrne  who fled to Majorca after the events  was jailed for five years while Kent was handed a six-year prison sentence.
By PA Reporter

Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes' suspension and the arrest of a woman on suspicion of the muder of Kyran Durnin feature heavily on Ireland's front pages this Wednesday morning.

The Irish Times lead with a story about a BAM subsidiary securing a major state construction contract, a story about the suspension of new Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes after he admitted lying about when he sold shares in a US company that has been providing the Israel Defense Forces with artificial intelligence tools, a story about the arrest of a woman in relation to the muder of Kyran Durnin, and a story about the McVerry trust paying a director's brother's firm 1.7 million.

The Irish Examiner lead with a story about Syrians seeking asylum in Ireland being left in limbo, a story about Ireland joining G20 after being invited by South Africa, alongside stories about a DPP file being expected on the Kyran Durnin suspect and Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes being suspended.

The Echo leads with a story about the funeral of Vanessa O'Callaghan who died after she was assaulted in Cork last weekend, and a story about Cork city councillors supporing a motion calling for supervised injection facilities in the city centre.

The Irish Independent lead with a story saying that Ivana Bacik has said she has no intention of joining a coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and would only speak to them as a courtesy.

The Irish Daily Star lead with a story about the arrest of a woman on suspicion of the muder of Kyran Durnin.

The Herald lead with a story about the Criminal Assets Bureau seeking possession of the Viper's home in a 1 million tax debt case.

The Irish Daily Mail and Irish Daily Mirror both lead with the story around new Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes and his links with the Israel Defense Forces.

British newspapers

Headlines from Syria dominate the UKs news agenda on Wednesday.

The Times UK and The Guardian report Israel has launched a series of raids on former regime sites in Syria.

The UK Daily Mirror says rebel forces in the country are targeting members of ousted Bashar Assads murderous torture squads.

The Independent UK carries a report from the Middle Eastern country as family members search for loved ones who disappeared under the regime.

Meanwhile, Metro says the man suspected of killing an American healthcare executive was found with a 3D-printed pistol.

At home, The Daily Telegraph leads with Labours plan to build four new prisons within the next seven years in a bid to tackle the overcrowding crisis.

A report has found medical misogyny has created a gynaecology care crisis for women in the UK, according to the UK Daily Mail.

The Sun says Kate Moss has split from her boyfriend after nine years together.

The mother of murdered diplomat Rebecca Dykes has vowed to continue her global campaign to stop violence against women, according to the Daily Express.

The Financial Times reports on a Wall Street boom.

And the UK Daily Star says the boss of Thames Water has defended the firms 770,000 in bonuses for executives.
A federal judge has sided with 19 states seeking an injunction against a Biden administration rule allowing Dreamers  immigrants qualified under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals  to enroll in Affordable Care Act health coverage and qualify for subsidies. Daft_Lion_Studio/Getty Images

A federal judge in North Dakota has ruled in favor of 19 states that challenged a Biden administration rule allowing  for the first time  enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage by people brought to the U.S. as children without immigration paperwork, known as Dreamers.

The move effectively bars those who have qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in those 19 states from enrolling in or getting subsidies for ACA plans. It does not appear to affect enrollment or coverage in other states, lawyers following the case said Tuesday.

The Biden administration is likely to appeal, although a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services representative said in an email that the agency would not comment on the litigation.

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While an appeal may be filed quickly, a final decision may not occur before the incoming Trump administration takes office. They could take a different position on the litigation, said Zachary Baron, a legal expert at Georgetown Law, who helps manage the ONeill Institute Health Care Litigation Tracker.

In the meantime, it is not clear what will happen to Dreamer enrollees in the 19 states whose coverage has already started or begins early next year, although the judges ruling does not say it is retroactive, Baron noted.

The case was filed in August in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota.

Previously, the federal government estimated that about 100,000 uninsured people out of the half-million DACA recipients might sign up starting Nov. 1, the sign-up season start date in all states except Idaho.

The Biden administration rule, finalized in May, clarified that those who qualify for DACA would be considered lawfully present for the purposes of enrolling in plans under the ACA, which are open to American citizens and what are called lawfully present immigrants.

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In granting a preliminary injunction and stay, U.S District Judge Daniel Traynor, who was appointed in 2019 by then-President Donald Trump, noted in his Monday ruling that the plaintiffs were likely to win on the merits of their argument.

States challenging the ACA rule say it will cause administrative and resource burdens as more people enroll, and that it will encourage additional people to remain in the U.S. when they dont have permanent legal authorization. In addition to Kansas and North Dakota, the states that joined the lawsuit are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Judge Traynors ruling is both disappointing and wrong on the law, said Nicholas Espiritu, a deputy legal director of the National Immigration Law Center, in an emailed statement. While we study the courts ruling to evaluate the next steps in this case, we will continue to fight on behalf of our clients and hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who have been waiting over a decade to access life-sustaining care under the Affordable Care Act.

DACA was established through executive action in June 2012 by President Barack Obama, protecting from deportation and providing work authorization to some unauthorized residents brought to the U.S. as children by their families. It had certain requirements, including that they arrived before June 2007 and had completed high school, were attending school, or were serving in the military.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk, co-chair of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency, saw 1,787 H-1B visas approved for employees at his electric car company this year. President-elect Donald Trump tried to end the program during his first presidency. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Immigration attorneys are bracing for President-elect Donald Trump to revive the restrictive immigration policies of his first term, including a 2020 attempt to ban H-1B visas, the temporary work visa for highly skilled foreign workers.

But he may face pushback from two tech executives who backed his campaign and have since joined his administration: megabillionaire Elon Musk and multimillionaire David Sacks.

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About 580,000 people in the U.S. were on H-1B visas in 2019, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services most recent estimate.

Denials of new H-1B visas peaked at 24% in the 2018 fiscal year, with 28,181 rejected, compared with 10% in 2016, the year before Trump took office, according to the National Foundation for American Policy, an Arlington, Va., research nonprofit. In June 2020, Trump issued an executive order suspending the issuance of new H-1B visas and the entry of visa holders into the U.S., claiming it would protect American jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. A judge blocked the order that October, saying it overstepped the presidents authority.

The U.S. government caps the number of H-1B visas issued annually at 65,000, reserving an additional 20,000 for applicants with a masters degree or higher. Together, the total represents 0.05% of the American labor force.

Immigration opponents have argued that the H-1B program takes job opportunities from U.S. workers, but advocates say the foreign workers fill employment gaps. Research from economic, policy and immigration think tanks say the benefits of the program outweigh its potential costs.

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Not only do we need the labor, but employers are playing a chasing game of hoping one of their stellar candidates are selected, said Deepak Ahluwalia, a Fresno immigration attorney.

Trump has not yet clearly articulated his plan for employment-based immigration, but Project 2025, the conservative playbook for a second Trump term, does. It calls for transforming the H-1B program to exclusively bring in employees at the highest wages, which would restrict who is eligible for the program.

That echoes what Trump tried to do in his first term. In April 2017, he issued the Buy American and Hire American executive order that instructed his administration to ensure that H-1B visas are awarded to the most-skilled or highest-paid foreigners.

In his first term, the overreaching philosophy was that any foreign-born individual, no matter how highly skilled, should be prevented from coming to the United States, if possible, said Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy.

The vaguely worded order gave U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services leeway in how to assess those visas, said immigration attorney Prashanthi Reddy, who has many H-1B clients.

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For instance, USCIS ended a long-established policy in which immigration officers deferred to prior decisions, which had meant that H-1B renewals were often successful because the workers had already qualified to obtain the visas in the first place. Trumps policy meant some people who had work visas for years might have their entire application reevaluated and denied.

USCIS also delayed applications by increasing the number of requests for evidence before issuing a decision.

In 2020, at Trumps direction, USCIS required that aspiring visa holders degrees be directly related to the jobs they were being hired for. It also required employers to pay H-1B visa holders higher salaries, making it cost-prohibitive to hire them.

Three courts blocked the actions on the grounds they did not follow proper administrative procedure. Trump was voted out of office before he could reimplement those regulations.

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Im very worried about the path immigration is going to take in the next four years, Reddy said. Based on my experience in the previous term, he might start restrictive immigration policies from Day 1.

Some H-1B immigration advocates believe Musk and other tech executives could be a moderating influence against Trumps would-be immigration advisers, including deputy policy chief Stephen Miller, border czar nominee Tom Homan and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Trumps pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

This year, Tesla became a top-25 employer of H-1B workers for the first time, with 1,787 successful visa petitions, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data.

Musk, Teslas CEO or technoking, Musks preferred title, has been tapped by Trump to head a new Department on Government Efficiency. Though its a non-immigration role, Musk holds unofficial influence in Trumps inner circle.

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Musk did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk came to the U.S. as a University of Pennsylvania student and later worked illegally on a student visa for a Stanford University graduate program he never enrolled in to launch his tech start-up career, the Washington Post reported.

Sacks, a tech venture capitalist who has said tech CEOs want more H-1B visas, was appointed by Trump last week as his new AI and crypto czar, overseeing regulation for those industries. Sacks, from Cape Town, South Africa, said he became a U.S. citizen in 1982.

Trump appeared in June on the All-In podcast co-hosted by Sacks, tech investor Jason Calacanis and two other tech entrepreneurs. Calacanis asked Trump if he would support expanding H-1B visas for tech workers.

The more important point, I think, Mr. President, is we need high-skilled workers in this country, Calacanis said. Can you please promise us you will give us more ability to import the best and brightest from around the world to America?

Trump responded, I do promise, but I happen to agree, thats why I promise. Otherwise, I wouldnt promise.

Trump then said he thought college graduates should be given a green card to stay in the country.
Despite facing painful personal losses, Samantha Sam Ekey has earned her associate degree in Adult Echocardiography at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC).

Ekey, who overcame a traumatic brain injury sustained in high school, will cross the stage at GNTCs 2024 Fall Commencement Ceremony at the Dalton Convention Center on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. She lives in Floyd County and attends classes at GNTCs Floyd County Campus in Rome.

The last six months have been unexplainably painful and emotionally distressing, she said. I am so thankful for the wonderful people I have met through this program. I met my best friends, and they were always checking on me and are always so supportive.

This year Ekey has faced some excruciating experiences. Her grandmother had a stroke and was admitted to Atrium Health Floyd. Her father passed away at age 49 earlier this semester, she said.

Less than a month later, her grandfather was run over by a vehicle in a grocery store parking lot in Rome; he was transferred to a hospital in Chattanooga where he underwent multiple surgeries and an amputation but survived and is recovering.

Ekey said she stayed in class after her fathers death because he would have wanted her to finish her degree.

I was so close to the finish line, and I knew my dad would not have wanted me to quit or sulk, she said, adding that her younger sister endured the same losses and deserved more years with their father.

Neither one of us will have our father at our wedding to walk us down the aisle, but I will always be there for her, Ekey said. We are going to cope in a healthy way: crying when needed, being angry when needed, feeling sad, feeling happy and all while living a life full of grief we never imagined.

Ekey began her clinicals at Atrium Health Floyd in June. She completed her graduation requirements the day before Thanksgiving and had to make up some clinical time she missed upon her fathers death, she said.

Sam has shown great tenacity in the final semester of the program, said Trevor Roberts, clinical coordinator of Ultrasound programs and instructor of Adult Echocardiography at GNTC. With the loss of her father, the serious injury to her grandfather and her grandmother suffering from a stroke, Sam did miss some classes. However, Sam has shown determination and grit. She dug her heels in deep and fought to complete the program.

Ekey said she was impressed that her young cousin who has tetralogy of Fallot has lived her life as if she never had a congenital heart defect because the condition was diagnosed with Echocardiography, Ekey explained. Tetralogy of Fallot changes blood flow through the heart and to the rest of the body; patients with this rare condition need surgery to repair the heart.

I first wanted to be a physical therapist, then an occupational therapist and then a speech therapist before I landed on Echocardiography, Ekey said. I think I definitely made the right call (to go into Echocardiography).

Echocardiography uses ultrasound to create an image of the heart that doctors can use to diagnose and manage heart conditions.

She chose GNTCs Echocardiography program because she had taken Dual Enrollment classes through GNTC and knew it would be an affordable option for her, she said. She feels the program has prepared her well for her career.

We do a lot of hands-on learning in the lab, Ekey said. We performed an echocardiogram and then wrote a report that was graded to prepare us for all parts of the profession.

At clinicals, we perform echocardiograms while also providing patient care, Ekey said. I love interacting with our elderly patients and our youngest patients, the babies.

Ekey has already completed a certificate in Health Care Science at GNTC.

Her short-term goal is to earn her credentials as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS), she said. Her long-term goals are to have a family, live on their farm and continue to perform echocardiograms and care for her grandparents and mother in their old age.

Sam has worked hard from the very beginning of the program, Roberts said. Her perseverance and consistency caught my attention early in the program.

Roberts characterized Ekey as relatable, personable and humorous.

Sam will talk to anyone who will participate in conversation, and this will make her an excellent healthcare hero, Roberts said. Many times, patients just need to talk to someone to feel better. Sam is the kind of person who can make a quick-witted comment and put someone on the floor with laughter.

Ally Alred, an RDCS at Atrium Health Floyd, described Ekey as dedicated, personable and resilient. Alred said Ekey is also an independent thinker who performs tasks well without much instruction and is always meeting goals she sets for herself.

Samanthas resiliency shows in her ability to work professionally and respectfully even though she has faced multiple adversities in her time here with us, Alred said. She is dedicated to improving her skills and takes every opportunity to grow her knowledge in this field.

Alred said Ekey is detail-oriented, open to constructive criticism and takes initiativeall of which are important qualities in producing quality diagnostic imaging for both physicians and patients. Ekeys preceptors have been impressed with her progress during her time with at Atrium Health Floyd.

Our team at Atrium Health Floyd all feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to mentor Samantha, Alred said. We appreciate her willingness to learn and her openness to new ideas. I speak for the entire Echocardiogram lab when I say that Samantha will succeed wherever she goes in life and in this field.

Roberts echoes the opinion that Ekeys disposition and work ethic will carry forward to her career.

Her future co-workers will experience a team player, and her patients will experience a skilled cardiac sonographer who truly cares about the well-being of the patients she treats, Roberts said.
Lee University has named Bank of Clevelands Chairman and CEO Scott Taylor as Honorary Alumnus of the Year.

Im so pleased that Scott is this years honorary alumnus, said Lee president Dr. Paul Conn. He is one of Clevelands most admired business leaders. His bank has gained a reputation for success and effectiveness in a very tough economic environment. His friendship for Lee is unparalleled in this community. Were proud to call him a Lee alum!

Mr. Taylor, a native of Bradley County, has held leadership roles for numerous local organizations, including serving as vice chair of the Cleveland Bradley Industrial Development Board. He also serves on the Cleveland State Community College Foundation Board, Cleveland 100, and is an active member of MainStreet Cleveland.

A graduate of Cleveland High School, Mr. Taylor attended Cleveland State Community College and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He began his 49-year banking career at Merchants Bank in 1975 and was one of the founding members of Bank of Cleveland, which opened its doors in 1987. Under his leadership, the bank has grown to become one of the top-performing financial institutions headquartered in Tennessee.

Mr. Taylor and his late wife, Sharon, who passed away in 2021, have two children, Clint and Clarke. He also has two daughters-in-law, Beth and Kristen, and four grandchildren: Caleb, Boone, Thomas, and Will.
The Chattanooga Commercials headlines on Friday, June 10, 1887, shared the tragic news of an explosion and fire at Standard Gas Machine Works, resulting in injuries and death. General Manager Reeves Badly Injured - - Fireman Iler Killed and Matt Peak Fatally Injured and Dies in a Few Hours. Explaining that the church bells being tolled across the city were a tribute to the two brave lads, the writer waxed quite poetically by adding that the clanging bells which woke them from their last sleep on earth will never again call them to duty here.

Both men had responded to the alarm signaling a furious fire following a gas explosion that had then ignited barrels of gasoline stored in the building, eventually triggering a second explosion and the collapse of the wall. The tragedy was witnessed by W. A. Wammack, a street car driver, who had arrived on-site just moments before the second explosion. They were buried under the wall.

Two days after the accident, the city staged a public funeral service for both firefighters. Friday both bodies had laid in state at Lookout Hall, located on the corner of Ninth and Popular Street. The hall had been tastefully decorated with black and white drapes and the engine and carriage had been parked outside. The two firefighters lay in open, handsome caskets covered with black velvet and silver mounting, heaped with flowers from family and friends so that only their faces were visible. Each mans battered and muddied fire hat hung at the head of his coffin. Both caskets bore a silver plate with the name of the individual occupant and the inscription Rest in Peace. A mounted wall sign proclaimed, on behalf of the local firefighters, God Bless Our Comrades.

From 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., thousands of individuals streamed through the hall to take a farewell look at the features of the unfortunate men. Tears, sobs and softly-whispered prayers were a constant reminder of the tragic event. At six pm, the hall closed. Henry Ilers body was taken by hearse to his brothers home on East Ninth, accompanied by the Market Street Fire Hall Company. Matt Peaks body remained in the hall overnight.

All Chattanooga businesses were requested to close from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday and all other activities in the city and county were cancelled.

At 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, both bodies would be transported from Lookout Hall to the Presbyterian Church at 7th and Georgia Avenue. The entourage was carefully planned: A military band led the procession, playing funeral dirges, followed by the hearses. Then in order processed the Odd Fellows in full regalia, the ministers, the families of the deceased, members of the Chattanooga Fire Department, the Knights of Labor, Chattanooga elected and appointed officials and Hamilton County elected and appointed officials. Citizens were encouraged to join the procession as it moved from Ninth Street to Georgia Avenue, up Georgia to Seventh, into the Presbyterian Church or scattered across the streets and in the Court House yard as needed. The Reverend M. M. Wamboldt had been asked to preside with assistance from Dr. Bachman and Dr. Warner. The First Presbyterian Church choir, along with family members, furnished the music.

Following the service, all would accompany the young men on their final journey - - down Georgia Avenue to Ninth, Ninth to Market, Market to Cowart, Cowart to Montgomery and Whiteside and finally to Forest Hills Cemetery. The Grand Marshall of the funeral procession was Joe Toler and Dr. T. C. Warner served as the Grand Chaplain. Odd Fellow members Bengtston, Rowden, Case and McDaniels along with two firefights would serve as pall bearers for Peak while Ilers family had requested two firemen and four Knights of Labor. Once the bodies had been lowered into their side-by-side graves, the Odd Fellows service would be held for Matt Peak and Dr. Wamboldt would offer the final spiritual remarks for both. Reverend Warners benediction echoed the prayers of the people. God, in Thine infinite wisdom take these men into Thy Care and Keeping.

By Saturday afternoon, conversation had begun regarding an appropriate memorial for the heroic firemen and the Times Printing Company offered to collect donations. Their donation of $100 was joined by tens of other individuals and businesses including the Mutual Real Estate Association, Tom Fort, T. A. Snow, D.B. Loveman and Co., Simpson Brothers, Divine, Vaudry and Company, C. E. Stivers, Thomas L. Cate and others. By 3 p.m., more than $500 had been collected.

-----

Linda Moss Mines is the Chattanooga and Hamilton County Historian.
Orange Grove Center and Chattanooga State Community College announces that 25 students have graduated from the new Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program in its first year of operation. The program, which takes place in a dedicated space on Orange Grove Centers main campus on Derby Street, is an intensive two-week course involving classroom and experiential learning which culminates in students taking the State of Tennessee CNA Licensure Exams, which test both knowledge and skills.Orange Groves mission has always been to provide the highest quality of care possible to the people it supports.One of the ways we do that is by constantly looking at how we train staff. The State of Tennessee provides excellent and required training materials for new staff, as well as annual refresher courses, we wanted to look for ways we could do more, said Orange Grove CEO Tera Roberts. We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Chattanooga State to offer this program.Students in the program are hired by Orange Grove Center upon completing all required background checks prior to participating in the program. The CNAs are enrolled in the program through Chattanooga State, and will receive their certification from the college upon completing the class.This Friday is the annual Founders Day at Orange Grove, where staff and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) alike are celebrated and recognized for their contributions to the center. Part of this years event includes a pinning ceremony for the CNA school graduates, who will commemorate their achievement.The start-up costs for the CNA program are funded in part by the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Southeast Tennessee Development District, as well as private funders, said Heidi Hoffecker, Orange Groves director of development. We are delighted to count on the support from our community in offering this certification program as a commitment to the people we support and our staff. Elevating our staff elevates care, and everyone benefits.The ceremony will be attended by representatives from Orange Grove and Chattanooga State and be held in the Orange Grove cafeteria from 1-2 p.m.For more information about current programs, visit Orange Groves official website at orangegrovecenter.org.
Please accept this letter as a strong recommendation for attorney Janie Varnell as she seeks appointment as the county attorney for Hamilton County. It is my pleasure to submit this recommendation on behalf of Southern States Police Benevolent Association's Tennessee Division. The TN Division represents 292 current law enforcement officers working for agencies within Hamilton County.

Ms. Varnell has been representing our Tennessee law enforcement members for the past 10 years after she began working with the Davis and Hoss law firm in Chattanooga. PBA's relationship with the Davis and Hoss firm extends back more than two decades. The firm's integrity has always been of the highest level and Ms. Varnell quickly became an attorney we found to be of equal caliber. The level of detail and commitment she provides is directly reflected in the outcomes she achieves for our members, whether through civil lawsuit defense, administrative proceedings, or criminal defense. This can only be accomplished through a great level of effort, skill and attention to detail from the moment she becomes involved in a case. Not on just one case, but every case time after time for the past decade.

One of her greatest gifts is her pragmatic approach to cases. She possesses the legal acumen of knowing how to litigate in difficult legal matters, but also the wisdom of knowing when that is not the best option. This trait places her within a select few attorney we can count on to handle the most difficult cases our member's face.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if I or anyone in our organization can provide additional information to support Ms. Varnell's appointment. Ms. Varnell's service will be missed, but I highly recommend her efforts to serve as the county attorney.

Gene Sasscer

SSPBA TN Division President
Matt Justice is now officially the full-time town manager for Signal Mountain. He was chosen with unanimous support from the council. In his role as the Signal Mountain Water Company Director and two stints as interim town manager, Mr. Justice has shown that he is more than capable of moving the town forward, said Vice Mayor Clay Crumbliss.

Councilman Andrew Gardner said that in the four years he has been on the council that there were two rounds in the first search for a town manager without hiring anyone. Then there was the third round of another very expensive and extensive search, and Signal Mountain was again looking for a long-term town manager. He said that in the three months that Matt Justice has had the interim job, he feels that more progress has been made than had been made under any other manager. Mayor Elizabeth Baker said that Mr. Justice "is far more qualified than people we paid to interview the last time."

After the vote with no opposition, a resolution passed to negotiate an employment agreement with Matt Justice The negotiations will include any agreement about residency status. The current ordinance says the town manager must live in the town of Signal Mountain. That requirement will be eliminated because Mr. Justice does not live in Signal Mountain or in the state of Tennessee. "Why would you allow residency to narrow the application pool when Mr. Justice is the right candidate?" asked the vice mayor.

But Signal Mountain resident Gail Green questioned the decision. She said there is nothing personal at all about Matt Justice being the town manager but because of the "unfortunate events"' surrounding that job after past town manager Elaine Brunnell left. That is when the unsuccessful searches began.

I am left with more questions than answers," said Ms. Green, adding that the new commissioners should be questioning the process. She said Matt Trollinnger had not been given a formal list of grievances or the opportunity to correct them. And that because there were only brief minutes of the meeting when he was let go, the public does not have all the facts about why it happened Something doesnt add up, she said. People are watching and wanting to know the answer to this question.

Ms. Green has asked the same questions before, said Vice Mayor Crumbliss, yet she continues to bring up the issue. He told her that she was welcome to call himself or the other council members with questions. It was done in a way that wasnt transparent so people have to ask questions if they want to know the answers, she said, and asking council members individually is still not in public she said, while leaving the podium.

"You are entitled to free speech," said Vice Mayor Crumbliss, but he said asking speculative questions becomes a story itself. "Ask us first. Creating a bigger story doesnt help anything, he said.

There is a legal reason that it is not being discussed in public that opens the city up to liability, said the mayor.

Mayor Elizabeth Baker will meet with Town Attorney Harry Cash and Mr. Justice about negotiating his salary. At this time he is doing two jobs with the annual pay of the lower job as water company director. The pay adjustment for his new job cannot be made before an agreement between him and the town is approved at a special called meeting Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Once he signs a contract, the advertisement for a new water department manager can be posted.

In regular town business, the council approved the proposal to offer a lower priced library membership. There will be the option now to have an electronic membership for $35 per year for people who live outside of the town versus the $70 for the traditional membership. There is no cost for residents of Signal Mountain to use the library.

This year what could go wrong, did, when it comes to leaves, said Mayor Baker. With two leaf trucks available, first one went down and then the other. The new public works director, Wesley Stokes, has been with the town around a year and he inherited some significant maintenance and equipment issues, she said, but he has handled it well, Now the department is working through the issues to remove leaves because the giant piles are not safe. Residents are asked to keep the roads clear until public works can pick them up. The first round of pick-ups is being prioritized now, said Town Manager Justice. And he said that now, maintenance checks are being made on equipment before taking it out to make sure maintenance is up to date.
County Commission members on Wednesday praised County Mayor Weston Wamp's choice of Janie Parks Varnell as the next county attorney.

The commission next week is set to vote on resolutions that would put attorney Varnell on the county payroll in January and have her take over as county attorney in July. One resolution says County Attorney Rheubin Taylor would stay on as contract attorney through the end of 2025.

County Attorney Taylor said at the end of the discussion that he did not ask for a two-year extension on his contract, but he said some commissioners had asked him to stay on.

He said from the comments it appears that the commissioners favor attorney Varnell moving into the post, and he said, "That's fine with me."

He said of attorney Varnell, "I don't know her. I have never met her, but I have heard nothing but good things about her."

County Attorney Taylor then told commissioners the two resolutions "are in violation of our contract."

Commissioners said that apparently will require the commission to get their own attorney on the issue, since County Attorney Taylor would have a conflict.

County Attorney Taylor also said, "There was no threat of legal litigation. I just raised a legal issue."

County Mayor Wamp, upon coming into office, sought to fire County Attorney Taylor, and a lawsuit ensued. County Attorney Taylor won and the county had to pay over $200,000 in legal bills.

County Mayor Wamp said under the new arrangement the county attorney would not have a contract, but be a county employee.

Attorney Varnell agreed not to do any outside legal work.

Attorney Varnell, who had a host of supporters with her, said she was clear that she would work with both the administration and the commission without special loyalty to one.

She said she had not been told a salary, but was agreeable with the amount now paid the county attorney.

Attorney Varnell said she had no staff changes in mind. She said attorneys Dee Hobbs and Sharon Milling could stay on.

Several commissioners said they wanted to know what the salary would be prior to voting next week.

It was not clear where at the courthouse attorney Varnell would be working for the next six months.

Commissioner Gene-o Shipley said it appeared that actions of County Mayor Wamp were often "picked on" by the commission, whereas prior county mayors had much smoother sailing. He said County Mayor Wamp "is gouged every time he makes a move. He could bring us a gold brick and it wouldn't weigh enough."

The Wamp transition plan includes for attorney Varnell:

January 2025

Main objectives will be to get to know the structure and function of the office: sit down with all employees, meet them, learn what they do, how the office runs, office management practices, case management systems. Review current cases, policies and procedures. Attend all county commission and legal meetings with R. Taylor. Become familiar with Department of Risk Management and participate in interview process for Risk Manager position recently vacated by Bill Stolls retirement.

Request access to:

 Case management systems

 Digital files (if they exist)

 Standard operating procedures

 Historical legal opinions

 Template libraries



February 2025

Start becoming acquainted with other County departments. Begin setting up one-on-one meetings with the commissioners to learn how they work with the County Attorney on a daily basis, seek input on how the County Attorneys office works well, and ways the office could run more efficiently. Begin setting up meetings with County administrators and department heads to have the same conversations.

Continue attending all County Commission meetings.



March/April 2025

Evaluate all ongoing cases for status and priority. Identify any areas of litigation needing immediate attention or resources. Explore developing or changing case management system for July 1 rollout.

Assess staff skills and areas for improvement or extra support, professional development.

Begin assessing Tennessee Public Records Act response protocols. Review all policies and procedures for the County's response to public records requests. Meet with county staff responsible for responding to public records requests to clarify policies and procedures.

Review budget request with R. Taylor and Lee Brouner in preparation for budget process.

May 2025

Attend 2024 Annual Conference of the TN County Attorneys Association May 3-4.

Begin to handle the majority of legal opinions. Begin developing office priorities for FY 2026. Become lead contract review with assistance of R. Taylor or D. Hobbs.

Determine staff strengths and weaknesses. Determine staffing priorities, building upon any existing staff and posting listings for vacant positions or new positions.

If necessary, consult with community partner, Chattanooga City Attorney's Office regarding their policies and procedures concerning public records requests. Identify strengths and weaknesses in our protocols, ensure full compliance with state and federal public records laws, and begin to modify/develop efficient public records request protocols.



Finalize any budgetary needs for office to run as efficiently as possible.



June 2025

Complete handover of all active matters.

Establish new office protocols. Finalize new hiring decisions/interviews of new employees. One on one meetings with Commissioners prior to July 1 to check in on progress of transition and goals for the coming year.



July 2025  September 2025

Assume role of County Attorney.

Focus during this period of time will be on establishing a new chapter of the County Attorneys office, establishing new policies and procedures, modernizing computer systems and case management systems, and case review to determine whether there are cases that can be resolved.

Establish regular meetings with County Commissioners and check-in points that meet their schedule and needs.

Implement goal of ensuring the County Attorneys office has a more proactive public stance. Renew partnerships with HC DAs office, HCSO, HC Mayors Office, etc. Regular meetings with representatives with those offices to renew partnerships and learn where the County Attorney can be best utilized.

This will also be the final period of time where any employee of the County Attorneys office will be permitted to maintain outside employment. A reasonable transition period (TBD) will be given to wind down any outside practice or employment.

October  December 2025

Focus during this period is to close any outstanding matters with R. Taylor, make any final changes to staff, review policies and procedures. Final case review with R. Taylor, D. Hobbs and S. Milling to ensure we are up to date on all deadlines, etc. Final preparations for the retirement of R. Taylor on December 31, 2025.



KEY THEMES THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION PERIOD:

All interactions with R. Taylor will be structured as follows:

 Regularly scheduled formal transition meetings with clear agendas

 Document all discussions in writing

 Focus questions on process and procedure, not judgment calls

 Maintain written records of all advice received

Focus on building relationships with key staff who have institutional knowledge that can

fill gaps,



including but not limited to:

 Deputy attorneys

 Legal assistants

 Department heads

 Commission staff

Establish parallel learning channels by connection with county attorneys in nearby jurisdictions, as well as our city attorney, to gain institutional knowledge.
A wave of lenders leaving New Zealand has at least one industry expert warning that any planned reforms will be too little, too late to fix regulatory settings that miss the mark.

With the market concentrating into fewer banks and secondary financial services providers, General Capitals managing director Brent King says competition is being stifled, with consumers potentially paying more than they should for financial services from a diminishing pool of providers.

When competition is reduced, its customers who suffer while incumbents prosper. At the same time, innovation is reduced, meaning the customer doesnt benefit from the latest advances in efficiency or new product development, King says.

In early 2023, HSBC signalled the closure of its local retail banking operations. More recently, non-bank mortgage lenders Bluestone Home Loans and Resimac have indicated they are exiting New Zealand. In February, Indias Bank of Baroda was looking to sell its local operations, and Koreas KB Kookmin in November said it too is shuttering its Kiwi subsidiary.

While the complete picture of why so many lenders are leaving is complex, King believes regulatory settings are a significant component of the problem. Theres an obvious bottom line here, which is whatever is being done now isnt working for the market. Lenders are leaving, and that puts the New Zealand public at a disadvantage.

Tyranny comes in many forms, but financial services in the modern age easily overcome New Zealands historical one of distance, says King. In fact, he believes the country has things going for it which could  given the right regulatory environment and tax incentives  underpin a thriving financial services sector. We should play to our advantages. Were the first to get the day started, were broadly aligned with multiple Asian time zones and a good overlap with the American markets, and we have a stable political climate. We should be attracting financial service providers with these factors.

But with quite the opposite happening, King points to the possibility of a tyranny of a different sort.

French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville aptly described the risks of excessive regulation in 1840, writing that the sovereign power covers the surface of society with a network of small, complicated, minute, and uniform rules, which the most original minds cannot break through; it does not break wills, but it softens and directs them; it rarely forces action, but it constantly opposes your acting; it hinders, it represses, it enervates, it extinguishes, it stupefies.

Any regulation favours incumbents at the expense of new market entrants, King says. Big banks routinely deliver profits running into several billion dollars. They have entire departments of people handling regulatory compliance, and if new regulations emerge, they quickly allocate a team to handle it.

Sheer scale means the relative cost of compliance, in other words, is significantly lower  while the pockets of the incumbent are significantly deeper. In our case, were obliged to grow every year only to see that growth consumed in compliance costs.

It isnt only excessive regulation that worries King, but its uneven application to market participants by multiple agencies. The Commerce Commission is tasked with facilitating competition, yet he says its actions often have the opposite effect. Then theres the Reserve Bank, which King says has an understandable but unhelpful (for competition) approach of making the provision of financial services safer for customers, at the expense of ease for operators. Far from advocating for the baby to be thrown out with the bathwater, he says that while regulations are necessary, balance is required  but absent. Excessively protecting consumers, at some point, starts harming them through higher costs and reduced competition.

Then, says King, some second-tier lenders are effectively tied to the banks, borrowing from them and marketing financial services on the strength of those loans, without attracting the same compliance costs. This further skews the market in favour of the incumbents.

King says having been faced with the overwhelming evidence of so many providers leaving New Zealand, the coalition Government has signalled its intention to take action. In January 2024, the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs announced plans to reform aspects of New Zealands financial services regulation, aiming to streamline the landscape and remove unnecessary compliance costs.

However, while positive, this development has come too late for those which have left, or are planning to leave the market.

Right now, the question is: what if we lose another one or two of the smaller banks? We need diversity of supply and with that, connections into the global finance world. We need, for example, strong financial ties with trading partners like India and Korea. And more than anything else, we need a strong, vibrant and competitive sector so customers enjoy choice, access to innovation, and  in these tough economic times  the possibility of lower prices for borrowings.

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First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. | Photo Credit: Website/ FPC Dallas

First Presbyterian Church of Dallas (FPC Dallas) announced on Sunday that it will be acquiring CitySquare's Opportunity Center, which spans 53,000 square feet.

This move will enable the churchs community ministry, The Stewpot, to relocate and expand its programs. The Stewpot has been dedicated to assisting underserved communities for nearly 50 years and has experienced a significant rise in the number of people it serves.

According to church officials, they noted that The Stewpot's programs have grown by three times in recent years, making its current location on Young Street insufficient to meet the increasing demand.

The new facility will boost The Stewpot's capacity to serve thousands, including providing over 1,000 meals daily at The Bridge downtown, along with essential support services such as housing assistance, mental health resources, and healthcare.

Founded in 1856, FPC Dallas is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination and is situated in downtown Dallas. The Stewpot is among several ministries of the church, including the FPC Day School, Encore Park, and the FPC Dallas Foundation, all of which aim to transform the city as ministries of reconciliation, peace, and justice.

Brenda Snitzer, executive director of The Stewpot, expressed enthusiasm about the move: The Stewpot is excited to continue our mission to serve our community in this new space. This facility will allow us to better deliver our programs and continue to support the 12,000 people we serve annually through CitySquare's Neighbor Resource Center and Food Pantry programs.

As of this acquisition, The Stewpot will continue two core programs from CitySquarethe Food Pantry and the Neighbor Resource Centerensuring a seamless transition for those who rely on these vital services. The Neighbor Resource Center assists clients with housing options, SNAP, WIC, healthcare, financial assistance, mental health services, and more.

CitySquare's Opportunity Center is located at the corner of Malcolm X Boulevard and I-30, just a mile from The Stewpot's current site.

In 2025, The Stewpot plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a series of milestone events themed 50 Years of Loving Our Neighbors. Since its inception in 1975, The Stewpot has provided over 8 million meals and has aided countless individuals in breaking free from homelessness and poverty through housing, education, stabilization, and more.
Presidentoon Yoon Suk Yeol delivered a public statement on December 7th at the presidential office building in Yongsan, Seoul, before the National Assembly's plenary session vote on the presidents impeachment. | Photo Credit: Newsis

Amid a national crisis resulting from the Democratic Party of Koreas paralysis of state affairs and parliamentary dictatorship, President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law under the authority granted by the Constitution. This was an unavoidable decision made to protect the Constitution and the sovereignty of the people, asserted the Ten Million Koreans' Grand Alliance for Defending the Free Democratic System and Constitutional Order of the Republic of Korea in an appeal on Tuesday.

More than 300 civic groups, including the Korea Christian Association Institutional Council, the Korea Restoration Association, the Korea Freedom Association, the Korea Christian Conservative Federation, the Korea Christian Association, and the Korea Church Press, were listed as solidarity organizations.

In the appeal, the group said, Corruption within the election system and the National Assembly created a threat comparable to civil war, leaving the president with no choice but to take action to address the situation.

In addition, According to Article 77 of the Constitution, the President has the authority to declare martial law during times of national crisis, which is a legitimate act under constitutional procedures. This measure will be noted as one of the most peaceful and shortest instances of martial law in the history of constitutional governance.

The group stated, South Koreas election system is mired in opacity and suspicion of fraud. Evidence of election fraud uncovered through the investigations by the National Intelligence Service(NIS) and the Board of Audit and Inspection indicates that the sovereignty of the people has been seriously violated, adding that Acts that undermine the sovereignty of the people threaten the foundation of liberal democracy and must be rectified.

The NIS confirmed in July of last year that the election was fraudulent due to computer manipulation through forensics of the National Election Commission (NEC) server, the group stated. Additionally, the NISs security inspection in October of last year revealed that the NECs election system is easily manipulable, vulnerable to external hacking, has a password of 12345, and a security score of 31.5 points, which is the lowest among all state agencies.

The group emphasized, Election fraud is a crime of rebellion that deprives people of their sovereignty. This is why the president had no choice but to declare martial law to secure the data from the NEC, expose the fraudulent election, and protect the sovereignty of the people.

It also stated, President Yoon Seok-yeols decision was a sacrifice to protect the free Republic of Korea. Let us all unite to eradicate anti-state forces, defend the values of liberal democracy, and build a proud future for the Republic of Korea.
Tremonte Smith(24), a resident of Chesapeake is facing charges of attempted second-degree murder after entering a Virginia church armed. | Screenshot/ Youtube/ 13News Now

A 24-year-old man has been charged with attempted second-degree murder and other offenses after allegedly entering a Virginia church armed during a worship service.

Tremonte Smith, a resident of Chesapeake, entered the Divine Church of Deliverance and Transformation Holiness in Suffolk, Virginia, on Sunday. He approached the podium in the sanctuary before being physically subdued by Pastor Brian Outlaw.

The Suffolk Police Department reported that they responded to a call shortly after noon regarding gunshots fired inside the church.



The police stated, The subject was carrying a firearm and shot one round in the direction of the staff member; however, the staff member was not injured. The subject was detained in the establishment by bystanders in attendance until Suffolk Police arrived. No other injuries were reported.

The man is facing charges of attempted second-degree murder, firing a weapon inside an occupied building, and using a firearm during the commission of a felony.

In response to the situation, Pastor Outlaw shared a statement on the churchs Facebook page Sunday evening to reassure the community, stating, I want to assure everyone that the safety and well-being of all involved remain our top priority.

He expressed gratitude for the prompt actions taken during the incident, asserting, We are grateful for the swift and appropriate actions taken, and we continue to pray for peace and resolution. Our focus, as a church, is on healing.

We understand that there are many emotions and questions, but we ask that, above all, we come together in love and prayer. We believe in the power of God's grace and restoration, and we trust that He is working in the midst of this challenging situation, he encouraged.
Home News Man who brought gun to church's live nativity allegedly wanted to 'kill everyone,' police say

A man who allegedly pointed a gun at a police officer who was providing security at an Indiana church's live nativity scene wanted to "kill everyone," according to court documents.

Tyler Leavitt, 40, is facing multiple charges stemming from an incident on Saturday when he came with a gun to a living nativity event being held by Central Ministries of Fort Wayne.

According to court documents reported on by the Fort Wayne-based WPTA News, Leavitt arrived at the church event with his wife and pointed a gun at a policeman providing security.

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From there, he drove about the property while around 100 people were present for the event, with the officer reporting that Leavitt had stated that he "wanted to kill everyone there."

Security eventually stopped him from driving into the crowd and disarmed him. Leavitt crashed his pickup truck into a nearby ditch and continued to resist using a knife.

"Officers had to use force to restrain the Defendant and take him into custody because the Defendant would not obey verbal commands," read the affidavit, as quoted by WPTA.

According to authorities, one person was shot but did not receive life-threatening injuries, while a second person suffered minor injuries during the Saturday evening incident.

Leavitt is facing multiple charges, including disorderly conduct, recklessness with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement, pointing a loaded gun at another person, disarming a police officer, battery with a deadly weapon and criminal confinement.

Central Ministries posted a statement on Facebook in the predawn hours of Sunday expressing thankfulness that security was able to successfully protect the attendees.

"We are praising God for His protection tonight," stated the church. "We are ready to show up in the morning for a time of worship to The God who is our peace, our protector, the only God who can turn a tragedy into a beautiful time for the body of Christ to come together."

Senior Pastor Jeremy Helmuth told the congregation during the 9 a.m. service on Sunday morning that "it's been a long night" and he was more "emotional" than he normally was as a result of the incident.

According to Helmuth, the alleged shooter came near the end of the event, as the church was starting to take down the living nativity sets and he was doing a walkthrough of the display.

"Heroes ran into danger to prevent evil," said Helmuth. "People in our flock, in our church, people that risked their lives for the sake of other people. They ran into danger."

"That's not normal. People usually run from danger. They usually hide. We had so many people  but why? It is just because they are doing their duty? Oh, it's much deeper than that."
Home News Christian girl charged with theft after evading rape in Pakistan, father says

A Muslim businessman in Pakistan has falsely charged a 15-year-old Christian girl and two of her relatives with theft in retaliation for leaving his employ following his attempt to rape her, her father said.

Javed Masih, a Catholic vegetable vendor in Dera Usman area of Okara District, Punjab province, said that his daughter, Muskaan Javed, worked as a maid in the house of Muhammad Kamran Haider.

Haider attacked my daughter on Oct. 17 when his wife and children were not at home, Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Fortunately for us, timely arrival of my wife, Nasira Bibi, at his house saved Muskaan from getting raped.

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He said that Muskaan was in a state of shock when she came out of the house, tears flowing down her cheeks.

Upon inquiring, Muskaan told Nasira that Haider had attempted to sexually assault her, taking advantage of being alone in the house. My wife was shocked to hear this, but instead of confronting Haider at that time, she decided to first inform me about the incident, Masih said. Muskaan told us that Haider had made sexual advances and harassed her from the time she began working in his house in September, but she was too scared to tell us.

Masih said he and local elders went to Haiders house, and that the Muslim admitted the attempted rape and apologized, pleading with them not to go to police.

Following his apology, the elders pressured me to pardon him, telling me that pursuing the matter would only bring dishonor to my family and compromise my daughters reputation, Masih said. Fears for Muskaans future forced me to surrender to their demand.

Masih said that his daughter stopped working for Haider, who then on Nov. 16, registered a case with police alleging that she had stolen gold jewelry worth 1 million rupees ($3,583) from his house during her employment.

He has also named me and my son in the First Information Report [FIR], alleging that we had confessed to Muskaans crime and also promised to compensate his loss, he said.

The FIR was baseless and an attempt to punish them for refusing to send Muskaan back to work in his house, he said.

Masih said that his family had remained tightlipped about the attempted rape, but that when Haider implicated them in a fake case, they decided to seek protection from the law.

We obtained pre-arrest bails and joined the investigation, but the polices attitude was very hostile towards us, he said. The investigating officer was influenced by Haider, because of which he wouldnt even listen to us.

A Christian provincial lawmaker in Okara District, Ejaz Augustine, contacted a senior police officer and demanded a fair and transparent investigation into the charges, he said. The lawmakers intervention resulted in investigation of the case by a senior police officer.

More than 50 locals of the area have given statements in our favor, vouching for our honesty and integrity, Masih said. We may be very poor and needy, but we are not thieves. We are being subjected to such false allegations because Haider believes we can be pressured with such tactics.

Masih said that the theft allegation and subsequent appearances before the police have left his daughter traumatized.

Muskaan is still recovering from the shock she suffered at the hands of Haider on Oct. 17, but this theft allegation has left her devastated, he said. Our hearts weep when we see our minor daughter in this situation, but we are helpless and are looking to God to rescue us from this problem.

Augustine, a former provincial minister for human rights and minorities affairs, said he was monitoring the investigation.

Before this matter was brought to my notice, the polices attitude was very hostile towards the Christian family, Augustine told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. However, after I intervened, the investigation was handed over to a senior police officer who has assured me that he will ensure a fair probe.

He said that it was not uncommon for influential or moneyed people in Pakistan to misuse the law to intimidate their victims, especially vulnerable minorities.

Christians in Punjab are often targeted with fake allegations if they dare to take a stand against their powerful oppressors, Augustine said. These false accusations range from serious charges such as blasphemy to demeaning allegations of theft.

Christian women and girls who work as domestic workers or at brick kilns are often targeted by their employers, he said.

This is mainly because the perpetrators think that they can get away with anything since their victims are too weak to oppose them, Augustine said. Moreover, there is no easy access to justice for poor Christians, which discourages many to suffer in silence.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News
Home News Researchers question retraction of studies showing risks of chemical abortions

Pro-life researchers are questioning an academic publishing company's decision to retract studies that suggested significant health risks associated with taking chemical abortion drugs as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a case related to the abortion pill.

Sage Publishing announced Monday that it had retracted three studies, citing undeclared conflicts of interest and issues with the researchers' conclusions. Sage Publishing alleged that the study authors did not disclose their ties to pro-life organizations, such as the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

In its retraction notice, the publishing company also alleged that an independent reviewer assessed the studies in response to a reader's complaint about the presentation of data in the studies. The reviewer reportedly determined that some of the data presentation could affect the conclusions.

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Sage said it became aware that "a peer reviewer who evaluated the [2021] article for initial publication" was also affiliated with Charlotte Lozier Institute, ruling the "peer review for initial publication was unreliable." Sage says that the same reviewer also peer-reviewed two other articles by the same lead author in 2022 and 2019.

Sage's "independent post-publication peer review" of the three articles found problems with "the study design and methodology," "unjustified or incorrect factual assumptions," and "material errors" in the author's analysis of the data.

Two of the three studies Sage Publishing retracted were cited by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in an April 2023 ruling suspending the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of the chemical abortion pill.

In a Wednesday statement provided to The Christian Post, Jim Studnicki, vice president and director of data analytics for the Charlotte Lozier Institute, believes that the Dobbs ruling in June 2022 may have played a part in the decision. Studnicki is one of the authors listed in the three studies.

"I think Dobbs really accelerated this; there's a sense of desperation among those in the abortion industry," Studnicki stated. "They've always had the literature to themselves. All of the major health associations are pro-abortion, most of the journals are pro-abortion, all the academic departments in the universities are pro-abortion."

In an interview with The Christian Post, Tessa Longbons, another one of the authors listed in the three studies and a senior research associate at Charlotte Lozier Institute, said that the publication's decision was "disappointing" and "disheartening." According to Longbons, she and her colleagues addressed each of the concerns the publication brought to their attention.

Regarding the accusation that the study authors had not disclosed their ties to pro-life organizations, Longbons asserted that she and her fellow researchers never concealed this fact.

"We fully disclosed who we were affiliated with," the senior research associate told CP. "All of us have our affiliations listed, and we reported that the studies were funded by Charlotte Lozier Institute."

"And furthermore, we included biographies for each author that provided more details about who we are, where we work, and the type of work that we do," Longbons continued. "So all of the information was provided upfront to the journal and presented so that readers can also see who we are and what we're working on."

In response to an inquiry from The Christian Post, Sage declined to comment and directed the outlet to its Monday statement announcing the retractions.

According to the timeline of events that led to the retraction, science professor Chris Adkins complained to Sage in April 2023 about the 2021 study that found the rate of emergency room visits after a chemical abortion increased by over 500% from 2002 through 2015. Adkins argued that the study authors exaggerated their findings and represented them in a manner that he described as "grossly misleading."

The webpage outlining the authors' research also questioned why Sage retracted the pro-life studies for "undisclosed conflicts of interest," citing examples of the publication reportedly not holding researchers affiliated with pro-choice institutions to the same standard.

The pro-life researchers did not receive word about the reported issues with the studies until Sage sent them an email in June 2023. After the Charlotte Lozier Institute responded on July 13, 2023, Sage published an expression of concern that same month, announcing that it had begun an investigation.

Finally, in November 2023, Sage informed the researchers that it had retracted the three studies. In addition, on Nov. 14, Studnicki was kicked off the editorial board of the Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology journal. The HSRME is a journal owned by Sage.

On Nov. 16, researchers requested more time to respond to the criticism, with Sage responding on Nov. 21 and giving them until Nov. 29. The researchers provided the publication with a rebuttal, which Sage acknowledged it had received on Dec. 6. The publication proceeded to retract the three studies on Feb. 5, 2024.

Longbons defended the research, citing issues with abortion data in the United States as the reason why the November 2021 study used Medicaid data. The pro-life researcher stated that the study's methodology is "very clear."

"As chemical abortion has been increasing in the U.S., we just wanted to see what's been going on," Longbons said. "And how does the safety of chemical abortion compare to surgical abortion?"

"And there really wasn't any other study that was doing that so comprehensively, looking at all ER visits and then all ER visits specifically related to pregnancy," she continued. "So, we wanted to fill that research gap."

While Longbons acknowledged there are opportunities to focus on questions regarding the specific types of emergency room visits and the reason women visit the emergency room, the researcher argued that this is not indicative of a flaw in their study.

"That's just an opening for future research that we would like to do and that we would like other people to do," she said.

The researcher argued that academic journals and institutions appear to have become more politicized in recent years, promoting ideology instead of science. Longbons stated that this latest trend is "concerning."

"When we listen to scientists, we trust them to give us the facts," she stated. "We trust them to be giving us the truth. And not just their own viewpoints."

Michael New, an assistant professor of social research at the Catholic University of America and senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, told The Christian Post Thursday that he believes Sage is prioritizing politics over public health.

"Indeed, much of the rationale that Sage used to retract these studies does not withstand serious scrutiny. Contrary to Sage's claims, the authors made clear their affiliations with various pro-life groups," the pro-life researcher stated. "Additionally, the fact that one of the reviewers of these studies was a Lozier Institute scholar is irrelevant."

New contends Sage's review process is "double-blind," meaning that the authors and the reviewers were unaware of one another's identities. New also expressed doubt that a study would be accepted based on one supportive review.

"Sage's other justifications for retracting the study include a variety of technical arguments raised by an outside scholar," New continued. "However, journals usually retract studies in response to scholarly misconduct. Examples of this would include either misrepresenting or falsifying data."

"They do not generally retract studies because of differences of opinion about the analysis or interpretation of data," he added.

Instead of retracting the studies, New believes the publication should have allowed the authors' critic to publish a response, stating that this would have created a dialogue between academics. As a result, the scholarly community could decide who it thought had the more compelling argument.

"Unfortunately, instead of facilitating a debate between academics, Sage has decided to effectively weaponize academic publishing and take a clear stance in favor of legal abortion," New stated. "Sadly, this is further evidence that many journals are now prioritizing the promotion of left-wing causes over the dissemination of high quality research."
Home News Perceptions of abortion bans driving surge in non-pregnant women requesting abortion drugs

Data from a European organization that has vowed to continue shipping abortion pills into the United States show a spike in the number of non-pregnant women requesting the drug, particularly after the leak of the Supreme Court decision that ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade.

Women who have a medication abortion, also known as a chemical abortion, take two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol. The first drug, mifepristone (RU-486), stops the flow of progesterone, while misoprostol causes cramping and severe bleeding and induces contractions followed by a miscarriage.

According to a study published last week by the Journal of the American Medical Association, women seeking abortion pills through a process called "advance provision" appeared to spike during times when they believed abortion could be restricted.

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The study analyzed data from Aid Access, a Netherlands-based group that started offering abortion pills to non-pregnant women after Texas implemented its six-week abortion ban in 2021.

According to the data, between September 2021 and April 2023, Aid Access received more than 48,000 advance provision requests. The requests appeared to coincide with the Dobbs v. Jackson decision leak and, later, the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade. Women who made the requests were more likely to be white, aged 30 or older, and live in an urban area.

According to NBC News, the study's author, Abigail Aiken, a public affairs professor at the University of Texas at Austin, anticipates another spike in advance provision requests. Aikens prediction comes as the Supreme Court considers a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Food & Drug Administration loosening the restrictions on mifepristone.

Melanie Israel, a policy analyst for the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family at The Heritage Foundation, told The Christian Post that the study was troubling but added that its results were unsurprising.

Israel suggested that one possible reason for the increase in advance provision requests is media headlines insinuating that abortion restrictions prevent women from receiving treatment for pregnancy complications. Israel noted that while these claims are untrue, they heighten peoples sense of fear.

She also noted the risks associated with women ordering the abortion pill online, as without an in-person screening, its impossible to determine how far along the woman is or if shes experiencing any health complications that could endanger her life.

Israel contended that groups like Aid Access are harming American women by ignoring the countrys laws and putting womens health and safety at risk.

These pills are dangerous, and they harm women when they're used the way they're quote-unquote, supposed to be used, when people follow FDA guidelines, Israel said. And so, removing yet another layer of safety, yet another layer of protection, is going to harm women more.

Regarding the Supreme Court abortion pill case, Israel said she believes there will be more fearmongering from abortion proponents and the media, which she noted could turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy, where more women then begin to seek out an advance provision of the abortion pill.

Its really important, as this case makes its way, for the pro-life movement to be relentless in educating people about the dangers of these pills, and why this Supreme Court case is so important, and why these safety protocols that the FDA has been weakening are so, so necessary to protect women, she said.

According to a 2015 study titled Incidence of Emergency Room Department Visits and Complications After Abortion, chemical abortions are four times more dangerous than surgical abortions.

The study used data from 2009 and 2010 to assess the abortion complication rate for California women who had abortions through Medicaid and those treated at the emergency room instead of the clinic.

Researchers found that the complication rate was 5.2% for women who took the abortion pills compared to 1.3% for women who had a first-trimester surgical abortion. The major complication rate for the abortion pills was 0.31%, in contrast to 0.16% for first-trimester surgical abortions.
Home News Trump says he won't restrict the abortion pill but leaves open the possibility: 'Things change'

President-elect Donald Trump is doubling down on his prior insistence that he will not take action to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone while suggesting that he has not closed the door on changing his mind in the future.

Trump discussed a wide variety of topics in an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker that aired on "Meet the Press" Sunday. When asked if he would "restrict the ability of abortion pills" after taking office in January, Trump responded, "I'll probably stay with exactly what I've been saying for the last two years, and the answer is no."

When Welker followed up by inquiring as to whether he would "commit to that," Trump replied: "Do things change? I think they change."

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The president-elect mentioned how President Joe Biden repeatedly promised not to pardon his son Hunter only to reverse course and issue a pardon for his son last week.

"I don't like putting myself in a position like that, so things do change. But I don't think it's going to change at all," Trump said on the abortion pill.

Mifepristone, also known as medication abortion, is the first drug in the chemical abortion regimen. It destroys the environment in the uterus and starves an unborn baby to death. The abortion pill is reportedly used in about half of all pregnancy terminations in the United States.

Mifepristone has received renewed attention in recent years following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organizationdecision, which determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion. Following the Dobbs ruling, pro-life activists have set their sights on the abortion pill.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion pill earlier this year on procedural grounds. In an interview with CBS News over the summer, Trump insisted that he would not enforce the Comstock Act, which can be interpreted to prohibit the distribution of the abortion pill by mail. Trump also vowed that the abortion pill would still be "widely available" if he won the 2024 presidential election.

Pro-life activists have long maintained that chemical abortion pills present a danger to the health and safety of women.

In a statement shared with The Christian Post, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser asserted that "Unregulated, mail-order abortion drugs are a serious and growing threat to women's health and safety, as well as the lives of countless unborn children, all across this country  made possible by the reckless actions of the Biden-Harris administration."

"They are the radical abortion lobby's backstop to undo all the pro-life progress made at the state level since Dobbs. Even the pro-abortion media can't hide that these drugs are killing women and fueling dangerous new forms of domestic violence," she added.

Dannenfelser listed the names of several women harmed by abortion drugs, including Catherine Herring, whose husband poisoned her with an abortion pill in an unsuccessful attempt to murder their unborn child. She also pointed to the high-profile cases of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, who died after experiencing complications from chemical abortion.

Thurman developed an infection because some of her baby's remains were still in her uterus five days after taking the abortion pill, while Miller experienced "excruciating pain" because her body failed to expel her baby's remains.

"Because the profit-driven abortion industry will sell high-risk drugs to anyone with a zip code over the web, 'completely free of face-to-face interaction with a clinician,' it is absurdly easy for traffickers and abusers to get their hands on them," Dannenfelser said. "No one who cares about the health and well-being of women can ignore this issue."

In 2020, the pro-life advocacy group Live Action released an investigative report that elaborated on the dangers posed by abortion drugs. The report identified "severe cramping, contractions, and heavy bleeding" as common side effects of abortion pills.

"According to the FDA, women can expect the bleeding to last 9 to 16 days on average, which 8% experience bleeding for more than 30 days," the report stated.

Statistics compiled by the FDA and included in the report found that the abortion pill caused 24 maternal deaths between 2000, the year it was first approved by the FDA, and 2018. Medication abortion has also led to more than 1,000 hospitalizations as well as 4,000 "adverse effects" in the nearly 20 years.
Home News Village SDA Church board demands reinstatement of Pastor Ron Kelly amid denominational dispute

The board of the Village Seventh-day Adventist Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan, has called on the Executive Committee of the Michigan Conference of the SDA to reverse its recent decision to remove the church's beloved senior pastor, Ron Kelly, from his position amid an ongoing denominational dispute.

"Regarding Elder Kelly, we wish to affirm in the strongest way possible the desire of this Board, and of the members of the VSDA, for the MISDA Executive Committee to reverse their decision of 12/3/2024 concerning Elder Kelly, and to reinstate him to his previous status of employment as the VSDA Senior Pastor by 1/2/2025," Senior Elder Tom Wilson wrote in a statement on the behalf of the church board on Monday.

The statement comes just days after Kelly announced on Dec. 5 that he was removed from his role as pastor after an unorthodox meeting with the Michigan Conference.

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"On Sunday, December 1, at the end of my Thanksgiving vacation, I got a phone call at 3:16 telling me I needed to be at the conference office the next day. I was there to discuss employment issues. Things were brought up that I thought had been resolved, and I was told they were not resolved at the level I thought they were," Kelly said in a two-minute recorded message.

"I asked for the presentation of the grievances against me in writing. They said no."

When he met with the conference the following day, Kelly believes he was placed in an awkward and unfair position.

"If I had gotten a speeding ticket, I would at least [have] been able to hear what the police said about me and my potential offense. This isn't what most of us thought would be the deliberating spirit and process of the highest order of Christian kindness, redemption, and just behaving  but I am no longer the senior pastor of The Village Church. Now I have my own YouTube channel," he ended.

In a follow-up video posted on his private YouTube Channel, Kelly asked followers to pray and promised to share "some of the challenging chapters that could be learning momebers for fellow pastors, church members and leaders."

The Village SDA Church, under Kelly's leadership, advocated for informed consent and liberty of conscience in regard to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The church also spoke of the need for some individuals to have a religious exemption.

A letter Kelly reportedly sent to the Michigan SDA Conference in private and made public by the SDA-focused commentary website Fulcrum 7 noted that he was accused of "insubordination, bullying and fomenting discord against the [Michigan] Conference."

It also noted the banning of Adventist Frontier Missions President Conrad Vine from SDA pulpits in Michigan after he advocated withholding tithes and other things among SDA adherents. Kelly is reportedly Vine's pastor.

"I've been accused of insubordination, bullying, and fomenting discord against the Conference. Over the past six weeks, the strength of my disagreement with the Conference has grown, and perhaps, at times, it has been too strong. However, it has been in private settings with other leaders, not before the public," Kelly said.

"It has always been my goal to save the church from the pain of today. Conrad Vine should have had and still should have his day in court. It was inappropriate to build a case against him and discipline him in his absence. I also should have been there as his pastor and shepherd," he added.

Michigan SDA Conference President Jim Micheff announced in September that Vine was banned from SDA pulpits in the state for sharing messages that "undermine the unity and integrity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church."

"During a camp meeting in Maine from August 13-17, Conrad Vine, president of Adventist Frontier Missions, delivered messages that raise significant concerns and undermine the unity and integrity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We strongly disagree with the views expressed by Conrad Vine, including, but not limited to, his statements regarding the remnant church and leadership, the establishment of a parachurch organization, and the redirection of tithe. We find his assertions to be inconsistent with the clear teachings found in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy," Micheff argued.

"Although we have been addressing this ongoing concern with him, his sentiments have evolved further in a public manner. As we continue to work through these issues, he will not be permitted access to the pulpits of our Michigan Conference churches."

In the letter to the Michigan SDA Conference concerning Kelly, the board of the Village Church argued that removing the pastor amid the disagreements wasn't a just decision.

"We believe, given the evidence we have been presented with, that while there may have been interpersonal challenges between Elders Kelly and Elder Micheff, those challenges were not of such a magnitude to warrant Elder Kelly's removal from VSDA given what God has miraculously wrought under his leadership at VSDA," they noted in their letter.

"Regarding our relationship with MISDA, we affirm our desire to build a relationship of mutual trust and cooperation with MISDA. We look forward to building that relationship of mutual trust under the leadership of Elder Kelly at VSDA," the board added. "We firmly request the immediate reinstalment of Elder Kelly as the VSDA Senior Pastor parallel to the agreement of mutual trust-building measures going forward."
Home Opinion President Biden, where are the children?

In recent months, a disturbing revelation has emerged from the heart of our nations immigration system: Over 300,000 unaccompanied migrant children who crossed the U.S. border during the Biden-Harris administration are unaccounted for. An internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report dated Aug. 19, 2024, confirms this alarming statistic, highlighting a profound failure in our duty to protect the most vulnerable.

The DHS report reveals that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lost track of at least 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children, with the whereabouts of up to 323,000 remaining unknown. Without a doubt, we cannot deny the fact that many of these children are now tools and victims of the human sex trafficking industry  a heinous trade that represents the worst of the worst. This staggering number raises urgent questions about the safety and well-being of these children. They are left to fend for themselves in a dangerous world without proper oversight.

The House of Representatives has taken notice, holding a hearing on Nov. 19, 2024, entitled Trafficked, Exploited, and Missing: Migrant Children Victims of the Biden-Harris Administration. This hearing aims to address the systemic failures that have led to this crisis and to hold those responsible for the welfare of these children accountable.

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The New York Times has previously reported on the challenges faced by unaccompanied migrant children. On Feb. 15, 2023, an article highlighted the surge in child labor among migrant children, noting that many are forced into hazardous jobs to survive. Another report on April 17, 2023, detailed the lack of proper vetting for sponsors, leading to situations where children are placed in unsafe environments. These reports underscore a pattern of neglect and systemic failure that demands immediate action.

It is worth recalling the outcry during the Trump administration over the alleged children in cages narrative  a claim that was later debunked. The media and public were swift to condemn what was perceived as inhumane treatment of migrant children. Yet now, faced with the reality of hundreds of thousands of missing children, there is a deafening silence. Where is the collective moral outrage? How is it that a false alarm over detention centers led to national protests, but the disappearance of over 300,000 children has not moved us to the same level of indignation?

The current administration must be held accountable for this humanitarian crisis. President Biden and Vice President Harris must take immediate and decisive action to locate these missing children and ensure their safety. Furthermore, those in positions of oversight who have failed in their duties must resign. The American people deserve transparency and accountability from their leaders, especially when the lives of innocent children are at stake.

This is not a partisan issue; it is a moral imperative. The missing children are not just statistics; they are human beings, many of whom are now trapped in a cycle of abuse and exploitation. The human sex trafficking industry thrives on the most vulnerable, and these children, abandoned by the very systems meant to protect them, are its latest victims.

We must demand answers and action. The time for complacency has passed. We must find the children. Let this be the rallying cry for a nation that claims to champion the cause of justice and freedom.

Let the moral conscience of America awaken. Let the lives of these children remind us of our responsibility. Let us not rest until they are found.

Originally published at Real Clear Politics.
Home Opinion Social justice and biblical justice have nothing in common

Many political and ideological movements present themselves as pathways to a utopia in todays cultural climate. Among these is socialism, which has gained traction even within some Christian circles. Figures like Kamala Harris and other left-leaning politicians advocate for policies with socialist undertones, believing them to be solutions for economic justice and equality.



Many Christians, lacking a strong biblical worldview, are swayed by these ideologies, mistakenly equating them with biblical principles of justice. Yet, Scripture paints a very different picture of Gods vision for an ideal society, as seen in Isaiah 65:17-25, a passage that outlines this city of God  a new heaven and a new earth  where righteousness, justice, and peace reign. This biblical vision challenges the modern secular notions of justice, including the Marxist view of class warfare.

The biblical view of social justice

As it is often understood today, the concept of social justice has largely been shaped by political movements prioritizing equity, wealth redistribution, and state control. However, the Bible presents a different framework for justice, grounded in the character of God and His covenantal relationship with humanity. In Isaiah 65, we see a vision of a society where every person enjoys the fruit of their labor (Isaiah 65:21-22), where life is prolonged, and where no one experiences premature death (Isaiah 65:20). This is not a vision of forced equality but one of true justice, where individuals live in harmony with God, creation, and each other.

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Biblical justice is rooted in fairness and righteousness. God commands His people to care for the poor and the marginalized, but He also insists that justice be impartial. Levitical law, for example, forbids showing favoritism to the poor or the rich (Leviticus 19:15). This starkly contrasts modern movements that sometimes idealize or victimize certain groups based solely on socioeconomic status. Gods justice goes beyond redistribution. It seeks to restore wholeness, dignity, and personal responsibility.

Marxist class warfare and its infiltration into the Evangelical church

In recent years, we have seen elements of Marxist ideology seep into certain segments of the Evangelical church. Marxism is built on the premise of class struggle, where society is divided into oppressors and the oppressed, and revolution is necessary to bring about equality. This idea repackaged as social justice, has found its way into some Christian communities, where it has been used to justify the demonization of wealth and the glorification of victimization. But this class-warfare mindset runs counter to the biblical worldview.

In Scripture, wealth is not inherently evil, nor is poverty inherently virtuous. While God calls His people to be generous and to care for those in need, the Bible also warns against laziness and disobedience, which can lead to poverty. Proverbs 10:4 says, Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. The book of Deuteronomy speaks of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, illustrating that poverty can sometimes be a consequence of sin (Deuteronomy 28).

Deuteronomy 8:18 also says that God gives his people power to create wealth so he can confirm His covenant on the earth. This is not to say that all poverty is due to personal failure; systemic poverty is often generational and shaped by the environment of a community. It challenges the simplistic notion that the poor are always oppressed victims.

The drift toward Marxism in parts of the Church has led to an unhealthy focus on material wealth as the primary indicator of justice. But Isaiah 65 presents a far richer picture of Gods justice, including spiritual, relational, and economic dimensions. In the ideal city of God, justice is not about leveling the playing field through state intervention but ensuring that every person can flourish within a framework of righteousness and peace.

Sodom and the misunderstanding of social justice

One of the most misinterpreted passages in discussions about justice is Ezekiel 16:49-50, where God condemns the city of Sodom. While many focus on Sodoms sexual immorality, Ezekiel highlights a deeper issue: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Sodoms sin included both sexual perversion and a self-centered, complacent lifestyle that neglected the needs of the vulnerable.

This passage is often cited in arguments for modern social justice, yet its message is far broader than advocating for welfare or redistribution. The condemnation of Sodom points to the dangers of pride, entitlement, and selfishness, which can manifest in both the rich and the poor. True justice involves not just external actions but the internal posture of the heart. Sodoms failure was neglecting the poor and living a life of excess and indulgence without regard for others. This is a warning for the wealthy and those seeking entitlements without contributing to society.

Justice as fairness, not entitlements

A critical flaw in many modern conceptions of justice is the idea that fairness means everyone should receive the same outcomes, regardless of effort, talent, or virtue. This notion of egalitarianism is often the driving force behind entitlement programs, which aim to level the economic playing field through government intervention. However, Scripture consistently emphasizes that justice is about fairness, not enforced equality.

In the biblical worldview, justice means giving people what they are due, whether protection, punishment, or reward. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus commends the servants who wisely invested their resources and condemns the servant who buried his talent out of fear. The master takes the one talent from the unproductive servant and gives it to the one who has ten. This parable illustrates that Gods justice is not about equal distribution but about rewarding faithfulness and stewardship.

Entitlement programs that assume certain groups cannot care for themselves or need perpetual assistance are disempowering. They create dependency and reinforce a victim mentality, which is the opposite of biblical empowerment. Scripture teaches that people should be given opportunities to work and contribute and that charity should be aimed at helping people regain their independence, not keeping them in a state of dependency.

Gods justice and the role of the Church

The Church must resist the temptation to adopt secular ideologies of justice that are rooted in class envy and entitlement. Instead, it must return to the biblical principles of justice, which include fairness, personal responsibility, and generosity. Gods justice is not about tearing down those who have been successful but about lifting the downtrodden in ways that restore their dignity and empower them to flourish.

Isaiah 65s vision of the new Heavens and earth gives us a glimpse of what true justice looks like in the economy of God. It is a society where each person enjoys the fruit of their labor, where there is no oppression, and where righteousness and peace prevail.
Home Opinion The age of BLM is over. Daniel Penny's case proves it

In 2014, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was founded on a lie: Hands up, dont shoot. This narrative, which suggested that Michael Brown was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri, while his hands were up in surrender, was later debunked by multiple investigations, including, most notably, the Obama Administrations Department of Justice. Yet, despite the lack of evidence, this falsehood became a rallying cry, setting the stage for a movement that would later reveal itself as deeply flawed.

BLM, from its inception, has proven itself to be not just about advocating for racial justice but also as a vehicle for promoting anti-American and anti-white rhetoric, division, and chaos. Founded on anti-family and Marxist principles, the movements influence has been equal parts destructive and disastrous.

BLM protests often turned violent, leading to widespread rioting, looting, violence, and destruction in cities like Minneapolis, Portland, and Seattle. The summer of 2020 stands as a testament to this, where businesses were destroyed, black citizens and black children were killed, and communities were left to rebuild from the ashes of misguided activism.

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On campuses, BLM has pushed for policies and curricula that prioritize racial identity over merit, leading to a culture where diversity statements are required for academic positions, essentially acting as modern-day loyalty oaths. This has not only stifled free speech but has also sown seeds of racial division among students and faculty, undermining the very principles of academic freedom and meritocracy.

Even Christian institutions have not been spared. Many Evangelical churches, who so desperately wanted to appear progressive and loving, adopted BLM rhetoric, which directly conflicted with Christian teachings of unity and forgiveness. This led to a split within congregations, where traditional Christian values are sometimes overshadowed by political activism, turning spiritual sanctuaries into battlegrounds for ideological warfare.

The prosecution of Daniel Penny embodies the extreme to which BLMs ideology has gone. Here was a man, a former Marine, who stepped in on a New York subway to protect frightened passengers from a man, Jordan Neely, who was acting erratically and threatening. Penny employed a chokehold, a technique from his military training, in what was clearly an act of self-defense and defense of others. Yet, he was vilified, charged, and put on trial for manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, not because of the evidence but because he fit the narrative of white oppression that BLM has peddled.

Pennys prosecution was not just unjust, it was a travesty  an attempt to make an example out of a good Samaritan for the sake of political ideology. The jurys decision to acquit Penny on the charge of criminally negligent homicide, however, marks a significant turning point. This verdict is not merely about one mans innocence but symbolizes the broader rejection of the divisive, race-based narratives pushed by BLM.

The reaction from New York BLM leaders following Pennys acquittal was telling. Calling for Black vigilantes to hunt down and kill White New Yorkers in response to a just and fair legal verdict reveals the moral bankruptcy at the core of this movement. This isnt advocacy for the disenfranchised; it is vengeance cloaked in the rhetoric of racial justice. Such calls do not heal racial divides; they exacerbate them, showing that BLM, at its heart, is not about uplifting all lives but about promoting a narrow, racially divisive agenda.

Pennys acquittal sends a clear message: America is tired of being held hostage by fear, division, and the manipulation of racial narratives for political gain. The age of BLM, with its tactics of intimidation and its Marxist underpinnings, is fading. Its over.

Instead, the age of Daniel Penny has arrived, where acts of bravery and responsibility are recognized and rewarded, not punished, signaling hope for a society that values justice over ideology. The movement has been exposed for what it truly is, and in this exposure, it has lost its grip on our collective conscience. Its time to move forward, focusing on true equality, not on reversing racial injustices with new ones.

Christians, guided by biblical principles of justice and truth, should wholeheartedly welcome the exoneration of Daniel Penny. As pastor and theologian David Schrock said, Daniel Penny is a Good Samaritan hero and a model American. His act of courage, protecting the vulnerable in a moment of chaos, resonates with the Christian call to stand up for ones neighbor in times of need.

The justice served in Pennys acquittal stands in stark contrast to the divisive and often hateful rhetoric perpetuated by BLM. Christians must reject this movement, not because it stands for racial justice but because it has been co-opted for Marxist ideologies and has sown discord rather than unity.

Our faith calls for reconciliation, not revenge; for love, not hatred; for the acknowledgment of all lives, not the elevation of one race over another. In embracing the justice of Pennys innocence, Christians affirm their commitment to these values, choosing to stand on the side of truth and righteousness over political expediency and racial division.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
Home News Demonic statue outside NH State House destroyed within 48 hours: 'Santa wouldn't do this'

The demonic statue erected near a Nativity scene outside the New Hampshire State House in Concord last Saturday was destroyed Monday night, prompting an ongoing police investigation less than 48 hours after it was put up.

"Santa wouldn't do this," Concord Deputy Police Chief John Thomas told NHJournal. "Santa loves everybody."

Todays photos of the Satanic Temple's holiday display in Concord, NH ???????????? pic.twitter.com/agk8n544cf 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 December 10, 2024

The Satanic Temple continued its annual holiday tradition of erecting satanic displays near Nativity scenes on government property last weekend by unveiling a statue of the demon Baphomet at the New Hampshire State House, according to a live feed of the ceremony that aired on Facebook.

The statue depicted a black-clad statue of Baphomet with glowing eyes clutching a bouquet of purple lilacs in its right hand, symbolizing the state flower of New Hampshire. It was also adorned with a purple stole emblazoned with the inverted pentagram, goat's head of the TST logo, and two inverted crosses.

At the base of the statue was a tablet listing the seven tenets of The Satanic Temple, and to its left was a black and white satanic flag.

Orpheus Gaur, a minister of TST's New Hampshire and Vermont congregation, said during the live feed that the apple in the figure's left hand symbolized "our quest for knowledge, defiance in the face of arbitrary authority and our commitment to self-determination."

The statue of Baphomet  an androgynous demonic entity that first appeared in writings during the 11th century and featured in the rituals of prominent occultists such as Aleister Crowley  was destroyed Monday night, according to NHJournal.

State Rep. Ellen Read, a Democrat from Newmarket who invited the display, claimed that symbols of Christianity were left at the scene, according to the Friendly Atheist, a Substack maintained by atheist Hemant Mehta.

Someone left a Santa hat, a cross and a Christmas ornament on the statue, according to New Hampshire Public Radio.

Read, who introduced legislation to strip God from the state oath of office and to ban circumcision from state Medicaid coverage, appeared to be emotional as she was photographed picking up the remains of Baphomet and placing its legs in a car, according to photos published by NHJournal.

Read, who describes herself as agnostic, suggested that religious people were behind the vandalism and attacked them in comments to Mehta. She reportedly expressed sadness that whoever destroyed the statue "could not tolerate a simple expression of beliefs by a group that doesn't believe as they do."

The City of Concord released a statement last week noting that they approved the permit for the statue to "avoid litigation."

Mayor Byron Champlin, a Democrat, expressed dismay during a recent city council meeting that the Baphomet statue had been put up at all, according to New Hampshire Public Radio.

"My preference was to deny the permit and accept the risk of the threatened lawsuit," he said. "I oppose the permit because I believe the request was made not in the interest of promoting religious equity but in order to drive an anti-religious agenda."

TST co-founder Lucien Greaves, whose real name is Douglas Mesner, told Mehta that vandalism of satanic displays on government property has "become as much of a holiday tradition as trampled grandmothers in a Black Friday stampede."

"They attack our property, threaten us over social media, destroy our displays, then bewail the violence they imagine we did them," Mesner continued.

"But hopefully, for some, our limited presence and perseverance will prove inspirational in demonstrating that freedom of religion  the ability to believe or disbelieve as we see fit without consequence to our civic capacities  is still alive, and more in need of defending now than at any other time in our lives."

Last year, a satanic display in the Iowa state Capitol that also featured Baphomet made headlines when U.S. Navy veteran and former Mississippi House of Representatives candidate Michael Cassidy was charged with a felony hate crime for toppling the statue and tossing its silver ram's head in the trash.

Cassidy pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in May in exchange for having the hate crime charge against him dropped.

During an interview with The Christian Post last December, Cassidy maintained that he did the right thing and that legislators are overcomplicating evil by suggesting that the U.S. Constitution protects devil worship on government property.

"The people who wrote our Constitution would be shocked to think of defending Satan as consistent with their beliefs when they wrote the laws that govern our nation," he said.

"People start overcomplicating the truth, which is that God is great and should be honored, and the devil is evil and should not be honored," he said. "I think people are tying themselves in knots trying to justify it, and it's really a lot simpler than that."
Home News Christian veteran who toppled satanic statue in Iowa no longer facing felony hate crime charge

The U.S. Navy veteran who toppled a satanic statue in the Iowa State Capitol last December pleaded guilty to criminal mischief last Friday in exchange for having a felony hate crime charge dropped against him.

Michael Cassidy, a 36-year-old former candidate for the Mississippi House of Representatives, was slapped with a felony under Iowa's hate crime statute after pushing over the Baphomet statue erected near a Nativity scene and tossing its ram's head in the garbage.

After turning himself in to authorities, he was initially charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. But the Polk County Attorney's Office enhanced the charge to a felony in January.

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Cassidy was to stand trial on June 3 and faced up to five years in jail if convicted of the hate crime. But in exchange for having the felony charge dropped, he agreed to plead guilty to a third-degree criminal mischief charge without the hate crime enhancement, according to The Des Moines Register.

Part of the plea deal involved Cassidy admitting in writing that he "partially dismantled a display in the Iowa State Capitol Building, without a right/license to do so," and that the damage he inflicted exceeded $750.

"Not today, Satan," Cassidy tweeted last Friday. "Pleased to announce the Iowa DA just dropped their absurd felony hate crime charge and instead offered a deferred judgement misdemeanor (a fine, no jail time, nothing permanent on my record), which I accepted."

"Many thanks to my family, my lawyers, my community, and the many Christians who have supported us morally and financially over the past several months," he continued. "When Christians stick together, we can, and we will, win. I'll have more to say in the weeks ahead, in the meantime please use this Memorial Day Weekend to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service of our nation. Thank you."

Not today, Satan.

Pleased to announce the Iowa DA just dropped their absurd felony hate crime charge and instead offered a deferred judgement misdemeanor (a fine, no jail time, nothing permanent on my record), which I accepted. Many thanks to my family, my lawyers, my community,  Michael Cassidy ?? ???????? (@Mike_Cassidy_MS) May 24, 2024

In comments to the conservative outlet The Republic Sentinel, Cassidy's attorney Davis Younts confirmed that prosecutors "finally agreed to drop the hate crimes enhancement after months-long legal battles over every aspect of this case." He attributed the result to supporters who donated more than $134,000 to his legal defense fund on GiveSendGo.

"It is because of the people that came to his aid and an outstanding legal team that we were able to back the prosecutors into a corner and get this resolution," Younts told the outlet. "Instead of a felony hate crime and jail time, Cassidy received deferred judgment for damage to property and the conviction will be expunged once the court process is complete.

"Forcing the prosecutors to drop the hate crime is a huge victory for Cassidy and for religious freedom," he added.

Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for the Polk County Attorney's Office, defended the hate crime charge in a statement to the Des Moines Register.

"While we believe the defendant did commit a crime in violation of individual rights, the decision to allow the defendant to plead guilty to an aggravated misdemeanor took into consideration various factors we weigh when we make a plea offer," Hicks said. "Factors can include but are not limited to: taking full accountability for the criminal conduct, cooperation with law enforcement, the availability of evidence, and the defendant's lack of criminal history."

The presence of a Baphomet statue and satanic altar laying out the seven fundamental tenets of The Satanic Temple in the Iowa State Capitol drew national attention and stirred debate even among Christian Republican state lawmakers regarding the constitutional limits of free speech.

During an interview with CP in December, Cassidy said Christians who believe the U.S. Constitution protects a satanic altar are "overcomplicating" blatant evil that they should be resisting.

"The people who wrote our Constitution would be shocked to think of defending Satan as consistent with their beliefs when they wrote the laws that govern our nation," he said.

"People start overcomplicating the truth, which is that God is great and should be honored, and the devil is evil and should not be honored," he said. "I think people are tying themselves in knots trying to justify it, and it's really a lot simpler than that."

Cassidy also drew support from public figures such as GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Pastor John MacArthur.

"You have to take the consequences if you do it, but that was a noble thing to do," MacArthur said in February. "That was something that he felt very deeply in his heart."

"What are they doing having an altar to Satan in a state public building?" MacArthur continued. "That is the offense. The offense isn't that it was removed, the offense is that it was there. But it demonstrates where the culture is, that he gets punished, not the people who set it up."
Home News Montana Supreme Court blocks state law banning trans surgeries for kids

The Montana Supreme Court has affirmed a temporary block on a state law that prohibits cosmetic sex-change surgeries and puberty-blocking drugs for trans-identified minors.

In a decision released Wednesday, the states highest court upheld a lower court ruling blocking the enforcement of Senate Bill 99 while litigation over the measure continues to play out.

Justice Beth Baker authored the majority opinion, emphasizing the right to privacy protections offered in the state constitution and writing that SB 99 proscribes lawful medications and procedures administered by competent and licensed health care providers.

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The record shows that the District Court did not manifestly abuse its discretion when it concluded that Plaintiffs presented a prima facie likelihood of success on their right to privacy claim, wrote Baker.

SB 99 affords no room for decision-making by a patient in consultation with their doctors and parents. The statute is a complete ban, prohibiting individualized care tailored to the needs of each patient based on the exercise of professional medical judgment and informed consent.

Baker wrote that the plaintiffs demonstrated a likelihood of irreparable harm by showing that the most lasting and permanent forms of gender-affirming care are rarely performed on minors; that, without an injunction, minor patients would suffer severe psychological distress; and that SB 99 infringed on their fundamental right to privacy.

Justice Jim Rice authored an opinion that concurred in part and dissented in part, saying that while he supported the temporary block of the law regarding the medical restrictions, the medical and legal grounds regarding the subject treatment of minors addressed by SB 99 are moving under our feet.

The State has filed several notices of supplemental authority providing further national and international decisions recognizing growing concerns over the medical benefit of this treatment and the legitimate basis for state intervention, wrote Rice.

This small sampling is enough to highlight both the changing legal landscape and the gravity of the governing principle that neither this decision from our Court nor the District Courts decision should affect in any way the ultimate outcome, which must be based on advancing medical science and law in regard to a serious concern over minors receiving this treatment.

Rice believes the provision of the state law barring the Medicaid funding of trans treatments for minors should be allowed to take effect during the legal proceedings.

[T]here is no current federal mandate for Medicaid funding of gender-affirming care, he added. Further, funding decisions fall within the Legislatures primary constitutional duty and responsibility over spending decisions, and I believe they should be subject to rational basis review.

The Montana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is helping to represent the plaintiffs in the litigation, released a statement Wednesday celebrating the injunction.

Todays ruling permits our clients to breathe a sigh of relief, said ACLU of Montana Executive Director Akilah Deernose said in the statement.

But the fight for trans rights is far from over. We will continue to push for the right of all Montanans, including those who are transgender, to be themselves and live their lives free of intrusive government interference.

In late April 2023, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed SB 99 into law. Also known as the Youth Health Protection Act, it barred doctors from performing genital mutilation or elective mastectomies on youth suffering from gender dysphoria or prescribing harmful, experimental puberty blockers to children.

American Principles Project President Terry Schilling said in a statement at the time that his organization saw the new law as a strong step to defend Montanas children and their families.

The transgender industry has taken another defeat. Despite their attempts to gaslight the country into believing that this dangerous medical malpractice is somehow life-saving care, more and more states are seeing through the lies, stated Schilling.

In reality, these sterilizing drugs and mutilating surgeries are anything but necessary, and it is critical that we protect kids from being pushed down this damaging pathway that will have lifelong consequences.

Shortly after the law was signed last year, a group of progressive organizations filed a lawsuit on behalf of two trans-identified minors and their families, as well as two medical providers.

In September 2023, days before SB 99 was to take effect, District Court Judge Jason Marks issued an injunction blocking enforcement of the law as the litigation continued.

Montana is among over two dozen states that have enacted policies to restrict sex-change operations and hormonal interventions for minors struggling with gender dysphoria.
Home News Netanyahu begins testimony in historic corruption case. What is he accused of and how will trial proceed? Trial has divided the nation and could continue for years

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand on Tuesday for the first time since the trial proceedings against him began in 2020.

The corruption trial against the Israeli leader has proven to be a divisive issue in Israel, with critics questioning his character, as well as his ability to lead the country.

Supporters of the prime minister claim he is the victim of a deep state, which is attempting to achieve through the legal system what it could not do politically  remove Netanyahu from office. For his supporters, Netanyahus legal cases are seen as being roughly equivalent to how supporters of President-elect Donald Trump view the multiple charges brought against him both during and after his first term in office. The cases are viewed as a way to legally punish and defame the leader in order to cause a loss of support, even if ultimately unsuccessful.

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Among Netanyahus detractors, the fact that the indictments were filed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Avichai Mandelbit, despite his previous close relationship with Netanyahu, is proof that something is rotten in Denmark. They have called on Netanyahu to step down, just as Netanyahu, himself, called for former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down when the latter was under investigation on corruption charges.

Among the anti-Netanyahu protest movement, which gained popularity due to unpopular restrictions and enforcement of COVID-19 regulations in 2020 and 2021, including vaccine passports, every decision the prime minister makes is suspect.

Protest leaders have accused Netanyahu of deliberately prolonging the conflict in Gaza and delaying his trial testimony in an attempt to stay in power. They argue that many of the judicial reform laws advanced in 2023 were designed to protect him from the legal consequences of the charges.

The unprecedented trial of a sitting prime minister is clearly a point of tension in a society already dealing with various significant challenges  both internal and external. The charges against Netanyahu even led to several political allies and supporters challenging him for party leadership or leaving to form alternate right-wing, Zionist parties.

The indictments have made it harder for Netanyahu to reach certain political agreements, and were clearly an issue in the formation of the current coalition agreements. But what exactly is Netanyahu accused of?

Netanyahu corruption cases

Prime Minister Netanyahu was indicted by Attorney General Avichai Mandelbit in 2019 on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.

There are three cases for which Netanyahu will deliver testimony.

Case 1000  Fraud and breach of trust

This case deals with alleged improper relations between the Netanyahu family and Israeli Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan, along with Australian billionaire James Packer. Netanyahu is accused of receiving gifts worth 690,000 NIS (roughly $200,000) from Milchan and Packer from 2007-2016. The key question in the relationships concerns the nature of the gifts received by Netanyahu and his family members: Were the gifts given freely as an act of friendship, or was Netanyahu receiving gifts in return for favors? Neither Milchan nor Packer have been accused of any wrongdoing.

The case is based on a series of testimonies, including those of Milchan and his personal assistant, Hadas Klein. Klein provided details about the nature and scope of the gifts, claiming that Netanyahu was aware of their transfer.

Case 2000  Fraud and breach of trust

According to the indictment in this case, Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes offered to tilt the paper's coverage in favor of Netanyahu in a quid pro quo agreement for a series of government actions limiting the circulation of the free Israel Hayom newspaper, which was a primary competitor.

Israel Hayom was owned by billionaire philanthropist Sheldon G. Adelson, a friend and supporter of Netanyahu. Adelson died in 2021. The newspaper is still owned and run by his widow, Miriam Adelson.

This case is possibly the strongest in terms of evidence, as recordings of conversations between the prime minister and Mozes exist. However, even the prosecution admits that Netanyahu never acted on the discussions. In his testimony, Mozes denied any wrongdoing and said no deal was ever made.

Case 4000  Bribery, fraud and breach of trust

According to the indictment, Netanyahu helped smooth regulatory issues in the merger of businesses owned by Shaul Elovitch in exchange for favorable coverage on the Walla news site. Elovitch was seeking a merger of telecommunications company Bezeq with his satellite TV company Yes.

In the summer of 2023, the trial judges summoned the parties to their office and suggested that the State Attorney's Office withdraw the indictment due to "difficulties in establishing the bribery offense in the case. Despite this, the State Attorney's Office chose to continue the case.

A key challenge in this case lies in assessing the value of favorable coverage and establishing a breach of trust. Several legal experts expect Netanyahu to be cleared in this case.

Elovitch is also on trial as part of this case and has denied any wrongdoing.

The Trial

The testimony is taking place in a protected underground courtroom in the Tel Aviv District Court, after the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency said that "the hearings in the Jerusalem District Court must be avoided for security reasons.

Netanyahu will testify three times a week, for six hours a day, after the three judges in the cases rejected his request to testify only twice a week.

During the first days of his testimony, Netanyahu will primarily be questioned by his lawyers. During this interrogation, the defense can only ask open-ended questions and cannot direct the witness.

Following this, the State Attorney's Office is expected to cross-examine Netanyahu on the witness stand, during which the prosecution can ask closed questions  and also make accusations against the prime minister.

The cross-examination is expected to be significantly longer than the defense examination. However, the defense may try to prolong the process to allow Netanyahu to present his position. He claimed that he was seeking to diversify the media market in Israel by promoting competition, and did not act to directly benefit Bezeq's principal shareholder, Elovitch.

Netanyahus testimony is expected to run through the beginning of 2025. Once completed, the judges may still take over a year to review all testimonies and evidence to reach a verdict.

If Netanyahu is convicted, he could be sentenced to several years in prison.

In 2022, Netanyahus lawyers attempted to reach a plea deal, in which the prime minister would plead guilty to reduced charges in exchange for avoiding jail time. However, after the prosecution encountered apparent difficulties in proving some of the charges, the defense decided to abandon efforts to negotiate a plea deal.

The defense has attempted to use the pressures of running a state in a time of war as the basis for requesting postponements or recesses. However, the judges ruled that the war effort does not provide a reasonable basis for further postponing Netanyahus testimony.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
3rd Yunnan Int'l Communication Forum opens in Xishuangbanna

Xinhua) 10:31, December 11, 2024

The opening ceremony of the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum is held in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Participants attend the opening ceremony of the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum held in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Participants speak on the main forum of the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Participants attend the opening ceremony of the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum held in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Participants speak on the main forum of the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

A participant shoots video on the main forum of the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

A participant (2nd L) attending the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum learns about Pu'er tea in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi)

A participant (L) attending the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum learns about pottery product of Dai ethnic group in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi)

Participants attending the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum learn about Yunnan specialty in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi)

Participants attend a panel discussion during the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Meng Tao)

Participants attend a panel discussion during the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

Participants attend a panel discussion during the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Participants attend a panel discussion during the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

Participants attend a panel discussion during the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Participants attend a panel discussion during the 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 10, 2024. The 3rd Yunnan International Communication Forum opened here on Tuesday. More than 200 scholars, officials and media representatives from 21 countries attended the forum. (Xinhua/Meng Tao)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Home News Suspect arrested in drive-by shooting at Pastor Greg Lockes home

The Wilson County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee has arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the drive-by shooting on the home of controversial Pastor Greg Locke that forced him and his family to relocate in September.

"On December 4, 2024, detectives with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division, with assistance from the Metro Nashville Police Department, executed a search warrant at 8234B Terry Lane, Hermitage, TN, in reference to the shooting that occurred on September 3, 2024, at 1729 Chandler Road, Mt. Juliet, TN," authorities announced on Dec. 5.

During the execution of the search warrant, police said they arrested Tyler Poole, 20, of Hermitage, and he was taken in custody on an outstanding indictment. He was charged with aggravated assault, four counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and two counts of vandalism, all stemming from the shooting at Locke's former residence that resulted in no injuries. Poole is currently being held at the Wilson County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

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Wilson County Sheriff's Office Capt. Scott Moore told The Tennessean that when deputies responded to Locke's home at around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 3, they found 30 to 40 shell casings around the house, the garage and a vehicle.

Following the shooting, Locke said he was advised by investigators not to return to the home.

"We have not been allowed to be back at our house since then, and other than packing stuff up, we're not going back anyhow," Locke told his congregation in September. "They told us that they fear retaliation at this moment."

Locke, who leads the Global Vision Bible Church, which was recently relocated from Mt. Juliet to Lebanon, has previously stated that he believes the Lord slowed his family down while they were driving home from Pigeon Forge on the night of the shooting.

When they returned home, he said they initially thought someone had broken beer bottles on the property. As he and his wife continued inspecting the property, it dawned on them that their home had been attacked.

"All of a sudden I began to realize it (bullets)went through the wall and the headboard and Destiny's room, and you know, riddle the truck up and the garage, and we're talking about from the bottom of the driveway all the way up through the back of the truck, the middle of the truck, out the front of the truck, through the garage door, all the way out the back of the garage, into the fence, at the very back of the property," he said. "So we're not talking about a Daisy BB gun."

Locke said he armed himself with an AR-15 along with a handgun and began searching his property as his wife, Tai, frantically called the police.

"I'm running around the house like a madman with an AR in my hand and a 9mm in my back pocket, not knowing what's going on," he said. "And, by the way, you can criticize that all you want to, but I'm here to tell you one day, the government's not going to protect you, and the police aren't going to show up in time, and you better know how to protect your family, you hear me?"
Caldey Abbey is an abbey and monastery of the Cistercian order of the Strict Observance (commonly called Trappists), situated on Caldey Island near Tenby, Pembrokeshire. (Photo: Getty/iStock)

Caldey Abbey in Wales has apologised for historical child sex abuse perpetrated by a monk between the 1960s and 1990s.

The review, led by social worker Jan Pickles, detailed horrific abuse by Fr Thaddeus Kotik across decades at the Cistercian abbey and the surrounding island, which lies off the Pembrokeshire coast.

It describes how Fr Thaddeus used gifts and "special attention" to "groom" children and their parents into trusting him.

Fr Thaddeus would "exploit his status as a monk" by offering families babysitting or guided tours, and use a pet tortoise and "other attractive treats" to lure children to secluded to spots around the abbey or island where they were then abused.

Even when there were suspicions around his behaviour, leaders failed to act or remove him from the island.

"It appears that these behaviours were 'common knowledge' within the island communities and tolerated," the report said.

Fr Thaddeus died in 1992 without ever being held accountable or brought to justice for his actions.

"There appears to have been a failure of leadership at the highest level within the Order and Abbey. Serious matters of repeated and frequent allegations of child sexual abuse by [Fr Thaddeus] were not reported to the statutory authorities as the law of that time required," the report said.

Victim testimonies suggested that Fr Thaddeus was a "serial and prolific abuser of children, often in 'plain sight' of others".

"[Fr Thaddeus'] interest in children was not hidden from view, and it appears to have been tolerated by adults on the Island," it stated.

The review found that victims were often not believed and in one instance, a child who reported the abuse to their priest was told "he would suffer terrible punishment and be sent to Hell" if he shared what had happened with anyone else.

The review concluded that the abbey had "weak oversight and governance arrangements relating to safeguarding on the Island", and had failed to properly investigate complaints, even becoming "adversarial" towards victims.

"The allegations were never reported to the statutory agencies responsible for protecting children. The Reviewer believes that these were missed opportunities," it added.

The report recommended the introduction of stringent safeguarding policies and procedures, including "a clear 'No Touch' policy" and a ban on all pastoral counselling and informal contact between monks and visitors to the island.

Abbot Fr Jan Rossey, who commissioned the review, apologised for the abbey's failure to protect children, and expressed "deep sorrow and regret" for the suffering experienced by Fr Thaddeus' victims.

"It is particularly heartbreaking to hear children spoke up to adults and no action was taken. Children and their families were failed when they should have been supported and listened to," he said.
Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson (Photo: Facebook/Duck Dynasty)

(CP) "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson is in the "early stages" of Alzheimer's and battling another blood-related disease that is "causing problems with his entire body," his family has revealed, sparking an outpouring of support on social media.

Last week, Robertson's son, Jase, revealed the state of his 78-year-old father's health on an episode of the "Unashamed with the Robertson Family" podcast.

"Phil's not doing well. We were trying to figure out the diagnosis, but according to the doctors, they are sure that he has some sort of blood disease causing all kinds of problems," Jase said.

He added, "And he has early stages of Alzheimer's. So, if you put those things together, he's just not doing well. ... We've got a team of doctors, and then we have another set of doctors who are looking at all the tests, and they're all in agreement that there's no curing what he has."

Despite his diagnosis, Jase said his father is hoping to return to hosting the podcast: "I'm like, 'Well Phil, you can barely walk around without crying out in pain, and your memory is not what it once was,'" said Jase. "He's like, 'Tell me about it.'"

Following the news, social media was flooded with messages of support for the Robertson patriarch.

On X, former Gov. of Louisiana Bobby Jindal wrote, "Praying for (Phil Robertson) and his family," while Samaritan's Purse CEO Franklin Graham wrote, "Would you join me in praying for Phil Robertson, his wife Miss Kay, and their family? Phil is having serious health issues. I've appreciated Phil's bold faith in Jesus Christ and the way he points to God's Word."

Robertson and his family became household names through the hit A&E reality show "Duck Dynasty," which ran from 2012 to 2017. The show chronicled the lives of the Robertsons and their business, Duck Commander, while highlighting the family's faith and conservative values.

In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Phil Robertson reflected on how, in 2013, he was suspended from "Duck Dynasty" over his candid comments about homosexuality and religion in a GQ profile. He was swiftly condemned as a bigot by LGBT activist groups, including The Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD.

"Five or six years ago, a guy came up and asked me, did I believe homosexual behavior was a sin," Robertson told CP. "I quoted 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: 'Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the thieves, the greedy drunks, they won't inherit the Kingdom of God,'" Robertson said, citing [Paul's letter] to the church at Corinth. "'But you've been washed, you've been cleansed by the blood of Jesus,'" he added.

"I just simply quoted him a verse, a Bible verse, where God stated what it is," he added. "So it took him two weeks to figure out all I did was quote a Bible verse. He asked me a question ... and I just quoted [the Bible]. And when I quoted it, he took it and ran with it, because he thought I was just blowing smoke just off the top of my head."

Though backlash from the secular media was swift, the father, grandfather and great-grandfather noted that as a result of his boldness, "a lot of good came forth."

"We converted way more after that," he said. "See what I'm saying? God works in mysterious ways."

Robertson has authored several books, including Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander and The Theft of America's Soul, which delve into his personal story, faith and worldview. In 2022, he released Uncanceled: Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusations, Shame, and Condemnation.

The film "The Blind," released in 2023, delved into the Duck Commander's backstory and Phil's struggles with addiction and anger prior to his conversion to Christianity.

Phil's son, Willie, told CP the family's lives would look drastically different if it weren't for an Arkansas pastor, who, in the 1970s, drove across state lines to share the Gospel with his father.

"After we came out with 'The Blind' last year about Phil and Kay's life, I thought, 'What if that hadn't happened? What if that guy didn't go up there and preach the Gospel out of fear?" Willie Robertson reflected.

"Dad had not become a Christian. He'd already kicked us out, so we knew where it was headed. It was heading towards divorce for sure, split up family. When you take that out of the mix, there would have been no Duck Commander, there would have been no company, there would have been no 'Duck Dynasty.' I don't even know if I would be a believer today."

"Every day of my life, someone has been impacted by what happened 50 years ago," he continued. "Because of what was able to come out of that, when you start thinking about the television show that reached hundreds of millions of people, still does every day ... all the books, the movies, the podcast, all the things that have pointed people in some way to the Gospel, to the light, I can trace all that back."

Korie Robetson, who is married to Willie, told CP the family wanted to portray the raw and broken parts of their story to underscore God's unwavering faithfulness.

"Phil said, from day one, 'If it impacts one person, if one person changes their life and gives their life to Jesus, because of my story, because of the darkest parts of my story, I'll do it. It'll be worth it.' One of the greatest rewards has just been to read the comments and read the emails that have come in that have told us the life change that has happened in people's lives after seeing this film."

She said the family has heard countless stories of those who've been baptized, delivered from addiction or seen their marriages healed after watching the movie. Some of the baptisms, she said, have happened right in Phil's backyard.

"I wish we knew how many thousands of people have been baptized in that river right behind Phil and Kay's house, because Phil loves to baptize people and has done it right there in his backyard for years and years and years," she said.

"People would head straight to the church or head straight to the body of water right after seeing the movie; one group had like 27 baptisms, and right after the film, everyone just kind of continued and went somewhere worshiped."

"One woman said her husband had been an alcoholic for 17 years, he never goes to the movies with her. She convinced him to come to the movie with her because he loved Phil and our show. He reached over and held her hand for the first time in years while they were watching the movie. I read that and just bawled."

 The Christian Post
(Photo: Getty/iStock)

December 9th marked the 77th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which codified genocide as a crime under international law.

Genocide is a term coined by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jewish lawyer and Holocaust survivor. It represents the darkest act of humanity - the deliberate annihilation of entire groups based on ethnicity, religion, or culture.

Every year, the United Nations holds a high-level event to mark the International Day of Commemoration, honouring the victims of genocide and reflecting on the anniversary of the Genocide Convention. Significantly this year's event was held between two landmark milestones: the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and, in 2025, the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Yet, despite the UN's efforts to remember and commemorate these past atrocities, genocide is not just a chapter of history, it remains a horrifying reality in our world today. From the ongoing horrors in Sudan's Darfur region and Ethiopia's Tigray, to the persecution of Christians in Iran, Eritrea, and many other nations, these acts of brutality displace millions from their homes, claim hundreds of thousands of lives, and serve as a chilling reminder of humanity's failure to learn from its past.

But often, if we are honest, we have tunnel vision as we face the demands of our daily life - work, family, church activities - while global atrocities remain distant news stories on the edge of our consciousness. Desensitisation, or "war fatigue," as some researchers call it, dulls our empathy. We shake our heads, grieve briefly, and then move on, as 'never again' tragically becomes 'again and again.'

So, what should we do? Mother Teresa's words offer guidance, "If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will."

Each victim of genocide is an individual, made in the image of God. Our response to genocide, therefore, isn't just a matter of politics or humanitarian aid but a matter of faith and justice.

We have a biblical mandate to love our neighbour, and this transcends national borders. We are called to see the one, to act for the one.

In Luke 10, we find an expert in Mosaic law asking Jesus a profound question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus, as He often does, points him back to Scripture: "What is written in the Law?" The lawyer quotes Old Testament scripture on one's duty to love God and his neighbour. To which Jesus responds, "Do this, and you will live," affirming his answer with a challenge.

And this challenge invites deep reflection, do what is impossible for humans in our sinful state: love God and our neighbour perfectly and continuously.

Yet, the lawyer in Luke 10 avoids acknowledging his inability to fulfil the law and his need for God's grace asking, "And who is my neighbour?"

How often do we do the same, seeking the bare minimum and asking, 'What's enough to be a good Christian?' 'How can we give without real sacrifice, or care without discomfort?' This reflects a heart searching for limits, not love  I'm like that so often. In response, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, redefining a neighbour not by proximity, ethnicity, or belief but by need. His command is radical: love everyone.

And why? Because every person - every man, woman, and child - is made in the image of God and that truth demands our action, compassion, and love. We are called to look beyond our comfort, remembering the grace we've received and the grace we can share.

For those of us where complacency may have taken root, let this Genocide Awareness Day be a wake-up call. Let us not be wilfully blind but take heed to Micah 6:8 '...and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.' We are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, to fight for the rights of the victims, even when it's uncomfortable or politically inconvenient.

Let's reflect on how we can play a part in preventing genocide by becoming better informed, writing to our MPs to get them to focus on ongoing atrocities, and praying for peace in conflict zones. Revelation 21:4 assures us there will come a time when there will be no death, mourning, or pain. But until that day, we are called to be His hands and feet in this broken world. Let our lights shine before others so through us victims may encounter the living God who will one day restore all of creation, wiping every tear away.

Tim Farron has been the Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005 and served as the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party from 2015 to 2017. Tim is also the host of Premier's 'A Mucky Business' podcast, which unpacks the murky world of politics and encourages believers around the UK to engage prayerfully. He is the author of A Mucky Business: Why Christians should get involved in politics."
The German Development Cooperation through GIZ is looking for an individual expert to provide expertise in the area of human resources management, for the Public Service Management Division of the State Chancellery, within the project Attractive and Effective Public Administration. The services within the assignment will be provided in the period January 2025  June 2025.

The selected expert will conduct all the activities in accordance with the provisions of the Terms of Reference (ToR).

For the Terms of Reference and eventual questions, please address a message to the e-mail: tenders-giz-moldova@giz.de, indicating the tender number in the message title, not later than December 18, 2025, time 15:00.

The short-term expert shall meet following criteria and qualifications:

Qualification and skills

General professional experience

Specific professional experience

The successful application shall include:

2. Financial Proposal, containing (in a separate document):

The bids evaluation will be performed based on the ratio of 70% for the technical proposal and 30% for the financial proposal. Shortlisted candidates might be asked for an interview and additional information.

All personal data are for the internal use of GIZ; confidentiality is guaranteed.

Successful offerors will be asked for additional documentation such as a copy of ID, bank data and other, as it might be required for the contracting. The successful finalist will be issued a short-term consulting contract.

Applicants shall hold the Moldovan citizenship for a period of at least 6 months at the date of application.

Applications shall be submitted in a sealed envelope to the GIZ country office  Chisinau, 73/1 Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Bvd., National Business Center, 9th floor  indicating the tender number 83479866, not later than December 20, 2025, time 15:00.

Please note that applications received after the deadline, as well as incomplete applications will not be considered. Financial offers containing other currency than Moldovan Lei, will not be considered. GIZ retains the discretion to re-advertise or cancel this tender.

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Peste o mie de copii din raionul Criuleni vor avea acces gratuit la un spatiu modern pentru joaca si lectura
America House Chisinau invites school students to an engaging and educational Jeopardy game.

The questions will focus on the exciting world of digital skills and AI tools.

Players will test their knowledge about basic terms and concepts in the digital world, staying safe online and understanding security practices, AI in everyday life, useful tools and tips for improving efficiency; the ethical challenges and responsibilities of AI, cutting-edge technologies shaping the future.

By making the learning experience enjoyable and multidimensional, students leave with better knowledge of digital skills and AI tools and improved critical thinking, teamwork, and ethical awareness.

You can register here: https://forms.gle/97kB3TRgVqnjYNvm9

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By highwaystarz, Adobe

A Kent hospice charity has become the first in the UK to open a shop trading exclusively in new, unworn clothes.

New With Tags Tankerton (NWT@Tankerton), located in the neighbourhood of the same name in Whitstable, promises to offer a unique twist on charity shopping, with every item of clothing on offer being both unworn and new, with their retail tags still on to prove it.

The charity shop is run by Pilgrims Hospices, which provides end-of-life care for patients and families across east Kent and already has 31 shops across the region.

The new clothes on offer at its latest outlet range from high-street names to luxury and designer brands, which are donated by the general public and will reportedly be offered at a fraction of the [retail] price.

Karen Hills, manager of the new shop, said the charity was so excited to welcome shoppers to its venture.

Its a unique concept that brings incredible value to our customers while supporting the vital work of Pilgrims Hospices, she said. Whether youre looking for a show-stopping party outfit, a thoughtful gift, or a wardrobe refresh, NWT@Tankerton has something for everyone.

Fraught time for charity retailers

Pilgrims Hospices launch comes at a difficult time for many charity shops.

Recent research by the Charity Retail Association found that more than one-third of charity retailers will be forced to cut paid staff, reduce their hours, or both, because of the employer national insurance contributions (NICs) rise announced recently by chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The increase is forecast to cost a typical charity shop around 1,000 per year.

Meanwhile, Civil Societys Charity Shops Survey 2024 found that a number of UK charity shops had seen their profits drop due to sustained higher expenditure levels.

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,
HMRC representatives speaking at Charity Tax Group's 2024 conference. From left to right: Tony Johnson, Mark Pickard and Darren MacDonald

HM Revenue and Customs has reported an increase in the number of charity tax cases taken to civil courts alongside criminal cases and related prosecutions.

At Charity Tax Groups conference last week in London, HMRC representatives discussed the authoritys work to recoup funds and urged more trustees to seek professional advice.

Darren MacDonald, compliance lead for charitable expenditure at HMRC, said: Theres a definite uptick in cases that are taken to the civil courts.

Theres a definite uptick in criminal cases and prosecutions in this area.

MacDonald said HMRC is constantly looking for ways to invest in our systems to future-proof them and provide a more robust defence against allowing bad actors access to charitable tax reliefs that should rightly go to people doing the right thing.

Theres a specific inward look around what we can do to develop our systems to better identify fraud, he added.

In terms of how we constantly try to learn and develop our compliance and risk techniques, we work closely with our criminal arm at HMRC called the Fraud Investigation Service.

Trustees not taking appropriate advice

On compliance, MacDonald said that one of the biggest pitfalls his team sees is charity trustees not taking appropriate advice.

Theres plenty of guidance out there and free guidance as well, but if your affairs are more complex, HMRC would actively encourage you to go and seek advice from a professional and pay some money because in the long run, it could save you a lot more.

Be responsible. Operate the appropriate financial controls and policies to reduce the risk of error, mistake and fraud. Good record-keeping is key.

He highlighted some common errors seen by HMRC, including records not being kept up to date, which can lead to a gift aid form or tax return being rejected.

We need to know who the authorised officials of the charities are at the time and where youre registered, he said.

Almost 90% of gift aid claims that were rejected last year were because the authorised official or address didnt match what was in HMRCs records.

Thats probably because in a lot of areas in the charity world, there are high turnovers of officials or trustees and the previous authorised official remains on the record when the new one comes on board.

On why tax returns might be rejected, he said the most common reason was that they were left blank or not signed by a trustee.

Charity sector very compliant overall

Also at the event, Mark Pickard, head of savings and charities policy at HMRC, said a lot of the trends in gift aid are quite positive and awareness is strong.

Pickard said that overall, there is a growth in the volume and value of gift aid claims and that charities are very compliant.

People do want to get things right, but occasionally weve seen targeted instances of abuse and weve acted to close down those loopholes when theres clear evidence its necessary to do so, he said.

Pickard added that HMRC has been thinking more about how it communicates, notably on social media platforms.

We posted on Gift Awareness Day and were happy to do so on similar days if people have ideas or suggestions. Were considering making our charities guidance more interactive.

Now, that wont be the technical guidance that sophisticated charities engage with but were quite aware that sometimes donors are put off from donating or even claiming tax relief by the complexity of the rules.

Hopefully, that interactive guidance will guide donors to the right way of donating. And there are other work streams in that space as well.

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,
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The case against Carlos Watson, a cofounder of the digital media company Ozy, was largely built on the testimony of his key lieutenants, including his young cofounder, Samir Rao. But prosecutors also presented several other pieces of hard evidence over the course of the trial, much of it discussed in CJRs podcast series The Unraveling of Ozy Media, a special production of The Kicker. Listen to the series here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Texts

In early 2021, Rao joined a conference call with potential investors from Goldman Sachs, pretending to be an executive with YouTube. No one from Ozy was supposed to be on the call, and Rao used a voice modification program to try to conceal his real identity. The Goldman bankers were not fooled, and text messages between Allison Berardo and her boss, Hillel Moerman, captured their real-time confusion about what was going on.

Watsonwho initially told the press that he had nothing to do with the call and that Rao was suffering from a mental episodewas, in fact, the texts reveal, actively communicating with Rao the whole time. In court, the two men offered differing interpretations of what the messages meant. Scroll down slowly to see the messages load in the order they were sent.

The Email

Tripti Thakur was Ozys chief financial officer, until she resigned, in 2019. In one of the most cinematic moments of the trial, Thakur described the events leading up to her decision to leave, when the company was desperately short on cash and waiting for a contract to come through with a partner, Oprahs television network OWN. Instead of waiting for the final deal, Rao sent a fake version of the contract, hoping it could be used to secure a loan from a bank. Thakur responded, This is fraud. Read her full resignation email below:

The Oprah Promotion

Watson told the court that he often counted what he called barter revenue as part of his companys total income. Experts say that barter, or in-kind, revenueattaching a cash value to nonfinancial goods or servicesis not traditionally seen as a legitimate form of accounting, in part because there is no universal way to define the value of non-cash actions. For example, Watson said he initially assessed the value of the below tweet, from Oprah, at fifty million dollars. (He said he later discounted it to twenty million.)

He also said he valued the promotional video below at twenty million dollars.
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Historically, RAI, Italys public broadcaster, has always been subject to government control. During the political era dominated by Silvio Berlusconi, the late media mogul turned three-time prime minister, for example, the infamous Bulgarian Diktat caused an uproar: following a declaration by Berlusconi, management effectively removed the journalist Enzo Biagi, anchor Michele Santoro, and satirist Daniele Luttazzithree of the most prominent and critical voices of the thenprime ministerfrom public TV altogether.

Today, under the right-wing prime minister Giorgia Meloni, efforts to align RAI with the governments agenda have been seen as even more pervasivethe broadcaster has undergone a series of radical transformations, often referred to using the shorthand TeleMeloni. A monologue in which the writer Antonio Scurati was set to criticize Italys post-fascist leaders for failing to repudiate their neofascist origins was canceled; so, too, was the second season of Roberto Savianos investigative series Insider, with critics interpreting both decisions as attempts to suppress dissenting voices. Several high-profile figures have left. Fabio Fazio, the host of the immensely popular talk show Che tempo che fa (Whats the Weather Like?), moved his program to a private network owned by the American company Warner Bros. Discovery, where it continues to attract millions of viewers. Bianca Berlinguer transitioned her flagship program, Cartabianca (Carte Blanche), to Rete 4, a conservative network that is part of the media empire founded by Berlusconi.

Among the most notable resignations was that of Lucia Annunziata, a seasoned political journalist and host of acclaimed television programs. (Among other things, she founded and led the Italian edition of HuffPost.) Annunziata served as RAIs chairperson from 2003 to 2004, when she resigned amid escalating tensions with Berlusconis administration; she continued to host a political interview program, In mezzora (Half an Hour), and in 2006 made headlines when Berlusconi walked out of her studio following a heated exchange about his conflicts of interest as both a media mogul and a politician. In May 2023, she resigned from RAI, claiming that she did not agree with anything about the work of the current government, either on content or methods.

After she quit, Annunziata transitioned from media to politics for the first time, running for a seat in the European Parliament; this year, she was elected as an MEP with the Democratic Party. Explaining her decision, she said, the situation in Italy had become so polarized that I felt it was the right time to do something different and contribute in another way. Recently, I spoke with Annunziataher first interview about RAI since resigningand discussed her decision, the impact of Meloni on Italian journalism, and the almost messianic anticipation of Donald Trump on the European political right. Our conversation, conducted in Italian and translated, has been edited for length and clarity.



SB: How would you describe the impact of the Meloni government on press freedom and the state of journalism in Italy?

LA: Overwhelming, in the sense that Meloni has implemented significant, and at times very abrupt, changes at RAI. She sent a clear message of wanting to establish a new cultural hegemony, which I think is her right as the election winner, given that Italian law grants the head of government the authority to appoint RAIs two top executives. However, the way it was donelacking grace and with a very polemical approachdoes not seem particularly successful to me, either in terms of viewership or cultural hegemony. I dont think the [political] right has emerged stronger from this change. When it comes to newspapers, the government has been highly active in empowering a new network of aligned publishers to counterbalance the more established independent papers. Both actions have contributed to the perception of a climate of fear surrounding opposition to the Meloni government.

Why has Meloni adopted this strategy?



Meloni envisions cultural hegemony as a tool. According to her interpretation, the left maintained its cultural dominance over RAI through favoritism, and now it is time to impose a new right-wing hegemony. This is partially accurate, as the left has shaped cultural trends for years. However, this dominance never excluded a significant presence of the right in the media and RAI. During Berlusconis two decades of power and influence, his coalition had a strong foothold in RAI and was often in a position of control. Part of his coalition included the political party Movimento Sociale Italiano, the direct heir of traditional, pro-Mussolini fascism.

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Melonis party has a different tradition. It represents a right-wing movement rooted in various factions that emerged from the disruptive experiences of the 1970snot extremist, but certainly outside the system. Despite this history of significant control over RAI, Melonis current strategy does not appear to be working. Viewership is down and many programs have failed. For me, this is painful. I spent twenty-six years at RAI. Its an important part of my life, and I deeply regret what is happening.

Was your decision to leave RAI an act of protest or a personal necessity to preserve your journalistic independence?

Both. Ive always believed that when you disagree with your publisher, or employer, and are treated poorly, its your responsibility to leave. I consider myself a specialist in resignations for this reason. This is the third time I have resigned from RAI: I stepped down from the editorship of the newscast TG3 in 1998 and from the position of RAI president in 2004. This time, I left because I knew what was coming and expressed my disagreement in a statement. I knew the right was determined to reclaim its cultural hegemony through RAI and that my contract would not be renewed. I chose to leave immediately and to voice my disagreement, preserving my freedom.

Was the impact of the Meloni government more radical than other governments or in line with them?

It was different during Berlusconis time. Despite his political and electoral dominance in Parliament and his conflicts of interest in the media systemat one point, he controlled four out of five RAI board membershe never sought to wipe the slate clean. That is the key difference with Meloni. Berlusconi did not aim to erase everything else, whereas Meloni seems to have a more radical vision in this regard. I had fierce clashes with Berlusconi. After the interview where he walked out, there was significant anger against me within his party. We didnt speak for five years until he called me to his office. He was no longer prime minister. I asked him, Are you still angry with me? He replied, No, we both did our jobsyou did yours, and I did mine.

Berlusconis right was more liberal: it dominated the media but still allowed space for other voices. In contrast, Melonis right-wing cultural hegemony seems intent on minimizing those spaces, driven by a sense of victimhood. They believe they represent the outcasts, having been excluded from the system for years. There is a note of Trumpism in this mindset. Its a right-wing movement fueled by revanchisma desire for retributionthat makes its approach more rigid and totalizing than in the past.

Is there still room for journalists who want to address uncomfortable topics at RAI?

Yes, because RAI has journalists of great value, both on the right and the left. Historically, RAI has always been a place where efforts were made to represent all political forces through the practice of lottizzazione, a system designed to allocate space to all parties according to their political relevance. Today, there are still quality programs. However, the space for journalism has been reduced, and it operates in an atmosphere that is less tolerant of ideological diversity.

Do you believe that the new right-wing movements at the European and international levels are following common patterns in how they relate to the free press?

In Europe, one of the key priorities of neo-authoritarian governments is to restrict press freedom, particularly targeting public and alternative media. This trend began in Eastern European countries and has gradually spread westward. [Hungarian prime minister Viktor] Orban is an emblematic example, but far from the only one. Today, the right holds significant influence in the European Parliament, and in many countries, press freedom has been notably curtailed. These new autocracies share common values and strategies. On the international stage, Trump is a central figure in this movement, serving as both a model and an inspiration. In Europe, there is an almost messianic anticipation of Trump among right-wing governments, who see him as both a savior and an innovator. The press remains one of the main battlegrounds in this cultural conflict, a decisive arena for shaping the future of Europe and beyond.

What motivated you to enter politics after such a long and established career in journalism? Was it a decision carefully considered over time or a response to current pressures?

I resigned from RAI a year before my contract expired. I honored the non-compete agreement for a year and managed my departure with fairness, avoiding any issues. After a year away, I decided that the best way to continue contributing to the public debate was to turn to politics in Europe. The situation in Italy has become so polarized that I felt it was the right time to take a different path and make my contribution in a new area.



Other notable stories:

Recently, the satirical site The Onion announced that it had acquired Alex Joness conspiracy empire InfoWars in an auction stemming from judgments against Jones in defamation cases brought by families of the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting, which Jones has said repeatedly was a hoax; the families supported The Onions bid, which was aimed at turning InfoWars into a parody of itself. A judge, however, paused the sale, citing transparency concerns about the bidding processand yesterday, he rejected the deal, essentially for that reason. A court-appointed trustee will determine what happens next. The Onion said it would continue to seek a resolution in its favor.

In the UK, the BBCs Josh Parry reports on allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying against Benjamin Cohen and Anthony James, the couple who run PinkNews, which describes itself as the biggest LGBTQ+ led media brand in the world. Several former staffers told Parry that they saw James kissing and touching a junior colleague who they say appeared too drunk to consent, and that a culture of heavy drinking led to other instances of inappropriate behavior. Meanwhile, some young female staffers were allegedly asked to act as surrogates for the couple. (Cohen and James deny the claims.)

Andafter police identified a suspect in the recent assassination of the CEO of the health insurance firm UnitedHealthcare in New York404 Medias Jason Koebler criticized the rush to write stories piecing together every scrap of the shooters online presence, including an article noting that he played the wildly popular (and murdery) video game Among Us. This fact is about as relevant as saying that he breathes air or eats food or sleeps sometimes, Koebler writes. Knowing who the shooter was matters, but its not clear what we are actually learning from years-old social media accounts.
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TEL AVIVOn November 24, Israels cabinet unanimously adopted an unprecedented resolution to boycott an Israeli news organization. Opening with an Orwellian commitment to free press even in wartime, the government declared its intent to disconnect any advertising ties with Haaretz and called on its arms, ministries, bodies, corporations, and any organ funded by it to avoid any connection with the newspaper and not publish anything from Haaretz.

The immediate pretext for the boycott resolution involved controversial remarks by Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken, who spoke of Palestinian freedom fighters whom we call terrorists at a conference in London several weeks earlier. When his words floated back to Israel, a political and media maelstrom engulfed the newspaper. Many on our staff strongly disagreed with Schocken, and we published an editorial criticizing the publisher, stressing that nothing can justify terror. But it wasnt enough to calm angry readers who canceled their subscriptions, not to mention the right wing, inside and outside of the government, which had a field day.

When communications minister Shlomo Karhi, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus henchman, went on to formalize the governments anti-Haaretz stance, we were hardly surprised. Haaretz was already in the crosshairs when Netanyahu returned to power two years ago, heading a far-right coalition committed to replacing Israels strained democracy with a racist theocratic autocracy. The agreements he reached with the other parties in his coalition, including ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties, were a blueprint for Jewish supremacy and curtailment of secular liberalism and included a provision to reform the statutory advertising in daily newspapers and replace it with a designated website. We knew exactly which daily they were targeting. A decade ago, most government advertisinga small but steady source of revenue for a shrinking industrywas already withdrawn from Haaretz by some regulatory trickery. Now they were going after the residue.

The advertising reform had yet to take off when, on October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel. Invading from Gaza, the assailants overran the border communities, a music festival, and military outposts. They murdered around twelve hundred people, including forty-six Americans, and raped, looted, maimed, or kidnapped thousands more, sparking a multifront war that is still being fought. It was the worst calamity in Israels seventy-six-year history. The public infighting over Netanyahus constitutional coup, which had split Israels Jewish society in the antebellum, was put temporarily on hold as hundreds of thousands of reservists rushed to their Israel Defense Force units and the country mourned the dead and worried about the hundreds of hostages taken to Gaza.

Not everybody celebrated the newfound, if temporary, national unity. Karhi, a disciple of one of Israels strongly antiliberal rabbis and a former professor of industrial engineering and management, sensed a rare opportunity to fulfill his ambition of silencing critical media. Mere days after the outbreak of war, he drafted an executive order giving him emergency powers to shut down any media outlet undermining public and soldiers morale or assisting enemy propaganda, to confiscate its equipment and arrest its staff. Albeit watered down on its way to becoming a formal decree, the motion still enabled the government to shut down the offices of Al Jazeera, a prime source of news for Israels Arab society, who make up one-fifth of the population. Al Jazeera has reported on the killing and destruction inflicted by Israels counteroffensive and eventual occupation in Gaza, uncensored. This was too much for the Israeli government.

But Karhi would not stop there. In November 2023, he drafted a resolution targeting Haaretz, blaming the paper for spreading defeatist, false propaganda against the State of Israel in wartime and calling the governments paymaster to block any funds for advertising or subscription to the paper. The justice ministry blocked the motion, citing the risk to press freedom. So the minister waited until a better opportunity came up last month. This time he bypassed the mandated legal advisory, and received the full backing of Netanyahu.

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The longest-serving prime minister in Israels history has built his long career on media manipulation, which he views as a necessary tool for holding power. Netanyahu never shied away from abusing the state regulatory power to reward or punish publishers and media owners. His dirty tricks before the crucial 2015 election, first exposed by Haaretz, have led to his indictment in two corruption cases that are still pending, along with a third case of receiving illegal gifts from tycoons.

Akin to fellow democratically elected autocrats like Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Hungarys Viktor Orban, and Indias Narendra Modi, Netanyahu has been striving endlessly to control the media using several means. Billionaire supporters have established a pro-Netanyahu, free-delivered newspaper, Israel Hayom, followed by a mouthpiece television outlet, Channel 14, a kind of Fox on steroids in Hebrew. The government has adapted its TV regulation to ease the way for its pet channel, which has markedly grown in popularity during the current war.

The older mainstream commercial TV channels, 12 and 13, have been under constant attack by the Bibists, chiding them as too hostile and too liberal. The government-owned public broadcaster, Kan, has been threatened with closure. On the same day of the Haaretz boycott resolution, Karhi sponsored a bill to shut down Kan and sell its frequencies to private entrepreneurs. The fact that these channels support Netanyahus war policy and included some of his vocal supporters in their commentariat would not protect them from his insatiable drive to control their message.

Haaretz fills a unique role in Israels public sphereand on Netanyahus enemies list. The oldest existing publication in Hebrew (since 1919), and since 1997 also available in English, Haaretz has traditionally been a strongly critical voice within Israeli society. Described by The New Yorkers David Remnick as arguably the most important liberal institution in a country that has moved inexorably to the right, Haaretz has held a firm stance against Israels occupation and the oppression of Palestinians in the occupied territories. We stand for human and civil rights and, increasingly alone among Israeli mass media, constantly report on the abuses and atrocities of the occupation. Only Haaretz would question the morality of the Israel Defense Forces counterterrorism operations and tactics. And only Haaretz would publish anti-Zionist opinions.

Our position led Netanyahu to name Haaretz, along with the New York Times, among the main enemies of Israel in 2012. (When his remarks leaked, he denied them.) And over the years, we got into occasional trouble with some of our subscribers, who may share our oppositional view of Netanyahu and the right wing in general, but might be offended by moral critique of the military, which they revere. We wouldnt budge, however. When we see or suspect war crimes, we report them as they occur, rather than wait until the fighting is over or bury the story altogether.

In Israel, we have military censorship by law. Each news item involving military intelligence or nuclear affairs, or secret diplomacy, must go through prepublication review by the censor. While this is definitely a nuisance and a major obstacle to press freedom, it is far more relaxed today than in Israels early years. Yet the censor still enforces government ambiguities over Israels nuclear program or certain cross-border operations, forcing the media to cite foreign sources rather than its own reporting.

During the war, however, the official censorship has been a smaller obstacle to press freedom than mainstream public attitudes. Israels Jewish society has been growing deaf to the suffering on the other side, especially since the suicide bombings of the Second Palestinian Intifada (20002005) in Israels cities, and the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007 following the Israeli disengagement two years earlier. The daily lives of Palestinians under occupation are underreported by mainstream Israeli media, and external criticism of Israeli practices is labeled there as anti-Semitic smears. Allegations of war crimes are usually framed as legal risk at The Hague, referring to the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant and might pursue other Israeli officials and military brass.

The current war has only exacerbated and escalated this attitude, as Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas while the IDF failed to prevent the invasion or curtail it in time. Since then, Israels media has been replaying the horrors of October 7 and the plight of survivors over and over again. Retributionin the form of mass killing, destruction, and forced depopulation in Gazais seen by the Israeli Jewish mainstream as justified punishment to an evil enemy that tried to reenact the Holocaust. They have brought the disaster upon themselves and had it coming, goes the popular thinking even among erstwhile center-leftists who had once supported the two-state solution.

Following suit, Israels mainstream mediaChannel 12 TV and Ynetnewshave accordingly shied away from reporting extensively on the plight of Gazans (or Lebanese, once the war with Hezbollah escalated along Israels northern front). The reporting from Gaza in Western media has not been matched in detail by most of their Israeli counterparts. And the mainstream Israeli media described the ICC arrest warrants as expressions of anti-Semitism, instead of investigating and reporting on the factual basis of the accusations of crimes against humanity.

At the Haaretz newsroom, we were shocked and aggrieved by October 7, like the rest of Israel. Our staff members who lived in or visited their friends and family in the border zone barely survived the massacre, or escaped it by chance. Others who grew up in the kibbutzim along the Gaza border have lost family members and close friends, who were killed or kidnapped by Hamas. A couple of our editors worked during that horrible day while maintaining phone contact with their parents, who were hiding in Beeri and Nir Oz, the sites of the worst atrocities. Our reporters in the field were shot at and helped in loading body bags of victims on ambulances. Other writers and editors reported to their military reserve units. We offered psychological support to the staff.

Yet even in the midst of shock and grief, we stuck to our journalistic mission: reporting the widest possible story about the war. This meant that while covering the Israeli side just like our counterparts, we also documented what was happening in Gaza and Lebanon. Unable to field reporters in the war zones outside the constraints of military embedding with the IDF, we relied on phone contact with Palestinians and Lebanese sources, running syndicated stories from the New York Times, The Guardian, and wire services, and analyzing satellite imagery of the battlefields. In our editorials, we justified the fight against Hamas and Hezbollah following their unprovoked attacksbut from day one, put the blame on Netanyahus prewar intransigence and deliberate provocations toward the Palestinians. We demanded the return of the hostages atop the national priorities and warned against permanent occupation and future rebuilding of Israeli settlements in Gaza. And we have kept warning of the disastrous policy of the current government, calling time and again for its replacement sooner rather than later.

Netanyahu supports only one kind of press freedomits freedom to sing his praises and absolve him of any responsibility for the October 7 disaster and its aftermath. To the prime minister and his believers, Haaretz reports from Gaza, as well as our critical editorials and investigative stories, are anathema and must be silenced. That was the background and motivation behind the Haaretz boycott resolution.

But Haaretz will not be silenced. The boycott led to a surge of new subscriptions, and we launched a legal battle against the advertising ban. In a democracy, the government should not be allowed to treat its budget as a punishment tool against its critics. Nor should it officially declare media as illegitimate or unpatriotic and assisting the enemy, thereby putting its journalists at immediate, grave risk. But Haaretz will prevail. In a battered democracy like todays Israel, facing the simultaneous strain of an aspiring autocrat and an unending war, speaking truth to power could not be more crucial.
Benekiva has expanded its leadership team.

The company named Krista Eger vice president of product. She has experience leading claims processing teams and driving product innovation efforts.

Mike Shea was named the companys vice president of sales. He will drive efforts in digital innovation and work on achieving business objectives.

Jim Girard joins Benekiva as vice president of technology. He has experience developing scalable and secure technology solutions.

Christina Sciarrota will serve as vice president of customer delivery. She will use her experience in streamlining operations, process reengineering and delivering scalable solutions.

Benekiva is an insurtech company focused on modernizing claims and servicing operations based in Des Moines, Iowa.
The European Parliaments biggest political group is mounting a campaign to weaken the EUs main policies for cutting CO2 emissions from cars, a draft position paper seen by Reuters showed.

The demands from the center-right European Peoples Party (EPP), due to be published on Wednesday, would add to mounting pressure on Brussels from automakers and national governments to urgently help Europes ailing car manufacturing sector.

The EPP document said the European Unions 2035 ban on sales of new CO2-emitting cars should be reversed, to allow sales of combustion engine cars that run on biofuels and other alternative fuels beyond this date.

The law should also be changed to support plug-in hybrid cars, which contain an electric battery and a combustion engine, the draft said. It asked Brussels to undertake an early review of the 2035 policy next year to make these changes.

Europes car sector is in turmoil, with thousands of jobs on the line as it struggles with weak demand, Chinese competition and lower than expected electric vehicle sales.

The EPP holds significant political sway, with a majority of the 27 members of the new European Commission also coming from its ranks, including President Ursula von der Leyen.

The draft EPP document also said automakers should be shielded from the impact of stricter car CO2 limits coming into effect next year.

European automaker association (ACEA) president Luca de Meo, who heads Renault, said on Tuesday the EUs current policy meant the industry potentially faced 15 billion euros ($15.8 billion) of fines, which would divert money from investments.

Those that have set the rules have not provided the necessary market conditions, charging infrastructure, stable incentive schemes, pricing of energy etc, etc, he said.

De Meo said the 2025 CO2 limits were an urgent issue and there were still 10 years to find a solution on the 2035 combustion engine ban.

The EPP suggested delaying the 2025 limits to 2027, or softening the way carmakers compliance is accounted for.

Brussels has so far resisted such calls. EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra in September said the climate rules provided a predictable investment environment and many companies had informed the EU they were on track to meet the targets.

Since then, the sectors woes have intensified, with Volkswagen announcing plans to shut factories in Germany and automakers now bracing for a potential wave of tariffs under incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.

The EPP has had some recent successes with other calls to weaken green policies. Last month the EU delayed its landmark anti-deforestation law by a year, after pushback from the EPP, industries and governments including Brazil and the U.S.

($1 = 0.9520 euros)

(Reporting by Abnett. Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop. Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Potter)
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vermont -- You cant separate the Bible from teaching high school English. But the First Amendment to the Constitution warns me, in so many words, to teach the Bible, not preach it. I taught high school English for 25 years in Vermont without ever violating that trust, I hope. Here are its words:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Consider the most famous three words in American literature: Call me Ishmael, the first sentence of Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Its loaded with meaning from the Bible.

Ishmael is the name of the illegitimate child of Abraham, whose wife Sarah was barren. Sarah encouraged her Egyptian slave Hagar to become pregnant with Abrahams child in order to fulfill Gods promise that Abraham would found great nations. (Genesis 17:5)

Then, crazy as it sounds, Sarah becomes pregnant at 90 and gives birth to Isaac, whose offspring did indeed become the Twelve Tribes of Israel, aka the chosen people, according to two Bible verses. (Deuteronomy 7:6 and Deuteronomy 14:2)

Bingo. Gods promise has been kept. A great nation will be formed from Abrahams offspring.

But wait. When Sarahs slave Hagar also gives birth to Abrahams son, it is an illegitimate birth. Hagar names that illegitimate son Ishmael, and God makes a promise to Ishmael that he, too, will father great nations. (Genesis 17:20)

Ishmaels offspring found the Twelve Tribes of Arabs.

Double bingo and a somersault: Thus begin 2,000 years of rivalry: the chosen people versus the other people. The Israelites versus The Ishmaelites.

All this history of ancient rivalries has been crammed by Herman Melville into those three short opening words of Moby Dick -- Call me Ishmael.

That famous opening line would be understood by people who know the Bible as equivalent to Call me the other one or Call me the outsider.

Paul Keane, who attended graduate school at Kent State University, is a retired English teacher in Vermont.

And when Ishmael, as a member of Captain Ahabs ship, the Pequod, becomes the only member of the crew to survive after the great white whale Moby Dick rams and sinks the Pequod, the closing words of the 720-page novel label Ishmael an orphan: It was the devious-cruising Rachel, that in her retracing search after her missing children, only found another orphan.

Look at the irony Melville has created. Ishmael alone and adrift in the ocean is rescued by another ship, the Rachel. Ishmael is the unchosen one in the Bible but he becomes the chosen one in Melvilles Moby Dick -- chosen to be rescued and survive and tell the entire 720-page story of the crazy search for Moby Dick, the great white whale.

Did I succeed in not preaching religion here?

Call me teacher.

A retired Vermont English teacher, Keane holds graduate degrees from the Yale Divinity School and Kent State University.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com
EQS-Ad-hoc: About You Holding SE / Key word(s): Mergers & Acquisitions

ABOUT YOU Holding SE: ABOUT YOU and Zalando agree on business combination and public takeover offer by Zalando to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU

11-Dec-2024 / 07:57 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc.

to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News  a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Hamburg, December 11, 2024  ABOUT YOU Holding SE with seat in Hamburg (ISIN DE000A3CNK42) (Company), has entered into an agreement with Berlin based Zalando SE (Zalando) for a strategic business combination (Business Combination Agreement, BCA). The conclusion of the BCA and the combination of the two companies is intended to lay the foundation for the joint creation of an e-commerce ecosystem in the European fashion and lifestyle market, in order to better serve customers and partners with complementary offerings.

In order to implement the business combination, Zalando intends to make a voluntary public takeover offer (Takeover Offer) to the shareholders of the Company for the acquisition of all shares in the Company against payment of a cash consideration of EUR 6.50 per share, subject to the determination of the statutory minimum price and the final determination in the offer document. Zalando will finance the Takeover Offer from existing cash capital resources.

The major shareholders of the Company, including Otto GmbH & Co KG, members of the Otto family, an investment entity controlled by Heartland and all three founders and members of the Companys Management Board, have irrevocably committed to sell all of their shares in the Company at the offer price in connection with the Takeover Offer. The total number of the Companys shares subject to such commitments corresponds to approximately 73% of the share capital and voting rights of the Company.

The consummation of the Takeover Offer will be subject to customary closing conditions, including the required regulatory approvals. The achievement of a minimum acceptance threshold will not be a condition to closing.

Furthermore, the Supervisory Board has extended today the appointment and service agreements of the members of the Companys Management Board by six months until the end of October 15, 2025. Subject to the responsibility of the Supervisory Board, it is intended that the three founders and current members of the Management Board will be represented on the Companys Management Board also following the consummation of the Takeover Offer. Subject to the closing of the Takeover Offer, the members of the Companys Management Board will acquire a certain number of Zalando shares as participation in the combined company, which Zalando currently holds as treasury shares.

The Management Board and the Supervisory Board of the Company welcome the Takeover Offer. Subject to detailed review of the offer document, the members of the Management Board and Supervisory Board support the Takeover Offer and intend to recommend to accept it.

Contact for investors and Analysts:

Frank Bohme

Head of Investor Relations & Communications

ir@aboutyou.com

Media contact:

Laila Helmy

Head of Corporate Communications

presse@aboutyou.com


EQS-Ad-hoc: Zalando SE / Key word(s): Mergers & Acquisitions/Tender Offer

Zalando SE: Agreement on business combination and public takeover offer to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU Holding SE. 11-Dec-2024 / 07:54 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News  a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Zalando SE: Agreement on business combination and public takeover offer to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU Holding SE. Berlin, December 11, 2024. Zalando SE, with its registered seat in Berlin, Germany (Zalando) (ISIN: DE000ZAL1111) today entered into a business combination agreement (BCA) with ABOUT YOU Holding SE, with its registered seat in Hamburg, Germany (ABOUT YOU) on a strategic business combination. Immediately after the conclusion of the BCA, Zalando publishes its decision pursuant to Section 10 para. 1 sent. 1 of the German Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) to launch a public takeover offer to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU (Takeover Offer). Subject to the determination of the statutory minimum price and the final determination in the offer document, Zalando will offer EUR 6.50 in cash (Offer Price) as consideration for each share of ABOUT YOU tendered to the Bidder. Zalando will finance the Takeover Offer from existing cash reserves. The conclusion of the BCA and the business combination between Zalando and ABOUT YOU is intended to lay the foundation for the joint creation of an e-commerce ecosystem in the European fashion and lifestyle market in order to better serve customers and partners through complementary offerings. From the parties perspective, the business combination offers convincing value creation opportunities for the parties and stakeholders involved. In the B2C segment, Zalando intends to pursue a dual-brand strategy in the future following the completion of the Takeover Offer, in which different and separate shopping experiences are to be offered in order to better meet the specific needs of customers and partners. With regard to B2B, the parties are convinced that ABOUT YOUs B2B business will ideally complement and supplement Zalandos B2B e-commerce operating system. The parties are also convinced that the business combination will help to contribute to positive change for a more sustainable and inclusive future of the fashion and lifestyle industry. The combined business of Zalando and ABOUT YOU aims an adjusted EBIT margin of between 10% and 13%. While recognizing the responsibility of the supervisory board of ABOUT YOU under corporate law, it is intended to work towards ensuring that the three founders and current members of the management board of ABOUT YOU continue their successful work even after completion of the Takeover Offer and remain as members of the management board of ABOUT YOU. Subject to the closing of the Takeover Offer, the members of the management board of ABOUT YOU will acquire a certain number of Zalando shares as participation in the combined company, which Zalando currently holds as treasury shares. In addition, the parties have also agreed to engage in a constructive dialogue with the employees of both companies and their representatives with the aim of maintaining the excellent employee base and corporate culture. Furthermore, Zalando today has entered into binding agreements with the major shareholders of ABOUT YOU, including Otto (GmbH & Co KG), members of the Otto Family and an investment company controlled by HEARTLAND A/S (the Major Shareholders), in which they have undertaken to sell all of the ABOUT YOU shares held by them at the Offer Price by accepting the Takeover Offer or separately. In addition, Zalando has entered into binding agreements with all three founders and members of the management board of ABOUT YOU, in which they have in particular undertaken to accept the Takeover Offer with respect to part of the ABOUT YOU shares held by them. The total ABOUT YOU shares subject to these agreements with the Major Shareholders and the founders and members of the management board of ABOUT YOU correspond to approximately 73% of the share capital of ABOUT YOU. The delivery of the ABOUT YOU shares pursuant to the share purchase agreements and the completion of the Takeover Offer will be subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of the required regulatory approvals. The achievement of a minimum acceptance threshold will not be a condition for completion.

Person making the notification: Dr. Martin Bredol, Senior Lead Corporate Law

Investor/Analyst inquiries: Patrick Kofler

Investor Relations

investor.relations@zalando.de

+49 (0) 30 20968 1584 Media inquiries: Carolyn Gro

Business & Financial Communications

presse@zalando.de

+49 (0) 151 22189 977 End of Inside Information

Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this announcement: Important information: This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation to sell or an offer to buy any of the securities of ABOUT YOU. The final terms and conditions and other provisions relating to the Takeover Offer will be communicated in the offer document after the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) has permitted publication. Zalando reserves the right to deviate from the key data presented here in the final terms and conditions of the Takeover Offer to the extent legally permissible. Investors and holders of securities of ABOUT YOU are strongly advised to read the offer document and all other announcements relating to the Takeover Offer as soon as they have been made public, as they contain or will contain important information. Insofar as this document contains forward-looking statements, these do not represent facts and are identified by the words will, expect, believe, estimate, intend, aim, assume and similar expressions. These statements express the intentions, beliefs or current expectations and assumptions of Zalando and the persons acting in concert with it. The forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections made by Zalando and the persons acting in concert with Zalando to the best of their knowledge, but make no representation as to their future accuracy. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are usually beyond the control of Zalando or the persons acting in concert with Zalando. These expectations and forward-looking statements may prove to be inaccurate and actual developments may differ materially from forward-looking statements. Zalando and the persons acting in concert with Zalando do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements with respect to actual developments or events, general conditions, assumptions or other factors. About Zalando Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is Europes leading online multi-brand fashion destination. We are building a pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce, along two growth vectors: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B). In B2C, we provide an inspiring, high-quality multi-brand shopping experience for fashion and lifestyle products to nearly 50 million active customers across 25 markets. In B2B, we leverage our logistics infrastructure, software, and service capabilities to support brands and retailers in managing and scaling their entire e-commerce business, both on and off the Zalando platform. Through our ecosystem vision, Zalando aims to enable positive change in the fashion and lifestyle industry. 11-Dec-2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com Language: EnglishCompany: Zalando SE Valeska-Gert-Strae 5 10243 Berlin GermanyE-mail: investor.relations@zalando.deInternet: https://corporate.zalando.deISIN: DE000ZAL1111WKN: ZAL111Indices: DAXListed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate ExchangeEQS News ID: 2048433

End of Announcement EQS News Service 2048433 11-Dec-2024 CET/CEST

EQS-Ad-hoc: Zalando SE / Key word(s): Mergers & Acquisitions/Tender Offer

Zalando SE: Agreement on business combination and public takeover offer to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU Holding SE.

11-Dec-2024 / 07:54 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News  a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Zalando SE: Agreement on business combination and public takeover offer to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU Holding SE. Berlin, December 11, 2024. Zalando SE, with its registered seat in Berlin, Germany (Zalando) (ISIN: DE000ZAL1111) today entered into a business combination agreement (BCA) with ABOUT YOU Holding SE, with its registered seat in Hamburg, Germany (ABOUT YOU) on a strategic business combination. Immediately after the conclusion of the BCA, Zalando publishes its decision pursuant to Section 10 para. 1 sent. 1 of the German Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) to launch a public takeover offer to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU (Takeover Offer). Subject to the determination of the statutory minimum price and the final determination in the offer document, Zalando will offer EUR 6.50 in cash (Offer Price) as consideration for each share of ABOUT YOU tendered to the Bidder. Zalando will finance the Takeover Offer from existing cash reserves. The conclusion of the BCA and the business combination between Zalando and ABOUT YOU is intended to lay the foundation for the joint creation of an e-commerce ecosystem in the European fashion and lifestyle market in order to better serve customers and partners through complementary offerings. From the parties perspective, the business combination offers convincing value creation opportunities for the parties and stakeholders involved. In the B2C segment, Zalando intends to pursue a dual-brand strategy in the future following the completion of the Takeover Offer, in which different and separate shopping experiences are to be offered in order to better meet the specific needs of customers and partners. With regard to B2B, the parties are convinced that ABOUT YOUs B2B business will ideally complement and supplement Zalandos B2B e-commerce operating system. The parties are also convinced that the business combination will help to contribute to positive change for a more sustainable and inclusive future of the fashion and lifestyle industry. The combined business of Zalando and ABOUT YOU aims an adjusted EBIT margin of between 10% and 13%. While recognizing the responsibility of the supervisory board of ABOUT YOU under corporate law, it is intended to work towards ensuring that the three founders and current members of the management board of ABOUT YOU continue their successful work even after completion of the Takeover Offer and remain as members of the management board of ABOUT YOU. Subject to the closing of the Takeover Offer, the members of the management board of ABOUT YOU will acquire a certain number of Zalando shares as participation in the combined company, which Zalando currently holds as treasury shares. In addition, the parties have also agreed to engage in a constructive dialogue with the employees of both companies and their representatives with the aim of maintaining the excellent employee base and corporate culture. Furthermore, Zalando today has entered into binding agreements with the major shareholders of ABOUT YOU, including Otto (GmbH & Co KG), members of the Otto Family and an investment company controlled by HEARTLAND A/S (the Major Shareholders), in which they have undertaken to sell all of the ABOUT YOU shares held by them at the Offer Price by accepting the Takeover Offer or separately. In addition, Zalando has entered into binding agreements with all three founders and members of the management board of ABOUT YOU, in which they have in particular undertaken to accept the Takeover Offer with respect to part of the ABOUT YOU shares held by them. The total ABOUT YOU shares subject to these agreements with the Major Shareholders and the founders and members of the management board of ABOUT YOU correspond to approximately 73% of the share capital of ABOUT YOU. The delivery of the ABOUT YOU shares pursuant to the share purchase agreements and the completion of the Takeover Offer will be subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of the required regulatory approvals. The achievement of a minimum acceptance threshold will not be a condition for completion.

Person making the notification: Dr. Martin Bredol, Senior Lead Corporate Law

Investor/Analyst inquiries: Patrick Kofler

Investor Relations

investor.relations@zalando.de

+49 (0) 30 20968 1584 Media inquiries: Carolyn Gro

Business & Financial Communications

presse@zalando.de

+49 (0) 151 22189 977

Zalando SE: Agreement on business combination and public takeover offer to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU Holding SE.

Berlin, December 11, 2024. Zalando SE, with its registered seat in Berlin, Germany (Zalando) (ISIN: DE000ZAL1111) today entered into a business combination agreement (BCA) with ABOUT YOU Holding SE, with its registered seat in Hamburg, Germany (ABOUT YOU) on a strategic business combination. Immediately after the conclusion of the BCA, Zalando publishes its decision pursuant to Section 10 para. 1 sent. 1 of the German Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) to launch a public takeover offer to the shareholders of ABOUT YOU (Takeover Offer). Subject to the determination of the statutory minimum price and the final determination in the offer document, Zalando will offer EUR 6.50 in cash (Offer Price) as consideration for each share of ABOUT YOU tendered to the Bidder. Zalando will finance the Takeover Offer from existing cash reserves.

The conclusion of the BCA and the business combination between Zalando and ABOUT YOU is intended to lay the foundation for the joint creation of an e-commerce ecosystem in the European fashion and lifestyle market in order to better serve customers and partners through complementary offerings. From the parties perspective, the business combination offers convincing value creation opportunities for the parties and stakeholders involved. In the B2C segment, Zalando intends to pursue a dual-brand strategy in the future following the completion of the Takeover Offer, in which different and separate shopping experiences are to be offered in order to better meet the specific needs of customers and partners. With regard to B2B, the parties are convinced that ABOUT YOUs B2B business will ideally complement and supplement Zalandos B2B e-commerce operating system. The parties are also convinced that the business combination will help to contribute to positive change for a more sustainable and inclusive future of the fashion and lifestyle industry. The combined business of Zalando and ABOUT YOU aims an adjusted EBIT margin of between 10% and 13%.

While recognizing the responsibility of the supervisory board of ABOUT YOU under corporate law, it is intended to work towards ensuring that the three founders and current members of the management board of ABOUT YOU continue their successful work even after completion of the Takeover Offer and remain as members of the management board of ABOUT YOU. Subject to the closing of the Takeover Offer, the members of the management board of ABOUT YOU will acquire a certain number of Zalando shares as participation in the combined company, which Zalando currently holds as treasury shares.

In addition, the parties have also agreed to engage in a constructive dialogue with the employees of both companies and their representatives with the aim of maintaining the excellent employee base and corporate culture.

Furthermore, Zalando today has entered into binding agreements with the major shareholders of ABOUT YOU, including Otto (GmbH & Co KG), members of the Otto Family and an investment company controlled by HEARTLAND A/S (the Major Shareholders), in which they have undertaken to sell all of the ABOUT YOU shares held by them at the Offer Price by accepting the Takeover Offer or separately. In addition, Zalando has entered into binding agreements with all three founders and members of the management board of ABOUT YOU, in which they have in particular undertaken to accept the Takeover Offer with respect to part of the ABOUT YOU shares held by them. The total ABOUT YOU shares subject to these agreements with the Major Shareholders and the founders and members of the management board of ABOUT YOU correspond to approximately 73% of the share capital of ABOUT YOU.

The delivery of the ABOUT YOU shares pursuant to the share purchase agreements and the completion of the Takeover Offer will be subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of the required regulatory approvals. The achievement of a minimum acceptance threshold will not be a condition for completion.



Person making the notification: Dr. Martin Bredol, Senior Lead Corporate Law



Investor/Analyst inquiries:

Patrick Kofler

Investor Relations

investor.relations@zalando.de

+49 (0) 30 20968 1584

Media inquiries:

Carolyn Gro

Business & Financial Communications

presse@zalando.de

+49 (0) 151 22189 977

Important information:

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation to sell or an offer to buy any of the securities of ABOUT YOU. The final terms and conditions and other provisions relating to the Takeover Offer will be communicated in the offer document after the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) has permitted publication. Zalando reserves the right to deviate from the key data presented here in the final terms and conditions of the Takeover Offer to the extent legally permissible. Investors and holders of securities of ABOUT YOU are strongly advised to read the offer document and all other announcements relating to the Takeover Offer as soon as they have been made public, as they contain or will contain important information.

Insofar as this document contains forward-looking statements, these do not represent facts and are identified by the words will, expect, believe, estimate, intend, aim, assume and similar expressions. These statements express the intentions, beliefs or current expectations and assumptions of Zalando and the persons acting in concert with it. The forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections made by Zalando and the persons acting in concert with Zalando to the best of their knowledge, but make no representation as to their future accuracy. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are usually beyond the control of Zalando or the persons acting in concert with Zalando. These expectations and forward-looking statements may prove to be inaccurate and actual developments may differ materially from forward-looking statements. Zalando and the persons acting in concert with Zalando do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements with respect to actual developments or events, general conditions, assumptions or other factors.

About Zalando

Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is Europes leading online multi-brand fashion destination. We are building a pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce, along two growth vectors: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B). In B2C, we provide an inspiring, high-quality multi-brand shopping experience for fashion and lifestyle products to nearly 50 million active customers across 25 markets. In B2B, we leverage our logistics infrastructure, software, and service capabilities to support brands and retailers in managing and scaling their entire e-commerce business, both on and off the Zalando platform. Through our ecosystem vision, Zalando aims to enable positive change in the fashion and lifestyle industry.

11-Dec-2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com

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2048433 11-Dec-2024 CET/CEST
German sportswear giant Adidas faces regulatory scrutiny as authorities launched extensive raids at multiple strategic locations, including the companys headquarters in Herzogenaurach. The investigation, spanning from October 2019 to August 2024, centers on potential irregularities in customs and tax import regulations. The probe particularly focuses on the companys shoe factory in Scheinfeld and its central logistics hub near Osnabruck, where Bavarian tax investigators and customs officials conducted thorough examinations. The news immediately impacted the companys market performance, with Adidas shares dropping by three percent in after-hours trading compared to the XETRA closing price. Financial Outlook Remains Stable Despite the ongoing investigation, Adidas maintains a positive financial trajectory, with Moodys recently upgrading its outlook from negative to stable. The Rating agency has affirmed both the companys A3 long-term and Prime-2 short-term ratings, citing improved business performance through September 2024 and projected stabilization of financial metrics over the next twelve to eighteen months. The company, which primarily manufactures its products in Asian countries, anticipates minimal financial impact from the current investigations and emphasizes its continued cooperation with authorities. Ad Adidas Stock: New Analysis  12 December Fresh Adidas information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Adidas analysis

German sportswear giant Adidas faces regulatory scrutiny as authorities launched extensive raids at multiple strategic locations, including the companys headquarters in Herzogenaurach. The investigation, spanning from October 2019 to August 2024, centers on potential irregularities in customs and tax import regulations. The probe particularly focuses on the companys shoe factory in Scheinfeld and its central logistics hub near Osnabruck, where Bavarian tax investigators and customs officials conducted thorough examinations. The news immediately impacted the companys market performance, with Adidas shares dropping by three percent in after-hours trading compared to the XETRA closing price.

Financial Outlook Remains Stable

Despite the ongoing investigation, Adidas maintains a positive financial trajectory, with Moodys recently upgrading its outlook from negative to stable. The Rating agency has affirmed both the companys A3 long-term and Prime-2 short-term ratings, citing improved business performance through September 2024 and projected stabilization of financial metrics over the next twelve to eighteen months. The company, which primarily manufactures its products in Asian countries, anticipates minimal financial impact from the current investigations and emphasizes its continued cooperation with authorities.

Ad

Fresh Adidas information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. Eyes on CPI

Stock futures remained near the flatline Wednesday as investors anticipated November's consumer price index report  one of the last two major economic data releases before the Federal Reserve's policy meeting next week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.16%. while S&P 500 futures climbed 0.08% and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.2%. Follow live market updates.

2. Insurance stocks fall

A general view outside the United Healthcare corporate headquarters on December 4, 2024 in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen | Getty Images

Major insurance stocks including UnitedHealth Group , CVS Health and Cigna have fallen more than 6% since their closing prices last Tuesday  the day before the deadly shooting of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth's insurance arm. The companies' poor performances appear to be in response to the "renewed rhetoric" condemning insurers' business models, according to Jared Holz, Mizuho's health-care equity strategist. Holz added, however, that the negative stock reaction will likely be "fairly short-lived," and he doesn't expect insurers to make material policy changes in response to the shooting.

3. Walgreens in PE talks

A sign is posted on the exterior of a Walgreens store on October 15, 2024 in Mill Valley, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

Shares of Walgreens jumped nearly 20% on Tuesday on a report that the company is in talks to sell itself to private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The Wall Street Journal reported Walgreens and Sycamore have been discussing a deal that could be completed early next year. The retail drugstore has underperformed Wall Street's earnings expectations for two straight quarters. Walgreens said in October that it plans to close roughly 1,200 of its drugstores over the next three years, including 500 in fiscal 2025 alone.

4. Left in the dust

'Cruise' driverless robot taxis are seen at a parking lot as California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) revokes its self-driving car permit and citing 'unreasonable risk to public safety' in San Francisco, California, USA on October 24, 2023. Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu | Getty Images

General Motors on Tuesday said it will no longer fund its Cruise division's robotaxi development. After spending more than $10 billion on the unit since acquiring Cruise in 2016, the Detroit automaker said it will instead fold the unit into its broader tech team. GM said the increasingly competitive robotaxi market, capital allocation priorities, and the considerable time and resources necessary to grow the business were behind its decision. Shares of the automaker rose 2.3% in extended trading.

5. Alaska going global

An Alaska Airlines Embraer E175 operated by SkyWest Airlines departs Los Angeles International Airport en route to Manzanillo on September 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Carter | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Photographs of the suspects are displayed on a television screen while State Attorney Katherine Fernandez speaks during a press conference to announce that the co-founders of the U.S. luxury real estate brokerage Official have been arrested on sex-trafficking charges, at the State Attorneys Office in Miami, Florida, U.S., December 11, 2024. Giorgio Viera | Reuters

Federal prosecutors in New York accused top real estate agents Tal and Oren Alexander and their brother, Alon, of drugging and raping "dozens of victims" over more than a decade. The brothers "used their wealth and positions to create and facilitate opportunities to rape and sexually assault women," according to the newly unsealed federal indictment charging them with sex trafficking.

At times, they "lured" women with luxury travel to destinations where they were then sexually assaulted, the indictment alleged. They also allegedly "worked together and with others known and unknown" to carry out the sex trafficking scheme. Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, declined to specify who else is under investigation in the case. The brothers  who had been synonymous with Manhattan's luxury real estate market before allegations against them first surfaced earlier this year  were arrested in Miami on Wednesday morning. They each face one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and one count of sex trafficking of a victim by force, fraud, or coercion, according to the eight-page indictment in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Tal Alexander faces an additional count of sex trafficking of a victim by force, fraud, or coercion. If convicted, the brothers could face prison sentences of 15 years to life, prosecutors said. Also on Wednesday, Florida State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle unveiled separate charges against Oren and Alon Alexander related to alleged sexual assaults in the state. Oren was charged with two counts of sexual battery in two separate incidents, and one count of sexual battery by multiple perpetrators, Fernandez Rundle announced at a press conference. Alon faces one count of sexual battery by multiple perpetrators. Ohad Fisherman, a cousin of the Alexanders, is also facing charges in the Florida state case but remains at large, Fernandez Rundle said.

Ohad Fisherman. Source: Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office

The New York prosecutors on Wednesday also urged federal judges in Manhattan and Miami to keep the brothers detained, arguing they "pose an ongoing and significant danger to the community and present a serious risk of flight." That detention memo also noted that while the charged conduct took place between 2010 and 2021, the federal investigation found that the Alexander brothers have raped and sexually assaulted victims for more than 20 years  starting when they were in high school. An attorney for Oren, Susan Necheles, said in a statement to NBC News, "Oren Alexander is innocent. The evidence will show that neither he nor his brothers ever committed a crime." Isabelle Kirshner, an attorney for Alon and Oren, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Deanna Paul, an attorney for Tal, declined to comment.

"This conduct, as alleged, was heinous," the U.S. attorney Williams said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Williams noted that the Department of Justice is still investigating allegations against the Alexander brothers, and urged others with information about the case to come forward. "We are not done," he said. Several women have previously filed civil lawsuits in Manhattan accusing the brothers of sexual assault. The brothers have denied wrongdoing. "We are glad to hear that there will finally be some measure of accountability for the Alexander brothers and justice for their many victims," David Gottlieb, an attorney for the plaintiffs in a number of the civil suits, said in a statement. "We applaud all the survivors who have had the strength and courage to speak up about their unimaginable experiences after years of pain and suffering," Gottlieb said. The federal court filings unsealed Wednesday accused the brothers of carrying out the long-running sex trafficking scheme by deceiving and coercing victims to travel with or meet them in private locations. The brothers then allegedly "used various methods, including drugging the victims and, at times, physical force, to rape and sexually assault the victims  sometimes alone and sometimes together." The indictment describes a range of methods the brothers allegedly employed to facilitate the scheme. The brothers arranged events and international trips as "bait" to entice women, who were then "frequently" assaulted, the indictment alleged. They allegedly would also work with party promoters to get women to attend parties and events at their vacation properties, including their house in the Hamptons. Before those events, they and others would procure drugs including cocaine, mushrooms and the drug GHB, which is considered a date rape drug.

Damian Williams, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, left, and James Dennehy, assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) New York office, right, during a news conference in New York, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Yuki Iwamura | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Nordex Group has marked a significant strategic milestone by securing its first entry into Montenegros wind energy market through a major turbine supply contract. The agreement with Montenegros power utility company involves delivering eight N163/6.X turbines for the 55-MW Gvozd wind farm near Niksic. Once completed, this project will represent over 30% of the countrys installed wind power capacity. The turbines, set to operate at 7 MW nominal capacity, will be mounted on 113-meter steel tube towers, demonstrating Nordexs commitment to expanding its market presence in southeastern Europe. Financial Performance Indicators Despite this positive development, Nordexs stock recently experienced a notable decline, dropping 3.5% to 11.30 in XETRA trading. However, the companys fundamental performance shows promising signs, with earnings per share improving to 0.02, a significant recovery from the previous years -0.15. Analysts maintain an optimistic outlook, setting an average price target of 18.13, substantially above current trading levels. Looking ahead, experts project earnings per share to reach 0.049 for 2024, suggesting continued growth potential despite current market fluctuations. Ad Nordex Stock: New Analysis  12 December Fresh Nordex information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Nordex analysis

Nordex Group has marked a significant strategic milestone by securing its first entry into Montenegros wind energy market through a major turbine supply contract. The agreement with Montenegros power utility company involves delivering eight N163/6.X turbines for the 55-MW Gvozd wind farm near Niksic. Once completed, this project will represent over 30% of the countrys installed wind power capacity. The turbines, set to operate at 7 MW nominal capacity, will be mounted on 113-meter steel tube towers, demonstrating Nordexs commitment to expanding its market presence in southeastern Europe.

Financial Performance Indicators

Despite this positive development, Nordexs stock recently experienced a notable decline, dropping 3.5% to 11.30 in XETRA trading. However, the companys fundamental performance shows promising signs, with earnings per share improving to 0.02, a significant recovery from the previous years -0.15. Analysts maintain an optimistic outlook, setting an average price target of 18.13, substantially above current trading levels. Looking ahead, experts project earnings per share to reach 0.049 for 2024, suggesting continued growth potential despite current market fluctuations.

Ad

Fresh Nordex information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
Apple has now launched its ChatGPT integration with Siri  an important move that could prompt people waiting on more artificial intelligence capabilities to finally update their iPhones. The news The added Apple Intelligence features  including the infusion of the OpenAI chatbot and new image-generating and editing tools  became available to the public Wednesday in the latest version of the company's mobile operating system, iOS 18.2. Apple provided a test version of the update to software developers back in October. What's so exciting about the new iOS 18.2 release? It introduces a more powerful Siri, which gives users asking more complex questions the option to seamlessly get answers from ChatGPT, as well as Apple's AI image-generating app Playground and its new Image Wand removal tool. Artificial intelligence Genmojis are also part of the update. To be sure, Apple Intelligence is only available on newer Apple devices, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro and this year's iPhone 16 models. In recent years, people have been holding onto their devices for longer  up to four years. So, it's about the time that users with older models, purchased during the Covid pandemic when many upgraded their devices and computer technology, could take action. AAPL 5Y mountain Apple 5 years Shares of Apple rose roughly 1% on Wednesday, following eight sessions in a row of all-time intraday highs. The stock on Tuesday posted a record-high close for the third straight day. Big picture Apple Intelligence  first introduced by CEO Tim Cook at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference back in June  was expected to usher in a robust iPhone refresh cycle. While still expected, device upgrades have gotten off to a slower-than-anticipated start  largely attributed to the AI features not being available when the new iPhone 16 lineup was launched back in September. While some of the AI tools were released in October, they were lackluster. Wednesday's rollout of the ChatGPT integration with Siri, however, was highly anticipated and could be the push to get prospective iPhone upgraders off the fence. Certain Macs and iPads will have access to the newest AI features as well. And, there's more to come. Apple plans to release another AI update next year. It's expected to include additional Siri upgrades, including the ability for the digital assistant to take actions inside of apps. As Jim Cramer has posited, some Wall Street analysts also think that the piecemeal release of Apple Intelligence can work to the company's advantage. Citi on Tuesday named the megacap name a top pick for 2025. "Overall, a staggered rollout of iOS18.2/3/4 Apple Intelligence features makes [iPhone 16/17] cycle different from prior cycles," said the Citi analysts, who reiterated their buy rating on the stock. "Rollout of iOS18.2 in December will be an important determinant for the pace of iPhone replacement in the coming quarters." They added, "We remain optimistic about [the] iPhone 17 refresh cycle." Bottom line Jeff Marks, director of Club portfolio analysis, said Wednesday that as more and more iPhone users upgrade and start using the Apple Intelligence features word-of-mouth should get more people to stop dragging their feet. "It seems like it's going to be a word-of-mouth situation. As people get the phone and they show some of these new features to their friends, maybe there will be some [fear of missing out] there and that leads to the upgrade cycle," he added. "That's why the stock keeps going higher," Jim said, adding that Apple shares trading at nearly 33 times forward earnings-per-share estimates will look cheap when EPS estimates need to be raised to account for the iPhone cycle heats up. Apple's forward price-to-earnings ratio averaged 26.5 times over the past five years. It's not just devices. AI adoption also could boost Apple's high-margin services business if users are willing to pay monthly fees to access additional Apple Intelligence features down the line. Jim has said that "AI will be a hit" for Apple and revenue streams for the services business "could go up dramatically" because of it. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AAPL. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Jaque Silva | Nurphoto | Getty Images
A bankruptcy judge on Tuesday rejected a bid by The Onion's parent company to buy Alex Jones' far-right media empire, including the website Infowars, ruling that the auction process was unfair.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said after a two-day hearing that The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, had not submitted the best bid and was wrongly named the winner of an auction last month by a court-appointed trustee.

"I don't think it's enough money," Lopez said in a late-night ruling from the bench in a Houston court. "I'm going to not approve the sale."

It was not immediately clear whether there would be a new auction in which The Onion could bid again for Jones' assets. Lopez said he would leave the decision about what to do next in the hands of the trustee, Christopher Murray, who had overseen the auction.

The judge said Murray had acted in good faith in running the auction in which The Onion's parent company initially appeared to prevail, but he said the trustee did not run a transparent process and should have given a rival bidder associated with Jones another chance to improve its bid.

"I think you've got to go out and try to get every dollar," Lopez said. "I think that the process fell down."

The ruling dashed, at least for now, Global Tetrahedron's plans to take over Infowars and radically shift its content from anti-government conspiracy theories to satirical humor. Instead, Jones can continue operating his far-right media business as he has for decades.

Jones went live from a studio soon after the ruling and told viewers: "We can celebrate the judge doing the right thing." He had previously referred to the sale process as "auction fraud" and a "fraudulent sale."

Onion CEO Ben Collins said in a statement on X that the company was "deeply disappointed" but would "continue to seek a path towards purchasing InfoWars in the coming weeks."

"It is part of our larger mission to make a better, funnier internet, regardless of the outcome of this case," he said.

"We appreciate that the court repeatedly recognized The Onion acted in good faith, but are disappointed that everyone was sent back to the drawing board with no winner, and no clear path forward for any bidder," Collins continued.

Collins previously covered disinformation and conspiracy theories for NBC News, a beat that often meant covering Jones.

The Onion's parent company had partnered in its bid with families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting who successfully sued Jones for defamation, winning court judgments now valued at $1.2 billion. Part of the company's plan for Infowars was to make anti-violence organization Everytown for Gun Safety the exclusive advertiser.
As Dave Bozeman takes the stage at his first investor day as CEO of C.H. Robinson , he'll have to contend with a freight recession, the threat of higher tariffs and the turnaround of a century-old logistics giant.

"I want to lay out our vision and that we actually already started executing," Bozeman told CNBC in an exclusive interview ahead of the company's investor day on Thursday. "We are going to grow market share, and we are going to expand our overall operating margins."

On Thursday executives of the shipping company will present new financial targets, answer questions about its shift to a lean operating model, and provide an update on the business conditions, including the potential impact of President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs.

Trump has said he'll impose 60% tariffs on goods from China and 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada. That could have a material impact on C.H. Robinson, which transports goods around the world for almost 100,000 clients.

C.H. Robinson's main business segments include global forwarding, often referred to as freight brokerage between the U.S. and other regions; and North American surface transportation, which is primarily moving freight over land.

Analysts estimate C.H. Robinson is a top 3 carrier on the China-U.S. freight lane, and the company says it carries about 10% of the freight on the U.S.-Mexico lane.

"Some shippers will say, 'We will take on that tariff.' The economics of that volume will probably change in pricing and things like that. Either way we're still going to move that freight," Bozeman said. "The freight still has to move. It might just move at a different starting point, and we would still be there to move that."

Citi transportation analyst Ari Rosa upgraded C.H. Robinson to a buy rating in November. He believes tariffs are creating a short-term pull forward of freight and agrees with Bozeman that, long term, the company has the ability to mitigate the impact of potential tariffs.

"There's no question that their global forwarding business is very exposed to China," Rosa told CNBC. "But I do think that their business is diversified enough that they can work through tariffs."
Deutsche Bank is laying out its top semiconductor picks for 2025 as the sector helps power major stock market averages to new highs. Artificial intelligence mainstays such as Nvidia have taken center stage since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. But with the dominant maker of artificial intelligence chips up more than 180% this year alone, and outperforming the rest of the market for a second straight year, Deutsche Bank believes it is time to pivot toward other companies in the industry. " Consequently, we expect stock picking selectivity to remain paramount in 2025, with us preferring broad-based names with conservative growth expectations, underappreciated structural improvements and reasonable valuations, as well as AI beneficiaries where growth is accelerating, customers/technologies are diversifying and sustainability questions are thereby minimized," wrote analysts led by Ross Seymore. They also see a favorable setup for the sector given the recent underperformance of the 30-stock PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index over the past five months. The index as a whole is up 17% this year, far below the 26.5% advance in the S & P 500, "with the majority of that deficit emerging in 2H24 when the SOX underperformed for five consecutive months (July-November), a historically rare duration for an inherently volatile sector," Seymore wrote. .SOX YTD mountain PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index this year Within a group of favored stocks, Seymore highlighted integrated circuit maker Marvell Technology . Shares have rallied 76% this year as the company benefits from meeting the connectivity needs of AI growth. The stock rallied earlier this month on strong earnings and bullish Wall Street commentary surrounding the company's product pipeline. NXP Semiconductors and On Semiconductor were also recommended by Deutsche Bank. The semiconductor suppliers have underperformed this year, falling 5% and almost 21%, respectively.
A cafe offers a glimpse into the past in the abandoned village of Lasta. There are no staff but instead an honor system, which allows visitors to serve themselves a coffee in exchange for a donation. CNBC

Lasta, GREECE  There's nobody around anymore to man Saint George cafe in Lasta, a mountainous village in Greece's Peloponnese region. Instead, there's an honor system  just take a drink, leave a donation and soak up the relics of a bygone era. Photos of lively residents on the walls belie the reality outside, where a deserted square, abandoned school and derelict houses offer an eerie glimpse into the future of a country at risk of population collapse. Lasta is just one of hundreds of depopulated or abandoned "ghost" towns and villages scattered across Greece, in an all too visible marker of years of declining births, economic hardship and mass emigration. Economists warn that population decline is now putting a major strain on a country just emerging from crisis  with not enough young people to support the economy over coming generations. "While Greece is seeing very solid growth for the moment, looking ahead, with fewer people to do the work, that's going to be difficult to sustain," Bert Colijn, chief economist at ING, told CNBC by phone.

Falling birth rate an 'existential' threat

Greece is home to one of the lowest fertility rates in Europe: At 1.3, it is half that recorded in 1950 and well below the 2.1 required for population replacement. Last year, the country recorded just over 71,400 births, the lowest number since records began almost a century ago, and down around 6% on 2022. Greece now has around one birth for every two deaths, and the share of the population aged over 65 is nearly twice that aged 0 to 14. That prompted Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to warn of an "existential" threat to Greek society, with the country more disposed than most to wider demographic shifts afflicting developed nations. "The truth is that today our people are among the most elderly in Europe," Mitsotakis said last year, speaking at a Greek demographic conference. It's an issue affecting some pockets of the Greek mainland and its vast archipelago more than others.

Local provisions are also needed, with the overall demographic collapse literally becoming an existential bet for our future. Kyriakos Mitsotakis Prime Minister of Greece

"This population decline is not manifested equally throughout the country," Mitsotakis continued. "It has peaks in specific areas and this means that national strategies are not sufficient and local provisions are also needed, with the overall demographic collapse literally becoming an existential bet for our future." That decline is most visible through the emergence of scores of ghost towns and villages  locations with none or virtually nil inhabitants, deserted as local populations leave or die out. It can be difficult to quantify the exact number of such locations, given their often remote nature, but recent estimates put the figure of entirely abandoned towns and villages close to 200.

This school, established in 1885, educated generations of children in Lasta and the surrounding area before closing its doors due to a lack of pupils. CNBC

Many are all but forgotten, with decrepit buildings the only signs of former life. Others like Lasta, meanwhile, have become sources of offbeat tourism, with visitors to the cafe and abandoned buildings keen to experience a piece of history. At Greece's last census in 2021, Lasta had a reported permanent population of 12, but when CNBC visited in 2024 there were no signs of permanent residents.

Remnants of the Greek Financial Crisis

Greece's recent demographic decline can be largely traced back to the country's sovereign debt crisis of 2009. Resultant bailout programs sparked years of austerity and financial woe for the country, with the economy contracting by as much as a quarter over the ensuing decade. Young people were among the hardest hit by the downturn, with youth unemployment peaking at 59.5% in the first quarter of 2013  more than twice the national high of around 27%.

watch now

As a result, many were unable to forge new lives outside of their family homes. Of those who did, many did so overseas, with an estimated more than 400,000 people  or 9% of the workforce  emigrating over the period. Much of the remainder relocated to Greece's big cities, in search of better work and education. Today, more than half (53.5%) of the Greek population lives in the capital, Athens, and the surrounding Attiki region, as well as the country's second-largest city, Thessaloniki. Meanwhile, all other regions, including Greece's prized islands, have recorded population decline over the past several years.

We need a shock. We need something that creates, you know, a sense of security and sense of optimism. Sofia Zacharaki Greek minister of social cohesion and family affairs

Many demographers say the country's population decline stems even further back to the 1980s  another period of economic decline. A fall in birth rates over that period has since led to in a reduction in women of childbearing years, with the proportion of women aged 20 to 40 now 150,000 fewer than five years ago.

Initiatives to support population growth

The government is currently forecasting that the population may fall from around 10.4 million today to 7.5 million by 2050  a decline of more than a quarter. To help tackle the issue, Mitsotakis last year launched a new Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs to unify and enhance support for children and vulnerable groups. In October, the ministry announced that it would spend 20 billion euros ($21 billion) through 2035 on incentives to halt population decline, such as child benefits, enhanced parental leave and tax breaks. Sofia Zacharaki, who heads up the office, said the measures were designed to provide a wake-up call to society.

A deserted home overgrown with plants and foliage  one of many in Lasta, an abandoned village in Greece's Arcadia region. CNBC

"We need a shock. We need something that creates, you know, a sense of security and sense of optimism, especially in the younger population," Zacharaki, minister of social cohesion and family affairs, told CNBC via video call. "We are faced with not just an economic impact ... but also a mindset issue that has been instilled in many young people's minds, probably because of the recurring crisis and probably a sense of disillusionment," she continued, adding that the funding should give more people the choice to start a family. However, Colijn said he was skeptical that child support measures would be enough to alter the trend, and that major policy changes would likely also be needed to support demographic shifts. "There doesn't seem to be one example of a policy that's been introduced somewhere that has resulted in a swift turnaround in that decline," he said. He added that other policies might include incentives to encourage more young people to remain in Greece, and attracting back those who left.

Demographic shifts weigh on economic growth

Greece's demographic decline stands at odds with the country's now much improved economic outlook. The Greek economy is projected to grow 2.2% in 2024, and 2.3% in 2025  outpacing Europe's major economies. The country's initial 2.9% 2025 gross domestic product (GDP) forecast was revised down only by a wider EU slowdown. Nevertheless, economists warn that demographic decline could ultimately undermine that growth over the longer term.

We are currently in the midst of an unprecedented demographic transition. Jim Reid Global head of macro research at Deutsche Bank

"Demographic developments are absolutely key to economic growth in general. It's about how many hands you have to work and how productive those hands can be," Colijn said, highlighting a "strong correlation" between working age population growth and GDP per capita. Greece is not alone in this phenomena: Demographic decline is an issue facing many developed nations. Japan and South Korea, with fertility rates of 1.2 and 0.72 in 2023, respectively, are among the best known examples of countries in demographic decline. But much of the West, and China too, have rapidly aging populations and need for greater government support.

Many houses in the area have fallen into disrepair as inhabitants have left to find work and opportunities in bigger cities.
A view of the logo of Novo Nordisk at the company's office in Bagsvaerd, on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, March 8, 2024.

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.

Novo Nordisk just got a step closer to significantly improving supply for its blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic.

The Danish drugmaker's parent company, Novo Holdings, got approval from European antitrust regulators last week to move forward with its proposed $16.5 billion buyout of U.S.-based drug manufacturer Catalent  a deal that had raised concerns among both rival drugmakers and lawmakers.

That leaves the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as the last hurdle Novo Holdings needs to overcome to cement the colossal deal, which it announced in February. Novo Holdings and Novo Nordisk said they expect the transaction to close at the end of the month.

Catalent is an attractive buyout target for Novo Holdings, which owns 77% of the voting shares in Novo Nordisk.

The deal could boost availability of the drugs because Catalent is the main supplier of fill-finish work, which involves filling and packaging syringes and injection pens for Wegovy and Ozempic. Novo Holdings will immediately sell three Catalent sites for $11 billion to Novo Nordisk after the deal closes, making the drugmaker more equipped to match soaring demand for its products.

"In the obesity arms race, capacity remains king and the close of this deal could meaningfully accelerate Novo's ability to supply this growing market," BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman wrote in a note on Friday. "Novo underscored last quarter that it continues to see no issues with patient demand, and with every dose spoken for, capacity is the key bottleneck in the growth of its GLP-1 franchises."

The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, specifically said the transaction would not pose a considerable competitive threat. The commission said drugmakers will still have access to several alternative manufacturers of prefilled syringes and orally disintegrating tablets.

"The transaction would not lead to customers lacking sources of supply alternative to Catalent," the Commission maintained, noting that "there is sufficient spare capacity in the market."

Competing drugmakers have pushed back on the deal.

Earlier this year, Eli Lilly was the first to suggest it could pose issues since the company is a key rival of Novo Nordisk in the weight loss drug space. In August, Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks also told analysts the company relies on one Catalent site for some production, but that "it's more the oddity of your main competitor being also your contract manufacturer and how to resolve that situation."

Roche 's top executive Thomas Schinecker also said in a media call in October that the Catalent deal would not affect the company, but "could be a problem for other smaller players." He said limiting competition in the weight loss drug space, which Roche is racing to join, is "not a good idea."

Also in October, a coalition of more than 10 unions, public interest organizations and consumer groups wrote a letter to FTC Commissioner Lina Khan urging her to "challenge this transaction" and ensure that "competition is protected and that consumers will have full access to treatments."

Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.
My top 10 things to watch Wednesday, Dec. 11 1. Wall Street is set for a higher open after the consumer price index report for November came in as expected. Headline CPI was up 0.3% month over month and 2.7% on an annual basis. Ex-food and energy, core CPI was up 3.3% on a 12-month basis. Traders are betting that these numbers are enough to get another Federal Reserve rate cut next week. 2. General Motors called it quits on Cruise, its driverless ride-hailing service. GM said it's folding Cruise into its tech team and focusing on autonomous driving for personal vehicles. Robotaxi competition was one reason cited. Waymo, owned by Club name Alphabet, continues to pick up momentum and enter new markets. 3. Macy's shares dropped after lowering its full-year adjusted earnings outlook to $2.25 to $2.50 a share, down from $2.34 to $2.69 previously. It also put the investigation into a former employee who hid expenses behind it. Macy's other brands  higher-end Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury  are doing better than the namesake. 4. The department store is increasingly irrelevant  as is the drugstore. Walgreens is not in good shape, and I doubt a deal can be pulled off. It is reportedly in talks with private equity firm Sycamore Partners about a sale. Walgreens has so much debt here. Are you kidding? 5. The retail winners are headlined by the likes of Walmart , which got a price target boost at KeyBanc. Analysts went to $105 a share from $96. Just a juggernaut. Ollie's Bargain is another one doing well, and it picked up multiple PT boosts after earnings. Closeouts are high and real estate potential is big. A downgrade last week looks dead wrong. 6. The latest price target hike for Tesla comes courtesy of Goldman Sachs, which went to $345 a share from $250. Goldman lowered its earnings outlook on weaker electric vehicle demand but was upbeat on Tesla's AI opportunity. Shares of Elon Musk's EV maker have soared nearly 60% after Musk-backed Donald Trump won last month's presidential election. 7. Apple released its latest software system for iPhones, iPads and Macs that includes the ChatGPT integration with Siri. The key question is whether this long-awaited step makes Apple Intelligence more desirable for consumers and leads to more upgrades. 8. Wells Fargo initiated coverage of Reddit with a buy rating and price target of $206 a share. This keeps happening, irrespective of where the stock is. Shares have more than tripled since debuting on the NYSE in March. I've called Reddit the holy grail for advertisers. 9. S & P Global cut its credit rating on Intel to BBB from BBB+. That is significant because Intel owes a lot of money. Elsewhere in chips, Bernstein reiterated its buy-equivalent outperform rating and PT of $195 on Club holding Broadcom ahead of earnings Thursday. Analysts said some "near-term flutters" are increasingly anticipated by investors. 10. Shares of U.S. Steel were stabilizing after tumbling Tuesday on reports that President Joe Biden will formally block Nippon Steel's planned acquisition of the Pittsburgh-based company. President-elect Trump also is opposed to the deal. Who would get it instead? Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

A General Motors Cruise self driving car, often referred to as a robotaxi, drives in front of the Ferry Building on the Embarcedero, San Francisco, California, August 17, 2023. Smith Collection | Gado | Getty Images

My top 10 things to watch Wednesday, Dec. 11
It's been years now since employees were ordered back to offices for two, three or even five days a week. Still many workers are chasing the flexibility that comes with working from anywhere.

If you've ever considered switching your job search radius to "worldwide", you're definitely not alone. In fact, there are 800 million people actively looking for a job overseas right now, according to Jobseeker.

A recent report from the online job searching tool analyzed social trend data from September of this year to rank the countries where people around the world wish to work if they could live anywhere else.

Jobseeker used sources like the World Population Review and U.S. News and Word Report to determine the countries in the ranking.

"People are looking for flexibility, options for remote working and a way to have a work-life balance while keeping a high quality of life," Reyhaneh Mansouri, a career expert with Jobseeker, tells CNBC Make It.

The United States and Switzerland tied for the No. 3 spot. Job seekers from Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan had the highest desire to relocate to the U.S. for work. While the search for job opportunities in Switzerland is the fastest-growing trend in the U.S. with a 315% increase in demand in 2024, according to Jobseeker.

"In Switzerland, employees benefit from shorter working hours, interesting vacation policies and a culture prioritizing work-life balance," Mansouri says. "This is a key attraction for professionals seeking a healthier and more sustainable work environment."



But it was Canada who came out on top of the list where workers all over the world most want to relocate.
Direct-to-consumer health-care startup Ro on Wednesday said its platform will now offer more affordable single-dose vials of the weight loss drug Zepbound through a new partnership with Eli Lilly , which aims to streamline access to the popular treatment.

Ro said it will offer a "complete end-to-end" experience on a single platform and app, allowing eligible patients to receive a diagnosis and a prescription for Zepbound and have vials of the drug delivered to their homes. That is made possible through a first-of-a-kind integration with Eli Lilly's direct-to-consumer website, LillyDirect, which already offers home delivery of Zepbound vials through a third-party digital pharmacy, Gifthealth.

Gifthealth will dispense the vials to patients who receive Zepbound prescriptions through a provider affiliated with Ro.

Zepbound vials are a cash-pay product offered only through LillyDirect, meaning patients pay for it themselves with cash at a lower cost than the autoinjector form of the drug. The vials have the "most affordable" price of a branded GLP-1 drug before insurance, according to Ro. GLP-1s, a class of medications that mimic gut hormones to tamp down appetite and regulate blood sugar, have skyrocketed in demand over the last two years.

"Patients usually have to go to multiple places to get Lilly's drug, like the doctor's office then a pharmacy," Ro co-founder and CEO Zachariah Reitano told CNBC in an interview. "This integration really creates a seamless patient experience where they don't have to go anywhere else. They can access doctors, labs and a pharmacy that will give them access to Zepbound vials all in one place."

Ro runs a weight loss program that already prescribes Zepbound in a single-dose autoinjector pen, which patients can directly inject under their skin with the click of a button. But that form of the drug is far more expensive than vials, costing around $1,000 per month before insurance.

The 2.5-milligram and 5-milligram single-dose vials of Zepbound cost $399 per month and $549 per month before insurance, respectively, making them more accessible to those who don't have insurance coverage for the drug. Eli Lilly began offering those vials through LillyDirect in August.

"Whether you're covered by insurance, or whether you want the most affordable branded cash-pay GLP-1, which is the Zepbound vials, you can get all of those by coming to Ro," Reitano said, noting that the company will help eligible patients determine which form of the drug is best for them based on their insurance.

He acknowledged that roughly $400 to $500 per month for Zepbound is "still out of reach for many, but it is now far more in reach than" $1,000 or more.
Check out the companies making headlines in premarket trading: Macy's  The department store chain tumbled 9% after it lowered its fiscal-year forecast. Macy's now sees adjusted earnings coming in between $2.25 and $2.50, while prior guidance adjusted for delivery expense had estimated a range between $2.34 and $2.69, according to FactSet. GE Vernova  The energy equipment maker fell 2.4% after it issued weaker-than-expected full-year revenue guidance for both the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. GE Vernova also announced it would initiate a dividend of 25 cents per share and an initial $6 billion share repurchase authorization. Dave & Buster's  The arcade and dining venue operator plummeted more than 14% after posting disappointing third-quarter results and announcing the departure of its CEO. The company reported a loss of 45 cents per share on revenue of $453 million. Analysts expected a loss of 40 cents per share on revenue of $463.7 million. Duolingo  Shares of the language learning company slipped about 2% after a downgrade to neutral from buy at Bank of America. The investment firm said Duolingo appears to be trading at "peak valuation" and that beating investor expectations for its next quarterly report is a high bar. GameStop  The video game retailer saw shares rising more than 3% in premarket trading after the firm reported an unexpected profit in the latest quarter. GameStop posted net income of $17.4 million in the third quarter, compared with a net loss of $3.1 million during the same period last year. Rigetti Computing  Shares advanced more than 7% , adding to their 45.2% surge from the previous session. The stock got a boost Tuesday after Google said its new chip, Willow, achieved a new breakthrough with quantum computing. Rigetti develops quantum integrated circuits for quantum computers. Patterson Companies  Shares surged more than 34% following news that the dental and animal health company is being acquired by Patient Square Capital for $31.35 per share . The deal is expected to close in the fourth-quarter of Patterson's 2025 fiscal year. Stitch Fix  The online personal styling company surged more than 20% after Stitch Fix raised its second-quarter revenue outlook. The firm now expects revenue in the current quarter of $290 million to $300 million, while analysts polled by FactSet anticipated guidance of $283.5 million. Stitch Fix also raised the top end of its full-year revenue outlook and now expects $1.14 billion to $1.18 billion. The company's previous forecast called for $1.11 billion to $1.16 billion. General Motors  The Detroit automaker rose more than 1% after abandoning its Cruise robotaxi service. GM said it would no longer fund robotaxi development and would roll the unit into its tech team. The automaker had spent more than $10 billion on its robotaxi unit. Bausch + Lomb  The contact lens stock pulled back nearly 12% after a downgrade to neutral from Citigroup, which cited increased competition as a headwind for Bausch moving forward. Wolverine World Wide  The footwear and apparel company's stock rose 3% following an upgrade to buy from hold at Stifel . The firm said 2025 will be an "inflection year" for the Saucony parent. C3.ai  Shares fell 5% after a JPMorgan downgrade to underperform from neutral. The bank cited an elevated valuation for the rating change .  CNBC's Yun Li, Lisa Kailai Han, Hakyung Kim, Michelle Fox, Samantha Subin, Jesse Pound and Spencer Kimball contributed reporting.
The automotive giant Volkswagen faces mounting pressure as over 102,600 employees participate in warning strikes across nine German facilities, with 50,000 workers halting operations at the Wolfsburg plant alone. The conflict centers on competing wage proposals, with the workforce demanding a 7% pay increase and a 170 boost in training allowances, while management pushes for cost reductions citing economic challenges. The union has proposed an innovative future fund that could potentially generate 1.5 billion in cost savings while securing employment for approximately 130,000 workers and maintaining all production sites. Market Response Remains Resilient Despite the ongoing labor tensions, Volkswagens preferred stock demonstrated resilience in XETRA trading, climbing 1.4% to 85.52. While recent quarterly results indicate a significant decline in earnings per share from 7.76 to 2.42, market Analysts maintain an optimistic outlook with an average price target of 110.20. The upcoming round of negotiations is anticipated to continue in a constructive atmosphere, though the possibility of plant closures remains a concern for stakeholders. Ad Volkswagen Stock: New Analysis  12 December Fresh Volkswagen information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Volkswagen analysis

The automotive giant Volkswagen faces mounting pressure as over 102,600 employees participate in warning strikes across nine German facilities, with 50,000 workers halting operations at the Wolfsburg plant alone. The conflict centers on competing wage proposals, with the workforce demanding a 7% pay increase and a 170 boost in training allowances, while management pushes for cost reductions citing economic challenges. The union has proposed an innovative future fund that could potentially generate 1.5 billion in cost savings while securing employment for approximately 130,000 workers and maintaining all production sites.

Market Response Remains Resilient

Despite the ongoing labor tensions, Volkswagens preferred stock demonstrated resilience in XETRA trading, climbing 1.4% to 85.52. While recent quarterly results indicate a significant decline in earnings per share from 7.76 to 2.42, market Analysts maintain an optimistic outlook with an average price target of 110.20. The upcoming round of negotiations is anticipated to continue in a constructive atmosphere, though the possibility of plant closures remains a concern for stakeholders.

Ad

Fresh Volkswagen information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19, 2024.

Tesla shares jumped to an all-time high on Wednesday, surpassing their prior record reached in 2021, sparked by a post-election rally and Wall Street's increased enthusiasm for Elon Musk's electric vehicle company.

The stock rose to a closing high of $424.77, which is about $15 above its previous peak of $409.97 on Nov. 4, 2021.

Tesla's market value has swelled by about 71% this year, with almost all of those gains coming since Donald Trump's election victory early last month. The stock's 38% rally in November marked its best monthly performance since January 2023 and its 10th best on record.

Musk poured $277 million into a pro-Trump campaign effort, according to Federal Election Commission filings, and turned his support for the Republican nominee into another full-time job ahead of the election, funding a swing-state operation to register voters and using his social media platform X to constantly tout his preferred candidate, frequently with misinformation.

The world's richest person, who's seen his net worth swell to more than $372 billion, according to Forbes, is set to lead the Trump administration's "Department of Government Efficiency," alongside onetime Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

His new role could give Musk power over federal agencies' budgets, staffing and the ability to push for the elimination of inconvenient regulations. Musk said during a Tesla earnings call in October that he intended to use his sway with Trump to establish a "federal approval process for autonomous vehicles." Currently, approvals happen at the state level.

"The stock is responding to the Trump bump," Craig Irwin, an analyst at Roth MKM, told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" last week. Irwin had just increased his price target to $380 from $85, writing in a report that "Musk's authentic support for Trump likely doubled Tesla's pool of enthusiasts and lifted credibility for a demand inflection."

On Wednesday, analysts at Goldman Sachs boosted their price target on Tesla, joining a parade of firms that have lifted their price expectation or their rating on the stock. The Goldman analysts wrote that "the market is taking a more forward-looking approach to Tesla, including with respect to its AI opportunity."

Analysts at Morgan Stanley and Bank of America have also issued bullish reports of late.

Since Trump's victory, Musk has been accompanying the president-elect in meetings with world leaders, and began advising him and members of Congress as to which federal agencies, regulations and budget items the billionaire would like to eliminate or greatly reduce.

Tesla's surge to a record marks a dramatic turn from its performance to start the year. The company's shares plunged 29% in the first three months of 2024, the worst quarter for the stock since the end of 2022 and the third worst since Tesla went public in 2010. At the time, investors were concerned about Tesla's core business, which reported declining revenue in the first quarter in part due to increased competition from China.

In its third-quarter earnings report in October, Tesla reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 8%, which fell just shy of estimates. However, the company reported better-than-expected profit, and Musk said on the earnings call that his "best guess" is that "vehicle growth" will reach 20% to 30% next year, due to "lower cost vehicles" and the "advent of autonomy." That forecast was ahead of analysts' predictions.
Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Wells Fargo initiates Reddit as overweight The firm said it sees several "upside drivers" for Reddit. "While post-3Q EPS share outperformance reflects optimism post a strong print and guide, we see 33% upside to street '26 EBITDA on ad monetization upside and believe shares are likely to outperform on continued positive revisions." Goldman Sachs reiterates Tesla as neutral Goldman Sachs raised its price target on the stock to $345 per share from $250. "While we see fundamental headwinds to the core auto business over the near to medium term, we also believe the market is taking a more forward-looking approach to Tesla, including with respect to its AI opportunity." Goldman Sachs initiates OneStream as buy Goldman Sachs said it sees a "premium growth opportunity" for the cloud-based corporate performance management platform. "We initiate coverage of OneStream with a Buy-rating and 12-month price target of $37." Goldman Sachs initiates Similarweb as buy Goldman Sachs said it is bullish on the digital intelligence platform company. "We initiate coverage of Similarweb (SMWB) with a Buy rating and 12-month price target of $16." Citi reiterates Coca-Cola as buy Citi said the beverage company is a top idea in 2025. "In this backdrop, we believe investors should think about a barbell approach with exposure to high-quality names likely to remain above peers on topline trends (with KO /CL our top Bev/HPC picks)" Bank of America reiterates Alphabet as buy Bank of America said it is bullish on Alphabet's quant computing opportunity, Willow. "In a blog post yesterday, Alphabet announced two major milestones in quantum computing around its Willow quantum chip: 1) exponentially reducing the rate of errors when adding more units of computation and 2) performing a standard benchmark computation at rates much faster than existing technology." Well Fargo initiates BioNTech as overweight The firm said "the second act post-COVID" could be even bigger for the biotech company. "We are initiating on BNTX at OW with a $170 PT based on our DCF analysis." Morgan Stanley names Alaska Airlines a top pick The firm said the airline is its new top airline pick heading into 2025. " ALK is our new #1 ranked Airline (up from #2 in 2024) following on from new upsized synergy targets at their recent Investor Day, and DAL moves to #2 (from #1 in 2024)." JPMorgan reiterates Boeing as overweight The firm said it is a top idea in 2025 with better times ahead. "Favor RTX, BA in Aero and HWM among high-multiple stocks." TD Cowen names Lam Research a top 2025 pick TD Cowen said the semis company is a top idea in 2025. "We rate LRCX Buy due to (1) Exposure to secular trends such as increasing memory content in storage, mobile and other applications; (2) Capital intensity for dep and etch products should remain healthy; and (3) Strong cash generation." Wells Fargo reiterates Micron as overweight The firm said it is bullish heading into earnings next week. "We're positive on MU setup into upcoming (12/18) F1Q25 print. Expect solid MU HBM share gains + solutions portfolio execution; reaffirmation of disciplined industry dynamics to drive 'substantial' MU rev record in FY25." Wells Fargo downgrades Travelers to underweight from equal weight Wells Fargo said it sees too much uncertainty for the insurance company heading into 2025. "We downgrade TRV to Underweight (from Equal Weight) on (1) potential further general liability reserve additions, (2) tougher margin comps in 2025, and (3) overall cautiousness within the commercial lines space given elevated loss cost trends." Citi initiates Monolithic Power as buy Citi said it is bullish on the semis company. "We initiate coverage of Monolithic Power (MPWR) with a Buy rating and a $700 price target." Bernstein reiterates Broadcom as outperform Bernstein said it is sticking with its outperform rating heading into Broadcom earnings on Thursday. "Overall while we do see possibility for some near-term flutters, they do look increasingly anticipated, and we think the story into the 2H and beyond still looks good." Stifel upgrades Wolverine World Wide to buy from neutral Stifel said in its upgrade of Wolverine that it has better visibility for the footwear wholesaler. "We are upgrading shares to BUY. Following stabilization and balance shee progress across 2024, 2025 is an inflection year. Spring orders, Saucony momentum, an distribution expansion support growth visibility into 2025 shifting investor focus to multi-yea earnings power." JPMorgan downgrades C3.ai to underweight from neutral JPMorgan said it sees "subpar growth" for the artificial intelligence company. "While we understand that C3.ai is going after a massive and rapidly evolving opportunity around Artificial Intelligence, we think its uneven and subpar growth-plus-margin performance leaves a lot to be desired, and it remains a big outlier compared to a broader base of peers trading at over 10x FTM [forward twelve months] revenue." JPMorgan reiterates Netflix as overweight The firm raised its price target on Netflix to $1,010 per share from $850. "We're raising our 4Q & 2025 Net Adds supported by strong content, healthy organic growth, & ramping Ad Tier contribution." Citi names Take-Two a top pick Citi said the video game maker's shares are too attractive to ignore. "In addition, we are elevating TTWO to our top pick within our coverage universe, as we view the risk-reward compelling at prevailing levels." Bank of America downgrades Duolingo to neutral from buy Bank of America downgraded the stock mainly on valuation. "We continue to see Duolingo as one of the highest quality and most consistent growth names within Internet and we see potential for 40% EBITDA margins (vs. 26% now) and over 20% GAAP net income margins (vs. 13% now) over the long-term." Barclays downgrades Lennar, D.R. Horton, PulteGroup and KB Home to equal weight from overweight The firm said the homebuilding "utopia" is over. "As homebuilding's utopia looks increasingly out of reach, we no longer expect builders to defy gravity, and downgrade DHI, LEN , PHM and KBH , though we upgrade TMHC on relative valuation." Bank of America upgrades Amcor to buy from underperform Bank of America said the global packaging company is a "global growth story." "We upgrade AMCR , expecting more relative return and catalysts.  While we have some reservations about the growth / growth synergy story, easy comparisons and other points should support this narrative in the next year." Deutsche upgrading Frontier to buy from hold Deutsche said the discount airline can "benefit from an improving domestic backdrop." "We are upgrading the shares of Frontier (ULCC) to Buy from Hold as we believe they are well-positioned to benefit from an improving domestic backdrop (94% of March quarter's capacity is deployed in domestic markets)." KeyBanc reiterates Nvidia as overweight The firm said it is sticking with its overweight rating on the stock and that checks show November notebook shipments were in line with expectations. "We view in line November shipments and 4Q expectations as neutral for PC-exposed companies. NB- [notebook] exposed companies under our coverage universe include AMD, INTC, LSCC, MPWR, MU, NVDA, ON, and SYNA."
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, U.S., October 17, 2024.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spoke to South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday and discussed South Korea's political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt last week to impose martial law.

Yellen "expressed appreciation for the close communication between the Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance and the U.S. Treasury Department following recent events in the Republic of Korea," the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

"Yellen also reaffirmed the strong ties between our two countries built upon shared democratic values and expressed her hope for continued bilateral cooperation," the Treasury Department said after her virtual meeting with Choi, in which she also discussed "macroeconomic and financial developments" with her counterpart.


Were thrilled to announce that ????????s e-Visa will be implemented in India from 1 Jan 2025. All non-Thais currently stay in India can apply at https://t.co/xjUPIiV6QF.

However, the 60-day visa exemption for ???????? passport holders remains effective. pic.twitter.com/L6zN71fcmT



 Thailand in India (@ThailandinIndia) December 11, 2024

In a significant step toward enhancing travel convenience for Indian residents, the Thailand government on Wednesday (December 11) announced the introduction of an e-Visa system. Starting January 1, 2025, all non-Thai individuals currently residing in India will be eligible to apply for a Thailand e-Visa, the Royal Thai Embassy said in a statement.We are thrilled to announce that Thailands e-Visa will be implemented in India from Jan 1, 2025, the Royal Thai Embassy said in a post on social media platform X.Despite the new system, the existing 60-day visa exemption for Indian passport holders will remain unchanged. Indian citizens can continue to enjoy visa-free travel to Thailand for short visits lasting up to 60 days, ensuring hassle-free entry for tourism and brief stays.All e-Visa applications will be processed through the official portal, https://www.thaievisa.go.th. The embassy clarified that applications could be submitted either by the applicants themselves or through representatives.According to the statement, visa processing is expected to take up to 14 working days after the visa fee is received. Applicants must choose to pay a visa fee for which the respective Embassy and Consulate-Generals will provide details on the offline payment options, it said.The Embassy also outlined deadlines for the current visa application process. Ordinary passport applications must be submitted to designated visa processing agencies by December 16. Meanwhile, applications for diplomatic and official passports are to be sent directly to the Embassy or Consulate-General by December 24.
Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday.
December 10, 2024: In September 2024 Ukraine officially established the Unmanned Systems Force or USF. Ukraine has built at least two million drones this year and has established manufacturing facilities in Ukraine and foreign nations to produce four million drones a year.

Ukraine has also established the UAV/Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Force. This drone Force does not control the drones Ukrainian forces use regularly but instead develops new drone models and organizes mass production for those new models that are successful. Drones have been an unexpected development that had a huge impact on how battles in the Ukraines current war are fought. Drones were successful because they were cheap, easily modified, and expendable.

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces were soon using cheap, at a few hundred dollars each, quadcopter drones controlled by soldiers a kilometer or more away using FPV/First Person Viewing goggles to see what the day/night video camera on the drone can see. Some FPV drones have night vision and that nearly doubles the cost for each drone. Each of these drones carries half a kilogram of explosives, so it can instantly turn the drone into a flying bomb that can fly into a target and detonate. This is an awesome and debilitating weapon when used in large numbers over the combat zone. If a target isnt moving or requires more explosive power that the drones can supply, one of the drone operators can call in artillery, rocket, or missile fire, or even an airstrike. Larger, fixed wing drones are used for long range, often over a thousand kilometers, operations against targets deep inside Russia.

A major limitation to the expansion of drone operations was the need for trained drone operators. These operators need over a hundred hours of training before they are able to start operating these drones, and another hundred hours of actual use before they are able to make the most out of the system.

These small drones are difficult to shoot down until they get close to the ground and the shooter is close enough, as in less than a few hundred meters, away to successfully target a drone with a bullet or two and bring it down. Troops are rarely in position to do this, so most of these drones are able to complete their mission, whether it is a one-way attack or a reconnaissance and surveillance mission. The recon missions are usually survivable and enable the drone to be reused. All these drones are constantly performing surveillance, which means that both sides commit enough drones to maintain constant surveillance over a portion of the front line, to a depth, into enemy territory, of at least a few kilometers.

This massive use of FPV-armed drones has revolutionized warfare in Ukraine and both sides are producing as many as they can. Earlier in the Ukraine War Russia used Iranian Shahed-136 drones that Iran sold for about $200,000 each. Ukraine demonstrated that you could design and build drones with similar capabilities at less than a tenth of what the Shahed-136 cost. The Iranian drone was more complex than it needed to be and even the Russians soon realized this and turned from the Shahed-136 for more capable drones they copied from Ukrainian designs or original Russians designes.

Ukrainian drone proliferation began when many individual Ukrainians or small teams designed and built drones. The drones served as potential candidates for widespread use and mass production. This proliferation of designers and manufacturers led to rapid evolution of drone capabilities and uses. Those who could not keep up were less successful in combat and suffered higher losses.

Military leaders in other nations have noted this and are scrambling to equip their own forces with the most effective drones. Not having enough of these to match the number the enemy has in a portion of the front means you are at a serious disadvantage in that area. These drones are still evolving in terms of design and use and are becoming more effective and essential.

One countermeasure that often works for a while is electronic jamming of the drones control signal. Drone guidance systems are constantly modified or upgraded to cope with this. Most drones have flight control software that sends drones with jammed control signals back to where they took off from to land for later use. The jammers are on the ground and can be attacked by drones programmed to home in on the jamming signal. Countermeasures can be overcome and the side that can do this more quickly and completely has an advantage. That advantage is usually temporary because both sides are putting a lot of effort into keeping their combat drones effective on the battlefield.

The emergence of drones as a new, novel, and decisive form of air power is the most recent of similar events that took place since the 1960s Vietnam War. During the last century the U.S. Air Force has advocated military victory achieved mainly with air power. This attitude took root after the 1914-19 World War I when the Army Air Corps got rid of most of its numerous reconnaissance aircraft and concentrated on bombers and fighters.

Then came the popular belief that larger bomber aircraft would dominate future wars. This never came to pass and, every time there was a war, the air force had to scramble to expand its meager peacetime reconnaissance force to meet the realities of war. This was not so bad during World War II because the air force was still part of the army but, after World War II, the Army Air Force became the independent U.S. Air Force and sought to control everything that flew over land. That meant army attempts to retain small reconnaissance aircraft and cargo aircraft were constantly opposed by the air force. The army valued prolific and prompt aerial reconnaissance more than the air force.

This led to a dispute that was not settled until 1960 when, after a decade of bickering, the Department of Defense ordered the army to stick with helicopters while the air force got nearly all the fixed-wing aircraft. The army was allowed to keep some single-engine artillery spotter aircraft and some twin-engine transports and intelligence collecting aircraft. That was it.

In the 1990s as electronic components became smaller, cheaper, more capable, and reliable, drones became practical and reliable aircraft for military use. The U.S. Army, and the CIA, quickly got a lot of them. drones have no aircrew in them, and the army does not consider them part of the half-century old compromise with the air force. At first, the air force paid little attention to the growing capabilities of drones. That was because the air force was run by pilots who took it for granted that nothing in the air was really useful unless it had a pilot flying it. The army and the CIA soon delivered an unexpected reality check to the air force. At that point, the CIA was already arming their large Predator drones with Hellfire missiles and the army eventually did the same.

With the army again flying armed aircraft in the form of armed drones, in addition to the armed helicopters it has always had, the air force began to notice. The army argument was that these larger drones work better for them if they are under the direct control of army combat brigades. The air force saw that as inefficient and preferred to have one large pool of larger drones which are deployed as needed. This difference of opinion reflects basic differences in how the army and air force deploy and use their combat forces.

The army has found that a critical factor in battlefield success is teamwork among members of a unit, and subordinate units in a brigade. While the air force accepts this as a critical performance issue for their aircraft squadrons, they deem it irrelevant for army use of drones. Seeing army MQ-1C Grey Eagle drones doing visual and electronic reconnaissance and firing missiles at ground targets, the air force sees itself losing control of missions it has dominated since its founding in 1948.

One thing the army acquisition of thousands of reconnaissance drones does not change is the air force loss of interest in aerial reconnaissance and surveillance after each war. Air force reluctance to develop, build and maintain a large strategic reconnaissance force led the CIA to use its considerable clout and budget developing strategic reconnaissance aircraft like the U-2 and SR-71 manned aircraft and surveillance satellites. The CIA also pioneered the use of larger drones like the 1.1-ton Predator and armed them. This helped the army win permission from the Department of Defense to expand its force of armed aircraft beyond helicopter gunships.

The army managed to keep its drones and that proved extremely important because, with the war on terror winding down, the air force is spending a lot less on aerial reconnaissance. The air force is buying fewer RQ-4 Global Hawk, and RQ-170 Sentinel strategic recon drones. The 17 elderly E-8 JSTARS battlefield surveillance aircraft, which proved so valuable after their first combat use in 1991, last flew in late 2023. JSTARS used an AESA ground radar that could track friendly and enemy forces from the air. While this was great for the army, it is not seen as a high priority item for the air force.

The army replaced the JSTARS capabilities with ABMS/Advanced Battle Management System software that networked larger numbers of drones and presented what the drones had observed or were observing to multiple users. It was another example of drone quantity and versatility replacing older, very expensive, individual systems like JSTARS. For the army this was a major plus because the 1950s agreement prohibited army operation of large aircraft like the four-engine JSTARS. This changed because during major conflicts the air force did not oppose the army use of many smaller, two-engine versions of these specialized electronic warfare or surveillance aircraft. The army has learned that lesson and is now retaining more of those two-engine aircraft and equipping some of their larger drones to do this work. Now the drones are replacing all aircraft except those that transport people and equipment.

In spite of negative air force attitudes, the air force did have some solid accomplishments to its credit. In some areas, it has been extremely successful. This includes gaining, since 1945 and maintaining ever since, air supremacy wherever it operates. Maintaining that capability is not easily accomplished or cheap and the air force gives air supremacy its highest priority, except in wartime when it has a lot more money and is redirected to accommodate army needs.

These air force attitudes have hurt the army in other ways. When it comes to influencing the war on the ground the air force is much less dominant. This is despite air force efforts to maintain its ability to bomb targets in direct support of ground operations. The air force blind spot when it comes to air reconnaissance has hurt its overall effectiveness. Blame this on a bad attitude towards BDA/Bomb Damage Assessment. This is the business of figuring out what to bomb, and what the impact on the enemy is after you bomb. The problem of the air force leaders being deceived by the people on the ground being bombed began during World War II. This was when air forces used large scale aerial bombing for the first time. Right after that conflict, the U.S. did a thorough survey of the impact of strategic bombing on Germany and Japan. It was discovered that the impact was far different from what air force BDA during the war had indicated. The air force vowed to do better next time. But as experience in Korea (1950-3), Vietnam (1965-72), Kuwait (1991) and Kosovo (1999), Iraq (2003), throughout the war on terror demonstrated, and now in Ukraine the enemy on the ground continued to have an edge when it came to deceiving the most energetic BDA efforts. The only proven technique for beating the BDA problem was to have people on the ground, up close, checking up on targets, while the fighting was going on. Those with powerful air forces do not want to do this because of the risk of some of their commandos getting killed or captured, and because the intel and air force people were sure that they knew what enemy was up to down there.

The people on the ground have consistently demonstrated an ability to deceive aerial surveillance. Even during the early 21st century, when the U.S. developed persistent drone surveillance, the irregular forces they were facing proved capable of reducing the effectiveness of the drone effort. This spotlights another useful fact; airpower can be useful on the ground but that happens over time and not quickly. The problem here is with voters and the media. Both demand quick victory and in the U.S. that has developed into the three year rule in that public support for a way no matter how enthusiastic it was at first, is largely gone after three years. If an air campaign cant get it done in three years that effort comes under media and political attack no matter how effective it has been.

But there's another problem. The army and air force have a different outlook on planning and risk. The air force sees warfare as a much tidier, and predictable, affair than what the army experiences regularly. In this respect, the air force and navy are closely aligned. Both are technical services, who are used to exercising more control over their forces than do army generals. The army sees warfare as more unpredictable and has adapted to that unpredictability. The army generals are usually skeptical of air force ability to take down foes from the air and the army pundits are usually right.

Despite being a successful high-tech operation, American air forces, especially the Navy and USAF, frequently have trouble adjusting to changes they do not agree with. When the Cold War ended in 1991 the air force was still largely thinking about continuing to operate as they had done in the Cold War, but the technology and tactics of warfare were changing. The post-Cold War enemy no longer consisted of large, organized forces spread over huge areas. The enemy was increasingly irregulars who were harder to spot from the air. The air force reluctantly adapted, in part because the army and CIA adopted new reconnaissance and surveillance techniques like drones and persistent surveillance. This pattern is returning as the air force reorganizes after the decade of heavy combat and big budgets the war on terror produced. Now the air force is turning its attention to a near-peer opponent in the form of a rapidly expanding and modernizing Chinese military.

Unexpectedly the Ukraine War emerged first with Russia and Ukraine fighting each other. Ukrainians had the advantage of material and intellectual support from NATO countries. In the end the winner of any stage of the war was the side that was the most resourceful and innovative. This process has been present in warfare for centuries but during the last century the changes and innovations came so quickly that the process was visible. This disrupted the long-established missions each of the military services had established.
December 10, 2024: Russia is trying again to create a national intranet that would only be used by people in Russia and unavailable to those outside Russia. This effort involves plugging the many holes created in a prior intranet by those who want to maintain access to the world wide web. When Russia invaded Ukraine the second time in 2022, the West imposed economic sanctions that included making Russian access to the global internet more difficult. This did not work because while Russia was officially sanctioned, they still could obtain electronics and other items via internet based smugglers. Russia needed these items to keep their economy going and to produce weapons that required imported components.

Despite their realities, in 2019 the Russian parliament passed a Sovereign Internet law that created an Internet infrastructure that restricted Internet use within Russia by confining most Internet users within Russia to web sites within Russia and funneled all Internet traffic from Russian users through Russian censors who would screen traffic for forbidden activity, particularly soldiers of civilians posting pictures and video of military operations to social media.

Those who backed this plan were told that such a plan was technically impossible and would reduce Russian internet users to the sort of local intranet found in North Korea. The North Korean approach ensures that only a select few users have access to the worldwide Internet. But even in North Korea civilians found ways around that. Moreover, North Korea has a primitive and much less productive economy that can function without free access to the global Internet. The Russian economy could not function with such restricted Internet access, something China has discovered and is still trying to overcome.

The Russian legislators were outraged at the inability of the military to halt these often embarrassing leaks of military information via the Internet despite numerous efforts to deal with the problem. Legislators proposed simply making it illegal to post military information on the Internet and prosecute those who violate these rules. Military experts responded by pointing out that this would be ignored or evaded by many military personnel and would make it even more difficult to recruit Russians for the military.

Russian Internet officials point out that the technical aspects of this proposed law would be impossible to implement and passing a law would not change that. The Russia-only Intranet law was adopted in 2019 and proved to be useless. Russian civilians as well as government and military personnel continued to do whatever they wanted on the internet despite the new censorship law.

What sparked this effort to censor the Russian internet was how easily Russians found out about what the military was really doing in Syria and, after the first invasion of Ukraine in 2014, in Ukraine. The Russian military was breaking a lot of Russian laws, and promises to the Russian people, in order to keep operating in Ukraine and Syria. Earlier efforts to impose rules to plug these leaks failed.

For example in mid-2018 Russia ordered bases where Russian forces operate in Syria, including major ones like Hmeimim airbase and the naval facilities at the port of Tartus, to jam signals used by cellphones capable of handling 2G and 3G speeds. All Russian personnel have been ordered to only use older cell phones without cameras and GPS. These orders were issued in February 2018 after several ISIL attacks using fixed wing and quadcopter UAVs. These mass attacks were made possible by using the features and capabilities of modern cell phones. This ban also sought to solve another problem that has long caused headaches for Russian propagandists as well as military commanders. That is, the new law sought to, and failed, to make it more difficult for Russian civilians and military personnel to post sensitive or embarrassing information on the Internet.

The 2018 ban only slowed down the battlefield information leaks because the Russian soldiers and civilian contractors still had their smartphones for taking pictures and writing email to the friends and family back home. Whenever they got into a jamming free zone they could and did, send that material or post it to social media sites where most of these leaks tended to appear.) Jamming made improvised mass attacks by cheap commercial drones carrying explosives more difficult to carry out against the Russian airbase Hmeimim that was located near the Syrian coast. Several such attacks occurred between the end of 2017 and early 2018, causing two deaths and a lot of property and equipment damage. Improved air defenses and airstrikes against the Islamic terror groups responsible seemed to play a larger role in halting the attacks but intel sources and interrogations indicated the jamming helped.

What happened in Syria was unusual because normally it was the Russians who were exploiting cell phone technology on the battlefield although the information leaks because of Russian troops with cell phones has long been a problem, but not as serious as enabling aerial attacks on major bases.

The cell phones have become a major intelligence problem in Russian occupied areas of Ukraine as well. For example, in late 2017 the Russian backed Donbas rebel government in eastern Ukraine sentenced a local man to ten years in jail for distributing a cell phone photo via Twitter that showed Russian Army vehicles and other equipment in the rebel-controlled half of Donbas. Russia denied they have troops there but it had been an open secret because of cell phones, Internet access and most Ukrainians there wanted the Russians gone. Sending this fellow to prison and publicizing it was expected to make the population less ready to do this sort of thing. Little changed as the leakers became more proficient at leaking without getting caught.

In 2019 the Russians had been in Donbas since 2014 and, from mid-2015 until Russians second, bigger, invasion in February 2022, Ukraine become a secondary operation for Russia with Syria, the rest of the Middle East plus North Korea demanding more attention. This made it easier for Ukrainians to document the presence of Russian troops inside Donbas. This was possible because Donbas had cell phone service and a lot of people in Donbas took pictures and shared them. Although the Russian soldiers in Donbas were supposed to remove all identifying items from their uniforms, not all the troops did that completely. They were not supposed to spend too much time socializing with the locals but did anyway and often shared those experiences on Internet-based social networks. Russia denied everything and, since Russia had state-controlled mass media most Russians saw only the official version of who was in Donbas, not the reality.

While Russia decreased military support for their forces in Donbas Russia continued using Ukraine as a test site for new Cyber War tactics and techniques. Thus by the end of 2016 Ukraine accused Russia of employing hackers to insert trackers into cell phones used by Ukrainian military personnel fighting in Donbas. Ukraine also found evidence of the same or similar hackers, usually civilian groups working as contractors for the Russian government going after numerous government and commercial networks in Ukraine. Some of these hackers were also identified as going after targets in the United States. The hacking of Ukrainian military personnel cell phones is believed to have been the cause of several recent accurate and fatal attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas. The hackers made it possible to track the location of the phone owners and accurately fire shells at them.

These capabilities had already attracted the attention of the U.S., which was supplying Ukraine with military equipment and technical assistance. American and NATO electronic warfare experts paid close attention to what the Russians were up to in Donbas and the cell phone hack was not unexpected. When it did arrive it was scrutinized and dissected.

Russia considers any such revelations as harmful to Russian military capabilities. There is some truth to that but worldwide it should be noted that even the most oppressive and proficient police states like China, North Korea and Cuba have found that the need for an operational Internet is more than one that is crippled.

As long as there is any freely available wireless communications in a country, some of your citizens will risk the most severe penalties to get access to the world wide web and share what they found. Russia legislators did what legislators often do; passed a law, declared the problem solved and then tried to ignore contrary evidence for as long as they could. Russia lost, the internet won and life went on.
Right now, the mainstream media is outraged over Americas callous response to the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City this past Wednesday. Its a shame they can never seem to find that fire when UnitedHealthcare withholds life-saving seizure medication from children.

This past weekend, Bill Burr went viral for mocking media coverage over the shooting of Thompson outside the Midtown Manhattan Hilton Hotel on December 4th. During an episode of his joint podcast Anything Better? with Bill Burr & Paul Virzi, the stand-up legend suggested that, based on the various lawsuits and accusations of financial crimes that Thompson faced shortly before his death, the deceased CEO may not have been the great guy that CNN and Fox News say he was, and that the shooting should be viewed as an ordinary, run-of-the-mill, New York mob hit.

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Now, Burr has another hot take about the news narrative surrounding Thompsons death on another podcast, as he went off on the finger-wagging coming from elites in media and in politics on yesterdays episode of Monday Morning Podcast. During the rant, Burr lambasted the rich and powerful who chide Americans for their lack of empathy regarding Thompsons demise, as if Thompson's empathy ever extended to the American people.

You know whats annoying me about this kid who killed this CEO? asked Burr at the top of the episode, referencing the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione in connection to the Thompson shooting. None of these news programs are talking about (how) the incredible lack of empathy from the general public about this is because of how these insurance treat people when theyre at their most vulnerable, after weve all given them our money every fuckin month, and now we need you, and all you do is deny us.

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Burr then took aim at the other major health insurance companies who have hidden identifying pictures and bios about their executives in the wake of the shooting. These pussies in all these things are taking the pictures of their CEOs off their websites, said Burr. I gotta be honest with you, okay? I love that fuckin CEOs are fuckin afraid right now. You should be. By and large, youre all a bunch of selfish, greedy, fuckin pieces of shit, and a lot of you are mass murderers. You just dont pull the trigger.

Thats why it looks clean, Burr said of corporate criminals, then returning his focus to Thompson. What was his job? What did he do? What was the result of it?

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The result was an entire country celebrating and mocking his violent demise. But, hey, dying in the street from a gunshot wound still beats a kid dying of cancer because insurance wouldnt cover their chemo until it was too late.
Film critic Gene Siskel thought that Jack Nicholsons second directing effort, the comedy-western Goin South, was just okay, giving the film two and a half stars out of four. There was at least one way it could have been better, he said. The film could use more of John Belushi, the Animal House star, wasted here in a walk-on as a fat Mexican deputy sheriff.

There was someone else who believed Belushi could use more screen time: John Belushi. And he would have had more scenes if he could have behaved properly. But things were goin south right after Belushi signed on to the project for five weeks of work at $5,000 a week. What the hell does John Belushi want to do this for? wondered Nicholson, according to Daniel De Vises The Blues Brothers.

Good question. Belushi was a mess when he arrived in Mexico for filming. Producers were called over to Nicholsons rented home where Belushi, almost certainly under the influence of something, ranted nonsense upon arrival. Ive got to get out of here, he told them. I got to go. Ive got to get back. I cant live here. He took a knife out of a kitchen drawer, a threatening action that doesnt sit well with movie producers. They told him to stop being an asshole and to take a nap.

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Belushi did, and the next day he apologized. But it didnt take long for things to once again go off the rails. Belushi made petty demands and fought with the Goin' South producers, especially Harold Schneider, whose job it was not to lose fights, wrote Patrick McGilligan in Jack's Life: A Biography of Jack Nicholson, per SlashFilm.

Due to the tantrums and squabbles, Nicholson cut back Belushis part in the movie, which made the comic actor even more difficult. Jack treated me like shit on Goin' South, Belushi groused by the time filming concluded. I hate him.

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Despite a lack of firsthand accounts of the Belushi/Nicholson beef, two brothers, Jake and Sam Lewis, created a fictional account of the conflict in their short film The Cowboy & the Samurai. Did a drunken Belushi actually threaten to cut off the producers testicles and feed them to each other? Did he really tell Nicholson to eat a bowl full of fuck? Who knows? But it makes for a helluva story.

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In The Cowboy & the Samurai, Belushi expresses regret. Deepest apologies from the bottom of my heart, he offers after the two Hollywood hellraisers make up a story about how they worked out their differences.

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According to Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi, the reconciliation didnt come until years after Goin South was completed. Friends once again, Belushi even consulted Nicholson about upcoming film roles  just days before he died of a drug overdose.
Along with festive lights, eggnog and drunken arguments after too many eggnogs, a staple of the holiday season is watching Christmas-themed sitcom episodes.

Mostly, these shows tend to be fairly heartwarming, like in Family Matters when Carl and Steve Urkel end up trapped on a subway train on Christmas Eve due to a power outage, but ultimately decide to decorate a tree and sing carols rather than resort to cannibalism.

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But some Christmas episodes are surprisingly dark, such as how the 1987 ALF special found the alien puppet counseling a terminally ill child and dressing up like Santa Claus to prevent a suicide attempt.

But things were far grimmer over on Married with Children. The second seasons You Better Watch Out, began with a man in a Santa costume dying in the Bundys backyard after a promotional skydiving stunt goes horribly wrong.

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If that premise wasnt bleak enough, several neighborhood children then gather outside the Bundy house to make sure that Santa is okay. This forces Al to dress up as Kris Kringle and assure the kids that hes fine, thus restoring their faith in Christmas  not because he wants to, but because the cops need the kids to vacate the area before they can wheel the corpse away.

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The only thing that could possibly make this episode any more upsetting is the fact that it was seemingly based on a true story.

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Way back in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, Mesa, Arizonas local newspaper editor, a man named John McPhee, decided to brighten everyones spirits, and boost the towns economy, with a special event. He came up with the idea to have Santa Claus himself parachute into the towns Christmas parade.

But on the day of the parade, McPhee found his parachuting Santa stuntman at the local bar drunk as a skunk. McPhee quickly threw together a plan B, which would involve him dressing up as Santa instead. Since he was no skydiver, McPhee put a red suit on a mannequin and had the flight crew pull the dummys ripcord as they tossed it out of the plane. Santa would then parachute to the ground, whereupon, McPhee would secretly take his place.

Unfortunately, the chute didnt deploy, and Santa plummeted to the ground like Hans Gruber. The children reportedly started screaming, Santa's dead, Santa's dead.

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McPhee still showed up in costume as Santa to try and pacify the kids (not unlike Al Bundy), but the damage had already been done. Weirdly, McPhees goal of encouraging folks to buy Christmas presents from local shops was achieved because parents went overboard with gift shopping for kids that year to try and make up for the psychic trauma of witnessing Santa fall helplessly to his death.

McPhee ended up leaving town after being branded the man who killed Santa  a designation that would later be bestowed upon Tim Allen.
In the late spring of 2024, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began investigating reports of malicious activities targeting multiple US telecommunications companies. The agency determined that Chinese-affiliated actors had stolen many communications records related to several unidentified individuals during what they later realized was a persistent infiltration dating back at least two years.

By late September and early October, US authorities began publicly warning about a threat actor that Microsoft calls Salt Typhoon (also known as Earth Estries, Ghost Emperor, Famous Sparrow, or UNC 2286) that is likely affiliated with Chinas Ministry of State Security, also known as APT 40. Federal authorities have continued ramping up public warnings regarding the group.

Cybersecurity experts say the Salt Typhoon intrusions pose a serious supply chain risk for the telcos customers, who encompass a broad swath, if not all, of global public and private sector organizations. Its a supply chain attack where theyre not targeting the telcos as much as theyre targeting the telcos customers, Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence at Trend Micro, tells CSO. Its a technique we call island hopping, where they gain access to a target through a partner or a vendor or something.
Living Arrangements A series about the lengths New Yorkers go to cohabitate. Alice and Zoey in the living room of their apartment. Photo: Alice Xandra Thirteen

Alice and Zoey share a one-bedroom apartment in Downtown Brooklyn. Sometimes they sleep in the same bed, and sometimes they dont. Alice, 38, and Zoey, who is 16 years younger, are used to questions about their relationship. People want to know if we have sex, but they wont ask because its not polite, said Alice. Ill let them squirm for a bit before answering because I like to provoke people, she added with a grin.

The two have been roommates since April, but they say their relationship is best defined by their BDSM roles. Alice is Zoeys domme  the dominant partner in the relationship  and Zoey is the sub, or submissive. On occasion, this involves sexual scenarios, but they say sex doesnt define their relationship the way it does with the people they see romantically and sexually. The best way theyve come to describe their relationship is by calling Zoey Alices pet. The dynamic is similar to how I felt about my cats growing up, said Zoey. Theyre beneath you in some sense, but theres a lot of mutual respect and trust.

Alice and Zoey first met online on a Discord server for trans women. Alice noticed Zoey when she posted a piece she wrote about her most embarrassing orgasms of the past year. Part of my love of BDSM is blowing open taboos about sex, so when she shared that, I thought to myself, I like this person, said Alice. Shortly after, she sent Zoey a DM responding to her request to the group for help posing for photos. At first, Zoey interpreted the offer as professional. But when Alice prompted her to pose more suggestively on her knees, Zoey realized Alice was flirting, and she was into it.

They messaged like this for the next couple of months, sharing their sexual and BDSM fantasies and also just getting to know each other. Zoey, who was living in Milwaukee, told Alice she wanted to quit her pharmaceutical job and move out of the Midwest someday, and Alice talked to Zoey about the messy separation she was going through with her wife after her transition and her subsequent openness to new relationships within the BDSM community. Soon, it felt like more than just the light flirting Alice had done with other people in the Discord server. Sharing personal things with Zoey made our texting and BDSM stuff more intimate, said Alice.

In February, Alice and Zoey decided to finally meet in person. Zoey booked them a long weekend at the Roxy in lower Manhattan, a longtime dream of Alices. In return, Alice planned three days of scenes for Zoey, structured BDSM situations where they could perform their respective roles. There were scenes in the subway, in a movie theater, and some in the hotel room, all involving Zoey serving or submitting to Alice. Though Zoey had been interested in submission for a while, she had been uncomfortable trying anything earlier in her transition, but now she was open to it. I couldnt imagine myself doing things for someone else or belonging to someone in my previous body, she said. With Alice, who was already experienced with kink, she found a partner she felt comfortable enough to experiment with.

Alice testing the shibari suspension point, which is installed into a guillotine structure above the living room. Photo: Alice Xandra Thirteen

Zoey suspended during a ritual presentation for Alices domme. Photo: Alice Xandra Thirteen

On the last day of their trip, Alice gave Zoey a tour of her apartment. Zoey immediately loved it. She liked that Alice had painted the entire apartment a dark shade of red, and she wasnt put off by the horror-movie posters in the hallway or the red lighting in the bedroom. But her favorite feature was the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room overlooking Downtown Brooklyn. It feels like youre right in the middle of everything thats happening, she said.

Alice had just renewed a two-year lease but couldnt afford the $3,200 rent by herself. She assumed she would have to give the place up when her soon-to-be ex-wife moved out in a couple of months. But after their weekend together, Alice impulsively asked Zoey if she wanted to move in. Zoey had been planning to leave Milwaukee in March and told Alice that her dream was to move to the city someday. But Alice needed a roommate by April 1. I told her, I dont have the liberty to do this slowly. If you want in, youre going to have to do something kind of extreme with me, said Alice. A month later, Zoey sold all her furniture and moved to New York with just a backpack, a duffel bag, and a suitcase filled mostly with clothing.

After Zoey moved in, they decided to lean into their domme-sub roles at home. In a BDSM scene, you negotiate what youre going to do with another person, what you like and dont like and hope to achieve together. We treat our whole life like that, said Alice. Take cleaning, for example. In the past, Zoey was frustrated if a roommate didnt take out the trash or pick up staples like toilet paper or eggs, but now she sees these as opportunities to please Alice. Alice, in turn, sets up scenes to make tasks more structured and enjoyable for both, like a recurring cleaning task on Sunday night (before her domme comes over the following day) or by making detailed shopping lists she leaves for Zoey. Shes looking for things to do to feel useful and like a good girl, so if I think of something we need in the house, Ill tell her immediately, said Alice. While they do share chores on an ad hoc basis, Zoey often does extra work, but she doesnt mind. I struggle to do things for myself, but when I feel like Im doing it for someone else, I find it fulfilling, said Zoey.

From left: Alice relaxes in the bedroom after filming a kink performance. Zoey embraces her from the foot of the bed. Photo: Alice Xandra Thirteen Zoey during her daily check-in with Alice. Photo: Alice Xandra Thirteen From top: Alice relaxes in the bedroom after filming a kink performance. Zoey embraces her from the foot of the bed. Photo: Alice Xandra Thirteen Zoey ... more From top: Alice relaxes in the bedroom after filming a kink performance. Zoey embraces her from the foot of the bed. Photo: Alice Xandra Thirteen Zoey during her daily check-in with Alice. Photo: Alice Xandra Thirteen

Their dynamic also extends to how they sleep. Alice always sleeps in the full-size bed in the middle of their sparsely decorated bedroom. Sometimes Zoey joins her, curling up in her preferred location at the foot of the bed, but her favorite place to sleep is on the floor next to the bed with a blanket. It would be embarrassing for a lot of people to say they sleep on the floor, but I take some pride in it, she said. I get the comfort of being near my person but still have my own space. When Alice has someone else over, like her girlfriend or domme, Zoey might sleep on the couch or in an armchair in the living room. Occasionally, Alice tells Zoey to sleep somewhere else for the night, which Zoey tries to oblige  and when she cant find a spot, she tells Alice. Zoey, on the other hand, meets her partners at their homes.

But when it comes to expenses, they split them equally. Before moving in together, Zoey drew a hard line at financial dominance. When it comes to money, I like to be equal and not feel like people owe me anything, she said. Alice is also a 50/50 split person, so they split rent, utilities, and other expenses for the house, like appliances and furniture. Their primary concern about money is simply about having enough. Since both work in the film industry, their income is irregular; that insecurity, they pointed out, is a common challenge many trans people face.

So far, the two havent had any major disagreements. This might be, in part, because their relationship gives them many openings to discuss their needs, including during a daily check-in. If Alice asks Zoey to do a task, like finding them a ropes class, and she doesnt, Alice will ask her if she needs a different one. If shes not feeling it or its too challenging for her, then she hits a wall and starts to feel the opposite of what Im trying to give her, said Alice (in the case of the ropes class, the search was overwhelming Zoey, a ropes beginner, so Alice took over).

Occasionally, they flip the script. Once in a while, Zoey makes decisions for Alice, like what kinds of food to eat when shes sick, and Alice credits Zoey with something fundamental. Zoey really saved my life because I had no options before we became roommates, said Alice. Now that we have survival kind of taken care of, we have a friendship too, and we want to make living good for each other.
Chinese scholarship awarded to Ethiopian students to facilitate study, cooperation

Xinhua) 10:52, December 11, 2024

ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Ethiopian university students have been awarded Chinese scholarships to help them pursue graduate and post-graduate studies across different academic fields in the East African country's prestigious Addis Ababa University (AAU).

Speaking at the award ceremony of the China-Ethiopia Friendship Scholarship at the AAU on Tuesday, Samuel Kifle, president of the university, said the AAU has cooperated with the Chinese government and various Chinese universities and institutes over the years, which has helped facilitate the study and research of the AAU students and faculty members.

"We are very much grateful to the Chinese government for all the efforts and the support that they have extended to our country, and particularly to Addis Ababa University, to make our journey of being an academic excellence much easier than we have thought," Kifle said, adding that this is the third time the university has received this scholarship, and the number of recipients is much larger than before.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai underscored the significance of education in empowering the human resources of both countries. He stressed that China and Ethiopia have undertaken close cooperation and exchanges in the education sector in recent years.

Noting that the AAU is a top university and enjoys a high reputation in Ethiopia and Africa, Chen said the university has cultivated a large number of political figures and celebrities and made outstanding contributions to the economic and social development of Ethiopia and Africa.

"We offer China-Ethiopia Friendship Scholarship to outstanding students to encourage them to study hard so that they can contribute more to the economic and social development of Ethiopia and the enduring and profound friendship between China and Ethiopia. They will write a new chapter of the China-Ethiopia all-weather strategic partnership," the ambassador said.

Yitagesu Belete, one of the scholarship recipients, said the scholarship will play an essential role in the academic progress of him and his fellow students. It will also foster cooperation between the two countries by enhancing academic exchanges and research initiatives.

"More broadly, the Ethio-China bilateral partnership is playing a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship among Ethiopia, China and Africa, promoting quality education, sustainable growth, and greater international cooperation," Belete added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
December 11, 2024: Chinese President Xi Jinping hasnt come up with a workable solution for the Chinese militarys serious problems. The main one is corruption, which is pervasive and crippling. This was demonstrated when the defense minister was recently removed and replaced. Its more difficult to deal with the many corrupt generals and admirals. All this corruption weakens the military. Finding enough honest junior officers to be promoted is difficult. This is a critical situation for the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, because Chinese soldiers and officers take an oath to defend the CCP which, in turn, is responsible for doing what must be done to rule the country effectively. After some reforms in the 1980s, the new relationship between the CCP, the military and the economy appeared to work for a few decades until they didnt.

The Chinese military is an enormous collection of four separate services that provide employment for over two million Chinese. The military is officially called the People's Liberation Army or PLA and contains four separate services: the Ground Force, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Rocket Force. Between 2003 and 2005 the PLA reduced its peacetime strength by half a million personnel, from 2.5 million to about 2 million. Most of the reductions were in non-combat ground forces. This made it possible for more money to be spent on naval, air, and strategic missile forces. This was part of the Chinese shift from a large, low-tech, ground force to a military with the capability to operate far from the Chinese mainland, mainly in the South China Sea.

The Ground Force is the largest in terms of manpower, with about 975,000 personnel in twelve group armies sequentially numbered from the 71st Group Army to the 83rd Group Army. These armies are distributed to each of the five theater commands, with each command receiving two to three group armies. In wartime, numerous reserve and paramilitary units can be mobilized to reinforce the group armies. The ground forces reserve component comprises approximately 510,000 personnel divided into thirty infantry and twelve anti-aircraft divisions.

The Navy was, until the 1990s, subordinate to the ground forces. Since the 1990s the navy has undergone rapid modernization. The 300,000 navy personnel are distributed to three fleets, the North Sea Fleet headquartered at Qingdao, on the Yellow Sea between northeastern China and the Korean Peninsula, the East Sea Fleet headquartered at Ningbo, north of Taiwan, and the South Sea Fleet headquartered in Zhanjiangn adjacent to Hainan Island and the South China Sea.

The navy includes a seven-brigade Marine Corps with 25,000 troops. There is also a naval aviation force with 26,000 personnel operating and maintaining several hundred attack helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. For over a decade China has been seeking to create a naval force that can operate on the high seas far from the Chinese coast. China has never had a high seas navy before because it was seen as more important to control coastal waters.

The Air Force has 395,000 personnel organized into five Theater Command Air Forces that share 24 air divisions. As of 2024, a new system has been established, consisting of 11 Air Corps Bases controlling air brigades. Bomber divisions, and a few special mission units remain divisions. Each air division has 2 or 3 aviation regiments. Each regiment has between 20 and 36 aircraft. An Air Brigade has 24 to 50 aircraft.

There is also an air defense component called the Surface to Air Missile or SAM Corps that consists of divisions and brigades. There are also three airborne divisions consisting of air force personnel trained as parachute infantry.

The Rocket Force has 120,000 personnel and operates nuclear and conventionally armed strategic missiles. China is believed to have between 300 and 500 nuclear warheads. The Rocket Force maintains seven bases. Six are assigned to the six theater commands while the seventh stores and maintains the nuclear warheads.

While all this sounds impressive, corruption in government, military and economy are still an issue, as has been the case for thousands of years. Corruption was reduced for about a decade after the communists took control in 1949. During that period the corruption revived and returned stronger than ever. The corruption in the military is so debilitating that Chinese leaders believe China cannot regain control of Taiwan using its current military. This became evident when President Xi recently inspected the rocket forces established to regain Taiwan and found most of the missiles were inoperable because of corruption within the procurement bureaucracy.

Assuming the corruption can be made to disappear, it would still take several years before a Taiwan attack could be attempted. Additional forces and weapons must be created without yet another reform effort being crippled by corruption. That sounds unlikely, but President Xi knows what he is up against and declares that he can make it happen. Chinese and Western historians point out that Chinese military incompetence and military corruption have been the standard for thousands of years. The corruption only abates if China is invaded.

It requires a major political effort to turn the corruption problem around and such efforts are often unachievable. Most wealthy Chinese know this and many have, at great expense, obtained foreign passports and moved some of their assets overseas as a form of insurance against another government collapse and possible civil war. Thats the way China has worked, and malfunctioned, for thousands of years. The CCP is seen as just another dynasty that prospered for a while and then failed. Chinese leaders pay attention to the thousands of years of Chinese history and cycles that continue to repeat.

While the Chinese military is of questionable value, the same cannot be said about Norinco/North Industries Group Corporation. This is one of the largest arms manufacturers and exporters in the world, with annual sales of over $80 billion. Norinco specializes in land-based systems for the Chinese military as well as a growing list of export customers. While some high-tech components are reserved for Chinese military versions, export customers can get anything else and even receive equipment modified so that specific non-Chinese components can be installed. Norinco will do just about anything to get a sale. Norinco doesnt sell much to Western countries, except for commercial grade hunting and police weapons and accessories. In this market Norinco quality is competitive and their prices even more so. All this has enabled Norinco to become one of the top ten arms manufacturers in the world and the first Chinese firm to join a list long dominated by American and Western multinational firms.

Norinco is often the supplier of high-tech weapons to nations that are first-time users of these systems. Such was the case with Nigeria, which purchased some Norinco VT4 tanks. This is a popular export item based on the Russian T-72 design and a very capable system costing about $5 million per vehicle. In 2022 Norinco received user dissatisfaction reports about VT4 tanks sold to Nigeria. The Nigerian tank crews reported that in combat it took them 30 minutes to load and fire a 125mm shell. The problem turned out to be lack of training and poor maintenance. These two items have long been a problem for complex exports like tanks, artillery and warplanes. Some VT4 users reported problems that did not involve poor maintenance or poorly trained crews. China said it would take care of any problems, even training and maintenance. The recent discovery of a major design flaw in all T-72 type tanks was another matter.

Norinco export tanks are often less capable and cheaper versions of the ones China builds for its own forces. In some cases, the export models lack new features China considers secret and not for export. In most cases export models simply get less advanced and cheaper tech. Such was the case with the VT4 series of tanks. These are exported and not used by Chinese forces. The Chinese army uses the 54-ton Type 99, a superior T-72 variant that entered service in 2001, underwent a major upgrade to the 58-ton Type 99A in 2011 and is still in production. Over 1,200 Type 99As are in service so far.

The Chinese have over 6,000 tanks, with 2,500 of them modern designs. The rest of them are based on the Russian T-54/55. China developed variations on this 1950s design and built them under license as the Type 59. In addition to the Type 99A there are 1,500 of the earlier Type 96, which began as the Type 88 as China began to develop and build variations of the Russian T-72. The Type 96 and 99A are, like most current Russian tanks, further upgrades of the successful T-72 design. By adding better engines and other mechanical and electronic components, improved armored protection and improved 125mm main guns, the Chinese have managed to create a force of modern tanks superior to what the Russians have. China now has more modern tanks in service than Russia, which has had to put a lot of its most modern tanks in storage because it cannot afford to maintain and operate them.

Unknown to the Chinese was the fact that T-72-type tanks have a fatal flaw which was only discovered during combat with a foe equipped with Western anti-tank weapons. This was the case recently in Ukraine. The fatal design flaw was due to the use of an autoloader for the 125mm gun. This led to the total destruction of Russian tanks hit by a top-attack ATGM/Anti-Tank-Guided Missile. None of the Russian ATGMs used top-attack because of the additional cost and the fact that Western tanks did not use autoloaders. Western tanks were not automatically destroyed by top-attack ATGMs and were often equipped with features that defeated top-attack.

Most Chinese tanks use an autoloader. Only the older T-54/55 clones dont. The fix for this is a new turret that includes the design features found in Western tanks and require an additional crew member to load the shells. A new turret would store the 125mm ammunition in an armored area behind the main gun. That storage area would have blow-out panels. This means that if the ammo storage area is penetrated by a shell or top attack ATGM, the crew would survive because the force of the explosion would be outwards, away from the crew because the armor between the storage area and the crew is much sturdier than the roof-mounted ammo storage top panels. The new turrets would cost more but how much more depended on whether the autoloader was retained or the turret had the more conventional and safer manual loader and four man crew. Most Western tanks retained the four-man crew and installed more safety features in the turrets and their tanks in general. One of the few exceptions is the French Le Clerc, which uses an autoloader that is less vulnerable to the top-attack vulnerability.

China has always tried to keep the price of its tanks cheap, for its own troops as well as export customers. China would have built more Type 99As were the tank not so expensive at $3 to 4 million each. That is why so many of the cheaper $2 million 43-ton Type 96 tanks remain in service. In addition to being cheaper, the Type 99A and the Type 96 are considered adequate for most potential battlefield opponents. Western tanks tend to cost about $7 million each and continue to defeat T-72 type tanks regularly.

The top-attack problem was a surprise to the Russians and turned out to be a fatal and largely unknown flaw in Russian tank designs. It presented a major problem to most users of T-72 -type tanks. There are many variants of the T-72 design and what makes them different is the quality of the components used. The T-72 was the most successful Russian post-World War II tank design and the basic model was, in theory, pretty solid and reliable. The T-72 also proved to be a good platform for variants that added new or more armor along with better electronics and improved engines. This resulted in some impressive tank models. The most outstanding of these has been the Russian 46-ton T-72B3. As proof, consider that most of the new tanks the Russian army has received since 2000 have been refurbished and much upgraded T-72B3s. At the end of 2021 the Russian Army had about 2,600 tanks in service and 65 percent were the T-72B3s, which you hear little about.

The best Chinese T-72 mod is the Type 99A, which is 25 percent heavier than the T-72B3 and even more expensive to build. Thats because the Type 99A has better armor protection and electronics. The Chinese can afford this while the Russians cannot. Chinese manufacturing capabilities are superior to what the Russians had when the Cold War ended and this makes a big difference for tank design and production. India and Pakistan have not been able to match Russian or Chinese production standards or development capabilities, which is largely due to corruption and government regulations that make it difficult to innovate and excel. Most of the best Indian and Pakistani design and production talent moves to the West. A glance at the design and development stars in the West, especially the United States, shows a lot of these South Asians playing leading roles. China managed to keep more of this talent at home and even attract some that had settled in the West to return. In the end high-tech, like everything else, is about the people creating it. Because of this Norinco can modify a VT4 to eliminate the autoloader and add a Western style 12omm smooth-bore tank gun in a VT4. Brazil asked for this and Norinco said they could do it.
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by Austin Bay December 11, 2024

In late summer 2012, Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab denounced his boss, dictator Bashar al-Assad, and fled to Jordan. Hijab also pledged allegiance to what diplomats called "the anti-Assad rebellion," a jumble of ethnic, religious and political groups that actually reflected the fragmented Levantine demographics that breed friction when Syria supposedly experiences peace.

When asked by Washington media to evaluate the significance of Hijab's defection, an Obama administration State Department spokesman declared the defections of Hijab and other former Assad loyalists indicated "that the (Assad) regime is crumbling."

The Obama State Department missed that call by 12 years. Now lame-duck President Joe Biden says his administration is trying to manage "risk and uncertainty." He pledged -- and I quote this from the White House transcript -- to support Syria's neighbors "including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel -- should any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition."

Consult the map. Missing from Biden's list of neighbors is Syria's largest neighbor -- NATO member Turkey.

Perhaps Biden's memory is dim. Turkey, however, matters in so many ways.

Here's one from the Obama era: Syria almost became a NATO war. In June 2012, following Syria's downing of a Turkish Air Force reconnaissance jet, Turkey called for a NATO treaty Article 4 consultation.

Article 4 says NATO allies will "consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security" of an ally is threatened. In this case, it demonstrated Turkey believed Syria's complex security threat at its southern border required alliance action. Those threats: Syrian military attacks and terrorist attacks from Syrian territory.

After one incident where Assad's soldiers fired across Turkey's border, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considered invoking NATO Article 5, which provides for mutual defense when a NATO nation is attacked.

In 2011 and 2012, Turkey very publicly mulled military action to establish a buffer zone inside Syrian territory with the goals of containing Syria's civil war chaos and protecting Syrian refugees (Syrian citizens) entering Turkish safe havens. At the time I argued that establishing the buffer zone, with the blessing of NATO allies, had another implicit goal: toppling Assad's Alawite dictatorship.

The number of Syrian refugees in Turkey or protected by Turkish forces eventually reached 3.5 million. That's a burden.

In 2019, Turkey established a temporary North Syria Safe Zone (also called the Peace Corridor). Then it became semi-temporary.

Syria, like its Levant neighbor, Lebanon, is an ethnic and religious mosaic, the demographic legacy of shattered empires, tribes and fractious religious faiths. Over the centuries, heretical sects and obstinate clans in its rugged mountains and desert valleys have successfully resisted first elimination, then assimilation.

The Syrian and Lebanese mosaics even survived Ottoman Turk imperialism -- what Balkanites under Ottoman control called "the Yoke." Ottoman depredations against Levantine Arabs (Muslim, Christian and Druze) are well documented.

Also documented: brutal internecine conflicts among Lebanese and Syrian ethnic and religious factions -- from the 8th century B.C. to 2024.

The factions spill across current borders, which date from the Ottomans' post-WWI collapse (with a few later 20th-century rearrangements). For example, Turkey sees Syrian Kurds as allies of the Kurdistan Workers Party -- a terror organization originally backed by the Soviet Union.

Turkish and U.S. forces team up to destroy remnant Islamic State terrorists operating in Syria. Alas, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army has battled the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces -- Syrian Kurds Turkey calls terrorists.

Within the last two weeks, a rebel army led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel faction overran Syria's major cities, seized Damascus and toppled the Assad regime. At one time HTS allied with al-Qaeda. BBC and Reuters report HTS' leader has ties to ISIS but claims he's changed. News services have reported that just as HTS began its offensive, Turkey's SNA hit SDF positions.

A sign of coordination with Turkey? I'll say yes.

Turkey doesn't want to rule Syria. However, Ankara doesn't want a terrorist state of any stripe on its border. Obama and Biden just talked. With Russia out and Iran weakened, Turkey has the regional military power to end the chaos. What about Trump Administration 2? We will see.
December 11, 2024: A recent surge in gang violence has led international aid organizations to get their personnel out of the country as soon as possible. Aggressive criminal gangs have long been a problem but now the gangs are larger and cooperating with each other to take control of the government. Currently the gangs control most of the capital Port-au-Prince. The fighting has caused over 40,000 civilians to flee their homes and join the thousands who were displaced by earlier violence. The gangs engage in rape, robbery and kidnapping for ransom. The increase in kidnappings in the last year has led to many foreign aid groups withdrawing non-Haitian personnel. That leaves the aid operations run by Haitians, who are also subject to kidnappings, robberies and rapes. There was another outbreak of cholera earlier this year. This outbreak was dealt with by foreign aid groups and Haitian medical personnel. Treatment was difficult and often impossible in the capital because of the growing gang violence.

The UN tried to maintain a force of peacekeepers in Haiti starting in 2004 but the effort failed and the last peacekeepers were gone by 2019. For the last five years the violence in Haiti has been growing. The local police and military have been unable to halt it and many soldiers and policemen join the criminal gangs.

While peacekeepers were active, they were frustrated at the growing gang violence. At one point peacekeepers decided to try the gangbusters approach. So for two months, the peacekeeping troops went after the gangs, in particular the gang leaders. The gangsters responded by finding new hideouts. But the most damaging response by the criminals was to find journalists and tell the reporters what they wanted to hear. Since the gangsters operate out of the densely populated slums of the capital, peacekeeper visits are accompanied by a great deal of gunfire, and dead civilians. The gangsters told the reporters that the UN was deliberately aiming at civilians, in an attempt to terrorize the civilians who supported the criminals. The gangsters believe they are freedom fighters against the foreign occupiers. The gangs thoughtfully produced some dead women and children for the reporters to examine. One question reporters were reluctant to get answers for was, who actually killed the civilians? Rumors were already in the air that the dead civilians were conveniently shot by gangsters, providing the media with some compelling images for the evening news back home. Currently there are no peacekeepers, police or soldiers and the gangs do what they want, often fighting each other over particularly valuable items of loot.

Currently the criminal gangs have become less political, and more just criminals and mercenary. Former president Aristide, forced out of office in 2004, because of his use of gangs as political enforcers, went into exile, and $100 million is missing from the government treasury. The gangs make economic growth impossible and play a major role in keeping everyone poor. It's believed that at least 20,000 police are needed to regain control of the streets from the gangs, but no government was able to assemble that large a force of police, soldiers or peacekeepers. Even if such a force were created, the gangs would be difficult to defeat. When under pressure, the gangs tend to disperse into the countryside but keep in touch with each other. When the pressure dissipates, the gangs regroup and resume their business of mayhem, robbery, rape kidnapping and general anarchy.

The biggest problem in Haiti is that no one has any new ideas that seem likely to break the cycle of corruption, poor government and poverty that has cursed the country since its founding more than 200 years ago. The growing gang violence is largely a result of the government strategy of initially trying to negotiate with the gangs. Warlords and private armies are an old Haitian tradition. Your armed followers were the core of your political and economic strength. Many Haitians feel comfortable aligning themselves with a gang and dying in defense of their fellow gangsters. The government doesn't want to take on the gangs with force, if only because the gangs have more firepower.

Even with the UN peacekeepers, the gangs, as a whole, still had an edge. Although the gangs are divided by politics, business interests, and personal animosities, they will form a loose coalition to oppose any government attempt to put all gangs out of business. But the UN was determined to give it a try, go after the gangs, and break their power. The UN was trying to beat two centuries of Haitian history and tradition. Can the gangs really be reduced to impotence? The UN tried and failed. The UN was mostly concerned about the more blatant crimes, like the thousands of kidnappings a year, and the groups of young men roaming the city looking for people-of-means to mug.

The real money for the gangs comes from drugs. Some fifteen percent of the cocaine for North Americans goes through Haiti. Of course, much of the profits from that ends up with corrupt government officials. The gangs know they cannot survive a firefight with better armed and trained peacekeepers, but they can wait them out. Eventually the UN got tired of it all and left, leaving the gangs to fight each other, which they are currently doing. There has been no central government since 2021 and even when there was, government control was sporadic and subject to cancellation by vengeful gangsters.
How would Justin Welby react if, still at Lambeth Palace, the Assad toppling created another Syrian refugee crisis?

In 2016 he made a song and dance about taking in a Syrian family after remembering he had a spare four-bed cottage in the grounds of Lambeth Palace.

The arrangement lasted two years before they were uprooted and asked to move on, leading to them leaving the area and the schools the four children were attending.

His mouthpiece said that life at Lambeth wasnt suitable for a refugee family. Welby didnt repeat the experiment and now, as departing Archbishop of Canterbury, he has to find a new home.

How would Justin Welby react if, still at Lambeth Palace, the Assad toppling created another Syrian refugee crisis?

In 2016 he made a song and dance about taking in a Syrian family after remembering he had a spare four-bed cottage in the grounds of Lambeth Palace

Downing Street pretends a peerage for Justin isnt automatic  although it has always been just that.

In 1928 Randall Davidson was elevated just two days after becoming the first ABC to retire.

The last ABC, Rowan Williams, was ennobled a week after stepping down in 2012. Archbishops of York also enjoyed automatic ermine until 2020 when John Sentamu was overlooked.

After a concerted effort, led by Welby, No10 relented and ennobled Sentamu. Will anyone be leading the charge for a Baron Welby?

Keir Starmers latest Gulf jaunt brings his total time in the air to 159 hours and 46 minutes, equivalent to a working month on planes.

Starmer has puffed out 1,173 tonnes of carbon dioxide since the general election.

Keir Starmers latest Gulf jaunt brings his total time in the air to 159 hours and 46 minutes, equivalent to a working month on planes. Here the Prime Minister is pictured at an RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus on December 10

The average UK citizen produces 10 tonnes per year, calculates Guido Fawkes. The PMs jet-setting alone has outdone 117 Brits annual share of polluting in five months. Worthy of the Guinness Book of Records?

Publicising an exhibition of the memorabilia of the late Python Terry Jones, pictured, daughter Sally enthuses on Radio 4s Today: Its things that weve been dredging up from 40 boxes of archive items filling my mums attic.

No mention of Terrys second wife, Swedish belly-dancing enthusiast Anna Soderstrom, 41 years his junior and left his entire estate on his death in 2020.

Sally and brother Bill contested the decision, insisting he had dementia when signing the will in 2016. They settled out of court in 2022.

Particularly unimpressed by the latest Trafalgar Square Christmas tree, donated by Norway for more than 75 years, Andrew Neil snaps: When it comes to Christmas trees, London really needs to up its game.

Particularly unimpressed by the latest Trafalgar Square Christmas tree (pictured), donated by Norway for more than 75 years, Andrew Neil snaps: When it comes to Christmas trees, London really needs to up its game'

He adds: Wed appreciate the gratitude more if Norway sent a more imposing tree, instead of the rather bedraggled ones of recent years.

'And wed respect the gift more if we decorated it properly.

Money wizard Martin Lewis admits being ferociously competitive at Scrabble. I keep a graph of every Scrabble game Ive ever played against my wife Lara  about 1,200 times now, he tells Radio Times.

If I win with a low score where I think Ive played below potential, Im really peed off with myself.

Is there a doctor in the house?
Launching her war on government waste, Rachel Reeves has taken a refreshingly hard line.

The Chancellor vows to pound down an iron fist to curb the profligate spending that seems an addiction to Whitehall.

She will not tolerate taxpayers cash being blown on poor value projects and insists ministries find 5 per cent in savings by 2029.

These are admirable aims, of course, but will any of them happen?

After all, she has already handed an extra 22billion to the NHS without demanding productivity gains.

Its inevitable she will face fierce resistance from the Civil Service.

Given that functioning more efficiently means fewer people on the payroll and less funding, she may as well ask turkeys to vote for Christmas.

And Labour doesnt necessarily see waste as a bad thing.

Most of its MPs relish the idea of expanding the already bloated state, especially as most of the money to pay for it comes from the private sector.

Launching her war on government waste, Rachel Reeves has taken a refreshingly hard line. The Chancellor vows to pound down an iron fist to curb the profligate spending that seems an addiction to Whitehall

What about slashing billions from foreign aid, which sets the benchmark for waste, or turning off the supply of Net Zero cash? Even better, the Chancellor could appoint a British Elon Musk

If Ms Reeves is intent on making savings, there are plenty of places she could start.

What about slashing billions from foreign aid, which sets the benchmark for waste, or turning off the supply of Net Zero cash?

Even better, the Chancellor could appoint a British Elon Musk.

The Tesla entrepreneur, asked by Donald Trump to run a new department of government efficiency, is not tasked with just pruning back the shrubs of the US administrative state so much as clearing most of the forest.

The British state would certainly work better if it was shot of the dead wood, lightweights and plain incompetent.

This paper wishes Ms Reeves well in her mission. But governments since the year dot have pledged to take the axe to departmental waste. Few have succeeded.

Shiners final shame

The pathetic sentence handed to corrupt human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, who led the shameful witch-hunt against British troops whod served in Iraq, speaks volumes about the warped justice system.

The ambulance chaser made a fortune from the taxpayer by making false accusations  ranging from rough treatment to murder  against brave men and women who risked all in defence of their country.

The pathetic sentence handed to corrupt human rights lawyer Phil Shiner (pictured), who led the shameful witch-hunt against British troops whod served in Iraq, speaks volumes about the warped justice system

In the process, he ruined their lives.

Having admitted a multi-million-pound fraud, he ought to be in jail. Yet by suspending the sentence, the court has shown utter contempt for the veterans he hounded.

His comeuppance is a victory for the Mail, which exposed his dishonesty in the face of sneering opposition from the legal and liberal establishments.

Of course, Shiners baleful legacy endures. His harassment of troops (aided by a craven Ministry of Defence) dissuaded many from serving, weakening Britains defences.

It may be small comfort for those whose lives he ruined, but at least this shyster now has the criminal record his actions deserve.

Awash with greed with no apparent thought for the dreadful service provided to its 16million customers, the boss of Thames Water has defended the eye-watering bonuses paid to executives.

We need to attract talent, crows Chris Weston.

Awash with greed with no apparent thought for the dreadful service provided to its 16million customers, the boss of Thames Water has defended the eye-watering bonuses paid to executives. Pictured: Chris Weston

Is he joking?

Look at the utility giants record. Vast amounts of sewage pumped into our rivers.

The worst record for leaks, sewer floods and customer complaints. Yet, incredibly, bills are set to soar by nearly 60 per cent.

It seems the only talent Thames Water possesses is for incompetence, breathtaking effrontery and outrageous greed.
Jewish food is getting a much-awaited hip makeover, from little shelf-stable latkes to instant matzo ball soup.

It all started when the 136-year-old classic Jewish brand Manischewitz debuted a brand new makeover just in time for Passover, complete with a new typeface and funky illustrations.

The legacy brand's orange color palette and younger look was meant to attract millennials, according to The New York Times.

Now, there's a whole slew of brands recreating old school Jewish foods in inventive ways that both appeal to new generations and are cooler than ever. Forget about gefilte fish, it's all about instant soups and snacks you can take on the go.

A few brands that fit the bill include NY Shuk spices, Seed and Mill artisanal halva, Matzo Project and Tals Mediterranean dips.

Chicago-based Sarah Nathan, 37, founded trendy matzo ball soup brand Nooish as a way to make what's widely considered the 'Jewish penicillin' accessible to everyone without hours of cooking.

Instead, it's like instant ramen - simply add water and the spice packet, and diners will have what the brand calls 'the ultimate comfort in a cup.'

Sara told FEMAIL the concept 'came from wanting to create something that felt representative to the larger Jewish community as a whole.'

Forget gefilte fish - Jewish food is getting a much-awaited hip makeover, from little shelf-stable latkes to instant matzo ball soup

The wave started when 136-year-old Jewish brand Manischewitz debuted a makeover just in time for Passover in April, complete with a new typeface and illustrations

Chicago-based Sarah Nathan, 37, founded trendy matzo ball soup brand Nooish as a way to make the broth and dumplings accessible to everyone without hours of cooking

With Nooish, Sara also transformed an 'iconic and beloved product' into something 'that was more accessible and modern'

With Nooish, Sara also transformed an 'iconic and beloved product' into something 'that was more accessible and modern.'

It took Sara, who previously ran programming at the Chobani Incubator, about a year and a half of testing to get the taste right.

Sara, who worked in the industry for about a decade, revealed to FEMAIL there's 'some pretty cool technology' that has allowed her to make fresh, clean soup that tastes homemade without preservatives.

'The branding was probably the hardest thing to get right,' Sara admitted.

'I wanted it to feel welcoming and approachable to anyone who saw it.'

She took inspiration from Jewish art, including comic books and collages from 1950s cookbooks, wanting the aesthetic to feel equal parts fresh and timeless.

'People are so excited to learn about this product and feel represented,' Sara said, adding that it appeals to both Jews and non-Jews 'who have had matzo ball soup and dont know how to make it.'

'Weve shipped to 42 states, and even a naval ship in the middle of the pacific,' Sara revealed. 'People who dont have deli food near them are super excited about the products.'

Another brand that's making Jewish food hip is Little Latke, a gluten-free and vegan product created by Taylor Blue, 29

'So far, it has been mainly the Jewish potato latke lovers, but there have been curious customers too - which I love to see,' Taylor said about the current audience

With the singles event Hot & Shabbat, which recently took place at hip Israeli restaurant Mesiba in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, diners are urged to come solo and leave with friends or dates

Another brand that's making Jewish food hip is Little Latke, a gluten-free and vegan product created by Taylor Blue, 29.

The potato crisps are a shelf-stable snack inspired by the Chanukah favorite.

Usually, making latkes, or potato pancakes, is an extremely time intensive process that requires scrubbing and grating potatoes, or making the mix and frying the batter. Now, it's a snack that's accessible to everyone.

It took Taylor four years to perfectly capture the latkes, after she first thought of the idea in 2020.

She started flash freezing her mom's recipe with heating instructions by the dozen and decided a shelf-stable snack would give the product the crispy edges it needed.

'I wanted the branding to feel inviting, nostalgic, and modern,' Taylor told FEMAIL. 'It was important that the branding felt inclusive for everyone, whether they knew what a potato latke was or not.'

'So far, it has been mainly the Jewish potato latke lovers, but there have been curious customers too - which I love to see,' Taylor, who's originally from Dallas, but currently based in Chicago, said about the audience.

It's not just Jewish foods that are getting makeovers - it's events, too.

With the rotating singles event Hot & Shabbat, which recently took place at hip Israeli restaurant Mesiba in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, diners are urged to come solo and leave with friends or dates.

'Everyone embraced the traditions of community, came with the best intentions, and we had an epic end of week celebration,' an Instagram post read about the sold-out event.

It's all about Jewish food - and traditions - getting a modern twist for the next generation.
A pregnant woman has been praised for her bravery after she revealed her husband had been cheating on her for 'nearly a year'.

Writing on British parenting platform Mumsnet, the expecting mother-of-one sought advice from fellow community members after she discovered her husband of five years was 'sleeping with' his co-worker.

'Last night I received a text from his female coworker telling me that "she's sorry to be that person...But had been sleeping with me for nearly a year, he told me he would leave you",' her heartbreaking post read.

The woman, who is 38 weeks pregnant, explained that the co-worker had reached out to her because 'she feels bad because another co-worker "let slip" that my husband and I are expecting again in a few weeks' time'.

She wondered whether the woman claiming to be her husband's mistress 'could be lying' and explained how he had referred to her as the 'office flirt' in the past.

'What should I do?! I'm scared to speak to my friends and family about this, what if she's lying?!' she asked Mumsnet users for advice on navigating the 'horrible' situation.

Shortly after, the woman's original post was flooded with comments from people who encouraged her to reply to the co-worker and ask her for proof.

The expecting mother-of-one sought advice from Mumsnet users after she discovered her husband of five years was 'sleeping with' his co-worker

A few minutes later, the woman was inundated with 'screenshots including messages from an app I don't recognise, emails, many selfies of them in various places and a few of them...lying down in bed'.

The 'heartbroken' mom-to-be said she planned to have a bag packed and reay for when her husband returned home from work, adding 'the trust is gone and it's over for good'.

In response to what the woman described as an 'overwhelming' amount of support, she shared a follow-up message on the thread, explaining how she confronted her husband without letting him back in their house or having to look at him.

'I had sent him the messages whilst he was outside as I planned, he did read them and sat in the car for a good 10 minutes after opening them,' she said.

'As soon as he got out of the car, my brother took him the back, I didn't want him in the house or to look at his stupid, lying, cheating face.'

She also revealed she had not 'heard a word' from her husband since then, adding 'this actually helps me process it'.

Reacting to the message, several people celebrated the woman's 'strength' and 'dignity' despite her husband's 'awful' betrayal.

'You are a very brave and dignified woman. Your husband has likely made the biggest mistake of his life,' one user wrote, in response to the woman's update.

The woman, who is 38 weeks pregnant, shared two subsequent follow-up messages, including one where she detailed all the proof her husband's mistress sent her

Reacting to the message, several people celebrated the woman's 'strength' and 'dignity' despite her husband's 'awful' betrayal

Another praised the woman as an 'inspiration', writing: 'What a strong, dignified woman you are!

'You are an inspiration to all of us who have been treated badly in a relationship. As painful as it must be, one day you will look back and realise it was a blessing in disguise, that relationship he has with his mistress is doomed.

'You will have beautiful children and he has now lost it all! Stupid man!'

One Mumsnet user, writing in from the US, condemned the woman's husband as a 'cowardly low-life' while praising her for showing 'the courage of your convictions'.

'Bless yourself with as much self-care as possible during these tough days.'

A fourth user suggested safeguarding herself during any legal proceedings by transferring 50 per cent 'of your savings account ASAP' and taking a 'screenshot of any loans, mortgage docs, credit cards, car payments, direct debits with your name on them'.

They continued: 'You want to get him while he is still feeling ashamed and embarrassed - before he gets bitter. There is a pattern to how he will behave. The sooner he signs, the better it will be for you.'

Several people also praised the woman's 'supportive' brother and sister-in-law, who stepped up to be the woman's 'birthing partnert'.

One such message read: 'I'm so glad you have amazing moral support. You will get passed [sic] this, you're a warrior.

'Take things are (sic) your pace.'
Kirsty Young says she holds no grudge against her estranged birth father, who abandoned her when she was just a few weeks' old, saying 'there's no scores to be settled'.

In a candid admission, the 56-year-old former Desert Island Discs host told Elizabeth Day's podcast How to Fail that one of her biggest failures was 'failing in exciting the interest of my birth father enough for him to stick around beyond a few weeks.'

Young says she grew up 'very deeply cared for and deeply loved' by her mother, and was 'cared for very well by my stepdad'.

However, she added that that there was a point of realisation that her birth father, who she has met just once 'briefly' as a teenager, had 'rejected' her.

The broadcaster, who has two grown-up children with ex Soho House CEO Nick Jones, told the series: 'Essentially, I mean it's very uncomfortable to use the word rejection, but of course that's what it is.'

She explained: 'My mother was in an extremely difficult marriage where she was treated very, very poorly and ended up on her own with two children because she couldn't put up with my biological father's behaviour and he didn't appear to want to be engaged in his two tiny children's lives. I'm going to leave it at that.'

Day asked the TV presenter, who returned to broadcasting after four years out with chronic pain condition fibromyalgia to host the late Queen's funeral in 2022, if she had forgiven her father.

The BBC star, originally from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, said: 'I don't know him and I don't know his story because I don't have a relationship with him.

The BBC broadcaster, 56, told How to Fail with Elizabeth Day that she had met her biological father just once 'briefly' at 16

Young was speaking to Elizabeth Day on the latest episode of How to Fail: She told the podcaster that she has contemplated if her career choice had been influenced by her biological father's rejection of her

'It's not something I harbour or feel that there's a score to be settled. It's just what happened.'

Young added that her father's absence had perhaps influenced her career choice, saying: 'I chose something that was in front of the camera or on mic. And why did I choose that?

'Partly because that's where my capabilities lay, but also I think because I like people to like me. Do you like me? Do you like me now? Am I nice? Is this good enough? It doesn't feel like that. That's not the thing at the front of one's head. It surely is in the mix.'

The broadcaster, who presents her own podcast, Young Again, for the BBC, also revealed how she wishes she hadn't been so nice when author Malcom Gladwell recently tried to change one of her questions on the series.

Young's first question to the Canadian author and journalist, who wrote the bestseller Outliers, was reworked on air by Gladwell.

In the awkward exchange, he told her 'A good question is...' and began changing the question she'd originally asked on regrets.

Too nice? Young reflected on an awkward encounter with author Malcolm Gladwell, in which he reworked the question she'd asked him

Young replied: 'Are you telling me I've asked a bad question?'

Speaking to Day after reflecting on the exchange, she said she wouldn't have responded in the same way, saying: 'I actually spent quite a lot of time afterwards thinking about that and I think I was too nice. I think I was the good girl.

'And it annoyed me that on mic I didn't say to him, I'll tell you what, when you're interviewing me, you can come up with the questions.

'But as long as I'm interviewing you, this is my job. I should have said that. I didn't say that. I was too polite. I was too nice.'

The 55-year-old former Desert Island Discs host left her Radio 4 show in 2018 as she underwent treatment for the syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

On How to Fail, released today, she said the condition is now on an 'even keel'.

She said: 'It has at times been very difficult and painful and excruciating and frustrating and all those things and right now I'm pretty good.

'I mean, it has little flares and I have to be mindful of that's the sort of pain stuff, but I do things that are important to keep me on an even keel.

She told Radio 4s Today programme in the summer that with fibromyalgia your pain centre is overinterpreting things that would happen normally in your body, and also explained symptoms also include brain fog and chronic fatigue.

She added: I have at my worst felt as though someone has drugged my cup of tea, almost sort of swaying with fatigue, and (I feel like) just having to just opt out of doing anything because the fatigue is almost like cement in your body.

Young recalled that she spent a long time in pain, which started in her elbow joints, before being diagnosed.

Young also told the podcast that her fibromyalgia, which was initially dismissed by doctors and ended up sparking a four-year break from broadcasting, is currently on an 'even keel'

I wasnt managing, she added. I had it for probably about a year to a year and a half, increasing, it increased over time and the migraines became more, the pain became more, the fatigue became more, so it kind of increased over time before I successfully managed (to get medical advice).

Young said that when she asked a medical professional about it being fibromyalgia, she memorably dismissed her concerns.

She added: I said Ive read about this thing called fibromyalgia, could it be fibromyalgia? They actually did snort... She snorted... I said Is that not a thing?.

She said Thats not a thing, thats where we put people when they dont have something, just to say theyve got something.

I now, of course, realise the depths of that particular medics ignorance on the subject.

Young says when she was finally diagnosed, she no longer felt like a crazy lady, and could explain how she was feeling, and also recalled difficulties managing her pain.

I think I coped chaotically and badly, she said. Young said she was quite horrible to be married to, and prioritised work and her children over the rest of her life as she could not manage with anything else.
If you're looking for a dress to wear to your Christmas soiree or just as an everyday summer fit, the $25 piece from Kmart might be just what you're after.

Aussie shoppers are obsessing over a stunning red strapless dress, with many saying it's an affordable alternative to popular brands that cost upwards of $200.

The sell-out midi-length dress, available sizes six to 20, has been flying off the shelves as it's a 'summer must-have' for any wardrobe.

The 'gorgeous' frock has a straight neckline, a bodice feature and double pockets and comes in two different colours - strawberry and black.

Fashion blogger, known as Kmart Insider on Instagram, raved about the stylish dress, pointing out it's similar to $199.95 maxi dress from Seed Heritage.

'Let's celebrate because this festive Kmart dress is just $25,' she said.

Many bargain hunters were amazed with the huge price difference while others have been 'absolutely loving' their new dress.

'Wore mine today and got so many compliments,' one shopper said.

Aussie shoppers are obsessing over a $25 stunning red strapless dress from Kmart, with many saying it's an affordable alternative to popular brands such as Seed that cost up to $200

Sell-out $54 Archer strapless maxi dress from Petal & Pup (left) and a $99.99 Sunny Drop Waist Midi Dress from Atmos&Here (right)

'Love this dress - wearing on repeat,' another revealed.

'Love it. Such a classic look,' one shared.

'It's the perfect Christmas Day dress,' another added.

However, some shoppers have reported that the dress is sold out at their local stores, with many racing to track one down.

For those trying to get their hands on a red dress for Christmas, you'll be delighted to know there are similar versions from other brands - including a sell-out $54 Archer strapless maxi dress from Petal & Pup and a $99.99 Sunny Drop Waist Midi Dress from Atmos&Here.

Earlier this month, Kmart shoppers found the perfect everyday summer dress at Kmart for just $30 - and it's a 'dupe' of a popular fashion brand that costs more than $100.

Earlier this month shoppers found the perfect everyday summer dress at Kmart for just $30 (left) - and it's a 'dupe' of a sell-out dress from Petal and Pup (right) that costs more than $100

The sleeveless A-line midi dress with red stripes, featuring a square neckline, adjustable shoulder straps and shirred back detail, easily transitions from casual to dressed-up, making it simple to throw on and go.

The fashion blogger behind Kmart Insider spotted the stylish, purse-friendly piece and pointed out a key feature she knows every woman will appreciate.

'Get in my wardrobe NOW,' she said.

'The Kmart version is not only more affordable but it also has two side pockets.'

She compared the style to Petal & Pup's sell-out Brea Maxi Dress, which retails for $105.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands oozed glamour as she and her husband King Willem-Alexander welcomed the Portuguese President for a state banquet on Tuesday evening.

The royal, 53, struck a glamorous chord in the scarlet dress - adorned with golden and black detailing - as they welcomed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to the royal palace in Amsterdam.

The politician, 75, is currently there for a two-day state visit, and was tonight treated to a lavish dinner.

Princess Amalia, 21, joined her parents for the glitzy occasion, in a stunning violet gown.

Maxima, who teamed her stunning ensemble with a shawl, beamed as she and her husband were pictured toasting Mr de Sousa at the table.

The mother-of-three accessorised her frock with a striking tiara and opulent jewellery, including a chunky necklace, earrings, and rings.

Her blonde tresses were carefully pulled back into a very regal and sophisticated up-do.

Elsewhere, her husband Willem-Alexander, 57, donned his royal regalia and medals along with a simply elegant black tuxedo.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands oozed glamour as she and her husband King Willem-Alexander welcomed the Portuguese President for a state banquet on Tuesday evening

The royal, 53, struck a glamorous chord in the scarlet dress - adorned with golden and black detailing - as they welcomed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to the royal palace in Amsterdam

The politician, 75, is currently there for a two-day state visit, and was tonight treated to a lavish dinner

He could be seen barely holding back his laughter as he shook hands with Mr de Sousa after making a speech at the banquet.

'Mr President, Bem-vindo! Welcome!,' he said. 'Seven years after our state visit to Portugal, the Queen and I are finally able to welcome you to the Netherlands.

'We are pleased and honoured to have you here with us. And in December no less: not exactly the most pleasant month for a trip so far north 

'But your home country is closer than it might seem. You may not have noticed, but you walked over a piece of Portugal today as you entered the Royal Palace. The cobblestones on Dam Square, just outside, come from a quarry near Porto.

'They say there are two-and-a-half million of them  though I admit I havent actually counted them myself.'

He continued: 'Over the past 50 years your country has achieved an astounding rate of development.

'What strikes me is how true you have remained to your cultural heritage, even as you have moved forward.'

The royal couple were also joined by their daughter Amalia, who was effortlessly elegant in a glittering purple frock.

Maxima, who teamed her stunning ensemble with a shawl, beamed as she and her husband were pictured toasting Mr de Sousa at the table

The mother-of-three accessorised her frock with a striking tiara and opulent jewellery, including a chunky necklace, earrings, and rings

Queen Maxima's blonde tresses were carefully pulled back into a very regal and sophisticated up-do

The royal couple were also joined by their daughter Amalia, who was effortlessly elegant in a glittering purple frock

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also shared a few words during the state banquet on Tuesday

He is in the Netherlands for a two-day state visit, and was tonight welcomed with a state banquet

The ensemble accentuated her silhouette and featured a draped shoulder cape.

Channelling her mother, the Princess pinned her blonde hair back, but kept a few face-framing tendrils out.

She kept her make-up simple and glamorous, and wore a delicate tiara for the occasion.

Guests at the tables appeared to be in great spirits as they enjoyed the glitzy occasion.

Earlier this week, Maxima appeared solemn as she visited the wreckage of an apartment building that exploded in The Hague on Saturday.

The royal was joined by her husband on Monday as she visited the scene of a tragic explosion in an apartment building that left at least six people dead over the weekend.

Maxima seemed sombre as she surveyed the rubble alongside her husband and a group of firefighter and other officials.

The mother-of-three arrived in a camel coloured trench coat with a warm beige scarf wrapped snuggly beneath.

Princess Amalia, 21, (pictured far right) joined her parents for the glitzy occasion, in a stunning violet gown. Left to right: Queen Maxima, Mr de Sousa, King Willem-Alexander and Amalia

King Willem-Alexander, 57, donned his royal regalia and medals along with a simply elegant black tuxedo

Channelling her mother, the Princess pinned her blonde hair back, but kept a few face-framing tendrils out

Princess Amalia kept her make-up simple and glamorous, and wore a delicate tiara for the occasion

Guests at the tables appeared to be in great spirits as they enjoyed the glitzy occasion on Tuesday

She wore a simple pair of jeans, trading her usual high heels for white trainers to visit the rubble remaining from the disaster.

The wore her hair neatly brushed down at her sides and sported a typically smart and polished makeup look for the visit.

The queen looked soberly towards King-Willem-Alexander as he spoke to press during their visit.

NL Times reported that the king described being 'in complete shock' following the tragedy.

'It is beyond imagination. You follow what is happening minute by minute, but when you see the site, the impact of the explosion on those buildings, all those people there, I am shaking as I think of it,' he said.

The Dutch royals also told media outlets: 'Our thoughts are with those affected.'

The pair were briefed by the police and firefighters before going on to speak with surviving residents and loved ones of victims.

Fundraising action across the city in hopes of support the victims, had already gathered 340,000 as of Monday morning.

As of Monday morning, six people have been found killed following the explosion that left half of the building collapsed.

The explosion at the block of flats left a path of destruction after firefighters were called to the blaze on Saturday at 6.15am local time (5.15am GMT).

Plumes of smoke could be seen from the three-storey building in the Hague on Saturday morning as firefighters battled the blaze.

As of Sunday, 10 people had been rescued from the rubble, four of which were taken to hospital while another was being seen to by paramedics on the scene before being taken to shelter.

It's not currently known how many are left amongst the buildings remains though it's thought that up to 20 people had been present at the time. Sniffer dogs are currently being employed to search for the remaining residents.

It's not clear how the explosion happened, however Dutch Police have said a car sped away from the scene at the time of the blast.

Elite search and rescue teams, specialised in searching for victims in natural disasters and earthquakes have been sent to the scene and a large excavator has been installed at the site to help clear the debris.

Dutch Media have also reported that five flats were destroyed by the explosion.
Liz Hatton's mother said meeting with Kate and William changed the rest of her daughter's life.

The talented photographer passed away aged 17 at her home in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, less than a year after being diagnosed with an incurable desmoplastic small round cell tumour.

Liz touched the hearts of the nation after meeting Kate and William in October where she even hugged the princess, who had recently been on a cancer journey herself.

Vicky Robayna appeared on Good Morning Britain today alongside her son, Mateo, and spoke to Suzanna Reid and Richard Madeley about how the impact of the interaction with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

'I don't think it is any lie to say that that meeting changed the rest of her life. The last two months of her life were the best,' Vicky said.

'She lived the most incredible experiences and we created the most incredible memories with her because the world suddenly knew about her and wanted to offer her those opportunities and saw what an incredible photographer she was.

Liz's younger brother, Mateo, said that before meeting the future king and queen, the family were just 'normal people'.

He said: 'When we got told we were going to Windsor Castle, we were told Liz was just going to take photos there.

Vicky Robayna appeared on Good Morning Britain today alongside her son, Mateo, and spoke to Suzanna Reid and Richard Madeley about how the impact of the interaction with the Prince and Princess of Wales

The talented photographer passed away aged 17 at her home in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, less than a year after being diagnosed with an incurable desmoplastic small round cell tumour

'We never thought we would meet the Prince and Princess or even have a tour. We just thought we were going to wait in a room and wait for Liz to stop taking photos.'

He was then asked what Kate and William were like and he described them as 'so kind, warm and welcoming.'

Mateo added: 'Barely anybody gets to meet them and that's why we are so surprised we got to meet them. Before then we were just like normal people.'

He described his big sister as 'outstanding' and said she was 'out of this world'.

Liz's family had to alter their Christmas plans after her health took a turn for the worse and celebrated the festive day earlier than expected.

Vicky gave an insight into how the family is coping since her daughter's death two weeks ago and said: 'It's hard to sit and crumble on the floor when that's absolutely what she wouldn't have done.

'There are moments when we do and we'd sit there and cry and cry and then one of us would say "Come on, she'd be furious at you for doing this!"

Speaking about her powerful photographs, Vicky said: 'When you look at her photos and people say they are incredible, if you look at the story behind them there were days she was so sick she could barely news, there were days she was on new meds and could barely open her eyes, there were days when she got dreadful news but she got up and did it because that's what mattered to her.'

Liz touched the hearts of the nation after meeting Kate and William in October where she even hugged the princess, who had recently been on a cancer journey herself

The meeting came about - her mother Vicky explained - after someone working for the London Air Ambulance charity, of which Prince William is patron, spotted a social media post she had put up on behalf of her daughter earlier this year asking for help in completing her 'bucket list'

Vicky said that Liz's instructions to her family were to not be sad about her death.

Mateo read out her list and said: 'Please eat cake, enjoy a pack of discos, try some sweets and enjoy as many memories as you can with those around you.'

Vicky said that her daughter had always wanted to become a photographer but she wanted to get a law degree from Oxbridge as a 'back up plan'.

Liz donated her body to medical students at Glasgow University in her final selfless act and said her dying wish and mission to raise 100,000 for vital medical research.

Vicky explained that she wanted to give her organs away but because of the tumours, it was not possible.

But after speaking to some medical professionals, she was able to give her body away to be studied by students for three years, so they can better understand the disease.

Earlier this month, the family have started a Just Giving page saying they are making it their mission to raise money to fund research into desmoplastic small round cell tumour in Liz's memory.

Vicky shared a snap of Liz with her beloved younger brother Mateo, and wrote: 'Today whilst most people across the world indulged in Black Friday sales - Liz started a new journey.

'Her body arrived at Glasgow University where she will spend three years, giving medical students the best opportunity to know more about her disease.'

Vicky revealed her daughter was passionate about donating her body and she wanted to support others with Desmoplastic Round Cell Tumour.

The mother added: 'She ate and drank even when feeling extremely sick to make sure she met the criteria to go. Liz wasnt scared of dying but she was scared of leaving us - and especially Mateo - behind.

'In her death she was determined to do everything she could to ensure other siblings get to stay together. We are determined to help her to do this and are on a mission to raise as many funds as we can to fund vital research and support for others with Desmoplastic Round Cell Tumour.

Liz and Vicky previously went on Good Morning Britain to speak about meeting the royals

'If you can please donate to help us stop other young people dying too soon. If everyone who sees the post donates just 1 we could make such a difference.

'Ideas for fundraising activities and offers of help also very welcome. We will make the difference Liz wants us to make, even if it takes a lifetime.

'If you cant donate please help us by liking, sharing or commenting on this post in the hope that others will see it. Together we can make a difference.'

Liz compiled an inspirational 'bucket list' of assignments to complete in the last months of her life, which reached the ears of the future king and queen.

She was invited by them to Windsor Castle to photograph an investiture William was holding and, to her surprise, asked to have tea with the couple afterwards.

Catherine, who has gone through her own cancer journey this year, was pictured giving Liz an emotional hug, although the pair pointedly did not discuss their respective experiences but focused on their shared love of photography.

As a result of their meeting, however, the brave teenager - who always said she did not want to be defined by her illness - was inundated with offers of support and was able to complete almost all of her bucket list, including a London film premiere, and more.
READ MORE: How teenage boys are being forced out of reading with new books targeted at girls

Gen Z, it turns out, are addicted to reading - but the books they've become obsessed with are far from tame.

Beloved on TikTok, the 'Romantasy' genre - a blend of romantic and fantasy fiction - has taken the world by storm, with its fans being mainly young middle-class women.

The books feature faeries, mythical kingdoms and dragons - and, most importantly, very detailed sex scenes - to the extent that the genre has been dubbed 'fairy porn'.

Indeed, Spotify's top audiobook for 2024 was A Court Of Thorns And Roses (ACOTAR) by American author Sarah J Maas, who is widely considered to have spearheaded the popularity of the romantasy genre.

Romantasy was first posted on Urban Dictionary in 2008, but it's thanks to TikTok, and Maas - whose books have sold 37 million copies - that it's really taken off.

ACOTAR features a protagonist called Feyre and her love interest High Lord faerie Tamlin. Even more dastardly and alluring is the lord of the Night Court - Rhysand, the epitome of tall dark and handsome, with spades of sex appeal.

Also popular is Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing, described as 'The Hunger Games meets 50 Shades Of Grey' - again featuring morally grey love interest Xaden Riorson.

Love Island star Chloe Burrows has enthusiastically recommended the ACOTAR series, telling her TikTok followers that she's 'in love' with the hero Rhys and felt 'depressed' she only had one book left.

The 'Romantasy' genre has taken over TikTok - and its spicy scenes have readers 'obsessed'. Pictured: TikToker Corrie recommends Fourth Wing

Holding up A Court Of Frost And Starlight, she said: 'Guys this is my application to BookTok. I've just finished this, and I'm depressed because now I only have one book left. I honestly can't imagine life where I'm not thinking about ACOTAR. I am obsessed.

'Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of a conversation thinking about it, I think about it all day long. I think it's because I'm in love, I'm in love with Rhys.

'I want to read it again and I didn't even do that in English and I did it for A-level.'

The TikTok hashtag for ACOTAR alone has been viewed over 14 billion times, with the appeal put down to the high levels of 'spice' and 'smut'.

One tamer sentence from A Court Of Mist And Fury reads: 'His mouth found mine, the kiss open and deep, a clash of tongues and teeth. He lay me down on the pillows, and I locked my legs around his back, careful of the wings.

And later: 'With one long claw, he shredded through silk and lace, and my undergarment fell away in pieces.'

In Fourth Wing, the main character Violet has the power to wield lightning, and does so during intense moments of intimate activity.

On TikTok, Grace's Book Nook said: 'There are two kinds of people in this world. There are people who have read ACOTAR and there are absolute f***ing wrong-uns!

Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing is described as 'The Hunger Games meets 50 Shades Of Grey'. Pictured: Angelina Frerk

Alicia Whatmore from Manchester added that she 'didn't know what to do with herself' after finishing the ACOTAR series

'Listen, there is only one way to live your life, and that is on the Sarah J Maas train. Choo choo, all aboard.

'These books will change your life and you're going to want to buy all of them.'

And Corrie, who runs TikTok account @booksinmy30s said of Fourth Wing: 'There are two books in the series so far so it didn't feel very daunting. These are so good, these got me out of my ACOTAR hangover.

'The story is really good, it's set in a war college where they're training to be dragon riders. We have dragons in these books!

'I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the dragons, but by the end of this book I was wondering why the hell my career path hadn't ended up with me being a dragon rider. It was all I really wanted to do. I promise you'll really like these, we've got romance.'

Alicia Whatmore from Manchester added that she 'didn't know what to do with herself' after finishing the ACOTAR series.

Romantasy, however, can be hard to spot as they often have discreet covers as readers seek to keep their racy reading habits on the down low.

The Washington Post says: The fastest way to tell if youre looking at a romantasy is the title. Is there a common noun, followed by two that involve something terrestrial and something corporeal? A House of Earth and Blood? A Song of Blood and Stone Youve got romantasy.

Love Island star Chloe Burrows has enthusiastically recommended the ACOTAR series

Chloe told her TikTok followers that she's 'in love' with the hero Rhys and felt 'depressed' she only had one book left

In addition to TikTok stars, the racy novels have caught the attention of celebrities including Margot Robbie and Dua Lipa.

Its estimated that UK sales of Romantasy totalled 27million last year, up from 15 million in 2022.

The first ACOTAR book has more than three million reviews on Goodreads, while Yarros's Iron Flame, was the most pre-ordered title in a single day in November 2023.

A Court Of Thorns And Roses (ACOTAR) is being adapted for TV by Hulu, and the rights to Fourth Wing have been optioned by Amazon MGM Studios.

The trend is led by Gen Z - but now women of all generations are thought to be joining in - and it's considered to be a resurgence of the 'bonkbusters' popular in the 1970s and 1970s, such as Dame Jilly Cooper's Rivals.

'Of course the girls are reading horny fairy books. Its cheaper than travel and more fun than therapy,' wrote Emily Mulligan in The Guardian.

Romantasy books are even inspiring weddings - as now that the TikTok generation is tying the knot, their favourite online trends are seeping their way into wedding ceremonies.

The trend sees social media users taking their avid adoration for fantasy novels, such as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, and implementing them into their special day.

On TikTok, Grace's Booknook said there are two types of people - those who have read ACOTAR, and those who haven't

The term 'Booktok' has seen an 8500 per cent growth in popularity, with more than 110,000 Google searches in the past month for the phrase alone, according to wedding planning site Hitched.co.uk.

With a staggering 46.3 million views on the tag #HarryPotterWedding, the children's fantasy fiction set in the wizarding world is the series heading the movement and inspiring book lovers to hold non-traditional weddings.

However, the Romantasy genre has also sparked concerns and have been accused of taking over Young Adult fiction - with teenagers being exposed to the spicy reads.

Young Adult fiction (YA) has become increasingly 'adultified' due to a trend for 'spicy' reads on TikTok, which have replaced the likes of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games.

Books such as A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J Maas, The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (both based in the US) and The Spanish Love Deception by Spanish writer Elena Armas - which all contain adult themes and explicit scenes - are popular recommendations on the app.

Avid readers on the platform often rate their racy literary finds with a red chilli emoji according to how likely a reader is to find sultry themes and dynamics.

Romantasy author Sarah J Maas (pictured in February) is widely considered to have spearheaded the genre

More than half of readers choosing to read YA books are in fact over 18, according to WordsRated, which may, in part, be down to the content appealing to an older audience.

Earlier classic examples of YA fiction include The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, and books by John Green, which all worked to bring 'grown-up' concepts like politics, mortality and self-discovery to a younger audience.

But now the genre consists predominately of what is known as 'romantasy' and the predominance of spicy sub-plots has left little room for those with other interests.

Some of the content is also difficult to spot, as books such as the Love Hypothesis have unobtrusive and even cartoon-like covers, meaning that readers may not know what they are getting into.

'Tell me why this was in our school library at the science section,' said one TikTok commenter about the Love Hypothesis, which includes a very explicit sex scene.

Sarah J Maas's works are now considered to be 'New Adult', for readers aged between 18 and 29 - although they were first published in the YA category.
For many people, when asked how they are, it is simply a reflex to reply that they are 'fine'.

How, when popular TV chef Stanley Tucci to to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, to 'hope everyone is doing alright!', he received a mixed bag of responses - with many commentators pointing out that they are not indeed 'doing alright'.

Many people suggested they are suffering from a range of concerns and problems, including financial crises, as well as concerns over global conflicts, as well as other personal problems.

And rather than just politely ignore their issues in favour of responding in stereotypically polite style, saying yes, all is fine, many pointed out in response to Mr Tucci's post that they are not, in fact, 'doing alright'.

After posting the message after midnight on December 10, it racked up some 2.6 million views, 14,000 like, and 619 responses (at the time of publishing).

The actor and TV chef simply wrote: 'Hope everyone is doing alright!'

While it's not possible to know what he expected the response would it, the staggering attention stirred up by the show may have surprised Mr Tucci.

Among the responses to his short, upbeat messages, were many people who voiced that they were not feeling great at the moment.

TV chef and actor Staney Tucci recently received some unexpected responses to a simple X message he posted saying: 'hope everyone is doing alright!'

One respondent simply answered the question by answering: 'No.'

Another, slightly wordier reply stated: 'Not so good Stanley, thanks.'

A further X user wrote: 'Not really.'

'We're not, but thanks,' answered another.

A slightly more positive respondent wrote: 'A slightly more positive respondent wrote: 'Ive been better but hanging in there. How are you?!?!'

In a similar vein, another added: 'Hanging in there Stanley.'

However, some fans were more positive, and responded to the message with more upbeat replies.

One wrote: 'Ive actually had a pretty great few days tbh. Its been a banner Xmas season so far.'

Stanley Tucci's original X post, simply saying that he 'hope[s] everyone is doing alright'. The message prompted many replies

A number of X users replied to Mr Tucci's post, nothing that they are not 'doing alright', despite the TV chef's good wishes

And another added: 'So far, so good. Have a great day.'

Meanwhile a third said: 'Thank you, Mr. Tucci. Hope you are as well.'

One canny respondent brought up a similar situation that had happened in the past.

They to the platform to write: 'tucci did you see what happened to elmo when he did this?'

This followed a post the Sesame Street character Elmo wrote on X in January, in which he asked: ''How is everybody doing?'.

Since joining X in November 2012, Elmo has amassed a cult following with more than 622,000 followers by frequently posting well-wishing messages on the platform.

So it was perhaps surprising that people used the seemingly innocuous tweet as an opportunity to 'trauma dump' on the much-loved red puppet.

The adorable creature describes himself as being three-and-a-half years old and often refers to himself in the third person.

A number of respondents posted positive replies to Mr Tucci, however, one asked if he remembered what happened when Sesame Street character Elmo posted a similar message

Followers bombarded Elmo with their marriage woes, fears about climate change, and existential angst.

Although it was meant to be a well-meaning question - with Elmo seemingly intent on checking if people were feeling ok - he received a wide range of responses.

Many people took the chance to sprinkle their replies with dry humour, seizing upon an opportunity to vent any frustrations.

Many people took the chance to sprinkle their replies with dry humour, seizing upon an opportunity to vent any frustrations

One user wrote: 'Every morning, I cannot wait to go back to sleep. Every Monday, I cannot wait for Friday to come. Every single day and every single week for life.'

Another moaned: 'Elmo we are tired'.

A third tearfully joked: 'Wife left me Daughters dont respect me My job is a joke. Any more questions, Elmo???'

A fourth said: 'Im at my lowest. Thanks for asking.'

'The world is burning around us, Elmo,' said another, while a fellow followers said they were 'suffering from existential dread'.

'I did not have us all trauma dumping on elmo on my bingo card,' said one surprised follower in the aftermath of the outporing.

Elmo was clearly shocked by the level of interaction his post received too, because he released a follow-up tweet that read: 'Wow! Elmo is glad he asked! Elmo learned that it is important to ask a friend how they are doing. Elmo will check in again soon, friends! Elmo loves you.'

Since joining X in November 2012, Elmo has amassed a cult following with over 485,000 followers by frequently posting well-wishing messages on the platform

As people from around the world shared their woes with Elmo, President Joe Biden jumped into the mix with a message for those struggling with their mental health

The official Sesame Street account posted a link to various mental health resources on its website, saying: 'Mental health is health!'

As people around the world continued to bombard the Sesame Street character with their woes, even President Biden took the opportunity to join in with the discussion.

His official X account wrote: 'I know how hard it is some days to sweep the clouds away and get to sunnier days.

'Our friend Elmo is right: We have to be there for each other, offer our help to a neighbor in need, and above all else, ask for help when we need it.

'Even though it's hard, you're never alone. '
They called off their engagement in 2022, less than a year after announcing the happy news with a loved-up photo on Instagram.

But are Prince Louis of Luxembourg and his ex-fiancee Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue back on once again? The pair were pictured looking cosy with one another at an event in Paris last Thursday.

Their joint outing to the annual awards for The Association for French Influence, which celebrates French talent, sparked speculation online about a possible reconciliation between the duo.

It's not the first time such rumours have swirled on social media, after the couple were pictured huddled up together at composer Omar Harfouch's concert at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in February.

The royal, 38, and French lawyer Scarlett-Lauren sent online rumours swirling at the time, with some speculating that the pair were now 'back' on. However, it is not clear whether the pair have officially reignited their romance.

Sporting an elegant black ensemble, complete with a pleated skirt and a gem encrusted jumper, as well as knee-high boots, Scarlett-Lauren was all smiles as she stood with her arm around the Prince.

Dressed to impress in a navy blazer, black trousers, white crisp shirt and a red statement tie, Louis, the third son on Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, looked equally happy to be by the French lawyer's side.

'Well maybe they have figured out the differences they had and reconciled?' one royal enthusiast questioned online after the image was shared by Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg fan account.

Prince Louis of Luxembourg and Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue were snapped at composer Omar Harfouch's concert at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in February

'Nobody knows for sure. There are some rumours going around about a possible reconciliation, but for now, its just speculation,' another fan replied.

MailOnline has reached out to the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg for comment. Prior to their outing in February, it is understood that the couple hadn't been pictured together since announcing their break-up two years prior.

In 2022 - less than a year after announcing their engagement with a loved-up photo on Instagram - the couple announced that they were breaking up.

They told the French magazine Point de Vue that they had put an end to their four-year-long romance due to differing life goals.

The couple announced they were engaged on April 6 2021 with a relaxed picture accompanied by official snaps with Louis' parents, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.

They vowed to remain friends, and added they still have a lot of love for each other and each other's families.

Prince Louis was previously married to Tessy Antony, whom he shares two sons with, Prince Gabriel of Nassau, 18, and Prince Noah of Nassau, 17. The couple divorced in 2019.

Speaking to the French publication, Louis said: 'We have been in love with each other for the past four years.

In 2022 - less than a year after announcing their engagement with a loved-up photo on Instagram (pictured) - the couple announced that they were breaking up

'We always have tried to be completely honest with each other. Even when this honesty hurts us like today, we are more than ever convinced it is crucial.'

'Thinking about things a lot and getting to the bottom of it, we eventually admitted that as a family, as parents, our visions are too divergent. Our ambitions in life are too different,' Scarlett added.

Scarlett added that Louis' family had given her a warm welcome and added that even though their loved ones are saddened by the news, their affection for her wouldn't change.

Prince Louis said Scarlett is still his best friend, and that she enjoys a close relationship with his parents, siblings and his two sons, Gabriel and Noah.

He added he has explained the situation to his sons, and that although they are sad, they know they'll continue to see Scarlett and can always count on her.

He also he still holds Scarlett's family dear and that the couple cherish their close friendship and their tight bond.

In the same interview, Prince Louis explained that when the couple got engaged in 2021, they had gone over how Scarlett would join the royal family and the concessions that would have to be made, which he said had not been an issue for either party.

The couple have issued an official statement, in which they said: 'We have decided not to pursue our romantic relationship, while remaining deeply bound by friendship and tenderness.

The couple, who work for the same company, had been dating for the past four years and have said they intend to remain friends (pictured in November 2018)

Prince Louis (pictured in 2020) said Scarlett is still his best friend, and that she enjoys a close relationship with his parents, siblings and his two sons, Gabriel and Noah

'It is a decision we have made together upon serious reflection,' the statement went on. The couple also said they have a lot of respect and admiration for each other.

Born in Bordeaux on 8 August 1991, Scarlett-Lauren is the youngest child of lawyers Pierre Sirgue and Scarlett Sigrue.

At the beginning of her career, she worked alongside her mother in Family Law, before decided to focus more specifically in Victims' Law.

Scarlett-Lauren works for the firm which was founded by her parents, which is also where Prince Louis works as a mediator.

Louis was previously married to Tessy Antony de Nassau, with whom he shares his two sons.

The entrepreneur, who is now married to hunky Swiss businessman Frank Floessel, has talked candidly about the pressures of royal life in the past.

Last year, she told Hello magazine that it 'took a long time' after her divorce, when she was stripped of her royal titles, explaining: 'After every relationship it takes a while to heal when the heart has been broken.

'It has been really, really wonderful for me to realise that I am able to trust and love again. It's nice to see that life goes on.'

Louis was previously married to Tessy Antony de Nassau, with whom he shares his two sons. Both pictured in 2012

His family only became aware of their love affair when Tessy fell pregnant and gave birth aged 19, and unmarried, in September 2005, providing Grand Duke Henri with his first grandson. The pair pictured in 2012

Tessy went on to reveal how she is 'very happy' that her ex-husband Prince Louis maintains a close bond with their sons, despite the fact they couldn't see each other during quarantine.

She said her son's 'love and trust' with their father had 'become stronger' because of the separation during the pandemic.

Tessy has previously told how her family 'suffered greatly' when she became a princess in 2006 after marrying Prince Louis, whom she met in 2004.

She had joined the Luxembourg Army in 2002 at the age of 18, rising to the rank of corporal. Two years later, when she was one of a handful of female UN peacekeepers in Kosovo, she met Prince Louis, who was visiting the army.

His family only became aware of their love affair when Tessy fell pregnant and gave birth aged 19, and unmarried, in September 2005, providing Grand Duke Henri with his first grandson.

It infuriated the royal family, and Prince Louis renounced any claim to the title of Grand Duke due to the constitutional crisis they had created by having a child out of wedlock.

When Tessy married Prince Louis in September 2006, six months after giving birth, in a modest country church wedding, the Grand Duke stripped her of any claim to his title.

The couple's fairytale marriage broke down in 2016, and they were granted a decree nisi in February 2019.
Queen Maxima attended a government lunch at the museum in the Hague today

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands got into the Christmas spirit as she welcomed Portuguese President Marcelo Rebel de Sousa to the Hague.

Posing with King-Willem Alexander in front of a grand Christmas tree outside the Mauritshuis Museum, the royal, 53, struck a festive chord in a scarlet silk dress coat.

Never a wallflower when it comes to her style choices, Maxima donned a wide brimmed hat in the same dark berry tone.

The royal mother-of-three had her nails manicured in a striking red and accessorised with garnet and diamond tassel earrings as well as a gold-clasped bag from high-street brand Zara for 50.

Once inside the museum, the Dutch queen posed in front of one of its most famous pieces Girl with a Pearl Earring by golden age painter Johannes Vermeer.

She kept her makeup minimal by brushing a burgundy colour across her lids for a smoky yet sophisticated look.

Wearing classic burgundy heels, Maxima boosted her height alongside her husband, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebel de Sousa.

The politician, 75, is making a two-day visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of the country's King and Queen.

King-Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima pose in front of a grand Christmas tree outside the Mauritshuis Museum. She is holding a gold-clasped bag from high-street brand Zara for 50

The royal mother-of-three had her nails manicured in a striking red and accessorised with garnet and diamond tassle earrings

Wearing burgundy heels, Maxima boosted her height alongside her husband, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebel de Sousa and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof (right)

After taking in the art, the group made their way to a dining hall for a government lunch.

Before sitting down at the long table, Maxima removed her coat to reveal a paisley-patterned dress with wine-coloured feathers lining her neckline. Notably, she kept her statement hat on.

Maxima beamed as she and her husband were pictured toasting Mr de Sousa at the table after he delivered a short speech to the room filled with representatives from the Dutch government.

This speech is merely a warm-up for his jam-packed scheduled of events taking place later today.

Once lunch has been consumed, Mr de Sousa will head over to the Peace Palace where he will meet with the president of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations and the secretary-general of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

He will then speak at the Peace Palace with representatives of the Hague Academy of International Law.

Later, the president will visit Deltares, a research institute that works on innovative solutions to keep deltas, coastal areas and river areas safe, sustainable and habitable.

He will round off his trip to the Netherlands by hosting a reception complete with a musical performance at the Royal Tropical Institute to thank King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima for their hospitality.

Mr de Sousa delivers a speech to the Dutch King and Queen as well as members of the government

Before sitting down at the long table, Maxima removed her coat to reveal a paisley-patterned dress with wine-coloured feathers lining her neckline

Yesterday, Mr de Sousa was treated to a state banquet held in his honour at the royal palace in Amsterdam.

Maxima turned heads in a scarlet dress - adorned with golden and black detailing - as they tucked into the lavish dinner.

Princess Amalia, 21, joined her parents for the glitzy occasion, in a stunning violet gown.

Channeling her mother, the Princess pinned her blonde hair back, but kept a few face-framing tendrils out.

She kept her make-up simple and glamorous, and wore a delicate tiara for the occasion.

Elsewhere, King Willem-Alexander, 57, donned his royal regalia and medals along with a simply elegant black tuxedo.

The Dutch king was unable to hold back his laughter as he shook hands with Mr de Sousa after making a speech at the banquet.

'Mr President, Bem-vindo! Welcome!,' he said. 'Seven years after our state visit to Portugal, the Queen and I are finally able to welcome you to the Netherlands.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands raises her glass as she stands next to President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and King Willem-Alexander

The Dutch King is seen unable to hold back his laughter as he shakes hands with Mr de Sousa after making a speech at the banquet

The royal couple were also joined by their daughter Amalia, who was effortlessly elegant in a glittering purple frock

Princess Amalia, 21, (pictured far right) joined her parents for the glitzy occasion, in a stunning violet gown. Left to right: Queen Maxima, Mr de Sousa, King Willem-Alexander and Amalia

'We are pleased and honoured to have you here with us. And in December no less: not exactly the most pleasant month for a trip so far north 

'But your home country is closer than it might seem. You may not have noticed, but you walked over a piece of Portugal today as you entered the Royal Palace. The cobblestones on Dam Square, just outside, come from a quarry near Porto.'

He quipped: 'They say there are two-and-a-half million of them  though I admit I havent actually counted them myself.

'Over the past 50 years your country has achieved an astounding rate of development.

'What strikes me is how true you have remained to your cultural heritage, even as you have moved forward.'
It's all very well for the Health Secretary Wes Streeting to be issuing orders to overstretched casualty departments at the time when flu, norovirus, Covid and respiratory virus rampage through the population.

He doesn't want to see desperately ill patients dying in the corridors of their hospitals because they're not getting the attention they need. Quite right.

He wants A&E to ignore the target that suggests no one should wait in casualty for more than four hours. Instead, he says doctors should deal with the urgent cases and let those at no risk of instant demise just wait  and wait and wait  their turn.

It makes perfect sense in an NHS supposedly dedicated to saving lives.

But has it not occurred to him to wonder why casualty departments are so ridiculously oversubscribed in the first place? Why the ambulance service is in such great demand, it can't begin to cope? Why people are rushing to casualty with problems that previously would have been handled by their local doctors' surgery?

I can tell you, Mr Streeting. The GP service is shot and, given the choice between making endless phone calls and being told there's no chance of an appointment for weeks, a trip to A&E makes perfect sense.

Here's my most recent tale of woe. About a month ago I caught the nail on my big toe on a sharp surface. It bent back and bled a lot. I'd already been treating it for a fungal infection. I managed to speak on the phone to a physician associate who organised a prescription for antibiotics. I took them, then set off for my planned Saga cruise to the Canary Isles.

My plans for using the hydrotherapy and swimming pools were somewhat curtailed as I had an open wound. I thought the antibiotics would deal with the infection. They didn't.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting during a visit to London Ambulance Service headquarters

I woke one morning with agonising swelling and red skin on my lower right leg. The toe didn't look healthy. I suspected cellulitis  a potentially dangerous infection under the skin probably caused by the injury to my toe. I called the ship's medical centre. I was told to come right away.

I saw the doctor at once. He confirmed the cellulitis and said it was undoubtedly caused by the infected big toe.

'That nail needs to come off,' he said. 'Come on, let's do it.'

Plenty of local anaesthetic was injected into my toe and the nail was removed. The wound was cleaned, disinfected and dressed beautifully. I was given intravenous antibiotics and told to come tomorrow for more.

Two days later I'd had three lots of IV antibiotics, the dressing was changed and I was sent off with a week's supply of powerful oral antibiotics and instructions about what to do at home.

'See your GP immediately. Have the dressing changed every two days. Get enough antibiotics to last at least six weeks.' The treatment couldn't have been better  the way it used to be at the GP.

Once home I called the GP. No, they could not offer a dressing change. They had no nurses. I must go to the walk-in centre at the Finchley Memorial Hospital.

As for an appointment with a doctor, there was nothing available till December 31.

I pointed out to the receptionist that cellulitis can be a dangerous condition, leading to sepsis. Still no appointment on offer.

'I'll send you a form via text,' she said. 'Fill it out and a doctor should see it and maybe find an appointment for you.'

The form was long and detailed. First it told you to contact 111 or 999 if the problem was serious  heart attack, stroke, confusion, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, signs of a severe infection etc.

So that's how the GPs are shoving people off to the A&E departments. Make your own decision, maybe take yourself to hospital.

I did fill out the form. I was warned it might not be seen by a doctor for up to 72 hours.

I'd gone pretty strongly in the 'what I was worried about' section on the risk of sepsis. I suspect that may have been why I got a call offering me an appointment two days later.

Meanwhile, I took myself to the walk-in centre at the little local hospital and waited five hours to see a nurse who changed my dressing. What a palaver.

Throughout the whole process I was thinking about elderly people or those for whom English isn't their first language, who might not be as tech savvy as I am and would have been floored by the idea of filling out the form online. How many would have gone to A&E for treatment?

So, Wes Streeting, your most urgent port of call must be the GPs. It's entirely admirable to be concerned for people who must not be left to die in hospital corridors, but with a decent GP service they might not be competing with less desperately ill patients who would never have been in A&E to begin with.

A good GP eases a person's pain and fear and sends them on for specialist care if need be.

No rush, no panic, just a sensible use of resources.

Coleen's my Queen of the Jungle

Coleen Rooney leaves the jungle after I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

What a pity the lovely Coleen Rooney was pipped at the post by a rather faded pop star, Danny Jones.

She was charming, courageous and fun. She should have been Queen of I'm A Celebrity's jungle. I was so touched by what she said about her sons.

At last, she thought, they had a chance to be proud of her  and not just their dad.

Stars aren't needed for the Booker!

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker is a judge for the Booker Prize

Sarah Jessica Parker has been named as one of the judges of the prestigious Booker prize. Why must everything these days have a superstar attached? Surely there are enough highly educated, analytical readers around who would fit the bill.

A visit to the reborn Notre Dame cathedral has moved to the top of my bucket list. In 1961 my parents took me to Paris for passing the 11-plus. Dad felt his workmates would be shocked if he hadn't seen the Folies Bergere. He asked the cabaret if it was OK to take an 11-year-old. The answer? 'Of course, if she 'as a ticket'. So I saw the seedier side of the city, then the very opposite  the exquisite cathedral. I wept when flames engulfed her in 2019. I'm determined to see her again.

I'll Strictly vote for Chris

Chris McCausland with his professional partner Dianne Buswell

I shall be glued to the Strictly final on Saturday night.

I love the actress and mother-of-one Sarah Hadland and her partner Vito Coppola, but my money's on my favourite from day one. The achievement of the blind comedian Chris McCausland is unparalleled. He must take the trophy.

I was relieved when the assisted dying Bill made it through its earliest stages and I'm delighted the discussions have had a welcome side-effect. Attention is now focused on the dire state of palliative care. It's time for the wonderful hospice movement to be funded properly. Too many are closing for lack of funds.
The mother of teenage photographer Liz Hatton who died of cancer last month has revealed how the Prince and Princess of Wales have continued to support their family since her death.

Speaking at a memorial today for her daughter, Vicky Robayna told the Mail the couple had been 'so kind, so caring' and she couldn't thank them, or their team, enough.

Surrounded by her talented daughter's photographs that first brought her to William and Kate's attention, she said: 'They are so incredibly kind. They have been in touch throughout. It's been a difficult time but we have had messages from them. They and their team are often checking in. They have looked after us incredibly.

'They even invited us down to the carol service on Friday. We didn't know if we would feel up to going, but I am so glad we did. It was so beautiful. They really looked after us.

'I knew it would be one of those things we would regret if we hadn't gone. It was tough as Liz had been determined to go to it and we now have so many memories associated with London. But I think we knew how cross she would be with us if we didn't go. The prince and princess made it a lot easier. '

Liz was just 17 when she died from an extremely rare and largely untreatable cancer called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour and had just ten months from the day she was diagnosed to the day she died.

A passionate photographer, she determined to pack as much as she could in to her remaining time and devised with her family's help a 'bucket list' of assignments to capture.

After the Prince of Wales got to hear about it, he invited her into Windsor Castle in October to photograph an investiture he was holding.

The mother of teenage photographer Liz Hatton who died of cancer last month has revealed how the Prince and Princess of Wales have continued to support their family since her death

Liz was just 17 when she died from an extremely rare and largely untreatable cancer called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour and had just ten months from the day she was diagnosed to the day she died

Much to the family's surprise he then invited them for tea afterwards, with wife Kate - who has undergone her own cancer battle this year - joining them.

A photograph of her hugging Liz went viral and offers from organisations to help her fulfil the remaining items on her list - as well as dozens of others - flooded in, including an assignment at the Daily Mail.

Like the prince and princess, the public were deeply moved by Liz's strength, maturity and determination to face her tragically inevitable death head on.

She had hoped to make Christmas, and the family had even tried to bring forward their own celebrations early so that she could spent it with her adored younger brother, Mateo.

Sadly she passed away quietly in the early hours of November 27 before that could happen.

Vicky, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said: 'We are taking a lot of comfort from the legacy she has left for someone her age. And we really do have the prince and princess to thank for that. I mean before that there had been a little publicity about her bucket list but after they highlighted it, it just absolutely skyrocketed.

'I have seen things on Twitter (X) attacking them and saying they have only done it for the publicity but that is just such rubbish. It just makes me so angry. We gave them full permission to make Liz's story public in order to help her and others. No-one will ever know the extent of what they and their team have done behind the scenes to help us. They have all been unbelievably kind and they've kept in touch with all this time and looked after us so well. Liz wanted people to know that.

'She loved their authenticity. I think kids can sniff that out. A lot of the reasons she did the press afterwards was because she wanted to tell everybody how kind the prince and princess were. They were so sincere. Liz knew how hard chemotherapy is and was angry that some people had criticised the princess over how she had handled her diagnosis. It made her incredibly sad. She was furious that people weren't being kind.'

Speaking at a memorial today for her daughter, Vicky Robayna told the Mail the couple had been 'so kind, so caring' and she couldn't thank them, or their team, enough. Vicky pictured with photographs of cast members of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, taken by her daughter ahead of a celebration of the life of the teenage photographer at the Doubletree By Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa

Unable to hold a traditional funeral, Vicky today organised an exquisite exhibition of her work and a celebration of her life in her home town of Harrogate

Like the prince and princess, the public were deeply moved by Liz's strength, maturity and determination to face her tragically inevitable death head on. Liz and her family pictured with the Prince and Princess

Vicky says she and her family, including Liz's stepfather, Aaron, are getting through life 'day by day' and trying to focus on the positive.

Liz made the incredibly mature decision to donate her body to medical science after her death in the hope that studies of her condition might help prevent another family from being separated in the way they have. Within days of her death, her body was transported to Glasgow University for medical students to study.

Unable to hold a traditional funeral, Vicky today organised an exquisite exhibition of her work and a celebration of her life in her home town of Harrogate.

She also announced their intention to create a charity dedicated to research into rare forms of cancer such as her own. The family have already set up a fund which has raised 40,000 in just a matter of days.

You can donate to the JustGiving fundraiser here.

'I think the fundraising is helping us to get through things and keep going. We've lost Liz, we couldn't save her. But we can save ourselves others,' she said.

'She received exceptional care from the NHS but what failed her was a lack of funding for rare cancers from government and pharmaceutical companies. The only people interested in this are the families affected and there is no charity for it anywhere in the world, so we have to galvanise people together.

'The way I look at it is there was less than a million chance of Liz getting this cancer as there are just 12 years case in the UK each year, and 80% of those are boys. The chances of her getting it were minuscule. The chances of her being hugged by a princess, equally minuscule, right? The fact that those two things have collided and created the massive interest in her that there's been, has to be for a reason. We have to use that for good and make a difference.

Vicky says Christmas will be 'tough' and the haven't decided if and how to mark it - although they know Father Christmas will still come for Mateo (pictured with a photo his sister Liz took of him)

Liz made the incredibly mature decision to donate her body to medical science after her death in the hope that studies of her condition might help prevent another family from being separated in the way they have. Pictured with er family in November

Liz, pictured with her brother Mateo, in August. The talented photographer passed away in November

The family have already set up a fund which has raised 40,000 in just a matter of days. Liz pictured in October

'We now want to make sure that everybody who gets a diagnosis can search about it and find the right support, not scrabble around looking for a needle in a haystack like we did. If we can save one family from going through what we have it would be worth it.

'And Liz wouldn't want us to be down, she would want us to help those that are still alive.'

Vicky says Christmas will be 'tough' and the haven't decided if and how to mark it - although they know Father Christmas will still come for Mateo.

'We still really can't believe she has gone.I think there's still a great deal of lying to ourselves. We see things are think how much she would have loved it, which gives us happiness and pain at the same time,' she said candidly.

In a video tribute to her daughter, played at today's event accompanied by dozens of photographs of Liz both before and after her diagnosis, Vicky added: 'You were brave, beautiful and brilliant. You were dedicated, determined and kind. Passionate about fighting for your beliefs and never happier behind a camera.

'An unexpected meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales bowled us all over and changed the rest of your life. Your heart wasn't easy to win but once you did you were unfailingly loyal. Afterwards you would talk about how incredible then Prince and Princess had been with Mateo - always the route to your heart.

'You accepted your fate with a grace and determination that I am not sure many much older that you would manage. You made the most of each second, grateful for every magical moment that came your way. You never complained, never said 'why me'.

'You shined so brightly.'
READ MORE: Mormon mom whose husband is GAY insists their sex life is great

Despite Hoff identifying as gay, the couple got married last month

Jacob Hoff, 31, and Samantha Greenstone, 37, met in 2015 during an audition

On paper it was the perfect meet cute - boy meets girl, boy instantly falls for girl, boy and girl start spending all their time together.

The only problem is, boy identifies as gay.

Despite this, Jacob Hoff knew from the moment he laid eyes on Samantha Greenstone she was someone special - he just didn't know those feelings would take him all the way to marriage.

The couple, who are both actors, met during an audition for Fiddler on the Roof in 2015, and have been inseparable ever since.

'From the lobby, I heard Samantha's cackle at the end of the song and instantly thought whoever just made that sound is an immaculate human,' Holf, 31, recalled to the New York Times in a feature about their love story.

After they were both cast in the show, they became closer when rehearsals started and 'never stopped hanging out pretty much every single day after.'

However, Greenstone, 37, noted she was 'living in utter confusion' after realizing her feelings for Hoff were for more than friendship and felt a powerful 'magnetism' towards him.

She even went to an energy healer for advice, who claimed the pair 'share a spiritual umbilical cord.'

Jacob Hoff knew from the moment he lay eyes on Samantha Greenstone she was someone special- he just didn't know those feelings would take him all the way to marriage

Greenstone made the nerve-wracking decision to text Hoff and admit her feelings to him, which he reciprocated but was nervous about.

'I was like, "Oh my goodness. I can't believe she did this,"' Hoff recalled. 'The answer was yes. But then I was scared. I thought, "If I can't make this work physically, it could ruin everything."'

'I am gay,' Hoff explained. 'And as a gay person, you can keep your identity as that even if your relationship doesn't match that.'

Despite identifying as gay, Hoff and Greenstone started dating in 2017 and are in a monogamous relationship.

'It's beyond a visual lustful connection. It's a soulful connection,' Hoff described.

The couple got engaged at the end of 2023.

They tied the knot at the end of November in Boca Raton, Florida, and have defended their relationship from naysayers questioning their why they are together.

'Samantha is the person I am connected to spiritually,' Hoff explained in an Instagram video shared in August.

The couple, who are both actors, met during an audition for Fiddler on the Roof in 2015, and have been inseparable ever since. Hoff proposed to Greenstone in 2023

Greenstone made the nerve-wracking decision to text Hoff and admit her feelings to him, which he reciprocated but was nervous about

Despite identifying as gay, Hoff and Greenstone started dating in 2017 and are in a monogamous relationship

'She's my soulmate, my partner, person I want to spend the rest of my life with,' he explained.

According to Hoff, the connection between them 'transcends just plain old sexuality.'

'We are attracted to each other, we're intimate, it is just on a different level - it's a soulmate connection,' he said passionately.

'It's when you're 90 years old, looking at your partner, you know, wrinkled, withering away, the tragedy of life consuming you, you still look at them with love and compassion and devotion,' he insisted.

'That's the kind of love that we have in the connection we have.'

To sum it up, Hoff said: 'We're in love and it's that simple.'
Analysts have raised the alarm about potentially harmful pesticides linked to cancer and infertility that are found in fruit like satsumas and oranges imported into Britain.

Campaign group Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) used Government testing data to show 46 pesticides with links to cancer had been detected on produce imports to Britain as of the end of last year.

This was more than double the 19 such pesticides found in British produce.

Similar results were found for pesticides linked to fertility and damage to the nervous system, with twice and thrice as many such chemicals found on imports compared to British fare.

By food group, 'soft citrus'  which includes satsumas, tangerines and clementines  had the highest change of having a cocktail of multiple pesticides present, with 96 per cent of samples tested returning positive.

This was followed by oranges and lemons which had multiple pesticides detected in in 95 and 89 per cent of samples.

All three types of fruit contained as many as nine different pesticides  and all of these samples were imported from South Africa.

For individual fruits, grapes from Lebanon that had the most pesticides of any item, with 13 substances detected on one sample analysed.

Analysts have raised the alarm on potentially harmful pesticides, some linked to cancer and infertilely, being found on produce imported into Britain. Stock image

Beans from India were also found to have high levels of pesticide residue that exceeded the UK's legal limit  detected in 10 out of 25 samples tested.

Overall, 31 per cent of British goods were found to contain multiple pesticides but this rose to 55 per cent in imports.

Nick Mole from PAN UK said, 'While the results for UK produce are also concerning, when it comes to pesticides that pose a risk to consumer health, imports tend to be far worse than food grown here in the UK.

'With rates of diseases such as cancer and Parkinson's on the rise, we should be doing everything we can to reduce our chemical exposure.

'But the UK government is allowing larger amounts of chemicals to appear in an ever-growing list of common food items. They urgently need to reverse this current trend.'

PAN UK has been campaigning for an overhaul of British pesticide testing.

Current rules set the safe limits for pesticides on a per chemical basis, meaning in practice that a fruit with a total of 13 chemicals on it is deemed just as safe another with just two chemicals provided all are below the limit.

Previous research has suggested expose to agricultural pesticides could be as bad as tobacco smoke for increasing the risk of certain cancers

PAN UK's 'dirty dozen' foods with highest number of multiple pesticides detected Soft citrus: 96 per cent of samples Oranges: 95 per cent of samples Lemons: 89 per cent of samples Grapes: 87 per cent of samples Pears: 81 per cent of samples Pulses (such as lentils or chickpeas): 63 per cent of samples Bread: 54 per cent of samples Carrots: 38 per cent of samples Spring onions: 38 per cent of samples Beans (dried): 35 per cent of samples Peas: 34 per cent of samples Beans (not dried): 29 per cent of samples Advertisement

PAN UK argues this approach ignores concerns over the combined and accumulative effect of eating such substances in terms of our health in the long-term.

The group also warned that more heavily pesticide-laden foods could be making their way to British supermarket shelves soon.

They highlighted how the UK is in the midst of negotiating a trade deal with India which means food imports from the country, which has laxer rules on pesticide use than Britain, could increase.

Mr Mole said: 'We've long been concerned that new trade deals signed by the UK since EU exit pose a major risk to the health of British consumers.

'This is especially true when it comes to countries like India that struggle with high pesticide residues in their food exports.

'Given that today's findings are based on imports that have already made it past our borders, we strongly urge the government to take action to protect British consumers.'

The Government testing data analysed by PAN UK also found foreign food imports had double the amount of endocrine disrupting chemicals, which can interfere with the body's hormone system, compared to British produce.

The same was true for per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, also known as forever chemicals due to how they persist in the environment, which have also been linked to issues like cancers, birth defects, immune system problems and infertility.

Pesticides, and their potential role in rising cancer cases, have been an issue of concern for years.

Some experts have blamed them for a surge in bowel cancers among young people, whilst others have pointed to potentially triggering prostate cancer.
Doctors have raised the prospect that sexual frustration may have played a role in the healthcare CEO's assassination  as speculation swirls about the alleged killer's motive.

Luigi Mangione, 26, is said to have been unable to have sex because of a debilitating lower back injury that caused him constant pain, according to a friend and former roommate who he lived with while at a surf camp in Hawaii.

His friends say the lower back pain also caused Mangione to retreat away from his friends and family and quit sports, surfing and hiking.

Psychiatrists say that sexual frustration can leave someone with feelings of anger and frustration over being unable to find a partner, which they blame society for. Violent attacks may be carried out as an emotional 'release'.

Dr Raj Persaud, a psychiatrist in Britain, told DailyMail.com: 'It definitely is the case that there is a link between sexual frustration and attacks.

'We've seen some famous examples in history. Sex is really such a powerful drive that it is difficult to break out of the vision, unlike with others such as a desire for money.

Trump's first would-be assassin Matthew Cooks appeared to have been sexually frustrated, watching porn before trying to kill the then-presidential candidate.

And experts have also previously drawn a link between sexual frustration and mass shooters and murderers, adding that Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook elementary school shooter, had child abuse images on his phone.

Elliot Rodger  who killed six people and injured 14 in California in 2014  is thought to have gone on his shooting spree out of hatred toward women who rejected him.

Luigi Mangione, 26, from Maryland, is pictured above. He has been charged with shooting the UnitedHealthcare CEO

The above is an image from his Twitter account that appears to show several screws that have been implanted into his spine

A 2023 study on 178 mass shootings in the US, from 1966 to 2021, found that about a third of the shooters had sexual frustrations.

They were also six times more likely to have a history of sexual offending, and were also more likely to have a strong desire for fame.

These individuals exhibited various indicators of sexual frustration, such as explicit complaints, stalking, harassment, engagement in illegal sexual behaviors, and interest in minors or violent fetishes.

Sexually frustrated mass shooters were more likely to be young, male, unmarried, childless, unemployed, and misogynistic compared to other mass shooters. They exhibited behaviors associated with relief-seeking, power-seeking, revenge-seeking, and displaced frustration.

Dr Adam Lankford, a criminology expert at the University of Alabama who led the research, said: 'We were surprised to discover that sexually frustrated perpetrators committed so many of the deadliest mass shootings in US history.'

He added: 'When profound sexual frustration is combined with access to firearms, psychological issues, lack of empathy for others, and toxic masculinity, the risks of mass violence may be particularly high.'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Shootings driven by sexual frustration are normally associated with right-wing incel 'involuntary celibates' culture.

Members of this heavily-online group often express misogynistic views and hostility toward women, as well as espousing traditional family values and opposition to LGBT rights.

Mangione, however, appears to have been captured by far left anti-capitalist ideals and the texts of 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski  who started sending bombs to people after watching the wilderness by his home be destroyed.

RJ Martin, who lived with Mangione for six months in Hawaii, told the New York Times that the alleged shooter 'knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn't possible'.

'I remember him telling me that, and my heart just broke,' he added.

He also said that Mangione had a slipped vertebrae that had 'pinched a nerve' which would cause him extreme pain at times.

Alleged killer Brian Thompson, 26, yelled at cameras as he entered court on Tuesday

Other posts from a Reddit account suspected to be Mangione's, described the individual experiencing 'locked up' back and hips and 'intermittent numbness'.

Dr Persaud added that his use of what is believed to be a scan of his back on his Twitter profile also revealed a lot about his identity.

'That is really interesting,' he said, 'that really does suggest that the back pain was central to his identity and dominated his way of looking at the world.'

The top psychiatrist also suggested that Mangione's back issues may not have been his only barrier to sex, saying he may also have struggled to connect with women.

Mangione is seen with his sister and parents in an undated photo. His mother said she had no contact with him since July 1 as she reported him missing

'I don't want to appear to be supportive or anything, but he is a good-looking guy, an Ivy league graduate, so why doesn't he have a girlfriend? I suspect he had trouble in some way connecting to women.'

Dr Persaud also said it was also possible that Mangione was homosexual, which would come with its own mental and psychological challenges, particularly around both accepting his own sexuality and believing others would accept it.

Doctors have suggested Mangione was suffering from spondylolisthesis, a spinal condition where the bottom vertebrae of the spine has slipped out of position.

They warn that in severe cases this can cause the penis to become numb if the nerve delivering feeling to the area  called the cauda equina  is suppressed.

They warn that suppression of this, and other nerves, can also lead to issues with erections and ejaculation.

It comes as young people in America, generally, are having much less sex than older generations.

Nearly one in three young men and 10 to 15 percent of women not having had sex by the age of 30 years, according to a 2020 study from the University of Indiana.

Among the most famous mass shooters also struggling with sexual frustration are George Sodini, who shot four women at an LA fitness center in 2009 and then himself.

It was later revealed that the man had written repeatedly about women rejecting him and the frustration that it had left him feeling. He also repeatedly said how he had not had sex in 20 years.

For Mangione, police are yet to reveal a theory as to their suspected motive for the shooting.
Women are enduring painful gynaecological conditions due to medical misogyny in the NHS, a damning report finds.

Doctors often have a poor understanding of womens health, meaning they fail to recognise symptoms and are dismissive of patients pain, it says.

This is fuelled by a pervasive stigma around reproductive health issues and a lack of education about common conditions such endometriosis, heavy periods and adenomyosis.

As a result, victims suffer agonising discomfort that interferes with every aspect of their daily lives, including their education, careers, relationships and fertility, said MPs on the Commons women and equalities committee, which published the report today.

Many are forced to suck it up or find the money for expensive private care, it adds.

The report shows a lack of research, treatments and specialists, along with the de-prioritisation of gynaecological services, has resulted in these waiting lists growing faster than any other specialty.

Meanwhile, womens symptoms are often normalised, meaning it can take years to get a diagnosis and care.

Women are enduring painful gynaecological conditions due to medical misogyny in the NHS, a damning report finds (stock image)

Pictured is Zainab Kaleemulla who waited well over a decade to be diagnosed with endometriosis after GPs dismissed her symptoms dozens of times

It is estimated neglecting womens health in the workplace costs the UK economy 20billion a year, with some forced to give up their jobs.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says Britain is in the midst of a gynaecology care crisis, with more than 750,000 women on the waitlist.

The MPs highlighted how women undergo harrowing experiences of procedures such as having a contraceptive coil fitted or a hysteroscopy  a test to look inside a womans womb.

Case study: Id faint from blood loss ...but was still dismissed

Zainab Kaleemullah, 35, waited well over a decade to be diagnosed with endometriosis after GPs dismissed her symptoms dozens of times. The civil servant, from Birmingham, was misdiagnosed with depression and irritable bowel syndrome and made to feel like the pain was in her head. She said: I suffered very painful periods and would faint because of the amount of blood I was losing. I was in so much pain in my pelvis and back that I could only walk short distances. Ms Kaleemullah, who helps run support groups for Endometriosis UK, said education is key for doctors and the public. Advertisement

Presenter Naga Munchetty, who previously shared her traumatic experience of having a coil fitted and was vocal about the poor care she received for adenomyosis (when the lining of the uterus grows into the uterine muscle wall) gave evidence to the committee alongside reality TV star Vicky Pattison, who has premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which causes severe mood swings.

GP surgeries were singled out in the report, which highlights a clear lack of awareness and understanding of womens reproductive health conditions among primary healthcare practitioners.

The MPs made recommendations to improve care, including ensuring doctors are aware of the latest diagnostic tests and treatments.

Committee chairman Sarah Owen said: Our inquiry has shown misogyny in medicine is leaving women in pain and their conditions undiagnosed. Women are finding their symptoms dismissed, are waiting years for life-changing treatment...

All the while, their conditions worsen and become more complicated to treat.

Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, said: It takes almost nine years on average to get a diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK  it shouldnt. Without diagnosis there isnt access to management and treatment.

NHS England said: Too often in the NHS we hear of women whose health concerns have been dismissed, which is why we are taking action to improve services for women, including rolling out womens health hubs.

The hubs are giving thousands more women access to specialist support in the community, which not only improves access and womens experiences of care, but also helps to upskill healthcare professionals.

A Department of Health spokesman said: It is totally unacceptable that women with reproductive conditions are not getting the care they need.

'That is why we will overhaul womens healthcare, placing womens equality at the heart of our agenda.
Midwives and nurses who specialise in genetic conditions caused by inbreeding have been deployed across the NHS to care for blood-related couples who have children.

MailOnline can reveal multiple NHS employers have advertised for several such roles over the past year-and-a-half, some offering salaries of about 50,000.

It comes as the devastating health consequences of cousin marriages was highlighted in the House of Commons this week, amid the launch of a new Bill that aims to ban the practice.

The former Conservative minister Richard Holden, who has tabled the Private Members' Bill, said such unions have been linked to a higher rate of birth defects.

'Studies show that it is associated with approximately double the rate of birth defects compared to the general population and can reinforce negative structures and control women,' he told the House of Commons.

However, some MPs defended the practice. Independent Iqbal Mohamed claimed such unions could 'build family bonds' and put families on a 'more secure financial foothold', although he too acknowledged the heath risks.

Labour has indicated it has no plans to ban marriages between first cousins.

Cousin marriage is popular among certain communities in Britain such as those of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage.

One of the most famous modern-day examples of inbreeding related to cousin marriage is the Whittaker family from Odd, West Virginia

Iqbal Mohamed, MP for Dewsbury and Batley, told the House of Commons that many people view family intermarriage as 'very positive'

MailOnline can reveal multiple NHS employers have advertised for such roles over the past year-and-a-half, some offering salaries of about 50,000

However, the risk it poses to children is undeniable. Due to the parents being close genetic relatives babies roughly have double the chance of developing a host of health problems.

These include blindness, hearing loss, neonatal diabetes, blood disorders, limb malformations, low IQ, cleft palate, heart problems, cystic fibrosis, and even death.

As such the NHS has employed teams of 'close relative marriage' midwives and nurses to provide care and advice for related people planning for a family, or those who've recently had children.

One such position is a 'close relative marriage' neonatal nurse at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in Slough.

This role involves looking after infants who have disorders related to inbreeding.

A job posting listed in October for the role states: 'The close relative marriage neonatal nurse will proactively work with affected families practising close relative marriage to encourage a greater level of genetic testing and/or genetic awareness/literacy.'

It adds that the nurse will also need to speak to cousin marriage families 'in a sensitive, culturally appropriate manner' and provide 'non-judgmental evidence-based information'.

Another role advertised by the same trust last summer is the close relative marriage midwife.

This graphic, from NHS material distributed to couples in Bradford, explains some of the genetic risks of having children with a close relative. Two parents with a recessive gene have an increased chance of having a child with an inherited condition

An NHS website hosting the Born in Bradford (BiB) research project describes marrying your cousin as a cultural practice similar to white British women and couples choosing to have kids after the age of 34, another risk factor for genetic conditions

This role aims to help women having a child with a relative 'understand their risks and the options available to them' and 'empower women to make informed choices in a culturally sensitive way'.

Both roles add that being fluent in Urdu is desirable.

MailOnline found other 'close relative' midwifery and nursing posts being advertised in other parts of England.

These included Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Barts Health NHS Trust in London and positions in GP practices in Bradford.

Many roles highlight that successful applicants will have 'access to a network of other close relative marriage midwives in other high need areas in England'.

Some of the job postings detail how they are funded directly by NHS England as part of a special 'Culturally Sensitive Genetic Literacy Project'.

NHS England was contacted for comment.

Reacting to MailOnline's findings, Tory MP Neil OBrien told MailOnline: The evidence of serious health harms is very strong.

'Cousin marriage roughly doubles the risk of serious health problems like heart defects, and also fatal genetic diseases. It's incredible people are still defending this.

Marriages between certain blood relatives  as well as some step relationships  is illegal in Britain but this doesn't include marrying a cousin.

Data suggests the risk of a child of first cousins developing a genetic condition is between 3 to 6 per cent, which is double the risk compared to children from unrelated parents.

This map, by Professor Alan Bittles an Australian expert in genomics, shows rates of consanguineous marriage, that between cousins, around the world

While this still means the majority of children born in such circumstances will be healthy, the increased risk is undeniable.

Medics have previously highlighted children born of such close relative unions are at increased risk of conditions like thalassaemia, a condition where the body doesn't produce enough haemoglobin.

Haemoglobin is the component of blood that carries oxygen around the body. People lacking it can become anaemic and struggle to do everyday tasks as a result.

Studies have found the prevalence of thalassaemia in Pakistan, where cousin marriage is far more common, is a high as 7 per cent, compared to a global average of 1 per cent.

Other conditions linked to cousin marriages identified by medics include cystic fibrosis, Downs syndrome, infantile cerebral palsy, and hearing and visual disabilities. In some cases, children can die as a result.

Risks of such conditions broadly increases if there is a family history of inbreeding, as genetic errors can compound between generations.

During conception, children receive one copy of genes from each parent, with the harmful genetic mutations typically overridden by healthier genes.

But when closely related individuals have a child there is a decrease in genetic variation, resulting in an increased risk of these harmful mutations remaining and causing problems.

Existing legislation states the prohibited degrees of relationship for marriage include those to a sibling, parent or child, but not marriages between first cousins, like Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Previous NHS reports in Bradford have highlighted nearly half of deaths in children aged below one in the city were attributable to chromosomal, genetic, and congenital anomalies  which are more common among babies born to cousins.

NHS studies between 2007 and 2011 found consanguineous marriages  a medical term meaning parents that are at least second cousins or more closely related  accounted for 60 per cent of marital unions in people of Pakistani heritage in Bradford.

This compared to just 1 per cent among white British couples in the area.

Subsequent NHS studies, conducted between 2016 and 2020, found the rate of consanguineous unions among this community has fallen to about 43 per cent.

The NHS has previously stated, in leaflets distributed to families in Bradford, that cousin marriage accounts for about a third of birth defects.

Back in 2018 the Mail reported how official figures cited cousin marriages are a key factor in an average of two child deaths every week.

This was derived from the fact that a total of 545 boys or girls born to closely related couples have died in childhood during the past five years.

Controversially the NHS has previously stated that a cousin marriage is no different to 'liberal' white Brits choosing to have children over the age of 34, in terms increased risk of genetic conditions in offspring

Worldwide, one in 10 people are thought to be the result of a consanguineous union.

Studies have put Pakistan as having one of the highest rates globally at 65 per cent.

Scientific titans Charles Darwin (left) and the famous physicist Albert Einstein (right) both married their first cousins

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's (left) first wife was his cousin Sajida Talfah. Musician Jerry Lee Lewis (right), of Great Balls Of Fire fame also controversially married his cousin Myra Gale Lewis Williams when she was just 13 and he was 22

This is followed by India (55 per cent), Saudi Arabia (50 per cent), Afghanistan (40 per cent), Iran (30 per cent) and Egypt and Turkey (20 per cent each).

Other data sets used by genetic experts studying consanguineous marriage have put the UK as having a rate of between 1 to 4 per cent, while the US has a lower rate of less than 1 per cent.

Mr Holden has asked for his Bill to be considered at second reading on January 17 next year.

But it faces a battle to become law due to the amount of parliamentary time available to such private members' bills to clear the necessary stages.

One of the most famous modern day examples of cousin-related inbreeding is the Whittaker family from Odd, West Virginia.

Siblings Ray, Betty, Larry and Lorene, as well as her son Timmy, are struggling with heartbreaking mental and physical conditions.

The siblings are the descendants of two sets of first cousins who got married. DailyMail.com previously revealed the bloodline continued with a set of identical twin brothers whose children got married.

John and Henry Whittaker were born in 1897. John went on to marry his own first cousin Ada Riggs  the daughter of Mary Perkins, who was the sister of John and Henry's mother Eliza.

Ada and John had nine children, including Gracie Irene Whittaker who was born in 1920. John's brother Henry married Sally Burton and they had seven children, including John Emory Whittaker, born in 1913.

Gracie and John were first cousins, but married in November 1935 and had their first child in 1937, having 15 in total.

Many members of the family have suffered from a heart attack, while two did not make it through infancy.

Some of the 15 children died early of an array of illnesses, including heart attack and cancer, believed to be tied to inbreeding.
Reality TV star Vicky Pattinson has spoken of her experience of 'medical misogyny', after male doctors dismissed her 'crippling' gynaecological symptoms for five years.

The 37-year-old was diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in 2023  a severe and debilitating form of premenstrual syndrome that the former I'm A Celebrity winner described as 'PMS on steroids'.

Despite struggling with 'horrendous' symptoms including 'crippling anxiety, exhaustion and feelings of hopelessness' she revealed today she was 'made to feel ashamed' my medics.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she explained the condition left her suffering from a constant cycle of despair for 10 days to two weeks of the month which includes suicidal thoughts.

Problems like these may be familiar to many of the 824,000 women in the UK and 4.2 million in the US who suffer with PMDD.

Women with the condition struggle with intense mood swings, anxiety and boiling rage every month, along with the regular physical symptoms.

The range of emotional and physical symptoms typically flare up in the fortnight before a period.

Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain today she said: 'It can appear differently in different people. Physical symptoms include aches and pains, exhaustion, cramps, breast pain.

Reality TV star Vicky Pattinson told ITV's Good Morning Britain male doctors dismissed her 'crippling' gynaecological symptoms for five years

'Your mental symptoms are your mood swings, your erratic behaviour and a genuine belief that the world will be a better place without you.'

Although PMDD is common, a lack of awareness among healthcare professionals means some women wait a decade or more for a diagnosis, according to the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD).

Pattison added: 'My experiences when I went in to discuss my symptoms were horrendous. For five years I was dismissed. I was made to feel ashamed. For the majority of time it was men.

'I think the lack of understanding and empathy towards what we are going through is shocking.

'We are not given the correct information and education to be able to treat a woman going through what they are.

'When I was completely dismissed time and time again I was able to go private.'

Pattinson's complaints come as a damning report revealed women are enduring painful gynaecological conditions due to medical misogyny in the NHS.

A stigma around reproductive health issues and a lack of education about common conditions such endometriosis, heavy periods and adenomyosis, is fueling the crisis, the report stated.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, has numerous symptoms both physical such as pain, nausea and fatigue as well as mental health problems like mood swings, relationship problems and even suicidal thoughts

Victims suffer agonising discomfort that interferes with every aspect of their daily lives, including their education, careers, relationships and fertility, said MPs on the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, which published the report today.

The report shows a lack of research, treatments and specialists, along with the de-prioritisation of gynaecological services, has resulted in these waiting lists growing faster than any other specialty.

Meanwhile, womens symptoms are often normalised, meaning it can take years to get a diagnosis and care.

Pattinson told the GMB presenters: 'There are thousands if not millions of people out there who are not getting the same opportunities I did and this report is a step in the right direction.'

It is estimated neglecting womens health in the workplace costs the UK economy 20billion a year, with some forced to give up their jobs.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says Britain is in the midst of a gynaecology care crisis, with more than 750,000 women on the waitlist.

About 72 per cent of people with a PMDD diagnosis report thoughts of suicide at some point in their lives, according to IAPMD.

For comparison, in the general population approximately 10 per cent of people report suicidal thoughts in their lifetime.

However, it's not just emotional and psychological symptoms many women with the condition also struggle with.

Physical symptoms which can also be debilitating and have a disruptive impact on quality of life.

Having a lack of energy, breast tenderness or swelling, pain in muscles or joints, headaches, feeling bloated, changes in appetite such as overeating or having specific food cravings and sleeping irregularly, are all symptoms of PMDD.

The exact causes of PMDD are not fully understood, but researchers believe it may be caused by being very sensitive to changes in hormone levels.

Treatment for PMDD varies from taking antidepressants and the combined contraceptive pill, to therapy and painkillers or even surgery to remove the uterus, mental health charity MIND says.
When six year-old Ottilie Atkins complained of feeling sick and dizzy after an afternoon at soft play, her mother assumed she was suffering a case of exhaustion.

But within hours, the little girl's vision had become blurry and her eyes 'stopping working in unison'.

Ottilie's mother Holly, 34, rushed her daughter to hospital, where doctors performed a barrage of tests and discovered the schoolgirl had suffered a life-threatening stroke.

The deadly attack happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, usually due to a blood clot or burst blood vessel inside the brain.

While the majority of strokes affect those over 65, the number of younger people suffering them is increasing.

A recent MailOnline analysis of NHS data revealed that strokes among men aged under 39 have jumped by nearly a quarter over the last two decades.

The Stroke Association has previously predicted that the number of 45-year-olds and above being affected will have risen by 59 per cent between 2018 and 2035.

Stroke in childhood is uncommon, affecting roughly 400 UK children a year, according to the charity Brain Research UK.

When Ottilie Atkins, six, complained of feeling sick and dizzy after an afternoon at soft play, her mother assumed she was suffering a case of exhaustion

Ottilile's mother Holly, 34, rushed her daughter to hospital, where doctors performed a barrage of tests and discovered the schoolgirl had suffered a life-threatening stroke

In Ottilie Atkins' case, doctors explained that the condition had struck as a result of a 'reactivated' case of chickenpox that she'd suffered 18 months earlier.

The infection triggered swelling in the brain which eventually sparked a stroke. In roughly one to two out of every 1,000 chickenpox cases the virus reaches the brain causing encephalitis, or brain swelling.

Holly is now running 31km during December to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital children's charity, which helped Ottilie.

Speaking of the ordeal, Ms Atkins, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, said: 'Ottilie has no real history of any health conditions, she's always been generally very healthy.

'She came out of a really small soft play, it was a tiny little thing, just her and her sister bouncing around.

'She was very pale and was saying "I feel really dizzy". She had a clammy feeling to her like she was sweaty and cold.

'I thought maybe she'd been running around too much, maybe she'd exhausted herself, and just got a bit hot because it's inside.

'She sat down and had some sandwiches. Her colour started to come back but she kept saying she felt very dizzy.

While the majority of strokes affect those over 65, the number of younger people suffering them is increasing

'I said "okay, we're going to be going home soon so I'll take you and we'll leave Daddy and your sisters".

'As I was walking along with her I felt like her balance was off.'

After returning home, Ottilie watched a film before she started complaining of 'seeing things twice'.

'When I looked at her I felt like she wasn't looking all the way forward. She tried to blink and change the way she was looking.

'She was looking forward with one eye and it looked like the other eye was almost rolling around freely, it was really horrible to see.

'The week prior to that, just a complete coincidence, I took her for an eye test because she was due one. The optician told me she had great vision.

'I then saw this and thought "what's happened in the space of a week?".'

Ms Atkins took Ottilie to Watford General Hospital's A&E department where she underwent an eye test, CT scan, blood tests and two MRI scans.

Holly is now running 31km during December to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital children's charity, which helped Ottilie

On 17th October, four days after she was admitted to the children's ward for testing, a consultant delivered the news that Ottilie had suffered a stroke.

'I couldn't really quite take in what she was saying,' she said. 'All I heard was the word stroke and I thought I misheard.

'I said "sorry can I just clarify, did you say she had a stroke?" I couldn't believe what she was saying. She did say it was very rare she she was very unlucky, but she was lucky that the severity hasn't been as bad as it could have been.'

The youngster stayed in hospital for three weeks to receive medication when doctors revealed the stroke was brought on by chickenpox she'd had 18 months ago.

The mum admits she's grateful she took Ottilie to the hospital as quickly as she did as she's now making a smooth recovery with regular medication.

'I'm very grateful I took her to the hospital and got her checked out.

'Her eyesight is still affected. It's gradually made improvements but we've never known at what point it could potentially stop improving or if it will fully improve.

'She's still got double vision when she looks out to the right. Now she copes by moving her head a lot more to counteract it.

Stroke symptoms are commonly remembered under this four-letter acronym, FAST. Patients experiencing a stroke can often have their face drop on one side, struggle to lift both arms and have slurred speech, while time is essential, as immediate treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke can substantially slash the risk of a much deadlier major stroke

Other tell-tale signs of a stroke are less well-known. These include a numbness on one side of the body, vertigo and difficulty swallowing, all of which appear suddenly

'Doctors said children's brains can just sort of rewire, which is how she's made a really amazing improvement in a matter of weeks. If it was an adult it wouldn't quite be the same.'

Holly is now encouraging parents to 'follow their gut' and get their children checked out if they start suffering unusual symptoms.

She also wants to spread awareness of the 'BE FAST' NHS campaign, which stands for 'balance, eyes, face, arms, speech and time' that hopes to diagnose and treat stroke patients quicker.

'My advice would be to follow your gut. When I saw that her eyes weren't working in unison I thought something wasn't right, so I went to seek help.

'As parents we always want to help our children but sometimes life is busy and there are waiting lists for A&E.

'Never let that deter you. The doctors are the professionals, seek their help.'
Officials are warning against drinking raw milk after a child in northern California was suspected to have gotten bird flu from the drink.

The youngster - who has not been named - began vomiting and developed a fever before going to the hospital for treatment, according to Marin County Public Health.

The child was sent to the emergency room where they tested positive for an influenza A virus and officials suspect he had the H5N1 strain that is currently tearing through dairy farms across California.

The unnamed child has made a full recovery, and did not pass the virus onto anyone else in their family.

As they wait for additional tests, MCPH warns that doctors should be looking out for symptoms of the virus in people who drink raw milk.

Fears about the potential spread of bird flu prompted health authorities last week to order mandatory testing of the nation's raw milk supply. Seema Lakdawala a influenza researcher at Emory University, told Science: 'If H5 is ever going to be a pandemic, its going to be now'.

At least 4.4 percent of Americans (nearly 11 million people) try raw milk each year and one of its most famous advocates, Robert F Kennedy Jr., has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be secretary of Health and Human Services.

Normally, milk is made safe from being tainted with viruses and other pathogens like E Coli, through the pasteurization process, which involves heating dairy to a certain temperature over a period of time.

In 2006, Mary McGonigle-Martin got her son to start drinking raw milk at age seven after seeing advertisements for it at a local health foods store. He became ill with a bacteria that sent him into a coma, shutting down his kidneys. The McGonigle-Martin family is not involved in the current outbreak

Like the anonymous child in the new alert from Marin County Public Health, Chris McGonigle-Martin made a full recovery from his raw-milk borne illness, which was caused by the pathogen E coli

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Pasteurization has been used since 1862, and is thought of us a significant breakthrough in public health. It dramatically reduced the risk of food borne illness by effectively killing harmful bacteria in milk, eggs and juices.

But in recent decades, proponents of raw milk have claimed that pasteurization removes nutrients that help with allergies, asthma, and digestion issues.

However, according to the FDA, this process - which involves heating the milk to kill bacteria - has no significant effect on the nutritional value, nor does it get rid of 'probiotic microorganisms' that support gut health.

There have been 32 confirmed cases of bird flu, and one suspected in California this year - beginning in October 2024.

In the US, the total is 58.

Most have been in people who work directly with cows and poultry who have been infected with the virus.

Common symptoms include mild cough and conjunctivitis, which is also known as pink eye.

Since August, 527 herds in the state have been infected. Across the US, there have been roughly 729 herds infected, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

California has had the most cattle and human infections, and is trailed by states like Colorado, Michigan and Missouri.

In late November, a bird flu outbreak was detected at California-based Raw Farm LLC. It's one of the nation's biggest suppliers of raw dairy products.

The company issued a voluntary recall of all their products suspected of containing the virus.

Health officials have been testing farms like these amid fears about a new pandemic.

Louise Moncla a virologist at the University of Pennsylvania told Science: 'This feels the closest to an H5 pandemic that Ive seen'.

The American Dairy Association said that pasteurization is responsible for the eradication of many food borne illnesses that used to wreak havoc on the nation

In May, FDA commissioner Dr Robert Califf testified before a Senate Committee that they were preparing for a national outbreak of bird flu, since virus has been so infectious and deadly in previous outbreaks.

'This virus, like all viruses, is mutating,' Dr Califf told the policymakers. 'We need to continue to prepare for the possibility that it might jump to humans.'

'[The] real worry is that it will jump to the human lungs where, when that has happened in other parts of the world... the mortality rate has been 25 percent.'

Each time a new person gets sick with the virus, the bug has another opportunity to mutate, and with each mutation, it has the potential to become more infectious and deadly. That's why officials are trying to stem infections with warnings like these.

Yet raw milk drinking appears to be at an all time high, thanks in part to proponents like RFK Jr.

Aside from favoring raw milk, the former Presidential candidate has expressed support for debunked theories linking vaccines to autism, 5G wireless technologies to cancer and mass shootings to prescription drug use in the US.

Still, polls from The Hill find that RFK Jr may have a 47 percent approval rating, suggesting that the politician has a large amount of sway over a portion of the American populous.

Raw milk isn't prohibited nationally, but in some states states like Louisiana, Michigan and New Jersey, raw milk sales are outlawed. In others, like California, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, the product is allowed in general retail settings.

Still, according to MCPH, the H5N1 has yet to transfer between humans, and shouldn't be a cause of panic.

The department said: 'People rarely get bird flu, but those who interact with infected dairy cows, poultry, or wildlife have a greater risk of infection. The current risk to the public remains low.'
READ MORE: America is the least safe place in developed WORLD to have a baby

Women have revealed how they were given pain medications during childbirth and nearly had their children taken away after positive drug tests.

When Amairani Salinas of Texas was 32 weeks pregnant with her fourth child last year, doctors discovered that her baby had no heartbeat.

As doctors prepared her for an emergency c-section, they gave her a benzodiazepine, a sedative that helps patients stay calm.

Ms Salinas' daughter was stillborn. As she cradled the infant's body in her arms the next day, a social worker told her she was being reported to child welfare authorities because a drug test came back positive for benzodiazepines, the drug doctors gave her.

Victoria Villanueva of Indiana was induced with her first child in 2017. Doctors gave the then 18-year-old morphine, an opiate, for the pain.

Just a day later, a social worker told the new mom that her baby's stool showed traces of opiates and that she would be reported to social services.

Mrs Villanueva said: 'I didn't even know how to function.'

These are just two of the women who have nearly had their children taken away as a result of positive drug tests, despite doctors prescribing and choosing the medications for them.

Women in Texas and Indiana revealed how they nearly had their newborns taken away due to positive drug tests from medications doctors gave them during birth (stock image)

Susan Horton, pictured above with one of her children, had to battle for two weeks to get her youngest back after a drug test falsely detected opioids

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A 2022 study from Massachusetts General Hospital found that more than nine in 10 women who were given fentanyl in their epidurals tested positive for it.

According to the Marshall Project, which detailed the women's stories, drug tests involving urine samples in plastic cups are also 'highly susceptible to false positives, errors and misinterpretation - and many hospitals have failed to put in place safeguards that would protect patients from being reported over faulty test results.'

While medications like morphine and fentanyl have caused some of these patients to be flagged as opioid abusers, even common blood pressure drugs given during C-sections like Labetalol have caused false positives for meth because the active ingredients have similar structures to amphetamines.

Recent research suggests that incidents like these have been on the rise since Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022.

One study in JAMA Pediatrics, for example, found an 11 percent increase in children entering foster care if mothers lived in states with abortion restrictions like Texas and Indiana.

In 2022, the latest federal data available, more than 35,000 babies were reported to child welfare services due to substance exposure.

Elizabeth Dominguez (right) was temporarily separated from her newborn son Carter after she ate a poppy seed bagel that caused her to test positive to opiates. She is pictured after being reunited with her baby, alongside her husband and elder daughter

As she grieved her stillborn daughter, Ms Salinas had no idea the hospital had given her benzodiazepine and denied taking it.

She also tested positive for Delta-9, a type of legal cannabis she had gotten at a grocery store.

The incident forced her into a lengthy investigation, as well as severe depression, as she tried to take care of her other children.

She told the Marshall Project: 'I still have three live children. They still need to eat. They still need to get up for school. They still need their mom.'

It took four months for officials to close the case against her as 'unsubstantiated.' It would be another year before she would read her medical records and discover why she tested positive.

Ms Salinas said: 'Why are you giving your attention to this person whos a good mom, who hasnt done anything, instead of a child who may actually be in danger?'

Mrs Villanueva, who was newly married and working on her GED, told a nurse that while she briefly experimented with marijuana and acid when she was 15 years old, she hadn't used any drugs since.

She received a drug test when she was first admitted to the hospital, which came back negative for any illicit substances. A nurse gave her morphine once contractions started.

But according to Mrs Villanueva's medical records, the hospital told the Indiana Department of Child Services about her 'history of drug use.' Doctors also sent her newborn daughter's stool for testing without her knowledge, which found morphine traces.

Even though her records explicitely state that the drugs were administered during labor, Mrs Villanueva still had to submit more tests and allow inspections of her home.

She told the Marshall Project that it took several weeks for investigators to close the case.

She said: 'I couldnt even really enjoy properly my child being born. Until after the fact, when they were gone.'

In unrealted but equally horrifying cases, some women have also reported having their children taken away simply after eating certain foods.

Ms Horton said: 'I felt very emotional and I was alone. I just gave birth the day before, I'm not sleeping, and I just felt really ganged up upon'

In 2019, 29-year-old Elizabeth Dominguez was forcibly separated from her newborn son after a urine test came back positive for opiates.

It turned out that the poppy seed bagel she had eaten hours before going into labor had caused trace amounts of opiates to show up in her urine. Drug tests for the infant, Carter, came back negative.

Because poppy seeds come from the opium plant, they can become contaminated with opiates.

Ms Dominguez told local news station WKBW: 'I felt like a terrible mother leaving him,' she said. 'I just want everyone to know that this could happen.'

'It's such a terrible thing and I don't want it to happen to anyone.'

And in 2022, Susan Horton of California ate a pre-made poppy seed salad from Costco the day before giving birth to her daughter.

Just a day after delivering the newborn, doctors told her she couldn't take the baby home because opiates were found in the mother-of-five's urine.

It took two weeks to regain custody of her daughter, Hallie, which included appearing in juvenile court and having her home inspected.

She told Reveal News: 'I felt very emotional and I was alone. I just gave birth the day before, I'm not sleeping, and I just felt really ganged up upon.

'They had a singular piece of evidence that I had taken something and it was wrong.'
MBABANE  In an inspiring display of commitment to marital well-being, Pastor Bakhe Dlaminis recent Recharge Your Marriage Conference in Gauteng drew an astonishing crowd of over 3 000 attendees.

This overwhelming turnout marked a significant increase from his last event, which hosted 1 000 participants at the Mavuso Trade Centre. During an interview, Dlamini admitted that he had not anticipated such a large audience, particularly as he noted the challenges men face when it comes to attending therapy or similar events.

Well-prepared

Nevertheless, he and his wife have managed to create a phenomenal movement that resonates with couples seeking to strengthen their relationships. The atmosphere at the conference was electric, with couples arriving well-prepared and eager to engage. Dlamini observed that attendees were not just passive listeners; they actively participated, asking numerous questions and diving into the activities designed to rejuvenate their marriages. This level of engagement suggested a deep-seated desire for connection and improvement among the couples present. As the event unfolded, it became clear that Dlaminis approach is touching hearts and transforming lives.

Couples left the conference inspired and motivated, armed with new tools and insights to reinforce their bonds. Looking ahead, Dlamini has announced a follow-up show scheduled for June 2025. With such a fervent response in Gauteng, expectations are high for the next gathering.The on-going success of the Recharge Your Marriage Conference exemplifies the growing need for open dialogues surrounding marriage and relationships, and Pastor Bakhe Dlamini continues to lead the charge in this vital movement.
Even the most cautious investor must have been living under a rock not to have noticed the boom in Bitcoin.

For an asset that has spent most of its short, chequered life lurking in the shadows of the financial system it was perhaps fitting that the digital currencys price broke through the $100,000 barrier in the dead of night.

The flagship cryptocurrency favoured by drug dealers and money launderers surged past the milestone just after 2.45am last Thursday.

Its huge recent advance has made some investors willing to turn a blind eye to the risks, and millions have been piling in.

But it is not just crypto itself that has been soaring. Shares in MicroStrategy, a US company that is essentially a turbo-charged bet on Bitcoin, have risen by more than 650 per cent in the past year.

That makes them one of the best performers on the US stock market  and British private investors have stampeded in, despite the considerable risks.

MicroStrategy was the most-bought share in November, according to ii  the UKs second-biggest investment platform.

The company was founded by Michael Saylor, 59, a controversial tech entrepreneur with a colourful private life.

Bitcoin has soared by 50 per cent since Donald Trumps election win

He is now executive chairman and holds a 10 per cent stake which, based on the current heady share price, is on paper worth more than $9billion.

But his critics harbour grave misgivings about MicroStrategys share-price rise, which is based on a debt-fuelled Bitcoin buying spree.

So, is buying these shares a route to get rich quick  or the road to ruin?

MicroStrategys business, in essence, is buying Bitcoin with borrowed money and capital raised off the back of its own vertiginous share price.

This is all going gangbusters right now, because Bitcoin itself has gone bonkers.

Traded around the clock every day of the year, Bitcoin has soared by 50 per cent since Donald Trumps election win.

This fuelled hopes that the President-elects return to the White House will usher in an era of light-touch regulation  which would be great for crypto.

Trump, who once slammed Bitcoin as a scam, has nominated crypto cheerleader Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which oversees US stock markets and protects investors. Think foxes and hen coops.

Mr Trump has declared himself a crypto president and promised to consider creating a strategic reserve of Bitcoins for the US government

Some in the industry, including Mike Novogratz, the billionaire boss of crypto-trading firm Galaxy Digital, believe Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are becoming respectable.

After four years of political purgatory, Bitcoin and the entire digital asset ecosystem are on the brink of entering the financial mainstream.

Even so, Bitcoin  created in 2008  has no intrinsic value and for years it was shunned by mainstream financial institutions. Many private investors also gave it a wide berth.

They baulked at the wild swings in Bitcoins price, which is notorious for its volatility, and other risks associated with crypto  including fraud and scams.

Trumps impending return to the Oval Office has changed all that.

He has declared himself a crypto president and promised to consider creating a strategic reserve of Bitcoins for the US government, which could boost prices even further.

This has not gone unnoticed this side of the Atlantic.

Some seven million people  or 12 per cent of the UK adult population  now own crypto assets, according to recent figures from City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority.

No-one could be happier about this than MicroStrategys Saylor, not least because few stand to make more money from a rise in Bitcoin than he does.

The tech entrepreneur once lost $6billion on paper in a day at the height of dotcom mania in 2000 after MicroStrategy had to change its accounting methods and restate two years of revenue.

Saylor and two colleagues were fined and agreed a $8.3million settlement with the SEC without admitting any wrongdoing.

Earlier this year, the billionaire Bitcoin investor and MicroStrategy agreed to pay $40million to settle a tax fraud lawsuit.

Saylor was accused of posing as a resident of lower-tax states like Florida and Virginia when his actual home, the lawsuit alleged, was a luxury penthouse in the US capital of Washington which overlooked the Potomac River where he kept a fleet of yachts.

He denied the allegations and doubled down on his claim that he lives in Florida.

Florida remains my home today, and I continue to dispute the allegation that I was ever a resident of the District of Columbia, Saylor said.

He agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the continued burdens of the litigation on friends, family, and myself.

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, since 2020 Saylor has transformed what was a struggling data-analytics firm with a share price going nowhere fast into what one banking expert calls a Bitcoin-buying juggernaut.

MicroStrategy is the largest corporate holder in the world of Bitcoins. It owns nearly 2 per cent of the digital currency in circulation.

This, quite simply, is what has fuelled the stunning rise in its shares. But anyone who has bought them, or is thinking of doing so, should be aware they carry substantial risks.

Saylor wants to outperform the cryptocurrency itself  and is already well on the way to achieving that goal.

MicroStrategy is now valued at more than $90billion. Remarkably, that is more than twice the value of all the Bitcoins it owns. How so?

The short answer is leverage, or the art of ramping up returns by buying assets with borrowed money. The catch is that risks are also amplified, but Bitcoin groupies dont want to hear about that.

Saylor plans to raise $42billion in the next three years to buy even more Bitcoin to add to his stash.

He is planning to do this by borrowing money and issuing even more MicroStrategy shares. The scale of financial engineering involved can only be described as epic.

It works like this. MicroStrategy issues new shares at current high values to investors. At the same time, it issues bonds  which are basically IOUs  to hedge funds and other market operators.

One twist is that it pays zero interest on these bonds  which after a period can be exchanged for MicroStrategy shares  so it is costing the company nothing to borrow the cash.

The hedgies and others buying the bonds and lending money to Saylor for free are in essence making a bet that MicroStrategy shares will go up enough to compensate them for missing out on interest payments.

As for the company, it uses the money it has raised by selling its shares and bonds to buy more Bitcoin. This sends the price of Bitcoin up, which in turn lifts MicroStrategys share price even further.

That then means MicroStrategy can sell more of its own shares and bonds off this higher price to buy even more Bitcoins.

And so the rinse-and-repeat cycle continues. The catch, of course, is that a fall in the value of Bitcoin could bring the whole merry-go-round to a crashing halt.

Buying Bitcoin directly usually involves using offshore exchanges such as Coinbase and Binance, which are not authorised in the UK, so savers have no protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme safety net.

The Financial Conduct Authority puts it bluntly. If you buy crypto, be prepared to lose all your money, says Matthew Long, its director of payments and digital assets.

Individuals can buy shares in MicroStrategy easily through an investment platform, but the risks are if anything even higher because the companys strategy of buying Bitcoin with borrowed money juices its gains but also deepens any losses.

A bet on its shares could go badly wrong if the extraordinary rally in Bitcoin and other digital currencies goes into reverse  so dont invest any cash you cannot afford to lose.

This is exactly what happened in 2022 when Sam Bankman-Frieds crypto exchange FTX collapsed, dragging the price of Bitcoin below $16,000 and plunging MicroStrategy into hefty losses.

Bankman-Fried was sentenced to a 25-year stint in jail earlier this year for defrauding customers of his bankrupt exchange and is currently behind bars.

Experts warn the latest hike in MicroStrategys share price is just another speculative bubble that is bound to burst again.

Its symptomatic of a market that has become obsessed with believing in get-rich-quick schemes, said David Trainer of research firm New Constructs.

If you like Bitcoin, go buy Bitcoin. But dont invest in a company thats losing money and also buying Bitcoin, because then youve sort of doubled your risk, he told the Wall Street Journal.

Of course Saylor, the true Bitcoin believer, is having none of that.

I think its [Bitcoins] going to surge through the roof to 180 (thousand dollars) and crash to 140 and people will be freaking out about it again, he predicted on US broadcast channel CNBC last week.

His argument is that because there is a ceiling on the number of Bitcoin that can ever be produced, demand will exceed supply and the price will inevitably rise over time  albeit with fluctuations.

Like gold, Bitcoins perceived value comes from its limited availability.

Bitcoins computer algorithm sets a fixed limit of 21million coins, most of which have already been mined or digitally created.

It is the only commodity invented in the history of the human race that is absolutely capped so that means you can expect it to keep going up, Saylor declared.

Scarcity is Bitcoins secret sauce, advocates such as Saylor insist.

But scarcity alone is not a source of value.

Saylor says Bitcoins volatility also helps boost gains, comparing its huge gyrations with fire.

Some people run away from the fire but Henry Ford put the fire into a carriage via an engine and created an entire (car) industry and gave humanity wings, the Bitcoin evangelist told a bemused CNBC presenter.

Even those of us who choose not to jump on the Bitcoin bandwagon can no longer ignore crypto.

In the past, its gyrations were dramatic but its penetration remained relatively small so the broader financial system was not compromised.

But it has now reached a scale where its fortunes could affect the mainstream financial system and, by extension, real economies and individuals  even those of us who have studiously steered clear.

The value of all Bitcoins in circulation is $2trillion  more than the combined worth of all but the biggest companies in the FTSE-100 index.

Investment heavyweights BlackRock and Fidelity now offer Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the US, though not yet in the UK. Saylor points out that 120 public companies now hold crypto.

All of which means that if Bitcoin collapses again, the global financial system will be no longer immune.

It would also drag MicroStrategy down with it. The fact it survived a previous Bitcoin meltdown might not necessarily mean it can do the same again.

It could be a giant house of cards that will crush many shareholders when it crashes, says Trainer.

It has become a game of musical chairs  you play until the music stops and you just hope you can get out before the crash.
Heathrow Airport is expecting its busiest ever festive period this year, with Christmas Day passenger numbers more than 20 per cent ahead of last year.

Britain's busiest airport saw 141,000 passengers travel through its terminals on 25 December and it expects this to balloon to 'around 170,000' passengers this year.

Heathrow said on Tuesday it served 6.5million passengers for its busiest ever November, with routes to Singapore, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Abu Dhabi, Chicago, Zurich, Mumbai and Paris proving popular.

The eight cities joined Heathrow's 'millionaire club' last month after exceeding one million passengers since the start of the year.

Heathrow thinks it will hit 25 millionaire club routes this year, up from 24 last year.

Asian and Pacific routes saw the strongest growth last month compared with December last year, up 11.4 per cent to almost 11.7million, followed by internal UK flights at 9.8 per cent and EU routes at 8.1 per cent.

Britain's busiest airport has prepared 'festive activities' for travellers in December

African routes were the only geography in decline, falling 7.5 per cent to around 3.3million passengers.

Heathrow has also already surpassed 2023's cargo volumes by 11 per cent, which it pinned on 'greater belly hold cargo capacity' on passenger aircraft and stronger overall demand market.

The airport has prepared 'festive activities' for what it anticipates will be its busiest ever December, including meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, 'Bjorn the polar bear', and decorations.

Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow chief executive, said: 'This year has been all about providing high levels of service for record amounts of passengers at Heathrow, and November was no different.

'As we embrace the festive season, our focus remains on ensuring smooth, joyful journeys-whether it is helping passengers get away for Christmas to reunite with their loved ones, or making sure cargo reaches its destination on time.

'Make sure to look out for our exciting seasonal surprises throughout the terminals, as we aim to make this holiday season magical for those travelling through Heathrow.'
Sara Sharif's two-year abuse ordeal was missed by social services, despite teachers raising concerns over bruises on the ten-year-old on at least three occasions.

The schoolgirl was subjected to brutal beatings at the hands of her cruel father Urfan Sharif at their 500,000 three-bedroom home in Woking, Surrey.

His wife Beinash Batool, 30, and brother Faisal Malik, 29, were party to the years-long sickening abuse in which Sara was hooded, burned, strangled and tied up.

Neighbours would hear 'gut-wrenching screams' coming from the home which was often followed by a woman shouting: 'Go to your room, you f***ing b*****d.'

Concerned teachers recorded seeing bruises on Sara and made a report to social services.

But astonishingly a decision was made not to look into the family. Months later, Sara was brutally killed.

Today, a jury found Sharif and Batool guilty of her murder, while Malik was convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Below, MailOnline runs through the 15 missed opportunities to save her:

Sara Sharif pictured at school before she was murdered by her father and stepmother

The faces of evil: Urfan Sharif, 42, (left) and Beinash Batool (right) were found guilty of murdering Sara

Sara's uncle Faisal Malik, 29, was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child

1. January 2013

Sara Sharif is made subject to a child protection plan at birth due to her father Urfan Sharif being accused of attacking three women including her mother, as well as hitting and biting two children. But she is allowed to remain with her father.

2. February 22, 2013

A month after Sara is born, social services and police are told that Sharif has slapped a child around the face. No charges are brought.

3. May 7, 2013

A social worker spots a burn mark on a childs leg. Sharif had failed to report the incident and claimed it was a BBQ accident. Nothing is done.

4. October 7, 2013

A child is seen with a burn mark sustained from a domestic iron. Sharif told social services the child had knocked into the iron. No action is taken.

5. 2013-2014

A child tells a social worker that Sharif smashed up a TV and punched Saras mother Olga.

Sara Sharif pictured as a toddler

Urfan Sharif, 42, (pictured) being arrested on a plane at Gatwick airport on September 13

Sara was beaten to death by her abusive father in August last year 9

Sara suffered an unimaginable ordeal at the hands of her father and stepmother

6. November 2014

Sara is taken into foster care after a child tells a social worker about a bite mark. But she later returns to live with her father following a family court hearing in October 2019 where social services recommend she should stay with him because that is her preference.

7. January 2015

Sharif is reported to social services for waving a knife around at home in what he said was a zombie game. Social workers note that Sharif hit and kicked Olga at home and the pair threatened to kill each other.

8. February 2015

A child tells their foster carer that Sharif used to hit them on the bottom with a belt. In September the child is heard to say to Sharif, when youre at home you hit and kick me every day.

9. 2015

Olga tells social services that Sharif tightened a belt around her neck. Around this time social workers complain Sharif is coercive and derogatory towards them.

Sara Sharif pictured during her reception year at school

Sara's father Sharif (left) and his wife Beinash Batool both stood trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering the schoolgirl

10. December 2016

A child tells a social worker they dont like Sharif because he punched them all over their body and gave them lots of bruises. Social workers observe that Sara flinches when Sharif tells her off during supervised contact and she seems surprised when he cuddles her.

11. June 6, 2022

A teacher reports that Sara has a bruise under her eye to the schools online child protection monitoring system. Sara initially will not say what happened, before claiming another child hit her.

12. March 10, 2023

A teacher saw bruises on her face. Sara said she had fallen on roller skates. When Sara gave a different story to a safeguarding lead, the school made a referral to social services. Six days later social services remove decide to take no further action and replace close the case.

'The headteacher spoke to her and Sara lowered her head and refused to lift her head or show her head,' prosecutor William Emlyn Hughes KC told jurors during the six week murder trial.

'She was reluctant to talk and kept her face lowered and only spoke with her face buried with her arm on the table.'

Sara Sharif's evil father faces life in prison today for the murder of the schoolgirl (pictured)

Sara was found to have ten spinal fractures and further fractures to her right collar bone, both shoulder blades, both arms, both hands, three separate fingers, bones near the wrist in each hand, two ribs and her hyoid bone in the neck

The family house on Hammond Road in Woking, Surrey, where the body of Sara Sharif was found

13. March 20, 2023

A report is logged on the school's internal system after Saras stepmother Beinash Batool is overheard referring to children as "motherf***er, sister f***er, b**** and whore" in the playground.

14. March 28, 2023

Batool claims to a teacher that a mark on Saras face is caused by a pen. The teacher tells the schools safeguarding lead.

15. April 17, 2023

Sharif decides to home-school Sara. The school rings the council for advice and is told it should make a referral if there are concerns.

It was the third time she had been taken out of school following previous occasions in June 2022 and again after April 2023.

Staff see Sara later that day at school pick-up and she seems fine so they decide against it, even though she had been beaten earlier that day. She is never seen outside the home again.

Beinash Batool speaking alongside Urfan Sharif after they fled to Pakistan to evade justice for the schoolgirl's murder

Little Sara Sharif, 10, was subjected to the most horrific abuse at her family home in Woking, Surrey
Rising from her first-class seat to address the police officers who had boarded the flight at Heathrow to arrest her, Beinash Batool coolly asked: I think youre looking for us?

As she and her husband, Urfan Sharif and his brother Faisal Malik were led off the plane in handcuffs, their fellow passengers might have been forgiven for thinking they had returned to face justice willingly.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, the three suspects were only delivered to British police on September 13 last year following an extraordinary  and tenacious operation in Pakistan to flush them out.

When they escaped on a British Airways flight from Heathrow to Islamabad on August 9  the day after Saras murder - they knew very well that Pakistan had no extradition treaty with the UK.

They had paid 5,180 for the plane tickets and took five children with them, abandoning their car at Heathrow on the top floor of the terminal three short stay car park, with the keys still in the ignition.

As they had committed no crime on Pakistani soil, they had good reason to believe they were out of the reach of British law.

Not long after touching down, Sharif finally called Surrey Police to confess to killing her in the early hours of August 10.

On September 6, Sharif and Batool released a two minute and 36 second video claiming they are in hiding as they fear the Pakistan police will torture and kill them

Sara suffered an unimaginable ordeal at the hands of her father and stepmother

The home in Jhelum, Pakistan, where the three fugitives hid from authorities

Police and paramedics raced to their home in Woking where they found Saras body and launched an investigation.

Crucially, however, Sharif had not told them his whereabouts and the police didnt even know what country he was in.

It took five days of extensive work by British detectives trawling through CCTV and flight records before they were able to confirm the groups location and seek help from their counterparts in Pakistan.

On August 15, Nasir Mehmood Bajwa, the District Police Officer (DPO) for Jhelum in Pakistan, received an Interpol request via his bosses in Islamabad to search and locate the suspects.

Within 24 hours a further request came through, this time for an urgent safe and well check on children, who were judged to be at risk of significant harm, travelling with Sharif, Batool and Malik.

It was this second alert, according to DPO Mehmood Bajwa, that prompted his men to adopt controversial methods to catch the killers.

They [Sharif and Batool] murdered a girl, so we had to do more for the safety of the children, he told the Mail. We employed hard tactics to ensure their safety.

He dispatched officers to visit the home of Muhammad Sharif, the father of Malik and Sharif, in the suburbs of Jhelum.

Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik hid at this home in Jhelum, Pakistan

District Police Officer (DPO) for Jhelum in Pakistan, Nasir Mehmood Bajwa

Police tracked the fugitives down to this house in Jhelum, Pakistan

Sara was beaten to death by her abusive father in August last year 9

Mr Sharif senior answered the door with another son and they told officers they had not seen Sharif since 2010 and suggested he might be with Batools family in Mirpur 30 miles away, all of which later proved to be a lie.

Door-to-door inquiries also went nowhere.

With the clock ticking, Imran Hussain, one of the officers on the ground, said they went undercover.

We decided to use spies, people in civilian clothes, he explained to the Mail. For that I went myself in plain clothes, on a motorbike.

I saw a small salon in front of the Sharif family house. So I went there, got my beard shaved, and got a haircut.

I asked about Urfan, about his family. Then I asked if they had come to Pakistan recently and he said that they had.

He mentioned that he had seen them just two days ago, and that they even came in to see him.

Finally, a breakthrough. Sharifs barber had just given him away.

Police officer Imran Hussain (pictured) was given a vital tip-off over where Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik were hiding

Police were able to track them down after Sharif's barber said he had seen the fugitive 'just two days ago'

Urfan Sharif, 42, was emotionless as he was found guilty of murdering his daughter

Sara's stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, wept as she was found guilty of murdering the girl

Sara's uncle Faisal Malik, 29, was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child

This became a turning point, Mr Hussain recalled. I checked the surrounding CCTV cameras and it confirmed they had come here.

In the meantime, his colleagues in Islamabad had pulled CCTV footage from the airport showing Sharifs uncle greeting him on arrival.

It confirmed what they had suspected, that family members were helping to conceal the fugitives.

With this evidence, DPO Mehmood Bajwas men raided Sharifs fathers home.

The no-nonsense police chief explained: There are only two ways  either the suspect surrenders, or the police must use high-handedness to get them.

In this case, high-handedness amounted to using the threat of prosecuting the wider family to flush Sharif, Batool and Malik out.

He said they caught 17 or 18 family members and interrogated them properly. Locals put it more bluntly.

They arrested everyone, and I mean everyone, a source said. Not just a few relatives  but nearly the whole street.

Pakistani interrogated dozens of Sharif's family members (Pictured: Urfan Sharif's father, Muhammad Sharif)

A couple of hours after touching down in Pakistan, Sharif finally called Surrey Police to confess to his daughter's murder

Any male who knew the family was taken into custody. They must have locked up over 20 people at least.

But the police had a problem - they had no grounds on which to arrest the relatives. Within 48 hours they would have to produce a charge or release them.

A lawyer acting for the Sharif family alleges this is where DPO Mehmood Bajwas team got creative with the law.

The Mail has seen evidence of cases of armed robbery and kidnapping against Sharifs brothers.

Some of these cases were read out in court in an effort to detain family members for longer, according to the lawyer.

Fake cases were made against the family of Urfan to pressurise them, they claimed.

The lawyer added: The only people left alone in the family were elders or females. The rest of them were picked up by the police.

However, Pakistani police categorically deny allegations of mendacious cases and say they were legitimate complaints, made by members of the public which they followed up and subsequently dropped.

Hussain said: The complaint was made by someone else, separately to us. They were not filed by us.

Initially the tactics didnt work and for weeks, Sharif, Batool and Malik proved elusive.

Bodycam footage shows Sara's stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and her husband Urfan Sharif, 42, being removed from their first-class seats by police to be arrested for Sara's murder

Sharif being arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of his daughter's murder

Sara's uncle Faisal Malik is arrested by police officers on suspicion of her murder - he lived with Sara and her family in Woking

Sara Sharif, 10, was found dead with at least 71 injuries including beating and burn marks and a broken bone in her neck

Finally, the immense pressure put on relatives saw them give up addresses linked to the suspects, who were moving from house to house, trying to stay one step ahead.

And eventually the officers managed to track down children who had travelled with the trio to a property in Jhelum.

But police reports said that as they recovered the youngsters, officers looked out of the window only to watch on helplessly as the adults sped away, presumably in a car.

It was the end game, however, and the fugitives realised they could not keep running.

At this point Sharif, Batool and Malik went to the airport and flew home voluntarily, not appearing to have any contact with Pakistani police themselves.

But some believe a deal was struck where the suspects were told in no uncertain terms to go back to Britain or there would be continued pressure applied against their relatives.

Certainly, in normal circumstances, because there is no extradition treaty a good lawyer should have enabled them to avoid deportation for years.

The three treated themselves to first-class tickets to London as a last hurrah  but it was to be their final taste of luxury before they were locked up awaiting trial.

Its a luxury they are unlikely to enjoy ever again.
From criminal, evil, and crazy to great, strong, and good.

Voter perceptions of Donald Trump have gone through an extraordinary transformation during the past six months as the former president moved into a polling lead and then won the election.

Surveys by J.L. Partners chart how word clouds of responses have gone from negative to positive.

And in their latest poll, some 37 percent of respondentsincluding 15 percent of Democratssaid they had a more positive view of Trump since the election.

Voters said it was in part because the country should unite around a new leader and that they were encouraged by his Cabinet picks.

In the latest online survey of 1006 registered voters conducted three weeks after the election, voters were asked to summarize their view of the president elect in one word.

'Great,' is the word that dominates the resulting word cloud, beside 'strong,' 'good,' and 'leader.'

'Bad,' 'a**hole,' and 'racist' all feature, but have taken a backseat compared with the results from August.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Voter attitudes to Donald Trump have softened since he won the Nov. 5 election

Your browser does not support iframes.

Go back to June and the results are even more damning. The word cloud features: Criminal, evil and disgusting.

James Johnson, cofounder of J.L. Partners said it was clear that views had been transformed since the start of the year.

'Part of this is because Donald Trump ran a good election campaign. He presented strength, whereas his opponent, in Kamala Harris, presented weakness,' he said.

'But there is also something in the fact that Trump won the election. Broadly speaking, we are seeing people getting behind the president, and when asked why that is the most common answer is that we need to unite as a country.'

'It remains to be seen how long that will last in a potentially divisive presidency but at the moment, voters are warming to Trump and saying let's give him a chance.'

Trump won a more convincing election victory than most pundits expected.

Not only was he the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years, but he also claimed victory in all seven of the key battleground states up for grabs.

Since the election, more than a third of registered voters in our poll said they had a more positive view of Trump. However, some 24 percent (including 44 percent of Democrats) said they had a more negative view.

Voters were asked to explain why their views on Trump had changed. Fo

Trump's romped to victory, becoming the first Republican in 20 years to win the popular vote

J.L. Partners asked respondents to then explain in a sentence or two why their view had changed.

For those saying it had become more positive, the most common explanations included the words: President, America, country, and Cabinet.

For those saying it had become more negative, the key words were: Cabinet, people and racist.

Overall, the survey found that Trump had a higher favorability rating than President Joe Biden, although both are in the red with voters.

Some 40 percent of voters said they had an unfavorable view of the president-elect, with 30 percent saying they had a positive impressive, giving a net score of negative 10.

For Biden, the numbers were 35 percent who disapprove and 22 percent who approve, giving a net score of negative 13 points.
Michele Colenso was dozing on a bean bag on the deck of the Carlton Queen after a morning dive in the Red Sea when there was a terrible shuddering noise.

'I heard the rubbish bin slide across the deck and braced myself,' says Michele, 63, from Dorset.

The boat lurched to the right and, within seconds, it was at a 90-degree angle  and sinking fast.

Hurled against the deck railings with such force that she broke a bone in her foot, Michele watched in horror as three of her fellow divers were flung overboard.

'I could hear my friend Sally say, 'I can't hold on much longer.' She broke her ribs when she let go and went into the water.

'As the water came up around me, I realised I couldn't stay where I was either.

The Carlton Queen yacht, a 42-metre liveaboard vessel, sank on April 24 after rolling on to its side in the Red Sea off Hurghada, Egypt

'I thought our chances were slim to none as we went into the sea. We were fighting to stay alive.'

Astonishingly, all 26 guests  15 of them British  and nine crew members survived when the Carlton Queen (right), a so-called 'liveaboard' diving boat, meaning divers live and sleep on board for days at a time, capsized last April in the Red Sea.

Carlton Queen's owner, Carlton Fleet, insisted the three-deck vessel had been safe to sail, while the Egyptian authorities blamed a mechanical fault at sea.

But Michele and her fellow passengers, almost all of whom were experienced divers on a week-long trip, are less convinced, claiming the recently renovated boat was tilting even while still in dock. Michele says local police and courts refused to accept the report she filed of the incident.

Back home after a week recuperating in Egypt, the UK survivors asked the government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to investigate, only to be told they were not 'substantially interested' because no UK citizen had died. 'Now,' Michele says, in tears, 'people are dead.'

Because, last month another liveaboard boat, the Sea Story, sank off the Egyptian coast, and the outcome was altogether more tragic. Four bodies have now been recovered and Brits Jenny Cawson, 36, and her husband Tarig Sinada, 49, from Devon, are among seven of the 31 divers and 13 crew who are still unaccounted for. The search for bodies was reportedly called off last week. The 44m boat went down on November 25 after being hit by a wave shortly after leaving a port near Marsa Alam. That day, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority had warned of high waves on the Red Sea but again, according to Egyptian authorities, the boat had been safe to set sail.

This time, the UK Government has said it will investigate the Sea Story tragedy. When the Mail contacted the MAIB for comment, it revealed it 'has registered as a substantially interested state into the Egyptian authorities' accident investigation'. A spokesperson added: 'As part of our enquiries into this tragic incident, MAIB are also assessing several other incidents involving liveaboard dive vessels in the Red Sea area, including the loss of Carlton Queen.' To which Michele professes both relief and anger that 'people had to die to get action'.

In fact, there have been five liveaboard boat accidents in the Red Sea alone in the past year. The tally includes the on-board fire and sinking in February of a boat called Sea Legend, with guests reporting faulty smoke and fire alarms and not enough life jackets on board.

In June 2023, the liveaboard Hurricane also caught fire, the cause believed to be an electric fault. All 15 passengers on it were British, three of whom died.

Diving holidays are an increasingly popular part of the adventure travel sector, especially among Brits, who account for a relatively large 8.4 per cent of the global diving tourism market.

Flames engulf the stern of Hurricane in June 2023. Three of its British passengers died

Yet many are now asking whether these holidays are safe.

Ease of access to reefs, proximity to the UK and a temperate climate mean Egypt is particularly popular as a winter diving destination. But it's not the only location raising concerns.

Elsewhere, dive boat MV Conception caught fire off the coast of California in September 2019, killing 34 of the 39 passengers and crew on board. Last December, Millie Young, 57, from Brighton, went missing in Thailand from dive boat The Reggae Queen, when it was hit by waves so high it sank. Millie has not been found.

So, is it simply a spate of terrible luck? Or did some of these boats sink under more suspicious circumstances?

Michele, who was working for the University of Nottingham's student union at the time of the disaster and has been diving since the 1990s, says while boats were once run by experienced fishermen, they're now owned by 'people making investments. They are extending boats to cram more people on board to recover from Covid losses, and making them unstable'.

Dr Christian Hanson, 50, a software engineer from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was also on the Carlton Queen. He and his wife Michelle, 50, an IT support worker, who paid around 1,000 each for the week-long trip, questioned why the boat was leaning a few degrees in the dock in the beach town of Hurghada.

Tourists console each other after being picked up from the Red Sea off the Egyptian coast

'The captain and dive guides told us it was because they were filling tanks with water for the trip, which was possible,' says Christian, an experienced diver who explains its allure as 'utter freedom from everything else in your life'.

Later they would find out the 42m boat had recently been extended by 6m, with an extra three cabins added to take the total number to 14.

At the safety briefing on the first day, divers were shown a picture of the safety hatch through which guests in the lower cabin could escape to the deck in case of fire.

They were also shown the life jackets. 'They were black, so couldn't easily be seen,' says Christian who, despite his misgivings, adds, 'you don't believe someone is going to risk your life by going to sea on a boat that has issues'.

By the second morning of their trip, the boat had tilted on its moorings heavily enough for Christian and Michelle to be thrown out of their cabin's double bed at 4.30am. A security guard reassured them it was because people were using water from the tanks to shower, upsetting its equilibrium, and within an hour, it was 'more or less level again', says Christian. Less than 12 hours later, however, the boat capsized.

Christian was in the saloon on the middle deck of the vessel when the boat, still moving, leant precariously to the left, then righted itself, before lurching to the right until it was perpendicular to the sea.

The saloon door from which to exit the inside of the boat was now 4m above Christian and furniture was falling on his head.

With the window now underneath him and fearful of being 'cut to ribbons' if it broke, he realised with a sense of dread that the saloon doors were incorrectly designed to open outwards, 'so when the boat sank the pressure would lock us in and we would drown slowly,' says Christian. 'I knew I had to break the door.'

A pragmatic man who didn't let himself think of his wife on the deck above  'in a life and death situation you can't afford not to be calm,' he says  he made a climbing frame with the furniture to reach the door and flung it open.

Keen divers Michele Colenso and a friend were on the Carlton Queen after a morning dive in the Red Sea when there was a terrible shuddering noise

Meanwhile David Taylor, from Treswell in Nottinghamshire, was trapped in the lower deck with his son Christian, 22, and Spanish passenger Fernando Suarez Mella, 61, 'panicking we were going to die'.

As Fernando tried to open the escape hatch, David said: 'All we saw was a decorative wooden facade with no handles.'

Fernando persuaded Christian and David, 54, an architectural technician, to use his body as a ladder to climb onto the saloon level before waiting another 30 minutes for the water to rise sufficiently to float him to an exit. One of the two 20-person life rafts on the boat had fallen off and been swept away. That left 35 passengers and crew with only one raft, which, Michele recalls, 'had 'made in China 2007' on the top and all the instructions were in Chinese'.

Christian says many of the crew 'couldn't swim' or were 'frightened to death, so there was no help'. When everyone had made it onto the raft, which they had nothing to steer with, they found flare guns failed to work.

Meanwhile a container ship was approaching 'with no way of seeing us' says Christian. 'We were all in shock. There was a lot of shouting and crying.'

Fortunately, a nearby Italian liveaboard rescued the group in time  after which the Egyptian navy transported them the 100 miles back to Hurghada.

On dry land, Carlton Fleet put the group  who had lost virtually everything but the clothes on their backs  in a hotel 'with cockroaches', says Christian. Eventually the firm agreed to pay for the replacement passports they needed to get home.

Carlton Fleet's staff turned up at their hotel and gave each of them the equivalent of 40 for expenses in an envelope with 'stay safe' written on it. The group were warned, 'to say there was nothing wrong with the boat or [the company would be] ruined'. 'It felt part guilt trip, part threat,' says Christian. 'I was angry, but we were at their disposal. Half of us didn't even have shoes.' Michele, limping but still unaware she'd broken her foot, recalls Carlton Fleet asking the group 'to list everything of value we'd lost to compensate us'.

'Once they had the list their attitude changed. After three days they sent a lawyer to talk to us, purely to protect the company's interest, and we never heard from them again.'

She says local police wouldn't accept her report of the incident: 'We tried to submit it to the local administrative courts, but they wouldn't touch it, despite us having had it professionally translated into Egyptian.'

After a week, Christian and Michelle returned home. Like most passengers, Christian had taken out four types of insurance  diving, equipment, holiday and cruise  but none of the four insurance companies would compensate him for the 20,000 of equipment he lost because Carlton Fleet needed to claim for loss or damage to the boat on their insurance first, and didn't.

Instead, it appears the company was then dissolved. 'After a couple of months their website disappeared, and they stopped answering the phone,' says Christian.

Around a month later, Carlton Fleet's other boat, Carlton, appeared to be operating under a new company, Red Sea Carlton, which didn't respond to the Mail's request for comment.

Carlton Fleet has previously said the Carlton Queen had 'passed all inspections, and was fit for operations as confirmed by technical reports'. Responding to passengers' outraged comments on diving website Divernet earlier this year, it said crew members followed safety protocols, fired six flares immediately, which alerted a cargo ship, and passengers were transferred to an all-inclusive hotel of their choice.

A British tourist who survived the shipwreck recalls a 'deep feeling of dread' as the entire Carlton Queen slipped beneath the waves

The yacht was said to have sunk in calm waters, according to those rescued

Passenger Christian Hanson says many of the crew 'couldn't swim' or were 'frightened to death, so there was no help'

Yet Christian believes the 'massive shudder' in the moments before the boat capsized may have been one of the boat's two engines coming loose from its mounting. The weight of the engine rolling around the below-deck engine room would have been enough to capsize it.

Indeed, in a brief report filed at the Maritime Agency in Alexandria months after the capsizing, 'engine mount failure' was given as the cause.

Carlton Queen's passengers are not alone in feeling let down by the Eygptian authorities.

After Sea Legend caught fire and capsized this February, a guest, speaking to Divernet anonymously in March, said public prosecutors instructed passengers 'to write the specific line: 'There is no criminal suspicion of causing the fire, and no one has been accused of causing the fire.'

'Later, our English written statements and interview transcript were translated into Arabic, and we were instructed to sign off on the Arabic copy. When a line-by-line translation was requested, the Arabic copy contained errors and misinterpretations, including the addition of new information that was not originally conveyed, and omissions of information originally included in our statements. The police informed us that these reports would be sent to our embassies, but nothing has been received to date'.

Divernet contacted Sea Legend operator Dive Pro Liveaboards to give its side of the story but a representative said it was unable to do so until it had received the final report from the Public Prosecution Office, and could provide no time-frame for that.

Michele, who hasn't been diving since the Carlton Queen capsized, suffers flashbacks every day.

'Talking about it now has brought back the fear and anger. We are so sorry for what happened on the Sea Story. That could have been us.'
A Turkish barber shop owner has complained that his '100 per cent legitimate' business is harmed by a minority of similar shops being fronts for money launderers and gangsters.

The recent explosion in Turkish barber shops along British high streets has fuelled widespread suspicions of organised criminal activity as numbers have increased by 50 per cent in the last six years to around 19,000.

And in some cases, say police, such suspicion is well founded.

Remarkably, reports the Local Data Company, while 665 'barbers' sprang up across Britain last year, making it the fastest-growing sector, no fewer than 752 ladies or unisex hairdressers closed in the same period, a statistic which would make anyone scratch their head in bafflement.

Reza Jafari, 31, who runs Pasha in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has had enough of those who harbour suspicions about the massive rise in Turkish barbers but admits he can't explain himself why there are so many, particularly within the last five years.

Reza, who works with a business partner, but hopes to buy his shop out completely soon, is close to the spa town's high street.

Police have warned that along with car washes, Turkish barbers and nail salons are being used to 'oil the wheels' and launder cash for drugs or people-smuggling gangs.

But Mr Jafari insisted that the vast majority of barber shops were set up to make money and serve the local community.

Reza Jafari, 31, who runs Pasha in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has had enough of those who harbour suspicions about the massive rise in Turkish barbers

Pictured is a street in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where Mr Jafari's shop is located

Pasha was established eight-years ago on Camden Road, near the centre of Tunbridge Wells.

Mr Jafari, was born and raised in Tehran, Iran but his family come from Uzbekistan originally. He's been living in the UK for 16 years.

He said: 'People assume that if you own a Turkish barbers than you must have something to hide, that you have these links to organised crime.

'But in most cases, it's not true. We just want to make money and have a livelihood like anyone else.

'But the small number of bad ones are harming the good ones. Those that exist just to launder cash for criminals reflect badly on us all because we get viewed the same way.

'I've worked as a barber since 2016 and worked on and off in this shop over the years. For the last few weeks I've been working as joint-owner and hopefully before the end of the year I'll have bought the business completely.

'I've seen the books and the paperwork. The shop is registered with HMRC and with Companies House. It's 100 per cent legitimate otherwise I wouldn't be buying it out.

'These sorts of businesses are a magnet for criminals, I know that. They are an easy way to wash dirty cash.

'I took a few years out from cutting hair and bought into a car wash in another part of Tunbridge Wells in 2022.

'We had a spot check from Kent Police. Four police officers turned up in plain clothes pretending that they wanted their car washed but really they wanted to have a look at the place.

'One of them showed his warrant card to a manager of mine, who rang me and told me that I needed to get there straight away as the police were there.

'When I arrived, I showed the officers into my office and one explained that they'd made an unannounced visit because car washes are used a lot by Albanian and Romanian people smuggling gangs.

'I told the police to call my accountant and gave them my HMRC number and an hour later they'd made all the relevant checks and said 'this is the cleanest car wash we've investigated'.

'I'm completely straight in business and always make sure everything is above board.

Mr Jafari, was born and raised in Tehran, Iran but his family come from Uzbekistan originally. He's been living in the UK for 16 years

His shop Pasha was established eight-years ago on Camden Road

'But I have been living in Tunbridge Wells since 2009.

'Why that is, I can't tell you. I think the local council needs to explain why they continue to grant licenses to all these similar businesses. I guess there must be a demand.

'In Turkey, men go to the barbers not just to get their hair cut but to talk, socialise and get things off their chest. We build up a lot of trust with our customers.

'We do well, trade is slow at the start of the week but it picks up and by the weekend we're busy.

'And we take bank cards and not just cash, which is sometimes a red flag.'

From big cities to small towns, the growth in barber shops has been nothing short of phenomenal, as figures from the Local Data Company shows.

In the last decade, the average number of barbers per 10,000 people has more than doubled from 1.4 per 10,000 people to 3.1 in 2023.

And in parts of London and northern cities, the increase has been even more dramatic, with 19 Local Authorities having more than 4 Barber Shops per 10,000 people in 2023.

The question is: how many of the shops are legitimate businesses and what proportion are merely 'fronts' for organised crime groups to 'wash' their money.

From big cities to small towns, the growth in barber shops has been nothing short of phenomenal. Pictured is Pasha, Mr Jafari's shop

The barber shops even became an election issue with former Reform UK leader Richard Tice posting in May: 'Seen the rise in the number of Barber shops everywhere? Many of them are fronts for money laundering. Only Reform UK will investigate this racket, and close them down.'

Former Metropolitan Police officer Ali Hassan Ali has seen the same trend. 'Ever since the Covid pandemic, we have seen a boom in barber shops opening up,' he told the Mail. 'A lot of these have thousands of pounds worth of equipment and no customers.

'While in many cases, the shops will be involved in legitimate business, there is strong reason to believe some, particularly some of the ones owned by Turks and Albanians, are linked to organised crime. This can be people or drug smuggling.'

'We know the people smuggling gangs in Calais have been traditionally operated by Kurds but they are now working with the Albanians.'

He added: 'The sudden increase of barber shops is really concerning because they are playing a part in funding human trafficking and in the misery that causes.'

Gangs of Kurds and Albanians, the nationalities which tend to dominate the Channel boat 'business' are said to be passing themselves off as genuine Turkish barbers in some cases.

It was the arrest of the lynchpin of a huge Channel people-smuggling ring in 2022 that first brought the activities of some of the more dubious 'barbers' to the attention of the National Crime Agency (NCA) - Britain's FBI.

Hewa Rahimpur, 30, and his gang of fellow Iranian Kurds were detained on suspicion of bringing 10,000 migrants into Dover from the French coast on small boats.

Rahimpur, who had arrived in the UK illegally and was granted asylum after claiming to have suffered 'political oppression' in his home country, was driving a top-of-the-range Mercedes when snared by police.

Hewa Rahimpur, 30, a ringleader in a people smuggling gang responsible for moving 10,000 migrants in small boat crossings to the UK

Hewa Rahimpur being detained in an NCA operation in Wanstead Park, east London

In a second high-profile trial the same year, 33-year-old Albanian Gul Wali Jabarkhel was accused of using his barber shop in Colindale, North London, as a base for a smuggling racket

His gang had netted 13 million in cash from the crossings and it needed to be laundered somehow, so Rahimpur, a former barber, entered the hairstyling business a few years ago in Camden, North London.

He was extradited from the UK to stand trial in Belgium last year and is now serving an 11-year sentence for people-trafficking.

In a second high-profile trial the same year, 33-year-old Albanian Gul Wali Jabarkhel was accused of using his barber shop in Colindale, North London, as a base for a smuggling racket in which he tried to recruit lorry drivers to bring migrants to the UK hidden in their cargo.

After realising police were watching him, in 2020 Jabarkhel fled to Kabul, Afghanistan. It was only when he tried to return to the UK a year later by hiring one of the same lorry drivers he had used to smuggle in migrants, that two of his associates were caught handing over 7,500 for the deal at the London Gateway Services on the M1 and arrested for money-laundering offences.

Both of them claimed the money was to buy barbering equipment, but the authorities had been monitoring their mobile phones and text messages and knew this was false.

Jabarkhel was convicted alongside three others after a trial at Kingston Crown Court for his role in what the NCA described as a 'ruthless operation when human beings were little more than goods to profit from'.

Money-laundering salons have also been linked to terrorism. West London snipper Tarek Namouz, proprietor of Boss Crew Barbers, was sentenced to 12 years last year for sending 11,000 to Syria to 'purchase weapons and explosives' to use against President Assad's government forces.

The barber, who lived above his salon in Hammersmith, boasted to a prison visitor while on remand awaiting trial that he had actually managed to transfer 25,000 to the Islamic State supporters he was financing.

Detective Superintendent Charlotte Tucker of Wiltshire Police, a national expert on the surge in bogus barber shops, said recently: 'Establishments offering really low-price haircuts could be a red flag, indicating they are run by a criminal gang. Everyone loves a bargain, but if it's too good to be true, it probably is.'
A British teenager accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl who was just a few months younger than him while on holiday in Dubai faces an agonising wait to find out if he will be jailed for up to 20 years - or allowed to fly home.

Marcus Fakana had a weeklong holiday romance with the girl, also British, but was arrested and detained after her mother complained to the Dubai police.

The 18-year-old has been banned from leaving the country for four months and on Monday went on trial on a charge of underage sex.

His lawyer argued for his release, but a judge at Dubai's First Court of Instance said they would announce their verdict later this week.

A family source said delaying the verdict meant the agony for Marcus continues and he is desperate to return home.

'This is just agony for Marcus and his ordeal is dragging on,' said a source close to the family.

'He now has to wait for the outcome of the trial and the judges have not given any indication of what they will rule.'

Fakana, from London, faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

Marcus Fakana had a weeklong holiday romance with the girl, also British, but was arrested and detained after her mother complained to the Dubai police

Marcus pictured with his family, who are hoping to raise 20,000 to help toward his legal fees

He was arrested in August after the mother of the teen he was involved with filed a complaint about Fakana to the Dubai authorities on her return to the UK.

She had checked her daughter's phone and discovered they had been sleeping together. Since returning from Dubai the girl has turned 18.

Under UAE law only tourists aged over 18 are legally allowed to sleep together.

In the UK he would not have considered to have committed any crime.

The police investigation revealed that the sex between the pair was consensual after they examined all the messages the pair had exchanged.

They have also recovered CCTV footage from Dubai hotels that show the couple together.

Marcus has previously told how the couple had planned to see each other when they got home.

Marcus said: 'We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict.

'My parents knew about our relationship, but she couldn't tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.

'When she left, I couldn't wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door.

The family of Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, London, say his mental health is 'deteriorating'

While the relationship would have been legal in the UK, under Dubai law a 17-year-old is defined as a child. The girl has since turned 18

'They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn't tell me why. I couldn't imagine what for. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.'

After his detention the teen's distraught family appealed to the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is also their local MP, as well as the ruler of Dubai to try and secure his release.

A Go Fund me page set up by the family has raised over 33,000 with the money being used to pay for Marcus's accommodation and legal fees.

Detained in Dubai, who have been helping in his case, claimed that the authorities deliberately noted his age wrong and also his nationality. He was listed as being 19 years of age and from Pakistan.

Radha Sterling claimed this was a deliberate act so that the offence  with a two-year age gap - would carry a much harsher sentence.

Since his arrest Marcus, a construction apprentice, has been staying in a rented flat and was said to be 'too scared' to venture out.

In setting up the Go Fund me page the family wrote: 'Our son (Marcus) went to the UAE to celebrate his father's birthday and join a family reunion. What was meant to be a happy time has turned into a nightmare for him, our family, and our friends.

Marcus' parents have asked Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum 'to please let our boy come home'

The Mail on Sunday revealed that Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured) had finally acted on desperate pleas to aid Marcus

'This has happened as a result of someone trying to misuse UAE law against him. He is being charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years.

'He is only 18 years old, very scared, and his mental health is starting to decline. We've done all we can to fight for his freedom, but now we urgently need to raise at least 20,000 to work on getting him back home.

'We've already spent as much as we can on legal help and his housing needs while he stays to fight his case. We're trying our best, but we are struggling with the funds to continue this fight. The legal system in Dubai is very different and from the UK and very expensive which makes this whole ordeal even more challenging.'

Radha Stirling from Detained in Dubai said Marcus will find out in the next three days the decision of the court.
It is only human to rejoice at the scenes of unbridled celebration on the streets of Damascus and Aleppo over the past few days. The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad's blood-soaked dictatorship has to be welcomed.

What is more, it has already prompted sizeable numbers of Syrian refugees to start returning to their homeland. Huge crowds have gathered at border crossings in southern Turkey.

The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced plans to reopen a third border crossing to ease the pressure, predicting increased returns as stability improves under new leadership in Syria.

'As Syria gains more stability, God willing,' he said, 'voluntary, safe, and honourable returns will increase.'

However only a naive idealist can possibly imagine that the problems of Syria have all been swept away following al-Assad's flight to Moscow.

The events of recent history, from the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003 to the so-called Arab Spring rebellions of 2011 and downfall of Libya's despotic leader Muammar Gaddafi later that year, have shown us that revolution and regime change in the Middle East rarely result in peace and goodwill.

Iraq, post-Hussein, collapsed into civil war then fell victim to the jihadists of ISIS who took over swathes of the country for years before being beaten back by government forces. Libya became a failed state, the playground of terrorists and people-smugglers as well as  in the absence of any functioning navy to police its maritime borders  the main route of illegal migration to Europe.

Meanwhile, Syria descended into a civil war following Bashar al-Assad's clampdown on the 2011 Arab Spring rebellions against his regime, prompting millions of refugees to leave the country for the West, including Germany, where they were famously welcomed by the then Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Refugees wait in a queue at Cilvegozu cross-border gate before re-entering Syria

Tragically, there is every possibility that Syria  a highly complex tinderbox of a nation full of different religious and secular groupings  could now implode and become a bloodbath again, precipitating a new wave of migrants to a Europe still struggling to cope with that first influx of Syrian refugees.

Much depends on the jihadist Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group which overthrew Assad and which, tellingly, the Starmer government said this week it would not yet remove from a list of banned terrorist organisations.

This is a man with blood on his hands; an autocrat who does not believe in democracy, even if he now claims he wants to unite his shattered nation and says he has moderated his approach since cutting ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016.

His rebel group HTS remains full of hard-line religious fundamentalists with a score to settle. It is also just 30,000 members strong in a country of 23 million.

As the military analyst professor Michael Clarke said: 'The chances of them being able to bring everyone together under the banner of Syrian patriotism is not great  so I suspect they won't hold together for long.'

So we could soon be facing a new civil war in Syria. That would reverse the trickle of refugees heading back to the country with hope in their hearts, and mean millions of migrants once again heading the other way from Syria.

It would result, too, in a hugely increased terror threat for the West as the thousands of jihadists currently locked up in Syria leave its shores for the West.

As the Mail reported yesterday, former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger has warned that the toppling of the Assad regime posed a 'chronic' threat to the West's security and risked a 'serious spike' in the terrorist threat level.

In November 2015, Islamic State terrorists murdered at least 130 people in a series of attacks in Paris after entering the country in the refugee wave. Other Islamist terror attacks in Germany involved people who'd arrived as asylum seekers.

On New Year's Eve that year, 1,200 women were sexually assaulted during the celebrations in Cologne. The perpetrators were largely asylum seekers and many of those arrested had arrived that year, although the German media and authorities were accused of covering up the inconvenient facts.

This threat of a new influx of migrants is why Britain, Sweden, France and a number of other European countries this week acted commendably quickly in announcing a pause in processing asylum claims from Syria. Austria is even investigating the repatriation of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees on the basis the Assad regime they were fleeing no longer exists.

To cope with this looming crisis, Britain and Europe will have to be a good deal more ruthless and decisive than they were in response to the unfolding refugee crisis a decade or so ago.

Then, neither the metropolitan social liberals surrounding Prime Minister David Cameron nor a Labour Party dominated by idealistic middle-class human rights lawyers had any understanding of the huge public opposition to unbridled immigration, which was soon to become the most powerful reason why the British public voted for Brexit.

A Syrian migrant talks to Turkish officers after rebels announced that they had ousted Bashar al-Assad

A Syrian who lives in Turkey shows his Turkish temporary ID as he queues at the border

It is this strength of public opinion that explains why Nigel Farage's Reform Party has sped from being a fringe group to enjoying its surge in the national opinion polls, after Britain allowed in more than 1.6 million people in net migration in the last two years. And why both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch have been focusing on the subject in the past weeks.

In Germany, where nearly one million Syrians now live, the ballooning welfare bill for asylum seekers has helped the German hard right party AfD surge in the polls.

Immigration is also the issue that has driven a rebirth of the Right in France, Italy and many countries on the east of Europe that are more vulnerable to overland migration of Middle Eastern refugees and economic migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

There is no question in my mind that Europe's leaders have to act proactively. They have to work with allies internationally and in the Middle East to stabilise Syria.

They should consider reintroducing the move that brought an end to the first wave of Middle Eastern refugees in 2016  a 6 billion payment from the EU to President Erdogan's Turkey in exchange for stopping the flow of migrants to Europe.

They must toughen their immigration and asylum regimes, which could mean putting up 'no entry' signs across Europe and suspending Schengen policies, as countries like Germany have already done temporarily, so that only real, provable asylum cases are allowed in.

The question is whether a Labour Government  in thrall to human rights activists and international obligations that other countries seem to skirt  is prepared to be more ruthless than its Conservative predecessors over the past decade, which presided over the biggest migration policy failure in British history.

If it isn't, it will soon learn that the lesson of the last decade in Europe is that immigration is a powerful political force that political parties ignore at their peril.

Alan Mendoza is executive director of the Henry Jackson Society.
Women in immigration detention who have experienced sexual violence are being held metres from male sex offenders, exposing them to harassment and trauma.

In a damning report released on Wednesday, the Australian Human Rights Commission documented women being cat-called and threatened.

Some female detainees were allegedly paid by men in a neighbouring compound to physically beat other women, all under the nose of security guards at Sydney's Villawood centre.

The commission was extremely concerned women detainees, many of whom were survivors of male sexual and physical violence, were placed in a building separated by a fence from offenders at the high-security detention facility.

'One of the most confronting and worrying aspects is the fence that separates the compound,' said one woman cited in the report.

'On the other side are sex offenders and paedophiles ... they give drugs through the fence and taunt people.'

Fifty women are held in immigration detention nationwide, making up less than six per cent of the total detainee population, with most of them held in Villawood.

They mainly come from New Zealand, Vietnam and China and either overstayed their visa, arrived illegally in Australia or had their visas cancelled after a criminal conviction.

There are 50 female detainees nationwide, with most held in Villawood (pictured)

Another woman held at Villawood expressed discomfort at the lack of privacy from male detainees.

'They are always looking,' she said.

Even commission staff who were inspecting the centre were not spared from being cat-called, a term used to describe a whistle or comment which is almost always sexual.

As well, one woman claimed 'sometimes men pay women to beat each other up'.

The unique needs of women in immigration detention were unrecognised and unmet, Commissioner Lorraine Finlay said.

'The fact there are fewer women in detention should not mean their human rights are diminished,' she said.

'In too many cases, addressing a woman's needs appears to have been merely an afterthought from those in charge.

'From what women told us and what we saw, these oversights affect every facet of a woman's life in detention and have potentially significant impacts on their health and safety.'

Many female detainees were survivors of male sexual and physical violence and were placed in a building separated by a fence from offenders at the high-security detention facility

With only three centres to accommodate women, their children and families from other states are unable to visit regularly, which one woman described as gender discrimination.

Staffed mostly by men, the centres are also inhospitable because of how employees disregard the privacy of women detainees.

One woman recounted a room search in which male officers handled her bras and underwear.

'I felt humiliated when the male officers searched through my things,' she told commission staff.

Thirty one recommendations were made to the Department of Home Affairs to help improve conditions such as safer housing, gender-specific training for staff, enhanced access to health care, education and for closed detention to be used as a last resort.

The commissioner said she was disappointed by the department's response, which included pushing back against the suggestion to repurpose buildings in Villawood specifically for women, saying it did not meet operational needs.

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MBABANE  A total of 52 politicians have not declared their assets and liabilities before the Commission of Human Rights and Public Administration (CHRPA)/Integrity.

This was disclosed by the commission yesterday during the commemoration of International Human Rights Day and 15 years of the commissions existence in Eswatini. The shocking figures of Members of Parliament (MPs), senators and Cabinet ministers, who have contravened the supreme law of the country, were disclosed by Human Rights Examiner, Nelisiwe Zwane. Zwane presented before the commemoration delegates, who included the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane, United Nations (UN) organs, civil society organisations and other government officials.

Activities

The officer stated that one of the activities of the commission this year was to ensure that parliamentarians and politicians honour their obligation and declare assets before the commission.According to Section 241 of the Constitution of Eswatini, a person who holds public office shall submit to the Commission of Human Rights and Public Administration/Integrity a written declaration of all property, assets owned by, or any benefit gained or liabilities, owed by the holder of that office whether directly or indirectly.The first declaration should be done within six months after the commencement of the integrity commission or before taking office, as the case may be. The declaration is expected to be conducted after two years in office as well as at the end of their term.This is a significant constitutional provision that helps to increase transparency and trust in leadership, preventing conflict of interest and the acquisition of illicit assets or attainment of wealth through corrupt practices.

Declaration

The commission, on October 10, was in Parliament for the declaration of assets and liabilities exercise. After a poor turnout, the declaration period was extended to November 10, 2024. Last week, the commission was still in Parliament assisting senators who, needed help during the exercise, but the turnout was still poor. The 12th Parliament MPs were sworn in on October 6, 2023, in Parliament, and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were also elected on the day. Zwane stated that out of 59 elected MPs and 10 appointees, only 28 declared their assets and liabilities. Out of 30 senators, of whom 10 are elected by the Electoral College and 20 appointed, only 14 honoured their constitutional obligation.

This means that even the 20 senators appointed by His Majesty the King, have contravened the supreme law. Zwane also shared that only five Cabinet ministers have declared their assets and liabilities. The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane, was the first Cabinet Minister to declare, Zwane said as the meeting was getting rowdy, following the shocking figures. It was revealed during the meeting that there was a lot of resistance from some of the parliamentarians. This is despite the fact that the commission, on May 13, 2024, held workshops, where they took the parliamentarians through the importance of declaring their assets and liabilities.

This is despite the fact that Parliament should be seen adhering to the Constitution, holding government and officials accountable and playing an oversight role. The 12th Parliament, during Sibaya in 2023, was given a mandate to fight corruption and ensure accountability. The first step in holding people accountable is leading by example and honouring the laws of the country. Following the figures that were revealed by Zwane, civil society came hard on the commission for not taking things to the next step. The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) Executive Director, Thembinkosi Dlamini, questioned if the declaration was optional to the political office barriers, because there was no way that only around 47 would have declared their assets by now. We have had this Parliament for over a year now, therefore, it could have been expected that by now they would have declared their assets, so that we could be able to track over time whether people are accumulating wealth that they shouldnt or should, he said.

Liabilities

Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba, who is also an alternating member of the House of Assembly Justice and Constitutional Affairs Portfolio Committee, said he was shocked to learn that MPs have not declared their assets. Lushaba is among those who have declared his assets and liabilities.In response, the CHRPA/Integrity Deputy Commissioner Duduzile Nhlengethwa explained that Section 242 of the Constitution states that an officer who contravenes the code may, after due process of law, be dismissed or removed from office by reasons of such breach or abuse and may be disqualified from holding any public office, either generally or for a specified period.

Subsection 2 of the Section states that any property or assets acquired after the initial declaration under this chapter and, which is not reasonably attributable to income, government loan, inheritance or any other legitimate source, shall, after due process of law, be forfeited to government. We are urging all of those who are required by the law to make the declarations, she said. The deputy commissioner stated that the commission, with its mother ministry, has completed drafting the Leadership Code of Conduct Bill and was before the Cabinet.

She said the proposed law would spell out the obligations and consequences. She went on to state that for now, the commission has not resorted to drastic measures as per Section 242, but once the proposed law is enacted into an Act of Parliament there would be dire consequences. The commission also shared that this year they have received 158 cases relating to human rights violations. The commission shared that 98 cases were reported by men and 55 by women, three from children and two from persons with disabilities.
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A disabled man was ambushed and attacked by a group of young boys while trying to do his washing at a laundromat in Queensland.

Four boys used broom handles to assault the 57-year-old man at a laundromat in Gatton, in the state's Lockyer Valley region, with the entire incident captured on CCTV.

The sickening attack took place at 3.30am on Sunday, with the boys seen loitering at the laundromat, playing with the broom handles before the man walked in.

As the man tried to use the washing machines, the boys began to poke him with the wooden sticks and even struck his face, before he tried to ward them off with his walking cane.

At one stage, the man was cornered by the boys, with the handles pointed directly at his throat and face.

The man brandished his cane as he attempted to herd the boys out of the laundromat's back door, but they continuously poked him as they tried to get back in.

A large rock was hurled at the door by one of the boys, while another boy climbed out of a large dryer where he had previously hidden to join the group.

Four boys have used broom handles to attack a disabled man in a Queensland laundromat

Another boy emerges from a dryer, where he had been hiding, to join the violent assault on the disabled man

The skirmish then moved to the carpark of the laundromat.

The man was surrounded by the young thugs and attacked from different angles, with a broom handle being viciously hurled at his head by one of the boys.

Queensland Police have charged three of the boys over the incident, with the youngest being just 12 years old.

The 12-year-old boy was charged with two counts of stealing, three counts of public nuisance, one count of common assault, and one count of willful damage.

A 13-year-old boy has been charged with three counts of stealing, four counts of public nuisance, and one count of willful damage.

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with five counts of public nuisance, one count of common assault, one count of trespass and one count of willful damage.

The man, wielding a cane in self-defence, is cornered by the boys who aim the broom handles at his throat and face

The boys surrounded the man outside the laundromat as he tried to ward them off with his walking cane

All three boys are due to appear in Gatton Childrens Court on December 18.

Another 13-year-old boy was given a warning but not charged.

Many Aussies called out the boys for the sickening attack.

'Im honestly embarrassed to been a teenager in this generation,' one said.

'Where are the parents,' a second asked.

A third said: 'Kids have no respect these days. That poor man he shouldn't have to deal with this.'

'I wish someone was there to defend the poor bloke,' another added.

A fifth suggested: 'Start putting curfews in place and charge parents when kids are caught out of curfew. This is so upsetting.'

'It comes down to the lack of discipline from the parents and the courts,' another said.

Police asked anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward.
For aspiring spies, it's a secret mission with an unseasonal twist.

GCHQ has released its annual fiendish Christmas puzzle to test the James Bonds of tomorrow.

But unusually on a Christmas card puzzle, entrants will also have to look for hidden 'Easter egg' clues for an extra challenge.

The head of the intelligence agency, Anne Keast-Butler hopes the brainteaser will encourage children and adults to 'consider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer'.

Last year's puzzle was downloaded 138,000 times in schools and homes around the world.

But do you have what it takes to crack the code?

There are seven puzzles within the spy chief's Christmas Card which uses GCHQ's sites across the UK, including Manchester, London, Scarborough, Bude and Cheltenham, as part of the puzzle.

Each of the seven puzzles will lead you to a UK landmark.

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The 2024 GCHQ Christmas puzzle- each of the tests will lead you to a famous UK landmark

Use the names of those landmarks, and the front cover of the card, to discover what people across all of our GCHQ locations will be this Christmas.

There are also three hidden puzzles - or Easter eggs - on the front cover of the card for those who want an extra challenge.

Ms Keast-Butler, who is the first woman to lead GCHQ, said the puzzle was a great test of skills in codebreaking, maths and analysis, which are all part of the agency's secret work.

She said: 'Puzzles have always been at the heart of GCHQ, and the skills needed to solve them are just as relevant in 2024 as they were over 100 years ago.

'This year's Challenge features seven puzzles, plus several hidden elements for those who want an extra test.

'The puzzles are aimed at teenagers and young people, but everyone is encouraged to give them a try - they might surprise you.

'The Challenge has been designed for a mix of minds to solve, so is best tackled in groups of classmates, families or friends.

'Whether you have an analytical mind, a creative brain or prefer engineering, there's something for everyone.

'As a mathematician, I also I'm passionate about STEM subjects and encouraging young people to give them a try.

The Government Communications Headquarters building in Gloucestershire

'I hope the card will inspire young people to explore these STEM subjects and to consider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer.'

To get you started, GCHQ has released a quote today from their chief puzzler Colin with a message which reads: 'Can you find a secret message in Colin's quote? If so you're a star!'

Colin said: 'We are delighted to be releasing the fourth iteration of our Christmas Challenge aimed at young people, and we hope this year's set of seven puzzles are as fiendishly enjoyable as ever.

'We want teams working together to tackle the Challenge, which requires a range of skills and creative ways of thinking. And then see if you can find the Easter eggs we've hidden on the card. You may find naturally some parts trickier than others. However - as Anne Keast-Butler, our Director, said - solving puzzles requires a real mix of minds and approaches, just like the work at GCHQ.

'With this challenge lastly we also hope to show young people that thinking differently is a gift.

'We would really enjoy seeing how you get on with the Challenge, so please let us know by tagging us in a post on Instagram, X or LinkedIn @GCHQ.

'Happy puzzle-solving!'

For all the answers see tomorrow's Daily Mail.
Labour will rely on sending fewer criminals to jail to meet a shortfall in its prison-building programme.

The timescale for 14,000 extra jail spaces, to be outlined by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) today, says they will have a target to open by 2031.

It would bring the total number of spaces in England and Wales to just under 103,000.

But forecasts published last week said the jail population will hit 100,800 in March 2029.

It is understood there will be a shortfall of 5,400 jail spaces by November 2027 - less than three years from now.

It remains unclear when the 14,000 spaces - a combination of four new prisons and additional houseblocks in existing jails - will be complete.

The shortfall will be met by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmoods sentencing review, which she has said will lead to wider use of community punishments for criminals - including house arrest.

The minister has indicated she wants to extend use of technology such as electronic tags to create robust community alternatives to prison for non-dangerous offenders.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to hold a sentencing review which she has said will lead to wider use of community punishments for criminals

There were sickening scenes of criminals celebrating Labours scheme, launched in September (pictured: Keir Starmer)

If the Government changes the law, as expected, to imprison fewer criminals then the number of new jail spaces required will fall.

The MoJ is allocating only 2.3billion to the jail-building programme in todays announcement - even though the total cost is due to be 10billion.

Labour is taking forward plans set in place by the Tories for the four new jails, including HMP Millsike in York, which will hold 1,500 and is due to open next year.

A further 6,400 places will be built in new blocks on current sites, there will be 1,000 rapid deployment cells - a type of secure portable building - and more than 1,000 existing cells will be refurbished.

Labour has already released thousands of inmates early to free up cell space.

There were sickening scenes of criminals celebrating Labours scheme, launched in September, with some being picked up in luxury cars and sprayed with champagne.

One proclaimed Big up Keir Starmer as he posed with a 150,000 Bentley.

A Labour spokesman accused the Conservatives of gross negligence for failing to build enough jail spaces when they were in power.

Daniel Dowling-Brooks was freed from prison and posed on a 150,000 brand new Bentley outside jail

Labour is taking forward plans set in place by the Tories for the four new jails (pictured: HM Prison Wandsworth)

Ahead of publishing her 10-year prisons strategy today, Ms Mahmood said: The last Government pretended they could send people away for longer and longer without building the prisons they promised.

This strategy reveals that their prison building plans were years delayed and nearly 5billion over budget. They left our prisons in crisis, on the edge of collapse.

Part of our plan for change, this capacity strategy, alongside an independent review of sentencing policy, will keep our streets safe and ensure no government runs out of prison places again.

Last week, the Government gave the go-ahead for a new prison next to HMP Garth in Lancashire, which will have 1,700 places.
Popular rideshare company DiDi is set to add trucks to its service and offer to tow cars back home to stop Aussies from drink driving during Christmas.

The Chinese owned platform will launch the tow trucks on the streets of Melbourne over the summer months.

Victorians who have had too much to drink will be able to book the bright orange coloured vehicles to pick up their car.

The truck driver will load the vehicle onto the flatbed and the customer will hand the car keys to the driver.

Passengers will be driven home along with their vehicles, saving customers from the hassle of having to pick their car up the next day.

DiDi Australia head of external affairs Dan Jordan said the company has added the trucks to their fleet to help people enjoy the celebrations during the festive season.

'We've all been in that situation where we've had one too many drinks at the bar with our car keys in our pocket,' Mr Jordan told the Herald Sun.

Customers will not be hit with an extra cost to book the tow trucks while the company conducts a trial run of the new vehicles.

The Chinese owned ride share platform will launch tow trucks, which will be driving across the streets of Melbourne, over the summer months (pictured stock image)

Mr Jordan said the company could roll out the trucks in other cities across Australia if the trial is successful.

Kate Hallahan and Emily Pietrocola were the first customers to be picked up by a DiDi operated tow truck in Melbourne last week.

Lence Parevska, 22, picked the women up from a pub and drove them along the narrow streets of Fitzroy before the pair were dropped home.

The unusual mode of transport comes as cops continue to crack down on drink driving following the death of 271 people on roads across Victoria in 2024.

A 2023 report by the Transport Accident Commission revealed 48 per cent of drivers across Victoria would consider driving after consuming two or more alcoholic drinks.

Transport Accident Commission CEO Tracey Slatter said changes need to be made to move away from the culture of drink driving.

'We want to embrace a culture where driving after drinking any alcohol is not considered normal,' Ms Slatter said.

Victoria Police assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said the message to motorists is very clear - do not drink and drive.

Commissioner Weir said December is the worst month for incidents of drink driving across the state.

'The last place you want to end up this Christmas is in a hospital, or worse, as a result of road trauma,' Commissioner Weir said.

Victoria Police will launch Operation Roadwise on Friday with the road policing operation to be conducted over 20 days until January 1, 2025.

Police will be conducting alcohol and drug testing every day throughout the operation.
Prince Harry was yesterday accused of turning his High Court case against The Sun's publisher into a 'public inquiry' as he faces four days in the witness box.

The Duke of Sussex will return to Britain in the New Year to give evidence in the eight-week trial.

He faces a large legal bill even if he wins, having suggested he has turned down offers to settle the case out of court.

The actor Hugh Grant, who was a co-claimant in the case, settled for 'an enormous sum' earlier this year, saying otherwise he would face 10million in legal costs.

At the time, Harry's barrister said the duke faced the same 'impossible' pressures and could also be 'forced' to settle.

But last week, Harry committed in a public interview to 'seeing this through', even if the amount he wins in court is 'a hundred times' less than his settlement offer.

The publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), denies any wrongdoing. Its KC, Anthony Hudson, accused the duke of doing something 'that is not legitimate'.

Harry and his sole remaining co-claimant Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, allege journalists from The Sun and the defunct News of the World unlawfully obtained their private information.

The Duke of Sussex will return to Britain in the New Year to give evidence in the eight-week trial

Harry and his sole remaining co-claimant Tom Watson, (pictured) the former Labour deputy leader, allege journalists from The Sun and the defunct News of the World unlawfully obtained their private information

Mr Hudson told a pre-trial hearing yesterday: 'This is not about the trial of these individual claims, certainly not the duke's. It is about something very different. It's almost by definition a public inquiry. That's what he's trying to achieve. We say that is not legitimate.'

He handed the judge a transcript of the interview Prince Harry gave last week in New York in which he declared his goal was achieving 'accountability' rather than settling his case. Harry told an audience: 'One of the main reasons for seeing this through is accountability, because I'm the last person that can actually achieve that.'

Mr Hudson told Mr Justice Fancourt: 'It shows what's really going on here. We say the answer is to focus on the issues in the duke's claim.

It is critical that that happens, so that my client is able to have any semblance of a fair trial.'

David Sherborne, for Harry and Lord Watson, is due to respond to these specific points in submissions on Tuesday, but he claimed on Monday that NGN was guilty of unlawful activity and its position was 'a transparent attempt to avoid evidence of systemic unlawful activity'.

Dealing with the timetable for the trial, the judge was told that Harry faces between two and four days in the witness box being cross-examined by the newspaper group's barrister.

Harry committed in a public interview to 'seeing this through', even if the amount he wins in court is 'a hundred times' less than his settlement offer - he is pictured here arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice on March 30

It will be the duke's second courtroom encounter, after he gave evidence in 2023 before the same judge as he sued Mirror Group Newspapers alleging phone hacking.

After winning that case, Harry declared himself a 'dragon slayer' and vowed to continue his crusade against the Press.

In the new trial, the duke will be quizzed over his claims that NGN newspapers used unlawful techniques to find out information about him.

He alleges breaches of his privacy over at least 30 articles written about him, including the day he found out he had been accepted to Eton in 1998.

Some 39 other claimants including Hugh Grant who had joined Harry in the current tranche of the managed group action have settled out of court, with only the duke and Lord Watson still pursuing the case.

In the early stages of his case, Mr Justice Fancourt threw out Harry's claims of phone hacking, last year, because the duke had waited too long before starting his legal case. Harry had protested that a Buckingham Palace 'secret agreement' had prevented him from bringing his case any sooner, but the judge ruled that such a deal was 'implausible', and rejected Harry's bid to use it as the reason for his late claim.

Lord Watson (pictured) and Harry are the only two left pursuing the case against The Sun's publisher

Then, two months ago, his claims of 'bugging' and 'tracking' devices being planted by The Sun were thrown out too. Mr Justice Fancourt said Harry had provided 'no particulars whatsoever' to back up these assertions against the newspaper.

The duke proceeds to the trial on the basis of other types of unlawful information gathering which he alleges. He will be the main witness in his case, with one other person - not identified - also giving evidence to support his specific case, the court heard.

The newspaper has some 65 witnesses lined up - including the News of the World's infamous 'fake sheikh' Mazher Mahmood, the court was told.

Harry rarely visits the UK, since quitting his royal duties to move to America in 2020. He was last here in September for the Well Child charity awards. He claims his safety is at risk when he visits Britain because the Home Office stripped him of his automatic police protection. He is still suing the Home Office over this complaint. Having lost his High Court bid to have his police bodyguards restored, in April he will be asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling.

In his interview last week, Harry said: 'I never should have had security removed in the first place. It's amazing, when you go through this litigation - which I have become a professional at.'

The court has not yet set any date for Harry's days in the witness box.
With the cost of living at an all time high, certain US cities have decided to appeal to homeowners by offering a cash incentive to move there.

And now that the election has concluded, more than 20 percent of Americans say they are more likely to move now than ever before, according to a recent Redfin study.

Kansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, and West Virginia are all taking part in the new trend, as some have directly focused on specific demographics.

Cities like Tulsa, Columbus, multiple communities in West Virginia, and The Shoals - a group of cities in Alabama - are attempting to attract people who work from home, while offering them thousands of dollars for relocating there.

Meanwhile, Kansas has launched its own initiative, the Choose Topeka program, which allows residents to receive up to $15,000 for simply relocating there, even if they don't work remotely.

Topeka, the capital city of the midwestern state, has a current population of about 125,000, but the area could very well grow with the new housing offer.

While new residents are eligible to receive up to $15,000, on-site workers can also earn $10,000 if they chose to rent in the area.

Residents who decide to buy a home in Topeka can make up to $15,000, while transitioning military service members, or those re-entering civilian life, are eligible to receive $5,000.

Topeka, Kansas (pictured) has launched a new program that allows anyone from across the country to move there and earn up to $15,000

Tulsa, Oklahoma (pictured) also have a program specifically to full-time remote workers who can receive a $10,000 grant for moving there

Former Topeka residents are also eligible to get their hands on $5,000 through the new program.

In order to qualify, workers have to purchase or rent a home as their primary residence within a year of moving to Shawnee County.

The typical cost of a home in the city as of October is $186,706, while the median rent cost is $950 as of December, according to Zillow.

In Tulsa, with a population of about 411,000 residents, remote workers can qualify for a $10,000 grant through the Tulsa Remote program.

In order to obtain the grant, people need to have a full-time remote job outside of Oklahoma, and have to have lived outside the state for at least a year before applying.

Once accepted into the program, which has already 'welcomed over 3,000 talented remote workers' so far, people will have a year to relocate there.

The mission of the unique program is to 'attract and retain remote workers whose skills and passions make Tulsa a more diverse and vibrant place,' according to the website.

The median price of rent in Tulsa as of December is $1,395, while the cost to own a home there is valued at $202,495, Zillow reported.

In The Shoals, Alabama - home to the cities of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle - remote workers have the chance to relocate there for up to $10,000. (Pictured: Exterior of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals)

Columbus, Georgia is offering a similar deal through its Move to Columbus Program, where full-time work from home employees can receive $5,000 in cash toward their relocation fees.

The program is specifically for employees who earn at least $75,000 from a single income, and who live at least 75 miles outside the city prior at the time of applying.

Those that receive the generous offer have six months to pack up and move to Muscogee County, where Columbus is located.

The 2024 applications have since closed, but they are set to open back up in January 2025.

The city currently is home to approximately 200,000 residents, and has a typical home value of $163,916, and a median rental value of $995, according to Zillow.

In The Shoals, Alabama - home to the cities of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle - remote workers have the chance to relocate there for up to $10,000.

At home employees who make more than $52,000 or more annually can qualify for the Remote Sholas program, and have six months to move there once they've been chosen.

People can see if they're eligible in the next round of applications which will open back up on March 1, 2025, according to the website. Official selections for the program will be released in June.

Through the Ascend West Virginia program full-time remote workers can receive $12,000 for moving to five different counties, including Morgantown (pictured)

Presently, about 155,000 people live in the metro area. The median rent cost is $1,400 in Muscle Shoals, while the typical price of a home there cost $246,673, according to Zillow.

Americans who decide to move to specific towns in West Virginia also have the chance to earn money.

Through the Ascend West Virginia program full-time remote workers 'seeking a high-quality lifestyle' in the mountains can receive $12,000.

Workers have the option to relocate to five different communities, including New River Gorge, Greenbrier Valley, Morgantown, the Eastern Panhandle and Greater Elkins, according to the website.

Those who are accepted into the program also have access to 'free outdoor recreation' and have six months to move there.

The typical value of a home in Morgantown currently costs $268,416, while the median rent price is $1,200 there, according to Zillow.
Popular sets of Christmas-themed quilt and pillowcase covers from Kmart have officially been recalled after a chorus of complaints from customers.

On Tuesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued a recall notice for the sets made by Kmart's brand, Anko.

The recall includes the Mr & Mrs Claus Queen Bed set, Christmas Elf Reversible Single Bed Set, Christmas Quilt Single Bed Quilt Cover sets, Merry Christmas Pillowcase Set, and Santa Elves Pillowcase set.

'The product emits a strong chemical smell that may cause reactions to consumers, as it did not cure properly during the manufacturing process,' the recall notice reads.

Those who purchased the products have been urged to stop using them immediately and return them to their nearest Kmart store.

'Customers are at risk of serious injury and/or illness if the products come into contact with skin or if the odour is inhaled.'

It follows Kmart's announcement of a voluntary recall last week amid reports the odour had led to several hospitalisations.

The ACCC has officially recalled a series of Christmas-themed quilt and pillow case cover sets (pictured) after it was found to possibly cause 'serious injury and/or illness'

Sydney mum Holly claimed the covers smelled 'ridiculously strong of some sort of chemical, like it was so bad'.

Weary of sleeping in the sheets straight out of the packaging, she washed the sheets to try and get rid of the smell, which then wafted through her home.

She called for an ambulance after she started to feel sudden and sharp pains in her shoulder and jaw before falling dizzy and nauseous.

'They took me and my son because my son was exposed as well,' Holly told A Current Affair on Monday.

After a night in hospital, Holly threw out her washing machine and took to social media, where she was horrified to learn that other Kmart shoppers had similar stories about the same product.

The ACCC warned the sets failed to cure during manufacturing and could cause harm if contact is made with the skin or a 'chemical odour' coming from them is inhaled

Sydney mum, Holly (pictured) claimed she tried to wash out the smell from the bed linen but it instead wafted through the home and caused her to fall dizzy

Brisbane mum Eden, who also spent a night in hospital, described the smell from the covers as 'toxic petrol'.

'I only had that small inhalation of it, I ended up having a swelling of the throat and not being able to really breathe,' she said.

'It wasn't until they did an X-ray that they've seen that I've actually got inflammation on my heart and my lungs from being exposed to these sheets.'

Eden also tried to wash the sheets but also ended up throwing machine out.

She purchased one quilt set for her and her husband and another for their four-year-old daughter Lola, which have since been thrown in the bin.

Eden claimed the covers still smelled strongly of chemicals, even while wearing an N95 mask days after disposing them in the garbage outside.

'I love Kmart but I don't think I can shop there again,' Eden said.

Other customers have recently taken to social media with similar complaints about loved ones being rushed to hospital.

Another mum from Brisbane, Eden (pictured), only slightly inhaled the sheets but was found to have an inflamed heart and lungs from inhaling the smell from the sheets

Kmart announced it had launched a voluntary recall of the products last week and will offer full refunds to customers even if they hadn't experienced adverse effects (stock image)

One Gold Coast mum said her husband woke up early in excruciating pain and begged her to call an ambulance two weeks after putting them on their bed.

She claimed paramedics told her to take the quilt off the bed when they arrived as they had reportedly encountered similar complaints from other patients about the same product.

The woman also claimed her son then began to suffer asthmatics symptoms just days after she laid out the quilt on his bed.

Her husband's chest pains subsided the next day after she removed the bed linen but the family still feel a 'weird burning in our eyes and stuffy noses'.
A 'neo Nazi' planned a terrorist attack on an immigration lawyer's office when he stormed in with a knife in the hope of inspiring other 'right-wing extremists', police have said.

Cavan Medlock, of Harrow, north-west London, was found to have committed the act of making a threat to kill and the preparation of terrorist acts at a fact-finding hearing at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old, who identified as a Nazi, 'wanted to provide a "rallying cry" to inspire other extreme right-wing terrorists', the Met Police said.

Medlock targeted solicitor Toufique Hossain at the Duncan Lewis law firm in Harrow on September 7 2020.

He was arrested at the scene with a rucksack containing a knife, handcuffs, gaffer tape and two large flags 'demonstrating extreme right-wing terrorist ideology', Acting Commander Helen Flanagan, from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said.

Medlock was arrested after he took out a six-inch combat knife and demanded to see Mr Hossain. The receptionist managed to disarm him, despite being punched and kicked.

Other members of staff also intervened and Medlock was restrained and police were called to the scene.

While he was detained in reception, Medlock saw Mr Hossain and said he had come to the office to kill him, the Met Police said.

Cavan Medlock planned to carry out a terror plot at the Duncan Lewis law firm in Harrow

Medlock was carrying handcuffs when carrying out the terror plot, police said

He frightened a receptionist with the knife before threatening to kill solicitor Toufique Hossain

Medlock was heard saying 'unfortunately I didn't finish the job', the force added.

A search of Medlock's home revealed a mobile phone on which showed he had targeted the solicitor after reading an article in which he was quoted, the force said.

He had then researched the location of the law firm, before planning his attack.

Ms Flanagan said: 'Our investigation uncovered how Medlock had planned this attack and wanted to intimidate the public, particularly anyone who might be regarded as immigrants.

'He was prevented in carrying out his plan thanks to the extraordinarily brave actions of a receptionist, who managed to disarm him of a large knife.

'By his own admission, at the time of these events, Medlock identified as a Nazi. Our investigation supported this, with officers finding a copy of Mein Kampf at his home address.

'It is clear from what he said in police interviews, Medlock wanted to provide a 'rallying cry' to inspire other extreme right-wing terrorists.

'I'm glad that a jury has now found the facts of this case proven.'

Sheroy Zaq, who was working as a solicitor in Duncan Lewis's public law and immigration departments at the time of the incident, told Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday that the racial abuse from Medlock was 'relentless'.

The court heard that Medlock was restrained by the law firm's staff

A Confederate flag seized by police at the scene after the plot at the Duncan Lewis law firm

Medlock is alleged to have arrived at the Duncan Lewis law firm in Harrow on September 7 2020, armed with a combat knife and handcuffs

Mr Zaq said that, when asked by staff why he was at the law office, Medlock replied: 'I'm here to kill Toufique Hossain.'

Prosecutor Timothy Cray KC asked Mr Zaq: 'Did he say anything else about the killing?'

The solicitor replied: 'He just said he was upset with himself that he didn't get to finish the job.'

Mr Zaq added that the incident was 'not something you expect to see in the reception of a law firm'.

The court heard that Medlock was restrained by the law firm's staff after he advanced on a receptionist while holding a knife and demanding to see Mr Hossain.

Medlock will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday.
Whoopi Goldberg led the liberal jeers for the acquittal verdict of Daniel Penny on Monday's episode of The View, showing special contempt for the veteran's choice to celebrate at a nearby bar.

The 26-year-old Marine veteran was facing charges of second degree manslaughter and negligent homicide following the subway death of mentally ill homeless street performer Jordan Neely.

Penny's acquittal enraged BLM activists, who instantly called for revenge in the form of black vigilantes.

The 26-year-old quickly dashed to a downtown bar to celebrate his win with his lawyers and ponder his next move.

Goldberg took exception to this choice on Monday's episode of the long-running ABC gabfest.

'I don't know that seeing them celebrating in a bar made me comfortable, you know,' she began, adding, 'I mean, you killed a guy. The man is dead and maybe just  you take the celebration home, you don't do it outside. But that's just me,' the Oscar-winner said.

She, like many on the left, expressed empathy for Neely and the circumstances that led him to being on the subway that night.

'And people are conflicted because he was an ill man and the more information we're learning about him now  turns out his mom had been murdered and that may have been what set him off on his mental path.'

Whoopi Goldberg led the liberal jeers for the acquittal verdict of Daniel Penny on Monday's episode of The View, showing special contempt for the Marine's choice to celebrate at a nearby bar

The 26-year-old quickly dashed to a downtown bar to celebrate his win with his lawyers and ponder his next move

She assigned failure to multiple aspects of society in being responsible for his death.

'There's failure of the system failure on the part of the courts, failure on the part of the hospitals, and failure on our part and how we deal with this.'

Co-host Sunny Hostin was angrier at Penny and those who suggested that Neely was a threat to those around him.

'Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator  he talked about being hungry and thirsty, and he said he didn't care if he lived or died. There is no evidence that he attacked anyone. There's no evidence that he put his hands on anyone.'

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a more conservative panelist, said that Penny was not the villain of the piece and specified that they only said he wasn't a threat 'on that occasion.'

Hostin ultimately wondered: 'When you look at that and you look at the result of what happened, my question is, where is our compassion as a society?'

Monday, jurors returned a verdict of not guilty to negligent homicide to Justice Maxwell Wiley.

They quickly found him not guilty - paving the way for his bright future full of book deals, TV appearances and even a career in politics.

The 26-year-old Marine veteran was facing charges of second degree manslaughter and negligent homicide following the subway death of mentally ill homeless street performer Jordan Neely (pictured)

Since the very beginning, Penny won sympathy from conservatives who said he was right to step in when Neely acted out on the subway.

Now, with the trial behind him and renewed support from the likes of the Trump family, Penny's future is brighter than ever.

Industry experts believe Penny could be in for a windfall in excess of $1million after the criminal case against him concludes.

'He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors to mainstream and conservative media alike,' James Pipe is a legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org, told Daily Mail.

Pipe noted a conviction would 'necessarily preclude offers' because publishers and producers are notoriously 'drawn to controversial figures.'

He said a 'compelling memoir or exclusive first interview' could be worth up to $500,000, while a documentary or film deal could exceed $1million.

'A significant factor will be how Penny and his team handle public relations after the trial.

'If he can frame his story in a way that resonates with the public or aligns with ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,' Pipe said.

Penny celebrated the court victory at the Stone Street Tavern on Monday afternoon

'However, backlash or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen prospects.'

Pipe said Penny would also need to consider civil lawsuits against him, and how any 'post-trial earnings' could be impacted by those suits.

'Public scrutiny will likely follow him for years, which could affect the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals long-term,' he said.

Penny intervened when Neely jumped on the train and began threatening other commuters, including mothers, children and students. Neely was shouting that somebody would 'die' and that he was willing to 'go back to Rikers.'

He placed Neely in a chokehold which the state argued lasted six minutes. His defense told jurors that he was not applying consistent pressure for the length of that time, and that he was simply restraining Neely until police arrived.

Conservatives have long offered support for Penny since the case gained widespread national attention and became a lightning rod for racial debate.

Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000 to Daniel Penny's staggering legal fund, which has now reached $3million. He has also repeatedly spoken out about Neely's lengthy rap sheet, accusing the Manhattan District Attorney's office of sharing 'responsibility for his death for creating an anti law enforcement culture.'

'Habitual felons like Neely should not roam freely to terrorize and prey on innocent members of our communities,' he said.

Neely, 30, was once among the citys corps of subway and street performers and was known for his Michael Jackson impersonations

Penny also has the strong backing of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, sparking questions about if Penny would consider a tilt in politics himself, given he has access to two recent presidential candidates.

With the trial out of the way, Penny is also free to return his attention to his studies. When he was charged, he was studying architecture at the New York City College of Technology.

He was also working two jobs  one as a swim teacher and also at a restaurant in Brooklyn  which he gave up to focus on the trial.

He is also not completely out of the woods after Neely's family filed a civil lawsuit against Penny last week. Penny's legal team, Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, released a statement Friday afternoon revealing they will immediately set their sights on the lawsuit.

The duo said the conclusion of the criminal trial would 'allow us to focus on the civil lawsuit, filed two days ago, for the same allegations contained in the criminal indictment.'

Pipe said Penny would also need to consider civil lawsuits against him when he considers what his next step will be, because any 'post-trial earnings' could be impacted by those suits.

'Public scrutiny will likely follow him for years, which could affect the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals long-term,' he said.
Teenage OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang suffers from a litany of mental health problems stemming from the separation of her parents when she was a child.

A court heard on Wednesday that the 19-year-old had been diagnosed with conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD and an eating disorder.

She has repeatedly engaged in self-harm and binge-drinking as a result of grief, shock and trauma.

But Ow-Yang failed to convince a magistrate that those problems meant she should have a string of charges dealt with under mental health provisions of the law.

The social media influencer pleaded guilty to assault, stalking and damaging property after an incident in early November at a family residence in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The daughter of high-profile Sydney neurosurgeon Michael Ow-Yang had attended a jewellery event that day, drinking a couple of cocktails and four glasses of champagne.

She was found wandering the streets of Double Bay after blacking out and according to solicitor Michael Bowe then went to her mother Amanda's house and started 'shouting at everyone'.

Mr Bowe said Ow-Yang had no memory of the incident but blades were drawn from a knife block and an ambulance was called.

Teenage OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang (pictured) at Sydney's Waverley Local Court on Wednesday) said she suffers from a litany of mental health problems

Teenage OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang said her mental health issues stemmed from the separation of her parents when she was a child

The lawyer said what happened was a 'one-off explosion' witnessed by her mother.

Ow-Yang's parents were not in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday but that did not mean they didn't care, Mr Bowe said.

'It just means there is a problem between the two of them,' he told the court.

Ow-Yang appeared demurely dressed in grey pants, a white blouse, black jacket and J'Adior heels, alongside Mr Bowe.

Mr Bowe said his client suffered a 'whole series' of mental health conditions which began when her parents separated when she was about 13.

She had never recovered from that split and her problems had been exacerbated by a relationship with 44-year-old nightclub king Julian Tobias.

That relationship, which ended last year, was not a 'stabilising influence' on Ow-Yang, Mr Bowe told the court.

Ow-Yang now had a boyfriend closer to her own age who serves in the US military and was a positive influence up her.

'I've spoken to him on the phone and he seems like a pretty good bloke,' Mr Bowe told the court.

The court heard on Wednesday that the 19-year-old had been diagnosed with conditions including depression , anxiety, ADHD and an eating disorder

Ow-Yang last year blamed a drunken car crash after which she blew more than four times the legal limit for a P-plater on the end of her relationship with Tobias.

The private school graduate smashed her $50,000 black Mercedes into another Mercedes worth $150,000 parked in Point Piper in Sydney's east in October 2023.

After that offence, Mr Bowe said the crash was a result of a 'perfect storm' after Ow-Yang 'spiralled out of control' when she couldn't cope with the breakdown of her romance.

She had been 'drowning herself in alcohol', Mr Bowe told Downing Centre Local Court.

On that occasion, magistrate Rodney Brender convicted Ow-Yang, fined her $1,000 and imposed a two-year community corrections order.

On Wednesday, Mr Bowe said Ow-Yang, who has more than 1.6million followers across Instagram and TikTok, was doing her best to get her life in order.

He described his client as 'very successful in one area of her life, very unsuccessful in another'.

'She can't hide behind alcohol to solve her problems,' Mr Bowe said.

'She admits it's not going to be easy. Nothing is going to be easy for her.

'She still misses the fact that her parents aren't together. She's brought that up on numerous occasions with me.'

Mr Bowe said Ow-Yang's social media presence meant she was a regular victim of 'quite debilitating' online abuse.

Magistrate Paul Mulroney rejected Ow-Yang's application for the case to be dealt with as anything other than a series of domestic violence offences.

Paris Ow-Yang (pictured) failed to convince a magistrate that those problems meant she should have a string of charges dealt with under mental health provisions of the law

Mr Mulroney said while he was sympathetic towards citizens who suffered from mental health issues, Ow-Yang had not always paid appropriate attention to her own.

'It seems in this situation that Ms Ow-Yang has at times been way less than responsible in terms of attention to her mental health,' he said.

'In my view there needs to be a greater guarantee that Ms Ow-Yang would be compliant with mental health treatment.'

Mr Mulroney also observed that Ms Ow-Yang might face some 'blowback' on social media due to publicity surrounding the charges.

Mr Bowe sought a non-publication order over the contents of an extensive psychologist's report.

He said Ow-Yang's mother was fearful if the report were made public her daughter would take her own life.

'There is a genuine fear that Ms Ow-Yang will do something that none of us would like to see happen,' Mr Bowe said.

'Does the community need to know the ins and outs of Ms Ow-Yang's life?'

The social media influencer (pictured with solicitor Michael Bowe) pleaded guilty to assault, stalking and damaging property after the incident in early November

She was found wandering the streets of Double Bay after blacking out and according to solicitor Michael Bowe then went to her mother's house and started 'shouting at everyone'

Mr Mulroney granted a non-publication order on the report but not over submissions related to Ow-Yang's mental health made by Mr Bowe.

Ow-Yang wiped tears from her eyes after the order was made.

Mr Bowe urged Mr Mulroney not to record a conviction: 'She's only 19. She's got the world in front of her.

Mr Mulroney agreed to Mr Bowe's request and instead imposed a 15-month conditional release order.

Under the terms of that order Ow-Yang must comply with a mental health treatment plan and abstain from alcohol.

In sentencing, Mr Mulroney said 'domestic violence is a poison in our community' and warned Ow-Yang if she committed another such offence she would likely to go jail.

'It's really important that you comply with the orders that I have made today,' he told Ow-Yang.

'It's not a sprint race for you, it's a long-distance race for you.

'I wish you good luck. I can't say I'll be going onto TikTok anytime soon to learn about you but I wish you success in your chosen career.'

Ow-Yang gained a massive social media audience before turning to OnlyFans the day after she turned 18.

Within months of starting the account on the adults only platform, she was able to quit university and purchase her first of many properties in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs.

Her OnlyFans content has also continued to grow ever since and is now placed in the top 0.02 per cent of creators on the platform in the world.

Ow-Yang attended the $33,000-a-year Frensham School in the NSW Southern Highlands.
SITEKI  The identity of the second woman arrested in connection with the ATMs bombing at Mpaka has been revealed.

Elli Olivia Dlamini (44) of KaShoba, under Chief Sibengwane, has been identified as a civil servant, who is employed as a cleaner in the Geology Department. She has since been con-joined with the other suspects; Dumisani Goodman Ngubane (34) of Daveton, South Africa, Armando Maswangayi (27) from Mozambique, Lethukuthula Hlongwa (21) of Natal, South Africa and Lomakhosi Dlamini (49) of Dlangeni under Chief Nsukumbili, in Eswatini. According to the amended charge sheet, Elli is the fifth accused in the matter and she faces a total of six counts. Following her confession on Monday at Siteki Magistrates Court, she appeared for her remand yesterday at the same court.

Elli, according to her confession, allegedly knew one of the suspects as they supposedly used to lend each other money. She claimed that on that day of the bombing, she was not told where they were going. She reportedly disclosed that during the commission of the offences, they were seated inside a car and some of the suspects were remotely controlling something, purportedly the explosives detonator.

Money

Furthermore, it is alleged that after the bombing, Elli was dropped off at her home and was supposedly not given money. Instead, she was allegedly told that the money had ink and it had to be cleaned first. However, the other four suspects were arrested on the same night near Hhelehhele, in the Manzini Region. In count one, Elli and her co-accused are charged with theft in that on December 6, 2024, they were at Mpaka in the Lubombo Region, where they allegedly stole money amounting to E533 350 from an automatic teller machine (ATM), belonging to First National Bank (FNB) Eswatini, which was in the lawful possession of Mbongiseni Sibiya.

On the same note, in count two, they were also charged with theft. According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that on December 6, 2024, while they were at Mpaka in the Lubombo Region, the accused persons, purportedly stole money amounting to E320 210 from an ATM belonging to EswatiniBank. It was said that the money was in lawful possession of Andile Fakudze.On the other hand, in count four, they were charged with malicious damage to property in that on December 6, 2024, while they were at Mpaka, they purportedly damaged a FNB ATM and currency notes valued at E394 450.

Damage

Again, in the other charge of malicious damage to property, the accused persons are said to have allegedly damaged an EswatiniBank ATM and currency notes valued at E663 000. The incident is said to have happened on December 6, 2024, at Mpaka. She is also facing two charges of contravening Section 18(1) of the Public Order Act no 12/2017, in that on December 6, 2024, while they were at Mpaka; they purportedly impaired the usefulness or impeded the working of EswatiniBank and FNB ATMs, which were installed for self-service financial transactions, which is an essential service to the community.




An ANZ customer has vented her frustration after she was required to submit a photo of herself for the bank's records to access her own money.

The woman wrote on Facebook she complained to the bank about 'taking a picture of me without my permission when they made me re-register on their app'.

'They said only their premium customers get facial recognition,' she wrote.

According to the bank, when a customer opens an ANZ Plus account, which is tied to its app, users 'must take a selfie photo to confirm it's really you'.

'This is one of our new security features called Selfie ID and it helps stop other people using your identity,' its website reads.

'It's also a simple way to recover your details if you ever lose them.

'Selfie ID is also required to use some in-app features, like increasing your Pay Anyone or BPAY limit.

'This creates an extra layer of security to help prevent unauthorised access to your app.'

ANZ said its customers on ANZ Plus accounts 'must' submit a seflie to use their app

The ANZ Plus app automatically uploads a picture to an online database after requesting access to a customer's phone camera.

It is understood ANZ uses the ConnectID system developed by Australian Payments Plus, which was founded by payment firms BPAY and eftpos, and provides a 'modest revenue stream' for banks who can request a fee from merchants to validate customers' identity information.

ANZ is one of a number of major Australian companies who are now pushing for their customers to use facial recognition.

Commonwealth Bank and NAB have also made agreements, specifically with ConnectID, while Aussie telco Optus uses the ID by Mastercard service.

The Australian government even has its own version called MyID - which was rebranded in November from MyGovID ahead of the commencement of the Digital ID Act on December 1.

'This legislation will strengthen and expand a voluntary accreditation scheme for providers of Digital ID services across the economy,' the Department of Finance said.

'Accredited providers will need to meet a range of privacy, security and other standards and be subject to additional privacy safeguards set out in law.

'Australians who choose to use these accredited providers to create and re-use a Digital ID can have confidence knowing their personal information is private, safe and secure.'

While under the legislation a Digital ID is specifically not compulsory, companies are now weighing up whether they will lose customers by insisting they need one to use their services.

The government and corporations argue the digital ID is more secure to cyber hacks than traditional online verification measures for identity, but there have been privacy concerns raised.

'In Europe, many countries have established digital identity structures; however, these systems are built on robust rights-based frameworks and a mature rights-respecting culture that we do not currently enjoy in Australia,' Digital Rights Watch wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted ANZ for comment.
An enraged customer was caught on camera purposely plowing his new Subaru into a Utah car dealership on Monday.

Michael Lee Murray, 35, was apparently upset after he bought the Subaru Outback from the Tim Dale Mazda Southtowne dealership in Sandy earlier that day - only to find what he said were mechanical issues with the vehicle, according to Fox 13.

He returned to the dealership hours later demanding his money back and asking to return the vehicle, telling police in the aftermath that the store 'sold him a lemon and they would not give him his money back,' Newsweek reports.

Salesmen then explained that the sales contract for the Subaru Outback was 'as is,' and would therefore not give him a refund.

Upon hearing this, Murray allegedly warned staff members he was going to drive the vehicle through the front door.

He then got back into his new car and did just that - crashing into the front glass doors and leaving them shattered as he plowed into the front desk.

'I was just really angry, I was upset about my money,' Murray has since told Inside Edition.

'I kind of blacked out for a second,' he claimed, as he acknowledged: 'I know I probably shouldn't have done it.'

Michael Lee Murray, 35, was caught on camera purposely plowing his new Subaru into the Tim Dale Mazda Southtowne car dealership in Sandy, Utah on Monday

Murray later claimed he was 'really angry' and 'kind of blacked out for a second'

Harrowing footage of the crash, recorded by someone at the scene that day, showed the Subaru breaking the glass front door and crashing into the wooden front desk, leaving broken pieces and items strew across the floor.

Murray could then be seen opening the front door of the car into the broken front desk and yelling to somebody off-camera, 'I told you motherf***ers,' as he slammed the car door.

Someone then yelled that staff members should call the local police department, to which Murray responded, 'Call the cops, they got nothing.'

He proceeded to take off his jacket, which he laid on top of the car and rolled up his shirt sleeves.

At that point, it seemed that Murray was going to flee the scene, but he immediately returned and asked, 'Is there anybody under the car.'

When someone replied that there was no one pinned by the vehicle, Murray grabbed his jacket and walked out - leaving those at the dealership were left to turn the car off as they had to wade through glass shards.

'Murray's vehicle was completely inside the building,' Sandy police officers would later write in a booking affidavit, obtained by Newsweek.

'The front doors were now inside the building, there was glass shattered all around where Murray's vehicle was and some pieces of the door and door frame had hit another vehicle, causing damage to the side of that vehicle as well.'

The damage from the crash is estimated to cost $10,000, with the damage to the building (pictured) and another car that was on the indoor sales floor exceeding $5,000

The damage is estimated to cost $10,000, with the damage to the building and to another car that was on the indoor sales floor exceeding $5,000.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the crash, though employees said they had to quickly jump out of the way to avoid being hit by the oncoming car.

Murray was soon taken into custody and booked at the Salt Lake County Jail.

He was charged with felony criminal mischief, and misdemeanors for reckless endangerment and economic interruption.

Murray was then released from jail on Tuesday.
A popular restaurant in Sydney's Inner West has abruptly closed after its head chef walked out on the owners.

Comedor, a Mexican-cuisine restaurant located in Newtown, announced the closure on its social media accounts on Friday.

'Comedor is remaining closed until further notice,' the post reads.

'We sincerely apologise to those who had bookings and look forward to welcoming you again very soon.'

The post left locals wondering what caused the sudden closure despite it being a busy time of year for the industry.

However, the now-former head chef, Alejandro Huerta, claimed that the closure followed his resignation and most of the kitchen team.

'I was happy with what we achieved, but it wasn't a great place to work,' he told Good Food.

'It was a heartbreaking experience, not an easy decision to make.'

Popular Newtown restaurant Comedor (pictured) has announced it will be closed until further notice after a reported staff dispute led to a mass walkout weeks after receiving its first hat

The walkout came just under a month after Mr Huerta helped lead the restaurant's kitchen to receive one hat in Good Food's 2025 restaurant awards.

Mr Huerta took to social media to thank his 'amazing team and everyone that's involved in this project' after a glowing review earlier this year.

But a spokesperson for Comedor ownerWalt Shellshear refuted the claim of an almost complete walkout, insisting that 'just two chefs' left.

'Right now, we are taking time to reassess next steps and plan out 2025,' the statement to the Sydney Morning Herald reads.

'The new year will see an exciting new team and everything will be revealed in due time, once locked in.'

There is currently no set date for fans of the restaurant to expect it to return.

While the restaurant saw major success, it also received criticism from locals trying to stop a proposed deck extending into the Camperdown Memorial Rest Park.

The restaurant's head chef, Alejandro Huerta (pictured, centre), said it was a 'heartbreaking' decision to leave the restaurant but claimed it 'wasnt a great place to work'

About 70 per cent of public feedback for the proposed plan opposed turning the public land into a deck and takeaway cafe.

But their efforts failed after the Inner West Council granted Comedor a five-year lease in November.

One resident said the decision to press on despite fierce opposition from locals was 'baffling', a sentiment echoed by regular park user Pip Hinman.

'You need to listen to the community and just stop, not listen to the community and go ahead,' Hinman told the ABC.

Newtown estate agent Charles Bailey fronted the council meeting on behalf of Comedor owner Walter Shellshear, who was interstate.

He defended the venue as a 'bona fide addition' to the public park, adding it employs 20 people and provides business to local suppliers.
Roman Catholic Trappist monks are expected to refrain from unnecessary speech, commit to hard labour and devote their lives to piety.

So how on earth did one of the Order's most prestigious Abbeys, on Caldey Island off the Pembrokeshire coast, become a haven for paedophiles who for three decades abused over 50 children with impunity?

As a new report published yesterday reveals, Caldey Island - owned by the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance - was no sober religious mission, but a sordid den of sexual deviance and moral iniquity.

No wonder then that this seemingly tranquil outpost has been nicknamed 'Paedophile Island'.

More than 60,000 tourists each year take the half-mile ferry from Tenby to Caldey over the summer months. Among the main attractions are a medieval church, legendary chocolate factory, sprawling bluebell woods and mesmerising beaches.

It is no exaggeration to call Caldey one of the most picturesque spots in Wales.

But the 540-acre island  home to just 40 full-time residents including eight monks  is most famous for a monastic tradition dating back to the 6th Century.

The Abbey standing today was built by Benedictine monks in 1906 but sold, along with the island and its buildings, to the Order of Cistercians in 1925 under whose watch the recent horrific transgressions occurred.

Father Thaddeus Kotik was described by one victim as a 'Michael Jackson-like' character, who used a pet tortoise, kittens and gifts of sweets, biscuits and yoghurt from the island's dairy, where he worked, to groom, rape and molest children

It is now understood that between 1960 and 1992, at least 54 children, some as young as three, were sexually abused by both monks and laymen, including some with criminal records living on the island under fake names. Pictured: Caldey Island Abbey

Your browser does not support iframes.

It is now understood that between 1960 and 1992, at least 54 children, some as young as three, were sexually abused by both monks and laymen, including some with criminal records living on the island under fake names. In the most extreme cases, the abuse extended to rape.

The vast majority of victims are understood to have been visiting the island on holiday with family or on trips arranged and paid for by Catholic youth groups and schools.

The truly damning 73-page report was commissioned in April this year by the recently appointed Abbot, Father Jan Rossey, and was compiled by former assistant police and crime commissioner Jan Pickles OBE. A total of 16 survivors have provided Pickles with their own moving and oftentimes harrowing testimonies.

The majority of the report centres on the serial sex offender Father Thaddeus Kotik  known as 'Father Thadd'  who abused a string of children in the 1970s and 1980s and evaded justice up to his death in 1992.

Kotik claimed to have fought with the Polish Free Army in the Second World War, including at D-Day in 1944, before moving to Caldey Island in 1947 and taking up religious instruction. But this elaborate backstory now turns out to be a total hoax. For Ms Pickles' report reveals that upon investigation, Kotik was actually an 'Eastern worker' in a German camp in 1944  certainly not fighting on the beaches in France.

The revelation led Ms Pickles to conclude that Kotik fabricated his military credentials in order to blag British citizenship, something he successfully obtained in 1959, three years after being ordained into the Cistercian Order.

More than 50 children who visited a remote holy island off the coast of Wales were raped or subjected to vile sex abuse by paedophile monks, a leaked report reveals. Father Thaddeus Kotik (pictured), was a prolific abuser of children in the 1970s and 80s

Children as young as three were allegedly groomed and attacked in 'plain sight' on Caldey Island, a picturesque tourist spot off the Pembrokeshire coast. Pictured: Caldey Island

The remote island has a long and tragic history of sexual abuse against minors - pictured is the boat landing point on Caldey Island

Thousands of tourists visit Caldey off the Pembrokeshire coast each year unaware of its dark history of sex abuse

The report found he used 'complex strategies' to groom young children and earn the trust of their parents.

Kotik kept a pet tortoise and numerous kittens to perk the interests of young children before luring them to the island's dairy or to hidden coves where he could commit his abuse unseen.

In some horrific cases, he even won the trust of parents and offered to babysit their children, gaining unfettered access to his prey.

'Victim 001' was ten years old when, in his own words, Kotik gave him 'chocolate and sweets' before 'hugging and kissing' him.

In a heartbreaking admission, Victim 001 revealed to Ms Pickles that he feared getting into trouble if he didn't agree to meet with the monk, and even that he volunteered to do so in order to protect his younger brother from the same fate.

It wasn't until many years later that Victim 001's sister admitted that she had been raped by Kotik.

In another disturbing account, a witness to Kotiks abuse recalled an occasion in which a young girl was half lying on Father Thaddeuss chest He was kissing her around her face and on her lips Part of his hand was under her pants fondling her bottom.

The witness, who is named only as 'N', reported what they saw to the then Abbot, Father Robert O'Brien, but received no response.

Sadly, the story of sexual abuse on Caldey Island is not just one of grotesque misconduct, but also of a protracted and systemic cover up.

Another witness who gave evidence to the report, a teenager at the time of Kotik's abuse, described the monk as 'creepy' and 'childlike.' 'To my mind,' the witness continued, 'he was more a Michael Jackson type than Jimmy Savile'.

Father Thaddeus Kotik died in 1992 without facing any criminal charges into claims he abused children on the holy island

Caldey's Post Office doubles up as a museum with ancient relics on display

The island shop stocks Isle of Caldey chocolate along with souvenirs including tea towels, table mats and teddy bears

These are just a small handful of many disturbing testimonies made against Kotik, a significant number of which are too disturbing to reproduce here.

The now-disgraced Father Thaddeus Kotik was buried on the island after his death in 1992. In 2017, one anonymous female victim called for the monk's remains to be exhumed and removed from the island, expressing her sadness that a place of such natural beauty 'had to harbour revolting creatures.'

But if anyone thought that the scandal on Cadley Island died with Father Thaddeus's generation, they were to be much mistaken. For it remained a safe harbour for paedophiles long into the 21st Century.

In 2011, Father John Shannon, then 58  who lived on the island for 11 months and was previously chaplain at the University of East Anglia  was sentenced to eight months in jail for downloading 740 indecent photographs of children aged between 9 and 15.

Paul Ashton, originally from West Sussex, went on the run in 2004 after being charged with possessing indecent images of children. For years police were dumbfounded by his sudden disappearance. That was, until 2011 when one Caldey resident recognised Ashton from a Crimestoppers 'Most Wanted' list and tipped off the police.

When officers came to arrest Ashton on the island, they found he was living under the name Robert Judd and had become, according to one source, 'indispensable' to the running of the Abbey and its Order.

The now convicted paedophile was indeed living a charmed life with rooms in the Abbey's clocktower and three square meals a day provided by the monks. In return, Ashton is said to have 'operated the island's satellite internet and phone system, managed online accommodation bookings and the accounts and worked in the mail room.'

In a sordid twist, it emerged Ashton had abused his access to the Abbey's IT and internet systems to download thousands more indecent images of children.

Pictured: Aerial view of the Abbey and surrounding buildings at Caldey Island

Today the island is visited by thousands of tourists who know little about its history - pictured is a choir performing inside the Abbey Church

The abbey is now under new leadership in the form of Fr Jan Rossey (pictured)

Then aged 59, Ashton pleaded guilty in March 2012 and was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and was placed on the Sex Offender's Register for life.

Eventually, in March 2017, a civil claim against the Abbey resulted in an out of court settlement for six victims. Rebecca, who lived on the island until she was five and a half years old and suffered from sexual abuse, described the compensation as tantamount to 'hush money.'

Father Jan Rossey  who was appointed Abbot last year  said: 'I give my sincere apologies. I'm very sorry for all the suffering but also afterwards, for [victims] not being listened to.'

Ms Pickles report included 12 recommendations which the Abbey now says it will implement in full. According to Father Rossey, some of the recommendations have already been actioned including the introduction of safeguarding training and mandatory DBS checks for islanders.

Kevin O'Connell, founder of the Caldey Island Survivors campaign, told the Mail that the recent report marked 'a step in the right direction'. However, he added that 'because the recommendations are not legally binding, it does not go far enough'.

The Abbey insists that sexual abuse on the island is a thing of the past. However, one thing is for sure, for an order of monks who claim not to engage in unnecessary speech, their actions speak louder than their words.
A left-wing political commentator has accused Peter Dutton of using his controversial announcement about not displaying the Aboriginal flag as a smokescreen to distract attention from Liberal Party woes.

The Opposition Leader announced on Monday that if he was elected as Prime Minister next year, he will only display the Australian flag at press conferences.

Anthony Albanese has displayed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag at pressers since he became prime minister in 2022.

Only the Australian flag was shown before Mr Albanese secured the top job.

But Mr Dutton told Sky News on Monday that displaying three flags is 'dividing our country unnecessarily'.

Now, former Guardian Australia political reporter Amy Remeikis has unleashed on Mr Dutton, claiming no one in the mainstream media holds him to account or calls him out for 'what he is so obviously doing'.

'Apart from being just the worst, racist, culture war bulls***, it doesn't actually do anything to make people's lives better but certainly makes some people's lives a lot harder than they need to be in this country,' she said.

Ms Remeikis, who now works as the chief political analyst at the left-leaning Australian Institute thinktank, claimed it was a tried and tested tactic from Mr Dutton.

Former Guardian Australia political reporter Amy Remeikis (pictured) has accused Peter Dutton of using his controversial announcement about not displaying the Aboriginal flag as a smokescreen to distract attention from Liberal Party woes

The Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured) announced on Monday that, if elected as Prime Minister next year, he will only display the Australian flag at press conferences

'Every time there is an actual story he will throw a little culture war grenade out there to distract everybody,' she said.

'And there's several reasons why he needs a distraction. He's backed away from his migration cuts policy which was one of the only other policies that he has offered up in this term of parliament.

'He is going to have a joke of a nuclear costings day because we already know that it's going to be too expensive.

'He's got Paul Fletcher who's a senior liberal frontbencher announcing that he's retiring at the next election.'

Mr Dutton announced on Sunday that the Liberal party would not set a target for net migration until after the election, despite previously promising to nearly halve the intake to 160,000 a year.

Ms Remeikis said Mr Fletcher - who, while having a key role in the party, was hardly a household name - was retiring because he was likely to lose to an independent at the next election.

She further claimed that Mr Dutton had used similar distraction tactics in the past, namely announcing that the Liberal party would be voting No in the Voice Referendum following the loss of the Aston by-election last year and announcing his controversial nuclear policy after losing the Dunkley by-election in March this year.

'Every single time that Peter Dutton needs some sort of 'look over there' moment he comes up with some sort of bulls*** distraction just like this,' Ms Remeikis added.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Dutton's office for comment.

Mr Albanese's decision to display the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag at press conferences was made without any fanfare.

'We didn't make a fuss, we didn't put out a media release... we just did it,' Mr Albanese said at the time, before his government's failed Voice to Parliament referendum.

'We have flags that represent our entire nation. It's an opportunity to speak about our full history.'

However, Mr Dutton called out the move this week and revealed he would never address the nation with both the Australian and Indigenous flags behind him, arguing that it sent a confusing message.

'I'm very strongly of the belief that we are a country united under one flag, and if we're asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily,' he told Sky News.

'We should have respect for the Indigenous flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag, but they are not our national flags.'

Mr Dutton also slammed Mr Albanese for sending 'a very confusing message' to Australians about the country's values and celebrating Australia Day.

Anthony Albanese (pictured) has displayed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag at press conferences since he became prime minister in 2022

He labelled Mr Albanese as 'the weakest prime minister' in Australia's history and claimed Aussies should celebrate the national holiday under 'one flag'.

'The prime minister is not out there calling out Woolworths and not out there calling the pubs who don't want to celebrate Australia,' Mr Dutton said.

'He wants to be all things to all people, which is why people rightly perceive him as being the weakest Prime Minister that we've had in our country's history.

'I think the fact is that we should stand up for who we are, for our values, what we believe in.

'We are united as a country when we gather under one flag, which is what we should do on Australia Day.'

Over 90 per cent of Daily Mail Australia readers agreed with Mr Dutton that the displaying of three flags was 'dividing our country unnecessarily'.
A married police officer who had an affair with a younger colleague has been convicted of carrying out a campaign of abuse against her.

Love rat PC Martin McNally, 43, sparked a secret romance with the 26-year-old officer when they met at work.

They swapped 110,000 messages during an almost two-year relationship which they managed to keep secret from other officers.

But McNally would regularly subject her to violent and controlling outbursts which left her terrified.

The pair were travelling together in a police car when a row broke out which caused him to grab a mobile phone from her hand.

He also throttled her during violent incidents and punched holes in her bathroom door.

His victim secretly recorded the aftermath of one attack which heard her repeatedly beg him to leave her home.

She went to senior officers after being subjected to a torrent of abuse during a phone call where he accused her of infidelity and called her derogative names.

A married Police Scotland officer who had an affair with a younger colleague has been convicted of carrying out a campaign of abuse against her (file image)

PC Martin McNally, of Glasgow, denied any wrongdoing and went on trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court (pictured)

McNally, of Glasgow, denied any wrongdoing and went on trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

A jury convicted him of engaging in abusive behaviour towards her and uttering sexual remarks between March 2020 and February 2022 as well as repeatedly assaulting her between July and December 2021 in locations in Lanarkshire and Glasgow.

The court heard McNally and his wife are estranged after his affair was revealed in 2022.

Under questioning from depute fiscal Neil Thomson, the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told how she had been abused by McNally.

The jury was also shown photos of bruising to her neck after she had been strangled by him.

In one recording played to court, she could be heard sobbing as she repeatedly begged McNally to leave her home.

She said: Im going to phone the police, you strangled me, you pinned me to the ground and you strangled me. You did it upstairs, please go. You strangled me and I couldnt breathe.

Father-of-three McNally repeatedly denied strangling his victim and claimed he had not abused her but admitted taking the phone and punching holes in her door.

He said: The things I did I have admitted to, I have admitted taking the phone and punching the door but the strangulation did not happen.

I was upset in that recording, she was upset and I was just trying to de-escalate it.

I have been telling the truth.

Sheriff John Hamilton KC deferred sentence on McNally until next month for reports and continued bail (file image)

Mark Moir KC, defending, said: He is well aware of the fact that these are serious offences and that a custodial sentence will be one of the options open to the court.

Sheriff John Hamilton KC deferred sentence on McNally until next month for reports and continued bail.

But he warned: These are serious charges and the context of the offences is extremely serious.

At this stage I have an open mind but Mr Moir is right to say that the court will have to consider whether a custodial sentence is appropriate.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: We acknowledge the outcome at Hamilton Sheriff Court. The circumstances will now be considered by our Professional Standards Department.

Police Scotland demands the highest standards of professional behaviour from our officers and staff and when someone fails to meet these standards we take the appropriate action.
A man is set to stand trial charged with the murder of his wife.

Mompati Isaacs is alleged to have killed Keotshepile Isaacs at a property in North Berwick, East Lothian, on New Years Day.

It is claimed Isaacs, 38, shouted at the 33-year-old, known as Naso, and pushed her onto a bed, holding her down.

He is then said to have repeatedly stabbed and struck her on the head, neck and body with a knife.

Isaacs faces a separate charge of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards his wife between October 1, 2022, and the day of the alleged murder this year.

This is said to have occurred in North Berwick, Edinburgh and in her home country of Botswana.

It includes claims Isaacs physically assaulted her, tracked her mobile phone, tried to control what she wore and sent her abusive texts.

The accusation further states he made her leave a property at night knowing she had nowhere else to stay.

Another charge claims Isaacs was threatening and abusive to another man by calling him and accusing him of having an affair with his wife.

Mompati Isaacs is alleged to have killed Keotshepile Isaacs at a property in North Berwick, East Lothian, on New Years Day. Pictured: Keotshepile Naso Issacs

It is claimed Isaacs, 38, shouted at the 33-year-old, known as Naso (pictured), and pushed her onto a bed, holding her down. He is then said to have repeatedly stabbed and struck her on the head, neck and body with a knife

Isaacs faces a separate charge of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards his wife between October 1, 2022, and the day of the alleged murder this year. Pictured: Keotshepile Naso Issacs

The case called for a short hearing at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.

Gareth Jones, KC, defending, said Isaacs was offering a plea to the reduced charge of culpable homicide in connection with the death. This was rejected by prosecutors.

Mr Jones stated a special defence  that Isaacs had been acting with diminished responsibility at the time  had been lodged. He said: Otherwise we are in a position to proceed to trial.

Advocate depute Ali Murray will lead the prosecution in the case. Lord Armstrong fixed a trial which is scheduled to start in September next year in Edinburgh.

The case is expected to last around eight days.

Mrs Isaacs funeral took place in Botswana on February 20 after her body was flown back following an online fundraising appeal that collected more than 3,000.
Dutch police have arrested three people in connection with an explosion at an apartment block that killed at least six people.

Rescue workers have been combing the wreckage of the blast that levelled five homes in a the three-storey apartment block in The Hague on Saturday.

Three of the victims include a man and woman aged 45 and 41, respectively, and their 17-year-old daughter. An eight-year-old boy was the sole survivor from that family.

The other three victims were men aged 31, 44 and 63, while four other people are still in hospital, two in serious condition.

The target of the attack appeared to be a wedding boutique on the ground floor of the building, a police spokesman told local media.

Police authorities said they have seized several cars and 'cannot rule out further arrests,' adding they had received dozens of tips.

They have also appealed for information on a car that was seen speeding away from the scene after the explosion, which took place at around 6:15am.

'Further investigation is required to determine whether one of the cars is also the car that drove away' from the scene, police said in a statement.

The wreckage of the apartment block on Monday, two days after the blast that levelled five homes and killed at least six people

Emergency personnel work at the scene of an explosion on Sunday

Firefighters stand by the site of an explosion which destroyed several apartments

Nearly 600,000 euros ($631,000) has been raised to support the victims of the explosion.

Residents of the north-eastern neighbourhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague recalled hearing a huge bang and screams before the explosion happened.

bystander Dimi, 53, said: 'It was like an earthquake. Something collapsed but we didn't see where it came from.

'I know these neighbours. My kids go to school with them. My new car has also been seriously damaged,' he added.

'I was asleep and suddenly there was this huge bang,' Adam Muller, a 14-year-old local said.

'I looked out of the window and just saw flames. It's a massive shock,' he added.

Residents told local media the apartment block was mainly inhabited by elderly people and families with children.

Around 40 residents of other blocks near the collapsed building were evacuated with some taken away by bus to an unknown location.

Emergency services recover a body on Sunday after a three-storey apartment block partially collapsed after a fire and explosion

A view of a partially collapsed building after a fire and an explosion, in The Hague

The incident has rocked the Netherlands with the King and Queen issuing a statement on the tragedy.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima said: 'Our thoughts are with those affected in The Hague after the explosion and fire this morning.

'Including those who are afraid of the fate of their loved ones.'

Prime Minister Dick Schoof said in a statement he was shocked by the images of the disaster. 'My thoughts go out to the victims, all other people involved, and the emergency services who are now working on the scene,' he said.

National police commissioner Janny Knol said there was 'disbelief and uncertainty' in the community.

Dutch police said in October that there has been a sharp increase in explosions targeting businesses and homes, with 768 incidents to the end of October, up from 497 in the same period last year.
An Aussie tech company has handed hundreds of workers a $65,000 bonus with the combined handouts worth a staggering $22million.

Sydney-based data processing firm AirTrunk awarded all of its 330 workers the cash boost ahead of a major deal with US asset management firm Blackstone this month.

The US company announced in September it had acquired AirTrunk for a whopping $24billion and AirTrunk awarded its workers with the pay to celebrate the acquisition.

More than a hundred senior employees are also part of a profit sharing agreement with the company.

The $65,000 bonus is enough to afford a 10 per cent deposit on a home in some parts of Australia including Darwin where the median price for a house is $589,166.

AirTrunk, which specialises in running large data centres to protect the digital information of companies, is no stranger to delivering benefits to its workers.

Founder and CEO Robin Khuda paid the airfare for most of his employees for a trip to Bali earlier this year to attend a company conference held at the holiday destination.

Workers participated in several activities as part of the 'annual strategy meeting' including assembling push bikes for a local charity.

Data processing firm AirTrunk awarded all of its 330 workers the cash boost ahead of a major deal with Blackstone this month (pictured AirTrunk workers in Bali earlier this year)

Mr Khuda is among one of Australia's richest CEO's and is worth more than a billion dollars.

The company, which operates 11 data centres across Australia, Malaysia and Japan, boasts several high profile tech clients including Google, Microsoft and Amazon.

Mr Khuda, who founded AirTrunk in 2015, said he wants to grow the business into a $100billion company.

'We've always been ambitious. We're $24billion. We only have to grow four times, pretty much, to get to that level,' he told The Australian.

Mr Khuda said the company has forged strong ties with the big tech firms following significant investments in cloud computing infrastructure.

'We got the benefit of Covid, which accelerated the migration to the cloud,' he said.

'Now with AI theres a significant amount of growth coming up, so we were at the right place and right time.'

The major tech companies are set to invest a massive $1trillion over the next five years.

Mr Khuda said AirTrunk will support their ongoing efforts to integrate cloud computing services into their businesses.

The company attracted scrutiny from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission over its sale in August, the Australian Financial Review reported.

The $20billion sale was announced by AirTrunk's previous owners Macquarie Asset Management and PSP Investments.

Mr Khuda was previously the chief executive of mobile payments company Mint Wireless, but left after just six months in the role.

He was also the founding executive at data centre operator NEXTDC and also worked at Optus and Fujitsu when he began his career.
Joe Rogan suggested very few will mourn UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after suspected assassin Luigi Mangione was apprehended for the murder.

Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon at the fast food joint in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson, 50, outside of a Manhattan hotel.

Rogan spoke about the shooting on Tuesday's episode of his podcast, which was recorded last week before Mangione had been caught but after a photo of him was released.

Speaking to filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and producer Roger Avary, Rogan had little sympathy for Thompson.

After Avary suggested that he doesn't 'think anybody's going to be crying too hard over that guy' Rogan replied that his family would, 'but that's about it.'

Rogan - who endorsed Donald Trump in 2024 but picked Bernie Sanders in 2020 - said Thompson would not be remembered fondly because of his participation in what he calls the 'gross' insurance business.

'It's a dirty, dirty business. The business of insurance is f***ing gross,' he said.

With Mangione yet to be arrested, Rogan posited the reasoning for Mangione's actions.

Joe Rogan suggested very few will mourn UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after suspected assassin Luigi Mangione was apprehended for the murder

Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon at the fast food joint in Altoona, Pennsylvania , five days after he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson (pictured), 50, outside of a Manhattan hotel

'I don't think this guy was a professional,' Rogan said. 'I think this guy, if I had to guess, [is] some guy [who] got f***** over. Apparently, that company is really bad at denying claims.'

It has since been claimed that Mangione had a manifesto against UnitedHealthcare after suffering a debilitating back injury which required painful spinal surgery.

At a press conference, the NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows 'ill will toward corporate America.'

A law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone.

'To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone,' the document said, according to the official.

It also had a line that said, 'I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.'

He made his first court appearance after being charged with murder on Tuesday - pouting as he was escorted out of the hearing, after suffering a ferocious public meltdown hours earlier.

The orange jumpsuit-clad suspect had to be restrained as he screamed at police while heading into court in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona on Monday.

It has since been claimed that Mangione had a manifesto against UnitedHealthcare after suffering a debilitating back injury which required painful spinal surgery

Thomas Dickey, Mangione's lawyer, said on Tuesday night that his client will also plead not guilty to the gun possession charges he is facing in Pennsylvania.

The wealthy CEO was in the Big Apple to host UnitedHealthcare's annual investor meeting, where he was set to detail the insurance company's massive profits for the year.

Surveillance camera footage showed him walking outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan when he was shot at point-blank range by three bullets.

The shell casings were later found to have the words 'deny,' 'defend', 'depose' written on them, in an apparent attack on health insurance practices.

It is believed Mangione was angry at the way the medical insurance industry treated a sick relative, according to the New York Post.

Further details on that relative or their identity have not been shared, although online obituaries show Mangione lost a grandmother in 2013 and a grandfather in 2017.

His X account also shows an x-ray of a complicated neck surgery.

The former valedictorian was also in possession of a 3D-printed pistol and black silencer, with police noting that the pistol was loaded with one Glock magazine comprising six 9mm full-metal jacket rounds.

Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon

One loose 9mm hollow-point round was also located.

Officers from Altoona Police Department remained stationed inside the restaurant Monday night, as surveillance footage showed the moment Mangione was arrested.

Authorities later confirmed that Mangione alighted a Greyhound bus opposite the McDonald's at around 9am on Monday morning, after leading NYPD cops on a cross-country chase.

Staff at nearby restaurants say they were unaware that the killer had been apprehended just yards from their doors, simply recalling that local police cars had been in the vicinity.

Officers now believe Mangione had been in Pennsylvania for several days following Thompson's December 4 murder, and may have previously spent time in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, according to the New York Times.

'We do have an idea how he got from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, but there are some gaps in time,' Lt. Col. George Bivens said.

'And so before we start laying out a timeline of his travel, we really need to work through all of that.'

Mangione is now due back in court for a preliminary hearing on December 23.
MBABANE  A total of 52 politicians have not declared their assets and liabilities before the Commission of Human Rights and Public Administration (CHRPA)/Integrity.

This was disclosed by the commission yesterday during the commemoration of International Human Rights Day and 15 years of the commissions existence in Eswatini. The shocking figures of Members of Parliament (MPs), senators and Cabinet ministers, who have contravened the supreme law of the country, were disclosed by Human Rights Examiner, Nelisiwe Zwane. Zwane presented before the commemoration delegates, who included the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane, United Nations (UN) organs, civil society organisations and other government officials.

Activities

The officer stated that one of the activities of the commission this year was to ensure that parliamentarians and politicians honour their obligation and declare assets before the commission. According to Section 241 of the Constitution of Eswatini, a person who holds public office shall submit to the Commission of Human Rights and Public Administration/Integrity a written declaration of all property, assets owned by, or any benefit gained or liabilities, owed by the holder of that office whether directly or indirectly.

The first declaration should be done within six months after the commencement of the integrity commission or before taking office, as the case may be. The declaration is expected to be conducted after two years in office as well as at the end of their term. This is a significant constitutional provision that helps to increase transparency and trust in leadership, preventing conflict of interest and the acquisition of illicit assets or attainment of wealth through corrupt practices.

Declaration

The commission, on October 10, was in Parliament for the declaration of assets and liabilities exercise. After a poor turnout, the declaration period was extended to November 10, 2024. Last week, the commission was still in Parliament assisting senators who, needed help during the exercise, but the turnout was still poor. The 12th Parliament MPs were sworn in on October 6, 2023, in Parliament, and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were also elected on the day. Zwane stated that out of 59 elected MPs and 10 appointees, only 28 declared their assets and liabilities. Out of 30 senators, of whom 10 are elected by the Electoral College and 20 appointed, only 14 honoured their constitutional obligation.

This means that even the 20 senators appointed by His Majesty the King, have contravened the supreme law. Zwane also shared that only five Cabinet ministers have declared their assets and liabilities. The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane, was the first Cabinet Minister to declare, Zwane said as the meeting was getting rowdy, following the shocking figures. It was revealed during the meeting that there was a lot of resistance from some of the parliamentarians. This is despite the fact that the commission, on May 13, 2024, held workshops, where they took the parliamentarians through the importance of declaring their assets and liabilities.

This is despite the fact that Parliament should be seen adhering to the Constitution, holding government and officials accountable and playing an oversight role. The 12th Parliament, during Sibaya in 2023, was given a mandate to fight corruption and ensure accountability. The first step in holding people accountable is leading by example and honouring the laws of the country. Following the figures that were revealed by Zwane, civil society came hard on the commission for not taking things to the next step.

The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) Executive Director, Thembinkosi Dlamini, questioned if the declaration was optional to the political office barriers, because there was no way that only around 47 would have declared their assets by now. We have had this Parliament for over a year now, therefore, it could have been expected that by now they would have declared their assets, so that we could be able to track over time whether people are accumulating wealth that they shouldnt or should, he said.

Liabilities

Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba, who is also an alternating member of the House of Assembly Justice and Constitutional Affairs Portfolio Committee, said he was shocked to learn that MPs have not declared their assets. Lushaba is among those who have declared his assets and liabilities. In response, the CHRPA/Integrity Deputy Commissioner Duduzile Nhlengethwa explained that Section 242 of the Constitution states that an officer who contravenes the code may, after due process of law, be dismissed or removed from office by reasons of such breach or abuse and may be disqualified from holding any public office, either generally or for a specified period.

Subsection 2 of the Section states that any property or assets acquired after the initial declaration under this chapter and, which is not reasonably attributable to income, government loan, inheritance or any other legitimate source, shall, after due process of law, be forfeited to government. We are urging all of those who are required by the law to make the declarations, she said. The deputy commissioner stated that the commission, with its mother ministry, has completed drafting the Leadership Code of Conduct Bill and was before the Cabinet.

She said the proposed law would spell out the obligations and consequences.

She went on to state that for now, the commission has not resorted to drastic measures as per Section 242, but once the proposed law is enacted into an Act of Parliament there would be dire consequences. The commission also shared that this year they have received 158 cases relating to human rights violations. The commission shared that 98 cases were reported by men and 55 by women, three from children and two from persons with disabilities.
A mother mauled to death by her own dog had been charged by police after it attacked another owner's pet just months earlier.

Michelle McLeod, 41, was killed at her home in Aberdeen on Saturday when she was savaged by one-year-old Bailey, which neighbours described as an 'XL Bully' dog.

Locals said the fatal attack came just six months after Bailey was reported to the city's dog warden and the police after it targeted a collie in the street.

It has now emerged Ms McLeod was charged over the incident.

Police Scotland yesterday said: 'A 41-year-old woman was charged following a report of a dog attacking another dog near Foresterhill Road, Aberdeen, on June 7, 2024.

The injured dog was taken to a vet for treatment. A report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.'

Ryan Gray said Bailey lunged at his ten-year-old collie, Clyde, and punctured its neck, leaving him with a 180 vet bill.

He said the 'aggressive' dog got 'a grip' of Clyde's neck despite wearing a muzzle.

Michelle McLeod, 41, (pictured) was killed at her home in Aberdeen on Saturday when she was savaged by one-year-old Bailey

Locals said the fatal attack came just six months after Bailey was reported to the city's dog warden and the police after it targeted a collie in the street. Pictured: Michelle walking Bailey close to her home a few months before the tragedy

Ms McLeod was tragically pronounced dead in a house on Foresterhill Road - her family has now paid tribute

Mr Gray recalled: 'I felt the dog was trying to kill him. I was pleading with her to get him off.'

The 25-year-old said he was injured as he tried to prise Bailey's teeth from Clyde and it took four people to finally get the dog off.

He added that Ms McLeod struggled to control Bailey and would shout at others to keep their dogs away.

Emergency services rushed to her block of flats just after 11pm on Saturday but Ms McLeod was pronounced dead at the scene.

A family statement described her as a 'much-loved mother, daughter and friend to many' who will be 'sorely missed'. Aberdeen City Council said it was unable to comment as it was a police matter.
Daniel Penny has revealed that he 'wouldn't have been able to live with himself' if he hadn't got involved to defend subway passengers from Jordan Neely.

Penny, 26, who was found not guilty of killing homeless man Neely, 30, on Monday, told Judge Jeanine Pirro in a new interview that he would have felt responsible 'if someone did get hurt' after the homeless man threatened to kill people onboard.

'The guilt I would've felt if someone did get hurt, if he did do what he was threatening to do, I would never be able to live with myself,' the Marine veteran told Pirro in a snippet of the Fox Nation interview set to air on Wednesday.

He told the former judge that he felt that he was 'in a very vulnerable position' as he held Neely back on the floor of an F train.

'He was just threatening to kill people. He was threatening to go to jail forever, go to jail for the rest of his life, and now I'm on the ground with him.

'I'm on my back in a very vulnerable position... If I just let him go, now I'm on my back and he can turn around and start doing what he said - to me... killing, hurting,' Penny explained.

Penny was arrested in May 2023 after he held the Michael Jackson impersonator in a chokehold for a duration that resulted in the victim's death.

After a bombshell decision to drop the manslaughter charge on Friday, the jury returned on Monday where they decided that Penny did not commit criminally negligent homicide by subduing Neely that day.

Daniel Penny, 26, who was found not guilty of murdering Jordan Neely, 30, on Monday, said he had no choice but to intervene that day so he could save others lives

Neely was killed by the Marine Corp veteran on May 1, 2023 after Penny held him in a chokehold on a Manhattan F train

Penny said that he is 'not a confrontational person' and someone who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, as the case sparked whirlwind attention across the nation.

'I really dont extend myself. This type of thing is very uncomfortable. All this attention and lime light is very uncomfortable.

'I didn't want any attention or praise, and I still don't,' he said, adding that he's come to terms with it because his actions saved the lives of others.

'And I'll take a million court appearances and people calling me names and people hating me just to keep one of those people from getting hurt, or killed.'

The case itself and Penny's ultimate acquittal enraged BLM activists, who instantly called for revenge in the form of black vigilantes.

During his interview, Penny also mentioned the 'self-serving' officials who used the fatal incident as part of a 'political game'.

He told the former judge exactly what happened on the train, adding that he was left 'in a very vulnerable position.' (Pictured: Jordan Neely)

Despite not mentioning anyone directly, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who spearheaded the case against Penny, has come under fire since the verdict was announced.

'These are their policies. And I dont mean to get political, I really dont want to make any enemies, really  although I guess I have already,' he told Pirro.

'But these are their policies that have clearly not worked, that the people, the general population, are not in support. Yet, their egos are too big to agree that theyre wrong.'

After walking free, the 26-year-old quickly dashed to a downtown bar to celebrate his win with his lawyers and ponder his next move.

Even before the verdict came back, there were calls from Republicans for him to be heralded a hero.

Rep. Eli Crane, R-Arizona has been so impressed by Penny and his swift action against Neely that, according to Fox, he wants to award him Congress highest civilian honor - a Congressional Gold Medal.

After walking free, the 26-year-old quickly dashed to a downtown bar to celebrate his win with his lawyers and ponder his next move

Daniel Pennys actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain to do right in a world that rewards moral cowardice, he said.

He went on to describe the justice system as corrupt and one which allows degenerates to steamroll our laws and our sense of security, while punishing the righteous.

Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000 to Daniel Penny's staggering legal fund, which has now reached $3million. He has also repeatedly spoken out about Neely's lengthy rap sheet, accusing the Manhattan District Attorney's office of sharing 'responsibility for his death for creating an anti law enforcement culture.'

Penny faced 15 years in prison for charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally-negligent homicide after the incident on the F train last spring, which was partially recorded and sparked a passionate national debate.

After the manslaughter charge was dropped last week, they then went on to decide if Penny was guilty of criminally negligent homicide which would have seen him face four years on a single count of the charge.

Despite admitting that he is 'not a confrontational person', Penny said 'I'll take a million court appearances and people calling me names' if that means nobody got hurt

After finding him not guilty, cheering and clapping erupted in the courtroom by some, while Neely's family yelled horrendous threats, calling Penny a 'racist c**t' and warning: 'It's a small world, buddy,' before being escorted out.

Judge Wiley allowed the prosecution's request to drop the manslaughter charge even after previously questioning the legality of it last week.

Penny's lawyers argued he acted in self-defense and in defense of other passengers after Neely terrorized their subway car and threatened them, but prosecutors say he overstepped into vigilantism and criminally killed Neely with a chokehold.

Neely was once among the citys corps of subway and street performers and was known for his Michael Jackson impersonations. He struggled with drug abuse and a mental illness, and had a criminal record that included assault convictions.

Penny previously told detectives that Neely 'was talking gibberish' the day of the violent encounter.

The case itself and Penny's ultimate acquittal enraged BLM activists, who instantly called for revenge in the form of black vigilantes

Others have expressed their unwavering support for Penny, hailing him a hero for his actions that day

During her testimony, Ivette Rosario, 19, a witness to the moment, said that Neely said someone would 'die that day'.

'I got scared by the tone that he was saying it. I have seen situations, but not like that,' Rosario recalled.

With the trial out of the way, Penny is free to return his attention to his studies. When he was charged, he was studying architecture at the New York City College of Technology.

He was also working two jobs  one as a swim teacher and also at a restaurant in Brooklyn  which he gave up to focus on the trial.

He is also not completely out of the woods after Neely's family filed a civil lawsuit against Penny last week. Penny's legal team, Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, released a statement Friday afternoon revealing they will immediately set their sights on the lawsuit.
An XL bully caused 'horrific' injuries to a girl and as she ran towards the hound's owner for help, he appeared not 'bothered', a court has heard.

Justin Allison's pet Rocco ran towards the youngster, 12, before sinking its teeth into her arm - leaving the bone and tendon exposed.

The 37-year-old, from Blaenau Gwent, has admitted criminal offences following the dog attack in Nantyglo.

Prosecutor Lisa Lewis told Newport Magistrates' Court that the girl had been walking with her dad on October 7 when they heard shouting behind them.

'She saw a dog running very fast towards her and it reached her in seconds. As it got closer it began growling at her and she felt very scared and turned to run to her dad,' Ms Lewis said.

The off-the-lead dog, Rocco, jumped on the girl's back and as she covered her head it latched onto her arm.

The prosecutor said: 'It was on her arm for a matter of seconds.

'The next thing she could remember was her dad on top of the dog, wrestling it.

'She has then walked into the middle of the road to shout for help. The dog owner has then appeared. She said he walked over but didn't come close and wouldn't do anything.

'She described him as not being bothered to help her dad while she was shouting in the middle of the road. She managed to push her dad in the direction of the owner and he managed to put a lead on the dog.'

Justin Allison's (pictured) pet Rocco ran towards the girl before sinking its teeth into her arm which left bone and tendon exposed

Prosecutor Lisa Lewis told Newport Magistrates' Court that the girl had been walking with her dad on October 7 when they heard shouting behind them (stock image)

The court heard Allison appeared not 'bothered' when he saw the girl had been attack

The owner, Allison told the girl and her dad that if anyone wanted him he would be at his home nearby.

'He did not offer any assistance at all,' the prosecutor continued.

'The girl's mum arrived and had a go at the defendant asking why there was no muzzle on the dog. The dog then tried to go for her mum but thankfully the defendant told the mum to go away and pulled the dog back.'

The girl was taken to the Grange Hospital where she underwent surgery to repair tendons in her arm.

Ms Lewis said pictures showed a 'horrific' arm injury where bone was exposed. The girl also suffered nasty cuts to her back.

The court heard the girl was healing well physically but the psychological impact was not yet clear. Her dad was not hurt.

It is illegal to own an XL Bully, which is a prohibited breed in Wales and England, unless you have an exemption certificate.

The ban was introduced in February after a spate of savage attacks in recent years.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Since February 1, it has been a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid Certificate of Exemption. It is also an offence to sell an XL Bully dog, abandon an XL Bully dog or give away or breed them.

Allison, of Lilian Grove in Ebbw Vale, admitted being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control causing injury, possessing a dangerous dog, and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.

He will be sentenced for those charges in January but the magistrates did impose a sentence over an incident in which Allison was caught drug-driving in Brynmawr.

Ms Lewis said a PC Morgan was on duty at Lakeside retail park on May 24 when he saw Allison driving a black Audi A4 at speed into the car park.

Allison and another man walked from the vehicle into Asda while the officer entered the vehicle's number plate on the police national computer and learned the car did not have third party insurance.

PC Morgan went into the Asda and noticed Allison was 'sweaty and pale with dilated pupils'.

A test revealed he had 240 micrograms of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine per litre of blood. The legal limit for driving is 50 micrograms. He pleaded guilty to drug-driving with no licence or insurance.

Allison was last convicted of an offence in 2019 and his only related conviction was from 2008 when he was caught drink-driving.

Allison, of Lilian Grove in Ebbw Vale, admitted being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control causing injury, possessing a dangerous dog, and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place

His solicitor Patrick Meadows said Allison did not realise his licence had expired and had only bought the car a few days earlier for 800.

It has since been destroyed by police. He added that his client had taken cocaine the night before he drove to Asda but not that day.

The defendant, who is single and unemployed, has depression and anxiety. He lives with his grandparents and receives 248 per fortnight in benefits.

The magistrates took into account his early guilty plea, his low means and his previous convictions.

They banned him from driving for 16 months and imposed a 120 fine, 48 victim services surcharge and 85 in prosecution costs which Allison is to pay at a rate of 20 pounds a month.
Fatima Payman has unleashed on the Labor government for holding a 'double standard' for incidents of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Australia.

The senator accused Australian politicians of having very different responses to the firebombing at Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on Friday and the arson of a bus belonging to an Islamic school in Adelaide on Sunday.

'Two acts of arson, two acts of hate, but two very different responses,' Senator Payman said in a heated rant shared to Instagram on Tuesday.

'In Melbourne a synagogue was tragically set on fire. It was quickly declared a terrorist attack. Leaders across the country condemned it, pledging millions of dollars to support the Jewish community.

'But in Adelaide, an Islamic school bus was torched. Police suspect it was racially motivated. Yet there's no outrage, there's no pledges of support, and certainly no declaration of terrorism. Why the double standard?

'Antisemitism is condemned as it should be, but Islamophobia? It's ignored, downplayed or dismissed. This government says it stands against hate, but clearly not all hate is treated equally.'

However, Senator Payman's claim the bus arson was racially motivated was inaccurate - with SAPOL on Monday saying they had 'so far not identified any evidence to indicate it was racially or politically motivated'.

A spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they had no further updates on Wednesday.

Senator Fatima Payman (pictured) has accused the Labor government of a 'double standard' when it comes to incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in Australia

The damage bill of the attack on Adass Israel synagogue is expected to be in the millions

The school bus, belonging to IQRA Islamic College in southern Adelaide, was set alight just before midnight on Sunday and though police believe the fire was deliberately lit, it's not believed to be a racially or politically motivated attack.

Nobody was injured in the blaze, but the bus was badly damaged.

The arson of the Adass Israel synagogue, which gutted the building, has been declared an act of terrorism as police continue to hunt three suspects.

The offenders are believed to have torched the building early on Friday morning as worshippers arrived for morning prayers on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath.

Terrified worshippers were forced to flee the building, with two people suffering minor injuries.

The damage bill of the attack is expected to cost millions of dollars, with the synagogue almost completely destroyed in the blaze.

Senator Payman has served as a senator for Western Australia since 2022, initially for Labor before becoming an independent and then launching her own political party, Australia's Voice, in October.

Earlier this month she erupted at Pauline Hanson in a vicious parliamentary spray, accusing the One Nation leader of racism and claiming she brings 'disgrace to the human race'.

The bus, belonging to IQRA Islamic College in southern Adelaide, was set alight on Sunday

Senator Payman was reacting to Senator Hanson's tabling of a document which said her Afghan citizenship disqualified her from serving in parliament.

Section 44c of the Australian constitution prevents anyone who holds citizenship of another country from sitting in parliament.

But Senator Payman says she has legal advice confirming she has can serve as a Senator because she has taken all steps to renounce her Afghan citizenship, and the Taliban-controlled state has not yet responded.
QUESTION: What are the most useless James Bond gadgets?

The Q division is the branch of MI6 responsible for developing gadgets, weapons and technology that aid James Bond in his missions.

Q stands for quartermaster, brilliantly played for many years by Desmond Llewelyn, who provided Bond with an array of often over-the-top deadly gadgets.

For every device used in the field, there are a host in development, and some of the most entertaining scenes in the films are of Bond raising a quizzical eyebrow as a poor minion tries out a ridiculous gadget.

In The Spy Who Loved Me there is a spring-loaded ottoman chair that, when activated, ejects the baddie into the air.

There is also a deadly tea tray: a sheet of metal that can accelerate to a speed which allows it to decapitate its victim.

GoldenEye gave us the phone box airbag that leaves a poor scientist squashed against the glass.

The same film also has the rocket -launching leg cast, perhaps inspired by the killer arm cast from For Your Eyes Only: a plaster cast that swings 180 degrees at ferocious speed, taking out an enemy.

In Thunderball, Bond escapes from the roof of a French chateau using a jetpack. This was a real, state-of-the-art Bell Rocket Belt used by stuntman Bill Suitor. Pictured: Sean Connery in Thunderball

Another favourite was the bagpipe flamethrower from The World Is Not Enough.Of course, Bond gets to use some of these eccentric gadgets in the field.

There is his seagull diving headgear from Goldfinger, the ultimate underwater disguise... or is it?

In Octopussy, Roger Moores 007 mans a crocodile-shaped submarine to infiltrate the floating palace.

Finally, one of the most unintentionally hilarious scenes in Bond comes from a real invention.

In Thunderball, Bond escapes from the roof of a French chateau using a jetpack. This was a real, state-of-the-art Bell Rocket Belt used by stuntman Bill Suitor.

Bond makes a laughably slow ascent while pursued by two heavies.

His assailants have ample time to shoot the spy as he coolly drifts away; mercifully they are hopeless shots.

James Stillman, London E10

QUESTION: Do the British Armed Forces still use any types of ordnance that were used during the Second World War?

The British Army uses theL1A1, a .50 (12.7mm) calibre heavy machine gun, which is a modified version of the Browning M2,developed in the US betweenthe wars.

The British Army adopted the M2 during the Second World War andit remains a key heavy weapon, mounted either on vehicles oron tripods.

The Q division is the branch of MI6 responsible for developing gadgets, weapons and technology that aid James Bond in his missions. Q stands for quartermaster, brilliantly played for many years by Desmond Llewelyn. Pictured: Roger Moore and Desmond Llewelyn Octopussy

Its longevity is down to its robustness, reliability in all conditions, versatility and stopping power.The 9x19mm Parabellum round was invented by Austrian firearms designer Georg Luger in 1901.

It was extensively used during the Second World War in weapons such as the Sten gun, and remains in use today for modern pistols like the Glock 17 handgun and the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun.

Lesley Smith, Birmingham

QUESTION: When new words enter the French language, how are their genders determined?

The Academie Francaise is the principal French council for matters pertaining to the French language and plays a key role in formalising the gender of new words in French.

Tomorrow's questions

Q: What was the value of the East India Company at the height of its powers at todays exchange rate? Michael J. Locke, Gillingham, Kent Q: What is the earliest record of the word Christmas? Ellen Phillips, Malvern, Worcs Q: What was the phlogiston theory of combustion that was popular before the 18th century? John Bryant, Wells, Somerset Advertisement

The Academie assumed this duty as part of its brief to safeguard the French language, dating back to its foundation in the 1630s.

However, the process is not entirely prescriptive and other factors caninfluence how a new words gender is determined.

It begins withhistorical and linguistic patterns: French nouns generally derive their gender from the words etymology, suffix or linguistic category.

For example, words ending in -e or -ere are almost always feminine, while words ending in consonants or other vowels tend to be masculine.

For words borrowed fromgendered languages such as Italian and Spanish, the French gender often corresponds to the original gender.

Thus la mozzarella remains feminine and el taco becomes le taco. When a new word emerges (e.g. loan words, technical terms, slang) its gender is often established through common usage.

The practical or perceived gender of an object can also influence its grammatical gender.

Tools and utilitarian objects often default to masculine, while traditionally feminine domains such as fashion and cuisine may encourage a feminine gender for related terms.

There is a controversial move to be more inclusive and have feminine forms of words such as auteur/autrice (author).

Ultimately, the Academie reviews new words and determines their spelling, gender and usage.

Their decisions aim to align with historical linguistic rules and consistency within the French language.

J. B. Robert, Ipswich, Suffolk
A Las Vegas man who was filmed flinging himself over a court bench and lunging at a judge in January has been sentenced to up to 65 years behind bars for her attempted murder.

Deobra Redden, now 31, was facing sentencing in a separate attempted battery case on January 3, when he was caught on camera launching himself at Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus.

He was also heard saying, 'Nah, f*** that b****' as he tackled the judge in an attack that prosecutors described as 'Superman style' after Holthus rejected his pleas for further probation.

Redden ultimately pleaded guilty but mentally ill in September to a slew of charges including attempted murder of an older person, battery on a protected person resulting in substantial bodily harm, intimidating a police officer and committing an unlawful act related to human excrement or bodily fluids, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

His lawyers had claimed Redden has schizophrenia and was not on medication at the time of the attack, but abruptly ended his trial after Holthus testified that she feared for her life, according to KSNV.

Defense attorney Carl Arnold said the plea 'reflects a delicate balance between accepting responsibility for a regrettable incident and recognizing the impact of Mr. Redden's untreated mental illness at the time.'

Arnold argued that Redden should serve time concurrently with the prison sentence he was already facing, which he said would amount to four to 11 years, KLAS reports.

But prosecutors pressed for substantial prison time, and District Court Judge Susan Johnson agreed - calling Redden's attack on her colleague 'an attack on the judiciary.'

Deobra Redden, now 31, was sentenced Tuesday to serve between 26 to 65 years in prison for a January attack on a female judge

Redden was in court on January 3 to face sentencing for a separate attempted battery case, when he was caught on camera launching himself at Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus

Video from the assault shows the very moment that Redden disagreed with Holthus mid-sentencing. Redden quickly leaped from where he was standing, pounced at the judge and took her down.

Though Holthus and others tried to dodge the serial felon, he managed to throw himself on top of both of them as he started to aggressively beat up the judge.

The sounds of him repeatedly hitting Holthus can also be heard in the video as he screams at her using explicit language.

Court documents on the incident revealed that Redden allegedly slammed the judge's head against the wall, struck her on the head and pulled out pieces of her hair.

To defend herself, Holthus took cover under her desk and 'balled up covering her face.' The violent incident lasted several minutes before security officers restrained the crazed man.

She was then treated at the justice center before being taken to hospital by a family member due to continued pain, and was later released.

Court marshal Shane Brandon suffered a gash on his face that needed 25 stitches and a dislocated shoulder, while law clerk Michael Lasso endured several minor hand abrasions.

Holthus testified in September that she feared for her life - prompting Redden's lawyers to end his trial and plead guilty but mentally unwell to a slew of charges

Redden later allegedly told officers that he attacked the judge because he was having a 'bad day', according to court documents viewed by KLAS.

He claimed that the 'Judge has it out for me' and said she is 'evil' before apologizing to the officers

'Im sorry you guys had to see that,' Redden said before reportedly asking another officer if what he did was wrong.

But he also allegedly spat in a corrections officers face while still inside the courthouse following the incident.

Holthus would later give a heartbreaking testimony about her experience that day, and in court in September, Lasso shared how he watched as the judge's head hit the floor and Redden grabbed her hair.

'I absolutely thought, "He's going to kill her,"' he testified.

Lasso said he then wrestled Redden away, punched him and tried to subdue him when Redden started hitting a corrections officer who intervened.

Redden insisted in court on Tuesday that he is 'not a bad person'

Still, Redden insisted in court on Tuesday that he is 'not a bad person.'

'I'm not making excuses for my actions, but I'm saying I'm not a bad person and I know that I did not intend to kill Mary Kay Holthus,' he told Johnson ahead of the sentencing.

'I know I cared about her wellbeing.' He went on to claim he did not remember much from the day of the attack.

'I saw nothing but red and I don't remember doing anything except for jumping on top of her...' Redden claimed.

'I was like, "Why are you doing this to me?" That's what I wanted to ask her if I think I knew myself, but I'm not really sure.'

Prosecutors, however, read a statement on behalf of Holthus in which she again claimed Redden was trying to commit murder when he attacked.

'He made a conscious decision to kill me and made every effort to succeed,' the statement said, according to KLAS.

'If he had his way, he'd be facing a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for murder.'

Johnson ultimately wound up siding with the prosecutors, noting that doctors who evaluated Redden concluded he knew the difference between 'right and wrong.'

He will now serve between 26 to 65 years in prison for the attack.

With credit for time served, Redden would be eligible for parole in the 2050s.
An Army hero has expressed his outrage after disgraced human rights lawyer Phil Shiner avoided jail yesterday as he was sentenced for a 200,000 fraud.

Former Law Society 'Solicitor of the Year' Shiner had sparked a 24million inquiry into alleged wrongdoing by British soldiers in Iraq, who his clients claimed had beaten and killed 'innocent farmers' during the occupation after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

But campaigning journalism by the Daily Mail helped reveal that 'corrupt' Shiner, 67, had paid agents to 'cold-call' potential claimants in Iraq - and the claims they made were eventually found to be false.

Some wrongly accused soldiers were investigated eight times however, and even attempted suicide, before being ultimately cleared.

And it took more than a decade for the downfall of flamboyant Shiner to finally begin.

In 2017 he was stuck off as a solicitor for dishonesty and misconduct, in September this year he admitted three counts of fraud - and today he was finally sentenced at London's Southwark crown court.

To the dismay of his Army victims however, the two year prison sentence he was given was suspended for two years.

One, ex Royal Engineer Major Robert Campbell, said 'he should have gone to jail'.

Philip Shiner, who was struck off for pursuing false torture and murder allegations against British soldiers, escaped jail as he was sentenced for a 200,000 fraud

Former human rights lawyer Phil Shiner outside Southwark Crown Court in London

Ex Royal Engineer Major Robert Campbell said 'he should have gone to jail'

Shiner outside Southwark Crown Court after he was given a two year suspended sentence for three counts of fraud but avoided going to prison

The 51-year-old decorated Major, who served in Iraq, told The Sun: 'This is a man who tortured me and others.'

He was vexatiously accused of drowning an Iraqi teenager at the time of the Anglo-US invasion but was cleared of any wrongdoing following a 17-year witch-hunt.

The hero was for years investigated on bogus claims that he forced suspected looter Saeed Radhi Shabram Wawi Al-Bazooni, 19, into a river at gunpoint in Basra in May 2003.

The hero was for years investigated on bogus claims that he forced suspected looter Saeed Radhi Shabram Wawi Al-Bazooni, 19, into a river at gunpoint in Basra in May 2003.

Eyewitnesses had claimed that Maj Campbell and colleagues from the 32 Royal Engineer Regiment caused Saeed Shabram's death after he slipped below the water and failed to resurface.

The incident sparked an inquiry into the British Army hero, who even returned his medals to the Queen in 2018 in disgust at the way he had been treated by the Ministry of Defence.

But a judge ruled in 2020 that the allegations against Maj Campbell were based on lies, collusion on the part of Iraqi civilians and a 'possible conspiracy' to pervert the course of justice.

Meanwhile former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer labelled Shiner a 'modern day traitor' who 'destroyed the lives of some of our finest veterans'.

Ex-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace slammed the sentence as an 'insult'.

Judge Christopher Hehir said 'although there was obvious dishonesty', he did not think the former lawyer was 'motivated by personal greed' when fraudulently making claims that earned him hundreds of thousands.

Shiner's crimes involved not revealing he had been paying agents to 'cold-call' Iraqis who would claim, without a shred of evidence, to be the victims of atrocities by British soldiers.

'Victims' claiming to be innocent farmers were actually enemy militia thirsty for revenge - and cash.

Shiner's reward was hundreds of thousands in legal fees. Taxpayers, meanwhile, forked out millions.

And the barrister acting for Shiner today, Richard Thomas, KC could do nothing more than make a successful plea for mitigation after his client pleaded guilty in September, saying he had 'suffered professional ruin'.

True to form, Shiner had been bleeding the taxpayer to the end, pleading poverty and claiming legal aid to support his case.

Major Robert Campbell in the Royal Engineers was scrutinised amid eight investigations into the 19-year-old's death, including one for possible manslaughter, before he was ultimately cleared.

Former human rights lawyer Shiner (centre) is pictured arriving at court today

British forces are pictured here in the southern Iraqi city of Basra in July 2004

In 2020, judge Baroness Hallett decided there was 'no reliable evidence' that Mr Campbell or any British soldier forced Mr Shabram into the water.

Mr Campbell, 51, said: 'We were investigated eight times because Phil Shiner just kept lying and lying and lying.

'He duped the Ministry of Defence, he duped human rights groups, he duped the legal aid authority, he duped the BBC and he duped the legal establishment glitterati into thinking he was on some kind of crusade - and he wasn't.'

Key among Shiner's clients was supposedly wronged grieving uncle Khuder Al-Sweady - who claimed British troops killed his nephew Hamid while he was in their custody at Camp Abu Naji following the Battle of Danny Boy near Amarah in Southern Iraq

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), Shiner's firm went on to receive around 3 million, and the ensuing Al-Sweady inquiry into allegations of mistreatment and unlawful killing of Iraqi nationals by British troops cost the taxpayer 24 million.

Yet that costly inquiry ultimately found that Mr Al-Sweady's nephew, Hamid Al-Sweady, had been killed 'outright' whilst fighting as a 'willing and active' participant in an attack on British forces.

It concluded 'beyond all doubt' that the most serious claims of murder and torture pushed by Shiner were 'entirely false' and 'wholly without foundation and entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility'.

Shiner failed to disclose that an agent acting on his behalf had been cold-calling potential clients in Iraq.

He also failed to disclose that he was paying referral fees for clients obtained.

Neither practice was permitted as part of gaining a legal aid contract, the NCA said.

Shiner, pictured outside London's High Court in January 2013

Shiner was also convicted for providing a witness statement to the Legal Services Commission in support of his application for legal aid funding, which was again gained by an unsolicited approach.

As a result of his failure to disclose this information, Shiner was able to gain a 'valuable legal aid contract' to enable him to pursue the judicial review', the NCA said.

The Al-Swedy case and the linked case of Hussain Fadhil Abbas alone gained Shine 200,000.

Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman Sian Mitchell said last night: 'Shiner defrauded a statutory legal body for his own selfish motives.

'The National Crime Agency and the CPS worked closely to bring this corrupt lawyer to justice.

'The CPS will now commence confiscation proceedings in order to reclaim the proceeds of the defendant's fraud.'
A new police unit set up to combat soaring shoplifting rates has made 93 arrests and disrupted 28 organised crime groups responsible for 4m of thefts, police leaders said.

Five Romanian shoplifters have been deported as a result of Operation Pegasus, which aims to build a national intelligence picture to combat the epidemic.

Shoplifting offences are at their highest since records began in 2003, and it is estimated that the cost to retailers is 1.8bn a year.

A total of 469,788 offences were logged by forces in the year to June 2024, an increase of 29 per cent on the 365,173 recorded in the previous 12 months.

Pegasus, which is part-funded by major retailers, receives referrals from retailers and maps out offending across the country so repeat offenders who target stores in different force areas can be tracked.

Since it launched in May, police have identified 228 repeat offenders previously unknown to law enforcement.

The team has also identified 70 vehicles being used in organised retail crime.

So far, 32 of the 93 arrested offenders have appeared in court, including the five offenders who were sent back to Romania.

Shoplifting offences are at their highest since records began in 2003, and it is estimated that the cost to retailers is 1.8bn a year

Romanian shoplifter Alexandru-Iulian Dima, 25. Eastern European gangs are responsible for millions of pounds of thefts each year

A total of 469,788 offences were logged by forces in the year to June 2024, an increase of 29 per cent on the 365,173 recorded in the previous 12 months

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

Shoplifter Case Study:

Romanian Alexandru-Iulian Dima, 25, spent a year plundering 60,000 worth of goods from Boots stores in Scotland, England and Wales. But his astonishing spree came to an end after South Wales Police received an intelligence package from the Pegasus partnership which indicated his next target was likely to be a store in Pontypridd. The force mounted a sting operation and Boots staff used a special radio system to alert officers when they spotted the travelling thief. Dima tried to flee but was arrested in a nearby carpark. We looked at intel around his offending and chose the day we believed hed come to town, PC Liam Noyce said. Low and behold, we had the call from staff at Boots and we arrested him, bringing an end to the campaign of crime committed in towns and cities the length and breadth of the UK. Dima admitted 32 shoplifting offences and was jailed for four years in August. He will be deported back to Romania when he reaches the end of his jail term. Advertisement

Police and crime commissioner for Sussex, Katy Bourne, who spearheaded the partnership between policing, retailers and the Home Office, said police forces should have been using this approach already.

My ambition was always that this should be business as usual for policing, she said.

It should never have got to this stage. Criminals are very effective at finding new avenues to commit crime and because this wasnt on the radar it went unchecked and we have seen such shocking rates of offending.

But 28 gangs disrupted within seven months is pretty phenomenal.

When asked whether 93 arrests is enough, chief constable Amanda Blakeman, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for acquisitive crime, responded: Its much, much more than that, in terms of the totality, its just 93 arrests from the organised groups that weve been able to map in the work that weve been doing with Pegasus.

Offenders deliberately target different geographical areas and shops to try to avoid detection, police believe.

Ms Blakeman said a huge range of people are involved in the crime, including members of organised gangs and people with alcohol and drug addictions.

We see a proportion of shoplifting, shop theft, being driven by organised crime, she added.

We also see a proportion of it being driven by offenders who are perhaps alcohol or drug dependent, and we also see some of it by people who are first time entrants.

Ms Bourne said the next phase of tackling the crisis would be to track the items stolen by organised gangs to determine who is reselling them and running the operation.

Anyone buying surprisingly cheap items at this time of year not from retailers should be suspicious of where the goods have come from, Ms Blakeman added.

Were asking the community to think about when they buy something, especially at this time of year, if it isnt from the retailer and it seems incredibly cheap, it probably has got a background that you should be suspicious of and not purchase it, she said.

Dima stole more than 60,000 worth of goods from Boots stores, and was arrested by police as he was about to carry out a theft at a shop in Pontypridd

Paul Gerrard, director of campaigns and public affairs for the Co-op, said the retailer has seen the difference that the crackdown is making.

He added: As a community-based retailer we know working in partnership with the police is how we can continue to tackle retail crime together - neither business nor police can solve this alone.

Co-op turned a spotlight on the involvement of organised criminality driving the increase in retail crime and our commitment to local stores and investing to make our communities safer places which can thrive and prosper remains a priority.
A senior Syrian soldier who used to feed prisoners to his pet lion has reportedly been publicly executed by local rebels.

Talal Dakkak, a feared member of the Syrian Army's elite 25th Division - also known as the Tiger Forces - has been killed by local militia in the western city of Hama, according to media on the ground.

Videos posted to X on Tuesday claimed to show preparations being made for Dakkak's execution, although his death has not been officially verified.

It's said he was going to be killed in front of a crowd - a plan set for senior members of the Syrian Army by local rebel militia.

The brutal enforcer, also known as Abu Sakhr, was one of Syria's most notorious army leaders and powerful businessmen in Hama and at one point led a 1,500-strong militia of the Air Force Intelligence.

He gained notoriety after allegedly stealing a lion cub from a zoo and feeding it with the bodies of his prisoners, according to an article from The Syrian Observer in 2019.

Dakkak also reportedly filmed the cub demolishing a live horse before posting the footage on social media.

He is responsible for several other horrific criminal acts, including kidnapping, killing and organ trade the article adds. Dakkak was also reportedly involved in smuggling and selling unregistered vehicles and trading narcotics.

The former taxi driver is thought to be one of a number of senior army members to have been captured by the rebels after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's longstanding regime.

Talal Dakkak (pictured), a feared member of the Syrian Army's elite 25th Division who used to feed prisoners to his pet lion has reportedly been executed by local rebels

He gained notoriety after allegedly stealing a lion cub from a zoo and feeding it with the bodies of his prisoners. Dakkak is pictured with a lion cub on the hood of a car

Hakkak is believed to have been killed by local militia in Hama. Pictured: Rebel fighters parade in the streets of Hama after forces captured the central city, on December 6

The EU has warned there is a huge risk of Syria descending into sectarian violence - but the Islamist rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani insisted that the West has nothing to fear.

A Syria war monitor said on Tuesday that Islamic State group jihadists killed 54 government soldiers who were fleeing as Islamist-led rebels pressed an offensive.

ISIS jihadists captured 'personnel fleeing military service in the dessert... during the collapse of the regime' of president Bashar al-Assad and 'executed 54' of them in the Sukhna area in the Homs desert, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

ISIS overran large swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, but was defeated territorially in Syria in 2019. However its remnants still carry out deadly attacks.

Syrian rebel groups capped off their lightning offensive against government forces this weekend when they seized the capital city Damascus, marking an end to al-Assad's longstanding regime.

The president's last-ditch escape to Russia to avoid certain death at the hands of the rebels marked the end of some five decades of the al-Assad family's dynastic rule - and the end of a brutal 14-year civil war.

There are hopes that al-Assad's toppling could herald a new dawn with moves toward a peaceful, more prosperous future, but many analysts warn rival militias could become embroiled in a bitter power struggle as civilians continue to suffer.

All the while, the likes of Turkey, Russia, Israel, Iran and the US are seeking to advance and safeguard their regional interests - and all are wary of the threat of a possible ISIS resurgence amid the chaos.

The leader of Syria's Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group Abu Mohammed al-Jolani address a crowd at the capital's landmark Umayyad Mosque on December 8

A man sits on a bicycle next to a tank in Homs, Syria, on December 8

Syrians celebrate in the main square of Homs early on December 8

The news of the massacre of troops follows the European Union's new foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas saying there are legitimate concerns about the risks of sectarian violence in Syria and a resurgence of extremism in the country.

Kallas also told a European Parliament committee hearing that the fall of al-Assad represented a blow for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran.

She said: 'For Putin and the Iranian regime, the fall of Assad is a huge blow for both.'

Syria's new interim leader Mohammed al-Bashir announced on Tuesday he was taking charge of the country as caretaker Prime Minister with the backing of the former rebels who toppled al-Assad three days ago.

The rebel offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist group that burst out of its stronghold in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib less than two weeks ago.

HTS has its roots in the jihadist al-Qaeda, but since its founding in 2017 has tried to reposition itself as a more moderate Syrian nationalist organisation.

Its leader Ahmad al-Sharaa - better known by his nom-de-guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani (also written Jawlani or Julani) - insists that he will work to create a tolerant, civilised nation where religious and ethnic minorities can live peacefully.
Bashir al-Assad's lucrative 'jihad drug' empire brought billions of pounds a year into the coffers of his Syrian regime.

But the days of flooding the streets of the Middle East with Captagon, dubbed the 'poor man's cocaine', may finally be at an end with the collapse of Assad's brutal dictatorship.

Captagon has been both a lucrative export and a tool of warfare for Assad, with profits flowing directly into the pockets of his family and military.

The pill, which costs pennies to produce and sells for around $20 (15), secretly netted the Assad regime three times more money than all of Mexico's cartels, estimates suggests.

But production of Captagon - which also goes by the name Fenethylline - has reportedly ground to a near halt after the Assad clan fled to Russia and Islamist rebels overran the main Captagon factories in Syria's coastal areas.

'It is at least 90 per cent down,' one European official who toured the Syrian-Jordan border told UAE-based newspaper The National. 'What is left are small, scattered workshops and small players on the border.'

A Jordanian source corroborated the significant drop in illicit trade, with members of cartels linked to the defunct administration abandoning production.

However, Nicholas Krohley, a security analyst and founder of FrontLine Advisory, said the pause in drug flow may not last forever.

Bashir al-Assad's lucrative 'jihad drug' empire brought billions of pounds a year into the coffers of his Syrian regime - (pictured: al-Assad speaking during an interview with AFP at the presidential palace in Damascus)

Captagon has been both a lucrative export and a tool of warfare for Assad, with profits flowing directly into the pockets of his family and military

Pictured: Fighters from the Islamic State group parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armored vehicle in the northern city of Mosul in 2014

He expects that Iraqi militias aligned with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will take advantage of the vacuum and kickstart a Captagon 'boom'.

'The IRGC needs that revenue and the Levant is now more or less cut off,' Mr Krohley said, adding that Captagon could become a 'means to generate revenue, provide services and compete for influence'.

Middle-Eastern intelligence suggests Captagon is still made in small compounds in Lebanon, with the help of Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Under Assad's 24-years of terror, Syrians often faced huge crackdowns for alleged drug use where users were often handed hefty jail sentences.

Yet in 2021, the Syrian government was estimated to have made $5billion (4billion) from the sale of Captagon.

A codrug of amphetamine and theophylline, Captagon was originally sold as a treatment for ADHD, narcolepsy and depression when it was first developed by a German pharmaceutical firm Degussa AG in 1961.

But junkies found the tablet was a cheap and quick way to get bursts of energy, alertness and sometimes a sense of euphoria.

Captagon is seen as the substance of choice for combatants, such as Islamic State terrorists, who value its ability to ward off tiredness and make them feel impervious to bullets.

Two people hug during a demonstration celebrating the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime outside the Syrian embassy in Madrid, Spain

People kick a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after Syria's army command notified officers that al-Assad's 24-year rule has ended

People celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus on December 8, 2024, as rebel soldiers declare that they have taken the capital

Bashar al-Assad (L) with his wife Asma al-Assad arrive at New Delhi International airport, India, 17 June 2008

Israeli media claimed that Hamas fighters consumed Captagon right before they carried out the October 7 massacre, in which they killed 1,200 people and kidnapped a total of 251.

Captagon has been banned in most countries since 1986 after it was blacklisted by the United Nations due to its addictive properties.

Unfortunately, the UN ruling failed to dissuade Assad, who helped bolster the sale and distribution of Captagon as a means for political and economic survival, effectively turning Syria into a narco state.

An investigation by The New York Times revealed that much of Syria's production and distribution of the drug was supervised by the Fourth Armoured Division - nicknamed the 'Captagon Division' - of the Syrian Arab Army.

The Brigade also played a significant role in bringing in raw materials from the likes of Iraq to the Captagon manufacturing centres.

Overseeing this complex operation was none other than the Syrian dictator's brother, Maher al-Assad.

Syria is now the Captagon capital of the world, accounting for 80 per cent of the drug's global supply. The global market for the drug is worth approximately $57billion (45billion).

People sit on a tank as they gather at Umayyad Square in Damascus on December 8, 2024

A person tears apart a picture of Bashar Al-Assad during a demonstration celebrating the fall of his regime outside the Syrian embassy in Madrid, Spain

Syrian people living in London gather at the Trafalgar Square to celebrate as sixty-one years of Baath Party rule in Syria collapses

Gulf States have long seen Captagon as a scourge on their countries, with authorities in Kuwait and Qatar noting prevalent use among younger, more affluent citizens.

Saudi Arabia was responsible for two-thirds of global Captagon seizures between 2012 and 2021, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

As a result, many countries have been forced to spend considerable resources cracking down on Syrian smuggling operations.

Jordan intercepted 65 million Captagon tablets in 2022 alone, many of which were concealed in everyday products such as fruit and machinery.

The substance has even made its way to European soil. A 2020 seizure of 84 million counterfeit Captagon at the Italian port of Salerno was estimated to be worth 1billion (825million).

Last year, the UK Government imposed sanctions on individuals responsible for the drug trade 'fuelling Assad's war machine', including businessmen and relatives of the Syrian president.

Men gesture as people gather at Oranienplatz square, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Berlin, Germany December 8, 2024

A customs officer displays Captagon pills, part of the 789 kilograms (1739 pounds) of confiscated drugs, before its incineration in Sofia, 12, 2007

Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who is now shadow foreign minister, called for further action to be taken at the time to stop Captagon from 'infecting the UK' through 'significant trafficking networks'.

Despite its lucrativeness, Assad began stepping away incrementally from the trade in the years in a bid to rebuild his fractured relationships with neighbouring states.

Assad reportedly gave Jordan consent to kill Merhi al-Ramthan, who was described by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as 'the most prominent drug trafficker in the region', in Syria last year.

He also allowed a Captagon warehouse near the Jordan border to be destroyed in an airstrike.

The attacks came just a day before Syria was formally readmitted to the Arab League, which it was kicked out of in 2011 over Assad's brutal crackdown on protesters in the leadup to the Civil War.

Saud Al-Sharafat, a former brigadier general of Jordan's intelligence service, told The Associated Press: 'Assad gave assurances that he would stop the regime from supporting and protecting smuggling networks.'

Nevertheless, for all the money Assad was netting, he simply could not stop power from slipping out of his hands.
Angela Rayner has defended hiring a 'vanity photographer' that cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds by saying that people complain about never seeing her.

The Mail previously revealed the Deputy Prime Minister hired personal snapper Simon Walker on a salary of 68,000.

Although Downing Street has employed photographers to record the Prime Minister for some years, Ms Rayner is the first deputy to be awarded her own.

Ms Rayner said she was trying to let people 'know what you're doing and where you are' when she was asked about the hire on ITV's Lorraine.

She also told the programme that Government process can sometimes feel like getting 'bogged down in the weeds', as she spoke about her experiences of the first few months in office.

Asked why she has a photographer 'following you around', Ms Rayner told the programme: 'There's a kind of balance to be had, because sometimes you get "well, you never see her", or 'she's only doing that for a photo opportunity'.

'So you kind of try and strike the right balance between letting people know what you're doing and where you are.

'And then there's others that will then criticise and say, "well, you're just trying to project an image of what you're doing".

Angela Rayner said she was trying to let people 'know what you're doing and where you are' when she was asked about the photographer hire on ITV 's Lorraine

Angela Rayner chats with Simon Walker who was given the title of Chief Photographer to the Deputy PM and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on August 27

Ms Rayner on a visit to the Johnnie Walker Whisky Experience in Edinburgh in August, where 'she met senior business leaders, discussed the importance of the whisky industry to Scotland and was shown around the experience'

'So it's kind of trying to strike the balance between seriousness of, here's me, this is what I'm doing.'

Earlier this year it was reported that the photographer had been hired by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the department's communication team.

While in opposition, Ms Rayner was critical of former prime minister Boris Johnson's three taxpayer-funded photographers.

In 2021, she said: 'The public will be rightly questioning why there is apparently no limit on the money that can be found to pay for a coterie of vanity photographers for the prime minister.'

Ms Rayner, who serves as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, told the programme that being in government can sometimes 'feel a bit like you're bogged down in the weeds'.

Asked whether there was anything that had frustrated her since getting into government, Ms Rayner said: 'I think the frustration for me is I always want things done ... yesterday, and I've always been like that. I'm eager to prove that I could do it and also make change ... and government doesn't work as quickly as that.

Ms Rayner and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with John Lewis executive director Peter Ruis and deputy branch manager Melissa Lidder in London in September

At the Foreign Office with High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Pakistan Jane Marriott, the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar and the High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK Dr Mohammad Faisal

In Downing Street in September

'You have to go through lots of processes, lots of consultations that you have to do before you introduce new legislation, so sometimes that can feel a bit like you're bogged down in the weeds.'

It comes as in September Ms Rayner acknowledged that voters were 'angry' about revelations that she and other senior figures, including Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, have taken thousands of pounds' worth of gifts, such as clothes, holidays and tickets, from wealthy donors.

She said donations had been 'a feature of our politics for a very long time', but insisted she had not broken any rules. 'I was from a very working-class background,' she said.

'To stand as Deputy Leader as you say, to get that position, I had to accept donations in order for me to run that campaign, because it's a very expensive way of doing our politics.'

She also told the programme that government process can sometimes feel like getting 'bogged down in the weeds'

She suggested the controversy was caused partly because she had been 'over-transparent' about the gifts she has received.

Official Downing Street photographers are a relatively recent phenomenon. David Cameron, who was the first to appoint one, had his paid for by the Conservative Party.

More recently, they have been funded by the taxpayer.

Earlier this year, a spokesman for Ms Rayner's Housing, Communities and Local Government department said: 'Many government departments employ official photographers to share the work of the department and ministers with the public.

'This is a civil service role and will be part of the department's communications team.'
There is an 'unhealthy magic circle' of senior leaders who are allowed to move from one hospital to another in the NHS despite past failings, the public inquiry investigating Lucy Letby's crimes heard today.

Sir Rob Behrens, the former parliamentary and health service ombudsman, agreed the 'revolving door' made it 'difficult' for new people to get top jobs in the health service.

He called for the Government to bring in a new regulatory body with the power to ban senior executives, often on six-figure salaries, from taking up senior posts if they are found guilty of serious misconduct.

But he also suggested a 'competency framework' was needed to annually assess their performance and help them learn from mistakes.

'One difficulty I've witnessed is there's an element of the magic circle about leaders in the NHS,' Sir Rob said.

'People tend to go from one (Trust) to another, it's more difficult for new people to come in.

'That magic circle is not healthy, but where there is no competency framework, and where you can't take notice of the failure of people in their previous jobs, then it becomes self-limiting and too narrow.'

There is an 'unhealthy magic circle' of senior leaders who are allowed to move from one hospital to another in the NHS despite past failings, the public inquiry investigating Lucy Letby's crimes heard today. Pictured: Lucy Letby

The Thirlwall Inquiry, sitting in Liverpool, has heard NHS Improvement tried to help Tony Chambers, the former chief executive of the Countess of Chester Hospital, find a new role if he agreed to step aside when paediatricians indicated they wanted to hold a secret vote of no confidence in his leadership.

The medics have given evidence that they felt 'bullied' and 'victimised' by Mr Chambers, and other senior leaders at the Trust, who threatened them with disciplinary action and referral to the General Medical Council when they tried to blow the whistle about Letby.

Mr Chambers, who earned 160,000-a-year at the Countess, went on to hold senior posts at other NHS hospitals after he resigned, in September 2018, soon after the former neo-natal nurse was first arrested by police.

He and then medical director, Ian Harvey, have also been accused of putting the hospital's reputation before the safety of the premature babies who were murdered and harmed by Letby, between June2015 and June 2016.

Sir Rob, who was the parliamentary and health service ombudsman between April 2017 and March this year, added: 'Time and time again we've seen senior managers and boards are more interested in protecting the reputation of their organisation rather than dealing with patient safety issues.

'This must have something to do with the culture of the leaders of the health service and it must have something to do with the absence of a competency framework in which these people operate.

That goes really to the heart of what's wrong with the leadership of the NHS.

Sir Rob Behrens, the former parliamentary and health service ombudsman (pictured), agreed the 'revolving door' made it 'difficult' for new people to get top jobs in the health service

Historically, there has been insufficient emphasis on patent safety to make leaders convinced that they have to put that first.'

Sir Rob also said laws designed to protect NHS whistleblowers in England 'do not work' and too many doctors had contacted him during his tenure to say they were fearful of raising patient safety concerns in case it ruined their careers.

'Puny fines' also had no impact on leaders who failed to adhere to the NHS's duty of candour, he said.

Sir Rob insisted 'political leadership' is needed to enact cultural change in the NHS, but he also pointed out that, historically, the Government had failed to implement reforms following successive NHS scandals.

He said there is currently no professional body or 'watchdog' overseeing the implementation of recommendations from public inquiries and people had become 'too used to seeing repeated failings.'

Sir Rob gave the example of the 'chastening' reviews, by Dr Bill Kirkup, who examined failings in maternity services at hospitals in Morecambe Bay and East Kent, seven years apart, as evidence of a 'worrying acceptance' and 'inertia' in improving patient safety in the NHS.

'He (Dr Kirkup) wrote at the end of his inquiry into East Kent that there's no point in me making detailed recommendations because what I've proposed before has not been adopted,' Sir Rob said.

'The same issues are relevant as they were 10 years ago. The failure of teamwork among clinicians, the failure to listen to patients and families, the failure to investigate appropriately and the failure of the board to be interested in what's going on. That's very worrying.'

He suggested the National Audit Office or some other 'prestigious public body' should be given the responsibility for making sure recommendations of public inquiries are enforced.

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, sitting at Liverpool Town Hall, will hear evidence until January, with findings expected to be published in autumn 2025.
A school has been accused of making Jewish families feel unwelcome by asking pupils to fast in aid of Gaza.

George Green's School (GGS), a secondary in East London, wants pupils as young as 11 to go without food for more than seven hours this Friday.

Teachers are encouraging them to collect sponsorship money for the fast and donate it to Unicef's Gaza Appeal for Children in Crisis.

One Jewish parent, who asked to be anonymous, told the Jewish Chronicle the event was 'stigmatising' for their child.

They said: 'The school organising something like this causes a sense of shame for the [Jewish] kids. The school has a point of view, and it is against Jewish students.

'The school has decided who is good and who is bad. Judaism has been portrayed as bad. No one is going to go out and announce [they are Jewish] at that school.'

The parent added that Jewish pupils were being made to feel 'subversive' because of the action.

And they added there would be a 'stigma' against pupils who choose not to participate in the strike, 'at the age where they least want to stand out'.

George Green's School (GGS), a secondary in East London, wants pupils as young as 11 to go without food for more than seven hours this Friday

Pictured: A man carries a wheelbarrow filled with salvaged items in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip

Pictured: Palestinians line up to receive free meals at Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on March 18

The request for pupils aged 11 to 19 to fast between 8:30am and 4pm came in a letter to parents this week.

It said: 'GGS staff and students are holding a 'Collective Day Fast' on Friday December 13 in aid of UNICEF's [The United Nations Children's Fund] Gaza Appeal for Children in Crisis.

'We are asking students to sign up for the fast and raise sponsorship.'

The letter then directed families to its fundraising page, adding: 'We are already halfway to our target of 2500 but need your support.'

The school's principal, Jon Ryder, told the Jewish Chronicle that the hunger strike was 'organised in response to student voices on this issue and follows on from a similar event we ran a year ago, which raised several thousand pounds'.

Pictured: Palestinian children receive polio vaccination as a part of the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign by a number of organisations including UNICEF

Pictured: A Palestinian man helps a girl near an installation composed of stuffed animals set up on a pile of debris, in Khan Yunis in the south Gaza Strip

Pictured: A view of debris of destroyed buildings as the scale of destruction, caused by Israeli attacks, comes to surface following the withdrawal of Israeli army in Khan Yunis, Gaza

He said the hunger strike was 'entirely voluntary and are always well-supported by members of the school community, including students, parents and staff'.

He added: 'As a Unicef Gold Award Rights Respecting school, we take any acts of discrimination incredibly seriously and will always investigate and take appropriate action if we are made aware of it, in line with our behaviour policy.'

The school's website says the money raised will provide food, medical aid and other resources to families in Gaza.

It says: 'Thank you for helping us make a positive impact on the lives of children in Gaza.'

The school, rated 'good' by Ofsted, is a state-run secular comprehensive supported by an ancient livery company.

It has a much higher than average proportion of children classified as deprived - 62 per cent - while 66 per cent have English as a second language.

The Daily Mail has attempted to contact GGS.
Pro-Palestine Independent MPs are weighing up whether to form an official political party, it has emerged.

Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed all beat incumbent Labour MPs in Julys general election amid unhappiness with Sir Keir Starmers stance on the conflict in Gaza.

Along with ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who sits as an independent MP, they formed the Independent Alliance in September to become Parliaments fifth-biggest group, equal to Reform UK.

While not an official political party, the formation has allowed the MPs to release joint statements on common areas of interest, such as foreign policy and opposition to the two-child benefit cap.

It has now emerged that members are considering filing paperwork to register a political party in early 2025, ahead of next Mays local elections.

A group of independent pro-Palestinian MPs are deliberating over the formation of an official political party

Ayoub Khan is reportedly one of the Pro-Palestinian MPs deliberating over the formation of a new political party

Adnan Hussain is reportedly one of the Pro-Palestinian MPs deliberating over the formation of a new political party

Iqbal Mohammed is reportedly one of the Pro-Palestinian MPs deliberating over the formation of a new political party

Shockat Adam is reportedly one of the Pro-Palestinian MPs deliberating over the formation of a new political party

Mr Corbyn is understood to be against the idea of joining the party, however, and will likely continue to sit as an independent MP.

They are hoping to take advantage of the anti-Labour sentiment that carried them into Parliament earlier this year amid the continuing destruction in Gaza.

Candidates are likely to run in urban seats on county councils where there are more voters recipient to their message.

They will also be supported by canvassers disillusioned by the Labour Party.

Last night a senior aide suggested no concrete plans were in place.
A University of Pennsylvania Professor is being slammed for sharing social media posts celebrating the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the school's connection to the crime.

Alumni Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested on Monday and charged with murder for the December 4 slaying.

Assistant Professor of English and Cinema & Media Studies Julia Alekseyeva, who described herself as a 'socialist and ardent antifascist' on her website, made several posts embracing Mangione.

In a since-deleted TikTok, Alekseyeva is smiling as the Les Miserables song 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' played.

'Have never been prouder to be a professor at the University of Pennsylvania,' she captioned the post, replacing the 'E' in Pennsylvania with the number 3.

UPenn graduate Eyal Yakoby also shared a screenshot of the English professor's Instagram Story speculating on Mangione's sexuality. 'The icon we all need and deserve,' she said.

Critics blasted Alekseyeva for the distasteful posts and demanded accountability from the school.

University of Pennsylvania Professor Julia Alekseyeva (pictured) celebrated the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the school's connection to the crime

DISGUSTING: UPenn professor Julia Alekseyeva celebrates the alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO's assassin and that the murderer attended UPenn.



To anyone wondering how America's youth becomes so radical to murder someone, it is because of the extremist professors. pic.twitter.com/j2LlgaSAZf  Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) December 10, 2024

Father-of-two Brian Thompson, 50, was shot and killed outside a New York City hotel on December 4

'She is happy some unbalanced 26-year-old just killed a family man in a cowardly way, and threw his own life away at the same time. There are no winners here. Blue hair dye is toxic to the brain,' one person said.

'This behavior is absolutely disgusting,' said another. 'This woman needs fired and shunned,' a third person said.

Last week, Columbia University professor Anthony Zenkus sparked outrage with his distasteful response to Thompson's murder.

Zenkus, a social work professor at Columbia and Adelphi University, implied people should not mourn Thompson's death.

'Today, we mourn the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, gunned down.... wait, I'm sorry - today we mourn the deaths of the 68,000 Americans who needlessly die each year so that insurance company execs like Brian Thompson can become multimillionaires,' he said.

Furious commenters called out Zenkus for brushing off the father-of-two's heinous murder and blaming him for the deaths of others.

'This is incredibly insensitive. Hes a father gunned down on the street. Have some compassion and humanity,' one person said.

'It just doesnt matter to heartless hypocrites like you that he had a wife and two kids, as long as you get to exploit a murder in the cause of your proletariat. Maybe he was working to prevent needless deaths. You dont know & dont care,' said another.

UPenn alumni Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested on Monday and charged with murder for the December 4 slaying

Mangione was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson, 50, outside of a Manhattan hotel.

A friend of the accused shooter told DailyMail.com Mangione was 'anti-woke', and that he expressed a deep envy for the UK's nationalized health system.

Gurwinder Bhogal, a UK-based writer, said: 'He was left-wing on some things and right-wing on others, for instance, he was pro-equality of opportunity, but anti-woke: for example anti-DEI (and) anti-identity politics.

'He opposed woke-ism because he didnt believe it was an effective way to help minorities.

'He expressed interest in more rational, evidence-based forms of compassion, like effective altruism.'

'We briefly touched on the differences between the UK and US healthcare systems,' Bhogal added.

'Luigi complained about how expensive healthcare in the US was, and expressed envy at the UKs nationalized health system.'
Rachel Maddow was slammed for finding a suspect connection between alleged healthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione and Donald Trump.

Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon at the fast food joint in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, outside of a Manhattan hotel.

Maddow, appearing in her once-a-week slot on the struggling liberal network, inexplicably drew dots between Mangione and Trump's rumored pick for new ATF Director, Blake Masters.

'If it is him [Mangione], the fact that he's a professed Unabomber fan is unsettling. I might mention that it's even more unsettling that Donald Trump's reported choice to run the ATF is also a self-professed fan of the Unabomber,' she said.

The clip was initially brought to social media by left-wing journalist Ken Klippenstein, who laughed derisively at Maddow making the connection.

Social media was equally savage regardless of political ideology. 'What a feeble unhinged loser she is,' wrote one commenter.

'Everything leads back to him in her mind,' added another, referring to Trump's rent-free presence in Maddow's head.

Rachel Maddow was slammed for finding a suspect connection between alleged healthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione and Donald Trump

Another commenter wrote: 'SHE'S GOT TO GO! When are the Dems going to learn, no, Trump is not at fault for everything including the weather! I hope the network fires this lying piece of yes, GARBAGE!'

'Maddow has become a total laughing stock, like much of the legacy media that just can't seem to accept the fact that people no longer care what they say because they've been caught in so many lies,' wrote Lester Dunham.

Masters has spoken to many close with the transition team and even has Donald Trump's Attorney General pick Matt Gaetz lobbying for his appointment to the agency that falls under the Department of Justice.

Masters initially wanted the White House personnel position, a person close to transition efforts claims. But the role was filled by Sergio Gor.

In 2022, an interviewer asked Masters to pick a 'subversive thinker' whom people should know more about.

Masters gave it some thought and came up with a risky response for someone running for elected office.

He picked the Unabomber in an attempt to appeal to Trump's love a controversial statements.

'I'll probably get in trouble for saying this,' Masters responded. 'How about, like, Theodore Kaczynski?'

Maddow, appearing in her once a week slot on the struggling liberal network, inexplicably drew dots between Mangione and Trump's rumored pick for new ATF Director, Blake Masters

In 2022, an interviewer asked Masters to pick a 'subversive thinker' whom people should know more about. Masters gave it some thought and came up with a risky response for someone running for elected office. He picked the Unabomber in an attempt to appeal to Trump

Masters was careful to point out he doesn't condone the bombings that killed three people and injured dozens between 1978 and 1995 and terrorized the nation until Kaczynski's arrest in 1996.

It has since been claimed that Mangione had a manifesto against UnitedHealthcare after suffering a debilitating back injury which required painful spinal surgery.

At a press conference, the NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows 'ill will toward corporate America.'

A law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone.

'To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone,' the document said, according to the official.

It also had a line that said, 'I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.'

He made his first court appearance after being charged with murder on Tuesday - pouting as he was escorted out of the hearing, after suffering a ferocious public meltdown hours earlier.

The orange jumpsuit-clad suspect had to be restrained as he screamed at police while heading into court in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona on Monday.

Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon at the fast food joint in Altoona, Pennsylvania , five days after he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson , 50, outside of a Manhattan hotel

Thomas Dickey, Mangione's lawyer, said on Tuesday night that his client will also plead not guilty to the gun possession charges he is facing in Pennsylvania.

The wealthy CEO was in the Big Apple to host UnitedHealthcare's annual investor meeting, where he was set to detail the insurance company's massive profits for the year.

Surveillance camera footage showed him walking outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan when he was shot at point-blank range by three bullets.

The shell casings were later found to have the words 'deny,' 'defend', 'depose' written on them, in an apparent attack on health insurance practices.

It is believed Mangione was angry at the way the medical insurance industry treated a sick relative, according to the New York Post.

Further details on that relative or their identity have not been shared, although online obituaries show Mangione lost a grandmother in 2013 and a grandfather in 2017.

His X account also shows an x-ray of a complicated neck surgery.

The former valedictorian was also in possession of a 3D-printed pistol and black silencer, with police noting that the pistol was loaded with one Glock magazine comprising six 9mm full-metal jacket rounds.

Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon

One loose 9mm hollow-point round was also located.

Officers from Altoona Police Department remained stationed inside the restaurant Monday night, as surveillance footage showed the moment Mangione was arrested.

Authorities later confirmed that Mangione alighted a Greyhound bus opposite the McDonald's at around 9am on Monday morning, after leading NYPD cops on a cross-country chase.

Staff at nearby restaurants say they were unaware that the killer had been apprehended just yards from their doors, simply recalling that local police cars had been in the vicinity.

Officers now believe Mangione had been in Pennsylvania for several days following Thompson's December 4 murder, and may have previously spent time in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, according to the New York Times.

'We do have an idea how he got from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, but there are some gaps in time,' Lt. Col. George Bivens said.

'And so before we start laying out a timeline of his travel, we really need to work through all of that.'

Mangione is now due back in court for a preliminary hearing on December 23.
A man accused of shooting his estranged wife dead amid a bitter court battle has been found guilty of her murder more than 17 years later.

Emil 'Bill' Petrov, 60, faced a three-week trial where prosecutors alleged he killed Cindy Crossthwaite, 41, at her Melton South, Melbourne home on June 20, 2007.

The mother-of-three's body was found by her father under a blanket in the lounge room, with blood splattered across the windows.

The jury was told Ms Crossthwaite had been choked and shot in the head from about 15 centimetres away.

Prosecutor Mark Gibson argued Petrov fired the fatal shot but it was also open to the jury to find he committed the murder by arranging an unknown person to carry out the killing.

He told the jury Petrov and Ms Crossthwaite were married for almost 10 years before their separation in 2005.

They were facing Family Court hearings in May 2007 as they tried to divide up their assets, with Petrov arguing for several properties to be excluded as they were owned by his parents.

The case was adjourned to July of that year and Mr Gibson argued Petrov was aware his financial interests would be adversely affected when the proceedings resumed.

Emil 'Bill' Petrov, 60, faced a three-week trial where prosecutors alleged he killed Cindy Crossthwaite, 41, (pictured) at her Melton South, Melbourne home on June 20, 2007

Emil Petrov (pictured) was found guilty of his estranged wife's murder on Wednesday

The prosecutor alleged the legal battle was the significant part of Petrov's motive for murder.

But Petrov denied causing Ms Crossthwaite's death, with his lawyers saying the extent of the couple's property battle was disputed.

The defence also contested witness Brian O'Shea's claims that Petrov had come to him to buy a gun in April or May 2007.

Mr O'Shea said Petrov had told him he would kill Ms Crossthwaite but he also conceded he was only giving evidence to avoid facing a murder charge.

The jurors returned their verdict against Petrov on Wednesday afternoon, just over a week after beginning deliberations.

Asked how they found him in response to the murder charge, the jury's forewoman replied 'guilty'.

Petrov looked at his girlfriend and wiped his face, appearing stressed, as the verdict was handed down.

He had previously been on bail and will now be taken to prison to await a pre-sentence hearing on March 21.

Police announced a $1million reward for information on Ms Crossthwaite's death in 2017

Ms Crossthwaite's family hugged and wiped away tears as the verdict was handed down.

The mother's body was discovered by her father, Philip Crossthwaite, after she failed to pick up her two eldest children, then aged 10 and eight, from school.

She was last seen dropping them off at school earlier in the day.

Her youngest son, who was just 15-months old at the time, was at home when she was killed, police said.

Police announced a $1million reward for information on Ms Crossthwaite's death in 2017.

Speaking outside court on Wednesday, Ms Crossthwaite's aunt Kathleen Jones appeared overcome with emotion and said the verdict felt 'better than winning lotto'.

'It's just amazing for all the women who have been violated by men, domestic violence, its good that the justice system stood up and they finally got him,' she told reporters.

'It's just been long time coming so we're just so happy she gets justice.'
Luigi Mangione allegedly considered bombing Manhattan as he planned out his attack on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione, 26, appeared in court on Tuesday, fighting against extradition to New York - where he is charged with second-degree murder after Thompson, 50, was slain.

The former Ivy League student had been apprehended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday, when he was found with a 3D-printed pistol and black silencer, as well as a manifesto condemning the American healthcare system.

Mangione also had a spiral notebook in which he wrote a 'to-do list,' ahead of the grizzly shooting, CNN reported.

In it, he allegedly toyed with the idea of using a bomb to kill Thompson - but he decided against the prospect because it 'could kill innocents,' and determined a shooting would be more targeted.

He also reportedly mused that it couldn't get any better than 'to kill the CEO at his own bean-counting conference,' as Thompson was set to disclose the financial gains the company made this year.

Journalist Shimon Prokupecz reported that 'law enforcement and certainly investigators' will view that sentence as a 'confession.'

Luigi Mangione, 26, reportedly had a 'to-do list' in a spiral notebook, in which he allegedly wrote about his plans to take out UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

He is accused of opening fire on the insurance CEO outside of a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on December 4

Mangione is expected to plead not guilty to both his New York murder charge and gun possession charges in Pennsylvania, and his lawyer Tom Dickey claimed there's no evidence to suggest that Mangione is the shooter.

After his orange jumpsuit-clad client appeared at the hearing - where he was denied bail - Dickey spoke to reporters at a press conference to predict Mangione's pleas.

'I havent seen any evidence that says hes the shooter,' defense attorney Dickey said. 'The fundamental concept of American justice is a presumption of innocence until you're proven guilty.'

The lawyer's comments came after an action-packed court hearing that only ended when the suspect was escorted out of the courtroom.

Privately-educated Mangione suffered a ferocious public meltdown on Tuesday, and had to be restrained as he screamed at police while heading into the hearing.

The irate 26-year-old shouted out 'this is completely unjust and an insult to the American people' while being physically apprehended by officers on the scene.

Dramatic images from outside the building in Pennsylvania showed irate Mangione's gritted teeth and furrowed brow as he yelled - before one cop grabbed his neck from behind and hurried him through the courtroom door.

Mangione made his first court appearance on Tuesday after being charged with Thompson's second-degree murder, and fought against extradition to New York

It is now believed the former valedictorian killed Thompson, 50, as an 'act of war' after the company 'violated' its contract with his mother

Authorities have said Mangione's three-page manifesto is currently being investigated, which they have labeled a 'claim of responsibility.'

The document is a different piece of evidence from notebook - where he flirted with the idea of bombing Midtown to kill the millionaire healthcare boss.

In the manifesto, Mangione allegedly wrote about the grandiose size of UnitedHealthcare and how much profits it makes, and went on to condemn health insurance companies more broadly for placing profits over care.

Details about his writing come amid the backdrop of the UPenn graduate's own experience with the medical world, as he had been struggling after a spinal injury. His elaborate online presence also showed he'd read multiple books on back pain.

'To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, [and] a lot of patience,' he allegedly wrote in the manifesto, according to the Daily Beast.

He went on to say he had 'respect' for federal investigators, and apologized for causing any 'traumas,' but seemed to defend his alleged actions.

'Frankly these parasites had it coming,' the manifesto wrote.

It claimed that the United States had the 'most expensive healthcare system in the world,' but blasted the system for making America only the 42nd in life expectancy.

According to the most recent data published by the World Health Organization in 2020 found that life expectancy in the US was 78-and-a-half years for both men and women - ranking it 40th compared to other countries.

A 2023 report by the World Economic Forum also found that the US had the most expensive healthcare compared to other mostly Western countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

It reported that Americans were spending an estimated $12,318 per person in 2021, compared to $7,383 spent per person in Germany, the second most expensive system.

Mangione reportedly published a three-page manifesto, which police have labeled a 'claim of responsibility'

Mangione is seen entering a police car as he left court on Tuesday

Police said Mangione viewed himself as a 'hero' fighting a corrupt health insurance industry, according to the New York Times.

An internal police report obtained by the Times said Mangione 'appeared to view the targeted killing of the company's highest-ranking representative as a symbolic takedown and a direct challenge to its alleged corruption and "power games."'

It goes on to say Mangione 'views himself as a hero of sorts who has finally decided to act upon such injustices.'

One theory is that the the former valedictorian killed Thompson, 50, as an 'act of war' after the company 'violated' its contract with his mother who suffered years of excruciating pain and expense following a diagnosis of severe neuropathy.

Mangione had written in another document, obtained by true crime podcast Hidden True Crime, that his mother, 'hit her $6,000 deductible of her UnitedHealthcare plan in October. Then the doctor went on vacation and my mother wasn't able to resume tests until January when her deductible reset.'

'Back then I thought there was nothing I could do,' Mangione allegedly wrote. 'The high co-pays make consistent treatment impossible, new treatments were denied as not necessary medically, the old treatments didn't work and still put us out for thousands of dollars.'

'With every delay, my anger surged. With every denial, I wanted to throw the doctor through the glass wall of their hospital waiting room, but it wasn't them.

'It wasn't the doctors, the receptionists, administrators, pharmacists, imaging technicians or anyone we ever met. What it was it was UnitedHealthcare.'

In Mangione's alleged summary, UnitedHealthcare, 'think because [their conduct] is legal no-one can punish them.'

Alleged killer Luigi Mangione's mother Kathleen Mangione, 60, reportedly suffered years of excruciating pain and expenses following a diagnosis of severe neuropathy, according to a 'manifesto' obtained by true crime podcast Hidden True Crime

Suspected assassin Luigi Mangione (center) poses with his prominent Baltimore family over Christmas. Left to right brother-in-law Paul Giulio, sisters Lucia and MariaSanta, dad Louis and mom Kathleen

He wrote: 'We entered into an agreement for healthcare with a legally binding contract that promised care commensurate with our insurance payments and medical needs. Then UnitedHealthcare changed the rules to suit their own profits.'

Mangione goes on to reference his own 'chronic back pain'  a result of a surgery following a surfing accident  saying that now it is his own pain which 'wakes me in the night, screaming in pain.'

In his closing sentence, Mangione wrote: 'UnitedHealthcareviolated their contract with my mother, with me, and tens of millions of other Americans. This threat to my own health, my family's health and the health of this country's people requires me to respond with an act of war.'

He was also allegedly influenced by 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski, whose manifesto he praised on Goodreads as an 'extreme political revolutionary.'

'It's simply impossible to ignore how prescient many of his predictions about modern society turned out.'

'When all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive,' Mangione wrote. 'You may not like his methods, but to see things from his perspective, its not terrorism, its war and revolution.'

Mangione was apparently influenced by 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski - whose manifesto he praised on Goodreads as an 'extreme political revolutionary'

He even quoted Kaczynski on his page, with excerpts from his ramblings including: 'Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness.'

'The concept of "mental health" in our society is defined largely by the extent to which an individual behaves in accord with the needs of the system and does so without showing signs of stress,' read another excerpt.

David Kaczynski, Ted's brother, has since spoken out about the connection between the accused killer and his kin.

'Many factors go into a person's motivation that they drastically act like this, and I hope my brother wasn't in a way a key model for him,' he told NBC News.

'It really gives me a great deal of personal pain to think my brother's actions have in any way contributed to influencing a man like this to kill an innocent human being.'

David went on to say his brother is not someone others should look up to.

'To the extent that he [the Unabomber] may have attributed at all to sort of normalizing or recasting the violent acts as beneficial to humanity is a terrible mistake,' David said.

'His actions are like a virus. They could be like a virus unless they understand he was a very angry and disturbed man. It doesn't mean his ideas are ideas of a lunatic, but his behavior, I believe, is the behavior of a lunatic.'
Disturbing graffiti taking aim at Jewish residents was plastered on the side of the road, marking the latest anti-Semitic attack to rock Australia.

The hateful message was discovered at a construction site on the Princes Highway at Arncliffe, in Sydney's south-west, on Monday.

'You! yes-you,' the graffiti reads.

'Westfield = Jews ... All banks owned by Jews.'

The message ended with a horrific three-word phrase: 'Hitler was right!'

NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia officers are making inquiries into the discovery.

It marks the latest act of anti-Semitism after a Melbourne synagogue was firebombed on Friday and dozens of cars and buildings vandalised in Sydney in November.

The graffiti was found two days before police were called on Wednesday to Magney Street at Woollahra, a prominently Jewish suburb in Sydney, to reports of a car engulfed in flames.

A burnt out car was found on the street as well as graffiti reading 'kill Israiel (sic)' on the wall behind it.

Anti-Semitic graffiti has been revealed to have been left behind at an Arncliffe construction site (pictured) just days before another similar incident in Sydney's East

The perpetrators of Wednesday's attack are believed to be two people of slim build, aged between 15 and 20 years, wearing face coverings and dark clothing.

Premier Chris Minns condemned the anti-Semitic attack.

'I'll be speaking to police this morning,' Mr Minns posted on social media.

'They will be found and they will face the full force of the law.'

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the incident as 'an outrage'.

'I will be briefed by AFP Operation Avalite officials this morning,' he said. 'I stand with the Jewish community and unequivocally condemn this attack.'

'There is no place for hatred or antisemitism in our community.'

It marked the second attack in the Woollahra after several cars were vandalised with anti-Israel slurs, one of which was also set on fire last month.

Police discovered a car engulfed in flames and several pieces of graffiti reading 'kill Israiel (sic)' (pictured) in Sydney's Woollahra, a prominently Jewish neighbourhood on Wednesday

Police found up to a dozen cars graffitied with anti-Israel messages on November 21 after emergency services responded to a car on fire.

Multiple cars, which were parked along Wellington Street, Tara Street, Fullerton Street and Ocean Street, were covered in white spray paint that read 'f**k Israel'.

The door of a unit complex in Ocean Street was also spray painted with the anti-Israel slogans.

Celebrity chef Matt Moran's Chiswick restaurant - which is co-owned by the Jewish CEO of Solotel Group Elliot Solomon - was also vandalised.

The letters 'PKK' were also seen on multiple cars and the windows of Chiswick.

PKK could refer to the Kurdistan Workers' Party which some countries, including Australia, have designated a terrorist organisation.
The brother of Ted Kaczynski, better known as the 'Unabomber' for his havoc-wreaking domestic terrorism, has broken his silence after Luigi Mangione posted about his manifesto on his Goodreads account.

Mangione, 26, was apprehended after visiting a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday and charged with murder for the December 4 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The accused killer had left notes and his opinion on Kaczynski's lengthy ideas, which drove him to injure dozens and kill three people over two decades.

Many have drawn comparisons between the alleged murderer and Kaczynski - saying that Mangione may have been influenced by him based on his social media habits.

David Kaczynski, Ted's brother, said the idea that the Unabomber could have motivated Mangione brings him great distress.

'Many factors go into a person's motivation that they drastically act like this, and I hope my brother wasn't in a way a key model for him,' he told NBC News.

'It really gives me a great deal of personal pain to think my brother's actions have in any way contributed to influencing a man like this to kill an innocent human being.

Mangione praised the Unabomber in online posts reviewing his book, but David said his brother is not someone others should look up to.

Suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione posted about the Unabomber's manifesto on his Goodreads account

Ted Kaczynski, better known as the 'Unabomber,' engaged in a 17-year-long bombing campaign before he was caught

'To the extent that he [the Unabomber] may have attributed at all to sort of normalizing or recasting the violent acts as beneficial to humanity is a terrible mistake,' David Kaczynski said.

'His actions are like a virus. They could be like a virus unless they understand he was a very angry and disturbed man. It doesn't mean his ideas are ideas of a lunatic, but his behavior, I believe, is the behavior of a lunatic.'

Both Mangione and Kaczynski were described as highly intelligent, with Mangione serving as his $40,000-a-year prep school's valedictorian before going on to study computer science and engineering at Ivy League University of Pennsylvania - and Kaczynski starting at Harvard at the age of 16.

The Unabomber - who engaged in a 17-year-long bombing campaign before he was caught - went on to study mathematics as a PhD student at the University of Michigan and took a professor position at University of California Berkeley in 1967.

Kaczynski eventually secluded himself from society in a cabin in Montana, where he wrote a 35,000-word essay saying he was trying to bring about a 'revolution against the industrial system' as he spoke out about the ills of modern society.

That manifesto was later published as a book - which seemed to have resonated with Mangione decades later.

He praised Kaczynski in posts on Goodreads as an 'extreme political revolutionary,' writing: 'It's simply impossible to ignore how prescient many of his predictions about modern society turned out.'

'When all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive,' Mangione wrote. 'You may not like his methods, but to see things from his perspective, its not terrorism, its war and revolution.'

David Kaczynski, Ted's brother, said the idea that the Unabomber could have motivated Mangione brings him great distress

He even quoted Kaczynski on his page, with excerpts from his ramblings including: 'Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness.'

'The concept of "mental health" in our society is defined largely by the extent to which an individual behaves in accord with the needs of the system and does so without showing signs of stress,' read another excerpt.
S. Korean lawmakers set to vote again on impeachment against President Yoon Saturday

Xinhua) 13:21, December 11, 2024

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korean lawmakers are scheduled to vote at 5 p.m. local time this Saturday on the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's motion to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol over his botched attempt to impose martial law, local media reported Wednesday.

Yoon escaped impeachment last Saturday due to a lack of quorum as most lawmakers from his ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Jerusalem, Dec 11 (UNI) The collapse of Bashar al-Assads regime has prompted Israel to launch airstrikes targeting military targets across Syria and deploy ground troops both into and beyond a demilitarised buffer zone for the first time in 50 years, media reports said on Wednesday.







The Israeli military on Tuesday said it had carried out about 480 strikes across the country over the past two days, hitting most of Syrias strategic weapon stockpiles, CNN reported.







According to reports, Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli navy had destroyed the Syrian fleet overnight, hailing the operation as a great success.







Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had hailed the collapse of Bashar al-Assads regime as a new and dramatic chapter.







During a rare press conference, Netanyahu said, The collapse of the Syrian regime is a direct result of the severe blows with which we have struck Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.



'The axis has not yet disappeared, but as I promised, we are changing the face of the Middle East,' he added.







According to media reports, Voice of the Capital, a Syrian activist group, said the overnight bombing campaign was the most violent in Damascus in 15 years.







The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said, 'Of the 480 strikes carried out by the Israeli Air Force, about 350 were manned aircraft strikes targeting airfields, anti-aircraft batteries, missiles, drones, fighter jets, tanks, and weapon production sites in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra.'







The rest of the strikes were in support of ground operations that targeted weapons depots, military structures, launchers, and firing positions.







The IDF also said its ships struck two Syrian naval facilities, where 15 vessels were docked. Dozens of sea-to-sea missiles were said to have been destroyed.







Israeli officials have revelled in the downfall of Assad, a staunch ally of Iran who allowed his country to be used as a resupply route for Hezbollah in Lebanon. But they also fear what could come from radical Islamists governing Syria, which borders Israel in the occupied Golan Heights, the report said.







Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told journalists on Monday that Israel was bombing Syrian military facilities housing chemical weapons stocks and long-range missiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists.



With regard to what will be in the future, Im not a prophet, he said.

Meanwhile, the IDF also confirmed it had troops operating in Syrian territory beyond the buffer zone bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.







UNI ARN
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down on the streets of Manhattan last week, was laid to rest in his hometown Monday - the same day his alleged assassin Luigi Mangione was arrested.

Thompson's loved ones gathered for a private funeral at a Lutheran church in Maple Grove, Minnesota, according to The New York Times.

His family noted that Thompson played many roles - a husband, brother, and friend - but above all, he was a 'devoted father' to his two sons.

'Brian was an incredibly loving husband, son, brother and friend. Most importantly, Brian was a devoted father to our two sons, and we will miss him for the rest of our lives,' his family said.

'We appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of kind words and support we have received.'

Thompson was fatally shot early Wednesday morning while on his way to an investor conference.

Chilling surveillance footage captured the very moment his masked killer opened fire on him with a large gun fitted with a silencer outside of the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan.

The NYPD searched for days trying to find his killer up until Monday when Mangione, 26, was arrested at an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonalds and identified as the CEO's alleged murderer.

Brian Thompson, 50, was laid to rest in a private funeral on Monday in his hometown of Maple Grove, Minnesota

His family noted that Thompson played many roles - a husband, brother, and friend - but above all, he was a 'devoted father' to his two sons. (Pictured: Thompson's wife Paulette and their two sons)

The 50-year-old was gunned down around 6:45 am in Midtown, hours before New Yorkers gathered in the neighborhood for the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.

The father-of-two was fatally shot in the chest and leg in the targeted attack, with the killer fleeing on an electric bicycle.

Witnesses said the suspected gunman was seen waiting outside the hotel before the shooting, and knew which door Thompson was going to emerge from before shooting him at point-blank range.

Footage from after the fatal shooting showed NYPD officers performing CPR on the married father, before he was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead.

Mangione, who comes from a wealthy Maryland family, has since been charged with second degree murder.

He was found at the fast food restaurant after both a worker and elderly person spotted him and called the police.

The NYPD searched for days trying to find his killer up until Monday when Luigi Mangione, 26 , was arrested at an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonalds and identified as the CEO's alleged murderer

The Ivy League student was found with a 3D-printed pistol and black silencer, with police saying the pistol was loaded with one Glock magazine comprising six 9mm full-metal jacket rounds.

He made his first court appearance after being charged with murder on Tuesday - pouting as he was escorted out of the hearing, after suffering a ferocious public meltdown hours earlier.

The orange jumpsuit-clad suspect had to be restrained as he screamed at police while heading into court in Altoona.

Thomas Dickey, Mangione's lawyer, said on Tuesday night that his client will also plead not guilty to the gun possession charges he is facing in Pennsylvania.

Dickey also told reporters he hopes to represent Mangione in New York, and indicated that he expects to plead not guilty.

He also said that he's not seen 'any evidence' that Mangione is the shooter.

He was found at the fast food restaurant after both a worker and elderly person spotted him and called the police

He made his first court appearance after being charged with murder on Tuesday - pouting as he was escorted out of the hearing, after suffering a ferocious public meltdown hours earlier

Dickey said: 'I havent seen any evidence that says hes the shooter. The fundamental concept of American justice is a presumption of innocence until you're proven guilty.

'I've seen zero evidence at this point. But that (pleading not guilty in New York) would be my expectation. That certainly would be my advice.'

It has since been claimed that he had a manifesto against United Healthcare after suffering a debilitating back injury which required painful spinal surgery.

In it, Mangione condemned the American healthcare system, and apparently also had a spiral notebook in which Mangione wrote a 'to-do list,' CNN reported.

He also allegedly ruled out the prospect of using a bomb to kill Thompson because it 'could kill innocents,' and determined a shooting would be more targeted.

He also reportedly mused on the prospect of killing Thompson 'at his own bean-counting conference,' as the insurance CEO was set to disclose the financial gains the company made this year.

Authorities have also noted that Mangione also published a three-page manifesto, which they have labeled a 'claim of responsibility.'

He wrote about the grandiose size of UnitedHealthcare and how much profits it makes, and went on to condemn health insurance companies more broadly for placing profits over care.

Following his death, it was revealed that he and his wife were separated and living in separate homes that are less than a mile apart

'To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, [and] a lot of patience,' Mangione allegedly wrote in the manifesto, according to the Daily Beast.

He went on to say he had 'respect' for federal investigators, and apologized for causing any 'traumas,' but seemed to defend his alleged actions.

'Frankly these parasites had it coming,' the manifesto wrote.

Before becoming CEO of the largest healthcare company in the US, Thompson grew up in Jewell, Iowa in a working-class family.

'He was just a farm kid living it out in rural Iowa,' a close friend told NYT. 'Everybody got along with him and he got along with everybody else.

'He was just a great, silly, funny, smart guy to be around all through the years that I have known him,' they added.

Thompson was the valedictorian of his senior class at South Hamilton High School in 1993.

He went on to attend the University of Iowa, graduating with a degree in business administration and accounting in 1997.

His wife, Paulette Reveiz, also attended the college, as the pair went on to raise their two sons in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove.

Following his death, it was revealed that he and his wife were separated and living in separate homes that are less than a mile apart, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Thompson purchased the $1million home near his family home in 2018, according to public records, with neighbors telling the Journal that he spent much of his time traveling.

His wife Paulette, a practicing physical therapist, disclosed that her husband had previously received threats. She referenced a 'lack of coverage.' Despite the reported threats, Thompson did not travel with security.
Radio titan Ray Hadley has issued a formal apology to the former boss of Greyhound Racing NSW after he unleashed in an on-air spray which he now admits was largely 'incorrect'.

Hadley used part of his his final week as host of the morning show on Sydney's Radio 2GB - where he has dominated the ratings for two decades - to retract comments about Robert Macauley he levelled while covering a story on the greyhound racing industry in May.

Some of the false allegations Hadley fired off included a reference to a rehoming program for greyhounds in the US which he described as a 'cash grab'. He incorrectly said: 'You pack them off, Mr Macaulay, to the United States of America, and don't worry too much about what happens then'.

Hadley's tune changed dramatically on Wednesday: 'In May this year I was covering a story about Greyhound Racing and as part of that I made a number of comments about Robert Macaulay, who at the time was the CEO of Greyhound Racing NSW.

'New information has revealed a number of comments I made about Mr Macaulay to be incorrect.

'I now withdraw the incorrect allegations, and I apologise to Robert Macaulay for any hurt caused to him.'

Hadley is moving on from 2GB after 24 years and has been in talks with conservative TV channel Sky News Australia. His replacement has been announced as fellow rugby league commentator and 2GB colleague Mark Levy.

Mr Macauley was represented in his defamation claim by Paul Svilans from Mark O'Brien Legal and barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC.

Ray Hadley has apologised to former Greyhound Racing NSW boss Robert Macauley (pictured) over comments he made on his radio show in May

Hadley (pictured) is winding up at Nine's flagship Sydney talkback station 2GB on December 13 after hosting his top-rating morning show for more than two decades

Hadley had in the past championed the greyhound racing industry and fought hard against former NSW Premier Mike Baird's failed attempt to ban it.

But his radio rant followed the closure of the Wyee greyhound adoption facility on the NSW Central Coast which was transformed into a base to re-home former racing dogs in the US.

Mr Macauley said the move was an effort to streamline Greyhound Racing NSW's business after a decline in wagering revenue.

'There will be no negative impact on animal welfare or track safety initiatives, which will continue with increased funding in line with past years and firm commitments for world-best practices,' he said.

'A full business review and extended consultations with participants, club and association leaders and business partners [were done].

'I stress that all animal welfare programs, including rehoming efforts, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) retraining for retired greyhounds, track safety works and upgrades will remain fully funded with an unwavering commitment to the world's best standards.'

Mr Macauley resigned as CEO of Greyhound Racing NSW in July.
A man has been charged with murder hours after his wife was found dead inside their home in what police allege were 'very violent' circumstances.

Emergency services rushed to a unit complex on Knox Street in Belmore in Sydney's south-west at 7.50am on Wednesday, after receiving reports of a concern for welfare about a 'distressed woman'.

Mother-of-five Khouloud Hawatt, 31, was found dead inside an apartment.

Homicide detectives established a crime scene and following inquiries, the woman's husband Talaat Hawatt, 35, was arrested 30km away at a Denham Court home less than an hour later.

He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where he has since been charged with murder (domestic violence), contravening an apprehended domestic violence order, use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order and failure to comply with digital evidence access order direction

Hawatt was refused bail to appear in Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday.

The charges come after new pictures of couple's seemingly blissful marriage less than a decade ago emerged.

The couple, who were married in Lebanon in 2015, have five children who range in age from six-months-old to eight-years-old.

Mother-of-five Khouloud Hawatt was found dead inside a unit in Belmore on Wednesday

Her husband Talaat Hawatt (pictured) was charged with murder late Wednesday night

Photos from their wedding show them posing for the camera arm-in-arm with Ms Hawatt carrying a bouquet of white roses and her husband in a three-piece suit.

In another picture, they stare longingly into each other's eyes, with no inkling of the horror that will allegedly unfold less than ten years later.

Earlier on Wednesday, Campsie Superintendent Sheridan Waldau said the woman died 'some time early this morning' and that officers allegedly stumbled on 'a very violent murder scene'.

She confirmed Hawatt was known to a strike force targeting domestic violence offenders known as Operation Amarok and that his wife had an apprehended violence order (AVO) against him when she was allegedly killed.

'I know that he has come under the notice of Amarok before, and he had a compliance check by Campsie police in only August,' Superintendent Waldau said.

It comes after a woman who knew Ms Hawatt told Daily Mail Australia she had spoken to mum-of-five the day before she was allegedly killed.

She said there had been no indication that anything was wrong.

Standing arm-in-arm and with Ms Hawatt carrying a bouquet of white roses, the couple pose for the camera in their wedding finery (pictured)

In another picture, they stare longingly into each other's eyes, with no inkling of the horror that will allegedly unfold less than ten years later

Police are seen outside the home in Sydney's south-west on Wednesday

The woman claimed the family were due to be kicked out of their unit in a few weeks and that neighbours had complained about them yelling and slamming doors.

Another neighbour said they heard the sound of people banging into walls and chasing each other on Tuesday evening.

It's understood Ms Hawatt doesn't have any family in Australia but that her husband's father lived in Condell Park in Sydney's south
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing for his ex-CIA operative presidential campaign manager and daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy to serve as Deputy CIA Director.

Fox Kennedy, a former spy who later had her claims about her time with the agency come into question, would serve under former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, who Donald Trump nominated as CIA Director.

Fox Kennedy, a former spy who later had her claims about her time with the agency come into question, would serve under former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, who Donald Trump nominated as CIA Director.

Kennedy, already himself a controversial Cabinet nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, has been trying to drive support for his daughter-in-law, Axios reported.

She would not require Senate confirmation to take up the job.

'President-Elect Trump has made brilliant decisions on who will serve in his second Administration at lightning pace,' spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

'Remaining decisions will continue to be announced by him when they are made.'

Fox Kennedy is married to Robert F. Kennedy III, with whom she has two children, a daughter named Bobby and a son named Cassius.

Similar to her former boss and relative, Fox Kennedy has apparently made a U-turn on Trump, whom she wanted RFK Jr. to beat as recently as a late June interview with NPR.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing for his ex-CIA operative presidential campaign manager and daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy to serve as Deputy CIA Director

Kennedy, already himself a controversial Cabinet nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, has been trying to drive support for his daughter-in-law, Axios reported

'Many of Mr. Kennedy's most ardent supporters support him because they genuinely believe that he is the only candidate who can beat Donald Trump in this election, and they desperately don't want another four years of the chaos we all experienced,' she said.

Also much like her father-in-law, Fox Kennedy has courted controversy for her public statements in the past.

She was in hot water with the government after DailyMail.com reported in 2018 that she may have published a book about her time with the spy agency before getting official permission.

Fox Kennedy was promoting Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA, a book published by Random House. It is on sale beginning October 15.

The book was described as a 'riveting memoir [that] tells the story of her ten years in the most elite clandestine ops unit of the CIA, hunting the world's most dangerous terrorists in sixteen countries while marrying and giving birth to a daughter.'

CIA employees are required to sign a lifetime nondisclosure agreement requiring them to seek approval from the agency's Publication Review Board for any book or other project which may reveal classified information.

While Fox Kennedy is reported to have submitted the manuscript to the CIA board for approval, it is not believed to have been formally approved for publication, according to NBC News.

Fox Kennedy told NBC News that she has yet to obtain formal approval for the book, but added that the agency has so far recommended minor changes, which she has agreed to.

Fox Kennedy, a former spy who later had claims about her time with the agency come into question, would serve under former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe , who Donald Trump nominated as CIA Director

Fox Kennedy was in hot water with the government after DailyMail.com reported in 2018 that she may have published a book about her time with the spy agency before getting official permission

If the CIA asks for more redactions, she will gladly oblige, she said.

'They know where to find me,' she said.

'They have had a copy for over a year, and they have never identified a single sentence or section they wanted to redact.'

Aside from the questions about the legality of the book's release, there are also those who say that Fox Kennedy's claims in the memoir may not be accurate.

A number of CIA officers who learned of the book's contents say that one particular scene from the memoir is unlikely to have taken place as described.

The excerpt in question describes a dramatic meeting that Fox claims to have had with al-Qaeda-linked extremists in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

According to the book, Fox Kennedy met with the extremists after learning of a supposed plan to set off a radiation bomb in Karachi.

She writes that the extremists agreed to stop their colleagues from carrying out the threat after giving one of them clove oil in order to help treat his baby daughter's asthma.

Fox Kennedy is married to Robert F. Kennedy III, with whom she has two children, a daughter named Bobby and a son named Cassius

More recently, she was blamed for mismanaging her father-in-law's presidential campaign, which sputtered out before Kennedy eventually endorsed Trump

NBC News says that four former CIA case officers doubt the veracity of the claims. They say that the CIA would never send an American case officer alone to meet with dangerous jihadists in Pakistan.

Normally, CIA operations involving jihadists in Pakistan are coordinated with Pakistani intelligence services, according to NBC News.

But Fox Kennedy says that while she may have changed some details to protect identities, the events described are largely true.

More recently, she was blamed for mismanaging her father-in-law's presidential campaign, which sputtered out before Kennedy eventually endorsed Trump.

Fox Kennedy hired her nanny Brigid Rasmussen to serve as the campaign chief of staff, the report notes, prompting campaign staff to question her management skills.

'Although Brigid is a nice young woman, she has no idea how to operate in her role and is inexperienced,' one campaign worker noted. 'This is merely one red flag that indicates incompetence.'

Fox Kennedy replaced former Rep. Dennis Kucinich as the campaign manager in October, shortly after RFK Jr. decided to end his challenge to President Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination and run for president as an Independent.

One staffer who resigned in protest complained to Kennedy in a resignation email that campaign leadership was 'severely mismanaging your bid for the White House.'

'I cannot in good conscience lend my talent, time, and efforts to an organization that is so amateurish, cavalier, and out of touch with the American voter,' the letter read.

The Kennedy campaign referred the Dailymail.com to a previous statement shared with Mediaite in response to the complaints.

'With over a hundred staff members and tens of thousands of volunteers nationwide, Team Kennedy has great folks come and go depending on the needs of each phase of the campaign. As the most successful independent campaign of the last three decades, we wish them nothing but the best,' the statement read.
Alarming 'wanted' posters of top healthcare executives popping up across New York City prompted police to issue a bulletin warning leaders of the rising threats.

In the wake of the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, video shared on social media showed 'wanted' signs featuring other healthcare corporate leaders plastered across traffic control boxes in Manhattan.

The menacing posters were erected on Canal Street - one of Manhattan's busiest thoroughfares - flanked with the red and black words: 'Wanted. Denying medical care for corporate profit. Health care CEOs should not feel safe.'

The signs also included the phrase suspected shooter Luigi Mangione allegedly wrote on the bullets found at the crime scene - 'Deny. Defend. Depose.'

The alliterative trio of words reference a book by Jay Feinman's titled 'Delay, Defend, Deny: Why insurance company don't pay claims, and what you can do about it.'

A New York Police Department bulletin issued Tuesday emphasized the heightened risk on healthcare executives following Thompson's slaying, reported ABC News.

'Both prior to and after the suspected perpetrator's identification and arrest, some online users across social media platforms reacted positively to the killing, encouraged future targeting of similar executives, and shared conspiracy theories regarding the shooting,' the bulletin said.

In the wake of the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO, video shared on social media showed 'wanted' signs featuring other healthcare corporate leaders in New York City

The bulletin highlighted social media posts sharing information about the other executives - and the NYPD said that menacing users are posting 'that it is a hitlist and that CEOs should be afraid.'

Health insurance companies have started removing images of their leadership teams from their websites following Thompson's assassination.

Mangione, 26, appeared in court on Tuesday, fighting against extradition to New York - where he is charged with second-degree murder after Thompson was slain.

The former Ivy League student had been apprehended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday, when he was found with a 3D-printed pistol and black silencer, as well as a manifesto condemning the American healthcare system.

Authorities have said Mangione's three-page manifesto is currently being investigated, which they have labeled a 'claim of responsibility.'

He wrote about the grandiose size of UnitedHealthcare and how much profits it makes, and went on to condemn health insurance companies more broadly for placing profits over care.

'To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, [and] a lot of patience,' Mangione allegedly wrote in the manifesto, according to the Daily Beast.

He went on to say he had 'respect' for federal investigators, and apologized for causing any 'traumas,' but seemed to defend his alleged actions.

The orange jumpsuit-clad suspect had to be restrained as he screamed at police while heading into court in Altoona, Pennsylvania

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was shot and killed outside of a Manhattan hotel on December 4

Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested in Pennsylvania and was found with a manifesto condemning the American healthcare system

'Frankly these parasites had it coming,' the manifesto wrote.

It claimed that the United States had the 'most expensive healthcare system in the world,' but blasted the system for making America only the 42nd in life expectancy.

Thomas Dickey, Mangione's lawyer, said on Tuesday night that his client will also plead not guilty to the gun possession charges he is facing in Pennsylvania.

He made a court appearance after being charged with murder on Tuesday - pouting as he was escorted out of the hearing, after suffering a ferocious public meltdown hours earlier.

The orange jumpsuit-clad suspect had to be restrained as he screamed at police while heading into court in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh has filed an appeal of his convictions for killing his wife and son in 2021.

The one-time socialite, 56, received two life sentences without parole last year for their murders after a jury of seven men and five women spent less than three hours deliberating.

Crime scene experts determined he ambushed his son Paul, 22, in the kennels and shot him twice before shooting his wife Maggie, 52, five times even as she fell to her knees at the family's 1,800-acre hunting estate in Moselle, South Carolina on June 7.

On Tuesday, the criminal and his attorneys filed a 121-page appeal document with the South Carolina Supreme Court that outlined reasons why they think Murdaugh's conviction should be tossed.

He and his legal team claim that his conviction should be overturned because of alleged jury tampering by Becky Hill, the former clerk of court for Colleton County.

His attorneys have argued that weeks after the highly publicized trial ended, they were told by jurors that Hill, who resigned from her position earlier this year, made comments to jurors to not be deceived by Murdaugh, and to 'watch his body language.'

In January, the claims were brought to former South Carolina Chief Justice Jean Toal as Murdaugh's lawyers pushed for him to have a new trial.

They have also argued that evidence presented during his murder trial that showed Murdaugh's involvement in major financial crimes - that saw him sentenced to an additional 40 years - should have not been presented to prosecutors.

Alex Murdaugh, 56, and his lawyers have filed a 121-page appeal with the South Carolina Supreme Court that outlined reasons why they think his murder conviction should be tossed

Murdaugh was convicted of slaying his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and their son Paul Murdaugh (both center), 22 on June 7, 2023 at the family's 1,800-acre hunting estate in Moselle, South Carolina

After getting word of the possible jury interference, Toal questioned each juror, as one said her decision may have been swayed because of Hill's alleged comments, WCNC reported.

Toal later denied the new trial request, citing that Hill's comments had to have made it so a juror's decision changed the verdict as a whole, or what she referred to as 'unprecedented jury tampering'.

Then in August, Toal's decision was overturned by the Supreme Court which is now tasked with considering whether Murdaugh should be granted a retrial.

'Common sense says that when an elected state official goes into the jury room during a murder trial to advocate for a guilty verdict because she wants to make money selling books about the guilty verdict, the result should be a mistrial,' his lawyers argued.

They claimed Hill would improperly enter the jury room on a regular basis, ask jurors about their opinions on Murdaugh's guilt or innocence, and hold private conversations with jurors about the evidence.

One juror was dismissed after Hill claimed to have seen a Facebook post by the juror's ex-husband suggesting that she had told him she already knew what the verdict would be.

Hill denied telling a juror that Murdaugh had probably 'got to' a witness, and that 'everything Mr Murdaugh had said was lies'.

He and his legal team claim that his conviction should be overturned because of alleged jury tampering by Becky Hill (pictured), the former clerk of court for Colleton County

She also denied claims she told the jury 'this should not take long' as they began their deliberations.

'Ms Hill betrayed her oath of office for money and fame,' Murdaugh's lawyers claimed in their motion.

Murdaugh, a former lawyer himself, has lodged a separate appeal against his conviction which has been put on hold while his allegations of jury tampering play out in court.

His six-week trial heard that both his wife and son were shot in the head after initially being wounded near dog kennels on the family's rural estate.

Paul was shot twice with a shotgun, each round loaded with a different sized shot, while his mother, apparently running towards her son as he was slaughtered, was shot multiple times with a .300 Blackout semi-automatic rifle.

Murdaugh claimed he found the bodies of his wife and son after returning home from a visit to his parents, but prosecutors based their case on damning cell phone evidence that showed him at the crime scene near the time of the murders.

Hill's book about the case, 'Behind the Doors of Justice', made her $100,000 but was pulled from the bookshelves within weeks after she admitted plagiarizing parts of it.

Murdaugh claimed he found the bodies of his wife and son after returning home from a visit to his parents, but prosecutors based their case on damning cell phone evidence that showed him at the crime scene near the time of the murders

In August, the Supreme Court decided they would consider granting Murdaugh a retrial after South Carolina Chief Justice Jean Toal initially denied it

South Carolina officials filed 76 counts of ethics violations against Hill in June, alleging she arranged a photo of Murdaugh to be taken in his holding cell, gave herself bonuses, and used county money to buy dozens of lunches for her staff, prosecutors and a vendor.

She resigned in March during the last year of her four-year term, citing the public scrutiny of Murdaugh's trial and wanting to spend time with her grandchildren. She has not publicly addressed the ethics allegations.

Her lawyer, Justin Bramberg, has previously said that her resignation had nothing to do with the pending investigations against her.

The murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh shocked South Carolina, where the family were well known as a political and legal dynasty.

Members of the family had served as solicitor and district attorney for the Low Country region for 85 consecutive years.

In addition to his murder charge, Murdaugh was convicted of 22 federal financial crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering after stealing millions from clients at his law firm.

He is currently serving 40 years for those crimes at the same time as his 27-year sentence for state fraud convictions, and will run consecutively with the disgraced lawyer's pair of life sentences for the murders of Maggie and Paul.

He was also ordered to pay $9 million in restitution for his financial crimes after taking settlement money from inflated fees or expenses for more than two dozen clients.

Prosecutors said the FBI found 11 more victims than the state investigation found and that Murdaugh stole nearly $1.3 million from them.

The killer apologized to his victims at his sentencing, saying he felt 'guilt, sorrow, shame, embarrassment, humiliation.' Just like at his state sentencing, he offered to meet with his victims so they can say what they want to say and 'more closely inspect my sincerity.'

'Theres not enough time and I dont possess a sufficient vocabulary to adequately portray to you in words the magnitude of how I feel about the things I did,' Murdaugh said.
President-elect Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan has revealed his plans for more than 1,400 acres of Texas land the Lonestar State gifted the federal government last month.

Speaking to Dr. Phil, the talk show host turned closed border advocate, Homan said he has been devising plans to use the 1,402-acre ranch in Starr County that Texas officials acquired in October to facilitate the construction of a border wall.

'I'm writing the plan as we speak. I was working on it last night as a matter of fact,' Homan, 63, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, told Dr. Phil on Merit TV.

He went on to praise Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's administration for its efforts to secure the southern border with Mexico - and said he would use the land as a holding area for migrants before they could be put on deportation flights.

'The 1,400 acres of land, that saves us from acquiring the land,' Homan said.

'The government never buys things fast and when we do, we overpay for it, so having this from the state of Texas is great.'

The state's Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham had suggested last month that the former ranch could be used for such deportation efforts as she announced that the state was giving the federal government ownership of the property.

'I was brainstorming with my team, and we figured, the Trump Administration probably needs some deportation facilities because we've got a lot of these violent criminals that we need to round up and get the heck out of our country,' she explained to Fox News.

'We're happy to make this offer and hope they take us up on it,' she said of the land she said had been overrun with drug smuggling and human trafficking.

President-elect Donald Trump 's border czar Tom Homan has revealed his plans for more than 1,400 acres of Texas land the Lonestar State gifted the federal government last month

The 1,402 acre former ranch in Starr County (pictured) will serve as a holding area for migrants before they could be put on deportation flights under Homan's plans

Buckingham now says she is pleased with Homan's plans, and is looking forward to working with the incoming administration to secure the border.

'For far too long, Texans and Americans have suffered from Biden's broken border policies,' she said in a statement to Fox News.

'I am looking forward to working with the newly-appointed Border Czar Tom Homan in ridding our communities of violent, illegal criminal who are hurting our sons and daughters, and anticipate discussing the next steps on January 21, 2025.

'As Texas Land Commissioner, it has been my promise to all Texans to do everything in my purview to gain complete operational control of our southern border,' she continued.

'It's my hope that the leasing of this land will be able to aid the incoming Trump administration in keeping our American families safe.'

Trump had tapped Homan to lead the 'largest' deportation of migrants in US history when his administration takes over on January 20.

Migrants who have committed crimes while in the United States will be the first to be targeted - but Trump's plans don't stop there.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham had suggested last month that the former ranch could be used for such deportation efforts as she announced that the state was giving the federal government ownership of the property

As DailyMail.com previously reported, Trump's team also plans to target legal migrants, including asylum seekers and those who entered the US with humanitarian parole under the Biden Administration.

Additionally, the incoming government is seeking ways to change who is considered an American, by ending birthright citizenship guaranteed under the US Constitution.

But several liberal city leaders, including the mayors of Boston and Los Angeles, have publicly said they will resist efforts by Trump to round up undocumented immigrants who pay taxes, follow the law and made a life for themselves in the US.

'We will continue to focus on that work and have no intention of rolling out the welcome mat for them,' Boston mayor Michelle Wu said of her sanctuary city.

Trump had tapped Homan to lead the 'largest' deportation of migrants in US history when his administration takes over on January 20

'Reaching out to city services, whether it's calling 911 when you need it, or taking your child to school - those are all city services that have nothing to do with immigration enforcement,' she said of migrants.

'And we will continue to protect our residents within those spaces.'

But Homan quickly took aim at the liberal mayor, warning her not to 'cross the line.'

'She's not very smart, I'll give her that,' Homan, a former police officer, told NewsMax.

'They can not cooperate, but there are certain laws in place that they can't cross and I hope she doesnt cross it,' he told Newsmax.
A federal judge on Tuesday night rejected the auction sale of Alex Jones Infowars to The Onion, criticizing the bidding process as flawed and saying the largest bidder was not selected.

The satirical news publication said the bid was sanctioned on November 14 over a company affiliated with Jones by the families of Sandy Hook Elementary victims who won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones in 2022.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopezs decision following a lengthy two-day hearing in a Texas courtroom means Jones can stay at Infowars in Austin, Texas.

Lopez said the auction outcome 'left a lot of money on the table' for families.

'You got to scratch and claw and get everything you can for them,' Lopez said.

Lopez cited problems - but no wrongdoing - with the auction process. He said he did not want another auction and left it up to the trustee who oversaw the auction to determine the next steps.

Jones, who did not attend the proceedings and has claimed they were shambolic ever since the initial awarding, quickly went back on the air to applaud the judge's decision.

'We can celebrate the judge doing the right thing with the most ridiculous, fraudulent auction known in human history,' he said.

A federal judge on Tuesday night rejected the auction sale of Alex Jones Infowars to The Onion , criticizing the bidding process as flawed and saying the largest bidder was not selected. Pictured: Jones celebrating the decision Tuesday night

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopezs decision following a lengthy two-day hearing in a Texas courtroom means Jones can stay at Infowars in Austin, Texas

Jones was seen appearing emotional about the decision in a hug with fellow Infowars personality Harrison Smith Tuesday night.

Trustee Christopher Murray had defended The Onions bid during the hearing.

Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook families who sued Jones in Connecticut, said they were disappointed that the judge rejected The Onions bid after it was recommended by the trustee as being in the best interest of Jones creditors.

'These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused,' Mattei said in a statement late Tuesday.

'This decision doesnt change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes.'

Ben Collins, the chief executive of The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, posted a statement from The Onion just after midnight on Wednesday.

'We are deeply disappointed in today's decision but The Onion will continue to seek a resolution that helps the Sandy Hook families receive a positive outcome for the horror they endured.'

He added they will not be deterred into their attempts to purchase the site out of a desire to 'make a better, funnier internet.'

Ben Collins, the chief executive of The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, posted a statement from The Onion just after midnight on Wednesday

'We appreciate that the court repeatedly recognized The Onion acted in good faith, but are disappointed that everyone was sent back to the drawing board with no winner, and no clear path forward for any bidder.'

Collins had said it will mock 'weird internet personalities' like Jones who spread conspiracy theories.

The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash and other incentives for Infowars assets in the auction. First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones name that sells nutritional supplements, bid $3.5 million.

The bids were a fraction of the nearly $1.5 billion that Jones has been ordered to pay in defamation lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas filed by relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, which Jones repeatedly called a hoax.

Jones has raged against that very process since the winning bid on behalf of the satirical news site was announced.

In two videos posted that same evening, a furious Jones claimed that the sale is not yet official.

'[My lawyers] had a total consensus: they've never seen anything like it. This was a private, secret sale... basically illegal, this is bankruptcy crime on its face disguised as an auction that wasn't an auction.'

'The people didn't even pay real money, they paid some weird FIAT thing that wasn't agreed to by the judge's order and then they had the corporate media say that The Onion bought Infowars.'

Jones has raged against that very process since the winning bid on behalf of the satirical news site was announced

He then claims the judge told the trustee that he didn't give the trustee the authority to do that and that it 'wasn't an auction.'

Jones says that the people behind The Onion 'didn't do anything' and called it 'unprecedented,' blaming it on his frequent targets at the 'Deep State.'

'It's crazy. Nobody sees how the federal judge, who's known for being straight-laced, cannot end this fake sale, where he basically said it didn't happen and bare minimum, there'll be a new, open, public auction.'

He then made a promise: 'Everybody thinking Infowars was shut down, you're in for a rude awakening.'

Two hours later, he gave a further update on the process from the Infowars studios.

'The headlines you see everywhere that The Onion bought Infowars today is not true.'

He professed his anger with not just the trustee not accepting the highest bid but that they wouldn't reveal who won and also that they didn't reveal that credit could be used in the auction.

'They bought my company in a rigged, fake auction that didn't even happen with my money that doesn't exist,' he claimed.

The satirical news publication said the bid was sanctioned on November 14 over a company affiliated with Jones by the families of Sandy Hook Elementary victims who won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones in 2022

He claimed that there are 'good guys' trying to buy Infowars - First United American Companies LLC which operates ShopAlexJones.com - and that their lawyers have 'never seen' anything like this.

Jones then accused the auction winners of having 'hijacked' his website and shut down his TV and radio stations.

He eventually went off on the Sandy Hook families, saying he'd 'barely ever even talked to them' and says they've 'raised money off me' and 'had me defaulted' via a show trial produced by HBO.

'These people have jumped the shark and it's why there was a referendum against the left and lawfare, why Trump got elected in a landslide, despite all the fraud.'

He also complained that 'outside some of the law sites' no one was covering this aspect of the story.

'If the judge certifies this, it's just another dark day for peoples' rights.'

Indeed, at the time, Judge Lopez appeared to have legitimate concerns with how the auction was run.

'Nobody should feel comfortable with the results of the auction,' Lopez said, according to Bloomberg.

Bill Sherlach, husband of Mary, one of the Sandy Hook School shooting victims, speaks after jurors returned a $965 million dollar judgement against Alex Jones in 2022

Although The Onions cash offer was lower than that of First United American, it also included a pledge by many of the Sandy Hook families to forgo $750,000 of the auction proceeds due to them and give it to other creditors, providing the other creditors more money than they would receive under First United Americans bid.

The auction stemmed from Jones' personal bankruptcy case , which he filed in late 2022 after the families won lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas over his claims that the school shooting that killed 20 children and six adults was a hoax.

Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones conspiracies and threats from his followers.

Jones has since acknowledged that the Connecticut school shooting happened.

Most of the proceeds from the sale of Infowars, as well as many of Jones personal assets, will go to the Sandy Hook families. Some proceeds will go to Jones other creditors.

Murray testified that he did not favor either bidder over the other and was not biased.

He also revealed that First United American submitted a revised bid in recent days, but he said he could not accept it because the Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut lawsuit objected.

The Onion valued its bid, with the Sandy Hook families offer, at $7 million because that amount was equal to a purchase price that would provide the same amount of money to the other creditors.

Alex Jones angrily denied that his Infowars had been sold to The Onion after what he called a 'rigged, fake auction' and a judge requested a hearing about the bidding process

Up for sale were all the equipment and other assets in the Infowars studio in Austin, as well as the rights to its social media accounts, websites, video archive and product trademarks

In a court filing last month, Murray's lawyers called First United American's request to disqualify The Onion's bid a 'disappointed bidder's improper attempt to influence an otherwise fair and open election process.'

Murray's lawyer questioned him Tuesday afternoon, then Jones' attorney, Ben Broocks, cross-examined him into the early evening.

Broocks noted that the Sandy Hook lawsuit judgments could be overturned in pending appeals and got Murray to acknowledge that the Sandy Hook families' offer in The Onion bid could fall apart if that happens.

That's because the percentage of the auction proceeds they would be entitled to could drop sharply and they wouldn't get the $750,000 from the sale to give to other creditors.

Broocks also questioned Murray about last-minute changes to the proposed sale to The Onion, with Murray responding that they were the result of different viewpoints on the numbers being settled.

Auctioneer Jeff Tanenbaum on Monday defended both the value of the bid and its selection.

Up for sale were all the equipment and other assets in the Infowars studio in Austin, as well as the rights to its social media accounts, websites, video archive and product trademarks.

Jones uses the studio to broadcast his far-right, conspiracy theory-filled shows on the Infowars website, his account on the social platform X and radio stations. Many of Jones' personal assets also are being sold.

He has set up another studio, websites and social media accounts in case The Onion wins approval to buy Infowars and kicks him out. Jones has said he could continue using the Infowars platforms if the auction winner is friendly to him.

Jones is appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments citing free speech rights.
Astonishing footage has emerged of a mum unleashing into a furious rage at a popular formal gown boutique because her daughter missed out on her 'dream' dress.

Staff at Gossip Gowns at Coorparoo, in Brisbane, had just started filming content for one of their well-known TikTok videos when the unhinged 'Karen' stormed into the store demanding to speak to a manager.

The staff member kept filming but pointed her phone to the ground as the woman off camera launched tirade about how another girl 'snuck in' and 'stole' her daughter's formal dress.

The video, titled 'Crazy Karen Encounter', has gone viral since it was posted two days ago.

The staff explained online that just like many other formal boutiques in Brisbane, Gossip Gowns keeps a registry of customers from each school so classmates aren't sold the same dress.

The woman's daughter had been told about the store policy when she was looking at dresses on a previous day - but left the boutique without buying one to 'think about her options'.

In the meantime, another girl from the teen's school visited the boutique and reserved the dress.

But the mum demanded the store to let her daughter have the 'blue dress' because she 'fell in love' with it.

The mother of a teenager confronted staff in a Brisbane formal dress boutique and demanded they give her daughter the blue dress she wanted. Pictured is a shocked staff member after the woman stormed out of the store

'Everyone knows she wanted the blue dress, they all talk about it and some little sneaks come in and taken her dress,' the mum said.

'I want (my daughter) to have the dress shes always dreamed of.

'So we gotta make this right.'

The woman then insisted on knowing which teenager had the audacity to buy her own dream dress without considering her daughter.

'Pull it up and show me ... I bet I know who it is,' she said.

A staff member replied: 'We can't disclose that information to customers'.

This response did go down well with the Karen.

'No, I am actually demanding you tell me because if it's the person I am thinking they would be much better in a pink - they're wishy-washy.

'Put 'em in a green, put 'em in a pink.

'Let my girl have her blue. Please.'

When the staff member said 'we're sorry', the woman interrupted with the line Karen's around the world use as their weapon.

'You're going to lose a customer. I'm telling you. I know a lot of people and I've got a lot of young girls coming through,' the mum threatened.

Many formal shops keep a registry and staff said this was explained to the teenager who had been to the shop on a previous day but left without buying the dress so you could think about other options (pictured a Gossip Girl gown)

After staff calmly explained that they still couldn't give her daughter the dress, the woman stormed out of the boutique.

'You'll be hearing from me,' she said.

The video also captioned that the woman had somehow found out who the girl was - and was allegedly 'harassing her'.

Dozens of online viewers praised the young staff members on how they handled the incident.

Others were left stunned by the mum's audacity.

'Please let this be a skit,' one said.

Another wrote: 'This can't be real' another wrote.

A third added '"I'm demanding it", like okay? Is that a magic spell?'

The viral video caught the attention of popular Aussie influencer Indy Clinton, who also commended the staff.

'I cant stop laughing but you guys handled it so well, wow,' Ms Clinton said.

Some thought it was a joke or marketing ploy and believed the 'Karen' sounded like Kath or Kim - or comedian Mel Buttle, who has a character called 'Lyn' that is known for being a 'Karen'.

Gossip Gowns is popular formal boutique in Brisbane with a big TikTok following

'That's 100 per cent Mel Buttle. There's no way this isn't a skit,' one wrote.

'Sounds like Lyn has had enough @MelButtle,' another added.

The Aussie comedian has since uploaded her own hilarious TikTok as her character Lyn, denying it was her in the boutique.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Gossip Gowns who have declined to comment.
Police have charged a second man with manslaughter following the death of a young mum from a heroin overdose two years ago.

Kye Conlon, 27, was arrested at Stockland Shellharbour in the Illawarra region south of Sydney on Wednesday morning.

Mother-of-two Rachel Ayuso, 28, was found unresponsive at a home in the nearby suburb of Oak Flats in July 2022 and couldn't be revived.

She died after snorting lines of heroin after a night out at a local pub with a group of friends.

Conlon was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where he was charged with manslaughter and supply prohibited drug less than or equal to small quantity.

He was refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.

His arrest comes after disability support worker Braydon Hamilton, 28, was also charged with the manslaughter of Ms Ayuso.

Mum-of-two Rachel Ayuso, 28, (pictured) was found dead at a Oak Flats home on July 13, 2022

Ms Ayuso was remembered as a 'beautiful soul' and an 'adoring mum' who 'gained her angel wings too early'

It is alleged Ms Ayuso then went back to Hamilton's Oak Flats home in the early hours of July 13 2022 after snorting lines of heroin during a night out.

While Hamilton slept, Ms Ayuso died between 2am and 11am that morning.

Following two years of extensive investigations, police charged Hamilton with manslaughter earlier this month.

Police alleged that Hamilton 'omitted to assist her', which carried a high risk that 'death or grievous bodily harm' could follow.

Hamilton is not accused of selling or supplying drugs to Ms Ayuso.

During a bail application in Wollongong Local Court last week, Hamilton's defence lawyer Matt Ward argued that his client thought Ms Ayuso was asleep.

The lawyer described the incident as a 'tragedy', the Illawarra Star reported.

Magistrate Claire Girotto granted Hamilton bail.

Ms Ayuso (pictured) died after snorting lines of heroin after a night out at a local pub with a group of friends. Two men have been charged with her manslaughter and are before the courts

Hamilton had to forfeit $10,000 as a surety, surrender his passport, must report daily to police and is not permitted within 500m of any international point of departure as part of his strict conditions.

Hamilton is due to reappear in court early next year

Friends wrote on on an online fundraiser that Ms Ayuso was 'taken suddenly (and) she has left behind her much loved children,' who were 'Rachel's moon and stars.'

She was also hailed as a 'beautiful soul' and an 'adoring mum' who 'gained her angel wings too early'.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) A day after Opposition members submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Upper House on Wednesday witnessed massive protests, sloganeering, and chaotic scenes, forcing adjournment of the House minutes after it convened for the day.

While both Opposition and ruling party members exchanged charges against each other, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju vehemently defended the Vice President and ex-officio Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

"If you attack the dignity of the Chair of the Vice President, we are going to defend it. You (Opposition) give notice against the Chairman (of the House). It's difficult to find a Chairman like him (Jagdeep Dhankhar). The Chairman has always spoken for the farmers and the poor inside the House and outside it," said Rijiju.

The Minister said he will not allow the Opposition's agenda to prevail.

"There are reports of links between Sonia Gandhi and George Soros (American businessman). Such reports have been published worldwide. You are working hand in glove with those acting against India. You speak the same language as George Soros," he said.

"You people are not worthy of being members of this House," he added, launching a full-blown attack on the Opposition.

Senior Congress member Pramod Tiwari lashed out at the ruling party, saying that they have murdered the Constitution and nurture the desire to change it.

With the Opposition in no mood to relent on its stand against Dhankhar, the House was expected to begin on a stormy note today.

As the Opposition and ruling party members traded charges and the House slipped into chaos, Chairman Dhankhar adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon.

UNI NK ARN
Tommy Robinson has been ordered to pay 50,000 in court costs after he was jailed for 18 months for contempt of court over a libellous film about a Syrian refugee.

The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was sentenced to in October after the Solicitor General took legal action against him for breaching a High Court injunction made in 2021.

Robinson, 42, admitted 10 breaches of the order, which barred him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee.

The case relates to a video on social media of the refugee being attacked and assaulted at a school in Huddersfield in 2018.

In a court order issued on Tuesday, Mr Justice Johnson said that the Solicitor General had claimed a total of 80,350.52 in legal costs, which 'does not appear to be disproportionate having regard to the nature of the issues in the case and the conduct of the defendant'.

He ruled that Robinson should pay 50,000 by 4pm on January 7 next year, with the remainder of the sum - yet to be finalised - to be paid to be decided at a later date.

He said: 'I do not consider that the applicant's incarceration, or his claimed impecuniosity, is a good reason not to order a payment on account.

Tommy Robinson (pictured) has been ordered to pay 50,000 in court costs after he was jailed for 18 months for contempt of court over a libellous film about a Syrian refugee

Robinson screened his libellous film to his supporters in Trafalgar Square in breach of a court order

'Those factors might make enforcement of the order more difficult if the applicant does not voluntarily pay, but they do not amount to reasons of principle why the order should not be made.'

In 2021, Robinson was sued for libel by Jamal Hijazi after the then-schoolboy was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

After a clip of the incident went viral, Robinson made false claims on Facebook, including about Mr Hijazi, leading to the libel case.

Robinson was ordered to pay Mr Hijazi 100,000 in damages and his legal costs, as well as making the injunction preventing Robinson from repeating the allegations he made against the then-teenager.

The Solicitor General later issued two contempt claims against Robinson, claiming he 'knowingly' breached the order, including by repeating the allegations in a film called Silenced.

Robinson at Woolwich Crown Court as he pleaded guilty to contempt of court

The film's production was funded by InfoWars, a company run by US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones - who is best known for claiming that the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre was a hoax.

At a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on October 28, lawyers claimed that Robinson had been 'thumbing his nose at the court' and 'undermining' the rule of law, including by showing Silenced at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London earlier this year.

Sentencing him, Mr Justice Johnson said that Robinson had 'not shown any remorse' for his actions, which were 'a planned, deliberate, direct, flagrant breach of the court's orders'.

He said: 'Nobody is above the law. Nobody can pick and choose which injunctions they obey and those they do not.'
Buck's Fizz might be forced off the menu this Christmas after fruit juice factory workers announced they would go on strike in a row over pay.

Nearly 200 workers at Princes Food factory in Cardiff are to walk out as the Unite unison warns of a 'nationwide shortage' of fresh fruit juices, including orange juice.

The workers will down tools and head to the picket line on 17 and 24 December.

Unite members at the Welsh site are taking industrial action after claiming staff's previous pay offers have been revoked by new owners.

Previous owners Mitsubishi had offered line operatives and engineers a four to seven percent pay increase, the union said.

But since the firm was bought by Italian based multinational Newlat S.p.A, staff have been told they will receive a three percent pay rise instead.

Unite said staff had been left furious and accused Newlat of failing to negotiate with its members.

In a statement, Unite said: 'Staff at the factories, who work in labour-intensive roles, are furious at such behaviour after attempts to negotiate with the employer failed.'

Buck's Fizz might be forced off the menu this Christmas after fruit juice factory workers announced they would go on strike in a row over pay

Nearly 200 workers at Princes Food factory in Cardiff are to walk out as the Unite unison warns of a 'nationwide shortage' of fresh fruit juices

A range of festive drinks could be off the table amid the expected juice shortages

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Newlat need to get back round the negotiating table before its customers discover they won't have any products on their shelves. Our members work in back-breaking roles on low pay and want a fair slice of the pie.

'Newlat make 20 percent of all their revenues in the UK and are making money off the backs of these workers. Yet they want to short change our members.

'Unite won't stand for such behaviour and will back our members in any dispute.'

Unite national officer for food, drink and agriculture Paul Travers said: 'Newlat borrowed huge sums of money to buy Princes and is now looking to cut corners and penny pinch to pay that money back. Unite won't let them do so with our members' livelihoods.

'Newlat can avoid this strike, which is one of their own making, by coming back to the negotiating table with a new and improved pay deal for our members.'

Hundreds of other workers at other Princes Food factories in Long Sutton, Wisbech, Bradford and Glasgow have also voted for strike action, with further dates set to be announced.
Teenage OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang turned up drunk at her mother's apartment in Sydney's eastern suburbs and called her a 'sl**' before threatening to kill herself, a court has heard.

The 19-year-old told Amanda Ow-Yang she hated her and went on to trash property including a guitar, vase, and other items worth approximately $1,500.

When police arrived at the home, they found two kitchen knives had been removed from a block and embedded in the kitchen floor.

Ow-Yang, whose father is neurosurgeon Michael Ow-Yang, was taken to hospital that night but was arrested the next afternoon when she returned to her mother's home.

Details of the private school girl's terrifying rampage were revealed on Wednesday after she pleaded guilty to a string of domestic violence charges, including assault.

Waverley Local Court heard Ow-Yang suffered from a litany of mental health problems stemming from the separation of her parents when she was a child.

Solicitor Michael Bowe said his client had been diagnosed with conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD and an eating disorder.

She had repeatedly engaged in self-harm, binge drinking and compulsive shopping as a result of grief, shock and trauma.

A statement of facts said Ow-Yang arrived intoxicated at her mother's Double Bay home about 9pm on November 7 and knocked on the front door.

Teenage OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang turned up drunk at her mother's apartment in Sydney's eastern suburbs and called her a 'sl**' before threatening to kill herself. She is pictured outside Waverley Local Court on Wednesday

Paris' mother Amanda Ow-Yang is pictured

Her mother saw Ow-Yang was drunk but let her inside the apartment and the onetime equestrian down on a couch in the living room.

Ow-Yang then began saying words to the effect of, 'You're a sl**', 'I hate you' and 'I want to kill myself'.

When another person in the unit tried to de-escalate the confrontation, Ow-Yang punched her several times.

Amanda Ow-Yang told the other person to leave 'for her own safety due to the accused's erratic and unpredictable behaviour', according to court documents.

When that person left the building Ow-Yang began destroying property including a guitar, vase, wardrobe cabinet and other household items.

During the frenzy, Ow-Yang entered the kitchen, grabbed two knives and said, 'I want to kill myself'.

Fearing her daughter would harm herself, Ow-Yang's mother called triple zero for help, then fled the apartment.

Ow-Yang followed her mother outside, repeatedly shouting, 'You're a sl**', and walked towards her.

Paris Ow-Yang (pictured) suffers from a litany of mental health problems she says stem from the separation of her parents when she was a child

A bystander observed Ow-Yang 'to be in an irate and heightened state and feared that she may harm the victim Amanda', the statement of facts recorded.

The witness detained Ow-Yang and when police arrived about 10.50pm, they found her to be 'highly aggressive, swearing and a quarrelsome nature'.

Officers found two knives lodged in the kitchen floor.

About 11.30pm, Ow-Yang was detained under Section 32 of the Mental Health Act and taken by ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital.

Twelve hours later, Ow-Yang was discharged from hospital and went back to her mother's address, where she was taken into police custody.

Ow-Yang, who lives alone at Bondi, was charged with common assault, two counts of stalking and intimidation, and destroying property.

She attempted to have the charges dealt with under mental health legislation but pleaded guilty when that application was rejected by magistrate Paul Mulroney.

Mr Bowe had told that court that Ow-Yang had attended a jewellery event before her 'one-off explosion', drinking a couple of cocktails and four glasses of champagne.

The court heard on Wednesday that the 19-year-old had been diagnosed with conditions including depression , anxiety, ADHD and an eating disorder

She was found wandering the streets of Double Bay after blacking out and no memory of what happened at her mother's home.

Ow-Yang's parents were not in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday but that did not mean they didn't care, Mr Bowe said.

'It just means there is a problem between the two of them,' he told the court.

Ow-Yang appeared demurely dressed in grey pants, a white blouse, black jacket and J'Adior heels, alongside Mr Bowe.

Mr Bowe said his client suffered a 'whole series' of mental health conditions which began when her parents separated when she was about 13.

She had never recovered from that split and her problems had been exacerbated by a relationship with 44-year-old nightclub king Julian Tobias.

That relationship, which ended last year, was not a 'stabilising influence' on Ow-Yang, Mr Bowe told the court.

Ow-Yang now had a boyfriend closer to her own age who serves in the US military and was a positive influence on her.

The social media influencer (pictured with solicitor Michael Bowe) pleaded guilty to assault, stalking and damaging property after going on a rampage in early November

Paris Ow-Yang (centre) steps out with her new boyfriend (left), and her father (right) on December 7, 2024

'I've spoken to him on the phone and he seems like a pretty good bloke,' Mr Bowe told the court.

Ow-Yang last year blamed a drunken car crash after which she blew more than four times the legal limit for a P-plater on the end of her relationship with Tobias.

She had smashed her $50,000 black Mercedes into another Mercedes worth $150,000 parked in Point Piper in Sydney's east in October 2023.

Mr Bowe said the crash was a result of a 'perfect storm' after Ow-Yang 'spiralled out of control' when she couldn't cope with the breakdown of her romance.

She had been 'drowning herself in alcohol', Mr Bowe told Downing Centre Local Court.

On that occasion, magistrate Rodney Brender convicted Ow-Yang, fined her $1,000 and imposed a two-year community corrections order.

On Wednesday, Mr Bowe said Ow-Yang, who has more than 1.6million followers across Instagram and TikTok, was doing her best to get her life in order.

He described his client as 'very successful in one area of her life, very unsuccessful in another'.

Paris Ow-Yang (pictured) failed to convince a magistrate that those problems meant she should have a string of charges dealt with under mental health provisions of the law

'She can't hide behind alcohol to solve her problems,' Mr Bowe said.

'She admits it's not going to be easy. Nothing is going to be easy for her.

'She still misses the fact that her parents aren't together. She's brought that up on numerous occasions with me.'

Mr Bowe said Ow-Yang's social media presence meant she was a regular victim of 'quite debilitating' online abuse.

Mr Mulroney rejected Ow-Yang's application for the case to be dealt with as anything other than a series of domestic violence offences.

Mr Mulroney said while he was sympathetic towards citizens who suffered from mental health issues, Ow-Yang had not always paid appropriate attention to her own.

'It seems in this situation that Ms Ow-Yang has at times been way less than responsible in terms of attention to her mental health,' he said.

'In my view, there needs to be a greater guarantee that Ms Ow-Yang would be compliant with mental health treatment.'

Ow-Yang (pictured at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday) was found wandering the streets of Double Bay after blacking out and according to solicitor Michael Bowe then went to her mother's house and started 'shouting at everyone'

Mr Mulroney also placed Ow-Yang on an apprehended violence order.

Mr Bowe had sought a non-publication order over the contents of an extensive psychologist's report.

He said Ow-Yang's mother was fearful her daughter would take her own life if the report were made public.

'There is a genuine fear that Ms Ow-Yang will do something that none of us would like to see happen,' Mr Bowe said.

'Does the community need to know the ins and outs of Ms Ow-Yang's life?'

Mr Mulroney granted a non-publication order on the report but not over submissions related to Ow-Yang's mental health made by Mr Bowe.

Ow-Yang wiped tears from her eyes after the order was made.

Mr Bowe urged Mr Mulroney not to record a conviction: 'She's only 19. She's got the world in front of her.'

Mr Mulroney agreed to Mr Bowe's request and instead imposed a 15-month conditional release order.

Under the terms of that order, Ow-Yang must comply with a mental health treatment plan and abstain from alcohol.

In sentencing, Mr Mulroney said 'domestic violence is a poison in our community' and warned Ow-Yang if she committed another such offence she would likely to go jail.

'It's really important that you comply with the orders that I have made today,' he told Ow-Yang.

'It's not a sprint race for you, it's a long-distance race for you.

'I wish you good luck. I can't say I'll be going onto TikTok anytime soon to learn about you but I wish you success in your chosen career.'

Ow-Yang gained a massive social media audience before turning to OnlyFans the day after she turned 18.

Within months of starting the account on the adults only platform, she was able to quit university and purchase her first of many properties in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs.

Her OnlyFans content has also continued to grow ever since and is now placed in the top 0.02 per cent of creators on the platform in the world.

Ow-Yang attended the $33,000-a-year Frensham School in the NSW Southern Highlands.

For confidential crisis support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours/7 days)

Text Lifeline on 0477 13 11 14 (6pm  midnight, 7 nights)

Chat online at www.lifeline.org.au (7pm  midnight, 7 nights)
York has become the latest UK city to consider a tourist tax that would see visitors pay more for hotel rooms in a bid to boost funding for its historic attractions.

The Labour-run council is now speaking with hospitality firms about bringing in a European-style small nightly charge for those staying at accommodation in the city.

No amount has been suggested, but York had nine million visitors last year, including 1.7million who stayed overnight - so even a 1-a-night charge could raise significant funds to help upkeep sites such as the Roman walls and Shambles shopping area.

It comes as London Mayor Sadiq Khan considers a tourist tax on the capital's hotels - with his team now looking at the evidence from Manchester and Liverpool, which have already brought in similar charges, as well as other cities around Europe.

In England, there are no powers held by the central government, local councils or mayors to introduce a tourist tax, unlike in some European cities - but Manchester and Liverpool both introduced one in April last year through a legal workaround.

The city councils brought in tourism-based Business Improvement Districts (BID) to collect additional business rates payments from firms operating in specified areas.

York could copy this model in an attempt to help pay for maintenance of its historic sites and public spaces amid concerns from council leaders about a lack of funding.

Your browser does not support iframes.

A tourist tax in York could help upkeep popular sites such as the Shambles shopping area

Maintenance of the famous Roman walls in York could also be funded by the tourist tax

Katie Lomas, a Labour councillor on York City Council who is the executive member for finance, told The Telegraph: 'People are already very used to paying an extra small charge per night on their hotel bill for the tourist tax in Europe.

Which UK cities already have a tourist tax? ENGLAND Neither local authorities nor central government in England have the power to introduce a tourist tax, but Manchester and Liverpool city councils each launched one in April 2023 in through a legal workaround. They brought in tourism-based Business Improvement Districts (BID) which collect additional business rates payments from firms operating in specified areas. Manchester introduced an 'accommodation BID' which is payable by hotels and serviced apartments with a rateable value of 75,000 or more, in an area within Manchester city centre and a small adjoining part of Salford. The levy is expected to raise up to 3.8million per year between 2023 and 2028  and raised 2.8million in the first year. In Liverpool, the BID levy covers the whole city and is payable for accommodation properties with a rateable value of 45,000 or more, with a cap of 50,000 per property. The levy is 1.6 per cent of a property's rateable value, rising to 4.5 per cent in 2024/25 and 2025/26. It is expected to raise 939,000 per year in the latter two years. In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan is now considering a tourist tax on the capital's hotels, with his team looking at the evidence from other cities. The UK's first so-called coastal tourist tax across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in Dorset was approved in May following a ballot of hoteliers. It would have required guests staying in larger hotels to pay an extra 2 per room, per night - but this was then put on hold in July following opposition from more than 40 hotels who lodged an appeal with the government over how the ballot was conducted. This week, it was revealed that the appeal was being considered by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner. The tax has also previously been consider by councils in Birmingham, Bath, Cambridge, Cornwall and Thanet in Kent - but has not been implemented in any of those areas. SCOTLAND The Scottish Parliament passed the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 in April, which gives local authorities the power to introduce a tourist tax. Edinburgh City Council has begun drafting a scheme for a tourist tax, and expects to launch it from April 2026. Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, and Highland councils are also planning to consult on a levy. WALES Proposals for a tourist tax began going through the Welsh Parliament last month - but prompted fury from the Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions which urged its members to shut for one day in protest. The bill will now be considered by the Senedd. Advertisement

'What we want to do is look at how we charge a levy for tourists. York has a vibrant tourism economy and that's great for the city and brings a lot of income to local businesses. But it doesn't give any income to the city council for the maintenance of public spaces.'

She added: 'There's no funding from the Government for things like maintaining historic assets. From the discussions we have already had with the hospitality industry, I don't think they would have any concern about the type of levy we would introduce.'

But Conservative councillor Chris Steward said he did not support the tax, telling The Telegraph that because they 'are becoming more common on the Continent, a lot of councillors see it as a good way to get a bit of free money'.

He added: 'I think it would just be seen as a revenue raiser. We've got a Labour council that is freely spending money and just wants more money to spend to fix their black holes.'

The idea could be considered in the City of York Council's budget proposals for next year, but for now the council continues to consult with the hospitality industry.

Councillors will also be keeping an eye on developments in London, where Mr Khan is considering a tourist tax on the capital's hotels despite warnings from hospitality bosses that it would be 'extremely damaging' for businesses.

The idea was discussed by politicians at the Centre for London think tank's conference last month - and the Mayor was asked whether he would support such a charge, although no figure has yet been suggested.

According to The Standard, Mr Khan said: 'I'm happy to look into where it's worked, what the issues are in relation to that particular policy... We'll be looking at what cities are doing not just across Europe, but in the UK as well.'

Pressed on whether he supported the idea in principle, Mr Khan said: 'Let's wait and see what the evidence is. I'm somebody who believes in following the evidence.'

But Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the UKHospitality group, told MailOnline that hospitality businesses are 'already burdened with increasing costs in every part of their operations, with an additional 3.4billion in employment costs and business rates hitting in April, so further taxes on the sector would be extremely damaging to the sector'.

And Alessandro Georgiou AM, the City Hall Conservatives' economy spokesman, said the tax 'would be another revenue stream for Sadiq Khan to waste on frivolous projects and giveaways to his union mates, let's be very clear'.

Tourist taxes, which are common in cities across Europe and in Canada, are a levy on the occupation of short-stay accommodation in a local authority area.

They a normally a charge per occupied bed or room and are set at a flat rate such as 2 per bed per night, or as a percentage of the price of the bed or room.

Manchester's BID levy, known as the 'City Visitor Charge', is payable by hotels and serviced apartments with a rateable value of 75,000 or more, in an area within Manchester city centre and a small adjoining part of Salford.

The levy is expected to raise up to 3.8million per year between 2023 and 2028  and a report from the BBC in April 2024 found it had raised 2.8million in the first year.

Another popular attraction for millions of visitors to the North Yorkshire city is York Minster

The Jorvik Viking Centre is another of the city's popular attractions for tourists

In Liverpool, the BID levy covers the whole city and is payable for accommodation properties with a rateable value of 45,000 or more, with a cap of 50,000 per property.

The levy is 1.6 per cent of a property's rateable value, rising to 4.5 per cent in 2024/25 and 2025/26. It is expected to raise 939,000 per year in the latter two years.

In Scotland, Edinburgh City Council is now drafting a scheme for a tourist tax and hopes to launch it from April 2026  while Aberdeen, Highland and Argyll and Bute councils are also planning to consult on a levy.

In Wales, proposals for a tourist tax began going through the Welsh Parliament last month  but have prompted fury from the Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions which has urged its members to shut for one day in protest.

The bill will now be considered by the Senedd, with a final decision not expected to be made until next year.

LONDON could bring in a tourist tax under proposals being considered by Mayor Sadiq Khan

MANCHESTER brought in a form of tourist tax through a legal workaround in April 2023

LIVERPOOL has also brought in a type of tourist tax which covers the whole city

The UK's first so-called coastal tourist tax across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in Dorset was approved in May following a ballot of hoteliers.

It would have required guests staying in larger hotels to pay an extra 2 per room, per night - but this was then put on hold in July following opposition from more than 40 hotels who lodged an appeal with the government over how the ballot was conducted.

This week, it was revealed that the appeal was being considered by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.

Thanet District Council in Kent had also been considering a tourist tax, but dropped the plans in April after concluding it does not have the power to implement them.

The idea had also been discussed by Cornwall Council, but officials decided against it in July amid concerns over the impact on the tourism sector.

Birmingham has been considering plans for a 1 charge since 2020, when it was put forward before the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Bath Council has also been discussing a proposal. But in Cambridge, hoteliers rejected a proposal in July to introduce a nightly 2 tourist tax.

BOURNEMOUTH had a tourist tax approved in May but this has since been put on hold

EDINBURGH is now drafting a scheme for a tourist tax and hopes to launch it from April 2026

The idea of a tourist tax in London was previously floated in January 2017 when the Greater London Authority published a working paper on the topic.

It cited three arguments for a tourist tax - one being that foreign tourists are able to 'free ride' by enjoying London attractions with free entry because they do not bear the same costs as UK and London taxpayers who support their funding.

A second is that tourists can also enjoy the benefits of many public goods in London such as parks, policing or elements of the transport network without having to pay the full social costs.

And thirdly, it was suggested that tourists impose costs on society such as pollution and congestion from use of the transport network, which affect London residents and other tourists.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies previously estimated that a tourist tax in England with a charge of 1 per person per night would raise approximately 420million per year.

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership estimated that 428million could be raised. In comparison, council tax raises about 30billion and business rates about 25 billion per year in England, according to Government figures.
The joy of Germany's Syrian refugees rejoicing the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government this weekend has quickly died down as leading lawmakers began calling for them to be deported back to their war-torn homeland.

Hours after Syrians jubilantly took to the streets in several German cities on Sunday, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel declared anyone celebrating 'a free Syria evidently no longer has a reason to flee'.

'He should return to Syria immediately,' she said bluntly in a public statement shared on social networks.

On Monday, prominent conservative lawmaker Jens Spahn told Germany's N-TV: 'For everyone who wants to go back to Syria, we will charter planes for them, they will get a starting fund of 1,000 euros (824).'

Similar sentiments were expressed by far-left leaders and politicians in equal measure.

In 2015, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel was lauded for opening Germany's borders to hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria, coining the now infamous slogan: 'We will manage it'.

Nearly a decade later, German lawmakers across the political spectrum are highly critical of Merkel's altruism and are pushing for a crackdown on immigration, which has become a hot-button topic among voters with an election approaching.

Official figures show that, at the end of October, there were nearly 975,000 Syrian nationals in Germany.

This is the highest concentration of Syrian refugees in Europe - only Turkey, which is partially in southern Europe and borders Syria, hosts more.

Expatriate Syrians gather with flags to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria on December 8, 2024, in Berlin

In Germany the jubilation was swiftly replaced by anxiety and concern as politicians across the political spectrum began trumpeting ideas about how best to deport Syrians back home

Syrians living in Essen gather to celebrate the overthrow of the 61-year Baath Party rule in Syria

Leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel and prominent conservative lawmaker Jens Spahn are among the German politicians keen to deport Syrians

'If the reason for asylum disappears, then there is no longer any legal basis to stay in the country,' said Markus Soder, conservative leader of Bavaria.

What are European countries doing with Syrian asylum applications? UK: Suspending decision on Syrians' asylum applications, reviewing 6,500 pending cases. No plans to begin deportations until situation in Syria is deemed 'stable', but Home Office source told MailOnline: 'There could be a voluntary returns scheme and there are also various deportation options.' Germany: Suspending decisions on Syrians' asylum applications, reviewing 47,270 pending cases. No plans to begin deportations until situation in Syria is deemed 'stable' - but several top politicians have called for deportation and voluntary return schemes. Austria: Preparing to launch 'repatriation programme', focusing on deporting 'those who have become criminals, who do not want to adapt to cultural values and who do not want work'. Suspending decision on Syrians' asylum applications, reviewing 7,300 pending cases. Government also said to be re-examining some 40,000 cases from the past five years. Denmark: Suspending decisions on pending Syrian asylum applications, extending time period for those whose applications were rejected and given deadline to leave. Greece: Suspending decision on Syrians' asylum applications, reviewing 9,000 pending cases. France, Sweden, Norway: Suspending decisions on pending Syrian asylum applications. Advertisement

And Sahra Wagenknecht, who this year set up a new anti-migrant far-left populist party, added: 'I expect the Syrians, who are celebrating here the takeover of power of Islamists, to return back to their home country as soon as possible.'

Such ideas strike Syrians as indecently hasty.

Nearly a decade after he arrived in Germany from Syria and became famous for snapping a selfie with Merkel, Anas Modamani has finished his university studies and lives in Berlin.

The 27-year-old is now a fully naturalised German citizen - but the talk of Syrians being swiftly removed from Germany has hit hard.

'I think that's a terrible idea,' he said of the proposal to offer Syrians 1,000 to leave.

'The situation in Syria is still just as dangerous as before. Berlin has become my second home, I will definitely stay here,' Modamani told an AP reporter yesterday.

On Sunday, rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized the Syrian capital Damascus in a lightning offensive just one day after Assad fled the country to seek asylum in Russia with ally Vladimir Putin.

Less than 24 hours later, Germany and a string of other European countries announced that they were suspending decisions on Syrians' asylum applications as they wait for the situation in Syria to become clearer.

Over 47,000 cases are pending in Germany, one of the main destinations for Syrians outside the Middle East.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that is the right thing to do, but it would be 'unserious to speculate in such a volatile situation' about the eventual return of Syrians.

Among those who will face a longer wait for their asylum application to be decided is Basil Khalil, a 26-year-old Kurdish Syrian who said he applied for asylum Monday after crossing from Turkey into Bulgaria and travelling to Germany on the back of a truck.

Khalil said he spent the last nine years as a refugee in Turkey, but was worried that Turkish authorities may soon start deporting Syrians.

'I applied for asylum in Germany because I'm afraid that back in Syria I may get drafted as a soldier,' he told the AP.

'But if the German government will deport me, then I guess I will go back,' Khalil said. 'We Syrians have been through so much suffering, all we want to do is survive.'

Syrians living in Berlin gather in Oranienplatz Square, Kreuzberg, to celebrate the overthrow of the 61-year Baath Party rule in Syria

The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government sparked celebrations in cities worldwide where displaced Syrians have sought refuge from the brutality of a nearly 14-year civil war

Syrians living in Essen gather to celebrate the overthrow of the 61-year Baath Party rule

HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa - better known by his nom-de-guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani (also written Jawlani or Julani) - insists that he will work to create a tolerant, civilised nation where religious and ethnic minorities can live peacefully after deposing Assad.

The Sunni Islamist insurgents have also claimed they won't impose any harsh restrictions or religious dress codes on women.

But major doubts persist over HTS' commitment to upholding such equality - and whether the group will be willing to work with other factions as part of a coalition government, thereby loosening its grip on power.

Regional analysts and human rights activists point out that HTS imposed an authoritarian Islamist rule over its territory in Idlib and there are suspicions that the group's jihadist origins remain.

Several rebel factions were able to fight effectively side-by-side to topple Assad, but now their divisions could be highlighted in the resulting power vacuum.

Analysts and observers hold out hope these factions can reach an agreement and create a stable administration, laying the foundations for re-development.

Rebel officials announced Mohammad al-Bashir - the head of HTS' so-called 'Salvation Government' in the Idlib province - as interim Prime Minister of a transitional cabinet that will remain in place until March 1.

Syrians living in Essen gather to celebrate the overthrow of the 61-year Baath Party rule in Syria with the Syrian opposition's 'revolution flag', following the collapse of regime control in the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, December 8, 2024

People celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus on December 8, 2024, as rebel soldiers declare that they have taken the capital

Top rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani speaks to a crowd at Ummayad Mosque in Damascus, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted President Bashar al-Assad, Syria December 8, 2024

Though many leading German politicians appeared keen to deport Syrians, others said Syrian refugees who have worked to integrate into German society must be allowed to remain.

A deputy interior minister, Juliane Seifert, said Syrians are 'a group that has significantly above-average educational qualifications,' among them many doctors.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, whose conservative party has talked tough on migration, said Tuesday that many Syrian refugees are now 'superbly integrated in our country, have a job and are urgently needed here' and no one is thinking of getting such people to leave Germany.

'Those who have already integrated well are still cordially welcome,' Herrmann told Deutschlandfunk radio Tuesday.

'But it is clear that there are also people who have been here for 10 years and don't have a job and haven't integrated well, and then it's right to help them return to their homeland' if Syria stabilises.

The number of Syrians gaining German citizenship has risen from 6,700 in 2020 to 75,500 last year, when they were the biggest single group and accounted for 38% of all naturalisations.

Tarek Alaows, a spokesperson for pro-refugee group Pro Asyl, said that 'many from the Syrian community naturally want to return... Many want to participate in the reconstruction. But they must not be forced to leave the country' for a still-unstable Syria.

Alaows, 35, who fled Damascus in 2015 and became a German citizen over three years ago, said many Syrians in Germany were concerned to hear public calls so soon for the quick return of Syrians.

'These debates that are going on right now - nobody needs them,' he said.

Yamn Molhem, who arrived 10 years ago, sees it the same way. The 39-year-old father of four now manages the Aldimashqi restaurant on Berlin's Sonnenallee boulevard, known for its many Arabic stores and businesses.

'All of my family has left Aleppo, and the situation in Syria is generally very unstable,' he said.

Molhem said he is applying for a German passport, proudly adding that his youngest son already has one.

'They can't deport our family,' said, 'My son is German.'

In general, Molhem said, Germans should think twice before they even consider sending back Syrians who work, pay taxes and help keep the economy running.

'Syrians don't just sleep here,' he said.
A World War One sailor has been formally recognised as the first Brit to have been miraculously healed at Lourdes, the Catholic holy site.

Liverpudlian sailor John Traynor suffered from paralysis, epilepsy and paraplegia following severe trauma experienced during the first World War.

Traynor, born in 1883, served in the merchant navy before joining the Royal Navy in the First World War.

Just three months after the war began, he was wounded in Bruges in October 1914, and was later hit with machinegun fire during the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey.

These horrific injuries left him suffering from epilepsy and his right arm paralysed. A botched operation in 1920 made his condition worse, and he we was partially paralysed from the legs down.

Having suffered for years under his conditions, he travelled to Lourdes, in southwest France, in the hope that he would be cured.

The town became a holy site for the Catholic faith after a peasant girl called Bernadette Soubirous reportedly saw the Virgin Mary in visions, who asked her to build a chapel and dig down into the Pyrenees to free a spring.

This spring became a site of pilgrimage for the sick to pray and drink from in the hope that their condition would be cured.

Liverpudlian sailor John Traynor (pictured) suffered from paralysis, epilepsy and paraplegia following severe trauma experienced during the first World War

File image of pilgrims visiting the Our Lady of Lourdes statue in the cave at Massabielle, Lourdes, France

Traynor is reported to have bathed in the waters nine timed during his pilgrimage.

It is claimed that he was 'instantaneously and dramatically' cured of his conditions during his trip.

The Most Rev Malcolm McMahon, the Archbishop of Liverpool, told worshippers that Traynor's healing was 'absolutely outside and above the forces of nature.'

McMahon said that Traynor's healing was never actually officially claimed by the Catholic church.

'It was thought that there was insufficient contemporaneous evidence to establish that the cure of John Traynor could not be attributed to medical interventions or be explained according to medical science', he said.

But following a review of files held at the Lourdes archives, a reference to Traynor's healing was foun in a 1926 report in the shrine's journal by Dr August Vallet, the then-president of the Lourdes Office of Medical Observations.

Vallet declared that 'the process of this prodigious healing is absolutely outside and above the forces of nature'.

As a result, McMahon said: 'Given the weight of medical evidence, the testimony to the faith of John Traynor and his devotion to Our Blessed Lady, it is with great joy that I declare that the cure of John Traynor, from multiple serious medical conditions, is to be recognised as a miracle wrought by the power of God through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes.'

John set up his own coal delivery business after he was cured

In this file photo taken on August 15, 2018, Catholic pilgrims pose in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary during the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption, in the French Southwestern pilgrimage city of Lourdes

After Traynor returned to Liverpool, he started a coal delivery business, which he ran until his death in 1943.

While an estimated 200million people have visited Lourdes since 1860, the Catholic church has officially recognised just 69 healings.

The process for official recognition is rigorous.

Of the estimated 35 claims that are brought to the Lourdes Medical Bureau, the body in charge of investigating miracles at Lourdes, every year, almost all of them are dismissed.

Three to five are investigated more thoroughly, with the Bureau examining the patients, any case notes and any tests.

If a case has legs, then it is brought to the attention of the International Lourdes Medical Bureau (ILMB), a panel of 20 experts who examine the case and make a claim of whether a healing is medically inexplicable.

Though the ILMB cannot say whether a healing was a miracle, it refers rulings to the Bishop of the diocese where the cured person lives, who consults with the Vatican and makes a decision on whether a cure is a miracle.
Kim Jong Un's state media has declared South Korea a 'fascist dictatorship' following the president's short-lived attempt to impose martial law on the nation.

The one-party state's damning criticism of its southern neighbour comes as the defence minister who claimed responsibility for President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle tried to take his own life.

As the political crisis in South Korea deepens, Kim Jong Un's state media finally broke its silence by, somewhat ironically, slamming Yoon for bringing about a 'dictatorship of the people'.

North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency, in words reported by The Guardian, said: 'The puppet Yoon Suk Yeol, who had already faced a serious crisis of governance and impeachment, declared martial law unexpectedly and unleashed the guns of the fascist dictatorship on the people.'

The hermit kingdom has now been run by three generations of the Kim Dynasty since the country was formed as a satellite state of the Soviet Union in 1948.

It is been widely regarded as one of the world's most brutal totalitarian states.

In a somewhat rare occurrence Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Korean Workers party, carried a detailed report on last week's tumultuous events in Seoul including pictures of the protests.

'The international community is sternly watching, with assessments that the martial law incident exposed vulnerabilities in South Korean society  and that Yoon Suk Yeols political life could face an early end,' it reported.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un has slammed the president of his southern neighbour for bringing about a 'dictatorship of the people'

President Yoon Suk Yeol survived his first impeachment vote on Saturday after his right-wing People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote

Soldiers attempting to enter South Korea's parliament in Seoul are blocked by MPs. Martial Law was rescinded after parliament - including members of Yoon's party - defied police and army cordons to vote unanimously against the order

KCNA goes on to describe South Korea as a 'gangster nation' a description often leveraged against Kim Jong Un's regime - whose family has cultivated a cult of personality that continues to pauperise most of society while the ruling elite live a life of lavish luxury in Pyongyang.

However, despite the apparent hypocrisy within North Korea's criticism of the south, experts have it serves the regime well to exploit any crisis in the democratic and western-aligned South Korea.

Speaking to The Guardian, Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said: 'Leaders in Russia, China, and especially North Korea are likely watching the political turmoil in South Korea with glee, sensing a geopolitical advantage.

'Authoritarian regimes believe that if they manage to stay in power, they can outlast democratic rivals that eventually commit self-harm, descend into dysfunction, and fall out with allies.'

The commentary from North Korea comes as the former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, attempted to take his own life while in prison.

He was detained on Sunday for his role in last week's events before he was formally arrested on insurrection charges.

According to the authorities, he was found while attempting to kill himself and is now in a stable condition.

The upheaval in South Korea started when Yoon shocked South Korea and the world when he declared martial law late on Tuesday last week.

A protestor wears a cut-out of the president's face. In a somewhat rare occurrence Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling party, carried a detailed report on last week's tumultuous events in Seoul including pictures of the protests

This gave the military sweeping emergency powers to root out what Yoon called 'pro-North anti-state forces' and overcome obstructionist political opponents.

The decree, which is the first time martial law has been declared since the country transitioned to democracy in 1987, gave the military sweeping emergency powers to root out what he called 'anti-state forces' and overcome obstructionist political opponents.

However, the order was rescinded six hours later after parliament - including members of Yoon's party - defied police and army cordons to vote unanimously against the order.

Yoon's sudden declaration plunged South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. military ally, into its greatest political crisis in decades.

Since then,opposition against the already unpopular president has been galvanised as members of the public took to the streets waving banners and calling for Yoon's departure.

Opposition parties tabled a no-confidence vote on Saturday which the president survived after his right-wing People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote.

The Democratic Party, South Korea's main opposition party, said it will try again to oust Yoon on December 14.

Speaking to reporters its leader, Lee Jae-myung, said: 'Yoon, the principal culprit behind the insurrection and military coup that destroyed South Korea's constitutional order, must either resign immediately or be impeached without delay.'

Last Saturday, Yoon addressed the nation in a televised speech to apologise for the move, and to say he would face whatever repercussions there would be, though he did not offer to resign.

Whilst his own party boycotted the first no-confidence vote, their leader Han Dong-hun has made clear the PPP believes the president should resign.
Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace has claimed she was 'physically accosted' Tuesday by a trans rights activist at the US Capitol building.

James McIntyre, 33, was arrested inside the Rayburn House Office Building in connection with the incident, Capitol Police have said.

Mace, who has campaigned to ban trans-women from female facilities around Congress, said the alleged assault was over her 'fight to protect women'.

She posted on X: 'I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women. Capitol police have arrested him.

'All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!'

The suspect, McIntyre, who is from Illinois, is facing a charge for assaulting a government official.

A spokesperson for Capitol Police said according to The New York Post: 'Just before 6:00 p.m., the Member of Congress' office reported an incident in the Rayburn House Office Building.

'House Division officers, and agents with the Threat Assessment Section, tracked down the suspect.'

Nancy Mace, who has campaigned to ban trans-women from female facilities around Congress, said the alleged assault was over her 'fight to protect women'

Nancy Mace departs a meeting with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy on December 5

'After an investigative interview, officers arrested the suspect.'

Mace, a South Carolina Republican, has been crusading to ban transgender lawmaker Sarah McBride from using the women's restrooms around Congress.

The Democratic representative-elect is the first openly trans politician elected to Congress, and is the highest-ranking elected trans politico in the nation's history.

Mace has said that her PTSD from past sexual assault led her to push to ban McBride from entering women's restrooms and changing rooms.

The 47-year-old has posted videos calling McBride a male, repeatedly speaking about their private parts and slamming transgenderism.

Last month, Mace introduced a bill that would force House members and staffers to use the bathrooms corresponding with their biological sex.

The measure would specifically mean that McBride, who was born male, would have to use the men's facilities.

The Capitol's top security agent, the Sergeant at Arms, would be tasked with enforcing the policy.

'Just the idea of a man being in a dressing room with me as survivor of sexual violence, it just sends me over the edge, and I'm just not going to tolerate it,' Mace previously said.

Mace has said that her PTSD from past sexual assault led her to push to ban McBride from entering women's restrooms and changing rooms

Mace, a South Carolina Republican, has been crusading to ban transgender lawmaker Sarah McBride (pictured) from using the women's restrooms around Congress

'And I'm really proud of the women and girls who feel the courage and the bravery to stand up and to shout from the rooftops that this is this is not okay.'

'There's a big difference between being pro-civil liberties and then being pro-women,' Mace continued. 'Women have rights and we're not going to erase them.'

Mace and her staff have been subject to a number of threats since she pushed to introduce the ban in November.

She previously said that 'trantifa' wanted to kill her in response to a report on X about a transperson in Portland, Oregon threatening to murder her.

'NGL. I had to google trantifa. Ive learned a lot this week,' Mace wrote last November.

'These people deserve a room in prison and/or a mental ward,' she continued before calling out Oregon leaders.

'Also, wondering out loud what @Portland_State and Oregon Governor @TinaKotek think about an alleged student threatening to kill a Congresswoman?' she went on.

She was responding to a post that identified the person posting a series of threats against Mace and author J.K. Rowling as a 24-year-old transgender student activist based in Portland.

'Trantifa' is a term that refers to a rise in extremism and threats of violence from far-left transgender activists. A United Nations investigator warned about the trend last year.
A Wisconsin husband who faked his own death before fleeing to Eastern Europe with his lover has been arrested, online records show.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was booked into the Green Lake County Jail on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Victim Information and Notification Everyday system, but no charges were listed.

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday in a social media post that a news conference would be held Wednesday morning to update the Borgwardt case after he purposely flipped his kayak on Green Lake on August 11.

He then dumped his phone and belongings in the water before paddling to safety on an inflatable boat and e-biking more than 50miles to Madison overnight.

His disappearance devastated his wife and three children and sparked a massive one-month-long manhunt for his body, for which law enforcement wanted to send him a $40,000 bill.

Police learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had been communicating with a Uzbek woman who spoke Russian.

Chief Deputy Matthew Vande Kolk confirmed last month that the two 'connected online', but said he could not elaborate further at this stage.

Sheriff Mark Podoll then said Borgwardt began communicating with authorities on November 11 after disappearing for three months, but that he hadn't committed to returning to Wisconsin.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, who faked his own death and ran away with his mistress is speaking to the cops 'on a near daily basis', but still refusing to disclose his location

Authorities learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had been communicating with a Uzbek woman who spoke Russian, leaving behind his wife (pictured) and kids

Podoll said police were 'pulling at his heartstrings' to come home and suggested Borgwardt could be charged with obstructing the investigation into his disappearance.

Through Borgwardt's mistress, the Sheriff's Office was able to get in contact with the father-of-three and asked him to answer questions only he would know and to film a video of himself, which he did.

In the November video, Borgwardt - who has not contacted his family since his disappearance - showed off his apartment, telling officers: 'I am safe, secure, no problems.'

But the same cannot be said for his heartbroken family, who are also being supported by the Sheriff's Office.

'They are doing okay, that's probably the best thing you could say,' Vande Kolk explained.

'I can't compare their situation to anything I have ever experienced in law enforcement before, I don't have any reference.'

Borgwardt told authorities last month that he faked his death because of 'personal matters,' the Podoll said.

He also told them that he picked Green Lake for his master plan because it's the deepest in Wisconsin.

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office is now seeking $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution for the money used in the search and Borgwardt could face obstruction charges

The sheriff said at the time that investigators were working to verify Borgwardt's description of what happened and explained that Borgwardt told authorities that he didn't expect the search to last more than two weeks.

Authorities spent 54 days looking for the Wisconsin man before announcing on November 8 that they didn't believe he had drowned in the lake, but rather had faked his own death.

Investigators revealed that Borgwardt had been talking to a woman in Uzbekistan before he obtained a new passport and a $375,000 life insurance policy in January.

Borgwardt is believed to have used the new passport in Canada a day after he was reported missing.

The scheme was elaborately planned. Borgwardt left his original passport at home when he vanished, and police said he tried to cover his tracks by removing his laptop's hard drive and wiping his search history clean.

Before his disappearance, he changed all the email addresses linked to his bank accounts and moved money to a foreign bank account.

Borgwardt's devastated wife, Emily, and their three children, had been grieving their loss, believing for months he was likely dead.

She is now being urged to join support groups for women with 'runaway husbands' as her friends and community rally around her.

She and Borgwardt celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary in July 2024.
London's Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been branded 'scrawny' and 'half-dead' compared to their Rockefeller rival in New York.

The tree, which has been gifted annually by Norway since 1947, was deemed as looking 'rather unwell' and 'so sad' after its lights were turned on earlier this month.

Daily Mail columnist Andrew Neil posted a photo of the two competing trees on X with the caption: 'When it comes to Christmas Trees London really needs to up its game.'

Commenting beneath, one person wrote: 'Im glad someone said it. I didnt want to be negative but our wonky corn on the cob is a tad underwhelming.'

Another added: 'By the look of that tree in Trafalgar Square, you'd think London was trying to eliminate Christmas. That's really bad.'

A third also wrote: 'It looks like a pickle,' while a fourth quipped: 'Maybe it's a cucumber.'

The Norwegian spruce from Grefsenkleiva, in Oslos Forest, is decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion with strings and lights. It is also approximately 20 metres high and is around 60 years old.

For many people, the fact that it is a gift from Norway adds an important sentimental value, as one person explained: 'Its the 77th tree weve received as a gift from the Norwegians as a token of gratitude for supporting them in WW2. It has more meaning than the Rockefeller tree.'

London's famous Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been branded 'scrawny'

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was lit on December 4, an annual holiday tradition in New York City

Locals described the tree as 'rather unwell looking' and 'so sad' as they claimed they could see dead wood in photographs posted online

Another person similarly wrote: 'In this case, less is more plus the London tree is a symbolic gift. The sentiment behind it means it doesnt need to be flashy.'

A third person argued: 'The arrival of Oslos present is special. For me its a reminder that Christmas is just around the corner, marked by a gift from Oslo which is so in the Christmas spirit. It beats all the glitzy lights and the manicured Christmas trees. It is real.'

Another wrote: 'You're all missing the point. This tree is a GIFT. It's around 60 years old and enormous and has to travel by boat to get to us. And the lights - this is the way they are tradionally hung in Norway.

'It may not be as glamourous as having 50,000 coloured lights intertwined, but this tree is a symbol of friendship and gratitude which we should accept and cherish gracefully.'

Fellow journalist Peter Allen, who is based in France, also took to social media to share Paris' Christmas tree, which was certainly underwhelming in comparison to the US and UK.

He wrote, sarcastically: 'This years Christmas tree in Paris 75001 is going to leave Londoners and New Yorkers green with envy.'

Commenting beneath the post, one person pointed out: 'Where's the rest of it?!'

This comes after Britain's saddest trees were revealed last month, as one was even labelled anti-festive.

Journalist Peter Allen poked fun at the rather underwhelming Paris tree this year

One person described the Trafalgar Square tree as looking like a 'wonky corn on the cob'

A group of people take a selfie in front of the brightly illuminated tree at the Rockefeller Center

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is pictured in the square before being mounted by specialist crews

The tree was attached to the hook of a crane before being lifted into a vertical position

The tree has been gifted annually by Norway since 1947

One sorry-looking Christmas tree was spotted by the arrivals board at London Euston station this week.

Decorated with gold baubles and guarded by a plastic barrier, the threadbare tree measures around 180cm.

Talk TV's Chuck Thomas shared a picture of the tree on X with the sarcastic caption: 'This will get everyone in the Christmas spirit.'

The post received over 300,000 views as people were quick to blast the sad-looking Christmas tree, which they described as depressing, pitiful and anti-festive.

Meanwhile, over at the Coal Drops Yard near King's Cross Station, one woman said she had her 'Christmas cheer stolen from her so fast' when she looked at the tree erected there.

Ellen filmed her reaction for TikTok and said: 'I'm about to show you the Christmas tree. I don't get it. What is this?'

Taking to the comments, one person joked: 'It looks like it was made on Microsoft paint,' while another person said 'it's giving Tate Modern Christmas'.

This year's Trafalgar Square tree was cut down by The Lord Mayor of Westminster Cllr Robert Rigby and The Mayor of Oslo Anne Lindboe, during a felling ceremony which took place on Thursday 21 November 2024.

Talk TV's Chuck Thomas shared a picture of the tree with the caption: 'This will get everyone in the Christmas spirit'

At the Coal Drops Yard near King's Cross Station, one woman said she had her 'Christmas cheer stolen from her so fast' when she looked at the tree erected there (pictured)

Ellen filmed her reaction for TikTok of the Coal Drops Yard tree and said: 'I'm about to show you the Christmas tree. I don't get it. What is this?'

It was then transported to Brevik using an electric truck in a bid to cut the journey's carbon footprint.

The tree is a gift from Norway in gratitude for the UK's aid during the Second World War.

King Haakon VII of Norway made popular broadcasts to his country via the BBC while in exile in London during the Second World War.

Aware that he was likely to be found and apprehended by the Nazis after the invasion of neutral Norway in April 1940, he slept in his uniform, fearful they would be able to publish humiliating photographs of him in pyjamas.

Denmark surrendered just six hours after Hitler's troops crossed its border. To do otherwise would be to risk further bloodshed and almost certain defeat. But Haakon and his government were determined Norway would not collaborate with the Nazis.

His broadcasts from Britain reminded Norwegians to keep their values and his moral fortitude cheered them, just as he was cheered by the defiance of the greater part of the Norwegian people.

Rather than saying 'when we win the war', he spoke of the day he would 'come home'. Loyalty to their constitutional monarch provided the focus for the Norwegian resistance.
Recently, enrollment crisis has hit rural colleges in the US. Now, it seems, it's a nationwide concern for all higher education institutions.

New figures indicate that fewer young adults are going to college, particularly 18-year-old freshmen. Freshman enrollment among 18-year-old students declined by 5% during the current fall semester with a greater than 6% drop in public and private, non-profit four-year colleges.

This problem is concerning for universities in that while application numbers continue to climb, actual enrollment has decreased with many institutions facing questions over how to attract and retain the students.

Rising College Tuition Fees

The Guardian reported that one of the major reason that explains the fall is an ever-increasing price of attending an institution. Public four-year colleges now average in-state tuition at $11,610 and out-of-state at a whopping $30,780 that is almost $1,000 more than last year. Many students face economic obstacles arising from delays and glitches about the system for financial aid application; students would not know the aid amount awaiting them.

Yet, labor market changes are also playing an increasingly significant role. Many opt out of further education and go into jobs if job opportunities are available in plenty. This is a reality especially for those with financial burdens to cater to at home. The more immediate benefit of having some money right away outweighs much of the long-term pay-off of a college education for many young people.

It is even worse for students of color. In the same The Guardian report, the Black freshman enrollment at highly selective universities has declined by almost 17%. This shows the persisting problem of diversity and equity in higher education as these schools struggle to open up their campuses to all sorts of students.

Despite declining enrollments, students are still hungry for higher education. Applications are rising, but particularly so for low- and middle-income students. Affordability and access, though, are key challenges to overcome.
An internationally acclaimed author and sister of an Aussie music legend has been killed by an allegedly speeding driver just metres from home.

Dr Brenda Walker, 67, was on an early morning coffee run just before 7am on Tuesday in Perth when she was mowed down by a Toyota Yaris allegedly driven by a Brazilian national in Australia on a temporary visa.

The Toyota Yaris was allegedly speeding 40km/h above the limit in Kings Park near the CBD.

Dr Walker suffered critically injuries from being thrown 40 metres due to the impact of the collision.

She was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital but couldn't be saved.

She was just 700 metres from home when tragedy struck.

A Professor of English at University of Western Australia, Dr Walker followed in her mother Shirley's footsteps to become a award-winning novelist, short story writer, and non-fiction author.

She was also the sister of Don Walker, the co-founder and principal songwriter of Aussie band Cold Chisel.

Acclaimed author Dr Brenda Walker, 67, (pictured) on a coffee run when she was hit by a car

The university professor was struck by a Toyota Yaris (pictured) allegedly driven by a Brazilian national who is in Australia on a temporary visa

Dr Walker wrote several award-winning novels including Reading By Moonlight, Poe's Cat and The Wing of the Night.

Her work has won international numerous prizes, including the Victorian Premier's Award for non-fiction and an O. Henry Prize.

Her fiction published in the UK, the US, Canada and Italy.

'She was such a kind, intelligent, caring and generous person who had a positive effect on many lives, a family statement to Seven News read.

'She will be dearly missed by many.'

Dr Walker's agent Peter Straus added: 'She was a brilliant writer and a very thoughtful and lovely person,'

'Her untimely death is a great loss.'

University of Western Australia staff have been deeply saddened over the death of their respected and much-loved colleague.

'Our thoughts and condolences are with Professor Walker's family and friends at this time,' a spokesperson said.

Dr Walker was remembered by loved ones as kind, intelligent, caring and generous

Dr Walker's death has also sparked an outpouring of tributes from students.

'She was a teacher who changed my life with her great encouragement and her astute methods,' one wrote.

'She was the first teacher I remember to really open up the toolbox of creative writing for me - the terminology and craft basis of the poetics I still use.

'She got into a lot of corners of my life because you only meet a proper guru every so often. It tends to affect you.

'Her memory will be a monument.'

Lucas Martins Da Silva, 30, from Osborne Park was charged with dangerous driving causing death in circumstances of aggravation.

The tradie appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court heard he was allegedly travelling at 104km/h in a 60km/h zone before the collision and 97km/h at the time of impact.

Several witnesses allege Martins Da Silva swerved into a right-hand lane to overtake another vehicle.

Martins Da Silva withdrew his bail application after the court was told by the prosecution their case was strong, with CCTV and multiple witnesses.

He will remain in custody until his next court appearance on January 29.
Ukrainian long-range missiles have struck a major military centre inside Russia which is home to Vladimir Putin's 'Flying Kremlin' doomsday plane.

The strikes hit Taganrog, a city of about a quarter of a million people in the Rostov region, causing ten loud explosions and bright flashes.

Initial reports said there were two possible targets - the Beriev Aircraft Company, which maintains some of Putin's most important planes, and the Krasny Hydropress plant, which makes key missile elements and is part of Russia's Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation.

Putin's Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome plane - for use in nuclear war - is maintained at the Beriev plant.

It also equips Russia's A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) spy planes - two of which have been downed in the war at a cost of 260 million each.

A large number of fire trucks were reported to be heading to the plant and at least ten explosions were heard by locals.

The scale of the damage is not clear but 14 cars parked at the facility - also known as the Beriev Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex - were set ablaze.

Some Russian sources said Ukraine had used its new domestically made Palyanitsa drone missiles to attack Taganrog, but this was unconfirmed.

Other reports stated that US-supplied ATACMS missiles had been used. Russia has repeatedly cautioned that Ukraine's use of the weapons to strike its territory risks triggering a wider war.

Putin's Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome plane - for use in nuclear war - is maintained at the Beriev plant

The Beriev Aircraft Company, which maintains some of Putin's most important planes, was a possible target in the attack

The Druzhba oil pipeline loading point in the village of Sven near Bryansk caught on fire overnight, according to reports

Taganrog mayor Svetlana Kambulova said: 'The damaged area has been cordoned off by police officers.

'A survey of the territory within a radius of one kilometre will be conducted.'

Acting governor of the Rostov region Yuriy Slyusar admitted an industrial enterprise was damaged but gave no details.

'According to preliminary data, no one was hurt. The extent of the damage is being clarified,' he said.

In the attack, reports said 27 residential blocks had been plunged into cold after a hot water and heating supply plant had been hit.

The aircraft plant is seen as crucial to Putin's war effort, overhauling aircraft used by the airforce and navy as well as special purpose planes like the Il-80 Maxdome and A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control planes.

Separately, a major oil production facility caught fire in the Bryansk border region in another Ukrainian attack.

The Druzhba oil pipeline loading point in the village of Sven near Bryansk caught on fire, according to reports.

A giant explosion and fireball was seen in videos, and the ASTRA Telegram channel said a refinery had been hit and showed flames leaping into the sky.

A giant explosion and fireball was seen in videos, and the ASTRA Telegram channel said a refinery had been hit and showed flames leaping into the sky

Ten aircraft-type strike drones were reported to have been involved in attacks on Bryansk region

Some reports suggested that last night's fire in Bryansk broke out after an attack on a production facility nearby

Ten aircraft-type strike drones were reported to have been involved in attacks on Bryansk region.

The Druzhba oil pipeline is fundamental to supplies of oil from Russia to Europe, and is still partially operational despite Western sanctions over the war.

The Soviet-built pipeline pumps oil from the fields in Western Siberia and the Caspian Sea to the markets of Europe.

It runs through the Bryansk region, as does the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS) which runs to the Baltic Sea.

The Druzhba oil pipeline is fundamental to supplies of oil from Russia to Europe (pictured in Hungary)

Some reports suggested that last night's fire broke out after an attack on a production facility nearby.

Russia's defence ministry said its air defence units destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine. It did not say what was hit.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on his Telegram channel that a production facility caught a short-lived fire as result of the attack. He did not say what facility was damaged.

Ukraine's military said in a statement that it had caused a 'massive fire' at an oil depot with a strike on the Bryansk region.
This is the incredible moment the son of Michael Schumacher's alleged blackmailer was dragged off camera by his family's lawyer as he gave a blundering interview about his father's case.

Former bodyguard Marcus Fritsche, 53, is on trial along with his IT expert son Daniel Lins, 30, and his friend, Yilmaz Tozturkan, also 53, after being accused of trying to extort 12 million from the Schumacher family, who have been looking after the legendary racing driver following a life-changing crash he suffered while skiiing in the French Alps in 2013.

The trio are said to have demanded the money after Fritsche was dismissed from his job at the race aces Swiss home in 2021 but not before taking 1,500 images, 200 videos and extensive medical notes with him.

The Schumachers have been incredibly protective of Michael since his accident, and have not released any photos or interviews about him since the incident.

During an interview outside the courtroom, one of Fritsche's sons was seen being dragged away from a TV interview.

The son, named by Bild as Noah L., told Welt, a German broadcaster: 'Blackmail is when I threaten someone with violence. But if I go to you now and say, "I have something here, do you want to buy it," that is not blackmail.

'In my opinion it was a sales pitch - agreed with lawyers and contracts. In my opinion it was not blackmail.'

As he added that he believed the pre-trial detention of his father was 'a bit excessive', the family's lawyer, Hartmut Moyzio was seen dragging the son out of frame and into the courtroom.

The son told Welt, a German broadcaster: 'Blackmail is when I threaten someone with violence. But if I go to you now and say, "I have something here, do you want to buy it," that is not blackmail'

Formula one World champion Ferrrari driver Michael Schumacher (L) poses in Madonna di Campiglio with his wife Corinna 16 January 2003

Prozess gegen mutmaliche Erpresser von Rennfahrer Michael #Schumacher: Sohn des Angeklagten erklart @Welt-Reporterin mal, was Erpressung ist  und muss dann aber leider schnell weg.  pic.twitter.com/K59Hsajv3D  Ubermedien (@uebermedien) December 10, 2024

The son's interview came despite the fact that Fritsche reportedly told Wuppertal District Court: 'I take responsibility for it. I did the stupid thing.'

According to German outlet Heute, he addressed lawyer representing the Schumacher family and said: 'Please tell the family that I am really sorry.'

Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm, 60, told the court that she was the one who was called about the blackmail plot.

I got a call, and it was a number we didnt recognise, so at first we didnt answer as we dont usually to unrecognised numbers', she said.

But it kept calling and calling so in the end I answered, and it was a man who said he had pictures of Michael, he said that if the family didnt want them published onto the dark web he could help.

He said he was a go between, and we would have to pay 15 million Euro, he said the money was for the pictures and his go between service.

The material arrived via a secure email address Lins had set up for his father in June this year, to Schumachers office at his family home in Gland, Switzerland and police were alerted and the trio arrested two weeks later.

Ms Kehm said: I recognised them as private photos and when I saw the I thought they could have only come from an employee of ours.

Fritsche allegedly recruited his long-term friend Yilmaz Tozturkan (pictured) and his IT expert son to extort the staggering sum from the family who had employed him

For eight years bodyguard Markus Fritsche was given unique access to the most intimate aspects of the legend's medical procedures

Markus Fritsche (L), Daniel Lins (fourth to the right wearing black roll neck) and Yilmaz Tozturkan (behind) in court today

I was sure it had to be someone from our internal circle that worked for us, I was suspicious from the first moment that it was someone who no longer worked for us.

Ms Kehm described how a nurse involved with Schumachers care following his accident appeared to get on very well with Markus Fritsche.

She added: I remember I used to see Fritsche and this particular nurse standing together talking.

But eventually she left, we had issues with her, we had problems with how care was delivered.
A Whitehall department spent almost 1,200 of taxpayers' money on two ministerial folders, official figures show.

The purchases were revealed as Chancellor Rachel Reeves launched a crackdown on government waste.

The folders, from luxury leather goods manufacturer Barrow Hepburn & Gale, cost 594 each.

The transactions were dated October 29  the day before Ms Reeves's first Budget  and details were revealed as the Chancellor set out the next phase of her spending review.

The outlay by Lisa Nandy's Department for Culture, Media and Sport emerged as the Chancellor demanded ministries show how they can make savings of 5 per cent on their budgets.

Asked if Sir Keir Starmer would consider the spending excessive, the PM's official spokesman said: 'It's going to be up to departments to find this 5 per cent, they'll be able to look line-by-line, make sure every pound of government spending is being focused and delivering on the plan for change.

The outlay by Lisa Nandy's Department for Culture, Media and Sport emerged as the Chancellor demanded ministries show how they can make savings of 5 per cent on their budgets

'It will be up to departments through the spending review process to identify those savings to help drive out waste and ensure that all funding is focused on the priorities that the Prime Minister set out in the plan for change.'

Ms Reeves said she will 'not tolerate' taxpayers' cash being blown on poor value projects, as she evoked the approach taken by the 'Iron Lady' Tory PM.

'I have no doubt that we can find efficiency savings within Government spending of 5 per cent and I'm determined to do so,' she told broadcasters this morning.

'Because it's through finding those efficiency savings that we will have the money to spend on the priorities of the British people.

'So part of this spending review will be cracking down on waste, cracking down on non-priority spending, so that we can focus on the issues - whether that is improving living standards, ensuring our streets are safe, or indeed reducing waiting times in the NHS.'

The review - due to be completed by June and covering three years - will be critical to Labour's fortunes.

Experts have accused Ms Reeves of 'implausible' spending plans, and raised the prospect she will need to increase the tax burden again - despite imposing record rises at the Budget in October.

Businesses have been up in arms at the massive national insurance bump, with fears it will destroy jobs and suppress wages.
Plans to transform the London City Hall Building, once dubbed the 'glass gonad' by Boris Johnson into shops, restaurants and offices have been approved by local councillors.

The building, once the headquarters of the Mayor of London and the London Assembly, has been unused for three years after Sadiq Khan relocated his administration to a conference centre in east London to cut costs.

The building will now undergo a revamp with the exterior glass shell removed and new balconies added in.

The plans were submitted by the building's landlord St Martins Property Investments, based in Kuwait.

Southwark Council planning officers recommended that the changes be approved to modernise the building and surrounding area.

At a planning meeting yesterday, councillors gave it the green light.

Charlie Prentis, senior asset manager at St Martins, said that after the departure of the mayor and Assembly, the landlord looked for a new occupier as quickly as possible, but found the building required significant updates to become re-lettable.

He said the 'tricky facade' gave it a 'poor outlook' to the London views and that inefficient floor plates, and poor energy performance certificate (EPC) performance meant alterations were needed to create a more sustainable building for the future.

An artist's impression shows what the City Hall building could look like after the changes

The building will undergo refurbishments with the exterior glass shell removed and new balconies added in

The London City Hall building in Southwark has been unoccupied for three years since London Mayor Sadiq Khan relocated the London Assembly

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan moved the London Assembly away from the building in 2021

He insisted that St Martins believed it was still a 'great building', with distinctive features that they did not want to lose as part of the revamp.

Council officers said that the scheme would create 145 new jobs.

Liberal Democrat councillor Emily Tester, speaking at the meeting said it was a 'shame' that the building had been left empty for so long.

She added: 'I have to say, its not necessarily the most exciting scheme being proposed, but thats certainly not a material planning consideration, and I cant see any reason to refuse it.

'I really do hope that the retail offering is good, and kind of complements what is being offered elsewhere. Im looking forward to seeing this brought back into use again.'

Boris Johnson once dubbed the building the glass gonad and Ken Livingstone described it as a glass testicle.

In 2020, the building was reported to cost the GLA 11.1m a year, including rent to St Martins, plus service charges and rates. This was due to rise to 12.6m a year after Christmas 2021.

The London Assembly left the building in 2021 and moved to The Crystal building in the royal docks.

Artist's impression of the proposed north elevation of the building, seen from the Thames

The central 'diagrid' on the north side is planned to have a distinctive design with plants covering outside areas

The proposed south elevation of the new look London City Hall building in Southwark

Artist's impressions from the plans show some of the finishes to the building's exterior as well as some of the planned plants for the outside look

Proposals for the surrounding area of the site with soft landscaping and a new seating area

The decision was first suggested as part of efforts to fill a black hole of almost 500 million in the capital's budget following the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Khan said when the plans were confirmed: 'My first priority will always be to protect funding for frontline services for Londoners.

'Given our huge budget shortfall, and without the support we should be getting from the Government, I simply cannot justify remaining at our current expensive office when I could be investing that money into public transport, the Met Police and the London Fire Brigade.

'The alternative to considering this move would be to cut the frontline services Londoners rely on.'
Veterans who were purged from the military due to their sexuality could be handed up to 70,000 in compensation, reports have claimed.

The government has set aside up to 75million for potential payouts for LGBT troops whose careers in the forces were destroyed due to the 'gay ban' in the military.

Homosexual troops were barred from serving in the forces up until 2000, with between 200 and 250 personnel kicked out the military each year.

Veterans considered to be gay faced raids by military police, followed by brutal interrogations before being court-martialed. Some had medals ripped off of them and were barred from their forces pensions, while others were jailed as recently as 1995.

On Thursday, the Government is set to announce that former LGBT military troops who were dismissed or discharged due to their sexuality will receive a 50,000 payout, The Times reports.

And as a result of the increased funding, additional payments of up to 20,000 will be available for veterans and serving personnel who were negatively affected by the ban from 1967 to 2000 during their time in service.

Defence Secretary John Healey is also set to announce that veterans will have their ranks restored and discharge reasons amended, according to a leaked memo.

In a bid to recognise the 'historic hurt' cause to military heroes, Mr Healey and Alistair Carns, Britain's veterans minister, will confirm a 50 per cent increase to the financial recognition scheme, sources told The Times.

The ban on LGBT people serving in the military was lifted in 2000. Pictured are members of the British military taking part in a Gay Pride march in London

Veterans kicked out the military due to their sexuality could be in line for up to 70,000. Pictured is Defence Secretary John Healey

Payments will be exempt from income tax and means-tested. The scheme will be open for two years, with applications for terminally-ill veterans being prioritised.

An estimated 20,000 people were kicked out before the LGBT ban was lifted in 2000.

The fallout for some has plagued their lives, with former troops having career prospects ruined as well as being vilified by family and friends.

Last year, a major inquiry made 49 recommendations including compensation payments for LGBT veterans who lost their careers before 2000.

This week, MPs will take part in a debate on the next steps to making amends to those LGBT ex-servicemen and women who faced historical mistreatment in the armed forces.

The independent review, carried out by Lord Etherton, previously recommended total payments to be capped at 50million.

However, veterans, MPs and campaigners pushed back and said this amount would not be enough to truly make up for what gay and lesbian veterans experienced.

Fighting with Pride, the charity advocating for LGBT veterans, has called on Labour to honour promises it made in opposition to reconsider the cap.

The charity's campaign director Craig Jones said: 'Lord Etherton and the Ministry of Defence have worked hard with this incredible community of veterans to achieve reparations which have restored our national values.'

Craig Jones, campaign director for Fighting With Pride, called on Labour to stand by the promises it made in opposition to reconsider the cap

Ministry of Defence's decision to overturn ban on Gay people in the military The Ministry of Defence was sued in 1999 for four ex-service members who were forced out of the miltiary due to their sexuality. The four individuals, supported by Stonewall, took a case to the European Court of Human Rights who declared the ban unlawful. The MoD was forced as a result to lift the ban in January 2000. LGBT members of the military are guaranteed equal rights as any other service personnel, including pay, pensions and maternity benefits. The Mod, the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force regularly receive commendations from Stonewall for their work on LGBT inclusivity. According to the MoD: 'All three Services have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying of all kinds, including homophobic bullying. 'All military personnel receive mandatory diversity and inclusion training on entry into service and every two years which both educates people on the reasons for positive behaviour, and the options for seeking help when poor behaviours are displayed.' Advertisement

The former Royal Navy officer added: 'But if we don't restore to them a sense of justice and security we would wish for all veterans in their older age then we shall have fallen short of the mark by a long way.'

Tremaine Cornish, an Army Commando who earned a prestigious green beret, said he had faced lifelong consequences after he was made to leave the forces in the 1970s, and urged the Government to lift the cap.

Mr Cornish told PA he was 'close to being homeless again', which he linked back to the loss of his military career.

He added: 'I look at how people who had a full career as we all anticipated, and have done well, I know many I joined up with who got commissions and did well and now have a nice home.

'Now I am in a situation where I have been told by my housing association 'you have got to go, because we are getting rid of the property'.'

Ruth Birch, who joined the army in 1987, said the Government needs to 'step up to the mark and value all the veterans that were willing to lay down their lives for this country'.

When they met during their service, her now-wife Ju was sent on a six-month tour of duty to Cyprus to split them up.

Both were interrogated by the special investigations branch when the authorities suspected they were in a relationship.

She described the 50million cap on redress payments as 'paltry', as divided among the number of veterans who could be eligible, it may amount to a single sum of 12,500 each.

She added: 'In a nutshell, not only what I went through, and my wife went through, and every other LGBT veteran, the fact that the Government has dragged its heels anyway... it is just, I mean, the only way I can describe it is disappointingly crushing.'

Charities including the Royal British Legion and Stonewall have joined Fighting with Pride in lobbying for the cap to be lifted, as have MPs.

Falklands veteran Joe Ousalice was dismissed from the navy for being bisexual

Mr Ousalice, 73, was one of thousands who were affected by a ban on LGBT people serving in the British military, who were booted from the forces in 'gay witch hunts'

In correspondence with parliamentarians, ministers have insisted the proposed payments should not be referred to as compensation or compared with the financial packages for the Horizon and Infected Blood scandals.

This is because ministers have argued the scheme does not aim to recompense the veterans for lost earnings they may have suffered because of the ban, PA understands.

The Ministry of Defence has previously said it deeply regrets how LGBT armed forces personnel were treated between 1967 and 2000 when the ban was in place.

It was 'wholly unacceptable and does not reflect today's Armed Forces', the Government department said.

Last year, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued an apology on the behalf of the government for the 'appalling failure' in banning LGBT people from the military.

Speaking to MPs following the publication of the independent review, Mr Sunak said: 'The ban on LGBT people serving in our military until the year 2000 was an appalling failure of the British state decades behind the law of this land.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged the 'horrific' treatment of LGBT people in the military until they were allowed to serve openly from 2000

'As today's report makes clear, in that period many endured the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment, all while bravely serving this country.

'Today, on behalf of the British state, I apologise.'

Falklands veteran Joe Ousalice was sacked from the Royal Navy because he was bisexual.

The cancer-stricken 73-year-old fears he won't survive long enough to receive his compensation, thought to be worth about 100,000.

'I want to get that compensation and see [this campaign] through to the end,' he told the BBC in February.

'It's sort of the last battle I've got and it's with the Ministry of Defence.'

Mr Ousalice served in the Senior Service from 1976 to 1993, working as a radio operator.

The former sailor was among the thousands of British troops scrambled to retake the Falklands after the British territory was invaded by Argentina in April 1982.

However, despite risking his life during the conflict and serving his nation for 18 years, Mr Ousalice was constantly targeted by military investigators over his sexuality.
Farmers have said they are 'on our knees' as they arrived in central London with their tractors in protest of Keir Starmer's inheritance tax raid announced in the Budget.

Thousands of farmers gathered around Parliament today, just weeks after a similar protest saw former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson lead speeches in Whitehall.

Labour has said its support for farmers is 'steadfast' - but there is ongoing outrage from rural communities about Rachel Reeves' announcement that farms will no longer be exempt from paying inheritance tax.

Today in the House of Commons Sir Keir Starmer told Prime Minister's Questions the row is being caused by 'Tory fearmongering'.

Answering a question from Ed Davey, he said: 'In relation to inheritance tax, as he knows the threshold is 3 million and the vast majority of farmers will be unaffected despite the fearmongering of the party opposite'.

It comes as a new government report published today warned long term declines in 'natural capital' - resources such as clean water, healthy soils and wildlife - is a pressing risk to UK food production.

After 13,000 people rallied in Westminster against the Budget last month, tractors are expected to travel into the capital from across the country, including from Exmoor, Shropshire, Somerset and the home counties, for the latest protest.

Today tax experts have said that up to 75,000 farm owners could be hit by the tax changes.

Dozens of tractors lined up in Whitehalll, with the first arriving with much fanfare, honking and drawing cheers from some passersby near Parliament Square in central London.

A coffin draped in the Union flag appears to be symbolising the death of British farming

Tractors line up near Parliament during Wednesday's 'RIP British Farming' protest, which also features a coffin

Dozens of tractors line up on Whitehall, complete with Union Jack flags and placards

Tractors blocked roads in central London on Wednesday bearing placards criticising Sir Keir Starmer and the government

Some were decorated with signs that read: 'No farmers, no food', 'Not hungry, thank a farmer', and 'Save British Farming'.

Another sign read 'Starmer Farmer Harmer', and a second one 'Reeves and Starmer, grave robbers'.

Will Elliott, aged 50, drove his tractor for three hours from his farm near Grafham, south of Guildford, in Surrey, to attend the protest. His farm, Whipley Manor Farm, predominantly grows cereal crops and grass that they make into hay.

He said: 'The industry is already down on its knees and this is just another kick in the teeth. My family have been farming in Surrey for nine generations within about 5 miles. I'm the fourth generation to run our current farm.

'Obviously, the idea is that we want to pass it down to the next generation, but farmers are asset-rich, cash poor, we're not going to have the money to pay the inheritance tax. In Surrey, for instance, it doesn't take much to reach the million pounds.'

He argues the Government have been 'misguided' on farmers' ability to pay inheritance tax, forcing farmers to sell parts of their land, cattle, flock, or machinery to afford to pay for the tax.

He said: 'They got the wrong data and way more farmers are going to be affected than what they say. We'll lose the fabric of the rural countryside.

'Farms will get split up, the land is not going to get taken care of, we'll lose habitat - and more importantly, we're not going to be able to grow the food if we haven't got the farms.'

It comes as the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee kicks off today as farmers start to gather outside the Palace of Westminster.

MPs are first hearing from countryside and farming leaders and financial experts on the effects of the changes to inheritance tax.

Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray was spotted holding placards during the protest by farmers in Westminster

Hundreds of farmers are expected to arrive in Westminster with tractors today in a further protest against inheritance tax changes

Tractors are given a police motorcycle escort as they arrive in Westminster on Wednesday

Farmers protest in Westminster ahead of speeches and a 'slow drive' later today

Reform leader Nigel Farage is pictured at the farmers' protest in London this morning

Committee chairman Alistair Carmichael said: 'This morning, we are going to be scrutinising the potential impacts of the proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief on the farming sector.'

Meanwhile hundreds of farmers are expected to bring their machines to the streets around Parliament as Sir Keir Starmer faces Prime Minister's Questions as rural communities continued to express anger over changes to inheritance tax.

The 'RIP British Farming' protest has been organised by Kent Fairness for Farmers and Save British Farming in response to the 'toxic' Budget, which included changes to inheritance tax for agricultural businesses and a faster phaseout of EU-era subsidies in favour of environmental payments.

The protest comes as the Government publishes a report on Wednesday analysing the state of UK food security.

And MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will hear from countryside and farming leaders and financial experts on the impacts of the changes to inheritance tax.

The government's changes to inheritance tax, announced in the last budget, have sparked fury in rural communities

Farmers are up in arms about changes which mean they are no longer exempt from inheritance tax

A transporter carrying tractors on Millbank in Westminster, London, ahead of today's farming protest

Ahead of the protest, the Environment Department (Defra) said it had put 343 million into the rural economy last week, in payments for nature-friendly farming activities, benefiting more than 31,000 farmers.

Defra also announced new details of its environmental land management schemes, which pay farmers for 'public goods' ranging from healthy soil, rivers and hedgerows, to habitat creation and large-scale nature restoration work.

And today a Government report found the UK was 75 percent self-sufficient in the food that can be grown in this country in 2023, and produced the equivalent of 62 percent of overall food consumed.

The figures are broadly unchanged over the past two decades, but the report also warned long term declines in 'natural capital' - resources such as clean water, healthy soils and wildlife - is a pressing risk to UK food production.

The report also said extreme weather continues to have a significant effect on domestic production, particularly arable crops, fruit and vegetables.

And the UK continues to be 'highly dependent' on imports to meet demand for fruit, vegetables and seafood, which are significant sources of nutrients for consumers, and many of the countries this food is imported from face their own climate-related challenges and sustainability risks, the report said.

The food security report must be published every three years under the Agriculture Act 2020, and is the first since December 2021.

MPs heard today that the Budget has not looked at a tax loophole where those who sell assets and then buy agricultural land can avoid capital gains tax on those original assets sold.

A man in a Santa Claus costume poses in front of a tractor near Parliament

Tractors park up on Whitehall next to the Cenotaph during Wednesday's protest

Dozens of tractors lined up near Parliament in the build up to protests on Wednesday

Experts have called the changes 'unaffordable' for farmers and warn some will face selling up

Tractors are driven through Westminster, London, as Labour claims its support for farmers is 'steadfast'

Dr Arun Advani, director of the think tank CenTax, said changing these rules would not affect farmers who are currently using the land for agriculture and food production.

He added that a fairly standard tax planning strategy would be to sell assets, get the large gain, purchase agricultural property, and hold that until death when there is both relief of inheritance tax and capital gains tax.

'So I think something that hasn't seemed to have been looked at at this Budget, but that certainly should be scrutinised, because it causes this exact problem - the fact that relief for any asset I'm selling, if I'm using it to buy agricultural land, is a way in which I can avoid the capital gains and currently inheritance tax.

'And that creates demand for agricultural land from people who have no desire to farm the land but want to buy it because they're getting it from a tax minimisation perspective.'

Asked why the Government did not consider this, he laughed and said: 'I can't really speak for what the Government does. Hopefully after this select committee, you can ask the ministers about that. I have no idea.'

Later a leading estates lawyer told the committee the tax change is going to be 'unaffordable' for many farmers, which means they are going to have to either 'sell land or sell up'.

Speaking to the Environment Committee, Stuart Maggs, head of tax and partner at Howes Percival law firm, said for years best advice to farmers has been to retain the farm until death, which means a lot of 70 to 90-year-olds are still working on the farms.

'Even if you've got the next generation involved, to bring the average down, the person who owns the farm has naturally been at the elder end of the spectrum,' he told MPs.

'So this change coming in now has really hit home to farmers, because they're in a situation where there's nothing they can do about it. They can't give away and survive seven years.'

He added that rules called gifts with reservation means that if one generation gives the land to the younger generation but still enjoys the benefit from it - i.e. they live on the land or it's paying for them in their older age - they will get taxed.

It means this charge 'is going to be a burden', he added. 'With agriculture estates getting a rate of return of about half a per cent to 1%, it simply means this going to be unaffordable. And so farms are going to have to sell land or sell up. And it's going to happen a lot.'

Environment Secretary Steve Reed insisted 'our commitment to farmers is steadfast', as he said the cash was part of a 5 billion two-year farming budget which was 'the largest ever directed at sustainable food production in our country's history'.

His comments echoed those of Downing Street ahead of the protest on Wednesday.

Asked if Sir Keir was concerned farmers could get more militant and restrict food supplies, a spokesman for the PM said: 'We have been very clear we are not going to change course on this policy.

'It was necessary to take tough decisions at the Budget and the spending review and those decisions remain.

'But our commitment to farmers is steadfast and our message to farmers is clear, that is why we provided 5 billion to the farming budget over two years including more money than ever for sustainable food production.'

Last month an estimated 13,000 people gathered in Westminster to protest against the Budget's impact on farming, with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, TV personality Jeremy Clarkson and leading politicians Kemi Badenoch, Sir Ed Davey and Nigel Farage among them.
Kristina O'Connor, the daughter of one of Britain's most popular TV personalities, has vowed to expose a 'systemic culture of misogyny' in the Metropolitan Police after a detective made unwanted sexual advances when she reported an attempted mugging.

The 37-year-old has taken her case to the Court of Appeal after losing a legal claim against the force over the conduct of James Mason, a former detective chief inspector, following the attack by a gang of four men in October 2011.

Mason received only a written warning after describing O'Connor, daughter of the late comedian Des O'Connor, as 'amazingly hot' and inviting her out for a drink in messages sent from his police email account.

In October 2020, O'Connor lodged a complaint about the detective's conduct with the Met Police Commissioner. She said it had taken years to summon the 'strength and courage' to come forward.

A police misconduct panel, convened a year later, found that Mason had 'deliberately and repeatedly abused his position for a sexual purpose', concluding that his behaviour 'amounted to gross misconduct'.

Mason was nonetheless permitted to keep his job.

A detective sergeant at the time of the attack on O'Connor, he had been promoted to the rank of detective chief inspector by the time he resigned from the force in November 2022.

O'Connor subsequently took legal action, claiming that Mason's 'predatory and abusive' actions had not been adequately addressed and the Metropolitan Police had 'failed to properly investigate' her complaint.

Kristina O'Connor, daughter of the late comedian Des O'Connor, is attempting to expose what she has described as a 'systemic culture of misogyny' at the Metropolitan Police

O'Connor was the victim of an attempted mugging in North London in 2011. She was working as a croupier at the Playboy Club at the time

James Mason, a former detective chief inspector, only received a written warning after a misconduct panel said his sexual advances to O'Connor 'amounted to gross misconduct'

Emails between DCI Mason and Kristina O'Connor The day after she reported her attack, Miss O'Connor got back in touch with DCI Mason to check on the progress of the investigation. Below are some of the messages they exchanged between them. MASON: 'Please look after yourself while youre out in Camden. 'Hopefully you will not be a victim of crime again but if you ever fancy having a drink with a very discreet police officer just let me know, it would be my pleasure. 'If you have any visible injuries that you would like me to record then I am happy to take a picture for you and save it in case we manage to get any further in the investigation. I hope it doesnt hurt too much and I am sure you still look amazingly hot. O'CONNOR: 'Youre presuming that Im unaffected enough by the crime to come on to me? Isnt there some kind of code of practice that you are breaking right now?' MASON: 'Kristina, have faith in my detective ability and experience. Actually, coming on to victims is positively encouraged, its all part of the friendly and accessible face of the Met Police. Its the rejection thats frowned upon.' O'CONNOR: 'You have no shame! You could get fired for this!' MASON: 'You are probably right on both counts. I can assure that I am as determined in my pursuit of criminals as I am of beautiful women if that helps. You know where I am if you ever change your mind or need a friendly police officer.' Advertisement

But her application for a judicial review was dismissed in November of last year, and O'Connor has now taken her case to the Court of Appeal, where her lawyers argued last week that the the high court verdict overlooked the serious nature of the misconduct panel's findings.

'It is no surprise that a police officer persistently sexually harassing a vulnerable young woman, who had come to his attention as the victim of a violent attempted robbery, would be found to have committed gross misconduct - or, as that term is defined, a "breach of the standards of professional behaviour which is so serious that dismissal would be justified"', said Maya Sikand KC.

'The conclusion that such behaviour merely warranted a three-year final written warning is, however, surprising.

'It is also unlawful and irrational.'

Sikand added that public confidence in the police could be undermined by the perceived leniency of the police misconduct panel's handling of the case.

'The issue of police-perpetrated harassment of women is one of significant public importance,' said Sikand.

O'Connor was mugged by a four-strong gang on pushbikes in Camden, North London, on the afternoon of 23 October 2011.

Following the incident, during which the men are alleged to have 'grabbed at her phone, bent her wrist back and elbowed her in the face', O'Connor made a statement to Mason at Kentish Town police station.

O'Connor, a musician who was working as a croupier at the Playboy Casino at the time, subsequently received inappropriate messages from the detective.

'Hopefully you will not be a victim of crime again but if you ever fancy having a drink with a very discreet police officer just let me know, it would be my pleasure,' Mason wrote in an email.

'If you have any visible injuries that you would like me to record then I am happy to take a picture for you and save it in case we manage to get any further in the investigation. I hope it doesnt hurt too much and I am sure you still look amazingly hot.

Replying to the message, O'Connor made it plain that she objected to his conduct.

Kristina O'Connor is pictured with her father, the entertainer Des O'Connor, who died in 2020

O'Connor, 37, originally took legal action against the Met Police over its handling of Mason's misconduct investigation after the officer kept his job

'You're presuming that I'm unaffected enough by the crime to come on to me?' she replied. 'Isn't there some kind of code of practice that you are breaking?'

'Kristina, have faith in my detective ability and experience,' Mason countered. 'Actually, coming on to victims is positively encouraged, its all part of the friendly and accessible face of the Met Police. Its the rejection thats frowned upon.'

To which O'Connor replied: 'You have no shame. You could get fired for this.'

Lawyers representing the police misconduct panel urged the appeal court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that the high-court verdict had been correct.

Together with two senior colleagues, Lord Justice Bean, the appeal judge, has reserved judgement on the case until a later date.
An asylum seeker convicted of manslaughter after four migrants died as he steered a boat across the English Channel has lost his bid to challenge his convictions and sentence.

Ibrahima Bah was sentenced to nine and a half years' detention after the deaths as he piloted the 'unseaworthy' boat between France and the UK on December 14, 2022.

During a retrial at Canterbury Crown Court, Bah said smugglers threatened to kill him if he did not drive the boat, but the prosecution said he was not telling the truth and he owed his fellow passengers a 'duty of care' as their pilot.

The Senegalese national was also convicted of facilitating illegal entry to the UK.

At a hearing earlier this month, Bah brought his case to the Court of Appeal in a bid for the green light to challenge his convictions and sentence.

In a ruling today, the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr said Bah could not bring the appeal, ruling it was not 'arguable'.

Richard Thomas KC, for Bah, previously described his trial as 'touching on a highly politicised issue which gives rise to very strong feelings'.

Jurors heard that the home-built, low-quality inflatable should have had no more than 20 people on board but carried about 45 people in the English Channel that night.

Ibrahima Bah, who killed four fellow migrants while captaining an 'unseaworthy' small boat in the Channel, was jailed to nine and a half years

The vessel (pictured), which was described as 'a death trap', began filling with water shortly after leaving the French coast

Ibrahima Bah, a Sengalese national, had more than 43 people on the home-built, low-quality inflatable boat for a journey from France to the UK on December 14, 2022

The exact number of migrants who drowned is unknown as it appears at least one migrant's body was not recovered, Cantebury Crown court previously heard

Mr Thomas told the Court of Appeal in London that it had been a 'joint endeavour' to travel to the UK, and that Bahs actions 'meant that a passage to the UK was available so tragically the deceased availed themselves of that passage'.

The barrister stated that Bah's actions 'meant that a passage to the UK was available so tragically the deceased availed themselves of that passage'.

He said the action of asylum seekers choosing to make the crossing, 'which they did so knowing the risks involved, is precisely the autonomous choice that breaks the train of causation.'

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) opposed the appeal bid.

Duncan Atkinson KC, for the CPS, previously said: 'This is a case where the passengers on the boat were acting in concert with their pilot.'

The barrister continued: 'It was not the background or the scene setting... it was the continued act of facilitation at the time of their deaths which provided the circumstances in which the deaths occurred.'

A total of 39 survivors were brought to shore in the port of Dover after a UK fishing boat crew came across the sinking dinghy with help from the RNLI, air ambulance and UK Border Force.

With sea temperatures as low as just 9C, people in the water would have had just five minutes before their limbs began to cramp up because of the cold.

Protestors gathered outside the The Royal Courts Of Justice in London earlier this month to show their support for Bah

Campaigners held up placards with messages 'Free Ibrahim Bah' and 'Justice for Ibrahima'

Supporters of the small boats captain held up a bright red banner which read: 'Borders kill,' outside the Court of Appeal

Protesters outside the The Royal Courts Of Justice in London, for the hearing of Ibrahima Bah today

Protestors held up signs in support of Bah, arguing he should not be imprisoned for his actions

Three of the people who died were known only as unknown male persons while the other man was named as Hajratullah Ahmadi, a 31-year-old married man who had come from Afghanistan and had a six-year-old daughter at the time of his death.

Speaking at the time, National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar said: 'First and foremost this incident is a tragedy, and our thoughts have to be with the families and loved ones of those who died.

'Given the conditions I am also thankful that the death toll was not higher, and I pay tribute to all those who responded so quickly in the Channel on Wednesday morning. They undoubtedly saved lives.

'This incident, tragically, highlights the dangers of these crossings, a high percentage of which are facilitated by organised criminal networks. They treat people as a commodity to be profited from and think nothing of putting them in incredibly dangerous situations.'
The teenage victim of Sex Education rapist Alexander Westwood has demanded Netflix and the BBC look at 'who they hire' after the twisted predator was found guilty of carrying out dozens of sex crimes.

Westwood, 24, was convicted on all 26 counts at his Wolverhampton Crown Court trial over a series of sexual offences against women and children.

Police have since released a mugshot of the 'predatory and manipulative' fiend as he smirked at the camera after being arrested.

Jurors heard how the actor forced pupils in his drama class to recite Shakespeare naked and also engaged in nude role-play scenarios.

The court was told the Netflix actor - who also starred in BBC's Doctors - sexually assaulted one girl over a seven-year period.

Westwood had been a sexual predator from a child, with his criminality stretching back to when he was aged just 10 and his victims included two children and former pupils, the court heard.

Westwood, of Albrighton, Shropshire, was found guilty of all charges, including raping a teenager during acting classes, following a four week trial.

Speaking after the case, one of his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: 'I was one of his victims and I was just 16. I'd love for more details to be seen, because I want Netflix and the BBC to know who they hire[d].'

The court heard how Westwood also filmed one budding teen actress naked on his iPad and then tried to bill her family 18,000 for missing drama lessons after sexually abusing her.

Alexander Westwood, 24, was found guilty of 26 offences including sexually assaulting a child over an eight-year period. He is pictured smirking in a mugshot released by police

Sex Education star Alexander Westwood is pictured here leaving Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 21 - he now faces jail after today being convicted at his trial there

Actor Alexander Westwood has been found guilty of 26 sex offences. The shows in which the disgraced star previously featured include Netflix's Sex Education, and the BBC's Doctors

He was described in court as a 'supreme manipulator' who was obsessed with sex and used his stardom to prey on his victims.

Westwood denied the charges, claiming in court he never did 'anything sexually inappropriate'.

But a jury of five women and seven men found him guilty of all charges following two days of deliberations after a trial lasting four weeks.

He will be sentenced in February by Judge Neil Chawla.

His trial heard how he sexually abused a girl multiple times as well as a boy, raped a teenage actress he was teaching and and abused other pupils.

The first charge relates to his tenth birthday as that is when the age of criminality begins in the UK.

Westwood, who was said have a 'fascination' with pornography, also forced a young girl to drink his urine and repeatedly abused her during a seven-year period.

Prosecutor Andrew Wallace previously told the court: 'Alexander Westwood is an actor. He is a supreme manipulator. All these charges have a common theme, of inappropriate touching and predatory behaviour.

The actor, of Albrighton in Shropshire, denied the charges, claiming in court he never did 'anything sexually inappropriate'. But today a jury found him guilty of all charges

'The 10 indictments concerning a girl, the first charge is on the date of his tenth birthday - that is the date because there is not criminality before this age.'

The court heard one victim was 'forced to act out the most inappropriate scenes' while another was systematically abused as she pursued her dream of going to drama college.

Mr Wallace said: 'As fame beckons, he met two impressionable 16-year-olds and used his revered position to abuse them.'

The prosecutor said Westwood was a 'rotten apple' and his sexual offending became 'a habit, a lifestyle'.

Discussing one victim, he added: 'She had ambitions to be an actress. She arranged lessons with him and over the course of time the defendant was able to do the most despicable acts with her.'

Mr Wallace told jurors the abuse of a girl at a house in Walsall included vile actions which numbered more than the ten charges relating to her.

He added: 'If we were to list every instance, there would be hundreds of charges.'

One pupil accused him of sexual deviancy and controlling behaviour, with Westwood often telling her mother 'she should be admitted to a psychiatric hospital because she is going off the rails'.

Alexander Westwood, 24, was described in court as a 'supreme manipulator' who was obsessed with sex and used his stardom to prey on his victims

Mr Wallace added: 'Then, when giving acting lessons, he again used this as an opportunity to touch his pupils inappropriately.

'These are schoolgirls we are talking about, teenagers. Imagine asking Dame Judi Dench to recite Hamlet naked - she would tell you where to go.'

Jurors heard how he wrote an apology to one victim, saying: 'I am sorry for acting in a predatory way.'

Westwood claimed his father made him write it and he did not mean 'predatory in a sexual way'.

Mr Wallace added: 'He wrote letters, in his own words, describing himself as predatory.

'He wrote to his victim, 'First and foremost I apologise' - now he is accusing her of being a liar.

'He continued, 'I apologise for being so irresponsible inconsiderate. I apologise for everything, I really do. I cannot imagine the effect it must have had on you'.'

One victim, who said she was raped by the star, was reduced to tears on the stand as she relived 'the hell' of her encounter with Westwood.

Westwood is seen on the set of the series Sex Education which was shown on Netflix

The young woman, who was one of the actor's drama pupils, told the court she was raped, sexually abused and violently assaulted by him.

She said: 'I did not realise it at the time but I was a victim of domestic abuse. He would get very angry and hold me down by my wrists - I would have to bite him just to get away from him.

'He would ask me for sex and, when I said no, would carry on. I would tell him I did not want to because I was not happy, but he would just ignore me.

'He would get angry and throw things - he would regularly pin me down by my wrists so I could not move.

'I would have to bite him to get him off me. He would lie, lie and lie. He told my mother I needed to be in a psychiatric hospital.'

The court heard also allegations of Westwood's controlling behaviour with those with whom he had sexual relationships.

In her evidence, the woman added: 'He phoned the police on me, and lied to them. I then saw on my CCTV in my house that he stole my cameras, which made me feel vulnerable.

'He raped me. I have had relationships since, I suffer with anxiety and have been treated for my mental health but I never have been so volatile as when I was with him.'

Alexander Westwood, 24, pictured here outside Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 21, was said at his trial to have a 'fascination' with pornography

The mother of another teenage victim told how her daughter attended lessons at the actor's flat alone in 2021.

The teenager said she was forced to have sex during classes and filmed naked on Westwood's iPad.

Giving evidence, the mother said there was a contract which her daughter signed and with Westwood stipulating he would be paid 18,000 if she failed to attend lessons.

She said: 'My daughter had to have counselling after what he did to her in those lessons. I phoned the police to report what he had done to her.'

Westwood sexually assaulted and raped one pupil who described how he would hold her down by the wrists, forcing her to bite him to get away.

He also called the police on one of his victims whilst harassing her.

His victims watched on in horror as he continued to work on television and frequently boasted about having stars as friends on social media.

After parents reported Westwood to the police, so did the college he was teaching at, and from his first police interview he lied and blamed the victims.

Mr Wallace told the court: 'Alexander Westwood is a supreme manipulator.

'All these charges have a common theme, of inappropriate touching and predatory behaviour.'

Instead of pleading guilty to the raft of sexual abuse and rape charges the actor lied to the bitter end, forcing his victims the horrific ordeal of facing him in court.

After cross-examination by Westwood's lawyer James Bloomer KC, several of the young women giving evidence against him left the court in floods of tears.

Westwood looked on from the dock, showing no emotion.

Westwood, whose other credits include action film Outlawed, thriller Angel City and short Leaper, will be sentenced at the same court next year.

The BBC and Netflix has been approached for comment by MailOnline.
Know the risks - HMGoG launches awareness campaign on dangers of cocaine use

HMGoG has today launched a public awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of cocaine use.

The festive season sees an increase in cocaine use at social events and the campaign aims to inform the public on some potentially unknown dangers.

Some main points of the 'Know the risks' campaign are:

- The mixing of cocaine and alcohol produces a potentially lethal substance called cocaethylene. This increases the chance of a heart attack.

- Cocaine is usually mixed with other substances such as fentanyl, PCP, heroin, amphetamines and even rat poison.

Further information is available at: https://www.gha.gi/public-health/drug-awareness/
Women in Iran could now face the death penalty or years behind bars if they break new morality laws.

The new laws, which were passed by the hardline Iranian parliament earlier this month, have introduced severe penalties for women in the name of promoting a 'culture of chastity and hijab'.

These punishments are for those caught 'promoting nudity, indecency, unveiling or improper dressing' and could see Iranians handed fines of up to 12,500, flogging and prison sentences of up to 15 years for repeat offenders.

This includes woman which it claims are promoting or propagating indecency, unveiling or 'bad dressing' to foreign entities, including international media and civil society organisations.

If the Iranian authorities finds the offence has mounted to 'corruption on earth' the defendant could be sentenced to death under article 296 of Iran's Islamic penal code.

Amnesty International has slammed the new laws claiming that women could be sentenced to death for sending videos of themselves unveiled to media outside of the Islamic Republic.

The human rights group said the law also appeared to provide immunity for anyone who wanted to carry out their 'religious duty' and enforce compulsory veiling on women.

This comes after woman in Iran repeatedly stood up against the regime's draconian morality laws by defiantly removing their headscarves in public.

Two Iranian women in November. Women in Iran could now face the death penalty or years behind bars if they break new morality laws

The 2022 protests in Iran which shows an unveiled woman standing atop a car. Amnesty International has slammed the new laws claiming that women could be sentenced to death for sending videos of themselves unveiled to media outside of the Islamic Republic

The supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The new laws, which were passed by the hardline Iranian parliament earlier this month, have introduced severe penalties for women in the name of promoting a 'culture of chastity and hijab'

Businesses that fail to enforce the laws will also be subjected to harsh punishments or penalties.

Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East, told The Guardian: 'This shameful law intensifies the persecution of women and girls for daring to stand up for their rights following the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising.

'The authorities are seeking to entrench the already suffocating system of repression against women and girls while making their daily lives even more intolerable.'

The new laws also sparked outrage among Iranian activists and journalists.

Iranian human rights lawyers such as Saeid Dehghan went as far to claim it breaks article 9 of the Iranian constitution, which prohibits legislation that undermines citizens freedoms even in the name of national sovereignty.

The law comes two years after protests rocked Iran following the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

Mahsa was arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.

Ever since the protests Iranian women have been publicly defying the strict dress code.

Last month, a video of a female student in Iran went viral after she stripped to her underwear in the street. This was reportedly in protest at the strict dress code.

Last month, a video of a female student in Iran went viral after she stripped to her underwear in the street. This was reportedly in protest at the strict dress code

A protester holds a portrait of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in Brussels. The law comes two years after protests rocked Iran following the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini

Iran's reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian (pictured) has warned the legislation would only lead to further discontent in Iranian society

Iran's reformist president, who came to power following the surprise death of his predecessor in a helicopter crash, has voiced his opposition to new laws.

President Masoud Pezeshkian warned the legislation would only lead to further discontent in Iranian society.

In words reported by Iran International, a London-based a Iranian media network, Pezeshkian said: 'An unjust law will not be enforced, and if it is, it will create discontent.'

During his presidential campaign in June's snap election Pezeshkian promised to end hijab patrols and violence against women for violating Islamic dress codes.
The British teenager jailed for a year for having sex with a girl, 17, in Dubai is 'shocked beyond belief' at the sentence.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, was given the shattering news by his lawyer following a brief trial - with the verdict leaving his family 'devastated'.

The 18-year-old was with his family in the UAE when he met and had sex with the teenaged girl, also from London. He now faces rotting in a maximum-security jail.

Detained In Dubai, which represents Fakana, said the teen 'feels abandoned by the British government' following the judgement, which it branded 'an utter disgrace' and 'an embarrassment to Britain'.

Radha Stirling, founder of the pressure group, said: 'He never imagined that he would be going to jail for a holiday romance with a girl who was a few months younger, but is now the same age.

'It is just shocking. His life is being ruined. Here we have two British tourists who were on holiday in a consensual relationship and now one is going to jail.

'Dubai likes to market itself as a glamorous party destination, one for influencers yet they are jailing a British tourist for a something that would not be a crime in his own country and ruining his life.'

Fakana has been prevented from leaving Dubai since his arrest in August. He will serve his year-long sentence at the al-Awir jail which is also known as the Dubai Central prison for men.

Marcus Fakana had a weeklong holiday romance with the girl, also British, but was arrested and detained after her mother complained to the Dubai police. He has now been jailed

While the relationship would have been legal in the UK, under Dubai law a 17-year-old is defined as a child. The girl, from London, has since turned 18

The notorious high-security prison houses death row inmates and some of Dubai's worst criminals - including terrorists, murderers and rapists.

Ms Sterling added: 'I did expect the British Government, as other Governments have done, to step up and save one of their citizens from unjust sentencing.

'Marcus did plead guilty, but police and prosecutors had a disturbing litany of details in his file which ended up making it more than a misdemeanour and heard in a higher court.

'They said he was older than 19 and he was from Pakistan. He was a British citizen. There were a lot errors deliberately to torment him.'

Sterling said he now hoped the rule of Dubai could get involved as he has done in the past involving visitors who have fallen foul of their laws.

Marcus, a construction apprentice, was arrested in August after the mother of the girl he had a secret romance with filed a complaint about Fakana to the Dubai authorities on her return to the UK.

She had checked her daughter's phone and discovered they had been sleeping together. Since returning from Dubai the girl has turned 18.

The family of Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, London, have been left devastated by his prison sentence, sources claimed

Pictured is the high-security al-Awir Central Prison where Fakana will serve his sentence. The jail houses some of Dubai's worst offenders, including murderer, terrorists and rapists

Radha Stirling, founder of British-based aid group Detained In Dubai, slammed the government for not doing more to help the teen, branding the situation an 'embarrassment' to Britain

Under strict UAE law only tourists aged over 18 are legally allowed to sleep together. In the UK he would not have been considered to have committed any crime.

Ms Stirling blasted the 'unreasonable' sentence and slammed Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy for not doing enough to help the teen.

'Marcus feels abandoned by the British government and Keir Starmer who just spent the weekend in the UAE,' she wrote in a blistering tweet on X.

'While people like JD Vance and the Irish government have been able to resolve cases of injustice and bring their citizens home, the UK has prioritised trade deals over people's lives. This is truly abhorrent.

'David Lammy and Keir Starmer have failed Marcus. This is an embarrassment to Britain... the Labour government should be ashamed they have not secured the freedom of a teenage tourist. It wasn't a difficult job.'

Ms Stirling said Fakana's parents 'don't know what to do' and had to return to London without their son to resume work as a cleaner and in a warehouse.

'He was desperately hoping to come home this week but prosecutorial mishandling in the first stages of the case meant it wasn't heard as a misdemeanour when it should have been,' she added today.

'The family have issued a plea to Dubai ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, to spare Marcus for consensual sex with another British citizen.'

Marcus is pictured with his family who have been battling to get the teenager released

The police investigation in Dubai revealed the sex between the pair was consensual after they examined all the messages the pair had exchanged.

Marcus has previously told how the couple had planned to see each other when they got home.

He said: 'We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict.

'My parents knew about our relationship, but she couldn't tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.

'They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn't tell me why. I couldn't imagine what for. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.'

After his detention the teen's distraught family appealed to the Foreign Secretary, who is also their local MP, as well as the ruler of Dubai to try and secure his release.

In a post on the Detained In Dubai website, a statement from Marcus said the Foreign Secretary had 'sent a couple of letters', but that he had not heard anything back since.

'All they have done is send a couple of letters. I am not aware of any diplomatic communications or meetings with UAE counterparts. I feel abandoned, that I am going to lose my life over this before it's even really begun,' Marcus said.

Marcus's statement came after his family last month warned that his mental health was 'declining'.

The Mail on Sunday previously revealed that Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured) had finally acted on desperate pleas to aid Marcus - but the family say more needs to be done

Prime minster Keir Starmer has been slammed by a charity representing the teen

Marcus' parents have asked Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum 'to please let our boy come home'

Ms Stirling added: 'Marcus is 18 years old, but faces the demise of his entire life for being intimate with someone in his same school year, who is his same age.

'This is where Dubai authorities need to be intelligent about their application of the law. Marcus had consensual relations with someone his own age, from his own country while on a short holiday.

'He does not deserve to be locked up in Dubai Central Prison for a fling'.

A GoFundMe page set up by the family has raised more than 33,000 with the money being used to pay for Marcus's accommodation and legal fees.

Since his arrest Marcus has been staying in a rented flat and was said to be 'too scared' to venture out.

In setting up the GoFundMe page the family wrote: 'Our son (Marcus) went to the UAE to celebrate his father's birthday and join a family reunion. What was meant to be a happy time has turned into a nightmare for him, our family and our friends.

'This has happened as a result of someone trying to misuse UAE law against him. He is being charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years.

'He is only 18 years old, very scared, and his mental health is starting to decline. We've done all we can to fight for his freedom, but now we urgently need to raise at least 20,000 to work on getting him back home.

'We've already spent as much as we can on legal help and his housing needs while he stays to fight his case. We're trying our best, but we are struggling with the funds to continue this fight. The legal system in Dubai is very different from the UK and very expensive which makes this whole ordeal even more challenging.'

Marcus had travelled with his family to celebrate his father's birthday when he met the girl, who was holidaying in the same hotel with her family. Pictured: The Dubai seaside skyline

Marcus and his holiday love affair were planning to continue their relationship when they were back in London.

In a previous GoFundMe page set up two months ago, the family alleged Marcus had been denied a translator and forced to sign a confession document he did not understand.

They said: 'He has been wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit, and is now caught in a legal battle in Dubai.

'This is not just a misunderstanding, it is racial discrimination, with someone seeking to use the UAE law against him.

'While detained he was denied access to a translator and forced to sign a confession document he didn't understand. He is only 18 years old, terrified, and very scared.

'His mental health is deteriorating rapidly.'

A spokesman for Foreign and Commonwealth Office told MailOnline: 'We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.'
A lesbian police watchdog worker tried to sue for gay discrimination after she was disciplined for bombarding her female boss with unwanted declarations of love.

Married Mary Coulter told her manager she was 'driving her nuts' in a message that began with 'Dinner, Wine and You?' before she said she would 'internally implode' if she did not ask her out, an employment tribunal heard.

When she was rebuffed and warned her proposition could be 'inappropriate', the IT support analyst, who described herself as a 'crazy newbie', replied that her love was 'unstoppable' and continued to message and her send gifts, the hearing was told.

After her boss concluded Ms Coulter's behaviour was 'verging on stalking', the analyst was disciplined by managers at the Scottish Police Authority and eventually told she would have to move teams.

She reacted by warning that such a change would 'completely flatten me' and then sued the force for sexual orientation discrimination accusing the object of her affection of homophobia.

However, her claim has been dismissed with an employment judge ruling that the police's actions against her were entirely justified and had nothing to do with her being gay.

The hearing in Glasgow was told Ms Coulter started work as an IT 'service desk analyst' in July 2021. Her boss at the police watchdog was identified in the tribunal's judgement only as Ms T McCabe.

The tribunal was told the analyst loved working for Ms McCabe, sending a message in February 2022 which read: 'You've got me, you really have, like no other manager/employer has ever managed.'

A lesbian police watchdog worker tried to sue for gay discrimination after she was disciplined for bombarding her female boss with unwanted declarations of love

Pictured: Police Scotland HQ in Dalmarnock, Glasgow, Scotland

In April she said she would 'rather work for nothing all year long' if that meant Ms McCabe remained her line manager.

'Ms McCabe became aware of [Ms Coulter's] sexual orientation at an early stage in her employment,' the tribunal heard.

'[Ms Coulter] referred to having a wife in the context of a work-related matter. Ms McCabe reacted by saying to [her] that that she never batted an eyelid at the information.

'[Ms Coulter] felt very supported by the reaction. She described herself as feeling liberated and free having disclosed the information to Ms McCabe.'

The tribunal heard that from February to June 2022, Ms Coulter sent a number of messages to Ms McCabe she felt suggested she had 'potentially romantic feelings'.

These included saying she would 'show up to collect her' if she wanted 'company, a drink, dinner or whatever' and asking whether she would 'date [Ms Coulter] if she got a sex change and was six or seven years younger'.

In a series of WhatsApp messages in August 2022, she described herself as 'the crazy newbie who took an entire 11 months to ask you on a date' and told her she 'loved her loads'.

The tribunal heard that four days later she sent a further message that opened with: 'Dinner, Wine and You?'.

'[Ms Coulter] went on to state that she was serious, that she had had enough, that she could not deal with the distance anymore, that she could not control her feelings anymore and that she wanted to ask Ms McCabe out before she would "internally implode'",' the tribunal heard.

Ms Coulter sued the Scottish Police Authority, claiming the decision to discipline her and then move her was discriminatory because it was motivated by her sexual orientation

'She concluded by writing: "Don't ignore me, because you're driving me nuts.... Just let me know, yes or no. Either way, I'll still be a dedicated analyst for you, so don't you worry about that - I'll still be the same...xxx". '

Ms McCabe discussed the messages with her boss and then replied: 'Although some of this was amusing and did make me laugh, some of it was inappropriate given I'm your boss.

'I'm flattered you think of me as more than that but I will decline your offer. I hope this doesn't change our working friendship and I'm sure it won't'.

Ms Coulter responded saying that she was sincerely sorry for messaging Ms McCabe and that she had been very drunk.

Regarding the suggestion her messages were inappropriate, she added: 'Appropriateness goes out the window as I recently discovered because love is the most powerful emotion and it is boundless - it has no boundaries. Nothing else matters. It's just unstoppable.'

With Ms Coulter refusing to stop messaging, the hearing was told Ms McCabe went off with stress in November 2022.

The following month Ms Coulter - who had tracked down her manager's home address after looking at her Facebook page - sent her a get well card, a bunch of flowers and a teddy bear.

An ear tag on the bear read: 'Hello! My name is Leonardo. Please love me as much as I love you'.

'Ms McCabe was concerned that [Ms Coulter] had obtained her address and questioned how she had done so,' the hearing was told.

The tribunal - chaired by Employment Judge Ronald Mackay - dismissed this, ruling that her being gay had nothing to do with the action taken against her

'She was frightened that [she] might turn up at her door. In her evidence she described [her] actions as "verging on stalking".'

Managers at the watchdog decided to launch informal disciplinary proceedings against Ms Coulter during which she accepted that she had told Ms McCabe of her feelings for her and that she knew that they were not reciprocated.

A subsequent letter to her ordered that the 'unwelcome and unprofessional contact must cease'.

Shortly afterwards Ms Coulter was told she was being moved to a new team with a different manager.

Ms Coulter then sued the Scottish Police Authority, claiming the decision to discipline her and then move her was discriminatory because it was motivated by her sexual orientation.

At the tribunal she sought to present the messages to Ms McCabe as part of a 'humorous' relationship and 'not in any way suggestive of stronger personal feelings'.

But the tribunal - chaired by Employment Judge Ronald Mackay - dismissed this, ruling that her being gay had nothing to do with the action taken against her.

'In relation to the informal disciplinary action, there was overwhelming evidence available to justify and explain the decision taken by [the police authority],' he said.

'The gifts and the messages were self evidently romantic in a number of different ways,' he said. 'It would be extremely difficult to interpret them otherwise.

'She persisted in such approaches after having been told to desist and her protestations that her actions were not romantic bore no scrutiny.

'It is also clear that [her] actions caused Ms McCabe upset, leading in part to her absence from work, and that the sending of items to her home caused her fear.'

The tribunal concluded by saying it had 'sympathy' with the view that more severe action against her might have been called for.
MasterChef presenter John Torode has been spotted for the first time since allegations emerged about his co-host Gregg Wallace's sexually inappropriate behaviour on set.

The 59-year-old Australian was seen walking his dog Rory with wife Lisa Faulkner in a London park on Wednesday morning, having broken cover for the first time in two weeks.

Torode, dressed in a green jacket, dark blue trousers and a blue t-shirt, could be seen holding his actress wife's hand as they strolled.

It's the first time he has been pictured since allegations about Wallace's behaviour were first reported almost two weeks ago - and a week after he broke his silence on the claims, branding them 'truly upsetting'.

Wallace has stepped back from MasterChef after more than a dozen women came forward to claim he had behaved inappropriately towards them while filming MasterChef and a number of other TV programmes.

Since then, Torode has reportedly sought to distance himself from his on-screen partner - having previously denied the pair are even friends in their private lives.

In a statement he shared on Instagram on December 4, Torode said he had taken a few days to respond to the press reports around Wallace because he had been filming other editions of MasterChef abroad.

John Torode has been seen for the first time since allegations about his MasterChef co-star Gregg Wallace's behaviour on set were reported

Torode, 59, was seen walking his dog Rory in a park alongside his wife, the actress Lisa Faulkner

Torode has appeared alongside Gregg Wallace on MasterChef since 2006 - but the pair have known each other for decades

He said: 'The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear, and I have found the recent press reports truly upsetting.

'But as I hope everyone appreciates there is an investigation underway, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage...'

'I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.'

Torode is reported to have flagged concerns over his co-presenter's behaviour to bosses at MasterChef production company Banijay UK - but had not made any formal complaints.

Last week, it was reported that he was unhappy with the language Wallace was allegedly using on set and was said to be aware of his co-host's reputation for making uncouth remarks.

And he has distanced himself from the idea he is close with his on-screen co-star, despite the pair being a double act on MasterChef for almost 20 years.

Despite being Wallace's best man for his fourth wedding to current wife Anne Marie in 2016, Torode has publicly said he does not consider his on-screen partner a friend.

He bluntly told the Mirror in 2017: 'It's funny, we've never been friends. We've not been to each other's houses.

'We do things separately. If we do go out for a drink, Ill invariably be at one end of a big old table and hell be at the other.'

John Torode said in a statement that he found the reports about Wallace's alleged misconduct 'truly upsetting' (pictured today)

The presenter and chef has asked fans to 'respect his silence' on the matter while an investigation is carried out (pictured today)

Lisa was able to flash a smile as she and Torode took a walk with Rory on Wednesday morning

John Torode and Gregg Wallace have been a presenting duo on MasterChef for almost 20 years after the show was relaunched in 2006

Torode and wife Lisa Faulkner began seeing each other a few years after she appeared on 2010's Celebrity MasterChef (pictured). They married in 2019

In light of the new allegations, a source told the Sun last week: 'John is not stupid - of course he was aware of some of Gregg's less savoury behaviour. He did not condone it, and nor did he engage with it.

'He does not have a machismo sense of humour and when he made that comment about the pair of them not being friends in real life, he knew what he was doing.

'It was his way of distancing himself when attempts to do it otherwise failed.'

The pair have known each other for years, having first met whilst Wallace was a greengrocer and Torode a sous chef at London's Quaglino's restaurant.

Torode and Lisa, meanwhile, met while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 - but their romance did not blossom for several years. They wed in 2019 and now live in Muswell Hill with Rory the schnauzer and Lisa's daughter.

Wallace, meanwhile, was said to be furious with his co-star for failing to support him publicly - and unfollowed both Torode and Faulkner on Instagram in a very public falling out.

He voluntarily stepped back from MasterChef to allow an investigation into his behaviour to proceed - but shows featuring the bespectacled presenter have also been yanked from the festive TV schedule.

Former Celebrity MasterChef contestant and journalist Kirsty Wark was among those to speak out in the first instance, telling BBC News Wallace had told 'sexualised' jokes during filming that left contestants and crew uncomfortable.

Others claimed Wallace had undressed in front of them, bragged about his sex life, and told a junior female colleague he wasn't wearing any underwear.

Sir Rod Stewart branded Wallace an 'ill-mannered bully' after the first allegations were reported; his wife Penny Lancaster had appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 and had been visibly upset when Wallace refused to try her food.

Wallace has shared images of his physical transformation on Instagram. Allegations suggest he would take his top off in front of female members of production staff

Gregg Wallace has made a number of posts on social media since the allegations surfaced - including this image of a gingerbread man in whipped cream captioned 'enjoy your weekend'

Sir Rod Stewart blasted Wallace as a 'tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully' for the way he allegedly treated his wife Penny Lancaster on MasterChef

Penny was left visibly upset after she ran out of time on the programme - leaving a furious Wallace unwilling to try her food

Ulrika Jonsson claimed Gregg Wallace made rape jokes on the set of Celebrity MasterChef (the pair pictured on the show in 2017)

Later, more allegations were made of inappropriate comments, as well as unwanted touching and groping.

TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson accused Wallace of making jokes about rape that upset her fellow Celebrity MasterChef contestants, while Geordie Shore's Charlotte Crosby branded him 'extremely unpleasant'.

And Aggie Mackenzie, presenter of 'How Clean is Your House', said Wallace 'behaved like a sort of Sid James character' who would tell sex jokes and 'swagger around and do as he liked'.

The pair appeared on the 2017 and 2011 series of Celebrity MasterChef, respectively.

Wallace maintains that it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a harassing nature - but only caused fury when he attempted to defend himself against the allegations on social media.

After initially breaking his silence to mutely thank fans for support, he took to Instagram to blast his accusers as 'middle-class women of a certain age'.

But after the remark was criticised as 'completely inappropriate and misogynistic' by Sir Keir Starmer, Wallace attempted to backtrack, blaming a 'huge amount of stress' and a 'lot of emotion' for his outburst.

Insiders said he had 'gone rogue' and was ignoring advice on how best to salvage his TV career following the scandal.

But some have leapt to his defence, including TV chef Ainsley Harriott, who insisted the 'whole crew, including Gregg, was fantastic' when he appeared on Celebrity MasterChef earlier this year.

The fallout continues to affect the BBC, which is reeling from other star scandals including that of Huw Edwards, who was handed a suspended sentence earlier this year for indecent image offences.

A screengrab of Gregg Wallace as he sought to climb down from remarks describing his accusers as 'middle class women of a certain age'

Corporation bosses are thought to be mulling over whether Wallace can somehow be edited out of the next series of MasterChef, which has already been filmed.

Despite the BBC insisting that the future of MasterChef will not be decided until the outcome of the investigation, a production insider told MailOnline the series is 'salvageable' as the option to scrub Wallace entirely is being carefully considered.

The source said that Torode and Wallace's critique segments, where they give feedback on the contestants' food, were filmed separately.

They said: 'John and Gregg were always shot with separate cameras. Any two shots, or wide shots containing the pair can be cut. Removing Gregg entirely is a difficult task, but not an impossible one.'

The broadcaster could yet face a reckoning after culture secretary Lisa Nandy warned that she would stamp out any 'culture of silence' over harassment.

Insiders claimed reports of Wallace's alleged misbehaviour were swept under the rug for years.

Banijay UK, the production company that makes MasterChef, said Wallace was 'committed to fully co-operating throughout the process'.

It has appointed City law firm Lewis Silkin, which also led investigations into Russell Brand's time on Big Brother spin-off shows including Big Brother's Big Mouth, to examine Wallace's time on the show.

'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 company said.
Ikea's green credentials have been called into question, after new footage showed vast swathes of forests owned by the company reduced to 'moonscapes.'

The flatpack furniture maker has made bold claims of its aspirations to 'transform' the forestry industry. From establishing biodiversity parks in India to grilling the Polish government about pulling out of a global sustainability convention, Ikea has been keen to boast of its positive impact on the world.

But footage published by Danmarks Radio, a Danish public broadcaster, shows large tracts of land across Romania owned by the corporation desecrated by human intervention.

Huge scars caused by large machine tracks can be seen carved into the five locations owned by Ikea, while freshly felled trees were seen at each site with little to no vegetation growing in its place.

'It is completely beyond the pale of what is called sustainable forestry in 2024,' Jacob Heilmann-Clausen, a biodiversity expert at Copenhagen University, told the makers of Ikea Loves Wood, a documentary investigating the company's alleged practices.

One of the key issues raised in the documentary was the alleged practice of chopping down entire parts of a forest.

This either left no 'habitat trees' standing for wildlife to live in, or would just about comply with Romanian law that states that a single tree per hectare needs to be left alone.

'It looks like the old-fashioned forestry in third-world countries, where you ruthlessly go in and extract a resource,' Heilmann-Clausen said.

Footage published by Danmarks Radio, a Danish public broadcaster, shows large tracts of land across Romania owned by the corporation desecrated by human intervention

Huge scars caused by large machine tracks can be seen carved into the five locations owned by Ikea

Freshly felled trees were seen at each site with little to no vegetation growing in its place

Ingka, which operates the forests on Ikea's behalf, told MailOnline in a statement that it denied cutting down trees en masse, adding that not only was it replanting felled trees but it was also adding to existing tree populations.

It also said it was leaving habitat trees standing on a 'landscape level, instead of a hectare-by-hectare basis.

The group claimed the documentary was based on 'selective narratives' and had left out 'critical facts'.

It added that 18 independent audits this year had confirmed it was in compliance with Romanian law.

'The density of our forests in Romania has increased by more than 1 million cubic metres since 2016 due to our responsible forest management practices in the country,' a spokesperson said.

'Our forests in Romania are among the most rigorously audited in the country.'

'The claim of "moonscapes" based on selective drone footage misrepresents the situation on the ground. Take Tibau as an example: the clearcuts seen in this area were carried out by the previous owner, not Ingka Investments/IKEA.

'Since acquiring the land (2015), we have restored its ecological functionality by planting over 60 hectares, ensuring long-term forest health and biodiversity.

'We remain deeply committed to our mission to protect biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and drive responsible forestry practices globally.'

Around four percent of the wood used in Ikea's products comes from Romania, which is home to some of the last-standing remnants of Europe's ancient forests.

'It looks like the old-fashioned forestry in third-world countries, where you ruthlessly go in and extract a resource,' one biodiversity expert said

A view of an Ikea sign next to the entrance of one of its branches in Copenhagen, Denmark, November 2, 2023

Ikea is estimated to own around 125,000 acres of woodland across the country.

Despite the audits, several investigations by environmental groups have, in recent months, linked Ikea to 'destructive forestry practices' in Romania, both on its own land and in forests managed by its suppliers.

One investigation suggested that some of the firm's local partners in the country were clearing ancient woodlands in the Carpathian mountains, in a moved described as 'potentially illegal.'

Greenpeace, the environmental activism group, said it has traced at least 30 Ikea products from these suppliers to stores in 14 countries, including the UK.
Actress Carol Royle is in mourning after her husband of 47 years died in a freak swimming pool accident.

Royle, 70, who has appeared on Blake's 7, Dennis Potter's Blackeyes, Endeavour and most recently Coronation Street, announced the news on social media.

Writing on Facebook she said: 'I am desperately sorry to post that we lost my wonderful husband, Julian Spear, today, 9th December.

'Perfectly fit man but jumped into a freezing outdoor pool which he assumed was heated as per usual yesterday, and he developed a sudden massive brain haemorrhage  our hearts are aching.'

She added: 'Married 47 years  known each other 56. Forgive me if I am not on Facebook very much for a while.'

Ms Royle has been playing Anthea Deering in Coronation Street, the mother of Joel, who was murdered in one of the soap's recent plotlines.

She first became famous as the star of the BBC Sitcom Life Without George which ran from 1987 to 1989. She's a familiar face on television, with parts in hit shows including The Professionals, Crossroads and Heartbeat.

Her husband Julian Spear was a musician and himself the son of an actor, Bernard, who had a role in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Actress Carol Royle pictured with her son Sam Taran and husband Julian Spear

Ms Royle, second from the left, posted this image of her husband Julian, far right, on Instagram

Royle, 70, is in mourning after her husband of 47 years died in a freak swimming pool accident

As Head of Promotions for music company Phonogram, Julian helped break projects with ABC, Soft Cell, Big Country, Dexys Midnight Runners, Tears For Fears, Dire Straits Bon Jovi, Elton John and the Band Aid single Do They Know Its Christmas?'

From the start of 2016, he went solo with his own company, Julian Spear PR, and recently worked with the likes of Sheryl Crow and Gary Clark Jr.

From the mid 1940s to the 1980s his father Bernard made more than 300 radio broadcasts, appearing in everything from bandleader Henry Hall's Guest Night to Workers' Playtime.

His films included Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's Bedazzled (1967), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Barbra Streisand's Yentl (1983).

His last film appearance came in Sally Potter's The Man Who Cried (2000).

Ms Royle shared another image of her husband Julian on social media

Bernard Spear, Julian's father, is pictured, right in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Bernard's films included Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's Bedazzled (1967), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Barbra Streisand's Yentl (1983)

The actress has appeared on Blake's 7, Dennis Potter's Blackeyes, Endeavour and most recently Coronation Street

Ms Royle is a long term campaigner against factory farming and the fur trade and turned vegetarian in 1973

The 70-year-old pictured as Lady Patricia Brewster in Heartbeat

Another image of Ms Royle as her character Lady Patricia Brewster

Back in 1955, he was the first actor to appear live on British commercial TV on the Xavier Cugat Show.

Bernard went on to marry ex-dancer Mary Logan - Marie Lloyd's great niece - in 1949.

Ms Royle is a long-term campaigner against factory farming and the fur trade and turned vegetarian in 1973.

She recently signed a letter calling for the release of a colony of penguins at the Sea Life London Aquarium. The wildlife charity Freedom for Animals has claimed the penguins have 'no daylight, no fresh air, and just a pitiful pool of a few feet in depth'.

Their open letter argues that the penguins should be moved from their 'small basement' enclosure to a sanctuary.

Sea Life said the gentoo penguin habitat was designed with help from specialist vets and that the welfare of all its animals was of 'paramount importance'.
It was a prohibition that stood for 1,000 years - until one particularly capricious monarch decided otherwise.

In 1540, King Henry VIII changed the law to allow first-cousin marriage so he could wed Catherine Howard.

Since then, the practice has been legal in Britain, but a furore broke out this week when MP Iqbal Mohamed spoke out in defence of weddings between first cousins.

Tory MP Richard Holden is hoping to bring forward legislation that would ban such unions.

In the course of speaking out in the House of Commons, he told how Henry 'broke with Rome' so he could marry the woman who would become his fifth wife.

Although Henry was not related to Catherine Howard, she was a first cousin of his second wife Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded on the King's orders in 1536.

According to the strict religious observance at the time, relatives of spouses were seen as being equivalent to actual blood relations of the other person in the union.

It meant that Anne's cousins effectively became Henry's when the pair wed in 1533.

In 1540, King Henry VIII changed the law to allow first-cousin marriage so he could wed Catherine Howard, his fifth wife. Although Henry was not related to Catherine Howard, she was a first cousin of his second wife Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded on the King's orders in 1536

Mr Holden said in the Commons yesterday: 'This 1,000-year tradition of first-cousin marriage being illegal was continued until 1540, when King Henry VIII broke with Rome and legalised marriage between first cousins so that he could marry Catherine Howard, his fifth wife and a cousin of his second wife, Anne Boleyn.

'Sadly, both Catherine and Anne ended up facing a swift end at the block.

'However, the law pertaining to first-cousin marriage has been more enduring, remaining unchanged ever since.'

Catherine Howard is portrayed by Summer Richards in the BBC's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novel Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, which is set to conclude this week.

Meanwhile, the view of the Catholic Church at the time was that marriage between first cousins was unacceptable.

The prohibition continues to this day but special dispensation can be granted by a bishop.

In 1560, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry's youngest daughter, Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker formally codified what counts as a forbidden marriage in The Tables of Kindred and Affinity of the Church of England.

The list remained unchanged until 1907, when the Marriage Act of that year removed the ban on a husband marrying his sister-in-law, or a wife marrying her brother-in-law.

Catherine Howard is portrayed by Summer Richards in the BBC's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novel Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, which is set to conclude this week

Further updates in 1921 and 1931 removed prohibitions against spouses marrying their siblings' former other halves and their aunt-in-law or uncle-in-law.

A final change in 1949 specifically included half-siblings in the list of banned unions.

Henry married Catherine Howard just 19 days after his marriage to fourth wife Anne of Cleves was annulled.

However, Catherine lasted for little more than a year before she was beheaded, on the grounds of treason for committing adultery with distant cousin Thomas Culpeper.

The King's final wife, Catherine Parr, whom he married in July 1543, outlived him by nearly two years.

Anne Boleyn - the mother of Elizabeth I - was courted by Henry while he was still married to first wife Catherine of Aragon.

Henry had caused a rupture with the Catholic Church in Rome when the Pope refused to allow him to set Catherine aside so he could marry Anne.

Instead, the King made himself the head of the Church of England and appointed a new Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, who allowed the annulment to proceed.

Mr Mohamed spoke out against Tory MP Richard Holden's efforts to bring in new legislation to prohibit the marriage of first cousins

But Henry then became tired of Anne Boleyn when she proved unable to provide him with a surviving son.

So confected charges of adultery were brought against Anne. It was even falsely claimed that she slept with her own brother, George Boleyn.

Anne was beheaded at the Tower of London on May 19, 1536.

Mr Mohamed, the MP for Dewsbury and Batley, told the House of Commons this week that many people view family intermarriage as 'very positive'.

He said it was seen as something that could help 'build family bonds' and put families on a more secure financial foothold'.

Mr Mohamed admitted there were 'health risks' for the children of such marriages.

But he said a 'more positive approach' would be to 'facilitate advanced genetic test screening' for couples wishing to marry.

Mr Mohamed was speaking out out against Mr Holden's efforts to bring in new legislation to prohibit the marriage of first cousins.

The former Conservative Party chairman introduced his Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill to the Commons via a ten-minute rule motion.

He warned there had been a 'worrying trend' of an increased rate of cousins marrying among some communities in Britain - although he noted there were reports of rates falling in the last decade as 'young people push back against this system'.

Mr Holden outlined 'health, freedom and our national values' as three areas of concern over family intermarriage in the UK.

He urged the Labour Government to look as his Bill as a 'vehicle for positive change in our country', adding: 'Because, in the end, it's about more than one marriage - it's about the values and foundations of our society and our democracy.'
Dramatic CCTV footage shows the moment a brave receptionist tackled a knife-wielding Nazi after he stormed into a law firm looking to kill a solicitor.

Cavan Medlock, 32, turned up at the Duncan Lewis law firm in Harrow, northwest London carrying a black rucksack containing gaffer tape and handcuffs.

Jurors at Kingston Crown Court were told Medlock approached receptionist Ravindran Tharmalangam and demanded to meet solicitor Toufique Hossain - who was his intended target.

He was told he needed to make an appointment and looked set to leave, but was seen on film turning around in the hallway and approaching Mr Tharmalangam with the six-inch black combat knife.

The knifeman shouted at the receptionist to 'take me up', at which point Mr Tharmalangam grabbed him and knocked the knife out of his hands.

During the scuffle which followed, Medlock began punching and kicking Mr Tharmalangam until his colleagues arrived and helped to detain the thug.

Timothy Cray, KC, prosecuting, said: 'A number of colleagues came to the receptionist's defence and they were able to restrain Medlock against the wall.'

After he was arrested, officers discovered Medlock's bag also contained a Nazi and Confederate flag. He also admitted that he had come to the office to kill a solicitor.

Medlock is alleged to have arrived at the Duncan Lewis law firm in Harrow on September 7 2020, armed with a combat knife and handcuffs

Cavan Medlock planned to carry out a terror plot at the Duncan Lewis law firm in Harrow

After he was arrested, officers discovered Medlock's bag also contained a Nazi flag

'He said this was because the firm had helped immigrants come to the United Kingdom and that immigrants were not welcome 'here', said Mr Cray.

'He also made comments to the effect of "it's rats like you that take up all the social housing in this country" and "Enoch Powell was right'".

Another member of staff said she was Jewish and asked whether Medlock had a problem with her, the court heard.

Mr Cray added: 'The defendant replied with words to the effect of 'Hitler was right but didn't finish the job'.

He was held until the police arrived and when he was interviewed he admitted he wanted to take a hostage at the lawyer's office.

In a police interview, Medlock said he wanted to take a victim hostage.

'He intended his actions to be a 'rallying cry' for other far right extremists.'

'He said he wanted the media to come and see the flags displayed in the windows of the office,' said Mr Cray.

Medlock was seen on CCTV approaching Mr Tharmalangam with the six-inch black combat knife

During the scuffle which followed, Medlock began punching and kicking Mr Tharmalangam

A number of colleagues came to the receptionist's defence and they were able to restrain Medlock against the wall

When asked in an interview if he felt that this was the right course of action, Medlock replied: 'When politics fail and the people have no alternative.

'I think violence is the only natural progression of that thinking and to get change.

'The Nazi flag is a rallying cry to other nationalities. I do believe that Hitler should have won.'

Mr Tharmalangam said: 'The defendant came back to the foyer, walking quietly. I then saw him with the knife in his hand. He was holding it over head at shoulder height.

'He said 'take me up'. He just said 'take me up' Then we got into a scuffle.

'I was holding his hand with the knife. The knife fell to the floor. We continued to struggle for about 20-40 seconds.'

Solicitor Sheroy Zaq, who helped detain Medlock, said: 'I had just left the bathroom and I saw him with my colleague in what appeared to be a headlock.. It may have taken me a few seconds to work out what was going on. I shouted for help.

'I pushed the defendant up against the wall and did my best to keep him there.'

Medlock was carrying handcuffs when carrying out the terror plot, police said

He frightened a receptionist with the knife before threatening to kill solicitor Toufique Hossain

A Confederate flag seized by police at the scene after the plot at the Duncan Lewis law firm

'It was hard to overcome him. Initially I used all my strength but once he realised he was not getting out of the corner he stopped. He was trying to use all body weight to get out.'

Medlock called Mr Zaq's mother 'an ISIS whore' and said he 'had no right to be in this country.'

Mr Zaq said: 'I said I was born and raised in London and went to school in Kingston, I was trying to make him realise I did belong.

'He immediately said, 'it does not f--ing matter because you are not f--ing white'.

Police found a copy of Mein Kampf at Medlock's home in Harrow, along with a mobile phone containing screenshots of a newspaper article referencing Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

Bearded Medlock appeared in court via video-link from a psychiatric hospital.

Mr Justice Bennathan told jurors they would have to decide 'whether this defendant did the act, namely whether he made preparations for a terrorist act and made threats to kill'

The judge added: 'Through no fault of his own, the defendant is not fit for trial.'

The court heard that Medlock was restrained by the law firm's staff

The jury found he carried out the acts of making preparations for a terrorist act and making threats to kill during the incident on 7 September 2020.

Acting Commander Helen Flanagan, from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'Our investigation uncovered how Medlock had planned this attack and wanted to intimidate the public, particularly anyone who might be regarded as immigrants.

'He was prevented in carrying out his plan thanks to the extraordinarily brave actions of a receptionist, who managed to disarm him of a large knife.

'By his own admission, at the time of these events, Medlock identified as a Nazi. Our investigation supported this, with officers finding a copy of Mein Kampf at his home address.

'It is clear from what he said in police interviews, Medlock wanted to provide a 'rallying cry' to inspire other extreme right-wing terrorists.

'I'm glad that a jury has now found the facts of this case proven.'

Medlock faces sentence at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday.
Fox News host Dana Perino has predicted Donald Trump will make a major land 'purchase' during his second term in office after he goaded about Canada becoming a state.

The President elect referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the 'governor' of the 'state' of Canada following discussions about trade on Tuesday.

Trump posted on his Truth Social account: 'It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.

'I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!'

When asked about what she thought about the comments, Perino said she thought they were 'funny' and thought they would 'help their relationship.'

However, she added: 'But I'm going to make a prediction before that show, and I thought of this this afternoon.

'I actually think that the United States might make some sort of purchase. I don't know, not Canada, but there might be some sort of like big real estate purchase in the next four years.'

Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov then quipped: 'Greenland?'

Dana Perino attends FOX Nation's 2024 Patriot Awards on December 6

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talk prior to a NATO round table meeting in 2019

Trump hit the headlines back in 2019 when he suggested the US should buy Greenland from Denmark for its resources and geopolitical significance.

He repeatedly asked his advisers with 'varying degrees of seriousness' if it would be possible for the U.S. to acquire the autonomous Danish territory, two sources told the Wall Street Journal.

'What do you guys think about that?' Trump asked a table of aides about the island purchase last spring, a source said. 'Do you think it would work?'

Greenland's government insisted at the time that the territory was not for sale.

The 811,000-square-mile island of icy terrain in the Atlantic inhabits about 56,000 people, and though it is technically in North American waters, the self-governing land is culturally European.

Its foreign and security policy is handled by Copenhagen.

Trump reportedly got the idea after hearing that Denmark was having financial problems because of the subsidies it pays to Greenland.

According to the Journal, Greenland relies on $591 million of subsidies from Denmark annually, which make up about 60% of its annual budget.

The U.S. already has an airbase in Greenland, which is part of a state-of-the-art ballistic missile early warning system and satellite tracking system.

This screenshot from Donald Trump's Truth Social account shows am image of President-elect Donald Trump standing beside a Canadian flag

It has also, in the past sought to derail China's efforts to make its mark on the independent territory.

In 2018, the Pentagon, alarmed at the news China was looking to finance the building of three airports on the ice-covered land, managed to block the move.

The US, along with its allies offered alternative funding options to Greenland in an effort to dissuade it from an expensive deal with China.

Concerns were centered around whether the aid-dependent government could afford a large loan from China, and if it failed in its efforts to repay it, could lead to China taking control of the runways, bringing in warplanes, creating new shipping lanes and gaining access to a wealth of resources in the Arctic.

There are a number of reasons purchasing territory could be proving attractive to Trump, including giving him a legacy that echoes that Thomas Jefferson earned in part through the completion of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

The United States has a long history of acquiring territory since it was first established as an independent nation state.

The end of the American Revolution with the 1783 Treaty of Paris and Great Britain ceding the area of its thirteen colonies saw the beginning of the United States' territorial acquisitions.

According to the United States Geological Survey the new nation went on for the next few decades to gradually add new territory until it reached the size it is today.

President-elect Donald Trump attends a campaign event, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. on October 29

Greenland inhabits about 56,000 people and is an autonomous Danish territory (file image)

Alongside the territory that makes up its mainland the United States has control of a number of territories in its nearby waters and a number further afield in the Pacific and Asia.

Among its key purchases, was that of Louisiana, which the Global Policy Forum said it bought in 1803 from France for $15 million, the equivalent of $193 million in 2005.

The Republic of Texas agreed to be annexed by the United States in 1845, effectively bringing in 389,000 square miles of what was once Mexican territory under its control.

Three years later, after the Mexican-American War, all of the present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah, as well as sections of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming were ceded to the US by Mexico.

And in 1867 the United States bought Alaska, from Russia, for $7.2 million.

Further afield, American Samoa became a US territory under the 1899 Treaty of Berlin between Germany, Great Britain, and the United States.

The islands to this day are under the administration of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs alongside Guam, which has been under its administration since the Spanish-American War of 1898 - barring three years during World War Two when Japan took control.

Today, there are also a number of outlying islands, which are territories of the United States, including the Midway Atoll, (1867), Palmyra Atoll (1898, with Hawaii), Wake Atoll (1899), Baker Island and Howland Island ( 1857), Jarvis Island ( 1858), Johnston Atoll (1858), Kingman Reef (1922), and Navassa Island (1857).
Kremlin sources have revealed the tricks Russia reportedly used to smuggle President Bashar al-Assad out of Syria as his regime suddenly collapsed.

It comes as one of Vladimir Putin's allies confirmed for the first time today that Russia did indeed help the ousted dictator flee to Moscow.

Three sources told Bloomberg News that Moscow organised for Assad to escape via its air base on the Syrian coast, using a 'transponder trick'.

He was reportedly ordered to tell no-one, switch his transponder off and get on his private plane in the capital Damascus.

The aircraft then travelled to Russias Khmeimim air base on the Syrian coast, before Assad headed to Moscow, possibly on a military plane, the sources have claimed.

It is understood Putin personally approved Assad's rescue but has no intention of meeting him now he is in exile.

Agents working for the Russian government convinced Assad to leave the country immediately after it became clear he would lose a fight with the rebels, the Kremlin sources said.

It comes after flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed a plane believed to be carrying Assad as he left the Syrian capital Damascus in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The plane headed towards the Mediterranean Sea, before making a U-turn and disappearing from the map.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad with Vladimir Putin in 2018. Russia was Assad's key ally during Syria's long civil war and they helped maintain his family's brutal dynasty

Sergei Ryabkov (pictured), Russia's deputy foreign minister, claimed that Assad was transported to Moscow 'in the safest way possible' at the weekend

Assad with his British-born wife Asma and their children in 2022. Following the humiliating capitulation of his dictatorship over the weekend, Assad will now start a new life in Russia

Flightradar24 showed a plane heading from the Syrian capital Damascus towards the Mediterranean Sea in the early hours of Sunday morning

The plane then appears to make a U-turn before vanishing off the map

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, claimed today that Assad was transported out of Syria 'in the most secure way possible' over the weekend.

Speaking to NBC News, Mr Ryabkov said: 'He [Assad] is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation.'

And when asked if Moscow would hand Assad over the International Criminal Court, he implied they would not, saying Russia 'is not party to the convention' that established it.

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes against humanity - with the US rejecting the decision.

Human rights groups have also previously accused Assad of war crimes - such as using chemical weapons on civilians.

Explaining why Russia helped Assad escape, Mr Ryabkov said he 'was accused by the same group of countries and governments that continuously defeat attempts to live their own ways as it happened in Iraq, in Libya and in many more'.

Referring to Netanyahu's arrest warrant, Mr Ryabkov added it was 'amazing' that Washington 'configures its response' in relation to which people are being prosecuted by the court.

Vladimir Putin was Assad's key ally during Syria's long civil war with the Kremlin helping him maintain his family's brutal dynasty which had governed Syria for over 50 years.

Putin has also built up a massive military presence in Syria with an air base in Latakia and a naval facility in Tartus - which is Russia's only Mediterranean naval hub - and an estimated 7,000 military personal on the ground as recently as this summer.

Mr Ryabkov said that he had 'no idea what going on with him [Assad] right now' adding that it 'would be very wrong for me to elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved'.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, told the international press this morning that Russia was in contact with the rebels over its military bases.

He said: 'We, of course, maintain contacts with those who are currently controlling the situation in Syria," Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

Putin embraces Assad during a meeting in 2017. Russia has built up a massive military presence in Syria with an air base in Latakia and a naval facility in Tartus - which is Russia's only Mediterranean naval hub

Rebel fighters set fire to the gravesite of Hafez al-Assad. Syrians for the first time in six decades look to a future without the Assad family

Assad's extended family reportedly purchased at least 18 luxury apartments in the City of Capitals complex (pictured), located in Moscow's glittering skyscraper district

The Assad family's secret escape tunnels have been revealed after Syrian rebels were left stunned by the huge luxury underground network

'This is necessary because our bases are located there, our diplomatic mission is located there and, of course, the issue related to ensuring the security of these facilities is extremely important and of primary significance.'

Following the humiliating capitulation of his dictatorship over the weekend, Assad and his family will now start a new life in Russia.

They are likely to draw on their family connections and extensive assets in Moscow in the hope of keeping up their comfortable lifestyle in exile.

The Syrian dictator's extended family bought up at least 20 Moscow apartments worth more than 30 million in recent years, illustrating Russia's status as a safe haven for the clan.

This included the purchase of at least 18 luxury apartments in the City of Capitals complex, located in Moscow's glittering skyscraper district.

The two-towered skyscraper - which until the unveiling of London's Shard in 2012 was Europe's tallest building - is home to some of Russia's wealthiest businessmen, government ministries, five-star hotels and multinational companies.

Back Assad's former residence in Damascus, secret tunnels beneath an Assad family mansion were reportedly uncovered after rebels seized the capital Damascus on Sunday, with the network serving as a possible escape route for the dictator and his allies.

Meanwhile, in Syria its citizen look to rebuild their nation after 13 years of war and - for the first time in six decades - they look to a future without the Assad family's autocratic rule.

Away from the thousands of Syrians taking to the street to celebrate, the true horrors of the Assad regime are only just being uncovered.

Many have travelled into the infamous Sednaya Prison near Damascus, nicknamed the 'Human Slaughterhouse' in hopes of finding long-lost family members.

The prison was the epicentre of this systematic terror where huge numbers of detainees were subjected to all manner of inhumane treatments and executed.

Dark footage and images published this week showed how horrified rescuers pulled out dozens upon dozens of body bags containing rotting corpses from the depths of the facility.

But there are dozens more facilities across the nation where victims of the Assad regime were left to suffer and die.

Now, as survivors of these hellhole jails emerge to reunite with their families and give chilling testimonies about life behind bars, those deemed responsible for orchestrating the horrors may soon face their comeuppance.

The leader of Syria's rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that played a leading role in the lightning offensive that ousted Assad has vowed to hunt down officials, security forces and army officers who 'tortured' the Syrian people.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani speaks at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024

An aerial view of the Sednaya Military Prison after armed groups, opposing Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime take control in Damascus. The prison was the epicentre of this systematic terror where huge numbers of detainees were subjected to all manner of inhumane treatments and executed

Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has vowed to rebuild Syria and HTS has spent years trying to soften its image to reassure foreign nations and minority groups.

But he openly declared he would hold accountable those found to have been involved in 'war crimes' against Syrians.

The Assad regime's detention centres in Syria represented one of the most depraved systems of institutionalised torture in modern history.

The prison system under Assad was not merely punitive; it was a calculated mechanism to crush dissent and terrorise populations.

No one was safe from Assad's maniacal security forces.

Rebel fighters were cast into jails along with intellectuals, activists and regular civilians - all were subjected to heinous treatment, in many cases for several decades.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights claims that since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in March 2011, over 157,000 people remain under arrest or have been forcibly disappeared  including 5,274 children and 10,221 women.

More than 15,000 are said to have died under torture in that time.
Minister for Tourism confirms new easyJet route from Birmingham to Gibraltar

easyJet has today announced the launch of a new route from Birmingham to Gibraltar.

The service will operate twice weekly year-round from June 2025 on Thursdays and Sundays with seats available at easyJet.com and via the app from just 26.99*.

The Birmingham Airport (BHX) service will complement existing easyJet routes to Gibraltar next summer, from Bristol Airport, London Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport, with a total of 13 weekly routes.

The airline has seen an expansion of routes on its summer 2025 programme together with its growing tour operation arm, easyJet holidays, which has also expanded its programme into Gibraltar.

All easyJet holidays packages include flights, hotel and 23kg luggage and transfers on beach holidays, all covered by its Ultimate Flexibility, offering freedom to change a booking, a refund guarantee, and best price guarantee.

Ali Gayward, easyJet's UK Country Manager, said: We are delighted that Gibraltar is the latest destination to join our Birmingham network, providing travellers in the Midlands with a new and unique twice-weekly connection throughout the year, and we look forward to welcoming customers onboard from next summer.

Commenting on the announcement, the Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism, the Hon Christian Santos GMD MP, said: Gibraltar provides a unique offering as a destination, so we are really pleased to be able to announce this new route today. The Birmingham route had previously operated successfully for many years, and we are excited to see its return via easyJet who have proved their ongoing commitment to Gibraltar. We are confident that both visitors to Gibraltar as well as the local community will benefit from this additional flight to the Midlands, and we look forward to continued shared success with easyJet in the future."

Flights on new routes are now available to book at easyJet.com and via the mobile app starting from:

 Birmingham to Gibraltar flights will operate twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays from 1st June with fares from 26.99*

Book with easyJet holidays (www.easyjet.com/en/holidays tel: 0330 365 5005)

 easyJet holidays offers three nights at the 4* The Rock Hotel in Gibraltar on a Room Only basis for 461 per person including flights from Birmingham International on 12 June 2025

*Flights one way per person including taxes
Alleged CEO killer Luigi Mangione appeared to be looking for a familiar face during his court arraignment, but he found none.

The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate repeatedly turned around during his court appearance on Monday in Pennsylvania, to look into the public gallery, but none of his relatives had shown up.

Mangione also had no one in court to support him in his second court appearance on Tuesday to face identity fraud and gun charges in the state. He faces second-degree murder charges in NYC.

The suspected killer of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thomson comes from a powerful Maryland family, but the tight clan, which includes state delegate Nino Mangione, has stayed mostly silent about his arrest.

The family sole, short public statement read: 'Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest.

'We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.'

Mangione had withdrawn from his family and friends sometime last year, when he appears to have gone into an isolated mental health spiral due to severe back pain.

Mangione graduated from U Penn during the pandemic, and had a virtual graduation ceremony, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Alleged killer Brian Thompson, 26, yelled at cameras as he entered court on Tuesday

Mangione is seen with his sister and parents in an undated photo. His mother said she had no contact with him since July 1 as she reported him missing

Following his graduation with honors, he got a remote job as a data engineer with a automotive digital-marketplace company called TrueCar, based in Santa Barbara, California.

In January, 2022, Mangione moved to an upscale surfers' collective in Honolulu, Hawaii. He told the people there he was looking to repair his health.

Mangione suffered from a back condition, from birth, called pondylolisthesis, which causes vertebra to slip out of place. The condition appears to have worsened after a surfing injury in 2023.

During his stay at the collective, Mangione co-founded a book club. One of the materials they read was the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski's manifesto.

A Reddit account believed to belong to Mangione wrote: 'My back and hips locked up after the accident,'

The user added that 'intermittent numbness has become constant' and Im terrified of the implications.'

Mangione seems to have drop contact with his loved ones sometime within the last year.

His mother Kathleen reported him missing in San Francisco last month, saying she hadn't heard from him since July 1.

Mangione's mother Kathleen reported him missing in San Francisco last month, saying she hadn't heard from him since July 1

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside Manhattan's Hilton Hotel

Mangione's social media went black in June, the same month that he completely stopped replying to his friends.

Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978.

The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangiones parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance.

The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons  including Luigi Mangiones father, Louis Mangione  to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfathers obituary.

Luigi Mangiones grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangiones wifes death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts.

Investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street.

The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer.

Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called 'parasitic' health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP.

Mangione was apparently influenced by 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski - whose manifesto he praised on Goodreads as an 'extreme political revolutionary'

He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while 'our life expectancy' does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspects handwritten notes and social media posts.

He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the 'first to face it with such brutal honesty,' the bulletin said.

Mangione called the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski a 'political revolutionary' and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said.
Britain will endure another deep freeze tonight after temperatures fell to -11C (12F) as 80 areas remain on flood alert and rail chaos brought by Storm Darragh continues.

The final homes without power are set to be reconnected today as deluged residents clean up following the deadly 92mph storm which brought a rare red warning.

The Environment Agency still has 18 flood warnings in place across England, mostly for the River Severn and River Derwent, while there are also 62 flood alerts active.

Conditions have become much calmer this week although also very cold, with maximums of just 6C (43F) to 7C (44F) expected across England and Wales today.

Highs of just 1C (34F) were forecast for parts of the Highlands this afternoon, while the mercury will only reach 4C (39F) in the rest of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The overnight UK minimum was -11C (12F) at Tyndrum in Stirling, while -5C (23F) was recorded in Scottish cities including Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. Further south, Englands lowest temperature this morning was -2.9C (26.7F) in Keswick, Cumbria.

Tonight, temperatures are expected to fall to -4C (25F) in Scottish towns and cities, while Wales will drop to 1C (34F) and South East England will fall to 4C (39F).

Trains continued to be impacted by Storm Darragh today, with services still suspended on some Transport for Wales routes  including between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog where replacement buses will run until at least the end of Sunday.

Cold water swimmer Jenny Favell in the River Braan at The Hermitage in Perthshire today

Dog walkers brave the freezing fog at Neilston Pad in East Renfrewshire this morning

Mac the working cocker spaniel goes for a walk at a frosty Neilson Pad in Scotland today

Buses also cotinue to replace trains between Shrewsbury and Swansea via the Heart of Wales line for the same time period, while trains also could not run between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock this morning.

And Great Western Railway said a fallen tree was blocking trains between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple in Devon.

Today will be dry and cloudy with the odd shower in the South East, but Scotland could see brighter weather after a cold and chilly start with a widespread frost.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: The weather today is pretty similar to yesterday's weather - starting very cold and frosty across Scotland and Northern Ireland and some dense patches of fog here, which are going to linger all day.

It's dry for the majority but we do have a few showers just dribbling in on the northeasterly breeze across the South East, and a few more of them just moving along the south coast of England through the day today.

So you may get caught out by a shower here - bit of wet weather across Shetland as well, that'll slowly peter out through this afternoon - again, nothing too heavy, just a bit damp and drizzly.

Tonight will be mostly cloudy across England and Wales with some light drizzle in the East, while clear spells and a frost will develop in some areas.

Mr Deakin said: For the vast majority it's a dry night, but through the early hours thickening cloud over eastern parts is likely to bring some rain and drizzle back in here.

Temperatures again, with the cloud, holding up above freezing. Where it's clear, well below freezing across Scotland, -3C (27F) to -4C (25F). That's towns and cities - some sheltered glens much, much lower than that.

'So again, a fairly hard frost and again some fog around which will again in parts of South West Scotland last for most of the day.'

Conditions will remain cloudy tomorrow with patchy drizzle, mostly in the East  while low cloud will lead to hill fog in places. Brighter skies will be seen in the West and across much of Scotland.

Mr Deakin said of tomorrow: Much of Scotland away from the fog will be dry and sunny. Perhaps a bit cloudier for Northern Ireland, thicker cloud for England and Wales.

The Environment Agency still has 18 flood warnings (in red) in place across England, mostly for the River Severn and River Derwent, while there are also 62 flood alerts (in amber) active

That cloud is going to be at times producing rain and drizzle - so a dank, dreary, pretty dismal kind of day for a quite a good chunk of England.

Some of that rain and drizzle into parts of Wales at times too. Much of the South I suspect will be dry but still gloomy and still cold.'

Temperatures tomorrow are expected to get up to 8C (46F) in England, 6C (43F) in Wales, 5C (41F) in Northern Ireland, 1C (34F) in the Highlands and 4C (39F) in the rest of Scotland.

The Met Office expects high pressure to continue to dominate from Friday, bringing some sunshine and overnight frost and fog  although patchy rain will start to arrive across the North during the weekend as temperatures begin to climb again.

Yesterday, Cabinet Office minister Abena Oppong-Asare said homes without power after the storm would be reconnected by today  and also paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the weather chaos.

It comes as the Government faced calls to review whether current measures adequately support vulnerable residents during extreme weather events.
A mother of four disabled children has warned of the dangers of tumble dryers after she awoke to cries of 'mummy fire!' as the appliance set her home ablaze.

Kirsty McAllister, 28, had only put her dryer on for a short spin cycle on September 5 this year but chaos ensued at about 1.30am when it left the whole kitchen filled with black smoke.

The Newcastle mum has told how part of the family's home is now destroyed, including a specialist bed that keeps one of her children safe.

But she was thankful that her neighbour slept with a window open and had heard the shouts - with the neighbouring family then helping her to get each of her four children out of the home while it was on fire.

She told ChronicleLive: 'Basically we had gone to bed. I had put the kids uniform in the tumble dryer. Just for a 30-minute cycle.

'At about 1.30am my son woke up shouting "fire, fire, mummy fire!" When I ran downstairs the whole kitchen was already covered in smoke. At that point I had to try to get four disabled children out of the house. It was horrific. There was just black smoke pouring out.

'Thankfully one neighbour came out to us - still in his boxers - to help me get all the children out. He was a real hero. His wife and their older children were helping comfort and reassure our children and brought them into their home while we were waiting for the fire brigade.

'Once I knew everyone was safe, I began to realise we had lost everything. I didn't know what to do, I was crying, I was a wreck. Then I realised it meant Layton's bed was also gone and I panicked.'

Kirsty McAllister, 28, had only put her dryer on for a short spin cycle on September 5 this year only for chaos to ensue

Fire damage at Kirsty McAllister's Walbottle home. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service attended the fire at Ms McAllister's home and a spokesman explained it was a reminder of the dangers of using electricals overnight

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service attended the fire at Ms McAllister's home and a spokesman explained it was a reminder of the dangers of using electricals overnight.

They said: 'Never use appliances such as tumble dryers and washing machines overnight as there is a risk of fire if these appliances develop a fault. If this happens when people are asleep then the risk to life is far greater.'

The damage comes as Ms McAllister's children all have additional needs, compounding the concern caused.

She said the months since the fire had been tough as the family was forced to relocate first to a hotel for eight weeks and then to a home in Ponteland.

But Ms McAllister praised charity Newlife - the largest provider of disability equipment for children in the UK - for its support.

She said: 'We had originally received a specialist bed for my son, Layton, from Newlife around eight months ago because he has no sense of danger and will climb everything and needs to wear a protective helmet to keep from hurting himself.

'We had also just applied to Newlife for a bed for my two-old daughter, Millie, who is still waiting for an autism assessment but has significant learning disability and has no awareness of danger, so she will hit her head against the side of the cot and push her legs through the cot bars, which causes bruising and pain.'

Elder children Lexi, eight, and Grant, six, also have additional needs. Ms McAllister said the provision of specialist beds had been a 'godsend'.

Kirsty McAllister's son Grant raised the alarm when their Walbottle home was on fire as she awoke to cries of 'mummy fire!'

Kirsty McAllister's youngest child Millie. Ms McAllister praised charity Newlife - the largest provider of disability equipment for children in the UK - for its support

She added: 'I was worrying about them at night even before the fire, but afterwards, we didn't know where we would have to go or how I could keep them safe.'

She added: 'I was worrying about them at night even before the fire, but afterwards, we didn't know where we would have to go or how I could keep them safe.'

Recalling the moments after the fire she said: 'Once I knew everyone was safe, I began to realise we had lost everything. I didn't know what to do, I was crying, I was a wreck. Then I realised it meant Layton's bed was also gone and I panicked.

'It had taken six months to receive the bed from Newlife and I knew we couldn't wait that long again for him to be safe at night - but Newlife were amazing. One of the professionals involved in Layton's care called the Newlife Nurse Helpline and explained everything that had happened. It was all done so quickly - and in just over a week we had a new bed for Layton, and they even sent a bed for Millie too.

'It means we could use the beds in the temporary accommodation, and it's been such a weight off my mind while we try to deal with everything else. When Newlife realised what we were going through they did everything they could to ensure Millie and Layton were ok.'

Newlife recently launched its 'A Call For Help Christmas Appeal'. The appeal is to support the charity's free nurse-led helpline - which saw calls increase by 73% year-on-year.

Karen Dobson, Newlife Consultant Nurse, said: 'We are so glad we could help provide the beds that Layton and Millie needed. The family have gone through so much and their call to the Nurse Helpline meant we could quickly ensure they could sleep safely.

'It is vital families have someone to turn to who is not only knowledgeable, but who has the time to really listen and provide support in a wide variety of ways to meet their individual needs.'
The tomb of the father of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's has been set on fire by rebel fighters after they stormed his mausoleum today.

Pictures show fighters standing next to the burning gravesite of Hafez al-Assad in the family's ancestral village of Qardaha in the western Latakia province.

The burning tomb was then dragged outside the mausoleum and left by the armed rebels, other images show.

Hafez al-Assad, who was the father and predecessor of the ousted president, died in 2000.

He seized power in 1970 and was the architect of modern Syria, creating a system of divide and rule to maintain his power.

The burning of Hafez's tomb comes after his son fled Syria following a lightning offensive spearheaded by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and its allies.

Syrians across the country and around the world have erupted in celebration, after enduring five decades of rule by his clan that saw anyone suspected of dissent thrown into jail or killed.

Many have travelled into the infamous Sednaya Prison near Damascus, nicknamed the 'Human Slaughterhouse' in hopes of finding long-lost family members.

Rebel fighters stand next to the burning gravesite of Syria's late president Hafez al-Assad at his mausoleum

Rebels stormed the mausoleum today and set the tomb of Hafez al-Assad on fire

A rebel fighter walks past the burning coffin of Syria's late president Hafez al-Assad outside his mausoleum

The prison was the epicentre of this systematic terror where huge numbers of detainees were subjected to all manner of inhumane treatments and executed.

Dark footage and images published this week showed how horrified rescuers pulled out dozens upon dozens of body bags containing rotting corpses from the depths of the facility.

But there are dozens more facilities across the nation where victims of the Assad regime were left to suffer and die.

The country's new prime minister said the Islamist-led alliance will 'guarantee' the rights of all religious groups and called on the millions who fled the war to return home.

'Precisely because we are Islamic, we will guarantee the rights of all people and all sects in Syria,' said Mohammad al-Bashir, whom the rebels appointed as the transitional head of government.

Asked whether Syria's new constitution would be Islamic, he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera that 'we will clarify all these details during the constituent process'.

Bashir, whose appointment was announced Tuesday, is tasked with heading the multi-ethnic, multi-sectarian country until March 1.

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad with his wife Anisa Makhlouf and daughter Bushra on June 4, 1974

Rebel fighters pose for a picture outside the mausoleum of Syria's late president Hafez al-Assad in the family's ancestral village of Qardaha

Pictured: Syrian rebels burn down and destroy the mausoleum of Hafez al-Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (right), his brother Maher (left) and brother-in-law Major General Assef Shawka during the funeral of Hafez al-Assad

While Assad had faced down protests and an armed rebellion for more than a decade, it was a lightning offensive launched on November 27 that ended up forcing him out of power.

The rebels launched their offensive from northwest Syria on the very same day that a ceasefire took effect in the Israel-Hezbollah war in neighbouring Lebanon.

That war, which killed thousands in Lebanon, saw Israel inflict staggering losses among Hezbollah's ranks.

Today, Moscow confirmed it had smuggled Assad out of Syria and into Russia.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, claimed that Assad was transported to Moscow 'in the safest way possible' following the sudden and dramatic collapse of his dictatorship over the weekend.

Speaking to NBC News, Mr Ryabkov said: 'He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation.'

He said that he had 'no idea what going on with him right now' adding that it 'would be very wrong for me to elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved'.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad pictured with Vladimir Putin in 2018

Abu Mohammed al-Golani speaks at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus Sunday, December 8

Russia was Assad's key ally during Syria's long civil war and they helped maintain his family's brutal dynasty which had governed Syria for over 50 years.

Human rights groups have previously accused Assad of war crimes - such as using chemical weapons on civilian - but Mr Ryabkov ruled out handing the leader over for trial.

'Russia is not a party to the convention that established the International Criminal Court,' he said.
Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch traded blows over immigration in a bruising PMQs session today.

The Tory leader attacked the premier for failing to prioritise reducing numbers in a keynote speech last week.

She accused him of championing EU free movement in Opposition and trying to stop foreign criminals being deported.

But Sir Keir retorted that Ms Badenoch had been part of a 'one nation experiment in open borders' while in government - pledging he will reduce arrivals.

The exchanges came after it emerged legal migration hit a new record high of 906,000 in the year to June 2023 - although it has fallen back slightly since.

Sir Keir has also been under pressure on illegal migration, with Channel boats arrivals running above last year.

Drawing battle lines in the Commons, Mrs Badenoch said: 'Last week, the Prime Minister didn't seem to want to talk about appointing fraudsters to his Cabinet. In fact, he seemed to want to talk about immigration. So let's talk about immigration.

Keir Starmer (pictured) and Kemi Badenoch traded blows over immigration in a bruising PMQs session today

Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch traded blows over immigration in a bruising PMQs session today

Your browser does not support iframes.

'He has relaunched yet again, many new targets, six milestones, five missions, but why was cutting immigration not a priority?'

Sir Keir replied: 'I'm glad she now wants to talk about immigration, last week she said she didn't, and for good reason, because the previous government presided over record high levels of immigration. The figures just a few weeks ago, nearly a million on net migration.

'That is unprecedented, a one nation experiment in open borders under the last government, and she was the champion, she stood up and praised the then Tory home secretary for listening to her on removing caps on migration visas.

'So she was applauding it, now she's curious about what she was campaigning for. We will drive it down. We will drive down lawful migration. We will drive down illegal migration.'

Mrs Badenoch told MPs that Sir Keir had been 'the one campaigning for free movement'.

'I was in this House asking for a lift on skilled migration. He was there supporting all of the people who should not have been in this country,' she said.

'He wanted us to relax immigration, but as he's so keen to talk about the past, let's look at his record.

'Four years ago, the Prime Minister signed a letter demanding that foreign criminals be allowed to stay in Britain. Dozens of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs repeatedly signed these letters insisting that rapists and murderers be allowed to stay here.

The Tories highlighted a letter raising concerns about the end of EU free movement

'One of those criminals, Ernesto Elliott, had 17 convictions, including for knife crime. After his deportation was blocked, Elliott went on to murder someone. He was able to stay here and murder because people like this man campaigned against deporting criminals. Will he apologise for signing these letters?'

Sir Keir said: 'I firstly remind her that the number now under their watch of migrants coming to this country, nearly a million, is over four times the number when we were in the EU, they lost control of the borders.

'And the particular example she puts to me is an example of failure under her government to take the necessary measures to keep our country safe.'
Donald Trump Jr. has expressed his excitement at his ex-fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle being nominated as America's new ambassador to Greece on the same day DailyMail.com revealed their split.

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Guilfoyle, 55, will be moving overseas next year as his representative in Athens.

Don Jr., 46, said: 'I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First.'

Guilfoyle got engaged to Trump's eldest son on December 31, 2020, but that was not made public until January 2022. The pair had been dating since 2018.

She admitted being 'blindsided' when images emerged earlier this fall of her fiance dining with another woman, Bettina Anderson, 38.

A source confirmed to DailyMail.com on Tuesday: 'There is no more Kimberly and Don  at least not romantically.

'Their engagement hasn't officially been called off yet. They were waiting until after the Inauguration to announce.'

Donald Trump Jr. gave a glowing assessment of his father's decision to appoint his ex-fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle as his Ambassador to Greece

Guilfoyle will serve as Donald Trump's Ambassador to Greece and make the move to Greece in the New Year as her relationship with Don Jr. comes to an end

Guilfoyle has not been seen with Don Jr., 46, since November 12.

Meanwhile, he has been spending an increasing amount of time with his new Palm Beach socialite love interest.

DailyMail.com published on Tuesday images of Don Jr. with Bettina Anderson enjoying a night out in Palm Beach, Florida, for her birthday celebration.

Just hours later, President-elect Trump gave a glowing recollection of his years knowing Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host who was previously married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco.

He revealed that Guilfoyle will serve as ambassador to Greece in his incoming administration and be making the move to Athens.

Guilfoyle studied international law and entered public life as a prosecutor in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

She was a host on Fox News for years.

She first made her way into the Trump orbit due to her relationship with the president-elect's son.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos published on Tuesday, December 10 are the most compelling evidence to date that Donald Trump Jr. has moved on with new Palm Beach 'it girl' Bettina Anderson

Guilfoyle will move to Athens as she takes her post as Trump's Ambassador to Greece. Pictured: Jefferson House, the current estate of U.S. Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis

'Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad,' Trump said in a Truth Social post.

'Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation.'

Don Jr. and Guilfoyle began dating in 2018.

DailyMail.com first revealed their relationship was all but over in September after the 46-year-old was spotted kissing the socialite.

However, just days after that revelation, Guilfoyle was spotted by Don Jr's side on his surprise trip to the Balkans.

Don Jr. traveled to Serbia and Romania to deliver the message that a second Trump presidency would ensure an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

This followed another revelation by Daily Mail that Bettina Anderson had been featured in a video schmoozing with the former president's son, his ex-wife and their daughter at a party in Florida, with Kimberly nowhere in sight.

Sources close to the couple at the time insisted Kimberly had been invited but had a speaking engagement that night.
Pictures today made clear the extent of the damage after a gas explosion destroyed a terraced house in Ilford, narrowly missing a five-year-old girl.

Two people were rushed to hospital after being pulled from a window by firefighters following a massive gas explosion on a residential street in London.

Neighbours said debris narrowly missed a five-year old girl as it was blasted into the road.

A huge fire then engulfed the home, at the height of the incident the first floor and loft conversion were fully alight with eight fire engines and 60 firefighters tackling the blaze, London Fire Brigade said.

Firefighters were seen helping a woman out of a kitchen on the first floor of the building as huge flames tore through the roof.

Following the explosion, the roof of the building was destroyed and the rest of the building was significantly damaged.

The ground floor, first floor and loft conversion of the house were destroyed by the fire, while two neighbouring properties are being assessed for structural damage.

Images in the daylight now show the roof which has been blown off, leaving debris stained black and a collapsed wall on the first floor.

Fire crews remained on the scene throughout the evening with the cause of the explosion under investigation.

The roof of a house was blown off by a gas explosion causing huge damage to the building

The explosion has destroyed the house, with the inside now visible after walls collapsed

The damaged caused by the house fire pictured from above after firefighters tackled the blaze

A Ring doorbell at a neighbour's captured the moment the explosion went off, blowing their door through

Averil Young, 87, who lives across the road, told the Evening Standard the explosion reminded her of the Blitz.

She said: 'I have never been so frightened in my life. There was a big red flash. I couldnt believe what I was seeing it shook next door.

'I went into shock. It reminded me of the Second World War. I thought it was a bomb. Then the flames started to go up. There was still smoke at 4am this morning.'

Another witness said: 'When we looked around the back the whole house was on fire. I saw the fire brigade take three people out of the first floor. They had a ladder up and were helping them out.'

Three people were treated at the scene by paramedics with two being rescued from a first floor window by firefighters using a ladder and were taken to hospital. Their conditions are currently not known.

Five further people left neighbouring properties before the the fire service arrived.

A 32-metre ladder was used to fight the fire from above while a drone was deployed to give firefighters an aerial view of the house.

Glass, bricks and other bits of debris from the building were blasted across the road and onto parked cars outside the house.

Residents are continuing to be told to avoid the area with the road being closed while the incident is being investigated.

Shocking footage shows the moment a terraced house goes up in flames in Ley Street in Ilford at around 4.10pm yesterday.

Shocking footage shows the moment a terraced house goes up in flames at around 4.10pm yesterday

Sixty firefighters battled a house fire after a massive explosion in Ley Street in Ilford

MAPPED: This is where the house explosion too place with emergency services rushing to the scene at around 4.10pm

The explosion blew the roof off the two-storey house and sent shattered glass and bricks across the busy street

At the height of the blaze the first floor and loft conversion were fully alight, London Fire Brigade said

Three people were treated at the scene by paramedics with two being taken to hospital

Two people were rescued from a first floor window by firefighters

Redbridge Council said the road will be closed in both directions until at least 11am tomorrow.

A council statement said: 'Thank you for your co-operation in allowing blue lights to do their work. Council services are supporting those directly affected by tonight's incident.'

Station Commander Darren McTernan said: 'Firefighters worked hard to bring this fire under control. Crews will remain on scene throughout the evening.

'Ley Street remains closed between Eastern Avenue and Vicarage Road, impacting traffic in the surrounding area, so please continue to avoid the area if you can.

'One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as a water tower to help fight the fire from above.

'The Brigade's drone team were also deployed to the incident, offering the Incident Commander an aerial view of the scene.'

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 4.08pm on December 10 to reports of a fire at a residential property in Ley Street, Ilford.

'We have attended alongside the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.

'We remain at the scene and cordons are in place.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We sent resources including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic practitioner, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team (HART).

'We treated three people. We took two to hospital and discharged a third at the scene.'

Jas Athwal, MP for Ilford South, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'Please be aware there is an ongoing fire in a residential property on Ley Street in Ilford.

'London Fire Brigade & Redbridge Borough Police are on the scene. People are advised to stay away from the area while the emergency services attend.'

A 32-metre ladder was used to fight the fire from above while a drone was deployed to give firefighters an aerial view of the house.

Redbridge Council said the road will be closed in both directions until at least 11am tomorrow

London Fire Brigade say that part of the house's loft conversion remains alight as a 32-metre ladder is being used to fight the fire from above

Around sixty firefighters battled the house fire after the massive explosion on the residential street

Two neighbouring properties are being assessed for structural damage

Emergency services rushed to the house fire at around 4.10pm

Councillor Khayer Chowdhury, cabinet member for enforcement and community safety on Redbridge Council, said: 'Praying nobody has been hurt in this and also thanking our brave firefighters.

'Please avoid driving into the Ley Street area and allow emergency services to do their jobs.'

He added: 'We're standby to provide support to London Fire Brigade with the clear up operation'.

'We're also on standby to support residents who have been directly affected by this incident and will be liaising with our Fire Brigade & Redbridge Borough Police partners.'
Fingerprints found at the scene of UnitedhealthCare CEO Brian Thompson's murder match those of suspected killer Luigi Mangione, according to police.

NYPD sources say the gunman left a Kind bar and water bottle at the scene, and fingerprints on the objects have been matched to Mangione, 26.

Police reportedly also found a water bottle the suspect bought at Starbucks shortly before the murder.

The fingerprint match would be the first scientific forensic evidence against Mangione.

It comes after Mangione's attorney claimed he has seen not evidence that the Ivy league graduate is to blame for Thompson's midtown Manhattan murder last week.
Administrators at New York City private school knowingly hired a convicted felon and shamed concerned parents and teachers as 'racist', according to a bombshell report.

This decision to hire 38-year-old Winston Nguyen by Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn for the 2020 school year culminated in police arresting him in June and charging him with a litany of sex crimes against children.

Nguyen, who was a winning contestant on Jeopardy in 2014, is accused of soliciting lewd images from students, promoting a sexual performance by a child and disseminating indecent material to a minor, as first reported by the New York Times.

But despite complaints about his 'grooming' behavior and a known Snapchat catfishing scheme that led to naked pictures of underage students being leaked, the report found that leaders at the school treated him as a valued employee and even once called him 'an angel from heaven.'

'In some instances, they prioritized teachers including Nguyen over the concerns of students and their families about the teachers background or behavior,' reads the report.

Saint Ann's commissioned the investigation, which was conducted by law firm Debevoise & Plimpton after the math teacher was arrested near the school.

Debevoise spoke to 68 people - current and former teachers and families at Saint Ann's - and reviewed more than 30,000 documents, including emails, personnel files and policies.

The report's authors, lawyers Helen Cantwell and Arian June, concluded that top leaders at the school 'protected' Nguyen - who was previously convicted of grand larceny and other charges.

Winston Nguyen appears on an episode of Jeopardy! on July 18, 2024

Nguyen, pictured in court on July 25, 2024, is now accused of promoting a sexual performance by a child and disseminating indecent material to a minor

They also did not disclose his criminal past because they were interested in giving him a 'second chance.'

Though the report found no evidence of Nguyen engaging in sexual or romantic relationships with students, it argued that he routinely 'pushed boundaries' and violated policies with his 'overly familiar and excessive interactions with students.'

This included him giving out snacks to students from his 'candy closet,' tutoring them for free both on and off campus and even bringing food to students' homes completely unannounced and uninvited, the report said.

'One witness was particularly alarmed because they did not know how Nguyen learned their address,' the lawyers revealed.

The report also detailed how administrators repeatedly failed to investigate claims of someone catfishing students to get them to share sexually explicit pictures of themselves.

High school students told administrators in February 2024 about three Snapchat accounts that allegedly sent inappropriate pictures of girls attending the school to other students, the report said.

Administrators allegedly fell back on their internal policy of not reporting individual instances of inappropriate behavior on social media given 'how frequently' it happens.

At that point, they did not tell the wider community about the catfishing allegations, only speaking with the families involved and not getting in touch with the District Attorney, according to the report.

Pictured: Saint Ann's School, which is located in Brooklyn Heights

'Saint Anns administrators decided that communication about the issue would draw unwanted attention to the catfishing victims,' the report said.

'Thus, information that some Saint Anns students were being targeted by an unknown Snapchat account was not shared beyond a small group of administrators.'

In April and May 2024, administrators once again learned about similar catfishing behavior, only this time it was going on with middle school students, the report said.

Again, they were accused of not informing the community.

'Administrators did not think that the account holder was affiliated with Saint Anns and, believing it was unrelated to the School, did not notify anyone beyond certain affected families,' the report said.

Only when police arrested Nguyen in June and told administrators it was related the to the February Snapchat incident did they realize the 'messages were likely sent by the same person'.

It was Maureen 'Mo' Yusuf-Morales, Head of the Upper Middle School at Saint Ann's, who first recommended Nguyen to be hired in August 2020, per the report.

She had known him since 2006 and had crossed paths while working at various educational programs, the report said.

At the time of his hiring, the school was short-staffed and 'urgently needed to hire short-term staff members to assist with the logistics of remote and hybrid learning given the Covid-19 pandemic,' according to the report.

Yusuf-Morales was aware of Nguyen's crimes and when Melissa Kantor, then-Dean of Faculty, informed then-Head of School Vince Tompkins about it later, she described what he did as 'financial issue with his prior employer,' the report claimed.

Tompkins was said to have authorized Nguyen's hiring 'without any record of further inquiry about the nature of Nguyens crime.'

Nguyen stole $300,000 from Bernard and Florence Stoll. Bernard died in November 2019. Florence in November 2018

Nguyen is pictured on July 31, 2018, appearing in court over those theft charges

In 2019, Nguyen was jailed on Rikers Island for four months after he stole $300,000 from a 96-year-old blind man and his 92-year-old wife. His victims, Bernard and Florence Stoll, have since died.

He was also ordered to pay back the money he stole.

The school's own background check - completed in early September 2020 and after he was already teaching - revealed that he had pled guilty to grand larceny, according to the report.

When Melissa Kantor, then-Dean of Faculty, and Vince Tompkins, then-Head of School, found out about this, they kept Nguyen on staff and informed no one else, the report said.

In 2021, Nguyen even got a promotion to a full-time math teacher, up from his temporary 'Classroom Assistant' role, according to the report.

'Tompkins and Kantor decided to hire Nguyen, in part, because of their view that Saint Anns as an institution believes in second chances and hiring someone with a criminal record 26 was an opportunity to act in accordance with what they saw as the Schools values,' the report said.

Tompkins recently retired from his job leading the controversy-ridden school. Kantor has now become the assistant head at Trinity School this fall.

And Yusuf-Morales, who allegedly pushed the hardest to hire Nguyen, left Saint Ann's this summer and is now working at a charter school in Brooklyn, the New York Times reported.

The NYT cited her LinkedIn profile as evidence of this, but this social media page has either been deleted or made private.

The report claims Maureen Yusuf-Morales (pictured) was the one who advocated Saint Ann's administrators to hire Nguyen in August 2020, two weeks after she appeared on a podcast discussing anti-racist education

Yusuf-Morales has also worked as a DEI trainer and appeared on an episode of the Nonprofit Lowdown podcast on July 23, 2020, to discuss anti-racist education and parenting with host Rhea Wong.

This podcast was posted exactly two weeks before she would recommend hiring Nguyen, who is Asian, describing him as her 'mentee,' a 'long time friend,' and 'brilliant,' according to the report.

She also allegedly insisted that Nguyen was a 'reformed' criminal who was a 'strong teacher' and 'good with children'.

DailyMail.com approached Yusuf-Morales for comment but didn't receive a response before publication.

DailyMail.com also approached the current administration of Saint Ann's for comment.

Last week, a prosecutor with the Brooklyn District Attorney's office told the NYT that a plea deal was in the works.

In court this week, Nguyen's lawyer, Frank Rothman, said his client would face at least five years in prison. His next court date is scheduled for March 18.
MSNBC star Rachel Maddow's viewership has plummeted since Donald Trump won the presidential election, tanking the liberal network's overall ratings.

Maddow, MSNBC's highest paid anchor, has lost a staggering 43 percent of her audience since Election Day.

On average, only about 1.4 million people tune in to her show each week, compared to the 2.4 million that did earlier this year.

The 51-year-old saw a drastic drop in viewers aged from 25 to 54, losing 56 percent of that audience since the election, Fox News reported.

Maddow reportedly earns a $25 million salary for 'The Rachel Maddow Show,' where she shares her left-wing political stances. Maddow has been an avid supporter of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

She praised Biden during one of her shows, saying he 'has been a phenomenal president.'

'He brought us back from Covid, he gave us the best recovery from Covid or any major nation on Earth,' Maddow said.

'The Biden economy is literally the envy of the world.'

She openly slammed her own network for airing Trump's victory speech on Super Tuesday, saying it was 'irresponsible to broadcast.'

Maddow earns $25 million a year at MSNBC even though she only goes on the air once a week

Rachel Maddow's viewership has tanked, along with the liberal network's overall ratings

During Trump's first presidential term, Maddow pushed theories alleging the Republican was in cahoots with Russia.

At the time, her show flourished off liberals' disdain for Trump. But it appears the tide has turned.

Fox News contributor Joe Concha said it makes sense for someone who 'so strongly supported Kamala Harris' to be losing viewers before Trump returns to the White House.

'What was surprising is that MSNBC still doled out $25 million to her to work one night a week. And the return on investment is that she finishes a distant second to Sean Hannity at 9pm. Is that money well spent?' he said.

Maddow reportedly made $30 million from her last contract. In 2022, she started doing her show once a week instead of five nights. The anchor's audience peaked in 2020 with 3.2 million viewers.

An MSNBC spokesperson called the salary figures 'incorrect' without providing other amounts.

During Maddow's prime, she was often considered one of the 'most-watched cable news hosts.'

Alex Wagner - who took over for Maddow the other four nights of the week - has also seen a sharp decline is support. Last week was her lowest-rated, according to Fox News.

Maddow recently came under fire for speculating about a connection between the UnitedHealth CEO's alleged assassin, Luigi Mangione, and Trump.

Maddow inexplicably linked Mangione and Trump's rumored pick for new ATF Director, Blake Masters.

Maddow's viewership last peaked in 2020, but has declined rapidly since the 2024 election

Maddow is known for her criticism of Donald Trump and was upset with her own network for airing his Super Tuesday victory speech

'If it is him (Mangione), the fact that he's a professed Unabomber fan is unsettling. I might mention that it's even more unsettling that Donald Trump's reported choice to run the ATF is also a self-professed fan of the Unabomber,' she said.

Earlier this month, Maddow reportedly became enraged when her Morning Joe colleagues Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinskifor visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

Maddow, along with other hosts at the troubled network, called the move by the married co-hosts 'opportunistic.'

'They have lost a lot of credibility. Rachel Maddow is pissed at them as are other presenters like Chris Hayes and Ari Melber. They are so frustrated,' an unnamed MSNBC journalist said.

MSNBC disputed the report, claiming that Maddow hasn't said anything on air or off air about Scarborough and Brzezinski meeting with Trump.

'Any insinuation otherwise is merely speculative and not from a source who is familiar with the matter,' a network spokesperson said.
The pristine waters off Cape Cod could become radioactive for as long as a month after a new study found that nuclear waste being dumped from the tony peninsula has a 'high probability' of lingering.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution conducted the study to find out how likely it would be that discharged wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear PowerStation in Plymouth, Massachusetts would spread into Cape Cod Bay, whose surrounding communities include multimillion-dollar mansions.

'Our numerical simulations suggest it is unlikely that the bulk of plume waters will leave the Bay in less than a month,' said the study's leader Irina Rypina.

The dumping comes as part of the power station's decommissioning, and the study found that its wastewaters could drift near the shores and coastal waters of Dennis, Wellfleet, and Provincetown.

'If the release were to happen in the spring and summer, a small portion of a plume might leave the bay in less than a month, passing north of Provincetown and then flowing southward along the outer Cape,' the study said.

'We found virtually no out-of-the-Bay transport in winter and fall and slightly larger, but still low, probability of some of the plume exiting the Bay in spring and summer,' Rypina said.

In response to the study, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, who chairs the Senate's Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, said that the findings confirm concerns expressed by the residents of the Cape.

According to Markey, residents have been questioning the wisdom of dumping plant wastewater into the Bay 'for years.'

'Our numerical simulations suggest it is unlikely that the bulk of plume waters will leave the Bay in less than a month,' said the study's leader Irina Rypina

The dumping comes as part of the power station's decommissioning, and the study found that these wastewaters could drift near the shores and coastal waters of Dennis, Wellfleet, and Provincetown (pictured here)

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, who chairs the Senate's Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, said that the findings confirm concerns expressed by the residents of the Cape

Nuclear wastewater discharge is a normal occurrence during both the operation and decommissioning of power plants, according to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

'The controlled release of liquid effluents at nuclear power plants, within specified regulatory limits, is an activity that occurs throughout the operation and decommissioning of a facility,' said the NRC.

While the study did not explore the health risks that such a dump could pose to marine life or local fishing or recreation, a 2023 analysis by Florida-based Holtec International, the plant's owner, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health included alarming findings.

It determined that the roughly 900,000 gallons of wastewater stored at Pilgrim is contaminated with 'four gamma emitters (Maganese-54, Cobalt-60, Zinc-65 and Cesium-137) and Tritium (H-3 a beta radiation emitter).'

A spokesperson for Holtec told the Boston Herald that Pilgrim had 'safely' discharged millions of gallons of water over the decades with little environmental impact.

'Those discharges were done within the safe federal and state limits and reported to the NRC and publicly available on their website.

'This includes studies to determine any potential impact to sea life and the Bay which showed that safety has always remained, and plant impact has been negligible,' the spokesperson told the outlet.

The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station shut down in May 2019 after 47 years of operation and was then owned by Louisiana-based Entergy Corporation. The plant was purchased by a subsidiary of Holtec in 2019 with an aim toward cleaning up the 1,700-acre site for industrial and commercial development, according to the Herald.

The surrounding communities of Cape Cod Bay, include Provincetown (pictured) include multimillion-dollar mansions

Holtec President and CEO Kris Singh (pictured) assured residents that the project would 'replicate the superb record of public health and safety and environmental protection that typified the plant's 47 years of operations'

There's a probability that of some of the plume could exit Cape Cod Bay in spring and summer

When the plant was bought, Holtec President and CEO Kris Singh assured residents that the project would 'replicate the superb record of public health and safety and environmental protection that typified the plant's 47 years of operations.'

In a statement, Markey said that Singh had promised both the senator and impacted communities that the process of decommissioning would be 'open and transparent.'

'In the years since, Holtec has fallen woefully short on this commitment. In light of these recent findings, I urge Holtec to develop a wastewater discharge plan that is informed and guided by scientific fact and community input,' Markey said.

Local residents have continued to show concern for the wastewater dumping into Cape Cod Bay - identified as a' protected ocean sanctuary', according to the Massachusetts Government website.

The state Department of Environmental Protection determined on July 18 that Holtec was prohibited from 'the dumping or discharge of industrial wastes into protected state waters', the Cape Cod Times reported.

Holtec is reportedly hoping to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of industrial wastewater and filed an appeal to the agency's prohibition on August 16.

In a statement, the company said: 'The appeal explains that the permits granting liquid discharge were issued prior to the Ocean Sanctuary Act legislation, which grandfathers these types of liquid discharges.'
A heroic twin who saved her sibling from a crocodile attack by punching the reptile in its face has received a bravery honour in the King's first Civilian Gallantry List.

Georgia Laurie, 31, courageously struck out when the animal dragged her sibling, Melissa, underwater while swimming in a lagoon in Mexico in June 2021.

She fought off the crocodile three times as it repeatedly came in to attack.

Both women were seriously hurt, and although they have since made a good recovery from their injuries they still suffer from the mental scars of their ordeal.

Today, however, Georgia was decorated with the King's Gallantry Medal by King Charles at an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Images show the 31-year-old laughing and talking with the King alongside her sister.

Previously, Ms Laurie, from Sandhurst, Berkshire, said it was a shock to receive the honour as she 'didn't see it coming'.

She said: 'I feel really privileged, it's a silver lining to have come out of the terrible ordeal... it kind of softens the whole traumatic experience.

Georgia Laurie, left, poses with the King's Gallantry Medal alongside her sister Melissa, right

The twin received a bravery honour from King Charles at an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London today

Deep bite marks and surgery scars were seen on Georgia's legs following the attack

'It's been a good thing for not just me but for the whole family, I feel like I have to share it with my sister because let's face it I don't think I would have been nominated for it if she didn't survive.

'What's made this story so incredible is Melissa's unwavering bravery throughout it all because she was so strong during it and I don't think I would be here without her, she really gave me the strength to keep fighting.'

The twins were swimming in a lagoon near Puerto Escondido when Melissa was dragged under the water.

Melissa - who also developed sepsis as a result of her injuries and was put into an induced coma - survived with an open fracture to her wrist, severe puncture wounds to the abdomen and many injuries to her leg and foot, while Georgia was bitten on her hand.

The sisters recalled the dramatic encounter in an interview with the Mail On Sunday back in 2021.

'I saw the outline of its head above the water and its eyes. It was silent and perfectly still at this point,' Melissa said.

'I knew in that moment we were in trouble. I screamed, 'S***! It's a crocodile, we need to turn back immediately!' My heart rate shot up. I was so scared.'

It was then that the crocodile struck. Again and again the reptile attacked, dragging the 28-year-old under the water in a terrifying 'death roll', inflicting gaping wounds over Melissa's body.

Melissa (pictured in hospital) was left in an induced coma following the attack, but made a stunning recovery

Melissa reveals the injuries she suffered after being dragged under water by a crocodile in Mexico

Georgia's medal today was awarded for saving her twin sister Melissa (centre) from a crocodile attack while on an excursion in Puerto Escondido

Georgia (right) with her recovering twin sister Melissa (left) pictured together in hospital after the attack

Georgia Laurie (right), 31, courageously struck out when the animal dragged her sibling, Melissa (left), underwater while swimming in a lagoon in Mexico in June 2021

Both women were seriously hurt, and although they have since made a good recovery from their injuries they still suffer from the mental scars of their ordeal

She was saved by Georgia who, through a feat of almost super-human strength and courage, repeatedly punched the crocodile on the nose until it released gravely wounded Melissa from its jaws, barely clinging to life.

Melissa said: 'My mind was racing with all these thoughts. I thought, 'I'm never going to see my family again, I'm never going to see my twin sister again.'

'My initial thought was she's going to have to deal with getting my body back to the UK. I thought I was about to die. Then I passed out.'

As the crocodile grabbed Melissa's left foot in a renewed assault, Georgia began beating it on the nose with her fists: 'I had to fight it off, I started bashing it and bashing it with both fists; just thumping it. It felt rock hard, like punching a wall.'

The animal swam away but came back seconds later for a third time, biting Melissa's upper thigh and bottom. Again, Georgia flailed and punched it hard: 'I was exhausted from the fight. But I just kept punching it.'

The crocodile swam away for the final time after being pummelled by Georgia for a 'substantial' length of time.

'It felt like the attack went on for ever. I don't know how long it went on. I was scared that it would come back and then we would both be dead.'

Despite her heroics, Georgia plunged into despair: 'When I realised that Melissa wasn't responding, I was actually thinking: "I want to die. I don't want to live any more'"'

Melissa - who also developed sepsis as a result of her injuries and was put into an induced coma - survived with an open fracture to her wrist, severe puncture wounds to the abdomen and many injuries to her leg and foot

Georgia (right) and Melissa (left) pictured smiling in a selfie together taken on a holiday

Eventually, a rescue boat arrived on the scene. Melissa was hauled on board, with Georgia clambering in and cradling her in her arms.

Blood was everywhere, with Melissa vomiting up a mixture of blood and filthy water.

She said: 'I remember screaming 'Hug me, hug me' because I knew I was dying at that point and I just wanted to be in [Georgia's] arms.

'I remember telling Georgia: 'I'm dying, I'm dying.' I was really scared. It felt so surreal. A nightmare.'

This year's Civilian Gallantry List, which includes nine people, is the first to be approved by the King.

Also set to receive the medal is Pc Zach Printer, who was unarmed when he confronted gunman Jake Davison in August 2021 in Keyham, Plymouth. Davison had already shot and killed five innocent victims.

Among the other recipients is Pc Steven Denniss, who was stabbed in the leg while apprehending a double murder suspect while off duty in Louth, Lincolnshire, in June 2021.
Religion and culture can never be used as an excuse for domestic abuse. Neither can race. They are all irrelevant where violence in the home is concerned.

Yet women and children are being beaten and even murdered behind closed doors, by men from certain backgrounds who believe they have an ordained licence to commit brutality in the name of traditional and religious values.

This cruelty should not be acceptable anywhere in the world. In a free democratic society such as Britain, it is beyond despicable. It goes against every value we claim to espouse as a country.

But the brutality and savagery perpetrated against little Sara Sharif serves as a stark reminder that we, as a society, failed to defend these humane values.

We do not yet know why exactly Sara was let down so badly by her teachers, social services and the police. But I think I have an idea.

Ten-year-old Sara Sharif, who had brutal injuries inflicted on her over months and years by her father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool

Urfan Sharif, the father of Sara Sharif, repeatedly told the court that he saw himself as a good father

The suffering of 10-year-old Sara before she died, at her home in Woking, Surrey, defies imagination. Her father Urfan and her stepmother Beinash Batool inflicted injuries on her over months and years, including burns all over her body, bite wounds and broken bones.

Even in the school photograph of her that has accompanied many of the reports around her murder trial, there is discolouration beneath her left eye that appears to be a bruise. The marks of her abuse were literally staring her teachers in the face.

When her school did alert social services, nothing was done. On one occasion, the family dismissed Saras bruising as the result of playing with a pen. Incredibly, this explanation was accepted.

The authorities pretty much ignored everything that was happening to this defenceless girl. Why? I fear that those who might have sounded the alarm were afraid that, by challenging Saras parents, they somehow might be labelled racist and Islamophobic.

Sara was described by teachers as a spirited, bold and fierce child

In court, former neighbour Chloe Redwin described conversations with Batool and Sharif when she first noticed Sara wearing the hijab that her violent parents had dressed her in to cover her wounds. Redwin told jurors: I saw her wear a hijab in January 2023. I had a conversation with the mother and father of the household...I made a comment to the mother, Oh doesnt she look nice in her headscarf, when did she start wearing one?

The conversation was shut down, Redwin said. [Batool] said She decided to wear one, she wants to follow her religion.

Of course, hideous abuse happens in many white families across Britain. You only need to look at the murder of Baby P in 2007 or Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in 2020 to see that much.

Screen grab from body cam footage issued by Surrey Police of the arrest of Sara Sharif's uncle Faisal Malik

But as a young woman who grew up in Pakistan with a strict Muslim father, Saras tragic case hit a nerve. The reality of the matter is that, in some conservative Muslim households across Britain, men  fathers, grandfather, brothers and uncles  act as though they have free rein to discipline women and girls with physical violence.

This vile mindset does not only affect Muslim communities, and indeed, in many ways Urfan was not conservative  he drank alcohol, gambled and married a Polish woman. But it does reflect the practice of generations in traditionally Islamic countries. Inside some highly conservative Muslim families in the UK, the violence intensifies, with the men striving to prove that they have not become soft and Westernised.

I spent the Nineties and Noughties in Pakistan, where my father wouldnt hesitate to smack me or my two sisters if he was displeased with us. Our mother stood up for us, fiercely, but in Lahore a slap for a child was not seen as abusive, much as it wasnt in post-war Britain.

My father also disapproved of education for girls. He declared that, if we went to school, we would be corrupted and might become prostitutes. It was generally accepted among everyone I knew that Western women were all immoral, slovenly and promiscuous, and that good Muslim girls had to be preserved from such a fate. Keeping us at home instead of sending us to school was one way to do that.

I will always be grateful that our mother insisted we had to be educated. Still, I didnt lose that negative perception of European women until I left Pakistan, living first in Germany and now in Britain.

Sara Sharifs mother is European, a white Polish woman, and it is evident that Urfan Sharif, her father, had an ingrained misogynistic attitude.

If he is anything like the older men I grew up around, he may have been afraid that his daughter Sara would grow up Westernised and that this, crucially, would bring dishonour on him.

The British Pakistani community is largely conservative, and it is a widely held belief that family and religious honour should never be compromised.

Its a life-or-death matter for a few narrow-minded, misogynist individuals. It can drive them to extremes of abusive, controlling behaviour, and often they are urged on by other family members, both male and female, in Britain and back in Pakistan.

According to Saras teachers, she was a spirited, bold and fierce child. These are admirable characteristics, but to a man such as Urfan they were an open threat. Messages sent by Batool, the stepmother, to a relative, describe Sara as naughty. But in those conservative Muslim households where women are viewed as property, the word naughty can mean disobedient and insufficiently subservient.

In this way, men are able to place the blame for violence on the child. They can pose as good parents, who act out of love and a respect for traditional values. Urfan Sharif repeatedly told the court that he saw himself as a good father.

Typically, it is girls and young women who are subjected to beatings, not boys. It is also women who can be forced to hide the marks of their abuse by wearing headscarves, hijabs or burkas.

As a child, I never wore the hijab. Children in Pakistan generally dont. But it is increasingly common in British schools now to see pupils adopting it, and very few head teachers have the courage to question it.

Whatever a schools general rule about uniforms, allowances are made to accommodate the demands of religious groups who have no hesitation in using threats and campaigns of vilification to enforce their own stipulations about dress.

As I say, I fear this was why no one dared interrogate Sara or her family about why she was wearing the hijab, in the months before her father abruptly took her out of school altogether.

The fact is that any religious requirement for wearing the veil is contentious, and disputed by some Muslim academics. But as a minority of religious extremists have come to dominate the mainstream narrative, it has become an arbitrary cultural norm that most Westerners accept too readily.

Sara's stepmother Beinash speaking alongside Sara's father, Urfan Sharif

As these zealots have imposed themselves as the spokesmen (they are always men) of their communities, they have turned the hijab into a sacred Islamic symbol  something it never was.

Schools, police, social workers and Left wing journalists often remain wilfully blind to the uncomfortable truth. They deliberately look away, on the grounds that raising a challenge might damage community relations.

This cowardice undermines the secular and democratic ideals that make the UK such a desirable home for people from all backgrounds.

Though comparatively few Britons are churchgoers now, this country has always respected different religions. It is also commonly held that all cultures are innately valuable.

But that belief becomes disturbing when the rights of women and girls suffer. And at that point, that culture or religion forfeits its right to our respect.

Khadija Khan is Politics and Culture Editor at A Further Inquiry magazine.
A Florida man who stopped to help a stranded driver was forced to have his leg amputated after another driver crashed into him.

Yevhenii Arsirii, 31, of Fort Lauderdale, was going home from the gym around midnight on August 11 when he noticed a man pushing his car up a street after running out of gas.

After stopping to help alongside another Good Samaritan, the three had been talking about 'love and compassion' as they moved the vehicle when disaster struck.

Driver Tydaijah Sade Lashone Murray, 29, allegedly crashed into them from behind, trapping Arsirii between the two vehicles, according to The Sun-Sentinel and NBC Miami.

When he looked down, he noticed both his legs had 'broken off.'

Murray allegedly fled the scene and is still at large, according to The Sun-Sentinel.

Since the crash, Arsirii had to have his right left amputated and doctors are working hard to save his left.

He's battled inflections and has been in and out of the hospital, garnering more than $1 million in medical debt.

'The most difficult part was just to realize that I dont have a leg anymore, that its somebodys fault, that the person didnt even pay attention,' he told the outlet. 'That its going to be a different life, different lifestyle. Getting used to different things.'

Fort Lauderdale Police have issued a warrant for Murray's arrest. The woman had two prior criminal misdemeanor cases involving traffic incidents in 2018 and 2019, according to the outlet.

Yevhenii Arsirii, 31, of Fort Lauderdale, was going home from the gym around midnight on August 11 when he noticed a man pushing his car up Northwest Sixth Street after running out of gas and stopped to help, alongside another Good Samaritan

When he looked down, he noticed both his legs had 'broken off.' He said: 'The most difficult part was just to realize that I dont have a leg anymore, that its somebodys fault, that the person didnt even pay attention'

In 2018, Murray evaded being pulled over and crashed into the back of a home and damaged the gate of another home. The charges were later dropped in the case.

In 2019, she was involved in another crash and also fled the scene. She was arrested in August 2020 after being pulled over, according to The Sun-Sentinel. She received three months of probation and had to complete an aggressive driving course.

Arsirii most recently went back in the hospital in November when he developed another infection and had to undergo a six-hour surgery.

Surgeons had to place a 'temporary metal rod' in his leg to 'ensure his bones are properly fixated while delivering antibiotics to combat the infection'.

'The procedure was intense and his pain levels have been at their highest again,' his family wrote in a November 17 GoFundMe update.

He was temporarily released from the hospital on Tuesday and will be able to spend the holidays at home before having to return in January for further treatment, the family said. He is still on antibiotics to clear the infection.

'If everything goes as planned were hoping the final surgery for artificial bone implementation will happen in January. But as weve learned things often take much longer than expected. Were all in need of some peace of mind right now,' the GoFundMe said.

'Emotionally, this journey has been extremely tough for Yevhenii and for all of us. Hes exhausted  physically and emotionally but he remains hopeful and determined to move forward.'

While the three were moving the vehicle, talking about 'love and compassion' when Tydaijah Sade Lashone Murray, 29, crashed into them from behind, trapping Arsirii between the two vehicles. Murray fled the scene and is still at large

Arsirii most recently went back in the hospital in November when he developed another infection and had to undergo a six-hour surgery. Surgeons had to place a 'temporary metal rod' in his leg to 'ensure his bones are properly fixated'

He was temporarily released from the hospital on Tuesday and will be able to spend the holidays at home before having to return in January for further treatment

Arsirii is also facing mounting medical bills as his Medicaid and disability applications are still pending, so he is currently paying all his bills out of pocket

Not only does he want Murray to be caught, but he 'would say to this person to at least pay the bill,' he said

Arsirii is also facing mounting medical bills as his Medicaid and disability applications are still pending, so he is currently paying all his bills out of pocket.

The fundraiser has garnered $70,000 toward its $500,000 goal.

Despite his hardships, Arsirii doesn't regret helping the stranded driver.

The driver and the other Good Samaritan only suffered minor injuries, according to NBC Miami.

Not only does he want Murray to be caught, but he 'would say to this person to at least pay the bill,' he told the outlet.

'I want this person caught and held responsible,' he said.
Women 'crushed' on Luigi Mangione as he typed away on his laptop at his co-working space in Honolulu, finding him a dreamy blend of looks, brains and charm, according to former fellow members of the facility.

The 26-year-old Ivy League tech grad, charged this week with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, bore no resemblance to the killer as he rolled in on his bicycle each morning to Hub Co-working Hawaii, a regular there told DailyMail.com.

People there were having a hard time wrapping their heads around the new reality that this affable young man they knew would later carry out the cold-blooded execution 5,000 miles away in midtown Manhattan.

He reportedly detached from family and friends in the months leading up to last Wednesday's killing, but up until late last winter, he would stroll into the communal workspace two blocks from the ocean, grab a coffee, say his hellos and appear to go happily about his day.

'Everyone felt he was just a cool guy,' the source told DailyMail.com. 'He was very dynamic, charismatic, polite.

'He wasn't the nerdy tech type guy. He wasn't hiding under a hoodie. He was just completely normal.'

The source told DailyMail.com that Mangione had complained of back issues and sat in an especially cushy chair to ease his pain, but never made a big deal out of it.

'I never thought it was that much of an issue,' he said. 'He mentioned it, but he didn't seem like he was in pain all the time.'

Luigi Mangione spent half a year living at a surfer's collective in Hawaii in 2022 before 'everything changed' following a surfing accident, insiders tell DailyMail.com

The suspected killer, second from left, was known as a 'cool, charismatic guy' who attracted lots of women before shocking the world as an alleged cold-blooded assassin earlier this month

According to regulars at the workspace, Mangione bore no resemblance to a killer as he rolled in on his bicycle each morning to Hub Co-working Hawaii

Nobody knew his private thoughts, though, how he'd later be found carrying a dark manifesto declaring that 'these parasites had it coming'.

Rather, Mangione seemed to be focused on his job as a data engineer. He came to Hub because he preferred to work in an office rather than at home.

'He came here like most people because they want to be around people,' the source said.

From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a shared penthouse catering to remote workers at the edge of Honolulu tourist mecca Waikiki.

The source told DailyMail.com that Mangione and several other residents started working at Hub, just over a mile away, because of problems with the air conditioning at Surfbreak.

Mangione paid about $375 per month to use the workspace, including after he moved out of Surfbreak into a modern high-rise building nearby, pausing membership when he was out of town.

'He would pop in and out over the course of the years,' the source said. 'He would come in pretty regularly, all day long.'

He said Mangione, unlike some members, 'wasn't the hostel type who'd stick around the space just because they don't have anywhere better to be.'

Mangione, pictured with a friend, lived at Surfbreak, a shared penthouse catering to remote workers at the edge of Honolulu tourist mecca Waikiki from January to June 2022

Former friends of the alleged shooter claim he became 'crazy' after being injured in a surfing accident

Mangione moved out of Surffbreak into a 14th floor apartment in this modern high rise in downtown Honolulu

'He was very professional,' the source said. 'He was very conscious of stuff that he needed to get done. He came to work.'

'It was also evident he came from money, that he wasn't a digital nomad,' the source added.

'He had a job. Even the fact that he stayed at Surfbreak, that's not a cheap place to stay. And he was paying to come and work here.'

But Mangione was also a social butterfly, according to insiders.

He could have afforded a separate pod for himself if he wanted privacy, but the source noted: 'He would always be in the open space.'

He seemed to like the attention, as well, with several women showing an interest in him.

'He was a handsome, charismatic 24 to 25-year-old,' the source said. 'I don't think he dated anyone at the Hub, but I know there were a lot of crushes.'

Asked whether he would ever bring women to the workspace, the source said: 'He did come in with some of those Surfbreak folks for a period of time, women, but no one that he introduced as his girlfriend.'

Mangione was seen lashing out about cops being 'completely out of touch' and 'insulting the intelligence of the American people' as he was bundled into a Pennsylvania court by a horde of sheriff's deputies for his extradition hearing on Tuesday

Surveillance camera footage showed the gunman, suspected to be Mangione, shooting UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson at point blank range outside of a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on December 4

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside a Manhattan Hilton Hotel

The source last saw Mangione around February.

Mangione was arrested while eating at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, early Monday and arraigned at a local court Monday night.

He is expected to be extradited back to New York City, where he has been charged with murder.

His arrest shocked everyone in the facility, especially as members learned the alleged reasons for the assassination and saw Mangione's volatile appearances and writings.

'He could have completely changed and become a totally different person later, but when he was here, he was very normal, very nice, very polite all the time,' the source said.

He's read with interest about the alleged rationale for the killing as some sort of payback for injustices of the health care system.

He's also found it bizarre and disturbing to now see so many people embracing Mangione and his alleged actions.

'There's a lot of people who are not happy with the health care system right now,' the source said.

'But no matter what happened, it doesn't warrant somebody to be killed for it.

'What we're seeing now, it's not the person we had interactions with,' he continued.

'It's a very different image what people are seeing right now.'

Hub released a statement saying that Mangione 'appeared to be an upstanding and engaged member of our community,' while condemning the violence.

'We are deeply concerned about the serious circumstances involving Mr. Mangione and extend our heartfelt thoughts to all those affected during this difficult time,' the business stated.
A lucky woman uncovered a pearl while dining on oysters with her daughter in small-town North Carolina.

Freda Bryant made the fortunate discovery at Full Moon Oyster Bar in Morrisville - though unfortunately it was mid-bite.

Thankfully, her teeth were fine and she's now poised to make a pretty penny, pending an appraisal of the pearl's value.

'My daughter and I were coming from a doctor's appointment and she was like, "Mom, we gotta get some food,"' Bryant told WTVD of how it happened.

'So we ordered some oysters, and I'm eating... and I go "Oh my god, my tooth came out!'"

That's when the pair realized the obstruction was actually pearl, she said - touting the brilliant, round prize roughly the size of a marble as she spoke.

'It's like one in 10,000 chances of this happening,' she added, now planning to the have the pearl properly examined by trained experts.

Speaking outside the unassuming restaurant, she called the Tuesday find a direct message from the universe - one telling her to 'keep moving forward positively', no matter what.

Scroll down for video:

A woman found a pearl while dining on oysters with her daughter in North Carolina Tuesday

Freda Bryant made the extremely fortunate discovery at Full Moon Oyster Bar. She's seen speaking outside the small-town eatery after slurping up the pearl with her seafood

'It's impressive,' added a staffer at the eatery, which sells the delectable, briny bites for $25 a dozen.

'This is my pearl,' added Bryant, parading the calcium carbonate-coated particle that could be worth thousands of dollars in a jewelry box. 'Isn't that cool?'

The smiling worker agreed - seemingly caught up in Bryant's still-fresh elation.

Based on his expression, he too seemed astounded by what had just occurred, as only 1 in about 10,000 wild oysters will yield a pearl like Bryant slurped up accidentally.

The organic creations are made when a grain of sand or some other irritants gets into an oyster shell, spurring the oyster to coat itself with thin layers of a mineral secretion that form a pearl over several years.

Only a small percentage ever achieve the size, shape and color desirable to most jewelers - but, at first glance, Bryant's bauble appears up to snuff.

Roughly the size of nickel, the price of the piece, based on its size, shapes and luster, is likely at least $100, according to analysts at pearl-lang.com.

Even if the mother and daughter had ordered two dozen, a hefty profit would be in the cards.

'It's impressive,' said a surprised staffer of the discovery, smiling alongside an elated Bryant on Tuesday

Bryant had been on the way home from a doctor's appointment when her daughter suggested, "Mom, we gotta get some food,"' she said

The unassuming eatery sells the briny bites for $25 a dozen - meaning Bryant stands to make a pretty penny, pending an appraisal

'This is my pearl,' said Bryant said the calcium carbonate-coated particle that could be worth thousands in a jewelry box. 'Isn't that cool?' Experts say the pearl could be worth up to $2,000

That's one 'shell' of a discovery, some might say - as pearls popping up on a patron's plate are exceedingly rare.

That said, the phenomenon is not unheard of, with a 66-year-old New Yorker coming across one while enjoying oysters at Manhattan's iconic Grand Central Oyster Bar around this time in 2018.

'For a fraction of a second, there was terror,' Rick Antosh told the New York Post at the time. 'Is it a tooth; is it a filling?'

'And I took it out and saw that it couldn't have been anything else [but a pearl]. It was pearly white and round.'

He went on to get the appraised by Eddie Livi, owner of DSL Pearl on West 47th Street in Manhattan. It was found to be worth $400.
CNN panelist Scott Jennings ripped the American left for its contrasting attitudes towards Daniel Penny and Luigi Mangione.

The conservative commentator pulled out a simple two column chart to remind liberals fawning over Mangione who the 'bad guy' is.

'Let me just help you understand if you're on the American left tonight,' he said.

'The good guy today, Daniel Penny. The bad guy, Luigi Mangione.'

He spoke after Penny was acquitted on manslaughter and negligent homicide charges over the chokehold death of subway terrorizer Jordan Neely.

While some branded Penny a 'hero' for stepping in when Neely threatened to kill passengers on a subway train in May 2023, others on the left felt he was a criminal vigilante - with Black Lives Matter since calling for counter-protests.

On CNN on Monday after Mangione was named as a suspect in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Jennings said he was fed up with liberals praising the alleged killer because he targeted a healthcare executive.

'People on the left can't seem to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys,' he said.

CNN panelist Scott Jennings ripped the American left for its contrasting attitudes towards Daniel Penny and Luigi Mangione, reminding them who is the 'good guy' and the 'bad guy'

Jennings referenced the tasteless praise seen from some liberals towards alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione (pictured)

He said Daniel Penny was the 'good guy' following his acquittal in the May 2023 subway death of homeless man Jordan Neely

After Jennings brought out his chart, CNN Newsnight guest host Audie Cornish took issue with his stance and questioned how Jennings would categorize the victims Neely and Thompson.

She interrupted: 'What's the chart for the victims?'

'I'm just telling you what I see out in the world,' Jennings responded, telling Cornish she to 'make your own chart.'

'We have people praising Luigi and attacking Penny. One is good, the other is bad,' he added.

Cornish responded: 'I know. I know. I just want you to finish the chart. So the victim, which victim is good and which victim is bad?'

The host then went on to note that Arizona Republican Congressman Eli Crane has said he wants to award Penny the Congressional Medal for his bravery.

'I want to know whether you think that, as Congressman Crane does, that Daniel Penny should get the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his heroism? Im not asking you about anyone,' Cornish said.

Jennings agreed, saying: 'I think he ought to get medal. I think you ought to build a statue to this guy in New York City.'

After Jennings brought out his chart, CNN Newsnight guest host Audie Cornish took issue with his stance and questioned how Jennings would categorize the victims Neely and Thompson

Jennings cited the celebrations from some corners of social media over Brian Thompson's (pictured) death a week ago because he was a healthcare executive

It comes as Penny became an overnight New York City celebrity following his acquittal. He was facing charges of second degree manslaughter and negligent homicide following the subway death of mentally ill homeless street performer Jordan Neely.

But after more than 20 hours of deliberations over four days, jurors told the court they were unable to reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge and the state sensationally withdrew the charge in a desperate, last ditch effort to avoid a mistrial.

By Monday, jurors returned a verdict of not guilty to negligent homicide to Justice Maxwell Wiley.

They quickly found him not guilty - and the Marine veteran now stands to make millions of dollars to enjoy his freedom with.

His acquittal has paved the way for his bright future full of book deals, TV appearances and even a career in politics.

Since the very beginning, Penny won sympathy from conservatives who said he was right to step in when Neely acted out on the subway.

Now, with the trial behind him and renewed support from the likes of the Trump family, Penny's future is brighter than ever - in stark contrast to Mangione, who was arrested in Pennsylvania and stands charged with Thompson's murder.
A grandmother died after she was pinned against a wall for two days by her Sleep Number bed, according to a new lawsuit.

Rosalind Walker, from Godfrey, Illinois, was left trapped between the bed and wall of her bedroom on March 1 2023 after it 'lowered itself without warning'.

Two days later on March 3, emergency responders managed to free the 80-year-old and she was taken to hospital.

In a lawsuit brought by her daughter Angela Moan, it says Walker was taken to a rehab center and then brought home into hospice.

Moan, who is going after Sleep Number and manufacturer Leggett & Platt, claims that until her mother passed away on April 3 2023 she 'suffered the entire time'.

Her suit is seeking compensation for Walker's suffering and injuries as well as medical bills in excess of $25,000.

It alleges that Sleep Number 'designed and sold a bed that did not have adequate instructions or cautionary language, alerting Mrs. Walker not to go between the bed and the wall as she could be trapped.'

The company is also accused of having 'designed and sold a bed that did not have an adequate audible warning alerting Mrs. Walker it was declining'.

Rosalind Walker, from Godfrey, Illinois, was left trapped between the bed and wall of her bedroom on March 1 2023 after it 'lowered itself without warning'

Her suit, which is going after Sleep Number and their manufacturer, is seeking compensation for Walker's suffering and injuries as well as medical bills

It adds that the bed 'did not have an appropriate release mechanism which would have allowed Mrs. Walker to free herself'.

The lawsuit says that both companies 'designed, manufactured, marketed, sold and warrantied the Sleep Number bed.'

The suit continues: 'This negligence was the proximate cause of Mrs. Walker's injuries, suffering, and she died.'

Moan's lawyer Ted Gianaris told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: 'Mrs. Walker was trapped for two days and then she died.

'Something as common as an adjustable bed should not trap an elderly person. We look forward to hearing from Sleep Number about why it did not sell a safer bed.'

A spokesperson for Sleep Number said they would not comment on pending litigation.

The company was founded in 1987 with some of its more recent designs including climate-controlled mattresses.

In January of this year they publicly apologized to an 85-year-old woman who was escorted from one of their stores in Dayton, Ohio.

The company was founded in 1987 with some of its more recent designs including climate-controlled mattresses

Helen Dewberry had sought to speak with an in-store manager about a home delivery purchase she had recieved from the company.

After making phone calls to their customer service line which ended in her unable to reach anyone, she decided to go into a branch.

Dewberry told the Dayton Daily News that when she appeared at the branch was tossed a phone and told to call customer service.

She said: 'I said 'Sir, I got dressed to come down here to talk to a person, not on the phone again".'

The manager then told her to leave and when she refused he had three police officers remove her.

The company publicly apologized to Dewberry over the move by the manager with a decision on store personnel pending the outcome of a meeting, they said.
A man has been charged with murder hours after his wife was found dead inside their home in what police allege were 'very violent' circumstances.

Emergency services rushed to a unit complex on Knox Street in Belmore in Sydney's southwest at 7.50am on Wednesday after receiving reports of a concern for welfare about a 'distressed woman'.

Mother-of-five Khouloud Hawatt, 31, was found dead inside an apartment.

Homicide detectives established a crime scene and following inquiries, the woman's 35-year-old husband, Talaat Hawatt, was arrested 30km away at a Denham Court home less than an hour later.

He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where he has since been charged with murder (domestic violence), contravening an apprehended domestic violence order, and using a prohibited weapon contrary to a prohibition order.

Hawatt was refused bail to appear in Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday.

The charges come after new pictures of the couple's seemingly blissful marriage less than a decade ago emerged.

The couple, who were married in Lebanon in 2015, have five children who range in age from six months to eight years.

Mother-of-five Khouloud Hawatt was found dead inside a unit in Belmore on Wednesday

Her husband Talaat Hawatt (pictured) was charged with murder late Wednesday night

Photos from their wedding show them posing for the camera arm-in-arm with Ms Hawatt carrying a bouquet of white roses and her husband in a three-piece suit.

Earlier on Wednesday, Campsie Superintendent Sheridan Waldau said Ms Hawatt died 'some time early this morning' and that officers allegedly stumbled on 'a very violent murder scene'.

She confirmed her husband was known to a strike force targeting domestic violence offenders known as Operation Amarok and that his wife had an AVO against him when she was allegedly killed.

'I know that he has come under the notice of Amarok before, and he had a compliance check by Campsie police in only August,' Superintendent Waldau said.

It comes after a woman who knew Ms Hawatt told Daily Mail Australia she had spoken to the mum-of-five the day before she was allegedly killed.

She said there had been no indication that anything was wrong.

The woman claimed the family were due to be kicked out of their unit in a few weeks and that neighbours had complained about them yelling and slamming doors.

The couple, who were married in Lebanon in 2015, have five children who range in age from six months to eight years

Photos from their wedding show them posing for the camera arm-in-arm with Ms Hawatt carrying a bouquet of white roses and her husband in a three-piece suit

Police are seen outside the block of units in Sydney's south-west on Wednesday

Another neighbour said they heard the sound of people banging into walls and chasing each other on Tuesday evening.

It's understood Ms Hawatt doesn't have any family in Australia but that her husband's father lives in Condell Park less than 10km away from Belmore.

'The mother used to come into our store. She was very calm. It's so sad because they have five kids,' a local worker told Daily Mail Australia.
One of California's most historic mansions burned to the ground after a fire swept through the estate, with detectives indicating it may have been arson.

The Bidwell Mansion, which had stood for 156 years in Chico, northern California, was seen in stunning footage engulfed in flames on Wednesday morning.

The fire started at 3:15am, and although fire crews have not yet established the cause, it has been reported early on in the investigation as an illegal burn.

Deputy Fire Chief Chris Zinko told Action News that a person was seen leaving the area after the blaze began, and agents are working to identify the suspect.

A tourist hotspot property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home was closed to the public at the time as it was undergoing a $2.3 million renovation.

Portions of the home collapsed within minutes of fire crews including five fire engines arriving on the scene, and before long the sprawling mansion was completely gutted.

The spread of the fire also led teams to close several buildings at nearby Chico State University, reports SFGate. There are no reports of injuries or deaths as a result of the fire.

The home was named for John Bidwell, a controversial figure in California history who founded the city of Chico but came under renewed scrutiny in recent years for his treatment of Indigenous tribes.

One of California's most historic mansions burned to the ground after a fire swept through the estate, with detectives indicating it may have been arson

The Bidwell Mansion, which had stood for 156 years in Chico, northern California, was engulfed in flames on Wednesday morning

The mansion was built for Bidwell in 1865 and took three years to complete, and at the time was one of the most opulent properties on the West Coast of America.

Across 26-rooms, the home had many of the most luxurious amenities of the day, such as running water and plumbing.

The mansion had also been a California state park since 1964.

Fire crews raced to the scene early on Wednesday morning, and Chico fire battalion Chief Jim Lucanic told SFGate that it quickly became apparent that the mansion was in worse shape than initially feared.

He said the call first went out for a small fire near the mansion, which Lucanic said is typically for a cooking fire.

The call was urgently updated to a full structural fire shortly thereafter, and despite five engines, a truck company, and a fleet of volunteer firefighters, the mansion was engulfed in flames.

'When the first engine arrived, the structure was fully involved,' Lucanic said. 'They ordered a second alarm right away, duplicating the initial response.'

Lucanic said firefighters had to switch to a 'defensive operation', after it was decided that the building was too unsafe for crews to enter.

'We surrounded the structure to protect exposures and ensure the fire didnt spread,' the fire chief went on.

'Its about keeping everyone out of the collapse zone while trying to cool the fire down.'

Five fire engines and a fleet of firefighters raced to the scene at around 3:15am Wednesday, as the local fire chief described the mansion as 'probably the most important landmark in the city'

Despite efforts from firefighters, the huge fire forced them to take a 'defensive' position whereby they allowed the mansion to burn to the ground and could only try and stop the spread

Lucanic said within minutes of his arrival, 'one of the towers was reported as going down, and the top floor followed shortly after.'

He explained that the old age of the mansion meant containing the fire was particularly challenging.

'Older construction burns differently. This fire went up fast  it went from a report of a possible illegal fire to a fully involved mansion,' he said.

The fire chief said the loss of the iconic property will be tough to take for the community of Chico, as it is 'probably the most important landmark in the city.'

'Hearing we were going into defensive operations on the radio was disheartening because it meant we had written off the building and were just protecting what was around it,' he said.

The fire in Chico comes as huge wildfires also burn further south of the state, including a large blaze in Malibu that led to mass evacuations this week.
Sara Sharif's mother has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her 'princess' after the 10-year-old's father and stepmother were found guilty of her murder.

Urfan Sharif, 42, beat his little girl to death at their home in Woking, Surrey, in August last year after spending 16 years torturing women and children.

He had met Sara's mother, Polish Olga Domin, online in 2009 and they got married less than a year later, but separated after the mother accused him of abuse.

In an emotional tribute to her child, Ms Domin said today: 'My dear Sara, I ask God to please take care of my little girl, she was taken too soon.

'Sara had beautiful brown eyes and an angelic voice. Sara's smile could brighten up the darkest room.

'Everyone who knew Sara will know her unique character, her beautiful smile and loud laugh. She will always be in our hearts, her laughter will bring warmth to our lives. We miss Sara very much. Love you princess.'

Following a custody battle between Ms Domin and Sharif in 2019, Sara had to live with her Pakistani father and young stepmother, Beinash Batool.

The schoolgirl suffered years of unimaginable abuse at the hands of the pair, who bound her arms and legs, tied a plastic bag around her head and battered her with a cricket bat, metal pole and rolling pin, strangled her until her neck broke, burnt her with an iron and bit her.

Sara Sharif's mother Olga Domin (right) has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her 'princess' Sara Sharif (left)

Sara (pictured) was beaten to death by her abusive father in August last year

Sara was found dead in a bunk bed at the Woking home on August 10, 2023 after Sharif called police - having already fled to Pakistan - to say he had beaten her 'too much'.

When officers found the girl's body dumped under the pink covers of her bed by her fleeing family there were so many injuries- at least 71 externally and 29 fractures - that it was impossible to say which wound caused her death.

Within months of meeting Sara's mother Ms Domin, Sharif was arrested for assaulting her and two children after the mother said she had been held captive in November 2010.

But police released him without charge after Sharif claimed he was the victim.

Ms Domin told Polish TV channel Uwaga of his sadistic abuse: 'Once, he tried to set me on fire, poured oil on me, but his cousin stopped him. He simply locked me in a room. Locked me in all day until the police arrived.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman, from the Surrey Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said today: 'After an eight-week trial, a jury has found the father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif guilty of her murder. Her uncle was found guilty of causing or allowing her death.

Urfan Sharif, 42, was emotionless as he was found guilty of murdering his daughter

Sara's stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, wept as she was found guilty of murdering the girl

Sara was beaten to death by her abusive father in August last year 9

Sara suffered an unimaginable ordeal at the hands of her father and stepmother

'Sara was a bright and lively little girl who loved singing and dancing, and on behalf of Surrey Police, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her mother, Olga, her siblings, and all those who knew and cared for her.

'Sara's spirit, bravery and resilience in the face of the abuse she suffered has shone through from the vast enquiries that have been undertaken in this case.

'Sara's young life was brought to an end as a result of the brutal abuse inflicted on her by her father and stepmother, which her uncle did nothing to prevent.

'This case has shocked and horrified not only those who knew and loved her, but people across the country and around the world.

'On 10 August 2023, we received a phone call from Sharif in which he told the operator that his daughter had died as a result of his actions.

'From this day Surrey Police has worked tirelessly to build a case to prove that Sharif, Batool and Malik had played their part in Sara's death.

'During the trial, Sharif took the stand intending to blame Sara's death on his wife before changing his story to accept some responsibility while still denying murder.'
In a lengthy statement released on Sunday night, Jay-Z  real name Shawn Carter  issued a rambling, ungrammatical defense against a lawsuit alleging that he, with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, raped a 13-year-old girl at a VMA afterparty in 2000.

To my mind, anyone wrongly accused of such a vile and depraved crime would surely be wise to put forth a simple, declarative, emphatic denial.

That's not what Jay-Z gave us.

While that in no way implies guilt  which is a matter for a court to decide  his statement is such a mess that I'd guess Jay-Z didn't run it by his team.

Calling these allegations 'a blackmail attempt', Jay-Z denigrated Tony Buzbee, the lawyer who filed the amended complaint, and then went to great lengths to paint himself as a victim.

'My only heartbreak is for my family,' wrote the rapper. 'My wife and I will have to sit our children down and explain the cruelty and greed of people.'

Cruelty and greed are two things Jay-Z knows intimately, as we will see.

He continued: 'I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such [sic] at their young age.'

In a lengthy statement released on Sunday, Jay-Z issued a rambling, ungrammatical defense against a lawsuit alleging that he, with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, raped a 13-year-old girl at a VMA afterparty in 2000. (The men are pictured together in 2000).

Calling these allegations 'a blackmail attempt', Jay-Z denigrated Tony Buzbee, the lawyer who filed the amended complaint, and then went to great lengths to paint himself as a victim.

'My only heartbreak is for my family,' wrote the rapper. 'My wife and I will have to sit our children down and explain the cruelty and greed of people.' (Beyonce, Jay-Z and Diddy are pictured here in 2004).

He then bemoaned how much famous people are misunderstood. Addressing Buzbee again, he wrote: 'You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all 'celebrities' are the same. I'm not from your world. I'm a young man who made it out of the project [sic] of Brooklyn We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics'  whatever that means  'will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me.'

One may think, after struggling to read this, that Jay-Z was a true man of principles, or moral uprightness.

Not so. Not by a long shot.

Jay-Z is a high school dropout who, by his own admission, was a drug dealer at age 13. He sold crack to his own community for years.

He told none other than Oprah Winfrey, in 2009, that 'drug dealers were my role models' and that, when he was 12, he shot his 16-year-old brother.

In October 2001, Jay-Z pleaded guilty to stabbing rival record producer Lance 'Un' Rivera in the shoulder and stomach  a stabbing he initially denied  in 1999 at New York City's Kit Kat Club.

Here's what Jay-Z said in court, after months of proclaiming his innocence: 'I stabbed Lance Rivera. I have accepted responsibility for my actions.'

He got three years' probation.

Yet in 2023, Rivera suddenly claimed that on the night in question, Jay-Z definitely didn't stab him  even though Jay referenced the incident in his 2010 book 'Decoded', admitting he'd been out of control.

'I was blacking out with anger,' he wrote. 'That night I was charged with assault.'

'Jay-Z's a nice guy,' Rivera said last year. 'It's never been his history.'

Well, who could forget that CCTV footage of Solange, sister to Jay-Z's wife Beyonce, beating him up in an elevator, in 2014, as Beyonce stood by and watched?

Beyonce tried to turn that humiliation into vulgar self-valorization, gloating on her track 'Flawless' that 'when it's a billion dollars on the elevator'  a reference to Jay's billionaire status  'of course, sometimes s*** go down'.

Sure. Or could Solange's attack, maybe, possibly, have had something to do with Jay-Z's known infidelity, memorialized on Beyonce's album 'Lemonade'?

And then there are the rumors about his 'love children'.

The mother of Jay's alleged 31-year-old son, Rymir Satterthwaite, said in a signed 2015 affidavit that she got together with the rapper when he was 22 and she was just 16.

No attempts by Satterthwaite or his mother to legally force a paternity test have been successful. Jay-Z has consistently denied any allegations that he's fathered 'love children'.

None of this, even in part, adds up to Jay-Z being 'a good guy'. Nor does showing up on a red carpet, one day after the bombshell rape allegation broke, with his wife and 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy.

All smiles, like nothing has happened.

Who could forget that CCTV footage of Solange, sister to Jay-Z's wife Beyonce, beating him up in an elevator, in 2014, as Beyonce stood by and watched? (Solange, in orange, is pictured with Beyonce and Jay-Z after the incident).

None of this, even in part, adds up to Jay-Z being 'a good guy'. Nor does showing up on a red carpet, one day after the bombshell rape allegation broke, with his wife (pictured) and 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy.

It's not just tone deaf. Frankly, it beggars belief that Jay-Z  who has been extremely close friends with both Diddy and that other disgraced rapper, Kanye West  has said nothing about Combs's alleged 'freak offs' and other depravities.

And what on Earth is Beyonce thinking? Her whole brand is 'fiery feminist'. You can't be for the sisterhood and protect a guy who pals around with Diddy.

That said: Beyonce might be grappling privately with questions about her marriage. After all, there is photographic proof that she was only 16 when she first met Jay-Z, who was then 28 years old and vowed 'she will be mine'  though it doesn't appear they started dating until Beyonce was legally an adult.

What does a nearly 30-year-old man talk about with a teenager?

And where were Beyonce's parents?

Speaking of: Beyonce's mom Tina Knowles  who goes by 'Miss Tina'  'liked' an Instagram post reporting the rape allegations against her son-in-law, then quickly claimed she was hacked.

If she says so.

'No weapon formed against my family shall prosper,' Tina later wrote.

That's some family.

From the amended court filing, released Sunday evening: Plaintiff Jane Doe, 13 at the time, alleges that she found herself drugged at an afterparty hosted by Combs.

'Plaintiff was held down by Carter as he vaginally raped her, while Combs and Celebrity B'  an unnamed A-list female  'watched'.

Jennifer Lopez was dating Combs at this time, and was photographed with him on the night in question, both at the VMAs and again at an afterparty, visibly yelling at him.

Of course, there is no suggestion that she is the celebrity in question, and she has yet to comment on the allegations against Combs.

Nor has she said anything about the claims that she served as Combs's 'gun mule' in a 1999 New York City nightclub shooting  and that, per a February 2024 lawsuit, J-Lo allegedly 'carried the gun into the club for [Combs] and passed him the gun after he got into an altercation with another individual.'

From the amended court filing, released Sunday evening: Plaintiff Jane Doe, 13 at the time, alleges that she found herself drugged at an afterparty hosted by Combs. (Jay-Z and Combs are pictured in 2000 at Diddy's Fourth of July party).

There is photographic proof that Beyonce (far right) was only 16 when she first met Jay-Z, who was then 28 years old and vowed 'she will be mine' - though it doesn't appear they started dating until Beyonce was legally an adult.

JLo has yet to comment on the allegations against Combs. Nor has she said anything about the claims that she served as Combs's 'gun mule' in a 1999 New York City nightclub shooting.(Lopez and Combs are pictured at the 2000 MTV VMAs).

Back to the Jay-Z complaint:

'After Carter finished, he stepped back toward the wall,' the lawsuit claims. 'Combs then stepped forward and vaginally raped Plaintiff while Carter and Celebrity B watched. Combs then knocked Plaintiff down and attempted to force Plaintiff to perform oral sex on him.'

The complaint says she then hit him in the neck and ran away.

After attending Monday night's premiere, a Beyonce source told Page Six that 'she's sticking by Jay', that she 'wholeheartedly believes him' and 'has no intention of leaving [him]'.

We shall see.

For all the latest updates on this story, listen to The Trial of Diddy - available wherever you get your podcasts now.
Lawmaker Jeff Van Drew has made the stunning claim that Iran is behind the mysterious drones repeatedly flying over northern New Jersey - as the FBI scrambles for answers.

The Republican from New Jersey claimed on Fox News that Iran had launched a 'mothership' about a month ago where the drones are based and it's now stationed off the coast.

'These are from high sources,' he claimed. 'I don't say this lightly.' He then added the drones should be 'shot down.'

However, the Pentagon said on Wednesday rushed to claim there is no evidence the drones are the work of an adversary and denied there's an Iranian 'mothership' lurking off the coast of the U.S.

'There's no so called 'mothership' launching drones toward the United States,' said deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh.

She also said they are 'not U.S. military drones' and the matter is being investigated by local law enforcement and the activity is 'not coming from a foreign entity.'

The FBI has been investigating the mysterious sightings that witnesses have spotted on numerous occasions.

Residents have been spotting the unexplained cluster of 'drones' and a possible fixed wing aircraft for several weeks. Concerns have been raised because they have been seen flying over sensitive locations, such as military instillations.

FBI in Newark and local partners have been investigating the drones fleet, but have been unable to determine who is behind it.

A top FBI official said they didn't know if there's a reason to believe Americans are at risk and that's concerning.

One of the reported drones, whose engines can be heard roaring from the ground, appeared to have a cluster of white lights on its underbelly with red lights blinking at its wingtips and tail (above)

House members held a hearing on Tuesday focused on the threats posed by unmanned aerial systems to the U.S.

'You're telling me we don't know what the hell these drones are in New Jersey?' Congressman Tony Gonzales asked.

'That's right,' responded Robert Wheeler, FBI Assistant Director of the Critical Incident Response Group.

'That's crazy! I mean that's crazy,' the Texas congressman pushed back.

'That's madness that we don't know what these drones are,' he added.

Gonzales argued not knowing what is flying in U.S. airspace is only the 'tip of the iceberg of what's to come' and warned it must be fixed.

Wheeler said they do not know exactly what type of drones the ones being reported are, but he noted some are believed to be bigger than those commercially available.

Swarms of drones have been spotted in the skies of New Jersey for weeks, sparking officials to call for a 'limited state of emergency'

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) claimed on Fox News that Iran launched a 'mothership' with the drones after the FBI told lawmakers during a hearing it did not have information about who was behind the mysterious sightings. The Pentagon said there is no 'Iranian mothership' off the coast launching drones

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) speaking during a hearing on unmanned aerial systems where he called the FBI not having more information about the mysterious drones over New Jersey 'madness'

When asked how much the budget is for FBI counter-drone technology, Wheeler revealed it was less than $500,000.

'No wonder we don't know what the hell is going on. $500,000?' Gonzales responded.

One of the challenges has been getting the authority to bring the drones down. Lawmakers urged officials to shoot one down to further examine it.

The FBI has been going through more than 3,000 tips submitted by the public. There have also been sightings from New York.

According to one NJ local, this image depicts roughly nine of the unidentified drones flying into New Jersey from the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday night, December 5

The sightings started mid-November with footage capturing 'car-sized' drones with flashing lights

The FBI has warned it has seen a concerning increase in use of drones to commit crimes and being flown over sensitive facilities.

On Sunday alone, there were 49 reported sightings according to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

He noted that some are likely to have been repeat reports, but he does not blame people for being frustrated.

'We don't see any concern for public safety,' Murphy said. 'Having said that, it's really frustrating that we don't have more answers as to where they're coming from and why they're doing what they're doing.'

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said they are taking the drone investigation 'deadly seriously'

Murphy said he has been in contact with the FBI and Homeland Security and encouraged people to continue to report sightings to the FBI.

He described the drones as 'very sophisticated.'

'The minute you get eyes on them, they go dark,' Murphy said.

'We're obviously most concerned about sensitive targets and sensitive critical infrastructure,' he added.

Murphy noted the military facilities, utility assets and President-elect Donald Trump's New Jersey home are all in the area.

'This is something we're taking deadly seriously,' he said.
Alan Sugar was criticised by a leading member of the House of Lords today, who criticised his poor attendance in a row over the role of hereditary peers.

Tory shadow Lords leader Lord True singled out the Apprentice host as peers discussed plans to axe the 92 seats reserved for members on the basis of their ancestry.

Lord True said the result of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, which has been through the Commons, would be that it lost 'some of the best and hardest working' peers 'while clinging to the laggards and the no-shows'.

Turning his fire on Lord Sugar, who was en-nobled in 2009 by then PM Gordon Brown, the Tory peer said: 'The blunt message that this Bill sends out to 88 of our number is as Lord Sugar put it is ''You're fired''.

'I wonder by the way how often Lord Sugar comes here?'

The Apprentice star has faced criticism over his long-running failure to take part in proceedings.

In September he was sworn in to take part in the new parliament - the first time he had spoken in the Lords for six years.

As he was being sworn in, former Labour minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock pointed across the floor of the chamber and shouted: 'You're fired!'

The Apprentice star has faced criticism over his long-running failure to take part in proceedings.

Turning his fire on Lord Sugar, who was en-nobled in 2009 by then PM Gordon Brown, the Tory peer said: 'The blunt message that this Bill sends out to 88 of our number is as Lord Sugar put it is ''You're fired''. 'I wonder by the way how often Lord Sugar comes here?'

The bill will abolish the 92 seats reserved for members of the upper chamber who are there by right of birth.

There are currently 88 hereditary peers after the suspension of by-elections pending the legislation.

The Bill delivers on a promise in Labour's election manifesto and has been promoted as the first step in a process of reform.

There have been concerns about the size of the House and calls to reduce its membership, which stands at around 800, compared with MPs, who are capped at 650 members.

A commitment to introduce a participation requirement and mandatory retirement age of 80 were not included in the Government's current legislative plans.

Under current rules, peers do not need to take part in proceedings to claim the daily attendance allowance of 361 and up to 100 for overnight stays plus travel expenses.

It has fuelled claims some use it as a glorified members' club at taxpayers' expense.

Recently criticism has been levelled at peers who rarely show up.

Last month Ian Botham was accused of not doing enough in the House of Lords because he is 'in Australia all the time making money from foot massagers'.

The crossbencher's record was questioned by a senior Labour peer during a debate on reforming the unelected chamber.

Lord Botham was made a life peer in 2020 after being nominated by former prime minister Boris Johnson, and was also appointed a trade envoy to Australia  an interest that ceased in July this year.

According to the parliamentary record, he has only spoken twice in the chamber, the last time in November 2020, and has not voted since July 2021.

Last month Ian Botham was accused of not doing enough in the House of Lords because he is 'in Australia all the time making money from foot massagers'.

During the last four years he has tabled a total of five written questions, of which three were in the last month. Two of them related to the imposition of VAT on private schools by the new Labour government.

In October, when the Lords was sitting, he was in Australia, fishing in the Northern Territory with his former Ashes adversary Merv Hughes - and fell into shark and crocodile-infested waters.

He was also part of the commentary team for Melbourne-based radio station Triple M's coverage of the test series between Australia and India in November.

Earlier, opening the debate, leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon said: 'There are those who argue that no reform should take place until everything is agreed. But with no agreement on what everything should entail, nothing gets done, and this has created a track record of stagnation and stalled attempts at reform.

'In this case taking a staged approach represents the best and most practical way forward and is entirely in line with the manifesto commitments.

'To continue to assert that wider reforms must be implemented alongside this Bill is a wilful misinterpretation of the manifesto.'

She pointed out that even after the removal of the hereditary peers, the Conservatives would remain the largest party in the House.

But Lord True said: 'This will be a fiercely contested Bill. Not for its declared objective that no more hereditary peers will come here but frankly for the Bill's sheer inadequacy. The Bill is defective not just for what is in it but for what it fails to address.'

He argued one of the justifications for the move was 'more Keir Hardie than Keir Starmer' and was 'an outdated class warrior one'.

Lord True added: 'What I do reject is the idea that if one wants to reduce numbers the masterplan is to find some of the best and hardest working among us and kick them out while clinging to the laggards and the no-shows. No rational institution would do that.'
The driver of a semi-truck who killed a mother and her eight-year-old son after plowing into them on a Nebraska road was using Snapchat at the time of the fatal wreck, authorities said.

Justin Zoerb, 22, was arrested on Sunday and charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of reckless driving after the crash in August of last year, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Department.

Nicole Pavelka, 30, and her son, Ryker Schlichtman, were killed in the crash and pronounced dead on the scene.

Zoerb was arrested for an unrelated warrant at the time, and his phone was taken into possession by law enforcement.

Later, a search warrant revealed that Zoerb was exchanging a series of Snapchat messages with another person.

The affidavit said that the messages began at 4:02 pm and ended with Zoerb sending the final message at 4:07pm, KSNB reported. A 911 call regarding the crash came in about one minute later.

Three other children, aged 11, 10, and 9, were also involved in the crash and suffered serious injuries.

A preliminary investigation last year found that Zoerb failed to slow down for stopped traffic on the Westbound Highway 6.

Nicole Pavelka, 30, and her son, Ryker Schlichtman, were killed in the crash and pronounced dead on the scene

Justin Zoerb, 22, has been charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of reckless driving after the crash

An affidavit goes said that an analysis indicated Zoerb's vehicle was traveling 70 mph in a posted 65 mph speed limit zone prior to the crash

He then entered the eastbound lane and lost control, hitting a Buick Enclave traveling eastbound with Pavelka, Ryker and the three other children.

Nebraska State Patrol said in the affidavit that on-scene evidence indicated that Pavelka took evasive actions by braking and steering to the right in an attempt to avoid a collision with the semi but was hit on the driver side.

The affidavit goes on to say that an analysis indicated Zoerb's vehicle was traveling 70 mph in a posted 65 mph speed limit zone prior to the crash.

'This arrest reflects the ongoing commitment of the Clay County Sheriff's Office to ensure accountability and seek justice for the victims and their families,' the Clay County Sheriff's Department said.

'Our office extends its deepest condolences to those impacted by this tragedy and thanks the Sherman County Sheriff's Office and Nebraska State Patrol for their assistance in this matter.'

Pavelka's obituary described her as a 'beloved fiance, mother, daughter, sister, and friend' who 'accepted everyone into her heart and never judged a single person she crossed.'

Her fiance and high school sweetheart, Daniel Schlichtman, is the father of their four children, Hayden, Laelynn, Jase, and Ryker.

Ryker's obituary described him as a 'spunky, fun-loving little boy.'

The affidavit that on-scene evidence indicated that Pavelka took evasive actions by braking and steering to the right in an attempt to avoid a collision with the semi but was hit on the driver side

Nicole Pavelka's obituary described her as a 'beloved fiance, mother, daughter, sister, and friend' who 'accepted everyone into her heart and never judged a single person she crossed'

Ryker Schlichtman obituary described him as a 'spunky, fun-loving little boy'

'He was well known at his school and had many friends that he liked to ride bikes with, play at the park, and even blow-up firecrackers with when no one was watching,' his obituary said.

'He always had a goofy grin on his face and loved his family immensely. They created several family memories through road trips, fishing, rollercoaster rides, and many laughs and hugs shared. Ryker will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.'

A funeral service for the mother and son was held on August 24, 2023, with a colorful service as 'their lives were too beautiful to wear black.'

Zoerb was taken to the Custer County Jail and was bonded out.

He made his first court appearance on Tuesday.
A friend of Luigi Mangione has shared his last message from him and revealed why he thinks it was a 'cry for help'.

Gurwinder Bhogal fears Brian Thompson could still be alive today if he had replied to the Ivy League graduate, who is accused of shooting dead the United Healthcare CEO on December 4.

DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal the contents of dozens of private messages exchanged by the pair after Mangione, 26, took an interest in Bhogal's blog about politics. Bhogal also shared details of an hours-long video call with Mangione.

Their discussions, which took place between April and June this year, provide a fascinating insight into what was going through the alleged killer's mind in the months before the attack.

Bhogal believes that content on Mangione's social media feeds could have played a role in radicalizing him in the months before the shooting. He revealed that Mangione had requested advice from him on how to better curate the posts that he was seeing.

'This was the last message Luigi sent me,' Bhogal, who lives in Birmingham, England, said. 'He wanted me to help him curate his information sources.'

'I forgot to get back to him. Looking back, it may have been a cry for help. I wonder if I couldve saved him and Brian Thompson if Id just responded to the message.'

A friend of Luigi Mangione has described the last message that he received from the 'assassin' as a 'cry for help'

Gurwinder Bhogal (pictured) fears that health insurance heavyweight Brian Thompson could still be alive today if he had not forgotten to respond to the Ivy League graduate's message

Mangione (pictured) and Bhogal struck up a friendship on social media over shared interests in political and sociological theory

The emails between the pair seen by DailyMail.com show that Mangione had an interest in self-help books, 'inherited trauma', political power dynamics and concerns about smartphone addiction.

The alleged assassin shared with Boghal a self-help book called 'What's our problem?', by Tim Urban. The publication discusses how modern societies work to both give and take power from individuals, complete with stick-man-style illustrations. It does not condone violence.

In turn, Bhogal recommended reading an essay by Razib Khan about the passing of trauma down a family lineage.

Mangione thanked his friend for sharing the essay, writing in a May 6 email: 'I particularly appreciated Khans clear breakdown of intergenerational vs transgenerational epigenetic transmission.'

The evidence of Mangione's interest in the damage parents can do comes after it emerged he had accused his mother of forcing him to eat in a cruel way as a child. The suspected killer made the allegation in an online review he left of the book 'The Four-Hour Workweek' by Tim Ferris.

He accused Kathleen Zannino Mangione of making him eat steak with his right hand, even though he is lefthanded, 'out of adherence to social norms.' He also mentioned his disdain for 'simply accepting things the way they are.'

During his court arraignment to face second-degree murder charges on Monday, Mangione appeared to scour the room for a familiar face, but he found none.

He repeatedly turned around looking towards the public gallery, but his mother did not show up - nor did any of his other relatives.

Gurwinder Bhogal, a friend of Luigi Mangione, has revealed the alleged assassin's last message to him over the summer (shown above) may have been a 'cry for help'

Suspected assassin Luigi Mangione (center) is from a prominent Baltimore family. Pictured: Mangione with (L-R) Brother-in-law Paul Giulio, sisters Lucia and MariaSanta, dad Louis and mom Kathleen

Kathleen, pictured with eldest daughter MariaSanta, runs a boutique travel business

Mangione also had no family in the Pennsylvania courtroom to support him during his second court appearance on Tuesday to face identity fraud and gun charges in the state.

Describing his video calls with Mangione, Bhogal told DailyMail.com: 'Politically, he seemed disillusioned with status quo politics, but also disliked Trump.' He added that Mangione was concerned with 'corporate greed'.

'He said the people around him were on a different wavelength and he was eager to be part of a community of like-minded people,' Bhogal said. '[He] suggested I schedule group video calls as he really wanted to meet my other founding members and start a community based on rationalism, Stoicism, and effective altruism.'

The alleged assassin hails from a powerful Maryland family centered on the late patriarch Nicholas Mangione, a first-generation American who built a real estate empire in the state, including country clubs and media.

Patriarch Nicholas Mangione

Nicholas, who died in 2008 aged 83 after suffering a stroke, was the owner of Turf Valley Resort and Hayfields Country Club, as well radio station WCBM-AM, which Mangione may inherit.

Meanwhile, his mother Kathleen Zannino Mangione owns a boutique travel company, and his sister MariaSanta Mangione is a respected doctor.

She now works as a medical resident at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas after graduating from Vanderbilt medical school.

Bhogal previously gave DailyMail.com an insight into Mangione's political views, including that he is, in his friend's opinion, 'anti-woke'.

'He was left-wing on some things and right-wing on others,' Bhogal recalled. 'For instance, he was pro-equality of opportunity, but anti-woke: for example anti-DEI (and) anti-identity politics.

'He opposed woke-ism because he didnt believe it was an effective way to help minorities.

'He expressed interest in more rational, evidence-based forms of compassion, like effective altruism.'

Gurwinder Bhogal (pictured), a UK-based writer, told DailyMail.com Mangione was 'anti-woke', and that he expressed a deep envy for the UK's nationalized health system

Mangione has been accused of shooting Brian Thompson at point-blank range in New York

He is alleged to have given police a fake ID when they started to question him

The pair began speaking when Mangione took an interest in Bhogal's blog about politics and 'the digital age' called The Prism, and reached out to him on X.

Bhogal said they exchanged more than a dozen emails, seen by DailyMail.com, before sharing a two-hour video chat while Mangione was traveling in Japan.

The England-based writer added that they 'briefly touched on the differences between the UK and US healthcare systems'.

'Luigi complained about how expensive healthcare in the US was, and expressed envy at the UKs nationalized health system,' he said.

They also discussed Ted Kaczynski, the 'Unabomber' who used terrorism to campaign against modern technology. Mangione had previously appeared to praise Kaczynski on Goodreads.

'Luigi disapproved of the Unabombers actions, but was fascinated by his ideology, and shared his concerns about rampant consumerism gradually eroding our agency and alienating us from ourselves,' Bhogal said.

'He expressed fears over smartphone addiction. Luigi asked me how to maximize agency in a world constantly trying to deprive us of it, so we also discussed that.

'Overall, the impression I got of him, besides his curiosity and kindness, was a deep concern for the future of humanity, and a determination to improve himself and the world.'

Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon

Bhogal said his overriding impression of Mangione was that he was 'one of the nicest people I've ever met', who even bought him a subscription to Readwise Reader, an app designed to help users retain more information from books.

The writer said he was 'bewildered' when his friend was charged with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Monday.

'He was so thoughtful and polite that he seemed like the last person Id suspect of murdering someone,' Bhogal said.

Returning to his fears that he could have done something to prevent the shooting Bhogal said: 'Im probably overestimating my importance, but what ifs are persistent little things, especially at times like this.'

Ivy League engineering graduate Mangione was arrested on Monday morning moments after eating a hash brown in an Altoona, PA McDonald's.

Cops closed in on the alleged killer after an employee at the restaurant recognized him from surveillance images NYPD shared online in the wake of the Midtown Manhattan shooting.

He was later charged with second-degree murder over the slaying of Thompson, 50, just before 7am on Wednesday outside the Hilton hotel where the exec had been set to make a speech to finance heavyweights later that day.

The suspect was picked up on 86th Street and Columbus Avenue two minutes after he left Central Park in Manhattan's Upper West Side

Mangione appears to have led police on a 280-mile manhunt from New York City's 6th Avenue to the small Pennsylvania city of Altoona, around 100 miles east of Pittsburgh.

The alleged gunman left a trail of overt clues about his motive, including ammunition etched with the words 'delay' 'deny' and 'depose' and a bag of Monopoly board game money in his backpack left in Central Park.

Officials believe the bullet etchings refer to the 'three Ds of insurance' - tactics used by American insurance giants to reject patients' claims.

This motive appeared to be even more clearly outlined in a handwritten manifesto cops seized from Mangione during his arrest, which the NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny said expressed 'ill will toward corporate America.'

'To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country,' the three-page document reads. 'To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone.'

'I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done,' the document adds. 'Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.'

Mangione also allegedly had a ghost gun believed to be the rare World War Two era-inspired 9mm pistol used in Thompson's murder, which the New York Post reported was a Swiss-made Brugger & Thomet VP9, and a silencer.

He was denied bond and not represented by an attorney during his arraignment in the Blair County Courthouse in Pennsylvania on Monday night. Mangione will next appear in court in New York at a later date.
Syrian migrants in northern Europe said they are still aiming to reach British shores as the prospect of returning to their war-torn homeland remains too dangerous amid the instability following the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad.

It comes as the UK and several European countries suspended Syrian asylum applications with the world waiting to see whether a caretaker government established by Islamist group Ha'yat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) can steady the nation.

Wrapped up against the cold in northern France, Syrian migrant Ali said that while he was delighted to hear Assad had been toppled, he was still determined to cross the sea to England.

'I was happy when Bashar al-Assad left, he's a criminal,' he said near the tent where he spent a bitter night in the port city of Calais.

'Nobody wanted him in power anymore,' said the 23-year-old, who did not give his surname for his safety.

'But the situation in Syria remains confused and the general atmosphere is chaotic,' he told an AFP reporter.

Syria's interim prime minister, HTS' Mohammed al-Bashir, has called for Syrians abroad to return to their homeland to help rebuild it and vowed that all citizens of all religions and minorities will be safe.

But migrants told reporters in Calais they are still set on reaching England where 'there is work, there is peace, there is everything we need'.

Migrants wait in the Channel as a cruise ship looms in the background

People celebrate the overthrow of Syrian President al-Assad, at the Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria

A man is seen in the background amid burnt vehicles and destroyed ammunition at the site of the previous evening's Israeli airstrike

Syrian National Army (SNA) soldiers celebrate victory in Manbij on December 7, 2024 in Manbij, Syria

HTS, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and other groups swept into Syria's capital Damascus this weekend, ending more than five decades of brutal rule by the Assad family.

The government fell more than 13 years after Assad's crackdown on anti-government protests ignited Syria's civil war, killing more than half a million people and forcing half the country to flee their homes with millions of Syrians now spread throughout the Middle East and Europe.

European countries one by one announced this week they were suspending all Syrian asylum applications and placing active cases under review in the immediate aftermath of the Assad regime collapse.

But Ali, who hails from the Syrian region of Daraa that in 2011 was the first to rise up against Assad and has been hoping to cross the Channel for two months, was undeterred.

'It's very bad news, but it won't stop us,' he insisted. 'We want to continue to go to England because we're looking for peace.'

He went on: 'If the situation improves in Syria, we'll go back.

'Everyone dreams of going home, but for now, the situation remains too uncertain, the leaders come from a background linked to terrorism.'

HTS, which led the rebels that ousted Assad, has promised to protect minorities and respect people's rights having sought to moderate their rhetoric.

But it has its roots in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda and Western governments have proscribed it as a 'terrorist' organisation.

Migrants wait to board a smugglers' boat in order to attempt crossing the English channel off the beach of Audresselles, northern France on October 25, 2024

A boy carries an unexploded Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) after a strike

In Germany the jubilation was swiftly replaced by anxiety and concern as politicians across the political spectrum began trumpeting ideas about how best to deport Syrians back home

Another Syrian, 32-year-old Fares, also wondered how the rebels would govern. He, too, refused to give his second name.

'No one knows what will happen now in Syria,' he said.

'What are the cultural foundations of those who are now in power? We don't know.'

But 'in Britain, we can offer ourselves and our children a future. There is work, there is peace, there is everything we need,' he said.

The United Kingdom has sought to stem migrant arrivals via the Channel in recent years.

Nearly 34,000 migrants of different nationalities have landed in Britain on overcrowded dinghies since January, and at least 70 people have died attempting the perilous crossing, the deadliest year on record.

But the country has granted thousands of Syrians asylum since the civil war erupted 2011.

Between 2011 and 2021, nearly 31,000 Syrians obtained asylum in the United Kingdom, according to the UK House of Commons.

In 2023, just over 3,000 Syrians sought asylum in the United Kingdom, according to the Home Office.

Even with decisions on claims now paused for Syrians, Fares said he had no other option.

'We are relieved that Bashar al-Assad is gone, but there is no stability or security in Syria at the moment,' Fares said.

His fears are likely justified.

Although the caretaker government appears to have assumed power without fuss and has begun rolling out aid to major cities, this belies what is unfolding elsewhere across Syria.

There are makings of a new civil war in the north as Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) militants streamed into Kurdish-held areas.

Widespread reports claimed the SNA was ransacking Kurdish homes while shocking videos emerged that appeared to show Turkish-aligned rebels executing wounded Kurdish soldiers as they lay in hospital beds in the town of Manbij.

Meanwhile, Israel is conducting widespread airstrikes and bombing campaigns while advancing troops and tanks far into the buffer zone separating Syria from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

And other reports claim ISIS fighters have captured and executed Syrian government forces as they fled the HTS onslaught through the Homs desert.

Destroyed trucks after a Turkish airstrike near Qamishli, northeast of Syria on 11 December 2024

Syrians living in Essen gather to celebrate the overthrow of the 61-year Baath Party rule in Syria with the Syrian opposition's 'revolution flag,' following the collapse of regime control in the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, December 8, 2024

Syrians living in Essen gather to celebrate the overthrow of the 61-year Baath Party rule in Syria

The joy of Germany's Syrian refugees rejoicing the end of Assad's rule this weekend quickly died down as leading lawmakers began calling for them to be deported.

Hours after Syrians jubilantly took to the streets in several German cities on Sunday, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel declared anyone celebrating 'a free Syria evidently no longer has a reason to flee'.

'He should return to Syria immediately,' she said bluntly in a public statement shared on social networks.

On Monday, prominent conservative lawmaker Jens Spahn told Germany's N-TV: 'For everyone who wants to go back to Syria, we will charter planes for them, they will get a starting fund of 1,000 euros (824).'

Similar sentiments were expressed by far-left leaders and politicians in equal measure.

In 2015, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel was lauded for opening Germany's borders to hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria, coining the now infamous slogan: 'We will manage it'.

Nearly a decade later, German lawmakers across the political spectrum are highly critical of Merkel's altruism and are pushing for a crackdown on immigration, which has become a hot-button topic among voters with an election approaching.

Official figures show that, at the end of October, there were nearly 975,000 Syrian nationals in Germany.

This is the highest concentration of Syrian refugees in Europe - only Turkey, which is partially in southern Europe and borders Syria, hosts more.

Nearly a decade after he arrived in Germany from Syria and became famous for snapping a selfie with Merkel, Anas Modamani has finished his university studies and lives in Berlin.

The 27-year-old is now a fully naturalised German citizen - but the talk of Syrians being swiftly removed from Germany has hit hard.

'I think that's a terrible idea,' he said of the proposal to offer Syrians 1,000 to leave.

'The situation in Syria is still just as dangerous as before. Berlin has become my second home, I will definitely stay here,' Modamani told an AP reporter yesterday.

Leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel and prominent conservative lawmaker Jens Spahn are among the German politicians keen to deport Syrians

Expatriate Syrians gather with flags to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria on December 8, 2024 in Berlin

Syrians living in Berlin gather in Oranienplatz Square, Kreuzberg, to celebrate the overthrow of the 61-year Baath Party rule in Syria

Meanwhile, the European Union on Wednesday gave the green light to Poland and other countries on Europe's eastern flank to temporarily suspend asylum rights when they believe that Belarus and Russia are 'weaponising' migrants to destabilise the bloc.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans in October to introduce a law that would suspend asylum applications for up to 60 days as his country struggles with migratory pressures on its border with Belarus, angering human rights groups. The freeze has not yet been enacted.

The number of migrants arriving at the borders of EU member states from Belarus has increased by 66% this year, compared with 2023. Belarus authorities are accused of helping migrants to get into Europe, including by supplying them with ladders and other devices, according to the European Commission.

The EU's executive branch also accuses Russian authorities of 'facilitating these movements, given that more than 90% of migrants illegally crossing the Polish-Belarusian border have a Russian student or tourist visa.'

It said that 'in view of the serious nature of the threat, as well as its persistence,' EU member countries can temporarily suspend a migrant's request for international protection in exceptional circumstances. Some migrants are accused of attacking border guards.

The commission monitors EU laws to ensure that they are respected. The right for people to seek asylum when they fear for their lives or safety in their home countries is encoded in the bloc's legislation and international law.

European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said a freeze on asylum rights should only be used 'when the weaponisation is posing security threats for member states and exceptional measures are needed.'

Member states would be permitted to restrict a migrant's access to asylum rights, but only under 'very strict conditions and in legal limits,' she said. 'So it means that they have to be truly exceptional, temporary, proportionate and for clearly defined cases.'

Virkkunen, who declined to provide details, said the commission is providing 170 million euros ($179 million) to Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and non-EU country Norway to boost their border defences, including upgrading electronic surveillance equipment, installing mobile detectors, improving telecommunication networks, and countering drones that might be sent into EU airspace.
A school board chair in Florida sparked outrage after she made belittling remarks about high school students - suggesting that some are too stupid to pump her gas.

Jessie Thompson, 36, who represents District 3, was named as the new board chair member of Volusia County just last month.

But she has already found herself in hot water after a video surfaced of her making derogatory remarks about students and board members during a Moms for Liberty Summit in August, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.

While discussing the 'low standards' for Florida schools during the summit, Thompson expressed shock over the 100 percent graduation rate for one high school in particular.

'Now, I've walked that school multiple times. I've met some bright students, and I've met some students that I wouldn't trust filling up my tank of gas,' she said.

'So, I find it really hard to believe that they graduated, and graduation is now turned into basically just handing out participation ribbons.'

Despite leaving out the name of the school, Santiago Avila Jr., the Deltona Mayor, said she was referring to Deltona High School, Fox 35 Orlando reported.

'The kids in Deltona High School, they worked their tails off, and not only them, but so did the teachers. So did staff. So did the parents, to make it an A-rated school,' Avila said.

Jessie Thompson, 36, who represents District 3, was named as the new board chair member of Volusia County just last month, but has already sparked outrage over belittling remarks she made about high school students

During a Moms for Liberty Summit in August, she expressed shock over the 100 percent graduation rate for one high school in particular - suggesting that some students were too stupid to even fill up her gas tank

'For her to come in and belittle that and make it seem like we're handing out participation trophies, she doesn't even represent our district, so for her to use one of my schools specifically... it was out of bad taste, and she shouldn't be representing us in any capacity.'

Thompson responded in part through an email to WESH, where she stated that Avila is allowed to be offended - because so is she.

'I'm offended that our communities haven't built a culture that cherishes and uplifts learning for the sake of being better, more intelligent people,' she wrote.

'Instead, we have a culture of adults spending their days on TikTok and being offended by harsh realities.'

During the same summit, Thompson discussed how 'super liberal school board members', including Ruben Colon, the District 5 representative, respond to public comments from 'liberal wackadoodles', The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.

'We have a tan gentleman who just, like, gets all puffy,' she said.

'He gets filled with pride because he is supported, and then encourages him to do some more crazy nonsense.'

Avila expressed his anger towards the seemingly personal remark and said: 'She called them the essentially the token tan man. What was the need for that? You know, again, we're supposed to be coming together, and she's just being disparaging'.

Thompson attempted to explain her comment in the email, where she said: 'Some are offended because I've pointed out that a tan guy is tan. And that some of our graduates aren't up to an acceptable standard of intelligence'.

Santiago Avila Jr., the Deltona Mayor, said she was referring to Deltona High School

Avila, who publicly called for her removal as chair in a Facebook post on Monday, said: 'The kids in Deltona High School, they worked their tails off, and not only them, but so did the teachers. So did staff. So did the parents, to make it an A-rated school'

'Yet they're not offended that year after year kids are struggling to learn to read. And they're not offended that prisons base the number of beds they need on 3rd grade reading scores.'

Thompson also admitted to feeding board members false information - confessing that she personally provided other board members with fake data to get certain board items passed.

'Trust me, I've done it to a couple people,' she said. 'That's how I got some safety and security things passed.'

'I knew the other board members didn't read long contracts, so I worked with our sheriff's department to get something put into that contract, and then they voted to pass it without reading it through. They still don't know what's in there.'

Her comments prompted Avila to publicly urge for her removal as chair in a Facebook post on Monday - leading to a meeting with the board on Tuesday evening where they unanimously decided to reconsider who will serve the position.

It was only during Tuesday's meeting - which was Thompson's first meeting in her new role - that she publicly apologized for her words.

Colon - who initially made the motion to name Thompson as chair and the motion to reconsider the decision - was the first board member to address the situation, which he referred to as an 'elephant in the room'.

'Those words were very hurtful. Not because of me. We're big people, we can handle it. We're politicians. People say whatever they want to say. We get used to that,' he said.

'But when it affects our kids - when comments are made to disparage our children - that crosses over into a different world.'

Avila also called out Thompson in his post for saying: 'We have a tan gentleman who just, like, gets all puffy. He gets filled with pride because he is supported, and then encourages him to do some more crazy nonsense' in regards to the District 5 representative

Her comments prompted a board meeting on Tuesday evening where she publicly apologized for her choice of words - noting that this situation is a 'growing moment' for her

He noted the 'privilege' in selecting an individual for the role, adding that the chosen person represents the entire board and holds the same amount of power as the rest.

Community members also spoke out against Thompson, with Dana McCool, a former Deltona City Commissioner, noting that she's not 'professionally fit to represent these beautiful, hard-working souls'.

Avila also addressed Thompson during the meeting where he said: 'You're very fast at wanting to take a selfie at their graduation, and you're very quick about the photo ops when it came time to hand out these quote unquote, what she called, "participation trophies"'.

'And now you're going to sit there and trash that,' he added. 'No, it's unacceptable.'

Thompson ended up apologizing for her comments, more specifically for those in reference to the students.

'I chose those words poorly,' she said. 'I do sincerely believe that all of our students deserve the best education, every single one.'

She apologized to the board for the sadness and anger her words caused, noting how it was a 'growing moment' for her.

'It's going to take time, but moving forward, I think that we will be a stronger, better board, and I will always be focused on putting our students first and making sure that they get the best possible education because they really are the reason that I'm here,' she said.

She also added how she'd like to visit every school in the district as part of her apology.

Members agreed to move the Election of Chair to the Volusia County School Board to January 14 agenda for further discussion.
A South Dakota schoolboy posed as a 14-year-old girl to ensnare a teacher after his friend said the educator was allegedly sending her uncomfortable messages.

Huron Middle School teacher Zachary Kaderabek, 28, was arrested and placed on unpaid leave after he allegedly sent at least four photos of his penis to the boy, who was not identified, according to Keloland News.

The boy made a fake Snapchat account under the name Kate after his 12-year-old female friend told him the teacher had added her on the social media app and had sent her a message that 'made her feel uncomfortable,' court documents said.

The schoolboy used photos from Pinterest and posed as the girl's sister, according to NewsNation.

Kaderabek and the boy, who is a teenager, exchanged several messages. In those exchanges, the boy said he was a 14-year-old girl named Kate.

The sixth-grade ESL teacher allegedly replied: 'Oh, so only four more years,' with a winking emoji.

He also allegedly sent the boy four pictures of his penis to the boy, as well as, sexualized messages.

Kaderabek admitted to speaking with minors over Snapchat and sending photos of his genitalia, according to Keloland News.

Huron Middle School teacher Zachary Kaderabek, 28, was arrested and placed on unpaid leave after he allegedly sent at least four photos of his penis to the boy, who was not identified

The boy made a fake Snapchat account under the name Kate after his 12-year-old female friend told him the teacher had allegedly added her on the social media app and had sent her a message that 'made her feel uncomfortable'

He was placed on paid administrative leave on November 18, and on Monday, he was moved to unpaid leave by the school board, a spokesperson told Keloland News.

Kaderabek, who had been with the district for four years, faces several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and solicitation of a minor, according to NewsNation.

He expected to appear before a court for an arraignment hearing on January 14.

Last month, Oregon high school students blasted the school board for letting a teacher accused of pedophilia continue to work despite mounting allegations.

The St. Helens School District was forced to cancel classes, place the superintendent and high school principal on leave and accept the board chair's resignation following the arrest of two teachers on child sex abuse charges.

Choir teacher Eric Stearns, 46, and retired math teacher Mark Collins, 64, were arrested mid-last month after police conducted a two-month-long investigation into historical sexual abuse at St. Helens High School.

During the investigation, St. Helens Acting Police Chief Joseph Hogue subpoenaed the district for records of the two teachers, and found reports students filed over the years of inappropriate touching that the district did not previously disclose - as required by law.

Furious students and parents attended the school board meeting, demanding answers of why they allowed Stearns to continue to teach despite knowing about the investigation.

Kaderabek and the boy, who is a teenager, exchanged several messages. In those exchanges, the boy said he was a 14-year-old girl named Kate. He sent the boy four pictures of his penis to the boy, as well as, sexualized messages

Last month, Oregon high school students blasted the school board for letting Choir teacher Eric Stearns, 46, (pictured), who is accused of pedophilia, continue working despite mounting allegations. A second retired teacher was also accused of pedophilia

'I am just disgusted with you guys for letting him near me and my friends... they were let around a pedophile,' a student said

One female student told the meeting: 'He hugged me, kissed me on the head, and told me that he loved me.'

The girl, who was 14 at the time, added: 'My mom specifically made complaints about Mr. Stearns putting his hand around my neck as a "vocal exercise"  that, too, went swept under the rug. You are all to blame. You are all guilty.

'I am just disgusted with you guys for letting him near me and my friends... they were let around a pedophile,' a third student said.

School board chair Ryan Scholl told the crowd that Stearns was allowed to continue teaching because law enforcement had advised them not to place him on leave, reported KOIN.

Hogue denied that saying, 'At no point did the officers tell the school district or advise the school district in any way to not put the teacher on admin leave.'
A new report from the Justice Department's inspector general found that the agency secretly obtained phone records from two members of Congress and 43 aides during leak investigations during President-elect Donald Trump's first term.

CNN reported Tuesday that among those aides targeted was Kash Patel, who often stirs up concerns about the 'deep state' and who Trump has named as the next FBI director.

Patel was a staffer on the GOP-led House Intelligence Committee at the time.

The network also reported that Democratic Reps. Eric Swalwell and Adam Schiff, who was sworn-in as a U.S. senator this week, were also targeted.

Prosecutors sought records from journalists working at CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post as well.

'This report lays out outrageous behavior by the Department of Justice,' House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner said Tuesday on CNN. 'Where members of Congress and staff of the Intelligence Committee, the committee that I chair, had phone records and email records that were accessed by the Department of Justice without court review.'

'This is a grave constitutional violation,' the Ohio Republican added.

Inspectors general play the role of government watchdogs and the IG's report recounted that in the spring and summer of 2017, CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times all published articles that contained classified information.

A new report from the Justice Department's inspector general found that the agency secretly obtained phone records from two members of Congress and 43 aides during leak investigations during President-elect Donald Trump's first term

CNN reported that Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the FBI, was targeted. Patel was serving as a GOP aide on the House Intelligence Committee at the time

In 2020, there was an effort to root out the sources that got revealed to the public in May and June of 2021, after President Joe Biden was sworn-in.

'The reported revelations sparked widespread concern, including from the news media, that the Department's use of compulsory process was an encroachment on the news media's ability to report on government activities,' the report read.

At the time, Biden called it 'simply, simply wrong' and the DOJ announced it would no longer 'seek compulsory legal process in leak investigations to obtain source information from members of the news media doing their jobs.'

Shortly after the announcement, news outlets reported that members of Congress and their staff had been targeted too.

'Both Members of Congress were Democrats, and of the 43 congressional staffers, 21 worked for Democratic Members of Congress or the Democratic staff of a congressional committee or congressional leadership office, 20 worked for Republican Members or the Republican staff of a congressional committee or congressional leadership office, and 2 worked in nonpartisan positions for congressional committees,' the IG report found.

In 40 of the cases the Justice Department obtained non-disclosure orders, meaning that members and aides were unaware their records had been seized.

The report found that the members and aides were selected because the DOJ determined they had access to the classified information that was leaked.

Prosecutors did not have to tell Attorney General Bill Barr that the records they sought were from members of Congress or Congressional aides, the report found.

Two Democrats were targeted during the investigation: Sen. Adam Schiff (left), then a House member and the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, as well as fellow Intelligence Committee member, Rep. Eric Swalwell (right)

The IG report warned that this practice 'risks chilling Congress' ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch' as it 'exposes congressional officials to having their records reviewed by the Department solely for conducting Congress' constitutional authorized oversight duties and creating, at a minimum, the appearance of inappropriate interference by the executive branch in legitimate oversight activity by the legislative branch.'

The report found that prosecutors did not appear to be politically motivated - as aides from both sides of the political aisle were targeted.

The report also did not recommend charges against anyone involved in the leak investigation.

Patel had previously sued Trump's top DOJ and FBI employees, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, who he hopes to replace, over the 2017 data intrusion.

Justice Department prosecutors had asked Google for Patel's Google and Google Voice records over a 20-month period in 2016 and 2017, a subpoena Patel made public showed.

It took five years for Patel to be made aware of the DOJ request, the Trump ally said in the complaint.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. tossed out Patel's lawsuit this fall, arguing that the officials the Trump ally sued were immune and he hadn't successfully argued his case.
Nancy Mace says she is in 'death goddess form' since being put in a wrist brace when a trans rights activist attacked her at the Capitol this week.

The lawmaker divulged that she spoke with President-elect Donald Trump after she was physically accosted at her place of work.

It comes as Rep. Mace (R-S.C.) continues to advocate for restrictions on Capitol Hill to prevent biological males who now identify as female from being able to use the women's bathrooms.

Specifically, Mace is targeting transgender Rep.-elect Sarah McBride and crusading to ban the transgender incoming lawmaker from using the women's lavatory in the halls of Congress.

The Democrat from Delaware is the first openly trans politician elected to Congress, and will become next month the highest-ranking elected trans politician in the nation's history.

'Thank you President Trump for the call just now to check in on me,' Mace wrote on X on Wednesday morning. 'I'm going to be fine just as soon as the pain and soreness subside.'

'January 20th can't come soon enough,' she added, referencing the date Trump will be inaugurated for his second term.

James McIntyre, 33, was arrested inside the Rayburn House Office Building in connection with the attack, according to Capitol Police.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) says she spoke with Donald Trump after she was attacked at the Capitol on Tuesday by a pro-trans activist

Mace said she is in 'death goddess form' after she was put in a wrist brace from a man 'physically accosting' her at the Capitol this week

Mace has said that her PTSD from past sexual assault led her to push to ban McBride from entering women's restrooms and changing rooms.

The 47-year-old has posted videos calling McBride a male, repeatedly speaking about their private parts and slamming transgenderism.

On Tuesday, Mace posted about the attack against her on X.

'I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women,' she wrote. 'Capitol police have arrested him.'

'All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!'

The suspect, who is from Illinois, is facing a charge for assaulting a government official.

'Just before 6:00 p.m., the Member of Congress' office reported an incident in the Rayburn House Office Building,' a spokesperson for Capitol Police said in detailing the alleged assault.

'House Division officers, and agents with the Threat Assessment Section, tracked down the suspect.'

'After an investigative interview, officers arrested the suspect.'

Mace has campaigned to ban trans-women from female bathroom and lockerroom facilities around Congress

This would ban the first trans women member of Congress, Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, from being able to use the women's bathrooms

Mace says the biggest injury is to her arm, with her wrist now in a brace.

'I hope they beef up your protection,' one X user wrote in response to Mace's recollection of the incident. 'Thank you for speaking up for women and girls.'

Mace replied: 'She is in 'death goddess form.'

Last month, Mace introduced a bill that would force House members and staffers to use the bathrooms corresponding with their biological sex.

The measure would specifically mean that McBride would have to use the men's facilities.

The Capitol's top security agent, the Sergeant at Arms, would be tasked with enforcing the policy.

Mace said that Trump called her to check in and claimed she is still experiencing pain and soreness from the alleged assault

'Just the idea of a man being in a dressing room with me as survivor of sexual violence, it just sends me over the edge, and I'm just not going to tolerate it,' Mace previously said.

'And I'm really proud of the women and girls who feel the courage and the bravery to stand up and to shout from the rooftops that this is this is not okay.'

'There's a big difference between being pro-civil liberties and then being pro-women,' Mace continued. 'Women have rights and we're not going to erase them.'

Mace and her staff have been subject to a number of threats since she pushed to introduce the ban in November.
A married Wisconsin father who tried to fake his own death in a kayak accident before fleeing overseas decided to return to the US, 'for his family' police said.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, flew back home on Tuesday, four months after he vanished while out on Green Lake.

Despite an initial rescue mission lasting several weeks, his body was never recovered and police soon began to suspect something else was going on.

They learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had been communicating with a Uzbek woman who spoke Russian.

After establishing contact with him on a 'near daily basis', they were eventually able to persuade him to come home.

He was booked into the Green Lake County jail on Tuesday, although no charges have been specified yet. A mugshot shows the father-of-three sporting an orange jumpsuit.

Police have not released details of where he was staying or who he was with.

At a press conference this morning, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll would only state that Borgwardt faces, 'a number of charges', including 'obstruction'.

Wisconsin father Ryan Borgwardt, who tried to fake his own death in a kayak accident and fled overseas, decided to return to the US 'for his family' police said.

However he stressed that Borgwardt came willingly by himself, flying into an international airport before turning himself into the local police station.

He refused to confirm whether Borgwardt has been in contact with his wife of 22 years since his return.

'I could not be more proud of them and what they did for a family, we didn't give up and we can stand here today feeling relieved,' Podoll said of his officers.

Authorities spent 54 days looking for the Wisconsin man before announcing on November 8 that they didn't believe he had drowned in the lake, but rather had faked his own death.

They revealed that he deliberately flipped his kayak and dumped his phone and belongings in the water before paddling to safety on an inflatable boat and e-biking more than 50miles to Madison overnight.

Borgwardt had been talking to a woman in Uzbekistan before he obtained a new passport and a $375,000 life insurance policy in January.

They managed to establish contact and in November, Borgwardt - who had not contacted his family since his disappearance - sent a video in which he showed off his apartment, telling officers: 'I am safe, secure, no problems.'

But the same cannot be said for his heartbroken family, who are also being supported by the Sheriff's Office.

'They are doing okay, that's probably the best thing you could say,' Vande Kolk explained last month.

Authorities learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had been communicating with a Uzbek woman who spoke Russian, leaving behind his wife Emily (pictured) and kids

He has since returned to the US of his own volition and is being held in Green Lake County Jail

Sheriff Mark Podoll refused to say where Borgwardt had been, but it is thought he fled to Eastern Europe

'I can't compare their situation to anything I have ever experienced in law enforcement before, I don't have any reference.'

Borgwardt told authorities last month that he faked his death because of 'personal matters,' the Podoll said.

He also told them that he picked Green Lake for his master plan because it's the deepest in Wisconsin.

The scheme was elaborately planned. Borgwardt left his original passport at home when he vanished, and police said he tried to cover his tracks by removing his laptop's hard drive and wiping his search history clean.

Before his disappearance, he changed all the email addresses linked to his bank accounts and moved money to a foreign bank account.
Leftist outgoing congressman Jamaal Bowman unleashed a rant against white people on social media Tuesday, demanding that they confront their hypocrisy and evil after the Daniel Penny not guilty verdict.

The New York City jury ruled that Penny was not guilty of criminally negligent homicide after he restrained a mentally disturbed man, Jordan Neely on a New York City subway with a chokehold.

Bowman defended Neely, arguing he was unjustly detained by Penny's unchecked white supremacy.

He was sick. He was not a threat. He was subdued. Still not a threat, Bowman wrote about Neely. Daniel Penny choked him for 6 minutes. And killed him. We all watched it on camera, and he was still acquitted.

Pennys defense argued that the Marine veteran was fully justified in taking action against Neely after he threatened terrified passengers on the subway train.

But Bowman protested that the verdict was one more example of white supremacy in the United States and pleaded for white people to understand why he was so upset.

Dear White People, Bowman wrote on X. I dont know why I feel the need to keep talking to you. I dont know why part of me still has hope for you and for us. Some of you are too far gone. But maybe enough of you arent and will join us in fighting to end white supremacy.

I just wanna call out the hypocrisy and evil of it all and just continue to hope, he continued. I wont rely completely on you because I know whats most important is to work with my community and other like minded allies in the fight for justice.

Former Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) unleashed a rant against white people after the Daniel Penny verdict

The 48-year-old former congressman recalled multiple incidents of police violence and killings of black people.

The first Black man I saw violently attacked on camera was Rodney King. Those officers were acquitted, he wrote.

Social media users flagged his Rodney King claim with a community note, reminding the lawmaker that the two of the four officers in the high profile beating case were convicted and sent to prison.

Bowman also brought up the deaths of Eric Garner who died in police custody while complaining he could not breathe, Philando Castile, who was shot by police and bled to death, and the high profile shootings of Trayvon Martin and Breonna Taylor.

Daniel Penny walks at a Manhattan Criminal Court on the day of the verdict in the trial of the former U.S. Marine sergeant

Hawk Newsome speaks next to the father of Jordan Neely during a press conference after Daniel Penny was found not guilty

[T]heir murders and the trauma from their murders lives in my bones. I felt it then and I feel it now. And it is compounded with every new video I see, he wrote, also recalling the high profile death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Bowman also claimed that White supremacy was not just restricted to white people, citing the death of Tyre Nichols a black man who was beaten by five black police officers in Memphis, Tennessee after he resisted arrest.

White supremacy is not skin color. Its a state of mind, he wrote.

The incidents, Bowman stated, were just a few of the trauma in my life after experiencing the public deaths of black men on camera.

For comparison, I ask white people, how many times have you seen a white man killed in cold blood on camera on your newsfeed? How many times have you even heard about this? He asked. The answer is never. You never have.

Bowman said black people were being killed as a result of white people feeling discomfort from your whiteness.

This is the evil of white supremacy. It spans across geography and political parties and sickens us all, he said.

Bowman, who was labeled as a member of the leftist squad of young members of Congress, lost his New York 16th Congressional Districts Democratic primary in the Summer of 2024, ousting him from power.
A British grandma with a slew of health issues fell seriously-ill during a dream holiday to Disney World but is trapped in the US after failing to pay for travel insurance.

Patricia Bunting, 76, had saved for the last two years to accompany her grandson and her two sons to Walt Disney World in The Sunshine State.

Aware that her declining health would soon mean no more trips back to her beloved United States, she wanted to return to her 'happy place'.

Bunting currently uses three different inhalers to ease her breathing difficulties which is caused by a chronic pulmonary disease, and she relies on a walker.

On her 20 previous trips to the US she had purchased travel insurance. But this time couldn't afford the $3,000 cost quoted due to her severe health issues, a decision that would prove to be a terrible mistake.

After making the ten hour flight from her home in the UK in late October, she enjoyed three weeks in the sun before complaining of exhaustion on November 23.

The family had been set to return five days later, but had to rush Bunting to Orlando's Dr. P. Phillips Hospital after she was found passed out in the bathroom.

She spent the next five days in intensive care with Covid and then pneumonia, having refused to be intubated over fear she would not wake up.

Patricia Bunting, 76, is pictured seriously-ill in Orlando after traveling to Florida on vacation and falling ill. She did not purchase travel insurance and is now on the hook for huge medical bills

Bunting had saved for the last two years to accompany her grandson and her two sons to Walt Disney World in The Sunshine State

Her sons and grandson had to also take their scheduled flight home on November 28 despite her being intensive care after running out of money.

Over two weeks on, she still remains in critical care and is requiring constant oxygen while under heavy medication and her medical bills steadily rising.

Her family are desperate to fly her home where her treatment would be covered for free by the UK's National Health Service (NHS).

Due to her condition, she is unable to undertake the return flight without medical care and would require a bed, oxygen and assistance in the air.

According to figures acquired by her daughter Emma, the cost for the flight and the aid could cost as much $53,000.

Her daughter, who didn't make the initial Disney trip with her family, has since flown to America to be with her.

Speaking with The Tampa Bay Times, she said: 'Shes scared of passing away in a U.S. hospital far from her family.

'I want nothing more than to have mum home for Christmas so shes surrounded by all the love of her family.'

Bunting lives in Wigan, around 22 miles from Manchester, and has three sons, a daughter, and two grandchildren.

Over two weeks on, she still remains in critical care and is requiring constant oxygen while under heavy medication and her medical bills steadily rising

Due to her condition, she is unable to undertake the return flight without medical care and would require a bed, oxygen and assistance in the air

The family have sought the help of the UK Embassy in Miami who they say only asked how they planned to pay for their medical bills.

Emma continued: 'I feel anxious. I don't know how much this will cost but I know she need this care.'

The family told the outlet that the hospital had helped them with low-cost accommodation.

They have also since launched a fundraiser to help raise the necessary funds to have her flown home. It can be found here.

In it, Emma wrote: 'Every donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference. If you cant donate, please help by sharing this page with your network.

'We are forever grateful for your kindness, generosity, and prayers. We just want to bring my mum home where she belongs.'
An up-and-coming rapper faces the death penalty after being charged with murdering a police officer as part a sprawling drug-dealing gang in Puerto Rico, authorities said.

CDobleta, real name Luis Sanchez, is among five people facing murder charges for the fatal shooting of Eliezer Ramos, 35, at the Sabana Abajo housing complex outside the city of San Juan on March 29.

The FBI, the U.S. Attorney General's Office and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau obtained 56 arrest warrants for those linked to the gang before agents carried out a massive sweep in the early hours Wednesday.

At least 40 members of the gang La Familia, which operates out of the Sabana Abajo complex, were taken into custody Wednesday, an FBI spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

Authorities said 16 other suspects were still on the run.

All 56 defendants face drug-trafficking charges. At least 37 are accused of violating the U.S. Weapons Act.

Eight of the suspects are accused of using firearms that were altered to fire automatically.

Sanchez, who turned himself in to the police in April, was officially indicted last week on murder and multiple drug and weapons charges.

He boasts more than a million followers across Instagram and YouTube and more than 1.5 million listeners on Spotify.

CDobleta, real name Luis Sanchez, is among five people facing murder charges for the fatal shooting of Eliezer Ramos, 35, at the Sabana Abajo housing complex outside the city of San Juan on March 29

Puerto Rico police officer Eliezer Ramos was killed at the Sabana Abajo housing complex near San Juan on March 29. The 35-year-old had just finished his shift and was driving home when he spotted the riders of three motorcycles and an ATV firing their weapons in the air and followed them

The others facing murder charges were identified as Victor Perez, Andyel Gonzalez, Olvin Concepcion and Daniel J. Lopez.

On March 29, Officer Ramos had just finished his shift and was driving home when he spotted three motorcycles and one off-road vehicle, whose riders were firing shots in the air as other vehicles passed by.

The officer, a father of a nine-year-old boy, called for backup and followed the group to the housing complex, where he was shot and had his service gun stolen.

Sanchez had previously told agents he was with the motorcycle and ATV riders, according to court documents.

'That same night, the slain officer radioed that individuals within the motorcycle group were shooting at cars,' court records showed.

'[Sanchez] told HSI agents that he heard gunshots while riding and gestured to his fellow passengers in reference to the shooting.'

The arrests were made possible after a federal grand jury issued an indictment following months of investigative work by local authorities.

'Thank you God for allowing us to do justice today to Sergeant Eliezer Ramos Velez,' Puerto Rico Police Bureau commissioner Antonio Lopez told reporters.

CDobleta boasts more than a million followers across Instagram and YouTube

Fernando Torres, who is assigned to the highway police, was arrested in Puerto Rico on Wednesday after the FBI and local law enforcement obtained 56 arrest warrants. Torres allegedly provided information to associates of the La Familia, a gang that has been linked to the murder of fellow cop Eliezer Ramos

Puerto Rico police officer Eliezer Ramos was the father of a nine-year-old boy

'Eliezer went beyond the call of duty, his dedication cost him the most precious thing we all have, life. Today we can say that Eliezer's death was not in vain nor did it go unpunished.'

Highway Police agent Fernando Torres, 47, was among the 40 suspects who were arrested.

Lopez revealed that Torres allegedly supplied information to La Familia.

'This individual  represents a high betrayal of the principles to which a police officer swears and of the uniform that we all proudly and gallantly defend. Because of his actions, he will now have to wear another uniform, that of a prisoner,' Lopez said.
Russia may fire another of its hypersonic ballistic missile at Ukraine 'in days,' the United States warned on Wednesday.

President Vladimir Putin has a handful of the experimental missiles, known as Oreshnik, or hazel tree. He claims the missile is impossible to intercept and that it has destructive power comparable to that of a nuclear weapon, even when fitted with a conventional warhead.

It's capable of destroying underground bunkers 'three, four or more floors down,' Putin boasted last month, threatening to use it against the government district in Kyiv.

But the Oreshnik, an experimental missile, is seen by American officials more as an attempt at intimidation than a game-changer.

'We assess that the Oreshnik is not a game-changer on the battlefield, but rather just another attempt by Russia to terrorize Ukraine, which will fail,' an official told Reuters.

Above, a grab of footage from when Russia first used Oreshnik against Ukraine on Nov. 21

The Russian-Ukraine war is entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its final and most dangerous phase as Moscow's forces advance at their fastest pace since the early weeks of the conflict.

Both Moscow and Kyiv are attempting to cement their advantage in the war before Donald Trump takes office.

Trump has insisted Russia and Ukraine immediately reach a ceasefire and said Ukraine should likely prepare to receive less U.S. military aid.

'Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness,' Trump wrote on social media last weekend, referring to Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Putin has wielded his new weapon before.

Russia first fired the Oreshnik missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Nov. 21.

That was just days after President Joe Biden agreed to loosened restrictions on Ukraines use of American made longer-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory

Putin said it was a response to Ukraine's first use of U.S. ATACMs ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadows to strike Russian territory with Western permission.

Surveillance camera video of the strike showed huge fireballs piercing the darkness and slammed into the ground at astonishing speed.

Both Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (right) are trying to cement their advantage in the war

Ukrainian rescuers extract the body of a victim from the site of a rocket strike on a private clinic in Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine

Putin had previously warned Russia may use the Oreshnik again, including to hit 'decision-making centers' in Kyiv, if Ukraine keeps attacking Russia with long-range Western weapons.

The Pentagon said the Oreshnik is an experimental type of intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM.

The November attack marked the first time such a weapon was used in combat.

But Russian state media brags about Oreshnik, claiming one missile will take just 11 minutes to reach an air base in Poland and 17 minutes to reach NATO's headquarters in Brussels.

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate said the missile had six warheads, each carrying six submunitions. Its payload of independently targetable warheads, like a cluster of hazelnuts growing on a tree, could be the inspiration for the missile's name.

Biden's administration continues to shore up Ukraine in its final days in office.

The administration announced a $988 million long-term aid package last weekend. That funding is on top of an additional $725 million in U.S. military assistance, including counter-drone systems and HIMARS munitions, announced early last week that would be drawn from the Pentagon's stockpiles to more quickly get to the front lines.

The U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $62 billion in military aid since Russias invasion in February 2022.
Two police officers have been hauled before a panel and may have have their badges ripped away from them after colleagues caught them having sex in a service lift.

Jessica Martin was seen performing a sex act on Pierce Lynch at Bethnal Green Police Station in east London.

The pair, who were both trainee detectives at the time, were off-duty and had been drinking in a local pub for three hours that night, a Metropolitan Police misconduct panel was told.

They started kissing in the bar then went back to the police station and began undressing in the lift.

In his statement read to the hearing Lynch, now a police constable, said: Jess undid my zip and I undid my top button.'

The statement added: 'To the best of (his) recollection Martin then performed the sex act 'for about 5-10 seconds.

Two colleagues stumbled upon the pair and immediately reported them to their superiors.

Lynch and Martin admitted that they engaged in a sex act while drunk but denied they were in a location where they could have been seen by colleagues or a member of the public.

They also deny that their behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

Two police officers are facing the end of their careers after colleagues caught them having sex in a service lift

The panel found although the service lift was unlikely to be used by members of the public they should have known it was a possibility.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alexis Boon told the pair: The officers accepted those admissions on 16 November 2022, at around 9:40pm, they engaged in a sex act that required the removal of clothing.

The panel accepts that at the time of the incident that both officers were off duty having returned to the station and after several hours of drinking in a nearby public house returned to collect their bags.

The panel finds that on the balance of probabilities the service lift is used by service staff.

The panel finds that neither TDC Martin or TDC Lynch knew their sexual act could be witnessed by members of the public.

However, the panel finds the two shouldve been aware that the service lift could be used by contractors.

Consequently, the panel finds that both officers should have known that the sexual activity could have been witnessed by members of the public.

The pair accepted that their actions did not meet the standards required as to discreditable conduct but both continue to deny that it amounted to gross misconduct.

Lynch is now a police constable while Martin is a detective constable.

Defending Martin, Rina-Marie Hill, said: DC Martin has taken full responsibility for her conduct, although she cannot now recall the precise details of the incident itself, she has not sought in anyway to challenge the officers who witnessed it.

Her conduct on 16 November 2022 is as a direct result of her consuming alcohol to excess and thereafter exercising extremely poor judgement.

Culpability lies with DC Martin alone.

Whilst it might not necessarily have been her intent to drink to excess, that was a result of her actions.

In terms of putting her actions into context, it is right to observe that PC Lynch has equal responsibility in my submissions.

The conduct was intended to be private and it was not envisaged that anybody else would be privy to it, the conduct was spontaneous and unplanned.

DC Martin was a relatively new police officer and was not in a position of any particular trust or responsibility, her conduct therefore is limited to one brief incident.

She has expressed significant remorse, when asked by ADI Knott to provide details of the person she was with, she did so immediately, she did not deny that sexual activity had taken place.

It was clear that DC Martin was very upset and when he asked whether there were any welfare issues, she replied, No, I just dont want to lose my job.

The pair, who were both trainee detectives at the time, were off-duty and had been drinking in a local pub for three hours that night, a Metropolitan Police misconduct panel was told (stock image)

DC Martin continues to find the whole process embarrassing and extremely upsetting and that is of course compounded by the fact that her recollection isnt crystal clear.

She noted she got to a stage where she was trying to block the incident out of her mind.

In the present case, whilst it could be described as deliberate and intentional, in the sense of it requiring a positive action, it was in my submission, neither planned or targeted and further in my submission, any harm caused was not deliberate.

The conduct was off duty and did not encompass any element of bad faith or not properly exercising police powers.

DC Martins conduct on this one occasion has no bearing whatsoever on the ability to carry out her duties.

DC Martins conduct has the potential to discredit the police service but not to genuinely undermine public confidence in policing.

There is currently a scale of national concern regarding police behaviour, in particular violence towards women and girls and predatory sexual misconduct.

This case simply isnt one of those.

It is submitted that aggravating factors are absent in this matter.

It was unplanned sexual activity and it was inappropriate but it took place between two consenting adults and it represents no more than a single, albeit serious lapse of judgement.

Had the officers been on duty when the activity took place, that would no doubt have led to an aggravating factor.

DC Martin has at all times in my submission been transparent and has cooperated fully with this investigation.

There is evidence in abundance of her genuine remorse and acceptance of her actions.

Defending PC Lynch, DC Robbie Clarke said: This matter is to decide whether or not the conduct was gross misconduct so serious it would result in dismissal.

It was a fleeting, heat of the moment thing that occurred and was unplanned.

It was an in the moment, momentary, loss of judgement, self-control, brought about by any number of factors, not least of all, drink.

There is no dishonesty and there is no lack of integrity in the responses provided by PC Lynch in relation to this matter.

The one thing that is gross, gross means big in this instance, is the feeling of guilt and shame that has been accentuated by PC Lynch.

In his own words, things just got heated, and actions went overboard.

As he says, and as we know, it was an isolated incident.

It cant go unmentioned that the impact of a 1015 second momentary lapse of judgement has had on PC Lynch in the ensuing months, when he has turned up to work daily and faced the nudging and the whispering of colleagues and has gone about his business with professionalism to maintain the higher standards that he knows.

I respectfully adopt the majority of submissions made on behalf of TDC Martin.

It is my view that the gross element of this is in the shame, the guilt that my member continues to feel, but that in relation to the incident itself, amounts to no more than misconduct and on that basis I would invite you to make the finding that the matters amount to misconduct only.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alexis Boon told the pair: The officers accepted those admissions on 16 November 2022, at around 9:40pm, they engaged in oral sex that required the removal of clothing

Elizabeth Acker, for the Met Police, said: It is right to say this is not the main lift, it is the service lift so certainly the risk was mitigated because it was not opening onto the main floor.

Cleaners and people filling vending machines are members of the public and they expect high standards of police officers.

Police Stations are not 9-5 locations and those particularly working in the service stations of the building are not working 9-5.

It is not our case that members of public did see what happened but it is the risk that is outlined, the risk that it could happen and that the officers should have been aware of it.

Ms Acker said the two trainee detectives had been socialising at a pub nearby with other police colleagues.

They have both accepted they were both drunk, it is highlighted that they were no longer on duty, but they were on police premises.

PC Lynch and DC Martin have accepted engaging in a sex act, engaging in sexual activity which required the removal of clothing, that they were inebriated and that they were in a location where they knew their activity could be witnessed by other police colleagues.

They denied but were found to be in breach of doing so in a location where they knew or should have know their activity could be witnessed by members of the public.

They accepted their behaviour did not meet the standards required as to discreditable conduct but denied it amounted to gross misconduct.

The hearing was adjourned until Friday when a decision will be made by the panel.
The family of a 'beautiful' young mother who died after a 'frankly barbaric' botched Brazilian butt lift operation in a Turkish clinic yesterday begged women not to risk their lives for the sake of a more shapely bottom.

Demi Agoglia, from Salford, Greater Manchester, flew to Istanbul in January with her partner Bradley Jones after spotting a celebrity-endorsed advert on social media offering cut-price cosmetic plastic surgery.

But tragically the 26-year-old  the mother of three children, the youngest a seven-month-old baby - died in hospital three days after operation from a suspected microscopic fat embolism, where injected fat leaks into the bloodstream.

After hearing from an expert witness in the inquest that Ms Agoglia's tragic death could amount to 'manslaughter', a coroner today said he would be writing to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take measures to stop young women travelling to Turkey for such procedures.

'I feel that something needs to be done to stop this frankly barbaric medical practice being conducted to such low standards which would not be tolerated within the United Kingdom,' John Pollard told Ms Agoglia's family at Bolton Coroner's Court.

At least another three British women have died after travelling to Turkey for a Brazilian butt lift in the past six years, frequently paying around one-third of the 10,000 cost of having the procedure in the UK.

Just last month Mr Streeting warned women to 'think very carefully' before flying overseas for such procedures, leaving the NHS to 'pick up the pieces' of botched cosmetic surgery.

After the hearing, Ms Agoglia's sister Chloe, 23, said: 'I think there should be some sort of law stopping people going to Turkey for these operations. I would not recommend anyone going to Turkey for surgery.

Demi Agoglia (pictured), from Salford, Greater Manchester, flew to Istanbul in January with her partner Bradley Jones after spotting a celebrity-endorsed advert on social media offering cut-price cosmetic plastic surgery

But tragically the 26-year-old  the mother of three children, the youngest a seven-month-old baby - died in hospital three days after operation from a suspected microscopic fat embolism, where injected fat leaks into the blood stream

'Our Demi was so beautiful and just didn't need any surgery at all. She only went because of feeling so down in herself and not feeling good enough. We have been through the worst possible heartbreak as a family.'

Earlier Ms Agoglia's partner Mr Jones, a landscaper, told the hearing she had found an advert for Comfort Zone Surgery on social media.

He said: 'I did not want her to go. I didn't want to go with her.'

Mr Jones said they were housed in a villa next to the hospital, with surgery performed on January 5.

Two days before she died she complained of tightness in her chest, and the following day she collapsed and was taken to hospital in a taxi.

She was admitted to an intensive care unit but doctors said there was nothing they could do to save her and she died on January 8.

Her mother Christine Tydd told the hearing she had told Ms Agoglia that she did not need the operation to improve her looks.

But she said: 'She was determined to go. She was conscious about the way she looks. There was no changing her mind.'

Fat is first harvested from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction. Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the glutes at specific points, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance

After hearing from an expert witness in the inquest that Ms Agoglia's tragic death could amount to 'manslaughter', a coroner today said he would be writing to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take measures to stop young women travelling to Turkey for such procedures

No-one from the hospital gave evidence at the inquest, which did hear from expert witness consultant plastic surgeon Omar Tilo.

He said the likely cause of Ms Agoglia's death was a microscopic fat embolism contributed to by neglect.

He told the inquest that the 'grave failings' of the clinic in Istanbul could have amounted to manslaughter.

Mr Tilo agreed with the coroner that there was 'a paucity of documentation' about Demi's treatment in the Avrasya clinic - one of Comfort Zone Surgery's contracted hospitals - about pre-operative consultation, anaesthetic charts and post-operative monitoring for signs of infection or deep vein thrombosis.

He said that the procedure carried the risk of pulmonary embolism or microscopic embolism, where fat leaks into the blood tissue.

The consultant said the 'harvested' fat had to be purified before being injected into the skin around the buttocks and not the muscle - a practice which was banned in the UK in 2017 because of the risks.

He said that there was no evidence of an informed consent process which in the UK would involve a 14-day cooling off period between the first consultation and the operation.

Mr Tilo told the inquest: 'It is most likely that she was asked to sign the form and did not understand what she was signing.'

Her sister Chloe set up an online fundraiser in support of her children, writing: 'She was one of kind! Everyone who knew Demi knew how much her boys meant to her'

Liposuction, Brazilian butt lifts, eye colour-changing laser treatments and hymenoplasties are all offered in clinics across Turkey

Ms Agoglia's tragic death comes after previous warnings about the potentially deadly consequences of cut-price cosmetic surgery in Turkey.

BBL Q&A by Emily Stearn, Health Reporter What is a Brazilian butt lift? BBLs are used to make buttocks bigger, more rounded or lifted. It sees fat transferred from other areas of the body, such as the hips or stomach, to give patients a fuller derriere. Despite the dangers, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) says the op is the fastest-growing type of cosmetic surgery, with its popularity increasing by 20 per cent year-on-year. It was shunned in the UK because of its risks. But last year, BAAPs, which creates guidelines for British plastic surgeons, partly reversed its decision on offering the procedure. Surgeons in the UK are now instead encouraged to do superficial gluteal lipofilling (SGL), which is considered a 'lite' form of the procedure. How is a BBL carried out? Fat is first harvested from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction. Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the glutes at specific points, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance. The procedure, sometimes referred to as lipomodelling, usually lasts a couple of hours. According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgeons, it is typical for a portion of the injected fat not to 'take' in its new location. What are the risks of a BBL? BBLs are one of the most dangerous types of cosmetic surgery available. The risk of death is higher than most operations, currently estimated at one in 15,000. Surgeons can accidentally inject the fat into the bloodstream which can cause a potentially deadly blood clot. Such a complication is what killed Leah Cambridge, 29, a British mother who died in August 2018 after paying 6,500 to get a BBL in Turkey. Generic side effects include bruising, swelling, temporary numbness and scars. And, like any op, it carries the risk of excessive bleeding and an infection. Experts also warn against the pressure tactics employed by cosmetic surgery clinics including time-sensitive deals and booking procedures informally using apps like WhatsApp. How much does it cost? On average, it costs around 6,000 in the UK. But according to the NHS, it could be priced as high as 8,000. There may also be additional costs for consultations, aftercare and further treatment sessions, if required. Adverts for the procedure in Turkey, meanwhile, have been advertised online for as little as $2,750 (2,190). In July 2023, MailOnline also found some cosmetic surgery packages in Turkey being sold for under 3,000. Brits were being offered the chance to get a BBL as part of a five-night hotel stay and VIP airport transfers. Advertisement

He agreed with the coroner that Ms Agoglia was also 'grossly lacking in post operative care' such as blood-thinning injections or observation of any blood loss.

'This unfortunate outcome may have been preventable with expert medical knowledge,' he added.

Mr Tilo said he had considered whether the failings amounted to manslaughter and added: 'The more I think about it, that is my feeling.'

Coroner Mr Pollard gave a conclusion of misadventure and added: 'This inquest is especially sad.

'Demi decided she was apparently not pretty enough and, despite her partner saying she did not need improvement, she went to Turkey for a Brazilian butt lift.

'She went to Turkey because the process is quicker and cheaper than in the UK.

'The operation was carried out without proper informed consent and the peri-operative care was peremptory, with little or nothing in the way of post-operative care.

'The post operative care was between woeful and completely non-existent. The care fell far below the standards for this type of operation and this lack of care significantly contributed to Demi's death.'

Ms Agoglia's tragic death comes after previous warnings about the potentially deadly consequences of cut-price cosmetic surgery in Turkey.

At least another three British women have died after travelling to Turkey for a 'Brazilian butt lift', paying around one-third of the 10,000 cost of having the procedure in the UK.

Increasingly popular in recent years thanks to curvaceous celebrities like Kim Kardashian, the operation sees fat harvested from elsewhere on the body and injected into the buttocks.

According to the Foreign Office over 25 British nationals have died in Turkey since the start of 2019 following medical procedures of all types.

Following Ms Agoglia's death last January, her brother urged women not to travel to Turkey to have the procedure, which carries among the highest death rates of any cosmetic surgery.

'If anyone is thinking of flying to Turkey for an operation I would say don't do it,' her brother Carl, 37, told The Sun.

'But she is 26 and has her own mind. Her mum didn't want her to go out either. She is only 26, she shouldn't have die. Just don't do it, it's such a high risk.

'She should never have done it. She has left three young kids, including a seven-month-old baby.'

At the time distraught friends questioned why the mother-of-three had felt the need to have surgery, saying she was 'perfect already'.

'Wish you knew how perfect you already was!' wrote Sophie Lea Becks, adding: 'Can't stop thinking of you, your boys and your family.'

'I can't get you off my mind, more needs to be done about these f****** stupid companies,' Megan Holland posted. 'You was perfect already and now you're not even here.'

Her sister Chloe set up an online fundraiser in support of her children, writing: 'She was one of kind! Everyone who knew Demi knew how much her boys meant to her.'

Another sister, Georgina uploaded an emotional tribute video on TikTok, saying: 'I lost my sister yesterday. I miss you so much Demi. Nothing feels real anymore. How can you be gone?

'Just wanna hear you shout alright Rkid nothing will ever be the same without you I love you Demi x.'

Melissa Kerr (pictured), from Gorleston, Norfolk, died at a private hospital in Istanbul in 2019 aged just 31 while undergoing a BBL

Leah Cambridge (pictured), 29, from Leeds, died at a private hospital in Turkey in 2018 after she suffered a massive pulmonary embolism while having the procedure

Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) have increased in popularity in recent years thanks to curvaceous celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

The procedure involves either fat from other parts of the body or silicone implants being inserted, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance.

Melissa Kerr, from Gorleston, Norfolk, died at a private hospital in Istanbul in 2019 aged just 31 while undergoing a BBL.

A fatal clot travelled to her lungs after fat taken during a liposuction procedure was injected into her buttocks.

Leah Cambridge, 29, from Leeds, died at a private hospital in Turkey in 2018 after she suffered a massive pulmonary embolism while having the procedure.

Despite a death rate of one per 4,000 operations, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons says BBLs are the fastest-growing type of cosmetic surgery, increasing in popularity by 20 per cent year-on-year.

In 2022 it issued new guidelines to members following a four-year moratorium on BBLs due to the high death rate, recommending a more superficial procedure called an SGL (superficial gluteal lipofilling).

The following year the organisation issued an unprecedented joint statement with its Turkish counterpart urging patients to ensure surgeons were fully certificated before considering undergoing BBLs in the country.

Following Ms Agoglia's death, the Foreign Office reiterated warnings about medical tourism to Turkey.
After Daniel Penny was found not guilty in the death of Jordan Neely, his lawyers revealed how he will get revenge on the Manhattan District Attorney who went after the Marine veteran.

Penny's defense team is considering bringing a malicious prosecution lawsuit against DA Alvin Bragg and others who brought charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Penny was acquitted on Monday at his trial over the death of Neely, a homeless man who Penny put in a chokehold on a New York City subway for threatening other passengers.

Penny's defense attorney, Steven Raiser, told Fox & Friends on Wednesday: 'Just like Danny said in his interview, it was like they wanted to try and get him on something.

'They knew they weren't going to be able to get him, so they had to get rid of that top count in order to get that second count, just in hopes that maybe they could pull out a win here, and they were unsuccessful, thank God.'

Raiser said the lawsuit would target Bragg for 'blurring' the 'ethical lines' with the case's handling. It would also go after the medical examiner's office, which he alleged colluded with Bragg's office, Fox News reported.

'The record was made fairly clear as to the extent of his involvement and what occurred here,' the attorney said.

'He was appointed by Mayor Adams, [who belongs to the] same political party as Alvin Bragg. There was collusion there, and the collusion began from the very beginning of the case and all the way through.

Penny's defense attorney, Steven Raiser, said: 'Just like Danny said in his interview, it was like they wanted to try and get him on something'

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Bragg said: 'The jury has now spoken. At the Manhattan D.A.s Office we deeply respect the jury process and we respect their verdict'

Penny had been charged and tried over the death of Jordan Neely, who Penny put in a chokehold on a New York City subway for threatening other passengers

'The district attorney needed the medical examiner and needed the medical examiner to act quickly, and he did just that,' he added.

Penny's manslaughter charge was dropped at the prosecution's request on Friday after jurors, for the second time, failed to reach a unanimous decision.

After a brief return to deliberations, jurors found Penny not guilty of the lesser charge.

Raiser said the two key reasons he walked free were the cause of death and Penny's justification for his actions.

'He was absolutely justified. He was trying to help people and he did.'

Neely's father Andre Zachary was escorted out of the room after Penny was acquitted on Monday.

Some supporters of the prosecution were outside the building protesting as Penny was escorted out of the courthouse.

A woman on the prosecution's side then told Penny: 'you're a racist fu****g c**t.'

BLM activist Walter 'Hawk' Newsome, who says he is Neely's uncle, was also escorted out after he appeared to threaten Penny, saying 'it's a small fu***ng world, buddy.'

Penny's manslaughter charge was dropped at the prosecution's request on Friday after jurors, for the second time, failed to reach a unanimous decision. After a brief return to deliberations, jurors found Penny not guilty on a lesser charge

Some supporters of the prosecution were outside the building protesting as Penny was escorted out of the courthouse

Raiser said the two key reasons he walked free were the cause of death and Penny's justification for his actions. 'He was absolutely justified. He was trying to help people and he did'

Bragg said: 'The jury has now spoken. At the Manhattan D.A.'s Office we deeply respect the jury process and we respect their verdict.

'Unfortunately, over the duration of this trial, talented career prosecutors and their family members were besieged with hate and threats  on social media, by phone and over email.

'Simply put, this is unacceptable, and everyone, no matter your opinion on this case, should condemn it. These are prosecutors who have dedicated decades of their lives to public service and to the safety of Manhattan.

'I am grateful to them, as well as to the NYPD for their hard work and commitment on not only this matter, but for all they do on behalf of New Yorkers. I also want to thank Judge Wiley for presiding over this case.

Finally, I want to thank the members of the jury who took time out of their lives to diligently evaluate the evidence.'
A smoker who was fined 833 for throwing a cigarette butt down a drain has branded his treatment by authorities as 'disgraceful'.

Carl Smith was caught disposing of his rollie by a council enforcement officer while out clothes shopping in Bromley, south London, on May 23.

The 31-year-old of New Addington, in Croydon, was hauled through the courts after he refused to pay a 100 on-the-spot fine  insisting it didn't count as littering.

He pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court yesterday on the understanding that he would get 30 per cent off his court costs.

But he was horrified to discover today that his fine had rocketed eight-fold  and he claims the council hadn't even told him.

Recalling the incident, Mr Smith told MailOnline: 'I went to Zara, walked outside, was going to another shop, lit up, chucked it down the drain but he told me it was on the pavement.

'I threw it down a drainpipe and I get assaulted by one of the enforcement officers. He grabbed me and held me going "you're not going anywhere, I'm giving you a 100 fine on the spot".

'I told him "how are you going to give me a fine if you have no evidence?" I threw the cigarette down a drainpipe, it's not littering. He didn't want me going anywhere so he put his arm around me and he goes 'now I'm filming you'.

Carl Smith (pictured) was caught disposing of his rollie by a council enforcement officer while out clothes shopping in Bromley, south London, on May 23

Mr Smith appealed and was ordered to Bromley Magistrates' Court last week where he decided to plead guilty hoping he would get 30 percent off his court costs

'There was a guy who threw an e-cigarette on the floor right in front of him [the enforcement officer] and he didn't do nothing.

'I think it's disgraceful, really. I'm fuming.'

Mr Smith dropped the cigarette butt in Market Square and was fined for breaching Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act.

He stormed into Bromley Council's offices to complain before receiving a letter in the post ordering him to pay his 100 fine within 31 days but he refused.

'When they sent me the letter there was no evidence, I said I'm not paying it because I didn't do anything wrong', he added.

Mr Smith appealed and was ordered to Bromley Magistrates' Court last week where he decided to plead guilty hoping he would get 30 percent off his court costs.

But the court instead ordered Mr Smith - who was not in court - to pay 833, consisting of a 293 fine, 117 surcharge and 423 in costs.

Mr Smith has been left devastated with the news and said he didn't even know he'd been fined until MailOnline approached him.

Bromley Council have prosecuted three people in recent months for dropping cigarette butts

He said he will have to pay the penalty via a payment plan as he only earns 1,500-month.

The 31-year-old added: 'From a 100 fine to nearly 900. That's eight times the money. It's disgraceful. This is how bad Bromley Council is.

'I don't know when they're going to take the money out. If Bromley Council had done their job right, they'd be making fines everyday but they don't.

'He shouldn't have been grabbing people. I think I'm going to appeal it.'

Bromley council have now prosecuted 12 people for littering since the start of September, with offenders paying 6,129 and have warned more could follow for those who do not pay their initial fine.

The council said they serve as a 'warning to others to not discard unwanted items in the street, but to place them in a litter bin or take rubbish home'.

Last month a woman in Lewisham and a man in Orpington were ordered to pay 731 for dropping cigarette butts in the borough earlier in the year.

Conservative Councillor Angela Page, Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Enforcement told the Evening Standard: 'We have no desire to prosecute anyone, but littering is a serious problem and a criminal offence, with street cleaning costs running into millions.'

She added: 'We would encourage everyone to find a litter bin or take their rubbish home as we need to put a stop to littering in our borough. When our enforcement officers witness littering, a fixed penalty notice is issued, and prosecution will follow if this is not paid.'

A Bromley Council spokesperson said: 'On behalf of residents, the council has street-cleaning teams working seven days a week across the borough, keeping our streets neat.

'Littering undoes this work and is illegal, with our enforcement team issuing a fixed penalty notice to anyone seen littering.

'If payment is not received then prosecution will follow, with fines and costs being considerably higher than the fixed penalty notice.'

Mr Smith pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court and was ordered to pay a fine of 293, a surcharge of 117 and 423 in court costs, racking up a court bill of 833.
by Eric Schenck

If you celebrate Christmas (and even if you dont), you should make somebody an Advent calendar at least once in your life.

Truly, an Advent calendar is the most under-celebrated joy of Christmas. If presents under the tree on Christmas morning are the rich and highly accomplished lawyer of the family, an Advent calendar is his far less successful (but way cooler) little brother.

You can buy one, sure: but the ones you make on your own will always be the best.

With that in mind, heres your guide to creating an Advent calendar thats guaranteed to delight.

10 Rules For Making An Advent Calendar

1) Make sure your person has fun with it

We start with the Golden Rule. It does you no good to create something so beautiful, so thoughtful, if the person receiving it isnt going to enjoy it. So make sure you do your homework. Excitement looks different for everybody, so the best Advent calendars will be unique.

What you create, for example, is highly dependent on the age of the recipient. If youre making one for your grandma, a little more sophistication might be called for. You four-year-old nephew? You can likely get away with a simple one.

Thats certainly how it was with my first Advent calendar. This was the version many of us are familiar with: the rings. Every night before bed Id grab scissors and lop off another one. As a kindergartener, that in itself was an accomplishment. Here I was, unable to think about anything but Christmas, and I was able to accept just one day at a time.

My imagination ran wild with these rings. Each one I cut was one more day of North Pole preparations. What was Santa doing? What were his elves up to? Was my gift already prepared and packed up?

2) Avoid being sentimental at all costs

An Advent calendar is more about the experience, and less about the message. Making one as an adult puts you back in middle school. You have to play it cool. Your friends, your family, that secret crush at work under no circumstances can they know just how much you like them. Make it, give it to them, and let the dice fall where they may.

And if youre giving one to a kid? Now is not the time to tell them how much you love them. Your kids already know that. What theyre after is the sugar. Which brings me to my next point

3) Go heavy on whichever snacks they prefer

Hot take here: an Advent calendar isnt really an Advent calendar if it doesnt include something to eat. Its cool that you love me. Its even better that you love me enough to make me something so heartfelt.

But if it doesnt have something to snack on? Dont bother.

I love chocolate and just about anything sweet. Maybe Im just a fat man in a (somewhat) skinny body. But the coolest Advent calendars I see usually add a few calories to each one of your days. Nothing better than looking like Santa Clause himself!

4) Give them something that theyll actually love

If youre going big, of course, it helps for the Advent calendar to include something else. This should be something useful, or at the very least somehow related to something they like.

Here is a highly scientific way of judging the value of an Advent calendar:

Just ask my German ex-girlfriend about the one she made me. The relationship was still new, and so were my German skills. For the first 24 days of December, I got a piece of chocolate along with a new German phrase written on a piece of paper.

By Christmas I was a few pounds heavier, and probably a few IQ points smarter. Janina knew I loved chocolate, and she also saw me trying to learn her language. That Advent calendar gave me both.

I dont know if this was love, but it must be close to it.

5) Be kind

Christmas is great, but it comes at the end of the year. That makes it a time thats especially prone to comparisons and slightly depressing realizations. That most of those resolutions failed. That your year didnt quite go the way you were planning.

The last month of the year can be a sober reminder that the first 11 werent so great.

But with a sweet ass Advent calendar? That starts to matter much less. All you really care about is that somebody thinks youre cool enough to give you something 24 days in a row. If youre making an Advent calendar for someone, take it as a chance to encourage them.

6) Build anticipation if you can

Crafting an Advent calendar in a way that allows anticipation to build may just be one of lifes greatest skills. Its not easy. But if youre going to focus on one thing in the creation process, this might be it.

Just think about how the holiday season was as a kid:

Long nights spent thinking about Santa

Trying to skip out on homework so you can build your wish list

Insanity due to the excitement on Christmas Eve

And now compare it with how you feel as an adult:

Long nights spent thinking how youre going to afford all these gifts

Trying to skip out on any lame office party youre expected to go to

Also insanity, but probably because of conversations with your crazy aunt

Somewhere between childhood and becoming an adult, the magic dies. You know Santa isnt real. You know how much this stuff actually costs. You know all these businesses that claim to be spreading the cheer are just after your money.

Between you as a kid and you now, a gap inevitably appears. Its a gap that stings a little  but its also a gap that a well-done Advent calendar can bridge.

In a very real way, an Advent calendar brings the magic back. What is each day going to bring? With a calendar hanging on your wall, this is a question you are confronted with every morning.

We get older and time starts to speed up. But an Advent calendar? It doesnt give a shit about your adult problems  its going to slow things down with a little bit of goodness every day.

7) If youre lucky enough to get one, be damn sure you always have it on you

Making an Advent calendar places most of the responsibility on the giver. You need to make a cool one. You need to get it done on time. You need to deliver it by December 1st, and you always risk that they dont actually like it. Its worth the stress, of course. Still  stressful it is.

But once its out of your hands? Thats when the pressure is on whoever you gave it to. And if you are that person? Congratulations  you have 24 days of happiness ahead of you.

Just make sure you dont miss one. Legend has it that if you skip or forget a day, Krampus pays you a visit in the middle of the night.

Dont know Krampus? You can either live in blissful ignoranceor you can click this link.

8) Do whatever you must to encourage moments of pretentiousness

Remember the Be kind rule? Well, one of the best ways to do that is to make it easy for the receiver of the calendar to be insufferable. Maybe an analogy helps you understand what I mean.

Having a really nice, high quality Advent calendar is like wearing an expensive coat your friends cant afford. You feel smug. Perhaps a bit superior. People walk into your apartment and you see them raise their eyebrows in surprise. The urge to pat them on the shoulder is almost irresistible.

At this moment, theres only one thing you want to tell them (most likely in a whisper):

Better luck next year.

In this case, pretentious basically just means really good. There are a couple of ways to ensure this quality: colorful strings to hang the Advent calendar with, fancy perfume samples each day, the most expensive chocolate you can find.

Life can suck. Let somebody feel like a classy Mr. Peanut for a couple of weeks, and theyll be eternally grateful.

9) Leave a present at the end

Nobody wants to be that jerk that just made somebody wait for 24 daysfor nothing. Yes, its amazing that they got an Advent calendar in the first place. But if you include a present at the end, all those little bags are actually building towards something. This is essential for kids. For adults, its just as important  but in a different way.

When youre young and people ask you what you want for Christmas, your answer is immediate. Youve already circled 50 things in some magazine, and you earnestly tell your parents about the 10,000 dollars worth of loot youre expecting.

But if youre any older than 20? If somebody at that age actually has an answer, you probably think exactly what I do:

What an asshole.

Lets be honest: society doesnt look kindly on adults that desire stuff. At a certain point, world peace and the health of your family take the place of that oh-so-underrated pleasure of wanting something.

But if you give the right gift to them after youve already delivered 24 days in a row? Not only are you their new favorite person, but youve given them permission to be a kid again.

And whats better than that?

10) Dont forget the booze

Making an Advent calendar can take awhile. And if you leave it until the last minute, it can also be stressful.

Depending on what exactly youre preparing, you might have a long night ahead of you. Best to have something to take the edge off. I prefer Guinness, but in the spirit of Christmas, might as well make it a brandy with eggnog.

Conclusion

Ill finish with what I think an Advent calendar is really all about:

Making somebody you like feel special.

Its really as simple as that. With an Advent calendar you wake up every morning and there is a mini present waiting to be unwrapped. Is there a better way to start your day?

Creating one allows you to grab a moment. Its a way of slowing down December and making people (in the best way possible) wait for Christmas. A way of taking that feeling all around you, that feeling of comfort and warmth, and making it stay awhile.

Make one for someone you love, and watch what happens when you give it to them. Its the closest youll ever feel to a superhero.

Is an Advent calendar going to fix all of their problems? Not likely. But 24 straight days of smiles?

Well

Thats a pretty good place to start.

Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.
Jill Biden revealed details of Naomi Biden's pregnancy for the first time on Wednesday, as she talked about her President Joe Biden becoming great-grandparents.

It was the Bidens' first public comments about their upcoming new family member.

Naomi Biden, 30, is the eldest daughter of Hunter Biden. She announced her pregnancy on election night. It will be Hunter's first grand child and the Bidens' first great-grandchild.

Jill Biden addressed the news at a women's health conference she was hosting at the White House.

'We've talked about this all this morning - research that uses genetics to find a cause of extreme morning sickness, and I heard this a couple weeks ago, and I was particularly interested because my own granddaughter was going through the same thing,' she said.

Then she burst into a big smile and announced: 'Because we're going to be great grandparents!'

The room burst into applause.

Naomi Biden announced her pregnancy on the night of the 2024 presidential election with a post to her Instagram account.

'(we) voted,' she wrote on her Instagram story, displaying a prominent baby bump with an 'I voted' sticker on it.

DailyMail.com exclusively revealed in May that Naomi and her husband Peter Neal were expecting their first child.

Jill and Joe Biden kiss during a health care conference in the East Room of the White House

Speculation has been rampant for months that she was expecting. It was the talk of a state dinner in May.

Naomi, who is known for wearing fitted clothes to her slim figure, donned loose fitting gowns during multiple occasions when she was seen in public.

As she and Neal entered a state dinner at the White House for Kenya in May, Neal appeared to be gesturing at his wife's stomach as they posed for photos.

As she leaned into him, what appeared to be a baby bump was seen in her long, roomy pleated metallic cape and dress set from Diana Ayad.

At one point, Neal appeared to be pointing to her bump.

She is the eldest daughter of Hunter Biden and his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle. Naomi works as an attorney in Washington D.C.

She and Peter Neal married in an opulent ceremony on the White House lawn on November 19, 2022. She was the first presidential grandchild to be married at the White House.

Naomi Biden announced her pregnancy on Election Night

Naomi Biden, with husband Peter, at a state dinner for Kenya in May

Meanwhile, the Bidens are preparing to end their time in the White House but are vowing not to go anywhere.

'We're no longer going to be president and First Lady but we're not going away,' President Biden told the health conference on Wednesday.

Donald and Melania Trump move in on January 20th, 2025, after Trump takes the oath of office.

And Jill Biden vowed her work on funding for innovative research on women's health will continue.

'My work doesn't stop in January when Joe and I leave this house. I will keep building alliances like the ones that brought us here today,' she said.
A Labour MP was today criticised over her 'complete ignorance' after she claimed it's 'quite hard to find a poor farmer'.

Dame Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden in south London, provoked a backlash as she defended Chancellor Rachel Reeves' inheritance tax raid.

Under changes dubbed a 'family farm tax', farmers will have to pay a 20 per cent rate of inheritance tax on land and property they inherit worth more than 1million.

Ministers have insisted it will only affect the wealthiest quarter of landowners. But the National Farmers' Union and others say the impact will be much more widespread.

Critics claim the move could wipe out family-run farms with tight margins, as they will be forced to sell up in order to pay death duties.

Angry farmers today staged fresh protests in Westminster against the Chancellor's action, as they drove their tractors through the streets outside Parliament.

But, appearing on BBC Politics Live, Dame Siobhain insisted the Government should stand firm on the measures, which were announced in October's Budget.

'I don't think farmers, large farmers, should be exempt to inheritance tax because nobody else is,' the long-serving MP said.

Dame Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden in south London, provoked a backlash as she defended Chancellor Rachel Reeves' inheritance tax raid

Angry farmers staged fresh protests in Westminster today against the Chancellor's action, as they drove their tractors through the streets outside Parliament

Critics claim Labour's tax raid could wipe out family-run farms with tight margins, as they will be forced to sell up in order to pay death duties

The Labour MP said a married couple using all their inheritance tax benefits would still be able to pass on a 3million farm tax-free, while for single people this would be 1.5million.

'If you choose to pass on your farm seven years prior to your death, then you escape inheritance tax,' Dame Siobhain added.

'I think the rules that exist for people who own their homes, it's perfectly fair for farmers to be in the same situation.'

When challenged about farmers being cash-poor - even though they might be asset-rich due to their land and buildings - Dame Siobhain, who is of Irish descent, replied: 'I tell you, I come from a country - or my family come from a country - where there are lots of farmers. Quite hard to find a poor farmer.'

Tory MP Bradley Thomas, appearing on the same programme, said Dame Siobhain's remarks were 'frankly insulting to the whole of the farming community'.

Figures published last month by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs showed that farm incomes for all farm types - except specialist pig and poultry farms - were lower in 2023/24 than they were the year before.

For cereal farms, farm business income - the output generated by the farm business minus total farm costs - fell by 73 per cent to 39,400, while for general cropping farms, average income was 24 per cent lower at 95,300.

On dairy farms, average farm business income was 68 per cent lower at 70,900 than 2022/23.

And on lowland grazing livestock farms, average farm business income fell by nearly a quarter to 17,300.

According to the Government's National Careers Service website, a farm labourer can expect to earn a salary of between 18,000 to 25,000 depending on their level of experience.

A beginner farm manager can expect to earn 24,000 per year, while an experienced farm manager can earn a salary of 50,000, the website states.

David Chadwick, the Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, claimed Dame Siobhain had shown 'complete ignorance when it comes to farming and the rural economy'.

He added: 'Siobhain McDonagh is welcome to visit my constituency any time to see the damage their policy will do to farming families across our country, some of which earn less than minimum wage.'

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs for the Countryside Alliance, said: 'I doubt Dame Siobhain McDonagh has had the opportunity to meet many farmers in Merton.

'But if shed step outside London and met farming families struggling on a daily basis to feed us, she would soon realise this was total nonsense. So disappointing.'
Actor Mel Gibson made an appearance at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night and revealed what it would take for him to 'kill someone.'

Gibson, who was unofficially blacklisted by Hollywood after a 2006 anti-Semitic incident, appeared at the Champions For America Celebration Gala, put on by the group America's Future, which is currently led by Gen. Michael Flynn.

Video footage from the event shows Gibson at the podium talking about Flynn and his sister Mary O'Neill's efforts to combat human trafficking.

Gibson praised the siblings for 'exposing all these wolves in sheep's clothing that pray upon our young.'

'I've got nine kids. I don't know, if one of them got stolen or trafficked or something, I'd have to kill someone,' Gibson said.

The actor also said that President Joe Biden's administration represented 'thinly-veiled Marxism' and called the upcoming takeover by President-elect Donald Trump a 'four-year grace period.'

'The presidents got a big job on his hands to turn this place around. A lot of damage has been done and they continue to start fires, just like around my house,' Gibson said.

It's unclear if he meant the statement literally, but a number of celebrities have had to vacate properties around Malibu, California due to wildfires this week.

Actor Mel Gibson made an appearance at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night and revealed what it would take to 'kill someone'

'I hope in the next four years we can get back some of that precious commodity that this country has. That commodity called freedom,' Gibson said. 'We'll see how much this administration can claw back from the philistines.'

More than 700 people joined the affair, which included an appearance by Trump, who stood alongside Kid Rock and Tucker Carlson - who like Gibson, were honored by the group.

Kid Rock and Carlson both received 'Champion for America' distinctions.

Tickets for the Mar-a-Lago fete cost between $3,800 and $5,000 the group's website said.

Actor Kevin Sorbo and his wife Sam Sorbo were among those on the host committee, as well as former CBS News journalist Lara Logan.

Flynn was Trump's first national security adviser, but resigned after a few weeks after news reports said he misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations he had with a Russian diplomat.

He later twice pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators but later retracted the plea.

Flynn was pardoned by Trump at the end of his administration.

An unforgettable moment at the Champions For America Celebration Gala! 



Kid Rock accepted the Champion For Freedom award from General Michael Flynn and delivered an impassioned speech like only he can. His energy, passion, and unapologetic love for freedom electrified the pic.twitter.com/j8nTiJ9bK1  America's Future USA (@Amerifuture) December 11, 2024

Americas Future, Inc. was first formed in 1946 and was previously led by prominent conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly.

Flynn became chairman of the group in 2021 after his 2020 pardon.

There are heightened concerns about child trafficking on the MAGA right due to the rise of the QAnon conspiracy theory.

The conspiracy rose to prominence starting in 2017 with adherents believing that there's a cabal of cannibalistic child molesters running a sex trafficking ring and fear exposure by Trump.

QAnon believers have pushed that prominent Democratic politicians, Hollywood figures and top government and health officials are involved.
The House passed a nearly $1 trillion military spending package aimed at improving soldier's standards of life and reforming DEI practices while also pumping billions into new weaponry.

The major package, called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), received a bipartisan passing vote on Thursday afternoon in the House.

Out of all the annual NDAA bills that have been passed consecutively for the last 63 years decades, this year's is the most expensive - about $10 billion more than last year's bill.

It comes as regional tensions around the world have hit new highs as Syria, Ukraine and Israel - countries heavily involved with the U.S. military - experience wars that some think could prompt WWIII.

The funding also has allocations specifically to counter China's growing military threats as it continues to carry out inflammatory actions throughout the Indo-Pacific region, like engaging with Philippine and Taiwanese forces.

It provides funding for the U.S. military for the next year, including salaries for soldiers, weaponry, military tech development, recruitment and base refurbishment.

The measure also includes a number of conservative wishlist items that Democrats loudly tried to push back on. In the end, 81 Democrats voted for it, with a surprising 16 Republicans who voted against the military spending.

'We spent a lot of time and effort working on it, because our servicemembers and their families deserve our best efforts,' Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said before the vote. 'We improved housing for our military families and other benefits, and it's also why we stopped funds from going to CRT in our military academies.'

A US armoured military vehicle drives on the outskirts of Rumaylan in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province, bordering Turkey, on March 27, 2023

A US soldier monitors the area as troops patrol oil fields near Syria's northeastern border with Turkey in the Qahtaniyah countryside in the far northeast corner of Hasakeh province on September 3, 2024

The United States has around 900 troops in Syria that are part of an anti-jihadist coalition and also have forces protecting the Conoco gas field and Al-Omar oil fields in east of the country

Johnson also highlighted his push to ban military families from using their insurance to pay for transgender care for minors, one of the most controversial portions of the major deal.

'We banned TRICARE from prescribing treatments that would ultimately sterilize our kids, and we gutted the DEI bureaucracy,' Johnson said of his efforts.

According to a House Armed Services Committee memo obtained by DailyMail.com, the NDAA 'bans transgender medial treatments for children.'

'[It] permanently bans DoD from providing minors with gender dysphoria medical treatments, like hormones and puberty blockers, that could result in sterilization.'

Johnson's inserting the trans care language upset lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Republican House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, who was responsible for overseeing the NDAA's formation, revealed that Johnson never told him about the trans initiative, and he admitted he wished it wasn't in the package.

The top Democrat on that committee, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., dramatically announced he would vote against the NDAA should it contain Johnson's addition.

'Blankety denying health care to people who need it  just because of a biased notion against transgender people  is wrong,' the Democrat said in a statement.

'The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need. For that reason, I will oppose final passage of the FY25 NDAA in its current form.'

The NDAA also forces the U.S. to commit military funding and ammunition to

The NDAA also forces the U.S. to commit military funding and ammunition to Israel

Republicans also touted how the NDAA 'Prohibits funding for the teaching, training, or promotion of CRT in the military, including at service academies and DoD schools.'

The GOP also was excited about cuts to 'DEI bureaucracy,' including a DEI hiring freeze extension.

It also aims to counter antisemitism and prevents a Military Green New Deal,' the internal memo explains.

In addition to the conservative items, the NDAA will boost entry level soldier's (E-1 - E-4) base pay by 14.5 percent. All other service members will receive a 4.5 percent pay boost.

It also allocates billions to refurbish and retrofit old barracks, military family dwellings, and weapons facilities.

The NDAA also provides tens of billions of dollars to counter China by allocating additional resources to the region meant to counter their growing military and espionage efforts.
Sen. Ted Cruz is furious at liberals who are celebrating the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The Texas Senator said that the host of ABC's The View are 'denying reality.'

And he said that independent liberal journalist Taylor Lorenz made 'sick and twisted' comments regarding Thompson's death.

Public response to the murder was very split, with some claiming it goes to show the problem with health care in the U.S., while critics are outraged over the targeted attack. Reaction from some far-left factions is downright gleeful.

Luigi Mangione, 26, is charged with killing Thompson in a shooting in Manhattan last week.

He was captured after a five-day manhunt led authorities to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was identified by a worker at a McDonalds.

His short manifesto, found in his backpack at time of arrest on Monday, was a clear referendum on the U.S. healthcare system  and specifically UnitedHealthcare.

'The hosts of The View are just denying reality,' Cruz said. 'Every word that just came out of Joy's mouth is complete nonsense, it is babbling idiocy.'

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tore into liberal media personalities for their response to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

The View co-host Joy Behar replied to his response with: 'Of course, Ted Cruz has to politicize it and say it's a left wing thing.'

On his podcast episode on Wednesday, he unleashed on Behar.

'Let's go to some of our favorite people,' Cruz said on his podcast The Verdict. 'The always charming and wonderful and reasonable hosts of The View  they were very unhappy.'

'They were very unhappy today because I called out the extremists left for their violence and their willingness to engage in assassinations and to try to assassinate, to assassinate this CEO, to try to assassinate Donald Trump,' he said.

He also went after co-host Whoppi Goldberg, saying: 'You want to talk about violence, I'm willing to say, put anyone in jail who commits active violence. Are you?'

'And I asked on that show, what about the Black Lives Matter and Antifa riots all over the country in 2020 that burned American cities across the country,' Cruz recalled.

'And Whoopi Goldberg looked at me and said, 'I don't know what an Antifa riot is'. Like, they're literally living in an alternative reality where they just erase the embrace of violence on the left.'

But he was obviously more enraged over Lorenz's comments claiming she felt 'joy' over Thompson's murder.

'Taylor Lorenz's comments there are sick and twisted and she should be treated as a deranged lunatic, because she is,' Cruz said on his Wednesday podcast episode.

He went on: 'She is openly celebrating, she feels joy at someone  someone she's never met  being murdered. Why? Because she hates all health insurance companies. She hates, you know what? She's another anti-capitalist nut job.'

Conservatives were confused by the almost celebratory reaction from liberals over the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson (pictured)

Journalist Taylor Lorenz defended her 'joy' over the referendum on U.S. healthcare after the death of the UnitedHealthcare CEO

On his podcast on Wednesday, Cruz unleashed on The View co-host Jot Behar: 'Let's go to some of our favorite people. The always charming and wonderful and reasonable hosts of The View... They were very unhappy today because I called out the extremists left for their violence and their willingness to engage in assassinations'

'Let me be clear, murder is wrong. Period. The end,' the Texas senator said. 'Regardless of your politics, regardless of whether I agree with you or disagree with you, nobody should be subject to violence.'

'It's wrong whether I agree with you or disagree with you,' Cruz said. 'Anyone who committed an act of violence, anyone who has assaulted a police officer, they should be prosecuted.'

Conservatives are perplexed by the public reaction to the murder of Thompson.

Many are taking to social media to praise the targeting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO because they feel it shows displeasure with the way the U.S. health care system works.

Lorenz was among those to show no remorse over Thompson's death.

She went on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Monday to defend her controversial social media posts celebrating the murder.

'Why would you be in such a celebratory mood about the execution of another human being?' Morgan asks. 'Aren't you supposed to be on the caring, sharing left where, you know, you believe in the sanctity of life?'

Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested in Pennsylvania this week and is charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last week

Lorenz responded that since she 'believes in the sanctity of life' it's the reason why 'I felt, along with so many other Americans, joy, unfortunately.'

Morgan's jaw drops at the unexpected response, before he hits back: 'Joy!? Serious? Joy at a man's execution?'

Lorenz then attempts to backtrack, telling Morgan, 'Maybe not joy, but certainly not empathy.'

Later, Lorenz took to X to say she never claimed to feel 'joy' over the assassination of Thompson.

'The CEO was a murderer and I do not feel sadness over his death,' she wrote. 'But the media would rather misrepresent my very clear words and foment outrage than engage with the fact that many of us ARE OVERJOYED that these millionaire pundits are forced to acknowledge Americans suffering.'
Megyn Kelly described the mob of admirers gushing over Luigi Mangione's looks as 'gross' and 'sick.'

During her Tuesday episode of The Megyn Kelly Show podcast, she slammed the slew of internet users who have called the alleged assassin attractive and their 'hero.'

'It's just so gross,' she exclaimed.

'Can I just say I'm really over this nonsense, this guy is not a hero at all, we should not be lauding his good looks - which really aren't existent - all over the internet.'

Mangione, who was arrested and charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has received heaps of support from fans calling for him to be freed and commenting on his good looks.

'Need him bad,' one user posted on X alongside photos of a smiling Mangione.

Another user who has posted a series of pro-Mangione messages and photos on the platform said: 'good luck finding 12 jury members that don't want to f*ck him.'

Added another commenter: 'Luigi Mangione got the full package, free him.'

Megyn Kelly called people gushing over Luigi Mangione 'gross' and 'sick' on her Tuesday podcast

Mangione has received heaps of internet support from fans calling for him to be freed

Luigi Mangione was arrested on Monday after a McDonald's workers recognized him

'These people are f****ing sick, sorry' Kelly said of his supporters.

'They're sick. It's just so gross.'

She also accused Libertarian strategist Tim Miller of talking about 'how he wants to get together with this guy.'

Kelly did not specify what statement she was referring to, but on a Tuesday episode of his podcast The Bulwark, Miller said: 'Theres a lot to unpack here, including his six-pack, would be among the things you need to unpack.

'He's a very attractive man, and there are a lot of texts about that  He's blowing up on the gay group chats. The gay group chats are on fire right now.'

Many agreed with Kelly's sentiment that no one should be celebrating an accused murderer.

One person wrote: 'You are right and you do not have to apologize, they are F**ING sick! I am happy someone says what it really is instead of sugar coating this s**t!'

'I cant believe this is our country right now. I'm absolutely blown away,' another responded to a flattering post about Mangione.

Despite being accused of murder, the internet has been flooded with people celebrating the 26-year-old

Thompson, 50, was gunned down in front of a Midtown Hilton hotel on December 4, sparking a manhunt for the suspect.

Mangione, 26, was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald's on Monday after a staff member identified him.

Sources told DailyMail.com that several staff members noticed the masked man, who sat quietly while reading after ordering a drink.

When police arrived, they found the suspect wearing a mask and using his laptop with his backpack on the floor near the table, according to charging documents.

As soon as he pulled down the mask, rookie Altoona Police Officer Tyler Frye said he and his partner immediately recognized him as the suspect accused of gunning down Thompson on December 4.

'We just didn't think twice about it,' Frye told reporters at a news conference Monday night.

'We knew that was our guy.'

Police said Mangione, who is from Maryland, gave them a fake driver's license, listing him as someone named Mark Rosario from New Jersey.

He was also detained with a 'ghost gun,' bullets, other fake IDs and cash.

The former Ivy League student is being held in a Pennsylvania jail while he is fighting extradition to New York.

His lawyer claimed there was no evidence at the scene connecting Mangione to the murder.

But fingerprints found at the scene of the murder match those of the suspected killer, according to police.
A young mother has been sentenced to 130 years in prison after a series of internet searches showed she killed her two infant daughters years apart from each other.

Stephany Elizabeth Bilecki, formerly LaFountain, was hit with the sentence Monday and is set to spend the rest of her life in an Alaskan prison.

The 29-year-old committed the killings in 2015 and 2017, and had spent the past six years in jail.

The first occurred on September 15, 2015, when four-month-old Chyanne suffocated to death. Initially, the girl's death was deemed inconclusive. This changed after her sister's death on November 24, more than two years later.

Jasmine, then aged only 13 months, died from a lack of oxygen to the brain. An investigation ensued, this one that the incident was a potential murder.

When police began the probe forensic teams found a series of startling searches saved on the woman's smartphone.

Penned about an hour before she dialed 911 to claim the infant had stopped breathing, they included, 'Ways to kill human with no proof', 'Drowning and Forensics', and 'How to: Commit the Perfect Murder'.

Other incriminating inquiries included 'Ways to suffocate', 'Best ways to suffocate', '16 steps to kill someone and not get caught', 'Suffocating and Smothering', and 'Can drowning show in an autopsy report.' Officials confirmed the sentencing in a release.

Stephany Elizabeth Bilecki - formerly LaFountain - was hit with the stern sentence Monday, and is now set to spend the rest of her life in an Alaskan prison. The 29-year-old committed the killings in 2015 and 2017, and had spent the past six years in jail

The first occurred on September 15, 2015, and saw four-month-old Chyanne (right) suffocated to death. Initially, the girl's death was deemed inconclusive. This changed after her sister's death two years later - Jasmine (left), aged 13 months, died from a lack of oxygen to the brain

'Stephany Elizabeth Bilecki was sentenced to a composite sentence of 130 years with 85 years suspended for the 2015 and 2017 murders of her infant children,' the statement from the State of Alaska Department of Law read.

Recounting her crimes, the bulletin went on to describe how in 2015, Bilecki called her boyfriend, and then her mother, from her home in Fairbanks to tell them Chyanne was dead.

'Ten minutes later, just before her mother arrived, she finally called 911,' officials added.

'Chyanne was otherwise healthy, and the death was originally presumed to be SIDS [sudden infant death syndrome],' officials wrote. 'Later investigation revealed minor injuries consistent with suffocation.'

The statement then fast-forwarded two years to 2017, when Bilecki attempted to call her husband, who had been deployed overseas, lawmen said.

After that, she phoned her in-laws - this time reporting Jasmine was no longer breathing.

In that instance, Bilecki called 911 'just before her in-laws arrived at the house,'officals said.

A subsequent search of her phone uncovered the trove internet searches, which, according to the release, were rife with misspellings.

An investigation ensued, this one painting the incident as a potential murder. When police began the probe, forensic teams found a series of startling searches saved on the woman's smartphone. Jasmine, who would have been 8, is seen here

Penned about an hour before she dialed 911 to claim Jasmine had stopped breathing, they included, 'Ways to kill human with no proof', 'Drowning and Forensics', and 'How to: Commit the Perfect Murder'. Pictured, Jasmine's sister Chyanne, who died two years before

Website visits within the hour before she called 911 for Chyanne also involved 'ways to sufficate' [sic], 'ways to kill a human with no proof,' 'drugs that can kill ppl with no trase'[sic], 'can drowning show in an o autopsy report'[sic], '16 steps to kill someone and not get caught'

'Website visits within the hour before she called 911 involved ways to sufficate [sic], ways to kill a human with no proof, drugs that can kill ppl with no trase[sic], can drowning show in an o autopsy report[sic], 16 steps to kill someone and not get caught,' officials wrote.

An autopsy, moreover, indicated cause of death was lack of oxygen, officials said - after noting other similar searches and sites.

Following 'a lengthy investigation,' Bilecki - a deli worker at Fred Meyer's the time, according to her LinkedIn - was indicted on August 29, 2018, for both murders.

She only pleaded guilty this year, however, to one count of Murder in the Second Degree for each child, leaving the girls' relatives to wait for justice for more than six years.

The girls' grandmother wrote on Facebook on Sunday, 'The day has finally come. Tomorrow she will be sentenced!!'

Superior Court Judge Patrica Haines, meanwhile, presided over the sentencing proceedings.

The girls would have been eight and nine years old respectively, if they had lived until today.
President Donald Trump issued the stark warning on Friday, while revealing ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine are progressing - but catastrophe could yet be unleashed without peace. Speaking to the Justice Department he said: 'I think we have it, I think we have it, but this could lead to World War III, very easily, could very easily lead to World War III. 'But I think we're in pretty good shape, a lot better than where we were before we got involved. That was heading into World War III territory, that would've been a war like no other because of nuclear weapons, and other types of weapons that you don't even wanna know about.'
An allegedly drunken New York man was arrested after speeding his car along the tracks of the Long Island Railroad before his vehicle burst into flames.

Basilio Hidalgo, 40, of Brooklyn, was charged with reckless engagement, criminal trespassing, and driving while intoxicated on Sunday after he was caught driving his black SUV along the tracks of the Elmont-UBS Arena station.

Video taken by a witness at the Elmont Station showed the car making a bumpy trek down the tracks closest to the platform as it tried to avoid stopped trains in the other two lanes.

Hidalgo appeared to be in the car by himself as he barreled down the Main Line, an Instagram video shows.

His car was spotted stopped on the tracks by the MTA Police Department around 5 pm on Sunday between the Bellerose and Floral Park stations after driving roughly half a mile on the railroad.

The man's joyride ended after his tires became 'severely damaged' and caught on fire, leading to 'front-end damage to the SUV', according to the MTA.

Floral Park Fire Department was able to put out the flames, but not before it caused 'significant damage to the third rail and other track infrastructure,' the organization said.

Hidalgo was taken into custody immediately.

Basilio Hidalgo, 40, Brooklyn, was charged with reckless engagement, criminal trespassing, and driving while intoxicated on Sunday after he was caught driving his black SUV along the tracks of the Elmont-UBS Arena station (pictured)

Hidalgo appeared to be in the car alone and driving the vehicle with two hands on the wheel down the Main Line

His stunt caused extensive delays on several train lines, including the Main Line, Ronkonkoma, Huntington, and Oyster Bay services. It fully suspended service on the Hempstead Branch line for several hours.

The SUV was cleared from the tracks around 8:30 pm on Sunday after LIRR track maintenance workers used a hydraulic lift to remove it, according to the MTA.

Service was fully restored to Hempstead Branch by 8:40 pm.

It is unclear how Hidalgo go onto the tracks in the first place or why he decided to drive on the railway.

The investigation is ongoing.

Earlier this year, an MTA bus driver was hailed a hero after he spotted a five-year-old girl walking down the street by herself.

Luis Jimenez, 60, was wrapping up his morning shift when something caught his fatherly eye - a five-year-old girl walking on the sidewalk by herself near 160th and Broadway on Tuesday afternoon.

'We have a saying in the MTA - if you see something, say something,' Jimenez told ABC 7.

The man's joyride ended after his tires became 'severely damaged' and caused 'front-end damage to the SUV' and the tires light on fire. The SUV was cleared from the tracks around 8:30pm on Sunday after LIRR track maintainers used a hydraulic lift to remove it

It is unclear how Hidalgo go onto the tracks or why he decided to drive on the railway

'Well with me, I will do something,' he added with a smile.

The Harlem resident kept his eye on her through his front window for about a block before ultimately deciding to pull over, call his dispatcher and have a passenger phone 911.

And with the help of the other riders, Jimenez was able to get the little girl, with a school bag still in hand - on the bus safely.

Her school had reported the kindergartener missing after she didn't show up to class.

Although she didn't have any prior history of missing school, she had a different plan for that particular day - skipping out to go to a pet store.

The little girl's fish had recently died and she was on her way to replace her beloved pet.

The five-year-old had already walked ten blocks away from the safety of her school grounds before Jimenez spotted her.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is facing calls to retire after getting pictured Wednesday looking frail after falling over and injuring himself the day before.

At 82, the outgoing leader of the Senate Republicans has been battling a string of health issues over the last few years, including multiple falls, including one where he was treated for a concussion.

On Tuesday, the Republican's tumble sent shock waves through the Capitol with the press rushing to his office to catch a glimpse of the leader and to see if he was alright.

He sprained his wrist and suffered a cut on his face.

Following the fall a medical official indicated to press that he was okay despite the tumble. Later, McConnell was seen walking around work, business as usual despite the dust up.

But one day later, the Kentuckian entered the Senate looking unsteady and gripping firmly onto an aide's forearm as he made the short walk from his office to the Senate floor.

He was watching his steps along the way as he slowly meandered down the hallway with a large bandage on his left cheek.

And now his feeble state is fueling calls from the left for him to retire.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is assisted by staff as he goes to the Senate Chamber to vote on December 11, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

The Republican received a bandage to treat a cut on his face under his left eye

The senator sustained an injury to his left wrist. Here McConnell is seen in a cast

'McConnell needs to resign. This is embarrassing. The Senate is not an old age home,' Libs of TikTok posted on X.

'How are the same people who were screaming for Joe Biden to step aside not also demanding McConnell step down from the Senate?' journalist Mehdi Hasan wrote.

'After McConnell's fall yesterday ... I thought it was fair to share this photo we got from DCA the day after the election,' journalist Emily Jahinsky wrote on X with a photo of McConnell being rolled around in a chair at a Washington, D.C. airport.

'Not a bombshell, but evidence the senator is struggling with age beyond what's being projected publicly.'

'We need to be actively encouraging elderly politicians to retire. And not just during the primary. Its the humane thing to do,' conservative pundit Marina Medvin wrote on X.

'Mitch McConnell isnt even a Boomer, hes from the Silent Generation! Ive been saying it was his time to step down for years now. This is getting ridiculous.'

'Mitch McConnell needs to retire ASAP,' attorney Paul Ingrassia wrote on X.

The latest health scare with the octogenarian, who first took office in 1985, comes after his shock announcement he would be stepping down from leadership earlier this year.

In the eyes of some GOP senators, his stepping down came as a relief as McConnell has had a yearslong feud with President-elect Donald Trump.

McConnell and Trump just met face-to-face this year for the first time since the president-elect's first term. The Kentuckian denounced Trump after January 6, but the two have since developed what appears to be a working relationship.

Still, McConnell's health episodes continue to be a concern.

He suffered several health scares following a fall last year leading to bizarre 'freezing episodes' that sparked questions over his cognitive abilities.

McConnell fell multiple times in the weeks before he froze for 20 seconds at the Capitol in July 2023 and had to be helped by his colleagues.

He had 'faceplanted' when getting off a plane at Washington's Reagan Airport, too.

McConnell joked about his worrying pause and insisted he was 'fine,' but his office had not confirmed what caused the episode.

The walk from McConnell's office to the Senate floor where he goes to deliver speeches and vote is short compared to other senators. As the longtime leader, McConnell's office is in the Capitol, where other senators not in leadership have offices in auxiliary buildings

The aide seemingly accompanied McConnell to and from the chamber on Wednesday

McConnell's ally Sen. John Barrasso told reporters the leader was fine

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. wears a bandage on his face as he walks to cast a vote on the Senate floor after falling during a luncheon on Capitol Hill

In addition to the plane incident, McConnell fell two other times in 2023, one of which resulted in a concussion.

There was also widespread speculation over whether he has been neurologically impacted by the spills.

When announcing his plans to step down from leadership, he said it has been a 'particularly difficult' period for his family after his sister-in-law Angela Chao drowned on her Texas property in February.

'I turned 82 last week, the end of my contributions are closer than I would prefer,' he continued on the floor.

'If you would have told me 40 years later that I would stand before you as the longest serving senate leader in American history, franky I would have told you, you lost your mind,' a very emotional McConnell said in a lighthearted moment.

The Minority Leader, a survivor of polio, made light of the recent health scare on Wednesday, saying he told President Joe Biden that he too had been 'sandbagged' after freezing mid-sentence.

Paramedics roll a wheelchair to the office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after he fell

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell walks off the Senate floor after falling

Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell fell over during a Senate lunch on Tuesday

Reports indicate that McConnell has fallen at least three times this year  and other questions regarding his neurological state are rising after he froze during his press conference

'One of life's most under appreciated talents is to know when it's time to move on to life's next chapter,' McConnell continued.

'So I stand before you today, to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.'

He said he is 'not going anywhere anytime soon' and will remain a U.S. senator, despite stepping down from leadership.

He is up for re-election in two years in 2026.

Last month, Sen. John Thune, 63, was elected to replace McConnell and usher in Donald Trump's ambitious agenda with a new GOP majority.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing President-elect Donald Trump to appoint his daughter-in-law to the Central Intelligence Agency, prompting speculation about his intentions.

Two Republican sources told Axios that RFK Jr. has been telling people that Amaryllis Fox Kennedy could get to the bottom of the truth about who killed his uncle, President John F. Kennedy. The Trump transition team did not return a request for comment.

Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, who is married to RFK Jr.'s son, worked in the CIA for nearly a decade and wrote a book about her experience.

Her book, Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA, was published in 2019.

Kennedy has frequently addressed conspiracies surrounding his uncles assassination since running for president himself and ultimately ending his campaign to endorse former President Donald Trump.

He believes the circumstantial evidence strongly implies the CIA as ultimately responsible for JFKs assassination. His uncle's aggressive push to reform the agency after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, was one reason why the CIA opposed President Kennedy.

My uncle came out of his office during the Bay of Pigs and said Im going to take the CIA and shatter it to a thousand pieces and scatter it to the wind.

In August 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he was the ideal candidate for president who could help unravel the CIAs agency capture of the United States government.

Robert Kennedy Jr. posts a video of his daughter-in-law, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, on Jan. 14, 2024

I feel that because of the confluence of my experience of the last four years, Im actually probably the only one who can unravel the agency capture, he said during an interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson.

He citied his daughter-in-laws experience working in the CIA, noting she had a sanguine view of the agency.

What Amaryllis will tell you is that of the 24,000 people who work at the agency 20,000 of them who are patriotic Americans and good public servants, he said, citing the importance of the espionage branch of the CIA.

He raised skepticism, however, about the PLANS division of the CIA.

They are the ones that assassinate people, fix elections, overthrow governments and do all the things that we are paying for in our foreign policy and our domestic policy, he said.

Former President Donald Trump told podcasters Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson he would ultimately release all of the documents surrounding the JFK assassination, even though he was convinced not to do so during his first term.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing for his ex-CIA operative presidential campaign manager and daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy to serve as Deputy CIA Director

RFK Jr. and former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally

Trump said that 'good people' like former CIA director Mike Pompeo urged him not to declassify all of the JFK files and release them to the public.

He said there were national security reasons plus names and addresses of people who were still living that could be harmed by the release.

'If I win, I'm going to open them up, I'm just going to open,' he said during his interview with Joe Rogan. 'I think it's going to be just fine to open it. It's going to be time. It's a cleansing. It's really a cleansing.'
Shots fired into a store at a Westfields in Sydney's west

Police have arrested two teenage boys following a dramatic shooting at a barbershop in western Sydney overnight.

The incident occurred at about 2.20am, when bullets were fired into the store located inside the Westfield Shopping Centre in Mount Druitt.

Officers responding to the scene discovered several bullet holes in the shops front window.

Shots were also fired at a nearby train station.

No injuries were reported as the barbershop was unoccupied at the time of the attack.

At about 2.30am, emergency services were called to Football Avenue, in the neighbouring suburb of Oxley Park, following reports a car was on fire.

Firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze.

Police tracked down and arrested two 17-year-old boys in nearby Rooty Hill after they crashed their getaway car, a white ute, into the front of a home.

The two teens were taken to Mount Druitt Police Station where they are assisting with inquiries.

Bullet casings were visible on the ground this morning as forensics officers examined the scene.

Bullets were fired into a barbershop inside the Westfield Shopping Centre in Mount Druitt
Bill Clinton on Wednesday said he was willing to talk to President Joe Biden about a presumptive pardon for wife Hillary Clinton in case President-elect Donald Trump would try to lock her up.

Trump railed against Clinton in their 2016 campaign and his nominee to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, has said he thinks the former secretary of state has potentially committed crimes.

'Lock her up,' was a common chant about Clinton from Trump supporters. The president-elect also vowed revenge against those he calls his political enemies.

Bill Clinton, during an appearance on ABC's The View, called any potential targeting of his wife a 'fool's errand.'

'If Kash Patel is determined to make one up, he could do it, but I think if President Biden wanted to talk to me about that, I will talk to him about it,' the former president said.

However, he then added he may not be the best person to talk about pardons. During his presidency Clinton caused a huge controversy when he pardoned billionaire Marc Rich, who had been a fugitive for decades for fraud related to making illegal oil deals and not paying more than $48 million in taxes.

'I don't think I should be giving public advice on the pardon power. I think it's too  it's a very personal thing, but it is  I hope [Trump] won't do that,' Clinton said.

Bill Clinton, appearing on The View, said he was willing to talk to President Joe Biden about a presumptive pardon for Hillary Clinton

'Trump, you know, most of us get out of this world ahead of where we'd get if all we got was simple justice. And so it's normally a fool's ear and to spend a lot of time trying to get even,' Bill Clinton added.

Patel has listed of dozens of people he viewed as 'deep state' enemies, including current National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, current FBI Director Cristopher Wray, former FBI Director James Comey, Comey's former deputy Andy McCabe, ex-FBI agent Peter Strzok and former FBI attorney Lisa Page.

Trump has railed against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server as secretary of state.

She was investigated for her use of the server but said she never used it to send classified information.

Clinton ultimately wasn't charged in the case. Trump claims that was because the Justice Department was protecting her.

Then-FBI director James Comey, in October 2016, which was one month before that year's presidential election, announced he was reopening the investigation. He didn't find anything new but Clinton allies blamed his announcement on her loss to Trump.

Bill Clinton, while on The View, argued that his wife 'followed the rules exactly as they were written,' regarding her use of a private server as secretary of state.

He noted that official investigations never found her guilty of what she was accused of by Republicans.

'They've got a problem with her because first, she didn't do anything wrong. Second, she followed the rules exactly as they were written. Third, Trump's State Department  Trump's State Department  found  remember how the emails were such a big issue in 2016? Trump's State Department found that Hillary sent and received exactly zero classified emails on her personal device. It was a made-up phony story,' he said.

President Joe Biden caused a controversy when he pardoned his son Hunter (right)

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for FBI Director Kash Patel for meetings with senators

Biden is considering blanket pardons of many political officials that Trump may target even if they haven't broken the law. A blanket pardon would spare them legal fees if Trump would try and target them.

Trump has vowed revenge against those he thinks wronged him, including former Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican who criticized his actions on January 6th; Senator Adam Smith, who, as a member of the House, led impeachment proceedings against Trump; Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was a top medical official during the COVID pandemic; and Jack Smith, the special counsel who indicted Trump on multiple federal charges.

The president-elect railed against his political opponents during the election and hasn't let up.

On Sunday, he threatened to jail every House lawmaker who sat on the special committee that investigated the January 6th insurrection.

'Everybody on that committee  for what they did, yeah, honestly, they should go to jail,' Trump told NBC's Meet the Press.

Biden made a controversial pardon decision of his own when he pardoned his son Hunter after repeatedly vowing not to.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has acknowledged there are more pardons to come but hasn't offered any specifics.

She also defended Biden's decision to pardon his son, saying 'circumstances have changed.'

Bill Clinton defended wife Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state, noting she wasn't charged or found guilty of anything

In his statement announcing Hunter's pardon, President Biden said his son was a target for list name.

'No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son  and that is wrong,' he said.

He pardoned his son shortly before Hunter faced sentencing for federal convictions tied to a handgun purchase and not paying his taxes.
Hannah Kobayashi has been found safe and is back in touch with her family, loved ones have revealed.

The Hawaii woman, 31, contacted her relatives Wednesday to tell them she is fine, according to a statement shared with DailyMail.com.

'We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe,' the statement said.

'This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.

'We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.'

Kobayashi vanished at LAX November 8 while traveling from her home in Hawaii to NYC for a 'bucket list' trip.

Her father flew to Los Angeles to help the search for her and ended up killing himself.

Earlier this month, the LAPD reported that Kobayashi had crossed voluntarily into Mexico.

But her family continued contradicting police in public statements, saying they still did not know whether Kobayashi was safe.

Hannah Kobayashi has been found safe, her family said Wednesday

The 30-year-old disappeared from Los Angeles International Airport after missing a connecting flight from her home in Maui to New York, she is seen after touching down in LAX on the left and buying a bus ticket at Union Station on the right

Investigators say Kobayashi 'knowingly departed' the airport, before using her passport and cash to buy a bus ticket to the US-Mexico border. She was later caught on surveillance footage crossing into Tijuana on foot between November 12 and 13.

Police closed the probe into her whereabouts after finding that she was 'voluntarily missing.'

Her family claimed they had not seen the surveillance footage that shows her walking across the border into Mexico until December 2.

Kobayashi's relatives have faced backlash after police revealed she was not missing, as they had raised money for the search.

The family said going to Mexico was uncharacteristic for Kobayashi and they were still trying to get in contact with her.

Even after police closed the probe, the family said the search for Kobayashi was 'far from over, and they are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely'.

'We are deeply grateful for the urgency and dedication law enforcement has shown in investigating Hannah's disappearance,' they said in a statement shared online by NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin.

'Our family remains hopeful that Hannah is safe and urges everyone to continue the search.

Kobayashi's father, seen above, flew to Los Angeles to help the search for her and ended up killing himself

The family had confirmed reports that they were exploring the possibility she may have been caught up in a green card marriage scam in the lead up to her disappearance

'We want answers and a resolution that ensures Hannah's safety and urge law enforcement and the public to stay focused on finding her and to avoid speculative conclusions.

'Spreading awareness and sharing verified information about her case is crucial, and we deeply appreciate your continued support in these efforts.'

The family then confirmed reports that they were exploring the possibility she may have been caught up in a green card marriage scam in the lead up to her disappearance.

Last week, sources told LA Mag she had been apparently scammed out of the proceeds of a green card visa scheme.

The outlet said that Kobayashi and her then partner landed in LAX with plans to board their connecting flight, with her legal husband and his partner also onboard.

LA Mag report that the scam was uncovered by Kobayashi's mother who found documents listing an attorney for her daughter's marriage, which she handed over to law enforcement.

In a statement from the family lawyer Sara Azari, she said that the family did not have 'the facts or necessary documents' to verify what they called the 'alleged marriage'.

Their statement said: 'This is one of many leads we are actively investigating with the help of our attorney and investigative team.

'We would also like to confirm that we turned over the alleged information to law enforcement immediately upon receipt.'
A mother accused of plying her teenage son's underage friend with shots of alcohol before sexually assaulting him was arrested in Las Vegas after nearly a year on the run.

Christina Cobb, 42, was discovered by police on November 28 after using a California ID and social security number for an individual named Olga.

She had four outstanding warrants for her arrest in connection with two separate cases after she didn't show up for her court appearance in January.

Cobb now faces an additional charge for obtaining or using personal identification of another person to avoid or delay being prosecuted for an unlawful act.

She was accused of providing alcohol and marijuana to her son and his friends at a birthday party at her house in May 2022.

A month later, she was charged with two counts of statutory sexual seduction and one count of lewdness with a child under the age of 16.

The alleged victim said that he had been provided alcohol and was 'allowed' to 'sleep in her bed,' according to Las Vegas Police, as reported by 8 News Now.

The teen told police he suspected he had eight shots and 'felt drunk' before Cobb sexually assaulted him. The age of consent in Nevada is 16 years old.

It's alleged that Cobb told the teen victim to leave her bed before her husband came home, according to police reports.

'She's considered a danger to the community based on the charges - the inappropriate relations, sexual relations, with a child,' said Supervisory Deputy US Marshal Ray Venegas.

Christina Cobb, 41, has two warrants for her arrest. In June 2022, she was charged with two counts of statutory sexual seduction and one count of lewdness with a child under the age of 16

She was arrested again in August of the same year for allegedly swinging a crowbar at a teenage family member, fighting with him and lying to police about the incident

Her bail was set at $20,000 which she posted in February of 2023.

She was arrested again in August of 2023 for allegedly swinging a crowbar at a teenage family member, fighting with him and lying to police about the incident.

Cobb was charged with two felony charges of assault with the use of a deadly weapon and child abuse or neglect.

A Las Vegas judge ordered Cobb be released from jail on September 5 after no criminal complaint was filed for her case, and she was released on September 16.

Venegas said he believed she has no contact with her teenage son and no family connections outside of Las Vegas.

A preliminary hearing for the new charge is scheduled for December 17 and another preliminary hearing for the second case is scheduled for December 16.
An ABC Radio presenter has raised eyebrows after questioning NSW Premier Chris Minns over whether the attacks in the city's eastern suburbs on Wednesday morning were anti-Semitic.

It followed the words 'Kill Israiel (sic)' being graffitied on a home next to a burning car in Woollahra, a prominent Jewish suburb in Sydney's East, on Wednesday morning.

Minns was quick to describe the incident as a 'deplorable anti-Semitic attack' that will be 'met with nothing less than the full force of the law'.

ABC Sydney Breakfast's fill-in host, Chris Taylor, questioned the premier about his wording.

'Just on your wording in your statement this morning, what's your reasoning for branding the attack anti-Semitic and not anti-Israel? How do you make a distinction?'

Minns responded: 'I think we would have to be wilful at this point to turn a blind eye to that sequence of events and suggest it's anything other than an anti-Semitic attack.

'And I want to make it clear if there was an attack on any other community group in NSW on the basis of their religion or on the basis of their nationality, then I would say exactly the same thing.'

The host continued to press Minns on the issue.

'So if you're calling it anti-Semitic rather than just a political anti-Israel statement  would you say anti-Semitism is at an all-time high in your experience?'

The fill-in host for ABC Sydney breakfast, Chris Taylor (pictured), asked the premier how you 'make that distinction' between an incident that is 'anti-Israel' and 'anti-Semitic'

A fill-in host for ABC Sydney has caused a stir after questioning NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) on his description of an incident as 'anti-Semitic' and not 'anti-Israel'

Mr Minns replied: 'Yes, I would.'

When questioned over Mr Taylor's line of questioning, the ABC said he 'referred to anti-Semitism twice' when first covering the story earlier that morning.

'There's been another suspected anti-Semitic attack in the Eastern Suburbs just a few hours ago,' Mr Taylor told listeners.

'We'll keep an eye on this story across the morning, and see if we can get some comment on what continues to be a rather ugly trend, in this apparent rise in anti-Semitism behaviour.'

But Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger claimed the national broadcaster had a 'shocking and disgraceful ... anti-Israel bias'.

Mr Minns was quick to describe it as 'anti-Semetic' after police found graffiti reading 'kill Israiel (sic)' beside a burning car in Woollahra, in Sydney's East, on Wednesday morning

Mr Kroger said opposing Israel and not the Jewish community is a 'three-card trick the extreme left use to hide their anti-Semitism'.

'People shouldn't be fooled by their protestations that they're not criticising Jews,' he told Sky News Australia.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward

They believed the perpetrators are two people of slim build, aged between 15 and 20 years, wearing face coverings and dark clothing.
A Hawaii murder victim was buried alive in wet cement after his furious young lover discovered that the 73-year-old had HIV, a court has heard.

Gary Ruby, 73, was found entombed in a bathtub at his $2.2million gated Honolulu home in 2022.

His now 26-year-old partner Juan Tejedor Baron originally confessed to the grisly murder, but has since walked back his admission.

And at a Monday court hearing to determine if his guilty plea may be rescinded, the court heard more gruesome details about the circumstances of Ruby's death.

'Theres an inference that Gary was still alive when you poured the cement over him,' Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell said, the Star Advertiser reports.

Baron responded that this was 'speculation' as he confirmed that he was aware that the allegation appeared in the prosecution's case.

Baron previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, identity theft and two counts of theft of property as part of a plea deal.

The terms would have seen the state agree not to seek a life without parole or a minimum mandatory sentence of more than 20 years.

Hawaii murder victim Gary Ruby was buried alive in wet cement by his furious lover after he discovered his boyfriend had HIV, a court has heard

Juan Tejedor Baron, 26, has been charged with the grisly murder and originally confessed to the crime

Colombian-born Baron appeared in court where he received the assistance of a translator

However, Colombia-born Baron has since argued he did not fully understand the plea deal as he did not have a translator present.

His defense, Randall Hironaka, seeks to provide that Baron was afraid of receiving the death penalty and was under the influence of prescription drugs at the time.

In October, a hearing began on a motion to withdraw his guilty plea before Oahu Circuit Judge Catherine Remigio.

Baron testified that his former lawyer Kyle Dowd impressed upon him that he would die in prison, which he took to mean that he would be sent to the electric chair.

He added that a weekly prescription he was taking at the time impaired his judgement.

The hearing will continue on December 23 and is to include testimony from Baron's former attorneys and an interpreter.

California cops arrested Baron shortly in March 2022 in connection with the brutal killing.

He had attempted to flee the country after the murder, making it as far as a bus terminal in the Golden State before he was apprehended by LA-based lawmen, who found him 'hiding in a crawl space under an enclosed bench' of a Mexico-bound bus, police said.

Baron has walked back on the admission and is in the process of trying to get his guilty plea rescinded, claiming he did not understand the terms of the plea deal he took

Baron confessed to the killing, telling cops he murdered longtime Honolulu resident Ruby, with whom he had been in a romantic relationship, after learning the latter was HIV positive.

According to the arrest warrant, Baron told detectives he killed the victim after he told him he had HIV following a sexual encounter in February, spurring the suspect to strangle his much older lover with a belt.

'Baron stated that he had sex with Gary but became angry after Gary informed Baron that Gary was HIV-positive,' the warrant reads.

Baron stated that soon after he noticed Gary choke slightly while eating, at which point he 'reacted by placing a belt around Garys neck and tightening the belt until Gary lost consciousness.'

Baron told cops he then dragged the elderly man's corpse to the bathtub, before using a 'kitchen knife to slit Garys wrists in an effort to stage a suicide.'

Cops said that Baron then confessed to attempting to cover up the killing, pouring cement he found inside Ruby's garage and coffee grounds over the victim's body in the tub - before realizing that he did not have enough to submerge the slain senior.

'Baron then drove to Lowes to purchase four additional bags of concrete and further filled the bathtub, covering Gary,' the filing states.

Baron further told detectives that he then added coffee grounds to the bathtub concoction, to better mask the smell of Ruby's decomposing body.

Ruby, 73, was found entombed in a bathtub at his $2.2million gated Honolulu home in 2022

'Baron stated he used coffee grounds to cover the cement in an effort to conceal the smell of decomposition,' the affidavit states.

Following the murder, Baron attempt to pass off Ruby's gold 2020 Audi A6 and multi-mullion dollar home as his own when questioned by lawmen investigating Ruby's sudden disappearance, telling officers he had purchased both from the deceased.

According to the warrant, Baron admitted to officers to taking over ownership papers of Rubys car and even had plans to try to acquire the home.
A 64-year-old hiker made a makeshift shelter to survive as she screamed for help until rescuers found her in an Oregon state park.

The woman, who was not identified, hid under a log for warmth for several days inside Shore Acres State Park after she got separated from her foraging group on Friday.

She was not properly equipped with survival gear.

On Sunday, a team from the California Oregon Regional Search and Rescue Task Force - who were assisting the US Coast Guard and Oregon State Police - found the woman after they heard screaming from a remote area of the park.

After bushwhacking their way through to the source of the yelling, they found the woman with signs of hypothermia and dehydration around 12:30 pm, according to the US Coast Guard.

'The ground party moved her to a safe extraction point and created a fire to warm her up,' the Coast Guard said in a statement.

A North Bend crew from the Coast Guard arrived around 1:45 pm and deployed a rescue swimmer, who had the woman get inside a hypothermic bag, which they hoisted into the helicopter.

She was taken to the Bay Area Hospital and handed over to emergency medical services. It is unclear if she suffered any further injuries or if she was admitted.

The woman, who was not identified, hid under a log for warmth for several days inside Shore Acres State Park after she got separated from her foraging group on Friday. The ground party that found her, started a fire for her to warm up

On Sunday, a team from the California Oregon Regional Search and Rescue Task Force found the woman after they heard screaming from a remote area of the park. After bushwhacking their way through, they found the woman with signs of hypothermia and dehydration

For days, the Coast Guard and its partners spent days using infrared technology trying to pick up her body heat out in the park, but were unable to. They discovered the problem was the woman using a log as a shelter, which blocked the system's ability to detect her (pictured: the woman in the hypothermic bag)

For days, the Coast Guard and its partners spent days using infrared technology trying to pick up her body heat out in the park, but were unable to find her.

They discovered the problem was the woman using a log as a shelter, which blocked the system's ability to detect her, according to the Coast Guard.

In addition, rough weather conditions forced teams to suspend their efforts.

Four different agencies, alongside four Coast Guard flight crews that flew a total of 8.7 hours, a sheriff's plane, and several ground parties, were used to find her.

'The Coast Guard and our partner agencies here on the Oregon Coast routinely train together to ensure we can execute coordinated search and rescue missions whenever were called upon,' Commander Jay Kircher said in a statement.

'Its fantastic to see this teamwork in action and produce a successful outcome.'

Earlier this month, the Coast Guard frantically searched for five people who went missing after a fishing boat capsized in icy Alaskan waters.

A vessel overturned near Point Couverden, a cape near Hoonah, on December 1.

A North Bend crew from the Coast Guard arrived around 1:45pm and deployed a rescue swimmer, who had the woman get inside a hypothermic bag that they hoisted into the helicopter

She was taken to the Bay Area Hospital and handed over to emergency medical services. It is unclear if she suffered any further injuries or if she was admitted

Rescuers braced for the worst following the discovery of cold-water safety gear and emergency items near the spot where the boat vanished.

Officials received a mayday call at 12:10 am from the crew aboard the 50ft fishing vessel Wind Walker reporting they were overturning.

Rescuers are battling six foot seas and icy 27-degree conditions amid the search.

There is a winter storm warning in place which has already seen large amounts of snow deposited in the area as well as howling 60mph winds.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was scrambled from the Coast Guard's Sitka station, along with a 45-foot boat from Juneau.

A passing ferry overheard the broadcast and offered to assist in the search. The Hubbard state was first to arrive on the scene.

Seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights have been located in the water in the search area.

Two bodies were recovered on Monday, while three people are still missing.
Kimberly Guilfoyle officially acknowledged her nomination as the U.S. Ambassador to Greece as it's learned she and fiance Donald Trump Jr. have called it quits.

The Trump campaign advisor, 55, took to social media shortly after the President-elect's announcement Tuesday to say she is 'ready to serve', but stopped short of addressing her crumbling relationship with his son.

'I'm honored to accept President Trump's nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate,' she wrote in a post.

She added: 'As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity.'

News of Guilfoyle's new high-profile role broke as news of Don Jr.'s romance with another woman reached a fever pitch Monday - when he was snapped holding hands with much younger Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson.

DailyMail.com exclusively reported on the budding romance in August when the two were seen locking lips during a brunch date, however, both Don Jr., 46, and Kimberly have remained consistently silent on their relationship status ever since.

'She's putting on a brave front, of course, but she was crushed about Don's very public betrayal,' one source told DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

'Once Don fell for Bettina the writing was on the wall for Kimberly. The split was going to happen quietly after the election, but Daily Mail's photos preempted that.

Kimberly Guilfoyle proclaimed she is 'ready to serve' as U.S . Ambassador to Greece following her nomination by President-elect Trump on Tuesday

News of the Trump campaign advisor's new role came as Guilfoyle and fiance Donald Trump Jr., 46, (pictured in August 2023) ended their engagement

'It's a pretty humiliating situation,' the insider added.

Despite the photographic evidence and mounting rumors indicating their split, Guilfoyle had remained on the scene as a faithful Trump campaign advisor in the lead up to the election and was snapped alongside his family at the president's victory party last month.

But her presence at political events has not been enough to quell speculation, as her notable absence at recent family events further sparked curiosity about the couple's future.

In an apparent bid to keep up appearances Tuesday, Don publicly congratulated his estranged fiancee in an X post that she then shared on her social media accounts.

'I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,' he said.

Three months after raising questions about his seemingly cozy relationship with Anderson, Don Jr. all but confirmed their romance over the weekend and Monday night when he was seen celebrating her 38th birthday in Palm Beach.

A source confirmed to DailyMail.com on Tuesday: 'There is no more Kimberly and Don  at least not romantically.

'Their engagement hasn't officially been called off yet. They were waiting until after the Inauguration to announce.'

Guilfoyle said Tuesday that she was 'honored to accept' Trump's nomination, which requires Senate approval

In an apparent bid to keep up appearances Tuesday, Don - who is also yet to address breakup rumors - publicly congratulated his estranged fiancee in an X post that she then shared on her social media accounts

The source added: 'The truth is Don and Bettina are still very much together. He's crazy about her.'

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos showed the two leaving a restaurant hand in hand after a celebratory dinner for the glamorous brunette.

The loved-up couple spent nearly two hours at swanky downtown hotspot Buccan, three miles from her West Palm Beach townhouse where they have been spending days and nights, DailyMail.com revealed earlier on Tuesday.

Don Jr. dressed in a smart blue suit and white shirt open at the neck, revealed no compunction about showing off his new flame as they emerged from the restaurant just before 10pm.

They came out with another couple and Don Jr. could be heard laughing before they bade the others farewell and headed across the street to his vehicle, totally smitten with each other.

Anderson  wearing loose and flowing black pants with a black vest-like top and clutching a maroon purse with a gold clasp  stayed close to her man as they approached his pickup truck parked directly opposite the restaurant, their fingers interlocked.

Anderson herself also dropped not-so-subtle hints of their romance, sharing photos of a romantic flower delivery on her Instagram story, in which she discreetly tagged her new beau, @donaldtrumpjr on the top left corner.

The photo showed a note sent with the flower arrangement reading: 'Many have said you're aging out but I think you're perfect...happy birthday!'

Earlier on Tuesday, exclusive DailyMail.com photos confirmed Don Jr.'s romance with Bettina Anderson after they were seen celebrating her 38th birthday in Palm Beach the previous night

The couple's lovey-dovey dinner Monday night came after a lavish weekend of celebration for Bettina's 38th birthday

Anderson responded to her beau's message in a tongue-in-cheek caption saying: 'Tough but fair.'

Guilfoyle got engaged to Trump's eldest son on December 31, 2020, but that was not made public until January 2022.

The pair began dating in 2018 following Don's divorce from first wife Vanessa Trump.

Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor in San Francisco and one-time wife of Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom, became a big name conservative after landing a long-term role with Fox News in 2017.

She would soon enter Trump's orbit, becoming one of his political campaign advisers, while embarking on a sensational romance with his eldest son.

Once dubbed the 'prom king and queen of MAGA land' Guilfoyle and Don Jr. had bolstered Trump's presidential run with primetime addresses at the National Convention in July and appeared arm-in-arm at rallies across the States but the political love-story would eventually come to a screeching halt.

Sources told DailyMail.com at the time that she was 'blindsided' when images emerged late last summer of Don dining with Republican 'it girl' Bettina Anderson, 38.

However, just days after that revelation, Guilfoyle was spotted by Don Jr.'s side on his surprise trip to the Balkans.

Anderson herself has been dropping not-so-subtle hints of the romance, sharing photos of a romantic flower delivery in an Instagram story, on which she discreetly tagged her new beau, @donaldtrumpjr at the top left corner

Don Jr. traveled to Serbia and Romania to deliver the message that a second Trump presidency would ensure an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

This followed another revelation by Daily Mail that Bettina Anderson had been featured in a video schmoozing with the former president's son, his ex-wife and their daughter at a party in Florida, with Kimberly nowhere in sight.

Sources close to the couple at the time insisted Kimberly had been invited but had a speaking engagement that night.
Elon Musk has become the first person in history to record a net worth of $400billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

About a quarter of the money has come in since Donald Trump was elected.

The mind-boggling sum is fueled by a boost of $50billion seen Wednesday after an inside share sale of Musk's SpaceX.

The sum amounts to the equivalent of at least 400 of Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansions, which the president-elect estimated in a 2023 deposition to be worth about $1billion.

Further aiding the rapid rise was a boost in share price for his other firm Tesla, which saw it reach an all-time high of $415.

The perfect storm of developments saw him put distance between him and other billionaires he has already surpassed such as Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Ellison, not to mention Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

Each boast a net worth around half that of Musk, who is poised to clean house while co-leading President-elect Donald Trump's newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Meanwhile, Musk's space company currently has the most valuable private startup in the world and recently called on officials to approve an increase to its number of launches to 120 a year by 2026, according to the LA Times.

Scroll down for video:

Elon Musk has become the first person in history to record a net worth of $400billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. A quarter of the money has come in since Donald Trump was elected

The mind-boggling sum was fueled by a boost of $50billion seen Wednesday after an inside share sale of SpaceX. It is the equivalent of at least 400 of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, which the president-elect estimated in a deposition to be worth around $1billion

Just a few weeks ago the firm started by Musk in 2002 launched a Falcon 9 rocket to successfully put nearly two dozen satellites into orbit toward the International Space Station.

Back in 2011, not long after the first-ever SpaceX launch that year, the firm's founder, chief executive officer and chief technology officer of the company and then Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom forecast a new age of space exploration.

'Lompoc has had a very long relationship with the space industry and this is just the next chapter,' said then-Mayor of Lompoc John Linn at the time. 'We look forward to helping (SpaceX).'

The promise has since been kept, with more than 100 private launches from the firm this year alone.

All required approval from the federal government and 25 percent of the launches carried materials for the US military.

Further aiding the rapid rise was a boost in share price for his other firm Tesla, which saw it reach an all-time high of $415.

The perfect storm of developments saw him put distance between him and other billionaires he's already surpassed - like numbers 2 and 3, according to Bloomberg, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, both of whom have a net worth of about half of that of the SpaceX boss

SpaceX F9 steaks across the west coast after a successfully launched of a Falcon 9 rocket from the then-Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2018. Like Tesla, the company has grown exponentially over the past decade, sending more satellites into space by the year

Musk, 53, donated $250million to the Republican's campaign, and is now set to federal spending with newly named DOGE co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy. The pair visited Congress on Thursday to discuss those plans. Musk carried his son on his shoulders during the visit

This time last month Musk's net worth surpassed $300billion, paving the way for a 33 percent spike in the span of a month, seen since Trump's decisive win over Kamala Harris.

Immediately afterwards the South African was spotted at Trump's sprawling Florida compound over the course of several days. It has become increasingly clear he is become one of the politician's most powerful confidantes.

Musk, 53, donated a massive $250million to the Republican's campaign, and is now set to federal spending with newly named DOGE co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy.

The pair visited Congress on Thursday to discuss those plans, which, as of writing, remain under wraps.
Former Thai Ambassador to China envisions closer China-Thailand ties as 50th anniversary beckons

17:54, December 10, 2024 By Xian Jiangnan ( People's Daily Online

Arthayudh Srisamoot, former Thai Ambassador to China, receives an interview organized by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) during a Chinese media familiarization trip to Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 8, 2024. (Huanqiu.com/Qi Chenjiong)

Arthayudh Srisamoot, former Thai Ambassador to China, described the China-Thailand relationship as being "like one family" as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand approaches. He shared his insights on the deep-rooted and multifaceted ties between China and Thailand, and his perspective on China-ASEAN relations.

"It's a significant milestone in the relations between Thailand and China," Srisamoot stated when reflecting on the upcoming 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He made these comments in an interview organized by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) during a Chinese media familiarization trip to Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 8, 2024, noting that exchanges between the two nations date back nearly a millennium. He praised the enduring cultural, social, and economic linkages, particularly through the strong and deep ties of Chinese communities in Thailand.

"Our cooperation extends to all areas, not only political and economic, but also social, cultural, and people-to-people," he added, reaffirming the Chinese saying, "Zhong Tai Yi Jia Qin" (China and Thailand are as close as one family), as a testament to their close-knit partnership.

Reflecting on his tenure as ambassador, Srisamoot highlighted expanding economic cooperation. He was happy to see the growing interest among Chinese investors to invest in Thailand, notably in high-tech industries such as electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Srisamoot envisioned greater collaboration in green energy, clean technology, and education between the two countries. "Many Chinese students are now studying in Thailand, while Thai students are increasingly pursuing studies in China," he said. This exchange, he emphasized, fosters mutual understanding and prepares the next generation to lead bilateral and regional partnerships.

Discussing China-ASEAN relations, Srisamoot lauded China's role as a key dialogue partner. "China has been a steadfast supporter of ASEAN centrality and regional cooperation," he noted, citing initiatives such as the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework.

Since the establishment of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations in 1991, the relations between China and ASEAN have been continuously upgraded and made remarkable achievements. In 2021, China and ASEAN agreed to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. "We look to deepen the existing cooperation to other areas," said Srisamoot.

"The ASEAN and China relationship serves as a symbol of successful collaboration," he stated, emphasizing the importance of strengthening mutually beneficial ties to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. "The international community is looking at ASEAN and China cooperation as the foundation for ASEAN's role in the international community," he said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Martin Jacques: Understanding the Chinese nation brings new opportunities to the World

13:29, December 11, 2024 By Huang Fang, Shangguan Yun ( Ecns.cn

"What is striking about China is, first of all, its ethnic differences. It has a very large number of ethnic groups," said Martin Jacques, a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, and former senior fellow, POLIS, Cambridge University, in an exclusive interview with China News Network.

A parallel forum titled "Understanding the Chinese Nation: Unity in Diversity for Common Development" was held recently during the 8th Understanding China Conference in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province.

As a guest speaker, Martin Jacques explored the historical evolution of the Chinese nation's pluralistic unity, and shared his views on China's path to modernization under the sub-theme of "Common Development and Building a New Model for Human Progress".

Martin Jacques, a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, and former senior fellow, POLIS, Cambridge University, receives an exclusive interview with China News Network in Guangzhou, Dec 4, 2024. (China News Network/ Huang Fang)

The splendor of Chinese civilization stems from its pluralistic unity

Martin Jacques noted that China's vast territory and resources have nurtured harmonious ethnic cultures throughout its civilizational development.

Addressing criticisms from some Western countries about China's approach to ethnic issues, Martin Jacques firmly rejected such accusations.

He emphasized that China is a "civilization-state," a nation drawn from so many different groups, making it highly diverse, In this sense, over its long history, China has been, broadly speaking, more tolerant than the nation-state traditions that emerged elsewhere, he added.

Unlike some nations that historically emphasized the superiority of one ethnicity, China has never followed such a path.

Chinese modernization offers new opportunities for global development

"China's attitude towards the rest of the world is completely different from that of the Western powers," Martin Jacques stated when discussing the Chinese modernization path and its global impact.

He pointed out that "the Western world wanted to colonize and prevent their development or use their development for their own purposes," whereas, China's modernization is entirely different.

China aims to be part of who assists wider development across the world of modernization, ensuring it is no longer for the few but for the great majority, Jacques remarked.

He cited the Belt and Road Initiative as an example to explain how China promotes global modernization by facilitating infrastructure development and investment. "China's view of this is to share, to offer developing countries a way of speedy economic growth and modernization by infrastructure, which has been in the Chinese experience," he said.

"What China is offering to the developing world as a public good is the possibility of modernization," he emphasized that Western modernization prevented the development of the rest of the world.

China's modernization by enabling others to modernize, marks a crucial historical difference, he said.

The parallel forum is co-hosted by China Ethnic Pictorial and the Academy of Contemporary China of the World Studies of China International Communications Group.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
A Wisconsin father who tried to fake his own death in a kayak accident before fleeing overseas told a court he is too poor to afford a lawyer after his dramatic return to the US.

Married Ryan Borgwardt, 45, is thought to have carried out the elaborate stunt to be with his mistress in Eastern Europe.

The father-of-three was led handcuffed into the Green Lake County Court sporting an orange prison jumpsuit on Wednesday, four months after he initially vanished.

He was charged with obstruction related to the massive $35,000 manhunt which was launched following his disappearance on August 11.

Borgwardt stood largely mute during the hearing, except to tell the court he would represent himself.

A judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf and set bond at $500 for the misdemeanor obstruction charge, which Borgwardt only has to pay if he violates the conditions of his release from jail.

Police learned in October the Wisconsin man had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had been communicating with a Uzbek woman who spoke Russian.

After establishing contact with him on a 'near daily basis', they were eventually able to persuade him to come home, saying he had voluntarily returned, 'for his family'.

Married Wisconsin father Ryan Borgwardt who tried to fake his own death in a kayak accident before fleeing overseas shuffled into court in handcuffs following his dramatic return to the US

His return comes four months after he was initially thought to have drowned in Green Lake while out kayaking

He was charged with obstruction related to a massive manhunt which was launched following his disappearance on August 11 to which he pleaded not guilty

Police have not released details of where he was staying or who he was with while he was missing.

They confirmed he flew back into an international airport in the US of his own volition.

At a press conference this morning, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll would only state that Borgwardt faces, 'a number of charges', including 'obstruction'.

However he stressed that Borgwardt came willingly by himself, flying into an international airport before turning himself into the local police station.

He refused to confirm whether Borgwardt has been in contact with his wife of 22 years since his return.

'I could not be more proud of them and what they did for a family, we didn't give up and we can stand here today feeling relieved,' Podoll said of his officers.

Authorities spent 54 days looking for the Wisconsin man before announcing on November 8 that they didn't believe he had drowned in the lake, but rather had faked his own death.

Wisconsin father Ryan Borgwardt, who tried to fake his own death in a kayak accident and fled overseas, decided to return to the US 'for his family' police said

Authorities learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had been communicating with a Uzbek woman who spoke Russian, leaving behind his wife Emily (pictured) and kids

They revealed that he deliberately flipped his kayak and dumped his phone and belongings in the water before paddling to safety on an inflatable boat and e-biking more than 50miles to Madison overnight.

Borgwardt had been talking to a woman in Uzbekistan before he obtained a new passport and a $375,000 life insurance policy in January.

They managed to establish contact and in November, Borgwardt - who had not contacted his family since his disappearance - sent a video in which he showed off his apartment, telling officers: 'I am safe, secure, no problems.'

But the same cannot be said for his heartbroken family, who are also being supported by the Sheriff's Office.

'They are doing okay, that's probably the best thing you could say,' Vande Kolk explained last month.

'I can't compare their situation to anything I have ever experienced in law enforcement before, I don't have any reference.'

Borgwardt told authorities last month that he faked his death because of 'personal matters,' the Podoll said.

He also told them that he picked Green Lake for his master plan because it's the deepest in Wisconsin.

He has since returned to the US of his own volition and is being held in Green Lake County Jail

Sheriff Mark Podoll refused to say where Borgwardt had been, but it is thought he fled to Eastern Europe

The scheme was elaborately planned. Borgwardt left his original passport at home when he vanished, and police said he tried to cover his tracks by removing his laptop's hard drive and wiping his search history clean.

Before his disappearance, he changed all the email addresses linked to his bank accounts and moved money to a foreign bank account.
Peter Dutton has implied that only the Australian flag should be flown on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Earlier this week, Mr Dutton confirmed that if elected prime minister next year, he will only display the Australian flag at press conferences, claiming that displaying three flags is 'dividing our country unnecessarily'.

During an appearance on Seven's Sunrise, Mr Dutton was asked whether his stance on displaying the Aboriginal flag at press conferences also applied to flying it on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

'My preference would be that we just, frankly, accept that we have one national flag,' he said but noted it was a state government issue.

'For us at a federal level, I'm not going to pretend that our country can be united when we're asking people to identify in different ways.'

Australia should be 'very proud of our Indigenous heritage', but Mr Dutton did not believe the country could be united under three flags.

The Aboriginal flag permanently replaced the NSW state flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in June 2022, despite controversy over the $25million cost of installing a pole for the flag.

'I think it brings unity to our country, and I think it's a small price to pay for that unification,' Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet said at the time.

The Aboriginal flag permanently replaced the NSW state flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in June 2022

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he would only stand in front of the Australian flag when addressing the country if elected as prime minister

Anthony Albanese has displayed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag at press conferences since he became prime minister in 2022.

Only the Australian flag was shown before Mr Albanese secured the top job.

'We didn't make a fuss, we didn't put out a media release ... we just did it,' Mr Albanese said at the time, before the failed Voice to Parliament referendum.

'We have flags that represent our entire nation. It's an opportunity to speak about our full history.'

However, Mr Dutton on Monday called out the move and revealed he would never address the nation with both the Australian and Indigenous flags behind him.

'I'm very strongly of the belief that we are a country united under one flag, and if we're asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily,' Mr Dutton said.

Since Anthony Albanese became Prime Minister, the Australian flag is seen alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at press conferences

'We should have respect for the Indigenous flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag, but they are not our national flags.'

Mr Dutton also slammed Mr Albanese for sending 'a very confusing message' to Australians about the country's values.

'He wants to be all things to all people, which is why people rightly perceive him as being the weakest Prime Minister that we've had in our country's history.'

On Wednesday, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson went even further, telling Sky News Australia that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags should be removed from Parliament House.

'I think it's wrong and it should not be allowed,' Ms Hanson said.

'We are one flag, one nation and one people and that's how it should be.'

She also called for the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag to be removed from government buildings.
This column is brought to you from a deranged tunnel of noise.

My desk is by a window under Westminsters Elizabeth Tower, formerly Clock Tower.

It overlooks Parliament Square, where masses of farm tractors are currently blowing their horns.

They are the sort of souped-up klaxons Latin Americans enjoy blowing at national-day parades.

Each hooter can strike several notes and some have been pre-set to Happy Birthday or La Cucaracha. Yes, the farmers are again protesting about inheritance tax.

They are making a vexatious tumult  but this, and the growl of their revved engines, is merely the start of it.

Other vehicles are blowing horns in sympathy or in rage at the jam. That creates a secondary layer of pandemonium, as in The Italian Job when Turin becomes grid-locked.

To this racket can be added police sirens as Plod tries to impose order.

In the occasional lull, that lunatic Stop Brexit man is up to his tricks with a ghetto blaster on the corner of Whitehall, playing his medley of tunes such as Ode To Joy.

Such a moment occurred just now.

Politics eventually drives everyone mad. Sir Keir Starmer may be heading that way. At PMQs the startled lavatory brush was again twitching

And v. batey. The twitch was above his right eyebrow and became evident when he was bawling at Kemi Badenoch

The song he was playing at that time? The Sound Of Silence.

At which point Big Ben started to bong. Aieee! I feel like a dog on Guy Fawkes night.

Politics eventually drives everyone mad.

Sir Keir Starmer may be heading that way. At PMQs the startled lavatory brush was again twitching.

And v. batey. The twitch was above his right eyebrow and became evident when he was bawling at Kemi Badenoch.

Television viewers may not see quite how cross she makes him.

Yesterday she focused on immigration, and Sir Keir and Labour MPs adopted scoffing expressions. They yelled mockery at Mrs Badenoch. More noise.

Speaker Hoyle was possibly feeling as frazzled by the general din as the rest of us who work here.

He turned sharply on one heckler, Graeme Downie (Lab, Dunfermline & Dollar). The witless Downie adopted an innocent expression but the Speaker was having none of it and told him, with rare asperity: If you havent got the guts to stand up the comment, you shouldnt be in here!

Amid the customary hoopla Mrs Badenoch always stays calm and twinkly-eyed. Are her sallies demotic enough to satisfy Reform Party voters? Not yet. But, boy, Sir Keir resents her attacks.

Yesterday she suggested, with nice superiority, that he was indecisive, inept and uninterested in promoting the national interest.

She noted that he once dismissed all immigration law as having a racist undercurrent and that he made Shamima Begums lawyer the Attorney General.

That last point drew a deep ooh from the House. It was the sound the corrida makes when a matadors pica has entered the bull.

Sir Keir went loopy. I was director of public prosecutions for five years! he yelled. I dedicated five years of my life to law enforcement!

Yesterday she focused on immigration, and Sir Keir and Labour MPs adopted scoffing expressions. They yelled mockery at Mrs Badenoch. More noise

The sense of enraged entitlement was palpable. He felt we should be grateful for his public service.

It so happens that immediately before that outburst I was watching Sir Keirs right fist, down by his outer thigh.

Wrapped round a ballpoint pen, it was clenching and unclenching, hitting the bench in anger, while Sir Keir licked at his dry lips. There is a nervous petulance there, you know.

Then to the Lords where they were debating the eviction of hereditary peers.

Lord Dobbs (Con) said the hereditaries were being guillotined. The 3rd Lord Mancroft (Con) gave a speech of restrained, boiling, patrician anger, deploring how nasty, vindictive and destructive Labour had become.

The debonair hankie in Lord Mancrofts top pocket looked as if it had exploded. Lord Falconer (Lab) could have burned a hole through the Tory with the frenzy of his gaze.

And at the back of the chamber the life peer Lord Saatchi (Con) crossed his legs, betraying two bare feet encased in suede loafers.

No socks. His left ankle was a peculiar tinge. Blue bloods are doomed, but Lord Saatchis strangely blue ankle will remain.
John Swinney has said he would consider following Australia in banning social media for under-16s.

The First Minister said young people had to be protected from a social media storm and said there was a strong argument for a similar move in the UK.

Australia last month became the first country in the world to pass a law intended to stop children using platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and X.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was a clear, causal link between the rise of addictive social media and harm to the mental health of young Australians.

Firms flouting the law, which will take at least a year to kick in, could be fined A$50million (25 million).

But there are doubts about how age restrictions can be imposed in practice, especially as privacy tools can be used to get round checks.

Mr Swinney, who has a 14-year-old son, said social media could have a significant effect on childrens wellbeing.

He said: Ive called for much stronger steps to be taken to regulate the activities of social media giants.

Teens face harm due to algorithms that allow them to be bombarded with toxic content

I think young people are being caught up in a social media storm, which can have a significant effect on their wellbeing.

He said he was already in dialogue with the UK Government about taking steps to improve protection for children and young people.

When asked if that would include a ban on social media for under-16s, the First Minister said: I would certainly consider that.

I think theres a strong argument for it. Australia is obviously going down that direction, and its one of the issues that I think we should look at.

Labour Secretary of State for Science and Technology Peter Kyle last month said a social media ban for under-16s was not on the cards at the moment in the UK.

But he revealed he was in contact with the Australian government, and wanted to do more to prevent the deaths of children linked to social media.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Willie Rennie said: There are many tragic stories about the effect of social media on children and young people, its clear both our governments and social media companies must do more to protect children from harmful content online.'

A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: We will carefully scrutinise the details of what this would ultimately mean if any proposals were put forward.

Labour MSP Martin Whitfield added: All options must be considered when it comes to making the internet a safer place for children and young people.
Alex Salmonds niece yesterday vowed to fight to take back his old Holyrood seat at the next election.

Christina Hendry says she will honour her uncles memory by standing as an Alba candidate for the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency in 2026.

In June, the former First Minister surprised rivals when he announced he would try to win the seat off the SNP and return to Holyrood.

The former SNP leader had previously represented Banff and Buchan as an MP from 1987 to 2010 and as an MSP from 1999 to 2001.

Now Ms Hendry  whose mother Gail is Mr Salmonds sister  has declared she will take up the mantle on his behalf following his death from a heart attack in October at the age of 69.

The 29-year-old said: I want to honour his name and his legacy and stand in the constituency he announced earlier this year.

In doing so, the people of Banffshire and Buchan Coast will be able to vote for a candidate with independence and Salmond blood running through their veins.

Ms Hendry with her uncle, former First Minister Alex Salmond

Mr Salmond founded the Alba Party in 2021 and his niece was one of its candidates that year as a list MSP in the Lothian region.

This will be the first time she has fought for a seat without the guidance of her uncle and she will have to see off the SNPs Karen Adam to win the constituency.

But Ms Hendry believes her links to the area, along with a campaign focused on protecting the oil industry and the farming sector, can help her succeed.

The child psychologist, who gave a eulogy at Mr Salmonds memorial service in Edinburgh last month, said: My parents met at Aberdeen University, I started my life in Peterhead and half of my dads side are from the Broch [Fraserburgh].

Growing up I have happy memories out campaigning with my uncle on his many successful elections.

It is clear people in the North-East held him in high regard  and rest assured he felt the same about the people in the North-East.

The North-East, and Aberdeenshire in particular, has been neglected by both Governments. Our oil industry has powered the UK economy for decades yet I see little in return for these communities.

That same industry is under attack now from both the Scottish Government and the UK Government putting at risk tens of thousands of highly skilled and well-paid jobs. We all know that once these skills are gone, theyre gone for good.

Despite the promises made by the Leave campaign, Brexit has weakened our fishing industry and now our farmers are facing an uncertain future following Starmers inheritance tax grab.

No other political party seems to be putting the interests of the North-East first  thats something my uncle Alex always did, and I will endeavour to do the same.
A 16-year-old boy was allegedly raped and tortured after being kidnapped and thrown into the cellar of a council house.

The teenager was allegedly held in a council house in Quarto Oggiaro, a district in the northern Italian city of Milan, overnight from December 9 to December 10 after he was kidnapped.

The boy, who reportedly has a cognitive deficit, was raped and tortured in the cellar of the house, Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra reports.

He was later found by police wandering the street half naked and with visible injuries to his body, reportedly telling the officers that he had been abused all night.

Deputy prosecutors Letizia Mannella and Ilaria Perinu said they believe the boy had been tortured. They said what the boy allegedly went through was like a 'horror film' and substituted 'human degradation'.

The 16-year-old gave them the Instagram account name of a 14-year-old boy allegedly involved in the assault, which helped investigators track him and the other alleged perpetrator down.

The 14-year-old boy and a man, aged 44, were arrested just a few hours after the alleged victim was found.

Police found footage of the alleged rape and torture on a mobile phone of one of the two suspects, according to local media.

The teenager was allegedly held in a council house in Quarto Oggiaro, in the northern Italian city of Milan overnight from December 9 to December 10 after he was kidnapped

The boy, who reportedly has a cognitive deficit, was raped and tortured in the cellar of the house, Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra reports. He was later found by police wandering the street half naked and with visible injuries to his body, reportedly telling the officers that he had been abused all night (file image)

They have been charged with sexual violence, kidnapping, assault, production of child pornography and robbery of the boy's phone.

Investigators are reportedly trying to establish whether the boy was assaulted in the apartments of either the 44-year-old or the 14-year-old. The cellar where the assault is said to have taken place is in the same council house as the flat of the man.

It is unclear whether the two teenage boys knew each other prior to the attack.

The boy has been in hospital since the alleged attack and is yet to be questioned.

Residents of the Milan district where the boy was found have reportedly attempted to lynch the alleged perpetrators out of anger, local media reports.

The man and the boy are due to appear at court on Thursday.
The SNP was yesterday accused of doubling down on its soft-touch approach to drugs after a new Charter of Rights for users was announced.

The Scottish Government has come under fire over its plans to tackle the countrys drug deaths crisis after John Swinney launched the new document yesterday.

It stated that people must not be arrested or detained solely based on substance use or dependence.

It also said that those given drug or alcohol treatment programmes as an alternative to prison should face no penalties if these are not completed.

As he launched the document at an event in Glasgow yesterday, the First Minister also confirmed his government supports full decriminalisation of drugs and has discussed the matter with the UK Government.

Annie Wells, drugs spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: Drug deaths are Scotlands shame on the SNPs watch, yet they still refuse to accept their approach is not working.

They appear to be doubling down on their soft-touch approach, including continuing to show support for drug decriminalisation.

Communities already ravaged by drugs will be appalled that the SNP appear relaxed about flooding them with more substances.

Mr Swinney launches Charter in bid to tackle drug abuse

Swinney confirmed his government supports full decriminalisation of drugs

'While it is right Scotlands drug deaths crisis is treated as a public health emergency, SNP ministers shouldnt be giving the green light to organised criminals with these latest plans.

The Charter includes a section on freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention which states that duty bearers  which include police officers, prisons and courts  must make sure that people are not detained solely based on substance use or dependence.

It also states they should prioritise diversion from prosecution and non-custodial measures for substance offences of a minor nature.

It goes on: Drug or alcohol treatment as an alternative to prison should only be undertaken with informed consent and where medically appropriate.

No penalties should be attached to failure to complete such a treatment. All guidance need to be applied in line with the right to be free from arbitrary arrest or detention.

The Scottish Government said the Charter has been recognised as the first of its kind in the world by the United Nations Human Rights Office.

In a section on the right to private and family life, the document also highlights that national child protection guidance does not include substance use as grounds for child removal.

Official figures released in August showed there were 1,172 drug deaths in 2023, which was 121 higher than in 2022.

Speaking at yesterdays launch, Mr Swinney said: We want every person experiencing harm from alcohol or drug use to be able access the support they need and through our 250million national mission on drugs were taking a wide range of actions.

This Charter is a key part of that mission. It strengthens our public health and human rights-based approach to substance use-related harms and, over time, it will contribute to saving lives.

He confirmed talks have taken place with the UK Government on drug laws, which are reserved to Westminster.

Mr Swinney added: Very clear arguments have been marshalled by the Scottish Government that support decriminalisation in certain circumstances.

Police Scotland has been asked for comment on the Charter.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren was forced to clarify comments she made about UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione.

Mangione, 26, was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday after shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week in New York City.

The Massachusetts Democrat appeared Tuesday night on MSNBC with host Joy Reid and appeared to give the murderer some cover.

'The visceral response from people across this country who feel cheated, ripped off, and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the health care system,' the vocal progressive said.

'Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far,' Warren continued. 'This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose fait in the ability of their government to make change, lose faith in the ability of the people who are providing the health care to make change, and start to take matters into their own hands in ways that will ultimately be a threat to everyone.'

Conservatives on social media took issue with Warren's comments with the Democrat issuing a walk-back on Wednesday.

'Violence is never the answer. Period,' she said, according to HuffPost. 'I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.'

Among those complaining about Warren's phrasing was a top aide for Republican Sen. Mike Lee.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren was forced to clarify comments she made about UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione after appearing on MSNBC Tuesday night

'This statement invents a non-existent connection between the insane murderer and United Healthcare, which did not push this rich kid to do anything, even accidentally,' Billy Gribbin, the communications director for Lee, said on X. 'He went crazy and killed someone.'

National Review writer Charles C. W. Cooke dedicated a whole column to Warren's wording, noting that it's always the '"but" that gets you.'

'Theres a word for this sort of argument in the expansive English language. That word is "justification,"' Cooke continued.

Cooke advised Democrats that they needed to be more like Sen. John Fetterman, who previously split with the pro-Palestine left of his party over his support for Israel.

Fetterman, who ran as a progressive though has since distanced himself from that political description, had choice words for Mangione, the product of an affluent Maryland Republican family, who attended an Ivy League school.

'He's an a**hold that's going to die in prison,' Fetterman said of Mangione.

'A sewer is going to sewer: that's what social media is about,' the Pennsylvania Democrat added when asked about people celebrating Thompson's murder online.

A number of online users have also pointed out how conventionally attractive Mangione is, as a shirtless picture of him has been used in a number of media reports.

Warren got in hot water for saying: 'Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far,' which appeared to give murder suspect Luigi Mangione (pictured) some cover

Fetterman instead pushed that people should be thinking about Thompson's family.

'Remember, he has two children that are going to grow up without their father,' the Pennsylvania Democrat said. 'It's vile.'

'And if you've gunned someone down that you don't happen to agree with their views or the business that they're in, hey, you know, I'm next, they're next, he's next, she's next,' the senator said.

The conservative Cooke encouraged Democrats to follow Fetterman's lead and leave the Warrens of Congress behind.

'Broadly speaking, the Elizabeth Warrens of the world do not help the Democrats win power or advance their ideas,' the columnist argued. 'Broadly speaking, the John Fettermans of the world help to achieve both.'
A Scots lawyer who survived breast cancer was forced to spend more than 30,000 on private reconstructive surgery after a four-year NHS wait left her with no hope.

Naomi Mearns was diagnosed with the condition just days before the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020.

After a mastectomy to remove her left breast on May 28 the same year, the mother of one from Stonehaven, Kincardine-shire, was advised to expect a two-year wait for a breast reconstructive surgery.

The 51-year-old has described her four-year wait for the operation as soul destroying and grossly unfair. She told the Press and Journal: I feel like the women that had their mastectomies during lockdown have been put on a scrap heap.

You have to look at your body every day. When I looked at myself in the mirror, it was like somebody had got an eraser and rubbed out one of my breasts. You cant move on with your life.

After a long period of uncertainty Ms Mearns investigated private options and eventually had an eight-hour procedure to rebuild her breast last month at a total cost of more than 30,000.

Naomi Mearns, 51, was diagnosed in March 2020

While the procedure was priced at around 28,000, there were also costs for a scan, flights and two weeks of accommodation.

Ms Mearns now wants the Scottish Government and the NHS to work together to help breast cancer survivors still awaiting surgery.

She said: There will be lots of ladies who dont have insurance policies or dont have the funds to pay for private healthcare and I just feel its grossly unfair for them.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Scottish females, with one in nine diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.

Surgical reconstruction of

the breast is normally either performed at the time of a mastectomy or in the months after the operation.

Latest data shows that 43 people were waiting more than three years for plastic surgery with NHS Grampian. In October, First Minister John Swinney apologised to those who had waited too long for reconstructive breast surgery, pledging that Health Secretary Neil Gray would look into the issue.

MSPs are also in the process of considering a petition calling for an increase in funding for delayed breast reconstructions.

The petitions founder, Aberdeen-based Chrissy Esslemont, who is awaiting the procedure, described the waiting times as

a disgrace that must be addressed immediately.

NHS Grampian said its surgical capacity remains challenged, with patients prioritised based on immediate clinical need.

A spokesman added: We recently contacted the Scottish Government requesting either additional funding or the use

of capacity elsewhere in Scotland, in the hope they can be seen sooner.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: We recognise that some patients are waiting too long for delayed reconstructive breast surgery.

He added it was engaging with health boards to develop a plan that can support patients undergoing the delayed procedure.
Declining congregations are deepening the Church of Scotlands debt, prompting warnings of tough decisions to balance books.

The Rev David Cameron, the Kirks convener of the assembly trustees, said the current deficit had grown from 5million to 6.5million despite an increased income.

He warned decisions must be made about which services will continue and which will be cut.

Writing in next months edition of the churchs magazine Life and Work, Mr Cameron said the adjustments would become necessary, admitting the national church is facing challenges with attendance.

The minister wrote: Many of you are already aware of the ongoing decline in church attendance and the resulting funding shortfall.

'We are not yet witnessing the anticipated recovery in the church and our situation necessitates immediate and decisive action which will further impact on our national expenditure.

He added that significant strides and reforms had already been made but additional adjustments were required to meet the Kirks evolving needs.

Mr Cameron insisted plans were in place to identify the essential workstreams and services necessary for the church with strict controls on future recruitment.

Churches were once full of worshippers

He said: Difficult decisions will be necessary about what continues and what ceases, restructuring workloads and determining our essential roles.

We are committed to reducing uncertainty, acting transparently and treating all national staff with fairness and care throughout this challenging period.

But he said there were opportunities for the church too and paid tribute to worshippers who continue to support the churchs work.

He added: Our main priority is to provide mission-focused resource allocation, sustainable ministry, compassionate people management and transparent decision-making, freeing our ministers and congregations to transform lives and communities for Christ.

Chief officer Dave Kendall said that the church has saved 8million annually over the past five years, mainly in central spending.

But speaking ahead of the General Assembly in May, he admitted: Our continuing membership decline has resulted in a further decrease in income, which cancels out the savings.

The Kirk has been selling off property, saying having more than 1,000 churches to cater for the number of people attending worship is simply untenable and unsustainable.

Based on 2021 numbers, the church has 283,600 members, down from a peak of 1.3million in the late 1950s.

Each church now averages just one wedding and one baptism per year  about 1,200 in total, down from 50,000.
A newborn baby has been rushed to hospital with a serious head injury after a horror home invasion in Alice Springs.

The two-month-old was being held by its mother when two youths allegedly broke into their home on Bokhara Street in Larapinta at 2.30pm on Wednesday.

One of the teenagers allegedly threatened the mother-of-four with a weapon before he struck out at her, injuring both the woman and her baby.

Police allege the other teenager allegedly stole the woman's keys and wallet while she was being assaulted before both fled in a vehicle.

Both of the teens, aged 16 and 17, were arrested less than two hours later.

The mother and child were rushed to Alice Springs Hospital before the baby was airlifted to Adelaide for treatment.

Detective Superintendent Regional Crime Paul Lawson said the woman's three other children had been at home during the 'shocking attack'.

'I'm shocked. The community is in shock. The first responders are shocked  this has got to stop,' he said in a video shared to social media on Thursday.

The two-month-old was being held by its mother when two youths allegedly broke into their home on Bokhara Street (pictured) in Larapinta at 2.30pm on Wednesday

Detective Superintendent Regional Crime Paul Lawson (pictured) said the woman's three other children had been at home during the 'shocking attack'

Detective Lawson said officers attended 'on mass' after police were notified.

'I'd like to acknowledge the first responders, mainly Alice Springs police, their attendance to this incident was excellent and they got the offenders very quickly off the streets, keeping the community safe from any further harm from these two.

'Our thoughts go out to the victims of this incident, their families. I cannot even think about what they're going through.'

He urged anyone with information about the incident to contact police.

Both of the teenagers will appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Thursday.
An Australian Federal Police officer has tragically been found dead in Canberra.

The body of the man, who had a long career with ACT Police, was discovered on Wednesday night.

'It is with great sadness that the AFP confirms the death of an AFP member in Canberra today,' an AFP spokesman said.

There were 'no suspicious circumstances' surrounding the death, the AFP said.

The agency is providing support to the member's family and all its staff.

The male AFP officer was found dead on Wednesday in Canberra

'Our thoughts were with them during this distressing time,' an AFP spokesman said.

'The AFP will also offer care and support to all its members during this time of grief.

'The AFP's primary health and wellbeing support service, SHIELD, was activated after this incident.'

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

For confidential support 24/7 call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Blessed with long wavy hair and dark brown eyes, Hiba Maroof is a beautiful teenage girl. She is softly spoken with a hint of the Yorkshire dialect so distinctive to Bradford, where she was born and raised.

Her life stretches ahead of her, yet at the age of just 18 she is already discussing with her family whether she should have an arranged marriage, and whether her future husband should be a cousin.

For Hiba comes from the citys British-Pakistani community, in which around 60 per cent of mothers are married to their cousins according, to a major academic study.

Her uncle, Younis, hopes that Hiba does so and follows his family tradition.

Indeed, four of his own five children have wed close relatives. However, Hibas father is unsure. And her mother is very much against her daughter marrying such a close relative because her own first marriage  to a cousin  ended in divorce.

Hiba, single and a student at the University of Leeds, faces a common dilemma. Her story came to public attention because she featured in a BBC documentary called Should I Marry My Cousin?, which looked at the custom of cousin marriage.

Relationships described as consanguineous are those between couples who are at least second cousins or more closely related. The practice has been legal in Britain for more than 400 years, but is considered one of societys last taboos.

In British Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, marriage between cousins is designed to strengthen the family and keep wealth intact.

Hiba Maroof (centre) with her parents, Maroof and Nuzhat, at home in Bradford

But there are massive health risks involved for the children of such couples. And when they are tragically born with disabilities, it is taxpayers who are left to pick up the huge costs of their NHS treatment, which can run into millions over a lifetime.

New official figures shown to the Mail reveal a worrying picture across England. Shockingly, cousin marriages are a key factor in an average of two child deaths every week.

This figure is derived from the fact that a total of 545 boys or girls born to closely related couples have died in childhood during the past five years, according to the Department for Education, which collates data from Child Death Overview Panels in every council area. (It is the job of these panels to examine the deaths of any child under the age of 18.)

Thousands more children of consanguineous marriages survive, but with appalling physical or mental problems. These include blindness, deafness, blood ailments, heart or kidney failure, lung or liver problems and a myriad of often incurable and complex neurological or brain disorders.

According to a report for the BBCs Newsnight, British Pakistanis are 13 times more likely to have children with genetic disorders than the general population.

They are responsible for three percent of all births, but produce just under a third of all British children with such health problems.

In Birmingham, around one in ten children from first cousin marriages either dies in infancy or develops a serious life-long disability caused by genetic ailments, according to health officials in the city, where half the mothers of Pakistani origin are married to a close relative.

Meanwhile, a research document by the NHS-funded Enhanced Genetic Services Project reveals that in Birmingham in 2009-2010, the combined infant stillbirth and death rate definitely or probably due to genetic disorders inherited from Pakistani cousin parents was 38 times higher than that among white European babies in the city.

Hiba comes from a British-Pakistani community, in which around 60 per cent of mothers are married to their cousins

The report  one of the most thorough into this health and social problem  says: Almost a third of the affected children die before five years of age.

Most of the survivors suffer chronic disability, and they are cared for by their families, posing tremendous emotional and financial strain.

Up in Bradford, where teenager Hiba Maroof lives, doctors and nurses have told me paediatric wards look after numerous children who are unable to speak, and are fed through tubes.

Meanwhile, the citys special schools struggle to cope with the huge numbers of pupils with learning difficulties.

In the past, a consultant paediatrician called Dr Peter Corry at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said he and his team had identified 140 different gene disorders among local children. He estimated that a typical district of England would expect to see between 20 and 30.

Many children who die, or whose health is seriously damaged, are born to British-Pakistani families just like Hibas, which itself has a genetic history of acute deafness, and the blood disorder thalassaemia.

This disease can kill, and in its severest form is treatable only by a lifetime of hospital transfusions.

The problem is that babies born in cousin marriages can suffer what are called recessive genetic disorders, associated with severe disability and early death.

What the medical experts say about cousin marriages Given the health problems faced by many children of related parents, some will feel its justifiable to ask if such marriages should be allowed in a first-world country. Others will think its unacceptable to interfere in the practices of ethnic communities in Britain. The World Health Organisation, for instance, insists that attempts to stop consanguineous marriage are undesirable and inappropriate. The stance of local councils in Britain, including multi-cultural Oldham in Lancashire, tallies with this view. In the former cotton mill town, 20 babies born each year have a consanguinity-related disorder, of whom 11 live with chronic disability, while the rest may not survive beyond the age of one. Yet the Health and Wellbeing Board overseen by Oldham council recently said cousin marriage is an integral part of cultural and social life and attempts to try to stop the deep-rooted practice were unlikely to succeed anyway. The view that society should not interfere in a custom of some ethnic communities wins a degree of sympathy from even those at the top of the medical profession. Dr Anand Saggar, one of the countrys most eminent geneticists and an NHS consultant, told me: One shouldnt sound judgmental about consanguinity. Trying to ban such marriages, as some politicians want, is an inflammatory approach. The whole issue is fraught. But, believe me, like any parents, these people dont want to have an abnormal child if they have a choice. The pain for them if they do so is acute. Dr Saggar runs two clinics where he offers genetic testing to cousin couples to establish their risks of having a sick child. One is in Harley Street, where he sees clients (often before they conceive) from all over the world, including countries where consanguinity is commonplace, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and, now, the UK. At his NHS clinic at St Georges Hospital Trust, South London, his patient list is dominated by less well-off couples who have had a child die, or be born with a medical problem. They have often been referred by GPs or midwives to find out how to avoid the same tragedy with future children. The couples who visit Dr Saggars clinics are very often Muslims, but not exclusively. Some opt for no medical intervention, saying it is the will of God whether or not they have a damaged baby. Others choose IVF, where the husband and wife create an embryo which can be pre-screened before it is selected for implantation in the mothers womb, to ensure it has no genetic defect. Some couples already expecting a baby with an inherited problem are offered a termination. But it is their choice. If you explain to them the options available in ways they can understand, they are willing to listen and be tested so we can find ways of them avoiding having an affected child, says Dr Saggar, 59, a Hindu whose family emigrated to Britain from Africa. It is rude and racist to say these people dont want to learn. We should be sensitively informing them, not restricting who they marry. Professor Neil Small, of the University of Bradford, was a researcher in a project called Born In Bradford. It was set up to discover why so many of the citys children die or have disabilities, and tracked 13,500 babies, of all ethnic backgrounds, born at Bradford Royal Infirmary between March 2007 and December 2010. It is one of the most ambitious health research projects in the world. Research from the project was published in medical bible the Lancet in 2013. It showed that for every 100 babies born to unrelated couples, around three have a genetic ailment, while for every 100 babies born to closely related couples, six do so. In other words, the risk is doubled. Today, Professor Small believes changing attitudes to cousin marriage among young Muslims, tighter immigration controls on bringing spouses into the UK, and efforts to inform families sensitively about the health consequences may, one day, reduce the disabilities and stillbirths. As yet, he told me, it is unclear if this will be successful. He has explained in interviews about the study: It is not our intention to counsel couples about whom they choose to marry, but we do want to ensure that couples are aware of any risks so that they can make informed choices. Advertisement

These disorders are caused by variant genes. If you inherit one variant gene you will not fall ill or die. If, however, a child inherits the same variant gene from each of its related parents, it is at higher risk of a health problem.

The likelihood of a couple having the same variant gene is a hundred to one in the general population.

In cousin marriages, that can rise to one in eight because those who are related to each other are more likely to carry the same faults in their DNA.

Yet despite the dangers  and the huge cost to the NHS  according to the BBC, it is estimated that 55 per cent of couples of Pakistani heritage in the UK are in cousin marriages.

Seven years ago, leading geneticist Professor Steve Jones, of University College London, controversially warned that what he called inbreeding in Britains Muslim communities threatened the health of children.

Figures released recently by Bradfords Child Death Overview Panel bear out his fears. They show that of 670 babies and children whose deaths were reviewed between 2008 and 2017, 62 per cent were born to parents of South Asian  predominantly Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Indian  heritage, where cousin marriage is common. The panel says this is an over-representation since the proportion of children under 18 who are of South Asian heritage in the Bradford area is just 37 per cent.

Former Labour MP Ann Cryer, who represented Keighley near Bradford, has bravely highlighted this issue, but was attacked by the Left for calling for an end to such medieval unions.

She said: Its not fair to the children or to the NHS which has to treat them. If you go into a paediatric ward in Bradford or Keighley, you will find more than half the kids are from the Asian community.

Philip Davies, Tory MP for another Yorkshire constituency, Shipley, has gone further. Controversially, he has questioned the state costs of treating sick children of related parents, and said to the Mail this week: Isnt it time that first-cousin marriages were outlawed in Britain?

Britains first female Asian peer, Baroness Flather  who describes herself as a Hindu atheist  also told us: Such marriages are partly [pursued] out of the conformist desire to keep all property within the family, partly out of a wish to bring over a relative to marry in this country. There is so much disability among the children. You go to any such family and there will be four or five children, at least one or two of whom will have some health problem.

Effectively, we have imported a medieval convention that should have no place in modern society.

She has pointed out: The term inbreeding is an unpleasant one, but it is an exact description of what is happening in 21st-century Britain, despite everything we know about genetics.

It is little wonder, then, that more than six per cent of all children born in Bradford have severe disabilities, including blindness, deafness, and neuro-degenerative conditions. Yet to set out these truths is to invoke the fury of the politically correct brigade, who refuse to consider anything that might intrude on their carefully constructed fantasy of Utopian multi-culturalism.

Indeed, the whole issue is so highly contentious that few dare mention it. NHS doctors and nurses are reluctant to speak out for fear of being branded racist.

Last summer, however, an east London council broke ranks. Health officials in the multi-cultural borough of Redbridge said one in five of the 160 child deaths investigated between 2008 and 2016 were attributable to consanguineous relationships.

As a result, the Mail has investigated the problem, asking every local council in England for their own figures for child deaths linked directly to cousin-marriages.

Fourteen out of the 150 responded, the majority refusing to answer, claiming they did not hold the crucial data.

Of those that gave us figures, it was revealed that 95 children of consanguineous unions have died in these 14 areas alone over the past five years. They included Sheffield (26), Newham (19), Derbyshire area (11), Dudley in the West Midlands (9), the councils of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster (14) and Slough (5).

A community nurse working in Redbridge told me that he has helped to care for many of the disabled children.

He said: A terrible burden is put on the cousin parents who have, often unwittingly, given birth to a baby with a lifetime of tricky health problems. Their own relationship suffers.

They often put the baby in the corner of the room, try to ignore it, and struggle to get on with their lives because there is nothing else they can do.

They often go on to have more disabled children by playing Russian roulette with genetics.

A retired NHS nurse from the same area has added: The children are being kept alive by the skills of the NHS, which is already over-stretched. In the paediatric wards of east London hospitals, I have seen the result.

Intensive care beds are being taken up by terribly disabled babies born to related parents.

They will never be out of nappies. Some will never speak beyond a wail. They have such grave problems that they will cost the state thousands upon thousands over their lifetimes. Another medic recently complained on an internet forum discussing the issue: The problem is no one dares say: No, stop marrying cousins because it is politically incorrect to do so.

In Bradford, health workers have told me that disabled teenagers are daily seen in public parks being pushed in wheelchairs. They are taken there for fresh air by council workers from special schools and day-care centres.

One explained: These youngsters are trapped in broken bodies.

While society cant avoid some misfortune, we know  through medical advances  how we can reduce it.

Some families have come from three generations all married to cousins. The offspring of these marriages struggle with life, are often in pain, and die young, too.

Thankfully, this taboo subject is increasingly debated among young Asians on internet forums.

A young Muslim man called Ali wrote recently on one: The reason couples inbreed is because their parents want their childrens earnings to remain in the family.

Except for my own research on the internet, I have never heard or been told about the dangers from national TV or my family elders.

Luckily, 18-year-old Hiba Maroof from Bradford is increasingly aware of the dangers as she ponders whether to marry a cousin.

Children shouldnt be born disabled if it can be avoided, she says in the TV programme about the issue. Im not going to lie, the genetic talk scares me.

In the documentary, Hiba visits two cousins who married each other  Iftacan and his wife Minaz, who live in Newcastle. They have three children, two of whom are severely disabled.

The eldest, a daughter called Fatima, 20, cannot speak. The camera follows her around the small terraced house as she groans and rolls her eyes continually.

A younger son, Rohan, 12, is autistic. He sits on a sofa motionless, mumbling repeatedly to his father that he wants the sky to turn blue.

Yet both parents are reluctant to blame their childrens problems on their cousin marriage.

Iftacan says it may just be the luck of the draw.

A lot of people who marry but arent related have kids with autism, he reasons. For her part, Minaz muses that God may have chosen to put them in this situation. Hiba goes to see two potential suitors  her young male cousins  in Pakistan. She struggles to have a conversation with the two boys, university students who appear to like the idea of marrying her and coming to live in Britain.

Back home, Hiba deals with the problem in a practical way.

Sensibly, she goes for genetic testing at a specialist clinic and finds she is not a carrier of either the hearing disorder or blood complaint thalassaemia which run in her family. Even if she opts for a cousin marriage, this means she should be able to guarantee that she will not have a disabled baby.

Yet, in any case, as the documentary later reveals, she decides not to marry either of the cousins.

Plenty of young women of Asian heritage, though, are not as careful as her  or allowed to be by strict parents who favour marriage within the family.

Even more worryingly, the number of children damaged by consanguinity is predicted to increase as the birth rate in ethnic communities goes up.

In Yorkshire and Humber (embracing Bradford, Kirklees, Leeds, Sheffield, and Rotherham) doctors are having to deal with 600 cases a year  a number they expect to rise to 2,400 a year by 2031, according to documents published by public health officials in the area.

The same documents say the annual State cost of looking after a child with severe learning difficulties or a chronic disability linked to consanguinity is 50,000, reaching millions over a full life-span of medical and other care.

With all this in mind, it is difficult not to conclude that though the intentions may be understandable, marrying your cousin is a tradition that can come at a high price for all concerned, especially for those children condemned to an early death, or a life of profound disability.
Australians working part-time can boost their superannuation by $500 simply by making a contribution and getting a top-up from the government.

If you earn $45,400 or less, the government will match your eligible super contribution by 50 cents for every dollar put in - up to a maximum of $500 a year.

That means someone contributing $1,000 to their super, on top of the compulsory employer contribution, will get back another $500 from the federal government to add to their retirement savings.

The full benefits would go to part-time workers with the threshold cutting out just under the full-time minimum wage of $47,627.

H&R Block director of tax communications Mark Chapman told Daily Mail Australia this was the best way for low-income earners to boost their super.

'To help you save for retirement, the government has an incentive program that rewards you for making eligible personal contributions to your superannuation fund,' he said.

Low-income earners on less than $60,400 can deposit up to $1,000 into their super, but the government co-contributions are less generous the closer the income level is to that threshold.

Someone earning up to $51,400 gets back $300 whether they contribute $600 or $1,000.

Australians working part-time can boost their superannuation by $500 simply by making a contribution and getting a top-up from the government (pictured is a Sydney bartender)

Those on $54,400 get back $200 for every $400 they put in, with the government contribution the same if they put in $1,000.

For $57,400, the government gives back $100 for $200 or $1,000 contributions, with the benefit phasing out at the $60,400 threshold.

That threshold includes reportable fringe benefits like a company car, and reportable employer superannuation contributions minus eligible tax deductions from running a business.

Mr Chapman said the contributions needed to be made to super before June 30 next year.

'You then lodge your tax return. Within 60 days, the government pays the co-contribution into your superannuation fund,' he said.

But the government super co-contribution only goes into an account if someone has provided their tax file number and is a permanent resident or citizen.

'Your superannuation fund cannot accept after tax contributions, or receive co-contributions on your behalf, if you have not provided your tax file number to your fund,' Mr Chapman said.

The government co-contribution is available for those aged 70 and under when they lodge a tax return for the 2024-25 financial year from July, who had less than $1.9million in retirement savings.

The government co-contribution is available for those aged 70 and under when they lodge a tax return for the 2024-25 financial year from July (pictured is a couple at Cronulla in Sydney's south)

Concessional super contributions can't exceed $120,000 a year, with this threshold likely to affect low-income workers who make money off investments or who have received a windfall of money.

The government co-contribution does not apply to someone rolling over their super from another fund or foreign super funds, or super contributions designed to get a tax deduction.

Someone has to have earned 10 per cent or more of their total income from running a business, being self-employed or from having a job.

Employers have, since July 1, been required to pay 11.5 per cent of someone's earnings into superannuation.

But someone making a contribution on top of that is taxed at a concessional rate of 15 per cent when their super fund receives the deposit.

Australians also pay a 15 per cent tax on earnings during the accumulation phase of superannuation but the income stream is tax free after age 60.

Superannuation tax rates are lower than the marginal tax rate of 16 per cent for incomes of $18,201 to $45,000 and the 30 per cent rate for those earning $45,001 to $135,000.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia recommends $595,000 for a comfortable retirement but the average Australian has just $164,126 in super, tax office data shows.
Another dangerous member of the Venezuelan gang that has infiltrated at least 17 states in the US has been caught.

A known Tren de Aragua member has been arrested in Miami, the US Border Patrol announced Wednesday morning.

'On 12/6, USBP agents in Miami, FL, arrested a Tren de Aragua gang member, a Venezuelan national with an arrest in 2022 for illegal entry,' agency chief Jason Owens tweeted.

'This notorious gang is the same one terrorizing cities across America, exploiting vulnerabilities and threatening communities. Stay vigilant!'

The Border Patrol did not release the man's identity or information on the circumstances of Sunday's apprehension.

He is the latest member of the gang to be arrested in there US.

Suspected TdA member Henry Theis, 25, was arrested in North Dakota in November. His arrest was made public this week.

Tren de Aragua gangsters were first spotted in an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, earlier this year

The South American prison gang turned international trafficking organization has spread across the US since first entering the US two years ago.

For two years, Tren de Aragua has been operating near the US-Mexico border, allying itself with Mexican drug cartels to established a criminal foothold in the US, Mexican law enforcement revealed.

Dubbed the 'epitome of evil', Tren de Aragua is best known as the Venezuelan prison gang that transformed itself into a international crime group through ruthless child prostitution and sex trafficking rings in South America, with its members crossing over into the US in recent years amid a wave of Venezuelan migrants.

The tattooed mobsters have since unleashed a wave of crime across the country from Miami and Texas to Denver and New York.

The Miami arrest comes as another TdA thug was has been taken into custody in one of the most unlikely places in America.

Authorities in West Fargo, North Dakota arrested suspected gang member Henry Theis, 25, according to Valley News Live.

Theis has been charged with felony theft last month with $24,800 in cash in a car.

Police pulled him over because the car he was driving matched the description of car that had been involved in an ATM theft that same day.

During the traffic stop, Theis admitted to working with three other hackers.

They had a special code, that when punched into an ATM, dispensed cash.

He also volunteered that other Venezuelan criminals were doing the same thing in North Dakota and going by the nickname, 'the magicians.'

Suspected TdA member Henry Theis, 25, was arrested in North Dakota in November. His arrest was made public this week

The car Theis was driving had temporary paper tags from Texas, and told the cops that he was a Venezuelan living in Dallas.

'Tren de Aragua now has a presence in 17 states,' Texas Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R) tweeted Tuesday after the North Dakota arrest.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency in charge of removing migrants from the country, revealed it has 200 on-going investigations into TdA across the country.

Now, the department has formed a special task force, 'Operations Athens' in honor Laken Riley, the Georgia woman killed by a TdA member.

'What we're doing is adding a lot of resources to the effort,' ICE acting director Patrick Lechleitner told Fox News.

As DailyMail.com exclusively reported, TdA moved its new headquarters to the US-Mexico border in Juarez, Mexico, where it is kidnapping asylum-seeking migrants who are attempting to enter America.
It may be headquartered in California, but Apple has set its sights on the UK.

The tech giant has announced that its investment in Britain has grown to exceed a whopping 18 billion over the past five years.

The company now supports a total of 550,000 jobs in Britain.

This includes through direct employment across its 40 UK stories, its supply chain, and the iOS app economy.

Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, is visiting the UK this week and explained that he 'always loves visiting London, especially over the holidays.'

'We've actually doubled the number of Apple engineers in the UK over the past five years,' he explained ahead of his visit.

'They're doing some really important work and research across many of our products, including helping us push the boundaries of innovation with advancements like Apple Intelligence and Private Cloud Compute.

'I don't need to tell you that the UK has a tremendous history of innovation and we're proud that our technical teams here are working on products that reach customers around the world.'

It may be headquartered in California, but Apple has set its sights on the UK. The tech giant has announced that its investment in the UK has grown to exceed a whopping 18 billion over the past five years

Apple's first UK store opened on London's Regent Street on 20 November 2004, and since then, the firm has opened 39 more across the UK.

Its engineering teams are located in London, Cambridge, and throughout the country.

These teams perform critical work and research across a range of products and services, including Apple Inteligence, Apple Music, and Apple TV+.

Meanwhile, its iOS developer community includes some of the 'world's most exciting and talented developers', who are helping to build apps used by iPhone ownerss worldwide.

According to Apple, since the launch of the App Store back in 2008, UK developers have earned nearly 9 billion from selling digital goods and services.

Taiwo Omisore, an independent App developer, said: 'Being able to dream, create, and share my vision on the App Storea global platform reaching billionshas been nothing short of a dream come true.

'With the support of Apple Ive been able to follow my passion and create experiences that improve the lives of others.

'The possibilities are endless and Im excited by what the future holds.'

Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, is visiting the UK this week and explained that he 'always loves visiting London, especially over the holidays'

One of Apple's growing investments in Britain is expanded Apple TV+ production, which has tripled in the past two years.

This growth not only supports jobs for the cast and crew, but also contracts with suppliers across a range of sectors including construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and technical services.

'It's been wonderful to see shows like Bad Sisters, Silo, and Slow Horses gain so many fans all over the world,' Mr Cook explained.

'We're excited to keep producing work like that here in the UK, because we know there are still so many great stories to tell together.'

Beyond that, Apple is also supporting the talent of tomorrow.

Apple has partnered with The King's Trust since 2019 to help UK students develop the skills and confidence to pursue educational and career opportunities.

'Inspiring and motivating young people is at the heart of everything we do at The King's Trust,' said Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive of The King's Trust.

'Our education work with Apple is a fantastic example of how we're empowering young people to raise their aspirations, develop their skills and realise their potential.

'It has been brilliant talking with young people here today about how their confidence has grown during their time on programme and I'm incredibly grateful to Apple for helping us make this a reality.'

The tech giant also supports community organisations based near its Battersea office.

This includes Caius House, a centre that helps bridge the education and life skills gap for local youth and young adults.

In addition to donating iPad and MacBook devices to the centre, Apple has also hosted a coding week at Caius House, where more than 100 young people learned new digital skills.

'It's great to have Apple in the local community and, with their support, we've been able to give young people the opportunity to work with the latest technology and learn from experts about how to put theory into practice,' said Delrita Agyapong, CEO of Caius House.
The latest footage of bizarre drones in New Jersey captured several craft orbiting each other over Somerset County, while at least 12 counties have reported sightings.

The video, released this week, shows three 'mystery drones in the air' as two move extremely close as if they are interacting with each other and the third hovered for 'about 15 minutes.'

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said Monday night that the drones are 'very sophisticated, explaining: 'The minute we get eyes on them [the drones], they go dark.'

'I don't blame people for being frustrated,' Gov Murphy continued, adding that he had spent most of Sunday coordinating on the issue with both the White House and the US Department of Homeland Security in the hope of getting answers.

He said that the state received 49 sighting reports on Sunday night alone, with hundreds of locals sharing experiences on social media platforms.

On Monday, Picatinny Arsenal, the Army facility in Morris County, confirmed it has had 11 sightings of 'UFOs' over in its airspace in recent weeks.

The sightings, which began in November, have included reports of multiple craft flying over the same areas each night and reports of 'car-sized' drones, the kind not usually used by hobbyists, over some areas.

New Jersey state senator, Jon Bramnick (R-21), is now calling for a limited 'state of emergency' banning all drone usage authorities can determine who is responsible for the eerie night flights.

The latest footage coming out of New Jersey has only added more questionsl to this bizarre UFO wave. 'What in the world is happening?' the woman taping the display can be heard saying, as a pair of glowing red lights orbits comes close to a white UFO before drifting away

Edits in the 40-second video, which was also posted to Instagram, appear to reflect a montage of the event's most impactful moments. 'Update,' the videographer says in the clip's finale, 'that mystery drone up there is still there. It's been like maybe 10-15 minutes. It's still there'

'Guys, I just found three mystery drones in the air,' the woman filming the scene reports in the clip, posted to social site X.com by the account UAP Reporting Center.

'This is wild,' the woman says, as the two circling white lights disengage in midair, with one seeming to dart quickly to the right. 'That was moving quick.'

Edits in the 40-second video, which was also posted to Instagram via the account @ufo_life_, appear to reflect a montage of the event's most impactful moments.

'Update,' the videographer says in the clip's finale, 'that mystery drone up there is still there. It's been like maybe 10-15 minutes. It's still there.'

UAP Reporting Center is not affiliated with the similarly named nonprofit National UFO Reporting Center, which has coordinated on UFO case reports with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for decades.

Nevertheless, several more new videos taken in northwest NJ near the Pennsylvania border also show multi-color drone-like crafts  including one lit up like a Christmas tree with at least eight lights ranging from green, white, red and orange.

Posted by an auto tech to the Facebook community group 'New Jersey Mystery Drones - let's solve it,' the apparently fixed-wing drone was caught on tape last week above Pohatcong township in Warren County, NJ.

The witness also captured images of a stationary and hovering UFO with four bright green lights above the same northwest Jersey area.

Significantly, the fixed-wing mystery drones with red, white and green lights resemble craft witnessed over sensitive US military bases over the past several years

'I have about 15 minutes worth of different videos before I stopped recording and to my horror have counted AT LEAST 30,' the witness said in a Facebook post. 'in a complete radius approximately 10-15 miles away.'

The witness wrote that he saw at least five coming from Easton, Pennsylvania area to the northeast headed southeast towards the Flemington, NJ area.

One witness, also in the Pohatcong area, could not contain their alarm of what they were seeing late on Sunday, writing to the group: 'From the front and back yard of my house I saw dozens, maybe hundreds from my house through out the night.'

'These are not man made drones. These are huge,' the witness insisted. 'I feel like theres nothing we can do [...] We are being watched and We are being invaded.'

'My opinion I guess but I know what Ive been seeing,' this Pohatcong noted.

The witness's more practical description of Sunday's UFO drone swarm, included some craft 'just hovering bright white lights,' others that were 'silent and floating past,' and some that were 'very loud and look like a plane.'

The altitudes also varied, the witness said: 'There [were] lower and higher UFOs.'

Speaking at a bill-signing event in Princeton, NY, Gov Murphy hoped to allay concerns of witnesses fearing the worst from these unexplained sightings.

'Homeland Security, FBI, Secret Service, our State Police, authorities at all levels of government,' the governor said, 'we don't see any concern for public safety.'

'Having said that,' Gov Murphy admitted, 'it's really frustrating that we don't have more answers as to where they are coming from  and why they are doing what they are doing.'

'These are apparently, as I understand it, very sophisticated,' Gov Murphy said of the UFOs. 'The minute we get eyes on them [the drones], they go dark.' According to one NJ local, this above image depicts roughly nine of the drones flying in from the Atlantic Ocean on Dec 5th

Significantly, the fixed-wing mystery drones with red, white and green lights resemble craft witnessed over sensitive US military bases over the past several years.

For at least 17 nights in December 2023, for example, swarms of noisy small UFOs were seen 'moving at rapid speeds' and displaying 'flashing red, green, and white lights' within the highly restricted airspace over Virginia's Joint Base LangleyEustis.

Gov Murphy encouraged citizens to report their sightings to the FBI and expressed concern about the UFO drones potentially probing 'sensitive targets and sensitive critical infrastructure.'

'We've got military assets; we've got utility assets; we've got one of the president-elect's homes here,' he noted.

Murphy also asserted that reports of 'a couple of rumored downings' of the drones were unsubstantiated. One, he said, was a toy and the other was never located.

NJ state senators, the mayors of 21 local towns, and the state's representatives in Washington have been demanding more answers, more quickly.

NJ Congressman Chris Smith said he was on Long Beach Island this week investigating the mystery with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy.

'The tepid response from our state and federal agencies so far is totally unacceptable,' Rep Smith said.

'The people of New Jersey deserve swift and bold action on the part of our state and federal agencies to investigate, assess, and address the situation immediately and to alleviate the growing concerns of our community.'
Everyone has been left baffled after learning the nuclear launch code America used during the Cuban Missile Crisis and part of the Cold War.

From 1962 to 1977, the passcode intended to keep any trigger-happy members of the Air Force from launching a nuclear strike was perhaps too easy to guess: 00000000.

While officials long denied their pervasive use of this highly insecure and distressingly simple passcode  including a report to Congress  an unclassified manual for the nuclear-equipped Minuteman has confirmed the claim.

The manual, unearthed by Princeton scholar and former Minuteman launch officer Dr Bruce Blair, helped end over a decade of debate between veteran missile launch officers and the Air Force itself across the 21st Century.

'As the manual says, 'under normal conditions CODE INSERT thumbnail switches will be set at 00000000,'' Dr Blair wrote for Princeton's Science & Global Security site.

'[And] as I and thousands of other older launch crew members can attest,' he added, 'they remained at 00000000 during the (abnormal) firing process as well.'

To this day, many online are still perplexed by the revelation, calling the 'absurd oversight' a 'fun fact that will keep you up at night.'

'It is amazing how stupid and lax the controls on nuclear weapons were,' one user commented on the historic episode.

But the story of how this shockingly simple code came to be implemented is a tale of true Cold War paranoia: a turf war and political disagreement between then-President John F Kennedy and his own Air Force generals.

From 1962 to 1977, the passcode intended to keep trigger-happy members of the Air Force from launching a nuclear strike was too easy to guess: 00000000. Historians say that the shocking passcode was a rogue plan by the Air Force. Above, a Minuteman II missile test in 1965

The telltale technical manual also included a grainy image of the 'launch enable panel' (left) in which USAF personnel were instructed to input the eight-digit code. 'It shows eight 'code insert thumbwheel switches,' all set to zeros,' Dr Blair noted (at right, the corrected later panel)

President Kennedy issued an executive order in June of 1962 demanding installation of the so-called 'Permissive Action Links [PALs],' a lockbox intended to prevent rogue deployment of nuclear weapons by any rabidly anti-Communist Air Force personnel.

Creator of the US Strategic Air Command General Curtis LeMay, in fact, urged JFK to preemptively use America's nukes to bomb the Soviets 'back to the Stone Age.'

But while JFK had entrusted his more level-headed Defense Secretary Robert McNamara to set up the protective PALs over these missiles, LeMay's US Strategic Command generals 'almost immediately' had the PAL codes all reset to 00000000.

'This McNamara vignette will be one of a long litany of items pointing to the ignorance of presidents and defense secretaries and other nuclear security officials about the true state of nuclear affairs during their time in the saddle,' according to Dr Blair.

'What I then told McNamara about his vitally important locks elicited this response: 'I am shocked, absolutely shocked and outraged.'' the Air Force veteran noted when he first broke the story in 2004. ''Who the hell authorized that?''

Strategic Air Command, Dr Blair explained, 'remained far less concerned about unauthorized launches than about the potential of these safeguards to interfere with the implementation of wartime launch orders.'

As he recalled from his own tour as a Minuteman launch officer between 1970 and 1974, the easy-to-remember combination was even helpfully jotted down for officers.

'Our launch checklist in fact instructed us, the firing crew, to double-check thelocking panel in our underground launch bunker to ensure that no digits otherthan zero had been inadvertently dialed into the panel,' Dr Blair wrote.

While JFK had entrusted his more level-headed Defense Secretary to set up the protective PALs over these missiles, LeMay's generals 'almost immediately' had the PAL codes reset to 00000000. Above, a USAF archival image of an officer using the nuclear 'launch enable panel'

To this day, many online are still baffled by the revelation, calling the 'absurd oversight' a 'fun fact that will keep you up at night' (above)

'This absurd oversight highlights the tension between security and readiness, even with the most destructive technology on earth,' one person opined on social media (above)

Unhappy with the attention brought by Dr Blair's revelations the Air Force issued a report to Congress, obtained by Foreign Policy magazine in 2014, carefully denying the nuclear security expert, academic and Air Force veteran's claim.

'A code consisting of eight zeroes has never been used to enable a MM ICBM [Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles] as claimed by Dr Bruce Blair,' they said.

But within a year, Dr Blair was able to access an official Air Force document, 'Weapon System Operation Instructions, Technical Manual T.O. 21M-LGM30F-1-2, June 21, 1969, Change 34, June 13, 1973' that confirmed the use of the eight zero code.

The technical manual also included a grainy image of the 'launch enable panel' in which USAF personnel were instructed to input the eight-digit code.

'The launch enable panel, feeds a special code to the program control panel,' Dr Blair noted. 'It shows eight 'code insert thumbwheel switches,' all set to zeros.'

'The Air Force misled the Congress,' the nuclear expert argued. 'It dodges the truth with regularity, and, hiding behind a thick wall of secrecy, gets away with it.'
With its profound portrayal of redemption and damnation, there's no doubt 'The Last Judgement' is one of the most stunning paintings in the world to behold.

Measuring 45 feet by 40 feet, it was painted onto the whole altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City by Italian artist Michelangelo between 1536 and 1541.

The masterpiece shows several semi naked male figures rising to Heaven or descending into Hell on the day of the Last Judgement.

Now, nearly 500 years on, a researcher claims to have found a key biblical figure in the beautiful fresco, who until now was 'missing'.

Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus Christ's most dedicated followers, makes a subtle appearance in the painting, according to Italian art expert and author Sara Penco.

Allegedly a witness to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, Mary Magdalene is depicted with blonde hair, kissing Jesus Christ's cross, the expert says.

So, can you find her in 'The Last Judgement'?

It follows a recent study revealing that a woman in another one of his Sistine Chapel paintings, 'The Flood', was painted with symptoms of breast cancer.

'The Last Judgement' shows several semi naked male figures rising to Heaven or descending into Hell on the day of the Last Judgement. Measuring about 45 feet by 40 feet, the beautiful fresco covers the whole altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City

The historical figure, allegedly a witness to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, is depicted with blonde hair and kissing the cross - but can you spot her?

If you're struggling with your search, look carefully at the far right of the painting and you'll see a blonde woman wearing a yellow robe and kissing a cross.

That's Mary Magdalene, according to Ms Penco, who outlines the discovery in her new book, 'Mary Magdalene in Michelangelos Judgement'.

'I am firmly convinced that this is Mary Magdalene,' she told a media conference in Rome on Tuesday, as reported by The Telegraph.

'The intimacy with the cross, the yellow dress and the blonde hair but also the whole context in which Michelangelo places this figure to underscore her importance.'

Ms Penco claims that the muscular, near-naked male holding the cross is Jesus Christ.

It's not, as previously assumed, Simon of Cyrene, the man who was made by the Romans to carry Jesus' cross on the way to his crucifixion.

That suggests there are two portrayals of Jesus in 'The Last Judgement'  one at the right with Mary Magdalene and one at the centre.

The one at the centre shows Christ surrounded by many prominent saints, with the glow of light around him and his mother, Mary the Virgin, close by.

Allegedly a witness to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, Mary Magdalene depicted with blonde hair, kissing Jesus Christ's cross

Ms Penco is not contesting the fact that the revered figure at the centre of 'The Last Judgement' is Jesus Christ. Instead, she thinks this is just one of two portrayals of Jesus in the painting

According to Italian art restorer Sara Penco, Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgement' features not one but two depictions of Jesus Christ - 'Christ the judge' (left) and 'Christ the redeemer' (right, holding the cross next to Mary Magdalene)

Who was Mary Magdalene? Mary Magdalene holds a special place in Christian tradition as a beloved disciple of Jesus Christ. She is remembered for her pivotal role in the Gospel narratives as a witness to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. According to the Gospels, she was healed by Jesus from possession by seven demons (Luke 8:2), marking the start of her conversion. Source: St Edmund's Catholic Academy Advertisement

While their faces look different, they both have their right arm in a similar position and the same lightly-coloured locks of hair.

They're also both clean-shaven, deviating from traditional depictions of Jesus with a beard, which thought to be inspired by an ancient Greek statue of Apollo.

Although it may seem odd to have the same figure twice in one painting, they're differentiated as 'Christ the judge' and 'Christ the redeemer', Ms Penco claims.

'Michelangelo was an expert painter, he was very cultured, he was someone who knew the dynamics of the church very well, he knew the gospels and he could not have forgotten her,' she added.

'The Last Judgement' is thought to contain around 300 figures, so even 500 years since it was finished there's still debate surrounding their identity.

But Professor Yvonne Dohna Schlobitten at Gregorian University in Rome agrees with Ms Penco's new interpretation.

'With great intuition, Sara Penco has discovered something that defines the being of art,' she says in the books forward.

'We can clearly see how iconography and theology are linked in Pencos reasoning to form a vision.

Michelangelo painted The Last Judgement between 1536 and 1541, taking over four years to complete

'The Last Judgement': One of Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces 'The Last Judgement' is widely regarded as one of Michelangelos greatest masterpieces. Measuring 45 feet by 40 feet, it was painted onto the whole altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City by Italian artist Michelangelo between 1536 and 1541. The masterpiece shows several semi naked male figures rising to Heaven or descending into Hell on the day of the Last Judgement. Inspired by Dantes The Divine Comedy, the fresco was commissioned in 1534 by Pope Clement VII and completed under Pope Paul III. Advertisement

'The woman kissing the cross has an important role, even if she appears hidden on the edges of the image.'

Another interesting detail in the painting is the depiction of the mythological figure Minos towards the bottom, who supervises the admission of the Damned into Hell.

Minos bears a resemblance to Biagio da Cesena (1463-1544), a priest and contemporary critic of Michelangelo.

While it was being painted, Biagio is said to have complained about 'The Last Judgment', calling it 'disgraceful that in so sacred a place there should have been depicted all those nude figures, exposing themselves so shamefully'.

Michelangelo reacted by giving Minos Biagio's face with donkey ears (indicating foolishness) and a snake biting on his penis.

When when Biagio complained to Pope Paul III, the latter allegedly joked that his jurisdiction did not extend to hell and the portrait would have to remain.

Admittedly, at the time he worked on it, Michelangelo was condemned by Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, who accused the artist of immorality and obscenity as the genitals of several figures could be seen.

Senior cardinals  including the master of ceremonies of the then Pope  called for the offending articles to be painted over with fig leaves as they were more typical of 'public baths than a Christian chapel'.

The Pope refused, but 24 years after Michelangelo died fig leaves were painted onto the fresco by one of his own students, Daniele Da Volterra.

In the bottom right of the painting is Minos, the mythological figure who supervises the admission of the Damned into Hell. Here, Minos bears a resemblance to Biagio da Cesena (1463-1544), a priest and contemporary critic of Michelangelo

A study published by experts at the University of Paris-Saclay last month identified signs of breast cancer in a woman featured in another of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling fresco, 'The Flood'

Italian historian Elena Lazzarini at Pisa University, previously said that the fresco was inspired by Michelangelo's visits to the gay saunas and brothels of Rome in the early 1500s.

Mrs Lazzarini said: 'The very virile male bodies you can see in the fresco have the build of labourers and manual workers of the day, very muscle bound and well built.

'Michelangelo and several of his artist contemporaries would visit these brothels and saunas and you can see how they modelled their figures on the bodies of the men they found in there, including their pained expressions.

'For example in the fresco you can see one poor soul being dragged down to Hell by his testicles whilst among those that are going to Heaven there is a lot of kissing and hugging, certainly of a homosexual nature.'

A study published by experts at the University of Paris-Saclay last month identified signs of breast cancer in a woman featured in another of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling fresco, 'The Flood'.

This includes a deformed nipple and a slight bulge in her breast, which is 'consistent with a lump'.

The researchers believe the representation of breast cancer may have been a message on the inevitability of death.

Painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512 (predating 'The Last Judgement'),'The Flood' portrays God flooding Earth as a punishment for humanity's immorality.
A hilarious photo of a squirrel stuck in a tree has claimed the top prize at Nikon's Comedy Wildlife Awards 2024.

The contest, which has been dubbed he 'funniest and most popular photography competition in the world', reached its conclusion last night.

Over 9,000 images were entered this year, with judges whittling these down to a shortlist of just 45 snaps.

However, it was Milko Marchetti who was announced as the overall winner of this year's competition for his photo, entitled 'Stuck Squirrel'.

The hilarous photo shows a red squirrrel entering a tree, with its legs at right angles to the trunk.

'I have taken many, many photographs of squirrels, in many situations over the years in Italy,' Mr Marchetti explained.

'But this one struck me as really funny and such a strange position, because it is that exact moment when the squirrel is detaching its back legs from the trunk to enter its hide.

'Whenever I show this image at the nature seminars at my local photography club, the audience always explode with raucous laughter, so I had to enter it!'

A hilarious photo of a squirrel stuck in a tree has claimed the top prize at Nikon's Comedy Wildlife Awards 2024

The contest, which has been dubbed he 'funniest and most popular photography competition in the world', reached its conclusion last night

In the Insects category, Jose Miguel Gallego Molina won for his image, titled 'Mantis Flamenca', while Eberhard Ehmke won the Reptiles and Amphibian Award for his image, 'Frog in a balloon'

The judges explained that Mr Marchetti's image really reflects the 'enchanting' aspect of nature.

Stefan Maier, Senior General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe, said: 'We are thrilled to celebrate Milko Marchetti's outstanding achievement in the Nikon Comedy Photography Awards 2024.

'His image, "Stuck Squirrel," brilliantly captures the playful and unpredictable moments that make nature so enchanting.

'This year's competition received a record number of entries, each one a testament to the power of photography in evoking emotion.

'We look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of wildlife photographers through these wonderful awards.'

As the winner, Mr Marchetti bags a 'once in a lifetime' safari in the Masai Mara, plus a handmade trophy and a photography bag.

Aside from Mr Marchetti, Nikon crowned nine other Category Winners, 10 Highly Commended Winners, and a Young Photographer Award.

In the Insects category, Jose Miguel Gallego Molina won for his image, titled 'Mantis Flamenca', while Eberhard Ehmke won the Reptiles and Amphibian Award for his image, 'Frog in a balloon'.

Damyan Petkov's image, 'Whiskered Tern crash on landing' was crowned the winner of the Birds category

A hilarious photo of a fish appearing to hunt a bald eagle won the Fish and Other Aquatic Species Award

In the Under-16 category, Sarthakk Ranganadhan won for their picture of 'smooching owlets'

'During a photo shoot at the pond I discovered this frog with its head in a bubble. This resembles a tree bell,' Mr Ehmke explained.

Damyan Petkov's image, 'Whiskered Tern crash on landing' was crowned the winner of the Birds category, while a hilarious photo of a fish appearing to hunt a bald eagle won the Fish and Other Aquatic Species Award.

In the Under-16 category, Sarthakk Ranganadhan won for their picture of 'smooching owlets'.

'Our parents always find a way to embarrass us, I guess that's also true in the case of spotted owlets,' they said.

'It was truly a funny sight to see two owlets trying to get some privacy as their little offspring stood next to them with a grin shut eyes.'

Meanwhile, Kingston Tam won the Under-25 category for his image titled 'Awkward smiley frog'.

The People's Choice Award went to Tapani Linnanmaki for their picture, 'Shake ruffle rattle and roll'.

'In the picture, a white-tailed eagle is ruffling its feathers. The picture was taken with the Nikon Z9's autocapture feature,' they explained.

Kingston Tam won the Under-25 category for his image titled 'Awkward smiley frog'

The People's Choice Award went to Tapani Linnanmaki for their picture, 'Shake ruffle rattle and roll'

Sanjay Patil was highly commended for his picture of a fan-throated lizard, titled 'The Rock Star'

'The camera is placed on top of the sea ice on top of a bag of nuts at the level of the ice.

'I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this picture. There were more than ten funny poses and expressions in the photo series.'

Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb won the Amazing Internet Portfolio Award for their series of images showing a squirrel plaing with a stick.

Finally, Kevin Lohman won the Video Category Award for his video of a fox with the 'zoomies'.

'A Red Fox on a cold morning couldn't get enough of having fun rolling around on frosty grass,' he said.

'I had been watching this fox walking slowly across the grass when it suddenly got the zoomies like my dog does after its bath.

'It started rolling around on the ice-covered grass, then sliding, then shaking it off like nothing happened.'
In the popular Christmas song 'Santa Claus is Comin' to Town', children are told that Father Christmas 'knows when you've been bad or good', and are urged to 'be good for goodness' sake'.

But scientists are rewriting the rulebook, as they claim that the prospect of Santa Claus leaving no presents doesn't actually make children better-behaved.

In their study, the team investigated the behaviour of more than 500 children over three Christmases to find out who was naughty and nice.

While believing in Santa didn't make children act nicer, engaging in family activities such as singing carols and putting up decorations did.

Lead author Rohan Kapitany, a psychologist at Durham University, thinks parents should prioritise more 'costly' Christmas rituals  those that require more effort  with their children to get them to behave in the days ahead.

'It seems that the more costly rituals likely have a bigger influence on [child] behaviour,' Professor Kapitany told MailOnline.

'Wearing a Christmas jumper is one thing but it's relatively easy to do, but going on an excursion in the dark and cold to listen to carols in a strange new building while holding candles is another thing entirely.

'The more unusual from every day life, the bigger the influence.'

The the prospect of Santa leaving no presents doesn't actually make children behave better during the festive period (file photo)

Overall, the results are something of a surprise, because singing carols and going to church services may be traditionally perceived as boring for youngsters (file photo)

The researchers  from the universities of Oxford, Durham, Edinburgh and Leeds  wanted to see which festive factors, including the belief in Santa Claus, influenced the moral behaviour of children.

The team recruited 533 children between the age of four and nine years, who were tracked over three Christmases  2019, 2021 and 2022.

Experts asked parents to report on their childs behaviour at two timepoints  up-to six weeks prior to Christmas and for the week preceding Christmas Day.

Behaviour was assed using six measures  including 'generosity' (sharing with others and inviting others to play), 'respect' (respecting authority and rules) and 'aid' (helping others with tasks and household chores).

There was also 'comfort' (comforting those in distress), 'eruptiveness' (being aggressive towards others) and 'selfishness' (taking things not owned by them, lying and throwing tantrums).

Parents were also asked about their kids' level of belief in Santa and how much they engaged in festive activities, such as putting up a tree, singing carols, listening to Christmas music, eating Christmas food like mince pies, attending Christmas church services and watching Christmas films.

Overall, the researchers found no link between a belief in Santa and good behaviour, although good behaviour did increase as December 25 approached  but only if families engaged in the 'costly' rituals such as decorations and carols.

Parents reported various good and bad behaviours from their children in the lead-up to Christmas Day, including sharing, helping and throwing tantrums (file photo)

Generally speaking, parents think the Christmas period is very important, but that their child's belief in Santa is only moderately important. The magic is in the time of year, so to speak, not in the claim over the supernatural big man

Be good for goodness' sake! Festive activities that make kids behave Putting up decorations

Going to church services

Singing carols

Watching Christmas films

Visiting Christmas markets Advertisement

'Though the effect is small it is reliably observed, and is primarily attributable to participation in yuletide rituals,' the team say in their pre-print study.

Positive rituals promoting good behaviour include putting up decorations, singing Christmas songs and eating festive foods.

Compared with the Santa myth, these activities are better at naturally channeling the joy of Christmas and in turn make children behave.

They offer a distraction a normal routine that bring out positive behaviours in a way that believing in Santa does not.

However, the team add: 'It should be noted that the behavior of children is neither simple nor coherent.

'When positive behaviors increase, so do negative behaviors.'

According to their own beliefs, parents generally think the Christmas period is very important, but that their child's belief in Santa is only moderately important.

'The magic is in the time of year, so to speak, not in the claim over the supernatural big man,' added Professor Kapitany.

Many parents use the threat of Santa not leaving any presents at Christmas as a tactic to get children be nice rather than naughty

Overall, the results are something of a surprise, because singing carols and going to church services may be traditionally perceived as boring for youngsters.

Also, for children Santa Claus is 'akin to a god' and children 'are his devotees', according to the researchers.

'For many children, Santa is real, and a useful, perhaps indistinguishable, approximation of a God,' they conclude.

'While the topic of a childs belief in Santa Claus may appear superficially trivial, the implications for our understanding of moral development are potentially far reaching.'

The study also has implications for parents deciding whether or not to tell their children about the Santa myth.

Dr Joseph Millum, a senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of St Andrews, thinks parents shouldn't tell their children that Santa exists because it 'breaches trust', calling the jolly gift giver 'a 'preposterous lie'.

But the academic calls the myth 'manipulative', adding that 'deception is wrong because it breaches trust'.

However, Tom Whyman, lecturer in philosophy at the University of Liverpool, has argued in return that 'kids need Santa'.
An urgent weather warning has been issued for eight East Coast states with a bomb cyclone expected to unleash hurricane conditions in the region.

Meteorologists predict that states from Maine to New York will see the worst impacts, with dangerous flooding and widespread power outages predicted to start on Wednesday evening.

A bomb cyclone is a meteorological term for a storm between the tropics and polar region that rapidly strengthens over a 24-hour period, often leading to considerable damage.

This super-charged storm will bring wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, as well as torrential rainfall of eight inches in places, which will be amplified by an atmospheric river stretching 2,000 miles along the coast.

An atmospheric river is a long and narrow region of the atmosphere that carries warmth and moisture from the tropics toward Earth's poles.

The East Coast has been hit with unseasonably high temperatures this week, with New York City topping 61 degrees on Wednesday, 30 above the December average.

'The impactful nature of the storm in coastal areas of the Northeast will be like a landfilling strong tropical storm or hurricane,' AccuWeather meteorologists stated.

The heavily populated metro areas of Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Providence, Rhode Island, and Hartford, Connecticut could see significant urban and small stream flooding, according to AccuWeather.

'The risk for significant flooding will be further amplified across the higher elevations of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine where there is a considerable snowpack of several inches on the ground,' AccuWeather meteorologist Jonathan Porter warned.

Five states are bracing for dangerous flooding and power outages as an atmospheric river and developing bomb cyclone hit the East Coast

Meteorologists predict that states from Maine to New York will see the worst impacts, with dangerous flooding and widespread power outages predicted to start on Wednesday evening

That is because rapidly melting snow can add one to two inches of water to storm runoff, and rapidly rising water can cause 'life-threatening' flooding, he added.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has also issued a high-wind warning for Long Island, New York and the coast of Connecticut from 12pm to 10pm ET Wednesday, with sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 60 mph expected.

The agency has warned the alert in parts of Maine from 7pm ET Wednesday to 6am ET Thursday, as well as all of eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island from 3pm this afternoon to 1am ET tomorrow.

'Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,' NWS officials stated.

'Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution if you must drive.'

The early stages of this storm has already battered parts of the southeastern US with torrential downpours Monday and Tuesday, even prompting tornado warnings, according to AccuWeather.

The rain expanded northward into the central Appalachians, mid-Atlantic and southern New England regions Tuesday night.

Together, the two weather systems are expected to dump a total of eight inches of rain over the Northeast and six inches in the Southeast.

The atmospheric river and potential bomb cyclone are expected to dump a total of eight inches of rain on the Northeast and six inches of rain on the Southeast

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued high-wind warnings for Long Island, New York, the coast of Connecticut, parts of Maine, eastern Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island

Some states are already preparing for very bad weather.

In Maine, some schools delayed openings Tuesday after a few inches of snow accumulated earlier in the day.

The western part of the state is bracing for freezing rain, downpours, unseasonably high temperatures and damaging winds, all expected to hit in the span of a day, said Derek Schroeter, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine.

'We're looking at the risk of slick travel (Tuesday night) with the freezing rain,' Schroeter said, 'and we are going to be watching for the potential for flash flooding and sharp rises on streams as temperatures rise into the 50s.'

The state of Vermont is under a flood watch from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning.

The atmospheric river - a 2,000-mile-long band of water vapor stretching all the way from the northeastern US to the Caribbean Sea - will intensify the storm's rainfall

This unique storm event comes just weeks after a similar event rocked the West Coast in November, causing extensive damage in western Washington

A pickup truck was totally crushed by a falling tree in Sudden Valley, as this image shared on Facebook in November shows

The state's capital, Montpelier, has told residents to brace for mild flooding in the area and advised elevating items in basements and other low areas

The city 'will be actively monitoring the river levels as this storm passes through,' officials stated.

In New Hampshire, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center issued a special bulletin Wednesday for the Presidential Range of mountains, which received significant snowfall over the last two weeks.

'Heavy rainfall could create dangerous and unpredictable avalanche conditions on steep snow-covered slopes,' it said, making for unsafe conditions on stream crossings, skiing and hiking trails and bridges.

This unique storm event comes just weeks after a similar event rocked the West Coast in November.

An atmospheric river and bomb cyclone killed two people and caused widespread power outages, flooding and wind damage throughout the US Northwest. .
A spectacular meteor shower will peak on Friday the 13th, producing up to 120 shooting stars per hour under perfect viewing conditions.

The Geminids are among the best and most reliable meteor showers that dazzle the night sky each year. But that's not all that makes them unique.

They are also one of the few major meteor showers to hail from asteroids, which have different chemical compositions from comets.

Due to its origins, the shooting stars often appear bright yellow or green as they streak across the sky.

The shower could even produce some 'fireballs,' or shooting stars brighter than Venus, allowing them to be visible even from light-polluted cities.

Though the best chance to see them will be on December 13, they should remain visible until December 21.

If you live in a city or other densely populated area, you may want to consider seeking out a more rural viewing location, as light pollution can dim the show.

Choose a location that affords you a wide view of the night sky without obstruction from trees, buildings or other objects.

The spectacular Geminid meteor shower will peak this Friday, producing up to 120 shooting stars per hour under perfect viewing conditions

While you watch, try to avoid looking at your phone or any other light sources, as you will be more likely to see shooting stars when your eyes are adjusted to the darkness.

The light of the moon, however, is likely to dampen their visibility as it will be full or near-full for most of this period.

That means only about 15 meteors per hour are expected at peak time this year, according to the American Meteor Society.

To see as many meteors as possible, you will want to watch during the darkest time of night - between midnight and predawn hours.

The Geminids are so-named because they appear to come from the constellation Gemini. If you look toward that group of stars, you will find the point where the meteor shower originates, also known as the 'radiant point.'

That point is near the bright star Castor in Gemini, Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at Kings College London, told Forbes.

Gemini is currently located to the upper left of Orion. To find it, look for the three stars that make up Orion's belt.

But you do not have to fixate on this point the entire time. Though the Geminids will appear to originate from there, meteors can appear anywhere in the night sky.

In general, you should be able to see them if you look east, focusing your gaze about halfway up the sky.

The Geminids are one of the few major meteor showers to hail from asteroids. These meteors are chunks of debris from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which orbits the Sun once every 1.4 years

The Geminid meteor shower is visible all over the world, so skywatchers across the US should have a chance to see shooting stars this weekend through next week.

But if you miss them, don't fret. The next meteor shower, the Ursids, will peak on December 22 - the day after the Geminids fade from view.

Unlike most meteor showers which originate from comets, the Geminids hail from an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon, according to NASA.

This nearly four-mile-wide space rock orbits the sun once every 1.4 years. As it travels through space, leaves a cloud of debris in its wake.

When Earth's orbit passes through this debris, the asteroid chunks burn up in our planet's atmosphere, causing a meteor shower.

As they burn, the Geminids often shine yellow or green due to the chemical composition of their unusual origin material. A yellow hue signifies sodium or iron, whereas blue-green indicates magnesium.

Though this meteor shower is one of the most brilliant annual astronomical events today, that was not always the case.

The Geminids first began appearing in the mid-1800s, but the first showers only produced 10 to 20 meteors per hour, according to NASA.

Over time, this meteor shower produced more and more shooting stars because the cloud of debris produced by 3200 Phaethon grew denser, causing Earth to encounter an increasing number of meteors when it passes through the debris cloud each year.
Brenda Blethyn has revealed that she had a medical scare and was rushed to hospital while she was filming on the set of Vera.

The Oscar-nominated actress, 78, who stars as DCI Vera Stanhope in the show, will hang up her infamous trench coat after 14 years this January.

But before she bowed out and filmed her last ever scenes, Vera revealed to The Sun that she suffered from an episode of Bell's palsy while on set.

Bell's Palsy is temporary weakness or lack of movement that usually affects one side of the face - a condition that I'm A Celeb's Tulisa lives with.

Vera revealed the incident happened on set and she hadn't realised until her makeup artist asked 'what is wrong with your face?'

She told the publication: 'I got Bell's palsy during one episode and my face was all... I think it happened on camera.

Brenda Blethyn has revealed that she had a medical scare and was rushed to hospital while she was filming on the set of Vera

The Oscar-nominated actress, 78, who stars as DCI Vera Stanhope in the show, will hang up her infamous trench coat after 14 years this January

'The makeup artist started to notice it. What's wrong with Brenda's face? She's winking at everybody - I blink a lot but there was only one eye that was going.'

Vera went on to say that she thinks her 'bad luck' was caused by an ear infection and it happened around five years ago.

She explained she was immediately rushed to hospital and the doctors had her treated within the hour.

Inspired by the award-winning works of author Ann Cleeves, Vera has become a much-loved and acclaimed series, famed for its compelling storylines and captivating performances.

The final series will air on January 1 and January 2 at 8pm, while the show's accompanying factual documentary, Vera: Farewell Pet, will air on January 3 at 9pm, all on ITV1 and STV.

The two episodes are called 'Inside' and 'The Dark Wives' as Vera looks into the case surrounding these gripping murder mysteries.

The actress initially refused to speak about the finale at an event at the BFI in London.

'No comment. I'm not going to tell you,' she quipped when she was pressed for information.

But before she bowed out and filmed her last ever scenes, Vera revealed to the Sun that she suffered from an episode of Bell's palsy on set

Vera revealed the incident happened on set and she hadn't realised until her makeup artist asked 'what is wrong with your face?'

But she did drop some hints, suggesting a rocky time ahead for Vera and her colleague Joe Ashworth (David Leon).

Brenda said: 'Joe has something going on that he doesn't want to talk about and Vera is anxious to get to the bottom of that.

'We know he came back to the area because his father was ill. He passed away we've already seen that.

'Joe doesn't seem to have come out of that dungeon and Vera's concerned about that.'

Meanwhile, Vera is faced with her own dilemma after she learns her boss intends to promote her.

Brenda said: 'Vera's superior, the Chief Inspector, wants to promote her, and so it's a big decision for Vera to make.'

New episodes of Vera will air on New Year's Day at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX and previous seasons are available to stream online.
Good Morning Britain viewers were left enraged as they shared a lot of complaints about host Richard Madeley on Wednesday's episode.

Fans dubbed his interviews as 'shambolic' and claimed that he had driven them to 'change the channel,' taking to social media with their grievances.

What appeared to upset people the most was when he 'spoke over' guest and Mirror Editor Kevin Maguire when discussing the issue of farmers and inheritance tax.

Viewers said his 'interruptions were frustrating' and asked 'why is he still employed as he's a shocking presenter'.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one penned: 'Why wont they let Kevin Maguire speak? He is trying to deliver the facts on the farmers/inheritance tax issue. First Andrew, then Susanna and finally Richard interrupting. Let him finish a sentence for goodness sake. Whether you agree with him or not, its so frustrating #GMB'

'@GMB every time I see Richard Madley on my screen I change channel. Come to @bluesky people, much nicer environment x'

Good Morning Britain viewers were left enraged as they share a lot of complaints about host Richard Madeley on Wednesday's episode

Fans dubbed his interviews as 'shambolic' and claimed that he had driven them to 'change the channel'

'@GMB Reid !! Why are smiling when Vicki is describing her pain ,it's abysmal, you and Madeley are the worst on TV'

'Why oh why do #GMB insist on having that vile b******d Richard Madeley on our screens, they must know by now how he makes us all vomit.'

'Unfortunately happened to catch Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid. No better. What a shambles'

'@GMB @susannareid100 Shabana Mahmood holding her own. Madeley and Reid asking questions, getting positive straight answers but then cutting her off mid sentence when they didn't like what they were hearing. Obviously didn't fit their narrative. #GMB bias is shining thru'

'@GMB @toryboypierce @Kevin_Maguire Why is Madeley still employed? Shocking presenter.'

The complaints came before viewers showered Vicky Pattison with praise as she opened up about an agonising health condition on Wednesday.

The former Geordie Shore star, 37, appeared on the show to reveal that she suffers with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and dubbed it 'medical misogyny'.

She explained that she believes women are not taken seriously regarding the diagnosis as she revealed that it takes, on average, eight years to diagnose.

What appeared to upset people the most was when he was seen speaking over guest Mirror editor Kevin Maguire when discussing farmers/inheritance tax issue

Viewers said his 'interruptions were frustrating and asked 'why is he still employed as a shocking presenter'

Vicky confessed that she believes if men experienced a similar level of pain in their private areas, it would be taken much more seriously.

PMDD causes a range of emotional and physical symptoms every month during the week or two before your period.

And her candid discussion with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley about the impact PMDD has on her and how long it took her to get a diagnosis led to viewers flocking to social media to praise the TV personality.

One penned: 'My God @VickyPattison was incredible on @GMB talking about womens health and medical misogyny. So so interested to see how Labour tackle this mahoosive issue'

'@GMB Proud of you girls bringing this to light xxx thank you may help our daughters...xxx'

The complaints came before viewers showered Vicky Pattison with praise as she opened up about an agonising health condition on Wednesday

And her candid discussion with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley about the impact PMDD has on her and how long it took her to get a diagnosis led to viewers flocking to social media to praise the TV personality

'@VickyPattison what a coincidence I was going to ask you how you were feeling afew weeks ago,because my daughter has the same condition,so I know what you're going through. I don't have to ask now because I'm listening to you live on GMB. Your looking very well. Merry Christmas .'

'So happy to see @GMB talk about women health #endometriosis #pmdd @VickyPattison thank you'

'So true, this needs attention, my daughter suffers with it, it's soul destroying!'

'So happy to see talk about women health #endometriosis #pmdd thank you'

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 from 6am and is available to stream on ITVX.
A beloved Channel 4 star has landed herself a brand new show with her rarely-seen husband after leaving the UK for a new life abroad.

Jasmine Harman has presented A Place In The Sun for over 20 years, while also hosting series like Britain's Compulsive Shoppers and The Truth About Your Teeth.

The 49 year old decided to relocate to the sunny shores of Spain in October 2023 so she could spend more time with her husband, Jon, and two children, Albion and Joy.

She headed off on her adventure to Estepona, Costa Del Sol, with her family and has been living on the continent ever since.

Now, fans can watch her, Jon and their children buy and renovate a rundown villa in Jasmine's Renovation In The Sun.

In the 15-part series, the family go to locals and ex-pats for advice on their project and compare their new home to other renovated properties in the area.

Jasmine Harman has presented A Place In The Sun for over 20 years whilst also hosting series like Britain's Compulsive Shoppers and The Truth About Your Teeth

Jon and Jasmine decided to move to the continent so they could spend more time together as a family (left to right: Jon, Albion, Jasmine and Joy)

Now, fans can watch her and Jon and their children buy and renovate a rundown villa in Jasmine's Renovation In The Sun

They will have to juggle learning new skills, their two young children, forming a new community in another country and their demanding jobs.

Jasmine said: 'Moving abroad has been completely different to what I expected and dreamed of.

'I never wanted to take on a renovation project but somehow, we fell in love with this house.

'I've seen it so many times with my own house hunters - sometimes it just feels right.

'Moving house can be stressful at the best of times. But, changing country, renovating a property, raising our family  all the while having a TV crew following you around, is next level!

'All the same, we feel like this is the best move for our family and we're so excited to get started.'

Michelle Heeley, Executive Producer for Freeform Productions, added: 'Like so many of our House Hunters over the years who have made the move, Jasmine is now doing this for herself.

'Being able to follow her journey and highs and lows along the way will be an entertaining watch.'

A Place In The Sun is available to stream on channel4.com.
Following the success of shows like Love Island and My Mum, Your Dad, a brand new exciting dating series is reportedly in the works.

The new show is set to focus on individuals who use sign language, taking inspiration from deaf celebrities who have used their platforms to raise awareness.

Former EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, made history as the first deaf participant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, eventually winning the competition.

While Islander Tasha Ghouri, who had a cochlear implant fitted at five years old, made it through to the final on Sunday night (December 8).

TV bosses are reportedly on the hunt for single individuals who are deaf, use British Sign Language, or are CODAs (children of deaf adults), aged between 25-35, for the upcoming series.

An insider told The Sun: 'The creators have just put out a casting call for people in their twenties and thirties, who might like to take part.

Following the success of shows like Love Island and My Mum, Your Dad, a brand new exciting dating series is reportedly in the works - and it looks like Strictly's Tasha Ghouri is the inspiration behind it

The new show is set to focus on individuals who use sign language, taking inspirations from deaf celebrities who have used their platforms to raise awareness - something Tasha has done

'Though it's not clear which channel it will air on, ITV and Channel 4 are the most likely recipients because they like to explore new territory with their shows.

'As for the dating show genre, producers are always looking for new ways to look at what attracts people to one another.'

Although it is not publicly known which channel will air the show, ITV and Channel 4 are thought to be likely contenders due to their eagerness to explore novel concepts, reports The Mirror.

As for the dating show genre, producers are constantly looking for new innovative perspectives on what draws people together romantically.

It comes not long after Production company Gold Wala released an advert that reads: 'Casting is now live for a super-exciting, brand new British Sign Language dating show for a major new channel.

'We are looking for all deaf, BSL users and CODAs who are aged 25 to 35 years old, are single and up for taking part in what will be an incredibly fun, exciting opportunity.'

Tasha, who was born deaf and received her cochlear implant when she was five years old, made history as the first-ever deaf contestant on Love Island.

But Tasha admitted she 'felt like she let down the whole deaf community' as she received hundreds of cruel comments about the way she speaks following her stint on the show.

Former EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, made history as the first deaf participant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, eventually winning the competition.

Tasha burst into tears as she detailed the horrific trolling she received about her disability on Strictly Come Dancing

The dancer's reason for joining the dating show, as well as finding love, was to spread awareness for the deaf community - but instead she received heaps of hate.

In the very emotional interview, she told Strictly viewers: 'I remember my dad sat me down and he looked at me straight and said "Tash, there is a lot of horrific stuff that was written about you, especially on social media."

'There are videos made about my voice and the way I speak, it became a trend at one point.

'And it really, really hit me rock bottom. Because I wanted to go on for representation and I feel like I failed, not just myself but, the whole deaf community.'

Back in February, Tasha discussed the importance of normalising deaf voices during an appearance on Lorraine.

She revealed that when she took out her implant out, viewers of Love Island noticed her voice change and she was hit by a barrage of online abuse.

Tasha explained: 'When I have my implant in, I can hear my voice but when I take it out I can hear a vibration from my throat.

'I can't hear what tone it is or how loud. It's weird because when I put it back on, I go back to my normal voice.

'When I was on the show, I actually had a lot of ableism [online] about my voice and not many people understood why I spoke the way I did.'

Tasha, who was born deaf and received her cochlear implant when she was five years old, made history as the first-ever deaf contestant on Love Island in 2022 (pictured with boyfriend Andrew Le Page)

She went on: 'That was probably the main trolling I got from it. TikToks were made about my voice, taking the mick out of it.

'Thats why when I came out I was still kind of accepting coming to terms with that and this is why I felt that this was the right time to explain why my voice may sound different.'

Tasha has used her platform to advocate for the death community and has become a vocal activist pushing for change.

Earlier this year, she published her debut romance novel titled 'Hits Different', which features a protagonist who embraces her disability as a superpower.

Rising to fame on Love Island in 2022, Tasha reached the final with partner Andrew Le Page, finishing in fourth place.

The couple are still together, with Andrew showing support by attending Strictly live shows and making surprise visits during rehearsals.
Matt and Emma Willis have expressed concerns for their children after they made a 'terrifying' discovering on their documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones.

The new Channel 4 documentary sees the married couple take part in a social experiment which delves into the effects of smartphone usage on young people's behaviour.

They teamed up with The Stanway School in Colchester, where they challenged themselves and a group of Year 8 students to go without their smartphones for 21 days.

The kids, some of whom spent five hours a day on their mobiles, initially struggled without their devices that they are hooked on.

But it turned out that they slept better, were more alert in class and suffered less anxiety once they adapted to the shift.

The documentary also explores the disturbing content that young children can access on their phones.

Matt and Emma Willis have expressed concerns for their children after they made a 'terrifying' discovering on their documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones

The couple, parents to Isabelle, 15, Ace, 13, and Trixie, 8

Posing as 13-year-olds on TikTok, Matt and Emma were left stunned to receive content related to suicide and violence against women within just four hours of scrolling on a fresh account, reports the Mirror.

Emma expressed her shock, saying: 'It's just not what I thought it was. I know you hear stories about what can be found on there, but finding and searching for something is very different from it being served to you the first time you go on there as a 13 year old.'

Matt later described the content accessible to children on their phones as 'terrifying'.

Prior to the experiment, he voiced his concerns: 'It's how much time our kids spend on their smart phones that got us worried. I think we've signed up to this experiment because we're living it.

'We're going through it with our kids and we have no idea how to navigate this. We're worried, we're scared, everything we're seeing is negative, but we don't know how to stop it.'

He also shared his personal experience: 'Our daughter was 11 when she got a smart phone, it's been the biggest disruptor between us and her, I feel like I lose her to it quite a bit. I miss her. I remember sitting on the couch once, the TV was playing and we were all on our phone. I was like, 'This is not good'.'

The couple, parents to Isabelle, 15, Ace, 13, and Trixie, 8, have now put in place changes following the experiment.

Emma shared details about her family's tech habits, revealing that phones are now charged downstairs and not in bedrooms.

The new Channel 4 documentary sees the married couple take part in a social experiment which delves into the effects of smartphone usage on young people's behaviour

Posing as 13-year-olds on TikTok, Matt and Emma were left stunned to receive content related to suicide and violence against women within just four hours of scrolling on a fresh account, reports the Mirror

The couple have now put in place changes following the experiment

Emma has removed Instagram from her phone, only accessing it via an iPad, while their youngest child do not own a smartphone for now

The children also hand over their devices after 8pm to ensure that they are able to spend some quality time together

The children also hand over their devices after 8pm to ensure that they are able to spend some quality time together.

Emma has removed Instagram from her phone, only accessing it via an iPad, while their youngest child does not own a smartphone for now.

Expressing her feelings on the matter, Emma said: 'Our kids first had a phone when they were at secondary school, it feels like everyone has one and they want one. There are times when I definitely feel like I've lost them.

'Personally for me, I wished I'd never given them a smart phone. Our eldest, even now, and we're a bit scared of her on this subject, which is terrible really because she's a lovely kid. We never allow them to have social media. Then when she was 14 she had been begging for a long time and we were like, you can have Snapchat. And she's literally on it all the time.'

She continues: 'The one thing that we really want to get out of this experiment is that we really hope that it will get the ball rolling and change will begin. Because I think what we all want is that for our kids to be able to be in the tech world from the right age, but be absolutely safe within it. If we can all kind of put that pressure on, hopefully we can make positive change.'

Matt, who is no stranger to battling addiction, shared his personal struggle with technology dependency.

Matt, who is no stranger to battling addiction, shared his personal struggle with technology dependency

He confessed: 'I used to belittle it in my head. But when I think about it, I am addicted to my phone. When I'm without it I crave it. I act the same way about this device as I have about substances in the past.'

The musician continued: 'When I think about the idea of a smartphone ban to the age of 14, I think that's a very wise decision. We are exposing them to so much stuff that they can't process or they shouldn't be seeing, and we are allowing that to happen. The Government can't turn a blind eye to this anymore. You've got to look at this and go, this is a massive problem.'

In the documentary, the couple discuss potential reforms with Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, considering measures such as a ban on smartphones for under-14s on the documentary.

MP Kyle said changes were coming in regarding online safety next Summer but says a ban on smart phones for under 14s was not the 'right way forward' at the moment.

However, several doctors speaking on the programme say from what they have witnessed in clinics, children having phones has been a mental health disaster in recent years.

When asked what their motivation for presenting the series and also for taking part in the wider experiment, Emma replied: 'Well, it was for our kids, because we are the people this doc is speaking to. We are the parents of the demographic who are consumed by devices all the time.

'Its something we were very aware of before we were asked to present the doc. We felt like we were always saying to our kids come off your phone, come off your device, come downstairs now, it's time to hang out as a family, so when we were asked to host this series, we jumped at the chance because we thought this would be a great way to educate ourselves.

'Matt and I also wanted to look at our own smartphone use, because were not only aware of how our kids use them, but also of our own relationship with devices and how it impacts not just our daytime, but also the time when we should be switching offnot just from a technology standpoint, but to give our brains a break from work, life admin, and everything else.

'We were very aware that we were addicted. If we as grownups are addicted, and we havent even had technology our whole lives (and to be honest Im a total technophobe!), how are kids meant to stand a chance?'

Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones starts on Channel 4 on Wednesday at 8pm and will be available to stream from Wednesday.
A Yellowstone spinoff, starring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, has been officially confirmed after months of speculation.

The series will be led creatively by Taylor Sheridan, who has written every episode of the hit ranch drama and directed the first season.

Sources told Deadline the new show 'will likely feature' other 'cast members from the mothership.'

Fans were quick to react to the announcement on social media as they excitedly declared this 'the best news ever.'

'It's happening!!! Beth Rip Spinoff!!!' one tweeted.

Another wrote: 'Not generally a fan of spin offs (Joey PTSD) but the Beth and Rip show sounds like something Id never get tired of watching.'

A Yellowstone spinoff, starring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, has been officially confirmed after months of speculation

'Now theyre both outliving the original show LETS GOOOOO BETH RIP NATION,' a third wrote.

Others asked 'oh my god how did we get this lucky.'

'I was so sad because Id just discovered this amazing show, completely fell in love with these two and it was already ending. I really thought Id have to say goodbye to beth and rip next week with the final episode and now were getting a spinoff this is the best news ever,' another emotional viewer gushed.

The news comes just days before the upcoming season 5 finale of Yellowstone is set to air on Sunday.

Last month, Hauser teased that he would love to continue to portray his beloved character, Rip, while reflecting on the possibility of a spinoff and the continuation of the Dutton story.

'[It] sure would be a shame to stop a great thing,' he told People.

'I believe the numbers speak for themselves and America has spoken,' he noted, nodding to the immense popularity of Sheridan's modern-western series, which garnered an astonishing 15.7 million viewers last season.

He continued: 'Taylor [Sheridans] and my interest was to bring back an American man who is unapologetic, honest, loyal with strong values. I believe we have accomplished that together.'

The series will be led creatively by Taylor Sheridan, who writes all episodes in the hit ranch drama and directed the first season; seen last month

Hauser has portrayed Wheeler, the husband of Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), since the series first premiered in 2018.

In August, reports surfaced that Hauser and Reilly were in 'negotiations' for a sixth season.

Although sources emphasized to Deadline that the deal was still up in the air, the upcoming episodes would focus on the on-screen couple's beloved characters following Kevin Costners dramatic exit from the neo-Western drama.

The pair had previously been rumored to be joining the Yellowstone spinoff The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

Sources told Deadline the new show 'will likely feature' other 'cast members from the mothership'

Fans were quick to react to the announcement on social media as they excitedly declared this 'the best news ever'

'It's happening!!! Beth Rip Spinoff!!!' one tweeted

'Now theyre both outliving the original show LETS GOOOOO BETH RIP NATION,' a third wrote

Others asked 'oh my god how did we get this lucky'

In April, when asked about the possibility of a sixth season, Reilly told RadioTimes: 'I just care about finishing [Yellowstone] with as much care and as much passion and as much love as I can muster to put into it Im sort of prepping for that now, [and] thats my tunnel-vision thing that I care about most.'

'And what goes on beyond that? There are discussions, you know. Dont believe everything you read. Its just nonsense,' she continued.

5B, which returned on November 10, was originally announced as Yellowstones last installment.

In June, Costner, who played the show's patriarch John Dutton, confirmed that he was done with Yellowstone for good.

The news comes just days before the upcoming season 5 finale of Yellowstone is set to air on Sunday

The 69-year-old actor told his Instagram followers that he would not returning for an appearance for season 5B.

'Hi everyone. I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that's required, and thinking about Yellowstone  that beloved series that I love, that I know you love  I just realized that I'm not going to be able to continue Season 5b or into the future,' Costner announced somberly while gazing into the camera.

Previous reports indicated that Costner was likely done for good with the series after conflicts between himself and producers over pay, his schedule and his availability to film his multi-part Western epic Horizon: An American Saga.

But fans held out hope that he might at least return to find a dignified ending for his patriarch John Dutton III, but his new video has seemingly dashed those hopes for good.

Fans were quick to react to the announcement on social media as they excitedly declared this 'the best news ever'

'It was something that really changed me,' Costner said of the Paramount Network series.

'I loved it, and I know you loved it,' he reiterated. 'I just wanted to let you know that I won't be returning.'

The actor and director concluded with what may have been an entreaty for his fans to see his upcoming Horizon films.

'I love the relationship we've been able to develop, and I'll see you at the movies,' he said as a slight smile crossed his lips.

In June, Costner, who played the show's patriarch John Dutton, confirmed that he was done with Yellowstone for good (seen at Bavaria Studios on November 7, 2024)

The announcement means that Costner's final run of episodes were for season 5A, which aired from November of 2022 to January of 2023.

His character, the patriarch of the Dutton family, ran the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, a fictional ranch that was the largest in Montana.

It bordered Yellowstone National Park and the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, which often put the wealthy family at odds with their Native American neighbors and greedy developers looking to snatch up their land.

The primetime soap has been particularly popular among fans who applauded its so-called anti-woke politics, though the series is often critical of its main family, who have murdered multiple people to secure their land and fortune.
It's an exciting day for soap fans after EastEnders finally revealed the trailer for their highly-anticipated Christmas episode on Wednesday - and it seems like Cindy Beale's big secret is about to come to light.

The BBC soap revealed the short teaser in dramatic fashion, alongside the caption: 'Time's up for Cindy This Christmas on #EastEnders.'

Viewers have been on the edges of their seats for months as they watched Cindy's (Michelle Collins) ongoing affair with her former step-son Junior Knight (Micah Balfour).

The explosive trailer hints that the huge reveal will be finally happening after a plot involving blackmail, as Anna opens a tiny present on Christmas day - a USB stick reading: 'Play me! Festive fun for all'.

Fans will remember that Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) accidentally recorded a lengthy conversation between Cindy and David Wicks (Michael French), where she discussed her love for George and fling with Junior.

It's an exciting day for soap fans after EastEnders finally revealed the trailer for their highly-anticipated Christmas episode on Wednesday

The BBC soap revealed the short teaser in dramatic fashion, alongside the caption: 'Time's up for Cindy This Christmas on #EastEnders'

Cindy is shocked to discover that the incriminating recording in which she reveals her affair with Junior has fallen into the wrong hands.

Finding herself blackmailed, she takes action, hoping that she has done enough to silence her tormentor and keep her cheating secret.

However, Christmas Eve sees her receive another piece of damning information.

Wanting all his family around him, George invites the Beales to join the Knights for Christmas dinner at the Vic.

However, little does he know the secrets and lies that lie beneath the seemingly happy celebration as the guests arrive.

Soon, George and Ian make toasts, but the happy scene doesnt last for long.

As Christmas Day plays out, the Square becomes a war zone as the shocking truth about Cindys affair is revealed in spectacular fashion in The Vic.

Soon, accusations are flying on all sides as the two families come to terms with the shocking revelation.

Elsewhere in the upcoming Christmas episode, the residents get ready for Suki and Eves wedding, but lurking in the shadows is Nish.

Viewers have been on the edges of their seats for months as they watched Cindy's (Michelle Collins) ongoing affair with her former step-son Junior Knight (Micah Balfour)

Anna opens a tiny present on Christmas day - a USB stick reading: 'Play me! Festive fun for all'

Although the Christmas dinner begins harmoniously, the calm won't last for long

Cindy is shocked to discover that an incriminating recording in which she reveals her affair with Junior has fallen into the wrong hands

As Christmas Day plays out, the Square becomes a war zone as the shocking truth about Cindys affair is revealed in spectacular fashion in The Vic

Wanting all his family around him, George has invited the Beales to join the Knights for Christmas dinner at the Vic

With Suki having reneged on her deal never to remarry, she knows he might be out for revenge, and with Nish a dying man, there could be no limit to how far he will go to destroy Sukis happiness.

The gritty Christmas episode will reportedly also see a major character battle with their mental health.

One of the soap's longest-appearing stars, Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, 65, will be trying to cope with depression and suicidal thoughts in the festive installment of the BBC show.

Phil's struggling mental health comes after his life has fallen apart after being abandoned by his family.

The character's son Ben is in a prison in the US while his daughter Louise lives in Portugal and his former wife Kat Slater has moved on and is loved up with Alfie Moon.

As the festive period goes on, viewers will see Phil deteriorate as he tries to cope with thoughts of ending his own life according to The Sun.

And Phil's difficult time is just the latest in a long list of harrowing Christmas festive plots in Walford.

in 1986 30million people tuned in to watch Arthur Fowler have a nervous breakdown and destroy his own home.

Elsewhere in the upcoming Christmas episode, the residents get ready for Suki and Eves wedding, but lurking in the shadows is Nish

The gritty Christmas episode will reportedly also see a major character battle with their mental health

Twenty years later Arthur's wife Pauline collapsed and died from a brain haemorrhage and then in 2009 Archie Mitchell was killed.

The character, played by Larry Lamb was smashed in the head during a fatal fight in the Queen Vic which then sparked a mystery plot to fond out who had done it.

Phil's battle with depression comes after he overcame in previous years, his alcohol nd crack cocaine addictions as well as recovering from being shot twice.

The timing of Phil's struggles coincides with the soap's 40th anniversary.

EastEnders will air in two parts on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer with one instalment at 7:30pm and a second at 10:35pm.
Elyse Knowles has welcomed her third child with her fiance Josh Barker, a baby girl named Java.

The Block star announced the exciting news on Instagram on Wednesday alongside an adorable video of her newborn daughter with her two sons.

'The boys with their baby sister Java. 5~12~24,' she wrote.

Her post was inundated with messages from her friends and fans congratulating the growing family on the exciting news.

'Lovely news .. Congratulations to you all, she's beautiful!' one person wrote.

'Congratulations guys! This video is just beautiful - their little smiling faces. What a fab early Christmas present,' another said.

Elyse Knowles has welcomed her third child with her fiance Josh Barker

The Block star announced the exciting news on Instagram on Wednesday alongside an adorable video of her newborn daughter Java with her two sons

'Oh my heart!!! How lucky she is to have two big bros. Congrats beautiful,' a third commented.

'Congratulations to all a healthy baby girl,' another said.

'I've been waiting in anticipation to see the update.. Congratulations and welcome gorgeous little Java,' one person wrote.

Elyse and Josh, who share Sunny, three, and Zali, one, revealed they were expecting for the third time in June.

Elyse displayed her growing baby bump in a series of bikini photos with her two sons during a family holiday in Fiji.

'Omg Wowowow. You do it so effortlessly!' MAFS star Martha Kalifatidis commented.

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.

Elyse and Josh, who share Sunny, three, and Zali, one, revealed they were expecting for the third time in June

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.

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.

Elyse previously revealed to Stellar magazine that she was crippled by anxiety following the birth of her son, Sunny

'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.
Jennifer Lopez has been dragged into the Jay-Z scandal after she was caught on camera fighting with Sean 'Diddy' Combs on the same night that both men now stand accused of raping a 13-year-old girl.

Jay-Z, 55, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was named Sunday in an amended lawsuit accusing the rappers of taking part in the alleged assault of the minor at an afterparty for the MTV VMAs in New York City in 2000.

According to the suit, a third celebrity  a woman  was present in the room and watched as the men took turns with their victim.

The recently unearthed photos, obtained by DailyMail.com, were taken hours before the alleged rape and in a different location to where it is said to have happened.

They show J Lo, 55, locked in a heated argument with Combs.

There is also no suggestion that J Lo is the mystery celebrity. She is also not named in the lawsuit.

But now, with the naming of Jay-Z, the eyebrow-raising altercation and the events of that sordid evening have been thrust firmly back into the spotlight.

J Lo dated Combs from 1999 to 2001 in a relationship which continues to cast a long shadow over the star to this day.

Jennifer Lopez, 55, has been dragged into the Jay-Z scandal after she was caught on camera fighting with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, on the same night that both men now stand accused of raping a 13-year-old girl

The photos were taken at New York's now-defunct Lotus nightclub on September 7, 2000, J Lo stands with her sister Lynda and scowls at Diddy after their apparent argument

Lopez had changed into a multicolor geometric patterned mini tube dress for the afterparty. She is seen walking away following her heated confrontation with Diddy

The lawsuit, in which the victim is identified only as Jane Doe, was originally filed in October, but an amended complaint filed Sunday has now named Jay-Z as the second previously anonymous celebrity to have allegedly raped her while she was drugged, alone and intoxicated.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by DailyMail.com: 'Defendant Sean Combsalong with his lifetime friend and collaborator Shawn Carter, drugged and raped a thirteen-year-old at an afterparty following 2000 Video Music Awards.

'Another celebrity stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting the minor.'

That third celebrity has not been named, but is identified as a female whom the victim immediately recognized.

At the time of the assault, which the suit states took place on or around September 7, 2000, the victim had a friend drive her to Radio City Music Hall so she could try to attend the awards ceremony, for which she did not have a ticket.

She watched the show outside on a jumbotron before approaching several limousine drivers in hopes of talking her way into the event or an afterparty.

Jay-Z, 55, was also at the afterparty where Diddy and J Lo had their verbal argument. He was named on Sunday in an amended lawsuit that accused Diddy and him of raping a 13-year-old girl on the same night as this party

As they arrived att the after-party, Diddy and J Lo appeared close, but as the evening wore on they started fighting

The 13-year-old girl was handed a reddish-yellow drink at Diddy's after party. After sipping it, she immediately felt ill, taking refuge in an unlocked bedroom, before Jay-Z, Diddy and a third unnamed female celebrity entered the room where the alleged rape took place

After throwing the girl against a wall and again on to the bed, she was allegedly raped first by Jay-Z and then by Combs while the female celebrity watched

One chauffeur who was driving Combs and others to the afterparty agreed to come back to take her to the afterparty noting that she 'fit what Diddy was looking for'.

Once at the party, the girl was asked to sign a document  a copy of which she did not receive  before heading into mingle with the starry crowd.

After taking a few sips of a reddish-yellow drink the girl reportedly felt 'woozy and lightheaded, making her need to lie down.'

Looking for a place to rest, she found her way into what appeared to be an empty bedroom and did not lock the door.

Moments later 'Combs entered the room, along with defendant Carter and a female celebrity. Plaintiff immediately recognized all three celebrities'.

Combs allegedly aggressively approached the girl, 'with a crazed look in his eyes, grabbed her and said, 'You ready to party!' the lawsuit continues.

Jay-Z is vehemently denying the accusations and described the allegations as 'so heinous in nature' that he 'implored' lawyer Tony Buzbee to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one

Buzbee is the Texas-based lawyer representing more than one hundred of Combs's alleged victims and was named in Jay-Z's response to the allegations

After throwing her against a wall and again on to the bed, she was allegedly raped first by Jay-Z and then by Combs, while the female celebrity watched.

Jay-Z issued a lengthy statement to DailyMail.com Sunday in which he claimed that, before the lawsuit was refiled with his name, his lawyers had received 'a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter from a "lawyer" named Tony Buzbee'.

Buzbee is the Texas-based lawyer representing more than one hundred of Combs's alleged victims.

According to Jay-Z, Buzbee had calculated that 'the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle'.

He stated: 'No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!'

The rapper continued, describing the allegations as 'so heinous in nature' that he 'implored' Buzbee to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one. 'Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?'

Jay-Z issued a lengthy statement to DailyMail.com Sunday in which he claimed that, before the lawsuit was refiled with his name, his lawyers had received 'a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter' from Buzbee

'These victims,' he claimed, 'would deserve real justice if that were the case.'

Blasting Buzbee as a man who has 'neither honor nor dignity' Jay-Z directed his statement to the attorney saying, 'You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all 'celebrities' are the same. I'm not from your world. I'm a young man who made it out of the projects of Brooklyn.

'We don't play these types of games. We have a very strict codes and honor. We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain.

'Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake psychics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.'

For all the latest updates on this story, listen to The Trial of Diddy - available wherever you get your podcasts now.
A 31-year-old man who claims he is the illegitimate son of Jay-Z has been left heartbroken at the world-famous rappers blistering response to accusations that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl.

Jay-Z, 55, real name Shawn Carter, insisted he is the victim of a blackmail attempt as he fired back at a civil lawsuit filed Sunday that claimed Sean 'Diddy' Combs was at his side when the alleged incident happened in 2000.

Rymir Satterthwaite has been fighting to prove that Carter is his biological father for a decade, with his late mother Wanda claiming she was just 16 years old when she fell pregnant.

It is both heartbreaking and frustrating to see Mr. Carter respond to allegations with such deflection and attacks, he told DailyMail.com of Jay-Zs statement.

My late mother, Wanda, was just 16 years old when she became pregnant with me, and for years I have sought clarity about my identity. This is not about greed or spectacleits about uncovering the truth and ensuring all parties are held accountable.

Carter is accused of assaulting a woman, who identifies as Jane Doe in the legal documents, at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party on September 7, 2000.

Rymir Sattherthwaite, who claims he is the illegitimate son of Jay-Z, has been left heartbroken at the rappers blistering response to accusations that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl

Rymir, 31, alleges that Jay-Z, 55, had a romantic fling with his late mother Wanda in the early 1990s. The rapper has never denied the romance, but has refused to take a paternity test

The lawsuit had initially been filed in New York's Southern District in October against Diddy, with a refiling on Sunday that identified the rapper.

Carter issued a lengthy statement to DailyMail.com denying the claims made in the re-filed lawsuit and insisting he has always fought to protect children.

He said his only heartbreak is for his family, particularly his eldest daughter Blue Ivy, 12, who is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims.

He added: I mourn yet another loss of innocence.

Rymir took aim at the statement, claiming if Carter values the ideals of honor and protecting children then he should stop refusing to acknowledge his paternity.

Despite my efforts, Mr. Carter has never once written a letter to me to address these claims  whether to deny or acknowledge paternity, or to address why his attorneys committed this fraud, he continued.

If Mr. Carter values the ideals of honor and protecting children, as he claims in his letter, he should step forward with transparency. He continues to deflect and avoid.

Rymirs mother Wanda alleged she had sex with Jay-Z in 1992 when she was 16 and he was 22. At the time she was in an on-again-off-again romance with her high school sweetheart Robert Graves.

Carter, 55, issued a lengthy statement denying the claims made in the lawsuit and insisting he has always fought to protect children, prompting Rymir to question why the rapper can't acknowledge his paternity

Rymir said: If Mr. Carter values the ideals of honor and protecting children, as he claims in his letter, he should step forward with transparency. He continues to deflect and avoid (pictured with his mom Wanda)

The question of Rymir's paternity did not turn into a legal tussle until 2010 - two years after Carter married Beyonce  when she requested that a Pennsylvania court make both men take a paternity test in order to determine who her sons real father was.

Rymir insists that Jay-Z's legal team has made endless attempts to subvert the legal system in order to avoid taking a test. It was found Robert had no biological relation.

The case began with a pre-trial in Camden County, New Jersey on August 13, 2012.

During the pre-trial, Carter's attorney argued that Dr. Lillie Coley - who was acted as Rymir's legal guardian since his mother handed over custody in 2011 - had 'no jurisdiction' over his case because it was first filed by Wanda in Pennsylvania, and therefore should be heard in the same state.

The case was dismissed outright because Rymir was over 18 years old at the time of the pre-trial and, according to Pennsylvania state law, paternity must be established before a child reaches the age of adulthood.

The court ruled that the case should be tried under New Jersey law, which states that the age of 'parentage' is 23.

Carter's legal team then argued that the rapper should be exempt from undergoing a DNA test in New Jersey because he did not live or own any property in the state - despite public records linking him to homes in Alpine and Newport.

Rymir has lost every case he has brought.

Rymir claims Jay-Z's legal team has made endless attempts to subvert the legal system in order to avoid taking a paternity test

Carter and his wife Beyonce, 43, put on a united front on Monday night to attend the premiere of their 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy's film Mufasa: The Lion King

Rymir finished: I remain committed to seeking the truth and justice for myself, my mother all those who deserve answers and accountability.

Carter blasted the latest idiotic allegations against him in a lengthy statement and alleged that Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who filed the suit, was engaged in unprofessional behavior.

The suit claims Jane Doe was driven to a house party and offered a drink that made her feel woozy, lightheaded and felt [like] she needed to lie down.

Combs and Carter are then alleged to have entered the room with Combs declaring: You are ready to party!

She claims Carter then removed her clothes, held her down and raped her while Diddy and an unnamed female celebrity watched. She says Combs also raped her as Carter and the woman looked on.

These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? Carter said in his statement.

These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.

Buzbee has filed several lawsuits in recent months accusing Combs of assault and rape. This is the first suit in which he has named another high-profile defendant.
Chris Pine bundled up for a day out with his girlfriend Keana Sky Wenger in New York City on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old Star Trek alum and his 29-year-old lady love  whose identity was exclusively revealed by DailyMail.com just days ago  enjoyed each other's company ahead of the holidays.

While casually strolling in the Big Apple streets, Pine looked dapper in a tan trench coat and cuffed jeans while rocking his signature silver locks.

His much-younger lady modeled a chic navy coat, graphic T-shirt and dark jeans to beat the winter chill.

Though not much is known about the brunette beauty, she has been linked to the Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement actor since August 2023.

The fashion designer and the hunky actor were recently spotted enjoying a romantic getaway to Portofino in September.

Chris Pine bundled up for a day out with his girlfriend Keana Sky Wenger in New York City on Tuesday

The love birds  who have a 15-year age gap  have kept a low-profile since they were first spotted together more than a year ago.

According to celerity gossip page DeuxMoi, the two met after she caught Pine's eye while hosting at the popular LA Mediterranean restaurant Saffy's.

The Poolman actor treated Wenger to an upscale dinner in Milan back in June, and days later made her his plus one to a Ralph Lauren dinner during Milan Fashion Week.

'Apparently, things got pretty serious after their initial meeting, because according to reports, the hostess actually quit her job at Saffys not long after their [Milan] trip,' the outlet revealed.

The private pair have since been spotted holding hands and public and are inseparable on lavish vacations.

The Don't Worry Darling star was previously in a long-term relationship with actress Annabelle Wallis, 40, for four years. They called it quits in 2022.

Pine has previously been linked to Sofia Boutella, Vail Bloom, Dominique Piek, Zoe Kravitz and Olivia Munn.

He first skyrocketed to fame as the charming and rebellious Captain James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot series, which debuted in 2009.

In 2014, he flaunted his vocal chops in 2014's Into the Woods and previously sung up a storm in a 2017 episode of SNL.

In recent years, the LA native has broken into various other high-profile roles in the Wonder Woman franchise and Hell or High Water which earned him serious critical acclaim.

In 2023, Pine made his directorial debut with Poolman, which received mixed reviews from critics and fans.

The 44-year-old Star Trek alum and his 29-year-old lady love  whose identity was exclusively revealed by DailyMail.com just days ago  enjoyed each other's company ahead of the holidays

While casually strolling in the Big Apple streets, Pine looked dapper in a tan trench coat and cuffed jeans while rocking his signature silver locks

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film follows a man who looks after his apartment complex pool received a 22% rating from critics and a 20% score from viewers.

Pine later told NPR that the feedback on his film aided his perspective of the impossibility of 'perfection' in filmmaking.

'My film got absolutely just decimated when it premiered in Toronto, just like obliterated,' he reflected. 'Which brings up for me one of my primary triggers, or whatever, is not being liked or this idea of perfection, of not creating something that is perceived as [perfect].'

'So in many ways, this journey thus far has been so great to remember: I had joy. I experienced joy,' he said. 'It still gives me joy. That's it. That's enough. There is no perfect. That is perfect. There's nothing more perfect than that.'
Kristen Doute and her fiance Luke Broderick are going to have a baby girl.

The couple unveiled the sex of their child at a gender reveal party thrown by Vanderpump Rules alum Brittany Cartwright.

The party was held early this month at Cartwright's home but Doute, 41, did not reveal what the child's gender was until now.

Posting photos from the bash to her Instagram, Doute and her fiance, 33, learned the gender of their child with the help of a balloon drop bag that dispensed pink balloons.

Broderick triumphantly shot his arms into the air before kissing his elated fiancee and wrapping his arms around her.

'Baby girl on the way,' Doute captioned the carousel.

Kristen Doute and her fiance Luke Broderick are going to have a baby girl

The post also included joyful photos of the parents-to-be posing beside hot pink smoke and guests at their bash.

The bash was a who's who of stars from The Valley, with Zack Wickham, Nia Sanchez, and her husband Danny Broko in attendance.

A slew of friends and family also attended via Zoom.

Not pictured in the post was Vanderpump Rules alum Tom Schwartz, who also was among the guests.

'Nia and Danny Booko [from The Valley] were there and also Tom Schwartz,' she told Us Weekly. 'We also had a ton of friends and family on a private Zoom link for the reveal.'

The couple 'couldnt be happier' to have a daughter, she explained.

'Luke was made to be a girl dad,' she gushed of her fiance.

Doute shared snaps from the festivities to her Instagram earlier this month, along with the playful party decor Cartwright provided.

The bash was a who's who of stars from The Valley, with Zack Wickham, Nia Sanchez, and her husband Danny Broko in attendance

Broderick prepared to wrap his arms around Doute after they learned the gender of their child

Cartwright tried to keep the feeling at the gender reveal light, providing fun drink cups and napkins embossed with gold lettering which read, 'Just here for the sex.'

Kristen announced she is expecting her first child with fiance Luke last month.

Doute shared the baby news and snaps of her baby bump as she confirmed her pregnancy with People.

The overjoyed reality star tenderly placed a hand upon her growing midsection as she proudly showcased her sonogram.

The couple announced Kristen's pregnancy last month

A slew of friends and family also attended via Zoom

Doute, who suffered a miscarriage last year, detailed her journey to starting her family, saying she and Broderick met with a fertility expert over the summer for an 'extra push.'

The Valley star became pregnant after undergoing IUI (intrauterine insemination).

'After our pregnancy loss last year, we decided to start trying in early 2024,' she told the outlet. 'I knew my age could be a factor in conceiving, so Luke and I discussed going for an extra push, a little help.'

'In late summer, we decided to meet with a fertility specialist to learn about our options and what could be the next step if we decided to go that route. The next month was a whirlwind  getting educated on fertility, and eventually hormone shots and preparing my body for IUI (intrauterine insemination),' she said.

The couple's baby daughter is due in June; pictured September

The couple sought the help of Dr. Carolyn Alexander at the Southern California Reproductive Center, an experience they described as 'incredible.'

And not long after, Doute became pregnant.

'The two weeks following the IUI procedure felt like years. To get a correct outcome on a pregnancy test, 2 weeks time had to pass and I had to wait it out but in my heart I knew it had worked. I tested one day early and got the big PREGNANT result staring back at me,' she said.

'I was relieved, overwhelmed, happy, excited and nervous. The second I told Luke, he wasn't surprised, but was SO happy that IUI worked the first time (we were prepared that it may not). He was joyful and beyond excited, to say the least!'

The couple's child is due in June.
Billy Bob Thornton is becoming an even bigger star now that he is the lead actor on the hit Taylor Sheridan series Landman.

The series is about the oil boom in West Texas.

This means he is richer than ever. But that doesn't mean he is going on a shopping spree anytime soon.

This week he told ET that he is thrilled he has been wearing the same suit for over 20 years.

That means he has had on the same look at red carpet events since he was wed to Angelina Jolie from 2000 until 2003

'Ive worn the same suit to every event and award show for probably nearly 20 years. And when I say the same suit, I dont mean the same kind of suit, its the same suit,' said the iconic actor who was also in the Yellowstone spinoff 1883.

Billy Bob Thornton told ET he has been wearing the same suit for over 20 years. That means he has had on the same look at red carpet events since he was wed to Angelina Jolie; seen in November

Billy Bob and Angelina both wore leather pants to the LA premiere of Gone In 60 Seconds in the year 2000. They divorced in 2003

This comes after Thornton made some rare comments about being married a total of six times.

The actor, who is on the new series Landman with Demi Moore and Jon Hamm, shared his story on the Drew Barrymore Show in November.

His sixth wife is Men In Black actress Connie Angland, 60. They have been wed 10 years and have one child together.

One of his famous ex-wives is Oscar-winner Jolie, whom he was wed to from 2000 until 2003. Before that he romanced Laura Dern.

The 69-year-old actor from Arkansas wore a black outfit with a fedora and a blue plaid shirt as he chatted with Barrymore on a sofa.

'I've been with my wife for 22 years. We've been married for 10. We have a daughter,' began Billy to Drew.

He said they were introduced on the set of Bad Santa when he was on a 'kind of a lost weekend, you know what I mean.

Thornton made some rare comments about being married a total of six times. The actor, who is on the new series Landman with Demi Moore, shared his story on the Drew Barrymore Show in November

'We were together within probably a couple of months maybe yeah, she kind of drug me out of the gutter, which was awesome we've been together longer than if you totaled up all the other five, it's more time.

When Barrymore asked how many times he has been married, he shared his story.

'Well, you wanna hear something that really freaked me out because it's six for me.

'So one time, I don't know how I got there, but you know when you go on the internet to look something up and then it leads you to like a bunch of other stuff and you don't really wanna look at it, but you do anyway. So I'm looking at it one day and they had the people who with the most marriages in Hollywood. And I was the only person who was alive on it.

'I mean, it was like, I mean, it had like Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor and all these people and like, I mean people from like you know, that started in the 30s.'

Thornton has been married six times and he has four children by three women.

From 1978 to 1980, he was married to Melissa Lee Gatlin. They had a daughter Amanda.

Billy with Pietra Dawn Cherniak at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills in 1997

Thornton married actress Toni Lawrence in 1986; they separated the following year and divorced in 1988.

From 1990 to 1992, he was married to actress Cynda Williams.

In 1993, Thornton married Playboy model Pietra Dawn Cherniak, with whom he had two sons. The marriage ended in 1997.

Thornton dated Laura Dern from 1997 to 1999, but in 2000 he married Jolie. They separated in June 2002 and divorced the following year.

In 2003, he met Angland.

Billy and Angelina are still in touch, Bill said in 2019.

'We're good friends. We've been friends for years and years and years,' Thornton said of Angelina at Tribeca TV Festival's presentation of Goliath in NYC.

'We keep up with each other. She's not in town a lot, so we don't see each other much, but we talk,' he dished to Us Weekly at the time.

Angelina and the Sling Blade star married in May 2000. Their oftentimes eccentric relationship ended in June 2002 when they separated. The two divorced in May 2003.

Billy Bob explained in a November 2016 interview with GQ that he 'never felt good enough for her,' saying that her humanitarian efforts did not align with his easygoing lifestyle.

Thornton with girlfriend Laura Dern during The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards. He dated Laura from 1997 to 1999

His sixth wife is Men In Black actress Connie Angland, 60. They have been wed 10 years and have one child together; seen November 12

Of the vials of blood the pair wore on chains around their necks, the Fargo alum told The Hollywood Reporter in October 2014, 'It was a crazy time. I've never been fond of it.'

He continued: 'We were apart a lot because she's off making Tomb Raider and I'm making Monster's Ball.

'She thought it would be interesting and romantic if we took a little razor blade and sliced our fingers, smeared a little blood on these lockets and you wear it around your neck just like you wear your son or daughter's baby hair in one.

'From that, we were wearing quart jars of blood around our necks. And we were vampires and we lived in a dungeon.'

Angelina moved on with Brad Pitt, whom she met and fell in love with on the set of Mr. And Mrs. Smith in 2004.

They married 19 years later in August 2014 and The Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil star filed for divorce in September 2016.

Meanwhile, Billy Bob secretly tied the knot with Connie Angland in October 2014.

Thornton with his Landman co-stars Paulina Chavez, Michelle Randolph, Demi Moore, Ali Larter and Jacob Lofland

He has been promoting Landman.

Last week he attended the LA premiere with his wife.

Thornton looked effortlessly cool while rocking a chic all-black outfit and layered chain necklaces at the Landman event.

The Bad Santa star wore a fedora over a headscarf and slipped on a pair of Western boots.

Landman focuses on the huge oil boom in Texas and how some of the biggest moguls in the trade will go to any means necessary to maintain their vast wealth.

The series is co-created by the man behind the Yellowstone universe Taylor Sheridan, 53, and podcaster Christian Wallace.

Landman, like Yellowstone, is set in the present day and is inspired by the popular podcast Boomtown, which chronicled a 21st century oil boom in western Texas.

The series logline describes it as 'an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, its reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.'

Landman  which will premiere on Paramount+ on November 18  focuses on the huge oil boom in Texas and how some of the biggest moguls in the trade will go to any means necessary to maintain their vast wealth

Demi is set to play series regular Cami, whose husband Monty (Jon Hamm) is one of the most powerful oil men in Texas and a friend of Tommy Norris who is played by Billy Bob Thornton

Demi plays series regular Cami, whose husband Monty (Jon Hamm) is one of the most powerful oil men in Texas and a friend of Tommy Norris who is played by Billy Bob Thornton.

Season one of Landman premiered on Paramount+ on November 18.

The cast recently returned to the United States after promoting the west Texas drama in the United Kingdom last week.

The promo tour for Landman comes soon after the release of Demi's latest film project, The Substance, which also stars Margaret Qualley, 30.
A Bondi Rescue star has avoided a conviction for putting his hand on a woman's neck 'in a fit of alcoholic rage'.

Lifeguard Andrew 'Reidy' Reid, 45, faced Hornsby Local Court on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of common assault.

According to the NCA Newswire, Magistrate Daniel Reiss dismissed both counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

However, he was found guilty of pushing a woman's neck for up to five seconds in 'an aggressive act that amounted to common assault' without proceeding to a conviction.

It was also found that Mr Reid made a 'fairly clear admission of assault' during a counselling session and had recognised that he had acted inappropriately.

One assault charge related to an alleged incident in November 2022, while the other allegedly took place in January 2024, over a 15 minute period.

Bondi Rescue star Andrew 'Reidy' Reid (pictured) has avoided a conviction for putting his hand on a woman's neck 'in a fit of alcoholic rage'

Prosecutors alleged that Mr Reid had bit a woman's arm, put his hands on her throat and thrown a phone at her, causing a cut to her leg which needed surgical glue to heal.

The court was told Mr Reid and the woman - who's listed as a protected person under an apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) - had been 'wrestling' when he allegedly deliberately bit her upper arm.

However, Mr Reid claimed he bit her because she had elbowed his sternum and that her arm had entered his mouth when she fell on top of him - the latter of which the police prosecutor dismissed as 'physically impossible'.

In another alleged incident, the court heard that Mr Reid allegedly threw a phone at the woman, which struck her in the leg and left a 'nasty gash'.

The lifeguard claimed he had thrown the phone to the woman or on the ground near her, but the prosecutor noted he had given 'two very different' explanations.

Notes from Mr Reid's counsellor also revealed an additional confrontation during which he had 'flung his hands around [the woman's] neck in a 'fit of alcoholic rage'.

A visibly upset Mr Reid was said to have told the court 'that's not the kind of man I am' as he addressed the allegation.

The police prosecutor told the court that the notes equated to an 'admission to the offence of common assault' from Mr Reid.

Two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm were dismissed but Mr Reid was found guilty of pushing a woman's neck in 'an aggressive act that amounted to common assault' without proceeding to a conviction

However, Mr Reid's barrister Margaret Cunneen SC told the court the 'very fleeting' incident had occurred when the woman attempted to take back her phone, with Mr Reid 'guiding' her towards the bed with a hand on her neck before she fell over.

The court also heard an audio recording between Mr Reid at the woman after she entered his room late one night, in which he was heard saying: 'Get out until you f***ing apologise, seriously, I'll drag you out until you apologise,' in a raised voice.

Bondi Rescue star Quinn Darragh and former Home and Away star Ryan Clark both agreed that the audio did not change their opinion of Mr Reid.

Magistrate Mr Reiss concluded that Mr Reid was 'very angry' and had 'lost control' in the audio recording, deeming it 'appalling behaviour'.

He found the woman to be an 'honest' and 'forthright witness' but could not be satisfied that the allegations of biting or phone throwing were deliberate assaults.

Both counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm were dismissed, though Mr Reid was found to have made a 'fairly clear admission of assault' to his counsellor.

Mr Reid was handed a 12-month good behaviour bond after being found guilty of pushing the woman's neck for up to five seconds.

He will also remain subject to a two-year apprehended violence order taken out in the woman's name.

Mr Reid is best known for having been a star on Bondi Rescue since the popular series first aired in 2006. He's patrolled the iconic beach (pictured in 2020) for more than two decades

Mr Reid is best known for having been a star on Bondi Rescue since the popular series first aired in 2006.

He's patrolled the iconic beach for more than two decades.

Earlier this year, Mr Reid made headlines when he rushed to the aid of injured victims stabbed by Joel Cauchi in the Westfield Bondi Junction rampage that claimed six lives.

He had been shopping for a new bed in Myer when a frantic retail worker told him 'people are being stabbed' and 'the building is being evacuated'.

Mr Reid had been locked behind a safety door before he convinced a security guard to let him slip beneath the door to help a woman who was bleeding.

'There was a lady and there was just blood everywhere,' he told Nine News at the time.

'I realised I had to go and help because that's what we're trained to do as lifeguards.'

He and two other members of the public gave the woman first aid, along with police officers.

Earlier this year, Mr Reid made headlines when he rushed to the aid of injured victims stabbed by Joel Cauchi in the Westfield Bondi Junction rampage that claimed six lives. Pictured: Paramedics outside Westfield after the stabbing

'I have never seen so much blood... we were just looking for wounds, trying to stem the bleeding,' he added.

'As I looked up there were multiple victims about 50m apart. The lady next to us was in a really bad way - there were others working on her.'

Once Mr Reid had helped to stabilise the woman, he continued to move through the shopping centre to help others.

'I saw police needed help with the other lady so I started doing compressions on her. I don't think she made it,' he said.

'Then I went to help the next victim and saw an empty pram. I have three young kids and just though oh my God.'

While Mr Reid is no stranger to life and death situations, he admitted he had never before experienced anything so traumatic.

'I have seen some pretty gnarly stuff after working for 20 years on the beach, but nothing like this,' he added.
Fans are calling on Kim Kardashian to 'help' Luigi Mangione, who is suspected in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, following his arrest.

Thompson, 50, was fatally shot on Wednesday, December 4 in the middle of New York City in what police determined was a targeted attack on the healthcare boss.

A manhunt was launched and on Monday, Mangione  a 26-year-old Ivy League-educated 'anti-capitalist'  was apprehended at a McDonald's location in Pennsylvania after an employee recognized him and reported him to authorities.

As he remains jailed on murder charges, Mangione has garnered a passionate cult following online, with many praising him for 'sacrificing himself for society.'

And now fans of Kardashian  who has been studying to become a lawyer since 2018  are begging her to intervene and aid Mangione in his legal fight.

The reality TV star, 44, is heavily involved in criminal justice reform and has helped free over a dozen people from prison since 2019, as per CBS News.

Fans are calling on Kim Kardashian to 'help' Luigi Mangione, who is suspected in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , following his arrest; Kim seen in November

Mangione  a 26-year-old Ivy League-educated 'anti-capitalist'  was apprehended at a McDonald's location in Pennsylvania on Monday after an employee recognized him and reported him to authorities; seen on December 10 at Blair County Courthouse

Poking fun at one of Kardashian's most infamous quotes, one fan reposted Mangione's mugshot to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday with the caption: 'Get your a** up and work @kimkardashian'

'Somebody please contact kim kardashian and tell her to protect luigi mangione, he cannot go to jail,' another tweeted.

Many hoped Kardashian would 'represent' Mangione in court  despite her not being a licensed attorney  while others jokingly asked her to put the hunky suspect in the next campaign for her clothing brand, SKIMS.

One person on X wrote: '[Mangione is] lowkey the modern day prison bae kim kardashian is looking at ways to set him free as we speak!! the inevitable skims campaign will break the internet'

While many felt it was possible that Kardashian could step up to help Mangione, others felt that it was unlikely that a billionaire, like herself, would go against 'corrupt rich people.'

Kim has been working toward a law degree since 2018 in memory of her late dad Robert Kardashian - who was a high-profile attorney but died in 2003 at the age of 59.

The mother-of-four passed California's baby bar examination in 2021 after four attempts. She plans to take the California bar exam in 2025.

Despite not yet being a lawyer, Kim already has some incredible legal success under her belt.

As he waits extradition to NYC, Mangione has garnered a passionate cult following online, with many praising him for 'sacrificing himself for society'; seen on December 9

And now fans of Kardashian  who has been studying to become a lawyer since 2018  are begging her to intervene and aid Mangione in his legal fight; Kardashian seen at the White House in April 2024

The Hulu star helped to successfully campaign for the clemency of Alice Marie Johnson, who was sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent offense.

She's also been consistently advocating for inmates, including Erik and Lyle Menendez, who will soon face resentencing after spending nearly 30 years in prison for the killing their parents in 1989.

Most recently, Kim visited VP Kamala Harris at the White House in April to champion criminal justice reform.

Kardashian has not made any comments regarding Mangione's recent arrest or calls for her to 'help' him.

The 26-year-old was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday after a McDonald's customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. Police in Altoona, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, were soon summoned.

They arrived to find Mangione sitting at a table in the back of the restaurant, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint.

He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he'd been to New York recently, he 'became quiet and started to shake,' the complaint says.

When he pulled his mask down at officers' request, 'we knew that was our guy,' rookie Officer Tyler Frye said at a news conference in Hollidaysburg.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Manhattan news conference that Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs.

From surveillance video, New York investigators gathered that the shooter fled by bike into Central Park, emerged, then took a taxi to a northern Manhattan bus terminal.

Once in Pennsylvania, he went from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, 'trying to stay low-profile' by avoiding cameras, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said.

NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows 'ill will toward corporate America.'

A law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone.

'To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone,' the document said, according to the official.

It also had a line that said, 'I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.'

At the scene of the killing, cops found bullets and bullet casings with the words 'delay', 'deny' and 'depose' scrawled on them. The words mimic a phrase used to criticize the insurance industry.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot on Wednesday, December 4 in the middle of New York City in what police determined was a targeted attack on the healthcare boss.

The reality TV star, 44, is heavily involved in criminal justice reform and has helped free over a dozen people from prison since 2019

A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. Mangione was valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, where his 2016 graduation speech lauded his classmates' 'incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.'

Mangione graduated top of his class from the elite Gilman School in Baltimore, and even delivered the commencement speech at his 2016 graduation, according to video of the ceremony.

'He seemed like a smart kid, he was always doing the right thing, it seemed like,' a former classmate, who was shocked by the arrest, told Fox News Digital, adding: '[He] wasn't crazy.'

He went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said.

'Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest,' Mangione's family said in a statement posted on social media late on Monday by his cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione.

'We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.'
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard credits her boyfriend Ken Urker for naming their unborn daughter.

During the Munchausen by proxy victim's baby shower last month, the parents-to-be revealed that they would be calling their first child, Aurora Raina.

And on Tuesday, 33-year-old Gypsy-Rose  who served eight years in prison after being convicted of the second-degree murder of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard  opened up to People about the 'backstory' on her future baby's name.

'Ken came up with that. There's a whole backstory to it,' she said. 'Some people think that it's because of the Disney Princess.

'Some people think that it's because Kristy's dog is named Aurora Grace,' she said of her step-mother, adding: 'It's not because of that.'

Instead, Aurora was selected because of the couple's shared love of the Northern Lights.

Gypsy-Rose Blanchard credits her boyfriend Ken Urker for naming their unborn daughter, Aurora Raina

'Back whenever Ken and I were together seven years ago, both of us have a fascination with the Northern Lights, and the proper term is the Aurora Borealis,' she said recalling her time dating Urker while imprisoned.

'I think it was maybe in 2018, we wrote each other's future kid's name on pieces of paper and Aurora is what we both picked without even knowing each other was picking it.'

Blanchard explained that she reminisced over the name when she split from Urker and married her now ex-husband Ryan Anderson.

'When we had broken up [it was like] "Oh, Aurora is never going to be born." A lot of people think the origin is one thing, but they don't know that little story,' she said.

And now that she and Uker are weeks away from welcoming their baby girl, the couple are planning their future together.

Gypsy-Rose said that once she's off parole next year, she and her family plan to see the Northern Lights for themselves at some point.

The term parole is when a prisoner is released early to serve the remainder of their sentence in their own community with set regulations.

Gypsy-Rose previously revealed that she'll be off parole by June 2025, thus completing her 10-year sentence for second degree murder.

'Some day we're going to see it. After I'm off parole we're going to go. We're going to go to Sweden,' she explained.

'For this upcoming year, I'm really excited just to kind of obviously bring [my daughter] into the world and have a lot of family time together.

'Obviously, I'll be celebrating being off of parole, so Kristy and dad are going to be the babysitter while Ken and I go to a nice vacation somewhere.'

Gypsy-Rose shocked fans when she announced in July that she was expecting a child with her boyfriend via her YouTube channel.

Baby Aurora Raina is expected to be born sometime in January 2025.

'Ken came up with that. There's a whole backstory to it,' she gushed; seen in November

Instead, Aurora was selected because of her and Urker's shared love of the Northern Lights; seen in August

In September, the Louisiana native took to her Instagram page to share a 20-week ultrasound scan showing off her baby girl

'Back whenever Ken and I were together seven years ago, both of us have a fascination with the Northern Lights, and the proper term is the Aurora Borealis,' she said; seen in November

Urker recently took to Instagram to share a sweet photo of he and Blanchard celebrating their baby shower.

'Celebrating love and our little miracle on the way [heart-emoji] A huge thank you to everyone who made our baby shower so incredible,' he penned in the caption.

In September, the Louisiana native took to her Instagram page to share a 20-week ultrasound scan showing off her baby girl.

'Our sweet baby girl, for our 20 week ultrasound,' she wrote above the snap.
It has, in its time, been able to call upon the expertise of such disparate figures as Steel Magnolia divorce lawyer Baroness (Fiona) Shackleton and former SAS officer-turned-courtier Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.

But the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales must now learn to live without the high-octane talents of Demetra Pinsent, wife of legendary rower Sir Matthew Pinsent, gold medallist at four successive Olympic games.

I can disclose that she has just stood down after eight years as one of the foundations trustees.

But theres no chance of Demetra, 50, resting on her laurels.

A cerebral as well as glamorous figure  she was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford where she met Pinsent.

Demetra married Matthew in 2002 and together they have three children.

Beauty executive Demetra Pinsent (pictured at the King's Trust 2024 Global Gala) has quit as director of Prince William and Kate's Royal Foundation after eight years

Canada-born Demetra, whose ancestry is Greek, met Pinsent at Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar, following in the footsteps of former U.S. President Bill Clinton

The Princess of Wales and Prince William (pictured on December 3 during the state visit of the Emir of Qatar)

She remains chief executive of Charlotte Tilburys beauty empire, four years after Spanish firm Puig acquired a majority stake in a deal which valued the British company at 1.3billion.

'I knew I had met my perfect match in Charlotte, Demetra previously said.

She is as ambitious, determined and opinionated as I am, yet complementary to me in the way she thinks about opportunities.
It's the Australian animated children's series that has taken the world by storm.

And with the fan frenzy around ABC's hit Bluey, the national broadcaster has now unveiled a new surprising format for the popular show.

If you or your little ones can't get enough of Bluey's lovable antics, you can now listen in whenever the mood strikes.

Bluey Listen Along is a new audio collection featuring some of the series' 'greatest hits' and will be available from Friday 13 December.

The bumper audio collection features 20 fan-favourite episodes from the show's three seasons.

Some of Bluey's most memorable moments, including Fairytale, Duck Cake, Bin Night, Grannies, and Early Baby are featured in the anticipated collection.

With the fan frenzy around the ABC's hit Bluey, the national broadcaster has unveiled a new surprising format for the popular show

The collection is a joint presentation between the ABC, Ludo studio and BBC Kids & Family.

It will also be distributed internationally by BBC Studios.

Dan Brumm, the younger brother of series creator Joe Brumm and Bluey sound designer, has been brought in to mix the collection.

Dan also voices Bluey's uncle Stripe while their mother Christine voices Bluey's grandmother Chris.

'Designed to relax, engage and ignite the imaginations of children, is the perfect soundtrack to car trips and the ultimate companion for bedtime,' a statement about the audio series read.

Bluey Listen Along will be available to download on ABC Kids listen and ABC listen apps from Friday.

It's certainly been a red-letter year for the ABC series, which first hit Australian screens in 2018.

The beloved children's show literally came to life in November when the theme park Bluey's World opened in Brisbane.

Bluey Listen Along is a new audio collection of some of the series' 'greatest hits' and will be available from Friday 13 December

The bumper audio collection features 20 fan-favourite episodes from the popular show's three series

The series also celebrated a major global milestone in September, becoming the most streamed TV series across America in 2024.

The world famous ABC Kids series had been watched among US viewers for 35billion minutes this year, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Executive producer Daley Pearson took to social media in September to celebrate the global success of his TV series.

'Bluey's now the number one most watched show (of all) in America for 2024. How incredible. With 35 billion minutes watched this year,' Daley wrote.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Australia commented on Pearson's post to congratulate his team on their success: '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.

The Aussie cartoon was also the second most streamed show in America in 2023, coming just behind the legal drama Suits.

Some of Bluey's most memorable moments including Fairytale, Duck Cake, Bin Night, Grannies and Early Baby are featured in the anticipated collection

It follows reports that kids in the United States are beginning to speak with an unmistakable Australian twang after tuning in to Bluey, a series that follows a lovable 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!'
Christina Milian has come to the defense of Beyonce's daughter Blue Ivy, following the young star's red carpet appearance at the Mufasa: Lion King premiere.

Milian, 43, was a guest on Sherri Shepherd's show, Sherri, on Tuesday, where she was asked about her thoughts on Blue Ivy's outfit at last night's event, after some called the 12-year-old's gown 'inappropriate.'

Blue Ivy wore a strapless gold dress with a long train for the premiere. While on the red carpet she was joined by her superstar mom, 43, and her father Jay-Z, 55, just a day after he was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in a shock civil lawsuit.

'First of all, she looks gorgeous. I think the fact that anybody has anything to say about someone else's daughter, any minor, I think just mind your business,' Milian said of Blue Ivy's look.

'She's talented, she toured the world with her mom, like there's nothing you can say. You can't dim that shine,' the Disney star went on.

Sherri then said that Blue acted 'so poised' with Milian agreeing. 'Let that baby glow!' she added.

Christina Milian has come to the defense of Beyonce's daughter Blue Ivy, 12, following the young star's red carpet appearance at the Mufasa: Lion King premiere (pictured)

Blue Ivy wore a strapless gold gown with a long train for her appearance. She was joined by Beyonce, 43, and dad Jay-Z, 55, just a day after he was accused of rape in a shock civil lawsuit

Milian  who was once a host of the Disney Channel series Movie Surfers and also performed the theme song Call Me, Beep Me!, for the Disney Channel animated series Kim Possible in 2002  and Shepherd both agreed that Blue Ivy was not doing 'too much' and was not 'being extra.'

The pop star's eldest child wore a metallic Christian Siriano ballgown as she posed with her parents on the red carpet.

The dress featured a sweetheart neckline and a draped bodice. Her brunette tresses were styled in braids with loose curls.

For her glamorous look, Blue Ivy chose gold eyeshadow, rosy blush, and a glossy red lip.

The talented youngster is set to make her feature film debut in Mufasa: The Lion King and joined her parents and grandmother Tina Knowles to promote the film at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Beyonce matched her daughter, wearing a strapless black Balmain gown studded with metallic gold discs.

Following the appearance, a number of critics expressed disapproval of Blue Ivy's 'inappropriate' outfit.

'Lots of chatter online that Blue Ivys dress is inappropriatewhich I didnt get until I read that she is TWELVE YEARS OLD! How about we dont put a 12 year old in a push up bra,' one wrote.

'Blue Ivy looks beautiful but honestly I thought "wow she's like 16 already?" No, turns out she's 12. Let a girl dress like she's 12 please.'

Milian, 43, was a guest on Sherri Shepherd's show, Sherri, on Tuesday, where she was asked about her thoughts on the outfit, after some called the gown 'inappropriate'

'First of all, she looks gorgeous. I think the fact that anybody has anything to say about someone else's daughter, any minor, I think just mind your business,' the Disney star said

'She's talented, she toured the world with her mom, like there's nothing you can say. You can't dim that shine,' she added

The pop star's eldest child wore a metallic Christian Siriano ballgown. Beyonce matched her daughter, wearing a strapless black Balmain gown studded with metallic gold discs

'Blue Ivy is 12. This dress and makeup at 12 ??' another questioned.

'Blue ivy looks very pretty but she is 12, totally inappropriate dress.'

'Blue Ivy is a beautiful little girl- but SHES A LITTLE GIRL made to look much older than any 12 years old. Its just far too mature of a dress. The fact that she has her cleavage on display is disturbing. When you realize that this young girl is only 12 it just makes it worse.'

Another comment read: 'Blue ivy wearing that dress and makeup at age 12 .. shes literally 12 not 18 !!!! Do her stylist or her moms stylist know this ?'

However others disagreed, calling the dress 'beautiful.'

'Y'all need to leave Blue Ivy alone. She's 12. Her dress is beautiful. Worry about the kids being displayed on beauty pageant stages... Like, be so for real.'

'Please STOP projecting weirdness on to children. It was Blue Ivys movie premiere night. She was with her family and bodyguards. She wore a beautiful dress that looked like a modern day princess. She color coordinated with her Mom! At age 12 other teens received praise.'

Gushing over her daughter's achievements, Beyonce wrote on Instagram: 'My gorgeous baby girl. This is your night. You worked hard and you did such a beautiful job as the voice of Kiara. Your family could not be prouder. Keep shining.'

Blue Ivy provides the voice for the Kiara character in the Disney film, which arrives in theaters December 20.

For her glamorous look, Blue Ivy chose gold eyeshadow, rosy blush, and a glossy red lip. Following the appearance, some critics expressed disapproval of the 'inappropriate' outfit

'Lots of chatter online that Blue Ivys dress is inappropriatewhich I didnt get until I read that she is TWELVE YEARS OLD! How about we dont put a 12 year old in a push up bra,' one wrote

'Blue Ivy looks beautiful but honestly I thought "wow she's like 16 already?" No, turns out she's 12. Let a girl dress like she's 12 please'

'Blue Ivy is 12. This dress and makeup at 12 ??' another questioned

'Blue Ivy is a beautiful little girl- but SHES A LITTLE GIRL made to look much older than any 12 years old. Its just far too mature of a dress'

'Blue ivy looks very pretty but she is 12, totally inappropriate dress'

Another comment read: 'Blue ivy wearing that dress and makeup at age 12 .. shes literally 12 not 18 !!!! Do her stylist or her moms stylist know this?'

However others disagreed, calling the dress 'beautiful'

'She was with her family and bodyguards. She wore a beautiful dress that looked like a modern day princess. She color coordinated with her Mom! At age 12 other teens received praise'

In recent years, Blue has gravitated toward the spotlight commanded by her famous parents, joining her mother onstage during her tour last year.

In a GQ interview published this past September, Beyonce said that her daughter worked hard to prove to her she deserved a spot on the stage during the tour.

'She's a natural, but I did not want Blue onstage,' the singer said. 'Blue wanted it for herself. She took it seriously and she earned it.'

'And most importantly, she had fun! We all watched her grow more and more every night before our eyes.'

Beyonce said that accommodations had to be made with Blue Ivy's school to streamline her academic schedule to the five-month, 56-show trek, noting that her eldest child has demonstrated talent in multiple areas.

'Blue is an artist,' she added. 'She has great taste in music and fashion. She is a fantastic editor, painter, and actress. She has been creating characters since she was three.'

In the GQ interview, Beyonce specifically mentioned that she wanted to keep her children's upbringings as normal as possible amid the family's rare level of fame and wealth.

'One thing Ive worked extremely hard on is making sure my kids can have as much normalcy and privacy as possible, ensuring my personal life isnt turned into a brand,' she said. 'Its very easy for celebrities to turn our lives into performance art.

'I have made an extreme effort to stay true to my boundaries and protect myself and my family. No amount of money is worth my peace.'

The trio looked happy on the red carpet after the 99 Problems rapper issued a denial to the claims that he raped a 13-year-old girl along with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, back in 2000

The family's appearance came as a surprise amid allegations against Jay-Z, as The Hollywood Reporter noted that Beyonce, the hip hop star, and Blue Ivy had not been 'previously announced to press as attending the event, despite their involvement'

The family's appearance came as a surprise amid allegations against Jay-Z, as The Hollywood Reporter noted that Beyonce, the hip hop star, and Blue Ivy had not been 'previously announced to press as attending the event, despite their involvement.'

Yet the trio looked happy and smiled on the red carpet after the 99 Problems rapper issued a denial to the claims that he raped a 13-year-old girl along with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, back in 2000.

Jay-Z said in a response issued to Dailymail.com Sunday that he is the victim of a 'blackmail attempt' and fears his three children with Beyonce will have to 'endure' harassment in the wake of the shocking allegations.

The rapper added that is especially worried about Blue Ivy. He is afraid she will face questions from her friends about the lawsuit. He and Beyonce also share twins Rumi and Sir, seven.

'My only heartbreak is for my family,' Jay-Z said. 'My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.'

Jay-Z's accuser, who identifies herself as Jane Doe in the legal documents reviewed by Dailymail.com, says she was assaulted at a party after the award show, which took place September 7, 2000 at New York City's Radio City Music Hall.

The lawsuit had initially been filed in New York's Southern District this past October against Combs, with a refiling on Sunday that identified the rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter.

In his statement denying the claims, Jay-Z said: 'My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a lawyer named Tony Buzbee.'

'What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!' the statement read.

Blue Ivy provides the voice for the Kiara character, Simba and Nala's daughter, in the Disney film while her mother voices Nala, Simba's mate

'These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?'

'These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case. This lawyer, who I have done a bit of research on, seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics!'

Jay-Z wrapped up his statement in saying, 'Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable. I look forward to showing you just how different I am.'

The statement was initially sent to Dailymail.com then published on the Instagram account for Jay-Z's Roc Nation label.
Jay-Z, who is accused of raping a woman with Sean 'Diddy' Combs 24 years ago in a new lawsuit, took 'procedurally improper' legal steps in trying to publicly identify the woman, her lawyer said Tuesday.

Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing the woman who says Jay-Z and Diddy sexually assaulted her after the MTV Video Music Awards in September of 2000, made the complaints about the rapper, 55, in a letter to the Southern District of New York.

Buzbee said he was speaking on behalf of his client Jane Doe, himself and his law firm 'in response to several recent improper communications directed to the' court by Jay-Z's legal team.

After his client named Jay-Z in her lawsuit Sunday, Buzbee said, his 'firm filed a renewed motion for the plaintiff to proceed anonymously.'

Buzbee said that Jay-Z breached professional protocols 'rather than merely oppose that motion,' as on Monday, he filed 'his own "motion" to deny anonymity' to his accuser 'and/or to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1).'

Jay-Z's filing was 'procedurally improper and substantively deficient,' Buzbee said, adding he felt it was structured as a 'pretext' for his legal team to submit two 'letter briefs' to the court.

Jay-Z, 55, who is accused of raping a woman in 2000 in a new lawsuit, took 'procedurally improper' legal steps in trying to publicly identify the woman, her lawyer said Tuesday. The rapper was pictured Monday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California

Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee said he was speaking on behalf of his client Jane Doe, himself and his law firm 'in response to several recent improper communications directed to the' court by Jay-Z's legal team. Pictured in Van Nuys, California earlier this year

Buzbee described the 'letter briefs' as 'nothing short of defamation hiding behind the thinnest veneer of litigation privilege.'

Buzbee said the 'letter briefs' have no substance as to whether or not his client should be publicly identified, aside from 'one sentence requesting an expedited hearing.'

Buzbee said that the letter from Jay-Z's legal team presented 'otherwise irrelevant contentions' that he described as 'press releases dressed as legal filings' amid the high-profile legal battle.

Buzbee said that a letter submit by Jay-Z's attorneys went 'entirely too far' in accusing him and his associates 'of outright unethical behavior that never happened;' and will be responded to via legal channels moving forward.

Buzbee said he has 'actual evidence' Jay-Z's legal team has engaged in 'outright illegal conduct,' and was flagging the issues to the court in Tuesday's letter.

Buzbee's lawsuit against Jay-Z is part of a series of civil cases he has filed against Combs, 55, who remains jailed in New York as he awaits trial on federal charges that he coerced and abused women for years.

Jay-Z said the lawsuit against him is part of an extortion attempt; on Sunday, he issued a statement in which he accused Buzbee of trying to blackmail him by getting him to agree to a legal settlement over allegations he and Combs raped a woman when she was 13 years old.

'I have no idea how you have come to be such a deplorable human Mr. Buzbee, but I promise you I have seen your kind many times over,' Jay-Z said in his statement. 'You claim to be a marine? Marines are known for their valor, you have neither honor nor dignity.'

Jay-Z was supported by mother-in-law Tina Knowles, 70, wife Beyonce, 43, and daughter Blue Ivy, 12, at the Mufasa: The Lion King premiere, a day after the suit was filed

Buzbee pictured with fellow lawyer Mitch Little (R) as votes were read in the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at the Texas Capitol September 16, 2023.

Buzbee said in a Sunday Facebook post he 'won't be bullied or intimidated,' adding, 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant and I am quite certain the sun is coming.'

Buzbee, a well-known name in Texas courtrooms who has won billions of dollars in settlements for his clients, has said his firm is representing more than 150 people, both men and women, who allege sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of Combs.

Buzbee's firm, which has set up a 1-800 number for accusers, has filed a wave of suits against the hip-hop mogul.

Buzbee's lawsuits allege that many of the people he represents were abused at parties in New York, California and Florida where individuals were given drinks that were laced with drugs.

Combs' lawyers have dismissed Buzbee's lawsuits as 'shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs.'

Buzbee's law firm has said hes worked to amplify the voices of the marginalized and to 'pursue justice against powerful figures.'
Love Island Australia star Anna McEvoy has revealed the details of a shock health scare that sent her husband Michael Staples to the emergency.

Taking to her Instagram story on Wednesday, the reality star-turned-podcaster, 32, shared a photo of Michael sitting in a hospital bed.

Despite being surrounded by a raft of medical equipment, Michael put on a brave face, smiling for the camera and offering a hearty thumbs up.

Captioning the image, Anna revealed that the pair were forced to head to hospital after Michael started experiencing chest pains.

'This guy gave us a scare yesterday,' Anna began.

'He was getting chest pain last night and turns out he has pericarditis.'

Love Island star Anna McEvoy has revealed the details of a shock health scare that sent her husband Michael Staples to the hospital

Taking to her Instagram story on Wednesday, the reality star-turned-podcaster, 32, shared a photo of Michael sitting in a hospital bed

Anna finished the post by praising her husband's bravery in the face of the medical emergency.

'Still smiled the whole way through @michaelstaples time for some r & r,' Anna wrote.

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium - the thin double-layered membrane around the heart.

The condition often causes sharp, stabbing chest pains as well as heart palpitations, weakness and shortness of breath.

It can be caused by a viral infection of the heart, a heart or chest injury, kidney failure, some types of cancer, and some autoimmune diseases, while often the causes are unknown.

Anna and Michael's shock medical emergency comes after the couple announced they're expecting their first child together.

She shared the exciting news to her Instagram in November alongside a very sweet video montage.

The footage began with what appeared to be throwback footage of Anna and Michael as children, before it cut to Anna and Michael sitting in their car.

'This guy gave us a scare yesterday,' Anna captioned the post. 'He was getting chest pain last night & turns out he has pericarditis'

'The baby is ten weeks old and 3cms tall,' the podcast host said with a bright smile.

Anna and her beau could then be seen taking a romantic stroll down the beach, hand-in-hand, as the mum-to-be wore a white crop top which showed off her bump.

Anna and Michael got married at a glamorous ceremony at Corfu in Greece earlier this year.

The couple opted to hold their ceremony in May at the upmarket Courti Estate, described as a 'Luxury Corfu Villa' with nine bedrooms for guests.

Anna looked gorgeous in a Alin Le' Kal wedding dress from the Melbourne couture designer.

The couple were pelted with petals after they said 'I do' as the bride carried a white rose bouquet.

'Our wedding day at The Courti Estate was magical,' Anna told the Herald Sun at the time.

'It was the idyllic European wedding of our dreams, that turned out even better than we could have imagined. Michael and I couldn't be happier.'

Anna and Michael, who tied the knot earlier this year, announced in November that they are expecting their first child together

'So overwhelmed with love from our amazing family and friends, who travelled all the way to Greece to support us.'

Earlier this year, Anna revealed on her podcast Where's Your Head At? that her Greek wedding is in fact not legally binding.

'I have a little secret. I have only decided this morning that I'm sharing this secret. Obviously we're getting married in Greece, as you know,' she began.

She then went on to say that because the celebrant she chose for the wedding in Greece is not officially recognised, she decided to actually marry Michael back home in Australia before they left.
Australian fans have shared their heartfelt tributes after Mod Squad star Michael Cole died at the age of 84.

The American actor, who was notably the last surviving star of the 1960s police drama, passed away on Tuesday morning.

Following the sad news, his fans were quick to take to social media to share kind words about the star and reflect fondly of his years starring on Mod Squad.

But many Australians also remembered him for an entirely other reason, arguing he was better known Down Under for providing one of the 'best ever' Logies moments.

Michael famously made history in 1973 after becoming the first person to say 's**t' during the live telecast in a car crash moment.

Sticking in people's minds, more than 2,000 Aussies then complained when his speech was edited out of the replay in another broadcast later that same week.

Australian fans have shared their heartfelt tributes after Mod Squad star Michael Cole (pictured in 2005) died at the age of 84

Recalling the now-infamous moment after his passing, one fan fondly wrote: 'RIP Michael Cole. Provided one of the best-ever Logies moments.'

While another Aussie said: 'RIP Michael Cole. Remembered by many Australians for uttering the s-word at the Logies.'

Other fans more generally looked back on his years starring in Mod Squad as they shared tributes to X - formerly known as Twitter.

'Man, I watched Mod Squad as a kid. I thought they all were so cool. RIP Michael Cole,' one tweeted.

Another penned: 'Rest In Peace Michael Cole the cool hip star of the hit TV series The Mod Squad!'

A third commented: 'He was my favourite.....and I watched it every week.... R.I.P Michael Cole....'

While another added: 'The 3 coolest cops ever...Pete, Julie and Linc together again. RIP Michael Cole.'

Michael's representatives confirmed his death in a statement on Tuesday, writing that he passed away peacefully while 'surrounded by his loved ones'.

The American actor was notably the last surviving star of the 1960s police drama but is also remembered by Aussies for making history by saying 's**t' on the Logies live telecast in 1973

Michael's representatives confirmed his death in a statement on Tuesday, writing that he passed away peacefully while 'surrounded by his loved ones' (he is pictured in 2005)

They praised the star, who played Pete Cochran in hit crime drama The Mod Squad, for 'living a full and vibrant life'.

'Cole's talent, combined with his magnetic presence, made him a defining figure of the era,' a statement read.

'The Mod Squad not only made him a household name but also broke barriers by addressing themes of racial and social justice, with Coles performance helping to bring authenticity and heart to the series.

'Beyond his career, Michael Cole will be remembered for his warm and generous spirit.

'Known among friends and family for his wit, charm, and boundless compassion, he brought joy to every room he entered.

'A storyteller at heart, he had a way of making those around him feel special, often regaling them with anecdotes from his Hollywood days or sharing wisdom from his remarkable journey.

'While his loss is deeply felt, his contributions to the arts and his enduring kindness ensure his memory will live on.'

Michael is survived by his third wife, Shelley Funes, who he married in 1996 and his children from his first two marriages.

Michael (right) played Pete Cochran in hit crime drama The Mod Squad alongside Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III for five seasons from 1968 to 1973

A cause of death has not been given at this time.

Michael was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1940 and started out his acting career in the mid 1960s.

After securing roles in the likes of Gunsmoke, Chuka and The Bubble, his breakthrough role in Hollywood came with his role as Peter 'Pete' Cochran, an undercover officer on The Mod Squad.

The show aired for five seasons from 1968 to 1973.

He starred alongside Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III. Cole was the last living Mod Squad star as Peggy passed away in 2019 while Clarence died in 2021.

In 1990, he played the adult Henry Bowers in the mini series adaptation of Stephen King's It.

He also played Harlan Barrett in General Hospital and his last credit was in the 2008 made-for-TV movie Grave Misconduct.

In his 2009 memoir, titled I Played the White Guy, he offered a candid look back at his decades-long career in Hollywood.
Love Island Australia star Matt Zukowski has been slammed online for 'recreating' a romantic moment he had with a former lover with new wife Tammy Hembrow.

An eagle-eyed fan shared a clip to Reddit on Tuesday which compared an intimate moment Matt, 28, shared with a former lover in a spa and a similar one he had with Tammy, 30, on their recent honeymoon in Finland.

In both clips, Matt's partner have their arms wrapped around his neck, as he tenderly spins them around and gazes lovingly into their eyes.

The Reddit user captioned the clip with some snarky words.

'This is the woman Matt was sleeping with when dating Tammy. She also said he cheated on her numerous times.

'Matt also used her idea of collecting corks from champagne bottles, as that was what they did in their two year relationship.

'He also looks more intimate with her. He always said she was the love of his life, until he couldn't have her no more!'

Love Island Australia star Matt Zukowski has been slammed online for 'recreating' a romantic moment he had with a former lover with new wife Tammy Hembrow. Both pictured

Meanwhile, angry followers quickly took to the comment section to lash out at Matt over the shock footage.

'Guess Matt and Tammy are a good match since they love recreating what they did with their exes,' one person sniped.

'This whole relationship/wedding is either a sick joke or PR stunt,' a second user added.

'All so weird. I would punch my man if he tried to recreate anything he did with his ex,' a third person chipped in.

Last month, Tammy and Matt officially became husband and wife while surrounded by family and friends in Byron Bay.

The influencer looked stunning in a strapless ivory and blush pink gown that featured an elaborate tulle train and a corset bodice, highlighting her ample cleavage.

Tammy completed her look with a long ivory veil and her hair was styled with long hair extensions in a half ponytail with a middle part.

As the couple held hands, Tammy became emotional and broke down in tears while they exchanged vows and said: 'I do.'

An eagle-eyed fan shared a clip to Reddit on Tuesday which compared an intimate moment Matt, 28, shared with a former lover in a spa and a similar one he had with Tammy, 30, on their recent honeymoon in Finland. Pictured: Matt with an ex (top) and with Tammy (bottom)

She was supported by her bridesmaids: her sisters Amy, 34, and Emilee, 32, along with her half-sister Ava Olympia and Starlette Thynne.

The four siblings wore matching black strapless satin dresses while holding gorgeous white bouquets, and their hair was styled in neat buns.

The reality star appeared emotional as he read his vows to his new wife from a piece of paper, with Tammy watching intently as he delivered the romantic speech.

Tammy was seen repeatedly swatting away tears as he delivered the sweet vows.

Matt and Tammy recently enjoyed a loved-up honeymoon in snowy Finland

Matt rose to fame as an intruder on the Channel Nine dating series Love Island Australia in 2019.

He was paired with the stunning Vanessa Sierra, but things didn't work out between them.

Matt and Tammy recently enjoyed a loved-up honeymoon in snowy Finland.

They chronicled their trip to social media by sharing a variety of romantic photos to social media, which captured them having the time of their lives on the romantic getaway.
Olympia Valance is currently basking in the joys of being a new mother and on Wednesday she shared an adorable clip of her one-week-old son to social media.

The Aussie actress and model, 31, posted the precious footage to Instagram which captured her tenderly doting on the adorable bub she shares with husband Thomas Bellchambers.

The sweet footage captured Olympia being every inch the doting mother as she nursed and bonded with her baby boy throughout the night.

She captioned the clip with some hilarious words: '1:25am. Finally someone to hang out with me at night.'

Olympia also shared a photo of her AFL star husband, 35, lovingly cradling their baby and wrote alongside it: 'My boys'.

Earlier this month, Olympia took to Instagram to confirm she had welcomed a baby boy into the world.

Olympia Valance is currently basking in the joys of being a new mother and on Wednesday shared an adorable clip of her one-week-old son to social media. (Pictured with her husband Tom Bellchambers)

The sweet footage captured Olympia being every inch the doting mother as she nursed and bonded with her baby boy throughout the night

She shared an adorable black-and-white photograph of her newborn son and confirmed his sweet name as Billy Bellchambers.

Her celebrity friends and followers were quick to take to the comments section to share their congratulatory messages with the overjoyed new parents.

Radio host Lauren Phillips wrote: 'Perfect congratulations team xx.'

Olympia announced her joyous pregnancy news in an Instagram post in August while candidly opening up about her fertility struggles before her 'miracle baby' came along.

In photos shared to her social media account at the time, Thomas cradled Olympia's growing baby bump as she held a positive pregnancy test.

'I've been hiding away for the past 5 and a half months to make sure this wasn't all a dream,' she began in her caption.

'But you kept growing and growing and it's starting to look like our dreams have finally come true.'

She captioned the clip with some hilarious words: '1:25am. Finally someone to hang out with me at night'

'I've been as open and honest as I could about our struggles with infertility and I truly believed this day wasn't going to be possible for us.

'So when I saw this positive pregnancy test I have to admit, at the time, I wasn't jumping for joy.'

'I was full of fear because that's all I've known. But as the weeks kept going by it was hard to wipe the smile off our faces.'

She noted her excitement of starting a family while thanking their supporters who stood by them during their 'darkest days'.

'To the little one we never thought we'd meet, we can't wait to hold you in our arms. You were worth every tear, every setback, and every prayer,' she continued.

'To all the people who supported us through the darkest days, thank you. I know I wouldn't have made it to this point without the strength of my family and friends who managed to hold me up when I was falling apart.'

Olympia, who rose to fame when she joined Neighbours as Paige Smith in 2014, got engaged to Tom in October 2021.

The couple finally tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in June 2022 as the pair exchanged vows in front of 250 family and friends in Daylesford, Victoria.

The pair began dating in June 2019 after Olympia met him on the ultra-exclusive celebrity dating app, Raya.
Jack Whitehall and Roxy Horner have sparked speculation they are engaged after the model showed off a huge diamond ring at Winter Wonderland on Tuesday.

Roxy, 33, who has been in a relationship with the comedian, 36, since 2020, wore the tear shaped diamond which is set on a silver band on her engagement finger.

The couple put on a loved-up display as they arrived at the festive event in Hyde Park with their 15-month-old daughter Elsie.

All eyes were on Roxy's diamond sparkler as she snapped selfies with Jack and Elsie.

Jack and Roxy looked every inch the proud parents as they took their daughter on a merry-go-round and other fairground rides, before the comedian managed to win a cuddly toy on a game.

Roxy co-ordinated with her daughter in a cheetah print bomber jacket which she layered over a striped hoodie and light wash jeans with patchwork detailing.

Jack Whitehall and Roxy Horner have sparked speculation they are engaged after the model showed off a huge diamond ring at Winter Wonderland on Tuesday

Roxy, 33 wore the tear shaped diamond set on a silver band on her engagement finger

During the evening, Roxy took to Instagram to share some sweet snaps of Elsie on the way to Winter Wonderland on the tube.

Referencing their matching outfits, she wrote: 'Mini'.

MailOnline has contacted Roxy and Jack's representatives for comment.

Roxy welcomed Elsie at the iconic Lindo Wing, in which a host of royals have given birth, last year.

Jack admitted the experience was both 'utterly overwhelming' and 'joyous' in ways he 'couldn't have imagined'.

He wrote at the time: 'Well this just happened! Utterly overwhelming and joyous in ways I couldn't have even imagined.

'In awe of my partner @roxyhorner who has been amazing throughout this journey and is going to be the greatest mum ever. So excited to have started a family of my own.

'Having vowed I'd never be that guy I am now 100% going to be the parent that shows everyone endless pictures of their kid. I also wore skechers to hospital, I think I must accept I am a full blown dad now.

All eyes were on Roxy's diamond sparkler as she snapped selfies with Jack and Elsie

The model has been in a relationship with the comedian, 36, since 2020 and they welcomed Elsie in September last year

Jack and Roxy looked every inch the proud parents as they took their daughter on a merry-go-round

Jack was every inch the doting dad as he headed on another fairground ride with Elsie

Roxy took pictures of the special moment

'Name wise after this weekend I think 'rice, rice, baby' has a nice ring to it.'

The couple then revealed Elsie's name which means 'Pledged to God' in Hebrew.

Explaining their reasoning, a source told The Sun: 'Elsie is a gorgeous baby and Jack and Roxy have picked a gorgeous name to fit. Everyone is thrilled.'

It comes after Jack reportedly become one of the Britain's richest comedian behind Peter Kay, Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais.

The funnyman is said to have amassed a whopping 11.4M fortune, after raking in 2.3M.

According to The Sun, Jack's fortune is mostly thanks to his show's on Netflix, including Travels With My Father where he globe trots with grouchy dad Michael, as well as his own comedy special that debuted on the streaming service last year.

In filings the publication reports that the comedian's company Jackpot Productions grew its shareholders' fund to 11,420,635 from 9,585,293 over the last year, as well as having a whopping 4.4M in the bank.

Roxy welcomed Elsie at the iconic Lindo Wing, in which a host of royals have given birth, last year

During the evening, Roxy took to Instagram to share some sweet snaps of Elsie on the way to Winter Wonderland on the tube

Referencing their matching outfits, she wrote: 'Mini'

Jack sported a moustache and cut a casual figure in a green bomber jacket

The couple looked in the throes of love as they took selfies during the family outing

Jack tried his best to win a cuddly toy for their daughter

They looked like they were having a blast at the annual festive event

Jack helped Elsie get onto a reindeer for one fairground ride

The comedian proudly took photos after winning a soft toy for their daughter

Jack appeared to be having a blast as he sat on a pink digger with Elsie on one fairground ride

It comes after Jack reportedly become one of the Britain's richest comedian behind Peter Kay, Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais

Roxy and her mini-me daughter headed round the merry-go-round, while Jack watched and took photos

A source said: 'There is no stopping Jack. Even becoming a dad hasn't slowed down his earnings  and the commissions keep coming'.

'He remains hugely likeable, and crucially his comedy appeals to advertisers as it's safe and clean.

'Leaning on the relationship he has with his grouchy dad Michael and fun-loving mum Hilary has helped take him from laddy topics to more relatable topics, too. It's hard to see a time when Jack won't be popular.'
Susanna Reid looked appropriately glamorous on Tuesday as she celebrated her 54th birthday in style at the Good Morning Britain studios.

The presenter looked incredible in a stylish red metallic dress with a plunging neckline and short ruffled sleeves.

The Good Morning Britain host beamed as she shared a snap of herself holding up personalised gold letter balloons on her Instagram grid.

Susanna also gave fans a glimpse of the stunning birthday cake she was gifted by her colleagues.

The large cake featured a fruit border decorated with the words 'Happy Birthday Susanna' in the centre.

Susanna captioned the stunning snaps with: 'THIS IS 54! Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes (love heart emoji) Especially Mark @markyjanes & Brett who decorated my dressing room this morning so that 4.30am felt more sparkly.'

Susanna Reid, 54, cut a glamorous figure in a red metallic dress on Tuesday as she rang in her 54th birthday in style at the Good Morning Britain studios

The Good Morning Britain host also gave fans a glimpse of the stunning birthday cake she was gifted by her colleagues

Friends and family then flocked to the comment section to wish the star a happy birthday.

Kate Garraway said: 'Happy birthday (birthday cake emoji' before adding in another comment saying: 'Looking fabulous at any age!'

Charlotte Hawkins commented: 'Happy Birthday to you!!!' while Denise Van Outen added: 'Happy birthday.'

During last year's celebrations, Susanna left fans in shock when they learned her real age after posting a selfie with mum Sue.

The presenter took to Instagram to share a sweet snap with her mother Sue as they spent the day together on her birthday.

The striking mother-daughter duo went makeup-free for the snap, showing off their natural beauty as they beamed down the lens.

Fans rushed to the comments gushing: 'Happy Birthday you ageless wonder'; 'Happy birthday Susanna and I hope you had a great day and you don't look a day over 20 xxx';

'You look fabulous at 53 Susanna! Hope youve had a lovely day :) x'; 'You're 53??? You look 33!! Happy Birthday!'; 'Happy birthday. You are looking amazing at 53!: 'Happiest of Birthdays Susanna, hope you've had a great day, still don't believe you're 53 though xx'

Friends and family then flocked to the comment section to wish the star a happy birthday

During last year's celebrations, Susanna left fans in shock when they learned her real age after posting a selfie with mum Sue (pictured)

It comes before Susanna's co-host Ed Balls, 57, momentarily stepped back from his presenting duties for the second time on Good Morning Britain earlier this month to avoid interviewing his wife Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Susanna conducted the chat solo as she spoke to the politician, who was in Berkshire, via a Zoom link.

The awkward moment came after ITV conceded that he would not be allowed to interrogate his spouse again following an outcry in August.

Former Labour Cabinet minister Ed stayed silent while his fellow presenter quizzed his wife about everything from migration numbers to whether the public can trust politicians.

As the show returned after an ad break, the camera was zoomed in only on Susanna, with Ed having seemingly left the studio temporarily.

Susanna quipped: 'The Prime Minister is due to announce today that every neighbourhood will have a named and contactable police officer as part of the Prime Minister's mission to tackle crime.'

'So, we're joined by the Home Secretary who's in charge of our police - Yvette Cooper.'

The entire interview was conducted with Ed out of the camera shot and unable to ask any questions himself.

Susanna's co-host Ed Balls, 57, momentarily stepped back from his presenting duties to avoid interviewing his wife, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
GK Barry was joined by girlfriend Ella Rutherford as she arrived at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday after a three week star in Australia for the latest series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The TikTok influencer, 25, looked relaxed in a black crop top and loose fitting joggers while walking the arrivals hall after collecting her luggage.

Accompanying GK after travelling to eastern Australia for a post-show reunion, footballer Ella - a striker with Ipswich Town women's team - trailed two paces behind with the influencer's case.

First out of the jungle camp after eliminations began little more than a week ago, Jane Moore was also among first to arrive back in the United Kingdom after a mammoth 23-hour flight from Brisbane.

The Loose Women panellist, 62, wore an oversized cardigan over a white shirt and flared jeans as she juggled with her cases.

GK, who enjoyed a boozy wrap party with her campmates on Monday, finished in fifth place and was evicted on day 20 of the competition, while McFly's Danny Jones went on to win the ITV show.

GK Barry was joined by girlfriend Ella Rutherford as she arrived at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday after a three week star in Australia for the latest series of I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

GK (left) and Jane Moore (right) were the first campmates to arrive in London following a mammoth 23-hour flight from Brisbane

In a social media video shared as they prepared to leave Australia on Tuesday, Ella was seen trying to kiss GK, who asked: 'How excited are you to be going home?'

Ella responded: 'Yeah,' as the pair burst into laughter.

Their departure came hours after GK shared her 'jungle essentials' which include a 'wine, fake tan and Canesten'.

The influencer took to her Instagram following her stint on the hit ITV show, spilling the beans on the must-haves she brought with her Down Under.

She shared a look at her open luggage showing the essential items.

The essentials also included a pair of Crocs slippers, a book called 'Why Mom Stopped Stripping', fake lashes, Digestive dark chocolate biscuits, a deodorant, a rescue remedy spray and a silky sleep mask.

She captioned: 'POV: Grace packed her suitcase with her Jungle Essentials. Wine to handle those Jungle nights, fake tan for the glow, and the Canesten well that's self explanatory x.'

Fans were left in stitches and flooded the comment section below the post, praising her for not forgetting the 'rescue remedy' spray.

Accompanying GK after travelling to eastern Australia for a post-show reunion, footballer Ella - a striker with Ipswich Town women's team - trailed two paces behind with the influencer's case

The pair were seen making their way across Heathrow Terminal 2 shortly after landing

First out of the jungle camp after eliminations began little more than a week ago, Jane was also among first to arrive back in the United Kingdom

During her time in the jungle, GK revealed the incredibly expensive purchase she made after achieving overnight fame following her social media success.

The star soared to fame during the first COVID-19 lockdown when she started making TikToks about her daily life while studying film at Nottingham Trent University.

A successful podcast and guest stints on Loose Women have followed, and she's also kept fans on their toes while documenting her love life.

Chatting with her pal Reverend Richard Coles she confessed she impulsively bought a Porsche after thinking: 'I could buy a Porsche and it would not be an issue.'

Richard asked the star: 'So Grace did you go from working in Costa to all of a sudden being able to buy a house?'

GK appeared to be in high spirits as she greeted fans at Heathrow on Wednesday morning

In a social media video shared as they prepared to leave Australia on Tuesday, Ella was seen trying to kiss GK

As she replied: 'Yeah,' he continued: 'So you didn't go from poor, poor, poor, a little less poor, a bit more money, you went from poor to rich?'

Grace then explained: 'Yeah, pretty quick. And I remember being like, 'I'm making enough money to buy a new car now'.

'I remember a Porsche drove past me as I had that thought and I remember thinking, 'I could buy a Porsche and it would not be an issue.'

'I went to the centre, I was looking at an old one that was cheaper, but the one that I wanted was next to it and it was so nice.

'I rang my accountant and I was like, 'Can I do it?' And he was like, 'Yeah', so I bought it. I picked it up two days later.'

Ella hung back as GK enjoyed her moment with fans following their arrival at Terminal 2
Sophie Morgan broke down when an airline lost an essential part of her wheelchair on stressful flight on Tuesday in fourth incident of the year.

The presenter, 39, who was paralysed from the chest down after a car accident, has been spearheading a campaign called Rights on Flights to urge the UK government to make using aeroplanes more accessible for disabled people.

Her wheelchair was broken three times in just one year while flying with her batec - which powers her wheelchair - going missing this week.

Highlighting the 'constant drama' she experiences when travelling, Sophie shared a video to her Instagram Story to explain.

She said: 'So, unfortunately they have left my batec somewhere. F*** this constant drama I just can't go anywhere without something going wrong when I fly.

'Thank fully the team there at Perth airport are so nice, they couldn't have been more kind.'

Sophie Morgan faced yet more airline troubles on Tuesday when part of her wheelchair was lost on a flight from Melbourne to Perth

The presenter, 39, who was paralysed from the chest down after a car accident, has been spearheading a campaign called Rights on Flights to make aeroplanes more accessible

In another update, Sophie later wrote: 'They found it. It's been sent to my hotel. Fingers crossed it's still working.'

Replying to a message sent in my a follower, she added: 'Trust me. I have PTSD too. It's been a long year and I'm just trying to keep the energy I have left to get me through the last week of work that I have to do.

'But know this. I hate airlines and the governments that do f*** all to protect us. I will be back fighting next year I need a break for a bit. I'm choosing not to lose my shit, unless it turns up broken.'

Sophie filmed the moment she was reunited with her batec and although, thankfully, it wasn't damaged, she added: 'I was literally shaking doing that. It's all fine. Just what you need before a day of work, more stress.'

MailOnline has contacted Qantas for comment.

She is fighting to give the disabled community more rights on aeroplanes after her Channel 4 documentary Sophie Morgan's Fight to Fly exposed the inhumane ways wheelchair users are treated on board.

She said: 'If I go back, the main reason I got into television is because when I became disabled when I was 18, I realised then how overlooked our lived experience is by other people. I found myself constantly looking around me and saying, 'does everybody know that this is what we have to deal with?'

Earlier this year, Sophie was branded a 'troublemaker' by airline bosses after campaigning to improve air travel for disabled people.

After calling out her own mistreatment and speaking on behalf of her large following, who she says messages in their droves about their troubled experiences, she has become even more 'distressed' by the attitude of airline bosses.

Her wheelchair was broken three times in just one year while flying with her batec - which powers her wheelchair - going missing this week

Highlighting the 'constant drama' she experiences when travelling, Sophie shared a video to her Instagram Story to explain

In another update, Sophie later wrote: 'They found it. It's been sent to my hotel. Fingers crossed it's still working'

Replying to a message sent in my a follower, she added: 'Trust me. I have PTSD too. It's been a long year and I'm just trying to keep the energy I have left to get me through work'

She is fighting to give the disabled community more rights on aeroplanes after her Channel 4 documentary exposed the inhumane ways wheelchair users are treated on board

The Loose Women panellist says as a result of their reluctance to make changes, which she hopes will not only be met by the government and new legislation, but the way aircrafts are designed in the future, the disabled community aren't flying at all.

Sophie told MailOnline: 'My wheelchair was broken three times last year even when I was running the campaign.

'I am very distressed by the attitudes of the airlines now, the amount of hot air I have been spun and I've been told through the grapevine how much of a 'troublemaker' they think I am. I just think... okay but I'm the good type of trouble.

'I'm not just doing this for me so I can go on holiday, I am doing this for the countless number of people that message me on a weekly basis ever since I put my head above the parapet with this, saying "I need your help" or "I won't fly" or "my children are too scared" or "my son is a wheelchair user and he can't transfer out of his chair so now he can't fly anymore."

'The consequences of the ableism in this industry is that countless of disabled people aren't flying. Every human being has an access requirement and the fact that the airlines don't seem to accommodate anybody's needs but one particular body type, it makes it so hard for everybody.'

Sophie's Channel 4 documentary sees the TV star send a group of disabled friends undercover on flights from the UK to various destinations in Europe while recording the difficulties they face on camera.

The result exposed the 'dangerous' and 'unsafe' behaviours of the airlines as well as the 'undignified' way disabled customers are treated, from having their wheelchairs confiscated upon boarding to being placed in a machine which doesn't suit their individual needs.

Disabled passengers are even forced to 'starve' and 'dehydrate' themselves because lack of accessibility and support means they're unable to use the toilet.

During one shocking scene, a gentleman, who is a wheelchair user, was made to sit on the floor of a Whizz Air flight and pushed himself by his hands along the aircraft to use the restroom because no aisle chair was available.

The TV presenter is spearheading a campaign called Rights on Flights, which is calling on the UK government to make using aeroplanes more accessible for disabled people after Sophie's wheelchair was broken three times in just one year while flying

Sophie's Channel 4 documentary sees the TV star send a group of disabled friends undercover on flights from the UK to various destinations in Europe while recording the difficulties they face on camera

Sophie explained: 'As it stands, the way that an aeroplane is designed is completely discriminatory.

'We have to have our wheelchairs and mobility devices removed from us when we arrive at the aircraft door. On no other form of transport does that happen.

'The reason why it's so dangerous and I say dangerous deliberately and I would even go as far as to say abusive is because we are not only taken out of our devices, which are typically bespoke to us, we get put into these other wheelchairs to take us on board a plane and these wheelchairs are very small and not very well designed.

'You often feel you're going to fall out and people often do, there's a fear of getting injured and by the time you get to your seat, if you're lucky enough to be boarded first so you have a bit of dignity and privacy, and that doesn't always happen...

'The other day I boarded last, and everyone was watching and staring at me, it's all very undignified, but then you can't move around the cabin if you're someone like me. Both your body and equipment are at risk because it's out of your sight.

'We starve ourselves and get dehydrated on board because we can't get to the toilet, or our wheelchairs get lost or damaged. So many of us have ignored these problems or are outright just refusing to fly because it's so hard.'

Sophie has been disabled since the age of 18 when she was in a car accident and paralysed from the chest down and told she would never walk again.

She has since established a successful TV career and this summer will be the first woman in a wheelchair to present the Paralympics for US broadcaster NBC following her recent move to Los Angeles.

The activist hopes Fight to Fly will not only expose the 'horrifying' conditions disabled flyers have been made to endure for decades but urge the improvement of aircraft design and the training received by air travel staff.

Sophie has been disabled since the age of 18 when she was in a car accident and paralysed from the chest down and told she would never walk again

She has since established a successful TV career and this summer will be the first woman in a wheelchair to present the Paralympics for US broadcaster NBC following her recent move to Los Angeles (pictured May 2023)

The activist hopes Fight to Fly will not only expose the 'horrifying' conditions disabled flyers have been made to endure for decades but urge the improvement of aircraft design and the training received by air travel staff

Sophie said: 'I feel really grateful I've had cameras rolling on this situation because it's something I have been dealing with for 20 years and many others like me have been dealing with for as long as there have been aeroplanes.

'For us it isn't new news but for many others it is so revelatory and exposing and shocking and at times really quite horrifying. But for us it's normalised and understood.

'If I go back, the main reason I got into television is because when I became disabled when I was 18, I realised then how overlooked our lived experience is by other people. I found myself constantly looking around me and saying, 'does everybody know that this is what we have to deal with?'

'We want to see an improvement in the design of aircrafts and we need training, so making sure that everybody who handles a person with a disability, they have training on how to handle us and our equipment better.

'I won't go into too much detail, but we do find a solution, which is so exciting. The prototype that is about to come out will change our lives for the better.

'A lot of people watching the documentary will say "well it is a plane" like we do with old buildings in the UK, people say, "you can't expect there to be access"... But no, what's more important? A plane or a person?'
CEO shooter suspect Luigi Mangione appears to have supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr according to unearthed social media posts.

Luigi Mangione is suspected in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, who was fatally shot on Wednesday, December 4 in the middle of New York City in what police determined was a targeted attack on the healthcare boss.

A manhunt was launched and on Monday, Mangione  a 26-year-old Ivy League-educated 'anti-capitalist'  was apprehended at a McDonald's location in Pennsylvania after an employee recognized him and reported him to authorities.

As he remains jailed on murder charges, Mangione has garnered a passionate cult following online, with social media users digging up information about his interests, political beliefs and motives.

According to his X account, Mangione appeared to admire Robert F. Kennedy Jr after he re-posted a Tweet by leaker Edward Snowden back in July.

The tweet was shared on the social platform while the Democratic Party looked to replace President Joe Biden as a presidential candidate following a disastrous debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump.

'Darkly amusing to watch panicked dems suddenly searching under the couch cushions for a candidate when Kennedy is literally standing right there', Snowden's tweet said.

The outspoken anti-vaxxer and nephew of JFK eventually dropped out of the presidential race and backed Trump, who went on to win the election and appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services.

uigi Mangione, 26, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, poses shortly after being discovered by police at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S. on Monday

Mangione appears to have supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr according to unearthed tweets in support of the former presidential candidate

CEO of UniteHealtcare pictured in 2021. He was murdered last week in New York City

Mangione had also reshared a post in support of Tesla billionaire Elon Musk.

'Your commitment to long-term civilizational success, Elon, is not universally shared,' the post said.

'What you call the 'woke mind virus' cares about one thing only: equality The levelers want to destroy everything because in the rubble we will all be equal.'

They arrived to find Mangione sitting at a table in the back of the restaurant, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint.

He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he'd been to New York recently, he 'became quiet and started to shake,' the complaint says.

When he pulled his mask down at officers' request, 'we knew that was our guy,' rookie Officer Tyler Frye said at a news conference in Hollidaysburg.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Manhattan news conference that Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs.

From surveillance video, New York investigators gathered that the shooter fled by bike into Central Park, emerged, then took a taxi to a northern Manhattan bus terminal.

darkly amusing to watch panicked dems suddenly searching under the couch cushions for a candidate when kennedy is literally standing right there  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) July 4, 2024

Mangione  a 26-year-old Ivy League-educated 'anti-capitalist'  was apprehended at a McDonald's location in Pennsylvania on Monday after an employee recognized him and reported him to authorities; seen on December 10 at Blair County Courthouse

As he waits extradition to NYC, Mangione has garnered a passionate cult following online, with many praising him for 'sacrificing himself for society'; seen on December 9

Once in Pennsylvania, he went from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, 'trying to stay low-profile' by avoiding cameras, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said.

NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows 'ill will toward corporate America.'

A law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone.

'To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone,' the document said, according to the official.

It also had a line that said, 'I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.'

At the scene of the killing, cops found bullets and bullet casings with the words 'delay', 'deny' and 'depose' scrawled on them. The words mimic a phrase used to criticize the insurance industry.

A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. Mangione was valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, where his 2016 graduation speech lauded his classmates' 'incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.'

Mangione graduated top of his class from the elite Gilman School in Baltimore, and even delivered the commencement speech at his 2016 graduation, according to video of the ceremony.

'He seemed like a smart kid, he was always doing the right thing, it seemed like,' a former classmate, who was shocked by the arrest, told Fox News Digital, adding: '[He] wasn't crazy.'

He went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said.

'Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest,' Mangione's family said in a statement posted on social media late on Monday by his cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione.

'We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.'
Georgia Toffolo has revealed her must-have travel essentials for long-haul flights as she returned from the Maldives with her fiance James Watt.

The former Made In Chelsea star, who announced her engagement in October, has been soaking up some winter sun in the idyllic location.

But as she jetted back to reality, Georgia, 30, revealed the things she cannot travel without, which make her flight a much more enjoyable experience.

Georgia admitted her travel essentials include a cashmere blanket to wrap herself in, a selection of thank you cards and comfortable American Vintage sweats.

The reality personality told how she carries a blanket from John Lewis for a cosy feel on the plane, as she demonstrated by wrapping herself in the item.

Georgia also revealed that she travels with thank you cards to hand, so that she can give them out to those on the trip.

Georgia Toffolo has revealed her must-have travel essentials for long-haul flights as she returned from the Maldives with her fiance James Watt

The former Made In Chelsea star, who announced her engagement in October, has been soaking up some winter sun in the idyllic location

But as she jetted back to reality, Georgia, 30, revealed the things she cannot travel without, which make her flight a much more enjoyable experience

Explaining that she had one for James, she wrote: 'I always travel with thank you cards. This one is for James to say thank you for an amazing holiday. I signed to the hottie in seat in 11K xoxo an admirer in 10K.'

After returning home, Georgia shared a look at one of her stunning holiday looks, which was a white sequin maxi dress.

Filming the film on the decking of her floating villa, Georgia showed off the stunning dress, which she had paired with a mini purple sequin Fendi bag.

Georgia wore her blonde locks swept back into a chic low ponytail and enhanced her pretty features with soft make-up.

Alongside the clip, she wrote: 'Ahh hello SEQUINS IN THE SUN! Screaming over the bag combo it fits my lipstick inside (at a push) do we love a silly bag? Paired with a silly song?'

Earlier this week, Georgia made the most of her break as she shared snaps showing off her toned figure in a white swimsuit while relaxing by the pool.

She posed up a storm in the pretty flower-adorned one piece from Karen Millen as she topped up her tan.

Her long blonde tresses were slicked back with the water and she opted for a natural makeup look during her time in the sun.

Another image from her album showed her taking on a workout in some skimpy black gym gear.

Georgia also posted a snap of joint holiday gratitude journal which her and James do on every trip.

It comes after earlier in the trip the couple spilled all on their relationship with their hilarious take on the viral Suspect Challenge.

The pair couldn't resist the chance to poke fun at their romance by jumping on the social media trend.

The challenge sees a couple playfully insult each other while taking on the role of cop and running suspect.

James, who is reportedly worth an estimated 262 million, didn't hold back with his insults, yelling: 'Suspect says she's a strong, independent woman that doesn't need any man but she hasn't paid a single bill in 12 months.'

Other gems included: 'Suspect says she doesn't have a type but she chooses from the Sunday Times Rich List'; 'Suspect always says she's low maintenance. Suspect has a housekeeper in two different countries that I pay for' and 'Suspect says we don't really have an age gap but her therapist says it's just daddy issues.'

Georgia had her own insults ready though, quipping: 'Suspect says he loves the simple life but lives in the penthouse on the 40th floor and 'Suspect dyes his beard black every Friday night to cover up the greys.'

Her long blonde tresses were slicked back with the water and she opted for a natural makeup look during her time in the sun

She had cooled off with a dip after a sunbathing session as she told in the caption how she was 'making the most' of the good weather

Another image from her holiday album showed her taking on a workout in some skimpy black gym gear

Georgia also posted a snap of joint holiday gratitude journal which her and James, 42, do on every trip

James may have overstepped the mark though with 'Suspect says she really wants to get married but she hasn't seen the prenup yet,' prompting Georgia to declare 'that's so savage.'

The video was met with a stream of comments with the likes of Perrie Edwards and Georgia's Made In Chelsea co-star Jamie Laing calling it 'genius'.

Toff and James are relaxing in paradise, with the TV star keeping her followers up to date with the five star holiday.

Sharing photos earlier this week, she penned a reflective caption, writing: 'So many big life things have happened since we were last here a year ago.

'Exciting life milestones like getting engaged but also difficult things too with losing James dad so suddenly over the summer.'

'Its felt like we havent had anytime to process everything, the good and the bad too, just us. Which weve really needed. We made it! Looking far too fresh from travelling, the excitement has eclipsed any tiredness.

'For the next week I plan on taking it all in with my FUTURE HUSBAND (omg) in our favourite place in the world. HELLO FROM PARADISE.'

James proposed at the end of October, on the week she celebrated her 30th birthday in the Greek islands.

At the time, a source told MailOnline: 'He asked her to marry him yesterday in front of both of their families in Greece.

'After the proposal they went to a big party at the Peligoni club and ended up dancing on tables to ABBA, celebrating with all the other guests.'

Georgia, who found fame as a regular cast-member on E4 show Made In Chelsea, has been dating the millionaire BrewDog co-founder since last summer and the pair now live together in London.

Announcing the news while showing off her enormous diamond engagement ring, the blonde beauty told her Instagram followers: 'James just asked me to marry him.

James proposed at the end of October, on the week she celebrated her 30th birthday in the Greek islands

'It really was the best moment of my life so far. I never knew I could feel happiness like this. The easiest, quickest yes to being your wife.

'Our love story is my favourite. How we managed to find each other out of billions of people out there will always be my greatest blessing.

'I love you forever and the magical life were building.'

James proposed with and exquisite eight carat triple-diamond studded band estimated to be worth 200,000.
Kaya Scodelario admits she's still being paid less than her male counterparts, despite establishing herself as one of Britain's most prominent actors.

The Sussex-born star developed a cult following after getting her break as teenager Effy Stonem in popular E4 drama Skins.

She has since starred in a string of successful blockbusters, among them Ted Bundy biopic Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile with Zac Efron and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, with Johnny Depp.

But despite her passion for the craft and love of gruelling set work, Scodelario, 32, insists there remains a significant financial disparity between male and female earnings within the film industry - much to her dismay.

She told FAULT magazine: ''I still really love my job, but my favourite part of it is spending 18 hours on set, breaking bones and destroying myself mentally for the sake of the character. That's the bit I love.

'But also, it's a career and a job, and there are parts of it that are still really hard for women. I'm acutely aware that I'm probably still being paid less than any male co-star I work with.

Kaya Scodelario admits she's still being paid less than her male counterparts, despite establishing herself as one of Britain's most prominent actors

The full interview is available in the current issue if FAULT magazine, out now

The Sussex-born star developed a cult following after getting her break as teenager Effy Stonem in popular E4 drama Skins

'The stories I want to tell are harder to find - they just take more time.'

She added: 'It's challenging because I love it so much, but I'm in a beautiful position. I'm fortunate, and I'm aware I get to do a job I love.

'I'm so fortunate to do something artistic that we enjoy, but there's still a long way to go

Away from work, Scodelario and her ex-husband Benjamin Walker are back together after reconciling at an art opening in the Maldives - five months after they separated.

The former couple - who are parents to two children and had been married for eight years prior to their split - attended the unveiling of the latest collection of artwork by Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar at Patina Maldives in July.

Scodelario and Walker exchanged vows in December 2015 and share a seven-year-old son and two-year-old daughter together.

The couple looked close as they posed under the palm trees of the idyllic Maldives hotel in the dedicated gallery space to attend the private view of sustainably-sourced exhibition, Life Energy.

The couple announced their separation in a joint statement in February which read: 'Some time ago Kaya and Ben made the joint decision to end their marriage but continue to co-parent lovingly whilst remaining the best of friends.

She has since starred in a string of successful blockbusters, among them Ted Bundy biopic Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile with Zac Efron

... and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, with Johnny Depp

Despite her success, Scodelario insists there remains a significant financial disparity in male and female earnings within the film industry - much to her dismay

'There are parts of it that are still really hard for women. I'm acutely aware that I'm probably still being paid less than any male co-star I work with,' she told FAULT magazine

'They ask that their privacy as well as that of their children's remain respected as they continue to move forward as a family.'

They met while filming The King's Daughter back in 2014, when the Maze Runner star was 22 and the The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power actor was 31.

After a whirlwind romance, they became engaged in December 2014 and tied the knot the following December, both adopting the surname Scodelario-Davis.

Walker was previously married to Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer, from 2011 until their split in March 2013.

Scodelario previously dated her Skins co-star Jack O'Connell and had a long-term romance with Shameless actor Eliott Tittensor from late 2009 to early 2014.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu has become the first contestant to sign up to Love Island: All Stars, MailOnline can reveal.

The former Love Island winner, 30, who scooped the 50,000 cash prize with ex-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti in 2022, will make a triumphant return to the series in January as she hopes to finally find a long-term partner.

She won over ITV2 viewers during her first appearance on the show where she and Davide, who famously accused Ekin of being a 'liar' and an 'actress', became known for their tempestuous romance.

After their bitter breakup earlier this year, Ekin starred on Celebrity Big Brother but was branded 'fake' by her housemates, with the reality star avoiding the show's final following an 'uncomfortable backlash.'

Ekin later admitted to being in 'survival mode' and said she was carrying a lot of 'baggage' because of her split from Davide, who was accused of being unfaithful during their relationship on multiple occasions.

But now, by returning to the show that made her name, Ekin hopes to be her own person again and finally find the right man to settle down with.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu has become the first contestant to sign up to Love Island: All Stars, MailOnline can reveal

The former Love Island winner, who scooped the 50,000 cash prize with ex-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti in 2022, will make a triumphant return to the series in January

She won over ITV2 viewers during her first appearance on the show where she and Davide, who famously accused Ekin of being a 'liar' and an 'actress', became known for their romance

A TV source told MailOnline: 'Ekin-Su has been the number one priority for casting producers, they know fans would love to see her return to the villa.

'She was so iconic during her first appearance on the show and now she's single again at the perfect time.

'The deal is agreed in principle, there's still some details to sort out, but there's huge hope she's finally agreed to take a second chance at finding long-lasting love in front of the nation.

'Ekin's in her 30s now too, she really wants to meet someone genuine who she can settle down with and after seeing it happen for last year's All Stars winners, she's keeping her fingers crossed she can be next.'

Molly Smith and boyfriend Tom Clare became the first Love Island: All Star champions after falling for each other in South Africa.

The show, hosted by Maya Jama, returns to screens in January with a lineup of former Islanders including the likes of Gemma Owen already rumoured to be taking part.

And bosses are hoping the show will be as successful as last year's debut after Love Island was streamed 640million times following the launch of ITVX two years ago.

Ekin's career has gone from strength to strength since she found fame on the series with the star being cast for Dancing On Ice, The Traitors US, and Celebrity Big Brother.

MailOnline has approached ITV and Ekin's spokesperson for comment.

The show, hosted by Maya Jama, returns to screens in January with a lineup of former Islanders including the likes of Gemma Owen already rumoured to be taking part

Since her split from Davide, Ekin has been linked with TOWIE star James Argent and Married At First Sight contestant Georges Berthonneau

Ekin's career has gone from strength to strength since she found fame on the series with the star being cast for Dancing On Ice, The Traitors US, and Celebrity Big Brother

Viewers had high hopes for Ekin and Davide, who bonded in the villa over their passion for food and fitness, after they won the programme in 2022

Her reputation was tarnished in the aftermath of her Celebrity Big Brother appearance as she clashed with west end star Layton Williams on spin-off show Late & Live and blamed the show's edit for her 'unfair' portrayal.

Since her split from Davide, Ekin has been linked with TOWIE star James Argent and Married At First Sight contestant Georges Berthonneau.

Despite reports, Ekin has attempted to keep her romantic life private, denying her involvement with anyone on a longterm basis.

Speaking to MailOnline last month, she said: 'I'm a hundred percent cent single, and loving life... I'm thirty, flirty and thriving.

'I can see who I want. I can date who I want, and it's my private life, thank you very much.'
Dawn O'Porter has revealed it was a twist of fate which led to her first meeting with her husband Chris O'Dowd in an interview on Wednesday.

The TV presenter and Irish comedian, both 45, have been happily married since 2012 but admitted they very nearly didn't end up together.

Joining Jessie and Lennie Ware on their podcast Table Manners they recalled their first meeting at Dawn's 30th birthday party in Los Angeles in 2009.

Speaking on the show, which was recorded live from the Union Chapel for a special event for charity Choose Love, she explained: 'We were both living out in LA but separately, I'd been out there for a year, and I was having a party.

'My friend had lent me her Pilates studio for my 30th birthday party, which is the most LA thing ever.

'We moved all of the Reformers to the side, and one friend bought me a dance floor for the night. And then two other friends, because I was born in Scotland, played bagpipes for me.'

Dawn O'Porter has revealed it was a twist of fate which led to her first meeting with her husband Chris O'Dowd in an interview on Wednesday

The TV presenter and Irish comedian, both 45, have been happily married since 2012 but admitted they very nearly didn't end up together (pictured in LA in 2019)

Dawn continued: 'Not that many people came because I didn't know that many people and everyone had left by 9:30. Chris had introduced himself to me on Facebook, weirdly, in the run up to this party.

'He said, Do you want to go bowling? And I said, "No, but I'm having my 30th birthday tonight, so just come and bring all your friends.

Chris recalled: 'I actually was coming over, and I didn't really know anybody either. So I asked a mate of mine who was also an actor, Nick Frost, lovely actor, if he knew anybody in town at the moment.

'And he said, oh, you should look Dawn up. I know Dawn a bit and she's a good crack.'

Admitting that his future wife had, in fact, rejected him, he added: 'So I sent a couple of friend requests on Facebook... So Dawn said no couple of times, and then she was short on numbers for her birthday, so invited me along.'

Dawn recently revealed the 'unbearable anxiety' she felt raising children in the US - after she and her husband Chris to leave LA after 16 years.

She admitted the gun culture in America is 'terrifying' and that she began to find living their with young children 'really unsettling' as she appeared on Lorraine with Ranvir Singh.

'I can't deny that for me personally the anxiety of America was becoming quite unbearable,' she said.

Joining Jessie and Lennie Ware on their podcast Table Manners they recalled their first meeting at Dawn's 30th birthday party in Los Angeles in 2009 (pictured in 2019)

She explained: 'Not that many people came and everyone had left by 9:30. Chris had introduced himself to me on Facebook, weirdly, in the run up to this party... so I invited him'

Dawn recently revealed the 'unbearable anxiety' she felt raising children in the US - after she and her husband Chris to leave LA after 16 years

Dawn also opened up about her first few years across the pond when her actor husband Chris shot to fame - with the writer admitting to feeling 'crushed and consumed' by the pressure of Hollywood.

The author and actor couple recently decided to return to the UK with their children after living stateside for 16 years.

Asked why they decided to come home, Dawn said: 'When something like a pandemic happens, you really weigh up where you are in the world and where you want to be.

'So the main reason we came home was because we wanted to be closer to family, and that's it.'

'But I cant deny that I was starting to find America really unsettling,' she said. 'The guns thing is really terrifying and very real in the schools.

'One of the school mums once said to me "You know if your kid is going on a playdate you have to call and say 'Have you got a gun in the house'". And I thought, I don't want this. I don't want to make that call and I don't want someone to ask me that question.'

Dawn added: 'We were really lucky that we could go home and come back here.'

But Dawn insisted her feelings towards America weren't bad, as she said: 'I mean I left before I didn't like it anymore.

'I do love it, I mean I had my babies there. I remember our time in LA so fondly, it was an amazing 16 years. But then it was time to come home.'

Dawn admitted the gun culture in America is 'terrifying' and that she began to find living their with young children 'really unsettling' as she appeared on Lorraine with Ranvir Singh

Dawn also opened up about her first few years across the pond when her husband Chris shot to fame - with the writer admitting to feeling 'crushed' by the pressure of Hollywood

Dawn and Chris have been married since 2012, tying the knot in an intimate ceremony after first meeting at her 30th birthday party in 2009.

The IT Crowd star saw a Hollywood explosion in his career when he starred in Bridesmaids - however Dawn admitted the red carpet environment made her feel a bit 'crushed' at the time.

'I think it's really important to remember that people who are in the public eye are people, and theyre not always having the experience that you think they're having,' she said.

'You know it was a wonderful time in our lives, Chris was doing really well and we were on red carpets and that was the first time in my life I had ever been in those situations. I'd been on TV before but it wasnt that, it wasn't glamorous.'

She added: 'And at the time I would just be like, "I really love being here and I'm really proud of Chris", but it feels weird doing all of that not for your own achievements - which is the interesting part of it because I wasn't able to see at the time that my amazing boyfriend was one of my great achievements. Which I see now.

'I look back and I was so young and consumed with my success that I didn't take a beat to go "Well this is also a great success and lovely thing".'
Movie fans were left stunned earlier this week after Cillian Murphy's gruesome zombie transformation was revealed for his new film 28 Years Later.

While the Irish actor stormed this year's awards season after his lead role in Oppenheimer, the star was seen looking rather different as his character Jim made a jaw-dropping comeback in zombie form.

Cillian's new look has left viewers aghast, but zombie films have always proved a huge hit with audiences and actors alike.

Here, we take a look at what these A-listers - from famous zombie movies - would look like if they were zombie-fied with an AI generator.

But can you guess who they are?

Can you identify the celebrity zombies? They are A-list stars who have joined the 'undead' just like Cillian Murphy in shocking 28 Days Later trailer (pictured) with the use of an AI generator

This scary looking chap starred as Rick Grimes, a former Georgia sheriff before a zombie invasion, in hit show that debuted in 2010

It's Andrew Lincoln from The Walking Dead! Although the star has admitted that despite its massive popularity, he has never watched an episode of the show himself

That's right! It's Andrew Lincoln from The Walking Dead.

The actor, now 51, has starred as Rick Grimes, a former Georgia sheriff before the zombie invasion, in the hit show since it debuted back in 2010.

His character was separated from his lover, Gurira's Michonne, when he was written off The Walking Dead in Season 9.

The actor had originally planned on leaving the show after Season 8, though his exit didn't come until the fifth episode of Season 9, when Grimes was taken by a mysterious group.

However he returned for the new mini-series The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live which aired earlier this year, as it was revealed Rick has never stopped looking for Michonne.

Andrew has admitted that despite its massive popularity, he had never watched an episode of the show himself.

He said in a 2017 interview: 'Im choosing to ignore the whole thing. I dont watch the show at all. I am allergic to my own face.'

This star played United Nations investigator Gerry Lane in the 2013 action horror as he endured a race against time to save humankind from a zombie pandemic

It's Brad Pitt in World War Z! The actor previously revealed he took part in the film so that his sons could watch it

It's Brad Pitt in World War Z!

Brad played United Nations investigator Gerry Lane in the 2013 action horror as he endures a race against time to save humankind - including his wife Karen Lane (Mireille Enos) and their two children - from a zombie pandemic.

Previously revealing what encouraged him to make the movie he said: 'Listen, five years ago, I knew absolutely nothing about a zombie; today, I consider myself an expert.

'This whole thing started because I just wanted to do a film that my boys could see before they turned 18  one that they would like, anyways. And they love a zombie.'

He continued: 'So, we settled on this book, Max Brooks' book, called World War Z.'

The first season of this show debuted in January 2023 and was based on the post-apocalyptic video game franchise of the same name... but can you guess the star?

It's Pedro Pascal from The Last Of Us! Pedro's character Joel must safely transport 14-year-old Ellie ( Bella Ramsey) across a dangerous country, 20 years into a zombie apocalypse

It's Pedro Pascal from The Last Of Us!

The first season of The Last of Us debuted in January 2023, based on the post-apocalyptic video game franchise of the same name.

Starring Pedro Pascal as Joel, the hardened smuggler is tasked with safely transporting 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across a dangerous country, 20 years into a zombie apocalypse caused by a fungal outbreak.

Season two of The Last of Us is scheduled to premiere on HBO in 2025 and will be based on the second game in the series.

Back in June Co-creators and showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann revealed to Deadline that season two of the HBO series will be reduced to seven episodes, although they will be 'quite big' in length.

'We just want to put people's minds at ease that the idea that this season coming up is a little bit shorter than the first one is not because we're taking less time to tell the stories, it's because we want to take more time,' said Mazin.

The actor, who plays the lead in the film, famously goes to the corner shop to buy a Cornetto while oblivious to the zombie outbreak

It's a spooky Simon Pegg in Shaun Of The Dead! Back in 2020 Simon and his co-star Nick Frost reprised their Shaun of the Dead roles in a bid to urge people to stay at home amid COVID

It's a spooky Simon Pegg in Shaun Of The Dead!

The actor, who played the lead role in the 2004 zombie flick, famously goes to the corner shop to buy a Cornetto while oblivious to the zombie outbreak.

Back in 2020 Simon and his co-star Nick Frost, who played Ed in the horror comedy, reprised their Shaun of the Dead roles in a bid to urge people to stay at home amid the Covid pandemic.

The duo took to YouTube for a public service announcement where they acted out a parody of the famous scene in which they laid out a plan amid the outbreak of zombies.

But hilariously, Simon urged his co-star NOT to go to the Winchester pub, which was in stark contrast to the advice he gave in the film, leading to disaster.

The funny clip saw Simon on the phone to Nick where they outlined their next steps, but instead of facing an onslaught of the undead, in real life, they discussed how they'd deal with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

Simon said: 'Right, call Mum, make sure she's okay. If Phillip has been infected, follow the NHS guidelines to the letter.'

Phillip of course was Shaun's step-dad in the movie, played by Bill Nighy, who was unfortunately bitten by one of the deadly zombies.

Starring as Alice Larter, this star has had to face more than her fair share of perils in this film's franchise, thanks to the zombie apocalypse

Yep! It's Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil. The film series launched in 2002 with Milla starring in the original as well as five sequels

Yep! It's Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil.

Starring as Alice Larter, Milla has had to face more than her fair share of perils in the Resident Evil film franchise, thanks to the evil Umbrella Corporation and the zombie apocalypse they've unleashed upon the world.

The film series launched in 2002 with Milla starring in the original as well as sequels Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016).

Based on the video game franchise which launched in 1996, the Resident Evil film series is the highest-grossing video game live-action film franchise.

The actress, 48, does not appear in the 2021 film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which is the first live-action film in the series to not feature her as the lead character, Alice.

The reboot was written and directed by Johannes Roberts and is based on the first two Resident Evil games by Capcom.

This actor starred as Ash Williams in a 1981 American horror film as five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons

That's right! It's Bruce Campbell from The Evil Dead. After a roaring success director Sam Raimi went on to make Evil Dead II (1987), Army of Darkness (1992) and Evil Dead (2013)

That's right! It's Bruce Campbell from The Evil Dead.

Bruce starred as Ash Williams in the American supernatural horror film of 1981 as five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.

After a roaring success director Sam Raimi went on to make Evil Dead II (1987), Army of Darkness (1992) and Evil Dead (2013).

The latest instalment Evil Read Rise was released in January 2023 and followed a 'twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons,' according to a synopsis from producers.

Franchise veteran Bruce Campbell, who is a producer on the film, posted the preview to Twitter as he wrote: 'Even though I'm not in this film, as a producer, I'm all over this movie like a cheap suit. I guess you could say I have a hand in it.

'Now, I've seen the movie in all of its glory and, in case you're wondering, yes, it is amazing, and, yes, it is the scariest one yet.'

This actress soared to new levels of fame for her role as Carol Peletier on the post-apocalyptic horror drama from 2010 to 2022 as she survived the zombie apocalypse

That's right! It's Melissa McBride from The Walking Dead! Over time she became a fan favourite thanks to her epic zombie killing skills and badass nature

That's right! It's Melissa McBride from The Walking Dead!

Melissa soared to new levels of fame for her role as Carol Peletier on the post-apocalyptic horror drama from 2010 to 2022 as she survived the zombie apocalypse.

The actress, 58, and her former co-star, Norman Reedus, were the only characters on The Walking Dead who remained on the series since the first season.

Carol first appeared in season one of The Walking Dead when it made it's debut and was portrayed as an introverted, soft-spoken, and often meek and defenseless character.

But over time she became a fan favourite thanks to her epic zombie killing skills and badass nature, having gone on an incredible journey throughout the show.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were joined by their children as they arrived at Heathrow Airport after brining the curtain down on the latest series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The presenting partners returned to a warm reception - and freezing weather - before making their way across Terminal 2 with their baggage following a 23-hour flight from Brisbane.

McPartlin, 49, greeted onlookers with a smile as he crossed departures alongside wife Anne-Marie and the couple's seven month old son, Wilder.

Following close behind, Donnelly, 49, was hand-in-hand with daughter Isla, six - the presenter's eldest child with wife Ali.

The pair joined this year's campmates as they returned to Britain following a three week stay in Australia for the long running ITV1 show.

Arriving in Manchester, Alan Halsall embraced daughter Sienna in an emotional hug as they reunited after his stint in the jungle.

Ant McPartlin was joined by wife Anne-Marie and baby son Wilder as they returned to London's Heathrow Airport on Wednesday

Presenting partner Declan Donnelly was close behind, accompanied by young daughter Isla

The Coronation Street star, 42, looked overjoyed as his 11-year-old daughter ran into his arms after he returned to the UK from Australia.

Abandoning his trolley of suitcases, he gave his little girl a big squeeze, as she broke into happy tears to be reunited with her father.

Halsall was quick to introduce Sienna to his campmate and fellow Northerner Coleen Rooney, who had caught the same flight home.

The actor finished the show in sixth place, being eliminated alongside GK Barry on day 20 of the competition, while McFly's Danny Jones went on to win the ITV show and Rooney placed runner-up.

Rooney walked beside her who youngest sons, Kit, eight, and Cass, six, who flew Down Under with her parents to greet her when she left the show.

The mother-of-four, who was seen pushing a trolley full of cases, was not met by husband Wayne, whose Plymouth Argyle side currently sit second-bottom in the Championship.

Rooney wrapped the young girl into a hug in sweet snaps captured as they reunited with their loved ones after weeks apart.

Her son was spotted wearing her hat from her time in the jungle with a blue tracksuit, while Kit wore a similar black version.

Donnelly appeared to be in high spirits while making his way across Heathrow Terminal 2

McPartlin, 49, greeted onlookers with a smile as he crossed departures alongside wife Anne-Marie and the couple's son

Their arrival home came just a few hours after GK touched down at Heathrow Airport earlier in the day, accompanied by her girlfriend Ella Rutherford.

The TikTok influencer, 25, looked relaxed in a black crop top and loose fitting joggers while walking the arrivals hall after collecting her luggage.

First out of the jungle camp after eliminations began little more than a week ago, Jane Moore was also among first to arrive back in the United Kingdom after a mammoth 23-hour flight from Brisbane.

The Loose Women panellist, 62, wore an oversized cardigan over a white shirt and flared jeans as she juggled with her cases.

Alan Halsall embraced his daughter Sienna in an emotional hug as they reunited at Manchester Airport on Wednesday, after spending weeks apart while he appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Halsall was quick to introduce Sienna to his campmate and fellow Northerner Coleen Rooney, who had caught the same flight home

Rooney landed back Manchester Airport in the UK following her success on I'm A Celebrity - but her husband Wayne was not there to meet her

The mother-of-four, who was seen pushing a trolley full of cases, was not met by Wayne who is likely to be busy at work with his football team, Plymouth Argyle

GK (left) and Jane Moore (right) were the first campmates to arrive in London following a mammoth 23-hour flight from Brisbane
Yellowstone star Kelsey Asbille, who plays Kayce Dutton's loyal wife Monica, is in love.

The 33-year-old actress was seen in a rare photo with her boyfriend, Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, last month.

The two normally keep a very low profile and she does not feature him on her social media pages.

New York native Joris-Peyrafitte is a 32-year-old filmmaker. He directed the feature films As You Are, Dreamland and The Good Mother, which starred Hilary Swank.

They were holding hands at a Yellowstone event before she posed with costars Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly.

Kelly and Miles have been dating for several years.

This comes six years after she split from English actor William Moseley who was in The Chronicles Of Narnia and The Royals.

Kelsey Asbille was seen in a rare photo with her boyfriend Miles Joris-Peyrafitte at Yellowstone season 5B's premiere in NYC in November

They were holding hands at a Yellowstone event before she posed with costars Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser and Gil Birmingham

Asbille and Moseley met while co-starring in the 2013 action-thriller Run.

In a 2018 interview with Marie Claire, Asbille said that Moseley gave her an Ansel Adams photograph of the full moon over Half Dome in Yosemite for her birthday.

Asbille is an actress who has appeared in Wind River.

Kelsey also starred as Mikayla in the Disney XD sitcom Pair of Kings. From 2005 to 2009, she had a recurring role as Gigi Silveri on the drama One Tree Hill. She portrayed Tracy Stewart in MTV's Teen Wolf from 2015 to 2016.

She previously went by the name Kelsey Chow.

This comes after Kelsey made a bold fashion move in October.

She went bra free in a very sheer black sequined one-shoulder dress, exposing her chest and underwear.

The beauty had on light nude-toned makeup as she wore her hair short and choppy in a bedhead style.

The 5ft7in TV star was attending the Los Angeles premiere of her movie Don't Move at the Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles.

Kelsey shared the photos on her Instagram account where followers said her nipple-flashing look was 'bold': 'What a beautiful and bold outfit,' wrote one fan.

Another snipped: 'Being naked in public is normal now' and another shared: 'So, no one wears real clothes anymore?'

This comes six years after she split from English actor William Moseley who was in The Chronicles Of Narnia and The Royals

This Yellowstone actress made a very rare daring move with her wardrobe - she went bra free in a very sheer black sequined one-shoulder dress, exposing her chest and underwear in October

She plays a Native American mother-of-one who lives in Montana on her hit show Yellowstone.

On the Paramount+ series, Kelsey has on plaid shirts, fitted jeans and cowgirl boots as she resides on the sprawling Dutton Ranch.

That is where she spends time with her husband Kayce Dutton (played by Luke Grimes) and her son Tate Dutton (played by Brecken Merrill).

The beauty - who is of Chinese descent - often goes makeup free to play Monica with her hair barely brushed.

On the hit series she plays Native American Monica who was born on a reservation and is conflicted with the Dutton wealth.

She is the granddaughter of Indian elder Felix Long.

Monica's ancestors lived on the northwestern plains for centuries before finally ending up on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation.

She herself grew up on a ranch and had a brother named Robert, who was revenge killed by her husband.

Seen left in Paris in 2023 and right on Yellowstone as Monica Dutton

As Monica she wears plaid shirts and Native American jewelry; season two

They started as foes but Kevin Costner's John Dutton won over Monica

Here Monica is seen with her husband Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes; seen in season three

Monica with Kayce on Sunday's episode

From left, Ryan Bingham as Walker, Forrie Smith as Lloyd, Cole as Rip Wheeler, Kevin Costner as John Dutton, Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom, Denim Richards as Colby

Monica worked as a teacher then as a professor before home schooling her son.

On the show Monica gets pregnant with her second child but loses the baby when she runs into a buffalo and another car.

Kayce stands by her side and promises to give her another pregnancy soon.

They find peace when they move into a home on the far side of the Dutton ranch.

The last episode of season five of Yellowstone shows Kayce trying to keep the Dutton ranch with a tax scheme. The finale is on December 15.
Hana Cross got into the festive spirit as she flashed her abs in a racy photoshoot.

The ex-girlfriend of Brooklyn Beckham, 26, showed off her model figure in a series of steamy photos as she modelled party looks for PrettyLittleThing.

In one shot, Hana went braless in a black lace catsuit with an open back which showcased a glimpse of her cursive tattoo.

In another, the model wore a long black skirt and a skimpy matching bra underneath an oversized blazer as she posed on a cream sofa.

Hana showed off her abs in a maroon version of the same suit and also slipped into a sheer lacy long-sleeved blouse and a matching skirt.

Hana looked every inch the fashionista as she donned a three piece brown suit with a low cut waistcoat that gave a hint of her taut midriff before switching into another maroon look, this time with a large fur coat.

Hana Cross got into the festive spirit as she showcased her incredible figure in a sexy photoshoot for PrettyLittleThing

The ex-girlfriend of Brooklyn Beckham showed off her toned abs in a maroon suit which she teamed with a skimpy matching bra underneath

Hana then showed off her taut midriff in a black version of the racy suit

And while the model was hard at work in front of the camera, her former boyfriend Brooklyn enjoyed a lavish holiday in Abu Dhabi with his wife Nicola Peltz.

Brooklyn and Hana dated in 2018 before they split a year later and unfollowed each other on social media.

The budding chef and Nicola travelled to the Middle East to watch British driver Lando Norris come first during the final race of the Grand Prix.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Nicola, 29, shared a collection of snaps and videos from the pair's luxury trip.

For their camel-riding day out, Nicola opted for blue flared jeans and a black long-sleeved blouse to protect here skin from the harsh desert air - with Brooklyn pairing a similar top with cream cargo shorts.

The pair then took to the dunes in a ferocious looking buggy, with Nicola taking control as she sat behind the wheel.

Brooklyn, 25, gazed lovingly at his wife as she navigated the sand dunes in the picturesque desert - located in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Hana changed outfit in to a sheer lacy long-sleeved blouse and a matching skirt and the blonde beauty put on a busty display as she posed in the low cut top

And Hana was on full model duty as she donned a three piece brown suit with a low cut waistcoat that gave a hint of the star's taut midriff

Hana then switched into another maroon look, this time with a large fur coat

And while the model was hard at work in front of the camera, her former boyfriend Brooklyn was enjoying a lavish holiday in Abu Dhabi with his wife Nicola Peltz

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Nicola, 29, shared a collection of snaps and videos from the pair's luxury trip

Earlier this year it was reported Hana had enjoyed a date with Bradley Peltz, who is older brother of her ex Brooklyn's wife Nicola (Bradley and Nicola pictured)

There seems to be no bad blood between Hana and Brooklyn as earlier this year it was reported the beauty had enjoyed a romantic date in Los Angeles with Bradley Peltz, 34, the older brother of Brooklyn's wife Nicola, 29.

A source, who spotted the pair at the Beverly Hills Hotel's Cabana Cafe in February, told The Sun on Sunday's Bizarre column: 'They looked very intimate and like they were deep in conversation.

'Brad didn't seem to mind that Hana had been in a serious relationship with his sister's husband, or who saw them together.

'He was obviously out to impress, taking her to the most famous spot in LA, where money is no object.'

Brooklyn started dating Nicola soon after his split from Hana and they went on to tie the knot in 2022.

Hana went on to write a scathing song about an ex in 2020, which friends insisted was about Brooklyn.

The lyrics include: 'You broke my heart and said let's be friends but I never heard from you again and that's kind of mean.'

'I saw us as meant to be and you saw me as temporary and that's kind of rough.

'I'm confused and I'm sad, I don't know what I did but you said it wasn't my fault but without reason how can I know?'
George Joseph Kresge Jr., better known by his stage name The Amazing Kreskin, died this Tuesday at the age of 89.

He was known to generations of TV watchers as a mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist, appearing on a variety of talk shows.

Over the decades, he featured on programs ranging from The Steve Allen Show in the 1960s to Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in the 2000s.

Kreskin's friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, told news outlets that he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey, where he spent much of his life.

Galway did not provide additional details.

Inspired by the crime-fighting comic book character Mandrake the Magician, Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s.

George Joseph Kresge Jr., better known by his stage name The Amazing Kreskin, died this Tuesday at the age of 89; pictured 2003

He made his TV debut in 1964 on The Steve Allen Show, tripping and falling to the floor because the stage lights got in his eyes.

In spite of his rocky start, he became a reliable fixture on the talk-show circuit, enrapturing audiences with his mind tricks.

After starting off his career under the name Kreskin, he acquired the tag 'The Amazing' when it was applied to him by Johnny Carson, whose late-night series he appeared on a whopping 88 times.

He remained popular for decades, making guest appearances on talk shows hosted by everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon.

Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks - whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience.

He also hosted his own show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books, including Secrets Of The Amazing Kreskin and Mental Power Is Real.

Although he was a talk show regular, one host wasn't amused by a Kreskin stunt.

In 2002, he claimed that a UFO would appear over Las Vegas on the night of June 2, and added that he would donate $50,000 to charity if he was wrong.

He made his TV debut in 1964 on The Steve Allen Show, tripping and falling to the floor because the stage lights got in his eyes; pictured 1967

Over the decades, he featured on programs ranging from The Steve Allen Show in the 1960s to Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in the 2000s; pictured on Fallon's show in 2009

Kreskin is pictured with Tom Petty and the latter's wife Jane Benyo in 1993

Hundreds of people gathered in the desert, in vain.

Kreskin acknowledged to radio personality Art Bell that his prediction was a hoax, a way of proving that the September 11 terrorist attacks the year before had made people susceptible to manipulation.

Bell called the ruse 'lame, lame, lame' and banned Kreskin from his show.

In his 1991 book Secrets Of The Amazing Kreskin, the famed television personality explained the attributes that made him a star.

'I am not a psychic, an occultist or fortune teller. I am not a mind reader, medium or hypnotist. There is nothing supernatural about anything that I do,' he wrote.

'I am a scientist, a researcher in the field of suggestion and "extrasensory" perceptions. I perform what I discover.'
Megan Fox is leaning on her ex-husband Brian Austin Greens fiance Sharna Burgess as she navigates her 'painful' split from Machine Gun Kelly.

The actress, 35, ended her volatile engagement with the rapper, real name Colson Baker, 34, over Thanksgiving after she grew tired of his behavior and was concerned that he had cheated.

The unexpected breakup came less than one month after the controversial couple announced they are expecting their first child together.

Now, sources have revealed Sharna, 39, cares 'deeply' about the Transformers star who she has been supporting as she copes with a breakup while six months pregnant.

Brian and Sharna know what Megan has been through and is going through and they both care about her deeply,' a source told DailyMail.com. exclusively. 'She is the mother of Brians kids, who are also Sharnas soon-to-be stepchildren.

Sharna knows how difficult being pregnant can be and has been lending her support to Megan.

Pregnant Megan Fox is leaning on her ex-husband Brian Austin Greens fiance Sharna Burgess as she navigates her 'painful' split from Machine Gun Kelly

The actress, 35, ended her volatile engagement with the rapper, real name Colson Baker, 34, over Thanksgiving after she grew tired of his behavior and was concerned that he had cheated

'She genuinely cares and feels for her. Breakups alone are so painful but breaking up while pregnant is even more so.

The source continued: She only wants her to be okay and has offered to help her in any way she can. This means a lot to Megan. The women in her life are really stepping up to the plate and she appreciates this more than they know.

Megan shares three children, Noah, 11, Bodhi, nine, and Journey, seven, with former 90210 actor Brian, 50, who she was married to from 2010 to 2020.

He started dating Sharna in late 2020, with the couple welcoming a son together in 2022 and announcing their engagement the following year.

The source added that Megan and Sharna talk regularly on the phone.

On Tuesday, insiders told DailyMail.com that the final straw for Megan came over Thanksgiving which she spent in Vali, Colorado with MGK.

'Megan was just done with all of it,' an insider said. 'She was done with his behavior and the way that he treated her.

'When she fell pregnant, he thought it meant that she would stay with him no matter what - and it is not the case.

Now, sources have revealed Sharna, 39, cares 'deeply' about the Transformers star who she has been supporting as she copes with a breakup while six months pregnant

Brian got engaged to Sharna Burgess, 35, in 2023 - one year after their son, Zane, was born. Sharna plays an active role in Brian and Megan's kids lives (Sharna cuddling with all four kids)

'The most important thing in Megan's world right now is her unborn baby and she has no problem raising the child on her own.'

'She's left him before, but this time seems final. Her friends support her wholeheartedly and over the past few years they have grown to really dislike him.

'Her friends were worried this was going to happen.'

Another insider told DailyMail.com that Megan grew tired of their 'high-school relationship' which was characterized by 'never-ending' drama.

They added that MGK 'is trying to get back on track with her.'

Megan is around six months pregnant and is set to welcome their child in March.

TMZ first reported the split, claiming she had 'found material on MGK's phone that was upsetting, and it made her want him to leave the trip early.'

The musician is then said to have left the holiday vacation, and the exes have not seen each other since.

A source tells DailyMail.com that Sharna 'knows how difficult being pregnant can be and has been lending her support to Megan'

In November, Sharna congratulated Megan after she reposted the actress' pregnancy announcement

The baby will be MGKs second child. He is also the father to daughter Casie Colson Baker, 15, with his ex-girlfriend, Emma Cannon.

Megan and MGK have had a rocky relationship since finding love in 2020, with the pair getting engaged in January 2022 - though it was called off for a short spell.

Their time together was marred by one off-the-wall admission of love after another.

When MGK proposed, Megan told fans on Instagram that they 'drank each other's blood' to celebrate the momentous occasion, which took place in Puerto Rico.

He later revealed that the $340 engagement ring he used to pop the question was actually thorns, telling Vogue: If she tries to take it off, it hurts. Love is pain!'

Megan debuted her baby bump in an edgy shoot on Instagram in which she was covered in black paint and cradling her stomach.

The post was captioned: 'nothing is ever really lost. welcome back.'

The announcement was soundtracked to the MGK song Last November, a track about the miscarriage she previously suffered with the musician.

Sharna shared the post with a caption that read: Welcome little one, we are all so excited to meet you (heart emoji) Congratulations Mama x.

Brian and Megan have come a long way since their divorce. In 2020, she called him out on Instagram for posting a photo of their son Journey, claiming he shared the image in an attempt to paint her as an absent parent.

She wrote: 'Why does Journey have to be in this picture? It's not hard to crop them out. Or choose photos that they aren't in. I had a great Halloween with them yesterday, and yet notice how absent they are from my social media.

'I know you love your kids. But I don't know why you can't stop using them to posture via Instagram. You're so intoxicated with feeding the pervasive narrative that I'm an absent mother, and you are the perennial, eternally dedicated dad of the year.

'You have them half of the time. Congratulations you truly are a remarkable human! Why do you need the internet to echo back to you what should be inexhaustibly evident in the way your children love you?'

Brian deleted the photo and later reposted it with Journey cropped out.
Lizzie Cundy cut a stylish figure as she and Bruno Tonioli attended the Jack And The Beanstalk - What A Whopper Show at Charing Cross Theatre in London on Tuesday.

The TV personality, 56, looked incredible as she donned a silver sequin embellished dress which boasted a V-neckline and a daring split at the leg.

Lizzie opted for further accessorising her look with a beige quilted Yves Saint Laurent cross-body bag, which retails for 1,350, and a large diamond ring.

To complete her look, the socialite styled her long locks in a voluminous blowout and added inches to her frame with a pair of black knee-high boots.

Meanwhile, Bruno, 69, cut a smart casual figure wearing a blush pink V-neck jumper and a black jacket.

He layered up from the cold with a navy blue scarf and appeared in high spirits as he posed alongside Lizzie and pantomime cast member Matthew Baldwin, who plays Dame Trott.

Lizzie Cundy cut a stylish figure in a silver sequin embellished dress as she attended the Jack and the Beanstalk What a Whopper! Show at Charing Cross Theatre in London on Tuesday

The TV personality was also joined by pal Bruno Tonioli, 69, and lead character Dame Trott - Matthew Baldwin

Lizzie looked incredible in the stylish ensemble which boasted a V-neckline and a daring split at the leg

During the event, the star took up the opportunity to give her pals a giggle as she posed in a photo stand-in

Meanwhile, in another snap the star struck up a shocked pose as she got a snap with the show's programme

Lizzie's outing comes after she attended the Shooting Star charity ball at London's Royal Lancaster last month.

The WAG slipped into a gorgeous white gown for the bash, which boasted an asymmetrical neckline with a silver embellishment and fishtail skirt.

Lizzie completed her effortlessly stylish outfit with a chic 2,000 YSL blush pink bag and perfectly matching platform heels.

She accentuated her timeless features with a glam make-up palette and wore her glossy caramel tresses loose.

The annual event took place in aid of the leading children's hospice charity Shooting Star Children's Hospices.

Lizzie's outing comes after she stunned in a gorgeous white gown for the Shooting Star charity ball at London's Royal Lancaster last month

At the bash, Lizzie joined the likes of Elizabeth Hurley, 59, and her son Damian, 22 (pictured)

At the bash, Lizzie joined the likes of Elizabeth Hurley, 59, and her son Damian, 22, as well as Dame Joan Collins, 91, who was escorted by husband Percy Gibson, 59.

Last month Lizzie followed in Jennifer Lopez's footsteps as she headed for a HydraFacial at Harley Street Skin in London.

The TV personality put on a very leggy display as she slipped into a figure-hugging grey mini-dress for her appointment at the swanky clinic.

She completed the look with a cropped tweed jacket and knee-high boots while shielding her eyes behind a pair of chic shades.

After posing up a storm the stunner took to her Instagram Stories with a video revealing the benefits of the unique treatment.

J-Lo first launched her collaboration with HydraFacial in 2021, with a string of products to deliver her iconic glow through the brand's patented technology.

Lizzie laid back and wore goggles as the aesthetician used the vacuum-style implement on her flawless face.

Captioning the post: 'The amazing Hydra facial by @harleystskin if its good enough for J.Lo its good enough for me!'.

A HydraFacial is a medical-grade skin treatment that uses patented technology to cleanse, extract, and hydrate the skin.

Last month Lizzie followed in Jennifer Lopez 's footsteps as she headed for a HydraFacial at Harley Street Skin in London
Maura Higgins was greeted by friends as she returned to London on Wednesday afternoon, sadly love interest Pete Wicks wasn't one of them.

The TV personality was swept off her feet by a loved one after landing at Heathrow Airport following a three week stay in Australia for the latest series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.

Making her way across Terminal 2, a fresh-faced Maura showed no signs of jet-lag after racking up the air miles on her 23-hour flight from Brisbane.

Evidently in high spirits, she shared a joke with members of her welcome party as she headed for the exit in a hooded top and leggings.

She may well have been at the sweater worn by a friend, bearing the words 'Sorry Fadder' - a reference to her playful banter with fellow campmate Reverend Richard Coles.

The former Love Island will have plenty of time to catch up with Pete, who missed out on a place in the Strictly Come Dancing final on Sunday evening.

Maura Higgins returned to London on Wednesday afternoon following a three week stay in Australia for the latest series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The TV personality was swept off her feet by a loved one after landing at Heathrow Airport

After reaching the BBC show's semi-final stage with professional dance partner Jowita Przysta, the heavily tattooed star was eliminated following their latest dance-off.

During her time in the jungle, Maura seemingly confirmed that she was dating Pete after they were seen kissing just weeks before she flew to Australia.

When asked by former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse if was single, Maura replied: 'I am but I was seeing someone before I came in but I'm not in a relationship.'

Reverend Richard Coles - a founding member of '80s synth-pop group The Communards - then asked: 'Was it exclusive? Or if I've put you on the spot, sorry!', to which she replied after a long pause: 'I dunno'.

Maura also revealed that the pair had known each other for longer than fans might expect - and said Pete had pursued her relentlessly.

'Yeah, we've known each other since five years, and never once..." she told Oti.

'He would always say, "Oh no, like, we are gonna go on a date somewhere." And I'd be like, "We're actually not." And I was deadly serious, "We're actually not. You're delusional."'

Appearing on This Morning following her elimination from the show she shared her excitement at potentially seeing Pete upon her return to the United Kingdom and admitted he had encouraged her decision to enter the jungle.

Making her way across Terminal 2, a fresh-faced Maura showed no signs of jet-lag after racking up the air miles on her 23-hour flight from Brisbane

Maura was assisted with her luggage as she headed towards the exit following her arrival

The former Love Island contestant struggled to contain here laughter as she chatted to a friend

She said: 'Honestly, he's been so supportive. I didn't know if he was still in Strictly, I'm so proud of him and he's proud of me and I can't wait to see him.'

When asked why she eventually changed her mind, Maura explained: 'He wouldn't give up. And then I was like, "Oh fine".

'I brought my friends with me, and I was like, "see it's a friendship date." And then the next time I went, just me.'

Recounting their first date, she admitted no expense was spared, noting: 'We went out for oysters and wine. Yeah, come on. It was super nice.'

As for their chemistry, Maura quipped: 'Yeah, a lot of fun. We just dial up 24/7 with each other. We've got the very same humour.'

Maura returned to London with designer Louis Vuitton luggage on Wednesday

The former Love Island will have plenty of time to catch up with Pete, who missed out on a place in the Strictly Come Dancing final on Sunday evening

Maura looked relaxed in a cream coloured hooded top, black leggings and Ugg boots during her appearance at Heathrow

She shielded her eyes behind a pair of heavily tinted sunglasses following the long flight from Australia
Jack Lowden stopped for a drink at the pub with an unlikely companion on Wednesday, as he was joined by CEO of Apple, Tim Cook.

The actor, 34, met up with the business executive, 64, to discuss the upcoming fifth season of his hit series, Slow Horses, which airs on Apple TV+.

Tim took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a picture of the pair smiling widely while enjoying a pint together in the London pub.

Captioning the cheerful snap, the billionaire wrote: 'Theres nothing like London during the holidays. It was great to meet with Slow Horses star, Jack Lowden, to tell him how excited we are for season 5 on Apple TV+!'

Slow Horses tells the story of an intelligence team banished to Slough House, an MI5 backwater, for generally being bad at their jobs and is based on the best-selling novel series by Mick Herron.

Jack stars as River Cartwright, an up-and-coming MI5 agent shunted to the team, which is led by Jackson Lamb, played by Oscar winner Gary Oldman.

Jack Lowden stopped for a drink at the pub with an unlikely companion on Wednesday, as he was joined by CEO of Apple, Tim Cook

The actor, 34, met up with the business executive, 64, to discuss the upcoming fifth season of his hit series, Slow Horses, which airs on Apple TV+ (pictured in show)

Tim took to X to share a picture of the pair smiling widely while enjoying a pint together in London pub, captioned: 'Theres nothing like London during the holidays. It was great to meet with Slow Horses star, Jack Lowden, to tell him how excited we are for season 5 on Apple TV+!'

Since its premiere in 2022, the thrilling show has been praised as 'forceful, funny, and conspiratorial' and branded 'undoubtedly the best spy series on television'.

And when the Golden Globes nominations were announced on Monday, the series bagged itself an impressive three nods, including one for Jack.

The Scottish star has already earned himself nominations for an Emmy and two BAFTAs for his role as River in the series.

His first Golden Globe nod will see him go up against, Tadanobu Asano, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Harrison Ford, Diego Luna and Javier Bardem, Best Supporting TV Actor.

While his co-star Gary is nominated for Best TV Drama Actor, facing strong competition from Eddie Redmayne, Donald Glover, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hiroyuki Sanada and Billy Bob Thornton.

And Slow Horses will also compete in the Best TV Drama Series category beside

Shogun, The Diplomat, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Day of the Jackal and Squid Game.

The fifth series was announced in January, and upon the conclusion of season four in October, a sixth season was ordered by Apple TV+.

The news came after the latest season earned a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and broke records for the streamer, while making it Apple TV's highest-rated show ever.

Slow Horses tells the story of an intelligence team banished to Slough House, an MI5 backwater, for generally being bad at their jobs and is based on the best-selling novel series by Mick Herron

Jack stars as River Cartwright, an up-and-coming MI5 agent shunted to the team, which is led by Jackson Lamb, played by Oscar winner Gary Oldman (pictured)

And when the Golden Globes nominations were announced on Monday, the series bagged itself an impressive three nods, including one for Jack

Jay Hunt, creative director, Europe, Apple TV+, said: 'Audiences around the world have fallen in love with the Slow Horses, and I'm delighted that Gary Oldman will be leading this star-studded cast on another acerbic and action-packed adventure.'

As well as his acting career reaching new peaks, Jack is also riding high in his personal life, after tying the knot with four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan in July.

The couple met while starring opposite each other in Mary Queen of Scots in 2018, with Saoirse, 30, playing the titular role while Jack played Lord Darnley, the Queen's second husband, known for his salacious sexual nature.

Their on-screen romance foreshadowed what was to come, and they started dating in December that year, before secretly getting married six years later in Edinburgh.

Saoirse has remained fiercely private about their relationship and does not have a social media presence, but gave a small insight during a new interview.

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last month, the star joked that her husband keeps disappointing her by refusing to perform a 'cheesy karaoke duet' of her choice.

Saoirse said: 'I've been desperate for myself and my husband Jack to do a cheesy karaoke duet.

As well as his acting career reaching new peaks, Jack is also riding high in his personal life, after tying the knot with four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan in July (pictured together Sunday)

'It's Shallow from A Star is Born. I want him to be my Bradley, and I'll be his Gaga. And he won't do it. He hasn't committed.

'And I'm sort of like, well, what's marriage for? You know what I mean? What are we doing here?'

She also recently told British Vogue: 'I became successful when I was quite young. So it meant that, actually, by the time I found my partner, Im now at the stage where, if it happened, I would like to have a kid.

'I feel fortunate enough that, if I step out of this for a minute, Im hopefully not giving it up forever. But, yeah, Ive always wanted that.'
Jim Carrey may have once been the king of Hollywood paychecks, but these days, hes a bit more elusive on the silver screen.

The 62-year-old actor, who used to command a cool $20 million for films like The Cable Guy in 1996, now admits that his return to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has more to do with balancing his checkbook than sheer passion.

Carrey enjoyed a legendary run with hits like Liar Liar, The Truman Show, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Bruce Almighty, but his star began to dim in the late 2000s.

Despite once having an estimated net worth of $300 million, Carrey still needs to make sure the bills get paid  which is why hes come out of 'retirement.'

'I came back to this universe 'cause, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch, and it's just... it's just... I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly,' he quipped on the red carpet of Sonic the Hedgehog 3s London premiere on Monday.

But dont be fooled into thinking its entirely about the paycheck; Carrey was quick to add, 'At the same time, it had heart, and that's why I did it the first time. There was something beautiful about the heart of the piece.'

Jim Carrey, who used to command a cool $20 million for films like The Cable Guy in 1996, now admits that his return to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has more to do with balancing his checkbook than sheer passion; (seen on Monday)

Despite once having an estimated net worth of $300 million, Carrey still needs to make sure the bills get paid  which is why hes come out of 'retirement'

Of course, he couldnt resist throwing in his signature humor, concluding, 'I hope it will bring families together and cure several diseases.'

However, finances appear to be on Carrey's mind, as he is still holding out for a big payout on his stunning Los Angeles mansion, which remains on the market after a series of his price cuts, according to Realtor.com.

Initially listed in February 2023 for a lofty $28.9 million, the five-bedroom, nine-bathroom Brentwood estate has now been reduced to a more palatable $19 million.

Two months after listing the property, he cut the price to $27 million, and in October 2023, he reduced that number to $24 million.

And in May 2024, the Truman Show actor slashed the price to $21.9 million  bringing the total discount to $7 million.

When he first listed his home for sale in February, he told The New York Post that he was ready for 'changes' in his life.

'For three decades it's been a sanctuary for me, but I don't spend a lot of time there now and I want someone else to enjoy it like I have,' he told the outlet in a statement.

'Cha cha cha cha ... Changes!' he added as he referenced the iconic David Bowie song.

However, finances appear to be on Carrey's mind, as he is also still holding out for a big payout on his stunning Los Angeles mansion , which remains on the market after a series of his price cuts, according to Realtor.com

Hes also shared stories of his travels to various corners of the globe, from humble trips to Buffalo, NY, to lavish getaways in London and awe-inspiring visits to Machu Picchu, Peru; (seen arriving at Maui airport in 2016)

Despite the price slashes, Carrey is poised to make a significant profit, having purchased the property for just $3.8 million back in 1994.

He bought it while he shot to fame starring in the hit movie Ace Venture: Pet Detective.

The actor also owns a property in Maui, confirming in 2017 that he is a resident of the island after buying a home near the waterfront in Makena.

Some of his art is even displayed in the local Wyland Gallery.

His luxury car collection is rumored to have taken a bite out of his fortune as well.

The comedian has owned several Mercedes, a Porshe Panamera and a Tesla, according to Supercarblondie.

Hes also shared stories of his travels to various corners of the globe, from humble trips to Buffalo, NY, to lavish getaways in London and awe-inspiring visits to Machu Picchu, Peru.

Carreys journey from humble beginnings to Hollywood icon began in the streets of Toronto, where he grew up.

Carrey enjoyed a legendary run with hits like Liar Liar, The Truman Show, How the Grinch Stole Christmas , and Bruce Almighty, but his star began to dim in the late 2000s

After leaving school in 1978 to help support his family, Carrey spent two years working as a janitor in a factoryfar from the spotlight, but not for long.

By age 15, he was already performing stand-up comedy in local Toronto clubs, and by 1979, he was earning a living as a comedian.

At 19, Carrey took a leap of faith and moved to Hollywood, where he quickly immersed himself in both television and film. In 2004, he solidified his place in both countries by obtaining dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship.

In 1983, Carrey made his mark on Canadian television with a role in IntroducingJanet.

The following year, he stepped onto the big screen in his feature film debut, Finders Keepers, before landing a leading role in Once Bitten (1985).

But it was Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) that saw Carrey take on the quirky role of Wiploc, an intergalactic alien, cementing his place in the world of eccentric comedy.

Carreys first TV special, Jim Carrey: Unnatural Act (1991), earned rave reviews and opened the door to his breakout role on the sketch comedy series In Living Color, where his zany, larger-than-life persona became a household name.

Interestingly, in 1985, Carrey made a daring and prescient decision: he wrote himself a check for $10 million for 'acting services rendered,' dated it ten years into the future, and kept it in his wallet as a symbol of his ambition.

Remarkably, in November 1995, Carrey learned that he had been cast in Dumb and Dumber for exactly $10 million.

In 2022, he announced his plans to retire from acting once and for all, claiming that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 would be his final film.

Carrey commanded a cool $20 million for films like The Cable Guy in 1996

'It depends, if the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's gonna be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I'm taking a break,' he said at the time.

At the Sonic 3 premiere, an interviewer from the Associated Press said to him: 'You said in a past interview that you'd come back if you got a script written in gold ink written by angels...?'

As Carrey began to laugh he replied saying: 'That might've been hyperbole, yeah.'

The Sonic series has been one of the most lucrative projects of his career, with the first two films grossing a combined $725m (568m) worldwide.

Sonic The Hedgehog is back on the big screen with another hair-raising adventure to unwrap just in time for Christmas.

It sees the return of everyone's favorite blue hedgehog, along with his faithful sidekicks, Knuckles and Tails, as the dynamic trio experience their most thrilling adventure yet.

It also stars Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves and Colleen O'Shaughnessey.
Jeremy Clarkson's girlfriend Lisa Hogan gave fans an insight into how The Farmer's Dog pub has been decorated for Christmas on Tuesday - including some very cheeky baubles.

Former actress Lisa, 51, posted a video to the couple's Diddly Squat Farm account, showing off the venue, which is located in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, in all it's glory.

She panned her camera around the pub, which appeared to be busy with punters for the festive period, before showing off a stunning real tree which featured fairy lights and a selection of ornaments.

Lisa wrote in the caption: 'Christmas has arrived @thefarmersdogpub,' before telling her followers: 'I would say The Farmer's Dog is all set up for Christmas, you will love it here.'

Showcasing the tree and one decoration in particular, she added: 'This is our very Diddly Squat Christmas tree. These have just come in.'

The girlfriend of the former Top Gear host, 64, looked glamorous in a knitted red jumper, black blazer and blue jeans for the pub evening.

Jeremy Clarkson 's girlfriend Lisa Hogan gave fans an insight into how The Farmer's Dog pub has been decorated for Christmas on Tuesday - including some very cheeky baubles

Former actress Lisa, 51, posted a video to the couple's Diddly Squat Farm account, showing off the venue, which is located in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, in all it's glory

She pointed out a bauble, which read: I am a f***er with a big sack,' alongside a drawing of Jeremy in a Santa hat next to bags full of gifts.

She laughed, 'And that's Jeremy. They're really cute,' before going on to show fans a red tractor design ornament.

The former actress clarified: 'These I think we're only selling in the shop and I'm not sure if The Farmer's Dog shop will be open because of the wind.'

Fans rushed to the comments to give their verdict on the decor, writing: 'Wow love the ceiling lights/branches.'

'Im going to be there on Saturday for my birthday. Cant wait!!!'

'Decs look so stylish.'

'Lovely pub! Popped in recently. Bet those tree decs dont stay on there long.'

'Looks amazing well done.'

Jeremy's boozer, which opened its doors in August, only uses produce from Great Britain- including even seasonings such as pepper and salt - all in the hopes of further supporting British farmers.

She pointed out a bauble, which read: I am a f***er with a big sack,' alongside a drawing of Jeremy in a Santa hat next to bags full of gifts

She panned her camera around the pub, which appeared to be busy with punters for the festive period, before showing off a stunning real tree

Showcasing the tree and one decoration in particular, she added: 'This is our very Diddly Squat Christmas tree'

Lisa wrote in the caption: 'Christmas has arrived @thefarmersdogpub,' before telling her followers: 'I would say The Farmer's Dog is all set up for Christmas, you will love it here'

Fans rushed to the comments to give their verdict on the decor, writing: 'Wow love the ceiling lights/branches'

The pub update comes just days after Jeremy looked as loved up as ever with girlfriend Lisa in rare snaps as the couple marked eight years since the day they first met.

Lisa took to Instagram on Sunday to give fans a glimpse inside her life with the former Top Gear host amid the pair's special milestone.

Jeremy could be seen sweetly wrapping his arms around his love as they smiled for a photo, with one seeing the pair on a boat while in another they were seemingly at a party.

While Clarkson's Farm fans usually see the pair working hard on their Oxfordshire farm, the couple looked happy and relaxed in the pictures as they enjoyed quality time together.

Captioning her snaps, Lisa penned: '8 years today I met @jeremyclarkson1'.

The couple, who work together on Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm, first began dating back in 2017 after being set up by friends at a Christmas party.

But far from falling in love at first sight, Lisa previously told how the TV star had to work hard to win her affections.

She told The Sun in June: 'I thought, "Ok, you've got a bit of a rep" - so he had to really court me!"

She added: 'He courted me for a solid three months!... he does make an effort to make me laugh a lot, which I really appreciate. And we do get on.'

The pub update comes just days after Jeremy looked as loved up as ever with girlfriend Lisa in rare snaps as the couple marked eight years since the day they first met

Former actress Lisa took to Instagram on Sunday to give fans a glimpse inside her life with the former Top Gear host amid the pair's special milestone

Back in April, Lisa discussed her hopes of getting engaged to the outspoken presenter.

And the pair chatted to The Sunday Times to discuss the show coming back where the interviewer recalled that the topic of proposing was brought up while the couple were out on a walk during an old episode.

At the time Jeremy said that he had a 'big surprise' for her and after she asked if it was a proposal, he pretended not to hear and instead showed her a fallen willow tree bursting back into life.

After she followed up about the proposal, he said: 'I'll think about the proposal, OK? I'm not ready yet.'

Discussing the exchange, Lisa has now said: 'I just thought I might surprise him.'

When asked if she had taken advantage of February 29 to do a leap year proposal, when women typically propose, she added: 'Jeremy doesn't think I proposed but he wasn't wearing his hearing aids, so no-one will know.'

Jeremy has been married twice before.

He wed his first wife Alexandra James in 1989. The couple were married for six months before they split the following year in 1990.

The couple, who work together on Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm, first began dating back in 2017 after being set up by friends at a Christmas party

Back in April, Lisa discussed her hopes of getting engaged to the outspoken presenter (Pictured with Lisa in 2017)

Jeremy went on to remarry as he found love with his second wife Frances Cain.

The couple were married for more than two decades before they separated and welcomed three children together including, daughters Emily and Katya as well as son Finlo.

In that same month, Jeremy joked he was 'consumed with fear' girlfriend Lisa was planning on putting him into a care home after turning 64.

The Top Gear star revealed he was with a trip to 'somewhere nice' to celebrate his big day, but featured there was an ulterior motive.

Jeremy went on to say that despite the mystery drive thankfully not ending up in a home for the elderly, he quipped 'the day was coming'.

Writing in his The Sun column: 'It was my birthday this week and my girlfriend Lisa said she'd booked 'somewhere nice'.

'It all sounded lovely, but as we plunged further and further into the Cotswolds, and she still wouldn't tell me where we were going, I became consumed with a fear that she was taking me to a care home.'

Before adding: 'She didn't. But the day is coming'.
The Yellowstone spinoff with Beth and Rip is underway, it was revealed on Wednesday by Deadline.

Beth is played by British actress Kelly Reilly with fan favorite Rip played by Santa Barbara native Cole Hauser.

And there will be several familiar faces on it, the site reported but did not name names.

By looking closely at season five, there are some good guesses as to who will be hired for the new series from Paramount.

One of them is Forrie J Smith, who plays cowboy Lloyd Pierce. He was asked by Rip to stay on at the Dutton ranch during season 5B.

Another is Carter, played by Finn Little. He plays the adopted son of Rip and Beth. It was made clear by Rip the boy would still be employed at Dutton Ranch no matter what.

The Yellowstone spinoff with Beth and Rip is underway, it was revealed on Wednesday by Deadline. Here is a look at who may join them

Beth is played by British actress Kelly Reilly with fan favorite Rip played by Santa Barbara native Cole Hauser. Seen in November

One face who won't be seen: Ryan Bingham, who plays cowboy Walker whose on-screen lover Laramie is played by his real-life wife Hassie Harrison.

In last week's episode he clearly stated he would not stay in Montana but would be going back to Texas.

That seems to indicate he and his lady would likely be in a 6666 spinoff which has been long talked about.

Walker has said in a previous season that he used to work at 6666 and never should have left because real cowboys worked there.

Also not in the cards is Jefferson White who plays Jimmy as he is firmly employed by the 6666 ranch called 'the four sixes.'

Also not in the mix will be Sarah Atwood played Dawn Olivieri because she was killed by a hit men team.

And Colby, played by Denim Richards, won't be seen as he was offed by a horse in 5B.

By looking closely at season five, there are some good guesses as to who will be hired for the new series. One of them is Forrie J Smith, who plays cowboy Lloyd Pierce. He was asked by Rip to stay on at the Dutton ranch during season 5B

Another is Carter, played by Finn Little. He plays the adopted son of Rip and Beth. It was made clear by Rip the boy would still be employed at Dutton Ranch no matter what.

One face who won't be seen: Ryan Bingham, who plays cowboy Walker whose on-screen lover Laramie is played by his real-life wife Hassie Harrison. In last week's episode he clearly stated he would not stay in Montana but would be going back to Texas

And it is not likely that Jamie Dutton played by Wes Bentley will be around as it has been suggested Beth will murder him in the December 15 finale.

But if he does not die, he would be the perfect villain for Beth and Rip.

Also, if Jamie sticks around somehow, there looks to be a chance that he will reunite with his baby mama Christine, played by Katherine Cunningham.

She was seen giving Jamie advice on 5B.

Others who may join Beth and Rip at the ranch are Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton (though he said this season he wants to leave the ranch), and his wife Monica, played by Kelsey Absille.

Their son Tate, played by Breckin Merrill, would be a wise choice to add to the spinoff, as he has already bonded with Beth and Rip's son Carter which was highlighted again on last week's episode.

Others who may join Beth and Rip at the ranch are Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton (though he said this season he wants to leave the ranch), and his wife Monica, played by Kelsey Absille

Jennifer Landon, who plays Teeter, may come back but she has already spent time on the ranch 6666 and may be headed for a spinoff.

Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater played by Gil Birmingham - who is a longtime friend of creator Taylor Sheridan - would likely appear on the show. His loyal assistant Mo, played by Mo Brings Plenty, would be a smart save as well

It would be smart to bring back Bella Hadid, who did a great job as the hottie rider who dates Sheridan's cocky horse trainer

John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, has no chance of being on the show

Jennifer Landon, who plays Teeter, may come back but she has already spent time on the ranch 6666 and may be headed for a spinoff.

Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater played by Gil Birmingham - who is a longtime friend of creator Taylor Sheridan - would likely appear on the show.

His loyal assistant Mo, played by Mo Brings Plenty, would be a smart save as well.

There may also be more of Evelyn Dutton, played by Gretchen Mol. She will likely feature in flashback scenes as Beth's mother.

And there is a chance flashback scenes could include a young John Dutton, played by Josh Lucas.

It would be smart to bring back Bella Hadid, who did a great job as the hottie rider who dates Sheridan's cocky horse trainer.
Exes Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are as busy as ever with their filming careers.

The duo were spotted shooting their own separate projects in Long Beach, California on Tuesday.

Garner, 52, was seen working on her AppleTV+ series The Last Thing He Told Me while Affleck, 52, worked on the Netflix project RIP at a different set several miles away.

Affleck's latest film centers around 'a group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on.'

A cigarette dangled from Affleck's mouth as he tinkered with his motorcycle shortly after arriving to the set.

He was seen at the door of his sleek Airstream with a helmet in hand.

Jennifer Garner was seen filming season two of The Last Thing He Told Me in Long Beach on Tuesday, several miles away from her ex-husband Ben Affleck's latest project

Affleck was also spotted shooting RIP in Long Beach that same day

Elsewhere, Garner was surrounded by various crew members as she padded through The Last Thing He Told Me set in soft boots.

Her look also consisted of a midnight blue jacket and floral print skirt.

Garner is returning as Hannah Hall for a second season of The Last Thing He Told Me, a show based on the novel of the same name by Laura Dave.

The show sees Garner play 'a woman who forms an unexpected relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter while searching for the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared,' according to IMDB.

The first season of the show premiered last year in April 2023 - and became the streaming site's most-watched limited series, despite having a score of only 41% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Outside of their filming endeavors, Garner and Affleck are busy co-parenting three children together.

The duo have remained friendly since ending their marriage of 13 years in 2018. They share children Violet, 19, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12.

Affleck headed to his trailer after parking his motorcycle

The Argo star shares three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, whom he was married to from 2005 to 2018; pictured 2012

Affleck is in the midst of divorcing his second wife, Jennifer Lopez

Over time, they struck up romantic relationships with others - Affleck famously rekindling his romance with Jennifer Lopez in 2022, whom he went on to wed before divorcing earlier this year, while Garner has been dating businessman John Miller on-off since 2018.

On Thanksgiving, the exes were seen volunteering with their kids at Midnight Mission followed by a traditional feast with their children.

A source recently shared with InTouch that the exes are now 'closer than ever.'

'Theyve developed a mutual respect and a deeper level of friendship they didnt have before. It has some friends asking if they could be on their way to getting back together,' the insider shared with the site.

It comes after a source told Page Six that Ben was overjoyed to spend the holiday with his family as he feels as if he can 'just be himself' around Jennifer and their children; pictured in 2014

The insider continued of the exes, 'They have a history and a deep love for each other. They like spending time together and light up when they see each other', adding, 'Lets just say that Ben and Jen are in a very good place.'

It comes after a source told Page Six that Ben was overjoyed to spend the holiday with his family as he feels as if he can 'just be himself' around Jennifer and their children.

The insider added: 'Even though Ben and Jen have been split for a while now, he feels a certain level of comfort with her.

'Ben has a strong relationship with Jen that will never dissipate because they have a lot of history together and shes the mother of his kids.'
Megan Barton-Hanson has said going under the knife helped her from being bullied as a teen for her looks, to transform into the 'Alan Sugar of strip clubs'.

The former Love Island star, 30, first went under the knife at the age of 19 for a double surgery, a nose job and a breast augmentation.

Megan, who rose to fame on the 2018 series of the ITV dating show, confessed she was bullied for her nose and sticky-out-ears in school which prompted her to change her appearance.

After 'barely being able to afford a train ticket to work' in London from Essex, Megan opened up to dating expert Paul Carrick Brunson for his We Need To Talk podcast.

Paul, 50, asked: 'You've had your ears pinned back, first procedure, then you have your breasts done. What drove you to get your breasts done at that age?'

Megan, from Essex, admitted: 'I'll be brutally honest - money.

Megan Barton-Hanson has said braving going under the knife helped her from being bullied as a teen for her looks, to the ' Alan Sugar of strip clubs'

The former Love Island star, 30, first went under the knife at the age of 19 for a double surgery, a nose job and a breast augmentation

'I had no issues, I was quite body confident with my natural boobs but there was this girl and she was on social media making a lot of money basically doing Page 3, but she was her own boss.

'I remember saying to my first boyfriend, 'babe, she's making so much money, don't you think I'm prettier, I could definitely do that if I had bigger t**s'.

'I wanted my nose done, that was another thing from school kids would pick on.

'I hate being put to sleep so I'll get my t**s done, the nose done, all in one and I can make so much money, either on social media, or back then, Page 3 was still a thing.

'I wanted to be a glamour model, a Page 3 girl.

'I was working in London and it was minimum wage, barely affording my train ticket to commute from Essex to London.

'I was like, this can't be what life is, surely.'

Megan was working as a Legal PA at the time, but decided to invest in breast surgery.

Megan, who rose to fame on the 2018 series of the ITV dating show, confessed she was bullied for her nose and sticky-out-ears in school which prompted her to change her appearance

She said: 'I wanted to be a glamour model, a Page 3 girl. 'I was working in London and it was minimum wage, barely affording my train ticket to commute from Essex to London. I was like, this can't be what life is, surely'

After this, the reality star began to flaunt her new look through scantily clad pictures on Instagram and quickly racked up a huge following before her Love Island fame.

Six years on, she now has 1.4 million followers, she shared: 'I've got a lot to thank for Instagram, just posting more sexy pictures. The likes started growing.'

As her social media account took off, the reality TV star then turned to a strip club to further boost her finances.

She explained: 'I was earning really bad money at the law firm, it wasn't worth the hours I was putting in. I had no money to spend at the weekend.

'I was investing in my looks but what I was making on Instagram wasn't enough to survive on. I'd walk past the strip club and the girls outside looked so happy, they were laughing. They were glamorous as f**k.

'I didn't even tell my parents, I just walked in and said 'hi, can I have a job?'

'I'd never stepped foot in a strip club, I just knew they looked happy and like they had loads of money, and that was what I wanted.

'I was being sexualised by the trainee solicitors, the solicitors. The way they would look at me, the little things they would say, so in my mind, if you're gonna sexualise me when I'm dressed in a pencil skirt and tights on minimum wage, I'm gonna go and be sexualised where I can make so much money and I can be my own boss. So that's what I did.

'For the first year, I thought I'd made it. I thought I was Alan Sugar.'

Discussing working at the strip club, Megan explained: 'It was really freeing. They were some of the best memories of my life, working in that strip club.

'It gave me a sisterhood I'd never had with girls. Growing up, when the girls ostracised me, for no fault of my own, for being bullied by a much older boythese girls could tell, I was very geeky and shy.

'They were so lovely. I'd never felt that sisterhood, ever in my life, it was lovely.'

Megan added: 'I'd never stepped foot in a strip club, I just knew they looked happy and like they had loads of money, and that was what I wanted'

'I was being sexualised by solicitors. The way they would look at me, so in my mind, if you're gonna sexualise me when I'm dressed in a pencil skirt on minimum wage, I'm gonna go and be sexualised where I can make so much money'

Megan soared to fame on season five of Love Island, finishing in fourth place with Wes Nelson.

They ultimately split five months after the show ended, with Megan later claiming Wes prioritised money and career over her.

Earlier this year, Megan spoke exclusively to the Mail's podcast Straight to the Comments! where she detailed their relationship now.

Megan revealed: 'Yeah, we're like civil, we're friends. If I saw him [Wes] out, I'd chat to him.'

Elsewhere in the chat, Megan - who came out as bisexual in 2019 - detailed the difference between her romantic relationships with women and men.

She explained: 'I try not to look at gender. I think for me it's more about the connection I have with someone. If they're bringing something to my life, they're making me a better version of myself, and they're just a nice person.'

Reflecting on her past romances she added: 'I've dated so many a**holes, I'm just open; if they're a girl, a guy, it doesn't matter to me.'

While Megan is believed to be single, she sparked dating rumours in September when she was seen kissing Instagram model Leah Ray.

Her last known relationship was with TOWIE star Demi Sims, who she split from in 2023, four years after meeting on reality show Celebs Go Dating.

Megan uses her platform to promote sex-positivity and revealed that she's passionate about speaking out about sex because she was 'badly slut-shamed' at school.

The OnlyFans model previously confessed she 'carried a sense of shame around' because her friendship group were so judgmental, and those feeling continued when she was given 'such a hard time in the villa' for being a sex worker.

The reality star admitted: 'At school, I was badly slut-shamed and I carried a sense of shame around with me about it. I think that's why I'm so outspoken now...

'I think I've been given this platform... It was never my intention to come out [of Love Island] and speak so openly about sex and female pleasure.

'I think I was just given such a hard time in the villa, when I was in there, for being a sex worker or for having sex with two guys on television.

'And now I've come out I've really come into my own. I'm so passionate about speaking about this. And for years I so much shame, which is why I'm so outspoken about it now.'
Princess Andre looked effortlessly glamorous in a brown maxi dress as she joined pregnant Arabella Chi at the Mufasa: The Lion King premiere at London's Leicester Sqaure on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old social media influencer, who is the daughter of Katie Price and Peter Andre, looked stunning as she wrapped up in a white fluffy teddy coat.

She completed her red carpet look with a matching pair of brown and white trainers, before accessorising with a silver heart necklace and a selection of rings.

Princess allowed wore her long blonde tresses in a straight style and opted for a glamorous palette of makeup for the star-studded red carpet event.

She was joined by former Love Islander Arabella, 33, who last week announced she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Billy Henty.

The model and reality star showcased her incredible figure in a skin-tight white gown, which featured extra material to cover her blossoming bump.

Princess Andre looked effortlessly glamorous in a brown maxi dress as she joined pregnant Arabella Chi at the Mufasa: The Lion King premiere in London on Wednesday

The 17-year-old social media influencer, who is the daughter of Katie Price and Peter Andre , looked stunning as she wrapped up in a white fluffy teddy coat

She teamed the dress, which boasted an asymmetrical design and long sleeves, with white strappy sandals, a sparkling diamante-encrusted necklace, and small gold hoop earrings.

Arabella toted around her belongings in a metallic silver handbag as she posed up a storm on the red carpet.

She wore her blonde locks in a straight style and added a glowing palette of makeup to elevate her natural beauty.

The Lion King: Mufasa, which will hit cinemas on December 20, is a prequel to the 2019 live action movie, which follows the lion before the birth of his son Simba.

Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, Rafiki relaysthe legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumba a lending their signature schtick.

Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Takathe heir to a royal bloodline.

The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destinytheir bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

Also at the premiere was Tiffany Boone, who plays the role of Sarabi in the Disney movie.

The actress, 37, put on a dazzing display in a black and blue sequinned gown, which boasted an array of intricate details and embellishments.

She completed her red carpet look with a matching pair of brown and white trainers, before accessorising with a silver heart necklace and a selection of rings

Princess allowed wore her long blonde tresses in a straight style and opted for a glamorous palette of makeup for the star-studded red carpet event

She seemed to be in high spirits as she posed up a storm on the red carpet

She was joined by former Love Islander Arabella, 33, who last week announced she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Billy Henty

The model and reality star showcased her incredible figure in a skin-tight white gown, which featured extra material to cover her blossoming bump

Arabella toted around her belongings in a metallic silver handbag as she posed up a storm on the red carpet

Also at the premiere was Tiffany Boone, who plays the role of Sarabi in the Disney movie

The actress, 37, put on a dazzing display in a black and blue sequinned gown, which boasted an array of intricate details and embellishments

She was joined on the red carpet by her co-star Anika Noni Rose, who cut a striking figure in a dramatic black mesh gown

The cast pictured L-R: Tiffany Boone, Aaron Pierre, Anika Noni Rose, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen and Barry Jenkins

Elsewhere, Nadiya Bychkova brought some of the Strictly glitz and glamour to the event in a very sparkly off-the-shoulder silver dress

The 35-year-old professional dancer added a pop of colour with bright red lipstick and wore her blonde tresses in a neat updo

Meanwhile, former Love Islander Faye Winter cut a glamorous figure in a huge ruffled nude ballgown

The 29-year-old TV personality teamed her statement look with snake-print heels, dangly earrings and an assortment of chunky gold jewellery

Strictly finalist JB Gill was also in attendance with his professional partner Lauren Oakley, his wife Chloe, and their children

JB opted for a grey roll-neck jumper and and a suede black jacket as the family posed for snaps

She was joined on the red carpet by her co-star Anika Noni Rose, who cut a striking figure in a dramatic black mesh gown.

Other cast members in attendance included Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Taka), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon) and Mads Mikkelsen (Kiros).

Theo Somolu (Young Taka), Preston Nyman (Zazu), and Folake Olowofoyeku (Amara) also showed up for the savanna themed carpet.

Elsewhere, Nadiya Bychkova brought some of the Strictly glitz and glamour to the event in a very sparkly off-the-shoulder silver dress.

The 35-year-old professional dancer added a pop of colour with bright red lipstick and wore her blonde tresses in a neat updo.

Meanwhile, former Love Islander Faye Winter cut a glamorous figure in a huge ruffled nude ballgown.

The 29-year-old TV personality teamed her statement look with snake-print heels, dangly earrings and an assortment of chunky gold jewellery.

Strictly finalist JB Gill was also in attendance with his professional partner Lauren Oakley, his wife Chloe, and their children.

Lauren put on a very leggy display in a sequinned mini dress, while JB opted for a grey roll-neck jumper and and a suede black jacket.

Louise Thompson wowed in a dazzling sparkly brown dress, which featured a leg slit and high-neck design

The Made In Chelsea star, 34, exuded glamour as she joined the flock of celebrities at the screening, wearing her brunette locks pulled back into a neat ponytail

She attended the screening with her fiance Ryan Libbey, with the couple putting on a loved up display before heading inside

Actress and presenter Vanessa Sam looked incredible in a gown by Rosie Billington

Elsewhere, Folake Olowofoyeku showcased her elegant sense of style in a two-tone suede trench coat

The actress added inches to her height with a unique pair of brown and grey boots, which featured a clear heel

Her co-star Aaron Pierre looked dapper in a smart black suit and blazer, layered on top of a grey roll-neck jumper

DJ Cuppy turned heads in a colourful striped oversized blouse and wide legged trousers

It was a family affair for Natalya Wright, Carol Wright and Jess Wright, who wowed in glamorous dresses

Former TOWIE star Jess, 39, put on a leggy display in a black strapless mini dress, which boasted green feathers and a side slit

Louise Thompson wowed in a dazzling sparkly brown dress, which featured a leg slit and high-neck design.

The Made In Chelsea star, 34, exuded glamour as she joined the flock of celebrities at the screening, wearing her brunette locks pulled back into a neat ponytail.

She attended the screening with her fiance Ryan Libbey, with the couple putting on a loved up display before heading inside.

Elsewhere, Folake Olowofoyeku showcased her elegant sense of style in a two-tone suede trench coat.

The actress added inches to her height with a unique pair of brown and grey boots, which featured a clear heel.

Her co-star Aaron Pierre looked dapper in a smart black suit and blazer, layered on top of a grey roll-neck jumper.

It was a family affair for Natalya Wright, Carol Wright and Jess Wright, who wowed in glamorous dresses.

Former TOWIE star Jess, 39, put on a leggy display in a black strapless mini dress, which boasted green feathers and a side slit.
Matt LeBlanc took a break from running his used luxury car dealership for a grocery run on Wednesday.

The Friends alum stocked up on food for the week ahead at Ralph's in the Los Angeles area of Encino and left the store with two loaded grocery bags.

The reclusive star, 57, kept it casual for his errand ran.

Matt sported a burgundy hoodie along with jeans, grey sneakers, and a Mercedes-Benz branded hat.

It's been 30 years since Matt catapulted to fame on the small screen.

The actor famously portrayed Joey Tribbiani on Friends from 1994 to 2004 but in recent years has made a career pivot.

Matt LeBlanc took a break from running his used luxury car dealership for a grocery run on Tuesday

The star is now part-owner of RPM Motorcars, which is based in the LA neighborhood of Sherman Oaks.

They offer 'high quality, exotic, luxury, and sport cars for everyone' according to its website and is also adept at sourcing unusual models for well-heeled clients.

Business documents filed in Delaware show LeBlanc has part-owned the business since October 2020.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the veteran star hard at work on the lot of the dealership, while his distinctive $149,000 black Mercedes G-Wagon can also be seen parked outside.

And it appears LeBlanc has also made the business a family affair with daughter Marina, 20, also spotted at the dealership multiple times in recent weeks, at times wearing a company-branded gray t-shirt.

Marina is LeBlanc's only child with ex-wife Melissa McKnight, to whom he was married from 2003 to 2006.

When approached for comment, LeBlanc hid to avoid talking to our reporter, but staff confirmed his role at the business.

The revelation of LeBlanc's new venture comes amid recent reports that he is taking a break from the spotlight.

He kept it casual in a burgundy sweatshirt and Mercedes-Benz branded hat

The actor left the store with two loaded grocery bags

The television star has not appeared in any film or TV projects since the Friends HBO reunion special in 2021, previously saying he was 'taking some time off.'

His last acting gig was as Adam Burns on CBS series, Man with a Plan, between 2016 and 2020.

Recently, Matthew's Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow revealed the cast of Friends  Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry  only met once in the 17 years between the series end in 2004 and their 2021 reunion on HBO Max.

'Wed only had dinner, the six of us, once before since the show ended,' Kudrow admitted on the Dinners on Me podcast hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Friends was a critical and award-winning success, earning a total of 62 Emmy nominations over its 10-season run

Despite the long hiatus, the cast picked up right where they left off when they finally convened for dinner 10 years after the finale.

'Just us at someones house and [we] had dinner, and like, didnt miss a beat,' Kudrow said.

Friends was a critical and award-winning success, earning a total of 62 Emmy nominations over its 10-season run.

The show won six Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002, and Aniston and Kudrow both received individual acting awards for their iconic portrayals of Rachel Green and Phoebe Buffay.
Emma Hernan smoldered while arriving on the Selling Sunset set in Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, the 33-year-old model-turned-realtor looked straight out of a magazine cover in a sexy brown pinstripe mini-dress that flaunted her hourglass figure and ample bust.

She brough along her brand new Yorkshire Terrier pup and accessorized with an Hermes Birkin bag , sky high heels and designer shades.

The blonde bombshell is an avid dog mum and also cares for an Akita mix named Benedict who she rescued in 2017.

Her glamorous outing in the City of Angels comes after her Selling Sunset co-star Nicole Young explosively claimed Hernan had an affair with an unnamed married man.

Just days ago, Hernan broke her silence on the shocking rumor, telling People, 'Lies were told, but I'm focused on telling my truth in Season 9.'

Emma Hernan smoldered while arriving on the Selling Sunset set in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The highly anticipated ninth season of Selling Sunset is slate to hit the Netflix library sometime in 2025.

'I'm really looking forward to getting my truth out and being able for people to get to know me more,' Hernan added.

And the drama had gotten to such a point that Hernan considered leaving the realty due to the relentless controversy.

But with support from fellow cast members Chelsea Lazkani and Chrishell Stause, she chose to confront the allegations publicly.

They accused Done and Done Productions, the company behind Selling Sunset, of 'spreading lies for views.'

In solidarity with the 33-year-old socialite, her pals on the show threatened to leave the series and slammed the production company for allegedly not giving Emma an opportunity to clear the air and respond to the affair allegations.

Referring to Young, Stause said, 'Are we still giving air time to LIARS who just want air time?'

In another post on social media, she added: 'I will NEVER work on a show with her on it again. I would rather be sued.'

'Disclaimer when you watch just know she spews a disgusting lie about a bestie that is categorically FALSE and SUPER damaging. It is NOT TRUE.'

During the post rant, she share another message tagging Done and Done Productions, calling the company 'disgusting' for not shedding light on the other side of the story.

'You are disgusting for blindsiding her with this to see with the world instead of letting her at LEAST defend herself with the TRUTH,' 43-year-old actress said.

The 33-year-old model-turned-realtor modeled a sexy brown pinstripe mini-dress that flaunted her hourglass figure and ample bust while carrying her new pup

Despite the affair allegations, she received support from fellow cast members Chelsea Lazkani and Chrishell Stause; Chrishell, Chelsea and Emma seen in September

Hernan's Selling Sunset co-star Nicole Young explosively claimed Hernan had an affair with an unnamed married man; Nicole seen

In a social media rant, Stause said she would 'never work with Nicole again'

Lazkani added, 'Good morning everyone except for @nicoleyoung. You are the most diabolical piece of [wastebasket emoji] I've ever met.'

Lazkani chimed, blasting the production company and branding Nicole as 'diabolical.'

The 31-year-old realtor said, 'Good morning everyone except for @nicoleyoung. You are the most diabolical piece of [wastebasket emoji] I've ever met.

'You wanna start a rumor about Emma because all the rumors about you are true. Okay let's see how this works out for you

'@done_and_done_productions where is your moral ground and integrity?? Spreading lies for views is so damaging.'
Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks have been reunited after weeks of speculation over their romance.

The couple posed for a photo together in a London hotel, cuddling up with a group of friends as they celebrated Maura's homecoming after her month-long trip to Australia for I'm A Celeb.

Maura had touched down at London Heathrow airport just hours before, but was obviously keen to catch up with Strictly star Pete was soon as possible.

A beaming Maura reposted her pal's mirror selfie on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday night, with the group of friends seen surrounded by jungle themed balloons.

The I'm A Celeb star looked fresh-faced as she clutched a glass of wine whilst Pete stood at the back of the group, gazing down at her.

Pete wasn't there to greet her at the airport with Maura swept off her feet by a loved one after landing at Heathrow.

The former Love Island will have plenty of time to catch up with Pete, who missed out on a place in the Strictly Come Dancing final on Sunday evening.

Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks have been reuited after weeks of speculation over their romance. The couple posed for a photo together in a London hotel, cuddling up with friends

After reaching the BBC show's semi-final stage with professional dance partner Jowita Przysta, the heavily tattooed star was eliminated following their latest dance-off.

During her time in the jungle, Maura seemingly confirmed that she was dating Pete after they were seen kissing just weeks before she flew to Australia.

When asked by former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse if was single, Maura replied: 'I am but I was seeing someone before I came in but I'm not in a relationship.'

Reverend Richard Coles - a founding member of '80s synth-pop group The Communards - then asked: 'Was it exclusive? Or if I've put you on the spot, sorry!', to which she replied after a long pause: 'I dunno'.

Maura also revealed that the pair had known each other for longer than fans might expect - and said Pete had pursued her relentlessly.

'Yeah, we've known each other since five years, and never once..." she told Oti.

'He would always say, "Oh no, like, we are gonna go on a date somewhere." And I'd be like, "We're actually not." And I was deadly serious, "We're actually not. You're delusional."'

Appearing on This Morning following her elimination from the show she shared her excitement at potentially seeing Pete upon her return to the United Kingdom and admitted he had encouraged her decision to enter the jungle.

Maura returned to London on Wednesday afternoon following a three week stay in Australia for the latest series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

She said: 'Honestly, he's been so supportive. I didn't know if he was still in Strictly, I'm so proud of him and he's proud of me and I can't wait to see him.'

When asked why she eventually changed her mind, Maura explained: 'He wouldn't give up. And then I was like, "Oh fine".

'I brought my friends with me, and I was like, "see it's a friendship date." And then the next time I went, just me.'

Recounting their first date, she admitted no expense was spared, noting: 'We went out for oysters and wine. Yeah, come on. It was super nice.'

As for their chemistry, Maura quipped: 'Yeah, a lot of fun. We just dial up 24/7 with each other. We've got the very same humour.'

During his time on Strictly Pete showed that he still had Maura on his mind as he reposted Maura's Instagram which was being run by her friends and family while she was Down Under -and urged people to vote for her.

He quipped: 'I've been George of the Jungle but now it's time to vote for Maura of the Jungle'.

The Mail on Sunday previously revealed that Pete has put a stop to his romantic liaison with his Strictly partner Jowita Przystal - because he is determined to win the heart of Maura.

The former Love Island will have plenty of time to catch up with Pete, who missed out on a place in the Strictly Come Dancing final on Sunday evening

Appearing on This Morning following her elimination from the show she shared her excitement at potentially seeing Pete upon her return to the United Kingdom

Sources close to Pete say he is telling friends he is completely smitten with the jungle star who he has been casually dating for the past five months.

When he began Strictly and met Jowita, Maura gave up any hope of the relationship continuing.

A friend said: Before Maura entered the jungle, Pete wanted to make their relationship exclusive.

'But Maura, aware of Petes reputation and his close bond with Jowita, decided to slow things down.

'She gave him an ultimatum: either commit to her or let it go. So she went off a single woman.

'Since then, Pete has gone all-in, openly expressing his feelings to anyone wholl listen'.
Kanye West took a leaf out of ex-wife Kim Kardashian's book as he was spotted driving an identical luxury car while out with wife Bianca Censori in Japan this week.

The rapper, 47, flashed a beaming grin as he parked his mirrored Mercedes-Maybach car while heading to lunch with Censori, 30.

While his marriage to Kardashian, 44, may be firmly in the past, the car is the same one Kardashian owns and has been spotted posing with in 2019 and 2021.

West has been a longtime fan of the lavish cars which cost around $200,000 each and in was reported in 2021 he bought Kardashian five 2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600s amid their divorce.

In 2023 Kardashian's fleet of luxury vehicles was seen parked at her home and toward the back of the line was a sporty SUV, a 2022 Custom Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, which cost an impressive $250,000.

Kim shares four children with her ex-husband Kanye West - North, 11, Saint, ten, Chicago, six, and Psalm, five.

Kanye West flipped his usual frown on its head, flashing a rare smile while enjoying a date with wife Bianca Censori on Sunday

While his marriage to Kardashian, 44, may be firmly in the past, the car is the same one Kardashian owns and has been spotted posing with in 2019 and 2021 - pictured

West has been a longtime fan of the lavish cars which cost around $200,000 each and in was reported in 2021 he bought Kardashian five 2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600s amid their divorce; the exes seen in 2019

The pair were married from 2014-2022.

This comes amid dad West's apparent absence from their four kids' lives  two years after he and his ex-wife reached a joint custody agreement.

That's because he's been hunkered down in Japan with his much-younger wife Bianca Censori, 30, amid mounting sexual assault and abuse lawsuits  including from his former assistant.

He was last seen spending time with his children in September as they attended his album listening party in China.

North and Chicago recently appeared in the rapper's music video for his new song BOMB off his Vultures 2 album  though it was later determined that the daughters' cameos were AI generated.

DailyMail.com previously reached out to reps for West for comment on him not being seen with his children in several months but did not immediately hear back.

Last month, Kim admitted she feels like a single parent these days while appearing on her close pal Zoe Winkler's What The Winkler? podcast.

Zoe said Kim's parenting situation is 'insane,' to which reality star replied, 'Yeah.'

Kim also told Winkler, who is also a mother, that she doesn't talk about raising her kids a lot because it comes with 'a lot of judgment'.

'You and I have mostly connected on parenting and judgment, and you know, feeling like sometimes you're in this alone,' she shared.

Kardashian is seen in a similar car in 2019

Along with Saint, Kim is also mom to North, 11, Chicago, six, and Psalm, five

And Kim added that she is 'basically raising four kids by [herself] here.'

The reality TV star went on to say that she feels like a 'pit stop of a race car driver' because she juggles so much and admitted to feeling overwhelmed.

'Even though we have great support systems and we have people around us, but sometimes in the middle of the night when [the kids are] all sleeping in your bed, kicking you and crying and waking up, like, it is,' she said, before trialing off.

'It's not something I talk about a lot because I feel like there is always a lot of judgment. Or people will always jump to the, "Oh, but you have the resources to have nannies and to have help."'
Albertsons has backed out of its $25 billion merger with Kroger, and is suing the grocery chain, saying it did not do enough to secure regulatory approval for the agreement.

It comes after both a federal and state judge blocked the deal on Tuesday, which would have been the largest grocery store merger in US history.

The companies said a merger, which was originally proposed in 2022, would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon.

But the deal faced three separate legal challenges, including one filed by the Federal Trade Commission, which argued that if the companies combined it would reduce competition and push up grocery prices for consumers.

U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued a preliminary injunction blocking the merger Tuesday after holding a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon.

An hour later, Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle issued a permanent injunction barring the merger in Washington after concluding it would lessen competition in the state and violate consumer-protection laws.

On Wednesday, Albertsons said that Kroger failed to exercise 'best efforts' and to take 'any and all actions' to secure regulatory approval of the proposed merger, according to AP News.

The company argued Kroger repeatedly refused to divest assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignoring regulators' feedback, and failed to co-operate with Albertsons.

Albertsons has backed out of its $25 billion merger with Kroger, and is suing the grocery chain, saying it did not do enough to secure regulatory approval for the agreement

'Kroger's self-serving conduct, taken at the expense of Albertsons and the agreed transaction, has harmed Albertsons' shareholders, associates and consumers,"' said Tom Moriarty, Albertsons' general counsel, in a statement.

Kroger said that it disagrees with Albertsons 'in the strongest possible terms.'

It said early Wednesday that Albertsons was responsible for 'repeated intentional material breaches and interference throughout the merger process.'

Shares of Albertsons rose more than 2 percent at the opening bell as investors reacted to the news, while Kroger's stock rose slightly.

Both supermarket chains have spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past two years on the deal, which would have created a $200 billion company with 5,000 supermarkets across the country, The New York Times reported.

A customer picks up bacon at a Safeway supermarket, a subsidiary of Albertsons, in Washington, DC, in October 2022

Federal and state judges blocked the merger deal between Albertsons and Kroger on Tuesday, which would have been the largest grocery store merger in US history

The two chains compete in 22 states, but have significant overlap in some markets, including Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago.

Under the merger agreement, the companies had taken steps to try to allay regulators' concerns about market concentration.

Albertsons and Kroger had agreed to sell 579 stores in places where their locations overlapped with C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based supplier to independent supermarkets that also owns the Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly store brands.

The regulators were still skeptical, however, that these store sales would resolve concerns around competition and potential price hikes for Americans.
Bidens decision to pardon his son is rooted in political and emotional complexities, with far-reaching implications for presidential clemency

Last week, Americans and people worldwide were stunned by the news that President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden. This clemency controversy was significant because Hunter Biden, a family member, contributed to the debate surrounding the pardon. The pardon ensures that Hunter will not be sentenced for his alleged crimes and will not go to prison.

The judges handling his cases will likely cancel the sentencing hearings scheduled for December 12 for the gun case and December 16 for the tax case. Also, the President is no longer running for office. He made his no-pardon pledge before dropping out of the June presidential race. Presidential pardons in the United States have often sparked controversy; however, some decisionssuch as President Biden pardoning his sonhave led to more criticism than others. Constitutionally, the President can grant pardons, a power previous presidents have used.

Traditionally, US presidents dole out pardons as they leave office.

However, Joe Bidens complete and unconditional pardon of his son adds a layer of complexity and public scrutiny to the issue, a historical context that is important for the public to understand. It is important to understand why Joe Biden acted as he did. Joe Biden has faced many difficulties in his life.

He has faced significant personal challenges. He was caught between saving his son and the public criticism. Everyone knows that he is loyal to his family. His baby daughter and first wife died in a car accident, which also injured his sons, Beau and Hunter. Biden wanted Beau to become President, but Beau sadly died from brain cancer in 2015. This focus on the Biden familys struggles aims to create empathy from the public. According to the American media, Bidens second wife persuaded Joe to make a final decision.

The public reaction to the Presidential pardon is both critical and supportive. While some think it is fair, others consider it not justified. This mixed reaction from the public, as well as from Bidens party colleagues, adds a layer of complexity to the issue. Presidents from both parties have used their pardon power, which has raised eyebrows.

George Washington used the power to pardon some people. Presidents often use their pardon powers for friends and allies. A controversial case was former President Richard Nixon, who Gerald Ford pardoned on September 8, 1974. Nixon faced possible prosecution for the Watergate scandal.

In late 1992, President George H W Bush pardoned six men implicated in the Iran-contra affair, including former Defense Secretary Weinberger. Bill Clinton, who, despite stating he would not, pardoned his half-brother Roger for past cocaine charges. Similarly, Donald Trump pardoned his son-in-law Jared Kushners father for tax evasion and for retaliating against a cooperating witness.

Both had already served their prison sentences.

During the latter part of his first term, Trump issued pardons to various individuals who had engaged in wrongdoing. A relieved Hunter said in a statement, I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction  mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport.

The case against Hunter Biden has spanned several years, involving allegations of tax crimes and gun fences. He was convicted in June and pleaded guilty to tax evasion in September. Biden said Hunter was selectively and unfairly prosecuted and pointed out that the charges were politically motivated. The immediate impact of the pardon is that it makes it harder for Democrats to criticise Trump.

Also, it has given Trump a chance to pardon people charged with the January 6 events. Bidens change of heart after initially declaring he would not pardon Hunter had his reasons. One of them was his wife, who persuaded Biden to do so.

He stated Hunter was singled out only because Hunter was his son. President Biden has pardoned 25 individuals, none directly connected to him. Typically, presidents approve several clemency requests toward the end of the r terms. Still, The pardon damages the publics trust in the presidency. President Bill Clinton signed 140 pardons on January 20, 2001his final day in office. Many lawmakers are worried about the potential bad precedent for the future.

One way of solving the problem could be to amend the Constitution. Still, it is a lengthy process, and neither party has the number to carry it through in Congress. The critics argue it could set a dangerous precedent and erode public trust in the justice system. Recent Supreme Court rulings have made it more difficult to charge a president for actions taken while in office.

They limit the avenues for holding a president accountable for any potential misuse of the pardon power. After Hunters clemency, President Biden is considering granting broad pardons to protect his aides and officials. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that before leaving the White House, Biden plans to issue additional Pdonss.

However, in his second term, Trump declared he would pardon the 2021 clash in Congress while Biden took the oath. Trump must be careful before doling out Presidential pardons if they respect public opinion.

(The writer is a popular columnist; views are personal)
The fall of Assads regime signals a new chapter in Syrias tumultuous history, raising critical questions about the countrys path to stability

Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government has been fighting rebel groups with the support of Russia, Iran, Lebanese and Hezbollah right from 2011. Within ten days of rebels getting control over northwestern city of Aleppo and further capturing Hama and Homs, the capital Damascus also fell under their control on December 8. President Assad along with his wife and three children fled the country before rebel forces could reach him. He has been granted asylum in Moscow. His younger brother was tipped to succeed his father as President, died in a road accident.

He was called back from London, where he was practising ophthalmologist, to succeed his father as President of Syria. In the initial months after taking over the Presidency in the year 2000 he was seen as a reformist and pro-people in sharp contrast to his father Hafez al-Assads three-decade rule with iron hands. Once pro-democracy protests erupted in 2011, he followed the brutal tactics of his father to crush dissent. The conflict escalated into civil war and he was seen unleashing his military to blast opposition-held territories. All supporters of the Assad regime have considerably weakened their backing on account of the ongoing war they are engaged in.

Russian forces have a challenging battle in Ukraine. Owing to the high level of causalities of soldiers in the battle, Russia has withdrawn its forces from Syria partially and is even further recruiting foreign nationals in the force to keep the war going, which has already been continuing for a quarter to three years. Hamass terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and Israels response to Gaza opened several dimensions of the West Asia conflict.

Irans supported terror groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthis in Yemen have denounced Palestinians suffering in Gaza on account of Israeli bombardment and it opened additional fronts for Israel in the conflict. This has also weakened Iran and Hezbollah to provide adequate support to Assads regime. In addition, 13 years of Syrian civil war has exhausted the Syrian Army. Owing to the corruption in the bureaucratic and political circle of the Syrian government, and the series of Western sanctions, the economy has been hardly afloat. Further President Erdogan in Ankara, is facing the heat on account of three million Syrian migrants living in Turkiye and more so because Syria dismisses his proposal for deportation of migrants alleging that his country has illegally occupied Syrian areas along the border.

There was an option for Assad to join the Arab League last year, but he did not accept making Arab nations also opposed to him. Earlier with the help of Iran and Russia, he had survived the Arab Spring Rebellion against him, which originated in Tunisia in 2011. The next question is about the future of Syria. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is a Sunni Islamist militant group, that played an important role in the Syrian civil war. It is this group that has led other rebel groups to occupy Damascus.

The US, UK and UN have designated it as a terrorist organisation. A bounty of $10 million was on its chief Abu Mohammad al-Golanis head. UK has indicated lifting the ban on HTS if it delivers on promises like protecting minorities and peoples rights. Turkiye has backed some other rebel groups in the Syrian civil war, which do not have good ties with HTS. US-backed Kurdish YPG militia has established control in Syrias northeast, also known as the Kurdish democratic union party (PYD) does not enjoy good and workable relations with HTS. There are separate rebels in Syrias southwest.

It is quite difficult for all the groups to come together and be partners in Syrias new regime. 900 strong military men are maintained by the US in northeastern Syria. The US has maintained this presence in the name of countering ISIS, but its actual goal was the regime change in Syria. The US has now emerged clear winner. As rebels have asserted control over Syria and its capital Damascus, uncertainties remain about the future of the country. The first day was marked by arsenals, looting of shops and banks, and emptying prisons followed by a night curfew, but the second day saw normalcy slowly returning to the capital and other cities. The main rebel commander al-Golani met Assads PM Mohammad Jalali and Vice President Faisal Mekdad to install a transitional government in Syria. Further, Golani has announced publicly that they would bring out a list of government officials responsible for torturing the citizens.

In the meantime, there have been air strikes in Syria by Israeli, US and Turkey forces to protect each of their interests. Iran and Russia have suffered major setbacks with the fall of Assads government.

Both countries have lost their key allies. As Sunni Islamic groups are going to be in control of Syria, Iran a predominantly Shia population is more vulnerable to Israeli attacks. When rebel forces took control of Aleppo about a week earlier, both Iran and Russia could not extend adequate defence leading to the fall of even Damascus. Iran was exposed in recent Israeli direct attacks, and Hezbollah was also decimated, no significant support came from Assad. In recent months, Assads Syria and Iran could not support each other when exigencies arose. Syria is the only state that had joined Irans Axis of resistance against the US and Israel.

The axis has become weak; even Hezbollahs downfall could not be prevented. Hezbollah has signed a ceasefire deal with Israel ahead of any Gaza deal. The action of the state of Iran and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to defend Assad did not go well with the people of Iran. It had political and economic costs. The fall of Assad sends a disturbing signal to Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who now understands that the axis of resistance can no longer protect the allies. Assads fall has also emboldened opposition groups in Iran. Besides these, women are protesting for their rights.

All these may lead to regime change in Iran too. If the Supreme Leader realigns himself with the US by reviving/ softening its stand on the 2015 nuclear deal, then regime change in Iran can be avoided. The last two weeks of violence that culminated in Assads fleeing Syria, also saw the Shia population enthusiastically taking measures to secure the tomb of Sayyeda Zainab, the daughter of Hazrat Ali and Fatima and granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad. This holy site signifies great importance for Shia Muslims worldwide. To guarantee the security of this precious shrine, Shias from Iran, Iraq and Pakistan are also moving to Syria. The shrine is located in al-Sitt, south Damascus.

Since 1979 Iranian government has provided financial support for the management of the shrine. Several Shia scholars and celebrities are buried in the shrine and surrounding cemeteries. Since 2012 the town has been under attack from armed militants in neighboring Sunni towns. Many Shia families were driven out of their homes in southern Damascus.

Rockets landing on random places was quite common. Sunni Muslims comprise 74 per cent of Syrias population, whereas Shias are only 3per cent. Shias hold quite a strong sentiment for the shrine; the issue can be a potential flash point between the two sects and would also determine the rivalry between rebel groups.

Will Syrias transition to democracy be smooth? It is possible only when different rebel groups learn to share power.

(The writer is Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-Head of Forest Force- Karnataka; views are personal)
Parliament continued to be a battle-field virtually for the political parties on eleventh consecutive day on Wednesday as both ruling and Opposition benches trade charges against each other blaming neither of them are allowing smooth functioning of the Winter Session. With a brief functioning of the Lok Sabha which passed a bill to amend Railway Laws, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parties of the Treasury bench were at par with the Congress led Opposition INDIA Bloc in sloganeering in and out of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha causing disruptions in both the Houses which ultimately led to adjournment of the day. Congress-led INDIA Bloc and BJP soon after the adjournments held Presser to flag concerns over non functioning of the Winter Session.

Parliament proceedings were washed out in the first week of the winter session starting November 25 due to protests by Opposition members demanding discussion on issues like the indictment of industrialist Gautam Adani in a United States court and Sambhal violence and since last week, the ruling BJP MPs have been raising the issue of alleged nexus between Soros and the Congress posing a threat to national security.

While several Opposition members alleged Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhars partisan conduct which prompted them to move a notice for his removal as vice president and accused him of being the biggest disrupter whose conduct in the House has harmed the countrys dignity, BJP alleged Congress was attempting to defame Dhankhar and insulting the Jat community.

Alleging that politics has taken precedence over rules in the Upper House of Parliament, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the chairmans conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the high post he holds. Several Opposition MPs greeted their BJP counterparts in Parliament premises with the tricolour in one hand and a red rose in the other, as they urged the ruling party to ensure that the House functions and all issues, including the Adani matter, are discussed. This is the latest in a series of unusual daily demonstrations led by the Congress over the Adani issue.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also offered the tricolour in the form of a card to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh when the latter was entering the main Parliament building. Rahul also met Speaker Om Birla and urged him to expunged remarks made by BJP MPs against him, and ensure the House functions smoothly.

Addressing a joint Press conference by the INDIA Bloc leaders at the Constitution Club, Kharge alleged that Dhankhar is working as a government spokesperson and acting like a school headmaster, often sermonising experienced Opposition leaders and preventing them from speaking in the House. The Rajya Sabha chairmans conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the post he holds. He targets Opposition leaders and often praises the government, Kharge said.

The Rajya Sabha chairmans conduct in the House has harmed the countrys dignity. We have no hesitation in saying that the biggest disrupter in the Rajya Sabha is the chairman himself, Kharge said. The Congress chief said since 1952, no resolution has been brought against the vice president under Article 67 of the Constitution as those who held the post previously never indulged in politics and remained unbiased. He said the Opposition parties have nothing against Dhankhar, but he left us with no option but to go ahead with the notice for his removal.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Tiruchi Siva said there is a blatant attack on the countrys democracy in Parliament by the ruling BJP and added that Opposition members, including the Leader of Opposition, is not allowed to raise issues. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Nadimul Haque said he agreed with Congress stand. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee slammed both ruling BJP and Congress over the repeated adjournments in Parliament, blaming them for the disruptions. Javed Ali Khan of the Samajwadi Party (SP), said the Opposition has been totally made invisible in the Rajya Sabha.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (Democratic) MP In Rajya Sabha Manoj Jha also said the Opposition has been invisibilised in Parliament. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, It seems that the chairman is not running Parliament but a circus. He eats up the time by speaking himself. No leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were present.

Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to examine the partys complaint against BJP MP Nishikant Dubeys defamatory remarks against Rahul Gandhi and remove them from the record. Dubeys remarks targeting Rahul Gandhi and seeking to link him to a US-based multi-billionaire, triggered uproar in the Lok Sabha, leading to adjournment of proceedings.

The BJP alleged that the US-based investor, investigative media platform Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Congress were trying to derail Indias success story under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Keeping up its offensive against the Congress, the ruling party also alleged that the connection between US-based billionaire Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family runs deep, extending beyond Sonia Gandhis role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP).

Addressing a Press conference at the BJP headquarters, BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra termed the Opposition parties notice for a no-confidence motion against Dhankar and INDIA Bloc s decision to move Supreme Court on the EVM issue as painful and disturbing.
The Delhi governments excise department has directed hotels, clubs and restaurants serving liquor to verify the age of their clients through hard copies of government-issued identity proofs after violations of the legal drinking age norm were detected. In Delhi, liquor is served only to persons aged 25 years and above. Delhi is now the only metropolitan city with a high drinking age, even in Mumbai, only hard liquor is barred for those under 25, while wine and beer is allowed at 21. In major global cities such as New York and London, the drinking age is 21 and 18 respectively. Interestingly, the voting age is 18, while the minimum age of marriage for women is 18 and for men it is 21 in India.

The excise department of the Delhi government, during routine inspections by its teams in recent days, found customers younger than 25 years having alcohol at bars, clubs and restaurants. The inspections also revealed that some customers were consuming liquor pretending to have completed 25 years. Complaints were also received by the department that some excise licensees were serving liquor to underage persons, according to a circular issued by the excise department.

As per the data of the excise department, there are around 1,100 HCR (hotel, club, restaurant) category premises in the city including nearly 700 restrobars. The hotels and clubs with excise licence number around 165 and 50. Strangely most HCR violates the drinking age norms while serving liquor. Under the Delhi Excise Act, 2009, no person or licensed vendor or his employee or agent will sell or deliver liquor to any person apparently under the age of 25 years for personal or others consumption. The violations of the age restriction norms were reviewed by the department.

"All the licence holders of hotels, clubs, restaurants (HCR) are hereby directed to be more careful and to not serve liquor to any person under the age of 25 years without verifying the age through government-issued IDs," stated a circular issued by the department.

"In this regard, attention is invited to section 23 of The Delhi Excise Act, 2009 which reads as, "Prohibition of sale to certain persons, - No person or licensed vendor or his employee or agent shall sell or deliver any liquor to any person apparently under the age of Twenty Five years, whether for consumption by self or others," Deputy Commissioner (Excise) Tanvir Ahmed said in a circular issued to hotels, clubs and restaurants.

"All the license holders are advised to verify customers age only with the physical ID instead of virtual IDs shown on the mobile phones (except govt. portals for eg. Digilocker) to minimize the chances of verification of age through fake/edited digital IDs," read the circular.

The legal drinking age was a lingering issue in Delhi as it was lower in the NCR cities of Nodia, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. Under the excise policy 2021-22, now scrapped, there was a plan to lower the legal drinking age to 21 years but it failed to materialise as the policy itself came under attack over allegations of corruption and violations of rules.

Further, in pursuance of a campaign launched recently by Delhi to make the city drug-free in the next three years, the excise department has directed the licensees to take e-pledge on its official website and conspicuously display the certificate at the hotels, clubs and restaurants. The department has advised the licensees to create awareness among their staff and customers to cooperate in stopping drug abuse and stay away from its use to have a healthy life.

"To curb the menace of drugs, it is decided to start a drive wherein all the existing licensees are requested to take e-pledge on the website www.pledge.mygov.in/fightagainstdrugabuse/ and generate the certificate and to display the same certificate in the restaurant at conspicuous place to be viewed easily by the public/customers visiting the Hotels/Clubs/Restaurant Further, it is also advised to all the licensees to make aware all their staff and customers to consciously cooperate in stopping drug abuse and stay away from drugs to live a healthy life," a notification said.
Elaborate traffic diversions and parking arrangements will remain in place in the state capital as thousands of participants make their way to the Lal Parade Ground for the International Gita Mahotsava on Wednesday.

Starting at 8:30 AM, people attending the event can park at Aam Bagiya, ITI, and area outside the stadium. Buses will drop attendees at the Control Room Tiraaha and park at MVM Ground, Old Jail Ground, and MLA Rest House.

Buses coming from Bhopal will be directed to the Old Jail Ground, while buses from Vidisha, Sehore, and Raisen will be parked at MVM Ground.

Traffic congestion is expected on several routes, including Roshanpura Chauraha to Gandhi Park, DB Mall Tiraaha to Jail Road, and Lily Talkies intersection to Jahanagirabad.

For public transport, alternative routes have been arranged. Buses from New Market to Railway Station will take Apex Bank, Link Road No. 1, Board Office Chauraha, and other designated routes.

Similarly, buses returning to New Market will follow alternate paths via Bharat Talkies and Subhash Nagar Road Over Bridge (ROB).

Entry for public transport and authorized vehicles will be restricted on routes leading towards Lal Parade, including DB Mall Tiraaha to Jail Headquarters Rotary and Lily Chauraha to Police Headquarters. Authorities have urged the public to cooperate with traffic regulations to avoid inconvenience.

School and college students appearing for examinations, and those headed for railway stations, and the airport are advised to start early and take detours to avoid these areas. Ambulances and other health service response teams are also advised to take alternate routes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was paid a courtesy visit by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at Parliament House, New Delhi on Tuesday. He invited Prime Minister Shri Modi for the Global Investors Summit to be held in Bhopal in February 2025 and Bhoomi Pujan and foundation stone laying of Ken-Betwa river linking project.

Chief Minister Yadav apprised Prime Minister Modi about the works done by the state government in one year and sought guidance.

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced the launch of two significant programs to mark the completion of one year of the state governments tenure. The first program, Mukhya Mantri Jan-Kalyan Parv, will be held from December 11 to December 26, 2024, focusing on the overall development of the state and promoting public welfare.

The second program, Mukhya Mantri Jan-Kalyan Abhiyan, will run from December 11, 2024, to January 26, 2025.

This campaign aims to achieve 100% saturation in schemes dedicated to empowering the four key pillars of development: Youth, Women, Farmers, and the Poor. Additionally, the campaign will address and resolve issues related to 63 government services that impact the common people, ensuring comprehensive support and welfare for all.
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday once again ruled out the possibility of an alliance with the Congress for the Delhi assembly polls, amid reports that the two parties could be jointly contesting the elections.

In a post on X, Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be fighting the election on its own strength in Delhi.

"There is no possibility of any alliance with the Congress," the former Delhi chief minister said.

His reaction comes amid media reports that the two parties were likely to have a tie up for the 70-member Delhi Assembly polls due in February.

Earlier this month also, Kejriwal had ruled out the possibility of the alliance between the AAP and the Congress for the Delhi elections.

The recent buzz over alliance between the two Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners was fuelled by cancellation of the Congress' 'Nyay Chaupal' event scheduled on Wednesday in which party leader Rahul Gandhi was to participate.

The event was to be held as culmination of the "Nyay Yatra" taken out by the Delhi Congress across Delhi ahead of the assembly polls.

Also, Kejriwal on Tuesday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar amid the rising demand in the INDIA bloc to appoint West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as head of the political grouping currently chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

However, neither Kejriwal nor AAP have so far commented on the discussions in the meeting.

These developments were seen as the Congress and AAP making their moves cautiously in view of the upcoming Delhi polls so that the future options remain open, sources said.

The AAP and Congress fought the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi together earlier this year but lost on all the seven seats against the BJP. However, they failed to reach a seat-sharing agreement ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls in October despite several rounds of talks.

The AAP has so far released two lists of its total 31 candidates so far. The list of remaining candidates is expected to come soon.

Out of power in Delhi since 1998, the BJP is making all-out efforts to wrest power from the AAP.

In the 2015 and 2020 Delhi Assembly polls, the AAP won 67 and 62 seats and the BJP won three and eight seats respectively.The Congress drew a blank.
South Africa beat Pakistan by 11 runs in a thrilling Twenty20 that went to the last over at Kingsmead.

Set 184 to win, Pakistan was thwarted on 172-8.

Pakistan appeared to be saving wickets for a madcap finish. Opener Mohammad Rizwan's steady but slow innings put pressure on his partners to swing hard.

They mainly delivered. Saim Ayub hit 31 runs, and Tayyab Tahir 18 off 18.

When Tahir left, five overs remained, and Rizwan woke up. In the 17th over, he clubbed Kwena Maphaka for sixes over long-on and long-off.

But in the 18th, left-arm spinner George Linde took out three Pakistanis in four balls and thought he finished the over with a hat trick. But Haris Rauf's review showed the ball missing leg stump.

Rizwan hit three boundaries in the 19th over and had bolted from 36 off 44 to 74 off 61. Pakistan reached the last over needing 19 runs.

He was out second ball, miscuing a pull at Maphaka to backward point, and Pakistan hopes died with him.

Linde's standout performance included four wickets with the ball after whacking a 24-ball 48 to give the Proteas a healthy 183-9.
Palestinian medical officials said Monday that Israeli strikes in the central Gaza Strip overnight killed at least six people, including one woman.

The strikes came as ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow on Sunday and received asylum from his longtime ally, according to Russian media, hours after rebels seized control of Damascus.

The UN Security Council plans to hold emergency closed consultations on Syria later Monday at Russias request.

Among the dead in the overnight Israeli strikes were Raed Ghabaien, who was released from Israeli detention in 2014, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the casualties were taken.

He was killed along with his wife when an Israeli strike hit their tent in the central town of Zuweida, the hospital records showed. Two other people were killed in a strike that hit their house late Sunday in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp. Another two were killed in a strike in the Wadi Gaza area early Monday.

An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the hospitals morgue.

Israels offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in the Gaza since the start of the war, according to local health authorities. They say most of the dead are women and children but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.

Israel says it only strikes militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths because its fighters operate in residential areas.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250, including older adults and children. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Turkish foreign minister says Ankara hopes for an inclusive govt in Syria: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday that Ankara hopes the fall of the Syrian government will usher in a new era where different ethnic and religious groups can live peacefully under an inclusive new government.

Fidan also said his country hopes that a new Syria would maintain good relations with its neighbors and bring stability to the volatile region.

The developments in Syria yesterday have given us a glimmer of hope, Fidan said in a speech to Turkish ambassadors. We expect international actors, especially the United Nations, to reach out to the Syrian people and support the formation of an inclusive government. The minister said Turkey would continue to support Syrias territorial and political unity and work toward the countrys prosperity, security and stability.

But Fidan said it was important that the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants do not take advantage of the situation, adding that Turkey would work with determination to prevent Syria from turning into a haven for terrorism.

Turkey, which has reached out to its Syrian brothers during difficult times, will also be by their side, as the new page opens in Damascus, Fidan said. We believe that the Syrian people will also make good use of this golden opportunity.

Israel says a drone that appears to have originated in Yemen hit a city in central Israel: The Israeli military said Monday that a drone that appeared to have originated in Yemen slammed into a city in central Israel.

Video posted by Israeli news sites showed a large burst of smoke erupting from a high-rise apartment building.

The military said sirens were not sounded to warn of the incoming drone. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Iran-backed militants in Yemen have been attacking Israel since Hamas assault on southern Israel in October 2023.

Their drones have at times evaded Israels sophisticated aerial defence system.

Turkey-backed forces take full control of Syrian city from US-backed and Kurdish-led force: The Turkish-backed forces known as the Syrian National Army launched an offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Dec 6, days after expelling SDF fighters from the city of Tal Rifaat.

Turkish security officials said Monday that control of Manbij has been secured, without providing further details. The officials provided the information on condition of anonymity, in line with Turkish regulations.

Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia group, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and a terrorist organisation. The force, however, has been a key partner of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Separately, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said in a statement on Monday that a Turkish drone strike in the village of al-Mistriha north of Raqqa in eastern Syria killed 12 civilians, including six children.

Top aide to Assads brother found dead, war monitor says: A Syrian opposition war monitor says a top aide to the brother of Syrias ousted president was found dead in his office near the capital, Damascus.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Maj Gen Ali Mahmoud, who was in charge of Maher Assads office, had led a 2018 military campaign in southern Syria.

A video that circulated on social media allegedly showed Mahmoud covered in blood while sitting on a chair. His clothes appear to have been set on fire. It was not clear if he was killed by Maher Assad or he committed suicide, the observatorys chief Rami Abdurrahman said.

Maher Assad was in charge of the armys 4th Armored Division which played a major role in Syrias conflict since it began in March 2011.
Syrias prime minister said Monday that most Cabinet ministers are still working from offices in Damascus after rebels entered the capital over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad. Streams of refugees crossed in from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future. But there were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country, which is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance.

Israel said it is carrying out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel has also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew.

In a separate development, the Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Assad, a decision taken by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assads specific whereabouts and said Putin was not planning to meet with him.

In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assads departure to Russia the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past.

Damascus was quiet on Monday, with life slowly returning to normal while most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed but there was no public transport, leaving some to hitchhike. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores.

There was little sign of any security presence, and Associated Press reporters saw a few SUVs on the side of a main boulevard that appeared to have been broken into, with their windows shattered and their doors open.

In some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. A video circulating online showed a man in military fatigues holding a rifle attempting to reassure residents of the Mezzeh neighbourhood in Damascus that they would not be harmed.

We have nothing against you, neither Alawite, nor Christian, nor Shiite, nor Druze, but everyone must behave well, and no one should try to attack us, the fighter said.

Prime minister says the government is still operational: Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali, who remained in his post after Assad and most of his top officials vanished over the weekend, has sought to project normalcy.

We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth, he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before, when joyful crowds gathered in public squares and celebratory gunfire rang out across the capital.

He said the government is coordinating with the insurgents, and that he is ready to meet rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who made a triumphal appearance at a famed Damascus mosque on Sunday.

Syrians who only days ago were working at all levels of the bureaucracy in Assads regime were now flipping to the new reality.

At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly.

We want to give everyone their rights. We dont their rights to be wasted, Haddad told AP outside the courthouse. We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work but with new methods.

Meanwhile, a Syrian opposition war monitor said a top aide to Assads brother, Maher, was found dead in his office near Damascus. A video that circulated on social media purportedly showed Maj. Gen. Ali Mahmoud covered with blood and with his clothes burned. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was not clear if he was killed or died by suicide.

Maher Assad, whose whereabouts are unknown, led the armys 4th Armored Division, which played a major role in the civil war that erupted in 2011, after a popular uprising against Assad led to a violent crackdown on dissent and the rise of an insurgency.

Turkey says its allies have taken northern town: Officials in Turkey, which is the main supporter of the Syrian opposition to Assad, say its allies have taken full control of the northern Syrian city of Manbij from a US-supported and Kurdish-led force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF.

The SDF said a Turkish drone struck in the village of al-Mistriha in eastern Syria, killing 12 civilians, including six children.

Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey. The SDF has also been a key ally of the United States in the war against the Islamic State group.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday expressed hope for a new era in Syria in which ethnic and religious groups can live peacefully under an inclusive government. But he warned against allowing Islamic State or Kurdish fighters to take advantage of the situation, saying Turkey will prevent Syria from turning into a haven for terrorism.
Comrades! Today, Red Parliament Square is being besieged by rich Kulak farmers from the rural areas. These are areas which our Big State Metropolitan Islington urban elite do not know anything about apart from sometimes we have the displeasure of driving through these filthy muddy places. Our policy of bulldozing over their land for the purposes of collectivisation and taxing the generational farms to non-existence is a policy that the Soviet Labour Party will NOT back down on.

Class War and Class Envy

The vile rich Kulaks must be crushed. They will have their livestock sold off, they will have their crops crushed under bulldozers and the countryside will be covered in concrete so we can build thousands of thousands of grey Soviet housing to house the millions of illegal unskilled migrants from Third World countries on benefits.

Foreign Agricultural Aid

On that note, comrades, I pledge millions of pounds to foreign agriculture programs in foreign aid to countries like communist China who do not need foreign aid. Other countries count and because Labour wants to kill everything in Britain, we are truly dedicated to destroying this country from the inside. We are thus taking from you and giving needlessly to others who have no need for our foreign aid. Yes, we hate British farmers that much.

More Super Gulag Prisons

Your pathetic privileged villages where rich class people live will be bulldozed so that we will build Super Gulags. Yes, I have sequestered Commissar Rayner, Deputy Soviet prisons minister who will take down the kulak farms, the villages and towns so that we can put the kulaks in there along with other political criminals who need to be re-educated and punished daily in woke Soviet ideology.

Bulldozers

We will bulldoze over the brooks, the quaint villages, the countryside wildlife, the farms and even the protected areas. Nothing will get in the way of our Great Leap Forward.

The Kulak farmers are criminals and will be punished for making food for the population. This is a crime most heinous, and we cannot abide by such atrocious actions. These rich landowners must be cut down, their inheritance removed so that they will not be able to continue farming for another generation. We will make sure that the Soviet Peoples Republic of Britain is free of Kulak farmers, who have for centuries and many generations farmed the land to provide the populations of Britain with food.

Kulak Farmer Protests Will be Crushed

We are warning the Kulaks who are protesting. You have acquired money and wealth, which is a crime in Soviet Britain. We are going to bulldoze over your land, your animals, your crops and your precious country wildlife.

The Soviet Peoples Republic of Britain will destroy all the farms, and we will round up the Kulaks so that they will be eradicated once and for all. This is a class war, the Landed Gentry will be crushed so that everyone is equal in poverty. If you own one tractor, you are part of the landed gentry class. This is an illegal operation now! Farming is illegal! We will take your farms and your heritage! Fuck them! Destroy the countryside! Kill the animals! Murder the protected owls, bats, kestrels and if we see any foxes we will bulldoze the fuckers into a pancake splodge!

We want to thank the Eco Green groups and animal rights groups for staying quiet whilst we bulldoze over the countryside. Thankfully, these groups like Just Stop Oil are Marxists and do not care about anything apart from themselves.
Efforts urged to boost trade ties across Strait

13:33, December 11, 2024 By Cao Desheng, Hu Meidong ( China Daily

Business communities across the Taiwan Strait were urged on Monday to serve as a bridge to promote the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations and work together to strengthen the economy of the Chinese nation.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks in a congratulatory message to the 2024 annual conference of the Cross-Strait CEO Summit, which was held in Xiamen, Fujian province.

On behalf of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee, Wang congratulated the convocation of the conference and sent regards to members of the summit and all attendees.

While calling for enhancing cross-Strait cooperation and exchanges, Wang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, reiterated the Chinese mainland's commitment to upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and its firm opposition to "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference.

Wang called for efforts to deepen integrated development across the Taiwan Strait in various fields, and highlighted support for Taiwan compatriots and businesses in participating in the nation's modernization drive and sharing the achievements of the mainland's development and progress.

He expressed the hope that compatriots and entrepreneurs on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will uphold the great cause of the nation, follow the trend of the times, adhere to the correct direction in the development of cross-Strait relations, firmly hold the destiny of the Chinese nation in the hands of the Chinese people, and jointly write a splendid chapter of the reunification of the motherland and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

More than 700 people from the industrial and business communities of the mainland and Taiwan attended the conference. They expressed their support for strengthening industrial and supply chains across the Strait, and expressed their desire to promote the integrated growth of cross-Strait relations.

Liu Chao-shiuan, chairman of the Taiwan-based council of the Cross-Strait CEO Summit, said that faced with the challenges of complex changes in the international landscape, cooperation among business communities across the Taiwan Strait should not remain stagnant.

"On the contrary, we must rise to the occasion, adopt a higher level of strategic thinking, and commit to enhancing the level of cooperation, expanding the scope of collaboration and deepening integrated development," Liu said.

He emphasized that there are complementary advantages and broad prospects for cross-Strait cooperation in the new energy vehicle industry. Both sides can work together to encourage more enterprises to invest in the sector to jointly build a more resilient industrial chain, he added.

Liu also called for cross-Strait cooperation in fields such as medicine and healthcare, environmental protection, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

Guo Jinlong, chairman of the mainland-based council of the summit, highlighted the policies that the mainland has adopted to promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"This is not only an inevitable requirement for the nation's efforts in promoting high-standard opening-up, but also demonstrates the mainland's greatest sincerity in promoting the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, as well as enhancing the wellbeing of the people on both sides of the Strait with a people-centered approach," he said.

Guo said that the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations embodies the common aspirations of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, representing a historical inevitability.

"Any separatist actions for 'Taiwan independence' are absolutely unacceptable, as they jeopardize the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, and we must firmly oppose them."

In the first nine months of this year, the total trade volume between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait reached $212.44 billion, up 9 percent year-on-year, and 5,725 new enterprises with investment from Taiwan entrepreneurs were established on the mainland, marking a 5.6 percent increase compared with the same period last year, Guo said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Taiwans Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday the initiation of combat readiness drills in response to a significant mobilization of Chinese military forces around the island. The scale of the Chinese deployment is unprecedented, surpassing previous activities in scope and geographic reach. China has designated seven no-fly zones east of the Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian coasts, extending these restrictions until Wednesday.

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Military vessels from the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Theater Commands are actively maneuvering in the waters surrounding the Taiwan Strait, extending operations into the Western Pacific and between the first and second island chains. While China has not officially labeled these actions as military exercises, the sheer magnitude of the operations, including what appears to be a potential blockade against foreign intervention, suggests otherwise, leading the Taiwanese Defense Ministry to characterize it as a de facto military exercise. Taiwanese officials estimate that nearly 90 naval and coast guard vessels are deployed, the largest maritime operation in the region in almost three decades.

The Timing and Possible Motivation

This escalation of military activity coincides with President Lai Ching-tes recent overseas trip, which included stopovers in Hawaii and Guam. Reports indicate that China may be staging a Joint Sword-2024C military exercise as a direct response to President Lais visit and his transits through U.S. territory. The U.S. State Department has called for restraint, emphasizing that President Lais routine transits should not be used as a pretext for exerting military pressure on Taiwan. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery highlighted the concerning scale and sophistication of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) exercises, stating that they pose a more direct threat to Taiwans security while serving as strategic messaging and operational training for the PLA.

Taiwans Defense Strategy

Global Implications and International Response

Taiwans Defense Ministry reports the detection of 21 Chinese vessels and 47 Chinese military aircraft operating in close proximity to the island. Senior intelligence officer Hsieh Jih-sheng explained that Chinas broader maritime deployment aims to deter regional countries, such as Japan and the Philippines, from intervening in a potential conflict. The ministry further detailed Chinas formation of two walls in the Western Pacific, deploying a large number of vessels to the eastern edge of Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone and a more distant area in the Pacific. These actions, according to Hsieh, convey a clear message: China considers the Taiwan Strait its internal waters, and cross-strait matters are solely the domain of the PLA and the Peoples Republic of China. This deployment strategy, along with the unprecedented naval and air activity, represents a major escalation in tensions.

The scale of Chinas military operation has raised international concern. The potential impact on regional stability and freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait is significant, leading to increased international scrutiny. The potential for miscalculation or escalation is high, as the situation remains fluid and unpredictable. Taiwans ongoing combat readiness drills underscore the seriousness of the problem, highlighting the islands preparedness to defend itself against potential aggression. The lack of official comment from China on its military actions further intensifies the uncertainty. The situation demands a cautious and measured approach by all parties involved.

Taiwans Perspective and Long-Term Implications

Taiwans Defense Ministry spokesperson, Sun Li-fang, emphasized the unprecedented scale of the current exercises compared to previous Chinese war games, placing it as the largest since the 1996 crisis. This underscores the significant challenge Taiwan faces and underscores the islands determination to safeguard its sovereignty and security.

The ongoing tensions highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and the potential for further escalation. The long-term implications of this situation extend beyond the immediate crisis, influencing regional security alliances and international relations for years to come. The international community continues to closely monitor the situation, urging restraint and diplomatic solutions to de-escalate the tension. The future of cross-strait relations remains uncertain, posing a significant challenge to regional peace and stability.
bBold, the beloved viral Irish tanning sensation, has added another golden chapter to its remarkable journey.

At the glittering Beauty Awards 2024 ceremony in London, the County Derry brand celebrated a triumphant evening, claiming not one but three prestigious accolades.

This recognition cements bBold's reputation as a trailblazer in the world of innovative, high-quality, and accessible tanning products.

The awards secured by bBold include 'Best Beauty on a Budget': TikTok Viral Instant Airbrush, 'Highly Commended - Bath & Body Breakthrough': Express Mousse and 'Highly Commended - Beauty Innovation': Instant Airbrush.

Speaking about the brand's incredible success, Lauren Hyndman, Head of Sales and Marketing at bBold, expressed her excitement.

She said: We are absolutely thrilled to announce that bBolds TikTok Viral Instant Airbrush has won Best Beauty on a Budget at the annual Beauty Awards 2024 in London! This incredible recognition highlights our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable products that make everyone feel bronzed and beautiful. Were also proud to have picked up two Highly Commended Awards, celebrating our innovation and dedication to excellence. A huge thank you to our amazing team, loyal customers, and supportive community for making this achievement possible.

These awards highlight bBolds commitment to creating innovative, affordable, and skin-loving formulas that help beauty lovers achieve their ultimate glow.

The Instant Airbrush, hailed for its ability to create a flawless, airbrushed finish in seconds, continues to win hearts, with one can selling every 60 seconds. Its satin finish and ability to blur imperfections in an instant has made it a must-have for beauty enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, the Express Mousse, enriched with hydrating and nourishing ingredients like Niacinamide and Pentavitin, offers a streak-free glow in just 60 minutes. Its skin-loving formula ensures long-lasting hydration while delivering that signature bBold bronzed look.

As bBold celebrates this monumental achievement, the brand remains committed to its mission of empowering customers to feel radiant, confident, and bold. With a focus on innovative product development and a passion for excellence, bBold promises to keep raising the bar for tanning products that are accessible, effective, and cruelty-free.

From its origins in Draperstown, to becoming a glistening phenomenon, bBolds journey is nothing short of inspiring. With over 5 million bottles sold and a growing fan base, including influencers, beauty enthusiasts, and celebrities, the brands glow shows no signs of dimming.
Caolan ONeill celebrated graduating from Queens yesterday (Tuesday) with an MSc in Planning and Development after gaining hands-on planning experience executing an ambitious project on the historic Cromore Estate site along the North Coast.

Caolans initial interest in planning came about as his partner Orla completed her own Planning degree at Queens. That interest piqued through his vision to transform part of the historic Cromore Estate near Portstewart into a unique bubble-dome accommodation enterprise.

While navigating the challenges of his planning application, Caolan recognised the value of formal education in the field. Encouraged by Orla, now a Higher Planning Officer, Caolan decided to pursue his masters degree through the Higher-Level Apprenticeship (HLA) pathway.

Caolan entered the MSc course with no traditional undergraduate qualifications, but his practical experience and innovation made an impression on the Course Director, Dr Neil Galway who offered him a place. After initially postponing enrolment due to the demands of the Cromore planning project, Caolan joined the programme the following year.

Reflecting on the journey, Caolan recalls: The HLA was an incredible opportunity, especially as someone who hadnt been to university before.

Balancing full-time work, managing a planning application, and studying was tough, but the support from Queens, particularly my thesis mentor Heather Ritchie, made it possible. Her guidance was invaluable.

Throughout the course, Caolan demonstrated a remarkable ability to link academic theory with real-world application, gained, in large part, through his hands-on experience of navigating the Northern Ireland planning system.

His thesis recounted the complexities of designing a project within the historic curtilage of the Cromore Estate, persevering through consultations with statutory bodies, navigating concerns from local residents, and overcoming political hurdles.

Caolan encourages others considering higher education, and particularly mature students or those without prior university experience, to take the leap.

He coninued: Dont be intimidated. The resources and support are there, and programmes like the HLA offer an accessible route to education.

Studying at Queens has been transformative for me. It has equipped me to better manage planning applications and support others facing similar challenges. Its not just about getting approval; its about learning to navigate a system that often feels overwhelming.

As he graduates, Caolan is focused on making his mark on Northern Irelands planning landscape by advancing his redevelopment plans for the Cromore Estate. His long-term vision is to create a destination that harmonises innovation with heritage and contributes to the local economy.
The lights on the Guildhall Square Christmas tree and surrounding festive illuminations were switched off during a one minutes silence in remembrance of the 24 women murdered in the North since 2024.

The poignant tribute came at the end of a 16 Days of Action candlelight vigil on Tuesday evening organised by Foyle Womens Aid.

Foyle Women's Aid's 16 Days of Action Candlelight Vigil in Derry's Guildhall in memory of the 24 women murdered in the North since 2020.

The vigil gave particular voice to the families of Katie Simpson and Montserrat Martorell, who were killed in the city in 2020 and 2024.

Caoimhe Tracey, a support worker with Foyle Womens Aid, read aloud a letter from Gisela Martorell - Montserrats daughter.

#Derry #16DaysOfAction #CandleLightVigil



Caoimhe Tracey (@FoyleWomensAid) reads a letter from Gisela Martorell - the daughter of Montserrat Martorell, who was killed in the city in August.



Gisela described her mother as a "free, brave & resilient soul".



She said: "Today I pic.twitter.com/dC3L1s7uZ8  Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) December 10, 2024

Gisela described her mother as a free, brave and resilient soul.

She said: Today I want to pay tribute to my mother, a loving woman full of strength and light. Although her departure was unfair and premature, her legacy lives on in me and who I am.

My mother was a woman with a lovely personality. The truth is she was a woman who always knew how to overcome problems and find new paths.

My mother taught me to have an open mind, to respect other cultures and to beliefs, to love animals, to be independent, to not be afraid to experiment and to always face problems with a bit of humour.

My mothers love was unconditional. She was my guide. I always found shelter in her.

Her departure has left an immense void. She has been Cruelly taken from us. She did not deserve to suffer in this way. I wish with all my heart the person who did this pays for it because God cannot forgive him.

Mum, I miss you every day. I still cant believe you are no longer here. I know you care for me and watch over me and you accompany me on my path. I promise to lead a life that honours your legacy, that wherever you are you can continue to be proud of me. Mama ti amo, I love you and I always will carry you in my heart. Thank you.

Addressing the vigil, Paula Mullan, aunt of murdered showjumper Katie Simpson, said this was the familys fifth Christmas without Katie.

#Derry #16DaysOfAction #CandlelightVigil



Paula Mullan, the aunt of murdered showjumper, Katie Simpson, said this was the family's fifth year without Katie.



Paula added: "Katie was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, niece, cousin & friend.



"Katie loved her family & pic.twitter.com/7z1SsCMiuJ  Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) December 10, 2024

She added: Katie was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. Katie loved her family and was loved by us all.

She was crazy about horses, Country and Western music, going to the beach and being with her friends. She was hardworking, brave, feisty and stood up for herself. She was full of fun and mischief. This is how we, her family remember her, and her smile.

But, she was taken from us by a man who controlled and abused her but today is not about him. While Katie is gone, her beautiful smile lives on but on posters, which are a shocking reminder of what happened to her and 23 other women in the past four years in Northern Ireland.

Victims can get lost in the headlines, the news reports, court cases and enquiries. They have no voice anymore. Shockingly, they are often blamed in some way for their terrible crime that was committed against them. It is up to us as individuals and as a community, to stand up for the victims, be their voice, said Paula.

Paula also asked people not to be afraid to call out violence against women.

There is help out there, she added. It is hard to believe 24 women have lost their lives to violence in the past four years in the North of Ireland.

We remember all these women here today. We remember the families and know only too well the pain they are going through.

All that is left to us as Katies family is to speak out and hope no-one else goes through what we have gone through and are still going through.

Our fight now is for the truth to be told and justice for Katie. We hope she knows how much she was loved and missed. Thank you everyone here. It is good to know we are not alone in our sorrow and in our fight for justice. I would like to thank Womens Aid for organising this vigil and for all its support. It is important to us Katie is never forgotten. Thank you, said Paula.

Following the minute's silence, the Thyme To Sing choir from CALMS (Community Action For Locally Managing Stress) sang Labi Siffres anthem So Strong.

#Derry #16DaysOfAction #CandlelightVigil



Following a minute's silence in remembrance of the 24 women murdered in the North since 2020, the Thyme To Sing choir from CALMS (Community Action For Locally Managing Stress) sang So Strong by Labi Siffre. pic.twitter.com/QVkUVSNgYk  Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) December 10, 2024

Speaking to The Derry News following the vigil, Katie Simpsons mother, Noleen Mullan, said it was great to see so many people come out to support us tonight.

She added: We want to bring awareness as well to other parents going through this.

Marie Brown, CEO of Foyle Womens Aid and the Family Justice Centre described the vigil as moving.

#Derry #16DaysOfAction #CandlelightVigil



Marie Brown (CEO @FoyleWomensAid & @FoyleFJC) speaking about the pain suffered by the families of Katie Simpson & Montserrat Martorell.



She said: "The reality is families are missing the person they love & have to struggle & go on. pic.twitter.com/S7epFGHlYc  Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) December 10, 2024

It was lovely of the CALMS choir to come out and put music on and we had the cooperation of the Council to turn off the lights.

I think people are supportive of families here and I know its Christmas and its a busy time but families need to know people are with them as well because the Simpson family have had quite a journey and they have a further journey to go, in order to get justice for Katie, get explanations about Katies death, how things went so badly wrong. They are on a journey and it is one which has to continue.

Foyle Womens Aid will stay with them throughout the journey. They realise Katie will never come back but they feel strongly, the mistakes that were made should never happen again.
A man who a judge said is 'a danger to the community and should not be allowed behind the wheel of a car' has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates' Court.

Thomas Kelly (37) of Beraghvale in Derry appeared charged with what judge Barney McElholm said was 'a spree of offences.'

Kelly faced more than 20 driving and domestic violence offences that were said to have occurred in October, November and December.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.

He told the court that on October 20 police observed a vehicle heading towards Limavady and signalled it to stop.

The vehicle stopped briefly and then made off while being pursued police.

Eventually the vehicle was stopped and the defendant was in the passenger seat.

On December 9 the officer told the court the female driver told police she was being assaulted while police were in pursuit.

Then on October 30 police were called to an incident on the Madam's Bank Road after a male was struck by a vehicle that had failed to stop.

The man sustained several injuries including suspected head injuries.

The last registered owner said he had sold the vehicle to Kelly.

The court was then told of an incident on November 13 where they attended an accident at Fernabbey where a car driven by the same female involved in the October incident had hit a tree.

She told police she had swerved to avoid a dog and hit the tree.

Kelly had been a passenger in the car but made off into Fernabbey.

However, on December 8 the woman told police that the accident occurred because Kelly had grabbed the steering wheel after he 'panicked' when he saw police.

She said he had been shouting at her while she was driving and added she was 'in fear' of him.

Bail was opposed as police believed Kelly would re-offend was 'a risk to the public and a risk of interfering with justice.'

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that a bail application on any of these charges would be 'difficult' but this one was made even more so by the number of charges.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that no address in the city would be suitable for this defendant and doubted that anywhere in the jurisdiction would suit.

He described the offences as 'a thuggish spree' and added he had a duty to protect the public and this man was a danger and further offending was 'inevitable '.

Kelly was remanded in custody to appear again on January 2.
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A 37-year-old man has been sentenced at Craigavon Crown Court for being unlawfully at large while under sentence.

Shane Frane was given a sentence of six months, which is to run consecutively with the sentence he is currently on.

On Wednesday, January 17 2024, police received a report from HMP Maghaberry that prisoner Shane Frane, was unlawfully at large.

Mr Frane is currently serving an indeterminate custodial sentence for the manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds on February 9, 2013.

He was released from HMP Maghaberry on January 17, 2024 on an eight hour unaccompanied day release to return to HMP Maghaberry that evening, however he failed to return.

Mr Frane was later located by An Garda Siochana in the Republic of Ireland. An extradition warrant was issued and he was extradited back to Northern Ireland in August 2024 and arrested by virtue of the warrant and taken to Lisburn Court where he was remanded back into custody.

Detective Inspector Bell said: We continue to work closely with An Garda Siochana to locate and arrest persons sought either jurisdiction. We appreciate the continued assistance of An Garda Siochana in tracking down those who abscond from the justice system here in Northern Ireland.

We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring before the courts those who seek to evade justice. The Police Service of Northern Ireland will relentlessly pursue anyone trying to delay or deny justice to victims of crime.
PICTURED ABOVE: DISPENSING ROBOT . . . . . Getting a tour of the dispensing robot at the Pharmacy and Medicines Department at Altnagelvin Hospital on Tuesday. From left, Bronagh Hegarty, Principal Pharmacist for Patient Services and Procurement, Altnagelvin Hospital; Dr. Geraldine O'Hare, President, Pharmaceutical Society NI; Professor Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for NI; Dr. Anne Friel, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management, WHSCT and Councillor Darren Guy, Deputy Mayor, Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Northern Irelands regulator of pharmacists and pharmacies visited Derry on Monday to launch what will be a year-long celebration of the pharmacy profession.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, which was founded in 1925, will be marking its centenary by hosting a series of events aimed at raising public awareness and appreciation of the contribution made by the pharmacy sector to supporting and promoting public health in Northern Ireland over the past 100 years.

Visits across the city included:

A meeting of the Pharmaceutical Societys Council at Altnagelvin Hospitals main lecture theatre, opened by keynote addresses from Western Trust Chair, Dr Tom Frawley, and Chief Executive, Mr Neil Guckian OBE

A tour of the hospitals pharmacy department, including the aseptics unit and the state-of-the-art dispensing robot

A visit to Murphys Chemists in the Waterside area of the city, which has been serving the community since 1951

A visit to Aberfoyle Medical Practice to hear from GP pharmacists about the vital role they place in integrated healthcare provision

Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at the Western Trust, Dr Anne Friel welcomed Pharmaceutical Society President, Dr Geraldine OHare, and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Northern Ireland, Professor Cathy Harrison and hosted a tour of the hospitals pharmacy department.

Derry and Strabane Deputy Mayor, Alderman Darren Guy, also joined them at Altnagelvin and the visit to Murphys Chemists.

Throughout the day, the visitors heard from a broad cross-section of the pharmacy workforce about the increasing contribution that pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other team members are playing in all aspects of the health service in Northern Ireland, often acting as the first point of contact for patients seeking advice and treatment, as well as coordinating medicines management across all areas of practice.

Speaking on behalf of the Western Trust, Dr Friel said: It was a privilege to invite and welcome members of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland to the West today as they launch a programme to acknowledge the evolution of the pharmacy profession in Northern Ireland over the past 100 years.

The Western Trust, and former health boards in this area, have played a pivotal role in the development of pharmacy services as well as the pharmacy profession in Northern Ireland.

We provide a range of pharmacy services including aseptic preparation of injections to treat cancer and other conditions, ensuring robust supply and purchasing of medicines and working clinically as part of ward teams, making sure our patients get safe and effective medicines when they come to hospital.

The Trust is at the forefront of implementing new Consultant Pharmacist roles that strategically develop medicines-related services across this area as well as pharmacist independent prescriber-run clinics. Our service has developed exponentially in the past 20 years and we have an exceptional team of over 230 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, support workers and administration staff across our hospitals who go the extra mile for those who we serve.

The visitors meeting with some of the Pharmacy Department staff at Altnagelvin Hospital on Tuesday.

Speaking during the visit to the pharmacy department, Pharmaceutical Society President, Dr OHare said: I was delighted to witness the latest technological advances supporting the amazing work done by pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other team members to treat hospital patients.

Without these members of the hospital workforce so many treatments and procedures would be impossible. Also, with timely discharge from hospital so important in ensuring smooth patient flow in the face of considerable demand, the ability to dispense medicines efficiently and effectively is vital.

Professor Harrison said: Hospital Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and pharmacy support staff are integral members of the multidisciplinary teams across our Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.

Hospital Pharmacists are valued as medicine experts, using their clinical skills to facilitate the safe, effective and appropriate use of medicines, as well as the provision of clinical education, to optimise the health and wellbeing of patients.

Hearing about the work of Pharmaceutical Technicians in the Aseptics Department, Altnagelvin Hospital during this week's visit are from left, Dr. Anne Friel, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines, WHSCT; Professor Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for NI; Deputy Mayor, Alderman Darren Guy; Deborah Peoples, Senior Pharmacist, Aseptics; Dr. Geraldine O'Hare, President, Pharmaceutical Society NI; Kate Morrison, Lead Aseptics Pharmacy Technician; Amanda Sheerin, Cancer Services Pharmacy Technician.

The Departmental Guide to Developing the Role of Consultant Pharmacists in Northern Ireland provides direction on supporting a consistent approach to the introduction of senior clinical pharmacy roles within and across HSC organisations.

Work underway to introduce the necessary changes to policy and legislation to enable the regulation and development of Pharmacy Technicians in Northern Ireland will further support the transformation of pharmacy services by optimising skill mix and will help to maintain public safety and confidence in the pharmacy profession.

At Murphys Chemist, Dr Friel, Professor Harrison, Alderman Guy and Dr OHare met proprietor and pharmacist, Helen Murphy, who has been a practising pharmacist since the mid-70s.

Ms Murphy said: Murphys Chemist opened its doors in 1951 by my father, Frank Murphy, and has served the local community ever since.

Group pictured during the courtesy visit to Murphy's Chemist, Spencer Road, Derry/Londonderry on Tuesday afternoon. From left, Ben Harkin, Pharmacist, Murphys Chemist; Helen Murphy, Pharmacist and Owner at Murphys Chemist, Spencer Road, welcoming Professor Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for NI and Dr. Geraldine O'Hare, President, Pharmaceutical Society NI. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

Murphys Chemist has established itself as the first port of call for all our patients healthcare needs. We have committed to keeping pace with the latest technologies in the sector including a CONSIS dispensing robot, a state-of-the-art collection point and text and collect service.

Murphys Chemist is always eager to provide the latest services and as such have participated in multiple pilots and pathfinders such as the UTI and sore throat test and treat services.

We pride ourselves on our dedication to educate and train our communitys future pharmacists by providing Foundation Year training to graduates and Experiential Learning placements for UU and QUB students.

As one of Northern Irelands longest serving pharmacists, I take pride in myself and my team for serving the local community for the past 73 years.

Professor Harrison, speaking about Community Pharmacy, said: The recently published Community Pharmacy Strategic Plan 2030 describes a positive and ambitious vision for community pharmacy in Northern Ireland where community pharmacists can offer more clinical services that utilise the skills of their teams to offer the public safe, convenient, and faster access to care.

Implementation of the Strategic Plan across four major reform programmes for services, legislation, workforce, and digital enablers will transform community pharmacys role within the HSC and help realise the potential within community pharmacy teams to provide quicker access to care for acute and long-term conditions in local communities, utilising advances in medicines, diagnostics, digital and medical technologies.

Dr OHare said: Community pharmacies are a place where so much primary healthcare is delivered, and it is incumbent on all of us to appreciate the amazing work done by pharmacists and other members of staff at these venues.

During the final visit of the day, to Aberfoyle Medical Practice, Dr Friel, Professor Harrison and Dr OHare met with Dior McWilliams, the practices pharmacist, and David Lenagh, Lead Pharmacist for the Derry GP Federation.

Mr Lenagh said: General Practice Pharmacists (GPPs) have been in practice in the Derry Federation since 2016. We employ 33 pharmacists who cover 27 member practices from Limavady to Ederney and a patient population of around 210,000.

GPPs promote the management of chronic health conditions and embed the Medicines Optimisation Quality Framework within primary care. This includes the management of the repeat prescribing system within GP Practices, alongside ongoing medication reviews, medication reconciliations and dealing with medication queries and shortages.

Our focus is to work as an integral part of the MDT within primary care, as well as working across the interface with our community pharmacy and secondary care colleagues to deliver high quality and evidenced-based patient-centred care.

Professor Harrison said: The introduction of pharmacists into all general practice teams has seen proven improvements in the safety, efficiency, effectiveness, and consistency of prescribing within GP practices and has helped to alleviate some of the pressures faced in primary care.

Group pictured during a courtesy visit to Aberfoyle Medical Practice, Strand Road, Derry on Tuesday afternoon. From left, Dior McWilliams, Pharmacist, Aberfoyle Medical Practice; David Lenagh, Lead Pharmacist, Derry GP Federation; Dr. Geraldine O'Hare, President, Pharmaceutical Society NI, Niall Bakewell, Communications Officer, Pharmaceutical Society of NI and Professor Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for NI.

The Departments GPP NI 2030 strategy, published earlier this year, outlines a vision for how general practice pharmacists can contribute fully to optimising the health outcomes of our population as the clinical leads for medicines in the general practice team.

Building the capacity and capability of the general practice pharmacist workforce through delivery of the strategy in the coming months and years will help to drive reform and innovation in frontline care.

Dr OHare said: GP pharmacy is an area of practice that needs to be celebrated more. GP pharmacists are often the first point of contact for patients seeking medicines related advice.

They are also a vital link in the chain of healthcare in Northern Ireland, especially in coordinating the transition of patients being discharged from hospital, ensuring a consistency of treatment and medicines management.

Reflecting on the day, Dr OHare concluded: Throughout 2025, as we look back on 100 years as an organisation, we want to bring public attention to just how vital these professionals are in supporting the entire healthcare sector in Northern Ireland.

We are also excited to be working on the inclusion of pharmacy technicians to our register, the first time in our history that we have extended registration to professionals other than pharmacists.

To every pharmacist, pharmacy technician, and all other members of their teams, I would like to say, thank you for your skills, expertise and dedication to our healthcare. This is all about you.

The Pharmaceutical Society NI hopes to stage further Council meetings in venues throughout Northern Ireland during 2025, with visits to other pharmacy workplaces also being planned. Updates on the Centenary celebrations will be posted on the History section of its website as well as on its Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts.
At least 58 police officers have been injured after their official vehicles were deliberately rammed, the PSNI has said.

The officially recorded injuries were sustained in 40 rammings in the calendar year to November 30.

However, the PSNI says the true total of officers hurt may be higher as individuals may have opted not to report their injuries and simply seek treatment themselves.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said: In fact, many individuals who sustain injuries such as whiplash or sprains, often opt to remain on duty and to continue to serve their communities.

Incidents of police vehicles being rammed occur more frequently in urban areas such as Belfast and Derry City, and also in border areas, as offenders attempt to flee from police.

Mr Singleton added: Most vehicle ramming incidents occur as a result of individuals attempting to evade police or avoid arrest. This can be for a range of offences, from no insurance to more serious offending like robbery or assault.

In these cases offenders are, in essence, using their vehicle as a weapon against us, and this is a scary and traumatising experience for any police officer to go through.

It is a testament to the courage of our people that they will put themselves in situations where they are at risk, in order to protect communities from harm.

The chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, said the figures were shocking and unacceptable as members put their lives at risk during their work.

Mr Kelly added: Our men and women go out to do their best for this entire community. For scores of them to be viciously targeted by those seeking to evade arrest or questioning is a worrying trend that must be stamped out.

These reported figures are the tip of the iceberg and I would encourage all officers involved in such incidents, no matter the circumstances, to formally report what occurred so a true picture of the extent of this issue can be obtained.

More than 400,000 has been spent on repairing police vehicles damaged as a result of being rammed in the past five years, as the PSNI deals with ongoing funding concerns.

Mr Singleton said: Finally, I need those who would choose to deliberately ram a police vehicle to understand the potentially horrific consequences of their actions.

The reality is that you could kill someone.

He added: As police officers, we come to work knowing we could be faced with difficult and dangerous situations, however, no one should ever have to accept a scenario in which their vehicle being rammed and them potentially being injured or even killed as a result is a reality of their work life. It simply wouldnt happen in any other profession.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said shortcomings detailed in cervical screening in the Southern health trust area are deeply regrettable and unacceptable.

The findings of a major review into more than 17,000 womens smear tests in the area found that eight women went on to develop cancer after their smears were misread.

Another 11 women needed pre-cancerous treatment after their tests were reviewed.

Mr Nesbitt said the review would now be the subject of independent expert analysis after which he will decide on the next steps.

He said: I wish to again fully acknowledge the distress caused by this review and the shortcomings detailed in the earlier report from the Royal College of Pathologists.

It is both deeply regrettable and unacceptable.

The minister said improvements in the cervical screening programme had been implemented in the past year.

SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath called on Mr Nesbitt to make a swift decision on whether an independent inquiry should be held into the review.

He said: The revelation that eight women developed cervical cancer after their smear test results were misread by the Southern Trust underlines the seriousness of this situation.

This is a major scandal and needs to be treated appropriately by everyone involved.

He added: The health minister has indicated he wants to have all the information before making a decision on an inquiry.

I cant see what more he needs to hear than the findings of this review. There can be no more feet dragging or delays, the least these women deserve is an inquiry.

Sinn Fein MLA Linda Dillon said the conclusion of the review was an important step.

She said: Its vital that we have proper oversight of key health services such as cervical screening, and that women have confidence in their results.

I will also be asking the health minister for an update on the implementation of HPV testing and its oversight.

Dr Stephen Austin, Southern Trust medical director, said: We acknowledge that the failings in the cervical cytology laboratory extended beyond individual staff members and included system failings.

I wish to sincerely apologise again to women and their families for any distress caused by this review process and the publication of the outcomes report.
Collaboration with Samsung is unfeasible, says TSMC founder

Reflecting on past interactions with Samsung Electronics (Samsung) at a book launch event for his new autobiography, TSMC founder Morris Chang noted that former Samsung chairperson Kun-Hee Lee once stated that TSMC would not be able to succeed in memory chips, and should collaborate with Samsung. Chang stressed that he thought collaborating with them was not feasible, and still believes so.

In light of recent developments at Samsung, Chang pointed out that the company faces technical challenges rather than strategic issues. He remarked that the current chaotic situation in South Korea will undoubtedly hinder corporate operations.

In his autobiography, Chang recounted an invitation from Lee for a meeting in Taiwan in January 1989. Lee essentially suggested that the memory industry requires substantial capital and talent, which he doubted Taiwan could provide. To showcase the investments and expertise Samsung had already committed, he invited TSMC personnel to visit Samsung's memory chip factories. If TSMC were to enter the memory market, the best approach would be to partner with Samsung.

In the same chapter, Chang discussed efforts made by WSMC and VIS in the 1990s to penetrate the memory sectora bold attempt by Taiwan that ultimately failed. Fortunately, TSMC emerged as a savior, preventing significant losses. Today, Samsung continues to dominate over half of the global memory market, and despite Lee's suggestion to collaborate, WSMC did not pursue this path after they failed in memory production. Chang cautioned that the unknown may be more dangerous than the known.

Chang also reflected on his autobiography's account of TSMC's collaboration with Qualcomm several years ago regarding the 28nm process node. At that time, demand for the 28nm technology surged, leading to a considerable gap in supply capabilities. When Qualcomm sought a second supplier against Chang's advice, he responded that by the time its new source could begin supplying, TSMC would already be able to meet all its needs. Qualcomm eventually turned to GlobalFoundries, which offered lower prices.

Chang's prediction proved accurate. There was excess capacity in 28nm, and another client approached him, stating that since cheaper sources have emerged for 28nm chips, they would be reducing orders.

Chang felt disappointed and surprised as TSMC had thought of that client as a loyal partner. Emotions still run high every time he recalls the 2012 experience with 28nm technology. Quoting Shakespeare, he said, "All's well that ends well." The outcome of the 28nm saga marked TSMC's entry into the smartphone world with first-generation technology, and the excess capacity was merely temporary.
US-China tech war escalates: Beijing targets Nvidia, more investigations expected to follow

The US imposed export controls on Chinese entities, prompting China to retaliate against US semiconductor companies. In response, China has launched investigations into Nvidia and restricted the export of critical materials, highlighting the escalating tech war between the two nations. These actions could lead to significant fines and hinder foreign businesses' operations in China.

On December 2, 2024, the US Department of Commerce expanded its export control list to include 136 entities in China, prompting a swift response from China's Ministry of Commerce, which vowed to take necessary measures. Additionally, four major Chinese industry associations released a statement highlighting concerns about "US chip insecurity," reflecting governmental support for their stance.

In the lead-up to this escalation, China cautioned Intel over potential backdoor issues. In late November, when Chinese Commerce Department officials met with Nvidia's Executive Vice President Jay Puri in Beijing, the Chinese authorities initiated an investigation into Nvidia, in what appeared to be a response to US actions. This investigation has made Nvidia a primary target of China's retaliatory measures against US policies.

The recent scrutiny faced by leading companies mirrors the challenges that Micron encountered in 2023. These repeated retaliatory actions against three major American semiconductor firms over the past two years have raised concerns about future implications.

When Nvidia acquired Mellanox in 2020, China was the last to approve the deal, showcasing its use of antitrust laws to influence mergers involving foreign semiconductor companies. Similar cases include Intel's acquisition of Tower Semiconductor, Broadcom's purchase of VMware, and MaxLinear's acquisition of Silicon Motion Technology, all needing Chinese approval. Without this consent, such mergers could fail, strengthening China's position in trade talks.

Recently, China announced restrictions on the export of germanium and gallium against the US. Coupled with statements from the four major industry associations, these actions signal that China is increasingly willing to unleash robust countermeasures.

This investigation poses significant legal risks for Nvidia and indicates an unprecedented level of China's capacity for retaliation in the ongoing global tech war.

Under Article 58 of China's Antitrust Law, if a company breaches commitments in acquisitions and restricts competition, it could be fined up to 10% of its prior year's sales. For Nvidia, which earned US$10.4 billion in China in 2023, this could result in fines between US$100 million and US$1 billion. In cases considered "particularly severe," fines could be increased by two to five times, potentially reaching US$2 billion to US$5 billion.

Analysts point out that China's leverage has diminished considerably over time. For instance, Qualcomm's CNY60 billion (US$975 million) fine in 2015 resulted only in a financial penalty. Considering Nvidia's strong technological and market position, along with US AI chip export restrictions to China, it is unclear if China can secure any significant advantage now.

China currently depends on overseas channels for computing power due to insufficient AI capabilities and limited local manufacturing capacities. This has placed the country in a passive position, constrained by several factors. Until China can develop adequate domestic computing power to replace Nvidia, it will continue to fall behind the US.

By targeting companies like Micron, Intel, and Nvidia, China may claim victories through heavy fines, but the tangible benefits remain questionable. For foreign businesses, such actions heighten the perceived risks of entering the Chinese market.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang strengthens AI ties in Thailand and Vietnam amid sovereign AI push

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently visited Thailand and Vietnam, continuing his commitment to the region. His visits to Southeast Asia are notable follow-ups from his 2023 trip, indicating significant progress in fulfilling Nvidia's promises to local governments and partners.

Nvidia summed up Huang's visit with the statement, "Thailand and Vietnam embrace Sovereign AI to drive economic growth," highlighting the global trend of governments recognizing the need to control computing power and AI technology. While Nvidia is crucial in providing AI infrastructure, local participation remains key.

In Bangkok, Thailand, Huang met with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and attended the Thailand AI Vision event held by AI startup SIAM.AI, Nvidia's first cloud partner in the country. The company's CEO, Ratanaphon Wongnapachant, is the nephew of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the current PM's father, underscoring close business-political ties. Huang emphasized that Thai data belongs to its people and endorsed an Nvidia DGX H200 system.

In Hanoi, Vietnam, Nvidia has made significant strides by announcing plans to launch an AI research and development center, marking Vietnam as a pivotal partner, dubbed Nvidia's "second home" by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The launch reflects a commitment made a year earlier and was formally recognized during a ceremony attended by Pham and the Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung.

Collaborations with key local groups, including Viettel, a military-owned telecommunications firm, bolster Nvidia's presence in Vietnam. Viettel has long been a customer of Nvidia's tech and is set to engage deeply with the AI center as part of an existing memorandum of understanding focused on AI research and application. Another prominent partnership involves the telecommunications giant FPT, which will receive 127 Nvidia HGX H100 server units, as reported by the Business Times.

Beyond telecoms, Nvidia has expanded its influence by acquiring VinBrain, a Vietnamese AI startup specializing in healthcare innovations through AI and IoT. VinBrain, under the umbrella of Vingroup, Vietnam's largest conglomerate, exemplifies Nvidia's strategic investments in the region.

Vingroup has invested over US$126 million in VinBrain, highlighting its robust 49.7% ownership stake as of late September. These developments emphasize Nvidia's growing footprint and commitment to AI advancements in Vietnam.

In December 2023, Huang embarked on a tour of Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, laying the groundwork for future collaborations. A year later, these initial commitments are bearing fruit, particularly with YTL Power's partnership with Nvidia on a data center project in Johor, Malaysia.

Although Huang did not revisit Malaysia, the data center's development is progressing, with a focus on sovereign AI, and has attracted the attention of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

YTL Power's managing director, Yeoh Seok Hong, disclosed that there are potential buyers for the data center's services. The Star reported that the facility is projected to reach a capacity of MW by the second quarter of 2025. Southeast Asian leaders have expressed enthusiasm over Huang's original visit, eager to utilize Nvidia's AI expertise to bolster their technological infrastructure and maintain competitiveness in the AI field.
Micron secures US$6.165 billion in CHIPS Act funding for US expansion

The US Department of Commerce has awarded Micron Technology US$6.165 billion to expand memory chip production in New York and Idaho, creating 20,000 jobs. The chipmaker also secured US$275 million to modernize its Virginia facility, strengthening domestic supply chain resilience.

The Commerce Department awarded up to US$6.165 billion in direct funding on December 10, 2024, under the CHIPS Incentives Program for commercial fabrication facilities. The funding will support Micron's planned US$100 billion investment in New York and US$25 billion in Idaho. The plan aims to create 20,000 jobs and boost the US share of advanced memory manufacturing from under 2% to around 10% by 2035. The disbursement of the funds will be tied to Micron's progress on project milestones.

These investments are expected to enhance US economic resilience by establishing a steady domestic supply of cutting-edge DRAM chips, essential for advanced technologies, including PCs, high-performance computing, automotive applications, and artificial intelligence. These chips power Micron's HBM products, which the company considers critical to enabling next-generation AI models. Micron has committed to spend US$50 billion by the end of the decade to expand the development and production of its most advanced semiconductor memory technology in New York and Idaho.

Separately, the Department of Commerce signed a non-binding Preliminary Memorandum of Terms (PMT) with Micron for up to US$275 million in proposed funding to modernize its Manassas, Virginia, facility. This US$2 billion project aims to onshore Micron's 1-alpha technology. The modernization will substantially increase wafer output and create over 400 manufacturing jobs and up to 2,700 community jobs at its peak. The legacy DRAM chips produced in Manassas will support critical automotive and industrial markets, further bolstering US supply chain resilience.

US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative: "Memory chips are foundational to all advanced technologies, and thanks to the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, America is rebuilding its capacity to produce these critical capabilities. With this investment in Micron, we are delivering on the CHIPS program's core objectives: onshoring advanced memory semiconductor technology to safeguard our leadership in AI and protect our economic and national security."

Commenting on the announcement, Micron president and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said: "As the only US-based manufacturer of memory, Micron is uniquely positioned to bring leading-edge memory manufacturing to the US, strengthening the country's technology leadership and fostering advanced innovation. These investments, supported by the bipartisan CHIPS Act, will drive economic growth and ensure the US remains at the forefront of technological advancements."

The company also acknowledged contributions from federal, state, and local leaders, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, for facilitating the company's plans and securing vital investment tax credits.
A new project aims to protect pregnant women and their babies from a common  but dangerous  infection while addressing the growing global threat of antibiotic resistance.Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are a major cause of mortality in expectant mothers and their children in parts of Kenya. Doctors have struggled to treat the infections partly due to lack of diagnosis and rising levels of antimicrobial resistance, where bacteria become unaffected by antibiotics.Now, researchers at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and the University of Kenya have teamed up to help improve health outcomes working first in Kisumu County, Kenya, which has a population of more than 1.1 million people. The project has been awarded nearly 80,000 by the International Science Partnership Fund, run by the British Council.Dr Shivanthi Samarasinghe, Associate Professor in Microbial Genetics and Genomics, will lead the project at DMU with co-investigator Professor Bertha Ochieng. Dr Eunice Toko from Maseno University Kenya will lead the research activities from Kenya.Dr Samarasinghe said: This collaboration is about working together to reducing the number of women who suffer from these kind of infections which go undiagnosed, and the impact which that can have on them and their unborn child.It builds on previous research we have done together with colleagues in Kenya and we are hoping that we will be able to make a positive difference.The team will use their diagnostic expertise to help local healthcare professionals identify UTI-causing bacteria. The tests are quick and simple to do and mean that women can receive faster, more targeted treatments.A second part of their work will be around education, creating culturally inclusive and tailored advice for pregnant women, helping them understand symptoms, risks and when to seek medical help. We want to empower women to take control of their health, added Dr Samarasinghe.By testing these strategies and measuring their impact on hospital practices, the project hopes to create a model that can be used across Kenya and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa.This collaboration goes beyond research, said Dr Samarasinghe. Its about equipping healthcare providers with better tools and empowering communities to reduce the burden of infections. Its a step toward healthier families and stronger healthcare systems.The initiative also supports global health priorities set by the World Health Organization to combat AMR and improve maternal health. With the potential to save lives and reduce healthcare costs, this innovative approach is a beacon of hope for resource-limited regions.
There has been arrangements made for eight children and their families from Gaza, who are currently in Cairo, to evacuate to Ireland shortly for medical treatment, a statement from President Michael D Higgins confirms.

President Michael D Higgins met with the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at a courtesy call in Aras an Uachtarain on morning of December 11 to discuss such matters.

The two Heads of State, according to a press release, discussed the current situation in the Middle East , including in Gaza and the recent events in Syria.

The press release stated: "the outrageous suffering in the absence of the ceasefire in Gaza was the central part of their discussion."

The eight kids currently in Cairo will receive treatment in Ireland through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, following a request from the World Health Organisation.

President Michael D. Higgins this morning met with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, at a courtesy call in Aras an Uachtarain. You can read more details of their meeting at https://t.co/e0VHCsJV8H pic.twitter.com/nLgw1293bI  President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) December 11, 2024

READ NEXT: ALERT: Garda warning issued as Grinch gang target Christmas toys in theft spree

Other topics that were discussed included human rights, food security, consular issues and matters of cultural heritage.
Two graduates of Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) School of Engineering have been recognised for their outstanding projects and were recently awarded the Peter Rice Medal and Dr Niamh Shaw Award.

Kian OBrien was awarded The Peter Rice Medal for the best Level 8 Engineering student project for his design of a Portable Shock Absorber Dynamometer, while Christopher Duffy was presented with The Dr Niamh Shaw Award, which is awarded to the best Level 7 Engineering student project at DkIT, for his Water Monitoring System.

The Peter Rice Medal honours Dundalk-born engineer, Peter Rice who was renowned for his collaboration on some of the most iconic structures of the 20th century, including the Sydney Opera House, Pompidou Centre, the Louvre Pyramid, and Lloyds of London.

Other candidates for this award included Electrical Engineering graduate Jinyan Yang for her project on a Water Quality Monitoring System, and Civil Engineering graduate Mark Nilan for his investigation in to the Role of Local Authorities in Converting Vacant Homes and Derelict Sites into Occupied Homes

The Dr. Niamh Shaw Award honours the Irish engineer, scientist, writer, and performer, a native of Dundalk, who is known as one of Irelands top science communicators and STEAM specialists. With a mission to reach space as both artist and citizen, she has travelled to all seven continents, sharing human stories of space and science education.

Niamh reports on science from remote locations, advocating for a healthier, more sustainable planet. Mechanical Engineering graduate Padraic Bellew was also in the running for the Award, presenting his groups project which explored a Hybrid Car Cycle.

Both awards were kindly sponsored by Engineers Ireland Northeast and the event provided an opportunity for the students to showcase their work, with student posters and projects on display during the event. Maeve Martin, Student and Graduate Engagement Officer at Engineers Ireland, also gave insights into the organisations vision and membership opportunities at the event.

Chairperson of the Engineers Ireland Northeast Region, Pat McCormick opened the event and spoke of the role of the engineer in looking to the future.

Dr Niamh Shaw gave a keynote speech where she discussed how her passion for science and space has become such a huge part of her identity, changing perceptions around failure and success. She spoke of her global travels, with a particular focus on her recent adventure to Antarctica with the Women in STEMM group.

Dr Breda Brennan, Head of School of Engineering, DkIT said: The Dr Niamh Shaw Award and Peter Rice Medal recognise the creativity and innovation of our engineering students and highlight the quality of teaching and project supervision across the School of Engineering in DkIT.

"This event is a wonderful chance for students to demonstrate their skills across the engineering disciplines. We are very grateful to Engineers Ireland Northeast for providing our students with this opportunity and to Dr Niamh Shaw for her inspiring contribution to todays event.

The judging panel for this years event included: Mary Arthur Smyth, CAPA Program Manager at Abbott, a Food Engineer with over 25 years of experience in the food industry; Breen Jackson, a Chartered Engineer with over 30 years of experience in civil engineering and construction projects in Ireland and the UK; Peter Nowak, an Automation Engineer at Controlsoft and winner of the Peter Rice Medal in 2020; Adam Graham, an Executive Engineer at Louth County Council, Fire & Building Control Section with over nine years of experience across various Local Authorities; Eamon Dillane, an Electrical Engineer and Business Owner at EMelecSolar Ltd specialising in High Tension Power Distribution, Low Voltage Switchgear and Renewable Energy consultancy, and Sean McCarthy, a Lean and Leadership Consultant with extensive Project Management experience in the pharmaceutical and semiconductor sectors, including roles at Intel.
A semi-retired publican told gardai he taped 78,000 in cash to the chassis of his car after seeing it on television. Richard Setchfield (67) pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of criminal conduct on August 19, 2019 at Dublin Port.

Seoirse O Dunlaing SC, defending, told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today that his instructions are that his client ran a bar in Spain, which he lost due to the financial crash. His client then owed money to third parties and as result, was transporting cash.

The court heard Setchfield has no history of work or social welfare claims. Detective Garda Sean Sheahan told Joe Mulrean BL, prosecuting, that Setchfield was queuing in his car to board a ferry to Cherbourg at Dublin Port, when a drugs and cash detection dog showed an interest in his vehicle. Nothing was found when the car was initially searched, but an anomaly was found when it was x-rayed.

Setchfield of Mary Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth drove the car to New Customs House at Dublin Port and waited while the car was searched again. Two packages containing a total of 78,000 in cash were found taped to the chassis of the car during this search and seized.

Setchfield said the money was his and from his own savings, including the sale of a Volkswagon car a week earlier. He said he hid it, that no one knows I have it and the money was to buy property, but he wasn't going to tell the tax man about it.

Another 1,200 was found in Setchfield's wallet and also seized. While he was waiting to retrieve his suitcase, he said the cash was his and he had concealed it as he'd seen on TV.

Two bank accounts belonging to Setchfield were examined, but there were no significant amounts of money in either account. Setchfield also had An Post account, which was used to buy the ferry tickets. Investigations showed that a false electricity bill was used when this account was opened.

He was interviewed by arrangement in May 2020. Setchfield told gardai that he was a semi-retired publican who was not on social welfare. He accepted he was stopped in the car and spoke with officials at the time.

He identified his passport and insurance disc from the vehicle. He said the car belonged to him and was registered in his name. Setchfield said he had the money from the sale of property and savings over the last four years. He said would be substantiated by travel documents in the custody of gardai. He also said there were underlying circumstances that he didn't want to disclose.

Setchfield has 25 previous convictions, including for road traffic offences and public order offences, some of which are from the UK.

Det Gda Sheahan said gardai were unable to confirm if Setchfield had a pub. He said Setchfield, who is a British national, said he was living in Spain before 2016, but this was not substantiated.

Mr O Dunlaing said his instructions are that Setchfield was transporting the money for a third party. Det Gda Sheahan said he couldn't comment on this, but accepted the defence's contention that Setchfield didn't engage with gardai fully at an early stage. The garda agreed that it was clear that Setchfield's assertions that the money belonged to him were untrue.

Mr O Dunlaing asked the court to take into account that his client was not driving an adapted car, and instead had the cash taped to the underside of the vehicle. He said his client didn't volunteer certain information when interviewed as he felt under pressure.

Mr O Dunlaing said his instructions are that his client ran a bar in Spain, which he lost due to the financial crash. His client owed money to third parties and as result, was transporting cash.

A number of letters were handed to the court. Setchfield has 13 grandchildren. Mr O Dunlaing asked the court to adjourn the case to allow more documentation to be provided to the court about his client's circumstances. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case until January 27 next and remanded Setchfield on continuing bail.
Ireland will formally intervene in South Africas genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) this month.

The move to file an intervention at the UNs top court at The Hague will happen later this month, and comes after Government approval of the measure on Wednesday.

Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes genocide.

The Irish Government also approved an intervention in The Gambias case against Myanmar, also under the Genocide Convention.

The countrys deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin said: There has been a collective punishment of the Palestinian people through the intent and impact of military actions of Israel in Gaza, leaving 44,000 dead and millions of civilians displaced.

By legally intervening in South Africas case, Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Mr Martin added: We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimised.

Irelands view of the convention is broader and prioritises the protection of civilian life  as a committed supporter of the convention, the Government will promote that interpretation in its intervention in this case.

Intervening in both cases demonstrates the consistency of Irelands approach to the interpretation and application of the Genocide Convention.

Executive director of Amnesty Ireland Stephen Bowen said Irelands intervention offered a glimmer of hope, but said we demand more.

The self-imposed powerlessness of states must end, he said.

Those like Ireland who have called for a ceasefire must join with other like-minded states to create this common platform to end the genocide.

They must be resolute; they must be relentless; they must be loud, clear, visible. This is genocide. This must stop.

We again call for an immediate ceasefire. States must be compelled to stop the transfer of weapons to Israel, and Israels allies must exert their pressure for full and unimpeded access for life-saving food and supplies with immediate effect.

Every effort must be made to achieve these measures now, and certainly before Christmas. Ireland must use its leverage to full effect when a people are being starved by a state-induced famine in the midst of a genocide.

Ireland can do more, and it can do that in concert with others  visibly, firmly, and proudly. History demands it of us.
Tell us about yourself:

My name is Andrew Lane. I am 25 years old and have lived in Cork my whole life. I come from a family of five; my father, David; my mother, Siobhan; and my two siblings, Triona and Mikey.

My first taste of theatre was actually in the Everyman at the latter stage of my teenage years.

Before then, I grew up on the pitch of Glen Rovers, following in my late granda Mick Lanes footsteps as well as my dad and uncles. My brother and sister were put into the performing arts very early in their lives while I didnt want to go near the stage as I thought- Its for girls.

One afternoon, my mom needed help covering the musical director of the panto back in 2015/16. She needed someone to come in and help her turn pages while playing piano, so, with a bribe in hand, I said yes.

After training on a Saturday morning, I strolled into the Everyman with my Barcelona jersey on. From the start of the overture to the end of the show, I was in awe.

Lets just say, I didnt turn many pages, according to my mom.

I ended going for dinner with a few of the cast members in between shows. They told me all about CADA Performing Arts and the shows that they were in. I was just glued to every word they were saying.

And, at the age of 16 and in TY, I decided to try something new.

I joined CADA the following Friday and made friends for life, as well as finding my passion. Isnt it funny, the show that made me fall in love with theatre was my first professional show I did?

So here I am, in my third year of panto, just after graduating from my MA and many shows under my belt, I am delighted to be doing this as my career.

Where were you born?

Cork.

Where do you live?

Whites Cross.

Family?

We have a big and wonderful family. I have such an amazing and supportive mom and dad, sister and brother, four amazing grandparents and loads of aunties, uncles, and first cousins.

Best friend?

My best friend has to be my beautiful girlfriend of five years Sarah Corcoran, or should I say Sazzy Bazzy. Dont ask where the name came from, I dont know myself.

We met in the second year of college in a musical theatre lecture. I remember the song she sang for her audition. It was Once Upon A Dream from Jekyll and Hyde. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

We continue to sing with each other every day, whether it be in the car or at home. I couldnt do life without her.

Earliest childhood memory?

A white Christmas up in Athlone in my grandparents house. Dont think I have seen one like it since.

Person you most admire?

My parents. They do and will continue to do everything for me. They are the best and I love them so much.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

When the five of us in the Lane clan travelled to Australia for a month back in 2016 to see our family.

Favourite TV programme?

It would have to be Greys Anatomy.

Favourite radio show?

The Neil Prendeville Show.

Your signature dish of cooking?

If I cooked, this would be an interesting question to answer, but sadly I dont!

Maybe a steak. I do love cooking myself a steak as a treat.

Favourite restaurant?

It would have to be The Barn Gastropub in Glanmire. From breakfast to lunch to dinner, you cannot go wrong.

Last book you read?

Sadly, I couldnt say. As I have dyslexia I have always found reading more of a task than a pleasure.

I have been told recently about audiobooks so I am definitely going to try that out.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

I suppose that Spotify is so big, I couldnt tell you. The last vinyl I bought though was the new Parade cast recording.

Favourite song?

My favourite song always changes, but as for this moment it would be Elerii Wards version of Joanna (Reprise) from Sweeney Todd.

One person you would like to see in concert?

If I could bring him back from the dead, it would 100% be Elvis.

Do you have a pet?

Yes. One dog Oreo and one cat Kit Cat!

Morning person or night owl?

Night owl.

Your proudest moment?

Probably graduating with First Class Honours from my Masters.

Spendthrift or saver?

Spendthrift, without a doubt. Me in Kildare Village is dangerous.

What makes you happy?

My family, girlfriend, and friends.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a kind and generous person.

What else are you up to at the moment?

Having been in college for six years now and only having coming out of it, I am still trying to find my feet.

Panto is my favourite season of all. Once we get the script, Ive been just all in for panto.

So, after that, who knows what Ill do.
Primary education graduate Gary Gallagher has been named top of his class and was honoured at a recent ceremony.

Cork teacher Gary Gallagher had double cause for celebration at the annual Hibernia College conferring ceremony, which was held at Dublins Convention Centre.

In addition to receiving his masters qualification, Gary was honoured with the research prize for achieving the highest overall grade in the research module of his primary education cohort.

A teacher at Carrigtwohill Community National School, Gary was one of more than 930 graduates from 26 counties to qualify with a masters in primary and post-primary teaching, or with a postgraduate diploma in inclusive and special education.

Congratulating him, Dr Mary Kelly, academic dean at Hibernia College, said that all who were graduating would help shape futures, inspire change, and contribute to the betterment of society in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.
Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, Lord Mayor of Cork, has unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the 20th anniversary of the operation of the citys Black Ash Park & Ride.

Opened in 2004, the service has accommodated more than 2m uses over the 20-year period.

Located on Kinsale Rd and providing 940 car parking spaces, the Park & Ride offers a convenient service for people who work in the city, and those wishing to visit.

Mr Boyle said the service has become an essential part of the citys infrastructure.

The establishment of this service was, in many ways, ahead of its time, providing a sustainable transport solution for workers and shoppers in Cork, said the Lord Mayor yesterday.

I am confident that this service will continue to serve the people of Cork, further supporting our mission to reduce congestion within our city centre.

To mark the anniversary, Cork City Council is running a competition on its social media channels, offering entrants a chance to win up to a years free parking.
Cork city councillors have unanimously supported a motion calling for supervised injection facilities in the city centre, agreeing that there is a serious drug problem in Cork.

Green Party councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor Honore Kamegni had proposed exploring the establishment of supervised and controlled injection centres to address the growing and worrying public health and safety concerns.

He said: By putting in place these centres, the city will take a proactive step and approach to improving public health, supporting individuals with substance use disorders or addiction, and enhancing the overall community wellbeing.

Serious problem

Solidarity/People Before Profit councillor Brian McCarthy strongly supported the motion, saying: Unfortunately, its beyond doubt that we have quite a serious drug problem in this city, we can see signs of it everywhere.

Some councillors in here are always calling for the law-and-order approach  more gardai, harsher sentences, more of a crackdown.

That approach is dangerous, its harmful, and its counterproductive  we need to start viewing this as a health issue, not a criminal one, and start seeing drug addicts as people who have an illness, not as criminals," said Mr McCarthy.

The law-and-order approach means that we have people getting convictions locked up in jail when what they really need is medical help. We have overcrowded prisons and other issues like associated crime, discarded syringes because that approach does nothing to tackle the root cause of addiction.

Important

Supervised injection centres are an important part of the way to tackle these issues, he said, explaining: In places where these have been set up, theyve been a massive success.

They get people in off the streets while they use so they dont get arrested for it and it gives them privacy, reduces the harm from injecting with non-sterile paraphernalia, testing facilities means dangerous situations like the nitazenes we saw here in Cork can be detected much earlier and dealt with more quickly, and access to drug and health education and addiction services can help provide the help these people need to get back on their feet.

Mr McCarthy said other measures such as decriminalisation, legalisation, and an expansion of critically inadequate mental health services were needed, and that any supervised injection centre should be set up under the HSE and not privatised.

Recovering

Fianna Fails Colm Kelleher said that his brother is a recovering heroin addict, adding that though he is doing well now: I know full well the reasons why we need this facility in the city.

It wouldnt be too often I agree with everything Councillor McCarthy says in a contribution to a debate, but I agree with everything tonight, wholeheartedly.

He added that a learning site visit to a similar facility in Lisbon had been undertaken by the council in recent years, and that a similar visit to Dublins supervised injection centre at Merchants Quay should be planned now.

I do believe now is the time to put this issue back on the agenda and put momentum behind it, because this a problem facing the city on a daily basis, and the traditional approach is not working.

Support

Fine Gaels Shane OCallaghan, a barrister, did not oppose the motion, but did speak in support of the law-and-order method.

If youre suffering from addiction, you do need support, but shoplifting and assault are not victimless crimes, he said. If crimes are being caused as a result of addiction, supports need to be available, but if the people concerned refuse to engage with the services, repeatedly offend again and again and there are victims, then they need custodial sentences  there has to be consequences at some point.

The Green Partys Oliver Moran also gave his support to the motion, saying: The victim of addiction is the person whos addicted, and its their care that should be at the centre of our response.
A lengthy debate was held on the issue of a directly elected lord mayor for Cork at Mondays city council meeting, following the tabling of a motion by a Green Party councillor.

Oliver Moran, councillor for Cork City North East, said at the meeting: We have the weakest local government in Europe, but what weve seen in Limerick, and what was put to the people of this city five years ago, was at least some movement on that, something which reversed the trend of taking powers away from local authority.

The plebiscite in Cork and Waterford only very narrowly was defeated, only 1% of a difference in Cork. I believe, when something is that close, there is an appetite for the question.

Agreed

He referenced a motion by former councillor Lorna Bogue, which was agreed on prior to the local elections, that a second plebiscite on the issue would be put to the people of Cork.

One way of bringing in this position is that the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) would recommend to Cork City Council to provide by law for a directly elected lord mayor, and Mr Morans motion suggested they do this.

A response from the CPG to Mr Moran earlier this week said: The cost of holding a plebiscite as a standalone electoral event would be substantial and would need to be provided for through the councils budgetary process.

It added that the council had already written to Local Government Minister Darragh OBrien following Ms Bogues motion.

Against

Fianna Fails Terry Shannon was against the idea, saying he had opposed it at the time. If we have the weakest form of local government in Europe, to lobby for another layer while not reforming it at all is window dressing, said Mr Shannon. He said a disaster is unfolding in Limerick and councillors there have a lesser power than any other council in Ireland.

Labours Peter Horgan, agreed but suggested that, inspired by the mayor in Manchester, a directly elected mayor could take control of public transport. I dont like the idea of the NTA, an overarching Dublin-based body, having control of our citys networks and funding thats one position a directly elected mayor could have, he said, adding it would require council chamber powers to be strengthened too.

Fine Gaels Shane OCallaghan said he had been in favour of a directly elected mayor but now Ive changed my mind, agreeing that it could take powers away from councillors.

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy suggested waiting two or three years to see how the position works in Limerick.

Sinn Feins Joe Lynch said he was not opposed to the idea, but was opposed to the motion, saying: The question was put to people, and their decision should be respected.
A 26-year-old man with 59 previous theft convictions faced sentencing for one more theft and he told the judge by video link from prison, I think this time I have really learned my lesson.

Michael ODriscoll (also known as Foley) of Togher Road, Cork, and originally from Bandon, County Cork, pleaded guilty to shoplifting at Boots on St. Patricks Street, Cork, where beauty products were stolen.

The shoplifting dates back to March 7 2020 but the matter has only now come before the courts.

Judge Mary Dorgan said, Given his appalling record I have to sentence him to three months.
Fire brigade crews in Cork will now carry naloxone, a medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs in the event of an overdose.

Welcoming the news, Fianna Fail Councillor Colm Kelleher, a long advocate for addiction services, told The Echo: This is something Ive been pushing for and firefighters have been calling for themselves for years.

Its very welcome news, people I have spoken to who work for addiction services highlighted that this was necessary a number of years ago so I am glad to see it rolled out now.

Naloxone is a lifesaver, a delegation from Cork city council visited Lisbon to see how they do things there and the benefit of naloxone was outlined to us there, how effective and how quick acting it is.

Mr Kelleher added: This is only a really small part of a very big puzzle, but it all ties in together and this step is very welcome. Cork City Fire Brigades Second Officer Victor Shine explained that the official launch of firefighters carrying naloxone will be today, following comprehensive training.

Speaking on The Cork's 96FM Opinion Line with PJ Coogan, Mr Shine said: It's a fantastic development for ourselves, because we may come across the effects of narcotics in resting areas, on top of tables, benches and so on when we're doing our normal operation duties.

But for somebody who overdoses, we now have the capability of reversing that situation.

He added that their first aid training is a very high standard, saying that this is the next step in enhancing their skills to assist their colleagues in the National Ambulance Service as well.

The fire service are now registered with the Health Products Regulatory Authority, and all Cork city firefighters are licensed to deliver the medication now.

Mr Shine added that drug overdoses are becoming more frequent in the city, saying: Unfortunately, it is on the increase and this is what got us concerned.

The amount of medical assists that we're doing with the HSE has brought us to the recognition that drug overdosing in Cork is increasing and we have to be able to respond to the after effects of that.
A rare, historically significant ordnance survey of Ireland map has been donated to Cobh Library. It depicts the lower harbour of Cork more than a century ago.

The map, which was repaired and conserved with the help of Cork County Councils commemorations committee, was donated by Diarmuid Kilcullen, who is the grandson of Cobh barrister, Francis J Healy.

A replica is now on permanent display in Cobh Library, while the original is housed in the local-studies department of county library headquarters.

The map is based on the ordnance survey of 1897, and showcases Cobh town, the surrounding areas, and Haulbowline Island.

Marked For War Department Purposes Only, the map was likely housed on Haulbowline Island, prior to the hand-over of the base to the Irish government in 1923.

This extraordinary map, which was published in 1898, offers a fascinating snapshot of a vital era in Corks history, Mayor of the County of Cork Joe Carroll said.

We are very grateful that this important part of our heritage is preserved for the people of Cobh and the wider community, Mr Carroll, a Fianna Fail councillor, said.
The big business fast-track Commercial Court is to be asked to hear Michael Flatleys injunction application to further restrain a receiver from taking steps over his Cork mansion Castlehyde.

His lawyer Ronnie Hudson Bl instructed by Maxwell Mooney solicitor told the High Court on Wednesday he had been informed by the other side that an application will be made next week to admit the matter to the Commercial Court list.

Counsel asked that an interim injunction which had been granted preventing the receiver taking steps in relation to the luxury mansion at Fermoy to be continued until the application comes before the Commercial Court.

The application to admit the case to the big business court on next Monday is to be made by Novellus Finance and its CEO along with the receiver which was appointed over the property at the start of December.

Counsel for all three Eoin Coffey BL told the court that the defendants dispute the allegations being made by Mr Flatley and his film company Blackbird Productions Ltd.

Last week a High Court judge granted an interim injunction to Mr Flatley restraining a receiver or his agents from taking steps in relation to the stars Fermoy, Co Cork mansion Castlehyde.

SECURITY ON LOAN

The order was made as it emerged that the mansion had been put up as security on a 5.6million loan taken out by his London film company in 2023 and a receiver had last week been appointed over Castlehyde.

The receiver was appointed in a row over the repayment of the loan with the film company and Mr Flatley saying that all loan repayments had been made in full by the film company.

Mr Flatley and London film company Blackbird Film Productions Ltd had last week gone to court on an ex parte basis where only one side is represented seeking to restrain the receiver from taking any steps to enforce by sale or by auction or otherwise or to take possess of CastleHyde.

When Mr Flatleys lawyers informed the court a security firm on behalf of the receiver had tried to get in to the Castlehyde property on Thursday afternoon, the judge granted an interim injunction until further order of the court.

The row relates to a loan from Novellus Finance in 2023 with registered offices at St Stephens Green, Dublin to Blackbird. Mr Flatley who in court documents has an address in Monaco was guarantor and the secured property was Castelhyde. The loan repayments on the loan for Blackbird were about 66K a month.

In April 2024, according to court documents it is claimed that Novellus was told Blackbird would be redeeming the loan agreement in September.

It is further claimed that the chief executive of Novellus Finance, William McManus allegedly contacted the chief executive of another finance company and allegedly said the proposed security Castlehyde was only worth 8m to 10million. It is further contended that it was allegedly wrongfully misrepresented that Blackbird was in default when in fact it was fully up to date on repayments.

The effect of the alleged actions it is claimed is that a refinance offer by the other finance company was withdrawn.

In November this year it is claimed a final attempt to keep the second financial deal alive was made with a 10 per cent interest in Mr Flatleys business being offered.

Mr Hudson told the court that Mr Flatleys business is worth 200million.

The other finance company at the end of November withdrew their refinance offer.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan today continued the interim injunction for seven days and it is to remain in place pending the application before the Commercial Court and the case will also come back before the chancery court next Wednesday.
A young woman facing sentencing on a long list of offences committed around Cork city broke down in tears as she was remanded in custody over the Christmas period.

Her crimes include carving her name into a counter top at a hotel where she tried to steal food at a breakfast buffet.

31-year-old Aisling Murphy of no fixed address was hoping she would be released from custody but Judge Mary Dorgan decided to adjourn sentencing until January 6, 2025 and sought a medical report, a probation report and a prison governors report on the accused.

The young woman was remanded in custody until then.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said that on November 4 at Clayton hotel, Lapps Quay, Cork, she caused damage at the coffee dock.

She attempted to plate up breakfast items and then she carved, Aisling Charlie into the wood with a fork and left, causing 200 damage.

Shane Collins Daly solicitor said the defendant was pleading guilty to a range of offences against her.

He said she was doing very well in prison and was responding to medication very favourably.

She was quite unwell when she first came to court. She was quite distressed.

Back on November 4 she was not well enough to make bail. Worryingly, around this time something went badly wrong with her mental health.

The charges against her were getting progressively worse. She was getting more difficult and her behaviour was out of control, Mr Collins Daly said.

Judge Dorgan said she was glad to see the young woman looking so well again. She remanded her in custody for the preparation of reports before sentencing.

On September 4, Aisling Murphy was at Henry Street, Cork, near Mercy University Hospital, where she kept pacing up and down the road where there was oncoming traffic.

In another incident one week later in the city she told gardai to f*** off on numerous occasions.

On the same day at Henry Street again she was verbally abusive to staff at Mercy University Hospital. Gardai told her to leave but she remained in the area. She roared at gardai to f*** off.

On October 18 at South Mall outside the Imperial Hotel she walked out in front of traffic and was drunk to the extent that she was a danger to herself or others.

On October 21 at Penneys on Patrick Street while items were being rung up on the till she placed 45 worth of items into a bag and walked away without paying.

On the same date she was abusive to staff at City Hall and to gardai.

Also that day she was at Careys Lane, throwing pint glasses at people passing outside the Weatherspoons pub.

On October 27 at the same premises she picked up chair, damaged the chair, a picture on wall and drinking glasses.

On October 29 she pulled a CCTV camera off a wall at Focus Ireland on Grand Parade.

And then finally there was the incident at the Clayton hotel last month.
A garda operation in Cork city centre today saw the arrest of several people on begging charges arising out incidents at around noon today.

One man had been warned by gardai several times in the past few days to stop begging but he persisted.

Garda James Byrd arrested 42-year-old Zabar Harna of Ballyhooley Road, Dillons Cross and charged him with obstructing the free passage of pedestrians by begging at noon on Patrick Street, Cork, today.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded him on bail to January 14 with a warning: No offending, no drugs, no alcohol and no begging.

Vasile Feraru, 25, of no fixed address, was begging at Maylor Street around noon and arrested by Garda Cian Hennessy.

He pleaded guilty and was put on a peace bond.

He came here a month ago for work but did not get it and had a return ticket home for December 28, Shane Collins Daly solicitor said.

Judge Mary Dorgan put him on a peace bond on conditions that he would not beg or commit any offences.

The 29 cash in his possession at the time was forfeited to the State.

Mihai Feraru appeared at Cork District Court today on begging charges. Picture: Larry Cummins.

Mihai Feraru, 36, of no fixed address was arrested by Garda Orla Moriarty and charged with begging at Patrick Street in Cork.

He pleaded guilty and the 28 in his possession was forfeited to the State.

He was also put on a 12-month peace bond with the same warning about not begging or offending.

I told him on numerous occasions to stop begging in the last few days, Garda Moriarty said.

18-year-old Ionut Sergiu Rostas of no fixed address was charged by Garda Cian Hennessy with begging at Grand Parade, Cork.

He pleaded guilty and his 35 was forfeited to the State.

He was also put on a peace bond with the same warning from the judge about future behaviour.

He said he was hoping his family would arrange for a ticket for him to fly home to Romania.

48-year-old Leustean Rostas of Bandon Road, Cork, was arrested by Garda Gheorghe Rosu and charged with begging.

His case was adjourned until January 14.

Garda Shane Hayes arrested 32-year-old Alan Topor of Cork Simon Community at Grand Parade, Cork, and he pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to begging at Grand Parade in Cork and some other offences.

Judge Dorgan directed preparation of a probation report for sentencing on March 19.
It was a really nice breakfast; fresh fruit salad, coffee, toast, and Eggs Royale, which, for those of you who have not yet had the pleasure, is a dish of poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, and a slice of smoked salmon, all sitting atop a toasted, buttered muffin. Fab.

Smoked salmon gives everything a whole extra layer of delectability, which of course is why traditionally Irish smoked wild salmon was always a sought-after and expensive delicacy, especially at Christmas.

I began to think about the Irish salmon itself.

An bradan, as it is called in Irish, is an icon of our Celtic heritage and culture. According to legend, one awe-inspiring salmon even acquired the wisdom of the universe.

That salmon became known in legend and story as the Salmon of Knowledge, or An Bradan Feasa.

As a child, I learned how a young Fionn Mac Cumhaill ate some of that salmon and from it gained the incredible knowledge and wisdom that, in time, led to him becoming the chief of the Fianna, the famed warrior heroes of Irish myth.

The Salmon of Knowledge is the wisdom figure of Irish mythology. It is, in folklore and legend, the king of fish. And it is ours.

Yet, look at the current plight of An Bradan Feasa.

As the only fish whose life cycle demands transition from the salt water of the sea to the fresh water of our rivers, the salmon has suffered hugely from the pollution of Irelands inland waterways and the decimation of the gravel beds which were formed millennia ago and are crucial to the spawning cycle.

Many salmon fishermen have hung up their rods in despair because of the plummeting numbers of wild salmon in our rivers.

Earlier this year, Inland Fisheries Ireland revealed that between 1975 and 2022, the wild salmon numbers returning to Ireland collapsed from nearly 1.8 million to just 171,700.

The salmon farming industry is probably something that most of us never consider at all, simply because its all done underwater.

Salmon Watch Ireland, a lobby group which has for a long time been concerned about the decline in Irish wild salmon, has fought to highlight its concerns about the effects of salmon farming on both farmed and wild salmon.

I rang the organisations chairman, John Murphy. He claimed that some salmon farming cages could have upwards of 200,000 fish in them. If that is the case, think about that kind of crowded, restricted existence for a wild creature which in nature freely traverses many thousands of miles across open ocean.

Hundreds of thousands of farmed salmon can be caged in just an area of a bay or in the lee of an island, claimed Murphy, and they can be prone to sea lice from adjacent farms or from passing wild salmon and sea trout.

Mortality rates in some farms can be very high, he says, stating that Salmon Watch is aware of rates as high as 84% in the sector.

Factors include disease, sea lice, or harmful algal blooms, which negatively affect the oxygen in the water. Jellyfish can invade the cages, clogging the gills of the fish.

Last, but not least, mortality is linked to warming sea temperatures, which in turn, he explains, aggravate the existing problems.

Cage design, Murphy insists, is not properly legislated for, and the organisation believes that theres no no real government focus  nor indeed any focus from the general public - on the health of farmed fish, which Salmon Watch claims is now a major animal welfare issue.

The government and the public - and not just Salmon Watch - should be concerned, he argues.

The group is also deeply worried about the effects of salmon farming on wild salmon and sea trout populations. Juvenile wild salmon and wild sea trout pick up sea lice and disease as they are passing salmon farms on their migration route, or they come into contact with sea lice larva drifting in the ocean adjacent to farms, he explains.

The young salmon travel far, passing out of infected water around the Irish coast en route to their feeding grounds in the Norwegian sea.

During their migration, they may also become infected by sea lice when passing farms in Scotland and the Norwegian coast, added Murphy.

Research shows open cage salmon farming can have a dramatic effect on wild salmon and sea trout in the area, he warns.

The health of Irish sea trout, which dont migrate long distances, but remain mostly around the Irish coast, is another cause of concern.

There are indications that Irish sea trout remain in coastal areas and are badly impacted by sea lice and disease from cages around the coasts, said Murphy.

The organisation is not against salmon farming, he insists; Salmon Watch Ireland just wants it done in a better, albeit a more expensive way, by using land-based salmon farms.

I got on to one of the companies involved in the industry, Mowi Ireland, the worlds largest supplier of farm-raised salmon, and which has farmed salmon in Ireland for more than 44 years.

I asked Catherine McManus, the companys Operations Director Farming (Ireland), about the various allegations made by Salmon Watch Ireland. Her answer was that, as salmon were the foundation of this business, their health and wellbeing were the drivers of its success.

We understand that they are sensitive to their environment and only prosper in clean and well oxygenated waters, she said. It is therefore in our interest to ensure that is how they are farmed.

The control protocols in respect of sea lice operated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State are more advanced than those operated in other jurisdictions and are widely accepted as representing best practice internationally.

We appreciate that Salmon Watch Ireland does not support salmon farming, and they make many arguments against its practice. We disagree with those arguments and have gone on the record many times over the years to counter those.

Reassuring words.

Even so, as many of us prepare to tuck into salmon this Christmas, its worth asking whether the public and government are aware of the debates around where they come from, and that the numbers of wild salmon have fallen so drastically.
By Grainne Ni Aodha and Jonathan McCambridge, PA

There was no evidence of police collusion in the original investigation into the 1978 La Mon House Hotel bombing, a report from the Police Ombudsman has said.

The report also said there had been an earnest endeavour to bring those responsible to justice.

Twelve people were killed and scores injured in the atrocity when the Provisional IRA exploded a bomb at the hotel on the outskirts of Belfast in 1978.

Survivors of the attack and family members of some of those who died have said they will continue with their campaign to find out the identities of those responsible.

Delivering a long awaited report, the Police Ombudsman said that despite concerns that informants may have been involved in the bombing, collusive behaviours were not a feature of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) investigation.

Senior director of investigations with the Police Ombudsmans office, Paul Holmes, said investigators did not find evidence or intelligence that would support the suggestion of malpractice by police officers and found no intelligence which could have forewarned of, or prevented, the bombing.

He said: The substantial police investigation files, associated documentation and intelligence records reviewed by this office, together with explanatory accounts from a number of former police officers and other inquiries, lead me to conclude that there was earnest endeavour by the RUC to bring those responsible for the bombing of La Mon House to justice.

However, maintenance of the investigation did not have the same rigour and this manifested in the loss of investigative material and the failure to interview the person arrested in 1991 in relation to the bombing.

I am of the view, based on all available evidence and information, that collusive behaviours were not a feature of this RUC investigation.

The evidence and intelligence viewed by the Police Ombudsmans investigation attributes responsibility for directing, enabling and perpetrating the bombing of La Mon House to the Provisional IRA, Mr Holmes concluded.

The ombudsmans report, published on Wednesday, considered the effectiveness of the RUC investigation, including the resulting prosecutions against two men.

One of the men was convicted of 12 counts of manslaughter in 1981, while the other was acquitted during his trial in 1980 after he alleged he had been assaulted by police while in custody.

Firemen searching through the rubble at the wrecked La Mon House restaurant near Belfast (PA Archive)

At the 1980 trial, the judge said he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the mans statements had not been adduced by torture or inhuman or degrading treatment and the statements were excluded.

The case was dismissed in the absence of other evidence.

Mr Holmes said the judges comments and trial outcome pointed to a violation of the rule of law by the police officers involved.

He also said a loss of records and exhibits from the original investigation was frustrating and affected investigators ability to properly assess the RUCs response.

Mr Holmes said: My ability to provide a definitive view on the effectiveness of the RUC investigation, including whether all appropriate lines of inquiry were pursued, has been hindered by the unavailability of certain documentation generated by the investigation.

It has not been possible to establish the circumstances in which these records were lost. However, this is a recurring, systemic issue in legacy cases and is not unique to this investigation.

Ombudsman investigators said they could access the majority of records generated by the RUC investigation and concluded the initial response to the attack was prompt and well managed.

The first police officers to attend the scene displayed courage and professionalism in seeking to save lives and tend to the injured, said Mr Holmes.

More than 100 detectives were involved in the murder investigation and almost 400 statements were recorded. Scenes were identified and exhibits seized, and forensic examinations took place.

In the context of the significant pressures and challenges faced by the RUC at that time, I am of the view that the investigation was well resourced and received direction from the highest levels of the RUC.

A number of bereaved families were briefed on the outcome of the report at the ombudsmans office on Wednesday morning.

They were joined by Axel Schmidt, advocacy manager at Ulster Human Rights Watch, who said it had been a long and challenging road for the victims and relatives of one of the worst terrorist atrocities of the Troubles.

Axel Schmidt speaks to the media along with families, friends and campaigners (Oliver McVeigh/PA)

He added: It has taken 46 years to get to this point. We know what happened, but questions remain to this day.

Mr Schmidt said the families had asked the ombudsman to provide them with the identities of the bombmakers and the IRA leaders who sanctioned it.

He said: Sadly, the ombudsman, for security reasons, was unable to make available all the security intelligence.

It is important to note that the investigation carried out by the police ombudsman did not reveal any collusion between the terrorists and any branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

The people here today are satisfied with that outcome.

This campaign for answers and some measure of justice will go on.

Our next step will be to lodge a request with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery to ascertain who were the people responsible for the bombing and the role the Republic of Ireland played in allowing terrorists to make the bomb and provide protection from arrest and prosecution while residing in its territory.

The PSNI said in a statement it is aware of the hurt and anger of the families affected by the La Mon atrocity.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson, of the Justice branch, said the organisations thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured in the cowardly attack on innocent people socialising on a night out.

We are very aware of the hurt and anger still being felt by the families of all those who were affected by this indiscriminate bomb attack and we extend our sincere sympathies to all those families, he said.

We acknowledge the historic issues identified in the report concerning records management in this investigation, however, this was at a time that predated the introduction of the computerised Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (Holmes).

While the Police Ombudsmans report has identified some investigative failings, it also highlights that the investigation was well-resourced, comprehensive and effective.

The report has found that police held no intelligence prior to the attack that could have prevented it and also found that there was no evidence that any persons were protected from prosecution.

I would also like to reflect on the courage, compassion and professionalism and of the police officers who responded to the scene of the bombing.

The difficult and challenging circumstances they faced when dealing with the victims and survivors represented the highest of standards and I welcome the fact that the Police Ombudsman has highlighted this in the report.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The approval of plans for an oil and gas lease sale in Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by the outgoing Biden administration on Monday will keep the door open for drilling in the pristine wildlands.

The sale, to be held on January 9, will include a smaller portion of the total land that was made available for bidding about four years ago during the Trump administration, reported The Associated Press.

Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is all risk with no reward, said attorney for Earthjustice Erik Grafe, who has been a leader in litigation to protect the wildlife refuge, in a press release from Earthjustice. Oil drilling would destroy this beautiful land, held sacred by Gwichin people, and would further destabilize the global climate, but it offers zero benefit to taxpayers or consumers.

In his promise to expand oil and gas drilling in the United States, President-elect Donald Trump referenced a law passed in 2017 that enabled the announcement.

The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act  passed during Trumps first term as president  included a requirement that two lease sales in the Arctic Refuge be held by the U.S. Department of the Interior before the end of this year, the press release said. The sale just approved by the Biden administration will be the second.

The first was held in 2021 by the Trump administration and generated just one percent of the estimated revenue promised to U.S. taxpayers when the leasing mandate was approved by Congress.

Few oil companies bid, since banks and insurance companies wary of the high risk refused to back drilling programs there. Although the volume of recoverable oil in the Refuge is unknown, climate scientists have warned for decades that extracting and burning any amount of oil will accelerate climate change consequences such as droughts, heat waves, wildfires and extreme storm events, Earthjustice said. Pumping oil from the Arctic Refuge wont result in lower oil prices, according to the federal Energy Information Administration, and building the necessary infrastructure would take decades.

After a review of the leasing program by the Biden administration, seven leases made during the first sale were canceled, The Associated Press reported. Litigation around the cancellation is still pending.

The first lease sale is still being delayed by ongoing lawsuits, with environmentalists promising to bring them to court in order to stop drilling in the refuge.

Congress should restore protections for the coastal plain rather than continue allowing these lands to be used as a political pawn, said Brook Brisson, Trustees for Alaska senior staff attorney, as reported by the Anchorage Daily News. We will stand with our clients, partners, and the majority of Americans in opposing the leasing of these lands and if that means challenging unlawful decisions in court, were prepared to do that again.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said a formal decision to approve the lease sale has been issued for the refuges 1.6-million-acre coastal plain. The coastal plain is a vast wildlife refuge bordering the Beaufort Sea. The refuge is the habitat of caribou, polar bears, musk oxen and an array of bird species. The debate about whether to make the coastal plain available for oil drilling has been going on for decades.

Animals graze in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska in an undated photo. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Getty Images

Business groups, North Slope leaders and Alaska state politicians have been hoping for oil exploration in the delicately balanced ecosystem of the refuge. However, they complained that the amount of land being offered for lease  the minimum permitted by law  was not enough and could hamper bidding.

Some of the states political leaders have also expressed frustration with constraints on the planned lease sale. President of advocacy group Voice of the Arctic Inupiat Nagruk Harcharek referred to the lease sale as a deliberate attempt by the Biden administrations Interior Department to kneecap the potential of development in the wildlife refuge, as The Associated Press reported.

Some Alaska Tribes and conservation groups criticized the decision as having the potential to ramp up global heating if it means oil production in the region, while also putting caribou and other wildlife species at risk.

Caribou migrate in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska on June 29, 2024. Carolyn Van Houten / The Washington Post

RaeAnn Garnett, Tribal government first chief of the Native Village of Venetie, said drilling in the refuge would amount to a direct threat to the Porcupine caribou herd and the Neetsajj Gwichin way of life.

Our people have relied on this herd for our subsistence practices since time immemorial and expect to be able to rely on it for generations to come, Garnett said, as reported by the Anchorage Daily News. Any oil and gas development poses an undeniable threat to the caribou migration routes, which will impact our traditional subsistence-based way of life.

A polar bear and three cubs resting in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. sarkophoto / iStock / Getty Images Plus

According to the BLM, plans for potential development or exploration made after any oil leases are issued for the refuge would be subject to environmental review, The Associated Press reported.

Were committed to going to court as often as necessary to defend the Arctic Refuge from oil drilling and will work toward a more sustainable future that does not depend on ever-expanding oil extraction, Grafe said in the press release.
RALEIGH, N.C.  University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans today announced the formation of a 13-member committee that will help search for the next chancellor of Elizabeth City State University.

Dr. Stephanie Johnson, chair of the ECSU Board of Trustees, will lead the search advisory committee. She is a 1974 graduate of Elizabeth City State and an adjunct professor at Hampton University.

Elizabeth City State has been on the ascent, and Im eager to see the university keep climbing, Hans said. This institution means a lot to northeastern North Carolina, and its a source of pride to all of us. Im grateful to Dr. Johnson for chairing this search.

Im honored to lead this distinguished group in the important mission before us, Johnson said. Elizabeth City State is growing and thriving, and we are enthusiastic about our ability to attract a talented leader who will build on our momentum. The Vikings have a bright future.

Under UNC System policy, the search advisory committee is composed of up to 13 voting members, including representatives of the trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni. The committee also calls for a current or former chancellor of a UNC System institution to serve, as well as members of the UNC Board of Governors and the president or his designee.

Opportunities for public input will be available during the search process, including an online survey and in-person listening sessions. Forums will be held in the spring semester.

More information about the search process will be available soon on the Elizabeth City State website.

The members of the committee are:

Dr. Stephanie Johnson (74), ECSU Board of Trustees chair, chair of the search advisory committee

Pearl Burris-Floyd, UNC Board of Governors secretary

James Copland IV, ECSU Board of Trustees member

Kayla Dixon, ECSU Student Government Association president, a senior kinesiology major from Charlotte

Letitia Evans, ECSU Staff Senate chair and director of annual giving

Rev. James Gailliard, ECSU Board of Trustees member

Dr. Harold Martin, former chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Sonja Nichols, UNC Board of Governors member

Wendy Pierce (01), ECSU Board of Visitors chair

Dr. Walter Swan, ECSU Faculty Senate chair and director of choral activities

Dr. Ivy Taylor, senior advisor to the president of the UNC System

Johnny Tillett, ECSU Board of Trustees vice chair

Paul Tine, ECSU Board of Trustees member

About Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City State University provides students with a high-quality, affordable education. A constituent member of the University of North Carolina System, ECSU develops courageous, resilient, and empowered leaders through excellent student-centered, experiential learning. ECSU offers baccalaureate, professional, and masters degrees across a wide variety of disciplines. Come to Discover. Leave to Conquer. Visit www.ecsu.edu
Elizabeth City, N.C.  When JayQuahn Blackledge stepped onto the campus of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) as a reserved freshman who preferred the solitude of his dorm room, he would have never predicted that hed one day be the face of student leadership. Today, the psychology major and former SGA president from Washington, NC is wrapping up his senior year as co-founder of the transformative Project Impact and a proud pioneer of change.

I chose ECSU because I liked how close it was to home, as it was only an hour and a half away. ECSU is a smaller school, and I knew I would have the opportunity to build relationships with my professors and have the one-on-one opportunities needed to thrive and be successful, JayQuahn recalled. But what he found at ECSU was so much morea family that pushed him to break free of his comfort zone and discover his potential.

The Turning Point

JayQuahns transformation began during his freshman year when the SGA President at the time saw something in him that he hadnt yet seen in himself. He took me under his wing, let me shadow him, and convinced me to join SGA. That was a life-changing moment, JayQuahn shared. I went from being the shy kid who didnt like leaving my room, to becoming SGA President. It taught me so much about who I am and what Im capable of.

From that pivotal experience, JayQuahn embarked on a leadership journey that changed not only his life but the lives of others.

Leaving a Legacy

One of his proudest accomplishments is co-founding Project Impacta mentorship program designed to prepare men for life after college through leadership development, mentorship and community servicealong with JayShawn Blackledge, Etavian Stokes, Joshua Barco and Angel Teagle. We wanted to create something that helps men become ready for life after college, JayQuahn said. Project Impact aims to cultivate individuals who are committed to making a positive impact on themselves and the world around them.

Blackledge also made his mark as a spring 23 initiate of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and represented ECSU on campus and beyond with his research study, The Impact of Stress Reduction Activities on Mental Well-being, which he presented at Undergraduate Research Day. On the social side of his college journey, he received the Viking Pride Award at the Viking Spirit Awards in 2024.

A Legacy Built Together

What made JayQuahns journey even more special was that he wasnt walking it alone. His twin brother, JayShawn Blackledge, was by his side.

A student leader in his own right, JayShawn has served on Royal Court as Mister Sophomore, Mister Junior and Mister Senior, and is a spring 24 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Together, the brothers co-founded Project Impact.

Having my brother as a partner in building this legacy is something Ill always cherish. Weve supported each other through every challenge and celebrated every milestone, JayQuahn said.

Overcoming Challenges, Building Confidence

Stepping into leadership wasnt easy. JayQuahn admits his biggest challenge was overcoming the fear of stepping outside his familiar space.

I was comfortable staying in my room and just doing my work, but I wanted to make a difference on campus, so I had to let go of the fear I had and put myself out there. I got involved in student clubs and organizations and the rest is history, he said.

Today, he credits ECSU with helping him grow into the confident, driven leader he is now.

Being able to speak before my peers and the chancellor at two commencement ceremonies is a memory that I will never forget. I feared public speaking at one point in time, but my confidence in myself has grown and I dont fear anything anymore. I feel like ECSU has helped me grow as a man and has also equipped me with the necessary skills to thrive in any endeavor I pursue moving forward. What Ive learned here at ECSU goes beyond the classroom. I now have a family that is rooting for my success, Blackledge said.

The Future Looks Bright

As he prepares for the next chapter of his journeylaw schoolJayQuahn is ready to tackle whatever challenges come his way. In five years, I see myself thriving as a lawyer impacting the lives of many people for the better.

Words of Wisdom

To incoming students, JayQuahn offers this advice: Step out of your comfort zone as you never know what may transpire from it. Also, walk around with a positive attitudeyou never know who is watching you, wishing they could be more like you.

As he reflects on his ECSU experience, JayQuahn sums it up with one word: pivotal. ECSU is where I learned who I am, discovered my passions, escaped my comfort zone, gained another family, and found a support system that believes in me no matter what I decide to do in the future. This place changed my life.

Blackledge didnt just attend ECSUhe transformed it. His journey is proof that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to extraordinary things. For this graduate, the best is yet to come.
The battle for AI supremacy is heating up. Almost exactly a week after OpenAI made its o1 model available to the public , Google today is offering a preview of its next-generation Gemini 2.0 model. In a blog post attributed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the company says 2.0 is its most capable model yet, with the algorithm offering native support for image and audio output. It will enable us to build new AI agents that bring us closer to our vision of a universal assistant, says Pichai.

Google is doing something different with Gemini 2.0. Rather than starting todays preview by first offering its most advanced version of the model, Gemini 2.0 Pro, the search giant is instead kicking things off with 2.0 Flash. As of today, the more efficient (and affordable) model is available to all Gemini users. If you want to try it yourself, you can enable Gemini 2.0 from the dropdown menu in the Gemini web client, with availability within the mobile app coming soon.

Moving forward, Google says its main focus is adding 2.0s smarts to Search (no surprise there), beginning with AI Overviews . According to the company, the new model will allow the feature to tackle more complex and involved questions, including ones involving multi-step math and coding problems. At the same time, following a broad expansion in October , Google plans to make AI Overviews available in more languages and countries.

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Looking forward, Gemini 2.0 is already powering enhancements to some of Googles more moonshot AI applications, including Project Astra , the multi-modal AI agent the company previewed at I/O 2024. Thanks to the new model, Google says the latest version of Astra can converse in multiple languages and even switch between them on the fly. It can also remember things for longer, offers improved latency, and can access tools like Google Lens and Maps.

As you might expect, Gemini 2.0 Flash offers significantly better performance than its predecessor. For instance, it earned a 63 percent score on HiddenMath, a benchmark that tests the ability of AI models to complete competition-level math problems. By contrast, Gemini 1.5 Flash earned a score of 47.2 percent on that same test. But the more interesting thing here is that the experimental version of Gemini 2.0 even beats Gemini 1.5 Pro in many areas; in fact, according to data Google shared, the only domains where it lags behind are in long-context understanding and automatic speech translation.

Its for that reason that Google is keeping the older model around, at least for a little while longer. Alongside today's announcement of Gemini 2.0, the company also debuted Deep Research, a new tool that uses Gemini 1.5 Pro's long-context capabilities to write comprehensive reports on complicated subjects.
When Google debuted Gemini 1.5 Pro in February, the company touted the models ability to reason through what it called long context windows. It said, for example, the algorithm could provide details about a 402-page Apollo 11 mission transcript. Now, Google is giving people a practical way to take advantage of those capabilities with a tool called Deep Research. Starting today, Gemini Advanced users can use Deep Research to create comprehensive but easy-to-read reports on complex topics.

Aarush Selvan, a senior product manager on the Gemini team, gave Engadget a preview of the tool. At first glance, it looks to work like any other AI chatbot. All interactions start with a prompt. In the demo I saw, Selvan asked Gemini to help him find scholarship programs for students who want to enter public service after school. But things diverge from there. Before answering a query, Gemini first produces a multi-step research plan for the user to approve.

For example, say you want Gemini to provide you with a report on heat pumps. In the planning stage, you could tell the AI agent to prioritize information on government rebates and subsidies or omit those details altogether. Once you give Gemini the go-ahead, it will then scour the open web for information related to your query. This process can take a few minutes. In user testing, Selvan said Google found most people were happy to wait for Gemini to do its thing since the reports the agent produces through Deep Research are so detailed.

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In the example of the scholarship question, the tool produced a multi-page report complete with charts. Throughout, there were citations with links to all of the sources Gemini used. I didnt get a chance to read over the reports in detail, but they appeared to be more accurate than some of Googles less helpful and flattering AI Overviews.

According to Selvan, Deep Research uses some of the same signals Google Search does to determine authority. That said, sourcing is definitely a product of the query. The more complicated a question you ask of the agent, the more likely it is to produce a useful answer since its research is bound to lead it to more authoritative sources. You can export a report to Google Docs once you're happy with Gemini's work.

If you want to try Deep Research for yourself, youll need to sign up for Googles One AI Premium Plan, which includes access to Gemini Advanced. The plan costs $20 per month following a one-month free trial. It's also only available in English at the moment.
Earlier today, Google debuted Gemini 2.0. The company says its new machine learning model wont just enhance its existing products and services. It will also power entirely new experiences. To that point, Google previewed Project Mariner, an AI agent that can navigate within a web browser. Mariner is an experimental Chrome extension that is currently available to select trusted testers.

As you can see from the video Google shared, the pitch for Mariner is a tool that can automate certain rote tasks. In the demo, Mariner assists Googles Jaclyn Konzelmann with finding the contact information of four outdoor companies.

Clearly, theres more work Google needs to do before the software is ready for public use. Notice that Konzelmann is very specific when prompting Mariner, instructing the agent to memorize and remember parts of her instructions. It also takes Mariner close to 12 minutes to complete the task given to it.

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As a research prototype, its able to understand and reason across information in your browser screen, including pixels and web elements like text, code, images and forms, Google says of Mariner.

If Project Mariner sounds familiar, its because The Information reported in October that Google was working on something called Project Jarvis. The publication described it as a computer-using agent that Google designed to assist with tasks like booking flights. In November, an early version of Jarvis was briefly available on the Chrome Web Store. A person familiar with the matter confirmed that Jarvis and Mariner are the same project.

The confirmation of Mariners existence comes after Anthropic introduced a similar but more expansive feature for its Claude AI, which the company says can use a wide range of standard tools and software programs designed for people. That tool is currently available in public beta.
A US bankruptcy court has blocked the sale of Infowars to parody news site The Onion, ruling that the auction didn't yield the best potential bids. At the same time, judge Christopher Lopez rejected claims by Infowars' owner, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, that any "collusion" was involved in the case.

The Onion reportedly outbid competitor First American United Companies, affiliated with a Jones business, for the rights to the site. Though its cash offer was lower, The Onion valued it at $7 million because Sandy Hook families would allow some of the proceeds to be distributed to other creditors.

However, the appeals judge said that the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee made a "good-faith error" by requesting final offers instead of allowing back-and-forth bidding between The Onion and First American. "This should have been opened back up, and it should have been opened back up for everybody," Lopez said. "Its clear the trustee left the potential for a lot of money on the table."

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Now, the trustee must work to resolve some of the disputes between creditors before making another attempt to sell Infowars. The trustee, Christopher Murray, said that First American only complained about the process after losing the bid.

Alex Jones was found liable in 2022 for nearly $1.5 billion in damages for spreading conspiracy theories about the 2012 shooting that killed 20 children and six adult staffers. One of the assets put up for sale was Jones' Infowars site, and The Onion said it received the blessing of the families of the victims to acquire the site. It reportedly planned to transform the site into one with "noticeably less hateful disinformation," and a gun safety nonprofit reportedly planned to advertise on the rebooted site. Last week, X said that The Onion wouldn't be given Alex Jones' Infowars X accounts, opening up a new can of worms about who owns social media handles.
The advent of Bluetooth trackers has made it a lot easier to find your bag or keys when theyre lost, but it has also put inconspicuous tracking tools in the hands of people who might misuse them. Apple and Google have both implemented tracker alerts to let you know if theres an unknown Bluetooth tracker nearby, and now as part of a new update , Google is letting Android users actually locate those trackers, too.

The feature is one of two new tools Google is adding to Find My Device-compatible trackers. The first, Temporarily Pause Location is what youre supposed to enable when you first receive an unknown tracker notification. It blocks your phone from updating its location with trackers for 24 hours. The second, Find Nearby, helps you pinpoint where the tracker is if you cant see it or easily hear it.

By clicking on an unknown tracker notification youll be able to see a map of where the tracker was last spotted moving with you. From there, you can play a sound to see if you can locate it (Google says the owner wont be notified). If you cant find it, Find Nearby will connect your phone to the tracker over Bluetooth and display a shape that fills in the closer you get to it.

Google / Engadget

The tool is identical to what Google offers for locating trackers and devices you actually own, but importantly, you dont need to use Find My Device or have your own tracker to benefit. Like Googles original notifications feature , any device running Android 6.0 and up can deal with unknown Bluetooth trackers safely.
Actress Jameela Jamil is under fire after she made comments fans deemed "shameful" regarding the man recently charged with the cold-blooded killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

When Instagram gossip outlet 'SaintHoax' posted the identity of the shooter, it seems the "Love At First Sight" star left a simple, yet head-turning comment that fans didn't appear to take lightly.

The post featured the computer science major and suspect in both a black suit and another photo of him at the top of a scenic mountain, taking what seems to be a shirtless hike.

SaintHoax wrote a caption in the post that said: "Person of interest in CEO shooting identified as Luigi Mangione." In addition to posting his photos, additional slides in the post described him as an "anti-capitalist Ivy League grad" who "seethed in a manifesto."

Apparently, Jamil thought this would be a great place to post what fans deemed a wildly inappropriate comment, simply writing "A star is born," per 'The Independent.' It seems the controversial comment has since been deleted.

That said, according to the media outlet, fans engaged in fierce backlash to the distasteful comment, as one user called her response shameful. "You made my wig leave my body," a second fan poked at her.

Despite this, there were many similar comments where that came from, as many in the thread seem to be keen on the murder suspect's looks. "Does he need a cell mate?" one fan jokingly inquired. "I spent that entire day with Luigi, this is impossible," a second teased. "It's not him. He was with me that morning," a third continued.

Mangione, 26, was arrested by authorities after he was seen by a patron at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The bystander alerted the police after recalling his face from images circulated by the NYPD last week, per the news outlet.

According to reports, the 26-year-old allegedly possessed a firearm, a suppressor, "multiple fraudulent IDs," and a handwritten manifesto which reportedly slammed the healthcare system.

Per 'CNN,' friends of the crazed gunman were left shocked by his actions, saying they "never got the impression he would self-destruct."
Drea Kelly is setting the record straight.

Claims of Kelly's ex-husband R. Kelly have been swirling around that she was trapped in a room while Robert's "harem" of women would come around regularly in the couple's home.

Speaking to Carlos King on his 'Reality with The King' podcast, Kelly quickly debunked those rumors.

"Here's the thing  I didn't," Kelly responded when King spoke on the topic of being Kelly's accomplice or being "trapped" in a room while her husband acted.

"I don't even know where people got that from. I don't even know where that s**t came from," she responded passionately as King, 45, asked her to clarify.

"What kind of mama do you think I am? I'm a Black woman from the south side of Chicago. So you think I'ma have a room for you, your daughter, the nanny, and who? Oh, you have lost your damn mind," she exclaimed. "Y'all dumb, but y'all ain't stupid."

"What people don't understand is that my divorce was final in 2009," she explained. "My son is 22, Carlos. I left when he was one and a half. That tells you how long I've been gone," she declared.

Kelly explained that "all the s**t that was happening, all the stuff with the house in Atlanta," people don't know that she was no longer living in the house  and was actually living with her mother and father at the time all of the allegations about her ex-husband went down.

"Been gone!" she shouted. "Probably had five or six different addresses trying to get away from his a*s."

Kelly explained that "people" have created a narrative that she had been living there in the home while "all of this" was transpiring, but she has been working to get the word out that this did not happen.

"To keep putting things out there that are not true about me? The people that were helping him are also on trial with him," she stated.

"Make it make sense," she reiterated, as King reiterated that she's free, while Kelly's co-conspirators are currently in jail.
Jim Carrey made headlines two years ago when he hinted at retiring from acting after his role in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. But now, money issues for the actor have helped to prompt his return to Sonic the Hedgehog 3  at least according to him.

Indeed, back in 2022, the funnyman said he was "probably" done with Hollywood, expressing a desire for a quieter life focused on his passions for painting and spirituality. "I've done enough  I am enough," he said at the time. Fast forward to 2024, however, and the comedic actor is back on screen as the villainous Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3  and his reason for returning might surprise you.

At the Sonic 3 U.K. premiere in London on Tuesday, Carrey laughed when asked by the AP about his earlier retirement comments, admitting, "That might have been hyperbole."

So, what brought him back? "I came back to this universe because I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch," he joked. "And, you know, I bought a lot of stuff, and I need the money, frankly." (See the video below.)

Jim Carrey explains his return to playing Dr. Robotnik in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3": "I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly." pic.twitter.com/pIFJPuAyRM  AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) December 10, 2024

Carrey's return to the Sonic franchise marks his third time playing the iconic villain. The actor, known for his roles in films like The Mask and Dumb and Dumber, originally came out of a six-year break from major studio films to star in the first Sonic movie in 2020.

Since then, he has kept busy with smaller projects, including his Showtime series Kidding and a few appearances on Saturday Night Live as Joe Biden.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Carrey doesn't just reprise his role as Dr. Robotnik; he also portrays the character's grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. Director Jeff Fowler praised Carrey's commitment to the role, saying he "went all in" on creating this new character within the Sonic universe.

And hough Carrey's retirement was short-lived, his return to Sonic is a reminder that even when actors say they're done, sometimes the right role  and, apparently, the right paycheck  can bring them back for more. Fans can catch Carrey's latest antics when Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits U.S. theaters on Dec. 20.
In response to the recent arrest of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, fans have reached out to Kim Kardashian for support.

Thompson was fatally shot in New York City on Dec. 4 in what authorities believe was a deliberate attack on the healthcare executive.

Initiating a search operation, authorities successfully located Mangione Monday at a McDonald's branch in Pennsylvania.

The 26-year-old, who is known as an "anti-capitalist," was identified by an employee who promptly alerted law enforcement, resulting in his arrest.

While still incarcerated for murder allegations, Mangione has attracted a dedicated group of supporters on the internet, who have commended him for his perceived act of selflessness in the name of society.

Kim Kardashian's fans, who have witnessed her journey towards becoming a lawyer since 2018, are now imploring her to step in and assist Mangione with his legal battle.

Get your ass up and work @KimKardashian https://t.co/haPaG84Lvg  n a t a l i e (@nataliethehero) December 9, 2024

Kim Kardashian needs to get Luigi pardoned and then put him in a Skims campaign  Hermeshuns  (@hermeshuns) December 10, 2024

@KimKardashian Free Luigi Mangione for us. Get us that pardon pic.twitter.com/UNAVZl3yPc  Kim Kardashein (@Chromaticunt4) December 9, 2024

Somebody please contact kim kardashian and tell her to protect luigi mangione, he cannot go to jail.  idk (@Costnad) December 9, 2024

Chile I know Kim kardashian already on her way to see Luigi  $ (@Yourfavthickums) December 11, 2024

tbh if luigis mansion wasnt going to jail & he somehow went free hed be walking so many shows & book campaigns hes lowkey the modern day prison bae kim kardashian is looking at ways to set him free as we speak!! the inevitable skims campaign will break the internet   (@gothjafar) December 10, 2024

I give @KimKardashian 48 hrs before she reaches out to Luigi for both a modeling contract and prison sentence reform  Noah Rogers (@noah_rogers) December 10, 2024

Some have even criticized the former "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star for only giving attention to high-profile cases.

Antonio norris girl (Kim Kardashian) MIGHT hop on the luigi mangione trend and try to get this nigga out of jail. Just like kim did with the menendez brothers. Go ahead kim, we know you are a capitalist and opportunist. Go ahead and participate in the case while its trending. pic.twitter.com/jXbtC4JZUd  Jace (@jaceiscrazy) December 10, 2024

FFS ! 1st shes not an attorney. Video of him shooting, kinda slam dunk  Pullfoxslicense (@pullfoxslicense) December 11, 2024

people asking kim kardashian to help luigi mangione as if she will ever not side with corrupt rich people LMAO  t (@pridenprjdce) December 10, 2024

On the other hand, there are others who believe Kardashian only helps those who are wrongly accused and not those who are guilty with evidence presented.

Her criminal justice work is for those wrongly accused or convicted, not assassins.  sgoodl (@sgoodl) December 11, 2024

The 44-year-old reality TV personality, who is engaged in the cause of criminal justice reform, has played a significant role in securing the release of more than twelve individuals from incarceration starting in 2019.

Since 2018, the SKIMS mogul has dedicated herself to pursuing a law degree as a tribute to her late father, Robert Kardashian, a prominent attorney who passed away in 2003 at 59 years old.

In 2021, after persevering through four attempts, Kardashian passed California's baby bar examination. She is aiming to sit for the California bar exam in 2025.

The Hulu actress played a pivotal role in securing a pardon for Alice Marie Johnson, a woman serving a life sentence for a nonviolent crime.

Her support extends to individuals like Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are on the brink of resentencing after almost three decades behind bars for the tragic murder of their parents in 1989.

In a more recent development, Kardashian met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House in April to advocate for changes in the criminal justice system.

It's worth noting that she has made no statements regarding the recent arrest of Mangione or any appeals for assistance in his case as of press time.
Jamie Foxx is apparently done dating white women.

The actor and comedian released his new Netflix special called What Had Happened Was ... on Dec. 10. In it, he addressed his mysterious medical emergency and also claimed that he was done dating white women.

"Sisters, I'm here to tell you, I've been cured," Foxx said.

"I've been cured of everything, no more white girls. I'm serious, no more white girls. No more white girls. No more. No more white girls," he added.

Foxx was previously linked to Katie Holmes in 2013 after she finalized her divorce from Tom Cruise. They went public with their romance two years later and made their ed carpet debut in 2019 before breaking up later that year, News.com reports.

Foxx revealed that he is "back on the Black side of town" when it comes to his dating.

"I'm back on the Black side of town! No more white girls. No more potato salad and raisins. No more white girls. No more spray tan, no more big t--s no a--e, no more white girls," Foxx shared.

Over the years, Foxx has dated several other white women other than Holmes. He was linked to beauty queen-turned-actress Leila Arcieri before welcoming his second daughter, Anelise, with Kristin Grannis. Additionally, his first daughter's mother, Connie Kline, was white.

Read more: Jamie Foxx Addresses Mysterious Health Issues and Claims He Died in Netflix Stand-Up Special

Elsewhere in the special, Foxx talked about Diddy while making a joke about the embattled rapper.

"The internet said Puffy was trying to kill me, that's what the internet was saying. I know what you thinking, 'Diddy?'" Foxx joked, according to People. "Hell no, I left them parties early. I was out by 9, something don't look right. It's slippery in here."

Foxx continued his jokes about Diddy and associated it to his medical emergency in 2023.

"Your life doesn't flash before your face. It was kind of oddly peaceful. I saw the tunnel. I didn't see the light. I was in that tunnel, though. It was hot in that tunnel. S---, am I going to the wrong place in this mother------?" he said. ""Because I looked at the end of the tunnel, and I thought I saw the devil like, 'Come on.' Or is that Puffy [Sean Combs]? I'm f---ng around."

His "slippery" jokes are in reference to the 1,000 bottles of baby oil that have been reported to have been found in Combs' homes. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, spoke to TMZ about the amount of baby oil, saying that Combs could have bought in bulk at Costco.

However, a spokesperson for grocery chain has denied they sell baby oil.

--Originally appeared on 'Music Times.'
50 Cent has announced his intention to create a documentary about Luigi Mangione, the alleged gunman accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

On December 10, the rapper and producer took to social media, where he expressed an unusual interest in Mangione's story.

Referring to Mangione as "special," 50 Cent admitted to feeling drawn to the alleged shooter's manifesto, parts of which he claimed to have read. "I don't know, I kinda like this killer," 50 Cent wrote. "I'm sorry this is going this way it is but I'm doing a documentary on him, he is special! I apologize in advance for anyone who doesn't understand."

The alleged manifesto, reportedly retrieved by law enforcement, included chilling excerpts detailing Mangione's alleged methods.

One passage highlighted by 50 Cent read: "To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, and a lot of patience. The spiral notebook, if present, has some straggling notes and To Do lists that illuminate the gist of it."

Mangione, 26, was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a McDonald's employee identified him and alerted the police. Authorities found multiple fake IDs, a 3D-printed "ghost gun" with a silencer, and clothing matching the suspect's description. He was subsequently arraigned on charges of murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery, and providing false identification. Mangione remains in custody in Pennsylvania, awaiting extradition to New York to face trial.

As the legal proceedings unfold, 50 Cent's plan to document Mangione's story has sparked conversations, with fans and critics debating his decision to focus on a controversial figure.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, and Sam Taylor-Johnson, 57, made a rare red carpet appearance with her eldest daughters at the New York City premiere of 'Kraven the Hunter' on Tuesday, December 10.

The couple was joined by Sam's daughters from her previous marriage to Jay Jopling: Angelica, 27, and Jessie, 18.

This sighting doesn't happen too often, especially given the pair's significant age gap of 23 years. The couple's relationship, which began in 2008 when Aaron auditioned for Sam's directorial debut 'Nowhere Boy' at age 18, has consistently drawn public attention and scrutiny.

They married in 2012 and share two daughters, Wylda and Romy, in addition to Sam's children from her previous marriage.

Aaron has been outspoken about addressing their age gap in recent interviews. Speaking to 'Rolling Stone UK' in March, he stated: "What you gotta realize is that what most people were doing in their twenties, I was doing when I was 13." He challenged critics by adding, "You're doing something too quickly for someone else? I don't understand that. What speed are you supposed to enjoy life at? It's bizarre to me."

The Marvel star acknowledged the challenges of public perception, noting, "There's a protectiveness that I feel. I think it's really difficult."

He revealed to 'Esquire' in June 2023 that becoming a young father was always part of his life plan: "I was going to have a big family. I knew I was going to be a young father. I knew I was going to have many kids."

Meanwhile, Sam has addressed the ongoing public fascination with their relationship in an April interview with 'The Guardian'.

"We're a bit of an anomaly, but it's that thing: after 14 years you just think, surely by now, it doesn't really matter?" She dismissed critics of their marriage, stating, "It doesn't mean anything. It is just people upset with their own sadness; with misgivings about their own life."
An influencer had her cellphone violently stolen during a livestream after a masked individual smashed the window of her car and drove off with the phone while it was still recording.

Micaela Ybanez, known online as Milica, had just returned from doing a Christmas shopping trip in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She had just set up her phone on the dashboard while talking with a friend when the thief smashed in the driver's side window, as reported by Infocielo.

La streamer Micaela Ybanez hacia un vivo cuando motochorros le rompieron el vidrio del auto para robarle el telefono pic.twitter.com/6KDneDmeRw  Cadena 3 Argentina (@Cadena3Com) December 11, 2024

In video of the attack, which has since gone viral online, Ybanez is seen smiling with her friend while wearing reindeer antlers in the car. But seconds after setting up the camera, an individual wearing a motorcycle helmet comes up and smashes the window.

Glass is seen raining down on the inside of the car before the thief grabs the phone and drops it on the street. Ybanez can be heard screaming as the thief picks up the phone again, gets onto a motorcycle or scooter and drives off.

fuera de meme estamos bien, me corte un poco porque me cayo todo el vidrio encima xd ahora estamos yendo a dejar el auto de nico para q lo arregle papa  Milica (@milica_yb) December 10, 2024

"Aside from the meme, we're fine. I cut myself a little because all the glass fell on me," Ybanez wrote in a post to X a couple of hours after the incident.

However, police said that the theft was not reported, as reported by Clarin.

Ybanez also shared a video to Instagram of her and her friend talking about the incident, during which she apologized to her friend for the damage to his car. They also included a clip of the pair joking about her phone getting stolen.

Originally published by Latin Times.
CECIL TOWNSHIP, Pa.  Residents stirred in their seats as they anxiously awaited the answer to months of uncertainty over the future of oil and gas development in their township.

For years, these Washington County residents have been fighting for increased setbacks from oil and gas well pads after recent studies demonstrated a link between health issues and fracking.

And now, the votes were in. The Cecil Township Board of Supervisors voted 3-to-2 on Nov. 4 to increase the minimum setback distance of future unconventional oil and gas wells to 2,500 feet away from protected structures like homes and businesses and 5,000 feet from schools and hospitals.

Cheers erupted from the room. People jumped up and down and hugged each other while others yelled sweet thanks to the township supervisors

I finally feel like were going in the right direction, said Michelle Stonemark, a Cecil Township resident who lives 530 feet from a Range Resources well pad. She has spoken at numerous board of supervisor public hearings for the ordinance, discussing her harrowing experience of living so close to oil and gas activity.

Cecil Township is one of few communities in western Pennsylvania to increase well pad setbacks in response to new evidence that shows increased health risks connected to living near unconventional oil and gas activity.

As other residents in other townships struggle for more distance, environmental organizations see Cecil Township as a success story that could help spur what they see as a necessary change at the state level.

Cecil Township

The first unconventional oil and gas well in Cecil Township was drilled in 2009 on Troyer Farms, in one of the most rural areas in the township. Since then, the township has gained more than 3,000 residents between 2010 to 2020.

As the population grew, so too did oil and gas activity, which, in turn, moved closer to residential areas. Cecil Townships minimum setback distance from protected structures was 500 feet and 1,000 feet from schools and hospitals, established in an ordinance in 2011.

The board of supervisors was supposed to update the ordinance in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the process. Since then, increased complaints from residents living close to wells have driven a need for change.

Stonemark is one of these residents. She moved to the township in 2012, but her family has owned 30 acres of land in Cecil Township since 2010. Her father gave her a portion of the land to build a home in 2018.

Shortly after the Stonemarks began construction on their house, Range Resources Augustine George well pad was approved to go in 530 feet away from their property. Since then, Stonemark has lived in constant fear of using her outdoor areas.

Her house vibrates when drilling occurs and loud noises are frequent, often waking her up at night. The smell of diesel is also constant and she spends countless hours worrying about her childrens health.

Stonemark raised her concerns with Range Resources, which prompted the company to conduct sound studies. These studies found that the well complied with the townships noise limits. Nevertheless, Stonemark began recording instances of loud noise and bringing them directly to the township.

Other residents described the noise coming from the pad as beyond what the human body can take.

Its hard to tell everybody here what it might sound like but its basically a helicopter, about 100 feet over your head, that never lands, said Merle Lesko, during one public hearing at Cecil Township. He lives 600 feet from the Augustine George well pad.

Setbacks

Drilling into the Marcellus Shale began two decades ago in Washington County, but discussion about how safe it was to live near this new type of oil and gas activity didnt begin until years later.

The state extended the minimum setback from homes and private water wells from 200 feet to 500 feet in 2012 under what would become known as Act 13. The setback change was part of a comprehensive overhaul of the states oil and gas law to address the rapidly growing Marcellus Shale industry.

Since then, theres been little movement at the state level to further regulate the industry, even as a growing number of scientific studies show the negative impacts of living close to fracking.

Concerns were first raised in a 2019 story published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that found several young adults in Canon-McMillan School District, in Washington County, had a rare bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma. Out of the six individuals with the disease, five were from Cecil Township and three died.

The Post-Gazette identified 27 more cases of Ewing sarcoma in Washington, Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health later determined these cases did not signify a cancer cluster. The report, however, did find increased incidence rates of some types of radiation-related cancers  breast cancer, colon cancer, gallbladder cancer and leukemia  in Washington County and in Canon-McMillon when compared with state incidence rates.

Janice Blancok, a Cecil Township resident, lost her 19-year-old son Luke to Ewing sarcoma in 2016, less than two years after he was first diagnosed. Blancok attended most public hearings for Cecil Townships new oil and gas ordinance to advocate for increased setbacks.

Dont let the current setback in our township ordinance continue to put our children, and grandchildren, your children and your grandchildren, in harms way, Blancok said, at the final hearing. I am pleading with you to do the right thing and vote yes to the 2,500-foot setback.

The 2,500-foot setback was first recommended by a statewide grand jury report released in 2020 by then-state Attorney General Josh Shapiro. The report, the result of a two-year investigation, condemned the states Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health for failing to protect residents from the negative impacts of the unconventional oil and gas industry.

Everything weve seen confirms that all the impacts of fracking activity are magnified by proximity, the report stated. The closer you live to a gas well, compressor station or pipeline, the more likely you are to suffer ill effects.

The grand jury recommended a 2,500-foot well pad setback but acknowledged that even that distance may not be enough. We do not believe such a modest buffer zone is too much to ask when it comes to peoples health and homes, the report said.

Last year, the University of Pittsburgh released the results of three studies on asthma, childhood cancer and birth outcomes in communities with unconventional gas development.

The studies were commissioned by the state Department of Health to further address community concerns about the health impacts of living near fracking. The studies looked at observational health records from 1990-2020 in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

The Pitt studies found that people living within 10 miles of an unconventional well during the production stage were four to five times more likely to see their asthma worsen. The study also found that children living within one mile of a well had a five to seven times greater chance of developing lymphoma than those living within five miles of a well.

The oil and gas industry, for its part, criticized the grand jurys findings and the results of the Pitt study. According to the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Pitt study relied on a very limited proximity metric which doesnt identify any exposure pathways, assumes constant emissions and ignores critical factors like weather, work, air dispersion, lifestyle choices and other sources.

The coalition said Cecil Townships decision to instate 2,500-foot setbacks is not grounded in science or public safety.

Lets get the facts straight. There is no scientific reasoning behind a 2,500-foot setback. It was only suggested in a politically-motivated Attorney General Report that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection cited as factually and legally inaccurate and a disservice to the citizens of the Commonwealth, the statement said.

West Deer Township

Residents in communities like West Deer Township in Allegheny County are also fighting for safe setbacks. Unlike Cecil Township, however, well pads in West Deer may be allowed even closer than before after the townships Board of Supervisors revised its zoning ordinance in September.

For some residents like first-time homeowner Nicole Howell, the latest changes to the ordinance make her question her familys future in West Deer Township. Howell, who moved to West Deer last year and recently got married, says she never wouldve considered living here if she knew what she does now.

There will be two operational fracking pads within a mile of my house which means that the children I was planning on having are already five to seven times more likely to develop lymphoma, Howell said. Do I risk the health of my family or do I sell the home that I just bought at a financial loss?

The ordinance, passed by a 3-to-1 vote, established a 750-foot setback distance from principal-use structures  residences and businesses. The previous ordinance, updated in 2012, set a 600-foot setback from a well pad to any structure, said Josh Wiegand, a West Deer Township supervisor, which included a garage, barn or a childrens playset.

The ordinance extended the setback distance by 150 feet, but changed how its measured, which is what worries members of the Concerned Residents of West Deer Township, or CROWD.

You could have a well pad thats 100 feet from the back end of your lot and, as long as your residence is 750 feet from the well pad, it would be allowed, even though your children play back there and you have a garage back there, said Jack Rearick, a West Deer resident and member of CROWD.

CROWD is advocating for safe fracking within the community and wants a 1,500-foot well pad setback. Rearick said the group was started by two residents in 2020 when the first unconventional well in West Deer was proposed less than 600 feet away from a number of homes. The proposed well was about a quarter-mile from Rearicks house which compelled him to join the group.

According to Wiegand, the board had been looking to update the outdated ordinance for several years. Wiegand was the only supervisor who voted against the revised ordinance.

The revised ordinance now allows drilling in R2 semi-suburban residential districts and R3 suburban residential districts, which Wiegands says are the two of the most populated areas in the township.

It also designated oil and gas infrastructure  like pipelines and gas dehydrators and compressors  as a permitted use instead of a conditional use application, meaning no public hearings are required.

According to Joseph Shook, assistant manager and zoning officer for West Deer Township, the ordinance also imposed new requirements for oil and gas development that werent previously specified.

This includes a mandatory sound study conducted by applicants before development; restricted hours of operation; prohibited well pad operators from using exclusively residential roads; required information on well pad operators who can be contacted seven days a week, 24 hours a day to address emergencies, complaints and concerns and forbid the disposal of waste of any kind on site.

Two unconventional wells were permitted in West Deer Township earlier this year and are in the early stages of development.

Wiegand says it is unlikely the board will be making changes to the ordinance anytime soon, as it has other matters to handle. CROWD members, however, will continue to push for change at the board of supervisor meetings.

Harrisburg

As residents struggle at the local level, environmental organizations are advocating for increased setbacks at the state level that could benefit all Pennsylvania communities.

Environmental advocacy groups Clean Air Council and Environmental Integrity Project recently filed a rulemaking petition to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections Environmental Quality Board asking the agency to increase the minimum well pad setbacks distance to 3,281 feet from any building or drinking water well.

The rulemaking petition, filed Oct. 22, also calls for a 5,280-foot setback from schools and hospitals and a 750-foot setback from any surface water. The petition would allow landowners to waive the setback distance if they get approval from all landowners within the setback zone.

Included in the petition are 42 peer-reviewed scientific studies that encompass over a decade of research across various states detailing the impacts of fracking, like air pollution, water contamination, public health impacts and threats to agriculture.

The coalition has been working on the rulemaking petition to change state law since the group was formed five years ago. According to Lisa Hallowell, senior attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project, oil and gas companies would still be able to drill new wells because of technological advancements in drilling laterals, or the horizontal direction of a wellbore that extends from the vertical shaft.

Because companies have now been widely advertising that they can drill much longer laterals, even four to five miles out, we dont think this should affect their ability to get you oil and gas, Hallowell said.

Axis Energy Services drilled a 23,700-foot lateral  equivalent to 4.48 miles  in Ohio in 2023. Range Resources also drilled a 22,000-foot-long lateral, roughly 4.2 miles, around that same time period in the Marcellus Shale region.

The rulemaking petition was approved by the EQB on Nov. 21. Next, the coalition will give a presentation to the board where the DEP can provide input. If the EQB decides to proceed, it will draft a proposed rulemaking petition that will be released for public comment. Hallowell expects the process to continue into next year.

According to Hallowell, changes to setbacks at the state level would protect all Pennsylvania residents more quickly than local ordinances could.

Cecil is a success story for the people that wanted these increased protections, but that was so many years in the making and so much work, she said. It would take forever to try and replicate that one by one in every single township.

Cecil Township landowners

Tom Casicola, chairperson of the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors, is aware of how this new ordinance could impact Cecil Township landowners. When public hearings started in April, he received calls from landowners who were concerned about their ability to lease and profit from their mineral rights.

Thats why the new ordinance allows landowners to waive the 2,500-foot setback if all neighboring properties within that distance sign off. It puts the responsibility of finding a location back on the company. If property owners want to lease, then let them negotiate and leave us out of it, Casicola said.

Cecil Townships landmark decision could be appealed by oil and gas companies and landowners in court if they claim it violates their rights. Despite this, Casicola feels the increased setback was the right decision.

For years, oil and gas operators have been trying to reduce the noise impacts on residents, but according to Casicola it wasnt good enough so the township had to intervene.

The new setbacks wont help Stonemark and her family, who will continue to live close to the Augustine George well pad and remain subject to constant drilling noises and vibrations. But the passing of the 2,500-foot setback was a win she couldnt help but smile about.

Honestly, I feel validated because, finally, theyre listening to the things Ive been saying for years and years and years. People believe me and the township believes me, Stonemark said. Nobody should have to deal with what I dealt with and am still dealing with. Nobody should have to go through that, nobody should have to worry about their kids health.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
Farm leaders have welcomed the Welsh government's decision to increase the farming and rural budget by over 6% and to maintain BPS funding for 2025.

The draft budget was announced on Tuesday (10 December), confirming a rise in funding for every Welsh government government department.

The Climate Change and Rural Affairs department is set to see an additional 36.35m (6.6%) in revenue and 71.95m (31%) in more capital funding.

The Welsh government said it would also be maintaining the Basic Payment Scheme ceiling at 238m.

And an additional 5.5m resource and 14m capital funding was announced for wider rural investment schemes.

Earlier this year, farming groups submitted evidence to the Senedd Finance Committee outlining the need to safeguard and restore farm funding, as well as maintaining the BPS payments at their current rates.

The call follows a series of cuts over recent years to the Welsh Rural Affairs budget, with the 2023-2024 financial year seeing a cut of 37.5 million.

This was followed by the 2024-2025 budget, which revealed a further year-on-year cut of 62m, the largest relative reduction of any of the Welsh government departmental budgets at around 13%.

Responding to the draft budget, the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) said the 6.6% funding increase to the Rural Affairs portfolio was to be 'welcomed'.

"It is now vital the Welsh government provides clarity on how this departmental funding will be distributed to support family farms and our rural communities," said FUW president, Ian Rickman.

"The union has been clear that as a minimum, the Welsh government must safeguard BPS payments for 2025-2026, particularly as we look ahead to the transition towards the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

"To this end, we do welcome the decision to maintain the BPS payment ceiling - which is crucial in providing a level of security for farmers in Wales as they face a plethora of other challenges and changes."

Looking ahead, he said it was crucial that any increase in the Rural Affairs budget was fairly allocated towards the agricultural sector.

"Fundamentally, as economic modelling will likely demonstrate, future budgets for the Sustainable Farming Scheme cannot be expected to remain at current levels," Mr Rickman noted.

"It must, at the absolute minimum, be maintained as the equivalent of total historic European Common Agricultural Policy funding of at least 337 million per year.

Aled Jones, NFU Cymru's president, said the maintained funding for the BPS 2025 would be 'welcome news' to farmers across Wales.

We have been clear in emphasising how important it is for Welsh farming, the agri-food supply chain and rural communities that the BPS budget is maintained at the current level for 2025.

"I am pleased that those calls appear to have been heeded by Welsh government with the publication of this draft budget."
Hundreds of farmers have participated in a mass tractor rally in London today as calls continue to ramp up for the government to do more to boost the industry.

The tractor rally - dubbed 'RIP British Farming' - took place on Wednesday (11 December) due to 'disastrous and damaging anti-farming policies', according to organisers.

Parallel protests also took place in cities across the UK, including in capitals Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Concern is particularly centred on the government's farm inheritance tax plans, which will impose a 20% inheritance tax on farm assets worth 1m or more from April 2026.

However, there are also worries within the industry over the impact of future post-Brexit trade deals, substandard food imports and the recent removal of farming grants.

It follows numerous UK-wide rallies over the last few weeks, including a huge protest of over 20,000 farmers in central London on 19 November.

Industry campaigners at Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers, who were behind today's tractor rallies, said the industry faced a 'hammer blow' following the budget.

In London, the protest commenced from 10am in Whitehall, and from noon speeches from leading industry figures were made.

The farmers are back in Westminster pic.twitter.com/OiHfY1bU79  Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) December 11, 2024

The tractors are here in Westminster!

Want to try to force @labour to drop their damaging Family Farm Tax? Sign the petition below!https://t.co/oQkpJ6elHS pic.twitter.com/S25C1O0mw4  Phil Broadhead (@PhilBroadhead) December 11, 2024

At around 12.45pm, the tractors way their way around a pre-organised rally route, finishing at 3pm.

Attendees were reminded to ensure tractors are roadworthy and that the London congestion charge must be paid.

Farmers were also encouraged to bring farm-themed toys as part of a Christmas donation for the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Campaigners at Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers had urged as many farmers as possible to attend.

They said: "This government promised a new deal for farming to improve food security by negotiating a new veterinary agreement with the EU and ensure protection from lower standard imports.

"But Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer instead betrayed farmers with their disastrous budget which delivered a poisonous cocktail and a hammer blow to an industry which is already on its knees."

Farmers & their tractors are in Westminster this morning, ahead of Prime Ministers Questions later. Its their second protest in as many months against changes to inheritance tax. pic.twitter.com/uatwJrxJeB  Charlie Frost (@frostreports) December 11, 2024

Jeff Gibson, founder of Fairness For Farmers, asked 'what future does farming have' following the budget and wider government policy over the past few years.

"We cant compete with substandard dangerous imports, for e.g. growth hormones have been banned in this country for over 50 years.

"Yet this new government who are about to get into bed with Trump for yet another terrible trade deal for hormone fed beef."

He also warned of the inheritance tax proposal: We are happy and immensely proud to provide food without any real financial gain, in the hope we can pass our farms, which weve worked so hard to protect and care for, to the next generation.

The questions I ask you today are what future does farming have? Can we really expect the next generation to start their farming careers paying 10 years of tax burden because we died?"
The UK's animal disease capabilities will be bolstered with a 200m investment from the government as farmers see increases in bird flu and bluetongue cases.

The investment will be pumped into the UKs main research and laboratory testing facility, located in Weybridge, Surrey.

The Animal Plant Health Agencys (APHA) laboratories protect the country against the increasing threats of animal and plant diseases.

Work there includes leading the current response to the impacts of avian influenza and bluetongue virus (BTV-3), diseases which are currently spreading and impacting farming businesses across the UK.

The threat from zoonotic diseases is also increasing globally, with nearly two-thirds of infectious diseases in humans originating in animals such as bird flu and bovine tuberculosis.

But the Labour government said it inherited the laboratories in 'poor condition', posing a 'significant risk to Britains farmers and human health'.

Its 200m funding will see APHA replace and upgrade the biosecurity facilities providing increased capability to prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks.

The new hub will provide additional capacity to meet both current and future requirements, including enhancing its ability to handle concurrent major disease outbreaks.

Defra Secretary Steve Reed said animal disease represented a 'significant risk' to Britains farmers, global trade and human health.

We inherited laboratories at Weybridge in poor condition, reducing our ability to respond to animal disease outbreaks," he said.

Recognising the importance of protecting our farming and food sector in order to deliver growth across the UK, we are bolstering our national biosecurity and safeguarding the county from these diseases.

APHA's chief executive, Jenny Stewart welcomed the new investment, as the research work done at the lab was 'world-leading'.

She said: APHA is at the forefront of tackling animal and plant disease outbreaks, with our experts working around the clock to manage threats to the UKs biosecurity.

This funding is hugely welcomed to support crucial upgrades that will allow us to continue delivering the disease surveillance, detection and research work which protects against new and existing threats."
Billy Bob Thornton feels "nervous" watching himself on screen.

Billy Bob Thornton hates watching himself

The 69-year-old star has received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in 'Landman' and his on-screen character has developed a big fan following on social media - but Billy Bob has actually made a concerted effort to avoid the online acclaim.

The actor - who plays Tommy Norris, a landman at an oil company, in the drama series - told 'Extra': "I get nervous watching myself, so I havent actually seen them myself."

Despite this, Billy Bob is aware of the social media acclaim, after being "told by friends".

He said: "Ive had a lot of friends call me up and say, Man, I just saw this clip on TikTok, so I get told about a lot of it."

'Landman' was created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, and Taylor actually wrote the show with Bill Bob in mind.

The actor shared: "I had done a cameo for Taylor in 1883. I just went down to Fort Worth and did this cameo in 1883'.

"When were at the premiere of that in Las Vegas, he said, Listen, Im writing this show with your voice called Landman. He goes, I think youre really going to dig this.' So he had told me about it a couple of years before we actually started filming and I got really excited when he sent me the first couple of scripts. It kind of fit like a glove."

Bill Bob has relished the experience of working with Taylor, who also co-created 'Yellowstone', the it neo-Western drama series.

He said: "Taylor, you know, he picks people who are right for parts, you know, which I really respect that about him. This whole cast is really stellar."
Geena Davis only learned to be herself "unapologetically" when she became an adult.

Geena Davis only learned to be herself when she became an adult

The 68-year-old actress stands at a height of six feet and admitted that her stature was such an issue to her as a child that she used to "wish" to be shorter and only embraced it in later years.

She told People: "I've always been tall - I was a tall baby. As a kid, my fondest wish was to take up less space in the world. It was only as an adult I realized I could be all of who I was, unapologetically."

The 'Thelma and Louise' star has been inspired by her childhood to write the book 'The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page' and wanted to offer some "reassurance" to younger generations that they can always be "true" to themselves.

She said: "So I wrote this book for all of the too big children  including children with big personalities and big dreams  who need reassurance that they can be their true selves and make their own space in the world, Davis continues. It was a joy to write, and so wonderful to be able to illustrate my own words to bring my characters to life. I cant wait to have it out in the world."

'The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page' will be published on April 29, 2025 through Philomel books.

Publisher Jill Santopolo said: Geena is now working in the childrens book space to share an important message with young readers  that tall, short or in between, you are deserving of all the space you need to be your true self.
Michael Cole has died at the age of 84.

Michael Cole has died at the age of 84

The actor was known for his roles in 'General Hospital' and 'Mod Squad' but passed away on Tuesday (10.12.24), although a cause of death has not yet been announced.

A statement obtained by People said: "Coles talent, combined with his magnetic presence, made him a defining figure of the era. 'The Mod Squad' not only made him a household name but also broke barriers by addressing themes of racial and social justice, with Coles performance helping to bring authenticity and heart to the series.

"Beyond his career, Michael Cole will be remembered for his warm and generous spirit."

Michael was initially married to Paula Kelly Jr. throughout the 1970s but tied the knot with Shelley Funes in 1996.

The statement added: "Beyond his career, Michael Cole will be remembered for his warm and generous spirit. Known among friends and family for his wit, charm, and boundless compassion, he brought joy to every room he entered. A storyteller at heart, he had a way of making those around him feel special, often regaling them with anecdotes from his Hollywood days or sharing wisdom from his remarkable journey."

The TV star noted ruign his lifetime that he always wanted to "give back" to his audience, although he was hesitant to name his followers as "fans" and preferred the term "best friends" instead.

He said: "I always try to give back, with acting, to the fans  actually, I never called them fans, its always been friends. If you work as hard, as an actor, as you should by all the gifts youre given, youll be all right, because youre saying thanks to the friends, all the time."
Bennett University, a premier institution of higher education, held its convocation ceremony today, conferring degrees to over 1,225 students across various disciplines. The ceremony was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India & South Asia, and Nitish Mittersain, Founder & CEO, Nazara Technologies, who were conferred Honoris Causa degrees for their exemplary contributions to their respective fields, setting benchmarks of excellence and inspiring countless others.

While addressing the graduates, Bennett University Chancellor & Times Group MD, Vineet Jain, quoted Maya Angelous timeless wisdom: Do the best you can, until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. Adding a personal touch, he advised, Do not be afraid to take risks. The biggest rewards are often outside your comfort zone.





Vineet Jain further said, At Bennett University, you have been part of an institution that values learning, innovation, and inclusivity. You have contributed to research and social causes, participated in cultural events and debates, and created a vibrant campus for all to experience. You have been refined by years of learning. You have evolved, forged lifelong connections, and grown. Your life at the campus is  in many ways the foundation for a meaningful life.





Lauding the efforts of Bennett University, Vineet Jain said, The university has continuously updated its curriculum to align with the times, most notably through the establishment of the School of Artificial Intelligence. Further, in response to the growing integration of design and technology, the university is also launching the School of Design. These initiatives reflect Bennett Universitys forward-thinking approach, preparing students to excel in cutting-edge domains and emerging technologies.





Celebrating Academic Excellence

The joyous occasion was further amplified by the presence of approximately 1,400 proud parents, who came together to celebrate the achievements of their children. A total of 1,225 (16 PhD degrees, 138 Post Graduate Degrees, 1063 Undergraduate Degrees and 9 Post Graduate Diploma Degrees) graduating students were conferred their Degrees, Merit Certificates in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Engineering Physics, Biotechnology, Management, Law, Media and Liberal Arts along with one Chancellors Gold Medal, four Chancellors Silver Medals and seventeen Vice Chancellors Gold Medals were awarded. During the convocation, Rakshak Raina from Master of Technology (Computer Science and Engineering) was awarded the Chancellors gold medal for overall performance and academic excellence.

Accepting his honorary doctorate, Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India & South Asia, shared three guiding principles that have profoundly influenced his life and career. Drawing from Ernest Hemingways classic The Sun Also Rises, he highlighted the metaphor of lifes gradual and sudden shifts, emphasizing perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges. He said, The first is belief. And Ive always believed that belief comes before ability. Ability from what I know, who I know, and how Im known as. And then finally, a sense of enough. Energy and enthusiasm are worth 25 IQ points. The energy you bring to everything is worth 25 IQ points. As some leaders bring joy wherever they go, some leaders bring joy whenever they go. You have to choose where you are and choose wisely.











Puneet Chandok concluded with an empowering message: Stay at it. Keep grinding. Keep working on belief, ability, and a sense of enough. Itll feel gradual, but one day, success will appear suddenly. His heartfelt words left an indelible mark on graduates and their families, inspiring them to embrace ambition, resilience, and balance in their lives.





Nitish Mittersain, Founder & CEO of Nazara Technologies, delivered a profound address upon accepting his honorary doctorate. He condensed his 25 years of entrepreneurial learning into what he called the Three Principles of Life: Passion, Perseverance, and Positivity. He shared how his passion for gaming and technology began at the age of 7 when he started coding primitive games. This passion inspired him to found Nazara at just 19, envisioning India as a global gaming hub. He emphasised, Success rarely comes overnight. The difference between those who make it and those who dont is simply the ability to keep going. Addressing the graduates, he urged them to embrace these three principles: As you step into a world full of possibilities, remember passion, perseverance, and positivity. These are the pillars upon which you can build a meaningful life.





Delivering his annual report on the university, Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr) AjithAbraham said, As the new academic year begins, Bennett University has expanded significantly from its initial student body of 200 to 12,000+ (12,011) students spread throughout 7 inter-disciplinary Schools. Focused on positioning Bennett University as a world class centre for research and innovation, School of Artificial Intelligence was launched in April 2024 with Prof. Sankar Pal (National Science Chair, GOI) as the Chair of the Board of Studies. He further added, 26 students from leading international universities, including the University of Birmingham, University of Bradford, University of Notre Dame, and Ca Foscari University of Venice, have chosen Bennett University for inbound immersion programs. Bennett Universitys welcomed 100+ renowned academicians, professors and scientists from top universities worldwide this academic year, fostering collaboration and establishing BU as a preferred destination for academic exchange.

Read more: Armaan Bhatia Creates History At The PWR DUPR India Masters
The closure of textile companies across Nigeria has weakened domestic cotton production, with production falling to about 51,000 metric tonnes from over 300,000 tonnes in the 1980s.

Cotton producers complain that in the absence of a full-fledged textile company in the country now, the business has become unprofitable.

The collapse of textile companies in Nigeria has significantly damaged domestic cotton production, plummeting from over 300,000 metric tonnes in the 1980s to just 51,000 tonnes recently. With no major textile firms currently operational, cotton farming is no longer profitable. Key producing states like Katsina, Jigawa, and Sokoto once contributed the majority of Nigeria's cotton.

In the 1980s, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states produced 60-65 per cent of Nigerias cotton, while Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe, Maiduguri, Bauchi and Gombe states generated 30-35 per cent.

Kano, Kaduna, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara and Ogun states also produce the crop on lower scales.

The cotton value chain is going comatose, Anibe Achimugu, national president of Cotton Association of Nigeria, said.

Seed cotton of the value chain is witnessing production decline as approximately 100,000 metric tonnes were produced in the 2023-2024 cotton season, but the 2024-2025 season is not likely to be above 15,000 metric tonnes, he was cited as saying by domestic media reports.

Ginning, textiles and garment companies are operating much below installed capacities or have completely shut down, he said.

Farmers are shifting from cotton to food crops and workers in the value chain are entering other sectors to make ends meet, he noted.

He urged the government to set up a cotton textile and garment body and craft a well-thought-out road map.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Railway can drive Nepal's BRI programs to new height

13:35, December 11, 2024 By Mahendra Subedi ( China Daily

(Ma Xuejing/China Daily)

With the signing of a memorandum of understanding on China-Nepal cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the recent deal on BRI framework agreement for project implementation, Nepal is expected to make a major headway in the implementation of the initiative.

Amid several ups and downs including some obscurities, internal political instability and geopolitics, there was some delay in materializing of Belt and Road projects in Nepal, though the two sides agreed in 2018 to intensify the implementation of the MoU on BRI cooperation to enhance connectivity, encompassing vital components such as ports, roads, railways, aviation and communications within the overarching framework of Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network.

Facing huge infrastructure gaps, Nepal needs the support of neighboring countries, the international community and development partners to develop its infrastructure, and attracting foreign direct investment could be an apt way of achieving that goal. This is crucial because Nepal's aim is to upgrade its economic status from a least-developed country by 2026 and meet the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this regard, Nepal hopes to attract Chinese investment and Chinese official grants in several sectors.

Chinese investments are expected in infrastructure development, and the energy, information technology and hospitality sectors. As an immediate neighbor of China, Nepal has enjoyed historical and trouble-free ties with China for centuries and, therefore, Chinese businesses will invest in Nepal. Foreign direct investment in Nepal will contribute to the country's economy and help it become a prosperous and happy nation.

The BRI lies at the heart of China-Nepal cooperation, since intensive collaboration on Belt and Road projects will attract high-quality investment and build healthy trade relations between the two sides. More important, the advancement of BRI cooperation in Nepal will facilitate the development of the Nepal-China railway. The development of a railway line between Nepal and China will not only transform landlocked Nepal into a land-linked country but also shift the development paradigm of the whole of South Asia.

Such a railway, which had been less discussed and criticized even before any formal announcement was made, is sure to benefit China and South Asian countries including densely populated India and Bangladesh. More investments in infrastructure mean more business, more funding, faster productivity growth, higher income for people, better connectivity, quality employment opportunities and sustainable development.

Here it is important to mention that other countries should not drag the BRI debate into the abyss of geopolitical maneuvering. Although India is not a Belt and Road partner country and is a bit reluctant, not a naysayer, it has been able to improve education, and people's mobility and livelihoods with funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank  one of the key financial institutions contributing financially to the BRI's advancement. Nepal, as a BRI signatory country, can explore the Silk Road Fund, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the China Construction Bank as well as the AIIB for funding, though the modality and project finalization remains a major task for the two countries. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are major beneficiaries of Belt and Road cooperation.

The changing global context demands peace and development. Among the five priorities of BRI cooperation including policy coordination, connectivity of infrastructure, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and closer people-to-people ties, connectivity of infrastructure demands more attention in the context of Nepal-China relations, because Nepal is aspiring to benefit from China's miraculous economic development.

To lift all the economic barriers in the region and to benefit almost 3 billion people in South Asia and China, the railway linking China and Nepal will reshape the development paradigm of the Himalayan region. But it is imperative that the parties involved are aware of the sensitivities and vulnerabilities of the peoples in the South Asian region. Only the countries in the region can offer the best solution to the challenges and clear the development bottlenecks.

In short, the Belt and Road Initiative is sure to create immense opportunities for South Asian countries and help them diversify their economic and trade partnerships while minimizing the financial risks in order to achieve sustainable development. But for this, they have to keep geopolitics at bay.

The author is a Nepal-based journalist.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Global cotton production in cotton year (CY) 2024-25 is projected to rise by more than 1.2 million bales to 117.4 million bales on the back of higher production in India and Argentina, according to a report by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US department of agriculture (USDA).

Production in India in CY 2024-25 is projected to be up by 1 million bales to 25 million bales on higher yields.

Global cotton year (CY) 2024-25 cotton production may rise by over 1.2 million bales to 117.4 million on the back of higher production in India and Argentina, a USDA report said. India's production may be up by 1 million bales to 25 million. CY 2024-25 consumption may rise by over 500,000 bales to 115.8 million as higher use in India, Pakistan and Vietnam will more than offset China's reduction.

Global consumption in CY 2024-25 is projected to be up by over 500,000 bales to 115.8 million bales as higher use in India, Pakistan and Vietnam will more than offset a reduction in China.

Global cotton trade is projected to up slightly to 42.3 million bales. Upward adjustments to exports in Brazil and Benin will more than offset downward revisions to Burkina Fasos and Malis exports.

China cotton imports for the period are projected to reduce by 500,000 bales, while Pakistans imports were raised by the same amount.

Global ending cotton stocks are forecast to be up by nearly 300,000 bales on higher Argentina and US production and Pakistan imports.

The US season-average farm price for CY 2024-25 remains at 66 cents per pound. US exports during the period are forecast to be down by over 400,000 bales from the previous CY to 11.3 million despite higher supplies.

US cotton shipments are projected at a nine-year low in CY-2024-25, mostly due to Brazils more competitive prices and Chinas significant drop in demand.

While US production has trended downward recently, Brazils CY 2024-25 crop is estimated at 16.9 million bales, surpassing the previous years record by 16 per cent. The incredible growth in supply and a significantly depreciated currency has lowered relative Brazilian prices with recently quoted basis levels around 800 points, compared with US origin at over 1,200 points.

Falling global demand is also a factor in lower projected US shipments. CY 2024-25 world imports are forecast to be down by more than 2 million bales from the previous CY due to a significant drop in Chinese demand.

China is still projected as the worlds largest importer at 8.5 million bales, but volume is expected to fall by more than 40 per cent from the previous CY, primarily due to less demand for government reserves. Between August and November this year, US cotton sales and shipments to China are less than a quarter of last years level at around 700,000 bales and the lowest level in nine years, the report said.

The uncertain political environment has further stalled forward buying from Chinese buyers for US cotton, giving Brazil a further edge in addition to its competitive prices, it noted.

US cotton spot prices are once again mostly unchanged at around 65 cents per pound compared with last month.

China spot prices are down by 2 cents to 95 cents per pound. China consumption and imports are lowered 500,000 bales this month to 37.5 million.

India spot prices are down slightly to around 81 cents per pound. Brazil prices are down by more than 2 cents to around 68 cents per pound. Pakistan prices are down by 3 cents to roughly 76 cents per pound.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
After spending three decades in the industry, Delnaaz Irani has slowed down and says she no longer likes to travel far for shoots. She is returning to television for Mukta Dhobd's next project after nearly two years. When Filmfare caught up with her for an exclusive interview, the Kal Ho Naa Ho actress revealed that the break was a conscious choice.





"At 52, I want to work at all the places where I'm happy. I cannot run around anymore. I have refused shows where the shooting is in Naigaon or Umargaon. I want to shoot in Mumbai and close to where I live. I do not want to travel and get stuck in traffic for hours. You are shooting 12 hours and travelling 4 hours - how does that make sense? I want peace, personally and professionally. I am not a person today who can deal with negativity. That's why the long gaps".





She says that there isn't a specific process she follows, as she is not competing with anybody. She also has no qualms about playing supporting roles.



"I am not competing with anybody. I am obviously not getting the main lead. I will be someone's aunt or sister - all those kinds of supporting roles and I am happy with it. I am not looking at a career graph where I am trying to maneuver and manipulate things. I have reached a point where I get respectable work and characters which are good, and I am comfortable in them. And I just want to work with the right people. I look at the production house and the people I am working with."



See Also: Exclusive: Kal Ho Naa Ho Was God's Gift To Me, Says Delnaaz Irani



When asked whether the industry is still aegist in offering roles to women, she admits that is, but she says she is not apprehensive about playing anyone's mother. In fact, she wants to take on such roles. "It's always been the case. When I did a show called Akbar Birbal, somebody who was probably my age played my son. But there is no choice, this is what has been happening. There is nothing to argue about. I did not want to let go of the role by thinking why am I playing the mother? I did a show called Batliwala House No. 43 where my brother who is six years younger than me played my son. These things happen and this is television. You have to take it in your stride. I have no qualms about playing a mother and I would love to play the role of mother to Alia Bhatt, Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Panday." "I am not competing with anybody. I am obviously not getting the main lead. I will be someone's aunt or sister - all those kinds of supporting roles and I am happy with it. I am not looking at a career graph where I am trying to maneuver and manipulate things. I have reached a point where I get respectable work and characters which are good, and I am comfortable in them. And I just want to work with the right people. I look at the production house and the people I am working with."



That being said, does she have any regrets in her career? She answered, "No. I come from a Parsi background and I have seen Parsis play caricatures in movies. People used to comment on my fair skin tone, and my body type and also used to doubt whether I could speak Hindi. There was a perception around me so I was put in a bracket. Still, I feel that I am blessed that despite those limitations, I have sustained 32 years in the industry. Tell me how many women can do comedy? I broke all those barriers and I made a niche."
abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE American:AEF) announces results of a strategic review conducted by the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Board") at a meeting held today.

The Board has approved multiple changes to the Fund including: (1) changes to the Fund's name and 80% non-fundamental investment policy; (2) a 20% tender offer to be offered in the first quarter of 2025; (3) a new 3-year performance-based conditional tender offer policy commencing on March 1, 2025; and (4) an increase to its annualized distribution rate from 6.5% to 10% effective with the distribution that will be declared in March 2025.

Fund Name Change and Changes to Non-Fundamental Investment Policy

The Fund's Board has approved changes to the Fund's name, its non-fundamental 80% investment policy, and its benchmark, as set forth below. There will be no change to the Fund's investment objective and the Fund will continue to trade on the NYSE American under ticker symbol "AEF".

The name change and change to the 80% investment policy will be effective on or about February 24, 2025 (the "Effective Date") following 60 days' notice to Fund shareholders and may only be changed thereafter by the Board of the Fund following the provision of at least 60 days' written notice to the Fund's shareholders.

Current New Fund Name abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. 80% Investment Policy The Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in emerging markets equity securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in emerging markets (excluding China) equity securities. Benchmark MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net Daily Total Return) MSCI Emerging Markets ex-China Index (Net Daily Total Return)

In approving the strategy and name change, the Board considered, among other factors, that as the only U.S. closed-end fund currently offering the emerging market ex-China strategy, the Fund will be less driven by the policy actions of the Chinese government, and more driven by stock fundamentals, which aligns with Management's style of bottom-up investing.

The Fund will remain a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company whose objective is to provide both current income and long-term appreciation.

Tender Offer

The Fund is also announcing approval by the Board to pay a cash tender offer which will purchase up to 20% of the Fund's issued and outstanding shares at a price per share to be equal to 98% of the Fund's NAV per share as determined by the Fund on the next business day following the expiration date of the tender offer (the "2025 Tender Offer").

This 2025 Tender Offer will replace the Fund's current conditional tender offer policy announced in May 2023. Further details and timing will be announced ahead of the Effective Date of the Fund's investment strategy changes.

Update to the Fund's Conditional Tender Offer Policy

As part of the Board's commitment to shareholders relating to the investment strategy changes, the Board has adopted a policy (the "Policy") pursuant to which it will cause the Fund to conduct a one-time tender offer for twenty percent (20%) of its then issued and outstanding shares of common stock on or before June 30, 2028, if the Fund's total return investment performance measured on a NAV basis does not equal or exceed the total return investment performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets ex-China Index (Net Daily Total Return) during the period commencing on March 1, 2025 and ending on February 28, 2028. The price at which shares are to be tendered and other terms and conditions of such tender offer would be determined by the Board in its discretion based on its review and consideration of the then-current size of the Fund, market conditions and other factors it deems relevant.

Annualized Distribution Rate Increase and Declaration of Next Distribution

The Fund is also announcing that, as part of the strategic changes, the Board approved an increase to its annualized distribution rate from 6.5% to 10%, commencing with the quarterly distribution payable in March 2025. The actual amount of the distribution will continue to be based on the average daily net asset value ("NAV") for the previous three months as of the month-end prior to declaration.

The Fund intends to maintain the increased distribution rate for at least the 12 months following the effective increase, unless there is a significant and unforeseen change in market conditions. This policy will be subject to regular review by the Board. The policy is expected to provide a steady and sustainable quarterly cash distribution to Fund shareholders that may help reduce any discount to NAV at which the Fund's shares trade. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve these results.

Important Information

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of the Fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

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 of 1986, as amended, 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. The 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 NAV of the Fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

www.abrdnaef.com

###

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / December 10, 2024 /

Fig 1 - Tarcoola Goldfield interpreted 3D architecture with recent test drilling results1

Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD)(FRA:BGD3)(OTCQB:BGDFF) (Barton or Company) is pleased to confirm that it has received a $380,000 grant funding disbursement for research and development (R&D) work programmes recently undertaken at its South Australian Tarcoola Gold Project (Tarcoola).

During 2022 Barton was awarded up to $595,000 under the South Australian Government's Accelerated Discovery Initiative (ADI) for an approved program of works in the historical Tarcoola Goldfield including ground penetrating radar (GPR), seismic surveys, and validation drilling of theorised models generated.2

Barton has planned and undertaken these works during the fiscal years 2023 and 2024, with a newly interpreted regional structural model for the Tarcoola Goldfield (which hosts Barton's open pit Perseverance Mine) published during November 2023 and, subsequently, the identification of the new Tolmer Gold System in high-grade gold assays returned from conceptual test drilling during early 2024.1

Commenting on the receipt of ADI grant program funds, Barton MD Alexander Scanlon said:

"We are grateful to have received such support from the South Australian Government in our mission to unlock the regional structural context of the Tarcoola Goldfield. These programs, while relatively small in nature, are a critically valuable tool in supporting the efforts of small companies leading higher-risk exploration initiatives. The Tolmer discovery is a prime example of the potential to significantly accelerate regional development."

1 Refer to ASX announcements dated 28 November 2023 and 27 August 2024

2 Refer to ASX announcement dated 15 June 2022 Authorised by the Board of Directors of Barton Gold Holdings Limited. For further information, please contact: Alexander Scanlon

Managing Director

a.scanlon@bartongold.com.au

+61 425 226 649 Jade Cook

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.* Tarcoola Gold Project Existing brownfield open pit mine within trucking distance of Barton's processing plant

Under-explored asset with untapped scale potential Tunkillia Gold Project * 1.5Moz Au Mineral Resources (51.3Mt @ 0.91 g/t Au)

Scoping Study for competitive ~130kozpa Au mine Infrastructure 650ktpa CIP process plant, mine village, and airstrip

Tarcoola ~40 person lodging to support mine operations

Tunkillia camp to support dedicated project team 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

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Forward Water Technologies Corp. (TSXV:FWTC) ("Forward Water" or the "Company") in conjunction with CleanTech Lithium (CTL)(T2)(CTLHF) ("CTL") and Conductive Energy Inc. ("CE") have completed first trials for the production of lithium carbonate from brines sourced in Chile. CTL produced lithium brine eluate from their facilities in Chile and delivered these lithium rich brines to CE's operational site in Chicago, Illinois, USA. CE and FWTC then successfully processed the eluate brine to lithium carbonate using CE's chemical conversion technology and FWTC's proprietary iFOTM process for high strength brine concentration.

Details of this project can be found at the following link:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7272162802235019264/

Management Commentary

C. Howie Honeyman, Forward Water's CEO and President said, "Being part of the team that is performing some of the first lithium carbonate production from Chilean resources is very exciting for us. The race to battery grade at scale is under tremendous focus and as a key part of one of the leading teams that includes CleanTech Lithium and Conductive Energy Inc., puts Forward Water in an excellent position to enter the industry in a decisive manner and establish its iFOTM technology as a go-to approach for brine concentration."

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

1-519-333-5888

About Clean Tech Lithium

CleanTech Lithium (CTL, T2N, CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to become a new supplier of battery grade lithium using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy.

CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and exploration stage projects in Llamara and Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by it, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have good access to existing infrastructure.

CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. www.ctlithium.com

About Conductive Energy

Conductive Energy Inc. is a privately held company specializing in direct lithium extraction and conversion. Utilizing its proprietary technology, the company processes lithium brine across North and South America. Conductive's innovative approach supports the development of a domestic lithium supply chain, critical for advancing the electrification of the economy. Founded in Calgary, Canada, the company also operates facilities in Chicago, Illinois. https://conductive.energy/

Haafiz Hasham, Conductive Energy's CEO said, "I am thrilled to collaborate with Forward Water and CleanTech Lithium in advancing lithium carbonate production from Chilean brines. This successful pilot underscores the strength of Conductive's chemical conversion technology and FWTC's innovative iFOTM process in creating scalable, high-purity solutions for the lithium supply chain. With our Chicago facility hosting the largest lithium eluate conversion process in the Northeastern U.S., we are proud to play a pivotal role in accelerating the development of sustainable, domestic lithium resources to support the global energy transition."

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: 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.sedarplus.ca. 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 Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TOKYO and GENEVA, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further expand their partnership to promote access to safe, effective and affordable drugs, vaccines and diagnostics in the area of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

The MoU makes provisions for four areas of collaboration: (i) research and development aimed at strengthening the arsenal of innovative tools, treatments and interventions for NTDs; (ii) resource mobilization, notably through the development of an NTD investment case toolkit and sustainable procurement systems; (iii) advocacy and awareness, to raise the profile of NTDs within global and local health agendas; and (iv) participation of GHIT as observers in NTD working groups and task forces convened by WHO.

"This new partnership between GHIT and WHO represents a significant step forward in the fight against neglected tropical diseases," said Dr. Ibrahima Soce Fall, Director, WHO Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme. "By joining forces, we are not only accelerating research and development but also building sustainable frameworks and funding mechanisms needed to eliminate these diseases."

The GHIT Fund and WHO have been actively involved in discussions and collaborations focused on developing and launching new products targeting neglected tropical diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Through this partnership, GHIT and WHO will continue to work in close collaboration to advance the goals and targets in WHO's roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, in addition to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). WHO's roadmap for NTDs sets global targets and milestones for the prevention, control, elimination and eradication of 21 NTDs and disease groups by 2030 and beyond.

The GHIT Fund invests in new product development of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis and NTDs and contributes to global health by facilitating collaborations between Japanese technology and innovation and global institutions to address these diseases.

Dr. Osamu Kunii, CEO of the GHIT Fund, states, "Through this new partnership with WHO, we aim to advance the efforts of the Nagasaki Outcome Statement developed at the Symposium for G7 Health Ministers' Meeting in May 2023 to accelerate R&D, access and delivery for NTDs efforts."

About WHO

Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations system. The objective of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health, as defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Working with 194 Member States across 6 regions and on the ground in 150+ locations, the WHO team is dedicated to improve everyone's ability to enjoy good health and well-being. https://www.who.int/

About the GHIT Fund

The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership (PPP) fund that was formed between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests in and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at addressing neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, which afflict the world's vulnerable and underserved populations. In collaboration with global partners, the GHIT Fund mobilizes Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases.

https://www.ghitfund.org/en

For more information, contact:

Katy Lenard at +1-202-494-2584 or klenard@burness.com

Mina Ohata at +81-36441-2032 or mina.ohata@ghitfund.org

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/partnership-established-to-advance-whos-road-map-for-neglected-tropical-diseases-2021-2030-302327012.html
SINGAPORE and NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global app development market is creating disruptive revolutions across continents. Singapore, a vibrant tech hub in Southeast Asia, is no exception from the pioneering digital transformation happening in the tech industry. In 2024 alone, the city-state has witnessed a significant surge in the demand for custom app development. Being the region's most technologically advanced spot, coupled with its growing digital economy and a bundle of a humongous tech-savvy population, has created a fruitful environment for app development prospects. According to recent reports by statista, the app development sector in Southeast Asia is forecasted to expand to US$3.38bn by 2029, with Singapore sharing a substantial stake in this metamorphosis. The country's strong digital infrastructure, business-friendly legislation, and tech-savvy populace make it excellent for app development firms, driving demand for custom-built mobile apps.

Driven by businesses seeking innovation and increased client interaction in 2024, major corporations and SMEs in Singapore are turning to bespoke app development companies to get a competitive advantage. This development market isn't restricting itself to traditional mobile apps but also modern tech infusions such as the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI). Major services currently in demand encompass progressive web applications (PWAs), cross-platform mobile app development for Android and iOS platforms, enterprise-level apps, and on-demand apps targeted at streamlining operations. Hyperlink InfoSystem, one of the leading app developers in Singapore 2025, recently proclaimed its status for providing the most all-inclusive app development services across the region. From curating bespoke custom app solutions for sectors like e-commerce, beauty, healthcare, education, and finance, the company is marveled for its high-end security features, unified user experiences, and data analytics capabilities.

Hyperlink InfoSystem, a global tech solutions provider, has also emerged as a leading player in the Singapore app development landscape due to its broad spectrum of services. Recognizing the growing need for mobile applications, the company began providing top-notch app solutions in native iOS and Android along with cross-platform and enterprise-grade applications. Hyperlink InfoSystem's expert app developers and designers boast a thorough knowledge of UX and UI design fundamentals. Their extensive app development services include native app development, cross-platform app development, enterprise app development, custom app development, app design, and UI/UX app testing and quality assurance. The company employs the best-in-class industry-standard tools and frameworks to curate amazing app solutions.

Harnil Oza, CEO of Hyperlink InfoSystem, commenting on the significance of app development in today's digital landscape, said, "Businesses in Singapore have never had a greater demand for dynamic and efficient mobile apps. Mobile applications are the foundation of modern company strategy, whether they're used to engage consumers, streamline processes, or drive innovation. At Hyperlink InfoSystem, our team takes incredible pride in the level of bespoke app solutions that cater to diverse domains across Singapore." Oza further emphasized how the company strives to stay ahead of technological trends, "As we proceed towards 2025, the development landscape is experimenting with AI, IoT, AR/VR, and blockchain, curating better opportunities for companies. Hence, our team of developers and engineers stays on top of everything and ensures all our built apps are robust, scalable, and ready to meet the future."

Looking forward, Hyperlink InfoSystem will continue to maintain its position as the leader in Singapore's app development industry via the use of modern technologies and new techniques. The firm is dedicated to remaining at the epicenter of the industry, constantly enhancing its best practices to guarantee that it remains the top app development company in Singapore. Hyperlink InfoSystem's dedication to staying agile, adaptive, and forward-thinking reconfirms its commitment to providing businesses with high-quality, custom app development and feature-loaded solutions. Using an emphasis on partnership, innovative technology, and client fulfillment, Hyperlink InfoSystem is poised to shape the next generation of app development in Singapore and Southeast Asia. To inquire more about custom mobile app development services, call +1(309) 791-4105 or email info@hyperlinkinfosystem.com.

About Hyperlink InfoSystem

Hyperlink InfoSystem is a prominent international enterprise excelling in IT solutions in many domains. Since its humble beginnings in 2011, its specialization in technologies has expanded across web development, mobile app development, enterprise software solutions, and now Artificial Intelligence (AI). With over 1200+ employees and a global presence in the USA, UK, UAE, France, India, and Canada, Hyperlink InfoSystem is dedicated to assisting corporations to leverage the complete power of technology to accomplish their goals.

Contact Details:

Hyperlink InfoSystem

Harnil Oza

+1-309-791-4105

info@hyperlinkinfosystem.com

New York Address:

One World Trade Center

285 Fulton Street suite 8500,

New York, NY 10007,

United States

Ahmedabad Address:

C-308, Ganesh Meridian,

Opp Kargil Petrol Pump, S.G. Highway,

Sola, Ahmedabad, 380061

India

London Address:

Level 30, The Leadenhall Building,

122 Leadenhall Street,

London EC3V 4AB

Canada Address:

151 Yonge Street, 11th Floor,

Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2W7,

Canada

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2429933/4743119/Hyperlink_InfoSystem_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hyperlink-infosystem-takes-innovation-to-the-next-level-as-singapores-trusted-app-developers-in-2025-302327452.html
Microsoft shareholders face a pivotal decision as they prepare to vote on a groundbreaking proposal to incorporate Bitcoin into the company's balance sheet. The initiative, presented by the National Center for Public Policy Research, could position Microsoft as the first major technology corporation to formally integrate cryptocurrency into its financial strategy. This strategic move comes at a particularly opportune moment, as crypto markets demonstrate notable upward momentum. The company's recent financial performance adds weight to this decisive moment, with revenue surging 16.04 percent to $65.59 billion in the latest quarter, alongside an earnings per share of $3.32.

Market Response and Future Outlook

Despite impressive financial results, Microsoft's stock experienced a modest decline of 0.3 percent, closing at $442.41. However, market analysts maintain an optimistic stance, setting a median price target of $498.33. This positive outlook is bolstered by Microsoft's continued expansion into forward-looking technology sectors, particularly evident in its strategic partnership with AI specialists and the enhancement of digital security solutions through its Entra ID platform, which now serves over 345 million users globally.

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Fresh Microsoft information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.

Read our updated Microsoft analysis...
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 10, 2024) - First Majestic Silver Corp. (NYSE: AG) (TSX: AG) (FSE: FMV) (the "Company" or "First Majestic") is pleased to announce that it has commenced mailing of its meeting materials for the special meeting of the Company's shareholders (the "Special Meeting") that will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) at the offices of Bennett Jones LLP, located at Suite 2500 - 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2X8.

At the Special Meeting, pursuant to the requirements of the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, First Majestic shareholders will be asked to approve an ordinary resolution (the "Share Issuance Resolution") approving the issuance of up to 190,000,000 common shares of First Majestic ("First Majestic Shares") to stockholders of Gatos Silver, Inc. ("Gatos") in connection with the previously announced acquisition by First Majestic of all of the shares of common stock of Gatos (the "Transaction"). First Majestic's Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the Company's shareholders vote FOR the Share Issuance Resolution.

First Majestic is using the notice and access model ("Notice and Access") as an alternative means of delivery of the meeting materials for the Special Meeting to shareholders in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way that helps reduce paper usage and our carbon footprint, and that reduces our printing and mailing costs. Under Notice and Access, First Majestic shareholders as of November 25, 2024, being the record date for the Special Meeting (the "Record Date"), will be sent a proxy or voting instruction form, as applicable, enabling them to vote at the Special Meeting. However, instead of receiving a paper copy of the Company's management information circular (the "Information Circular") and notice of meeting (together with the Information Circular, proxy and voting information form, the "Meeting Materials") for the Special Meeting, shareholders will receive a Notice and Access notification letter which contains information on how to access the Meeting Materials electronically.

Shareholders of record as of the Record Date are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, and they may access electronic versions of the Meeting Materials at www.AGSpecialMeeting.com. The Meeting Materials have also been filed by the Company on SEDAR+ and may be accessed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com, or by scanning the QR code below with your smartphone or other smart device:

First Majestic has retained Kingsdale Advisors ("Kingsdale") as a Strategic Advisor and to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. Any shareholders who need assistance with voting their First Majestic Shares may contact Kingsdale by telephone at 1-866-851-3214 (toll-free in North America) or 1-647-577-3635 (text and call enabled outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1475/233301_e2cfa0a694edeb95_002full.jpg

Impact of Canada Post Labour Dispute on the Delivery of Meeting Materials to Canadian Shareholders

Canadian shareholders as of the Record Date should be aware that, due to the ongoing Canada Post labour dispute which is affecting the delivery of mail within Canada, some Canadian shareholders may not receive the Meeting Materials prior to the date of the Special Meeting. This only applies to Canadian shareholders as of the Record Date who have previously requested that physical copies of the Meeting Materials be sent to them. Many of the Company's Canadian shareholders have elected for materials for shareholder meetings to be sent to them by e-mail, so the Canada Post labour dispute will not have any impact on the electronic delivery of the Meeting Materials to such shareholders. Shareholders may request electronic versions of the Meeting Materials be e-mailed to them by contacting Kingsdale by telephone at 1-866-851-3214 (toll-free in North America) or 1-647-577-3635 (text and call enabled outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com,or by contacting the Company directly at 1-866-529-2807 (toll-free) or info@firstmajestic.com.

If you are a Canadian registered shareholder (i.e., you hold your First Majestic Shares in the form of a physical share certificate, or your shares are represented by a DRS Advice Statement), and you did not receive a form of proxy with your control number, the Company strongly encourages you to contact Computershare Investor Services Inc. at 1-800-564-6253 (toll-free in North America) or +1-514-982-7555 (international) to request the control number for each of your registered shareholdings. Once you have obtained your control number(s), you can vote the First Majestic Shares represented by such control number(s) at www.investorvote.com.

If you are a Canadian beneficial shareholder (i.e., you hold your First Majestic Shares with one or more financial institutions or brokers, for example RBC Direct Investing, TD Direct Investing, BMO Direct Investing, Scotia iTRADE, Wealthsimple, Haywood Securities, Canaccord Genuity, Raymond James, Ventum Financial etc.), and you did not receive a voting instruction form with your control number, the Company strongly encourages you to contact your brokerage firm, financial institution or other intermediary and request the control number for each of your accounts that hold First Majestic Shares. Once you have obtained your control number(s), you can vote the First Majestic Shares represented by such control number(s) at www.proxyvote.com.

In addition, you can click on the following link to download Broadridge's voting app, ProxyVote: Your Voice Matters: https://www.broadridge.com/resource/proxyvote-app. Once you have downloaded the app, follow the instructions to create an account, then log in to vote your First Majestic Shares using the app (without the need for a control number). If you do not see a voting button in respect of the Special Meeting, you will need to link your accounts that hold your First Majestic Shares by clicking on "link a new investment account" on the home page of the app.

The Company has also retained Kingsdale as a Strategic Advisor and to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. If you need assistance with voting your First Majestic Shares, or with obtaining your control number(s), we strongly encourage you to contact Kingsdale at 1-866-851-3214 (toll-free in North America) or 1-647-577-3635 (text and call enabled outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.

The Canada Post labour dispute will not have any impact on the delivery of physical copies of the Meeting Materials to any US and international shareholders of the Company who have requested such physical copies. However, proxies mailed to Computershare Investor Services Inc. in Canada, and voting instruction forms mailed to Broadridge Canada, may not be received by them prior to the proxy deadline due to the labour dispute. Accordingly, all Canadian registered and beneficial shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote their First Majestic Shares online or by telephone as instructed in the Meeting Materials. Shareholders should contact Kingsdale if they need any assistance in voting their First Majestic Shares.

Gatos Stockholder Meeting

Holders of shares of Gatos common stock are also required to provide their approval of the Transaction, and accordingly, Gatos has announced that it will hold its stockholder meeting virtually on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time), one hour prior to the First Majestic Special Meeting.

Subject to the approval of First Majestic's shareholders and Gatos' stockholders and the satisfaction or waiver of other conditions precedent, it is anticipated that the Transaction will close in early 2025.

Important Information for Investors and Shareholders about the Transaction and Where to Find It

This news release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities of First Majestic or Gatos or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of First Majestic or Gatos in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. This news release may be deemed to be soliciting material relating to the Transaction.

In connection with the proposed transaction between First Majestic and Gatos pursuant to the Merger Agreement and subject to future developments, First Majestic has filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (the "Form F-4") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which includes a proxy statement of Gatos that also constitutes a prospectus of First Majestic (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). The Form F-4 was declared effective by the SEC on December 2, 2024. Gatos filed a Proxy Statement/Prospectus with the SEC on December 3, 2024 which it commenced mailing to its stockholders on December 6, 2024. First Majestic filed the Information Circular in connection with the proposed Transaction with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on December 10, 2024. This news release is not a substitute for any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus or other document First Majestic or Gatos has filed or may file with the SEC or Canadian securities regulatory authorities in connection with the proposed Transaction. First Majestic commenced mailing the Meeting Materials to its shareholders on December 10, 2024. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF GATOS AND FIRST MAJESTIC ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR, RESPECTIVELY, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC OR CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FIRST MAJESTIC, GATOS, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by First Majestic and Gatos containing important information about First Majestic or Gatos and the Transaction through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors will also be able to obtain free copies of the management proxy circular and other documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities by First Majestic, through the website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedarplus.com. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed by First Majestic with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on First Majestic's website or by contacting First Majestic's investor relations team. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Gatos are available free of charge on Gatos' website at www.gatossilver.com or by contacting Gatos' investor relations team.

Participants in the Merger Solicitation

First Majestic, Gatos and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed Transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of First Majestic and the stockholders of Gatos in connection with the Transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus described above and other relevant documents when they are filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities in connection with the proposed Transaction. Additional information regarding First Majestic's directors and executive officers is also included in First Majestic's Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and 2024 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on April 15, 2024, and information regarding Gatos' directors and executive officers is also included in Gatos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 20, 2024, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to such annual report filed with the SEC on May 6, 2024 and Gatos' 2024 Proxy Statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

ABOUT FIRST MAJESTIC

First Majestic is a publicly traded mining company focused on silver and gold production in Mexico and the United States. The Company presently owns and operates the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine, and the La Encantada Silver Mine as well as a portfolio of development and exploration assets, including the Jerritt Canyon Gold project located in northeastern Nevada, U.S.A.

On September 5, 2024, First Majestic and Gatos announced that they had entered into a definitive merger agreement (the "Merger Agreement") pursuant to which First Majestic will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Gatos common stock. More information relating to the proposed Transaction can be found on the Company's website, www.firstmajestic.com.

First Majestic is proud to own and operate its own minting facility, First Mint, LLC, and to offer a portion of its silver production for sale to the public. Bars, ingots, coins and medallions are available for purchase online at www.firstmint.com, at some of the lowest premiums available.

Investors Contact:

Darrell Rae

Investor Relations

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news 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, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to

future events or the future performance, business prospects or opportunities of First Majestic and/or Gatos that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management of First Majestic and/or Gatos made in good faith in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: closing of the Transaction and the terms and timing related thereto; the anticipated timing of the Special Meeting and the Gatos stockholder meeting; and the anticipated timing of closing the Transaction. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, guidance cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon guidance and forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements".

Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: satisfaction or waiver of all applicable closing conditions for the Transaction on a timely basis or at all including, without limitation, receipt of all necessary shareholder, stock exchange and regulatory approvals or consents and lack of material changes with respect to First Majestic and Gatos and their respective businesses, all as more particularly set forth in the Merger Agreement; the timing of the closing of the Transaction and the failure of the Transaction to close for any reason; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against First Majestic or Gatos and others related to the Transaction; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the Transaction; and delays associated with the ongoing Canada Post labour dispute. First Majestic is not affirming or adopting any statements or reports attributed to Gatos (including prior mineral reserve and resource declaration) in this news release or made by Gatos outside of this news release. In addition, the failure of a party to comply with the terms of the Merger Agreement may result in that party being required to pay a fee to the other party, the result of which could have a material adverse effect on the paying party's financial position and results of operations and its ability to fund growth prospects and current operations. Although First Majestic has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

First Majestic believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. First Majestic does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233301

SOURCE: First Majestic Silver Corp.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon has granted the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's or FTC request for a preliminary injunction to block the acquisition of Albertsons Companies Inc. by Kroger Co. (KR). This $24.6 billion deal was opposed by the FTC and a bipartisan coalition of nine state attorneys general.The FTC hailed this ruling as a historic victory, stating that it safeguards millions of Americans from price increases on essential groceries like milk, bread, and eggs, effectively keeping more money in consumers' pockets. The decision has a significant and tangible impact on the lives of millions of Americans who rely on Kroger or Albertsons-owned grocery stores, including Fry's in Arizona, Vons in Southern California, and Jewel-Osco in Illinois, for their daily needs.In February 2024, the Federal Trade Commission along with a group of nine attorneys general have filed a lawsuit to block Kroger Co.'s proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of the Albertsons Companies Inc., alleging that the deal is anticompetitive.FTC alleged that the planned merger, which would be the largest among supermarkets in U.S. history, would eliminate competition and raise grocery prices, while harming thousands of workers. The proposed merger was announced in 2022.The group of nine attorneys general that joined the FTC's federal court complaint includes representatives from Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming.Meanwhile, Colorado Attorney General in mid February had filed a lawsuit to stop the proposed merger, expressing concerns about potential harm to consumers. A similar lawsuit was filed by Washington state in January.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 10, 2024) - Boba Mint Holdings Ltd. (CSE: TNJ) ("Boba" or the "Company"), a leader in blockchain gaming, is pleased to provide an update on the progress of its flagship blockchain game, Tanjea, built on the Ethereum network. Tanjea delivers an immersive play-to-earn experience where players can collect, trade, and use NFT characters to earn $TNJ tokens.

We're making excellent progress on the highly anticipated Token Withdrawal feature, which will allow players to transfer their earned $TNJ tokens seamlessly. This development is part of our commitment to delivering a user-centric and rewarding blockchain gaming experience. While still in the works, the feature is advancing steadily and is anticipated for release by the end of 2024.

Key Highlights

Token Withdrawal Progress: The ability for players to withdraw $TNJ tokens is progressing well, with the feature expected to roll out fully by year-end. We are also working towards listing $TNJ on Uniswap, enabling players to access greater liquidity and value from their in-game earnings.

NFT Ecosystem: Players continue to collect and use unique NFT characters like birds and wolves, earning $TNJ tokens as they participate in Tanjea's dynamic play-to-earn ecosystem.

Driving Growth Through Strategic Partnerships



Boba Mint Holdings Ltd. is actively pursuing strategic partnership initiatives designed to drive sustainable growth, expand market reach, and increase shareholder value. These efforts encompass collaborations with industry leaders, the exploration of innovative technologies, and leveraging synergies to strengthen the Company's competitive position in the market.

"Strategic partnerships are pivotal to our vision of building a robust and innovative blockchain gaming ecosystem," said Rody Lazar, CEO of Boba Mint Holdings Ltd. "By working with industry leaders and embracing cutting-edge technologies, we aim to accelerate growth, deliver enhanced value to our players, and maximize returns for our shareholders."

Consolidation

Boba also wishes to announce a 5 to 1 share consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares. Boba intends to consolidate its issued and outstanding share capital on the basis of 1 post-consolidation common share for each 5 pre-consolidation common shares (the "Consolidation"). Any fraction of a common share will be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number. The common shares are expected to begin trading on a consolidated basis and with new CUSIP number 096775200 on December 16, 2024, subject to the regulatory approvals, including the approval of the CSE.

As a result of the Consolidation, the outstanding common shares of Boba will be reduced to approximately 46,265,212. Pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the Articles of the Company, the Consolidation was approved by way of resolution passed by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors believes that the proposed Consolidation will provide the Company with increased flexibility in structuring and completing financings, and will better position the Company to attract additional investors.

Shareholders who hold their shares through a securities broker or dealer, bank or trust company will not be required to take any measures with respect to the share consolidation. Boba's transfer agent, Endeavor Trust Corporation ("Endeavor"), will mail a letter of transmittal to all registered shareholders of Boba that will contain instructions for exchanging their pre-Consolidation common shares for post-Consolidation common shares. Registered shareholders will be required to return their certificates representing pre-Consolidation common shares and a completed letter of transmittal to Endeavor. Any registered shareholder who submits a duly completed letter of transmittal to Endeavor along with pre-Consolidation share certificate will receive in return a post-Consolidation share certificate or Direct Registration System Advice. Boba's outstanding warrants and options will be adjusted on the same basis (5 to 1) as Boba's common shares, with proportionate adjustments being made to exercise prices.

Boba will not be changing its name or trading symbol in connection with the Consolidation. Trading on a Consolidated Basis is expected to occur on December 16, 2024 with a Record Date of December 17, 2024.

Financing

The Company is pleased to announce that it is arranging a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 30,000,000 Units of the Company (the "Units"), at a price of $0.05 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit is comprised of one post-Consolidation common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one post-Consolidation common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant exercisable into one additional Share at a price of $0.06 per Share for a period of 3 years from the closing of the Offering.

The Company will (i) pay a cash fee to eligible finders as may be agreed to by the Company at the closing of the Offering that is equal to 8% of the gross proceeds realized by the Company in respect of the Offering, and (ii) issue finder warrants equal in number to 8% of the total number of Units sold pursuant to the Offering (the "Finder Warrants"). Each Finder Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Unit at a price of $0.05 for a period of 3 years from the closing of the Offering. PowerOne Capital Markets Limited will act as a finder in connection with the Offering.

Closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the CSE. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Warrants will not be listed on any exchange.

About Boba Mint Holdings Ltd.

Boba Mint Holdings Ltd. is focused on the development of blockchain mobile games that integrate ERC20 tokens and ERC721 NFTs. Its primary product is a mobile blockchain gaming ecosystem called Tanjea, where gamers collect NFT characters (primarily birds and wolves) in multiple mobile games and use them to earn $TNJ tokens.

Boba Mint is a pioneering blockchain gaming company dedicated to creating immersive, decentralized gaming experiences. Boba Mint has become synonymous with innovation and excellence in the blockchain gaming industry.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the CSE policies) accepts responsibility for this release's adequacy or accuracy.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Boba's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Such statements include those relating to game development and the Company's expectations and plans. Although Boba believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the blockchain sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mobile video game industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of Boba to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward- looking information contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Boba' Form 2A Listing Statement dated April 19, 2024 which is available on Boba's profile at http://www.sedarplus.ca and on the CSE website at https://thecse.com/listings/boba-mint-holdings- ltd/.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory 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, province, territory or jurisdiction.

We seek Safe Harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233304

SOURCE: Boba Mint Holdings Ltd.
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN

Gold Mountain Mining Corp. (TSX:GMTN)(OTCQB:GMTNF)(FRA:5XFA) ("Gold Mountain" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 27,272,727 flow-through common shares (the "FT Shares") of the Company at a price of $0.055 per FT Share for gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the "FT Offering").

The gross proceeds from the issuance of FT Shares will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as such term is defined under subsection (66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") and will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act, and "BC flow-through mining expenditures" as defined in Subsection 4.721(1) of the Income Tax Act (British Columbia) (the "Qualifying Expenditures").

The Qualifying Expenditures will be incurred on or before December 31, 2025, and renounced to the subscribers with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2024, and as required under the Tax Act. The BC mining flow-through share ("BCMFTS") tax credit allows BC residents who invest in flow-through shares to claim a provincial non-refundable tax credit of 20% of the BC flow-through mining expenditures.

The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to fund its exploration expenditures on its Elk Gold Project located in Merritt, British Columbia.

A finder's fee of 7% cash and 7% warrants exercisable at $0.055 per share for a period of 24 months shall be paid to eligible finders who will assist in introducing subscribers to the Company in accordance with the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") and applicable securities laws.

The closing of the FT Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the Exchange. There can be no assurance that the FT Offering will be completed, whether in whole or in part.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the 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 Gold Mountain Mining

Gold Mountain is a British Columbia based gold and silver exploration and development company focused on the Elk Gold Project, a producing mine located 57 KM from Merritt in South Central British Columbia. Additional information is available at www.sedar.com or on the Company's new website at www.gold-mountain.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Gold Mountain Mining Corp.

Email: cc@gold-mountain.ca

Website: www.gold-mountain.ca

Twitter: www.twitter.com/goldmtnmine_

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to those in respect of the proposed FT Offering, including the size, pricing and timing thereof, the shares being offered thereunder, the investors participating therein, the intended use of proceeds therefrom, the tax treatment of the shares to be issued under the FT Offering pursuant to the Tax Act and Taxation Act (British Columbia), the timing to renounce all Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers (if at all), and the conditions and approvals required and applications being filed in connection therewith. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation or intent to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information

Calvin Cheung

CFO

cc@gold-mountain.ca

6048666818

SOURCE: Gold Mountain Mining Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Volkswagen faces mounting pressure as widespread labor strikes affect nine German manufacturing facilities, responding to the company's proposed 10% wage reduction. The escalating tension between management and workforce has created uncertainty in the market, with VW's stock trading at 84.40 while analysts maintain an average target price of 110.20. The strikes, involving tens of thousands of workers, represent a significant challenge for the automotive giant as it attempts to implement cost-cutting measures across its German operations, potentially impacting the future of its 130,000-strong workforce.

Future Fund Proposal

A potential breakthrough has emerged through the union's innovative Future Fund proposal, offering Volkswagen potential cost savings of 1.5 billion. This alternative to direct wage cuts could provide a path forward in negotiations, which are scheduled to continue next week. Both parties report constructive dialogue despite significant differences, with union representatives firmly opposing any facility closures while seeking guarantees for job security and plant operations.

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Resolution Life announces the acquisition of 100% of its shares by Nippon Life at a valuation of $10.6 billion

The transaction will accelerate growth for both Resolution Life and Nippon Life in the highly active, multi-trillion-dollar global life and annuity consolidation sector

Resolution Life, which comprises Resolution Re, Resolution Life US and Resolution Life Australasia will retain the Resolution brand

Resolution Life Australasia and Nippon Life's Australian company, MLC, will be merged to form Acenda

Blackstone will continue to be Resolution Life's investment manager across private credit and other key areas

Resolution Life, a global life insurance group focusing on the acquisition and ongoing management of portfolios of life insurance policies, today announces that Nippon Life Insurance Company ("Nippon Life") has agreed to acquire 100% of the company.

Nippon Life will consolidate its ownership interest by paying $8.2 billion to acquire the remaining shares from Resolution Life's investment limited partnership, valuing Resolution Life at $10.6 billion, with shareholders also retaining final dividends before completion.

Following the acquisition, Resolution Life's institutional business in the US, the UK, Bermuda and Singapore will become a subsidiary of Nippon Life, creating a new division that complements Nippon Life's Japanese life business as well as its international asset management and retail businesses. Resolution Life will continue to be led by Clive Cowdery as Chairman and CEO and Resolution Life Group Holdings Ltd will remain the primary regulated entity.

Resolution Life's Australasian business will be combined with Nippon Life's Australian company, MLC, to form Acenda , a new primary life insurer open to new business, which will be run as a joint venture between Nippon Life and Resolution Life.

The transaction completes a partnership that began in 2019 when Nippon Life first invested in Resolution Life. Since then, it has remained the company's largest investor and supported the growth of Resolution Life into a company with over $85bn of reserves and over 4m policies.

For Resolution Life, this transaction enables the company to secure its position as a leader in the multi-trillion-dollar global life and annuity consolidation sector. Having a single well-capitalised parent will enable Resolution Life to accelerate its growth and continue to serve the needs of policyholders and the broader life insurance industry.

For Nippon Life, this transaction is a further step towards achieving their stated medium-term plan to grow their international business and deliver long-term growth and stable dividends from overseas markets. It will enhance Nippon Life's product offering as well as expanding the application of asset management, liability management and digital skills by leveraging Resolution Life's existing capabilities, including a highly experienced global team.

Resolution Life will continue its mission of being a global custodian to the life insurance and annuity industry by providing capital for growth, removing stranded costs and mitigating long-term risks so that the industry can continue to respond to the needs of policyholders.

Resolution Life is regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority with a strong group capital position, high solvency ratios and investment grade ratings.

Blackstone will continue its relationship with Resolution Life as the company's investment manager for directly originated assets across the private credit, real estate and asset-based-finance markets - reflecting the significant value Blackstone's origination platform has provided to the business and its policyholders. Resolution Life will also continue as Blackstone's strategic partner in the life and annuity consolidation sector globally.

Hiroshi Shimizu, President of Nippon Life said,

"As a mutual company owned by our policyholders, Nippon Life has always had a culture which puts customers at the heart of everything we do. We believe the acquisition of Resolution Life and the formation of Acenda demonstrates our commitment to working with exceptional businesses and teams to deliver innovative products and services. We are aligned with Resolution Life and our investment management partner Blackstone in continuing to deliver on the trust policyholders have placed in us to protect them and their families when they need us."

Sir Clive Cowdery, Founder and Executive Chairman of Resolution Life said,

"For 22 years, Resolution Life and prior Resolution companies have raised our capital from institutional investors and the public markets. I am delighted that we are now going forward under the single ownership and capital support of Nippon Life, an institution I admire and respect. There is a strong foundation of shared values, clarity of vision and breadth of capabilities across our organisations. Combining Resolution Life's strengths, the investment management expertise of our partners at Blackstone and a well-funded parent gives us the opportunity to accelerate our gro w th and serve the needs of policyholdersinto the decades ahead."

Gilles Dellaert, Global Head of Blackstone Credit and Insurance (BXCI) said,

"We are very pleased with this outcome for Resolution Life's policyholders and investors.Clive Cowdery has built a tremendous insurance platform, and we believe that this expanded partnership with the world-class team at Nippon Life will help drive its accelerated global growth. We look forward to continuing to deliver the benefits of Blackstone's leading private credit and asset origination capabilities to Resolution Life and its policyholders in this next chapter with Nippon Life."

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and anticipated to be completed in H2 2025. The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of the company is Claire Singleton, General Counsel.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

About Nippon Life

Founded in 1889, Nippon Life is the core company of the Nippon Life group, which consists of multiple group companies operating life insurance and asset management businesses in the Asia-Pacific region and globally and is the largest private asset owner in Japan. With over 70,000 employees, Nippon Life has 15 million customers and over 87,000 Billion in total assets.

For more information on Nippon Life, visit www.nissay.co.jp/global .

About Blackstone

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager. We seek to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which we invest. Our more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, credit, real assets, secondaries and hedge funds.?Further information is available at www.blackstone.com . Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn , ?X (Twitter) , and?Instagram .

About Resolution Life

Resolution Life is a global life insurance group focusing on the acquisition and management of portfolios of life insurance policies. Since 2003 to date, prior Resolution entities together with Resolution Life have deployed approximately $19 billion of equity in the acquisition, reinsurance, consolidation and management of life insurance companies. Together, these companies have served the needs of over 13 million policyholders while managing approximately $385 billion of assets. Resolution Life today has operations in Bermuda, the U.K., the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Singapore assisting the restructuring of the primary life insurance industry globally. Resolution Life provides a safe and reliable partner for insurers by:

Primarily focusing on existing customers, with selective new business growth in strategic markets

Delivering policyholder benefits in a secure, well capitalised environment

Returning capital to our institutional investors in the form of a steady dividend yield

www.resolutionlife.com

About Resolution Life Australasia

Resolution Life Australasia has c.A$29 billion in AUM and is committed to servicing its existing one million customers across Australia and New Zealand by providing them with competitive premiums, quality investment management, great customer service and efficient claims management. Resolution Life Australasia's growth is predominantly through the acquisition of in-force portfolios of life insurance policies as well as remaining open to growing new business in select strategic markets. As part of the transaction announced today Resolution Life Australasia will be combined with Nippon Life's Australian business, MLC, to form a new primary life insurer open to new business.

For more information on the transaction please click here Resolution Life Australasia

For more information on Resolution Life Australia, visit www.resolutionlife.com.au

Advisors

Resolution Life is represented by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC as financial advisor and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal counsel in connection with these transactions.

Nippon Life is represented by J.P. Morgan and Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd. as financial advisors and Nishimura & Asahi, Mayer Brown LLP, ASW Law Limited, Ashurst, Bell Gully and DLA Piper as legal counsel in connection with these transactions.

Media Enquiries:

Temple Bar Advisory (US / UK / RoW)

Alex Child-Villiers / Sam Livingstone / Alistair de Kare-Silver / Juliette Packard

+44 (0)20 7183 1190 / resolution@templebaradvisory.com

SEC Newgate (Australasia)

Erica Borgelt

Tel: +61 (0) 413 732 951 / erica.borgelt@secnewgate.com.au

This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. The words "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "aim", "forecast", "project", "indicate", "should", "may", "will" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Any statements in this presentation regarding the Company's current intentions, beliefs or expectations concerning, among other things, the Company's operating performance, financial condition, market position, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, general economic conditions and the industry in which the Company operates, are forward-looking statements and are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Forward-looking statements involve inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ significantly, positively or negatively, from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Company's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behaviour of other market participants, the actions of regulators and other factors such as the Company's ability to continue to obtain financing to meet its liquidity needs, changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in which the Company operates or in economic or technological trends or conditions. Past performance should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of future results, and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding future performance or the achievement or reasonableness of any forward-looking statements. As a result, recipients of this presentation should not rely on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein and which speak only as of the date of this presentation. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements in this presentation that may occur due to any change in its expectations or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation. No statement in this presentation is intended to be, nor should be construed as, a profit forecast or a profit estimate and no statement in this presentation should be interpreted to mean that earnings of the Company for the current or any future financial periods would necessarily match, exceed or be lower than any historical earnings published by the Company.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com .

SOURCE: Resolution Life Group

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Nippon Life Insurance Co. said that it agreed to acquire Bermuda-based Resolution Life Group Holdings in $8.2 billion deal. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals, and is expected to take place in the second half of 2025.In addition, Nippon Life said it will acquire the remaining 20% of the issued shares in MLC Life Insurance that National Australia Bank holds. The acquisition amount is expected to be approximately A$500 million or approximately JPY 50 billion.Additionally, Nippon Life noted that it will make an contribution of the MLC Life Insurance shares to Resolution Life NOHC Pty Ltd or 'Australian NOHC', Resolution Life's Australian holding company. In exchange, Nippon Life will acquire the new shares issued by Australian NOHC.As a result of this transaction, Nippon Life will directly hold 51% of the voting rights of Australian NOHC (Nippon Life will indirectly hold 49% through Resolution Life), and Australian NOHC will encompass both Resolution Australasia and MLC Life Insurance as its subsidiaries, thereby integrating the management of Resolution Australasia and MLC Life Insurance.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.
Waterloo, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - December 10, 2024) - Clements Cleaning Inc. is marking 20 years of providing house cleaning services in Monroe County, IL. The professional cleaning company, started in 2004, has always prided itself on giving people free time to do what they love most while guaranteeing that their homes will be clean. The company is dedicated to carrying on this tradition and serving more families in the region in the coming years.

Tom Clements, one of the company's owners, expressed gratitude to clients for their trust and support over the years in a short video posted on the company's website. In it, Tom assured clients that the team is still committed to helping them free up time to focus on what matters most.

In the years Clements Cleaning Inc. has been in business, it has prioritized expertise and efficiency. The cleaners are experienced and highly trained to tackle even the toughest messes, completing tasks in hours that might take clients an entire weekend.

The company's success in the last two decades is also a result of its dedication to putting measures in place to protect its clients and employees. One of them is being insured, as it carries liability insurance. In addition, the Clements Cleaning team consists of local employees who live in the community they serve.

Clements Cleaning Inc. has built a strong reputation for reliability and trustworthiness in house cleaning services. Homes require special care and attention during cleaning - a principle the team has upheld consistently for over 20 years. The company offers flexible scheduling, allowing clients to choose cleaning times that suit their routines.

In addition, Clements Cleaning Inc. has been involved in various campaigns, partnerships, and community events. One is the ongoing partnership with Cleaning for a Reason, an organization that has donated over $20 million worth of cleaning services and served tens of thousands of patients. The cleaning company provides two free home cleanings for cancer patients within the community.

Apart from the partnership being part of Clements Cleaning Inc.'s culture of making a difference in society, the company owners, Brandy and Tom Clements, have seen first-hand how cancer affects a patient's life. They also understand how diagnosis and treatments affect the family's physical and emotional well-being.

These cleaning services are available to patients undergoing chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, hospice care, and other alternative therapies. Patients recovering from any of these treatments are also eligible and can apply for free home cleaning.

About Clements Cleaning Inc.:

Clements Cleaning Inc. offers professional cleaning services to residents of Monroe County. By cleaning homes, the locally and family-owned company helps clients make time for their families and loved ones and pursue things that matter most to them. Additionally, in the past two decades, Clements Cleaning Inc. has proudly employed cleaning professionals who live in the area they serve.



Media Contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233272

SOURCE: GetFeatured
West Palm Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - December 10, 2024) - With the holiday shopping season in full swing, consumers are eager to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones. To help navigate the frenzy, News Media Group, Inc. and Tech Life Expert Stephanie Humphrey worked with some of their favorite brands for a nationwide satellite media tour, bringing her curated gift guide to audiences across the country. From personalized photo gifts and smart home gadgets to DIY tools and family-friendly printer service and smartphones deals, Stephanie showcased a diverse range of ideas for techies and non-techies alike. Her expert recommendations and holiday shopping tips provided viewers with valuable insights and inspiration for a stress-free holiday season.





Stephanie Humphrey Shares Top Picks for Techies and Non-Techies Alike



Cannot view this image? Visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8530/233181_9dd5a85114806a3d_001full.jpg

Stephanie shared on interviews and InTheNews.TV these gifts and ideas to put on your list this holiday.





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhn1fL24EIo

Featured brands in the Gotta-Have-It holiday tour included:

Mixbook.com. Create heartfelt, personalized gifts with Mixbook, the #1 photo book platform. Discover photo books, calendars, and holiday cards with unique themes for family, pets, travel, and more. Mixbook's personalization tools, including stickers and AI-powered captions, make designing easy and fun. For a limited time, enjoy a complimentary Mixbook Movie with your photo book purchase- allowing you to experience your photos in an engaging video format while awaiting your custom keepsake! To get started, visit https://www.mixbook.com/.

The ecobee Total Security and Savings Bundle. This offers an unbeatable home security solution offering a slew of savings and comfort-maximizing features. Plus, with 24/7 professional monitoring enabled, you're able to save up to $414 annually between energy and home insurance costs. It allows you to easily control your system right from your phone or favorite smart home assistant, along with features such as occupancy sensing, and energy-saving insights. Visit https://www.ecobee.com/en-us/bundles-exclusives/total-security-and-savings-device-bundle/.

Festool Systainer Organizers. Designed to keep tools, accessories, and small parts organized, protected, and easily accessible. This line-up of storage solutions offers unparalleled versatility and customization, making them the perfect addition to any workspace or vehicle. These advanced solutions ensure users have the right place for everything, enhancing efficiency and task management. Systainer Organizer SYS3 lets you find small parts easily thanks to individually configurable plastic containers and clear lid. Visit https://www.festoolusa.com/.

The HP All-In Plan. This delivers an inclusive and convenient print service. Starting at just $6.99 per month, the HP All-In Plan bundles a new HP printer with automatic ink delivery, 24/7 live support, and next business day replacement for any issues. Plus, you can try it risk free for 30 days with no upfront costs. Visit https://www.hp.com/us-en/all-in-plan/printers.html.

T-Mobile Holiday Deals. For a limited time, get the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL for FREE when adding a line or trading in a device on Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, or FREE JBL Clip 5 when purchasing a Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 - only at T-Mobile! For those looking to switch the whole family this season, get 4 lines for just $100/month, all on America's largest, fastest 5G network. To learn more, visit https://www.t-mobile.com/offers.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233181

SOURCE: Growyourtraction
Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Atua AI (TUA), an innovative on-chain AI enterprise platform, has announced the integration of Bitcoin (BTC) to broaden its on-chain capabilities and strengthen enterprise-level solutions. This strategic integration aims to harness Bitcoin's unparalleled security and decentralized network to improve efficiency and reliability for decentralized businesses operating on the Atua AI platform.

Experience the future of enterprise AI with Atua AI - where intelligence meets blockchain innovation.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8833/233303_6_2.jpg

Bitcoin, as the leading cryptocurrency with a proven track record in security and decentralization, will enable Atua AI to offer enterprises more resilient and transparent transactions. The integration of BTC provides seamless payment options, secure value transfers, and enhanced blockchain support for enterprises looking to optimize their operations in the decentralized ecosystem.

By incorporating Bitcoin, Atua AI continues to enhance the robustness of its on-chain enterprise platform. Enterprises can now leverage BTC for payments, liquidity, and secure transactions, ensuring a dependable and transparent business environment. The integration also complements Atua AI's existing AI tools and blockchain solutions, enabling smarter, AI-driven decision-making combined with the security of the Bitcoin network.

This move reflects Atua AI's commitment to offering comprehensive blockchain and AI solutions that empower decentralized enterprises. With Bitcoin integration, Atua AI further cements its position as a versatile platform that drives innovation, security, and efficiency in the Web3 space.

About Atua AI

Atua AI is a leading on-chain enterprise AI platform that combines blockchain and artificial intelligence to deliver scalable, secure, and innovative solutions for decentralized businesses. Atua AI empowers enterprises to thrive in the evolving Web3 landscape by offering advanced AI tools, seamless blockchain integration, and optimized workflows.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233303

SOURCE: Kaj Labs
Coop Alleanza 3.0 digitalizes their stores with VusionGroup's cutting-edge solutions to optimize in-store operations and reduce waste, while enhancing customer experience.

December 11, 2024 - VusionGroup (VU - FR0010282822) the global leader in digitalization solutions for commerce, today announced a new roll-out with Coop Alleanza 3.0, a leading Italian grocery retailer, to implement its cutting-edge solutions across their stores throughout Italy.

"VusionGroup's 360 solution transcends digital price tags. Our objective is to enhance the accuracy of promotions, pricing, and product information for both our associates and customers, while harnessing the power of Cloud and IoT technologies. Looking ahead, this solution will equip our stores with critical management information to optimize their operations. Once again, our goal remains to create a better environment for both our associates and customers", said Luca Girotti, CIO & Process Innovation of Coop Alleanza 3.0.

Coop Alleanza 3.0 is gradually adopting VusionGroup's Cloud platform and Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) to optimize in-store operations while improving customer experience and reducing waste. This initiative aligns with its environmental sustainability goals and VusionGroup's Sustainable Retail program. Operating in 8 regions with approximately 350 stores, the Cooperative will also pilot the advanced Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence solution, Captana, for real-time shelf monitoring in selected locations.

"VusionGroup's solutions will offer Coop Alleanza 3.0 numerous benefits aimed at enhancing store operations and efficiency. The multicolor electronic shelf labels (ESLs) will improve visibility and clarity of information for shoppers while reducing paper and ink waste. Associates will streamline their tasks with the assistance of LEDs on each ESL, guiding them through various daily processes. Additionally, VusionCloud will enable Coop Alleanza 3.0 to track, monitor, and manage all IoT devices from anywhere, at any time", stated Andrea Furegon, Head of Commercial and Sales Systems at Coop Alleanza 3.0.

"We are honored to contribute to the digital transformation of Coop Alleanza 3.0, one of Italy's foremost retailers", comments Sebastien Fourcy, SEVP EMEA. "This roll-out underscores our strong presence in the Italian grocery retail sector, a strategic market in Europe. We remain committed to providing cutting-edge technologies and the most secure environments for Italian retailers aiming to transform their stores into positive, intelligent and efficient assets."

" We are proud that such a significant entity in Italy has chosen VusionGroup as a partner to strive for positive commerce and improve their business", adds Alessio Gruffe, VP Italy & Eastern Europe VusionGroup. "Our solutions will impact not only the efficiency and operations of their stores, but also the quality of work for Coop Alleanza 3.0 employees, who will be relieved from low-value-added tasks in favor of a better working environment."

The roll-out of VusionGroup's solutions at Coop Alleanza 3.0 has already begun in 40 of its stores, and the target date for completion has been set for end of 2025.

About VusionGroup

VusionGroup is the global leader in the digitalization solutions for commerce, serving over 350 large retailer groups around the world in Europe, Asia and North America.

The Group develops technologies that create a positive impact on society by enabling sustainable and human-centered commerce. By leveraging our IoT & Data technologies, we empower retailers to re-imagine their physical stores into efficient, intelligent, connected, and data-driven assets. We unlock higher economic performance, facilitate seamless collaboration across the value chain, enhance the shopping experience, create better jobs, cultivate healthier communities, and significantly reduce waste and carbon emissions.

VusionGroup consist of six families of solutions, harnessing the full potential of IoT, Cloud, Data, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, at the service of the modernization of commerce: SESimagotag (ESL & Digital Shelf Systems), VusionCloud, Captana (computer vision and artificial intelligence platform), Memory (data analytics), Engage (retail media and in-store advertising), and PDidigital (logistics and industrial solutions).

VusionGroup supports the United Nations' Global Compact initiative and has received in 2023 the Platinum Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis, the world's reference of business sustainability ratings.

VusionGroup is listed in compartment A of Euronext Paris and member of the SBF120 Index. Ticker: VU - ISIN code: FR0010282822 - Reuters: VU.FP - Bloomberg: VU

www.vusion.com

Investor Relations: Olivier Gernandt - olivier.gernandt@vusion.com

Press Contact: Publicis Consultants - vusiongroup@publicisconsultants.com

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Evotec SE, the Hamburg-based biotechnology firm, is marking significant progress in its translational accelerator program LAB eN, operated in partnership with Novo Nordisk. The initiative has successfully launched its first three research projects focusing on cardiometabolic diseases, drawing from prestigious institutions including Boston University, Harvard University, and the Joslin Diabetes Center. This development reinforces Evotec's strategic commitment to innovative therapeutics development and strengthens its position in drug discovery. The company's stock has shown positive momentum, trading at 8.94 with a 1.0 percent increase and trading volumes exceeding one million shares.

Market Performance and Index Upgrade

The company is set for a significant market reclassification, moving from the SDAX to the MDAX effective December 23, reflecting its growing market importance. However, current trading levels remain notably below the 52-week high of 21.69 recorded in December 2023, representing a gap of over 140 percent. Recent financial results indicate a 5.80 percent decline in quarterly revenue to 184.89 million, with a loss per share of 0.22. Despite these challenges, analysts maintain an optimistic outlook, setting a median price target at 9.68, though projecting a loss per share of 0.776 for 2024.

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ROSTOCK (dpa-AFX) - Nordex SE (NRDXF.PK), a manufacturer of wind turbines, Wednesday said it received an order for 8 wind turbines from electric power distribution company, Elektroprivreda Crne Gore for its 55 MW Gvozd wind farm located in Montenegro.FInancial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.'The project will demonstrate again our active role in supporting our customers to implement their renewable energy projects in the Balkans - after Croatia and Serbia now for the first time also in Montenegro', said Patxi Landa, CSO of the Nordex Group.The company plans to start delivery of the turbines in November 2025. The contract also includes maintenance of the system for 25 years.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.
Senior representatives from business, government, academia, and civil society gather to celebrate the launch of the UN Global Compact Network Ireland and local launch of the Forward Faster Initiative

SWORDS, IRELAND / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 / Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator providing energy-efficient solutions and services for heating and cooling across the built environment and transport sectors, proudly announces its one of the first companies in Ireland to commit to the UN Global Compact's Forward Faster initiative.

The UN Global Compact, the world's largest voluntary, corporate sustainability initiative officially launched its Country Network for Ireland on November 28. The event, which gathered some 150 senior leaders from Ireland's business community, also served as the local launch of the Forward Faster initiative. The initiative provides businesses with guidance to make a significant impact towards the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With only 17% of SDGs on track, the initiative calls for urgent action from both public and private sectors.

A signatory of the UN Global Compact since December 2023, Trane Technologies has made a Forward Faster-aligned commitment with the company's May 2022 milestone of being among the first 11 companies globally, and first in its industry, to receive external validation of its near and long-term emissions reduction targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Trane Technologies aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050. As an early participant in the Forward Faster initiative in Ireland, Trane Technologies is poised to play a pivotal role in driving significant change and setting new standards for corporate sustainability.

Jose La Loggia, Group President EMEA at Trane Technologies, emphasized the importance of the Forward Faster initiative during the launch event in a distinguished panel entitled: "Unlocking the Value of Sustainability: Business Leadership Across Sectors." Discussions brought together spokespeople from Irish enterprises to explore how companies are embedding sustainability into their operations, addressing challenges, and maximizing the benefits of sustainable practices aligned with the SDGs.

Jose La Loggia shared: "We are proud to join the Forward Faster initiative, which aligns perfectly with our mission to decarbonize our cities through sustainable heating and cooling solutions for buildings.

We started our sustainability journey long before green was a trend, setting our 2020 Climate Commitments with our first science-based targets back in 2014, and met them early by accelerating innovation. Recognizing there was no time to waste for climate action, we put a stake in the ground and set even bolder goals in 2019 - our 2030 Sustainability Commitments - including our Gigaton Challenge. Our progress on our near-term 2030 goals puts us on a glidepath toward net-zero by 2050.

The Forward Faster Initiative brings long-term value to our business and the communities we serve. We invite more companies to join us in collaborating and innovating to drive meaningful progress and to continue boldly challenging what's possible for a sustainable world.

Nessa Whelan, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Ireland , emphasized the importance of the launch and Trane Technologies' participation: "We are delighted to have Trane Technologies join us as a speaker at the launch of the UN Global Compact Network Ireland to share insights on the business case for sustainability. Their commitment to ambitious targets aligned with the Forward Faster initiative serves as a strong example of the kind of action we hope to see more companies take, driving meaningful progress and inspiring lasting impact."

###

About Trane Technologies:

Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane and Thermo King, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. For more on Trane Technologies, visit www.tranetechnologies.com.

About the UN Global Compact Network Ireland: The UN Global Compact Network Ireland is a local network of the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. It aims to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. For more information, visit UN Global Compact Network IrelandSee also: Forward Faster initiative

Trane Technologies Among First Companies in Ireland to Join United Nations' Forward Faster Initiative

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Trane Technologies on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Trane Technologies

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/trane-technologies

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Trane Technologies

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Satellite-based connectivity service delivered by SES will allow to enhance the Peruvian Air Force bases' networks and operations

The Peruvian Air Force (PAF) is using SES's high-throughput geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite solution to improve connectivity for its Air Force bases and enhance operations all over the country, SES announced today.

Under the agreement, SES is providing a turnkey solution which includes delivery and installation of communications hardware, as well as training and enabling the PAF with SES-14 capacity to explore all the possibilities and improvements that the high-throughput satellite (HTS) can offer. SES-14's wide beams and high-throughput spot beams will allow the PAF to utilise it for a broad range of operations and achieve mission success while enabling their air fleet to stay connected no matter how remote the operations. In particular, the flexible HTS beams will deliver high-performing, forward-return connectivity for real-time information exchange.

"We are pleased to have found a partner in Luxembourg-based SES who has decades of experience delivering high-throughput, high-performance connectivity services to governments around the world. It allows us to advance our digital transformation ambitions thanks to the latest satellite technology," said General Marcos Francisco Robles Bocanegra, Director of Telematics for the Peruvian Air Force. "Real-time connectivity for the Air Force is a game-changer as it allows taking informed decisions in a timely way."

"We are delighted to apply SES's expertise in the Government and Defence domain to deliver a fully integrated solution that satisfies PAF's demanding connectivity requirements and complying with a challenging implementation schedule. A central part of the solution is SES-14, a GEO HTS, that already provided its efficiency enabling aero applications. We are delighted that the PAF is now using SES-14 to better connect its bases and pilots," said Omar Trujillo, Vice President of Enterprise Americas at SES.

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About SES

SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on Earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless data connectivity services around the world. As a provider of global content and connectivity solutions, SES owns and operates a geosynchronous orbit fleet and medium earth orbit (GEO-MEO) constellation of satellites, offering a combination of global coverage and high performance services. By using its intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES delivers high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners around the world. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210405082/en/

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Suzanne Ong

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Disaster mitigation and natural resource exploration expert from Brawijaya University, Prof. Sukir Maryanto, in the MAGDAS Cangar Station in East Java. (ANTARA/HO-Brawijaya University)

MALANG, E. JAVA, Indonesia, Dec 11, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - Brawijaya University collaborated with several international institutions to develop the Magnetic Data Acquisition System (MAGDAS) to monitor climate change globally and mitigate disasters in the future.Some institutions partaking in this initiative include the International Research Center for Space and Planetary Environmental Science (i-SPES) from Kyushu University in Japan, the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) of Egypt, and several universities in Malaysia.Disaster mitigation and natural resource exploration expert from Brawijaya University, Prof. Sukir Maryanto, explained that one of the data system stations is located in the Volcano & Geothermal field laboratory in the Agro Techno Park Cangar Complex, Sumberbrantas Village, Batu City, East Java."It will be developed to mitigate tectonic and volcanic earthquake disasters," he noted in a statement on Thursday (Dec 5).Construction for the Cangar Station, which is the collaboration between BRAVO GRC, Brawijaya University, and i-SPES Kyushu University, began in March 2024.The installation of this data system involved a team from Kyushu University and two scientists from Egypt, with one acting as a researcher at i-SPES and the other a partner from the NRIAG in Egypt.Later, after becoming fully functional, the MAGDAS in Cangar Station will be integrated with a system network centered at Kyushu University, Japan, Prof. Sukir added."The construction of the MAGDAS station in Cangar has a significant impact on research and collaboration both at the national and international levels," he remarked.The plan is that in March 2025, an induction-based magnetometer sensor developed by Nagoya City University, Japan, will be installed on the recommendation of the MAGDAS host at Kyushu University.Currently, two new devices have been installed at Cangar Station, including the 3D Fluxgate Magnetometer from i-SPES Kyushu University and a seismic sensor from BRAVO GRC Brawijaya University.The seismic sensor functions to detect seismic waves that occur on Earth.Prof. Sukir expressed hope that these two parameters can be studied in an integrated manner at Cangar Station so that science can be developed to connect phenomena on Earth and in space."The new magnetometer sensor will be installed side by side with the existing MAGDAS and seismic sensors," he explained."Data from magnetic and seismic sensors need to be studied intensively because phenomena on the ground and phenomena in the air are not necessarily the same," he pointed out.Sukir also showed real-time recordings from MAGDAS in Cangar, which include data from Peru, Japan, the Philippines, and Malaysia, as well as various magnetic components with different variations.For more information, please click: https://ub.ac.idBrawijaya University: https://prasetya.ub.ac.idEditor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga, Copyright (c) ANTARA 2024Source: Brawijaya UniversityCopyright 2024 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Industry Advisory Council of 5-7 Advisors to Drive Digital Twins Adoption and Safeguard AI Solutions.

Tim Faulkner, CEO and Founder of Faulkner Consulting and Analytics, has more than twenty years' experience in driving innovation for U.S. Department of Defense focused on Operational Excellence.

Mr. Falkner transforms complex strategic vision statements into results-driven plans, programs, and business operations across billion-dollar requirements and capabilities.

Arlington, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Edge Total Intelligence Inc. (TSXV: CTRL) (OTCQB: UNFYF) (FSE: Q5I) ("edgeTI", "Company"), a leading provider of real-time Digital Twin software that enables and safeguards AI adoption, announces the appointment of Tim Faulkner to its Industry Advisory Council (IAC) to accelerate innovation and operational excellence among five to seven advisors working with edgeTI's CEO, Jim Barrett, who also leads Forbes Tech Council's Digital Twin Group.





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"A distinguished military executive and accomplished business strategist, Mr. Faulkner brings the IRC unparalleled expertise in innovation, leadership, and operational transformation to the EdgeTI team," said Jim Barrett CEO of edgeTI. "With an illustrious career advising senior leaders, including Four-Star Generals and government officials, Mr. Faulkner has been instrumental in shaping U.S. military strategy across multiple theaters for the U.S. Army and Special Operations Command."

Leveraging his deep understanding of mission-critical operations, he founded Faulkner Consulting and Analytics Inc. in 2023, advising startups and multinational corporations on market entry, growth acceleration, and operational improvement. His work has driven success for companies ranging from $1 million startups to $1 billion enterprises worldwide.

Mr. Faulkner's superpower is bringing diverse teams together to drive action and achieve extraordinary results. As the architect of the Army's only innovation incubator, he evaluated over 60 capability nominations, approved 37 groundbreaking technologies, and enabled 21 operational demonstrations-resulting in more than $200 million in new capabilities. These efforts were supported by collaboration with premier organizations like Los Alamos Labs, Amazon, SpaceX, Purdue University, and advanced 5G and data science centers. A standout success from these initiatives was the creation of an $800 million Joint Data Exploitation Facility, advancing data processing and dissemination capabilities for defense operations.

An alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mr. Faulkner has undertaken advanced studies at Central Michigan University, the Army War College, the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and the University of Virginia. He also serves as a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at the U.S. Naval War College.

"Having worked with companies and innovators to address threats at the speed of relevance, EdgeTI stands out for its ability to transform concepts into operational systems swiftly and effectively," said Timothy Faulkner. "In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, AI and other advanced capabilities require adaptable systems to safeguard and orchestrate their use. EdgeTI's edgeCore Digital Twin Platform is uniquely positioned to deliver that flexibility and operational precision."

The Company will announce additional advisors as they are appointed.

About edgeTI

edgeTI helps customers sustain situational awareness and accelerate action with its real-time digital operations software, edgeCore that unites multiple software applications and data sources into one immersive experience. Global enterprises, service providers, and governments are more profitable when insight and action are united to deliver fluid experiences via the platform's low-code development capability and composable operations. With edgeCore, customers can improve their margins and agility by rapidly transforming their siloed systems and data across continuously evolving situations in business, technology, and cross-domain operations - helping them achieve the impossible.

Website: https://ir.edgeti.com/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/edgeti

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/edgetechnologies

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.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements or information for the purposes of applicable Canadian and US securities law. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions.

Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the continued availability of capital and financing, the impact of viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, competition and general economic, and market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, 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/233277

SOURCE: Edge Total Intelligence Inc.
BANGKOK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) today announced it has granted investment privileges to a 10.5 billion baht (ca. US$ 306 million) investment by UNIQUE Integrated Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Foxsemicon Integrated Technology Inc. (Fiti Group), to build a factory to produce for export high-precision machinery parts and equipment used in the semiconductor industry.

"This is an important investment by a company which is part of the Foxconn Technology Group and is a leading player in the global semiconductor wafer fab equipment supply chain," said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the BOI. "It comes at the perfect time as we engage in the drafting of Thailand's National Semiconductor Strategy."

Thailand's newly appointed National Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy Committee, or Semiconductor Board, approved last week at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the framework for the Strategy, and for the development of a skilled workforce to prepare for a new wave of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the sector that could bring at least 500 billion baht into the country by 2029 as per the Government's target.

Fiti, a part of the Taipei-based Hon Hai Group, which is also known as Foxconn, has production sites in Miaoli County, Taiwan, in Kunshan, Jiangsu, and in Songjiang, Shanghai, in China, as well as service and sales offices in California and Texas, in the U.S.

The new Thai manufacturing facilities will be located in Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate and Amata City Rayong Industrial Estate, located in Chonburi and Rayong provinces, respectively. The two provinces are part of Thailand's hi-tech hub known as the Eastern Economic Corridor.

The high-precision machinery parts and equipment the factory will produce will include shields, chambers, high-purity valves, and sub-assembly modules, all essential elements in the manufacturing of the machinery used in the semiconductor production process (wafer fabrication).

The factory will employ more than 1,400 qualified Thai workers and source over a quarter of its raw materials domestically. The expected value of its annual exports will be more than 6 billion baht.

Applications for investment promotion in Thailand in the first nine months of 2024 increased 42% year-on-year in value to a combined 722.5 billion baht, the highest level since 2015, led by a significant afflux of FDI in large projects in target sectors including the electrical appliances and electronics (E&E), and data centers. During the period, the E&E sector led with 291 projects worth a combined 183.4 billion baht.

For more information, please contact:

Thailand Board of Investment

Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111

Website: www.boi.go.th

YouTube: Think Asia, Invest Thailand

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578601/BOI.jpg

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - RM Plc (RM.L), an educational technology solutions provider, said on Wednesday that it expects a decline in revenue for the full year.For the 12-month period to November 30, the company anticipates adjusted operating profit to be in the range of 8.4 million pounds to 8.8 million pounds, with adjusted EBITDA of 13 million pounds to 14 million pounds.Revenue, which now excludes the Consortium business, is expected to decline by 5 to 6 percent from last year.Mark Cook, CEO of RM, said: 'This has been a year of transformation for RM, and the success of our strategy is reflected in the progress we have made driving profitability and growing our contracted order book.'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.
WEIFANG, China, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 10, the 2025 Weichai Global Partners Conference overseas session was held in Weifang, China, drawing global customers, partners and key stakeholders from the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The event served as a platform for reviewing past collaborations, deepening ties, and strategizing future ventures aimed at driving sustainable growth in the global energy sector.

Driving Growth through Global Collaboration

In 2024, Weichai demonstrated robust growth, leveraging comprehensive supply chain collaborations to capitalize on global market opportunities. The company's engine exports are projected to grow by 7.7% year-over-year, marking significant inroads into high-end markets with its state-of-the-art data center power generation products across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Innovations in Energy and Power Systems

Weichai has strategically positioned itself with 14 innovative platforms, delivering power solutions ranging from 18 to 4550 kW. These systems are designed for critical applications across multiple sectors including data centers, financial institutions, public utilities, and emergency services, showcasing versatility with fuel adaptability including diesel, natural gas, and biogas. This breadth of application underscores Weichai's commitment to delivering competitive, globally relevant energy solutions.

Maritime and Construction Machinery Advances

Weichai has made significant advancements in marine propulsion, optimizing power solutions for high-speed boats, tugs, fishing vessels, and transport ships. The company now offers 21 distinct marine engine series, each designed to deliver a broad spectrum of power outputs. These engines are versatile, supporting a variety of fuels including diesel, heavy oil, methanol, liquefied natural gas, and B100 biodiesel. This range ensures adaptability across diverse marine applications, from fishing vessels and inland waterway transports to coastal transports and high-speed ferries, underscoring Weichai's commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship in the marine sector.

In the construction machinery power market, Weichai has accelerated the introduction of large-bore products, targeting high-end markets and supporting diverse industrial needs with custom solutions. The Weichai M series engines are adaptable to multiple industry segments including mining trucks, excavators, and large horsepower bulldozers. Additionally, leveraging its full-set power system solutions, Weichai offers customers one-stop support from engines to mining power units.



Global R&D and Manufacturing Excellence

With 78 years of continuous innovation, Weichai America prides itself on its world-class R&D capabilities and forward-thinking development processes. The company's global manufacturing and delivery systems, supported by world-class quality inspection standards and advanced intelligent manufacturing technologies, drive sustainable development within the high-end equipment sector.

Global Manufacturing and Service Excellence

Weichai operates a comprehensive global manufacturing and service delivery system, with eight major manufacturing bases. These facilities support a diverse range of business segments including power systems, commercial vehicles, agricultural equipment, energy and power, and marine transportation equipment. With a service network extending over 150 countries, Weichai ensures timely and professional maintenance services for each piece of equipment, emphasizing our commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Strengthening Strategic Partnerships

At the conference, Weichai celebrated the achievements of its partners, acknowledging them with awards for their potential, loyalty, and excellence. This recognition reflects their integral support and trust in Weichai's international expansion. Concurrent sessions on power generation units, single generators, and marine power were also held, focusing on detailed market segmentation and product strategy discussions. These sessions were designed to solidify the groundwork for future collaborative efforts, demonstrating Weichai's strategic commitment to fostering enduring partnerships.

Vision for the Future

Moving forward, Weichai is set to deepen and expand its strategic collaborations on a global scale. By focusing on developing high-value products and services, enhancing a competitive global sales network, and cultivating a premier international brand presence, Weichai is dedicated to setting new standards in international cooperation. The goal is to foster a mutually beneficial global ecosystem and achieve excellence on a world-class level, together with our partners. This approach underscores the commitment to innovation and excellence, propelling us towards a future where both Weichai and our partners thrive.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/weichai-energizes-global-markets-through-strategic-partnerships-and-innovation-302328738.html
Proceeds will be used to enable key late-stage clinical trial readouts for assets across several underserved neurological diseases with high unmet medical need.

EQT Life Sciences has led the extension, and joins a consortium of prominent global biotechnology investors.

The investment builds on EQT Life Sciences' previous successful partnership with neurology-focused repeat entrepreneur and Noema Pharma CEO Ilise Lombardo, MD

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Life Sciences is pleased to announce that the LSP 7 fund has invested in Noema Pharma ("the Company"). The clinical-stage biotech company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland is developing a pipeline of first-in-disease therapeutics that address central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The Series B extension brings the total capital raised in the round to CHF 130 million, including prior investments from Forbion, Jeito Capital, Sofinnova Partners, Gilde Healthcare, Polaris Partners, Invus and UPMC Enterprises.

CNS disorders are a significant area of unmet medical need, affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide who often face inadequate treatment options with limited effectiveness and significant side effects. Many of the conditions targeted by Noema Pharma have historically been difficult to treat due to their complex nature and the lack of effective therapies. By leveraging its diverse portfolio of neurological assets and innovative clinical pipeline, Noema Pharma is strongly positioned to address these debilitating disorders and provide much-needed hope and transformative solutions to patients living with these life-altering challenges. The Company's portfolio includes four active Phase 2 trials, with key readouts from all studies anticipated in 2025.

Proceeds from the financing will drive the continued development of Noema Pharma's clinical-stage assets, including its lead candidate basimglurant (NOE-101), a mGluR5 inhibitor currently in Phase 2 trials for severe pain in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Additionally, the Company is advancing gemlapodect (NOE-105), a PDE10a inhibitor in Phase 2 for Tourette syndrome and childhood onset fluency disorder (COFD or stuttering), as well as NOE-115, a broad-spectrum monoamine modulator in a Phase 2 trial for vasomotor symptoms and additional symptoms of menopause.

Ilise Lombardo, MD, CEO of Noema Pharma, stated: "We are thrilled to welcome EQT Life Sciences as a lead investor and to have Felice join our Board. Their support and expertise will be invaluable as we progress our clinical programs and strive to make a meaningful impact on patients' lives."

Felice Verduyn-van Weegen, Partner at EQT who is joining the Company's Board of Directors, commented: "Noema Pharma's innovative approach to CNS disorders aligns very well with our investment strategy and we are excited to support their late-stage clinical pipeline and transformative therapies. Having worked with Ilise Lombardo on a previous successful investment, her exceptional leadership as a repeat entrepreneur further reinforces our confidence in Noema's potential to deliver meaningful impact to patients in need."

Contact

EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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Il Lanificio, the premium Italian apparel brand and a Njord Partners portfolio company, proudly announces the opening of two new stores in France and Sicily this December. These additions bring Il Lanificio's European portfolio to 20 stores, underscoring the brand's ambitious expansion plans across Europe.

The new store in Roppenheim, France, will be situated in the country's largest outlet mall, a popular destination for both French and German shoppers due to its proximity to the German border. Meanwhile, the Sicilia outlet in Agira, Sicily, will be located in a bustling mall with 170 stores, attracting high footfall from both locals and tourists.

These openings follow the successful launch of Il Lanificio's Aubonne store in August, located in Switzerland's second-ranked retail outlet mall. More store openings are anticipated in early 2025.

Il Lanificio is renowned for its premium Italian apparel for men and women, celebrated for high-quality fabrics, exceptional tailoring, and a commitment to delivering specialized Italian craftsmanship. The brand seamlessly blends traditional influences with modern design, offering collections that appeal to a broad customer base through both outlet and online retail channels. The new stores will feature versatile, bright, and authentic designs, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that highlights the quality and authenticity of Il Lanificio's products.

Complementing the physical stores, Il Lanificio's new multi-language e-commerce platform enhances the customer omnichannel experience. Online sales have doubled in 2024 compared to 2023, now accounting for 5% of total sales, with international sales outside of Italy comprising 15% of the overall figure.

Filippo Vadda, CEO of Il Lanificio, commented "The opening of new stores in Roppenheim and Sicily, mark another significant milestone in Il Lanificio's expansion. These strategically located stores in high-traffic areas demonstrate our dedication to bringing premium Italian craftsmanship closer to our valued customers.

Arvid Trolle, Partner at Njord Partners, said: "With the launch of new stores and the ongoing expansion of our e-commerce platform, we are confident that Il Lanificio will solidify its status as a premier Italian apparel brand. Our partnership underscores our shared belief in providing high-quality clothing and a specialised shopping experience, while driving sustainable long-term growth."

About Il Lanificio

Il Lanificio is an Italian outlet apparel brand of luxury made-in-Italy products. It is recognised by customers for having one of the best price-to-quality offers in the casual-chic and formal market. The first Il Lanificio retail store opened in 2002, and now has 18 stores across Italy, two in Switzerland and one in San Marino. Il Lanificio continues to grow whilst remaining focused on traditional design and excellent quality.

To find out more visit: https://www.illanificio.it/en/

About Njord Partners

Njord Partners is a special situations investment manager and provider of long-term flexible capital solutions. Established in 2013, Njord Partners manages capital in excess of 1 billion. Investing in European middle-market companies facing complex situations, its mission is to deliver superior risk-weighted returns to investors while preserving capital. As a capital partner, Njord Partners offers flexible debt and equity solutions, actively facilitating strategic and operational enhancements within its portfolio companies to drive value.

To find out more visit: https://njordpartners.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211796435/en/

Contacts:

Media enquiries:

via Camarco, njord@apcoworldwide.com

Jennifer Renwick +44 7928 471 013

Letaba Rimell +44 7715 530 664
With the French banking regulator ACPR's approval, Ageras not only completes its takeover of Shine from Societe Generale, but obtains a crucial payment institution license that could see expansion of the French business banking platform to Ageras' home markets and beyond as part of the Danish fintech's pan-European expansion plans, says CEO.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ageras, a leading fintech platform for accounting software, business banking and admin tools in Europe, has received final approval by the French banking regulator ACPR to complete its acquisition of Shine, the French business banking platform, in a divestment transaction by banking institution Societe Generale announced in June, 2024 that is already spelling a momentous leap ahead for Ageras in France. Yet, the important approval and opportunity to provide bank accounts and payment services under its own license also spells a unique opportunity that could see the expansion of Shine's services to Ageras' home markets and beyond as part of the Danish fintech platform's pan-European expansion plans in 2025 and onwards, says CEO:

"We built Ageras to enable success for small businesses everywhere, and this includes constantly developing and expanding our platform's service offering across all markets. From different countries, we have shared that same mission and it's time to join forces: Combining Shine's banking expertise and presence in France with the strength of Ageras' platform makes us bigger, broader and more competitive than ever. We also hope to bring Shine to familiar shores and new markets in the coming years as well", says Rico Andersen, CEO and Co-Founder of Ageras.

"Entrepreneurs need more simplicity in a heavily regulated environment. They want to save time and are looking for interconnected products. Joining Ageras is a no-brainer. Together we will be able to offer a state-of-the-art, comprehensive solution that simplifies the daily life of entrepreneurs, not only in France, but throughout Europe. We are excited to begin this international chapter", adds Jean-Baptiste Sciandra, CEO of Shine.

A pan-European champion to support SME ambitions everywhere

Founded in 2012 by Rico Andersen and Martin Hegelund, Ageras has already raised over 200 million and is backed in its acquisition strategy by major global investors, including Investcorp, Luxor Capital, Rabobank and Lazard. Praised for its accounting automation, financial forecasting, administrative and tax reporting features or even connecting businesses with accountants, Ageras acquires a new banking expertise with Shine. Together, they will serve more than 300,000 customers.

"This is our largest and most transformative acquisition so far. Shine is an expert at managing the daily banking needs of entrepreneurs while we have a sharp understanding of their administrative, accounting, and financial challenges. Together, we'll enable SME owners to run their business to success, ideally spending zero minutes on administration", explains Rico Andersen.

Shining over the French market

Ageras takes over all the activities operated by Shine, including all employees of the entity which allows the Danish-founded fintech to expand its foothold in France, a core market that keeps growing. The country has approximately 4.2 million SMEs. Their numbers increased by 7.7% between 2020 and 2022 and approximately doubled from 2012 to 2022 (source: OECD).

"Shine is a reference for online business accounts, renowned for its stellar customer support. We are looking forward to delivering a complete offering of key financial solutions in France, mirroring our success in other core markets", says Rico Andersen, CEO of Ageras.

"Shine's entire team continues its mission. Only on a different scale - that of Europe. We are thrilled knowing our customers will soon benefit from Ageras' software" says Jean-Baptiste Sciandra, CEO of Shine.

About Ageras

Ageras was founded in 2012 by serial entrepreneurs Rico Andersen and Martin Hegelund, who together have over 30 years of experience building internet businesses. Ageras' vision is to create success for small businesses by simplifying their administration. By integrating its solutions into a single platform for invoicing, accounting, payroll, banking and financing, it enables business owners to focus on running their business. The company's investors include Investcorp, Rabo Frontier Ventures (Rabobank) and Lugard Road Capital (Luxor Capital), Folketrygdfondet and Lazard.

For more information, please visit www.ageras.com

About Shine

Launched in 2018, Shine offers a 100% online business account for companies and freelancers. More than just a business banking platform, Shine is a true partner that supports entrepreneurs on a daily basis. It is renowned for its stellar customer support, awarded "Best customer service in the business banking category" by ESCDA in 2024 and 2025. Shine also received the B Corp certification in 2020, recognizing companies that meet high social and environmental standards.

For more information, visit www.shine.fr

Press contact:



Marine Bryszkowski

press@ageras.com

+33 06 66 29 16 98

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/ageras/r/ageras-eyes-potential-cross-border-expansion-of-shine-following-french-regulator-approval-of-acquisi,c4080548

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/ageras/i/martin-hegelund-rico-andersen,c3361780 Martin Hegelund Rico Andersen

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ageras-eyes-potential-cross-border-expansion-of-shine-following-french-regulator-approval-of-acquisition-of-the-business-banking-platform-302328787.html
KANAZAWA, Japan, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, have discovered how a protein called lamin A helps repair the protective barrier around a cell's DNA. The findings reveal lamin A's unique role and its potential for treating Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare disorder that causes premature aging.

The nuclear envelope (NE) is a vital barrier that protects the cell's genetic material. It is supported by the nuclear lamina (NL), a fibrous protein network composed of lamins, including lamin A (LA) and lamin C (LC). Mechanical stress or genetic abnormalities can cause ruptures in the NE, exposing the genetic material to damage. While lamin C rapidly accumulates at NE rupture sites to facilitate repair, lamin A exhibits slower and weaker localization.

This slower response poses significant challenges, especially in diseases like Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS). In HGPS, a mutation in the LMNA gene produces progerin, a defective variant of lamin A that remains permanently associated with the NE and disrupts repair mechanisms (Fig. 1). Because progerin's impaired mobility reduces the reserve pool available for repair, cellular damage could be further compounded, contributing to accelerated aging symptoms in patients.

An international team of researchers led by Takeshi Shimi at the NanoLSI, Kanazawa University, aimed to solve a critical question: Why does lamin A localize more slowly to NE rupture sites compared to lamin C, and how does this difference impact nuclear stability in both normal and diseased states? Specifically, they sought to understand how lamin A's unique tail region and the post-translational modifications, such as farnesylation, influence its localization and functionality.

Key Findings

Lamin A's Tail Region

The researchers have identified specific sequences in lamin A's tail region, termed "Lamin A-Characteristic Sequences" (LACS1 and LACS2) that inhibit its rapid localization to rupture sites (Fig.2). Progerin's Impact in HGPS

Progerin's defective structure leads to its permanent retention at the NE, reducing the nucleoplasmic pool of lamin A required for efficient NE repair. This delayed response contributes to nuclear instability and cellular aging. Therapeutic Potential

A farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI), lonafarnib (Zokinvy) improves progerin and lamin A mobility and increase its nucleoplasmic availability, significantly enhancing NE repair in both healthy and HGPS models (Fig.3). This drug is approved in the United States, Europe, and Japan for the treatment of patients with HGPS.

"This study bridges a critical gap in our understanding of Lamin A's role in nuclear repair. It provides actionable insights for developing therapies targeting conditions where nuclear instability is a hallmark, such as HGPS," say the authors.

Glossary

Nuclear Envelope (NE): A double membrane that encloses the nucleus, protecting the genetic material.

A double membrane that encloses the nucleus, protecting the genetic material. Nuclear Lamina (NL): A fibrous network inside the nucleus that provides structural support and regulates gene expression.

A fibrous network inside the nucleus that provides structural support and regulates gene expression. Lamin A (LA): A structural protein in the nuclear lamina critical for maintaining nuclear envelope stability.

A structural protein in the nuclear lamina critical for maintaining nuclear envelope stability. Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS): A genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the LMNA gene, leading to the production of progerin, a defective lamin A variant.

A genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the gene, leading to the production of progerin, a defective lamin A variant. Farnesylation: A lipid modification of proteins like Ras, crucial for their localization and function.

A lipid modification of proteins like Ras, crucial for their localization and function. Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors (FTIs): Drugs that block farnesylation, showing promise in restoring progerin and lamin A functionality.

Fig. 1 Delayed repair of nuclear envelope rupture in HGPS cells

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/Fig.1-1.png

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of the difference in localization to the rupture sites between Lamin A, Lamin C, and Progerin

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/Fig2-5.png

Fig. 3 Delayed localization of lamin A to the rupture sites in HGPS cells

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/Fig3-3.png

Copyright for Fig. 1-3:  Kono, et al., 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of National Academy of Sciences.

Reference

Yohei Kono, Chan-Gi Pack, Takehiko Ichikawa, Arata Komatsubara, Stephen A Adam, Keisuke Miyazawa, Loic Rolas, Sussan Nourshargh, Ohad Medalia, Robert D Goldman, Takeshi Fukuma, Hiroshi Kimura, Takeshi Shimi. Roles of the Lamin A-specific Tail Region in the Localization to Sites of Nuclear Envelope Rupture. Published online 21 November 2024. PNAS Nexus.

DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae527

https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae527

Author acknowledgements

We thank Biomaterials Analysis Division, Open Facility Center (OFC) of Tokyo Institute of Technology for nucleotide sequencing and sharing research equipment, especially Carl Zeiss ElyraS1/Airyscan/LSM780 is shared in MEXT Project Grant Number JPMXS0440200022. We also thank the Cellular Imaging Core Facility at the ConveRgence mEDIcine research cenTer (CREDIT), Asan Medical Center for technical support.

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP20KK0158 (to T.S., Y.K., K.M. and H.K.), JP20K06617 (to T.S.), and JP18H05527 and JP21H04764 (to H.K.). This work was also supported by MEXT (World Premier International Research Center Initiative [WPI]). The generation and validation of the anti-murine progerin antibody was funded by the Wellcome Trust (098291/Z/12/Z to S.N.) and the British Heart Foundation (FS/IBSRF/22/25121 to L.R.).

Contact Information

Kimie Nishimura (Ms)

Project Planning and Outreach, NanoLSI Administration Office

Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University

Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp

About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University

Understanding nanoscale mechanisms of life phenomena by exploring "uncharted nano-realms".

Cells are the basic units of almost all life forms. We are developing nanoprobe technologies that allow direct imaging, analysis, and manipulation of the behavior and dynamics of important macromolecules in living organisms, such as proteins and nucleic acids, at the surface and interior of cells. We aim at acquiring a fundamental understanding of the various life phenomena at the nanoscale.

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)

The WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to foster globally visible research centers boasting the highest standards and outstanding research environments. Numbering more than a dozen and operating at institutions throughout the country, these centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to engage in innovative modes of management and research. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

See the latest research news from the centers at the WPI News Portal: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsportal/WPI

Main WPI program site: www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-toplevel

About Kanazawa University

As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.

The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa - a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas.

http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

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TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nofar Energy (TASE: NOFR), a publicly traded global independent power producer (IPP) specializing in renewable energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS), has secured a groundbreaking 7-year fixed-price Flexibility Purchase Agreement (FPA) for its Stendal Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Germany (104.5 MW / 209 MWh). This pioneering deal ensures a stable, long-term cash flow for the project, while removing market risk. It marks the first-ever physical fixed-price FPA for a BESS project in Continental Europe, setting a new precedent in the energy storage industry.

The deal, with a major global energy corporation, will provide Nofar Energy with an estimated 85 to 95 million over the 7-year term (2027-2033), with an option to commence earlier on a merchant basis before January 2027.

This innovative structure offers a competitive and reliable way to make large-scale BESS projects bankable, especially in volatile energy markets. While similar agreements, like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), are well-established for solar and wind projects, the use of fixed-price agreements for storage projects is still in its infancy in both European and global markets. This deal represents a significant milestone in the development of storage market structures and the growth of the battery storage sector.

The global energy corporation that has entered into this Tolling Agreement with Nofar Energy is a leader in the energy industry, with a strong investment-grade rating. The company operates across the energy value chain, with a core focus on the development and management of renewable energy and battery storage systems, as well as conventional flexible generation power plants and extensive electricity and gas trading operations.

This landmark agreement not only ensures a predictable income stream for the Stendal BESS project but also strengthens Nofar Energy's position in the global energy storage market. The fixed-price FPA guarantees a consistent and stable revenue stream, removes exposure to market fluctuations, and provides greater financing flexibility. This structure creates a competitive advantage, especially when securing project financing on favorable terms.

Nadav Tenne, CEO of Nofar Energy, commented:

"We are thrilled to announce this unique fixed-price tolling agreement for the Stendal project, our first storage project in Germany. This agreement not only provides revenue certainty for Nofar Energy but also strengthens our partnership with one of the world's largest and most respected energy corporations. This innovative deal positions Nofar at the forefront of the global energy storage market and validates our commercial and techno-economic capabilities. The stability provided by this agreement will enable us to finance the project on favorable terms and improve our return on equity. We thank our partner for this opportunity and look forward to future collaborations in Germany and beyond."

Recently, Nofar Energy announced another major milestone in its battery storage activities with the successful closure of a 152 million financing for its Cellarhead Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in the UK, which boasts a capacity of 300 MW / 624 MWh. The Cellarhead project financing was led by Atlantic Green, Nofar Energy's UK BESS subsidiary. The financing is being provided by a consortium of prominent lenders, including Goldman Sachs, Santander, Bank Hapoalim, and Bank Leumi, with Goldman Sachs acting as the structuring bank, mandated lead arranger, and lender. The participation of these prominent financial institutions highlights the global recognition of Nofar Energy's UK BESS platform, Atlantic Green, the Cellarhead Battery project and its importance for the UK's energy transition.

Nofar, A Global Leader in Renewables and BESS

Nofar Energy continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in renewable energy and battery storage, with a growing portfolio of 10 GW in renewable energy and 10 GWh in battery storage projects across 10 countries. Of these, 2.4 GW and 1.2 GWh, respectively, are already connected or under construction. With a strong focus on Europe and operations in multiple markets, Nofar Energy is recognized for its innovative approach to energy solutions and its commitment to sustainability.

This landmark deal with a major global energy corporation, as well as the financing success of the Cellarhead BESS project in the UK, paves the way for future agreements of this nature. These achievements enable Nofar Energy to leverage its extensive expertise and market presence to pioneer fixed-price contracts for additional battery energy storage projects. This approach will also support attractive long-term financing solutions across Nofar's growing portfolio, solidifying its role as a market leader in the energy storage sector.

For more details:

Shir Stopper

Nofar Energy

shir@nofar-energy.co.il

+972 50 7720 975

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nofar-energy-breaks-ground-in-battery-storage-secures-first-long-term-fixed-price-flexibility-purchase-agreement-for-german-bess-project-302328764.html
BRIGHTON, England, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- StorageMart, a global leader in the self storage industry, is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest self storage facility on Wellington Road in Brighton. This state-of-the-art location represents a remarkable transformation of a historic site that has been restored with modern amenities to boost the local community.

From Scrapyard to Landmark

StorageMart began the journey to turn the former hosiery factory site into a beautiful high-tech facility in 2021 when the property was acquired in a neglected state. Once deemed the "Glass Palace of Industry," the building had fallen into disrepair, serving as a car breakers yard. Every surface, both inside and out, was covered in grime-a stark contrast to its celebrated history as an architectural marvel that employed hundreds of workers in the post-war era.

Recognizing the building's potential and historical significance, StorageMart embarked on an ambitious renovation project. The transformation was completed in November 2024, restoring the structure to its former glory while introducing modern features like advanced video surveillance, energy-efficient lighting, and secure access control systems.

"When we were first introduced to the site it was difficult to see past the seemingly endless mountains of car bonnets, doors, gearboxes, wing mirrors and wipers but perhaps more importantly; the sheer scale of vehicle-fluid contamination across the entire building," stated Dan Saunders, StorageMart Senior VP of Operations, UK Division.

"Whilst our timeline throughout the renovation has been much longer than typical, we were keen to ensure each and every surface was correctly remediated and to preserve as much of the shape and form of the building as possible," Saunders continued. "We've retained the saw-tooth roof design visible from the Eastern approach, repaired the concrete superstructure to a high standard and cladded it to ensure that the building will remain fit for purpose for many decades to come."

With units designed to accommodate everything from personal belongings to large-scale business inventory, the Wellington Road location will play a vital role in supporting Brighton's vibrant economy and growing demand for flexible storage. In line with StorageMart's green construction practices, the facility features energy-efficient systems and provisions for future EV charging stations and cargo bike storage, further integrating sustainability into the community.

Building Brighton's Future

The Wellington Road facility complements the existing StorageMart presence in Brighton, including the nearby Chapel Road location. Together, these facilities enhance accessibility and convenience for customers from Shoreham to Brighton and Hove.

"We hope to further support the area's rich history as home to many creative and entrepreneurial residents with a range of larger size units, many offering dedicated lighting and power amenities, all available on a simple month to month license," Saunders added.

He also noted that warehousing space has been in sharp decline across Sussex for many years, "so our easy, clean storage rooms provide flexible areas to grow new ideas and pursue new ventures without committing to multi-year tenancies or being exposed to the myriad peripheral expenses that longer term commitments typically attract."

The facility will include 18,250 net rentable square feet with 179 storage units and boasts a unique mix of unit sizes, including some nearly double the size of those available at its sister store on Chapel Road. This offering addresses a rising demand for larger storage spaces, particularly among commercial clients, cottage industries, and growing businesses in the Brighton-Hove area.

About StorageMart: As the largest privately-owned self storage company globally, StorageMart is dedicated to providing clean, secure, and friendly service to customers worldwide. With a focus on sustainability, community engagement, and innovation, StorageMart continues to redefine what it means to make space for what matters most. Learn more at https://www.storage-mart.com.

Contact: Sarah Little

573.449.0091

Sarah.Little@storage-mart.com

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GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From December 11 to 12, local time, the 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum (ISIF) will be held in Madrid, Spain, bringing together over 200 participants from political, academic, and business circles across over 50 countries. As one of China's highest-level platforms for international civil exchanges, this marks the first time the forum is hosted outside of China, bringing the event to Europe. The forum is expected to strengthen people-to-people exchanges between China and the world and foster cooperation to address shared global challenges.

Since its establishment in 2014, the ISIF has attracted more than 200 former heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, as well as over 600 distinguished experts, scholars, and business leaders from over 40 countries.

Over the past decade, attendees have praised the forum for maintaining a global perspective, addressing current issues while focusing on long-term development. It has made valuable contributions to enhancing mutual understanding between China and the world, advancing global dialogue and cooperation, and providing insights and recommendations to support reforms in the global governance system.

Dr. Chau Chak Wing, President of the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Region, World Leadership Alliance - Club de Madrid President's Circle, and Co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center Global Circle, believes that world peace and development are confronted with formidable challenges today. "As members of the 'global village', irrespective of our roles or professions, we share the common mission, responsibility, and obligation to safeguard peace and foster global cooperation and progress. Since its inception, the ISIF has stood as a beacon of mutual respect, deeper understanding, strengthened trust, and expanded consensus. The decision to hold this year's forum in Madrid, Spain, underscores the widening circle of our friends, the strengthening of our friendships, and the enrichment of our shared perspectives."

Dr. Chau emphasizes that as the world enters a new era of transformation, marked by pivotal decisions across many domains, we must rise with the courage to innovate in response to challenges, and remain unwavering in our commitment to peace and development -- the enduring path of humanity. Through collective efforts and joint action, we can create a more peaceful, inclusive, and harmonious world for the generations to come.

The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum, themed "Collective Action for One Future," will feature over ten major events, including an opening ceremony, two closed-door sessions, a plenary discussion, six thematic sessions, and a closing ceremony. Key topics include "Global Strategic Stability," "Financing for Development, Towards Full Implementation of the SDGs," "Enhancing Global Cooperation: Shaping a Shared Future for Humankind," "Traditional and Non-Traditional Challenges to Global Security," "Tackling Challenges Facing the World Economy," "United Nations Summit of the Future, the Future of Global Governance," "AI & Green Technology for Progress and Development," "Sustainable Development and the Second World Social Summit," and "People-to-people Exchanges for Mutual Understanding." These discussions will cover the most pressing global issues in areas such as security, economy, technology, society, and culture, while also embracing diversity and focusing on the future. The forum aims to gather collective wisdom from a shared human perspective, seeking solutions that reflect universal values and interests.

Source: The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum (ISIF)
EQS-News: EnergyNet Ltd. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

West Africa Energy Cooperation Summit (WA-ECS) Celebrated as Milestone for Sustainable Energy Development, with Two Projects Signed



11.12.2024 / 11:15 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





The West Africa Energy Cooperation Summit (WA-ECS), held in Lome, Togo, from December 3-5, brought together governments and international energy leaders for three days of discussions and debate, addressing project development challenges in the ECOWAS region, promoting sustainable energy growth across West Africa, with two projects already signed.

On Tuesday 3 December, after welcome remarks from Abdoulaye Sylla, Portfolio Manager & Head of Corporate Development, EnergyNet, the work began.

Speaking on behalf of the World Bank Group, Kwawu Mensan Gaba, Practice Manager, Africa West Energy Unit, expressed the Group's strong commitment to building a sustainable energy future for West Africa.

"Since 2020, we have mobilised more than $5 billion for energy projects in West Africa. Through our Mission 300 initiative, launched in Washington DC in April 2024, in partnership with the African Development Bank Group, we aim to gather large-scale and innovative financing to deliver universal access to electricity in the region. This initiative, which is integral to our vision of a just energy transition, combines investments, reforms, and technological solutions to guarantee reliable, sustainable and affordable energy for all."

H.E. Honourable Sediko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, ECOWAS, highlighted the challenge for communities in the ECOWAS region where, despite the vast energy resources available, only 56% of households have access to electricity.

"The recent initiative by the African Development Bank and the World Bank to provide electricity to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa - half the continent's population without access - is highly commendable. We hope to receive a proportionate share of this effort, which will benefit 100 million people in West Africa, based on the size of our population and current levels of access."

H.E. Honourable Robert Koffi Messan Eklo, Minister of Mines & Energy Resources, Togolese Republic, gave the ministerial opening and called for commitment and change.

"The time has come to turn words into action. I solemnly call on all the stakeholders present to make a solid commitment to embrace this energy transformation. To policymakers, I urge you to create the favourable conditions for investment and innovation. To private investors, I call upon you to seize the opportunities offered by our rapidly changing energy sector. And to technical and financial partners, I call upon you to provide continuous support for our efforts."

The summit was honoured by the presence of H.E. Honourable Victoire Tomegah Dogbe, Prime Minister, Togolese Republic, who highlighted Togo's significance in the region.

"Togo stands out as a major energy hub, thanks to its world-class infrastructure dedicated to the transhipment and storage of hydrocarbons. Its dual expertise, both port and offshore, provides a secure fuel supply for both West Africa and the entire Atlantic corridor. Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency Mr Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, President of the Togolese Republic, Togo is fully committed to facilitating investment by providing a transparent and attractive regulatory framework, encouraging local innovations so that our energy solutions can be adapted to our current needs, and fostering regional and international exchanges so that we can move forward together."

By the close of the summit, on Thursday 5 December, progress had already been made,

Tchapo Singo, Director General of Energy, Ministry of Mines & Energy Resources, summarised findings and actions to be taken, including guidelines for securing fuel and energy supplies, strengthening inter-state cooperation, committing to policy and regulatory reforms, focusing on skills developments, and increasing the role of natural gas, a key component of the region's energy future.

"We are delighted that the Summit provided an ideal framework for Togo to take concrete action by signing two memorandums of understanding: one with HAIER as part of a partnership to strengthen Togo's technological capacity in the field of renewable energies, particularly for solar power plants; and another with RELP, providing technical and institutional support to the Ministry of Mines & Energy Resources with the aim of providing universal access to electricity. Togo has also made a commitment to young people in the energy sector by immediately offering internships and jobs to 50 young people."

Closing the ceremony, H.E. Honourable Mawusi Kakatsi, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Mines & Energy Resources, expressed his thanks to the World Bank Group and said:

"We all understand that it is together, in a spirit of cooperation, that we will be able to accelerate the process and achieve the results desired by each of our countries, as well as to build the sustainable and prosperous energy future that is expected by our respective populations. Once again, I would like to reiterate the heartfelt gratitude of the Togolese Government to each and every one of you for taking part.

Please allow me to extend our congratulations to the leaders of EnergyNet, our partner in organising this summit."

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EnergyNet Ltd..

Download image (1): https://apo-opa.co/3ZuoKnR (Caption: Kwawu Mensan Gaba, Practice Manager, Africa West Energy Unit, World Bank Group)

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CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen retreated from recent highs against other major currencies in the European session on Wednesday.The yen fell to 2-week lows of 160.39 against the euro and 172.71 against the Swiss franc, from recent 2-day highs of 158.66 and 170.88, respectively.Against the pound, the U.S. and the Canadian dollars, the yen dropped to more a than 2-week low of 194.50, a 2-week low of 152.73 and nearly a 2-week low of 107.61 from recent highs of 192.54, 151.01 and 106.51, respectively.Against the Australia and the New Zealand dollars, yen slipped to 96.90 and 88.08 from recent 2-day highs of 96.01 and 87.26, respectively.If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 165.00 against the euro, 175.00 against the franc, 198.00 against the pound, 157.00 against the greenback, 111.00 against he loonie, 99.00 against the aussie and 92.00 against the kiwi.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.
Completed Phase I DIONE-01 study demonstrates clinical activity and long-term safety of roginolisib, a unique allosteric modulator of PI3Kd

Patients with uveal melanoma showed a doubling of overall survival compared to historical controls

Site activation ongoing for randomized Phase II OCULE-01 study in uveal melanoma

GENEVA and AMSTERDAM, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- iOnctura, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company combating neglected and hard-to-treat cancers, today provides a clinical update on its lead asset, roginolisib. Results from the completed Phase I DIONE-01 study are due to be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Immuno-Oncology (ESMO-IO) annual congress tomorrow, 12 December at 12:30 CET (presentation 164P).

Allosteric modulator of PI3Kd, roginolisib, has a unique chemical structure and binding mechanism which makes it highly specific for PI3Kd, giving it an advantageous pharmacology profile and an unprecedented safety profile compared to previous generations of PI3Kd inhibitors.

Roginolisib is being investigated in solid and hematological malignancies including uveal melanoma (UM), a rare cancer of the eye. Eye melanoma is a rapidly growing market which is projected to be worth USD 9.56B by 2032[1].

The two-part Phase I study DIONE-01, firstly evaluated continuous daily dosing of roginolisib [at 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg] in 24 patients with pretreated solid tumors and follicular lymphoma (FL), and secondly evaluated a dose confirmation cohort in 20 UM patients.

Results from DIONE-01 show:

Study met its primary objective to determine the safety of the anticipated optimal biologically effective dose (BED): Roginolisib was well tolerated at the recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) of 80mg, with <7% Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) considered to be related to roginolisib. TEAEs did not result in immune-related toxicity, or dose-limiting toxicity, in either solid tumor or hematological patients. In contrast to prior PI3Kd inhibitors, roginolisib dosing did not require dose modifications.

Roginolisib is well tolerated over long periods of treatment, up to 4.5 years.

Median overall survival (OS) was 16 months for the 29 patients with UM treated with roginolisib, who had previously received a median of two prior therapies. This exceeds the median OS of 7 months observed in historical controls in patients receiving immunotherapies as second line treatment [2] .

. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 5 months for patients treated with roginolisib versus less than 3 months for historical controls 2 .

. Clinical findings validate the mechanism of action of roginolisib: roginolisib reduces immune-suppressive immune cells and chemokines, UM-related tumor clones (ctDNA) and PI3K-related signaling indicating a rebalancing of the immune system.

Catherine Pickering, Chief Executive Officer of iOnctura, said: "The Phase I DIONE-01 data highlight the benefits of roginolisib for patients with uveal melanoma and advanced cancers. Roginolisib's unique allosteric binding mechanism has translated into a differentiated beneficial clinical profile, including a doubling of overall survival compared to historical controls in uveal melanoma. We are delighted to announce these data support progression of roginolisib into a randomized Phase II study."

Professor Michele Maio, University of Siena and Principal Investigator of the roginolisib studies, added: "Being able to continue to investigate roginolisib in a randomized Phase II study is a positive step to understand more about this already well tolerated molecule. Roginolisib has given prolonged disease stabilization to patients with uveal melanoma who have exhausted all other therapeutic options. So far, these patients have maintained a good quality of life without major limitations. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Phase II trial delivers over the coming months."

Activation of trial sites for the Phase II OCULE-01 study (NCT06717126) investigating roginolisib versus investigator's choice in the second-line+ treatment of uveal melanoma is ongoing.

About iOnctura

iOnctura is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company combating neglected and hard-to-treat cancers with precision oral small molecules that target cancers in novel ways. The bold new treatments extend lives and improve healthspans, changing the outlook for patients and their families. Two therapeutic candidates have progressed into mid-stage clinical development: roginolisib is the first allosteric modulator of PI3Kd; and cambritaxestat is the only autotaxin inhibitor in clinical development to treat cancer. iOnctura BV is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands with its wholly owned Swiss subsidiary, iOnctura SA, located in Geneva, Switzerland. iOnctura is backed by specialist institutional investors including Syncona, EIC Fund, M Ventures, Inkef Capital, VI Partners and Schroders Capital.

About roginolisib

Roginolisib is an allosteric modulator of PI3Kd with a unique chemical structure and binding mode. The PI3K signaling pathway is one of the most commonly dysregulated pathways in cancer and the precise targeting of the PI3Kd isoform delivers substantial anti-tumor effects with a low-toxicity profile. Clinical data have demonstrated roginolisib's excellent safety profile and sustained clinical activity in uveal melanoma (UM), a rare eye cancer with few available treatments. Site activation for the randomized Phase II OCULE-01 study in uveal melanoma is ongoing, and Phase II studies in other cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer and myelofibrosis, are in planning.

[1] Emergen Research, Jan 2024

[2] Rantala et al., Melanoma Res., 2019 Dec 29(6):561-568

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ionctura-reaches-new-clinical-milestones-in-uveal-melanoma-302328842.html
FireFox Gold Corp. (TSX.V:FFOX)(OTCQB:FFOXF)("FireFox" or the "Company") reports results from the fall exploration program at its 100%-held Jeesio Project in Lapland, Finland. During the late summer and fall of 2024, the technical team focused on the southern end of the Jeesio property, including the prospects KJ Hill, KJ South, and Saittavaara where rock sampling has repeatedly yielded encouraging results. The current program included limited scale trenching, mapping, and sampling. The trenching campaign at the KJ Hill prospect exposed a substantial zone of gold-mineralized quartz veins within a N-S striking deformation zone along the hillside. Channel samples collected from the vein zone graded 14.62 g/t gold over 2.84 metres, 2.69 g/t gold over 3.38 metres and 1.85 g/t gold over 1.69 metres.

Farther south on the same project, FireFox has expanded the size of the Saittavaara gold prospect with strong gold results from new surface sampling. The team followed the northwest trending magnetic-low corridor into zones of strongly sericite-altered and deformed quartzite with abundant iron oxide staining, which yielded gold values in rock samples of 3.16 g/t, 3.05 g/t, 2.61 g/t, and 2.57 g/t. This new gold-rich showing extends Saittavaara more than 800 metres from previous sampling to span a trend of more than 1.6 kilometres with significant gold showings.

Carl Lofberg, CEO, commented "There are now several significant gold occurrences over the large Jeesio Project. In recent years, we have added detailed ground magnetics across the southern part of the property, and now we can see the relationship of these gold showings to the NE and NW striking faults, which are important in controlling gold in this part of Lapland. Our geologists have done great work to persist in their prospecting, and now we have collected numerous high-grade rock chips from KJ South up to the KJ Hill target - which are completely undrilled. The team has also expanded the Saittavaara showing another 800m north, well away from the very limited drilling we did there in 2021. These new targets are advancing Jeesio upwards on our list of priorities."

Jeesio Project Program Details

The 100%-controlled Jeesio Project covers approximately 71 km2 along one of the major trans-crustal structures that control the emplacement of numerous orogenic gold deposits in Lapland. The main Jeesio targets include the Utsamo and Kataja Belt areas. From south to north, the Kataja Belt consists of three gold prospects: Saittavaara, Katajavaara South (KJ South) and Katajavaara Hill (KJ Hill) spanning at least 3 kilometres. These are apparently related to northeast-trending younger fault zones and to a major left-lateral fault zone that continues from these three prospects further towards northwest and southeast. The high-resolution airborne magnetics data reveal multiple generations of folding and faulting across the southern part of the property (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Magnetics interpretation and target areas on Jeesio property.

The area of exploration trenching in 2024 is marked with black box.

KJ Hill

The 2024 exploration trenching campaign at Jeesio was focused on the KJ Hill prospect, which is located approximately 900 metres to the north of KJ South along the trend of a N-S oriented magnetic feature. Along the eastern slope of the hill, there are fields of locally derived boulders displaying abundant mineralized quartz veins intruding metasedimentary (arkose and quartzite) and mafic igneous rocks. FireFox collected grab samples from surface boulders of these quartz veins in 2020, including one sample with 4.73 g/t Au (see Company news release dated October 6, 2020). This trend of anomalous samples is approximately 400 metres long and appears to be associated with a younger structure that crosscuts the north-trending magnetic anomaly in a northeasterly direction. This outcrop area was part of the 2022 exploration trenching campaign, which unearthed more narrow gold-bearing structures, including a high-grade quartz vein with 33.60 g/t Au from the KJ Hill prospect (see Company news release dated January 25, 2023). To improve understanding about the extent of the mineralized system, FireFox continued the trenching at this prospect in September 2024.

During the 2024 exploration trenching campaign at KJ Hill, the team excavated two NNE-SSW trending trenches. The first was 11 metres long and excavated parallel to the NNE-SSW trending fault zone. The exposed geology consisted mostly of strongly carbonatized mafic intrusive rocks, siliciclastic metasedimentary rocks, and quartz veins that contained disseminated pyrite, magnetite and goethite. Geologists collected two channel samples - one channel sample perpendicular and another sample parallel to the trench, and several grab samples. The channel sample cut perpendicular to the shear zone returned 0.59 g/t Au over 1.09 metres (Table 1).

Table 1. Highlights of the Kataja Hill assays with selected pathfinder elements. Bismuth (Bi) and Tellurium (Te) show positive correlation with the gold (Au) values in the area.

Sample Type Exploration Trench Sample Width (m) Sample ID Weight (kg) Au (g/t) Ag (ppm) Bi (ppm) S (%) Te (ppm) Channel KT24-2 2.84 F095383 2.53 14.62 0.06 5.53 0.02 5.57 Channel KT24-2 3.38 F095396 2.16 2.69 0.13 11.95 0.03 8.54 Channel KT24-2 1.69 F095382 1.47 1.85 0.01 5.71 0.01 3.85 Channel KT24-1 1.09 F095406 2.09 0.59 0.04 0.08 0.005 0.025 Channel KT24-2 3.59 F095384 1.63 0.11 0.05 7.65 0.03 4.94

Figure 2. Map of quartz vein swarms and lenses in trench KT24-2.

Quartz veins can be seen to deflect in association with fault zones.

The second trench (KT24-2, Figure 2) was approximately 40 metres long and included several smaller side cuts. The lithology consists of siliciclastic metasedimentary rocks cut by quartz vein swarms and lenses. The contacts between the veins and metasediments sometimes contain traces of disseminated pyrite and magnetite with secondary goethite. The metasedimentary rocks are strongly schistose, the dominant fabric striking to the NNE. The vertical to subvertical quartz vein swarms usually strike northerly (NE to NNW), somewhat oblique to the schistosity. However, the veins occasionally deflect parallel to the schistosity planes, indicating strong right-lateral ductile deformation was likely present during or before the vein formation. The right-lateral fault zones shown on Figure 1 are likely related to the so-called D3 deformation event in Lapland; and these faults are concordant with local schistosity as evidenced by measurement of sub-horizontal slickensides on the deformed rocks.

FireFox geologists collected 19 channel samples from trench KT24-2, 15 of which were taken along the quartz vein swarms and four were perpendicular to the swarms and local rock fabric. The strongest results were from quartz vein samples, including 14.62 g/t Au from an individual 2.84 metre channel sample, 2.69 g/t Au from a 3.38 metre-wide channel sample, and 1.85 g/t Au from a 1.69 metre-wide channel sample. These results contribute to the widespread gold occurrences at the Katajavaara prospect, which remains undrilled and open in every direction.

The FireFox team believes that these narrow gold showings are expressions of structural leakage from a larger gold system that may be controlled by the major NW trending shear zone in Figure 1. As this major shear zone continues to the northwest, it intersects different lithology and hosts magnetic lows that now occupy topographic lowlands where swamps have formed.

Saittavaara Prospect

The FireFox team has now identified new targets from detailed ground magnetics surveys in the southern and southwestern parts of the Jeesio project area, which correspond well with prospecting efforts in 2023 and 2024, as previously reported (see News Release dated February 22, 2024, and September 17, 2024).Previous mapping and sampling in this area highlighted a package of gold-mineralized highly-deformed quartz-rich metasedimentary rocks and a corresponding magnetic-low corridor. The magnetic feature strikes NW-SE and is interpreted to be cut by multiple faults. The dominant lithology at Saittavaara is quartzite, often showing signs of alteration with sericite and iron oxide (Figures 3 and 4).

Earlier sampling in the area was encouraging, including rock chip samples of 5.04 and 6.28 g/t gold. During the fall of 2024, geologists pushed this trend approximately 800 metres to the northwest from the previous occurrence by collecting 15 additional samples, which again yielded significant gold values including multiple samples over 2 g/t Au (Table 2). The geochemistry in this area is a bit different, as peak molybdenum (Mo) values reach almost 0.24% in these rocks. The association of high-grade gold with Mo, Bi, and Te has been noted at Mustajarvi and other of the Company's projects.

Table 2. Highlights from the Saittavaara area gold occurrence. Coordinates presented in EPSG:3067.

Sample Easting Northing Sample Wt. Kg Au (g/t) Ag (ppm) As (ppm) Bi (ppm) Cu (ppm) Mo (ppm) S (%) Te (ppm) F095375 469308.5 7478684.7 1.9 3.16 0.01 27.1 0.7 9.2 476 0.01 0.45 F095370 469326.7 7478680.1 2.7 3.05 <0.01 0.3 0.05 1.1 3.63 <0.01 <0.05 D076338 469281.4 7478687.3 3.2 2.61 1.49 7.3 2.47 107.5 2390 0.22 1.38 D076331 469309.6 7478686.1 1.2 2.57 0.02 4.1 0.31 12.6 324 0.01 0.27 F095374 469342.7 7478701.4 2.5 0.462 0.02 1.3 0.15 25.4 1.8 0.01 0.06 F095377 469322.5 7478684.9 1.5 0.303 <0.01 0.4 0.02 2.9 2.3 <0.01 <0.05

Figure 3. New gold-rich grab samples on magnetic map of Saittavaara area.

Figure 4. Strongly deformed, oxidized and mineralized sericite quartzite outcrop; sampling returned 2.61 g/t gold and 0.24% Mo.

Methodology & Quality Assurance

Rock chip samples reported in this news release were collected by FireFox geologists, who transported the samples to the Company's secure facility in Sodankyla. After documentation and insertion of quality assurance samples, the rock samples were delivered to an ALS sample prep lab in Sodankyla. The samples were then crushed to -2 mm, split and pulverized into 1kg pulps, before being shipped to the ALS facility in Rosia Montana, Romania for gold by fire assay of 50 gm aliquots with AAS finish (method Au-AA24). Samples assaying above 10 g/t gold are automatically re-assayed by a 50-gm fire assay with gravimetric finish (method Au-GRA22). At FireFox's request, these overlimit assays were completed in triplicate in order to evaluate the homogeneity of the gold in the prepared samples. Other elements, altogether 48, were measured after four-acid digestion by ICP-AES and ICP-MS (method ME-MS61) at the ALS facility located in Loughrea, Ireland. ALS Laboratories is a leading international provider of assay and analytical data to the mining industry. All ALS geochemical hub laboratories, including the Irish facility, are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for specific analytical procedures. The FireFox QA/QC program, which consists of insertion of certificated standard material and blanks by FireFox into the analytical batches, did not show deviations from recommended values.

Patrick Highsmith, Certified Professional Geologist (AIPG CPG # 11702) and director of the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Highsmith has helped prepare, reviewed, and approved the technical information in this news release.

About FireFox Gold Corp.

FireFox Gold Corp is listed on the TSX Venture Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FFOX. FireFox also trades on the OTCQB Venture Market Exchange in the US under the ticker symbol FFOXF. The Company has been exploring for gold in Finland since 2017 where it holds a large portfolio of prospective ground.

Finland is one of the top mining investment jurisdictions in the world as indicated by its multiple top-10 rankings in recent Fraser Institute Surveys of Mining Companies. Having a strong mining law and long mining tradition, Finland remains underexplored for gold. Recent exploration results in the country have highlighted its prospectivity, and FireFox is proud to have a Finland based CEO and technical team.

For more information, please refer to the Company's website and profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Carl Lofberg"

Chief Executive Officer

CONTACT:

FireFox Gold Corp.

Email: info@firefoxgold.com

Telephone: +1-778-938-1994

Forward Looking Statements

The information herein contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, the extent of work stoppage and economic impacts that may result from illness, extreme weather, changes in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry.

Forward-looking statements in this release may include statements regarding: the intent to conduct additional drilling; the belief as to the location of the most prospective gold targets; the location of targets for future drill programs; and the current and future work program, including the extent and nature of exploration to be conducted in 2024. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary.

The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the expectations of FireFox as of the date of dissemination and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. FireFox does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

SOURCE: FireFox Gold Corp

View the original press release on accesswire.com
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Advanced Elastomers Market by Type (Thermoplastic Elastomers, Silicon Elastomers), Application (Insulations, Implants), End-Use Industry (Medical, Industrial, Aerospace & Defense), Region- Global Forecast to 2029", size is projected to grow from USD 6.0 billion in 2024 to USD 7.8 billion by 2029, registering a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period. The advanced elastomers market is driven by several key factors, including increasing global focus on sustainability, technological advancements, expanding applications, economic incentives, and growth in demand are the global trend towards lightweighting, most notably in the electrical & electronics and aerospace sectors.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Advanced Elastomers Market"

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60- Figures

246- Pages

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Industrial, by end-use, is expected to be the most significant Advanced elastomers Market segment during the forecast period.

The industrial segment is the fastest-growing end-use segment in the advanced elastomers market because it has a wide range of various diverse demands, increasing automation, and a growing need for durable materials against rugged environments. The industrial sector shall be very diversified because of machinery, equipment, construction, and heavy-duty vehicles. These applications normally run in very harsh environments and require superior durability, flexibility, wear, chemical, and high or low temperature resistance. Advanced elastomers, with their sterling mechanical properties, are tailored to meet such demanding requirements and find favor in industrial applications.

Insulation is anticipated to be the fastest-growing Advanced elastomers Market segment, by application, during the forecast period.

The insulation segment is one of the fastest-growing applications in the advanced elastomers market due to the combined influences of increased need to improve energy efficiency, regulatory pressures, and technological advancements. Increasing emphasis on the reduction of energy consumption and increase in energy efficiency for all kinds of buildings and industrial applications are driving forces for the advanced elastomer market. These show excellent thermal insulation properties and afford insulation to avoid losses through the material, thus improving energy savings. Nowadays, with the growing consciousness of energy efficiency in the industry and by consumers equally as well, the demand for advanced elastomeric insulation solutions is in an exponential spiral.

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Thermoplastic elastomers is anticipated to be the fastest-growing Advanced elastomers Market segment, by type, during the forecast period.

TPEs represent the fastest-growing segment in the advanced elastomers market because of their unique combination of properties, versatility, and manufacturing advantages. TPEs are literally the best of both worlds in terms of properties, giving flexibility and elasticity like traditional rubber and processability like plastics that make them so much in demand in a range of applications where flexibility and durability are required. Unlike traditional elastomers, TPEs can be easily molded and reshaped at high temperatures, allowing for intricate design and complex parts. Basically, TPEs are versatile materials, implying that they can be effectively applied in a very broad range of industries, from automotive and medical to consumer and industrial products. It is this ability to adapt to different formulations that helps to tailor the material to specific performance requirements necessary for a wide range of industries.

North America is expected to be the second largest region in the global Advanced elastomers Market, by region, during the forecast period.

North America is the second-largest region in the advanced elastomers market, mainly due to a number of industrial activity, technological, and economic factors. In North America, the United States is an industrial and technology hub. The region has a well-established manufacturing base coupled with a strong research and development focus. It creates an enabling environment for innovation in, and adoption of, advanced elastomers that find high-performance applications in industries such as aerospace, and industrial. North America has a robust economy, along with high expenditure on infrastructure and technology. This forms the very bedrock of a strong economy, which fosters the growth of multiple industries reliant upon advanced elastomers and cements their place in the regional market.

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Market Players

To enable an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes the profiles of some of the top players in the Advanced elastomers Market. include BASF SE (Germany), Celanese Corporation (Switzerland), Elkem ASA (Waltham), DuPont (US), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany), AGC Inc. (Japan), Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Japan), Daikin Industries, Ltd. (Japan), Avient Corporation (US), Arkema (France), and Dow (US).

Browse Adjacent Market: Coatings Adhesives Sealants and Elastomers Market Research Reports

Related Reports:

Silicone Elastomers Market- Global Forecast to 2029

Thermoplastic Elastomers Market- Global Forecast to 2028

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Press Release

Nokia launches the 5G Banshee Flex Radio: a revolutionary mobile broadband edge network for modern battlefield communications

11th December 2024

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced the release of the Nokia 5G Banshee Flex Radio, a revolutionary mobile broadband edge network designed to meet the complex communication demands of modern warfare. As part of Nokia's Tactical Solutions portfolio, this innovative 5G/LTE technology delivers secure, reliable, and agile battlefield communications, enabling scalable technological capabilities and enhancing performance while seamlessly complementing existing communication systems.

The Nokia Banshee Flex Radio is designed to empower warfighters with flexible communication solutions, providing secure, private 5G/LTE band agile networking tailored to the tactical needs of teams operating in the field. The complete 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network in a box, offers warfighters with advanced edge compute capabilities, mesh networking, band flexibility, operational security, and deployment simplicity.

"The Nokia Banshee Flex Radio is a breakthrough in tactical communication solutions, providing Defense agencies with secure, resilient, and flexible networks that are essential in today's fast-evolving battlefield," said Giuseppe Targia, head of Microwave & Space and Defense at Nokia. "By integrating cutting-edge commercial technologies, we are delivering a new level of performance and enhanced capabilities to the warfighter tactical edge."

Dave Peterson, Chief Executive Officer and founder at Fenix Group, Inc., added, "The Nokia Banshee Flex Radio offers the operational flexibility and security that modern warfighters demand. It is an essential tool for teams who need to maintain reliable communication, even in the most challenging environments."

The Banshee Flex Radio expands Nokia's already robust tactical lineup that includes the Banshee 4G Tactical Radio, Banshee 4G Mobile Radio and more.

Resources

Webpage: Nokia Defense technology and communications (https://www.nokia.com/industries/defense/)

Webpage: Nokia Federal Solutions (https://www.nokia.com/federal-solutions/)

Webpage: Banshee Flex Radio (https://www.nokia.com/industries/defense/banshee-flex-radio/)

Webpage: 5G tactical private wireless (https://www.nokia.com/federal-solutions/solutions/5g-tactical-private-wireless/)

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today - and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

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Highlights

Wide and well-mineralized drill intercepts at the HW1 Spodumene Pegmatite 53.2 m at 1.22% Li 2 O , including 22.3 m at 1.70% Li 2 O (PLP24-007) 46.5 m at 1.00% Li 2 O including 16.4 m at 1.38% Li 2 O (PLP24-011)

Mineralized pegmatite extended ~150 m north

HW1 Spodumene Pegmatite remains open to the north

0.5 m at 4.76 g/t Au intersected in drill hole highlighting the gold potential of Property

Shawn Westcott, CEO of Ophir Metals, comments: "We are excited with the results from our inaugural drill program at Pilipas. We have successfully expanded the mineralized footprint at HW1 over a strike length of ~300 m. The widths and grades of lithium mineralization are very impressive, and we look forward to utilizing these results to guide future exploration efforts at Pilipas in 2025."

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Ophir Metals Corp. (TSXV: OPHR) (OTCQB: OPHRF) (FSE: 80M) ("Ophir" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results for twenty-one (21) of twenty-three (23) holes from the 2024 drill program on the Pilipas Lithium Property (the "Property" or "Project"), located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, Quebec. The Project is located proximal to existing hydroelectric power that flanks the Property to the east, and an all-season road that crosses the western side of the Property.

The 2024 drill program concluded in mid-September with the completion of 23 drillholes totaling 3,065 m, with 2,655 m over nineteen (19) drillholes at the HW1 Spodumene Pegmatite and 410 m over four (4) drillholes at the HW2 Spodumene Pegmatite. The analytical results reported herein represent twenty-one (21) drillholes totaling 2,771 m. Assays results remain to be reported for PLP24-013 and PLP24-021, which both targeted HW1.

Drilling at HW1 extended the mineralized pegmatite to the north by an additional 150 m and to a depth of approximately 90 vertical metres. The overall mineralized strike length from the southern edge of the discovery outcrop northwards now totals ~300 m (Figure 1). Drillhole PLP24-007 returned the most significant mineralization from the 2024 drill program with 53.2 m at 1.22% Li2O, including a higher-grade interval of 22.3 m at 1.70% Li2O (Figure 1, Figure 2). Drillhole PLP24-011 intersected 46.5 m at 1.00% Li2O within a wider interval of 71.18m at 0.79% Li2O (Figure 1). Both PL24-007 and PLP24-011 targeted the northern extension of the HW1 Pegmatite and, based upon preliminary interpretations, intersected the main body obliquely.

PLP24-003 intersected 16.5 m at 0.99% Li2O targeting beneath the northern extent of the HW1 outcrop. Mineralized pegmatite was also intersected in drillhole PLP24-019, interpreted to be of the same intrusive body as the main HW1 outcrop, which therefore remains open to the north (Figure 1). Drillhole PLP24-019 also intersected a 0.5 m quartz vein (25.8 to 26.3m), with trace sulphides, that returned 4.76 g/t Au highlighting the multi-commodity potential at Pilipas. Final interpretations and geological modelling are ongoing as final analytical results are received.

Results from all pegmatite intervals >1.0 m presented in Table 1. All intervals are reported as core length and are not representative of true width, with ongoing geological modelling and interpretation underway. Drillhole attributes are presented in Table 2.





Figure 1: Map of 2024 HW1 Drill holes with Select Analytical Results at HW1 Spodumene Pegmatite

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Figure 2: Spodumene Pegmatite in drillhole PLP24-007 - 13.2 m at 1.84% Li2O (red box)

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Table 1: Summary of Analytical Results of 2024 Pilipas Drill Program

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Table 2: 2024 Drillhole Locations and Attributes

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Quality Assurance / Quality Control

All core samples were securely transported by field staff to SGS Canada's laboratory in Radisson, QC for standard sample preparation (code PRP90) which includes drying at 105C, crush to 90% passing 2mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. The pulps were then shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, BC where they were subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (code GE_ICM91A50). Gold analysis was performed using Au by fire assay (Code GE_FAA30V5). A Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocol was incorporated into the program and included the insertion of certified reference material at and silica blanks at a rate of approximately 5 % and 5 %, respectively. Additional analysis of pulp-split and reject-split sample duplicates was also completed at a rate of approximately 5% to assess analytical precision at different stages. SGS Canada is independent of the Company.

Due to QA/QC protocols in place by the Company, samples from drillhole PLP24-013 were resubmitted for testing. Results will be reported when they are received by the Company.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, P. Geo., Senior Geologist for Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a registered special authorization holder with Ordre des Geologues du Quebec (AS-10512) and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects.

Mr. Schmidt has verified all scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release including the sampling and QA/QC results, and certified analytical data underlying the technical information disclosed. Mr. Schmidt verified the data disclosed (or underlying the information disclosed) in this news release by reviewing the assay data; and checking the performance of blank samples and certified reference materials. Mr. Schmidt detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data and noted no errors or omissions during the data verification process. The Company and Mr. Schmidt do not recognize any factors of sampling that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data disclosed in this news release.

About the Pilipas Lithium Project

In December 2023, the Company entered into an option agreement with Azimut Exploration Inc (TSXV: AZM) (OTCQX: AZMTF) to earn 70% interest in the Pilipas Property consisting of 135 claims totaling 7,100 ha situated within the La Grande Subprovince (Archean Superior Province). It is primarily underlain by volcano-sedimentary rocks (Greenstone) of the Lower Eastmain Greenstone Belt: conglomerate, sandstone, basalts and felsic to intermediate tuffs. Two regional NW-SE dextral faults transect the southwestern and northeastern parts of the Property.

About the Company

Ophir Metals Corp. is a diversified mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and development of the Pilipas Lithium Properties in James Bay, Quebec, and the past-producing Breccia gold property located in Lemhi County, Idaho.

Ophir holds an option to earn a 70% interest in the Pilipas property over a three-year period from Azimut Exploration Inc. and an option to earn a 100-per-cent interest in the Breccia property.

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.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and include statements in this press release related to the exploration and discovery potential of the Property, the details of the planned exploration program on the Property, the strong lithium pegmatite exploration potential on the Property, the strong potential of the Pilipas Property, the interpretation of exploration, drilling and sampling results, the multi-commodity potential at Pilipas, receipt of assay results, potential targets on the Property and the Company's future plans with respect to the Property. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of technical reports, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233213

SOURCE: Ophir Metals Corp.
Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results of twenty-four drill holes from the infill and step-out drill program designed to expand the maiden resource at the Richmond Hill Gold Project ("Richmond Hill") ("drill program"). The results reported today are the final assays from the drill program which began in November 2023, and they, along with the previously released results from the drill program, will be incorporated into an updated S-K 1300 Initial Assessment ("Initial Assessment or Report") in Q1 2025. The maiden S-K 1300 resource ("maiden resource"), which was announced on April 30, 2024 outlined an Indicated Resource of 51.83 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.80 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) for 1.33 million ounces, and Inferred Resource of 58.06 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.61 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) for 1.13 million ounces.

Highlights:

The drill results reported in this release are from the northeast area of the Richmond Hill resource area known as Chism Gulch, where there has been limited drill testing by the Company. Results to date demonstrate areas of additional oxide mineralization, and the grade and width are higher in average than the drill results used to inform the maiden resource.



Highlighted intersections include: RH24C-122 intersected - 1.00 g/t Au over 38.2 meters RH24C-136 intersected - 3.30 g/t Au over 11.8 meters RH24C-142 intersected - 2.22 g/t Au over 50.0 meters RH24C-143 intersected - 2.54 g/t Au over 11.4 meters





Highlighted intersections include: Drilling to date indicates that the entire Richmond Hill resource shell remains open in all directions. There is potential for significant resource growth through additional drilling, metallurgical work to improve recoveries, and inclusion of silver in the updated resource.





Dakota Gold is on track to produce an updated S-K 1300 resource for Richmond Hill which will be informed by a historical database containing 56,771 gold assays from 910 drill holes, with the addition of 145 drill holes totaling 45,517 meters of drilling by Dakota Gold's program to expand the maiden resource.

James Berry, VP Exploration for Dakota Gold said, "The results received to date from our drill program have exceeded my expectations for grade and widths. Of the 52 drill hole results reported to date from the Chism Gulch area, the average grade is 1.13 g/t Au, with an average width of 10.9 meters, which is much better than the averages for drilling at Chism Gulch used to generate the maiden resource and bodes well to increase resource ounces. The Chism Gulch area remains open to the north and east. We look forward to our updated S-K 1300 resource early in the New Year, incorporating results from Chism Gulch and Twin Tunnels drilling."

"The Richmond Hill drill results reported today will contribute to a robust resource update in Q1 2025 and provide areas for future resource expansion," stated Robert Quartermain, Co-Chair, President and CEO. He continued, "With our successful step-out drilling campaign at Maitland reported in our December 3rd, 2024 news release, both of our projects align with our expectations this year, and we are well-positioned to grow shareholder value through successful exploration."

Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project

Based on the current defined oxide resource and additional significant drill hole intercepts encountered in the current drill campaign, Dakota has contracted with M3, RESPEC, IMC and Woods Processing to undertake the necessary engineering and metallurgical studies currently in progress to advance from the Initial Assessment with Cash Flow (IACF) to initiating a full feasibility in Q2 2025. Concurrently the Company is undertaking baseline environmental studies that will inform future permitting requirements. With regards Richmond Hill, it is analogous to the adjacent Wharf Mine of Coeur Mining which is expected to generate over $100 million in free cash flow in 2024 from approximately 90,000 ounces of gold. The Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project is located on private land with certain existing permits and we believe with anticipated updated amendments, we can advance the project expeditiously through development and into production. Our financial proposal for up to $300 million for a development opportunity with Orion Mine Finance, our major shareholder announced on October 12, 2023, provides Dakota Gold with the financial pathway to a commercial gold operation.

Maitland Gold Project

The Maitland Gold Project hosts the JB Gold Zone, which has returned highlight intercepts including drill hole MA23C-038 which intersected 25.03 g/t Au over 4.4 meters. Maitland is three miles along strike north of the historic Homestake Mine and gold mineralization now extends over 1,646 meters based on our recent drilling. The JB Gold Zone discovery is analogous to the West Ledges at the Homestake Mine that produced over 6 million ounces at a grade of 7.7 g/t Au. Dakota Gold has completed its 2024 Maitland drill program and is assessing results that will inform the 2025 follow up drill program where we have significant potential to continue to expand the footprint of the high-grade gold discovered to date.

Table 1. Richmond Hill Drill Results (Metric / Imperial)1,2

Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral Type g x m m m m m g/t ft ft ft ft oz/ton RH24C-122 4.3 42.5 3 38.2 1.00 14.2 139.4 10 125.2 0.029 Td 38 RH24C-124 46.7 53.1 24 6.5 1.01 153.1 174.3 80 21.2 0.030 Td / Tert 7

59.4 66.0 32 6.6 0.98 194.9 216.4 106 21.5 0.029 Td 6 RH24C-125 18.6 25.6 12 7.0 0.64 61.0 84.1 41 23.1 0.019 Td 5

29.8 34.4 20 4.6 1.59 97.8 112.8 67 15.0 0.046 Td 7

41.3 51.1 29 9.8 0.92 135.6 167.7 94 32.1 0.027 Td 9 RH24C-127 11.4 33.0 8 21.6 0.81 37.3 108.2 26 70.9 0.024 Td 17

39.4 47.7 27 8.4 1.60 129.2 156.6 87 27.4 0.047 Td 13 RH24C-128 99.3 118.1 41 18.8 0.75 325.8 387.5 134 61.7 0.022 Td 14 RH24C-129 38.1 45.1 16 7.0 0.70 125.0 148.0 51 23.0 0.020 Td 5

70.4 74.9 43 4.5 0.83 231.0 245.8 140 14.8 0.024 Tert 4 RH24C-130 36.1 42.2 20 6.0 0.60 118.5 138.3 67 19.8 0.018 Td / Tert 4

47.9 66.6 23 18.7 0.93 157.1 218.6 77 61.5 0.027 Td / Tert / Tp 18 RH24C-131 108.0 120.5 65 12.5 0.58 354.2 395.3 214 41.1 0.017 Td / Tert 7

123.5 134.5 73 10.9 0.71 405.3 441.2 241 35.9 0.021 Tp 8 RH24C-132 48.4 54.1 19 5.7 1.86 158.7 177.5 63 18.8 0.054 Td 11

57.6 65.6 22 7.9 0.71 189.1 215.1 72 26.0 0.021 Td 6

82.1 88.9 34 6.8 0.54 269.4 291.8 110 22.4 0.016 Tert / Tp 4

92.9 99.3 39 6.4 0.58 304.9 325.8 127 20.9 0.017 Tp 4 RH24C-133 18.0 31.3 20 13.4 0.94 58.9 102.8 65 43.9 0.027 Td 13

34.6 40.0 36 5.4 1.12 113.6 131.3 118 17.7 0.033 Td / Tert 6 RH24C-134 13.0 17.4 7 4.4 2.31 42.5 57.0 23 14.5 0.067 Td 10

22.5 29.9 14 7.4 1.31 73.8 98.0 46 24.2 0.038 Td 10 RH24C-135 86.7 116.6 66 29.8 0.90 284.5 382.4 218 97.9 0.026 Td / Tert / Tp 27 RH24C-136 5.4 18.5 2 11.8 3.30 22.0 60.6 8 38.6 0.096 Td 39

21.9 25.0 11 3.0 0.97 72.0 82.0 35 10.0 0.028 Td 3

29.6 35.7 16 6.1 1.14 97.2 117.1 54 19.9 0.033 Tert 7 RH24C-137 0.0 10.1 0 10.1 1.24 0.0 33.3 0 33.3 0.036 Td 13 RH24C-138 74.7 84.6 59 9.9 0.56 245.0 277.6 192 32.6 0.016 Td 6 RH24C-139 62.4 72.1 42 9.7 0.78 204.8 236.7 138 31.9 0.023 Td 8

78.5 87.2 55 8.7 1.11 257.6 286.2 182 28.6 0.032 Tp / Tert 10 RH24C-140 61.6 68.9 61 7.3 1.48 202.0 226.1 199 24.1 0.043 Td 11

76.3 83.2 70 6.9 1.40 250.4 273.0 229 22.6 0.041 Td 10 RH24C-141 55.9 63.7 26 7.8 1.80 183.3 208.9 84 25.6 0.053 Td 14

66.3 72.1 30 5.8 0.73 217.4 236.4 97 19.0 0.021 Td 4 RH24C-142 32.3 82.2 36 50.0 2.22 105.9 269.8 117 163.9 0.065 Td / Tert / Tp 111 RH24C-143 0.0 6.2 0 6.2 0.77 0.0 20.3 0 20.3 0.023 Td 5

12.4 16.6 5 4.1 1.14 40.7 54.3 16 13.6 0.033 Td 5

25.1 33.3 9 8.2 1.05 82.4 109.3 29 26.9 0.031 Tert / Td 9

51.3 66.4 16 15.0 0.89 168.4 217.7 52 49.3 0.026 Td 13

71.0 82.4 20 11.4 2.54 233.0 270.4 64 37.4 0.074 Td / Tp 29 RH24C-144 26.8 32.4 25 5.6 0.91 88.0 106.3 81 18.3 0.027 Td 5 RH24C-145 No Significant Results RH24C-146 72.9 93.1 53 20.2 1.23 239.3 305.6 175 66.3 0.036 Tp / Tert 25 RH24C-147 25.9 29.4 16 3.5 0.62 85.0 96.4 52 11.4 0.018 Tp 2

The table may contain rounding errors.

Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Tertiary breccia hosted mineralization ("TBx"); Cambrian Deadwood Fm hosted Tertiary mineralization ("Td"); Tertiary intrusive hosted mineralization ("Tert"); and Precambrian hosted Tertiary mineralization ("Tp"). True thickness unknown.

Figure 1. Plan Map of Chism Gulch Drill Hole Traces

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Figure 2. Cross Sections of Dakota Gold Corp. Richmond Hill highlighted drill holes from drill program to update the S-K 1300 Initial Assessment.

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About Dakota Gold Corp.

Dakota Gold is building on the legacy of the 145 year old Homestake Gold Mining District by advancing the Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project and outlining a high-grade underground gold resource at the Maitland Gold Project located on private land in South Dakota.

Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates.

Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure

James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person (as defined in Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K) for this news release and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Check samples are submitted to Bureau Veritas, Vancouver B.C. as an umpire laboratory. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication 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. When used in this communication, the words "plan," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "potential," "will" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Any express or implied statements contained in this communication that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: our expectations regarding the drilling to be completed in 2024 and 2025; our expectations for the improvement and growth of the mineral resources; the grade potential of the drilling completed after the effective date of the Initial Assessment; the timing for the updated S-K 1300 Initial Assessments to be released in 2025 or thereafter; and our overall expectation for the possibility of near-term production at the Richmond Hill project. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities; our use and evaluation of historic data; our ability to achieve our strategic goals; the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry; and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by annual, quarterly and current reports that we file with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.

All references to "$" in this communication are to U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233292

SOURCE: Dakota Gold Corp.








HONG KONG, Dec 11, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - BDO, the world's fifth largest accountancy and advisory network, has announced the winners of the 6th BDO ESG Awards (the Awards). The winning companies have integrated ESG principles and climate change considerations into their business strategies. They have actively emphasised the importance of ESG and promoted its development by implementing influential and long-term sustainable development measures. This year, the Awards received strong support from listed companies, with more than 110 companies participating at the nomination stage, a six-year high. All finalists were invited to attend the awards ceremony to witness the winners honoured. (Click here or view the full list below*)Once again, "Carbon Neutrality" has been selected to be this year's theme, emphasising the important role that companies play in mitigating climate change and shaping a green future. The Theme Awards are dedicated to recognising listed companies that have demonstrated best practices in "Carbon Neutrality", including reducing carbon emissions and planning and adopting relevant measures. The companies competing for this year's Theme Awards were outstanding and evenly matched. A total of three companies won this award, setting a new record.Mr Andrew Lam, Managing Director, BDO, said, "The BDO ESG Awards first launched in 2018 when listed companies began to explore the implementation of ESG initiatives. Today, we are pleased to see that an increasing number of listed companies are recognising the importance of ESG and pursuing long-term ESG development. The Awards have now gained considerable market recognition, and as an advocate of sustainable development, BDO is delighted to see an increasing number of Hong Kong-listed companies paying attention to ESG. Through the judging process, we have observed that the quality of the ESG initiatives implemented by the participating companies has improved and become more forward-looking. As the importance and influence of ESG continues to grow, we hope to work with all kinds of industries through the Awards to improve Hong Kong's green standards and consolidate the city's position as a green financial centre."Mr Johnson Kong, Managing Director, BDO, said, "In light of growing social awareness of sustainability and social responsibility, more and more investors and organisations are incorporating ESG factors into their investment decisions and tend to support companies that meet ESG standards. By implementing ESG policies, companies can build a good reputation that will enhance their competitiveness and attract more investors. As a professional in this field, BDO is committed to supporting Hong Kong-listed companies in various areas, such as assisting them in ESG reporting and risk management, and providing them with recommendations to improve ESG performance. We hope the Awards will raise ESG awareness among all stakeholders in society so that more listed and unlisted companies in Hong Kong will prioritise the importance of ESG practices in the future."Mr Ricky Cheng, Director and Head of Risk Advisory, BDO, said, "This year's winners come from a variety of industries, and all of the nominated companies have demonstrated outstanding performance in various areas of competition. BDO is proud of the winning companies dedicated to sustainable development, and we are thrilled to support all those who are making strides toward a more environmentally friendly and responsible business landscape through this award and our expertise."BDO ESG Awards 2024 Winners (listed in alphabetical order)Best in ESG - Large Market CapitalisationBOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited (02388.HK)HKT Trust and HKT Limited (06823.HK)Lenovo Group Limited (00992.HK)Best in ESG - Middle Market CapitalisationAAC Technologies Holdings Inc. (02018.HK)Kerry Properties Limited (00683.HK)Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited (00968.HK)Best in ESG - Small Market CapitalisationConcord New Energy Group Limited (00182.HK)Shun Tak Holdings Limited (00242.HK)Yuexiu Services Group Limited (06626.HK)Best in Reporting - Large Market CapitalisationHKT Trust and HKT Limited (06823.HK)Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited (01177.HK)Techtronic Industries Company Limited (00669.HK)Best in Reporting - Middle Market CapitalisationKerry Properties Limited (00683.HK)PCCW Limited (00008.HK)Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited (00968.HK)Best in Reporting - Small Market CapitalisationNew World Department Store China Limited (00825.HK)Xinyi Energy Holdings Limited (03868.HK)Yuexiu Services Group Limited (06626.HK)ESG Report of the Year - Large Market CapitalisationHKT Trust and HKT Limited (06823.HK)ESG Report of the Year - Middle Market CapitalisationKerry Properties Limited (00683.HK)ESG Report of the Year- Small Market CapitalisationYuexiu Services Group Limited (06626.HK)Outstanding ESG Performance of H-Share CompaniesChina Tower Corporation Limited (00788.HK)Shanghai Electric Group Company Limited (02727.HK)ZTE Corporation (00763.HK)Theme AwardsLenovo Group Limited (00992.HK)Yuexiu Property Company Limited (00123.HK)ZTE Corporation (00763.HK)Photo CaptionsPhoto 1: BDO representatives and panel of judges attend the BDO ESG Awards 2024 Presentation Ceremony.Photo 2: Representatives of the award winners, BDO, and panel of judges pose for a group photo at the BDO ESG Awards 2024 Presentation Ceremony.Note to editorsAbout BDO LimitedBDO's global organisation extends across 166 countries and territories, with more than 115,600 professionals working in over 1,770 offices - and they're all working towards one goal: to provide our clients with exceptional service. BDO was established in Hong Kong in 1981 and is committed to facilitating the growth of businesses by advising the people behind them. BDO Hong Kong provides an extensive range of professional services including assurance services, risk advisory services, specialist advisory services and tax services. For more details, visit www.bdo.com.hk.ContactsSala LoSenior Marketing Manager and Team HeadBDO Hong KongTel +852 2218 3042Mobile +852 9613 5175salalo@bdo.com.hkHeidi LauSenior Marketing ManagerBDO Hong KongTel +852 2218 2325Mobile +852 9285 4151heidilau@bdo.com.hkStrategic Financial Relations LimitedVicky LeeTel +852 2864 4834sprg_bdo@sprg.com.hkYoko LiTel +852 2864 4813sprg_bdo@sprg.com.hkSource: BDOCopyright 2024 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced drilling on the Gilt Creek gold deposit, one of two orogenic gold deposits located on its 100% held Omai gold project in Guyana. Two initial holes are planned to potentially expand the current Gilt Creek Mineral Resource Estimate, while advancing engineering and metallurgical studies that will facilitate inclusion of this underground deposit into a next phase economic study for the Omai property, anticipated in mid-2025.

The Company's April 2024 Preliminary Economic Study1 included only the Wenot open pit deposit (and only 45% of the Wenot Mineral Resource Estimate1). Wenot has been the focus of the 2024 drill program to date, with over 13,000m completed. Incorporating the Gilt Creek underground deposit into an expanded mine plan with the Wenot open pit deposit has the potential to significantly increase projected annual production rates and life of mine for the Omai project.

Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO, commented, "We are very pleased with the baseline Preliminary Economic Assessment for Wenot, completed in April of this year. However, we see Omai as having potential to be a much larger operation. A mine plan incorporating the Gilt Creek underground deposit with an expanded Wenot open pit is the path to a longer life mine with higher annual production and enhanced economics. To this end, we remain on track with our ongoing drilling to expand the large 2.5km long Wenot deposit, and are excited to accelerate work on the Gilt Creek deposit in parallel. The deposits are only 500 metres apart and will benefit from common infrastructure. We are confident that our 2024 drilling at Wenot and work at Gilt Creek will unlock significant value for our shareholders in the near-term."

The Gilt Creek gold deposit is a large 500m by 275m compact, intrusion-hosted orogenic gold deposit with the shallowest part being only 300m below surface. It is located approximately 500m north of the Wenot gold deposit on the Omai property (Figures 1 and 2). In October 2022, Omai announced a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate1 ("MRE") for Gilt Creek with Indicated of 1,151,000 ounces gold averaging 3.22 grams per tonne and Inferred of 665,000 ounces gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au, using a 1.5 g/t Au cutoff and a US$1700/oz gold price. Sensitivity to the cut-off grade (Figure 4) shows that even at a much higher cut-off grade, the size of the Mineral Resource Estimate is not significantly reduced and the average gold grade increases significantly. Initial engineering studies anticipate a ramp or decline from surface to access this deposit for mining. The very wide mineralized zones (Figure 3) are likely amenable to sub-level open stoping with follow-up cut-and-fill mining, although bulk mining methods will be considered as well. Figure 3 shows the numerous wide composites contributing to the MRE including 3.29 g/t Au over 71m, 2.93 g/t over 101m and 3.48 g/t over 65m. A full table of drill hole composites is available on the Company's website.

The upper portion of this Gilt Creek gold deposit was mined between 1993 and 2005 when it produced 2.4 million ounces at an average grade of 1.5 g/t Au. Continuation of this deposit at depth was confirmed in drilling by Iamgold in 2006 and 2007 with 46 drill holes totalling approximately 27,000m. This drilling showed gold mineralization down to a depth of 967m below surface, although only sparse drilling was completed to that depth. Notably, all core drilled from the Gilt Creek deposit was sampled with 41% of samples assaying >0.5 g/t Au. It is likely that the gold mineralization within this "Omai stock" continues to greater depths.

The Company expects to complete one of the two planned drill holes into the Gilt Creek deposit by year end. Metallurgical test work will be initiated early in the new year. Ramp and mine stope design and proposed scheduling will commence early in the new year in anticipation of including the Gilt Creek deposit in a 2025 updated PEA.

The most recent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Omai property, dated May 21, 20241 includes a Wenot Mineral Resource Estimate of 834,000 indicated ounces of gold grading 1.48 g/t Au and 1,614,000 inferred ounces of gold grading 1.99 g/t Au. For the adjacent Gilt Creek deposit, the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate is 1,151,000 indicated ounces of gold grading 3.22 g/t Au and 665,000 inferred ounces of gold grading 3.35 g/t Au. The report was prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. as follows:

1The NI43-101 Technical Report dated May 21, 2024 "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO.2, GUYANA" prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc is available on www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company's website at www.omaigoldmines.com.

Qualified Person

Elaine Ellingham is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

ABOUT OMAI GOLD

Omai Gold Mines Corp. holds a 100% interest in the Omai Prospecting License that includes the past producing Omai Gold Mine in Guyana, and a 100% interest in the adjoining Eastern Flats Mining Permits. The Company announced a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its Wenot Deposit at Omai in April 2024, showing an open pit operation to produce 1.84 million ounces of gold over a 13-year period, with an NPV5% of US$556 million at a US$1950/oz gold price. This baseline PEA incorporates only 45% of the property's MRE and management believes that with additional work the mine plan can be significantly expanded, the economics enhanced, and the open pit resources further increased. An updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of 2.0 million ounces of gold (Indicated) and 2.3 million ounces (Inferred) reflects a notable increase as a result of 2023's successful drilling. Once South America's largest producing gold mine, Omai produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold between 1993 and 2005. Mining ceased at a time when the average gold price was less than US$400 per ounce. As a brownfields project, Omai benefits from good road access and a wealth of historical data that provides knowledge of the geology and gold mineralization on the Property, as well as metallurgy, historical process recoveries and many other relevant mining parameters.

For further information, please see our website www.omaigoldmines.com or contact:

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of gold, copper and other minerals and metals, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, these 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 state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". . Further, the Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessments and related data set out in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Omai Gold Mines Corp. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to international operations; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold, copper and other minerals and metals; general market conditions; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; uncertainty of access to additional capital; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities. 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. 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.

Figure 1. Plan Map showing Gilt Creek and Wenot gold deposits at the Omai property

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/233308_e250db0c84f44b98_001full.jpg

Figure 2. Omai Gold Deposits - Wenot Shear-Hosted Deposit and Gilt Creek Intrusion-Hosted Deposit

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/233308_e250db0c84f44b98_002full.jpg

Figure 3 Cross Section through the Gilt Creek Gold Deposit Showing Mineral Resource Model1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/233308_e250db0c84f44b98_003full.jpg

Figure 4. Gilt Creek Deposit Sensitivity to Cut-Off Grade

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/233308_e250db0c84f44b98_005full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233308

SOURCE: Omai Gold Mines Corp.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced that her office has launched an investigation regarding Nicaragua's acts, policies, and practices related to labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law.Katherine Tai said that the investigation will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 over concern that Nicaragua is engaging in repressive and persistent attacks on labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law, which may burden U.S. commerce.'The Biden-Harris Administration is firmly committed to a worker-centered trade policy to ensure our trade partnerships drive a race to the top for all workers and people,' said the U.S. Trade Ambassador. 'Unfortunately, numerous reports suggest the Government of Nicaragua is engaging in repressive acts that harm Nicaragua's own workers and people, undermine fair competition, and destabilize our region. USTR will thoroughly investigate the alleged violations of labor rights and human rights, and dismantling of the rule of law.'Numerous credible reports by the U.S. Government, as well as the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the International Labor Organization and the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, document that the Daniel Ortega regime in Nicaragua engages in labor rights and human rights violations and dismantling of the rule of law.The US Trade Representative noted tha the authoritarian regime's actions such as politically-motivated arrests and imprisonments, repression of members of religious groups and non-governmental organizations, extrajudicial killings, restrictions on freedom of expression and movement, and violence against members of marginalized groups exacerbate worker exploitation and diminish economic growth and trade opportunities.Katherine Tai said that despite continued U.S. engagement, the Government of Nicaragua has not responded to concerns raised over serious allegations of labor and human rights abuses and the dismantling of the rule of law. 'Through this investigation, the United States will seek to address and resolve those long-standing and deep-rooted concerns to ensure U.S. companies and workers are treated fairly and with equal respect under a rule of law system.'Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 / Consumer Choice Award (CCA) proudly announces Heaven Can Wait First Aid as the top provider in the Health & Safety Training category in Toronto. This prestigious award recognizes businesses with exceptional service, product quality, and customer satisfaction.

Founded in 2004 by former Toronto paramedic David Goodman, Heaven Can Wait First Aid has become a health and safety education leader across Ontario. With a mission to save lives through widespread training, the company offers WSIB-approved courses for businesses and the public, providing convenient, on-site B2B training.

"This award reflects the trust our clients place in us and the passion we bring to teaching lifesaving skills. Every person we train has the potential to make a life-changing difference, and that's what drives us every day," said David Goodman, Founder of Heaven Can Wait First Aid.

With over 9,500 glowing 5-star Google reviews and recognition through multiple Consumer Choice Awards, Heaven Can Wait continues to raise the standard for health and safety training. Their commitment to quality lifesaving education has made them the trusted choice for individuals and organizations across Ontario.

To learn more about Heaven Can Wait First Aid, CLICK HERE or visit www.heavencanwait.biz

About Consumer Choice Award:

Consumer Choice Award has been recognizing and promoting business excellence in North America since 1987. Its rigorous selection process ensures that only the most outstanding service providers in each category earn this prestigious recognition. Visit www.ccaward.com to learn more.

Contact Information

Sumi Saleh

Marketing & Social Media Specialist

ssaleh@ccaward.com

Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo46KQa-cRk

SOURCE: Consumer Choice Award

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Top Retailers Boost Profits 39% and Cut Carbon Intensity 21% Over Five Years, Fueled by AI and Connected Retail Advancements

Retail Economics, an independent economics research consultancy focused on the consumer and retail industry, and SymphonyAI, a leader in predictive and generative AI SaaS products for the enterprise, today released results of new market research that shows powerful business impact from AI adoption. The research warned that data silo barriers to AI adoption are preventing laggard retailers from realizing transformational potential and underscores the importance of approaches like SymphonyAI connected retail to unify data and overcome operational silos for streamlined decision making and efficiency gains.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209637158/en/

Impact of AI Across Business Functions: Cross-market Comparison (Graphic: Business Wire)

The research looked at the impact of AI in all major areas of retail, including merchandizing and marketing, demand performance, workforce productivity, store and space and sustainability and waste management. It found that the world's 200 largest retailers have boosted pre-tax profits by 39.4% and revenue by 31.3% over the past five years while also reducing their carbon intensity (CO2e produced per $m of sales) by 20.9%. The study of more than 250 retailers across the UK, US, France, Germany, and Canada revealed these gains came through technological investment, including predictive and generative AI. AI-based connected retail gives retailers dramatically increased operational efficiencies that both increase profits and reduce carbon consumption.

Connected retail gives users a seamless flow of AI-driven data and insights strengthening retail operations from the supply chain to the shelf. The Retail Economics research found that AI-driven efficiencies in inventory management, route optimization, and waste reduction have supported profit growth while reducing carbon intensity. Food retailers experienced the largest reduction in carbon intensity even as profit margins increased. Grocers use AI-based inventory optimization to prevent over- or under-stocking fresh items and significantly reduce costly and carbon-producing food waste.

Retailers believe the impact of AI on sustainability will accelerate over the next two years as they increasingly seek to boost operational efficiency, profitability, and sustainability. Yet survey data reveals that the impact of AI across business functions in top retailers remains uneven as retailers apply AI in isolated operational areas rather than integrating AI across supply chains and operations. Data quality and availability are the primary hurdles to AI adoption, with access to high-quality, relevant data a major issue across most retail functions.

With the SymphonyAI connected retail platform and AI SaaS products, retailers gain a seamless flow of data and insights that empower optimized decision-making across every aspect of retail operations-from the supply chain to the store shelf. SymphonyAI connected retail breaks down operational silos, so retailers can make swift, confident decisions without blind spots. Through a source-agnostic data onboarding framework, SymphonyAI connected retail delivers AI-driven insights across critical functions including customer behavior, sales, promotions, assortment, inventory, supply chain, and real-time shelf and store conditions, empowering retailers to enhance efficiency and profitability at every level. This unified approach enables:

Profit and Revenue Growth : Retailers using AI-driven tools experience optimized inventory management, precise demand forecasting, and improved customer engagement.

: Retailers using AI-driven tools experience optimized inventory management, precise demand forecasting, and improved customer engagement. Sustainability Gains : Food retailers using AI to reduce overstocking and waste have seen the largest reductions in carbon intensity while growing profitability.

: Food retailers using AI to reduce overstocking and waste have seen the largest reductions in carbon intensity while growing profitability. Operational Agility: Real-time insights enable swift, confident decision-making that adapts to changing consumer demands and market dynamics.

"Connected retail is a must-have for retailers pursuing growth, profitability, and carbon footprint reduction," said Dusan Rnic, SVP international for the SymphonyAI retail-CPG division. "Historically, retailers lacked the tools to unlock the potential of connecting all their functions due to data overload which just happens to be the very essence of AI being successful. AI's potential to improve efficiency, customer engagement, and sustainability is not just a promise it is now a reality and is a critical evolution in retail's journey. Retailers must consider unlocking AI's full potential, not only to lead in the current marketplace, but to support wider goals like sustainability."

Richard Lim, CEO at Retail Economics, added, "Leading retailers are demonstrating that investment in AI and technology can drive both profitability and sustainability. However, lagging companies risk missing out on AI's broader benefits if they don't prioritise data quality, system integration, and the right talent. By tackling these issues, retailers can achieve efficient growth that supports ambitious sustainability targets across key markets."

The full report is available to download here.

About the research

Audits of the top 200 global retailers and consumer brands were conducted by Retail Economics using third party data and proprietary modelling, evaluating five-year trends in carbon emissions, profitability, and revenue to assess the relationship between financial and environmental performance.

Additionally, business surveys of over 250 retailers across the UK, US, France, Germany, and Canada were conducted to understand the impact of AI, including priorities and challenges.

The research also surveyedover 7,500 consumers in the same regions, offering a shopper perspective on AI-driven retail experiences and priorities.

Contributors: Nicholas Found and Richard Lim, Retail Economics.

About SymphonyAI

SymphonyAI is a leading enterprise AI SaaS company for digital transformation across the most critical and resilient growth verticals, including retail, consumer packaged goods, finance, manufacturing, media, and IT/enterprise service management. SymphonyAI verticals have many leading enterprises as clients. Since its founding in 2017, SymphonyAI has grown rapidly to 3,000 talented leaders, data scientists, and other professionals. SymphonyAI, 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year for Business Transformation AI Innovation, is a SAIGroup company, backed by a $1 billion commitment from successful entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Romesh Wadhwani. Learn more at www.symphonyai.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209637158/en/

Contacts:

Treble

Sarah Armstrong

symphonyai@treblepr.com
Following the Recent Flink Forward Jakarta Event, Ververica Continues to Showcase its Impact on Providing Real-Time Solutions Globally

Ververica, creators of Apache Flink and a leader in real-time data streaming, celebrated its growing global presence at Flink Forward Jakarta (part of the flagship premier data streaming events). As a proud creator and organizer of Flink Forward events worldwide, Ververica continues to reinforce its commitment to empowering businesses globally with real-time data streaming solutions for businesses to stay competitive in rapidly evolving environments.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211033171/en/

Ververica Showcases Global Impact, with One Mount Group, Detecting Fraudulent Transactions in Real-Time (Graphic: Business Wire)

One of the standout examples of this innovation is Ververica's partnership with OneU, part of One Mount Group, a leader in digital consumer ecosystems in Southeast Asia. The partnership allowed OneU to modernize financial operations and enhance real-time fraud detection capabilities.

To support enterprises in addressing these challenges, Ververica has released a detailed case study on its collaboration with One Mount Group. This resource demonstrates how adopting real-time data streaming can enhance fraud prevention, improve operational efficiency, and elevate customer satisfaction. Additionally, it highlights how Ververica's cutting-edge Unified Streaming Data Platform tackles the growing concerns of cybersecurity threats, showcasing its value in today's market. "Ververica's Unified Streaming Data Platform has been instrumental in enabling us to scale operations while ensuring the security and efficiency of our platform," said Quan Phuong, Head of System Platform at One Mount Group. "Its unique features, such as Flink SQL and multi-tenancy support, allow us to innovate and deliver exceptional customer experiences."

About Ververica

Ververica, the original creators of Apache Flink, empowers businesses with high-performance data streaming and processing solutions. Streamlining operations, developer efficiency, and enabling customers to solve real-time use cases reliably and securely. Ververica's advanced Streaming Data Platform, powered by its cloud native VERA engine, revolutionizes Apache Flink, making it easy for organizations to harness data insights at scale. With Ververica, customers can meet any business SLA, leveraging advanced data streaming and processing capabilities in real-time or on the lakehouse. Ververica enables businesses to connect, process, govern, and analyze data, across infinite use cases, with flexible deployment options, including public cloud, private cloud, or on-premise environments. Discover more at ververica.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211033171/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:



Sarah Evans

Sevans PR

sarah@sevanspr.com
ZEDRA (or the "Company"), a global specialist provider of Active Wealth, Corporate Global Expansion, Funds and Pension Incentives services, today announces it has joined forces with Gryphon, an Ohio-headquartered Fund Administrator, providing accounting, administration, and tax preparation and advisory services to the private fund ecosystem.

This strategic development will enhance ZEDRA's comprehensive global fund service offering, allowing Fund Managers and General Partners to consolidate their service provider and outsourcing needs into one streamlined solution. The transaction significantly expands ZEDRA's U.S. Fund Administration business, doubling its size and positioning the Company in an enviable position with a strong presence throughout Asia, the Americas and Europe.

With over $10 billion in assets under administration, Gryphon has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality services to private funds. By integrating Gryphon's services into ZEDRA's existing portfolio, this brings their combined assets under administration to circa $30 billion. This partnership will provide clients with an unparalleled, comprehensive suite of fund solutions designed to meet all of their back-office and tax reporting needs.

Joining forces with Gryphon represents the next step in ZEDRA's international growth strategy under the support of Corsair and BCI, who partnered with the Company as its majority investor in 2018 and as a minority investor in 2023, respectively.

Today's announcement also follows ZEDRA's acquisition of Atlas Fund Services in 2022, which solidified its foothold in the Western hemisphere and enhanced its ability to service U.S. and Latin American investment managers from Atlas' offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and Curacao.

ZEDRA Chief Executive Officer Ivo Hemelraad commented, "We are delighted to welcome Gryphon into the ZEDRA family. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our strategy to provide fund managers and their investors with a complete, end-to-end solution that streamlines operations and enhances efficiency in the U.S. and globally. Gryphon's expertise and commitment to excellence are a natural fit for our organisation, and we look forward to working together."

Gryphon Founder Chief Executive Officer Chris MacLaren remarked, "We are excited to join forces with ZEDRA. Our shared vision of providing a premium experience for fund managers and their investors through comprehensive, high-quality solutions made this partnership an ideal match. Together, we will be able to offer our clients even greater depth and support as they navigate the complexities of their business."

Both companies will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition for all clients and employees.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211522657/en/

Contacts:

zedra@greentarget.co.uk
Positive topline data for CAN-2409 viral immunotherapy achieved primary endpoint by demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit when combined with radiation therapy for intermediate-to-high risk, localized prostate cancer

The safety profile of CAN-2409 was generally consistent with previous studies, with no new safety signals identified



The phase 3 clinical trial was conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the FDA



NEEDHAM, Mass., Dec. 11, 2024), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing multimodal biological immunotherapies to help patients fight cancer, today announced results from a multicenter phase 3 clinical trial evaluating CAN-2409 viral immunotherapy in localized prostate cancer patients.

In the United States alone, over 100,000 men are diagnosed with localized prostate cancer every year, and over 50,000 men currently receive radiotherapy. Prostate cancer continues to be the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States and there has not been any new treatment or significant change in the standard of care of localized, non-metastatic prostate cancer for over 20 years. The localized prostate cancer addressable market for CAN-2409 is potentially worth over $10 billion in the U.S. alone.

The phase 3 clinical trial of CAN-2409 in intermediate-to-high-risk, localized prostate cancer met its primary endpoint, by demonstrating statistically significant improvement in disease-free survival in patients who received CAN-2409 plus prodrug (valacyclovir) combined with standard of care compared to standard of care alone.

The 2:1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial enrolled 745 patients (intent to treat population, ITT) to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CAN-2409 plus prodrug (valacyclovir) viral immunotherapy in combination with standard of care external beam radiation therapy to improve disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with intermediate-to-high risk, localized prostate cancer. Patients were randomized and stratified for the use of short-term (< 6 months) androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

CAN-2409 is an investigational, off-the-shelf, replication-defective adenovirus that delivers the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene to tumor cells. CAN-2409, when administered with valacyclovir, is designed to induce immunogenic cell death of tumor cells with exposure of tumor antigens in the context of an activated tumor microenvironment. Together, this regimen is designed to induce an individualized and specific CD8+ T cell-mediated response against the tumor, based on in situ vaccination against a variety of tumor antigens. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that CAN-2409 can be synergistic with local radiotherapy, providing further support for the design of the current phase 3 clinical trial.

"The improvement observed in disease-free survival in this phase 3 clinical trial is clinically meaningful. We have not seen significant advances in this indication in decades. CAN-2409 has demonstrated the potential to significantly improve long-term outcomes without adding substantial toxicity to standard of care radiation," said Glen Gejerman, M.D., MBA, Co-Director of Urologic Oncology at Hackensack Meridian Health, and one of the principal investigators of the study. "If approved, this approach has the potential to transform the treatment paradigm in prostate cancer, offering patients with localized disease an effective treatment option that may reduce the risk of disease recurrence."

Phase 3 Trial Results in Intermediate-High Risk Disease

The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in disease-free survival compared to the control arm.

Key topline results include:

Statistically significant improvement in DFS for CAN-2409 plus radiation therapy (n=496) vs. radiation therapy alone (n=249) (p=0.0155; HR 0.7) in the intent to treat population

14.5% relative improvement in DFS observed at 54 months for the CAN-2409 treatment arm compared to the placebo control arm

DFS improvement was observed both in patients receiving short term ADT and in patients not receiving ADT

In an analysis that focused on prostate-specific outcomes (e.g., censored mortality due to other causes), CAN-2409 showed a highly significant effect (p=0.0046; HR 0.6) on prostate cancer-free survival

Significant increase in the proportion of patients achieving a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir (<0.2 ng/ml) was observed in the treatment arm compared to the placebo control arm (67.1% vs. 58.6%, respectively; p<0.0164)

CAN-2409 induced 80.4% pathological complete responses (pCRs) in the 2-year post-treatment biopsies compared to 63.6% observed in the control arm (p=0.0015)

The median follow-up time for the recruited population was 50.3 months. The primary outcome measure included the evaluation of post-treatment biopsies, performed at two years from the end of radiation, for the presence of tumor recurrence. Local or systemic recurrence and death from any cause were also part of the DFS endpoint.

The safety profile of CAN-2409 was generally consistent with previous studies, with no new safety signals identified. The most common CAN-2409-related adverse events were flu-like symptoms, fever and chills, which were generally mild to moderate in severity and self-limited.

The company also reported today that the phase 2 clinical trial of monotherapy CAN-2409 in 190 patients with low-to-intermediate risk localized prostate cancer undergoing active surveillance showed numerical improvement in time to radical treatment and the percentage of patients achieving negative (prostate cancer-free) biopsies at 1-year post-treatment. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance. The safety profile of CAN-2409 was generally consistent with that reported in the phase 3 clinical trial.

"We are thrilled to report the phase 3 results for CAN-2409 in intermediate-to-high risk, localized prostate cancer," said Paul Peter Tak, M.D., Ph.D., FMedSci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Candel. "This study validates previous observations of CAN-2409 activity seen in difficult-to-treat solid tumors, often resistant to immunotherapy, and confirms our previous observation of synergies with radiation therapy in models of prostate cancer. Importantly, this study was conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on key aspects of study design, meaning that safety and efficacy data generated from the study could be sufficient for the Company to seek regulatory approval for CAN-2409 in this indication. We look forward to working with the FDA, as a next step, to seek approval to bring CAN-2409 to patients in the U.S., and advance our broad viral immunotherapy pipeline across other large oncology indications of high unmet need."

Based on these results, Candel intends to initiate discussions with the FDA regarding the regulatory pathway for CAN-2409 in intermediate-to-high-risk localized prostate cancer. The Company will present the totality of the data for both studies at upcoming medical conferences.

Conference Call and Webcast

Candel will host a webcast and conference call today at 8:30 a.m. EST. The webcast can be accessedand on the Candel website at www.candeltx.comunder News & Events in the IR section of the website. An archived webcast will be available on Candel's website for 30 days following the presentation. Participants may register for the conference callto receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call seamlessly. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to start of the event (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).

About CAN-2409

CAN-2409, Candel's most advanced multimodal biological immunotherapy candidate, is an investigational, off-the-shelf, replication-defective adenovirus designed to deliver the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene to a patient's specific tumor and induce an individualized, systemic immune response against the tumor. HSV-tk is an enzyme that locally converts orally administered valacyclovir into a toxic metabolite that kills nearby cancer cells. Together, this regimen is designed to induce an individualized and specific CD8+ T cell-mediated response against the injected tumor and uninjected distant metastases for broad anti-tumor activity, based on in situ vaccination against a variety of tumor antigens. Because of its versatility, CAN-2409 has the potential to treat a broad range of solid tumors. Encouraging monotherapy activity as well as combination activity with standard of care radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have previously been shown in several preclinical and clinical settings. More than 1,000 patients have been dosed with CAN-2409 with a favorable tolerability profile to date, supporting the potential for combination with other therapeutic strategies without inordinate concern of overlapping adverse events.

Currently, Candel is evaluating CAN-2409 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and localized, non-metastatic prostate cancer in ongoing clinical trials. CAN-2409 plus prodrug (valacyclovir) has been granted Fast Track Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of PDAC, stage III/IV NSCLC in patients who are resistant to first line PD-(L)1 inhibitor therapy and who do not have activating molecular driver mutations or have progressed on directed molecular therapy, and localized primary prostate cancer. Candel's pivotal phase 3 clinical trial in prostate cancer has been conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment agreed with the FDA. The FDA has also granted Orphan Drug Designation to CAN-2409 for the treatment of PDAC.

About Candel Therapeutics

Candel is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing off-the-shelf multimodal biological immunotherapies that elicit an individualized, systemic anti-tumor immune response to help patients fight cancer. Candel has established two clinical stage multimodal biological immunotherapy platforms based on novel, genetically modified adenovirus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) gene constructs, respectively. CAN-2409 is the lead product candidate from the adenovirus platform and is currently in ongoing clinical trials in NSCLC (phase 2) and borderline resectable PDAC (phase 2), and recently completed phase 2b and phase 3 clinical trials in localized, non-metastatic prostate cancer. CAN-3110 is the lead product candidate from the HSV platform and is currently in an ongoing phase 1b clinical trial in recurrent high-grade glioma (rHGG). Finally, Candel's enLIGHTEN Discovery Platform is a systematic, iterative HSV-based discovery platform leveraging human biology and advanced analytics to create new viral immunotherapies for solid tumors.

For more information about Candel, visit: www.candeltx.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain disclosures that contain "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, express or implied statements regarding the expectations regarding the therapeutic benefit of the Company's programs, including the ability of CAN-2409 to improve disease-free survival of patients with intermediate-to-high risk, localized prostate cancer; expectations regarding communications with the FDA and the impact of the phase 3 prostate cancer trial being conducted under an SPA with the FDA. The words "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "target" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties related to the timing and advancement of development programs; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; expectations regarding the therapeutic benefit of the Company's programs; that final data from the Company's pre-clinical studies and completed clinical trials may differ materially from reported interim data from ongoing studies and trials; the Company's ability to efficiently discover and develop product candidates; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of product candidates; the Company's ability to maintain its intellectual property; the implementation of the Company's business model, including strategic plans for the Company's business and product candidates; whether the Company will receive regulatory approval to market products; and other risks identified in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including the Company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and subsequent filings with the SEC. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent the Company's views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date.

Investor Contact:

Theodore Jenkins

VP, Investor Relations and Business Development

Candel Therapeutics, Inc.

tjenkins@candeltx.com

Media Contact:

Ben Shannon

Vice President

ICR Healthcare

CandelPR@icrhealthcare.com
TSXV: PGZ | OTCQX: PGZFF | FRA: 2EU

High tin concentrate grades of 63.2% at recovery rates of 64% calculated from conventional gravity processing





Low levels of penalty elements





Gravity concentration test results show significant additional tin recovered from the tails, increasing overall tin recovery by 10%





Excellent tin metallurgy results value-adding for La Romana economics

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQX: PGZFF) (FRA: 2EU) is pleased to announce positive metallurgical test results from the second phase tin metallurgy test program, with the successful recovery of additional tin from the gravity tailings at the La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery in the Escacena Project, southern Spain.

"The testwork on the La Romana mineralization continues to produce excellent metallurgy results for both copper and tin that stand out relative to other mines on the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The new metallurgy tests were highly successful, confirming that additional tin can be recovered from the gravity tails that would otherwise be lost. The tests show La Romana tin mineralization is well suited to conventional gravity separation to produce high-quality, marketable tin concentrate. These results further enhance our view that the tin mineralization could meaningfully add to the overall project economics and de-risking," said Tim Moody, Pan Global's President & CEO.

Key Results:

A premium high-grade tin concentrate is achievable using conventional gravity separation techniques

Additional tin concentrate can be efficiently recovered from the gravity tails after both rougher and cleaner stage processing using a shaker table and Multi-Gravity Separator

Tin recoveries of 63.9%, representing a 10% overall increase on previous estimates with additional tin recovered from the gravity tails

High tin concentrate grades of 63.2%

Chemical analysis of the final tin concentrates confirmed low levels of deleterious elements such as arsenic, mercury, and antimony that might incur refining penalties

Simple processing flowsheet with conventional gravity separation for tin and flotation for copper requiring less energy-intensive fine grinding compared to mines in the area

Metallurgy work has been done to a level adequate for Preliminary Economic Assessment

Next steps could include closed-circuit testing, such as pilot plant trials on larger volumes of material to optimize concentrate grades and recoveries for pre-feasibility/feasibility studies.

The testwork was conducted by Wardell Armstrong International (United Kingdom), under the coordination and management of Minepro Solutions SL (Spain). The new results complement the previous positive metallurgy testwork on La Romana copper/tin/silver mineralization that showed the potential to produce high quality, clean, saleable copper concentrate by conventional flotation, and produce premium quality, high-grade tin concentrate with good recoveries by conventional gravity separation (see media releases dated March 21, 2024 and April 3, 2024),

Second Phase Tailings Testwork Program for Tin

The purpose of this program was to investigate the potential for recovering additional tin from the fine fractions of the gravity tailings after initial processing, and also enhance the overall efficiency of the recovery process and economics of the project.

Initial gravity separation tests proved significantly more effective for recovering tin from tailings compared to flotation methods. Detailed gravity separation tests on the gravity tails were then conducted on two size fractions: coarser (-53+38 microns) and finer (-38 microns). The coarser fraction was processed using conventional shaker tables and the finer fraction was processed using a Multi-Gravity Separator, to produce tin concentrates after both rougher and cleaner stages, and recirculation to enhance the overall recovery efficiency. See Figure 1 below.

Closed-circuit interpretation results

All the metallurgical testwork to recover tin concentrates has been under open-circuit conditions where a portion of tin may be lost or unaccounted for, either as middlings or tailings products. Following the success in recovering additional tin from the finer fraction of the gravity tails, a mass balance calculation was performed by Minepro to simulate what might be achieved under closed-circuit conditions.

The mass balance calculation gave a projected final tin concentrate grade of 63.2%, and tin recovery rates of 63.9%. The calculation is based on the open-circuit results and similar deposits in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, assuming tin recoveries of 90% from the middlings and 25% from tailings. These results will be verified in further testing, including closed-circuit testing, such as pilot plant trials.

About the Escacena Project

The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Escacena is located near the operating mine at Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage to allow new mine construction to commence. The Escacena Project hosts Pan Global's La Romana copper-tin-silver and Canada Honda copper-gold discoveries, and a number of other prospective targets, including, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, Romana Norte, San Pablo, Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, and Cortijo.

About Pan Global Resources

Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively targeting copper-rich mineral deposits, given copper's compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one low-risk jurisdiction for mining investment. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations - all of which are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles, of the United Nations Global Compact.

Qualified Persons

Alvaro Merino, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information for this media release. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company.

Forward-looking statements

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Jason Mercier, VP Investor Relations and Communications, jason@panglobalresources.com / investors@panglobalresources.com, Tel: +1-236-886-9518, www.panglobalresources.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pan-global-achieves-excellent-tin-recoveries-with-phase-two-metallurgical-program-at-the-la-romana-cu-sn-ag-deposit-spain-302328632.html
New Stock Ticker Symbol: QCCU will become XXIX on the TSXV as of market open on December 11, 2024.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - XXIX Metal Corp . (TSXV: XXIX) (OTCQB: QCCUF) ("XXIX" or the "Company") is pleased to announced that effective today the Company's common shares ("Common Shares") will officially begin trading on the TSX Venture Exchange as "XXIX Metal Corp." and its stock ticker symbol will change from "QCCU" to "XXIX".

"With the acquisition and rebranding now complete, we are excited to move forward as XXIX, and continue to develop both Opemiska and Thierry, enhancing their scale and establishing the Company as one of Eastern Canada's largest copper developers with a multi-billion-pound resource portfolio," said Stephen Stewart, CEO of XXIX.

No action is required by XXIX shareholders in connection with this ticker symbol change. In connection with the name change, the following new CUSIP 901320101 and ISIN CA9013201012 numbers have been assigned to the Common Shares. The ticker symbol change is in relation to the company rebranding as XXIX Metal Corp., reflecting its recent acquisition of Cuprum Corp. and its Thierry copper project, located in Pickle Lake, Ontario.

Link to XXIX's Corporate Presentation

About XXIX Metal Corp .

XXIX is advancing its Opemiska and Thierry Copper projects, two significant Canadian copper assets. The Opemiska Project, Canada's highest-grade copper resource, spans 13,000 hectares in Quebec's Chapais-Chibougamau region, with strong infrastructure and nearby access to the Horne Smelter. A January 2024 resource update reported a 16% increase in contained Copper Equivalent (CuEq) and a 10% grade boost, including 87.3 million tonnes at 0.93% CuEq (Measured & Indicated) and additional Out of Pit resources. The Thierry Project hosts two past-producing open pits that transitioned to underground mining-producing 5.8Mt @ 1.13% Cu, 0.14% Ni between 1976 - 1982 by UMEX Inc. Historically, copper concentrate was shipped to the Horne Smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, QC. Significant infrastructure is already in place, with the Thierry property being accessible via all-season road, an airport within 5km, a provincial power grid within 8km, and nearby rail. With these two high-potential projects, the Company has solidified its position as a key player in the Canadian copper sector, and has established itself as one of Eastern Canada's largest copper developer.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this news release. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this news release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Specific forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements pertaining to the commencement of trading of the Common Shares on the TSXV under the new name and new stock ticker. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth above and elsewhere in this news release. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are given only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233325

SOURCE: XXIX Metal Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTC Pink: EQTRF) ("Altamira" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the discovery of a new gold target, identified as part of the ongoing exploration program within the Cajueiro district which is targeting porphyry-related gold mineralization.

Highlights:

Geological mapping, soil sampling and trenching at the Guillermo target, 2.5 km to the north-east of the Central Resource area within the Cajueiro mineralized district has identified a new high-ranking potential porphyry target. The gold-in-soil anomaly is open to the east and is surrounded on all sides by historic placer gold workings.

Rock grab sampling within the gold-in-soil anomaly of altered intrusive rocks, containing hydrothermal quartz veining and oxidized pyrite, returned 39g/t gold. A second grab sample from the same locality returned 1.1 g/t gold.

The identification of another gold target brings the number of new gold targets within a defined belt east of the Maria Bonita porphyry to three (Mombaque, Espirro and Guillermo). Thus far, only the Maria Bonita porphyry target has been drilled with initial drill results up to 146m @ 1g/t gold.

CEO Mike Bennett commented; "Our progressive surface program in the Cajueiro district continues to identify exciting new gold targets through a combination of mapping, soil and rock sampling, plus drone magnetics. The Guillermo target is located 2.5 km to the north-east of the Cajueiro Central Resource area and was identified by a partially completed soil grid. Anomalous soil samples were followed up to reveal gold mineralization in rock grab samples on surface and subsequent trenching has exposed a quartz vein stockwork within altered felsic to intermediate volcanics and felsic porphyritic dykes. Guillermo is the third new gold target discovered in the last three months following the drilling of the Maria Bonita gold porphyry discovery and continues to suggest the presence of a significant district-scale potential in the Cajueiro area."

CAJUEIRO PROJECT

The Cajueiro project is located approximately 75km NW of the town of Alta Floresta in the state of Mato Grosso (Figure 1) in central western Brazil and is easily accessible by road and has grid power and a local water supply. Cajueiro is the most advanced of three key projects that Altamira controls in the region, the other two being Apiacas and Santa Helena (Figure1).

Figure 1: Location of the Cajueiro, Apiacas and Santa Helena projects.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/233318_1ced2015a4bd9a60_001full.jpg

The Cajueiro project has current NI 43-101 resources* of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000 oz in the Inferred Resource category.

Reconnaissance drilling at the Maria Bonita target, located 7km west of the Cajueiro Central Mineral Resource, identified the first gold porphyry discovery at Cajueiro and returned gold values up to 146m @ 1g/t gold (see press release dated May 22, 2024).

Guillermo Target

The Guillermo target is located 2.5km north-east of the Cajueiro Mineral Resource and 8.7km east of the Maria Bonita gold porphyry (Figure 2). This area is also located 1.2km east of the Morro Verde target. A single prior scout drillhole at the Morro Verde target (CAJ-098 drilled in 2017) was re-examined as part of the ongoing exploration programme and found to contain an intrusive breccia body in the lowermost 110m of the hole, indicating proximity to a centre of hydrothermal activity.

Figure 2: Cajueiro project area showing the location of the existing Cajueiro Mineral Resource, the Maria Bonita discovery, and the Mombaque, Espirro and Guillermo targets.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/233318_1ced2015a4bd9a60_002full.jpg

Figure 2 shows historic placer workings surrounding the Guillermo target, with currently no known hard-rock source. Similar historic placer gold workings are related to the Mombaque and Espirro targets located between the Cajueiro and Maria Bonita drilled areas. At Guillermo, the alluvial workings form an almost complete circle around the prospect, implying that gold is shedding in various directions into the local drainages.

The Guillermo target was identified as the highest priority geophysical target by consultant geophysicist Guillermo Rodriguez, using proprietary aeromagnetics and radiometrics acquired by the Company. These anomalies are currently being re-flown using a Company owned and operated drone magnetometer to further define the anomalies and provide additional input to target ranking for ground follow-up.

Within the recently opened trenches (Figure 3), the extension of observed north-east structural trends correlates with the upper limit of alluvial workings, approximately 1.2km north of the trench locations.

An incomplete soil grid identifies the western part of the Guillermo target (Figure 3). Soil values up to 845ppb gold were recorded in the original survey, conducted with a sample spacing of 100 by 25m. Anomalies were detected on four adjacent lines (300m east-west). The soil grid is currently being extended to the east.

Figure 3: Cajueiro gold-in-soil grid sampling showing the location of the Guillermo target. Note also the position of the Tavares North soil anomaly (undrilled) which may represent a faulted offset of the Baldo sector of the Cajueiro resource.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/233318_1ced2015a4bd9a60_003full.jpg

Follow-up mapping and sampling of the Guillermo target identified significant areas of stockwork quartz veining in volcanic and intrusive porphyritic rocks (see Figures 4 and 5). Results were returned on an initial six surface grab samples. Noting that surface grab samples are not representative of bulk grade, the results included one sample of 39g/t gold and another of 1.1g/t gold in sericitized and quartz veined volcanics.

Figure 4: Stockwork veining in the eastern wall of the initial trench excavated at Guillermo target. Note geological hammer for scale.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/233318_1ced2015a4bd9a60_004full.jpg

Figure 5: Grab rock samples hosting 39g/t Au from Guillermo target.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/233318_1ced2015a4bd9a60_005full.jpg

The Company is awaiting the results of sampling of the initial trenches over the Guillermo gold-in-soil anomaly and is conducting drone magnetics to assist in identifying a near-term scout drill target. The combination of, an unexplained alluvial gold source, hydrothermally altered volcanics overprinted by felsic porphyritic intrusives, an open-ended soil anomaly and high-grade gold in outcrop, plus stockwork hydrothermal quartz veining in two new trenches comprise a potentially significant new target for drill testing.

Qualified Person

Guillermo Hughes, FAIG and M AusIMM., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

About Altamira Gold Corp.

The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold and copper projects within western central Brazil. The Company holds 6 projects comprising approximately 190,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Company's advanced Cajueiro project has NI 43-101 resources of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000oz in the Inferred Resource category.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

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.

The securities described herein have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the extension of the Warrants. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or 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 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 and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Notes

Gold analysis has been conducted by SGS method FAA505 (fire assay of 50g charge), with higher grade samples checked by FAA525. Analytical quality is monitored by certified references and blanks. Until dispatch, samples are stored under the supervision the Company's exploration office. The samples are couriered to the assay laboratory using a commercial contractor. Pulps are returned to the Company and archived. Drill holes results are quoted as down-hole length weighted intersections.

* NI 43-101 Technical Report, Cajueiro Project, Mineral Resource Estimate: Global Resource Engineering, Denver Colorado USA, October 10, 2019; Authors K. Gunesch, PE; H. Samari, QP-MMSA; T. Harvey, QP-MMSA

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233318

SOURCE: Altamira Gold Corp.
BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - The United States has imposed sanctions on a China-based cybersecurity company and one of its employees for their roles in attacking tens of thousands of firewalls worldwide, including firewalls at U.S. critical infrastructure companies.The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Sichuan Silence Information Technology Company, Limited, and one of its researchers, Guan Tianfeng.Simultaneously, a federal court in Hammond, Indiana, unsealed an indictment Tuesday charging Guan Tianfeng for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack indiscriminately into firewall devices worldwide in 2020 April.Additionally, the U.S. Department of State has offered up to $10 million under its Rewards for Justice program for providing information about Sichuan Silence or Guan.According to the Treasury, Between April 22 and 25, 2020, Guan Tianfeng deployed malware to approximately 81,000 firewalls owned by thousands of businesses worldwide. The purpose of the exploit was to use the compromised firewalls to steal data, including usernames and passwords. Guan also attempted to infect the victims' systems with the Ragnarok ransomware variant, which disables anti-virus software and encrypts the computers on a victim's network if they attempt to remedy the compromise.More than 23,000 of the compromised firewalls were in the United States. Of these firewalls, 36 were protecting U.S. critical infrastructure companies' systems. If any of these victims had failed to patch their systems to mitigate the exploit, or cybersecurity measures had not identified and quickly remedied the intrusion, the potential impact of the Ragnarok ransomware attack could have resulted in serious injury or the loss of human life.One victim was a U.S. energy company that was actively involved in drilling operations at the time of the compromise. If this compromise had not been detected, and the ransomware attack not been thwarted, it could have caused oil rigs to malfunction potentially causing a significant loss in human life, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSXV:FLT)(OTCQX:TAKOF)(FSE:ABBA) is pleased to announce the integration of key assets and capabilities from Air Data Systems (ADS), based in the United Kingdom, marking a strategic expansion of its global aerial solutions ecosystem. This collaborative arrangement strengthens Volatus' position as a leader in aerial intelligence and logistics by opening doors to new opportunities and partnerships in critical industries.

ADS specializes in streamlining large-scale and complex surveys and data acquisition projects for industrial applications such as asset management, inspection services, oil & gas, utilities, and environmental services.

The transaction, structured with a success-fee model tied to future contract outcomes, aligns the interests of both organizations and highlights the significant potential of this collaboration. As part of this agreement, Volatus has acquired the ADS brand, website, and domain, along with a robust 5 million sales opportunity pipeline.

To further enhance this partnership, Mark Currass, former Managing Director of ADS, has joined Volatus Aerospace as Executive Consultant, Global Business Development. With decades of expertise in the UAS sector and a proven track record of delivering results, Mark will spearhead growth initiatives and leverage the combined capabilities of Volatus and ADS to unlock new markets and drive innovation.

"The integration of Air Data Systems into the Volatus ecosystem represents a powerful joining of forces," said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace. "Mark's leadership and expertise, combined with the opportunities this partnership brings, will enable us to expand our global reach, strengthen our industry-leading capabilities, and deliver unmatched value to our clients in sectors such as oil and gas, power utilities, public safety, and agriculture."

This partnership also reinforces Volatus' extensive capabilities, including expertise in beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, advanced thermography solutions, and geomatics services. With over 10,000 BVLOS flights completed and an industry-leading operations control center, Volatus continues to set benchmarks for innovation and operational excellence.

About Volatus Aerospace

Volatus Aerospace is a leader in innovative global aerial solutions for intelligence and cargo. With deep technological and subject matter expertise and over 100 years' worth of combined institutional knowledge in aviation, Volatus provides meaningful aerial solutions for end users across various industries using both piloted and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS or drones). We are committed to enhancing operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability through innovative, real-world aerial solutions.

About Air Data Systems

Air Data Systems specializes in innovative Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) solutions, providing expert services across multiple industries. ADS brings decades of experience in technology, engineering, and regulatory compliance, now seamlessly integrated into Volatus Aerospace's global ecosystem.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the anticipated benefits of, and estimated revenue to be generated by, the master service agreement; (ii) the business plans and expectations of the Company; and (iii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs of management as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that 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 the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the anticipated benefits and revenues of the master service agreement to the Company; the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV; and including, but not limited to, those factors set forth in the Company's Annual Information Form under the section "Risk Factors". 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 information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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.

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 news release.

TSXV: FLT.V

Media Contact

Danielle Gagne

Head of Marketing and Communications

danielle.gagne@volatusaerospace.com

+1-579-977-5066

SOURCE: Volatus Aerospace Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Fuerte Metals Corporation (TSXV: FMT) (OTCQB: FUEMF) ("Fuerte" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from the most recent five holes of a diamond drilling program at its wholly-owned Cristina precious metals project in southwestern Chihuahua State, Mexico.

Fuerte has now reported thirty holes totalling 7,936.5 metres of drilling as part of a 40-50 hole, 21,000 metre drill program. The Cristina project consists of multiple outcropping quartz veins that are frequently greater than 10 metres in width and extend for at least a five-kilometre strike length. Four parallel mineralized vein zones have been mapped and sampled to date, with most of the existing mineral resource estimate at Cristina contained within only one of the vein zones, the Guadalupe vein (Figure 1). These latest results are widely spaced expansion holes from two additional vein areas, Los Ingleses and Mexico Libre. The two holes reported from Los Ingleses are located approximately 2 km to the north of the Guadalupe vein system, while the three holes reported here from Mexico Libre are approximately 800 m NE of Guadalupe (Figure 1).

Drilling Highlights

Highlights of the holes reported here, from the Los Ingleses and Mexico Libre vein systems, include:

7.5 g/t AuEq over 2.8 m estimated true width (ETW) (1.9 g/t Au, 67 g/t Ag, 6.81% Zn, 1.06% Pb and 0.42% Cu) in hole ACD-24-247 in the Los Ingleses vein system This 2.8 m wide intercept occurs within a broader mineralized zone measuring 3.8 g/t AuEq over 9.0 m ETW (1.5 g/t Au, 42 g/t Ag, 2.48% Zn, 0.48 % Pb, 0.18% Cu)

7.5 g/t AuEq over 7.5 m ETW (5.3 g/t Au, 40 g/t Ag, 1.98% Zn, 1.01% Pb and 0.16% Cu) in hole ACD-24-248 in the Mexico Libre vein system This 7.5 m wide intercept occurs within a broader mineralized zone measuring 3.6 g/t AuEq over 17.5 m ETW (2.4 g/t Au, 23 g/t Ag, 1.00% Zn, 0.49 % Pb, 0.08% Cu)

8.1 g/t AuEq over 0.8 m ETW (2.7 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag, 7.66% Zn, 1.58 % Pb, 0.15% Cu) in hole ACD-24-249 in the Mexico Libre vein system

14.3 g/t AuEq over 3.0 m ETW (8.6 g/t Au, 91 g/t Ag, 6.16% Zn, 1.41 % Pb, 0.40% Cu) in hole ACD-24-250 in the Mexico Libre vein system

Tim Warman, Atacama's CEO, commented: "The Los Ingleses and Mexico Libre veins have seen very little drilling to date, so it's especially encouraging to see multiple high-grade intercepts from both these areas, especially the gold-rich intercepts at Mexico Libre. The current drilling program has been extremely successful thus far in discovering, defining and extending the higher-grade zones that we've encountered in all the vein systems we've drilled to date. These multiple higher-grade zones will form the basis for the underground resource estimate that will follow completion of the 21,000 m drilling program in Q3 of next year."

Geology and Context of Results

Holes ACD-24-246 and -247 were drilled as part of a seven hole pattern on the Los Ingleses vein system (Figure 2):

ACD-24-246 encountered a narrow zone of mineralisation beneath previous higher-grade intercepts in ACD-24-245, as seen on section A-A' (Figures 2 & 3) and defines the base of a newly discovered high-grade zone open to the east

ACD-24-247 is the most westerly of the recent holes at Los Ingleses and shows one of the best intercepts to date from this vein, with 7.5 g/t AuEq over 2.8 m ETW. This hole is the only one on this section, and there is an almost 1.4 km untested gap to the west of ACD-24-247. Mineralisation remains open both vertically and along strike to the west (Figures 2 & 4) in this second newly discovered high-grade zone at Los Ingleses.

Holes ACD-24-248, -249 and -250 were drilled as part of a five-hole pattern along approximately 380 metres of strike length on the Mexico Libre vein (Figure 5).

ACD-24-248 encountered a wide zone of high-grade, gold-rich mineralization (7.5 g/t AuEq over 7.5 m ETW) that can be traced for at least 150 m along strike from previous holes ACD-19-121 (17.1 g/t AuEq over 1.5 m ETW) in the west to ACD-19-103 (15.2 g/t AuEq over 3.6 m ETW) in the east. This drill hole adds confidence to the continuity of this high-grade body, with potential for additional high-grade bodies along strike. (Figures 5 & 7).

ACD-24-249 was drilled approximately 130 m southwest of ACD-24-248 and intercepted a narrower zone of high-grade mineralisation (8.1 g/t AuEq over 0.8 m ETW) in the Mexico Libre vein (Figures 5 & 6). This intercept expands the high-grade body to the west for a total strike length of over 250 metres.

ACD-24-250 was collared 90 m NE of ACD-24-248 and intercepted 14.3 g/t AuEq over 3.0 m ETW, demonstrating the continuity of this gold rich zone along strike and adding confidence in the high-grade body towards its eastern end. (Figures 5 & 8).

The thirty holes completed to date in 2024 have successfully defined a series of continuous higher-grade zones extending over several hundred vertical metres within the main Guadalupe vein, and now within the Los Ingleses and Mexico Libre vein systems. These higher-grade zones remain open along strike and at depth.

The Cristina deposit is an epithermal to mesothermal vein system where the mineralisation is predominantly gold and silver, with lesser base metal values. At least four known parallel vein zones trend east-west to northeast-southwest and are hosted in an andesitic volcanic sequence which forms part of the Lower Volcanic Sequence of the Sierra Madre Occidental range. The andesites are intercalated locally with dacitic intrusions and related lava flows and breccias, and the sequence is in turn cut by andesitic and hornblende-plagioclase porphyry following fault trends. In some areas the veins are covered by post-mineral rhyolite of the Upper Volcanic Sequence.





Figure 1 - Known vein systems and existing drill holes at the Cristina Project. Resource pit in Figures 1 through 8 is based on the National Instrument 43-101 compliant report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource for the Cristina Project" prepared for TCP1 Corporation and Atacama Copper Corporation by Independent Mining Consultants Inc., with an effective date of January 1, 2023, and issue date of December 1, 2023.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/233305_9488c02b94e7aa9c_001full.jpg





Figure 2 - Location of drill holes and cross-sections from the current release, Los Ingleses vein system.

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/233305_9488c02b94e7aa9c_002full.jpg





Figure 3 - Cross-section A-A' through the Los Ingleses vein system with holes ACD-24-245 and -246.

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/233305_9488c02b94e7aa9c_003full.jpg





Figure 4 - Cross-section B-B' through the Los Ingleses vein system showing multiple, near-surface high-grade vein intercepts in hole ACD-24-247. This high-grade zone remains open vertically and laterally to the west.

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Figure 5 - Location map of the Mexico Libre vein system, with current and historical drill holes, as well as cross section locations for this release.

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7505/233305_9488c02b94e7aa9c_005full.jpg





Figure 6 - Cross-section C-C' through the Mexico Libre vein system showing near-surface vein intercept in hole ACD-24-249. This section is at the western end of five holes drilled over approximately 380 m of strike length along the Mexico Libre vein.

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Figure 7 - Cross-section D-D' through the Mexico Libre vein system showing the wide, near-surface high-grade vein intercept in hole ACD-24-248.

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Figure 8 - Cross-section E-E' through the Mexico Libre vein system showing the near-surface high-grade vein intercept in hole ACD-24-250.

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Table 1: Detailed Drill Results

Drill Hole From

(m) To

(m) Drill

length

(m) Est.

True

width

(m) Au

g/t Ag

g/t Zn

% Pb

% Cu

% AuEq

g/t Vein System ACD24-246 233.3 234.8 1.5 0.90 3.4 5.7 0.13 0.06 0.01 3.6 Los Ingleses ACD24-247 249.1 264.40 15.3 9.00 1.5 41.7 2.48 0.48 0.18 3.8 Los Ingleses incl. 256.8 261.4 4.6 2.80 1.9 66.8 6.81 1.06 0.42 7.5 Los Ingleses ACD24-248 67.5 89.0 21.5 17.50 2.4 23.0 1.00 0.49 0.08 3.6 Mex. Libre incl. 69.0 78.4 9.4 7.50 5.3 40.0 1.98 1.01 0.16 7.5 Mex. Libre incl. 71.0 73.9 2.9 2.40 11.9 69.2 3.97 1.88 0.25 16.0 Mex. Libre ACD24-249 110.1 113.1 3.0 2.40 1.3 21.0 3.01 0.75 0.06 3.5 Mex. Libre incl. 112.1 113.1 1.0 0.80 2.7 38.6 7.66 1.58 0.15 8.1 Mex. Libre ACD24-250 85.5 89.2 3.70 3.00 8.6 95.2 6.16 1.41 0.40 14.3 Mex. Libre incl. 85.5 87.7 2.20 1.80 14.2 143.0 9.75 2.17 0.65 23.2 Mex. Libre

Gold equivalent formula: AuEq = Au + 0.014*Ag + 0.532*Zn + 0.379*Pb + 1.525*Cu (recoveries were assumed to be 100%). Metal Prices used: $1700/oz Au, $23.61/oz Ag, $1.32/lb Zn, $0.94/lb Pb and $3.78/lb Cu.

The goal of targeting the higher-grade zones within the main Guadalupe Vein, as well as other high-grade veins in the area, is to both increase the size and the grade of the resource and demonstrate the underground resource potential at Cristina. The current, primarily open-pit mineral resource estimate comprises:

Indicated resources of 17.5 Mt at 0.51 g/t gold, 33.8 g/t silver, 0.47% zinc, 0.19% lead and 0.04% copper (1.33 g/t AuEq grade), for a contained 752,000 gold-equivalent ounces.

Inferred resources of 19.0 Mt at 0.51 g/t gold, 27.5 g/t silver, 0.50% zinc, 0.19% lead and 0.05% copper (1.27 g/t AuEq grade), for a contained 777,000 gold-equivalent ounces.

Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control Procedures

Drill core at the Cristina project is predominately HQ size with a diameter of 63.5 mm. Drill core samples are generally 1.50 m long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer intervals if required to suit geological constraints. After logging intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut and one half is submitted for assay. Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up approximately 5% of the samples submitted to the laboratory for each drill hole. Samples are transported to lab facilities in Durango or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is carried out by ALS Labs, with fire assay, including over limits fire assay re-analysis, and multi-element analysis completed in North Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least 85% passing 75 microns. Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (Au-AA25). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid digestion of a 0.25-gram sample split (ME-ICP61) with detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for a full suite of elements. Gold assay technique Au-AA25 has an upper detection limit of 100 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish via method Au-GRA21. Silver analyses by ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with over-limit silver values are first re-analyzed by ICP with a larger 0.4 g sample split, which has an upper limit of 1,500 ppm. Silver assays above 1,500 ppm are re-analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish Ag-GRA21. ALS Labs is an ISO/IEC accredited assay laboratory.

Qualified Person

Mr. Charlie Ronkos, MMSA is Fuerte's EVP Exploration and the Qualified Person who has approved the technical information disclosed in this release.

Mr. Jacob W. Richey, P.E. of IMC is the Qualified Person responsible for the MRE. Details of the Cristina MRE can be found in the Company's press release of October 30, 2023, and in the National Instrument 43-101 compliant report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource for the Cristina Project" prepared for TCP1 Corporation and Atacama Copper Corporation by Independent Mining Consultants Inc., with an effective date of January 1, 2023, and issue date of December 1, 2023. This report is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website.

About Fuerte Metals Corporation

Fuerte Metals is a well-funded resource company adding value through the acquisition, exploration, and development of copper and precious metals projects in the Americas. The company is carrying out a 21,000 m drilling campaign at its Cristina precious metals project in Chihuahua Mexico, with the goal of significantly expanding the existing mineral resource estimate with a focus on underground mining. In Chile, the Placeton/Caballo Muerto project hosts several untested porphyry copper targets situated between the large-scale Relincho and El Morro/La Fortuna copper-gold deposits of the Nueva Union joint venture between Teck and Newmont Mining.

Additional Information

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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 news 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", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" 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, the anticipated timing of drilling and management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. 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 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 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233305

SOURCE: Fuerte Metals Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Bell Copper Corporation (TSXV: BCU) (OTCQB: BCUFF) ("Bell Copper" or the "Company reports an update on the three year research program being performed by the Arizona Geological Survey ("AZGS"), in collaboration with the University of Arizona Department of Geosciences ("UA"). These entities, funded by the United States Geological Survey and the State of Arizona, are assessing the potential resources of critical minerals in Arizona, including the Company's 100% owned Big Sandy porphyry copper project, a large, concealed porphyry copper-molybdenum project located in northwestern Arizona, approximately 30 kilometers from the Company's Perseverance Project.

Big Sandy Research

Ongoing research of Bell Copper's Big Sandy BS-3 drill core led by Dr. Carson Richardson of AZGS and by Dr. Herve Rezeau of UA, is ultimately directed toward evaluating Big Sandy's role (alongside porphyry copper occurrences across Arizona) in addressing the US's supply of critical elements, notably copper, molybdenum, rhenium, and antimony. Exports of antimony by China, the world's largest supplier, were halted in an outright ban last week, highlighting the need to identify secure domestic supplies of this element, used primarily in munitions and specialty adhesives.

Results of AZGS's and UA's independent age dating of zircon from porphyry in Bell Copper's BS-3 porphyry intersection and zircon from the Diamond Joe porphyry root were presented in September at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (Chappell et al., 2024). This research concluded that "the geochronology of the igneous phases in the two locales overlaps within error" which "supports the hypothesis that Big Sandy is the offset upper portion of the Diamond Joe porphyry system."

AZGS's and UA's analysis of the BS-3 drill core by reflected light microscopy (photos below) shows that primary copper mineralization "mainly consists of quartz-sulfide-sulfosalt veinlets associated with pervasive sericitization of the porphyry host rock. Petrographic analysis shows that subsequent chalcopyrite and bornite as well as galena, sphalerite, and tennantite-tetrahedrite (fahlore) (Figs. B, C) postdate the deposition of pyrite hosting chalcopyrite and bornite inclusions (Fig. A). More localized Cu-rich sulfides include digenite, bornite, and covellite, which crosscut, brecciate, and fill fractures within the earlier mineral assemblages (Figs. D, E). Quartz-pyrite-molybdenite-chalcopyrite and quartz-pyrite-molybdenite veinlets along with some of these veinlets crosscut the Cu-rich sulfide-pyrite mineralization, indicating multiple episodes of pyrite and molybdenite precipitation."

Beneath the upper 200-meter interval of traditional weathering-related supergene copper enrichment in BS-3, the textures in these photographs demonstrate the operation at Big Sandy of primary, or "hypogene copper enrichment", during magmatic-hydrothermal activity. This primary enrichment, which produced elevated copper grades at porphyry deposits such as Resolution, Arizona and Butte, Montana, is believed to represent deep copper remobilization driven by heated, surface-derived fluids circulating through the system, likely powered by coeval underlying magmatic activity (Brimhall, 1979, 1980).

Mineral abbreviations: bn, bornite; cc, chalcocite; cp, chalcopyrite; dg, digenite; fh, fahlore (tennantite-tetrahedrite); gn, galena; py, pyrite; sp, sphalerite. Black bar in each panel is 100 microns (0.1 mm).

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Furthermore, in the BS-3 drill cores, AZGS and UA conclude that "the tennantite-tetrahedrite (fahlore) compositions exhibit a compositional continuum compared to those hosted in the Diamond Joe pluton. Considering the ore mineral zonation and tennantite-tetrahedrite composition, the Big Sandy prospect presents characteristics compatible with an outer mineralized shell of a porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, where the central copper-rich part is yet to be discovered." Tetrahedrite (copper antimony sulfide) is a potential source of the critical element antimony.

"Bell Copper is pleased to see the close alignment with AZGS and UA regarding the nature of the Big Sandy porphyry copper system as disclosed so far in drillhole BS-3. The Company continues to engage with major copper miners to secure strategic financing to get our drill turning again at Big Sandy, while a rejuvenation of previously dysfunctional mining capital markets, spurred by the U.S presidential election and emphasized by recent disruptions in global critical mineral supply chains, is providing new avenues to obtain the needed funds. In the drilling lull since August, the Company has extended its permit with the Arizona State Land Department to drill eight additional holes from the BS-4 site through October 2025. We remain committed to delivering thorough follow-up drilling of the significant copper discovery at Big Sandy."

- Dr. Tim Marsh, Bell Copper President & CEO.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Marsh, PhD, PEng., the Company's CEO and President. No mineral resource has yet been identified on the Big Sandy Project. There is no certainty that the present exploration effort will result in the identification of a mineral resource or that any mineral resource that might be discovered will prove to be economically recoverable.

About Bell Copper

Bell Copper is a mineral exploration company focused on the identification, exploration and discovery of large copper deposits located in Arizona. Bell Copper is exploring its 100% owned Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Project and the Perseverance Porphyry Copper Project which is under a Joint Venture - Earn In.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Bell Copper Corporation

"Timothy Marsh"

Timothy Marsh, President, CEO & Director

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.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the ability of Bell to identify a mineral resource at the Perseverance or Big Sandy Projects. There is no certainty that the present exploration effort will result in the identification of a mineral resource or that any mineral resource that might be discovered will prove to be economically recoverable. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Bell Copper operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies.

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 expectations include: that the Company may not complete a strategic financing on terms favourable to the Company or at all; actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233278

SOURCE: Bell Copper Corporation
IRVING (dpa-AFX) - ExxonMobil (XOM) announced its Corporate Plan to 2030 to create significant upside potential for shareholders. Over the next six years, the company expects to generate an additional $20 billion in earnings potential and $30 billion in cash flow potential. It plans to grow earnings at a CAGR of 10% and cash flow at 8% and has plans to achieve an additional $7 billion in structural cost savings by simplifying business processes, optimizing supply chains, further enhancing maintenance turnaround processes, and modernizing information technology and data management systems. Following acquisition and integration of Pioneer, ExxonMobil expects to achieve more than $3 billion in annual synergies, a more than 50% increase from prior guidance. In 2025, the company expects cash capital expenditures to be in the range of $27 to $29 billion. From 2026 to 2030, base capex is consistent, the company said.ExxonMobil plans to deliver an additional $9 billion in Upstream annual earnings potential - more than 50% higher than in 2024. The company expects Product Solutions business to grow annual earnings potential by an additional $8 billion by 2030, at average 2010-2019 margins - a 10% CAGR. The company expects its Low Carbon Solutions business to grow earnings contributions by $2 billion in 2030 versus 2024.The company expects to roughly double production in the Permian Basin to approximately 2.3 Moebd by 2030. Total Upstream production is expected to reach 5.4 Moebd by 2030.ExxonMobil announced plans for two additional developments in Guyana, Hammerhead and Longtail, bringing the total number of developments to eight by 2030. Total production capacity in Guyana, on an investment basis, is projected to reach 1.7 million barrels per day with gross production growing to 1.3 million barrels per day by 2030.The company continues to expect to repurchase shares at a $20 billion annual pace in 2025, and announced plans for a further $20 billion of share repurchases in 2026.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
University of Toronto Press is pleased to represent Bristol University Press on campuses in North America, increasing access to international educational materials.

University of Toronto Press (UTP), Canada's largest university press and leading academic publisher, is pleased to announce it is now representing Bristol University Press, a UK-based academic publisher, across college and university campuses in Canada and the U.S. This collaboration marks an expansion of UTP's sales representation in the region.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211260882/en/

UTP's sales team will represent Bristol University Press titles alongside its own as well as titles published by other university presses, including Hopkins University Press. This includes textbooks, digital content, and other resources designed to support university and college-level teaching and learning. This initiative enriches the diversity of academic resources available to educators and students and underscores UTP's commitment to broadening its sales offerings for academic institutions.

"We are seeing growing demand for diverse, high-quality resources that directly enhance the educational experience. As we continue to expand strategic partnerships to meet this demand, we are thrilled to work with Bristol University Press to represent its internationally respected scholarship," says Antonia Pop, Vice President, Publishing at UTP. "Our team has strong, personal relationships with universities and colleges across North America, ensuring direct and meaningful presence in the region."

"We are delighted to work with UTP to represent our authors in the higher education community in Canada and the U.S.," says Alison Shaw, CEO of Bristol University Press. "Many of our titles address the social, economic, political and environmental challenges the world faces and will be impactful additions to universities and colleges where these discussions are already taking place."

Leveraging its unique position as an academic publisher with a dedicated campus sales team, UTP continues to foster global connections and contribute to a more vibrant and sustainable educational landscape in North America.

About Bristol University Press

Winner of the IPA Independent Academic and Professional Publisher of the Year 2024 award, Bristol University Press, along with its imprint Policy Press, is a UK-based academic publisher committed to publishing high-quality international scholarship in the social sciences and aligned disciplines, with a focus on global social challenges. For more information, please visit https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/.

About the University of Toronto Press

The University of Toronto Press (UTP) is one of the largest university presses in North America, publishing landmark scholarship since 1901. Each year UTP releases over 250 new scholarly, course, and general interest books in both print and ebook format and over 80 journals. In addition, UTP manages the distribution for over 200 publishers and imprints in Canada, the US, and around the world, with warehouses in Toronto, Ontario and Buffalo, New York. UTP also runs all of the University of Toronto Bookstores across the three main campuses, serving over 95,000 students and 15,000 faculty. For more information, please visit utorontopress.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211260882/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA

Anne-Marie Tremble, Senior Account Manager, Talk Shop Media

annemarie@talkshopmedia.com 613-914-3551
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Mercedes-Benz Group AG (MBGAF), a German multinational automotive company, Wednesday announced appointment of new members to its board in 2025. The company said Mathias Geisen, Oliver Thone, and Olaf Schick will be appointed as new board members.Sabine Kohleisen, Renata Jungo Brungger, and Hubertus Troska will step down from the board as they retire and contracts expire.In addition, Sabine Kohleisen, board member for Human Relations (HR) and Labour Director, is expected to step down on April 30, 2025, as she requested the supervisory board not to extend her contract, which expires at the end of November 2025.Britta Seeger, board member for Marketing & Sales, will take over Sabine Kohleisen's position from May 1, 2025. Britta Seeger will hand over sales responsibilities and start her induction into the role of board member for HR and Labour Director on March 1, 2025.Mathias Geisen, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans will be appointed to the board on February 1 and will head the Marketing & Sales board division from March 1, 2025.Oliver Thone, currently head of Product Strategy and Steering, will take over from Hubertus Troska, board member for Greater China, on February 1, 2025.Olaf Schick will succeed Renata Jungo Brungger on October 1, 2025. Renata Jungo Brungger has decided to leave the company on October 31, 2025, just before her contract ends.Tuesday, MBGAF had closed 0.10 cents or 0.17% higher at $58.90.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.
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. (TSXV: GMG) (OTCQX: GMGMF) ("GMG" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a business update on the commercialisation progress of THERMAL-XR Powered by GMG Graphene.

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT UPDATE

GMG continues to make progress in testing with companies in multiple industries for the use of THERMAL-XR in their products, including on heat sinks for electronics. Figure 1 shows an aluminium heat sink that is commonly used in electronics for removing heat from printed circuit boards, electrical circuits and processing silicon chips, and that has been coated with THERMAL-XR.

Figure 1: THERMAL-XR Coated Electronics Heat Sink

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/233324_9491c90934ed3928_001full.jpg

HEAT SINK MINIATURISATION:

Third-party verified modelling demonstrates that applying THERMAL-XR to a heat sink could reduce its size by up to 39%, while maintaining equivalent thermal performance, offering the potential for weight and material cost savings. Figure 2 shows that the maximum temperature reached by a heat sink coated with THERMAL-XR is 62 degrees centigrade, 23% lower than the maximum temperature of 80 degrees Celsius reached by a heat sink of equal size that has not been coated with THERMAL-XR. Figure 3 shows that a heat sink coated with THERMAL-XR that is 39% smaller in terms of width achieves the same performance as a heat sink that has not been coated with THERMAL-XR.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/233324_9491c90934ed3928_002full.jpg

Material Ambient Temp. (C) Power (W) Emissivity Convection Type Heat Sink Dimensions (mm) Max Temp. (C) Temperature Difference Between Aluminium and THERMAL-XR Width Length Height deltaT(C) deltaT% Aluminium 25 80 0.11 Natural Convection 62 58 38 80 -18 23% THERMAL-XR 0.95 62

Figure 2: Modelling of an Electronic Heat Sink with THERMAL-XR coated on all sides, excluding the base, shows a 23% reduction in maximum temperature reached.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/233324_9491c90934ed3928_003full.jpg

Material Ambient Temp. (C) Power (W) Emissivity Convection Type No. of Fins Heat Sink Size (mm) Temperature (C) Width Length Height deltaW% Max Min Aluminium 25 80 0.11 Natural Convection 8 62 58 38 - 80 76.7 THERMAL-XR 0.95 5 38 58 38 -39% 80 75

Figure 3: A heat sink coated with THERMAL-XR on all sides, excluding the base, that is 39% smaller achieves the same results and temperature as the bare aluminium heat sink depicted in Figure 1.

Global Printed Circuit Board (PCB) production is projected[1] to reach 530 million square meters annually by the year 2030, or about 5.3 trillion printed circuit boards. As PCB density increases, higher current loads lead to more heat, with 5.2 billion units expected to require heat sinks for cooling. THERMAL-XR coated on the heat sinks, enhances the heat sink efficiency, enabling smaller heat sinks and more compact PCB assemblies. The total amount of THERMAL-XR that could be used for this application to improve performance is 26.5 million litres per annum by 2030, assuming 0.1% will use the coating.

GMG's Managing Director and CEO, Craig Nicol, commented: "Heat sinks are a critical component of modern electronics, but they come with various challenges, especially as devices become smaller, faster, and more powerful. GMG's THERMAL-XR offers a potential solution in heat sink miniaturization, enabling up to 39% size reduction while maintaining thermal performance. This has the potential to not only cut material costs but also unlock new opportunities for compact and efficient electronics designs, addressing the rising thermal management demands of the global printed circuit board market."

About THERMAL-XR powered by GMG Graphene:

THERMAL-XR COATING SYSTEM is a unique method of improving the thermal heat transfer of heat exchange surfaces. The process coats and protects heat exchange surfaces while increasing the heat transfer rate by leveraging the physics of GMG Graphene, resulting in an efficiency improvement and a potential power reduction.

THERMAL-XR is powered by GMG Graphene.PATENT PENDING

About GMG www.graphenemg.com

GMG is a clean-technology company which seeks to offer energy saving and energy storage solutions, enabled by graphene, including that manufactured in-house via a proprietary production process. GMG has developed a proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high quality, low cost, scalable, 'tuneable' and low/no contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications.

The Company's present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, and secure market applications. In the energy savings segment, GMG has focused on graphene enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC-R") coating (or energy-saving coating), lubricants and fluids.

In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively with financial support from the Australian Government to progress R&D and commercialization of graphene aluminium-ion batteries ("G+AI Batteries").

GMG's 4 critical business objectives are:

Produce Graphene and improve/scale cell production processes Build Revenue from Energy Savings Products Develop Next-Generation Battery Develop Supply Chain, Partners & Project Execution Capability

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, the progression of testing and sales of THERMAL-XR in multiple industries, the benefits of using THERMAL-XR on heat sinks, the projected growth of PCB production, and the number of PCBs which will require heat sinks in the future.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, that the Company will continue to receive interest in testing and buying THERMAL-XR from multiple industries, that the use of THERMAL-XR on heat sinks will result in the benefits expected by management, that the use of THERMAL-XR will allow heat sinks to be smaller while delivering equivalent thermal performance, that PCB production will grow as currently projected, and that the number of PCBs requiring heat sinks in the future will align with current estimates. Additionally, forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of GMG to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the Company will not continue to receive interest in testing and purchasing THERMAL-XR from multiple industries, that THERMAL-XR will not have the expected benefits when applied to heat sinks, that the size of heat sinks will not be reduced, that PCB production will not grow as expected, that PCBs will not require heat sinks in the future, that THERMAL-XR coated heat sinks will not enable more compact printed circuit board assemblies, that there will not be demand for THERMAL-XR in the heat sink market, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets, the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, the failure of the Company to obtain regulatory approvals, attract and retain skilled personnel, unexpected development and production challenges, unanticipated costs and the risk factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated October 3, 2024 available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or 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 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 and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

[1] Areas of PCB production projected from the source, Prismark Printed Circuit Board Market Report 2021, page 13

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233324

SOURCE: Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Department of Commerce has awarded Micron Technology up to $6.165 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS Incentives Program's Funding Opportunity to boost production of memory chips.This will support the only U.S. based manufacturer of memory chips in the construction of several state-of-the-art memory chips facilities as part of its $125 billion investment over the next few decades.With this funding, Micron plans to expand the development and production of the most advanced memory semiconductor technology in New York and Idaho, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.Micron plans to invest approximately $100 billion in New York and $25 billion in Idaho, creating at least 20,000 jobs by the end of the decade.These investments will help the U.S. grow its share of advanced memory manufacturing to 10 percent over the next decade.Additionally, the Department of Commerce announced that it agreed to preliminary terms with Micron for an additional $275 million investment to expand the semiconductor giant's facility in Manassas, Virginia, and onshore a critical technology relied upon by the U.S. defense industry, automotive sector, and national security community. Supporting a stable supply of Micron's 1-alpha technology would advance U.S. supply chain resiliency because the legacy DRAM memory chips that would be made there are important components for the automotive and industrial markets.The Department said it will disburse the funds based on Micron's completion of project milestones.This investment will help strengthen U.S. economic resiliency by bolstering a reliable domestic supply of leading-edge DRAM chips that are important components for advanced technologies such as, personal computing, industrial, high-performance compute, automotive, industrial, wireless communications and artificial intelligence. Micron's DRAM chips also power the company's performance memory, known as High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM), which is critical for enabling new AI models. With this funding, Micron plans to expand the development and production of the most advanced memory semiconductor technology in New York and Idaho and is committing to spend approximately $50 billion before the end of the decade.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Crown Bioscience, a global contract research organization (CRO) headquartered in the United States and a part of JSR Life Sciences and Japan-based JSR Corporation, has been honored with the 2024 Fierce CRO Award for Excellence in Client Service and Partnership. This prestigious award recognizes Crown Bioscience's outstanding collaboration, communication, and commitment to delivering excellence for its life sciences clients.

The Fierce CRO Awards, hosted annually by Fierce Biotech, celebrate the achievements of leading CROs that demonstrate innovation and leadership in accelerating drug development. Winners in this category are selected based on their commitment to building strong partnerships and providing an exceptional client experience.

"Winning this award is a true testament to our team's dedication to going above and beyond for our clients," said Dr. Jonny McMichael, Vice President of Client Experience and Enablement at Crown Bioscience. "We aim to accelerate the journey of new therapies by collaborating closely with our partners across the drug development continuum."

Crown Bioscience stood out for its innovative preclinical research capabilities, transparent communication practices, and unwavering focus on delivering quality and value to clients. Specific achievements highlighted include the company's Customer Satisfaction Program, which generates unfiltered feedback scores to demonstrate its commitment to service and customer excellence.

"This recognition motivates us to continue raising the bar for the CRO industry," Dr. McMichael added. "We are thankful to our entire team for making Crown Bioscience a trusted, client-focused partner in the mission to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently."

The full Fierce CRO Awards report profiling all winners is available here. Crown Bioscience's award-winning capabilities can be explored at www.crownbio.com.

About Crown Bioscience

Crown Bioscience, a JSR Life Sciences company, is a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to improving human health through partnering with biotech and pharmaceutical companies that drive the discovery and development of oncology drugs. We exclusively offer preclinical tumor organoid services using the well-established Hubrecht Organoid Technology, with over 600 organoid models available spanning 22 cancer indications. In addition, we have developed the world's largest commercially available PDX collection. Further committed to personalized medicine, our subsidiary, Indivumed Services, maintains an extensive biobank of liquid and tissue human biospecimens. Our focus on helping our customers develop novel therapies aims to ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time. Founded in 2006, we have 12 facilities across the US, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.crownbio.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211114955/en/

Contacts:

Media Inquiries:

Crown Bioscience

Sarah Martin-Tyrrell

pr@crownbio.com
Simplify Data Spill Management Compliance with BCWipe's Search Feature

Jetico, developer of long-trusted data wiping software, announced today the launch of Search, a personally identifiable information (PII) and sensitive data discovery tool. Addressing the growing demand for effective solutions in data protection, Search integrates powerful discovery capabilities with Jetico's renowned BCWipe software, delivering the first-ever unified platform to locate and securely erase files beyond forensic recovery.

Search empowers administrators to identify sensitive information across their entire network and safely manage it, simplifying data spill response and ensuring compliance with regulations like PCI, GDPR and NIS2.

"Search is more than a tool, it's a solution to one of the most pressing data security challenges organizations face today," explains Hannaleena Pojanluoma, Jetico CEO. "As storage media grows larger and data copies expand whether as backup files, temporary folders or recovery points identifying all instances of sensitive information has become increasingly complex. With BCWipe's new Search feature, we are addressing this difficult challenge. In just a few clicks, administrators can set advanced search parameters to locate and manage files containing specific data, no matter where they reside. This ensures organizations can find, protect and securely erase sensitive information with confidence."

BCWipe Search, available in the enterprise edition of BCWipe that includes central management, scans all computers connected to a network using customizable filters, pre-set templates and advanced methods like file hashes to efficiently locate and manage sensitive data. Key features include:

Comprehensive Network-Wide Searches

Go beyond individual devices to locate PII and sensitive data stored across your organization's endpoints, including files in temporary or backup locations.

Go beyond individual devices to locate PII and sensitive data stored across your organization's endpoints, including files in temporary or backup locations. Intelligent Identification

Identify PII using pre-set features tailored to detect data formats like ID numbers, credit card information, patient records and tax data. This capability enables administrators to locate all documents containing specific data formats and take additional actions, such as applying policies or exporting a list for encryption.

Identify PII using pre-set features tailored to detect data formats like ID numbers, credit card information, patient records and tax data. This capability enables administrators to locate all documents containing specific data formats and take additional actions, such as applying policies or exporting a list for encryption. Deep Data Analysis

Locate sensitive information stored in compressed files, archives and images, including scanned documents.

Locate sensitive information stored in compressed files, archives and images, including scanned documents. Data Spill Management

Simplify the identification and cleanup of data spills by efficiently locating sensitive files across your network. Review best practices on using BCWipe's Search feature for data spills.

Simplify the identification and cleanup of data spills by efficiently locating sensitive files across your network. Review best practices on using BCWipe's Search feature for data spills. Enhanced Compliance Tools

Ensure alignment with data protection standards through built-in templates for secure PII handling.

Trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense for over 20 years, BCWipe is Jetico's solution for securely wiping files and eliminating data remanence beyond forensic recovery, including in response to classified data spills. BCWipe offers a range of powerful features, such as:

Support for Leading Data Erasure Standards

Compliant with DoD, PCI and GDPR standards to meet the most stringent regulatory and security requirements.

Compliant with DoD, PCI and GDPR standards to meet the most stringent regulatory and security requirements. Cyber Hygiene Functionality

Regularly wipe user activity, browser history and saved passwords to keep systems clean and free from traces of unwanted data.

Regularly wipe user activity, browser history and saved passwords to keep systems clean and free from traces of unwanted data. Detailed Logs Reports

Generates log files and certificates of erasure for auditing and compliance purposes.

To get started with BCWipe's new Search feature, contact our Data Protection Specialists and request a free trial.

About Jetico

Jetico provides complete endpoint data protection software for National Security, Compliance and Personal Privacy. Trusted for over 20 years by the U.S. Department of Defense, Jetico's BCWipe can wipe selected files beyond forensic recovery such as in response to classified data spills, while BCWipe Total WipeOut can erase hard drive data entirely for disposal or decommission. To protect stored data, Jetico's BestCrypt delivers compliant data encryption software for whole disks, virtual drives and selected files or folders. Jetico Enterprise Editions include central management for client software control.

Jetico products are trusted by government and military agencies, all of the top 10 U.S. defense contractors, many national laboratories, as well as various other enterprises and a wide global base of home and small business users in over 100 countries. Founded in 1995, Jetico is privately held and headquartered besides Otaniemi Science Park in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. For more information, please visit jetico.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211580711/en/

Contacts:

Valeria Corti

Marketing Manager, Jetico

valeria.corti@jetico.com

Phone (U.S.): +1 202 742 2901

Phone (Europe): +358 50 339 6388
Trans Canada Gold Corp. (TSX-V:TTG)(OTCQB:TTGXF) ("Trans Canada" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has now completed another month of robust steady oil production for the month of November 2024, with trucking and oil sales to Altex. The two Lloydminster wells have shipped 5,197 barrels (bbl) for the month of November and produced at an average daily rate of 183 bbl/d gross (32.48 bbl/d net) to the Company since being placed on production, representing its 18.75% working interest ownership in both wells. Production shipping and sales commenced on the first newly drilled Multilateral well a year ago on October 6th, 2023, and the new well was brought into production in mid-September 2024. Croverro Energy Ltd. is the Operator.

The second newly drilled well the 8-23 targeting the GP zone, successfully commenced production of over 150 bbl/d, delivering more than 5,000 bbls of oil production before encountering a blockage near the end of the intermediate casing. While this has temporarily impacted production, Croverro has proactively implemented a range of repair solutions, including multiple Super Flushes on the well. Despite minimal results so far, the operator remains proactive and has decided to temporarily shut in the well during the extreme cold winter conditions in central Alberta. This decision allows for careful monitoring of fluid levels and pressures while a more detailed and comprehensive repair program is developed and approved. Croverro is optimistic about resuming operations and restoring production once the Alberta extreme cold weather conditions improve and the repair plan is fully implemented.

Croverro has set a 2025 preliminary budget with one Multilateral Sparky well forecasted to be drilled for Spring 2025. This well is expected to be identical to the original Sparky well drilled by the Company in October 2023. Once the GP well has been repaired and proves continued production, additional GP zone wells may be drilled in late 2025. The Company is currently monitoring oil prices, and should they improve, Croverro is expected to accelerate drilling and development.

Commented Tim Coupland, "We have now managed steady production for 2024, successfully producing our two Multilateral Well program for over a year now, and brought on to production two Multilateral wells, and successfully surpassed the 90,000-barrel production benchmark, showcasing the Company's partnership with Croverro Energy. The Company is utilizing its newly adopted multilateral well drilling strategy using new state of the art multilateral well drilling techniques in Alberta and Saskatchewan to create growth."

The Company continues to explore additional exploration drilling opportunities in Canada and the United States.

ABOUT TRANS CANADA GOLD CORP. - OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION/REVENUE PRODUCING WELLS

The Company is a discovery focused Oil & Gas Resource Development and Mineral Exploration Company that is currently focused on developing and drilling its' production of conventional heavy oil exploration properties, increasing production capabilities, and increasing future oil production revenues through responsible exploration. The Company identifies, acquires and finances with its working interest partners, the ongoing development of oil and gas assets primarily situated in Alberta Canada. The Company has qualified Senior exploration management and Geological teams of professionals, seasoned in exploration production, field exploration and drilling. The Company currently works with Croverro Energy Ltd., who has demonstrated proficiency, expected of an experienced oil and gas technical team that has proven oil production, and revenue success with large multi-lateral wells currently under their supervision. The Company has the necessary manpower in place to develop its natural resource properties and manage its production properties. The Company is committed to minimizing risk through selective property acquisitions, and responsible exploration drilling, and maximizing long term petroleum and natural gas resource assets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Tim Coupland, President and CEO

Trans Canada Gold Corp.

Tel: (604) 681-3131

astar@telus.com

www.transcanadagold.com

or

Christian Timmins, Director

Trans Canada Gold Corp.

Tel: (403) 597-3410

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Trans Canada Gold Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Formal Commencement of International Arbitration Proceedings for Significant Damages Claim

VANCOUVER, BC and PERTH, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 / Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") (TSX-V:SWA)(ASX:SRR) announces that it has formally commenced arbitration proceedings against the State of Burkina Faso in relation to a dispute concerning the expropriation of the Company's Sanutura Project (refer to news release dated 5 September 2023).

The Company will seek full compensation for the loss and damages the Company has suffered as a result of certain acts and omissions by the Government of Burkina Faso. Based on a preliminary estimate, the Company will be seeking damages of no less than A$180 million and as the arbitration proceeds, the Company expects to appoint a quantum expert who will prepare a professional damages assessment for review by the arbitration tribunal.

Following the establishment of a non-recourse litigation funding facility of A$6.7M (refer to news release dated 24 October 2024), the Company has submitted a Request for Arbitration ("RFA") to the International Centre for Investment Disputes ("ICSID"), a division of the World Bank Group. The submission of the RFA setting out the preliminary details of the case and addressing certain procedural matters marks the formal commencement of the arbitration process.

The Company's arbitration claim will be pursued according to the established and enforceable legal framework of ICSID which has heard numerous investor-state disputes, including recent proceedings brought by Indiana Resources (IDA:ASX) and GreenX Metals (ASX:GRX) which resulted in awards in favour of the claimants of A$180M and A$490M respectively.

The submission of the RFA follows the prior issuance of a Notice of Intent to Submit Claims to Arbitration to the Government of Burkina Faso (refer to news release dated 30 November 2024) which initiated a 60-day consultation period between the parties to amicably resolve the dispute. Despite the Company's best efforts, the Government of Burkina Faso neglected to respond and no settlement was reached, leaving Sarama with no alternative but to initiate international arbitration proceedings.

The Company has engaged Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP ("BSF"), a leading international law firm, to assist with legal matters pertaining to the dispute (refer to news release dated 17 October 2023). BSF is an internationally recognised dispute resolution law firm with extensive experience representing investors in international investment arbitrations in the mining and natural resources sectors worldwide.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Dinning

Sarama Resources Ltd

e: info@saramaresources.com

t: +61 8 9363 7600

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the quantum and pursuit of compensation for the loss and damages; the intention to appoint a quantum expert and preparation of a professional damages assessment; and the pursuit and outcome of the arbitration claim. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, foreign country and political risks, including risks relating to foreign operations and expropriation or nationalization of mining operations; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain governmental permits, or non-compliance with permits; as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.

This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Sarama Resources.

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.

SOURCE: Sarama Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Northstar Gold Corp. (CSE: NSG) ("Northstar" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the Company has closed the second tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement with strategic investors (the "Offering") of units ("Units").

The second tranche consisted of 3,220,000 Hard Dollar Units and 900,000 Critical Minerals Eligible Flow Through Units for a total of 4,120,000 Units and aggregate gross proceeds of $169,300. This is in addition to a recently closed first tranche consisting of 14,900,000 Hard Dollar Units and 4,950,000 Critical Minerals Eligible Flow Through Units, totaling 19,850,000 Units and gross proceeds of $818,750 on November 14th, 2024. After giving effect to this 2nd tranche, a total of $988,050 has been raised in this non-brokered private placement.

"Northstar is pleased with this continued strategic investor support," states Brian P. Fowler, P.Geo., Northstar President, CEO and Director. "Proceeds will facilitate the on-going 1,500 metre Cam Copper Mine VMS Extension drill program that commenced late last month (See Northstar News Release dated November 25, 2024). The drill program continues as expected and remains on schedule for completion later this month."

Hard Dollar Units were priced at $0.04 and comprised of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant. Each full Warrant is exercisable into one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.06 for a period of 36 months. Flow Through Units were priced at $0.045 and comprised of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant. Each full Warrant is exercisable into one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.08 for a period of 24 months.

The Company paid a total of $4,035 in finder fees associated with the Offering and issued 72,000 finder warrants at exercise prices of $0.04 and $0.045 expiring between 24 and 36 months, respectively, from the closing date of the Offering. All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a statutory four month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws.

Drilling Continues at Miller Copper-Gold Property

Step out exploration drilling continues along the Cam Copper Mine, Zone 2 Extension on the Company's 100%-owned Miller Copper-Gold Property, situated 18 kilometres southeast of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Northstar is targeting potentially broad intervals of copper-gold-silver volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization and EM conductors along a 1,000 metre southeast strike extension of the historic, direct-shipping high-grade Cam Copper Mine (Please see Northstar News Release Dated May 16, 2024). In late November, 2023, Northstar drilling intersected a number of discrete high-grade VMS copper horizons at Cam Copper Mine, including 14.8% copper over 2.45 metres in Zone 2 (See Northstar News Release dated Nov. 23, 2023). The Company expects to begin reporting drill results by mid January, 2025.

Northstar Annual General Meeting Postponed

Northstar advises that given the ongoing Canada Post strike and its impact on the timely delivery of proxy materials, the Company has been advised by legal counsel to reschedule the Company's Annual General Meeting (AGM), currently scheduled for January 8, 2025, until after the strike has concluded or alternative satisfactory arrangements can be made. This will ensure compliance with National Instrument 54-101 (NI 54-101 - Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer).

Rescheduling Rationale

NI 54-101 mandates strict timelines for the delivery of proxy-related materials to beneficial owners, including:

Providing sufficient notice for shareholders to receive, review, and respond to proxy materials.

Ensuring all beneficial owners have equitable access to vote on matters at the AGM.

The Canada Post strike has significantly delayed mail services, creating a high likelihood that the proxy materials may not reach shareholders within the prescribed timelines. Failing to meet these requirements may result in a breach of NI 54-101, jeopardizing the validity of the AGM and shareholder participation.

The AGM delay until after the Canada Post strike has concluded and normal mail operations have resumed will:

Ensure the timely delivery of proxy materials to all shareholders, as required under NI 54-101. Mitigate any potential legal or regulatory risks associated with non-compliance. Preserve shareholder confidence in the Company's governance processes.

The Company will continue to monitor developments regarding the strike and adjust timelines for the distribution of proxy materials accordingly. Once the strike has ended, a new AGM date will be confirmed, ensuring sufficient time for the preparation and delivery of materials as per NI 54-101.

About Northstar

Northstar's primary exploration focus is to advance and expand the near-surface, Allied Gold Zone bulk-tonnage gold-telluride deposit and more recently discovered VMS copper mineral deposits on the Company's flagship, 100%-owned Miller Copper-Gold Property. The Company's strategy is to develop a material (+1M ounce gold / high-grade copper) mineral resource base to supplement a nearby mining operation or support stand-alone mining operations at the Property.

Recently Signed Gold and Copper MOUs

Northstar recently signed two MOUs to advance the Company's Miller Intrusive Complex gold and Cam Copper Zone 2 VMS copper exploration and development projects, respectively, at the Miller Copper-Gold Property. On September 19th, 2024, Northstar announced signing a MOU with China-based Hunan Nonferrous with intentions to possibly secure a minority stake in the Miller Intrusive Complex gold deposits by funding up to 10,000 meters of expansion diamond drilling. Due to unforeseen visitor visa complications, Hunan technical representatives are now positioning to obtain Canadian visitor visas for an early spring, 2025 due diligence property visit. This visit is a requirement to establish a Cooperative Agreement providing for collaborative exploration and development of the Miller Intrusive Complex gold targets (Please see Northstar-Hunan MOU News Release dated September 19, 2024).

On October 3rd, 2024, Northstar announced it had signed a MOU with Novamera Inc., setting terms for Novamera to secure the necessary financing to Surgically MineTM high-grade copper at Cam Copper Mine, subject to the definition and permitting of an economic deposit. This includes a multi-staged program (the "Surgical MiningTM Program") to test and extract material from the copper-rich, near vertical Zone 2 VMS horizon. The Company is currently awaiting results of a Stage 1 Novamera Scoping Study, which is expected shortly (Please see Northstar-Novamera MOU News Release dated October 3, 2024).

Other Properties

Northstar has 3 additional 100%-owned exploration projects in northern Ontario, including the 1,150 ha Rosegrove Property, situated 0.5 km from the Miller Property, the 4,650 ha Bryce Gold Property (includes the recently optioned Britcanna Lease), an intrusive-gold / PME VMS project located along the projected east extension of the Ridout Break, and the Temagami-Milestone Cu-Ni-Co Critical Minerals Property located in Strathcona Township. Northstar is seeking exploration partners to advance all 3 properties.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, disclosure regarding the completion of the Offering and potential gross proceeds to be raised pursuant thereto, the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, the prospective nature of the Company's property interests, exploration plans and expected results, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; planned use of proceeds, expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. Generally, these 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 the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results, "may", "could", "would", "will", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

All forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. availability of financing, the assumed long-term price of gold, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning its mineral projects can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations; the prospective nature of the Company's properties, availability of financing, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of NSG to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks and uncertainties related to the completion of the Offering as presently proposed or at all, the failure to obtain all applicable regulatory approvals; actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; operating risks; accidents, labour issues and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining government approvals or financing; and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive.

Although NSG has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause 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. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided solely for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and NSG assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233306

SOURCE: Northstar Gold Corp.
Asahi Kasei Pharma has taken another step in its transformation into a global specialty pharmaceuticals company through a new licensing agreement with Chiome Bioscience for its humanized anti-CX3CR1 antibody. The partnership exemplifies Asahi Kasei Pharma's Open Innovation platform, which addresses unmet medical needs through strategic collaboration and cutting-edge science.

The anti-CX3CR1 antibody, currently in preclinical development, works by inhibiting CX3CR1, a receptor involved in immune cell migration to inflammatory sites. By accelerating its development, Asahi Kasei Pharma aims to bring an innovative therapy to market that could significantly improve patient outcomes.

"By establishing an effective co-creation framework with Chiome, we successfully brought this initiative to fruition," said Dr. Kazunobu Konishi, Senior General Manager of Pharmaceuticals Research Center at Asahi Kasei Pharma. "We hope that this partnership will expedite the development of the anti-CX3CR1 antibody. Furthermore, we are committed to intensifying our open innovation activities to continuously secure global rights to early-stage projects, thereby enhancing our presence on the global stage."

The licensing agreement complements the "One AK Pharma" initiative, which unifies Asahi Kasei's pharmaceutical operations in Japan and the U.S. to optimize resources and drive healthcare expertise. Earlier this year, Asahi Kasei acquired Calliditas Therapeutics, a Swedish firm recognized for developing TARPEYO, a therapy for immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, a rare kidney disease.

"We've integrated our pharmaceutical businesses worldwide to better achieve our mid- and long-term goals," said Yoshikazu Aoki, President of Asahi Kasei Pharma. "This effort includes consolidating our Business Development functions in the U.S., where we plan to further accelerate activities that drive growth and innovation. Additionally, the acquisition of Calliditas strengthens our business foundation, enabling us to expand the scale of our pharmaceutical operations in the U.S. and enhance our market presence. These initiatives are key to Asahi Kasei's goal of reaching $3 billion in annual pharmaceutical sales by 2030 through specializing in immunology, transplantation, and related diseases."

Through partnerships like the licensing agreement with Chiome, and a commitment to research-driven innovation, Asahi Kasei Pharma is well-positioned to address pressing global health challenges and deliver meaningful solutions that enhance quality of life.

Learn more about Asahi Kasei Pharma's Open Innovation platform.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.com.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211341717/en/

Contacts:

North America Contact:

Asahi Kasei America Inc.

Christian OKeefe

christian.okeefe@ak-america.com

Europe Contact:

Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH

Sebastian Schmidt

sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu
Fully autonomous cars will become mobile living rooms, allowing car manufacturers to reimagine the future of car interiors. In its fifth annual survey, the Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei asked car users in the four major automotive markets about their expectations and concerns regarding fully autonomous vehicles and their perception of sustainability. Customer preferences for interior design, features, and usage scenarios offer the automotive industry valuable hints about what the car of the future should look like.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211859745/en/

Asahi Kasei Car Survey 2023 (Photo: Business Wire)

The results of Asahi Kasei's fifth global Automotive Consumer Survey present meaningful information about what customers in the four major automotive markets (Japan, China, Germany, and the United States) expect from autonomous vehicles and how they would spend their time in one.

Distrust in technology

Car users are still conservative regarding the operation of a fully autonomous car; a retractable steering wheel and pedals are not considered valuable to most respondents. This confirms the results of the last survey from 2022, which found that even in fully autonomous vehicles, a large proportion of users in Germany, the USA, and China prefer to have a steering wheel and brake pedal for optional manual control. In Japan, one in two share this outlook. In Germany and the USA, providing a manual control option could help increase acceptance of fully autonomous cars.

In addition, two out of three car users in Germany, the USA, and China stated they would still observe traffic while in autonomous mode-activities while in the car, such as watching movies or playing games, are at the bottom of the list (see Figure 1). This is another indication that car users today have safety and trust concerns about fully autonomous cars. These sentiments will profoundly define the interior design of the first generations of fully autonomous vehicles.

Silent cabin for communication and listening to music

When asked about the most valued interior aspect of an autonomous car, one out of two respondents mentioned "silent cabin" (see Figure 2). This speaks to the woes of many battery electric vehicle (BEV) users; almost every fourth user of a BEV mentioned "too much noise while driving" as the most annoying aspect of the driving experience. While the BEV itself is quieter than a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE), the noise of wind, tires, gears, and motors-sounds that are typically suppressed by the engine noise-becomes more prevalent. In fully autonomous electric vehicles, and with the ability to engage with other activities while commuting, silence will even become more important for customers.

Looking at activities while riding in an autonomous vehicle, listening to music and podcasts is the primary activity of car users worldwide while driving, with 66% in the USA, 61% each in China and Japan, and 56% in Germany. Talking with other passengers is equally high in ranking, with sleeping or working as less important, highlighting the need for tables or lie-flat seats.

Perception of sustainability differs among regions

Car users no longer define a "sustainable vehicle" only by its drivetrain technology but also by its carbon footprint in production, easily recyclable materials, and overall sustainable production along the entire value chain. Buyers' understanding of sustainability is growing, and the relevance of this topic in the purchasing process has increased in recent years.

Respondents in the Western markets define a sustainable car by its use of recyclable materials and sustainable production along the value chain. Meanwhile, for car users in China and Japan, the drivetrain technology primarily defines a sustainable car (see Figure 3). This topic is becoming more relevant for the purchase decision process, particularly in Western countries, with 35% of all respondents in Germany and the USA indicating they would switch their car brand to a more sustainable manufacturer to support greener mobility.

About the Asahi Kasei Automotive Consumer Survey

This report summarizes key findings of the fifth edition of Asahi Kasei's annual trend survey regarding car users' purchasing decisions and preferences related to materials and features for the future of vehicles. Conducted in December 2023 via online interviews, Asahi Kasei asked a total of 4,158 car users across the four automotive core markets: Germany (1,074), USA (1,077), China (1,007), and Japan (1,000).

From its first edition in 2019, the survey has been conducted in cooperation with market research institute SKOPOS from Cologne, Germany.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its founding in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211859745/en/

Contacts:

Europe Contact:

Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH

Sebastian Schmidt

sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu

North America Contact:

Asahi Kasei America Inc.

Christian OKeefe

christian.okeefe@ak-america.com
SHIELD study shows reoperation rates dropped from 30% to 10% with use of the Histolog Scanner, highlighting its potential to improve oncologic surgery and patient outcomes

SamanTree Medical, a leader in oncologic surgical imaging innovation, today announced promising results from the SHIELD study, which will be presented by researchers on Dec. 12 at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). The findings show that the Histolog Scanner, a confocal laser microscope, reduced reoperation rates during breast-conserving surgery (BCS) from 30% to 10%, representing a 67% reduction. The innovative imaging device also demonstrated significant accuracy in detecting positive margins with high sensitivity and specificity.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211957581/en/

Dr. Mariana-Felicia Sandor, first author of the SHIELD study: Reoperation Rate in Breast-Conserving Surgery using Confocal Histolog Scanner for Intraoperative Tissue Assessment, performs real-time, high-resolution tissue assessments during breast-conserving surgery (BCS) using the FDA-cleared Histolog Scanner. SHIELD study data indicates the innovative imaging device reduced reoperation rates during BCS from 30% to 10%, representing a 67% reduction. (Photo: Business Wire)

"The results of the SHIELD study impressively demonstrate a proof-of-concept of the Histolog Scanner in patients with breast cancer and also confirm the non-interventional POLARHIS study," said Professor Michael Patrick Lux, M.D., principal investigator of the SHIELD study and Head of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at St. Vincenz Hospital, Paderborn, Germany. "The data are absolutely relevant for clinical care, as the system can reduce the re-section rate in a clinically relevant and significant way, thus optimizing oncological safety, cosmetics, and the economic aspects of care."

The prospective study, conducted at St. Vincenz Hospital, evaluated the impact of the Histolog Scanner on reducing reoperation rates during BCS. Fifty patients with invasive breast cancer and/or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were enrolled, and reoperation rates were compared to historical data from the POLARHIS study, a retrospective observational study performed at the same breast center by the same surgical team using standard intraoperative margin assessment techniques.

The results showed a dramatic reduction in reoperation rates from 30% in the POLARHIS study to 10% in the SHIELD study, representing a 67% improvement when the Histolog Scanner was used. Moreover, the Histolog Scanner outperformed standard techniques by achieving a sensitivity of 80.9% and a specificity of 99.5% for positive margin detection, compared to the combined sensitivity of 17.4% and specificity of 97.3% achieved with standard methods, as seen in the SHIELD study.

"These outstanding results underscore the potential of the Histolog Scanner to enhance oncologic surgical outcomes significantly," said Olivier Delporte, CEO of SamanTree Medical. "By enabling real-time, high-resolution tissue microstructure assessments during BCS, our technology addresses a critical unmet need, reducing reoperation rates and improving patient outcomes.

"With the recent FDA clearance, we are pleased to make this groundbreaking technology available to surgeons throughout the U.S. The Histolog Scanner sets a new standard for precision and care in oncologic surgery, marking a significant milestone in our mission to transform oncologic surgery and improve patient care globally," continued Delporte.

About SamanTree Medical

Headquartered in Liege, Belgium, with U.S. regional headquarters in Boston, SamanTree Medical SA is dedicated to improving oncologic surgery through innovative imaging solutions. Its flagship product, the Swiss-developed Histolog Scanner, features massive parallel confocal microscopy, a cutting-edge technology that expands the imaging field up to 40,000 times larger than standard confocal microscopy. The breakthrough device enables surgeons and pathologists to visualize large, fresh tissue samples in real-time with exceptional resolution and accuracy, making it uniquely suited for intraoperative environments in oncologic surgery. Founded in 2010 based on innovations from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), a leading Swiss research institute renowned for engineering and technological advancements, SamanTree Medical is committed to improving surgical precision and outcomes by enabling real-time fresh tissue imaging. More information may be found here.

Click here for Important Safety Information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211957581/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Amy Cook

amy@amcpublicrelations.net

+1 925.222.5094
Birkenstock unveils a one-of-a-kind content series: a visual approach to its legacy of quality, craftsmanship and innovation that emphasizes its enduring cultural impact and inspires to write the future.

LINZ AM RHEIN, Germany, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As BIRKENSTOCK celebrates its milestone of 250 years of tradition in shoemaking, the global purpose and Zeitgeist brand launches a captivating series of books that highlight its remarkable journey from a humble shoemaker's workshop to a global icon.

This journey not only honors BIRKENSTOCK's deep-rooted tradition but also celebrates its rich design heritage and underscores its profound cultural relevance. For decades, BIRKENSTOCK has influenced subcultures, inspired leading designers and resonated with individuals around the world. This enduring heritage and rich archive is now captured in the highly anticipated publication "THE BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK". Complemented this, a first-of-its-kind digital encyclopedia, the curated book multiple "OLD MILLS NEVER DIE" and the travelling photo exhibition "WALK THIS WAY" further showcase the brand's impact. Earlier this year, BIRKENSTOCK had published "The Evolution of a universal Purpose and Zeitgeist Brand" the first global historical study on BIRKENSTOCK which put the brand's unique heritage of 250 years in shoemaking on solid scientific ground.

THE BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK

The BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK is a monumental publication created by BIRKENSTOCK, designed by the acclaimed Munich-based design agency Bureau Borsche and co-published by Steidl Publishers from Gottingen, Germany. This 688-page volume offers a lush, visual journey through BIRKENSTOCK's extensive archive, featuring a vast selection of black-and-white and color images that reveal the brand's rich heritage in stunning detail. The book captures a wide range of never-before-seen archive materials, including first advertisements and scribbles, original photo material, marketing materials from private estates and public archives, iconic brand campaigns, trend defining fashion editorials from Japan, the USA or France and snapshots from fans wearing their Birks around the globe. Designed by a team which sets today's design standards and enhanced by luxurious printing, this book is a testament to BIRKENSTOCK's commitment to excellence and craftsmanship. It serves as a definitive record of the brand's impact on footwear, fashion, and culture. Readers gain an exclusive behind-the-scenes perspective on the iconic German brand, exploring its shoes that have become staples for millions, its groundbreaking designer collaborations, and the evolution of its visual identity. Co-published and printed by renowed printer Gerhard Steidl, considered one of the best in his craft, the BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK will be available in a debossed Otabind softcover format.

A WORLD-FIRST DIGITAL BRAND ENCYCLOPEDIA

Complementing the book, BIRKENSTOCK launches a groundbreaking digital brand encyclopedia, an innovative and mobile-friendly digital archival experience. This microsite reflects the BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK and takes it to the digital sphere, making the content accessible to even more fans of the brand. The immersive platform allows both free and timeline-driven exploration of BIRKENSTOCK's visual archives, featuring curated narratives and over 600 archival images, including editorial content, VIP sightings, movie appearances, drawings, product shots and advertising material. Users are invited to explore the engaging content interactively, guided by their individual preferences. While browsing, they can enjoy editorial content, highlighting key narratives from BIRKENSTOCK's history, filter by themes, eras, product styles, locations, search the rich archive by key words, explore views or simply filter the content based on their individual interests. The platform will be the go-to destination for every brand-aficionado and curious explorer.

AN ARTISTIC APPROACH TO BIRKENSTOCK

The "OLD MILLS NEVER DIE" limited edition photo book set, curated by Gerhard Steidl celebrates the past, present and future of BIRKENSTOCK through the lense of some of today's most relevant photographers. The work consists of four volumes, each reflecting a different aspect of the BIRKENSTOCK universe, complemented by the BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK. In WALK THIS WAY, Henry Leutwyler documents treasures from the BIRKENSTOCK archive and production, in "FACTORIES," Werner Bartsch takes readers on a journey through BIRKENSTOCK's production sites in Germany, exploring the people and places that shape the brand today, highlighting the blend of technology and traditional craftsmanship. In GOLBORNE ROAD, Juergen Teller takes us to London, using his subversive and ironic editorial style to capture some of the characters who define the authentic neighborhood of Notting Hill, all wearing BIRKENSTOCKs. And finally, GRAPHIC DESIGNER examines the graphic talent and typological approach of Carl Birkenstock (1900-1982).

These four photobooks, along with the BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK, are packed in a wooden box and wrapped in a Furoshiki cloth. Old Mills Never Die is the first work to comprehensively reflect the brand's history as well as its importance both culturally and historically, while adding new artistic perspectives.

TRAVELLING EXHIBITION "WALK THIS WAY"

Rounding up the celebration of 250 years in shoemaking and shining further light on the BIRKENSTOCK archive, a curated photo exhibition called "WALK THIS WAY" by Henry Leutwyler travelled the globe in 2024. Making Leutwyler's unique artistic perspective on BIRKENSTOCK accessible to a global audience, a collection of 140 photographs was exhibited in more than 20 locations such as Tokyo, Paris, Bali, Sao Paolo, Sydney, London, New York, Shanghai and Bengaluru.

INFORMATION FOR EDITORIAL TEAMS

Product Launch: December 2024

Still Life Product Imagery (Book of Birkenstock)

Creative Product Imagery Book of Birkenstock + The Evolution of a universal Purpose and Zeitgeist Brand)

Product Imagery Book Multiple OLD MILLS NEVER DIE

Selected Archive Imagery (Book of Birkenstock)

Making-Of Video: THE BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK - Director's Cut

PRODUCT DETAILS

THE BOOK OF BIRKENSTOCK

ISBN 978-3-96999-382-8

688 pages, Otabind softcover

75.00 / 65.00 / US$75.00

"OLD MILLS NEVER DIE" BOOK MULTIPLE

Limited Edition

ISBN 978-3-96999-352-1

175.00 / 165.00 / US$195.00

Available at www.birkenstock.com, selected retail partners + via international book distribution.

Group Site - https://www.birkenstock-group.com/de/en/home/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/birkenstock-deutschland/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/birkenstock/

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578703/BU1_BIRKENSTOCK_Book_of_Birkenstock.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578702/BU2_BIRKENSTOCK_Book_of_Birkenstock_3.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578704/BU3_BIRKENSTOCK_Book_of_Birkenstock_2.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2537200/5072617/Birkenstock_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/a-visual-celebration-of-two-and-a-half-centuries-of-tradition-in-shoemaking-302329010.html
Personnel changes to the leadership of four board divisions

Transition of responsibilities during the course of the year 2025

The Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG has decided on changes to the company's Board of Management. In 2025, Mercedes-Benz will bid farewell to the highly esteemed board members Sabine Kohleisen, Renata Jungo Brungger, and Hubertus Troska as their contracts expire and they retire. They have significantly shaped the company over many years with their dedication and expertise. With the appointment of the new board members Mathias Geisen, Oliver Thone, and Olaf Schick, a rejuvenation of the Board of Management is initiated and, at the same time, the consistent transformation of the company is continued.

Sabine Kohleisen, board member for Human Relations (HR) and Labour Director, has asked the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG not to extend her contract, which expires at the end of November 2025. In the interest of the company and to accelerate the rejuvenation of the Board, she will step down from her mandate on April 30, 2025. As a key architect of personnel change and the profound transformation and digitalisation of the HR department, Sabine Kohleisen, together with her team, has set the course for Mercedes-Benz to be one of the most attractive employers in Germany.

The successor to Sabine Kohleisen will be Britta Seeger, currently board member for Marketing Sales, starting on May 1, 2025. Over the past years, Britta Seeger has made crucial strategic decisions for global sales. Under her leadership, the digitalisation of sales channels has been significantly advanced, our brand has been rejuvenated and realigned, and customer orientation has been consistently expanded. Britta Seeger will hand over sales responsibilities and start her induction into the role of board member for HR and Labour Director on March 1, 2025.

Mathias Geisen, currently Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, has shaped the van division into an extremely successful business unit in recent years, whilst using his entrepreneurial skills to drive the future van portfolio. He will be appointed to the Board of Management on February 1, 2025, and will take over the leadership of the Marketing Sales board division on March 1, 2025.

"Sabine Kohleisen has filled her role as board member for Human Relations and Labour Director extremely successfully and professionally and has played a decisive role in shaping many of the company's future-oriented decisions. The Supervisory Board sincerely thanks Sabine Kohleisen for her successful work and her willingness to contribute to the new structure of the Board of Management. I am particularly pleased that Britta Seeger, after eight successful years as board member for Marketing Sales, will take on the extremely important role of board member for Human Relations and Labour Director for the transformation of Mercedes-Benz. With her broad experience and high personal credibility, she will significantly shape and drive further necessary changes in our company within the context of a globally changing automotive industry. With Mathias Geisen, we are appointing a skilled strategist and internationally experienced product and sales expert to the Board of Management, who has recently demonstrated his abilities at Mercedes-Benz Vans. The Supervisory Board is very much looking forward to further collaboration with both of them."

Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

"In her clear, strategic and always approachable manner, Sabine Kohleisen has led the employees and the HR division of Mercedes-Benz through the spin-off of the truck division and into the future. For all of us on the Board of Management, Sabine has been a highly valued confidante and professional partner during these challenging years. I thank Sabine for over 34 years at Mercedes-Benz and wish her all the very best for her future! At the same time, I thank Britta Seeger for eight very successful years in leading our Marketing Sales division. Whether in the reorganisation of sales, the digitalisation of sales processes, or the positioning of our brand, Britta has consistently transformed her area, made it fit for the future, and always thought first and foremost of our customers' needs. I am very much looking forward to continuing to work closely with Britta in the future."

Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

China remains the most important market for Mercedes-Benz. During a phase in which the company is further expanding its collaboration with local partners and technology leaders, Hubertus Troska, currently the board member for Greater China with planned retirement in 2025, has decided to take on a new role as Board Member and General Authorised Representative of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for China starting on February 1, 2025. In this role, he will fully dedicate himself to the complex transformation of the business system, as well as a smooth and successful transition to his successor in the company's highest-volume market until his retirement on July 31, 2025.

Oliver Thone, currently head of Product Strategy and Steering, will succeed Hubertus Troska starting on February 1, 2025. Oliver Thone currently holds one of the most important key positions in vehicle development at Mercedes-Benz Cars. Under his leadership, the course for the future product portfolio of the entire Mercedes-Benz Group up to the 2030s was successfully set.

"After a unique career, Hubertus Troska, one of the most experienced European managers in China, is leaving our company. Mercedes-Benz owes him and his diligent leadership for the market success in China over the last decade. With the appointment of Oliver Thone, we are further rejuvenating and strengthening our Board of Management. Oliver Thone is distinguished by his strategic foresight, the clarity of his analyses, and his exceptional understanding of our highly complex business system. The Supervisory Board is very much looking forward to future collaboration with him."

Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

"Hubertus Troska symbolises the overwhelming success of Mercedes-Benz in China. During his twelve-year responsibility for the Chinese market, he has more than tripled sales in the country, massively expanded the local production network and development capacities, and created an extremely capable team in China. With exceptional cultural sensitivity and the greatest diplomatic skill, he was the ambassador of Mercedes-Benz in China and a highly valued partner of our local joint ventures. I am very pleased that Hubertus will remain with us and bring his expertise for several more months as Board Member and General Authorized Representative for China, and I sincerely thank him for over 36 very successful years in various positions at Mercedes-Benz."

Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

After nearly ten years of successful board membership, Renata Jungo Brungger will leave the company at her own request on October 31, 2025, shortly before her contract expires. With her consistent and visionary leadership, she has further developed and restructured the governance approach at Mercedes-Benz and played a significant role in systematically embedding sustainability into the corporate strategy. Together with her team, she has firmly established a compliance system that is anchored and valued throughout the company.

Renata Jungo Brungger's successor will be Olaf Schick, starting on October 1, 2025. Olaf Schick is currently member of the Board of Management of Continental AG, responsible for Finance, Controlling, Integrity, and Law. Before his time at Continental, Olaf Schick was already successful in various roles at Mercedes-Benz for many years, including as Head of Finance Controlling Greater China and Head of the Compliance department.

"With Renata Jungo Brungger, a skilled, visionary and assertive lawyer with high resilience and a consistent working style is leaving our company. The Supervisory Board expresses its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Renata Jungo Brungger for her contributions to the company during very challenging times. At the same time, the Supervisory Board and I are very pleased that Olaf Schick is returning to Mercedes-Benz and will take over Renata Jungo Brungger's responsibilities on the Board. With his extensive experience both at Mercedes-Benz and in another DAX company, he is the perfect fit for the important Integrity, Governance, and Sustainability board division."

Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

"Renata Jungo Brungger has shaped our company for nearly ten years as board member. With her extensive experience, she is a mainstay who, together with her team, has provided guidance to many colleagues in the most challenging situations. Her clear, analytical perspective and her extremely consistent advocacy for sustainability and good corporate governance have also influenced our work for the future. I wish Renata all the very best."

Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Further information on Mercedes-Benz Group is available at: media.mercedes-benz.com and group.mercedes-benz.com

Forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events. The words "anticipate", "assume", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "can", "could", "plan", "project", "should" and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including an adverse development of global economic conditions, in particular a negative change in market conditions in our most important markets; a deterioration of our refinancing possibilities on the credit and financial markets; events of force majeure including natural disasters, pandemics, acts of terrorism, political unrest, armed conflicts, industrial accidents and their effects on our sales, purchasing, production or financial services activities; changes in currency exchange rates, customs and foreign trade provisions; changes in laws, regulations and government policies (or changes in their interpretation), particularly those relating to vehicle emissions, fuel economy and safety or to ESG reporting (environmental, social or governance topics); price increases for fuel, raw materials or energy; disruption of production due to shortages of materials or energy, labour strikes or supplier insolvencies; a shift in consumer preferences towards smaller, lower-margin vehicles; a limited demand for all-electric vehicles; a possible lack of acceptance of our products or services which limits our ability to achieve prices and adequately utilize our production capacities; a decline in resale prices of used vehicles; the effective implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency-optimization measures; the business outlook for companies in which we hold a significant equity interest; the successful implementation of strategic cooperations and joint ventures; the resolution of pending governmental investigations or of investigations requested by governments and the outcome of pending or threatened future legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties, some of which are described under the heading "Risk and Opportunity Report" in the current Annual Report or in the current Interim Report. If any of these risks and uncertainties materializes or if the assumptions underlying any of our forward-looking statements prove to be incorrect, the actual results may be materially different from those we express or imply by such statements. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements since they are based solely on the circumstances at the date of publication.

Mercedes-Benz Group at a glance

Mercedes-Benz Group AG is one of the world's most successful automotive companies. With Mercedes-Benz AG, the Group is one of the leading global suppliers of high-end passenger cars and premium vans. Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG specialises in financial and mobility services. The products range from financing, leasing, vehicle subscription, rental and fleet management to insurance, innovative mobility services, digital payment solutions as well as products and services around charging. The company founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history by inventing the automobile in 1886. As a pioneer of automotive engineering, Mercedes-Benz sees shaping the future of mobility in a safe and sustainable way as both a motivation and obligation. The company's focus therefore remains on innovative and green technologies as well as on safe and superior vehicles that both captivate and inspire. Mercedes-Benz continues to invest systematically in the development of efficient powertrains and sets the course for an all-electric future. Mercedes-Benz is consistently implementing its strategy to transform itself toward a fully electric and software-driven future. The company's efforts are also focused on the intelligent connectivity of its vehicles, autonomous driving and new mobility concepts as Mercedes-Benz regards it as its aspiration and obligation to live up to its responsibility to society and the environment. Mercedes-Benz sells its vehicles and services in nearly every country of the world and has production facilities in Europe, North and Latin America, Asia and Africa. In addition to Mercedes-Benz, the world's most valuable luxury automotive brand (source: Interbrand study, 10 Oct. 2024), Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach as well as the brands of Mercedes-Benz Mobility: Mercedes-Benz Bank, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Athlon. The company is listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchanges (ticker symbol MBG). In 2023, the Group had a workforce of around 166,000 and sold around 2.5 million vehicles. Group revenues amounted to 153.2 billion and Group EBIT to 19.7 billion.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211202067/en/

Contacts:

Willem Spelten, +49 (0)151 58624395, willem.spelten@mercedes-benz.com

Johannes Leifert, +49 (0)176 30904735, johannes.leifert@mercedes-benz.com

Andrea Berg, +1 917 667 2391, andrea.a.berg@mercedes-benz.com
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - The Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency have signed a Declaration of Intent to continue to foster and enrich its partnership to support safe and secure civil aviation activities. Leaders from the FAA and EASA discussed the renewed commitment at the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 80th Anniversary of Chicago Convention.'Aviation safety and modernization is a joint effort that requires collaboration with our international partners,' said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. 'Emerging technologies are transforming the global aviation system and require constant collaboration to reevaluate and adapt our strategic direction as new challenges and opportunities present themselves. Efforts like this Declaration of Intent help bring it all together.''Building on the EU-US Agreement on cooperation in the regulation of civil aviation safety, this Declaration of Intent will generate a new momentum in our EASA-FAA relationship and allow for better alignment on the priorities voiced by the global aeronautical industry,' said Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA.Under the Declaration, the FAA and EASA agree to share knowledge and best practices on safety data and risk management, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, innovation, research, and sustainability, as well as seek regulatory alignment where possible. Both organizations will also collaborate to provide technical assistance to regions across the globe.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.
By Alice Sanchez

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 / Cisco Systems Inc.

In June 2024, two of my passions-Native American culture and technology-converged at the top of the world. Along with a small team from Cisco and IP Consulting, an African American Cisco Partner, I journeyed to Utqiagvik (Barrow) Alaska, to support I?isagvik College and the Inupiaq Alaska Native Tribe.

My visit was a bucket list item I didn't know I had until I was there. We weren't there to change the Inupiaq culture but to help preserve it.

Identifying and Meeting a Need

Cisco's Social Justice Action 8 supports the sustainability of minority-serving colleges and universities by providing funding for students and technology modernization.

When we arrived at I?isagvik College-Alaska's only Tribal College located in the northernmost city in the U.S.-I truly understood their challenges. The community is accessible only by plane or barge, and due to its remoteness, keeping technology current can be daunting.

With Action 8 as our guide, we assessed I?isagvik College's cybersecurity infrastructure and implemented solutions to meet the federal standards required to preserve the institution's Title IV funding. In addition, we introduced Cisco's Networking Academy to its curriculum, providing opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized certifications.

Beyond Technology Enhancements

While our work focused on improving the college's cybersecurity, perpetuating the Inupiaq way of life was an even more significant aspect of the trip.

As a Native American, I understand the critical importance of preserving Indigenous cultures from generation to generation. It's something I'm passionate about as I continue my grandmother's life's work as she did at the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland, California, and as founder and global lead of Cisco's Native American Network (NAN), one of Cisco's 30+ Inclusive Communities (our name for Employee Resource Groups). Justina Wilhelm, I?isagvik College's president, shares this commitment, recognizing that cultivating expertise in IT and cybersecurity in the Arctic is essential to her community, enabling the Inupiaq culture to be maintained and strengthened. I think the contingent from Cisco and IP Consulting helped her to achieve this outcome.

New Friends and Traditions

From the moment we arrived and throughout our trip, I was moved by how welcoming everyone was to us. The Inupiaq people are rich in culture and embrace their subsistence traditions, which they happily shared with us. Community is everything to these people and each night we shared a meal with a different family. Since our visit occurred during whaling season, we participated in whaling ceremonies, including the blanket toss, which is how hunters historically checked the horizon for whales. I also visited the Inupiat Heritage Center, where I learned how tribe members make traditional clothing, and shared some of my own tribe's clothing customs.

I also had the chance to connect with the students at the college, showing them there is hope and opportunities for people who look like them. To me, representation for the next generation is essential, and those conversations were some of the most meaningful moments of the trip.

A Personal Learning Journey

Throughout my career at Cisco, I have eagerly embraced opportunities to represent my Indigenous culture in several projects that brought Cisco technology to Tribal communities. Each experience was unique and inspired me in unexpected ways. My visit to Utqiagvik was no exception, and my journey to this remote town was one of my favorite trips of all time. I gained so much from experiencing the similarities and differences between my Native culture and the Inupiaq people's. Their village, from the houses to rez dogs to children playing outside, reminded me of the reservation where I grew up and made me feel at home. But I also found beauty in our differences and was especially humbled to participate in the community's whaling ceremonies. From the traditional dances to consuming whale five different ways, it was like nothing I'd ever experienced before.

More than that, I'm grateful to work at a company that is changing the narrative for underrepresented people. Native Americans make up less than one percent of Cisco's 80,000+ employees. So, it would be easy to feel invisible here. Instead, I am encouraged to be my true, authentic, Native American self in everything I do-whether that's in an office, at a conference, presiding over a Land Acknowledgement, or supporting our social justice work at the top of the world. I have been given a seat at the table and an amazing opportunity-and responsibility-to represent my community with Cisco's support.

I?isagvik College was the second Tribal College Cisco supported through our social justice initiative. I'm filled with gratitude for the chances I've had to participate alongside my Cisco peers in purpose-led work like this and other Tribal community projects, and I look forward to expanding our impact to more Indigenous-serving schools and discovering new things about myself in the process.

To learn more about Cisco's support of I?isagvik College, read Connectivity at the top of the world: Preserving the past, partnering for the future.

Subscribe to the WeAreCisco Blog.

View original content here.

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Contact Info:

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SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The UN Environment Program has announced recipients of the 2024 Champions of the Earth award, honored for their outstanding leadership, brave actions, and sustainable solutions to tackle land degradation, drought and desertification.This year's laureates include a minister of Indigenous Peoples, an environmental defender, a sustainable agriculture initiative, an Indigenous rights advocate, a scientist focused on afforestation, and a pioneering ecologist.The annual Champions of the Earth award, the UN's highest environmental honor, recognizes trailblazers at the forefront of efforts to protect people and planet.Sonia Guajajara, Brazil's Minister of Indigenous Peoples, was honoured in the Policy Leadership category. Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate, received the award in the Inspiration and Action category.Gabriel Paun, a Romanian environmental defender, was honored in the Inspiration and Action category. Paun is the founder of Agent Green, a non-governmental organization (NGO) which has been helping save thousands of hectares of precious biodiversity in the Carpathians since 2009 by exposing the destruction and illegal logging of Europe's last old growth forest.Madhav Gadgil, an Indian ecologist was named as the laureate in the Lifetime Achievement category. He has spent decades protecting people and the planet through research and community engagement.The SEKEM initiative in Egypt was honored in the Entrepreneurial Vision category for helping farmers transition to more sustainable agriculture.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced the disbursement of $20 billion to Ukraine as part of the $50 billion G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans initiative.'These funds - paid for by the windfall proceeds earned from Russia's own immobilized assets - will provide Ukraine a critical infusion of support as it defends its country against an unprovoked war of aggression,' said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. 'The $50 billion collectively being provided by the G7 through this initiative will help ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs to sustain emergency services, hospitals, and other foundations of its brave resistance. Together with America's security assistance to Ukraine and the steps we will continue to take to decisively tighten sanctions on Russia, this action will further position Ukraine to defend its sovereignty and achieve a just peace. Right now, Putin is engaging our coalition in a contest of wills, counting on us to tire and ultimately retreat. But, through creative policymaking and the unity of the G7, we are sending an unmistakable message of resolve by making Russia increasingly bear the costs of its illegal war, instead of taxpayers in our coalition.'Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, G7 members decided to immobilize Russia's sovereign assets in their jurisdictions and committed that these assets will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine, paving the way for G7 ERA loans.The United States followed through on its October commitment to provide Ukraine with $20 billion under this initiative, by transferring these funds to the World Bank's Facilitation of Resources to Invest in Strengthening Ukraine Financial Intermediary Fund, or F.O.R.T.I.S. Ukraine FIF. Through the ERA initiative, the G7 has drawn forward the windfall proceeds from immobilized Russian sovereign assets, using those proceeds to support Ukraine.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
TruBit, Latin America's leading crypto payment platform, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Bridge, a global money movement platform built on stablecoins. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in revolutionizing cross-border payments between the United States and Latin America, introducing a seamless, low-cost, and efficient US-LATAM payment ramp to address financial challenges.

As the stablecoin market reaches $150 billion in market capitalization in 2024 (up from $15 million in 2017, according to Forbes), stablecoins have become essential for cost-effective transactions. The alliance between TruBit and Bridge reduces transaction costs to as low as 1%, a stark contrast to the typical 5-10% fees charged by banks (Deloitte). This cost-efficiency significantly enhances the operational viability of cross-border payments.

"Through our partnership with Bridge, we have successfully created a seamless connection between the U.S. and LATAM, enabling businesses and individuals to transfer and pay across borders quickly and affordably. This collaboration significantly reduces costs and achieves near-instant settlement in international transactions, transforming how cross-border payments are conducted and delivering tangible value to our customers.", states Maggie Wu, CEO and Co-Founder of TruBit.

"We're excited to partner with TruBit. We're using stablecoins to deliver faster transaction settlement and dramatically lower transaction costs for end consumers. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to delivering scalable, efficient financial infrastructure for businesses operating across borders," mentioned Zach Abrams, CEO and Co-Founder of Bridge.

The TruBit and Bridge collaboration strengthens cross-border financial flows between the U.S. and LATAM, empowering businesses and individuals to manage cash flow effectively and remain competitive in a globalized market. Entrepreneurs like Belen, a design business owner in LATAM, exemplify this impact. Before adopting TruBit and Bridge, she faced payment delays of up to five days and high international fees. "TruBit helped me reduce payment times to same-day and cut fees by 80%," she shares. Now, she effortlessly collects payments from clients in Europe and the U.S. while paying suppliers in LATAM, improving her cash flow and operational efficiency.

The US-LATAM payment ramp leverages API integration and both companies' fiat and crypto on-and-off ramp infrastructures to deliver secure, efficient, and low-cost transactions. Together, TruBit and Bridge are transforming international payments, fostering a more inclusive and interconnected global financial ecosystem.

About TruBit

TruBit, established in LATAM in 2020, is a comprehensive global crypto platform built on two core pillars: payments and trading. At its forefront is TruBit Business, delivering compliant cross-border payment solutions that seamlessly integrate fiat and crypto for businesses. For trading, TruBit Pro provides advanced tools for experienced traders, while the TruBit Wallet supports easy conversion and Earn+ features. The Mastercard TruBit card enables convenient crypto spending.

As a pioneer in compliant fiat on-and-off ramp services, TruBit operates in key LATAM markets like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Peru, with a growing footprint in the U.S., Hong Kong, and Europe. Its commitment to regulatory compliance, security, and innovation empowers businesses and users worldwide, bridging the gap between fiat and crypto through seamless trading, remittance, and payment services.

Contact For any inquiries, contact jane@trubit.com or roberto.femat@galactic.holdings.

SOURCE: TruBit

View the original press release on accesswire.com
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Cybersecurity Certification Market size is projected to grow from USD 3,987.6 million in 2024 to USD 8,033.5 million by 2030 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.4% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Professional certifications available in CISSP, CEH, and CompTIA Security+ have emerged as a basic need and have gained the support of global recognition and authenticity in cybersecurity space. These are primarily used to validate major skill sets in underlying domains such as risk management, threat mitigation, and comprehensive preparedness against complex challenges. Employers prefer these because they seal the perception of expertise. Further, focusing on practical skills, continuous learning, and networking opportunities equips professionals to stay current, adaptable, and impactful in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Cybersecurity Certification Market"

350 - Tables

50 - Figures

300 - Pages

Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=18576137

Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2020-2030 Base year considered 2023 Forecast period 2024-2030 Forecast units Value (USD Million) Segments Covered Offering, Certification Category, Target User, Delivery Mode, Vertical, and Region. Geographies covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America Companies covered Major vendors in the global Cybersecurity Certifications market are SGS(Switzerland), DEKRA(Germany), Intertek(UK), Bureau Veritas(France), DNV GL(Norway), TUV SUD(Germany), UL Solutions(US), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), TUV NORD(Germany), Element(UK), Keysight(US), BSI(UK), TUV Rheinland(Germany), EY Certifypoint(Netherlands), A-Lign(Florida), HITRUST(US), Schellman(US), Coalfire Certification(US), DQS(Germany), Control Case(US), ISC2(US), Infosec Train(India), EXIDA(US), ISASecure(US), ISACA(US), and CompTIA(US).

By Vertical, the IT & ITeS segment will account for the largest market size.

The high reliance on technology makes this segment IT and ITeS the leader in the Cybersecurity Certification Market, with information security as a key concern as it is the sector that is most susceptible to sophisticated cyberattacks. The rising frequency of threats like ransomware and phishing call for more certified professionals in skills areas such as cloud computing and AI security. This usually becomes highly observable and is facilitated by the mandate of regulatory compliance, which requires adherence to frameworks such as GDPR and HIPAA through their respective certifications. Moreover, rapid technology integration into business processes introduces security loopholes; hence, continuous learning and specialized certifications are required to build a skilled workforce that can efficiently tackle risks.

Request Sample Pages@https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=18576137

By Delivery Mode, the Online sector is estimated to have the highest CAGR during the global forecast.

Online segment is leading the Cybersecurity Certification Market growth due to adaptability, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of the same. High-speed internet eliminates geographical barriers and opens up the world to engage into many courses. Flexible learning accommodates personal and professional obligations, while the shortage of cybersecurity skills globally is driving demand for scalable online training. The pandemic hastened the adoption of virtual education usage and, thus, became the new norm. Online programs are more affordable, contain real-time updates of content, and use interactive formats like multimedia and simulations for better learning. Specialized certifications attract targeted learners for continuous professional development and updated skills for professionals to handle better emerging cyber threats.

By region, In North America, US is projected to have the largest market during the forecast period.

The US dominates the Cybersecurity Certification Market as it is in need of lots of expert professionals in mitigating increasing and sophisticated cyber threats. New vulnerabilities arising from the implementation of the coming next-generation technologies such as cloud computing, AI, and IoT call for specific training and certifications. There has been significant investment in the training of cybersecurity at organizations. This is mainly due to a growing realization of threats and a strong commitment to protecting digital assets. A robust security ecosystem by cybersecurity firms in the US, the shift to remote work expanded its attack surface, and continuous learning and managed security services further buttress the upward trend in demand for certifications.

Inquire Before Buying@https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=18576137

Top Key Companies in Cybersecurity Certification Market:

The report profiles key players such as SGS(Switzerland), DEKRA(Germany), Intertek(UK), Bureau Veritas(France), DNV GL(Norway), TUV SUD(Germany), UL Solutions(US), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), TUV NORD(Germany), Element(UK), Keysight(US), BSI(UK), TUV Rheinland(Germany), EY Certifypoint(Netherlands), A-Lign(Florida), HITRUST(US), Schellman(US), Coalfire Certification(US), DQS(Germany), Control Case(US), ISC2(US), Infosec Train(India), EXIDA(US), ISASecure(US), ISACA(US), and CompTIA(US).

Browse Adjacent Markets: Information Security Market ResearchReports & Consulting

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Get access to the latest updates on Cybersecurity Certification Companies and Cybersecurity Certification Industry

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.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 / Logitech



Vanessa Minnis (brown sweater on the left), Scripps PhD Student

Logitech Blog

Logitech is proud to support the students of UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography in traveling to the 2024 UN Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. These inspiring researchers will showcase their innovative solutions to address the ocean and global climate crisis. Our goal is to foster collaboration between the next generation of leaders and current policymakers, ensuring their perspectives are considered in shaping the future of climate action.

The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) gathers experts, scientists, policymakers, and activists from around the world. This year's focus is on providing financial support for developing countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions while handling climate catastrophes.

Scripps delegates are highlighting research on carbon, technology, financial solutions, and interdisciplinary strategies for a rapidly changing ocean. The opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with international climate negotiators will allow students to share ideas on ocean science and climate solutions.

By helping students get to Baku, we hope to provide them with a platform to highlight their incredible work. It is crucial to empower young voices, as they are the next generation of climate leaders who will drive the movement to a sustainable future.

Logitech reached out to Vanessa Minnis, a Scripps PhD Student, who shared her excitement about this incredible event:

1) What are you looking forward to most at COP29?

I look forward to attending and participating in COP29 as it provides a platform to engage with global leaders and innovators in climate solutions. My research specifically looks at how microbes can be added into soils in order to increase the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide being drawn down into the soil. Through COP 29, I hope to gain insights into how international policies and grassroots initiatives can be aligned to my research on a global scale, while also exploring opportunities to integrate my research with large-scale carbon reduction strategies that are being discussed at the conference. I'm also excited to meet individuals from around the world and engage in meaningful conversations on global climate action.

2) Why is a conference like this so important for the climate crisis?

This conference is crucial because it's one of the few events where countries from all over the world gather on a global stage to discuss climate change. As a student, I find it incredibly valuable because it exposes me to how climate negotiations unfold and helps me understand the impact of these discussions on both research and the financial strategies used to address climate change.

3) What are you hoping to take away from COP29, both personally and professionally?

Personally, I really want to understand the dynamics between climate policy, research, and funding opportunities. Exploring these connections will help me identify where the gaps are and what strategies I might be able to employ in my own research to bridge them.

Professionally, I want to learn how cutting-edge climate solutions are being implemented on the ground, particularly those that could be scaled globally. Additionally, I hope to meet leaders and experts whose insights will open my eyes to new perspectives and foster potential collaborations.

4) As a PhD student at the forefront of climate research, what do you think are the biggest obstacles we need to overcome to effectively address the climate crisis?

One of the biggest obstacles that comes to mind is not having the technology available to keep up with the frequency of measurements needed in order to accurately predict how effective climate mitigation strategies are. Coming from a soil research background, I experience firsthand the challenges of needing to collect data myself on-site. This quickly becomes problematic due to the time-consuming nature of the work, the strain on resources, and the limitations it places on the scale and frequency of data collection. This highlights a broader issue: the critical need for accessible funding and support for climate-oriented research. Such support is vital not only for developing advanced technologies, but also for training the next generation of scientists who are crucial to continuing our innovation and refinement of approaches to tackle climate change effectively. Moreover, engaging more effectively with policymakers is essential to ensure that our scientific findings are translated into actionable climate policies, which will help to address the climate crisis from all angles.

5) What advice would you give to other students or young researchers who are passionate about climate solutions but may not know where to start?

Stay informed and do not get disheartened by all the events and headlines you read regarding climate change. There are so many ways to approach combating climate change, so finding your passion within the field, whether it's sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, or ocean warming can help guide you. This will also help you connect with local organizations that align with your interests. Look for community groups and local initiatives through social media, local community boards, or school clubs. If you are a student or young researcher, taking classes or attending seminars on varying aspects of climate change from policy to biology can also help increase your depth of knowledge.

Thank you, Vanessa!

Logitech is proud to help young researchers take a seat at the table, recognizing that action is more important than ever. From big corporations to individuals, we must take proactive steps in order to help save our planet.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Logitech on 3blmedia.com.

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SOURCE: Logitech

View the original press release on accesswire.com
The e-cigarette and vape market is driven by factors such as growing health consciousness, as many consumer's view vaping as a less harmful alternative to traditional smoking. Technological advancements in device design, flavor variety, and nicotine options also contribute to market growth, attracting a diverse customer base. Furthermore, the increasing popularity of vaping among younger demographics, alongside government regulations promoting smoking cessation, is boosting demand.

LEWES, Del., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global E-cigarette and Vape Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.2% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report published by Verified Market Reports. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 21.7 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 182.87 Billion by the end of the forecast period.

The E-cigarette and Vape Market is witnessing rapid growth driven by rising health consciousness, shifting preferences toward smoke-free alternatives, and technological advancements. These devices, including rechargeable and disposable variants, cater to a growing demand for customizable and flavorful experiences. Regulatory frameworks and evolving consumer trends significantly influence market dynamics. Innovations in nicotine delivery systems and expanding retail channels further propel this industry's expansion globally.

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Browse in-depth TOC on E-cigarette and Vape 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 British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands, International Vapor Group, Japan Tobacco, International, NicQuid, Philip Morris International Inc, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company 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 E-cigarette and Vape Market Overview

Market Drivers Fueling Growth in the E-cigarette and Vape Market

Health Consciousness and Smoking Cessation

As awareness of the harmful effects of traditional smoking grows, many smokers are turning to e-cigarettes and vaping as a perceived safer alternative. Vaping products are marketed as tools for smoking cessation, with lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to combustible cigarettes. This growing shift toward healthier lifestyles is driving the demand for e-cigarettes, particularly among individuals looking to quit or reduce their nicotine intake. The rise in smoking-related diseases has further fueled this trend, with many consumers seeking alternatives to conventional smoking methods. Technological Advancements and Product Innovation

The continuous evolution of e-cigarette and vape technology is significantly driving market growth. Manufacturers are developing more advanced and user-friendly devices, such as pod systems, adjustable wattage vaporizers, and compact, sleek designs, which appeal to a broader range of consumers. Additionally, the expansion of flavor varieties, from fruits to desserts and tobacco, has attracted a diverse customer base, offering something for every preference. These innovations enhance the vaping experience and keep users engaged, fueling ongoing demand and interest in new products. Regulatory Support and Changing Public Perceptions

In many regions, regulatory frameworks aimed at controlling and reducing smoking have also supported the growth of the e-cigarette and vape market. Governments have introduced policies encouraging vaping as a smoking cessation tool, alongside anti-smoking campaigns that emphasize the relative safety of e-cigarettes. Public perceptions of vaping are gradually shifting toward acceptance as a harm reduction strategy, further boosting consumer adoption. This regulatory backing and evolving societal views help to sustain market growth and encourage more smokers to make the transition from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes.

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Market Restraints Limiting Expansion in the E-cigarette and Vape Market

Health Concerns and Safety Risks

Despite being marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, e-cigarettes and vapes are still associated with various health risks. Reports of lung injuries, respiratory issues, and potential long-term effects of inhaling nicotine and other chemicals continue to raise concerns among health experts and consumers. These health risks, coupled with growing evidence of harmful side effects, have led to decreased consumer confidence and reluctance to adopt vaping products, especially among non-smokers and young adults. As such, health concerns remain a significant restraint to market growth. Stringent Regulations and Legal Restrictions

Governments worldwide are imposing strict regulations on the sale, advertising, and use of e-cigarettes and vaping products. Many countries have implemented bans or restrictions on flavored e-cigarettes, high nicotine concentrations, and online sales, which limit the availability and appeal of these products. The regulatory environment is particularly complex, with varying laws across different regions, creating uncertainty for manufacturers. The tightening of laws, including minimum age requirements and taxes, can suppress market expansion and increase operational challenges for industry players. Environmental Impact of Disposable Products

The increasing popularity of disposable e-cigarettes has raised environmental concerns, particularly regarding the disposal of non-recyclable components such as plastic, lithium-ion batteries, and e-liquid containers. The growing waste generated by disposable vaping products is attracting scrutiny from environmental groups and governments. As sustainability becomes a more prominent issue globally, these environmental concerns could lead to stricter regulations and consumer pushback, limiting the growth potential of disposable e-cigarettes. Additionally, the market may face mounting pressure to adopt more sustainable production and disposal practices.

Geographic Dominance

The e-cigarette and vape market demonstrates notable geographic diversity, with North America, Europe, and Asia being the dominant regions for production and consumption. North America, particularly the U.S., leads in innovation and product adoption, while Europe has a growing regulatory landscape that shapes its market dynamics. Asia, especially countries like China and Japan, is a major hub for manufacturing and is seeing increasing demand among younger populations. Africa and the rest of the world represent emerging markets, where the popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping is on the rise, albeit at a slower pace. Each region faces distinct regulatory frameworks, consumer behaviors, and market challenges, contributing to the global complexity of the industry. This geographic diversity is driving the global expansion and reshaping trends in e-cigarette and vape consumption.

E-cigarette and Vape Market Key Players Shaping the Future

Major players, including British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands, International Vapor Group, Japan Tobacco, International, NicQuid, Philip Morris International Inc, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, Shenzhen IVPS Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen KangerTech Technology Co., Ltd. and more, play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the E-cigarette and Vape Market. Financial statements, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis provide valuable insights into the industry's key players.

E-cigarette and Vape Market Segment Analysis

Based on the research, Verified Market Reports has segmented the global E-cigarette and Vape Market into Type, Application and Geography.

E-cigarette and Vape Market, By Type

Disposable



Rechargeable



Modular Devices

E-cigarette and Vape Market, By Application

Online



Offline

E-cigarette and Vape 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 E-cigarette Market By Type (With Screen, Without Screen), By Application (Online, Offline), By Geographic Scope And Forecast

Global E-Cigarette Devices Market By Type (Disposable, Rechargeable), By Application (Vape Shops, Online), By Geographic Scope And Forecast

Global E-Cigarette & Vaporizer Market By Type (E-Cigarette, Vaporizer), By Application (Male, Female), By Geographic Scope And Forecast

Global Disposable E-Cigarettes Market By Type (Less than 500 Puffs, 500 - 1000 Puffs), By Application (Supermarket, Specialty Store), By Geographic Scope And Forecast

Global E Cigarette Vape Tanks Market By Type (Open Vaping Tank (OVT), Closed Vaping Tank (CVT)), By Application (Online Sales, Offline Sales), By Geographic Scope And Forecast

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REDDING, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled, 'Automotive Seats Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, LCV, HCV), Seat Type, Seat Technology (Manual Seats, Powered Seats, Smart Seats), Material, Distribution Channel (OEMs and Aftermarket), Geography - Global Forecast to 2031.

The automotive seats market is expected to reach $53.4 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 1.5% from 2024 to 2031.

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Automotive seats are critical components in vehicles, designed to provide comfort, support, and safety for occupants during travel. They are engineered to enhance ergonomics and include features like adjustable headrests, lumbar support, and reclining mechanisms.

The growth of this market is driven by increasing vehicle production & sales and increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs). Furthermore, advancements in seat technology and a growing focus on sustainable materials and customization are expected to generate growth opportunities for the stakeholders in this market.

However, fluctuating raw material prices and complexity in design & customization restrain this market's growth.

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Key Players:

Some of the major players studied in this report are Adient plc (Ireland), AISIN Group (Japan), Faurecia SE (France), Gentherm Incorporated (U.S.), Lear Corporation (U.S.), Magna International Inc. (Canada), NHK Spring Co., Ltd. (Japan), TACHI-S CO. LTD. (Japan), Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Japan), TS TECH CO., LTD. (Japan), Ningbo Jifeng Auto parts Co., ltd. (China), Hyundai Dymos (South Korea), Bharat Seats Limited (India), Grammer AG (Germany), and Pheonix Seating Limited (U.K.).

The global automotive seats market is segmented by vehicle type (passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, three-wheelers), seat type(bench seats, bucket seats, folding seats, powered seats, heated and ventilated seats, other seat types), seat technology(manual seats, powered seats, smart seats, other seat technologies), material(fabric, genuine leather, synthetic leather, other materials), and distribution channel (OEMs, aftermarket). This study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the regional and country-level markets.

Key Findings in the Automotive Seats Market Study:

Among the vehicle types studied in this report, the passenger cars segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Passenger cars, which include sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs, are among the most commonly used vehicles globally. The demand for ergonomic and feature-rich seats is growing rapidly within this segment. Key drivers for this growth include the increasing production of passenger cars, the rising demand for comfort features, and the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

Among the seat types studied in this report, the heated and ventilated seats segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Heated and ventilated seats offer enhanced comfort by regulating temperature, making them particularly popular in premium and luxury vehicles. This segment's growth is driven by factors such as the rising demand for luxury vehicles and an increasing emphasis on passenger comfort and climate control.

Among the seat technologies studied in this report, the smart seats segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Smart seats are equipped with sensors, AI, and connectivity features that monitor occupant posture, adjust seating for comfort, and enhance safety. This segment's growth is driven by advancements in seat technologies, such as the integration of sensors and AI, which improve safety, comfort, and personalization for users.

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Among the materials studied in this report, the synthetic leather segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Synthetic leather is gaining popularity due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, and affordability when compared to genuine leather. Additionally, the increasing focus on sustainability and the growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives are key factors driving the growth of synthetic leather in automotive seating.

Among the distribution channels studied in this report, the OEMs segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by factors such as the rising consumer preference for factory-installed advanced seats, collaborations between automakers and seat suppliers, and an increase in overall vehicle production.

Among the regions studied in this report, Asia-Pacific is poised to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this regional market is driven by factors such as the increase in vehicle production in key markets such as China, India, and Japan, rising consumer demand for electric vehicles with advanced seating features, and growing disposable incomes, which fuel the demand for premium, comfort-oriented automotive seats. Furthermore, favorable government policies supporting local automotive manufacturing and the consistent innovation by OEMs in the region are driving the integration of powered seats, ventilation systems, and ergonomic designs into their vehicles.

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Scope of the Report:

Automotive Seats Market Assessment-by Vehicle Type

Passenger Cars

Light Commercial Vehicles

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Two-wheelers

Three-wheelers

Automotive Seats Market Assessment-by Seat Type

Bench Seats

Bucket Seats

Folding Seats

Powered Seats

Heated and Ventilated Seats

Other Seat Types

Automotive Seats Market Assessment-by Seat Technology

Manual Seats

Powered Seats

Smart Seats

Other Seat Technologies

Automotive Seats Market Assessment-by Material

Fabric

Genuine Leather

Synthetic Leather

Other Materials

Automotive Seats Market Assessment-by Distribution Channel

OEMs

Aftermarket

Automotive Seats Market Assessment-by Geography

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Italy



Spain



Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

China



Japan



India



South Korea



Rest of Asia-Pacific (RoAPAC)

Latin America

Mexico



Brazil



Rest of Latin America (RoLATAM)

Middle East & Africa

Israel



UAE



Rest of Middle East & Africa (RoMEA)

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Automotive Seats Market Research Summary

Particulars Details Number of Pages 250 Format PDF Forecast Period 2024-2031 Base Year 2023 CAGR (Value) 1.5 % Market Size in 2024 (Value) USD 53.4 Billion Market Size in 2031 (Value) USD 58.9 Billion Segments Covered By Vehicle Type Passenger Cars

Light Commercial Vehicles

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Two-wheelers

Three-wheelers By Seat Type Bench Seats

Bucket Seats

Folding Seats

Powered Seats

Heated and Ventilated Seats

Other Seat Types By Seat Technology Manual Seats

Powered Seats

Smart Seats

Other Seat Technologies By Material Fabric

Genuine Leather

Synthetic Leather

Other Materials By Distribution Channel OEMs

Aftermarket Countries Covered North America (U.S. and Canada), Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, and Rest of Latin America), and Middle East & Africa (UAE, Israel, and Rest of Middle East & Africa) Key Companies Adient plc (Ireland), AISIN Group (Japan), Faurecia SE (France), Gentherm Incorporated (U.S.), Lear Corporation (U.S.), Magna International Inc. (Canada), NHK Spring Co., Ltd. (Japan), TACHI-S CO. LTD. (Japan), Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Japan), TS TECH CO., LTD. (Japan), Ningbo Jifeng Auto parts Co., ltd. (China), Hyundai Dymos (South Korea), Bharat Seats Limited (India), Grammer AG (Germany), and Pheonix Seating Limited (U.K.)

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Regulatory News:

In line with its multi-energy strategy in the Sultanate of Oman, TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) is pleased to announce, together with its partner OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE), the National Renewable Energy Champion, the signing of landmark agreements to develop 300 MW of renewable energy projects in the country. The electricity will be delivered through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the leading exploration and production company in the Sultanate.

With respectively 49% and 51% shares, TotalEnergies and OQAE will lead in realizing three renewable projects:

North Solar , a 100 MW solar project, located in Saih Nihaydah in northern Oman;

, a 100 MW solar project, located in Saih Nihaydah in northern Oman; Riyah-1 and Riyah-2, two 100 MW wind projects, located in Amin and West Nimr fields in southern Oman.

The construction will start in early 2025, and the electricity production in late 2026. These solar and wind projects will generate over 1.4 TWh of renewable electricity annually.

"Following our recent successes in the Sultanate of Oman, notably with the launch of the Marsa LNG project in April, we are pleased to make a new step in the deployment of our integrated multi-energy strategy in Oman," said Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President Renewables at TotalEnergies. "Together with our partner OQAE, we are eager to start the construction of these three projects which will provide long-term renewable electricity to PDO while supporting the Sultanate in its energy transition".

"We are delighted to sign these agreements, which further reinforce our steadfast commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, mainly the diversification of energy sources to ensure sustainable energy security. PDO's journey towards sustainability was firmly established with previous groundbreaking initiatives, including the Amin Solar IPP Power Plant and the Rima Water Treatment Project. These projects, alongside the ones signed today, continue to reshape Oman's energy landscape by blending technological innovation with environmental stewardship. They also support our aim of sourcing 30% of our power capacity from renewables by 2026, reflecting our dedication to a cleaner, sustainable future", said Dr Aflah Al Hadhrami, Managing Director of PDO.

"In partnership with PDO and TotalEnergies, OQAE is proud to advance Oman's transition toward sustainable energy. As an energy transition enabler, we are delighted to lead the development of these projects supporting PDO to achieve their decarbonization plans. This significant milestone underscores the expertise and dedication of all stakeholders involved. As the National Champion for Clean Energy in Oman, OQAE is committed to supporting the nation's economic growth by developing innovative clean energy and low-carbon projects. With a focus on environmental stewardship and long-term prosperity, OQAE ensures the delivery of sustainable solutions to meet Oman's evolving industrial energy needs", stated Ms. Najla Zuhair Al Jamali, Chief Executive of OQ Alternative Energy.

About OQ Alternative Energy

OQ's Alternative Energy (AE) stands at the forefront of OQ's energy transition initiatives, playing a vital role in realizing national objectives for achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 aligned with Oman's 2040 vision. Central to OQ AE's strategy is the decarbonization of OQ's assets, eventually extending to the decarbonization of Oman as a whole. OQ AE is committed to driving sustainable economic growth within Oman's energy value chain and facilitating the energy transition through successful partnerships. As a national champion for renewable energy, OQ AE is dedicated to developing a robust clean energy portfolio and supporting Oman's low carbon molecule investments.

TotalEnergies and electricity

As part of its ambition to get to net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is building a world class cost-competitive portfolio combining renewables (solar, onshore and offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its customers. By the end of 2024, TotalEnergies' gross renewable electricity generation installed capacity had reached over 24 GW. TotalEnergies will continue to expand this business to reach 35 GW in 2025 and more than 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030.

About TotalEnergies Oman

TotalEnergies has been present in Oman since 1937. The Company launched in 2024 the integrated Marsa LNG project (80%), which combines natural gas production from Block 10, a full electric liquefaction plant of 1Mt/y capacity intended to serve as the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East and a dedicated 300 MWp PV solar plant.

TotalEnergies' oil and gas production in Oman was 66 kboe/d in the third quarter 2024. TotalEnergies produces oil in Block 6 (4%), natural gas in Block 10 (26.55% via Marsa LNG LLC) as well as LNG through its participation in Oman LNG (5.54%)/Qalhat LNG (2.04% via Oman LNG). TotalEnergies is currently conducting exploration activities in Block 12 (50%, operator), and is appraising Block 11 (22.5%).

TotalEnergies also contributes to the development of renewables in the country, such as the largest solar photovoltaic system built to provide power for a desalination plant in Oman, in the city of Sur, in joint-venture with Veolia.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

@TotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

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The Acquisition of Europe's Largest Wellbeing Destination, Backed by One of the Industry's Largest Single-Asset Financings

LONDON, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Therme Group announces the acquisition of Therme Erding, the largest wellbeing destination globally located near Munich in Germany. With this transaction, Therme Group is set to surpass 3.5 million annual visitors to its portfolio of wellbeing destinations, a new type of social infrastructure that integrates all aspects of wellbeing in a single location.

To complete the acquisition of Therme Erding, Therme Group deployed alongside its own equity a 320 million funding package secured from Macquarie Capital's Principal Finance team, -globally recognized as a leader in bespoke and complex real asset financing solutions. The funding, arranged by Deutsche Bank, represents one of the largest single-asset financings in the industry. The acquisition of Therme Erding reinforces Therme Group's leadership in the sector and its commitment to advancing the expansion of its state-of-the-art wellbeing infrastructures worldwide.

"Therme Erding is an exceptionally high-quality asset and we are delighted to be able to utilise our balance sheet to partner with an experienced operator in Therme Group. Therme Group stands out as a best-in-class operator and developer of these specialised operating real estate assets, and we are pleased to support their growth."

- Alexi Antolovich, Global Co-Head Real Estate, Macquarie Capital Principal Finance

The addition of Therme Erding to Therme Group's portfolio is the outcome of a long-standing personal relationship of the Wund family with Robert Hanea, the CEO and founder of Therme Group, built on a shared commitment to advancing science-backed wellbeing solutions that combine the benefits of traditional thermal bathing with cutting-edge technology and programming to create an accessible, world-class experience.

"In Therme Group we have found an established and proven partner who shares the innovative wellbeing legacy I built alongside my father. This acquisition not only honors that legacy but also ensures a vibrant and prosperous future for Therme Erding, its employees, and the community it serves."

- Dipl. Ing. Jorg Wund, CEO of Therme Erding

This milestone establishes Therme Group as the world's largest operator of wellbeing infrastructure. Building on this strong foundation, the group has announced new locations in Manchester, Frankfurt, Toronto and the US, which will help bring its transformative approach to millions more people.

"As we expand globally, we are not just growing our portfolio-we are redefining how cities can integrate spaces that prioritize health, connection, and inclusion, making urban wellbeing accessible to all. By breaking away from the exclusivity of the traditional wellness sector, we aim to reimagine the sector's potential and its benefits for society as a whole."

- Dr. Robert Hanea, Founder and CEO of Therme Group

Therme Group was supported on the transaction by Alantra, Rodl & Partner, PwC, K&L Gates, and Slaughter and May, with the financing structured by Deutsche Bank and BF.direkt Group. Deutsche Bank also acted as arranger for the financing, while Macquarie Capital was advised by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

About Therme Group

Therme Group is a global owner, operator and developer, shaping the future of wellbeing through a new type of social infrastructure called 'Therme.' Designed to enhance physical, social, and mental health, these spaces and wellbeing destinations help communities reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other. Guided by the belief that wellbeing should be accessible to all, Therme Group creates inclusive, scalable solutions to meet the growing demand for urban wellbeing.

Current locations, including Therme Bucharest-the world's first LEED Platinum-certified wellbeing infrastructure-and the newly acquired Therme Erding, the world's largest wellbeing destination, welcome millions of visitors each year, with developments underway in cities such as Manchester, Toronto, and Frankfurt.

What is a Therme

Therme by Therme Group is a state-of-the-art wellbeing oasis designed to make wellbeing enjoyable and accessible to all, removing the exclusivity and privilege often associated with modern wellness brands. Each Therme offers a diverse range of experiences, from thermal bathing and spa treatments to wellness programming and cultural engagement, all within immersive, sustainable environments. With hundreds of thousands of square feet dedicated to wellbeing, each Therme features thermal and mineral pools, dozens of saunas and wet rooms, thousands of relaxation beds, lush greenery including plants and trees, swim-up bars, exhilarating waterslides, and a variety of restaurants. At Therme, you can explore and define what wellbeing means to you.

About Macquarie Capital

Macquarie Capital is the advisory, capital markets and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group. It encompasses corporate advisory, a full spectrum of capital solutions, including capital raising services from equity, debt and private capital markets and principal investments from Macquarie's balance sheet. Macquarie Capital has deep sector expertise in the aerospace, defence and government services, consumer, gaming and leisure, critical minerals, energy, financial institutions, healthcare, industrials, infrastructure, services, software, technology, telecommunications and media sectors.

Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, the financing and principal investing arm of Macquarie Capital makes investments from Macquarie's balance sheet, provides flexible primary financing and secondary market investing solutions for corporate and commercial real estate clients across North America, Europe and Australasia.

Press Contact:

Victor De Vita, Managing Director

BPCM

victor@bpcm.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/therme-group-acquires-therme-erding-and-secures-320-million-financing-to-create-the-worlds-largest-wellbeing-infrastructure-platform-302329153.html
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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Representatives from Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (TSX: CF) (Canaccord Genuity), joined Berk Sumen, Managing Director, Company Services, Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), to open the market and celebrate the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) / Canaccord Genuity International Oil & Gas Investor Day.





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vACsorZsbWA

Canaccord Genuity and TSX are co-hosting an International Oil & Gas Investor Day in Toronto featuring presentations by leading public Oil & Gas Exploration & Production companies with operations outside of Canada.

As the world's energy needs continue to grow, so does the demand for oil and natural gas. Energy security is once again top of mind with world leaders, as many jurisdictions struggle to meet the energy demands of its constituents. Several Canadian and TSX and TSXV listed teams are stepping up to meet those demands, leveraging their expertise to fill the void across the globe, thus providing unique and compelling investment opportunities for Canadian investors.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233343

SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange
SBA lending trailblazer, Tammy deClercq, joins a team of professionals to advise and support the SBA Administrator

Lendistry announces today that the Chief Operations Officer of its Small Business Lending Company, Tammy deClercq, was appointed to the newly established U.S. SBA Small Business Lending Advisory Council. As a founding member, deClercq will support the council's mission to assist the SBA Administrator in expanding access to capital for small businesses, particularly those in underserved communities.

Since joining Lendistry in 2021, deClercq has helped the company evolve its operations to address common barriers in the application process, shorten the average duration of SBA loan processing and improve customer communications. Before joining Lendistry, deClercq served as SVP of Operations at VelocitySBA, SVP of Operations at Crossroads Small Business Solutions and VP of Operations at Superior Financial Group.

"The whole team at Lendistry couldn't be prouder of Tammy for this appointment," says Everett K. Sands, CEO of Lendistry. "So many of the milestones Lendistry SBLC has achieved in the past two years are due to her creativity, dedication, and expertise. I'm confident she'll be a strong and valuable advocate for the needs of today's small business borrowers on the council."

"Being appointed to the Small Business Lending Advisory Council is an incredible honor and an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. I'm passionate about supporting small businesses and ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to thrive," says deClercq. "Through collaboration and innovation, I look forward to helping shape policies and strategies that drive growth, foster economic inclusion, assist the industry in staying ahead of trends and create lasting opportunities for entrepreneurs across our communities. I'm excited to contribute to shaping policies that empower entrepreneurs and strengthen our economic future."

The council's work will include creating and improving SBA programs and services to make it easier for lenders to help businesses get funded. With fellow council members, deClercq will also provide insights to the Administrator on key issues affecting small business owners and lenders.

About Lendistry

B.S.D. Capital, Inc. dba Lendistry (lendistry.com) is a minority-led fintech that provides innovative lending products for small businesses and administers grant programs for government agencies nationwide. Headquartered in a Los Angeles Opportunity Zone, Lendistry uses technology and community partnerships to overcome systemic barriers to capital access. In 2024, Lendistry CEO Everett K. Sands was an Entrepreneur Of The Year Greater Los Angeles award winner. Lendistry has both Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) certifications and is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Lendistry SBLC, LLC is an SBA Preferred Lender and the nation's only African American-led SBA designated Small Business Lending Company. In collaboration with The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit business education organization, Lendistry provides economic opportunities and progressive growth for underserved urban and rural small business borrowers and their communities.

SOURCE: Lendistry

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ING Group has been notified of the European Central Bank (ECB) decision on the 2024 Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP), based on which it has taken a decision on ING's prudential requirements, including capital requirements for 2025.

ING Group's fully loaded CET1 requirement is unchanged at 10.87%, including a countercyclical capital buffer of 94 bps (fully loaded per 3Q 2024). According to the ECB's SREP decision, the Pillar 2 additional own funds requirement (P2R) of 165 bps remained unchanged and will be applicable from 1 January 2025.

As of 30 September 2024, ING's CET1 ratio was 14.3%, well in excess of the regulatory requirements.

Further information on ING's capital requirements can be found in the ING Group Credit Update presentation on the Investor Relations section of our website, www.ing.com.

Note for editors

For more on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroomor via X @ING_newsfeed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

Press enquiries

Investor enquiries Christoph Linke

ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 5000

+31 20 576 6396 Christoph.Linke@ing.com (mailto:Christoph.Linke@ing.com)

Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com)







ING PROFILE

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING's ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as 'AA' in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics' view, ING's management of ESG material risk is 'Strong'. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that's not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

Important legal information

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation').

ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ('IFRS- EU'). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to di?er materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may di?er materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation:

This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

This document does not constitute an o?er to sell, or a solicitation of an o?er to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Attachment
APPOINTMENT OF ANNELISE LE GALL AS EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meudon (France), December 11, 2024 - Vallourec, a global leader in premium seamless tubular solutions, announces the appointment of a new Employee Representative Director to its Board of Directors.

During the Group Workers' Committee meeting held on December 10, 2024, Annelise Le Gall was elected as Director representing the employees in accordance with Article L.225-27-1 of the French Commercial Code. Vallourec's Board of Directors acknowledges this appointment for a four-year term.

The Board of Directors now includes two employee Directors, Ms. Annelise Le Gall and Mr. Patrick Poulin.

Annelise Le Gall has been with Vallourec for 17 years, holding various positions within the Group. She currently serves as the Business Development Manager for Vallourec's Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing solution (WAAM).

Philippe Guillemot, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer commented: "We are pleased to welcome Annelise Le Gall as Employee Representative Director on the Board of Directors. Her diverse experience in the industrial sector and deep knowledge of Vallourec will be valuable assets in supporting the Board's discussions on implementation of the New Vallourec plan and the Group's development."

About Vallourec

Vallourec is a world leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets and for demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging architectural projects, and high-performance mechanical equipment. Vallourec's pioneering spirit and cutting-edge R&D open new technological frontiers. With close to 14,000 dedicated and passionate employees in more than 20 countries, Vallourec works hand-in-hand with its customers to offer more than just tubes: Vallourec delivers innovative, safe, competitive and smart tubular solutions, to make every project possible.

Listed on Euronext in Paris (ISIN code: FR0013506730, Ticker VK), Vallourec is part of the CAC Mid 60, SBF 120 and Next 150 indices and is eligible for Deferred Settlement Service.

In the United States, Vallourec has established a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program (ISIN code: US92023R4074, Ticker: VLOWY). Parity between ADR and a Vallourec ordinary share has been set at 5:1.

For further information, please contact:

Investor relations:

Connor Lynagh

Tel: +1

Individual shareholders:

Toll Free number

Press relations: Taddeo

Romain Griere

Tel: +33

Nicolas Escoulan

Tel: +33

Attachment
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Kovo+ Holdings Inc. (TSXV: KOVO) (formerly Kovo HealthTech Corporation) ("Kovo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the following organizational changes: Mr. Justin Anderson, formerly the Chief Restructuring Officer of the Company, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Brenner Adams, formerly the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer. Mr. Mark Detz, formerly the Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company, has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer.

"These changes reflect our commitment to strengthening leadership in an ever-evolving market and help drive the next phase of our business," said Peter Bak, Kovo Board Chair.

Kovo is also pleased to announce details of its strategic restructuring that refocuses the organization on artificial intelligence ("AI") initiatives to drive impact and innovation across diverse industries. The Company's subsidiaries have been reorganized into two core, collaborative business segments: Medical Billing Services ("MBS") and AI Services.

"At Kovo, we believe that the future lies in innovation, and our strategic restructuring represents a bold step toward embracing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. By focusing on AI-driven solutions and enhancing our operational capabilities, we are positioning ourselves in healthcare technology and committing our operations for a new era," said Justin Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

HEAL Vue, Inc. dba Kovo RCM ("Kovo RCM"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Kovo, has been established to manage the Company's MBS business segment. Kovo RCM is responsible for overseeing Kovo's acquisitions in the medical billing and revenue cycle management ("RCM") space and with a focus on the small and medium-sized business sector. Kovo RCM is structured to integrate Kovo's RCM assets and brands into a unified service platform is expected to provide comprehensive RCM solutions to clinics, practices, providers, and rural hospitals, to optimize their revenue cycles and operational efficiency. Nick Jose has been appointed as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Kovo RCM. With his leadership, Kovo RCM is dedicated to offering innovative billing solutions and exceptional service tailored to the needs of healthcare providers in various specialties.

"Through Kovo RCM, we offer innovative billing and administrative services, as well as advanced AI, business process outsourcing, accelerated payments, practice management, and electronic health record platform solutions," said Brenner Adams, Chief Strategy Officer of the Company. "With the acquisition of the exclusive AccelVue AI healthcare license from HEAL USA, Inc., Kovo is taking a strategic step towards integrating cutting-edge AI technologies into our services."

Kovo also plans to leverage our exclusive AI platform technology relationship to exploit AI services and solution opportunities in the broader healthcare strategy. Kovo aims to make this a key pillar of its long-term plan, positioning it as a growing and significant vertical within the Kovo portfolio. This move reflects our commitment to providing innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and support the growing needs of the healthcare industry.

About Kovo+ Holdings Inc.

Kovo is a versatile technology company leading the charge in AI initiatives to drive impact and innovation across diverse industries. Kovo remains committed to its core business-model of strategic growth opportunities within mid-market Medical Billing firms, where exploitive business optimization synergies exist. Moving forward, Kovo will integrate accretive broader healthcare sector additions to its portfolio and opportunities beyond in multiple new markets. Dedicated to revolutionizing business processes optimization through technological advancements and evolving AI applied methods, Kovo embodies a commitment to ensured and enduring profitability. To learn more about Kovo and to keep up to date on Kovo news, visit www.kovoplus.co m .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided to inform the Company's shareholders and potential investors 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 forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of factors and assumptions that 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 forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this press release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Any forward-looking information 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 forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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 of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233353

SOURCE: Kovo+ Holdings Inc.
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, international brands are increasingly entering the U.S. market. DOPE Exotic Cannabis Dispensary, a prominent name in Thailand's cannabis sector, is now offering its premium THCA flower and other Farm Bill-compliant products, including THCA vapes and Delta-9 gummies, to U.S. consumers via its online platform, DOPETHC.COM. The Miami-based sister company ensures satisfaction with all its products, providing options for exchange or refund upon return.

Thailand's Premier Cannabis Brand Expands to the USA

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9047/233382_b7642fe1c466baff_001full.jpg

What Sets DOPE Exotic Cannabis Dispensary Apart?

Dope Cannabis on Google Maps

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9047/233382_b7642fe1c466baff_002full.jpg

DOPE Exotic Cannabis Dispensary has built a reputation for high-quality products and a global approach to cannabis culture. The Thailand-based dispensary has garnered over 300 five-star reviews on Google, with customers praising its combination of affordable pricing and exceptional quality. Operating on the picturesque island of Koh Samui, Thailand, the dispensary serves local customers through a variety of delivery services. Read more about the Thailand dispensary here.

Manufacturing Excellence

In the United States, DOPE Exotic Cannabis Dispensary operates in collaboration with a cGMP-certified manufacturing facility in Miami, producing millions of edibles and vapes monthly. Its THCA flowers are sourced from trusted licensed hemp cultivators in California and Oregon, ensuring quality and compliance.

All products are backed by transparency, with lab results readily available on the company's website to confirm safety and efficacy.

Product Line Overview

Premium THCA Flower: A signature product offering effects comparable to traditional cannabis when heated, discreetly shipped via USPS. Farm Bill-Compliant Offerings: A variety of Delta-9 THC edibles, THCA prerolls, and extracts designed to deliver a legal and authentic cannabis experience. Educational Resources: Over 100 educational articles on cannabinoids are available on the company's blog, bridging the gap between hemp and marijuana. Reliable Shipping: Efficient and discreet delivery is available to most states, with restrictions in areas where products are prohibited.

THCA Flower: A Cannabis Game Changer

A banner displays high THCA flowers on DOPE Exotic Cannabis Dispensaries website



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9047/233382_b7642fe1c466baff_003full.jpg

THCA flower is gaining traction in the cannabis market for providing a natural cannabis experience while adhering to federal legality. Benjamin Tate, the owner of DOPE Exotic Cannabis Dispensary, explains:

"THCA flower is the foundation of all cannabis. Whether it's hemp or marijuana, it's the same plant. THCA bridges the gap between compliance and the experience consumers seek."

A Global Vision for Cannabis

DOPE Exotic Cannabis Dispensary began its journey in Koh Samui, Thailand, becoming a key player in the region's cannabis market. With its expansion into the United States, the company is merging global cannabis culture with the U.S. market, emphasizing quality, transparency, and authenticity.

"From Thailand to Miami, the mission goes beyond selling cannabis. It's about building connections and reshaping how the world views this plant. DOPE focuses on making the purchasing experience exciting, interactive, and accessible," said Tate.

Commitment to Compliance and Consumer Responsibility

DOPE Exotic Cannabis Dispensary operates strictly under the guidelines of the U.S. Farm Bill, ensuring all products comply with federal regulations. While the company monitors the evolving legal landscape, consumers are responsible for understanding and complying with local laws regarding THCA flower and other cannabis products.

To remain compliant, the company restricts purchases from states where THCA flower is prohibited. Customers are encouraged to explore other offerings, such as Delta-9 THC gummies and free gummy samples, which are available for shipment to nearly all states. Consumers should independently verify local regulations before making a purchase. This information does not constitute legal advice.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233382

SOURCE: Dope Clothing Co.
EQS-Ad-hoc: Vulcan Energy Resources Limited / Key word(s): Financing/Funds

Vulcan Energy Resources Limited: Vulcan secures EIB Board approval to participate in Phase One financing



11-Dec-2024 / 19:57 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Ad-hoc Notice: Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17(1) MAR

Vulcan secures EIB Board approval to participate in Phase One financing

The Board of the European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved its participation in the Company's debt financing process for its Phase One Project. The Phase One Project is targeting the production of 24,000 tonnes per annum of Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LHM), equivalent to approximately 500,000 EVs.



The EIB's proposed financing could amount to up to 500m (~A$819m), pending completion of final due diligence, signing of legal documentation and final internal approval. The potential 500m financing envelope can be split into an EIB direct uncovered facility, funding under export credit agency (ECA) covered facilities, and as liquidity lines for participating commercial banks.

The EIB's involvement is expected to serve as a cornerstone to complement the ongoing Phase One funding process. The Company is advancing its financing process following strong engagement throughout 2024 with commercial banks and government-backed ECAs. Vulcan has already received a 120m (~A$196m) commitment from Export Finance Australia, as well as an indication of strong support from Export Development Canada, Bpifrance Assurance Export and SACE.

11-Dec-2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


San Francisco, California--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Singular Research proudly invites investors, analysts, and small-cap enthusiasts to the 20th Annual Best of the Uncovereds Conference on Thursday, December 12, 2024. The event will be held at the AMA Executive Conference Center, located at 55 Fourth Street, 2nd Level inside the Marriott Marquis, in San Francisco.







This year's conference will feature some of the most interesting, undervalued, and uncovered small and micro-cap companies poised for significant growth as 2025 approaches. Attendees will gain exclusive insights and opportunities to engage with company executives and industry experts. One-on-one meetings will be available for select participants both virtually and in-person at the event.



Tracks 1 and 2 of the conference will be broadcast via GoToWebinar for virtual participants.

Register today to secure a spot:



- Track 1 Registration:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4157183539679401045

- Track 2 Registration:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/884947873959788894

Please see below for the presentation schedules of Tracks 1 and 2:



Track 1



Track 2

Singular Research looks forward to hosting attendees at this premier event showcasing tomorrow's leaders in the small-cap space.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233280

SOURCE: Singular Research
SANTA CLARA (dpa-AFX) - On Wednesday, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) in a lawsuit against the chip giant, leaving the case to move forward.The court dismissed the appeal as 'improvidently granted' in an unsigned, one-sentence opinion without explanation.The dismissal came four weeks after several justices questioned whether the case presented the type of broad legal issue that would warrant a Supreme Court ruling.Nvidia contended the shareholders' lawsuit lacked enough specificity to go forward to the evidence-gathering stage of litigation.This marks the second time the Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal in recent weeks. Last month, the court dismissed Facebook's appeal in a securities lawsuit against the company.Nvidia's suit, brought by Swedish investment firm Ohman J:or Fonder, centers on allegations that company executives, including CEO Jensen Huang, misled investors about the extent its sales depended on volatile cryptocurrency miners.Nvidia argued the investment firm did not meet the legal bar set by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, a federal law created in 1995 to prevent frivolous securities litigation.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.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - 1844 RESOURCES Inc. (TSXV: EFF) (the "Company" or "1844") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of August 13, 2024, it has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Nickel North Exploration Corp. ("Nickel North"), pursuant to which Nickel North has granted options to the Company to acquire up to a 100% interest, free and clear of all encumbrances, except for an underlying net smelter returns royalty (the "Underlying Royalty"),[1] in the Hawk Ridge property in Quebec (the "Hawk Ridge Property"). The Option Agreement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Company also announces concurrent non-brokered private placements for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000.

The Option Agreement is an arm's length transaction with Nickel North and no finder's fees are payable in connection with the Option Agreement.

Option Agreement

Upon execution of the Option Agreement, the Company paid to Nickel North a non-refundable cash payment of $12,000. Additionally, within five business days of the date that is two business days following receipt of the final acceptance by the Exchange of the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement (the "Effective Date"), the Company will pay to Nickel North $200,000 and issue to Nickel North 5,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares").

First Option

Pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, the Company will earn an 80% interest in the Hawk Ridge Property by:

Paying to Nickel North: $250,000 on the date that is the one year anniversary of the Effective Date (the "First Anniversary"); $250,000 on the date that is one year following the First Anniversary (the "Second Anniversary"); $250,000 on the date that is one year following the Second Anniversary (the "Third Anniversary"); $250,000 on the date that is one year following the Third Anniversary (the "Fourth Anniversary"); and $300,000 on the date that is one year following the Fourth Anniversary (the "Fifth Anniversary"); Issuing to Nickel North: 3,000,000 Common Shares on the First Anniversary; 3,000,000 Common Shares on the Second Anniversary; 3,000,000 Common Shares on the Third Anniversary; 3,000,000 Common Shares on the Fourth Anniversary; and 4,000,000 Common Shares on the Fifth Anniversary; and Incurring on the Hawk Ridge Property: $500,000 of exploration expenditures before the First Anniversary; $1,000,000 of exploration expenditures before the Second Anniversary; $1,500,000 of exploration expenditures before the Third Anniversary; $1,500,000 of exploration expenditures before the Fourth Anniversary; and $1,500,000 of exploration expenditures before the Fifth Anniversary.

A summary of the foregoing option payments is included in the chart below.

Event Cash Payment Shares issued Exploration

Expenditure Interest Earned (cumulative)* Option signing $12,000 - - - Exchange approval $200,000 5,000,000 - 10% First Anniversary $250,000 3,000,000 $500,000 20% Second Anniversary $250,000 3,000,000 $1,000,000 30% Third Anniversary $250,000 3,000,000 $1,500,000 40% Fourth Anniversary $250,000 3,000,000 $1,500,000 60% Fifth Anniversary $300,000 4,000,000 $1,500,000 80% Total $1,512,000 21,000,000 $6,000,000 80%

* If 1844 does not complete the full first option, the Company will forfeit its interest in the Hawkridge Property in exchange for common shares of Nickel North at a monetary value determined pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement.

Second Option

Additionally, the Company may earn the remaining 20% interest in the Hawk Ridge Property (the "Second Option"), subject to the Underlying Royalty and the NSR Royalty (as defined below), by paying to Nickel North an additional $2,000,000 before the date that is one year following the Fifth Anniversary. If the Company exercises the Second Option, the Company will grant to Nickel North a 2% net smelter returns royalty from all mineral production from the Hawk Ridge Property (the "NSR Royalty").

Concurrent Private Placements

The Company intends to sell and issue by way of a non-brokered private placement: (i) up to 20,000,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.025 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $500,000 (the "Unit Offering"); and (ii) up to 28,571,428 flow-through units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of $0.035 per FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000 (the "FT Unit Offering", and together with the Unit Offering, the "Offerings").

Each Unit will be comprised of one Common Share (each, a "Unit Share") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Unit Warrant"). Each Unit Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase an additional Common Share (a "Unit Warrant Share") at a price of $0.05 per Unit Warrant Share for a period of 24 months following closing of the Unit Offering.

Each FT Unit will be comprised of one Common Share, to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share"), and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "FT Unit Warrant"). Each FT Unit Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase an additional Common Share (a "FT Unit Warrant Share") at a price of $0.05 per FT Unit Warrant Share for a period of 24 months following closing of the FT Unit Offering.

The Company reserves its right to reallocate the number of securities issued between the Unit Offering and the FT Offering provided that the aggregate value of the Offerings does not exceed $1,500,000.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Unit Offering for mineral exploration and for general corporate purposes. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the FT Unit Offering for exploration activities and for general corporate purposes, with the net proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares being used to incur resource exploration expenses that will constitute "Canadian exploration expenses" and "flow through mining expenditures" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures").

In connection with the Offerings, the Company will pay a cash finder's fee equal to 8% of the gross proceeds and issue a number of non-transferable Common Share purchase warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrant") equal to 8% of the number of Units sold under the Unit Offering to eligible persons who refer investors to the Company, where permitted by applicable law and in accordance with the policies of the Exchange. Each Finder's Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase a Warrant Share at a price of $0.05 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months following closing of the Unit Offering. Any finder's fees to be paid by the Company in connection with the FT Unit Offering will be payable in accordance with the policies of the Exchange.

All securities issued pursuant to the Offerings will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the Unit Offering or FT Unit Offering, as applicable. Completion of the Offerings is subject to a number of conditions, including, without limitation, receipt of all regulatory approvals, including approval of the Exchange.

None of the securities issued in the Offerings will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

About the Hawk Ridge Property

The Hawk Ridge Property is comprised of 411 claims covering 179 km2 over a 50km belt located on the Ungava Bay, located North of Kuujjuaq, with direct access to tidewater on the east coast of Quebec. The project is known for its Ni and Cu content, specifically:

Nickel North completed mineral resource estimates for the Falco 7, Gamma, Hopes Advance Main and Hopes Advance North deposits. Metals included in the Mineral Resource estimate are copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium and gold. The aggregate pit constrained inferred mineral resource (the " Historical Resource ") for all four deposits as reported by Nickel North using a $35/t cut-off was 29.44 Mt grading 0.20% Ni, 0.52% Cu, 0.012% Co, 0.19 g/t Pd, 0.04 g/t Pt and 0.021 g/t Au, corresponding to 0.56% NiEq. 1844 is treating the Historical Resource as a historical estimate and not a current mineral resource. Please see "Historical Resource Estimate Notes" below for further information.

The deposit contains an additional exploration target which was defined by Nickel North in its technical report titled "Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate of the Hawk Ridge Nickel-Copper (PGE) Property, Northern Quebec, effective July 5, 2022 with a potential range of 35Mt to 60Mt with grades ranging from 0.35% to 0.40% Cu, 0.10% to 0.20% Ni, 0.01% to 0.02% Co, 0.03 g/t to 0.05 g/t Pt, 0.15 g/t to 0.20 g /t Pd and 0.03 g/t to 0.05 g/t Au. Exploration targets are based on estimated strike length, depth and width of known mineralization supported by intermittent drill holes, geophysical data and mineralized surface exposure observations. The potential tonnage and grade of this exploration target are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource. It is uncertain whether further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource.

The Hawk Ridge Property hosts disseminated mineralization, and subordinate lenses of massive sulphide that are hosted in porphyritic gabbro and olivine-rich gabbro. The sulphide minerals are mainly pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and pentlandite, with minor violarite and cobaltite.

Localized concentrations of massive sulphides in gabbro and in remobilized sulphide mineralization in footwall metasedimentary rock found on the Hawk Ridge Property, are associated with the presence of copper.

The majority of the Hawk Ridge Property is subject to the Underlying Royalty, of which one third (i.e. 1%) may be repurchased at any time for $1,000,000. Another 1% of the Underlying Royalty is subject to a right of first refusal.



Hawk Ridge Property Claims Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8892/233408_70c36fab14eeab43_002full.jpg

Historical Resource Estimate Notes

The Historical Resource was reported by Nickel North in a technical report entitled "Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate of the Hawk Ridge Nickel-Copper (PGE) Property, Northern Quebec" dated effective July 5, 2022 (the "Nickel North Report"). The Company views the Nickel North Report as relevant and reliable as it was prepared to currently accepted standards. A thorough review of all historical data performed by a qualified person, along with possible additional exploration work to confirm results, would be required in order to produce a current mineral resource estimate for all deposits. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resource at this time.

Qualified Person

Bernard-Olivier Martel, P. Geo, the Company's Director of Exploration, is a qualified person (as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About 1844 Resources Inc.: 1844 is an exploration company with a focus in strategic and energetic metals and underexplored regions "Gaspe, Nunavik Quebec". With a dedicated management team, the Company's goal is to create shareholder value through the discovery of new deposits.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's option on the Hawk Ridge Property, the incurrence of the exploration expenditures, the granting of the NSR Royalty, the Offerings and approvals by the Exchange. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; and Exchange approval.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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 expectations include exploration or other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] Certain claims comprising the Hawk Ridge Property are subject to a 3% underlying net smelter returns royalty which is subject to the right of repurchase as provided in the underlying agreement. A copy of the Option Agreement will be posted to the Company's SEDAR+ profile.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233408

SOURCE: 1844 Resources Inc.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - The AI Consulting Network, a leader in empowering businesses through artificial intelligence, today announced the launch of its comprehensive AI consulting services. Under the leadership of founder and CEO Avi Hacker, the company delivers strategic AI solutions to help businesses navigate digital transformation.





Picture of Avi Hacker

Diagnosed with Perthes disease as a child, Avi faced two major hip surgeries before the age of 25, each time relearning how to walk. This resilience, honed through countless hours of physical therapy, became a defining trait that Avi brings to his work today. His journey is a powerful reminder that no obstacle is too great to overcome.

After graduating from Brooklyn College with a degree in Accounting, Business Management, and Finance, Avi joined PwC, where he gained valuable experience in IT controls, compliance, and operational efficiencies. Driven by a desire to deepen his understanding of complex business frameworks, he pursued a law degree, navigating personal complexities along the way.

Rather than following a conventional career path, Avi set his sights on harnessing cutting- edge AI solutions to help businesses evolve. Drawing on his multidisciplinary background, he founded The AI Consulting Network, uniting insights from traditional industries with innovative AI applications. His vision is to guide organizations to thrive amid digital transformation.

"The AI Consulting Network was born from a vision to make AI accessible and practical for everyone. We aim to make the promise of generative AI and deep learning a reality for all," says Avi Hacker, CEO of The AI Consulting Network.

Avi's fascination with AI began during his legal studies, where he explored the potential of large language models. He discovered how custom AI development could make processes faster, smarter, and more efficient. Recognizing that many businesses were not tapping into this potential, Avi saw an opportunity to bridge the gap.

The AI Consulting Network specializes in empowering businesses to unlock the potential of artificial intelligence through tailored, ethical, and accessible solutions. By offering expert guidance, customized strategies, and seamless AI integration, the company helps businesses enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and achieve their goals responsibly.

Today, Avi shares his message with leaders across the globe: human resilience, coupled with strategic AI adoption, can redefine what's possible for businesses and the people they serve. The AI Consulting Network is dedicated to making AI a transformative force, ensuring clients can confidently navigate their AI journeys and make impactful decisions aligned with their unique objectives.

About The AI Consulting Network

The AI Consulting Network LLC specializes in empowering businesses to unlock the potential of artificial intelligence through tailored, ethical, and accessible solutions. By offering expert guidance, customized strategies, and seamless AI integration, we help businesses enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and achieve their goals responsibly. Our commitment to clarity and understanding ensures that clients can confidently navigate their AI journeys, making impactful decisions that align with their unique objectives.

Press Inquiries

The AI Consulting Network

https://theaiconsultingnetwork.com/

Avi Hacker

info@theaiconsultingnetwork.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233394

SOURCE: The AI Consulting Network
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSXV: SKP) (OTCQB: STKXF) ("StrikePoint" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on December 10, 2024. The Company elected five directors to its board, namely, Michael G. Allen, Shawn Khunkhun, Adrian Fleming, Ian Harris and Darryl Jones.

The shareholders approved all other matters as proposed, including the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as auditor of the Company and approval of the Company's stock option plan.

Grant of Options

The Company announces that it has granted 1,185,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to certain directors, officers, consultants and employees. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.20 per share until December 11, 2029.

Additionally, a total of 75,000 incentive options have been awarded to Knox Communications Inc., a Canadian based firm focusing on marketing, investor communications and capital raising endeavors for the Company. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.20 per share until December 11, 2029. The options awarded to Knox Communications Inc., will vest on a quarterly basis over a twelve-month period in tranches of 25% each. For further information on Knox Communications Inc., please refer to the Company's April 27, 2023 news release.

Options granted to directors, officers, and consultants of the Company are subject to restrictions on resale until April 11, 2025.

About StrikePoint

StrikePoint is a multi-asset gold exploration company focused on building precious metals resources in the Western United States and in Canada.

Both the Cuprite Gold Project and the Hercules Gold Project are located in Nevada's Walker Lane Gold Trend where StrikePoint is rapidly becoming one of the largest holder of mineral claims with approximately 145 square kilometers of prospective geology under claim.

The Walker Lane hosts AngloGold Ashanti's multi-million once Silicon Gold and Merlin discoveries and Kinross's Tier - 1 Round Mountain Mine.

In addition, the Company controls two advanced-stage exploration assets in British Columbia's Golden Triangle: the past-producing high-grade silver Porter-Idaho Project and the high-grade gold Willoughby Project.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF STRIKEPOINT GOLD INC.

"Michael G. Allen"

Michael G. Allen

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233424

SOURCE: StrikePoint Gold Inc.
The combination treatment resulted in increased numbers of anti-cancer tumor-infiltrating T-cells; decreased numbers of anti-cancer response inhibiting tumor-infiltrating myeloid derived suppressor cells; and substantial 84% inhibition of tumor growth

SPRING, Texas, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Io Therapeutics, Inc., presented results from studies done in a mouse model of triple negative breast cancer with the company's newest anti-cancer compound IRX5010, an agonist of the retinoic acid nuclear receptor gamma which was discovered in the company's oncology drug program. The presentation titled "The RAR gamma nuclear receptor agonist IRX5010 has combination inhibitory effects with an anti-PDL-1 checkpoint inhibitor on the growth of EMT-6 triple negative breast cancer" was delivered as a late-breaking abstract at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2024, currently underway in San Antonio, Texas. The poster presentation was authored by Vidyasagar Vuligonda, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of the company and inventor of the compound; and Martin E. Sanders, M.D., the company's Chief Executive Officer.

The presented studies showed treatment of the EMT-6 mouse model of triple negative breast cancer with IRX5010 plus a checkpoint inhibitor monoclonal anti-PDL-1 resulted in substantial 84% inhibition of tumor growth. This was a 9% increase of inhibitory effect on tumor growth of the combination over treatment with anti-PDL-1 alone. Treatment with IRX5010 increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating effector memory CD4 and CD8 phenotype T-cells (TIL), and inhibited tumor infiltration by granulocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (gMDSC). Additive or synergistic effects on each of these outcomes were observed with the combination treatment of IRX5010 with anti-PDL-1.

Dr. Vuligonda stated "These findings are the first demonstration of additive and synergistic effects of combination treatment with an RAR gamma nuclear receptor agonist and an anti-PDL-1 monoclonal antibody checkpoint inhibitor in a triple negative breast cancer mouse model. The data presented today add to our growing evidence that IRX5010 has immune-mediated mechanisms of action, including promotion of TIL and inhibition of MDSC, and that these effects are increased in combination with an anti-PDL-1 checkpoint inhibitor. We have previously reported that oral treatment with IRX5010 alone resulted in suppression of growth in mouse models of breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers. In all four types of these highly prevalent cancers, we observed that IRX5010 induced increased numbers of TIL associated with reduction in tumor growth. With our current studies in triple negative breast cancer, we now add combination effects with anti-PDL-1 of promotion of tumor infiltration by TIL and inhibition of tumor infiltration by MDSC, to the growing list of anti-cancer mechanisms of action of IRX5010."

Dr. Sanders stated, "IRX5010 has potential to be a new treatment for multiple currently inadequately treated cancers, including triple negative breast cancer, a historically difficult to treat type of cancer. This is supported by its demonstrated mechanisms of action in the immune system of increasing tumor-infiltration of anti-cancer T-cells, while also decreasing tumor infiltration of myeloid derived suppressor cells, a type of cell known to inhibit anti-cancer responses to checkpoint inhibitors. We look forward to translating IRX5010 into clinical trials in patients with triple negative breast cancer."

About Io Therapeutics: Io Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Spring, Texas. More information on Io Therapeutics and its product development programs is available on the company's web site: www.io-therapeutics.com

Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

info@io-therapeutics.com
Chinese researchers develop amphibious spherical robot assisting in police patrol in E.Chinas Zhejiang

14:00, December 11, 2024 By Du Qiongfang ( Global Times

Amphibious spherical robot patrols the streets with police officers from Lucheng district, Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo/Courtesy of Lucheng district public security bureau)

A spherical robot that can operate both on the ground and in the water with the ability to track, combat, and capture, recently patrolled side by side with police officers in a commercial zone in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, drawing public attention with its futuristic shape and functions. With its constant improvement in size and functions, the robot is expected to have broad application, the research team told the Global Times on Tuesday.

A video clip circulating online shows the smart amphibious spherical robot automatically moving on the ground without human control, patrolling the streets side by side with the local police officers from Lucheng district in Wenzhou.

Weighing 125 kilograms, the robot can run as fast as 35 kilometers per hour, according to Wang You, associate professor from the College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, who led the research team for the project.

Apart from its rapid acceleration, the robot has excellent off-road capabilities and it operates with stability against tipping over. With its solid structure, it can also resist strong impact, Wang told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Wang's team also made improvements and attaches some more gadgets to the robot such as net guns, tear spray, smoke bombs, as well as horns and acoustic wave dispersers to meet the needs of the police, including confrontation capabilities and the capacity to deal with threats at close distances.

The research team also has developed a smaller model of the spherical robot which can be held in hands to meet different demands in various application scenarios such as places caught fire.

Apart from its multi-application deployment used by public security and armed police, it can also be used in anti-terrorism drills, security guard industry, firefighting, emergency rescue, as well as scenarios in the water such as river water pollution detection due to its feature of floating on the water surface.

The spherical robot has gone viral online and has also caught the attention of overseas clients. Some customers from the Middle East had called the research team to inquire about the robot, Wang said.

At present, the cost of manufacturing the spherical robot is between 300,000 yuan ($41,425) and 400,000 yuan. With constant improvement and modifications and decreased costs with an expanded production scale, Wang expects that the application prospect of the spherical robot will expand to home appliances or toys.

Research into the spherical robot started in 2017 when Wang found inspiration from the idea by a research team at Uppsala University in Sweden. Since spherical robots represent a new branch in the field of robotics with limited prior work to draw upon, Wang's team overcame numerous challenges during the development process such as overcoming obstacles in complex terrains while maintaining relative balance.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
AI/ML Innovations Inc. ("AI/ML" or the "Company") (CSE:AIML)(OTCQB:AIMLF)(FWB:42FB), a leading company committed to acquiring and advancing Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning technologies that address urgent societal needs, is pleased to report that it has completed its previously announced shares for debt transaction.

Further to a press release issued on December 3, 2024, the Company entered into a Debt Settlement and Security Agreement with one creditor (the "Creditor") for payment of indebtedness owing to the Creditor in the aggregate total of US$17,260 (CAD $24,231.31) ("Debt") with respect to services rendered by the Creditor (the "Debt Settlement"). The Creditor is arm's length to the Company and has agreed to the conversion of the Debt into Shares. Pursuant to the Debt Settlement, and acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company has issued to the Creditor a total of 302,891 Shares, at a deemed price of $0.08 per Share. The issuance of the Shares fully settles the Debt owing to the Creditor. The Shares issued are subject to a four-month hold period.

The Company also announces a confirmation of the term of warrants in connection with a previously closed private placement. On August 19, 2024 the Company closed a private placement of 7,845,000 units, each unit consisting of one share and one warrant. Through an oversight, it was announced that the term of the warrants was for two years. The warrants were for a three-year term and those warrant holders that received two-year warrants have now been sent revised replacement three-year warrants.

###

About AI/ML Innovations Inc. https://aiml-innovations.com/

AI/ML Innovations Inc. has realigned its business operations to capitalize on the burgeoning fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), with an initial investment focus on emerging digital health and wellbeing companies that leverage AI, ML, cloud computing and digital platforms to drive transformative healthcare management solutions and precision support delivery across the health continuum. Through strategic partnerships with Health Gauge Inc. (95.2% owned by AIML), Tech2Heal (up to 22% ownership rights, with 11.11% currently owned by AIML), AI Rx Inc. (70% owned by AIML), NeuralCloud Solutions Inc. (100% owned by AIML), and other planned accretive investments, the Company continues to capitalize on expanding growth areas, to the benefit of all the Company's stakeholders. AI/ML's shares are traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "AIML", the OTCQB Venture Market under "AIMLF", and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under "42FB".

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Tim Daniels, Executive Chairman

For more information about AI/ML Innovations :

For detailed information please see AI/ML's website or the Company's filed documents at www.sedarplus.ca

For further information, contact: Blake Fallis at (778) 405-0882 or info@aiml-innovations.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the 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.

SOURCE: AI/ML Innovations, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 /

Region nears 1 billion square feet of space engaged with WELL through projects that break the mold

By Jack Noonan

Across Australia, India, Singapore, Japan and beyond, WELL is helping organizations not only enhance their spaces but reimagine them. With over 900,000,000 square feet-nearly 100 million square meters-of assets and projects leveraging WELL across industries, including real estate, financial services, and building design and construction, there are several projects with unique twists, in unconventional spaces. From performing arts theaters to offices that highlight nature and spotlight art, the use of WELL is as varied as it is vast.

Queensland Ballet's Thomas Dixon Centre: WELL Certified at the Platinum Level

Home to twirls and releves, Queensland Ballet's Thomas Dixon Centre's pioneering space stands as a model of human-centered design for the arts. Located in a heritage-listed building, it's the world's first performing arts organization to achieve WELL Certification at the Platinum level.

This project involved a complex restoration to transform it into a premier health and wellness-centered facility. Key features include the 351-seat Talbot Theatre, wellness suite, dance studios, rooftop terrace, restaurant and public artworks. Queensland Ballet Executive Director Dilshani Weerasinghe celebrated this achievement, noting it as a testament to the organization's dedication to the well-being of artists, staff and the wider community.

6&8 Parramatta Square, Sydney, Australia: Largest Building to Ever Achieve WELL Certification in Australia

6-8 Parramatta Square has made history by becoming Australia's largest building to achieve WELL Certification. Started in 2017, 6&8 Parramatta Square is the final stage of this ambitious three-hectare city precinct which has redefined the Australian skyline. This iconic 55-story tower offers premium office space and state-of-the-art end-of-trip facilities including bicycle parking and repair stations, healthy vending machines, hydration stations, premium change facilities and more. Walker Corporation, the developer, is committed to sustainable development, making 6&8 Parramatta Square a landmark for the future.

Standard Chartered Bank: First WELL Certified Building in Vietnam

Standard Chartered Bank, a leading international banking group, officially achieved the first WELL Certification at the Gold level in Vietnam. This achievement affirms the Bank's commitment to promoting health, well-being and sustainability, while contributing to support global efforts progressing toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As Standard Chartered Vietnam's CEO Nguyen Thuy Hanh said: "At Standard Chartered Vietnam, we believe that a healthier, more sustainable workplace inspires our people to thrive. Achieving WELL Certification at the Gold level reflects our shared values and commitment to fostering a positive environment where employees feel supported and energised every day. We are immensely proud of our team's efforts in achieving this milestone and reaffirm our commitment to driving sustainable growth, embracing responsible practices and investing in the Vietnamese community."

The organization also achieved the WELL Equity Rating at five locations across the region, including offices in India, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam.

CapitaLand: First Real Estate Developer in Singapore to Achieve WELL Equity Rating

CapitaLand became the first real estate developer in Singapore to achieve the WELL Equity Rating, setting a new benchmark for inclusive, wellness-focused spaces. This rating emphasizes health, safety and equity through DEI initiatives that include mental health policies and workforce diversity assessments. CapitaLand also leads with WELL at scale across its properties in Singapore and beyond, including sites in China and Vietnam. Through these efforts, CapitaLand champions well-being for employees, residents and the broader community, underscoring the role of design in promoting workplace inclusivity and holistic health.

Finally, CapitaLand achieved three milestones with the precertification of its Ascendas Alpha Park, 7 SPD WELL Core Certification at the Gold level and AIA Financial Center achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating

Embassy REIT, India: Most WELL Certified Spaces Globally

Embassy REIT earned a remarkable 183 WELL achievements across its extensive office portfolio with a focus on health and well-being. Of the 90 buildings evaluated, nearly half were certified at the Gold level, and 100% received the WELL Health-Safety Rating. Embassy's leadership in the WELL at scale program reflects its commitment to people-first spaces. Our own President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon praised Embassy's efforts, calling the company a market leader in health and sustainability. This focus on well-being has led Embassy REIT to become a leader in the industry, enhancing workplace well-being at an unprecedented scale.

Mori Building: Two New WELL Certification Achievements at the Platinum Level on the Iconic Tokyo Skyline

Not only the host of the first WELL Regional Summit in Tokyo, Mori Building achieved two WELL Certification achievements at the Platinum level on Tokyo's most iconic new commercial developments - Azubudai Hills Mori JP Tower-the largest building in Japan to achieve WELL Certification-and Toronomon Hills Station Tower. As part of its healthy and well-being strategy, the projects prioritized the promotion of physical activity with plazas and decks for walking, healthy meals at Hills House Azabudai and Tokyo Node Cafe, and high-performance air filtration for clean indoor air.

Precinct Properties: First to Achieve the WELL Equity Rating in New Zealand

Precinct Properties is New Zealand's first company to receive the WELL Equity Rated designation for its location, marking a major milestone in inclusivity. The company's Auckland and Wellington offices feature collaborative open spaces, wellness rooms and gender-neutral, accessible amenities. Through the WELL at scale program, Precinct tracks organizational health performance across locations, targeting a score of 40 points by 2025. This investment in well-being and technology aligns with its commitment to diversity, promoting a welcoming, functional environment that fosters community and productivity for all employees.

MSD: Global Impact with 17 WELL Certifications and Two WELL Rating Achievements across Japan, China, Asia Pacific and Beyond

MSD has been busy this year in efforts to expand its WELL achievements across its global portfolio, from resilience to inclusion. In 2024, the research-intensive global biopharmaceutical company earned a tremendous amount of WELL Certification and WELL Rating achievements globally:

WELL Certification at the Gold Level

MSD Bangkok, Thailand

MSD Seoul, South Korea

Three sites in MSD China: Hangzhou, Jinan and Wuhan

MSD Tokyo, Japan

WELL Health-Safety Rating

MSD Auckland, New Zealand

MSD Pune, India

WELL Equity Rating

MSD Australia

These sites join other commercial offices, such as those in Sydney, Taipei and Beijing, which have already achieved WELL Certified status for the MSD Global Commercial Offices via the WELL at scale program-and all funnel into MSD's global initiative to prioritize human well-being.

As APAC nears the milestone of 1 billion square feet engaged with WELL, these standout projects illustrate the diverse, people-first possibilities WELL inspires across sectors, from the arts to corporate and commercial real estate. This commitment is creating a new landscape of healthier, more inclusive and innovative spaces for all.

View original content here.



View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International WELL Building Institute on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: International WELL Building Institute

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-well-building-institute

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: International WELL Building Institute

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vext's fifth Ohio dispensary, located in Portsmouth, is expected to commence operations in Q2 or Q3 of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

The Company expects to reach the state license cap of eight total dispensaries upon the closing of previously announced acquisitions [1] and the receipt of additional 10(B) licenses from the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control.

Vext is focused on driving cash flow growth as major capital expenditures for its Ohio operations wind down, and production and retail operations ramp to full capacity.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Vext Science, Inc. (CSE: VEXT) (OTCQX: VEXTF) ("VEXT" or the "Company") a U.S.-based cannabis operator with vertical operations in Arizona and Ohio, today announced that it has been granted a provisional license by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control ("DCC") for a cannabis dispensary in Portsmouth, Ohio (the "Dispensary"). The Company has also acquired real property associated with the Dispensary, bringing Vext's retail footprint in Ohio to five locations, including those from the previously announced Ohio Expansion Transaction1. All currency references used in this news release are in U.S. currency unless otherwise noted.

The provisional license confirms that the Dispensary complies with local zoning and planning requirements as well as meets state statutory setback requirements for medical and adult-use retail sales. The Dispensary is also fully permitted for construction improvements and Vext expects to begin such work during the first quarter of 2025, with the Dispensary projected to be operational by Q2 or early Q3, pending regulatory approvals. Vext intends to fund the capital cost of the Dispensary build-out entirely through operating cash flow. To fund the purchase of real property associated with the Dispensary, the Company obtained a $350,000 mortgage, which accrues interest at a rate of 10% per annum and is repayable over a period of 15 years.

Eric Offenberger, CEO of Vext, commented, "We are pleased to receive government approval to open our fifth dispensary in the state, further strengthening our retail footprint in this limited-license market. This expansion enhances our vertical integration, enabling us to align our in-house cultivation capacity with our own retail operations to maximize efficiency and capture significant market share. Non-urban locations with strong long-term economics, a stable customer base and limited competition, remain a key focus, and we anticipate this new location will deliver solid performance. As Ohio's adult-use market gains momentum and our cultivation and retail operations reach full capacity, we are confident in our ability to achieve sustainable cash flow growth, driving long-term value for our shareholders."

Vext is fully vertically-integrated in Ohio, operating a Tier I cultivation facility, a manufacturing facility, and two strategically located retail dispensaries in Jackson and Columbus. Upon closing of the Ohio Expansion Transaction1, the Company expects to add two more dispensaries in Athens and Jeffersonville. Situated in southern Ohio, Portsmouth presents a strategic opportunity for Vext with its prime location along the Ohio River. Securing the Portsmouth location strengthens the Company's objective of reaching the state dispensary license cap of eight, with additional dispensaries expected to open during 2025 and early into 2026.

Vext's Current Footprint in Ohio:

Facility



Status Tier 1 Cultivation Facility - 25,000 square feet (Jackson, Ohio)



Operating - ability to expand to 50,000 square feet. Certificate of Operation received for adult-use. Manufacturing Facility (Jackson, Ohio)



Operating. Certificate of Operation received for adult-use. Herbal Wellness Center (Jackson, Ohio)



Operating. Certificate of Operation received for adult-use. Herbal Wellness Center (Columbus, Ohio)



Operating. Certificate of Operation received for adult-use. Dispensary 3 (Athens, Ohio) Under agreement as per Ohio Expansion Transaction1 - expected to close in Q1 2025.

Acquired the real property associated with this dispensary.



Dispensary 4 (Jeffersonville, Ohio) Under agreement as per Ohio Expansion Transaction1 - expected to close in Q1 2025.



Dispensary 5 (Portsmouth, Ohio) Additional adult-use license under rule 10(B) to be transferred to the Company under agreement as per Ohio Expansion Transaction1 subject to DCC approval - expected to close in Q1 2025.



Dispensaries 6, 7 and 8 (TBD) As a Tier 1 Cultivator in Ohio, Vext is entitled to receive three adult-use licenses under rule 10(B). The Company will announce these locations as it receives notification from the DCC.





For more details, visit Vext's investor website or contact the IR team at investors@vextscience.com.

About VEXT Science, Inc.

Vext Science, Inc. is a U.S.-based cannabis operator with vertical operations in Arizona and Ohio. Vext's expertise spans from cultivation through to retail operations in its key markets. Based out of Arizona, Vext owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, fully built-out manufacturing facilities as well as dispensaries in both Arizona and Ohio. The Company manufactures Vapen, one of the leading THC concentrates, edibles, and distillate cartridge brands in Arizona. Its selection of award-winning products are created with Vext's in-house, high-quality flower and distributed across Arizona and Ohio, as well as through Vext's partnerships in other states. Vext's leadership team brings a proven track record of building and operating profitable multi-state operations, with the Company having operated profitably since 2016. The Company's primary focus is to continue growing in its core states of Arizona and Ohio, bringing together cutting-edge science, manufacturing, and marketing to provide a reliable and valuable customer experience while generating shareholder value.

Vext Science, Inc. is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol VEXT and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol VEXTF. Learn more at www.vextscience.com and connect with Vext on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.

For more details on the Vapen brand:

Vapen website: VapenBrands.com

Instagram: @vapen

Facebook: @vapenbrands

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in Vext's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding future developments and the business and operations of Vext, including but not limited to the Company's transition to serve both the medical and adult-use markets in Ohio and the anticipated results therefrom, market projections of the cannabis industry in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, and statements about the timing and completion of the Ohio Expansion Transaction, the acquisition of additional licenses and the opening of additional dispensaries in Ohio, all of which are subject to the risk factors contained in Vext's continuous disclosure filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although Vext has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; being engaged in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. Federal laws; change in laws; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindered market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry; and regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Because of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Vext disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Vext does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

SOURCE: Vext Science, Inc.

[1] Vext has executed an asset purchase agreement (as amended from time to time, the "Asset Purchase Agreement"), together with other definitive agreements (together with the Asset Purchase Agreement, the "Definitive Agreements"), with the members of Big Perm's Dispensary Ohio, LLC ("Big Perm") to acquire from Big Perm two cannabis dispensaries located in Ohio, as well as all licenses and assets related to the business of such dispensaries, other than excluded assets, for cash consideration of $7.7 million, subject to adjustments in certain circumstances (the "Ohio Expansion Transaction"). Subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions precedent, the Company expects that closing of the Ohio Expansion Transaction will occur in Q1 2025.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233412

SOURCE: VEXT Science, Inc.
Carbogenics, an Edinburgh, Scotland, UK-based company which specializes in sustainable biochar technology, raised nearly GBP500K in funding.

Backers included Green Angel Ventures, and Kaplak Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the uptake of its CreChar product, whilst progressing the commercialisation of new products to market such as FilaChar designed for the waste-water industry.

A University of Edinburgh spinout, Carbogenics transforms hard-to-recycle secondary-biomass into CreChar, a carbon-rich material that enhances biogas yield, improves soil health, and locks carbon away for centuries.

While these funds will accelerate key growth initiatives, such as new product development, expanding sales traction and operations into Europe and North America, Carbogenics remains committed to its UK operations having opened its first post-processing facility in Glenrothes Scotland earlier in 2024.

The company is led by CEO Ed Craig.

FinSMEs

11/12/2024
Google recently shared its year-in search report where Shraddha Kapoors Stree 2 topped Googles 2024 list of most-searched Indian movies, captivating audiences with its horror-comedy brilliance read more

Indian cinema witnessed a historic year in 2024, with blockbuster films captivating audiences and breaking records. The year also marked the dominance of star-studded releases and innovative storytelling, attracting audiences worldwide.

Among the most talked-about were Stree 2 starring Shraddha Kapoor,Prabhass Kalki 2898 AD Hombale Films Salaar, and Vikrant Masseys 12th Fail. These movies dominated social media, trended on Twitter, and garnered massive viewership, making them some of the most-searched Indian films on Google.

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Google recently shared its year-in search report where Shraddha Kapoors Stree 2 topped Googles 2024 list of most-searched Indian movies, captivating audiences with its horror-comedy brilliance. Following closely is the sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, starring Prabhas and Deepika Padukone. Vikrant Masseys critically acclaimed 12th Fail secured the third position, celebrated for its inspirational storyline.

Laapataa Ladies stood at 4th rank, the film is also Indias official entry for the Oscars, earning global praise. Teja Sajjas superhero adventure Hanu-Man ranked fifth and Vijay Sethupathis Maharaja, lauded for its intense drama, stands at sixth, rounding off a year of cinematic milestones in Indian cinema. The Malayalam thriller Manjummel Boys claimed the 7th position on Googles most-searched Indian films of 2024, captivating audiences with its gripping storyline.

Thalapathy Vijays action-drama The Greatest of All-Time secured the 8th spot, while Prabhas action-packed Salaar: Part 1  Ceasefire, produced by Hombale Films, ranked 9th. Prabhas and Hombale Films Salaar broke many records during its run in theatres and fans are highly anticipating its sequel. Fahadh Faasils entertainer Aavesham rounded out the list at the 10th position, earning praise for its engaging narrative and performances. These films, spanning diverse genres and industries, not only garnered massive viewership but also sparked widespread discussions, further solidifying Indian cinemas global appeal and dominance in 2024.
US President-elect Donald Trumps proposal to end birthright citizenship may have potential consequences for over 1.6 million US-born Indian Americans. Grounded in the 14th Amendment, this policy guarantees citizenship to anyone born on US soil, but Trump argues its ridiculous and ripe for abuse read more

United States President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that ending birthright citizenship will be a top priority when he assumes office on January 20.

If implemented, this policy change could dramatically alter the framework of US citizenship, with far-reaching implications for millions of individuals, including 1.6 million US-born Indian Americans.

In a conversation on NBCs Meet the Press, he stated, Were going to end that because its ridiculous. This policy, grounded in the 14th Amendment, has guaranteed automatic citizenship to individuals born on US soil for over 150 years.

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Also Read | From Harmeet Dhillon to Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-Americans in Trump 2.0

The 14th Amendment explicitly states: All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. It was initially designed to provide citizenship to formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants.

Critics like Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, argue that the system has been exploited. Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship, Ruark told AP. Trump has echoed these sentiments, labelling birthright citizenship a magnet for illegal immigration and birth tourism.

Also Read | Fact-check: Can Donald Trumps plan to end birthright citizenship hurt his son Barron?

However, constitutional experts warn that abolishing this right would require amending the Constitution or a judicial reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment.

Alex Nowrasteh, vice president at the Cato Institute, told AP, I dont take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade. He didnt do anything to further this agenda when he was president before.

What could this mean for Indian Americans?

Indian Americans, a thriving community of over 5.4 million, could face unique challenges if this policy is enacted. According to Pew Researchs 2022 US Census analysis, approximately 1.6 million Indian Americans  34 per cent of the total Indian-origin population in the US  were born in the country and are currently citizens.

The Indian diaspora in the US is notable for its significant contributions to the economy and culture. Indian Americans have the highest median household income among ethnic groups, averaging $126,891 annually, nearly double the national average.

Additionally, Indians make up over 80 per cent of all H-1B visa holders, reflecting their dominance in technology and other specialised fields.

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If birthright citizenship is abolished, Indian-American children born in the US would no longer have automatic proof of citizenship.

The 2011 American Immigration Council factsheet cautioned that eliminating this right would create bureaucratic hurdles for all Americans, stating, Our birth certificates are proof of our citizenship. If birthright citizenship were eliminated, US citizens could no longer use their birth certificates as proof of citizenship.

Beyond the Indian-American community, the ramifications of ending birthright citizenship are vast. The Department of Homeland Security estimated that in 2009, there were approximately 200,000 Indian unauthorised immigrants in the US, with the number rising to 450,000 by 2014 according to Pew Research.

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Also Read | Could Trumps deportation plan spike your grocery bill?

Many of their US-born children could lose citizenship protections under Trumps proposed policy.

Indian Americans, who have historically achieved milestones in US politics and academia, may find their upward mobility challenged. Figures like US Vice President Kamala Harris, who made history as the first Indian-American to hold the office, symbolise the potential of this community. However, restrictive policies could alter the trajectory of future generations.

Is this legal?

Experts anticipate significant legal battles should Trump attempt to enforce this policy unilaterally. Constitutional scholars point out that an executive order or legislation would likely violate the 14th Amendment.

Moreover, opponents argue that such a policy risks tearing families apart. Trump has stated that he would prefer to deport families as a unit, including US-born children, to avoid breaking up families.

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I dont want to be breaking up families, so the only way you dont break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back, he said.

Trumps plan to end birthright citizenship aligns with his broader agenda of curbing immigration, the policys implementation faces legal, ethical, and logistical challenges.

For Indian Americans, the potential changes threaten to disrupt the lives of millions.

Also Read | Is US birthright citizenship under threat? Can Donald Trump rewrite the rules?

With inputs from agencies
Mohammad al-Bashir, who has governed Idlib province since January, has been named Syrias interim leader. After Bashar al-Assads ouster by rebel forces, Bashir is now tasked with bringing stability to the country ravaged by 13 years of civil war read more

Syria's new transitional prime minister Mohammad al-Bashir chairs a meeting of the new cabinet in Damascus on December 10, 2024. AFP/SANA

After over 50 years of Assad family rule, Syria is set to be led by a little-known local politician.

Mohammad al-Bashir, who has been governing the rebel-controlled province of Idlib in northwest Syria since January, has been appointed the countrys interim leader. He has been tasked with steering the country towards stability.

ALSO READ | Explained: What led to Bashar al-Assads downfall in Syria?

This comes after the recent ousting of long-time president Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces. The fall of Assad, who later sought refuge in Russia, marked the end of the Assad familys half-century dominance over Syria.

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Who is Mohammad al-Bashir?

, an engineer in his early 40s, has been appointed to lead Syrias national government during a critical transitional period.

Mohammad al-Bashir appointed caretaker Syrian PM. Reuters

Born in 1983 in Jabal al-Zawiya, Idlib province, Bashir grew up in a region that has been predominantly controlled in recent years by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied groups.

His educational background includes degrees in electrical and electronic engineering from Aleppo University and Islamic and civil law from Idlib University. He also holds qualifications in English language and administrative planning, as well as project management, according to The Independent.

Before entering politics, he worked for Syrias state gas company.

ALSO READ | The Assad reign in Syria is over. Why this may be a worry for India

In January 2024, Bashir became the head of the Salvation Government, a rebel administration established in Idlib in 2017 to manage services for the regions population, isolated from government provisions. Before this role, he served as the administrations development minister.

The Salvation Government oversaw ministries, judicial systems, and security authorities in the rebel-controlled enclave, which faced challenges due to limited resources and ongoing conflict.

Bashir also served as the director of the Al-Amal educational institute, providing schooling for children affected by Syrias prolonged civil war. His leadership now expands to the national stage as he seeks to unify a war-torn country of divided loyalties and widespread poverty.

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The transition comes after a rebel offensive that began on November 27, during which major territories, including Aleppo and Damascus, fell from government control, leading to the ousting of long-time president Bashar al-Assad.

In his first public appearance outside Idlib, Bashir was seen alongside HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who praised Idlibs governance and called for continuity with experienced members of the outgoing administration. He added that the new administration would also need to draw on experienced people from the outgoing government.

However, Bashir faces several challenges. He will have to deal with divided rebel factions, rival groups vying for power, and the urgent need to address poverty and infrastructure.

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Radwan Ziadeh, a senior fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC, stated that Bashir was the closest to Jolani and the rebel groups joint operations room. But the challenges he faces are very great, Ziadeh told AFP.

Just as the revolution was a revolution for all Syrians, the transitional process will be the responsibility of all Syrians in order to ensure it succeeds and guarantees the peaceful transition to democracy, he said.

What are his plans for the country?

In his first interview after being appointed, Bashir told Al Jazeera that it was time to bring stability and calm to the country.

Now it is time for this people to enjoy stability and calm, he said.

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Further, he told Al Jazeera, Today we had a meeting for the cabinet and we invited members from the old government and some directors from the administration in Idlib and its surrounding areas, in order to facilitate all the necessary works for the next two months until we have a constitutional system to be able to serve the Syrian people.

We had other meetings to restart the institutions to be able to serve our people in Syria.

The rebel leadership has set March 1 as the deadline for the transitional governments tenure.

Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who led the offensive against Assad, told British broadcaster Sky News that the country is exhausted by war.

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He said, Syria will be rebuilt The country is moving towards development and reconstruction. Its going towards stability.

ALSO READ | Ferraris, Louis Vuitton trunk, cash: Inside Syrian dictator Assads palace

The fall of Assad

Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after an Islamist-led opposition alliance captured Damascus, ending five decades of his familys rule.

A giant picture of Bashar al-Assad lies on the ground as a Syrian opposition fighter stands nearby, inside the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria. AP

Jolani announced that talks on the transfer of power were underway and promised to hold Assad and senior officials accountable for torture and war crimes.

The regimes collapse has caused a desperate search by families for the tens of thousands detained in Assads prisons. As the rebels progressed towards Damascus, they released thousands of prisoners, but many remain unaccounted for.

Freed detainees, many of whom were severely weakened by torture, illness, and hunger, now wander the streets of Damascus. The United Nations has stated that whoever assumes power in Syria must hold Assad and his associates responsible for their crimes.

With the end of nearly 14 years of civil war, triggered by a brutal crackdown and insurgency, thousands of Syrians flooded the streets, celebrating with gunfire and waving the revolutionary flag in scenes after the ouster of Assad.

With inputs from agencies
The Tokyo government will allow employees to work four days a week, starting April 2025. The government hopes this initiative, along with flexible working hours, will encourage more couples to think of family planning, as Japan battles a population crisis. The birth rate in Tokyo stands at 0.99, well below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to sustain the population read more

Toyo also announced a another policy which will allow parents with children in grades one to three in elementary schools to trade off a portion of their salary for the option to clock out early. Reuters

Starting in 2025, Tokyo will usher in a new era of work-life balance with a four-day work week for its employees.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike while unveiling the plan in a policy speech on Wednesday said, that beginning April next year, employees of the metropolitan government will have the option to take three days off each week.

Additionally, it announced a separate policy which will allow parents with children in grades one to three in elementary schools to trade off a portion of their salary for the option to clock out early.

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We will review work styles  with flexibility, ensuring no one has to give up their career due to life events such as childbirth or childcare, she stated. Now is the time for Tokyo to take the initiative to protect and enhance the lives, livelihoods and economy of our people during these challenging times for the nation, she added.

What will this new policy mean for Tokyo workers? Will the measure help battle the countrys population crisis? Heres a closer look.

A quiet emergency

Japans declining fertility rate has been a growing concern over the years.

The nations population has been on a steady decline since it peaked at 128 million in 2008. According to Nikkei Asia, this trend has persisted for 15 years, with projections indicating a dramatic drop to just 86.7 million by 2060 if current patterns continue.

Over the years, the government ramped up efforts to push a raft of now or never policies to reverse the population crisis, such as incentivising childbearing and introducing paternity leaves, however, have yielded little success.

Japans declining fertility rate has been a growing concern over the years. In 2023, the national figure for births reached an all-time low, with only 727,277 babies born. Reuters

In 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare reported Japans fertility rate at a dismal 1.2 children per womanwell below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to sustain the population. The situation in Tokyo is even bleaker, with the capital recording a birth rate of just 0.99.

In the same year, the national figure for births also reached an all-time low, with only 727,277 babies born.

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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba termed the countrys low birth rate and shrinking population as a quiet emergency.

The low birth rate and the resulting population decline are a challenge to the very foundations of the country  a quiet emergency, so to speak, Ishiba told the parliament this October.

Also read: Ban on women marrying after 25: The bizarre proposal to boost birth rate in Japan

How can a four-day work week help?

Experts believe Japans unforgiving work culture, known for long hours and intense pressure, is a major barrier to balancing careers with family life.

This environment has contributed to a notable gender gap in workforce participation. Data from the World Bank revealed a participation rate of 55 percent for women compared to 72 percent for men.

Adding to the issue is Japans glaring housework inequality. Women perform five times more unpaid work, such as childcare and elder care, than men, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Over half of women who had fewer children than they wanted cited increased housework that another child would bring as the reason, the IMF revealed.

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Experts believe Japans unforgiving work culture, known for long hours and intense pressure, is a major barrier to balancing careers with family life. File image/ AFP

A four-day workweek could offer a solution. By providing employees with more time for family life, it could alleviate some of the pressures on working parents. Evidence from global trials suggests this shift leads to more equitable sharing of housework.

In a 2022 trial conducted by 4 Day Week Global, companies in six countries implemented a four-day workweek. Men in these trials reported spending 22 per cent more time on childcare and 23 per cent more time on household chores.

Further, the experiments have shown that working one day less a week improves employee productivity and well-being, Peter Miscovich, the global future of work leader at real estate services company JLL told Fortune.

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The upside from all of that has been less stress, less burnout, better rest, better sleep, less cost to the employee, higher levels of focus and concentration during the working hours, and in some cases, greater commitment to the organisation as a result, Miscovich told the magazine.

In fact, over 90 per cent of employees involved in these trials wanted to continue with the shortened workweek.

However, in Japan, adopting a four-day workweek would require a significant cultural shift. While studies show reduced schedules enhance productivity and well-being, such a change may take time to gain broader acceptance.

With input from agencies
The US launched massive airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria, aiming to prevent the group from exploiting the leadership vacuum left by President Bashar Assads ousting. Striking 75 sites with precision bombers, the US seeks to curb IS resurgence and maintain regional stability read more

United States President Joe Biden speaks about the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad from the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, US, December 8, 2024. File Image/AP

Massive US airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria were aimed at sending a clear message to the group and preventing it from exploiting the chaos following the overthrow of President Bashar Assads government.

The US, alongside its partners, is intent on ensuring that IS, which still maintains a presence in Syria, cannot seize the leadership void and regain control over significant parts of the country, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh explained on Monday.

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On Sunday, the US conducted airstrikes on approximately 75 IS targets in the Syrian desert.

For the past decade, US forces have been stationed in Syria to combat IS. The recent turmoil following the rebel offensive that led to Assads ousting has heightened concerns about a potential IS resurgence.

ISIS will try to use this period to reestablish its capabilities, to create safe havens, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday, using another acronym for the group. As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we are determined not to let that happen.

At present, US officials state that they do not intend to increase American troop numbers in Syria but remain focused on safeguarding those already deployed.

What is the US military presence in Syria?

The US maintains around 900 troops in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors, primarily stationed at small bases in the north and east. A limited number of forces are also positioned at the al-Tanf garrison near the Iraq and Jordan borders.

In addition to the official count, US special operations forces frequently operate in and out of Syria in small teams.

Rebel fighters sit on a vehicle, after rebels seized the capital and ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 9, 2024. File Image/Reuters

In 2014, IS militants captured vast areas of Iraq and Syria, declaring a caliphate. The US led a coalition that defeated IS in Iraq by 2017. In Syria, the US partnered with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), eventually bringing an end to the caliphate in 2019 after intense battles.

Despite these victories, IS remnants persist, including approximately 10,000 fighters detained in SDF-run facilities in Syria and tens of thousands of family members residing in refugee camps. Over the past year, IS fighters have intensified their activity, including attacks on US and Kurdish forces.

Syria continues to face widespread violence and competing foreign interests. Russia maintains a naval port in the north, and while its forces in the area have diminished since the war in Ukraine began, the US uses a deconfliction hotline with Moscow to prevent miscalculations.

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Also Read | US urges Syrian rebel group to form inclusive government

Meanwhile, Iran has established a significant presence in Syria, using it as a corridor for transferring weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The al-Tanf garrison, situated on a strategic route linking Iran-backed forces from Tehran to southern Lebanon and Israel, allows US forces to disrupt such movements.

Why is the US striking Islamic State targets?

Over the past decade, the US has consistently targeted IS leaders, camps, and weapons to prevent the group from regrouping.

Recent months have seen an uptick in attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, as well as by IS fighters, particularly as the Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated into a broader regional confrontation involving Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Syrian opposition fighters man a checkpoint in Damascus, Syria, December 9, 2024. File Image/AP

To counter these threats, the US has maintained a steady pace of strikes against various groups, including IS. On Sunday, the US launched one of its largest operations in recent years, striking at least 75 targets across five locations in the desert. B-52 bombers, A-10 attack aircraft, and F-15 fighter jets were deployed in the operation.

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Does it send a message? I mean, I think it absolutely sends a message that we use B-52s, A-10s, and F-15s, Singh told reporters, though she did not provide further details on the results of the strikes.

What lies ahead for the US in Syria?

The Biden administration has reiterated that the US will not involve itself in Syrias internal conflict or the efforts to replace the Assad government. However, the US and its allies remain deeply invested in defeating IS, disrupting Iran-backed forces, and containing other terror groups such as al-Qaida remnants.

I think it is a harbinger of more instability and the potential for more political violence, said Chris Costa, a former senior counterterrorism director in the Trump administration, speaking before the fall of Damascus. Costa, who served decades in the US Army, highlighted the potential for IS to create further instability in the region.

Alex Younger, former head of Britains MI6 from 2014 to 2020, expressed concern over the thousands of IS detainees still held in SDF-controlled areas. They are currently contained by the Kurdish groups in the east, but if they go off the job, you can expect a serious spike in the threat posed to Europe by ISIS, Younger warned in an interview with the BBC.

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Who will govern Syria?

A major challenge is determining who will lead Syria in the aftermath of Assads ousting. The opposition forces that captured Damascus and forced Assad to flee to Russia are primarily led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that originally aligned with al-Qaida but later severed ties. The US and the United Nations classify HTS as a foreign terrorist organisation.

HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has sought to portray the group as more moderate in an effort to gain local and international acceptance. US officials remain cautious, opting for a wait-and-see approach.

While HTS was the vanguard, they arent the only opposition group involved, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told CNN on Monday. He highlighted the importance of coordination among various opposition factions and through channels such as the United Nations.

Although Singh stated there is no formal US communication channel with HTS, she noted, We have other ways of getting messages through, you know, groups and other allies in the region.

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With inputs from AP
Police on Wednesday raided Yoon Suk Yeols presidential office in Seoul. This, even as former defence minister, Kim Yong Hyun, who took responsibility for the imposition of martial law and resigned, attempted to commit suicide in police custody. Meanwhile, mass protests continue as Yoon faces a second impeachment vote on Saturday read more

South Korea still reeling from the brief imposition of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Yoon may have survived one impeachment, but he faces another one on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Kim Yong Hyun, the former defence minister who took responsibility and resigned, has attempted to commit suicide in police custody.

These developments come as the protest against Yoon continue unabated.

Lets take a closer look at all the happenings in South Korea.

Police raid, travel ban

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As per The Guardian, police on Wednesday raided Yoons presidential office in Seoul.

The outlet quoted Yonhap news agency as saying that this was part of a probe by agencies to determine whether Yoon was engaging in insurrection.

The penalty for insurrection in South Korea is death. It is not covered by presidential immunity.

The New York Times reported that Colonel Kim Hyun-tae, who led the special forces unit into the National Assembly, was ordered to remove lawmakers in order to step them holding a vote.

The special investigation team has conducted a raid on the presidential office, the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the National Assembly Security Service, the unit told AFP.

This came a day after Yoon was banned from leaving the country  a first for a sitting president.

Washington Post reported that the ban was imposed on Yoon after the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials sent a request to the Ministry of Justice.

Oh Dong-woon, the chief of the office, told a hearing an extensive probe would be carried out into the leader and key offenders related to treason.

According to BBC, authorities also barred several other top officials including Kim, Defence Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, and Army Chief of Staff Park An-su from traveling abroad.

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Second impeachment

Yoon on Saturday narrowly survived an impeachment vote.

This, after MPs from his People Power Party boycotted the motion  thus failing to establish the necessary quorum.

The opposition needed at least eight votes from Yoons PPP to reach the two-thirds majority needed to impeach.

As PPP lawmakers departed after casting votes on a separate motion, some people shouted and cursed them. Just three lawmakers from Yoons party voted.

However, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon in the aftermath of the vote said Yoon would resign.

South Korean lawmakers submit an impeachment motion for President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, December 4, 2024. Reuters

The declaration of martial law was a clear and serious violation of the law, Han told reporters.

Han has a history of clashes with Yoon, however, and it was unclear if he was speaking for all PPP members.

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The People Power Party will pursue an orderly departure of the president in order to minimise confusion for the people, Han said, adding that until Yoon leaves, he would be effectively excluded from his duties, and the prime minister will consult with the party to manage state affairs.

As per The Guardian, the PPP is coming up with a resignation roadmap for Yoon.

The president could resign by February or March.

However, the opposition Democratic Party, slammed the seeming deal struck between PPP and Yoon.

The Democratic Partys floor leader Park Chan-dae termed it an illegal, unconstitutional second insurrection and a second coup, as per BBC.

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The DP called the pact absurd and illegal.

Neither the people, nor the law, nor anyone has given Han the power to remove (Yoon) from office, the party said in a statement, saying impeachment is the only way.

As per The Guardian, the opposition has vowed to hold an impeachment vote every Saturday.

If Yoon leaves office before his single five-year term ends in May 2027, the constitution requires a presidential election within 60 days of his departure.

Martial law has been declared more than a dozen times since South Korea was established as a republic in 1948, the last time in 1980.

As per Washington Post, Yoon had ultimately rescinded the martial law decree and apologised for causing anxiety and inconvenience and vowing to face legal and political responsibility.

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I will entrust my party to take measures to stabilise the political situation moving forward, including my term in office, Yoon added,

Ex-defence minister suicide attempt

All this comes as Kim attempted suicide while in custody.

As per BBC, Kim was discovered mid-attempt at the Seoul detention centre on Tuesday, Shin Yong-hae, the justice ministrys correctional agency chief, told lawmakers.

Shin Yong-hae, the justice ministrys correctional agency chief, told lawmakers.

Kim is the first person to be arrested over the December 3 martial law decree.

He has been charged with playing a key role in rebellion and committing abuse of power.

The Seoul Central District Court had approved the arrest warrant for former Kim on the basis of the significance of his alleged crime and on the chance that he could destroy evidence.

South Koreas former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun. File image/ Reuters

Kim, one of Yoons close associates, resigned Thursday and has been detained since Sunday.

Prosecutors have up to 20 days to determine whether to indict him. A conviction on the charge of rebellion carries a maximum death sentence.

Kim has been accused of recommending martial law to Yoon and sending troops to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from voting on it.

Kim said in a statement Tuesday that he deeply apologises for causing significant anxiety and inconvenience. He said all responsibility for the imposition of martial law rests solely with him and pleaded for leniency for soldiers deployed to enforce it, saying they were only following his orders.

Vegetative state

Analysts say Yoons presidency is in a vegetative state.

According to Washington Post, in South Korea, the prime minister can become interim president in case of a vacancy.

The PM can also take over in case the president is unable to perform his/her duties for any reason.

Though Yoon remains South Koreas commander-in-chief, top officials has vowed not to follow any new order to impose martial law.

Ha Shang-eung, a political science professor at Sogang University, told Korea Herald, If the president is unable to effectively exercise their authority, and someone who was not elected by the people takes over those powers, or if the president has effectively stepped down, then in any case, having a vegetative president play a role in foreign affairs is unconstitutional at its core.

Moreover, how would other countries perceive this? I believe that is an extremely important consideration.

Joel Atkinson, a professor at the Graduate School of International and Area Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, added, Yoon is now something worse than a lame duck. Anything he touches diplomatically will be undermined.

However, Han Dong-hoon and Han Duck-soo are emphasizing that there wont be a vacuum, including in foreign policy. I take this to mean that the administration will be working to sustain what is going on rather than starting anything new.

Mass protests continue

Tens of thousands of protesters have braved near sub-zero temperatures and gathered outside the National Assembly in the capital of Seoul since Yoons failed martial law attempt last week.

As per Andalou News Agency, Tuesday witnessed thousands hold a candlelight vigil outside the National Assembly in Seoul.

Organisers claimed 40,000 people attended and slogans such as Yoon Suk Yeol, step down and Disband the People Power Party (the ruling party) were chanted.

Protesters with images of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and former South Korea Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, center, march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against President Yoon in Seoul, South Korea. AP

Seoul-based Yonhap News, however, quoted an unofficial police estimate as pegging the number of protesters at 6,000.

In Tuesdays declaration, Yoon gave the military sweeping emergency powers to combat unspecified threats from North Korean communist forces and to eradicate the shameless pro-North anti-state forces.

He also accused the National Assembly of launching an unprecedented number of impeachment efforts against members of his administration, effectively paralysing key operations, and of handling the budget in a way that undermined the fundamental functions of the government, including public safety.

He rescinded the order six hours later, after parliament defied military and police cordons to vote unanimously against the decree.

With inputs from agencies
Harmeet Dhillon has been nominated as assistant attorney general for civil rights by Donald Trump. A prominent Republican lawyer with a history of advocating for conservative causes, Dhillon is known for her outspoken views on Indian politics, including support for farmers protests and allegations of India targeting Sikh activists in North America read more

Indian-born Sikh Republican activist Harmeet Dhillon delivers the invocation in Punjabi and English at the start of the second session at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, US, July 19, 2016. File Image/Reuters

United States President-elect Donald Trumps nomination of Harmeet Dhillon as the US assistant attorney general for civil rights has turned heads, with her views on Indian and Sikh-related issues drawing significant scrutiny.

Dhillon, a prominent Republican activist and attorney, is set to play a pivotal role in the Department of Justices civil rights agenda, but her controversial comments and past actions have brought her under the spotlight.

Trump announced Dhillons nomination on his platform Truth Social, describing her as a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights who will enforce civil rights and election laws fairly and firmly.

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Trump praised her extensive legal career, highlighting cases where she fought against Big Tech censorship, defended religious freedoms during COVID-19 lockdowns, and took on woke corporate policies.

Harmeet is one of the top election lawyers in the country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted, Trump stated. He also highlighted her importance as a member of the Sikh religious community.

If confirmed by the Senate, Dhillon will become the second Indian American to hold this position, following Vanita Gupta, who served under former US President Barack Obama and later as associate attorney general under US President Joe Biden.

Dhillon expressed gratitude for the nomination, writing on X (formerly Twitter): It has been my dream to serve our great country, and I am excited to join an incredible team of lawyers led by @PamBondi. I cannot wait to get to work!

I'm extremely honored by President Trump's nomination to assist with our nation's civil rights agenda. It has been my dream to be able to serve our great country, and I am so excited to be part of an incredible team of lawyers led by @PamBondi. I cannot wait to get to work!



I pic.twitter.com/L2NCA9m987  Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) December 10, 2024

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What is the Khalistan row around Dhillon?

Dhillons appointment has been met with mixed reactions, especially due to her vocal criticism of the Indian government on issues like the farmers protests and allegations involving Khalistani activists.

Born in Punjab, Dhillon has consistently voiced support for the farmers agitation against Indias farm laws.

As the Punjab-born descendant of farmers, my heart breaks to see Punjabi farmers assaulted for protesting Indian governments pro-big corporation farm bill that will destroy their farms, way of life, and culture. Hear them, meet with them, & compromise, PM Modi, she posted on X during the height of the protests in 2020.

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She criticised the Indian government for actions such as internet shutdowns and suppression of dissent during the protests. In a February 2023 post, she reiterated her support, saying, I stand with the #FarmersProtests!

Dhillons remarks intensified following the June 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which escalated India-Canada diplomatic tensions.

Referring to a Wall Street Journal report, Dhillon accused India of sending death squads to target Sikh activists in North America. She wrote, India has sent death squads to target North American Sikhs outspoken on civil and human rights conditions in Punjab, both to Canada and now the US. Will our government do anything about it, or just pander endlessly over artificial DEI nonsense? Lives are at risk.

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Her comments echoed similar accusations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against the Indian government. She also highlighted reports implicating an Indian intelligence operative in a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a pro-Khalistan activist based in the US. Our government refuses to provide details. Why? she posted, accusing the Biden administration of inaction.

The US Department of Justice charged Indian citizen Vikash Yadav, a former RAW official, with conspiracy to kill Pannun. Dhillon called attention to these developments, questioning the Indian governments role in targeting Sikh activists and urging US authorities to act decisively.

Although the assistant attorney general for civil rights does not oversee such cases, Dhillons public stance on these issues could influence perceptions of her neutrality and priorities. Her critics argue that her outspoken opinions may complicate US-India relations, while her supporters see her as an advocate for global civil liberties.

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How will Dhillon operate?

As a prominent attorney, Dhillon has represented high-profile conservative causes and figures. She founded the Center for American Liberty, a nonprofit focused on defending civil liberties against perceived overreach by corporations, governments, and leftist groups. Her cases include:

Suing the University of California, Berkeley, for allegedly suppressing free speech.

Representing a White man who claimed he was fired by Google for criticising its diversity programs.

Filing lawsuits against California, New Jersey, and Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic over restrictions on religious gatherings.

Taking on Antifa for allegedly attacking a journalist.

During the 2020 US presidential election, Dhillon was a legal adviser to Trumps campaign and played a key role in election litigation. She also ran unsuccessfully for chair of the Republican National Committee in 2023, advocating for a more Trump-aligned direction for the party.

Dhillons nomination signals a shift in the Department of Justices civil rights agenda, focusing on conservative priorities. Her track record of challenging pandemic restrictions, supporting right-wing causes, and litigating election issues reflects a departure from traditional approaches to civil rights enforcement.

With her confirmation pending Senate approval, all eyes are on Dhillons appointment by incoming President-elect Donald Trump.

With inputs from agencies
Israel launched over 350 airstrikes across Syria within 48 hours, targeting military assets ranging from airfields to naval vessels. The strikes follow the collapse of the Assad regime and aim to prevent advanced weaponry from falling into extremist hands read more

Israeli soldiers stand on the Syrian side of the ceasefire line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, as seen from the Golan Heights, December 10, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Over the span of 48 hours, Israel carried out over 350 airstrikes on Syria, destroying vast swaths of the countrys military capabilities.

The attacks come in the wake of the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebel factions.

Israeli officials claim their actions are a defensive measure to prevent advanced weaponry and military infrastructure from falling into the hands of extremist groups.

Targets included air-defence systems, fighter jets, missile depots, weapons production sites, and other military assets. According to Israeli military sources, these operations were aimed at dismantling Syrias strategic weapons stockpiles.

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We have no intention to meddle in Syrias internal affairs, but we certainly intend to do whatever is needed to guarantee our security, stated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.

He added that the airstrikes aimed to ensure that advanced weapons would not be used by extremist factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with historical ties to Al Qaeda.

The airstrikes also heavily targeted Syrias naval capabilities. Israeli missile ships struck naval facilities in Al-Bayda and Latakia ports, reportedly sinking multiple vessels. Defence Minister Israel Katz declared on Tuesday that Israel had successfully completed the destruction of the Syrian Navy.

How is Israel involved in Syria?

For the first time in 50 years, Israeli forces entered the demilitarised buffer zone in the Golan Heights, a region established after the 1973 Middle East war. This area, previously patrolled by United Nations forces, spans 155 square miles and borders Syrian-controlled territory.

While Israeli officials stated that their incursion was a limited and temporary measure, the move has drawn significant international condemnation.

Israeli soldiers operate in a location given as Southern Syria, in this screengrab from a video obtained by Reuters on December 9, 2024. Reuters

Netanyahu justified the ground operations, stating that the 1974 agreement had collapsed because Syrian troops protecting the buffer zone abandoned their posts. Israeli officials described the buffer zone operation as essential to creating a defence zone free of weapons and terror threats in southern Syria.

How did regional stakeholders react to this move by Israel?

Israels aggressive actions have sparked widespread condemnation from regional powers and international bodies. Egypt called the incursion a violation of international law, accusing Israel of exploiting Syrias instability.

Turkey, a key backer of Syrian opposition forces, accused Israel of acting as an occupier. The United Nations also expressed concern, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric highlighting that Israels actions breached the 1974 disengagement agreement.

This needs to stop, said Geir Pedersen, the UNs special envoy for Syria. He warned that military actions from external actors could derail efforts to achieve a peaceful transition in Syria.

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Other global leaders echoed these concerns, urging restraint to avoid further destabilisation of the region.

How have Israels moves impacted Syria?

The airstrikes and ground incursions have significantly weakened Syrias military infrastructure, leaving the country vulnerable during its political transition.

Mohammed al-Bashir, the head of the transitional cabinet established by the rebel factions, acknowledged the challenges ahead. The transitional period will last until March, al-Bashir has said, outlining plans for Syrias new governance.

Despite assurances from Israeli military officials, some observers fear that the buffer zone operation could signal deeper territorial ambitions.

Reports circulating about Israeli tanks advancing toward Damascus are false, said Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli spokeserson. He clarified that Israeli forces remained within the buffer zone and several other places necessary for its defence

What is Israel hoping to gain out of this?

Israels operations extend beyond immediate security concerns. By targeting Iranian-linked infrastructure and Hezbollah supply lines, Israel aims to prevent the resurgence of adversarial forces in the region.

Netanyahu warned Syrias new government against allowing Iran to use Syrian territory for military purposes, stating, If this regime allows Iran to reestablish itself in Syria, we will respond forcefully and exact a heavy price.

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Analysts note that the strikes also serve as a demonstration of Israels military capabilities.

While the airstrikes and ground operations aim to neutralise potential threats, they have also drawn intense scrutiny and criticism.

Also Read | From desert rose to Syrias Lady Macbeth: Who really is Asma al-Assad, Bashar al-Assads wife?

With inputs from agencies
The deadly bird flu variant H5N1 is spreading more widely than ever before. In March, the virus began spreading among dairy cows across the US in a first. Fifty-eight people have also tested positive in the country. Now health experts are warning about a potential pandemic threat posed by bird flu read more

Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of US flag in this illustration taken. Reuters

H5N1 bird flu, a type of avian influenza, is once again making headlines after dozens of people in the United States were infected with the virus.

Its spread to seven states and Canada this year has sparked renewed concerns about the potential for a larger outbreak.

While health authorities believe the risk to the general public remains low, there is no guarantee that bird flu will ever start spreading from human to human.

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Which states have human cases of bird flu?

According to the National Library of Medicine, birds can contract the flu just like people do, and the viruses that cause the illness in birds can also infect cows and, in rare cases, humans. H5 is one family of bird flu viruses.

According to the CDC, a person can contract bird flu if the virus enters their mouth, nose, or eyes or if they inhale it. The disease can be fatal and varies in severity. Eye infections, moderate upper respiratory symptoms similar to the flu, fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, body aches, pneumonia, breathing difficulties, diarrhoea, nausea, or seizures are some of its symptoms.

In recent years, it has expanded farther than ever before, reaching unexplored areas like Antarctica, a home for penguins.

The World Organization for Animal Health told AFP that 315 different species of wild birds have died in 79 countries since October 2021, while over 300 million poultry birds have been killed or culled. Mass deaths have also occurred in mammals like seals that consumed infected birds.

However, in March, the virus started spreading among dairy cows across the US for the first time.

There have been 58 confirmed human cases in seven states in the US during the 2024 outbreak, according to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A total of 32 cases were reported in California, 11 cases in Washington state, 10 cases in Colorado, two cases in Michigan, one each in Missouri, Oregon, and Texas.

Although almost all human bird flu patients have come into contact with infected animals, three cases in North America a child in California, a teenager in Canada, and a person in Missouriare receiving special attention because it is unknown how they contracted the virus.

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The Canadian teenager tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, the countrys first human case, and was receiving treatment for severe respiratory distress at a childrens hospital in British Columbia at the end of November, weeks after symptoms began, according to the CBC.

Concerns have also been raised about some human cases going undetected.

Eight of the 115 dairy workers who were tested in Michigan and Colorado last month had bird flu antibodies, according to researchers, indicating a seven per cent infection rate.

Theres been no confirmed case of human-to-human transmission.

Also read: Spike in EU bird flu outbreaks spark worries of wider spread to humans

Could bird flu trigger another pandemic?

There are currently a number of indications that avian flu is knocking on our door and could start a new pandemic any day, according to Meg Schaeffer, an epidemiologist at the SAS Institute in the United States, who spoke to AFP.

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Late last month, the headline of an opinion piece in the New York Times stated, A bird flu pandemic would be one of the most foreseeable catastrophes in history.

The fact that the virus would need to change to become stronger at infecting human lungs is one of the many barriers that still prevent H5N1 from spreading easily between people.

However, a study that was published Thursday in the journal, Science, showed that the strain of bird flu that is affecting cows in the United States is now only one mutation away from being able to transmit more efficiently among people.

This implies that H5N1 is only a simple step away from becoming more dangerous for us, according to virologist Ed Hutchinson of the University of Glasgow.

A Canadian teenager who had a severe case of bird flu last month had her DNA sequenced, which implies that the virus has begun to develop to investigate ways of adhering more successfully to the cells in their body, according to Hutchinson.

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However, Schaeffer noted that the more likely it is to adapt to better infect people, the more animals and species the virus is permitted to infect.

Additionally, she said that because humans lack developed immunity, a bird flu pandemic would be remarkably severe in humans.

Imperial College London virologist Tom Peacock told AFP that there are a number of reasons to be less pessimistic about the possibility of a pandemic.

He noted that there are currently antiviral medications and vaccines for bird flu, which is a significant change from COVID-19 in 2020.

Also read: The US is urging people not to cuddle cows. Heres why

Is it a global health emergency?

No.

Currently, the avian flu pandemic is not considered a global health emergency by the WHO.

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This category does include outbreaks of COVID-19, cholera, dengue, Marburg virus, and mpox.

Why is raw milk of concern?

Numerous health researchers have called on the US government to increase testing and make sure data is shared across agencies and nations in order to prevent the worst-case situation.

The US Department of Agriculture said Friday that it would test the nations milk supply for avian flu.

According to the CDC, raw milk, which is not pasteurised, can expose people to germs and pose major risks to their health. The unpasteurised milk has been confirmed to be contaminated with avian flu on multiple occasions. Experts stress that pasteurisation eliminates the avian flu virus and other germs, making pasteurised milk safe to consume.

Following the discovery of the virus in some dairy products, California has issued a widespread recall of raw milk and cream in amid growing concerns.The California Department of Public Health announced the recall following multiple bird flu virus detections in Fresnos Raw Farm, LLC products.

Although no one has reported becoming sick, the government advised consumers to immediately return any recalled products they might have in their refrigerator.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the conspiracy theorist and vaccine sceptic who was chosen by US President-elect Donald Trump to serve as health secretary, is well-known for loving raw milk.

Last week, Mark McAfee, a California raw milk producer whose goods had been recalled several times because of avian flu, told The Guardian that Kennedys team had asked him to help shape the next administrations raw milk policy.

Schaeffer said that any suggestion of lifting restrictions on raw milk was unequivocally a terrible idea and definitely jeopardises the health of humans.

Is there a bird flu vaccine?

The US Department of Agriculture has authorised four vaccine candidates for use in field testing in dairy cows. According to Reuters, four possible bird flu vaccinations for poultry started testing in 2023.

While there is no widespread vaccination programme for H5N1 in humans, the government is working on vaccines in case they are needed.

Finland was the first nation in the world to provide bird flu vaccinations to anyone who might be exposed, such as those who work on fur and poultry farms, in the summer of 2024. According to Reuters, Finland purchased vaccines for 10,000 individuals, each of whom needed two doses.

The UK declared in December 2024 that it had obtained over five million doses of the human H5 influenza vaccination. According to a statement from the UK Health Security Agency, the purchase will boost the countrys resilience in the event of a possible H5 influenza pandemic.

With inputs from agencies
Indias agritech revolution could become a model for other developing countries read more

AI models are helping farmers deal with various uncertainties when it comes to agriculture. Image used for representational purpose/AP

Indian farming, long a cornerstone of the countrys economy, is becoming an increasingly difficult pursuit.

With water shortages, a rapidly changing climate, disorganised supply chains, and limited access to credit, each growing season has become a gamble.

However, new AI-powered tools are beginning to reduce some of the unpredictability.

Harish B., a 40-year-old farmer near Bengaluru, is one of many turning to technology for solutions.

Harish took over his familys 5.6-hectare farm a decade ago, introducing pomegranates alongside the existing grape crop and implementing modern systems like drip irrigation, according to a report by IEEE Spectrum.

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Last year, he partnered with Fasal, a Bengaluru-based agritech startup offering AI-powered tools to guide farmers on watering schedules, nutrient application, and pest management.

The technology relies on Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and predictive modeling, providing tailored advice. Harish says the service has helped him cut water use by 30 per cent.

Indias agritech sector is growing rapidly, supported by government initiatives.

In 2018, the government made agriculture a focus of its AI strategy, committing $300 million for digital agriculture projects. The sector also benefits from widespread 4G coverage and over a billion smartphone users, enabling even rural farmers to access AI-powered tools, according to IEEE Spectrum.

Startups like Fasal and Cropin use AI to analyse weather data and satellite imagery, offering precision farming insights.

Fasals services, for example, have reportedly saved 82 billion liters of water and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 54,000 tonnes across its operating area.

Cost remains a barrier

However, cost remains a barrier.

Smaller farmers often cannot afford these tools or the additional equipment they require. They are unable to use the system even if theyre interested.

Organisations like Digital Green are exploring alternative solutions. The nonprofit uses AI and video-sharing platforms to help small farmers adopt new practices at a fraction of traditional costs.

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A chatbot trained on farmer-generated content offers tailored advice based on location and weather, connecting users with practical solutions.

Beyond AI: What farmers want

Farmers are looking for more than information, said Rikin Gandhi, CEO of Digital Green. He mentioned that they want ways to connect information to markets and services.

For farmers like Harish, AI is already making a difference, but broader adoption will require addressing affordability and trust. The technology is paying for itself, Harish said, but smaller farmers need more support to access these tools.

Indias agritech revolution could become a model for other developing countries, but it will depend on ensuring technology reaches the farmers who need it most.

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Arvind Kejriwal has cleared rumours of the possibility of an alliance with the Congress in the upcoming Delhi elections. He said that AAP will fight the polls on its own strength read more

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest the upcoming Delhi elections on its own strength, Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday, adding that there is no possibility of any alliance with Congress.

The confirmation by AAP chief came soon after reports started doing rounds that Congress and AAP were in the final stages of agreement for an alliance in the Assembly polls in the national capital.

Aam aadmi party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with congress. https://t.co/NgDUgQ8RDo  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 11, 2024

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Reports doing the rounds claimed that the Congress had sought 15 seats as part of an alliance deal for the 2025 Delhi elections.

The speculation sparked after a recent meeting of Kejriwal and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi at NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawars residence.

It is worth mentioning that this isnt the first time Kejriwal has dismissed the possibility of AAP-Congress alliance in Delhi. Earlier this month, he made it clear that his party, which is aiming for a third consecutive term, has no plans to get into coalition for the Delhi Assembly polls.

Also, Kejriwals latest announcement came in continuation with the AAPs decision in the Haryana Assembly elections in October this year when the party ditched Congress-led INDIA bloc and fought the polls on its own.

Both the parties  Congress and AAP  had attempted to get into an alliance in Haryana, but nothing materialised in the end as the seat-sharing talks failed to yield any consensus.

The decision of the AAP leader also comes within days after a major poll debacle of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the 2024 Maharashtra election. The Congress is part of the MVA, which also has Sharad Pawars NCP faction, and Uddhav Thackeray headed Shiv Sena in alliance.

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In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, both Congress and AAP contested together in Delhi under the Opposition INDIA bloc.

Out of seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi, the AAP had contested on four, while Congress fielded it candidates on remaining three, but neither of the parties could open the account as the BJP swept all the seats in the capital city.

2025 Delhi Assembly election date: Voting for the 70-seat Delhi Assembly is scheduled for February 2025.

With inputs from agencies.
Jamaats growing control over the state machinery appears evident in the Muhammad Yunus administrations leniency toward extremist factions while silencing minority voices read more

Recent developments in Bangladesh highlight the alarming resurgence of Jamaat-e-Islamis influence under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition chargesfollowing accusations of disrespecting the national flag during a peaceful rallyhas amplified fears of systemic bias against minorities. This incident is part of a broader pattern of persecution, with reports of over 200 targeted attacks on Hindu homes and temples in recent months.

Jamaats growing control over state mechanisms appears evident in the Yunus administrations leniency toward extremist factions while silencing minority voices. Dass arrest, paired with violent crackdowns on protests demanding his release, underscores the judiciarys troubling bias. The broader implications are dire for Bangladeshs democracy, with minorities caught in the crossfire of political expediency and radical Islamist ideologies.

This trajectory has not only fuelled domestic unrest but also strained Bangladeshs international reputation, with global human rights organisations calling for accountability. The rise of Jamaat signals a dangerous shift that threatens both the nations secular fabric and the safety of its minority communities.

Jamaats Influence in the Post-Hasina Era

In recent years, Jamaat-e-Islami has managed to regain a foothold in Bangladeshs political landscape. The groups role in removing Sheikh Hasina from power and its integration into the interim government highlight its growing influence. Jamaats connections with the Muslim Brotherhood and its leaders education in Egypt and Turkey have further strengthened its ideological and political network.

Jamaats student wing, Islamic Chhatra Shibir (ICS), has been instrumental in mobilising support and orchestrating political movements. ICSs involvement in the movement that overthrew the Hasina regime underscores Jamaats strategic use of youth and student organisations to further its agenda. The groups ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist organisations in Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt have provided it with a broader platform to influence regional politics and gain support from like-minded groups.

The current leadership of Jamaat, including figures like Hasan Imam Wafi, Javed Imran, Mustafa Mahmud Faisal, Mesbah Uddin Saeed, Zobair Al Mahmud, and Noor Md, have spent significant time in Turkey and Egypt, where they were influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood. This ideological alignment has allowed Jamaat to position itself as a key player in Bangladeshs political landscape, leveraging its connections to further its goals.

Younis: A Puppet in Jamaats Hands

Muhammad Yunus, the current figurehead of Bangladeshs interim government, is widely seen as a puppet controlled by Jamaat-e-Islami. Despite his international reputation as a Nobel laureate and social entrepreneur, Yunuss political manoeuvring has raised questions about his independence and ability to govern effectively. The influence of Jamaat on Yunuss administration is evident in the policies and decisions that align with the JeIs ideological stance.

Yunuss government has faced criticism for its handling of minority rights and its failure to address the rising tide of Islamist extremism. The arrest of Hindu monk and ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, allegedly due to Jamaats displeasure with the consolidation of Hindus under ISKCON, highlights the extent of Jamaats control over the government. The crackdown on Hindu movements and the suppression of minority voices reflect Jamaats agenda to maintain its dominance and curb any opposition.

Moreover, Yunuss administration has been accused of sheltering anti-India terror groups, a practice that dates back to the 2001-06 BNP-Jamaat rule in Bangladesh. This alignment with extremist elements not only jeopardises regional stability but also undermines Bangladeshs democratic values and sovereignty. Yunuss inability to counter Jamaats influence and assert his authority further cements his image as a puppet in the hands of the Islamist party.

The Future of Bangladesh Under Jamaats Control

The growing influence of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh poses significant challenges for the countrys future. Jamaats ideological inflexibility and its history of violence and extremism threaten to undermine the democratic values and secular principles that Bangladesh was founded upon. The partys involvement in the interim government and its control over key political figures like Muhammad Yunus raise concerns about the direction in which the country is headed.

Jamaats agenda to establish an Islamist state in Bangladesh is at odds with the aspirations of the majority of Bangladeshis who seek a secular and democratic society. The partys efforts to suppress minority voices and its alignment with extremist groups further exacerbate the divisions within the country. The international community must recognise the dangers posed by Jamaats growing influence and support efforts to uphold democratic values and human rights in Bangladesh.

The Need for Global Intervention

Bangladeshs increasing descent into radicalism, driven by Jamaat-e-Islamis growing influence, necessitates urgent international attention. As secularism erodes and minority communities face relentless persecution, the countrys democratic framework is being systematically dismantled. The arrest of Hindu leaders like Chinmoy Krishna Das and the surge in targeted violence underscore a broader agenda of extremism.

To counter this crisis, global stakeholders must act decisively. Targeted sanctions against individuals and entities supporting radical elements could restrict Jamaats operational and financial capacity. Additionally, diplomatic pressure on the interim government to protect minority rights and uphold democratic principles is critical. International human rights organisations must also amplify their advocacy, pushing for accountability in cases of minority persecution and judicial bias. Beyond sanctions and diplomacy, countries should collaborate on regional stability initiatives to counter extremism. The international medias role is crucial in accurately reporting the plight of Bangladeshs minorities, countering narratives that downplay these systemic issues. South Asian neighbours, particularly India, must take a leadership role in engaging multilateral forums like the United Nations to highlight Bangladeshs democratic backsliding.

Without global intervention, Bangladesh risks becoming a safe haven for extremist ideologies, threatening South Asias geopolitical stability. The consequences would extend beyond its borders, jeopardising international trade, regional peace, and the safety of religious and ethnic minorities. Addressing these challenges requires a united effort from national governments, international bodies, and civil society organisations to uphold human rights and democracy in Bangladesh.

The control of Jamaat-e-Islami over Bangladeshs political landscape, with Muhammad Yunus as a puppet figurehead, highlights the urgent need for a reassessment of the countrys political trajectory. As Bangladesh navigates this complex terrain, it must prioritise the principles of democracy, secularism, and human rights to ensure a stable and prosperous future.

The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
On November 8, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) issued an ultimatum. The group stated that if its demands for a separate flag and constitution are not accepted by the central government, it will resume its armed insurgency. The NSCN-IM is the oldest among the many insurgent groups in the state and has a significant number of members.

On November 21, the Nagaland Chief Minister led a delegation to New Delhi to discuss the issue with the Union Home Minister. Under normal circumstances, such a threat would have caused alarm in New Delhi; however, the central government hasnt issued any statement, suggesting that it does not attach much importance to the threat. The groups desperate demands are unlikely to be granted.

While the NSCN-IMs threat was considered newsworthy and was provided wide coverage by newspapers and websites, a similar demand issued a week back by another umbrella organisation of seven insurgent groups in Nagaland was mostly ignored. On October 31, the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), which is in consultation with the central government, asked the latter to implement measures such as a separate page in Indian passports for the Nagas and a bicameral legislature in Nagaland. The NNPG said these demands should be fulfilled by the end of 2024. The government hasnt responded to this demand as well.

Aptly called the mother of all Indian insurgencies, the Naga insurgency originally sought a unified and independent homeland of Naga-inhabited areas of India and Myanmar. Over the years, however, there has been a drastic climbdown in their demands by the NSCN-IM and the newer groups under the NNPG. Both now seek shared sovereignty  a special status for the state under the Indian constitution. However, even those demands may be difficult for New Delhi to grant.

Much of it has to do with the diminishing fighting ability of the NSCN-IM. Headed by its general secretary, 90-year-old Thuingaleng Muivah, the group boasts a cadre strength of about 5000, but it has not been fighting the Indian state for the last 27 years, ever since it entered into a ceasefire agreement with New Delhi in 1997. In the initial years after the agreement, most of the NSCN-IMs armed conflict was with its bete noire, the Khaplang faction (NSCN-K). The group also carried out widespread tax collection drives with its armed cadres moving out in the open and collecting money to fund its existence. However, none of those actions can be equated with the capacity of the group to begin an armed campaign against the Indian state.

There are reasons to believe that internal divisions have weakened the groups internal cohesion. For instance, in March 2024, fourteen top officers of the groups military wing revolted against their commander-in-chief, Lt. Gen. Anthony Ningkhan Shimray. They accused Shimray of being an agent of New Delhi, trying to break the revolutionary groups in the northeast. Shimray had been arrested in September 2010 from Kathmandu airport while on his way to India from Bangkok, allegedly for negotiating an arms deal with a Chinese company. He spent the next six years in Tihar jail in Delhi, but was released on bail on 4 August 2016 by a special court of the National Investigative Agency (NIA) after the public prosecutor pleaded that his release was in the interest of the peace negotiation between the Nagas and Indian government.

After his release, Shimray was made the longvibu (commander-in-Chief of the Naga Army), but went on to reveal that he has been tasked by the government to bring the insurgencies of the region overground. The officers who revolted wondered if Shimray now serves the interests of the NSCN-IM or the Government of India. They cited several instances of how Shimray has weakened the military strength of the organization. In response, Shimrays loyalists within NSCN-IM termed this rebellion as a mutiny and sought to nip it in the bud. Shimray continues to remain the longvibu and coordinator of the Indo-Naga peace talks.

The 8 November issue of ultimatum is a desperate attempt by Mr. Muivah to keep his flock together. The NSCN-IM holds on to the Framework Agreement it signed with New Delhi in 2015 as a holy grail that recognises the unique history of the Nagas and as a commitment by the central government to grant a separate flag and constitution. New Delhis interpretation of the Framework Agreement, however, is markedly different.

The style and content of the negotiation by the governments interlocutor in the post-2015 period suggest that New Delhi has no intention of providing any special status to Nagaland. It is noteworthy that for the past few years, there hasnt been an interlocutor for the talks between the two sides, but only a representative of the Central Government, a former chief of the Intelligence Bureau. An elusive solution to the Naga conflict is taking a toll on the group, which now calls for a third-party intervention to break the deadlock.

New Delhi has pursued a similar strategy with the more pliable NNPGs. Somewhat similar to the Framework Agreement, the NNPGs signed the Agreed Position agreement with New Delhi in October 2017. The group interprets the agreement as New Delhis recognition of the Naga identity with a separate page in the Indian passport, a separate contingent of Nagas in all international events and an enhanced representation in both Houses of Parliament.

Interestingly, NNPGs term NSCN-IMs demand for unification of all Naga inhabited areas in northeast India as impractical. However, their own demand, in the assessment of New Delhi, could be no less illogical. Similar to the NSCN-IM, the non-implementation of the Agreed Position agreement has started creating divisions within the seven-member NNPGs. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who favours a political solution to the Naga conflict has hinted at the divisions within the NNPG .

Both the NSCN-IM and the NNPGs initiated a process of collaboration in September 2022 by signing a joint accord and forming the Council of Naga Relationships and Cooperation. The move purportedly was to deal with the delays in solving the Naga issue and resist divisions among the Nagas. However, the move towards unity hasnt progressed further given the distinct objectives pursued by both. In December 2023, the NSCN-IM denounced the NNPGs as treacherous, traitorous, disloyal and perfidious.

As desperation rises among the insurgent groups, New Delhi apparently hopes that prolonged negotiations may eventually lead to the dismemberment of the insurgencies. New Delhis best bet is the growing peace-loving Naga population who have no appetite for another period of unrest, instability, and insurgency. While the events have unfolded as per the script so far, New Delhi needs to watch out for the geopolitical events in the region. Plummeting India-Bangladesh bilateral relations and the continuing civil war situation in Myanmar could play crucial roles in shaping the future moves of the Naga insurgent groups.

The writer is the Director of Mantraya, a Goa-based research forum and the author of National Security Decision-making in India. He formerly served as a Deputy Director in the National Security Council Secretariat. He tweets @BibhuRoutray. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Few will mourn the Assad regimes demise, but the enemy of an enemy is not necessarily a friend. Abu Muhammad Jawlani, the head of the victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, might eschew Al Qaeda ties openly, but his ideological proclivities are clear read more

When a strategy works, why change it? In the first 24 hours after taking Damascus, Abu Muhammad Jawlani, the head of the victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, group feigned moderation. He promised Syrians that there would be no retribution to backers of the former regime and said the Turkish-backed group envisioned a Syria where all Syrians, regardless of religion, could live in peace. He did not try to deny his radical past. Jawlani, after all, had a $10 million US State Department bounty on his head due to his support for Al Qaeda. But, after sweeping through Syria and ousting the equally odious Bashar al-Assad, he said he had reformed. Many analysts and journalists believed him, and diplomats breathed a sigh of relief.

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No one should be so sanguine, however. The playbook Jawlani uses in Syria has precedent with both Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran and with Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his partys sweep of Turkeys November 2002 elections.

On February 1, 1979, shortly after Mohammed Reza Shah fled Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to a rapturous welcome. Three million Iranians greeted him at Tehrans airport. Iranians and foreign diplomats criticized the shah for violations of human rights but saw in Khomeini someone who sought a better, more progressive country. Richard Falk, a Princeton University professor influential in the Jimmy Carter administration, urged the White House in a New York Times opinion article to embrace Khomeini. The depiction of him as fanatical, reactionary, and the bearer of crude prejudices seems certainly and happily false, Falk explained, adding, His close advisers are uniformly composed of moderate, progressive individualswho share a notable record of concern with human rights. Khomeini may have been a radical in the 1960s opposed to womens rights and equality of Muslims and non-Muslims, but talk of Khomeinis conversion was what Carter wanted to hear. Even as Khomeini launched a reign of terror, the State Department embraced the new government. So too did many in the press. Steven Erlanger, a young journalist who would eventually become The New York Times chief diplomatic correspondent filed a dispatch just a day before the seizure of the U.S. Embassy arguing that while the revolution was not over, the religious phase is drawing to a close.

The reason for such confusion about Khomeini and his agenda was his own statements. While exiled in France for the year prior to the Islamic Revolution, he repeatedly told Western journalists and diplomats what they wanted to hear. Personal desire, age, and my health do not allow me to personally have a role in running the country after the fall of the current system, he told the Associated Press, on November 7, 1978. Nine days later, he told The Guardian, I dont want to have the power or the government in my hand; I am not interested in personal power. That same day, he told an Austrian television reporter, I dont want to be the leader of the Islamic Republic; I dont want to have the government or the power in my hands. I only guide the people in selecting the system. He told Reuters, meanwhile, The foundation of our Islamic government is based on freedom of dialogue and will fight against any kind of censorship. Later, he promised, In the Islamic Republic the rights of the religious minorities are respectfully regarded.

As soon as Khomeinis power was secure, however, he took a different tone. Dont listen to those who speak of democracy, he told Iranian students in Qom on March 13, 1979, They all are against Islam. We will break all the poison pens of those who speak of nationalism, democracy, and such things. Five months later, he addressed political dissent, We have to warn these intellectuals that if they dont stop their meddling, they will be crushed, he declared. His militancy grew with his power. Later that month, he addressed the Fayzieah madrasa in Qom. Those who are trying to bring corruption and destruction to our country in the name of democracy will be oppressed. They are worse than Bani-Ghorizeh Jews, and they must be hanged. There followed a reign of terror that has yet to end.

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The same was true with Erdogans rise. Initially, American officials worried about Erdogans religious agenda. He was a Muslim Brotherhood acolyte who, while mayor of Istanbul, disparaged secularism. Thank God Almighty, I am a servant of the Sharia (Islamic Law), he declared when he began his mayoralty in 1994. The following year, he described himself as the imam of Istanbul. In 1997, Erdogans ousted mentor, Necmettin Erbakan became Turkeys first Islamist prime minister. He immediately began to seek to reorient Turkeys foreign policy away from the West and toward the Islamic world. It was against this backdrop that Erdogan recited a poem declaring mosques to be his bayonets. After the Turkish military forced Erbakan to resign, they imprisoned Erdogan for religious incitement.

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When he returned to political power in November 2002 with a super majority in parliament, Erdogan bent over backwards to allay Western concerns. We are the guarantors of this (Turkish) secularism, he assured, and our management will clearly prove that. American diplomats affirmed Erdogans conversion. Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European Affairs, explained Erdogans party was a kind of Muslim version of a Christian Democratic Party, that is, not religious at all. Secretary of State Colin Powell praised Erdogans democracy and, on June 27, 2004, President George W. Bush told journalists in Ankara, I appreciate so very much the example your country has set on how to be a Muslim country and at the same time a country which embraces democracy and rule of law and freedom.

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Erdogan, like Khomeini, feigned pragmatism to allow him time to consolidate power. Earlier in his career, the Turkish leader had explained, Democracy is like a streetcar. You ride it until you arrive at your destination and then you step off. As Western officials calibrated their policy to wishful thinking about his tolerance and commitment to democracy, the murder rate of women inside Turkey increased 1,400 per cent as Islamic conservatives felt they could conduct honor killings with impunity. Erdogan reoriented Turkeys banking system toward Islamic finance, reached out to Hamas, provided logistical support for the Islamic State, and cracked down on religious minorities. Today, Turkey is a terror sponsor in all but formal designation. It uses its military industries to support radical groups ranging from Somali militants to Pakistan-sponsored Kashmir terrorists.

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Back to Syria: While Jawlani preaches moderation to Western journalists, he signals Syrians with a different message. Jawlani declared the end of the Assad regime and the rebel victory not from the presidential palace or parliament, but rather from the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, the site of Islams first caliphate. The symbolism was clear. So too were televised calls by Jawlanis fighters to continue their march to Jerusalem and then Mecca. Meanwhile, Christians flee Syrias second largest city Aleppo en masse. They know the Syrians behind victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham well, and recognise that they are far less moderate than they claim.

Few will mourn the Assad regimes demise, but the enemy of an enemy is not necessarily a friend. Jawlani might eschew Al Qaeda ties openly, but his ideological proclivities are clear. As Sunni militants consolidate control, Syria could become an engine for further instability. Israel can defend itself, but Jordan is vulnerable and already primed for rebellion given King Abdullah IIs tin ear to his own population. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the terrorist leader behind the Sunni insurgency in Iraq, not only was Jordanian, but he represented more the rule than the exception in poorer quarters of the Kingdom today. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, remains susceptible to Islamist backlash that Syrian militants can stoke, especially as conservative elements and young people left behind resent Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salmans openness to the West and reform.

It is ironic that while Americans and Europeans pride themselves on their enlightened diplomacy, Islamists so often seize advantage from their gullibility. In Syria, Washington, Brussels, and others may now be making the same mistake for the third time.

Michael Rubin is director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Google, TPG Rise Climate and other backers, are participating in a funding round in Intersect Power worth over $800 million. This move aligns with Googles strategy to expand its data centre network, driven by a surge in demand for AI and cloud services read more

Google plans to collaborate with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate on industrial parks that will combine massive data centre capacity with clean energy facilities. Image Credit: Reuters

Google is ramping up its clean energy commitments with a significant investment in Intersect Power, a developer of renewable energy solutions. The tech giant, alongside TPG Rise Climate and other backers, is participating in a funding round worth over $800 million. This move aligns with Googles strategy to expand its data centre network, driven by a surge in demand for AI and cloud services.

The investment underscores Googles aim to marry technological growth with sustainability. As the race to build AI-driven infrastructure intensifies among tech heavyweights like Microsoft and Meta, Google is taking a distinct approach by integrating clean energy into its data centre operations.

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Demand for green energy explodes

Google plans to collaborate with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate on industrial parks that will combine massive data centre capacity with clean energy facilities. These projects aim to address the growing energy demands of technologies like generative AI while easing strain on the US power grid.

By placing data centres next to dedicated carbon-free energy plants, Google hopes to streamline power delivery and speed up project timelines. This co-location approach is designed to boost grid reliability and meet the power demands of cutting-edge technologies, which have been outpacing the capacity of existing electrical systems.

A strategic partnership

Intersect Powers new facilities will produce clean energy, with Google set to be a primary customer. The company plans to open data centres powered directly by these renewable sources as they come online. This arrangement ensures that clean energy capacity grows in tandem with Googles operational needs, reducing delays and enhancing the resilience of the grid.

The first co-located project is expected to partially launch by 2026 and reach full operational capacity by 2027. This partnership not only marks a step forward in sustainable energy use but also highlights Googles proactive approach to managing its environmental impact.

How Intersect Power became a key player in clean energy

Intersect Power, established in 2016, specialises in scalable low-carbon energy solutions. As a portfolio company of TPG Rise Climate, a climate-focused investment fund, it has emerged as a leader in renewable energy development.

Through its collaboration with Google, Intersect Power is set to play a pivotal role in meeting the growing energy demands of next-generation technologies while advancing sustainable practices in the industry.
A suicide bombing in Kabul on Wednesday killed the Talibans refugee minister, Khalil Haqqani, along with two others, marking the most daring attack on a high-ranking member of the Taliban since their return to power three years ago read more

Afghan Taliban's Refugee & Repatriation Minister Haji Khalil ur Rahman Haqqani speaks during the anniversary of the departure of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan, in Kabul, Afghanistan April 28, 2022. Reuters File

A suicide bombing in Kabul on Wednesday killed the Talibans refugee minister, Khalil Haqqani, along with two others, marking the most daring attack on a high-ranking member of the Taliban since their return to power three years ago.

The explosion took place inside the ministry, where Haqqani was present. His last public photo showed him attending a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar earlier Wednesday.

Khalil Haqqani was the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister and leader of a powerful Taliban network.

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This marks the highest-profile casualty in Afghanistan since the Talibans resurgence and the first Cabinet member to be killed since the takeover. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The governments chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a post on X that Haqqanis death was a great loss and described him as a tireless holy warrior who spent his life defending Islam.

Haqqanis killing may be the biggest blow to the Taliban since their return to power given his stature and influence, according to Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Centers South Asia Institute. It also comes at a time when the Taliban have staked their legitimacy on restoring peace after decades of war, he added.

The killing of a top Haqqani leader inside one of its own ministries undercuts that core narrative, The Associated Press quoted Kugelman as saying.

Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the killing as a terrorist attack.

Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Dar said, adding his government was in touch with Kabul to get further details.

The Islamic State groups affiliate, a major rival of the ruling Taliban, has carried out previous attacks across Afghanistan.

In early September, one of its suicide bombers in a southwestern Kabul neighborhood killed at least six people, wounding 13 others.

But suicide attacks have become increasingly rare since the Taliban seized power in August 2021 and US and NATO forces withdrew. Such attacks have mostly targeted minority Shiite Muslims, especially in the capital.
After ending the decadeslong rule of Bashar al-Assad, the Islamist opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Turkey have found a common enemy in US-backed Kurds in Syria read more

The photograph shows US-backed Kurdish military personnel of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria's Raqqa in 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

After toppling Bashar al-Assads regime, Syrias main opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Turkey have found a common enemy in US-backed Kurds.

Even before the HTS-led offensive captured Damascus and forced Assad to flee to Russia, Turkey and a militia it supports, the Syrian National Army (SNA), had opened a front against Kurds over the weekend, who run an autonomous administration in northeastern Syria called Autonomous Administration of. North and East Syria (AANES).

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By Wednesday (December 11), the HTS and Turkey have attacked the Kurds in at least three towns.

Even though the United States and Turkey are allies and are joined in their opposition to Assad, their interests diverge regarding Kurds, an ethnic spread across the region in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.

Turkey & Syrian Islamists join hands against Kurds

While Kurds are key allies of the United States and are central to the war against the Islamic State (Isis) terrorist group in the region, Turkey is opposed to Kurds and equates their military, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the Kurdish group PKK, which it blames for an insurgency in Turkey and labels as a terrorist group.

Turkey is believed to have indirectly supported the opposition forces offensive that began late last month and toppled Assads regime in less than two weeks.

In the chaos amid the ouster of Assad, Turkey appears to have joined hands with HTS, an Islamist authoritarian group that was once formally the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda, to open a renewed front against Kurds. They have attacked Kurds in at least three places.

The Turkey-SNA combine attacked Kurds in Manjib in eastern Syria over the weekend. The attack in Manjib was followed by SNAs offensive against the SDF in Kobani. Then, the HTS on Tuesday captured the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor from the Kurds, who had captured the city from Assads regime forces last week.

The SNA is a militia of mercenaries and criminal bands sponsored by Turkey. It functions as Turkeys sword arm inside Syria.

The UAE-based The National reported that the SNA has captured Manjib and has driven SDF out of the city.

The newspaper quoted an SNA commander as saying that the groups goal is just to end the separatist project of Kurds.

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HTS & SNA to continue attacking Kurds

In a video in circulation, an HTS fighter is sharing that the group will advance toward Raqqa and Hasakah and other areas in eastern Syria in the coming days, according to The Times of Israel.

Raqqa is one of the cities that was central to the now-ousted regime of Islamic State in Syria. It was captured by the Kurds after a bloody battle with the terrorist group in 2017. Now, the HTS, whose leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani was once a member of the Islamic State, has eyes on the city.

Separately, Fox News Jennifer Griffin reported a source in the SDF as saying that the Turkish military is advancing towards the Kurdish city of Kobani. The source said that Kurds fear an ethnic cleansing may be on the cards if Turks capture the city.

The Turks have begun moving toward Kobani (the Kurdish city). We need to stop this as quickly as possible. This is extremely dangerous and threatens the existence of the Kurds in Syria. Ethnic Cleansing ongoing and Civil War alarm bells start to ring, the source told Fox Chief National Security Correspondent Griffin.

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Members of Kurdish backed SDF demand help from U.S. as Turkish military begins moving toward Kobani. The SDF is the main ally the U.S. relies on to the guard the camps where 10s of thousands of ISIS fighters and their family members are encamped.



From trusted SDF source who https://t.co/9bFu0qCO63  Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) December 10, 2024
Elite troops from the Republic Guard stormed the temple of a mystic religious group in the North Kivu capital Goma on August 30, 2023, an area embroiled in armed violence for three decades read more

People arrested during a military operation to prevent a planned demonstration against the United Nations by a religious sect, sit on the ground and guarded by the army in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. File image/ AFP

Amnesty International in a statement Wednesday accused senior Congolese army officers of possible crimes against humanity in a massacre in the northeastern city of Goma that killed 56 people last year.

Elite troops from the Republic Guard stormed the temple of a mystic religious group in the North Kivu capital Goma on August 30, 2023, an area embroiled in armed violence for three decades.

Most of the victims were members of the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith Towards the Nations, whose leader had called a protest to demand the departure of foreign NGOs and the UN force from the area.

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Authorities said 56 people were killed, but a confidential UN report seen by Amnesty put the number at 102, including 90 men, eight women and four boys, and 80 more injured, the rights group said, adding that 10 more could be missing.

Amnesty said it had identified three army officers who should be individually investigated  and with sufficient evidence, prosecuted  for possible crimes against humanity.

The officers named were Constant Ndima Kongba, the former military governor of North Kivu province, Colonel Mike Mikombe Kalamba, a Republican Guard commander, and Major Peter Kabwe Ngandu, who reported to Mikombe during the operation.

A Congolese court in October 2023 sentenced Mikombe to death and three other soldiers to 10 years in prison for murder.

Amnesty International demands the UN Department of Peace Operations swiftly initiates an independent inquiry into MONUSCOs role, including by its leadership  and publicise their findings, the report added, referring to the UN peacekeeping mission.

The Christian-animist group in late August told AFP it had tallied 103 killed in the massacre.

Eastern DRC has been ravaged by militia violence for three decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s.
As Syrias rebel forces rise to power, the international community is faced with a stark dilemma with once-designated terrorists in HTS now being considered potential partners in the countrys future governance read more

In a dramatic turn of events, the Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad collapsed with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), once an Al Qaeda affiliate, taking control of the country. This sudden shift in the Syrian situation has forced nations to reassess their position vis-a-vis Damascus. The fall of Assads regime has prompted the Biden administration to make careful decisions about its foreign policy in the region, particularly regarding HTS, which has been designated a terrorist group since 2012.

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The US response

In light of the sudden shift in power, the Biden administration has signalled that it might recognise and support a new Syrian government, provided it meets several conditions. These include renouncing terrorism, securing chemical weapons and ensuring the protection of minority rights. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised that the US would engage with groups in Syria without explicitly naming them to facilitate a smooth transition from Assads regime. Despite HTSs terrorist designation, the US has left the door open for potential dialogue with the group, indicating flexibility in the face of rapidly changing circumstances. According to an Associated Press report, Blinkens statement noted that the US would support an inclusive, transparent government transition but highlighted that Syrians themselves must decide their future, free from foreign interference.

HTS: From terrorists to potential partners?

HTSs ascent has been marked by its controversial history and violent tactics, but its evolving stance has raised questions about its future role in Syrian governance. The group has historically been associated with Al Qaeda and responsible for many brutal attacks. However, in recent years, HTS has distanced itself from its extremist past. According to the BBC, its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, now goes by the name Ahmed al-Sharaa and has publicly advocated for religious tolerance and the protection of Syrias minority groups. This shift in rhetoric has garnered attention from the international community, especially from the UN and the US.

The US State Department has signalled that it will review HTSs designation if the group takes concrete steps to mend its ways that led to its terrorist label. This move is significant, as it opens the possibility of removing sanctions and providing the group with access to international aid. According to US officials, HTS could earn broader support if it forms an inclusive government that represents Syrias diverse religious and ethnic communities, which would also enable greater humanitarian assistance and the return of refugees, a Reuters report said.

Global reactions: Changing alliances

While HTSs shift may signal a potential thaw in its relations with the West, other global players have varied responses. Israel, which has conducted military strikes against Syrian military targets, including those related to chemical weapons, is watching the evolving situation closely. The White House has reaffirmed its support for Israels right to defend itself but has been careful not to commit to a clear stance on the legitimacy of the post-Assad Syrian leadership. Israels seizure of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights following Assads fall highlioghts its concerns about regional stability, particularly regarding Irans influence in Syria.

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Iran, a key ally of Assads regime, has also adapted its approach following his ouster. Tehran has initiated direct communication with the new rebel leadership, reflecting its desire to maintain influence in Syria despite the loss of its longstanding ally. Iranian officials have expressed concerns about the possibility of a hostile, post-Assad Syria that could sever its vital connections to Hezbollah and disrupt its access to the Mediterranean. However, Iran has shown a willingness to engage diplomatically with the new leadership in a bid to preserve its regional influence, the Reuters said.

The UK stance

In the United Kingdom, the situation is similarly fluid. The UK government, which has long designated HTS as a terrorist organisation, has been forced to reconsider its stance. Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden acknowledged that the government is reviewing whether to maintain HTSs designation, particularly as the groups leadership has shown signs of moderation. McFadden emphasised that the UK would need to make a decision quickly, given the pace of events on the ground in Syria. According to the BBC, the UKs approach to HTS will likely depend on whether the groups actions align with its stated commitments to protect minorities and uphold citizens rights.

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Russias position

For Russia, the fall of Assads regime represents a loss of a crucial ally in the region. Russia has invested heavily in Syria, both militarily and diplomatically and its military bases in Syria are of strategic importance. Following Assads ouster, Russia is scrambling to negotiate with the victorious rebel factions, including HTS, to ensure its continued access to these bases. The Kremlin has made it clear that it seeks to preserve its influence in Syria and prevent a shift toward a pro-Western government. Russian officials are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to engage with the new leadership to safeguard their interests in the region.

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Moscow has long condemned any group that threatened Assads authority framing Syrias conflict in terms of national sovereignty. The Russian government had unwavering support for Assad, committing military resources to defend his regime. Russia strongly denounced HTSs rise to power viewing it as a destabilising force in the region. For Russia, which has been a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad throughout the civil war, the rise of HTS is nothing short of a challenge.

Indias cautious approach

Indias response to HTSs rise has been measured and cautious. As a nation with strategic interests in West Asia, New Delhis position on HTS is focussed on ensuring stability and combating terrorism. India has long maintained that it supports Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity emphasising the importance of a political solution that includes all Syrian factionsexcept those that are irredeemably tied to terrorism.

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The Ministry of External Affairs issued statements urging caution in dealing with HTS, noting that while the group has undergone changes in its leadership and tactics, its past as a jihadist organisation cannot be ignored.

An uncertain road ahead

As the situation in Syria continues to unfold, the world watches closely to see whether HTS can transition from a terrorist organisation to a legitimate governing entity. The international community remains divided on how to engage with the group, with some countries, such as the US and the UK, taking a cautious approach, while others, like Iran, are more eager to establish relations. The key to Syrias future lies in the formation of a government that is inclusive, respects minority rights and ensures stability within the country. However, as the US, UK, Russia and Iran continue to manoeuver through these complex dynamics, the question remains: Can Syrias new rulers overcome their violent past and build a stable, peaceful future?

The collapse of Assads regime and the rise of HTS as Syrias new rulers represent a historic shift in West Asia. While global powers are divided on how to approach this change, the possibility of a reformed HTS gaining international legitimacy cannot be ruled out. As the international community maintains a hawk eye on Syria, it is clear that the future of Syria will depend on the ability of its new rulers to break from their violent past and foster a unifying government by ironing out differences among the countrys diverse communities.
Iran and Russia condemned the US and Israel for toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime, with Iran accusing them of orchestrating the conflict and Russia blaming Israel for strikes on Syria and actions in the Golan Heights buffer zone read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visit the Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, Syria, on December 11, 2017. Reuters File

Iran on Wednesday slammed the US and Israel for toppling the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime, saying what happened in Syria was mainly planned in the command rooms of the two countries.

Russia joined Iran in criticising Israel, blaming it for the strikes on Syria and permitting its forces to enter the buffer zone along the Golan Heights following Assads downfall.

What happened in Syria was mainly planned in the command rooms of America and Israel. We have evidence of this, Reuters quoted Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying in a speech

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A neighbouring government of Syria was also involved. The neighbour had a clear role and continues to do so, added Khamenei, referring to Turkey, which has backed anti-Assad rebels.

NATO member Turkey, which controls swathes of land in northern Syria after several cross-border incursions against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, has been a main backer of opposition groups aiming to topple Assad since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011.

Iran spent billions of dollars propping up Assad during the war and deployed its Revolutionary Guards to Syria to keep its ally in power.

Hours after Assads fall, Iran said it expected relations with Damascus to continue based on the two countries far-sighted and wise approach and called for the establishment of an inclusive government representing all segments of Syrian society.

In his speech, Khamenei also said the Iran-led alliance would gain in strength across the entire region.

The more pressure you exert, the stronger the resistance becomes. The more crimes you commit, the more determined it becomes. The more you fight against it, the more it expands Khamenei said.

Iran is strong and powerfuland will become even stronger, he said.

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Kremlin, meanwhile, played down the damage to Russian influence in the Middle East from the fall Assad and said it wants to see the country quickly stabilised.

The strikes, the actions in the Golan Heights, and the buffer zone hardly contribute to the stabilisation of the situation in the already destabilised Syria, Reuters quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Peskov said Moscow was in contact with the new rulers of Syria and that its focus was primarily on Ukraine as of now.

When Russia intervened in the Syrian Civil War in 2015, it helped tip the balance in Assads favour, so his fall from power dealt a serious setback to both Russia, which is fighting a major land war in Ukraine, and to Iran, which is battling US-backed Israel across the Middle East.

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You know, of course, that we are in contact with those who are currently in control of the situation in Syria, Peskov said.

Asked how much the fall of Assad had weakened Russias influence in the region, Peskov said that Moscow maintained contacts with all countries in the region and would continue to do so.

Moscows priority, Peskov said, was the war in Ukraine, which President Vladimir Putin calls a special military operation.

The special military operation is the absolute priority for our country: we must ensure the interests of our security, the interests of our Russian people, and we shall do so, Peskov said.

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Moscow has supported Syria since the early days of the Cold War, recognising its independence in 1944 as Damascus sought to throw off French colonial rule. The West saw Syria as a Soviet satellite.

Syrian rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate, seized the capital Damascus unopposed on Sunday after a lightning advance that sent Assad fleeing to Russia after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his familys autocratic rule.

In one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations, the fall of Assads government wiped out a bastion from which Iran and Russia exercised influence across the Arab world.

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Moscow gave asylum to Assad and his family.

With inputs from agencies
Bangladesh has finally acknowledged that 88 incidents of communal violence against minorities, mostly Hindus, took place in the country between August 5 and October 22. This followed a visit to the country by Indian foreign secretary amid reports of targeted attacks read more

Bangladesh Hindu community members participate in an agitation to protest attacks on Hindu homes, temples, shops, and various parts of the country after former PM Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Source: PTI | FILE.

Bangladesh has acknowledged, close on the heels of the visit of the Indian foreign secretary to the country, that minorities were targeted in communal violence that ensued in the country following the toppling of the Sheikh Hasina government in Dhaka in August. India for months raised concerns over atrocities against minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh, where the interim government under Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus rejected all such reports as completely exaggerated.

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Attacks on minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh were kept under wraps by the interim government authorities. However, the stance appeared to change following Foreign Secretary Vikram Misris Bangladesh visit on Monday (December 9).

Misri raised the issue with the Yunus-led interim government, underscoring Indias concerns over the regrettable incidents of attacks on minorities.

On Tuesday, almost four months after these attacks began, Bangladesh confirmed 88 incidents of communal violence targeting minorities. It said most of those targeted were Hindus in the series of violence that ensued following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who took shelter in India on August 5.

88 violent attacks on minorities in 79 days

On Tuesday, Yunuss press secretary Shafiqul Alam said a total of 88 cases have been filed in connection with the incidents involving minorities between August 5 and October 22.

Alam said 70 individuals have been arrested in connection with these incidents.

The number of cases and arrests is expected to rise as fresh reports of violence have emerged in northeastern Sunamganj, central Gazipur, and other areas, Alam said.

He also said that some victims could have been members of the previous ruling party  Awami League. The Yunus government, however, has maintained that apart from a few incidents, Hindus were not targeted because of their faith.

Alam indicated that details of incidents occurring after October 22 would be shared soon.

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Bangladesh reveals numbers after Indias foreign secy flagged attacks on minorities

Yunus earlier dismissed claims of widespread atrocities against minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh. He convened a meeting with religious leaders to address the situation where he accused foreign media of exaggerating reports of minority persecution, as he called for a more rigorous verification of information.

He had claimed that the situation was not as severe as portrayed in the media. We are seeing reports of renewed attacks and torture. Some of this information comes from foreign media. There are glaring gaps in what we know, and that must end, Yunus alleged.

The Bangladesh interim government has now repositioned itself with its acknowledgement of the act of atrocities against minorities.

This came within hours of Misri meeting his counterpart, Mohammad Jashim Uddin, and Yunus in Dhaka on Monday.

Misris trip to Bangladesh was the first high-level visit from India since the ouster of Hasina.

After the meeting, Misri said, We had the opportunity to discuss recent developments, and I conveyed our concerns, including those related to safety and welfare of minorities.

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The Indian foreign secretary said he also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties in Bangladesh.

Not just people, institutions, cultural symbols also at risk

Not just people of the minority communities, secular symbols, such as sculptures and cultural institutions, were also destroyed in Bangladesh, signalling the growing radicalism in the country.

The Indian Cultural Centre in Dhaka was burnt down within a day of Hasinas ouster. Around 1,500 sculptures, reliefs, murals, and memorials were vandalised, set on fire, and uprooted between August 5 and 14 this year, mostly in Dhaka, a report The Economic Times quoted Dhaka-based sources as saying.

Devotee attacked in Bangladesh, Iskcon asks UN to wake up

Amid these developments, Iskcon Kolkata vice president Radharamn Das urged the United Nations Human Rights to wake up after another devotee was allegedly attacked in Uttara area of Dhaka.

Talking to the media, Das said that despite Foreign Secretary level talks, the attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh continues.

Sharing a post on X on Human Rights Day, Das said, Thought @UNHumanRights might take a break from their nap and acknowledge the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. But alas, the snoring remains louder than the cries for justice. Priorities, I guess.

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Happy #HumanRightsDay! Thought @UNHumanRights might take a break from their nap and acknowledge the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. But alas, the snoring remains louder than the cries for justice. Priorities, I guess. #SaveBangladeshiHindus pic.twitter.com/EBYFTkMWk4  Radharamn Das   (@RadharamnDas) December 10, 2024

He also shared a video post in which a fundamentalist purportedly threatening the Hindu minorities and Iskcon in Bangladesh, Das said, Just listen to this open call of genocide against Bangladeshi minorities & wake up.

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Wake up, @UNHumanRights! Wake upat least today, on #HumanRightsDay. Your silence and blind eye toward the ongoing #Bangladesh human rights violations are deeply saddening and heartbreaking. Just listen to this open call of genocide against Bangladeshi minorities & wake up. Get a pic.twitter.com/kn4U5QixpF  Radharamn Das   (@RadharamnDas) December 10, 2024

Bangladeshs minority Hindus constitute only about 8 per cent of the 170 million population.

With inputs from agencies.
Sikh Canadians claimed that consular officials denied granting them visas unless they denounced their support for separatism and owed allegiance to India read more

A Canadian report has claimed that Indian consular officials have been denying visas to people involved with the Khalistani movement. The report by Global News has invoked strong reactions from social media users and experts who have rejected it as being baseless.

The Global News report recorded responses from Sikh Canadians seeking Indian visas to visit family and for other work in the country. The interviewees claimed that consular officials denied granting them visas unless they denounced their support for separatism and owed allegiance to India.

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India-Canada ties are at their lowest after the latter accused New Delhi of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. However, Ottawa has fallen short of providing evidence for the same.

What does the report say?

Bikramjit Singh Sandhar, a Canadian Sikh, told Global News that he was trying to visit his ailing grandfather in India when he found out that his visa had been rejected by consular officials who told him that his application could not be processed because of the statements he made at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey, B.C.

He was accused of talking about the Khalistani movement at the place of worship.

Sandhar reportedly also received a letter asking him to renounce his allegiance to the Khalistani movement and profess his deep respect for India in exchange for a visa.

They are basically trying to control what you are allowed to do, and not allowed to do, said Sandhar, who was part of the same Gurudwara that Nijjar was a member of.

Theyre trying to influence all that, just because they have something that you need to do, because your roots, everything else, your land and everything is in India, and you gotta go there," he added.

Sandhars story was corroborated by another Sikh citizen who said that his visa was rejected in the same way.

Wild story, baffling report

Political commentators, analysts and experts have raised eyebrows over the report, calling it baffling.

Daniel Bordman, a journalist, sarcastically said on X, Wild story about India! Can you believe that India had the audacity to require a man who ran a temple with pictures all over it praising mass murdering terrorists as heros and a giant billboard calling to assassinate Indian government officials outside to fill out a form denouncing terrorism before allowing him to enter India!

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Wild story about India!

Can you believe that India had the audacity to require a man who ran a temple with pictures all over it praising mass murdering terrorists as heros and a giant billboard calling to assassinate Indian government officials outside to fill out a form https://t.co/MTT7DEX5kF  Daniel Bordman (@DanielBordmanOG) December 11, 2024

No one likes a bad apple coming to their country. My issue is with news channels here in Canada, dont they research properly before posting, wrote an analyst.
Under the new laws, anyone found promoting nudity, indecency, unveiling or improper dressing will face hefty fines of up to $15,900 apart from flogging and prison sentences ranging between 5 to 15 years read more

Protesters cut their hair in solidarity as they gather in Manhattan to show their opposition to the Iranian regime following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran after allegedly violating the country's hijab rules on October 01, 2022. AFP file

Iranian women defying the new mandatory morality laws that stifle their rights to the maximum extent will now face the death penalty or 15 years in prison after the rules come into effect next week.

The issue of defying strict hijab regulations and other misogynistic rules has become a major point of contention in Iran, with many protesting the Islamic Republics treatment of women.

The Women, Life, Freedom movement has swept across the country where women unite to fight for their rights and overturn the administrations stringent dress code.

What are the new rules?

Earlier this month, the Iranian authorities passed a new law promoting a culture of chastity and hijab.

Under the new laws, anyone found promoting nudity, indecency, unveiling or improper dressing will face hefty fines of up to $15,900 apart from flogging and prison sentences ranging between 5 to 15 years.

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Article 37 of the new law mandates that individuals promoting or supporting acts of indecency, removing the hijab, or inappropriate attire to foreign organizations, including international media or civil society groups, could face up to 10 years in prison and fines.

Meanwhile, people whose conduct is deemed corruption on Earth will be sentenced to death under Article 296 of Irans Islamic penal code.

While women defying the stringent rules ought to face the wrath of the law, businesses, taxi drivers, media and broadcasters and educational institutions who fail to report womens indecency in public will also face punishment.

Amnesty slams new rules

According to Amnesty Internationals assessment, the new rules would effectively also punish women sending videos of themselves outside of Iran and penalise those involved in peaceful activism.

The human rights group stated that the law seems to grant immunity to individuals enforcing compulsory veiling as part of their religious duty. Under Article 60 of the new legislation, anyone attempting to intervene or prevent the arrest or harassment of women and girls defying the mandatory dress code could face imprisonment or fines.

This shameful law intensifies the persecution of women and girls for daring to stand up for their rights following the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, Amnestys deputy director for the Middle East, Diana Eltahawy said.

The authorities are seeking to entrench the already suffocating system of repression against women and girls while making their daily lives even more intolerable, she added.

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Israels actions drew swift condemnation from regional powers. Turkey denounced the incursion, calling it evidence of an occupiers mentality" read more

This picture taken from northern Israel shows an Israeli Air Force fighter jet flying over the border area with south Lebanon. AFP File

Israeli warplanes struck targets deep within Syria as ground troops reportedly advanced further into the country, a Syrian opposition war monitor said Tuesday (December 10).

Israel confirmed its military had entered a buffer zone inside Syria, established after the 1973 Mideast war, following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

However, the Israeli military denied advancing toward the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it carried out more than 350 strikes across Syria over the past 48 hours, targeting what it described as strategic weapons stockpiles to prevent them from falling into extremist hands.

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These strikes reportedly hit air defence systems, missile depots, military airfields, and weapons production facilities, including sites in Damascus. Explosions were heard across the capital overnight and into Tuesday morning.

Simultaneously, Israeli naval forces launched missile strikes on Syrian navy facilities. According to private security firm Ambrey, at least six Soviet-era missile ships were destroyed in the attack.

Israel denies advancement toward Damascus

Despite reports of Israeli troops nearing Damascus, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, dismissed the claims as false.

He reiterated that Israeli forces were operating solely within the buffer zone to safeguard Israels security. The IDF had earlier stated that troops would be deployed where necessary for defence purposes.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirming the airstrikes, said the operations aimed to dismantle military capabilities left behind by Assads government.

Netanyahu also expressed a willingness to establish relations with Syrias new leadership, though he did not elaborate.

Regional condemnation follows Israeli incursion

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israeli troops were advancing along the Syrian-Lebanese border, coming within 25 kilometers (15 miles) of Damascus. Mayadeen TV, based in Beirut, corroborated the Observatorys claims, though Israel refuted the reports.

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Israels actions drew swift condemnation from regional powers. Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia accused Israel of exploiting Syrias instability and violating international law. Turkey, a key supporter of Syrian opposition forces, denounced the incursion, calling it evidence of an occupiers mentality.

The United Nations also criticised the move. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described Israels actions as a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement and urged both sides to adhere to its terms.

With inputs from AP
President-elect Donald Trump said any person or company investing at least $1 billion into the US will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals read more

To attract more investments in America, President-elect Donald Trump has pledged fully expedited permits, including environmental approvals for any person or company investing at least $1 billion into the US.

Announcing the plan on his Truth Social account, Trump said: Anyone making a $1 billion investment in the United States will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals.

Trump ended his post with the strong and positive call: GET READY TO ROCK!!!

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The US President elect, however, did not specify who would be eligible for the fast-tracked approvals and permits, but energy projects including natural gas pipelines, export terminals, solar farms and offshore wind turbines meet the $1 billion criteria.

The latest announcement by Trump is seen as a boon to companies that have been complaining about delays regarding such assessments.

Awesome, says Musk

Billionaire Elon Musk, who is also the CEO Tesla, an EV company that has been accused of violating environmental regulations in the US recently, has praised the announcement by Trump.

In a post on X, Musk said, This is awesome.

This is awesome  https://t.co/v7CgpLcaLr  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2024

When will it come into effect?

The transition team of Trump has been working on a package to roll out within days of his taking office on January 20, 2025 to approve export permits for liquefied natural gas projects and to increase oil drilling on federal lands and off the U.S. coast, sources familiar have said.

As per the US National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), it is mandatory for government agencies to assess environmental effects before approving any energy or infrastructure projects like pipeline and highways.

Though the announcement was welcomes by energy stakeholders, it sparked immediate backlash from from environmental advocates. Critics argued that the decision violates NEPA .

According to a report by Reuters, Trump also plans to repeal some aspects of Democratic President Joe Bidens regulations and top climate legislation, such as tax credits for electric vehicles and new clean power plant standards that aim to phase out coal and natural gas.

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With inputs from agencies.
The fall of Assad has revealed the weakness of Irans plans in the region causing a crisis in both its foreign policy and domestic support as the country faces an uncertain future read more

The removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by a rebel alliance has created serious challenges for Irans foreign policy. Losing a key ally has disrupted Irans Axis of Resistance and revealed weaknesses in its broader Middle East plans.

Decades of close ties

Under Assad, Syria became an essential ally in Irans broader regional ambitions. Irans foreign ministry recently called the relationship historical and expressed hope for its continuation even after the regime change. In a statement shared by ISNA, Iran voiced its respect for the Syrian peoples choices and encouraged dialogue to ease tensions.

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However, these words mask the difficulties Iran now faces. Syria played a vital role as a route to arm Hezbollah in Lebanon, boosting Irans stance against Israel. With Assads departure, this connection is at risk, threatening Irans influence across the region, as noted by the Associated Press.

Blame and chaos in Tehran

The fall of Syrian President Assad has reportedly triggered a wave of infighting within Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Sources cited by The Telegraph suggested that IRGC commanders are accusing one another of errors that led to this significant setback. Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, the Quds Force leader, is said to be under heavy criticism, with claims that he failed to safeguard Irans interests in Syria.

This internal discord seems to reflect Tehrans unpreparedness for such a development, with officials reportedly stunned by Assads abrupt departure. According to an unnamed IRGC official quoted in The Telegraph, the focus for over a decade had been on keeping Assad in power, not out of admiration, but to secure Irans strategic foothold near Israel and Hezbollah. The lack of a clear response strategy has apparently deepened the crisis, leaving Iran to reassess its position in the region.

A shattered Axis of Resistance

Assads regime had long been described as a cornerstone of Irans so-called Axis of Resistance, which included Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. Reports indicate that this network, previously strengthened by Qassem Soleimanis efforts, has been significantly weakened by recent setbacks, including Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, Lebanon, and even within Iran itself.

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Observers, including UAE diplomat Anwar Gargash in the Associated Press, have pointed out that the loss of Assad represents a severe blow to Irans regional influence. Gargash, speaking at the Manama Dialogue, reportedly remarked that Irans deterrence has been undermined by developments in Gaza, Lebanon and now Syria. Without Syria as a channel to arm Hezbollah and other proxies, Irans ability to maintain its influence appears severely compromised.

A nation in turmoil

The impact of Assads downfall extends beyond Irans foreign policy deeply affecting its domestic situation. Nationwide protests in recent years have often criticised the government for spending tens of billions of dollars to support Assads regime pointing to it as an example of misplaced priorities. The Telegraph reported that some Iranians welcomed Assads removal seeing it as a sign of possible change within Iran.

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Irans strategic choices and challenges

Despite these setbacks, Iran still holds certain tools to influence the region. Its nuclear programme remains a significant point of leverage. While Iran claims its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes, international watchdogs like the International Atomic Energy Agency have raised concerns about its growing stockpile of uranium close to weapons-grade levels. Experts like Thanos Dokos, Greeces national security adviser, have told the Associated Press that this development highlights Irans potential to use nuclear brinkmanship to assert its regional influence.

Additionally, Irans strategy of exploiting regional instability continues to be a key tactic. Sanam Vakil of Chatham House in The Telegraph observed that Iran has often taken advantage of state weaknesses to advance its goals. However, the current geopolitical environment appears to offer fewer opportunities for such moves, leaving Iran at a critical juncture in its regional ambitions.

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Is a major change ahead?

The fall of Assad has led some in Irans leadership to rethink their foreign policy priorities. Iranian historian Arash Azizi told The Telegraph that some parts of the government recognise the declining benefits of revolutionary Islamism. However, any change would face strong opposition from hardliners who see the Axis of Resistance as a core part of Irans identity. For now, Tehran seems determined to protect its alliances despite the shifting situation.

A crisis in Irans ambitions

Assads fall marks a turning point in Irans strategy, highlighting the weakness of its alliances and the limits of its power in the region. While Iran may try to adjust and find new ways to assert influence, the loss of Syria has changed West Asias power balance. As Iran faces this new reality, the next few months will be crucial in deciding whether it can adapt its foreign policy or risk losing its strategic relevance.

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The father and stepmother of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl who was found dead in her home in Britain, were on Wednesday convicted of her murder after a trial which heard harrowing details of her treatment before her killing read more

10-year-old Sara Sharif was found dead in her home in Britain. AP File

The father and stepmother of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl who was found dead in her home in Britain, were on Wednesday convicted of her murder after a trial which heard harrowing details of her treatment before her killing.

Sharif was found dead in August 2023 at her home in Woking, a town southwest of London, after what prosecutors say was a campaign of serious and repeated violence.

The family fled to Pakistan immediately after Sara Sharif was killed, before they were arrested in September 2023 at Londons Gatwick airport after flying from Dubai.

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Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors at the start of the trial that Sara had suffered a litany of injuries, including burns, broken bones and bite marks.

Saras father Urfan Sharif, 43, and his wife Beinash Batool, 30, stood trial at Londons Old Bailey court charged with her murder, which they denied.

The jury convicted Urfan Sharif and Batool of Saras murder. Saras uncle Faisal Malik, 29, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of causing or allowing Saras death.

Sharif and Batool will be sentenced on December 17.

Emlyn Jones told jurors at the start of the trial that Urfan Sharif had called police and said: It wasnt my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much.

Sharif gave evidence and initially denied responsibility for Saras death. He accepted slapping Sara to discipline her, but denied beating her in a regular or sustained way.

But Urfan Sharif, under questioning from Batools lawyer Caroline Carberry, later said he took full responsibility for his daughters death.

Lawyers for Batool, who did not give evidence, said Urfan Sharif was violent and controlling and that she was scared of him.

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Fighting erupted on Wednesday between Somalias semi-autonomous Jubbaland region and federal government forces after Jubbaland held an election against the advice of authorities in Mogadishu, officials said read more

Fighting erupted on Wednesday between Somalias semi-autonomous Jubbaland region and federal government forces after Jubbaland held an election against the advice of authorities in Mogadishu, officials said.

The clashes will raise concerns that internal rivalries are diverting attention from the fight against the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group just as the mandate of an African Union peacekeeping force expires.

This morning, federal forces from Mogadishu in Ras Kamboni, using drones, attacked Jubbaland forces, Adan Ahmed Haji, assistant security minister of Jubbaland, told a press conference in the regional capital Kismayu.

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Somalias Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur said the Jubbaland forces initiated the clashes.

Early this morning (Wednesday) Jubbaland forces attacked the Somali federal military troops that were deployed in Lower Jubba to take bases withdrawn from by ATMIS, he said in a statement.

In late November Jubbaland, which borders Kenya and Ethiopia and is one of Somalias five semi-autonomous states, re-elected regional president Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe for a third term.

The national government in Mogadishu, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, opposed the election, saying it was held without federal involvement.

As the election dispute escalated, the federal government issued an arrest warrant for Madobe, while Jubbaland issued a reciprocal one for President Mohamud.

Major Aden Nur, a federal army officer in Mogadishu, said Wednesdays fighting was in an area 20 km (12 miles) from Ras Kamboni, a town where federal troops have increased their numbers since the election.

So far federal forces captured four technical (gun mounted pickup) vehicles from Jubbaland forces. Fighting is going on far from Ras Kamboni. There are casualties on both sides but no exact figure, Nur told Reuters.

In the wider fight against al Shabaab, the mandate of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) expires in less than three weeks and no agreement has been reached on which countries will contribute to the follow-on peacekeeping mission or how it will be financed.

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Jubbaland is seen as the breadbasket of Somalia and Kismayu is an important port. Its shoreline delineates a contested maritime zone, with potential oil and gas deposits.

In 2021, Kenya rejected a UN court ruling that decided mostly in favour of Somalia in the row but said it would pursue a diplomatic solution.
Even as witnesses said in a hearing at the Senate that US President-elect Donald Trumps deportation plan would hurt the economy and separate families, the Republican lawmakers continued to back the plan and one of them said get ready to leave read more

The Democrats and Republican lawmakers differences were visible on Tuesday (December 10) at a hearing in Senate on US President-elect Donald Trumps proposed plan to deport all illegal immigrants.

While Democrats and witnesses they called flagged the social and economic costs of Trumps proposed plan, the Republican lawmakers supported Trumps plan to the hilt with one lawmaker, Lindsey Graham, declaring that if you were an illegal immigrant, you should get ready to leave once Trump assumes office. Some Democrats stressed the need to arrive at a common ground.

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In the 2024 presidential election campaign, Trump promised to deport everyone residing illegally in the United States. As illegal crossings into the United States via southern borders increased by hundreds of thousands during the outgoing Joe Biden administration, Trump made crackdown on illegal immigration central to his electoral platform. Various estimates suggest that there could be around 11-17 million illegal immigrants in the United States.

Get ready to leave: Republican senators warning

At the Senate Judiciary Committees hearing, Senator Graham warned illegal immigrants that they should be ready to leave the country.

Graham said, If youre here illegally, get ready to leave. If youre a criminal, were coming after you.

Graham further said once the Republicans take over the Senate in January as they flipped the control of the chamber in last months elections they would bring a transformational border security bill that would expand detention centers, ramp up the number of immigration enforcement personnel, and finish the border wall thats a pet agenda of Trump.

Republican Senator John Cornyn said that the election last month was a referendum on the federal border policies for the Biden-Harris administration.

Democrats flag socioeconomic costs

In sharp contrast to their Republican colleagues, the Democrats on the committee called witnesses that flagged socioeconomic costs of Trumps proposed plan.

Instead of mass deportations, [lets have] mass accountability, said the senator Dick Durbin, the committees Democratic chair. Lets fix our broken immigration system in a way that protects our country and honors our heritage as a nation of immigrants.

Democrats turned to their witnesses  an immigration expert, a retired army major general and an undocumented prosecutor  to make the case that mass deportations would do far more harm than good.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a Senior Fellow at the American Immigration Council (AIC), said at the hearing that Trumps plan would would crash the American economy, break up families, and take a hammer to the foundations of our society by deporting nearly 4 per cent of the entire US population.

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Separately, the AIC has estimated that it could take up to around $1 trillion to carry out Trumps proposed deportation plan. It has further said that it could slash the US economy by 4.2-6.8 per cent. Reichlin-Melnick further said the exercise could lead to a rise in prices of food.

A single worksite raid in 2018 under the Trump administration at a beef plant in Tennessee led to ground beef prices rising by 25 cents for the year that the plant was out of operation following the raid, said Reichlin-Melnick.

Some Democrats on the committee, however, called for a reaching a middle ground and supported a crackdown on illegal immigrants with criminal records and improving enforcement at the border.

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Orban, who has maintained a controversial relationship with Moscow since the start of the war, described the ongoing conflict as entering the most dangerous weeks read more

This handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on July 2, 2024, shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) posing with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban during latter's visit in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Wednesday (December 12) that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected a proposal for a Christmas ceasefire and large-scale prisoner exchange in the war with Russia.

We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange. Its sad that President Zelenskyy clearly rejected and ruled this out today. We did what we could, Orban wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

However, Ukraine denied any such discussions with Hungary.

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As always, the Hungarian side did not discuss anything with Ukraine. As always, the Hungarian side did not warn [us] about its contacts with Moscow, said Dmytro Lytvyn, a presidential aide, in a written statement.

The comments followed an hour-long call between Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the Kremlin said was initiated at Orbans request.

According to the Kremlin, the two leaders had a thorough exchange of views on Ukrainian issues, with Putin accusing Kyiv of adopting a destructive position that ruled out peace negotiations.

The Kremlin added that Orban expressed an interest in helping the joint search for political-diplomatic paths to resolve the crisis.

The call came a day after Hungarys top diplomat announced the countrys intention to continue with its self-styled Ukraine peace mission, despite criticism from Kyiv and Western allies over its close ties with Moscow.

Orban, who has maintained a controversial relationship with Moscow since the start of the war, described the ongoing conflict as entering the most dangerous weeks.

The war in Ukraine shows no sign of abating, with Kyiv continuing to resist Russian forces while seeking stronger support from its allies.

With inputs from agencies
India and Nicaragua have signed an umbrella agreement aimed at socio-economic development through the implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs). he MoU has been inked by Indian Ambassador to Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Sumit Seth, and the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, Valdrack Jaentschke read more

Indian Ambassador to Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Sumit Seth, and the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, Valdrack Jaentschke signed an umbrella agreement to implement Quick Impact Projects, a statement from Indian embassy said.

As per the statement, India and Nicaragua on Tuesday signed an MoU aimed at socio-economic development through the implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs).

The embassy, in posts on X, said: To add another dimension to the relationship, Ambassador and the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, Valdrack Jaentschke signed an umbrella agreement to implement Quick Impact Projects.

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Under this umbrella MoU, the Government of India (GoI) will provide grant assistance for each Quick Impact Project. The focus will be on key areas such as physical infrastructure, including roads and community centers and social infrastructure, such as education, healthcare, sanitation, read another post.

The projects are designed to yield immediate and visible benefits for the people of Nicaragua. Implementation of these quick impactful projects will underscore Indias active role in supporting global development through partnerships that directly benefit local communities, the embassy said on X.

The projects are designed to yield immediate and visible benefits for the people of Nicaragua.



Implementation of these quick impactful projects will underscore Indias active role in supporting global development through partnerships that directly benefit local communities pic.twitter.com/l1uCjKfv9d  India in Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica (@IndiainPanama) December 11, 2024

In the statement, the Indian embassy said that the agreement, signed in Managua, adds another dimension to the growing bilateral cooperation and delivers tangible benefits to the people.

Relations between India and Nicaragua are warm and friendly. Diplomatic relations between the two were established in March 1983.

The Indian Embassy in Panama is concurrently accredited to Nicaragua. Nicaragua earlier had an Embassy in India, which was closed in 1990. Currently, Nicaraguas Embassy in Tokyo is concurrently accredited to India.

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With inputs from ANI.
North Koreas state media KCNA made one of its first comments on the South Korean crisis, calling President Yoon Suk Yeol a dictator read more

Protesters with images of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and former South Korea Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, center, march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against President Yoon in Seoul, South Korea. AP

North Korea, which itself functions under a highly centralised government system, has accused South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol of trying to govern a fascist dictatorship after his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Yoon accused the Opposition of being North Korean sympathisers as he declared an emergency martial law which was eventually rescinded.

Last weeks drama culminated in an impeachment motion against Yoon which was not passed, although his political future in the country remains uncertain.

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N.Korean media reports on S.Korean crisis

North Korean state media made its first comments on Wednesday.

The shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing impeachment and a governance crisis, suddenly declaring a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielding the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship wrought chaos across South Korea, a commentary said.

His insane act, reminiscent of the coup during the military dictatorship decades ago, has drawn strong condemnation from all walks of life, including the opposition party, and further exploded the publics fervour for impeachment, it added.

Police try to raid Yoons office

Meanwhile, the South Korean police on Wednesday tried to raid the presidents office in Seoul but were pushed away by security guards at the complex.

Yoon is already banned from foreign travel as part of an insurrection probe into his inner circle over the dramatic events of December 3-4 that stunned South Koreas allies.

Police said earlier that a Special Investigation Team has conducted a raid on the presidential office, on different police agencies and on the National Assembly Security Service.

But later a spokesperson said that investigators had gained access to its civil services office. However, we are currently unable to enter the main building due to access restrictions imposed by the presidential security guards.

With inputs from agencies
Israels Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the operation to destroy the Syrian fleet had been a great success and further said that the IDF was aiming to destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel read more

An aerial photo shows Syrian naval ships destroyed during an overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia. Source: AFP

Israel has confirmed that it has carried out extensive strikes on naval fleet of Syria, as part of its efforts to demolish military assets in the country after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, issued a statement in which it confirmed that the Israeli ships attacked the ports at Al-Bayda and Latakia on Monday night, where 15 vessels were docked.

As per the IDF, Israeli warplanes had conducted over 350 air strikes on targets across Syria. It also moved ground forces into the demilitarised buffer zone between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights.

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Israels attacks on Syria came within hours after Syrian rebel fighters captured the capital, Damascus, after Assad fled the country, reportedly for Russia.

Assad and before him his father, had been in power in Syria since 1971.

In the early hours of Sunday (December 8) forces led by the Islamist opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered Damascus and in sometime appeared on state television to declare that Syria was now free.

Great success

Israels Defence Minister Israel Katz, meanwhile, in a statement said that the IDF was aiming to destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel.

Katz further said that the operation to destroy the Syrian fleet had been a great success.

Attacked to prevent Syria from falling into the hands of extremists

Sharing more details about its attack on Syria, the IDF said a wide range of targets including airfields, military vehicles, anti-aircraft weapons and arms production sites had been struck in Damascus, as well as Homs, Tartus and Palmyra.

The Israeli forces also targeted weapon warehouses, ammunition depots and dozens of sea-to-sea missiles.

The IDF reasoned that it had carried out attacks on Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists.

The Israeli troops are operating in Syrian territory beyond the buffer zone bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the IDF confirmed.

Israel would respond forcefully

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also released a video message in which he warned the Syrian rebel group -HTS - that ousted Assad, Israel would respond forcefully if they allow Iran to re-establish itself in Syria.

Previously, Netanyahu expressed a desire for peaceful ties with the new Syrian government, and cast its interventions as defensive.

On Monday, Netanyahu had said that the seizure of Syrian positions by the IDF in the buffer zone was a temporary defensive position until a suitable arrangement is found.

If we can establish neighbourly relations and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in Syria, thats our desire. But if we do not, we will do whatever it takes to defend the State of Israel and the border of Israel, he had said.

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Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan in 1981. The move was not recognised internationally, although the US did so unilaterally in 2019.

With inputs from agencies.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday told his US counterpart Lloyd Austin that there is currently a chance to secure a deal for the release of the remaining hostages taken in the October 2023 attack read more

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday told his US counterpart Lloyd Austin over a call that there is now a chance to secure a deal for the release of the remaining hostages taken in the October 2023 attack.

Minister Katz updated Secretary of Defence Austin on the negotiations for the release of the hostages, and said that there is now a chance for a new deal that will allow the return of all the hostages, including those with American citizenship, Reuters quoted Katzs office as saying in a statement.

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The two also discussed the developments in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assads regime and the subsequent Israeli seizure of the buffer zone on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights.

The two defence officials agreed on the danger posed by Iran and its (weapons) shipments, and agreed to cooperate to prevent attempts to smuggle weapons from Iran to Lebanon via Syria, added the statement.

On Tuesday, Israeli security chiefs met with senior Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss efforts for a hostage release deal, as Israel assessed that Hamas may be more willing to negotiate.

Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi were in Cairo for talks initially focused on the Gaza-Egypt border but also touched on a potential agreement with Hamas.

Despite Hamas remaining silent on the matter, an Israeli official noted that the chances for a deal have improved.

Two weeks ago I thought Hamas didnt want a deal. Now I am inclined to think that it has changed its mind, Times of Israel quoted the official as saying.

There is a chance to reach a deal in the coming month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the official added.

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Negotiations stalled after the November 2023 deal that released 105 hostages, and Israel believes 96 of the 251 hostages taken on October 7 are still in Gaza. Renewed talks, bolstered by recent regional developments and Trumps warning of consequences if hostages are not freed, have raised hopes for a breakthrough.

With inputs from agencies
Since late October, a mystery disease has infected more than 400 and killed dozens in a rural southern province of Africas Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) read more

A Congolese nurse takes a sample from a suspected mpox patient in the treatment centre at the Kavumu hospital in Kabare territory, South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, August 29, 2024. REUTERS

The mystery disease ravaging Democratic Republic of Congos (DRC) rural south could be a combination of multiple diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that at least 10 patients sick from the so-called mystery disease in southern DRC east have tested for malaria. He added that patients could have more than one disease simultaneously.

Of the 12 initial samples collected, 10 tested positive for malaria, although its possible that more than one disease is involved. Further samples will be collected and tested to determine the exact cause or causes, said a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday (December 10), according to Guardian.

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Since late October, the WHO has said that more than 400 cases of the unidentified disease have been recorded in the DRCs Kwango province. Separately, DRC authorities have said that the disease has killed at least 79 people, with most of the victims being children under five.

The main symptoms of the disease are flu, headaches, coughing, breathing difficulties, and anaemia.

Last week, DRCs National Institute of Public Helth (NIPH) chief Dieudonne Mwamba said the symptoms pointed to a respiratory illness, but it was hard to know whether a virus or bacteria was treating the sickness.

Even though media organisations have labelled the sickness as Disease X, a reference to the unknown pathogen that is bound to infect people at some point with the potential of causing another pandemic, the WHO has continued to emphasise that it is considering the disease at the moment as an undiagnosed disease rather than an unknown one, according to Guardian.

As the region of DRC being ravaged by the disease lacks basic diagnostic facilities, with samples being tested at labs 300-400 miles (482-643 kilometers) away. Moreover, the healthcare resources of the country as the DRC has also been hit hard by an mpox outbreak, which the WHO declared as a global emergency earlier this year. The violence in the country has also worsened the access to healthcare.

Since being roped into action late last month, the WHO dispatched a team of experts, including epidemiologists, clinicians, laboratory technicians, and infection prevention and control specialists to address the situation, which arrived in DRC on Tuesday, said Ghebreyesus.

Currently, the WHO is investigating how the disease is spreading and whether it is spreading from one person to another.

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Our adversaries, including Russia, would have been delighted if we had doubled down and remained stuck in Afghanistan for another 20 years, Blinken told a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, in what is likely his final public testimony to lawmakers before leaving office next month read more

Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan as an ending of the countrys longest war that freed resources for other conflicts, in testimony in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Our adversaries, including Russia, would have been delighted if we had doubled down and remained stuck in Afghanistan for another 20 years, Blinken told a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, in what is likely his final public testimony to lawmakers before leaving office next month.

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Blinkens appearance came after a long dispute with the Republican-led committee over when he would testify about one of the darkest incidents of Democratic President Joe Bidens presidency.

Republican Representative Michael McCaul, the panels chairman, blasted the administration for the deaths of 13 Americans in a suicide attack at Kabuls airport in August 2021 and for thousands of Afghans who worked with U.S. forces who could not be evacuated as the Taliban took over.

You ignored warnings of collapse from your own personnel, McCaul said.

Blinken said every American who wanted to leave Afghanistan has been given the opportunity to leave and thousands of Afghans have been resettled internationally, although Washington remains committed to helping those who remain.

House Foreign Affairs and the State Department had wrangled over Blinkens appearance for months. Panel Republicans voted in September - weeks before the presidential election - to recommend the top U.S. diplomat be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena.

The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war became intensely politicized during the campaign pitting Republican President-elect Donald Trump against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

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Trump, who returns to the White House on Jan. 20, has vowed to go after those responsible for the withdrawal. During his campaign, he said he would ask for the resignation of every senior official who touched the Afghanistan calamity.

Democrats have insisted much of the blame for the wars messy end - less than seven months into Bidens presidency - rests with Trump, who began the withdrawal process by signing a deal with Afghanistans militant Islamist Taliban in 2020.

McCaul also announced during the hearing that Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, had agreed to brief the committee on Dec. 17.

McCaul released a report on September 8 on a Republican investigation of the Afghanistan withdrawal, blasting Bidens administration for failures surrounding the evacuation. Panel Democrats also released their own investigation.

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The development comes hours before the main liberal opposition Democratic Party submits a new motion to impeach Yoon on the martial law introduction. The party said it aims to put the motion on a floor vote on Saturday read more

Protesters with images of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and former South Korea Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, center, march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against President Yoon in Seoul, South Korea. AP

South Koreas national police chief and top police officer for the capital, Seoul, were detained over the enforcement of President Yoon Suk Yeols short-lived martial law decree last week, police said Wednesday.

The development comes hours before the main liberal opposition Democratic Party submits a new motion to impeach Yoon on the martial law introduction. The party said it aims to put the motion on a floor vote on Saturday.

Earlier, Yoons former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, was arrested after a Seoul court approved an arrest warrant for him on allegations of playing a key role in rebellion and committing abuse of power. Kim became the first person arrested over the Dec. 3 martial law decree.

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Opposition parties and many experts say the martial law decree was unconstitutional. They say a president is by law allowed to declare martial law only during wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states and South Korea wasnt in such a situation. They argue that deploying troops to seal the National Assembly to suspend its political activities amounted to rebellion because the South Korean Constitution doesnt allow a president to use the military to suspend parliament in any situation.

In his martial law announcement, the conservative Yoon stressed a need to rebuild the country by eliminating shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces, a reference to his liberal rivals who control parliament. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has had near-constant friction with the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which introduced motions to impeach some of his top officials and launched a political offensive over scandals involving Yoon and his wife.

Yoon avoided impeachment last Saturday after most governing party lawmakers boycotted a floor vote in the National Assembly.

If Yoon is impeached, his presidential powers would be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to restore his powers or remove him from office. If he is dismissed from office, a new presidential election would be required.
At the court hearing, his defense lawyer told a judge that Mangione would oppose extradition to New York, where he is charged with murder and other crimes read more

Luigi Mangione, 26, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, arrives for an extradition hearing at Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. Reuters

Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with murder in the shooting of a top UnitedHealth executive, briefly struggled with officers and angrily shouted while being escorted into a Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday, as a clearer picture of his motives began to emerge a day after his arrest ended a massive manhunt.

Mangione, 26, turned toward a group of reporters and yelled in part, completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people! before deputies pushed him away. It was not clear to what he was referring.

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At the court hearing, his defense lawyer told a judge that Mangione would oppose extradition to New York, where he is charged with murder and other crimes. That decision could delay the process by weeks but is unlikely to block his eventual transfer; for now, Mangione will remain in jail in Pennsylvania, where he faces gun and forgery charges.

His attorney, Tom Dickey, said at a news conference that Mangione planned to plead not guilty to the charges.

Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealths insurance arm, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., was shot dead on the morning of Dec. 4 outside a hotel in Manhattan in what police said was a targeted attack, sparking a manhunt that led to Mangiones arrest.

More clues about his possible motivation were coming to light on Tuesday.

When arrested, Mangione was in possession of a handwritten manifesto that offered insight into his mindset, according to police. The New York Times reported that an internal New York City Police report analyzing the document concluded that Mangione viewed the killing as a justified response to what he believed to be corruption in the healthcare industry.

These parasites simply had it coming, the manifesto said, according to the Times.

Mangione suffered from chronic back pain that limited his daily life, according to friends, his social media postings and other news reports. His profile on X shows a background image of an x-ray with what appears to be screws and plates inserted in a lower back.

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An employee at TrueCar told Reuters that Mangione worked at the car-buying website as a data engineer from 2022 to late 2023. In mid-2023, Mangione took about two months off for what the employees manager described as back-related issues.

The employee, who asked not to be named, described Mangione as incredibly smart and very friendly to his co-workers.

He said that the company offered employees health insurance through UnitedHealth as well as other choices, such as Aetna.

From January through June 2022, Mangione lived at the Surfbreak co-living community in Honolulu, where he led a book club and surfed, hiked and rock-climbed, the founder of the group, R.J. Martin, told the Hawaiian outlet Civil Beat.

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Martin said Mangione had suffered back pain caused by misaligned vertebrae pinching Mangiones spinal cord, and he left for the mainland at some point for surgery.

But he went radio silent in June or July, Martin told Civil Beat.

Mangione never showed any indication of violence, Martin later told MSNBC.

The Luigi that I knew is completely incompatible with an assassin, he said, describing him as funny, kind and thoughtful.

At one point, Mangione suggested Surfbreaks book club read the manifesto of Ted Kaczynski - the U.S. domestic bomber known as the Unabomber - as a joke, according to Martin.

On the book-themed social media site Goodreads, a poster with Mangiones name praised Kaczynskis book Industrial Society and Its Future as prescient about modern society, called him an extreme political revolutionary and suggested violence was a legitimate form of resistance in some circumstances.

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Ghost gun, brazen escape

Mangione was spotted at a McDonalds on Monday by an employee who thought he looked like the gunman in surveillance images released by police.

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate who was also the valedictorian of a private all-boys school in Maryland, had a loaded ghost gun - an untraceable firearm assembled from parts - and a silencer, officials said on Monday. Both the weapon and his clothing closely resembled those used by the gunman.

He also had multiple fake identifications, including a fraudulent New Jersey ID that matched the one used by the gunman to check into a Manhattan hostel days before the shooting, according to authorities.

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Mangiones family released a statement saying they knew only what had been reported in the media.

Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest, the family said in a statement posted to the X account of Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.

The gunman managed to elude capture for days after the attack last Wednesday outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Thompsons murder unleashed a wave of frustration from Americans struggling to afford medical care and those who have been denied claims or care.

Thompson, a father of two, had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, part of a 20-year career with the company. He had been in New York to attend the companys annual investor conference.
Pictures show that Hafezs coffin might have been dragged out of the grave and set on fire. The mausoleum also houses the tombs of other Assad family members, including Bashars brother Bassel read more

TOPSHOT - Rebel fighters stand with the flag of the revolution on the burnt gravesite of Syria's late president Hafez al-Assad at his mausoleum in the family's ancestral village of Qardaha in the western Latakia province on December 11, 2024. AFP

Syrian rebels on Wednesday vandalised President Bashar al-Assads father Hafezs tomb in the town of Qardaha.

Videos from the scene show rebels standing next to the burning tomb in Assads hometown as young people watch it catch fire.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor told AFP the rebels had set fire to the mausoleum, located in the Latakia heartland of Assads Alawite community.

AFP footage showed parts of the mausoleum ablaze and damaged, with the tomb of Hafez torched and destroyed.

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Pictures show that Hafezs coffin might have been dragged out of the grave and set on fire. The mausoleum also houses the tombs of other Assad family members, including Bashars brother Bassel, who was being groomed to inherit power before he was killed in a road accident in 1994.

HTS militants destroyed grave of Hafez Assad, father of Bashad Al-Asad in Al Qardahah, Northwestern Syria pic.twitter.com/PKM7ygnuYy  War Monitor (@WarMonitors) December 10, 2024

Meanwhile, rebels have appointed Mohammad al-Bashir to be Syrias new acting president. After taking charge, Bashir said the Islamist-led alliance that ousted President Bashar al-Assad would guarantee the rights of all religious groups and called on the millions who fled the war to return home.

Precisely because we are Islamic, we will guarantee the rights of all people and all sects in Syria, he said. Bashir called all Syrian refugees across the world to come back.

The war has killed more than 500,000 people and forced half the population to flee their homes, with six million of them seeking refuge abroad.

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Mine is an appeal to all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has earned its pride and dignity. Come back, he said.

We must rebuild, be reborn and we need everyones help.

With inputs from agencies
Turkey has previously hosted two rounds of negotiations between the East African neighbours. A third round of talks, initially scheduled for September, was cancelled amid escalating tensions, a sign of the challenges in resolving the rift read more

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO 75th anniversary summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, July 11, 2024. AFP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held separate meetings Wednesday (December 11) with the leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia in a bid to mediate a simmering dispute between the two East African nations over the breakaway Somaliland region.

Erdogan met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Ankara, according to posts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, by the Turkish Presidency. Details of the discussions were not disclosed.

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Ethiopias Office of the Prime Minister confirmed Abiys bilateral meeting with Erdogan, which included delegations from both countries. Somalias national broadcaster, SNTV, reported that Mohamud and Erdogan discussed strengthening bilateral ties and setting the stage for a third round of Turkey-mediated talks between Somalia and Ethiopia.

Rift over Somaliland

The dispute stems from Ethiopias plans to build a port in Somaliland, a region that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained international recognition. Somaliland has maintained relative peace and stability while governing itself, but Somalia remains staunchly opposed to its independence.

Ethiopia, a landlocked country with troops stationed in Somalia to combat al-Shabab militants, has indicated willingness to recognize Somalilands independence in exchange for a strategic strip of land near the Red Sea and Indian Ocean intersection.

The tensions have strained relations between the two nations, with Somalia drawing closer to Ethiopias regional adversaries, including Egypt and Eritrea.

Both have longstanding disputes with Addis Ababa, including over Ethiopias construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Nile River.

Turkeys mediating role

Turkey, which has strong ties to both Ethiopia and Somalia, has sought to mediate the dispute. Ankara provides development assistance to Somalia and trains its security forces, bolstering its influence along a key global shipping route. Turkey has previously hosted two rounds of negotiations between the East African neighbours.

A third round of talks, initially scheduled for September, was cancelled amid escalating tensions, a sign of the challenges in resolving the rift. Erdogans meetings with Mohamud and Abiy are seen as part of ongoing efforts to repair relations and revive dialogue between the two nations.

With inputs from agencies
Iqbal Mohamed spoke out against the motion to caution that the matter should be treated as a public health awareness one and not by imposing a ban read more

An Indian-origin member of Parliament has expressed his concerns over a new bill tabled in the House of Commons that seeks to ban marriages between first cousins over the greater risk of childrens birth defects associated with the practice.

The Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill got its first reading in Parliament on Tuesday when backbench Conservative MP Richard Holden used the 10-Minute Rule process to introduce his proposals.

Iqbal Mohamed, who was elected as a first-time Independent MP in the July general election from the northern England constituency of Dewsbury and Batley, spoke out against the motion to caution that the matter should be treated as a public health awareness one and not by imposing a ban.

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An estimated 35 per cent to 50 per cent of all sub-Saharan African populations either prefer or accept cousin marriage, and it is extremely common in the Middle East and South Asia, stated Mohamed, whose roots lie in Gujarat.

The reason the practice is so common is that ordinary people see family intermarriage as something that is very positive overall; as something that helps to build family bonds and puts families on a more secure financial foothold, Mohamed said.

However, as is well documented, it is not without health risks for the children of those relationships, some of whom will be born out of wedlock, he said.

Instead of stigmatising those who are in cousin marriages, or those who are inclined to be, a much more positive approach would be to facilitate advanced genetic test screening for prospective married couples, as is the case in all Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, and to run health education programmes targeting those communities where the practice is most common, he added.

Introducing the proposal, MP Richard Holden argued that while many may wonder why first-cousin marriage is not already illegal, there remain certain diaspora communities with high rates of first-cousin marriages.

Certain diaspora communities have extremely high rates of first-cousin marriage, with a rate of 20 per cent to 40 per cent among Irish Travellers and higher rates still among the British Pakistani community, stated Holden.

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There is a worrying trend, as this rate has increased significantly from that of their grandparents age group. Although there have been some reports of the rate falling within the last decade as young people push back against the system, there remains an extraordinarily strong link, he said.

He highlighted that according to the Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, cousin marriage is practised by about 10 per cent of the world and is most prevalent in the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa.

However, the practice varies enormously within countries and by regional culture, reaching at its highest over 80 per cent in parts of rural Pakistan, he noted.

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Holden was supported in his proposals by a number of fellow Tory MPs, including Indian-origin former Cabinet minister Claire Coutinho.

Under current UK legislation, marriages to a sibling, parent or child are prohibited but not between first cousins. However, backbench proposals such as these are unlikely to become law without government support because of the limited parliamentary time available for them. The bill is now expected to get a second reading in the Commons by mid-January 2025.
The Druzhba oil pipeline, constructed during the Soviet era, transports oil from Western Siberian and Caspian Sea fields to European markets, while the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS) carries oil to the Baltic Sea, with both passing through the Bryansk region read more

FILE PHOTO: The Druzhba oil pipeline between Hungary and Russia is pictured at the Hungarian MOL Group's Danube Refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary, May 18, 2022. Reuters

Ukraine launched a barrage of missile attacks that struck Russias port of Taganrog on Wednesday. The air strikes at the port located on the coast of the Azov Sea triggered a fire at an oil depot in the Bryansk region of western Russia.

Although the extent of the damage and the weapons used for the attack by Ukraine is not clear yet, Russia has repeatedly warned that the deployment of US ATACMS can trigger a wider war.

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On the other hand, the Russian military has claimed to have struck down 14 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on his Telegram channel that a production facility caught a short-lived fire as a result of the attack. He did not say what facility was damaged.

Key oil infra hit

The Druzhba oil pipeline, constructed during the Soviet era, transports oil from Western Siberian and Caspian Sea fields to European markets, while the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS) carries oil to the Baltic Sea, with both passing through the Bryansk region.

About 750 km (465 miles) south, the Russian port of Taganrog was hit by missiles from Ukraine, damaging an industrial facility and numerous cars, the acting governor of Rostov region said.

Yuri Slyusar the Governor of Rostov Oblast said, According to preliminary information, no one was hurt, adding that 14 cars were set ablaze by the attack.

Kyiv has ramped up strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities this year, curbing Moscows energy industry and causing billions of dollars worth of damage.

Trump says solving Ukraine crisis is his top priority

Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated that he would provide a quick resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as he assumes office in January.

I think we have to solve the Ukraine problem with Russia, the US president-elect told French magazine Paris Match in an interview.

Both those countries are losing numbers that nobody can believe. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers are being killed, Trump said, replying to a question about his top priority on the international stage.

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With inputs from agencies
The resolution, which is non-binding, also demands immediate access to widespread humanitarian aid for the citizens of Gaza, who have been subjected to more than a year of war with Israel, especially in the besieged north of the territory read more

The UN General Assembly will vote Wednesday on a draft resolution that seeks an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a symbolic gesture after the US previously vetoed a similar action in the UN Security Council.

In addition to calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, the draft resolution seeks the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, an accommodation of the United States and other staunch allies of Israel.

The resolution, which is non-binding, also demands immediate access to widespread humanitarian aid for the citizens of Gaza, who have been subjected to more than a year of war with Israel, especially in the besieged north of the territory.

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The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamass October 7, 2023 attack which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data. The count includes hostages who died or were killed while being held in Gaza.

During the attack, militants also kidnapped 251 hostages, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 who the military says are dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,786 people, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry that is considered reliable by the UN.

- Bleeding heart of Palestine -

Gaza today is the bleeding heart of Palestine, Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour said last week during the Assemblys first debate on the resolution.

The images of our children burning in tents, with no food in their bellies and no hopes and no horizon for the future, and after having endured pain and loss for more than a year, should haunt the conscience of the world and prompt action to end this nightmare, he continued, calling for an end to the impunity.

Israel, meanwhile, has denounced the draft resolution ahead of the vote.

If you truly want peace, it begins with dismantling this infrastructure of hate and the glorification of terror, Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon said, in reference to humanitarian agency UNRWA, whose employees were accused by Israel of assisting with the October 7 attacks.

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The draft resolution seeks to address the need for accountability by asking UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present proposals on how the United Nations could help to advance accountability.

An earlier draft seen by AFP aimed to establish an international mechanism to help investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for violating international law against the Palestinians. But that language was not included in the draft resolution that will be put to a vote.

A second draft resolution up for a vote on Wednesday will call on Israel to respect the mandate of UNRWA and allow it to continue its safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance operations, after Israel voted to ban it.

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The ban, which is due to take effect on January 28, sparked global condemnation, including from key Israeli backer the United States.
The United Nations may consider removing Syrian rebel group HTS that toppled Assad regime on a condition that it could not seek to govern Syria in the way it had governed Idlib read more

The leader of Syria's Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that headed a lightning rebel offensive snatching Damascus from government control, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, address a crowd at the capital's landmark Umayyad Mosque on December 8, 2024. Source: AFP.

The United Nations may consider removing the Syrian rebel group - Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - that toppled President Bashar al-Assad regime - off its list of designated terrorist groups if it passes the key test of forming a truly inclusive transitional government in Syria.

UN may remove HTS from terror list but theres a condition

The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen suggested removing HTS from list of proscribed terrorists groups, but said that it could not seek to govern the country in the way it had governed Idlib.

The HTS was based in the northern province of Idlib and it had led the military breakout from there which had led to the sudden collapse of the Assad regime last week.

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Israel needs to stop bombardment

Pedersen, during a briefing in Geneva, also said that Syria remained at a crossroads and that the situation was extremely fluid.

He further urged Israel to immediately stop its land and aerial attacks inside Syria, calling the development very troubling.

The bombardment needs to stop, Pedersen said, adding that Israels actions around the Golan Heights represented a violation of the disengagement agreement signed with the UN in 1974.

During a close session on Monday, Pedersen in brief to the United Nations Security Council, said that initial signs from the armed groups in Damascus were encouraging in that they were co-operating and eager to protect existing state institutions.

Addressing the issue of the future terrorist status of HTS, Pedersen said it was undeniable that UN resolution 2254 designated the precursor to HTS  the al-Nusra Front  as a terrorist organisation. It is a complicating factor for all of us, he said.

We have to be honest and look at the facts. It has been nine years since that resolution was adopted and the reality so far is that HTS and other armed groups have been sending good messages to the Syrian people of unity and inclusiveness. In Hama and Aleppo there have been reassuring things on the ground.

He further said that there was no doubt that HTS was an Islamist group based in Idlib province. My message is Syria cannot be run like Idlib," he further said.

Pedersen also said that HTS had itself discussed dismantling the organisation, and reforming as group overtly opposed to international terror, a means whereby the terrorist designation issue could be bypassed.

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During his briefing in Geneva, Pedersen said the international community at the UN had been united in pushing for a cohesive Syria run by a transitional body that is inclusive of all communities. The risk is that behind this facade of unity lay rival factions and countries determined to advance their individual interests.

Speaking in Geneva, Pedersen said: We need to focus on credible and inclusive transitional arrangements in Damascus. This means we need orderly inclusive arrangements, ensuring the broadest possible representation of Syrian society and parties. If this is not happening, we risk new conflict in Syria.

So far the messaging coming out by and large from the armed groups is positive but what is extremely important is that we see this implemented on the ground," he further said.

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With inputs from agencies.
The United States has indicted and sanctioned a Chinese researcher and a cybersecurity company with links to the Chinese government for carrying out cyberattacks on US critical infrastructure read more

The US authorities have indicted and sanctioned Chinese cybersecurity company Sichuan Ltd its researcher Guan Tianfeng for attacking the US critical infrastructure. (Composite image.)

In a coordinated crackdown on Chinese cyber warfare, the United States has indicted and sanctioned a cybersecurity firm and researcher for conducting cyberattacks on critical US infrastructure.

In a statement on Tuesday (December 10), the Department of Justice said that a Chinese cybersecurity company, Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd, and one of its researchers, Guan Tianfeng, have been indicted for cyberattacks in the United States and abroad.

Guan has been formally charged with the conspiracy to commit computer fraud and the conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

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Separately, the Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on Sichuan Ltd and Guan and the Department of States announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Guan.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said that Sichuan and Guans cyberattacks affected tens of thousands of network security devices. She said that they infected these devices with malware designed to steal information.

Overall, around 81,000 devices were attacked by Sichuan and Guan, according to the DoJ.

Chinese cyberattack wouldve led to loss of life if not foiled

Guan and his co-conspirators attacked the firewalls sold by British company Sophos Ltd in whats called a zero-day exploits.

In the zero-day exploits, cybercriminals discover a previously unknown pathway in a software, network, or hardware, to access it without authorisation with the intention of accessing and stealing data or planting malwares or corrupting files or committing any other nefarious deed.

Of the 81,000 firewall devices that Guan et al infected worldwide, 23,000 were in the United States and 36 of them were part of the critical infrastructure, according to the Department of Treasury.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Treasury said that if the attack would not have been foiled and the vulnerability not fixed, the consequences would have been fatal.

If any of the victims had failed to patch their systems to mitigate the exploit or cybersecurity measures had not identified and quickly remedied the Guan et als intrusion, the potential impact of the attack, which involved planting of a ransomware called Ragnarok, could have resulted in serious injury or the loss of human life, said the Treasury.

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One victim was a US energy company that was actively involved in drilling operations at the time of the compromise. If this compromise had not been detected, and the ransomware attack not been thwarted, it could have caused oil rigs to malfunction potentially causing a significant loss in human life, said the Treasury.

Separately, Herbert J Stapleton, the Special Agent in charge of FBI Field Office in Indianapolis, said that had British company Sophos not rapidly identified the vulnerability and deployed a comprehensive response, the damage could have been far more severe.

Sophos efforts combined with the dedication and expertise of our cyber squad formed a powerful partnership resulting in the mitigation of this threat, Stapleton was quoted as saying in press release by DoJ.

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The Treasury said Guan et al conducted their cybercrimes during April 22-25, 2020.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez rejected Alex Jones claims that the auction was plagued by collusion, at the end of a two-day hearing in Houston read more

Alex Jones speaks to the media after arriving at the federal courthouse for a hearing in front of a bankruptcy judge, June 14, 2024, in Houston. File image/ AP

A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Tuesday stopped the parody news site the Onion from buying conspiracy theorist Alex Jones Infowars website, ruling that a bankruptcy auction did not result in the best possible bids.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez rejected Jones claims that the auction was plagued by collusion, at the end of a two-day hearing in Houston.

But he said the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee who ran the auction made a good-faith error by quickly asking for final offers for Infowars instead of encouraging more back-and-forth bidding between the Onion and a company affiliated with Jones supplement-selling businesses, which was the runner-up.

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This should have been opened back up, and it should have been opened back up for everybody, Lopez said. Its clear the trustee left the potential for a lot of money on the table.

Lopez said neither of the two offers for Infowars were enough money given the scope of Jones debts, and told the trustee to work to resolve some of the disputes between the creditors before making a new attempt to sell Infowars.

The Onion was named the winning bidder for Infowars in a November auction, but Jones and First American United Companies, the Jones-affiliated company, had argued the sale process was tainted because the Onion received too much credit for having the support of families that won large court verdicts against Jones.

Jones declared bankruptcy in 2022 and was forced to liquidate his assets to pay over $1.3 billion in legal judgments to the families of 20 students and six staff members who were fatally shot in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Courts in Connecticut and Texas have ruled Jones defamed the families by making repeated false claims the mass shooting was staged as part of a government plot to take guns away from Americans.

Jones attorney Ben Broocks told Lopez at a hearing on Monday that the Onion only put up half as much cash as the $3.5 million offer from First American United Companies, but boosted its bid with smoke and mirrors calculations.

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The Connecticut-based Sandy Hook families, who are Jones largest creditors, augmented the Onions bid by agreeing to forgo some repayment from the Infowars sale so that other creditors could receive more money. That concession caused a bankruptcy trustee to value the Onions bid at $7 million overall.

Chris Mattei, an attorney for the Connecticut-based Sandy Hook families, said the ruling was disappointing, but did not change the fact that Jones owes his clients huge sums of money.

The families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused, Mattei said.

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Jones celebrated the verdict on Infowars.

The Onions CEO Ben Collins said that the company was deeply disappointed in Lopezs decision, but remains interested in purchasing Infowars and making a better, funnier internet.

The Onion had planned to re-launch Infowars in 2025 as a parody site filled with noticeably less hateful disinformation than before.

Christopher Murray, a court appointee trustee charged with selling Jones assets, testified Tuesday that the auction was fair, and First American United Companies only complained about the process after learning that its bid was not chosen.
We assess that the Oreshnik is not a game-changer on the battlefield, but rather just another attempt by Russia to terrorise Ukraine, which will fail, a US official said read more

Russia has touted its hypersonic missiles as a leap ahead of the world. Representative image/AFP

US intelligence indicates that Russia may launch another experimental hypersonic ballistic missile in Ukraine.

Despite its advanced capabilities, Washington does not view the Oreshnik hypersonic missile as a decisive factor in the ongoing conflict.

We assess that the Oreshnik is not a game-changer on the battlefield, but rather just another attempt by Russia to terrorise Ukraine, which will fail, AP cited a US official as saying.

The US official noted that Russia possesses only a limited number of Oreshnik missiles, each carrying a smaller warhead compared to other missiles regularly launched at Ukraine.

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The missile was previously used on November 21 against the city of Dnipro, according to Ukrainian government sources.

The Oreshnik missile

Hypersonic missiles are designed to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. This high velocity reduces the window for detection and interception.

Additionally, their manoeuverability enables them to alter trajectories during flight, complicating interception efforts.

The Oreshnik, whose name translates to hazel tree in Russian, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile reportedly capable of speeds exceeding Mach 10.

It can carry multiple warheads, each potentially equipped with submunitions, and has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers. That means that it can strike targets across Europe and parts of the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that the missile is impossible to intercept.

The potential deployment of the Oreshnik comes amid escalating tensions, with both Russia and Ukraine seeking strategic advantages. The US continues to support Ukraines defense efforts, recently announcing nearly $1 billion in new security aid.

As the conflict approaches its third year, the international community remains vigilant, monitoring developments and assessing the implications of advanced weaponry on global security dynamics.

With inputs from agencies
HTS, the Syrian rebel group, used drones in the same fashion against its campaign against Assads forces as Ukraine has done in its campaign against Russia. While Ukraine has stalled a super military power from running over the country completely, HTS has ousted a dictator. Is there more to these similarities? read more

War has always been the mother of invention. This quote is attributed to British historian AJP Taylor who argued it in the context of the advent of the tank in the First World War and the atomic bomb in the Second World War. Taylor passed away in 1990, but his argument can easily be extended into the wars fought in the Gulf, Afghanistan and now in Ukraine and Syria. The advent of drones offers corroboration to Taylors assertion.

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First Person View (FPV) drones are said to have played a key role in Syrian rebel group HTS  Hayat Tahrir al-Sham  taking over the country in a long-winding civil war. Al-Assad dictator Bashar, who inherited the Syrian government from his father Hafez in 2000, was ousted and forced to take a Russia-escorted plane to Moscow over the weekends. This brought an end to the 53-year Assad rule in Syria, which is still in the state of civil war, but whose seat of governance, Damascus, has fallen to the jihadist group HTS.

For months the world has wondered how HTS could acquire sophisticated drone and cruise missile technologies. While the complete mystery of cruise missile manufacturing is yet to unravel, reports suggest that Ukraine played a role in the Syrian groups mastery in FPV drone manufacturing.

The connection

According to Clash Reports exclusive report, Syrian rebel leader Abu Bakr, who headed the FPV drone unit of HTS, reached out to Ukrainian military intelligence for guidance. Negotiations followed and Ukraine supplied 3-D printing files for key components like bomb carriers, tails, and warheads. This allowed the opposition to produce, assemble, and adapt their drones independently.

They taught us about drone mechanics, bomb carriers, and 3D printing, Clash Report quoted Abu Mazen, an HTS drone operator, as saying in a confirmation of the significant role of Ukrainian training in advancing drone signal transmission and targeting systems.

By mid-November, Syrian opposition drone teams declared complete readiness, Clash Report quoted Abu Mazen as confidently declaring, Everything is ready.

HTS members Abu Bakr and Abu Mazen said Ukraines support was limited to training and guidance. Ukraine did not get involved directly in HTSs field operations against Assads forces.

A corroboration

On December 6, two days before the Assad regime collapsed in Syria, Irans Mehr News Agency reported that a high-ranking Iranian foreign ministry official slammed Ukraine for its support for listed terrorist groups in Syria. Toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was an Iranian ally.

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Iranian official Mojtaba Damirchiloo  Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister and Director General of Eurasia Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  called Ukraines actions a blatant violation of international commitments related to the prevention and combat of terrorism. He called for immediate cessation of Ukrainian support to Syrian rebel fighters.

A denial

Ukraine has denied its involvement in the Syrian civil war. On December 4, Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying it categorically rejects the Russian Federations baseless accusations of its alleged involvement in the aggravation of the security situation in Syria.

Russia had accused Ukraine of aiding the opposition forces led by HTS in Syria against Assad, an ally of Moscow and helped out by President Vladimir Putin on a number of occasions beginning an intervention with air strikes in 2015.

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In its statement, Ukraine blamed Russia and Iran for the steady trend of worsening security in Syria, saying the two countries bear the primary responsibility for the situation there.

Ukraine also showed its dislike for the toppled Syrian president, saying it is the crimes of the Assad regime against its own people and its unwillingness to ensure a fair dialogue within the country that have jeopardised the survival of Syria as a single independent state.

However, Ukraine has been involved in Syria

In September this year, Ukrainian news outlet the Kyiv Post ran an exclusive story saying that the fighters of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR MOU) from the Khimik group attacked a Russian military base in Syria on the morning of Sunday, September 15.

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It quoted a military intelligence source to say that the operation took place on the southeastern outskirts of Aleppo. The Kyiv Post also reported having received and verified relevant footage of the Ukrainian attack on the Russian base in Syrias Aleppo, which became a key trophy in the war against the Assad forces as the rebel force led by HTS ran through the country in a swift campaign of two weeks.

This Russian base was the site where its troops manufactured and tested attack unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.

The undeniable mimic

China is the worlds leading drone-maker, controlling about 80 per cent of the global drone market. But reports on recent trends show that Chinese DJI-Mavic drones may now be losing out to innovations made in Ukraine and companies supplying improved drones to Ukraine.

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The new drones used by Ukraines are lighter, smaller and more precisely guided  FPV, First Person View UAVs. Reports cite similarities between Ukrainian drones and those used by HTS in Syria in its advance against Assads forces.

HTS went in for mass production of drones using 3-D printers, reportedly provided by the Ukrainian military. The Syrian rebel group established protected facilities to manufacture bomb-dropping mechanisms and other payloads for Mavics (Chinese) and FPVs (Ukrainian innovation). They used the same tactics  mobile groups armed with pickup trucks and bikes  as used by the Ukrainians in the Kharkiv region against Russian forces to disarm and drive out Assads forces in Syria.

The FPVs proved to be so effective that within a month of HTS drone unit declaring its readiness with the technology the Syrian army under Assad lost many battles and ultimately the war, forcing a dictator who ran an ancient civilisational nation by iron hand to flee to one his benefactors  in the refuge of Putin.
The whale was first spotted off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean in 2017 and reappeared several years later near Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, covering at least 13,000 km, according to a report read more

A humpback whale has undertaken one of the longest and most unusual migrations ever recorded, potentially driven by climate change.

According to a BBC report, citing scientists, the whale was first spotted off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean in 2017 and reappeared several years later near Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, covering at least 13,000 km.

Experts suggest this extraordinary journey could be due to climate change depleting food supplies or the whales search for a mate, added the report.

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Ekaterina Kalashnikova of the Tanzania Cetaceans Program told BBC that the feat was truly impressive and unusual even for this highly migratory species.

She added that it was likely the longest distance ever recorded for a humpback whale.

Humpback whales are found in oceans worldwide and undertake long migrations each year, traveling from tropical breeding grounds to cooler feeding areas. However, this males journey was particularly remarkable, spanning two distant breeding grounds.

According to the BBC report, one theory suggests that climate change is affecting the availability of krill, the primary food source for humpback whales, prompting them to travel farther in search of sustenance.

Alternatively, the whales could be exploring new breeding grounds as populations recover due to global conservation efforts, added the report.

While actual reasons are unknown, amongst the drivers there might be global changes in the climate, extreme environmental events (that are more frequent nowadays), and evolutionary mechanisms of the species, BBC quoted Kalashnikova as saying.

The wandering male humpback was first photographed off Colombias Pacific coast in 2013, then spotted again in 2017 and off Zanzibar in 2022. The sightings span at least 13,046 km, though the actual distance traveled is likely much greater.

Scientists used a database of whale photos on the citizen science site Happywhale.com, which uses AI to match unique tail patterns and track whale movements globally. The findings are published in Royal Society Open Science.

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With inputs from agencies
With the collapse of Assad dynasty in Syria, it remains to be seen whether the country would see stability making way for the return of millions of refugees sheltering abroad or whether the country would fall into further chaos and trigger another wave of outward migration read more

Syrians arrive to cross into Syria from Turkey at the Cilvegozu border gate, near the town of Antakya, southern Turkey, Monday, 9 December 2024. (Photo: AP)

Following the ouster of Bashar al-Assads regime, Syrian refugees spread across the world are looking at the situation in their homeland with hope and doubts.

While several are hopeful of an eventual return now that the decadeslong dictatorial rule of the Assad family is over, many are doubtful if the fall of the Assad dynasty would actually lead to stability. They have examples of Libya, Iraq, and Yemen where uprisings against dictators plunged the country into crisis that have not yet been solved and where conditions are now much worse than during the ousted dictators reigns.

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Understandably, humanitarian organisations have warned refugees to not return to Syria at once and wait for the situation to become clearer.

Just one day before the Syrian opposition forces entered Damascus, forcing Assad to flee to Russia with his family, Bill Frelick, the Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW), said that sending refugees back to destitution and danger is not an option that can be squared with the basic principles of humanity and human rights law.

Frelick further said, As the violence in Syria spikes again, host societies that have accepted Syrian refugees should be thankful that they did not send them back before it was safe to do so.

How civil war displaced Syrians

The Syrian Civil War (2011-) was a seismic event not just for West Asia but for the world.

The disruption that Assads crackdown on Syrian pro-democracy demonstrators in 2011 led to a refugee crisis for the West unprecedented in decades.

Since 2011, the United Nations (UN) maintains that more than 14 million Syrians have been displaced since Assad triggered the civil war. Of them, the UN says that 7.2 million Syrians have been internally displaced within Syria and around 5.5 million Syrians fled to neighbouring countries of Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. Of these nations, Turkey alone hosts around 3.3 million refugees.

Among non-neighbouring countries, the UN says that Germany hosts around 850,000 refugees and media reports say that Canada hosts around 44,000 refugees.

Of the refugees scattered the world over, the UN says that only 5 per cent people in designated refugee camps where they may be accorded safeguards and amenities meant for them. The figures say that as many as 70 per cent Syrian refugees live in poverty.

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Syrian refugees start returning to Syria

Even as human rights organisations prescribe caution, waves of refugees from Syrias neighbouring countries have started marching to their homeland.

The Daily Mail has reported that huge queues have started forming at Syrian border crossings of people making way to their homeland following the collapse of the regime that led to their flight.

Turkey has also opened border crossings to facilitate the passage of refugees settled in the country into Syria.

Photographs have also surfaced of people marching to Syria from crossings in Lebanon.

Muhammed Zin, 28, who fled Damascus in 2016, told AP, Assad was shooting us, killing us. I will return to Syria now. Thank God, the war is over.

People walk with belongings as they attempt to cross into Syria, at the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, after Syrian rebels ousted Syrias Bashar al-Assad, December 10, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)

Another refugee, Malak Matar, who has been preparing to return to Damascus, said, You feel yourself psychologically free  you can express yourself. Syrians have to create a state that is well-organised and takes care of their country. Its a new phase."

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While the return of refugees to Syria has been boosted by Assads ouster, there has been a trickle in the months leading to the opposition forces offensive last year. The Daily Mail quoted the UN refugees agency as saying that around 34,000 refugees returned to Syria in the first eight months of 2024 and spontaneous returns to Syria are expected to continue throughout 2025.

Not just in Syrias neighbourhood, but refugees are now hopeful in places as far as Canada.

Ghena Ali Mostafa, 24, who fled Syria in 2012, said that she now has a country to return to  something she never thought would be possible in her lifetime.

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Today I have a country that I can go back and build. Today I do not need to be a refugee anymore. Today I have a home and this home is waiting for meI never thought I will witness this moment in my 20s. I thought maybe my kids or maybe my grandkids will witness this moment. But for me to witness this moment, for me to have a home that I can go to, for me to have a hope that I could be reunited with my dad, Mostafa told CBC News.

But fears of another wave of outward migration remain

Even as Syrian refugees displaced by the Assads regimes actions look forward to a return to Syria, the escalation in fighting from last month has led to another round of internal displacement.

If the fighting among opposition factions escalates in coming weeks and months, then, instead of a return of refugees, the country may see another round of outward migration similar to the one see after the beginning of the civil war in 2011.

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The Daily Mail has reported that as many as 400,000 Syrians have already been internally displaced since the opposition forces launched their offensive late last month. It noted that such a displacement has sparked fears that thousands could flee to the United Kingdom and Europe in the coming months.

Rob McNeil, the Deputy Director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University told the newspaper that what happens in the coming time will determine whether refugees return to Syria or more Syrian flee the county.

In the optimistic scenario, that this is the beginning of a period of greater stability for Syria, then we may actually see return migration beginning to happen. The flip side is, if this is the harbinger of another period of greater chaos in Syria, then there is still a large number of people in the country who have not left, many of whom may feel unsafe and may try to leave the country, said Mr McNeil.

While there are hopes that the new regime would not match the brutality of Assads regime, the confidence is not very high. The main opposition group set to lead the new regime, the Islamist authoritarian Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was a branch of Al Qaeda as late as 2016. Even after formally cutting ties, the group has frequently been accused of repression in territories it has long controlled in Syria.

There are fears that non-Sunni religious and ethnic minorities, such as Kurds, Druze, and Alawites, may face renewed persecution. Thousands of people, particularly from the Alawite sect of Shias, have fled from central Syria towards western Syria to escape the HTS fighters.

Alp Mehmet, the Chairman of MigrationWatch UK, told Daily Mail, We can expect tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of those displaced, or who flee from the new regime, to make their way to the EU and UK  both legally and illegally. Many will want to join the 20,000 who came in 2015-16 as part of the Syrian resettlement scheme.
Last month, Trumps attorneys requested Letitia James to overturn a civil action against him for fraud and a $464 million fine for the greater good of the country as he prepares to return to office read more

Despite President-elect Donald Trumps efforts to dismiss the civil action, the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James has chosen not to abandon it.

Last month, Trumps attorneys requested James to overturn a civil action against him for fraud and a $464 million fine for the greater good of the country as he prepares to return to office.

In a letter to Trump attorney D. John Sauer, state Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale stated, Your letter presents no basis for this office to seek to vacate the final judgement or dismiss this action, in part.

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Sauer was just appointed as Trumps U.S. solicitor general.

In a February case filed by James and reviewed by Judge Arthur Engoron, Trump and his adult sons were held guilty for fraud. According to the judge, they had exaggerated Trumps value in order to obtain better loan terms. Trump was sentenced to pay $454 million, with accruing interest. He has appealed the verdict.

The judgment thus does not concern any conduct related to Mr. Trumps first term as President. Nor does it implicate any conduct that Mr. Trump might undertake after his upcoming inauguration, Vales letter reads. Presidents do not have immunity from civil lawsuits arising from unofficial conduct, and such lawsuits may proceed while the President is in office.

She wrote that there no merit to your claim that the pendency of defendants own appeal will impede Mr. Trumps official duties as President.

James has already stated that she will not give up and is ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards as a result of a second Trump presidency.
No one should boost personal image at the expense of unity; everyone should focus on shared success. Unity in Europe has always been key to achieving it. There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine, Zelenskyy posted on X read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks during his meeting with the Chairman of the German Christian Democratic Party (CDU) Friedrich Merz in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday. AP File

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for discussing Ukraine war with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a call, saying that Kyiv must be part of any discussions regarding Russias war against the country.

Taking to X, Zelenskyy said, We all hope that @PM_ViktorOrban at least wont call Assad in Moscow to listen to his hour-long lectures as well.

Its absolutely clear that achieving real peace and guaranteed security requires Americas determination, Europes unity, and the unwavering commitment of all partners to the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter, he added.

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We all hope that @PM_ViktorOrban at least wont call Assad in Moscow to listen to his hour-long lectures as well.



Its absolutely clear that achieving real peace and guaranteed security requires Americas determination, Europes unity, and the unwavering commitment of all  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) December 11, 2024

He further said, No one should boost personal image at the expense of unity; everyone should focus on shared success. Unity in Europe has always been key to achieving it. There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine. I am grateful to @realDonaldTrump and many European leaders with whom we are already working to find the right and strong solutions for real peace."

Earlier in the day, Putin discussed the Ukraine conflict in a call with Orban, who is casting himself as a possible peacemaker.

There was a thorough exchange of views on Ukrainian issues, AFP quoted Kremlin as saying in its readout of the call, adding that Putin said Kyiv had adopted a destructive position that ruled out a peace agreement.

The Kremlin said the call was initiated at Orbans request and came just a day after Hungarys top diplomat announced that Budapest would continue with its self-proposed peace mission for Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Orban met with US President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, where Trump pledged to secure a peace deal within hours of taking office in January.

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Viktor Orban expressed interest in assisting the joint search for political-diplomatic paths to resolve the crisis, the Kremlin was quoted as saying.

Orban, the closest political ally of both Trump and Putin within the European Union, has consistently called for peace talks and declined to send military aid to Ukraine since Russias invasion in February 2022.

In July, he angered fellow EU leaders by engaging in independent diplomacy with Russia to explore ways to end the conflict, just days after assuming the EUs rotating six-month presidency.

The Kremlin also revealed that Orban and Putin discussed energy projects.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Budapest continues to be a major purchaser of Russian energy, a situation that frustrates Brussels nearly three years after Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, Orban on Wednesday said that Zelenskyy had rejected a proposal for a Christmas ceasefire in the war with Russia.

At the end of the Hungarian EU presidency, we made new efforts for peace. We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange, Orban wrote on X, adding that it was sad that Zelenskyy had clearly rejected and ruled out the proposals.

With inputs from agencies
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released recommendations on how to define international telecommunications traffic, following a request from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

In 2021, TRAI received requests from two entities regarding the classification of SMS traffic as either domestic or international. Following these requests, TRAI asked the DoT to clarify the nature of these messages.

The DoT then asked TRAI to provide recommendations on the definitions of international and domestic SMS, as there were no explicit definitions in the licensing agreements.

Different treatment of domestic and international traffic in the existing licensing framework, the use of various methods by enterprises to send information to their customers, and the interconnection of PLMN with the internet at different levels led to the need for defining international SMS and domestic SMS.

Key Recommendations:

International Traffic: Traffic originating in one country and terminating in another, where one of the countries is India.

Traffic originating in one country and terminating in another, where one of the countries is India. International SMS Message: International traffic delivered via SMS. This includes any incoming application-to-person (A2P) SMS that requires the use of technology located outside India.

International traffic delivered via SMS. This includes any incoming application-to-person (A2P) SMS that requires the use of technology located outside India. Domestic Traffic: Traffic originating and terminating within India.

Traffic originating and terminating within India. Domestic SMS: Domestic traffic delivered via SMS.

These definitions are recommended for inclusion in relevant telecommunication service licenses and authorizations.
Update: realme has confirmed that the realme 14x will pack the segments largest, 6000mAh battery and 45W Fast Charge

With 45W fast charging, you can charge the phone to 100% in just 93 minutes or to 50% in just 38 minutes, said the company. The phone also comes with Smart charging algorithm that smartly adjusts the charging speed according to the charging environment and battery power level to both meet the fast-charging requirements and protect the batterys health.

Earlier: realme has confirmed the launch of realme 14x 5G, the companys next smartphone in the realme 14 series in India on December 18th ahead of the launch of the realme 14 Pro series. The realme 12x which was launched earlier this year only featured IP54 ratings for dust and water resistance.

The realme 14x 5G will be the first smartphone in India with IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance priced under Rs. 15,000 said the company.

realme also said that the design of the smartphone takes inspiration from the tough beauty of diamonds, with a back panel that reflects the luster of crystals and gems under different angles of sunlight.

The company is yet to reveal more details about the phone, but the design and the colors of the phone looks similar to the realme V60 Pro, which was launched in China last month.

To remind you, realme V60 Pro packs a 6.67-inch HD+ 120Hz LCD screen, is powered by new MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, runs realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14, has a 50MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, military-grade drop resistance and packs a 5600mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging.

The realme 14x 5G will be sold on the December 18th, the same day as the launch of the phone, said the company.
The Associated Press

Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday.
Operation Arrow of Bashan

Syria's new masters are driven by an extreme ideology of radical Islam, Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a press briefing on 09 December 2024. That's why we attacked strategic weapons systems, like remaining chemical weapons or long-range missiles and rockets, in order that they will not fall into the hands of extremists.

The Israeli military said 10 December 2024 that it conducted about 480 strikes over the past 48 hours on strategic military targets in Syria, days after the overthrow of president Bashar al-Assad. Within the last 48 hours, the [Israeli army] struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria, preventing them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements, the military said in a statement, adding that the targets included 15 naval vessels, anti-aircraft batteries and weapons production sites in several cities.

The IDF completed the main strategic part of Operation "Arrow of Bashan" [HE = Hetz haBashan] on 10 December 2024, which began on the night of 7-8 Decembe 2024, with the understanding that the Assad regime was falling. Hundreds of strategic Syrian targets were attacked in the operation, and according to reports, security forces continue to operate in the buffer zone.

Bashan is the biblical name for a region of land across the Jordan River, bounded on the west by the Golan Heights, on the east by the Horn and the Druze Mountains, on the north by the Hermon Range, and on the south by the Yarmouk River. Bashan was known in the sources for the fertility of its land, its forests, and its pastures. It is mentioned in the Bible 47 times in the Hebrew Bible and 12 times without it, and it served as a source for poetic prophecy , as a symbol of fertility and abundance, and sometimes in conjunction with the term and name Carmel.

As the Israelites approached Canaan from the east, they asked the Amorite king Sihon if they could pass through his land, but he attacked them instead. The Israelites defeated him at Jahaz and captured all his land (Deuteronomy 2:24-37). After this they turned northward toward Bashan and defeated King Og at Edrei (Deuteronomy 3:1-11). Though the lands of Sihon and Og were not part of Canaan (which lay west of the Jordan River; see Numbers 34), the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh requested that this land be allotted to them as their inheritance, and Moses agreed.

As part of the operation, 350 Air Force fighter jets launched strikes across Syria and destroyed 320 strategic targets in order of priority: aircraft, coastal missiles, submarines, ships, and additional capabilities. Dozens of attacks were carried out on Syrian aircraft, weapons production facilities, and weapons depots. In addition, Scud missiles, cruise missiles, and coastal missiles, radars, tanks, and surface-to-air missile batteries were destroyed, and the Air Force attacked advanced Syrian Navy vessels carrying coastal missiles.

Israeli Army Radio said that Israels air force has completed the main part of the military operation it began in Syria, called Operation Arrow of Bashan/Golan, and that it has destroyed about 80 percent of the Syrian armys military capabilities. Army Radio added that since the start of the operation on Sunday night, the Israeli military has destroyed warplanes, combat helicopters, surface-to-air missile batteries, Scud and cruise missiles, drones, weapons depots, and ammunition manufacturing sites, army sites and facilities connected to Iran, and sunk 15 missile boats.

The operation took place after years of intelligence gathering by the security establishment, and in fact it was an event that had been planned for years. The IDF acted in a way that kept Iran out of the picture, with an emphasis on ensuring that strategic weapons would not fall into the wrong hands.

In modern history, there were several major operations by the Israeli military against Syria: Operation Ash in 1967, Osirak in 1981, the operation against Syrian nuclear reactors in 2007, the attack against Hamas police station in 2009, a preventive attack against Hezbollah a few months ago, and many others that can't be discussed for security reasons. The current air and ground operations deep into Syrian territory became part of the list, especially since these preventative actions were carried out calmly and not through political communication.

A 1974 agreement established the line of control between Israel and Syria, though they have entered in the past for brief periods. But even after signing the 1974 agreement, Israel has carried out sporadic bombing campaigns in Syria. The Israeli government has said that they have been targeting installations belonging either to Iran, which was allied with Assad, or to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Never miss an opportunity to seize an opportunity - it may be one of the most public and incredible tasks, not just of the Air Force, but of the Israeli ground forces and its military intelligence as well. The IDF had been training for the "hour of need" for years.

IDF forces waited years for the opportunity to thwart Syria's arsenal, but at the same time, one of the military goals is to prevent Syrian stockpiles from reaching the hands of likely enemies. Although the Syrian army collapsed, all its sites, bases, equipment, and weapons remain untouched and abandoned. In fact, anyone could take home anything from basic military equipment to advanced conventional weapons, strategic capabilities, and even unconventional weapons, such as chemical weapons. This is the scenario that Israel feared.

Its primary targets in Syria are chemical weapons facilities and military infrastructure, aimed at weakening anti-Israel forces. Regardless of who holds power, Israel seeks to exploit Syria's instability to pursue its strategy. If Syria remains fragmented and chaotic, it is possible Israel will continue its actions in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was able to document around 310 strikes carried out by "Israeli warplanes" since the announcement of the fall of Assad. The strikes targeted airports and warehouses, aircraft squadrons, radars, military signal stations, and multiple weapons and ammunition depots. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "Israeli warplanes" had launched strikes on military targets including "the Barzeh scientific research centre", a defence ministry research centre in northern Damascus. Western countries including the United States had previously struck the research facility in Barzeh in 2018, saying it was related to Syria's "chemical weapons infrastructure". On 10 December 2024, three blocks of buildings that made up the centre were completely destroyed.

From the air, the manned aircraft flew hundreds of hours over Syrian territory. A wide variety of anti-aircraft batteries were attacked, including from the sea, Syrian Air Force airfields, and dozens of targets at various production sites in the Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra areas. These waves of attacks destroyed a large amount of weapons, including Scud missiles, cruise missiles, coastal missiles, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, drones, fighter jets and attack helicopters, radars, tanks, hangars, and more. The Northern Command's fire center attacked over 130 targets in Syrian territory with aircraft, including weapons depots, military buildings, launchers, and firing positions.

Strikes attributed to Israel damaged about 10 navy ships in coastal Latakia. British security firm Ambrey said the Israeli military targeted at least six Syrian naval vessels in an attack on the Syrian port of Latakia on 10 December 2024. Ambrey said video footage showed one naval vessel and indicated five others had been sunk without any visible damage being done to the ports infrastructure. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has confirmed that the military had hit several Syrian naval vessels in overnight strikes. The [Israeli military] has been operating in Syria in recent days to strike and destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel. The navy operated last night to destroy the Syrian fleet with great success, Katz said during a visit to a naval base in the northern city of Haifa.

Satellite imagery showed that Russian naval ships had left Moscows base at Tartous on Syrias coast, and some have dropped anchor offshore following the overthrow al-Assad. An image taken on December 9 by Planet Labs showed at least three vessels in Russias Mediterranean fleet, including two guided missile frigates and an oiler, moored about 13km (eight miles) northwest of Tartous. The rest of the fleet could not be immediately located in satellite imagery.

Israeli fighter jets destroyed the Syrian arsenal, which was primarily supplied by the Iranians and Russians with billions of dollars, including an entire air force of MiG 29s, combat helicopters, long-range missiles, aircraft defense systems, technological and military research centers, intelligence centers, biological and chemical weapons, and weapon manufacturing sites. All target banks that have been gathered by military intelligence in recent years were hit and damaged.

As part of the ongoing operation, the IDF is focusing on the Syria-Lebanon border, working to thwart threats to Israel and prevent the transfer of weapons to hostile elements. The most central body that has focused the security system is Iran, which has held Syria as a central base and strengthened it, which has brought militias to Syria and supported Assad.

Against the Iranian effort, with the fall of the Assad regime and in general in the campaign between the wars, Iran lost a significant part of its hold on the Syrian region, but the future is still unclear, and the IDF continues to work to prevent leakage to Hezbollah. In the meantime, the political echelon held cabinet meetings, as announced, and the IDF, which initiated the operations, effectively destroyed the Syrian Air Force.

As part of the "air superiority" concept, 350 Air Force fighter jets attacked throughout Syria and destroyed hundreds of targets. The IDF and the defense establishment handled the lion's share and destroyed about 80% of Syrian strategic capabilities. And yet - about 20% of strategic capabilities remained, and in the defense establishment there is a kind of order of "what is more dangerous."

Against the backdrop of the fall of the Assad regime, it was not entirely clear in Israel how the US and Russia, and regional powers such as Iran, would act. Iran hesitated, while at the same time the IDF acted quickly and forcefully, in defense and offense. At the same time, actions were also being taken in the political arena, and meetings had been held between various elements in Israel and their counterparts in the region.

In light of the operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the Tel Aviv headquarters: "If the new regime in Syria allows Iran to reestablish itself, or allows the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah, we will respond forcefully and exact a heavy price from it." Netanyahu admitted that he authorized the Air Force to bomb strategic military capabilities left behind by the Syrian army, so that they would not fall into the hands of jihadists.

"We want relations with the new regime in Syria," Netanyahu added. "But if this regime allows Iran to reestablish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah; or attacks us - we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it. What happened to the previous regime, will also happen to this regime."

In the absence of any counteraction from the air defense, the Israeli Air Force continued to calmly and methodically knock out the remains of the Syrian air force with concrete-piercing ammunition. For the Israeli air force, the situation in Syria was now the equivalent of a shooting range in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli air strikes targeted sites belonging to ousted president Bashar al-Assad's military in the coastal Latakia and Tartus provinces on 12 Decembe 2024. "Israeli warplanes launched air strikes" targeting "military sites" including "the Latakia port" as well as warehouses in neighbouring Tartus province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that "Israeli warplanes continue to destroy what remains of Syria's military arsenal for the fourth consecutive day since the fall of the former regime".





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Ottawa, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Under the leadership of newly elected President Victoria Pruden, the Metis National Council (MNC) reaffirms its commitment to supporting its Governing Members through a clear and focused vision.

The MNC will continue to advocate to advance the priorities and interests of its member Metis Governments as a National Indigenous Organization. The MNC remains a key partner to Metis Governments, the Government of Canada, other National Indigenous Organizations, and other partners.

"The Metis National Council exists to support and uplift Metis Governments, ensuring they have the tools, resources, and collective strength needed to implement self-government, advance their mandates, and fully serve the Metis citizens they represent," said Victoria Pruden, President of the MNC. "Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue building a brighter future for the Metis Nation."

In recent years, the MNC has been pushing back against an active campaign by Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) leadership to distort its vision, purpose, and mandate.

In 2020, four of the five MNC Governing Members (i.e., MNO, MNS, MNA, and MNBC) turned to the courts to ensure democracy and transparency were respected within the MNC. At this time, the MNC was largely solely controlled by MNC President Clem Chartier and MMF President David Chartrand (as the self-appointed MNC Vice-President).

Presidents Chartier and Chartrand refused to convene any meetings of the MNC Board of Governors, unilaterally extended Mr. Chartiers term, and refused to provide even basic financial disclosures or accountability to the MNCs Governing Members. Along the way, Mr. Chartier also failed in his campaign to be elected as MN-S President.

On the cusp of a court directed MNC General Assembly being held in September 2021, the MMFs leadership decided to withdraw from the MNC, likely knowing that the MNC Vice President Chartrands complete control of the MNC was coming to an end. In 2022, the MNC initiated litigation against Chartier, Chartrand, the MMF, and others based on a series of actions and financial transactions that occurred prior to the MMF leaving the MNC. The trial on this matter is scheduled for January 2025.

The MNC understands that its the Metis Governments that are the mandated representative voices of Metis within their respective provincial jurisdictions. The MNCs role is notand was nevermeant to be a top-down decision-maker, government, or representative body.

Under the Board of Governors leadership, the MNC will continue advancing its inclusive and ambitious vision with renewed focus, evolving its bylaws and practices to further clarify Metis Governments representative jurisdictions, and deepen collaborations with the MNCs many national partners.

As the Metis Nation enters a period where Metis self-government treaties become the new normal, there is a need to reimagine and reinvent the MNC to be an NIO that meets the needs of Metis governments as modern-day treaty holders.

-30-

Since 1983, the Metis National Council has been the national and international voice of the Metis Nation within Canada. Through the Canada-Metis Nation Accord, the MNC advocates on behalf of its Governing Members to advance Metis rights and interests within their respective jurisdictions, including the implementation of the Metis Nation's inherent right to self-determination and self-government. The MNC is committed to accountability and transparency within its operations, and to its relationships with MNC Governing Members.
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ZETA) (Zeta or the Company) securities between February 27, 2024 and November 13, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period), charging the Company and certain of its current senior executives and other personnel with violations of the federal securities laws (collectively, Defendants).

Zeta investors have until January 21, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Zeta class action lawsuit.

If you purchased or acquired Zeta securities between February 27, 2024 and November 13, 2024, and suffered substantial losses, and you wish to obtain additional information or serve as lead plaintiff in this lawsuit, you may submit your information and contact us here: https://dicellolevitt.com/securities/zeta/.

You can also contact DiCello Levitt attorneys Brian OMara or Ruben Pena by calling (888) 287-9005 or emailing investors@dicellolevitt.com. Those who inquire by email are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice.

Case Allegations

Zeta is a marketing technology company that operates a cloud-based platform for marketers to identify and target potential consumers across a wide range of digital channels.

The Zeta lawsuit alleges that Defendants made false and misleading statements and/or concealed material adverse facts concerning Zetas business, operations, and prospects during the Class Period. Specifically, Defendants concealed to investors that: (i) Zeta used two-way contracts to artificially inflate its financial results; (ii) Zeta engaged in round trip transactions to artificially inflate financial results; (iii) Zeta operated predatory consent farms, deceptive websites operated for the sole purpose of obtaining individuals personal data; and (iv) Zetas growth has been materially driven by its operation of these consent farms.

The truth began to emerge on November 13, 2024, when securities analyst Culper Research published a critical research report titled Zeta Global Holdings Corp (ZETA): Shams, Scam, and Spam (the Report), alleging, among other things, that the integrity of the Companys data collection and reported financials is severely undermined by two factors. First, the Report claims Zeta has formed two-way contracts with third party consent farms wherein the Company simultaneously acts as both a supplier and a buyer of consumer data, not only allowing the Company to flatter reported revenue growth, but raising round tripping concerns. Second, the Report alleges Zeta has quietly spun up its own network of consent farms i.e., sham websites that hoodwink millions of consumers each month into handing their data over to Zeta under false pretenses, baited by job applications, stimulus money, or other rewards that simply do not exist.

On this news, the price of Zeta stock fell by $10.46 per share, or 37%, to close at $17.76 per share on November 13, 2024.

About DiCello Levitt

At DiCello Levitt, we are dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, civil and human rights, and mass tort litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases  whether by trial, settlement, or otherwise  for people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputations  and our capital  on the line for our clients.

DiCello Levitt has achieved top recognition as Plaintiffs Firm of the Year and Trial Innovation Firm of the Year by the National Law Journal, in addition to its top-tier Chambers and Benchmark ratings. The New York Law Journal also recently recognized DiCello Levitt as a Distinguished Leader in trial innovation. For more information about the Firm, including recent trial victories and case resolutions, please visit www.dicellolevitt.com.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Media Contact

Amy Coker

4747 Executive Drive, Suite 240

San Diego, CA 92121

619-963-2426

investors@dicellolevitt.com
RADNOR, Pa., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against PACS Group, Inc. (PACS) (NYSE: PACS). The lawsuit is brought on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired PACS: 1) common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus (collectively, the Registration Statement) issued in connection with PACS April 11, 2024 initial public offering (the IPO); and/or 2) securities between April 11, 2024 and November 5, 2024 inclusive (the Class Period). The lead plaintiff deadline is January 13, 2025.

CONTACT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP:

If you suffered PACS losses, you may CLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/pacs-group-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pacs&mktm=r

You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at info@ktmc.com.

DEFENDANTS ALLEGED MISCONDUCT:

The complaint alleges that, in the Registration Statement and throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) PACS engaged in a scheme to submit false Medicare claims which drove more than 100% of PACS operating and net income from 2020  2023; (2) the company engaged in a scheme to bill thousands of unnecessary respiratory and sensory integration therapies to Medicare; (3) PACS engaged in a scheme to falsify documentation related to licensure and staffing; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Please CLICK HERE to view our video or copy and paste this link into your browser: https://youtu.be/Q0twdqzv9kc

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS:

PACS investors may, no later than January 13, 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 encourages PACS investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/pacs-group-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=pacs&mktm=r

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP:

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 complaints in this action were 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

info@ktmc.com

May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 20, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), if they purchased the Companys securities between November 16, 2023, and September 23, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Visa and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-v/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 20, 2025 .

About the Lawsuit

Visa and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On September 24, the United States Department of Justice filed suit against the Company for four separate violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act alleging, among other things, that the Company leverages dual-sided network effects, afforded to it by its existing monopoly position on both sides of the payment processing market, to freeze out smaller competition and cement its market dominance and further abuses that power by coercing merchants to exclusively use its payments processing platform, thereby causing harm to consumers.

On this news, the price of Visas shares fell $1.48, or 5.38%, to close at $26.03 per share on September 24, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The case is Cai v. Visa, Inc., et al., No. 24-cv-08220.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago and New Jersey.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:
In cooperation with technology partner SITEC, Feintool was awarded a long-term contract in China related to hydrogen mobility. High-volume production of ready-to-install metallic bipolar plates for a leading Chinese manufacturer of fuel cells is expected to start in 2025.

The bipolar plates ordered will be produced at Feintool's specialized site in Taicang (China) and mainly installed in commercial vehicles, buses and cars. In addition to the core technologies FEINforming, Feintool's patented process for high-precision metal processing, and FLEXwelding, automated laser welding developed by SITEC, our fully integrated coating and sealing processes are applied to this order. This allows the production of ready-to-install components for the customer. The order in China is further proof of the trust that customers operating in the hydrogen sector place in Feintool and SITEC.

Bipolar plates form the core of fuel cells

Fuel cells are electrochemical energy converters that generate electricity from hydrogen and oxygen. They emit only water vapor. This is how fuel cells power electric vehicles, emergency generators and even spacecraft. They offer a clean alternative to fossil fuels and thus contribute to a greener future.

Our metallic bipolar plates constitute the core of fuel cells. These high-precision components enable efficient gas flow, cooling and electrical connection. Several hundred bipolar plates are stacked to form the fuel cell stack.

Feintool's strategic goal is to become one of the world's leading suppliers of metallic bipolar plates and interconnects for fuel cells and electrolyzers. As a technology group and producer of high-precision metal components in large series, we are actively shaping the future of green energy generation, storage and use.

Learn more about our bipolar plates: https://bipolarplates.com/

About Feintool

Feintool is an international technology and market leader in electrolamination stamping, fineblanking, and forming. We manufacture high-quality precision parts in large volumes from steel. We supply the automotive industry, energy infrastructure equipment providers, and all manner of high-end industrial manufacturers. Feintool's products perfectly complement the megatrends for green energy generation, storage, and usage.

Our core technologies deliver measurable cost-efficiency, consistent quality, and improved productivity. Feintool constantly expands the horizons of its production methods and develops intelligent solutions, innovative tools, and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes in line with customer needs.

Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Switzerland, the company has 18 production sites, 3,200 employees and 85 vocational trainees in Europe, the USA, China, Japan and  as of 2025  India. Feintool is publicly listed and majority-owned by the Artemis Group.

Feintool International Holding AG

Industriering 8

3250 Lyss

Schweiz

Media spokesperson

Karin Labhart

Phone +41 32 387 51 57

Mobile +41 79 609 22 02

karin.labhart@feintool.com

www.feintool.com

The press release can be downloaded from the following link:

Press Release (PDF)
LONDON, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the addition of Paul Hirst and Jorge Martinez Seara as Senior Managing Directors in the firms global Construction, Projects & Assets practice.

Mr. Hirst and Mr. Martinez Seara continue the growth of the firms Advisory & Transformation offerings across EMEA. In their role at FTI Consulting, they advise public and private sector organisations on the planning, development and execution of major construction and infrastructure projects.

We work with clients on a range of high-stakes projects and programs, from major infrastructure developments to digital integrations at all stages of an assets lifecycle, said Garrett Fultz, Global Leader of the Construction, Projects & Assets practice within the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment at FTI Consulting. Paul and Jorge bring strategic vision, technical experience and a proven record of delivery on a range of complex and critical projects around the world, which will be a tremendous asset to our clients and growing teams in London and Madrid.

Mr. Hirst, who is based in London, is a Chartered Civil Engineer who joins FTI Consulting with 25 years of industry and consulting experience on some of the worlds largest capital projects across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. He supports clients in setting up and enhancing their capital projects through a range of expert-led solutions. These include delivery model selection, transforming program controls and reporting arrangements, developing target operating models, establishing project management offices, conducting independent project reviews, driving project turnarounds and optimisation and leveraging technology to improve delivery outcomes. Mr. Hirsts sector experience includes transport, power and utilities, nuclear, oil and gas, real estate development and defence.

Before joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Hirst was a Partner in Deloittes Infrastructure & Capital Projects practice and most recently led the capital project consulting business in the Middle East. He previously held roles in PwCs Capital Projects and Infrastructure practice and at Taylor Woodrow Construction, where he was responsible for engineering development, procurement, commercial management and the execution of large infrastructure projects.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Hirst said, Construction and infrastructure projects are becoming ever more complex and business critical to our clients. At FTI Consulting, we are expanding a capability that blends deep industry expertise with leading consulting methodologies to successfully help our clients improve the delivery of their projects.

Mr. Martinez Seara, who is based in Madrid, is a chartered mechanical and industrial engineer with an INSEAD MBA and more than 25 years of international experience leading CapEx and OpEx programs across various sectors, including renewable energy, power and utilities, oil and gas, automotive, infrastructure and other heavy industries. Throughout his career, he has served in senior and executive roles spanning R&D, end-to-end product development, project and business development, deal structuring, risk management, strategic planning, market expansion and digital transformation.

Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Martinez Seara was a Managing Director at Accentures Industry X, where he led the Capital Projects practice in Iberia and delivered transformation projects internationally. He previously held roles at General Electric, Alstom and Renault.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Martinez Seara said, In capital projects, clients across all industries face numerous challenges that go well beyond their business as usual. In this context, FTI Consulting offers a unique expert-led approach, seamlessly combining top-tier advisory services with digital solutions and robust portfolio, program and project management capabilities. I am excited about helping our clients succeed in their initiatives by enabling greater efficiency, sustainability and a competitive edge.

The arrival of Mr. Hirst and Mr. Martinez Seara continues FTI Consultings expansion of its global Construction, Projects & Assets practice, building on a series of strategic appointments made in 2024, including Senior Managing Directors Greg Parker and Thomas Thompson and Managing Directors Ronan Collins in Singapore, Eric Schatz, Greg Holness and Alex McBride in the United States, John Wright in Colombia, Matt Hanson and James Sitter in the UK, Alex Burton and Stuart McIvor in the United Arab Emirates and the launch of the Construction, Projects & Assets practice in Sweden with the arrival of Kaj Moller.

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organisations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 8,300 employees located in 34 countries and territories, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated $3.49 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2023. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consultings services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalised and independently managed. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

FTI Consulting, Inc.

200 Aldersgate

Aldersgate Street

London, EC1A 4HD

Investor Contact:

Mollie Hawkes

+1.617.747.1791

mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com

Media Contact:

Helen Obi

+44 20 7632 5071

helen.obi@fticonsulting.com
Svitzer expects to take delivery of four new TRAnsverse tugs by the end of 2026. The tugs will be delivered as part of Svitzers planned global fleet renewal, as the business continues to pursue its decarbonisation objectives worldwide.

Copenhagen, 11 December 2024: Svitzer, a leading global towage and marine services provider, today announces that it has signed a contract with the Hong Kong shipyard, Cheoy Lee, for four new Svitzer TRAnsverse 2900 tugs  for delivery in 2026. The contract means Svitzer has seven tugs on order for its TRAnsverse design, while one is already in operation. The TRAnsverse tug was designed by Svitzer in collaboration with naval architect, Robert Allan Ltd. Each of the tugs ordered from Cheoy Lee will have an overall length of 29 meters, deliver bollard pulls of up to 80 tonnes and come with impressive side pushing capabilities. With a top speed of 13 knots, and 8 knots side-stepping, the omni-directional hull form and propulsion provides for significantly higher steering and breaking forces than similar sized ASD tugs, with lower fuel consumption.

Svitzer is continuously evaluating its fleet against customer and operational requirements across the more than 180 ports and terminals where it operates. This is done with a constant striving to meet customer demands, leverage innovation and technology, and ensure flexibility to support the transition to more sustainable energy sources.

While the new vessels are planned as fleet replacements globally, they can also be deployed in new growth projects. Hence, the contract with Cheoy Lee Shipyards includes an option for four additional tugs of the same type that can be called on in case of need.

Commenting on the agreement, Kasper Karlsen, Chief Operating Officer at Svitzer, said: This order enables us to continue renewing our fleet to deliver on our customers needs and our decarbonisation targets, while providing a strong basis for engaging in growth projects. The new TRAnsverse tug will undoubtedly be our preferred design going forward and with even more of these tugs in our fleet, we are able to continuously improve operational capabilities and fuel efficiency to the benefit of our customers as well as the environment.

Ken Lo, Director at Cheoy Lee Shipyards commented: We are delighted to be selected as a construction partner to Svitzer and look forward to working with their team to build these four TRAnsverse tugs for their global fleet. As with all our work, our team will deliver the project in line with our guiding focus on quality, service and reliability.

ENDS

Notes to editors



About Svitzer

Svitzer is a leading, global towage and marine services provider. The core business is to assist large seaborne vessels in manoeuvring in and out of ports and terminals to berth and unberth. With more than 450 vessels, Svitzers services play a crucial role as part of critical port infrastructure. Svitzer was founded in 1833 and serves approximately 2,000 customers in more than 140 ports and 40 terminals across 37 countries. Read more on www.svitzer.com.

For further information, please contact: Ortho-profile - Svitzer TRAnsverse 2900

Anders Crillesen

Head of Communications and Branding, Svitzer

T: + 45 27 79 12 86

E: anders.crillesen@svitzer.com

Michael Nass Nielsen, Head of Investor Relations and FP&A

T: +45 24941654

E: ir@svitzer.com

Nick Orsmond

BLUE Communications

E: nick.orsmond@blue-comms.com

Attachment
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Disclaimer: This content is provided by XT exchange. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.
Dublin, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "mRNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Market by Vaccine Type, Treatment Type, Vaccine Manufacturing, Application, End-user, and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global mRNA vaccines and therapeutics market size reached US$ 57.7 billion in 2023. Looking forward, the market is expected to reach US$ 72.7 billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% during 2023-2032. The development and acceptance of mRNA-based vaccines on a global scale, the growing need for quick and adaptable solutions for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, and the increasing incidence of cancer and genetic diseases are some of the major factors propelling the market.







Growing Incidence of Chronic and Infectious Diseases



With the rise of chronic and infectious diseases such as cancer, HIV, and Zika, there has been a considerable increase in the need for innovative therapeutic interventions. mRNA vaccines and therapies are unique in their ability to instruct the body to produce its own therapeutic proteins, offering a novel approach to tackling a wide range of diseases.



As these treatments can target diseases at a molecular level, they represent a potential paradigm shift in how healthcare is provided. The market for these technologies is thus driven by the rising incidence of these diseases, as well as the increasing recognition among healthcare providers, patients, and researchers of the potential benefits of mRNA-based treatments.



Advancements in Synthetic Biology and Bioinformatics



The rapid pace of advancements in synthetic biology and bioinformatics has been instrumental in the development and refinement of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. An improved understanding of genomics, enhanced capabilities in gene editing, and the use of sophisticated computational models to predict mRNA structure and behavior have all contributed to the more effective design and delivery of mRNA therapies. These advancements also expand the potential applications of mRNA technologies beyond infectious diseases to include genetic disorders and cancers, among others. The market is further driven by continual improvements in the fields of synthetic biology and bioinformatics due to the increasing scope and efficacy of modern technologies.



Rising Demand for Personalized Medicine



Personalized medicine aims to tailor treatments to the individual patient's unique genetic profile and health needs. This approach to healthcare represents a significant departure from the one-size-fits-all paradigm and has been gaining traction in recent years. mRNA technologies hold significant promise in this regard due to their inherent ability to be designed for specific genetic profiles or to target specific disease variants.



This potential to customize mRNA vaccines and treatments is improving their therapeutic efficacy and safety profile, making them particularly attractive in the context of personalized medicine. This is propelling the demand for personalized medicine. As more healthcare providers and patients become aware of the benefits of personalized medicine, the demand for mRNA technologies is escalates, thereby impacting the market.

Industry Segmentation



This report provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global mRNA vaccines and therapeutics market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country levels from 2024-2032. The report has categorized the market based on vaccine type, treatment type, vaccine manufacturing, application, and end-user.



Breakup by Vaccine Type:

Self-amplifying mRNA-Based Vaccines

Conventional Non-Amplifying mRNA-Based Vaccines

Conventional non-amplifying mRNA-based vaccines dominate the market



The growing global health concerns about emerging infectious diseases and the need for quick vaccine development are majorly driving the market segment. These vaccines can be quickly produced and modified, making them ideally suited for combatting rapidly mutating diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. Additionally, the recent success of mRNA vaccines is leading to an increased acceptance and trust in this technology, influencing the market demand. Along with this, the rising prevalence of cancer, and the potential of mRNA vaccines for cancer treatment, also act as a significant market driver. Moreover, continual technological advancements and significant investments in research and development of mRNA technology play a crucial role in shaping the market.



The market for conventional non-amplifying mRNA-based vaccines has also seen rapid growth due to the acceptance and adoption of mRNA technology, demonstrating its ability to rapidly develop effective vaccines against novel pathogens. This has led to increased investment in mRNA research and development, and growing confidence in its potential. Additionally, the relatively quick and cost-effective production process of mRNA vaccines, as well as their versatility for targeting a variety of diseases.



As diseases evolve and new pathogens emerge, the capacity for rapid design modifications is becoming an increasingly important market driver. Besides, there is a rising focus on personalized medicine, and mRNA vaccines have the potential to be tailored to individual patient needs, such as for cancer immunotherapy, providing another strong growth driver in the market.



Breakup by Treatment Type:

Bioengineered Vaccine

Gene Therapy

Gene Transcription

Cell Therapy

Monoclonal Antibody

Others

Bioengineered vaccine dominate the market



Bioengineered vaccines' ability to be quickly designed and mass-produced in response to new viral threats positions them as a vital tool in global health security, fostering increased investment and demand. In addition, the ongoing research exploring the potential of mRNA therapeutics beyond vaccines, such as in cancer immunotherapy and genetic diseases, broadens the industry's scope. Moreover, policy support from governments and collaborations between pharma-biotech companies contribute to the acceleration of mRNA-based research, development, and commercialization.



On the other hand, the broad therapeutic potential of gene therapies for a wide array of genetic, oncologic, and chronic diseases are expected to augment the growth of the segment. Technological advancements in gene editing tools, including CRISPR-Cas9, have facilitated the development and refinement of mRNA-based gene therapies. The growing prevalence of genetic disorders and the urgent need for effective treatments have also spurred interest and investment in this sector. Besides this, favorable government policies, increased healthcare expenditure, and strategic collaborations among biotech and pharmaceutical companies accelerate this industry's growth.



The market for gene transcription in the mRNA vaccines and therapeutics industry is further fueled by the creation of innovative treatment modalities for various diseases. Along with this, advancements in genomics and transcriptomics technology are enhancing our ability to manipulate and understand gene transcription, further driving the market. In addition, the rise in the prevalence of diseases, including cancer, where abnormal gene transcription plays a key role, necessitates continued investment and exploration in this field.



Breakup by Vaccine Manufacturing:

In-House

Out-Sourced

In-house manufacturing dominate the mRNA vaccines and therapeutics market



The potential of mRNA technologies to treat a broad array of diseases beyond infectious diseases, including cancer, is acting as a catalyst for companies to invest in their own manufacturing capabilities. The need for supply chain security and independence, the desire to control quality standards, and the potential cost savings over time through economies of scale also play a significant role in driving the move towards in-house manufacturing. In addition, advancements in manufacturing technologies and processes are making in-house production more feasible and cost-effective, even for smaller biotech companies.



On the contrary, the market drivers for outsourced manufacturing in the mRNA vaccines and therapeutics industry are predominantly shaped by the rapid advancement in biotechnologies, coupled with the global urgency to respond to emerging health crises. One key market driver is the need for speed and scalability in vaccine production to meet global demand, particularly in times of health crises. Outsourced manufacturing allows for quicker ramp-up of production capacity.



Additionally, the complexity and specialized requirements of mRNA vaccine production, including high-precision cold-chain logistics and proprietary lipid nanoparticle technology, demand a level of expertise that not all pharmaceutical companies possess. This drives the demand for specialized contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) that have the necessary technology and know-how.



Breakup by Application:

Cancer

Infectious Disease

Gene Editing

Protein Replacement

Infectious disease dominate the market



The mRNA vaccines and therapeutics industry for infectious diseases is majorly influenced by the unprecedented global demand for effective vaccines to combat emergent infectious diseases. This is largely due to the unique ability of mRNA vaccines to be rapidly designed and produced in response to new viral threats. Furthermore, the relatively high efficacy and favorable safety profile of approved mRNA vaccines, such as those from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, is supporting the confidence in this innovative technology.



On the other hand, the cancer application is driven due to the growing global burden of cancer, with increasing incidence rates across various age groups. Along with this, the growing need for effective treatments is propelling research and innovation in mRNA therapeutics. mRNA vaccines have gained substantial attention due to their success in tackling infectious diseases. Technological advancements in bioinformatics and nanotechnology enable the fine-tuning of mRNA vaccines for cancer-specific antigens, further driving this market.



Breakup by End-User:

Hospitals and Clinics

Research Organizations

Others

Hospitals and clinics dominate the market



Numerous factors for hospitals and clinics end-user in the mRNA vaccines and therapeutics industry includes the necessity for efficient, fast-developing vaccines to combat existing and emerging infectious diseases, which was underscored by the successful implementation of mRNA technology. Along with this, the increasing prevalence of cancer and genetic diseases also raises the demand, as mRNA therapeutics provide innovative, personalized treatment approaches. Additionally, the growing awareness and acceptance of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics among medical practitioners and patients also contributes to this growth.



The market drivers for research organizations in the mRNA vaccines and therapeutics industry are largely defined by the growing prevalence of infectious diseases and cancers, increased investment in R&D, and rapid advancements in biotechnology. Additionally, the shifting preference towards personalized medicine, with mRNA therapeutics playing a critical role in this evolution. Governmental support and funding for mRNA research, coupled with a strong pipeline of mRNA-based therapeutics and vaccines in clinical trials, are also significant market drivers.



Breakup by Region:

North America United States Canada

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others

Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others

Latin America Brazil Mexico Others

Middle East and Africa

Europe exhibits a clear dominance, accounting for the largest market share



The mRNA vaccines and therapeutics industry in Europe is driven by ongoing investment in research and development fuels the expansion of the mRNA portfolio beyond vaccines into potential cures for cancer, genetic diseases, and other chronic conditions, further propelling the market growth. The presence of seamless approval processes, implemented during the pandemic, also act as a catalyst, facilitating quicker route-to-market and uptake for novel mRNA products. Moreover, the strong presence of key industry players in the region, underpin the robust growth of the mRNA vaccines and therapeutics market.



On the contrary, Asia Pacific is estimated to expand further in this domain due to the rising prevalence of infectious diseases, and the increased awareness of the need for preventative measures. Technological advancements are also key, as growing research and development capabilities in countries, such as China and India are accelerating the pace of innovative mRNA therapeutics. Additionally, the region's large population base provides a massive potential demand for these vaccines.



Competitive Landscape



The global mRNA vaccines and therapeutics market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing investments in research and development (R&D) to create more effective vaccines and therapeutics, as well as to expand the use of mRNA technology beyond vaccines to a broader range of therapeutic applications, including cancer treatment, cardiovascular diseases, and genetic disorders. Along with this, companies are forging partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, biotech firms, and other pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the development of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. This approach helps to pool resources, share knowledge, and diversify risk.



In addition, companies are working closely with regulatory bodies across the globe to ensure their products meet safety and efficacy requirements. They are conducting extensive clinical trials and are in constant communication with authorities to secure approvals for their products. Furthermore, companies are also investing in efforts to educate the public about the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines, to overcome vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.



The report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the global mRNA vaccines and therapeutics market. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided.

Some of the key players in the market include:

Arcturus Therapeutics Inc.

BioNTech SE

CureVac AG

eTheRNA immunotherapies N.V.

ethris GmbH

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

Moderna Therapeutics Inc.

Translate Bio Inc.

Argos Therapeutics, Inc.

Sangamo Therapeutics Inc.

Pfizer Inc.

Industry Developments:

In January 2023, Arcturus Therapeutics Inc. stated that the clinical trial proposal for the cystic fibrosis drug arct-032 gained clearance to move forward with first-in-human research.

In October 2022, Moderna Therapeutics Inc. revealed that it has acquired an emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine, mRNA-1273.222, which targets the BA.4/BA.5 omicron in children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 17.

In June 2022, CureVac AG announced the purchase of private business Frame Cancer Therapeutics (Frame), a leader in sophisticated genomics and bioinformatics.

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 137 Forecast Period 2023-2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $57.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $72.7 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 2.6% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/n0bhix

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, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Targeted Protein Degradation Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis by Type (PROTAC, LYTACs), Application (Drug Discovery), End Use (Hospitals, Clinical Laboratories), and Region, 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, the publisher has segmented the global targeted protein degradation market report based on type, application, end-use, and region.

Companies Profiled in the Targeted Protein Degradation Market

Bayer AG

Bio-Techne

BOC Sciences

BPS Bioscience, Inc.

BroadPharm

LifeSensors Inc.

MedChemExpress

Merck KGaA

Promega Corporation

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

The global targeted protein degradation market size was estimated at USD 452.8 million in 2023 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 20.72% from 2024 to 2030. The constantly growing frequency of chronic disease conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, along with changing lifestyles and increasing healthcare spending, are accelerating the market growth. The high prevalence of these diseases creates a strong demand for novel treatment options, driving market growth.

For Instance, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that in 2022, around 20 million individuals were newly diagnosed with cancer, and there were 9.7 million cancer-related deaths. It's estimated that 53.5 million people were living with cancer within five years after receiving their diagnosis.







The expanding number of research and development activities in this field provides significant opportunities for the market to grow. For instance, in December 2023, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) approved the Special Research Program (SFB) in Targeted Protein Degradation for a second funding period of another four years. The SFB in Targeted protein degradation is a research initiative focusing on understanding and developing methods to target specific proteins for cell degradation. This program aims to advance the field of targeted protein degradation, which has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential applications in drug discovery and therapeutic interventions.



The supportive regulatory environment, particularly the streamlined approval processes by agencies such as the FDA and EMA, has played a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of TPD-based therapies. The TPD market is driven by rapid advancements in the underlying technologies. The development of innovative approaches, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), molecular glues, and lysosome-targeting chimaeras (LYTACs), has expanded TPD's capabilities to selectively eliminate disease-causing proteins. These technological breakthroughs have opened up new avenues for targeting previously undruggable proteins, driving the growth of the TPD market.



The increasing recognition of the therapeutic potential of targeted protein degradation in addressing previously undruggable targets is a key driver for the targeted protein degradation market. Traditional approaches often struggle with proteins that are difficult to modulate, but technologies such as PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) provide a favorable solution by promoting the degradation of disease-causing proteins. This method has shown considerable promise in treating conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, sparking a surge in research and investment in this area.

The National Institute of Health highlights PROTACs as a leading drug development technology in recent years. The increasing success in preclinical and early-phase clinical trials drives pharmaceutical and biotech companies to integrate targeted protein degradation into their pipelines, recognizing its potential to transform therapeutic strategies.



Market Segmentation

Type (Revenue, USD Million, 2018-2030)

PROTAC

Molecular Glues

LYTACs

Others

Application (Revenue, USD Million, 2018-2030)

Drug Discovery

Therapy Development

Cancer

Neurology

Infectious Diseases

Cardiovascular Diseases

Others

End-use (Revenue, USD Million, 2018-2030)

Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

Academic & Research Institutes

Hospitals & Clinical Laboratories

Others

Region (Revenue, USD Million, 2018-2030)

North America U.S. Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Denmark Sweden Norway

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Thailand

Latin America Brazil Argentina MEA South Africa

Saudi Arabia UAE Kuwait



Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $452.8 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $1.69 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 20.7% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/isgr4t

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
HONG KONG, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In today's increasingly competitive cryptocurrency market, many platforms are burdened with complex rules and cumbersome verification processes. However, BexBack, with its clean and efficient design and user-first philosophy, is redefining the essence of cryptocurrency trading through their latest offerings.

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BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives trading platform offering 100x leverage, no KYC, and a seamless trading experience. It's perfect for beginners with its 10 BTC demo account for risk-free practice, and for experienced traders with its zero-slippage, zero-spread environment and advanced features.

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Contact: business@bexback.com

Contact:

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business@bexback.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37dfce5c-e343-4047-9f43-42d9c5adc931

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b21d9fa-5d3b-44f0-bac1-ee0ce6b4dfbd

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New York, USA, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Market Overview

A recent report by Polaris Market Research projects that the size of the global carbon credit validation verification and certification market will increase at a CAGR of 24.6%, from USD 222.46 million in 2024 to USD 1,998.43 million by 2034.

Market Introduction

Tradeable certificates that signify a minimization of one metric ton of carbon dioxide that is, CO2e emissions, are called carbon credits. Companies and governments use them to reduce emissions. Carbon credit validation, verification, and certification are processes that ensure the integrity of carbon credits and the credibility of the carbon market. These procedures are carried out by independent third-party auditors known as validation/verification bodies (VVBs). VVBs are experts in the technical field, program, or sectoral scope they audit. The carbon credit certification process is important because it ensures that carbon credits accurately reflect emission reductions and protects the integrity of carbon markets.

Download Free Sample PDF Copy of Report:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-credit-validation-verification-and-certification-market/request-for-sample?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

Carbon Credit Validation Verification and Certification Market Report Scope and Attributes

Report Attribute Details Market Value in 2024 USD 222.46 million Market value by 2032 USD 1,998.43 million CAGR 24.6 % from 2025-2034 Base Year 2024 Historical Data 20202023 Forecast Period 20252034

Prominent Companies in Carbon Credit Validation Verification and Certification Market

Prominent players in the carbon credit validation verification and certification market are investing heavily in R&D to broaden their product offerings, which will accelerate the market's growth during the forecast period. Market participants must provide affordable products to grow and endure in a more competitive and evolving market environment.

SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance SA.

TUV SUD

Verra

The ERM International Group Limited

SustainCERT

CarbonCheck

AENOR

Bureau Veritas

Gold Standard

ACR

DNV GL

SCS Global Services

Intertek Group Plc

Request for Discount on this Report Before Purchase:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-credit-validation-verification-and-certification-market/request-for-discount-pricing?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

Growth Drivers of Carbon Credit Validation Verification and Certification Market

Growing Business Sustainability Projects

Businesses are increasingly open about their governance, social, and environmental (ESG) performance. VV&C is critical for open reporting because validated carbon credits add legitimacy to organizations' sustainability claims. Thus, they help in boosting the market.

Growing Developments in Blockchain, AI, and Satellite Imaging

Analysis of large datasets using artificial intelligence (AI), satellite imagery, and blockchain technologies improves the reliability, transparency, and efficiency of carbon offset projects. As a result, advancements in these technologies help to drive the expansion of the global carbon credit validation verification and certification market.

Regional Overview

The research report covers North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America had the highest revenue share in the global carbon credit validation verification and certification market in 2024, owing to strict regulatory frameworks and a strong corporate commitment to sustainability. Companies from various industries, including energy and transportation, actively seek compliance credits to meet stringent regulations.

Because of the ambitious climate goals and extensive regulatory policies, the European carbon credit validation verification and certification market is expected to grow with significantly higher CAGR over the forecast period. Countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany are leading the way in this expansion, encouraging innovative approaches to sustainability and carbon reduction.

Recent Industry Developments in Carbon Credit Validation Verification and Certification Market

In September 2024, The ERM International Group Limited, the world's largest advisory firm dedicated solely to sustainability, has launched an end-to-end carbon credit sourcing portal to provide ERM clients with access to carbon credits that complement their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies and sustainability objectives.

In May 2024, The ERM International Group Limited has announced the launch of ERM Climate Markets, a new business line designed to assist businesses in reducing unabated greenhouse gas emissions by investing in impactful carbon credits that support their decarbonization and overall sustainability goals.





Inquire more about this report before purchase:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-credit-validation-verification-and-certification-market/inquire-before-buying?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

Carbon Credit Validation Verification and Certification Market Segmentation

By Service Outlook

Validation

Verification

Certification

By Type Outlook

Compliance

Voluntary

By Sector Outlook

Agriculture & Forestry

Energy & Utilities

Industrial

Transportation

Others

By Regional Outlook

North America US Canada

Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain Netherlands Russia Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India Malaysia South Korea Indonesia Australia Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Israel South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa

Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America



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Fort Worth, TX , Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Justin Sparks, principal attorney at the Sparks Law Firm, has once again been named a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine, marking over a decade of recognition for his exceptional work in criminal defense. Since first being included on this prestigious list in 2012, Sparks has maintained his reputation as one of Fort Worths most accomplished legal professionals.

Fort Worth Magazine conducts a rigorous selection process each year to compile its list of Top Attorneys, relying on nominations from attorneys throughout the region. These nominations are then reviewed by a qualified panel to ensure that only the most highly regarded professionals are honored.

In 2024, Sparks was once again recognized for his expertise, diligence, and commitment to securing positive outcomes for his clients. His inclusion underscores his standing as a trusted advocate in the legal community.



Sparks Law Firm

Sparks specializes in criminal defense and has earned widespread acclaim for his ability to handle complex cases with precision and care. Known for his unwavering support of his clients, he provides counsel in cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felony charges. His personalized approach and deep understanding of the legal system have consistently led to favorable resolutions for those he represents.

The recognition by Fort Worth Magazine for 2024 is truly an honor, said Sparks. It is a privilege to stand alongside so many outstanding attorneys and to continue serving our clients with the best possible legal representation.

Sparks Law Firm, located in the heart of Fort Worth, has become synonymous with trusted legal services. The firms areas of expertise extend beyond criminal defense to include juvenile crimes, DWI cases, domestic violence, and white-collar crime. Justin Sparks and his team take pride in offering a personalized approach to every case, ensuring that clients feel heard and supported throughout their legal journey.

What sets the Sparks Law Firm apart is its commitment to providing a client-focused experience that prioritizes clear communication, detailed preparation, and zealous advocacy. The firm serves clients across Fort Worth and the surrounding areas, including Tarrant County. With a deep understanding of the complexities of the Texas legal system, Sparks and his team deliver exceptional outcomes while protecting their clients rights and interests.

In addition to his legal work, Sparks is actively involved in the Fort Worth community. He believes in the importance of giving back and supporting initiatives that strengthen the citys fabric. His dedication to upholding justice and fairness continues to resonate with clients, colleagues, and the broader community alike.

With over a decade of recognition from Fort Worth Magazine, Sparks track record speaks volumes about his dedication and skills. His ongoing success solidifies his position as one of the most respected attorneys in the region. Prospective clients seeking experienced representation can rest assured that they are in capable hands with Justin Sparks and his accomplished team.

For more information about Justin Sparks and Sparks Law Firm, visit its website at https://www.sparkslawfirm.com/.

About Sparks Law Firm

The Sparks Law Firm is a Fort Worth-based legal firm specializing in criminal defense. With a focus on personalized representation, the firm is committed to protecting clients rights and achieving favorable results.

###

Media Contact

Sparks Law Firm

603 East Belknap Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

(817) 334-0300

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Austin, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Analgesics Market Size Analysis

According to SNS Insider, The global Analgesics Market size was valued at USD 47.32 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 75.73 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.39% over the forecast period 2024-2032.

This market growth is attributed to factors such as the increasing prevalence of chronic pain conditions, the rising demand for over-the-counter pain relief products, and the growing trend of self-medication, especially in developed economies.

Market Overview

The analgesics market is witnessing steady growth driven by the growing demand for effective pain management solutions across various patient demographics. Pain management solutions such as non-opioid analgesics, including NSAIDs and acetaminophen, continue to dominate the market due to their accessibility and relatively low cost. Chronic pain, often associated with conditions like arthritis, back pain, and neuropathic pain, remains a leading factor driving the demand for pain relief medications.





Get a Sample Report of Analgesics Market@ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/1290

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift toward non-opioid analgesics, fueled by growing awareness of the potential risks and side effects associated with opioid medications. The increasing focus on the safe management of pain, coupled with the rise in the geriatric population, is expected to bolster the market further. Additionally, the increasing adoption of online pharmacies and e-commerce platforms is further enhancing access to pain management solutions, thus expanding the market reach globally.

Demand for combination analgesics and the growing preference for transdermal administration, especially for chronic pain conditions, are key trends supporting market expansion. As a result, both pharmaceutical companies and research institutions are investing in novel analgesic formulations and delivery methods to meet the rising demand.

Major Players Analysis Listed in this Report are:

Bayer AG

Endo International plc

Assertio Holdings Inc.

Janssen Global Services LLC

GSK plc

AbbVie Inc.

Novartis AG

Viatris Inc.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Sanofi

Pfizer Inc.

Merck & Co. Inc.

AstraZeneca

Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC

Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd.

Lupin

Fresenius Kabi AG

Aurobindo Pharma

Cipla

Bausch Health Companies Inc.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC

Apotex Inc.

Lilly

Analgesics Market Report Scope:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 US$ 47.32 billion Market Size by 2032 US$ 75.73 billion CAGR CAGR of 5.39% From 2024 to 2032 Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024-2032 Historical Data 2020-2022 Key Regional Coverage North America (US, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Eastern Europe [Poland, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Rest of Eastern Europe] Western Europe] Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Rest of Western Europe]), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (Middle East [UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Rest of Middle East]), Africa [Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of Africa], Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia Rest of Latin America)

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Segment Analysis

By Type

In 2023, non-opioid analgesics dominated the market, accounting for approximately 65.0% of the market share. This dominance is primarily driven by the widespread use of non-opioid analgesics like NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin) and acetaminophen, which are frequently used to treat mild to moderate pain conditions, such as headaches, arthritis, and muscle pain. The preference for these drugs stems from their accessibility, affordability, and relatively low risk compared to opioids. With increasing awareness about the adverse effects of opioids, non-opioid analgesics continue to be the most favored choice for pain relief.

By Route of Administration

The oral route of administration dominated the market in 2023, holding an estimated 75.0% market share. Oral analgesics, in the form of tablets and capsules, are the most commonly used pain relief methods. Their popularity is attributed to their ease of use, convenience, and the widespread availability of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics in pharmacies. With consumers increasingly preferring self-medication for minor pain relief, oral analgesics continue to be the go-to choice.

By Distribution Channel

In 2023, retail pharmacies accounted for 45.0% of the market share, maintaining their dominance in the distribution of analgesics. This dominance is due to the high availability of OTC products and the convenience of in-person purchases. Consumers regularly visit retail pharmacies for quick and easy access to pain relief solutions.

Analgesics Market Key Segmentation:

By Drug Type

Opioids

Non-opioids

Compound medication

By Route of Administration

Oral

Transdermal

Parenteral

Others

By Distribution Channel

Hospital pharmacies

Retail pharmacies

Online pharmacies

By Application

Musculoskeletal

Migraine

Neuropathic

Obstetrical

Surgical and Trauma

Cancer

Fibromyalgia

Pain due to Burns

Dental/Facial

Pediatric

Others

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Recent Developments

Dec 2024 : Researchers from UFGD, UFMS, Unicamp, and Unesp discovered that compounds found in custard apple (Annona squamosa) leaves, including palmatine, possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperalgesic, and anti-arthritic properties. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new therapeutic options for pain management, particularly for those seeking natural and plant-based alternatives.

: Researchers from UFGD, UFMS, Unicamp, and Unesp discovered that compounds found in custard apple (Annona squamosa) leaves, including palmatine, possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperalgesic, and anti-arthritic properties. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new therapeutic options for pain management, particularly for those seeking natural and plant-based alternatives. July 2024: Concentric Analgesics announced the peer-reviewed publication of positive Phase 2 clinical data for Vocacapsaicin, a new investigational therapy for postsurgical pain relief. Vocacapsaicin is the first therapy to demonstrate over seven days of effective pain relief, reducing the need for opioids. The company is now preparing for Phase 3 trials to advance this promising treatment.

Regional Analysis

North America accounted for the largest share of the global analgesics market in 2023. The United States is a major contributor to this market share due to the high incidence of chronic pain conditions and the availability of a wide range of pain management products, including prescription and over-the-counter analgesics. The region's significant market share is further supported by the growing healthcare infrastructure, high consumer awareness, and the increasing preference for non-opioid analgesics.

Europe is expected to be stable, with a growth rate that is being fueled by the geriatric population and the increasing healthcare expenditure. The market in this region is shifting towards more non-opioid pain management solutions, especially as regulatory bodies impose stricter controls on opioid usage.

Asia-Pacific is rapidly growing driven by high growth of urbanization, expanding the middle class, and improving healthcare access. Countries, including China and India, show a significant demand both in over-the-counter as well as prescription analgesics. The region also profits from healthcare technology advancements with an emphasis on enhancing services for treating pain. Further, development in the area of online pharmacies is influencing growth.





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Table of Contents  Major Key Points

1. Introduction

2. Executive Summary

3. Research Methodology

4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis

5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting

6. Competitive Landscape

7. Analgesics Market Segmentation, by Drug Type

8. Analgesics Market Segmentation, by Route of Administration

9. Analgesics Market Segmentation, by Distribution Channel

10. Analgesics Market Segmentation, by Application

11. Regional Analysis

12. Company Profiles

13. Use Cases and Best Practices

14. Conclusion

Access Complete Report Details of Analgesics Market Analysis & Outlook 2024-2032@ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/analgesics-market-1290

About Us:

SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world.
TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While an honest workplace environment can boost productivity and employee loyalty, there are some issues and topics that are not appropriate for discussion in the workplace that can harm workplace productivity, according to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.

Almost all Canadian hiring managers (99%) say that employees being able to be honest is an important part of being a good manager, with a majority (58%) responding that it is absolutely essential.

A large majority of Canadian companies (84%) say they have successfully cultivated a safe and trusting environment that encourages honest communication. In addition, three-quarters (76%) say they have the right systems and tools in place to allow for constructive criticism to be received well.

In fact, an overwhelming 94% feel that employees can speak openly with someone in the company about their concerns or issues, with managers/supervisors (66%) and peers/colleagues (57%) being the most common points of contact.

However, conversations about employees' personal lives can be more complex.

While three-quarters of hiring managers (76%) believe employees should feel comfortable discussing personal issues with their manager if it impacts their work, half (50%) find it challenging to help employees navigate these issues (e.g., health, relationships, finances) to improve productivity.

A large proportion of hiring managers (42%) also report difficulty helping employees set professional boundaries to prevent personal issues from affecting their work. This difficulty may stem from a lack of training, as only one-third of hiring managers (35%) say their company provides resources or training on managing employees' personal issues.

The Fine Line of Workplace Honesty

But there are limits to what is appropriate for employees to be honest about at work. Half of Canadian companies say employees can be too honest at work, which includes sharing too much personal information about themselves or a colleague (59%), criticizing colleagues or the company (59%), gossiping (53%), using personal insults when giving feedback (43%) and sharing too many details about their personal issues (e.g., their health, intimate relationships or finances) (38%).

Examples of overly honest behavior reported by hiring managers include:

They started talking about their marriage issues, which was bad since the persons wife worked at the same company and it was creating issues.  29-year-old female hiring decision-maker from a company with 100+ employees

They gave me too much information on their sore belly and resulting bathroom issues.  55-year-old female hiring decision-maker from a company with 100+ employees

Talked badly about the owners family.  45-year-old male hiring decision-maker from a company with 10-99 employees

They mentioned things about their medical condition that werent necessary to share with me.  35-year-old female hiring decision-maker from a company with 100+ employees

Too much honesty can have damaging impacts, as nearly two-thirds of companies (62%) feel being too honest at work will damage an employees professional reputation. A majority of companies also say that employees discussing too many details about their personal lives at work can hinder workplace productivity (59%).

Balancing Honesty and Professionalism

Half of job seekers (51%) agree that employees can be too honest at work and that this can ruin an employees reputation (63%) and negatively impact workplace productivity (56%).

At the top of job seekers list of what employees should avoid at work is sharing personal information about themselves or a colleague (60%), gossiping (51%), sharing details about personal issues (43%) and using personal insults when giving feedback (42%).

When it comes to personal issues impacting their work, however, less than half of job seekers (40%) say they would be comfortable discussing it with their manager.

But a majority of job seekers (76%) say they can receive constructive criticism from their management and set professional boundaries so their work is not impacted by their personal issues (73%).

While honesty is crucial, the wisdom to communicate thoughtfully is equally important, said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO. In a professional setting, discerning what to share and keep private is key. It's important to remember that some personal situations are best discussed with confidantes outside of work.

Survey Methodology

The Job Insights survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between May 16  June 3, 2024, among 504 Canadian hiring decision-makers between May 16  June 3, 2024.

The Job Seeker Report was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between May 28  June 10, 2024, among 505 adults ages 18 and older.

For full survey methodologies, please contact Ana Curic at Ana@MapleLeafStrategies.com.

If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Ana Curic at

(613) 858-2622 or email Ana@MapleLeafStrategies.com.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 492,000 people globally in 2023 and more than 11 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.ca.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c0578cf-7868-4a1d-9760-eb7cfc417df4
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SAGA Metals Corp. ("SAGA" or the "Company") (TSXV: SAGA) (OTCQB: SAGMF) (FSE: 20H), a North American exploration company focused on critical mineral discovery in North America, is pleased to announce the completion of a targeted geophysics program over the Hawkeye Zone at the Radar Titanium-Vanadium (Ti-V) project.

Key Geophysics Highlights

Expanded Zone Width: Geophysical surveys suggest the Hawkeye Zones potential width has increased from 500 meters to 1 kilometer .

Geophysical surveys suggest the Hawkeye Zones potential width has increased from to . Significant Strike Length: Surface sampling and geophysical results infer a 4-kilometer mineralized strike length.

Surface sampling and geophysical results infer a mineralized strike length. High-Grade Mineralization: The Hawkeye Zone includes high-grade mineralization, with samples returning 2.5%  11.1% TiO and 0.2%  0.66% VO.

The Hawkeye Zone includes high-grade mineralization, with samples returning and Mineralized System Defined: Advanced geophysics clearly outlines the phases of a layered mafic intrusion, creating drill-ready targets.

The geophysics results validate the exploration potential of the Radar Ti-V Project, located 10 kilometers south of Cartwright in Labrador, Canada. The project spans 17,250 hectares and benefits from road access, supporting efficient exploration and development.





Map of the Radar Ti-V project and its proximity to the town of Cartwright, Labrador

High-Resolution Strategic Magnetic and Electromagnetic (EM) Survey Pinpoints Priority Drill Targets at Radars Hawkeye Zone

SAGA Metals has successfully completed a detailed magnetic and electromagnetic (EM) survey over the northwest section of the Hawkeye Zone at the Radar Project. Utilizing ground-based equipment on a tightly spaced grid, with 25 meters between stations and 50-meter line spacing, the survey delivered high-resolution magnetic and conductivity data. This effort has proven highly effective in mapping magnetite-rich zones within the Gabbro Norite host rock, a key indicator of titanium (TiO) and vanadium (VO) mineralization.

The magnetic survey was so successful that the high-resolution imagery combined with sample assays and field observations can be used to map some of the most distinguishing features of the system throughout this zone.

Spanning nearly 1 kilometer in width with a near-vertical orientation the Hawkeye zone is the most prospective target on the property with geophysics now defining the phases of a layered mafic intrusion sampled in the 2023-2024 field programs. The results of this survey provide exceptional clarity, combining high-definition imagery with sample assays and field observations to identify distinct geological phases within the Hawkeye Zone. The eastern portion of the zone is characterized by alternating silica-rich (magnetite-depleted) bands and high-grade magnetite layers, with titanium and vanadium grades ranging from 5 to 11% TiO and 0.3 to 0.66% VO. Moving westward, the system transitions into gabbro norite rocks containing disseminated magnetite. These rocks exhibit consistent but lower grades, averaging 3 to 5% TiO and 0.1 to 0.2% VO.

Geophysics completed over a targeted area within the Hawkeye Zone increasing width to 1km and a projected 4km strike

Hawkeye Zone Yields Strong Titanium and Vanadium Anomalies in Soil and Rock Samples:

On October 22, 2024, the Company released assay results from its 2024 summer field program (see the full release here).

Rock samples collected from the Hawkeye Zone consistently returned values between 2.5 - 11.1% TiO2 and 0.2 - 0.66% V2O5, confirming the presence of high-grade titanium and vanadium. These results, combined with the geophysics, underscore the potential of the Hawkeye Zone and moves it into drill-ready status.





Ti% in soil samples combined with TiO2% taken in rock samples over the main exposure of the Hawkeye Zone





V ppm in soil samples combined with V2O5% taken in rock samples over the main exposure of the Hawkeye Zone

Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of SAGA Metals Corp. commented: The radar project is coming together, revealing itself as a textbook example of a Ti-V enriched layered mafic intrusion. The Hawkeye Zone at the Radar Project is now drill ready! Our confidence in the zone comes from our field mapping, sample cover, assay consistency and the amazing detail in the geophysics. They all support each other in geological data and observations. SAGA has spent 2 years compiling this data and building confidence in the Radar Project. The next step is to drill!

Market Marker Engagement:

Additionally, SAGA announces that, subject to regulatory approval, it has engaged the services of Independent Trading Group ("ITG") to provide market-making services in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange TSXV, CSE, Cboe Canada policies. ITG will trade shares of the Company on the CSE/ Cboe Canada/ TSXV and all other trading venues with the objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of the Company's common shares.

Under the agreement, ITG will receive compensation of CAD$6,000 per month, payable monthly in advance. The agreement is for an initial term of one month and will renew for additional one-month terms unless terminated. The agreement may be terminated by either party with 30 days' notice. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement and ITG will not receive shares or options as compensation. ITG and the Company are unrelated and unaffiliated entities and at the time of the agreement, neither ITG nor its principals have an interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company.

About Independent Trading Group

Independent Trading Group (ITG) Inc. is a Toronto based CIRO dealer-member that specializes in market making, liquidity provision, agency execution, ultra-low latency connectivity, and bespoke algorithmic trading solutions. Established in 1992, with a focus on market structure, execution and trading, ITG has leveraged its own proprietary technology to deliver high quality liquidity provision and execution services to a broad array of public issuers and institutional investors.

About SAGA Metals Corp.

SAGA Metals Corp. is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of critical minerals that support the global transition to green energy. The company's flagship asset, the Double Mer Uranium Project, is located in Labrador, Canada, covering 25,600 hectares. This project features uranium radiometrics that highlight an 18-kilometer east-west trend, with a confirmed 14-kilometer section producing samples as high as 4,281ppm U 3 O 8 and spectrometer readings of 22,000cps.

In addition to its uranium focus, SAGA owns the Legacy Lithium Property in Quebec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This project, developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, has been expanded through the acquisition of the Amirault Lithium Project. Together, these properties cover 65,849 hectares and share significant geological continuity with other major players in the area, including Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Lithium.

SAGA also holds secondary exploration assets in Labrador, where the company is focused on the discovery of titanium, vanadium, and iron ore. With a portfolio that spans key minerals crucial to the green energy transition, SAGA is strategically positioned to play an essential role in the clean energy future.

For more information, contact:

SAGA Metals Corp.

Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (778) 930-1321

Email: info@sagametals.com

www.sagametals.com

Qualified Person

Peter Webster P.Geo. CEO of Mercator Geological Services Limited is an Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to the Radar Ti-V Project disclosed in this news release.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Disclaimer

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipates, expects, believes, and similar expressions or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the prospective nature of the Radar Titanium-Vanadium Project and future exploration programs and services and payment to be provided under the Market Maker engagement. 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 Companys expectations include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage, risks and uncertainties involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and the risks detailed in the Companys Prospectus filed under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca and in the continuous disclosure filings made by the Company with securities regulations from time to time. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by applicable law.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d236bec3-0574-44d7-9860-f4e49d0db1d2

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e15d6bd-0a57-4aea-9b91-d55a5fb558ec

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MONTREAL, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Metals Incorporated (the "Company" or "Osisko Metals") (TSX-V: OM; OTCQX: OMZNF; FRANKFURT: OB51) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously-announced "bought deal" brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of C$107.4 million, including the partial exercise the option granted to the Underwriters (as defined herein). In connection with the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of (i) 70,326,229 flow-through units of the Company ("FT Units") consisting of 64,215,117 FT Units at an issue price of C$0.50 per FT Unit and 6,111,112 FT Units at an issue price of C$0.54 per FT Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$35,407,558.98 and (ii) 277,051,466 units of the Company ("HD Units") at a price of C$0.26 per HD Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$72,033,381.16.

Each FT Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), each of which qualifies as a "flow-through share" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec)). Each HD Unit consists of one Common Share and one-half of one Warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.35 per Warrant Share for a period of two years following the closing date of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the HD Units towards the advancement of Companys assets in Quebec and the Northwest Territories, including the advancement of the Gaspe Copper project to a construction decision, and for general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the FT Units will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's projects in Quebec. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024. In addition, with respect to subscribers who are eligible individuals under the Taxation Act (Quebec), the Qualifying Expenditures will also qualify for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.10 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) and for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec surface mining exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.17.2 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).

The Offering was led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. as sole bookrunner together with BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and National Bank Financial, as lead underwriters, for and on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters that included Scotia Capital Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and TD Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters"). In consideration for their services, the Underwriters were paid a cash commission equal to 5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering.

All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date hereof. The Offering remains subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Certain directors and officers of the Company subscribed for an aggregate 3,464,931 HD Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $900,882.06. Each director and officer of the Company is considered an "insider" of the Company and, as a result, their participation under the Offering is considered to be a "related party transaction" for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements available under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves insiders, is not more than 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves insiders, is not more than 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file the material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing date of the Offering as the details of the Offering and the participation of insiders therein was not settled until shortly prior to the closing of the Offering, and the Company wished to close the Offering on an expedited basis for sound business reasons.

Certain incoming directors and officers of the Company have also subscribed for an aggregate of 11,208,144 HD Units under the Offering for an aggregate gross proceeds of $2,914,177.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not 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 any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Investor Rights Agreement

Concurrently with the closing of the Offering, the Company and a strategic investor (the "Strategic Investor") entered into an investor rights agreement, pursuant to which the Strategic Investor has been granted certain rights, including the right to board representation in certain circumstances, the right to participate in future offerings of securities of the Company, and top-up rights, in each case subject to certain minimum ownership thresholds and certain other conditions.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Jeff Hussey, a director of the Company, and a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

About Osisko Metals

Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals sector, with a focus on copper and zinc. The Company acquired a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspe Copper mine from Glencore Canada Corporation in July 2023. The Gaspe Copper mine is located near Murdochville in Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula. The Company is currently focused on resource expansion of the Gaspe Copper system, with current Indicated Mineral Resources of 824 Mt grading 0.34% CuEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of 670 Mt grading 0.38% CuEq (in compliance with NI 43-101). For more information, see Osisko Metals' November 14, 2024 news release entitled "Osisko Metals Announces Significant Increase in Mineral Resource at Gaspe Copper". Gaspe Copper hosts the largest undeveloped copper resource in eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Quebec.

In addition to the Gaspe Copper project, the Company is working with Appian Capital Advisory LLP through the Pine Point Mining Limited joint venture to advance one of Canada's largest past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point project, located in the Northwest Territories. The current mineral resource estimate for the Pine Point project consists of Indicated Mineral Resources of 49.5 Mt at 5.52% ZnEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of 8.3 Mt at 5.64% ZnEq (in compliance with NI 43-101). For more information, see Osisko Metals' June 25, 2024 news release entitled "Osisko Metals releases Pine Point mineral resource estimate: 49.5 million tonnes of indicated resources at 5.52% ZnEq". The Pine Point project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, close to infrastructure, with paved road access, an electrical substation and 100 kilometers of viable haul roads.

For further information on this news release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact:

Robert Wares, Chief Executive Officer of Osisko Metals Incorporated

Email: info@osiskometals.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "potential", "feasibility", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to, among other things: the ability for the Company to obtain the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange; the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering; the tax treatment of the FT Units; the timing of incurring the Qualifying Expenditures and the renunciation of the Qualifying Expenditures; the ability to advance Gaspe Copper to a construction decision (if at all); the ability to increase the Company's trading liquidity and enhance its capital markets presence; the potential re-rating of the Company; the ability for the Company to unlock the full potential of its assets and achieve success; the ability for the Company to create value for its shareholders; the advancement of the Pine Point project; the anticipated resource expansion of the Gaspe Copper system; and Gaspe Copper hosting the largest undeveloped copper resource in eastern North America.

Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: the ability of exploration results, including drilling, to accurately predict mineralization; errors in geological modelling; insufficient data; equity and debt capital markets; future spot prices of copper and zinc; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Company's public disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Metals' issuer profile. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  For the fourth year in a row, Purdue University is the only higher education institution to be named to Fast Company magazines prestigious Brands That Matter, an annual list recognizing and honoring organizations for their ability to convey their brand, perform their mission, and advance their ideals with intention and authenticity.

As one of only four honorees selected all four years since the awards inception in 2021, Purdue continues on a winning streak matched by only three other world-renowned brands: Impossible Foods, Sesame Workshop and Vital Farms.

Fast Company received more than 1,200 applications for the 2024 award, ultimately selecting an exclusive lineup of 129 honorees that includes such notable brands as American Express, Disney and e.l.f. Beauty.

This year Purdues application showcased the universitys global-scale impact demonstrated through creating world- and industry-changing innovations, providing greater access to education through large-scale partnerships and collaborations, and developing sustainable local and global economies for future workforces.

Purdues selection as a Brand That Matters for the fourth year in a row is another reflection of both the outstanding work by our marketing and communications teams and the continued elevation of Boilermakers visibility in American higher education, Purdue President Mung Chiang said.

Purdue traces its proactive approach in addressing the worlds most formidable challenges to its founding as a land-grant institution, a mission recently summarized by Chiang as discovery with delivery.

By emphasizing multidisciplinary research that delivers innovation to the world, the university positions itself at the forefront of cutting-edge and trailblazing technology, such as semiconductor and microelectronics research.

In its 2024 Brands That Matter submission, Purdue emphasized the following demonstrations of delivering global impact:

In 2024, Purdue broadened its research base with the opening of its first urban expansion of the West Lafayette campus to downtown Indianapolis. The combined West Lafayette and Indianapolis campuses serve as gateways to Americas Hard-Tech Corridor, a 65-mile stretch of highway that is evolving into an ecosystem of academic excellence and serving as a critical pipeline of workforce development.

In addition to Fast Companys Brands That Matter honor, Purdue has garnered unprecedented worldwide accolades and rankings, including those that place the universitys name among other world-renowned brands. Last week Boilers to Mars, the universitys first-ever short film, was named to the short list of the coveted Campaign BIG Global Awards alongside Amazon, Nestle, SiriusXM and British Airways.

Other prestigious honors and top rankings Purdue has earned:

The university was previously honored in Fast Companys education category but now is classified in the heritage category. Kelly Hiller, Purdue vice president of marketing, said the heritage category represents iconic legacy brands that stand the test of time.

This award highlights both the tenacious spirit of every Boilermaker who wakes up every day ready to tackle the next big challenge, as well as the culture and heart of an elite team of storytellers who capture that energy and make sure it shows through the Purdue brand, Hiller said. To receive this honor from Fast Company, again and again, is a testament to the culture of persistent and authentic storytelling excellence we pursue every day.

In September, Purdues marketing department announced a strategic rebranding to reflect its capabilities and role within the institution. Now operating as the in-house marketing agency Purdue Brand Studio, the team is building on a track record of award-winning marketing campaigns and industry recognition, such as the latest from Fast Company.

The fall issue of Fast Company magazine, including the complete list of 2024 Brands That Matter, is available online now and will be on newsstands beginning December 17.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdues main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap  including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative  at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

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Dublin, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cloud Services Brokerage (CSB) Market Forecast (2025-2033) by Platform, End-user Industry, Countries and Company Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Cloud Services Brokerage market is anticipated to increase from US$11.46 billion in 2024 to reach US$42.44 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 15.66% from 2025 to 2033. The Cloud Services Brokerage market growth potential will be on account of an increase in cloud-based services, adoption of AI, big data analytics, IoT, technological advancement, and innovations.







Growth Drivers for the Cloud Services Brokerage Market

Improving Adoption of Cloud in Industries



There is a major growth driver for the Cloud Services Brokerage market; this is the increased adoption of cloud computing across several industries. Most businesses when transitioning to the cloud tend to utilize various cloud services from different providers, thus making management tricky. CSBs make it easier by acting as a bridge between organizations and actual cloud implementations, thereby aiding in integration, management, and optimization of their cloud services. Apparently compelled by customers' needs to adopt cloud services with minimal failures, scalability, and flexibility, the demand for CSBs is growing. As businesses seek means to extract maximum value from cloud investments and optimize operations, they would need CSBs to help iron out their entry into it.



Growing Demand for Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Solutions



In the backdrop of business-onboarding in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments to avoid vendor lock-in and achieve flexibility, the adoption of Cloud Services Brokerage has gained momentum. CSBs provide organizations with an ability to manage harmoniously multiple cloud environments with such performance being optimal and safe in conformance with all platforms. In this scenario of cloud services being adopted either from public, private, or on-premises by companies, CSBs come with the required tools to aggregate, monitor, and fine-tune diverse infrastructures of clouds. With the complexity that a multi-cloud setup offers, CSBs have become absolutely necessary in dealing with business strategies on effective management and optimization of cloud strategies for a firm.



Cost Optimization and Resource Management



Clouds facilitate more services to be moved into the service, meaning firms now must consider how their services are being utilized in this respect. Cloud Services Brokers offer an opportunity for such businesses to optimize and minimize cloud expenses by providing them with tools to track and assist in optimizing cloud usage while only paying for what they need. CSBs allow organizations to monitor the consumption of their cloud services and identify those inefficiencies that would be able to make them take informed decisions on how to optimize resources. Indeed, with centralized management of each and every cloud infrastructure, companies can now control their expenses and utilization of resources and ensure they do not exceed, making them integral for businesses looking to maximize the cost-effectiveness of their cloud infrastructure.



Canada Cloud Services Brokerage Market



Hence, the Canadian Cloud Services Brokerage market is growing at a rapid pace as cloud usage continues to increase across different markets and there is a growing demand for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud solutions. As the Canadian companies attempt to optimize their cloud infrastructure, CSBs simplify the management complexity by providing a platform that aggregates various cloud providers onto one single platform. The further needs for cost optimization, resource management, and seamless integration across different cloud environments help support the market. With a focus on scalability, flexibility, and increasing efficiency in operations, the CSB market for Canada is poised to continue growth where it may be a benefit of sectors such as finance, healthcare, and retail. April 2024 marked Telehouse's coming launch of Telehouse Canada, bringing to Canadian businesses the enhanced IT infrastructure and connectivity services needed to power Canadian growth and innovation. France Cloud Services Brokerage Market



France CSB market



Increasingly, French organizations are looking for easy and efficient ways to manage these complex, costly, and sometimes exposed cloud environments. CSBs offer critical services around cloud integration, resource optimization, and vendor management-and can greatly help businesses simplify their adoption of the cloud. The growth of demand for security, compliance, and performance monitoring by different cloud platforms compels the market even more. Companies from various domains such as finance, health care, and manufacturing are shifting to the cloud; therefore, their CSB market in France is expanding. China Cloud Services Brokerage Market



China's Cloud Services Brokerage (CSB) market



With more and more Chinese businesses moving towards multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies, the need to efficiently manage multiple cloud environments grows exponentially. CSBs can facilitate streamlined procurements of cloud services, limit resource wastages, and make for easy integrations in Organizations. Cost savings, security and agility- it is now becoming integral for the rapidly growing Chinese digital economy. This is backed by government support for cloud initiatives and expansion in local cloud service providers. South Africa Cloud Services Brokerage Market



South Africa cloud services brokerage market



With growing demands for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud solutions, CSBs are highly required to help organizations manage their cloud environments and optimize performance. South African companies use CSBs to have a streamlined integration process with clouds, reduce costs, and use resources more efficiently in multiple platforms. The requirements of security superiority, regulatory compliance, and the need for better performance also fuel the market. With increased adoption of clouds, the demand for CSBs in South Africa will continue to grow massively. Telkom subsidiary BCX launched its Africa Local Public (ALP) Cloud service from two Johannesburg-based data centers last week, in partnership with Alibaba Cloud.



Cloud Services Brokerage Company Analysis



The major players in the Cloud Services Brokerage market are Accenture PLC, Capgemini SE, NEC Corporation, DXC Technology Company, Rightscale Inc., Wipro Limited, IBM Corporation, NTT Data Inc., and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.



Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2024-2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $11.46 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $42.44 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 15.6% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered



1. Introduction



2. Research & Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Growth Drivers

4.2 Challenges



5. Global Cloud Services Brokerage Market



6. Market Share Analysis

6.1 Platform

6.2 Deployment Model

6.3 Enterprise

6.4 End User

6.5 Country



7. Platform

7.1 Internal Cloud Services Brokerage

7.2 External Cloud Services Brokerage



8. Deployment Model

8.1 Public

8.2 Private

8.3 Hybrid



9. Enterprise

9.1 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)

9.2 Large Enterprise



10. End User

10.1 IT and Telecom

10.2 BFSI

10.3 Retail

10.4 Healthcare

10.5 Government

10.6 Manufacturing

10.7 Other End-user Industries



11. Country

11.1 North America

11.1.1 United States

11.1.2 Canada

11.2 Europe

11.2.1 France

11.2.2 Germany

11.2.3 Italy

11.2.4 Spain

11.2.5 United Kingdom

11.2.6 Belgium

11.2.7 Netherlands

11.2.8 Turkey

11.3 Asia Pacific

11.3.1 China

11.3.2 Japan

11.3.3 India

11.3.4 Australia

11.3.5 South Korea

11.3.6 Thailand

11.3.7 Malaysia

11.3.8 Indonesia

11.3.9 New Zealand

11.4 Latin America

11.4.1 Brazil

11.4.2 Mexico

11.4.3 Argentina

11.5 Middle East & Africa

11.5.1 South Africa

11.5.2 Saudi Arabia

11.5.3 UAE



12. Porter's Five Analysis

12.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers

12.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

12.3 Degree of Rivalry

12.4 Threat of New Entrants

12.5 Threat of Substitutes



13. SWOT Analysis

13.1 Strength

13.2 Weakness

13.3 Opportunity

13.4 Threat



14. Company Analysis

14.1 Accenture PLC

14.1.1 Overview

14.1.2 Key Persons

14.1.3 Recent Development & Strategies

14.1.4 Product Portfolio

14.1.5 Financial Insights

14.2 Capgemini SE

14.3 NEC Corporation

14.4 DXC Technology Company

14.5 Rightscale Inc.

14.6 Wipro Limited

14.7 IBM Corporation

14.8 NTT Data Inc.

14.9 Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d2gitq

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.

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Paris, France, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PR and communications professionals in France now have a powerful opportunity to reach audiences on leading news websites in France thanks to the launch of the Paid Media ReleaseSM service by MediaConnect in partnership with iCrowdNewswire.

The Paid Media ReleaseSM service empowers communications teams to promote their releases directly on major social media platforms and mainstream premium media through the power of Google Ads. This innovative solution, developed by the US-based iCrowdNewswire, offers a highly targeted paid media service with access to thousands of media websites to promote PR headlines directly to target audiences.

This service will extend the MediaConnect platform offering, which currently facilitates journalists access to certified information and news releases produced by communications professionals and their companies and institutions.

According to General Manager Anne Boussarie, At MediaConnect, we are constantly striving to enhance our offering by delivering innovative and high-performing solutions to PR professionals. Our partnership with iCrowdNewswire and the launch of the Paid Media ReleaseSM service in France represent a significant milestone. With this advanced technology, we empower communicators to reach premium audiences with unmatched precision and efficiency."

One of the standout features of the Paid Media ReleaseSM service is the ability for customers to customize their views, selecting a minimum of 50,000 or 100,000 views on premium websites and major social platforms. This ensures that PR and communications professionals can effectively reach premium audiences in France that may not be available through traditional distribution.

Hector Botero, CEO of iCrowdNewswire, stated, Google ad technology which powers our Paid Media ReleaseSM PR headline views takes reach possibilities to a new level. Combined with Amazon Alexa voice distribution and translations in nine languages, our Paid Media ReleaseSM is by far the most efficient return on investment, delivering new audiences for issuers.

Paid Media ReleaseSM includes targeting options in 26 countries and 15 media industries, providing 1000s of media targeting options. The service also offers LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram ad targeting and comprehensive Google analytics reporting.

For more information about the Paid Media ReleaseSM service and how it can benefit your PR and communications strategy, please contact MediaConnect or visit the iCrowdNewswire website.

About MediaConnect

A subsidiary of the global news agency AFP, MediaConnect provides a secure, professional route for companies and organisations to communicate with the media. MediaConnect is a platform designed for media and communications professionals with two key goals:

To make it easy to access information released by companies, organisations and institutions.

To offer journalists, freelance writers and bloggers secure access to certified information

About iCrowdNewswire

Since its inception the mission at iCrowdNewswire has been true innovation in press release distribution. In 2018 iCrowdNewswire began working with Google to adapt the worlds leading AI driven advertising technologies for press release distribution resulting in a process that provides verified and quantified paid media views/impressions on premium pages of leading digital publications worldwide. Press release issuers can choose from 50,000 to one million impressions of custom created banners with only one headline linked to the full press release or URL of their choice. The partnership with Notified for the first time allows the iCrowd Google ad driven distribution to be combined with the leading tier-one newswire distribution resulting in a major innovation in the industry. And the headline views are measured by Google Analytics. Version 1.0 offers over one thousand premium websites in 26 countries available through curated industry lists. iCrowdNewswires technology also drives the LexisNexis press release service Nexis Newswire and distribution partners around the globe including MediaConnect (France), Medianet (Australia), PA Media (UK), NewsVoir (India), TheNewswire (Canada) and Media OutReach (Asia).
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newsweek , in collaboration with Plant-A Insights Group , announced today the release of Americas Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025, recognizing the top financial institutions that serve as cornerstones of their communities.

Regional banks and credit unions are critical in supporting local economies, funding small businesses, and ensuring accessible, community-driven financial services. With their deep understanding of local markets and close connections to their customers, these institutions foster trust and economic growth at the grassroots level.

This years list highlights 500 regional banks and 500 credit unions that excel in financial health, customer satisfaction, and community engagement. Using a rigorous methodology, the selection process evaluated institutions across multiple criteria, including: Texas Ratio (a key measure of credit quality), profitability and net loans and leases, press coverage over the past two years, Independent customer surveys encompassing over 71,000 U.S. residents, 1.9 million social media reviews and 129 million app store reviews from Apple and Google Play.

Regional banks and credit unions form the backbone of Americas local economies, said Josh Smith, Newsweeks Senior Director of Growth and Strategic Partnerships. By blending financial stability with a genuine commitment to their communities, these institutions not only meet customer needs but also fuel growth and opportunity nationwide. Were proud to recognize their invaluable contributions.

Among the honorees are standout institutions such as

Alabama State Employees Credit Union, Montgomery, AL

Denali State Bank, Fairbanks, AK

Arkansas Credit Union, Little Rock, AR

Arizona Financial Credit Union, Phoenix, AZ

Bank of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Ent Credit Union, Colorado Springs, CO

Union Savings Bank, Danbury, CT

Discover Bank, Greenwood, DE

Gold Coast Credit Union, Palm Springs, FL

Colony Bank, Fitzgerald, GA

Bank of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI

Idaho Central Credit Union, Chubbuck, ID

Landmark Credit Union, Westville, IL

Citizens State Bank of New Castle, New Castle, IN

Decorah Bank & Trust Company, Decorah, IA

Peoples Bank and Trust Company, McPherson, KS

Commonwealth Credit Union, Frankfort, KY

Fifth District Savings Bank, New Orleans, LA

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, Saco, ME

National Institutes of Health Credit Union, Rockville, MD

Eagle Bank, Everett, MA

Kellogg Community Credit Union, Battle Creek, MI

Blaze Credit Union, Blaine, MN

Connections Bank, Platte City, MO

Citizens Bank, Columbia, MS

Ravalli County Credit Union, Hamilton, MT

Dundee Bank, Omaha, NE

Clark County Credit Union, Las Vegas, NV

New Hampshire Credit Union, Concord, NH

Magyar Bank, New Brunswick, NJ

The Citizens Bank of Clovis, Clovis, NM

New York University Credit Union, New York, NY

Farmers & Merchants Bank, Granite Quarry, NC

Dakota Community Bank & Trust, Hebron, ND

Seven Seventeen Credit Union, Warren, OH

Oklahoma Central Credit Union, Tulsa, OK

Selco Community Credit Union, Springfield, OR

Penn State Credit Union, Bellefonte, PA

The Peoples, Middletown, RI

South Atlantic Bank, Myrtle Beach, SC

First Dakota National Bank, Yankton, SD

First Citizens National Bank, Dyersburg, TN

Trinity Bank, Fort Worth, TX

Wasatch Peaks Credit Union, Ogden, UT

Union Bank, Morrisville, VT

Dupont Community Credit Union, Waynesboro, VA

Peoples Bank, Bellingham, WA

Universal Credit Union, Huntington, WV

Capitol Bank, Madison, WI

First Education Credit Union, Cheyenne, WY

These organizations exemplify excellence through superior service, innovation, and dedication to strengthening the communities they serve.

The full list of Americas Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025 is available at newsweek.com/abrb-2025 .

About Newsweek:

Newsweek is the global digital news organization built around the iconic 92-year-old American magazine. Newsweek reaches 100 million people monthly with its thought-provoking news, opinion, images, graphics, and video delivered across a dozen print and digital platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Newsweek also publishes international editions in EMEA and Asia.

Contact:

Alyssa M. Tognetti

Broadsheet Communications for Newsweek

alyssa@broadsheetcomms.com
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO), a leading manufacturer of outdoor recreation products, has been named to the list of Americas Most Responsible Companies 2025 by Newsweek. This is the third consecutive year Winnebago Industries has been recognized for its extensive corporate social responsibility efforts and excellence in prioritization of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives.

At Winnebago industries, our commitment to support our communities, protect the environment and enable accessibility and inclusion in the outdoors is a part of our DNA, said Winnebago Industries President and CEO, Michael Happe. We are proud to accept this award on behalf of our employees who work every day to ensure we live our values: Do the right thing, put people first, and be the best, and who continue to move our corporate responsibility commitments forward in a meaningful way.

The recognition as one of Americas Most Responsible Companies follows other recent honors from Newsweek for Winnebago Industries including Americas Greenest Companies and World's Most Trustworthy Companies earlier this year.

Be Great, Outdoors is more than a company motto, it is how we live our culture and work to elevate every moment outdoors for our customers, said Stacy Bogart, Winnebago Industries general counsel and corporate responsibility lead. This award underscores the importance of our corporate responsibility initiatives and their crucial impact on our sustainable business growth.

Americas Most Responsible Companies ranking focuses on a holistic view of corporate responsibility that considers all three pillars of ESG: Environment, Social, and Corporate Governance. More than 2,000 public companies headquartered in the United States are measured using 30 key performance indicators in conjunction with a public survey of more than 26,000 United States residents evaluating corporate social responsibility performance.

To learn more about Winnebago Industries commitment to people, the planet and communities where its customers and employees live, work and play, visit www.winnebagoind.com/our-impact.

About Winnebago Industries

Winnebago Industries, Inc. is a leading North American manufacturer of outdoor recreation products under the Winnebago, Grand Design, Chris-Craft, Newmar and Barletta brands, which are used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The Company builds high-quality motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel products, outboard and sterndrive powerboats, pontoons, and commercial community outreach vehicles. Committed to advancing sustainable innovation and leveraging vertical integration in key component areas, Winnebago Industries has multiple facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and Florida. The Companys common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol WGO. For access to Winnebago Industries' investor relations material or to add your name to an automatic email list for Company news releases, visit https://winnebagoind.com/investors.

Media Contact: Daniel Sullivan media@winnebagoind.com
Dublin, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Skincare Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Skincare Market was valued at USD 154.88 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach USD 220.75 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 6.08%.

The global skincare market is fragmented, with diverse players ranging from multinational corporations to niche brands. Major multinational corporations such as L'Oreal, Estee Lauder, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, LVMH, Beiersdorf's, and others dominate the global skincare market with their extensive portfolios of well-established brands like Lancome, Clinique, Olay, and others.

These companies leverage their vast resources to drive R&D, allowing them to introduce innovative products that cater to a broad spectrum of skin concerns. Their strength lies in their ability to invest heavily in marketing, distribution, and brand loyalty programs, ensuring their products remain visible and desirable to consumers worldwide.

Shifting Preference to Clean Beauty and Natural Ingredients



The skincare market has shifted towards clean and natural ingredients as consumers become more aware of the health risks associated with conventional chemicals. This trend has led to a rise in the popularity of clean beauty brands that use organic ingredients and focus on sustainability. In April 2024, AFFOREST Green Beauty launched India's first Jackfruit skincare range, featuring a foaming cleanser, gel-cream moisturizer, under-eye cream, and bedtime serum.

The new line focuses on combating pigmentation and hyperpigmentation with the high-performance benefits of jackfruit extracts. Furthermore, in November 2023, NUXE launched the Sweet Lemon range, a new line of organic skincare products designed for Gen Z, featuring a lemon meringue scent and eco-friendly formulas. The collection includes hand and nail cream, lipstick, and lip balm, which offer a fresh alternative to their existing lines. The company has increased its product portfolio and has attracted more market consumers.



Growing Adoption of E-commerce and Digital Channels



The surge in demand for e-commerce and digital channels is a transformative trend reshaping the global economy and consumer behavior in the skincare industry. The exponential growth of e-commerce is driven by several interrelated factors, including technological innovation, changing consumer expectations, and collaboration with influencers.

In August 2024, Estee Lauder launched the Clinique brand on Amazon's Premium Beauty store, significantly expanding the brand's reach. The new storefront, introduced on March 27, has contributed to Clinique's growth in both moisturizers and makeup in the US. Estee Lauder's new Clinique Dermatologist Creator Council, featuring dermatologists on social media, has boosted influencer media value by 80%. The company also leverages AI with partners like Microsoft and Google Cloud to enhance its products and marketing.

Regulatory Hurdles



The skincare market faces significant challenges with regulatory compliance due to the complex and constantly evolving nature of regulations across different markets. In January 2024, California banned six beauty ingredients under its Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act due to health and environmental concerns. Lily aldehyde (lilial) and acetaldehyde are fragrances linked to potential skin irritation and possible carcinogenic effects in acetaldehyde's case. Cyclotetrasiloxane, a silicone, raises environmental worries due to its persistence in water and soil. Phytonadione (vitamin K1) may cause allergic reactions and lacks substantial cosmetic benefits. Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is used in some nail and hair products but poses significant health risks. Lastly, PFAS "forever chemicals" are banned because of their persistence in the environment and potential long-term health effects.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS



APAC region accounted for the highest revenue share in the global skincare market. Particularly in South Korea and Japan, there's a growing interest in innovative, multi-step skincare routines and advanced formulations. Also, cultural attitudes towards beauty and skincare significantly shape demand in the APAC.

Many APAC cultures have a long-standing tradition of valuing and investing in personal appearance and grooming. This cultural emphasis on beauty has been reinforced by media and advertising, further driving consumer interest in skincare products. For instance, in countries like China, traditional beauty practices and ingredients are often incorporated into modern skincare routines, creating a fusion of heritage and innovation that appeals to consumers.



In North America, there's a strong emphasis on high-tech, ingredient-focused products with a significant demand for anti-aging solutions. Also, the demand for skin care products in North America has increased robustly over the years, influenced by demographic shifts, heightened skincare awareness, advancements in product formulations, and evolving consumer behaviors.

Furthermore, Europe, known for its rich skincare traditions, prefers natural and organic products, with sustainability being a key trend. Meanwhile, in Latin America and the Middle East, skincare market growth is driven by a burgeoning interest in premium and luxury skincare products.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE



Key Developments in the Global Skincare Market

In August 2024, Lakme launched a new suncare range featuring the ultra-light Lakme Sun Expert 1% Hyaluronic Complex Aqua Sun Gel and the Invisible SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick. Their Sun Tinted Spray and 1% Nia-C Complex Aqua Sun Gel combine sun protection with skincare benefits, including niacinamide and vitamin C, for added radiance.

On May 31, 2024, Estee Lauder acquired Deciem Beauty Group Inc., enhancing its stake to full ownership. DECIEM, known for its brands like The Ordinary and NIOD, is a Toronto-based beauty company focusing on consumer-centric and science-driven skincare.

L'Oreal is committed to improving skin care by developing innovative solutions and enhancing awareness. Their Spotscan by La Roche-Posay uses artificial intelligence to offer personalized diagnoses and routines for acne-prone skin.

In 2023, Lancome launched an unprecedented collection of skincare products in collaboration with the Louvre Museum.

Key Company Profiles

Beiersdorf

Estee Lauder Companies

L'Oreal

LVMH

Procter & Gamble

Shiseido Company

Unilever

Other Prominent Vendors

AFFOREST Green Beauty

AFRICAN BOTANICS

AMOREPACIFIC

AURELIUS

Bee Rx

Biotique

Body Cupid

BYROE

CAUDALIE

Chanel

Colgate-Palmolive Company

Consonant Skin+Care

COSMETIZE B.V.

Coty

Eclat Official

Embryolisse

Emma Hardie

FOREO

Groupe Clarins

Himalaya Wellness Company

Honasa Consumer

Huda Beauty

Innovist

Jahwa

Johnson & Johnson

Kao

Khadi Natural Healthcare

L'Occitane

LAMIOR

Lumene

Mary Kay

mCaffeine

Nairobi

NAOS

Natura &Co

NecessaryGood

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Oriflame Cosmetics Global

Pai Skincare

PAPATUI

PROVEN

Puig

Sisley Paris

Sofina

SUGAR Cosmetics

The Good Glamm Group

THG

True Botanicals

TYMK Health & Wellness

Wardah

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 353 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $154.88 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $220.75 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.0% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



1. Scope & Coverage



2. Premium Insights



3. Market at a Glance



4. Introduction

4.1. Overview

4.1.1. Factors and Trends Shaping Cosmetics Market

4.2. Strategic Moves of Companies in Premium and Clean Skincare Markets

4.3. Value Chain Analysis

4.3.1. Inputs to Production

4.3.2. Manufacturing

4.3.3. Distribution & Wholesale

4.3.4. Retail & Beauty Services

4.3.5. Consumers



5. Market Opportunities & Trends

5.1. Shifting Preference to Clean Beauty and Natural Ingredients

5.2. Influence of Dermatology

5.3. Rise of Minimalist Skincare



6. Market Growth Enablers

6.1. Growth in Awareness of Skin Health

6.2. Growth in Adoption of E-Commerce and Digital Channels

6.3. Growth in Outlook of Anti-Aging and Preventive Care Products



7. Market Restraints

7.1. Regulatory Hurdles in Market

7.2. Allergic Reaction from Skincare Products

7.3. Growth in Adoption of DIY



8. Market Landscape

8.1. Market Overview

8.2. Demand Insights

8.3. Market Size & Forecast

8.4. Five Forces Analysis



9. Product

9.1. Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

9.2. Market Overview

9.3. Cream

9.4. Lotion

9.5. Others

9.6. Spray

9.7. Powder



10. Distribution Channel

10.1. Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

10.2. Market Overview

10.3. Offline

10.4. Online



11. Category

11.1. Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

11.2. Market Overview

11.3. Mass

11.4. Luxury



12. Care

12.1. Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.2. Market Overview

12.3. Facial

12.4. Body

12.5. Lip and Eye



13. Packaging

13.1. Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

13.2. Market Overview

13.3. Tube

13.4. Bottle

13.5. Jar

13.6. Others



14. Geography

14.1. Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

14.2. Geographic Overview



15. APAC



16. Europe



17. North America



18. Latin America



19. Middle East & Africa



20. Competitive Landscape



21. Key Company Profiles



22. Other Prominent Vendors



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jfu2ei

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, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "13th ECAS European Corporate Aviation Summit (Warsaw, Poland - May 9, 2025)" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Building upon the resounding success of ECAS events in the UK, Sweden, Malta, Greece, Turkey, and online, the 13th Summit will take place in Warsaw in 2025.

Key Event Highlights:

Latest Developments in Corporate Aviation: Immerse yourself in a comprehensive exploration of the latest developments in the corporate aviation sector of Europe.

Immerse yourself in a comprehensive exploration of the latest developments in the corporate aviation sector of Europe. New Business Opportunities and Challenges: Gain valuable insights into emerging business opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the industry.

Gain valuable insights into emerging business opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the industry. Platform for Manufacturers and Operators: ECAS serves as a prime platform for manufacturers, operators, and organizations keenly interested in the corporate aviation marketplace.

ECAS serves as a prime platform for manufacturers, operators, and organizations keenly interested in the corporate aviation marketplace. Debates on the Future of Business Aviation: Engage in discussions that delve into the future of business aviation, providing a unique opportunity for dialogue and strategic discourse.

Engage in discussions that delve into the future of business aviation, providing a unique opportunity for dialogue and strategic discourse. Enhancing Knowledge about the European Market: Elevate your understanding of the European business aviation market through comprehensive insights into market trends and dynamics.

Elevate your understanding of the European business aviation market through comprehensive insights into market trends and dynamics. Networking with Leading Experts: Connect with industry leaders and experts, fostering valuable professional relationships in a conducive environment.

Who Should Attend:

Business aircraft operators, manufacturers, consultants, bankers, airport executives, leasing and financing companies, insurance professionals, and all industry professionals with a vested interest in the growth of business aviation and future opportunities in Europe.

For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/c1ak80

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.
APPOINTMENT OF ANNELISE LE GALL AS EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meudon (France), December 11, 2024  Vallourec, a global leader in premium seamless tubular solutions, announces the appointment of a new Employee Representative Director to its Board of Directors.

During the Group Workers Committee meeting held on December 10, 2024, Annelise Le Gall was elected as Director representing the employees in accordance with Article L.225-27-1 of the French Commercial Code. Vallourecs Board of Directors acknowledges this appointment for a four-year term.

The Board of Directors now includes two employee Directors, Ms. Annelise Le Gall and Mr. Patrick Poulin.

Annelise Le Gall has been with Vallourec for 17 years, holding various positions within the Group. She currently serves as the Business Development Manager for Vallourecs Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing solution (WAAM).

Philippe Guillemot, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer commented: We are pleased to welcome Annelise Le Gall as Employee Representative Director on the Board of Directors. Her diverse experience in the industrial sector and deep knowledge of Vallourec will be valuable assets in supporting the Boards discussions on implementation of the New Vallourec plan and the Groups development.

About Vallourec

Vallourec is a world leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets and for demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging architectural projects, and high-performance mechanical equipment. Vallourecs pioneering spirit and cutting-edge R&D open new technological frontiers. With close to 14,000 dedicated and passionate employees in more than 20 countries, Vallourec works hand-in-hand with its customers to offer more than just tubes: Vallourec delivers innovative, safe, competitive and smart tubular solutions, to make every project possible.

Listed on Euronext in Paris (ISIN code: FR0013506730, Ticker VK), Vallourec is part of the CAC Mid 60, SBF 120 and Next 150 indices and is eligible for Deferred Settlement Service.

In the United States, Vallourec has established a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program (ISIN code: US92023R4074, Ticker: VLOWY). Parity between ADR and a Vallourec ordinary share has been set at 5:1.

For further information, please contact:

Investor relations:

Connor Lynagh

Tel: +1 (713) 409-7842

connor.lynagh@vallourec.com

Individual shareholders:

Toll Free number (From France): 0 805 65 10 10

actionnaires@vallourec.com

Press relations: Taddeo

Romain Griere

Tel: +33 (0)7 86 53 17 29

romain.griere@taddeo.fr

Nicolas Escoulan

Tel: +33 (0)6 42 19 14 74

nicolas.escoulan@taddeo.fr

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Belleville, Illinois, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allsup Employment Services (AES), a Social Security-authorized Employment Network (EN), is proud to commemorate 25 years of the Ticket to Work Program, a federal initiative supporting individuals with disabilities in re-entering the workforce. Established with federal legislation in 1999, Ticket to Work provides Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries with employment services, job search assistance and career resources that allow them to work toward financial self-sufficiency while protecting their access to disability benefits.

The Ticket to Work Program has proven to be an invaluable resource for people rejoining the workforce with security and assurance, said Diane Winiarski, director of Allsup Employment Services. AES remains dedicated to helping individuals rediscover purpose and independence while contributing to todays dynamic job market.

AES offers over a decade of expertise as a national EN, helping thousands navigate the Ticket to Work Program since being founded by Jim Allsup in 2014. AES provides individualized, free assistance as a service provider under the Social Security Administration. Vocational experts are dedicated to helping SSDI recipients navigate the program of work supports to eventually reach full-time employment, if possible, following medical stability or recovery in the wake of a serious disability. AES supports SSDI beneficiaries with every step of their employment journeyfrom job searches and resume development to benefits management and guidance on workplace accommodations.

Equipping Former Workers To Get Back Into The Workforce

The Ticket to Work Program, overseen by the Social Security Administration (SSA), connects SSDI recipients with ENs like AES. The program equips beneficiaries with tools and resources for finding and retaining employment, ensuring accessibility and financial security.



Key services include:

Job Search Support: AES vocational experts assist participants in updating resumes, sharpening interview skills, and identifying job opportunities that align with their strengths.

AES vocational experts assist participants in updating resumes, sharpening interview skills, and identifying job opportunities that align with their strengths. Accommodations Guidance: AES advises on requesting workplace accommodations such as flexible schedules, assistive technologies, and accessible environments.

AES advises on requesting workplace accommodations such as flexible schedules, assistive technologies, and accessible environments. Benefits Protection: Beneficiaries retain SSDI benefits and Medicare coverage for over seven years while working, ensuring continued financial and healthcare security.

Ticket To Work: Making Employment Accessible Following Disability





The Ticket to Work Program provides crucial incentives to allow participants to explore employment without risking financial security.



Key program features include:

Trial Work Period (TWP): Beneficiaries can evaluate their ability to work while retaining full SSDI benefits and Medicare for at least nine months, regardless of earnings.

Beneficiaries can evaluate their ability to work while retaining full SSDI benefits and Medicare for at least nine months, regardless of earnings. Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): SSDI benefits continue for 36 months after the Trial Work Period during months when earnings remain below the Social Security Administrations threshold, known as Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA$1,550 per month for non-blind and $2,590 per month for individuals who are blind (2024).

SSDI benefits continue for 36 months after the Trial Work Period during months when earnings remain below the Social Security Administrations threshold, known as Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA$1,550 per month for non-blind and $2,590 per month for individuals who are blind (2024). Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits (EXR): If a beneficiary stops working due to their disability within five years after cessation of benefits, SSDI benefits can be restored without a new application.

These measures address the barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities was 7.2% in 2023, compared to the general populations rate of 3.6%. Ticket to Work aims to bridge this gap, promoting accessible work pathways for people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.

AES Advantage: Dedicated Support At No Cost





AES team of vocational experts delivers comprehensive, nationwide support so that SSDI beneficiaries can confidently access Ticket to Work services.



AES support includes:

Job Search to Retention Assistance: AES provides guidance from skills assessment to SSA reporting, facilitating a smooth transition back to work.

AES provides guidance from skills assessment to SSA reporting, facilitating a smooth transition back to work. Financial and Health Security Protections: AES supports beneficiaries in maintaining SSDI and Medicare benefits as they pursue employment.

AES supports beneficiaries in maintaining SSDI and Medicare benefits as they pursue employment. Free, Individualized Guidance: Each participant is paired with a dedicated vocational expert who handles SSA communications and provides ongoing support.

Our mission is to make work opportunities accessible and sustainable for people with disabilities, Winiarski said. By delivering comprehensive support, AES empowers participants to make informed career decisions without compromising financial and healthcare stability.

Looking Forward: Expanding Access And Employment

AES continues to adapt its services to meet evolving opportunities and resources for SSDI beneficiaries, including remote work options, assistive technology advancements, and inclusive hiring practices. As the Ticket to Work Program moves into its next quarter-century, AES remains dedicated to expanding employment possibilities and empowering individuals with disabilities to succeed in todays job market.

Learn more about returning to work with Allsup Employment Services and the Ticket to Work Program by calling 866-540-5105 or visit AllsupEmploymentServices.com .

ABOUT ALLSUP EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Allsup Employment Services (AES), a subsidiary of Allsup, provides free nationwide assistance to Social Security disability beneficiaries returning to work through Social Securitys Ticket to Work Program. AES is a Social Security-authorized Employment Network (EN) whose professionals help beneficiaries protect their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits while they attempt a return to work. Learn more at AllsupEmploymentServices.com and @AllsupESWork.

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Boston, MA, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almond FinTech, a leading B2B provider in cross-border payments, has won CrossTechs 2024 Crypto Payments Solution in the Cross-Border Industry, earning this honor for the second consecutive year and reinforcing its role as an industry pioneer.

Left to right Almond Team (Howard Davidson, Adam Swartzbaugh, Darren Bruce, Hector Santiago)

Over the past year, Almond has made significant advancements to its proprietary Settlement Optimization Engine (SOE), enhancing its ability to remove barriers in global financial transactions. The SOE leverages crypto as a bridge currency, using advanced data aggregation to recommend the best possible currency exchange rate in real time, ensuring faster, more affordable, and transparent cross-border payments while reducing risk. Operating in 10 countries and supporting over 30 digital currencies, Almond continues to address critical financial challenges globally.

"Receiving this award is a testament to our team's relentless commitment to pushing the boundaries of financial technology, says Almond CEO and Co-Founder Adam Swartzbaugh. We've always believed that true innovation comes from understanding our customers' deepest needs and creating solutions that not only solve their current problems, but anticipate future challenges. This award validates our mission and the hard work weve put in each and every day.

This recognition underscores Almonds role as a thought leader in the industry, a position further highlighted by Swartzbaughs participation as a panelist at CrossTech for Business Payments: The New Revenue Stream for Remittance Companies. The session explored how remittance companies are evolving from P2P to B2B payments, driving ecosystem expansion, new revenue streams, and adaptation to the global financial landscape. Moderated by CrossTech CEO Hugo Cuevas-Mohr, the panel also featured Daniel De Michele (Remitly) and Mark Corritori (Mastercard).

CrossTech is proud to honor Almond FinTechs groundbreaking innovation in cross-border payments. Their use of crypto technology to enhance transparency, speed, and affordability is revolutionizing how businesses and individuals connect globally, creating a transformative impact on the cross-border payment landscape. - Priscilla DOliveira, COO, CrossTech.

About CrossTech

The CrossTech Innovation Awards honor organizations and leaders transforming the cross-border payments industry through creative and groundbreaking solutions. Learn more about the awards at www.crosstechpayments.com.

About Almond FinTech

Almond is a B2B fintech company transforming cross-border payments by empowering financial institutions and their customers with the best possible rates and near-instant settlements across all corridors globally. With Almond technology, institutions can guarantee fast, affordable, and transparent cross-border transactions. Visit www.almondfintech.com for more information.


Charleston, SC, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the height of her career, Dr. Loddie Foose DocDocFoose experienced a profound inner awakening which led her to leave the corporate world behind and pursue philanthropic work. During her search to make an impact, she traveled the globe and, in the process, uncovered many inspiring stories just waiting to be told. Having discovered her own potential, she is now on a mission to help others do the same. Her latest project is a collection of healing stories to help adults explore past trauma from the perspective of their inner child.

In Soul Riders, Foose addresses the complex issues that hold people back from realizing their inherent potential. Built in the style of a childrens book, the stories are written for adults with life experience and are inspired by Fooses travels. While the characters within the book are fictitious, the stories reflect real experiences and emotions, and each one is informed by the unique energy of its respective locale, Foose says. Written in Canada, Singapore, and Japan, the book is broken into three volumes accompanied by Fooses selection of rich, AI-generated illustrations that bring each story to life. Beyond the unique lessons of each individual volume, there also lies a mysterious master storyline.

Soul Riders is available for purchase on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to support gender equity and food equity efforts.

About the Author:

Loddie Foose is a former political refugee and multinational business leader. After a deep inner awakening, she shifted her energy from a corporate career to philanthropic efforts, including helping others uncover their limitless potential. She travels the globe for impact and inspiration, capturing stories along the way. She holds a doctoral degree in chemical engineering from U.C. Berkeley and completed her post-doctoral studies at Caltech, hence the moniker DocDocFoose. She resides with her human and fur family in Colorado where she enjoys nature, exploration, and poetry.

For more information about the author and her work, please visit her website.

Media Contact:

Loddie Foose

www.docdocfoose.com

Available for interviews: Author, DocDocFoose

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ATLANTA, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Tuesday, Dec. 10, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Bidens Cabinet for Americas more than 34 million small businesses, traveled to Atlanta to host the inaugural SBA AI Small Business Summit and officially launch SBAs AI for Small Businesses Resource Hub.

SBAs first AI Small Business Summit, held in conjunction with Georgia Tech and in collaboration with leading technology companies, innovators, and investors, highlighted the launch of SBAs AI for Small Businesses Resource Hub  a space for small business owners to learn about AI and AI innovators to learn about the resources available to them at the SBA and across the federal government.

Artificial intelligence has the capacity to drive exponential growth for the United States economy and for small businesses across the country, said Administrator Guzman. From Main Street shops to manufacturers, staying up to date with the latest technology is essential for business growth and resilience. And it is our nations innovative startups that will help deliver AI for the future. So, whether you are creating the next tech solution or leveraging it, SBAs AI for Small Businesses Resource Hub can provide you with a launch point to access partners, tools and resources for a seamless integration of AI.

In addition to SBA Administrator Guzman, the AI Small Business Summits speakers included Microsoft, Google, Mailchimp, and OpenAI, as well as small businesses and experts from co-host Georgia Tech. The summit discussions were an opportunity for small business owners to hear from experts and gain a greater understanding of the possibilities AI has within the daily operations of their businesses.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the country has seen more than 20 million new business applications filed nationwide  including over one million in Georgia alone. The SBA just released new data showing significant spikes in SBA lending including a continued upward trend doubling small dollar loans under $150,000 and increased lending to underserved communities: Black-, Latino-, minority, rural and women-owned small businesses, as well as lending in rural communities.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Luxembourg  11 December 2024  Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Brs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced the award of a substantial1 contract for a subsea tieback development in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Subsea7's scope of work includes the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of subsea equipment, including structures, umbilicals, production risers, and flowlines. Project management and engineering work will start immediately at Subsea7's office in Houston, Texas, with offshore activities expected to begin in 2026.

Craig Broussard, Senior Vice President of Subsea7 Gulf of Mexico, said, We are proud to be part of this high-pressure deepwater subsea tieback development. This project builds on our strong track record of successfully delivering oil and gas projects in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Subsea7 defines a substantial contract as being between $150 million and $300 million.

*******************************************************************************

Subsea7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry, creating sustainable value by being the industrys partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs.

Subsea7 is listed on the Oslo Brs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

*******************************************************************************

Contact for investment community enquiries:

Katherine Tonks

Investor Relations Director

Tel +44 20 8210 5568

ir@subsea7.com

Contact for media enquiries:

Ashley Shearer

Communications Manager

Tel +1-713-300-6792

ashley.shearer@subsea7.com

Forward-Looking Statements: This document may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to our current expectations, beliefs, intentions, assumptions or strategies regarding the future and are subject to known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, future, goal, intend, likely may, plan, project, seek, should, strategy will, and similar expressions. The principal risks which could affect future operations of the Group are described in the Risk Management section of the Groups Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements. Factors that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to): (i) our ability to deliver fixed price projects in accordance with client expectations and within the parameters of our bids, and to avoid cost overruns; (ii) our ability to collect receivables, negotiate variation orders and collect the related revenue; (iii) our ability to recover costs on significant projects; (iv) capital expenditure by oil and gas companies, which is affected by fluctuations in the price of, and demand for, crude oil and natural gas; (v) unanticipated delays or cancellation of projects included in our backlog; (vi) competition and price fluctuations in the markets and businesses in which we operate; (vii) the loss of, or deterioration in our relationship with, any significant clients; (viii) the outcome of legal proceedings or governmental inquiries; (ix) uncertainties inherent in operating internationally, including economic, political and social instability, boycotts or embargoes, labour unrest, changes in foreign governmental regulations, corruption and currency fluctuations; (x) the effects of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster; (xi) liability to third parties for the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfil their obligations; (xii) changes in, or our failure to comply with, applicable laws and regulations (including regulatory measures addressing climate change); (xiii) operating hazards, including spills, environmental damage, personal or property damage and business interruptions caused by adverse weather; (xiv) equipment or mechanical failures, which could increase costs, impair revenue and result in penalties for failure to meet project completion requirements; (xv) the timely delivery of vessels on order and the timely completion of ship conversion programmes; (xvi) our ability to keep pace with technological changes and the impact of potential information technology, cyber security or data security breaches; (xvii) global availability at scale and commercially viability of suitable alternative vessel fuels; and (xviii) the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this document. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This stock exchange release was published by Katherine Tonks, Investor Relations, Subsea7, on 11 December 2024 at 23:25 CET.





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Kelowna, December 10, 2024 - Enduro Metals Corp. (TSXV: ENDR) (OTCQB: ENDMF) (FSE: SOG0) ("Enduro" or the "Company") announces that due to the current delays and suspension of mail service in Canada as a result of the nationwide strike of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers that commenced on November 15, 2024, the Company will be relying on CSA Coordinated Blanket Order 51-931 (the "Order") for an exemption from the requirements to deliver a notice of meeting, management information circular, form of proxy and other proxy-related materials (the "Meeting Materials") for its upcoming annual general and special meeting being held on Friday, December 13, 2024 (the "Meeting") at 10:00 am (Pacific Time) at the Company's offices located at #202-730 Vaughan Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E4.

As set out in the Meeting Materials, shareholders will be asked to consider and approve the following resolutions:

To receive the audited financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended September 30, 2023 and the auditor's report thereon; To fix the number of directors for the ensuing year at five; To re-elect the following directors of the Company for the ensuing year; Cole Evans, Susanne Hermans, David Watkins, Lawrence Roulston and Maurizio Napoli; To re-appoint Manning Elliot LLP as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and to authorize the board of directors to fix the auditor's remuneration; and To ratify and approve the Company's 10% rolling Equity Incentive Plan as more particularly described in the management information circular dated November 5, 2024 (the "Circular").

The Meeting Materials are accessible on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.endurometals.com. The shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 5, 2024 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. Shareholders are encouraged to access electronic versions of the Meeting Materials and all other proxy-related materials online through the Company's website and SEDAR+.

Shareholders will still be able to vote their shares either directly by proxy (for registered shareholders) or indirectly through their intermediary (for unregistered shareholders who hold their shares through brokerage firms or other intermediaries). Registered shareholders should complete all signed proxy forms as directed on the form of proxy no later than 10:00 am (Vancouver Time) on December 11, 2024. Beneficial owners can obtain a copy of the voting instructions form from their intermediary. If you are a registered shareholder and do not receive the Meeting Materials by mail ahead of the voting deadline, please contact the Company's transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc. at 1-800-564-6253 (toll free North America) or 514-982-7555 (International) to obtain your proxy form control number to cast your vote. Internet voting is available at www.investorvote.com. If you hold shares through an intermediary such as a brokerage firm, please contact your intermediary directly to obtain a copy of the voting instructions form.

The Company has satisfied all the conditions to rely, and is relying, on the exemption from the requirement to send proxy-related materials in accordance with the Order.

About Enduro Metals

Enduro Metals is an exploration company focused on its Newmont Lake Project; a total 688km2 property located between Eskay Creek, Snip, and Galore Creek within the heart of British Columbia's Golden Triangle. Building on prior results, the Company's geological team has outlined multiple deposit environments of interest across the Newmont Lake Project including high-grade epithermal/skarn gold along the McLymont Fault, copper-gold alkalic porphyry mineralization at Burgundy, newly discovered copper-gold porphyry mineralization at North Toe, and a large 10km x 4km geochemical anomaly hosting various gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and lead mineralization along the newly discovered Chachi Corridor.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

ENDURO METALS CORPORATION

"Cole Evans"

CEO

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Enduro's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements concerning the Company's expected use of proceeds of the Offering and all other statements that are not historical in nature.

Although Enduro believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider 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/233260
Vancouver, December 10, 2024 - First Majestic Silver Corp. (NYSE: AG) (TSX: AG) (FSE: FMV) (the "Company" or "First Majestic") is pleased to announce that it has commenced mailing of its meeting materials for the special meeting of the Company's shareholders (the "Special Meeting") that will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) at the offices of Bennett Jones LLP, located at Suite 2500 - 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2X8.

At the Special Meeting, pursuant to the requirements of the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, First Majestic shareholders will be asked to approve an ordinary resolution (the "Share Issuance Resolution") approving the issuance of up to 190,000,000 common shares of First Majestic ("First Majestic Shares") to stockholders of Gatos Silver Inc. ("Gatos") in connection with the previously announced acquisition by First Majestic of all of the shares of common stock of Gatos (the "Transaction"). First Majestic's Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the Company's shareholders vote FOR the Share Issuance Resolution.

First Majestic is using the notice and access model ("Notice and Access") as an alternative means of delivery of the meeting materials for the Special Meeting to shareholders in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way that helps reduce paper usage and our carbon footprint, and that reduces our printing and mailing costs. Under Notice and Access, First Majestic shareholders as of November 25, 2024, being the record date for the Special Meeting (the "Record Date"), will be sent a proxy or voting instruction form, as applicable, enabling them to vote at the Special Meeting. However, instead of receiving a paper copy of the Company's management information circular (the "Information Circular") and notice of meeting (together with the Information Circular, proxy and voting information form, the "Meeting Materials") for the Special Meeting, shareholders will receive a Notice and Access notification letter which contains information on how to access the Meeting Materials electronically.

Shareholders of record as of the Record Date are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, and they may access electronic versions of the Meeting Materials at www.AGSpecialMeeting.com. The Meeting Materials have also been filed by the Company on SEDAR+ and may be accessed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com, or by scanning the QR code below with your smartphone or other smart device:

First Majestic has retained Kingsdale Advisors ("Kingsdale") as a Strategic Advisor and to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. Any shareholders who need assistance with voting their First Majestic Shares may contact Kingsdale by telephone at 1-866-851-3214 (toll-free in North America) or 1-647-577-3635 (text and call enabled outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1475/233301_e2cfa0a694edeb95_002full.jpg

Impact of Canada Post Labour Dispute on the Delivery of Meeting Materials to Canadian Shareholders

Canadian shareholders as of the Record Date should be aware that, due to the ongoing Canada Post labour dispute which is affecting the delivery of mail within Canada, some Canadian shareholders may not receive the Meeting Materials prior to the date of the Special Meeting. This only applies to Canadian shareholders as of the Record Date who have previously requested that physical copies of the Meeting Materials be sent to them. Many of the Company's Canadian shareholders have elected for materials for shareholder meetings to be sent to them by e-mail, so the Canada Post labour dispute will not have any impact on the electronic delivery of the Meeting Materials to such shareholders. Shareholders may request electronic versions of the Meeting Materials be e-mailed to them by contacting Kingsdale by telephone at 1-866-851-3214 (toll-free in North America) or 1-647-577-3635 (text and call enabled outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com,or by contacting the Company directly at 1-866-529-2807 (toll-free) or info@firstmajestic.com.

If you are a Canadian registered shareholder (i.e., you hold your First Majestic Shares in the form of a physical share certificate, or your shares are represented by a DRS Advice Statement), and you did not receive a form of proxy with your control number, the Company strongly encourages you to contact Computershare Investor Services Inc. at 1-800-564-6253 (toll-free in North America) or +1-514-982-7555 (international) to request the control number for each of your registered shareholdings. Once you have obtained your control number(s), you can vote the First Majestic Shares represented by such control number(s) at www.investorvote.com.

If you are a Canadian beneficial shareholder (i.e., you hold your First Majestic Shares with one or more financial institutions or brokers, for example RBC Direct Investing, TD Direct Investing, BMO Direct Investing, Scotia iTRADE, Wealthsimple, Haywood Securities, Canaccord Genuity, Raymond James, Ventum Financial etc.), and you did not receive a voting instruction form with your control number, the Company strongly encourages you to contact your brokerage firm, financial institution or other intermediary and request the control number for each of your accounts that hold First Majestic Shares. Once you have obtained your control number(s), you can vote the First Majestic Shares represented by such control number(s) at www.proxyvote.com.

In addition, you can click on the following link to download Broadridge's voting app, ProxyVote: Your Voice Matters: https://www.broadridge.com/resource/proxyvote-app. Once you have downloaded the app, follow the instructions to create an account, then log in to vote your First Majestic Shares using the app (without the need for a control number). If you do not see a voting button in respect of the Special Meeting, you will need to link your accounts that hold your First Majestic Shares by clicking on "link a new investment account" on the home page of the app.

The Company has also retained Kingsdale as a Strategic Advisor and to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. If you need assistance with voting your First Majestic Shares, or with obtaining your control number(s), we strongly encourage you to contact Kingsdale at 1-866-851-3214 (toll-free in North America) or 1-647-577-3635 (text and call enabled outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.

The Canada Post labour dispute will not have any impact on the delivery of physical copies of the Meeting Materials to any US and international shareholders of the Company who have requested such physical copies. However, proxies mailed to Computershare Investor Services Inc. in Canada, and voting instruction forms mailed to Broadridge Canada, may not be received by them prior to the proxy deadline due to the labour dispute. Accordingly, all Canadian registered and beneficial shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote their First Majestic Shares online or by telephone as instructed in the Meeting Materials. Shareholders should contact Kingsdale if they need any assistance in voting their First Majestic Shares.

Gatos Stockholder Meeting

Holders of shares of Gatos common stock are also required to provide their approval of the Transaction, and accordingly, Gatos has announced that it will hold its stockholder meeting virtually on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time), one hour prior to the First Majestic Special Meeting.

Subject to the approval of First Majestic's shareholders and Gatos' stockholders and the satisfaction or waiver of other conditions precedent, it is anticipated that the Transaction will close in early 2025.

Important Information for Investors and Shareholders about the Transaction and Where to Find It

This news release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities of First Majestic or Gatos or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of First Majestic or Gatos in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. This news release may be deemed to be soliciting material relating to the Transaction.

In connection with the proposed transaction between First Majestic and Gatos pursuant to the Merger Agreement and subject to future developments, First Majestic has filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (the "Form F-4") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which includes a proxy statement of Gatos that also constitutes a prospectus of First Majestic (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). The Form F-4 was declared effective by the SEC on December 2, 2024. Gatos filed a Proxy Statement/Prospectus with the SEC on December 3, 2024 which it commenced mailing to its stockholders on December 6, 2024. First Majestic filed the Information Circular in connection with the proposed Transaction with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on December 10, 2024. This news release is not a substitute for any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus or other document First Majestic or Gatos has filed or may file with the SEC or Canadian securities regulatory authorities in connection with the proposed Transaction. First Majestic commenced mailing the Meeting Materials to its shareholders on December 10, 2024. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF GATOS AND FIRST MAJESTIC ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR, RESPECTIVELY, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC OR CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FIRST MAJESTIC, GATOS, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by First Majestic and Gatos containing important information about First Majestic or Gatos and the Transaction through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors will also be able to obtain free copies of the management proxy circular and other documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities by First Majestic, through the website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedarplus.com. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed by First Majestic with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on First Majestic's website or by contacting First Majestic's investor relations team. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Gatos are available free of charge on Gatos' website at www.gatossilver.com or by contacting Gatos' investor relations team.

Participants in the Merger Solicitation

First Majestic, Gatos and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed Transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of First Majestic and the stockholders of Gatos in connection with the Transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus described above and other relevant documents when they are filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities in connection with the proposed Transaction. Additional information regarding First Majestic's directors and executive officers is also included in First Majestic's Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and 2024 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on April 15, 2024, and information regarding Gatos' directors and executive officers is also included in Gatos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 20, 2024, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to such annual report filed with the SEC on May 6, 2024 and Gatos' 2024 Proxy Statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

ABOUT FIRST MAJESTIC

First Majestic is a publicly traded mining company focused on silver and gold production in Mexico and the United States. The Company presently owns and operates the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine, and the La Encantada Silver Mine as well as a portfolio of development and exploration assets, including the Jerritt Canyon Gold project located in northeastern Nevada, U.S.A.

On September 5, 2024, First Majestic and Gatos announced that they had entered into a definitive merger agreement (the "Merger Agreement") pursuant to which First Majestic will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Gatos common stock. More information relating to the proposed Transaction can be found on the Company's website, www.firstmajestic.com.

First Majestic is proud to own and operate its own minting facility, First Mint, LLC, and to offer a portion of its silver production for sale to the public. Bars, ingots, coins and medallions are available for purchase online at www.firstmint.com, at some of the lowest premiums available.

Investors Contact:

Darrell Rae

Investor Relations

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forwardlooking 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, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forwardlooking statements"). These statements relate to

future events or the future performance, business prospects or opportunities of First Majestic and/or Gatos that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management of First Majestic and/or Gatos made in good faith in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forwardlooking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: closing of the Transaction and the terms and timing related thereto; the anticipated timing of the Special Meeting and the Gatos stockholder meeting; and the anticipated timing of closing the Transaction. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, guidance cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon guidance and forwardlooking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forwardlooking statements".

Actual results may vary from forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements, including but not limited to: satisfaction or waiver of all applicable closing conditions for the Transaction on a timely basis or at all including, without limitation, receipt of all necessary shareholder, stock exchange and regulatory approvals or consents and lack of material changes with respect to First Majestic and Gatos and their respective businesses, all as more particularly set forth in the Merger Agreement; the timing of the closing of the Transaction and the failure of the Transaction to close for any reason; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against First Majestic or Gatos and others related to the Transaction; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the Transaction; and delays associated with the ongoing Canada Post labour dispute. First Majestic is not affirming or adopting any statements or reports attributed to Gatos (including prior mineral reserve and resource declaration) in this news release or made by Gatos outside of this news release. In addition, the failure of a party to comply with the terms of the Merger Agreement may result in that party being required to pay a fee to the other party, the result of which could have a material adverse effect on the paying party's financial position and results of operations and its ability to fund growth prospects and current operations. Although First Majestic has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forwardlooking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

First Majestic believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. First Majestic does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.


ENDEAVOUR ANNOUNCES POSITIVE PFS RESULTS FOR ASSAFOU PROJECT IN COTE D'IVOIRE

$1,526m NPV (5%) and IRR of 28% at $2,000/oz  329kozpa at AISC of $892/oz over first 10 years

HIGHLIGHTS:



PFS confirms Assafou's potential to become a tier 1 asset for Endeavour

PFS highlights 329kozpa production at AISC of $892/oz over first 10 years: 15-year mine life based on maiden reserve of 4.1Moz Robust project economics with after-tax NPV( 5%) of $1,526m and IRR of 28%, at a $2,000/oz gold price Initial capital of $734m based on a 5Mtpa design nameplate capacity with a similar processing plant configuration as the nearby Lafigue mine

90% resource to reserve conversion with defined maiden reserves of 72.8Mt at 1.76g/t for 4.1Moz Indicated resources of 73.6Mt at 1.95g/t for 4.6Moz based on a drilling cutoff in October 2023, with over 70,000 metres of drilling completed subsequently Further resource expansion and definition at Assafou, and satellite deposits in close proximity to Assafou, is expected to be incorporated into the DFS

Given the high-quality project and attractive economics, the DFS will now commence with completion expected between late 2025 and early 2026

Abidjan, 11 December 2024 - Endeavour Mining Plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV, OTCQX:EDVMF) ("Endeavour", the "Group" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has recently completed a positive Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") for the Assafou-Dibibango ("Assafou") project on the Tanda-Iguela property in Cote d'Ivoire. The PFS results meet Endeavour's strategic targets and confirm Assafou's potential to be a tier 1 asset, which justifies advancing the project to the Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") stage.

Ian Cockerill, CEO, commented: "I am delighted with the results of this pre-feasibility study that highlight the potential for Assafou to become a tier 1 asset for Endeavour.

We have defined a large, low-cost and long mine life project, capable of producing 330koz a year over the first ten years, while remaining firmly in the lowest cost quartile. The attractive returns profile ensures this project will remain a capital allocation priority for us and it demonstrates our ability to generate highly value accretive projects, organically, through our pipeline.

Our exploration team discovered Assafou in late 2021, and in less than three years we have defined a high-quality project with close to 5 million ounces of high-grade Indicated resource endowment. We expect that we will continue to grow the Assafou deposit's resource, and delineate several exciting near-mine targets across the wider Tanda-Iguela property.

Given the excellent project economics, we will now launch the Definitive Feasibility Study and simultaneously advance the permitting process so that we are well positioned to potentially launch construction, with our best-in-class projects team, in the second half of 2026.

With a robust pipeline of organic growth opportunities, we expect to continue to unlock value and deliver long-term production growth towards our 1.5 million ounce target, from a diversified portfolio of assets, by the end of the decade, while maintaining best-in-class margins. This underpins our capital allocation framework, and we expect to continue to deliver supplemental shareholder returns in line with our existing policy, and maintain attractive shareholder returns through this next growth phase."

Table 1: Assafou Project Highlights

ASSAFOU STRATEGIC TARGETS P&P Reserve, Moz1 4.1 >2.0 Mine life, years 14.5 >10 Average annual production, kozpa



First 10 years 329 >200 Life of mine 265 AISC, $/oz2



First 10 years 892 Best-in-class



Life of mine 936 Post-tax NPV 5%, $m2 1,526 n.a. Post-tax IRR, %2 28 >20

1Based on a $1,500/oz reserve price. 2Based on a gold price of $2,000/oz

The key operational and economic highlights of the Assafou PFS are summarised in Tables 2 and 3 below.

Table 2: Assafou PFS Summary

OPERATION TYPE Mine type Open Pit Plant type 5.0Mtpa Gravity / CIL Plant RESERVES & RESOURCES1 P&P reserves 72.8Mt at 1.76g/t Au for 4.1Moz M&I resources (inclusive of reserves) 73.6Mt at 1.95g/t Au for 4.6Moz Inferred resources 3.3Mt at 1.97g/t Au for 0.2Moz LIFE OF MINE PRODUCTION Mine life, years 14.5 Strip ratio, W:O 5.9 Tonnes processed, Mt 72.8 Grade processed, Au g/t 1.76 Gold contained processed, Moz 4.1 Average recovery rate, % 94 Gold production, Moz 3.9 Average annual production, kozpa 265 Cash costs, $/oz 863 AISC, $/oz2 936 AVERAGE FOR YEARS 1 TO 10 Production, kozpa 329 Cash costs, $/oz 812 AISC, $/oz2 892 CAPITAL COST Upfront capital cost, $m 734 ENVIRONMENTAL DATA GHG Emissions Intensity3, t CO2e/oz 0.55 Energy Intensity, GJ/oz 7.23

1Based on a reserves gold price of $1,500/oz and a resource gold price of $1,900/oz 2Based on a gold price of $2,000/oz

3GHG Emissions Intensity considers only Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Table 3: Assafou PFS Project Economics

Gold Price $1,500/oz $1,900/oz $2,000/oz $2,500/oz PRE-TAX NPV 5% , $m 860 1,882 2,148 3,408 IRR, % 18 31 34 48 Payback Period, yr1 5.6 3.6 3.3 2.4 AFTER-TAX NPV 5% , $m 536 1,322 1,526 2,485 IRR, % 14 25 28 40 Payback Period, yr1 6.4 4.2 3.8 2.7

1Payback period calculated from the start of commercial production

Endeavour expects to file a Technical Report pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("the NI 43-101") in respect of the Assafou PFS within 45 days of this news release.

Overview

The 100% owned Tanda and Iguela permits ("Tanda-Iguela") are located in the eastern region of Cote d'Ivoire, approximately 600km northeast of Abidjan, adjacent to the Ghana border. The northern permit, Tanda, was added to Endeavour's portfolio in late 2015 following Endeavour's transaction with La Mancha. Endeavour conducted an initial drilling campaign in early 2016 that yielded positive results and quickly identified the southern permit, Iguela, as having a high degree of geological prospectivity. The Iguela permit was awarded to Endeavour in May 2017, through Cote d'Ivoire's permitting application process.

Figure 1 : Tanda-Iguela Map



Please refer to Figure 1 in the attached release.

A maiden Indicated resource of 1.1Moz at 2.33 g/t Au was published on 21 November 2022 and was subsequently increased to 4.5Moz at 1.97 g/t Au on 29 November 2023, based on a $1,500/oz gold price.

As shown in Figure 2 below, the PFS demonstrates Assafou's ability to deliver 329kozpa at AISC of $892/oz over the first ten years of operations, with average production exceeding 350kozpa over an 8-year period once the operation is ramped up, and average production of 265kozpa and AISC of $936/oz over life of mine.

Figure 2: Assafou PFS Production and AISC Profile1,2



Please refer to Figure 2 in the attached release.

The PFS production profile is based on the mineral reserves only with an effective date of 31 August 2024, which are constrained by a resource with a drilling cutoff of 31 October 2023. Significant exploration drilling has been completed since this cutoff, which is expected to contribute to resource and reserve upside supporting higher levels of production, particularly in years 10 to 15 of the production profile.

Reserves and Resources

As shown in Table 4 below, the PFS mineral resource is based on the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE"), as published on 29 November 2023, which has been restated using a $1,900/oz gold price, compared to the $1,500/oz gold price used when it was published. The drilling cut-off for the 2023 MRE was 31 October 2023, with the MRE constituting 183,000 metres of drilling at the Assafou deposit. Subsequently, a further 70,000 metres of drilling has been completed during late 2023 and year-to-date 2024 at the Assafou deposit and satellite targets in close proximity to Assafou, which are expected to be incorporated into a future mineral resource update that will underpin the DFS.

Table 4: Assafou Reserves and Resources

On a 100% basis



Tonnage Grade Content (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) Proven Reserves - - - Probable Reserves 72.8 1.76 4,115 P&P Reserves 72.8 1.76 4,115 Measured Resource (incl. reserves) - - - Indicated Resources (incl. reserves) 73.6 1.95 4,604 M&I Resources 73.6 1.95 4,604 Inferred Resources 3.3 1.97 208

1Mineral Resource Estimate effective 30 June 2024. Mineral Reserve Estimate effective 31 August 2024. Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimates follow the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definitions Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves and have been completed in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Reported tonnage and grade figures have been rounded from raw estimates to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Resources were constrained by MII Pit Shell based on a cut-off grade of 0.5g/t at a $1,900/oz gold price. Reserves are based on a cut-off grade of 0.4g/t for oxide ore and 0.5g/t for fresh ore and $1,500/oz gold price.

The updated mineral resource estimate for the Assafou deposit comprises an Indicated resource of 73.6Mt at 1.95g/t for 4.6Moz and an Inferred resource of 3.3Mt at 1.97g/t for 0.2Moz, based on a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au and a $1,900/oz gold price. The mineral resource at the Assafou deposit is robust, as it is high-grade and hosted in thick, continuous lenses, as demonstrated by the sensitivity analysis presented in Table 5 below. Inferred material within the pit design was treated as waste in the PFS.

Table 5: Assafou Mineral Resource Estimate Sensitivity1

TONNAGE GRADE CONTENT (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) INDICATED RESOURCE Based on a gold price of $1,500/oz 70.9 1.97 4,493 Based on a gold price of $1,700/oz 72.7 1.95 4,560 Based on a gold price of $1,900/oz 73.6 1.95 4,604 Based on a gold price of $2,000/oz 74.1 1.94 4,620 INFERRED RESOURCE Based on a gold price of $1,500/oz 2.9 1.91 176 Based on a gold price of $1,700/oz 3.2 1.98 203 Based on a gold price of $1,900/oz 3.3 1.97 208 Based on a gold price of $2,000/oz 3.4 2.01 220

1 Mineral Resource is estimated effective 30 June 2024. No Measured resources have been estimated. Mineral Resources estimates follow the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definitions standards for mineral resources and have been completed in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Reported tonnage and grade figures have been rounded from raw estimates to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Resources are reported undiluted and were constrained by MII $1,900/oz Pit Shell and for sensitivity purpose by approximate MII at $1,500/oz and $1,700/oz and $2,000/oz pit shells and based on a cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au.

For technical notes and drilling results from the Assafou drill programme, please see the Technical Notes section below.

Mining Operations

The Assafou deposit mineralisation extends from surface to depths in excess of 300 metres and is amenable to conventional open-pit mining. The mine planning, resource and cost estimation for the PFS is based on a contract mining operation with a maximum mining capacity of 62.5 Mt per year. Mining capacity is expected to exceed processing capacity in order to accumulate stockpiles to allow high grade material to be preferentially processed early in the mine life. During the pre-commercial production period approximately 36.5 Mt of pre-stripping is expected to support an accelerated ramp up of the production profile. The DFS will review opportunities to reduce the impact of pre-stripping at the Assafou deposit through supplementing the ore feed with near-surface ore from the Pala Trend 3 deposit, located 1km away from Assafou.

Diesel excavators and trucks will be used for loading and haulage, with a contractor fleet expected to comprise of 300-tonne and 200-tonne class face excavators to load 140-tonne capacity dump trucks for waste mining, and 200-tonne class excavators to load 140-tonne capacity dump trucks for ore mining.

Processing Operations

Ore will be processed via a 5.0 Mtpa processing plant. Over the life of mine, the plant will be fed with approximately 89% fresh ore and 11% oxide and transitional ore.

Two-stage crushing followed by a high-pressure grinding roll and a ball milling circuit is planned. A primary gyratory crusher will crush ore to a coarse crush size, followed by dual secondary cone crushers. This will feed a crushed ore stockpile that feeds into a high-pressure grinding roll circuit. Ore will then be passed through a conventional ball mill and milled to 80% passing 106m (microns).

The milled ore will pass through a gravity circuit comprising two Knelson concentrators for separation and recovery of coarse free gold, to produce a gravity concentrate for cyanidation and electrowinning that can be smelted to produce gold dore. High gravity recovery of approximately 60% is estimated for fresh and oxide/transitional ores at Assafou.

The remaining milled gravity tail will be screened and passed to a carbon-in-leach ("CIL") circuit containing one pre-leach tank and six CIL tanks in series for leaching and absorption. Leach residence time will be approximately 36 hours.

Following leaching and absorption, gold will be recovered from activated carbon by elution, electrowinning, and gold smelting to produce gold dore.

Extensive and representative metallurgical testwork has indicated that gold is free milling with very high gravity and leach extraction potential, with a projected gold recovery rate of 94% over the life of mine.

Operating Cost Summary

Mining operating cost estimates, prepared by Endeavour, are based on a contractor mining model. Process operating cost estimates were prepared by Lycopodium, who have successfully supported Endeavour through five engineering and construction projects in West Africa over the last ten years. General and Administration ("G&A") cost estimates were also prepared by Lycopodium with input from Endeavour, as summarised in the table below.

Table 6: Assafou Life of Mine Operating Unit Costs (-15/+20%)

UNIT COSTS (US$) Open Pit Mining & Rehandling $4.08/t mined Processing $12.25/t processed G&A $4.10/t processed

Based on estimates that exclude escalation

Operating costs have been based on a delivered diesel price of $0.92 per litre and are in line with current local pricing. Power will be sourced from the grid supplying 90kV to site via a ring main system providing power from two different sources of transmission to increase reliability, with power costs estimated at $0.16/kWh.

Capital Cost and Infrastructure Summary

The project capital cost estimate was compiled by Lycopodium with input from Knight Piesold on the TSF, water infrastructure, site access roads and airstrip, from Digby Wells on relocation, and from ECG Engineering on the power infrastructure. Endeavour has provided project specific estimates for mine establishment, facilities and owner's costs.

The initial capital cost is summarized in the table below.

Table 7: Assafou Upfront Capital Cost Estimate Summary (-20/+25%)

CAPITAL COSTS (US$M) Mining 156.3 Treatment Plant Costs 115.5 Reagents and Plant Services 34.9 Site Infrastructure 109.2 Offsite Infrastructure 79.7 Contractor Distributables 36.6 Indirect Costs 120.3 Subtotal 652.5 Contingency 79.0 Taxes and Duties 2.7 Total Upfront Capital Cost 734.2

Based on estimates that exclude escalation

The Assafou project capital cost estimate assumes a contractor mining model, selected due to the lower upfront capital costs and the additional fleet flexibility that can accommodate the pre-production mining ramp-up. Within the subsequent DFS, a hybrid approach to contract and owner mining may be considered to ensure capital and operating costs are optimised, while the mining ramp-up is de-risked.

The Assafou project benefits from good surrounding infrastructure, including access to the 90kV power supply within 14km of the project, and access to the A1 national road, which will be diverted around the operation and provide access to the operation. An airstrip will be built 3.5km from the permanent accommodation. Resettlement of two villages within close proximity to the project is required and is included in the capital cost estimate.

The tailings storage facility ("TSF") is expected to be a cross-valley storage facility, utilising the natural topography of the project area, that will be formed by multi-zoned earth fill embankments, with a total footprint area (including the basin area) of approximately 252ha for the stage 1 TSF to 278ha for the final TSF. TSF construction will benefit from the high availability of fresh waste rock from the mining pre-stripping activities. The TSF is designed to a life-of-mine capacity accommodating a total of 73Mt of tailings, with the potential to be expanded to 110Mt. The Stage 1 TSF is designed for 7.5Mt, approximately 18 months storage capacity, and subsequently, downstream raise construction will be used to progressively increase capacity.

The recommendations from the Environmental Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") which is underway, will be used to compile an Environmental and Social Management Plan ("ESMP") which will guide Endeavour's local community engagement as well as ensuring it fulfils its environment obligations, minimising the mine's impacts where possible. The ESMP will be used to monitor and ensure compliance with environmental specifications, monitoring and management measures and will be implemented from site preparation through to decommissioning and closure.

Figure 3 below highlights the proposed site and infrastructure layout.

Figure 3: Assafou Schematic Site Layout



Please refer to Figure 3 in the attached release.

Ownership, Permitting, Taxes and Royalties

Endeavour acquired the Tanda exploration permit in 2015, subsequently acquiring the Iguela permit, which contains the Assafou project, in 2017. Endeavour will retain full ownership of the Tanda-Iguela permits until the permits are converted into an exploitation permit. Based on the current 2014 Mining Convention, once the exploitation permit is granted, Endeavour will be entitled to an 80% stake in the Assafou project, while SODEMI (the Ivorian state-owned mining company) and the Government of Cote d'Ivoire will each have a 10% stake.

A corporate tax rate of 25% of gross profit has been applied in the PFS. A royalty of 5.0% and a community levy royalty of 0.5% was applied to all sales. Gold royalties in Cote d'Ivoire are based on a sliding scale with the gold price, and vary between 3.0% and 6.0%. A transport and refining charge of $4/oz Au was also applied.

The mining code is currently under review and if the proposed new mining code is passed into law before the Assafou exploration permit is converted into an exploitation permit, then the fiscal terms applicable to the Assafou project are expected to reflect those of the new mining code. If the new mining code is passed into law in its current draft state, it is expected to include an increase in the Governments free-carried interest from 10% to 15%. This would result in Endeavour's potential stake in the Assafou project, once the exploration permit has been converted into an exploitation permit, decreasing from 80% to 75%.

Geology

Mineralisation at the Assafou deposit is both disseminated and hosted in quartz veins within the Tarkwaian Sandstones. The deposit appears to be monometallic containing no potentially penalising elements associated with the gold. Mineralisation starts at surface, extending down to more than 300 metres in depth, and is continuous along strike, along the prominent northwest trending structure that separates the Tarkwaian Sandstones from the mafic Birimian Basement rocks. The deposit comprises a thick main (up to 60 metres) continuous lens, appearing to be dipping at a low angle to the southwest, overlaid by a series of stacked lenses.

High grade mineralisation and the thickest mineralised intercepts are located adjacent to the structural contact between the mafic Birimian Basement rocks and the Tarkwaian Sandstones along the northeast boundary of the Assafou deposit. Mineralisation at Assafou remains open along strike towards the northwest and towards the southeast, as well as at depth, where deep drilling below 250 metres intercepted mineralisation below the existing resource pit shell and within the Birimian Basement rocks below the sedimentary basin.

Assafou Exploration

The Assafou deposit was discovered in late 2021 and the maiden Indicated resource of 14.9Mt at 2.33g/t containing 1.1Moz and an Inferred resource of 32.9Mt at 1.80g/t containing 1.9Moz was defined on 31 October 2022, less than one year after the initial discovery, based on 58,000 metres of drilling.

Subsequently, an updated Indicated resource of 70.9Mt at 1.97g/t containing 4.5Moz and an Inferred resource of 2.9Mt at 1.91g/t containing 0.2Moz was defined on 14 November 2023, based on 183,000 metres of drilling.

Since the 14 November 2023 resource was defined, a further 44,000 metres of drilling has been completed at the Assafou deposit, extending the mineralised trend by over 0.4km or 12%, to 3.7km, and 26,000 metres of drilling has been completed at near-mine targets, within less than 5km of the Assafou deposit.

Mineralisation at Assafou remains open along strike along the 20km long structural corridor extending from Koume Nangare in the northwest to Kongojdan in the southeast, as well as at depth where mineralisation has been identified below the current resource pit shell, and within the basement mafic Birimian volcanic rocks.

During the first nine months of 2024, 67,000 metres of drilling has been completed for a total spend of $13.4 million, consisting of resource expansion and resource infill drilling at the Assafou deposit, resource definition drilling at the Pala Trend 3 target and reconnaissance drilling at other satellite targets in close proximity to Assafou.

Figure 4: Assafou Deposit Map

Please refer to Figure 4 in the attached release.

Figure 5 below highlights that 2024 drilling, that has not been included in the PFS reserves and resources estimate, has identified mineralisation that extends towards the northwest of Assafou, outside of the existing pit shell. Mineralisation starts at surface within the Tarkwaian Sandstones but extends into the Birimian Basement and it remains open, with further drilling planned for FY-2025.

Figure 5: Assafou Cross Section A3600



Please refer to Figure 5 in the attached release.

Figure 6 below highlights the occurrence of high-grade, stacked lenses of mineralisation in the southeast of the Assafou deposit, where additional drilling was completed in 2023 and 2024.

Figure 6: Assafou Cross Section A0533



Please refer to Figure 6 in the attached release.

Figure 7 below highlights that 2024 drilling towards the southeast of the Assafou deposit has identified high-grade mineralisation below the current Assafou pit shell.

Figure 7: Assafou Cross Section A0300



Please refer to Figure 7 in the attached release.

Figure 8 below highlights that drilling completed in 2023 and 2024 towards the southeast of the Assafou deposit, that was not included in the reserves and resources estimate for the PFS, has identified multiple lenses of mineralisation below the current Assafou pit shell, with follow-up drilling planned for 2025.

Figure 8: Assafou Cross Section A0200

Please refer to Figure 8 in the attached release.

Regional Exploration

Regional exploration continues to advance at nine targets within 6km of the Assafou deposit. The regional exploration programme is targeting both Tarkwaian and Birimian style deposits within close proximity to Assafou that could potentially form satellite pits to the Assafou project.

Figure 9 below, highlights some of the high-grade mineralised intercepts identified at these potential satellite targets, of which the Pala trend 3 target is the most advanced, while further delineation drilling will continue at the other high priority Koume Nangare and Pala Trend 1 and 2 targets.

Figure 9: Iguela Regional Map



Please refer to Figure 9 in the attached release.

Figure 10 below highlights the drilling completed at the Pala Trend 3 target in 2024. Pala Trend 3 is located approximately 1km west of the Assafou deposit, within the same sedimentary basin.

Drilling has identified continuous, stacked lenses of shallow mineralisation that are dipping towards the northeast, towards the Assafou deposit. While mineralisation at Assafou is largely hosted within the Tarkwaian Sandstones, at Pala Trend 3 mineralisation is largely hosted within the Birimian greenstone rocks, similar to other Birimian greenstone deposits in the region. The Tanda-Iguela property remains highly prospective for both types of mineralisation.

The exploration programme will continue to advance the Pala Trend 3 target and a maiden resource is expected to be defined in 2025 and incorporated into the DFS.

Figure 10: Pala Trend 3 P1300

Please refer to Figure 10 in the attached release.

Next Steps

The DFS is expected to commence immediately and is due to be completed between late 2025 and early 2026

Updated mineral reserves and resources will be defined during 2025, which will include additional drilling at the Assafou deposits and the Pala Trend 3 satellite target, and will be incorporated into the DFS

The exploitation permit application process and the ESIA submission are expected to commence in early 2025

Further exploration is planned during 2025 on the Assafou deposit and on near-mine satellite targets within close proximity to Assafou

ASSAFOU TECHNICAL NOTES

All figures are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.

Assafou Geology

Mineralisation at Assafou is mainly hosted in Tarkwaian Sandstone, at/or immediately in the vicinity of the structural contact with Birimian Basement rocks (mainly mafic rocks). Gold mineralisation occurs both as disseminated occurrences within pervasively altered sandstone and within, or at the edges of, quartz (carbonate) veins and breccias that crosscut the altered sandstones. Alteration is reflected by an induration (silicification) and by the presence of sulphides (pyrite), disseminated within the matrix and distributed along the sandstone bedding. The more intense the silicification (and presence of pyrite), the more mineralised the sandstones tend to be.

The structural contact likely controlled the initial sandstone deposition (normal fault in extensional regime). It was then reactivated under an SSW-NNE compressive regime at the brittle-ductile transition, associated with strong mylonitisation and alteration (quartz, carbonate, pyrite,  sericite,  chlorite) of the Birimian Basement rocks, and to mafic and felsic intrusions as dykes and sills. Gold mineralisation is likely to have occurred during this reversal, in the post-Tarkwaian reactivation event. Mineralising hydrothermal fluids are believed to have preferentially invaded the Tarkwaian Sandstones rather than the Birimian Basement rocks, due to their higher initial porosity, permeability and competency.

Assafou Resource Modelling

The statistical analysis, geological modelling and resource estimation were prepared by a resource team of Endeavour. The Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 is Kevin Harris, Vice President of Resources with Endeavour Mining.

The Assafou mineral resource model was developed in Seequent's Leapfrog Geo, Snowden's Supervisor and Geovia's Surpac software. The database used to generate the mineral resources comprised some 868 drill holes, totalling 183,081 metres. The drill hole data was supported by industry-standard quality assurance and quality control systems, with quality control sampling comprising blanks, coarse blanks, certified reference materials, and field and pulp duplicates. Endeavour's resource team has reviewed the QAQC data available and considers the assay data to be suitable for use in the subsequent mineral resource estimate.

Mineralisation domains were modelled with the Vein System tool in Leapfrog Geo using the interval selection for each vein. The gold assays from the drill holes were composited to 1.0 metre intervals. Grade capping values were applied depending on the mineralised domain, between no cap and 45 g/t. Spatial analysis of the gold distribution within the mineralised zone indicated good continuity of the grades along strike and down dip within the mineralised zones. Variography has been applied using Snowden's Supervisor for the largest mineralised zones (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110 and 112) and variogram models were produced for these domains. These largest domains represent almost half of the entire population and have a good geological and grade continuity.

Density measurements from 401 drill holes and covering each of the lithologies, were averaged based on the material type (and lithology, in the case of fresh material). Average density values were applied to the associated portions of the block model as outlined below:

Laterite 1.79 g/cm 3

Saprolite: 1.96 g/cm 3

Saprock: 2.36 g/cm 3

Fresh: 2.76 g/cm3

Gold grades were estimated in Geovia's Surpac using Inverse Distance Squared (''IDW2'') for most of the modelled mineralisation. Ordinary Kriging was only used for the largest domains which include sufficient data for variogram models. The Ordinary Kriging estimation represents almost half of the mineralised volume. The grade was estimated in multiple passes to define the higher confidence areas and extend the grade to the interpreted mineralised zone extents.

The grade estimation was validated with visual and statistical analysis, and comparison with the drilling data on sections with swath plots comparing the block grades with the composites.

The majority of the resource is within the fresh rock, approximately 0.5% of the ounces is oxide, 5.7% is transition and 93.8% is fresh rock.

Endeavour considers that the quality and spatial distribution of the data used, the geological continuity of the mineralisation and the quality of the estimated block model for the Assafou deposit are sufficient for the reporting of Indicated and Inferred mineral resources, in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards. Indicated mineral resources have typically been defined in areas with a drill hole spacing of 30-40 metres along sections, and 30-40 metres between sections, where there is a reasonable level of confidence in geological and grade continuity. Inferred mineral resources have typically been defined in areas with a drillhole spacing of 50 to 75 metres, and where the controls on mineralisation are less well understood, or the continuity is reduced.

Mineral resources are reported within an optimised pit shell using a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au and a gold price of $1,900 per ounce. Technical and economic assumptions were agreed for mining factors (mining and selling costs, mining recovery and dilution, pit slope angles) and processing factors (gold recovery, processing costs), which were used for optimisation. The optimised factors are summarised below:

Mining cost: $3.75/t ore and $2.72/t waste

Processing cost: Oxide/Transitional: $1.08/t ore; Fresh: $11.66/t ore

G&A cost: $4.68/t ore

Sustaining Capital cost: $1.45/t/ore

Other ore related costs (including grade control): $0.78/t ore

Selling cost: $89.5/oz Au

Mining recovery: 95%; Dilution 0%

Processing recovery: 95.7% for Oxide/Transition and 93.1% for Fresh at the average grade

Average slope angles: 28-43, dependent on geotechnical domain

Drilling, Assay, Quality Assurance and Quality Control Procedures

Reverse Circulation ("RC") and Air Core ("AC") drilling uses high pressure compressed air to deliver rock materials to the surface. The compressed air is delivered via a dual tube drill rod system, with an outer tube for air going down-hole, and an inner-tube for return going back to surface. In RC drilling, compressed air drives a percussion hammer. In both RC and AC drilling, compressed air carries rock particles back to surface via the inner tube, minimizing potential contamination affects.

The samples are collected from the cyclone at surface at 1 metre intervals. The cyclone is cleaned after every 6-metre rod by flushing the hole and physical opening of the cyclone and blowing out with compressed air at the end of each hole. Additional manual cleaning is required in saprolitic or wet ground, closely monitored by the site geologist / geo-technician to ensure no sample-to-sample contamination occurs. Samples are manually split at the drill site using several different riffle splitters, based on bulk sample weight. 2 to 5 kilograms laboratory samples and a second 2 to 5 kilograms reference sample are collected. Bulk and laboratory sample weights, in addition to moisture levels are recorded. Representative samples for each interval were collected with a spear, sieved into chip trays and retained for reference.

Drill core (PQ, HQ and NQ size) samples are selected by Endeavour geologists and cut in half with a diamond blade at the project site. Half of the core is retained at the site for reference purposes. Sample intervals are generally 1 metre in length, adjusted with geologic and/or structural contacts. All samples are transported by road to Bureau Veritas in Abidjan. Each laboratory sample is secured in poly-woven bags ensuring that there is a clear record of the chain of custody. On arrival samples are weighed. Complete samples are crushed to 2 mm (70% passing) with 1 kilogram split out for pulverization. The entire 1 kilogram is pulverized to 75 ?m (85% passing). A 50-gram sample is extracted and analysed for gold using standard fire assay technique. An Atomic Absorption ("AA") finish provides the final gold value.

Blanks, field duplicates and certified reference material ("CRM's") are inserted into the sample sequence by Endeavour geologists at a rate of one of each samples type per 20 samples. This ensures that there is a 5% Quality Assurance / Quality Control ("QA/QC") sample insertion rate applied to each fire assay batch. The sampling and assaying are monitored through analysis of these QA/QC samples. This QA/QC program was audited by a consultant, independent from Endeavour Mining and has been verified to follow industry best practices.

In 2021 and 2022, 1,757 samples were sent to ALS Ouagadougou for umpire (referee) analysis. Comparison of the Original analysis against the umpire analysis revealed a very strong Correlation Coefficient of 95.90% suggesting that the original assays provided by Bureau Veritas in Abidjan are accurate. Core sampling and assay data were monitored through a quality assurance/quality control program designed to follow NI 43-101 and industry best practice.

Assafou Mineral Reserve estimate

This maiden Mineral Reserve Estimate (as at 30 August 2024) for the Project is supported by engineering designs and modifying factors in accordance with CIM Definition Standards.

The open pit is designed with two starter phases, an interim stage, a final phase, and a southern extension. The life of mine plan (LoMp) for the Project includes modification to the Resource model to generate the mining block through re-blocking, which introduces a degree of dilution, the pre-mining topographic surface and the Open Pit optimisation analysis. The same economic parameters were used to generate the pit shells for the Mineral Resource and the Mineral Reserve, with the exception of gold price and sales costs, which were $1900/oz and $1500/oz respectively.

A marginal gold cut-off grade of 0.4 g/t was used in the calculation of the open pit quantities for the production schedule and the Mineral Reserve estimate. The economic cut-off grade is calculated based on the processing cost parameters including cost of; grade control and RoM re-handling; ore premium; processing the ore, plant/infrastructure maintenance, general and administration charges, and sustaining capital costs. Mineral Reserve cut-off grades are 0.4 g/t Au for Laterite/, Saprolite/ and Saprock, and 0.5 g/t Au for Fresh rock.

The Mineral Reserve is reported from an engineered pit design, as a scheduled mining and processing estimate, that includes stockpiling. The scheduled Mineral Reserve is reported based on aggregating all Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource blocks incorporated within the LoMp, and reported inclusive of all appropriate dilution, diluted grade and losses; and all inferred material treated as waste.

The Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 for the Mineral Reserve estimate is Dr Salih Ramazan FAusIMM. Dr Ramazan is a full-time employee of Endeavour Mining Corporation is not considered to be independent from the company.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

Kevin Harris, Vice President of Resources with Endeavour, a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the statistical analysis, geological modelling, and resource estimation disclosed herein in respect of Assafou. Dr Salih Ramazan FAusIMM, Vice President of Mine Planning with Endeavour, a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approve the mineral reserve estimate disclosed herein in respect of Assafou. Ross McMillan, SVP Technical Services of Endeavour Mining plc., a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information other than in respect of the statistical analysis, geological modelling, and resource estimation and mineral reserve estimate in respect of Assafou disclosed in this release.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Jack Garman

Vice President, Investor Relations

+44 203 011 2723

jack.garman@endeavourmining.com Brunswick Group LLP in London

Carole Cable, Partner

+44 207 404 5959

ccable@brunswickgroup.com

ABOUT ENDEAVOUR MINING PLC

Endeavour Mining is one of the world's senior gold producers and the largest in West Africa, with operating assets across Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso and a strong portfolio of advanced development projects and exploration assets in the highly prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across West Africa.

A member of the World Gold Council, Endeavour is committed to the principles of responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to its employees, stakeholders and the communities where it operates. Endeavour is listed on the London and Toronto Stock Exchanges, under the symbol EDV.

For more information, please visit www.endeavourmining.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements". Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", and "anticipates".

Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions and credit availability, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Endeavour operates. Although Endeavour has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause 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. Please refer to Endeavour's most recent Annual Information Form filed under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca for further information respecting the risks affecting Endeavour and its business.

Attachments
SASKATOON, Dec. 11, 2024 - GFG Resources Inc. (TSXV: GFG) (OTCQB: GFGSF) ("GFG" or the "Company") announces that it has received total proceeds of C$3,712,528 million from the exercise of 28,557,907 common share purchase warrants ("Warrants") of the Company, which expired December 9, 2024. The Warrants were originally issued on October 6, 2022, March 21, 2023 and April 19, 2024. In connection with the exercise of warrants, Alamos Gold Inc. ("Alamos") (TSX: AGI; NYSE: AGI) has exercised 5,343,302 warrants for a total consideration of C$694,629. As of today, the Company currently has nil Warrants outstanding.

Brian Skanderbeg, President and CEO of GFG commented, "We are grateful for the unwavering support and confidence our shareholders have shown by exercising their Warrants. Our management team and Board of Directors have also demonstrated their commitment by exercising their own Warrants, ensuring alignment with shareholders. This funding enables GFG to accelerate the exploration programs at our projects in the highly prospective Timmins Gold Camp. We are currently focused on drilling at our Aljo Gold Project and are looking forward to initiating our first pass drill program at the Muskego Gold Target in early 2025."

About GFG Resources Inc.

GFG is a North American precious metals exploration company focused on district scale gold projects in tier one mining jurisdictions, Ontario and Wyoming. In Ontario, the Company operates three gold projects, each large and highly prospective gold properties within the prolific gold district of Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The projects have similar geological settings that host most of the gold deposits found in the Timmins Gold Camp which have produced over 70 million ounces of gold. The Company also owns 100% of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project ("RSH"), a district scale gold exploration project located approximately 100 km southwest of Casper, Wyoming, U.S. On August 15, 2024, the Company signed a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") with Patriot Gold Vault Ltd. ("Patriot"). Under the terms of the Agreement, Patriot will purchase RSH by paying GFG an aggregate consideration of approximately C$3.3 million. The Company anticipates closing the transaction with Patriot prior to year-end.

For further information, please contact:

Brian Skanderbeg, President & CEO

or

Marc Lepage, Vice President, Business Development

Phone: (306) 931-0930

Email: info@gfgresources.com

Website: www.gfgresources.com

Stay Connected with Us

X (Twitter): @GFGResources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gfgresources/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GFGResourcesInc/

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.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's future exploration plans with respect to its property interests and the timing thereof, the prospective nature of the projects, future price of gold, success of exploration activities and metallurgical test work, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of exploration work, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, these 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 the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results, "may", "could", "would", "will", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

All forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the assumed long-term price of gold, that the Company will receive required permits and access to surface rights, that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour, and that the political environment within Canada and the United States will continue to support the development of mining projects in Canada and the United States. In addition, the similarity or proximity of other gold deposits to the Company's projects is not necessary indicative of the geological setting, alteration and mineralization of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project, the Goldarm Property, the Pen Gold Project and the Dore Gold Project.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of GFG to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; operating risks; accidents, labour issues and other risks of the mining industry; availability of capital, delays in obtaining government approvals or financing; and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties and the additional risks described in the Company's most recently filed annual and interim MD&A are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive.

Although GFG has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause 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. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided solely for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and GFG assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.
Vancouver, December 11th, 2024 - Fidelity Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: FMN | FSE: S5GM | SSE: MNYC) ("Fidelity Minerals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 1,670,000 flow-through units (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of C$0.06 per FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$100,200 (the "Financing"). Each FT Unit shall consist of one flow-through common share (each, a "FT Share") in the capital of the Company and one non-flow-through warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant exercisable into one additional non-flow-through common share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.09 for a period of twenty-four (24) months after the closing date of the Financing. The proceeds from the Financing will be used by the Company for eligible exploration expenditures.

Closing of the Financing is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). All securities issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

The securities described herein 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 accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Fidelity Adopts New Share Option Plan

The Company also announces that shareholders ratified, confirmed and approved, subject to regulatory approval, the adoption of the Company's new 20% fixed share option plan (the "Fixed Option Plan") at the Company's annual general and special shareholder's meeting held on September 12, 2024. The maximum aggregate number of common shares of the Company that may be reserved for issuance under the Fixed Option Plan, together with all other security-based compensation plans, at any point in time shall not exceed 21,396,571 common shares, which represents 20% of the outstanding shares upon the date of approval of the Fixed Option Plan by the board of directors. All future stock option grants will be made pursuant to, or as otherwise permitted by, the Fixed Option Plan.

About Fidelity Minerals Corp.

Fidelity Minerals Corp. is assembling a portfolio of high-quality mining assets in Peru and Canada, and aims to delineate major deposits on these properties that could attract the interest of mid-tier and major mining companies. The flow-through financing announced herein will assist to advance the Sunsets Project presently being acquired by the Company in British Columbia. Fidelity is also focused on progressing its most advanced project - Las Huaquillas, which is a gold, copper and silver in Northern Peru. Fidelity also owns the Florina Greensands project, low chloride glauconite resource, a potential feedstock resource into the low-Chloride organic and strategic regional and global potassium fertilizer market in collaboration with Lions Bay. Fidelity is also looking to opportunistically expand its project portfolio with accretive acquisitions. The Company is backed by an experienced management team with diverse technical, market, and commercial expertise and is supported by committed, and sophisticated investors focused on building long-term value.

On behalf of the Board of Fidelity Minerals.

Ian Graham

Interim CEO and Director

Phone: 1-604-671-1353

Email: igraham@fidelityminerals.com

For more information, please visit the corporate website at http://www.fidelityminerals.com or contact:

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 Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Financing, the number of FT Units to be issued and the expected use of proceeds derived therefrom; that the Financing is subject to regulatory approval, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange; the Company's plans with respect to its resource projects and the timing related thereto, the merits of the Company's projects, and the Company's objectives, plans and strategies. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective,", "strategy", "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other agency or governmental clearances, necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, risks of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
(All financial figures in United States dollars unless otherwise stated)

VANCOUVER, Dec. 11, 2024 - OceanaGold Corp. (TSX: OGC) (OTCQX: OCANF) ("OceanaGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Waihi District Pre-feasibility Study ("PFS") results, which includes the existing Waihi operation and the proposed Wharekirauponga underground mine in New Zealand.

Waihi District PFS Highlights

Initial Mineral Reserve for Wharekirauponga Underground of 4.1 Mt at 9.2 g/t for 1.2 Moz of gold

After-tax NPV 5% of $621 million at a gold price of $2,400 per ounce, or $138 million at $1,750 per ounce

of $621 million at a gold price of $2,400 per ounce, or $138 million at $1,750 per ounce IRR of 24% at a gold price of $2,400 per ounce, or 9.2% at $1,750 per ounce

Gold production of 1.6 Moz over a 15-year mine life at an average All-in Sustaining Cost of $994 per ounce (or $634 per ounce over the Wharekirauponga-only mine life)

Significant project upside at Wharekirauponga with ~400 koz of Inferred Resources and recent results confirming the EG Vein Zone mineralization extends a further 270 metres to the south and remains open in all directions

Growth capital of $556 million over an 8-year period, expected to be funded from Free Cash Flow

First ore from Wharekirauponga Underground expected in 2032

Early-works 2025 capital budget of $40 to $45 million approved for design and construction activities, subject to receipt of necessary permits.

Gerard Bond, President & CEO of OceanaGold, said "This PFS is a major milestone for OceanaGold and the Waihi operation. We plan to safely and responsibly develop the Wharekirauponga Underground mine which extends the life of the Waihi operation to at least 2038, while generating strong returns for our shareholders and wider economic benefits for local communities and New Zealand.

There remains significant exploration upside at Wharekirauponga, as seen in the exploration results we have released since the June 30, 2024 date of the PFS. The orebody remains open in all directions, with high-grade mineralization now defined to 270 metres beyond existing resources. Drilling is scheduled to continue on the EG Vein Zone in 2025 with the goal of expanding the orebody, extending the life of the Waihi operation and improving the economic returns to all stakeholders."

The technical report is prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") with an effective date of June 30, 2024. The technical report is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on our website at www.oceanagold.com.

Senior management will host a webcast to discuss the results on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 10:00 am Eastern Time, details of which are provided in this release. See: https://app.webinar.net/DdjR72Pnakx

Overview

The town of Waihi on the North Island of New Zealand is located approximately 140 kilometres southeast of Auckland and is the location of a significant gold district which has produced an estimated 8 million ounces of gold to date.

The PFS for the Waihi District includes the Martha Underground mine ("MUG") and the Wharekirauponga Underground mine ("WUG"). WUG is located approximately 10 kilometres north of Waihi (Figure 1). The Company owns a property (Willows), adjacent to and outside of the Coromandel Forest Park, that will host the main access portal to, and service the development of WUG.

For a visual overview of the site and proposed project infrastructure, please see the accompanying VRIFY media at https://vrify.com/meetings/recordings/7bed3b3f-699c-42e0-b243-f219d70af6fa.

The PFS is based on Mineral Reserves only and operating metrics reflect the inclusion of both MUG and WUG as they contribute to production. Existing operations at MUG, which have been in active production since 2019, are expected to continue until 2033. Production from WUG is expected to begin in 2032, with first stope ore in 2033 and mining to continue until 2038.

Mineral Reserves

Mineral Reserves in the Waihi District comprise underground reserves only. The Mineral Reserves estimate as of June 30, 2024 is presented in Table 1.

Table 1: MUG and WUG combined Mineral Reserves estimate as of June 30, 2024

Mineral Reserve Area Class Tonnes (Mt) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (Moz) Ag (Moz)



MUG Proven - - - - -

Probable 4.4 3.8 16.1 0.5 2.3

Total MUG

4.4 3.8 16.1 0.5 2.3

WUG Proven - - - - -

Probable 4.1 9.2 16.1 1.2 2.1

Total WUG 4.1 9.2 16.1 1.2 2.1

Total Mineral Reserves 8.5 6.4 16.1 1.7 4.4



Notes:

The WUG Mineral Reserves estimate was reviewed and approved by, or is based on information prepared by or under the supervision of, Euan Leslie, MAusIMM CP, the Company's Group Mining Engineer and a qualified person under NI 43-101.

The MUG Mineral Reserves estimate was reviewed and approved by, or is based on information prepared by or under the supervision of, David Townsend, MAusIMM CP, the Company's Mining Manager and a qualified person under NI 43-101.

Mineral Reserves are reported based on OceanaGold's mine design, mine plan, mine schedule and cash flow model at a gold price of $1,750/oz.

Tonnages include allowances for losses resulting from mining methods. Tonnages are rounded to the nearest 100,000 tonnes.

Ounces are estimates of metal contained in the Mineral Reserves and do not include allowances for processing losses. Ounces are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand ounces.

All figures have been rounded; totals may therefore not sum exactly.

Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Gold ounces are reported as troy ounces and "g/t" represents grams per tonne.

All key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate Mineral Reserves and the data verification procedures followed are set out in the technical report titled " NI 43-101 Technical Report - Waihi District Pre-feasibility Study, New Zealand" dated December 11, 2024 with an effective date of June 30, 2024 (the "Technical Report"), which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website at www.oceanagold.com.

Mineral Resources

The Mineral Resources estimate at the Waihi District comprise both open pit and underground resources. The Mineral Resource estimate as of June 30, 2024 for Waihi is presented in Table 2.

Table 2: Summary of Mineral Resources estimate as of June 30, 2024

Area Indicated Inferred Tonnes Grade Grade Au Ag Tonnes Grade Grade Au Ag (Mt) (g/t Au) (g/t Ag) (Moz) (Moz) (Mt) (g/t Au) (g/t Ag) (Moz) (Moz) MOP 6.50 1.95 13.44 0.41 2.81 2.3 2.1 12.1 0.2 0.9 GOP 3.22 1.44 3.76 0.15 0.39 0.8 1.0 2.6 0.03 0.1 MUG 6.42 5.29 25.51 1.09 5.27 2.7 4.7 27.1 0.4 2.4 WUG 2.39 17.88 28.02 1.37 2.15 1.3 9.6 17.1 0.4 0.7 Total Mineral Resources 18.53 5.07 17.82 3.02 10.6 7.1 4.3 17.6 1.0 4.0

Notes:

Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Mineral Resources estimates were prepared by or under the supervision of, Leroy Crawford-Flett, MAusIMM CP, the Company's Exploration and Geology Manager and a qualified person under NI 43-101.

Mineral Resources are reported at a gold price of $1,950/oz.

Mineral Resources estimate for MUG is reported below the MOP5 design and constrained to within a conceptual underground design based upon the incremental cut-off grade of 2.15 g/t Au.

Mineral Resources estimate for WUG is reported within a conceptual underground design at a 2.10 g/t Au cut-off grade.

Mineral Resources estimates for Martha Open Pit ("MOP") and Gladstone Open Pit ("GOP") are reported within conceptual pit designs and incremental cut-off grades of 0.50 g/t Au and 0.56g/t Au, respectively. The MOP conceptual pit design is limited by infrastructural considerations.

Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Gold ounces are reported as troy ounces and "g/t" represents grams per tonne.

No dilution is included in the reported figures and no allowances for processing or mining recoveries have been made.

All figures have been rounded; totals may therefore not sum exactly.

All key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate Mineral Resources and the data verification procedures followed are set out in the Technical Report, which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website at www.oceanagold.com.

Mineral Resource close out dates for data used in the estimation are as follows: MUG - June 11, 2024; MOP - February 1, 2024; WUG - April 24, 2024; GOP - September 1, 2022.

PFS Operating Summary

The Waihi District PFS covers the current operating Martha underground mine ("MUG") and the new Wharekirauponga underground mine ("WUG"). MUG and WUG are expected to produce a combined 1.6 million ounces of payable gold over a 15 year mine life (2024-2038) with peak production of 253 koz of gold in 2035 and a life-of-mine average All-In Sustaining Cost ("AISC") of $994 per ounce (Figure 2).

MUG is expected to be the primary ore source until 2033, when mining transitions to WUG. A mill expansion to 0.8 Mtpa is also included in the PFS, which begins to process at the increased throughput levels in 2033. WUG begins commercial production in 2033 with an average AISC of $634 per ounce, demonstrating the strong margins of this high-grade orebody.

Project Economics

At a Reserve gold price assumption of $1,750 per ounce, the Waihi District generates pre-tax and after-tax NPV 5% values of $259 million and $138 million respectively, and an IRR of 9.2%.

Using a flat $2,400 per ounce gold price over the life of the operation, the project is estimated to produce pre-tax and after-tax NPV 5% values of $902 million and $621 million respectively, and an IRR of 24.0%.

Table 3: PFS economic results

Description Units Reserve Case $2,400 Case Gold Price $ per ounce 1,750 2,400 Payable Gold 000 ounces 1,593 1,593



Life of Mine Free Cash Flow - Pre-Tax $M 648 1,629 Life of Mine Free Cash Flow - After-Tax $M 431 1,147 NPV @ 5% - Pre-Tax $M 259 902 NPV @ 5% - After-Tax $M 138 621 IRR % 9.2 % 24.0 %

Capital and Operating Costs

The total non-sustaining capital investment for the Waihi District is estimated to be $556 million, spread over eight years (Table 4) beginning in 2025. Growth capital expenditures include WUG mine development, surface infrastructure, expansion of the process plant and water treatment plant and construction of a new tailings storage facility ("TSF"). WUG is accessed via 6.5 kms of underground development from surface, with two ventilation shafts to be located in the Coromandel Forest Park.

Table 4: Total capital cost summary ($M)

Description Non-Sustaining Capex Sustaining Capex Total WUG 357.9 62.9 420.9 MUG - 102.1 102.1 Processing and Water Treatment 92.8 8.4 101.2 TSFs 44.4 80.5 124.9 Other Capital 60.6 16.0 76.7 Rehabilitation - 71.6 71.6 Total 555.8 341.6 897.4

Total life of mine operating costs are summarized in Table 5.

Table 5: Operating cost summary ($M & $/t)





Description $M $/t Ore Mined UG Mining - MUG 488.8 110.8 UG Mining - WUG 264.4 65.2 Life of Mine 753.2 89.0

$M $/t Ore Processed Processing 222.7 26.3 G&A Costs 191.0 22.6 Refining / Freight Costs 5.6 0.7 Other - Carbon Costs and stockpile movements 28.2 3.3 Total Operating Costs 1,200.8 141.8

Permitting

The New Zealand government Fast-track Approvals Bill (the "Bill") was formally introduced into the New Zealand Parliament on March 7, 2024. It has completed the process of parliamentary sub-committee review and is expected to be enacted by the New Zealand Parliament imminently and become effective in the first quarter of 2025. In October 2024, the New Zealand Government named the Waihi North Project ("WNP"), including WUG, as a listed project that will be eligible to apply for approvals through processes under the Bill once the Bill becomes law.

Key permitting and schedule assumptions included in the PFS are:

The Bill will be passed and the fast-track process will be open for applications before the end of March 2025;

The WNP Fast-track application including the supporting Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE) will be lodged in March 2025; and

Fast-track approvals to commence construction will be granted to OceanaGold by the end of November 2025.

Early-works construction, including infrastructure at Willows (the main underground portal site), the water treatment plant and services trench, is expected to begin in the second half of 2025 and enables the decline and underground development to commence in late 2026.

Development of WUG and the Waihi North Project generally has the potential to create significant socio-economic contributions for the communities in the Waihi region and for New Zealand. This includes significant in-country investment and a substantial increase in direct and indirect employment opportunities, with the project having the potential to extend operation of the Waihi operation to and beyond 2038. Company tax payments in New Zealand are estimated at $482 million (NZ$790 million) at a $2,400/oz gold price. OceanaGold operates to the highest environmental and social standards which has enabled it to run a successful and responsible mining business in New Zealand for over three decades.

Next Steps

Detailed engineering and design work is ongoing for the services trench, the water treatment plant upgrade, and bulk earthworks for Willows Facilities area (at the WUG underground portal site). The services trench will connect power, water and telecommunications from the existing process plant to the portal site. Geotechnical investigations will continue to enable detailed portal boxcut and waste rock stack design, and the first 1.5 km of decline to the first ventilation shaft. These activities are included in the $40 to $45 million approved capital budget for 2025.

Future drilling programs at Wharekirauponga and Martha target both resource conversion and growth. A broad development and drilling strategy is planned with the objective to both grow and convert Wharekirauponga resources along the EG Vein and parallel hanging wall and footwall veins as well as further test the mineralized T-Stream and Western Veins immediately to the west. The current focus of drilling is the EG Vein and the hanging wall and footwall veins and the continuation and conversion of high-grade mineralization further to the southwest.

Currently ~400,000 ounces of Inferred Mineral Resource at a grade of 9.6 g/t Au have also been defined (as of June 30, 2024) in the central and northern area of the EG Vein Zone available for conversion. Approximately 17,700 metres of drilling is planned and budgeted for Wharekirauponga and Martha in 2025.

Webcast Details

Senior management will host a webcast to discuss the results on Thursday December 12, 2024 at 10:00 am Eastern Time.

To register, please copy and paste the link into your browser: https://app.webinar.net/DdjR72Pnakx

If you are unable to attend the webcast, a recording will be made available on the Company's website.

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of Free Cash Flow from our operations and delivering strong returns for our shareholders. We have a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America; Didipio Mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand. For further information please contact:

Qualified Persons

Except as otherwise set out herein, the scientific and technical information in this press release relating to the Waihi operation was reviewed and approved by, or is prepared by or under the supervision of Euan Leslie, MAusIMM CP, David Townsend, MAusIMM CP and Leroy Crawford-Flett, MAusIMM CP, each of whom is an employee of the Company and a qualified person under NI 43-101. The scientific and technical information in this press release relating to exploration matters was reviewed and approved by, or is prepared by or under the supervision of, Craig Feebrey, MAusIMM, the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Exploration Officer and a qualified person under NI 43-101.

Technical Report

For further information, please refer to the Technical Report available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name and on the Company's website at www.oceanagold.com.

Cautionary Statement for Public Release

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: expansion of the Waihi operation based on the results of the PFS; the PFS representing production growth; timing, amount and duration of future production and mill processing expansion; future AISC and Free Cash Flow; the price of gold; estimated capital and operating costs; ability to convert Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated and extend forecasted mine life for the Waihi operation; expectations regarding forward drilling programs; the estimates of NPV and IRR from the Waihi operation; expectations regarding the ability to obtain the necessary permits and approvals for the PFS, the timing of early-works construction and decline and underground development, and the creation of significant socioeconomic contributions for the communities in the Waihi region and for New Zealand; future growth; results of operations; and business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold and its related subsidiaries. Any 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 may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. They include, among others, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and information are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Cautionary Note Regarding Non-IFRS Measures

This press release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, including AISC and Free Cash Flow. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data presented is 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 and should be read in conjunction with OceanaGold's consolidated financial statements. Readers should refer to OceanaGold's Q3 2024 Management's Discussion & Analysis dated November 6, 2024 available on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.com under OceanaGold's name and OceanaGold's website at www.oceanagold.com under the heading "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" for a more detailed discussion of how OceanaGold calculates such measures and a reconciliation of such measures to IFRS terms.

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SOURCE OceanaGold Corporation
No penalty for Verstappen after FIA idiots insult

Max Verstappen is set to escape additional penalties for calling Formula 1 stewards "stupid idiots" over the radio during the Abu Dhabi season finale.

Max Verstappen, Abu Dhabi GP 2024

 Red Bull

The quadruple world champion already needs to serve his community service - a penalty for using the F-word in an official press conference this season - whilst in Rwanda later this week for the FIA's prize-giving gala event.

And after his 20-second penalty for colliding with Oscar Piastri on lap 1 last Sunday, Verstappen is now sitting on eight super license penalty points - with four more points before next June to earn him an automatic race ban.

Red Bull team advisor Dr Helmut Marko says the situation means Verstappen needs to be careful from now on, adding that his radio criticism of the stewards wasn't very diplomatic .

Former F1 test driver Ho-Pin Tung, though, thinks the Dutchman was at least justified in being upset about the 20-second time penalty. According to the regulations, he told nu.nl, "the stewards could have given five seconds.

In the past, it probably would have been that, especially as Max spun as well. It was also lap 1, the Chinese-Dutch racing driver added.

Verstappen's 2024 title rival Lando Norris, however, thinks the mistake was a turning point . It showed that not everything he does is perfect.

Norris insists he has learned from his defeat this year and is now ready to take on Verstappen for the title in 2025. Former F1 driver Christijan Albers finds it interesting that Norris is taking a harder-line stance with Verstappen in recent weeks.

Norris always pretends that he and Verstappen are friends, but of course they're all hypocrites, he told De Telegraaf. It's obvious that guys like Lewis (Hamilton) and Lando are standing behind George (Russell), Albers added, referring to the high-profile war of words with Verstappen.

As for the stupid idiots insult, many insiders expected the FIA to frown upon the public criticism of its officials, but sources report that the governing body has decided to let the incident pass.

It follows a meeting just days ago between Verstappen and the FIA's controversial president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The conversation was initiated by Max and his manager, not by the FIA, reports respected Dutch journalist Erik van Haren, who is close to the Verstappen clan.

As FIA president, you of course want to have a sit down and a cup of coffee with one of the figureheads of the sport, he added.

Albers admitted he has been very impressed with Ben Sulayem recently.

The way he said that he doesn't have to answer to the drivers, the former Minardi driver exclaimed. "The drivers had asked where all the money from the fines goes. And then you see the aggressive, almost rude way that he answered.

He forgets that it is the teams who keep the FIA alive in the first place. He is absolutely not transparent.

(GMM)
Featured

Ghana's economy grows by 7.2 per cent in 2024 Q3

Kweku Zurek Business News Dec - 11 - 2024 , 10:16

Ghanas economy grew by 7.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2024, marking a significant recovery compared to the 2.2 per cent growth recorded during the same period in 2023, according to data released today by the Ghana Statistical Service.

The growth is the strongest since pre-pandemic levels, with the last comparable performance being a 9.1 per cent expansion in the second quarter of 2019.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the countrys real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 1.7 per cent in Q3 2024 compared to the second quarter, slightly higher than the 1.6 per cent recorded in Q2 2024.

Key sectors underpinning this impressive growth included Mining and Quarrying, Information and Communication, Crops, Construction and Manufacturing. These industries collectively drove the economy forward, reflecting a diverse range of contributions to the nations economic output.

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However, not all sectors performed positively. Fishing, Water and Sewerage, and Other Personal Service Activities were among the subsectors that contracted during the period, indicating lingering challenges in these areas.

Breakdown of growth rates and sectoral contributions

The provisional quarterly real GDP growth rate, inclusive of oil and gas, stood at 7.2 per cent year-on-year. Excluding oil and gas, non-oil GDP growth was even higher at 7.7 per cent, up from 2.4 per cent in the corresponding period of 2023.

Among the main contributors to this impressive performance were the Mining and Quarrying, Information and Communication, Crops, Construction, and Manufacturing sectors.

However, challenges persisted in some subsectors, notably Fishing, Water and Sewerage, and Other Personal Service Activities, which recorded contractions.

The Services sector remained the largest contributor to the economy, accounting for 42.9 per cent of GDP at basic prices, followed by Industry at 32.6 per cent and Agriculture at 24.5 per cent.

Real GDP growth within the Industry sector was the highest, at 10.4 per cent year-on-year, compared to 6.4 per cent in Services and 3.2 per cent in Agriculture. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, Industry recorded the strongest growth at 2.5 per cent, followed by Services at 1.5 per cent and Agriculture at 0.7 per cent.

In terms of contributions to year-on-year real GDP growth, the Industry sector led with 3.4 percentage points, Services contributed 2.8 percentage points, and Agriculture added 0.6 percentage points.

Commenting on the significance of the current GDP figures, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician, highlighted the importance of sustained growth over isolated spikes. He stated:

"The communication around economic indicators and how to pay back day-to-day activities should always be underscored by a sustained change in economic indicators. It would always be erroneous if we take a one-off jump or slowdown in an economic indicator to say that we want to see an immediate impact on the lives of the day-to-day activities. So this growth rate that we are seeingits impact on day-to-day activities in terms of how earnings will go up, how employment will change, and all thatwill be better felt if this 7.2 per cent is sustained over a longer period of time."

Professor Annim also emphasised the uneven employment implications of the growth, given that the leading contributors, such as Mining and Quarrying, Information and Communication, and Manufacturing, vary in their labour absorption capacity. He noted: "The mining and quarrying subsector was the major driver for the 7.2 per cent growth rate that we saw in the third quarter of 2024. The mining and quarrying subsector grew by 7.1 per cent. So for us to be thinking about the employment effect of the growth rate, the first question will be, how many people are being absorbed by the mining and quarrying subsector?"
Next article: Jamie Foxx reveals how he suffered brain bleed and stroke

Featured

Ruth Kadiri calls out producers who pressure actors to produce 1 million views on YouTube

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Dec - 11 - 2024 , 12:17 1 minute read

Prominent Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Ruth Kadiri, is speaking out against producers who unfairly pressure actors to rack up one million views on YouTube within the first 24 hours of a movie's upload.

Kadiri, known as the 'Queen of YouTube Nollywood', is advising fellow actors to stand firm against such demands.

According to her, one million views is not the standard for a successful movie.

On her Instagram page, she wrote, Dear Nollywood actors, take the pressure off your shoulders! Any producer who requires one million views from you in one day has failed. A good production requires more than your face.

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One million views is not a standard of success. So much yall dont know about YouTube. Dont let their ignorance rob you of your joy.
Featured

Chinese President Xi congratulates President-elect Mahama

GraphicOnline International News Dec - 11 - 2024 , 15:38 1 minute read

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to John Dramani Mahama on his election as president of Ghana, CGTN the English-language news channel of state-run China Global Television Network reports. reports.

Noting that Ghana is one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China and is also an important strategic partner of China in Africa, Xi said that the China-Ghana friendship has a long history and has been strengthened over time.

Also in the message, Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Ghana relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Mahama to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust and promote the China-Ghana strategic partnership to be deeper and more solid so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Mahama, running on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), won the presidency with 56.55 percent of the votes, representing over 6.32 million ballots cast. His closest rival, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), garnered 41.61 percent, equivalent to approximately 4.65 million votes.

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The Chairperson of Ghanas Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, declared Mahama the winner late Sunday night. The results were based on counts from 267 constituencies, with nine constituencies still outstanding. However, the EC assured that the unreported figures would not affect the outcome of the election.
Next article: The Church of Jesus Christ hands over renovated dormitory and kitchen to Tamale Childrens Home

Featured

First licensure exams for death care operators to begin next month

Daniel Kenu Dec - 11 - 2024 , 08:17 3 minutes read

The Mortuaries and Funeral Facility Agency (MOFFA), the regulatory body for Ghana's "death care industry," is set to conduct its first-ever practical licensure examination by the end of the year.

The exams will determine which operators qualify for an "operational licence" to commence business in the industry legally.

Currently, no funeral homewhether private or government-ownedin Ghana holds a licence to operate in the death care industry. This concerning situation has prompted MOFFA to establish a training school at Pentecost University in Accra to equip operators with the necessary knowledge and skills. Discussions are also ongoing with other universities to expand the scope of training. Graduates from the programme will be required to demonstrate practical knowledge of industry operations, complemented by a minimal academic presentation.

A law to regulate the industry was enacted in 2011 but only became operational in 2019. The agency, established under the Health Institutions and Facilities Act (Act 829) on December 31, 2011, is responsible for licensing, controlling and regulating facilities connected with the storage, transportation and disposal of human remains. This includes the bodies of deceased persons, stillborn children, and parts of bodies removed during surgical operations.

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MOFFA is empowered by law to issue licences exclusively to qualified members. However, the enforcement of these regulations has been weak, leading to the introduction of reforms such as the upcoming licensure exams to streamline activities within the industry.

Speaking at a dissemination event for inspection tools for death care operators in Accra on Tuesday, the Registrar of MOFFA, Dr Yaw Twerefour, revealed that as of 2022, only 17 facilities had been captured in MOFFAs records. This number increased to 125 in 2023, but Dr Twerefour noted that that figure did not reflect the actual number of existing facilities.

In response, a team of experts, including pathologists, doctors and industry stakeholders, have developed globally accepted tools to standardise operations in the death care industry. About 40 certified MOFFA officers have visited several funeral homes to share these tools, which are now mandatory for operation.

Dr Twerefour explained the inspection process, saying, The inspection is where a facility, having successfully gone through the registration process, submits itself for assessors from the Agency or its representatives to visit and check if the facility can be judged as ready to operate or can continue to operate if it is a pre-existing facility. Facilities that fail to meet the requirements will be given two months to address deficiencies or agree on a timeline with the regulator. Failure to comply may result in a shutdown.

Dr Twerefour emphasised, Because of the long period of compliance absence, we are prepared to give adequate time for all to come on board, after which we will begin to bite.

The policy is part of a broader initiative to train specialistsmainly pathologistsand eliminate charlatans from the industry. MOFFA is also in talks with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to construct a 1,000-capacity mortuary under a build-operate-transfer agreement with a private entity.

During the event, MOFFAs Lead Investigator, Emmanuel Okyere, outlined the basic requirements for facilities to be sanctioned. These include establishing advisory boards, strategic and annual plans, and performance audit reports. Facilities must implement policies for training and appraisal systems, demonstrate waste disposal programmes, ensure workers are vaccinated against diseases such as COVID-19, and adopt protocols for managing the spread of diseases.

MOFFAs efforts signal a major step forward in regulating Ghana's death care industry and ensuring professionalism and safety for operators and the public alike.
Next article: Dont despair, victory is possible in 2028 - Bawumia assures NPP supporters

Featured

Mahama appeals for calm, condemns attacks on public property

Kester Aburam Korankye Dec - 11 - 2024 , 12:01 3 minutes read

The President-elect, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has appealed for calm and restraint following reports of violence and lawlessness in certain parts of the country.

In a live broadcast last night, Mr Mahama condemned the reported attacks on public facilities and installations, and urged citizens to remain calm and avoid actions that could harm Ghana's institutions and democracy.

"Transitions from one administration to another create the impression of a vacuum in power, and certain people act in their own parochial interest instead of the national interest," Mr Mahama said.

He reiterated his call for the youth not to vent their frustrations through criminal enterprises but instead, channel their anger and frustration into positive efforts to rebuild the nation.

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Decisive action

Mr Mahama further called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the security agencies to deal decisively with the matter of aggression and vandalisation of state property by some members of the public.

"Because state power is still in the hands of the present administration, I call on the President and security agencies to act decisively to curb the ongoing acts of lawlessness immediately," Mr Mahama said.

Re-election

Mr Mahama's address comes after his historic re-election in the 2024 presidential election.

He pledged to work towards a Ghana that would work for everybody, not just a few, and to restore trust between the government and the people.

Reports of vandalism, looting and attempts to take over state facilities have occurred since last Monday, following the Saturday, December 7, 2024 elections.

Observers have linked some of the incidents to politics.

Addressing the media in Accra last Monday, the National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi, advised the partys faithful to desist from such acts, warning that non-political miscreants could take advantage to perpetrate crime.

Military warns

Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has raised concerns over recent attempts by the public to disarm military personnel deployed on authorised duty to support the Ghana Police Service in maintaining law and order nationwide.

The GAF has consequently cautioned the public against such actions, emphasising that military personnel had the right to protect themselves, innocent civilians and property.

Statement

GAF wishes to caution all and sundry that military personnel on authorised duty have the right to defend themselves, innocent civilians and property, including the use of lethal force, if necessary to preserve life, the Director-General of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, said in a statement issued yesterday.

The statement further encouraged all Ghanaians to exercise their civic rights responsibly and to cooperate with security personnel to avoid actions that could undermine the peace and stability of the nation.

Reiterating its commitment to safeguarding the stability and sovereignty of the nation, the Ghana Armed Forces called on citizens to refrain from acts that threatened the countrys security.

Context

The Ghana Armed Forces was deployed in limited numbers as part of the national elections security arrangement for last Saturdays general election.
Featured

Jubilee House announces deadline for return of government vehicles by appointees

GraphicOnline Dec - 11 - 2024 , 16:33 2 minutes read

The Office of the President has issued a clear directive to all government appointees to return official vehicles in their possession by January 3, 2025.

The directive, which reiterates the policy on the acquisition of government vehicles, comes as the current administration approaches the end of its term.

In a release issued by the Communications Directorate of Jubilee House, the President's Office reminded outgoing Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Regional Ministers, Special Assistants, Special Aides to the President and Vice President, as well as other political appointees, of the established rules regarding the use of government vehicles.

"All government vehicles in the possession of these appointees must be returned to the Chief Director of the relevant Ministries no later than Friday, 3rd January, 2025," the statement read.

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The policy, which was first introduced following President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos first term in 2020, prohibits political appointees from acquiring government vehicles. While previous administrations allowed appointees to purchase a single official saloon vehicle, this practice has been discontinued under President Akufo-Addo's administration. The directive, in full effect as the President completes his second and final term, underscores the government's commitment to ensuring accountability and responsible management of state resources.

The release also clarified that the directive applies to all Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers, Regional Ministers, Special Assistants, Special Aides, and other political appointees, including those serving on Statutory Boards and Corporations.

The Office of the President has called on all affected appointees to cooperate in adhering to this important measure as the current administration transitions.
Previous article: The Church of Jesus Christ hands over renovated dormitory and kitchen to Tamale Childrens Home

Featured

Police arrest 106 suspects over post-election violence

Kweku Zurek Dec - 11 - 2024 , 06:55 2 minutes read

The Ghana Police Service has announced the arrest of nine suspects linked to the arson attack on the Electoral Commission (EC) office at Ayensuano in the Eastern Region. This development brings the total number of arrests related to post-election disturbances to 106.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Police confirmed that all 106 suspects are currently undergoing due legal processes. The suspects, now in custody, are assisting w

ith investigations.

This arrest brings the total number of suspects so far arrested in connection with the post-election disturbances to 106, all of whom are currently undergoing due legal processes, the statement said.

The attack on the Ayensuano EC office is one of several violent incidents recorded in the aftermath of the recent elections. Police investigations into these disturbances have intensified, with authorities vowing to bring all perpetrators to justice.

All suspects are in custody assisting the Police investigation, and they will be made to face justice, the statement emphasized.

The Police also reassured Ghanaians of their commitment to maintaining peace and stability. We wish to once again assure the public that the Police and other security agencies are committed to the protection of our communities to maintain law and order, the statement concluded.

These arrests form part of a broader crackdown on incidents of nationwide election-related violence.
Featured

'It is finished', Jean Mensa has no business leading Electoral Commission if... - Joyce Bawah Mogtari

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Dec - 11 - 2024 , 06:31 4 minutes read

Joyce Bawah Mogtari, a special aide to the President-Elect, has urged the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa to resign immediately.

She said this in an interview with Channel One TV on the programme Face to Face aired on Tuesday [Dec 10, 2024] evening. - Watch the video below.

She accused Mrs Jean Mensa of incompetence and partisanship during the election process.

She suggested that if she was in her [Jean Mensa's] position, she would have simply resigned as she [Jean] said in her declaration of the presidential election results last Monday that, "it is finished".

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"It should be finished for her [Jean] as well," Joyce Bawah Mogtari said.

When the interviewer, Umaru Sanda Amadu suggested that now that Jean Mensa has not resigned will there be steps towards that [to get her out],

Joyce Bawah Mogtari responded: "If there were elementary breaches, then she has no business being there and if you ask me, I personally think, from a very professional perspective, that everything to do with the EC, needs a complete reform and hopefully it will form part of the constitutional amendment process" John Mahama will undertake, she added.

She stated that a John Mahama led administration will prioritise comprehensive reforms at the Electoral Commission.

I was thinking that the EC Chairperson was going to resign yesterday. Yes, absolutely They [EC] have been incompetent to say the least. There are too many partisans there. The arm twisting. When the will of the people is up against you, there is nothing you can do, Joyce Bawah Mogtari stated.

She pointed out that the delay in declaring the election results contributed to the pockets of violence observed across the country.

One of the reasons we have these pockets of violence is that, it took too long for the EC to declare the results If I were be in her (Jean Mensa) place, I would have [resigned]. Like she said it is finished [in her statement], it should be finished for her as well, Joyce Bawah Mogtari added.

What Joyce said

"I was thinking that the EC chairperson was going resign yesterday... because we are in a circular state and I mean you spend all this time telling us what to do and what not to do. She traced the whole thing telling us that elections are a process... look my brother, they've been incompetent to say the least. There's been too many partisans there, the arm twisting. When the will of the people is up against you, there is nothing you can do. Look at the level of ... one of the reasons we have these pockets of violence is because it took too long for the EC to declare the results, they counted the presidential, by the time we all went to bed, we knew, the main vanquish had actually thrown in the towel, what were they [EC] waiting for?"

"... look at the cost of the ballot sheets that have been destroyed, burnt because of mistakes, elementary mistakes. Thank God for our technical team, they did a yeoman's job to put the EC in check.

Asked if the EC chair should resign, Joyce said: "I think that she should have, in her place, I would have [resigned]. Like she said, it is finished. It should be finished for her [Jean] as well."

"If there were elementary breaches then she has no business being there, if you ask me and I personally think, from a very professional perspective, that everything to do with the EC, needs a complete reform and hopefully it will form part of the constitutional amendment process" John Mahama will undertake, she added.

We ought to reset the EC and delete all the partisans who are in there. And she [Jean] herself has displayed enormous prejudice and bias towards the NDC, she should go and I think she ought to respect herself and leave.

'It is finished', Jean Mensa has no business leading Electoral Commission if... - Joyce Bawah Mogtari https://t.co/cdUEEftHOK pic.twitter.com/lccvXMnpn8  DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) December 11, 2024

enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh
Featured

Mahama and Akufo-Addo to inaugurate national transition team

Graphic Online Politics Dec - 11 - 2024 , 14:20 1 minute read

President-elect John Dramani Mahama and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will Wednesday afternoon inaugurate the 2024 National Transition Team, a key step in ensuring the peaceful transfer of power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The ceremony marks the start of a constitutional process designed to facilitate a smooth handover between administrations.

The National Transition Team, a constitutional body, is tasked with overseeing this critical process, including briefing the incoming government on state matters, providing access to essential government data, and coordinating the formal inauguration of the President-elect.

Addressing a meeting in the morning to introduce the team from the NDC side to President Akufo-Addo, President-elect Mahama reiterated his commitment to unity and national stability as his government prepares to assume office.

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Mr. President has given me a brief on the security situation, both internal and external, and also a short brief on issues having to do with the economy. The transitional teams will drill down further into these matters, and we are going to work together in the interest of Ghana to ensure a seamless transition, Mr. Mahama said.

President Akufo-Addo pledged his governments full cooperation throughout the transition.

I assure him [John Dramani Mahama] of my full support and that of my government over the transitional process to make sure that his administration takes off in the best of condition, he stated.
Previous article: 'It is finished', Jean Mensa has no business leading Electoral Commission if... - Joyce Bawah Mogtari

Featured

Mahama calls for calm, condemns attacks on public property after Election 2024

Kester Aburam Korankye Politics Dec - 10 - 2024 , 19:58 2 minutes read

President-Elect John Dramani Mahama has called for calm and restraint in a national address, following reports of violence and lawlessness in some parts of the country.

In a live broadcast Tuesday night [Dec 10], Mr Mahama, condemned reports of attacks on public offices and installations and urged citizens to remain calm and avoid actions that could harm Ghana's institutions and democracy.

Related: Soldiers on duty have right to defend themselves with lethal force when mob try to disarm them - GAF warns

"Transitions from one administration to another creates the impression of a vacuum power and certain people act in their own parochial interest instead of the national interest," Mr Mahama said.

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He reiterated his call for the youth not to vent their frustrations in criminal enterprise, but instead to channel their anger and frustration into positive efforts to rebuild the nation.

"I urge the youth not to vent their frustrations in criminal enterprise. Instead, they must channel their anger and frustration into the positive enterprise of resetting and rebuilding our beloved nation," Mr Mahama said.

The President-Elect also called on the current administration and security agencies to take immediate action to curb the ongoing acts of lawlessness.

"Because state power is still in the hands of the present administration, I call on the President and security agencies to act decisively to curb the ongoing acts of lawlessness immediately," Mr Mahama said.

Mr Mahama's address comes after his historic re-election victory in the 2024 presidential election.

He has pledged to work towards a Ghana that works for everybody, not just a few, and to restore trust between the government and the people.
Featured

President Akufo-Addo calls for collaboration and transparency in transition process

GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 11 - 2024 , 17:28 2 minutes read

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has highlighted the need for collaboration, transparency, and mutual respect as Ghana begins its transition process following the 2024 general elections.

Speaking at the inauguration of the transition team at the Accra International Conference Centre, President Akufo-Addo highlighted the critical role the process plays in maintaining the nations democratic integrity.

It is imperative that we continue to consolidate this hard-earned reputation by adhering strictly to the provisions of the Transition Act. We send a powerful message to the world that democracy thrives in Ghana, even in challenging times, the President said.

The transition team, composed of members from both the outgoing administration and the incoming government of President-elect John Dramani Mahama, is tasked with ensuring a seamless handover of power. Key responsibilities include facilitating the continuation of vital national projects and policies without disruption.

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The transition process is guided by Section 1 of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845).

This law mandates both the incumbent President and President-elect to appoint representatives to the Transition Team within 24 hours after the declaration of the presidential election results.

This is to ensure that the transition begins promptly, irrespective of unresolved parliamentary disputes.

President Akufo-Addo called on all team members to approach their duties with unity and dedication, prioritising the nations best interests during this period of change. As we embark on this transitional process, I urge all members of the team, both from the outgoing administration and the incoming, to approach this task with a spirit of collaboration, transparency, and mutual respect, he said.

As Ghana prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Mahama on January 7, the transition teams work will be pivotal in ensuring stability and continuity, further solidifying the countrys reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa.
Next article: Malik Basintale on why ladies should leave him in peace because he's already in a relationship

Featured

President-elect Mahama to renegotiate IMF, World Bank deals

Kester Aburam Korankye Politics Dec - 11 - 2024 , 13:46 3 minutes read

President-elect John Dramani Mahama has pledged to review and adjust Ghana's existing agreements with development partners to align with the country's current needs and aspirations.

Speaking during a courtesy call by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, Mr Mahama emphasised the importance of creating partnerships that reflected the realities of today and the vision of his incoming government.

This adjustment is crucial and will help put the new government that would be inaugurated next year on the same springboard with our development partners to begin the rebuilding of the economy and the country, Mr Mahama stated.

Transition process guided by law

Underpinning this transition is Section 1 of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845), which mandates the formation of a Transition Team within 24 hours after the declaration of presidential election results.

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This legal framework ensures continuity and smooth handover between administrations, setting the stage for collaboration with development partners and other stakeholders.

Mr Mahama noted the need for swift engagements with international institutions, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, to realign ongoing programmes with his governments priorities.

Looking at the existing programmes, we need to tweak them to meet the realities of today... One of our main concerns is the issue of debt repayments. We need to see how we can smooth them so that we dont default again, which will be more catastrophic than the current defaulting, he remarked.

IMF and World Bank programmes

Ghana is currently under a 36-month, $3 billion Extended Credit Facility with the IMF and has also signed several agreements with the World Bank, including a $250 million Ghana Financial Stability Project and another $250 million for the Ghana Energy Sector Recovery Programme. Mr Mahama stressed the urgency of managing debt repayments while working to stabilise the economy.

I dont kid myself that it is going to be an easy task; it is going to be quite tough. I anticipated that we were going to win, but I didnt anticipate the margin by which we were going to win. That is an indication that Ghanaians have very high expectations, he said, committing to working tirelessly to meet these demands.

Global collaboration and domestic concerns

The President-elect highlighted the critical role of global partnerships in Ghanas recovery. He lauded the United Nations and its agencies for their longstanding support, particularly in addressing challenges such as food security.

We are anticipating that there is going to be some problems with the availability of food, and so how we are able to quicken support to ameliorate the situation is something that we would like to work on, Mr Mahama said.

He expressed readiness to collaborate with agencies such asUNICEF and UNHCR to uplift Ghanaians from the current economic challenges.

UNs support for Ghana

Mr Abani commended Ghanas seamless 2024 elections, describing the polls as a hallmark of democratic excellence in Africa. This visit is to assure you that the UN stands fully with you and fully with Ghana. We know your presidency is just about to unfold, and I can assure you of our collaboration, Mr Abani said.

The elections saw Mr Mahama secure 6,328,397 valid votes, representing 56.55%, underscoring his strong mandate.
Illustration: Holly Wales

Various grades of trophy Wagyu still fly into town from Japan or Texas or Montana for those who demand it, but in 2024, many new dry-agers are reserved for fish, as at Time and Tide (48 E. 26th St., at Park Ave. S.), a steakhouse that only serves seafood where a centerpiece offering is a $125 tuna collar, enormous fin still attached (and even the bread course is an oversize Goldfish-looking cracker). Raw bars and fish houses are big too: The genre is French-ish at Penny (90 E. 10th St., nr. Third Ave.), New Englandish at both Smithereens (414 E. 9th St., nr. First Ave.) and The Otter (The Manner hotel, 58 Thompson St.), Italian-ish at San Sabino, Cajun-ish at Strange Delight (63 Lafayette Ave., nr. Fulton St., Fort Greene), and any other ish you might wish at plenty of other spots around the city. As a trend, seafood has a lot going for it. For ambitious cooks, it offers variety that meat does not (maybe Penny will get periwinkles  tiny sea snails  to catch on), and the relative lightness means diners can leave dinner feeling at least somewhat virtuous. Do we yearn for the days when every new spot in town offered its version of a signature chef burger? Its hard to miss them too much when youre wrapping a warm sourdough tortilla around a hunk of hamachi collar at Corima (3 Allen St., nr. Division St.).
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Haiti - FLASH : Nearly 200 people massacred in Cite Soleil (Provisional report)





The toll of the massacre orchestrated between December 6 and 8, 2024 in the Wharf Jeremie sector of Cite Soleil, by the gang leader Micanor Altes alias "Wa Mikano" and his men, mainly on elderly men and women, accused of having cast a deadly spell on his son by acts of witchcraft https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43805-haiti-flash-at-least-110-elderly-people-massacred-in-cite-soleil.html is revised upwards to provisionally stand at 184 people.



The Haitian NGO "Combite pour la Paix et le Developpement" (CPD), which has several branches in the affected area, states in a press release that "The gang leader has decided to cruelly punish all the elderly and voodoo practitioners who, in his imagination, would be capable of sending a bad spell to his son [...] The gang's men were responsible for identifying the victims in their homes and taking them to the chief's stronghold to be executed," adding "the toll could still rise, as at least 80 people are still being held by the gang." Pierre Esperance, Executive Director of the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), agrees, "Testimonies from communities suggest that the real number of deaths is much higher, as mutilated bodies were burned in the streets. Several young people, including motorcycle taxi drivers, were also killed while trying to save residents [...]"



Convictions :

The Prime Minister's Office :

"The Government condemns in the strongest terms the abject massacre perpetrated on 6 and 7 December 2024 by gang leader Micanor Altes, alias 'Wa Mikano' and his associates [...] This act of barbarity, of unbearable cruelty, cost the lives of more than a hundred women and men, mainly defenceless old people," describing this massacre as a "direct attack on humanity and republican order"



Minister of Justice and Security :

Patrick Pelissier, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, condemns in the strongest terms the massacre orchestrated last weekend at Wharf Jeremie by gang leader Micanor Altes alias "Wa Mikano". He urges the Government Commissioner of the capital to initiate public action against the perpetrator of this carnage and his accomplices. "Minister Pelissier extends his condolences to the families of the victims."



UN Antonio Guterres :

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric condemned "the ongoing gang violence and loss of life in Haiti, where an armed gang has reportedly killed at least 184 people."



The UN chief "[...] expresses his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of this horrific act," his Spokesperson said, adding "The Secretary-General calls on the Haitian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators of these and all other human rights violations are brought to justice."



Antonio Guterres reiterated his urgent appeal to Member States to provide the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission with the necessary financial and logistical support.



"These latest deaths bring the death toll in Haiti this year to a staggering 5,000 people," observed the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk during a press conference in Geneva (Switzerland).



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43805-haiti-flash-at-least-110-elderly-people-massacred-in-cite-soleil.html



SL/ TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Strategic meeting between the PM and the Diplomatic Corps





On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime held an important meeting with representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Haiti.



This meeting helped strengthen the dialogue between the Transitional Government and its international partners around national priorities. The Prime Minister outlined the main areas of his government action, with a focus on security, the management of humanitarian and economic crises, as well as the preparation of free and inclusive elections.



Alix Didier Fils-Aime stressed the importance of the support of the international community to meet these challenges and restore a climate of trust and stability.



Priorities discussed :



- Strengthening security and the capacities of law enforcement;

- Economic recovery through sustainable development initiatives;

- The organization of credible and inclusive elections;

- Constitutional reform and respect for the rule of law.



International partners reiterated their commitment to support Haiti in the implementation of these strategic priorities, for a successful transition, for the benefit of the Haitian people.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















We're a family of eight living in Georgia where Andrew's a professor at GSU and Nancy is a PhD student at UGA. You can read more about us here
THE CITIZENS INITIATIVE for pulling out of an international treaty banning the use of anti-personnel landmines cannot be presented to parliament, estimates Veli-Pekka Viljanen , a professor of constitutional law at the University of Turku.

Viljanen on Monday told Helsingin Sanomat that the citizens initiative for opting out of the convention should fail because the constitutional provisions define approval and rejection of international obligations as issues that fall outside the purview of citizens initiatives.

Our citizens initiative deals with legislative issues, and terminating international treaties isnt a legislative issue, he remarked.

A citizens initiative therefore cannot serve as the impetus for opting out of the Ottawa Convention. The mechanism was also not intended as an instrument to shape foreign policy.

In my view this is factually clear, he commented. My understanding is that parliament cant start weighing up the issue on this basis. I assume that itll be rejected on grounds that this is the incorrect procedure.

The citizens initiative was drafted by a group of lawmakers and foreign policy experts, including Member of European Parliament Mika Aaltola (NCP), ex-Minister of Defence Jussi Niinisto, and ex-Ambassadors Hannu Himanen and Pasi Patokallio. It received the 50,000 signatures required to present a citizens initiative to parliament a few days after its launch on Independence Day, 6 December.

Viljanen pointed out that the mechanism was devised as an instrument to primarily encourage public debate rather than to pursue legislative amendments.

The Speaker of Parliament, he added, should draw the conclusion that the initiative cannot be the basis of parliamentary discussion because he has an obligation to ensure the parliament does not weigh up anything unconstitutional.

If theres a desire to move forward with this, the government has to propose pulling out of the Ottawa Convention, he stated to Helsingin Sanomat.

Timo Tuovinen, the deputy secretary general of the Finnish Parliament, similarly argued that constitutional provisions on the citizens initiative are an obstacle for discussing the initiative to pull out of the anti-personnel landmine ban.

The speaker will decide whether or not to submit an issue to the plenary session. In that context, hell have to evaluate whether a citizens initiative like this can be submitted for consideration. I dont think it can be considered [by parliament], he commented to Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday.

Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho (PS) said to the newspaper he has yet to familiarise himself with the content of the initiative.

My understanding is that a citizens initiative can be a legislative proposal and contain legal provisions. And it can urge the government to take action in support of some kind of an initiative, he stated. Joining international treaties and withdrawing from them is in the hands of parliament, meaning its parliament thatll ultimately make the decision.

Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday reminded that a citizens initiative to leave the anti-personnel landmine ban was submitted to parliament also in 2023. The Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee ruled at the time that parliament cannot weigh up the issue.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Commissioned from composer Lauri Porra , the soundscape consists of 15 compositions inspired by the country, its people and their characteristics. Porra, who travels a lot for work, said the soundscape is based on the musical memories he relied on to alleviate his home-sickness when travelling abroad.

I missed the four seasons, the way light and colour work there, and the calmness and space. I started to create musical snapshots of Finland that I could listen to on my trips, in order to relax and create a little Finnish bubble around me, he recounted in a press release issued by the Finnish government.

This understated, minimalist music is meant to create a certain atmosphere, he elaborated. Whats being depicted is space. Theres space to think, feel and live in Finland  not only in nature, but also in the Finnish way of life.

Called Aania (Eng. Sounds), the soundscape was unveiled at Finnish embassies around the world on Independence Day, 6 December. It is available online here.

Finnish officials responsible for country branding hope that series of compositions creates an image of a country that brings together serenity and proximity to nature on one hand, and expertise and high quality on the other. The soundscape is also intended to increase awareness of Finnish culture, which according to surveys is the least well known aspect of the country image.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Guoying Zhao , Academy Professor at the University of Oulu, Finland, has been honoured with the prestigious 2024 Maria Petrou Prize by the International Association for Pattern Recognition (IAPR). Zhao was recognised for her significant contributions to video analysis, particularly in facial micro-behaviour recognition and remote photoplethysmography (RPPG) for heart rate analysis and face anti-spoofing.

The Maria Petrou Prize celebrates the legacy of Professor Maria Petrou, renowned for her scientific excellence and her role as a trailblazer for women researchers. The award acknowledges outstanding women scientists in the field of pattern recognition who serve as role models for established and aspiring researchers. The IAPR, founded in 1978, is dedicated to the advancement of pattern recognition, computer vision, and image processing worldwide.

As she accepted the award, Zhao reflected on the significance of this recognition. As IAPR approaches its 50th anniversary, I am grateful to be recognised by this esteemed organisation. This achievement reflects the inspiration and collaboration I have been fortunate to receive from my colleagues, students, and collaborators. I dedicate this honour to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey and look forward to continuing our collective efforts to advance innovation and discovery in this dynamic field, Zhao said.

Zhao highlighted that the award also honours the long-term dedication and expertise of her entire research team at the University of Oulus Center for Machine Vision and Signal Analysis (CMVS). She noted the centre's ongoing success, citing the example of her colleague, Professor Matti Pietikainen, who received IAPR's prestigious King-Sun Fu Prize in 2018 for his pioneering work in texture analysis and facial image analysis.

Zhao's career has been marked by significant achievements and leadership in her field. Originally from China, she earned her PhD in computer science and technology from the Institute of Computing Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has been with the University of Oulu since 2005 and began her term as an Academy Professor in 2021, the highest academic position in Finland.

Her research focuses on cutting-edge technologies that enhance video analysis and bio-signal processing, contributing to advancements in facial recognition, health monitoring, and security systems. Zhao's work has not only advanced scientific understanding but has also paved the way for practical applications that impact everyday life.

The Maria Petrou Prize underscores Zhao's role as a leading figure in machine vision and signal analysis, celebrating her dedication to innovation and her influence as a mentor and collaborator in the global research community.

HT
CALEA accreditation ensures quality, accountability, chief says

Police Chief Blair Myhand and accreditation manager Melissa Howard stand with Mayor Barbara Volk to celebrate the police departments CALEA accreditation.

The first time he was exposed to the international police accreditation process known as CALEA, Blair Myhand was less than a believer.

Related Stories

When I was working in the town of Apex, we decided to do CALEA accreditation, Myhand, who is now Hendersonvilles police chief, recalled. I didnt like it. I poo-pooed it, like most cops do: Theyre going to come and tell us how to do our job. But what Ive learned over many years now is that this is a great management tool, and everybody in the community understands that this agency is always going to do the right things.

Myhand last week detailed for the Hendersonville City Council how the department had achieved the seal of approval from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

A board of 21 law enforcement professionals and judicial officials reviewed Hendersonvilles practices and certified the departments adherence with CALEA standards.

These are people that have nothing to do with the city of Hendersonville, he said. They come in here, review us and tell us that were meeting these standards. This is part of our continuous pursuit of excellence. Were always looking to improve everything that we do.

The accreditation requires police leaders to continually evaluate performance.

So this time of year, were doing a lot of year-end annual reports where we analyze, for example, how many times we used force, what kind of force did we use, he said. Is there opportunities for training? Do we need to change policies?

Why it matters

Why this is important to you as a council and to the folks that are listening is were able to show our community that we are current with whats going on in the world, the chief continued. It gives the city a stronger defense in civil lawsuits because our policies and our practices are meeting what progressive, advanced law enforcement agencies should be doing. Were reducing our risk and liability on our folks because we have controls in place like vehicle pursuits. We certainly have greater accountability because were reporting everything that we do to you as the council and to all of our citizens and residents.

The departments accreditation effort, led by Monica Howard, completed the process of meeting 184 standards in 15 months  21 months quicker than the 3-year deadline.

We had zero deficiencies when they came on site, which was very rare, Myhand said. In fact, the assessor that came commented how rare it was, and made a point to point that out in his report to the commission.

CALEA-certification also means the city also gets the maximum discount on its liability insurance premium.

HPD joins 1,300 accredited agencies around the world, 83 in North Carolina, and becomes the third agency in Western North Carolina, after Ashevilles police department and the Buncombe County sheriffs office.

Benefits of accreditation, he said, will outlast his tenure and City Manager John Connets.

I wont always be the police chief. John wont always be the city manager, but as long as were involved in this process this agency is going to be operating at a high level, he said.
For more than a decade, the United States has sought to keep out of Syria's political debacle, seeing no viable partner. Islamist rebels' toppling of strongman Bashar al-Assad has forced a change of tune -- and a debate over just what US interests are.

Donald Trump, who returns to the White House in little more than a month, on the eve of Assad's fall called Syria "a mess" and stated in his plain-speaking style that the United States should not be involved.

Joe Biden's administration, after putting Syria on the backburner in a turbulent region, has offered a tacit rebuttal by stating that clear US interests are at stake -- including preventing Syria from fragmenting and avoiding a resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group.

Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump's and Biden's statements could be combined and "together they make a kind of decent policy."

The United States needs to address real concerns about the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda but "as far as getting involved in arranging the politics of Syria, I think that no good can come from it," Cook said.

Since the presidency of Barack Obama, the United States has walked a fine line on Syria that critics often derided as a non-policy.

The United States questioned the legitimacy of Assad, demanding accountability for brutality in one of the 21st century's deadliest wars, but stopped short of prioritizing his departure due to suspicions about the main rebels.

The Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has now led Assad's ouster, traces its roots to Syria's Al-Qaeda branch and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States.

Since Obama's time, the United States instead has allied itself in Syria with a smaller fighting force of the Kurdish minority -- over strenuous objections of neighboring Turkey, which backs HTS -- with a narrow mission to counter the Islamic State group. Some 900 US troops remain in Syria.

Assad fell in a lighting surprise offensive as his protector Russia is bogged down in its invasion of Ukraine and after Israel's military heavily degraded Assad's other key supporters -- Iran and Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

Robert Ford, the last US ambassador to Syria, helped spearhead the terrorist designation of HTS in 2012 but said that the group since then has not attacked US or Western targets and has instead fought Al-Qaeda and Islamic State forces.

Ford also pointed with hope to post-victory statements by rebel chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, including welcoming international monitoring of any chemical weapons that are discovered.

"Can you imagine Osama bin Laden saying that?" said Ford, now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

"I'm not saying 'trust Jolani.' He's obviously authoritarian. He's obviously an Islamist who doesn't believe that Christians have an equal right to power as Muslims. But I sure as hell want to test him on some of these things," Ford said.

He said that the United States should encourage HTS, as well as other Syrian actors, to reach out and reassure the country's diverse communities including Christians, Kurds and Alawites -- the sect of the secular-oriented Assad.

Beyond that, Washington should take a back-seat and let Syrians sort out their future, he said.

"We should learn from the experience in Iraq that trying to impose exiles on a population traumatized by a brutal dictatorship and war is not a recipe for success," Ford said.

Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday offered US recognition to a future government that is "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian."

Trump in his first term, at the urging of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, abruptly said he would pull troops out of Syria. He backtracked after intense criticism at home and appeals from French President Emmanuel Macron, who pointed to the risk of Islamic State filling the vacuum.

Trump has not indicated how he would change Syria policy this time. But he has shown no reluctance in the past to negotiate with foreign adversaries on the US blacklist, from Afghanistan's Taliban to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said there was no legal restriction on US contact with designated terrorists, although he indicated there was no direct dialogue with HTS.

Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Syria could face "devastating economic and humanitarian consequences" unless the United States reconsiders the terrorist designation of HTS, which impedes aid groups.

"That said," she said, "if there isn't sort of an established framework for negotiations and good behavior now, before that designation is lifted, that could potentially also be a major mistake down the line for Syria's future."
Radisson RED Galway has opened its doors, making it the first property of the bold, upscale brand in Ireland. Located in Galway's newest neighborhood, Crown Square, an impressive development between Moniva Road and Joyce's Road and close to Galway's city center, Radisson RED incorporates art, music and fashion to create an unforgettable stay for guests, and is an excellent fit for this famously cultural city.

Developed by the Rhatigan Group - who have previously developed Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin, and Dublin Royal Convention Centre - and designed by renowned Dublin based architects Henry J Lyons, Radisson RED Galway offers an inviting atmosphere, blending upscale design with a fun, relaxed vibe. The open-plan layout creates a seamless flow between spaces, with thoughtfully designed shared areas that foster connection and interaction. Central to the space is an interactive bar, complemented by a cosy lounge area, perfect for unwinding or socializing. The colour palette is rich and sophisticated, featuring deep dark walnut tones, vibrant reds, and elegant brass highlights, while the antique mirror accents and brass rod feature staircase add an extra layer of character and charm. Outside, the property boasts a south-facing terrace, ideal for basking in a Galway suntrap throughout the day.

The 177 guest rooms and suites reflect the hotel's signature aesthetic, where bold design meets functionality. Each room has a playful yet sophisticated approach, featuring vibrant colour palettes, chic furnishings, and striking artwork. It offers an immersive experience with cutting-edge technology and unique touches that speak to Galway's rich cultural heritage. The rooms are designed for both relaxation and productivity, featuring large windows that let natural light fill the space.

Radisson RED Galway introduces a series of advanced features that cater to the tech-savvy traveler. Guests can enjoy seamless check-in and check-out through kiosks, allowing for a smooth arrival and a fast departure. In addition, wireless charging points are strategically placed throughout the hotel and guest rooms are equipped with Chrome Cast technology.

The Claddagh Bar & Grill is Radisson RED Galway's dynamic, modern restaurant, located on the ground floor. It is a relaxed space, offering a stylish dining experience with a focus on Irish ingredients. Subtle symbols of Irish heritage, like Claddagh symbols and wooden accents, connect the design to Galway's rich culture. The space is open plan with cozy corners and large tables for group dining, and is ideal for enjoying delicious food or cocktails in a relaxed yet sophisticated setting.

Lena's Rooftop Bar & Restaurant is located on the hotel's top floor and seats 140 guests, with panoramic views of Galway Bay and the city. It serves signature cocktails, including Lena's Rose, and a traditional Irish menu with a modern twist. The chefs take great pride in sourcing the best-possible local produce to provide guests with a taste of true Irish hospitality and flavors. It is a restaurant perfect for date nights, Sunday lunch with the family, tourists, and passers-by.

Radisson RED Galway features nine versatile meeting rooms spread across two floors, with over 400 square metres of meeting and event space. Blending contemporary design with state-of-the-art technology, the property provides the perfect setting for a wide range of events, from corporate meetings to creative workshops and social gatherings. On the ground floor, a private meeting room provides a focused environment for small reunions, while the adjacent Writers Room is a semi-private networking space designed to encourage social interaction and creativity. With its inviting atmosphere and stylish decor, this space is ideal for informal meetings, where guests can relax, engage, and connect over coffee or light refreshments.

The lower ground floor is home to the Tribe Suite, a spacious and versatile room that can cater to up to 220 guests in a theatre-style setting, perfect for a large conference, presentation, or seminar. With its expansive size and audiovisual facilities, the suite ensures your event will be both impactful and memorable. In addition to the Tribe Suite, the lower ground floor features three boardrooms and two large breakout event spaces, providing additional flexibility and ideal for networking sessions, workshops, or casual events. The space is equipped with a private bar, perfect for mingling after a productive day of meetings. The carefully designed booth seating allows guests a comfortable space to collaborate or take an informal break.

Just a few minutes' drive from Galway City, Radisson RED Galway is also located next to motorways that connect the city with Dublin and Limerick.

Hotel website
Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion represents the company's first hotel in Paraguay and 10th Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced the opening of Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, the company's first hotel in Paraguay and the 10th addition to Tapestry Collection by Hilton in the Caribbean and Latin America. With plans to double its presence, Tapestry Collection by Hilton will welcome 10 more hotels in the region over the next four years and is primed to provide guests with authentic experiences across destinations worth exploring. As part of its aggressive growth strategy over the past decade in the Caribbean and Latin America, Hilton continues to broaden its reach in the region, adding new countries and territories and launching new brands. By the end of 2024, Hilton will also welcome Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire to Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking Hilton's first hotel in the Caribbean Island.

Housed in a historic building dating back to 1901 that originally served as the headquarters for the Superior Court of Justice, Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion's conversion to Tapestry Collection by Hilton exemplifies the essence of the Collection brand which retains the personalized and authentic identity of each hotel while pairing it with Hilton's recognized hospitality and added benefits to guests. The hotel's recent renovation maintained its neoclassical architecture, blended with Spanish modernism inspiration and stayed true to its cultural heritage while adding modern amenities to improve guest experience. The hotel offers 107 comfortable rooms, including spacious two-floor suites and an expansive presidential suite, with two bedrooms and a balcony. Guests can also enjoy an interior courtyard, a fitness center and a rooftop pool.

Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion indulges locals and visitors with top-notch cuisine. Guests can begin the day with a delightful breakfast or unwind in the evening with refreshing cocktails and a diverse cuisine at the hotel cafe. For authentic flavors of Paraguay, the hotel also offers a steakhouse, where traditional dishes with local products meet international favorites. For business meetings or events, Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion features two intimate boardrooms, a large conference room and expansive event room, which seamlessly connects to the interior courtyard.

Centrally located in the heart of downtown, Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion provides easy access to tourist attractions including iconic landmarks such as Palacio Lopez, the National Pantheon of Heroes and the Independence House. The hotel is 19 kilometers (5.5 miles) from Silvio Pettirossi International Airport the International Airport.

Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton's distinct hotel brands. Members who book directly have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi and the Hilton Honors mobile app.

Hilton's debut in Paraguay builds on Hilton's continued growth momentum in the Caribbean and Latin America. With more than 270 open hotels, the company continues to pursue additional growth opportunities in the region and currently has a robust pipeline of 135 hotels, with plans to enter new countries and territories in the region over the next few years, including Bonaire, Dominica, St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guyana, among others.

Tapestry Collection by Hilton is part of Hilton's Collection brands, which also includes Curio Collection by Hilton. These brands enhance Hilton's portfolio by offering unparallelled choice and iconic hotels to travelers seeking diverse and personalized experiences around the globe, regardless of stay occasion.

Hotel website
IHG Hotels & Resorts proudly announces the appointment of Sayed Tayoun as the new Cluster General Manager for InterContinental Abu Dhabi and InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi. With over 20 years of distinguished experience in hospitality, Tayoun is celebrated for his visionary leadership, innovative approach to elevating guest experiences, and operational expertise. Known for his unwavering dedication to guest excellence, he is an ideal fit for leading two of Abu Dhabi's most established properties. Tayoun is also committed to driving commercial success, optimizing technology, building high-performing teams, and engaging with local communities further solidifying his reputation as a forward-thinking and results-driven leader.

Abu Dhabi's tourism boom and success as a premier global destination are fueled by strategic government initiatives, creating positive, high-quality visitor experiences. In his new role, Tayoun will oversee two distinguished properties. InterContinental Abu Dhabi, a heritage hotel built in 1981 to host the first GCC Summit, is celebrated as one of Abu Dhabi's first 5-star establishments. The hotel is renowned for its timeless charm and seven signature dining venues, including the iconic Fish Market, Michelin-selected Byblos Sur Mer, and the popular Belgian Cafe. Alongside it, the InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi, the newest addition to the city's upscale hospitality landscape, offers refined living spaces tailored to travelers and residents alike. Tayoun envisions enhancing the elevated status of these properties by blending upscale hospitality with historic appeal, refining service standards, and creating memorable experiences that resonate with both international travelers and the local community. His goal is to establish both properties as leaders in innovation, creating exceptional, unforgettable moments for guests.

Tayoun's recent success as General Manager at Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Science Park included an exemplary pre-opening phase, during which he established the property as a vibrant community-centric hotel. His dedication to sustainable practices led to pioneering initiatives, such as an in-house water bottling plant and a no single-use plastics policy. These sustainability measures, paired with Tayoun's focus on innovation and community engagement, have set a high bar for eco-friendly hospitality in the region.

Tayoun's achievements and contributions to the industry have garnered him widespread recognition. In 2024, he earned a distinguished place on Hotelier Middle East's GM Power List, was celebrated as a TOP 40 Hospitality Heavyweight 2024, and was shortlisted for the inaugural GM of the Year Award at the 2024 Hotelier Middle East Awards. These accolades underscore Tayoun's reputation as a transformative leader, known for his commitment to elevating guest satisfaction, optimizing operational standards, and pioneering sustainable growth within the industry.

His career with IHG began in 2005 at InterContinental Doha, followed by various senior roles across the region. At Dubai Festival City, Tayoun served as Cluster Hotel Manager, successfully overseeing a multi-branded complex with over 1,500 rooms, launching innovative F&B concepts, and leading more than 20 projects to enhance the guest experience. A graduate of Notre Dame University in Lebanon, Tayoun has also attended professional development programs at Cornell University and Harvard Business School. Proficient in Arabic, English, and conversational French, he brings a well-rounded, multicultural perspective to hospitality.
With the success debut in 2023, Hotel & Shop Plus Shenzhen will return to Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center from 12-14 December 2024. This show offers as the one-stop sourcing and purchasing platform of construction and operation for hotels and commercial space to source target buyers, expand business, empower the cross-border cooperation among companies both in Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Southeast Asia.

Based on the rich resource of Hotel & Shop Plus Shanghai, Hotel & Shop Plus Shenzhen welcomes quality exhibitors categorized into building & decoration, engineering design, decorative lighting, smart hotel, smart retail, self-service kiosks, cleaning and property management, etc.

Through the linkage of Shanghai and Shenzhen, this mega event further explores the interdisciplinary cooperation of designers, hoteliers, shopping mall owners, real estate developers, investors, property management experts. It is a grand ceremony for hospitality industries across south China and the Southeast Asia.

For more information please contact Jade Liao

+86 21 3339 2113
The Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA) is delighted to announce its 2025 Board of Advisors, a distinguished assembly of leaders and innovators from the boutique hospitality industry. This esteemed group will guide BLLAs mission to champion and support the boutique lifestyle movement as it continues to expand its influence globally.

With expertise spanning hotel ownership, operations, culinary innovation, luxury branding, and legal strategy, the 2025 Board members are united by their passion for advancing the boutique sector. Their collective efforts will empower independent hoteliers, drive innovation, and elevate the unique value of boutique hospitality on a global scale.

The 2025 BLLA Board of Advisors includes:

Thoughts from Key Leaders

Frances Kiradjian, Founder & CEO of BLLA, shared her excitement for the year ahead:



We are honored to welcome this extraordinary group of leaders to the 2025 BLLA Board of Advisors. Their collective vision and expertise will be instrumental as we advance the boutique hospitality movement and provide resources to independent hoteliers navigating an evolving industry landscape.

David Bowd, CEO & Founder of Salt Hotels, commented:



Under the tremendous leadership of Fran and Ariela, BLLA has been at the forefront of leading the boutique hospitality movement through education, unification, and setting industry standards. I am immensely honored and thrilled to be part of the Advisory Board for 2025 as we continue to grow this sector faster than any other in the industry and assist in the great work that BLLA champions.

For Kurt Bjorkman, Chief Operating Officer of The Ranch at Laguna Beach, joining the Board is deeply personal:



I am incredibly honored to join the BLLA Advisory Board! The BLLA team and community have played a pivotal role in my journey within the independent boutique resort space, inspiring me every time I engage with their amazing network. Its a privilege to contribute to shaping the exciting and dynamic future of BLLA.

Sam Bakhshandehpour, Chief Executive Officer of Jose Andres Group, emphasized innovation:



The boutique hospitality industry is here to provide guests with unmatched, memorable experiences. I am excited to join the 2025 BLLA Advisory Board and pool our collective expertise to uncover new strategies that enhance the guest journey and drive sustainable growth. By leveraging technology, immersive experiences, and reimagined culinary offerings, we can share groundbreaking ideasall while maintaining the distinct character that sets boutique establishments apart.

Alexandra Walterspiel, CEO of Sensei, reflected on her involvement:



I have had the pleasure of being connected to the BLLA team over the last few years in a number of different ways and was absolutely delighted when they recently asked me to join their Advisory Board. I am thrilled to be able to contribute to this wonderful organization in this capacity.

A Unified Vision for the Future

The Board will collaborate with BLLA to spearhead initiatives including educational events, networking opportunities, and advocacy for boutique businesses. By amplifying the voices of independent hoteliers, the Board will help shape the future of the industry while inspiring the next generation of boutique hospitality leaders.

About the Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA)

BLLA is the world's most innovative and progressive organization dedicated to the boutique & luxury niche of the hospitality industry. The association connects the world's most dynamic executives with cutting-edge business and operational insight. BLLA's membership benefits allow access to the world's leading minds in the hospitality space through events, research, and education. Our mission is to provide leadership and opportunities for global recognition and connections to the world's best companies, investors, and developers. All result in strategic interactions and access to information that helps people and organizations thrive. Join the movement BLLA gave birth to in 2009 and become a part of something unique, exciting, and inspirational. www.blla.org

About BLLA

The official organization for the world's independent boutique lifestyle hotels and leaders who are entrepreneurs themselves, promoting capital, resources, connection, education, and advocacy. As a pioneer in forecasting the boutique movement, BLLA's boutique community currently extends to more than 10,000 verified boutique and lifestyle hotels. BLLA is a catalyst for trends and the future of the boutique lifestyle, exactly what today's traveler is embracing. BLLA.org / Stay-Boutique.com. BLLA is also a capital/partner matchmaker via its Boutique Money Group division.

The corporate manifesto is: Experience the intention behind the brand.
Key Takeaways

More than 55% of stays took place outside of major cities, dispersing these positive benefits beyond traditional tourist destinations.

Domestic travelers and families particularly appreciate affordable and flexible accommodation options provided by STRs. In 2023, 67% of stays in the EU were made by Europeans, and nearly four out of ten travelers booked a holiday home with their children.

The proportion of the overall housing stock dedicated to short term rentals in Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam does not exceed 0.5%.

Local rules that severely limit the supply of short term rentals have failed to improve the availability of affordable housing while hurting local hosts and increasing travel costs for everyday Europeans.

A new study by Oxford Economics commissioned by Airbnb highlights the positive impact of short term rentals on countries across the EU. Travelers staying in short-term rentals generated 149 billion in economic benefits, supported 2.1 million jobs, and generated 40 billion in total tax revenue in 2023.

Rural areas have particularly benefited from this positive impact, as 55 percent of travelers in short-term rentals stayed outside of major cities in 2023. This trend is growing and the number of short-term rental nights stayed in rural locations has doubled since 2020.

Short-term rentals allow everyday people to travel in Europe in an affordable way, especially during major events. According to Oxford Economics, platforms like Airbnb have reduced the average price of overnight stays (either in a hotel or short-term rental) by 7 euros in major EU destinations in 20231. During big events, such as this summers Paris Olympics Games, local hosts listing their homes on short-term rental platforms help to make stays cheaper for travelers, while dispersing economic benefits to local families and businesses.

This flexible and affordable accommodation option is popular among European travelers, especially those traveling with family. In the EU, 67 percent of stays in short-term rentals were made by Europeans, and families with children accounted for nearly four out of 10 (39%) bookings.

While short-term rentals have brought significant benefits to EU travelers, families and businesses, the study challenges misconceptions about the impact of furnished tourist accommodations on housing supply and overtourism issues in urban centers. According to Oxford Economics, listings dedicated to short term lets available on Airbnb in Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam do not exceed 0.5 percent of the local housing supply. The study estimates that if all listings on Airbnb were returned to the residential market, local house prices in these cities would fall by less than 0.7 percent.

Over the years, short-term rentals have become a preferred solution for many everyday European families to travel affordably throughout Europe. By staying in a holiday home, these travelers have discovered new neighborhoods and landscapes. By directing tourists away from crowded urban destinations where hotel supply, concentrated tourist flows and local challenges accumulate, short-term rentals have dispersed the benefits of tourism to local families and business in countless rural destinations. Juliette Langlais, EMEA Public Affairs Director at Airbnb

While Oxford Economics finds short-term rentals impact on housing to be minimal and limited to specific neighborhoods, excessive and poorly targeted regulations implemented in some European cities have unsurprisingly failed to address local challenges:

In Paris, a de facto prohibition on renting a second home short term has failed to prevent an increase in average rents and property prices, which have risen by 21% and 15% respectively since the current rules for short-term rentals were implemented six years ago.

In Amsterdam, the number of tourist overnight stays has increased by 12% since 2019 despite the introduction of strict rules limiting short-term rentals to a maximum of 30 days per year for the entire city, and a corresponding 50% decrease in the number of stays in furnished tourist accommodations. Hotels have thus driven and benefitted from pent up tourist stays in Amsterdam at the expense of local families.

Such disproportionate short term rentals regulations have also shown negative side effects locally, including a loss of economic opportunities for local hosts and businesses. These regulations create a significant increase in the cost of stays, undermining the ability of everyday Europeans and families to enjoy these destinations.

In Amsterdam, Oxford Economics estimates a loss of 269M in total host earnings since the implementation of current short term rentals regulations. This is millions of euros that no longer go into the pockets of everyday hosts and small businesses, often to the benefit of large hotel chains.

In Paris, the average price of a hotel night has increased by 77%, despite the addition of nearly 4,000 new hotel rooms in six years.

The report shows that short term rentals are not the key driver of local challenges such as housing shortage and overtourism. Airbnb believes local regulatory responses should be evidence-based and targeted to neighbourhoods where there is a clear need while preserving the benefits that short-term rentals bring to locals and travelers.

Short term rentals are part of the solution to build a more sustainable tourism that preserves the right of residents in the European Union countries to live, host, and travel affordably across Europe. Lets continue to preserve them, said Langlais.

Airbnb has supported new EU rules, to ensure authorities have the data they need to make informed policy decisions which preserve the opportunities of short term rentals for local hosts, travelers and destinations, in line with the EU STR regulation framework.

1. According to Oxford Economics, listings on Airbnb helped reduce rates for all overnight stays (either hotels or STRs) by around 7 per night across 10 key European destinations in 2023, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bucharest, Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Rome, Vienna.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

About Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.'s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org's charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.

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Barbados Hosts 13th Annual Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) - Image Credit HVS

On November 13, 2024, Barbados welcomed 300 top investors, industry leaders, and tourism professionals to its shores for the 13th annual Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS). Of the 300 attendees, 225 were visitors from across the globe.



This prestigious event, which took place at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All Inclusive Resort, underscores Barbados' commitment to fostering sustainable growth and innovation within the regions hospitality sector and reinforces the islands position as a premier destination for tourism investment and development. This year, attendees and speakers explored strategic insights and innovations essential for driving sustainable tourism growth within Barbados and across the region.



The Minister of Tourism and International Transport, the Hon. G.P. Ian Gooding-Edghill, extended a warm invitation to the conference attendees and emphasized Barbados rapid expansion within the tourism sector: Your presence underscores the immense value Barbados places on tourism investment and business development, as well as the importance of tourism as a pillar of our economy. We invite discerning investors to explore opportunities in accommodations, family-oriented attractions, and infrastructure, as Barbados continues its journey towards sustainable growth.



Barbados has made significant strides in revitalizing its tourism sector since the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, steadily regaining market share and nearing pre-pandemic arrival levels. These achievements have been bolstered by strategic marketing efforts and enhanced airlift and cruise capacities, paving the way for further tourism investment.



Speaking on the conferences importance, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Andrea Franklin, expressed enthusiasm for the promising trajectory of Barbados tourism industry:



Barbados stands at a pivotal moment in its tourism journey, presenting immense potential for investors looking to tap into a vibrant and resilient market. The CHICOS conference showcases our nations renewed commitment to building a sustainable tourism ecosystem that enriches our economy and elevates the visitor experience. We welcome investors who share our vision for progress and innovation as we work to solidify Barbados as a leading destination for global travelers.

Barbados has seen remarkable advancements in its tourism landscape, with recent developments in luxury accommodations, exclusive villa projects, and premium real estate on the islands west coast. These additions cater to the growing demand for high-end travel experiences and are supported by increased airlift from key international markets, reinforcing Barbados as a leading Caribbean travel hub. New accommodations currently on stream are as follows:

Hotel Indigo Barbados is currently under construction with 132 rooms, expected to open in early 2025.

The Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club is scheduled to open in March 2025 on the west coast.

The adults-only, all-inclusive resort Royalton Chic is expected to open in the spring of 2026 with 220 suites.

The first international destination from Pendry Hotels and Resorts, Pendry Barbados, is scheduled to open on the north side of the island in 2026 with 74 luxury beachfront rooms.

And finally, the long-awaited all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva Barbados project is expected to begin construction in January 2025 and open in early January 2027, offering 367 hotel rooms and 28 luxury condominiums.

CHICOS Chairman Parris Jordan shared, We at CHICOS are delighted to bring the conference to Barbados for the first time. The islands strong hotel performance and increasing popularity as a tourist destination make Barbados a compelling choice of host.

Jordan added, The new Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle provides the perfect location with top-quality meeting facilities to successfully host CHICOS 2024.
Qatar's Hotel Industry Experiences Substantial Boost Linked to Formula 1 Grand Prix 2024 - Image Credit Unsplash

Qatar's hotel occupancy rates and revenues significantly increased during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Prix 2024.

The Hospitality Qatar exhibition also contributes to high occupancy levels in November 2024.

The hotel industry in Qatar experienced a substantial boom in November 2024, attributed to the staging of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Prix. Preliminary data from CoStar, a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, revealed that the event greatly influenced the hospitality sector's performance.

The November 2024 year-on-year percentage changes showed a considerable upswing. Occupancy levels peaked at 83.6%, marking a 17.5% increase. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) surged by 20.9%, reaching QAR488.31. More significantly, the Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) soared by 42.0%, registering at QAR408.24. This represents the highest occupancy for any November in Qatar since 2014.

The highest performance levels were noted on the Friday of the race weekend (29 November), with occupancy reaching 95.2%, the ADR at QAR682.31, and RevPAR at QAR649.47. The second-highest ADR and RevPAR were recorded the following night (Saturday, 30 November) at QAR664.48 and QAR623.85, respectively.

The second-highest occupancy level of 95.0% was observed on Tuesday, 12 November, coinciding with the first night of the Hospitality Qatar exhibition. Except for one day in the month, Qatar's occupancy levels consistently stayed above 70%, with the lowest recorded at 69.8% on Sunday, 3 November.

These figures indicate that major events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Hospitality Qatar exhibition significantly impact the hotel and travel industry. The positive trend provides a promising outlook for the Qatari hospitality sector, proving its resilience and capacity to capitalize on such large-scale international events.
Hyatt Regency OHare Chicago Hotel

MCR, America's third-largest hotel owner-operator, has recently purchased the Hyatt Regency O'Hare Chicago, marking its first Hyatt Regency-branded hotel acquisition. This acquisition is also MCR's fifth hotel in Illinois. The 11-story hotel, located in the suburb of Rosemont, has 1,095 rooms renovated in 2020 at $13 million.

The Hyatt Regency O'Hare Chicago is close to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the United States, handling over 74 million passengers annually. The hotel's strategic location is just a five-minute drive from the airport, making it exceptionally convenient for travelers.

Adding to its convenience, the hotel is directly connected to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center via a skywalk. This expansive venue, which offers more than 840,000 square feet of exhibition space, hosts various events throughout the year, including the International Gem & Jewelry Show and the Illinois Bridal & Wedding Expo.

Apart from being a hub for travelers, the area boasts over 18 million square feet of office space, housing the headquarters of several significant corporations such as US Foods, Wintrust, Reyes Holdings, and the Big Ten Conference. These corporations are all located within a short distance from the hotel.

The hotel is also close to several premier shopping and leisure destinations. The Fashion Outlets of Chicago, which hosts over 130 retailers like Gucci and Nordstrom Rack, is less than a mile away. Other nearby attractions include the Rivers Casino Des Plaines, the Rosemont Theatre, and the Allstate Arena.

The Hyatt Regency O'Hare Chicago offers three dining options: the Red Bar & Lounge, O'H American Grill, and Perks To-Go. It also features a 24-hour fitness center for guests who wish to keep up with their fitness routines.

The hotel is a desirable location for corporate travelers. It provides 110,000 square feet of meeting space, including the sizeable Grand Ballroom and Ventanas, a top-floor venue with a splendid view of the Chicago skyline.
Some 91 town meeting members attended Tuesday's special meeting. No close votes were recorded on any of the articles.

Adams Town Meeting Rejects Petition for Greylock Glen Commission

ADAMS, Mass.  Town meeting members on Tuesday resoundingly rejected a citizen's petition pushing the creation of a Greylock Glen Commission.

The question was the only article to fail at the special town meeting attended by 91 town meeting members. The overwhelmingly passed several bylaws, a special tax assessment for the Adams Theater and authorized the Selectmen to sell the Memorial Building and enter into an agreement for solar carports at the Glen.

Article 9 on the warrant would have authorized the Selectmen to resubmit to the Legislature language created in 2019 to establish a nonprofit commission with oversight and financial authority over the glen.

The petitioners said the commission was long overdue, citing the taxpayer funds that had gone to the development of the recently opened Outdoor Center and the infrastructure to support it.

"I want to say that what I heard was that people were irate at the amount of taxpayer money that's being spent at the Greylock Outdoor Center even now without any significant revenue return to the town of Adams," said Diane Parsons, a town meeting member and one of the leaders of the petition that garnered 146 signatures to be placed on the warrant.

Town officials, however, said it would mean handing over all the hard work and investment over the past few years with no return to the town. The taxpayers won't see any funding coming back from tenant contracts for a food vendor, campground and Mass Audubon programming that are in the midst of negotiations, they said.

"We need the economic money to come into our coffers, and this is how we're going to do it," said Selectmen Chair John Duval. "This commission is approved, we walk away, the Select Board walks away, and where's all this money going to now?

"They will get it. It stays up on the hill. It stays with commission."

Selectwoman Christine Hoyt said not only was the language outdated  the nonprofit was considered at the time as a way to raise money for a now completed center  but had been rejected by the Legislature twice.

"One of the things that I would ask is give some time for us to have conversations as a community, to figure out what is the best structure. Is the best structure of commission, or is it a district? Is it an authority? Is it an advisory board?" she said. "There are very different ways that we can look at this and structure it, and I'm asking for time and a lot of conversation to figure out what that is."

Selectman Joseph Nowak read a lengthy statement he said proved the need for a commission by bringing up staff abilities and their pay, past financial problems of the food vendor, a lack of communication with the state representative, water issues, an inconsistent schedule and accusing his fellow board members of favoritism in the selection process.

"The commission would have the time to do it that would be their job, and they would have the people necessary to oversee aspects that will be brought to fruition here," he said. "I have made it known that I strongly believe that the formation of a commission is paramount. The present operational plan of the Outdoor Center will not make this venture self sustaining. It will fail."

Wilk called him out of order several times and cautioned him to stick to the article and not to get into personalities.

Member John Cowie rose to his defense: "I think his whole argument is that based on the current administration and the way that going is being run has been improper, or maybe not improper, but it could have been done better in the execution."

Town meeting member James Fassell, longtime member of the Parks and Conservation commission, quoted a letter to the editor by Jerome Socoloff that the town would "cede a stunning amount of control" to the commission.

Nowak asked when the time would be for a commission; Fassell responded the "proper time is decided by us, by you, by Mr. Duval, by the rest of us."

Jeffrey Blake of KP Law, the town counsel, clarified that passage of the article wouldn't immediately change anything. Rather, it authorized the Selectmen to forward the home-rule petition but did not order it.

Town meeting member Fred Lora asked if state Rep. John Barrett III had endorsed the language; Parsons said he had reviewed it. Duval said the state representative had not contacted the board about citizens petition. He also during the meeting questioned some of the statements that Barrett had made about the commission in The Berkshire Eagle, such as a member being appointed by the governor. "We didn't ask for that," he said.

"It's our economic development project, it's Adams. It's not Massachusetts, it's not North Adams, it's Adams. It's our economic development project. The only one we have," said Duval. "We've got to make as much out of this as we can."

Members by voice vote clearly voted no twice. Town Moderator Myra Wilk allowed the second vote because of confusion after the question was called three hours into the meeting and after more than an hour of debate.

This required everyone to stand to be counted as it was a two-thirds vote. The motion passed and then the article itself was rejected by a simple majority.
Wednesday 11 December 2024, 10:15 - Last updated: 12:54

Electric Charging Stations Bonus. Published on the website of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, the directoral decree of December 9 on eligible contributions.

School Staff Salaries, Increases from 700 to 2,000 Euros: Applications by December 13. Requirements and How to Apply

Electric Charging Stations Bonus, Beneficiaries

The bonus is granted in relation to the expenses for the purchase and installation of charging infrastructure carried out from January 1, 2024, to November 22, 2024.

What is the Bonus

The bonus was introduced by the Dpcm of August 4, 2022, and consists of a contribution, for individuals or condominiums, for the purchase and installation of infrastructure for charging electric-powered vehicles (such as charging stations or wall boxes).

The maximum contribution limit, equal to 80% of the purchase and installation price, is 1,500 euros for private users and up to 8,000 euros in case of installation on common parts of condominium buildings (see article: Domestic Charging Stations Bonus, Guidelines Defined for 2024).

Invitalia is the entity managing the measure, conducting random checks on contribution requests, arranged by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, verifying the truthfulness of the declarations and documentation submitted by the applicants. To this end, Invitalia may carry out official investigations, checks, and on-site inspections of the qualities and facts concerning the declarations and documentation submitted.

The Revocation

The granted contributions may be revoked if, following checks after their disbursement, the falsity of the declarations made by the applicants or the irregularity of the documentation produced during the administrative procedure is found.

Beneficiary List

Interested parties can verify their position by consulting Attachment A of the decree, referring to the application ID. The contribution granted to each applicant is equal to what is reported in the column "Conceded Contribution" of Attachment A below. The amount is credited, in a single installment, to the bank account declared in the application request.

The Provision
Supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from their inception to maturity will help build a stronger and more inclusive economy for the Philippines.

The Philippines top finance super app joins other global fintech players in talks about accelerating MSME growth

This was the key insight that GCash, the Philippines' leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem in the country, emphasized before global fintech leaders during the recent Singapore Fintech Festival, the premier financial technology event that brought together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from around the world.

During a panel discussion at the SFF 2024 main stage titled, "Safeguarding the Economys Backbone: Accelerating Global SME Financing through Digital Services, GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon emphasized that supporting MSMEs is not merely about offering products or services, but about enabling these businesses to reach their full potential.

"We journey with our customers from being small and struggling to growing and becoming bigger because each MSME is on a journey. At GCash, we are with them from the beginning of their dreams to the time they realize those dreams," Sazon said.

Sazon joined Ant International president Doug Feagin, Amazon vice president for payments for emerging markets Mahendra Nerurkar, Republic of Rwanda minister for ICT and innovation Hon. Paula Ingabire, and National Bank of Cambodia Governor H.E. Dr. Serey Chea.

Enabling the success of MSMEs

Having the largest cashless ecosystem in the Philippines with over 94 million Filipinos having tried the app, GCash has long recognized that MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy. Sazon described the Philippine economy as, highly micro-enterprise.

GCash has registered at least 6 million merchants in its ecosystem, including social sellers who face difficulty accessing traditional banking services and credit facilities. GCash bridges this gap by enabling MSMEs to access essential financial and merchant services with simplified onboarding processes.

A key aspect GCash proudly presented is its revolutionary approach to evaluating customer creditworthiness through its proprietary credit scoring model, an artificial intelligence-enabled system that uses digital behavior to allow merchants access to fair lending without the need for collateral.

Supporting the Philippines vision for financial inclusion and sustainable growth

In a separate session titled Harnessing the Power of Technology Innovation to Propel MSME Sustainability, GCash vice president and group head for new businesses Winsley Bangit sat down with Ant International chief sustainability officer and senior vice president Chen Leiming, and International Finance Corporation regional chief risk officer Vivek Pathak to discuss how technology can help build more sustainable businesses.

"MSMEs play an important part in our journey in the Philippines. 99.5% of businesses in the Philippines are MSMEs. Unfortunately, according to our studies, 66% of those will close shop in the next two years because many of them are unprepared for operational and external shocks. Our role is to make sure that the success of MSMEs is sustainable through simpler and more accessible digital financial solutions that can help them grow," said Bangit.

Looking ahead to 2025, GCash is poised to continue driving financial inclusion and accessibility, particularly by helping informal merchants access the same opportunities as large corporations and conglomerates  helping build a stronger backbone for more sustainable and robust economic growth for the Philippines.

As part of the Philippine delegation during the three-day event hailed as among the biggest annual gathering of fintech leaders worldwide, GCash joined over 65,000 participants from 134 countries, including representatives from more than 10,000 organizations, 3,400 government and regulatory attendees, 665 central banks, 600 exhibitors, and 41 international pavilions. This global platform fostered meaningful collaborations to catalyze significant change across borders.

For more information on how GCash is supporting MSMEs and promoting financial inclusion, visit GCash.com.
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The first trailer for the major new horror movie, 28 Years Later, has been unveiled and fans think theyve spotted the original star of the series, Cillian Murphy, in a very unexpected role.

The Irish actor, who won Best Actor at this years Oscars for Oppenheimer, played the lead character, Jim, in the original film, 28 Days Later, which quickly became a cult hit when it was released in 2002.

The new film will see director Danny Boyle return to the series, something that he had hinted at in a 2019 interview with The Independent.

No prizes for guessing, but the new film takes place 28 years after the first outbreak of the Rage Virus and looks at how the survivors are coping in the infected post-apocalyptic landscape.

The new movie stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes and is written by Civil War and Ex Machina director Alex Garland.

Although Murphy told The Independent in 2023, that he would be keen on returning for the third film, the Peaky Blinders star is not listed as an official cast member in the promotional material but is an executive producer, as per Variety.

However, fans think theyve spotted a clue to Murphys involvement in the film and its not looking too good for Jim. In one clip, a collection of dead zombies are propped up, like scarecrows, and one bears a striking resemblance to Murphy.

open image in gallery A zombie in 28 Years Later ( Sony Pictures )

On X/Twitter, fans began to have some fun with the potential sighting of Murphy in the horror film.

One person joked: Cillian Murphy stuns in first look at 28 Years Later.

Another viewer hinted at potential disgruntlement about the casting: If that really Cillian Murphy as Jim you know fans are going to be mad because theyve been waiting years for him to come back and Cillian Murphy said he would love to come back.

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Others arent so sure. Youre telling me Cillian Murphy who just won an Oscar is pretending to be a zombie in a film instead of just playing his character from the original, I dont think so, said one fan.

open image in gallery Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later ( 20th Century Fox )

The film follows on from another sequel, 28 Weeks Later, which was released in 2007.

Unlike the very first film in the series, which had a modest budget of just 8m, the new sequels have a reported budget of 75m each.

28 Years Later will be released 20 June, 2025.
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Chris Evans is returning to Marvel despite quitting his Captain America role  and fans are making a series of predictions and complaints alike.

Alongside fellow returning star Robert Downey Jr, the actor will reportedly be in the fifth Avengers film, which is being written and directed by the Russo brothers, who directed him in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

However, much like former Iron Man actor Downey Jr, who will play Doctor Doom, the actor is not expected to play the character that Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) viewers know him as  especially considering Anthony Mackies new Captain America will also be in the film.

Instead, fans believe he will be playing a variant of the character named Captain HYDRA. In the comics, this version of Steve Rodgers was created by Red Skull and Kobik, and saw him be a prophet for the terrorist anti-SHIELD agency.

The return of actors to the franchise as new characters has been made possible by the introduction of the Multiverse, a series of alternate worlds featuring characters, old and new.

But while a contingent of fans are excited, and think a face-off between Mackies Captain America and Evanss Captain HYDRA would play very well with audiences, there are those who believe the casting reeks of desperation after a slew of failures for Marvel.

Its also been suggested that bringing Evans back in the first Avengers film to be released after his exit from the MCU drastically lessened the impact of his moving swansong in Avengers: Endgame.

Never seen such a forced effort to rekindle the Avengers: Endgame excitement of the MCU, one person wrote, with another adding: Why.WHY MARVEL?! I mean as much as I love Chris Evans this makes no sense, variant or not his send off was perfect & for a reason!

An additional person chimed in: Feels too quick to do this. This should be in like 10 years from Endgame. Doing it now just highlights its a Hail Mary to get people to care again.

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After wrapping Avengers: Endgame, which was released in 2019, Evans wrote: Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day, to say the least.

Captain America (Chris Evans) wielding Thors hammer in Avengers: Endgame ( Marvel Studios )

Playing this role over the last eight years has been an honour. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.

The actor recently appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine  but in an unexpected twist, he was Johnny Storm, the role he played in 2005s Fantastic Four.
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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino and his friend, fellow director Roger Avary, have opened up about a drug-fuelled night in Paris which inspired one of the latters films.

The 61-year-old, who has recently shared criticism of films like Dune and Toy Story, recently appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, alongside Avary, who won an Oscar for his writing on Pulp Fiction, along with Tarantino.

Avary was one of several young contemporary filmmakers that made a splash in Hollywood in the early 1990s. Among his hits were teen comedy The Rules of Attraction in 2002 and crime thriller Killing Zoe from 1993.

Killing Zoe, starring Eric Stoltz and Julie Delpy, focuses on a bank heist in Paris which quickly spirals out of control.

According to Avary, the inception of the film was inspired by a raucous night out he had in the French capital while doing scouting work for Tarantinos first film, Reservoir Dogs, which he wrote dialogue for.

I had just been travelling through Europe, explained Avary. I had been telling Quentin the stories, and he said, Oh, you should do a movie called Roger Takes A Trip.

Tarantino joked in response: I still think it shouldve been called that.

open image in gallery Once upon a time in southern France: Quentin Tarantino at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 ( Getty Images )

Avary added: I had been in Paris, I had bumped into a guy I knew who was from Los Angeles who was a French guy. He was like, Ill show you the real Paris, and I went out with him and his friends  Henri, Jean, Claude, all of the characters from the movie.

He drove me through Paris, and next thing I know, hes doing heroinHe was like, Now, we do heroin, hold my arm. I did hold his arm, I had never seen anything like thatHe was like, Hold my arm while I shoot up.

His friends were like, Ohh, doing it through the nose doesnt even affect me anymore, and Im like writing these lines down, like, This is great s***!.

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Avary continued: And so I get back and I told Quentin about this whole story. Basically everything in that movie was stuff that Id actually seen. So when the time came to make it as a bank robbery film, it just became a movie about a guy going some place and everything he thought he knew was wrong. You havent seen your friend in a while, you go see him, its all about that friendship and that misconception.

open image in gallery Roger Avary ( Getty Images )

Although the film is set in Paris, Avary actually shot it in Los Angeles on a modest budget of just $1.5m.

Killing Zoe received mixed reviews upon its premiere at the Raindance Film Market in October 1993 but has since obtained a cult status. It later won the 1994 Cannes Prix Tres Special award.
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Christmas came early to Broadway this year  and guess who they stuffed in our stocking? Adolf Hitler! So reads a review of Springtime for Hitler, the fictitious, good-taste-obliterating musical-within-a-musical staged towards the end of The Producers. Christmas has come early to Londons Menier Chocolate Factory, too, via a new revival of the Tony-winning 2001 musical (itself an adaptation of Mel Brookss seminal 1967 comedy film). The Fuhrer is back, and hes absolutely bringing the house down.

The premise is simple and ingenious: two showbiz no-hopers realise they can profit more from a flop than a hit, so they set out to purposely produce the worst show on Broadway. Andy Nyman is Max Bialystock, the unscrupulous hack who funds his productions by seducing randy pensioners. Marc Antolin is Leopold Bloom, the gibbering, blanket-fondling accountant who quits his office job to partner up with Bialy. The surefire dud they settle on is a gooey paean to Hitlers Third Reich, written by an ursine, helmet-wearing not-so-ex-Nazi (Harry Morrison), and directed by the explosively camp Roger de Bris (Trevor Ashley).

Whats impressive about The Producers is just how sharp its teeth still are, nearly 60 years on. The sight of swastikas being gaily twirled around the stage still has the hard kick of taboo: as a satire both of fascist nationalism and showbiz, The Producers remains ever-relevant. Directed by Patrick Marber (Closer, Leopoldstadt), this production does a lot with a small, intimate stage; Lorin Latarros choreography is showy and dynamic  but lets the comedy rightfully hoard the focus.

Its hard to resist incessant comparisons to the original, so closely does The Producers hew to it; all of the funniest lines are ripped verbatim from the 1967 screenplay. (Hitler there was a painter. He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon. Two coats!) The variations are chiefly musical, the lively and bombastic songs dotted across the musicals two acts, all written by Brooks himself  an artist who always has one foot in vaudevillian tradition.

There is variation, too, in the casting: the brilliant Nyman is far slighter than the original Bialystock Zero Mostel (and smaller too than Nathan Lane, who played him in the 2005 musical film), lending a completely different physicality to the characters shameless, craven scheming. Antolin, meanwhile, approximates the air of Gene Wilders hysterical nebbish, girding it with a sort of mannered precision of his own. The supporting players are roundly excellent, from Morrison through to Joanna Woodward, who plays the preposterously accented Swedish siren Ulla.

Im not sure anything new is achieved with this production, but then, thats always been the case with The Producers onstage. It never needed to exist  but that doesnt make it any less delightful. The jokes are rapid, the satire outrageous. How could it possibly fail?

The Producers runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory until 1 March 2025
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Four episodes into Netflixs new adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquezs seminal novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, Im still reeling. Partly at the hugely ambitious, lavishly filmed series itself  but mainly at the fact that it ever got made in the first place.

A sprawling masterclass in magic realism, the 1967 novel spans seven generations of the fictional Buendia family, weaving together sex, superstition, and the downright surreal. Its a complex series of warped, bizarre and at times grotesque tales, propelled by deep-rooted, unshakeable desires and the doomed characters inability to escape their fate  a kind of intergenerational curse that passes from parents to children (including, more often than not, the proclivity to copulate with their own relatives).

Set in the make-believe Colombian town of Macondo from the early 1800s onwards, the book charts how a streak of endless civil wars, freak climate events and imperialist plantation owners shape this geographically nebulous corner of Latin America for over a century. Marquez paints this world with such vivid, visceral strokes that, years after reading his novel, it stayed seared into my imagination: Rebeca shovelling handfuls of dirt into her mouth; mad Jose Arcadio tied to a chestnut tree and muttering in Latin; a naked Remedios the Beauty painting animals on the walls with her own excrement.

Its utterly bewitching, but not what youd call an easy read: a non-linear 400+ pager in which the story jumps around through time and half the characters have some variation of the same name. The multi-generational clan is so hard to keep straight, in fact, that theres famously a family tree printed at the front of the book.

In a world, then, where algorithms, not humans, rule the roost when it comes to commissioning decisions, it seems almost inconceivable that this challenging masterpiece would get green-lit. This is a streaming ecosystem in which relentless seasons of Emily in ... [insert European city here] are churned out without pause or remorse. In which the same rehashing of career woman from big city returns to small town and falls in love with simpler life/grumpy but warm-hearted local is turned into a staggering number of films per year. In which safety trumps risk when it comes to reward.

One Hundred Years of Solitude isnt just a world away from all that: it resides in a different universe entirely. Marquez himself basically declared it unfilmable while he was alive, granting the rights to Harvey Weinstein on the condition that he film the entire book, but only release one chapter  two minutes long  each year, for 100 years. I would have bet good money on Netflix not touching it with a bichero (barge pole), never mind picking up a big-budget, 16-episode, Spanish-language epic.

And yet, here we are. It feels nothing short of miraculous. As does the fact that the creators have achieved the seemingly impossible: remaining faithful to the source material while artfully translating it into a piece of visually gorgeous storytelling.

Im not sure Ive ever seen such a perfectly crafted literary adaptation. From spot-on casting to the sparse yet carefully chosen dialogue; from camera shots that move with purpose to follow the characters and immerse the viewer to music that summons forth a world steeped in magic and mysticism  theres an ethereal, fairytale-like quality that grabs your attention by the throat and wont let go.

open image in gallery Jose Arcadio Buendia sets forth to set up the town of Macondo ( Mauro Gonzalez/Netflix )

The first episode starts at the end of the story  we see the Buendia house ravaged by time; the ominous, blood-stained shape of a corpse under a sheet; armies of ants colonising every surface  before were plunged into the past. The opening line exactly mirrors that of the book: Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.

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This is a major factor in explaining why the tangled tapestry of stories genuinely works on screen  much of the dialogue is lifted directly from the original, Marquezs evocative, sumptuous language placed in the mouth of a narrator to guide us through the strange and sweeping narrative. This exterior, omnipotent voice is crucial in explaining what the characters themselves would struggle to show not tell, and vital in establishing a tone that keeps us at one remove from naturalism.

Its the same tactic employed by the 1981 ITV dramatisation of Brideshead Revisited, often held up as the gold standard for literary adaptations; in that, too, the beauty of the original text was treated with a quiet reverence, quoted directly by Jeremy Ironss narrator as he describes Oxford as a city of aquatint that exhaled the soft airs of centuries of youth.

In One Hundred Years of Solitude, we first journey with Jose Arcadio Buendia, patriarch of the Buendia dynasty, and his new wife Ursula Iguaran (who just so happens to be his cousin) as they embark upon married life. A battle between superstition and science commences right off the bat: Ursula is initially too frightened to consummate the marriage after being warned by her mother that she will be cursed with deformed children with pigs tails as punishment for incest.

This is how you portray magic realism on screen  by embracing it and welcoming it in

The fantastical elements of the story arent shied away from, and yet somehow never feel bombastic or overblown: doors slam by themselves to show marital discord; when the couple imagine living by the sea, waves wash across the parched, chapped earth in front of them and lap at their feet. Ghosts are presented physically, with a man Jose Arcadio killed hanging around the house with a hangdog expression and clutching his bleeding neck at every turn, and mystery child Rebeca turning up at the door with a bag of her dead parents bones that rattle and shake irritably. This is how you portray magic realism on screen  by embracing it and welcoming it in, without exaggerating or pushing too far into absurdity.

Though they never reach open water, Jose Arcadio and Ursula set out to escape their demons, and finally set up the town of Macondo after Jose Arcadio envisions it in a dream. Later, we see their family expand and become embroiled in their own misguided passions, predetermined to make the same mistakes as their forebears over and over, ad infinitum.

open image in gallery Colonel Aureliano Buendia is plunged back into his memories as he faces the firing squad ( Pablo Arellano/Netflix )

Its a brave person who takes on a book this renowned, this idolised and this elaborate, and the production of the series hasnt been completely without controversy. Some locals of Aracataca, the birthplace of Marquez, werent impressed by the decision to film in the industrial city of Ibague, 430 miles to the south, instead of in the authors hometown. Based at the foot of Colombias Sierra Nevada mountains, Aracataca is where the Nobel Prize winner lived until the age of eight with his maternal grandparents. Though he went on to live and work in Paris, New York, Mexico City, Caracas and Barcelona, he credited the town of his youth with providing the inspiration for much of his writing, not least One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Were disappointed that Netflix decided not to film here, but we all know that anyone inspired by the series will have to come to Aracataca, as the heart of Macondo lies here, Robinson Mulford, a local high-school teacher, told The Guardian. They will feel the kindness, the solidarity of the people, and everything else that Gabriel Garcia Marquez said of the Colombian Caribbean. They will all be received with love.

One can only hope this beautifully made series will be received with love, too, despite the perceived snub. No matter where you go, you will never escape your fate, Ursulas mother warns her daughter in the opening episode. One Hundred Years of Solitude could just be fated to become that rarest of things: a timeless literary adaptation as beloved as the book that inspired it.
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Jamie Foxx made a ruthless dig about Sean Diddy Combs and his alleged penchant for baby oil in his new Netflix comedy special, What Happened Was...

The special finally addressed his mysterious illness, which was the subject of frantic speculation after he was hospitalized last April.

Of the rumors surrounding his health, Foxx said: The internet was trying to kill me, though. The internet said Puffy tried to kill me. I know what youre thinking, did he?

Hell, no, I left those parties early, I was out by 9pm, he said, alluding to Combss infamous, high-profile parties.

Because something dont look right, its slippery in here, he quipped, in reference to the 1,000 bottles of baby oil recovered at Combss home after authorities raided it in March.

Combs was arrested in September on sex trafficking and racketeering charges with federal prosecutors alleging that he and his associates threatened, abused and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires.

Joking about his near-death experience, Foxx added later in the set: Your life doesnt flash before you. It was kind of oddly peaceful. I saw the tunnel, I didnt see the light. It was hot in that tunnel.

He then joked about going to hell, saying: S*** am I going to the wrong place? Is that Puffy?, referring to Combs once more.

If it was Puffy, he had a flaming bottle of Johnson and Im just kidding.

Jamie Foxx joked about attending Sean Combss infamous parties, saying he left them early because something didnt look right, its slippery in here ( Getty Images )

Elsewhere during the special, the Django Unchained actor revealed that he had suffered a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

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April 11, I was having a bad headache, and I asked my boy for a aspirin. I realized quickly that when youre in a medical emergency, your boys dont know what the f*** to do, Foxx began, adding, Before I could get the aspirin [clicks his fingers] I went out. I dont remember 20 days.

Foxx explained that his sister, Deidra Dixon, saved him by taking him to a hospital in Atlanta where doctors diagnosed the bleed and performed surgery.

After his surgery, Foxx said Dixon was told: We didnt find where it was coming from, but he is having a stroke. He may be able to make a full recovery but its going to be the worst year of his life.

Speaking to CBS Mornings host Gayle King backstage at his final Atlanta show, Foxx admitted it was an excruciating time to be able to open those wounds every single day for three nights.

It was excruciating because the worry is what gets you. Weve got a great show in the room, but we dont know what they may laugh at or what they may not laugh at. Any comedian will tell you thats the thing, the worry is the thing.

What Happened Was... is out now on Netflix.
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Although they played a group of close pals on the show, the cast of Friends didnt hit it off straight away according to Lisa Kudrow.

The 61-year-old actor spoke about the popularity of the comedy sitcom thirty years after it was first released in an interview with Dax Shephard on the Armchair Expert podcast.

The show, created by Marta Kauffman, first aired in 1994 and ran for ten seasons and 236 episodes until its finale in 2004.

Friends became a cultural phenomenon, particularly among the millennial generation, who followed the lives of its stars as closely in real life as they did on TV. It starred David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courtney Cox, Matthew Perry, and Kudrow.

But Kudrow, who played quirky and eccentric Phoebe Buffay, said that the off-screen friendship that ensued came with a lot of effort.

She said the team worked hard at being friends, adding If someone said something or did something, it didnt get too big because it was, Can I talk to you?

Although, true to her awkward on-screen nature, Kudrow said it was usually not her who would start the conversation as she never knew that was allowed at the time.

I had to learn to be like, Can I talk to you about something? she explained.

open image in gallery Friends celebrated its 30 year anniversary this year ( NBC/Friends )

Kudrow also touched on the death of Matthew Perry last year. The actor, who played sarcastic accountant Chandler Bing on the show, died of the acute effects of ketamine aged 54.

This will sound odd, Kudrow said about the death. Im more comforted that he was happy the day he died. He got to die happy. And to me, that was a gift.

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open image in gallery Kudrow played the eccentric Phoebe Buffay ( AFP via Getty Images )

Although Shephard approached the subject of Perrys struggles with addiction, Kudrow said I loved that Matthew I first met and the one at the end, because God love him, this is you, and I love you. I understand, and so did he.

Since his death, the authorities have been working to understand how Perry got ahold of the drug, which is legal and usually used as an anaesthetic but can be abused when used recreationally. Five people, including two doctors, were charged with his death earlier this year.
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Succession actor Jeremy Strong has spoken out and expressed empathy after it was revealed that the hit HBO show was partially responsible for starting a feud in Rupert Murdochs family.

In sealed testimony delivered in a court in Reno, Nevada, Murdochs four eldest children, Lachlan, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence, revealed how an episode of the show, where the patriarch of a wealthy media family, played by Brian Cox, suddenly dies, forced them to reassess their own fathers succession plan.

The 93-year-old media mogul failed in his bid to change his family trust, which now gives his four oldest children equal voting power to control the group behind News Corp and Fox News after his death.

A court commissioner ruled that Mr Murdoch and his son Lachlan, the head of Fox News and News Corp, had acted in bad faith and called their efforts a carefully crafted charade designed to permanently cement Lachlans control, according to a sealed document obtained at the weekend by The New York Times.

open image in gallery Rupert Murdoch and Brian Cox as Logan Roy ( Getty/HBO )

Strong, 45, who played Kendall Roy in Succession, the heir apparent to his father Logan Roy, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and was asked about the shows role in Murdochs real-life drama.

As is typical with Strong, he gave a long analogy in response to the query, referencing a recent interaction he had at a screening of the Donald Trump biopic, The Apprentice, where he plays controversial lawyer Roy Cohn.

Something happened a couple of weeks ago, we had a screening of The Apprentice and there was a filmmaker there called Ivy Meeropol, began Strong.

She made a documentary about Roy Cohn, called Bully Coward Victim. Shes the granddaughter of Julius Rosenberg, who Roy Cohn sent to the electric chair. She made a very empathic documentary examining this person, holding him to account but also implying empathy.

My feeling when I met her after the screening was Wow, what we do is not a game. There are real people on the end of this, watching us on television, watching us in a theatre.

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Eventually moving on to the Murdoch situation, the actor said: So when I read that about the Murdochs, who I feel great empathy for what they are going through as a family, having been part of an adjacent world like that for seven years. My feeling is I take that very seriously. Ive been accused of taking it seriously and I do take it seriously.

open image in gallery Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan as Roy Cohn and Donald Trump in The Apprentice ( The Apprentice Productions Inc/Profile Productions/Tailored Films Ltd )

Lawyer Adam Streisand, acting on behalf of Murdoch, told The New York Times they planned to appeal the decision handed down by a court in Nevada.

Prudence, Elisabeth and James, said in a statement given to the Times: We welcome Commissioner Gormans decision and hope that we can move beyond this litigation to focus on strengthening and rebuilding relationships among all family members.

Additional reporting from PA.
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South Korea's former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has been arrested for his role in the presidents botched attempt to impose martial law, attempted to kill himself in custody, officials from the correctional service told parliament.

Members of the National Assembly were informed of Mr Kims suicide bid as police raided the presidential office on Wednesday to investigate charges against Yoon Suk Yeol, who is accused of staging an insurrection by imposing martial law.

A team of 18 investigators searched Mr Yoons office for material related to the martial law decree such as records of a cabinet meeting held shortly beforehand.

A warrant for the search reportedly listed president Mr Yoon as the suspect, though he has not been arrested or questioned so far.

Mr Kim, a close confidant of Mr Yoon, tried to kill himself at a detention centre in Seoul but his attempt failed, said Shin Yong Hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service. The former minister is in a stable condition now and is being held in a protective cell, he added.

Mr Kim was the first person to be detained following president Yoonsbrief declaration of martial law on 3 December, which plunged the East Asian country into a political crisis. Mr Kim allegedly advised the president to declare martial law and resigned as defence minister soon after.

open image in gallery Former South Korean defence minister Kim Yong-hyun speaks during a press conference during the US - Republic of Korea ( AFP via Getty Images )

He was formally arrested on Wednesday after a Seoul court approved a warrant for him on allegations of playing a key role in a rebellion and committing abuse of power.

"We considered the degree to which the charges are supported, the gravity of the crime and concerns he will destroy evidence," the court said, according to the Korea Herald. Prosecutors argued that Mr Kim was "conspiring with the president to start a riot in an effort to subvert the national constitution."

The former minister has been reportedly questioned three times since he was taken into custody on Sunday after he voluntarily appeared for the investigation. He allegedly conceded during questioning that he proposed martial law to the president but claimed it was neither illegal nor unconstitutional, Yonhap news agency reported.

The parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to appoint a permanent special counsel to investigate the president on charges of insurrection.

open image in gallery Protesters with images of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and former South Korea Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, center, march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against President Yoon in Seoul, South Korea, on 5 Dec 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Unlike a regular special counsel investigation, the president does not have the authority to veto a bill establishing a permanent special counsel. However, he can delay the appointment of the counsel.

Mr Yoons declaration of martial law, the first for the country in four decades, which lasted for about six hours before being overturned by parliament.

Mr Yoon survived an impeachment attempt last Saturday when the ruling party boycotted the vote, but the Democratic Party is aiming to put the new motion to a vote on Saturday.After last weeks impeachment motion fell through, the leader of Mr Yoons conservative party pledged to arrange his stable exit from power, saying the party will coordinate with cabinet members over state affairs and that the president will be sidelined from duties ahead of an early election.

Mr Yoon has been banned from leaving the country.

Calls for the presidents arrest grew stronger after top military officers said Mr Yoon had ordered troops to enter parliament to prevent them from voting to reject martial law.

Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, told a parliamentary committee that the president ordered the military to break the door down right now and get in there and drag out the lawmakers.

Parliamentarians were seen climbing over a fence on 3 December to get into the Assemblys building to vote to reject the draconian law.

South Korean police have also arrested their own national chief and the top police officer for Seoul for their roles in enforcing the presidents short-lived martial law decree.

Prime minister Han Duck Soo, who was one of the 11 cabinet members to attend the presidents emergency meeting last week, said he opposed Mr Yoons martial law declaration and apologised for failing to prevent its implementation.

"Ultimately, I could not stop (martial law declaration)," Mr Han told lawmakers. "I feel regretful and remorseful."

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 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.
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North Korea has broken its silence on the political crisis in rival South for the first time, accusing president Yoon Suk Yeol of a fascist dictatorship, a week after his botched attempt to impose martial law in the country.

Articles published on Wednesday in North Korean newspapers described the short-lived martial law in South Korea as an insane act reminiscent of the military coup carried out decades ago.

The puppet Yoon Suk Yeols shocking decision to level his fascist guns and bayonets at his own people has turned the puppet South into pandemonium, said an article published in the government newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun.

North Korea, which regularly targets the South Korean government in its tightly controlled state media, had remained unusually tight-lipped about the political turmoil in Seoul after Mr Yoon made the shock announcement of imposing martial law.

Mr Yoon appeared to hint that North Korea was the reason behind his alarming action as he accused opposition parties of colluding with anti-state forces.

The decree, which lasted six hours before being lifted by the cabinet, has triggered concerns over a power vacuum in the country and plunged Asias fourth-largest economy into political chaos, sending shockwaves through diplomatic and economic fronts. Mr Yoon is being investigated by a special counsel for insurrection, a crime that bypasses presidential immunity and carries the death penalty.

open image in gallery North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during an opening ceremony of a defense exhibition in Pyongyang, North Korea ( KCNA via KNS )

The article, on the sixth page of the Rodong Sinmun, appeared to be giving little prominence to the news. It did not comment on how this would impact ties between the two Koreas, as their relations have hit rock-bottom in recent years.

There were concerns that Pyongyang might try to exploit the political crisis and exacerbate problems for Mr Yoons government amid a power vacuum in the country as it remains unclear who is in charge of the army after the defence minister was arrested for his role in imposing martial law.

Another article in KCNA also provided an update on the turmoil in South Korea, describing Mr Yoons failed attempt to send troops into the National Assembly and the subsequent protests demanding his resignation.

The puppet Yoon Suk Yeol, who had already faced a serious crisis of governance and impeachment, declared martial law unexpectedly and unleashed the guns of the fascist dictatorship on the people, KCNA said.

open image in gallery Participants attend a rally demanding South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols impeachment outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Sunday. The signs read Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol ( AP )

His insane act, reminiscent of the coup during the military dictatorship decades ago, has drawn strong condemnation from all walks of life, including the opposition party, and further explored the publics fervour for impeachment.

Announcing the martial law decree in the country on 3 December, Mr Yoon blamed the anti-state forces that he said were plotting rebellion and accused the main opposition parties of supporting the countrys rival, North Korea.

However, he gave no direct evidence when he raised the spectre of North Korea as a destabilising force.

The president who promised a hardline approach to North Korea struggled to get his agenda through an opposition-dominated parliament and faced corruption scandals involving him and his wife.
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Indias defence minister, Rajnath Singh, reaffirmed to Russian president Vladimir Putin that their bilateral relationship remained strong despite the enormous pressure of global geopolitical challenges.

Mr Singh concluded a three-day visit to Moscow on Wednesday that was focussed on getting the Russians to expedite the export of the S-400 missile system. The delivery of the weapons system was delayed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Indias diplomatic and trade ties with Russia have persisted despite Western pressure on New Delhi to pull away from Moscow due to its war in Ukraine.

Friendship between our countries is higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean," the minister told Mr Putin on Tuesday.

Despite the fact that there are geopolitical challenges and there is enormous pressure on India of a public and private nature, he said, India has made a conscious decision that it will not only continue close contacts with Russia but will also deepen and expand our cooperation.

India has avoided directly criticising Russia for its invasion of Ukraine but called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky had called on Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in October to use his influence on Mr Putin to push for an end to the war. Mr Zelensky said Mr Modi has huge influence on Mr Putin and can take a real step.

Russia has been a key partner for India since the Cold War era and they have continued to expand cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, oil, and space exploration despite Western pressure.

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin and Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh attend a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow ( EPA )

Mr Singh met Russian defence minister Andrey Belousov for the 21st session of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Cooperation.

He pressed Russia to expedite the delivery of the remaining two units of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system, a critical component of Indias air defence modernisation programme.

The $5bn (3.8bn) deal signed in 2018 to acquire five S-400 regiments was one of Indias most significant military procurements. The deal faced scrutiny by Western countries and the threat of US sanctions, which Delhi eventually managed to have waived off.

Delhi has received three units of the missile system and two more are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2025. The Covid pandemic and the Ukraine war disrupted Russian defence production and export chains, causing delays in the delivery to India.

open image in gallery Russian mobile surface-to-air missile system S-400 Triumf is displayed during the Victory Day military parade rehearsal in Red Square, Moscow ( EPA )

Mr Singh also attended the commissioning ceremony for Indias latest naval vessel at the Kaliningrad shipyard on Monday. INS Tushil, a stealth guided missile frigate, was one of the four vessels contracted by India from Russia in 2018. The ship is a proud testament to Indias growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in long-standing bilateral relations with Russia, Mr Singh said.

India, the worlds biggest importer of weapons, has depended heavily on Russia for its defence needs, with Moscow its biggest defence partner.

The Ukraine war has cast a shadow on the defence partnership, however, with data showing a steady decline in Indias military equipment orders with Russia and a pivot to Western suppliers.

Russia accounted for about 36 per cent of Indias arms imports last year, a sharp decline from 76 per cent in 2009, according to a report released in March this year by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a think tank focused on conflict, arms trade and disarmament.
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A rescue operation is underway to save a five-year-old boy who fell into a 150ft borewell in western India three days ago.

Aryan Meena was playing in a field when he fell down the narrow borewell in Dausa city in Rajasthan state at around 3.15pm on Monday, his father Jagdish Meena told reporters.

A city official said the boy appeared to be lying unconscious and rescue workers had pushed down a pipe to supply oxygen.

They had also sent down a CCTV camera to monitor his condition.

The presence of water at the base of the well and cold winter conditions in northern India posed risks to the boys survival, complicating the rescue effort.

Grainy CCTV footage showed the boy covered in mud and stuck in a narrow tunnel as a rope and pipes dangled above him.

City official Devendra Kumar Yadav said rescue workers started vertical drilling at 3am on Wednesday to rescue the child through a parallel tunnel.

They had drilled down to around 110ft and needed to go another 40-50ft to reach the boy.

The child appears to be in an unconscious state and his condition is being monitored through CCTV, Mr Yadav told local reporters. It will be possible to comment on Aryans health only after he is rescued.

We were encountering problems in rescue work, so vertical drilling was started. We will try and reach the child through horizontal drilling.

State emergency personnel were working with the National Disaster Response Force to bring the child out safely, he said.

This is not the first incident of a child falling into a borewell in India.

Farmers in India resort to digging deep borewells to extract water for irrigation and drinking due to water scarcity in many regions of the country. The wells are often left abandoned and unchecked if they run low or develop other problems, which then poses a risk to local residents  children in particular.

In 2006, a six-year-old boy named Prince fell inside an open borewell in an incident that garnered international attention as the rescue operation continued for days. He was brought out safely after around 50 hours.

In 2019, three-year-old Sujith Wilson fell inside a 600ft borewell in Tamil Nadus Tiruchirappalli. He could not be rescued and was brought out dead after an 80-hour ordeal.

In 2022, eight-year-old Tanmay Sahu died in Madhya Pradesh despite a 65-hour rescue operation to save him. A year later, Shrishti Kushwaha, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, could not be rescued alive in the same state.

According to data from the National Disaster Response Force, at least 40 children fell into borewells over a decade until 2019, and nearly 70 per cent of the rescue operations to save them failed.
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A survivor of the 1945 Nagasaki nuclear blast has accepted this years Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of a group representing survivors of the US atomic bombings, and called for a world free from nuclear weapons.

Terumi Tanaka, 92, is one of the three co-chairs of Nihon Hidankyo, a group for those who lived through the US atomic bomb attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and demanded actions from governments to achieve a nuclear-free world.

Mr Tanaka accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on his organisations behalf at a formal ceremony in Oslos City Hall on Tuesday. He used his speech to shine a spotlight on abuses of nuclear power by aggressive nations engaged in conflicts around the world, pointing to Russia and Israel specifically.

The nuclear superpower Russia threatens to use nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine, and a cabinet member of Israel, in the midst of its unrelenting attacks on Gaza in Palestine, even spoke of the possible use of nuclear arms, Mr Tanaka said. I am infinitely saddened and angered that the nuclear taboo threatens to be broken.

Calling for an end to the use of nuclear weapons, he said: I hope that the belief that nuclear weapons cannot  and must not  coexist with humanity will take firm hold among citizens of the nuclear weapon states and their allies, and that this will become a force for change in the nuclear policies of their governments.

Mr Tanaki recounted the pain and trauma he witnessed in 1945 in an interview with The Independent last month. He was just 13 when the 10,000lb atomic bomb Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, landing around 3.2km from his family home. The scenes from that day would be imprinted on his brain forever, he said.

I was lying down reading a book and then suddenly there was just light everywhere. Everything was completely white around me, and I heard this huge sound. It was like nothing I had ever experienced in my life but of course, I could sense that something very dangerous was happening.

The US bombings of the two Japanese cities on 6 and 9 August in 1945 killed 214,000 people, leading to Japans surrender and the end of the Second World War.

Mr Tanaka said he went to ground zero and walked around the city for days looking for five of his relatives.

Three days later, you could still see hundreds of bodies everywhere, and the injured were just crouching in the shadows not receiving any care or attention at all. This is not a situation the human race should be living in. This is not what humans should be doing to each other.

In his address in Oslo on Tuesday, he said that Nihon Hidankyos movement had undoubtedly played a major role in creating a nuclear taboo  cementing the idea that such weapons must never be used again.

However, there still remain 12,000 nuclear warheads on Earth today, 4,000 of which are operationally deployed, ready for immediate launch, he said.
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The Talibans acting minister of refugees and repatriation, Khalil Haqqani, was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul on Wednesday.

Haqqani, a senior member of the powerful Haqqani network and uncle of the Talibans interior minister and senior leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, was handling the refugee crisis in Afghanistan.

He was killed on Wednesday in a suicide attack inside the ministry, Taliban officials said, confirming the death of a senior figure in the hardline Islamist regime of Afghanistan. The blast took place when Haqqani was leaving after the noon prayers.

At least three of Haqqanis bodyguards were killed and eight others wounded in the suicide bombing, officials said.

His death was described as a great loss by the Talibans chief spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid who called him a tireless holy warrior who spent his life defending Islam.

He is the most high-profile casualty of a bombing in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Haqqani was last seen in a meeting on Wednesday morning with deputy prime minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

open image in gallery Afghanistans minister for refugees Khalil Haqqani arrives to inspect at a refugee camp ( Getty Images )

The Taliban security personnel prohibited filming and photography and blocked the road leading to the blast site. However, an unverified video showed several of the leaders gathering around to pay tribute to Haqqani. The Independent has not verified the authenticity of the video.

open image in gallery A general view shows Afghanistans Ministry of Refugees building (C) in Kabul yesterday ( Getty Images )

The suicide attack was claimed by the Isis on its Aamaq website.

The Haqqani network is a Taliban-affiliated group of militants that operates from the Pakistan and Afghanistan region and has close ties to the Taliban leadership in Kabul, with many in ministerial roles in the country after Nato withdrawal. The Haqqani network is also close to the al-Qaeda leadership after the assassination of Osama Bin Laden.

According to the US rewards for justice, Haqqani carried a bounty reward of $5m for being part of the US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation. He was accused of fundraising on behalf of the Taliban and providing support to the Taliban operating in Afghanistan after 2001.

The US designated Haqqani as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2011.

open image in gallery Afghanistans minister for refugees Khalil Haqqani attends a gathering held to mark the first anniversary of their return to power in Kabul ( Getty Images )

Last month, Haqqani had condemned neighbouring countries for mistreating Afghanistan refugees and urged them to not expel Afghans seeking refuge outside of the Taliban-led country.

He also issued a plea to fleeing Afghans to return to the country under the Taliban, claiming that their hardline Islamic rule of Sharia will be used to govern them and that security is established.

Experts pointed to the timing of Haqqanis killing inside his ministry, challenging the security claimed by the group.

The attack came days after Sirajuddin Haqqani gave a contentious speech criticising the Taliban leader for his authoritarian decision-making  exposing cracks in the ties between the two power groups.

The timing could fuel speculation that the suicide bombing was an inside job, said Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst with Crisis Groups South Asia programme. But he added that a civil war among the Taliban is not expected.
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Metropolitan Police staff have voted to go on strike in a row over plans to cut back on the time they can work from home.

The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said there was overwhelming support for the action.

It would be the first time Met Police employees, which is believed could include 999 call handlers and child protection officers, have ever voted for a walkout.

They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote

PCS said 85% of its members backed industrial action after being told they would need to return to the office in the new year and 91% voted for action short of a strike.A vote was taken after managers reversed an existing agreement on blended working, which allowed people to work from home for part of the week, the union said.

Some 2,400 civilian workers who support the day-to-day operations of police officers would be affected by the policy shift, which disproportionately impacts women, part-time workers and those with disabilities, the PCS adds.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: Our members are not bobbies on the beat.

They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute.

Its time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people.

The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for a response.
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Daniel Craig has admitted that the level of fame that came with playing James Bond was emotionally difficult for both him and his family.

The actor played the British spy in the 007 franchise from 2006 film Casino Royale right through to No Time to Die in 2022. The 56-year-old had the longest continuous reign as the lead in the movie franchise based on the novels first released by Ian Fleming in 1953.

Speaking recently with film critic Mark Kermode and the BFI in London, Craig said that although he enjoyed playing Bond, it did have its drawbacks.

I loved every second of it. I mean, some of it was tough and weird and strange and emotionally kind of difficult for everybody, including my family. The fame is weird, said Craig, as per Variety.

Craig is married to fellow actor Rachel Weisz, who he shares a child with. In November, he said that stepping away from Bond has required him to rethink his career path.

Ive got a six-year-old at home, Craig shared, referencing his daughter with Weisz, 54. And I dont want to be away from home as much as I have in the past.

The actor, who is being tipped for an Oscar nomination for his role in Luca Guadagninos Queer, was also asked about reprising the role of detective Benoit Blanc in forthcoming Knives Out film Wake Up Dead Man, due for release in 2025.

open image in gallery Daniel Craig as James Bond ( Eon Productions )

When asked about the future of the Knives Out movies, he said if Johnson keeps writing them like that, then yes, I will play it. He also joked that its much easier on the limbs than playing Bond.

Craigs successor as James Bond is yet to be officially confirmed but the franchises producer, Barbara Broccoli has said the next actor who takes on the iconic role will be in his 30s and not necessarily white.

Its a big decision, she told the Associated Press while talking about who could take the mantle.

Broccoli said she is prepared to deal with the backlash that inevitably comes after a new name is announced, as happened when Craig was cast.

open image in gallery Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace ( Eon Productions )

Every time we cast a new actor, the films change. Its the excitement of a new Bond, a new direction, Broccolis co-producer and brother Michael G Wilson said.

Every one of these people who took on the role offered something new and different.
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Drew Barrymore has addressed the criticisms that shes too touchy with the guests on her talk show.

During Tuesdays (December 10) episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the 49-year-old actor spoke to guest Cynthia Erivo about the latters close friendship with her Wicked co-star, Ariana Grande. After Erivo confirmed that Grande is physically affectionate with those close to her, Barrymore said she behaves the same way.

Im so touchy. People have to warn me, she explained. Theyre like, Back off a little bit.

However, Erivo said that shes welcoming of that affection, noting that shes now used to it during her friendship with Grande, who she walks hand-in-hand with often.

The Charlies Angels alum agreed with her guest, before sharing why she values physical connection with those around her.

Im single. Im not dating anyone, she said. I dont have that in my life. But I dont know how I would ever hold back from holding hands, hugging, snuggling.

The Harriet star shared her thoughts about physical connection, noting that she thinks some people are afraid of it.

Drew Barrymore says shed like a world where people are more comfortable with physical touch ( Getty Images )

I think we assume that physical connection can only be romantic, she added before Barrymore chimed in to agree. Youre saying it so much better than I did, the TV host responded, as she held Erivos hand and had her other hand on the actors arm.

Barrymore said that when she has a romantic connection with someone, shes actually far more timid about being physically affectionate. Erivo continued to explain that she and Grande communicate with each other through a squeeze of the hand, pinch of the finger, or a hug.

However we need to communicate, its how we need to communicate. And I think we dont give enough credit to how we communicate with our friends physically, she said.

Barrymore then quipped: I think if we could all be more comfortable with physical touch, I would like that world.

Although the 50 First Dates star is currently single, shes been in several public relationships before. Shes been married three times, first to Jeremy Thomas from 1994 to 1995, and then to Tom Green from 2001 to 2002. In 2012 she married Will Kopelman, and they later welcomed two daughters: Olive, 12, and Frankie, 10. The co-parents divorced in 2016.

Throughout the last four years hosting her talk show, Barrymore has become known for her intimate and tactile interview style, often affectionately touching her guests and cozying up to them on the sofa. She will frequently hold their hands, touch their shoulder, or pull them into a hug. This demeanor has resulted in mixed reactions from fans, which she spoke about in September.

During an episode of her show, she said she was trying to practice physical distance, which she said was not her strong point.

I get in trouble for physical proximity on this show, she told Dax Shepard at the time. I guess a lot of people say like, Youre too touchy, about me. And Im like, Oh thats so talk about shame and embarrassment. Im horrified when I hear that, and yet I cant stop.

Elsewhere in the episode, she spoke about her hands-on approach to interviewing Oprah Winfrey in 2023. At the time, Barrymore had cupped Winfreys hand and held it below her chin while stroking her arm, and placed her hand on Winfreys leg, which some viewers called creepy and cringe. However, Barrymore insisted that the media mogul did not mind her interview approach.

[Winfrey] said, I wish Stedman would touch me like that, she recalled, referring to Winfreys long-term partner. She was so nice about it. And if a guest starts telling me that [theyre bothered], I will back off.
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John Galliano is officially leaving Maison Margiela after 10 years at the French fashion house.

Less than one year after his standout spring 2024 couture show, where runway models were transformed into porcelain dolls, the 64-year-old British designer announced his exit from Margiela this morning on Wednesday, December 11.

Today is the day I say goodbye to Maison Margiela, he wrote in a lengthy letter posted to Instagram. My heart overflows with joyous gratitude, and my soul smiles.

To my atelier, my A team  devout in belief and dedicated to style and technique  thank you. We relish in the importance of slow and ethical fashion and the influence it has on all our collections, the pyramidical way of working... Together, we are driven by beauty  the quest for balance, construction, and the lightness of a feather. Thank you.

Galliano joined Margiela as creative director four years after his predecessor, founder Martin Margiela, left the brand in 2010. Not long after Martins departure, Galliano was approached by Renzo Rosso  the president of OTB Group, Maison Margielas parent company  with the opportunity to lead the fashion house.

open image in gallery John Galliano (pictured in 2016) announced his departure from Maison Margiela on Wednesday, December 11 ( Getty )

The designers early success was due in large part to Anna Wintour at Vogue magazine. The editor-in-chief helped Galliano financially when he was starting out under his own name  ensuring the wider fashion world recognized his brilliance even when he could only afford to use black fabric. Because of Wintours help putting him on the map, Gallianos unmatched mind was tapped to helm Givenchy in 1995.

However, when asked by Rosso to serve as creative director for Margiela, Galliano was in the midst of his recovery from a years-long alcohol and drug addiction. Back in 2011, his substance abuse issues had ultimately led to his firing from Dior and from his own label, after a video of the designer drunkly yelling antisemitic and racist remarks outside a bar had surfaced online.

It wasnt until 2013 that Galliano finally spoke out in what was deemed his first-ever sober interview. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Galliano apologized for his offensive comments. Its the worst thing I have said in my life, but I didnt mean it, he told the outlet. I have been trying to find out why that anger was directed at this race. I now realize I was so f***ing angry and so discontent with myself that I just said the most spiteful thing I could.

One year later, and three years into his sobriety journey, Galliano accepted the position at Margiela, which he called a life-saving creative moment.

open image in gallery Bottega Venetas Matthieu Blazy is rumored to take over as creative director at Chanel ( Getty Images for Prada )

Now, Gallianos sudden departure from Margiela has fashion lovers everywhere wondering whats next. Will Galliano revive the eponymous label he established in 1984, or will he serve as outgoing creative director Virginie Viards successor at Chanel?

For months, speculation has spread throughout the fashion industry about who will be given the coveted role of creative director at Chanel after Viards departure in June.

Blazy  who is responsible for reimagining Bottega Veneta with leather fringe and oversized accessories  officially exited the luxury Italian fashion house on December 12 moments before they appointed Louise Trotter as his successor.

Now, Blazy has been appointed as the new Creative Director for Chanel.

So, where does this leave Galliano? While only time will tell, that legendary designer isnt ready to reveal his next move just yet.

Everyone wants to know, and everyone wants to dream, Galliano wrote in his announcement. When the time is right, all will be revealed.
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Gypsy Rose Blanchard has revealed why her first relationship with Ken Urker ultimately fell apart she was still in prison.

In her new memoir My Time to Stand, which hit shelves on December 10, the 33-year-old opened up about the first time she experienced heartbreak behind bars. Blanchard  who spent eight years in federal prison for the role she played in her mother Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchards murder  began talking to Urker, 31, shortly after the HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest was released in May 2017.

At the time, she was serving her prison sentence at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri when she received a letter from Urker in the mail. His voice leaped off the page, as if he were sitting right in front of me, she wrote in her book. Holding the paper, I could feel his energy. He was just a cool guy. Hi, my name is Ken.

It wasnt long before the two were speaking almost every day, sending letters and talking on the phone. Urker finally met Blanchard in person, and confirmed his romantic feelings for her with the most passionate kiss.

About one year later, Urker visited Blanchard again  to propose.

open image in gallery Gypsy Rose Blanchard began talking to Ken Urker in 2017 after he sent her a letter in prison ( Getty/The Viall Files )

We kept our engagement private, only telling our closest family, she recalled. Then The Act aired on Hulu, and I went from being known to a being pseudocelebrity.

Hulus 2019 true-crime drama series The Act, starring Joey King as Blanchard and Patricia Arquette as Clauddine, offered a dramatized retelling of the events leading up to her mothers 2015 murder. Following Blanchards arrest, an investigation found that she was abused by Clauddine, who forced Blancard to pretend she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other serious illnesses.

My personal life was a carcass to vultures to feast on. The media, including true crime armchair enthusiasts, investigated everything about me, including Ken, Blanchard wrote. The invasion was really hard on him.

She described Urker as a private person and explained how the media attention and scrutiny bothered him, especially when the news of their engagement was supposedly leaked by someone associated with a family member.

While Blanchard initially blamed the press for her then-fiances doubts, she now acknowledges that Urker ended their engagement for a very different reason.

open image in gallery Blanchard went on to marry Ryan Anderson in July 2022, but they divorced two years later ( Getty Images )

I thought at first that it was Kens discomfort with the popularity of The Act and the widening of my reputation that led him to end our relationship, Blanchard said. I was wrong. At the time of this writing, Ken has reached out to explain and set the record straight.

There were many adults in his life, presumably much wiser than he, who suggested it wasnt the right time for me to be married, she continued. If you love her, youll set her free, was the common piece of advice hed hear again and again.

I see now, he believed he was acting in my best by sacrificing his own needs and wants.

In her memoir, Blanchard also detailed how she later married Ryan Anderson in July 2022 while she was in prison. They stayed together until after her release in December 2023. The couple parted ways in March this year, finalizing their divorce nine months later.

While she may have been swept up by Andersons romance behind bars, she later found out he wasnt her person  a fact her friends were supposedly aware of before Blanchard.

They knew we werent supposed to be together, she wrote. But like every other lesson Ive learned in life, Id have to figure that out on my own.

Now, Blanchard is expecting her first child, a daughter, with Urker. The two rekindled their relationship about one month after she and Anderson called it quits.
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Keira Knightley has shared her unconventional reason why she doesnt want to have any more children.

The Black Doves actor appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (December 9), where she admitted that she couldnt handle watching any more episodes of Peppa Pig. The British childrens television show, which began in 2004, depicts cartoon pig Peppas day-to-day activities with her mother, father, and brother George.

Knightley explained that her two children  Edie, nine, and Delilah, five, whom she shares with husband James Righton  are currently watching movies made by the animation company Studio Ghibli, which she expressed enjoying more than the shows they watched when they were younger.

Youre like, Oh this is just lovely after watching seven years of Peppa Pig, she told the talk show host. You know that thing where youre like, Oh, you know theyre so nice. Should we have another one? And you think, Oh yeah, I could do the pregnancy. I could even do the birth but I cannot watch anymore Peppa Pig.

Its not gonna happen. Theres no more kids, she added.

Knightley revealed her children are currently watching films made by Studio Ghibli ( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images )

The Pirates of the Caribbean actor also mentioned how her eldest daughter gets embarrassed over her actions, which she thought was unexpected for a nine year old.

Its really annoying. You know, when theyre teenagers, you think, Yeah, theyre gonna find me embarrassing, she told Fallon. But nine, right? So, shes having this disco party and I was like, Yay! I get to dance and can get all the girls dancing.

However, Edie had other ideas for what her mother should be doing. Mom, you are so embarrassing, just go and stand in the corner, Knightley recalled her daughter saying. It was awful.

This isnt the first time the Pride and Prejudice actor has spoken out about her children. Last month, during an interview with theSunday Times, Knightley admitted that she has become more picky with which acting jobs she takes so she can spend as much time as possible with her children. She specifically revealed that she no longer takes jobs abroad.

I couldnt go job to job [abroad] now. It wouldnt be in any way fair on them, and I wouldnt want to, Knightley said. Ive chosen to have children, I want to bring them up, so Ive had to take a major step back.
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A pro dancer on Dancing with the Stars has joked about having Luigi Mangione on the next season of the show.

Ezra Sosa, who was partnered with convicted felon Anna Delvey during the most recent season, posted a TikTok with a photo of Mangione in the background. He finna be my partner season 34, he captioned the video.

Mangione was arrested on Monday (December 9) and charged with second-degree murder in connection the killing of UniitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown, New York City.

Sosas video has received over one million views with many people turning to the comments section to point out how similar the two of them looked.

Ezra I fear this is giving Siblings or Couple, one commenter joked. Another commenter agreed, writing, Ezra you need to enter the look-alike contest.

Other commenters joked that it should become a new pattern for Sosa to only be partnered with criminals after his experience with con artist Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorkin.

Make this a requirement, youll only take partners who have been arrested, one person wrote in the comments section.

Pls Daniela with athletes and Ezra with convicts, another comment read.

Ezra Sosa (left) and UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione ( Getty Images )

Sosa and Delvey were one of the first couples to be eliminated last season alongside Tori Spelling and her partner, Pasha Pashkov.

Many people criticized ABC for casting Delvey in the competition after the fraudster received special permission from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to appear.

I think back to all the families whove had family members arrested by ICE, who have gone to the courts to get their dad or their mother or their brother back, Whoopi Goldberg said following the announcement during a September episode of The View. And this woman, they gave her permission to go do this. Now, should I think theres a reason? Is there a two-tiered system here with ICE?

One of The Views co-hosts, Sunny Hostin agreed: She defrauded so many people and then spent about two years in prison and then had to spend another 18 months in prison for overstaying her welcome and overstaying her visa. So she committed another crime, and what is the consequence of it? A federal bejeweled ankle monitor and a spot on a television show.

Following her elimination, Delvey ended up bluntly telling one of the reality shows hosts, Julianne Hough, that she would be taking nothing away from her few weeks on Dancing with the Stars.

She returned for the finale, where she jokingly danced to the Whitney Houston song I Have Nothing.
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Amnesty International called for an investigation Wednesday into a former governor and two top army officials in Congo for possible crimes against humanity during a deadly crackdown on demonstrators last year protesting the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country.

The human rights group said in a report Congo's security forces killed at least 56 people and injured 80 more, during a protest in the eastern city of Goma in August 2023.

The protest was organized by a sect called the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith Towards the Nations and known colloquially as Wazalendo. Its supporters were demonstrating against the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, called MONUSCO.

The MONUSCO force arrived in Congo in 2010 after taking over from an earlier U.N. peacekeeping mission to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel and to support the Congolese government in its stabilization and peace consolidation efforts. However, frustrated Congolese say that no one is protecting them from rebel attacks, leading to several protests against the U.N. mission.

Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence for decades as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources, while others try to defend their communities. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings. More than 7 million people have been displaced.

Gomas Mayor Faustin Napenda Kapend banned the protest soon after it was announced over concerns the organizers were inciting hate and violence. Amnesty International said it found no evidence of incitement to violence in the statements and messages from the Wazalendo it reviewed.

Congolese security and defense forces amassed at major intersections in anticipation of the protest when violence broke out early in the morning. Amnesty International said it saw operational plans in which the security forces were given orders to destroy isolated enemy elements.

This massacre was not the result of a blunder by a few soldiers who intervened unexpectedly after Wazalendo followers stoned a police officer, as authorities have claimed, Tigere Chagutah, the rights group regional director for East and Southern Africa, said in the statement. It was the result of a series of deliberate, planned actions by the Congolese authorities, after MONUSCO explicitly requested they prohibit the protest.

Amnesty International said it traced the timeline and locations of the killings, identifying three top officials who should be investigated and, if evidence supports it, prosecuted for possible crimes against humanity. They include Lt. Gen. Constant Ndima, who was governor of the North Kivu province at the time, Col. Mike Kalamba Mikombe, who was head of the Republican Guard unit in Goma, and Maj. Peter Kabwe, who led the Republican Guard's Special Forces.

The rights group said Ndima had directed the army and the police to take all measures to protect MONUSCO facilities and the city, after he informed the army and police that the Wazalendo posed a serious threat.

Mikombe was accused of ordering soldiers to open fire on the protesters, who were unarmed, according to Amnesty International and two Congolese military trials, killing dozens.

Amnesty International accused Kabwe of leading a raid on a Wazalendo radio station ahead of the protest in which six people, including a journalist, were summarily executed.

While Mikombe was convicted and sentenced to death, which the rights group said it opposed, Ndima and Kabwe have not faced justice.

The Democratic Republic of Congo authorities must reopen the investigations into this massacre, in line with regional and international standards, to establish the truth and hold all of those involved accountable," Chagutah said. He added that Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi should suspend Ndima and Kabew, further investigate Mikombe, and ban the Republican Guard and Special Forces from law enforcement operations.
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Suheil Hamwi spent 32 years in a Syrian prison, and now, after an offensive by insurgents that toppled the government of Bashar Assad, he's finally returned to his home in Lebanon.

In 1992, Hamwi worked as a merchant, selling various goods in the town of Chekka in northern Lebanon. On the night of Eid il-Burbara, or Saint Barbaras Day  a holiday similar to Halloween  a man came to his door to buy some whiskey. Hamwi said he handed his 10-month-old son, George, to his wife and went to his car to fetch the whiskey and make the sale.

As Hamwi approached his vehicle, a car filled with men pulled up, he said, forcing him inside and taking him away.

It would be years before his family heard from him again.

Hamwi was one of hundreds of Lebanese citizens detained during Syrias occupation of Lebanon from 1976 to 2005 and believed to be held in Syrian prisons for decades. On Sunday, freedom came to him and others unexpectedly  prisoners who'd heard rumors about Syrias opposition forces and their sweeping campaign found that guards had abandoned their posts. Hamwi and other prisoners left, he said, and he would soon be among the first from Lebanon to reenter the country.

Im still scared this might not be real, he told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday from his home  the same one he left more than three decades ago.

This new reality feels fragile, but, he said, I found my freedom.

Years of uncertainty and imprisonment

For years after the night of his disappearance, Hamwis family didnt know where he was. It wasnt until 16 years later that his wife discovered he was imprisoned in Syria. Even then, the reason for his detention remained unclear, Hamwi said.

It took another four years before authorities finally told him the charge, he said: He was detained because he was a member of the Lebanese Forces, a Christian political party that also functioned as a militia during the 15-year Lebanese civil war that ended in 1990. The party fought against Syrian forces and remained opposed to Syria's military presence in Lebanon afterward.

Hamwi said prison interrogations were cryptic.

They asked for my name, my parents names, my age, and where I was from. Thats all, he said. Then he would be sent back to his cell. There was no lawyer, no nothing.

He said he spent his first years in Syrias notorious Saydnaya prison before being transferred to other facilities, eventually ending up in prison in Latakia. Torture marked his early days behind bars, he added, but that stopped after a while."

For years, he said, he lived in nearly complete isolation. He was alone in a small cell, surrounded by other Lebanese detainees as well as Palestinians and Iraqis.

In 2008, he said, his wife was able to visit him for the first time. Then she came about once a year.

The door opens to freedom

Last week, there was some buzz in the prison about what was happening outside. But we didnt know the dream would reach us, Hamwi said.

Early Sunday morning, chaos erupted as prisoners discovered the guards were gone.

The first door opened, Hamwi said, describing how rebels stormed the prison and started opening cell gates. Then others followed. And for those who couldnt open their gates, they started coming out through the walls.

The prisoners left walking toward the unknown, he said. "And I walked with them.

Strangers on the street helped guide him back to Lebanon, Hamwi said. He came into the country through the Arida border crossing in northern Lebanon, where his family waited on the other side.

Back home, at last

As Hamwi walked through his door, it was his two grandchildren who greeted him.

This is the first time I met them, Hamwi later told AP, his voice tinged with disbelief.

In the living room, Hamwi lit a cigarette and took a slow drag. He took in photos of moments he'd missed: Georges graduation portrait; George with his wife; Hamwi's own smiling wife, Josephine, with granddaughter Tala.

Grandson Chris clung to Hamwi's hand, giggling as he called out Jeddo!  Arabic for grandpa.

Josephine handed out sweets, her hands steady despite the emotions of the last several days. Outside, neighbors and friends gathered, their voices echoing in the narrow hallway outside his apartment. They sat on chairs in a circle, sharing laughter and memories, as plates of the Arabic sweets and small chocolates were passed around.

Do you know me? Do you remember me? one friend asked, shaking Hamwis hand. Hamwi paused, studying the mans face.

Youre Jean! Yes, youre Jean, he said.

Hawmi has visited a hospital, for tests to assess the toll of 32 years in captivity. And he has to relearn life outside prison walls.

He hoped one of the best moments was yet to come: his reunion with only son George, an engineer working in the Gulf.

In their first phone call, Hamwi said, George told him the words he'd been longing to hear: I miss you. I love you. Im waiting to see you.
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Adria Arjona's mother is her biggest fan  and her fans' biggest supporter.

While in town for Paris Fashion Week this year, Arjona recalls the moment her mother stood outside their hotel, tearfully thanking a crowd of fans who were armed with Andor and Father of the Bride posters and screaming Adria!

She didnt stop crying for 40 minutes, Arjona recounts. She was like, Remember when you started? Thats all you wanted was to be in a movie. All you wanted was to tell the story, and here you are.

Arjona, 32, has transformed from the reserved girl for whom performing wasn't a sure bet while growing up across Latin America to the captivating actor booking multiple scene-stealing roles.

I always thought I was going to be too shy to actually do it, but once I did it, something switched ... and then I became obsessed, Arjona says.

Arjona has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024, but her television debut came a decade ago, with a couple spots on network procedurals. Since then, she's secured notable roles in projects like Narcos, True Detective, and Andor, crescendoing into a wildly productive 2024 with leading roles alongside A-list colleagues.

The best actors understand the importance of patience and the journey within a film, and Adria embodies that, Glen Powell, Arjona's Hit Man co-star, wrote in an email.

Beside the Richard Linklater movie, this year alone she starred in The Absence of Eden, alongside Zoe Saldana, and was cast in Zoe Kravitzs directorial debut Blink Twice and the upcoming Los Frikis from directors Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson.

Growing up, she describes herself as very hyper, but quiet and a little shy.

I wanted to learn to do so many things that my dad was like, I think you might be an actress, she said.

Arjona would perform for her family members, but it was in her adolescent years that art classes gave her confidence in her craft. Still, the actor of Puerto Rican and Guatemalan descent constantly tried to prove herself as an artist and an actor. Arjona doesnt take it lightly that she is one of the few Latina actors cast in multidimensional roles.

I always put this pressure on myself of making a difference for Latin Americans in cinema, just playing different roles and trying not to get stereotyped ... it took me a long time, she said.

Her long-term dream is to see more varied Latin American stories on screen. That's what drew her to Los Frikis, the coming-of-age story about a punk rock group set in early 1990s Cuba that she co-stars in and executive produces.

I just hope that it gets less and less complicated and that the opportunities of playing real dimensional characters just doesnt stop, she said.

She quickly learned to advocate for herself in Hollywood and credits collaborators like Linklater for believing in her and presenting her the opportunity to flex her writing skills. While working on Hit Man, Arjona contributed to the second part of the comedys script  something Powell also noted.

Shes also incredibly generous as an actor; her off-camera takes were just as electric as her on-camera moments, he wrote.

Arjona is at a pivotal moment in her career. With multiple projects on the horizon, like Splitsville and A24's Onslaught, she is enjoying acting and producing and says she's open to writing and directing if presented with the right opportunity.

She attributes her openness to some early advice from her father, Grammy-winning recording artist Ricardo Arjona, who reminded her to never stop learning.

You cant pretend that you know what youre doing, he told her. Thats the biggest mistake you can do. Always ask for help and ask questions and youll learn faster that way instead of pretending.

She's taken her fathers advice, soaking in every moment on set and continuously falling in love with the process. She still gets butterflies on her first day.

I still feel nervous, she said. I hope I always stay nervous. I think its a sign that I really care, and I still really enjoy what Im doing.

___

For more on APs 2024 class of Breakthrough Entertainers, visit https://apnews.com/hub/ap-breakthrough-entertainers
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Jurors were deliberating Wednesday in the trial of a man charged in the killing of a University of Mississippi student who was well-known in the local LGBTQ+ community.

Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr., 24, is charged with capital murder in the death of Jimmie Jay Lee, a gay man who disappeared July 8, 2022, in Oxford, where the university is located and the trial is being held.

Lee's body has never been found, but a judge declared him dead. Herrington has maintained his innocence, and he did not testify.

Prosecutors said during closing arguments Wednesday that Herrington and Lee had a sexual encounter that ended badly and Lee left Herrington's apartment. They said text messages showed that Herrington, who was not openly gay, persuaded Lee to return with the promise of more sex and that Lee was killed after going back.

Tim Herrington lived a lie  lived a lie to his family, District Attorney Ben Creekmore said. He lied to Jay Lee to coax him over there, promising to do something with him.

Herrington's attorney, Kevin Horan, has said prosecutors cannot prove Lee is dead without having a body. He told jurors Wednesday that text messages showed Herrington did not lure Lee to his apartment.

He's the one that's being dominant anchoring this particular conversation, Horan said of Lee.

Lee, 20, has not contacted friends or family, and his financial transactions and once-prolific social media posts have stopped since the day he disappeared, investigators testified.

Police arrested Herrington two weeks after Lee went missing. Authorities interviewed Herington twice that day, and he gave conflicting information about the hours before Lee vanished, Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen testified Tuesday.

Before officers interviewed Herrington, they had already obtained sexually explicit text messages exchanged between social media accounts belonging to Herrington and Lee during the final hours Lee was known to be alive, McCutchen said.

Google records obtained through a warrant showed that Herrington searched how long does it take to strangle someone at 5:56 a.m., University Police Department Sgt. Benjamin Douglas testified last week.

The final text message from Lees phone was sent to a social media account belonging to Herrington at 6:03 a.m. from a spot near Herringtons apartment, McCutchen said Tuesday. A cellphone tower in another part of Oxford last located any signal from Lees phone shortly before 7:30 a.m., the police chief said. A security camera showed Herrington moments later jogging out of a parking lot where Lees car was abandoned, investigators testified earlier.

On the day Lee vanished, Herrington was also seen on security cameras buying duct tape in Oxford and driving to his hometown of Grenada about an hour south of Oxford, police have testified.

Herrington is from an affluent family in Grenada, Mississippi, about 52 miles (84 kilometers) southwest of Oxford, testified Ryan Baker, an Oxford Police Department intelligence officer who was a detective when he helped investigate the case.

Herringtons grandfather is bishop of a church in Grenada, other family members work at the church and Herrington himself taught youth Sunday school classes there, Baker said. Herrington was not portraying himself as gay to family or friends, Baker said. During testimony Tuesday, Herringtons father and grandfather both said Herrington had never spoken about having boyfriends.

Both Herrington and Lee had graduated from the University of Mississippi. Lee was pursuing a masters degree. He was known for his creative expression through fashion and makeup and often performed in drag shows in Oxford, according to a support group called Justice for Jay Lee.

Prosecutors have announced they do not intend to pursue the death penalty, meaning Herrington could get a life sentence if convicted. Mississippi law defines capital murder as a killing committed along with another felony  in this case, kidnapping. The judge instructed jurors that they could consider lesser charges, including murder and manslaughter.
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British designer John Galliano is leaving the Maison Margiela fashion house after 10 years as artistic director, the Paris-based brands owner Wednesday. No successor has been announced.

John made it the most cutting-edge couture house in the world, said Renzo Rosso, chairman of Italy's OTB Group that owns Maison Margiela. Rosso said the last decade of incredibly intense work, amazing shows and installations, extraordinary beautiful product, have laid the foundations for the future.

Galliano expressed his gratitude to Rosso for giving him a new chance, adding "I continue to atone, and I will never stop dreaming. Galliano left fashion in disgrace in 2011 after making antisemitic comments in a Paris bar.

My wings mended, 10 years later, I am forever grateful for this safe space to create, and his undying support, Galliano said in a statement.

Galliano made his runway debut with Maison Margiela in January 2015, with a small couture collection to a carefully selected audience of about 100 in London. It was the start of a comeback for the flamboyant designer who was dismissed from Christian Dior after he was caught on video making an antisemitic comment.

Givenchy hired Galliano as a young head designer in 1995, before Christian Dior brought him on as creative director the next year. For 15 years, his star rose with theatrical runway shows.
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MADISON, Wis.  Wisconsin prosecutors filed 10 additional felony charges Tuesday against two attorneys and an aide to President-elect Donald Trump who allegedly advised Trump in 2020 to falsely claim he won the states election as part of a fake elector scheme.

Jim Troupis, who was Trumps attorney in Wisconsin, Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who advised the campaign, and Mike Roman, Trumps director of Election Day operations in 2020, all initially faced a single felony forgery charge in in the state when they were filed in June.

But on Tuesday, just two days before all three are scheduled to appear for their initial court appearances, the Wisconsin Department of Justice filed 10 additional felony charges against each of the men.

The charges involve using forgery in an alleged attempt to defraud each of the 10 Republican electors who cast their ballots for Trump, attested to in paperwork submitted by the trio that year even though Trump lost the election in the state.

Each of the now 11 felony charges the three men face carries the same maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

open image in gallery Then President Donald Trump tried in vain after the 2020 vote to convince his Vice President Mike Pence not to certify the election he lost. ( AFP via Getty Images )

Attorneys for each of the defendants did not immediately reply to emails seeking comment.

The state charges against the Trump attorneys and aide are the only ones in Wisconsin. None of the electors have been charged. The 10 Wisconsin electors, Chesebro and Troupis all settled a lawsuit that was brought against them in 2023.

There are also pending charges related to the fake electors scheme in state and federal courts in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Georgia. Federal prosecutors investigating Trumps conduct related to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot in Washington, DC, said the fake electors scheme originated in Wisconsin.

Electors are people appointed to represent voters in presidential elections. The winner of the popular vote in each state determines which partys electors are sent to the Electoral College, which meets in December after the election to certify the outcome. Two states, Maine and Nebraska, allow their electoral votes to be split between candidates.

The Wisconsin complaint details how Troupis, Chesebro and Roman created a document that falsely said Trump had won Wisconsins 10 Electoral College votes and then attempted to deliver them to then-Vice President Mike Pence before he was to certify Joe Bidens presidential election victory.

In the amended complaint filed Tuesday, prosecutors said the majority of the 10 electors explained to investigators that they were told they were only needed to sign the alternate elector certificate indicating that Trump had won only to preserve his legal options if a court changed the outcome of the election in Wisconsin. A majority of the electors told investigators that they did not believe their signatures on the elector certificate would be submitted to Congress without a court ruling, the complaint stated.

Additionally, a majority of the electors said that they did not consent to having their signatures presented as if Trump had won without such a court ruling, the complaint said.

Troupis filed four motions to dismiss the charge against him ahead of Thursdays hearing and before the amended complaint was filed. He argued in one that having Republican electors meet and cast their ballot was done to preserve their legal options in case the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Trumps favor in a lawsuit challenging the Wisconsin vote. No crime was committed by that action, therefore the complaint must be dismissed, Troupis contends.

The Wisconsin charges were brought by Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat. They were filed in June, five months before Trump carried Wisconsin in November. Trump also won the state in 2016, but lost it in 2020.

The fake elector efforts were central to a 2023 federal racketeering indictment filed against Trump alleging he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. But special counsel Jack Smith moved to drop that case last month, acknowledging that Trumps return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him.

Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Trump is trying to get that case dismissed, arguing that state courts wont have jurisdiction over him when he returns to the White House next month.

Chesebro and Roman were among those indicted along with Trump in Georgia. Roman has pleaded not guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges there. He has also pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges in Arizona related to the fake electors scheme in that state, including conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

Last year, Chesebro pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents after reaching a deal with Georgia prosecutors. He is now trying to invalidate the plea after the judge in September tossed out the charge to which he had pleaded guilty.

Chesebro was one of four people to plead guilty in the Georgia case in the months following the indictment.
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The European Union on Wednesday gave a greenlight to Poland and other countries on Europes eastern flank to temporarily suspend asylum rights when they believe that Belarus and Russia are weaponizing migrants to destabilize the bloc.

Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans in October to introduce a law that would suspend asylum applications for up to 60 days as his country struggles with migratory pressures on its border with Belarus, angering human rights groups. The freeze has not yet been enacted.

The number of migrants arriving at the borders of EU member states from Belarus has increased by 66% this year, compared with 2023. Belarus authorities are accused of helping migrants to get into Europe, including by supplying them with ladders and other devices, according to the European Commission.

The EUs executive branch also accuses Russian authorities of facilitating these movements, given that more than 90% of migrants illegally crossing the Polish-Belarusian border have a Russian student or tourist visa.

It said that in view of the serious nature of the threat, as well as its persistence, EU member countries can temporarily suspend a migrants request for international protection in exceptional circumstances. Some migrants are accused of attacking border guards.

The commission monitors EU laws to ensure that they are respected. The right for people to seek asylum when they fear for their lives or safety in their home countries is encoded in the blocs legislation and international law.

European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said a freeze on asylum rights should only be used when the weaponization is posing security threats for member states and exceptional measures are needed.

Member states would be permitted to restrict a migrants access to asylum rights, but only under very strict conditions and (with)in legal limits," she said. "So it means that they have to be truly exceptional, temporary, proportionate and for clearly defined cases.

Virkkunen, who declined to provide details, said the commission is providing 170 million euros ($179 million) to Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and non-EU country Norway to boost their border defenses, including upgrading electronic surveillance equipment, installing mobile detectors, improving telecommunication networks, and countering drones that might be sent into EU airspace.
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A groundbreaking AI tool will be able to track dolphins by their regional accents.

Sea mammal expert Dr Julie Oswald, of the University of St Andrews Scottish Oceans Institute, created the tool, known as the Real-time Odontocete Call Classification Algorithm (Rocca), using AI.

It can categorise dolphin calls by species and comes in different versions linked to different geographical areas.

There are around 42 species of dolphin and they use hundreds of different sounds to communicate.

The mammals learn to mimic the sounds they hear from a young age and some develop a unique signature whistle they use to announce their identity.

Scientists can study them using hydrophones  underwater microphones that capture sounds as dolphins pass by  but analysis of these sounds can be difficult.

Rocca has made it easier by using machine learning to reveal subtle acoustic differences to match sounds to species with regionally specific settings to account for accents.

This allows the tool to identify the type of species present in a particular area.

Dolphins develop region-specific accents, meaning a bottlenose dolphin in the North Sea may produce different sounds compared with one in the Pacific.

open image in gallery Dolphins develop region-specific accents, meaning a bottlenose dolphin in the North Sea may produce different sounds compared with one in the Pacific (Julie Oswald/PA)

Rocca accounts for these regional differences to help conservationists identify dolphin species more accurately and assess the impact of human activities such as fishing and sonar disturbances.

Dr Oswald is currently expanding Roccas applications to other species and ecosystems in regions such as West Africa, Macaronesia and the Mediterranean.

She is also working with scientists and conservationists to train them in acoustic monitoring using Rocca.

The Rocca was one of the winners of the EarthRanger 2024 Conservation Technology Award, which recognises innovations and technology-driven solutions that make measurable conservation impacts.

Jes Lefcourt, Ai2s senior director of conservation technology and director of the EarthRanger programme, said: The Scottish Oceans Institute has been improving the understanding of cetacean communication for 20 years.

Their recent innovations using AI have improved the ability to track and monitor populations of these species and also highlight the individuality of the animals.
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Slovakias parliament on Wednesday approved legislation drafted by the government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico that could effectively ban doctors from protesting against low pay and force them to continue working.

Lawmakers in the 150-seat National Council voted 74-70 in favor of the law, which came in response to a mass resignation threat by more than 3,000 doctors from the nation's hospitals, who said they would quit their jobs at the beginning of next year.

The law gives the government the power to declare an emergency in the case health care might not be available. Doctors would be then obliged to work because their notices to leave the job would not be accepted. Refusal to do so could result in imprisonment. The measure is intended to prevent a collapse of the health care system.

The emergency measures can last for up to 120 days.

Health Minister Kamil Sasko said during the parliamentary debate that he hoped that hell never be forced to use the tool, which is strongly opposed by the labor unions representing the doctors.

The doctors protested that the government had not discussed with them the cuts to a 2022 plan aimed at increasing their salaries in the next two years.

The cuts are part of austerity measures approved by the government to keep the ballooning budget deficit under control.
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An asylum seeker found guilty of killing four migrants who died in an inflatable boat he piloted across the English Channel has lost his bid to challenge his convictions and sentence.

Ibrahima Bah was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to nine and a half years detention after the deaths in the sinking of the unseaworthy boat that he steered between France and the UK on 14 December 2022.

During a retrial at Canterbury Crown Court, Bah said smugglers threatened to kill him if he did not drive the boat, but the prosecution said he was not telling the truth and he owed his fellow passengers a duty of care as their pilot.

The Senegalese national, thought to be 20 years old, was also convicted of facilitating illegal entry to the UK.

At a hearing earlier this month, Bah brought his case to the Court of Appeal in a bid for the green light to challenge his convictions and sentence.

open image in gallery Protesters in support of Ibrahima Bah attended the previous hearing ( PA Wire )

In a ruling on Wednesday, the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr said Bah could not bring the appeal, ruling it was not arguable.

Jurors heard the home-built, low-quality inflatable should have had no more than 20 people on board but carried about 45 people in the English Channel that night.

Richard Thomas KC, for Bah, previously described his trial as touching on a highly politicised issue which gives rise to very strong feelings.

Mr Thomas told the Court of Appeal in London that it had been a joint endeavour to travel to the UK, and that Bahs actions meant that a passage to the UK was available so tragically the deceased availed themselves of that passage.

The barrister continued: The availing themselves of the passage, which they did so knowing the risks involved, is precisely the autonomous choice that breaks the train of causation.

Sitting with Mr Justice Dove and Mr Justice Murray, Baroness Carr dismissed this argument.

She said in her ruling: The judge correctly analysed that the fact that the deceased volunteered to join the boat could not establish a break in the chain of causation; the evidence to that effect was thus irrelevant to causation.

Baroness Carr also ruled that the trial judge gave the right directions to the jury, adding: An instruction to the jury inviting them to consider whether the fact that the deceased boarded the boat of their own free will broke the chain of causation would have amounted to a misdirection.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had opposed the appeal bid.

Duncan Atkinson KC, for the CPS, previously said: This is a case where the passengers on the boat were acting in concert with their pilot.

The barrister continued: It was not the background or the scene setting it was the continued act of facilitation at the time of their deaths which provided the circumstances in which the deaths occurred.

A total of 39 survivors were brought to shore in the port of Dover after a UK fishing boat crew came across the sinking dinghy with help from the RNLI, air ambulance and UK Border Force.

Three of the people who died were known only as unknown male persons while the other man was named as Hajratullah Ahmadi, a 31-year-old married man who had come from Afghanistan and had a six-year-old daughter at the time of his death.
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Detectives are investigating dozens of staff at Fujitsu and the Post Office for crimes including perjury and perverting the course of justice over the wrongful prosecutions of sub-postmasters.

A nationwide taskforce made up of 100 officers is carrying out an inquiry that is unprecedented in size as they probe more than 1.5 million documents over potential crimes linked to the scandal.

However, in a blow for victims seeking swift justice, trials may not take place until 2027. Final charging decisions will not be made until after the public inquiry publishes its final report into problems with the Horizon IT system, police have warned.

It is understood officers are looking at dozens of persons of interest who were involved in the wrongful prosecutions, including legal professionals. Three have been interviewed under caution so far since 2021, the most recent in September, and more are expected to be questioned next year.

Were looking at significant number of individuals across Fujitsu, across the Post Office and the actions of people within the legal profession as well, detective chief inspector Mick Norman, the senior investigating officer, said.

It is unclear if the persons of interest include senior executives at the Post Office and Fujitsu at this stage, but police said the actions of prominent individuals will be assessed as the investigation progresses.

open image in gallery Paula Vennells, former Post Office CEO, gave evidence at the Horizon IT inquiry earlier this year ( PA )

The probe is focused on potential crimes of perjury and perverting the court of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, although police said they will go where the evidence takes us.

The issue of corporate liability, an area of law where a higher evidential bar is required, is always in discussion, they confirmed.

Commander Stephen Clayman, who is leading the Operation Olympos probe, said: The subpostmasters and their families are at the heart of this investigation and our goal is to try and secure justice for those affected by this shocking set of events, the impact of which cannot be underestimated.

The scale of the task ahead is unprecedented and I am confident we have an excellent team in place, with the support of cutting-edge technology to strengthen our search for information and evidence in amongst the 1.5 million-plus documents obtained and which will grow.

I do know that if you take into account Post Office criminal and private prosecutions, civil claims and contract withdrawals, there are potentially thousands of victims who we are working hard to identify and build our database so that we can ensure we reach as many affected individuals as possible.

I cannot make promises that this will be a fast process. An investigation of this size must continue to be undertaken meticulously and methodically and will take time.

However, I speak on behalf of our whole team when I say we will approach it with independence, precision and integrity.

open image in gallery Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is a leading campaigner for victims of the Post Office scandal ( PA Wire )

No decision will be made over potential criminal charges until the public inquiry into the scandal has published its final report, and investigators have thoroughly reviewed its contents.

Closing statements will be heard in the inquiry on 16 and 17 December, but no firm timetable has yet been set for its final report.

More than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts.

Hundreds are still awaiting compensation despite the previous government saying that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for 600,000 payouts.

The scandal is one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British legal history.

Christopher Head, who was once Britains youngest postmaster before he was wrongly accused of theft due to issues with Horizon, believes the victims will never get true closure until those responsible are held to account.

In the meantime, he said, it is essential that all receive financial redress so they can begin to rebuild their lives.

It is vitally important that this happens so people can finally move forward and try to get that closure, he told The Independent, adding that victims will relive the scandal day after day until it is resolved.

Responding to news about the length of the criminal probe, he continued: I appreciate that it will take time but thats frustrating because, as we saw, the Post Office prosecuted people within weeks and months. But it is important that it is the right people [being investigated] and there is no shortcutting this process.

open image in gallery Post Office CEO Nick Read arrives to give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry in central London last month ( AFP/Getty )

Emily Spurrell, chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: The severe and enduring impact on subpostmasters has become increasingly clear as events have unfolded and the stories have emerged of some of those wrongfully prosecuted and convicted.

Victims of the Horizon IT scandal exist in every part of the UK, innocent people whose lives have been ruined over a quarter of a century.

Those who found themselves caught up in this through no fault of their own deserve justice and, as what is likely to be a lengthy police investigation scales up, they are entitled to be fully supported through it.

She encouraged anyone affected to contact their local PCC for help accessing support services.

A portal has been set up where those with information can send details and documents here.
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An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, a campaign group has said.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, feels abandoned by the British government and Keir Starmer, Detained in Dubai said.

Radha Stirling, the groups chief executive, said the sentence was an utter disgrace and an embarrassment to Britain, adding that the UK has prioritised trade deals over peoples lives.

Mr Fakana was with his parents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the end of August when a holiday romance blossomed with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group previously said.

The Labour government should be ashamed they have not secured the freedom of a teenage tourist Radha Stirling

After returning to the UK and seeing pictures and chats, the girls mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Mr Fakana at his hotel, it is alleged.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.

In a statement posted on social media, Ms Stirling said: The UK was once the most diplomatically influential Western country in the Middle East.

Now, we are seeing countries like Canada, Malaysia, Ireland and the US leaving the UK way behind.

The Labour government should be ashamed they have not secured the freedom of a teenage tourist. It wasnt a difficult job.

Ms Stirling said Mr Fakana, who has been held in Dubai since September, will appeal against his sentence and was desperately hoping to come home this week.

In Dubai, if an adult has a sexual relationship with a person under 18, they can be prosecuted for having a sexual relationship with a minor.

The family have issued a plea to the ruler of Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to spare Mr Fakana.

Ms Stirling added: I urge young people and parents to reconsider holidays in Dubai where so many people find themselves at risk of unfair and lengthy detention in prisons notorious for human rights abuses and torture. Holidaymakers should book elsewhere until Marcus is free.

Mr Fakana has received backing from members of the public, with a Change.org petition calling on the Government to offer him stronger support receiving more than 40,000 signatures.

A fundraiser set up by Mr Fakanas family entitled Help bring Marcus home has raised more than 35,000  to which Game Of Thrones actor Kit Harington gave 500, according to GoFundMe.
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A new trial to add a methane-suppressing additive into cow food has prompted online shoppers to threaten a boycott of three major supermarkets.

Arla Foods announced the trial of the supplement last Tuesday as part of an attempt to reduce the emissions produced by the cows in their production lines.

The feed additive known as Bovaer will be used in a trial across 30 British farms, the company announced in a post on X last week which has been viewed nearly six million times, in a move which it says represents an amazing chance to reduce emissions on farm.

Arla, which is the UKs largest farmer-owned dairy cooperative, is working alongside Aldi, Morrisons and Tesco in the trial.

But the announcement has received 13,000 replies on X and has led to swathes of people pouring milk down the toilet and throwing tubs of Lurpak in the bin, claiming that Bovaer is toxic and could harm cows, farmers and consumers.

open image in gallery Arla has faced a significant online backlash, with consumers filming themselves throwing products in the bin ( AFP/Getty )

Why is Bovaer being tested and what is it?

Arla says Bovaer could reduce methane emissions produced by cows by up to 27 per cent.

Reducing methane emissions is one of the fastest and most cost-effective tools available to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C, a UK government report found in 2022. Methane accounts for approximately 13 per cent of the UKs net greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2021 - the last year with publicly-available data - agriculture was behind 49 per cent of methane emissions in the UK, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

According to the producer of the supplement, DSM-Firmenich, Bovaer suppresses the enzyme within the cows rumen which combines hydrogen and carbon dioxide to produce methane. This means less methane is released by the cow into the atmosphere.

The firms website claims that it has been proven safe for animal, farmer and consumer. In a response to online critics in the UK, the firm says 150 trials worldwide and 85 articles in peer reviewed journals support its efficacy.

open image in gallery Cows wont produce so much methane if they consume Boevar, it is hoped ( Getty )

Why has there been a backlash?

Arlas online announcement sparked anger online, particularly among climate change deniers and those interested in conspiracies as the product was falsely linked to software billionaire Bill Gates.

One response to the post on X, liked more than 14,000 times, said: You are f****** insane if you think adding toxic chemicals to cows food that could cause harm to the farmers and the cows will help alter the climate of the planet I will be avoiding ALL of your products.

Cows have been farting since cows existed, and the climate has always changed, one consumer wrote.

Another said the company is making a huge mistake, adding: Once word gets around people will avoid your products. We do not want that poison in our food. Change your plans or go bankrupt.

A fourth wrote: I used to regularly buy your products (mostly protein shakes and yoghurts), but wont be any longer until you stop using Bovaer. I will also be boycotting Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi while they continue to play a part in this. Anyone with me?

Posts calling for boycotts of Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi gained significant engagement, with some also taking to TikTok to call on others to join the boycott. Viral online videos have shown people pouring milk in the toilet down the sink as they refuse to consume products made by Arla.

DSM Firmenich was forced into stating that Bill Gates - the subject of a number of conspiracy theories - was not involved with the company. Bill Gates is not involved in the development of Bovaer, the company said.

How safe is Boevar?

DSM-Firmenich says the UK Food Standards Agency has approved the use of Boevar based on evidence that it does not harm the animals or negatively impact their health, productivity, or the quality of milk. It added: They concluded that the product is safe for use, both for animals as well as humans, and is effective in reducing methane emissions.

If used as recommended, Boevar is fully metabolized by the cow meaning it is not present in milk or meat, so there is no consumer exposure.

There are no health risks and the substance does not impact milk production or reproduction, the firm adds.

open image in gallery Arla Foods and DSM-Firmenich say there is no consumer exposure to Boevar ( AFP/Getty )

Arla Foods reiterated these claims in a statement issued in response to the backlash. The statement added: Alongside the 2,000 farmers across the UK who own Arla, we work hard to produce healthy & quality food every day. We work to ensure that this is done safely, whilst also working to reduce our impact on the environment. Both Morrisons and Aldi said they are aligned with Arlas latest statement when contacted by The Independent.

The National Farmers Union Dairy Board chair Paul Tompkins said questions remain over the long-term efficacy of Boevar and how it can be used effectively on farms.

This latest trial, on a product which has already been approved by the Food Standards Agency as safe for consumers, could help provide some of this evidence, he added.

The Independent has contacted Tesco for comment.
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Farmers remain in deadlock with the government over tax after a day of protests in which hundreds of tractors were driven through Westminster.

As a stark report from Defra revealed Britain produced less than two-thirds of its consumed food last year, the countryside arrived outside parliament in protest over changes to inheritance tax.

National Farmers Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw fought back tears as he told of the risk of farmers taking their own lives as a result of the levy, in an impassioned speech to an Environment Committee.

Outside, an estimated 500 tractors blocked Whitehall before they were driven on a slow and noisy procession around Westminster, displaying banners accusing Sir Keir of destroying the family farm.

However, when confronted over the controversial changes to the levy, which farmers claim will force the sale and even closure of family businesses, Sir Keir remained resolute on his partys line.

open image in gallery Farmer's daughter Millie Goodwin, 18, stands on a tractor lined up in Whitehall ahead of the procession around Westminster ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

The vast majority of farmers will be unaffected, Sir Keir told Prime Ministers Questions, before accusing opposition political parties of fearmongering over the highly sensitive issue.

The NFU said it had attempted to engage with Labour on the plans, which will see farmers pay a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on farms worth more than 1m from April 2026.

But Mr Bradshaw said there had been no action from the government following a meeting with Sir Keir last month.

Farming campaign groups said the government must back down.

Following Wednesdays protest in London, leaders said they were already planning more tractor protests in towns and cities where Labour ministers hold parliamentary seats.

open image in gallery A union jack flag is flown as tractors pass the Houses of Parliament, where Sir Keir Starmer remained resolute on plans to bring in inheritance tax ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

Liz Webster, founder of Save British Farming, told The Independent: We will fill the towns of every single Labour MP, particularly if they are ministers  they are all on the target list  until the government backs down.

On speculation of strikes leading to food shortages in supermarkets, Ms Webster refused to rule out the option. We have not organised anything but we are open to co-ordinating with others, its a mass effort, she said.

Some farmers drove up to eight hours in their tractors from as far away as Exmoor to reach Westminster. The heavy vehicles began rumbling into Whitehall from 10am as the Environment Committee, exploring the impact of the tax changes, started.

As Sir Keir was grilled on the plan at PMQs, first by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and then Tory MP Jerome Mayhew, the farmers gathered near Downing Street for speeches off the back of a pick-up truck.

An hour later, they got back inside their tractors and took part in a slow procession on a loop route in Westminster.

Waving British flags and sounding their horns, they also displayed signs that read: No farmers, no food, Not hungry, thank a farmer, and Save British Farming.

open image in gallery David Catt warned farmers could bring the country to a standstill ( Rachel Clun )

David Catt, a vegetable and herb farmer from Maidstone in Kent, said the inheritance tax would ruin many family-owned farms.

These are all generational farmers, so the value of the land theyre working is irrelevant to what they do, he said. The trouble is the money youre getting out of the land does cover the inheritance tax.

Asked whether further strike action could cause food shortages, Mr Catt said: Were trying to get the public on side by doing these public protests. All were doing is asking the government to rethink this legislation.

open image in gallery Edward Ford with his daughter Harriet  the pair claim the tax changes are completely unfair ( Rachel Clun )

If we dont get any change, things could escalate up, we could bring the country to a standstill  [but] we dont want it to come to that.

Beef and arable farmer Edward Ford, who travelled from Dorking in Surrey, said the tax changes would impact his family.

Ive spent the last 30 years increasing and buying land, and I now have quite a large farm for the area, he said. Ive taken no profits, knowing we can pass it on.

His daughter Harriet, 25, is already a partner in the farm, which has been in the family for nearly 100 years. She said: Its very uncertain and very unfair, I think its just completely unfair.

Inside the environment committee, representatives from farming groups, including Mr Bradshaw, said they had written to Sir Keir asking for a pause in changes to inheritance tax and a consultation.

Mr Bradshaw fought back tears as he warned of the more severe human impacts this policy could have, including the risk of farmers taking their own lives.

Addressing arguments that money does not necessarily trigger this response, he became emotional as he said: Its not money. This is a lifetime of work, its the heritage and the custodianship of their farm.

open image in gallery Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said during prime ministers questions that the vast majority of farmers would be unaffected by the changes ( PA Wire )

Ms Webster, who helped organise Wednesdays protest, said: The responsibility of the farm is everything, so you would feel a failure who ends up losing the farm, and thats why it is such a cruel act of Starmer to do this, and hes got to listen.

Its just unthinkable that Keir Starmer and his advisers are doing this. It makes Boris Johnson and his Partygate minuscule, this is outrageous. This fight will continue.

The protest came on the same day the 2024 Food Security Report was published by Defra. It showed, in the UK, of all food consumed in 2023, 62 per cent was homegrown, well below the modern-day peak of 78 per cent in 1984.

An argument put forward by farming campaign groups is that the phasing out of direct payments, replaced by environment-led subsidies, will push more land away from food production.

They claim that the inheritance tax will further see more farming land sold off as farmers bid to pay the bill.

Several councils  North Northamptonshire, Devon, Harborough, Staffordshire Moorlands, Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire  have so far voted motions to oppose the changes to inheritance tax.

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs for the Countryside Alliance, said: If the chancellor will not listen and work with the farming community to rethink this policy, the battle with the countryside will simply become a long running sore.

But Downing Street reiterated the governments view that only a small number of farmers would be affected by changes.

Asked whether the prime minister had a message for farmers who are protesting in Westminster on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmers official spokesman said: This Government recognises that food security is national security; thats why we remain steadfast in our support for farmers.

Asked whether there would be any rethink on inheritance tax, the spokesman added: No. We have been clear that we understand the strength of feeling about the changes, but we are clear this will only affect a small number of estates.

Three-quarters of estates will be unaffected by these changes, but the governments commitment to farmers is steadfast.
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Budding spies have been assigned a festive mission straight from the UKs national security agency this Christmas.

GCHQ is encouraging both children and adults alike to download its brain-teasing Christmas card, featuring its annual puzzle.

Masterminded by a team of puzzling experts who work at the government communications headquarters, the card is sent by director Anne Keast-Butler and the brainteasers range in difficulty to reveal a final hidden message.

The focus of this years quiz is the geography of the intelligence and cyber organisation, which operates across the UK from its HQ in Cheltenham, Manchester, London, Scarborough and Bude.

This year, for the first time, there are three additional elements hidden within the card for those who want to take on an extra challenge.

open image in gallery The focus of this years riddle is the geography of the agency, which operates across the UK from its HQ in Cheltenham, Manchester, London, Scarborough and Bude ( GCHQ )

Ms Keast-Butler said: Puzzles have always been at the heart of GCHQ, and the skills needed to solve them are just as relevant in 2024 as they were over 100 years ago.

This years challenge features seven puzzles, plus several hidden elements for those who want an extra test. The puzzles are aimed at teenagers and young people, but everyone is encouraged to give them a try  they might surprise you.

The puzzles include skills such as codebreaking, maths and analysis and test lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance.

Just like the work that goes on at GCHQ every day, the Christmas brainteasers will require different approaches and different ways of thinking.

GCHQs chief puzzler, Colin, said: You can see from the range of puzzles that some parts are trickier than others. However, you do not have to be a genius or top of the class to solve them  you just have to be able to work in a team and embrace the mix of minds and approaches teamwork brings. This is exactly how we work at GCHQ.

We also hope to show young people through this Challenge that thinking differently is a gift.

Wed love to see how you get on with the Challenge, so please let us know by tagging us  or asking a grown-up to tag us  in a post on Instagram, X or LinkedIn @GCHQ.

Happy puzzle-solving!
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A British teenager has been jailed in Dubai for having sex with a 17-year-old girl while the pair were on holiday.

Marcus Fakana, an 18-year-old from Tottenham in north London, was on a trip with his parents when he struck up a holiday romance with the girl, who was staying at the same hotel.

Upon finding out about the relationship, the unnamed girls mother reported Mr Fakana to Dubai police and he was arrested.

On Wednesday, he was sentenced to one year in a Dubai prison his lawyers claim is notorious for human rights abuses and torture.

His family have issued a plea directly to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to spare Mr Fakana a prison term over the sexual encounter, which would be legal in the UK.

His representative Radha Stirling, from Detained in Dubai, branded the sentence an utter disgrace and said Mr Fakana would appeal.

open image in gallery Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum is the leader of Dubai ( PA Archive )

In a statement, she said: He was desperately hoping to come home this week but prosecutorial mishandling in the first stages of the case meant it wasnt heard as a misdemeanour when it should have been.

Calling on a boycott of the nation, she added: I urge young people and parents to reconsider holidays in Dubai where so many people find themselves at risk of unfair and lengthy detention in prisons notorious for human rights abuses and torture.

Holidaymakers should book elsewhere until Marcus is free. There is so much public support for Marcus. They want to see him home and a year in prison is not only unreasonable, its an utter disgrace.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer at last years Cop28 summit in Dubai ( PA Wire )

Ms Stirling, a veteran expert witness in extradition cases involving the United Arab Emirates, said that the British government had abandoned the teenager, singling out Sir Keir Starmer who had spent the weekend in the Gulf state.

She added: The UK has prioritised trade deals over peoples lives. This is truly abhorrent. David Lammy and Keir Starmer have failed Marcus.

This is an embarrassment to Britain. The Labour government should be ashamed they have not secured the freedom of a teenage tourist. It wasnt a difficult job.

open image in gallery Dubai has only recently made sex out of marriage legal for tourists ( PA Archive )

Mr Fakana claims he was unaware the girl, who is also from London and has since turned 18, was months younger than him when they first met.

Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor and her mother, being the legal guardian, filed the complaint.

An Emirati government spokesman said: Dubais legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings.

Dubai has only recently made sex out of marriage legal for tourists but the country still has a strict Islamic legal system in place. In the UK, the pairs relationship would be legal.

Mr Fakana, who is said to have been overwhelmed by supporters in the UK, previously told Detained in Dubai: We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict. My parents knew about our relationship but she couldnt tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.

When she left, I couldnt wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door. They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldnt tell me why. I couldnt imagine what for. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.

His family have set up a GoFundMe to raise money for Mr Fakanas legal costs, explaining they went to the UAE to celebrate his fathers birthday.

Mr Fakana and his family have urged the foreign secretary David Lammy, their MP in Tottenham, to intervene in the case.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.
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PinkNews staff have called for the resignation of the couple who run the worlds largest LGBTQ+ news site, accusing the company of fostering a toxic culture following explosive sexual misconduct allegations.

Benjamin Cohen, the founder and CEO, and his husband, Anthony James, have been accused by more than 30 current and former employees of inappropriate behaviour towards staff in recent days. They have called the allegations false.

Current employees have expressed fears that the company could crumble if the arrogant pair refuse to step down, though many are sceptical that such a resignation will occur.

I genuinely think from this point either Ben and Anthony resign or PinkNews crumbles, a member of staff told The Independent on the condition of anonymity. I dont know how quickly its going to crumble, whether it will shatter or dissipate I dont know. But we are all really scared for whatever that outcome is.

Ben is so arrogant, and so sure of himself as one of these great media pioneers that I think he would rather see PinkNews crumble than resign and that is such a mistake.

It is this arrogance that the staff member says has compounded a toxic work culture at the media organisation, resulting in low morale and a high staff turnover, they added.

open image in gallery ( Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock )

The staff member also revealed they were pulled aside by a colleague who warned them that the company routinely collapsed with some sort of horrible thing happening every year or so.

They claimed the volatile workplace was made worse by Mr Cohen, with staff often not wanting him to be present in company meetings out of fear that he would say something inappropriate.

There are actual intrinsic issues with the way PinkNews is run, but those are only compounded with the way Ben and Anthony are.

They added: A lot of the time when we were having company-wide meetings people would ask not to have Ben on the call because every time he did, he would say something awful.

The employee recalled a particular period last year when a host of redundancies were made, with people finding out they were losing their jobs through hearsay, and the threat of redundancy being used inappropriately.

Every company has redundancies, its a sad fact of business. But it was the fact they were almost being used as a carrot on a stick if you dont do this or that then you will be let go. The way it was used was so toxic and that boils down to the way Ben and Anthony do business, they said.

We would be told there were no new redundancies but then the next week would come around and a few people would have mysteriously disappeared.

The calls for the couples resignation come after they were accused of multiple instances of sexual misconduct by staff members.

In an investigation by the BBC, several staff members claimed that they saw Mr James kissing and touching a junior colleague who appeared too drunk to consent.

The alleged incident is said to have taken place outside a London pub where staff had gathered after a PinkNews event.

Representatives for Mr Cohen and Dr James told the BBC they could not provide a statement at this time but said all of the allegations were false.

In the report, another former staff member claimed that he was slapped on the rear by Mr Cohen in front of people at a Christmas party, while another claimed to have been asked to go back to Mr Cohens home because his husband wasnt there.

The Independent has contacted PinkNews for comment but has received no response.
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A white Christmas could be on the cards for some people across the UK this year, as the Met Office forecasts snow over the festive period.

In its long range forecast, from Christmas eve to January 7, the Met Office confirmed that some sleet and snow was likely at times, mainly affecting high ground in northern parts of the UK.

Besides the potential snow, there will be mainly unsettled conditions for most, with wind and rain likely appearing for most people across the UK over the festive period.

Temperatures however, should remain average overall with frost and fog on its way.

The Met Office long-range forecast reads: Mainly unsettled conditions appear likely for most, with spells of wind and rain followed by showers affecting most areas but especially the north and northwest of the UK. Some sleet and snow is also likely at times, especially on high ground in the north.

However, there are also some signs that more settled conditions are possible at times, these perhaps most likely across the south late in December or into early January. Temperatures are likely to be around average overall, with any more settled interludes bringing a risk of frost and fog.

open image in gallery The Met Office confirmed that some sleet and snow was likely at times, mainly affecting high ground in the north. ( Robert Perry/PA Wire )

The Met Office recognises a white Christmas if just one snowflake is observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK.

Though the long range forecast suggests a white Christmas could be possible this year, the Met Office can only accurately forecast if snow is likely on any given Christmas Day up to five days beforehand.

White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, as climate change has also brought higher average temperatures over land and sea and this generally reduced the chances of one.

Technically, 2023 was the last white Christmas in the UK with 11 per cent of stations recording snow falling, although none reported any snow lying on the ground.

There was no record of snow falling at any station in the UK in 2018, or in 2019.

open image in gallery The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK. ( Steve Welsh/PA Wire )

The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010. It was extremely unusual, as not only was there snow on the ground at 83 per cent of stations - the highest amount ever recorded- but snow or sleet also fell at 19 per cent of stations.

For this week, the Met Office has forecast dry weather with some cloudy days across the country.

Here is the Met Offices full five day forecast:

Tuesday:

Remaining cloudy in England and Wales, with showers becoming confined to the south coast. Drier with sunny spells for Northern Ireland and Scotland, though frost and fog persisting through the morning. Feeling chilly with lighter winds than recent days.

Tuesday night:

Largely cloudy across England, Wales and Shetland with a few scattered showers. Patchy freezing fog redeveloping for Scotland and Northern Ireland with a widespread frost under prolonged cloud breaks.

Wednesday:

Another dry day for most, though the odd shower in the far southeast. Rather cloudy, though brighter in the north and west. Chilly, especially where fog lingers.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

High pressure continues to dominate bringing fine weather with some sunshine and overnight frost and fog. Blustery showers dying out in the south with patchy rain in the north later.
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Former Europe minister Denis MacShane has blamed Yvette Coopers Home Office for holding up important concessions needed to reset Britains relationship with the EU.

The former Labour MP was responding to European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds indicating to peers on Tuesday that the government could be open to agreeing a youth mobility scheme dependent on the proposal brought forward by Brussels.

Until now, Keir Starmers government has been opposed to agreeing the proposal because the prime minister does not want to cross any of the red lines in his manifesto including allowing any form of free movement of people with the EU.

open image in gallery Former Europe minister Denis MacShane lashed out at the Home Office on X

In a first hint of compromise, Mr Thomas-Symonds, who will be leading the Brexit reset talks next year, told the Lords European affairs committee: Its for the EU to finalise proposals it wants to put on the table. It depends on what precisely you mean by youth mobility.

But Mr MacShane, who is visiting Brussels, believed that Mr Thomas-Symonds was being ultra-cautious and blamed the Home Office for hold ups in the talks.

He posted on X (formerly Twitter): I fear Nick Thomas-Symonds sticking to an ultra cautious line - up to EU to spell out what they want. They have on youth mobility.

Its the Home Office obstructing. Under Tony Blair the Treasury sabotaged closer work with the EU. Now its the Home Office.

open image in gallery European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds will be leading the Brexit reset talks next year ( Parliament TV )

Youth mobility has become a major sticking point in Sir Keirs plans for a reset of the UK/ EU relationship because it has become a priority of European member states including Germany and the European Commission.

The scheme would allow under-30s to travel and work freely between the UK and EU.

Mr Thomas-Symonds also spelt out the three pillars of their renegotiation strategy including a security and defence pact, reducing trade barriers and improving policing cooperation. But with concerns over a lack of ambition in the talks he confirmed that red lines on free movement, not rejoining the single market and customs union are still in place.

With Donald Trump set to return as US president in January there are fears that US tariffs will mean that the UK will be forced to choose a trade deal with America or look to a much closer relationship with the EU.
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The scandal of scores of prisoners guilty of domestic abuse being released early from prison has prompted a bid to change the law.

Eastbournes MP Josh Babarinde, the Liberal Democrats justice spokesperson, has tabled a bill that would create a specific set of domestic abuse aggravated offences in the law for the first time.

The bill provides the groundwork to close the loophole where some domestic abusers are currently released early under the governments SDS40 early release scheme put into place because of the prisons overcrowding crisis they inherited from the Tories.

Mr Babarinde told The Independent that his own childhood experience of domestic abuse in his family partly inspired his decision to focus on the area in a hope he can make a positive difference to thousands who have suffered from it.

open image in gallery Josh Babrinde with Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey ( Aaron Chown/PA Wire )

He has also praised The Independents Brick for Brick campaign, which has been backed by the Queen, to build a refuge for victims of domestic abuse, saying: This is such an important initiative for such an important issue in this country.

Be a brick, buy a brick and donate here or text BRICK to 70560 to donate 15

The newly elected MP was alarmed that Labour was unable to keep its promise that prisoners guilty of domestic would not be released early.

He pointed out that many who were released for general offences of grievous bodily harm or actual bodily harm were in reality guilty of domestic abuse but there was no way for the system to know that.

Currently there is no specific offence of domestic abuse in England and Wales. These cases are instead prosecuted under a number of broader offences, ranging from common assault and actual bodily harm (ABH) to coercive control. The general laws involved have not changed in definition since they were first enacted in the 19th century.

One victim who is supporting his bill is Elizabeth Hudson whose ex-husband assaulted her holding a knife to her throat qualified for early release.

Ms Hudson told Good Morning Britain: Initially they were going to release him this month with tagging. That was scrapped but he is still eligible for a three month reprieve on his sentence.

She added: The mind blowing thing is that domestic abuse does not actually exist in the legal context.

Explaining why this was the case, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood explained: To do [early release] in a legal way you have to target the offences and not the offenders specifically. There is no specific offence of domestic abuse.

open image in gallery Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

High-risk offenders including those with domestic abuse-related offences are meant to be exempt from early release from prison under the governments SDS40 scheme.

However, the exemption only applies to certain offences, meaning that domestic abusers who have been charged with more general offences like common assault are still eligible for early release. A number of campaigners, including Womens Aid, Refuge and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner have raised concerns that domestic abusers are being released early as a result.

Supporting the Bill, a spokesperson for Womens Aid said: "We support Josh Babarindes initiative to introduce new certain domestic abuse aggravated offences in his proposed Private Members Bill. This proposal would help build more protection against perpetrators of domestic abuse being released under the early release scheme for prisoners.

We have welcomed Labours commitment to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, and in support of Josh Babarinde MPs proposal, we urge the government to consider these amendments and keep their pledge in addressing this national emergency."

The Domestic Abuse (Aggravated Offences) Bill, tabled by Eastbournes Mr Babarinde this week, would create a new, specific set of domestic abuse aggravated offences.

If passed, the bill would mean that a domestic abuser who would have, for example, previously been charged with common assault would now be charged with domestic abuse-aggravated common assault.

This would create greater visibility of domestic abuse cases within the criminal justice system - while making it possible to close the loopholes in the early release scheme by exempting all those convicted of domestic abuse aggravated offences under this bill.

The second reading of the Bill, tabled this week, is due on 24 January but Mr Babarinde is more hopeful that it would provide the basis for one of two justice bills the government is bringing forward in the next year.

Ms Mahmood has left the door open for a change in the law.

Mr Babarinde said: Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on survivors, and the law is leaving too many of them without protection. Its only right that all domestic abusers are convicted of precisely what theyve done. My bill will mean abusers can no longer hide behind more general convictions theyve relied on until now.

The loopholes in the Governments SDS40 early release scheme have made clear that this change cannot wait any longer.

I hope the government will work with us - and with the survivors backing this bill - to finally create new domestic abuse aggravated offences and give victims and survivors both locally and nationally the protection they deserve.

Please donate now to the Brick by Brick campaign, launched by The Independent and charity Refuge, to help raise another 300,000 to build a second safe space for women where they can escape domestic abuse, rebuild their lives and make a new future. Text BRICK to 70560 to donate 15.
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Most family farms will not be able to benefit from a loophole that is used by the super rich to avoid inheritance tax, meaning smaller estates are likely to be hit especially hard by the governments tax raid.

In order to avoid being hit with the levy, a widely used tactic by people facing inheritance tax is to pass down assets seven years before death - but many family farms will be unable to do so as a result of the gifts with reservation clause.

The clause means that if a farmer passes down their estate but still benefits from it by either living on the property or using the returns to fund their lifestyle, they will still be taxed on it.

However, wealthy investors who have bought up farmland are unlikely to be living on the property, meaning they can pass down the assets and benefit from the loophole.

It comes despite the government claiming the changes to inheritance tax were introduced to discourage wealthy figures, like entrepeneur James Dyson and TV personality Jeremy Clarkson, buying up agricultural land to bypass inheritance tax.

open image in gallery Hundreds of farmers arrive in Westminster to protest the inheritance tax changes ( Getty Images )

Stuart Maggs, a tax lawyer at Howes Percival, told the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee that it means family farm owners simply cannot plan for the inheritance tax changes.

This is going to be unaffordable, he warned. Farms are going to have to sell land or sell up and its going to happen a lot.

This change coming in now has really hit home to farmers because theyre in a situation where theres nothing they can do about it, Mr Maggs said.

They cant give away and survive seven years, and even if they could give away, it wouldnt be effective.

He explained: There are rules called gifts with reservation and that means if you give something away, but you still continue to enjoy a benefit from it  i.e. if youre one of three families living on the same farm  its paying for mum who is a widow and its paying for the parents of the children who are coming up - then mum cant give away the farm without being taxed as if she still owned it on the day of her death.

So she cant plan - which means this charge will still be a burden. With farms getting a rate of return of about half a per cent to one per cent, it simply means this is going to be unaffordable.

So farms are going to have to sell land or sell up and its going to happen a lot.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage joining farmers at the latest tractor tax protest ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

It comes hundreds of farmers arrive in Westminster to protest the inheritance tax changes for the second time.

The demonstration, organised by Save British Farming and Kent Fairness for Farmers, will see farmers bring their vehicles to the streets of Parliament ahead of prime ministers questions on Wednesday.

Last month, around 13,000 people rallied in London against the changes to inheritance tax outlined in Rachel Reevess Budget which will see farmers paying a 20 per cent levy on agricultural assets worth more than 1m - half the usual death duty rate of 40 per cent, having previously been exempt.

Farming sector leaders say the move will directly impact family farms which are already struggling under the weight of EU competition and challenges presented by extreme weather.

But Ms Reeves and environment secretary Steve Reed have insisted that the changes are fair and proportionate and will only affect 28 per cent of farms.

The government insists that farms with more than one owner and using normal inheritance tax allowances means in reality only estates valued at 3 million will be taxed under the new scheme.

The Treasury has been contacted for comment.
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Sir Keir Starmer has claimed a victory in his Brexit reset, striking a fishing deal with the European Union which the government estimates to be worth 360m.

Following negotiations with the EU for 2025 fishing quotas, the UK has secured 150,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities - 15,000 tonnes more than in 2024  ministers announced on Wednesday.

They said the deal amounts to 360m in fishing opportunities for British fishing fleets and highlights all parties continued commitment to manage fisheries sustainably.

Fishing rights were a constant source of tension following the UKs exit from the EU, with Britain and France finding themselves in a stalemate on the issue under Boris Johnson in 2021 after dozens of French boats were denied fishing licences for UK waters and France threatened to block ports to British vessels.

But Sir Keir has attempted to reset relations with Brussels after years of tense relations under successive Conservative administrations.

open image in gallery The prime minister struck a fresh fishing deal with the EU ( PA Wire )

The latest agreement follows the UKs trilateral agreement with the EU and Norway last week, which secured UK fisheries 290,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities in the North Sea and surrounding waters.

This is on top of 280,000 tonnes, estimated to be worth around 240m, from catch limits agreed earlier in the year on widely distributed stocks with coastal States in the northeast Atlantic.

In total, this brings fishing opportunities secured for the UK fleet in 2025 in the main negotiating forums to 720,000 tonnes  which the government claimed was up to 120,000 more than it would have as an EU member state.

Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner said: Through these sets of negotiations this government has agreed deals securing quota for stocks totalling up to 890m for the UK fleet in 2025.

This is another example of how we are delivering on our Plan for Change, boosting our British fishing industry by supporting the lifeblood of many coastal communities.

open image in gallery Fishing boats moored in the port of Boulogne, France (Gareth Fuller/PA) ( PA Archive )

Sir Keirs attempt to improve relations with the EU post-Brexit has seen him meet with leaders from across the continent during his five months as prime minister, as well as becoming the first UK leader to attend a French Armistice Day ceremony since the Second World War.

The Labour leader has promised that he will fix Britains damaged relations with the EU for the benefit of generations to come, as well as pledging to renegotiate the Brexit deal agreed by Mr Johnson.

However, he has faced criticism for not going far enough with his attempt to fix relations after repeatedly rejecting plans for a youth mobility scheme agreement to allow under-30s to travel and work more easily between the UK and EU.

Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine previously told The Independent that a failure to contemplate this is a part of the conspiracy of silence that has denied the British people a proper understanding of the disaster of Brexit.

A first hint of compromise on the issue emerged this week after Nick Thomas-Symonds, who will be leading the Brexit reset talks next year, indicated to peers that the government could be open to agreeing to such a scheme dependent on the proposal brought forward by Brussels.

He told the Lords European affairs committee: Its for the EU to finalise proposals it wants to put on the table. It depends on what precisely you mean by youth mobility.
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New Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is embroiled in a diplomatic row over comments she made about the African country where she grew up.

The vice-president of Nigeria has hit out at the Tory MP accusing her of "denigrating her country of origin."

But her spokesman hit back, saying that the outspoken politician tells it like it is and she stands by what she says.

Ms Badenoch has made a number of critical comments about Nigeria, where she lived until she moved to the UK in her teens.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is embroiled in a diplomatic row (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

During her unsuccessful bid to lead the Tory party in 2022 she said: I grew up in Nigeria and I saw first-hand what happens when politicians are in it for themselves, when they use public money as their private piggy banks, when they promise the earth and pollute not just the air but the whole political atmosphere with their failure to serve others.

I saw what socialism is for millions. Its poverty and broken dreams. I came to Britain to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavour can take you anywhere.

Ms Badenoch was born in the UK but moved back to the African country, with both her parents who are Nigerian.

When she was in Nigeria, her father was a GP and her mother was a lecturer in physiology.

Badenochs spokesperson hit back, saying "Kemi is not interested in doing Nigerias PR, she is the Leader of the Opposition in the UK.

She tells the truth. She tells it like it is. Shes not going to couch her words, and she stands by what she says.

Giving a speech on migration on Tuesday, Kashim Shettima is reported to have said Badenoch has been "denigrating her country of origin."

He praised former prime minister Rishi Sunak as a "brilliant young man, he never denigrated his nation of ancestry."

He continued: "Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative party. We are proud of her in spite of her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin."

And he received applause when he added: "She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the Kemi from her name but that does not underscore the fact that the greatest Black nation on earth is the nation called Nigeria."
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Strike threats by the unions representing teachers and nurses have been joined by other public sector workers as disquiet over a cap on pay rises increases.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack, a former Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, has made it clear that his members could also go out on strike if demands for a 5 per cent pay settlement are not met next year.

Unions representing teachers and nurses are upset at the plans to only award their members 2.8 per cent next year as chancellor Rachel Reeves tries to keep a handle on ballooning public spending.

Already the chancellor has put up taxes by 40 billion in her first Budget and she has now told departments they need to find 5 per cent of savings.

open image in gallery Rachel Reeves called for every government department to cut costs by 5 per cent (Dan Kitwood/PA) ( PA Wire )

She has warned that there must be an overall zero rise in spending by departments with priorities for new money coming in the six milestones outlined in Keir Starmers Plan for Change.

But while the FBU does not have the same pay review body arrangement which nurses and doctors have, Mr Wrack told The Independent that he is not ruling out strike action if demands are not met.

He said: I do not want to go on strike. I do not want to see strikes in the fire service but we have to have that right and we have to be prepared to do so if we cant resolve things or if we are attacked in some way.

Meanwhile, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union which represents Britains civil servants has also sent a shot across the bows for Starmers government.

open image in gallery The PCS union has sent Starmers government a warning shot ( Press Association Images/Press Association Images )

It also has different pay review arrangements to the government but is unhappy at the prospect of pay constraint and potential redundancies.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: Although our members arent directly covered by the Pay Review Body, this is not a good sign if it is the shape of things to come.

The prime minister won't achieve his aim of boosting people's living standards without boosting workers' pay. Years of pay freezes and pay caps, which have seen real incomes tumble throughout the public sector, were a major contributor to flatlining growth.

"The prime minister says that economic growth is the number one mission of his government. Pay restoration is part of the solution.

The issues have become more heated after the government backed down with junior doctors and train drivers giving them bumper pay offers to help equalise pay levels from before the banking collapse in 2008.
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The Palestinians urged U.N. member nations to support resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban.

The 193 nations in the U.N. General Assembly will vote on Wednesday after two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group.

Israel and its close ally, the United States, are in a minority that has spoken against the resolutions.

While Security Council resolutions are legally binding, General Assembly resolutions are not, though they do reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly.

The Palestinians and their supporters went to the General Assembly after the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution on Nov. 20 demanding an immediate Gaza ceasefire. It was supported by the councils 14 other members but the U.S. objected that it was not linked to an immediate release of hostages taken by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war.

The language of the first resolution before the assembly is similar to the text of the vetoed resolution, demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire to be respected by all parties," while also reiterating a "demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

The second resolution backs the mandate of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, which was established by the General Assembly in 1949.

The text deplores laws adopted by Israels parliament on Oct. 28 banning UNRWAs activities in the Palestinian territories, a measure to take effect in 90 days. And it reiterates U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres statements that UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian operations in Gaza and no organization can replace it.

Israel alleges that around a dozen of UNRWAs 13,000 workers in Gaza participated in Hamas' attacks on Israel that precipitated the war. It recently provided the U.N. with over 100 names of UNRWA staff it accuses of having militant ties.

The resolution calls on the Israeli government to abide by its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA and uphold its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip.

U.S. deputy U.N. ambassador Robert Wood reiterated America's opposition to the ceasefire resolution on Wednesday and criticized the Palestinians for again failing to mention Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted another 250 as hostages. Gaza militants have not returned around 100 hostages, a third of them believed to be dead, and ceasefire efforts have ground to a halt.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the local Health Ministry. It says women and children make up more than half the dead but does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count.

Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon made no mention of a ceasefire in his assembly speech but accused UNRWA of operating hand-in-hand with Hamas and their diplomatic proxy, the Palestinian Authority.

Together, they entrench hatred, glorify violence and perpetuate conflict, he said.

If U.N. members truly want peace, Danon said, it begins with dismantling this infrastructure of hate. End the glorification of terror. Stop rewarding murder. Dismantle UNRWA. Hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for decades of rejection and incitement.

At the opening of the assembly debate last Wednesday, the Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour accused Israel of mass killings, displacements, destruction and starvation  a cruel war of atrocities against an entire civilian population.

Mansour said the only way to stop the atrocities, free the hostages, and to preserve the hope of a different future is an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and support humanitarian efforts and prevent Israels attempt to eliminate UNRWA.

Slovenias U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, reflecting the views of many speakers, pointed to the tens of thousands killed in Gaza.

Gaza doesnt exist anymore," he said. It is destroyed. Civilians are facing hunger, despair and death.
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Ten patients suffering from a mystery illness that has caused 79 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have tested positive for malaria.

The central African nation has so far reported 376 cases of the illness, which primarily affects women and children under five.

World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the patients with the mystery illness could be suffering from multiple diseases simultaneously.

Of the 12 initial samples collected, 10 tested positive for malaria, although it is possible that more than one disease is involved. Further samples will be collected and tested to determine the exact cause or causes, a WHO spokesperson said.

At a briefing on 5 December, Dieudonne Mwamba, head of the countrys National Institute for Public Health, said the symptoms suggested a respiratory illness. In the absence of a clear diagnosis, however, it was hard to determine the cause of the illness, or whether it was viral or bacterial.

The symptoms resembled those of flu, like headache, cough, breathing difficulties, and anaemia.

An epidemiologist earlier told Reutersthat the illness was mainly affecting women and children.

Health authorities were investigating the outbreak, initially considering diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya. But challenges with diagnostic infrastructure, sample collection and transport were hindering the identification of the cause.

All efforts are underway to identify the cause of the illness, understand its modes of transmission and ensure an appropriate response as swiftly as possible, WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said in a statement last week.

The deaths from the illness were recorded between 10 November and 25 November in the Panzi zone of the Kwango province. According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 376 cases of the mystery illness and at least 79 deaths.

The affected region faces challenges like malnutrition, poor healthcare infrastructure, low vaccination rates, and limited testing capacity.

The area experienced deterioration in food insecurity in recent months, has low vaccination coverage and very limited access to diagnostics and quality case management. There is a lack of supplies and transportation means and shortage of health staff in the area. Malaria control measures are very limited, WHO said.
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A federal judge on Tuesday night rejected the sale of the conspiracy platform Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet after Alex Jones claimed that a recent bankruptcy auction was fraught with illegal collusion.

The Onion was named the winning bidder on Nov. 14 over a company affiliated with Jones. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez's decision means Jones can stay at Infowars in Austin, Texas.

The Onion had planned to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody.

A trustee who oversaw the Infowars bankruptcy auction told a judge Tuesday that he picked The Onion's bid for the conspiracy-filled platform because was it far better than the only other proposal he received, from a company affiliated with Alex Jones.

Trustee Christopher Murray testified during the second day of a hearing where a judge is scrutinizing Murray's decision to name the satirical news outlet's offer as the winning bid after a November auction that Jones alleges involved fraud and collusion.

"Only two people showed up to bid and  one was just better than the other," Murray testified, referring to The Onion. Asked how much better it was, he said "by a lot."

open image in gallery A federal judge has blocked the sale of Alex Jones Infowars to The Onion ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Onion, which wants to turn Infowars' website and social media accounts into parodies, offered $1.75 million in cash and other incentives for Infowars' assets in the auction that concluded on Nov. 14. First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones' name that sells nutritional supplements, bid $3.5 million

Although The Onion's cash offer was lower than that of First United American, it also included a pledge by many of the Sandy Hook families to forgo $750,000 of the auction proceeds due to them and give it to other creditors, providing the other creditors more money than they would receive under First United American's bid.

Jones did not attend the proceedings and instead broadcast from his studios in Austin.

"I can't imagine the judge would certify this fraud," Jones said on his show Tuesday. "I mean it's head-spinning the stuff they did and what they claimed."

The trustee and The Onion deny the allegations from Jones and the company and accused them of sour grapes.

Alex Jones' bankruptcy case

The sale of Infowars is part of Jones' personal bankruptcy case, which he filed in late 2022 after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in defamation lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas filed by relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Jones repeatedly called the 2012 shooting that killed 20 children and six educators a hoax staged by actors and aimed at increasing gun control. Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones' conspiracies and threats from his followers.

Jones has since acknowledged that the Connecticut school shooting happened.

Most of the proceeds from the sale of Infowars, as well as many of Jones' personal assets, will go to the Sandy Hook families. Some proceeds will go to Jones' other creditors.

The auction overseer defends his decision

Murray testified that he did not favor either bidder over the other and was not biased.

He also revealed that First United American submitted a revised bid in recent days, but he said he could not accept it because the Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut lawsuit objected.

The Onion valued its bid, with the Sandy Hook families' offer, at $7 million, because that amount was equal to a purchase price that would provide the same amount of money to the other creditors.

open image in gallery The Onion had planned to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody. ( REUTERS )

In a court filing last month, Murray's lawyers called First United American's request to disqualify The Onion's bid a "disappointed bidder's improper attempt to influence an otherwise fair and open election process."

Murray's lawyer questioned him Tuesday afternoon, then Jones' attorney, Ben Broocks, cross-examined him into the early evening.

Broocks noted that the Sandy Hook lawsuit judgments could be overturned in pending appeals and got Murray to acknowledge that the Sandy Hook families' offer in The Onion bid could fall apart if that happens. That's because the percentage of the auction proceeds they would be entitled to could drop sharply and they wouldn't get the $750,000 from the sale to give to other creditors.

Broocks also questioned Murray about last-minute changes to the proposed sale to The Onion, with Murray responding that they were the result of different viewpoints on the numbers being settled.

Auctioneer Jeff Tanenbaum on Monday defended both the value of the bid and its selection.

Putting Infowars up for auction

Up for sale were all the equipment and other assets in the Infowars studio in Austin, as well as the rights to its social media accounts, websites, video archive and product trademarks. Jones uses the studio to broadcast his far-right, conspiracy theory-filled shows on the Infowars website, his account on the social platform X and radio stations. Many of Jones' personal assets also are being sold.

Jones has set up another studio, websites and social media accounts in case The Onion wins approval to buy Infowars and kicks him out. Jones has said he could continue using the Infowars platforms if the auction winner is friendly to him.

Jones is appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments citing free speech rights.
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Luigi Mangione's family couldn't merely afford medical care. They could afford to donate more than $1 million of their own money to healthcare.

Thats according to a report Monday from The Baltimore Banner, which chronicles the wealthy family history of the man charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Following the news of Mangiones arrest Monday, his family released a statement saying they were shocked.

Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione, said the family in a statement posted on X by Luigis cousin Nino Mangione, a Republican member of the lower house of Marylands state legislature. We only know what we have read in the media.

He noted: Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson, and we ask people to pray for all involved.

In the wake of the fatal shooting of Thompson, many speculated that the killer who carved "Deny, Delay, Depose" onto bullet casings intended for the CEO would be someone down on their luck  another victim, perhaps, of America's unequal and sometimes callous healthcare industry.

But the truth is somewhat different.

I didnt have two nickels to rub together when my father died when I was 11, yet I still became a millionaire, Mangione family patriarch Nick Mangione Sr told The Baltimore Sun back in 1995. "What other country can you do that in? None that I can think of.

Nick Mangione was reportedly born to an illiterate father in Baltimore's Little Italy before the Second World War. He fought in the Pacific and made his fortune as a contractor and then a real estate developer in the baby boom years.

By the 1990s, the Mangiones owned golf resorts, country clubs, a nursing home company, and three conservative talk radio stations, sometimes sparring with city and county officials as NIck Mangione expanded his business empire.

Nick Mangione died in 2008, leaving behind 37 grandchildren, including Luigi Mangione. The family did well enough that they were able to establish a family philanthropic foundation, which donated to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and numerous other hospitals and healthcare institutions, as well as the Baltimore Opera Company and the Walters Art Museum.

Greater Baltimore Medical Center even has a hospital ward named after the Mangiones, the Banner reported.

Luigi Mangione has been charged with murder in connection to the death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson ( via REUTERS )

Exactly how Luigi Mangiones history and experiences may be linked to Thompsons murder is unclear. Luigi attended an expensive private school in Baltimore, got degrees in computer science and engineering, and worked as a data engineer in California.

Nevertheless, friends told HuffPost and The New York Times that he had suffered from ongoing back pain that had prevented him from surfing and impaired his romantic life, while a Goodreads account apparently belonging to Mangione reveal he read books about back pain and spine surgery.

"He said his lower vertebrae were almost like a half-inch off, and I think it pinched a nerve. Sometimes hed be doing well and other times not," said RJ Martin, the founder of a group house in Honolulu where Mangione had lived.

"He knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasnt possible. I remember him telling me that, and my heart just breaks."

Meanwhile, Mangiones Goodreads account posted a positive review for the manifesto of Ted Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber, whose hatred for "industrial society and its consequences" led him to commit a spate of bombing attacks in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
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A Minnesota jail carried out torture by denying an inmate water and food for more than 52 hours as he remained isolated in a contaminated cell, according to a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota against Otter Tail County officials.

The suit, filed on Friday, accuses a group of eleven officers, as well as senior jail officials, of violating the rights of Ramsey Kettle, 33, a citizen of the White Earth Nation who was being held pre-trial in Otter Tail County Jail on charges that were later dropped.

Our constitution is tested by how we treat those on the margins, with the fewest rights, when no one is looking. And this was a total failure for which Otter Tail County and its officers must be held accountable, ACLU-MN staff attorney Catherine Ahlin-Halverson said in a statement on Tuesday. No one  no matter what brings them to be housed in a county jail or other carceral facility  deserves to be deprived of the most basic of our human needs.

Otter Tail County told The Independent it could not comment on pending litigation.

Upon arriving at the facility on February 9, Kettle, whom some of the officers knew from previous arrests, was put in solitary confinement as punishment for disciplinary infractions dating to an unrelated arrest. Kettle was put in segregation without getting a mental health assessment, despite a documented history of mental illness, per the suit.

The following day, as officers refused to correct a paperwork mix-up involving his medical records, Kettle began to experience significant mental distress and smeared feces on his door to get the attention of jail staff.

open image in gallery A mugshot of Ramsey Kettle, a Minnesota man that the state ACLU alleges was tortured in Otter Tail County Jail in February 2024a ( Otter Tail County Jail )

This prompted officials to avoid Kettles cell and withhold food and running water for days as punishment, according to the complaint.

Officers repeatedly conducted check-ins on Kettles status during this time and marked it OK in jail records, despite the cell lacking running water and being covered in contaminants, a biohazard situation that grew so severe neighboring inmates moved and correction employees wore masks to avoid the smell.

Throughout this time, the suit alleges, Kettle continued asking for food, water, and a shower, but 11 officers ignored each and every one of Mr. Kettles pleas.

Officers continued withholding food and water even after they witnessed Kettle eating his own feces and attempting to drink from a toilet, and did not alert medical or mental health providers to the signs of his apparent mental distress, according to the suit.

On February 12, Kettle was finally given food and other necessities. He became violently ill and saw medical staff, though prison officials didnt notify them of his previous state of deprivation, according to the lawsuit.

The facility didnt report the incident to state officials until eight days later, and downplayed the extent of the situation, describing Kettle as only missing three meals, according to the complaint. The jail also said it had engaged an outside lawfirm to investigate what happened, prompting state officials to temporarily hold off on an inspection.

A whistleblower filed a complaint about Kettles mistreatment later that month.

In March, the Minnesota Department of Corrections released a report finding that jail staff refused to give the inmate food and water for over two days and refused to give food until he cleaned up his cell.

The department temporarily sanctioned the jail and downgraded its license, pending reforms. with the jail regained its license in April.
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A man and a woman in Washington state accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry allegedly tried to escape a police chase by car, on foot and by hopping in a rowboat before they were arrested.

The situation kicked off around 8am on December 10 when the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting the burglary from a shipping container that was being stored at Killapie Beach Road, near the Hood Canal Bridge, according to KOMO News.

The caller told deputies that a man and a woman had stolen approximately $11,000 worth of jewelry from the container and were fleeing the area in an SUV. The owner of the container reportedly tried to stop the couple by chucking firewood at the SUV. One of the pieces shattered a window on the vehicle, KIRO 7 reports.

open image in gallery The duo stole a small boat after their attempts to escape using a car and on food failed. ( Jefferson County Sheriff's Office )

According to JCSO Sergeant Brent Anglin, deputies requested assistance from Kitsap County deputies after a witness reported the SUV driving south across the Hood Canal Bridge.

Kitsap County deputies located the SUV on the other side of the bridge after it had reportedly suffered from a rollover crash near Port Gamble.

Authorities then spotted a man and a woman walking away from the crash scene. They called for backup and tried to stop the couple, but the pair allegedly ignored the deputies and continued to try to leave the area.

open image in gallery The tiny vessel the pair stole ultimately sank. ( Jefferson County Sheriff's Office )

Deputies the used a drone to track the suspects after learning they had stolen a small rowboat to escape. The couple were allegedly using plywood and an oar to push the rowboat, but the tiny vessel began to sink, causing them to abandon ship.

They swam to shore and were arrested once they emerged from the bay.

open image in gallery The duo tried several means of escape, but it ultimately proved fruitless. ( Jefferson County Sheriff's Office )

The suspects in the botched heist haven't been identified publicly at this time. Anglin said deputies were going to examine the SUV that crashed. He did not confirm if any jewelry was recovered from the couple or from the crashed SUV.
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The 2010 book Delay, Deny, Defend: Why insurance companies dont pay claims and what you can do about it has become a bestseller on Amazon in the week since the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The books title is reminiscent of the three words carved into the bullet casings  deny, defend, depose  found on the Midtown Manhattan street where 50-year-old Thompson was fatally shot on December 4. Luigi Mangione, 26, has been charged with murder in connection to Thompsons death.

Investigators believed the cryptic words found on the bullet casings alluded to the three Ds of insurance  deny, delay, defend  which are tactics that critics say insurers use to avoid paying claims.

As of Wednesday, one week after the murder, Jay Feinmans 14-year-old book skyrocketed to the top of Amazons insurance law category. The book is an expose of insurance injustice and a plan for consumers and lawmakers to fight back and includes stories from dozens of Americans who were unfairly denied payment, the description says

open image in gallery Luigi Mangione, 26, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, poses shortly after being discovered by police at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania. ( Reuters )

The insurance executives death and Mangiones arrest have sparked wide-ranging reactions across the country and fueled conversations about the health care system, with some celebrating the killing as a statement encapsulating Americans grievances with the industry. UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health care networks in the country, insures nearly 30 million Americans, according to its website.

Mangiones friends have said that the 26-year-old suffered from chronic back pain that interfered with his romantic life and ability to surf in Hawaii, where he had been living, the New York Times reported. He underwent surgery on his spine in 2023 and disappeared shortly thereafter. Just two weeks before the Manhattan attack, his mother reported him missing, the San Francisco Standard reported.

Thompsons targeted death sparked a nationwide manhunt. Police pieced together the suspects movements and circulated photos of him. Six days later, a McDonalds employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania recognized a customer nibbling on hash browns from NYPDs photos, leading to the arrest of Mangione.

open image in gallery Delay, Deny, Defend has become an unexpected bestseller in the wake on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsons murder ( Penguin )

Mangione was carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, a ghost gun, a suppressor, clothes and masks, all of which were consistent with the suspected shooter, NYPD said following his arrest Monday. He also had a handwritten three-page manifesto that speaks to both his motivation and mindset, police added.

Mangione faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with Thompsons death in New York and forgery and gun charges in Pennsylvania.

At an extradition hearing on Tuesday, a judge denied him bail and the 26-year-old contested extradition to New York. He will remain at a Pennsylvania jail as the extradition process plays out.

Its completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience! he shouted after exiting a police car.
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Joe Rogan chalked up the countrys mixed reactions to the fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO to the dirty business of health insurance.

Rogan and his guests, filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary, discussed the December 4 death of Brian Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan street on Tuesdays episode of the mega-popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

The podcaster and his guests predicted there wouldnt be much sympathy for the 50-year-old insurance executive due to the state of health insurance in the US.

I dont think anybody is going to be crying too hard over Thompsons death, Avary said.

Maybe his family, but thats about it, Rogan replied. Its a dirty, dirty business. The business of insurance is f***ing gross. Its gross, especially healthcare insurance.

open image in gallery Joe Rogan discusses the publics reaction to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ( Joe Rogan Experience )

The attack elicited a wide-range of reactions, revealing the publics deep-seated frustration over the American health care system. Some launched GoFundMe pages in support of the suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, others wrote folk songs about the incident, and many flooded the internet with dark jokes and celebratory posts.

He is no hero, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at a Monday press conference. He added that it is disturbing how many Americans have looked to celebrate instead of condemning this killer.

After a six-day manhunt for the masked suspect who police believe carried out the targeted shooting, Mangione was charged Monday with second-degree murder.

open image in gallery Luigi Mangione, 26, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, arrives for an extradition hearing at Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. December 10, 2024. ( REUTERS )

His arrest came after a McDonalds employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania recognized Mangione from the photos of the suspect circulated by the NYPD. The Ivy League graduate also faces gun charges in Pennsylvania.

I dont think this guy was a professional, Rogan said. I think this guy, if I had to guess, was some guy who got f***ed over.

Friends of Mangione have said that he suffered from debilitating back pain and underwent spinal surgery in 2023. He fell off the grid shortly thereafter, those close to him told the <em>New York</em> Times. His mother even reported the 26-year-old missing mere weeks before the shooting, the San Francisco Standard reported.

open image in gallery UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan on December 4 in what police say was a targeted attack ( AP )

The motive for the shooting is still being explored. His defense attorney has said he expects his client to plead not guilty to both the New York and Pennsylvania charges. Mangione appeared Tuesday at an extradition hearing, where he contested being moved to New York and a judge denied him bail.

Its completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience! a handcuffed Mangione yelled while being escorted into the courthouse.

They also discussed the health insurance giants claim denial rate. UnitedHealthcare denies paying about one-third of its claims, according to ValuePenguin.

The Independent has reached out to a representative for UnitedHealthcare for comment on its alleged denial rate.
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The human dart who went viral after leaping over a bench to attack a judge in a Las Vegas courtroom has been sentenced to decades in prison.

Deobra Redden was ordered on Tuesday to serve between 26 and 65 years in a Nevada prison for the attack on Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus, KLAS-TV in Las Vegas reported.

Redden, 31, pleaded guilty but mentally ill in September to attempted murder and other charges, ending his trial shortly after Holthus had testified that she feared for her life when Redden vaulted over her 4-foot-high (1.2-meter-high) bench and landed on her.

The attack happened Jan. 3 as Holthus was about to deliver Reddens sentence in a separate felony battery case.

The violent scene was captured by courtroom video that showed the 62-year-old judge falling back from her seat against a wall as Redden flung himself over her bench and grabbed her hair, toppling an American flag onto them. Holthus suffered some injuries but was not hospitalized, courthouse officials said.

A man who went viral for attacking a judge during a hearing has been sentenced ( AP )

Redden's defense lawyer Carl Arnold has said his client was not taking his prescribed medication to control his diagnosed schizophrenia at the time of the attack.

Arnold said in September when Redden entered his plea that it reflects a delicate balance between accepting responsibility for a regrettable incident and recognizing the impact of Mr. Reddens untreated mental illness at the time.

The Associated Press sent an email Tuesday to a spokesperson for Arnold seeking comment on Reddens sentence.

Redden said in court Tuesday that he did not intend to kill Holthus, KLAS-TV reported.

I'm not making excuses for my actions, but I'm saying I'm not a bad person and I know that I did not intend to kill Mary Kay Holthus, he said.

Redden will be eligible for parole sometime after 2050, KLAS-TV reported.
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Luigi Mangiones lawyer is a seasoned trial attorney based in Pennsylvania with more than 40 years of experience.

Thomas Dickey was brought onto the case on Tuesday, one day after his client was arrested in a McDonalds in the town of Altoona. The 26-year-old now faces a second-degree murder charge in connection to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by New York prosecutors who are seeking his extradition to the state.

Dickey said he expects his client will plead not guilty.

The lawyer, who claims to be one of the few death-penalty qualified attorneys in Pennsylvania, said on Tuesday night that it was concerning his client had been denied bail at an extradition hearing at Blair County courthouse earlier in the day.

In a PR blitz, the attorney appeared on a number of prominent news shows on Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning to remind the American people: Innocent until proven guilty.

Mangione was hauled into court by police after making an angry outburst outside, which Dickey said was because his client was agitated.

Hes irritated. Agitated about whats happening to him and what hes being accused of, he told CNN on Wednesday. He never had any legal representation until he walked into that building yesterday.

open image in gallery Thomas Dickey, a seasoned trial attorney, was retained to represent Luigi Mangione on Tuesday ( Getty Images )

Dickey said that Mangione began acting differently after the hearing because he found somebody that he can trust.

If you notice, look at the film, look at the difference between when he went in and when he came out, Dickey continued.

Once he got in, he finally had legal representation. I like to think he had somebody that he can trust and has faith in. Now he has a spokesperson and someone thats going to fight for him.

And he maintained that hasnt seen any evidence that his client is the shooter. I have not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found on his person to the crime. These are things were looking to see, Dickey told Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday morning.

When Stephanopoulos stated that the gun kind of looks exactly the same to the one that was used by the gunman who killed Thompson, Dickey replied: A lot of guns look the same.

However, law enforcement officials have since shared that the gun discovered on the suspect matches shell casings found at the crime scene, in addition to a match on Mangiones fingerprints.

open image in gallery Luigi Mangione gave an angry outburst before being hauled into court on Tuesday, December 10 ( Pittsburgh Post-Gazette )

We got the gun in question back from Pennsylvania... we were able to match that gun to the three shell casings found in Midtown at the scene of the homicide, New York police commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

We were also able to match the person of interests fingerprints with fingerprints that we found on both the water bottle and the Kind bar near the scene of the homicide in Midtown.

The Independent has contacted Mangiones lawyer for further comment.

Dickey, who has been on the case for less than 48 hours, previously confirmed he has been retained to represent Mangione, but refused to disclose who is paying his fee amid speculation.

The attorney is described as a lifetime resident of Blair County and a graduate of Altoona High School.

He obtained his law degree from Ohio Northern University and then joined the Blair County Public Defenders Office, according to his profile on his law firms website.

In 1984 he opened a private practice and has defended clients charged with DUIs to first-degree murder and has also taken on death-penalty cases.

Dickey believes in the Constitution and the blueprint it gives for being a citizen in this great country, his profile says.

On Tuesday night, that was a point he was eager to bring home in an interview with CNNs Kaitlin Collins. I try to remind people, and its a shame that we forget about this presumption of innocence that the Consitution gives all Americans, Dickey said.

And people dont worry about the Constitution until theyre facing charges or accusations against them.

open image in gallery Press swarm Luigi Mangiones lawyer, Thomas Dickey, outside of Blair County courthouse on December 10 ( Getty Images )

Since stepping in to defend the Ivy League-educated suspect, Dickey confirmed his office has received offers from the public to pay Mangiones legal fees.

I have received some emails. I have not seen them personally, but my understanding from my staff is people are doing that, Dickey said.

However, the lawyer said it doesnt sit right with him and he wouldnt accept any donations.

Collins then pressed Dickey to speculate why the American people would offer to help. The Supreme Court says all these rich billionaires can give all kinds of money to candidates and thats free speech, he said.

So maybe these people were exercising their right to free speech and saying thats the way they are supporting my client, Dickey quipped.

He was referring to the Supreme Court decision in 2010 that ruled political donations from corporations should be considered as political speech.

Dickey wouldnt say that the authorities in New York have the wrong man in custody but claimed: I havent seen any evidence that they have the right guy. I can tell you that muchTheres, you know, identification issues that are present.

The lawyer said he hopes to get his hands on other evidence, including the 262-word so-called manifesto which was allegedly written by Mangione.

Todays another day. Were looking forward to beginning our inquiry as to what evidence may or may not be out there.

What is still unclear is whether Dickey will be able to defend Mangione in New York.

The lawyer said it was a possibility.
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Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, will now face federal charges in addition to the New York state murder indictment already brought against him, according to reports.

Federal charges  which will be brought by prosecutors from the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, according to The New York Times  would potentially allow prosecutors to pursue the death penalty should Mangione, 26, ultimately be found guilty of murder, capital punishment having been outlawed in New York for decades.

According to documents unsealed on Thursday, and a sworn affidavit by an FBI agent, federal prosecutors intend to charge him with murder through use of a firearm, two stalking charges and a firearms offense.

The documents do not specify whether the death penalty will be sought, with the matter likely to be decided by incoming president Donald Trumps new-look Justice Department next year.

The development comes after Mangione appeared in a Pennsylvania courtroom on Thursday and formally waived his right to an extradition hearing before being returned to New York.

open image in gallery A court sketch shows Luigi Mangione being led out of Pennsylvania court after waiving his right to an extradition hearing ( REUTERS )

Earlier this week, the suspect was formally indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on three murder charges over the attack on Thompson, 50, who was shot dead outside of the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4 by a masked assailant armed with a handgun who had lain in wait for him.

The incident led to a five-day manhunt, culminating in Mangione being arrested at a branch of McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9 after local police received a tip-off from a fellow customer responding to an image of the shooter circulated by the NYPD.

He was found to have a pistol, ammunition and fake identification cards about his person, as well as a 262-word manifesto denouncing the American healthcare system, having recently undergone back surgery.

In bringing the charges, Bragg called the episode a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.

The toughest penalty Mangione could face in state court, should he be convicted of Thompsons murder, would be life imprisonment without parole, which the Justice Department could deem insufficient.

open image in gallery Luigi Mangione leaves Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on Thursday December 19 2024 ( AP )

The state case will proceed in parallel with any federal case, said Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorneys Office.

This defendant brazenly shot Mr Thompson point blank on a Manhattan sidewalk.

The Manhattan DAs office, working with our partners at the NYPD, is dedicated to securing justice for this heinous murder with charges of murder in the first degree.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangiones lawyer, said in a statement that the Southern Districts involvement in the case raised a number of issues she found disconcerting.

The federal governments reported decision to pile on top of an already overcharged first-degree murder and state terror case is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns, she said. We are ready to fight these charges in whatever court they are brought.

open image in gallery Officers stand outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan, where Luigi Mangioni is set to be arraigned on charges including murder ( REUTERS )

The suspects supporters continue to donate generously to a defense fund set up on his behalf after he became a problematic folk hero to some during his flight from justice.

The anonymous fund, The December 4th Legal Committee, had amassed almost $157,000 in donations via the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo at the time of writing.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has already been forced to denounce vigilante justice in response to the dark fandom Mangione has attracted.

In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint, he said in the aftermath of the suspects arrest.

In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this: he is no hero.
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Luigi Mangione allegedly laid out his plot to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a spiral notebook, including a chilling to-do list and plans considering using a bomb in the Manhattan attack.

The notebook was found alongside a 262-word manifesto, a ghost gun, silencer and false ID cards in the shooting suspects possession at the time of his arrest at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Monday, according to CNN.

Inside the notebook was a to-do list outlining tasks to be completed to carry out the killing, as well as notes that justified those plans, a source told the network.

In one of the notes, Mangione allegedly mused about different methods of murder, including the possibility of bombing Manhattan.

But, the note shows the 26-year-old suspect decided against using explosives over concerns this could kill innocents, the source said.

The source added that the notebook shows the suspect decided to carry out a more targeted attack, musing what could be better than to kill the CEO at his own bean-counting conference.

open image in gallery Luigi Mangione, seen after his arrest, had a to-do list, sources said ( Reuters )

UnitedHealthcare was holding an investors conference in Manhattan on the day that Thompson was killed and the CEO was set to present the companys finances to staff at the event.

New York Police Department Chief Detective Joe Kenny said the suspect mentioned going to the conference site in the notebook, CNN reported.

In another passage, Mangione allegedly wrote about Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, the source said.

Prior to the shooting, Mangione had given Kaczynskis manifesto a positive review on Goodread and urged members at his book club to read his memoir.

Along with the spiral notebook, the three-page, 262-word handwritten manifesto has been described by police as a claim of responsibility for the shooting.

Kenny said its content hints at a motive, indicating ill will towards corporate America.

In it, the suspect allegedly insists he acted alone and rails against the healthcare industry, saying the US has the most expensive healthcare system in the world while ranking 42nd in global life expectancy rankings.

open image in gallery Luigi Mangione seen being taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday ( Pittsburgh Post-Gazette )

He is said to have also apologized for any trauma caused and spoken of his respect for federal investigators, before noting that these parasites had it coming, according to The New YorkTimes.

The suspect was driven by disdain for corporate greed in America and the health insurance industry, the paper reported.

He appeared to view the targeted killing of the companys highest-ranking representative as a symbolic takedown and a direct challenge to its alleged corruption and power games, asserting in his note he is the first to face it with such brutal honesty, a police report about the document, obtained by the Times, read.

On Tuesday, Mangione appeared in court in Pennsylvania where he was denied bail and fought extradition to New York, where he is facing murder charges for the December 4 shooting. He also faces weapons charges in Pennsylvania.

The Independent has contacted the NYPD for more information.
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The events of the last seven days read like something straight out of a TV crime series.

It all began just before dawn last Wednesday on the streets of Midtown Manhattan, where a hooded gunman staked out his victim, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was due to speak at the companys annual investor conference.

What ensued was a dramatic six-day manhunt for the 26-year-old suspect, Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League grad and member of a prominent Italian family from Baltimore, who was finally caught in a Pennsylvania McDonalds eating hashbrowns after police were tipped off by an employee.

The giveaway? Surveillance images of the suspects prominent facial features  a large smile and distinguishable dark eyebrows  splashed across the media nationwide.

Mangione has been charged with second-degree murder by prosecutors in New York and is fighting extradition to the state. He has not yet entered a plea, but his lawyer said he expects his client will plead not guilty.

open image in gallery It has been an extraordinary seven days in the hunt for the suspect, Luigi Mangione, pictured outside a Pennsylvania court ( AP )

The week culminated in an angry outburst from Mangione, flanked by police officers and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, ahead of an extradition hearing on Tuesday. He shouted a cryptic statement about an insult to the American people as he was forcibly led into a Pennsylvania courtroom by police.

Aside from a dramatic manhunt, the shocking execution has sparked a polarizing conversation about the state of Americas health care industry and inflamed the anger of millions who have been denied medical care by their insurers.

Here we chart an extraordinary week in the hunt for Thompsons alleged killer.

Day 1: Wednesday, December 4

open image in gallery UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot one week ago today ( AP )

The suspect set off from an Upper West Side hostel before dawn. It later emerged he arrived in the city 10 days before allegedly carrying out the fatal attack on Thompson.

He was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth at 54th Street and Sixth Avenue, near the Hilton Hotel where the UnitedHealthcare Group was holding its conference.

While waiting for Thompson, the suspect entered a nearby Starbucks and bought a bottle of water and an energy bar before he returned to the Hilton.

open image in gallery The first surveillance images released by the NYPD show the suspect pointing the gun and then fleeing on an e-bike ( AP )

Thompson arrived unescorted and on foot at 6:44 a.m. The suspect walked up behind the CEO, allegedly fired his shots from the ghost gun police say couldve been made on a 3D printer, and then calmly crossed the street as the victim collapsed on the sidewalk.

He fled on an e-bike toward Central Park, where he discarded a backpack police found days later.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, eager to reassure New Yorkers and tourists, held a press conference and said that they believed the shooting in one of the citys busiest areas was a brazen, targeted attack.

The NYPD released the first surveillance images of the suspect pointing the gun at Thompson and riding away on the e-bike.

The annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, situated round the corner from where the killing took place, went ahead that evening as planned.

open image in gallery Police officials shared updates on the investigation into Brian Thompsons killing on December 4 ( Getty Images )

Day 2: Thursday, December 5

The hunt intensified the following day as police searched the HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side where the suspect had hunkered down in the days leading up to the shooting.

While there were no arrests, more clues began to drop. It was reported that the three words delay, deny and depose, were carved into the live rounds and shell casings found outside the Hilton Hotel where Thompson was shot.

They bear a striking resemblance to Jay Feinmans 2010 book titled Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Dont Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.

This was also the day when key images of the suspect unmasked in the hostel were released by the NYPD.

Day 3: Friday, December 6

There were still no arrests on day three.

Police revealed that a major breakthrough in the case, however, came from the surveillance images shared the day before.

It emerged that the suspect flashed a flirtatious smile to a female hostel worker where he was staying after she asked him to lower his face mask.

open image in gallery The flirtatious smile captured on the hostel surveillance which shows the suspect unmasked ( NYPD/AFP via Getty Images )

They were having a flirtatious moment and he pulls it down and he gives a big smile and that one informal moment between two human beings remains at this moment the most significant clue to date in this whole case, former NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller told CBS News at the time.

Police also discovered that the suspect arrived in the city on a Greyhound bus that originated from Atlanta, though they couldnt pinpoint exactly where he boarded.

Late on Friday, police revealed they discovered a backpack in Central Park they believed belonged to the suspect. At this point, they also provided an update saying they believed the suspect had already fled the city.

open image in gallery Police comb a wooded area of Central Park and discover a backpack ( AP )

Amidst the hunt, the suspect received an outpouring of support from Americans who are angry with the countrys health insurance industry for denying medical claims.

Meanwhile, several health insurance giants took steps to protect their own executives and pulled down information about them online.

Day 4: Saturday, December 7

Over the weekend, police continued to comb through Central Park for more clues. Scuba divers were seen scouring one of the ponds in search of the missing murder weapon.

The NYPD released another photo of the suspect in the back of a taxi. He was wearing a blue medical-style face mask, but his now-unmistakable eyebrows were in plain view.

open image in gallery NYPD release an image of the suspect in the back of a taxi ( AP )

The FBI also joined the hunt for the suspect, offering a $50,000 reward for information.

Day 5: Sunday, December 8

While new clues came to light on Sunday  it was revealed that the contents of the backpack included Monopoly money and a Tommy Hilfiger jacket  momentum in the case appeared to be waning.

Divers were spotted in the park again but there were no further breakthroughs on this day.

Day 6: Monday, December 9

Thompson, a father-of-two, was laid to rest at a private service in his Minnesota hometown of Maple Grove.

By Monday lunchtime, meanwhile, reports began swirling that police were questioning a man in Pennsylvania in connection with the case following a tip from a McDonalds employee in the town of Altoona.

One customer, named Larry, later shared that he and a group of friends were in the fast food joint when they saw the suspect lurking in the back.

He lowered his mask momentarily to eat some hashbrowns.

That looks like the shooter from New York, one of the group said.

open image in gallery The suspect lowers his mask to eat hashbrowns in the Altoona McDonalds ( via REUTERS )

The group of us thought it was more of a joke, and we were kidding about it, Larry later reflected. But as it turned out, it was him.

The McDonalds employee, potentially alerted to the suspect by overhearing the group, called 911.

Altoona police arrived swiftly. We just didnt think twice about it. We knew that was our guy, officer Tyler Frye said.

The suspect was shaking and nervous, the officers said.

At a press conference that afternoon, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed police had found a strong person of interest in connection with Thompsons murder.

open image in gallery Altoona police release a new mugshot of the suspect on December 9 ( Reuters )

Police released his name, Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and appeared convinced they had their man.

Initially hit with firearms charges, New York prosecutors later charged Mangione with second-degree murder in connection to last weeks brazen killing.

Details about Mangiones privileged upbringing and Ivy League education quickly came to light, as well as a positive review he wrote earlier this year for Ted Kaczynskis Unabomber manifesto. He praised the killer as a political revolutionary.

The Mangione family, whose philanthropic foundation has donated to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and numerous other healthcare institutions, issued a statement conveying their shock and devastation.

Day 7: Tuesday, December 10

open image in gallery Luigi Mangione shouts a cryptic message outside of the courthouse as he is hauled in by police ( AP )

Ahead of an extradition hearing at Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, details about Mangiones own health battles become apparent.

It was reported that Mangione went missing and cut off contact with family and friends last month after undergoing major back surgery.

That afternoon, Mangione appeared in handcuffs and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit as officers hauled him into court.

Its completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience! Mangione shouted after stepping out of a police car.

In the courtroom his lawyer, Thomas M.Dickey, told the hearing that his client was contesting extradition to New York.

Dickey said he expects his client to plead not guilty. He will remain in a Pennsylvania jail while fighting a return to New York.
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A professor at the University of Pennsylvania, the Ivy League institution UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione attended, is retracting her social media posts that appeared to praise him.

Julia Alekseyeva, an Assistant Professor of English and Cinema and Media Studies, posted a TikTok video on Monday night swaying her left index finger back and forth to the tune of Do You Hear the People Sing? from the musical Les Miserables.

She wrote: Have never been prouder to be a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. The post appeared to refer to Mangiones prior attendance at the university, where he obtained undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. He also worked as a teaching assistant at the university after graduation.

Alekseyeva separately called Mangione, 26, the icon we all need and deserve in an Instagram story and reposted a joke article with the headline Man engages in beautiful Italian tradition of taking matters into his own hands.

Jeffrey Kallberg, deputy dean of the universitys School of Arts and Sciences, issued a statement on Wednesday calling the social media posts antithetical to the institutions values.

The postings were not condoned by the school or university, he wrote. Upon reflection, Assistant Professor Alekseyeva has concurred that the comments were insensitive and inappropriate and has retracted them. We welcome this correction and regret any dismay or concern this may have caused.

Luigi Mangione, 26, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, arrives for an extradition hearing at Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. December 10, 2024 ( REUTERS )

In her own statement on Tuesday, Alekseyeva wrote on X: Late last night I posted a TikTok, as well as several stories on my Instagram. These were completely insensitive and inappropriate, and I retract them wholly. I do not condone violence and I am genuinely regretful of any harm the posts have caused.

The Independent has emailed her for comment.

Mangione has been accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on December 4. He was taken into custody at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, nearly 300 miles from where the crime occurred. At the time of his arrest, police said he was in possession of a gun and a handwritten manifesto about the crime.

Hes since been charged with murder and is being held in Pennsylvania on gun-related charges and providing false identification to law enforcement. Hes legally challenging his extradition to New York, which could delay the process by over a month.
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A Maryland mother who drowned her 3-month-old daughter in a bathtub at her home has been charged with first-degree murder, according to court documents.

Mackenzie R Colgan, 37, called 911 on Sunday from her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, to report that she had drowned her infant daughter in the bathtub, Montgomery County Police Department said.

First responders rushed to the house to try to save the girl, but were too late. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Law & Crime reviewed a probable cause affidavit that provided a timeline of the alleged events on Sunday.

Around 11:40 am, Colgan allegedly took the child, who has not been named, from other family members, telling them she planned to bathe her upstairs.

Twenty minutes later, Colgan reportedly returned to the first floor and told the girl's father that the child had died in the bathtub. The father told Colgan to call 911 and ran upstairs to try to give the child CPR.

A police officer in Chevy Chase, Maryland exits the house where 37-year-old Mackenzie Colgan allegedly drowned her 3-month old daughter in a bathtub on December 8, 2024 ( screengrab/ NBC 4 Washington )

After the first responder call to the house, police took Colgan in for an interview. During their talk, Colgan, a licensed clinical counselor, allegedly told detectives that when she woke up in the morning, she did so with a plan to "end everything."

She had allegedly determined she would kill both her children and her husband.

She then said that she turned the baby to face away from her and held the victims head under the water until she knew the victim was dead, cops wrote, according to Law & Crime.

She claimed she was going to jump out of the window of her home but changed her mind once she reached the ledge. That's when she told her husband about what she'd done to their child.

Colgan has been charged with first-degree murder and is now being held in Montgomery County Jail. A mental health evaluation has been ordered before her first court appearance.

Montgomery County District Attorney Lauren DeMarco, speaking to NBC 4, said the situation was extremely sad.

Colgans attorney confirmed to NBC 4 that the therapist had no prior convictions.
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A 22-year-old mother died after her toddler son fatally shot her when he picked up a loaded gun left in their home and was able to pull the trigger, according to California police.

The victims boyfriend Andrew Sanchez, 18, was arrested after he negligently left his loaded 9mm handgun in the couples bedroom where the young children had access, said the Fresno Police Department

Jessinya Mina, a mother of two, was found at 5:38 p.m. by Northeast Policing District officials on Friday with a single gunshot wound to her upper body at an apartment complex in the city.

Despite receiving emergency aid from her housemate and then by first responders, she was transported and pronounced dead at the Community Regional Medical Center.

Investigators say that Mina lived at the home with Sanchez, her eight-month-old infant, and two-and-a-half-year-old toddler.

open image in gallery The mom-of-two (pictured) had been lying in bed when her young toddler fired the fatal shot ( Fresno Police Department )

Officials believe the toddler fired the bullet striking Mina as she was lying in bed.

Sanchez was reportedly detained at the scene and subsequently interviewed by detectives. The weapon was found and seized for evidence, said police.

After Sanchez was detained, he reportedly provided a full statement declaring responsibility for leaving weapons within the home.

Following the police interview, Sanchez was booked into the Fresno County Jail for two felony charges of child endangerment and criminal storage of a firearm.

The victims sister, Jessica Rodriguez, has organized a GoFundMe on her sisters behalf.

Mina had reportedly requested that Sanchez not keep a gun in the house  which he neglected, Rodriguez told ABC30 .

Now because of her boyfriends carelessness, his arrogance, his irresponsibility, and neglecting my sisters wishes of never having a gun in her house, shes gone forever, she told the station.

According to Fresno Police Lt. Paul Cervantes, Sanchez had no previous criminal convictions. Detectives have asked anyone with any further information to contact the Fresno Police Department.

The Independent contacted the Fresno Police Department for further information.
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Washington investigators have relaunched an intensive cold case probe of a 75-year-old convicted killer in the suspected murder of at least five young women stretching back 50 years.

The Clark County in Washington team is reexamining blood and hair collected at various scenes using more sophisticated forensics techniques than existed when the teenage women were killed.

Suspect Warren Forrest is already serving two life sentences for the murders of two women. He was convicted in 1978 in the death of 20-year-old Krista Kay Blake and found guilty last year in the murder of 17-year-old Martha Morrison.

Hes now suspected in the murder of at least five teenagers between 1974 and 1978, who were killed or vanished in Clark County.

Forrest worked for the Clark County Parks Department at the time and lived in the nearby community of Battle Ground with his wife and two daughters. He was first arrested in 1974 after a 19-year-old told police that Forrest had kidnapped, raped and attempted to murder her near a lake.

All I had in mind was a distraction and the distraction was, you know, deviant fantasies, Forrest reportedly told officials. And the deviant fantasies distracted me from my everyday life. But then it led me to my crimes.

open image in gallery Warren Forrest is a convicted killer. Now, authorities are looking at him in connection to five other cases ( Clark County Sheriffs Office )

Each of the cases of the missing or murdered women share common characteristics, including similar victim profiles, the locations of the disappearances and the methods involved in the crimes, said a statement from the Clark County Sheriffs Office.

Besides reexaming physical evidence collected when the victims vanished or were killed, investigatos are also trying to track down additional witnesses or leads that were never fully developed during the decades of investigation  to see if theres additional information out there, investigator Fred Neiman Jr. told Portlands KOIN-TV.

This is by far the most complicated of our cold cases that we have, he added.

Starr Lara was a young teen when her sister, Jamie Grissim, disappeared in 1971. She still struggles with the loss and fights to keep her siblings memory alive.

I was 14 and I had no idea what happened, she told the TV station. I used to write her letters. Id buy her birthday presents, Christmas presents, you know, I want to make sure she knew I hadnt forgotten about her.
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A Philadelphia man who served 24 years behind bars for murder before being exonerated and given $4.1m is heading back to prison over a separate killing.

Shaurn Thomas, 50, was convicted of slaying a businessman in 1992 and later sentenced to life in prison before being exonerated in 2017.

Now Thomas has pleaded guilty to third-degree felony murder after killing 38-year-old Akeem Edwards last year over a $1,200 drug debt. Hes now expected to serve a significant remainder of his life behind bars.

Upon his exoneration, Thomas met Ketra Veasy through a network of other exonerated individuals. He reportedly asked her to connect him with Edwards, who had been her childhood friend, to see if he would sell cocaine for him, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The two men met up and Thomas gave Edwards a sandwich bag filled with drugs. He told Edwards to bring him $1,200 in profits but the man never paid him.

In January 2023, Thomas and Veasy were driving through a neighborhood looking for Edwards and spotted him, got out of the car and shot him dead, according to the outlet.

Prosecutors said that Thomas reportedly told her it was his third homicide and he cant go back to jail. He then warned her to keep quiet about the killing or else.

A federal informant later told Philadelphia homicide detectives that Thomas had talked to him about the case and said he had put a hit out on Veasy. Police then moved to search Thomass Chester County home, where they found five guns and a Gap hoodie that looked like the one worn during the shooting.

Both Thomas and Veasy were subsequently charged with murder. Veasy later agreed to help investigators and testified against Thomas for less serious charges. She has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

Thomass sentencing is scheduled for February.
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A Wisconsin man who faked his own death by drowning and left his wife and three children to go to Eastern Europe flew back to the U.S. willingly because of his family, police said.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was booked into the Green Lake County Jail on Tuesday afternoon after disappearing from his home in Watertown for three months on August 12.

He was initially presumed dead when his abandoned overturned kayak was discovered in Green Lake.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday morning that Borgwardt was in communication with officers and decided to return home on his own accord.

When pressed about what compelled Borgwardt to return, Podoll replied: His family, I guess.

open image in gallery Ryan Borgwardt, who faked his own death, appeared in a Green Lake County courtroom on December 11 ( AP )

Borgwardt appeared at a brief court hearing on Wednesday afternoon where he was charged with obstructing an officer, WBAY reports.

The court entered a not guilty plea on Borgwardts behalf after he told the judge he couldnt afford an attorney. Bond was set at $500.

During the morning press conference, Podoll would not disclose which country Borgwardt fled to or which U.S. airport he flew back into.

Borgwardt told authorities last month that he faked his death because of personal matters, the sheriff said at a previous press conference.

Podoll said Borgwardt began communicating with authorities on November 11 after disappearing for three months but that he hadnt committed to returning to Wisconsin.

open image in gallery Wisconsin man Ryan Borgwardt in video to law enforcement ( Green Lake County Sheriff's Office )

Podoll said police were "pulling at his heartstrings to come home.

He told them that in mid-August he traveled about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from his home in Watertown to Green Lake, where he overturned his kayak, dumped his phone and then paddled an inflatable boat to shore. He said he picked that lake because its the deepest in Wisconsin.

After leaving the lake, he rode an electric bike about 70 miles (110 kilometers) through the night to Madison, the sheriff said. From there, he said he took a bus to Detroit, then boarded a bus to Canada and got on a plane.

The sheriff said at the time that investigators were working to verify Borgwardts description of what happened.

The sheriffs office has said the search for Borgwardts body, which lasted more than a month, cost at least $35,000. The sheriff said that Borgwardt told authorities that he didnt expect the search to last more than two weeks.
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TikTok has helped Florida police track down the suspect in the murder of a woman who was fatally shot three years ago.

Police say Benjamin Williams, known as Bambi, convinced his estranged girlfriend Joana Peca, 27, to meet him at a cemetery in St Petersburg on July 31, 2021.

He reportedly told her that wanted to meet his infant son, but while she was sitting in a van with the baby, he allegedly shot her multiple times in the face, killing her.

Her four-year-old son was also inside the vehicle at the time but both children were unharmed.

It would take years and social media for her alleged killer to be caught.

The break came when Jasmeen Alexander, a TikToker, posted a video about the murder on her true crime account.

Alexander received a call from a person claiming they recognized the outstanding suspect as 41-year-old Williams, who was living in Mexico.

The caller later went to the US Embassy and notified the Marshal Service who then called the St Petersburg Police Department, leading to the mans arrest.

open image in gallery Benjamin Williams has been charged with first-degree murder for the 2021 shooting of his estranged girlfriend, Joana Peca, 27. and two counts of child abuse ( St Petersburg Police Department )

Williams has been charged with first-degree murder for the 2021 shooting and two counts of child abuse, according to WFTS. Williams is now being held at the Pinellas County Jail without bond.

Pecas family is grateful hes been arrested.

I feel a Christmas present for me and my little boys came early this year, and I couldnt ask for more than that phone call I got from the police department, Eleni Peca, the victims mother, told the outlet. Three years and three months is too long. He was running, but he couldnt hide anymore. All eyes on him, and finally, he is behind bars where he belongs.

The womans mother said shell miss her daughters smiles and how she used to play with her kids.

St Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway told Pecas family at the news conference: Nothing we do can replace the loss of your daughter, but at least, we have a dangerous person off the street.

Alexander said shes glad her platform helped police catch Williams.

I cover so many cases every day, and its really heartbreaking, she said. Especially her case because her kids were in the car and Im a mom. So, it really made me feel good that I could help bring some closure to her family.
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When the New York City Police Department caught up with the man accused of killing UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, they found him with multiple fraudulent IDs and a 9mm ghost gun, according to authorities.

What is a ghost gun? Since the rise of 3D printers in the early 2010s, these untraceable firearms have become more and more common in American criminal cases.

Yet because these weapons have no serial numbers, it's basically impossible to know how many have been sold, how many are in circulation, and the number used in crimes.

What gun was found on Luigi Mangione?

We dont know much about the weapon that police believe may have been used to gun down Brian Thompson outside his Manhattan hotel last Wednesday.

When police detained 26-year-old Luigi Mangione he was in possession of a ghost gun that had the capability of firing a 9mm round, and a suppressor, NYPD Chief of Detective Joseph Kenny at a press conference Monday.

Kenny added that the weapon may have been made on a 3D printer.

If true that would be one of many. Last year, the US Department of Justice announced that requests from local police forces to trace ghost guns used in crimes had risen by more than 1,000 percent since 2017, from 1,629 reports to an astounding 19,273.

UnitedHealthcare CEO murder person of interest had ghost gun and silencer, according to authorities

How are ghost guns created?

A ghost gun is a homemade firearm that bears no serial number, meaning it cannot be traced back to its original buyer if it is used in a crime.

It has always been possible to build such guns, but 3D printing has made it easier than ever before, and blueprints to do so are widely circulated on the internet.

Until recently, a quirk in US firearms laws made it unclear whether these sorts of guns could even be regulated.

Under the Gun Control Act of 1968, anyone who wants to manufacture guns for sale or distribution must put a serial number on every weapon they produce. The 1993 Brady Act added a requirement for background checks on prospective gun buyers.

But traditionally, the requirements pertained to the existence of a "frame or receiver"  ie, the overall chassis of the gun into which all other components are integrated  that made a gun a gun.

This led to numerous companies selling built-it-yourself firearm kits containing all the components that make up a gun, except for the frame. These were legally considered mere gun parts, rather than actual guns, and therefore not subject to the same controls.

Users could then utilize tools or a 3D printer to complete the kit by building their own receiver or frame, creating a usable and untraceable gun.

Over the past decade, ghost guns have been used in a number of high-profile crimes.

What havoc have they wrought so far?

The gun regulation group Everytown For Gun Safety lists 198 separate shootings using ghost guns between June 2013 and September 2024,

In 2013, a 23-year-old man wielding a home-assembled AR-15 style rifle  who had previously failed a background check  killed five people and injured two others in a shooting spree in Santa Monica, California.

In 2017, another gun rampage in rural northern California killed four people and injured at least eight others, seven of whom were children. The murderer had circumvented a court order banning him from gun ownership by building his own AR-15 style rifles at home, according to police.

In 2023 a man carrying two ghost guns killed five people and wounded two in Philadelphia, leading the city government to file a lawsuit against Polymer80 and JSD Supply, two gun component vendors.

Joe Biden demonstrates how easily ghost guns can be built

The lawsuit claimed that roughly 87 percent of ghost guns seized by Philly police as part of criminal investigations that year had included parts made by Polymer80.

The two companies ultimately settled the suit, earlier this year in April, agreeing to pay $1.3 million on gun violence prevention efforts and to not sell their products to anyone within the city for the next four years.

What are authorities doing about it?

Law enforcement authorities have filed similar suits, including actions by two Los Angeles county sheriffs allegedly wounded in a ghost gun ambush in 2020, against Polymer80 and other companies,

Many states have also passed laws regulating home manufacture of firearms, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania.

In 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) adopted a new rule that defined built-it-yourself kits as firearms in and of themselves, meaning they were subject to the same regulations.

It also required federally licensed gun dealers who receive a firearm with no serial number to add their own number that could be traced back before selling it to anyone else.

According to the Associated Press, these regulations have reduced the problem. Police seizures of ghost guns have reportedly declined in major cities such as Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles and Baltimore.

But firearm kit makers, backed up by gun rights groups and attorneys general in Republican-controlled states, have challenged this law, arguing that the ATF overstepped its legal bounds.

A challenge to the law is still before the Supreme Court. Its unclear whether the courts conservative supermajority will uphold or strike down the new restriction.
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Elon Musk now boasts a net worth of $400 billion, making him the first person in history to ever hit that milestone.

The worlds richest person became even richer Wednesday after SpaceX and its investors agreed to buy $1.25 billion of insider shares, valuing the company at $350 billion, Bloomberg reported. The move ballooned the founders net worth by $50 billion, meaning he is now worth $439 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Musk owns roughly 12 percent of Tesla, the worlds most valuable car company, Forbes noted. The companys shareholders also gave him a 2018 compensation package worth more than $50 billion. But a Delaware judge struck it down Monday. She wrote in her decision that what would have been the largest pay deal in history was an unfathomable sum that seems to have been calibrated to help Musk achieve what he believed would make a good future for humanity.

Mondays decision reaffirms her ruling in January, when she also rejected the pay package. Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware, Musk wrote in January on X, another company he owns.

open image in gallery Elon Musk walks on Capitol Hill on the day of a meeting with Senate Republican Leader-elect John Thune (R-SD), in Washington, U.S. December 5, 2024. ( REUTERS )

He has vowed to use 58 percent of his Tesla shares as collateral for his personal loans, according to Bloomberg.

Musk acquired the social media platform, then known as Twitter, for $44 billion in 2022. Fidelity valued its stake in X at $5.53 million at the end of October, a nearly 72 percent decrease in value since Musk took over the company, according to its Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund monthly report.

The tech billionaire also owns about 54 per cent of xAI, an artificial intelligence company he founded in 2023. The startup was valued at $50 billion last month, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Then theres SpaceX. Musk owns roughly 42 percent of the aerospace company, which was valued at $210 billion in June, according to Bloomberg. He also founded The Boring Company, an infrastructure company that says it aims to dig transportation tunnels to solve traffic. The company announced that it was worth $5.68 billion in April 2022 after a Series C funding round.

As of Wednesday, the business is valued at $350 billion, meaning SpaceX is the most valuable private startup in the world, according to Bloomberg.

open image in gallery President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., November 19, 2024. ( via REUTERS )

Neuralink, Musks computer-brain interface company that is developing brain chips, was valued at $5 billion as of June 2024, according to Reuters. In January, Musk posted on X that the first human patient received an implant from Neuralink and was recovering well.

Musk contributed a massive $230 million of his personal coffers to Trumps America PAC, which he created, in the last month leading up to the presidential election, FEC filings Thursday revealed. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, Musk made three separate $25 million donations to the super PAC, according to the records.

But that wasnt all; the SpaceX founder also donated more than $20 million to the controversially named RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) PAC, which falsely presented the late Supreme Court Justice as a Trump champion, in late October, new filings show.

Trump tapped Musk to lead the newly created department of government efficiency alongside billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Despite campaigning on improving economic conditions for working class Americans, Trump has filled his next administration with a hefty handful of billionares, including Musk. The net worth of Trumps second White House is estimated to be larger than the gross domestic product of more than 11 dozen countries.

Billionaires have doubled their wealth in the past decade, amounting to a combined total of $14 trillion, Swiss bank UBS reported this week.
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Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Hawaii who vanished after flying into Los Angeles last month, has been found safe, her family said.

"We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe," her family said in a statement to KABC.

"This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through, the statement added. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us."

The family did not provide further details in its announcement.

The Los Angeles Police Department told People magazine it was notified on Wednesday by the family that Kobayashi had been found. The department previously determined the womans disappearance as voluntary, a designation family members challenged.

We have not seen her and at this point we have no reason to compel her to see us, Lieutenant Doug Oldfield of the departments missing persons unit told the magazine. Its a big news story so she may decide to come with a lawyer, but she is not obligated to speak to us.

The Independent has contacted the familys attorney for comment.

Family members lost contact with Kobayashi in early November after she landed in Los Angeles bound for a connecting flight to New York ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Kobayashi boarded a plane to Los Angeles on November 8, but didnt board a planned connecting flight to New York, where she had a job taking photographs at a DJ performance.

She told her family she had missed her flight and planned to sleep at the Los Angeles airport.

Family members and friends said they then began receiving concerning messages sent from Kobayashis phone.

Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday, one message to a friend said, according to screenshots her sister sent CNN. I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds, said another, which was followed by: For someone I thought I loved.

They eventually began to fear she was a victim of kidnapping or human trafficking.

Days after her flight, however, she was photographed around Los Angeles, including at the upscale Grove shopping center.

Her last Instagram post on November 10 seemed to indicate she was still in Los Angeles. Her family lost contact with her the following day.

Family members rallied the public to try and find Kobayashi.

In late November, Kobayashis father, Ryan, was found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot in what was ruled a suicide.

At a press conference last week, the Los Angeles Police Department described Kobayashis disappearance as voluntary and said she had retrieved her baggage from LAX airport on November 11.

She then used her passport and cash to buy a ticket to the U.S.-Mexico border at Los Angeless Union Station, officials said.

Police said they had reviewed video surveillance from US Customs and Border Protection, which clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the United States border on foot into Mexico on November 12 at San Diegos San Ysidro crossing.

She was alone with her luggage and appeared unharmed at this time, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at the press conference. Investigators noted that, before departing Maui, Kobayashi expressed a desire to step away from modern connectivity.
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Two children have died after falling into an icy lake in upstate New York.

The tragic incident unfolded at around 4:35 p.m. Saturday when a 12-year-old boy is believed to have been walking across the frozen Washington Park Lake in Albany in the direction of a lake house.

The boy fell through the ice and plunged into the freezing water below, Albany Police Department said.

An 11-year-old girl then heroically dove into the water to try to save him, police said.

A Times Union reporter who happened to be in the area at the time said they overheard a person screaming and thrashing in the water and called 911.

Max Fajardo, another passerby and member of the National Guard, told the outlet he also noticed the commotion, saying the girl was trying to be a hero. He rushed to his car to grab a rope to try to help.

Officers responding to the scene then managed to wade through the lake and find the girl.

She was given CPR at the scene and rushed to Albany Medical Center Hospital in critical condition.

open image in gallery Scene of the tragedy at Washington Park Lake in Albany ( News Channel 13 )

Later that evening, the New York State Polices underwater recovery team found the boys body.

Three days later, Albany Police anounced that the girl had also died from her injuries.

This is a very tragic situation. The young girl went in to try and ultimately save the young boy and didnt know what the situation was, Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox told Times Union Saturday.

The identities of the two children, who were both students at Albany City School District, have not been released.
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A federal judge has halted a proposed merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons over anti-trust concerns - an action that could scuttle the deal.

The move halts the massive merger that would have created a major grocery chain stretching across the U.S.

U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued the ruling Tuesday after holding a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon.

Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. But the Federal Trade Commission sued earlier this year, asking Nelson to block the $24.6 billion deal until an in-house administrative judge at the FTC could consider the mergers implications.

Nelson agreed to pause the merger.

Any harms defendants experience as a result of the injunction do not overcome the strong public interest in the enforcement of antitrust law, especially given the difficulty in disentangling a premature merger, she wrote in her opinion.

Federal regulators argue that combining the two chains would be bad for consumers and workers by eliminating competition. The companies say a merger would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon.

open image in gallery A federal judge has temporarily halted a proposed merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, an action that could scuttle the deal ( The Dallas Morning News )

The case may now move to the FTC, although Kroger and Albertsons have asked a different federal judge to block the in-house proceedings. Colorado and Washington are also trying to halt the merger in ongoing state trials. The judge in Washington was expected to release his opinion later Tuesday.

The FTC argued that Kroger and Albertsons currently compete in 22 states, closely matching each other on price, quality, private label products and services like store pickup. A merger would eliminate that competition and raise prices for already struggling consumers, the government said. The FTC also said the merger would hurt workers since Kroger and Albertsons would no longer compete to hire them.

But Kroger and Albertsons argued their merger would preserve consumer choice by allowing them to better compete against its growing rivals. In its testimony, Albertsons warned Nelson that it might have to lay off workers, close stores and even exit some markets if the merger weren't allowed to proceed.

Under the merger agreement, Kroger and Albertsons would sell 579 stores in places where their locations overlap to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based supplier to independent supermarkets that also owns the Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly store brands.

The FTC argued that C&S is ill-prepared to take on the stores and may want the option to sell or close them. But Kroger and Albertsons said C&S has the experience and national scale to handle the divestiture.

Kroger, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates 2,800 stores in 35 states, including brands like Ralphs, Smiths and Harris Teeter. Albertsons, based in Boise, Idaho, operates 2,273 stores in 34 states, including brands like Safeway, Jewel Osco and Shaws. Together, the companies employ around 710,000 people.
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Cryptocurrency enthusiasts are spending millions of dollars trading meme coins themed around Luigi Mangiones alleged fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City last week.

Many of the coins listed on crypto sites like pump.fun sport supportive names including Free Luigi Mangione and Justice for Luigi Mangione.

One such coin, simply named Luigi, launched on Monday, the same day Mangione was charged with murder in New York. It briefly achieved a market capitalization of more than $76 million dollars.

"When someone outside the crypto-bubble ... encounters headlines like this, they view it as absolutely insanity," Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin told Newsweek of the phenomenon.

"After all, who would invest in a digital currency inspired by the alleged killer of a major companys CEO? However, this currency is the latest in a string of coin offerings meant to capture some monetary value on online stories and moments that go viral and manufacture a financial component to the enthusiasm around them, he added.

The shooting has generated a groundswell of online conversation, often with a surprisingly supportive tilt toward the suspect.

Amazon has had to repeatedly pull down wine tumblers, sweatshirts, and other merchandise supportive of the shooter.

Mangiones arrest after the death of healthcare CEO has prompted memes, supportive merchandise, and now cryptocurrencies ( REUTERS )

As The Independent has reported, the wider social media conversation was often surprisingly supportive after the shooting, revealing a deep nationwide dissatisfaction for the current healthcare system.

Currently, over 1,000 people go bankrupt daily, solely due to personal medical bills. Anyone who can make millions of dollars overseeing a system like this, and sleep well at night doesnt deserve my sympathy, Beau Forte, a former Green Party candidate for Congress in New Jersey who ran on a platform calling for universal healthcare, told The Independent.

Forte ran for office because his father was unable to receive care through his medical insurance provider, and was one of those who criticized Thompson after his death.

How is it appropriate to ask me if I feel bad about the person in charge of the biggest company that allows this to happen? Apologies if that seems harsh, but thats where I stand, he added.
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The Franklin Fire continues to spread through Malibu, California, so far burning over 3,000 acres and causing celebrities to flee from their mansions.

The fire, which broke out on Monday near Malibu Canyon Road has led to evacuations of about 20,000 residents, including celebrities such as Dick Van Dyke and Cher.

With strong Santa Ana winds fueling the blaze, firefighters are battling extreme conditions.

As of Wednesday morning night, the fire was still 0 per cent contained, with dangerous conditions expected to continue throughout the day.

Follow our live coverage of the Malibu wildfires.

Emergency responders, including over 1,500 firefighters, have so far been deployed to the scene, using both ground and aerial strategies to control the flames.

The fires erratic behaviour, driven by gusts of up to 40mph, has challenged containment efforts.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the region, with meteorologists predicting that critical fire conditions will persist through Wednesday. Low humidity adds to the risk of flare-ups or new fires, though wind speeds are expected to drop below 20mph by Wednesday afternoon.

Real time maps from California Fire Department show how the blaze has spread to over 3,000 acres of land  an area twice the size of Central Park.

open image in gallery Real time map shows the extent of Franklin fire in Malibu ( California fire department )

Pepperdine University, located near the fires origin, implemented a shelter-in-place protocol for its 3,000 students as flames approached the campus. Students were evacuated to safer areas on-site, including the library, as smoke and embers filled the air.

It felt super apocalyptic, said junior Abigail Ballhagen. While parts of the campus were singed, university officials confirmed no major damage, though classes and final exams were canceled as a precaution.

Evacuations extended to Malibu Canyon and parts of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), which was partially closed to traffic. Residents in affected areas scrambled to leave as smoke blanketed neighborhoods and ash rained down.

Power outages compounded the situation, leaving thousands without electricity during evacuation efforts Monday night.

open image in gallery Map shows fire weather risk on Wednesday and Thursday ( NWS )

The fire briefly threatened the historic Malibu Pier before firefighters secured the area. Serra Retreat, home to several celebrities, is among the neighborhoods under threat.

Actor Dick Van Dyke evacuated from the area but shared on social media that his cat, Bobo, escaped during the chaos.

Were praying hell be ok, Van Dyke wrote, adding that he hopes the community will recover from these terrible fires.

The fire is one of several burning in California this season, with a total of 7,909 wildfires burning a cumulative 1,047,576 acres in 2024 so far.

At its peak, the Franklin Fire burned so intensely that it altered wind patterns, pushing the flames into previously unaffected areas.

Looking ahead, forecasters predict a gradual shift in weather patterns that may aid firefighting efforts.

By Thursday, higher humidity and ocean breezes are expected to lower the risks of fire. Light rain is even possible later in the week, offering a glimmer of hope for exhausted firefighters and displaced residents.
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Donald Trumps nominee to oversee the federal governments enforcement of civil rights has spent the last year leading a legal crusade against transgender Americans, signaling where Trump could start with his day one pledge to roll back discrimination protections.

Harmeet Dhillon, founder of the Center for American Liberty, has filed a barrage of attention-grabbing lawsuits on behalf of right-wing activists against gender-affirming healthcare and school policies and state and local laws designed to protect LGBT+ people across the country.

Dhillon also supported efforts to reverse election results in states Trump lost in 2020, and she steered the Trump campaigns 2024 election integrity team in Arizona, a hotbed for bogus election conspiracy theories in the wake of Trumps loss.

Dhillon and attorneys at her firm have been involved in at least 16 lawsuits across seven states and Washington, D.C. to defend Trump and challenge voting rights laws and election rules.

Dhillon  whose firm has received more than $8 million in legal fees from Trumps team  is yet another attorney who has represented the former president or joined in his legal battles before receiving his nomination for a top post at the Department of Justice.

If shes confirmed to lead the civil rights division, she will be in a uniquely powerful position to reshape, and reverse, critical protections for LGBT+ Americans while keeping Trumps election denialist movement alive at the top of the Justice Department.

Dhillon has focused her career on diminishing civil rights, rather than enforcing or protecting them, said Maya Wiley, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Rather than fighting to expand voting access, she has worked to restrict it, she added. Instead of defending election results and demonstrating concern for free and fair elections, for example, she helped fuel the big lie in many forms, challenging election results on several occasions based on misrepresentations and outright lies.

open image in gallery Trump-allied attorney Harmeet Dhillon has launched a prolific legal campaign targeting state and local policies intended to protect transgender people ( AFP via Getty Images )

Trump also shares Dhillon with far-right billionaire Elon Musk, who hired her firm Dhillon Law Group for Xs lawsuit against a group of advertisers who are boycotting his platform.

Harmeet is one of the top Election lawyers in the Country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted, Trump said in a statement announcing Dhillons nomination on December 9. In her new role at the DOJ, Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights, and will enforce our Civil Rights and Election Laws FAIRLY and FIRMLY.

Dhillons Center for American Liberty has filed several medical malpractice lawsuits on behalf of so-called detransitioners who now argue against access to gender-affirming healthcare for trans minors by speaking publicly about their regret.

The group also threatened legal action and sued several schools over policies that could be used to forcibly out LGBT+ students  policies that Dhillon argues are causing irreparable harm to children by violating parents rights.

One lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District accuses schools of hiding classroom curriculum on transgenderism and critical race theory.

The group also sued teachers and schools in Maine on behalf of a right-wing activist who opposed school policies that allow trans students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.

The Center for American Liberty also sued the YMCA on behalf of an 82-year-old woman who claimed she saw a grown man wearing a womens bathing suit and talking to two young girls in a changing room.

That grown man was a transgender YMCA employee escorting the girls to the bathroom. Julie Jaman asked her if she had a penis and was then asked to leave. The Olympic Peninsula YMCA later told Jaman that she was banned for life due to a pattern of code of conduct violations.

open image in gallery Harmeet Dhillon delivered an opening Sikh Ardas prayer at the Republican National Convention ( AFP via Getty Images )

State laws that protect transgender care and abortion providers and patients from out-of-state prosecution are horrifying and super extreme measures that will turn states into a refuge for child mutilation, according to Dhillon and her Center for American Liberty.

More than a dozen states have enacted so-called shield laws, but anti-trans and anti-abortion activists are demanding federal government pre-emption that would outlaw affirming care and abortion access despite state and local projections.

The Biden administrations expanded anti-discrimination protections for LGBT+ students under Title IX  which prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools  are a slap in the face to women and girls, according to Dhillon.

Congress intended Title IX to protect women, not feelings or caricatures of women, she said. But the Biden administration just robbed women of equal opportunities  taking from women and giving to men.

open image in gallery Harmeet Dhillon appears next to former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel and election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell in 2023 ( AFP via Getty Images )

On November 5, 2020, as votes were still being tallied in several states, Dhillon appeared on Fox Business to baselessly suggest election workers in Biden-Harris masks were manipulating ballots in Philadelphia.

Were waiting for the United States Supreme Court, [in] which the president has nominated three justices, to step in and do something, she said. Hopefully, Amy Coney Barrett will come through and pick it up. Theres no guarantee  so we have to fight this on the ground and make sure that we challenge every place and we are.

She later joined Trumps legal team to defend him against legal challenges to his ballot eligibility in Colorado, a case that did make its way to the Supreme Court.

A group of Colorado voters argued that Trump is ineligible for the presidency under the scope of the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office. Similar challenges were filed in a dozen states.

The Supreme Court ultimately reversed a Colorado court decision that found Trump unconstitutionally eligible for the president because of his role surrounding the Capitol attack on January 6, what Dhillon called dangerous overreach that, if left unchallenged, could have set a perilous precedent for future election.

During midterm elections in 2022, election-denying conspiracy theorists Kari Lake and Abraham Hamadeh hired Dhillons firm to contest election results in Arizona, where Lake and Hamadeh lost their campaigns for governor and attorney general, respectively. Dhillon was later named to run the Trump campaigns election integrity team in that state.
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A federal appeals court heard arguments Tuesday afternoon over whether Idaho should be prohibited from enforcing a strict abortion ban during medical emergencies when a pregnant patient's life or health is at risk.

The state law makes it a felony to perform an abortion unless the procedure is necessary to prevent the death of the patient.

President Joe Bidens administration sued Idaho two years ago, contending the law violates a federal rule called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, because it prevents doctors from performing abortions that save their patients from serious infections, organ loss or other major medical issues.

The Supreme Court heard the case earlier this year, but bounced it back to the lower court on a procedural issue, leaving unanswered questions about the legality of the state abortion ban.

Idaho officials have argued in court filings that the state abortion ban doesnt violate EMTALA. Instead, they say the fetus or embryo should be considered a patient with protections under EMTALA as well. They also argue that doctors have enough wiggle room under the law to use their best judgment about when to treat pregnant people with life-threatening medical conditions.

Taking EMTALA for what it actually says, there is no direct conflict with Idahos Defense of Life Act, attorneys representing the Idaho Legislature wrote in court filings earlier this month.

People march through 8th Street in downtown Boise, Idaho, on May 3, 2022, over states abortion ban ( Idaho Statesman )

Nothing in EMTALA requires physicians to violate state law. And nothing in Idaho law  whether in EMTALA-covered circumstances or beyond  denies medical care to pregnant women.

About 50,000 people in the U.S. develop life-threatening complications during pregnancy each year. Those complications can include major blood loss, sepsis, or the loss of reproductive organs. In rare cases, doctors might need to terminate a pregnancy to protect the health of the pregnant person, especially in cases where there is no chance for a fetus to survive.

But some state abortion bans have made medical decisions that once seemed clear feel particularly fraught for emergency room physicians. Complaints that pregnant patients were turned away from U.S. emergency rooms spiked in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.

These harms are not hypothetical, Idaho's largest hospital system, St. Luke's Health System, wrote in a friend-of-the-court brief in October. In all of 2023, before Idaho's law went into effect, only one pregnant patient presenting to St. Lukes with a medical emergency was airlifted out of state for care. Yet in the few months when Idahos new abortion law was in effect, six pregnant St. Lukes patients with medical emergencies were transferred out of state for termination of their pregnancy.

One of those patients had severe preeclampsia  a condition that causes dangerously high blood pressure that can be fatal if untreated  and the others had premature rupture of their membranes, putting them at risk of life-threatening infections, St. Luke's said.

The stakes could not be higher, ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project Deputy Director Alexa Kolbi-Molinas said Monday. She noted recent news reports in Texas about women who died after being denied appropriate treatments for incomplete miscarriages. The reality is, exceptions don't work. They don't actually protect the health and rights of pregnant people regardless of what is written on the page, and that is just the reality when you threaten physicians with criminal penalties.
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Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he would do no such thing, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

That displeasure tracks with the bipartisan uproar in Washington that ignited over the president's about-face. The survey found that a relatively small share of Americans "strongly" or "somewhat" approve of the pardon, which came after the younger Biden was convicted on gun and tax charges. About half said they "strongly" or "somewhat" disapprove, and about 2 in 10 neither approve nor disapprove.

The Democratic president had said repeatedly that he would not use his pardon power for the benefit of his family, and the White House continued to insist, even after Republican Donald Trump's election win in November, that Biden's position had not changed  until it suddenly did.

"I know it's not right to believe politicians as far as what they say compared to what they do, but he did explicitly say, 'I will not pardon my son,'" said Peter Prestia, a 59-year-old Republican from Woodland Park, New Jersey, just west of New York City, who said he strongly disagreed with the move. "So, it's just the fact that he went back on his word."

In issuing a pardon Dec. 1, Biden argued that the Justice Department had presided over a "miscarriage of justice" in prosecuting his son. The president used some of the same kind of language that Trump does to describe the criminal cases against him and his other legal predicaments.

open image in gallery Joe Biden sparked uproar in Washington after pardoning his son Hunter, center, after months of promising not to do so. ( AP )

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it was a decision that Biden struggled with but came to shortly before he made the announcement, "because of how politically infected these cases were" as well as "what his political opponents were trying to do."

The poll found that about 4 in 10 Democrats approve of the pardon, while about 3 in 10 disapprove and about one-quarter did not have an opinion or did not know enough to say. The vast majority of Republicans and about half of independents had a negative opinion.

For some, it was easy to see family taking priority over politics.

"Do you have kids?" asked Robert Jenkins, a 63-year-old Democrat who runs a lumber yard and gas station in Gallipolis, Ohio. "You're gonna leave office and not pardon your kid? I mean, it's a no-brainer to me."

But Prestia, who is semiretired from working for a digital marketing conglomerate, said Biden would have been better off not making promises.

"He does have that right to pardon anybody he wants. But he just should have kept his mouth shut, and he did it because it was before the election, so it's just a bold-faced lie," Prestia said.

Despite the unpopularity of his decision, the president's approval rating has not shifted meaningfully since before his party lost the White House to Trump. About 4 in 10 Americans "somewhat" or "strongly" approve of the way Biden is handling his job as president, which is roughly where his approval rating has stood in AP-NORC polls since January 2022.

Still, the pardon keeps creating political shock waves, with Republicans, and even some top Democrats, decrying it.

Older adults are more likely than younger ones to approve of Biden's pardoning his son, according to the poll, although their support is not especially strong. About one-third of those ages 60 and older approve, compared with about 2 in 10 adults under 60.

The age divide is driven partially by the fact that younger adults are more likely than older ones to say they neither approve nor disapprove of the pardon or that they do not know enough to say.

About 6 in 10 white adults disapprove of the pardon, compared with slightly less than half of Hispanic adults and about 3 in 10 Black adults. Relatively large shares of Black and Hispanic Americans  about 3 in 10  were neutral, the poll found.

"Don't say you're gonna do something and then fall back," said Trinell Champ, 43, a Democrat from Nederland, Texas, who works in the home health industry and said she disapproved of the pardon. "At the end of the day, all you have is your word."

Champ, who is Black, voted for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump. "I just had my hopes up for her, but I wasn't 100% positive," she said.

Champ also said she does not approve of Biden's handling of the presidency and thinks the country is on the wrong track. "While he was in office, I felt like I really didn't see a lot of changes," she said.

"I just felt like everything just kind of stayed the same," Champ said.

open image in gallery A vast majority of Americans do not support Hunter Bidens pardon. ( AP )

Overall, though, the pardon did not appear to be a driving factor in many Americans' assessment of Biden's job performance. The share of Black Americans who approve of the way he is handling his job as president did fall slightly since October, but it is hard to assess what role the pardon may have played.

Jenkins is also chair of the Democratic Party in Gallia County, a strongly Republican area in southeast Ohio. He said things have not been going well for his businesses and, though he approved of Biden's handling of the presidency, he believes the country is now on the wrong track.

He said that is partly because of Trump's win in the presidential race, but it is also because Biden made his decision to leave the race in July and endorse Harris when there was not enough time for a more open primary process that might have led to a stronger Democratic nominee.

"I know he's in a spot there, but jeez-o-Pete, he got down the wrong end," Jenkins said of Biden. He said if Biden had stepped aside earlier and a nominee emerged from 15 or 20 candidates, "I think we would have won on that. Who knows?"

Prestia said he does not approve of Biden's handling of the presidency but sees the country now on the right track because Trump is returning to the White House.

"Compared to Biden, he means what he says," Prestia said.

___

The poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
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While late-night comics joke about the actual motive behind President-elect Donald Trump selecting his sons (ex-?) fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle as the U.S. ambassador to Greece, Greek citizens may not find her previous remarks about them very funny.

In a 2015 segment of Fox News The Five unearthed by Media Matters senior fellow Matt Gertz, Guilfoyle once described the Greeks as freeloaders who should be punished after rejecting a bailout offer from the European Union.

Following the Greek government debt crisis, a referendum was announced in June 2015 on whether the country should accept the bailout conditions proposed by the EU, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank. The following month, the Greek public overwhelmingly rejected the referendum, with 61 percent voting against the measure.

Reacting to the results, which eventually led to the resignations of Greek party leaders and the countrys prime minister agreeing to an austerity plan with the EU, Guilfoyle  who was then a Fox News host  described Greeks as lazy and too dependent on the government.

Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention. ( Getty Images )

I mean, nobody likes freeloaders, she declared. It doesnt matter if you made great yogurt. I dont care.

She wasnt done going off on the country that she will now travel to as an American diplomat.

Suck it up, she exclaimed. Get up in the morning. Go to work. You guys are retiring too early. And thats part of the problem. You have, like, politicians making out-of-control promises, buying votes with entitlements that they cant support.

Comparing the Greek citizens to an untrained pet, Guilfoyle concluded by saying nobody is punishing them like when a dog pees on the rug.

Guilfoyle, who has been engaged to the president-elects son Donald Trump Jr. since 2020, became the latest member of Trumps clan to get a key appointment since the election. She also represents the 13th former Fox News personality named to the second Trump administration.

For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally. Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad, Trump said on Tuesday when announcing Guilfoyle as his Greek ambassador.

It didnt take long, though, for observers to point out that Trumps announcement of the Guilfoyle appointment came just hours after photos were published of Don Jr. strolling hand-in-hand with Florida socialite Bettina Anderson.

According to the Daily Mail, which first posted the pictures, the evening stroll marked Andersons 38th birthday and came after the pair enjoyed a lengthy dinner at a popular restaurant in Palm Beach.

While Guilfoyle and the younger Trump havent commented on their relationship status, they also havent been seen together publicly in a month. Sources told the Mail that Trump Jr. has recently been staying at Andersons house rather than the one he shares with Guilfoyle and that his encounters with the socialite have become the talk of Palm Beach.
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President-elect Donald Trump selected Kimberly Guilfoyle, his sons fiance and a former Fox News host, to be the next ambassador to Greece on Tuesday.

For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally. Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad, Trump wrote in his announcement on Truth Social.

Guilfoyle, 55, is a lawyer who briefly served as a prosecutor in California before turning to a career in television. She spent 12 years at Fox News before transitioning to assisting Republican political goals.

Guilfoyle has assisted Trump on all three of his presidential campaigns ( Getty Images )

Since 2016, Guilfoyle has become a devoted Trump ally, campaigning for Trump during his 2020 and 2024 presidential elections across the country. She may be most well known for giving an unnecessarily loud speech during the 2020 Republican National Convention and speaking at the infamous Stop the Steal Rally on January 6.

Guilfoyle has been engaged to Donald Trump Jr. since 2020. However, unconfirmed media reports claimed the two have since split.

She is divorced from Democrat and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation, Trump said in his statement.

Guilfoyle said in a statement on X that she was honored to accept the nomination and championed the democratic values born in Greece.

It was the democratic values born in Greece that helped shape the founding of America. And now, we have an opportunity to honor that history by bringing better days here at home and abroad. As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity. She wrote.

The nomination will require Senate approval.

Trump is known to give his family members and close friends positions within his administration. During his first term, his daughter, Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were made advisers.

The president-elect recently tapped Charles Kusher, the father of Jared Kusher, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump also pardoned Kusher during his first term.
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Republican Representative Mike Turner, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said the Department of Justice under the first Trump administration committed a grave constitutional violation when it secretly obtained phone records and emails belonging to Congressional members and staffers.

Turner attacked Trumps DOJ for collecting communication logs from 43 congressional staffers and two House Democrats , which was revealed in a report from Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

This report lays out outrageous behavior by the Department of Justice, Turner told CNN on Tuesday. This is a grave constitutional violation.

Mike Turner, the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee, called the Trump administration DOJ spying on members of Congress a grave constitutional violation ( CNN / YouTube )

Between 2017 and 2018, prosecutors utilized subpoenas to demand that Apple and Google collect and hand over data, without approval from a court or from then-attorney general Bill Barr. They then issued gag orders to prevent the companies from informing those targeted.

Federal investigators targeted two unnamed House members, congressional staffers and journalists as part of its investigation into the source of leaked sensitive information.

Though some of the information had been previously reported, Horowitzs new report unveiled the broad scope of the DOJs effort.

Turner said it was an example of the executive branch, in effect, spying on Congress  which threatens the integrity of the separation of powers.

That weaponization goes right to the heart of really what we expect of the oversight processes, Turner added.

But Turner emphasized the impact of the spying probe, and recommended lawmakers take action to pass legislation that would require approval by a court and the attorney general for subpoenas like those used during the Trump administration.

This affects, as the report says by Inspector General Horwitz, the constitutional authorities and the individual constitutional rights of the individuals that were impacted, Turner noted.

Horowitzs report did not recommend formal charges be brought forward because it did not find evidence that the prosecutors were politically motivated or retaliated.

Among those targeted by the spying probe was Trumps FBI director nominee, Kash Patel who, at the time, served as a congressional staffer for the House Intelligence Committee.

Turner said Patel being part of the situation made him an even better candidate for the position because it showed his understanding of the weaponization that has happened within intelligence agencies and departments.

Patel has previously stated he wants to go after reporters.
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C-SPAN host Mimi Geerges was forced to correct Republican Rep. Rich McCormick on Wednesday when he insisted that Pete Hegseth does not know the identity of the woman accusing him of sexual assault, only for the Georgia lawmaker to double down on his false claim.

McCormick, who was on Washington Journal to primarily talk about his heated clash with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, was asked about the embattled Hegseths efforts to rally support for his nomination as secretary of defense amid a slew of accusations over sexual misconduct and excessive drinking.

Noting that the former Fox News star recently had a positive meeting with GOP lawmakers, McCormick said that Hegseth did a really good job of pushing back against the allegations that have come out since President-elect Donald Trump chose him to run the Pentagon.

The Georgia congressman also said that all the complaints were anonymous and that Hegseth asserted that he didnt know who was accusing him. He doesnt know what theyre talking about. His wife doesnt know whats going on, McCormick added.

C-SPAN host Mimi Geerges interviews Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) about Pete Hegseths nomination. ( C-SPAN )

Are you talking about the allegations of sexual assault? Geerges interjected.

Yeah, the representative confirmed.

Ok, but he paid a settlement. So he does know who it is, the C-SPAN anchor replied.

Indeed, Hegseth and his lawyer have acknowledged that the ex-Fox & Friends host agreed to pay a woman a confidential sum in 2020 to prevent her from filing a lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting her in 2017. Hegseth, who has described the encounter as consensual, said that he settled with the woman because he feared hed lose his job at Fox News if the lawsuit went public.

According to a police investigation launched in 2017, a woman claimed that a drunken Hegseth raped her after physically blocking her from leaving his California hotel room. Hegseth, meanwhile, argued that the woman was the aggressor and initiated the sexual encounter. While Monterrey law enforcement eventually closed the case with no charges filed, the report doesnt state that police found the womans allegations to be false.

Although Hegseth and his attorney  who has threatened to release the woman from her non-disclosure agreement so the ex-Fox host can sue her  clearly know the identity of the accuser, McCormick insisted that wasnt the case.

No. He didnt know who it is, the lawmaker exclaimed. And hes saying to us  its an empty allegation of an anonymous tip. Thats not the same thing.

McCormick added that while he also initially thought that Hegseth knew who was accusing him of rape and had concerns, he was told in the latest conference that these were anonymous tips and we dont know where they came from. Geerges left it there, moving on to questions about McCormicks confrontation with DeJoy.
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Senator Rick Scott of Florida is pushing to crack down on imports of Chinese garlic, claiming it poses a major threat to security and safety because it may be grown in human sewage and harvested with slave and child labor.

Scott, a Republican, sent a series of letters to U.S. trade, labor, and agriculture agencies on Monday calling for Chinese garlic to be investigated and put on U.S. trade watchlists, saying that claims of sewer garlic, if verified, would pose a significant ethical and legal issue to the U.S. supply chain.

Communist China has a clear and disturbing history of failing to meet basic standards of food safety and transparency, as well as a well-documented record of using slave labor in its supply chains, which raises red flags about the labor practices and safety of its agricultural products, particularly garlic, Scott wrote in one letter to the Department of Agriculture.

The Senator is asking that Chinese garlic be put on the Bureau of International Labor Affairs List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor and be investigated under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington told The Independent the country emphasizes food safety and that Scotts claims are groundless accusations, which we firmly oppose.

There is no so-called forced labor [or] child labor alleged by some with ulterior motives, the spokesperson said via email. We oppose the related individuals overstretching the concept of national security, trying to abuse state power to go after and smear Chinese products and companies.

The Senator has long accused Chinese garlic of being tainted.

open image in gallery Sen Rick Scott of Florida has repeatedly pushed to ban Chinese garlic ( Rick Scott/Twitter )

Reports indicate that Chinese garlic is grown using raw sewage, possibly including human feces, and that the garlic is then bleached to make it appear whiter and cleaner to the eye after its growth in unsanitary conditions, he said in a January video. Its also processed using slave labor. Communist Chinese uses slave labor. And these poor people are forced to peel so much garlic that their fingernails  fingernails  literally fall off so they have to use their teeth to get the job done. Its horrific. And it means that Chinese sewage, garlic should be unacceptable for human conception.

In December of 2023, Scott asked the Commerce Department to investigate Chinese garlic and for U.S. grocery stores to stop selling it, while in January he introduced a bill to ban garlic imported garlic from China. Hes also pushed to ban the sale of Chinese garlic in U.S. military commissaries and the use of the produce in military dining halls.

As evidence for his claims, Scott has pointed to the Netflix documentary series Rotten, which features an episode accusing Christopher Ranch, a major U.S. garlic producer, of being involved in price-fixing and using garlic peeled by Chinese prisoners. The episode features what producers say is hidden camera footage of prisoners peeling garlic for the company.

They claim forced labor went into that label, company official Ken Christopher told KION in 2018. It was packed specifically for us, and we have no trademarks in China. So that couldnt be further from the truth.

He added most of the companys roughly 90 million pounds of garlic production is grown and processed in California, and that the roughly 10 percent of its product that is imported isnt processed in prison. He said the undercover video was fake.

Zero Point Zero, which produced Rotten, has said it stands by its reporting.

There is no evidence that garlic in China is fertilized in this fashion, McGill Universitys Office for Science and Society program wrote in a 2017 article on allegations of Chinese sewer garlic.

China is the worlds biggest exporter of garlic, and the U.S. has tariffed Chinese exports of garlic since the mid-1990s to protect U.S. producers, tariffs the Trump administration increased in 2019. China is the largest supplier of garlic to the U.S., according to the Department of Agriculture.

The incoming Trump administration has signaled it will seek to raise tariffs on a variety of Chinese goods.
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A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill that would ban dildos and vibrators from pharmacies across the state, arguing that children should not be exposed to obscene devices while visiting drugstores.

H.B. 1549, authored by newly-elected state Representative Hillary Hickland, a Republican representing Temple, seeks to prohibit the sale of sex toys in businesses unless they are sexually oriented.

If passed, the bill would enable county or district attorneys to sue businesses in their jurisdictions if theyre caught violating the legislation. Officials could also bring $5,000 civil penalties against offenders. The act would take place immediately if it received two-thirds of the votes. If it does not, it will take effect on September 1.

The bill was pre-filed ahead of the 2025 legislative session and lawmakers have not been able to act on it. The legislation appears unlikely to advance considering a federal appeals court overturned a state statute outlawing sex toy sales in 2008, ruling it unconstitutional.

After introducing the bill, Hickland said: I will always fight to protect our children, in a statement posted to X.

Sex toys are sold at major retailers, including CVS, Walmart, Target and Walgreens. The global sex toy industry was valued at $34.95bn in 2021 and is expected to be valued at $75bn by 2030. According to Statista, Amazon and online sex shops were the most popular for sex toy purchases in 2022.

Retail sex shops ranked third with 31 percent of sales.

Last month, another newly elected official, Sarah Stogner, a Republican District Attorney for the West Texas District, called the proposed legislation ridiculous. And said it made her want to go to CVS, buy seven dildos and show up at the sheriffs office and ask him to charge me with intent to distribute.

She made the remarks in a heated exchange on X with State Republican Executive Committeewoman Christin Bentley, who praised Hickland for bringing the bill forward.

Sex toys have no place on the shelves of family-friendly markets, Bentley said on the platform. These are simple, common-sense principles that align with the fundamental goal of protecting children.

In response, Stogner wrote: I see youre still obsessed with dildos. Perhaps you should buy one and try it. Might make you less uptight.

Alabama is currently the only state that bans the sale of sex toys except for limited purposes.
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Employees at political news outlet The Hill are feeling increasingly nervous as parent company Nexstar is planning to lay off as many as 17 staffers after the holidays, multiple sources told The Independent.

Adding to the growing anxiety is the departure of the Beltway papers editor-in-chief, Bob Cusack, who couldnt come to terms during negotiations with Nexstar over his contract, which expires next week.

Things are not good, one Hill reporter told The Independent.

Editorial staffers were first made aware of the pending layoffs in a letter from The Hills guild this week, which explained that management revealed Nexstar planned to slash up to 17 jobs from the papers union of journalists during the most recent bargaining session.

Urging guild members not to panic as the unions position is that it would be illegal for Nexstar to conduct layoffs before a contract has been reached, the letter added that the layoff plan from corporate headquarters added another layer of complexity to the negotiations.

The Hill editor-in-chief Bob Cusack appears on morning show Rising. ( The Hill )

The guild also noted that the next bargaining session, which is scheduled for next week, will include a first outline of how the layoffs will be conducted, as well as outstanding issues surrounding vacations, severances and raises.

A Hill insider told The Independent that the staff is freaked out over the possibility of layoffs coming down the pike, adding that people are very worried and upset that Nexstar would use their layoffs as a bargaining tactic.

Another staffer agreed with that sentiment, stating that they keep hearing how well things are going, but now theres talk about layoffs, which is the cruelest possible negotiating tactic a company can use.

The angst over the recent revelation about coming layoffs is compounded by the fact that Cusack, a much-beloved newsroom leader who has held The Hills top editor spot for a decade, is leaving.

Earlier this fall, it was reported that the newsroom was taken aback when they saw Cusack cleaning out his office. They soon learned his contract was set to expire in mid-December and that he had reached an impasse with Nexstar management. At the time, sources said the main point of contention was that Cusack  who has sought to keep The Hill non-partisan  pressed the parent company not to interfere with the sites editorial direction.

During a post-election all-hands meeting, which included corporate management and leaders of Nexstars cable news channel NewsNation, staff was led to believe that Cusack had come to terms on a new contract. The Independent obtained and reviewed a recording of this meeting.

After management gushed over the sites traffic numbers and named former Fox News editor Bill Sammon as senior vice president of editorial content for NewsNation and The Hill, Newsnation president and managing editor Cherie Grzech said she was happy to say that Cusack was staying with us at The Hill.

However, nearly a month later, it remained in doubt whether the longtime editor would stay past this holiday season. And Cusack confirmed on Wednesday that next week would be his last at The Hill.

Its been an exasperating few weeks since our last staff meeting, but its best that I move on, Cusack wrote staff in an email obtained by The Independent. And as I do, I choose to remember the fantastic people who work for The Hill and its many talented alumni.

Making a point to give tremendous thanks to his longtime managing editor Ian Swanson, who he called one of the best political editors you will ever meet, Cusack let staff know that his last day would be December 19.

According to two sources familiar with the contract negotiations, Cusack was offered an extension that would keep him only until August of next year. On top of that, he has told others at the company that the biggest issue he has with the contract offer is the onerous no-compete clause that Nexstar has added.

According to those who have spoken with Cusack, Nexstar added a provision to the contract that would prevent him from working in an editorial position for most media outlets for up to a year if he leaves The Hill. Cusack declined to comment.

Weeks after staffers thought Cusacks contract situation was settled, they learned through a letter from the guild that he was still in negotiations, prompting many to contact the editor in chief to express concern.

Multiple sources also pointed out that with Cusack leaving this month, his departure takes place just weeks after The Hills general manager Joe Ruffolo resigned, leaving a leadership vacuum within the paper.

The Independent has reached out to representatives from Nexstar and The Hill for comment.
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On Monday, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina sent a letter to the deputy director of the FBI asking about reports that Iran potentially targeted Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to lead the bureau, in a cyberattack. Patel is the latest of Trumps picks to have allegedly been attacked by hackers from the country. Its something that a number of Republicans have been quick to shout about.

Tillis going to the mat for Patel is not surprising. Last week, he told The Independent that he was inclined to support Trumps FBI pick despite Patels penchant for conspiracy theories.

Based on the information I have and the information I've received from people that work closely with them, I'm inclined to support him, Tillis said.

Trumps nomination of former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz to be his nominee for attorney general, however, clearly made Tillis uncomfortable. That situation sorted itself out when Gaetz saw the writing on the wall and dropped out. But it speaks to a larger problem that Tillis has: Hes probably the most endangered Republican incumbent senator this cycle. Thats not just because of the fact that Democrats are targeting him, but because he faces a potentially serious challenge from his right flank.

His relationship with Trump is complicated. In 2019, when Trump tried to declare a national emergency to secure money for his proposed wall at the US-Mexico border, Tillis wrote a Washington Post op-ed saying he would oppose the emergency, only to support it in the end. It was a stunning flip-flop.

He then voted fairly consistently with Trump on everything from tax cuts to judicial nominations. He voted to acquit Trump for both impeachments. But when President Joe Biden came to office, Tillis emerged as a consummate dealmaker, working with Democrats on everything from the first major piece of gun legislation to pass in almost 30 years to infrastructure to codifying protections for same-sex and interracial married couples.

He urged his Democratic colleagues to do the same during a Trump trifecta.

If you vote with 50 other Democrats and 12 Republicans, you're not really bipartisan, he said. You're voting as a partisan block. It'll be fascinating when we talk about social security reform or other things that they've had interest in, if they are prepared to demonstrate what I did demonstrate.

Tilliss relationship to the ultra-conservative faction in his party has always been a rocky one. He can rightly claim credit for helping flip both houses of the states legislature in 2010 for the first time in more than a century as part of the Tea Party wave. He also took out out an incumbent Democratic senator in 2014. But plenty of conservatives have always seen him as a RINO.

Like Senate Minority Mitch McConnell, Tilliss fight with the far right isnt ideological, its strictly business: he sees them simply as unelectable. He proved instrumental to taking out Madison Cawthorn, the beleaguered one-term congressman who became an embarrassment to the state. He also vocally criticized Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor, even before reports came out alleging that Robinson had called himself a Black Nazi and a perv on a porn website called Nude Africa. Tillis told me at the time that if Robinson had evidence he didnt make those posts, he should come forward with it.

Of course, Robinson didnt, even though he does deny the allegations. And though Trump won North Carolina last month, Robinsons antics cost Republicans dearly. They failed to win the governorship  many people voted for Democrat Josh Stein and Trump at the same time  as well as the attorney generals office and the superintendent. They also narrowly held onto a state supreme court seat and broke Republicans veto-proof majority in the legislature, one that had previously allowed them to override Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.

Tillis knew exactly who to blame afterward.

I think candidate quality matters, and I believe that Mr Robinson ended up having the impact I thought he would down-ballot, he told The Independent.

For his part, Robinson has questioned whether Tillis should be the nominee for Senate this coming cycle. And Trumps victory overall could spell trouble for Tillis. One poll recently showed that both Robinson and Lara Trump, the president-elects daughter-in-law, would beat Tillis in a primary (Lara Trump has also angled for Florida Senator Marco Rubios Senate seat).

If a two-term senator can't defend in a Republican primary, then he or she's not worth their salt, Tillis told The Independent. I'm planning on running... [S]omebody wants to run in the primary? Great. Love primaries. They get scrappy, tend to be personal, and I'm okay with that.

If Tillis were to somehow survive a primary, he would have an even bigger challenge in November. Its no secret that Cooper, the wildly popular governor who will be out of a job in January, is considering running for the job. An affable politician from Eastern North Carolina who has never lost a race, hed be a formidable opponent to Tillis, especially in a midterm year where Trump fatigue might run high.

This means that Tillis will need to operate a minefield this cycle. If he crosses or opposes any Trump nominees, he will immediately be targeted by the far-right faction in his party and potentially lose a primary. But if he ties himself too closely to Trump, he risks Democrats putting a target on his back.
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The Trump-iana purchase!

A prominent Fox News host has floated that President-elect Donald Trump could be looking to make a major land purchase during his second term. Her prediction comes as Trump continues to taunt Canada and its officials, and has reportedly suggested the northern neighbor should be Americas 51st state.

I actually think that the United States might make some sort of purchase. I dont know, not Canada, but there might be some sort of like big real estate purchase in the next four years, Dana Perino said on Tuesdays episode of The five on Fox.

Co-host Jessica Tarlov then suggested Greenland as a potential purchase.

open image in gallery A Fox News host suggested that Donald Trump could look to purchase land for America during his second term ( REUTERS )

In 2019, Trump suggested that the U.S. would be interested in acquiring Greenland from Denmark.

Strategically, its interesting. And wed be interested. Well talk to them a little bit. Its not number one on the burner, I can tell you that, he said during his first term.

Given Trumps recent fascination - coupled with the previous Greenland comments - its not a surprise Perino suggested he might look to grow America through buying land, such as the country did with the Louisiana purchase.

Perino didnt offer more explanation on which lands she believes the president-elect will target, and Trump has not talked recently about buying land.

open image in gallery There might be some sort of like big real estate purchase in the next four years, Dana Perino (pictured) said on Fox News ( Getty Images )

He recently suggested to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should become the 51st state if the northern neighbor is unhappy with the impact of Trumps proposed tariffs.

The news of those comments led to constant trolling by Trump. He posted an AI-generated image of him with a Canadian flag on his social media site. Late Monday, Trump gave Trudeau a new title in one of his posts.

It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada, Trump wrote on Truth Social. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!
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Donald Trump has recently tapped a former Trump administration official, who was allegedly caught on camera at the Capitol on January 6, to help his transition team with hiring.

Pete Marocco, who served in the Department of Defense, State and Commerce under Trump, was seen at Trumps headquarters in Florida this past week conducting interviews and assisting with the hiring process, Politico reported on Monday.

His arrival also comes nearly a month after a group of online sleuths, called Sedition Hunters, claimed they identified Marocco and his wife at the Capitol on January 6. The group has used social media, video footage and facial recognition software to identify more than 1,000 people present that day.

Marocco called the claim a petty smear tactic when asked about it by D Magazine. Marocco nor his wife have been charged with any crimes in relation to January 6.

Marocco was accused of fostering a toxic work environment and mistreating staff, several then-government officials said. Two unnamed officials told Politico that Marocco consistently undermined career staffers.

Marocco and his wife were accused of being present at the Capitol on January 6  he called any allegations a smear tactic ( Getty Images for Concordia Summi )

Frustrations with Marocco led employees within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to draft a 13-page memo about their grievances. Marocco eventually took a leave of absence, though it is unclear for how long.

The Independent has asked the Trump team for comment

Karoline Leavitt, the incoming White House Press Secretary told Politico in a statement that Maroccos valuable knowledge on national security policy has been a tremendous benefit to the TrumpVance transition effort.

Democrats and their allies in the media who think they are going to obstruct our ability to deliver on this mandate by going back to the same January 6 playbook of smears and faux outrage that was soundly rejected by the American people will be disappointed, Leavitt said in the statement.

President-elect Trump has repeatedly downplayed violence that took place on January 6, calling it a day of peace and love. Though some, including federal prosecutors, have accused Trump of instigating the riots by spreading lies about the integrity of the 2020 election, the president-elect has rejected that.

Trump has thus far promised to pardon rioters charged with crimes for their actions that day.
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Representatives from over 80 Maori tribes have appealed directly to King Charles III, urging him to intervene in New Zealands domestic policies amid escalating tensions over the governments approach to Maori rights.

The National Iwi Chairs Forum, a collective of tribal leaders, has penned an open letter to the monarch, expressing alarm over what they describe as ongoing breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi  New Zealands founding document signed in 1840 by Maori chiefs and the British Crown. The treaty is considered pivotal in protecting Maori rights.

Weve had 184 years of pandering to the decency and goodwill of the government, and it is not reciprocated, Mr Aperahama Edwards, chair of the Ngati Wai tribe and a forum leader, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. The thinking here is to bring [these issues] to the attention of King Charles with the hope he can intervene.

The two-page letter highlights concerns about legislative changes introduced by New Zealands rightwing coalition government, which critics argue have rolled back Maori rights. These include curbing the use of the Maori language in public services, dismantling health institutions designed to address inequities, and introducing a controversial bill that could radically alter treaty interpretations.

Earlier last month, around 10,000 people took to the street, marching towards Wellington to oppose the bill that seeks to redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. First signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs, the treaty lays down how the two parties agreed to govern. The interpretation of clauses in the document still guide legislation and policy.

open image in gallery Booming Indigenous Maori haka' chants rang out across New Zealands capital on 19 November 2024 as thousands rallied against a conservative proposal accused of stoking racial divisions ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Act New Zealand party, a junior partner in the ruling centre-right coalition government, unveiled the bill, which it had promised during last years election. The party has criticised the sharing of some governance matters between the state and Maori, arguing non-Indigenous citizens are losing out because of policies designed to uplift Maori.

But Maori and their supporters say the bill undermines the rights of the countrys Indigenous people, who make up about 20 per cent of the population of 5.3 million.

Coalition partners the National Party and New Zealand First are only supporting the legislation through the first of three readings. Both parties have said they will not support it to become legislation, meaning it will almost certainly fail.

Prime minister Christopher Luxon previously reaffirmed that his National Party would not support the bills progress beyond the first reading.

open image in gallery Thousands of people participated in the nine day protest march organised by the national movement against Acts Treaty Principles Bill plan to end after holding a rally in the Parliament ground ( AFP via Getty Images )

However, the forum in its letter accuses the government of attacking the treaty, with policies that risk disconnecting Maori children from their heritage, threatening the protection of land and sea resources, and reducing the Waitangi Tribunals role. The tribunal investigates treaty breaches and has previously criticised the governments direction.

Maori leaders fear these measures have fuelled anti-Maori rhetoric and soured their relationship with the Crown.

Professor Margaret Mutu, a forum chair and academic at the University of Auckland, described the policies as a serious violation of the treaty and called on the King to remind the government of its obligations.

The letter begins by recognising King Charless familial ties to Maori leadership and the legacy of Queen Victoria, who oversaw the treatys signing. It references the Kings 2022 Commonwealth address, where he spoke of acknowledging historical injustices and building a future that benefits all citizens.

As a constitutional monarch of the Crown and a descendant of Queen Victoria, we seek your intervention to ensure that the government does not diminish the Crowns honour, the letter states, adding that signatories are united in their grave concerns for the future of Maori families.

Additional reporting by agencies
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A car was torched and anti-Israel slogans were painted on the wall of a house in what authorities called the latest antisemitic attack on a Sydney suburb that is home to Australia's largest Jewish community.

New South Wales police said they were looking for two male suspects believed to be aged between 15 and 20 who were disguised and were spotted running from the scene of the incident in the eastern suburb of Woollahra.

The vandals burned the car in which they were driving and spread graffiti over the burned car, another vehicle and buildings, the police said.

So it is the graffiti itself, the antisemitic remarks that they have spray-painted on those houses and footpath that we are investigating, assistant commissioner of police Peter McKenna told reporters.

Premier Chris Minns described the attack as an attempt to intimidate the Jewish community in Sydney.

This was a targeted attack in Sydneys eastern suburbs ... directly after the burning down of a synagogue, he told reporters. This was a deliberate attack ... designed to put fear into the hearts of the people who live in Sydneys east, he added.

The incident came after federal police this week established a task force to investigate increasing antisemitic crimes across the country.

Last week's arson at a Melbourne synagogue marked an escalation in targeted attacks in Australia since Israel began its retaliatory war against the Hamas in Gaza Strip. Israel has since extended its attacks on Lebanon and launched hundreds of missiles in Syria.

A forensics police officer stands in front of the wall where anti-Israel graffiti has been removed in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra ( AFP via Getty Images )

Cars and buildings have previously been vandalized and torched across Australia in protests inspired by the war. This week, authorities declared the attack on Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue a terrorist attack, which increases the resources and information available to investigators.

Also this week, federal police announced Special Operation Avalite to target those behind antisemitic attacks around the country  including the arson at the Melbourne synagogue, the attack on Jewish lawmaker Josh Burns Melbourne office in June, and an attack last month on a car in Woollahra.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese condemned the Woollahra attack on Wednesday as an outrage and a hate crime.

It is another antisemitic attack and all Australians must condemn it, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp. I stand with the Jewish community and unequivocally condemn this attack. Theres no place for antisemitism in this country or anywhere else for that matter.

He said he had been briefed by the police commissioner on the attack and would soon be briefed by Special Operation Avalite officials, and rejected allegations the attack could be a criticism of Israel rather than Jews.

This isnt an attack on a government, this is an attack on people because they happen to be Jewish, Albanese said. The idea that we take a conflict overseas and bring it here is something that is quite contrary to what Australia was built on.

Government opponents argue that Mr Albanese has been too slow to call out rising antisemitism for fear of alienating pro-Palestinian groups.

Opposition Senator Jane Hume said she knew a Jewish couple who were considering moving from Australia to Israel because they would feel safer there, despite the raging Mideast wars.

Because the government has prevaricated, because it has used weasel words and wishy-washy language, it does seem that those that are committing these offenses have been emboldened if not enabled by a government that has failed to take leadership, Ms Hume said.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish global human rights organization, issued a travel warning on Tuesday, urging Jews to exercise extreme caution in Australia as a result of the failure of Australian authorities to stand up against persistent demonization, harassment and violence against Jews and Jewish institutions in Australia.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Fourna, home to 180 people and hidden in the mountains of central Greece, is a vanishing village that is determined to keep its place on the map.

A winding four-hour drive from Athens, it enjoys near total silence, periodically broken by church bells and howling dogs. Elderly residents measure the villages chances of survival by the number of children enrolled at the local primary school.

Last year, there were only two.

But Fournas fortunes have been reversed by an unlikely and tireless partnership. The local schoolteacher, a Ph.D. student studying artificial intelligence, found common cause with the Rev. Constantine Dousikos, a burly Orthodox priest and former lumber machine operator who was ordained shortly before turning 50.

They started a despair-fueled campaign to attract families to Fourna, offering settling-in money raised from private donations and municipal programs.

Key Points Fourna, a small, remote village in central Greece, was facing demographic collapse due to its ageing population and low birth rate.

A partnership between the local schoolteacher and the village priest launched a campaign offering financial incentives and support to attract families to relocate to Fourna.

The campaign has been successful, with two families already moved in, five more on a waiting list, and hundreds of inquiries, resulting in a significant increase in the number of children attending the local school.

This initiative comes amidst a broader demographic crisis in Greece, with an ageing population and declining birth rates, prompting government intervention and collaboration with the Orthodox Church to promote family life.

The success of Fourna's campaign has served as an example for other struggling villages in Greece, offering a potential model for revitalizing rural communities.

Its working: Two families have moved to the village, five more are on a 2025 wait list, and hundreds of others have made inquiries. Eight children now attend elementary classes.

open image in gallery Fourna village stands in central Greece, Monday, Nov. 25 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Dousikos, equally at ease behind the wheel of his pickup or in front of the church altar, says the initiative was partly inspired by calls from the Orthodox church hierarchy urging clergy to promote family life.

I think we did the obvious thing: Help the people here keep our village alive, he says, standing in the Church of Transfiguration of Christ on the main square. Of course, village life is not for everyone. You need to be good at manual work.

A map of Fourna:

Greece has one of the worlds oldest populations with 23% aged 65 or older in 2023, according to World Bank data. The central Greek region of Evrytania, home to Fourna, faces low birth rates and rural depopulation, with an average age of 56.2  one of the three highest in the European Union.

Panagiota Diamanti, Fournas only elementary schoolteacher and co-founder of the family campaign New Life in the Village, says the urgency of the situation is palpable.

If the kids dont come, the teacher gets transferred and the school will close. And a closed school will never reopen, she says. We need bold action.

open image in gallery Locals leave the church after a liturgy in Fourna village, central Greece ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

More than 200 publicly run schools and kindergartens were shut down across Greece in the current school year due to low enrollment, many in remote parts of the country with sparse populations due to its mountainous mainland terrain and numerous small islands.

Several local authorities have reached out to the Fourna campaign, and asked Diamanti to help them start a similar program.

After class, she joins her eight students in a game of dodgeball at the school yard which overlooks Evrytanias jagged mountains. The kids enjoy a local-celebrity status; their birthdays are often celebrated in the main village square.

Vassiliki Emmanouil relocated to Fourna with her six children  five sons and a daughter  and says she has been showered with kindness. Village residents leave food outside her door overnight and are encouraging her to restart an old bakery when her husband returns from a spell of work in Germany.

Ive been here for nearly three months, and I would be ungrateful to say Ive struggled, Emmanouil says. The local priest and his wife treat me as if Im part of their family. The entire village has been by our side, from offering daily essentials to emotional support.

open image in gallery Student Panagiotis leaves the primary school in Fourna village ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Deaths overtook annual births in Greece in 2010 as the country sank into a severe financial crisis and the numbers have steadily worsened since then, reaching almost double the birth level in 2022.

The conservative government last year created a ministry of family and social cohesion. It has increased family benefits in the 2025 budget and reached out to the Orthodox Church for help.

Last year, the churchs governing Holy Synod issued a circular that was read out at all of Greeces Orthodox churches, arguing that financial incentives will not be enough to reverse the dire demographic trends.

Experts propose various solutions to address the issue, emphasizing its significant social, economic, and geopolitical implications, the message said.

The Church underscores the spiritual dimension of family life, advocating for unity, love, and the creation of families as a testament to divine purpose, it added. Children, considered gifts from God, bring meaning to life and symbolize hope and renewal.

open image in gallery Rev. Constantine Dousikos, left, and Father Ilarion patronize a cafe in Fourna village, ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

For Fournas residents, even church attendance is tied to village survival. Two dozen churches in the area remain empty most of the year, but are well maintained and open for important dates on the religious calendar.

The appearance of children in church and on the villages long-quieted streets caught most residents off guard.

At the start, I never thought families would come to live here. Its a remote village, very small, without much here, local business owner Giorgos Vassilikoudis said.

But to my surprise, families did come and theyre happy, said Vassilikoudis, who runs a restaurant and guesthouse. Its very good for the village and for people who have shops and businesses. For other villages, it serves as an example. Its a good start.
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Vladimir Putin has said that Russia would develop artificial intelligence with BRICS partners and other countries, in a bid to challenge the dominance of the United States.

Speaking at Russias flagship AI conference, Putin said the new AI Alliance Network would include national associations and development institutions in the field of AI from BRICS countries and other interested states.

"Russia must participate on equal terms in the global race to create strong artificial intelligence. It is precisely the advanced solutions that Russian scientists are currently working on," Putin told an AI conference in Moscow.

"We invite scientists from all over the world to join in the collaboration," he added.

The United States and China are the worlds top AI powers, and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has named a White House AI and Crypto Czar to help ensure the United States remains the richest and most technologically advanced power in the world.

Key Points President Putin announced Russias plan to collaborate with BRICS nations and other countries on developing artificial intelligence.

This initiative aims to challenge US dominance in AI technology.

An "AI Alliance Network" will facilitate joint research, regulate AI, and open member countries markets to AI products.

Russia faces challenges due to Western sanctions restricting access to crucial microchips.

Despite these limitations, Russia aims to become a major player in AI, projecting significant GDP growth from AI by 2030.

Western sanctions intended to restrict Russias access to the technologies it needs to sustain its war against Ukraine have resulted in the worlds major producers of microchips halting exports to Russia, sorely limiting its AI ambitions.

Russias dominant lender Sberbank is spearheading AI development in Russia, but

Sberbank CEO German Gref acknowledged in 2023 that graphics processing units (GPUs), the microchips that underpin AI development, were the trickiest hardware for Russia to replace.

On Wednesday, the bank said national AI associations from BRICS members Brazil, China, India and South Africa, but also from Serbia, Indonesia and other non-BRICS countries, had joined the AI Alliance Network.

It said the network would facilitate joint research into technology and AI regulation, and provide opportunities for AI products to be sold in member countries markets.

open image in gallery Trump has named a White House AI and Crypto Czar ( REUTERS )

Putins move to ally with China could change the dynamics of the AI race.

Russia is one of 10 countries, including the U.S., China, Britain and Israel, that are developing their own generative AI models. The Yakov and Partners consultancy, run by former McKinsey employees in Moscow, says this gives it the potential to become a much more significant player.

Russia sees the use of AI technologies across all sectors adding 11.2 trillion roubles ($109 billion) to gross domestic product in 2030, compared to 0.2 trillion roubles ($1.9 billion) in 2023.

Its AI strategy also says that 80% of all Russian workers should have AI skills by 2030, compared with 5% in 2023, while AI investment should grow seven-fold to 850 billion roubles.

Sberbank, which has developed a generative AI model called GigaChat, and technology leader Yandex, with its YandexGPT model, dominate Russias domestic AI market.

Russia currently ranks 31st of 83 countries by AI implementation, innovation and investment on UK-based Tortoise Medias Global AI Index, well behind not only the United States and China but also fellow BRICS members India and Brazil.

Stanford Universitys AI vibrancy tool, which evaluates 36 countries based on 42 AI indicators including research and development, ranks Russia 29th.
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The jihadi rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad say they want to build a unified, inclusive country. But after 14 years of civil war, putting that ideal into practice will not be easy.

For Syrias Kurdish minority, Americas closest ally in the country, the struggle for a new order is entering a potentially even more challenging phase.

Over the course of Syrias civil war, Kurdish fighters have fended off an array of armed factions, partnered with the U.S. to rout the Islamic State group and carved out a largely autonomous region in the countrys oil-rich east.

But the gains of the non-Arab Kurds are now at risk. The ascendance of the Sunni Arab rebels who overthrew Assad  with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the Kurds  will make it hard for the Kurds to find a place in the new Syria and could prolong the conflict.

The jihadi rebels who rode into Damascus over the weekend have made peaceful overtures to the Kurds. But the rebels violently drove Kurdish fighters out of the eastern city of Deir al-Zour days after government forces abandoned it.

To the north, a separate opposition faction backed by Turkey that has been battling the Kurds for years seized the town of Manbij. And Turkey carried out airstrikes on a Kurdish convoy it said was carrying heavy weapons looted from government arsenals.

The Kurds have long counted on U.S. aid in the face of such challenges. Around 900 American troops are in eastern Syria, where they partner with Kurdish forces to prevent an Islamic State resurgence. But the future of that mission will be thrown into doubt under president-elect Donald Trump, who has long been skeptical about U.S. involvement in Syria.

Here's a closer look at the predicament the Kurds find themselves in.

Who are the U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters in Syria?

The Kurds are among the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world, with some 30 million concentrated in a territory straddling Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. They are a minority in each country and have often suffered persecution, which has fueled armed Kurdish uprisings.

In Syria, they carved out an autonomous enclave early in the civil war, never fully siding with the Assad government or the rebels seeking to topple him.

When the Islamic State group seized a third of the country in 2014, Kurdish fighters  who are secular and include women in their ranks  proved their mettle in early battles against the extremists, earning support from the U.S.-led coalition.

They formed a group known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, which also includes Arab fighters, and drove the Islamic State group out of large areas of Syria with help from U.S.-led airstrikes and American special forces. In 2017, these Kurdish-led forces captured Raqqa, the capital of the extremists' self-styled caliphate.

Why is Turkey fighting the Kurds?

Turkey has long viewed the SDF as an extension of the decades-old Kurdish insurgency within its own borders. It considers the main Kurdish faction a terrorist group on par with the Islamic State and has said it should have no presence in the new Syria.

In recent years, Turkey has trained and funded fighters known as the Syrian National Army, helping them wrest control of territory from the Kurds in northern Syria along the border with Turkey. These Turkish-backed fighters have portrayed themselves as part of the opposition against Assad, but analysts say they are largely driven by opportunism and hatred of the Kurds.

The Kurds have focused on battling the SNA in recent years. But the new leadership in Damascus, which also has longstanding ties to Turkey, could open another, much longer front.

How do the Syrian rebels view the Kurds?

The main rebel faction is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a former al-Qaida militant who cut ties with the group eight years ago and says he wants to build a new Syria free of dictatorship that will serve all its religious and ethnic communities.

Nawaf Khalil, head of the Germany-based Center for Kurdish Studies, said the early signs were positive. He said the rebels steered clear of two SDF-controlled enclaves of Aleppo when they stormed the city two weeks ago at the start of their rapid advance across the country.

It is also positive that they did not speak negatively about the Syrian Democratic Forces," he said.

It remains to be seen if those sentiments will endure. After sweeping into Deir al-Zour this week, a fighter from al-Sharaa's group posted a video saying they would soon advance toward Raqqa and other areas of eastern Syria, raising the possibility of further clashes with the Kurds.

The rebels could still seek some kind of agreement with the Kurds to incorporate them into the post-Assad political order, but that would likely require accepting a degree of Kurdish autonomy in the east. It would also risk angering Turkey, which now appears to be the chief power broker in Syria.

Will the Trump administration support the Kurds?

The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East, Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, met with SDF forces in Syria on Tuesday, in a sign of the Biden administration's commitment to the alliance post-Assad.

But things could change on Jan. 20.

Trump has provided few details about his Middle East policy, aside from saying he wants to end the region's wars and keep the United States out of them.

In a social media post shortly before Assad was overthrown, Trump wrote that Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.

During his previous term, in 2019, Trump abandoned the Kurds ahead of a Turkish incursion, casting it as the fulfillment of a campaign promise to end U.S. involvement in the region's endless wars.

The move prompted heavy criticism, including from prominent Republicans who accused him of betraying an ally. Trump backtracked weeks later, approving a wider mission to secure oil fields in the east. The troops remained where they were and the alliance endured.

___

Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed.

___

Follow the AP's Syria coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/syria
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Russian intelligence agents persuaded Bashar al-Assad to flee Syria with Moscow having become convinced that he would lose against the insurgents rapidly advancing on Damascus, sources have said.

Moscow offered Mr Assad a safe exit if he left the country immediately as the rebel forces led by former al-Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS) approached, leading to the toppling of 50 years of rule by the Assad family.

According to a report by Bloomberg, citing three people with knowledge of the situation, Russian agents flew Mr Assad out via a Russian airbase in Syria, with the aircrafts transponder turned off to avoid being tracked.

The new details follow confirmation by Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, that the Syrian dictator had been whisked out of the country in the most secure way possible.

He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation, he said during an interview with US television network NBC.

On Wednesday, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said developments in Syria demonstrate that countries with a strategic partnership with Russia can rely on Moscow only as long as they are of use to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

A Syrian opposition fighter in front of a provincial government office in Hama ( AP )

During a short visit to Jordan, Mr Pistorius made a stop-over at the Al-Azraq air base on his way to Baghdad where he will discuss ways to help stabilise the region in light of the fall of the Assad regime.

Also on Wednesday, the Kremlin said ensuring the security of Russias military bases and diplomatic missions in Syria was of paramount importance.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said conventions of international law protected Russian facilities and assets in Syria.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was maintaining contacts with those in charge in Syria and that it was hopeful that stability would be achieved.

Russia, whose airforce carried out strikes against the advancing Syrian rebels, has a key air base in the Latakia province and a naval facility in the port city of Tartus.

Asked how much the fall of the Assad regime had weakened Russias influence in the Middle East, Mr Peskov said that Moscow maintained contacts with all countries in the region and would continue to do so.

Russia helped the Syrian Arab Republic at one time to cope with the terrorists and to stabilise the situation after this situation threatened the entire region, and spent a lot of effort for this, he said.

Russia fulfilled its mission, and then the Assad leadership worked in their country, engaged in the development of their country. But unfortunately, the development has led to the situation that is now. And now we need to proceed from the realities that exist on the ground.

Moscows priority, Mr Peskov said, was the war in Ukraine.

The comments from the Kremlin come after another of Mr Assads backers, Iran, wildly claimed that the HTS-led insurrection was being orchestrated by the US and Israeli governments.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also said Iranian intelligence had warned the Syrian government about threats to its stability over the last three months.

Irans Tasnim news agency reported the ayatollahs comments on Wednesday, adding that Damascus had neglected the enemy ahead of Mr Assad fleeing the country.
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Ukraine is battling against a prevailing Russia in the eastern Donetsk region, Kyivs military chief has admitted, as Vladimir Putins forces look to secure as much territory as possible before US president-elect Donald Trumpre-enters the White House.

Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi described the fighting as extremely tough as he was pictured visiting the Pokrovsk area in Donetsk on Wednesday, where Russian forces have advanced to within just a few miles of the citys outskirts.

The area is a linchpin of the wider regions defence and war trackers have expressed concern that should it fall, it could pave the way for Russia to seize swathes of more territory.

Battles continue in the Pokrovsk direction with the enemy prevailing, first of all, in manpower, General Syrskyi wrote on the Telegram messenger app.

Battles are extremely tough. The Russian occupiers are throwing forward all available resources, trying to break through.

He added that they were exploring non-standard decisions to more effectively destroy the attacking forces as he lauded the extraordinary resilience of the Ukrainian troops defending the area.

It is just over a month until Mr Trump is inaugurated on 20 January, having pledged to end the war in Ukraine in just 24 hours, even if that means forcing Kyiv to cede territory to Russia to achieve his goal.

The situation along the entire Donetsk front is now looking increasingly precarious for Ukraine, with several other key towns appearing about to fall into Russian hands.

Below, The Independent looks at the flashpoints of the frontline, and why some believe these losses will continue unless Ukraines military undergoes major changes.

Pokrovsk

For months, the main objective of Russias push in Donetsk has appeared to be Pokrovsk.

Since the fall of the key city of Avdiivka to the southeast in February, Russia has taken almost 400 square miles of the region, advancing nearly 30 miles.

Ukraine rushed to fortify defences in front of the city, ultimately slowing the direct assault, but the Russians responded by widening its attack to exploit weaknesses around the city.

Now, Russian troops have pushed through the towns of Shevchenko and Novyi Trud roughly three miles to the southwest, as well as Mykolaivka on the other side of the city.

Sitting on two key supply lines that feed Ukraines forces throughout Donetsk, the city, once home to 60,000 people, has been pummeled by Russian glide bombs. Only a sixth of the population remains, with tens of thousands having fled.

Its capture would compromise Ukraines defensive abilities and supply routes, and would bring Russia closer to its stated goal of seizing the entire Donetsk region.

In its latest update, the Ukrainian general staff said Russia had launched 40 assaults towards Pokrovsk and had been actively using aviation.

The majority of attacks were concentrated to the southwest of Pokrovsk, including against Shevchenko and Novyi Trud.

Frontelligence Insight, a Ukrainian outfit tracking the war and which is known to have close ties to the Ukrainian military, says they have observed an increased Russian effort to use first-person view (FPV) drones to target supply routes leading to Pokrovsk.

This is a serious threat to the resupply process of Povrosk, potentially threatening the sustainability of Ukrainian defences in the area, they wrote.

They added that there had been an alarming increase in Russian drone attacks against civilians in the area.

open image in gallery Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, left, speaks to a member of the 38th Separate Brigade in Pokrovsk ( Telegram/Oleksandr Syrskyi )

As the Russian attack continues to slowly creep towards Pokrovsk, Ukrainian military figures have become more vocal about the reasons why.

Poor coordination at both the tactical and strategic level, a shortage of personnel within units and insufficient troop rotations (in some cases, none at all) are proving costly, according to Frontelligence Insight. These problems have persisted throughout this year, they added.

And while Russian forces are suffering significant casualties in their mass assault towards and around Pokrovsk - around 400 a day in Pokrovsk alone, according to Gen Syrskyi - their continuous assaults have proven effective in the short to medium term.

Renowned Ukrainian military officer Serhii Filimonov, commander of the Da Vinci Wolves" battalion of the 59th Motorised Brigade, described Pokrovsks defence as a disaster.

The main reason for the disaster in the Pokrovsky direction is the higher command, which sets unrealistic tasks for the units, he wrote.

Generals who do not understand the capabilities of their units and are not oriented in the situation on the front line.

His comments came amid unconfirmed reports that Gen Syrskyi had personally taken charge of some brigades around Pokrovsk, a move that, if true, would be highly unusual.

Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka

open image in gallery Ukrainian soldiers load grad shells on BM-21 artillery, in their fighting position, in the direction of Kurakhove, Ukraine ( Anadolu via Getty Images )

On the bottom left flank of Russias swollen assault towards Pokrovsk, Ukrainian forces are also facing the prospect of having to withdraw from Kurakhove, another key town but this time on the road to the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia region.

The General Staff said there had been 49 attacks in the area in the last 24 hours.

Russian forces had struggled to take the city from the east owing to well-prepared defences. But after shifting tactics to attack from the north, they have had more success.

After gaining control of the lake that runs along Kurakhoves northern outskirts, Moscows troops have since gained control over many of the supply routes into the town, according to Frontelligence Insight, and have pushed into the town of Stari Terny at the top of the waterway.

The Ukrainian focus has now shifted from trying to hold the town, as well a sliver of the area behind, to organising a successful withdrawal to the town of Dachne, adjacent to Stari Terny but roughly four miles back from Kurakhove, according to the Centre for Defence Strategies (CDS), a Ukrainian security think tank.

Further southwest, Russian forces continued to push towards Velyka Novosilka, near the regional border with Zaporizhzhia.

The settlement is a critical stronghold for Ukraine, writes Frontelligence Insight, that has served as a key assembly area for both offensive and defensive operations. It is also a key route linking towns further east to the rest of unoccupied Ukraine.

Since the Russians captured Vuhledar at the start of October, they have pushed nearly 20 miles towards the outskirts of Velyka Novosilka. Its loss could be severe.

Russian forces would gain multiple options for further advances, writes Frontelligence Insight.
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Rescue crews working through the night have pulled two Ukrainian women from rubble more than seven hours after a Russian missile struck a private medical clinic in southern Zaporizhzhia city, killing six people and injuring 22 others, Ukraines emergency services said.

The women called rescue services on their mobile phones to say they were buried under the rubble after the attack late on Tuesday.

Deadly Russian strikes on civilian areas have been a feature of Vladimir Putins almost three-year war.

Ukraine's western allies are sending more aid to help it keep fighting Russias invasion, but Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the Zaporizhzhia strike showed that his country still needs more air defence systems.

He urged western partners to send weaponry they are holding in their arsenals.

We currently do not have enough systems to protect our country from Russian missiles. But partners have these systems, Mr Zelensky said in his daily address to the nation on Tuesday night.

open image in gallery A woman cries after a Russian missile hit a private medical clinic in Zaporizhzhia ( AP )

Air defence systems that Ukraines allies possess should save lives, and not gather dust in storage bases, he said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine kept up its long-range attacks on areas behind Russian lines that are supporting its war effort.

A Ukrainian drone attack caused a blaze at an industrial facility in Russias Bryansk region, governor Aleksandr Bogomaz said.

Air defences downed 14 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region early Wednesday, the Russian defence ministry said.

Also, a Ukrainian missile attack on the city of Taganrog in the Rostov region early on Wednesday damaged an industrial plant, governor Yury Slusar said.

Associated Press
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Syria is heading towards stability and Western fears of future chaos and violence are unfounded, the leader of the rebel group who ousted Bashar Al-Assads regime has claimed.

While Western governments have celebrated the swift toppling of the Assad regime after decades of harsh rule, concerns remain about the future of Syria and the possibility of a power vacuum.

But in his first comments to a Western news organisation, Abu Mohammed al Jolani, the head of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), told Sky News that there will be no return to panic now that they have overthrown the oppressive Assad regime.

The country will be rebuilt, he said. The fear was from the presence of the regime. The country is moving towards development and reconstruction. Its going towards stability.

People are exhausted from war. So the country isnt ready for another one and its not going to get into another one.

The source of our fears was from the Iranian militias, Hezbollah and the regime which committed the massacres we are seeing today.

So their removal is the solution for Syria. The current situation wont allow for a return to panic.

Mr Al Jolani remains a designated terrorist by the US, while his group HTS is proscribed in the UK, but after the rebels swept through Syria was largely welcomed by civilians, Western governments are believed to be reconsidering their approach.

There have been discussions about whether Western countries will lift their terrorist label of Mr Al Jolani and his HTS group.

Under Mr Al Jolani, HTS has spent years trying to distance itself from former ties to al Qaeda. The rebel leader says he has renounced his past as an extremist and now embraces pluralism and tolerance.

The situation in Syria has remained relatively stable since the shock offensive.

In the Syrian capital of Damascus, banks have reopened for the first time since Assads overthrow. Shops were also reopening, traffic returned to the roads, construction workers were back fixing a roundabout in the city centre and street cleaners were out sweeping the streets.

There was a notable decrease in the number of armed men on the streets. Two sources close to the rebels said their command had ordered fighters to withdraw from cities, and for police and internal security forces affiliated with the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS) to deploy there.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure little known across most of Syria, said in a brief address on state television that he would lead an interim authority in the country until 1 March.

He previously ran an administration in a small pocket of the northwest controlled by rebels.

Today we held a cabinet meeting that included a team from the Salvation government that was working in Idlib and its vicinity, and the government of the ousted regime, he said.

The meeting was under the headline of transferring the files and institutions to caretake the government.

The European Unions new foreign policy chief, former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, however, said there remains legitimate concerns about the risks of sectarian violence in Syria and a resurgence of extremism in the country.
The fall of the Assad regime in Syria has led to questions over Russias ability to sustain its military adventures abroad. Russia had supported Assad militarily for over a decade, building on longstanding ties between Moscow and Damascus. But the rapid advance of anti-government forces this month saw Russia apparently powerless to influence the situation beyond a number of airstrikes (as always, apparently mostly delivered on civilian targets) in support of government forces.

That has inevitably led people to draw conclusions about Russias ability to project power overseas, and what it may mean for the course of the war in Ukraine.

But hasty comparisons should be avoided. There is a world of difference between a distant operation in support of a friend of Moscow clinging to power and a major war on Russias own borders for territory which Vladimir Putin has declared should be Moscows to rule.

In previous decades there used to be a truism among observers of the Russian armed forces that Russia would mount military interventions in places that it could drive to  or, ideally, get there by train.

The military deployment to Syria in the previous decade conclusively broke the mould, demonstrating a Russian ability to use air and sea lift to move into a country distant from Russias borders in a manner that surprised and impressed analysts at the time.

But once Russia got there, its manner of going about its business confirmed that other longstanding realities of dealing with Russia remained unchanged. The embrace of atrocities and the tactic of destroying the infrastructure that keeps civilians alive in order to terrorise the populace into submission continued a pattern set by Moscow over decades and centuries and provided a grim preview of the horrors that would be inflicted on Ukrainians today.

The fall of Assad is undoubtedly a setback for Russias ambitions to protect power in the Middle East. Whether  and how  Russias forces in place in the country will need to evacuate is just one of the open questions arising from the change of power in Syria. Another is what the potential impact may be on Russias extension of its power further afield, particularly its presence across Africa, for which a staging post in Syria was an important logistical enabler.

Another potential positive outcome is that other murderous dictators around the world looking for Russian support will understand that support is finite and conditional. That provides an opportunity for Western powers  should they be willing and able to take it  to undermine the willingness of some of the worlds most repellent regimes to back Moscow and invite Russian influence to expand into their own countries.

open image in gallery A Russian tank drives along a road in the Syrian town of Amuda ( Photos by Getty )

But the implications for Russias ambitions for Europe are more limited. In both nature and purpose, Russian support for Assad was a very different undertaking than its assault on Ukraine.

Russian support to Syria was always intended to be a limited footprint, light on ground forces, and to deliver results primarily through the application of air power and the installation of advisers and special forces.

In a way, this reflected the smaller, relatively well-trained and well-equipped army that Russia was trying to develop before 2022. In Ukraine, Russia has by now comprehensively moved away from this model, and fallen back on its comfort zone of winning through quantity not quality  throwing large numbers of troops with limited training forward to soak up bullets and wear Ukrainian forces down through sheer pressure and attrition.

In addition, while presence in Syria was an undoubted foreign policy coup for Moscow  coming as it did on the heels of Russian success in facing down the United States over its own potential intervention there in 2013  this was nevertheless a peripheral interest for Russia. Thats very different from Ukraine, where Putin has staked not only a claim, but Russias entire economy and future on restoration of the empire.

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin meeting with Bashar al-Assad at the Kremlin in September 2021 ( SPUTNIK/AFP/Getty )

And while the fall of Assad continues a succession of reverses and blows to Russias prestige, on the heels of Ukraines incursion into Kursk, and the falling back on North Korean reinforcements to bolster Russian military manpower, none of these presents a serious threat to the power of the Kremlin at home in the way that failure of the war of reconquest of Ukraine would.

In other words, while its true that Syria demonstrates Russia cant always dictate the outcome of conflict far from home, that should be of limited comfort to Europe.

There, Russia is still working hard to rebuild its land forces, alongside air and naval forces that are largely unscathed by the nature of the fighting in Ukraine. There is a consensus across European defence and intelligence chiefs that Russias objectives arent limited to Ukraine.

The real lesson to take from Syria  one reinforced by Ukraine over the last three years  is that Russia and its friends are not invincible, and can be halted in their aims by determined opposition. That should be another (yet another) reminder to the UK and the countries of Western Europe to look to their own defences if they wish to deny Putin his ambitions.
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Converging on Syrias most iconic mosque and spilling into the capitals best-known square, thousands of Syrians gathered on Friday to mark the start of a new era following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.

Chanting, Hold your head up high, youre a free Syrian, crowds flocked to the Umayyad Mosque, one of the largest and oldest in the world, for the first Muslim prayers since the spectacular collapse of the ruling regime.

Thousands more gathered in cities across the country.

The celebrations were a deeply symbolic way to mark the dramatic change of power in Syria, nearly a week after insurgents swept into Damascus  ousting the Assad family who had kept an iron grip on the country for five decades.

In the capital. the countrys interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, delivers the Friday sermon to flag-waving crowds, with a message of unity.

This is a call for all the loyal people of Syria. We have to put our hands in each others hands; we have to collaborate and come together to build Syria, he says, his voice cracking.

open image in gallery Syrians gather at the Ummayyad Mosque in Damascus ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

To return this majestic country to its majestic position among the nations, he adds.

Under Assad, sermons were tightly controlled and monitored, a fact not lost on the crowd. The symbolism was further amplified by the fact that in the early days of the revolution that precipitated the civil war, protesters would often gather at Umayyad Square. Now, fighters and civilians gathered to listen, many stepping inside the sweeping mosque for the first time ever.

Raghab, 22, a student, says it is the first time her family had prayed in the mosque because of the oversight of the regime.

I dont remember a world without war. I grew up in this revolution and civil conflict, she adds. Now I have a future. I want to be an architect so I can rebuild this country.

Many had gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of the rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohamed al-Golani, who heads up the largest insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). He instead appears in a video congratulating the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.

open image in gallery Syrians listen to the sermon by new Syrian prime minister Mohammed al-Bashir ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

I invite them to head to the squares to show their happiness without shooting bullets and scaring people, he says. And then, after, we will work to build this country, and as I said in the beginning, we will be victorious by the help of God.

HTS, which was once aligned with al-Qaeda but has spent years distancing itself from its jihadi roots, has been working to establish security and start a political transition after leading the charge on the capital early on Sunday. They have also been trying to reassure a fractured society, shocked by Assads fall and concerned over extremists among the rebel ranks.

Their fighters are now on the streets, sometimes directing traffic and manning all the security and military buildings  now ransacked and strewn with defaced images of the ousted autocrat.

At Damascuss biggest roundabout, Umayyad Square, where thousands had gathered, HTS foot soldiers originally from Damascus sit on chairs outside the once feared military judiciary building, where arbitrary sentences, including executions, were handed down.

They recently returned to their families for the first time in more than a decade after fighting across the country since 2012. Pointedly, they rest their feet on the defaced image of Assad that they had torn down from the billboard behind them.

open image in gallery Two foot soldiers sitting on a portrait of Assad outside the military judicial building ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

I was just 15 when I left Damascus. I saw my mother for the first time two days ago. It was indescribable. She didnt recognise me, says Abu Hussein, who spent a year in a regime jail in the southern town of Deraa in 2011, where he said they subjected him to electric shocks.

I cant believe Im sitting here in front of the military judicial building, on a broken picture of Assad, hearing the chants of a free Syria. Its like a dream, added his friend Abu Osman al-Shami, 30.

One of the major concerns for the future is the level of damage. Even five years ago, experts estimated that the cost of rebuilding Syria could soar to as high as $400bn (313bn)  dwarfing the annual government budget before the regime collapsed.

Among those worried about this daunting challenge is Raed Salah, head of Syrias civil defence, the White Helmets, whose volunteers have for years been the first responders to regime strikes. Joining the crowds at Umayyad Square he tells The Independent the White Helmets have saved more than 129,000 people. Since the overthrow of Assad, they have been uncovering abuses in the now opened regime jails and detention centres, including searching the notorious Sednaya prison for remaining inmates.

Looking exhausted, Salah says his feelings are complicated.

open image in gallery Syrians gather near Ummayyad Mosque ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

It is happiness and heavy responsibility. We were shocked by the level of destruction to the infrastructure. We were shocked by the lack of services.

He adds that while pulling people out from beneath the rubble had stopped, rebuilding Syria was a more daunting task, saying: We have entered a new stage of work. Rescuing peoples lives wont stop. We have to keep going and help people rebuild their lives.

Fridays celebrations came as US secretary of state Antony Blinken met with allies in the region, looking to shape the transition and calling for an inclusive and non-sectarian interim government.

After talks in Jordan and Turkey  which backs some of the insurgent factions  Mr Blinken arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced stop. So far, US officials have not held direct meetings with Syrias new rulers. Winning international recognition for the new government in Syria remains a major goal.

There are also concerns about the deeply fractured society. Fighting still rages between Turkish-backed insurgent factions, uneasily allied with HTS, and the Kurdish-led forces in the northeast, which are backed by US troops.

Since Assads fall, Israel has bombed sites across Syria, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. It has also seized a swathe of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, calling it a buffer zone.
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It has been 10 years since Morhaf Safi, a young Syrian man, left home to buy a suit for his wedding and never came back.

Ten years since his family in the capital, Damascus, have had any contact with him. Ten years since his older brother, Abdulsafer, 38, last saw his face.

Then on Tuesday, just days after the stunning overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime, a friend texted Abdulsafer a photo of a mutilated body: a face slashed, mouth twisted, eyes hollow and bruised.

My friend asked if this was my brother, Abdulsafer says through tears, clutching the photo on his phone. It was taken inside Harasta, a military hospital in the capital. We think he died just a few days before the regimes collapse.

Abdulsafer was told that at least 35 bodies, all showing signs of torture, had been found in a refrigerated room inside the hospital  including, possibly, that of his beloved brother.

Rebels told reporters they had received a tip from hospital staff about corpses being dumped there, and had subsequently moved the bodies to central Damascus for families to identify.

Outside the morgue, photos of the disfigured bodies are plastered on the walls, and desperate families scour them in the dark using the lights on their mobile phones.

open image in gallery Abdulsafer Safi searched hospitals, prisons and morgues in Damacus for his missing younger brother Morhaf ( Bel Trew/Independent )

Among the images, friends identify what they believe to be the body of Mazen al-Hamada, one of Syrias most prominent activists, who became a global voice against the Assad regimes use of torture after he endured a year of brutal physical, sexual, and psychological abuse in Sednaya.

Released in 2013, and after taking refuge in the Netherlands, he shared his harrowing story with the world. For some inexplicable reason, he decided to return to Damascus in early 2020. He hasnt been heard from since.

Inside the morgue, people move from body to body, examining remains that litter the floor in various stages of decay. Scribbled on some of the blood-smeared body bags are notes about where the bodies were found and in what circumstances.

To this day, we dont know why my brother was imprisoned, Abdulsafer says as he braces himself to take a look inside. We knew he was being held in the Political Security Branch, but then he was transferred to another prison and we lost all contact with him.

Behind him, a woman called Om Hamza, who is searching for her brother and two sons-in-law who have been missing for years, says he is not alone.

Every household in Syria has three or four missing people, she adds. It is our nightmare.

open image in gallery Relatives search records at the notorious Sednaya prison in Damascus for signs of missing loved ones ( Bel Trew/Independent )

Desperate relatives have been doing whatever they can  camping in the grounds of Syrias most notorious prison, as well as searching the halls of overflowing hospitals and morgues  to find those who disappeared during the reign of the now deposed autocrat.

Clutching photos, identification cards, and screenshots of old images, the brothers, mothers and fathers flock to anyone and anywhere that might shed light on their relatives whereabouts.

Over half a century of brutal rule by the Assad dynasty, culminating in 13 years of civil war, was marked by mass arrests, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and executions.

No one knows the true scale of the missing, but the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) estimates that there are at least 150,000 people whose fate remains unknown across Syrias myriad conflicts.

Among them were over 3,500 children, and more than 8,500 women, who remained under arrest or forcibly disappeared by the time Assad was overthrown, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

The head of the rights group, Fadel Abdulghany, broke down in tears on a Turkey-based Syrian television channel on Monday, saying they believe most of the missing people are probably dead.

And so while some families have been reunited, the ICMP has called on the international community to help find the rest.

open image in gallery Outside the notorious Sednaya prison near Damascus, relatives search records to find out what happened to their loved ones ( Bel Trew\Independent )

The global intergovernmental organisation said on Tuesday that it had already collected data from more than 76,200 relatives in Syria, who have officially reported nearly 30,000 missing persons.

Now is the time, the ICMP says, for the world to coordinate in using genetic and database technology to find those who have disappeared.

For justice to prevail in Syria, steps must be taken now  in the midst of present events  to protect evidence, the organisation added, imploring that sites of executions and other human rights violations be treated as crime scenes.

They must be sealed and examined in due course to protect the truth and bring those responsible to justice.

That, unfortunately, was not the case at Sednaya prison, where angry and desperate families stood before smashed CCTV cameras, broken surveillance screens, and destroyed computer mainframes  all apparently sabotaged by regime guards before they fled.

The isolated prison is nicknamed slaughterhouse and death camp. Located 30km (19 miles) north of Damascus, it was described by Amnesty International as the final destination for peaceful protesters and army defectors.

After a video spread across the country showing rebels storming the prison and freeing inmates on Sunday, families from across Syria used their last bit of fuel to drive to the notorious complex and search for their loved ones.

open image in gallery Relatives search records at the notorious Sednaya prison in Damascus for signs of missing loved ones ( Bel Trew/Independent )

With nowhere else to go, many are camping on mattresses on the ground outside the gruesome complex, which is covered in sewage and the scant belongings of inmates. Some dig with their hands into the ground or try knocking through walls, searching for underground prisons and secret cells that are rumoured to exist.

The guards took working screens and storage drives to cover up for Bashar al-Assad and his criminals, says Wali Subhi Nassar from Aleppo, breaking down in tears. About a month ago, a soldier informed me that my brother was in Sednaya. Now that soldier has vanished, and all contact with him has been completely cut off.

As another man tries to comfort him, Wali continues: We will keep pursuing these criminals until the very end. I didnt hold hatred for them, nor have I ever carried a weapon in my life, but now I will hunt them down.

Outside, crowds of desperate families search for clues. Please, I am trying to find my son Enad, who disappeared 12 years ago, a woman sobs, grabbing my arm. Another man, Zakaria, himself a former detainee, shouts: Seven of my family are missing. Their photos are in the records here at the prison  they must be here.

In the capitals hospitals, meanwhile, families race from ward to ward, begging staff for any news of those released from prison, chasing reports of prisoners so badly tortured that they have forgotten their names and lost their minds.

The relatives of the missing stream out of a room on the fourth floor, where two men are being treated for gunshot and torture wounds after their release from prisons in Homs and Damascus  only to find that they have already been claimed by their families.

open image in gallery The ruined landscape in Damascus ( AFP via Getty )

The wife of one of the men  Alaa, a mother of six  says her husband Mohammed, 38, spent two years behind bars for trying to escape military conscription. There, he was tortured and eventually shot in the shoulder as the regime forces fled. He was freed from Sednaya on Sunday.

They never let me see my husband. They used to torture me every time I asked to see him, Alaa says tearfully, explaining how an opposition fighter had reached out to her with the news that he had been freed. When I heard he was released, I started crying along with the children.

At the nearby Ibn al-Nafees hospital, injured detainee Khalid, also freed from Sednaya after two years, is being taken home by his family. Khalid was so badly beaten and tortured, they say he remembers little of what happened to him, and that he was only located by his relatives because of a picture, taken inside the hospital ward, that was circulated on social media.

Back at the morgue, Abdulsafer finds the body he believes to be his brother  but there is a strange tattoo on one arm, and the face is so disfigured he is not sure. A DNA test is needed to confirm whether it is his sibling. But for now, it gives him a sliver of hope.

I cannot be sure, he says. I just hope it means there is a small chance that he might be alive.
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Camping in the grounds of Syrias most notorious slaughterhouse prison north of Damascus and scouring the halls of overflowing hospitals and morgues, desperate relatives search for Syrias missing.

Clutching photos, identification cards, and screenshots of old images, families of those swallowed into the regimes notorious jails and judicial system flock to anyone they think might shed light on the whereabouts of their loved ones.

More than half a century of brutal rule by the Assad regime, culminating in thirteen years of civil war, has been marked by mass arrests, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and executions resulting in tens of thousands missing.

Many have ended up in Syrias various harsh and isolated prisons, like Saydnaya, nicknamed the death camp. Located 30 km north of the capital, Damascus, Amnesty International has described it as the final destination for both peaceful protesters and those defecting from the army.

Alaa, a mother of six, is one of the lucky few: she nurses her husband, Muhammed, 38, one of the two men had just been freed from Saydnaya on Sunday who lies unconscious next to her.

The family had initially fled to Lebanon but returned to Syria in 2014 because they had no money, food or schooling for their children. Her husband was immediately conscripted into Assads army but tried to desert multiple times. Eight months ago, he was eventually transferred to Saydnaya.

open image in gallery Clutching photos and ID cards, families of those swallowed into the regimes notorious jails and judicial system search for the whereabouts of their loved ones ( AP )

There, Alaa says, he was badly tortured and eventually shot in the shoulder as the regime retreated.

They never let me see my husband. They used to torture me every time I asked to see him, she says in tears. When I heard he was released, I started crying, along with the children. My children were crying and happy that their father had been released.

After footage spread across the country showing rebels storming Saydnaya and freeing inmates on Sunday, families from across Syria used the last of their fuel to drive to the notorious prison in search of their loved ones.

With nowhere to go, many are sleeping on mattresses outside the gruesome complex, which is littered with sewage and the scant belongings of inmates. Some are digging with their hands or trying to knock through walls, chasing rumours of underground prisons and secret cells.

Please, I am trying to find my son Enad, who disappeared 12 years ago, a woman sobs, grabbing my arm. Another man, Zakaria, himself an ex-detainee, shouts: Seven of my family are missing. Their photos are in the records here at the prison. They must be here.

open image in gallery The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) said that at least 150,000 people are believed to be missing due to conflict in Syria ( AP )

A man standing behind, holding a wad of prison papers with names written on them, says he cant find his brother-in-law, who disappeared after attending a protest in the southern province of Daraa in 2011. His friend, trying to make sense of what looks like a map of the prison grounds, says he lost his own brother in Daraa three years later; he had gone out to buy a gas canister and never returned.

The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) said that at least 150,000 people are believed to be missing due to conflict in Syria, and that already, families have been reunited after the stunning overthrow of Bashar al-Assad over the weekend.

The global intergovernmental organisation has already collected data from more than 76,200 relatives of missing persons, who have reported 28,200 cases and received reports of 66 mass grave sites .

Now is the time, the group says, for the world to coordinate its genetic and database technology to find Syrias missing.

For justice to prevail in Syria, steps must be taken nowin the midst of present eventsto protect evidence, they added, imploring that places where executions and other human rights violations occurred be treated as crime scenes. They must be sealed and, in due course, examined to protect the truth and bring those responsible for crimes to justice.

Unfortunately, that was not the case at Saydnaya, where angry and desperate families stood surrounded by smashed CCTV cameras, surveillance screens, and mutilated computer mainframes and hard drives.

open image in gallery At Saydnaya, angry and desperate families stand surrounded by smashed CCTV cameras as Assad officials smashed everything as they fled ( AP )

They took 40 working screens and the storage drives only to cover up for Bashar al-Assad and his criminals, says Wali Subhi Nassar from Aleppo, crying tears of frustration.

About a month ago, a soldier informed me that my brother was in Saydnaya. Now, that soldier has vanished, and all contact with him has been completely cut off.

We will keep pursuing these criminals until the very end. I didnt hold hatred for them, nor have I ever carried a weapon in my life, but now I will hunt them down, he says as another man tries to comfort him.

Families who have given up on the prison flood the nearby hospitals like Al-Mouwasat for clues about their missing relatives. Hearing reports of prisoners so badly tortured they have forgotten their names and lost their minds, they run between rooms of injured people, begging nurses and medics for news of any of those released from prison.

They stream out of a room on the fourth floor, where two men are being treated for gunshot and torture wounds after being freed from prisons in Homs and Damascus  only to find they have already been claimed by their families.
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For miles, the bleached ribcages of bombed-out buildings on either side of the main highway north of Damascus flick past as you drive  a grim monument to some of the fiercest battles that took place between Bashar al-Assads forces and rebels at the start of the revolution more than a decade ago.

None of the residents of Jobar  once a revolutionary heartland  were able to return to or rebuild their homes as Syrias civil war rolled on, even after the regime retook control.

Now, after Assads stunning defeat, families, some of whom returned from fleeing the country, pick through the dust-choked rubble of what was once their homes. They gather at Jobars chewed-up central graveyard to host the first funeral here in 13 years.

open image in gallery The devastated remnants of Jobar, as residents return ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

We will have to start rebuilding from scratch, says Ayman Abash, 54, shell-shocked in the dust-choked remains of his home. He was jailed in 2011 by the regime for two years on trumped-up terrorism charges due to his involvement in the protests here.

This region was under siege. The bombardment was relentless  we had to hide in our basements.

They used us as a testing ground for any kind of weapon they had... this is the first time Ive come here and seen it. It was completely destroyed.

The enormity of the destruction here is a stark reminder of one of the immense challenges now facing Syria, a country that must rise from the ashes of more than half a century of Assad family rule, including more than a decade of civil war and, in recent years, a total economic collapse.

open image in gallery A funeral in Jobar ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

This is the focus of discussions in the long bread queues across the capital.

We have just one or two hours of power a day at the moment, says one woman, explaining the difficulties of winter and bread shortages. We hope for change, says another.

Even five years ago, experts estimated that the cost of rebuilding Syria could be as high as $400bn (313bn)  dwarfing what used to be the yearly government budget before the regime collapsed.

No one has any idea what the price tag might be now.

Rebuilding the country is a colossal task after a bloody war that killed hundreds of thousands of people  and also triggered one of the biggest refugee crises in modern history. Cities and neighbourhoods like Jobar have been bombed to ruins, vast swathes of countryside are depopulated, and the economy has been gutted by international sanctions that have yet to be lifted. Millions of refugees still live in camps across different countries.

Now, it is nominally managed by an ad-hoc group of opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group once aligned with al-Qaeda but which has spent years trying to distance itself from its jihadist past. Its fighters now dot the streets, even directing traffic at times. They are tasked with bringing peace and trying to unite one of the most bitterly fractured societies in the Middle East.

open image in gallery Long queues for bread in the Syrian capital Damascus ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

The pressure is on Mohammad al-Bashir, the man installed by HTSs chief Abu Mohammed al-Golani, to lead an interim administration. Al-Bashir, who previously ran a small rebel-led administration in a pocket of northwestern Syria, says he aims to bring back millions of refugees, create unity, and provide basic services. However, he admits that rebuilding will be daunting, with little funding at hand.

In the coffers, there are only Syrian pounds worth little or nothing. One US dollar buys 35,000 of our coins, al-Bashir told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Wednesday.

We have no foreign currency, and as for loans and bonds, we are still collecting data. So yes, financially, we are very bad.

Ali Amin, a senior official in the fledgling Ministry of Information, told The Independent that he is optimistic for the future despite the pressure. He said HTS and the myriad other fighting groups are now in a state of withdrawal, with the police and security forces stepping in to restore order.

He explained that the plan involves a three-month transitional period before a new  presumably civilian  government starts in earnest.

Despite all the challenges, its still better than what the country faced under the Assad regime, when the country was collapsing on all fronts. Any challenges we face now are easier than what we endured under Bashar al-Assads rule, he told The Independent.

open image in gallery Residents return to Jobar ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

We are talking about a new Syria... a Syria focused on development. God willing, we want a Syria for every Syrian, a place that experiences a new renaissance.

There are other challenges.

Fighting still rages in the northeast of the country between Turkish-backed rebel groups and the Kurdish-led, and US-backed, Syrian Democratic Forces. Meanwhile, witnesses on the border with Iraq report that regime soldiers who fled are still camping there. The border with Lebanon has become choked with Syrians apparently aligned with the regime, desperate to leave.

There are also potentially thousands of missing regime conscripts, says a man named Bassam Ahmed, who approaches The Independent for help in central Damascus. His son, Mohammed, 23, was too poor to pay to avoid his military service and despite being badly wounded on the battlefield, was not granted a medical exemption as the Assad regime needed all the men they could get in the final years.

I last heard from my son 10 days ago when he told us he was in Idlib province and that his commander, a general, had fled, leaving them all behind, continues a desperate Bassam.

open image in gallery Residents are returning to Jobar after 13 years of war ( Bel Trew/The Independent )

I have no idea what happened to him or his brigade, or where they are. Just tell me if he is dead or alive  just tell me this.

Foreign officials are only warily engaging with the former rebels, especially as HTS, by far the most powerful, remains designated as an international terrorist organisation by Washington, the United Nations, the EU, and others. Many in Syria hope that will change and are looking for change from the West.

The US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who was heading to the Middle East on Wednesday to work on Syrias transition, said that the US supports an inclusive, Syrian-led transition to an accountable and representative government.

The new government, he continued, must uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, and prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbours.

Back in Jobar, families dwarfed by towering piles of rubble and remains say they are determined to stay put and rebuild.

This is our land, our country. We were born here, and all our wealth is here, said Anas, 30, as he drove his mother and children away from the destroyed remains of their home.

We hope people return to their homes, that the country will prosper, and that theyll find jobs. We must work together to make it possible.
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For over half a century, one family ruled Syria. Yet nearly overnight, as rebels advanced through the country and ultimately reached the capital, Damascus, that brutal reign came to an end.

After 13 years of civil war under the iron-fisted rule of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, there is now hope for millions of Syrians who endured a campaign of barrel bombs, forced disappearances and torture.

But many questions remain as party lines shift and alliances in the region undergo dramatic changes.

How will the fall of the Assad regime reshape geopolitical dynamics worldwide, and what does it mean for key political players?

Israel

open image in gallery Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ( AP )

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed credit for the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime, heralding it as a turning point in the Middle East and saying it was a direct result of the blows we inflicted on the main supporters of the Assad regime.

Professor Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, warned against premature conclusions about the regions future. He told The Independent: Netanyahu would like to take credit for everything except the things which have gone very, very wrong.

Prof Mekelberg said that Israels actions had weakened Hezbollah and disrupted Irans supply lines, which emboldened Syrian rebels to challenge Assads regime but said the future is still uncertain. He said: When a regime of 54 years has completely shuttered and gone, 48 hours later any prediction would be almost irresponsible.

One major concern for Israel is the fragmented nature of the Syrian opposition. Rebel groups now vying for control include factions with ties to al-Qaeda and ISIS, raising fears of increased instability along Israels northern border.

Prof Mekelberg said we still dont know who is going to control Syria and while the border with Syria has been quiet for decades under a 1974 agreement, that stability is now at risk.

Prof Mekelberg said that Israel must tread carefully in the post-Assad landscape: As a country, you watch and see, try to open channels and see what their intentions are. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

The West

open image in gallery Head of Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( AFP via Getty Images )

For the West, the collapse of the regime is a cause for both cautious optimism and significant concern.

This is an opportunity to stabilize Syria in a more meaningful way than was ever possible, Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Independent.

He continued: It could open the pathway for refugee returns and dial down the impacts of conflict which have had such a big impact on European politics for the last few years.

But Mr Barnes-Dacey said success hinges on Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS), willingness to embrace power-sharing rather than monopolising authority: If they want to replace one authoritarian regime with another then clearly Europeans need to be more wary about offering incentives.

In the US, president Joe Biden and senior officials have described this moment as a historic opportunity for the Syrian people to move beyond decades of oppressive rule under Assad. However, they have also acknowledged that the country faces significant risks and uncertainties during this transitional period.

President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his longstanding opposition to US involvement in Syria. On social media, Trump dismissed Syria as not our fight and warned against further engagement.

HTS is labelled a terrorist organisation by the UK, EU, and US and Mr Barnes-Dacey warned that governments risk viewing the situation through a prism of fear and threats, which could perpetuate negative dynamics.

Mr Barnes-Dacey said strong leadership is needed to mobilise economic resources and end sectoral sanctions on Syria which could create pathways for recovery and growth. He said sanctions are clearly an obstacle but not insurmountable if used to get positive outcomes. He continued: Given the dire state of the country, its an imperative.

Russia

open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ( SPUTNIK/AFP/Getty )

The rapid collapse of Assads regime has exposed vulnerabilities in Moscows reach, with implications for its ambitions not just in the region, but also in Africa and Europe.

Russia expert Mark Galeotti told The Independent that much depends on whether Russia can retain its two key military bases in Syria: Tartus, a naval facility, and the Khmeimim airbase.

Losing these would also undermine Russias power in Africa, as the bases served as staging points for operations across the continent. Galeotti said that the loss of Tartus would mean the end of any pretensions of being a real naval power. Losing the Khmeimim airbase would also complicate Moscows logistical capabilities, forcing Russia to rely on Turkish airspace for supply routes, he said.

Despite the loss of Assad, a key ally of Russian president Putin, Mr Galeotti said he has been struck by the relative calm in Russian official narratives.

Keir Giles of Chatham House said: The fall of Assad is undoubtedly a setback for Russias ambitions to project power in the Middle East. He suggested that Assads fall might signal to other authoritarian regimes that Russian support has limits.

This provides an opportunity for Western powersshould they be willing and able to take itto undermine the willingness of some of the worlds most repellent regimes to invite Russian influence, he said.

Turkey

open image in gallery Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (R) shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2008 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The sudden collapse of Assads regime has left most global powers scrambling to reassess their strategies in Syria, but for Turkey, it presents a unique opportunity to solidify its influence in the region.

As Catherine Philp of The Times said: No country is better placed than Turkey to emerge as the great winner from the fall of Assad. Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House, pointed to complexities: Turkey is close to al-Jawlani [leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham] but does not control his forces; the Syrian National Army is more Ankaras proxy. Until now, Turkey has focused on issues near its border, particularly the challenge posed by Kurdish fighters. Now, it must engage with whats happening in Damascus and southern Syria.

Wallace says Erdogans success in uniting disparate rebel factions, including HTS, was instrumental in Damascuss downfall. With Russia and Iran mourning the loss of their ally and the West assessing its next steps, Turkey stands ready to assert itself as a dominant player in Syrias uncertain future.

Iran

open image in gallery Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, speaks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi ( The Associated Press )

The fall of Assad marks a significant blow to Irans influence in the Middle East, dismantling a key part of its regional strategy. For over a decade, Tehran had invested heavily in propping up Assads regime but now Iran faces the collapse of its network of influence.

Irans investment in Syria was not just about supporting an ally but also about ensuring a direct supply route to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Mohammad Javad Akbarin, a dissident Iranian political analyst, told Deutsche Welle (DW) that Tehran might now focus on preventing the establishment of a stable government in Syria to maintain leverage in the region.

In its first statement following Assads fall, Irans foreign ministry emphasised its historical ties with Syria, signalling an intent to maintain relations with whatever new leadership emerges.
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Human rights groups and the United Nations have asked European countries not to deport Syrian refugees in haste amid the chaos and uncertainty that has gripped the West Asian nation following the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad.

After 13 years of civil war, which forced millions of Syrians to seek refuge in Europe and Asia, rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a rebranded Al Qaeda and Isis affiliate, swept the country and took control of Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing Assad and forcing him to flee to Russia.

Mr Assads ouster has offered hope to Syrians who endured a campaign of bombings, forced disappearances and torture under his family rule for decades.

While some Syrian refugees have expressed willingness to return home, many have been left apprehensive by the ongoing fighting between the rebel militia alliance and Kurdish groups backed by the US as well as incessant bombings by Israel targeting over 450 military and research facilities. Israeli forces have also invaded the demilitarised buffer zone along the Golan Heights, a swathe of Syrian territory that they have occupied for decades.

Shortly after Mr Assad's ouster, at least 14 European nations, including the UK and Germany, put asylum applications from Syrians on hold.

No government should be sending or planning to send people back involuntarily," Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

Amnesty International said that given Syria's volatile situation, "countries should avoid plunging Syrian refugees and people seeking asylum into situations of further uncertainty and precarity".

open image in gallery Syrian opposition fighters celebrate after the Syrian government collapsed in Damascus ( AP )

The British government put 6,500 Syrian asylum claims on hold this week, immigration minister Angele Eagle said. She said that the UK would like to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees.

Because the main reason people claim asylum from Syria  is that they were flying from the brutal Assad regime which has just collapsed before our eyes," Ms Eagle told Times Radio.

"So we cant measure any decision against a factual reality at the moment."

open image in gallery A woman arriving from Syria walks with her luggage into Lebanon through the northern crossing of Al-Arida ( AFP via Getty )

Germany, which hosts the third-largest population of Syrian refugees, announced on Monday that it was halting decisions on more than 47,000 claims from Syrians and prioritising applicants from other countries instead.

Germany has about 716,000 Syrian refugees, who mostly arrived after then chancellor Angela Merkel refused to close the borders to people fleeing the civil war in Syria.

Jens Spahn, deputy leader of the conservative CDU parliamentary group, suggested chartering planes and offering Syrians 1,000 (825) each to leave the country.

Greece paused asylum applications of around 9,000 Syrians and scheduled a meeting for Friday to finalise the decision. The Netherlands was withholding for six months decisions on applications received less than 21 months ago, migration minister Marjolein Faber said.

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Croatia, Italy, Norway, and Denmark too have suspended asylum applications from Syrian refugees.

open image in gallery Members of the Syrian community hold flags as they rally on Sergels Square in Stockholm ( Getty )

At least 7.4 million Syrians remained internally displaced and nearly 4.9 million were seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, the UN said in a 2024 report.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said "all refugees have the fundamental right to return to their country of origin at a time of their choosing, and all returns must be voluntary, dignified and safe.

No asylum seeker should be forcibly returned, as this would violate the non-refoulement obligation on states," it added.

The Council of Europe said decisions made by its member nations to deport Syrians raised "urgent questions about whether states are acting in accordance with international laws and the principle of non-refoulement.

The principle of non-refoulement prohibits the deportation of people to a country where they could face the risk of harm.

Human Rights Watch said the current approach of European countries carries real risks, especially given how keen some European states are to declare Syria safe and begin returns.

The situation on the ground is fragile and unpredictable and the possibility of new waves of refugees fleeing persecution cant be dismissed, it said.
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David Seymour's job over the next few weeks is making sure that American Airlines flights take off on time and fly safely during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Seymour is American's chief operating officer, which means he oversees flight and airport operations for a carrier that figures to make about 6,500 flights a day between now and New Year's Day.

A West Point graduate and former U.S. Army infantry officer, Seymour joined America West Airlines in 1999. America West became US Airways, then merged with American in 2013. Seymour has held a variety of operations-related jobs and was promoted to his current post in 2020.

Seymour spoke with The Associated Press about managing huge passenger numbers during the holidays and preventing people from getting on a plane before their boarding group is called. The answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Q. How are you going to make sure American flights run on time during the holidays?

A: There are many thousands of people running the airline every day. My job, honestly, over this period isnt so much about managing the chaos, it's managing really all the challenges, and we'll call it the headwinds that come our way. And I would say the vast majority of those are the uncontrollable.

Q. Such as?

A: Whats going on the (air-traffic control) system around us. If there weren't weather that we have to deal with and other complications that sometimes arise, running an airline would be pretty easy.

Q. How will you recover from disruptions?

A: Before the pandemic, we would have a big storm in the DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) area or the Charlotte (North Carolina) area, and it would take us a couple of days (to recover). We set about coming through the pandemic and coming out that we are going to recover better than any carrier out there.

Q. And how will you do that?

A: By anticipating the weather. My team looks out constantly at what the weather is, looking at multiple weather forecasts to understand whats coming, what could it do, and how are we prepared for that.

Q. How much do you learn from big cancellation events? And how much do you learn from meltdowns at other airlines?

A: The team here, they do an after-action review. We will look at it and say, What could we have done better? And we archive that information. Now, to your other question about competitors. Im not inside the other competitors' operations centers and looking at how they do that. Their networks are set up differently than ours. We do ask ourselves, OK, if something similar were to happen to us, what would we do?

Q. With Christmas travel, what what are the big things youre looking for? Is it weather? Air-traffic control problems?

A: Weather is always a tough thing to predict. Thats really going to be one of the largest things because it has the potential for having the most impact. Controller-wise, we stay in touch with (the Federal Aviation Administration). We have a team out here that is in constant communication with the FAA, looking at whats happening in the system, and were building contingency plans if they think there are going to be some challenges.

Q. You need to deice <strong>planes</strong>.

A: The only difference between summer and now is we have to deal with winter weather in some locations. So, deicing. But were ready for that. The technology we have right now with the deicing vehicles ... weve been able to reduce our throughput time on deicing by half and still meeting all the requirements that we need to in terms of adequately deicing the aircraft, but having one person do it.

Q. Are the delays in deliveries of new planes from Boeing affecting your holiday season planning?

A: No. Boeing needs to be successful, they need to be able to deliver quality aircraft, but we haven't built our schedule for the holiday period that is dependent on getting any deliveries. We have enough buffer built in.

Q. American recently expanded the rollout of technology to catch people who try to board the plane before their boarding group is called. What went into that decision?

A: Our frequent and premium travelers look at (the technology to catch line-jumpers) as a benefit of being loyal to American Airlines. It's a huge plus for our gate agents because they do like order.

Q. Were people boarding out of order slowing down the boarding process?

A: No. We just want a steady stream (of passengers) going in. The ability to get overhead bin space ... has gotten a lot better with some of the upgrades that weve done with larger overhead bins on the vast majority of our aircraft. We're going to finish up the rest of the fleet in the next couple years with the large overhead bins. So that wont be the issue, but that used to be a bit of that driver there.
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Over the past few years, rail strikes have become as synonymous with Christmas as Mariah Carey and Wham!.

The incoming Labour government vowed to move fast and fix things in transport; ministers and officials quickly settled the train drivers dispute with a 15 per cent pay award covering three years.

But stoppages are back for Christmas 2024 on the intercity network linking London Euston with the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales and southern Scotland.

Train managers belonging to the RMT union and working for Avanti West Coast will walk out on some of the busiest days of the winter: Sunday 22, Monday 23 and Sunday 29 December.

Most Avanti trains connecting the capital with Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow will be cancelled, affecting tens of thousands of travellers.

At the heart of the dispute: what the RMT calls inadequate proposals on rest day working arrangements.

The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: Train managers are being treated unfairly compared to senior managers, who receive significant payments for covering these roles.

Avantis latest proposals were rejected by 92.8 per cent of members on a turnout of 81 per cent  representing three-quarters of those polled.

Mr Lynch said: Avanti West Coasts proposals have been decisively rejected by our train managers, sending a clear message to management that the current arrangements are unacceptable.

Our members have had enough, and this strike action demonstrates their determination to win a fair deal.

Its time for Avanti to put forward serious proposals that reflect the vital contribution of our train managers to the railway.

We remain ready to reach a negotiated settlement and we urge management to show they are serious about resolving this dispute.

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: At one of our busiest and most important times of the year when our customers should be making journeys to visit family or friends during the holiday period, they will now face significant disruption because of these strikes.

We are disappointed RMT have voted to decline the very reasonable offer made to them to resolve the rest day working dispute and prevent inconvenience to those many people who will be travelling on the West Coast main line over this time.

We will continue to work with the RMT to resolve the dispute.

On the strike dates, Avanti West Coast services will be extremely limited. The reduced timetable for 22 and 23 December will be published on 14 December. Passengers who already have tickets for those dates can use their ticket for any alternative Avanti West Coast service between 16 and 24 December.

Those booked to travel on 29 December can take an alternative service between 28 December and 3 January.

The strike will put extra pressure on train operators that run parallel routes to Avanti, including London Northwestern, Chiltern, CrossCountry and TransPennine Express.

With some passengers switching to cars, it will also add to motorway congestion.

Between Scotland and London, some travellers will fly instead. On the Glasgow-London Heathrow route for 22 December, some British Airways one-way fares have risen to nearly 500, but much cheaper tickets  around 70  are available earlier in the day.
Sir Keir Starmer compared Kemi Badenoch to an arsonist complaining about the person putting the fire out in a heated immigration debate during Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, 11 December.

Attacking his record as Director of Public Prosecutions, the Conservative leader said the prime minister backed criminals instead of law-abiding British people, arguing that Sir Keir voted against more than 100 migration control measures and said it was wrong when the previous government revoked Shamima Begums citizenship.

Sir Keir defended his record by declaring he dedicated 5 years of his life to law enforcement and described Ms Badenochs accusations he has not done anything were like an arsonist complaining about the person putting the fire out.
A lawyer representing Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has said there is "no evidence" that links a gun that was found on his client's person to the crime.

Defense attorney Thomas Dickey told ABC News: "I have not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found on his person to the crime, so these are things that we're looking to see."

Mr Mangione faced an extradition hearing Tuesday in Pennsylvania after New York prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder in connection with last weeks killing in Manhattan.

Mangione was denied bail and is fighting extradition. His lawyer said he expects to plead not guilty. He will remain in a Pennsylvania jail while fighting being returned to New York.
Nigel Farage squirmed in a heated interview as he was questioned on a Reform UK MPs assault conviction for kicking his former girlfriend 18 years ago.

The party leader described James McMurdock as someone who has picked himself up from a terrible situation and made a big success.

The former investment banker did not publicly disclose his conviction for assault before being elected and claimed he had pushed his partner.

The Times later obtained information about his sentencing from the courts, which said he was locked up for 21 days in a young offenders institute for kicking the victim around four times in 2006 when he was a teenager.

Mr Farage dismissed the discrepancy between Mr McMurdocks comments about the incident and the official record as an issue for constituents.
Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of a forceful Israeli response if Syrias new leadership allows Iranian re-establishment following the collapse of Bashar al-Assads regime.

The Israeli prime minister said he authorised air forces to bomb strategic military capabilities left by the Syrian army to avoid them falling into the hands of Jihadists.

Though Israel welcomed the fall of Assad, an ally of its main enemy Iran, it reacted cautiously to the leading rebel faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which has roots in Islamist movements including al Qaeda and Islamic State  though it has sought to moderate its image.
Former managers of New Zealands and Norways sovereign wealth funds have been recruited by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) to supervise the two cash reserves set up by the Irish government.

Matt Whineray, former CEO of New Zealands Super Fund, and Knut Kjaer, who was in charge of managing Norways financial wealth between 1998 and 2007, have been appointed to an investment committee that will oversee Irelands new funds.

They are among six appointments made by the NTMA to the committee that will help decide how the billions going into the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) will be invested.

The two funds were set up earlier this year by the Irish government in order to salt away the windfall corporation tax revenues that have been flowing into the exchequer. By the end of this year the two will have combined assets of over 10bn.

The appointments include two board members of the NTMA  John S Daly, who will chair the investment committee, and Geraldine Jones. The four external members of the committee all have international expertise in investment and corporate governance.

As well as helping to set up the New Zealand Super Fund, Matt Whineray is the chair of FirstCape Group, a wealth management firm overseeing $50bn in assets. Knut Kjaer is also chair of the supervisory board of APG Asset Management, which manages Europes largest pension fund, ABP, based in the Netherlands.

He was on the commission that managed the now-defunct Irish National Pensions Reserve Fund, an earlier long-term cash reservoir that was cleaned out during the financial crisis.

They will be joined by Anne Gram, who is a board member at ABP, and has been chief investment officer at asset managers such as Robeco. The sixth appointee is Deborah Reidy, a former director of investment consulting at Aon Hewitt.

Last month the NTMA appointed Rebekah Brady as director of a new Future Ireland Funds unit, which will manage the two funds. The idea behind the Future Ireland Fund is to pay for the additional healthcare and pension costs that will be needed from 2041 onwards due to Irelands ageing demographics. It is expected to contain 100bn by 2035

The ICNF, the smaller of the two new funds, is designed to bolster government expenditure if there is a significant deterioration in the economic or fiscal position of the State, and money from it will be assigned to some environmental projects between 2026 and 2030.

The NTMA has previously said that, until a long-term investment strategy is approved, the interim plan should reflect a low risk appetite, permitting only highly rated liquid securities that have a low degree of inherent risk.

Frank OConnor, the NTMA chief executive, said the appointments were a significant step forward in the establishment of the Future Ireland funds. They will bring highly valuable expertise in global markets to the new investment committee and will play an important role in the development and implementation of the long-term investment strategies for each fund, he said.

This will be particularly important for the Future Ireland Fund as we look to 2041 and beyond.
The carriers are telling me there is a lot of Christmas-related stuff sitting in Holyhead right now.

There are growing fears in industry of shortage of some goods, including restocking of some popular books, in Irish shops in the run-up to Christmas, as the port of Holyhead remains closed for a fourth day. After suffering infrastructural damage in Storm Darragh, the port has not handled marine traffic since last Saturday morning.

The Irish Exporters Association has called for urgent action to re-open services, pointing out that the Dublin-Holyhead route is a vital trade link between Ireland and the UK.

The prolonged closure has already caused considerable disruptions, affecting supply chains, businesses, and consumers alike, and any further delay could impact the availability of certain items in the run-up to Christmas, it said.

Simon McKeever, chief executive of the representative group, claimed there is now a backlog at both Holyhead and Dublin ports, and that this will take days to clear. The Welsh port is due to re-open on Thursday, but he pointed out that this had been promised before and not materialised.

The carriers are telling me there is a lot of Christmas-related stuff sitting in Holyhead right now, Mr McKeever told the Irish Independent, adding that every type of product was affected. I had a long conversation with one of the carriers who has a very mixed bag of goods, coming in and out, and they said it was a bit of everything.

From a supply-chain point of view, items that are needed in production are all stuck. Its a double whammy for the export industry as the trailers are not available to go back out.

However, toys ordered for the busy Christmas period are likely to be largely unaffected having arrived into the Irish market for stocking on shelves by early December.

A spokesman for Dublin Port said it remains operational and that it has not experienced freight congestion in the aftermath of Storm Darragh. We are in close contact with our operators, who have kept their customers up to date with the situation, the spokesman said. We are working closely with the operators to prepare for the resumption of Holyhead services.

A situation such as this underlines the importance of having multiple routes and cargo types servicing Dublin Port.

Eugene Drennan, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, said the reaction to the shutdown has been too slow, yet again. Some traffic had been diverted through Rosslare, but it couldnt increase capacity sufficiently, he said.

We badly need a contingency plan with storms happening year-on-year, but nothing has happened as bad as this in quite a while. The two berths are gone in Holyhead since last Friday evening, both Stenas and Irish Ferries, and that accounts for a massive flow of freight.

Mr Drennan was unable to put a number on how many hauliers might be stuck at Holyhead, but said it usually has four sailings a day, and at least six days are being missed, so that is a considerable amount of vehicles and freight.

A spokesperson for Holyhead Port said: Last Saturday morning, during Storm Darragh, an incident occurred at Holyhead Port which caused damage to port infrastructure. As a result it has remained closed to all marine traffic. No injuries were reported, and all relevant authorities were informed of the incident.

A thorough assessment of the extent of the damage has been ongoing. However this process has been delayed due to continued poor weather conditions. It is now anticipated that Holyhead Port will remain closed until 17:15hrs on Thursday.

Irish Ferries said: The closure of Holyhead Port is outside our control and is a matter for the operator, Stena Line Ports. We understand the inconvenience caused by this disruption and are continuing to liaise closely with customers booked to travel on the route to make alternative arrangements.
US billionaire David Bonderman, a former chairman of Ryanair, has died at the age of 82.

Mr Bonderman was a co-founder of private equity firm TPG, which went public in 2022 and now has a market value of more than $24bn.

He was the non-executive chairman at Ryanair from 1996 until 2020. A former civil rights lawyer, he was born in Los Angeles. He had an irreverent reputation. He left the board of Uber in 2017 after saying that if there were more women on the board there was likely to be more talking.

TPG invested in Ryanair in 1996 after being courted by founder Tony Ryan.

We thought that the airline had great possibilities, but I don't think that anyone foresaw that Ryanair would be the stunning success that it has been," he told the Irish Independent in a rare interview in 2015.

At TPG Mr Bonderman became a billionaire by spearheading massive company takeovers, bailouts of foundering enterprises and investments in start-ups.

He was a leading member of a generation of financial entrepreneurs who built fledgling private equity buyout shops into Wall Street powerhouses. Others include Henry Kravis, Steve Schwarzman and David Rubenstein.

Mr Bonderman had an eye for unconventional bets. "Returns tend to be better in places where either the troops are in the street, or the prices are low," he said of his investing approach.

His first big deal, in 1993, was leading a $450m recapitalisation of Continental Airlines during its second bankruptcy. TPG netted a ninefold profit when it sold its stake in the airline.

As a venture investor, Mr Bonderman and his firm made early and successful bets on Airbnb, Spotify and Uber.

"David is a contrarian par excellence," Clive Bode, a TPG partner, said in a 2016 video paying tribute to Mr Bonderman's corporate citizenship. "He likes complex, ridiculously treacherous transactions. Neither complexity nor difficulty dissuades him."

Before entering finance, he was a lawyer, including working on civil rights cases, insider trading cases and historic preservation.
The Central Bank has appointed Mary-Elizabeth McMunn to the position of Deputy Governor, Financial Regulation, where she will take over from Sharon Donnery.

Ms Donnery has taken up a new role as a European Central Bank (ECB) representative to the Supervisory Board of ECB Banking Supervision.

As Deputy Governor, Financial Regulation, Ms McMunn will be a member of the Central Banks executive leadership team, which has overall responsibility for delivery of the Central Banks strategy and its transformation agenda. She will take up the new position from January 1.

In her new role, she will oversee supervisory risk analytics and data, policy and international, and supervision of the banking and payments, credit unions and insurance sectors.

She will also be a member of the Central Bank of Ireland Commission, effectively its board of directors, and become a member of the ECBs Banking Supervision Supervisory Board which has responsibility for directly supervising the largest banking groups in the euro area.

A second deputy governor, Vasileios Madouros, is also a member of the Central Bank Commission.

The law limits the number of deputies who act as ex-officio members of the Commission to two and historically the Central Bank has only had two deputies and one governor.

Mary-Elizabeth McMunn

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th December 2024

In 2022, a third deputy, Derville Rowland, was appointed, but without a seat on the Commission.

Ms McMunn joined the Central Bank in 1997 and has been Director of Banking, Payments and Credit Unions at the Central Bank since September 2018.

Ms Donnery was the first woman appointed a deputy head of the Central Bank of Ireland, in 2016, and she was the first to serve as interim governor following Philip Lanes move to a full-time role with the ECB in Frankfurt.

Announcing the new appointment, Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf said: I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mary-Elizabeth McMunn as Deputy Governor, Financial Regulation. Mary-Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience in financial regulation and extensive leadership experience allied with a deep knowledge of the financial system and of the regulatory environment in Europe. She is an exemplar of the open and inclusive culture and values of the Central Bank of Ireland.

Outgoing Finance Minister Jack Chambers welcomed the appointment.

Ms McMunn brings significant experience in the areas of banking, payments, supervision and credit unions to her new role as Deputy Governor, where she will play a key role in leading the Central Banks regulatory policy at national, European and global level. I would like to wish Ms McMunn every success in the role, he said.
Popular food firm operates from Aungier Street

The Revenue Commissioners has moved to have a popular Dublin pizza company wound up.

A petition has been filed by Revenues collector general, Joseph Howley, to have Irish Pizza Ventures Ltd wound up.

The company operates the well-known Dublin Pizza Company from the capitals Aungier Street, which has won awards for the quality and flavour of its artisanal food.

Irish Pizza Ventures was founded by Michael Ryan and opened on Aungier Street in 2016. Its the only company that he is a director of.

Asked for comment on Tuesday, Dublin Pizza Company said it was not aware of any move by Revenue.

We have not been served with or are aware of any winding-up order in relation to this company, it said.

The petition to have the business wound up was filed to the courts by Joseph Howley on December 4. It will be heard before the High Court on January 13. The notice was published in Iris Oifigiuil, the States official gazette.

The petition says Revenue Commissioners is a creditor of the company but the company owners will have a chance to challenge its case when the court hears the petition.

The business was founded in 2016

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th December 2024

Any creditor or contributory of the said company who wishes to support or oppose the making of an order on the said petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose, and a copy of the petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said company who requires it by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same, the official filing notes.

Irish Pizza Ventures hasnt filed any accounts with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) since 2019. Those accounts were for the 2017 financial year and are the only set of accounts the company has ever filed with the CRO.

While the Dublin Pizza Company has received accolades for its pizzas, it was briefly ordered to close during the summer by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) due to hygiene concerns. Among the issues were old food debris, dirt, cobwebs and dead insects on the floor.

The Dublin Pizza Company outlet undertook remedial work the day after being issued with its notice and immediately reopened.

Mr Ryan insisted at the time that the issues raised were solely a result of structural works being undertaken at the property on Aungier Street.
The new Irish store promises more products, faster delivery and fewer geographical charges

Amazon will announce details of its new Amazon.ie store in the New Year as the tech giant prepares to shift its Irish customer base fully to a local operation.

The company today invited companies to register for Amazon.ie ahead of its New Year announcement, which promises more details on how the localised Amazon.ie store will work for customers and sellers.

The move should mean more one-day delivery service around Ireland as well as a wider range of products free from customs charges or trade restrictions.

The launch of an Irish Amazon store has been in development since the tech and retail giant established its first Irish fulfilment centre in Dublin in 2022, with hundreds of thousands of products stocked.

Amazon says that the launch of Amazon.ie will allow for quicker delivery and returns, helped by a five-year agreement struck between An Post and Amazon last year aimed at more efficient deliveries and returns.

The new store should also lessen custom charges sometimes imposed on products currently bought from the UK.

The company is expected to clarify whether Irish Amazon Prime members, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, will move over to Amazon.ie as their primary account or remain with Amazon.co.uk. It has also to confirm what the price of an Amazon Prime account in Ireland might be.

There will be more Irish products, said Amazons country manager for UK and Ireland, John Boumphrey, in a previous interview with the Irish Independent.

We expect to see [sales] volume growing. And that will result in more deliveries and more growth in the country.

Amazon says that Irish customers can currently shop among 100 million products on its website.

Over 1,000 small and medium-sized Irish businesses already sell more than 5.5 million products on Amazon, with home, beauty, grocery, and health and personal care the most popular categories, the company said in a statement.

More than 60pc of sales on Amazon stores globally are from independent sellers, most of which are small and medium-sized businesses.

The company claims that in 2023, Irish SMEs selling on Amazon recorded over 170m in export sales, with over half of those in export sales outside the EU.

Those SMEs have also gone on to create more than 2,500 Irish jobs to support their businesses on Amazon, it claimed.

Amazon says that it employs around 6,500 people in Cork, Dublin and Drogheda including data engineers, operations management and finance. A major data centre operator here, the giant says that it has invested more than 22bn in Ireland since 2004, with 17bn of that occurring since 2020.

The company has also announced that Alison Dunn has been appointed as the new country manager for Amazon in Ireland, and will oversee Amazon.ie when it launches in 2025. The Dubliner has been at Amazon for almost a decade, where she has worked in marketing, product management, and customer experience, as well as in Amazon Web Services.

The [Amazon.ie] store is great news for Irish customers and businesses alike and were taking another big step towards launching Amazon.ie by opening our doors for businesses to join us as selling partners ahead of launch, she said.
A rebel fighter rides in a truck mounted with a weapon in front of Syrian Central Bank, after rebels seized the capital and ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Photo: Reuters

The vaults in Syria's central bank were left unscathed by looters in the turmoil that briefly engulfed the capital Damascus after the overthrow of president Bashar al-Assad, a senior business leader and three other sources told Reuters. Syrian rebels had seized Damascus unopposed on Sunday after a lightning advance that sent Assad fleeing to Russia after a 13-year civil war and more than five decades of autocratic Assad family rule.
GLOBALink | Tourist train opens for snow season in China's Heilongjiang Pub Date:24-12-11 10:56 Source:Xinhua

As the snow season arrives in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, train services connecting the provincial capital Harbin and the Yabuli Ski Resort are back in operation. #GLOBALink Editor:Qin Shuying

Related News GLOBALink | Faces of China: Oroqen girl dr... GLOBALink | Exploring Rua do Cunha, Macao'... Across China: Rural tourism thriving in ea... GLOBALink | Faces of China: Passionate vol...
Two weeks before Covid struck the nation in 2020, while leaning into a lambing pen to lift a feed bucket, my back gave out. I couldnt even stand up, and the pain was extreme.

Pushed into hospital in a wheelchair, and with a disc pressing on the nerve in my back, I was given the choice to have surgery, or face having a dropped foot and back pain for life.
Police are investigating anti-Irish language posters placed on cars in Belfast on Monday evening

An attendee of an Irish language class in Belfast has said she will not be put off by low level intimidation after anti-Irish posters were left on cars outside the venue.

On Monday evening, students at the Irish language conversational class held at The Points bar on the Dublin Road left the venue to find anti-Irish language posters left on their cars which stated English is our mother tongue and that most Irish people should hate the Irish language.

It also claims Irish governments force people to speak Irish and Irelands Christianity is a much more important part of Irelands heritage than the language ever was, while the government would do much more for the Irish people if they taught Latin in our schools instead of Irish.

Police are investigating anti-Irish language posters placed on cars in Belfast on Monday evening

Police are treating the distribution of the flyers as a hate incident.

A woman who attends the class, who wished to remain anonymous, said she believes its too random for it not to be deliberate considering the Irish class takes place in the area.

Its a free Irish language class every Monday and Thursday, its conversational, drop in and drop out and around 10-20 people go every week, she said.

When we came out last night around 8.30pm we were standing chatting at the door, and one of the other students came running back to us shouting this was on my car and she showed us it.

It was only when we looked around, we realised that the areas cars had it on them.

Anti-Irish language leaflet on a car windscreen

I feel like its targeted. The writing is a bit rambly, but its weird that they done it when we were there. The Points then called the police, who then called me, and they confirmed they are treating it as a hate incident.

She said although she understands there is free speech she is distressed at the fact it was targeted at the class.

Its a lovely little class that just promotes learning a language.

The student said she hopes the incident doesnt put people off.

Some of the students were a little worried, some asked to be walked to their car  people were worried they were being watched. People are freaked out and a little worried.

It wont put me off, but its just disappointing. To get this low-level of intimidation in 2024, nearly 2025, is wrong.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Police received a report of leaflets being placed on a number of vehicles parked in the Dublin Road area on Monday evening, December 9.

Inquiries are ongoing into this report, which is being treated as a hate incident.
With coalition talks under way, data centres are becoming more divisive. Stock image. Photo: Getty

As energy experts and environmentalists warn against further data centre growth, parties hoping to form the next government have varying policies on the sector.

The issue is becoming increasingly important as data centres use huge amounts of electricity. The power produced by every new wind turbine erected since 2017 has been eaten up by them.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) started receiving calls from families looking for help with the cost of Christmas as early as October.

Last year, the charity answered a record number of 250,000 calls and is on track to exceed that number this year.

SVP president Rose McGowan said there is a huge pressure put on families, especially those with children, as Christmas is the busiest time for the charity.

Christmas is a wonderful time, provided you can afford to have that Christmas, she told the Irish Independent.

People struggle at Christmas because, while they can manage by juggling throughout the year, Christmas comes and theres huge pressure on people to have what everybody else has.

People feel, particularly with children, they have to have Christmas and Santy comes to everybody.

Calls for help from families struggling with the costs of the festive season usually start coming into the charity in late November.

However, this year, families started asking for support with food, energy costs or Christmas toys in October.

Last year, around 23,000 calls for help came from people described as newly in need, who had not been previously helped by the charity.

Ms McGowan said there been a notable rise in calls from working families, asking for financial support with the sky-high cost of rent, mortgages or energy bills.

Were glad some of those people that are working and earning are coming to us because sometimes its really hard to come to us, she said.

A lot of people feel: God, I shouldnt go to SVP, Im working. I should be able to manage. But at the moment, people are not able to manage.

It doesnt matter what the problem is, thats what were here for, and our only criteria is need.

The theme for this years SVP Christmas appeal is the Wonder of Christmas, but its not the uplifting message people might think.

Ms McGowan said: Were using it in a different way. The people I visit are saying: I wonder, will I have food this Christmas? I wonder, can I pay the bills? Will I be able to buy toys for my children? How did I get into this situation and will I get out of it? When will I see the light at the end of that dark tunnel?

So its a different kind of wonder for those that we, in SVP, visit.

She appealed to people to support the charitys Christmas appeal amid an increasing strain on services as cost-of-living pressures push families further into the poverty trap.

People are struggling for food, energy and rent. People feel that this week, they might pay a bill, but then theyre cutting back on food, so theyre juggling their money all of the time, Ms McGowan said.

Whether theyre social welfare recipients or working and on low pay, by the time you pay exorbitant rent  and people are trying to pay that first because they dont want to be evicted  they cut back on other things.

In every family, particularly those with children, Christmas is an important time. The stress alone is huge, because maybe there isnt enough money for food or an energy bill.

That stress leads to other things  ill health and mental health, then suddenly they need the doctor.

They go to bed worrying, and then they get up in the morning worrying. What we want to hear from people is: Im glad I called you, at least I was able to talk to somebody. I got a nights sleep, not worrying.

We want to reach out to anybody who is in need and dont leave it until theyre really in that black hole. Were here to listen and to care and to be here for you, and it is totally confidential.

The housing crisis has also affected the charity as the volunteers visit more people living in hotels and hostels.

Thats a huge change for us  the number of people that are not in their own flats, apartments or homes, Ms McGowan said.

We would visit an awful lot of hostels and people living in bed and breakfasts.

It is really difficult to visit in those places and for those people to receive us. Were standing on corridors or were sitting in their bedrooms, or we may have to meet them in a community centre.

The most common requests for support are for help with energy costs and food, which marks another big change for the charity.

We wouldnt have had food banks a number of years ago. Were a wealthy country, and yet, the numbers coming to our food banks looking for food is huge and thats very hard, she said.

The food is excellent, and were delighted that we get it and give it out, but its not a full weekly shop.

Its really a top-up, there could be tea, coffee, cereals, pasta, things like that.
Seven Enforcement Orders have been served on food businesses, with one eatery found to have an active cockroach infestation and another with rodent activity.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) made the enforcement orders last month for breaches of food safety legislation.

The FSAI said some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders include: active cockroach infestation; rodent activity and rodent droppings; premises being used as accommodation; lack of hand washing facilities in a room where raw food is handled; grease leaking from a pipe underneath a food preparation sink; containers of cooked meat, raw meats and sauces in a cold room uncovered and with no expiry dates.

Two closure orders were issued to Lotus Asian Food Takeaway, based at The Hill, Stillorgan, south Co Dublin and Indian Spices (restaurant/cafe) at 138 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.

The closure order for Lotus Asian Food Takeaway in Stillorgan, reads that an inspector had found: Rodent droppings are evident in a number of locations in the food premises to include on the floor and wall and on a staff apron on the shelf in the food storage room.

The report also found: A complete lack of cleaning is evident. It added: A grave and immediate danger to food safety exists in the food premises due to rodent activity.

The closure order has not been lifted.

A report on Indian Spices, on Parnell Street, found: There is an active cockroach infestation within the premises. It added: Cockroaches were noted alive and dead in the front service area, where drinks are served and crockery is stored. Live cockroaches were noted on the floor beside food packaging in the area, as well as climbing the wall in this area. Live and dead cockroaches were noted in the kitchen area.

It added that the Premises was noted to be not clean and/or maintained in good condition.

The order has not been lifted.

Photo: Stock/Getty

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th December 2024

Four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: Shapla Indian Spice (Restaurant/Cafe), Hanover Court, Kennedy Avenue, Carlow. The business was served with the Order on November 27 and allowed to reopen from November 29.

FLC (Closed activities: sale and supply of milk shakes and desserts) (Takeaway), 8 to 10 Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, North Co Dublin and Grill Kebab (Restaurant/Cafe) Main Street, Broadford, Limerick. The Limerick premises was closed November 14 and the Order was allowed to reopen on November 20.

The Bankers (Closed area: All parts of the kitchen located in the basement) (Public house), 16 Trinity Street, Dublin 2. The premises was presented with the Order on November 4 and was allowed to reopen on November 7.

One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: Big Discount.ie (Retailer/other), 12 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co Louth. The order has not been lifted.

Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of the FSAI, said breaches of food safety legislation can pose a real danger to consumer health and there has to be a significant focus on maintaining food safety procedures by food businesses as they enter what is typically the busiest time of year.

Dr Byrne added: With the Christmas period already underway and the corresponding significant increase in demand for food services, food businesses must ensure that they maintain the highest food safety standards at all times, most especially at these busy times, when cutting corners or letting standards lapse could result in a health risk to consumers.

Consumers have a right to safe food, and there is a personal responsibility on owners, managers and all employees to comply with food safety legal requirements at all times.

Dr Byrne said: Neglecting food safety demonstrates a disregard for the well-being of customers and potentially places their health at an unnecessary risk. There can be zero tolerance for negligent practices that put consumers health at risk, and the full powers of food law will be used if a food business is found to be in breach. Food businesses must ensure there is a strong food safety culture in place, including adequate training for all staff. This simply must be a top priority for food businesses.
Comedian, podcaster, and TV personality Gearoid Farrelly is the latest celebrity to be announced on the new roster of Dancing with the Stars.

The series, now in its eight season, returns to RTE in January 2025, with Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy returning as hosts.

Two-time Dancing with the Stars winner and professional dancer Karen Byrne will join the judging panel alongside longstanding judges Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond and Arthur Gourounlian.

Farrelly is the third celebrity announced, joining former Miss Universe Ireland, Aishah Akorede and Mrs Browns Boys actor, Danny OCarroll.

The eight remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced throughout the rest of this week.

However, the Irish Independent understands that Olympian Jack Woolley, aka Scorpion, who has not been officially announced yet, is also rumoured to be appear on the show.

The 26-year-old Dubliner fought in the Paris Olympics, losing out to Spain's Adrian Vicente Yunta in the first repechage round of the mens 58kg taekwondo division.

Farrellys comedic breakthrough came when he was announced as a finalist in the So You Think Youre Funny? competition at the Edinburgh Festival.

He has shared stages with comedy greats, and has opened for Joan Rivers, Sarah Millican, Patton Oswalt, Neil Delamere and Joanne McNally. He has earned rave reviews for his solo shows, including acclaim for his five-star Edinburgh Festival debut, Turbulence.

Speaking ahead of this years Dancing with the Stars, he said when he was added to the roster, he felt absolutely terrified.

"Well, I was terrified before the meet and greet, walking into that room was genuinely one of the scariest things I have ever done. But everybody is so nice, we are gelling as a gang so fast and Im just enjoying every second of it, he said.

He will dance as part of a same-sex couple on the show, with the dancers identity set to be revealed on Monday, December 16.

As a young gay kid, if I had seen two men dancing together on the television, it would have been such a relief. He (his dance partner) was also bullied at school because he was the dancer. So, we were really on the same page with this.

"Hes just the best. I was a little concerned at the beginning about being in this mans space, because hes straight, and Im gay, and I didnt want him to feel uncomfortable, or that he felt like he had to do this.

"So, weve had that chat as well and he is so up for this from a choreography point of view, Farrelly said.

Off stage, Farrelly is the voice behind the podcast Fascinated where he invites guests that he is a big fan of, to chat about their career and work. In his other podcast Agony Rants, he dishes out advice alongside his best friend and Eurovision-winner Niamh Kavanagh.

He added that he has been in the Dancing with the Stars audience before, where he saw Deirdre O Kane, Fred Cooke, Kevin McGahern and Bernard OShea perform, who he said are all mates of his, adding that he loves the show.

"Theyve all said its one of the greatest experiences they've ever had and said to me: get out of your head, live every second and throw yourself in at the deep end.
Man who sent abhorrent voice-notes to ex-girlfriend which left judge in state of shock has jail sentence overturned
A man charged in connection with an investigation into the activities of rogue ex-solicitor and property developer Michael Lynn has failed in a legal challenge against his prosecution.

Bulgarian national Yavor Poptoshev (49) brought High Court judicial review proceedings against the DPP and the Garda Commissioner, challenging his prosecution for refusing to disclose the passwords to three electronic devices seized by gardai during a raid on his home.
Mum of soldier murdered in Antrim slams Marian Price over Say Nothing Disney+ legal action

Massereene victims mother loathes hypocrisy of former IRA bomber who is to sue Disney+ for portrayal

Geraldine Ferguson and Mehmet Azimkar, the parents of murdered soldier Patrick Azimkar, walk next to their son's coffin. Inset: Marian Price, who was charged in connection with the murder of Mr Azimkar and fellow soldier Mark Quinsey, for providing property for the purposes of terrorism. (Stefan Rousseau - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

Niamh Campbell Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 08:31

The mother of a soldier killed by dissident republicans 15 years ago says she loathes the hypocrisy of Marian Price, after news that the Old Bailey bomber is to sue Disney+.
Irish suspect in murder of American nurse in Hungary has detention period extended

The 37-year-old Irish man is alleged to have murdered Mackenzie Michalski after meeting her in a nightclub and returning to his Airbnb apartment

Mackenzie Michalski

Robin Schiller Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 14:21







The Irish man suspected of murdering an American tourist in Hungary will remain in custody by court order until the new year.
BREAKING | Woman (50s) left in critical condition after serious assault in Co Galway as man arrested

The woman was discovered with serious injuries at a domestic residence in BallinasloeGardai arrested one man close to the scene

Portiuncula Hospital

Eavan Murray Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 15:39







A woman is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering a horrific assault in Galway on Monday.
The Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in the Hague (Patrick Post/AP)

Government approval has been given for Ireland to intervene in South Africas ongoing International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel under the Genocide Convention.

The case was taken by South Africa last December over alleged breaches of the Genocide Convention carried out by Israel during the war in Gaza.

Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin entered todays Cabinet meeting seeking approval for Ireland to intervene in two cases currently before the ICJ.

The Government has also approved intervention in The Gambias case taken against Myanmar in 2019 under the same Convention. Myanmar is accused of genocide over operations by its armed forces against the Rohingya people.

By legally intervening in South Africas case, Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State, Mr Martin said following todays Cabinet meeting.

We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimised.

The Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in the Hague (Patrick Post/AP)

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th December 2024

Irelands view of the Convention is broader and prioritises the protection of civilian life  as a committed supporter of the Convention, the Government will promote that interpretation in its intervention in this case.

Intervening in both cases demonstrates the consistency of Irelands approach to the interpretation and application of the Genocide Convention.

Approximately 44,800 have died in Gaza since Israels invasion of the besieged enclave in October 2023. The invasion followed Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and a further 250 were taken hostage by the militant group.

Much of Gaza has been levelled by the bombing in the past 14 months and more than two million people face precarious conditions such as access to food, water, medicines and shelter on a daily basis, while the bombing continues.
My Future Fund ignores vital role of unpaid care, says NWC

A new pension scheme for 750,000 workers could make a 35pc gap between men and womens retirement incomes even worse, a report has warned.

The report, published today, said the My Future Fund retirement scheme that is due to be rolled out next year is likely to increase the number of workers with occupational pensions and is worthy of some praise.

However, the National Womens Council (NWC) report added that the scheme is unlikely to have an impact in tackling a gender pension gap of around 35pc, and may actually exacerbate it.

All workers between 23 and 60 who earn over 20,000 and are not in a private pension scheme will be automatically enrolled from next September.

Employees, employers and the State will contribute, and workers can opt out after six months. On retirement, the pension from the new scheme will be paid on top of the state pension.

The report said pension auto-enrolment is the biggest reform to the Irish pension system since the 1960s, but will not address structural inequalities faced by women. It said this is because the scheme will tie pension entitlements even closer to paid employment.

It said the scheme will leave out the importance of unpaid care, which impacts women much more than men.

Because auto-enrolment strengthens the connection between earnings from paid employment and future pension income, it may result in it exacerbating the gender pension gap, it said.

The NWC wants the next government to push up the number of people who can get the state pension, as well as its value, with a view to developing a universal pension. This universal pension would not be means-tested and should be adequate for all, it said.

It suggested it might be financed by reforming pension tax reliefs, which mainly benefit the highest earners.

As a first step, it wants the full rate of the contributory state pension to be set at 35pc of average yearly earnings.

Its report, Still Stuck in the Gap  Pensions Auto-enrolment from a Gender and Care Lens by Oisin Gilmore, a senior economist at social policy think-tank TASC, said there is no significant gender difference in terms of the number of men and women with work pensions.

It found there is a big gender difference, however, in the value of these occupational pensions. Men tend to contribute more to their occupational pensions, it said.

It found women are more likely to take time out of paid employment to take on unpaid care work.

The report noted that women are more likely to be in low-paid, part-time employment, so would have less money to contribute towards their pensions.

Women are thereby doubly impacted for the unpaid caring work that they do, it said.

Not only do they earn less during working age due to engaging in unpaid care work, but they also receive significantly lower incomes in retirement.

NWC director Orla OConnor said the new scheme fails to address deep inequalities despite being one of the biggest reforms of pensions in decades.

The 35pc gender pension gap has a significant impact on womens lives in older age, alongside the legacy of structural discriminations like the marriage bar, which still affects women, she said.

As well as having much lower pension incomes, older women are more likely to live alone and in low-quality housing than men, she added.

As auto-enrolment will only apply to people in paid employment with earnings over a certain threshold, all other forms of social participation that are not paid employment will not be taken into account, which is really disappointing to see, Ms OConnor said.

Donal Swan, economic equality coordinator with the NWC, said the Government has missed an opportunity to strengthen and expand the state pension by focusing on private occupational coverage. He said the state pension is the best way to ensure an adequate income for all people in older age.

The report said Ireland has low levels of pension coverage and a large number of people are dependent exclusively on the relatively low state pension.

It said the core of a pensions policy that does not punish people for engaging in unpaid care work would be a strengthened state pension.

The report called for a different economic model that values unpaid care work and employment, including cultural change around the gender distribution of care responsibilities.

As well as a pension policy that does not punish those who engage in unpaid care work, it would include improving employee rights to allow them to seek flexibility so they would not need to leave employment to take on care responsibilities, new policies on parental leave, and a universal childcare scheme.

In a statement, The Department of Social Protection said it cannot comment on specifics contained within the report in advance of its publication, but said the introduction of AE will represent a significant step forward in addressing existing pension coverage gaps in Ireland.

" Action 1.41 of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020: creating a better society for all sets out that in order to reduce the gender pension gap, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Finance will increase womens access to pensions in their own right by improving their access to private and occupational pensions.

"The introduction of AE will greatly assist in meeting this commitment by enrolling hundreds of thousands of women into a quality assured, State and employer supported pension scheme, the department said.
SUSPENDED Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes is making refunds to people who donated to his council election campaign -- while he held shares worth almost 200,000.

Mr Hayes received 7,000 shares in Palantir -- a major supplier to the Israeli Defence Forces -- as part of his remuneration package when he worked for the firm in New York from 2015 to 2017.

On Tuesday, Mr Hayes repeatedly refused to say when exactly he sold his shares when questioned by media at a Social Democrats event.

Mr Hayes admitted in a subsequent statement that he sold his stake for 199,000 in July 2024, a month after the local elections.

A Go Fund Me page he established for those elections, which raised 8,895 in small donations, had been taken down yesterday.

Mr Hayes is now refunding the money, and it is understood that donors of over 1,500 have already had their money returned.

A Social Democrats source said one attempted donation was for 2,500, which could not be accepted under national election rules.

Eoin Hayes

TD Eoin Hayes refuses to confirm when he sold shares in company which profits from Gaza war

Mr Hayes was said by colleagues to be "shell-shocked" after the car-crash press conference when he was questioned over when he disposed of the shares -- and responded by telling an untruth.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said on Wednesday evening: "My understanding is he is making a refund of donations." Dublin Central TD for the party, Gary Gannon said he had spoken to Mr Hayes, "checking in with him, in terms of welfare today, just to see if he's okay. "He did mention in relation to the refund of donations. It was the first time I became aware of it, and it's going to be refunded."

Mr O'Callaghan was asked if Mr Hayes had offered to resign from the Social Democrats party, and he replied: "No."

The remaining parliamentary party meets tomorrow to decide on whether it is going to proceed with its talk on trying to form a new Government -- with some perceptions that the effort has been severely damaged by the Hayes affair.

Mr O'Callaghan said it had not been raised by the Fine Gael or Fianna Fail leaders in outline discussions, but he admitted the party had "taken a knock" from the affair.

"We're going to update the parliamentary party tomorrow on the talks we've had with Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and indeed, Labour and Sinn Fein last week," he said.

"At that point, we'll decide what our next steps are. We will take reflective decision on that."
Regional Independent Group also votes to enter Government talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael after midday meeting

Verona Murphy of Wexford is to be nominated as Ceann Comhairle when the new Dail meets for the first time next week.

She will face opposition in the form of outgoing Ceann, Sean O Fearghauil of Fianna Fail, who hopes to stand again.

The Regional Independent Group today formally agreed to nominate Deputy Murphy for the 225,000 position.

Her name being put forward "marks a significant milestone in the political landscape," the bloc claimed as it prepares to enter talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael about sharing power as the next Government.

There has never been a female Ceann Comhairle, although many have filled in as stand-in chairs, including Ms Murphy herself in the last Dail.

Independent TD for Wexford Verona Murphy. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th December 2024

The Regional Independents said her nomination "will further reflect the necessity for inclusivity and diversity in Dail Eireann."

The bloc is appealing to all members of the Dail "to recognise that this is an opportunity to promote gender equality in Irish politics."

Ms Murphys nomination has the potential to be historic, the group says.

The vote, by all TDs next week, will be by secret ballot. It is understood there is no agreement for any other party to support her

nomination as of yet, since the regional Independents have yet to enter talks.

Tipperary North Independent Michael Lowry has been in contact with the leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael requesting their parties support for her election, however.

He has been invited to meet with Helen McEntee and Jack Chambers early next week to discuss and agree the structure and parameters for the groups potential engagement in Government.

The bloc voted to enter formation talks today after a midday meeting. After initial discussions with Ms McEntee and Mr Chambers, the regional group hopes to appoint its negotiators.

The regional group also said it was happy to accept a request from Deputy Carol Nolan to join the technical group  which also includes Peadar Toibin and Pual Lawless of Aontu, although this pair will not be among the eight regional Independents seeking to support FF and FG in power.
Ireland remains massively dependent on fossil fuels for heat, power and transport, with only minimal progress made in reducing reliance, latest figures show.

Overall, 82.7pc of the countrys energy use came from oil, gas, coal and other solid fuels last year.

Some sectors were even more tightly tied to high-carbon, high-emission energy sources, the report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) shows.

Heating in homes and buildings was 90pc provided by fossil fuels, as was 94pc of transport fuels.

Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use did manage to fall by 8.3pc last year to their lowest rate in 30 years.

That was despite a 0.8pc rise in total energy use, mainly because more cars were on the move, more flights were taken and more data centres were in operation. However, the drop in emissions was largely due to two factors that are not certain to be repeated.

One was a fall in demand for home-heating gas, oil and solid fuels, attributed mainly to the warmer winter and high prices, although increasing numbers of retrofits and home energy upgrades may also have played a part.

The SEAI warns that the heating gas and oil use has increased to more normal levels this year to date.

The other was the large amount of electricity imported via interconnectors from Britain. Last year, 9.5pc of all electricity used in the country came from Britain and that is expected to rise to 14pc this year.

While those imports allowed for a welcome fall in energy-related emissions, the SEAI notes that indigenous energy sources [are] generally considered to be more secure than imported energy.

The report shows there has been some progress in weaning the country off fossil fuels compared with 20 years ago, when they provided 97.7pc of all energy needs.

A bright spot is the growing proportion of renewables that make up Irelands indigenous energy sources.

Wind provided 33.7pc of the countrys electricity last year and solar, which is still new, accounted for 1.9pc.

However, the SEAI warns that change must happen faster if Ireland is to break free from fossil fuels, reduce emissions and meet legally binding climate action commitments.

The data shows good signals of progress, but Ireland will have to increase the rate of change significantly to deliver on its legally binding targets, it says.

In remarks that would appear targeted at transport and data centres, it signals the need to focus on areas where energy demand is growing.

It is clear from the data that the pace of growth of energy demand needs to be strategically managed and timed, so that calculated decisions are made about where and when growth should happen, it said.

SEAI chief executive William Walsh said bold, courageous and committed leadership was needed to move the country away from fossil fuels.

The challenge seems difficult, but we must remind ourselves of the benefits if we succeed  cleaner air, less energy poverty, enhanced energy security, and a safer, habitable planet for our children, he said.
Firearms which were part of an illicit stash of weapons seized by the NCA (National Crime Agency/PA)

A serving prisoner has admitted his part in a plot to amass an arms cache to help the UK boss of the Kinahan organised crime gang.

On Wednesday, Peter Keating, 43, admitted two charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm and two offences of plotting to possess ammunition.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Keating entered his pleas by video link from Belmarsh prison in south London but is expected to be sent back to Ireland where he is already serving 12 years for directing a criminal organisation.

Jack Kavanagh (NCA/PA)

Judge Philip Katz KC said he would sentence Keating at the Old Bailey on Thursday alongside Jack Kavanagh, 24, from Tamworth, who pleaded guilty to the weapons and ammunition offences after being extradited from Spain.

Kavanagh was arrested in May 2023 at Malaga Airport by officers from the Spanish National Police, as he was travelling from Dubai to Turkey.

He admitted helping his father, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh, in a bid to engineer a reduced jail sentence by duping the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Thomas Kavanagh, 57, had hoped that by leading the NCA to a buried stash of 11 fearsome weapons, he could influence his sentencing in a multimillion-pound drug-smuggling case.

Firearms which were part of an illicit stash of weapons seized by the NCA (National Crime Agency/PA)

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th December 2024

Running the conspiracy from prison, Kavanagh also enlisted the help of Keating, his brother-in-law, 44-year-old Liam Byrne, and associate Shaun Kent, 38.

In May 2021, Thomas Kavanagh provided information to the NCA which led them to a field in Newry, Northern Ireland, where two holdalls were unearthed.

They contained seven machine guns, three automatic handguns, an assault rifle and ammunition.

The plot was foiled after the NCA uncovered incriminating messages on encrypted EncroChat which had been cracked by French counterparts.

Thomas Kavanagh, Liam Byrne and Shaun Kent (NCA/PA)

Between January 2020 and June 2021, the defendants agreed to acquire as many arms as possible from the UK, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

At the time, Thomas Kavanagh was in HMP Dovegate where he was serving a three-year sentence for possession of a stun gun and had been remanded on serious drug charges since March 2020.

Those charges related to smuggling multiple kilos of cocaine and cannabis into the UK for which he was sentenced in March 2022 to 21 years in prison.

In September, Kavanagh, Byrne, from Dublin, and Kent, from Liverpool, admitted the weapons and ammunition plots.

Kavanagh and Kent also admitted conspiring with others to pervert the course of justice.

Irish national Thomas Kavanagh was jailed for six years for orchestrating the plot which he will serve consecutively with his earlier jail sentences.

Byrne  who fled to Majorca after the events  was jailed for five years while Kent was handed a six-year prison sentence.
If theres a bar in heaven it would be like this: the Long Hall, the pub where Bruce Springsteen has whiskey behind the bar
Well-known Dublin chef Gareth Gaz Smith has said his popular Blackrock restaurant Big Mikes is continuing on despite financial difficulties and the jobs of his employees are secure.

A notice on the Big Mikes website noted that a process adviser had been appointed to the company behind the restaurant. The appointment of a process adviser is part of the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (SCARP).

In order for a company to avail of the scheme, it must be fundamentally viable and capable of trading its way out of its current difficulties, according to the Department of Enterprise.

Under the scheme, the process adviser is tasked with putting together a rescue plan for the business and working with creditors to consolidate debts.

Mr Smith has confirmed the restaurant started the SCARP process and said there is a really strong business model in place. He said the team at Big Mikes is moving forward with their head high and chests out.

Were three weeks into the seven-week Government SCARP process, and things are progressing well, Mr Smith said in a statement.

"Our ambitious project resulted in huge fit out costs from Covid days (when materials costs were 4-5 times the norm) and weve tried our very best to maintain those repayments out of cash flow, and we need a pressure release from that. As confirmed by the comprehensive SCARP report.

Weve a really strong business model in place with options and support in the background. Jobs are secure, vouchers will be honoured, suppliers have been incredible, and our team is moving forward with their heads high and chests out.

Mr Smith said it would be irresponsible for him as an employer not to do everything in my power to keep staff on the restaurants payroll rather than the Governments

He said there has been exceptional engagement and good faith from all parties involved, including Revenue, lenders, suppliers, and the process facilitators, and this is the reason the business is already halfway through the SCARP process.

Theres no sugarcoating it  this isnt easy  but its a lot better than the alternative. Were staying focused, proactive, and optimistic about the future, he added.

Very often the whispers are ten times worse than the truth, weve been incredibly transparent with everybody and everybody has shown incredible support, were very grateful for the goodwill.

In July of this year, Mr Smith confirmed the closure of his Mount Merrion-based restaurant Michaels in order to concentrate his business on Big Mikes, with staff from Michaels taking up positions at the Blackrock location.
We all know this pub from the Guinness Christmas advert but what is it really like inside?

J OConnells has been on our screens since 2004 in a snow-capped scene, but its former landlady had no time for ice

Guinness Christmas Ad

Kim Bielenberg Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 03:30

Even at the home of the black stuff, they dream of a white one. So runs the slogan of the longest-running TV ad in the history of Guinness.
For instance, in trying to be helpful and give you an idea of how far it can travel on one charge, it claims the EV3, with a top range of 605km, could cover the length of Ireland  from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork (595km or so)  on one fully-charged battery.

I am not going to head for Donegal or Cork in this weather to prove or disprove the contention, but I might do so in the summer. I feel I would need a 30-minute boost  from 20pc to 80pc added on, just in case. It would be tight.

It was far easier to test another contention: that the EV3 is the widest car in its class (1,850mm). It was the first thing I sensed when I sat in for my test drive.

That is one of the reasons Kia says the car can take five people, with fair-to-good room for three (I reckon two adults and a smaller person) in the back.

Kia claims the new arrival has the largest luggage space in its class

Due to its spaciousness, it believes the EV3 can step up to being the main car for a family: it is 1,560mm tall and 4,300mm long. Wheelbase, at 2,680mm, is the same as the popular Sportage. Which helps explain why theres good boot room as well: 460 litres with the rear seats up and 1,250 litres with them down. There is a 25-litre frunk (front trunk). And, oh yes, Kia claims the new arrival has the largest luggage space in its class. Rivals in its class include the Renault e-Tech Megane, Smart #1, Volvo EX30, Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born.

Another claim is that Kia is the first manufacturer to bring Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging to this so-called compact electric SUV segment. It means you can power external devices from the vehicle battery pack.

It doesnt need to make any claims about the look of the car (but does anyway). The stridently strong design gives it a physical and visual edge. From the side, there is the sloping roof; head-on, the brands digital Tiger Face has been heavily borrowed from the award-winning EV9. The cumulative effect is quite powerful.

Also borrowed from the EV9 is a lot of technology. Kia says the new car greatly benefits from big brother in that area.

When all is said and done, the company feels fairly confident about the number of people or families (750-800) who will buy one next year. Already around 200 have booked one, so maybe  just maybe  1,000 will buy, depending on supply, public confidence and greater pick-up of EVs generally.

Buyers have a choice of two batteries, Standard and Long Range. And there are three trim/equipment levels. The entry-level Earth 2 (Standard Range) starts from 36,790; Earth2 Long Range (LR) costs 40,350. Earth 3 LR 42,840 and GT-line (LR) 47,190. The standard battery (58.3kWh) version is said to be able to cover 436km on one charge, while the Long Range battery (81.4kWh) can cover 605km. The batteries can charge from low-to-80pc in 31 minutes or so. Both models use a 150kW/283Nm electric motor.

New regenerative braking technology allows you to adjust the level you want

Spec includes: Earth 2 (Standard, Long Range battery), 17-inch alloys, panoramic display screens. Heated front seats, wireless charge and connectivity. Earth 3 (Long Range only), 19-inch alloys, vegan leather seats, electric adjustable front seats, blind-spot collision avoidance, heat pump. GT-Line (Long Range only) has 19-inch GT-line alloys (look great), Black GT-line exterior, interior, electric sunroof and smart electric tailgate.

The interior in the GT version Ive been driving has vegan leather seats that add a classy look and serve as a reminder that a lot of materials that are eco-sourced, have been, or can be, recycled.

Dominant  and effectively nearly 30in  is a panoramic display that stretches to the centre of the dash. Included are a 12.3-inch infotainment display, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a five-inch climate control panel.

It goes without saying that there is a raft of convenience, safety, driving and charging elements, which, Kia claims, are usually reserved for higher segments.

New regenerative braking technology allows you to adjust the level you want.

The brand is heading into really busy times on the electric vehicle front, with several more models promised for later next year, including an all-electric van range.
There are moments when a confluence of unforeseen events can present either extraordinary opportunity or unmitigated failure, depending on the response. At such times, diplomacy can be the difference between success and disaster.

Such periods often coincide with great upheaval and uncertainty. The space created by the shifting ground can make way for either new bridges or deeper chasms.

The overthrow of the Assad regime in the Middle East has come as a shock, but many, including Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, have voiced cautious optimism that there is potential for a peaceful transition of power and an inclusive, Syrian-led political process.

The ignominious flight of the dictator from Damascus has opened up new avenues. The hope for the countrys long-suffering population is that the end of the nightmare is at hand. This will be conditional on the rebel leaders upholding the rule of law and protecting civilians.

Russia and Iran have much to answer for in endorsing and supporting the reign of terror.

Assads tyranny created the worlds greatest refugee crisis, with nearly six million displaced Syrians living in neighbouring countries. Europe hosts one million, mostly in Germany, while Turkey has become home to three million. All are owed a chance to return to their homeland, but as we saw in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, charting the course of events after the toppling of regimes is nigh on impossible.

We should never forget that more than 500,000 people have died since the outbreak of civil war in Syria in 2011. Nowhere needs a success story more than the Middle East. News that White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will visit Israel this week for talks on Syria  but also to push efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire deal  suggests a breakthrough is possible. Stabilising the region is essential for global peace.

Meanwhile, the second coming of Donald Trump to the White House is also concentrating hearts and minds and galvanising intentions.

He has put the world on notice that America first means just that. The message has been heard in Kyiv, where president Volodymyr Zelensky has set out his stall for a possible settlement to Russias war. He has suggested allowing foreign troops being deployed in his country until it could join Nato. Trump has called on China to exert its influence to end the madness.

The fall of Assad is a hammer blow to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has lost what was a critical foothold in the Middle East. His Syria intervention had helped restore Russias standing after the Soviet Unions collapse. With his hands full in Ukraine, he is hardly in a position to deploy troops to shore up his position.

In Ukraine and the Middle East, there is inertia. Deadlock eventually forces fresh thinking. Might shifting perspectives on Damascus also prompt new approaches in Moscow or Tel Aviv? Eventually, force always has to yield.
New Irish citzens take the oath during the Citizenship Ceremonies in the INEC, Killarney. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Its difficult to reconcile the negative experiences of parents who see their children emigrate with the happiness of hundreds of new citizens at ceremonies in Killarney recently.

Many criticise our broken society, health service and affordable housing supply. And of course, these are unfortunate factors in Ireland as the year comes to a close.

But are we exaggerating how broken we are as a factor in emigration?

I worked in the Irish public sector. In the mid-1980s, at least six of my colleagues, who like myself were in permanent and pensionable jobs, accepted the offer of the Morrison green card and voluntarily settled in various parts of the US.

They are still there. Happy and content. All living good lives. They did not moan about their broken country, which was much more broken in the mid-1980s than it is now. And equally, many thousands of our new Irish citizens come here voluntarily, also looking for a new life abroad.

Indeed, without the skills of our new citizens, our broken health service would grind to a halt.

Emigration and immigration have always been a part of the global scenario. Those with mobile skills are welcome in other societies.

The EU guarantees freedom of movement of all citizens within member states.

Undoubtedly, because of our current problems, many will feel bitter about being unable to afford house ownership and its consequences.

But perhaps we need to tone down the hyperbole of disaster.

Larry Dunne, Rosslare, Co Wexford

Half-baked efforts to form new coalition need a little competition to get moving

Frank Coughlans solution to the government impasse, inspired by his film-watching habits (Two months to form a coalition? I know a speedier way, and it has papal approval, Irish Independent, December 10), is thought-provoking. Allow me to extrapolate on his cinematic musings with a suggestion of my own: an Extreme Political Bake-Off.

The leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail would face the following challenges: bake a flawless Irish soda bread, create a cake symbolising their political ideology and decorate their baked goods with catchy political slogans.

The judging panel? A robust cross-section of Irish society, including grandmothers whove lived through every political era, primary school children whove yet to be jaded, and a randomly selected group of taxi drivers (always a source of wisdom).

Scoring criteria would include the taste and texture of the soda bread, the creativity and coherence of the cakes decorations, and politicians ability to explain complex policies using baking metaphors.

Surely, such a process would not only result in a coalition but also a cookbook to boot. And if it all goes wrong, at least therell be cake.

Enda Cullen, Co Armagh

Martins proven record in leadership makes full-time taoiseach role a no-brainer

Micheal Martin has proven himself as a minister, tanaiste and taoiseach to be a strong, competent and effective leader.

He has proven his ability to lead a coalition and diverse government. As leader of the bigger party elected to the Dail and to ensure effective and stable government for the people, he should be taoiseach for the full term of the next government.

Hugh McDermott, Dromahair, Co Leitrim

Let wonderful restoration of Notre-Dame be catalyst for peace across the world

Many congratulations to the people of France on the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral following the devastating fire in 2019. Cest magnifique. The French nation can be truly proud to have resurrected a beautiful lady out of the ashes, with the help of thousands of wonderful, dedicated skilled workers and the heroic efforts of all those firefighters who never gave in. Hopefully, the renewal of Notre-Dame will be a catalyst for peace in honour of Our Lady. The world is waiting.

Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18

The GAA is spreading its branches for a good cause with new charity initiative

One heading in Mondays paper stated GAA stars tog out to help charity plant one million trees in Africa (Irish Independent, December 9). However, the only possible issue there might be that the GAA would end up with branches everywhere.

Leo Gormley, Dundalk, Co Louth

RSA is right to tackle the issue of speeding, as all ages are seeing fatalities

Speeding is the young drivers nemesis and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is correct to try and address this with speeding awareness courses, even without providing any evidence that they work, but if they do, why not introduce them into schools?

At the other extreme, elderly drivers (myself included) present another set of problems that need to be addressed, as fatalities among this cohort are disproportionately high and can only get worse with our ageing population.

Dr Michael Foley, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Speed courses will not act as a deterrent, offenders must be put off the roads

The Road Safety Authority has proposed a plan to introduce a speed awareness course in lieu of penalty points and a fine, for those caught speeding.

The Irish Road Victims Association is quite right to label such a move as a get-out-of-jail-free card.

This will not act as a deterrent, and might even be viewed by some as a misstep by the RSA, given the number of road deaths caused by excessive speed.

Surely putting drivers off the road after accruing a set number of points for repeat offending is enough of a deterrent?

Peter Declan OHalloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan

Toy Show was a hit, but over-stylised production takes away from the charm

RTEs Toy Show was a great success and congrats to all concerned.

If I can add one suggestion, however, it would be to ease off a bit on the big sets and stylised production.

The charm of a child tooting Little Star of Bethlehem on the tin whistle should not be underestimated.

Everyone did a wonderful job, but simplicity also has magic.

M O Brien, Dalkey, Co Dublin
Syrian citizens wave the revolutionary flag and shout slogans as they celebrate the fall of Bashar Assad in Damascus (Hussein Malla/AP)

The Assad family reigned Syria for more than half a century and did so with an iron fist. They crushed dissent from outspoken voices, turning chemical weapons upon their own citizens.

It was the definition of a violent authoritarian state.

In the space of only a few days, Syrian Rebel forces ousted Bashar Al Assad, signaling the end of a brutal 13-year civil war. Russia played a major role in supporting Assad's government and helping it fight the rebels. The Syrian leader fled Damascus for Moscow on Sunday, ending more than 50 years of brutal rule by his family.

The region is far from stable however, with serious questions remaining over the intentions of HTS, the Islamic militant group now in power. In Damascus, the HTS leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, called for the establishment of a transitional government. His people have issued orders banning random shooting and insisting that women should not be forced into conservative Islamic dress. His message is were not Isis.

But he was. And he was also in al-Qaeda. And plenty of the militia who make up the coalition that has won this phase of Syrias civil war are fellow travellers with the ideology of al-Qaedas Osama bin Laden and Isiss Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Andrew Finkel, Turkey-based journalist and author of The Adventure of the Second Wife, to discuss how the Assaad regime fell so quickly, and what it means next for the region in perpetual conflict.
Pictured are Kevin Morey, Divisional Manager, Cork County Council; Moira Morrell, Chief Executive of Cork County Council; Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll and Odran Madden, Managing Director, Coffey Construction Ltd. Pic Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

Cork County Council has signed a contract with Coffey Construction Ltd for the construction phase of the Ringaskiddy Active Travel and Urban Realm scheme.

The project will significantly improve sustainable transport options in a safe, segregated and landscaped environment.

Located in the heart of one Cork Countys strategic employment zones, Ringaskiddy village serves as the gateway to the Port of Corks deep water port facilities, naval and marine training institutions, and major industrial and pharmaceutical plants.

Funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Cork County Council, the 3.8m contract will provide a 3-metre-wide shared use path from the existing Port of Cork access, through Ringaskiddy village and as far as Gobby Beach (1.75km).

It is expected that the project will be completed in Autumn 2025.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll, welcomed the announcement saying: This represents a significant milestone for Cork County Council and Transport Infrastructure Irelands project team. High quality public realm will promote Ringaskiddy as a destination and not just a stopping point on a journey.

The village is the starting point for all visitors who arrive at Cork by Ferry and these enhancements will provide a much better experience for all visitors on arrival to the Port of Cork. The scheme will also provide much better access for those arriving by foot and bike who may wish to explore the region using more sustainable transport options, he added.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell said: The scheme forms part of the Governments Project Ireland 2040 and will bring strong economic benefits with improved access to the Port of Corks new container terminal, as well as the IDA lands in this area.

The delivery of the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Motorway will aid in the continued success of the global cluster of economic activity in Ringaskiddy.

It will also significantly reduce the volume of HGV traffic through the village thereby enabling the village to thrive for both the community and visitors.

It is anticipated that the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Project, subject to Cabinet approval, will commence in 2025 and will have a 36-month construction programme.
Four-year-old Bonnie Basteed, who needs regular painful bandage changes due to epidermolysis bullosa (EB), says her only Christmas wish is to skip the treatment on December 25

Bonnie with parents Amy and Andrew from Ballinlough in Cork.

Schoolgirl Bonnie Basteed suffers with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), leaving her with blisters all over her hands and face.

A four-year-old Cork girl who suffers from an extremely painful skin condition has said her biggest wish for the festive period is to not have her bandages changed on Christmas Day.

Bonnie Basteed, a schoolgirl from Ballinlough, suffers with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) which leaves her with blisters all over her hands and face.

To protect her body, Bonnie must wear special bandages which must be changed on a regular basis. The changing of these bandages often causes the youngster a lot of pain.

It hurts so much when they are changed, because sometimes my skin comes away with them, Bonnie said.

I wish I didnt need to have my bandages changed on Christmas Day, I hate it. That would be the best Christmas wish of all.

Bonnie has spoken about her heartbreaking experience as part of a Christmas appeal by Debra, the national charity that supports the 300 people living with EB in Ireland.

The Ballinlough girls mum Amy (30) recalled that her daughter was born on December 22, 2019 with missing patches of skin on her chest, bottom and hands.

We were told we could go home on Christmas Eve and everyone was head over heels in love with her, Amy said.

But it soon became clear something was badly wrong  this was a million miles away from the perfect Christmas we had dreamed of.

Bonnie with parents Amy and Andrew from Ballinlough in Cork.

Every time we changed Bonnies nappy, skin would come away and blister. Our tiny baby girl  who weighed just five pounds and 10 ounces when she was born  was in agony.

EB is caused by the absence of proteins between the skin layers, meaning the skin becomes ultra fragile and blisters at the mildest touch.

The condition can be difficult to spot in newborns and when a GP assessed a blister on Bonnies toe, it was attributed to her babygro. However, a few days later, the blister had tripled in size and had spread as far as her ankle.

Bonnie was sent for genetic testing at Our Ladys Childrens Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin, where, for the first time, EB and Debra were mentioned.

As soon as we started speaking to the team at Debra and they visited us at home, we knew there were people who understood our situation and were there for us, Amy said.

It was such a help to have their hands-on expert knowledge and clear answers to all our questions.

Schoolgirl Bonnie Basteed suffers with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), leaving her with blisters all over her hands and face.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 9th December 2024

When Bonnie started school, the charity provided information to her teachers and made arrangements for a room where Bonnies bandages could be changed.

Debra also made an illustrated book, so that her classmates and friends could better understand her condition.

Despite the success of the recent Run to 40 fundraising appeal involving Hollywood star Colin Farrell, the charity still heavily relies on public support to provide a range of services to the families of those with EB.

These include home visits, psychological support and funding for research.

A generous donor has agreed to match every donation Debra receives this Christmas up to 50,000. Donations can be made at debra.ie.
Mehdi Ozcinar said his friends inside Syrias autonomous Kurdish region are concerned following Islamist rebels seizure of Damascus

Mehdi Ozcinar pictured with his wife Dagmara and sons Anthony (front) and Mateusz (back). Mehdi said many Kurds are wary of the rebels who have toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.

A Kurdish man who is living in Cork said Kurds in Syria are feeling helpless and scared after Islamist rebels toppled Bashar al-Assads regime in a lightning offensive that lasted little over a week.

Mehdi Ozcinar (36) is the son of a Kurdish father and Armenian mother who originally comes from the largely Kurdish populated city of Srnak in Turkey, which is close to Syrias north-eastern border. He moved to Ireland in 2013 just two years before his city was destroyed by the Turkish army targeting Kurdish rebels.
School Feeder figures show that 105 of 138 students who sat their Leaving Cert in Macrooms three schools took up college places

All 58 students of St Mary's Secondary School in Macroom who sat the Leaving Cert this year enrolled at higher education colleges, according to new figures. Image: Google Maps

Over three-quarters of students who sat their Leaving Certificate in Macroom this year enrolled in a higher education college, with most going to University College Cork and Munster Technological University.

School Feeder figures published by the Irish Independent on Tuesday show that 105 of 138 students who sat their Leaving Cert in Macrooms three post-primary institutes of St Marys Secondary School, Colaiste De La Salle and McEgan College took up college places.

All 58 of the St Marys Secondary School students who sat their Leaving Cert last summer went on to higher education. 100 per cent of the schools students who sat the Leaving Cert in 2023 also took up places at colleges.

The figures show 35 pupils of St Marys enrolled at UCC, 15 registered at MTU and six signed up at University of Limerick (UL).

Three students of the all girls school enrolled at University of Galway (UG), three signed up at TU Shannon, three registered at Mary Immaculate College, two at University College of Dublin (UCD) and one at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

The number of St Marys students who enrolled in higher education may be higher than the amount who sat the Leaving cert this year because those who sat the exam in a previous year may have used this as a basis for college entry in 2024.

Sixty per cent (31) of the 52 students who sat their Leaving Cert at Colaiste De La Salle this year enrolled in a higher education college. This represented a drop from the 72 per cent of the schools Leaving Cert students who signed up at colleges last year.

19 students of Colaiste De La Salle registered at UCC, 11 enrolled at MTU and one signed up for Mary Immaculate College.

McEgan College had 28 of its students sit the Leaving Cert this year, and 57 per cent of these pupils (16) enrolled at colleges. 48 per cent of its 2023 Leaving Cert class enrolled at higher education institutes.

Eight McEgan College students went to MTU, three enrolled at UL, two signed up for UCC, one went UCG, one headed to TU Shannon and one went to Mary Immaculate College.

The figures regarding the number of students who sat the Leaving Cert at each school is based on the State Examinations Commission (SEC) figures for 2024 and relates to the number of candidates in each school, including repeats but excluding external candidates.

The data is based on information from colleges in the Republic of Ireland as well as Queens University Belfast and University of Ulster in Northern Ireland. Students who took up college places in British colleges or those in other EU countries are not accounted for.

Not included are students who completed the Leaving Cert Applied or students from schools where 10 or fewer candidates sat the Leaving Cert this year, as the SEC did not provide this information.

The figures also do not account for school-leavers who went into further education, such as post-Leaving Cert (PLC) courses, or school-leavers now pursuing an apprenticeship.
Queues began forming as early as 4am, leaving many people disappointed after missing out on food parcels from the centre

Queues started at 4am on Wednesday morning as 3,000 food vouchers were distributed by the Capuchin Day Centre.

Alan Bailey, manager of the centrewhich has been distributing food packages to the citys citizens for around 30 yearstold the Irish Independent that in the 50 years he has been helping homeless people in the city, he has never seen them run out so early.

In the 52 years Ive been involved with the centre, Ive never seen this happen before, he said.

Its something we never anticipated happening, but its a demand that has been gradually building up.

When we arrived this morning, there was a queue forming at 4am, and at one stage it stretched from our place along Bow Street right back to Church Street, so it was a lengthy queue.

We had a large number of Gardai present, and without them, we wouldve been totally surrounded.

It was stressful when we saw that supplies were dwindling early because the last thing we want to do is disappoint anyone.

But we only had 3,000 tickets, and its a case of where you stop, he added.

Alan Bailey, manager of Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th December 2024

The centre serves roughly 1,050 meals a day, free of chargeup from about 700 a day five years ago.

Mr Bailey confirmed to the Irish Independent that they currently serve around 350 breakfasts each morning and 700 people for lunch.

He said that the Capuchin Day Centre has annual running costs of around 4.7m, of which 400,000 comes directly from the government.

We are seeing our costs creeping up all the time, he said.

We are totally dependent on peoples generosity, and without the generosity of ordinary people, we wouldnt be here now and we cannot acknowledge that enough.

There is a huge demand for nappies and baby food.

"We have roughly 200 families on our books who come every Monday morning, and we provide them with enough supplies to get through the week, as this is a huge expense for a family, he added.

The centre ran out of Christmas food parcel tickets shortly after 9.30am, causing frustration and distress among those queuing.

Many had arrived hours before the doors opened at 7am, but demand far exceeded supply.

Weekly food bags, typically available until 11am, were also gone by 9am.

According to research published earlier this year by the childrens charity Barnardos, the number of parents reducing their food intake to ensure their children have enough to eat increased by 12pc since last year.

The study found that 41pc of parents had skipped meals or reduced portion sizes to enable their children to eat.

Almost a quarter (24pc) had borrowed money to feed a child in the past year, up from 16pc in October 2022 and 11pc in January 2022.
Fianna Fail Mayor of Tralee Mikey Sheehy is the latest to officially announce his interest in contesting the Seanad Eireann elections, set to take place in early 2025.

The announcement comes shortly after Fianna Fail colleague Councillor Breandan Fitzgerald  Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council  publicly announced his interested in taking a Seanad position.

Cllr Sheehy said he is incredibly grateful to have been nominated and after giving it considerable thought, decided to take this step for a national role.

Cllr Sheehy described himself as a passionate advocate for both local and national issues during his time on Kerry County Council. This includes pushing for better healthcare services and community infrastructure to championing sustainable development.

He said he was deeply committed to making Kerry an even better place to live, work, and visit.

The Seanad plays such an important role in shaping Irelands future, he said.

Im eager to bring my experience and dedication to public service to this national stage. If elected, Ill work hard to represent the people of Kerry  and beyond  with the same passion and commitment thats always guided me, Cllr Sheehy added.

He thanked the people of Tralee and Kerry for their continued support, promising to stay focused on serving his community throughout the campaign.

Cllr Breandan Fitzgerald said his sole focus, if elected, will be securing a voice for Kerry in what is a competitive arena in terms of demands made across all counties in Dublin.

He said his time on Kerry County Council has made him acutely aware of the issues facing the county.

If succesful, Cllr Fitzgerald would follow in the footsteps of his father, Tom, who served on the agricultural panel in Seanad Eireann for 13 years.

Candidates can be nominated by an outside body before 18 December. Or four Oireachtas members can make nominations before the 31 December.

Meanwhile, on Monday evening, Fine Gael Councillor Mike Kennelly was chosen to run for Seanad Eireann at a party branch convention in Tralee.
Fifth class pupils of Scoil Naomh Molaise, Grange have been experiencing the world of aquaculture by taking virtual tours of some of Irelands oyster, mussel, and salmon farms during a visit from the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) Aquaculture Remote Classroom (ARC).

The ARC is a purpose built mobile classroom designed to increase understanding about aquaculture and how seafood is sustainably farmed in Ireland. A team of up to three trained class facilitators deliver the interactive educational programme for primary and second level schools, including highlighting career opportunities within the sector. The ARC school tour of 2024 is soon coming to a close after visiting more than 3,200 pupils in schools in Ireland this year.

Mairtin Walsh, BIM, referred to how most people have at least a basic understanding of agriculture or farming on land, however, fewer people are aware that we also farm plants and animals in the water stating,

Despite being an island nation with a seafood industry employing more than 8,000 adults directly, with almost one in four of those working aquaculture, theres a lack of awareness about how seafood is farmed among the public. The ARC is helping to bridge that gap in understanding providing information to younger audiences through practical and fun class activities, and using technologies like VR allowing pupils to better grasp how seafood is sustainably farmed by virtually plunging underwater to tour some of our oyster, mussel, and salmon farms as well as using other interactive learning tools including map reading exercises, puzzles and quizzes.

Launched in 2019, and supported by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, BIMs ARC has delivered classes to 44,015 people to date, visiting schools, festivals and other events.

Camilla Harvey, fifth class teacher at Scoil Naomh Molaoise commented on the reactions of the class during the ARC visit:

The pupils have enjoyed it immensely. Its visit follows on from the Seashore Explorers we did last year at our local Streedagh beach. This ties in nicely as its another opportunity to learn about fish and the various things that happen in the ocean...the new environment alone has peaked their interest, and the interactivity, technology and VR systems are all a hit with them.

Ms Harvey added that the topics covered during the ARC lesson link to the curriculum.

Its great to see it covered all in one day rather than spread out throughout the year, its done in a very fun and engaging way.

BIMs ARC visits to schools are free of charge, however, advance booking is essential. Visit BIM.ie for details.
1 Imagine John Lennon

2 Bohemian Rhapsody Queen

3 Funny The Swarbriggs

4 Na-Na Is The Saddest Word The Sylistics

5 Combine Harvester Brendan Grace

6 Rhinestone Cowboy Glen Campbell

7 This Old Heart Of Mine Rod Stewart

8 Money Honey The Bay City Rollers

9 You Sexy Thing Hot Chocolate

10 Love Hurts Jim Capaldi

Imagine, the best selling single of John Lennons career, spent one week at the top of the Irish charts when first released as a single on this side of the Atlantic in 1975.

By then the song was four years old. Recorded in 1971, it was first released as a single in the US that year, peaking at number three in the Billboard Hot 100.

It was not available as a single in the UK and Ireland until 1975 when it was released to coincide with Shaved Fish, a compilation album from John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band.

After Lennons murder in December 1980, Imagine was one of a number of songs re-released as fans around the world grieved. It returned to the top of the charts in Ireland for another week at the end of January 1981.

In the UK, Imagine has sold over 1.7 million copies and is one of the best-selling singles of all time.

A 2002 UK survey by the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book named it the second-best single of all time, while Rolling Stone ranked it number 3 in a 2004 list of the its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song which encourages listeners to imagine a world of peace, without borders, materialism and religion, has been widely praised but has also been the subject of controversy because of its lyrics, with some religious groups taking issue with the lines ...and no religion too and Imagine theres no heaven.

When asked about the song in one of his final interviews, Lennon said he considered it to be as strong a composition as any he had written with the Beatles. Regarding its meaning and commercial appeal, he said: Anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic, but because it is sugarcoated it is accepted ... Now I understand what you have to do. Put your political message across with a little honey.

Lennon took inspiration for Imagine from Yoko Onos 1964 book of instructions and drawings, titled Grapefruit.

On its release in 1971, Lennon was credited as sole songwriter, but he later said that his wife, Yoko Ono, should have been credited as well. On December 6, 1980, two days before he was murdered, Lennon did a radio interview with Andy Peebles for the BBC where he explained: That should be credited as a Lennon/Ono song because a lot of the lyric and the concept came from Yoko. But those day, I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted to mention her contribution. But it was right out of Grapefruit, her book.

In June 2017, the US National Music Publishers Association awarded Imagine a Centennial Song Award and recognised Lennons desire to add Yoko Ono as a co-author of the song.
Stan & Ollie (2018) BBC1, Midnight

Penned by Jeff Pope, Stan & Ollie is a handsomely crafted valentine to a double act who earned legions of adoring fans with pratfalls and slapstick.

The film opens in 1937 California. Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Hardy (John C Reilly) demand a better deal from Hal Roach (Danny Huston), who has them under contract, and a subsequent wrangling for a bigger slice of the Hollywood pie creates a fissure in the duos relationship. Fast-forwarding to 1953, Stan and Oliver tour England with a stage show of skits that promises to let them go out with a bangin Hull.

As the title suggests, Stan & Ollie is anchored by Coogan and Reilly, who are fiercely committed, catalysing an old-fashioned bromance.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12

Philomena (2013) BBC4, 9.40p.m.

Jane Lee (Anna Maxwell Martin) discovers her mother Philomena (Judi Dench) fell pregnant as a teenager in 1950s Ireland and was forced to give up the baby to the sisters at Roscrea Abbey.

Jane pitches the story to former Labour advisor-turned-BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), who initially scoffs at the suggestion he should pen an article about the matriarch and her heart-breaking ordeal. After a reality check from his wife Kate (Simone Lahbib), Martin agrees to help Philomena track down her boy.

The tender and unexpectedly touching relationship that forms between these two characters from different generations and backgrounds provides Stephen Frearss uplifting film with its emotional thrust, as the search for answers moves between continents.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13

You Only Live Twice (1967) ITV, 10.45p.m.

When American and Soviet spacecraft go missing, both sides suspect the other  but British Intelligence believes a third party could be involved. Agent 007 (Sean Connery) is dispatched to Japan to investigate, where he comes face to face with Blofeld (Donald Pleasence, giving arguably the definitive take on the arch-villain).

Fans of the novel, the last published while Ian Fleming was alive, may be disappointed: the film bears little relation to it. For everyone else though, this is one of the better James Bond outings, thanks to a script by Roald Dahl, an explosive climax inside Ken Adams impressive set and some great special effects. Connery is terrific, as are the helicopter battle scenes and John Barrys score.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

Downton Abbey (2019) ITV1, 6.05p.m.

Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and his wife (Elizabeth McGovern) receive written communication from Buckingham Palace via motorcycle messenger, informing them of the arrival of King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James). The visit is part of a royal tour of Yorkshire, which will reunite the King and Queen with their daughter, Mary, Princess Royal (Kate Phillips).

Downton Abbey is a crowd-pleasing frippery of froth, which assiduously ties up loose narrative threads from the acclaimed TV series and unpicks a few new ones. Michael Englers film is comfortingly familiar, welcoming back most of the main cast. Screenwriter Julian Fellowes serves up bite-size morsels of intrigue and romance to generate a steady trickle of conflicts, resolutions and cliffhangers.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

No Time to Die (2021) ITV2, 8p.m.

James Bond (Daniel Craig) bids adieu to active service at MI6 under M (Ralph Fiennes) following the capture of arch-nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz).

A tranquil new life in Jamaica, nursing a broken heart apart from Dr Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux), is threatened by the arrival of CIA friend Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright). He needs Bonds help to track down scientist Valdo Obruchev (David Dencik). The mission pits Bond against MI6 agent Nomi (Lashana Lynch) but fractious inter-agency rivalries are quickly put to one side to defeat Machiavellian mastermind Safin (Rami Malek).

No Time to Die concludes Craigs muscular tour of duty in style. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga wrings the living daylights out of action sequences including a showdown at sea and screeching car chases that barely touch the brakes.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

The Young Offenders (2016) BBC3, 9.35p.m.

Inspired by a true story, writer-director Peter Footts comical road movie centres on teenage best friends Conor (Alex Murphy) and Jock (Chris Walley), who are always getting into scrapes in inner-city Cork. In particular, bike-thief Jock drives Garda Sergeant Healy (Dominic MacHale) to the brink of distraction with his antics.

One day, news reaches Connor and Jack that a boat has capsized off the coast of West Cork and 61 bales of cocaine, each worth seven million Euros, have been seized. Rumours persist that one bale is missing. So, the boys steal a pair of bikes and embark on an epic quest to locate the drugs.

Unfortunately, Sergeant Healy is on their trail  and he intends to catch them red-handed. The film inspired a spin-off sitcom, which returns to BBC1 this week for a Christmas special.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) BBC1, 10.40p.m.

Following the success of Marvels first Avengers movie, director Joss Whedon returned to the helm for this enjoyable, if slightly less impressive, sequel. In the breathless action sequence which opens the film, the Avengers storm a Hydra stronghold to reclaim Lokis magical staff, the Chitauri Scepter. During the melee, emotionally scarred siblings Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro Maximoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who have been subjected to secret Hydra experiments, are unleashed.

Wanda infects the mind of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), convincing the billionaire that he will bring about the deaths of the entire team. Tormented by his nightmarish vision, Stark secretly plans to harness the power of the Chitauri Scepter, but instead he unwittingly unleashes the villainous Ultron (voiced by James Spader).
Kilmore Quay RNLI was called into action on Tuesday afternoon to assist the crew of a 24m fishing trawler experiencing engine failure a mile and a half south of Kilmore Quay harbour.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class relief lifeboat RNLB Irene Muriel Rees by the Irish Coast Guard at 11.55 a.m. on December 10. The lifeboat under Coxswain Philip Walsh and with four crew members on board promptly launched and made its way to the scene.

Arriving at the location at 12:11 p.m., the lifeboat crew checked that all onboard the vessel were safe and well before assessing the situation. Weather at the time was described as fresh with a Force 4 to Force 5 easterly wind and slight to moderate sea state.

While on scene, the crew on board the fishing vessel managed to get the engine restarted. The fishing vessel returned to Kilmore Quay under escort by the lifeboat and did not require any further assistance.

The lifeboat returned to its berth in the marina at 1.23 p.m. and was made ready again for service.
Butler's Chocolate Cafe staff members Daniela Rezzini, Fellipi Arauju, Iuliia Iermolaieva and Gizem Turac ready to serve customers at the cafe in Bray. Photo: Leigh Anderson

Christ Church COI

Services of Worship for this Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent: 8.30am Holy Communion; 11am Holy Communion.

Parish Life Centre [PLC] Bookings: The Parish Life Centre is available for day and evening bookings. Please contact Tracey in the Parish Office at 01-286 2968.

Parish Office: The Parish Office is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30 am to 1.30pm. Email: info@christchurchbray.ie; Tel. 01 286 2968; Parish website: christchurchbray.ie; facebook.com/christchurchbray.

Christ Church Bray Christmas Cards: These are now on sale: Pack of 10 mixed cards 1 available at the back of the Church. When theyre gone, theyre gone!

Connect Online!: Our most active communication tools currently are our Website www.christchurchbray.ie which contains information on our live streamed worship services,weekly Blogs, events and news, and our facebook page @christchurchbray.

Irish Trefoil GuildGuiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at braytrefoilguild@gmail.com

Bray Methodist Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10amSunday Worship with Creche and Sunday School.

Bray Presbyterian Church

Worship for this Sunday: 11.30am Sunday Worship.

Christian Assembly Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10.45am Morning Worship.

Wednesdays: 8pm Prayer Meeting & Bible study.

Monthly Ladies Meeting: For details see: www.christianassemblybray.com.

Cornerstone Church at The Well

Worship this Sunday: 11am.

Bray Christian Outreach

Free hot meals, Clothes, sleeping bags, toiletries etc, are available in Bray Methodist Church on Sundays from 3pm to 4pm.

Holy Redeemer Parish

Contact Holy Redeemer Parish: Call (01) 2868413. Website: www.holyredeemerbray.ie; Email: office@holyredeemerbray.ie.

Parish Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9.30am to 11am. If you need to contact us please email: office@holyredeemer.ie.

Mass Times: 10amMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday No Mass on Tuesday. Sunday Masses: 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday and on Sunday at 10.30am and 12Noon. To book a Mass, please call into the Sacristy before or after our Masses.

Music at Mass on Sundays: 10.30am Folk Group; 12pm Gaudium Choir (Mainly Latin Church Music) on the 1st Sunday of the Month; 12pm on other Sundays of the Month: Parish Choir (Mainly English Church Music).

Reconciliation Service: Will take place at 12noon on Christmas Eve in this Church.

Baptism: Registration for Baptism can be made online via the parish website www.holyredeemerbray.ie.

St Peters Parish

To Book a Mass: To book a Mass, please contact the Parish Office on 01- 282 9467 or email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com.

Parish Office: Parish Office opening hours areMonday: 9.30am to 12.30pm; Tuesday: 9am to 12.30pm; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: 9am to 12.30pm; Friday: 9am to 12.30pm. The parish office can be contacted by calling 01-282 4967 or by email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com.

St. Peters Church Mass Times: Sunday: 9am. (Irish Mass), 11.30am. Holy Days: 11am. 1st Friday: 11am.

Christmas times for Masses in St Peters Church, Little Bray: December 24thChristmas Eve: 5.30pm. December 25th Christmas Day: 9am and 11.30am.

Reconciliation Service: This will take place at 12noon on Christmas Eve in the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, Bray.

Car Park Hours: These are from 9am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday, for parish business and at the weekends during church ceremonies. The Cemetery is accessible via the laneway for pedestrians.

St. Peters Cemetery: There is a strict policy of No Dumping Allowed in any area of the cemetery. Visitors to the cemetery are requested to take home all forms of rubbish with them in order to keep the cemetery tidy. Your co-operation is appreciated.

St. Annes Church, Shankill: A Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5pm on Saturdays. All are welcome.

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Church Opening Hours: The Church closes at 4.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 11am to 10pm on Mondays only in this Church.

Mass: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend Masses are at 6.30pm on Saturdays and 10.30am and 12 Noon on Sundays.

Mass Bookings: Anyone who wishes to book a Mass can do so by contacting the Parish Secretary via email at: secretary@queenofpeace.ie, or call 2745497.

Parish Centre: To book a meeting room in the Parish Centre please call 01-2760045 or email: villafas1@hotmail.com.

St Fergals Parish

Mass Times: Mass times are 9.30am Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. No morning Mass on Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday: 7pm Vigil Mass; Sundays: 8am and 10.30am.

Confessions: Are heard on Saturdays after the 7pm Vigil Mass.

Baptism: Baptisms take place on the first and third Saturday of each Month at 12Noon. Bookings can be made through the Parish Office Only. The Preparation meeting takes place on the Monday before the 1st Saturday of the month. Please call into the Parish Office three weeks in advance of the Baptism to complete the Baptism Form and to confirm the date.

St. Fergals Church Baptism Team: Our Baptism Team is in need of some extra volunteers to assist on a rota basis, with the twice monthly Baptisms which take place here in the Church. Training will be given, and Garda Vetting is a necessity. If you would be interested in joining this dedicated team please leave your name with Jenny in the parish office, or contact Monica Cornejo at: 086-0608384 or moncor44@hotmail.com.

St. Claires Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul: Messages for the St. Vincent de Paul should be sent to St. Clairs Centre, Ballymorris, Killarney Road, Bray call 01-2745325 and leave your message. Mobile No: 087 1738 235.

Syro Malabar Catholic Church

Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 12 noon in St. Fergals Church, Ballywaltrim.

QOP youth club

Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club had a well-attended swim night in Shoreline, and their next event will be a visit to the Civil Defence Headquarters. Last item of the year will be their Christmas Party.

Voices of Bray

Voices of Bray, Songs for a Winters Night was a huge success in Saint Fergals Church. Musical Director was John Ivory, with pianist Justin McCann, and special guest soprano Anna Forsyth. Proceeds went to Living Life Counselling. It was really great to see everyone back once again for another annual Christmas night.

Bray Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8.30pm. The library can be contacted at 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Bray Library Literary Book Club meets on the last Thursday of the month at 7pm the December meeting will take place on the earlier date of Thursday December 19th as the library will be closed on Thursday December 26th due to the Christmas/New Year holidayenquire at the desk for details on the book for this meeting.

Bray Library Romance Book Club meets at 7pm on the First Tuesday of the month the January meeting will take place on Tuesday January 7th 2025enquire at the desk for details on the book for this meeting. Bray Library Crime Book Club meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm the next meeting will take place on Tuesday January 14th 2025enquire at the desk for details on the book for this meeting. All are welcome.

This Saturday morning Musical Meditation with harpist Aisling Ennis takes place in the library at 9.30am. Yoga mats welcome, chairs available. Booking required via the library desk, call 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Next Monday Christmas decoration knitting with Pauline for experienced knitters takes place at 3pm. Booking required via the library desk, call 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Next Tuesday Jewellery making with Deirdre Maker Ridgeway takes place in the library at 4.30pm. Booking required via the library desk, call 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

The library is again involved in Imbolc, the Community Seed Arc programme, where one can get seeds for a variety of plants and after they flower, donate seeds from them for the programme. As always, you can have seeds sent to your local Wicklow Library branch by emailing your branch - and requesting up to 4 packets.

Next Tuesday Jewellery making with Deirdre Maker Ridgeway takes place in the library at 4.30pm. Booking required via the library desk, call 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Next Wednesday morning James Scannell will present Christmas 1963 in Wicklow at 11.30am in Wicklow Town library. All are welcome, admission is free but booking is required as the venue has a limited capacity email: wicklowlocalstudies@wicklowcoco.ie or call 0404-67025 to reserve a place.

Ballywaltrim Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 10am to 8pm on Wednesday. The library is closed on the Saturdays and Mondays on Bank Holiday weekends. The library can be contacted at 01-2723205 or by email at: ballywatrimlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie.

Adult Scrabble takes place every Monday from 3pm to 4.30pm no booking is required. Tummy-Time for Babies takes place every Monday from 10.30am to 12pm no booking required.

Bray Cualann Historical Society

The next meeting of the Bray Cualann Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow, will take place on Thursday January 16th 2025 when Kiernan Devenish will present Industrial Yarns Bray at 8pm in the Royal Hotel, Bray. All are welcome to attend. Admission is 8 for non-members. Those wishing to join the Society can do so at this meeting.

Events taking place in the week ahead which may be of interest to members and supporters of the Society are: tomorrow (Thursday) John Lennon will present Main Street: The Heart of Dundrum at 8pm to the Kilmacud-Stillorgan Local History Society in St. Lawrences Parish Centre, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. Members are free visitors 3. Please note that there is a car parking charge of 1 per hour at this venue coin payment only.

Next Wednesday morning James Scannell will present Christmas 1963 in Wicklow at 11.30am in Wicklow Town library. All are welcome, admission is free but booking is required as the venue has a limited capacity email: wicklowlocalstudies@wicklowcoco.ie or call 0404-67025 to reserve a place. Mince pies, tea and coffee will be served and a selection of historical newspapers will be on display.

Next Thursday (December 19th) Barry Carse will present 50 Years of Irish Photography a selection of photos from Ireland and the UK at 7.30pm to the Irish Railway Record Society in their Dublin Hueston Station premises. Strictly members and their guests only.

Shankill Classical Music Club

The December meeting takes place tonight (Wednesday) from 7.45pm to 10pm, including a tea break in the Shankill Day Centre, Lower Road, Shankill (100 yards from the main street, car parking available).

The December meeting will feature video along with the music, which will be as always: a varied programme of classical music on CDs, covering many genresorchestral, instrumental, vocal, opera etc.in a friendly setting. Visitors and new members are always welcome. You dont need to be an expert! Theres no charge on the night. For further information phone or text John at 087-2109175.

W.H. Five Loaves Bingo

W.H. Five Loaves Bingo takes place every Sunday night at 8pm in the Little Flower Hall beside the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer.

Crinken Community Lantern Walk

The annual Crinken Community Lantern Walk takes place this Saturday at 5pm. Meet at St. James Church Crinken to make Lanterns from 4pm. Feel free to bring your own torches and lanterns. The plan is to walk around Shanganagh Park and head back to St. James Church for some refreshments which will be served outdoors. All ages welcome. Please note that this event is subject to weather permitting.
Action from the Follow The Star Festival in Enniskerry: No room at the inn (Schoolhouse For Art) for Mary and Joseph. Photo: Leigh Anderson

Parish of Powerscourt with Kilbride

Services at Powerscourt with Kilbride: All Services are available on the Parish YouTube Channel.

Service of Worship in St. Patricks Church, Powerscourt, for this Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent: 11.30am All Age Service.

Service of Worship in St. Brigids Church, Kilbride, for this Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent: 9.45am Holy Communion 2.

Irish Trefoil GuildGuiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at braytrefoilguild@gmail.com.

St Marys Church

Parish Website: www.enniskerryparish.ie is the Parish website of the Immaculate Heart of Marycheck it out for the latest information about our parish.

Facebook Page: There is a facebook page for the parish of Enniskerry, incorporating all four churches which facebook users will find under Enniskerry parish with a cover photo of trees and profile picture of a quote from Pope Francis. Please give it a like and feel free to post news from your community.

Enniskerry (also Curtlestown & Glencree) Parish Office opening times: Monday to Friday: 10am to 1pm; email: stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie; or call 01-2760030.

St. Mochonogs Parish Office opening times: Monday: 9am to 2pm, Tuesday: (by phone) 10am to 1pm, Wednesday: 10am to 2pm, Thursday (by phone) 10am to 1pm. Closed Friday.

Parish Churches Schedule of Masses: Enniskerry St. Marys: Saturday evening 6pm and also via parish webcam; Sunday 11am and also via parish webcam. Weekday Mass at Enniskerry is at 10.15am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and also via parish webcam lay-led prayer service on Wednesday; and Saturday at 10.15am, and also available via the parish webcam. Masses in Curtlestown and Kilmacanogue are on Sunday at 10am. Mass in Glencree is at 9am on the first Sunday each month.

Baptism Requests: Requests for Baptism now take place online at www.enniskerryparish.ie.

Leaders in Church Ministry: We currently have a small team of three Funeral leaders. They have been serving the parish wonderfully for a year and have been greatly appreciated by the bereaved families. We would very much like to increase our team of leaders in the parish this year to include all ministries. Please consider being part of our growing leadership team in Enniskerry parish.

New Readers Needed: We need new readers. Please give your name to Phil Kenna or to the parish office if interested.

New Here?: You are very welcome. You can keep up to date with us through the parish webpage at www.enniskerryparish.ie. You can register as a parishioner by mailing us at stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie or stmochonogs@enniskerryparish.ie. If you wish to receive items, or if you would like to receive the Parish Link by email weekly please phone the Parish Office in Enniskerry on 01-2760030 (10am to 1pm Monday to Friday or email: stmarys@enniskerry.ie; and Kilmacanogue on 01-2021882 (10am to 1pm Monday to Thursday) or email:stmochonogs@enniskerryparish.ie.

Broadcast List: A broadcast list for the parish is now up and running. This is to keep everyone up to date with what is happening in the parish and for easy communication in relation to building our communities. If you would like to have your name added to the list, please contact Aideen at 086 8182 241.

History Society

Members and supporters of the Enniskerry History Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the week ahead.

Tomorrow (Thursday) John Lennon will present Main Street: The Heart of Dundrum at 8pm to the Kilmacud-Stillorgan Local History Society in St. Lawrences Parish Centre, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. Members are free visitors 3. Please note that there is a car parking charge of 1 per hour at this venue coin payment only.

Next Wednesday morning James Scannell will present Christmas 1963 in Wicklow at 11.30am in Wicklow Town library. All are welcome, admission is free but booking is required as the venue has a limited capacity email: wicklowlocalstudies@wicklowcoco.ie or call 0404-67025 to reserve a place. Mince pies, tea and coffee will be served and a selection of historical newspapers will be on display.

Next Thursday (December 19th) Barry Carse will present 50 Years of Irish Photography a selection of photos from Ireland and the UK at 7.30pm to the Irish Railway Record Society in their Dublin Hueston Station premises. Strictly members and their guests only.

Enniskerry Library

Opening hours are Tuesday 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Wednesday: 2pm to 4.30pm & 6pm to 8pm; Friday: 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Saturday: 10am to 2.30pm. The Library is closed on Mondays and Thursdays and on the Saturdays of Bank Holiday weekends. The Library can be contacted at 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

This Saturday morning Musical Meditation with harpist Aisling Ennis takes place in Bray library, Eglinton Road, Bray, at 9.30am. Yoga mats welcome, chairs available. Booking required via the library desk, call 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Next Monday Christmas decoration knitting with Pauline for experienced knitters takes place at 3pm in Bray library. Booking required via the library desk, call 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Next Tuesday Jewellery making with Deirdre Maker Ridgeway takes place in Bray library at 4.30pm. Booking required via the library desk, call 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Next Wednesday morning James Scannell will present Christmas 1963 in Wicklow at 11.30am in Wicklow Town library. All are welcome, admission is free but booking is required as the venue has a limited capacity email: wicklowlocalstudies@wicklowcoco.ie or call 0404-67025 to reserve a place. Mince pies, tea and coffee will be served and a selection of historical newspapers will be on display.

Bridge Club

Enniskerry Bridge Club meets every Tuesday night in the Parochial Hall (beside Poppies) at 7.30pm. New members are very welcome. For more information please contact the Secretary on 085-7112179.
Presenter Kathryn Thomas has spoken about fearing for her life when she was chased by a man with a machete during a trip to Papua New Guinea.

Thomas was speaking to chef and TV host Mark Moriarty on his podcast Roasted. The incident took place while she was filming in the Pacific island country for the travel show No Frontiers, which she hosted in the early 2000s.

I thought this is where its all going to end. I thought I would have a different reaction, I thought Id fight or run or scream, but all of a sudden the fear overcame me and I just remember bowing my head, she said.

"I could feel him running at me and feel the knife, and he was screaming at me and I could feel this spit on my face as he was screaming.

We were four days from civilisation. It could have genuinely ended very differently than it did. I still say it was one of the best trips that we did.

She said her personal highlight from the travel show was a trip to the Antarctic: Its like being on a different planet, it was just you and nature and very few people have been. It was amazing to see it in all its glory.

Looking back on her time as the host of Operation Transformation on RTE, Thomas said being the face of weight loss didnt sit right with her. She said she was disappointed when the show was brought to an end after 17 years on-air.

I am disappointed its not there. I couldnt have given anymore. It will be missed. I hope something comes and replaces that. I think where we are with our health in this country is frightening. I think we need population-based health initiatives.

Thomas also spoke to Moriarty about raising her two girls Ellie and Grace, who she shares with husband Padraig.

My greatest joy in life is walking my girls to school every day. Having children later in life comes with its own challenges. Myself and Padraig werent spring chickens. Youre definitely more tired.

Padraig is 50 and I keep calling him Rod Stewart - he was knocking out children when he was 70 whatever  and Padraig is like, yeah hes a multimillionaire with multiple nannies and hes never home, theres a vast difference.

She said she and her stepson Conor get on like a house on fire and he is great to his sisters.

While she has made a name for herself as a presenter, Thomas said she wanted to be a film star early on in her career.

I wanted to go to Hollywood. I was going to be an actress, be in big feature films" she said.

I did voluntary work in TV production companies around Dublin  to get closer to Hollywood! And it was in the basement of Coco television when I was labelling videos of presenters going for roles that I said, I could do this, this is easier than acting  all youve to do is be yourself.

So I kind of stalked them until they let me do a pilot of a show so thats how it happened.
Keanu Reeves at the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square (Ian West/PA)

Actor Keanu Reeves has said he joined the cast of Sonic The Hedgehog 3 as he is a big fan of the series.

Reeves, 60, plays Shadow in the latest film adaption of the Sega video game, which will see Sonic, Knuckles and Tails battle him to protect the planet.

Speaking at the movies London premiere on Tuesday, the Canadian star said: Im a big fan, I mean, I really enjoyed the first two films.

I really liked the character of Shadow, so I was really excited to try to be a part of it.

The Matrix actor went on to speak about the differences between voice acting and appearing on screen.

He added: Its fun to play pretend, I love acting, so its fun to try and inhabit another character.

Theres an intensity to doing voice work and specificity, its kind of more like doing, its its own thing, because its kind of like theatre, but no audience.

So its like doing radio, and its just fun.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 will be released in UK cinemas on December 20 (Ian West/PA)

Canadian-American actor Jim Carrey co-stars as villain Doctor Eggman, a role he told the PA news agency it was great to be playing again.

Carrey told PA: I do like to play a character filled with disdain here and there, the Grinch was that.

But there were other characters like The Truman Show, hes somebody who loves the world and believes in the world, and believes in the people in his life, and believes in his neighbours, and hes just a good-hearted soul that finds out theres something more in the world than what he knows and something beyond his own neighbourhood.

So its a lovely story, but theyre all different characters, they all have different desires, and you have to do something special with each one.

He added: I just let it rip when they say action, its just a perfect excuse to be an obstreperous bloviating bag of ill will.

And then of course they say cut, and all of that horrible politeness and needing to be loved seeps back in.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 will be released in UK cinemas on Friday December 20.
Influencer and business owner Rosie Connolly has opened up about how her whole world turned upside down when she was told her fathers body had been found after he drowned.

The Dublin woman, who lost her father at the age of 18, revealed that she still fears answering phone calls from unknown numbers as a result of the traumatic way she discovered the news.

Rosie (34), who founded and runs the 4th Arq leisurewear company, also spoke about the deep connection with her dad that she feels to this day.

Rosie talking to Carl

My dad drowned when I was 18, he was missing for two days, she told the Phone Truths with Carl Mullan podcast.

My mam was away so my sister and I were dealing with it.

Ms Connolly got a phone call about identifying her dad before she had been informed that a body believed to be her fathers had been found.

It was one of those things. I wish I had never answered the phone, she told Carl.

My whole world got turned upside down, she added.

Ms Connolly said she still feels a connection with her dad and credits him with the amazing things that have happened in her life.

I never wanted to believe I couldnt talk to him ever again. The way my life has panned out since my dad passed has just been incredible. Even my mum was sick and shes gotten through it.

We all lean on him when we need him. I always feel that connection to him, she added.

She also spoke about discovering she was pregnant while her mother was battling cancer.

Rosie Connolly

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th December 2024

Ms Connolly has two children with her husband Paul Quinn - son Harry and daughter Remi. She is also a step-mum to her husband's son Reuben from a previous relationship.

I trust the timing of my life a lot. I was pregnant, still living at home, my mum was going through cancer treatment at the time  it wasnt the ideal time for me to come home and say Im pregnant. But it all worked out for the better, she says.

She was also honest about the ups and downs of life and told Carl that she cries all the time, but has surrounded herself with the right team.

I dont agree with the toxic positivity and like, life is s**t at times. Ive been through it myself, you can be in that shit moment  but its not staying in that shit moment. Figuring it out. I cry all the time, Im such a crier, Ive cried in work, in front of everyone I think feel your emotions and then move on.
A twist on the traditional demand season for weddings in Ireland has seen a notable rise in couple choosing winter to say their I dos.

A survey has revealed that winter weddings are on the rise with 25pc of couples now choosing to say I do between the months of October to March in Ireland.

The study noted the main factors encouraging a winter wedding were the possibility of saving money and increased guest availability in comparison with summer months.

Shell Holden, wedding expert and co-owner of SaveMyDay.ie which carried out the survey, said: Many venues and wedding vendors offer reduced pricing compared to summer months, allowing brides and grooms the opportunity to secure catering, photography and other services that may be originally out of budget.

While evenings may be darker, the twinkling lights are brighter, the atmosphere cosier, the decor richer, and wedding feasts more festive, making winter a truly magical time for a wedding.

Wedding venue owner Lisa Wilkinson told the Irish Independent: The smaller, more intimate weddings suit the winter better.

Rubistyle

Its easier to find a venue, the flights tend to be cheaper so that goes into the affordability of weddings.

Ms Wilkinsons venue, the Wicklow Escape lodge, is now experiencing fresh peaks in reservations around January and February.

February around Valentines Day is usually a big hit, she said.

"Quite a few people get engaged on Christmas so bookings will flood in during January.

Ms Wilkinson said that the proximity to Christmas means that the bride and groom must consider how much they want their wedding to be Christmas decorated or more of a Winter Wonderland.

Another wonderful thing is that you can add a wedding menu that is very wintery, she said.

We would typically have a lot of venison, hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows in the menu for example. The wedding venue will allow for people to sit inside or outside around a fire. Wed provide winter shawls and umbrellas for people walking from the outside to the heated pavilion.

She credits the rise of winter weddings to the pandemic where couples were forced to reduce the size of their weddings and began investing in long-term plans rather than solely ceremonies.

In the midst of a cost of living crisis she said that many couples choose to invest in buying their first homes.

And, on the subject of money, Ms Wilkinson commented on the current trend of a financial wedding gift for guests;

Theres a movable target for cash gifts. It really depends on the demographic offering the gift. Between 200 to 250 is still a very acceptable cash gift, she added.

Joanne McDonagh and her fiance Andrew Begley, from Prosperous County Kildare, are celebrating their wedding this month and had always visualised their wedding to be rustic.

Im also a massive Christmas fan so we thought early December would be better because its just the start of the Christmas buzz, Ms McDonagh told the Irish Independent.

As winter weddings become more commonplace, some venues are becoming increasingly more coveted.

A few of the more sought-out venues include the Marco Pierre White Courtyard Donnybrook, Fernhill House in West Cork, The Abbey Wedding & Events Venue in Athy, Clontarf Castle and the Wicklow Escape in Donard, Wicklow.
Peace talks on the war in Ukraine could possibly start this winter, Donald Tusk said as Warsaw seeks to play a leading role in ending the conflict.

Poland has been one of Kyivs staunchest supporters since Russias 2022 invasion, and prime minister Tusk pledged to be heavily involved in any talks when it takes up the EUs rotating presidency on January 1.
The former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch has requested a court hearing to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial as he faces federal sex trafficking charges in New York.
India Working on New GCC Policy to Tap Sector Growth with Fresh Incentives

India is rapidly emerging as a global hub for Global Capability Centers (GCCs), specialized operational hubs established by multinational corporations to centralize and optimize business processes. These centers, originally focused on cost-driven back-office operations, have transitioned into strategic units driving innovation, research, and high-value capabilities. Recognizing their significance, the Indian government is formulating a new umbrella policy aimed at attracting more GCCs, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, to ensure widespread economic benefits.

New GCC policy from Meity in the works

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is working on a comprehensive policy framework to provide fresh incentives for GCCs. These incentives aim to complement existing state-level policies and encourage GCCs to expand into smaller towns and cities. The focus is on creating dedicated office zones in areas where space constraints may otherwise limit large-scale operations. In such cases, the central government is considering incentives for establishing smaller GCCs dedicated to niche areas like healthcare and finance.

Additionally, according to officials speaking to the media, the GCC policy will emphasize long-term talent-building in frontier areas such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, and financial intelligence. This approach signals a shift from short-term fiscal incentives to sustainable strategies that align with Indias broader goals of technological advancement and workforce development.

The role of state governments

Several Indian states are proactively designing GCC-specific policies to attract investments. For instance:

Karnataka: The state became the first to launch a dedicated GCC policy, rolling out a draft in September 2024 before the final version was released in November. The Karnataka GCC Policy: 2024-2029 aims to attract 500 new GCCs in the next five years, creating 350,000 jobs and generating an economic output of US$50 billion. Incentives include rental reimbursements, funding for innovation labs, and skilling expense reimbursements.

The state became the first to launch a dedicated GCC policy, rolling out a draft in September 2024 before the final version was released in November. The Karnataka GCC Policy: 2024-2029 aims to attract 500 new GCCs in the next five years, creating 350,000 jobs and generating an economic output of US$50 billion. Incentives include rental reimbursements, funding for innovation labs, and skilling expense reimbursements. Uttar Pradesh: The states GCC Policy 2024 is targeting over 1,000 GCCs and 500,000 jobs, offering fiscal incentives such as 100 percent stamp duty exemptions and payroll subsidies.

The states GCC Policy 2024 is targeting over 1,000 GCCs and 500,000 jobs, offering fiscal incentives such as 100 percent stamp duty exemptions and payroll subsidies. Maharashtra: Known for its robust data connectivity and reliable infrastructure, Maharashtra is actively engaging with stakeholders to develop its own GCC policy, focusing on investments in technology parks and Special Economic Zones.

These state-specific policies, combined with the central governments umbrella framework, aim to position India as a top choice for global corporations looking to establish GCCs.

Indias GCC growth trajectory

Indias GCC market is on an impressive growth trajectory. According to industry body Nasscom, the GCC market size is projected to reach US$100 billion by 2030, employing over 2.5 million professionals. As of FY 2024, GCCs in India have generated revenues of US$64.6 billion, employing close to 2 million people.

In the period from Q1 2023 to Q4 2024, 124 new companies signed GCC deals, acquiring office space for greenfield capability or R&D centers. Notably, small and mid-sized firms accounted for a significant portion of these transactions, with 55 out of the 124 companies reporting annual revenues below US$1 billion.

GCCs have also evolved into multifunctional entities. Nearly 90 percent of domestic GCCs handle diverse functions, including technology, operations, and product engineering. Moreover, per a November 2024 report from consulting firm Inductus, engineering-focused GCCs grew 1.3 times faster than the general GCC growth rate, indicating a clear shift toward high-value activities.

Indias efforts to enhance its GCC ecosystem reflect its strategic vision to drive economic growth and innovation. The new umbrella policy, coupled with state-level initiatives, aims to create a conducive environment for GCCs to thrive. As the sector evolves, Indias emphasis on technology, talent, and infrastructure will ensure sustained competitive advantage, making it a preferred destination for global capability centers.

Technological transformation

The integration of advanced technologies is a defining feature of Indias GCC evolution. By 2026, over 70 percent of GCCs in India are expected to incorporate AI capabilities, including machine learning for operational analytics, AI-driven customer support, and cybersecurity training. This technological focus underscores Indias growing role as a hub for innovation and digital transformation.

Expansion beyond tier-1 cities

While major cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR continue to dominate the GCC landscape, the focus is increasingly shifting to tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Locations such as Jaipur, Vadodara, Ahmedabad (GIFT City), Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chandigarh, Nasik, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, and Indore are gaining traction due to their lower operational costs and emergence of hybrid work models. Further, many of these tier-2 and 3 locations are established educational hubs and provide a steady pipeline of engineering and R&D talent.

The demand for GCCs in tier-2 and tier-3 cities is projected to grow 15-20 percent by 2025 and by 25-30 percent in the next few years. These cities offer unique advantages, including a lower cost of living, better quality of life, reduced infrastructure pressure, and untapped skill. Experts predict a 35-40 percent increase in job demands in these cities over the next two years.

Cost competitiveness and talent base

Indias cost competitiveness remains a key attraction for global corporations. Operational expenses in India are up to 40 percent lower than in Eastern Europe, enabling companies to achieve significant cost savings without compromising on quality. The countrys vast talent pool further strengthens its position as a preferred destination for GCCs.

Programs like Skill India and Digital India have been instrumental in developing a skilled workforce. Additionally, Indias distributed talent ecosystem allows companies to tap into specialized skills across different regions. For instance, Chennai and Mumbai have deep domain talent in financial services, while Hyderabad excels in life sciences.

GCCs transforming to GICs

Another trend in Indias GCC landscape is the transformation of GCCs into Global Innovation Centers (GICs). These centers focus on core transactions and innovation, often acting as hubs for niche development. This transformation is driven by the need for speed, robustness, and specialized talent.

Smaller GICs are also emerging as microcosms of parent GCCs, supporting core functions while fostering innovation. These centers are expected to become increasingly multifunctional, similar to their tier-1 counterparts, as they mature.

Challenges and opportunities

Despite its rapid growth, the GCC sector in India faces several challenges per the Inductus report:

Fragmented policy framework: While state-specific policies offer tailored incentives, they can create inconsistencies and complexities compared to streamlined and centralized systems in countries like Ireland and Singapore. Infrastructure gaps: Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities frequently fall short in offering the robust infrastructure required for large-scale GCC operations. Limited R&D focus: India trails global hubs like Singapore in offering significant incentives to foster research and innovation. Ease of doing business: Although improving, bureaucratic delays and multi-layered approval processes continue to challenge investors.

Addressing these challenges presents significant opportunities for India. By enhancing infrastructure in smaller cities, streamlining regulatory processes, and offering robust R&D incentives, India can further solidify its position as a global GCC leader.

Global perspective: Competing destinations

While India leads the GCC market, other countries are also vying for a share of this lucrative sector. For instance:

Philippines: Known for its IT-BPO services and workforce training programs.

Known for its IT-BPO services and workforce training programs. Poland: A nearshoring destination in Europe with strong STEM education.

A nearshoring destination in Europe with strong STEM education. Ireland: Offers low corporate tax rates and attractive R&D incentives.

Offers low corporate tax rates and attractive R&D incentives. Singapore: Boasts advanced digital infrastructure and innovation-friendly policies.

Boasts advanced digital infrastructure and innovation-friendly policies. Vietnam: An emerging hub with cost-effective labor and policy reforms.

Indias ability to stay ahead of these competitors will depend on its commitment to innovation, talent development, and infrastructure enhancement.

Outlook

The future of Indias GCC sector looks promising. With a projected workforce of 2.2 million by 2026, the sector is poised to play a pivotal role in Indias economic growth. The governments new policy, combined with state-level initiatives, is expected to attract more investments and foster innovation.

As global corporations continue to expand their GCC footprint in India, the focus on tier-2 and tier-3 cities will unlock new opportunities and drive inclusive growth. By leveraging its cost advantages, talent pool, and policy support, India is well-positioned to remain a global leader in the GCC landscape.
Karnataka Global Capability Center Policy 2024-2029: Key Features

The Karnataka Global Capability Center (GCC) Policy, launched November 2024, focuses on AI, collaboration between academia and the private sector, R&D, talent development, and expanding investment zones beyond the capital Bengaluru through fiscal, regulatory, and tax incentives.

The southern state of Karnataka launched Indias first dedicated policy for Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in November, marking a significant milestone in the states economic and innovation landscape.

Formally released on November 19, 2024, after putting out a draft in September, Karnatakas GCC policy aims to catalyze the establishment of 500 new capability centers, bringing the total to 1,000 by 2029. This initiative is projected to create 350,000 jobs and generate an economic output of US$50 billion.

With global competition from regions like Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, Indias scale, talent, and mature ecosystem keep it a preferred destination for GCCs. Karnataka differentiates itself from other states by integrating talent, infrastructure, and innovation support, attracting global enterprises. The state plans to develop three global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Belagavi, further decentralizing GCC operations.

Highlights of the Karnataka Global Capability Center Policy: 2024-2029

Workforce development and incentives

The policy focuses on fostering a robust talent pool through reimbursed internship stipends for up to 100,000 students.

GCCs will benefit from a 50 percent reimbursement on these stipends, emphasizing skilling and real-world industry exposure.

Additional incentives include a five-year electricity duty exemption, enabling GCCs in Beyond Bengaluru areas to transition to industrial power tariffs.

Property tax reimbursements and customized incentive packages will be offered for mega projects.

Infrastructure expansion and innovation clusters

The government has announced the creation of an electronics manufacturing cluster (EMC) in Mysuru, boosting the states manufacturing capabilities.

Bengaluru Global Innovation District, under the Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation City (KWIN City) initiative, will be established to foster cutting-edge innovation.

Special attention will be given to nano GCCs, small-scale centers with 5 to 50 employees, which will enjoy incentives without minimum employment or investment requirements.

Karnatakas advantage: A hub for GCC growth

Karnatakas leadership in Indias innovation ecosystem is unparalleled. Housing over 30 percent of the countrys GCCs and 35 percent of its workforce, the states talent pool and favorable business environment have been pivotal in attracting multinational corporations (MNCs).

The state ranked first in the India Innovation Index 2021 by NITI Aayog and continues to flourish through sector-specific policies. With a diversified presence across industries, Karnatakas GCCs contribute significantly to customer engagement, research, and value creation for MNCs.

Additional strengths:

World-class infrastructure: Supports industries with state-of-the-art facilities and seamless connectivity.

Supports industries with state-of-the-art facilities and seamless connectivity. FDI leadership: Attracted US$51.03 billion between 2019-2024, reinforcing its position as a top investment destination.

Attracted US$51.03 billion between 2019-2024, reinforcing its position as a top investment destination. Startup ecosystem: Recognized as Indias largest startup hub and unicorn capital, fostering co-innovation opportunities.

Recognized as Indias largest startup hub and unicorn capital, fostering co-innovation opportunities. Dynamic culture: A cosmopolitan environment that enhances people-to-people connectivity and rapid growth potential.

READ MORE: Investing in Karnataka, India: State Profile, Infrastructure, and Enabling Policies

Vision 2030: A sustainable and inclusive ecosystem

The policy aligns with Karnatakas vision of creating a sustainable, inclusive, and high-value GCC ecosystem by 2030. The focus areas include:

Workforce empowerment: Lifelong learning, upskilling, and mentorship programs tailored for women and transgender employees. Adaptive work models: Embracing hybrid work setups to balance well-being and business continuity. Sustainability: Promoting green initiatives and ethical business practices.

Strategic pillars of the policy

Talent development:

Partnerships with leading institutions for global leadership development.

Focused efforts on both technical and soft skills training.

State-supported research collaborations between academia and GCCs.

Strengthening the local ecosystem:

Innovation labs and Centers of Excellence (CoEs) will prioritize AI and deep-tech advancements.

Beyond Bengaluru initiative aims to decentralize growth to cities like Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi.

Special packages, such as rental reimbursements and EPF contributions, will encourage GCC expansion in these regions.

Infrastructure and incentives:

Establishment of three new technology parks, including two outside Bengaluru.

Sustainable infrastructure initiatives, including smart city mobility and enhanced regional connectivity.

Regulatory easing:

Creation of a Dedicated GCC Support Unit to streamline operations.

Fast-track approvals within 45 days to boost investor confidence.

A commercial real estate portal for easy access to available spaces.

Support services for GCC employees, including information on schools, healthcare, and social infrastructure.

Beyond Bengaluru: Decentralizing growth

The Beyond Bengaluru initiative is a cornerstone of the policy, aiming to spread the GCC ecosystem across the state and beyond its metropolitan hub. Cities like Tumakuru and Mangaluru and the Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi region will benefit from targeted incentives, encouraging early-stage startups and fostering a culture of innovation outside the capital Bengaluru.

The Beyond Bengaluru Cluster Seed Fund will support early-stage start-ups, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship outside the capital.  Nasscom Report

Focus on AI and deep-tech

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key driver of the Karnataka GCC Policy. A Centre of Excellence for AI will be established in Bengaluru, alongside an INR 1 billion AI Skilling and Innovation Fund. These initiatives will:

Develop AI-centric curricula in collaboration with academic institutions.

Support joint research projects and innovation challenges.

Summary

The Karnataka GCC Policy 2024-2029 represents a transformative vision to position the state as a global leader in innovation and economic development. With its focus on talent, infrastructure, regulatory ease, and decentralization, the policy ensures Karnataka remains at the forefront of the GCC growth story. By fostering an inclusive and future-ready ecosystem, Karnataka is set to drive local and global economic transformation, reinforcing its role as the nerve center for GCCs worldwide.
Azerbaijan is a famous location for travellers, particularly those from India. Tourism in Azerbaijan provides a wide range of sightseeing and recreational choices. This year, the country, topped the list of Google's most-searched list. The best months to visit Baku are between April and October when the weather is pleasant.

Baku is connected to numerous international travel centres by direct flights. You can also get to Azerbaijan by train from Georgia, Russia, or Ukraine. Here's what you must not miss in the country.

1. Bakus Old City

Credit: Pexels

Begin your sightseeing day with a typical Azerbaijani breakfast on the cobblestone alleyways of Baku's Old City.

2. Shekis old town

Credit: Pexels

Surrounded by lush Caucasian terrain in the northwest, Azerbaijan's latest UNESCO World Heritage site awaits discovery! Spend a day roaming the Silk Road-inspired alleyways, appreciating Sheki's unique gabled-roof architecture and elaborate brickwork, which reflects the city's history as a major trade and crafts hub.

Visit mosques and museums, caravanserais and palaces, and eat baklava peculiar to this region of the Caucasus.

3. Ancient churches

Credit: Pexels

Long before the Arab conquest brought Islam to Azerbaijan in the seventh century, Christianity was widespread throughout the country and persisted in some places into the Middle Ages.

Even today, the town of Nij is home to an ancient Christian community known as the Udis, who congregate every Sunday at a beautifully renovated 17th-century church.

4. Caspian Sea

Credit: Pexels

Azerbaijan has nearly 500 kilometres of Caspian Sea coastline. A 30-minute journey from Baku brings you breathtaking vistas from north to south, as well as dozens of sun-soaked beaches.

Every summer, the golden sands of the Absheron Peninsula come alive with luxury resorts and water parks, local seafood eateries, and stunning beaches.

5. Tea ceremony

Credit: Pexels

In Azerbaijan, tea is connected with hospitality, and it is customary for a guest to be provided with tea before leaving a home. Azerbaijani tea ceremonies have evolved over the ages to include their rites and rituals.

It is served in a distinctive pear-shaped glass with lemon and sugar, as well as a tray of tasty honey, jams, and sweets. This is an experience that can be had anywhere in the country, from upscale hotels to little village teahouses.

Also read: Azerbaijan: 7 Reasons Why Indian Travellers Are Flocking To This Tourist Hotspot

For more on such stories on celeb lifestyle and fashion from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.
After two very interesting seasons, Alpha Males Season 3 OTT release date is here. The Alpha Males will learn new antifeminist ideas in this installment, such as incels and the manosphere. There will be ten episodes of the Caballero brothers' comedy, which will debut in January 2025. Want to watch the new season? Alpha Males Season 3 will released on Netflix on 10th January 2025.

Plot

According to Netflix, the Alpha Males are going to discover about new antifeminist ideas like incels and the manosphere in this installment. While Raul copes with Luz's romantic anarchy while adjusting to the new religious customs in his life, Santi discovers that some women have a tendency to shun commitment. Among a few other difficulties, Luis has to cope with his parents' divorce, Pedro will learn he is going to be a father, and Pedro will face surprises as his series develops.

Cast and crew

In an effort to adjust to the age of the new masculinity, Fernando Gil, Maria Hervas, Raul Tejon, Kira Miro, Gorka Otxoa, Paula Gallego, Fele Martinez, and Raquel Guerrero will all reprise their roles and take on new storylines. Macarena Gomez, Jon Kortajarena, Paloma Bloyd, and Marta Hazas join the cast in this third installment.

Reacting to the recently released trailer, fans of the show expressed their anticipation. One wrote, Finally, one of the best shows on Netflix ever. Another went on to add, Make more seasons pleaseeeee !This show makes me laugh so effin hard.

A third added, This is great.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Shabana Azmi featured in Fire, an Indo-Canadian love story directed by Deepa Mehta in 1996, the film proudly and out loud portrayed same-sex relationships. Talking about the film, Shabana Azmi recently opened up about doing intimate love making scenes in the movie. She called it difficult and recalled what all happened on the first day of shooting those challenging scenes.

Shabana Azmi opens up on shooting intimate scenes in Fire

Shabana said in a recent chat with Radio Nasha It was very difficult I didnt know Nandita at that time. On the very first day of shoot, Deepa asked us to rehearse the love-making scene. Both Nandita and I were not used to doing such scenes, so while rehearsing it, Nandita kept her finger on my lips, and it didnt come out as romantic."

She added that Deepa shouted that she didnt ask her to brush her teeth. "It was very awkward for both of us to shoot such scenes." She went on to add, But, Deepa made sure there were not more people than both of us, her, and the cameraman. She created a safe environment, and the film was not exploitative."

For the unversed, the movie is mostly based on the 1942 story "Lihaaf" by Ismat Chughtai. A lesbian romance is shown in the movie which is one of the first popular Bollywood films to openly depict homosexual relationships. Fire is the first part of Mehta's Elements trilogy; it is succeeded by Earth (1998) and Water (2005).

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The tragic death of Atul Subhash, a Bengaluru techie who took his own life, allegedly due to harassment by his estranged wife, has sent shockwaves across the country. The 24-page-long suicide note and 90-minute video he left behind detail the harassment he was facing from his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, forcing him to take the extreme step.

Atul Subhash wanted Rs 2 lakhs as maintenance

Among other allegations, Subhash claimed that his wife, who is working at Accenture and receiving 40,000 every month from him as court-ordered maintenance, was demanding 2 lakhs from him as alimony.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Many on social media pointed out that it was unfair for a man to pay maintenance to his estranged wife, who has a high-paying job.

Recent cases of wives demanding shockingly-high amounts as maintenance

Some also highlighted recent court cases where women have demanded crores of rupees in maintenance from their estranged partners. Recently, several such cases have surfaced, where women sought exorbitant amounts like 2 crore to 13 crore from their ex-husbands, despite being well-earning individuals themselves.

'Maintenance is unfair'

Men's rights groups have long argued that the provision of maintenance is often misused by women to 'punish' their former partners, irrespective of whose fault it was that the relationship broke down.

CREDIT: PEXALS

How is maintenance calculated in India

It should be noted that there is no clear definition or formula for calculating maintenance. However, the Supreme Court suggested that 25% of the husband's net salary can be a fair amount for monthly maintenance.

The idea behind maintenance is to provide the estranged partner with basic necessities and help them lead a normal life after divorce.

Factors that determine maintenance amount

In most cases, the maintenance is decided by the respective courts, taking into account several factors, including the employment status/income of the woman, duration of marriage, age, liabilities, custody of children, social status, standard of living, reason for divorce, etc.

CREDIT: Pexels

If the woman is unemployed and has to take care of children, she is usually entitled to a higher amount as maintenance.

Are prenups valid in India?

In some countries, especially in the West, couples enter into prenups or prenuptial agreements before getting married, where they agree on how the assets and liabilities would be split in case they are separated. Such prenuptial agreements are not legally recognised or enforceable in India.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
BTS members RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook have hit a major milestoneone year down (and a few months to go) in their military service. This means a highly anticipated OT7 reunion can happen anytime after June 2025, when all members would have completed their service. The news has sent the BTS fandom into a frenzy, with ARMYs around the world counting down the days until the septet is whole again.

RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook complete one year of military service

No idea if South Korea celebrates military anniversaries, but ARMYs have every reason to party! With RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook completing one year of their mandatory service, a BTS reunion is finally within sight, and if that doesn't call for celebrations, then we don't know what does.

BTS members Jimin and Jungkook enlisted in the military on December 12, 2023, while RM, also known as Namjoon, and Kim Taehyung, also known as V, both began their mandatory service on December 11, 2023.

Despite their mandatory service, all the members have put efforts to stay connected with ARMY. Time and again, the members update their fans about their service status and other activities that they undertake. Meanwhile, BTS also emerged as the top most searched K-pop group in South Korea, while Kim Taehyung was the most searched idol, as per Google's year-end report.

BTS reunion in 27 weeks!

In a bittersweet moment, BTS dropped a bombshell on fans during the BTS FIESTA live stream on June 14, 2022, revealing they would be taking a long-term break to focus on their individual activities, which included pursuing solo careers and completing their soldier duties.

At that time, HYBE, BTS' agency, had ensured a BTS reunion in 2025; however, during their Q3 earnings call for 2024, CFO Lee Kyung Joon hinted at a 2026 reunion of the Bangtan boys. While a full-fledged comeback may take more than a year, given making new music will need considerable time, fans can expect a casual reunion anytime after June.

BTS will reunite in 6 months. pic.twitter.com/064mIbMGrP  Viral Takes (@viraltakes) December 11, 2024

The major development has now invited a tidal wave of feelings among BTS fans who have been waiting for a reunion ever since Jungkook and Jimin enlisted, when all the members last reunited to give them an emotional send-off.

As the reunion countdown has officially reached fever pitch, fans have been overflowing with excitement, nostalgia, and love for the group.

"BTS reunion in 27 weeks; Seokjin got discharged 26 weeks ago. Do y'all realize how close we are??" one fan wrote.

bts reunion in 27 weeks, seokjin got discharged 26 weeks ago do y'all realize how close we are?? pic.twitter.com/MYmzJresEF  emby is happy (@park07k) December 10, 2024

"I miss BTS so much; I kept repeating their variety shows. These days it feels a little empty. Yes, Jin and Hobi are out, but I miss them as a group. Of course, I am very happy as Jin put so much effort into keeping the fill-in. Six months to go for their reunion and our reunion," another fan wrote in a poignant note.

I miss BTS , so much , kept repeating their variety shows , these days it felt little empty , yes Jin and Hobi are outs, but I miss them as a group , of course I am very happy as Jin put so much effort to kept the fill in , 6 months to go for their reunion and our reunion   Me (@Uninterest95) December 9, 2024

Check out some more reactions from fans below:

It'll be 2025 in less than 27 days, bts reunion in 199 dayspic.twitter.com/fFMg28K7nJ   (@7BerryGloss) December 3, 2024

Seriously the only thing that is making me look forward to next is BTS Reunion. https://t.co/FTh1UjPXv5  Just_to_vibe (@my_ramblings_) December 10, 2024

this is what waiting for BTS reunion feels like...........or a suga update https://t.co/3vB3rbx9vq  micdrop (@dini_kal) December 10, 2024

When will RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook be discharged?

RM and V will be discharged from the military on June 10, 2025, while Jungkook and Jimin will likely complete their term on June 11, 2025.

Jin, the first BTS member to enlist in the military, completed his term on June 12, 2024. In October 2024, J-Hope became the second member of the boy band to complete his military enlistment. Meanwhile, Suga is serving in the public sector instead of the military. He began his service on 22, 2023, and is set to be discharged on June 21, 2025.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
It's been a while since Lovely Runner premiered, but Byeon Woo Seok's craze refuses to die down, and, well, we are here for it! Ryu Sun Jae may have stolen our hearts, but the actor's real-life interactions with fans are taking it to the next level. In one such adorable fan exchange, Woo Seok was seen gushing after a fan surprised him at his fan meeting by recreating an epic Lovely Runner scene.

Byeon Woo Seok fan recreates Lovely Runner scene

One of the many things that have catapulted Byeon Woo Seok to unprecedented stardom is his grounded persona. He loves his fans as much as they love him. And when it comes to fan events, he's as invested as they are.

Recently, at his Manila, Thailand event, a fan walked up to the stage to get his sign. The actor handed over a card to the fan after signing it and that's just when she opened her tiny yellow umbrella and walked away saying 'ahjussi'. Taken aback by the fan's unexpected move, the actor was seen clapping his hands in joy, while his bodyguards, who usually maintain a professional distance, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

For those who may not have watched Lovely Runner, the fan mimicked a scene from the drama where Byeon Woo Seok's character falls in love with female lead Im Sol, played by Kim Hye Yoon.

Watch the hilarious clip below:

Fans react to the adorable exchange

K-drama lovers rushed to the comment section to share their hilarious reaction, praising the fan who managed to make Woo Seok smile with her quirky act.

One fan wrote, "That's genius. He will always remember her now too, what a legend. That mini umbrella is so cute!!" Another person commented, "When the actor and the fan share the same brain cell. His smile is so adorable."

"It will be the most unforgettable fan meet for him, I'm sure," a third penned, while a fourth added, "Why is everyone laughing in Sun Jae-coded?'

About Lovely Runner

Lovely Runner follows Ryu Sun Jae (played by Byeon Woo Seok), a talented K-pop idol whose death under mysterious circumstances disrupts his ardent fan Im Sol's (played by Kim Hye Hoon) life. Refusing to let him go, Im Sol then time travels to prevent the death of her favorite star.

What's next for Byeon Woo Seok?

The beloved actor has bagged yet another highly anticipated project. He will next be seen opposite IU in The 21st Grand Prince's Wife, which is scheduled to premiere in the second half of 2025.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
When life gives you lemons, some people make lemonade, but Michael Murray, 35, made headlinesby crashing his car into a Utah dealership. The drama unfolded after Murray purchased a Subaru Outback from Tim Dahle Mazda Southtowne, only to find what he claimed were glaring mechanical issues hours later. Calling the car a "lemon," he stormed back to the dealership, demanding his $4,000 back.

A man crashes his car into the showroom

But things didn't go his way. The dealership's manager, Tyler Slade, made it clear that Murray was out of luck. The vehicle was sold 'as-is,' Slade explained, emphasizing that buyers sign a hot-pink document highlighting this condition. Translation? No take-backs, even if the car sputters on day one.

NEW: Utah man drives his car through the front of a Mazda dealership just hours after purchasing the car from the same dealership.



The incident happened in Sandy, Utah, after the man was told he couldn't return the car.



The man told the dealership that he would drive the car pic.twitter.com/nNASSjOw0y  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 10, 2024

Murray wasn't having it. After being denied a refund, he dropped an ominous threat: Give me my money back, or I'm driving this car straight through your front door. Spoiler alerthe wasn't bluffing.

Around 4 PM, Murray returned to the dealership, revved up his Outback, and made good on his word. Surveillance footage captured the jaw-dropping moment when the car smashed through the glass entrance, scattering shards everywhere and narrowly missing seven stunned employees. Stepping out of the wreckage, Murray reportedly shouted, I told you.

The aftermath? Chaos, a lot of broken glass, and $10,000 in damages. Miraculously, no one was injured, but the dealership staff is still shaken. One employee called the act pure rage, adding that it could have easily been fatal.

As for Murray, his stunt didn't end with a refund. Instead, he earned himself felony charges for criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. Meanwhile, his Subaru now comes with some serious showroom mileage.

Moral of the story? When life hands you a lemon, maybe rethink driving it through a glass door.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
After McDonald's faced backlash for allegedly "ratting out" the presence of murder suspect Luigi Mangione, an eyewitness who was at the scene during his arrest has come forward to share what really happened inside the restaurant.

The eyewitness shared how an offhand joke turned out to be surprisingly accurate.

NEW: A witness who was at the McDonald's where Luigi Mangione was caught, says he and a friend joked at Mangione that he looked like the New York sh**ter.



McDonald's customer, Larry, said he and a friend were joking so loud that Mangione could hear them.



"One of my friends, and pic.twitter.com/Trl6icL6qa  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 10, 2024

Larry, a customer at the time, recalled that he and a friend joked about Mangione's resemblance to the "New York shooter" while sitting in the restaurant.

"One of my friends made a comment: 'Well, that looks like the shooter from New York.' We all thought it was just a joke," Larry explained.

They even made the comment loudly enough for Mangione to hear, but they didn't think much of it.

Larry left shortly after, heading to church, still believing it was nothing more than a passing joke.

It wasn't until later that he learned Mangione had been arrested at that same McDonald's and was indeed the suspect in the high-profile UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case.

Reflecting on the moment, Larry said, "I asked my friend the next day if he was serious, and he said, 'Yeah, I was serious.' That's when it really hit me."

An employee at the McDonald's also mentioned that she noticed similarities in Mangione's eyes and eyebrows, which led to the comment being made.

Who is Luigi Mangione?

After allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last week, Mangione was arrested on Monday at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

A customer, after recognising Mangione, alerted the staff who then called 911.

Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, hails from a wealthy family in Maryland.

Despite his privileged background, Mangione was known for his anti-capitalist views and reportedly harboured resentment toward the medical industry.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
The suicide note left by Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old software engineer from Uttar Pradesh who died in Bengaluru, has shed focus on the negative aspects of the family court system. The more than 20-page suicide note and video, in which Subhash detailed his relationship with his wife, the court battle, and the impact on his family and mental health, prompted major concerns about the system. Subhash's letter made significant claims against his wife, family, and even the legal system for pressuring him to take his life.

Internet questions Indian judiciary

A Reddit user, u/Eastern-Weekend5407, posted a screenshot of a conversation that happened during the hearing of Atul's divorce case with Rita Kaushik, Principal Judge of Family Court in Jaunpur.

According to the post, the judge allegedly asked Atul for 5 lakhs in order to "settle" the case, upon refusing and going by the law Atul asked the judge to hear his case based on "merit" because he claimed to have all the proofs against his wife. The judge concluded the conversation by saying, "theek hai, tumhara case merit par hi sunenge. Tum bahar jao."

Other images floating on social media claim, "Corruption in Rita Kaushik's court starts from Rs 50. Peshkar Madhav who sits next to her takes a minimum Rs 50 from everyone(Old, Young, Man, Woman) in front of the Judge. It is a daily routine for the Peshkar to take money from everyone in front of the Judge. Multiple times, Judge Rita Kaushik has seen him demanding money from me."

Further adding, "It is a common knowledge in Jaunpur court that you can secure a favorable judgment from Judge Rita Kaushik by paying a bribe. 3. Judge Rita Kaushik explicitly demanded Rs 5 Lakhs as bribe on 21st March, 2024 which I refused [sic]."

Internet users were left furious

Many people on the internet were left angry and expressed their frustrations in the comments. Some users even allegedly disclosed standard amounts set to get out of certain cases. Here's what people wrote in the comments.

Comment

byu/Eastern-Weekend5407 from discussion

indelhi

Comment

byu/Eastern-Weekend5407 from discussion

indelhi

Comment

byu/Eastern-Weekend5407 from discussion

indelhi

Comment

byu/Eastern-Weekend5407 from discussion

indelhi

Comment

byu/Eastern-Weekend5407 from discussion

indelhi

Indian judiciary system seems to be lacking laws for protecting men. Atul Subhash's incident is not isolated, there are many issues of a similar nature that have come to light. One can hope, that some day, the law will truly look at a man and woman equally.

Also read: Bengaluru techie suicide: #JusticeForAtulSubhash ignites uproar as men share heart-wrenching stories

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
The tragic suicide of Bengaluru-based techie Atul Subhas has sparked nationwide outrage. Atul left behind a 24-page note alleging relentless harassment and extortion by his wife and family, whom he held responsible for his ordeal. The incident has led to a social media storm, with #JusticeForAtulSubhash trending on X as people demand that Accenture, where his wife works, terminate her employment. Meanwhile, a journalist from India Today who opposed these calls for termination is now facing public backlash.

Akshita Nandagopal, Editor and Anchor at India Today, took to X yesterday with her response to the tragic suicide of Atul Subhas.

In her post, she stated, "While Atul's suicidal is tragic, to jump the gun and blame his wife is CRIMINAL. So many calls on social media for her to be fired, for her arrest are absolutely uncalled for."

While Atul's suicidal is tragic, to jump the gun and blame his wife is CRIMINAL. So many calls on social media for her to be fired, for her arrest are absolutely uncalled for. https://t.co/9LYSJ9geUL  Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) December 10, 2024

Her comments came after news broke that Subhas had accused his wife of harassment in a 24-page suicide note, prompting widespread calls for her dismissal from her workplace, Accenture.

Akshita's stance quickly attracted backlash.

One commenter fired back, "Her dismissal from Accenture is the bare minimum they should do after her husband's suicide. A man took his life because of her constant harassment, and you're worried about calls for her arrest and firing?"

To this, Nandagopal responded by asking, "Has there been a probe? Have we heard from both sides? The bare minimum in any case?"

Has there been a probe? Have we heard from both sides- the bare minimum in any case?  Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) December 10, 2024

Others pointed out what they saw as double standards, recalling her previous harsh stance when she called for actor Dhanush to be "hanged" based solely on allegations from Tamil actresses.

This is Akshita Nandagopal, Journalist.



She wanted to hang Dhanush just because allegations on him were RTd by Tamil Actresses.



But the Same Akshita Nandagopal wants people to not outrage on the woman who was named in her husband's suicide note as the sole reason for him end pic.twitter.com/4IVon4dI2l  Dinesh Jatav (@Dineshjatav9508) December 11, 2024

What did Atul Subhash write in his suicide note?

TW : SUICIDE : BANGALORE



Atul Subhash, 34 year old

Got married in 2019

Driven to suicide by wife, in-laws, biased laws & system within 5 years

Left 1.5 hr suicide video, 40 page note

Wife demanded 3 Crores Alimony

Wife didn't let him even see the face of his child pic.twitter.com/zDoSjD9CKN  Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) December 10, 2024

In his suicide note, 34-year-old Atul Subhas accused his wife, who works at Accenture and was already receiving Rs 40,000 in monthly maintenance, of demanding an additional Rs 2-4 lakh from him.

He further claimed that she used the maintenance money to alienate their son from him, who was under her custody.

The note also detailed various serious accusations, including murder threats, sexual misconduct, financial harassment, domestic violence, and dowry demands.

Subhas's family revealed that his wife had filed multiple false cases against him and then sought Rs 3 crore in exchange for dropping the charges.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli welcomed their second child, a baby boy, in February. The couple named their infant baby Akaay and publicized it on social media. Soon after the announcement, people flocked to Google to look for the significance of the name. There were so many searches that "Akaay" made it onto Google's Year in Search 2024 list.

Akaay is the most searched name in 2024

Credit: Google

According to reports, it is a Hindi word with Turkish origins. In Sanskrit, it refers to "anything or something that is without kaay"form or body. It is derived from the term "kaaya," which means "body."

Akaay ranked second in Google's Year in Search 2024 "Meaning" sub-section. "All eyes on Rafah" took the top spot on the list. The other three search terms in the top five are "Cervical Cancer," "Tawaif," and "Demure." Other words on the list include "Pookie," "Moye Moye," "Good Friday," "Stampede," and "Consecration."

According to Google Trends, multiple search phrases were used when individuals searched for the word "Akaay". They are: According to the list, individuals were more interested in the meaning of the name than anything else.

Akaay name meaning Akaay Hindi meaning Akaay meaning in Hindi Akaay in Hindi Meaning of Akaay

Also read: Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharmas Relationship Timeline: A look at match made in heaven, now a family of four

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
The declining public debt combined with the governments commitment to fiscal stability and strengthening of the banking sector were the main reasons for Scope Ratings to recently upgrade Greeces credit

Dennis Shen (Scope Ratings) to N: What to expect after the upgrade  The next challenge for Greece -  
A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja has issued an ex-parte order stopping the production and distribution of Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, a book written by human rights activist, Dele Farotimi.

Recall that some police officers arrested Farotimi at his office in Lagos State on the 3rd of December, 2024, and transported him to Ekiti State.

He was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti for alleged defamation of legal icon, Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in the controversial book.

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Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Justice Peter Kekemeke, granted the order after listening to the ex-parte application filed by the claimant, the managing partner at Mr. Babalolas law firm, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN.

READ MORE: Continued Detention Of Farotimi Signals Impunity, Rights Violations  Atiku

Justice Kekemeke also temporarily barred the agents, publishers, distributors, sellers, re-publishers, re-sellers, or any other person from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the physical, hard, digital, soft copies of the book online, electronically, or by any other means, including the social media.

The judge also granted an order of interim injunction directing the seizure of all physical copies of the book, wherever they may be found by the Nigerian Police Force, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and all other security agencies, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The court further ordered that the relevant security agencies should file an affidavit demonstrating that they have complied with the orders within 72 hours of their receipt of the ruling.
The former 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has kicked against the detention of a controversial human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, in prison custody, Ekiti State.

Celebrating International Human Rights Day, which is mark on every December 10th, Atiku in a statement via his X page on Tuesday, said that Farotimis saga is a clear example of pervasive climate of impunity and rights violations in the country.

Recall that the controversial human rights activist was arrested by police in Lagos State, and transported to Ekiti State, where he was arraigned for allegedly defaming legal icon, Afe Babalola, in a book he recently published.

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READ MORE: Atiku, Obis Merger Only Way To End APCs Clueless Govt Ibe

Speaking over the development to mark 2024 International Human Right Day, Atiku noted that Farotimis detention underscores a worrying trend of suppressing dissent and using questionable legal tactics to silence opposition voices.

He said: Dele Farotimi now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed crime of persistently speaking truth to power.

His only offense lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden.

This is troubling. He is detained and prosecuted under the guise of a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State. This reflects the impunity that has become all too common in Nigeria.

The weaponization of the cyberbullying law to harass, intimidate, and silence opposition voices and journalists is alarming. It is a blatant attack on freedom of expression and the principles of democracy.

Let us remind our leaders that the protection and upholding of constitutionally enshrined rights are fundamental to nurturing and strengthening our democracy. This commitment must not waver.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court has sentenced an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Solomon Ogodo, to seven years in prison over an employment scam.

Ogodo was accused of defrauding some individuals, said to be job seekers, to the tune of N12.2 million.

It was gathered that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Monday, arraigned the NSCDC official on a five-count charge bordering on forgery, employment racketeering and fraud.

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READ MORE: NSCDC Nabs Six For Allegedly Operating Illegal Mining In Anambra

The commission told the court that Mr. Ogodo deceived people into parting with different sums of money in the guise of securing employment for their relatives in the Nigeria Correctional Services.

ICPC stated that the offence contravened sections 13 and 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, and sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code Act.

At the hearing on Monday, A. A Nwoye, counsel to the defendant, begged the court to convert the jail term to community service.

Responding, the prosecution counsel asked the court to take note of section 319 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

In his ruling, M.S. Idris, the trial judge, sentenced Ogodo to seven years imprisonment on count 1 to 3, without option of fine.

The judge also sentenced the defendant to two months imprisonment or option of fine of N5,000 on count 4.
The federal government has suspended the relocation of the Osun State International Airport project from Ido-Osun to Ede, the home town of Governor Ademola Adeleke, following controversies and protests between the two communities.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that Governor Adeleke, had planned to host the foundation-laying ceremony of the project on the 13th of December, 2024 in his town, but the federal ministry of aviation, called for a postponement of the event until disputes are resolved.

Recall that a state government committee had stated that the original site in Ido-Osun did not meet basic aviation requirements, prompting the relocation to Ede.

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READ MORE: Osun Community Protests Alleged Relocation Of Airport To Gov Adelekes Hometown

However, this decision has reignited a long stand controversy between residents of the two communities, protesting against the move.

Meanwhile, in a letter dated December 6, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Merinole of the Federal ministry of aviation, on Tuesday, directed the state government to suspend the project indefinitely.

The letter party reads: I wish to refer to your letter Ref. No. S.12/19/1/Vol.VI/188 dated 21, November 2024 on the above subject and to respectfully request Your Excellency to suspend the foundation laying ceremony of the Osun State International Airport until the issues regarding the petitions over the existing airstrip/airport are resolved and to harmonise the states efforts with that of the Federal Government.

Your Excellency may wish to note that the airstrip is a federal project that is captured in the Ministrys 2024 Appropriation.

We also note that you have made arrangements to expand the airstrip to an international airport. In addition, there is a petition indicating there is an existing airstrip where funds have been expended and the need to use the site for the present airstrip instead of a new site.

The Federal Government is mandated to ensure judicious use of funds in order to curtail wastage of resources. As this Airstrip Project is a collaboration between the State and Federal Governments, it is important we are in synch before the project takes off.

Accordingly, Your Excellency is respectfully requested to reschedule the foundation laying ceremony of the Osun State Airport pending the resolution of the petitions and selection of a mutually agreed date.
A 25-year-old resident of Dundubus, Daja Local Government Area (LGA), Aminu Hassan, has been arrested by police operatives in Katsina State for financing armed bandits operating in Danmusa LGA and its surrounding areas.

Hassan was arrested with two pairs of military uniforms concealed in a black polythene bag during a routine patrol along the Yantumaki and Kankara highway on November 19, 2024.

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According to ASP Abubakar Sadiq, spokesperson for the Katsina Police Command, subsequent investigations led to the arrest of three additional suspects: Lawal M Ahmad (29), Ismail Dalhatu (24), and Shafiu Adamu (28).

The suspects have confessed to their involvement in this criminal activity, ASP Sadiq said.

The authorities recovered 14 pairs of military uniforms and one police uniform, allegedly intended for delivery to the armed bandits for their criminal operations.

READ ALSO: Katsina Police Foil Kidnapping Attempt, Rescue 10 Persons

In another development, the Katsina State Police Command arrested seven individuals for allegedly raping four minors aged 13-14.

The suspects, all residents of Kaita LGA, were arrested on November 25, 2024, following a report lodged at the Kaita Divisional Police Headquarters.

ASP Sadiq stated that the suspects lured the minors to the home of one of the suspects, where they assaulted them sexually. He noted that the arrested suspects have confessed to the crimes and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police Katsina State, CP Musa Aliyu, commended officers of the Command for their dedication and professionalism in apprehending these individuals. He urged the public to continue providing valuable information that can aid security efforts in combating crimes in the state.

We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of all residents of Katsina State, he stated.
Four suspected kidnappers have been arrested in the Ajaokuta area of Kogi State.

The operation, led by Nigerian Police officers in collaboration with a private security outfit engaged by the state government, also resulted in the rescue of 10 victims.

The breakthrough was disclosed in a statement made on Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, who praised the security personnel quick and prompt response.

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The kidnappers, who had been terrorising the Ajaokuta area for a while, committing heinous crimes such as kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery, were apprehended following credible intelligence, Fanwo said.

He revealed that the state government had partnered with Base SAN Security Nigeria Limited, a registered private security firm, to collaborate with conventional security agencies in addressing the growing crime rate in the area.

The operation resulted in the arrest of the four kidnappers and the rescue of 10 victims abducted by the gang across various parts of Kogi East, the statement added.

READ MORE: Police Nab Three Suspected Gunrunners, Confiscate Firearms In Kaduna

Fanwo stated that the apprehended individuals are working with detectives, and plans are ongoing to reunite the rescued victims with their relatives.

We can confirm that the efforts of the Ododo administration in engaging duly registered security outfits to support traditional security agencies are yielding positive results.

This successful operation underscores the value of such partnerships, he said.

Fanwo also lauded the partnership between the Kogi State Police Command and the security firm, citing their professionalism in carrying out the operation.

He underlined the governors commitment to making the state one of the safest in the nation.

Governor Ododo has vowed to leave no stone unturned in ensuring Kogi remains a safe haven for residents and travelers.

The Ajaokuta breakthrough is a stern warning to criminal elements across the state that this administration is resolute in its mission to eradicate crime, Fanwo said.

He also complimented the security services involved and promised the governments continuous assistance in protecting lives and property throughout the state.

The state government will spare no effort in empowering security agencies to sustain the momentum in combating criminal activities and maintaining peace, he added.

The release stated that the arrest and rescue operation represent a major stride in Kogis ongoing fight against insecurity, highlighting the administrations commitment to safeguarding its citizens and eliminating criminal elements from the state.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confiscated counterfeit currencies valued at N129 billion in Kano State.

Muyiwa Adejobi, police spokesperson, stated on Tuesday that three individuals had been arrested in connection with the fake currencies.

Adejobi named the accused as Nura Ibrahim, Muhammed Muntari, and Usman Abdullahi.

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Recently, in Kano, the police successfully recovered the sum of N129,542,823,000 in counterfeit currencies, with a breakdown of 3,366,000 in counterfeit US dollars, 51,970 in counterfeit CFA franc, and 1,443,000 in counterfeit naira, the statement reads.

READ MORE: Sokoto Police Arrest Car Theft Suspects, Recover Stolen Vehicles

This momentous achievement was recorded on the 8th of December 2024, at Gwale, Kano state, where police operatives acting on credible intelligence accosted one Nura Ibrahim m and, upon a conducted search, discovered N392,000 counterfeit notes, $7800 counterfeit notes, and 5 different ATM cards.

Further investigation led to the arrest of his accomplices, Muhammed Muntari m and Usman Abdullahi m, as well as the recovery of the other counterfeit currencies.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has vowed to sanction airlines that fail to refund tickets promptly.

Michael Achimugu, NCAAs Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, on Tuesday emphasized that ticket refund compliance is crucial to the agencys consumer protection agenda.

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Achimugu stressed that airlines must adhere to refund timelines stipulated under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations of 2023.

I have followed this case over the last few days and waited to see what action the airline would take. Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations is very clear with regards to timeframes for ticket refunds.

Cash purchases must be refunded immediately, and by cash. Refunds for electronic payments, including mobile apps and internet banking, must occur within 14 days, he said.

The NCAAs warning comes after a recent incident involving Air Peace, which allegedly exceeded the stipulated refund timeframe.

Last month Air Peace customers protested a 4-hour flight delay from Abuja to Lagos, demanding refunds.

The flight, initially scheduled for 5:45 pm, was delayed multiple times, eventually taking off at 10:45 pm.

Information Nigeria understands that it is not the first time Air Peace passengers have faced long delays, with similar incidents reported in November and June 2023.

Passengers expressed frustration and disappointment, calling for better communication and compensation from the airline.

Achimugu noted that the incident prompted the authority to demand immediate compliance and triggered stricter enforcement measures.

While acknowledging operational challenges faced by airlines, Achimugu urged them to improve efficiency in processing refunds.

His words: The NCAA expects an immediate refund to passengers when 14 days have long elapsed

I have spent an entire year engaging airlines, listening to their challenges, and partnering with them to give passengers a better travel experience. Most airlines have been responsive. The relationship between operators and regulators has worked better than in the past and this is good for passengers.

READ ALSO: No Private Airstrip Operations Without Security Clearance  Keyamo

Going forward, airlines that fail to pay refunds within the timeframe stipulated by the NCAA in its regulation of 2023 will be sanctioned.

This is not hot air. The Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA has done a lot to sensitive passengers and protect the business of operators. The time has come for airlines to repay the good faith and support they have gotten from the regulator.

Our Consumer Protection Officers have received instructions not to chase down airlines to comply with the regulations. Every case of non-compliance will be met with adequate sanctions.

Not a single airline will say that they have not been given a listening ear. The Authority has been balanced. Apologies to passengers whose refunds have taken longer than necessary; it is not ideal. Personally, I am pursuing a review of the regulations to cut the time frame to seven days. It is doable. Nigerian passengers deserve world-class service.

He commended Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and Chris Najomo, NCAAs Acting Director-General, for their efforts to advance the sector.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Ag. DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo have been very supportive of operators, especially domestic airlines. This is well-captured in the Ministers 5-point agenda and Capt. Najomos 2024 Action Plan.

This fact was affirmed by the leadership of Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, in their recent calls for the confirmation of Capt. Najomo as DGCA.

It is imperative therefore, that airlines do right, if not by these two incredible public servants, then by the passengers who patronize their businesses.

The challenges faced by airlines are manifold. Not nearly all delays and cancellations are their fault, but they have shouldered the blame.

I have spoken in support of operators because, given the peculiar environment, they are doing a lot and must be supported.

My departments intervention has seen airlines pay full refunds, 25per cent rebates, and even 50 per cent rebates

But there are areas where they ought to do much better, and paying refunds within the stipulated time frame is one of the low hanging fruits.

Passengers may not always understand the back-end of things, but where it is determined that they are due a refund, it should be done seamlessly. Failure to comply with Part 19 will, henceforth, attract immediate sanctions.
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested three suspected gunrunners.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, identifying the suspects as Buhari Suleiman, Jamil Yakubu, and Aliyu Abdullahi.

The suspects were apprehended on Monday along the Kaduna-Kano motorway in Kaduna State, according to the statement.

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READ MORE: 36 Kidnapped Victims Rescued By Police In Kebbi

Adejobi stated that the operatives recovered 216 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and one round of AK-47 ammunition.

The suspects were apprehended after the police operatives noticed their suspicious activities and approached them to question them.

A subsequent search was conducted, which led to the recovery of 216 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and 1 round of Ak-47 ammunition, he said.


Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Majority Leader, has praised Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, for his leadership, stating that President Bola Tinubu sleeps well due to Akpabios presence.

Bamidele made this remark at an event celebrating Akpabios 62nd birthday in Abuja on Monday.

Bamidele emphasized that Tinubu takes Akpabios words very seriously and trusts him.

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READ ALSO: We Cant Be Intimidated, Tax Reform Bill Wasnt Withdrawn  Senate President, Akpabio

He expressed his colleagues pride in Akpabios leadership, saying, We are very proud of you. We just want to thank you for who you are and we want to thank you for the kind of leadership that you provide.

Adams Oshiomhole, Senator representing Edo North, also commended Akpabio for uniting the Senate and promoting democracy.

He stated that Akpabio has demonstrated the ability to tolerate debates and remind senators that democracy thrives on controversies.
Automatic-teller machine (ATM) use has dropped steadily since peaking around 2015, including along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which no longer accepts cash for tolls. Read more

Smartphone-empowered Americans are using less cash, and automatic-teller machine (ATM) use has dropped steadily since peaking around 2015, according to the Federal Reserve.

Since COVID, volumes at ATMs have declined by about 10%-20%, Brinks, the armored-car company whose clients include banks, told bankers in a report earlier this year.

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But thats not what investors in Paramount Management Group, a Lancaster automatic-teller machine operator founded and run since 2012 by entrepreneur Daryl Heller, were told in marketing materials promoting the company.

Instead, Paramount told its 2,700 investors, including Amish and Mennonite business owners from its home county, that the company faced a bright future as more low-income earners, immigrants, and cryptocurrency users embraced its ATMs. Since its founding in 2012, we have never missed our projections, which called for continued growth, Paramount noted in an online appeal to investors.

Contrary to that rosy outlook, the company defaulted on $138 million in payments to its investors last month, and its suppliers started removing currency from Paramount machines.

As a result, ATMs for large Paramount clients including the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Redners Markets have been unable to dispense cash.

Matt Haverstick, a lawyer for the investors, said its not yet clear how many ATMs Paramount ran.

Under Heller, Paramount had told investors the company managed more than 25,000 ATMs, many of them acquired from smaller networks in other states.

But the number of Paramount ATMs was fewer than 10,000, Paramount vice president Leigh Danca testified Friday in a hearing before Lancaster County Common Pleas Court Judge Leonard G. Brown III.

Brown last month effectively removed Heller from Paramounts management and put lawyers for the investors in control. Heller, who was well known in Lancaster, had recruited local investors to back his Prestige investment funds (which invested in Paramounts ATMs), Bitcoin enterprises, a Lititz-based steak house, and marijuana, hunting gear and charitable projects.

At the hearing, Heller declined to testify, citing the Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. Paramount CEO Randall Leaman also declined to testify. Hellers Harrisburg-based lawyers, Heidi Freese and Barbara Zemlock, declined to comment after the hearing.

The judge ordered Paramount to pay $50,000 a day, starting last Saturday, until it identifies all its ATMs to investors, and a total of $100,000 a day starting Dec. 14 if the company also fails to turn over transaction reports and other records to investors.

Besides the Paramount litigation, Heller faces lawsuits from banks, former business partners including ATM companies, and out-of-state investors in Paramount and other enterprises.

Haverstick said remaining Paramount employees are trying to collect the records requested by the judge and to restart whats left of the companys ATM network so any profits can help repay what investors are owed.

We are going to stabilize the network, Haverstick said last Thursday, before meeting with FBI and SEC investigators.

The growth that wasnt

We cater mostly to the lower-income folks, one of the fastest-growing demographics in the U.S., including families on public assistance who use ATMs as their bank branch, according to a brochure and online materials promoting Paramounts ATM business that was shared to local investors as recently as last spring.

In the future you will see many new uses for ATMs, including marketing, foreign-funds transfer, and crypto investment, the promotion also said. Paramount even promised to compensate investors if ATM use fell below its ambitious targets.

Yet data for one of Paramounts original customers, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, showed a steep decline in ATM use in recent years, cutting into the agencys profits, as well as the companys.

Under the contract between the turnpike and Paramount, the company charged a $3.75 per transaction fee to visitors to 21 ATMs at the 17 Turnpike rest stops  of which $2 went to the turnpike commission. The rest covered Paramounts costs and contributed to any company profits.

Paramount also gave the turnpike free ATMs for use by its employees at its Harrisburg-area headquarters and service building. And the turnpike got a cut of fees from ads run on the machines, though turnpike officials say the transaction fees were their main source of ATM income.

The turnpike collected $510,000 as its cut of Paramounts ATM business in fiscal 2018, according to data provided by Don Klingensmith, assistant chief financial officer for procurement at the turnpike commission.

That fell to $129,000 during the fiscal year that ended June 30. ATM use dropped sharply during the initial COVID restrictions in March 2020 and fell again when the state closed its cash tollbooths and began collecting all tolls digitally later that year  part of a national trend toward digital payments. Use declined again last year.

The drop in ATM use as more people pay by smartphone and with other digital payment media is a sign of the times, Rick Dreher, the turnpikes chief financial officer, said.

Local stores lose cash

Government records show many of Paramounts clients were liquor stores, corner groceries, and other independent businesses or small chains.

One of the larger companies affected by the companys recent troubles is Redners Markets, a Reading-based chain of 57 groceries and convenience stores in eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, and southern Delaware, including in Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties.

Paramount ATMs at Redners have been out of service for the better part of two weeks, Redners spokesperson Eric B. White said Monday. The company has been encouraging customers who need cash to request it at the register, using their bank cards.

We hope they find a resolution, he said.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry led a coalition of state attorneys general in writing a letter to the FCC pushing for stricter customer service rules for internet and phone providers. Read more

Often find yourself yelling agent or frantically tapping 0 on your phone screen when you call a companys customer service line?

Youre not alone. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said shes heard residents complaints, and wants to make it easier for them to reach a human being when trying to solve consumer woes.

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Henry, the states top prosecutor until January, led a group of state attorneys general, including New Jerseys Matthew Platkin, in writing a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of new customer-service regulations for internet, cable, voice, and broadcast satellite providers.

Internet, cable, and broadcast satellite use is part of daily life for so many Pennsylvanians, so customer service should be up to par when consumers have issues with services they are paying for, Henry said in a statement.

The attorneys general said in the letter that they receive complaints every day from consumers about deceptive, confusing, and unfair interactions with service providers.

The officials are asking for all providers, not just cable companies, to better train representatives, shorten wait times, and ensure convenient bill-payment and customer-service-center locations. Representatives should receive ongoing training to ensure they are sharing accurate information with customers, the attorneys general said, and recordings of conversations should be available to customers upon request.

Consumers should also more easily receive credits for service outages, disruptions, or other inconvenience, the officials added in the letter, and companies should address issues with missed service appointments.

The attorneys general also wrote of concerns about the practice of companies charging a fee if costumers want to skip the virtual queue to talk to a representative. This practice, they wrote, rewards service providers for providing service that is not universally prompt, and it negatively impacts those consumers who are unable to pay the fees.

The letter was signed by Henry, Platkin, and attorneys general from Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Connecticut; Vermont; Illinois; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Arizona; Colorado; California; Massachusetts; and Oregon.
The newly renovated Man Full of Trouble Tavern in Society Hill is now reopened. Read more

When Dan Wheeler bought A Man Full of Trouble in 2021, he hoped to breathe life back into Phillys only surviving Revolutionary-era drinking spot, which had sat shuttered to the public for decades. Wheeler, 60, dreamed of restoring the charming brick building in the shadows of the Society Hill Towers into a neighborhood hub with flowing suds and a museum to celebrate the colorful tavern with a colorful name.

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After two and a half years of renovations, A Man Full of Trouble is open for business for the first time in more than a century.

Teaming up with the taverns new operators, the Chester County brewery Succession Fermentory, Wheeler threw open the door earlier this month. First opened in 1759, and said to be a dive bar during the fevered days of the Revolution, its caged bar likely catered to working waterfront stiffs, dockhands, shipwrights, and sailors stumbling into port, according to historians.

Now, the tavern, and its cozy barroom, shines with authentic colonial gleam. Wheeler has transformed the old bars upstairs rooms, where sotted seamen once slept in crowded beds, into a museum filled with relics dedicated to the neighborhoods Revolutionary past and the story of tavern life in America.

Another upstairs gallery currently features an exhibit on Dox Thrash, the master Philadelphia printmaker whose famed work centered on everyday Black American life. Wheeler is reserving that space for local artists, hopeful that poets, painters, and punk rockers will want to share their work in Phillys oldest surviving taproom.

I didnt want to have a dusty house museum that nobody ever came to, Wheeler said. I wanted to breathe new life into it, and I wanted to set it up as somewhere that told the life of this neighborhood.

Serving a selection of Successions farmhouse beers and ferments on draft and in cask and bottle, plus a curated list of Pennsylvania wines and spirits, the centuries-old pub is now open Thursdays to Mondays. The hours vary and are posted on the Succession Brewing Company webpage. The museum is still open by appointment only, Wheeler said, but will soon have regular hours. For food, the bar will be selling sandwiches by Farina Di Vita in Queen Village.

Benjamin Devon of Succession said the brewery, founded in 2021, was drawn to A Man Full of Troubles historic vibe, and its intimate 25-seat tasting room, designed by Hannah LeVasseur of StellaLou Farm and Keith Hartwig of Succession.

Whats cool about this space is, like every space, it offers a voice, Devon said. And that voice seems very communal.

Wheeler, an Old City lawyer and real estate investor who also worked as an economic development official for Gov. Ed Rendell, long wanted to reopen the place. When he spotted the tavern  once a museum and most recently owned by the University of Pennsylvania  listed for sale, he jumped at the chance to own a piece of history. He paid $875,000 for the bar and adjoining colonial house.

Its a dream come true in a lot of ways, said Wheeler, an amateur collector who has stocked the taverns museum with many of his own historic pieces, including an early copy of the original Declaration of Independence, a pocket-size pamphlet of the Constitution printed in 1787, Revolutionary-era muskets and a cannon, 18th-century neighborhood maps, and a rare 19th-century tavern sign and other artwork.

Colonial Philly burst with bars, with about one alehouse for every 160 citizens, historians say. But only A Man Full of Trouble survives.

Built at 127 Spruce St., back then it was wedged between a brook and stinking Dock Creek. The name was lifted from a Bible passage from the Book of Job: Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of troubles. Its original sign famously depicted the image of a man with a woman on his back. Like other modest tippling houses, it was licensed for only beer and cider. The caged bar could be locked up after closing, so sloshed hotel guests didnt raid the booze, Wheeler said. Food was cooked above a fireplace in the dirt-floor basement. For a time, it became a hotel. Then, a wholesale chicken market.

In the 1960s, Virginia Knauer  a onetime City Council member and director of the Federal Office of Consumer Affairs in Washington  and her husband saved the crumbling tavern from the wrecking ball. The couple painstakingly restored A Man Full of Trouble and cared for it as a museum from 1965 to 1994.

For his part, Wheeler worked with John Milner Architects, which specializes in historical renovations, to preserve the taverns historic credibility.

Every detail, the colors of the paint, the pointing on the bricks, all had to be just so, Wheeler said.

Wheeler did update the taverns famous sign with a design by Bird Studio in Germantown, based on historic models, that shows an Elizabethan-era man and woman hounded by angels and devils.

Wheeler and Devon hope the barroom where drinkers once tipped tankards can become a community spot for all ages, and a spot where museums, history buffs, beer aficionados, and artists may look to hold private events.

On a recent afternoon, customer Adam Gifford, 45, from South Jersey, sipped an elderberry stout in the colonial barroom. He seemed sold.

I think its going to be crowded, he said.

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of John Milner Architects.
The bar at Dear Daphni restaurant at the Laurel, 125 S. 20th St. Read more

Splashy Mediterranean restaurants  the new Mona , Bastia , and Almyra included  are having their moment in Philadelphia. The timing amuses Kareem McCafferty, vice president of operations for Michael Schulsons restaurants.

Weve been talking about a Mediterranean concept for probably three years now, said McCafferty, whose groups restaurants are a diverse lot, including Harp & Crown (American), Giuseppe & Sons (Italian American), Alpen Rose (steakhouse), Sampan (pan-Asian), and Double Knot (Japanese).

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The Schulson Collectives next restaurant, Dear Daphni , a 155-seater with a 12-seat bar and landscaped outdoor seating in season, opens Thursday on the 20th Street side of the Laurel, the $350 million condo tower near Rittenhouse Square . Its billed as Mediterranean.

This apparent influx of Mediterranean destinations brings to mind: What is Mediterranean, a region that encompasses nearly two dozen countries and territories across three continents? Almyra and Monas menus lean Greek, while Bastias focuses on Sardinia and Corsica.

Although Dear Daphnis menu is foundationally Greek, McCafferty said, were trying to showcase different flavors, so were spreading out to other countries, too.

Dear Daphni offers eight main-course kebabs  lamb, lamb kofta, chicken thigh, filet, pork, wagyu New York strip, swordfish, and salmon  all created on executive chef Ryan Lloyds custom coal-fired Clay Oven parrilla. Theyre served with Turkish pilaf and sauces including adjika, chermoula, and toum, and everyone who orders a kebab or entree gets seven mezze dishes and pita to share.

Prices range from $27 for pork to $78 for the wagyu New York strip. (The skewer-and-mezze pairing is reminiscent of Laser Wolf, Michael Solomonov and Steve Cooks shipudiya, or Israeli skewer shop, across town and in Brooklyn, and Pera, Mehmet Ergin and Eric Tuncs Turkish BYOB in Northern Liberties.)

Another dinner option is to order for two: a whole branzino ($62), prawns ($48), Tunisian lamb shank ($39), or vegetables ($25), accompanied by seven mezze and pita.

Starters include kousa with tomato, zucchini, and beef; snapper crudo with saffron, pistachio, and yogurt; gigante bean tabbouleh with bulgar, parsley, and mint; and Moroccan meatballs with tomato, pine nut, and feta.

Kate Rohrer of Rohe Creative, the design team, said a Mediterranean theme often comes with preconceived notions  you know, blue and white. We really wanted to try and do something different, a little more colorful, but also really lean into residential comfort  a coziness that Schulson has associated himself with in a lot of his spaces.

The Rohe team mixed bold patterns and colors and chose homey items like table lamps to soften the space, which has no square edges  every wall surface, the ceilings, and sofas and the furniture are curved. Everything just feels really soft and flowy and fluid, Rohrer said. This ties back that idea of Mediterranean  that easy, breezy sort of feeling.

The Daphni name is inspired by the mythological nymph whose name is usually rendered Daphne; its a play on the laurel tree that she transforms into in her bid to escape Apollos unwanted pursuit. (Laurel tree, get it?)

In addition to cocktails (the Birds & Bees has gin, sumac honey, lemon, and honey pearls and the Pomegranate Paloma mixes tequila, pomegranate, grapefruit soda, and zaatar), there are 16 wines by the glass and about 30 bottles from around the world, plus nonalcoholic beverages, a Mediterranean tea program, and Turkish coffee.
A video screen grab pictures mysterious drone sightings that appear to be spreading beyond North Jersey to areas of Pennsylvania and New York. Video footage from a drone sighting in Bucks County Sunday night was posted on Enigma, a crowd-sourced social media platform for UFO sightings. Read more

As news of the mystery drones flying over regions of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York continues to spread with few answers surrounding whos behind the aircraft, there are new questions about the drone legalities.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.) released a statement Wednesday calling for the drones to be shot down. The practice is barred both for private citizens as well as state authorities because of federal restrictions. Van Drew did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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State authorities, including the New Jersey State Police, are shackled with what they are able to do, said New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia in a post on X following a New Jersey State Police briefing about the drones Wednesday. Any interception or takedown of any UAS [unmanned aircraft system] is under the strict jurisdiction of the federal government. ... At this point, I believe military intervention is the only path forward.

Even before Van Drews statement, Google searches about shooting a drone surged over the last week, especially in the Northeast.

Heres what to know about why you shouldnt shoot drones.

So? Can you shoot a drone?

Lets cut to the chase: No.

Shooting a drone is considered a federal crime. It can also be a state crime depending on where you live.

The Federal Aviation Administration says shooting any aircraft  including, but not limited to, drones  is illegal.

Its also a safety hazard. An FAA spokesperson said shooting at an aircraft could cause it to crash, collide, or fall, which could cause damage. Its also illegal and considered extremely dangerous to shoot into the sky in general because a bullet fired into the air will eventually fall back down.

What if a drone is over my property?

Doesnt matter  still illegal.

Even if a drone is flying over your property, the FAA says, homeowners dont own the airspace.

Airspace is overseen by the FAA, including the airspace over private land and property. So shooting a drone above your own home is still very much illegal.

Has it ever happened before?

Yep. Just last month, a retired New Jersey fire captain living in Florida accepted a plea deal after facing criminal charges for shooting at a Walmart delivery drone that was hovering over his Lake Worth home.

Dennis Winn, 72, told responding officers in June that he shot his 9mm pistol at the drone, court documents say. The two men who were operating the drone called police. When they questioned Winn, he said he had past experiences with drones flying over his house and believed they were surveilling him.

Police told Winn he would have to pay damages of up to $10,000. He responded that if he had to pay that much, he wanted to keep the drone  but thats not how things work. The drone belonged to DroneUp Delivery, which was performing trial deliveries for Walmart.

Winn was charged with discharging a firearm in public and criminal mischief. He went to jail for a day and accepted a plea deal last month, agreeing to a pretrial intervention program that will drop the charges.

Last year, a Middletown Township, Bucks County, man who shot a police drone during an arrest was sentenced to 11 to 22 years in prison on gun and drug charges.

John Palaio Jr., 51, was already wanted by Middletown Township police for several charges in July 2022. Police used a drone to confirm Palaio was home when they attempted to serve him with an arrest warrant. Middletown police say Palaio shot the drone and damaged it before fleeing.

The Bucks County District Attorneys Office said Palaio was arrested days later and was found guilty of 19 charges, including shooting the police drone.
Youre not the only one who might be embarrassed of your Spotify Wrapped results. This U.S. representative admitted to faking his.

U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer (D., N.J.) joined the tried and true tradition of sharing his Spotify Wrapped results  the music streaming platforms annual deep dive into users listening habits  on social media last week.

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No surprises here, Gottheimer, who announced his candidacy for New Jersey governor last month, wrote, revealing that his five top songs were Bruce Springsteen hits, with Thunder Road as his No. 1. Fun fact: My first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss!

But, as first pointed out by the New Jersey Monitor, the seemingly innocuous post wasnt completely honest.

A closer look revealed inconsistencies with the font, spacing, and resolution in Gottheimers post compared to legit Wrapped results.

Gottheimer admitted the results were fudged when asked by NJ.com columnist Jeremy Schneider.

His reasoning? The congressman says he shares his Spotify account with his kids.

This would be my Spotify Wrapped if I didnt share my account with my 12 and 15-year-old kids, he said. While its Springsteen all day for me  dont get me wrong, I still love listening to Taylor Swift!

Spotify Wrapped is unflinchingly honest over how it presents its findings. And while there are loopholes, theres not an overtly easy way for users to omit their potentially mockable listening habits. This rings especially true for users like Gottheimer, who share their account with their kids, a common scarlet letter when it comes time for Wrapped season.

There are ways to get ahead of it. Users can exclude certain playlists from their taste profile to keep songs within it from influencing their data. But it sounds like Gottheimer didnt get the memo in time.

 READ MORE: Spotify Wrapped is back. Heres what to know and how to see your results.

Despite manipulating his results, the New Jersey native says his fandom for the Boss is legit.

He walked out to Glory Days when he announced his gubernatorial run last month and said hed catch a Springsteen show every chance he could get on his campaign website. He was also spotted in the crowd earlier this year for Springsteens Sea. Here. Now Festival performance in Asbury Park.

Still, Schneider with NJ.com says the faked results  along with Gottheimers admission  could be seen by some as a pandering attempt to strengthen his Springsteen-fan, every-man status among would-be voters.

After all, the columnist added, riding hard for the Boss is one of the easiest ways to score points in New Jersey and a tradition among past Jersey governors to celebrate the musician.

The Inquirer reached out to Gottheimer to see if hed share his real results. A spokesperson shared a tweet from Gottheimer on Wednesday where he said the results were meant to be a joke. As for his Springsteen creds, the congressman wrote, just ask my dog named Rosalita! and included a photo of his pup.

After initially declining to share his full results, a spokesperson emailed The Inquirer the congressmans Wrapped summary Wednesday afternoon.

The Boss is indeed in the No. 1 slot for top artists, and Springsteens Shes the One was Gottheimers third most listened-to song of the year.

His No. 2 artist for the year was Billy Joel with Joels Turn the Lights Back On also coming in as Gottheimers No. 1 most listened-to song. As he mentioned in his original acknowledgment, Taylor Swift also earned a spot on his Wrapped along with Drake and Travis Scott.

See his full summary below:
Progressive advocacy groups and organizations across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania signed on to an open letter calling on President Joe Biden to issue mass pardons before leaving office.

The letter, released Friday and signed by 100 organizations nationwide, urges Biden to grant clemency to 10,000 pending petitions that the document cites as connected to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. Biden supported both pieces of legislation and was a primary sponsor of the 1994 crime bill during his time in the U.S. Senate.

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Bidens support for these bills and others have severely harmed Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poorly-resourced communities around the country for a generation, you have a moral and social obligation to repair these harms inflicted on our communities, the signatories said in the letter, signed by state and local organizations, including Pennsylvanias Working Families Party, Abolitionist Law Center, 215 Peoples Alliance, Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, and Pittsburghs 1Hood Power.

The letter comes on the heels of criticism of Bidens decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden from federal charges on Dec. 1, after previously promising he would not. Most of the critiques from criminal justice advocates, including those in Philly, stems from the small number of clemency grants that Biden has approved in comparison to previous presidents, but they were hopeful that he would grant more petitions in the final weeks of his administration.

During Bidens term, the Office of the Pardon Attorney, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, has received nearly 12,000 requests for clemency, many from individuals in the U.S. prison system, the New York Times reported last week.

Biden has so far issued 25 pardons and 132 commutations and issued other blanket pardons as of last week. This is fewer than the 144 pardons and 94 commutations that President-elect Donald Trump issued during his first administration, including pardons for political allies. Former President Barack Obama granted clemency to 1,597 individuals during his two terms in office, according to White House archives.

White House press secretary Karine-Jean Pierre said on Dec. 2 that Biden would announce more pardons at the end of his term, a typical practice among presidents leaving office.

The signatories ask Biden to prioritize the release of Michelle West and Leonard Peltier. West is serving two life sentences plus 50 years in federal prison for her role in a drug conspiracy case in Michigan. Peltier, an Indigenous activist, was convicted for killing two FBI agents in South Dakota in 1975. Supporters of both West and Peltier say they were wrongly convicted or accused.

Before you leave the White House, you must act on your words that America is a nation founded on the promise of second chances by prioritizing an ambitious clemency initiative that pardons or commutes the sentences of the approximately 10,000 pending clemency petitions, according to the letter.

While the groups criticized Bidens record in supporting the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and the 1994 crime bill, which advocates say has contributed to mass incarceration, they want to give Biden the opportunity to act on his desire to implement strategies that research shows will have the best chance of making communities safer, according to the letter.

Other requests from signatories include Biden establishing an independent Clemency Review Board outside of the Justice Department via executive order to prevent future backlogs and limit bureaucracy surrounding clemency grants. They also call on him to commute the sentences of all 40 people on death row.

Two Philadelphia criminal justice advocates told The Inquirer last week that they hope Biden will make use of his remaining time in the presidency to issue more clemency grants.

One advocate, Robert Saleem Holbrook, executive director of the Abolitionist Law Center, which signed the petition, said that, as a father, he could empathize with Bidens decision to pardon his son, but that Its really tragic that he couldnt find that same empathy for thousands of other people, thousands of others, fathers and parents who have been applying for clemency under his administration.
Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) joined Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trumps social media platform, on Tuesday and his first order of business on the site was to call for a pardon for Trump in his New York hush-money case.

The Trump hush money and Hunter Biden cases were both b, and pardons are appropriate, Fetterman said in his first Truth Social post Tuesday evening.

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Fettermans participation on the platform is another example of the junior senators signature bluntness and tendency to stray from party lines, offering rare glimmers of bipartisanship in Washington. Since Election Day, Fetterman has expressed his support for some of Trumps picks for the incoming administration and said he admired billionaire Elon Musk, a staunch Trump ally.

Truth Social was launched in early 2022 after Trumps ban from several mainstream platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The platform is home to the social media presences of various conservative public officials and figures.

A spokesperson for Fetterman did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division, Fetterman added in the Truth Social post, in response to a headline from an MSNBC story on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs response to Trumps motion to dismiss the hush-money case. In May, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a scheme connected to the 2016 presidential election.

Along with Truth Social, Fetterman started a personal account on Bluesky  which many have recently joined as an alternative to Musks X after his role in Trumps campaign  as a way of meeting folks where they are, he said Tuesday. Fetterman had created a professional account on Bluesky in November.

Fetterman appears to be the only member of Pennsylvanias Capitol Hill delegation to be on both platforms, signifying his efforts to reach people across the political spectrum.

His embrace of these platforms comes as the senator expressed a frustration with social media Wednesday, particularly in relation to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the subsequent arrest of suspect Luigi Mangione in Pennsylvania.

Hes the a thats going to die in prison. Congratulations if you want to celebrate that, Fetterman said, in part, Wednesday, according to NBC News. A sewer is going to sewer. Thats what social media is about this. And I dont know why the media wants to turn that into a story, just with these trolls saying these kinds of things anonymously like that. I dont know why thats news. Remember, he has two children that are going to grow up without their father.  Its vile.

He expressed a similar sentiment earlier in the month, writing in a Dec. 7 post on X: No shortage of s takes on the 2024 election or on this assassination. The public execution of an innocent man and father of two is indefensible, not inevitable. Condoning and cheering this on says more about YOU than the situation of health insurance.
Councilmember Mark Squilla talks with other councilmembers before a postponed committee meeting on Sixers arena legislation at City Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Philadelphia. Read more

With negotiations over the 76ers $1.3 billion Center City arena proposal coming down to the final hours, City Council leaders are signaling that theyre ready to play hardball.

Lawmakers want the 76ers to pay significantly more than the $50 million the team has offered to contribute to the projects community benefits agreement, which would aid affected businesses and fund some city programs.

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With a key committee vote scheduled for Thursday morning, Council President Kenyatta Johnsons office on Wednesday circulated amendments raising the CBA to $100 million.

The team has agreed to pay as much as $60 million in community benefits, according to a source close to Council leadership.

If Johnson called a vote on a $100 million agreement Thursday, that would amount to a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum, with lawmakers potentially approving a deal the team has not agreed to. Alternatively, just circulating the amendment may force the 76ers to negotiate higher.

A spokesperson for the 76ers did not respond to a request for comment.

 READ MORE: The 76ers indicate they may give more than $50 million for the arena proposals community benefits agreement

Negotiations between Council and the team were continuing late Wednesday, with just hours to go before the Committee of the Whole was scheduled to reconvene at 8:30 a.m. following two delays Wednesday, and its possible Councils plan could change before Thursday morning.

The amended proposal includes an increase in funding for small businesses disrupted by the projects construction, and shows Council wants to add millions of dollars for housing support in Chinatown, the historic neighborhood adjacent to the proposed arena site at 10th and Market Streets.

The size of the community benefits agreement has been a critical sticking point in negotiations between Council, the Sixers, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration. The initial $50 million agreement struck between the Sixers and Parkers administration included grants for businesses near the site of the arena and security upgrades, as well as funding for some of the mayors citywide priorities.

Councilmember Mark Squilla, whose district includes the proposed arena site and who introduced the legislative package related to the project, has said the team should pay at least $60 million in community benefits, and several members have suggested the deal should include more money specifically for Chinatown.

Some opponents of the arena are pressing for much more. A coalition of groups that oppose the project, which has been advocating for a $300 million CBA, said in a statement Wednesday night that the $100 million proposal is akin to lipstick on a pig.

City Council is rushing into a reckless deal, and the billionaires are trying to pull off a land grab of epic proportions, the coalition said. This slapdash dealing before a big vote is an embarrassment, all to meet the developers manufactured timeline. Council should fight for much, much more and deal with this in 2025.

Under Councils normal procedures, the committee must approve the legislation this week for it to be considered by the full Council by Dec. 19, the last expected Council session of the year. The Sixers have said they need approval for the project by the end of this year in order to open the arena by the 2031-32 season, when their lease at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia expires.

Staff writer Jake Blumgart contributed to this article.
Forward facing Some Asian nations are the leading global hotbeds for insurance innovation and tech adoption. Ben Potts, the managing director UK and International at Novidea, underlines the regions innovative prowess. He says, Nowhere is this truer than Southeast Asia, where the majority of insurance firms are committed to digital transformation in 2024  more so than in the European Union, United States or United Kingdom. For example, in a survey of insurance firms by Novidea, 70% of respondents from Singapore emphasised the need for implementing technology that provides customer value, versus 41% globally. And while Singapore remains the dominant area for insurtech, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are becoming bigger players.

Fostering a culture of creativity is the key to driving innovation and a defining trait among the 5-Star Insurance Innovators in Insurance Business Asias fourth annual report.

David Lynch, group chief technology officer of bolttech, one of IBs 2024 winners, says, The expansion of Asias insurtech industry can be attributed to favourable demographic shifts, technological advancements and supportive regulatory initiatives that have encouraged greater collaboration between new entrants and incumbents alike.

Industry expert David Leach, CEO of cloud-based insurtech JAVLN, also underlined the strong connection between innovation and culture.

You need an innovative culture, and thats a culture where the team and employees can create and put new ideas on the table, he says. Theyre given some space to look at data, talk to their end users and collaborate to impact change. A culture where people are taught and encouraged to think for themselves are all the good qualities you need to develop innovation, including everyone in the business, not just executive teams.

The 5-Star Insurance Innovators are key players in a rapidly growing insurtech across Asia, which has an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.34%.

Moridor Intelligence states, Companies are adopting artificial intelligence, big data analytics and blockchain to streamline processes, elevate customer experiences and tailor coverage. This tech drive is fueled by the regions tech-savvy consumers who demand seamless digital interactions.

Leach highlights that to be globally relevant, insurance innovators need to:

ensure software is highly configurable to meet diverse customer needs across different countries



address challenges such as compliance and regulation through configuration, not customisation and development



adopt SaaS models for flexibility and speed



avoid reliance on slower development cycles caused by excessive customisation

Leach adds, You dont need every single person in the company to have deep domain knowledge. To be an innovator, you need to understand the problem youre solving and to go quite deep on that and work with end users.

For that reason, Leach points out that business analyst-type roles are worth their weight in gold because of their ability to talk to end users and translate what they need, then build that for them.

To innovate at a faster pace, he suggests that insurance innovators should prioritise:

transitioning to cloud-based platforms



embracing serverless operations to focus on core strengths while outsourcing the rest



collaborating effectively with cloud vendors to maximise efficiency



adopting software that integrates seamlessly with other platforms to enable smooth data exchange, delivering a unified end-user experience

You cant innovate on an island; you must innovate together. Where insurance is getting stuck is the inability to connect systems, says Leach. Theyre also struggling to move from desktop to cloud, but theyre getting there. They want to move to the cloud, but they get very stuck where the integrations are either not built yet or not well connected.

The 2024 insurance innovators are excelling at collaboration and partnerships, whether in technology or services, creating solutions that feel seamless and innovative for the industry and end users, Leach emphasises.

They also recognise the growing importance of tackling emerging risks, such as cybersecurity, where breaches are increasing and affecting premiums and how companies navigate their insurance needs.

Leach says, In a fast-changing world, with challenges such as climate events and geopolitical tensions adding layers of complexity, these innovators play a role in simplifying things for their customers. The winners in the years to come will be those who can solve the complexity so that their customers dont have to worry about it.

The Top Trends in Insurtechs for 2025 conducted by Gartner found that 58% of insurance respondents allocated increased funding for digital innovation. This trend towards digitalisation and business automation, accelerated by COVID-19, is projected to continue into 2024, with insurtech playing a vital role in enhancing insurers performance through modern technologies.

The report also identified three trends expected to have the most significant impact for 2025 that demand immediate attention by insurance CIOs, shown below.



In APAC, hyper-personalisation is driven by evolving customer expectations for tailored experiences. Capcos recent insurance survey showed that 94% of policyholders in Hong Kong and 90% in the wider Greater Bay Area would be motivated to share additional personal data with insurers in return for a range of benefits, including:

more personalised services



cheaper premiums



enhanced claims processes

The results are similar across other surveyed markets, such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Respondents also reported they are open to new ways of sharing personal data, such as wearing wireless smart devices and using them at home.

IB Asias 5-Star Insurance Innovators of 2024 have pushed the industry into the future with groundbreaking technology, products and distribution channel strategies.

IB Asia invited insurers, brokerages and service providers from across the region to submit a nomination detailing their steps to introduce new innovations to the insurance industry.

Lynch says, The increasingly pervasive application of AI, cloud computing and predictive analytics in insurance operations and across the value chain has set the stage for incredibly transformative changes in the coming years.



Insurance innovations empower customers with transparency and tech

At a glance: highlights of Kakaopays embedded insurance innovation in KakaoTalk



Convenience

As South Korea's leading digital non-life insurance service, it allows customers to complete various tasks in a few clicks, including:

getting a quote



paying their premiums



filing claims, tracking the status and receiving payouts



chatting with support



uploading relevant documents and details

Streamlined customer journey

leveraing various tools and functions of the messenger app, the insurer minimised manual input of information

Customer empowerment

enabling customers to use a do-it-yourself function to select plans with coverage suggestions based on social graph data, with options frequently chosen by customers of similar age



providing information on duplicate coverages based on scraped data from the national insurance regulator





We will continue innovating to provide an excellent insurance experience that policyholders will want to recommend to others by enabling them to conveniently sign up for quality products at reasonable prices through digital channels

Brad Chang Kakaopay Insurance

In South Korea, insurance has long been viewed as complicated and inconvenient.

Kakaopay Insurance is flipping that script and has earned a 5-Star Insurance Innovator award for being the first Korean insurer to run a major service platform from a business account chatroom within a single messaging app.

By embedding a comprehensive, end-to-end insurance service in KakaoTalk, the messaging app used by over 90% of Koreans, Kakaopay has made insurance easy and accessible.

With over two million overseas travel insurance subscribers on its flagship product since launch 16 months ago, Kakaopay is winning over customers in record numbers with its commitment to convenience and transparency.

This significant achievement is demonstrated through:

a 50% conversion rate from quote to premium paid



a conversion rate three times higher than competitors



99% of claims filed online

We have a culture where we respect each others expertise while working together to solve problems, says CEO Brad Chang. Its an environment that encourages freely sharing diverse opinions and trying new things, which provides ample opportunities to learn.

The companys collaborative approach to turning an idea into an innovation sets it apart as an industry leader, characterised by:

futuristic mindset where team members take the initiative to find and solve issues and proactively suggest areas for improvement



horizontal structure that brings together people from various roles, backgrounds and expertise

We brainstorm and work together; communication and collaboration are important within our company, which has been key to innovating successfully, says Chang.



At a glance: highlights of Sedgwicks digital tools, smart.ly and viaOne



The global leader in claims management has harnessed its extensive experience and digital footprint to create a robust ecosystem of digital tools through the core components known as smart.ly and viaOne.

The companys digital tools address various aspects of claims management, including the availability of information and services, timeliness, accuracy, transparency and discretion of information shown to stakeholders.

smart.ly

offers a flexible, API-based platform that allows claimants to easily notify losses online using custom-built forms



addresses high-volume incidents or claims events by integrating advanced technology , such as real-time system interactions, AI, optical image analysis and intuitive scripts, behind the scenes to simplify the intake process



provides intuitive scripts that make incident reporting easy , with new scripts created within hours, not days or weeks



uses AI and automation capabilities to reduce the claim approval process from days to seconds, while connected APIs quickly ingest and share information from various sources, including weather data, traffic data, policy databases and fraud detection watchlists



features API-based architecture that integrates with clients in-house risk management systems

viaOne

provides a configurable, secure web portal that allows insurers, corporate policyholders and brokers to view details and real-time updates of their claims portfolio



draws data directly from the adjusters claims management system, ensuring that updates by adjusters are immediately reflected



enables corporate policyholders or self-insureds to track their claims through viaOne, with access to both live and historical claims and self-serve reporting tools to gain insights that improve their risk management program



removes the busy work from claims processing, directing adjusters to claims that need more attention and time with customers

Theres more demand than ever for our digital insurance solutions; digital tools are now seen as a need-to-have, not a nice-to-have. Its what clients have come to expect

Stephen Kerr Sedgwick

Sedgwick is uniquely positioned to combine digital and data science for innovation in claims management, highlighted by its integrated digital solutions that demonstrate the impact of relevant, rapid data for faster, more accurate and more transparent claims decisions.

The companys insurance innovation saves vital time when handling major events when claims volumes are high and physical site visits may not be possible.

Sedgwicks team has witnessed first-hand the powerful benefits digital claims platforms can offer brokers, insurers and policyholders: improved customer experience, greater transparency and faster claim close times.

With the rise in widespread catastrophe losses, the 5-Star Insurance Innovators digital tool suite has proved invaluable, helping clients collect and process claims data faster than previous fragmented and manual methods.

Sometimes, the simplest solutions make the greatest market impact, Asias chief executive officer Stephen Kerr says. Sedgwick has done this by transforming how claims are handled via innovation and creating digital claims platforms.

Sedgwicks data and technology team saw an opportunity to improve the claims process by:

reducing friction for policyholders



mitigating fraud risk



benefitting an entire ecosystem of service partners

Technology has revolutionised many industries, from banking to e-commerce, but I think the insurance industry has yet to fully embrace technology to the same level, Kerr says.

When customers can see the whole process of their claim, it can help answer their questions and ease their doubts or anxiety about the claim. They know exactly where their claim is at any point in time. Our tools, smart.ly and viaOne, bring that timeliness and transparency to claims notifications.



Customers at the centre of insurance innovations



The general perception of insurance as difficult and unfriendly inspired KakaoPay to innovate and break that negative stereotype.

We wanted to show that insurance can be easy and convenient, Chang says. One of the aspects that our customers are most satisfied with is the simplicity of filing claims and the compensation process.

Team members focused on making claim payouts easier and faster by launching the countrys first instant payment service using AI-powered optical character recognition. This technology enables customers to upload photos of their documents to receive their insurance payout for simple claims in less than a minute.



Sedgwicks customer feedback has been positive and suggests using its digital platforms smart.ly and viaOne as transformational in their experience.

Theres definite client interest in our digital solutions, says Kerr. They have said it helps improve the claims process for everyone that touches the claim, giving them greater visibility and improved efficiency.

The company has seen results in action for policyholders, third-party partners, brokers and insurers, with its digital tools well received.



How top insurance innovators solve problems



Through an open and transparent approach to communication with customers across the insurance journey, Kakaopay is helping to quell long-held misperceptions about the industry.

The company achieves this by:

using simple and straightforward language to inform customers about policy details and their entitlements



sending messages to remind customers how to file a claim and get reimbursement

We can solve these problems because our organisational structure is dedicated to technology, compared to traditional insurers, says Chang. More than 50% of our employees are software/system developers, and 30% are service designers, whereas only 5% of employees at traditional insurers are software/system developers, on average.

At Sedgwick, the obstacle encountered by the team was seen in the early adoption of technology in the claims process for stakeholders.

While the insurance industry has yet to embrace technology fully, the insurance innovator is working to close this gap.

We are a major contributor in this endeavour, as we relentlessly find new and better ways to do what we do best, which is to manage claims, says Kerr.

Our digital tools are flexible to address clients demand for technology solutions but also allow for traditional methods of processing claims, he adds. Our clients can still call our experts and talk to someone about their claim in their native language. Across our nine countries in Asia, its huge to be able to offer both types of solutions.


As we combine to serve around 2 million customers, we believe our customer-oriented approach will continue to deliver on the trust Australians have placed in us to protect them and their families, and deliver on our promise to be there when they need us, he said.
With many Australians going away on holiday during summer for an extended time, this is when thieves are most likely to strike, so its important to be vigilant, plan ahead, and take steps to increase your home security, he said
Ben has been a key contributor to the success of Amwins, and his deep market insights have continually driven the company into new areas of opportunity, Amwins chief executive Scott Purviance said. His leadership has been instrumental in helping us differentiate ourselves in the marketplace, and I am thrilled he will take on this broader role.
"Her financial acumen, strategic insights, and collaborative spirit have left an indelible mark on our organization. While we will miss her immensely, we are excited to see her thrive in the next chapter of her journey, said LaBranche.
The grants were awarded to organizations addressing specific objectives. These include training the current and future workforce in safe work practices, particularly in high-risk industries or occupations. They also focus on developing pathways to in-demand, middle-skill jobs, and supporting earn-and-learn programs designed to upskill and reskill adult learners.
Horace Mann Educators Corp., which targets teachers and others in education, announced its expansion into New Jersey.

Already serving educators in more than 40 states, Horace Mann will offer its suite of financial and insurance products to the educational community in New Jersey in partnership with Plymouth Rock Assurance.

Horace Manns offerings include credit monitoring and student loan services as well as auto, property, life and supplemental insurance, according to Steve Chauby, senior vice president of sales at Horace Mann.

In New Jersey, auto and home insurance will be available through Plymouth Rock Assurance, which offers a plan designed exclusively for educators.

Plymouth Rock has a long history of serving the educators of New Jersey. Horace Mann is well known for doing the same throughout the United States. We look forward to earning the trust of this most trusted community, said Bill Martin, president and CEO of Plymouth Rock Home Assurance Corp.

Horace Mann Educators Corp. is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois.

Topics New Jersey
A United Parcel Service (UPS) driver who was intoxicated when he crashed his semi-trailer delivery truck has been denied workers compensation benefits.

Delaware Superior Court Judge Kathleen Vavala last week reversed a state Industrial Accident Board (IAB) ruling that Timothy Willis was entitled to benefits. The judge found that the IAB abused its discretion and ignored both evidence and the law when it granted benefits to Willis.

The judge hammered the IAB for disregarding overwhelming evidence presented by UPS and the sworn testimony of law enforcement officers that the UPS driver was intoxicated. The court also slammed the IAB for speculating that light beers lessened the concern and for not allowing UPS to cross-examine the driver about his drinking.

To affirm the boards decision would set a dangerous precedent that employees can get away with driving impaired on the job  as long as its a light beerdespite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Judge Vavala wrote in denying the worker his benefits.

The judge found that intoxication on the job violates not only UPS policy but also Delaware law and thus the driver was not acting within the course and scope of his employment as the IAB had concluded.

The Crash

At 4:00 a.m. the morning on June 8, 2021, Willis crashed his UPS truck into a guardrail on a Maryland road. Willis was ending his overnight shift of deliveries and dropping off his trailer before returning to Delaware. Wills admitted that he often celebrated the end of his route with some beers and that he drank three Miller Lite beers that morning.

Baltimore police responding to the crash scene said they saw Willis throwing beer cans from the cab into the woods when they arrived. They also said his speech was slurred, he was sweating profusely, and he smelled of alcohol. Willis told them he did not know what had happened and that his doctor was screening him for diabetes. The road conditions and weather were clear that morning, police noted. Willis later claimed that he swerved to avoid several deer.

The police arrested him for driving under the influence (DUI). A Maryland judge placed him on probation pending a judgment.

UPS denied Williss claim for workers compensation, arguing that he was not acting within the course and scope of his employment at the time of the accident and had forfeited his right to compensation by his voluntary intoxication and his reckless indifference to danger. UPS stressed that it has a zero-tolerance policy under which consumption of any alcohol is a violation.

At his hearing before the IAB, the board excluded the results from the Breathalyzer tests that were deemed to not have been authenticated. The board also excluded statements by Willis in Maryland court prior to his judgment on the DUI charge and the board did not allow UPS to question Willis on those statements.

IAB Decision

The IAB granted Williss workers compensation claim in part, finding that the mere violation of a companys safety policy does not place what would otherwise be a workplace accident beyond the scope of employment. It also found that because Willis was not convicted of DUI, UPS had failed to prove that he was in fact intoxicated or that was the proximate cause of the accident.

But the Superior Court judge noted that the IAB had apparently reached its conclusion by ignoring Williss admission that he was drinking beer, his throwing beer cans out of the truck, the police testimony that he smelled like alcohol, his physical instability, that he had defecated on himself, that road conditions were dry and safe, and he had refused to cooperate with the DUI field test.

Instead, the IAB speculated over other matters including that he drank light beers with low alcohol content, how long and when he drank were unclear, the cans thrown into the woods may have been old, there was no authenticated proof of his blood alcohol level, bodycam footage did not clearly show that he appeared intoxicated, and the cause of the accident was likely the deer in his headlights as opposed to intoxication.

The IBA also concluded that Williss behavior did not rise to the level of deliberate and reckless indifference to danger that might disqualify his claim for benefits.

UPS Appeal

In its appeal to the Superior Court, UPS argued that the IBA abused its discretion by failing to conclude that Willis was convicted of DUI under Delaware law, by excluding the Breathalyzer test results, by excluding cross examination of Willis on his statements in a Maryland court, and by finding that Willis was within the course and scope of his employment when he crashed.

Willis disputed each claim by UPS.

Overall Superior Court Judge Vavala sided with UPS in its appeal, finding that the IAB misapplied the law and that its fact findings and conclusions exceed the bounds of reason in view of the circumstances. The judge found that the record contained substantial evidence that Willis was not acting within the course and scope of his employment and forfeited his right to benefits.

The appeals court agreed that the IAB was within its discretion to exclude the Beathalyzer tests that were not authenticated because Willis had not been convicted of DUI under either Maryland or Delaware law that require there be a sentencing.

IAB Errors

But the appeals judge found that the IAB erroneously blocked potentially probative evidence by not permitting cross-examination of Willis on his statements at the Maryland court proceeding. The Delaware appeals judge criticized the IAB for not recognizing that those statements on his drinking and intoxication were material issues.

The judge found that the IAB erred as a matter of law in concluding that Willis was within the course and scope of his employment. Voluntary intoxication while working deviates from the ordinary course of employment, the judge wrote, noting that while one fact alone may not be sufficient proof, here there was a combination of evidence.

The appeals court further noted that violations of an employers policy do not necessarily signal a departure from the scope of employment. But here the IAB failed to recognize that Williss drinking was both a violation of his employers policy and represented a reckless indifference to danger.

A truck driver cannot reasonably be drinkingnor is he expected to drink alcohol while operating a semi-trailer weighing thousands of pounds on curving back roads at close to four in the morning. Such conduct not only violates company policyit is also prohibited by law, the opinion declares.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent Personal Auto
Datamaran, a provider of sustainability-related software, announced a collaboration with Deloitte in three European markets to provide companies with ways to better assess their environmental and social impacts and risks.

In the agreement, Deloitte will use Datamarans double-materiality analysis software for clients in Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium, according to a statement on Wednesday.

The deal is likely to be the first of several with Deloitte and other companies, and it comes at a time when Datamaran is signing up more clients in the US than in Europe, Chief Executive Officer Marjella Lecourt-Alma said in an interview. A big reason for that is CSRD, she said.

CSRD is short for the European Unions Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Its a vast set of mandatory quantitative and qualitative disclosure requirements on everything from climate to labor practices. The directive went into effect this year and is expected to be fully rolled out in 2029.

Theres a lot of fear tied to CSRD and its important that corporate leaders dont panic, Lecourt-Alma said.

CSRD compels roughly 50,000 companies to disclose, track and measure their environmental, social and governance performance alongside annual financial reporting. It calls for the disclosure of potentially more than 1,000 data points on ESG metrics ranging from pollution to biodiversity, with more demands to be set in the future.

The broad scope of CSRD has led industry associations to plead with the European Commission to ease up on some requirements, saying theyre making EU companies less competitive.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. announced last week that it was leaving a major climate group for banks, in part because of the need to comply with mandatory reporting requirements from initiatives such as CSRD, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The firms departure from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance coincides with growing US pressure from the Republican Party on anything that smacks of ESG. And the challenges are almost certain to increase following President-elect Donald Trumps victory last month.

Lecourt-Alma said the notion that ESG is dead is click bait. While ESG information is all over the map, the concepts and practices behind sustainability reporting arent fundamentally different than financial reporting, she said.

Datamaran recently received financing from Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital and its customers include Kraft Heinz Co., Dell Technologies Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc.

The goal is to reach the top 1,000 companies globally by the end of 2028, Lecourt-Alma said. The firm isnt planning to do an additional fund-raise, she said. Instead, the idea would be to get to a stage where we are exit-ready in the next three to five years, either with an initial public offering or becoming part of a larger structure, she said.

Photo: Photographer: Benjamin Girette/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Four women who accused Curtis Hill of drunkenly groping them at a bar when he was Indianas attorney general dropped their civil lawsuit against him hours before jury selection was set to begin on Monday.

The women initially sued in federal court in 2019 before filing this last lawsuit in a Marion County court in 2020, claiming that Hill committed battery against them at an Indianapolis bar and then defamed them with repeated claims that their allegations were false.

Their decision Sunday to drop the suit ends nearly seven years of investigations and litigation surrounding Hills actions during a March 2018 party on the final night of that years legislative session, The Indianapolis Star reported.

In a statement from their attorneys, the women said they agreed to dismiss the suit after reaching the frustrating conclusion that proceeding with the trial cannot provide the relief they sought; namely, Mr. Hill accepting responsibility for his actions and admitting his fault in intentionally touching each of them in a sexual manner without consent.

The four women who sued Hill are Mara Candelaria Reardon, Gabrielle McLemore Brock, Samantha Lozano and Niki DaSilva. At the time of the March 2018 party, Candelaria Reardon was a Democratic state representative from Munster in northwest Indiana, and the three other women were legislative staffers. All decided to come forward publicly in response to his denials.

Hill said Monday in a statement that the cases dismissal is a vindication of his longstanding denial of the womens claims.

There was no financial settlement. There were no conditions for dismissal, Hill said. The case against me was dismissed with prejudice by each of the plaintiffs, thus ending this odyssey of unfounded allegations that have dogged me for nearly seven years and have served as the fuel for political and personal attacks against me.

Despite Hills denials, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered a 30-day suspension of his law license in 2020 after finding by clear and convincing evidence that (Hill) committed the criminal act of battery against three female legislative staffers and a state lawmaker during the party. The justices ruled after nine people who attended the party testified at his professional misconduct hearing.

The allegations were a key campaign issue when Hill narrowly lost the 2020 Republican attorney general nomination for his reelection to Todd Rokita, who took office in January 2021.

Hill attempted a political comeback in 2022, but he lost a vote among Republican precinct committee members to replace U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski on the election ballot following her death in a highway crash. Business executive Rudy Yakym won the GOP nomination and election for northern Indianas 2nd District seat.

Hill also entered this years Indiana governors race, joining a six-way Republican primary to replace term-limited GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb. But first-term U.S. Sen. Mike Braun won the May primary and the November general election.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits
Policymakers aiming to recommend safeguards for artificial intelligence are facing a formidable challenge: science that is still evolving.

AI developers themselves are grappling with how to prevent abuse of novel systems, offering no easy fix for government authorities to embrace, Elizabeth Kelly, director of the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, said on Tuesday.

Cybersecurity is an area of concern according to Kelly, speaking at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York. Ways to bypass guard rails that AI labs established for security and other topics, called jailbreaks, can be easy, she said.

It is difficult for policymakers to say these are best practices we recommend in terms of safeguards, when we dont actually know which ones work and which ones dont, Kelly said.

Technology experts are hashing out how to vet and protect AI across different dimensions. Another area regards synthetic content. Tampering with digital watermarks, which flag to consumers when images are AI-generated, remains too easy for authorities to devise guidance for industry, she said.

The U.S. AI Safety Institute, created under the Biden administration, is addressing such concerns via academic, industry and civil society partnerships that inform its tech evaluations, Kelly said. She said AI safety is a fundamentally bipartisan issue, when asked what will happen to the body after Donald Trump takes office in January.

The institutes first director, Kelly recently presided over the inaugural gathering of AI safety institutes from around the world, which took place last month in San Francisco.

Asked about the outcome of these meetings, Kelly said the 10 country members were working toward interoperable safety tests with the help of more technical, hoodie-wearing experts than in a typical diplomatic meeting.

It was very much getting the nerds in the room, she said.

Topics USA InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump tapped Federal Trade Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to lead the consumer protection and antitrust agency, Trump said on social media on Tuesday.

Ferguson, one of two Senate-confirmed Republican FTC commissioners appointed by President Joe Biden, will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Countrys History, Trump said.

Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country, Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said in a separate post that he would nominate Mark Meador, a partner at law firm Kressin Meador Powers and former antitrust counsel to Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee, to become an FTC commissioner.

Lee previously proposed legislation that would remove federal antitrust authority from the FTC, which shares it with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Once confirmed, Meador would fill the spot currently occupied by FTC Chair Lina Khan, whose term on the commission has expired.

Ferguson, Virginias former solicitor general, wants the FTC to investigate censorship of conservative viewpoints online. If social media platforms collaborate to suppress such views or advertisers coordinate pulling business from platforms such as Elon Musks X, they should be charged with violating U.S. antitrust law, Ferguson has said.

We must vigorously enforce the antitrust laws against any platforms found to be unlawfully limiting Americans ability to exchange ideas freely and openly, Ferguson said in a recent statement.

Ferguson previously served as counsel to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell and clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

The agency became a political flashpoint under Khan, who promoted antitrust enforcement as a check on corporate power. Her efforts won fans among some Republicans, including incoming Vice President JD Vance, but drew criticism as overly aggressive from some antitrust lawyers and business groups.

Ferguson would inherit a full slate of cases against Big Tech companies, a lawsuit against the three largest pharmacy benefit managers, and at least a half-dozen lawsuits by companies arguing the FTC has outstripped its authority.

It is unclear whether he would continue with unfinished probes, including into practices at Microsoft that competitors have complained keep customers from switching to other cloud service providers, and potential privacy concerns involving OpenAI.

In other enforcement matters related to AI and privacy, Ferguson has said he believes Khan and the FTCs Democratic majority have sometimes led the agency to overstep its authority.

A Republican-led FTC could also shift course in two major cases against Amazon.com. One targets tactics the agency says keep sellers bound to its platform and help Amazon unlawfully dominate the landscape for online marketplaces, and another over practices allegedly meant to trick Prime subscribers out of canceling service.

Ferguson would also oversee a case brought against Meta Platforms, then known as Facebook, in 2020, during Trumps first term.

The agency is seeking to unwind the tech companys acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp. But the judge overseeing the case has cast doubt on whether the agency can prevail at trial in April.

Trump said last week that he would appoint Vance adviser Gail Slater to lead the DOJs antitrust division, which is overseeing cases against Google.

Photo: Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Broker WTW said commercial lines insurance rates increased overall by an average of 6.1% during the third quarter 2024.

Quarterly price increases have been around 6% since the end of the pandemic, WTW reported in its Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS). Survey results showed rates went up an average 5.9% during the second quarter and were up 6.3% for the first three months of 2024.

Results for this quarter reflect continued shifts in the commercial insurance landscape, said Yi Jing, senior director, insurance consulting and technology at WTW. Sectors like commercial auto and excess/umbrella liability continue to face pricing pressures, while others, such as commercial property, are stabilizing. These developments highlight a market in transition, as insurers adapt to evolving risks and economic conditions.

WTW said package commercial multi-peril and businessowners policies during Q3 reached their highest levels in over a decade. Commercial property pricing continued to stabilize while commercial auto and excess/umbrella liability showed consistent trends from the prior quarter, when each saw price increases in the double digits, according to respondents.

The survey compares commercial insurance prices on policies underwritten during the third quarter of 2024 to those for the same coverage in the respective quarter of 2023 for a year-over-year perspective.

Topics USA Trends Commercial Lines Business Insurance Pricing Trends
The U.S. Supreme Court sidestepped on Wednesday a decision on whether to allow shareholders to proceed with a securities fraud lawsuit accusing artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia of misleading investors about how much of its sales depended on the volatile cryptocurrency market.

The justices, who heard arguments in the case on Nov. 13, dismissed Nvidias appeal of a lower courts ruling that allowed a 2018 class action  litigation led by the Stockholm, Sweden-based investment management firm E. Ohman J:or Fonder AB  to move forward.

The Supreme Court opted not resolve the underlying legal dispute, determining that the case should not have been granted. Its action leaves the lower courts decision in place. The Supreme Courts dismissal came in a one-line order that provided no explanation.

During the arguments, some of the justices expressed reservations about intervening in the case. They wondered about whether there was a clear legal issue for them to decide, as opposed to just a dispute over facts, and indicated that they were not ideally placed to resolve the case given its technical complexities.

At issue was whether the plaintiffs cleared the heightened legal bar for bringing private securities fraud suits set under a 1995 federal law called the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that aimed to screen out frivolous litigation.

The plaintiffs accused Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang of violating a 1934 federal law called the Securities Exchange Act by making statements in 2017 and 2018 that falsely downplayed how much of Nvidias revenue growth came from crypto-related purchases.

Beginning in 2017, as the price of certain cryptocurrencies rose, Nvidias chips became increasingly popular for cryptomining, a process that involves performing complex math equations in order to secure cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether.

By late 2018, amid a decline in crypto profitability, Nvidias revenue fell short of its projections, leading its stock price to fall in early November of that year.

The plaintiffs accused Nvidia and its top officials of concealing the impact of cryptomining on its business. The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages in part to recoup the lost value of the Nvidia stock held by the investors.

Nvidia in 2022 agreed to pay $5.5 million to U.S. authorities to settle charges that it did not properly disclose the impact of cryptomining on its gaming business, but without admitting or denying the findings of federal regulators.

A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit but the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently revived it. The 9th Circuit found that the plaintiffs had adequately alleged that Huang made false or misleading statements and did so knowingly or recklessly, allowing their case to proceed.

Nvidia argued to the Supreme Court that the plaintiffs had failed to adequately show that the disputed corporate statements were false, or the company had intentionally or recklessly misled investors, as required by law.

The plaintiffs countered that their lawsuit contained strong enough allegations  gleaned from former employees, market analysis and expert opinion  to survive Nvidias request for dismissal and proceed to the discovery stage of litigation.

President Joe Bidens administration supported the shareholders in the case.

The Nvidia dispute was one of two case to come before the Supreme Court in November involving the right private litigants to hold companies to account for alleged securities fraud. The other one, involving Metas Facebook, was argued on Nov. 6 and similarly dismissed by the justices on Nov. 22.

Topics Lawsuits USA Fraud
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  With the largest number of newly elected members at least since World War II, Republican South Carolina Senate leaders are thinking about tackling some issues like tax reform and liquor liability insurance that have long been too tough to handle.

The 13 new senators  nine Republicans and four Democrats  came to the Statehouse last week to meet, give five-minute introductory speeches, get their committee assignments and pick their seats. The session doesnt start for 40 more days.

When it does begin, Republican Majority Leader Shane Massey wants to debate a bill to allow parents to spend public money on private schools, tweaking a law that was found unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court earlier this year.

Massey wants the Senate  which now had a 34-12 Republican supermajority  to look into a broad bill rewriting South Carolinas energy policy to ensure the rapidly growing state has enough power.

There are criminal justice issues like fighting fentanyl and major retail theft and what many senators think is the growing problem with insurance rate spikes because the states liability laws dont differentiate between levels of responsibility, Massey said.

But all those new members could mean senators can go after items that have long met resistance like reforming the states entire tax system or retirement system or the civil lawsuit system.

I think there will be some dynamic changes, Massey said of all the new senators. The personalities are different.

But issues can wait until the session starts on Jan. 14. Wednesday was for housekeeping matters and introductions, with family watching their loved ones being sworn in

There was one major rule change passed. The Senate President and Majority Leader now can sponsor a resolution to remove a chairman from a committee that will go before the Rules Committee and the entire Senate.

There have been rumblings over the past few years about how some chairpersons, who are determined by seniority, handle their committees and the pace of legislation passed out of them. The rule sends a message to them about how they operate.

Massey said he doesnt expect the rule to ever be used, but its there as a safeguard.

We just want to make sure the committees are doing the work that they are tasked with doing and the majority is able to move legislation, Massey said.

Photo: State Sen. Tom Davis and others take the oath of office last week. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Liability South Carolina Politics
Floridas orange production for the current season is forecast at 12 million boxes, the lowest since 1930, after a hurricane this fall accelerated an unrelenting industry downturn.

Thats down three million boxes from an October forecast, and about 33% lower than the prior seasons output, the US Department of Agriculture said in a Tuesday report. Overall US production is forecast at 60.6 million boxes, the lowest since 1937.

The cut reflects an even dimmer situation for Floridas citrus industry, which had been expected to produce fewer oranges even before Hurricane Milton tore through groves in mid-October. Growers have been combating a deadly citrus disease called greening that has decimated orange production, while also trying to recover from hurricanes Ian and Irma in 2022 and 2017.

Read More: Orange Growers Were Looking for a Turnaround. Then Milton Came.

More than 300,000 acres of citrus lands were affected by Hurricane Milton, according to preliminary estimates in October by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Orange juice futures rose as much as 2.1% to $5.0195 a pound on Tuesday.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Florida Windstorm
Farmers Insurance said on Wednesday it will resume offering coverage for multiple lines of insurance in California to new customers.

The lines include condominium, renters, umbrella, landlord, vacant and manufactured home. Many of the reopened coverage offerings had been temporarily paused for more than a year.

Farmers last year began limiting new homeowners insurance policies in California along with pullbacks from several other insurers.

Related: California Commissioner Announces FAIR Plan Modernization Deal

The carrier plans a phased reintroduction beginning Dec. 14, 2024.

Farmers also plans to increase the number of homeowners policies it will accept from new customers to 9,500 per month, from its previous commitment of 7,000 monthly.

The company cited among its reasons for the decision regulatory steps taken by the states insurance commissioner and other stakeholders.

Related: How Californias Homeowners Insurance Crisis Is Affecting Brokers

The changes to insurance regulations ongoing in the state are part of the so-called Sustainable Insurance Strategy intended to stabilize the California homeowners insurance market and address the insurance crisis.

Carriers began pulling back from the states homeowners market, blaming blamed wildfire losses as well as regulations. They also began requesting steep rate increases.

State Farm applied for large rate increases in California, a year after the carrier got rate approvals of 7% and 20%. The insurer, the largest in California, insures nearly one-in-five homes in the state. It recently requested a 30% rate increase for its homeowners line, a 52% rate increase for renters and 36% rate increase for condo coverage.

Related: California Insurance Commissioner: Allow Cat Modeling in Rates for Wildfires

Allstate, which stopped issuing new California homeowners insurance policies in 2022, is seeking an increase in its California homeowners insurance premiums by an average of 34%. It would be the largest rate increase this year and would impact more than 350,000 policyholders.

According to Farmers, some of the changes and proposed changes, have made the states insurance risk more appetizing.

Farmers Insurance has decided to take these steps to increase coverage availability for California consumers because we recognize that the states insurance marketplace has indeed improved, stated Behram Dinshaw, president of personal lines for Farmers Insurance. In addition, with the impending implementation of Commissioner Ricardo Laras Sustainable Insurance Strategy in the coming year, we want to be well-positioned to provide even more coverage options to residents in the state.

To be considered for coverage, new customers will be required to meet all applicable underwriting guidelines to be considered. The reopened coverage options will be made available to consumers in a phased manner:

Farmers Condominium insurance (both, owner-occupied and those rented to others), will reopen for new customers effective Dec. 14;

Farmers Renters insurance will reopen for new customers effective Dec. 14;

Farmers Personal Umbrella insurance will reopen for new customers effective Dec. 24;

Foremost Manufactured Home Landlord insurance will reopen for new customers effective March 1, 2025;

Foremost Dwelling Fire Landlord and Dwelling Fire Vacant insurance will reopen for new customers effective March 15, 2025.

Based on its assessment of an improved commercial insurance market, Farmers resumed accepting new Business Insurance applications from customers seeking coverage for various industries earlier this year. Those industries included: Auto Service & Repair; Habitational; Manufacturing; Real Estate; and Wholesale Distribution. On July 1, the company also lifted its temporary moratorium on new commercial automobile insurance policies in California.

Topics California Agribusiness
By Huang Fang, Shangguan Yun "What is striking about China is, first of all, its ethnic differences. It has a very large number of ethnic groups," said Martin Jacques, a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, and former senior fellow, POLIS, Cambridge University, in an exclusive interview with China News Network. A parallel forum titled "Understanding the Chinese Nation: Unity in Diversity for Common Development" was held recently during the 8th Understanding China Conference in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province. As a guest speaker, Martin Jacques explored the historical evolution of the Chinese nation's pluralistic unity, and shared his views on China's path to modernization under the sub-theme of "Common Development and Building a New Model for Human Progress". The splendor of Chinese civilization stems from its pluralistic unity Martin Jacques noted that China's vast territory and resources have nurtured harmonious ethnic cultures throughout its civilizational development. Addressing criticisms from some Western countries about China's approach to ethnic issues, Martin Jacques firmly rejected such accusations. He emphasized that China is a "civilization-state," a nation drawn from so many different groups, making it highly diverse, In this sense, over its long history, China has been, broadly speaking, more tolerant than the nation-state traditions that emerged elsewhere, he added. Unlike some nations that historically emphasized the superiority of one ethnicity, China has never followed such a path. Chinese modernization offers new opportunities for global development "China's attitude towards the rest of the world is completely different from that of the Western powers," Martin Jacques stated when discussing the Chinese modernization path and its global impact. He pointed out that "the Western world wanted to colonize and prevent their development or use their development for their own purposes," whereas, China's modernization is entirely different. China aims to be part of who assists wider development across the world of modernization, ensuring it is no longer for the few but for the great majority, Jacques remarked. He cited the Belt and Road Initiative as an example to explain how China promotes global modernization by facilitating infrastructure development and investment. "China's view of this is to share, to offer developing countries a way of speedy economic growth and modernization by infrastructure, which has been in the Chinese experience," he said. "What China is offering to the developing world as a public good is the possibility of modernization," he emphasized that Western modernization prevented the development of the rest of the world. China's modernization by enabling others to modernize, marks a crucial historical difference, he said. The parallel forum is co-hosted by China Ethnic Pictorial and the Academy of Contemporary China of the World Studies of China International Communications Group.
Firefighters made some gains containing a raging wildfire that threatens Malibu, California, even as the burn area doubled in size in a day and high-wind warnings are forecast to persist through much of Wednesday.

The Franklin Fire, which has burned almost 4,000 acres, is still only 7% contained, according to Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. But decreased wind, cooler temperatures and higher humidity overnight are helping firefighters gain the upper hand in some areas, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday.

Were going in the right direction, Marrone said at a news briefing. But, he added, Ill feel like weve turned the corner at 100% containment.

More than 1,500 firefighters were on-site, joined by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft attacking the fire from the sky. The blaze, which has destroyed seven structures and damaged nine others, has triggered evacuations and shelter-in-place orders, terrifying residents of the wealthy community.

There were no reports of fatalities or injuries, and the cause of the blaze is still under investigation, Cal Fire said.

The Franklin fire has grown explosively since it was first spotted Monday night, driven by dry conditions and strong, seasonal Santa Ana winds. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the Malibu coast until 6 p.m. local time, predicting gusts of up 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour near the fires footprint. That could complicate response efforts, bringing a risk of air-tossed embers sparking new blazes.

Even stronger winds are expected into the evening for portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where conditions are also dry and conducive to fire. About 125 miles to the east of the Franklin Fire, the San Bernardino County Fire Department is battling the Rogers Fire, which started Tuesday as a residential incident and spread to about 10 acres.

With the threat of these strong wind gusts in these windier corridors, there will be an increased risk for downed tree limbs and power lines, along with power outages, the weather service wrote in an advisory.

Road access is severely limited, with hard closures along the Pacific Coast Highway that connects Malibu to Los Angeles. Local public schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, according to an X post from the City of Malibu. Power remains out in much of Malibu, interfering with cell service, traffic lights and other services.

The city of Malibu awoke again to a very red sunrise, Mayor Doug Stewart said at the briefing Wednesday. This morning, it was from the lingering smoke in the sky, rather than the approaching line of fire. Were far better off this morning than we were in the last 30-plus hours.

Malibu is one of the states wealthiest communities, with miles of pristine beaches and homes selling for a median price of more than $4 million. Actor Dick Van Dyke posted on social media Tuesday that he, his wife and their animals had evacuated their home. The evacuation orders cover an area not far from the site of the Getty fire, a 2019 blaze that burned 745 acres.

California will receive federal emergency assistance to help fight the Franklin fire, according to a statement from Governor Gavin Newsoms office Tuesday.

As a safety precaution, electric utilities across the region have ordered power cuts to prevent their equipment from tossing sparks that could start new fires.

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. had shut off service to almost 47,000 customers early Wednesday morning, with another 71,000 on notice for potential outages later this week.

About 25,000 customers of Southern California Edison were without power early Wednesday morning, mostly in Los Angeles County. The company was considering additional outages for almost another 23,000 homes and businesses.

Top photo: A firefighter works to contain a spot fire at Pepperdine University during the Franklin fire in Malibu on Dec. 10. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
December 11, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a go-to platform for big investing ideas releases market commentary from Samer Hasn, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com

Crude oil prices continue to rise across the two main benchmarks for a third day in a row, recording a gain of 0.3%.

The gains in crude come as China announces plans to ease monetary policy, which could help boost the economy. This announcement follows an earlier announcement of plans to reform the social system known as "hukou," which may ultimately support consumer spending primarily in addition to the real estate market.

While experts see supporting domestic spending and investment as key factors to support growth, China's announced monetary measures have long been criticized as insufficient, as there is no appetite to borrow even under easy conditions, amid uncertainty about the future of the economy and the ability to meet debt payments.

However, the crystallization of the impact of the recent support packages and reforms over the next year, in conjunction with easy monetary conditions, should accelerate the recovery. I believe that this recovery will be a more important driver of growth in crude prices than supply-restriction measures or geopolitical tensions - the problem lies in demand.

Speaking of geopolitics, the impact of the massive and unprecedented Israeli attacks on Syria's military infrastructure seems to have been exaggerated. This does not represent an escalation of the regional war and will not ultimately damage the region's crude supplies. If the markets have indeed priced this news in, a correction is not far away - let's not forget that oil market conditions are not that favourable yet, with positive signs from China continuing to emerge little by little.

These attacks were, as Israel stated, to prevent any strategic weapons from falling into the wrong hands following the structural changes brought about by the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.

Moreover, as I discussed yesterday, this historic change in the Middle East could eventually pave the way for regional de-escalation and thus the risk premium will tend to shrink by time. This shift has left Hezbollah besieged in Lebanon without the Iranian supply that used to come through Syria. This could also put further economic pressure on Iran, as Syria and Lebanon are important corridors for evading US sanctions.

The threat of Iran disrupting crude supplies from US allies in the region remains, as was previously reported this year after the exchange of attacks between Iran and Israel. However, I believe that this is now more unlikely than before, as any eventual supply disruption would also affect Iranian exports.

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The Netherlands is only the size of Munster with a population of over 17m people and a cattle population of nearly 4m. Its a remarkable country with its reclaimed land from the sea, its existence below sea level and the fact one of its main crops is colourful tulips. In my opinion, their national treasure is their dairy cows, those tall majestic high-yielding Friesian Holsteins, every cow I wanted to sneak in my suitcase home.

I love visiting farms outside of Ireland as we can bring back ideas to our farms at home. Challenges are something that we all share no matter where in the world you farm, The Netherlands no longer has a Nitrates derogation from the EU, with their limit set at 170kg per hectare. We visited the North of the country where the land in the 1930s was the sea and the farmers were commissioned to reclaim it to enable farming in the area. We met a 4th generation farmer of one of the reclaimed farms that now gets yields of 16 tonnes of grass per hectare and feeds this via an automated zero grazing called the Lely Exos. I was invited on the Lely Journey tour to visit the Lely Campus in Rotterdam and five robotic milking farms across the country. It was an eye-opening trip as it showed the realms of possibility that automation has in the future of farming.

Milking robots

Despite all the technology behind each farm, there was a dedicated farming family and a passion for cows that was obvious when we stepped off the bus on each farm. For me, I was particularly interested in seeing how the health and performance of the cows responded to having the level of automation on the farm. I have worked on many farms in practice with milking robots, it was a great opportunity to learn more about the machines and how I can better understand their functionality on farms. The average cell count across the five farms was 120 SCC, which is excellent considering that these farms are majority indoor systems.

Milking Robots have automatic cluster flush which means between cows all parts of the cluster are disinfected to prevent contagious mastitis. The teats are also prepped using brushes which stimulate the cow to let down her milk which reduces over-milking of quarters from bi-phasic milk let down. This is when a cluster is put on the cow before the hormone oxytocin has time to stimulate milk let down, which results in a lag period between the initial milk near the teat canal and the milk further up the udder. This can lead to excessive pressure on the teat leading to teat end damage which then can cause mastitis due to bacteria entering the udder via the damaged tissue. In a parlour to avoid this occurring 90 seconds between test prep and cluster application it is recommended to allow time for oxytocin to kick into action.

Another aspect of robotic milking is that each quarter is milked as a separate entity, it's amazing to see on the robot's computer how each quarter differs from the other and watch each cluster head come off one by one. This again leads to reducing teat end damage and over-milking. On the computer system also it flags cows that have a sudden rise in SCC which allows for early detection of problems using conductivity meters. I noticed that the queuing system was all very civilised, I have a feeling that they all had their place in line and that routine was still very much part of their day. I thought that the cows wouldnt be as friendly due to the amount of automation on the farms but that couldnt have been further from the reality. They were straight up to barriers to see what was going on, most let you pet their heads and they try and lick your trousers.

The Vector is an automated TMR wagon that supplies constant fresh feed on demand. What was very noticeable was that the cows knew there was no shortage of fresh feed so they didnt all rush to eat when the Vector topped up their feed space. It was all very relaxed, like a large-scale buffet lunch, the equivalent of "all-you-can-eat" for cows.

My eye was always drawn to the cow's feet and the way they walked, mobility scoring is ingrained in my mind from college and its hard not to do it daily. There was only one farm where I thought foot health could be better, one farm had an automated foot bath that emptied and refilled after a certain number of cows passed through.

The secrets to a good footbath are a slow walk-through, good foot coverage and a low level of organic matter to interfere with the disinfectants mood of action. Indoor systems need to be of an excellent standard for cow comfort, one aspect out of sync can cause a domino negative effect on cow health.

If I could ask Santa for something it would be one of the automatic "Discovery" scrappers, the cubicles were spotless as these little robots were constantly on the search for more dirt. Because of this, the cows are so clean, helping to keep infectious foot issues at bay and also reducing environmental mastitis. The brushes they have mounted on the walls are a great help too to keep cows clean not to mention the enjoyment they bring. We got two stationary brushes in the cubicles this year and I love to see the cows queuing up to use them, perhaps I need to find myself a hobby.

On each of these farms, automation was used as a tool to help the farmer run their business, the farmer and their cows were still the key components to their success. Data is only as good as its interpretation, the world of agri tech is evolving day by day and it is an exciting journey to witness especially as a vet who loves data that is utilised to improve animal health. Overall it was a thought-provoking trip, meeting other farmers both Irish and Dutch, their farming families and agribusiness leaders, thank you Lely for the invitation.
Ireland has the EUs highest fertiliser import prices, according to a revealing new report on the European market.

In 2022, imported urea was 185 per tonne more expensive in Ireland than in Poland or Germany, says Grupa Azoty, a Polish company which is a key player in the European fertiliser and chemical industry. In 2022, it cost nearly 800 to import urea into Ireland, compared to about 680 in France, and about 600 in Poland or Germany.

In 2023, the price gap was still 174 between Ireland and Poland and nearly 200 between Ireland and France.

At other times over the past 13 years, the import price in Ireland usually remained the highest of the four, although it was briefly the lowest for a while in 2011.

The figures come from Grupa Azotys submission to a recent Cheap Fertilisers from Russia  Another Threat to the EU Economy event hosted by Polish MEP Krzysztof Hetman. An MEP since 2014, Hetman was recently appointed as Polands Minister of Economic Development and Technology.

Grupa Azoty linked the high fertiliser price in Ireland to the loss of the Belfast, Arklow, and Cork-based Irish Fertiliser Industries in 2002 when it was closed by its two shareholders, the Irish government and the London-based ICI. Ammonia produced at Marino Point in Cork Harbour was used by IFI to make agricultural fertiliser.

Grupa Azoty said Ireland is an example of the consequences for countries that do not have their own fertiliser production, and rely 100% on imports.

Now, other member states could lose fertiliser production, because Russian fertilisers, produced cheaply due to state-regulated gas costs, threaten to put the less competitive EU producers out of business.

Unfair competition

Grupa Azoty said unfair competition undermines EU fertiliser manufacturers ability to compete effectively and sustain critical investments. And Russian fertilisers are not bound by the stringent environmental standards imposed in Europe, where manufacturers say they are committed to advancing circularity and decarbonisation, in line with the EUs Green Deal.

For example, EU fertiliser manufacturers are required by the Green Deal to use renewable energy for 42.5% of their energy consumption by next April. And their EU Emissions Trading System costs are to increase significantly.

However, the Green Deal also includes the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, in which fertilisers are one of seven products for which the carbon price paid for EU products is also applied to imported goods.

This could put a big EU border tax on some imported fertilisers, to be fully implemented by 2026.

Grupa Azoty said the fertiliser industry supports 76,000 EU jobs, and if Brussels does not step in with urgent remedial action, temporary shutdowns could turn permanent, putting jobs at stake.

Meanwhile, since Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU has supported the Russian regime by purchasing fertilisers worth 5.5bn. The biggest shares of the fertiliser went to Poland (17%), Germany (11%), France (11%), Belgium (10%), and Romania (8%), A 3% share is attributed to Ireland.

Effectively, by importing Russian fertilisers, the EU indirectly imports Russian gas. This undermines the EU's progress in reducing pipeline gas imports' dependency on Russia from over 40% in 2021 to about 8% in 2023. The EU said this diversification of energy supplies became a necessity after Russias unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and its weaponisation of energy.

Russia now accounts for one-third of all urea fertiliser imports to the EU. In Poland alone, Russian imports made up 65% of total urea imports in the first three quarters of 2024.

Fertilisers Europe, which represents manufacturers, has warned that fertilisers are essential for sustaining EU food production, and a future supply shortage could jeopardise food security. These manufacturers say they have the necessary capacity to supply EU farmers' nitrogen fertiliser needs, without having to rely on Russian urea imports. But the EU is an open market, with non-EU imports historically at about 32% of the EUs demand.

Fertilisers Europe says all available measures must be taken to avoid over-reliance on Russian imports and to safeguard Europes fertiliser industry. It proposes a 30% duty on Russian fertilisers, effectively stopping imports.

"Decisive action is essential to safeguard our economy, ensure food security, and achieve our sustainability goals," it says.

Call for decisive action

The governments of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also called for decisive EU action on surging imports of Russian and Belarusian fertilisers. In parallel, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden want a Commission proposal on increased tariffs for EU imports of Russian and Belarus products, including fertilisers.

Now, 30% of the EU's fertiliser imports came from Russia and Belarus (28% plus 2%, respectively), twice that of nearest competitor, Egypt, with 15%. According to Grupa Azoty, in the last year, imports from Russia increased more than 40%, from 2.8m tonnes to 3.7m.

The most alarming increase was in Poland, with Russia and Belarus supplying 22% and 15% respectively of fertiliser imports in 2022, rising to 38% and 4% in 2023, and in the first three quarters of 2024, the share of Russia went to 65%. Russia is pushing competitors out of the EU market.

Further afield, aggressive discount sales of Russian fertilisers have made it the largest supplier of fertilisers to India. In 2018, China had 31% of the market and Russia only 5%, by 2023, it was 15% for China and 20% for Russia.

The fertiliser boom has helped Russia to ease the budget burden caused by the war in Ukraine and the need to increase defence spending, according to Grupa Azoty.

Fertilisers Europe agrees and calls for urgent action to stop Russian fertilisers financing the war and to safeguard the EUs food and fertiliser autonomy.

The war effort is helped by Russia's export duty on fertilisers increasing to 10%, along with a minimum export duty rate per ton of 11-21.

And high Russian fertiliser profits have swelled the country's 10% tax on excess profit introduced this year. Meanwhile, profits at European fertiliser companies slumped (Norway's Yara, which claims to be the only global crop nutrition company, has seen profits slump from a record 2.5bn in 2022 to 51m in 2023).

Over the past seven years, fertiliser production in Russia increased by 33%, from 45m tonnes to 65mt. This is part of a multi-year development of Russian agriculture planned by the Kremlin to transform the largest country in the world from an importer of agricultural products to an exporter.

Having banned agri-food imports from Western countries in 2014, Russia developed huge farms, subsidised agricultural exports, and attracted international investors into their agricultural sector. Grain exports have become one of Russia's instruments of geopolitical influence and a source of foreign exchange earnings. Alongside this, measures were taken to ensure cheap fertilisers were available for Russian farmers, and for profitable export.

Over seven years to 2020, an estimated 19.4bn was allocated in support for Russian agriculture, according to Grupa Azoty. There are plans to grow production by 3% per annum, by increasing yearly support to about 9.5bn. The focus is on grain, including research for better varieties and new technology, and expanding export potential. Even global warming is helping, by freeing up new Russian lands for agriculture.

The Kremlin's agri-food policies have paid off. Russia's share of global wheat exports was 16% in 2021/22, about the same as the EU, and 2% ahead of Australia. Russia's share in 2022/23 grew to 22%, compared to 16% each for the EU and Canada, and 14% for Australia, Russia's share in 2023/24 is 24%, compared to 16% each for the EU and Canada, and 8-10% each for Australia, the USA and Ukraine.

Russian exports of agri-food products rose from 8.1bn in 2010 to 41.6bn in 2022.
Whenever I select cheeses for my festive cheese board, I recall this quote from the kings of Irish cheesemongers, Kevin and Seamus Sheridan: Genuine farmhouse cheese is one of the few products where the link between real people and real places is intricate to its value. It allows us to taste, to eat and to share food, to be a part of a process, the last link in a long chain. The full pleasure built into the atoms of the cheese carries the story of the fields, the animals, the hand and the history that brought it to our mouths. To share in this is a real pleasure. Counter Culture. The Sheridans Guide to Cheese.

From just one main ingredient, milk, a little rennet and a fair amount of time, come so many different expressions of cheese each with their own personality. The foods we select to share with our nearest and dearest should tell a story, and the cheeseboard will always be part of that.

But how to put a good cheeseboard together?

There are two aspects to consider: the cheeses and how to present them.

PRESENTATION

Sharing or Plated?

Do you prefer a sharing cheeseboard, or individual selections? Sharing platters, particularly large slate boards or plates, mean you can write the name of the cheese in chalk, with the milk type, style and where its made. Individual plates allow for careful tasting by a guest and spark conversations about who likes what best.

Colour

Cheese can be surprisingly colourful  blues, smoked, bloomed or ash rinds. Slate makes cheeses pop against a dark background, and colour can be added with fruits and chutneys.

Fruits and Chutneys

Fruit refreshes the palate between strong flavours and different textures. The classic accompaniment is grapes, but if your cheeses are local why not keep your fruits local, too? Fresh pear and apple are fantastic palate cleansers. I love fresh figs too which are great with soft tart cheeses like goats.

Country Choice in Co Tipperary make incredible glace pears which are a game changer served with blue cheese, but I avoid other dried or candied fruits as they can be too sweet.

The foods we select to share with our nearest and dearest should tell a story

Chutneys and pickles can bring a cheese to life but choose well. Too sharp with vinegar or too sweet with sugar and it can dull the flavour of your carefully selected cheeses. I think its hard to beat a well-made piccalilli, the kind of thing youd find at a Country Womens Association farm shop.

Bread or Crackers

You need something to carry the cheese to your mouth! Its hard to go wrong with the Sheridans Brown Bread Crackers, but I also like their linseed and rye cracker for an extra nutty flavour. Blue cheese on Christmas plum pudding is a hack shared with me by restaurateur and chef Claire Nash, formerly of Nash19 in Cork. Take Graham Herterichs advice and experiment with his idea for dressed brack from his book, Bake.

THE CHEESES

Time to get down to the business of selecting your cheeses, how many and what kind.

Things to Consider

Cheese can be made with cows, sheeps or goats milk and each carries flavours in their own ways. Cow milk tends to be creamier and milder, sheep milk cheese can be more robust, and goat milk super creamy with a hint of barnyard which is not as off putting as it sounds!

Cheese can be raw (unpasteurised) and pasteurised, clearly stated on the pack. Raw cheeses need a little more careful handling and should be avoided by some people (e.g. pregnant women), but otherwise raw cheeses are glorious.

Rinds will always carry flavour but are mostly a maturation technique that determines the final character of the cheese a maker wants to create.

A cheese can be fresh with no rind (e.g. creamy goats cheeses, mozzarella, burrata), washed (e.g. Durrus, Milleens), smoked (coated in wax to keep the smoke flavour in, but not always), bloomed (moulds encouraged on the outside so they look furry), ash coated (real ash, edible), rolled in herbs (for added flavour), or hard rind (e.g. cheddar).

Create an Irish 6-cheese board

Selecting six cheeses helps to curate that food story the Sheridans talk about. Tasting is about texture as much as flavour, from hard to soft, mild to strong.

Coolea Extra Matured, Co Cork

Tangy with redolent salty crystals and a slight crumble with very present notes of butterscotch, this 18-month matured cheese has always been my favourite!

A gouda-style cheese made with pasteurised cows milk is the perfect way to set the tastebuds tingling. Its one of the pioneering West Cork cheeses that restarted farmhouse cheese making back in the 70s.

If you like that try this: Hegartys Cheddar matured for a year bound in cheesecloth.

Cais na Tire, Co Tipperary

A hard sheeps cheese matured for up to nine months. Pure colour with melting, buttery notes of nutty caramel sweetness. This cheese keeps winning awards and is a firm favourite with chefs as an Irish alternative to Parmesan.

If you like that try this: Rockfield Cheese, a hard-rind sheeps milk cheese aged for 12 weeks from the makers of Velvet Cloud yogurt in Co Mayo.

Gubbeen Smoked, Co Cork

This smoked version of Gubbeen Cheese is a family partnership: dad milks the cows; mum makes the cheese, and son smokes it in their smokehouse! The Ferguson family are icons in the world of artisan food, and this semi-soft washed rind cheese is gently oak-smoked, sealed with breathable black wax and imparts a gorgeous wood-smoke aroma to the cheeseboard.

If you like that try this: Knockanore Raw Milk Smoked Cheese is smoked gently over oak smoked for 10 days imbuing it with an amber coloured exterior.

Durrus Og, Co Cork

I do love a cheese you can smell before you see it! A little Durrus Og goes a long way  less is definitely more. A young soft-rind cheese just ten days old with an orangey-pink bloomy rind is a pungent cheese much milder on the palate than it is the olfactory senses. A beautifully creamy cheese thats all about the milk. Liable to creep off the plate.

If you like that try this: Milleens is a young soft washed rind cheese also with an orangey bloom with a nutty mushroom-y flavour thats an absolute classic.

Crozier Blue, Co Tipperary

Made by the Grubb family who are famous for their Cashel Blue, this is their sheeps milk cheese made from early summer milk and matured for minimum six months for an umami laden creamy cheese that matches the might of the mould. This years vintage is particularly good, but as with all Irish sheeps cheese not much is made, making it an extra special edition on your Christmas cheese board.

If you like that try this: Blue cheese is one of my favourites so Im breaking all the rules and suggesting two others both from the north! Young Buck by Mikes Fancy Cheese (Belfast) is a raw cows milk blue that is consistently spectacular. Sperrin Blue by Dart Mountain (Co Derry) is a semi-hard washed rind blue handmade in small batches, one of my firm favourites.

St Tola Ash, Co Clare

Raw milk fresh goats cheese from one of Irelands iconic cheesemakers, Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith, rolled in ash to slow down the maturation process keeping the floral flavours of the cheese vibrant and clear. The colour contrast with the dark moody exterior to the crystalline white interior is always a showstopper.

If you like that try this: Dingle Goats Cheese may not have the drama of the two-tone reveal, but this luxurious soft goats cheese, handmade by Angela OHanlon from milk from her own small goat herd, is consistently winning over foodies for its double cream-like texture.
Its the West Cork spiritual retreat centre created by a young hippie couple who dared to dream big. When Peter and Harriet Cornish fell in love with the Beara Peninsula in the 1970s, they decided to build a spiritual retreat centre on its remote clifftops.

Dzogchen Beara would go on to become a much-loved Tibetan Buddhist centre - but for this place, the road to enlightenment would be paved with huge challenges.

In 2017, the centres spiritual teacher Sogyal Rinpoche was accused by a number of students of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, committed over several years. By this time Rinpoche was a hugely high profile figure in Buddhism, having written the best-selling book The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.

Balancing the decades of work and testimonies of Dzogchen Beara with the revelations was the ultimate filmmaking challenge for director Maurice OBrien, whose documentary Chasing the Light comes to cinemas on December 13th.

It was trying to get that balance right. It was, by far and away, the most difficult part of the story for us to tell, says OBrien. We couldnt make a film celebrating why this place was so special and so great without also looking at this dark chapter in its history, even though as far as Im aware, none of the serious abuse took place in Cork.

Sogyal Rinpoche really became world famous, was essentially touring the world all the time. So he was only ever in Cork for about a week a year. But still, the fact that he was the spiritual director, it meant that we just couldnt ignore this element of the story.

OBrien, a long-established filmmaker, first became interested in the story of Dzogchen Beara when he went on a week-long silent retreat there in late 2018. I was just really burnt out from work, and somebody had said: You might get something from going down here. Id never done a week-long silent retreat before or anything like it, and Id never even heard of Dzogchen Beara, to be honest.

Chasing the Light director Maurice O'Brien and producer Clare Stronge.

But I went down and was immediately blown away by the setting, and the cliffs down the Beara Peninsula, looking across the Mizen Head, and I could see that they were building this huge temple down there, which was going to be the first Tibetan Buddhist temple in Ireland.

The filmmaker was also struck by the sheer variety of people, many of whom had travelled from abroad, who were taking part in the course. He got a huge amount, he says, out of the teachings and the setting. Intrigued by the place, he began reading a book by its founder.

I picked up the autobiography of Peter Cornish, the man who in 1974 had come over to basically start building what would become Dzogchen Beara. Just following this slightly crazy dream he had to build a spiritual refuge for people of all religions and none. I went down there to escape from work and recover from burnout. And after Id say two days, all I could think about was work! All I could think about was: Oh, my God, I need to make a film about this place.

Peters wife Harriet, who shared his dream of building the centre, only got to see it take life in the early stages of development. She was just 44 when she died of cancer in 1993. A really powerful element of the work they do there is around people that have suffered a bereavement or that might be dealing with a diagnosis, says OBrien. They have a spiritual care centre thats aimed at that type of work. I think thats really powerful, and that was established after Peters wife, Harriet, died from cancer.

Dzogchen Beara. Picture: DZB

There are different layers to the place. That was always Peters vision, that you dont have to be a Buddhist to go there. Thats still very much the attitude, theyre not trying to make converts out of anybody. Theyre trying to be of benefit by spreading these teachings. Some of our characters have gone very, very deep into the teachings and fully committed to that way of life.

Still, he says, it took time and commitment to bring those involved on board in the making of the documentary. OBrien, for example, had been unaware of the Sogyal Rinpoche controversy when he initially raised the idea of a film. In 2017, a number of Sogyal Rinpoches long-term students in France, Australia and the USA wrote a joint letter, accusing him of physical, emotional and sexual abuse committed over several years.

Id never heard of him. I didnt know anything about him. I immediately went away and Googled. And of course, its all out there on the internet. I was like: Okay. Theres a whole other element of the story here, which I never imagined.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and France's former first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy with Sogyal Rinpoche, Dzogchen Beara's former spiritual leader. Picture: Pascal Guyot/AFP via Getty Images

Other filmmakers had made approaches in the past, but it was OBriens interest, persistence and patience - he filmed for almost two years before an agreement was formalised - that sees the story of Dzogchen Beara coming to the screen.

I think if I just rocked up there as a filmmaker, I know for fact they would have just said no. There have been people over the years that have tried to make a film about the place, and I think it was the fact that I had gone down there to do a retreat, the fact that I had been down there on this week-long retreat.

I think they just felt it was maybe the right time. Certainly, Peter was getting older (Cornish passed away last year). He had never really told his story fully on camera before. He wasnt in the best of health, so it was a kind of now or never in terms of his story. And this year is the 50th anniversary since they arrived. There were a lot of those elements that I think ultimately encouraged them to open the door.

The spectacular setting for Dzogchen Beara in West Cork.

Chasing the Light releases in cinemas following a sold-out screening at Cork International Film Festival last month. It felt fitting, says the Co Tipperary-born filmmaker, to bring the film back to Cork. All the community came to that, which was a real big moment for us, that they all came and were supportive of the film in that way.

The film looks striking on screen, and OBrien feels that its dramatic West-Cork setting plays a huge part in making Dzogchen Beara a special place. A lot of people will talk about the view down there as being a meditation in itself. There is something about that, when youre in the shrine room and youre just looking out at the ocean, and the line of the sea seems to be halfway up the skyline. Theres something very powerful and meditative about that.

As Chasing the Light comes to our screens, OBrien is planning his next project, a documentary series. Im working with Manchan Magan at the moment on a series which will be going out next year, based on his book, Listen to the Land Speak, which has just been really lovely.
Jamie Foxx has revealed that a near-death experience he suffered last year was a brain bleed that caused a stroke.

The family of the American actor, 56, said in April 2023 that he was recovering from a medical complication, which Foxx later said was like going to hell and back.

Foxx has addressed the circumstances of his condition for the first time in a Netflix comedy special Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was  which was released on Tuesday.

During the programme, he says that his illness is still a mystery and we still dont know exactly what happened to me.

Emotional, he arrives on stage, saying you have no idea how good it feels, Atlanta as he was fighting for his life to recover.

Foxx, who had been filming the Netflix spy action film Back In Action with Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz, recalls how he was treated at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta after suddenly falling ill.

He says it started as a bad headache, before he went to a doctor, where he received a cortisone shot, a steroid injection.

Foxx says his sister Deidra Dixon knew something was wrong as he was lethargic, and took him to the hospital.

She didnt know anything about Piedmont Hospital, but she had a hunch that some angels were in there, he added.

Atlanta saved my life.

He also said the doctor told his sister that Foxx was having a brain bleed, that led to a stroke.

You dont dream that something would go wrong, but when something does go wrong, you need a sister, Foxx added.

He says his sister was then told if I dont go in his head right now, were going to lose him, and he was sent for surgery, and my sister knelt down outside the operating room and prayed the whole time.

Your life doesnt flash before your face, Foxx added.

It was kind of oddly peaceful, I say this all the time; I saw the tunnel. I didnt see the light. I was in that tunnel, though. It was hot in that tunnel.

Shit, am I going to the wrong place in this motherf*****?

Foxx also said that the doctor said the medical staff didnt find the origin of the brain bleed, but he was diagnosed with a stroke.

Jamie Foxx (Matt Crossick/PA)

The doctor said that he would recover, which would probably be the worst year of his life, Foxx added.

He says his family protected him from public scrutiny, and the extent of his illness that saw his head shaking at one point, and difficulties walking.

Twenty days I dont remember, but on May 4 I woke up, Foxx added.

When I woke up, I found myself in a wheelchair, I couldnt walk.

The Netflix special begins with his daughter, Corinne Foxx, welcoming her father to the stage, and saying: This is a special moment for me and my family. It is a blessing to even be here.

Also during the programme, Foxx says that he explained how he had difficulties coming to terms with his condition, and he was down in the dumps at one point.

He says that seeing a psychiatrist helped him, which also allowed him to rediscover his relationship with God.

If I can stay funny, I can stay alive, he added.

According to the Stroke Association, more than 88,000 people survive a stroke every year in the UK, but surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and traumatic battle to finding their way back to life.

Ms Foxx shared an Instagram post with a photo of the surgeon who saved her fathers life and wrote: You shared your truth, your story in the most beautiful and honest way. I will never forget those months of uncertainty and recovery.

You were resilient, brave, strong and funny. Even on the hard days, even when you didnt remember it, you were always funny. Its just who you are.

Will Smith, a friend of Foxx who worked with him on the movie Ali, also posted on the social media site saying: Im glad to see you back doing what you LOVE. Welcome home. I cant wait to check it out.
Ireland is to join the powerful G20 group after being invited by South Africa.

This is the first time this country has been asked to join the gathering of the world's largest economies, with Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin due to seek Cabinet approval to accept an invitation to participate as a guest country during South Africas G20 presidency, which runs from December 2024 to November 2025.

Ireland will appoint two officials as a sherpa and deputy sherpa for the duration of the G20 and Department of Foreign Affairs officials will meet relevant departments next week to identify the work programme Ireland will prioritise during the term.

A spokesperson stressed it would provide Ireland with an important opportunity to influence approaches on issues of global strategic importance.

The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, the EU, and the African Union.

It comes as Cabinet is also expected to formally agree to intervene in two cases currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), including the high-profile genocide case being brought by South Africa against Israel.

The case was initiated following the launch of Israeli military operations in Gaza since October 7, 2023, which has since killed more than 40,000 people.

Mr Martin is proposing to intervene to promote a consistent interpretation of the Genocide Convention which prioritises the protection of civilian life, and to demonstrate Irelands strong commitment to the rule of law and international justice.

He said the intervention would be based on "detailed and rigorous legal analysis".

"In formulating this declaration, Ireland will set out a robust basis for its intervention before the court. It is then a matter for the court to rule on its admissibility," Mr Martin told the Dail before it was dissolved last month.

"Subject to the courts ruling, Ireland will then make substantive submissions to the court on the proper interpretation of the Genocide Convention," he said.

South Africa instituted proceedings at the ICJ at the end of December 2023, claiming Israel had violated its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

South Africa also asked the Court to order provisional measures to apply pending its final judgment.

In three separate orders, the court ordered Israel to take steps to ensure its military did not commit genocidal acts, to limit the scope of its military operations in Gaza and to facilitate humanitarian aid.

However, in November, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed serious concern Israel was failing in these obligations.

Since South Africa initiated its case, Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Turkey, Chile, the Maldives and Bolivia have filed Declarations of Intervention.

Ministers are also expected to sign off on intervening in a second similar case of The Gambia versus Myanmar.

Ireland will intervene in The Gambias case at the ICJ under the 1948 Genocide Convention over operations by Myanmars armed forces against the ethnic minority Rohingya people.

More than 10,000 Rohingya people are reported to have been killed in these operations and about 700,000 forced to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.
The makers of obesity treatment Mounjaro, known as the 'King Kong' of obesity drugs, have now applied to the HSE to have it considered for public patients.

Eli Lilly had already said it expected to make Mounjaro available in Ireland for private prescription in early 2025. A spokeswoman told the Irish Examiner it has now applied for reimbursement.

However if the reimbursement application also succeeds, the cost could be covered for eligible public patients.

However, new obesity treatments are not a quick fix solution despite the excitement building around a range of new drugs, including the so-called 'King Kong' of medications, a leading campaigner has cautioned.

Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity's Susie Birney said many people in Ireland have seen their health improve by using obesity drugs.

I would say in about two years' time, there is going to be another four or five options for people, she said.

Its this sense of excitement building that there is something here that finally people can use. Because people whove tried to lose weight have done that all their life.

Everyone will react differently to these long-term medicines however, she emphasised.

You still have to work with it, you still have to watch what you eat, you still have to walk, she said.

You have to choose the healthy options, it doesnt work by itself. I think thats the misconception, that its an easy quick fix for weight loss rather than actually treating a disease.

Some members of their support groups do better on older brands of drugs while others do well with newer brands.

This is where an individualised approach is important, and you really need supervision, she said.

You need guidance. So the ones which have been around longer shouldnt be dismissed because they still work for a huge amount of the population that need treatment.

Ms Birney advised people with obesity to instead take a breath, and slow down, know that it is great to have another option".

Susie Birney advised people with obesity to instead 'take a breath, and slow down, know that it is great to have another option'. Picture: Abbie Trayler-Smith.

Eli Lilly said trials showed the key ingredient in Mounjaro  tirzepatide  is more effective than the more well-known semalglutide found in drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy.

A head-to head trial showed, they said an average weight loss of 20.2% vs. 13.7% in participants.

People using tirzepatide lost 22.8 kg and participants on semaglutide lost 15.0 kg, on average, the company said.

Ms Birney also said the recent RTE Investigates programme on illegal sales of weight-loss drugs was shocking to her.

Theres those who need (these treatments) and those who want it and theres a huge difference between them, she said.

She urged people to contact doctors instead of taking advice from people online.

The pressure on people to lose weight quickly is generally disappointing, she said, especially when it comes after weeks of aggressive food marketing in the run-up to Christmas.

Theres this deep-rooted sense of having any excess weight on you is wrong. It is as if you have morally failed.

I dont think for all we have learned about obesity and about acceptance, I dont think that has shifted much. Its like people still believe there is something you failed at if you have extra weight, she said.

RTE filmed a woman selling Retatrutide, an experimental medicinal product which is not approved for use anywhere globally.
Rodent droppings, inadequate cleaning, and an accumulation of grease and old food debris are among the reasons behind the six closure orders served by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) to businesses in November.

Lotus Asian Food Takeaway in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, was issued a closure order on November 11 after "rodent droppings" were found in multiple locations in the premises, including on a staff apron on a shelf in the storage room.

The inspector also found "numerous pest proofing issues".

Another closure order was served to Indian Spices on Parnell Street in Dublin city centre on November 6 due to "an active cockroach infestation". The business has not yet reopened.

Shapla Indian Spice in Co Carlow was hit with a closure order on November 27 following the discovery of "grease leaking from a pipe under the food preparation sink" and the grease trap was in "filthy condition".

The inspector also noted that the "level of cleaning carried out in the premises was insufficient and must be addressed as a matter of urgency". The closure order was lifted on November 29.

Three other closure orders were issued under the same EU regulations.

FLC in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was ordered to "close activities" related to selling milkshakes and desserts on November 16. This was due to a lack of "adequate working space for hygiene performance" with raw meat being prepared close to the milkshake area  leading to a risk of cross-contamination.

Grill Kebab in Broadford, Co Limerick, was closed from November 14 until November 20. There was a lack of handwashing facilities and a situation where defrosting raw breaded chicken product was on the base of a fridge sitting in water. The fridge door seal was torn and there was mould in the seal.

The Bankers Bar on Trinity Street in Co Dublin has its kitchen closed from November 4 until November 7. FSAI inspectors found "evidence of pest activity" including "gnawing" and droppings in the kitchen area.

Separately, there was one enforcement order issued in November.

Big Discount.ie on Clanbrassil Street in Co Louth had 67 sealed plastic bags containing unidentifiable frozen raw meat and fish pulled from sale after they were found stored in two chest freezers

The FSAI's chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne said that businesses are entering their busiest time of year, and should have a "significant" focus on maintaining food safety procedures.

"Cutting corners or letting standards lapse could result in a health risk to consumers," she said.

Dr Byrne added that there must be "zero tolerance" for practices that put consumers health at risk, and the full powers of food law will be used if a food business is found to be in breach".
Sasha hopes that by talking to adults outside Ukraine somebody will ensure the safe return of his mum from Russian captivity.

The teenager himself narrowly escaped being forcibly transferred to Russia to join the fate of 20,000 documented cases of children abducted from Ukraine.

Sasha, and fellow Ukrainian teenager, Ciara, are in Ireland to tell their stories thanks to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Travelling with them is Daria Herasymchuk, advisor to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and also the countrys Commissioner for Childrens Rights and Child Rehabilitation.

Sasha was hit in one of his eyes by a fragment from a missile when living in Mariupol in southern Ukraine in March 2022. With no hospital intact, his mum decided to bring him to where remaining Ukrainian forces were, as they were the only ones with medicine.

Getting there they got separated and Russian forces took them. They brought Sasha to hospital but he didnt receive any medical help and they refused his request to call his grandmother. But the resourceful boy managed to get a phone and contact her.

I was worried [for her safety], he told a meeting of the Institute for International and European Affairs in Dublin. I was in occupied territory and the frontline was in between, but she managed to get me.

Speaking through a translator, he said it was important for him to travel to other countries now and tell people about his country.

I give them information about my mum, who has been in captivity for more than two years and I hope somebody will help me to return my mum back home.

Ciara also lived in Mariupol with her father at the same time and had only just lost her mother in the war.

They were trying to avoid shelling by staying in different places. One day her father went to their balcony where he kept their food before moving on, when a missile hit.

Explaining what happened, Ms Herasymchuk said: He never came back, he was never buried, because there was no body. Ciara was not even 12 at the time.

Asked what life was like under occupation, Ciara said: It was shelling mostly all the time.

We even dont know if it was day or night or what time of day. We dont have possibility to wash, to get the bath, water, electricity, heating, even food.

She said that walking through Mariupol to get to safety she passed dead bodies: I was thinking just about one thing when I was looking at these bodies: I was thankful that this is not me.

Ms Herasymchuk said that every day children in Ukraine were being killed and wounded. She said Ukraine will not stop  never until they bring all abducted boys and girls home.

Ukraines ambassador to Ireland, Gerasko Larysa, said there were almost 20,000 documented cases of child abduction, but added that, according to Russian authorities, there were 744,000 Ukrainian children in Russia.

Ukraine, joined by Canada, are leading a campaign of 41 countries, including Ireland, to get the abducted children home.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's "Children's Rights Commissioner" Maria Belova for "war crimes".
A hospitals transfer of an anorexic patient to another medical setting in breach of a court order had been called a disgrace by a High Court judge.

Mr Justice David Nolan said there was a fundamental systems breakdown at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin, the responsibility for which rests with the management of the hospital.

The womans case had earlier come before the courts inherent jurisdiction list as she was found to lack capacity due to anorexia nervosa. Orders made in this list are done to vindicate the constitutional rights of people who cannot make decisions in their interest due to a lack of capacity.

The judge said some time ago he made orders for her detention and treatment at the Mater after hearing her body mass index (BMI) was falling dramatically and she was very close to death.

The orders had been sought by the Mater, but it seems only one doctor was aware of their existence, the judge said. When that doctor went on leave for a week, the woman was assessed as medically stable and ready for a transfer to another medical setting.

The ensuing illegal movement has had a detrimental effect on the woman, as she became nervous and, crucially, her BMI level was affected, said the judge, adding: she deserves better. The court discovered the move only after it occurred.

'A disgrace'

He said the situation is quite frankly a disgrace. He said he foolishly assumed that leading hospitals would have a system in place to communicate to doctors and nurses the legal status of their patients.

He noted the hospital has now put in place new safeguarding steps to ensure an event such as this does not happen again. He said steps such as putting a sticker on a folder would be taken in a gym and it is shocking that it has taken this case for the hospital to implement such a simple basic procedure.

He accepted an undertaking from the hospitals chief executive officer ensuring that no breach of a court order will ever occur again in relation to someone who falls under the inherent jurisdiction of the court. The judge said:

If there is a breach of a court order, the next step would be an application for attachment and committal of the chief executive officer to explain why she is in contempt of court and/or an application for the sequestration of the hospitals assets.

He said it is perhaps worthwhile reminding the medical community of the implication of orders made under the High Courts inherent jurisdiction.

Applications to this list are not box ticking exercises but are very serious constitutional applications to deprive somebody of their liberty for the specific purpose of vindicating their constitutional right to bodily integrity in circumstances where they themselves lack the capacity to make such decisions, he said.
WARNING: Some readers may find the following article upsetting

A former secondary school music teacher has been jailed after he admitted possessing videos and images of adults engaging in sexual activities with children as young as three.

Sam Kavanagh, aged 30, with an address at Kilkerric, Derrymore East, Tralee, Co Kerry, was arrested by gardai after they were alerted to his offending by authorities in America, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Kavanagh was identified after he used his own personal email address to manage a Dropbox online storage folder to upload and keep the illegal sex material. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing the explicit material on dates between September and December 2021.

Gardai unearthed 137 videos and 25 images, most of which were classified as Category One child sex abuse material, the most extreme form, a detective garda told the court.

Prosecuting barrister, John OSullivan, said gardai established that Kavanagh was a secondary school music teacher who was living in the Patrickswell area of county Limerick.

Later on, gardai obtained a search warrant for an address at Shannon Banks, Corbally, Co Clare, and raided the property on December 17, 2021, recovering a laptop and a computer hard drive containing the explicit material.

Kavanagh immediately confessed the devices were his, and he admitted owning, saving, servicing, and storing the child abuse material which he said he had downloaded from a website called Mega which is based in New Zealand.

Mr OSullivan said one of the images found on Kavanaghs devices was of an adult male engaging in explicit sexual activity with a young female, aged five. Some of the material showed underage teenagers involved in sexual activity with younger children.

Mr OSullivan said the videos and images are held in the United States but were shared with members of the Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit, which in turn provided it to gardai attached to the Limerick Divisional Protective Services Unit (DPSU) at Henry Street Garda Station, by way of a mutual assistance arrangement between Ireland and the US.

Kavanagh was arrested on December 14, 2022, and he appeared before the circuit court for trial on a signed guilty plea on October 31 this year.

Sentencing

Mr OSullivan said Kavanagh grew up in Co Kerry, obtained a Masters in Music, had lectured in music, and plays music as a hobby and is involved in a band, and he taught music to children in Limerick.

His parents split up when he was young, he suffered from anxiety and he began watching pornography, and he started watching child pornography, Mr OSullivan said.

The court heard that Kavanagh, who was last known to be working in a warehouse, was hospitalised following an attempted suicide after gardai seized his electronic devices.

He didnt originally see it as child abuse, he engaged with (SALT) Sex & Love Therapy counselling services and he now regrets his actions and said it is disgusting, Mr OSullivan said.

Kavanaghs barrister, Caroline OConnell, instructed by solicitor Eimear Griffin, asked the court to consider imposing a suspended sentence adding that Kavanagh had engaged in counselling and made a great effort to address his problems.

Ms OConnell said:

He is married. He has huge shame and remorse.

Judge Colin Daly said Kavanagh had sought out and used it (the explicit material), and that very vulnerable and innocent children were being used and abused for the sexual gratification of Mr Kavanagh and others.

At the time he (Kavanagh) was a music teacher in a position of trust and influence on young children.

After taking into consideration Kavanaghs signed guilty plea; previous good character; his age and family circumstances; and any poor mental health he may have been experiencing at the time, the judge reduced a headline sentence of two-and-a-half years to 16 months on each count to run concurrently.

The judge ordered that Kavanagh should be placed on a Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years, and that the sentences be backdated to October 31, 2024, when Kavanagh was first before the court on a signed plea.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
A drunk driver who attempted to smear his own faeces on a garda has appealed his prison sentence in the Circuit Court.

James Healy, 62, of Ring, Clonakilty, Co. Cork had pleaded guilty in the District Court to drink driving, dangerous driving and obstruction in relation to an incident in July 2023 and was sentenced to four months in prison on each count as well as being disqualified from driving for four years.

State Solicitor Jeremiah Healy told Cork Circuit Court in Bandon that Mr Healy was observed by Garda Joe Tippins driving his Opal Corsa erratically in Timoleague. The car was observed crossing a solid white line and swerving from side to side. The garda turned on the patrol cars blue lights and the Corsa turned abruptly into a nearby yard through an open gate. Mr Healy got out of the car and was very unsteady on his feet.

The court heard that when he was approached by Garda Tippins Mr Healy went to the passenger door of the car and took out a bottle of Jameson whiskey and attempted to drink from it but was prevented form doing so by the garda.

Mr Healy then proceeded to drop his trousers and defecate on the ground in front of the garda before wiping his behind with some grass and trying to throw it at Gda Tippins. Mr Healy defecated again and attempted to smear the garda with excrement.

Mr Healy had to be restrained at the scene and was removed when assistance arrived. He later had to be showered and provided with clean clothes. Jeremiah Healy said that Mr Healys behaviour on the day was beyond words and that he was almost six times over the legal drink driving limit when he was arrested.

Defence barrister Ben Shorten acting for solicitor Myra Dineen said that Mr Healy had serious issues with alcohol but was now attending weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He said that a probation report furnished to the court indicated he was at medium risk of reoffending.

Mr Shorten said that the report indicates that his client would still drink the occasional whiskey but this was no longer the case as Mr Healy was on medication for seizures which meant that he could not drink at all. He said the incident was an aberration and asked Judge Helen Boyle to consider reviewing the custodial part of the sentence.

Judge Boyle noted that the probation report indicated that Mr Healy has not expressed the wish to stop regarding his drinking. She said that it showed a certain attitude and she would need evidence that Mr Healy had stopped drinking before she could consider suspending the custodial part of his sentence.

She added: Its not a crime to be an alcoholic but it is a crime to get behind the wheel of a car when drunk. The judge said that Mr Healy who had two previous drink driving convictions showed a complete disregard for other people and showed contempt in extremis when he was arrested for this incident.

The judge adjourned the case until June 26, 2025 to allow for the completion of an updated probation report. She said she would need to see evidence that Mr Healy had stopped drinking by way of urinalysis or whatever method suited the Probation Service. She added that Mr Healy would also need to make a 250 donation to the Garda Benevolent Fund.
A major new housing development has been greenlit in Little Island, but Cork County Council has refused permission for an extra 50 homes on the site.

Ruden Homes Ltd had lodged a Large-Scale Residential Development application with the council in July for 172 homes at the site in Courtstown.

Vickerys Hall had envisaged 146 new houses, along with six duplex units and 20 apartments. Furthermore, it proposed to build a creche with 49 childcare spaces and four commercial units on the site.

Across an area of 6.5 hectares, it is located towards the eastern end of Little Island, with the surrounding lands a mix of residential, industrial, and agricultural.

McCutcheon Halley, in a planning statement on behalf of the applicants, said the proposals were compliant with national and regional planning frameworks and would deliver on specific local zoning objectives around delivering homes, a neighbourhood centre, and a new distributor road.

The application side is strategically located in terms of its location to public transport services, key infrastructure routes, access to a strong employment base, and local services, it said.

The proposed scheme provides for a much-needed range of housing options and will contribute to the sustainable growth of Little Island.

The council sought further information from Ruden Homes before issuing its decision, requiring clarity around the housing density on site, the design and layout of the homes, and provision for car parking including EV charging points in the area.

Planning concern

Following receipt of this information, a council planner expressed worries over the density and said it was a fundamental concern which the applicant has failed to address.

The site layout continues to be dominated by repetitive and car dominated street layouts, she said.

At the time of a housing crisis, it is not the objective or desire of the Planning Authority to prevent housing development, however all proposals must be assessed against the objectives set out in national guidelines and the Development Plan to ensure that the core principle of sustainability with a focus on creating vibrant, liveable, climate resilient communities is delivered.

While that planner advised turning down the application, Cork County Council decided to grant planning permission subject to a number of conditions.

This included permission for just 122 of the homes sought in the interest of visual and residential amenity and to adhere to planning guidelines.

The case is open to appeal to An Bord Pleanala within a month of the decision.
Ireland will be allowed intervene in South Africa's International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel under the Genocide Convention after the Government gave approval for the move on Wednesday morning.

Filing of the intervention will take place at the UN's top court in The Hague later this month.

Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes genocide.

The Government has also approved intervention in The Gambias case against Myanmar under the same convention.

The news comes in the wake of Wednesday morning's Cabinet meeting.

Speaking after that meeting, Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said that there was "concern" over the interpretation of what constituted genocide.

He said: "There has been a collective punishment of the Palestinian people through the intent and impact of military actions of Israel in Gaza, leaving 44,000 dead and millions of civilians displaced.

By legally intervening in South Africas case, Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State.

We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimised.

Irelands view of the Convention is broader and prioritises the protection of civilian life  as a committed supporter of the Convention, the Government will promote that interpretation in its intervention in this case.

Intervening in both cases demonstrates the consistency of Irelands approach to the interpretation and application of the Genocide Convention.

Separately, Ireland is to join the powerful G20 group after being invited by South Africa.

The Government hopes to accept the invitation to participate as a guest country during South Africas G20 presidency, which runs from December 2024 to November 2025.
Its amazing how you assume that you have free will to act as you want, and yet so much is decided for us by our early conditioning, with attitudes often passively acquired without deep deliberation following us through life, even when they have no rational basis or are based on prejudice.

Our early conditioning seems to greatly impact how we see ourselves as women and men and what roles we feel we and others should play in society.

A landmark longitudinal study, Childrens School Lives, undertaken by UCDs School of Education, followed 4,000 children across 200 primary schools. It found that gender stereotyping is alive and well. Most children associate being a good girl with politeness, niceness, and caring. Being a good boy was associated with being intelligent, good at sports, being physically strong, and good at maths.

Maybe some readers feel this is just nature playing out. Personally, I find these results profoundly discouraging. Ive previously written about how we must stop teaching small girls to be nice and how we need strong role models for girls. I also think that young boys are trapped into the straitjacket of gender early on too.

Womens Aid recently released a survey about attitudes. Their study found that 40% of men have traditional views of the opposite sex, with 54% of this group agreeing that a mans worth is measured by power and control over others". Thats a grim finding, as power and control are at the root of domestic abuse. Rape is also a power-based crime. The men who are most likely to commit sexual abuse are those who fundamentally believe that social and gender inequality between men and women is justified and natural.

The fact that many young men surveyed between the ages of 18 and 29 feel that real men shouldnt have to care about womens opinions or feelings shows the amount of work to be done regarding attitudes.

A story broke recently about a young Cambridge academic who was attacked when she posted a photo of herself on X celebrating her completed PhD, Olfactory Ethics: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose. The post attracted nearly 120m views, which is extraordinary, and many of her attackers were young men.

Ally Louks received negative comments on the specialised nature of her thesis (all PhDs are, by their nature, narrow but deep enquiries) and her personal appearance. Her presumption in undertaking such a study during her childbearing years also upset some people, with one tweet reading, Too bad youre not holding a baby. We need those more than we need a dissertation on racist smells.

As the admirably unflappable Louks wrote, I was receiving a lot of rape threats, even death threats, but also there were just a lot of people forcing their views about what a woman ought to be or do on me, which were entirely beside the point.

Karens

Gregg Wallace. The BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to allegations of Gregg Wallace making inappropriate sexual comments.

Meanwhile, the Gregg Wallace story trundles on.

On several levels, this story seems to involve attitudes towards women.

Essentially, Wallace has been accused of making inappropriate sexual comments, with complaints spanning back nearly two decades, many made by contestants on Masterchef.

Production company Banijay UK is investigating as Wallace steps back, although how much the BBC knew or didnt know about alleged complaints is also at issue.

At the weekend, cookery writer and broadcaster Prue Leith defended Wallace, saying she believed in due process. She has a point: the man should be allowed to defend himself. Trial by media is unhealthy.

I suppose, though, Wallace complicated things for himself by taking to Instagram to defend himself, dismissing his accusers by saying, I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age. I had a mixed reaction to that statement. Part of me threw my head back and laughed because I thought Wallace had gone full Alan Partridge. The other part was irritated because Wallace may as well have called his accusers Karens.

Who or what is a Karen? Karen is a meme or stereotype that originated in the black community as a way to call out middle-aged white women who used their privilege in social situations against people of colour to get their way.

But the term Karen quickly evolved from its original definition, moving into the mainstream to denote middle-aged women who complain, the kind of ladies who demand to speak to the manager, and its often used by white men in a derogatory way with ageist, classicist and, perhaps most of all, misogynist undertones.

Im all for jokes that make people laugh at their own sacred cows and their own selves, but there is something dark beneath the Karen meme  some disdain for middle-aged women

The former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, who accused Wallace of telling sexualised jokes at work, came in for a lot of criticism online. Suddenly, it was Wark in the dock. I was in college when she started on Newsnight, and she was a role model for lots of us when there was a glaring shortage of role models.

Comments about Wark included Welcome to the Puritan age, Oh no, a sexualised joke  how did you survive the trauma? or it seems hes been hung out to dry.

But one comment seemed to get to the nub of the matter: She looks ancient. A life without laughter or a sense of humour is telling. She cuts a sad little figure.

One major attitude in our culture is that middle-aged women have less social value than men. Past child-bearing age, no longer attractive in the way society deems acceptable, we gradually become invisible. Ideally, we should keep our mouths shut, not that Wark, whose journalistic flair, razor-sharp insight, and flinty humour we enjoyed for over 30 years, ever shut her mouth. She has also been an outspoken figure on menopause and the challenges that women face.

Both stories involving Ally Louks and Kirsty Wark say something quite powerful about attitudes towards women at various stages of their lives and roles. Young women are glorified for their appearance and fertility. Being fleetingly hot is the one power that our culture reluctantly grants to women, although dont try getting a PhD and being pleased about it because thats not part of the social script. And middle-aged women who look their age and whose fertility levels have dropped should shut it.

One of the things that the anti-woke brigade says is that life has become no fun. Liberal idiots police others who are just having a good old-fashioned laugh. There is an element of truth in this, but the fact remains that there are super strong, often unhealthy, messages being pumped out to small girls and boys from cultural influences and social learning that limit and damage them.

I certainly dont have the solution. But as a Karen who can take a joke, I say to my fellow Karens, lets not stay in our lanes. Lets reclaim Karen with her cellulite, sagging breasts, falling oestrogen levels, and desire to have her speak. At the very least, well be good role models for young girls who we must teach not to be so nice, to celebrate their academic achievements and, most of all, to speak up for themselves.
Back in the dark days following the 2008 economic crash, a new acronym began to appear in newspaper columns.

'There is no alternative' (Tina) was introduced, from memory, by Gene Kerrigan as a neat encapsulation of the Governments insistence that severe cuts were required in public spending.

'Tina' was the stock response from government ministers at the time. We have to do this. There is no other way out of the morass.

Tina became a byword for lumbering on those least able to bear the biggest cuts to their standard of living.

'There is no alternative' today

Tina could have been applied with less bitter irony to the general election. There was no alternative. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, either as a couple, or with a throuple element, was the only coherent Government likely to emerge from the electorate.

Sinn Fein, as the main party in opposition, was never going to have the numbers from which to build a Government.

While only around 42% of voters opted for Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, it is also the case that when Independents from the gene pools of both parties are included, the share of the vote increases by up to another 5%.

In terms of a democracys health, it is not a good look that there was no alternative. Democracy thrives on a competition of ideas, just as it stagnates when there is no handover of power over a long period.

But why was there no alternative?

Five years ago, Sinn Fein appeared to be on the cusp of dragging the State into a new political dispensation.

That it failed to emerge has been attributed to various issues which befell the party, some self-inflicted.

So, where was the alternative?

Yet, despite that, a bigger issue that may well have fed into voters thinking is that there was no comprehensive alliance to offer a genuine alternative.

Sinn Fein in particular rolled out that 100 years of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael line, but they did not present an alternative vision that included other entities.

Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin and president Mary Lou McDonald chatting with Mary Coughlan and Robert Ballagh in Grogan's on South William St in Dublin on the eve of the election. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

The momentum for change is behind Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald said on the last day of campaigning.

Weve never been closer. Its now over to the people.

The people basically asked what kind of change are you selling and they got no proper reply. One reason for the failure to present what we might call a united left was that, for the first two years after the 2020 election, Sinn Fein saw itself as cannibalising the other left-wing parties votes.

Why join forces if you intend to decimate your ally?

That changed with the decline in support for the Shinners, but what remained was the complete lack of a comprehensive outline of what the change would look like.

Even if the numbers had indicated that an alternative was on the cards, it would not have been along ideological lines so much as just anyone but Fianna Fail and Fine Gael (ABFFFG).

That is the kind of pitch that might work if people are desperate and willing to try anything at all.

Few votes for incoherent change

Whatever about some sections of society, the electorate in this instance were not desperate nor willing to vote for a change that lacked any coherence.

The Labour Party and the Social Democrats had policy platforms that chimed and were coherent. Both espouse standard centre-left or social democratic policies.

But what about the main ABFFFG element, Sinn Fein?

SF is close to the two Civil War parties

On policies like tax cuts, immigration, and climate change, the Shinners are closer to the Civil War parties than the centre-left block of Labour and the Soc Dems.

The partys manifesto was compelled to offer tax cuts, albeit to the lower paid, but most definitely contrary to a broad left-wing view that the tax base must be expanded not narrowed.

Since last January, Sinn Fein hardened its stance on asylum seeker accommodation in line with pivots from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Its current position is that accommodation centres should only be located in affluent areas.

Apart from being impractical, this is woolly enough to allow members object to anything that might land in their area  wherever that is.

The partys climate change policy is largely a delicate attempt to ensure no potential voter is discommoded in any way. For instance, in 2022, it refused to offer its position on what carbon limits should be imposed on agriculture.

Best to stay schtum when bad news is to be delivered to any voter.

What policies favour 'the men of property'?

Then there is a basic tenet for any left-wing philosophy  the property tax. Even though the tax on homes is small by any international standards, Sinn Feins position is to abolish it.

The party that frequently cites James Connolly as some sort of guiding star wants to bow down to the men of property at a time of a major housing crisis.

Throw in the primary focus of Sinn Fein, the reunification of the island post haste in order to retrospectively justify the Provos killing campaign, and the complications in leading a left block deepen. Any attempt to present the Irish people with an ideologically different way of doing things wasnt going to get off the ground.

PBP/Solidarity seemed ready for the 20th century

The other element to any block was the far left, as expressed by People Before Profit/Solidarity and a scattering of like-minded independents.

To be fair to PBP/Solidarity, at least they made some attempt at a unification of the left, albeit one that excluded Labour for the original sin of having previously served in Government with the Civil War parties.

Despite the attempts to reach out to others, the partys message sounds as if it was designed for the early 20th century rather than the 21st.

Its chairman, veteran socialist Kieran Allen, told RTEs election coverage that the partys aim was to overthrow capitalism.

People Before Profit/Solidarity secretary Kieran Allen, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, and Gerry Carroll MLA, launching their 'Left Government' document in March, 2023. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Right you are, so presumably there would be no place there for foreign direct investment?

While PBP/Solidarity has efficient Dail representatives, they wouldnt last a wet week in Government. The first decision to impact on their ideological purity would see them running for the street to protest against their former colleagues in the Cabinet. So there was no coherence, even on a broad philosophical basis, that would be completely removed from the middle-of-the-road approach of FF and FG.

Same old versus hollowed-out unknown

It should be no wonder that the electorate either stayed home or ensured that the same old, same old was better than the hollowed-out unknown.

The one thing that the opposition have right now is time. It looks as if the next Government will be designed to go the full five years. That gives those opposing it the chance to adopt a joint strategy which could put shape on a broadly cohesive policy platform.

If the electorate sees an alternative that is united, cohesive, and organised, there is every chance that Tina can be put to bed and new political divide firmly established.

Dont bet on it, though.
The Leaving Certificate, while brutally fair, is a high stakes examination. Much depends on one day, one anonymous student, a girl in a non-disadvantaged school, told researchers in the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) who were tasked with gathering and analyzing students, teachers and parents views on the senior cycle.

The large number of students who undertake grinds in multiple subjects is giving rise to burn out and mental health problems, she explained.

The need for such grinds stems from fear of underachieving on the day and a pressure from friends to do more and more. What a student does in school is never seen as enough.

Published in 2019, before the onset of the global covid-19 pandemic, and the astonishingly rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the ESRI found a good deal of consensus about the Leaving Cert exams during a major body of research it undertook examining views on the senior cycle.

It noted that all the groups it spoke with highlighted the workload involved, with teachers and students under pressure to cover the course, resulting in a focus on rote learning in order to prepare for the Leaving Certificate examination and a reduced focus on higher order thinking and broader skill development".

This situation was seen as having a negative impact on student wellbeing, with reduced involvement in extra-curricular and social activities to the detriment of young peoples broader development." it said.

"Not surprisingly, students were particularly vocal about the impact on their stress levels, with even junior cycle students expressing apprehension at the pressure involved at senior cycle level.

It said the current system is seen by many as favouring particular ways of learning, "thus providing limited pathways to success, especially for those with a more practical orientation and those with special educational needs".

It is the exam-focused approach that students, parents and teachers see as facilitating rote learning, with a focus on memorising material at the expense of authentic understanding and a neglect of the development and assessment of broader skills.

Leaving Cert reform

Leaving Cert reform has been in the works for a number of years, even prior to the major disruption and upheaval to the exam cycle caused by the pandemic.

It has been examined behind the scenes by policy makers and researchers, while also being in focus politically through various different Ministers for Education and often discussed and debated by the Oireachtas education committee.

The cancellation of the exams in 2020, and the subsequent changes to the exam cycle in the following years, stood to highlight that change was possible, albeit with opposition at times, and mistakes along the way.

There have been roll-backs and opposition to announcements. Now, from next September, the major changes are set to be rolled out across four subjects as part of accelerated reform announced last year by Education Minister Norma Foley.

Those who have argued for reform have pointed to the need to move away from rote-learning, and to place a higher emphasis on skills not as easily demonstrated through a written exam.

Defenders of the Leaving Cert argue that while the exam-based model is high stakes, everyone receives the same piece of paper on the day, and it's the student and their pencil against the clock.

Under the current reforms, each subject will have an additional assessment component (AAC) worth at least 40% of marks.

It's important to keep in mind that almost three quarters of all Leaving Cert subjects already have an equivalent in the form of either oral and aural exams, practical performances, coursework or project work.

This varies from 40% in Irish, through the oral exams, to 25% in European languages such as French, German and Spanish.

Practical coursework makes up 50% of a students marks in Leaving Cert Art, and in Home Economics the written exam itself is just worth 65%, with students completing a practical test and project work prior.

However, the introduction and roll-out of the AACs will likely face the most opposition and contention as reform plans advance further next year. At times through the process, planned changes have faced stiff opposition.

Teachers in Ireland have long defended their position in the classroom as teacher, as opposed to examiner, voicing concerns around any moves to introduce any form of assessing their own students. They argue that adding the responsibility of determining a student's marks, especially in cases where they know what it may mean to their personal circumstances, undermines their role as educators.

Artificial Intelligence

However, as previously highlighted by this newspaper, AI is now so advanced that very easily students could use freely available software to generate entirely fictional but completely realistic projects, of which it will be virtually impossible to detect.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) published recent guidelines on AACs, which at the same time as describing material generated with AI as plagiarism, also clear the way for AI to be used as long as it is referenced. This is in the same way a student would quote a book or newspaper article.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC), which will be responsible for the external marking on AACs, is keeping a watching brief on all issues that have the potential to threaten the integrity of the exams, including generative AI.

According to the SEC, students must complete any coursework under the supervision of the class teacher so that the teacher can monitor progress on a regular basis and be in a position at the coursework completion date to verify that the work is the candidates own individual work".

Herein lies the crux of the matter; the burden to make sure work has been authenticated now seems to lie solely on class teachers and school principals.

It will not be possible for all coursework to be completed in front of a teacher, as there will be work required by students at home and after school, particularly if AACs are introduced for all subjects.

Many teachers are rightly wondering what steps they follow if they suspect AI has been used, or how it is escalated or handled. Many are fundamentally opposed to the idea that they will have to police the use of virtually undetectable software instead of focusing on teaching.

Opposition to AACs is not expected to go away anytime soon. History risks repeating itself, however, when you look at Junior Cycle classroom-based assessments which do not go towards a student's final marks in a subject, following stiff opposition from the teaching unions.

Many now see these projects as an additional "stressor for students that inadvertently increases teachers' workloads.
The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcares chief executive struggled with deputies and shouted on Tuesday while arriving for a court appearance in Pennsylvania, a day after he was arrested at a McDonalds and charged with murder.

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, emerged from a patrol car, spun toward reporters and shouted something partly unintelligible, yelling insult to the intelligence of the American people while deputies pushed him inside.

Prosecutors on Tuesday were beginning to take steps to take Mangione back to New York to face a murder charge while new details emerged about his life and how he was captured.

The Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family was charged with murder hours after he was arrested in the killing of Brian Thompson, who led the United States largest medical insurance company.

Local defence lawyer Thomas Dickey, who is expected to represent Mangione, declined comment before the Tuesday hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg.

Mangione was likely motivated by his anger with what he called parasitic health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said.

He wrote that the US has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while our life expectancy does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of his hand-written notes and social media posts.

Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have obtained an arrest warrant, a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania.

Mangione called Unabomber Ted Kaczynski a political revolutionary and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, according to the police bulletin.

Police officers escorting Luigi Mangione into a court building in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on Monday (WJAC/Pennsylvania Department of Corrections via AP)

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania  about 230 miles (370km) west of New York City  after a McDonalds customer recognised him and notified an employee, authorities said.

Officers found him sitting at a back table, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint.

He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he had been to New York recently, he became quiet and started to shake, the complaint says.

When he pulled his mask down at officers request, we knew that was our guy, Officer Tyler Frye said.

Images of Mangione released on Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonalds while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Mr Thompson and the same fake ID the gunman had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows some ill will toward corporate America.

A law enforcement official who was not authorised to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone.

To the Feds, Ill keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasnt working with anyone, the document said, according to the official.

It also had a line that said: I do apologise for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.

Pennsylvania prosecutor Peter Weeks said in court that Mangione was found with a passport and 10,000 dollars (7,839) in cash, 2,000 dollars of it in foreign currency. Mangione disputed the amount.

Mr Thompson, 50, was killed on Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to see the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Mr Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9mm pistol.

UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson was shot dead in New York (AP Photo/UnitedHealth Group via AP)

Investigators have said delay, deny and depose were written on ammunition found near Mr Thompsons body. The words mimic delay, deny, defend, a phrase used to criticise the insurance industry.

From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the gunman quickly fled fled the city, likely by bus.

A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator.

After his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said.

Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest, Mangiones family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Nino Mangione.

We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.

From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a co-living space at the edge of Waikiki in Honolulu.

Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder RJ Martin.

Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints, Mr Ryan said. There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes theyre saying he committed.

At Surfbreak, Mr Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said.

He went surfing with RJ once but it didnt work out because of his back, Mr Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Mr Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym.

Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Mr Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment.

Mr Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago.
The organisers of the annual Eurovision Song Contest have pledged that a new code of conduct along with a raft of new measures will help protect the wellbeing of artists following a number of controversies during this years competition, including one involving Ireland entrant Bambie Thug.

As Swiss entrant Nemo won the 2024 edition of the competition in Malmo, Sweden, the May grand final saw pro-Palestinian protesters outside the arena amid the war in the Middle East, as well as accusations made by acts of threats towards them.

The controversy led the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to appoint an independent expert to review the contest.

On Tuesday, the competition said: The EBU is introducing a new code of conduct and duty of care protocol to ensure clear roles and responsibilities for all involved in the even."

For the first time, agreeing to abide by the code of conduct will be a requirement for accreditation to the event, signalling the EBUs commitment to fostering a respectful and supportive environment.

The duty of care protocol emphasises the shared responsibility of the EBU, host broadcaster, and participating broadcasters in safeguarding artists from unnecessary physical or emotional distress.

The Israeli delegation were criticised by contestants including Bambie Thug, who has been outspoken about their pro-Palestine views.

They accused Israeli broadcaster Kan of a rule break, with claims of inciting violence.

Kan also claimed it faced immense pressure and an unprecedented display of hatred, notably from other delegations and artists, publicly and collectively, solely because of the simple fact that we are Israelis and that we were there.

Bambie Thug. Picture: Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images

There was also controversy after the disqualification of the Netherlands entrant, Joost Klein, from the final following accusations of threatening behaviour towards a female member of the production crew.

Dutch broadcaster Avrotros criticised the decision and said the Netherlands participation in the contest was under consideration, before confirming later this year it would return following the EBU promising improvements for 2025.

The EBU said: New measures at the 2025 ESC in Basel include no filming zones within key artist areas, more closed-door rehearsals, and optimised rehearsal schedules to ensure artists have plenty of time to rest and enjoy the host city.

The EBU will continue to uphold the ESC values of inclusivity and celebrating diversity by commissioning a Eurovision pledge to emphasise the commitment to community, respect, and equality. Kleins criminal case was dropped by the Swedish Prosecution Authority in August.

After lifting the trophy, Nemo, who won with the opera-dance track The Code, said this whole experience was really intense, and was really sad over the furore about the 2024 contest.

Martin Green, the new ESC director, who was appointed following the outrage at this years event, said: We are United by Music  its up to all of us to ensure the Eurovision Song Contest remains an event that promotes unity, diversity and inclusion.

We believe the changes were making for Basel 2025 make the Eurovision Song Contest the best experience it can be for our participants, our staff, and our audiences.

Bakel Walden, chairman of the governing board ESC Reference Group, called the code of conduct a first, important step to ensure the successful and responsible development of this iconic music event.

On behalf of all participating artists, delegations and staff members, the reference group remains firmly committed to championing a positive, creative, and safe Eurovision Song Contest in an ever-changing global landscape, he added.

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will take place in St Jakobshalle in Basel on May 17, with the semi-finals taking place on May 13 and 15.
An Argentine court on Tuesday dropped aggravated sexual assault charges against two professional French rugby players accused of raping a woman after playing a match in the country earlier this year.

The judge in Mendoza, some 1,000km (620 miles) west of the capital, Buenos Aires, dismissed the case against the 21-year-old athletes, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, citing insufficient evidence.

The facts under investigation do not constitute a crime, the court said.

The case began in July, when a 39-year-old Argentine woman filed a police complaint alleging that she was beaten, choked and repeatedly raped by the rugby players in their Mendoza hotel room.

There are many false accusations in terms of sexual crimes, in terms of gender violence, which cause harm

The rugby players have admitted to having sex with the plaintiff  whom they met at during an alcohol-fuelled club night after their July 7 victory against Argentinas Pumas  but insisted that the encounter was consensual. They were held in preventive custody, then placed under house arrest, for a month.

The defence said the dismissal reinforced their faith in the justice system.

I think it will be a turning point, German Hnatow, a lawyer representing one of the two players, told Radio Mitre Mendoza, a local radio station. There are many false accusations in terms of sexual crimes, in terms of gender violence, which cause harm.

The plaintiff can appeal against the ruling. She has not said whether she intends to and her dlawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

Over the past few months, the case slowly unravelled as the defence punched holes in the womans description of events.

Citing questionable evidence presented before the court  including WhatsApp voice messages the plaintiff sent to her friend joking and boasting about the rough sex she had with them  the prosecution in September approved the athletes return to France under certain conditions.

The plaintiffs lawyer has explained any inconsistencies in her account as the result of her shock and extreme stress.

She underwent physical examinations as part of the investigation and was found to have an acute bleeding ulcer and other injuries that she claimed were related to her assault.

The French Rugby Federation expressed its relief and satisfaction with the judges decision. It said the athletes, who had been suspended because of the seriousness of the allegations, would be eligible to return to the national team if their sporting performances allow for it.
In late September, an experienced pilot at low-cost European airline Wizz Air felt anxious after learning his plane would fly over Iraq at night amid mounting tensions between nearby Iran and Israel.

He decided to query the decision since just a week earlier the airline had deemed the route unsafe. In response, Wizz Air's flight operations team told him the airway was now considered secure and he had to fly it, without giving further explanation, the pilot said.

"I wasn't really happy with it," the pilot, who requested anonymity from fear he could lose his job, told Reuters. Days later, Iraq closed its airspace when Iran fired missiles on October 1 at Israel. "It confirmed my suspicion that it wasn't safe."

In response to Reuters' queries, Wizz Air said safety is its top priority and it had carried out detailed risk assessments before resuming flights over Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries.

Reuters spoke to four pilots, three cabin crew members, three flight security experts and two airline executives about growing safety concerns in the European air industry due to escalating tensions in the Middle East following Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, that prompted the war in Gaza.

The Middle East is a key air corridor for planes heading to India, South-East Asia and Australia and last year was criss-crossed daily by 1,400 flights to and from Europe, Eurocontrol data show.

A close-up/macro photograph of Middle East from a desktop globe. Adobe RGB color profile.

The safety debate about flying over the region is playing out in Europe largely because pilots there are protected by unions, unlike other parts of the world.

Reuters reviewed nine unpublished letters from four European unions representing pilots and crews that expressed worries about air safety over Middle Eastern countries. The letters were sent to Wizz Air, Ryanair (RYA.I), airBaltic, the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) between June and August.

"No one should be forced to work in such a hazardous environment and no commercial interests should outweigh the safety and well-being of those on board," read a letter, addressed to EASA and the European Commission from Romanian flight crew union FPU Romania, dated August 26.

In other letters, staff called on airlines to be more transparent about their decisions on routes and demanded the right to refuse to fly a dangerous route.

There have been no fatalities or accidents impacting commercial aviation tied to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East since the war in Gaza erupted last year.

Air France opened an internal investigation after one of its commercial planes flew over Iraq on October 1 during Tehran's missile attack on Israel. On that occasion, airlines scrambled to divert dozens of planes heading towards the affected areas in the Middle East.

The ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran and the abrupt ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by Syrian rebels at the weekend have raised concerns of further insecurity in the region.

The use of missiles in the region has revived memories of the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 and of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 en route from Tehran in 2020.

Being accidentally shot-down in the chaos of war is the top worry, three pilots and two aviation safety experts told Reuters, along with the risk of an emergency landing.

While airlines including Lufthansa and KLM no longer fly over Iran, carriers including Etihad, flydubai, Aeroflot and Wizz Air were still crossing the country's airspace as recently as Dec. 2, data from tracking service FlightRadar24 show.

Some European airlines including Lufthansa and KLM allow crew to opt-out of routes they don't feel are safe, but others such as Wizz Air, Ryanair and airBaltic don't.

AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss said his airline meets an international safety standard that doesn't need to be adjusted.

"If we start a right of refusal, then where do we stop? [When] the next person feels unhappy overflying Iraqi airspace because there's tension there?" he told Reuters on December 2 in response to queries about airBaltic flight safety talks with unions.

Ryanair, which intermittently flew to Jordan and Israel until September, said it makes security decisions based on EASA guidance.

"If EASA says it's safe, then, frankly, thank you, we're not interested in what the unions or some pilot think," Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary told Reuters in October, when asked about staff security concerns.

EASA said it has been involved in a number of exchanges with pilots and airlines on route safety in recent months concerning the Middle East, adding that disciplining staff for raising safety concerns would run counter to a "just culture" where employees can voice worries.

Insufficient Reassurances

One Abu Dhabi-based Wizz Air pilot told Reuters he was comfortable flying over the conflict-torn region as he believes the industry has a very high safety standard.

But for some pilots and crew members working at budget airlines, the reassurances of the companies are insufficient.

They told Reuters pilots should have more choice in refusing flights over potentially dangerous airspace and requested more information about airline security assessments.

"The fact that Wizz Air sends emails asserting that it's safe is irrelevant to commercial employees," read a letter from FPU Romania to Chief Operating Officer Diarmuid O'Conghaile, dated August 12. "Flights into these conflict areas, even if they are rescue missions, should be carried out by military personnel and aircraft, not by commercial crews."

Mircea Constantin, a former cabin crew member who represents FPU Romania, said Wizz Air never gave a formal response to this letter and similar ones sent earlier this year, but did send security guidance and updates to staff.

A pilot and a cabin crew member, who declined to be named for fear of retaliatory action, said they got warnings from their employers for refusing to fly on Middle Eastern routes or calling in sick.

Congested Skies

Last month, 165 missiles were launched in Middle Eastern conflict zones versus just 33 in November 2023, according to the latest available data from Osprey Flight Solutions.

But airspace can only be enforcably restricted if a country chooses to shut it down, as in the case of Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Several airlines have opted to briefly suspend flights to places like Israel when tension rises. Lufthansa and British Airways did so after Iran bombarded Israel on April 13.

But this limits the airspace in use in the already congested Middle Eastern skies.

Choosing to fly over Central Asia or Egypt and Saudi Arabia to avoid Middle Eastern hot spots is also more costly as planes burn more fuel and some countries charge higher overflight fees.

Flying a commercial plane from Singapore to London-Heathrow through Afghanistan and Central Asia, for instance, cost an airline $4,760 in overflight fees, about 50% more than a route through the Middle East, according to two August 31 flight plans reviewed by Reuters.

Reuters could not name the airline as the flight plans are not public.

Some private jets are avoiding the most critical areas.

"At the moment, my no-go areas would be the hotspot points: Libya, Israel, Iran, simply because they're sort of caught up in it all," said Andy Spencer, a Singapore-based pilot who flies private jets and who previously worked as an airline pilot.

Spencer, who has two decades of experience and flies through the Middle East regularly, said that on a recent flight from Manila to Cuba, he flew from Dubai over Egypt and north through Malta before refuelling in Morocco to circumvent Libyan and Israeli airspace.

EASA, regarded by industry experts as the strictest regional safety regulator, issues public bulletins on how to fly safely over conflict zones.

But these aren't mandatory and every airline decides where to travel based on a patchwork of government notices, third-party security advisors, in-house security teams and information sharing between carriers, leading to divergent policies.

Such intelligence is not usually shared with staff.

Kurdish forces patrol al-Hol camp, which houses families of members of the Islamic State group in Hasakeh province, Syria, on April 19, 2023. Picture: AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad, File)

The opacity has sown fear and mistrust among pilots, cabin crew and passengers as they question whether their airline has missed something carriers in other countries are aware of, said Otjan de Bruijn, a former head of European pilots union the European Cockpit Association and a pilot for KLM.

"The more information you make available to pilots, the more informed a decision they can make," said Spencer, who is also an operations specialist at flight advisory body OPSGROUP, which offers independent operational advice to the aviation industry.

When Gulf players like Etihad, Emirates or flydubai suddenly stop flying over Iran or Iraq, the industry sees it as a reliable indicator of risk, pilots and security sources said, as these airlines can have access to detailed intelligence from their governments.

Flydubai told Reuters it operates within airspace and airways in the region that are approved by Dubai's General Civil Aviation Authority. Emirates said it continuously monitors all routings, adjusting as required and would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so. Etihad said it only operates through approved airspace.

Passenger rights groups are also asking for travellers to receive more information.

"If passengers decline to take flights over conflict zones, airlines would be disinclined to continue such flights," said Paul Hudson, the head of US-based passenger group Flyers Rights. "And passengers who take such flights would do so informed of the risks."
Australian federal police have launched a special operation to investigate an increase in antisemitic threats and violence since the war between Israel and Hamas began last year.

Jewish leaders say prejudice against their community has reached unprecedented levels, with most incidents reported in Sydney and Melbourne, Australias largest cities, where 85% of the nations Jewish population live.

Almost 117,000 Jewish people live in Australia, according to the last census in 2021, or 0.46% of the 25.4 million residents. The government says only Israel is home to more Holocaust survivors than Australia on a per capita basis.

Here is a look at some of the main cases investigated by Special Operation Avalite:

Vandalism took place in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra (AP)

June 19: Jewish legislators office in a Melbourne suburb vandalised

At least five people were seen near Jewish legislator Josh Burns office in Barkly Street at about 3.20am when the attack occurred, police said.

They smashed windows and left graffiti on the outside of his office in red paint, reading: Zionism is fascism.

Investigators said small fires were lit in the telecommunications pits at the front of the building before the group ran from the scene.

Mr Burns, a government legislator, said at the time that no amount of aggression would change whats happening in the Middle East.

Media wait outside a police cordon at a street where houses were vandalised with anti-Israel slogans (Mark Baker/AP)

November 21: Antisemitic acts in Wellington Street, Woollahra

Police arrested two suspects who allegedly launched an hour-long rampage of anti-Israel destruction in Woollahra.

Police were alerted to a car fire in Wellington Street around 12.30am. Two men with their faces covered were seen in CCTV spray-painting expletives and slogans referring to Israel on 10 cars in the vicinity of Wellington Street, including the car that was burned.

They also graffitied three buildings including a restaurant owned by celebrity chef Matt Moran, who is not Jewish.

Mohammed Farhat, 20, was arrested on November 25 at Sydney International Airport as he prepared to fly to Indonesia. His alleged accomplice Thomas Stojanovski, 19, was arrested at his home on November 28.

Both remain in custody awaiting trial on multiple charges. They each face prison sentences of up to 10 years.

Anti-Israeli graffiti was left on the walls (AAP Image via AP)

 December 6: Arson attack on Adass Israel Synagogue in south-eastern Melbourne suburb

The December 6 attack has been declared a terrorist act after authorities concluded there was a political motive. Police are searching for three suspects.

Two worshippers saw two men with their faces covered spreading a liquid accelerant around the building before it ignited.

Police have not said what role the third person played or whether they knew the suspects identities.

The incident in Sydney is an outrage and another antisemitic attack.



I will be briefed by AFP Operation Avalite officials this morning.



I stand with the Jewish community and unequivocally condemn this attack.



There is no place for hatred or antisemitism in our community.  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 10, 2024

 December 11: Antisemitic graffiti attacks in the eastern Sydney suburb of Woollahra

Police are looking for two male suspects, estimated to be aged between 15 and 20, seen running from Magney Street in Woollahra when a car fire was reported at 1am.

Graffiti had been daubed on two cars, including the one that burned. Two homes and the sidewalk had also been spray-painted with what police described as antisemitic writing that included an apparently mis-spelled Kill Israiel.

Woollahra is a centre of Jewish life in Sydney and one of the wealthiest suburbs in the nation.

Not everyone who lives in Magney Street is Jewish, and police say there is no evidence that Jewish residents were specifically targeted.
Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 33 people, including one attack on a home where displaced people were sheltering in the isolated north that killed 19, Palestinian health chiefs said.

The Israel-Hamas war has raged on with no end in sight, even after Israel reached a ceasefire deal with Lebanons Hezbollah and international attention shifted to the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Both the outgoing and incoming US administrations have said they hope to end the war before the inauguration of Donald Trump in January, but months of ceasefire talks have repeatedly stalled.

The strike that killed 19 occurred in the northern town of Beit Lahiya near the border with Israel, according to the nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital, which received the bodies.

Hospital records show that a family of eight were among those killed, including four children, their parents and two grandparents.

The hospital said another strike near its entrance on Wednesday killed a woman and her two children.

Another strike in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed at least seven people, according to the Awda Hospital.

The dead included two children, their parents and three relatives.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The military has said it tries to avoid harming civilians and accuses militants of hiding among them, putting their lives in danger.

Militants in central Gaza fired four projectiles into Israel on Wednesday, two of which were intercepted, the military said. The other two fell in open areas, and there were no reports of casualties.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, with millions displaced (AP)

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people, including children and older adults.

Around 100 hostages are still unaccounted for inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. They say women and children make up more than half the dead but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their count. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Thousands more Palestinians have gone missing during the war, some after encounters with Israeli troops.

Israel has been waging a renewed offensive against Hamas in Gazas isolated and heavily destroyed north since early October. Troops have surrounded Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp, allowing in almost no humanitarian aid and ordering tens of thousands to flee to nearby Gaza City.

Israeli officials have said the three communities are mostly deserted, but the United Nations humanitarian office said it believes around 65,000 to 75,000 people are still there, with little access to food, water, electricity or health care.

Experts have warned that the north may be experiencing famine.

Humanitarian aid to the north has largely been blocked for the past 66 days, the UN added.

Sigrid Kaag, the senior UN humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters on Tuesday that civilians trying to survive all across Gaza face an utterly devastating situation.

She pointed to the breakdown in law and order and looting that has left the UN and many aid organisations unable to deliver food and other humanitarian essentials to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in need.

Ms Kaag said she and other UN officials keep repeatedly asking Israel for access for convoys to northern Gaza and elsewhere, to allow in commercial goods, to reopen the Rafah crossing from Egypt in the south, and to approve dual-use items.

The Israeli military says it allows in enough humanitarian aid and blames UN agencies for not distributing it, saying large amounts of aid have accumulated just inside Gazas borders.

UN officials say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order and ongoing fighting make it difficult to access the aid and distribute it, and have repeatedly called for a ceasefire.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been mediating talks between Israel and Hamas for nearly a year, and diplomats say those efforts have recently gained momentum.

But Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and all the hostages are returned, and has said Israel will maintain a lasting military presence in some areas.
TikTok has challenged a Canadian government order to shut down the Chinese video-sharing apps business operations in the country amid national security concerns.

The company said it had filed an application for a judicial review with the Federal Court in Vancouver on December 5, which seeks to set aside the order for TikTok to wind up and cease its business in Canada.

The Canadian federal government last month announced it was ordering the dissolution of TikTok Technology Canada Inc. after a national security review of its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd.

The government is not blocking access to the TikTok app, which will continue to be available to Canadians.

TikTok said it has 14 million users in Canada, which is about a third of the population. It has offices in Toronto and Vancouver.

The popular platform is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020, but is under increasing pressure in the West.

The company is Chinese-owned, but based in Singapore (AP)

It is facing a possible ban in the US and intensifying scrutiny in Europe over issues including election influence campaigns allegedly co-ordinated by Moscow.

TikTok argues in its court application, which was posted online, that Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagnes decision was unreasonable and driven by improper purposes.

It says the order is grossly disproportionate and the the national security review was procedurally unfair.

The review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate foreign investment with potential to harm national security.

Mr Champagne said at the time that the government was taking action to address specific national security risks, but did not elaborate.

His office said in response to the filling that the governments decision was informed by a thorough national security review and advice from Canadas security and intelligence community.

TikTok said Mr Champagne failed to engage with TikTok Canada on the purported substance of the concerns that led to the order.

It argues the government ordered measures that bear no rational connection to the national security risks it identifies and that the reasons for the order are unintelligible, fail to reveal a rational chain of analysis and are rife with logical fallacies.

The platform said there are less onerous options than shutting down its Canadian business, which it said would eliminate hundreds of jobs, threaten business contracts and cause the destruction of significant economic opportunities.
A Belarusian journalist has been sentenced to four years in prison for her critical reports chronicling a sweeping crackdown on dissent launched by the countrys authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.

The Minsk City Court convicted Volha Radzivonava on Tuesday on charges of insulting the president and discrediting Belarus and sentenced her to four years in prison.

Radzivonava, who worked for KYKY.org news portal and freelanced for other news outlets, has been in custody since her arrest in March.

The Viasna human rights group said that while in custody Radzivonava was sent to a psychiatric clinic for evaluation.

The authorities are intensifying repressions against the media ahead of Januarys presidential election, making the profession of journalist one of the most dangerous in the country

Belarus responded to massive protests that were sparked by the widely disputed 2020 vote that gave Mr Lukashenko a sixth term in office with a brutal crackdown in which about 65,000 people were arrested.

Leading opposition figures were either imprisoned or fled the country. Human rights activists say Belarus is holding about 1,300 political prisoners and that many of them are denied adequate medical care and contact with their families.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists said 35 Belarusian journalists are currently in custody on politically driven charges.

The authorities are intensifying repressions against the media ahead of Januarys presidential election, making the profession of journalist one of the most dangerous in the country, said the associations leader Andrei Bastunets.

The exemplary cruel sentence handed to Radzivonava is intended to scare all others and make them silent.

Belaruss law enforcement agencies have launched a new wave of arrests in recent months seeking to uproot any sign of dissent ahead of Januarys election in which Mr Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term.

Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for more than 30 years relying on Kremlin subsidies and support, has allowed Russia to use his countrys territory to send troops into neighbouring Ukraine and has hosted some of its tactical nuclear weapons.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, facing questions for the last time about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The hearing comes at the twilight of Mr Blinkens diplomatic career, with only weeks left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and at the end of the chairmanship of Michael McCaul, who will no longer lead the committee in the next Congress.

It is the end of nearly four years of animosity between the two men over the end of Americas longest war.

This catastrophic event was the beginning of a failed foreign policy that lit the world on fire, Mr McCaul, a Texas Republican, said in his opening statement.

I welcome your testimony today and hope you use this opportunity to take accountability for the disastrous withdrawal.

Antony Blinkens testimony is disrupted by protesters at the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

Mr Blinken opened his appearance before the committee by turning to families of US forces killed in the withdrawal and apologising to them.

Cries of genocide and other protests from demonstrators in the audience repeatedly interrupted him.

Mr Blinken again defended the Biden administrations handling of the withdrawal, saying that the pull-out deal that Mr Trump negotiated with the Taliban before leaving office left him no viable alternative.

To the extent President Biden faced a choice, it was between ending the war or escalating it, Mr Blinken said.

Had he not followed through on his predecessors commitment, attacks on our forces and allies would have resumed and the Talibans assault on the countrys major cities would have commenced.

The 20-year US military occupation of Afghanistan succeeded in routing the al Qaida militants responsible for the September 11 2001, attacks on the United States, whom Afghanistans fundamentalist Taliban militants had allowed a home.

But as the US began its pull-out, as set by Mr Trumps deal and carried out by Mr Biden, Taliban fighters routed the US-allied government and military, capturing control of the country within months.

An extremist groups bombing at the Kabul airport killed 13 US service members and nearly 200 Afghans as Americans, Afghan allies and others thronged the airport in hopes of seats on the last flights out.

Antony Blinken speaks as a photograph from Afghanistan is seen on a television screen during the hearing (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Mr Blinken said all of the hundreds of Americans and dual citizens stranded by the sudden scramble from Afghanistan have now been able to leave, if they have chosen.

His long-awaited testimony comes months after House Republicans issued a scathing report on their investigation into the withdrawal, blaming the disastrous end on Joe Bidens administration. They downplayed Mr Trumps role in the failures even though he had signed the withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

Mr Blinken denied Republican charges that he and others ignored warnings from lower-ranking administration officials that the US withdrawal would go badly wrong, and that the US had to move faster on getting out Americans and the Afghans who had worked for and allied with them.

We anticipated that Kabul would remain in the hands of the Afghan government through to the end of the year, Mr Blinken said. This unfolded more quickly than we anticipated including in the intelligence community.

Waiting until the last minute is not executing a plan, Mr McCaul said.

The Republican-led review laid out the final months of military and civilian failures, following Mr Trumps February 2020 withdrawal deal, that allowed Americas fundamentalist Taliban enemy to sweep through and conquer all of the country even before the last US officials flew out on August 30 2021.

The chaotic exit left behind many American citizens, Afghan battlefield allies, women activists and others at risk from the Taliban.

Previous investigations and analyses have pointed to a systemic failure spanning the last four presidential administrations and concluded that Mr Biden and Mr Trump share the heaviest blame.
The European Commission has stated that the choice to return Syrian refugees and asylum seekers lies with individual member states. However, according to EU law, the return processes must rely on personal assessments of asylum applications.

Commission spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaeker informed reporters in Brussels: Decisions regarding asylum applications fall under the remit of the member states.

It is crucial that, when making these decisions, member states adhere to EU regulations in this area and ensure that individual assessments are always part of the decision-making process.

He noted that member states have the option to delay the review of asylum applications if there are changes in the applicants country of origin. Individuals who do not qualify for protection under international law may then receive a return decision.

Austria, which has become home to approximately 100,000 Syrians, has announced the initiation of a returns program. Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Greece are all reviewing their policies regarding Syrian asylum applications.

Reports indicate that Belgium has put 3,000 asylum applications on hold following recent developments over the weekend.

Since the onset of the Syrian civil war, over one million refugees have fled to Europe, with many settling in Germany and Sweden.

Amnesty International has criticized the rapid policy shift concerning Syrian asylum seekers.

The situation in Syria remains highly unstable, expressed Eve Geddie, director of Amnestys EU office.

Five decades of oppression and violence cannot be resolved in an instant. Yet, European governments have swiftly moved to stop the asylum applications of Syrians.

In these chaotic and transformative times, countries should refrain from placing Syrian refugees and asylum seekers into even greater uncertainty and precariousness.

The safety and autonomy of individuals seeking asylum must be prioritized in decision-making, rather than sacrificed to the extreme anti-refugee sentiment currently pervasive in Europe.

Mr. De Keersmaeker emphasized that under EU asylum regulations, returns can only occur when conditions are suitable for safe, voluntary, and dignified returns, as outlined by a framework established by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

The European Commission has assured that it is closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Syria.

Since 2014, the European Union has designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist organization, following a United Nations Security Council resolution that linked HTS to Al Qaeda, which has been incorporated into EU law.

A spokesperson for the commission stated that there are no changes at present regarding the designation of HTS as a terrorist organization. However, EU foreign ministers will discuss the latest developments concerning Syria during their meeting in Brussels on Monday.

Final decisions on Syrian asylum applications paused
A large blaze swept through Malibu, destroying at least seven homes in one of Californias most sought-after locations, leading to the evacuation of thousands.

Luxury properties, some belonging to Hollywood stars, were threatened by the fire that erupted late on Monday, fueled by strong winds and extremely dry vegetation.

Firefighters struggled to gain ground in the steep canyons encircling the affluent enclave near Los Angeles, where fierce flames engulfed hillsides, filling the air with thick smoke.

We were completely surrounded, local resident Alec Gellis recounted to broadcaster KTLA.

Within 45 minutes, it was racing down the hillside and an hour later, we were entirely encircled, with homes ablaze on one side and ridges burning on the other, surrounded by mountains.

It became quite frightening at one point.

Around 20,000 residents are under evacuation orders

Police have mandated the evacuation of thousands, with many more advised to prepare to flee if conditions deteriorate.

There are roughly 20,000 residents under evacuation orders and warnings, stated Captain Jennifer Seeto of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

Fire behavior can be highly unpredictable, and we urge those in affected areas to be ready. Have a plan and heed our evacuation orders and warnings.

Properties in Malibu are at risk from the flames

Deputies went door-to-door encouraging residents to evacuate as the fire began to escalate on Monday night.

Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart characterized the fire as traumatic, but expressed confidence that the community would remain resilient.

Thats the nature of Malibu. We face adversity, but we come back stronger and more resilient.

Actor Dick Van Dyke, who will celebrate his 99th birthday on Friday, shared on Facebook that he and his wife had evacuated their Malibu residence.

Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our pets, except for one cat that escaped as we were leaving. Were hoping hes safe and that our community will weather these devastating fires, he posted.

The city, located just a short drive from Hollywoods major studios, has been home to some of the industrys biggest stars, including Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Aniston, and Cher.

As of yesterday evening, the so-called Franklin Fire had spread to over 2,800 acres (1,150 hectares) and was still raging uncontrollably, fueled by strong seasonal winds prompting forecasters to issue a red flag warning.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone reported that 1,500 firefighters were actively combating the flames, supported by aircraft dropping thousands of liters of water and fire retardant from the air.

The wildfire started on Monday night

Aerial assessments indicated an unverified number of homes damaged or destroyed, he informed reporters.

The entire fire zone continues to be at risk, he added.

Tens of thousands of residents across Southern California experienced power outages. Utility companies often shut off electricity in advance of high winds to reduce the fire risk from toppled power lines.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state had obtained a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid in the response efforts.

Fire officials and first responders are tirelessly working to safeguard lives and properties from the Franklin Fire, Mr. Newsom stated.

Fire retardant materials are sprayed over burning vegetation

Wildfires are a recurring occurrence in California and other regions of the US West, often worsened by seasonal Santa Ana winds, which push dry desert air from the interior.

Climate change, attributed to human activity, is known to heighten both the frequency and intensity of wildfires, with shifting weather patterns leading to prolonged, hotter dry seasons that dehydrate vegetation.

Experts assert that decades of policies favoring a zero-tolerance stance toward wildfires have left many rural areas overstocked with flammable materials, resulting in faster, hotter, and more destructive blazes when fires do erupt.
Ukraine targeted a southern Russian port on the Azov Sea using missiles and ignited a fire at an oil depot in the Bryansk region of western Russia via drones, as reported by officials and media outlets.

The specifics of the damage and the exact weaponry utilized in the assaults remain uncertain, although Russia has warned consistently that Ukraines deployment of US ATACMS to strike its territory could escalate into a broader conflict.

According to Russias defense ministry, its air defense units intercepted and destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones overnight in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine. However, they did not disclose what was struck.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz reported on his Telegram channel that a production facility experienced a brief fire as a result of the attack, without specifying which facility was affected.

The Druzhba oil pipeline, built during the Soviet era and transporting oil from western Siberia and the Caspian Sea to European markets, traverses the Bryansk region, as does the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS) leading to the Baltic Sea.

Reuters was unable to confirm whether any oil infrastructure had been impacted. The ASTRA Telegram channel claimed a refinery was hit, showing flames erupting into the sky.

Approximately 750 km south, the Russian port of Taganrog was struck by Ukrainian missiles, damaging an industrial site and multiple vehicles, according to the acting governor of the Rostov region.

Preliminary information indicates that no injuries were reported, Yuri Slyusar shared via the Telegram messaging app.

Mr. Slyusar noted that 14 vehicles caught fire, but further details regarding the extent of the damage or the scale of the attack were not revealed.

Reuters could not independently verify these claims.

Final phase?

Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities, displaced millions, and created the most significant crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

According to some Russian and Western officials, the conflict is entering what could be its final and most perilous phase, as Russian forces advance more rapidly than they have since the early weeks of the war and the West contemplates the potential conclusion of the conflict.

The eastern Ukraine conflict commenced in 2014 when a pro-Russian president was ousted during Ukraines Maidan Revolution, followed by Russias annexation of Crimea, leading to clashes between Russian-backed separatists and Ukraines armed forces.

In November, Ukraine employed US ATACMS missiles to strike into Russian territory, following newly granted authorization from the administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden.

Shortly thereafter, Russia launched a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Since then, Russia has reported the downing of at least 15 ATACMS missiles.

President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraines use of Western-made missiles signifies direct Western involvement in the armed conflict against Russia.

The impacted area of Taganrog, a city of around 250,000 residents situated on Russias Black Sea coast and close to the Ukrainian border, has been secured by police, according to Svetlana Kambulova, the citys head, on Telegram.

The attack partially affected a boiler house, disrupting heating for 27 apartment buildings, Ms. Kambulova informed.

Russia maintains an airbase near the city, which military analysts suggest is utilized by the Russian air force for deploying drones, bombers, and other munitions to assault Ukraine.
12/10/2024



The Houston Cole Library on the campus of Jacksonville State University. (JSU Photo)

At its meeting on December 10, 2024, the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmed Jacksonville State University's (Jax State) accreditation for a full 10 years with no additional reports required. This decision is the highest endorsement of the university's compliance with rigorous standards of academic quality, institutional integrity, and student success.

The reaffirmation ensures Jax State's continued accredited status through 2034 and highlights the university's excellence in governance, academic offerings, faculty credentials, student services, and financial stability.

"This reaffirmation by SACSCOC is a testament to the tireless dedication of our faculty, staff, and leadership team to uphold the highest academic and operational excellence standards," Jax State President Dr. Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. said. "At Jax State, we prioritize student success and institutional integrity. This milestone reflects the hard work of our entire university community."

Accreditation by SACSCOC is critical for institutions of higher learning. It affirms educational quality and allows students access to federal financial aid. The reaffirmation process occurs every decade and evaluates compliance with stringent standards across all facets of institutional operations.

"Accreditation is a vital benchmark for any institution of higher education, and this 10-year reaffirmation demonstrates our commitment to innovation, academic excellence, and providing transformative opportunities for our students," said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Christie Shelton. "This achievement is a result of the collective efforts of our entire Jax State community to ensure that we exceed the standards required to deliver a world-class education to our students."

This reaffirmation caps a remarkable year for Jax State that has seen many milestones, including breaking its enrollment record for the fourth consecutive year and being recognized among the Top 25 Public Schools in the South by U.S. News & World Report. These achievements reflect the university's dedication to excellence and its steadfast commitment to student success, institutional growth, and community impact.
Oakland, Ca. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Trumps second-term nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel is former Arkansas Governor, Rev. Mike Huckabee. He is an Evangelical Zionist, who has repeatedly claimed that there are no Palestinians, and brutally dismissed the right of the Palestinian people to their own land. A former US ambassador, Luis Moreno said of Huckabee, I unfortunately was exposed to him during his visits to Israel back in the day. Full blown (and knowledgeable) fanatic of the End of Times, Apocalypse, Israels destruction, etc. A true and utter nut case. Couldnt be a more dangerous selection.

Even the venerable US Jewish daily, The Forward argues that Huckabees appointment spells doom for any chance of peace. Ironically, his supposed love for Israel is based on a belief that Israeli colonization of historic Palestine will bring about the Second Coming of Christ, at which point the worlds Jews (all of us) will either have to convert to Christianity or be consigned to eternal damnation.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) characterizes the prospect of Huckabee taking this post as a disaster of Biblical proportions. As a governor prosecuting an Evangelical agenda, he had public conflicts with various progressive advocacy groups including the FFRF itself. He once used them as fundraising fodder, arguing, that he was fearful of organization because of its numerous court victories in First Amendment cases. At the time, his campaign appeal said, In just the last few years, theyve won terrible victories that strike at the heart of our values. FFRF summarized his record saying, Huckabee has explicitly refused to acknowledge Palestinians right to exist. Huckabee is a staunch supporter of Israel because of the Old Testaments assurance that the Hebrews are Gods chosen people and, therefore, Israel is their rightful homeland.

When he governed Arkansas, Huckabees tenure was characterized by ethics complaints, regressive taxes, squishy approaches to immigration, and habitually playing fast and loose with facts. The State Ethics Commission held proceedings 20 times on the former governor and lieutenant governor. In accordance with the Trump playbook, Huckabee dismissed the Commission as a political tool of Democrats. He shares the MAGA mindset that the law does not apply to them, and any effort to hold them accountable is to be ridiculed as deep state political persecution. The Commission found five major violations within their 16 investigations. One was that he used campaign funds to pay for a gospel fest in 2002, in effort to wrap his campaign in phony spirituality. He also accepted 187 gifts valued at $150,000 or more, but didnt have to report their value. In retaliation for the Ethics Commission, Huckabee created his own truth squad to spin the issues in his favor with fictions.

Other choice events from Huckabees tenure as governor include calling former Senator Dale Bumpers a pornographer for supporting the National Endowment for the Arts, and responding to the Sandy Hook shooting by saying the same day, we have systematically removed God from our schools and shouldnt be surprised theyve become a place of carnage. Resistance to thoughtful gun control or background checks is part of the Republican Party orthodoxy.



Apocalypse, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3, 2024

An eloquent assessment was offered by a Palestinian-American student leader at one of Arkansas state universities, who is familiar with Huckabees record as Arkansas Governor, and the dynamics of Israeli-Palestinian history. This individual requested anonymity to protect her family in Palestine, and academic career in the US. She told this reporter, Its very important to remember Trump won about 80 percent of white Evangelical Christian vote this year, so its not surprising that he would choose Mike Huckabee . . . Huckabee would be the first Evangelical Christian to be US ambassador to Israel.

The student activist added, He is an unreformed, unapologetic Evangelical Zionist who refuses to acknowledge Palestinians, and believes there is no such thing as occupation, no such thing as the West Bank, and no such thing as settlements. She questioned whether he was capable of promoting U.S. interests or commitments to international law. She saw the appointment as a signal of Trumps own position on the Mideast and maintained that persons with Huckabees extreme views  regardless of their religious heritage  will continue to dehumanize Palestinians and try to justify it through religion; while simultaneously contradicting some of their most fundamental ideologies and domestic policies, such as every life having worth and value..

Little Rock Peace for Palestine issued a news release saying, We know personally as Arkansans that Huckabees appointment will further fuel divisive policies that harm both Palestinians and Israelis, self-determination, right to return, or any equality under the law. They added, Any effort towards a peace process between the Israeli and Palestinian people will be nearly impossible under a Trump presidency and Huckabee appointment. They also condemned his unstinting support of the expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank, in violation of international law under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

This End of Times zealot is poised to bring the end of times to both Palestine and Israel. But was anything else expected from Trump, whose every nomination for cabinet posts and agency directors is positioned to destroy rather than steward the effectiveness and functions of those offices? Huckabee has voiced opposition to the idea of a negotiated ceasefire between the Israeli military and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, even as the conflict has expanded into a regional war. We can only hope the Senate committee will recognize how deeply unqualified and potentially destructive his appointment would be, and reject the nomination.
By Wendy Pearlman, Northwestern University

Millions of Syrians are feeling hope for the first time in years.

The authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad fell on Dec. 8, 2024, after a 12-day rebel offensive.

Most commentaries on this stunning reversal of a conflict seemingly frozen since 2020 emphasize shifts in geopolitics and balance of power. Some analysts trace how Assads main backers  Iran, Hezbollah and Russia  became too weakened or preoccupied to come to his aid as in the past. Other commentators consider how rebels prepared and professionalized, while the regime decayed, leading to the latters collapse.

These factors help explain the speed and timing of the collapse of one of the Middle Easts longest and most brutal dictatorships. But these factors should not overshadow the human significance of Assads overthrow.

Assads fall in its revolutionary context

During the past two weeks, Syrians have rejoiced as symbols of Assad domination came down and the revolutionary flag went up. They held their breath as rebels freed captives from the regimes notorious prisons. They shed tears as displaced people returned and families reunited after years of separation.

And then, finally, Syrians around the world poured into the streets to celebrate the end of 54 years of tyranny.

To appreciate the magnitude of this achievement requires historical context, one that I have documented in two books based on interviews with more than 500 Syrian refugees over the past 12 years.

My first book begins with stories of the suffocating repression, surveillance and indignities that characterized everyday life in the single-party security state that Hafez al-Assad established in 1970, and his son Bashar inherited in the year 2000.

It conveys tentative optimism as uprisings spread across the Arab world in 2011, blooming into exhilaration when millions of Syrians broke the barrier of fear and risked their lives to demand political change.

Syrians described participating in protest as the first time they breathed or felt like a citizen. One man told me that it was better than his wedding day. A woman referred to it as the first time she ever heard her own voice. And I told myself that I would never let anyone steal my voice again, she added.

It was not only the feeling of freedom that was unprecedented but also the feelings of solidarity as strangers worked together, of pride as people cultivated the talents and capacities necessary to sustain revolution, and, most of all, of hope that Syrians could reclaim their country and determine their own fate.

We started to get to know each other, an activist recalled of those heady days. People discovered that they were photographers or journalists or filmmakers. We were changing something not just in Syria but also within ourselves.

Hope eclipsed by despair

From their start in March 2011, nonviolent demonstrations met with merciless repression. That July, oppositionists and military defectors announced the formation of a Free Syrian Army to defend protesters and fight the regime. As this and other armed groups pushed the regime from large swaths of territory, new forms of grassroots organization and local governance emerged, indicating what society could accomplish if permitted the chance.

Still, as years passed, hope became eclipsed by despair.

The people I met described their despair witnessing the regime escalate bombardment, starvation sieges and other war crimes to reconquer areas from opposition control. Despair when Assad killed 1,400 people in a 2013 chemical attack, violating the United States purported red line but escaping accountability. Despair as hundreds of thousands of people disappeared into regime dungeons, condemned to a fate of torture worse than death. Despair as the number killed in Syria climbed by hundreds of thousands, and in 2014 the United Nations gave up counting more. Despair as over half the population was forced to flee their homes, and the word Syria became stuck, in minds around the world, to the words refugee crisis.

And then there was the despair as an entity called the Islamic State announced itself in 2013 and trampled on Syrians democratic aspirations in a newly horrific way.

We dont know where any of this is leading, a rebel officer told me at that time. All we know is that were everyone elses killing field.

Searching for home

With the help of external allies and the rest of the worlds inaction, Assad clawed back about 60% of the country by 2020 and penned the opposition in an enclave in the northwest.

Syria dropped from the headlines, even as regime bombing continued to kill civilians, economic meltdown plunged 90% of the population below the poverty line and the regime rotted into a narco state sustained by drug trafficking.

A woman I met during these years of stalemate summarized things bleakly: The most important thing at this stage is to protect the last bit of hope that people have left.



Dead Dictatorship, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3, 2024

Meanwhile, millions of Syrian refugees, the lions share of them in the countries neighboring Syria, suffered poverty, legal precariousness and local populations who increasingly demanded their deportation.

The stories that I recorded gradually came to center on a different theme, which I made the focus of my second book: home.

For those compelled to flee, the word home connoted twin challenges: First, creating new lives where they might never have imagined stepping foot; and second, mourning old homes lost, destroyed or emptied of loved ones.

Many described the agony of reconciling their attachment to Syria with the sense that they were unlikely to see it again.

You try as hard as you can to forget the homeland, but you cant because its even more painful to be without any homeland at all, a man lamented.

Finding home in refuge, in other words, was not only a matter of integration. It also meant finding a way to move forward when the hope for freedom in Syria, it seemed, could not.

This is why it is awe-inspiring to witness hope surge again. As I messaged Syrian friends and interlocutors this week, I was struck by how their jubilation echoed with stories that I used to record about 2011, but now on an even more astonishing scale.

Again and again, people said that their emotions were indescribable and beyond words. That they were simultaneously laughing and crying. That they just couldnt believe that it  the it that they once did not dare voice out loud  finally happened.

Since Assads fall, many foreign governments and analysts have voiced foreboding warnings about the future. They need not; Syrians know better than anyone that the path ahead will not be easy.

For now, however, the role of those watching from afar is not to doubt, critique or speculate, but to honor this triumph of human hope.

Syrian playwright Saadallah Wannous famously said in 1996, We are doomed by hope, and what happens today cannot be the end of history. Those who refused to give up over the long years of violence, oppression and disappointment were right. Syrian history is just beginning.

Wendy Pearlman, Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Toronto  TheNewswire - December 11, 2024 - AbraSilver Resource Corp. (TSX.V: ABRA; OTCQX: ABBRF) (AbraSilver or the Company) is pleased to announce assay results from the ongoing, fully-funded 20,000 metre (m) Phase IV drill program, on its wholly-owned Diablillos project in Argentina (the Project). Step-out drilling at the JAC Zone continues to deliver high-grade silver intercepts, further expanding the mineralized footprint of the deposit. Key highlights from the latest assay results include:

JAC Zone:

Hole DDH 24-044, a step-out hole drilled in the JAC southwest area, encountered a broad zone of silver mineralization with 37.0 m at 152 g/t Ag, starting at 92 m downhole depth.

Hole DDH 24-045 intersected numerous silver zones, including 12.0 m at 107 g/t Ag from only 54 m down-hole, followed by multiple mineralized intervals including 11.1 m at 102 g/t Ag.

Oculto:

Hole DDH 24-040, a step-out hole drilled to the north of Oculto, encountered gold and silver mineralization, including 9.0 m at 52 g/t Ag and 2.10 g/t Au starting from a down-hole depth of 162.5 m.

Hole DDH 24-043, an infill hole drilled in the south of Oculto, intersected numerous gold and silver zones, including 11.0 m at 109 g/t Ag and 0.50 g/t Au from 192 m down-hole, followed by a high-grade interval of 3.0 m at 596 g/t Ag in sulphides

The latest assay result highlights are summarized in Table 1 below.

Table 1  Summary of Diablillos Drill Results

Intercepts greater than 2,000 gram-metres AgEq shown in bold text:

Drill Hole Area From (m) To (m) Type Interval (m) Ag g/t Au g/t DDH-24-040 Oculto NE 162.5 171.5 Transition 9.0 52.3 2.10 225.0 226.0 Transition 1.0 45.3 2.19 DDH-24-041 JAC Extension 90.0 103.5 Transition 13.5 61.8 - DDH-24-043 Oculto NE 109.7 114.0 Oxides 4.3 - 0.52 165.0 185.0 Oxides 20.0 48.1 0.18 188.0 203.0 Oxides 15.0 88.2 0.50 Including 192.0 203.0 Oxides 11.0 108.5 0.50 215.0 218.0 Oxides 3.0 3.9 1.32 254.0 257.0 Sulphides 3.0 596.1 - DDH-24-044 JAC Extension 92.0 129.0 Oxides 37.0 152.3 - Including 92.0 108.0 Oxides 16.0 228.9 - 152.0 159.5 Oxides 7.5 137.1 - DDH-24-045 JAC Extension 54.0 66.0 Oxides 12.0 106.8 - 70.0 74.8 Oxides 4.8 151.2 - 96.9 108.0 Oxides 11.1 102.4 125.8 137.7 Oxides 11.9 70.5 140.0 145.0 Oxides 5.0 175.8 - DDH-24-046 JAC 103.0 115.0 Oxides 12.0 107.5 -

Note: All results in this news release are rounded. Assays are uncut and undiluted. Widths are drilled widths, not true widths. True widths are estimated to be approximately 80% of the interval widths for oxides.

John Miniotis, President and CEO, commented, Our latest step-out drilling results continue to demonstrate the remarkable growth potential of the JAC Zone, with near-surface silver intercepts continuing to successfully expand the mineralized footprint. The consistency of high-grade silver mineralization at JAC, combined with encouraging gold and silver intercepts at Oculto Northeast, further reinforces our confidence in Diablillos being a world-class silver-gold asset with robust economics and substantial upside potential.

Dave OConnor, Chief Geologist, commented, Our ongoing exploration efforts continue to validate the exceptional potential of the Diablillos project. The JAC zone continues to remain open in multiple directions, and the encouraging gold-silver intercepts at Oculto Northeast suggest additional opportunities for Mineral Resource estimate growth potential.

Figure 1  Plan View of Latest Drill Holes

Additional Details on Drill Results

Figure 2 demonstrates a substantial extension of the southwestern part of the JAC zone which is expected to result in a significantly expanded open pit and increased Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates. Together with previously announced drill results, the open pit wall should extend farther to the south and west of the currently proposed open pit margin.

Figure 2  Cross Section Through JAC Zone - Drill Holes DDH 24-041, DDH 24-044, DDH24-045, DDH 24-046

Figure 3 highlights the mineralized intercepts in holes DDH 24-040 and DDH 24-043 located in the Oculto Northeast zone. Together with previously announced results, the open pit margin should expand towards the northeast and hole DDH 24-043 demonstrates the potential to convert material previously classified as waste into Mineral Resources.

Figure 3 Cross Section Through Oculto Looking East - Drill Holes DDH 24-040, DDH 24-043

Phase IV Exploration Program Update

The ongoing Phase IV drill program is focused on expanding the existing Mineral Resource estimate at a number of target areas with known mineralization as well as exploring newly identified prospective exploration targets within the broader Diablillos land package. The Company continues to have three drill rigs operating and, to date, has completed approximately 15,940 m of drilling in 80 holes. Several assay results are awaited and will be released on an ongoing basis pending review and meeting Company quality assurance-quality control protocols.

Warrant Proceeds

The Company is also pleased to announce that subsequent to the end of the most recent quarter, a significant number of share purchase warrants (Warrants) were exercised prior to their expiry on December 6, 2024. In total, approximately 97% of the Companys outstanding warrants were exercised at a price of CAD$2.50 per share, resulting in total cash proceeds to the Company of approximately CAD$6.8 million (of which CAD$3.7 million was received subsequent to the filing of the Companys financial results for the most recently completed quarter).

The additional capital will further support AbraSilvers ongoing exploration and development activities at its flagship Diablillos project. The Company now has no further warrants outstanding, reflecting a streamlined capital structure.

Collar Data

Hole Number UTM Coordinates Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth (m) Area DDH 24-040 720855 7200217 4,271 180 -60 251.0 Oculto NE DDH 24-041 719287 7198601 4,136 0 -60 127.5 JAC DDH 24-042 719267 7199002 4,189 0 -60 121.5 JAC DDH 24-043 720754 7199246 4,401 0 -60 359.0 Oculto NE DDH 24-044 719172 7198518 4,129 315 -60 178.5 JAC DDH 24-045 719145 7198542 4,127 315 -60 175.5 JAC DDH 24-046 718973 7198617 4,140 0 -60 163.5 JAC

About Diablillos

The Diablillos property is located within the Puna region of Argentina, in the southern part of Salta Province along the border with Catamarca Province, approximately 160 km southwest of the city of Salta and 375 km northwest of the city of Catamarca. The property comprises 15 contiguous and overlapping mineral concessions acquired by AbraSilver in 2016. The project site has good year-round accessibility through a 150 km paved road, followed by a well-maintained gravel road, shared with other adjacent projects.

There are several known mineral zones on the Diablillos property. Approximately 150,000 m have been drilled to date, which has outlined multiple occurrences of epithermal silver-gold mineralization at Oculto, JAC, Laderas and Fantasma. Additionally, several satellites zones of silver/gold-rich epithermal mineralization have been located within a 500 m to 1.5 km distance surrounding the Oculto/JAC epicentre.

Comparatively nearby examples of high sulphidation epithermal deposits include: La Coipa (Chile); Yanacocha (Peru); El Indio (Chile); Lagunas Nortes/Alto Chicama (Peru) Veladero (Argentina); and Filo del Sol (Argentina).

The most recent Mineral Reserve estimate for Diablillos is shown in Table 2:

Table 2 - Diablillos Mineral Reserve Estimate  As of March 07, 2024

Category Tonnage

(000 t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Contained Ag

(000 oz Ag) Contained Au

(000 oz Au) Proven 12,364 118 0.86 46,796 341 Probable 29,930 80 0.80 76,684 766 Proven & Probable 42,294 91 0.81 123,480 1,107

Notes for Mineral Reserve Estimate:

1. Mineral reserves have an effective date of March 7th, 2024.

2. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Reserve Estimate is Mr. Miguel Fuentealba, P.Eng.

3. The mineral reserves were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves, as prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council.

4. The mineral reserves were based on a pit design which in turn aligned with an ultimate pit shell selected from a Whittle TM pit optimization exercise. Key inputs for that process are:

 Metal prices of USD $1,750/oz Au; USD $22.50/oz Ag

 Variable Mining cost by bench and material type. Average costs are USD $1.94/t for all lithologies except for cover, Cover mining cost of USD 1.73/t, respectively.

 Processing costs for all zone, USD $22.97/t.  Infrastructure and G&A cost of USD 3.32/t.  Pit average slope angles varying from 37 to 60 depending on the geotechnical domain.  The average recovery is estimated to be 82.8% for silver and 86.6% for gold.

5. The Mineral Reserve Estimate has been categorized in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards (CIM, 2014).

6. A Net Value per block (NVB) cut-off was used to constrain the Mineral Reserve with the reserve pit 2shell. The NVB was based on "Benefits = Revenue-Cost" being positive, where, Revenue = [(Au Selling Price (USD/oz) - Au Selling Cost (USD/oz)) x (Au grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Au Recovery (%)] + [(Ag Selling Price (USD/oz) - Ag Selling Cost (USD/oz)) x (Ag grade (g/t)/31.1035)) x Ag Recovery (%)] and Cost = Process Cost (USD/t) + Transport Cost (USD/t) + G&A Cost (USD/t) + [Royalty Cost (%) x Revenue]. The NVB method resulted in an average equivalent cut-off grade of approximately 46g/t AgEq.

7. In-situ bulk density was read from the block model, assigned previously to each model domain during the process of mineral resource estimation, according to samples averages of each lithology domain, separated by alteration zones and subset by oxidation.

8. All tonnages reported are dry metric tonnes and ounces of contained gold and silver are troy ounces.

9. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding to appropriate significant figures.

The Report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Pre-Feasibility Study for the Diablillos Ag-Au Project" is dated April 30, 2024, has an effective date of March 07, 2024, and has the following authors:

Qualified Person(s) Company Johnny Canosa, P.Eng. SGS Geological Services Luis Rodrigo Peralta, FAusIMM CP (Geo) INSA Joseph M. Keane, P.Eng. (Met) Consultant to SGS North America Inc. Miguel Fuentealba, MAusIMM P. Eng. Bmining Chile William Van Breugel, P. Eng. SGS Geological Services

QA/QC and Core Sampling Protocols

AbraSilver applies industry standard exploration methodologies and techniques, and all drill core samples are collected under the supervision of the Companys geologists in accordance with industry practices. Drill core is transported from the drill platform to the logging facility where drill data is compared and verified with the core in the trays. Thereafter, it is logged, photographed, and split by diamond saw prior to being sampled. Samples are then bagged, and quality control materials are inserted at regular intervals; these include blanks and certified reference materials as well as duplicate core samples which are collected in order to measure sample representivity. Groups of samples are then placed in large bags which are sealed with numbered tags in order to maintain a chain-of-custody during the transport of the samples from the project site to the laboratory.

All samples are sent to the Alex Stewart sample preparation facility in Jujuy, then the sample pulps are sent to the Alex Stewart laboratory in Mendoza where they are analyzed. All samples are analyzed using a multi-element technique consisting of a four-acid digestion followed by ICP/AES detection, and gold is analyzed by 50g Fire Assay with an AAS finish. Silver results greater than 100g/t are reanalyzed using four acid digestion with an ore grade AAS finish.

Qualified Persons

David OConnor P.Geo., Chief Geologist for AbraSilver, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About AbraSilver

AbraSilver is an advanced-stage exploration company focused on rapidly advancing its 100%-owned Diablillos silver-gold project in the mining-friendly Salta and Catamarca provinces of Argentina. The current Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve estimate for Diablillos, from a recently completed Pre-Feasibility Study, consists of 42.3 Mt grading 91 g/t Ag and 0.81 g/t Au, containing approximately 124 Moz silver and 1.1 Moz gold, with significant further exploration upside potential. In addition, the Company has entered into an earn-in option and joint venture agreement with Teck on the La Coipita project, located in the San Juan province of Argentina. AbraSilver is listed on the TSX-V under the symbol ABRA and in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol ABBRF.

For further information please visit the AbraSilver Resource website at , and follow us on Twitter at

Alternatively please contact:

John Miniotis, President and CEO

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: +1 416-306-8334

Cautionary Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information. 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. When considering this forward-looking information, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in the Companys disclosure documents filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The risk factors and other factors noted in the disclosure documents could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information. 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.

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
RC Drilling Underway at Gran Pilar Gold - Silver Project - Expansion Area

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 /Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") (CSE:TOC) (OTCQB:TCVNF) (WKN:TV3/A2PE64), is pleased to announce that it has closed a first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of Units ("Units") for gross proceeds of $2,105,320 (the "Offering"), which included $1,800,000 from a UK based institutional investor, Sorbie Bornholm LP ("Sorbie"), who has invested in several previous private placements with the Company since 2022. The Offering consisted of the issuance of an aggregate of 4,386,083 Units at a price of $0.48 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share ("Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.75 for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Offering.

"We are excited to close the first tranche and announce RC drilling on the expansion area has commenced." commented, CEO Brodie Sutherland. "This next phase of drilling will focus on the immediate expansion of mineralized trends to the north and northeast of the Main Zone, pushing the boundaries into undrilled areas. Recent surface results have indicated mineralization continues and we look forward to unlocking additional resource potential. Funds will be allocated to advance drilling efforts, permit new drill targets across the broad expansion area, and permit and prepare for the anticipated pilot mine in 2025."

Plate 1. Photos of RC Drilling Restarting at the Gran Pilar Gold-Silver Project, Sonora, Mexico.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash commissions to arm's length finders who assisted with the Offering of approximately $24,696 and issued 51,450 finders' warrants ("Finders' Warrants"). Each Finder's Warrant is exercisable at a price of $0.48 per Common Share for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Offering. In addition, Sorbie received a corporate finance fee of $126,000, paid via the issuance of 262,500 Common Shares and 262,500 Warrants on the terms noted above.

The Units under the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation in Canada.

The Offering proceeds from Sorbie will be deposited with a third-party escrow agent and delivered to the Company in monthly tranches of $75,000 over the next 24 months pursuant to the terms and conditions of a sharing agreement between the Company and Sorbie Bornholm LP dated June 28, 2022, as amended on December 10, 2024, and an escrow agreement dated June 28, 2022, as amended on December 10, 2024, between the Corporation, Sorbie Bornholm LP, and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (UK) LLP.

Use of Proceeds

The proceeds of the raise will go towards the advancement of the Gran Pilar Au-Ag project in Sonora, Mexico.

About Tocvan Ventures Corp.

Tocvan's advancing gold-silver projects are located in the mine-friendly jurisdiction of Sonora, Mexico. Through ongoing exploration programs, Company is unveiling the high-potential at its Gran Pilar Gold-Silver Project where it holds 100% interests in over 21 square kilometers of prospective area and a majority ownership (51%) in a one square kilometer area shared with Colibri Resources. The Company also holds 100% interest in the Picacho Gold-Silver project in the Caborca Trend of northern Sonora, a trend host to some of the major gold deposits of the region. Management feels both projects represent tremendous opportunity to create shareholder value.

Tocvan has approximately 51 million shares outstanding.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

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 release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, 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. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative 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.

These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves 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 the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business, the Company's formative stage of development and the Company's financial position. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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.

For more information, please contact:

TOCVAN VENTURES CORP.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO

820-1130 West Pender St.

Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4

Telephone: 1 888 772 2452

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Howard Group

Jeff Walker

VP Howard Group Inc.

403-221-0915

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - T2 Metals Corp. (TSXV: TWO) (OTCQB: TWOSF) (WKN: A2DR6E) ("T2" or the "Company") is pleased to announce rock chip results from the fall 2024 field sampling program at the Company's 100% owned Copper Eagle copper-gold project, located in Douglas County, Nevada. Several large historic copper mines and development projects lie within 50km of Copper Eagle, including the Anaconda Copper Mine in Yerington, Hudbay Minerals' Mason Project and Kinterra Capital's Pumpkin Hollow Mine (see Figure 1).

During the fall 2024 sampling program, the T2 Metals' field crew located numerous trenches dug by Smith Copper in the 1960s/70s and collected 21 representative rock chip and channel samples where bedrock was exposed. Samples are typically comprised of felsic intrusive rocks and associated contact skarn. While visible oxide copper mineralization occurs at surface at Copper Eagle, assay results also demonstrated that elevated copper grades are present across a broad area of 450m by 150m, even where no mineralization is visible. For samples collected across the project, copper ranged from 0.11% to 2.07%, averaging 0.78%; and silver ranged from 0.17 g/t to 6.05 g/t, averaging 1.82 g/t. Key analytical results are provided in Table 1.

In addition to laboratory multielement assay, samples were laboratory-analysed using a TerraSpec multispectral scanner to help identify prospectivity of the mineralized area and compare to other deposits in Nevada.

Table 1. Elevated assay results from Copper Eagle rock chip sampling. (UTM Zone 11N, WGS84)

Sample No Sample Type Easting Northing Copper (%) Silver (g/t) Description 1030169 ROCKCHIP 278,942 4327440 0.54 0.4 Outcrop/trench 1030171 ROCKCHIP 278,725 4327545 0.89 1.9 Float/trench 1030170 ROCKCHIP 279,002 4327422 1.07 1.2 Outcrop/trench 1030168 ROCKCHIP 278,999 4327435 1.22 4.1 Float/trench 1030167 ROCKCHIP 278,968 4327420 2.07 6.1 Outcrop/trench

The assay results and alteration profile are consistent with an oxidized zone associated with porphyry copper mineralization, similar in style to the outcropping area of the nearby Yerington deposit. Traces of sulfur in samples 1030171 and 1030173 at Copper Eagle, taken from relatively un-weathered part of the mineralization, indicate the presence of copper as sulfides in addition to the carbonates and oxides that are visible in the central part of the exposed area.

"From historical records and previous site visits we have known that Copper Eagle has potential to host a porphyry copper deposit," said Mr Mark Saxon, President and CEO of T2 Metals Corp. "The results from samples taken during the 2024 fall field program are encouraging, and we are now moving ahead with a plan for geophysics to delineate targets at Copper Eagle. The Company's Chief Geologist Anders Hogrelius recently attended the American Exploration and Mining Association conference in Reno to discuss support opportunities with contracting and consulting groups.

T2 Metal's North American project portfolio coupled with the rising demand for copper, silver and gold, makes T2 Metals Corp a well positioned company."

Figure 1. Location of the Copper Eagle Project, Nevada.

Figure 2. Outcrop sampling, Copper Eagle Project, Nevada.

The Copper Eagle copper project is located in Douglas County, Nevada, approximately 21 km southeast of Carson City and 32 km WNW of Yerington. The nearby Yerington mining district is a prolific copper producing region and is host to several world class copper mines and deposits including Yerington (162 mt @ 0.54% Cu) and Ann Mason (2.2 Bt @ 0.29% Cu). The project is secured by 6 granted BLM lode mining claims and is easily accessed by two-wheel drive vehicles utilizing existing access from Nevada State Route 395.

Copper Eagle lies within the Walker Lane Mineral Belt, in the vicinity of world class porphyry and skarn type copper projects. Exploration at Copper Eagle was last recorded over 50 years ago, when significant zones of oxidized copper mineralization were exposed by a consortium of owners (I. Smith, J. Smith and P. Gerken) beneath shallow alluvial cover. Original exploration company records acquired by T2 Metals from the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology show trenching at Copper Eagle discovered sulfide and oxide copper mineralization over an area of at least 500 m by 200 m (as reported by consulting geologist Majid Shokohi for Smith Copper, 1971).

All samples were delivered in person for assay and multispectral scanning to the ALS Global laboratory in Reno, Nevada. Samples were analysed using four acid digestion followed by ICP-MS assay (ME-MS61) and four acid digestion and ICP finish with 0.4g assay (Cu-OG62) for over-range samples. Additionally, all samples were assayed for gold using Au by aqua regia extraction with ICP-MS finish with 50g assay (Au-ST44).

Industry standard procedures for sampling and chain-of-custody of the collected samples have been followed for the field sampling. However, any references to the terms "ore minerals", "mineralization" or "mineralized zones" are purely for descriptive purposes and are not intended to be interpreted as or relied upon for any resource or economic evaluation of the project at this time.

The qualified person for the Company's projects, Mr. Mark Saxon, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.

About T2 Metals Corp (TSX.V: TWO) (OTCQB: TWOSF) (WKN: A2DR6E)

T2 Metals Corp is an emerging copper and precious metal company enhancing shareholder value through exploration and discovery. The Company continues to target under-explored areas, including the Sherridon, Lida, Cora and Copper Eagle projects where post-mineralization cover masks areas of high geological prospectivity in the vicinity of major mines.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of the Company as at the effective date of such statements and, in certain cases, information provided or disseminated by third parties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such risks include uncertainties relating to exploration activities. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
TORONTO ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 / Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSXV:LG) (OTCQB:LGCXF) (the "Company" or "Lahontan") is pleased to announce results from a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its flagship Santa Fe Mine gold-silver project located in Nevada's prolific Walker Lane Trend. The PEA was prepared by Kappes, Cassiday & Associates ("KCA") of Reno, Nevada with mine planning and production scheduling contributions from RESPEC Company LLC ("Respec"), Reno, Nevada and mineral resource estimation by Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd. ("Equity"), of Vancouver, British Columbia, in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

PEA Highlights:

Pre-tax Net Present Value at a 5% discount rate ("NPV 5 ") of US$265.1 M with a 41.0% IRRwith an After-tax NPV 5 of US$200.0 M with a 34.2% IRR utilizing a $2,705/oz gold price and a $32.60/oz silver price ("spot metal prices") (see spot metal price to base case metal price comparison in Table 1).

Total Life-of-Mine ("LOM") Pre-tax net cash flow of US$373.3 M and After-tax net cash flow of US$288.9 M over a nine-year project life using spot metal prices.

Total projected LOM revenue of US$930.8 M over a nine-year project life using spot metal prices.

LOM strip ratio of only 1.54 (waste to mineralized material ratio).

Estimated pre-production capital costs of US$135.1 M including a 20% contingency, with a payback of 2.9 years using spot metal prices.

Kimberly Ann, Lahontan Gold Corp Executive Chair, CEO, President, and Founder commented: "Lahontan is very excited about the results of the PEA: a low-capex, highly profitable mining project with a quick payback certainly bodes well for the future of Lahontan and all stakeholders. There is considerable potential to expand gold and silver resources, therefore this is just the first step in restarting mining operations at Santa Fe. With mine permitting well under-way, targeting a 2026 mine ground-breaking, the potential for the Company to realize the economic outcomes outlined in the PEA is very real, especially given current trends in gold and silver prices. Continued optimization of the mine plan, resource expansion drilling, and refining the metallurgical flow sheet are planned for 2025, in parallel with our permitting activities."

The PEA is preliminary in nature, includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Company has not defined any Mineral Reserves at the Santa Fe Mine project.

Economic Sensitivities

Sensitivity of the project economics to metals prices is shown in Table 1, showing the base case metal prices used for the PEA, as well as a low case, a high case and the spot case.

Table 1: Santa Fe Project 2024 PEA Economics

Low Case Base Case High Case Spot Case (1) Gold Price (US$/oz) 1,800 2,025 2,200 2,705 Silver Price (US$/oz) 21.50 24.20 26.3 32.60 Net Revenue (US$) 618.6 M 696.2 M 756.5 M 930.8 M Pre-Tax NCF(2) (US$) 65.0 M 141.6 M 201.2 M 373.3 M Pre-Tax NPV5(3) (US$) 21.7 M 82.2 M 129.2 M 265.1 M Pre-Tax IRR(4) 8.5% 17.4% 23.9% 41.0% After-Tax NCF(2) (US$) 47.8 M 107.7 M 154.1 M 288.9 M After-Tax NPV5(3) (US$) 8.7 M 56.5 M 93.3 M 200.0 M After-Tax IRR(4) 6.4% 14.0% 19.5% 34.2% Payback Period(5) (years) 5.1 4.2 3.8 2.9

(1) As of December 10, 2024

(2) NCF means net cash flow

(3) NPV5 refers to net present value at 5% discount rate

(4) IRR means internal rate of return

(5) Pre-production capital, excluding sustaining capital

Capital Costs

Capital costs for the project are summarized in Table 2. Capital costs associated with the mining operation were estimated by RESPEC and based on mining by contractor. Pre-stripping costs were based on the operating costs discussed below. Capital costs associated with processing such as crushing, heap leaching and metal recovery, along with support and infrastructure costs associated with laboratory, water and power distribution and general site services were estimated by KCA. Reclamation and closure costs of $12.5 M were estimated by KCA.

Table 2: Project Capital Costs

Pre-Production (US$ M) LOM Sustaining (US$ M) Mining 2.5 0.8 Processing, Support & Infrastructure 116.0 17.0 Owner's Costs 5.3 0.0 Initial Fills 0.5 0.0 Working Capital(1) 10.7 0.0 TOTAL(2) 135.1 17.8

Working capital is credited in Year 9 Values are rounded and may not sum perfectly

Operating Costs

Operating costs for the project are summarized in Table 3. Mining operating costs were estimated by RESPEC and based on estimated anticipated equipment hours and personnel requirements at a 25% markup for contractor rates. The off-road red-dye diesel fuel price in this estimate was assumed to be $0.74/L. All other operating costs were estimated by KCA and based on first principles on certain components where possible, such as reagent and power consumption, along with benchmarking with similar operations for other components, such as labor, maintenance and discretionary expenses

Table 3: Project Operating Costs

LOM Total (US$ M) Per Tonne Processed ($/t) Mining 204.2 7.36 Processing 138.7 5.00 Support & Infrastructure 17.3 0.62 G&A 35.8 1.29 TOTAL(1) 402.5 14.28

(1) Values are rounded and may not sum perfectly

Mine Production Schedule

The PEA mine production schedule includes mining of leach material and waste for the Santa Fe, Calvada, Slab, and York deposits. Leach material was assumed to be sent to a centralized crushing plant and then stacked on a leach pad and the waste material was sent to designed waste rock storage facilities (WRSF) or used as partial backfill into the Calvada pit.

Because the Santa Fe Mine is a brown-field project, minimal pre-stripping is required to develop sufficient stockpiles to feed the crusher. The mine production schedule requires 2 months of preproduction which begins in the Santa Fe deposit. The Calvada deposit is started in year 2 and mined concurrently with Santa Fe. Calvada mining is followed by mining of Slab and York deposits.

The process schedule was developed with a ramp up of production from year 1 through year 3 to a full 4.56 million tonnes per year. Table 4 shows the process production schedule.

Table 4: Projected Production Summary

Year Tonnes Processed (kt) Gold Grade (g/t) Silver Grade (g/t) Gold Produced (koz) Silver Produced (koz) Gold Equivalent Produced(1) (koz) 1 3,468 0.47 4.1 30.3 88.1 31.4 2 4,517 0.58 4.6 51.4 168.9 53.4 3 4,563 0.66 3.7 60.2 155.7 62.0 4 4,563 0.70 3.0 60.5 124.2 62.0 5 4,563 0.73 2.5 62.0 93.5 63.1 6 4,563 0.61 2.2 49.9 56.9 50.5 7 1,497 0.58 2.1 20.1 23.1 20.4 8(2) 0 2.3 4.2 2.3 TOTAL(3) 27,731 0.63 3.3 336.7 714.7 345.2

Equivalent gold calculation is based on base case metal prices Residual leaching production only Values are rounded and may not sum perfectly

Table 5 shows the key production parameters for the mine and processing units used in the generation of the production and cash flow profiles.

Table 5: Key Mining and Processing Production Parameters

LOM Mining Total Waste Tonnes Mined (Mt) 42.9 Total Processed Tonnes Mined (Mt) 27.7 Total Tonnes Mined (Mt) 70.6 Heap Recovery - Gold Santa Fe Oxide 71% Santa Fe Transition 49% Calvada Oxide 71% Calvada Transition 45% Slab Oxide 50% York Oxide 60% York Transition 45% Heap Recovery - Silver Santa Fe Oxide 30% Santa Fe Transition 30% Calvada Oxide 13% Calvada Transition 0% Slab Oxide 12% York Oxide 0% York Transition 0%

Mining and Processing

The mineralized material will be mined by standard open-pit mining methods using a contractor-owned and operated mining fleet consisting of 92-tonne haul trucks and 11.5-m3 loading units and transported to the crushing circuit for processing.

Mineralized material from the Santa Fe, Calvada, Slab and York deposits will be processed by conventional heap leaching methods. The nominal processing rate will be 4.6 million tonnes per annum or 12,500 tonnes per day. Three-stage crushing of the material to 12.7 mm, will be followed by conveyor stacking on to a multi-lift heap leach pad. Dilute sodium cyanide solution will be applied to the heap, with the pregnant gold and silver-bearing solution effluent from the heap being processed in a carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR) plant. Gold and silver will be produced in the form of dore bars from the on-site smelting process.

Mineral Resource Estimation

The mineral resource estimate ("MRE") was prepared in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards and Canadian National Instrument NI-43-101. The effective date of the MRE prepared by Equity is October 9, 2024. The MRE is shown in Table 6.

Table 6: Project-wide Resources, Santa Fe Mine, Mineral County, Nevada

Notes to Table 6:

Mineral Resources have an effective date of October 9, 2024. The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Santa Fe Mine was prepared by Trevor Rabb, P.Geo., of Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd., an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred Resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be classified as Mineral Reserves. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that most of the Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. Resources are reported in accordance with NI43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (BCSC, 2016) and the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (CIM, 2014). Mineral Resources were estimated for gold, silver, and gold equivalent (Au Eq) using a combination of ordinary kriging and inverse distance cubed within grade shell domains. Mineral resources are reported using a cut-off grade of 0.15 g/t Au Eq for oxide resources and 0.60 g/t Au Eq for non-oxide resources. Au Eq for the purpose of cut-off grade and reporting the Mineral Resources is based on the following assumptions gold price of US$1,950/oz gold, silver price of US$23.50/oz silver, and oxide gold recoveries ranging from 45% to 79%, oxide silver recoveries ranging from 10% to 30%, and non-oxide gold and silver recoveries of 71%, mining costs for resource and waste of US$2.50/t, processing cost (oxide) US$3.49/t, processing cost (non-oxide) US$25/t. An optimized open-pit shell was used to constrain the Mineral Resource and was generated using Lerchs-Grossman algorithm utilizing the following parameters: gold price of US$1,950/oz gold, silver price of US$23.50/oz silver, and selling costs of US$29.25/oz gold. Mining costs for resource and waste of US$2.50/t, processing cost (oxide) US$3.49/t, processing cost (non-oxide) US$25/t, G&A cost US$1.06/t. Royalties for the Slab, York and Calvada deposits are 1.25%, and maximum pit slope angles of 50 degrees. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Estimation Approach: Lithology and gold and silver bearing domains were modelled using Leapfrog 2024. These domains are mainly defined by logged jasperoid and limestone-breccia lithologies and continuity of gold grades above 0.1 g/t gold. Metallurgical domains for oxide, transition and non-oxide were modelled based on ratio of cyanide leachable gold assay values to fire assay gold values in addition to drillhole logs recording abundance of pyrite and oxidation intensity. Transition material represents approximately 35% of oxide tonnes and comes almost entirely from the Santa Fe deposit. Transition domain material is included in the oxide resource. Domains representing lithology, weathering and mineralization models were assigned to a block model with a block size of 5 m x 5 m x 6 m. Average bulk densities representative of the mineralization and lithology models were assigned to the block model and vary from 2.4 t/m3 to 2.6 t/m3.

Grade capping and outlier restrictions were applied to gold and silver values and interpolation parameters respectively. Top cut values for gold and silver were evaluated for each domain independently prior to compositing to 1.52 m lengths that honor domain boundaries. Estimation was completed using Micromine Origin with Ordinary Kriging (OK) and Inverse Distance cubed (ID3) interpolants. Blocks were classified in accordance with the 2014 CIM Definition Standards. The nominal drillhole spacing for Indicated Mineral Resources is 50 m or less. The nominal drillhole spacing for Inferred Mineral Resources is 100 m or less.

Prospects for eventual economic extraction were evaluated by performing pit optimization using Lerchs-Grossman algorithm with the following parameters: gold price of US$1,950/oz gold, silver price of US$23.50/oz silver, selling costs of US$29.25/oz gold. Mining costs for resource and waste of US$2.50/t, processing cost (oxide) US$3.49/t, processing cost (non-oxide) US$25/t, G&A cost US$1.06/t. Royalties for the Slab, York and Calvada deposits are 1.25%. Maximum pit slope is 50 degrees. Processing recoveries range from 45% to 79% for oxide, silver recoveries range from 10% to 30% for oxide and non-oxide gold and silver recoveries are 71%.

More information regarding the Santa Fe Mine project's MRE update is included in the NI 43-101 Technical Report titled Santa Fe Project Technical Report with an effective date of October 9, 2024, Report Date: November 27, 2024*.

Qualified Persons

The qualified persons are Kenji Umeno, P.Eng. of Kappes, Cassiday & Associates; Thomas Dyer, P.E. of RESPEC; Trevor Rabb, P.Geo. and Darcy Baker, P.Geo. of Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd. each of whom is an independent "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101. A technical report supporting the results disclosed herein will be published within 45 days. The effective date of the technical report will be December 10, 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:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things: the Company's strategic plans; the results of the PEA; the economic potential and merits of the Project; the estimated amount and grade of mineral resources at the Project; precious metals prices; the PEA representing a viable development option for the Santa Fe Mine project ("the Project"); the timing and particulars of the development phases as identified in the PEA; estimates with respect to LOM, operating costs, sustaining capital costs, capex, AISC, cash costs, LOM production, processing plant throughput, NPV and after-tax IRR, payback period, production capacity and other metrics; the estimated economic returns from the Project; mining methods and extraction techniques; the exploration potential of the Project and its inclusion in future mining studies.

These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon several assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; tonnage to be mined and processed; grades and recoveries; prices for silver and gold remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; reclamation estimates; reliability of the updated MRE and the assumptions upon which it is based; future operating costs; prices for energy inputs, labor, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); the availability of skilled labor and no labor related disruptions at any of the Company's operations; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled production; performance of available laboratory and other related services; availability of funds; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for operations are received in a timely manner; the ability to secure and maintain title and ownership to properties and the surface rights necessary for operations; and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

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
Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results of twenty-four drill holes from the infill and step-out drill program designed to expand the maiden resource at the Richmond Hill Gold Project ("Richmond Hill") ("drill program"). The results reported today are the final assays from the drill program which began in November 2023, and they, along with the previously released results from the drill program, will be incorporated into an updated S-K 1300 Initial Assessment ("Initial Assessment or Report") in Q1 2025. The maiden S-K 1300 resource ("maiden resource"), which was announced on April 30, 2024 outlined an Indicated Resource of 51.83 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.80 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) for 1.33 million ounces, and Inferred Resource of 58.06 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.61 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) for 1.13 million ounces.

Highlights:

The drill results reported in this release are from the northeast area of the Richmond Hill resource area known as Chism Gulch, where there has been limited drill testing by the Company. Results to date demonstrate areas of additional oxide mineralization, and the grade and width are higher in average than the drill results used to inform the maiden resource.



Highlighted intersections include: RH24C-122 intersected - 1.00 g/t Au over 38.2 meters RH24C-136 intersected - 3.30 g/t Au over 11.8 meters RH24C-142 intersected - 2.22 g/t Au over 50.0 meters RH24C-143 intersected - 2.54 g/t Au over 11.4 meters





Highlighted intersections include: Drilling to date indicates that the entire Richmond Hill resource shell remains open in all directions. There is potential for significant resource growth through additional drilling, metallurgical work to improve recoveries, and inclusion of silver in the updated resource.





Dakota Gold is on track to produce an updated S-K 1300 resource for Richmond Hill which will be informed by a historical database containing 56,771 gold assays from 910 drill holes, with the addition of 145 drill holes totaling 45,517 meters of drilling by Dakota Gold's program to expand the maiden resource.

James Berry, VP Exploration for Dakota Gold said, "The results received to date from our drill program have exceeded my expectations for grade and widths. Of the 52 drill hole results reported to date from the Chism Gulch area, the average grade is 1.13 g/t Au, with an average width of 10.9 meters, which is much better than the averages for drilling at Chism Gulch used to generate the maiden resource and bodes well to increase resource ounces. The Chism Gulch area remains open to the north and east. We look forward to our updated S-K 1300 resource early in the New Year, incorporating results from Chism Gulch and Twin Tunnels drilling."

"The Richmond Hill drill results reported today will contribute to a robust resource update in Q1 2025 and provide areas for future resource expansion," stated Robert Quartermain, Co-Chair, President and CEO. He continued, "With our successful step-out drilling campaign at Maitland reported in our December 3rd, 2024 news release, both of our projects align with our expectations this year, and we are well-positioned to grow shareholder value through successful exploration."

Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project

Based on the current defined oxide resource and additional significant drill hole intercepts encountered in the current drill campaign, Dakota has contracted with M3, RESPEC, IMC and Woods Processing to undertake the necessary engineering and metallurgical studies currently in progress to advance from the Initial Assessment with Cash Flow (IACF) to initiating a full feasibility in Q2 2025. Concurrently the Company is undertaking baseline environmental studies that will inform future permitting requirements. With regards Richmond Hill, it is analogous to the adjacent Wharf Mine of Coeur Mining which is expected to generate over $100 million in free cash flow in 2024 from approximately 90,000 ounces of gold. The Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project is located on private land with certain existing permits and we believe with anticipated updated amendments, we can advance the project expeditiously through development and into production. Our financial proposal for up to $300 million for a development opportunity with Orion Mine Finance, our major shareholder announced on October 12, 2023, provides Dakota Gold with the financial pathway to a commercial gold operation.

Maitland Gold Project

The Maitland Gold Project hosts the JB Gold Zone, which has returned highlight intercepts including drill hole MA23C-038 which intersected 25.03 g/t Au over 4.4 meters. Maitland is three miles along strike north of the historic Homestake Mine and gold mineralization now extends over 1,646 meters based on our recent drilling. The JB Gold Zone discovery is analogous to the West Ledges at the Homestake Mine that produced over 6 million ounces at a grade of 7.7 g/t Au. Dakota Gold has completed its 2024 Maitland drill program and is assessing results that will inform the 2025 follow up drill program where we have significant potential to continue to expand the footprint of the high-grade gold discovered to date.

Table 1. Richmond Hill Drill Results (Metric / Imperial)1,2

Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral Type g x m m m m m g/t ft ft ft ft oz/ton RH24C-122 4.3 42.5 3 38.2 1.00 14.2 139.4 10 125.2 0.029 Td 38 RH24C-124 46.7 53.1 24 6.5 1.01 153.1 174.3 80 21.2 0.030 Td / Tert 7 59.4 66.0 32 6.6 0.98 194.9 216.4 106 21.5 0.029 Td 6 RH24C-125 18.6 25.6 12 7.0 0.64 61.0 84.1 41 23.1 0.019 Td 5 29.8 34.4 20 4.6 1.59 97.8 112.8 67 15.0 0.046 Td 7 41.3 51.1 29 9.8 0.92 135.6 167.7 94 32.1 0.027 Td 9 RH24C-127 11.4 33.0 8 21.6 0.81 37.3 108.2 26 70.9 0.024 Td 17 39.4 47.7 27 8.4 1.60 129.2 156.6 87 27.4 0.047 Td 13 RH24C-128 99.3 118.1 41 18.8 0.75 325.8 387.5 134 61.7 0.022 Td 14 RH24C-129 38.1 45.1 16 7.0 0.70 125.0 148.0 51 23.0 0.020 Td 5 70.4 74.9 43 4.5 0.83 231.0 245.8 140 14.8 0.024 Tert 4 RH24C-130 36.1 42.2 20 6.0 0.60 118.5 138.3 67 19.8 0.018 Td / Tert 4 47.9 66.6 23 18.7 0.93 157.1 218.6 77 61.5 0.027 Td / Tert / Tp 18 RH24C-131 108.0 120.5 65 12.5 0.58 354.2 395.3 214 41.1 0.017 Td / Tert 7 123.5 134.5 73 10.9 0.71 405.3 441.2 241 35.9 0.021 Tp 8 RH24C-132 48.4 54.1 19 5.7 1.86 158.7 177.5 63 18.8 0.054 Td 11 57.6 65.6 22 7.9 0.71 189.1 215.1 72 26.0 0.021 Td 6 82.1 88.9 34 6.8 0.54 269.4 291.8 110 22.4 0.016 Tert / Tp 4 92.9 99.3 39 6.4 0.58 304.9 325.8 127 20.9 0.017 Tp 4 RH24C-133 18.0 31.3 20 13.4 0.94 58.9 102.8 65 43.9 0.027 Td 13 34.6 40.0 36 5.4 1.12 113.6 131.3 118 17.7 0.033 Td / Tert 6 RH24C-134 13.0 17.4 7 4.4 2.31 42.5 57.0 23 14.5 0.067 Td 10 22.5 29.9 14 7.4 1.31 73.8 98.0 46 24.2 0.038 Td 10 RH24C-135 86.7 116.6 66 29.8 0.90 284.5 382.4 218 97.9 0.026 Td / Tert / Tp 27 RH24C-136 5.4 18.5 2 11.8 3.30 22.0 60.6 8 38.6 0.096 Td 39 21.9 25.0 11 3.0 0.97 72.0 82.0 35 10.0 0.028 Td 3 29.6 35.7 16 6.1 1.14 97.2 117.1 54 19.9 0.033 Tert 7 RH24C-137 0.0 10.1 0 10.1 1.24 0.0 33.3 0 33.3 0.036 Td 13 RH24C-138 74.7 84.6 59 9.9 0.56 245.0 277.6 192 32.6 0.016 Td 6 RH24C-139 62.4 72.1 42 9.7 0.78 204.8 236.7 138 31.9 0.023 Td 8 78.5 87.2 55 8.7 1.11 257.6 286.2 182 28.6 0.032 Tp / Tert 10 RH24C-140 61.6 68.9 61 7.3 1.48 202.0 226.1 199 24.1 0.043 Td 11 76.3 83.2 70 6.9 1.40 250.4 273.0 229 22.6 0.041 Td 10 RH24C-141 55.9 63.7 26 7.8 1.80 183.3 208.9 84 25.6 0.053 Td 14 66.3 72.1 30 5.8 0.73 217.4 236.4 97 19.0 0.021 Td 4 RH24C-142 32.3 82.2 36 50.0 2.22 105.9 269.8 117 163.9 0.065 Td / Tert / Tp 111 RH24C-143 0.0 6.2 0 6.2 0.77 0.0 20.3 0 20.3 0.023 Td 5 12.4 16.6 5 4.1 1.14 40.7 54.3 16 13.6 0.033 Td 5 25.1 33.3 9 8.2 1.05 82.4 109.3 29 26.9 0.031 Tert / Td 9 51.3 66.4 16 15.0 0.89 168.4 217.7 52 49.3 0.026 Td 13 71.0 82.4 20 11.4 2.54 233.0 270.4 64 37.4 0.074 Td / Tp 29 RH24C-144 26.8 32.4 25 5.6 0.91 88.0 106.3 81 18.3 0.027 Td 5 RH24C-145 No Significant Results RH24C-146 72.9 93.1 53 20.2 1.23 239.3 305.6 175 66.3 0.036 Tp / Tert 25 RH24C-147 25.9 29.4 16 3.5 0.62 85.0 96.4 52 11.4 0.018 Tp 2

The table may contain rounding errors.

Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Tertiary breccia hosted mineralization ("TBx"); Cambrian Deadwood Fm hosted Tertiary mineralization ("Td"); Tertiary intrusive hosted mineralization ("Tert"); and Precambrian hosted Tertiary mineralization ("Tp"). True thickness unknown.

Figure 1. Plan Map of Chism Gulch Drill Hole Traces

Figure 2. Cross Sections of Dakota Gold Corp. Richmond Hill highlighted drill holes from drill program to update the S-K 1300 Initial Assessment.

About Dakota Gold Corp.

Dakota Gold is building on the legacy of the 145 year old Homestake Gold Mining District by advancing the Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project and outlining a high-grade underground gold resource at the Maitland Gold Project located on private land in South Dakota.

Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates.

Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure

James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person (as defined in Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K) for this news release and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Check samples are submitted to Bureau Veritas, Vancouver B.C. as an umpire laboratory. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication 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. When used in this communication, the words "plan," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "potential," "will" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Any express or implied statements contained in this communication that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: our expectations regarding the drilling to be completed in 2024 and 2025; our expectations for the improvement and growth of the mineral resources; the grade potential of the drilling completed after the effective date of the Initial Assessment; the timing for the updated S-K 1300 Initial Assessments to be released in 2025 or thereafter; and our overall expectation for the possibility of near-term production at the Richmond Hill project. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities; our use and evaluation of historic data; our ability to achieve our strategic goals; the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry; and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by annual, quarterly and current reports that we file with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.

All references to "$" in this communication are to U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
VANCOUVER, BC  TheNewswire - December 11, 2024  Heritage Mining Ltd. (CSE: HML FRA:Y66) (Heritage or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Ontario Ministry of Mines has issued the exploration permit required in connection with its 2024/2025 Exploration Program on its wholly owned property Contact Bay. The programs permitted area and focus will be to scout drill the Rognon Mine area (Figure 1) in addition to the previously planned Drayton Black Lake Exploration Program on Zone 3 and New Millennium.

Figure 1: Ontario Project Portfolio  Heritage Mining Ltd.

Strategic capital continues to flow into the district, underscoring the immense potential of one of the last underexplored greenstone belts in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. With the three key target area permits in the rear-view mirror, in-house drill team on site early January 2025, and a cashed up 4,000m program We are well-positioned to execute all Phase 1 initiatives for our 2024/2025 exploration program, finishing the year on a strong footing.

Further to Heritage Mining Ltd. fully funded 4,000m drilling program. Approximately 2,100m is allocated to a targeted Phase 1 continuation program, with the remaining allocated to follow on drilling. Preparations are underway to push a trail into the Rognon Mine area before year-end, all other target areas are drill ready, and we look forward to mobilizing early in the new year.

This year has marked an unprecedented alignment of technical and capital market strengths for Heritage Mining Ltd. I would like to extend my gratitude to all stakeholders for their contributions and continued support. 2024 has been a transformative year for the Company, and there is still more to achieve before it concludes.

I look forward to updating the market on our exploration progress in short order. Commented Peter Schloo, President, CEO and Director of Heritage.

ABOUT HERITAGE MINING LTD.

The Company is a Canadian mineral exploration company advancing its two high grade gold-silver-copper projects in Northwestern Ontario. The Drayton-Black Lake and the Contact Bay projects are located near Sioux Lookout in the underexplored Eagle-Wabigoon-Manitou Greenstone Belt. Both projects benefit from a wealth of historic data, excellent site access and logistical support from the local community. The Company is well capitalized, with a tight capital structure.

For further information, please contact:

Heritage Mining Ltd.

Peter Schloo, CPA, CA, CFA

President, CEO and Director

Phone: (905) 505-0918

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events of the Company. Any 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 seek, anticipate, plan, continue, estimate, expect, forecast, may, will, project, predict, potential, targeting, intend, could, might, should, believe, outlook and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements.

Forward looking information involves 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 the forward-looking information. Such risks include, among others, the inherent risk of the mining industry; adverse economic and market developments; the risk that the Company will not be successful in completing additional acquisitions; risks relating to the estimation of mineral resources; the possibility that the Companys estimated burn rate may be higher than anticipated; risks of unexpected cost increases; risks of labour shortages; risks relating to exploration and development activities; risks relating to future prices of mineral resources; risks related to work site accidents, risks related to geological uncertainties and variations; risks related to government and community support of the Companys projects; risks related to global pandemics and other risks related to the mining industry. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forwardlooking information except as required by law.

This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company in Canada, the United States, or any other jurisdiction. Any such offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein will be made only pursuant to subscription documentation between the Company and prospective purchasers. Any such offering will be made in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws, pursuant to a subscription agreement to be entered into by the Company and prospective investors.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV: SPMC) (FSE: 6J00) ("SPMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Alexander Davidson to the Company's Board of Directors. With over 40 years of experience designing, executing, and managing gold and base metal exploration and acquisition programs globally, Mr. Davidson is widely regarded as one of Canada's most accomplished exploration geologists.

Recognized for his leadership as Executive Vice President of Exploration and Corporate Development at Barrick Gold Corporation, Mr. Davidson played a pivotal role in the company's success as it evolved from its North American base into the world's leading gold producer through a series of world-class discoveries and strategic mergers and acquisitions. In 2023, Mr. Davidson was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame, further cementing his reputation as a respected and connected industry veteran.

Michael Murphy, Executive Chair of the Company, commented, "We are honored to welcome Alex to the Board of Directors, as he brings decades of global leadership and development experience to our table. His extensive knowledge about Kainantu's geological setting, combined with his proven ability to drive expansion and discovery, will be invaluable as we advance Anga and Osena - two of our most prospective properties adjacent to K92's operations. Alex's counsel and insights into corporate finance come at an opportunistic time, as drill planning is in its final stages."

Mr. Davidson shared his enthusiasm for joining SPMC's Board of Directors stating, "South Pacific Metals occupies a unique position in the Kainantu Gold District with significant geological potential, and in close proximity to K92's Arakompa and Maniape Discoveries. Exploration know-how is key to unlocking district-scale growth and I'm keen to collaborate with SPMC's leadership team, including newly-hired Exploration Manager Dean Williamson. Together, we'll work toward achieving significant milestones."

Mr. Davidson has been granted 250,000 share options of the Company in accordance with the Company's Omnibus Compensation Plan. The share options are exercisable at a price of C$0.51 per share for a period of five years from December 10, 2024 (the "Grant Date") and are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). In addition, the share options are subject to vesting provisions, pursuant to which 50% of the share options vested on the Grant Date and the remaining 50% will vest on the one-year anniversary of the Grant Date.

Private Placement Financing

The Company also announces that it intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 8,333,334 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of C$0.48 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$4,000,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share of the Company ("Share") and one-half (1/2) of one (1) Share purchase warrant, whereby each whole Share purchase warrant ("Warrant") will be exercisable at $0.90 into an additional Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. If the volume weighted average trading price of the Shares on the TSX-V is equal to or greater than C$1.20 for a period of 10 consecutive days, the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by providing notice that the Warrants will expire on the date that is not less than 10 days from the date such notice is provided by the Company to the warrant holders.

All securities to be issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Finder's fees may be applicable and the net proceeds of the Offering will be used to carry out exploration work on the Company's properties in Papua New Guinea and for general administrative and working capital purposes. The Offering is subject to regulatory approval, including acceptance by the TSX-V.

The securities described herein 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 except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States.

About South Pacific Metals Corp.

South Pacific Metals Corp is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,100 km land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick/Zijin, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke and May River.

Immediately flanking K92's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District - each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that present within K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace, and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of SPMC, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, statements in respect of the size and use of proceeds of the Offering, and the timing and ability of the Company to close the Offering, including obtaining approval of the Offering from the TSX-V. 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. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by SPMC, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete the Offering on the terms proposed and the ability to obtain necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX-V, proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. SPMC does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 10, 2024) - ONGold Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ONAU) (OTCQB: ONGRF) (the "Company" or "ONGold") is pleased to announce it intends to complete a non-brokered flow-through private placement offering for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the "Offering"). Under the Offering, the Company will issue up to 4,615,384 common shares of the Company that will qualify as "flow-through shares" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each a "FT Share") at a price of $0.65 per FT Share. The Company intends to use the gross proceeds from the Offering for expenditures which qualify as Canadian Exploration Expenses, within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), to advance exploration on its mining properties in Manitoba and Ontario. In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay finder's fees in cash equal to 6% of the gross proceeds raised, and issue Warrants equal to 6% of the total number of FT Shares sold, to qualified non-related parties to the Company, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring 4 months and 1 day after issuance, in accordance with the rules and policies of the Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company is planning to close the Offering on December 19, 2024, but reserves the right to amend the closing date of the Offering in its sole discretion.

About ONGold Resources Ltd.

ONGold Resources Ltd. (formerly 1348515 B.C. Ltd.) is a reporting issuer in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. ONGold owns significant exploration assets in Northern Ontario, highlighted by the district-scale TPK Project and October Gold Project. These projects represent a strategic footprint in one of Canada's most prolific gold-producing regions.

ONGold recently announced that it has entered into agreements to purchase 100% interests in both the Monument Bay Gold Project ("Monument Bay") and the Domain Project ("Domain", and together the "Projects"), both located in Manitoba, Canada, from a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico Eagle") (TSX: AEM) (NYSE: AEM) in the case of Monument Bay, and Agnico Eagle and Capella Minerals Ltd. ("Capella") (TSXV: CMIL), in the case of Domain. Upon closing of the transactions under the two agreements, Agnico Eagle will own 15% of ONGold's total issued and outstanding common shares. With its extensive technical expertise, strong commitment to social acceptability, mindful Indigenous engagement and partnerships, in addition to a proven track record of responsible exploration, ONGold's team is uniquely positioned to unlock the full potential of Monument Bay and Domain. For further details, please see the Company's news release dated November 25, 2024.

Monument Bay & Domain

Monument Bay is located in northeastern Manitoba, near the Ontario-Manitoba border, and represents a district-scale exploration opportunity with significant gold and tungsten mineralization over a 40 km strike length. Monument Bay is an advanced stage exploration asset with over 232,000 metres drilled in more than 800 diamond core holes, while still having substantial exploration upside both within the known deposits and along underexplored satellite zones. Monument Bay has had numerous mineral resources estimates completed by various Qualified Persons on behalf of various operators, which are no longer current under NI 43-101 but will be used by ONGold to focus exploration efforts and form the basis of future resource estimates to be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The proposed acquisition of Monument Bay will strengthen ONGold's portfolio, provide a camp to explore ONGold's nearby Rapson Bay properties and complement the Company's broader exploration footprint in Northern Ontario. A historical mineral resource estimate from 2017 identified 2,300,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 1.24 g/t in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources categories, and an additional 720,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 0.92 g/t in the Inferred Mineral Resources category.

ONGold entered into separate asset purchase agreements for Monument Bay (the "MB Agreement") and Domain (the "Domain Agreement", together with the MB Agreement, the "Agreements") on November 25, 2024. Under the terms of the Agreements, ONGold will acquire the Monument Bay and Domain Projects for initial aggregate consideration consisting of $250,000 in cash, of which $100,00 is payable under the MB Agreement and $150,000 payable under the Domain Agreement, and 8.7 million ONGold common shares valued at approximately $4.2 million at a $0.485 ONAU share price, payable under the MB Agreement, resulting in Agnico Eagle holding a 15% equity stake in the Company. In addition, Agnico Eagle will be entitled to up to $21.5 million in contingent milestone-based payments under the MB Agreement while Agnico Eagle and Capella will together be entitled to $0.5 million in contingent milestone-based payments under the Domain Agreement. Closing of the acquisition of Monument Bay and Domain is expected to occur in December 2024 and remains subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.

The transactions pursuant to the Agreements are an important step in advancing ONGold's strategy of becoming a leading junior explorer in the prolific Stull Lake Greenstone belt of Northern Canada.

TPK

The TPK Project, known for its extensive gold mineralization, covers 47,976 of hectares in a highly favourable geological setting, and has shown promising exploration results from historical drilling and recent surveys. The project area is situated in a region renowned for its mineral potential.

October Gold

Similarly, the October Gold Project, consisting of 1,208 claims covering an area of 271km2, holds substantial promise with its favorable geological setting for large-scale gold deposits and is located approximately 35 km along strike from the Cote Lake Mine. The project has undergone preliminary exploration activities, which have indicated the presence of mineralized zones with significant gold anomalies. ONGold also holds a 100% interest in additional properties in northwestern Ontario, known as Rapson Bay, Thorne-Ellard and Meston Lake. Together, these comprise 2,334 cell claims, covering 43,791 ha.

ONGold is committed to responsible exploration practices and sustainable development, emphasizing strong partnerships with local communities and stakeholders. By adhering to high standards of environmental stewardship and community engagement, ONGold aims to not only explore and develop its assets but also contribute positively to the regions in which it operates.

With a seasoned management team led by industry veterans and a strategic focus on high-potential mining assets, ONGold Resources Ltd. is well-positioned to become a leader in the development of next-generation mines in Canada's prolific mining sectors.

ONGold Resources Ltd. on behalf of the Board of Directors

Kyle Stanfield, Chief Executive Officer & Director

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.

All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and includes expectations of closing the Offering on or about December 19, 2024, and the acquisition of Monument Bay and Domain. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2024) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced drilling on the Gilt Creek gold deposit, one of two orogenic gold deposits located on its 100% held Omai gold project in Guyana. Two initial holes are planned to potentially expand the current Gilt Creek Mineral Resource Estimate, while advancing engineering and metallurgical studies that will facilitate inclusion of this underground deposit into a next phase economic study for the Omai property, anticipated in mid-2025.

The Company's April 2024 Preliminary Economic Study1 included only the Wenot open pit deposit (and only 45% of the Wenot Mineral Resource Estimate1). Wenot has been the focus of the 2024 drill program to date, with over 13,000m completed. Incorporating the Gilt Creek underground deposit into an expanded mine plan with the Wenot open pit deposit has the potential to significantly increase projected annual production rates and life of mine for the Omai project.

Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO, commented, "We are very pleased with the baseline Preliminary Economic Assessment for Wenot, completed in April of this year. However, we see Omai as having potential to be a much larger operation. A mine plan incorporating the Gilt Creek underground deposit with an expanded Wenot open pit is the path to a longer life mine with higher annual production and enhanced economics. To this end, we remain on track with our ongoing drilling to expand the large 2.5km long Wenot deposit, and are excited to accelerate work on the Gilt Creek deposit in parallel. The deposits are only 500 metres apart and will benefit from common infrastructure. We are confident that our 2024 drilling at Wenot and work at Gilt Creek will unlock significant value for our shareholders in the near-term."

The Gilt Creek gold deposit is a large 500m by 275m compact, intrusion-hosted orogenic gold deposit with the shallowest part being only 300m below surface. It is located approximately 500m north of the Wenot gold deposit on the Omai property (Figures 1 and 2). In October 2022, Omai announced a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate1 ("MRE") for Gilt Creek with Indicated of 1,151,000 ounces gold averaging 3.22 grams per tonne and Inferred of 665,000 ounces gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au, using a 1.5 g/t Au cutoff and a US$1700/oz gold price. Sensitivity to the cut-off grade (Figure 4) shows that even at a much higher cut-off grade, the size of the Mineral Resource Estimate is not significantly reduced and the average gold grade increases significantly. Initial engineering studies anticipate a ramp or decline from surface to access this deposit for mining. The very wide mineralized zones (Figure 3) are likely amenable to sub-level open stoping with follow-up cut-and-fill mining, although bulk mining methods will be considered as well. Figure 3 shows the numerous wide composites contributing to the MRE including 3.29 g/t Au over 71m, 2.93 g/t over 101m and 3.48 g/t over 65m. A full table of drill hole composites is available on the Company's website.

The upper portion of this Gilt Creek gold deposit was mined between 1993 and 2005 when it produced 2.4 million ounces at an average grade of 1.5 g/t Au. Continuation of this deposit at depth was confirmed in drilling by Iamgold in 2006 and 2007 with 46 drill holes totalling approximately 27,000m. This drilling showed gold mineralization down to a depth of 967m below surface, although only sparse drilling was completed to that depth. Notably, all core drilled from the Gilt Creek deposit was sampled with 41% of samples assaying >0.5 g/t Au. It is likely that the gold mineralization within this "Omai stock" continues to greater depths.

The Company expects to complete one of the two planned drill holes into the Gilt Creek deposit by year end. Metallurgical test work will be initiated early in the new year. Ramp and mine stope design and proposed scheduling will commence early in the new year in anticipation of including the Gilt Creek deposit in a 2025 updated PEA.

The most recent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Omai property, dated May 21, 20241 includes a Wenot Mineral Resource Estimate of 834,000 indicated ounces of gold grading 1.48 g/t Au and 1,614,000 inferred ounces of gold grading 1.99 g/t Au. For the adjacent Gilt Creek deposit, the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate is 1,151,000 indicated ounces of gold grading 3.22 g/t Au and 665,000 inferred ounces of gold grading 3.35 g/t Au. The report was prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. as follows:

1The NI43-101 Technical Report dated May 21, 2024 "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO.2, GUYANA" prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc is available on www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company's website at www.omaigoldmines.com.

Qualified Person

Elaine Ellingham is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

ABOUT OMAI GOLD

Omai Gold Mines Corp. holds a 100% interest in the Omai Prospecting License that includes the past producing Omai Gold Mine in Guyana, and a 100% interest in the adjoining Eastern Flats Mining Permits. The Company announced a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its Wenot Deposit at Omai in April 2024, showing an open pit operation to produce 1.84 million ounces of gold over a 13-year period, with an NPV5% of US$556 million at a US$1950/oz gold price. This baseline PEA incorporates only 45% of the property's MRE and management believes that with additional work the mine plan can be significantly expanded, the economics enhanced, and the open pit resources further increased. An updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of 2.0 million ounces of gold (Indicated) and 2.3 million ounces (Inferred) reflects a notable increase as a result of 2023's successful drilling. Once South America's largest producing gold mine, Omai produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold between 1993 and 2005. Mining ceased at a time when the average gold price was less than US$400 per ounce. As a brownfields project, Omai benefits from good road access and a wealth of historical data that provides knowledge of the geology and gold mineralization on the Property, as well as metallurgy, historical process recoveries and many other relevant mining parameters.

For further information, please see our website www.omaigoldmines.com or contact:

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of gold, copper and other minerals and metals, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, these 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 state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". . Further, the Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessments and related data set out in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Omai Gold Mines Corp. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to international operations; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold, copper and other minerals and metals; general market conditions; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; uncertainty of access to additional capital; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities. 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. 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.

Figure 1. Plan Map showing Gilt Creek and Wenot gold deposits at the Omai property

Figure 2. Omai Gold Deposits - Wenot Shear-Hosted Deposit and Gilt Creek Intrusion-Hosted Deposit

Figure 3. Cross Section through the Gilt Creek Gold Deposit Showing Mineral Resource Model1

Figure 4. Gilt Creek Deposit Sensitivity to Cut-Off Grade
Some brazen shoplifters who'd helped themselves to large items at Kelowna-area stores didn't manage to escape with the stolen merchandise. Forty-seven people were arrested for shoplifting in a police crackdown aimed at deterring theft during the Christmas shopping season.
Xi says China will continue to be biggest engine of world economic growth

Xinhua) 08:04, December 11, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with heads of major international economic organizations, who came here for the "1+10" Dialogue, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday China has full confidence to achieve this year's economic growth target and will continue to play its role as the biggest engine of world economic growth.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with heads of major international economic organizations, who are here to attend the "1+10" dialogue.

The foreign dignitaries included President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga, and Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

CHINA GROWTH

Xi briefed the guests on the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, especially the important measures recently adopted by China. He said that after more than 40 years of sustained and rapid development, the Chinese economy has ushered in a phase of high-quality development, contributing around 30 percent to the world economic growth.

China will further opening-up to the outside world, proactively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, and build a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment to provide more opportunities for and share more development dividends with other countries, he said.

China is willing to maintain dialogue, expand cooperation and manage differences with the U.S. government, and push bilateral relations forward in the direction of steady, healthy and sustainable development, Xi said, expressing the hope that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction.

"Tariff wars, trade wars and sci-tech wars go against the trend of history and the laws of economics, and there will be no winners," he said.

Noting the progress in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) over the past decade, Xi welcomed international economic organizations to continue actively participating in the BRI cooperation and promote the modernization of all countries that features peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

"Amid world's efforts to revitalize globalization and boost economic recovery, the fact that these major international economic organizations choose to engage with China speaks volumes for the world's recognition of China's international role and the need to cooperate with China," said Chen Fengying, a researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with heads of major international economic organizations, who came here for the "1+10" Dialogue, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

CHINA INSPIRATION

The foreign guests hailed China's remarkable achievements, particularly in reducing poverty and fostering new quality productive forces, saying China's people-centered development philosophy has been proven to be both successful and practical and offers inspiration for the world.

China has continued to comprehensively deepen reform, expand opening-up and achieve high-quality development, providing tremendous opportunities for the world, especially countries in the Global South, they said.

They noted that the BRI, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative have fully demonstrated China's role as a responsible major country and provided an important platform for countries in the Global South to achieve their own development.

Amid global economic challenges and the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, countries around the world are looking to China with hope and belief that it will remain a key engine of global economic growth, they said.

Researcher Chen said that discussions at this year's "1+10" dialogue have also become more representative and comprehensive, with more focus on trade, development, financing, infrastructure and other issues of prominent significance to all countries especially the Global South countries in the post-pandemic era.

CHINA SOLUTION

China is ready to work with the major international economic organizations to practice multilateralism, promote international cooperation, and support the development of Global South countries, so as to advance an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and build a just world of common development, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that to bring the world economy onto a path of strong and sustainable growth, it is imperative to build an open world economy through cooperation, drive development through innovation, seize the important opportunities of the digital economy, artificial intelligence and low-carbon technologies, and foster new sources of economic growth.

He urged support for cross-border flow of knowledge, technology and talent, adding that building "small yard with high fences," decoupling and disrupting supply chains bring harm to others without benefiting oneself.

Xi stressed that international economic organizations need to actively engage in and push for reforms of the global economic governance system to make it more just and equitable and reflective of the changing world economic landscape, with greater representation and voice of Global South countries.

"Some consensus has been reached in this regard between various parties, and what is key now is to turn vision into reality," Xi said, calling for upholding true multilateralism and ensuring equal rights, equal opportunities and equal rules for all countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Despite the chilly December weather, nearly a thousand visitors gathered at the zoo to bid farewell to the beloved pandas. Giant panda parents Xing Hui and Hao Hao will remain in Pairi Daiza until 2029. BRUSSELS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei, three giant pandas born at Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium, embarked on their journey back to China on Tuesday, marking an important milestone in the panda conservation program between the two countries. Tian Bao, born in 2016, along with his younger siblings, twins Bao Di and Bao Mei, born in 2019, will join the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Bifengxia, Sichuan Province. There, they will participate in conservation and breeding projects. Despite the chilly December weather, nearly a thousand visitors gathered at the zoo to bid farewell to the beloved pandas. Calm but inquisitive, the trio sat in specially designed enclosures prepared for their trip. At a farewell ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Fei Shengchao said: "Giant pandas are not only adorable and rare animals that bring joy to people, but also serve as a bridge that connects people's emotions and promotes cultural exchange. They symbolize the shared commitment of China and Belgium to protecting nature and living in harmony with it." Since they arrived in Belgium in 2014, the parents of the three pandas, Hao Hao and Xing Hui, have captivated millions of visitors while raising awareness about the protection of giant pandas. Eric Domb, founder of Pairi Daiza zoo, expressed both pride and sadness at the giant pandas' departure. "We will continue to care for giant pandas with all our love, just as we always have. We will keep striving to help them produce more cubs in the near future," he said, emphasizing the zoo's dedication to panda conservation. The giant pandas began their quarantine period on Nov. 11 to ensure they were ready for this journey. Although their return was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are now ready to contribute to conservation efforts at the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base, where they will continue to grow and thrive. Xing Hui and Hao Hao will remain in Pairi Daiza until 2029, continuing their role as ambassadors for China-Belgium relations and fostering cultural exchange and environmental awareness.




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - President William Ruto has pledged to proceed with the nationwide vaccination of 22 million cows.

Speaking in Wajir County on Tuesday at the Pastoralist Leadership Summit, he reaffirmed his commitment to the initiative despite opposition from some leaders.

The president argued that the programme was an initiative that would benefit pastoralists and that people opposing it were stupid.

According to the head of state, any leader opposing the vaccination of livestock was mad or unreasonable.

Anybody opposing vaccination is simply mad, unreasonable and possibly stupid. Vaccination is necessary because we need disease-free livestock.

"I want to tell livestock keepers that there is an evil spirit in Kenya that is resident in some leaders who oppose everything," Ruto said.

He explained that the purpose of the vaccination was to ensure that livestock products from the Kenyan market met the standards for exportation to international markets, arguing that for a long time, the products have fallen short of the requirement.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - Mount Kenya residents have told President William Ruto that he made a significant political miscalculation when he supervised the impeachment of his former Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

Ruto, using millions of public funds, rallied Members of Parliament and Senators to impeach Gachagua, who was emerging as the next kingpin of the Mt Kenya region.

The impeachment of Gachagua sparked a political storm in Mt Kenya, causing President William Ruto to lose popularity in the region.

With intelligence indicating that he has lost the Mt Kenya regionthe key region that supported him in the 2022 presidential electionRuto is taking every measure to win back the area that helped propel him to the presidency.

On Monday, Ruto visited former President Uhuru Kenyatta in Ichaweri to seek advice on how to regain support from the mountain. However, according to residents, the meeting is a non-issue, as they have no intention of supporting him again.

Residents who spoke to various Kikuyu vernacular FM radio stations said that even if Ruto were to resurrect the late former President Mwai Kibaki, they would not support him, as the entire region despises "political betrayal," as Gachagua once told him.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - A local daily reports that Chief Justice Martha Koome recently banged tables at her juniors over sustained social media bullying by seasoned lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi and other Kenyans.

Koome is said to be lately furious all the time, complaining that she is subjected to more intense scrutiny than her predecessors.

Her opponents believe that it is a matter of time before she gives in and resigns.

Koome, while speaking during the opening ceremony of the Annual Human Rights Summit 2024 on Tuesday, admitted to being a victim of cyberbullying orchestrated to kick her out of office.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, December 11, 2024  In a significant political move, President William Ruto is reportedly contemplating appointing former President Uhuru Kenyattas younger brother, Muhoho, as Cabinet Secretary.

This was revealed by a source who attended Rutos meeting with Uhuru at his Ichaweri home on Monday.

And that is not all, Ruto is also planning to make Muhoho his running mate in the 2027 General Election.

The source detailed that Ruto intends to use Uhuru to reclaim his glory in Mt Kenya.

To put the icing on the cake, Ruto is also contemplating bringing Uhurus former CS Mutahi Kagwe and former Interior PS Karanja Kibicho on board.

Ruto called on his predecessor with official communication from both sides saying they engaged in discussions about pressing national and regional issues.

In a statement released by State House, the leaders emphasised the importance of achieving a broader political consensus to foster inclusive growth and progress.

In a follow-up statement yesterday, Ruto said the future of the country hinges on inclusivity, urging every citizen to play a role in shaping the nations trajectory.

As the political landscape evolves, insiders reveal the two leaders also strategised on the 2027 elections.

The discourse included shifting political dynamics in Mt Kenya, particularly the increasing influence of impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

To counter Gachaguas growing influence and reclaim part of the Kikuyu vote, the two leaders agreed on potential Cabinet appointments of Muhoho, Kagwe, Kibicho, and Ndiritu Muriithi  former Laikipia governor and nephew of former President Mwai Kibaki.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has dismissed the possibility of a political partnership between President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

This follows their surprise meeting on Monday at Uhurus Ichaweri home which set tongues wagging with many pointing towards another political handshake on the horizon.

According to Kioni, Uhuru meeting Ruto should not be construed as a sign of an impending alliance.

He claimed that Uhuru frequently consulted leaders who were outside government during his tenure as the Head of State.

Uhuru is saying that consulting me is not co-opting me into the government. Remember he (Uhuru) consulted Raila many times when we had the Jubilee government but he never crafted him into government.

He never appointed them (Railas allies) into government. But he was consulting the opposition to get things done like the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), he asserted.

Many Kenyans and political observers noted that despite the two terming the visit as a discussion on matters of national and regional importance, there was a hidden agenda behind it; a partnership.

Emerging reports indicated that Uhuru was set to join the fray and be part of a super broad-based government after Raila Odinga, and have his allies be part of Rutos government.

This was all seen as part of the strategy ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Amidst all this, leaders allied to impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have expressed their shock and disappointment at the Ichaweri summit, terming it as an attempt by Ruto to win back the Mt. Kenya region which is under great political uncertainty.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - Lawyer Miguna Miguna faced backlash on social media after criticizing Okiya Omtatah's presidential ambitions.

Taking on the X platform, Miguna alleged that the Busia senator and activist was secretly working with President William Ruto.

Miguna claimed that Omtatah's 2027 presidential campaign was a strategy to distract Kenyans from Ruto's alleged misdeeds and keep them complacent until the next election.

"I am calling Okiya Omtatah out. If he is not Rutos agent, I dare him to call off his misguided premature campaign for 2027 and focus on a revolutionary movement to remove Ruto from power nowbefore 2027," claimed Miguna.

"Anyone pretending to be vying for the presidency in 2027 with Rutos stranglehold on the police, NIS, IEBC, and the judiciary is a strategic decoy and a Ruto agent," he added.

The lawyer challenged Omtatah to openly call out Ruto instead of pursuing litigations against government officials in court.

However, Miguna's remarks did not sit well with a considerable number of Kenyans, who camped under his lengthy tweet to defend and vouch for Omtatah.

They pointed out that the litigious activist and lawmaker has a public record of defending the common citizenry by filing lawsuits to challenge successive governments' policies deemed oppressive.

Others told Miguna that in a line-up of Kenyan politicians and leaders, Omtatah could be the best fit as he is clear of corruption and other issues of maladministration.

Some quarters went on to call out the Canada-based lawyer for often 'bickering' online without availing himself on the ground to actualise the revolutionary ideas he constantly preaches about.

Others reminded him that he was at the forefront of vouching for Ruto's presidency in the run-up to the last election, and yet he currently bemoans the regime he supported on the ballot.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - President William Rutos chief economic advisor, Moses Kuria, commended his boss for meeting former President Uhuru Kenyatta at his Ichaweri home in Gatundu South.

In a lengthy statement on Tuesday afternoon, Kuria described the meeting between Ruto and Uhuru as a timely display of patriotism, sobriety, and selflessness.

Kuria thanked Uhuru for prioritising the nation over personal or sectarian interests, stressing that "closing ranks and forgiving each other" is far easier than managing the consequences of a failed state.

Kuria also addressed the alleged anger from the Mt Kenya region following the impeachment of deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, assuring that the region will no longer be marginalised.

He emphasised that the meeting between Ruto and Uhuru marks a shift away from business-as-usual politics.

Reflecting on his previous opposition to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), the former Cabinet secretary admitted that he, along with other political figures, had been wrong.

He urged Ruto, Uhuru, and opposition leader Raila Odinga to unite and work toward reviving the BBI initiative, which advocated for a more inclusive and responsive constitution.

"We can no longer depend on handshakes and personal meetings to make us feel safe in our country.

"The frequent handshakes and artificial formations have vindicated ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the BBI initiative. They were right and we were wrong.

I urge Ruto, Uhuru, and Raila to close ranks and lead the nation in picking from where BBI flopped and give this country a constitution that speaks to the emerging realities of our nation and our society.

"BBI season two is urgent and cannot wait," he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - President William Ruto is making every effort to regain the support of the Mt Kenya region, a key voting bloc that backed him in the fiercely contested 2022 presidential election.

The President lost favor in the vote-rich mountain in October this year after overseeing the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

After Gachagua's impeachment, Ruto's popularity in the vote-rich region nosedived, and in fact, selling Ruto policies in Mt Kenya region is like selling pork in Saudi Arabia.

To avoid humiliation in the 2027 presidential election, Ruto, who is seeking re-election, is working hard to win back support from the mountain.

Earlier this week, Ruto drove himself to former President Uhuru Kenyattas Ichaweri home, seeking his help to calm the political temperatures in the country, particularly in the Mountain region.

Uhuru reportedly told Ruto that to assist him, he must appoint two of his allies to the government.

He proposed his brother, Muhoho Kenyatta, and former Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe.

Other sources suggest that Ruto is considering dropping Kithure Kindiki as his deputy and replacing him with Muhoho Kenyatta for the 2027 election.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has questioned the sudden wave of criticism directed at the government by various institutions, including NGOs, civil society, and the church.

Wandayi, a former ODM MP and a known former critic of President William Rutos administration suggested that these entities remained silent before the formation of the current broad-based government.

The CS accused them of engaging in a conspiracy through their newfound involvement in political matters, questioning their motives.

"Now that Luo people are finding their feet in government, the regime is bad. Even entities including NGOs, civil societies, and the church, including NCCK, are finding their voices.

"This is suddenly a conspiracy, and we can see through it," he remarked.

The vocal Cabinet secretary emphasised that it is possible to fight for the rights of Kenyans while serving within the government.

We can continue advocating for the rights of people even from within the government.

"It is not a crime for a Luo to be in the government. We cannot accept it. Every time Luos are out protesting in the streets, the government is deemed good. We are not fools," he stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - Activist and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has revealed why corruption is prevalent in the country.

According to Omtatah, corruption is thriving in the country because it bears a wrong name which does not allow proper punishment and legislation.

He noted that corruption has been sugarcoated to look like a 'good crime', giving the culprits leeway to escape without facing the law.

"If I had my way, I would abolish the word corruption, I would call it theft. We have mischaracterised theft by public servants and called it corruption something that sounds good.

We must go back to the nomenclature and ensure that everything we call corruption is theft," Omtatah explained.

According to Omtatah, corrupt leaders should not be taken to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) but instead should be dealt with by the police just like thieves.

"Thieves should not be allowed to request bonds and bails. They should go to a police cell. Let them be processed as thieves," Omtatah continued.

Additionally, Omtatah has suggested that the country should have special courts to deal with such thieves, and prosecution and judgment should not take more than six months.

According to the lawyer, who expressed his prospects of vying for Kenya's presidency in 2027, the EACC doesn't have the constitutional right to fight corruption.

"Look at anti-corruption, their work is to enforce the code of conduct. They have no crime-basting powers in the constitution. We should focus on the police," Omtatah revealed.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - The Uganda Law Society has vowed to fight for Kenya's Senior Lawyer Martha Karua's chance to practice law in their country.

This is after Karua's application for a special temporary practicing certificate to serve as Kizza Besigyes lead counsel was denied.

On Monday, Karua penned a letter to the Ugandan Law Council expressing her displeasure at the decision to deny her a chance to practice in the country.

However, in an aim to rekindle hope for the lawyer, the Uganda Law Society has urged Karua to apply for the certificate again, assuring her that they will fight to ensure she gets it.

"However, all hope is not lost. The Uganda Law Society is empowered to fight for Ms. Karua's audience.

"I urge Ms. Karua SC to reapply through my office, invoking the IBA standards for the Independence of the Legal Profession, read the letter from President of the Law Society Isaac SSemakadde.

"I am committed to supporting her professional right to practice law in Uganda without discrimination as to origin or political opinion," SSemakadde continued.

In the letter dated Tuesday, December 10, SSemakadde termed the decision by the Uganda Law Council as ignorant, accusing them of disregarding the independence of the legal profession.

He further pointed out the malice witnessed when the council was voting for the decision and revealed that he was not invited for the vote despite being a member of the council.

"I was maliciously not invited to the special sitting of December 6 2024 that purportedly considered Martha Karua's application.

"Had I been present, I would have explicitly pointed to Article 19," he revealed.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - President William Ruto has once again faulted his political adversaries for consistently criticising government initiatives.

Speaking at the Pastoralist Leadership Summit in Wajir County, Ruto called out Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and others who were against the upcoming animal vaccination drive.

The President lamented apparent 'evil spirits' among leaders who he claimed were intent on frustrating his regime.

"There is an evil spirit in Kenya that is resident in some leaders," the President said, "They churn out falsehood and oppose everything for the sake of opposing."

"Foot and mouth disease, PPR are diseases we have been fighting since I was born. It is not anything new. So anybody opposing vaccination to eliminate these diseases is simply mad and unreasonable, he added.

In what is becoming a trademark rant from the President, he further urged leaders who were unfamiliar with livestock rearing not to weigh in on the vaccination issue.

The President's remarks came just weeks after Kalonzo, who is one of Ruto's fiercest critics in recent times, called on Kenyans to reject the government's vaccination drive, set to begin in January 2025.

According to Kalonzo, the vaccination campaign was funded by foreign institutions that sought to introduce drugs meant to modify livestock's genes.

"We take note with alarm that these vaccinations developed overseas have been rejected everywhere else in the world, including the home country United States," Kalonzo alleged at the SKM command center alongside Eugene Wamalwa, Jeremiah Kioni, and Ferdinand Waititu.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - A concerned Kenyan has raised the alarm after trucks were spotted transporting timber from Thogoto Forest near the residence of National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah.

Renowned blogger Cyprian Nyakundi shared the video of his X account, causing a public uproar.

"Hi Nyakundi. Serious logging continues at Thogoto Forest near the residence of National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah in Gikambura, Kiambu County, he tweeted.

Last year, President Ruto courted controversy after lifting the ban on logging.

Ruto argued that lifting the ban would boost the economy while only affecting a small minority of the East African nations forests.

However, the court suspended Rutos decision to allow logging to resume in state forests after a more than five-year ban.

It seems the logging is still taking place even after the court suspended Rutos order.

Watch video.

Hi Nyakundi. Serious logging continues at Thogoto Forest near the residence of National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah in Gikambura, Kiambu County. pic.twitter.com/Ugbl7cUafX  Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) December 10, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - Senior State House advisor Moses Kuria has hailed former President Uhuru Kenyatta for agreeing to meet and close ranks with President William Ruto.

In a personal statement yesterday, Kuria announced that he was considering returning to the Jubilee Party following the meeting between Ruto and Uhuru, which he termed a successful endeavor.

According to the former CS, after thoughtful reflection, he has realized that he errored in leaving Jubilee to form his own Chama Cha Kazi (CCK), revealing that he will convince Uhuru to be the party leader.

Kuria further added that his quest to return to the party stems from the need to unify the Mt Kenya region under one strong political party before the country breaks into the subsequent general elections.

''The Mt Kenya region, like all other regions, deserves a strong political voice. It is our imaginable right. For all the good and bad lessons we have learnt, it was a mistake to leave the Jubilee Party. However, it is not too late,'' Kuria revealed.

''We will now embark on bringing all the political parties with a footing in the region together under the Jubilee Party. We did it in 2016 when we dissolved parties to form Jubilee.

"We will do it again. Jubilee under President Kenyatta as the party leader is the way to go. Chama Cha Kazi and I will devote all our energies to that endeavour,'' he added.

The President's advisor implored Uhuru, Raila, and Ruto to work together and revive the stalled Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which collapsed after a court ruling that declared it null and void.

Consequently, Kuria thanked Ruto and Uhuru for agreeing to close ranks and work together, even as political questions continue to linger over what exactly prompted the two to meet.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024  Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas allies have given their two cents on the surprise meeting between President William Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.

Rutos meeting with Uhuru at his Ichaweri home has unsettled many quarters, and it has sparked different political perspectives.

Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu is of the opinion that the former president is gravitating toward Ruto to counter the influence of Gachagua in Mt Kenya.

According to Wambugu, who is one of Gachagua's close allies, Uhuru is unhappy with the clout enjoyed by Gachagua in the region lately, and with Ruto, he might propose to dislodge him (Gachagua) from the favour of the electorate.

Since his impeachment, Gachagua has savoured unconditional affection from the Mt Kenya electorate.

"Uhuru doesnt trust Rigathis growing influence in Mt Kenya. Ruto would want it reduced or eradicated. Is this a common interest for the two? Time will tell," Wambugu said.

At the same time, the former MP seemed to caution Uhuru against forming an alliance with Ruto.

According to him, Uhuru will face resistance from Gachagua's camp if he agrees to partner with Ruto.

Ngunjiri argued that Uhuru's entry into the Ruto-Gachagua differences would further divide the Mt Kenya region.

He reminded Uhuru that around 47% of Mt Kenya residents refused to follow his political advice in the 2022 General Election.

He said the former president should allow Gachagua to continue uniting the region, given the overwhelming support he got in 2022.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - A former MP from Mt Kenya region has poured cold water on Monday's meeting between President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

According to sources, Ruto travelled to Ichaweri, Gatundu, to meet Uhuru and seek his assistance on governance matters, as his administration appears to be struggling significantly.

Commenting on social media on Tuesday, former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu suggested that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is aligning with Ruto to counter the growing influence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the Mt. Kenya region.

Wambugu, a close ally of Gachagua, claimed that the former president is scared of Gachaguas growing influence in the region and may collaborate with Ruto to undermine his support among the electorate.

Uhuru doesnt trust Rigathis growing influence in Mt Kenya. Ruto would want it reduced or eradicated. Is this a common interest for the two? Time will tell.

Ruto still needs Mt Kenya for 2027. The question now is whether Uhuru can help Ruto reduce the anger in the Mt over the next 3 years, and convince part of the region back to Ruto. Can he?

"Hmmmh.2025 will be an interesting year, Wambugu wrote on his X page.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has commended President William Ruto for meeting his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ruto met Uhuru at his Ichaweri home on Monday, where he sought his advice on governance and requested his help in easing the currently high political tensions in the country.

Reacting to the meeting that caught many Kenyans by surprise, Kindiki explained that the reconciliation between the leaders who never saw eye to eye in the lead-up to the 2022 General Election would enhance the country's stability.

At a time when the Kenya Kwanza administration was under pressure, Kindiki observed that it would provide an atmosphere for development in the country.

"Rapprochement between President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta works well for national unity, stability and enables the country to collectively focus on addressing national development priorities," Kindiki stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Sean McCarthaigh

Businessman and former presidential candidate Peter Casey has been awarded 140,000 in damages after the High Court ruled he had been defamed in a post on social media that his provision of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees was akin to human trafficking and inhumane.

Mr Justice David Nolan found that Buncrana resident Kim McMenamin had defamed Mr Casey in a post placed on Facebook on April 25th, 2023, and ordered him to pay the businessman 120,000 in damages plus 20,000 in aggravated damages.

The defamatory post was posted on a Facebook page of a group called Buncrana Community Watch by the defendant who was the groups administrator.

The court heard Mr Casey sought to help Ukrainian refugees by accommodating them at Ludden House  a property he owned in Buncrana, Co Donegal.

The businessman also announced that he intended that any profit from the rental of Ludden House  a former B&B and nursing home  to the Government would be distributed to the people of Donegal and Ukraine.

Mr Casey, who was represented by solicitor Niall Tansey of Damien Tansey Solicitors LLP, said he had spent considerable money on converting the property to a very high standard to accommodate refugees.

The defamatory post claimed that workers at Ludden House had been informed that moving unvetted people around like cattle and then warehousing them in office cubicles for profit is akin to human trafficking and inhumane.

The court heard that Mr McMenamin, who is a member of a group called National Alliance  Irish People, had contested the recent local elections on a campaign of opposing draconian lockdowns and undocumented, uncontrolled mass immigration.

Mr Justice Nolan noted that it was remarkable that Mr McMenamin was able to post up a photograph of damage to the upper storey of Ludden House on his Facebook page on the day after a fire had broken out at the property on the night of May 11th, 2023.

The judge said an accompanying post had commented that there had been no reports about the fire from mainstream or local media, while the defendant had complained in other posts about the lack of media coverage about the incident.

The court heard Mr McMenamin encouraged people to share his post as widely as possible as he claimed news of the fire was deliberately being kept quiet.

It certainly seems to be the case that the defendant was very anxious that the fact that the building had been damaged should be made known and to use his own words to stop promoting bringing people in, the judge remarked.

The court heard there was no response to a written request by Mr Caseys solicitor asking Mr McMenamin to remove the defamatory post.

In his statement of claim, Mr Casey argued the post meant that he was intending to house migrants in accommodation in inhumane circumstances and that he was involved in conduct akin to illegal human trafficking.

He said the post suggested he treated people like animals and was a person who prioritised profit over human welfare, and was a person not of good standing and of reprehensible morals.

The court heard Mr McMenamin had taken no steps to defend his position and had evaded service of the legal proceedings.

In his ruling on the assessment of damages, Mr Justice Nolan said he was satisfied that the people intended to reside in Ludden House were not unvetted but women and children fleeing from the appalling atrocities which Putins government imposed upon the people of Ukraine.

The judge said he was also satisfied that the premises was nothing like office cubicles and in fact, was very fine accommodation.

He said he was also satisfied based on Mr Caseys evidence that it was never his intention to make a profit from housing refugees.

Mr Justice Nolan said there was no human trafficking but a very genuine attempt by Mr Casey to try and relieve the pain and suffering of women and children from Ukraine.

Finding that the words used by Mr McMenamin were untrue and defamatory, the judge noted that the defendant had over 2,000 friends on his Facebook page which had now risen to 4,000.

He also pointed out that the post had 181 reactions, 45 comments and was shared 180 times.

In assessing damages, the judge said Mr Casey was clearly distressed and although a public figure was somewhat resistant in expressing in court just how much it had affected him.

It is clear however that it was very stressful, hurtful and upsetting and affected himself and his family, including his daughter who had to be hospitalised, the judge said.

He also observed that the defendant was trying to undermine Mr Caseys good work and had refused to take down the post for many months.

He noted there were no steps taken by Mr McMenamin to remediate the defamatory remarks.

Mr Justice Nolan said he was satisfied that Mr Casey has a fine reputation in society which had been harmed by such defamatory remarks.

The judge said he was struck by evidence which showed the defamatory post was still in place for at least nine months after a court order issued in November 2023 directed him to remove it.

He also said it was another aggravating factor that the defendant had repeated defamatory remarks when he described Ludden House as a direct provision centre when it was no such thing.

Mr Justice Nolan said it was patently clear that Mr McMenamin had played ducks and drakes with the plaintiff and the court.

He ruled that the defendants refusal to take down a post containing hurtful, damaging and defamatory remarks was a breach of a court order and a contempt of court.

The judge added: He has refused to defend the case, and therefore must face the consequences of his actions.

In reaction to the award of damages, Mr Casey said taking a High Court action to defend his name and reputation was the very last thing I wanted.

The businessman said Mr McMenamin had made statements about him on social media which he knew were false and then repeatedly refused to take then down when asked multiple times.

Mr Casey acknowledged that social media can be a very positive way of informing large numbers of people of good deeds, actions and causes but that it can also be used and abused to bully and torment people who do not have the ability or financial resources to defend themselves.

He added: I hope this High Court decision will send a very strong message to cyber bullies. Think before you post, as there may well be consequences.
Niamh ODonoghue and Sonya McLean

Two members of a Romanian organised crime gang who used cars to ram raid commercial premises have been jailed for a total of 10 years.

The men were arrested three weeks later as part of operation Docht targeting an organised criminal group responsible for burglaries and high-value vehicle thefts on July 3 and 4 last year.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard last Monday that in one incident, a dummy car was rammed through the front window of a phone shop in Dublin city centre.

A Vodafone shop in Newbridge was also targeted earlier that night. Later that night, a car was rammed through the gates of a motor dealer on the Naas Road.

The arrests were made as a result of an ongoing intelligence-led operation by the Garda Eastern Region and involving units attached to the Dublin Metropolitan Region, Eastern Region and national units of gardai. The court heard all three men were from Romania.

Ricardo Stancu, Daniel Murgea, and Ionut Leonard Petriu appeared before a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Stancu (19) of North Circular Road Dublin, and Murgea (31), also of North Circular Road, pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and organised crime offences.

Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Stancu to five years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. She noted that he was a younger man who had limited previous convictions and said she would suspend part of the sentence to incentivise rehabilitation.

Judge Crowe said a headline sentence of eight years in prison was warranted for Murgea before she imposed a sentence of six years having taken into account his significant history of dishonesty  referring to Murgeas previous convictions in both France and Italy for offences involving theft.

Petriu (38) of Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to assisting the group and his culpability was the lowest of the three, the court heard.

Judge Crowe said Petriu played a different role to Murgea and Stancu. She adjourned his case to March 20th next and ordered the preparation of a probation report for that hearing.

Judge Crowe said the offences before the court were "inherently serious" and said the crimes were committed over two days on three unoccupied commercial premises that had been deliberately targeted in an organised way.

She said it was  a highly organised crime and extensive damage had been caused to the properties.

Judge Crowe acknowledged that Murgea and Stancu had been described as foot soldiers in the operation.

Each of the accused pleaded guilty on their trial date in October this year and further pleas were entered on Monday. Stancu and Murgea are in custody but Petriu is on bail.

Detective Garda Tom McEvoy gave evidence that gardai received a call to attend the 3 Store in Henry Street after a car crashed into its front window. A silver Mercedes described as a dummy car was abandoned there and extensive damage was done to the front of the shop. The gang left with nothing because the mobile phones were kept in a safe.

The "dummy car" - a stolen Silver Mercedes - was also used to smash through the front window of the Vodafone Shop at the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge just before 2.30am on July 3rd, 2023.

The next day they rammed a car into Leinster Motors in Clondalkin. They used a Citroen C5 there to break through the gates, then stole a 5-series BMW at 12.30am on July 4th, which was later used for their next robbery as a getaway car.

At around 4am they used the dummy car - the stolen silver Mercedes - to ram the front window of the 3 Store on Henry Street. Gardai established the vehicle had been used at Whitewater Shopping Centre on July 3rd, 2023.

Four suspects were ultimately identified from CCTV using a 5-series BMW as a getaway car. Gardai established the car was stolen the same night from Leinster Motors, Clondalkin.

Stancu was not involved in the Leinster Motors incident but was involved in the Henry Street and Whitewater Centre offences.

Det Gda McEvoy told Garret McCormack BL, prosecuting, the total damage to the 3 Store was 49,459 and there was 1,051 worth of damage to stock but nothing was stolen. A further 7,000 was lost from lack of trading following the incident.

The court heard Murgea has no previous convictions in Ireland but has 13 in Italy and three in France for offences including theft, dealing in stolen goods and criminal association.

Stancu has one previous conviction. Petriu has one previous conviction which relates to paying someone else to do a driving theory test, the court heard.
Naas folk musician, Pete Kavanaghs song Darkness Before the Dawn was chosen by Christy Moore to be featured on his new album, A Terrible Beauty.

The story behind the song comes from Newbridge in the year 1921. Pete came across the story from local historian James Durney and decided to document the tragedy through song.

Photo from the 1920's of the NAAFI store, Newbridge. James Durney, local historian

Pete said: It's an event that happened in 1921 in Newbridge just as the war of Independence was coming to an end. It happened in the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institute) store, located where Finlay's garage is now in Newbridge.

And the NAAFIs were stock full of supplies for the British soldiers. So one of the ways that the IRA would target the British at the time was to target the provisions. The store in Newbridge was targeted. And up above the store, unbeknownst to the IRA rebels, there was a family that lived with the caretaker of the store whose name was Bill Doran. They held Bill Doran hostage and they took what they wanted from the store and loaded it on a truck. Anything that they didn't want to take was covered with paraffin oil to render it useless.

"And so when Bill Doran had come down from downstairs with a lit candle, unfortunately it ignited the paraffin. The store went open and exploded in fire. And the result was that his wife Bridget and his son John were both killed, and his other son William was badly burnt.

This event divided the town and some people came down on the side with sympathy for the rebels and some people came down and said that this is should never have happened.

Some time ago, Pete decided to perform the song in front of friends at the Red Hot Music Club, Fallons' pub, Kilcullen. There Cllr Noel Heavy, a friend of Christy Moores, approached Pete, reckoning that Christy would be interested in hearing it.

A few weeks later, Pete got a call from the man himself. He said: The phone rang, and once I heard that voice coming over the phone I sat up straight in the bed. He said, this is Christy Moore, and I really love the song. Christy is a hero of mine. When I first learned guitar back in Sarto Park, all those years ago, you'd be learning The Curragh of Kildare and The Cliffs of Dooneen. To have him then on the other end of the phone talking about this song was incredible.

Talking about the significance of Darkness Before the Dawn, he said: Now that the story has gone into a song that Christy Moore has sung, it kind of immortalises the story and the Doran family will never be forgotten."

Since this musical milestone, Pete has been booked and busy with a show coming up in the Moat Theatre, Naas on Thursday 13 February Songwriters in the Round. Pete will be performing alongside talented songwriters Phillip Scott and Sive. Definitely not one to miss!
THE Moat Club, Naas, hosted the All-Ireland One-act Drama Finals last weekend, one of the most prestigious events on the calendar for those involved in amateur theatre.

11 drama groups from all over the country performed over the weekend at the Moat Theatre, their productions critiqued and marked by adjudicator Imelda McDonagh.

Padraic Doyle (Festival Director), Liam Hanoway (Chairman ADCI), Imelda McDonagh (Adjudicator), Edward Hayden (Chairman DLI) and John Lennon (Festival Secretary)

It has been an honour and a privilege to adjudicate here this weekend, said Ms McDonagh, I want to thank the groups who left their hearts and souls on this stage. Ms McDonagh announced Letterkenny Music and Drama Society and their production of Cider Park by Kieran Kelly as the winner of the open section and Bailieborough Drama Group with their production of Dying Minutes as the winner in the confined (less experienced) section.

Letterkenny Music and Drama Society, All Ireland One Act Award Winners, celebrate at The Moat Theatre

In rewarding outstanding performances in the open section, she presented Kieran Kelly from Letterkenny Music and Drama Society who played the part of JP in Cider Park as the Best Actor (Male) and Ellie Willoughby from Kilrush Drama Group who played Helen in Normal by Catriona Daly as Best Actor (Female).

The winners in the confined section acting awards were Conor Shaffrey who played the part of Felix in Bailieboroughs production of Dying Minutes as the Best Actor (Male) and Nicola Devine from Navan Theatre Group who played Dana in Im Not A.D.H.D Im B.O.L.D. as Best Actor (Female).

Newest member to The Moat Club Frankie Sweeney with The Moat Clubs Long Standing Member Stan Hickey

The Moat Club, as hosts of the finals, inaugurated the Ann Hurley Memorial Award for the Best Moment, which was presented by Anns daughter Carole Winterbourne to Gunpowder Productions creation of the final moment in Semper Fedelis. Ann was a much-loved member of the club who passed away last October. She had been very active as an actor and director on the one-act circuit in her lifetime.

The sustainability of the one-act circuit depends on a supply of great one-act plays and in recognition of this, the organisers of the one-act festival competition, the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI) and the Drama League of Ireland (DLI) launched a playwrighting competition a number of years ago.

Barbara Sheridan and Padraig Broe

The winner of this years competition, announced by the chairperson of the judging committee Walker Ewart, was Dada by Frank Houlihan. Runner up was Baby Steps by Moira Mahony and Sarah Fahy and in third place, 3 Kings by Barry McKinley. Frank Houlihan wins a week at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig, County Monaghan.
The annual Mayors Christmas Appeal is in full swing for the festive period with over 3,000 already generated from the Mayors Christmas Concert which was held in the Watergate Theatre last month.

Over the Christmas season, a number of fundraisers are held in conjunction with the Mayor and the Defence Forces in Kilkenny with all Monies donated to the Lions Club, who will distribute it to local organisations like St Vincent de Paul, Amber Womens Refuge Centre, Kilkenny Social Services and others.

The relationship between the Mayors office and James Stephens Barracks has always been there, as far back as I can remember, Mayor Andrew McGuinness said.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE

Every year we always raise over 10,000, Cllr McGuinness stated, adding how he hoped the tradition and long-standing relationship will continue into the future.

On behalf of Lions, we are honoured and thankful for the help of our partners and the work that both organisations do, Lions Club president Gerry McGovern, commented.

At the end of the day its all about helping people and organisations in need in Kilkenny and were very pleased to be involved.

Over the month of December, the armys contribution on the ground will be substantial with busking and the delivering of hot meals on Christmas Day among the many ways they will lend their support to the cause.

A distribution of funds to the relevant charities was held on Monday evening. All parties are requesting any person or family in need of help asked during the Christmas period to come forward where they will be treated respectfully and confidentiality.

Our primary motive is raising money for the less well off, Lions PRO Phillip ONeill added.
Five people have been arrested as part of a probe into the smuggling of cocaine into Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland.

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Irelands Organised Crime Branch carried out 10 searches in the Greater Belfast area and made several arrests.

Three men and two women were arrested over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the ongoing investigation into an organised crime group involved in the large-scale importation of cocaine into Northern Ireland, police said.

The men, who are aged 34, 36 and 46, and women, who are aged 24 and 29, were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences including conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B controlled drugs, being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B controlled drugs, and criminal property offences.

All five remained in custody on Wednesday evening.

A spokesperson from the police services Organised Crime Branch said: From the recent searches across Belfast and Newtownabbey, our officers, supported by specialist police teams, seized suspected Class A and B controlled drugs, a sum of cash, mobile phones, and five high-value vehicles, including Range Rovers, a BMW and an Audi RS6.

Two Rolex watches and a Breitling were also recovered, along with artwork and designer clothing.

The spokesperson added: We, alongside partner organisations, remain committed to disrupting the activities of those involved with illegal activity.

However, we also rely upon, and are grateful for, the support of local people and communities.

Im keen to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone with information or concerns to contact us on 101.

A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Rain showers, with increasing winds overnight. Low 36F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph, becoming W and increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers, with increasing winds overnight. Low 36F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph, becoming W and increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Weather Alert

TORNADO WATCH 32 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 11 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS CALHOUN GREENE JERSEY MACOUPIN MADISON MONROE RANDOLPH SAINT CLAIR IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS ADAMS BROWN PIKE IN MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 29 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MISSOURI AUDRAIN BOONE CALLAWAY COLE MONITEAU OSAGE IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI CRAWFORD FRANKLIN GASCONADE JEFFERSON LINCOLN MONTGOMERY SAINT CHARLES SAINT LOUIS SAINT LOUIS CITY WARREN WASHINGTON IN NORTHEAST MISSOURI KNOX LEWIS MARION MONROE PIKE RALLS SHELBY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI IRON MADISON REYNOLDS SAINT FRANCOIS SAINTE GENEVIEVE THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALTON, BELLEVILLE, BOWLING GREEN, CAHOKIA, CHESTER, COLUMBIA, EDWARDSVILLE, FARMINGTON, FULTON, HANNIBAL, JEFFERSON CITY, MEXICO, MOUNT STERLING, PITTSFIELD, QUINCY, SAINT CHARLES, SAINT LOUIS, SPARTA, SULLIVAN, UNION, AND WASHINGTON.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois and central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...Until 1 AM CDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. &&
By Yi Whan-woo

The need for a supplementary budget is growing after the National Assembly passed a budget plan on Tuesday that reduces next years national spending by trillions of won.

The budget plan, unilaterally proposed and passed by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), reduces the 2025 budget by 4.1 trillion won from the government's initial proposal of 677.4 trillion won ($473.7 billion).

A Ministry of Economy and Finance official said that whether the supplementary budget should be implemented will depend on the economic circumstances.

However, some financial experts said the extra spending will be inevitable, noting the government already has been reducing spending and that it may not sustain state affairs as the 2025 budget drastically fell against its will.

The experts pointed out the government has been struggling with a shortage in tax revenue. The shortfall amounted to a record 56.4 trillion won in 2023 and is estimated to stand at 30 trillion won this year.

The situation is unlikely to improve next year, Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, said.

The professor pointed out that the shortfall is mainly attributable to the shrinking proportion of corporate tax income.

In the first nine months of 2024, the amount of corporate tax declined 24.2 percent, or 17.4 trillion won, from the previous year to 54.5 trillion won, as companies struggle with weak earnings.

The sluggish stock market also resulted in less tax collection from securities transactions, which sank 19.7 percent to 3.9 trillion won over the January to September period.

The government argued that the budget should not be reduced as it needs to grapple with change in international politics, such as a second Donald Trump presidency.

Among the cuts to the budget were reductions to the governments reserve fund, as well as special activity expenses for the presidential offices secretariat, the national security office, the state audit agency, the prosecution service and the police.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party now also believes that a supplementary budget is necessary.

It wants to earmark trillions of won for the issuance of local currency vouchers, a move designed to help small merchants and the self-employed, plus money for free school uniforms, child care and renewable energy, among others.

The DPK is anticipated to propose a supplementary budget when the political turmoil concerning President Yoon Suk Yeol subsides.

The president is facing the possibility of impeachment due to his controversial martial law declaration, with the process likely to take several months.

Meanwhile, financial experts have raised concerns that a supplementary budget could impact the country's external image and trust, as the government would need to issue treasury bonds amid an increasing national debt-to-GDP ratio.

The government plans to issue treasury bonds worth 201.3 trillion won next year, meaning the amount will increase with a supplementary budget.

The fiscal deficit will weigh on the countrys economy, which has been slowing down, Hong Ki-hoon, a professor at Hongik University's College of Business, said.
MBK proposes plans for shareholder return, better governance of Korea Zinc

By Jun Ji-hye

Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yun-beom and the MBK Partners-Young Poong alliances battle for managerial control of the worlds largest zinc smelter is at a critical juncture, as the MBK side, despite being the largest shareholder, has expressed uncertainty about securing a victory.

As both sides aim to sway shareholders through governance reforms and value protection measures, the situation is poised to drag on, with no clear winner in sight.

The disputes future hinges on the decisions of key institutional shareholders, particularly the National Pension Service (NPS), which holds around 4 to 5 percent of Korea Zincs shares. Its support could significantly influence the outcome.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Kim Kwang-il, a partner at the private equity firm overseeing the Korea Zinc deal, mentioned the alliances plan to propose the appointment of 14 directors at the extraordinary shareholders meeting of the zinc smelter, scheduled for Jan. 23. He stated he is not confident about getting all 14 appointed to the board.

The comments indicated that, although holding an advantage in the equity stake battle against Choi, victory cannot be guaranteed if major shareholders, excluding the parties involved in the management rights dispute, side with Choi.

Kim noted that if the restructuring of the board is successful at the extraordinary shareholders meeting, measures to protect shareholder value, such as a stock split and the cancellation of all treasury shares, will be implemented.

As Korea Zincs largest shareholder, MBK plans to swiftly promote shareholder returns and improve corporate governance following the board's expansion and reorganization, he said.

He proposed a plan to regularize the disclosure of the dividend policy to enhance predictability regarding dividends as part of the shareholder return policy.

To improve Korea Zincs governance, Kim vowed to push for plans to strengthen the authority of the internal transactions committee within the board and establish new committees, including an investment review committee and an ESG and gender equality committee.

(Although the MBK-Young Poong alliance is the largest shareholder,) we are still outsiders to Korea Zinc. We plan to enter the board, review these proposals and have them passed at either the upcoming regular shareholders meeting or the next one, Kim said.

However, Kim pointed out that it is not possible to pass all the director appointment proposals on their own as the MBK-Young Poong alliance is in a position where they "need to persuade and explain to the shareholders.

If all the supporters claimed by Choi side with him, and the remaining shareholders also vote in favor, we cannot win, Kim said.

The alliances stake in Korea Zinc is 39.83 percent, 5.41 percentage points higher than Choi and his supporters.

Chois stake, when including friendly shares from Hanwha, Hyundai Motor, LG and others, is estimated to be around 34.42 percent.

With a 5.41 percentage point difference, neither side can guarantee victory at next month's extraordinary shareholders meeting, so the management rights dispute could drag on.

Ultimately, the stance of the NPS and other major shareholders will be decisive in shaping the outcome of the dispute.

Commenting on this, Kim said, No one can confidently predict what decision the NPS will make.
By Park Han-sol

Korean novelist Han Kang graced the blue carpet at the Nobel Prize award ceremony on Tuesday (local time) at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Sweden, making history as the first Asian woman to be honored with its distinguished recognition in literature.

In her remarks, Han shared her insights on writing, emphasizing literature's power to connect people, explore human existence and inspire empathy.

During the ceremony, she received a diploma and a medal from Swedens King Carl XVI Gustaf. Along with the accolades, she will also be awarded the prize sum of 11 million Swedish krona ($1.03 million).

The event, attended by 1,500 dignitaries and guests, including Nobel laureates, opened with an address by Astrid Soderbergh Widding, chair of the Nobel Foundation.

This years literature prize is awarded to a profound exploration of human frailty against the backdrop of historical trauma, where the abyss is always as close as is the longing for transformation, she noted.

Then came the congratulatory remarks from representatives of each prize-giving institution. Hans award was introduced by author Ellen Mattson, a member of the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Committee for Literature.

Two colors meet in Han Kangs writing: white and red, Mattson began in Swedish. The white is the snow that falls in so many of her books, drawing a protective curtain between the narrator and the world, but white is also the color of sorrow, and of death. Red stands for life, but also for pain, blood, the deep cuts of a knife  The white and the red symbolize a historical experience that Han returns to in her novels.

She continued that while Hans voice can be seductively soft, it speaks of indescribable cruelty, of irreparable loss. Blood flows from the bodies piled up after the massacre, darkens, becomes an appeal, a question that the text can neither answer nor ignore: How should we relate to the dead, the abducted, the disappeared? What can we do for them?

Referencing Hans latest novel, We Do Not Part, Mattson described it as a journey through layers of time, driven by a relentless pursuit of seeking out the truth, unbearable though it may be.

Forgetting is never the goal, she highlighted.

Although Mattson had originally planned to invite Han to the stage with a concluding phrase in Korean, she ultimately opted for English, reportedly due to her unfamiliarity with the languages pronunciation.

The 70-minute ceremony was followed by the Nobel Banquet at the Stockholm City Hall, where Han delivered her acceptance speech in English.

The 54-year-old author shared a childhood memory, recalling how, at age 8, she sought shelter from a sudden downpour alongside a group of strangers. In that brief, everyday moment, she realized each person around her was living as an I in their own right.

It was a moment of wonder, this experience of so many first-person perspectives, she reflected. This revelation lingered with her, shaping her journey as a writer who strives to send her most profound questions to those countless other Is through the power of language.

What is the meaning of our brief stay in this world? How difficult is it for us to remain human, come what may? In the darkest night, there is language that asks what we are made of, that insists on imagining into the first-person perspectives of the people and living beings that inhabit this planet, language that connects us to one another, she continued.

Literature that deals in this language inevitably holds a kind of body heat. Just as inevitably, the (act) of reading and writing literature stands in opposition to all acts that destroy life.

Through this milestone, Han became the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature since its inception in 1901. Her award marks Koreas second Nobel Prize, following the Nobel Peace Prize bestowed to former President Kim Dae-jung in 2000.

This years event also honored John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton with the physics prize; Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun with the physiology or medicine prize; Demis Hassabis, John Jumper and David Baker with the chemistry prize; and Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson with the economic sciences prize.

In keeping with tradition, the Nobel Peace Prize was presented in Oslo, Norway, to the Japanese grassroots organization Nihon Hidankyo.
South Korean author Han Kang, the Nobel Prize winner in literature, met with schoolchildren in Stockholm on Wednesday as part of the Nobel week programs.

Han visited a library in Rinkeby, where she interacted with around 100 teenagers who had read her books, "The White Book," "Human Acts," "We Do Not Part" and "Fruits of My Woman."

As part of Nobel Week traditions, laureates are invited to schools in and around Stockholm to engage with students and teachers.

The participating students expressed their reflections on Han's works through various mediums, including poetry, paintings and songs.

At the event, Han listened attentively, engaged in discussions and answered questions from the students. She expressed deep appreciation for their efforts in interpreting and sharing their thoughts on her books.

"I am so moved that they read my books, had conversations with me and shared their experiences," she said. "I will cherish these special memories for the rest of my life."

In the guestbook, she wrote, "Thank you for your warm welcome ... I sincerely appreciate the students who have read my books and shared their stories, as well as the teachers who guided them for this occasion."

The previous day, she received a diploma and a Nobel medal from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf during a ceremony at the Concert Hall, one of the city's prominent venues. (Yonhap)
North Korea's state media on Wednesday reported on the martial law turmoil in South Korea for the first time, including the opposition's push to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, while blaming Yoon for causing nationwide chaos.

"The shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol regime ... suddenly declaring a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielding the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship wrought havoc across South Korea," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The same article was also published in the Rodong Sinmun daily, which targets the general North Korean readership, accompanied by more than 20 photos of mass rallies in South Korea held in front of the National Assembly.

The photos, however, did not include images of troops deployed to the National Assembly on the day of the martial law declaration or of civilians standing up against martial law forces, a move apparently aimed at excluding images of dissent.

The KCNA report detailed Yoon's declaration of martial law on the night of Dec. 3, its lifting six hours later, and the dismissal of an impeachment motion against Yoon at the Assembly last Saturday after ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote.

"Several helicopters and fully armed martial law forces, including the gangster organization, the Army Special Warfare Command, were deployed to seal off the National Assembly," it noted.

The report also said a large-scale civic rally took place after the impeachment motion was voted down Saturday, quoting participants who called Yoon a "disaster" and demanded his "immediate impeachment" and "punishment."

"The international community is sternly watching, with assessments that the martial law incident exposed vulnerabilities in South Korean society .... and that Yoon Suk Yeol's political life could face an early end," the report said.

It marks the first time in a week that North Korea has published articles critical of South Korea. Until Wednesday last week, the Rodong Sinmun frequently carried articles criticizing Yoon, but the news flow stopped the following day, one day after the martial law was lifted. (Yonhap)
The Russian Embassy in North Korea has hosted a reception to celebrate the ratification of a mutual defense treaty between the two nations, the North's state media reported Wednesday.

North Korea's top officials, including Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly's standing committee, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, attended the reception Tuesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed between North Korean leader Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang in June, commits both nations to provide immediate military assistance to each other in the event of war. The treaty went into effect last Wednesday.

During a speech at the reception, Choe called the treaty "a brilliant fruition of the outstanding foresight, political will and decision of the heads" of the two nations, the KCNA noted.

She also declared North Korea's commitment to "boost support and solidarity with Russia in every field" and "achieve the lasting development" of the friendly relations between North Korea and Russia.

"The heroic Russian army and people would achieve victory in their just cause of defending the sovereign rights and security of the country and building an independent multi-polar world by closely uniting around the respected President Putin," Choe said.

Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora, who hosted the reception, said in his speech that Kim and Putin's meetings in Vladivostok and Pyongyang "deepened their friendly relations and mutual trust" and "enriched the genuine fraternal character and militant friendship" between their nations. (Yonhap)
DPK lawmaker questions mental state of Air Force major general

By KTimes

A high-ranking military officer has drawn criticism after being caught playing a game with his smartphone during a National Assembly inquiry into the Dec. 3 illegal martial law incident. Though the officer had no direct involvement in the incident, critics condemned his inappropriate behavior during such an important session.

During the emergency meeting of the National Defense Committee on Tuesday, broadcast footage showed Air Force Maj. Gen. Choi engrossed in a game on his smartphone for about five minutes at around 7:40 p.m.

Choi, dressed in combat fatigues, was seen sitting with his combat boots off, one leg crossed over the other, fully focused on his phone.

The incident occurred during a recess, with no one nearby to notice. It appears Choi was unaware that cameras continued to record the session even during breaks. He stopped playing only after someone alerted him to the live broadcast.

When the meeting resumed at 9 p.m., lawmakers took note of Chois actions. Rep. Ahn Gyu-baek of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, a former National Defense Committee chair, sharply criticized him, saying, The country is in chaos with the first martial law in 45 years. Are you in your right mind?

Ahns harsh words underscored the severity of the session, which sought to investigate the full extent of the martial law situation.

More than 50 high-ranking military officers, including representatives from the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were present at the meeting.

Vice Minister of National Defense Kim Sun-ho said, We will investigate the matter thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable.

While Choi was confirmed as having no connection to the martial law incident, his role as the director of foreign intelligence at the Defense Intelligence Agency, specializing in Air Force operations, has drawn mixed reactions online.

Some argue that his actions during the break in the session were personal and unrelated to the inquiry, while others view the behavior as emblematic of poor discipline among senior military leaders.

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.
Police arrested early Wednesday the national police commissioner and the Seoul police chief in connection with an investigation into the botched martial law imposition, officials said.

Cho Ji-ho, the commissioner-general of the Korean National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were arrested without warrant at around 3:50 a.m. on insurrection charges, the special investigation team handling the case said.

Under emergency arrest provisions, police have 48 hours to detain and question suspects.

Cho and Kim had been undergoing questioning at their respective police headquarters for about 10 hours since Tuesday afternoon.

The two top police officials are suspected of instructing police officers to cordon off the National Assembly compound to block lawmakers from entering parliament in a bid to reverse the martial law decree.

Cho is suspected of sending police personnel to the National Election Commission to assist the military in carrying out orders issued under martial law.

Both Cho and Kim have been placed under a travel ban. (Yonhap)
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was formally arrested Wednesday on charges of helping President Yoon Suk Yeol stage an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law last week.

The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant for his arrest after prosecutors accused Kim of engaging in "essential" activities in insurrection and abusing his power to obstruct the exercising of rights when martial law was in place for six hours between Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

Kim is the first person to be formally arrested over the events.

"We considered the degree to which the charges are supported, the gravity of the crime and concerns he will destroy evidence," the court said in issuing the warrant.

The court also determined that Kim's alleged crimes were within the scope of crimes the prosecution is authorized to investigate.

With Kim's formal arrest, the prosecution's investigation into Yoon's insurrection charges is expected to pick up pace. Yoon has been booked as a suspect and barred from traveling overseas.

Under the law, a president is immune from prosecution while in office, except in cases of insurrection.

In seeking Kim's arrest, the prosecution accused him of "conspiring with President Yoon to start a riot with the aim of subverting the national Constitution."

Prosecutors suspect the then defense minister proposed the declaration of martial law to Yoon and ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly compound and the National Election Commission headquarters.

They also suspect Kim wrote the martial law decree in consultation with Yoon to include unconstitutional restrictions on the authority of the National Assembly.

Kim forwent a court hearing Tuesday that reviewed whether to issue the warrant, saying through his legal counsel that he deeply apologized for causing great anxiety and inconvenience to the people.

Prosecutors have questioned Kim three times since he was taken into custody Sunday after he voluntarily appeared for the investigation.

Kim reportedly conceded during questioning that he proposed martial law to Yoon but claimed his actions were neither illegal nor unconstitutional.

By law, the ringleader of an alleged insurrection could face the death penalty or imprisonment for life. Those who participate in plotting an insurrection or engage in other "essential" activities could be punished by death, with life imprisonment or a prison term of at least five years. (Yonhap)
Kim Soo-hyuns agency says he dated Kim Sae-ron for 1 year after she became adult
Presidential security blocks investigators from entering Yoon's office

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Investigators are closing in on President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law, with Yoon being called a suspect in a search warrant and identified as the leader of an insurrection.

A team of 18 investigators from the National Investigation Office (NIO) of the National Police Agency (NPA) arrived at the presidential office in central Seoul on Wednesday to search for and seize evidence related to Yoon's surprise Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

The president's office, the Cabinet meeting room and the Presidential Security Service were the subjects of the operation. The investigators said they sought to secure evidence, including attendance lists and minutes of Cabinet meetings held in the lead-up to and after Yoons martial law declaration, as holding a meeting is a requirement for the president to impose and annul martial law.

Their search warrant identified Yoon as the suspect.

However, they were unable to execute the warrant as security personnel blocked their way. According to the relevant law, to enter and search security facilities, including the presidential office, investigators are required to get agreement with those in charge of facility management. Conducting a forcible search is barred. After nearly eight hours of confrontation, investigators obtained only a small amount of material submitted voluntarily by the security service.

The presidential office submitted a letter of explanation stating why it could not accept the warrant. There will be no additional search and seizure, the NIO said.

The president was not at the office during the entry attempt, according to reports.

Besides the presidential office, the NIO conducted search-and-seizures at the NPA, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and National Assembly Police Guards. The NPA was subject to a search as police were involved in preventing lawmakers from entering the Assembly compound on the night of the martial law declaration.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which is also probing the case, said it has enough will to apprehend Yoon depending on its findings.

We are working hard on the investigation. We will review the legal requirements whether to apprehend the president or seek an official arrest warrant," Oh Dong-woon, the chief prosecutor at the CIO, said during a meeting of the Assemblys Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Wednesday.

He added that it is the principle of investigation to arrest the prime suspect" in a treason case.

This suggests that Yoon may become Korea's first sitting president to be apprehended or arrested while in office. Under the law, a president is immune from prosecution while in office, except in cases of treason.

With Yoon as an official suspect, the investigation into him as well as top police and military officers is set to pick up pace. If found guilty of treason, he could face the death penalty or life in prison.

So far, all relevant investigative authorities  the CIO, the NIO and prosecutors  have been handling the case on their own. On Wednesday afternoon, the CIO, police and the defense ministry launched a joint investigation unit over Yoon's treason charges.

Yoon is already under an overseas travel ban as police and prosecutors investigate whether he and his associates committed treason when they sent armed troops into the National Assembly last week.

Earlier in the day, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges of treason and abuse of power. Kim has been accused of recommending martial law to Yoon and sending troops to the Assembly to block lawmakers from voting on lifting it.

In the arrest warrant, the prosecution stated he "incited rebellion in collusion with President Yoon Suk Yeol," indicating he was a major figure working for insurrection and Yoon was the prime figure responsible for it.

Kim is the first person to be formally arrested over the martial law decree. By law, those who participate in plotting treason could be punished by death, life imprisonment or a prison term of at least five years.

Earlier in the day, Kim tried to take his own life at a detention facility in Seoul, where he is being held under emergency detention.

The suspect (Kim) tried to take his own life, but the staff rushed there and forced the door open. He immediately gave up on his attempt. He was later moved to a secure cell and his health remains stable, Shin Yong-hae, commissioner-general of the Korea Correctional Service, said during the judiciary committee meeting.
By Jung Min-ho

President Yoon Suk Yeol appears to be seeking legal help in the face of his possible impeachment and prosecution for treason charges related to the imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, according to officials, Wednesday.

Kim Hong-il, a former prosecutor who served as chief of the Korea Communications Commission under Yoon, known as one of the presidents closest figures, was confirmed to have left his law firm, Sejong, recently.

This comes amid reports that the presidential office is attempting to form a team of legal experts to defend Yoon in possible court battles.

Kim, 68, who had worked at Sejong for more than 10 years before serving as the head of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and the media regulation agency, returned to the law firm just several weeks ago.

Choi Ji-woo, who previously served as legal staff at Yoons office, is reportedly among other lawyers contacted to join the team. Amid investigations into the bag scandal, in which first lady Kim Keon Hee received a Dior bag from a Korean American pastor in 2022, Choi defended Kim as her legal representative.

Some of those who defended former President Park Geun-hye during her impeachment trial between December 2016 and March 2017 have reportedly been asked to join, too. With investigations intensifying against Yoon, the team of his defense lawyers is expected to be launched soon.

All this suggests that Yoon is unlikely to step down voluntarily and orderly as some leaders in the ruling People Power Party (PPP) hope, including Chairman Han Dong-hoon.

Kim Jong-hyuk, member of the partys Supreme Council, said in an SBS radio interview that Yoon seems to have decided not to resign unless he is forced to.

Citing officials at the presidential office, PPP Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae also said Yoon appears to have dismissed his resignation as a possible option.

It was also found that the first lady deleted her Telegram account in a move that reinforces the belief that the couple is preparing for their legal battle.

If that happens, it would be an unprecedented case, with a sitting president vigorously defending himself, unlike former President Park, who chose not to appear at her impeachment trial.

After political turmoil that ensued his declaration of martial law, Yoon apologized to the public on Saturday, saying that he will not avoid his legal and political responsibilities regarding the decision. Then, few expected it could mean he would fight for his case.








The prosecution on Wednesday indicted e-commerce giant Qoo10 CEO Ku Young-bae and heads of two Qoo10 subsidiaries without detention on fraud, embezzlement and breach of trust charges related to the group's large-scale payment delays to vendors.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said that TMON CEO Ryu Kwang-jin and WeMakePrice CEO Ryu Hwa-hyun were also indicted without detention on the same charges, along with seven group executives.

In late July, TMON and WeMakePrice filed for court receivership due to liquidity problems that resulted in massive delayed payments to vendors on their platforms.

Ku is accused of conspiring with the TMON and WeMakePrice CEOs to defraud vendors of about 1.85 trillion won ($1.29 billion) and embezzling some 100 billion won in corporate funds. The three are also suspected of inflicting a loss of 72.7 billion won to TMON, WeMakePrice and another affiliate, Interpark Commerce, through unfair intergroup transactions.

Earlier, the prosecution requested arrest warrants for the three, but the court rejected them each time. (Yonhap)
Protests without leaders become part of daily life, reflecting lessons from 2016 impeachment

By KTimes

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, after an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol was dismissed due to a lack of sufficient votes. Since then, peaceful nightly candlelight protests have been ongoing, with no major physical confrontations.

The peaceful atmosphere is due to a shared objective of demanding the presidents resignation, which has bridged generational divides, as well as the lessons learned from the nonviolent protests of 2016 during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

I stuck a Resignation' sticker on a fan I used to play with my friends with and brought it here. I thought it might help in uniting with people of different generations at the protest, Lee, a 29-year-old participant, said.

Kim, 56, another participant, said, In the late 1980s when I was a student, I used to fear violent crackdowns from the police during demonstrations. But this protest is enjoyable; we even sing folk songs. Seeing these young people, who I thought were carefree and irresponsible, come out here is inspiring.

On Tuesday, 30 minutes before the candlelight protest began at 6 p.m., a variety of songs, including Lee Jucks Fly High and TripleS Girls Never Die, filled the air.

At the protest the day before, songs spanning generations  like the trot hit Amor Fati, dance tracks such as girl group aespa's Whiplash, and old favorites like Bingo  were played.

This protest feels like a festival compared to the solemn and determined demonstrations of the past. Im staying warm and having fun, shouting slogans while standing my ground, Chang, a mother of three, said.

The protests have also showcased a rare blending of people across differences in age, gender and political or sexual orientation.

One rally highlight was when BLACKPINK member Roses APT. was played alongside Yoon Soo-ils 42-year-old song of the same title, Apartment, prompting high school students to dance to the rhythm.

Park, 81, who had witnessed the April 19 Revolution in the 1960s, said, Im so happy to be standing with young people to defend the democracy we bled for.

Even in tense moments, participants have made visible efforts to avoid physical clashes.

On Saturday, when some protesters also tried to climb the gates of the National Assembly, other demonstrators chanted peaceful protest to stop them.

On Monday, when the police advised protesters to move off the streets and onto the sidewalks, both organizers and participants willingly complied.

Weve only asked for more police to handle the crowd. The protests have remained peaceful, and the level of civic awareness seems incredibly mature, Shin Ha-na, a lawyer with the civic group Lawyers for a Democratic Society, said.

Under the unified banner of Presidents resignation, experts attribute the success of the peaceful protests to the adoption of demonstrations as a means of personal expression.

The distinction between those at the forefront and supporters in the back has vanished. People are beginning to see protests as part of their everyday lives, Jeong Byung-ki, a professor of political science at Yeungnam University, said.

Organizers such as Peoples Solidarity for Participatory Democracy have distributed guidelines emphasizing inclusivity and respect.

The guidelines include instructions to avoid discriminatory or objectifying language toward women, sexual minorities, disabled people and teenagers, as well as to refrain from physical contact.

The atmosphere feels like a melting pot where conflicts and divisions are resolved, Lee Byeong-hoon, an honorary professor of sociology at Chung-Ang University, said.

Lee noted that the 2016 protests provided a learning experience, demonstrating the power of civic participation. Since 2016, weve learned that when citizens act together, authority kneels. Were now seeing people uphold constitutional values more faithfully than any president, he said.

Koo Jeong-woo, a sociology professor at Sungkyunkwan University, also said, Citizens want to show that democracy grows stronger in times of crisis. They are proving that yet again through these protests.

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.
By KTimes

Citizens are filing a class action lawsuit against President Yoon Suk Yeol, seeking damages for the emotional distress caused by the Dec. 3 illegal martial law declaration.

The group, calling themselves the Preparatory Committee for Damages Lawsuit Against Yoon Suk Yeol for Acts of Treason, announced on Tuesday their plan to seek compensation of 100,000 won ($75) per citizen from President Yoon.

The lawsuit was proposed by attorneys Lee Geum-kyu, who represented the National Assembly during the impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye, and Kim Jung-ho, who handled civil and criminal cases related to the memoir of late President Chun Doo-hwan.

The group plans to recruit 105 plaintiffs, symbolizing the 105 People Power Party lawmakers who collectively abstained from the impeachment vote against Yoon.

Attorney fees will be waived, and any awarded damages, after deducting legal costs, will be donated to public interest organizations.

The group emphasized that Yoons declaration of martial law caused fear and anxiety among citizens, making it a valid basis for compensation.

President Yoon has abandoned his duty to protect the lives of citizens, freedom and dignity, instead he instilled fear, discomfort and a loss of self-esteem, the group said. This lawsuit seeks an initial compensation of 100,000 won per citizen for emotional distress caused by his unconstitutional actions.

The group also urged for a nationwide movement to hold Yoon accountable in all courts.

This must ensure not only constitutional and criminal responsibility but also civil liability," the group said. "Those who aim guns at citizens must face complete ruin, ensuring no one dares to commit such anti-constitutional acts in the future.

The opposition, including the Democratic Party of Korea, has also joined the initiative. Democratic Party Supreme Council member Kim Min-seok proposed a nationwide lawsuit against Yoon and others.

Kim said in a social media post, If all 51 million citizens claim just 10,000 won each, the total compensation will reach 510 billion won. Citizens deserve reparations for their wounds.

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.
Govt changes plan to help lawmakers pass bill instead of drafting its own

By Jung Min-ho

Korea suspended the review for approval of Hyundai Pharms abortion pill amid stalled efforts to strengthen womens right to abortion through legislation, health ministry officials told The Korea Times.

An official at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it recently halted the review process for Mifegymiso, a combination drug used for medical abortion, also known as nonsurgical abortion or medication abortion. The Seoul-based drug firm is the distributor of the product in Korea.

The review process has been temporarily suspended by mutual recognition of (Hyundai Pharmaceutical) and the ministry, the representative added, noting that there were no other abortion drugs currently under review in Korea.

The official also said revising related criminal and health laws would be necessary to resume the process.

This revelation comes amid little progress in legislation as abortion remains in a legal gray area in the country following a 2019 Constitutional Court verdict that declared its abortion ban unconstitutional.

Earlier this year, officials at the Ministry of Health and Welfare said they would draft a bill to revise the laws  including pregnant womens right to medical abortion  by the end of this year.

But speaking to The Korea Times, they said they have decided to change gears. Instead of drafting the ministrys own bill, they said they would support lawmakers legislation efforts.

This is an immensely complicated issue that would require the initiative from the legislative body of the government. Many in the ministry have pointed out that it would be inappropriate to provide what could be viewed as a standard, an official said. As there would be diverse opinions over the issue, we concluded that it would be better to support lawmakers efforts to draft their bills.

The point of contention is determining how late is too late to get an abortion. In its 2020 bill submitted to the National Assembly after the Constitutional Courts verdict, the government said abortions up until the 24th week should be permitted. It added women should be given the right to end their pregnancy up to 14 weeks in all cases and up to 24 weeks in cases of rape, severe birth defects, or health risks for the mother.

After the bill was submitted, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties failed to agree on questions regarding that particular issue, with some suggesting a maximum of six weeks and others calling for no restrictions at all.

Since then, there have not been any serious legislation efforts until recently, when news broke out that a woman was found to have undergone an abortion procedure to end her pregnancy at 36 weeks.

This incident reignited the debate, with some conservative ruling party lawmakers calling on their liberal counterparts to draft bills through talks and saying the issue should not be left unaddressed any longer.

Currently, a group of researchers are conducting a study on how abortion rights issues are being handled in other major countries. When the results come out later this month, the health ministry is expected to offer it to lawmakers to back up their legislation efforts.

After checking the results, Rep. Park Ju-min of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea and other members of the Assemblys Health and Welfare Committee will hold a policy forum in January, according to Park's office. However, the political turmoil after President Yoon Suk Yeols short-lived martial law decree may further delay legislation efforts.
Moms' group raises $14,000 to provide snacks at Yeouido rallies

By Jane Han

SEATTLE  Its been a week since Koreas shocking martial law fiasco began, but Jae Kim still cant sleep through the night. The 20-year-old college student spends sleepless nights scouring all major Korean news outlets, online forums and YouTube channels for every update following the aftermath of the botched martial law gambit back home.

How can I sleep when my mother country has been thrown into this sudden chaos? she said. Still can't believe history book stuff is happening in 2024.

President Yoon Suk Yeols martial law stunt on Dec. 3 has plunged the country into political chaos, triggering a massive public backlash and protests, a failed impeachment vote and a first-ever travel ban on a sitting president, among other quickly unraveling series of events.

Koreans in the United States are teaming up online and offline to keep up with the latest updates and seek ways to mobilize support.

More than 250 people, including Kim, donated $14,395 (approximately 20 million won) within two short hours to sponsor fish cake and coffee trucks for protesters at the upcoming Yeouido rally on Saturday.

I want to teleport myself to Korea, she said, to stand right in front of the National Assembly and brave the cold with other protesters. But for now, buying them a warm cup of coffee is all I can do.

The donation campaign on GoFundMe, a popular crowdfunding platform, went viral and reached the donation target, so that the organizer, an anonymous housewife based in California, ended the fundraiser early.

With K-pop, K-dramas and K-food being super popular here, weve taken so much pride in being Koreans overseas and living in the limelight, she said. That is, until Yoons martial law declaration. Our neighbors, our sisters and our moms are out in the cold day after day, fighting for democracy. This is only a small gesture to support them.

With the latest donation campaign closing early, many other Koreans across the U.S. are calling for more ways to extend support monetarily.

Were physically away from home, but we want to make tangible contributions, said Myong-ok Kim, 53, a New Jersey resident. The U.S. dollar is strong now, so our money can go a longer way.

Providing hand warmers and snacks for rally participants at upcoming events and sponsoring ads in mainstream U.S. newspapers are among the campaigns being discussed, according to MissyUSA, a popular online community for Korean women in the U.S.

Hundreds are gathering to hold rallies, from California to New York.

In Seattle, a large crowd came together in the city center last weekend to call for Yoons impeachment.

Some people confused me as North Korean when I posted about the martial law order on Instagram, one college student said at the rally. I want to be able to proudly say that Im from South Korea.

Another college student added, Were in the middle of final exams now, but that isnt stopping us from dropping everything and coming out here. We cant let our home country crumble.

Dozens of rallies organized by Korean groups of all sizes are scheduled to take place in major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle and Washington throughout this week.

We are surprised and thrilled to see so many younger generations come out to voice their support, said Sung Park, a member of Seattle Evergreen Coalition, a local Korean nonprofit and rally organizer. We prepared 70-90s music last weekend, but were going to have some latest K-pop hits ready for the upcoming event.

Touted as vibrant and youthful, Koreas rally scenes showing customized K-pop light sticks and synchronized chants have gone viral overseas.

We will continue to huddle up, Park said. This is only the beginning.

Jane Han writes as a freelance correspondent for The Korea Times.
By Lee Hae-rin

Koreans are bursting with creativity in nationwide protests against President Yoon Suk Yeols short-lived martial law and the ruling People Power Partys (PPP) boycott of last Saturday's vote at the National Assembly to impeach Yoon.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, a group of citizens in their 20s and 30s staged a funeral ceremony for the ruling party in front of its headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. The group sentenced the party as politically dead, demanding its dismantlement.

Among over 200 mock mourners dressed in black, some wore white ribbons and claimed they were "funerary human wreaths." They lined up to offer 105 chrysanthemum flowers before a black-and-white portrait of the party, representing the 105 ruling lawmakers who refused to vote on the impeachment motion on Saturday, mimicking funerary customs.

"The People Power Party neglected the traitor Yoon Suk Yeol by being absent from the vote on Dec. 7 and failed to prevent the unpredictable follow-up, pushing the people into anxiety," a Daejeon-based funeral director surnamed Cha, 29, said.

"We sentence them to death by the power of the people as they destroyed the constitutional order and lost their function as a political party," he said. He then sang a traditional mourning melody, triggering bursts of laughter from the audience.

Meanwhile, about 30 wreaths of condolence bouquets were placed in front of the PPPs regional office in Ulsan, sent by citizens denouncing the ruling lawmakers boycott of the impeachment vote.

The wreaths displayed large ribbons carrying messages that criticized the PPP lawmakers who skipped the vote on Yoon's impeachment motion.

At the funeral ceremony, participants wearing masks of Yoon, first lady Kim Keon Hee and PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon staged a satirical performance, acting to be arrested and imprisoned.

In Busan, a civic group calling for the resignation of the Yoon administration also held a funeral in front of the PPPs regional office.

They put a banner with the partys name on a coffin and made remarks condemning PPP lawmakers who did not participate in the presidential impeachment vote.

Then the group stage a protest performance with chrysanthemum flowers after delivering the coffin through the back gate of the building.

While candlelit vigils continue to be held in front of the National Assembly and across the country every evening to call for Yoons resignation, many people are sharing ideas online about various protest tools to replace candles.

For example, an X user shared a video of a self-made Christmas LED wire bulb that was knitted into the palm of his hand and fixed to a hand-shaped clapper. The video was reposted more than 20,000 times, as of 3 p.m.

Another user uploaded photos of a self-made torch by rolling Christmas bulbs in a shoe spatula.

In search of something bright to sway," like candlelights, others recommended luminous safety rods sold in Daiso or lightsaber toys of various designs sold on the internet.

Meanwhile, Koreans living overseas who cannot participate in the protests in person are increasingly pre-paying for coffee and snacks at coffee shops and restaurants near the protest venues for participants.

An X user posted a receipt of a 5 million won ($3,492) payment for a bakery in Yeouido.

"Dear friends on Twitter, a man in his 50s paid 5 million won worth of coffee (about 1,200 cups) in advance for those coming to the rally," the user said. "But he didn't do any social networking services, so he asked, 'Can you spread this online?'"

In addition, a number of posts followed, offering protest participants pre-paid coffee, cookies, kimchi stew and dumplings.

"It is impossible for me to participate in the protest because I live abroad, but I stand in solidarity  Please stay warm and safe," another user wrote.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is set to introduce a new impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over his failed bid to impose martial law, days after Yoon avoided impeachment because most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a vote.

The DPK's move comes after a motion to impeach Yoon was scrapped last Saturday due to a lack of quorum as nearly all lawmakers from Yoon's ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote.

Following the scrapping of the motion, the DPK said it will continue to push for Yoon's impeachment every week.

The DPK plans to report the second motion to the Assembly on Thursday and put it to a vote at a plenary session on Saturday. By law, an impeachment motion must be put to a vote between 24 and 72 hours after it is reported to a plenary session.

The second motion is expected to include allegations that Yoon directly ordered martial law troops to seal off the National Assembly and arrest lawmakers, amounting to an act of insurrection.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly will hold a plenary session later in the day and question officials involved in the martial law declaration.

The opposition has requested the attendance of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, among others.

Opposition lawmakers plan to question them about a Cabinet meeting Yoon convened shortly before his declaration of martial law last Tuesday night, as well as how the Army Special Warfare Command and the Capital Defense Command came to break into the National Assembly. (Yonhap)
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said Wednesday he has invoked the authority to conduct a parliamentary probe into President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law last week.

Woo also called for the prompt formation of a special committee to handle the parliamentary investigation.

Woo told reporters that a parliamentary probe is needed to secure a "public testimony" from Yoon over the Dec. 3 imposition of martial law.

A parliamentary official said the Assembly plans to conduct the probe as swiftly as possible given the severity of the situation. (Yonhap)
Prosecutors on Wednesday raided the headquarters of the Army Special Warfare Command to investigate its role in last week's brief imposition of martial law.

The command was key in deploying troops to the National Assembly building on Dec. 3 to try to stop lawmakers from repealing the martial law imposed by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Soldiers of the command were deployed to block the National Assembly compound during martial law.

Some of the command's field-grade officers were also mobilized to the National Election Committee and they reportedly filmed the commission's computer servers.

Meanwhile, prosecutors continued their search of the headquarters of the Defense Counterintelligence Command for a third day on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday he "consistently" voiced opposition against President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law last week as he apologized for a failure to prevent it from taking place.

It marked Han's first remarks over his actions regarding the imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, which was lifted hours later after the National Assembly voted to reject it.

"(I) consistently opposed the Dec. 3 martial law during its declaration process but I have been blaming myself for not blocking it in the end," Han said in a statement. "I am truly sorry for bringing pain and confusion to each and every citizen."

"I will fulfill my duties until the end and bear the responsibility that I must shoulder without excuses or evasion."

Han said it is most important to run state affairs in a "stable" manner under the Constitution and the law, vowing to promptly resolve the current situation.

Han was reportedly among the members of a Cabinet meeting that Yoon convened right before declaring martial law. Police on Tuesday requested the Cabinet members, including Han, appear for questioning. (Yonhap)
Impeachment drive gains momentum ahead of Saturday's vote

By Anna J. Park

The National Assembly is expected to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday over his short-lived martial law on Dec. 3, as a growing number of ruling People Power Party (PPP) members are voicing support for the motion, political experts and party officials said Wednesday.

Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) spokesperson Rep. Kang Yu-jung said the DPK will hold the second impeachment vote at 5 p.m. Saturday. The main opposition is expected to reintroduce the impeachment bill Thursday.

This decision came after the first vote on Saturday failed to reach the necessary quorum due to a boycott by the ruling People Power Party (PPP). Only three PPP lawmakers  Reps. Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Yea-ji and Kim Sang-wook  cast their ballot.

However, the political landscape has drastically changed since then in favor of impeaching the president, as public outrage and mounting pressure against the ruling party have grown. Analysts now say that it is increasingly unlikely that PPP lawmakers, who hold the decisive votes for the motion, will stage another boycott.

The anonymous nature of the impeachment vote increases the likelihood of its passage, as it allows PPP lawmakers to vote independently without party pressure. Combined with growing public sentiment and the fear that blindly opposing impeachment could potentially drag the ruling party into a political tsunami alongside Yoon, whose political life is now widely regarded as coming to an end, these factors have heightened expectations that the impeachment motion may secure the necessary support to pass this time.

Kim Sang-wook, one of the three PPP lawmakers who participated in the impeachment voting on Saturday, said that at least 10 lawmakers from the party have privately expressed their support for the motion.

Rep. Kim Jae-sub, another reformist within the PPP, called on the party to adopt impeachment as its party line.

"I, who previously abstained from the impeachment vote, now seek to impeach President Yoon. As the president has refused to step down, I urge the PPP to officially support impeachment," Kim said at the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday.

Political analysts suggest that the number of votes in favor of impeachment within the ruling party would increase, heightening the likelihood of the motion passing this time.

"This time, the PPP cannot avoid participating in the impeachment vote due to the widespread public anger. If it attends, the secret ballot (process) will increase the likelihood that lawmakers will vote according to their conscience," Park Sang-byung, a political commentator, told The Korea Times on Wednesday.

He said another reason PPP members would vote for impeachment is that it would buy Yoon time until at least March or April next year, as the impeachment trial takes a few months to be completed, compared to voluntary resignation, which goes into effect immediately.

"Furthermore, even if Yoon were to voluntarily resign, its unlikely the opposition would accept the idea. Also, theres the risk of what would happen if Yoon refuses to step down. Lastly, as Yoon has reportedly started hiring legal counsel to prepare for the impeachment, PPP lawmakers would feel less burdened to cast votes in favor of impeachment," he added.

"Taking all this into account, the likelihood of impeachment passing is 80 percent. If it fails this time, the probability of impeachment's success later would be 100 percent."

Another pundit, Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University, told The Korea Times that he also thinks the impeachment motion will pass the National Assembly on Saturday.

"The pro-Yoon faction would also agree on casting votes on the impeachment motion, as the president himself appears to have accepted the idea of the impeachment. From President Yoons perspective, impeachment might also be the better option. If he were to step down voluntarily, he could be accused of insurrection and face treason charges. By taking the case to the Constitutional Court, he would likely attempt to justify the martial law decision as a high-level act of governance," the professor said.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced the National Assembly will conduct its own investigation into the Dec. 3 martial law.

Woo emphasized that the National Assembly itself was both a targeted and directly affected institution in this martial law move, given the serious testimony presented at a committee at the National Assembly on Tuesday  referring to the claim that President Yoon ordered to break into the Assembly and drag out lawmakers.

"If this testimony is true, it suggests that the president attempted to prevent the National Assembly from lifting the martial law by using coercion, effectively trying to render the Assembly's powers unusable," Woo said, stressing that a thorough investigation is necessary to identify who issued the orders, for what purpose and how these events unfolded, outlining the need for investigation.
The opposition-controlled National Assembly on Thursday passed another bill that seeks a special counsel probe into President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched imposition of martial law and a bill proposing a special probe of the first lady.

The special counsel probe bill on Yoon passed the Assembly in a 195-86 vote with two abstentions at a plenary session.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Assembly also passed an opposition-led bill calling for a "permanent" special counsel to investigate Yoon's martial law imposition.

Unlike a regular special counsel probe, the president cannot exercise the right to veto a bill over a permanent special counsel, though he can delay the appointment of the counsel itself.

The parliament passed another bill mandating a special counsel probe into two key allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee  her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and interference in election nominations through a power broker.

This is the fourth version of the bill targeting the first lady following a similar proposal vetoed by Yoon last month, which was ultimately scrapped in a revote last Saturday.

The bill was just two votes short of the 200 votes needed from the 300-member National Assembly to override the veto.

During Thursday's session, the Assembly also passed two impeachment motions against Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and Cho Ji-ho, head of the Korean National Police Agency, over their roles in Yoon's martial law imposition.

The impeachment motions passed 195-100 against Park and 202-88 against Cho.

With the motions' passage, the two will be suspended from their duties until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to uphold their impeachment.

Additionally, the main opposition Democratic Party will introduce a new impeachment motion against Yoon later in the day and report it to a plenary session on Friday. It aims to put the motion up for a vote during an upcoming parliamentary plenary session Saturday.

By law, an impeachment motion must be put to a vote between 24 and 72 hours after it is reported to a plenary session.

On top of the special counsel probe bill against Yoon, the National Assembly has passed an opposition-led bill calling for a "permanent" special counsel to investigate his martial law imposition.

Unlike a regular special counsel probe, the president cannot exercise the right to veto a bill over a permanent special counsel, though he can delay the appointment of the counsel itself. (Yonhap)
Extreme silence contrasts with previous statements on political issues

By Park Jae-hyuk

Foreign chambers of commerce in Korea have been expressing their opinions on President Yoon Suk Yeols short-lived martial law last week, a stark contrast to the unusually silent stance of Korean business associations on the matter.

Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Martin Henkelmann explained the background of the latest political crisis to KPMGs German office last week, elaborating on the oppositions dominance at the National Assembly, the history of conservatives citing North Korean threats as reasons to crack down on voices of opposition and the corruption scandal involving first lady Kim Keon Hee.

He also presented a view that Yoons impeachment will have a limited impact on Koreas industrial policies, denying there is any outflow of major investments from the country at this moment.

I believe that the two parties are so united and quite close to each other, when it comes to industrial policies, he said.

Mentioning the long-standing connections between Korean politics and family-owned conglomerates, the German lawyer added that large Korean companies are keeping out of the current political turmoil.

American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Chairman James Kim, who sent an email assuring members of Koreas resilience hours after martial law was lifted, joined interviews with U.S. news outlets to emphasize the international business communitys confidence in Korea.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the current situation, he told Bloomberg this week that it was interesting that both Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun asked for a meeting with foreign businesspeople last Friday.

They wanted to answer some questions we had at the same time and tell us about what they are doing, Kim said. The key for us was that we had the chamber heads from Europe, Japan and also China, and I think, in unison, all of us felt as if no company was saying, no more Korea.

The French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry wrote on social media that foreign chambers voiced concerns during their meeting with the two senior economic policymakers and at the same time expressed their support and confidence in Korea managing the current situation efficiently and peacefully as it had done in the past.

In contrast, domestic business lobby groups, which had spoken out on labor law reforms and various other political disputes related to the economy, have not issued any statements on the current situation, despite the ongoing disruptions to their respective events and members.

Doosan Enerbility, for example, had to scrap its plan to spin off Doosan Bobcat to place it under the control of Doosan Robotics, as an unexpectedly large number of its shareholders expressed their intent to exercise their appraisal rights following the abrupt stock price fall after the martial law fiasco.

On Tuesday, a presidential secretary scheduled to deliver congratulatory remarks at the Import Day celebration canceled his participation in the annual event of the Korea Importers Association.

Korea International Trade Association also celebrated Trade Day last Thursday without a president for the first time since 2016, when impeached President Park Geun-hye missed the event during the investigation into a political scandal involving her close confidant, Choi Soon-sil, who was accused of interfering in state affairs.

During the events, however, both associations remained silent on the political situation.

The Federation of Korean Industries press release on a meeting between business leaders from Korea and the U.S. in Washington on Tuesday (local time) omitted the fact that their joint statement mentioned Koreas challenging circumstances.

The Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) denounced a strike organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in a statement released Tuesday, in which it described the current political situation with expressions such as political uncertainty and social chaos, while refraining from using the term martial law.

The Korean Metal Workers Union criticized the KEF in a statement referring to Yoon and his allies as insurrectionists.

Why are businesses silent on the economic damage caused by the insurrectionists? it asked the federation. Didnt you welcome the decree that bans strikes?
Travel time cut from 90 minutes to 22

By Ko Dong-hwan

A high-speed commuter rail network connecting Seoul to Paju, in northwestern Gyeonggi Province, will begin service on Dec. 28, the transport ministry announced Wednesday.

The first section of the Great Train Express (GTX)-A commuter rail line opened in March, connecting Suseo in southeastern Seoul with Dongtan in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

The new section of the GTX-A line will run directly between Seoul Station and Unjeongjungang Station in Paju. The 40-kilometer trip will take just 22 minutes with the new train service, a significant improvement compared to the current 90-minute commute using a combination of subway, buses and transfers.

The section between Seoul Station and Suseo is still under construction.

The ministry said that the new connection will drastically improve traffic convenience in the northwestern part of the capital region.

To improve the new section's capacity, the ministry will add more train carriages during morning and evening rush hours. Trains will be spaced approximately six minutes apart, it said. It will also increase the number of trains for the Suseo-Dongtan section to 60 from 52 per day.

SG Rail, the operator of GTX-A, also plans to display various content on OLED screens inside the trains.

Baek Won-kug, vice minister for transport, stated that the latest section of the GTX-A line follows the launch of the Suseo-Dongtan section in March, which has attracted a growing number of passengers and is now recognized as the most convenient and fastest public transport option for the southern part of the capital region.

The latest section added to the GTX-A line is expected to improve public transit accessibility across the capital, Gyeonggi Province and parts of Incheon. The ministry hope the expansion will help alleviate the population concentrated in Seoul by making Gyeonggi Province more transit-friendly, encouraging a more balanced population distribution throughout the capital region.

Once the GTX-As Unjeongjungang-Seoul section starts operating, the northwestern area of the capital region will start to greatly benefit from the new level of convenience, Baek said.

SG Rail plans to run a train service along the Unjeongjungang-Seoul section the day before its official opening as part of an official ceremony.




By Park Jae-hyuk

Concerns are growing over the possibility that the leadership vacuum created following President Yoon Suk Yeols short-lived martial law attempt last week could lead the government to postpone its planned announcement this week regarding measures to enhance the competitiveness of the struggling Korean petrochemical industry.

According to the office of Rep. Kim Jung-ho of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has remained uncertain about when to announce those measures, which were supposed to be disclosed by the end of this year.

The government is said to be facing difficulties determining who should make the final decision.

Although the prime ministers office was initially expected to oversee the industrial restructuring policy that needed pan-governmental cooperation, ministers offered to resign after martial law was revoked. Some of them are under investigation over their attendance at the Cabinet meeting for the martial law declaration.

Before the recent political turmoil, petrochemical firms anticipated that the government would announce its restructuring plans by mid-December.

Throughout this year, they have desperately called for the measures, as the oversupply of Chinese products and the global economic recession have deteriorated their profitability. They have particularly sought relaxed antitrust regulations to facilitate mergers of unprofitable factories within each company, helping to mitigate intense competition.

Samil PwC also advised the operators of naphtha cracking centers in Ulsan, Yeosu and Daesan industrial complexes to establish an integrated company to shut down or sell inefficient facilities.

For the restructuring to gain momentum, the government should legislate a special law and provide unprecedented financial support, the accounting firm said in a report earlier this month.

Amid the lingering uncertainty, some companies are even reconsidering their business strategies.

We are keeping a close watch on this issue, a petrochemical industry official said.

In an apparent attempt to reassure them, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Wednesday mentioned the petrochemical industry as one of the sectors to receive government support, along with the semiconductor, battery and steelmaking industries.

With the Special Act on the Corporate Revitalization, the government will induce preemptive restructuring of the petrochemical industry and other struggling sectors, he said during a meeting with economic ministers.
Jeju Air in growing dilemma over emerging threat from converged LCCs

By Lee Min-hyung

Korean Air closed its long-delayed deal to take over Asiana Airlines on Wednesday, paying the remaining 800 billion won ($558.58 million) to secure a controlling stake in the cash-strapped airline.

This allows the nations flag carrier to secure a stake of 63.88 percent in Asiana. Korean Air has so far injected a total of 1.5 trillion won to complete the high-profile acquisition and launch the mega-sized full-service carrier. Starting Thursday, Asiana Airlines will be incorporated as a subsidiary of Korean Air.

The converged carrier is set to become the worlds 11th largest airline by annual passenger volume. It will also operate a total of 238 aircraft and employ some 27,000 staff.

Korean Air will manage Asiana Airlines as a separate entity for the next two years, while undertaking a comprehensive integration process, including aligning corporate cultures and merging their mileage programs.

In January, the flag carrier plans to appoint new leaders for Asiana Airlines and its two low-cost carrier (LCC) subsidiaries  Air Busan and Air Seoul  via Asiana's temporary shareholders' meeting as part of their first manpower adjustment.

Korean Air also operates its LCC subsidiary  Jin Air. The three LCCs under Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will be merged in phases, with specific timelines to be announced down the road.

This will pose a direct threat to Jeju Air, the nations largest LCC by market capitalization, as the airline is feared to yield the position to the converged LCC launched by Korean Air.

As of 2023, combined sales for Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul reached 2.47 trillion won, up by around 700 billion won from that of Jeju Air during the same period.

For now, Tway Air is the biggest rival of Jeju Air. But the former benefited from the Korean Air-Asiana Airlines deal after the flag carrier transferred four European routes to Tway to alleviate its monopoly concern raised by overseas competition authorities.

Chances are Jeju Air pushes for the takeover of Eastar Jet once again. Eastar Jet suspended its flight operations during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed its operations in 2023.

Jeju Air is also expected to speed up its expansion in the cargo business, as part of its efforts to find new growth engines and tackle the escalating rivalry posed by the upcoming launch of the mega LCC.

On the same day, the government shared its plan to thoroughly supervise the remaining procedure for the smooth integration of the two full-service carriers.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to allocate more mid- to long-haul flight routes to territories, such as Europe and Southwest Asia, to LCCs, in a move to ease lingering monopoly concerns after the deal is complete.

Korean Air should also submit its concrete plans on how to fairly merge the mileage points from the two carriers to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) in less than six months.

As Korean Airs mileage points are typically valued higher in the market than those of Asiana, it is tough to integrate their mileage points at a one-on-one ratio. But if Korean Air ends up valuing Asiana customers mileage points less, this will draw strong backlash from existing customers of Asiana.

We will support domestic LCCs expansion in their new flight routes, so as to minimize any customer damages stemming from the possible monopoly of the converged full-service carrier, Land Minister Park Sang-woo said.

The authority will also team up with the FTC and other relevant organizations to ensure that customers will not be disadvantaged by the mileage combination and airfare following their integration.

Korean Air is set to unveil details of its management strategy after the much-awaited takeover of Asiana soon. Asiana Airlines will hold an extraordinary shareholders meeting on Jan. 16 next year, and undergo its executive reshuffle, including its new leader.

Spokespersons from Korean Air and Asiana Airlines declined to comment on details of the upcoming executive reshuffle.

The high-profile acquisition was announced in November 2020. Korean Air paid a deposit of 300 billion won the following month for the deal, and made an interim payment of 400 billion won in March 2021.
GLOBALink | Chinese path to modernization brings new opportunities to BiH: observers Pub Date:24-12-11 10:17 Source:Xinhua

"Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Republic of Srpska (one entity of BiH) can learn and benefit a lot from China's modernization," said a local media professional attending a seminar focusing on China-BiH relations that was recently held in Sarajevo. #GLOBALink Editor:Qin Shuying

Related News Three giant pandas born in Belgium return ... Economic Watch: China's foreign trade show... Railway can drive Nepal's BRI programs to ... Martin Jacques: Understanding the Chinese ...
By Ko Dong-hwan

The Korean governments ongoing initiative to build two nuclear reactors in the Dukovany region of the Czech Republic will proceed as planned despite the intensifying political turmoil sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeols declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, the eastern European countrys government said on Wednesday.

The Czech government and its state-run utility company said that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) remains their preferred bidder ahead of its American (Westinghouse Electric Corp.) and French (EDF Energy) competitors for the project, even after the controversial decree caused a stir in Korea.

A Czech nuclear inspection team is also currently touring Korea, assessing companies that will be building the new power plant in Dukovany once the Seoul-Prague deal is finalized in March next year.

CEZ Group, the largest utility company in the Czech Republic which had tendered the bid, said on Dec. 4, a day after Yoon declared martial law only to be rejected by the National Assembly, that the political turmoil in Korea will not affect the Seoul-Prague energy deal.

CEZ spokesperson Ladislav Kriz said that the Czech companys deal with the KHNP to build reactors No. 5 and 6 at the Dukovany nuclear power plant will be proceeding, according to a report by a Czech news outlet.

The KHNP on Wednesday confirmed the reports veracity.

Kriz added that the situation in Korea, in which Yoon and the former minister of national defense are under investigation for treason, will not affect the nuclear power plant project in the long term.

Czech government spokesperson Vaclav Smolka said that the KHNPs construction of the reactors and supply of nuclear power for local electricity generation are being managed according to the two countries negotiated terms, according to the Czech news report.

He added that there are no problems preventing the Dukovany project from proceeding further.

The Czech governments remarks are in line with those of the country's delegation who are currently undertaking a field inspection of offices and factories of KEPCO E&C and Doosan Enerbility in Korea. The two firms will be responsible for the new Dukovany nuclear power plant's construction. The tour began on Monday and continues until Thursday. The delegation also previously visited Korea for the same purpose last month.

Regardless of the political situation, our nuclear power plant export procedure will progress as planned in accordance with CEZ Group, a KHNP official said.
New CEO faces daunting tasks to win new orders

By Nam Hyun-woo

Lotte Biologics, a biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) established in 2022, is struggling to dispel concerns about its viability, as its newly nominated CEO, who was appointed in an attempt to address the company's challenges, is generating more skepticism than optimism.

Industry officials are raising doubts about the companys strategy, suggesting that as a latecomer to the industry, it should have sought figures from global CDMO giants, rather than focusing on domestic recruitment, to break the ice on its frozen order log. Highlighting the new CEOs background at competitor Samsung Biologics, some even expressed concerns over potential legal conflicts between domestic CDMOs.

On Dec. 2, Lotte Biologics announced the appointment of James Park as its new CEO, succeeding Lee Won-jik, who played a key role in the company's establishment.

The appointment was viewed as a punitive replacement because the company has seen little to no success in securing new orders since its establishment. Lotte Biologics said Park has expertise in overall management and exceptional leadership in securing global orders.

Park established his career at Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) as a specialist in in- and out-licensing as well as mergers and acquisitions. From 2015 to 2022, he was at Samsung Biologics where he led its global sales. More recently he was CEO of GC Cell, a cell and gene therapy maker, from 2023 until the recent appointment.

During his tenure at GC Cell, however, the companys profitability declined. In 2023, its sales declined by 20.5 percent year-on-year to 187.5 billion won ($130.9 million) and operating profit plunged by 90 percent to 4 billion won during the same period.

From January to September this year, its revenue stood at 131.84 billion won, down 2.36 percent from a year earlier, and it incurred an operating loss of 10.7 billion won.

There were hopes that Lotte Biologics could address its order struggles by replacing its leadership, but the appointment came as a disappointment. Initial expectations were that the company might recruit top-tier experts from the global CDMO market, but it is difficult to describe James Parks tenure at GC Cell as successful," a biotech industry official said.

Against this backdrop, speculation is growing that Parks experience winning orders at Samsung Biologics played a crucial role in Lotte Biologics decision to hire him, which industry insiders say could be a risky bet.

To kick-start its CDMO business from scratch, Lotte Biologics used aggressive strategies in hiring an experienced workforce, namely by taking over BMS plant in the United States and retaining 99.2 percent of the plants employees. As part of this strategy, many of the former Samsung Biologics officials, including outgoing CEO Lee, also joined Lotte and took key positions.

This helped Lotte Biologics to build up a fundamental operating system in a shorter period, but created risks of legal conflicts with Samsung Biologics.

From June 2022 to August 2023, Samsung Biologics filed three civil and one criminal complaint against Lotte Biologics with courts, claiming its trade secrets were infringed due to employees who moved to Lotte Biologics. Of those suits, an Incheon court has already sided with Samsung Biologics, while other trials are ongoing.

Some industry officials speculate that such conflicts may escalate into a large-scale legal battle similar to a multi-trillion won legal battle between LG Chem and SK Innovation over key battery technologies. At that time, LG Chem claimed that SK Innovation poached 76 key personnel from its battery business division over a period of two years starting in 2017, and the battle ended in 2019 with SK Innovation paying 2 trillion won in compensation to LG Chem.

Against this backdrop, Lotte Biologics' current financial standing is also worrisome. In the third quarter of this year, the company swung to an operating loss of 27.8 billion won, with its revenue plummeting 47.8 percent year-on-year to 46.7 billion won.

The companys revenue is generated mostly by its U.S. plant, as it signed a 280 billion won contract manufacturing deal with BMS when it acquired the plant, which is the only sizeable order the company has secured so far.

Since the company has already posted more than 280 billion won in accumulated revenues after the plants acquisition, and BMS has signed a deal to manufacture the same drug with Samsung Biologics, the companys viability will face questions unless there are new orders.

The financial situation of its parent Lotte Group is also casting worries. Lotte Biologics has promised to invest 4.6 trillion won to build a 360,000-liter plant in Incheon. Though the groups holding firm, Lotte Corp., decided to provide a capital support agreement for Lotte Biologics 900 billion won loan, the group is now undergoing a group-wide restructuring to secure more liquidity.
Authorities in Mexico said Tuesday that a total of 17 children have died in central Mexico from suspected contamination of IV feeding bags after four more deaths were confirmed.

David Kershenobich, the countrys public health secretary, said 16 of the victims were underweight, premature babies being treated at hospitals; the other victim was 14 years old.

He said that two bacteria, including a multidrug-resistant bug, were suspected in the deaths.

Investigators say the bacterial contamination apparently happened at a plant in the city of Toluca that manufactured the IV nutrition mixture, and that the company had been temporarily shut down and use of the product had been halted.

The first infections were reported starting Nov. 22 and the last was identified on Dec. 3. Around 20 other patients had been sickened by the infection and were being treated for it.

All 13 of the first deaths occurred at three government hospitals and one private one in the State of Mexico, on the outskirts of Mexico City.

Kershenobich said he did not expect any other deaths, but noted authorities had detected other possible outbreaks with similar characteristics in Mexico State, which are under investigation.

Three more deaths were found to have occurred in the neighboring state of Michoacan and one in the north-central state of Guanajuato. Authorities said the same bacteria, and the same IV bags, were implicated in all the deaths.

Earlier, the federal Public Health Department ordered doctors across the country not to use IV nutrition bags made by the company Productos Hospitalarios S.A de C.V., though the exact source of the infections is still under investigation. Phone calls to numbers listed for the company and emails seeking comment went unanswered.

The outbreak appeared to involve Klebsiella oxytoca, a multidrug-resistant bacteria, and enterobacter cloacae, which caused blood infections in the babies.

It was the latest public blow to Mexicos tottering, underfunded healthcare system. Last month, the director of the countrys flagship national cardiology institute said the hospital didnt have money to buy essential supplies, calling the situation critical.

Dr. Jorge Gaspar, the hospitals director, wrote an internal letter saying that budget cuts have affected the acquisition of supplies necessary for the institutions functioning. In a subsequent public letter the next day, he clarified that the initial message was intended for an internal audience and assured the public that we are working to solve the situation.

Mexico has been plagued by contaminated medical supply scandals for years.

In 2023, authorities arrested an anesthesiologist they blamed for an outbreak of meningitis that killed 35 patients and sickened 79.

The doctor, whose name was withheld, apparently carried his own morphine from one private hospital to another, spreading a fungal infection that contaminated the medication at the first clinic, authorities said.

The drug may not have been stored properly. Some smaller hospitals or maternity clinics in Mexico dont have their own dispensing pharmacies or are not authorized to handle controlled medications like opiates, and thus long relied on anesthesiologists to bring their own.

In 2020, 14 people died after a hospital run by Mexicos state-owned oil company gave a drug to dialysis patients that was contaminated with bacteria. More than 69 patients were sickened in that outbreak.

Former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who left office on Sept. 30, frequently complained that drug supply companies were charging too much, and so he essentially revamped the whole medical purchasing system, pledging to provide Mexicans healthcare that is better than in Denmark.

However, the new system of government-run warehouses has foundered, plagued by chronic shortages of supplies and drugs, while a gargantuan government supply depot Lopez Obrador set up and called the mega drug store now sits largely empty. (AP)
Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with murder in the shooting of a top UnitedHealth executive, briefly struggled with officers and angrily shouted while being escorted into a Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday, as a clearer picture of his motives began to emerge a day after his arrest ended a massive manhunt.

Mangione, 26, turned toward a group of reporters and yelled in part, "...completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people!" before deputies pushed him away. It was not clear to what he was referring.

At the court hearing, his defense lawyer told a judge that Mangione would oppose extradition to New York, where he is charged with murder and other crimes. That decision could delay the process by weeks but is unlikely to block his eventual transfer; for now, Mangione will remain in jail in Pennsylvania, where he faces gun and forgery charges.

His attorney, Tom Dickey, said at a news conference that Mangione planned to plead not guilty to the charges.

Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth's insurance arm, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., was shot dead on the morning of Dec. 4 outside a hotel in Manhattan in what police said was a targeted attack, sparking a manhunt that led to Mangione's arrest.

More clues about his possible motivation were coming to light on Tuesday.

When arrested, Mangione was in possession of a handwritten manifesto that offered insight into his mindset, according to police. The New York Times reported that an internal New York City Police report analyzing the document concluded that Mangione viewed the killing as a justified response to what he believed to be corruption in the healthcare industry.

"These parasites simply had it coming," the manifesto said, according to the Times.

Mangione suffered from chronic back pain that limited his daily life, according to friends, his social media postings and other news reports. His profile on X shows a background image of an x-ray with what appears to be screws and plates inserted in a lower back.

An employee at TrueCar told Reuters that Mangione worked at the car-buying website as a data engineer from 2022 to late 2023. In mid-2023, Mangione took about two months off for what the employee's manager described as back-related issues.

The employee, who asked not to be named, described Mangione as "incredibly smart" and very friendly to his co-workers.

He said that the company offered employees health insurance through UnitedHealth as well as other choices, such as Aetna.

From January through June 2022, Mangione lived at the Surfbreak co-living community in Honolulu, where he led a book club and surfed, hiked and rock-climbed, the founder of the group, R.J. Martin, told the Hawaiian outlet Civil Beat.

Martin said Mangione had suffered back pain caused by misaligned vertebrae pinching Mangione's spinal cord, and he left for the mainland at some point for surgery.

But he went "radio silent" in June or July, Martin told Civil Beat.

Mangione never showed any indication of violence, Martin later told MSNBC.

"The Luigi that I knew is completely incompatible with an assassin," he said, describing him as funny, kind and thoughtful.

At one point, Mangione suggested Surfbreak's book club read the manifesto of Ted Kaczynski  the U.S. domestic bomber known as the Unabomber  as a joke, according to Martin.

On the book-themed social media site Goodreads, a poster with Mangione's name praised Kaczynski's book "Industrial Society and Its Future" as "prescient" about modern society, called him an "extreme political revolutionary" and suggested violence was a legitimate form of resistance in some circumstances.

Ghost gun, brazen escape

Mangione was spotted at a McDonald's on Monday by an employee who thought he looked like the gunman in surveillance images released by police.

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate who was also the valedictorian of a private all-boys school in Maryland, had a loaded ghost gun  an untraceable firearm assembled from parts  and a silencer, officials said on Monday. Both the weapon and his clothing closely resembled those used by the gunman.

He also had multiple fake identifications, including a fraudulent New Jersey ID that matched the one used by the gunman to check into a Manhattan hostel days before the shooting, according to authorities.

Mangione's family released a statement saying they knew only what had been reported in the media.

"Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest," the family said in a statement posted to the X account of Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione. "We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved."

The gunman managed to elude capture for days after the attack last Wednesday outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Thompson's murder unleashed a wave of frustration from Americans struggling to afford medical care and those who have been denied claims or care.

Thompson, a father of two, had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, part of a 20-year career with the company. He had been in New York to attend the company's annual investor conference. (Reuters)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with officials in Japan on Tuesday to reaffirm the importance of their alliance and Washington's commitment to regional security as threats rise from China and North Korea.

Austin also stressed that U.S. trilateral cooperation with Tokyo and Seoul is crucial for regional stability even as South Korea is in political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law last week.

Austins visit also came amid growing concerns over the safety of Osprey military aircraft, which have been grounded in the United States following a near crash at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico last month. The incident, caused by weakened metal components, was similar to a fatal crash off southwestern Japan last year.

The U.S. measure prompted Japan to also ground its Ospreys. After confirming details with the U.S. military, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force has suspended operations of its 17 Ospreys, except for possible disaster relief and other missions, beginning Tuesday to prioritize safety, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

During their meeting, Austin and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba noted the collapse of the Syrian government and praised the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance at a time of rapid global political change.

The world can change drastically in a week, Ishiba told Austin, referring to political unrest in South Korea and Syria.

The U.S. defense chief, whose term ends in January when President-elect Donald Trump takes office, told Ishiba that he appreciated the steady alliance with Japan during very dynamic times and that he was proud of the modernization of alliance command and control, strengthening of force posture and deterrence capabilities over the past several years.

Austin later met with Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani and noted China's coercive behavior in the East and South China Seas, North Korean support for Russia's war in Ukraine as growing challenges.

Austin underlined U.S. commitment to advancing our historic trilateral cooperation" with South Korea. Washington's commitment of extended deterrence, including its nuclear umbrella, to Japan and South Korea is iron clad, he added.

Nakatani earlier told reporters that cooperation between Japan and the U.S., as well as with South Korea and other partners, is important as tensions escalate in the region.

The trilateral partnership between Japan, the U.S. and South Korea has significantly strengthened under President Joe Bidens administration, but faces new uncertainty amid ongoing political unrest in South Korea, which already led to the cancellation of Austin's planned trip to that country.

Earlier Tuesday, Austin greeted crew members of the USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered flagship aircraft carrier docked at the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, near Tokyo.

Austin stressed the importance of U.S. cooperation with allies and partners in the region as he singled out China as the only country in the world with the intent and capability to change the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

We want to see this region remain open to freedom of navigation and the ability to fly the skies in international airways, Austin was quoted as saying on the Defense Department's website.

We will work with allies and partners to ensure we can do just that," he added.

The U.S. carrier, which is under maintenance in Yokosuka, will carry the advanced F-35C stealth combat aircraft squadron currently based in the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Yamaguchi. (AP)
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday the weakening of the anti-Israel "resistance" after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in Syria would not diminish Tehran's power.

Some, "unaware of the meaning of resistance, imagine that when the resistance becomes weak, Islamic Iran will also become weak... Iran is strong and powerful and will become even more powerful," Khamenei said in his first speech after Assad's fall.

Syrian rebels' lightning push to Damascus from their strongholds in the northwest ended the decades-long rule of Assad's family, once an ally of Tehran.

Assad had long played a strategic role in Iran's anti-Israel "axis of resistance", particularly in facilitating the supply of weapons to Tehran's ally Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.

The axis of resistance includes Hezbollah, as well as Hamas in Gaza, Huthi rebels in Yemen and smaller Shia militia groups in Iraq.

All of the groups are united in their opposition to Israel and its main backer the United States.

The Iranian supreme leader, who has the final say in his country's affairs, accused the United States and "the Zionist regime", Israel, of plotting against Assad.

"No one should doubt that what has taken place in Syria is the product of a joint US-Israeli plot," he said.

He also blamed another "neighboring state of Syria" for its "obvious role" in the recent developments, without naming the country.

Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey all share borders with Syria.

Of those neighbors, Turkey has long supported the ouster of Assad.

According to Khamenei, different "invaders" in Syria were pursuing different aims.

"Their goals are different, some of them are seeking to seize the lands of northern or southern Syria, America is seeking to strengthen its position in the region," he said.

Turkey has forces in northern Syria, while in the south the Israeli army has sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the countries' shared border east of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

The US also has troops based in Syria, where they have worked with Kurdish-led fighters battling the Islamic State group. (AFP)
President-elect Donald Trump is planning a blizzard of more than 25 executive orders and directives on his first day in office on Jan. 20 as he seeks to dramatically reshape U.S. government policy on issues from immigration to energy.

Two sources familiar with the effort said Trump has told his team he wants to make a "big splash" with the Day One orders, looking to exert his executive power with greater scale and speed than he did during his first term. The number of planned orders has not been previously reported.

The Republican issued only a handful of such orders on the first day of his 2017-2021 presidency. In contrast, Democratic President Joe Biden issued 17 executive orders on his first day in office in 2021, many of which were aimed at rolling back Trump's policies.

"The American people can bank on President Trump using his executive power on day one to deliver on the promises he made to them on the campaign trail," Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said when asked about the executive order plans.

U.S. presidents frequently issue executive orders to make good on campaign pledges and quickly establish their policy objectives without going through the lengthy process of getting legislation through Congress. The orders can be subject to court challenges, however, and typically any money set aside to carry out the mandates of the orders has to be approved by Congress.

One of the sources familiar with the Trump team's plans said there was recognition internally that each action required an enormous amount of coordination among the affected government agencies, potentially slowing things down and reducing the overall number of Day One orders.

More orders and directives will be issued in the days and weeks afterward, the sources told Reuters.

The effort is being coordinated by Stephen Miller, a long-time Trump aide who will be a top White House adviser when Trump begins his second term, four sources said.

The Trump team is working from lists of draft orders provided by groups such as the America First Policy Institute, a think tank founded in 2021 to promote Trump policies and ideas, as well as the Conservative Partnership Institute and the Heritage Foundation, two other right-leaning organizations.

First Wave

Trump's post-inaugural orders on the first day are expected to mostly focus on rolling back what Trump views as Biden's overly permissive border policies and preventing new surges of migration along the U.S. southern border with Mexico, two sources said.

He is expected to sign executive orders that give immigration officers more latitude to arrest people with no criminal records, send more troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and restart construction of the border wall, three separate sources with knowledge of those draft orders said.

The orders will also include a drive to increase energy production and follow through on Trump's oft-stated campaign vow to "drill, baby, drill" and "frack, frack, frack," the sources said.

While some of the moves would face stiff court challenges or would require legislation or new agency regulations - which can take many months to implement - there are dozens of actions that Trump can in fact take with the stroke of a pen.

Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press" in an interview broadcast on Sunday that he plans to take executive action on his first day in office to try to end birthright citizenship, which confers citizenship on anyone born in the U.S. regardless of their parents' immigration status.

Trump advisers say they are prepared for court challenges to this move.

On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to sign a Day One order stripping federal funds from schools teaching critical race theory, an academic concept - rarely taught in public schools - that rests on the premise that racial bias is baked into U.S. institutions.

He has said he would issue an order on the first day that would remove some anti-discrimination protections the Biden administration had afforded to transgender students. Trump also promised to sign an executive order designed to stop federal contractors from carrying out certain diversity training programs.

One source who has worked on transition matters for Trump's incoming State Department described helping to prepare an executive order that would determine whether any hiring decisions at the agency have been made for race or gender-based characteristics rather than merit.

It was not clear if that order would be rolled out on Day One, and Trump could always decide against issuing it.

The work on various executive orders appears to be diffuse, according to several people with knowledge of the transition's internal workings, with some orders being drafted up at Trump's de facto base in Palm Beach, Florida, and others at the think tanks in Washington. (Reuters)
The Afghan minister for refugees was killed on Wednesday in a suicide explosion at the ministry's offices in the capital Kabul, a government source told AFP.

"Unfortunately an explosion happened at the Ministry of Refugees and minister Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani has been martyred along with some of his colleagues," the official said, requesting not to be named.

He added that the explosion was caused by a suicide blast.

Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani  who is on the US sanctions list and never appears without an automatic weapon in his hand  was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, who founded the feared Haqqani network responsible for some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban's two-decade insurgency.

He was also the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the current interior minister.

The Haqqanis are said to be engaged in a struggle for influence within the Taliban authorities.

According to press reports, they are pitted as a pragmatic faction up against supporters of the severe interpretation of Islamic law in line with the Taliban's supreme leader based in Kandahar.

Several senior Taliban leaders have been killed since their return to power, including provincial governors, commanders and religious clerics, mostly in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.

Violence has waned in Afghanistan since the Taliban forces took over the country in 2021, ending their war against the United States and NATO-led foreign forces.

However, the regional chapter of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan, is active in Afghanistan and has regularly targeted civilians, foreigners and Taliban officials with gun and bomb attacks. (AFP)
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early, then windy with periods of thunderstorms late. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 56F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early, then windy with periods of thunderstorms late. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 56F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
A DRIVER who caused a four-car crash on the M7 motorway near Portlaoise was convicted of careless driving when he appeared in court.

The multiple pile-up happened on a dark, foggy morning, after the driver rear-ended a car and shunted it forward into vehicles ahead.

At Portlaoise District Court last week, Ken McCarthy of 96 Moyvale, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 pleaded guilty to careless driving on 17 February 2024.

Garda McMahon testified that he attended the scene of the four-vehicle collision and later issued a summons for careless driving to Mr McCarthy.

The garda said: He crashed into the rear of the first vehicle, which went into other vehicles in the fast lane. It was dark and slightly foggy at the time.

Garda McMahon added that Mr McCarthy was very cooperative after the crash and helped gardai during the investigation. He had no previous convictions.

Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick explained that it was a bit misty at the time and her client misjudged his distance from the car ahead. He was insured and third party claims following the collision were dealt with by his insurance company.

A manager in the pharmaceutical industry, the 52-year-old is married with two teenage children and had just attended some sporting activities at the time of the crash.

The solicitor said: He very much regrets the incident.

Judge Andrew Cody fined Mr McCarthy 350 for careless driving but did not impose a disqualification.
Sonya McLean

A parish priest had almost 50,000 stolen from his personal back account in a scam after he tried to pay a connection fee for broadband through his banking online.

Kelvin Kleinovas (24) later allowed 10,000 of the cash that had been stolen from the priests account to be lodged into his own account.

Kleinovas, of Mayeston Green, St Margarets Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the proceeds of crime in his bank account in August 2019.

Garda Bartholomew McCarthy told Tessa White BL prosecuting that the priest reported the theft to gardai after Bank of Ireland alerted him to the fact that they had frozen his account due to suspicious activity.

He said days earlier the priest received a call to the presbytery indicating that the caller was from a broadband company. He was told the line was being upgraded and the priest needed to pay a once-off fee of 5.

The priest was instructed to pay the fee online. He was told that when the fee was being processed the screen would go blank but it would come back again to continue processing the payment.

Gda McCarthy confirmed that ultimately the priest tried to make the payment over 40 times over a four-day period which resulted in almost 50,000 being stolen from his account.

The priests bank account was analysed and 10,000 of the cash stolen was traced to Kleinovass bank account.

He was arrested in September 2021 and claimed he had been approached to hand over his bank details for payment. He supplied his details but was never paid.

Kleinovas has seven previous convictions including one for money laundering for which he received a two year suspended sentence.

Gda McCarthy confirmed that none of the money stolen was ever recovered.

A victim impact statement from the priest said he had expected that there would have been some sort of system in place with online banking that would have prevented the money being taken from his account.

He said it was a serious amount of money taken and the theft has had a devastating impact on him.

The priest said he believes that the bank failed him as a customer and said that the fraudsters involved inflicted pain and suffering  they must surely be emotionally stunted, he continued.

I suffer my loss and put it down to a hard loss, he concluded. He thanked Gda McCarthy for his assistance and support throughout the investigation.

Gda McCarthy agreed with Marc Thompson BL defending that his clients involvement starts and stops with providing his bank details.

He accepted that while he didnt give any names of individuals, Kleinovas did co-operate with the gardai and he didnt assist further more through fear than obstruction.

The court heard that Kleinovas is involved with the Solas Project and has been actively looking for work which he is finding difficult as he is currently living in homeless accommodation. He spends most of his spare time with his child.

Mr Thompson acknowledged that such frauds cannot be committed without the involvement of people like Kleinovas.

He acknowledged that the priest has had no recompense from the bank but said his client is currently not in a position to assist as he is of limited financial means. He had written a letter of apology to the priest.

Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged that Kleinovas is looking for work and adjourned the case to March 28th next year for finalisation.
BAM, the main contractor for the National Childrens Hospital, is set to be awarded a new State contract for the construction of buildings at third-level institutions.

Ministers will on Wednesday consider a proposal to proceed with the tender for Invesis, formerly known as BAM PPP, The Irish Times reports.

The new buildings will be at the Atlantic Technological University in Galway and Letterkenny, the South-East Technological University at Carlow and Waterford, and the Technological University of the Shannon.

Economic benefits clearly outweigh the economic costs, according to a final cost/benefit analysis by the State.

Spending and delays at the National Children's Hospital has been a continual point of criticism levelled at the Government, with BAM the main contractor behind the project.

There has also been a series of legal proceedings between the State and BAM over the 2.2 billion hospital.
Tel Aviv, December 11: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a defiant tone as he testified in open court for the first time in Tel Aviv in his years-long corruption trial on Sunday. "I have waited eight years for this moment, to say the truth as I remember it, which is important for justice. There is no justice without truth," he said, becoming the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to take the witness stand.

The Prime Minister faces charges of fraud, accepting bribes, and breach of trust stemming from three separate police investigations. Netanyahu denies all charges of wrongdoing and has insisted in the past that the trial would not interfere with his public responsibilities. Tuesday's questioning focused on the "Bezeq Affair." Netanyahu -- as Communications Minister -- is accused of giving regulatory benefits to the Bezeq telecom giant. In return, Bezeq's majority shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, gave Netanyahu favorable coverage on the Walla News site, which he owns. Benjamin Netanyahu Corruption Trial: Israeli Prime Minister Set To Take Witness Stand for First Time in His Trial on Corruption Allegations.

Netanyahu's attorney, Amit Hadad, questioned the Prime Minister about his relationship with the media. "If I had followed the leftist way, then I would not be here. No one would have prosecuted me. This is absurd. All my public service was opposite of crime. I never believed volunteering to serve the country would lead to this," Netanyahu said. Over the coming days, Netanyahu will be questioned on two other investigations.

In the case of the "Gifts Affair," Netanyahu and his wife Sara are accused of accepting $200,000 in gifts from Hollywood Arnon Milchan in exchange for helping the billionaire obtain a visa to work in the US, and changing certain tax provisions to benefit Milchan. This case is generally regarded as the most serious one against Netanyahu. In the second investigation, known as the "Yediot Affair," Netanyahu allegedly helped Yediot Aharonot publisher Arnon Mozes by advancing regulations on the distribution of newspapers to Mozes's advantage. In exchange, Mozes is accused of providing Netanyahu -- who was Communications Minister at the time -- with favorable coverage.

The corruption trial has been taking place at the Jerusalem District Court, but for security reasons, Netanyahu was permitted to testify in an underground bunker at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court. He has rarely attended hearings in person since the trial began in 2020. The trial dragged out because of the unprecedented nature of the proceedings, the lengthy list of witnesses, war and the COVID pandemic. High-profile officials who have so far testified include former prime minister Yair Lapid, former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, current Justice Minister Yariv Levin, former Mossad director Tamir Pardo, and former Israeli ambassador to the US Gilad Erdan. Syria Crisis: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Declares Disengagement Agreement Defunct After Fall of Bashar al-Assads Government.

Legal experts estimate that the trial could potentially drag on for another year, possibly two. Outside the courthouse, Israelis demonstrated for and against Netanyahu while political allies came to show support. No serving Israeli Prime Minister has ever been indicted on criminal charges. Ehud Olmert stepped down in 2008 ahead of his own indictment for corruption. Olmert was eventually convicted and served two-thirds of a 27-month prison sentence.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
VMPL

New Delhi [India], December 11: The Select Aisle, a premium baking ingredients brand under Symbiate Ventures Pvt. Ltd., has raised funds led by The Chennai Angels and Longview Ventures to expand its product range and meet growing demand. Known for offering high-quality, curated baking ingredients delivered in convenient pack sizes, the company plans to use the new funds to introduce innovative offerings that elevate the baking experience for both hobbyists and professionals. The brand is poised to tap into the vast potential of the largely unexplored gourmet food ingredients market.

Also Read | Myntra Refund Scam: How Fraudsters Dupe Myntra of INR 1.1 Crore by Exploiting Loophole in Refund Option.

Commenting on the fundraise, investor from The Chennai Angels, Lakshmi Narayanan, said, "More people are turning to their own culinary skills and quality ingredients to create delicious homemade food. The Select Aisle's business model and brand promise align perfectly with this trend, offering everything needed for an exceptional baking experience at home. I'm confident that the experienced and dedicated team will use my investment to bring joy and convenience to home bakers everywhere."

Founded by four professionals with over 35 years of combined experience across finance, supply chain management, product development, and FMCG marketing, The Select Aisle brings a diverse and well-rounded expertise to capitalize on this rapidly growing market.

Also Read | Old Photo of Beyonce and 7-Year-Old Blue Ivy Carter Resurfaces After 'Mufasa: The Lion King' Premiere in Los Angeles.

Co-Founder Sandeep K. Gupta said, "Baking is about creating joy, sharing memories, and bonding with loved ones. This funding helps us make premium baking products more accessible across India."

Deepika Mallya, Co-Founder and Head of Product Development, added, "Our goal is to make baking easy and rewarding for everyone. We want to bring the joy of creating and sharing to more homes."

With a mission to "Get India Baking," The Select Aisle is committed to making baking more accessible and enjoyable for foodies, home bakers, and baking enthusiasts. Offering high-quality products that blend convenience, creativity, and fun, the brand is bringing the joy of baking to kitchens across India. Their comprehensive range of baking ingredients includes essential staples, premixes, chocolates, vibrant colors, flavors, and decorative sprinkles, helping bakers explore their culinary passions.

"We are impressed by their modern product range, innovative packaging, and ability to capture market share from legacy players. With a strong founding team experienced in the food industry, with strong execution, we believe the company is well-positioned for growth in the premium food ingredient market driven by urbanization and premiumization trends," commented Ashish Mehta, Lead Investor from The Chennai Angels.

About The Chennai Angels: The Chennai Angels (TCA) is one of India's most active Angel Investing groups. Founded in the year 2007, it is comprised of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders with a track record of starting and scaling large enterprises. Over the years, TCA has invested over INR 135 Cr across 80+ start-ups in India.

About Long View Ventures: Long View Ventures (LVV) is an Indian VC Fund investing in angel, pre-seed and seed rounds of Indian startups. Set up by ex-entrepreneurs with strong investing track records, LVV is focused on investing in strong founding teams building to solve real problems with large market opportunities.

(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)

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Mumba, December 11: Amid the Opposition's allegations regarding Electronic Voting Machines after the Maharashtra polls in which the ruling Mahayuti alliance registered a landslide victory, state's Additional Chief Electoral Officer Kiran Kulkarni has asserted that EVMs cannot be hacked. He said that the chips used in the EVMs are one-time programmable, making tampering impossible.

"I say this with full responsibility, EVM cannot be hacked. EVM cannot be tampered with. There is a simple reason for this. First, it is a standalone machine ...no connection with any network or outer gadget. So, hacking or tampering is not possible. Second, the chip used in it is one-time programmable, so there cannot be any reprogramming," Kulkarni told ANI on Tuesday. EVM-VVPAT Cross-Verification in Nanded: District Administration Verifies 75 VVPAT Machines With Votes on EVMs, Finds No Difference in Tally.

He further said that there was no need for misunderstandings regarding EVMs since Election Commission of India (ECI) dictates a procedure that allows for matching of the Voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) count and votes a candidate has received through EVMs. This process is observed to ensure there was no discrepancy in these figures, Kulkarni said, while adding that this procedure of comparing the number of votes through VVPAT slips and EVM votes is undertaken before the declaration of the final results.

"There seems to be a lot of misunderstandings among political parties and common citizens regarding EVM. But there is no need for such misunderstandings...When votes are counted and the counting of votes of all EVMs concludes, after that, before the declaration of the result there is a procedure which is prescribed by the Election Commission of India," Kulkarni Added.

"The procedure says that a lottery is drawn by collecting numbers of all the polling stations in the Assembly constituencies. This lottery is drawn in the presence of the Observer and representatives of all candidates of political parties. Of these, 5 polling stations are selected and VVPAT machines for the 5 polling stations are brought to the counting area. In the presence of everyone, the VVPAT slips are taken out and counted. Which candidate got how many votes as per the slips is counted. This number is matched with the votes voted through EVMs. This is observed that there is no discrepancy in these two figures...The voting in Maharashtra Assembly elections was done in the proper manner by following proper procedure..." Kulkarni said. Maharashtra: Kolewadi Gram Sabha in Satara Passes Resolution To Use Ballot Papers in Future Elections, Second Village Rejects EVMs After Markadwadi.

Earlier, the Chief Election Officer (CEO) S Chockalingam on Tuesday rejected Opposition allegations regarding the legitimacy of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the Maharashtra assembly elections and said "no mismatch" was found between the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) slips with their corresponding EVM numbers.

In a statement, the Maharashtra CEO explained that, as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, it is mandatory to count VVPAT slips from five randomly selected polling stations in each assembly constituency. "VVPAT Slip count of randomly selected five polling stations per Assembly Constituency was conducted on November 23, during the counting procedure, in front of the Counting Observer / Representatives of Candidates. As per that, the slip count of 1440 VVPAT units from 288 Assembly Constituencies of Maharashtra State has been tallied with respective Control Unit data," Chockalingam said.

"There is no discrepancy found between the VVPAT slip count and EVM Control unit count as per the reports received from the concerned DEOs," Chockalingam added. This comes after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance partners raised questions about the legitimacy of EVMs following their defeat in the Maharashtra assembly election 2024.

The Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP, secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections with the BJP emerging as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. However, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major setback as Congress won only 16 seats, while its alliance partners, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) secured just 10 seats.

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New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency has filed a chargesheet naming 10 members of CPI (Maoist), including three arrested overground workers, in connection with a blast at Badegobra during the Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh in 2023, officials said on Wednesday.

Mohan Yadav, Bhupendra Dhruv and Lakhanlal Yadav, all alleged overground workers (OGWs) of CPI (Maoist), along with seven cadres of the banned outfit have been chargesheeted under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said in a statement.

Also Read | Atul Subhash's Suicide Case: Victim's Family Demands Justice, Strict Action Against Harassers.

The blast triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) rocked Badegobra village in Gariyaband district on November 17, 2023, when a polling team accompanied by security forces was returning after completing the voting process for the Assembly elections.

One head constable of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) died later due to the grievous injuries he sustained in the blast.

Also Read | SM Krishna Funeral: Former CM and Veteran Politician, Who Shaped Bengaluru, Last Rites Held With State Honours (Watch Video).

"Probe revealed that CPI (Maoist) central committee members Ganesh Uikey and Manoj planned the attack along with special zonal committee member Satyam Gawade in response to the election boycott call given by the outfit in Chhattisgarh.

"Cadres of the proscribed outfit's Gobra Dalam carried out the blast with the support of OGWs from Badegobra and Chhotegobra villages," the NIA statement said.

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Second edition of International Conference on Infrastructure Development and Sustainability begins at Adani University (Photo/ANI)

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], December 11 (ANI): The second edition of the International Conference on Infrastructure Development and Sustainability (ICIDS) began at Adani University in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Wednesday, a release said.

According to the release, the two-day conference aims to discuss the emerging agenda in sustainable infrastructure development, green transition, and financing.

Also Read | India Exits HBHI Group As Malaria Cases, Deaths Decline by 69% Between 2017-2023: WHO Report.

The conference, organised by Adani University, brought together national and international experts from academia, industry experts, and representatives of government agencies to discuss pursuits of infrastructure development that are sustainable, technologically advanced, equitable, and financed through green initiatives.

The conference, which is also aimed at bringing together researchers and academics from India and across the world, discussed the issues surrounding the complex interplay in economic growth, environmental challenges, and social equity for ensuring that infrastructure development shapes the national and global sustainability agenda 2030.

Also Read | Palghar: Senior Civic Official of VVCMC Lodges Complaint After Morphed Photo of His Wife Circulated in 4 WhatsApp Groups.

The conference ICIDS 2024 at Adani University was inaugurated with the traditional lighting of the lamp and a rendition of Saraswati Vandana.

Prof. Rachana Gangwar, a professor at Adani University, set the tone for the event with her insightful remarks.

The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Ravi P. Singh, Provost of Adani University.

In his welcome address, Prof. Ravi P. Singh, the Provost of Adani University, emphasised India's incredible progress over the past few years in infrastructure and energy. He highlighted that, as India enters the "Amrit Kaal"--a" transformative period of the next 25 years--the nation is on track to become a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) and emerge as a shining light for the world.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Book of Abstracts, a compilation of abstracts from the research papers presented during the conference.

The conference compendium titled 'Infrastructure Development: Theory, Practice, and Policy' and published by Routledge Taylor and Francis was also released, which was the publication of selected research papers of the previous conference unveiled in the presence of esteemed guests, research scholars, faculty, and industry experts, added the release. (ANI)

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Guwahati, December 11: The Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC)-151 for NCC girl cadets of the 60 Assam Girls Battalion and other units under NCC Group Headquarters, Guwahati, commenced on December 9 and will continue until December 18. According to the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO), the camp aims to promote leadership, discipline, and national pride.

The PRO's statement read: "The Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC)-151 of NCC cadets of 60 Assam Girls Bn NCC, Guwahati, and other units of NCC Group Headquarters, Guwahati, under NCC Directorate NER, Shillong, began on 9 December 2024 and will continue until 18 December 2024 at SaruSajai Stadium, Guwahati. The 10-day event brings together enthusiastic cadets from various units and institutions, aiming to foster leadership skills, discipline, and a sense of national pride among the youth." Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Performs Bhumi Pujan for 12.2 KM Bridge Between Sualkuchi and Palasbari Over Brahmaputra.

As per the PRO, the camp will feature various competitions, including volleyball, debate, painting, elocution, firing, tug-of-war, drill, and line area events. Guest lectures by experts are also planned on topics such as "How to Be a Good Citizen of India," "Know Your Army," and "Traffic Management." Representatives from the NDRF and NEDFi will deliver additional lectures, while former NCC cadets (EXPA) will conduct workshops on soft skills. Army officers, Army staff, and Associate NCC Officers (ANOs) will also contribute to the sessions. Delhi Police Launch Special Drive to Identify Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants in Kalindi Kunj.

Brigadier Ajit Kumar Borah, VSM, Group Commander of NCC Group Headquarters, Guwahati, visited the camp on December 11. He interacted with the cadets and inspected the administration and training schedule. During his visit, the senior Army officer encouraged the cadets to maintain discipline and sincerity in their approach to life, the statement noted.

In the days ahead, the camp is expected to enhance the cadets' skills while instilling the values of discipline, camaraderie, and service. The 10-day CATC camp at SaruSajai Stadium promises to be an enriching experience, equipping cadets with invaluable skills and creating lasting memories. This event aims to be a transformative experience, empowering the National Cadet Corps cadets to become the vanguards of a brighter future, the statement concluded.

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Mangaluru (Karnataka), Dec 11 (PTI) Mangaluru will soon have direct flights to Singapore with two new services operated by Air India Express, starting in the new year, according to Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha member Captain Brijesh Chowta.

In a post on the social media platform 'X,' Chowta expressed his delight over the announcement, which also includes two additional flights connecting Mangaluru with Pune and Delhi.

Also Read | Atul Subhash's Suicide Case: Victim's Family Demands Justice, Strict Action Against Harassers.

Highlighting the long-standing demand for better connectivity between Mangaluru and Singapore's Changi Airport, Chowta noted that he had personally written to Union Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, to address the issue.

"This development aligns with the Act East policy of the Union Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to strengthen India's links with ASEAN and East Asian nations," Chowta stated.

Also Read | SM Krishna Funeral: Former CM and Veteran Politician, Who Shaped Bengaluru, Last Rites Held With State Honours (Watch Video).

Encouraging the Mangalurean diaspora in Singapore, he added, "I urge our people based in Singapore to return to their roots and consider investing in Mangaluru."

The enhanced connectivity is expected to boost business, tourism, and cultural ties between the coastal city and Southeast Asia, officials said.

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New Delhi [India], December 11 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday carried out searches at multiple locations in Punjab and Haryana in connection with the gangster-terror nexus case involving operatives of the proscribed Khalistan Terrorist Force (KTF), including Canada-based Arsh Dala.

Extensive searches were conducted by NIA teams at the premises of suspects linked to the arrested accused Baljeet Maur, as well as those connected with Dala and KTF.

Also Read | Punjab Local Body Elections 2024: AAP Releases Candidate List for Upcoming Municipal Corporation Polls, Check Names of Candidates.

The raids were carried out in six districts in Punjab--Bathinda, Muktsar Sahib, Moga, Ferozepur, Sangrur, and Mansa--along with Sirsa in Haryana.

In total, the NIA raided eight locations within the six districts across Punjab and one in Haryana.

Also Read | Suresh Gopi's Residence Robbed: Kerala Police Arrest 2 History-Sheeters for Looting Actor-Turned-Politician and Union Minister's Ancestral Home in Eravipuram.

The search teams seized several incriminating materials, including mobile phones, digital devices, and documents, which are being examined by the NIA as part of the ongoing investigation in the case (RC 02/2024/NIA/DLI).

The case was registered earlier this year by the NIA following directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The NIA has been investigating various terror outfits involved in criminal conspiracies to recruit India-based associates for carrying out terrorist acts, raising funds through large-scale extortion, smuggling terrorist hardware into India, and facilitating the movement of illegal arms and ammunition through the dead-drop model.

"The investigations so far have revealed attempts by foreign-based main accused and handlers of terrorist outfits to recruit cadres in India for carrying out terror acts on Indian soil," the NIA said. (ANI)

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Azamgarh (UP), Dec 11 (PTI) A woman was killed and 22 other people were injured in a road accident in a town near the Azamgarh-?Ambedkar Nagar border here early Wednesday, police said.

The accident took place near the Kandhrapur town on National Highway 233 when they were returning from the historic Guru Govind Sahib fair, police said.

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"Around 24 people from the Sarailakhansi area of Mau district were travelling in a pickup van when it collided with a sugarcane-laden trolley. The accident led to the death of a woman, Bachchi Devi, and injuries to 22 others," Superintendent of Police (City) Shailendra Lal said.

He said all the injured were rushed to the district hospital for treatment.

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Police and health department teams are on high alert with Chief Medical Officer and Chief Medical Superintendent present at the hospital to oversee the treatment, he added.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the bereaved family and directed officials to expedite relief efforts at the accident site.

He also instructed authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured and wished for their speedy recovery.

Further investigations in the accident are ongoing, the police said.

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New Delhi, December 11: Opposition MPs on Wednesday staged a unique protest outside the Parliament against the government, giving a rose flower and Indian flags to NDA MPs. Both Houses of Parliament have seen stormy sittings in this winter session with the Opposition MPs wanting to raise the issue of alleged charges against industrialist Gautam Adani and the BJP accusing the Congress of having links with US billionaire George Soros to destabilise the country.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the protesters. Rahul Gandhi was seen giving rose flower and Tiranga to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the latter entered the Parliament building. Rahul Gandhi Gives Rose, Tiranga to Rajnath Singh During Protest Outside Parliament (Watch Video).

Opposition Stages Protest Outside Parliament Against Government

#WATCH | Delhi: Opposition stages a protest outside the Parliament against the government. Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi is also present. pic.twitter.com/FdwYAbItUR  ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024

Rahul Gandhi Gives Rose, Tiranga to Rajnath Singh

#WATCH | Delhi | In a unique protest in Parliament premises, Congress MP and LoP Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi gives a Rose flower and Tiranga to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/9GlGIvh3Yz  ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the BJP government of turning Parliament into the 'Lajvanti' (shame plant). "The BJP government has turned the Parliament into the 'Lajvanti' (shame plant). The House gets adjourned the moment Adani's name comes up... We are distributing the National Flag following the Parliamentary decorum," Bhagat told ANI.

Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said, "We have distributed the national flag and have requested them to not sell the country and take the country forward. Unfortunately, we are seeing that Adani is running the country these days... Everything is being given to him and the voice of the poor is being suppressed. We are against the conspiracy to sell the country." Parliament Winter Session 2024: Modi Govt Believes in Democratising Technology, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Tells Lok Sabha.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that he was constantly being disrupted by the Opposition members in the House. "The Opposition is not letting me speak. This is the fourth day that my Zero Hour has been wasted. They are suppressing my voice. I have never seen an Opposition that stopped so low," Dubey told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday raised concerns alleging that the ties between George Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family extend beyond Sonia Gandhi's role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP).

Citing newspaper reports on social media handle X, the BJP posted, "The connection between George Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family runs deep, extending beyond Sonia Gandhi's role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP)."

"Fori Nehru, a Hungarian like Soros, was married to BK Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru's cousin, making her the aunt of Rahul Gandhi, former Congress President and Leader of the Opposition. Soros is documented to have visited Fori Nehru and maintained extended correspondence with her. Their association traces back to the time when BK Nehru served as India's ambassador to the United States," said the post.

The Winter session of Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The Winter Session will go on till December 20.

(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], December 11 (ANI): The Ministry of Women and Child Development announced on Wednesday that over 81.64 lakh women have been assisted through the Women Helpline since its inception up to October 31, 2024.

According to the ministry, the Women Helpline (WHL) scheme has been operational since April 1, 2015.

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"It is a component of the Sambal vertical under the umbrella of Mission Shakti. It aims to provide a 24x7x365 emergency and non-emergency response via the telephonic short code 181 to women in both public and private spaces by connecting them with appropriate authorities such as the police, One Stop Centres, hospitals, and legal services authorities. Additionally, it provides information about women's welfare schemes and programmes," the release stated.

"Currently, WHL is operational in 35 States and Union Territories, and over 81.64 lakh women have been assisted since its inception up to October 31, 2024," the ministry added.

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The government of West Bengal is not implementing the WHL scheme, it further noted.

As per Mission Shakti Guidelines, the States and Union Territories are responsible for implementing the scheme. The respective State or Union Territory conducts public awareness activities as needed, the release added.

This information was provided by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi has urged Speaker Om Birla to examine the party's complaint against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's "defamatory remarks" against Rahul Gandhi and remove them from the record.

Gogol said after the Speaker's decision, the Congress party is keen to participate in the legislative business listed for the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

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Posting the letter on X, Congress General Secretary (In-charge, Communications) Jairam Ramesh said Gogoi has written to the Speaker reiterating the Congress' commitment to ensure Parliament functions smoothly.

Gogoi has suggested a way forward to resume proceedings, he said.

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But does the Modi government want both Houses to function, Ramesh asked.

In his letter to Birla dated December 10, Gogoi said, "As highlighted in my previous letters to you on December 5, 2024 and December 6, 2024, we remain deeply concerned about the defamatory remarks made by Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey against Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi and Member of Parliament from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the Zero Hour Session on December 5, 2024."

"I implore you to announce your decision to examine our complaint and remove all defamatory and unparliamentary remarks from the record," Gogoi said.

"After your decision, the Congress Party is keen to participate in the Legislative Business listed for the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament," he said.

Hitting out at BJP MP Dubey for drawing linkages between a foreign investor and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the Congress last Thursday had said "agents of Adani" have been given only one task of defaming and abusing those who expose the conglomerate's "mega corruption".

Speaking with reporters outside Parliament, Gogoi had said whenever Rahul Gandhi speaks against Adani, the "sleeper cells of Adani" in Parliament get activated.

Dubey's remarks targeting Rahul Gandhi and seeking to link him to a US-based multi-billionaire, triggered uproar in the Lok Sabha, leading to adjournment of proceedings.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Dubey had claimed the Congress-led opposition had tried to derail Parliament proceedings based on reports in a French publication which had alleged links to the billionaire investor.

He alleged the US-based investor, investigative media platform Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Congress were trying to derail India's success story under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Dubey said several opposition leaders raised the issues flagged in media reports, many of which were published on the eve of Parliament sessions in India.

Congress members were up on their feet protesting against Dubey as he tried to put questions to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra.

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New Delhi, December 11: The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the growing tendency to misuse Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalises cruelty by husbands and their relatives against married women.

While quashing a Section 498A IPC case against a husband and his parents, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh said that the Section became a tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family by a wife. Supreme Court Quashes Cruelty Case Against Husband and His Family, Says Provision of Section 498-A IPC Has Become Legal Weapon for Wives, Her Relatives To Settle Scores.

"The inclusion of Section 498A of the IPC by way of an amendment was intended to curb cruelty inflicted on a woman by her husband and his family, ensuring swift intervention by the State. However, in recent years, as there has been a notable rise in matrimonial disputes across the country, accompanied by growing discord and tension within the institution of marriage, consequently, there has been a growing tendency to misuse provisions like Section 498A of the IPC as a tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family by a wife," stated a judgement came on Tuesday.

It added, "Making vague and generalised allegations during matrimonial conflicts, if not scrutinised, will lead to the misuse of legal processes and encouragement for use of arm twisting tactics by a wife and/or her family. Sometimes, recourse is taken to invoke Section 498A of the IPC against the husband and his family in order to seek compliance with the unreasonable demands of a wife. Consequently, this Court has, time and again, cautioned against prosecuting the husband and his family in the absence of a clear prima facie case against them." Worship Act Row: Mathura Shahi Eidgah Mosque Files Intervention Application in Supreme Court, a Day Ahead of SC Hearing on Pleas Challenging Validity of Places of Worship Act.

The verdict came on a criminal appeal filed by the husband and his family against the Telangana High Court's decision refusing to quash the domestic cruelty case registered by the wife against them. The wife had registered a domestic cruelty case against her husband and in-laws after he filed a petition seeking the dissolution of the marriage.

The apex court said that the cases filed by the wife were to settle personal scores and grudges and the wife was misusing the provisions meant originally to protect her. "We are not, for a moment, stating that any woman who has suffered cruelty in terms of what has been contemplated under Section 498A of the IPC should remain silent and forbear herself from making a complaint or initiating any criminal proceeding. That is not the intention of our aforesaid observations but we should not encourage a case like the present one, whereas acounterblast to the petition for dissolution of marriage sought by the first appellant-husband of the second respondent herein, a complaint under Section 498A of the IPC is lodged by the latter," said the bench.

"In fact, the insertion of the said provision is meant mainly for the protection of a woman who is subjected to cruelty in the matrimonial home primarily due to an unlawful demand for any property or valuable security in the form of dowry. However, sometimes it is misused as in the present case," it added.

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Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 11 (ANI): Security forces recovered an impovised explosive device (IED) on the Baramulla-Handwara road in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Wednesday, officials said.

Following the detection, security forces destroyed the explosives, they said.

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In a post on X, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps said, "IED recovered at Langate, Kupwara, on the Baramulla-Handwara road. Chinar Warriors and @JmuKmrPolice averted a major terror incident today by recovering and destroying an IED at Langate, Kupwara."

"Indian Army remains resolute in its commitment to keep Kashmir terror-free," it added.

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Earlier on Monday, a soldier was killed in a mine blast while patrolling in J-K's Poonch district.

The Army paid tribute to Havaldar V. Subbaiah Varikunta of the 25 Rashtriya Rifles.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps and all ranks paid tribute to the deceased soldier, who was part of an area domination patrol (team) in the area of Thandar Tekri in the Poonch district. (ANI)

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Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 11 (ANI): Following the passage of a special resolution in the Tamil Nadu assembly opposing the tungsten mining project, farmers and members of the Anti-Tungsten Mining Project Association welcomed the move and reiterated their demand to declare 48 villages, including Arithapatti, in Madurai district as a protected biodiversity and agricultural zone.

Arithapatti was declared Tamil Nadu's first biodiversity heritage site in 2022. The region, which encompasses seven hills, is home to numerous ancient monuments, including the Samanar Parai rock-cut temple and Vatteluttu inscriptions. It also hosts rare bird species, such as the Rasaali Parrot.

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Despite this, Hindustan Zinc Limited, a subsidiary of the Vedanta group, has secured a tender to initiate tungsten mining in the region, which has been approved by the central government. This move has sparked strong opposition from the residents.

The locals have been protesting against this project, and a special resolution was passed in the state assembly yesterday opposing the mine.

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However, the people of 48 villages, including Arithapatti, are demanding that their region be declared a protected biodiversity and agricultural zone. They urge the government to issue a formal order to safeguard the area from the mining activities.

Partipan, a local villager and a farmer said that the government passed a resolution but they are doubtful about the effectiveness of the resolution in protecting villages from the mining.

"The Tamil Nadu government has passed a resolution in the assembly against the tungsten mining project. However, we are unsure how effective this resolution will be in protecting our village. In the past, when there were protests against hydrocarbon projects in the Delta districts, the Tamil Nadu government declared those districts as protected agricultural zones, which helped safeguard them," he said.

"Similarly, we request the Tamil Nadu government to declare our villages as protected biodiversity and agricultural zones, which will help protect them from the mining project," he added.

Apart from that, Kumaran, a member of the Anti-Tungsten Mining Project Association, further emphasised their demands and stated that they would want the Centre to cancel the auction completely.

"The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution opposing the tungsten mining in Melur. This resolution has been supported by all parties in Tamil Nadu, which is a welcome move. Our complete demand is that the central government should cancel the auction completely. During the hydrocarbon project in the Delta districts, the government declared the area a protected agricultural zone and issued a government order, following which the project was abandoned," he said.

Kumaran also pointed out the potential environmental and agricultural impacts of the mining project. "The villages surrounding Melur are Mullai Periyar irrigation agricultural lands, and Arithapatti village has ancient Tamil inscriptions and Jain worship sites. If mining activities are carried out in this area, agriculture and natural resources will be destroyed. The central government should withdraw this announcement, and the Tamil Nadu government should declare this area a protected agricultural zone and save it," he added.

As protests continue, villagers remain hopeful that their demands will be heard and acted upon to prevent any damage to their heritage, biodiversity, and agriculture. (ANI)

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Agartala (Tripura) [India], December 11 (ANI): Tripura's natural beauty and cultural diversity hold significant potential for the growth of the state's tourism sector, said Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury during the inauguration of the third event of the Tripura Tourism Promo Fest-2024 at Vanghmun in Jampui Hills, North Tripura, on Wednesday.

This festival, organised by the state tourism department for the first time, aims to promote Tripura's tourism globally. The first two events of the fest were earlier held at Narikelkunja and Neermahal.

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Speaking at the event, Minister Chowdhury emphasised the state government's commitment to developing infrastructure at key tourist destinations.

He highlighted that these initiatives are attracting visitors from across the globe and creating employment opportunities within the state. He also mentioned efforts to establish homestay facilities at various tourist spots to enhance visitor experiences and support local livelihoods.

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"Our shared goal is to elevate Tripura's tourism sector to new heights, as its development is intertwined with employment, livelihoods, and economic growth. The tourism department is working tirelessly to revive and accelerate the growth of the tourism industry in the state," said Chowdhury.

Focusing on Jampui Hills, the only hill station in Tripura, the minister announced plans to further develop the region by leveraging its natural beauty. He expressed confidence that Jampui Hills could become a major attraction for tourists.

Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma also addressed the event, expressing gratitude to the tourism department for organising such festivals in Jampui Hills. She underscored the importance of utilising the region's scenic beauty to expand the tourism industry.

Cultural performances, including music, the Cheraw dance, and the Hojagiri dance by renowned artists and local performers, added to the festive atmosphere, showcasing Tripura's rich cultural heritage. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], December 11 (ANI): Women Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju against TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee for making controversial comments about Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. They also urged Rijiju to take strict measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Earlier in the day, a heated argument in Parliament between BJP MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and TMC's Kalyan Banerjee during a discussion on the Disaster Management Bill led to chaos in the Lok Sabha and forced a 30-minute adjournment. The controversy began when Banerjee made personal accusations, including a controversial remark about Scindia, which outraged BJP women MPs. They immediately demanded Banerjee's expulsion from the House.

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Andhra Pradesh BJP President Daggubati Purandeswari criticised Banerjee's repeated offensive remarks about women parliamentarians. She said, "The repetitive comments that Kalyan Banerjee of TMC has been making against women in Parliament - this is not the first time. He has commented, pointing out to Jyotiraditya Scindia that he is a..."

"Even earlier, he had said there are so many beautiful women in the House, but my attention is not distracted. I think this is very unbecoming of a parliamentarian who hails from a state led by a woman - Mamata Banerjee leads West Bengal - and it is very unbecoming of him to pass such comments on women," Purandeswari added.

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Purandeswari further condemned Banerjee's behaviour, calling his remarks offensive and disrespectful. She said, "He is repeatedly habituated to making comments like this, which are very offensive to women. The women parliamentarians of the Lok Sabha have met the Speaker and Kiren Rijiju, requesting them to take harsh action against him so that he does not repeat such behaviour. This should also serve as an example to other parliamentarians, emphasising the need to respect women." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Prayagraj, Dec 11 (PTI) Taking note of frequent strikes in various district courts in the state causing hardship to litigants, the Allahabad High Court has observed that even if there is a strike by lawyers, judicial officers must discharge their duties.

The high court also said that if litigants want to argue their cases, the district administration in consultation with the district judge must provide police protection to those litigants.

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The observations were made by Justice Ajit Kumar while hearing a petition filed by one Ashutosh Kumar Pathak, a tenant.

"No one can be rendered remedy-less for lawyers sitting on strike. The court is also of the considered view that no lawyer can restrain a judicial officer from discharging judicial function, nor can lawyers restrain any litigant from entering the courts of law," Justice Kumar said.

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During the hearing, the counsel for petitioner informed the court that lawyers are on strike in Ghaziabad district and therefore, it is difficult for the petitioner to get justice.

On this, Justice Kumar said, "I am afraid to know that the litigants are not getting justice from courts of law despite there being statutory remedies available, and are compelled to apply to the high court only for the reason that there is a strike by the lawyers in the concerned district."

The judge also said, "Lawyers belong to a noble profession and I expect that lawyers shall never restrain any litigant from approaching courts in district judgeship for justice".

Disposing of the writ petition, the court in its order dated December 6 said that if the petitioner prefers statutory appeal within two weeks, the judicial officer/ presiding judge of tribunal would pass order even if strike of lawyers continues.

(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, Dec 11 (PTI) Venture Capital firm Kenro Capital on Wednesday said it has made its first investment of USD 40 million, about Rs 340 crore, in K12 Techno Services, owner of Orchids International Schools.

Kenro Capital founder and Managing Partner, Piyush Gupta told PTI that the venture capital firm is buying part of equity from a large investor in K12 Techno, liquidating stock held by some employees and providing growth capital to the education firm.

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"After the launch of Kenro Capital, we have had tremendous amount of interest from investors. K12 Techno Services is our first investment where we are investing USD 40 million," Gupta said.

Kenro Capital launched its maiden fund in November. The firm plans to invest in mature startups that have proved their monetization path and are profitable.

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The firm will provide liquidity to the companies and investors before they are ready to go for public listing.

K12 Techno Services owns two brands -- Orchids International Schools, which offer comprehensive school services for kindergarten to Grade 12 and Eduvate, which provides curriculum content and platform services to schools.

Gupta said that K12's operating cost has high leverage and the cost of their network expansion will not increase in same proportion.

K12 MD and CEO Jai DeCosta said the company plans to add 8-12 Orchids schools every year. On Eduvate, plans are to add 100-150 schools on year-over- year basis.

Last year, K12's revenue was Rs 430 crore and this year, plans are to cross Rs 500 crore, DeCosta added.

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New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Realty firm Mahindra Lifespace Developers on Wednesday said that the GST department in Tamil Nadu has imposed a tax demand of Rs 2.09 crore, including interest and penalty.

In a regulatory filing, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd said the "company has received order from the Office of the Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Chengalpattu, Assessment Circle Tamil Nadu, GST imposing tax demand along with interest and penalty."

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The order has been passed under applicable provisions of the Section 74 of the GST Act 2017, alleging short payment of GST liability by the company, it added.

"Based on the company's assessment, there is no noncompliance and a general penalty has been imposed," Mahindra Lifespace said.

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The company said it will file an appeal against this order.

Mahindra Lifespace said it is hopeful of a favourable outcome at the appellate level and does not reasonably expect the said order to have any material financial impact on the company. PTI MJH

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
London [UK], December 11 (ANI): In observance of International Human Rights Day, a large-scale protest took place outside the UK Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street in London.

Organized by the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement on Tuesday, the demonstration was titled "Protest Against Pakistan's Occupation and Human Rights Violations in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Seraikistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir."

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The rally drew participants from various organizations, including the Baloch National Movement, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, United Kashmir People's National Party, Hindu Forum Europe, and numerous human rights advocates representing the Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun, Kashmiri, and other marginalized communities.

The protest centred around condemning Pakistan's continued occupation of several regions, with the main banner prominently opposing the repression in these areas. It featured images of Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun martyrs, along with those who have gone missing due to enforced disappearances by the Pakistani state.

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Demonstrators chanted slogans demanding an end to Pakistan's oppressive policies and called for the recognition of their right to self-determination. Sherbano, a leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), condemned the brutal killings of Pashtuns in Wana, Waziristan, and Afghanistan, calling for accountability from the Pakistani authorities. PTM UK leader Salim Zaib highlighted the wrongful imprisonment of political leader Ali Wazir and demanded the release of all political prisoners and missing persons in Pakistan.

Notably, this protest marked a historic milestone as, for the first time in its 52-year history, the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement witnessed the participation of a nationalist Sindhi political party in a demonstration outside of Pakistan, offering an international platform to their cause.

Kashif, a leader of the United Kashmir People's National Party UK, condemned the recent presidential ordinance imposed by the Kashmiri government under Pakistan's direction, calling the oppression faced by Kashmiris unbearable. He emphasized that their fight for Kashmir's freedom would persist until they achieved self-determination.

The event was led by Sohail Abro, Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement. Numerous speakers addressed the crowd, shedding light on the ongoing atrocities and oppression faced by their communities under Pakistan's rule.

Jasim Baloch, a leader of the Baloch National Movement UK, spoke about the thousands of Baloch individuals killed or disappeared by the Pakistani state. He asserted that the Baloch struggle, now at a critical juncture, would be strengthened through unity with Sindhudesh and Pashtunistan in their shared quest for freedom.

Qambar Baloch, leader of the Baloch Human Rights Council, emphasized the importance of solidarity among oppressed nations and called for the international community to recognize the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan and other occupied regions.

Muhammad Ibrahim Ghafuri, a leader of the PTM UK, spoke out against the massacres of Pashtuns along the Durand Line and stressed the necessity of a united struggle against the common enemy, Pakistan.

Human rights advocate Rahul Jesrani denounced religious extremism in Pakistan, particularly the persecution of the Sindhi Hindu community.

He accused the Pakistani state of supporting religious extremists and pointed to the forced conversions of Sindhi Hindu girls and the attacks on Hindu religious sites. Jesrani urged international human rights organizations to take action to address these pressing issues.

The protest concluded with a memorandum being submitted to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's residence, calling on the British government to take a firm stand against Pakistan's human rights abuses and to support the rights of the oppressed nations within Pakistan.

Bharati Taylor, former President of Hindu Forum Europe, expressed her solidarity with the oppressed communities of South Asia and condemned the widespread human rights violations in the region.

This event represented a pivotal moment for the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement, as it raised global awareness about the ongoing struggles of the Sindhi people and the broader fight for justice and self-determination for all oppressed communities under Pakistan's rule. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
San Francisco, Dec 12 (AP) Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season with a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customised emojis within a matter of seconds.

The Wednesday release of the iPhone's upgraded operating system, iOS 18.2, extends Apple's expansion into AI months after rivals such as Samsung and Google began implanting the revolutionary technology on their devices. The update builds upon another one that came out in late October to usher in the AI era for Apple and the iPhone, as well as for the iPad and Mac.

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The latest round of AI tricks includes Genmojis, Apple's description for emojis that iPhone users will be able to ask the technology to create and then share. Apple says it is placing some limits its AI's emoji artistry to prevent the distribution of violent or hateful imagery. Other features include an Image Playground for a variety of AI-styled illustrations, writing tools and options for summarizing emails.

The technology won't work on iPhones that Apple made before 2023 because it requires a special processor that isn't in older models. The AI will work on the iPhone 16 line-up that came out in September and the premium iPhone 15 models released last year.

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That exclusivity is expected to propel a cycle of iPhone upgrades during the current holiday shopping season into next year, driving up Apple's profit even higher from the USD94 billion that the Cupertino, California, company pocketed in its last fiscal year ending in September. That expectation is the main reason Apple's stock price has climbed by about 30 per cent so far this year to push the company's market value closer to the USD4 trillion threshold for the first time.

Apple is broadening the AI suite's appeal by including English versions tailored for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK that are included in the latest software update.

Although the iPhone's AI is similar to many of the features that have already been available from other companies, Apple is taking a slightly different approach to the technology in an effort to stand out from the rest of pack. It is emphasizing its ongoing commitment to protecting iPhone users' privacy by processing most of its AI on the device itself or corralling it in a secured data center. Users seeking more AI wizardry than the device or the special data centre can handle will have the option to reach out to the popular ChatGPT technology made by OpenAI, which has forged a partnership with Apple. (AP)

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New Delhi [India], December 11 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday briefed members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on the 'Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship' and conveyed that the neighbouring country has assured action against perpetrators of violence against minorities, sources said.

The sources said Misri, who visited Dhaka on December 9, provided a detailed briefing on Bangladesh.

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The Foreign Secretary is learnt to have told the committee that, contrary to media reports, the Yunus administration did not discuss reviewing any agreements.

Sources said most members, cutting across party lines, enquired about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's stay in India.

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During his visit to Bangladesh, Misri told the media that India desires positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship and that the relationship is people-centric.

The Foreign Secretary told reporters in Dhaka that he had a frank, candid, and constructive exchange of views with his interlocutors and discussed the entire gamut of issues in the "extremely important bilateral relationship".

He raised the issue of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, with Bangladesh leaders and officials.

"We also discussed recent developments and I conveyed our concerns including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.. We also discussed regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural and religious properties... I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. I have underlined today India's desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh Authority," Misri told reporters in Dhaka.

He highlighted India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh.

During the visit, Misri called on the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain. He held Foreign Office Consultations with the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Jashim Uddin.

It was the first high-level visit from India to Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina was deposed as Prime Minister in August this year and since the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, assumed office.

There have been multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There also have been cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples. The arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Chittagong on October 25 led to protests.

India had on November 26 noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote.

India had urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Taipei [Taiwan], December 11 (ANI): Former Kaohsiung city councilor Chen Tsui-luan of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) will serve a 10-year, five-month prison term after the Supreme Court upheld her corruption conviction on Monday, Taipei Times reported.

Chen was found guilty of unlawfully pocketing NTD 4.49 million (USD 138,409) in government funds through fraudulent travel subsidy claims dating back to 2013.

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Investigators revealed that Chen forged receipts to secure travel subsidies by falsely claiming official work trips as a councillor, while instead using the funds to take family vacations. Her prison sentence began in August 2018, but she continued to orchestrate corrupt activities from behind bars.

An investigation uncovered that Chen conspired with her son, Cheng Chia-hong, and councillor office director Wang Mei-chu to submit fake employee lists for her daughter Cheng An-li's councillor office. Monthly wages for these fictitious assistants were siphoned off over several years.

Also Read | Benjamin Netanyahu Corruption Trial: Israeli Prime Minister Strikes Defiant Tone As He Testified in Open Court for First Time, Says 'I Have Waited 8 Years for This Moment, To Say the Truth'.

While Cheng Chia-hong received a 16-month prison term, it was later suspended. Wang, however, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, reported Taipei Times.

Separately, in Penghu County, interim mayor Cheng Chao-chung was sworn in on Monday following the detention of Wanan Township Mayor Hsu Te-hsien on corruption charges. Prosecutors alleged that Hsu misappropriated government subsidies meant for local residents, falsified accounting reports, and accepted bribes to secure employment positions on the township's sanitation team.

Last week, Hsu's office was searched by prosecutors, and a judge subsequently approved a request for his pre-trial detention, citing a high risk of evidence tampering and flight.

Meanwhile, in Miaoli County, former Tongshiao Township mayor Chen Han-chih was indicted on Monday alongside eight accomplices for bribery and corruption involving 13 local government projects. Chen, an independent, allegedly solicited bribes ranging from 10 to 15 per cent of project budgets, which covered roadwork, sewer construction, flood-control initiatives, and landslide prevention efforts, Taipei Times reported.

Prosecutors also noted that in a previous case, Chen was convicted of taking NTD 1.07 million in bribes related to a solar panel farm project and received a five-year prison term.

These cases underscore the ongoing challenge of addressing corruption in local governance, with officials from multiple townships facing scrutiny for misusing public funds and engaging in bribery schemes. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, Dec 11 (PTI) Pakistan authorities have blocked approximately 80,000 SIM cards for spreading fake news amid concerns regarding the social media propelled misinformation, the government said on Wednesday.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Division Sajid Mehdi told the National Assembly, in response to a calling attention notice regarding the spread of false news on digital platforms, also pointed out the need for reforms in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016 to better tackle the issue of fake news.

Also Read | Who Is Prahlad Iyengar, Indian-Origin PhD Scholar Suspended by MIT Over 'Pro-Palestine' Essay?.

The amendments to this law would expedite the trial of cases related to the dissemination of false information, he added.

The issue of fake news has already grabbed international attention as a major threat to domestic and global peace and stability and authorities claimed that Pakistan has faced the challenge in the wake of protests by the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party.

Also Read | Joe Biden Slams US President-Elect Donald Trump's Tariff Approach, Calls 'Action a Major Mistake'.

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party extensively uses social media to drive home its messages, which the government claims is fake news.

Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have booked 150 suspects and arrested 22 of them, mostly belonging to Khan's party, for allegedly propagating messages against the army on social media about the killings of the party workers in Islamabad on November 26, an official said on Wednesday.

Mehdi said the government's proactive steps, including blocking SIM cards, revising laws, and establishment of a joint task force, are aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of fake news.

The joint task force has already submitted its report to the Prime Minister and highlighted the seriousness of the issue, Mehdi said, adding, the task force's ongoing work would continue to address the issue.

The government was also registering Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to improve monitoring and control of online activities, Mehdi said and expressed confidence that these efforts would lead to improvements in curbing the spread of fake news.

After more than 69,000 SIM cards were blocked during the first phase in August 2016, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) launched the second phase of blocking mobile SIM cards a few months ago.

In the first phase, SIM cards registered against Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) that expired before 2017 and have not been renewed, were blocked.

Pakistan military's top generals on December 5 voiced concern about the spread of "propaganda and disinformation" targeting the armed forces and urged the government to enforce strict laws to curb the hate speech and polarisation being spread under the guise of free speech.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, the demand was made during the 84th Formation Commanders' Conference chaired by Army Chief General Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan], December 11 (ANI): Kurram district in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is facing severe shortages amid an ongoing security crisis. The Kohat Grand Peace Jirga, which convened to address the escalating situation, was unable to reach an agreement on December 10, Geo News reported.

The discussions, which have been ongoing for nearly a week, will continue today, with a focus on restoring peace and reopening the region's main highway, which remains blocked due to security concerns.

Also Read | Thailand To Implement E-Visa System for Indian Nationals From January 1, 2025, Announces Royal Thai Embassy.

The deteriorating security situation in Kurram has significantly disrupted daily life. Residents are struggling to access essential services as the region faces a severe shortage of food, petrol, and medical supplies. Gas shortages have led to the closure of tandoors and restaurants, further exacerbating the hardships faced by the local community.

During his address at the grand jirga, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif called for unity and cooperation to restore peace in the region. "Hatred must be eliminated for peace to prevail," he stated. Saif assured attendees that the provincial government was taking steps to address the crisis, such as delivering medicines by helicopter and exploring the possibility of restoring air travel services to the region, reported Geo News.

Also Read | Who Is Prahlad Iyengar, Indian-Origin PhD Scholar Suspended by MIT Over 'Pro-Palestine' Essay?.

He emphasised the urgent need to remove private bunkers from the central highway and disarm the area of heavy weaponry. Saif also pointed out that while both tribes in the region seek peace, some groups have vested interests in sustaining the conflict.

He argued that these interests could only be uncovered with public cooperation. He committed to taking strong action against those obstructing peace efforts and urged the participants to work toward a lasting solution to the conflict. Saif expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement would hold in the long term.

The KP Chief Minister's aide also highlighted the establishment of a committee, led by CM Ali Amin Gandapur, to oversee the peace process between the warring tribes. District Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud outlined ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and assist the affected residents. However, locals stressed the importance of a sustainable resolution, particularly advocating for the permanent reopening of the Peshawar-Parachinar highway to ensure lasting peace.

Following last month's violence, which claimed over 130 lives, elected representatives from Kurram district called on the government to initiate a de-weaponisation campaign in both lower and upper Kurram, Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has provided relief supplies worth PKR 150 million to the deputy commissioner of Kurram for distribution among victims of the violence. The All Parties Conference (APC) last week raised concerns about the worsening law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing more than 200 deaths in Kurram unrest this year.

The APC criticised ineffective governance at both the federal and provincial levels and demanded urgent actions, including the release of funds allocated for tribal districts under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, which has been stalled for over two years. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Dec 11 (AP) The Supreme Court is allowing a class-action lawsuit that accuses Nvidia of misleading investors about its past dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency to proceed.

The court's decision Wednesday comes the same week that China said it is investigating the microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws.

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The justices heard arguments four weeks ago in Nvidia's bid to shut down the lawsuit, then decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. They dismissed the company's appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward.

At issue was a 2018 suit led by a Swedish investment management firm. It followed a dip in the profitability of cryptocurrency, which caused Nvidia's revenues to fall short of projections and led to a 28 per cent drop in the company's stock price.

Also Read | Who Is Prahlad Iyengar, Indian-Origin PhD Scholar Suspended by MIT Over 'Pro-Palestine' Essay?.

Nvidia had argued that the investors' lawsuit should be thrown out because it does not measure up to a 1995 law, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, that is intended to bar frivolous complaints. A district court judge had dismissed the complaint before the federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled that it could go forward. The Biden administration backed the investors at the Supreme Court.

In 2022, Nvidia, which is based in Santa Clara, California, paid a USD 5.5 million fine to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it failed to disclose that cryptomining was a significant source of revenue growth from the sale of graphics processing units that were produced and marketed for gaming. The company did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Nvidia's recent performance has been spectacular. Even after the news of the China investigation, its share price is up 180 per cent this year.

Nvidia has led the artificial intelligence sector to become one of the stock market's biggest companies, as tech giants continue to spend heavily on the company's chips and data centres needed to train and operate their AI systems.

The lawsuit is one of two high court cases that involved class-action lawsuits against tech companies. The justices also dismissed an appeal from Facebook parent Meta that sought to end to a multibillion-dollar class action investors' lawsuit stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bollywood star Alia Bhatt says she was honoured to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and added that merely listening to his stories, makes her learn so much. Alia took to Instagram, where she shared a bunch of pictures from her meeting with the iconic leader on Raj Kapoor's centenary celebrations. Raj Kapoor Centenary Celebrations: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Neetu Kapoor and Others Meet PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi To Discuss Special Film Festival.

She wrote: Art is timeless. And sometimes to move forward, we must look back and learn. Mr. Raj Kapoors impact was truly global. He marked his footprint all across the world with the movies he made, the stories he told.

Heaping praise on the leader, Alia added: Yesterday was such an honour to be invited by our respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, to spend a lovely afternoon commemorating the life and legend of Mr. Raj Kapoor.

Merely listening to his stories, makes me learn so much, and his legacy continues to inspire.

The actress spoke about Raj Kapoor 100 Film Festival, which will feature the late stars most celebrated works, spanning almost four decades, including Aag (1948), Barsaat (1949), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Jagte Raho (1956), Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Sangam (1964), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby (1973) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985). It will be showcased across 40 cities and 135 cinemas in India from December 13 to December 15 at the PVR-Inox and Cinepolis cinemas.

Were thrilled to celebrate 100 glorious years of his artistry with the Raj Kapoor 100 Film Festival from 13th-15th December in 10 cities, 40 cinemas, 135 screens, across the country. #100YearsOfRajKapoor, she added.

On Wednesday morning, actress Kareena Kapoor thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a special afternoon and said that the iconic leaders warmth, attention and support in celebrating the legacy of late star Raj Kapoor means the world to her. Ahead of Raj Kapoor's 100th Birth Anniversary, Rahul Rawail Shares Memories of the Showman Who Lived for Cinema.

Kareena took to Instagram, where she shared a string of pictures of the Kapoor family posing with the PM. In one image, the iconic leader even shared a signed note for her sons Taimur and Jeh. A few images also had the leader speaking to Saif, Ranbir, Neetu, Alia and Kareena.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 11, 2024 05:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, December 11: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day Wednesday afternoon without transacting any business amid uproar by treasury and opposition benches over the no-trust notice against the House Chairman and the George Soros issue. Soon after the RS reassembled at 12 noon following the day's first adjournment, Leader of the House J P Nadda accused the Congress of standing with billionaire investor George Soros in seeking to destabilise the country, and demanded a discussion.

He also condemned the Congress for the opposition's no-confidence notice against Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. He said it was an attempt by the opposition party to divert attention from the issue of "ties between the top Congress leadership and Soros". The members of the treasury benches were on their feet soon after the House met and Deputy Chairman allowed the leader of the house to speak. Rahul Gandhi Gives Rose, Tiranga to Rajnath Singh During Protest Outside Parliament (Watch Video).

"I want to bring to your notice that for the last two days our people are raising the issue of what relationship does the Congress top leadership have with George Soros. What is the relationship between Soros and Sonia Gandhi?," Nadda asked. He said this concerns the country's sovereignly, and internal and external security. Nadda alleged that the principal opposition party and the relationship between George Soros should be discussed. "Our people are agitated and want a discussion on this," he said.

Raising the issue of no-confidence notice against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Nadda said they are trying to divert attention from the real issue by making accusations against the Chair. "This is a design to deviate the attention of the nation from the issue of the sovereignty of the country and the threat to internal and external security and the Congress has contributed to it. They are becoming a tool in their (foreign forces') hands in supporting them and there should be a discussion on this. Rajya Sabha: JP Nadda Accuses Congress of Colluding with George Soros; Oppn Demands Discussion on Adani Issue.

"I also want to point out that the manner in which Congress is making allegations against the Chair is condemnable. It should be condemned by one and all," the leader of the House said. "They have never respected the Chair, be it inside or outside the House -- the way they have made comments against the Chair's decision and those sitting on constitutional posts," he claimed. Amid the continued uproar by opposition benches, Nadda said the entire country is agitated and will never forgive them. The Rajya Sabha has witnessed repeated adjournments for the past three days over the George Soros issue.
Mumbai, December 11: The Gadhimai Festival, held every five years in Bariyarpur village near the Nepal-India border, draws thousands of devotees who partake in a controversial mass animal sacrifice. Celebrated to appease the Hindu goddess Gadhimai, the event involves the slaughter of thousands of animals, including buffaloes, goats, and pigeons, with the belief that this act will bring prosperity and blessings.

Animal rights groups have urged the Nepali government to stop the horrible bloodbath after thousands of animals were killed during the Gadhimai festival. Humane Society International India (HSI) reported that over 4,200 buffaloes, along with many goats and pigeons, were sacrificed in Bariyarpur village, near the Nepal-India border. The event, held every five years, has drawn criticism due to the mass killings of animals, reported CNN. Cold Moon 2024 Date and Time: When Is Margashirsha Purnima? What Is the Best Viewing Time? Heres All You Need to Know About the Last Full Moon of the Year.

Gadhimai Festival in Nepal

The Gadhimai festival in Nepal is the worlds largest mass slaughter of animals it has to be one of thee most depraved religious festivals ever. A total bloodlust. https://t.co/frAtKjxQ81 pic.twitter.com/cDd8yTCQzP  DivaKnevil   (@DivaKnevil) December 4, 2024

What is Gadhimai Festival?

The Gadhimai Festival held every five years at the Gadhimai Temple in Bariyarpur, Nepal, is known for its mass animal sacrifices, including buffaloes, goats, pigs, and pigeons, to please the goddess Gadhimai. The festival, which dates back to 1759, draws millions of devotees from Nepal and India, with many animals illegally transported across the border. The 2009 festival saw the sacrifice of up to 500,000 animals. Despite a 2019 Supreme Court ruling to stop live animal sacrifices, the practice continues, sparking controversy among animal rights activists. International Mountain Day 2024 Quotes and Images: Best Sayings, HD Wallpapers, Messages, GIFs and Greetings for the Mountain Lover in You.

Why Is It Controversial?

The Gadhimai Festival is controversial due to its large-scale animal sacrifices, which have raised significant ethical concerns. Animal rights activists argue that the mass slaughter of animals, including buffaloes, goats, and pigeons, is cruel and inhumane. Despite a 2019 Supreme Court ruling to end live animal sacrifices, the practice continues, with many animals illegally transported across the India-Nepal border. Critics also question the cultural and religious justification for such violence, while supporters argue that it is a deeply rooted tradition. The event has sparked global outrage over animal welfare and the treatment of animals in religious rituals.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 11, 2024 02:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
International UNICEF Day is observed across the globe on December 11 every year. International UNICEF Day 2024 falls on Wednesday, December 11. The day marks the founding of the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 1946. The day highlights UNICEFs commitment to protecting the rights of children all over the world and ensuring they have access to education, healthcare, and protection. UNICEF was established due to the aftermath of World War II. It was created in order to provide emergency relief, food, and healthcare access to children in war-torn Europe. Over the years, UNICEF began undertaking broader global challenges like malnutrition, child exploitation, poverty, and gender inequality. Till date, it continues to improve the lives of those most vulnerable. To observe the day and raise awareness, netizens took to social media to share International UNICEF Day 2024 messages, quotes, posts, motivational sayings, images, and wallpapers. International UNICEF Day 2024 Quotes: Share These Messages, HD Wallpapers, Images, Sayings and Greetings To Commemorate UNICEFs Birthday.

International UNICEF Day Messages

Happy Birthday to UNICEF!  For 78 years, UNICEF has been a beacon of hope, protecting childrens rights, ensuring education, healthcare, and a brighter future for every child. Heres to continuing the mission of #ForEveryChild.  #UNICEFBirthday#UNICEF pic.twitter.com/2i9TGlOiGr  Abarna  (@SweetuAbarna) December 11, 2024

International UNICEF Day Posts

UNICEF Foundation Day is observed on 11th December every year, 2024 being the 78th anniversary year of the United Nations Children Fund. UNICEF has been known to be the global organisation, always in the front protecting the rights of children worldwide. UNICEF - The United pic.twitter.com/HR72d2BdpJ     (@AnshumanVishno1) December 11, 2024

International UNICEF Day Sayings

UNICEF Foundation Day is celebrated on December 11th each year, marking the 78th anniversary of the organization dedicated to protecting children's rights globally  Tanuj Choudhary (@Choudary_tanuj) December 11, 2024

International UNICEF Day Images

On this UNICEF day, let us make this day a memorable one by making ourselves involved in giving a better life to the children. pic.twitter.com/QOmzjlh0mc  Prasant Rai (@PrasantQUORA) December 11, 2024

International UNICEF Day Wallpapers

Unicef day for change: let us pledge to do everything possible for children need on this day pic.twitter.com/XKaKbFUAtZ  Rajesh Yadav (@y75854548) December 11, 2024

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
In a major development, the South Korea Police raided the presidential office on Wednesday, December 11. According to Yonhap news agency, police are searching South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeols office. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol is under criminal investigation on insurrection charges related to his brief imposition of martial law, though he has not been arrested or questioned by authorities. Yoon Suk Yeol Placed on Travel Ban: South Korean President Prohibited From Foreign Travel As Prosecutors Weigh Possible Insurrection Charges.

South Korea Police Raids Presidential Office

HAPPENING NOW - Police are searching the office of South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol - Yonhap  Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) December 11, 2024

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
New Delhi, December 11: Apple is reportedly planning to introduce satellite connectivity in its upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is expected to launch in 2025. The new feature will likely allow users to stay connected even in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi networks. According to reports, Apple aims to integrate satellite texting to enable its users to send messages via satellites when traditional communication options are unavailable.

As per a report of Bloomberg, Apple plans to bring satellite connections to its smartwatch in 2025. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is said to enable users to send off-the-grid text messages using Globalstar Inc.s satellites when they do not have access to cellular or Wi-Fi connections. According to multiple reports, Apple and Globalstar have strengthened their partnership. In November, Apple made an investment of around USD 1.5 billion in Globalstar to enhance and expand its infrastructure. Apple May Launch Next iPad Pro With M5 Chipset in 2025; Know What To Expect.

The satellite connectivity feature can be useful for those who engage in outdoor activities like hiking or camping, where reliable communication is essential. The integration of satellite technology into the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra is anticipated to be an advancement in wearable technology.

Next-Gen Apple Watch Ultra 3 Features (Expected)

Apple introduced satellite connectivity with the iPhone 14, and the feature was later made available on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 as well. However, the Apple Watch has not yet included the feature. It seems Apple intends to add satellite connectivity to its Apple Watch Ultra 3. At first, the satellite feature was available for emergency texting, but with the introduction of iOS 18, Apple expanded its features to allow its users to send messages to anyone. Apple May Launch Its 1st Foldable iPhone in 2026; Know What To Expect.

Apple is reportedly considering to bring a blood pressure tracking feature to Apple Watch Ultra 3. The new feature is expected to allow Apple Watch users to monitor their blood pressure levels to keep track of their health more effectively. Additionally, there are also speculations that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 could be launched in 2025, along with a next-gen Apple Watch SE.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 11, 2024 03:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
En espanol

The controversy between Eugenio Derbez and Selena Gomez continues to dominate media headlines and social networks following the Mexican actor and filmmaker's criticism of Gomez's performance in the film 'Emilia Perez.'

The exchange sparked significant uproar over the weekend, and it shows no signs of dying down.

Read more: Chiquis Rivera Shocks Fans With the Announcement of her New Reality Show

According to 'Despierta America,' Derbez expressed deep regret during a conversation with the show's executive producer, Luz Maria Doria.

Host Alan Tacher summarized Derbez's remarks in the 'Sin Rollos Ni Rodeos' segment:

"He was very sad and angry with himself over the fallout from his comments. No one understands better than him, given his own experience acting in productions (in Hollywood) with a noticeable accent, how challenging it is to perform in a non-native language. He acknowledged he had no right to criticize anyone's accent. Eugenio admitted he spoke out of turn, apologized profusely to Selena, and expressed deep regret for his remarks."

Derbez reportedly went on to say he "loved" 'Emilia Perez,' echoing sentiments from his public apology to Selena: "I was wrong, and I deeply admire your career," he said, emphasizing that 'Emilia Perez' deserves celebration rather than being overshadowed by his comments.

Fans aren't convinced

Despite his apology, the backlash persists. Many online users remain unconvinced of Derbez's sincerity, with comments such as "No humility from Eugenio. He messed up, especially considering he's been in Selena's shoes, acting in a non-native language," "These apologies only come because of the controversy. He wouldn't regret his words otherwise," "Such a lack of empathy for Selena and all she's been through. Shame on you, Eugenio. Show more humility."

The controversy has also drawn attention to his children, with one follower commenting:

"A good judge starts at home. Eugenio should focus on teaching his kids to act before criticizing others."

Amid the uproar, Derbez continues with his career. He is currently working on two new Amazon Prime Video series 'Y llegaron de noche,' a comedy, and 'El Juicio,' another highly anticipated project.

Both productions are generating excitement among fans and promise to showcase Derbez's versatile talent.

Meanwhile, 'Emilia Perez' has garnered multiple Golden Globe nominations, establishing itself as a favorite this awards season. Notable nominations include:

Best Supporting Actress : Selena Gomez for her role as Jessi del Monte, praised by critics for her contribution to the film's narrative.

: Selena Gomez for her role as Jessi del Monte, praised by critics for her contribution to the film's narrative. Best Original Song: 'Mi Camino,' performed by Selena in the movie.

Read more: Zendaya is on the List for the Most Mispronounced Words in America

Best Screenplay : Written by Jacques Audiard, the nomination highlights the film's strong storytelling.

: Written by Jacques Audiard, the nomination highlights the film's strong storytelling. Best Director : Jacques Audiard is also being recognized for his creative vision and handling of complex cultural themes.

: Jacques Audiard is also being recognized for his creative vision and handling of complex cultural themes. Best Musical Composition: Celebrating the film's impactful score, vital to its musical focus.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for Selena and underscores the growing presence of Latin representation in Hollywood. 'Emilia Perez' has been lauded for its innovative narrative and exploration of themes like identity and personal transformation.
An Allentown man was charged Wednesday with criminal homicide in connection to a fatal shooting Saturday in Whitehall Township.

Christian Martinez-Ramos, 35, is charged with fatally shooting Hector Garcia Gomez around 6 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Loco Hot Deals at 1155 MacArthur Road, according to a news release from the Lehigh County District Attorneys office.

Garcia Gomez, 46, of Palmerton, died of multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, the release says.
Frizzy unruly hair is the bane of many Laois women's lives, but a Portlaoise hairdressing salon is offering a gamechanger product that they say lasts six months.

Redmond's Hair and Beauty Salon on Portlaoise Main Street held a fun and educational customer night recently, where the audience were treated to goody bags, hot food and a raffle as they watched the entire process unfurl from frizz to sleek straight hair over four hours on a volunteer model.

Redmonds, a long established salon with a team of five led by proprietor Natalie Redmond, are the sole agents in the town for the Proaddiction hair smoothing system from the USA.

Guest speaker Olivene Bartley speaking to the audience at the ProAddiction demonstration night in Redmond's Hair and Beauty salon.

Natalie explains how it works.

I decided to hold this demonstration night because only when you see it can you believe what it does.

Unlike a lot of 16 or 12 week blowdrys, this is a permanent straightening, without harsh chemicals.

Normally with a smoothing blowdry, every time you wash your hair, keratin leaves it. With Proaddiction, proteins are bonded in straight lines on the hair so it will be the same in six months time. You will only need it redone as your hair grows out, she said.

On the day, model Aine was given the full treatment over three and half hours.

At the finish, to show how effective it is, her hair was washed again with a final treatment mask to restore pH levels, then it was easily blowdried straight.

Before the model underwent ProAddiction treatment at Redmond's hair salon.

We welcomed a guest speaker on the night, customer Olivene Bartley who has come for the treatment many times now. She doesn't dread drying her hair any more.

We can colour it straight after. You can go swimming in chlorine, go in the sun, and it doesn't alter. It blends better with hair extensions too.

It is formaldehyde free so there are no excess fumes, it's kinder to customers with asthma. No patch test is needed.

You can still get a curly blowdry too. It just leaves the hair softer, smoother so it can be dried straight easier. If it dries naturally it will still have that wave, Natalie said.

Yanni from Proaddiction with proprietor Natalie Redmond.

She said that Proaddiction is ideal for people who find it hard to manage their hair, and have to spend hours straightening it.

We have been offering it since after Covid. We do other smoothing services too, like an instant straightening that lasts two to three weeks.

This is the Rolls Royce, I just cannot get it out there enough how well it works.

The audience were treated to hot food while they waited, and the winner of the free raffle won a teeth whitening session which took place on the night.

It lifted 12 shades to a natural white colour. It is a no bleach natural product, explained Natalie.

The ProAddiction process costs 385 including take home bottles of shampoo, conditioner and a mask.

While the Christmas rush starting, Natalie said she is still taking salon bookings.

Both she and her staff are trained in the ProAddiction service but she personally takes on the task, to free up her staff for customers.

She is proud of her team.

This year we won Salon Team of the Year. To me it is all a team effort. We split our tips whether you are sweeping hair or you're a pro stylist, we help each other, she said.

Last week the entire team took a day off to fly to Manchester to celebrate one team member's 10th year at Redmonds.

It's getting busier fast. The last two weeks before Christmas will be bedlam. We welcome customers now to book their spot, she said.

Find the salon online on redmondshairand beauty.ie
Christmas is fast approaching, with the majority of Laois children having had their Santa letters signed, sealed and delivered at this stage.

We spoke to Ken Black's in Portlaoise to see what the top selling toys are in Laois this year.

"Our kids beauty range has become more popular each year," said Isabel Black, daughter of Ken Black.

According to the shop, the most popular characters and themes in Laois this year are:

Stitch

Minions

Moana

Formula 1

Space

Bluey

DIY, Mess free Arts & Crafts

"This years top sellers was a Black & Pink Make up case (sold out), but previous years it was the Make Up trolley, so our volumes went into that which has been again, very successful this year," said Ms Black.

"Squishmallows introduced Squish-a-longs  in late 2024 and have been super popular. All the beloved plush character in thimble sized rubber designs for play and collectability," she said.

The 25 figure set is sold out but the shop still have smaller sets in store available.

"Popular in Preschool has been the Wooden Alphabet Puzzle we sell by Squirrel Play, everything in our Play Factory range given the increase chat amongst parents on soft play," said Ms Black.

"The year-round best seller has been the liquid sensory tiles. But this Christmas it is the balance beam set and the stepping stones," she said.

In Action/adventure/construction, the top sellers include the Britain's Kane Dump trailer, the Ford TW20 and some Valtra models.

"The Bruder Scania Cattle truck is always missing on the shelves and younger kids enjoy the Fisher-Price Batwheels Diecast character," Ms Black explained. "They are little vehicles based on the Batwheels junior animation."

The best selling LEGO set in Ken Blacks is the Buildable Stitch, followed closely by a LEGO Star Wars Clone Trooper and Battle Droid battle pack.

"Anything Ferrari and classic Police sets in LEGO City is popular too," she said.

"What's growing in popularity is the LEGO Creator 3 in 1 selection, you can make three completely different things with one box of LEGO and instructions for each to do. For example a rabbit then take it apart and build a seal!" Ms Black said.

"Our best sellers in LEGO this year have also been the LEGO botanicals. Red roses for Valentine's day, get them in LEGO. A Bonsai tree for the winder sill - in LEGO, Art like the Mona Lisa on the wall.

"In Arts, Crafts and games (I would say the busiest aisle this time of the year) the bestselling games are 30 Seconds (Irish company), Think Words, and a new quiz card game called Do you really know your family, " Ms Black said.

"Anything bracelet making from loom bands (still super popular), squish charms, beads and Stick Rolls of unravelling paper bracelet beads," Ms Black finished.

Ken Blacks in Portlaoise is open every evening to 10pm, until December 23rd. On Christmas Eve, the shop will be open until 6pm.
A former Laois Offaly TD is on course for a role in Government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael after joining

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has confirmed her membership of the newly constituted Regional Independent Group of TDs.

Ms Nolan, who taught in a Laois Gaelscoil, has confirmed her nomination to the Dail grouping which includes Michael Lowry and seven other independents. The former Sinn Fein TD represented Laois Offaly between 2020 and 224 when the counties were split again at the General Election. She topped the poll after the first count in Offaly at the General Election.

The non-party group also includes Noel Grealish, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Sean Canney, Marian Harkin, Verona Murphy, Carol Nolan, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole. They seem close to allying with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Speaking after her nomination to the Group was confirmed, Dep Nolan said that she will work with "energetic determination" to ensure that the concerns and needs of the people are Offaly are given the most effective platform possible during the lifetime of the 34th Dail. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Carol Nolan is elected as a TD for Laois Offaly at the General Election 2020 count in Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey.

I want to thank my colleagues in the Regional Independent Group for their warm welcome and I want to assure the people of Offaly that I remain as committed as ever to advancing their best interests," she said in a statement on December 11.

Dep Nolan, who clashed with Ministers on several occasions in the outgoing Dail, has taken strong stances on housing and immigration. She was particularly critical of the Green Party's influence on Government.

My core priorities remain in place, including addressing our housing crisis, urgently improving the emergency situation in special needs education and health, tackling decimated farm incomes and fighting for a robust and fearless policy re-evaluation of our broken and overwhelmed immigration system.

I can assure my supporters that while I will work collaboratively and constructively with my Regional colleagues, I will always place the interests of Offaly and our country first. I can also guarantee those who have entrusted me with their votes that my voice will not be tamed by an uncritical allegiance to any party or future Government formation, said Dep Nolan.

The independent was elected to the Dail in 2016 as a Sinn Fein TD for Offaly and parts of Tipperary. She resigned from Sinn Fein in June 2018 over the party's stance on abortion which she opposed.

The Candamstown native and former teacher was re-elected to Leinster House in 2020 as an independent for Laois Offaly. She ran a big canvas in Laois during that General Election. On her return to the Dail joining the Rural Rural Group of Independent TDs in the 33rd Dail.

This Group included Danny and Michael Healy-Rae, Mattie McGrath, Michael Collins and Richard O'Donoghue. The later TDs went on to form independent Ireland.

Dep Nolan is a former teacher who taught in Gaelscoil Thromaire near Mountrath. She worked alongside former GAA President Liam O'Neill. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Her decision to join a new independent group in Government will likely rankle with Sinn Fein which as lost two TDs in Laois and Offaly in the space of a decade. Laois TD Brian Stanley resigned from the party just before the 2024 General Election and was re-elected as an independent.

It is not clear what group Dep Stanley will join in the next Dail or if he will support the government.
Speed limits will be reduced from 80kph to 60 kph on hundreds of kilometres of roadway across Laois on February 7, 2025.

New speed signs will be put in place across the county ahead of the changes which are part of a national initiative to reduce road deaths but introducing lower speed limits.

Laois County Council Senior Executive Engineer, Philip McVeigh confirmed the 60km zones would replace the 80km zones on local roads by February 7 as directed by the Department of Transport.

Speed limits will drop from 80kph to 60kph on almost 700 kilometres of local roads in the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District alone, with similar changes to take place on local roads across the county.

The speed reduction is being introduced in phases with local roads being the first to change and a date yet to be announced for national roads which will drop speed limits from 100kph to 80kph on a date yet to be announced. The changes will cover over 2,300 kms of roads in Laois when fully introduced.

Mr McVeigh was asked about the new speed zones by Independent Cllr Aisling Moran.

He told the December meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District that February 7 was the new date the council had been given for the installation of all of the new 60kmh signs by the Department. He said the reduction from 100kmh to 80kmh would take place in a second phase.

So does that mean we can have ramps on roads where we couldnt get ramps because they were 80kms, asked Cllr Moran. Mr McVeigh said that ramps could be installed in 50 and 60kph zones.

Cllr Moran asked about her previous requests for cycle lanes which were turned down because they were in 80kmh zones. She wanted to know if these would now be accepted.

Mr McVeigh said anything that currently applies to a 60kph zone will apply to the new 60kph zone.

Cllr Moran welcomed the news and said the TII(Transport Infrastructure Ireland) would be delighted with all the requests for work she would be making.
A Laois councillor has said it is a pity that Storm Darragh didn't knock down two telecom poles in the county, because they are blocking residential homes.

A telegraph pole planted "right in the middle" of a driveway must be moved, a Portlaoise councillor says.

The pole is on Well Road, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said.

She wants Laois County Council to ask Eir to move it.

"A resident contacted me. An Eir pole is right in the middle of their driveway, literally. It's there years. They can't even have a gate because of the pole. To the left is a little green public area of no use, the pole could be moved there.

"The owner has tried speaking to Eir workers on many occasions, they're not getting anywhere.

"The pole looks in a bad state, they could do with a new one, and that would be a good opportunity to move it," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

Cllr Barry Walsh seconded and said he has a similiar issue for a resident in Ballyroan, who is still waiting months after he tabled his motion.

"You have to pay Eir to come out and assess a pole. They will only move it if it's causing disruption. Please follow that up too," he asked the council.

"It's a pity Storm Darragh didn't bring down the two poles," she said.

Cllr Dwane Stanley's motion was tabled to the December meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District. In reply, engineer Wes Wilkinson said he will meet her at the pole and then contact Eir.
Maybe its part of the responsibilities of the Kildare County Council chief executive to provide a little cover for the county's citizens every now and then.

A few of us found ourselves hiding behind the KCC boss, metaphorically speaking that is.

Anyway, when Sonya Kavanagh said she - honours Irish Leaving Cert student and all - would have reservations about how the proceedings of a full KCC meeting would be fully understood, then so did a good few more of us.

Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh was elected to Kildare County Council for the first time on June 7. One of her first actions was to put down a request to have a full KCC meeting conducted in the native tongue. (She has since been elected to the Dail with a barnstorming general election performance in Kildare South.)

And when it came up for discussion, the debate dragged on a bit. But as councillor after councillor gave their views it was tempting to think that many of the countys other problems like a lack of creches, faulty public lights on busy roads that had not worked for months, more frequent interruptions to the public water supply and a lack of amenities to match the rapid rate of residential development, were being tackled.

Nevertheless, these are all separate issues and the health of our language should not be overlooked because there are pressing issues.

Cllr Ni Raghallaigh, like some of her councillor colleagues, is a fluent Irish speaker. And her efforts and those of others to promote the language and our culture have to be praised - especially so in an age of increasing globalisation which doesn't always respect borders or different nationalities.

When we think of Wales, for example, we think of its unique language - maybe all the more so since they are no longer a force in international rugby !

The obvious difference in Ireland is that Irish is not spoken widely.

If nothing else, Cllr O Raghallaighs motion highlighted the importance of the language and how past administrations failed to come up with systems and methods of education which would ensure it was loved more in school.

Generations left second level education with a lukewarm view of the language at best and more's the pity. Many departed with a pretty unimpressive view of Peig, the autobiography which told of a hard life and which we, in a sense, unfairly transferred on to the language. It is interesting and reassuring to see that Peig has been reinvented - because it deserves to be recognised as a contemporaneous account of the life of an islander in what is, after all, an island nation. (This writer's father was fluent in the language and used it whenever he could.)

For a time Irish words were anglicised in a well meaning but questionable effort to make the language easier to learn. Gluaistean became carr, for example.

We use bus in Irish and English and tacsai is Irish for taxi but the suspicion is that this is so only because it is phonetically convenient as is feithicil for vehicle.

Great strides have been made to encourage the use of the language. The growth in Irish schools has also been positive, even if there's a suspicion that some consider sending their children there for reasons unrelated to the language.

The language will never die; there are too many interested in its welfare (its estimated 70,000 people can speak it) and they work hard to eusure it survives. And even though most are not fluent its good to know that its there, even in the background because it positively underscores our sense of identity. But thats where it is for most of us - omnipresent but in the background.
Newbridge man Kevin Byrne is running in the upcoming Seanad Elections for the Trinity College constituency, and is aiming to be the first scientist elected to the Senate by Trinity graduates in decades.

Dr Byrne grew up in Newbridge, attending the Patrician Secondary School in the 1990s, and becoming one of the schools first pupils to go to Trinity College Dublin, where he studied Theoretical Physics. Although study at Trinity was intense he says he was ably prepared by great PBS maths teachers like Peter O'Reilly, Pat OLeary and Br Bosco.

Subsequently moving into the field of genetics, Kevin now works as a research scientist in the UCD School of Medicine. As an external member of a university audit and risk committee and a former board member of a research funding agency he has a lot of governance experience in the higher education sector.

If elected he says he would be focused on tackling the 200m annual underfunding and the precarious nature of too many jobs in the sector.

Kevins past research projects include tracing the deep tribal roots of our political parties using the distribution of surnames, which was covered on RTE television, and a study where an undergraduate student, for the first time in Europe, found one of the parents of the yeast hybrid that is used to make lager beer, a story that was covered in media across the world.

The other big issue Kevin is running on is Dublin. The many Kildare people who travel to Dublin for work, or visit to shop or socialise, will have noticed the decline in the capital in recent years. This is a strategic problem for all of Ireland, given the huge proportion of the national tax take that comes from Dublin city centre, and the negative impact on investment

decisions and tourism referrals.

As a community leader in the city Kevin has been on the front lines of trying to turn Dublin around in the wake of the pandemic, saying he would use a voice in parliament to pressure our political system to finally address Dublin's current decline. For the last several years he has been chair of the residents group in Dublin's south urban core, and says he wants to

take Dublin's many intrinsic strengths and make it the clean, green, safe and vibrant global

capital it should be, and that all Irish people can be proud of and enjoy visiting."



Outside of science and politics, Kevin serves on the committee of the United Arts Club which for over 115 years has been a meeting place for people with an interest in all aspects of the arts. In the last year hes organised and hosted book launches, art talks and tours, historic building tours, and a retrospective of one of Irelands greatest female stained glass artists.

Dr Byrne is encouraging Trinity graduates living in Kildare and from Kildare to consider giving him their number one vote, saying this is an opportunity to put a problem-solving Kildareman in our parliament, who will bring a scientific, evidence-based approach that has often been lacking in our politics."

The election is a postal vote. All TCD graduates who are registered to vote will receive their ballot by post to their registered address and must then complete and return their ballot by post. To vote graduates have to be already on the TCD Seanad register. Addresses can be checked and changed but no new registrations are possible before the election. Ballots will

be posted out on the 30th of December and must be returned by 11am on January 29th.

This is the last time that the Trinity constituency will elect three Senators to the upper house of the Oireachtas. In future elections, Trinity graduates, along with all other Irish graduates, will elect six Senators to the Seanads new Higher Education constituency. Over 76,000 Trinity graduates are registered to vote in this final election. If elected Kevin promises there will be a big celebration in Newbridge as well as in Dublin.

His campaign website is at kevinbyrne.ie
Carrick-on-Shannon woman Jennifer Flynn made a bold step in September by transforming her career to follow her passion for home decor and design.

Previously a financial advisor until March, Jennifer took a break to spend time with her family before launching her own online store.

Her shop features a carefully curated selection of sustainable items, including candles, bed linen, lamps, rugs, tableware and more, all sourced from small manufacturers and family owned businesses across Europe and Ireland.

I always loved interiors and a neutral style. So I thought Id take the plunge and give it a go, but it was important to me to have it as sustainable as possible. The products that I source to the best of my ability are almost all handcrafted, Jennifer said.

As a newcomer to the business world, Jennifer is actively working to build up her brand - something she hadnt anticipated would be so challenging.

The challenge with an online business is you dont have that physical storefront so you have to use media to get the name out there. Its not as straightforward as I thought and its all new to me, she admitted.

Despite this, Jennifer is slowly but surely getting there and was even recently featured in the Irish Independent The Weekend Hitlis.

Jennifer places a strong emphasis on sustainability and ethical sourcing, which is something that is increasingly sought out for from todays buyers.

There are people that are looking at buying bits for their own home and gifting, and Im hoping that people are more conscious of buying sustainably.

In the lead-up to Christmas, Jennifer has seen more business and shared the joy of seeing customers support her small local start-up.

The first stranger that found you somehow through all the noise out there on the internet and they bought from you without knowing you, thats the real best feeling, she enthused.

Jennifers long-term vision for her brand is to reach a stage where she can hire a local employee to help with packing, and social media while also expanding to ship her products beyond Ireland.

Transitioning from a finance career to something entirely different, Jennifer has no regrets and advises anyone thinking of starting their own passion project to take the leap.

I thought about it for so, so long and my only regret is that I didnt do it sooner because I love it, she said.

She spoke highly of the local support she received from the Leitrim Local Enterprise Office in the early stages and recommended that anyone starting a business reach out to their own local office.

Theyve been unbelievably helpful between courses on how to start your own business, digital content and how to get funding, Jennifer added.

Jennifers collections can be viewed on her site joli.ie or on Instagram @gift_joli

READ MORE: Over 1000 customers in Leitrim still without power after Storm Darragh
Calls for enhanced Speech and Language services have yet again been raised by members of Leitrim County Council.

Cllr Sean McGowan proposed a motion during the meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District urging the HSE to provide details on the available services in south Leitrim, and emphasised the need to fill vacant positions in the area.

When I was out canvassing during the General Election, a number of people brought this to my attention about the lack of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) available in south Leitrim. I believe theres a number of vacancies that havent been filled out.

Its leaving parents and their children in a very difficult situation, and I suppose children need to be brought in at a young age if they have these problems, Cllr McGowan said.

I call on the HSE to lift the embargo and allow the HSE to employ the people as the service is badly, badly needed, he added.

Cllr Paddy Farrell, a member of the HSE forum, noted he raised the issue at a meeting where he was told the situation would improve by the end of the year, but this has not occurred.

This issue has been raised repeatedly by council members.

In September, Cllr Maeve Reynolds highlighted the significant shortages in SLT.

In November she received a letter back from the Head of Services for Primary Care stating that the service is continuing to examine opportunities to prioritise recruitment and in order to respond to the needs of the population, however, there has not been any improvement in staffing levels since Cllr Reynolds raised the issue in September.

Unsatisfied with the response, she proposed that a letter be forwarded to Bernard Gloster, Chief Executive of the HSE.

The HSE has said its not the embargo thats the problem that has been lifted, Cllr Reynolds said.

The last Council meeting said the response wasnt adequate and asked that a letter be forwarded to Bernard Gloster.

However, it will be January by the time the Council will receive a response.

All of this was needed years back, commented Cllr Guckian. Children in Ireland including those with autism and similar conditions have just been ignored.

Councillors will await a response from Bernard Gloster in January before taking further action.

READ MORE: 'A backwards step': Outrage over Leitrim post office relocation
Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District was informed that Leitrim County Council have begun initial steps in creating a proposal for the enhancement of five Shannon-side villages.

At Decembers meeting, Cllr Sean McGowan asked members for the support of calling on the Executive and the Chief Executive to put together a set of plans for the Shannon-side villages of Dromod, Drumsna, Rooskey, Jamestown and Leitrim Village, for public realm funding.

A lot of those villages are tourist villages, and they certainly could do with an injection of funding, Cllr McGowan said.

Youre not going to get funding for one village on its own, so thats why I say bundle them together as a package.

Theres a lot of work that could be done, it would be very worthwhile. Theyre good villages and Id like to see a public realm package.

All councillors supported Cllr McGowans motion except Cllr Des Guckian, who argued that the priority should be lowering the River Shannons water levels, and expressed opposition to public realm works.

I think the first priority is to lower the level of the Shannon, as flooding is a problem for all of these villages as seen in 2009.

As for the public realm works in Mohill, it was done up by a company in Baggot Street in Dublin who had no idea what Mohill is about. To me, the public realm is not what is needed. A lot of people would want to see an original old style village, he added.

Councillors were informed a proposal is being developed for the enhancement of the public realm for the five Shannon side villages.

The response stated: Leitrim County Council through its capital project scheme and economic development team have tentatively commenced the process of developing a proposal for the enhancement of the public realm for the Shannon-side villages of Rooskey, Dromod, Drumsna, Jamestown and Leitrim Village.

It is envisioned that this proposal, when developed will seek funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development funding scheme.

The project developing process will involve engagement with and consultation with respective communities in these villages, the response concluded.

READ MORE: Leitrim's Kevin and Leo shine on the Late Late Toy Show
The Data, compiled by the Irish Independent, shows that the percentage of Leitrim leaving cert students who went onto third-level Education in 2024 remained the same as the previous year at 72%.

Ballinamore Community School and St Clares Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton both saw 95% of their students go on to third-level education, which was the highest rate of any school in the county.

ATU was by far the most popular destination for those graduating from Leitrim secondary schools with the University of Galway and UCD also attracting significant numbers.

A number of schools in the county saw a significant increase in the number of students heading for university this year compared to 2023 with Ballinamore Community School and St Clares Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton both seeing an increase of over 20%. Meanwhile, schools like Mohill Community College and Drumshanbo Vocational School saw decreases.

The data did not include the number of students who went on to do other further education like PLC courses, and likewise, the numbers doing internships, or apprenticeships were not included.

READ MORE: A backwards step: Outrage over Leitrim post office relocation
A serving prisoner has admitted his part in a plot to amass an arms cache to help the UK boss of the Kinahan organised crime gang.

On Wednesday, Peter Keating, 43, from the Republic of Ireland, admitted two charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm and two offences of plotting to possess ammunition.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Keating entered his pleas by video link from Belmarsh prison in south London but is expected to be sent back to the Republic of Ireland where he is already serving 12 years for directing a criminal organisation.

Judge Philip Katz KC said he would sentence Keating at the Old Bailey on Thursday alongside Jack Kavanagh, 24, from Tamworth, who pleaded guilty to the weapons and ammunition offences after being extradited from Spain.

Kavanagh was arrested in May 2023 at Malaga Airport by officers from the Spanish National Police, as he was travelling from Dubai to Turkey.

He admitted helping his father, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh, in a bid to engineer a reduced jail sentence by duping the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Thomas Kavanagh, 57, had hoped that by leading the NCA to a buried stash of 11 fearsome weapons, he could influence his sentencing in a multimillion-pound drug-smuggling case.

Running the conspiracy from prison, Kavanagh also enlisted the help of Keating, his brother-in-law, 44-year-old Liam Byrne, and associate Shaun Kent, 38.

In May 2021, Thomas Kavanagh provided information to the NCA which led them to a field in Newry, Northern Ireland, where two holdalls were unearthed.

They contained seven machine guns, three automatic handguns, an assault rifle and ammunition.

The plot was foiled after the NCA uncovered incriminating messages on encrypted EncroChat which had been cracked by French counterparts.

Between January 2020 and June 2021, the defendants agreed to acquire as many arms as possible from the UK, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

At the time, Thomas Kavanagh was in HMP Dovegate where he was serving a three-year sentence for possession of a stun gun and had been remanded on serious drug charges since March 2020.

Those charges related to smuggling multiple kilos of cocaine and cannabis into the UK for which he was sentenced in March 2022 to 21 years in prison.

In September, Kavanagh, Byrne, from Dublin, and Kent, from Liverpool, admitted the weapons and ammunition plots.

Kavanagh and Kent also admitted conspiring with others to pervert the course of justice.

Irish national Thomas Kavanagh was jailed for six years for orchestrating the plot which he will serve consecutively with his earlier jail sentences.

Byrne  who fled to Majorca after the events  was jailed for five years while Kent was handed a six-year prison sentence.
Ireland will formally intervene in South Africas genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) this month.

The move to file an intervention at the UNs top court at The Hague will happen later this month, and comes after Government approval of the measure on Wednesday.

Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes genocide.

The Irish Government also approved an intervention in The Gambias case against Myanmar, also under the Genocide Convention.

Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said:

There has been a collective punishment of the Palestinian people through the intent and impact of military actions of Israel in Gaza, leaving 44,000 dead and millions of civilians displaced.

By legally intervening in South Africas case, Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State.

READ NEXT: Arrest made following discovery of woman in her 50s with serious injuries

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Mr Martin added: We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimised.

Irelands view of the convention is broader and prioritises the protection of civilian life  as a committed supporter of the convention, the Government will promote that interpretation in its intervention in this case.

Intervening in both cases demonstrates the consistency of Irelands approach to the interpretation and application of the Genocide Convention.
The deputy leader of the Social Democrats is very angry about misleading statements made by a newly-elected party TD over his shares in a company linked to the Israeli military.

Cian OCallaghan said on Wednesday that the parliamentary party had voted unanimously to suspend the politician after what he said was an embarrassing and unacceptable incident.

Speaking after engaging with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail on government formation talks, he said: It has affected our standing and we have a lot of work to do on this in the future.

He added: Weve taken a knock  and deservedly so  but weve just been elected by people and we got a very strong mandate and people are saying very strongly that they really want us to act on issues like housing, healthcare, childcare, disability services and climate action.

The suspended politician, Eoin Hayes, had originally told the media and his party colleagues that he divested shares in his former employer, Palantir Technologies, prior to being elected to Dublin City Council in June.

However, following reporting from the Daily Mail newspaper, he later revealed that he actually sold the shares in July  after taking office  for a pre-tax figure of 199,000 euro. The company supplies technology to Israels military.

He went on to win a Dail seat in Dublin Bay South in last months general election.

The timing of the sale did not line up with his public comments or statements from the leader of the Social Democrats, who has been a vociferous critic of Israels actions in the war in Gaza.

Holly Cairns had called for economic sanctions against Israel in November last year, when Mr Hayes still had shareholding in Palantir.

The Social Democrats said they had suspended Mr Hayes after the correct timing of the disposal of the shares was revealed. He said he would sit in the Dail as an independent.

Speaking to reporters about the incident on Wednesday, Mr OCallaghan said the party had been given inaccurate information about when Mr Hayes sold his shares.

He said he had requested that the partys national executive review all of the issues leading up Mr Hayes suspension.

Asked if there was any route for Mr Hayes back into the party, Mr OCallaghan said they were not at the point of knowing what was going to happen into the future.

Pressed on whether complete expulsion was a possibility, he said the review into the matter would take a number of weeks.

He said that Ms Cairns, who gave birth to a baby girl two less than two weeks ago, was extremely disappointed about the matter.

On the overall situation, Mr OCallaghan said: Media do a very important job holding us to account and at all times information given to me and, indeed, the public and ourselves should be accurate.

Prior to the updated disclosure of the selling of the shares, senior party TD Gary Gannon suggested on a podcast that a journalist pursuing the story of Mr Hayes work in Palantir was looking for a job as a government adviser.

On Wednesday, Mr Gannon apologised for the remarks.

He said he retracted the comments and that they did not reflect the views of the party: It was a poor comment to make, it wasnt acceptable and I apologise.

It was grossly silly comment and it wont happen again.

He added: I let the party down last week after a heavy general election. I was tired, I wasnt being my best self.

Asked if Mr Gannon had been disciplined, Mr OCallaghan said the comments were not acceptable.

Mr Hayes was given shares in the company, which supplies technology to Israel to assist in its war in Gaza, when he worked for the firm between 2015 and 2017.

He said: I had absolutely no role in anything related to any military contracts  for the Israeli military or anyone else.

As part of my salary package I was provided with shares. The conditions attaching to those shares meant I was unable to sell them until 2021  six months after the company had gone public.

He added: Throughout the course of the past year, Palantirs support for the Israeli military has markedly increased.

In January, the company signed a new strategic partnership with the Israeli defence ministry. I should have sold my shares then and I deeply regret that I did not.

Mr Hayes said he apologised unreservedly for providing incorrect information.
VIQ Solutions Announces Retirement of Director and Chief Operating Officer





VIQ Solutions Inc. ("VIQ", "VIQ Solutions" or the "Company") (TSX: VQS), a global provider of secure, AI-driven, digital voice and video capture technology and transcription services, today announces the retirement of Susan Sumner as Chief Operating Officer and President of the Company. Ms. Sumner will continue as a part-time advisor to the Company until January 31, 2025. In connection with her retirement, Ms. Sumner has informed the Company that she will resign from her director position on the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") as of January 31, 2025.

Ms. Sumner has served as Chief Operating Officer of VIQ since July 2018, President of VIQ since February 2021, and has been a member of the Board since April 2022.

Sebastien Pare, Chief Executive Officer and Director of VIQ stated: "It has been an honor and a privilege to have worked with Susan over the last number of years. Over the years, Susan has offered a lot of time, effort and encouragement while performing her roles at the Company and has been part of moving VIQ forward throughout her time with us. All of us at VIQ thank Susan for her contributions to our success over the years."

For more information about VIQ, please visit viqsolutions.com.

About VIQ Solutions

VIQ Solutions is a global provider of secure, AI-driven, digital voice and video capture technology and transcription services. VIQ offers a seamless, comprehensive solution suite that delivers intelligent automation, enhanced with human review, to drive transformation in the way content is captured, secured, and repurposed into actionable information. The cyber-secure, AI technology and services platform are implemented in the most rigid security environments including criminal justice, legal, insurance, government, corporate finance, media, and transcription service provider markets, enabling them to improve the quality and accessibility of evidence, to easily identify predictive insights and to achieve digital transformation faster and at a lower cost.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") under applicable securities legislation. Such forward- looking statements or information 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.

Forward-looking statements (typically contain statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project" or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur). These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to statements with respect to finding a replacement for Susan Sumner.

Forward-looking statements are based on several factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although VIQ believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because VIQ can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this press 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 statements, including but not limited to the factors described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual information form and in the Company's other materials filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

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. Such estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect or overstated. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company expressly disclaims any obligations to update or alter such statements, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

10 december 2024 at 17:35

News published onand distributed by:
Cipher Pharmaceuticals Partner Moberg Pharma AB Reports Topline Data in MOB-015 Phase 3 Study





MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 10, 2024 /CNW/ - Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX: CPH) (OTCQX: CPHRF) ("Cipher" or the "Company") announced today that its partner, Moberg Pharma AB ("Moberg"), issued a news release earlier today stating that MOB-015, a product for the treatment of nail fungus, did not meet the primary endpoint in the North American Phase 3 study being conducted by Moberg. The results of the North American Phase 3 study communicated by Moberg today confirm the initial indications previously informed to the market by Moberg, and accordingly announced by Cipher, on September 13, 2024.

The North American Phase 3 study involved reducing the dosage ? 8 weeks daily dosing followed by weekly maintenance treatment for 40 weeks, compared to daily dosing throughout the entire treatment period. The primary endpoint, achieving the desired complete cure of the patient's target toenail at 52 weeks, was not achieved. Complete cure requires both a completely clear nail and mycological cure.

Moberg's full press release can be found here.

Cipher owns the Canadian marketing rights to Moberg's MOB-015 through a licensing agreement (the "Agreement") dated September 18, 2018, to commercialize, promote, sell and distribute the product exclusively in Canada. Cipher has no further financial obligations in respect of the Agreement if the applicable development and regulatory milestones outlined in the Agreement are not attained.

The Company will be reviewing the full results from the clinical trial once they become available from Moberg and formulating its decision with respect to moving forward with this pipeline product, however this does not impact the sales and earnings profile of Cipher's existing business today.

The Company continues to be focused on its recent acquisition of the NatrobaTM business from ParaPRO LLC as announced on July 29, 2024, as well as other potential growth opportunities. The Company believes the growth potential for the NatrobaTM product in the U.S. market and other markets internationally is significant, and the integration of this business into its existing profitable North American platform, along with pursuing other potential growth opportunities remains Cipher's focus and priority in the near term.

About Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Cipher Pharmaceuticals (TSX: CPH) (OTCQX: CPHRF) is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a robust and diversified portfolio of commercial and early to late-stage products, mainly in dermatology. Cipher acquires products that fulfill unmet medical needs, manages the required clinical development and regulatory approval process, and currently markets those products in Canada, the U.S., and South America. For more information, visit www.cipherpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to the clinical studies being conducted by Moberg, the results of such studies and their potential impact on the Company, the Company's expectations for NatrobaTM and the Company's plans for NatrobaTM, our objectives and goals and strategies to achieve those objectives and goals, as well as statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions. The words "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "forecast", "objective", "hope" and "continue" (or the negative thereof), and words and expressions of similar import, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. By nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors, many of which are beyond our control, could cause our actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, publication of negative results of clinical trials; our ability to enter into development, manufacturing and marketing and distribution agreements with other pharmaceutical companies and keep such agreements in effect; our dependency on a limited number of products; our dependency on protection from patents that will expire; integration difficulties and other risks if we acquire or in-license technologies or product candidates; reliance on third parties for the marketing of certain products; product approval process by regulators which can be highly unpredictable; the timing of completion of clinical trials, regulatory submissions and regulatory approvals; reliance on third parties to manufacture our products and events outside of our control that could adversely impact the ability of our manufacturing partners to supply products to meet our demands; we may be subject to future product liability claims; unexpected product safety or efficacy concerns may arise; we generate license revenue from a limited number of distribution and supply agreements; the pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive with new competing product entrants; requirements for additional capital to fund future operations; products may be subject to pricing regulation; dependence on key managerial personnel and external collaborators; certain of our products are subject to regulation as controlled substances; limitations on reimbursement in the healthcare industry; extent and impact of health pandemic outbreaks on our business; unpredictable development goals and projected time frames; rising insurance costs; ability to enforce covenants not to compete; we may be unsuccessful in evaluating material risks involved in completed and future acquisitions; we may be unable to identify, acquire or integrate acquisition targets successfully; compliance with privacy and security regulation; our policies regarding product returns, allowances and chargebacks may reduce revenues; additional regulatory burden and controls over financial reporting; general commercial litigation, class actions, other litigation claims and regulatory actions; the difficulty for shareholders to realize in the United States upon judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon civil liability of the Company and its directors and officers who are not residents of the United States; the potential violation of intellectual property rights of third parties; our efforts to obtain, protect or enforce our patents and other intellectual property rights related to our products; changes in U.S., Canadian or foreign patent laws; inability to protect our trademarks from infringement; shareholders may be further diluted if we issue securities to raise capital; volatility of our share price; the fact that we have a significant shareholder; our operating results may fluctuate significantly; and our debt obligations will have priority over the common shares of the Company in the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up. We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When reviewing our forward-looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Additional information about factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements, may be found in the "Risk Factors" section of our MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Company's Annual Information Form, and elsewhere in our filings with Canadian securities regulators. Except as required by Canadian securities law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf; such statements speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements included herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary language.

SOURCE Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc.

10 december 2024 at 17:44

News published onand distributed by:
HSG Laser T2V2.0: Redefining Precision Tube Cutting with Smart Technology and Advanced Design





CHICAGO, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HSG Laser proudly unveils the T2V2.0 Three-Chuck Tube Fiber Laser Cutting Machine, a groundbreaking solution for precise and efficient tube processing. Built for versatility and innovation, the T2V2.0 sets new benchmarks in accuracy, productivity, and cost-efficiency for the manufacturing industry.

Unmatched Cutting Stability and Precision

The T2V2.0 introduces an Independent Servo Follow-Up Support System, equipped at both loading and unloading positions. This highly sensitive mechanism ensures stable tube cutting and elevates precision, even during complex operations, making it a reliable partner for demanding production environments.

Portable and Flexible Three-Chuck Design

Engineered for performance, the T2V2.0 features a fully professional three-chuck structure. This design enhances flexibility, enabling short-tailing cutting while improving tube utilization rates. The arrangement?two chucks in the front and one at the rear?accommodates heavier loads for diverse applications. The innovative C3 chuck allows complete tube cutting, optimizing material handling and minimizing waste. Equipped with 240mm rectangular-circle chucks, the T2V2.0 boosts clamping ability, particularly for rectangular tubes, extending its application range.

Smart Operations with Intelligent Bus System

At its core, the T2V2.0 is powered by the HSG Intelligent Bus Operating System, integrating a suite of auxiliary functions tailored for tube laser cutting. From managing production progress to precise cost calculations, the system's professional nesting software ensures seamless operation and high-efficiency workflow. This intelligent system empowers manufacturers to meet varied processing demands with ease and accuracy.

HSG Laser's T2V2.0 embodies the company's commitment to driving innovation and supporting global manufacturing growth. Discover how T2V2.0 can transform your production line and redefine your standards of efficiency. Learn more about its capabilities here: https://www.hsglaser.com/product/laser-cutting-machine-t2.html#

SOURCE HSG Laser

11 december 2024 at 10:00

News published onand distributed by:
GLOBALink | Foreign guests gather in east China for dialogue on human rights Pub Date:24-12-11 10:17 Source:Xinhua

Senior officials from nearly 50 countries and regions, UN experts and officials gathered on Monday in a dialogue held in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, to discuss ways to strengthen the realization of human rights. #GLOBALink Editor:Qin Shuying

Related News Three giant pandas born in Belgium return ... Economic Watch: China's foreign trade show... Railway can drive Nepal's BRI programs to ... Martin Jacques: Understanding the Chinese ...
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The Lower House currently has two Speakers following the election of Speaker Richard Koon by the Majority Bloc
A NEW GENERAL manager has been appointed for Dromoland Castle.

The five-star luxury resort has appointed Mark McSorley as its new resort general manager for both Dromoland Castle and The Inn at Dromoland.

Mr McSorley steps into the role following the distinguished tenure of Mark Nolan, after an illustrious 35-year career at the 500-acre historic estate in County Clare.

An alumnus of Shannon College of Hotel Management, Mr McSorley brings extensive expertise and a proven track record in the luxury hospitality industry. Most recently, as general manager, hotel and residences at the Quinta do Lago Resort in the Algarve, Portugal.

READ MORE: Good causes get festive boost from Limerick firm's donations

Commenting on his appointment, he said: I am truly honoured to take up the mantle at one of Irelands most esteemed properties  an iconic resort that holds immense significance for both the local community and Ireland as a whole.

Having studied at Shannon College, I have always admired the castles magnificence and its role as a centerpiece of Irish culture and history. I look forward to working with both Dromoland Castle and The Inn at Dromoland teams.

After spending over 20 years abroad, Mr McSorley said he recognises the unique connection that Dromoland Castle has with the Irish diaspora.

Returning to Ireland has always been at the back of my mind, and more a future thought, however when the opportunity came to join Dromoland, it was the one property that could bring me home. Dromoland embodies the spirit of Ireland, and I am thrilled and excited to be back in the county where my journey with hospitality began.

Dromoland Castles managing director Mark Nolan said that while he is delighted to welcome Mr McSorley, it is bittersweet, as it marks the end of [his] own tenure at the helm.

To see someone of Marks calibre bring his wealth of experience and international insight to the Castles future plans  of which there are many, paves the way for an exciting road ahead.

I and the Board of Investors look forward to seeing Dromoland Resort flourish under Marks stewardship.
A LIMERICK plastic moulding company has been nominated for a small business award.

Total Plastic Solution, which is based in the Dromcollogher Enterprise Centre is nominated in the innovation category of the Small Firms Association's national business awards for 2025.

As part of the prize package, the firm's staff have been invited to take part in a management masterclass weekend next month.

READ MORE: Social Democrats suspend Limerick native over shares of firm linked to Israeli Defence Forces

They will attend the Small Firms Association's Business Connect event.

The Awards prize package for ALL finalists includes participation in a strategic management masterclass weekend during January as well as the SFA Business Connect event at Killashee Hotel in Naas the following month.

The gala prize winning ceremony takes place on March 26, when category prize winners and the overall winner will be announced.

The category winners will be presented with a trophy and free membership of the Small Firms Association for one year.

Speaking at the launch of the awards, Taoiseach, Simon Harris said: The SFA National Small Business Awards is an opportunity to celebrate and promote the countless examples of entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity across Irelands small business community. For over two decades it has been shining a spotlight on the companies that are the beating heart of our thriving cities, towns and villages throughout our country. The Government is deeply aware of their importance to our continued economic success and we are committed to ensuring that such businesses can continue to thrive and prosper long into the future.
THE RELICS of a devout Italian teenager, who died in 2006 from untreatable Leukemia, proved a big draw for young Limerick people as they were presented in the diocese last week.

Hundreds turned out at both the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Newcastle West and St Johns Cathedral recently to venerate the relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who next year will be beatified a saint less than 35 years after he was born.

According to Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy, the number of young people, in particular, that turned up was especially heartening.

The story of Carlo Acutis is one that so many young people gravitate to today and it was no different in Limerick as many young people came to see his relics. A number of schools gave students the option to attend both St Johns Cathedral and Newcastle West and it said a lot about young people and their willingness to connect with faith that they attended, he said.

Many young people came from local schools, some in groups of 40 or so from different schools. Time off school is always popular, but the students were really respectful, and you could see that they could relate to Carlo Acutis story.

That might be because he will be known as the only saint of the internet age so far. He is the internet disciple of Jesus who was buried in jeans and Nike shoes. The youth connect with him because he was so like so many of them. He played play-station, was a Spider-Man fan, loved sport. Yet hell be canonised a saint next year. He was an ordinary, modern boy who watched cartoons and used the internet but wanted holiness with all his heart at all times.

READ MORE: David Gray set to play Limerick venue in summer concert

From the age of three or four Caro Acutis had a devotion to Mary and always wanted his parents to go into Churches and pray, which was surprising to his parents as they were not practicing Catholics. He had a gift for empathy and was known for defending kids at school who got picked on, especially disabled kids, and had a particular care for immigrants. Later he created a website celebrating all the Eucharistic miracles of the world.

He was diagnosed with an untreatable Leukemia aged 15 and died not long after. He died in 2006 and at his request he was buried in Assisi because of his love of St Francis. His cause for canonization began in 2013 and he was designated 'Venerable' in 2018. A healing miracle has been attributed to his intercession and every day his family receives messages of healing and miracles from people praying to him.

Many peoples lives have been changed due to his witness of the faith but anyone who comes across his story is inspired, Bishop Leahy said.

It was quite special to see his relics here in Limerick. There was a serenity about it, not least about the involvement of young people. Its reassuring to think that we dont have to look to long ago for saints and that there was one walking among us only a few short years ago whose relics were here in Limerick. I would encourage anyone to look up his story, he added.
ARECENT trend of family cars being stolen by burglars in Limerick has been reported by gardai, who have issued a warning to homeowners.

A burglar broke into a house at Shannonvale on the Old Cratloe Road on Friday, December 6, between 2.30am and 9am.

The intruder forced open the front door in an effort to get into the house, said garda John Finnerty of Henry St garda station.

Once inside, he stole a set of car keys that were left on a table. He then used the car keys to steal the family car ie a white Audi A3 saloon.

READ MORE: A worlds first silicon chip design breakthrough in Limerick could herald high-pay jobs

The registration of the car is 151L and it was parked on the driveway at the front of the house.

We dont have a description of the thief and we dont know where the car went once it was stolen. The car has not been recovered since, garda Finnerty said.

We have noticed a recent trend where many criminals break into houses, and then steal both family cars that are parked outside.

We would advise all car owners not to leave their car keys where they could be easily accessible to criminals in the event of a burglary. When retiring for the night bring the car keys upstairs with you. Dont make it easy for criminals.

Gardai at Mayorstone are investigating the incident, and can be reached at 061 456980.
The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in November include: active cockroach infestation; rodent activity and rodent droppings; premises being used as accommodation; lack of hand washing facilities in a room where raw food is handled; grease leaking from a pipe underneath a food preparation sink; containers of cooked meat, raw meats and sauces in a cold room uncovered and with no expiry dates.

Two Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Lotus Asian Food Takeaway, 2 The Hill, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

Indian Spices (Restaurant/Cafe), 138 Parnell Street, Dublin 1

Four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

Shapla Indian Spice (Restaurant/Cafe), Hanover Court, Kennedy Avenue, Carlow

FLC (Closed activities: sale and supply of milk shakes and desserts) (Takeaway),

8-10 Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin

Grill Kebab (Restaurant/Cafe) Main Street, Broadford, Limerick

The Bankers (Closed area: All parts of the kitchen located in the basement) (Public house), 16 Trinity Street, Dublin 2

One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

Big Discount.ie (Retailer/other), 12 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Louth

READ NEXT: Arrest made after unaccompanied learner driver fails roadside drug test

Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that breaches of food safety legislation can pose a real danger to consumer health and there has to be a significant focus on maintaining food safety procedures by food businesses as they enter what is typically the busiest time of year.

With the Christmas period already underway and the corresponding significant increase in demand for food services, food businesses must ensure that they maintain the highest food safety standards at all times, most especially at these busy times, when cutting corners or letting standards lapse could result in a health risk to consumers.

Consumers have a right to safe food, and there is a personal responsibility on owners, managers and all employees to comply with food safety legal requirements at all times.

Neglecting food safety demonstrates a disregard for the well-being of customers and potentially places their health at an unnecessary risk.

There can be zero tolerance for negligent practices that put consumers health at risk, and the full powers of food law will be used if a food business is found to be in breach. Food businesses must ensure there is a strong food safety culture in place, including adequate training for all staff.

This simply must be a top priority for food businesses, said Dr Byrne.
In a glass-walled conference room in San Francisco, Newton Cheng clicked a button on his laptop and launched a thousand copies of an artificial intelligence program, each with specific instructions: Hack into a computer or website to steal data.

Its looking at the source code," Cheng said as he examined one of the copies in action. Its trying to figure out, wheres the vulnerability? How can we take advantage of it?" Within minutes, the AI said the hack was successful.

Our approach worked perfectly," it reported back.

Cheng works for Anthropic, one the biggest AI startups in Silicon Valley, where hes in charge of cybersecurity testing for whats called the Frontier Red Team. The hacking attemptsconducted on simulated targetswere among thousands of safety tests, or evals," the team ran in October to find out just how good Anthropics latest AI model is at doing very dangerous things.

The release of ChatGPT two years ago set off fears that AI could soon be capable of surpassing human intellectand with that capability comes the potential to cause superhuman harm. Could terrorists use an AI model to learn how to build a bioweapon that kills a million people? Could hackers use it to run millions of simultaneous cyberattacks? Could the AI reprogram and even reproduce itself?

The technology has raced ahead anyway. There are no binding rules in the U.S. requiring companies to perform or submit to evals. Its so far been largely up to the companies to do their own safety testing, or submit to outside testing, with voluntary standards on how rigorous they should be and on what to do about the potential dangers.

AI developers including OpenAI and Google DeepMind conduct evals and have pledged to minimize any serious risks before releasing models, but some safety advocates are skeptical that companies operating in a highly competitive industry can be trusted to hold themselves accountable.

No one thinks todays AI models are capable of becoming the next HAL 9000 from 2001." But the timeline for if and when AI might get that dangerous is a hot topic of debate. Elon Musk and OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman both say artificial general intelligence, or AI that broadly exceeds human intelligence, could arrive in a few years. Logan Graham, who runs Anthropics Frontier Red Team, is also planning for a short time frame.

Two years ago, they were a friendly, somewhat weird high-schooler," Graham said of AI models. Now maybe theyre a grad student in some areas."

Anthropic, which was founded in 2021 by ex-OpenAI employees who believed the ChatGPT maker wasnt taking safety seriously enough, has been perhaps the most vocal AI developer about the need for testing. In an update to its public Responsible Scaling Policy," released in October, Anthropic said if one of its AI models comes close in evals to specific capabilitiessuch as giving significantly helpful advice for building a biological or chemical weaponit will delay the release until it can implement fixes to contain the risk.

Across the industry, even companies that take safety seriously could be tempted to prioritize speed, said Marius Hobbhahn, CEO and co-founder of U.K.-based Apollo Research, which conducts third-party evals. If there are no hard constraints, then it is easy to do motivated reasoning, to say that in order to stay in the race with others, we kind of need to cut it a little bit short," he said.

Graham, whose job at Anthropic entails figuring out when a model is too dangerous to be released, says hes never felt a conflict between financial pressures to release new products and the companys safety promises. Maybe theres a psychological tension, but theres never actually a tension," he said.

Dario Amodei, Anthropics CEO, has said he believes that governments should make AI-safety testing obligatory. His company delayed the release of its first model for more safety testing before its release in early 2023. But Amodei says its important not to be too restrictive too early.

We dont want to harm our own ability to have a place in the conversation by imposing these very onerous burdens on models that are not dangerous today," Amodei told computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman last month. Instead, you clamp down hard when you can show the model is dangerous."

Uncertainty everywhere

Anthropics evals for catastrophic risks are overseen by Graham, a 30-year-old Rhodes scholar with a Ph.D. in machine learning from Oxford. Growing up in Vancouver, Graham was diagnosed at age 4 with a severe form of childhood arthritis that affected his legs and also could have left him blind, if not for treatments. He says his recovery made him an extreme optimistwith a nervous streak.

I wake up one day and suddenly I cant walk. And I think that probably impressed pretty significantly on me," Graham said. Like, everything could suddenly turn really bad if youre not careful."

Following Oxford, Graham worked on AI policy for the U.K. government. He joined Anthropic part-time in 2022, after pitching the company on the idea that society needed to figure out as soon as possible what significant risks AI would pose. Soon Anthropic hired him full-time to build the Frontier Red Team, which has grown to 11 people.

Were in the business where we have to figure out whether a model can be bad," said Graham. The first thing thats at stake is catastrophe."

Some critics argue the catastrophic risks from AI are overblown. Yann LeCun, Metas chief AI scientist, has said todays models are dumber than a house cat and arent even on a path to human-level intelligence.

Others worry about more immediate, tangible problems, such as sexism or racism being baked into AI-driven hiring software, or the outsize amounts of water and power used in data centers that power AI.

Among those worried about AI catastrophe, some think todays evals are inadequate to the task.

I actually think we dont have a method of safely and effectively testing these kinds of systems," said Stuart Russell, an AI scientist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Eval practitioners acknowledge their field is nascent. There are not yet agreed standards on which risks deserve the most attention, where to draw the line for those risks, or how to establish if the line is being crossed.

The Biden administration last fall issued an executive order on AI, which included a provision requiring AI companies to regularly report the results of their safety testing to regulators. President-elect Trump has since promised to repeal the order.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed an AI safety bill earlier this year that would have regulated the largest models, saying that smaller models could cause harm and that regulation should focus on the AIs riskiest uses. He said he would push for more encompassing legislation next year.

Provisions in a European Union law passed last year will eventually make evals and safety fixes obligatory for the most sophisticated modelsbut they wont go into effect for nearly a year. Companies that dont comply will be subject to fines.

Following an AI safety summit last year, the U.K., the U.S. and several other countries have established government-run AI safety institutes to conduct safety research, including developing and running evals on new AI models. Both the U.K. and U.S. institutes tested the latest models from Anthropic and OpenAI, under agreements with each.

Anthropic is also among AI developers that contract third-party evals from a handful of groups. Still, AI developers say that for now, at least, they play a special role in doing evals on their own models because they understand them the bestand can help develop best practices for others.

Theres uncertainty everywhere, and one of the most major things that we do as a company is try to bring down this uncertainty," Graham said. Its like an art that tends towards science, but it needs to happen really fast."

Battle testing

In the glass-walled conference room in October, Grahams team was ready to kick off its next series of evals. Anthropic was preparing to release an upgraded version of its Claude Sonnet 3.5 model that it had trained to be better at computer programming and partially independent tasks it can conduct on behalf of users, including taking over a computer and browsing the web.

When its last model came out in June, Anthropic rated it at AI Safety Level 2, or ASL 2, which according to the scale the company developed means the model showed early signs of dangerous capabilities.

After this new round of tests, the team would make a recommendation to Anthropics leaders and its board for whether the new model was within striking distance of ASL-3, which means systems that substantially increase the risk of catastrophic misuse." Some of Anthropics ASL-3 safety protections arent yet ready to deploy, meaning a model given that rating would have to be delayed, said Jared Kaplan, Anthropics chief science officer.

We havent battle-tested it in the wild, and so thats what were doing now," Kaplan said of those protections.

The Frontier Red Team had spent months consulting with outside experts and internal stress testers to figure out what evals to run for its main categories of risk: cyber (including hacking); biological and chemical weapons; and autonomy.

Anjali Gopal, the Anthropic researcher who leads the bio evals, set up questions related to chemical and biological weapons. Some ask things that arent specifically dangerous but would suggest deep knowledge that could be misused, like knowing which nucleotide sequence to use when cloning a gene from one E. coli bacterium to another. Others drill down on how to acquire or create highly restricted pathogens like the bacteria that cause anthrax or those that cause the plague.

Gopal, who has a Ph.D. in bioengineering from Berkley, also tasked a company named Gryphon Scientific, recently purchased by Deloitte, with seeing how much actionable information experts or novices could get on building a biological or chemical weapon from a version of Sonnet with its safety guardrails off. In one chat, a tester asked how to design and build a weapon that could kill one million people.

Daniel Freeman, a physics Ph.D. who later worked on topics including robotics and language models at Google, is in charge of testing the AI for autonomy. That skill could lead to some of doomers worst scenarios, like escaping and getting smarter on its own. For this round, the goal was to see how close Sonnet could get to regularly completing computer-programming challenges that would take an entry-level developer at the company between two and eight hours.

They tested its ability to solve advanced machine-learning research problems, such as teaching a virtual robot with four legs to walk.

Freeman was also testing whether the AI was smart enough to jailbreak another AIthat is, to convince the other model to bypass its safety training and do something dangerous. In this case, it was providing instructions for cooking crystal meth.

The kernel of the worry is that you have this other thing out in the world thats in competition with us, that we dont control, that can gather resources and use them," Freeman said.

Cheng, the researcher who runs cyber evals and also has a Ph.D. in quantum physics, set up thousands of capture-the-flag hacking challenges for the model, giving it access to a set of hacking tools it could use to exploit scenarios including some well-known vulnerabilities, such as 2014s Heartbleed security bug.

We are specifically interested in the most sophisticated, most damaging scenarios," said Cheng.

A passing grade

Nearly two weeks after Anthropic started its latest round of safety evals, there was a smile of qualified relief on Grahams boyish face. The new Sonnet 3.5 had crept closer to the companys next threshold for dangerous capabilities, but hadnt blasted past the red lines.

Sonnets instructions to manipulate a chemical or biological agent had gotten lab steps wrong and would fail. It managed more than half the time to exploit simple website flaws but largely failed at cryptography. Sonnet was on average able to complete challenges that would take a human programmer 30 to 45 minutes, but was far from the safety threshold of succeeding more than half the time at tasks that would take a human two to eight hours. Sonnet also failed at getting the virtual robot to walkbut was able to make it wiggle.

The team had submitted a recommendation the week before that the new Sonnet 3.5 should still be classified as ASL-2. Now Graham was gathering them for a final recap.

This is your moment to raise any critical FUD or thing that we need to do imminently before this thing kicks off," Graham said at the 9 a.m. meeting with his lead staff, using an acronym meaning fear, uncertainty and doubt."

Everyone in the meeting gave the thumbs up. Anthropic released the new Sonnet 3.5 publicly the next day.

I think we still have lots to do, but thank you," Graham said as the meeting closed.

Graham remains nervous. Developers at Anthropic and its competitors are improving their AI models quickly. He says his team has only a few months to ramp up what it does to try to keep up.

What Im actually concerned about now is how much time do we have until things get concerning," he said.

Deepa Seetharaman contributed to this article.

Write to Sam Schechner at Sam.Schechner@wsj.com

View Full Image The AI Researchers Pushing Computers to Launch Nightmare Scenarios

View Full Image The AI Researchers Pushing Computers to Launch Nightmare Scenarios

View Full Image The AI Researchers Pushing Computers to Launch Nightmare Scenarios
Masayoshi Son is a man of contrasting superlatives. At the height of the dotcom bubble in early 2000 the Japanese technology mogul was briefly the worlds richest person, before losing $77bn in paper wealth, more than anyone before. In 2021 SoftBank Group, his telecoms-and-software conglomerate turned investment powerhouse, reported the biggest annual net profit in the history of Japan Inc, followed a year later by the second-biggest loss. His $20m wager in 2000 on Alibaba, a tatty online marketplace that grew into Chinas mightiest e-emporium, counts as one of the best in the annals of venture capital (VC); his later $16bn punt on WeWork, an office-rental startup with tech pretensions, is an all-time dud. He has been called a genius" and dumb money".

Such wild swings of fortune would wear anyone out. And in November 2022 they exhausted even the indefatigable Masa, as the billionaire is known. On an earnings call the then 65-year-old announced that though he would remain in charge, future updates on SoftBanks finances and strategy would be presented by his chief financial officer. This was out of character for a hyperactive bundle of vanity who has unironically likened himself to Napoleon. And, like the Corsicans periodic retreats, it did not last. In June a re-energised Mr Son told an audience of SoftBanks shareholders that all his past wagers were a warm-up for my great dream to realise artificial superintelligence".

To get the main act going, on October 2nd SoftBank splurged $500m on a tiny stake in OpenAI, in a $6.6bn funding round that valued the worlds leading generative-AI model-maker at $157bn. Earlier Mr Son put a similar sum in Wayve, a self-driving car startup, a smaller one in Perplexity, a gen-AI search engine, and talked of raising much larger amountsperhaps $100bnto build a rival to Nvidia, the champion of AI chips. After mentioning AI more than 500 times in earnings presentations between 2017 and 2020, Mr Son is getting down to business. He looks hopelessly late.

That seems odd for someone who tends to gaze far into the future. Aged 19 he drew up a 50-year plan to build a corporate empire; in his 50s he stretched the horizon out to 300 years. Throughout his life, chronicled in Gambling Man", an engaging new biography by Lionel Barber, former editor of the Financial Times, looking ahead was often preferable to contemplating the there and then. His earliest memories are suffused with the stench of pigs his family reared to make ends meet. Disdain from native Japanese, in whose eyes ethnic Koreans like him were second-class citizens, lingered long after his father turned pork profits into a thriving gambling business, which bankrolled young Masas desire to complete high school and university in California. Even a brush with death, from hepatitis in the mid-1980s, and two with bankruptcyin the dotcom crash and the financial crisis of 2007-09did little to elevate the here and now in Mr Sons estimation.

At times inveterate futurism paid off. It alerted him early to the promise of software, the internet and smartphones, each of which made him a fortune and, more deliciously given the discrimination his family endured, shook up Japans stolid corporate establishment. On these big things he has been spectacularly right", says Alok Sama, a former Morgan Stanley banker who worked for Mr Son between 2014 and 2019. Yet a fixation on the future can obscure aspects of the present, over which he keeps tripping up.

One blind spot is politics. His $22bn takeover in 2013 of Sprint was predicated on a merger with T-Mobile, another wireless provider, which the Obama administration blocked. Though the deal went ahead under Donald Trump, Mr Son called his misreading of the regulators one of the biggest mistakes of my life".

If so, he did not learn from it. In 2020-21 he was caught out by a crackdown on tech in China, where SoftBank is the biggest foreign venture investor. Bets on firms like Didi, a ride-hailing giant, soured. Its stake in Alibaba lost two-thirds of its value. In 2022 trustbusters blocked the $40bn sale of Arm, a chip-designer SoftBank bought in 2016 for $32bn, to Nvidia. The rift between China and the West is engulfing TikTok and could hurt the $230bn valuation of its Chinese parent, ByteDance, in which SoftBank is a shareholder. America, where SoftBank makes a lot of its investments, may look askance at a firm that is teaming up with Alat, a Saudi industrial-automation venture that also has ties to a blacklisted Chinese maker of surveillance gear.

Mr Son is likewise inattentive to profitability. Growth, his idee fixe, is all well and good. But a business needs steady returns if it is to be a going concern, let alone last three centuries. In their absence SoftBank relies on borrowed money. Despite paying down a chunk of this lately with proceeds from the sale of Alibaba shares and the flotation of Arm, it still ranks as the worlds 11th-most-indebted non-financial firmand has stakes in two of the top ten, Deutsche Telecom and T-Mobile. The gyrating price of SoftBank stock, against which some debt is secured, could mean margin calls whenever markets wobble. This ties Mr Sons hands precisely when he could be buying up stocks and startups on the cheap.

The curse of long-sightedness

Instead, he often mistimes bets and overpays. SoftBanks $100bn Vision Fund, the biggest in VC history and stuffed with money from the Gulf, went shopping in the late 2010s when valuations of startups like WeWork were especially frothy. In 2019 the vehicle sold its entire 5% stake in Nvidia for $3.6bn; today it would fetch $160bn. SoftBank backed OpenAI in the same round as Fidelity, a lumbering asset manager. Tells you everything," sneers a VC veteran. Investors in SoftBank are scathing in their own way. Its shares trade at more than a 50% discount to the net value of its assets, implying a lack of faith in Mr Sons futurology. Minding your feet can be as important as admiring the horizon.

If you want to write directly to Schumpeter, email him at schumpeter@economist.com

Subscribers to The Economist can sign up to our new Opinion newsletter, which brings together the best of our leaders, columns, guest essays and reader correspondence.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Bengaluru and Mumbai: The friction continues between Shapoorji Pallonji Group, the largest public shareholder of Tata Sons, and the philanthropic entities that control the Tata empire. This, despite a change of guard at the Tata Trusts with Noel Tata taking over as chairman this October.

The chief executive of Tata Trusts told Mint in an email response to a questionnaire sent on Tuesday that Tata Sons shares cannot be used as collateral for fresh loans by the SP Group.

According to an executive privy to the development, Shapoorji Pallonji Group plans to use the 18.4% shares it owns in Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, as collateral to replace its current loans totalling 22,000 crore ($2.6 billion) that are payable by March 2025. To be sure, the shares are already pledged against these loans, and the aim is to transfer the shares to a new set of investors to raise money to repay the earlier loan.

We do not endorse Tata Sons shares being used as collateral," Siddharth Sharma, CEO of Tata Trusts, told Mint in the email. Tata Trusts would like to reiterate that the shares of Tata Sons are not freely transferable. All transfers are subject to the provisions set out in the Companys Articles of Association."

Also read | Lifelong trustees and more: What has changed at Tata Trusts after Ratan Tata's demise

Sharma refers to the articles of association after Tata Sons decided to convert into a private company after its board sacked Cyrus Mistry as chair in 2017. Under the conversion to a private company, shares of Tata Sons cannot be transferred without its prior approval.

A few media reports, citing unnamed executives, had suggested that the Tata Group could seek a more amenable working relationship with the SP Group after Noel Tata took over as chairman of Tata Trusts. Noel is married to Aloo Mistry, daughter of the late Pallonji Mistry, the former chairman of SP Group.

The clarification from Sharma puts an end to the speculation and confirms that Tata Trusts will continue with the stance it held even before Noel became chairman.

According to a person familiar with developments in the organization, one reason behind Tata Trusts continued opposition is the adverse view held by the four-member executive committee overseeing operations of the eight philanthropic entities that own 65.9% of group holding company Tata Sons.

All four members are not in favour of allowing the shares of Tata Sons, pledged with current investors, to be transferred to a new set of investors, this person said on condition of anonymity.

Also read | Trent could grow to 10 times its current size, Noel Tata says

The four-member executive committee comprises Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts; Venu Srinivasan, chairman emeritus of TVS Motor Ltd; former defence secretary Vijay Singh; and Mehli Mistry, a businessman with interests in logistics and dredging and a cousin of late Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry.

This executive committee filters the proposals before they are placed before the board of trustees of Tata Trusts. Earlier, Ratan Tata's stature held sway, and the board followed his decisions. Under Noel Tata's chairmanship, the board unanimously took the views after the committee placed its recommendation.

A spokesperson for the SP Group, responding to an email query from Mint, said, We understand that the Tata Trusts in May 2024 had stated that the shares of Tata Sons are not freely transferrable. This position is consistent with the status of Tata Sons as a private company. Under the Companies Act, the shares of all private companies are not freely transferable. Any transfer of shares of Tata Sons are solely regulated by the Articles of Association of Tata Sons, where all shareholders, including the Tata Trusts are parties."

The spokesperson added that as far as the SP Groups ability to raise capital against the pledge of its shareholding in Tata Sons, it was settled by the Honble Supreme Court vide its judgement of March 2021. Consequently, the SP Group has raised capital multiple times over the last 3 years from global investors against the pledge of its shareholding in Tata Sons".

The background

The SP Group, one of the country's oldest business conglomerates, first pledged 9.19% of Tata Sons in 2020 and then put the remaining 9.19% shares as collateral in 2021. The Group raised about 22,000 crore.

Sterling Investment Corp. Pvt. Ltd, an investment vehicle of the SP Group, first pledged 9.17% with Axis Bank and IDBI Bank in 2020, followed by another Group investment entity, Cyrus Investment Pvt. Ltd, pledging the remaining 9.18% stake in 2021 with Ares SSG Capital Management, a Hong Kong-based asset management firm and Farallon Capital, a San Franciso headquartered hedge fund.

Also read | SP group firm's high yield debt sees second downgrade in 4 months

The group has been looking to raise money to refinance this debt, which it must repay to creditors by March next year as per the agreement terms of the non-convertible debentures.

SP Group planned to borrow from Power Finance Corporation as part of its efforts, but the nearly year-long discussions ended with the state power and infrastructure financing firm. PFC chairman and managing director Parminder Chopra revealed this in a post-earnings call with analysts last month.

Mint could not independently ascertain if Tata Trusts opposition led to the collapse of talks between PFC and SP Group.

SP Group has seen its share of mishaps after the unceremonious sacking of Cyrus Mistry as the chairman of Tata Sons in October 2016. Cyrus died in a car accident in September 2022, while his father, Pallonji Mistry, passed away in June.

The conglomerate, which houses businesses ranging from real estate and construction to oil and gas, has undertaken restructuring and sold a few companies, including Eureka Forbes, and Sterling and Wilson Renewable Ltd, as it has halved its debt to 20,000 crore.

In November, the Group took Afcons Infrastructure Ltd public and raised 8,400 crore. SP Group owns 50.2% of Afcons Infrastructure, which had 12,907 crore in revenue last fiscal year.

And read | PFC independent directors raise concerns over 20,000-cr loan plan for SP Group
President-elect Donald Trump said his administration would speed the approval of big construction projects for companies that invest more than $1 billion, signaling his intention to push the limits of federal law to boost the economy.

In a post on his social-media site, Truth Social, Trump said Tuesday that any person or company investing $1 billion or more in the U.S. will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals."

Permitting changes have garnered bipartisan support in Washington in recent years. Backers of clean-energy projects have bemoaned the lengthy process to get permits for transmission projects seen as essential to achieve goals to curb greenhouse-gas emissions. Oil-and-gas companies have complained it hinders their ability to build infrastructure.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to drill baby drill" and lower energy costs for Americans by 50%. It isnt clear whether a U.S. president would have legal authority to bypass permitting and environmental rules. Efforts to negate or diminish rules such as the Clean Water Act can involve years of court battles that often land at the Supreme Court.

What authority does he have to waive these rules based upon the size of the financial investment?" said Tyson Slocum, director of the energy program at Public Citizen, a consumer-advocacy group. That doesnt make any sense."

Some federal permitting agencies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, are independent of executive authority, experts said. Any broad effort to bypass federal environmental and permitting authority wouldnt succeed without Congressional action, they said. Big projects also face state and local environmental and permitting oversight.

Trump has real-world experience in permitting and building projects," said Andrew Wheeler, who served as administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency in Trumps first term. He knows how it can spur the economy and create jobs."

Trump has said he would consolidate energy policy oversight in the White House.

He plans to create a National Energy Council that he said would include federal departments involved in permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation of American energy.

The council would oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCEby focusing on INNOVATION over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation," Trump said in a statement in November.

Trump tapped North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican he has nominated as interior secretary, to chair the council. It would also include Trumps nominee for Energy Secretary, oil-and-gas executive Chris Wright. Burgum, a close ally of Cramers, would also have a seat on the National Security Council.

The National Energy Council will foster an unprecedented level of coordination among federal agencies to advance American energy," Burgum said in a statement accepting his nomination to run the Interior Department.

Trump said during his campaign that he would declare a national-energy emergency to boost domestic supplies and reduce electricity prices. He also promised to repeal climate legislation the Biden administration completed in 2022.

Broad Republican support for the climate law, including a number of members in the House of Representatives, means it is unlikely that Trump will have the support on Capitol Hill to repeal the law.

Write to Scott Patterson at scott.patterson@wsj.com
The fee pool at investment banks swelled in 2024 thanks to the large initial public offerings (IPOs) of companies such as Hyundai Motor India, Swiggy, Ola Electric and Firstcry. The year also saw large block deals in companies including ITC, Trent and Bharti Airtel, enabling PE investors take some money off the table. Besides, key sectors such as industrials, consumer and financial services saw mergers and acquisitions.

According to Native, a search firm that also works with the financial services sector, bonuses may cross 1,000 crore in 2024, of which 700 crore may go to over 350 top executives. These include managing directors, partners and directors at global and domestic investment banks earning an average fixed salary of 1.5-2.5 crore.

While some banks may pay bonuses in the range of 100-150%, at some others, it may be 300-350%, industry experts said.

This year has been phenomenal from the deals perspective, and incomes have been commensurate. We are expecting bonuses ranging between 300-375% this year," an investment banker said on the condition of anonymity.

Also read | Investment banks enter startup funding space to diversify revenue streams

Investment banks earned a combined $776.5 million ( 6,587.8 crore) in fee income in India, according to data from London Stock Exchange Group, an analytics services and data provider. Among the top in the fee league tables were Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Capital, Jefferies, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley. To be sure, fee income includes earnings from equity capital markets, debt capital markets as well as M&A deals.

Over 70 campus hires of 2024 with average annual fixed salary of 30 lakh may get at least 100% bonuses crossing together crossing 20 crore, Native estimated.

I-bankers and merchant bankers at Indian firms received bonuses for the September-October period, and global firms will get them in January. While bonuses for 2021 and 2022 were not very good, the ones in 2023 were better. 2024 had all-time high capital market flows and deals which have pushed bonuses for these companies," said a senior partner at one of the Big Four consulting and audit firms. Since the bonus is dependent on the number of deals, it is often over and above the compensation offered to the bankers," the partner added.

"Record high performance bonuses expected for i-bankers and merchant bankers come on the back of the record number of listings and secondary transactions," said Monica Agrawal, managing director for financial services in the Asia-Pacific region and India lead, board and CEO services, at Korn Ferry, a global organizational consulting firm.

Also read | New status symbols: How Indias family offices are redefining the investment paradigm

"However, retention is now proving to be a challenge, since companies want more such deal makers and these bankers are now commanding a premium. Concerned about exits, both domestic and global banks are coming up with retention tools in the form of deferred bonuses, long-term incentives and clawbacks to hold on to high performers," Agrawal added.

In previous years of muted deal activity, many investment bankers left the sector for better pastures. While most bankers joined corporates and started up on their own, some were attracted to the private equity and venture capital industry. Calendar 2024, however, saw that trend reverse. As per Native data, unlike 2023, where almost 50% of investment banking exits were towards corporates/PE careers, it is significantly down to 36% in 2024.

The glorious time for investment banking (IB) as a career is just about to start. From a pre-covid era of negative headcounts, layoffs and sub-par deal activity, we foresee an extremely bright future for talent to pursue IB as a career, be trendsetters as dealmakers and earn unprecedented compensations," said Ruchi Thakkar, head of capital markets and asset management at Native.

And read | Dont overlook the downside of Indias retail investment boom
At the Shrine Empire, New Delhi, a scarlet-hued wall comes into sight. It serves as a backdrop to six drawings by artist Sajan Mani. Though small in scale, the layering of visuals, colours and text adds a certain complexity to each of them. The text, underlying the visuals, has been extracted from pages of German missionary reports about Kerala available in archives in Berlin and other German cities. And for the visuals, Mani has referred to photographs taken by German anthropologist Ego (Freiherr) von Eickstedt in the 1920s of Dalit and other indigenous communities in Kerala. Like an archaeologist, Mani has excavated through layers of colonial perceptions and prejudices to create an alternative way of documenting and archiving narratives of marginalised and oppressed people.

Part of Manis first major solo in India, the Multiple Legs of a Historically Wing-Chopped Bird series features drawn forms and video sequences. The show carries forth the intersectional artists ongoing effort to create new forms of history making, and bring the personal and the political together. I made a conscious effort to bring certain elements from Eickstedts photos to the foreground. It was a deliberate act for me. The lives of indigenous people have long been buried in these archives," says the artist, who lives and works between Berlin and Kochi. The post-colonial approach focuses on so-called Brahmanic history, royalty and related clothes and ornaments, but never on the people who made these and suffered through the social systems," he adds.

In the exhibition note, art historian and commentator Cleo Roberts-Komireddi refers to this aspect of Manis practiceof opening up and creating new routes through Keralas past. He does history in a full-bodied way that, drawing on his ancestral memories along with their materials, mythologies and manuscripts, unsettles conventional modes of knowing those that came before," she writes.

Also read: The Bengal Biennale makes its debut in Santiniketan
MUMBAI : Last week, a man attacked a bank manager in Gujarat over the tax deduction on his fixed deposit interest. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media platforms, with netizens lamenting the customer's unruly behaviour as well as the country's tax system.

Taxes can hurt, but one can be smart about them.

One of the many ways to save taxes is to create a family unit and pool assets to form a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF). An HUF has its own permanent account number (PAN) and files tax returns independently of its members.

Think of an HUF like creating a separate individual with a PAN card. That way, if you can put some corpus/investments in the HUF, they will enjoy most benefits an individual gets, like the basic exemption of 3 lakh under the new tax regime, up to 1.5 lakh deduction under section 80C, etc.," said Nitesh Buddhadev, a chartered accountant and founder of Nimit Consultancy.

Read this | FAQs on HUF: Tax benefits, formation, and key rules explained

To be sure, a married couple with at least one child can open an HUF account. Only Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs can opt for this.

An HUF has a karta, coparceners and other members. The karta is authorized to carry out transactions and sign cheques on behalf of the HUF. Coparceners are born into an undivided family, such as a father and a son or a daughter. Those coming from outside the family through marriage, like a mother and wife, are called members.

Tax savings

Lets say a husband and a wife earn 10 lakh and 15 lakh, respectively, and part of their income came from inheritance. They have invested in mutual funds/stocks and booked a profit of 7.5 lakh each (total of 15 lakh) this year. Assuming theyve opted for the new tax regime and booked the profits from equities after a 12-month holding period, the couples total tax liability would be 3.36 lakh for the year (see the graphic).

On the other hand, lets say the couple transferred some corpus they inherited (conditions apply on transfers to HUF) from their parents to the HUF and invested that in mutual funds. That way, 5 lakh of the 15 lakh capital gains came from the HUF. In the first case, we assumed they had put it under their names. But having an HUF account is like creating a separate individual with a separate PAN card for tax purposes.

Heres how it helps: Given that there is no other income apart from the capital gains in the HUF, the tax-saving instrument will record a total income of 5 lakh for the year. Out of that, only 2 lakh will be taxable. Thats because, in the new tax regime, income up to 3 lakh is tax-free. Of the remaining 2 lakh, only 75,000 will get taxed at 12.5% (long-term capital gains tax) as there is a threshold of 1.25 lakh before the capital gains tax kicks in. By doing this, the couple could save 55,000 in taxes.

View Full Image Graphic by Paras Jain.

Also Read: How Hindu undivided families can maximize tax savings

However, transferring copus/income to an HUF is not straightforward. Sagar Somen, a Nagpur-based chartered accountant, said HUF corpus can be created by inheriting property or assets through a Will or ancestral lineage in the name of the HUF. While an HUF member can give gifts to the HUF, it will be tax-free in the hands of the HUF, but the subsequent income from it will be taxable in the hands of the member who gave the gift.

For instance, a member can gift mutual fund units or house property, but the gains when the mutual funds are redeemed, or the rental yield of the housing property, will be fully taxable in the member's hands. This is called clubbing of income.

Interestingly, if the gift comes from a non-member, it becomes taxable in the hands of the HUF. In such cases, if the aggregate value exceeds 50,000, the HUF might have to pay a tax on it under Section 56(2)(x) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Still, if the corpus can be transferred to the HUF, significant taxes will be saved through the segregation of income.

For instance, if the HUF receives 4 lakh as a gift, 2.5 lakh can remain tax-exempt under the basic exemption limit under the old regime. The remaining 1.5 lakh can qualify for deduction under Section 80C if invested in eligible instruments like Equity Linked Savings Scheme mutual funds, potentially creating a tax-free corpus of up to 4 lakh annually. This corpus can then be invested further in financial instruments like mutual funds to build a robust investment portfolio for the family," said the Nagpur-based CA.

An HUF can own a business, invest in financial instruments like mutual funds, equities and fixed deposits, or generate rental income from real estate holdings.

Opening an account

Unlike individual accounts, creating an HUF account to invest in mutual funds is a physical process. Once the account gets created, the process of transacting works just like a normal account.

Most mutual fund transaction platforms allow users to create a HUF account.

To open an account, the HUF must complete the know-your-customer process through KYC registration agencies. One can go to the MF Utilities site to download a form for the same and submit it to a nearby Point of Service (POS) along with the required list of documents (see the chart).

MF Utilities has partnered with the two registrar and transfer agents, Cams and Kfintech, to set up POS in various places. One can courier their documents or submit them directly," said MonaliChitnis, who heads operations at MF Utilities.

If the HUF is already KYC registered, people only need to apply for a CAN registration, which is also a physical process. You have to download the form and submit it along with the required documents to a nearby POS. Once approved, the HUF can invest online like any other account.

What to expect

Pankaj Bhuta, a chartered accountant and founder of P.R. Bhuta & Co., Chartered Accountants, said as much as it is easy to create an HUF, dissolving it is much more complex. Dissolution of HUF requires a speaking order to be passed by the assessing officer recording the total partition of HUF, without which it will not be recognized as a dissolution, and HUFs PAN wont be cancelled either. Additionally, partial partition is not recognized under the Indian income tax law, which can lead to tax-related issues."

Also Read: How the Budget affects your LTCG tax on immovable property

"Also, building the HUF corpus is a long-term process due to the application of clubbing provisions. Hence, tax planning through an HUF should ideally be done with a long-term perspective in mind," he added.

He said if the karta intends to migrate outside India, he should be prepared for potential tax and FEMA issues. The concept of HUF may not be recognized outside India, thereby disentitling HUF from treaty benefits. Further, many banks are hesitant to convert HUF resident savings bank accounts into HUF non-resident ordinary accounts, causing operational challenges.
Companies facing charges of harming the environment have found relief in recent Supreme Court rulings which clarified that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) cannot impose penalties on firms based on their total revenue or solely on the recommendations of expert committees.

In two separate rulings by a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan on 27 November, the Supreme Court set aside the NGTs penalties against Grasim Industries Limited and Bezno Chem Industrial Private Limited for alleged environmental violations.

The court pulled up the NGT for imposing fines based solely on expert committee reports and calculating them as a percentage of total revenue, without following the principle of natural justice.

Also read: Fashion is going green, but the journey is slow

In any case, the generation of revenue would have no nexus with the amount of penalty to be ascertained for environmental damages. It is further to be noted that the learned NGT found the appellant to be guilty of violations; the least that was expected from the NGT is to give a notice to the appellant before imposing such a heavy penalty," the bench said in its decision to quash the NGT order against Bezno Chem.

With deep anguish, we have to say that the methodology adopted by the learned NGT for imposing penalties is totally unknown to the principles of law," it added.

While quashing the NGT ruling against Grasim Industries, the court said, The procedure followed by the learned NGT was totally unknown to the settled principles of natural justice The NGT is a tribunal constituted under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010. A tribunal is required to arrive at its decision by fully considering the facts and circumstances of the case before it. It cannot outsource an opinion and base its decision on such an opinion."

Systemic flaws in the NGT

Legal experts told Mint that while the Supreme Courts rulings provide much-needed clarity and relief to companies, they raise serious questions about the NGTs functioning. This undermines public trust in the tribunals ability to deliver fair and just outcomes in environmental violation cases, they said.

The Supreme Courts decision removes the arbitrariness associated with revenue-based penalties. It emphasises that penalties should be based on the extent of environmental harm and the actual loss incurred, rather than arbitrary factors such as a companys revenue," said Raunak Dhillon, a partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.

Also read: Air pollution is a national problem. Can you live with it?

Alay Razvi, managing partner at Accord Juris, said, Over time, the NGT has been under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court for its order(s) imposing penalties based on the revenue of the company. These orders show there are systemic flaws in the NGT. In certain cases, orders have been overturned or scrutinised by a higher court."

Orders overturned frequently

A growing number of environmental cases and multidisciplinary issues led the government of India to enact the National Green Tribunal Act in 2010 to expedite cases related to environmental protection, including conservation of forests and other natural resources.

"Assessing the environmental and ecological damage is not a simple and straight forward issue. Restoring the damage is also very complicated. It is impossible to determine the quantum of the fine to be levied without an expert agency doing a ground survey and computing the steps to restore the damage and the costs thereof. It is therefore very welcome that the High Courts and the Supreme Courts are setting aside such order," said Debi Goenka, an environmentalist and member of Conservation Action Trust.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) report card for 20182023 reveals that compensation was imposed in 35 cases for alleged violations of environmental norms. Appeals were filed before the Supreme Court in 12 of these cases, and the court intervened in nine instances through stays, remands or notices. This amounts to a 75% intervention rate, significantly exceeding the general Supreme Court intervention rate of 43.79% on special leave petitions (SLPs) in 2014, as noted in a 2016 report by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.

As recently as 5 December, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna quashed an NGT order imposing a fine of around 3 crore on Govardhan Mines and Minerals for damaging the environment with illegal stone mining in the Dadam Hills of Tosham, Haryana. The Supreme Court noted that the NGTs order did not deal with the firms contentions and adopted the report of a committee set up to ascertain illegal mining.

Lacking reasoned decisions and at times blindly following expert reports, such judgments have eroded the efficacy of the environment regulator at a crucial juncture in our battle against climate change and energy transition," said Amit Kapur, joint managing partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors.

Lack of standardisation

The increased scrutiny of the NGTs method of calculating fines for environmental violations has revealed a significant gap in its penalty framework.

Section 20 of the NGT Act mandates that the tribunal consider principles of sustainable development, the precautionary principle, and the polluter pays principle when issuing orders or awards. However, legal experts said the absence of a systematic and uniform method leads to situations in which the compensation significantly understates or overstates the actual environmental harm.

Also read: Cement makers are buying green power and private ships. Here's why

The absence of a uniform method exposes flaws in the tribunals ability to conduct quantitative assessments. This in turn causes the tribunal to determine penalties based on a companys revenue," said Sudeshna Guha Roy, partner at Saraf and Partners.

Amit Kapoor from JSA Advocates & Solicitors added that the lack of a standardised penalty framework 14 years after the NGT was founded is a testament to Indias under-preparedness on protecting the environment and battling climate change. We need binding norms for computing compensation/damages to meaningfully implement sustainable development with the polluter pays principle."

Raunak Dhillon of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas said small businesses are hit hardest by the NGTs unclear method of calculating penalties. With limited financial reserves, these firms struggle to absorb sudden fines, which makes it hard for them to comply with environmental regulations and compete effectively. This ambiguity not only imposes financial stress but also hampers their ability to make long-term investments and navigate regulatory requirements, pushing them out of the market, he added.

Change the way NGT functions, experts say

The NGT comprises three main bodies: the chairperson, judicial members, and expert members. The tribunal is required to have between 10 and 20 full-time members, with a balanced composition of judicial and expert input. However many tribunal orders have been called out for being for influenced by external committees.

Sudeshna Guha Roy, partner at Saraf and Partners, said, This trend indicates that the in-built mechanism of inputs from expert members of the NGT is proving insufficient or dysfunctional and the NGT is repeatedly relying on external expert opinions." This raises concerns about the tribunals capacity to independently assess and adjudicate complex environmental issues effectively, she added.

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Several experts advocated for reforms, including guidelines in the NGT Act to establish a structured penalty framework. This framework should consider factors such as the severity of harm and intent, rather than a companys revenue as the basis for penalties. They also emphasised the need for fines that correspond closely to the extent of the violation. They also called for well-reasoned orders that clearly explain the rationale behind penalties, to prevent confusion and reduce the likelihood of appeals.
In 2014, Narendra Modi rode to power promising to kick-start a new investment cycle and end an era of policy paralysis. Soon after becoming Prime Minister, he identified the revival of stalled projects as a key priority. But progress remained slow.

Quarter-after-quarter, data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) showed that investment projects remained stalled. The promised revival of animal spirits did not materialize.

In 2016, senior government officials asked CMIE to reclassify some projects it identified as stalled, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. CMIEs capex data did not reflect the new governments efforts to restart some of these projects, the officials argued.

Veteran journalist Sunil Jain wrote about the pressures being put on CMIE, and the pressures eased after that. But the official unease with the privately-managed capital expenditure-tracking database persisted.

A new capex survey being planned by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (Mospi) may partly assuage such concerns. But beyond the desire to shape economic narratives, there is a genuine need for policymakers and analysts to understand Indias investment cycle better.

Almost every year, economic policymakers and analysts manage to sight green shoots" of a private capex recovery. So far, they have been wrong. Like a broken clock that gets it right twice a day, they will get lucky one day in the future. But without better data, they will routinely misjudge the capex cycle.

India is one of the few large economies that does not have an official survey on capex intentions or allocations. Most large economies run such surveys on a regular basis.

For instance, the Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) conducted by the US Census Bureau provided data on the capex of American companies for decades, before being merged with the Annual Integrated Economic Survey in 2024. ACES data, collected from a representative sample of American firms, was used to compute annual estimates of investments in the national accounts.

In the UK, the Quarterly Acquisitions and Disposals of Capital Assets Survey provides data on the value of assets purchased and sold by companies. Assets include both physical assets, like buildings and vehicles, as well as intangibles such as computer software or databases. As in the US, the data feeds into the national accounts and is used by analysts to track investment allocations across industries.

The quarterly capex survey of the Australian Bureau of Statistics provides both actual capex expenses and short-term and long-term capex intentions across industries and regions. The data is used by policymakers and analysts to study nationwide and state-wise capex trends.

In all these economies, the official capex surveys are based on a comprehensive business register that records all relevant firm details. These include a common unique identifier (that is used across departments and data-sets), establishment level details (for firms or enterprises with multiple establishments), location (state, district or geo-markers), sector and employment size.

As a result, it is possible to analyse capex trends across multiple levels of disaggregation. It is also possible to compare the capex survey data with other economic databases that are based on the same business register.

You dont have to make 1,200 assumptions to make such comparisons. Since the business register is dynamically updated, you dont have to worry about zombie firms either.

Over the past two decades, Mospi has made several attempts to build a comprehensive business register. It has not succeeded so far. Every so often, a state or two manages to build a decent business register, but it becomes outdated very quickly.

The different corporate databases in the countrythe Economic Census, Annual Survey of Industries, MCA-21 and the goods and services tax network (GSTN)do not talk to each other. This poses a problem not just for the upcoming capex survey, but also for national and regional income estimation.

Given that Mospis new capex survey is based on the MCA-21 database, it may not be able to provide state-level details, since that database captures very little state-level information. Since MCA-21s industrial classification system is prone to errors, it is likely that such errors would creep into the new capex survey as well.

Nonetheless, the new survey would still count as a step in the right direction and help fill an important data gap. While CMIEs quarterly capex-tracker provides a fair idea about investment intentions of large companies, it was never meant to be a substitute for a nationally representative survey.

Despite the limitations of MCA-21 as a sampling frame, the new capex survey could still provide important insights on Indias evolving capex cycle.

For the capex survey to become more useful in the future, it needs to be based on a coherent and comprehensive business register. The utility of the capex survey will increase manifold once it starts providing state- and district-wise break-up of investments.

Indias first official committee on regional accounts, led by national accounting pioneer Moni Mukherjee, had recommended state-level capex surveys as far back as 1976. Hopefully, we will get to see such surveys in the 21st century.
Ever since ChatGPT made its debut in late 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) has kept the world abuzz in anticipation of computers doing what we had assumed only humans were clever enough to do. As AI hype threatens to spell under-delivery on an over-promise, champions of this technology have begun to temper our expectations.

Last week, it was Sundar Pichai, who helms Google, a company that launched its own AI tool, Gemini, soon after OpenAIs chatbot. We should not expect big leaps of Generative AI in 2025, he declared at a public forum. I think progress is going to get harder," he said, as the low-hanging fruit is gone" and the fledgling industry would need deeper breakthroughs as we get to the next stage."

For now, AI tools based on large language models would make incremental gains, especially on reliability, but not inspire the sort of awe that some of us may have been primed to expect.

Pichais view of the path ahead seems to conform with that of Microsofts chief Satya Nadella, who has also spoken of linear AI evolution instead of exponential growth in wizardry. OpenAIs Sam Altman, meanwhile, has been talking about how far AI could go. There is no wall," he recently posted on X.

Whether or not tech barriers must be overleapt for GenAI to marvel the world any further, investors cant afford to take their eyes off the ball on what itll do even with its current level of development. In October, Pichai said that over a quarter of the software code that Google needed was AI-generated.

Last week, he spoke of a decades span for programming to become accessible to millions of more people. This leaves us wondering how soon GenAI might turn a big chunk of Indias $254 billion infotech services industry redundant. That a clock is ticking for Indian programmers engaged in low-end work seems in little doubt.

Big players like TCS, Infosys, HCL, Wipro and Tech Mahindra may have sought to play down the impact of AI by presenting it as an opportunity more than a threat (and its true that theyre moving on AI), but industry analysts are not so sanguine.

As reported by Mint, many of them expect pricing pressure to weigh upon the sectors performance as client contracts come up for renewal. The most exposed are revenues drawn from app making and support, apart from outsourced business process tasks.

Together, these two make up about 40% of the industrys top-line. While TCS and Infosys recently described their pricing power as stable, how Indias software exporters will fare in the age of AI remains a multi-billion dollar question.

One near-term hope has been an edge on work reliability that our software majors could plausibly claim over the quick stuff churned out by GenAI. As AI bots are found to hallucinate, they have a general image of clever tools in need of adult supervision.

So long as their output needs to be under close human vigil, clients may find it safer to not just let software specialists deploy GenAI for coding, bug-checks, etc, but also pay a fee for this. That may buy these firms some time while GenAI ascends its whiz curve.

Inspired by ChatGPT o1-Pros ability to solve NYT Connections, a game that asks us to group 16 words into four groups of four, Deedy Das of Menlo Ventures had this to post on X: The rate of progress of [AI] is faster than most comprehend."

Prowess at a word game wont drop too many jaws in wonder. But our software majors must race the clock for a clear strategy to ride the AI wave.
After a five-day manhunt, US law enforcers arrested a man and charged him with the murder of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot dead in New York City.

The assailants bullet shells had the words Defend", Deny" and Depose" written on them, raising speculation that fury at the health insurer had led to the attack.

After all, these were terms commonly used by insurers to reject claims.

What makes this case extraordinary is the ghoulish fan following the assassin seems to have inspired in America.

TikTok clips emerged of tattoos with those three words, even as T-shirts went on sale emblazoned with Defend, Deny, Depose".

This is cringe-worthy, no doubt, but the US insurance industry should examine what lies behind such vehement discontent.

Unlike welfare states in Europe, the US lacks public healthcare facilities, which makes insurance coverage crucial, given how expensive most private treatment is.

Willy-nilly, India has been moving closer to the US model, though government clinics and hospitals exist. For a better balance, we should expand low-cost health services and raise their quality.

Over-dependence on insurers may risk mass disgruntlement here too.

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The creator of the first automobile, Karl Benz (in the light suit) and his family pose with his invention.

Working out who invented the car is a long and winding road, and pinpointing a single person responsible is not a simple matter. If you rewind the development of cars past GPS, past antilock brakes and automatic transmissions and even past the Model T, eventually you'll get to the Benz Motor Car No. 1, the missing link between cars and horse-drawn buggies.

Karl Benz patented the three-wheeled Motor Car, known as the "Motorwagen," in 1886. It was the first true, modern automobile, meaning Benz is most often identified as the man who invented the car. Benz also patented his own throttle system, spark plugs, gear shifters, a water radiator, a carburetor and other fundamentals to the automobile. Benz eventually built a car company that still exists today as the Daimler Group.

The first car: Who really invented it?

"We generally think of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen as the first proper car," Tom Standage, author of "A Brief History of Motion: From the Wheel, to the Car, to What Comes Next" (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021) told All About History magazine. Standage said that Benz used bicycle parts to build a vehicle around an internal combustion engine. "Its innovation required lots of people to try different things and, although this seems obvious in retrospect, it wasnt at the time," he said.

Benz patented the first gasoline-powered car, but he wasn't the original visionary of self-propelled vehicles. Even the definition of the word "car" has evolved over time.

"At the end of the 19th Century, a car was a streetcar, i.e. a tram," Standage said. "Streetcars before that were 'horse cars' which were omnibuses pulled by horses on rails. The word 'car' became available to what was previously called a 'horseless carriage' or possibly a motor car. The 'automobile', as they call it in America, was itself an import from the French."

Here are some important innovations that paved the way for the automobile:

Leonardo da Vinci had sketched a horseless, mechanized cart in the early 1500s. Like many of his designs, it wasn't built in his lifetime. However, a replica is on display at the Chateau Clos Luce , Leonardo's last home and now a museum.

had sketched a horseless, mechanized cart in the early 1500s. Like many of his designs, it wasn't built in his lifetime. However, a replica is on display at the , Leonardo's last home and now a museum. Sailing chariots, which were propelled by the wind, were in use in China when the first Westerners visited. In 1600, Simon Steven of Holland built one that carried 28 people and covered 39 miles (63 km) in two hours.

of Holland built one that carried 28 people and covered 39 miles (63 km) in two hours. French inventor Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot built a self-propelled vehicle with a steam engine in 1769. The cart, designed to move artillery pieces, moved at a walking pace (2 mph or 3.2 km/h) and had to stop every 20 minutes to build a new head of steam.

The 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen

Internal combustion engines: A key to modern cars

Vital to the modern automobile is the internal combustion engine. This type of engine uses an explosive combustion of fuel to push a piston within a cylinder. The piston's movement turns a crankshaft that is connected to the car's wheels of a drive shaft. Like the car itself, the internal combustion engine has a long history. The Benz Patent Motorwagen was the first successful automobile to use an internal combustion engine, but it relied on many other innovations in the field of internal combustion engines:

1680: Christiaan Huygens , better known for his contributions to physics and astronomy, designed but never built an internal combustion engine fueled by gunpowder.

, better known for his contributions to physics and astronomy, designed but never built an internal combustion engine fueled by gunpowder. 1824: Englishman Samuel Brown altered a steam engine to burn gasoline and put it on a carriage, but this proto-automobile also never gained widespread adoption.

Englishman altered a steam engine to burn gasoline and put it on a carriage, but this proto-automobile also never gained widespread adoption. 1858: Jean Joseph-Etienne Lenoir patented a double-acting, electric spark-ignition internal combustion engine fueled by coal gas. He improved on that engine so it would run on petroleum, attached it to a three-wheeled wagon and traveled 50 miles.

patented a double-acting, electric spark-ignition internal combustion engine fueled by coal gas. He improved on that engine so it would run on petroleum, attached it to a three-wheeled wagon and traveled 50 miles. 1873: American engineer George Brayton developed a two-stroke kerosene engine. It is considered to be the first safe and practical oil engine.

American engineer developed a two-stroke kerosene engine. It is considered to be the first safe and practical oil engine. 1876: Nikolaus August Otto patented the first four-stroke engine in Germany.

patented the first four-stroke engine in Germany. 1885: Gottlieb Daimler of Germany invented the prototype of the modern gasoline engine.

of Germany invented the prototype of the modern gasoline engine. 1895: Rudolf Diesel , a French inventor, patented the diesel engine that was an efficient, compression ignition, internal combustion engine.

Karl Benz: The pioneer who revolutionized automobiles

Karl Benz (right), inventor of the first practical, modern automobile, pictured next to his wife Bertha in 1893. (Image credit: Heritage Images / Contributor via Getty Images)

Karl Benz gets the credit for inventing the automobile because his car was practical, used a gasoline-powered internal-combustion engine and worked like modern cars do today. Benz was born in 1844 in Germany. He was admitted to the University of Karlsruhe at age 15 and graduated in 1864 with a mechanical engineering degree.

Benz's first venture of an iron foundry and sheet-metal workshop flopped. However, his new bride, Bertha Ringer, used her dowry to fund a new factory to build gas engines. With the profits Benz was free to start building a horseless, gas-powered carriage.

Benz had built three prototypes of his Motor Car in private by 1888, when Bertha decided it was time for some press. Bertha took the latest model in the early morning and drove her two teenage sons 66 miles (106 kilometers) to her mother's home . She had to improvise repairs along the way with shoe leather, a hair pin and her garter .

The successful trip showed Benz how to improve the car, and showed a dubious public that automobiles were useful. Benz demonstrated the Model 3 Motorwagen at the World's Fair in Paris the following year.

Benz died in 1929, just two years after he merged with fellow car-maker Gottlieb Daimler's company to form what is today the Daimler Group, manufacturer of the Mercedes-Benz.

The evolution of electric cars

Electric vehicles may seem like a modern phenomenon, but they have a history that dates back to the late 19th century. (Image credit: Heritage Images / Contributor)

Electric cars were available in the middle of the 19th century, but fell out of favor after Henry Ford developed his Model T, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But in recent years, electric cars have made a comeback. About 1.4 million electric cars were sold in the United States in 2023 , according to the International Council on Clean Transportation . This technology, like the internal combustion engine, also has a long history that is difficult to point to one inventor.

Robert Anderson , a Scottish inventor, and Thomas Davenport , an American inventor, independently designed rudimentary electric cars in the 1830's. These early models used non-rechargeable batteries; the first rechargeable battery was invented in 1865 by Gaston Plante, a French physicist. Adapted from the U.S. Department of Energy , a more detailed timeline of the history of electric cars includes:

1891: William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa, was the first to successfully build an electric car in the United States.

William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa, was the first to successfully build an electric car in the United States. 1895: The first automobile race in the United States  a 52-mile "dash" from Chicago to Waukegan, Ill., and back, which took the winner 10 hours 23 minutes (average speed 5 mph / 8 km/h)  featured two electric cars, according to Smithsonian magazine .

The first automobile race in the United States  a 52-mile "dash" from Chicago to Waukegan, Ill., and back, which took the winner 10 hours 23 minutes (average speed 5 mph / 8 km/h)  featured two electric cars, according to . 1899: Camille Jenatzy, a Belgian race car driver, built and raced an electric car, setting a new land speed record of 62 mph (100 km/h). His car was called La Jamais Contente (which means "the never satisfied").

Camille Jenatzy, a Belgian race car driver, built and raced an electric car, setting a new land speed record of 62 mph (100 km/h). His car was called La Jamais Contente (which means "the never satisfied"). 1900: Ferdinand Porsche, a German automotive engineer, invented the first hybrid car, according to the official Porsche website . The New York City taxi service had about 60 electric cars, and approximately one third of cars in the United States were electric, according to the Department of Energy.

Ferdinand Porsche, a German automotive engineer, invented the first hybrid car, according to the official . The New York City taxi service had about 60 electric cars, and approximately one third of cars in the United States were electric, according to the Department of Energy. 1907: Thomas Edison developed a nickel-alkaline battery that was more durable and less hazardous than the lead-acid battery used in cars, according to Rutgers University . The battery didn't appeal to most consumers because it had a higher initial cost, but it was used in the delivery trucks of several companies due to its durability and longer ranges.

"At the beginning of the 20th Century, electric cars were very briefly more popular than internal combustion engine cars in America. However, they had very bad batteries," Standage said. "Electric cars are only good today because of batteries that were initially developed for laptops and camcorders."

When Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908, the inexpensive and high quality gasoline powered car became very popular and the decline of electric cars began, according to the Department of Energy . By the 1920s, gasoline had become cheaper and more readily available, and more Americans were traveling greater distances. Electric cars didn't have the range that gas-powered cars had, and electricity was still not readily available in many rural cities, making the gasoline-powered cars the automobiles of choice.

In 1976, Congress passed the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act due to rising oil prices, gasoline shortages and dependencies on foreign oil. The Toyota Prius, developed and released in Japan in 1997, was the world's first mass-produced hybrid car and was available around the world by 2000. The Honda Insight hybrid car was released in the United States in 1999.

Tesla Motors began development and production on a luxury all-electric car that would travel more than two hundred miles on a single charge in 2003 with the first model released in 2008. The Chevrolet Volt , released in 2010, was the first available plug-in hybrid that used the gasoline engine to extend the range of the automobile when the battery was depleted. The Nissan LEAF was also released in 2010 and was more readily available to the public than Tesla's Model S.

The future of cars: Electric and autonomous vehicles

While electric cars waned in popularity throughout much of the 20th century, the electric vehicle market has entered a new period of growth and evolution. Advancements in battery technology have made electric vehicles cheaper and more efficient over longer distances , and more automakers than ever are adding fully electric and hybrid vehicles to their lineup. According to the International Energy Agency , from 2020 to 2023, the total share of electric cars grew from around 4% to 18%.

While the shift towards electric vehicles has been driven in part by the climate crisis, they do still have some sustainability pitfalls. Electric vehicles generate less fossil fuel emissions and a lower carbon footprint than gasoline-powered cars, but the environmental impact of battery production remains a concern.

The field of autonomous or driverless vehicles is also rapidly advancing. Companies like Waymo are pushing the boundaries with fully driverless cars already operating in select urban areas. However, challenges remain, including the complexity of navigating unpredictable environments, regulatory hurdles, and public trust.

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Pupils and teachers at Ballymahon Vocational School produced and performed a wonderful panto Rapunzel and the League of princesses recently that was enjoyed by nearly 2,000 people.

Director Emma Nolan, who was one of many teachers involved along with 65 students, said putting the panto on fostered a fantastic camaraderie and festive spirit.

"The students are great, we auditioned here in September for and it is open to first year students right up to sixth year and anyone who is interested and has a desire to do it," she said. "We whittled it down to about 65 then and let them have it."

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Emma said they have a huge student body who help and the pupils who were not selected on the cast were able to contribute by assisting in pre-production, arranging the sets and backdrop and helping out with the car park.

"There is a core team of (teachers) who work backstage and one teacher for props and another for costumes but it's really a whole school approach," she added.

The panto was performed on Tuesday, December 3, Wednesday, December 4 and Thursday, December 5 with three evening performances and two matinees for all of the primary school pupils in county Longford.

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"There is a really good buzz around the school, it brings a bit of life to things especially at this time of year and kids can get involved in this, and they don't want to go on stage necessarily, but they do want to be involved so there is jobs for everybody."

Emma also praised school caretaker Eugene McCormack for all of his dedicated work and assistance.

Meanwhile, local artist Frances Kelleher has an exhibition which is on in Skelly's foyer in Ballymahon and will be running until after the Christmas period with all proceeds going to the Unicef and St Vincent de Paul charities.

She stated they are all original works in a mostly traditional style that were completed on location in diverse places such as Clifden, Athlone and New York.

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"It is just a spur of the moment notion that I got. I am by no means a wealthy person but I at Christmas I will always give something to charity," she said. "This year I am thinking funds are never that easy to come by and it struck me, 'Gosh if I sold those paintings wouldn't it be terrific' so that is what I'm doing."

Frances said her 23 paintings are all original work and it will be a "wonderful if she manages to sell everything.

"I just flew with it, some of my friends, I have an art group that I tutor in in in Ballymahon and I've been doing it for many years.
Plans are progressing positively for a special exhibition on the Edgeworth family and Abbe Henry Edgeworth to be held in Paris next June at one of the most prestigious universities in the French capital.

Edgeworthstown has a close connection with the history of Paris and the Notre Dame Cathedral, which reopened on Sunday after five years of intense restoration works following a devastating fire, which decimated the landmark in April 2019.

Chairperson of the Maria Edgeworth Centre, Matt Farrell said they are keen to recognise and celebrate the link between Edgeworthstown, Paris and Notre Dame Cathedral.



"There are plans for an exhibition on the Edgeworth family and Abbe Henry Edgeworth to be held at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University, which is the most prestigious university in the centre of Paris so that is something that is exciting that we are looking forward to, he added.

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Mr Farrell said they are working in conjunction with Longford County Council to organise the event.

"We have a lady in Paris at the moment doing a lot of research on Abbe Edgeworth and his family.

"His sister and his mother were in prison during the French Revolution," the Chairperson of the Maria Edgew orth Centre added.

Mr Farrell hopes people from county Longford will travel to Paris.

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"The Irish community in Paris, the Ireland-French network of people working in Paris, they will be attending as well," he said.

"We are working away on it at the moment."

Mr Farrell said, in the late 18th Century, Abbe Henry Edgeworth, from Edgeworthstown, a cousin of the famous novelist and writer Maria Edgeworth, played a "pivotal role in the history of the cathedral".

Henry Edgeworth was born in St John's Rectory in Edgeworthstown, County Longford in 1745.

However, when his father, the Church of Ireland rector of Edgeworthstown surprisingly decided to convert to Catholicism, the family moved to Toulouse in France where Henry was raised.

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Henry studied for the priesthood and was ordained as a Catholic priest in Paris.

The fire was not the only threat the cathedral faced in its lifetime.

During the French Revolution in 1789, Notre Dame was seized and made public property.

In 1790 the Paris Commune removed bronze, lead, precious metals, statue, art and artefacts from the cathedral.

Most of the metal was melted down and the silver used for coinage.

It was during this period that Abbe Edgeworth was called upon to play a major role in the life of Paris and the Cathedral.

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In the absence of the archbishop of Paris, due to the threat of death, the Irish clergyman was vested with the powers of the archbishop and appointed vicar general of the great diocese of Paris in 1792.

All of the responsibilities and authorities of the archbishop were vested in Abbe Edgeworth.

He went on to be confessor to Louis XVI and administered the last rites to the king on the scaffold in 1794.

This was a very dangerous time to be a catholic priest in Paris and his friends encouraged him to flee, but he expressed his thoughts in a letter to a fellow priest in exile.

"Almighty God has battled my measures, and ties me this land of horrors by chains I have not the liberty to shake off, he outlined.

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"The case is this: The wretched master [the king] charges me not to quit this country, as I am the priest whom he intends to prepare him for death.

"And should the iniquity of the nation commit this last act of cruelty, I must also prepare myself for death, as I am convinced the popular rage will not allow me to survive an hour after the tragic scene; but I am resigned, Abbe Edgeworth wrote.

"Could my life save him I would willingly lay it down, and I should not die in vain, the priest concluded.

Abbe Edgeworth went on to administer the last rites to Louis XIV on the guillotine and later, in exile remained faithful to the Royal Family dying in Mitau, now Jelgava in Latvia in 1807.

The life and times of the Abbe Edgeworth which includes biographies, letters and portraits form part of the wonderful Maria Edgeworth Centre in Edgeworthstown.
Three men charged in connection with an incident of violent disorder widely shared on social media had the charges against them adjourned to December 13 at last week's sitting of Longford District Court.

David Joyce (29) of 5 Palace Crescent Ardnacassa, John Keenan (31) of 37 Palace Crescent, Longford and Martin Keenan (34) 81 Ard Na Cassa Avenue Longford were before Judge Bernadette Owens in respect of the charges.

The defendants, who are alleged to be involved in a violent incident that took place on a busy morning outside a school, were previously denied bail following bail applications at Longford District Court.

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David Joyce is charged with production of an article, a shovel, while committing violent disorder and assault at Deanscurragh, Longford at 9:30am on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

In each of the cases Sergeant Enda Daly said the State wished to have the matter adjourned to December 17 as directions were still outstanding.

At a previous sitting the solicitor of defendant David Joyce, Brid Mimnagh, requested that her client be moved from the Cloverhill prison to Castlerea prison for his own safety.

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Addressing her client at last week's sitting, where he appeared via videolink, Ms Mimnagh told Mr Joyce: You have the judge to thank for getting you moved to Castlerea.

The matter was then adjourned to December 17 for directions. The defendant will appear by videolink at that sitting.

John Keenan, who also appeared by videolink, was charged with violent disorder production of an article and assault.

Ms Mimnagh, who represented all three of the defendant, said she would be making a police property application in respect of a car that was seized by Gardai in the course of the investigation. Ms Mimnagh explained that the defendant's wife, a mother of five, was incapacitated by being deprived of a car.

The solicitor said any forensic examination of the vehicle should be completed at this stage.

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The final defendant. Martin Keenan, who is charged with the production of an article, a shovel, while committing violent disorder and assault in respect of the incident on October 10 also appeared via videolink.

Remanding Mr Keenan in custody to return before the judge on December 17 next for DPP direction, Judge Owens said she expected progress on that date.
The man charged in connection with the July 28, 2024 fire in Grafton Court, Longford town, which caused millions of euro of damage, was served with the book of evidence against him at last week's sitting of Longford District Court.

Guo Zhong Chen (55), of Belvedere Terrace, Mullingar, is charged with arson and Section 2 criminal damage in relation to the Grafton Court fire.

The defendant was represented in proceedings by barrister Christine Burke BL, on behalf of solicitor John Shanley.

Prosecuting Sergeant, Enda Daly, said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was seeking to have Mr Chen sent forward for trial on the two charges in the Book of Evidence.

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Ms Burke said her client had difficulty reading, even in his own language. The barrister asked if an audio copy of the book of evidence could be made available in Mandarin Chinese.

Counsel said the complex and extensive investigation had yielded over 60 hours of CCTV and extensive recordings of interviews, all of which would require the assistance of a Chinese interpreter present while the legal team went through them with Mr Chen.

Judge Bernadette Owens heard there was no application for bail.

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Judge Owens issued the defendant with an alibi warning, advising him he must notify the State within 14 days if he wished to rely on an alibi in the course of his trial.

Ms Burke made an application for second counsel, however Judge Owens said that application could be made when the matter goes before the Circuit Court.

Judge Owens remanded Mr Chen in custody to appear back before a sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court on January 14, 2025.

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There was no evidence of police collusion in the original investigation into the 1978 La Mon House Hotel bombing, a report from the Police Ombudsman has said.

The report also said there had been an earnest endeavour to bring those responsible to justice.

Twelve people were killed and scores injured in the atrocity when the Provisional IRA exploded a bomb at the hotel on the outskirts of Belfast in 1978.

Survivors of the attack and family members of some of those who died have said they will continue with their campaign to find out the identities of those responsible.

Delivering a long awaited report, the Police Ombudsman said that despite concerns that informants may have been involved in the bombing, collusive behaviours were not a feature of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) investigation.

Senior director of investigations with the Police Ombudsmans office, Paul Holmes, said investigators did not find evidence or intelligence that would support the suggestion of malpractice by police officers and found no intelligence which could have forewarned of, or prevented, the bombing.

He said: The substantial police investigation files, associated documentation and intelligence records reviewed by this office, together with explanatory accounts from a number of former police officers and other inquiries, lead me to conclude that there was earnest endeavour by the RUC to bring those responsible for the bombing of La Mon House to justice.

However, maintenance of the investigation did not have the same rigour and this manifested in the loss of investigative material and the failure to interview the person arrested in 1991 in relation to the bombing.

I am of the view, based on all available evidence and information, that collusive behaviours were not a feature of this RUC investigation.

The evidence and intelligence viewed by the Police Ombudsmans investigation attributes responsibility for directing, enabling and perpetrating the bombing of La Mon House to the Provisional IRA, Mr Holmes concluded.

The ombudsmans report, published on Wednesday, considered the effectiveness of the RUC investigation, including the resulting prosecutions against two men.

One of the men was convicted of 12 counts of manslaughter in 1981, while the other was acquitted during his trial in 1980 after he alleged he had been assaulted by police while in custody.

At the 1980 trial, the judge said he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the mans statements had not been adduced by torture or inhuman or degrading treatment and the statements were excluded.

The case was dismissed in the absence of other evidence.

Mr Holmes said the judges comments and trial outcome pointed to a violation of the rule of law by the police officers involved.

He also said a loss of records and exhibits from the original investigation was frustrating and affected investigators ability to properly assess the RUCs response.

Mr Holmes said: My ability to provide a definitive view on the effectiveness of the RUC investigation, including whether all appropriate lines of inquiry were pursued, has been hindered by the unavailability of certain documentation generated by the investigation.

It has not been possible to establish the circumstances in which these records were lost. However, this is a recurring, systemic issue in legacy cases and is not unique to this investigation.

Ombudsman investigators said they could access the majority of records generated by the RUC investigation and concluded the initial response to the attack was prompt and well managed.

The first police officers to attend the scene displayed courage and professionalism in seeking to save lives and tend to the injured, said Mr Holmes.

More than 100 detectives were involved in the murder investigation and almost 400 statements were recorded. Scenes were identified and exhibits seized, and forensic examinations took place.

In the context of the significant pressures and challenges faced by the RUC at that time, I am of the view that the investigation was well resourced and received direction from the highest levels of the RUC.

A number of bereaved families were briefed on the outcome of the report at the ombudsmans office on Wednesday morning.

They were joined by Axel Schmidt, advocacy manager at Ulster Human Rights Watch, who said it had been a long and challenging road for the victims and relatives of one of the worst terrorist atrocities of the Troubles.

He added: It has taken 46 years to get to this point. We know what happened, but questions remain to this day.

Mr Schmidt said the families had asked the ombudsman to provide them with the identities of the bombmakers and the IRA leaders who sanctioned it.

He said: Sadly, the ombudsman, for security reasons, was unable to make available all the security intelligence.

It is important to note that the investigation carried out by the police ombudsman did not reveal any collusion between the terrorists and any branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

The people here today are satisfied with that outcome.

This campaign for answers and some measure of justice will go on.

Our next step will be to lodge a request with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery to ascertain who were the people responsible for the bombing and the role the Republic of Ireland played in allowing terrorists to make the bomb and provide protection from arrest and prosecution while residing in its territory.

The PSNI said in a statement it is aware of the hurt and anger of the families affected by the La Mon atrocity.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson, of the Justice branch, said the organisations thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured in the cowardly attack on innocent people socialising on a night out.

We are very aware of the hurt and anger still being felt by the families of all those who were affected by this indiscriminate bomb attack and we extend our sincere sympathies to all those families, he said.

We acknowledge the historic issues identified in the report concerning records management in this investigation, however, this was at a time that predated the introduction of the computerised Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (Holmes).

While the Police Ombudsmans report has identified some investigative failings, it also highlights that the investigation was well-resourced, comprehensive and effective.

The report has found that police held no intelligence prior to the attack that could have prevented it and also found that there was no evidence that any persons were protected from prosecution.

I would also like to reflect on the courage, compassion and professionalism and of the police officers who responded to the scene of the bombing.

The difficult and challenging circumstances they faced when dealing with the victims and survivors represented the highest of standards and I welcome the fact that the Police Ombudsman has highlighted this in the report.
Understanding Long Island Workplace Injuries and How Finz & Finz Can Help

Others, Local News

By Long Island Published: December 11 2024

This article highlights common workplace injuries on Long Island, prevention strategies, and how Finz & Finz provides legal support for injured workers to secure fair compensation.

Workplace injuries are an unfortunate reality, impacting thousands of employees annually across Long Island. From construction sites to office buildings, hazards are everywhere, and workers deserve to know their rights and the resources available to them when accidents occur. This guide delves into common workplace injuries, prevention strategies, and how Long Island employees can seek justice with the expertise of Finz & Finz.

The Prevalence of Workplace Injuries on Long Island

Long Island is home to a diverse workforce spanning industries such as construction, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. According to recent statistics, New York State reports over 125,000 workplace injuries each year, many occurring in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. These injuries range from minor sprains to life-altering conditions, with some even resulting in fatalities.

Common Workplace Injuries

Workplace injuries can occur in any environment. Below are some of the most frequent injuries experienced by Long Island workers:

Slips, Trips, and Falls : Whether in an office or on a construction site, wet floors, uneven surfaces, or inadequate safety measures often lead to falls.

Repetitive Strain Injuries : Prolonged repetitive tasks, such as typing or lifting, can cause chronic pain and reduced mobility.

Machine-Related Injuries : Workers in manufacturing or construction often face risks of injuries from malfunctioning or improperly maintained equipment.

Exposure to Hazardous Materials : Toxic chemicals and unsafe working conditions can lead to respiratory problems or long-term health issues.

Overexertion: Heavy lifting or strenuous activities frequently cause back injuries or muscle strains.

Rights of Injured Workers

In New York, injured workers are entitled to several legal protections, including workers compensation benefits. These benefits may cover:

Medical expenses related to the injury

Partial wage replacement during recovery

Compensation for permanent disability

Death benefits for families of workers fatally injured on the job

However, navigating the workers compensation system can be challenging, especially when employers or insurers contest claims. Thats where expert legal assistance becomes invaluable.

Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury

If youve been injured at work, follow these steps to protect your health and legal rights:

Report the Incident: Notify your employer immediately. Failing to report within 30 days may jeopardize your claim. Seek Medical Attention: Visit a healthcare professional and ensure your injury is documented as work-related. Document the Scene: Take photographs, gather witness statements, and preserve any evidence that could support your case. File a Workers Compensation Claim: Submit a C-3 form to the New York State Workers Compensation Board. Consult an Attorney: A workplace injury attorney can guide you through the claims process and help secure fair compensation.

How Finz & Finz Can Help

Finz & Finz is a nationally recognized law firm with a proven track record in handling workplace injury cases across New York. Heres how they can support injured workers on Long Island:

Comprehensive Legal Expertise

With decades of experience, Finz & Finz understands the intricacies of workplace injury laws. They can identify whether youre eligible for workers compensation, a third-party claim, or both. Their team meticulously gathers evidence, negotiates with insurers, and, if necessary, represents clients in court.

Personalized Attention

Every workplace injury case is unique. Finz & Finz takes a tailored approach, ensuring that each clients specific needs are addressed. Whether youre dealing with mounting medical bills or an employers resistance, their attorneys provide compassionate, personalized support.

Maximizing Compensation

In addition to workers compensation benefits, Finz & Finz can help you pursue third-party claims against negligent parties, such as contractors or equipment manufacturers. This dual approach often results in higher settlements.

Preventing Workplace Injuries

Employers and employees share responsibility for maintaining safe work environments. Here are some prevention strategies:

For Employers:

Conduct regular safety training sessions.

Ensure equipment is properly maintained.

Implement clear safety protocols and signage.

Address hazards promptly, such as spills or faulty wiring.

Provide ergonomic tools to minimize strain injuries.

For Employees:

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Follow safety guidelines and report hazards.

Take breaks to avoid overexertion.

Use equipment as intended and avoid shortcuts.

Real-Life Case Study: Securing Justice for a Long Island Worker

One of Finz & Finzs clients, a Long Island construction worker, suffered severe injuries when a scaffold collapsed due to improper installation. The firms attorneys uncovered negligence by a subcontractor and successfully secured both workers compensation benefits and a substantial settlement from a third-party lawsuit. This case underscores the importance of skilled legal representation.

Why Choose Finz & Finz?

Choosing the right legal team can make all the difference in your recovery and financial stability. Finz & Finzs commitment to excellence, combined with their deep understanding of Long Islands workforce, makes them a top choice for injured employees.

Workplace injuries can be devastating, but Long Island workers dont have to navigate the aftermath alone. With the help of Finz & Finz, employees can secure the compensation they deserve and focus on healing. If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, contact Finz & Finz today for a free consultation and take the first step toward justice.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: December 11 2024

Even after 90 years since her death, Marie Curie continues to be an inspiration, not only to the scientific community but also to generations of young women to whom she has served as a role ...

Hamptons Observatory (HO) is partnering with the Southampton Arts Center to present a free, hybrid lecture and book signing by acclaimed, New York Times Best-Selling author, Pulitzer Prize finalist, Hamptons resident, and Hamptons Observatory founding Advisory Board Member, Dava Sobel.

Donna L. McCormick, the Executive Director of Hamptons Observatory, states: Even after 90 years since her death, Mme. Marie Curie continues to be an inspiration, not only to the scientific community but also to generations of young women to whom she has served as a role model. Dava Sobel, too, is an inspiration: she is an outstanding author who, through her meticulous research and writing skill has, time and again, provided fresh insight and brought to life historical figures who have made world-changing contributions.

According to Dava: Marie Curie visited the United States twice in the 1920s. By then a war hero and a two-time Nobel Prize winner, she was welcomed and fussed over by many fine institutions--and received at the White House by Presidents Warren Harding and Herbert Hoover. Had the Hamptons Observatory or the Southampton Arts Center existed at the time, I feel certain she would have enjoyed a side trip to see them.

Ms. McCormick continues: We are deeply grateful to Dava for taking the time to discuss her new book, The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science, and the indefatigable, pioneering character of Mme. Curie, who is the subject of this biography. It is truly an honor to have Dava as a founding member of Hamptons Observatorys Advisory Board. We also are delighted to again be partnering with the Southampton Arts Center on this special program.

Following Davas hybrid lecture, she will autograph copies of her book, which will be available for purchase. Weather permitting, the event will conclude with guided tours (by telescope) of the night sky by Hamptons Observatory founding Board member and Academic Chair of Science at Suffolk County Community College, Sean Tvelia.

The discovery of two new elementspolonium, named for her homeland, and radium with its strange powersbrought the Polish-born Marie Sklodowska Curie to the worlds attention in 1898. Both elements were radioactive, a term she coined to describe their unusual behavior.

As radioactivity reshaped physics and chemistry in the early 20th century, Mme. Curie met regularly with a coterie of scientists, including her friend Albert Einstein. For decades she stood out at international conferences as the only woman in the room. Meanwhile she made room in her laboratory between 1906 and 1933 for more than forty aspiring female scientists. During the First World War, she drove her personally outfitted mobile X-ray units to combat zones accompanied by her seventeen-year-old daughter, Irene. Together they trained some 150 French women as X-ray technicians. After Irene completed her university studies, she followed her mother into the lab and won her own Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935.

Weather permitting, the event will conclude with an opportunity for in-person attendees to enjoy stargazing by telescope with Hamptons Observatory founding Board member and Academic Chair of Science at Suffolk County Community College, Sean Tvelia.

The lecture will begin at 6:00 PM, ET, on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Admission is free but donations to help support the work of Hamptons Observatory are deeply appreciated.

Reservations for the lecture portion of this program are required.

To attend In-Person: https://bit.ly/DavaSobelTalk-InPerson

To attend Virtually: https://bit.ly/DavaSobelTalk-Virtual

Dava Sobel is a highly acclaimed, award-winning author of seven books, including best-sellers The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of Harvard University Took the Measure of the Stars; Longitude (on which a NOVA documentary and a four-hour mini-series were based), and The Planets. Dava was a 2000 Pulitzer finalist for her book, Galileo's Daughter, which served as the basis for an Emmy Award winning PBS documentary. She is currently Poetry Editor of Scientific American and formerly a science reporter for the New York Times. Dava has been a member of Hamptons Observatorys Advisory Board since its inception.

Hamptons Observatory (HO), a 501(c)(3) New York State nonprofit, has served the community since 2005. Its mission: to foster interest in science, particularly astronomy, through educational programs. Lectures, star parties, portable planetarium shows and other events are held frequently and often in collaboration with other nonprofit organizations. HO has an observatory in East Hampton that it is endeavoring to restore and to make accessible (in-person and remotely) to students, researchers, educators and the general public. Hamptons Observatory offers all of its public programs free-of-charge so that everyone can learn about and enjoy the wonders of their universe. HO is not endowed but operates exclusively through public donations. Visit www.HamptonsObservatory.org to learn more and to join our email list for news and event notices. To make a tax-deductible donation, please go to .https://bit.ly/HO-Zeffy Thanks!
Office Party Pitfalls: Drinking Too Much Booze Is the Worst Holiday Party Mistake, Reveals Survey of New York Managers

Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: December 10 2024

Poll of 3,000 managers identifies the worst holiday party mistakes they have witnessed.

Holiday parties are a festive highlight of the work calendar - but they can also be a professional minefield. Its the one night when questionable dance moves, overshared gossip, and a little too much eggnog can collide in full view of your colleagues - and, worse, your boss. While these celebrations are meant to bring teams together, they can sometimes lead to career-damaging moments that overshadow years of hard work. The career experts at resume.io ran a survey (3,000) of managers in New York to uncover the most memorable mistakes theyve witnessed in office parties across the Empire State.

The top 15 worst party pitfalls among Americans are:

#1 Drinking Too Much Booze

Overindulging in alcohol is a classic party misstep, say managers. Slurred speeches, embarrassing confessions, or even a stumble into the Christmas tree can leave lasting impressions - and not the good kind.

#2 Inappropriate Dancing

Managers cited inappropriate dancing as the second biggest party pitfall. The dance floor is no place to unleash moves better suited to a nightclub. Keep it light and funno one wants to become the star of the office partys viral video, she continues.

#3 Flirting with Co-Workers

What might feel like harmless banter after a few drinks could easily cross professional boundaries. Awkward Monday morning meetings or whispers around the office arent worth the fleeting thrill.

#4 Bringing an Uninvited Plus-One

Arriving with a surprise guest can create logistical headaches for organizers and awkwardness for the group. Always respect the invites parameters.

#5 Oversharing Personal Gossip

Revealing too much about your private lifeor someone elsescan quickly backfire. Remember, the office party is not a confessional booth, and trust is hard to rebuild, says Amanda Augustine, career expert at resume.io.

#6 Not Showing Up

Skipping the party altogether can come off as aloof or disengaged. Managers often notice who makes the effort, and an absence could send the wrong message about your team spirit.

#7 Unfiltered Opinions

A few glasses of wine can loosen tongues, but airing grievances about the company, coworkers, or even the boss is a fast track to career trouble. Stick to neutral or positive topics, advises Augustine.

#8 Disrupting the Speech

Heckling the boss during their toast or making loud side comments can turn you into the office Grinch. Augustine suggests remaining respectful and attentive during every company speech or presentationno matter where they are held.

#9 Gift-Giving Fails

Whether its a thoughtless Secret Santa gift or something wildly inappropriate, gift blunders are hard to forget. Aim for something simple and workplace-appropriate.

#10 Social Media Missteps

The 10th biggest festive fumble is posting unflattering photos or videos from the eventit can damage reputationsnot just yours but also your colleagues. Always think before you tag, warns Augustine.

#11 Bringing Leftovers Home

Yes, the food is free, but loading up Tupperware for the week ahead sends a message thats more desperate than resourceful. Enjoy the buffet, but leave some for everyone else.

#12 Aggressive Networking

While its great to connect, monopolizing a senior managers time with career ambitions can come off as pushy. Save those conversations for a formal meeting, not the dance floor.

#13 Wardrobe Malfunctions

A too-tight outfit, overly casual attire, or a malfunctioning zipper can quickly overshadow your professionalism. Aim for festive but appropriate attire that wont cause distractions, says Augustine.

#14 Cliquey Behavior

Try mingling with different colleagues throughout the night rather than staying with your usual work group. It's a great chance to get to know people from other teams and helps everyone feel included in the celebration.

#15 Winning Ugly

Finally, and in 15th place, whether its a raffle, trivia contest, or party game, or gloating about a victory can dampen the festive mood. Celebrate gracefully or lose with humor.

Infographic shows the biggest potential career crashers at office parties, according to managers

In addition to identifying the top 15 career crashers, resume.io's survey shed light on the dynamics of office holiday parties - from themes that spark the most mischief to the best ways to bounce back after a party blunder.

Heres what managers revealed:

The Mischief-Making Power of Themes

The format and theme of holiday parties play a significant role in how events unfold. Unsurprisingly, holiday parties with open bars are the most likely to encourage mischief, with 72% of managers citing this setup as the biggest culprit. Comparatively, ugly sweater contests (9%), karaoke nights (9%), and game nights (10%) lead to significantly less chaos.

Awkward Conversations Overheard

Holiday parties may bring people together, but they can also create conversational minefields. Managers shared the most uncomfortable topics overheard at office parties:

Inappropriate personal stories: 36%

Politics or religion: 23%

Office gossip: 21%

Complaints about the company: 20%

Redeeming Yourself After a Blunder

If you find yourself guilty of a party faux pas, the managers surveyed identified the most effective ways to recover:

Apologize to the affected parties: 59%

Make light of it with humor: 20%

Pretend it didnt happen: 13%

Volunteer to plan the next party: 8%

Memorable Moments That Last

Not all party moments are career-ending; some activities lead to positive and lasting memories:

Group games or competitions: 35%

A lively dance floor: 23%

Karaoke performances: 26%

Speeches or awards: 17%

Avoiding Career-Ending Mistakes

When it comes to steering clear of trouble, the most popular strategies include:

Sticking to one or two drinks max: 38%

Focusing on enjoying the event without overthinking: 34%

Avoiding controversial topics: 29%

Augustine adds: "Holiday parties are a great time to unwind with coworkers, but keep in mind that people will remember how you acted. You can have a good time while still maintaining your professional reputationit's all about finding the right balance."
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: December 11 2024

Gladys Serrano allegedly extracted five teeth from a victim at her one-bedroom apartment without a license.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Hempstead woman was charged with practicing unlicensed dentistry from the kitchen of her one-bedroom apartment.

Gladys Serrano, 70, was arraigned today before Judge Charles G. McQuair on one count of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession (an E felony). She pleaded not guilty and was released to pre-trial services with electronic monitoring. She was also ordered to surrender her passport and restricted from traveling outside of New York State.

Serrano is due back in court on January 8, 2025. If convicted, the defendant faces up to four years in prison.

Practicing dentistry without proper authorization poses an incredibly serious risk to public health and safety, said DA Donnelly. This defendants alleged home operation endangered the well-being of at least one person in need of dental care. We encourage anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Gladys Serrano to contact my Office of Immigrant Affairs at 516-571-7756.

DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, a victim contacted Serrano through a referral to schedule a single tooth extraction on July 26, 2024.

The victim went to Serranos office, which was allegedly located in a one-bedroom apartment on Greenwich Street in Hempstead with a hanging curtain dividing the kitchen.

After a brief visual examination, Serrano allegedly told the victim that a total of five teeth needed to be extracted because they were rotting, and that the victim would also need a bridge.

The defendant allegedly extracted the teeth, gave the victim pieces of paper towel to absorb the large amount of blood coming from the area, and told her to rinse with salt water.

The victim was instructed to return to see the defendant several times after the extractions took place.

Between August 16, 2024, and December 4, 2024, the victim returned to the defendants apartment in an attempt to obtain the dental bridge. Despite the defendant taking additional molds of her mouth and filing down the impressions, the victim never received a bridge that fit her mouth.

Between July 26, 2024, and December 4, 2024, the defendant received a total of $1,950 for dental services.

A search warrant executed at Serranos residence uncovered a curtain hanging in the kitchen and a patient chair positioned near a sink, with drawers full of dental instruments that appeared to be used, impression molds, extraction tools, tartar scrapers, and a large container containing what appeared to be numerous empty vials of medication and used dental needles.

Boxes labeled as single-use dental needles, Amoxicillin capsules, Relaflex, and Lidocaine were also recovered.

A search of New York State records conducted failed to disclose any individuals licensed to practice dentistry in the State of New York with the name of Gladys Serrano.

The defendant surrendered to Nassau County District Attorney Detective Investigators on December 10, 2024.

If you believe you or someone you know has been victimized by Gladys Serrano, please contact the Nassau County District Attorneys Office of Immigrant Affairs at 516-571-7756.

NCDA thanks the Hempstead Police Department for their assistance in this prosecution.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel Jennifer Contreras of the Major Financial Frauds Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Maureen McCormack and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Investigations Rick Whelan. The defendant is represented by Rovshan Sharifov, Esq.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visits the Haifa naval base on December 10. (Shlomi Amselem/Israel Ministry of Defense)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out strikes on more than 300 targets in Syria over several days in the wake of the Assad regimes fall on December 8. The strikes aimed at key military sites, such as warplanes the Syrian regime abandoned as its troops fled their posts during the oppositions rapid advance across the country between December 1 and December 8. The strikes, combined with a naval operation that destroyed the Syrian Navys missile boats, are part of Israels multi-pronged attempt to respond to the crisis.

The IDF has called its Syrian operation Arrow of Bashan. It is the latest campaign after Operation Northern Arrows from September 23 and November 27, which targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon and ended with a 60-day ceasefire. The IDF began bolstering its forces in the Golan as the Syrian regime disintegrated in the days prior to December 8. Then, Israel sent forces into a buffer zone along the border that is part of the 1974 ceasefire line between Israel and Syria.

Israeli units also climbed to the highest peak on Mount Hermon, taking this key strategic site that overlooks southern Syria and Israel. Israel had already controlled a lower peak, where the country has some ski lifts that operate a few weeks a year. The airstrikes overnight between December 8 and 9, followed by additional strikes between December 9 and 10, completed the series of operations aimed at containing any initial fallout from the demise of the Assad regime.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, We have no intention of interfering in Syrias internal affairs; however, we do intend to do what is necessary for our security. He went on to note that he approved the Air Force bombing of strategic military capabilities left by the Syrian military so that they will not fall into the hands of the jihadists. This is similar to what the British Air Force did when it bombed the fleet of the Vichy regime, which was cooperating with the Nazis, so that it would not fall into the Nazis hands.

Netanyahu says Israel wants to have relations with the new government of Syria. However, he also warned the new powers in Damascus not to let Iran transfer weapons via Syria. Iran has used Syria as a path to send weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, in addition to establishing bases and posts there over the years. If weapons are moved to Hezbollah and threats emerge, we will respond forcefully, and we will exact a heavy price, Netanyahu warned. What happened to the previous regime will also happen to this one.

The Assad regime once possessed a medium-sized army with hardware dating from the Soviet era complemented by Russian systems acquired over the last several decades. Its air force operated dozens of various MiG warplanes, as well as attack and transport helicopters. The relatively small Syrian Navy had Osa-class missile boats that dated from the 1960s and 1970s. The Assad regime also possessed chemical weapons facilities and once had a nuclear program that Israel neutralized in a 2007 air raid.

The Syrian militarys main strength was its ground forces, especially its large number of tanks and armored vehicles. However, it is estimated to have lost more than 2,300 of these tanks and vehicles during the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011. This toll left the Syrian Army in December 2024 with few serviceable aircraft and a paucity of armored vehicles. Those that were left were overrun by rebel groups.

The IDF strikes targeted leftover warplanes and helicopters, using precision munitions to bust through reinforced concrete hangars on some airfields, and struck ammunition depots and various surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems. The IDF has hit some of these sites in the past during the Campaign Between the Wars. That operation, which consisted of thousands of targets struck, began during the Syrian Civil War and focused on targeting Iranian entrenchment in Syria between 2012 and 2024.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Israels Haifa naval base on December 10, where he praised the Israeli Navy for its role in neutralizing what remained of the Syrian Navy. The Navy operated last night to destroy the Syrian fleet with great success, Katz said.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Khalil Haqqani preaching at the largest mosque in Kabul in August. (Picture was shared by Taliban social media accounts.)

Khalil al Rahman Haqqani, the Talibans minister of refugees and a terrorist wanted by the United States, was killed in a suicide attack today outside of his ministry building. Khalil served as the minister of refugees since the fall of the Republic of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Khalils death was confirmed on X by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. While no group has claimed credit for the attack at this time, it is highly likely that the Islamic State Khorasan Province, an enemy of the Taliban that has targeted Taliban leaders in the past, is responsible for the attack.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses its deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of Hajji Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Minister of Refugees, who was martyred in a tragic attack, the statement posted by Mujahid said. His untimely death represents a significant loss for the Islamic Emirate, the Afghan mujahideen, his family, and all Afghans.

Mujahids statement describes Khalil as a devout and tireless servant of Islam who devoted his entire life to serving refugees and the needy. However, Khalils career was far less innocent and philanthropic, given his prominent role in the Haqqani Network and history with Al Qaeda.

Khalil was an uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, himself a Specially Designated Global Terrorist due to his close ties to Al Qaeda. Sirajuddin is perhaps the Talibans most influential and powerful leader. He serves as the Talibans interior minister and one of the two deputy emirs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Sirajuddin also leads the Haqqani Network, which is a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and is one of the military masterminds of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.

Khalils brother, Jalaluddin, was a key founder of the Taliban and one of the groups leaders who sponsored Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders in Afghanistan after they fled Sudan in 1996. Jalaluddin allowed Al Qaeda to establish training camps in areas under Taliban control. He also protected bin Laden and his cadre after the US invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, in the wake of Al Qaedas attack on the US on September 11, 2001. Jalaluddin and Sirajuddin were instrumental in keeping the Taliban together and reuniting angry factions after it was disclosed in 2015 that Taliban leadership had hidden the death of Mullah Omar in 2013.

When the US Treasury Department designated Khalil as a terrorist in 2011, it noted that he acted on behalf of Al Qaedas military in Afghanistan. In 2002, when the US was hunting Osama bin Laden, Khalil deployed men to reinforce al Qaeda elements in Paktia Province, Afghanistan. The US State Departments Rewards for Justice Program offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture and prosecution. In addition to supporting Al Qaeda, Khalil has served as a key fundraiser, financier, and operational commander for the Haqqani Network.

In September 2021, immediately after the fall of the Republic of Afghanistan, Khalil was appointed the acting minister of refugees. It is highly likely that Al Qaedas personnel are considered refugees in Afghanistan. Khalil also played a leading diplomatic role in Kabul once the Taliban regained control, accepting pledges of loyalty to the newly restored Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from various parties.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
IDF soldiers from the Gaza Division uncover a tunnel in Gaza in early December. (IDF)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted two projectiles fired from central Gaza on December 11. The IDF did not specify if the threats were rockets or mortars, but Israeli defense systems are capable of intercepting various types of projectiles. No sirens sounded in Israel as the attack appeared to target an open area, and Israels alarm system is fine-tuned to avoid unnecessary public alerts.

The attack was small but illustrated the continued attempts by terrorist groups in central Gaza to threaten Israel. Hamas controls central Gaza and continues to operate in northern Gaza, the humanitarian zone of southern Gaza, and other areas. Central Gaza likely poses the largest challenge to Israel because Israeli forces have never cleared it. There have been some raids into this area but nothing like significant operations in places like Jabaliya, Khan Younis, or Rafah, where IDF divisions systematically sought to dismantle Hamass terrorist infrastructure.

Central Gaza consists of an area called the Central Camps, comprising four urban sections: Maghazi, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, and Bureij. All are built up around refugee camps that date from the 1950s. Refugee camps often have been a center of political activism for Palestinians, and terror groups like Hamas recruit in them. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Hamas continues to operate with relative ease in these areas. It is unclear why the IDF has not operated more intensely in central Gaza, but the presence of 100 hostages that Hamas continues to hold may be one reason. Israel estimates that some of the hostages held in Gaza are deceased however, it considers all those taken, dead and alive, hostages.

On December 11, the IDF said it eliminated a Hamas Nukhba company commander. The individual was accused of the attack on the Paga outpost on October 7, one of a number of fortified IDF positions along the Gaza border that were attacked by Hamas that day. Fourteen IDF soldiers were killed at the outpost on October 7, 2023.

The IAF [Israeli Air Force], with the precise direction of the Intelligence Directorate and the ISA [Israel Security Agency], struck and eliminated the terrorist Fehmi Salmi, a Nukhba Company Commander in Hamas Zeitoun Battalion who was operating at the time of the strike from inside a structure that previously served as the Al-Falah school, the IDF said.

The Hamas Zeitoun Battalion operates to the north of the Netzarim Corridor, an area the IDF controls. The IDF has targeted Zeitoun numerous times in the war and cleared the area of terrorists several times. As with other parts of Gaza, the terrorists appear to return each time unless the IDF presence remains. In another strike, the IDF said it eliminated Salah Dahham, the head of Hamas Paragliding Unit, in the area of Jabaliya. On October 7th, Salah Dahham led Hamas aerial infiltration into communities in southern Israel, a key part of Hamas murderous attacks on civilians.

In a third operation, the IDF said it killed 10 terrorists that it blamed for an anti-tank-fire attack on December 9 that killed three IDF soldiers and wounded 12 others in northern Gaza. The IDF has been operating in northern Gaza since early October. The two-month operation has been complex because there were approximately 70,000 civilians in Jabaliya when Israeli troops began to move into the area. The civilians were asked to evacuate south. The IDF estimates that there were several thousand terrorists among the civilians, and many of the terrorists have been killed or detained in the last two months. However, the fact that a cell of 10 terrorists was still in the area illustrates how Hamas clings to locales even in adverse circumstances.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
2024 is fast fading behind us and thus, as is our custom, its time to cast our eyes back at the year that was and see how things shook out for Apple.

A lot has happened to the company over the past twelve monthsnot all of it to Apples liking. As Apple has gotten larger and larger, its found itself increasingly in the crosshairs of governments, not to mention its equally weighty competitors. While the company remains wildly successful from a financial standpoint, its struggled somewhat when it comes to its vision of the future. In short, there are definitely cracks puncturing Cupertinos traditionally invincible image.

Lets take a trip down memory lane and see the stories that shaped Apples 2024.

Continental drift

If theres one story from 2024 that is likely to have an outsized impact on Apples existence going forward, its the companys clashes with the European Commission. This came to a head in 2024 as Apple was forced to comply with the regions Digital Markets Act and release a substantial platform update that allows for third-party app distribution on iOS and iPadOS.

Apple continues to throw its weight around, sometimes using its bully pulpit of notarizations for reasons that would seem to go beyond the stated intentions of platform safety and security.

And yet, as simple as that sentence seems, the reality was anything but cut and dried. Apple did its darnedest to comply with the letter of the law but still keep its traditional App Store model on top, even as the EC attempted to enforce the spirit of its rules. The result has been an uneasy stalemate: yes, third-party app stores are currently available in the European Union, but they havent had a big impact yet. And Apple continues to throw its weight around, sometimes using its bully pulpit of notarizations for reasons that would seem to go beyond the stated intentions of platform safety and security.

The storys hardly at an end, either. A preliminary ruling from the EC in June deemed that Apple was not in compliance with the DMA, with a final decision to be handed down in March of 2025. Depending on how it all shakes out, the App Store model may be on the wane.

Between that and other pending legal and governmental matters elsewhere around the worldincluding the U.S. where the company found itself targeted by an antitrust actionApple may find itself fighting battles on multiple fronts in the year to come.

Intelligence gathering

After more than a year of being deemed late to the AI partyand what an awkward face-melting, variable number of fingers party it isApple made a splash at this years Worldwide Developers Conference by unveiling its own foray into the market: Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools that touches everything from writing to image generation to improvements to Siri. With this announcement, Apple seemed to be banking heavily on its reputation of delivering not the first solution to market, but the best.

Well be hearing more about Apple Intelligence in 2025. Apple

But even now, those Apple Intelligence features have only just started to roll out, with the arrival of the second roundincluding contentious AI image generation featuresexpected imminently, as of this writing. Response to the first round was mixed to underwhelmed, especially when compared to offerings from competitors that have already pushed well past where even Apples not-yet-here features promise to be.

Apple Intelligence is a multi-year endeavor, however, and next year will bring some of its most anticipated features, including a smarter Siri thats aware of users personal context. More than anything else, that seems poised to answer the question of just how far behind Apple really is when it comes to AI features that set it apart from everyone else.

Apples clearly invested a lot of time and energy on this front, even if it started somewhat later than its rivals. The real question hovering out there is whether generative AI is a flash in the pan or a technology that really will transform the industry. The outcome of that larger issue could dictate just how relevant Apple Intelligence ends up beingand how smart Apple looks.

Automotive vision

Much attention in the Apple-watching realm is focused on what big project the company will tackle next. This year shows just how much of a struggle Apple itself has had in answering that question.

Remember the Apple Vision Pro? Foundry

After a decade, the Apple Car project drove its way into the grave without ever getting to the product stage. The stuff of perennial rumors, the car project was Apples attempt to find the next big thing, but it was mired in an unclear vision and high turnover in its leadership. In the end, the most positive sign was that the company had the courage to pull the plug on something that wasnt working.

But with the car project gone, all eyes turned elsewhere for Apples future.

Its almost quaint to think back to the beginning of the year, when the most anticipated Apple product was the arrival of the Vision Pro. But as was largely expected, its high price tag and limited feature set outweighed its impressive technology. It was only saved from being a flop by virtue of the fact that Apple didnt really expect it to do a blockbuster business in the first place. The real proof will be in whatever changes the company makes for the products successor: will it shed features and cost to appeal to more customers, or will Apple stick to its high expectations and damn the torpedoes.

The rest of the story

Elsewhere, Apple made the jump to its latest chip architecture, which powered an impressive and well-regarded revamp to the Mac mini, as well as nice updates to the MacBook Pro line and the iMac. And, of course, the iPhone 16 line debuted, marking the first time ever the company added a physical control for the second year running, perhaps proving that Steve Jobs and Jony Ives stranglehold on Apple design may finally be coming to an end.

As for what looms ahead for Apple in 2025, well, theres plenty on the horizonit may just be one of the companys biggest years ever. Well break down exactly what to expect next time. Read about whats coming from Apple in 2025.
The Boston City Council will convene Wednesday afternoon for the first time since Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested last week on federal corruption charges.

The councilor is accused of orchestrating a kickback scheme with a relative hired to her staff. Prosecutors said she awarded the relative a hefty $13,000 bonus, $7,000 of which the person covertly returned to Fernandes Anderson in a City Hall bathroom.
Owners of a retail food market in Quincy entered a settlement with the government after they were accused of selling meat and poultry that was misbranded, not federally-inspected or was illegally imported from places outside the United States, such as China.

The consent decree was reached with the owners and operators of Quincy Convenience Store, Wei Zheng, and Cun Yong Liu, the office of U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy announced Wednesday. It resolves accusations that Zheng and Liu had violated the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA).

Zheng and Liu had been investigated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA, who told the shop owners multiple times to stop their illegal meat and poultry sale and purchase activities, the office said. The USDA cited the owners and their store for not maintaining proper business records of the raw foods.

More than 440 pounds of meat and poultry that were not federally inspected or were misbranded was found during the most recent USDA inspection at the store  including 34 pounds of meat and poultry illegally imported from China, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

With the consent decree announced Wednesday, the store and owners will face significant penalties if there are further violations of the FMIA and PPIA, and allows investigators wide access to future inspections and business records.

Consumers deserve to trust that the food they purchase is produced and sold under safe and sanitary conditions, said Levy.

This consent decree not only holds the defendants accountable for their repeated failures to comply with federal food safety laws but also protects the public by ensuring rigorous oversight moving forward. Our office will continue to work diligently to uphold the integrity of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, safeguarding the health and safety of our communities, Levy said.

The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Sharobem of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit.
A 44-year-old man was arrested Tuesday morning, days after police say he crashed his vehicle into a Massachusetts State Police cruiser and fled the scene.

Keion Rowell, of Boston, was arrested in Randolph after a manhunt involving local, state and federal law enforcement, Tim McGuirk, a spokesman for State Police, said in a statement. Rowell is charged with trafficking in cocaine, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury.

Police identified Rowell as a suspect after troopers found trafficking weight narcotic evidence near the area of the crash.

At around 8 p.m. Friday, State Police troopers deployed a Star Chase tracking device on a vehicle that failed to stop in Boston. The tracking device is aimed at helping police pursue individuals who fail to stop for law enforcement.

Troopers eventually found the vehicle on Thwing Street in Boston, a dead end near the Jackson Square MBTA station in Jamaica Plain. As the first trooper approached the vehicle, police say Rowell rammed the cruiser several times with his vehicle and fled on foot.

The trooper was taken to a Boston Hospital for evaluation.
A Boston man was sentenced in Boston federal court Wednesday for running a tax fraud scheme in which he didnt pay employment taxes for his temp agency, federal authorities said.

Det Tran, 62, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison with three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said. Hell have to pay over $2.5 million in restitution.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of failure to collect and pay over employment taxes, Levy said.

Tran ran HTP Temp. Inc., a temp agency, from at least 2018 to 2021, Levy said.

He paid $8 million in off the books cash to his workers. He hid these cash wages which forced his accountant to prepare false quarterly filings to the IRS for his workers wages and tax withholdings from 2018 to 2021.

Tran dodged over $2.1 million in employment taxes owed to the IRS, Levy said.
Boston Police on Tuesday identified a man shot and killed in Dorchester late Monday night as a 37-year-old resident of Bayonne, New Jersey.

Keith Cousin was found with multiple gunshot wounds around 10:24 p.m. Monday at 114 Devon St. in Dorchester. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Boston Police said in a statement.

Two people were arrested following the shooting Monday, but thus far, neither is charged with killing Cousin.

Darius Powell, 25, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and Daiquan Miller, 25, of Dorchester, were arrested and charged with unlawful firearm possession and unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device, police said.

Powell and Miller were spotted leaving an alley by the back of the Lila Frederick School, near the shooting site. A foot chase ensued after officers got out of their cruiser to speak with the men and they ran, police said. The men were eventually detained.

After searching where Powell and Miller had been spotted and where they ran, officers found two guns, police said.

Police have not said if the charges against Powell and Miller are tied to the fatal shooting.
A Quincy man was sentenced Tuesday in Boston federal court for running a tax fraud scheme that cost the federal government millions of dollars and for lying about a workers death, federal authorities said.

Mauricio Baiense, 57, was sentenced to 18 months (1.5 years) in prison with one year of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said. Hell have to pay $2.8 million in restitution to the federal government too.

Baiense pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, seven counts of failure to collect and pay taxes, one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and one count of making false statements in April, Levy said.

A federal grand jury indicted Baiense in August 2022, Levy said.

Baiense was the owner of Contract Framing Builders Inc., a Medford-based construction company, Levy said. He was responsible for filing the companys quarterly employment tax returns and collecting and paying payroll taxes withheld from the wages of the companys employees.

Baiense facilitated having around $11 million worth of checks drawn from his companys bank account to subcontractors, which were nominee entities he controlled, Levy said.

He then directed others to cash the checks at a check cashing business, Levy said. He used the money to run an off-the-books cash payroll for his workers.

He didnt report the money to the IRS or pay employment taxes on the money paid to the workers in cash, Levy said.

Baiense also assisted in the preparation of at least one fraudulent employment tax return that understated the actual wages paid to CFBs employees, Levy said.

Baiense also lied to a federal investigator from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration after they asked about an employee death at his company. Baiense said the dead worker never worked for him, Levy said.
U.S. tourists should reconsider heading to Honduras after a travel advisory was issued for the Central American nation.

The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 3 advisory for Honduras due to increased crime on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

The advisory states that violent crime  such as homicide, armed robbery and kidnapping  remain common in Honduras.

There is also widespread gang activity, rape and human trafficking, among other crime. These circumstances, coupled with minimal resources for local authorities, could make it unsafe for tourists who venture into areas outside resorts.

"Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country and can be about a variety of political or economic issues, the advisory reads. Protests, demonstrations, tire burnings, and roadblocks are frequent, unpredictable, and can turn violent. They can shutdown roads and highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines."

In addition, U.S. government personnel and their family members are restricted from traveling to Gracias a Dios, the most eastern department of Honduras. The area is plagued with high levels of crime activity including narcotics trafficking, according to the advisory.

Those who still choose to travel to Honduras should take the following precautions:

Avoid demonstrations

Be aware of their surroundings

Avoid walking or driving at night

Do not physically resist any robbery attempt

Be extra vigilant when going to the bank or ATM

Do not show signs of wealth such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry

Do not take public transportation, including white car taxis

Check local media for breaking events and be prepared to change plans

More information about traveling to Honduras can be found on the U.S. Department of States website.
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressleys home and family were targeted in a bomb threat, a spokesperson for the Boston Democrat has told MassLive.

The threat against Pressley, D-7th District, was received by Suffolk County Sheriffs Office on Monday, and Boston police were "on site at the Congresswomans residence to assess the situation," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The Boston Democrat was unharmed.

SWATing threats like these pose a threat not only to elected officials, their families, and their staff, but also our neighbors and community and we strongly condemn them, Pressleys office said.

Pressley is the second Massachusetts lawmaker in less than a week to be targeted in a bomb scare. On Saturday, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, said she had been hit with a similar threat, MassLive previously reported.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said last weeks shooting death of UnitedHealthCares CEO on the streets of Midtown Manhattan is a warning to the health care system that people "can be pushed only so far."

In a Tuesday interview with The Huff Post, the Cambridge Democrat explicitly condemned the violence that led to the shooting death of Brian Thompson, saying violence is never the answer.

Still, Warren, who is one of Capitol Hills most outspoken critics of corporate America, noted that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change, lose faith in the ability of the people who are providing the health care to make change, and start to take matters into their own hands in ways that will ultimately be a threat to everyone.

Warren later clarified her remarks after being on the receiving end of online criticism of her statements.

Violence is never the answer. Period, Warren told HuffPost in a Wednesday statement. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.

In that same interview, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told the online news outlet that Thompsons death was outrageous and unacceptable before he also criticized the insurance industry,

I think what the outpouring of anger at the health care industry tells us is that millions of people understand that health care is a human right and that you cannot have people in the insurance industry rejecting needed health care for people while they make billions of dollars in profit, Sanders said, according to HuffPost.
The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning at 1:16 a.m. on Wednesday valid from 3 p.m. until Thursday 1 a.m. for Middlesex, Essex and Norfolk counties.

The weather service says, "South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected."

"Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles," explains the weather service. "Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution if you must drive."
SPRINGFIELD  The state Department of Veterans Services and local legislators will hold an informational session explaining new tax credits and other compensation veterans will be eligible for through the newly-adopted state HERO Act.

The HERO Act Roadshow will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Springfield Technical Community College, 1 Armory St. There is also a virtual program scheduled at 5 p.m., Dec. 19 that people can access through bit.ly/HeroActTownHall.

The act includes more than 30 initiatives including increasing the disabled veteran annuity, extending the time veterans can use the active-duty service buyback, streamlining the excise tax exemption for disabled veterans, expanding mental health services and expanding a variety of support services for military members and veterans and their families.
Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista announced several initiatives Tuesday afternoon after a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation found city police used excessive force, engaged in sexual misconduct and engaged in discriminatory enforcement.

Among the new initiatives is the establishment of a hotline for members of the public to report misconduct by police officers. This hotline will be managed outside of the police department by the investigations division within the Executive Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EODEI), according to Batista.

The training division within the EODEI will lead training sessions, seminars and workshops on behavioral health, implicit bias and additional topics, all of which will align with and inform written policy within the police department, the statement said.

The findings in the 41-page DOJ report were both unacceptable and shocking, Batista wrote in a statement. He said it was unfathomable to him that any police officer or employee of the city could or would have acted in manners he described as unlawful egregious, and immoral.

He added that the public has trust in their government and its public safety institutions and that faith must be earned.

While the DOJ investigation focused on a timeframe between 2018 to 2022, it is my administrations duty to make necessary changes to prevent any future misconduct, Batista said in the statement.

In the coming weeks, Batista will prepare a report for the Worcester City Council to review, laying out the structure of a Civilian Review Board. Members of the community will also participate in the discussion about the new boards formation.

In addition to these priorities, Batista plans to have the EODEI and Worcester Police Department work cooperatively with Worcesters Human Rights Commission on training and policy overview, according to his statement.

On Dec. 9, the DOJ released a 41-page report that found members of the Worcester Police Department (WPD) used excessive force, engaged in sexual misconduct and engaged in discriminatory enforcement practices. This included officers using stun guns, deploying police dogs and striking people in the head without justification. The report followed a two-year civil investigation conducted by the department.

The Justice Department outlined 19 recommendations for the police department, ranging from making improvements in the use of force and escalation standards to a complete prohibition on engaging in sexual contact for law enforcement purposes.

The city has already begun improving data collection and demographic analytics, Batistas statement said. Data, including use of force incidents and Bureau of Professional Standards investigations, is currently accessible on our open data portal Informing Worcester.

Batista recently signed a contract with a new software provider to help enhance reporting and data capabilities. Conversion to the new software is expected to take 12 to 18 months for full implementation, his statement said.

In the meantime, the members of the Worcester Police Department, who overwhelmingly serve our community with integrity and compassion, will continue their ongoing community outreach to build relationships and trust while continuing to refine and improve Department policies. I take this matter very seriously and pledge to ensure that the proper policies and procedures are in place for accountability.

Mayor Joseph Petty announced on Tuesday he intends to request Batista to report back to the city council with recommendations on the next steps within the next 30 days while the city receives and processes the investigative reports from the DOJ.

While I wait for the action items to be fulfilled by the Administration, I want to ensure that this process shows compassion and empathy to those who have been impacted, including members of the BIPOC community and survivors of the commercial sex trade, Petty said in a statement.
Worcester elected officials and the Worcester NAACP on Tuesday reacted with outrage and concern over the findings of a Department of Justice report into the Worcester Police Department that found officers used excessive force, engaged in discriminating practices and engaged in sexual misconduct.

But some were also angry that the only initial response on behalf of the city came from former federal prosecutor Brian T. Kelly, who represents Worcester as an attorney  who wrote in a statement that the DOJs report was unfair, inaccurate and biased and said it smears the whole police force.

Fred Taylor, the president of the Worcester NAACP, said it was painful reading that response and that he and others were angry at the way the statement was rejecting and dismissing the DOJ report.

For years, residents of Worcester, and the NAACP have expressed concerns about the police departments activities and practices and for years we have been calling for a civilian review board with subpoena power as one of the solutions, Taylor wrote.

The DOJs 41-page report released on Dec. 9 found that WPD used excessive force, including unjustified uses of Tasers, police dogs and strikes to the head. Officers rapidly escalated minor incidents by using more force than necessary, including during encounters with people who have behavioral health disabilities or are in crisis, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy.

The report also found that WPD allowed officers to engage in outrageous government conduct and violate the constitutional rights of women suspected of being involved in the commercial sex trade by engaging in sexual contact while undercover as part of official investigations, Levys office said.

City Manager Eric D. Batista did not comment on the report on Monday or for most of the day Tuesday, releasing a statement shortly after 4 p.m. on Tuesday announcing several initiatives, including the the establishment of a hotline for members of the public to report misconduct by police officers.

Worcester police on Monday referred MassLive to Kellys statement.

In a post on X, formally known as Twitter, District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj wrote that she was sick over reading the DOJ report. She also slammed the Kellys response and questioned why he was allowed to undermine and dismiss the report.

Let me make clear. He doesnt speak for me, Haxhiaj wrote. I dont know why hes allowed to speak for the City, the City Manager or the Interim Chief of Police. I have a lot of questions and those of you who have reached out do, too.

In 2022, Haxhiaj and and Nguyen, along with then-District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera, then-School Committee Member Tracy OConnell Novick, and School Committee Member Sue Mailman released a joint statement asking for accountability and justice for those who came forward with allegations against St. Johns food program former director William Billy Riley, who was accused of forcing vulnerable women to perform sex acts with him.

Mailman told MassLive that she was angered that the first public response she saw from the city following the DOJs report was from the outside counsel.

Id like to know who from the city approved that statement," Mailman said.

Accountability is essential

Worcester City Councilor-at Large Thu Nguyen released a statement to MassLive that said they were outraged and disgusted by the report.

As a City Councilor At-Large raised in Worcester, I have seen the WPD and the administration try to do better, talk about community policing, and I will say I do not have faith nor believe this is enough, Nguyen said.

In Nguyens statement, the city councilor asked that the DOJ and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the District of Massachusetts move forward to push the city of Worcester and obtain a consent decree that would legally bind the city to make changes within the police department, and set measurable goals for improvement.

We need to ensure that our administration and WPD take the violation of the Constitution, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment seriously and most importantly, be held accountable to doing the work, Nguyen said.

District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson posted a statement on Facebook where she urged the DOJ to publicly release the names of the officers implicated in the alleged acts in order to hold them accountable.

Accountability is essential, Mero-Carlson wrote. I firmly believe the overwhelming majority of WPD officers serve our community with honor and dedication. These men and women should not be unfairly judged based on the actions of an alleged few.

City Council Vice Chairman and Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King also released a statement on Tuesday expressing his concerns over the findings.

King said the reports most troubling findings are concerns about how allegations of sexual assault are investigated. He said the communitys confidence in how these cases are handled are severely compromised and has asked city leadership to enact a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and violations of human rights.

He said the findings of the racial disparities in the report also require immediate attention.

Comprehensive data collection and public reporting are critical. We must operationalize changes that prioritize data-driven decision-making and accountability measures, King said. This includes making all safety data and analyses publicly accessible and addressing racial disparities in policing through concrete policy changes.

Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty released a statement on Tuesday saying that he takes the report very seriously, but that he also wants to see the data behind the report.

In his statement, Petty said that he intends to request that Batista report back to the city council with recommendations on the next steps within the next 30 days while the city receives and process the investigative reports from the DOJ.

While I wait for the action items to be fulfilled by the Administration, I want to ensure that this process shows compassion and empathy to those who have been impacted, including members of the BIPOC community and survivors of the commercial sex trade, Petty said in the statement.

Other organizations

The DOJs report has also prompted responses from other organizations, as well.

Jessie Rossman, legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, issued a statement on Monday saying that the DOJ report is welcome but not the end of the story.

We urge local officials to work together with the DOJ to adopt and implement reforms to address the egregious misconduct described in the report, Rossman wrote. We also call on local and state officials to follow up on these findings to pursue their own investigations into misconduct in Worcester. This is critical because such misconduct may undermine the integrity of numerous criminal cases in which the officers referenced in the report were involved.

The Safe Exit Initiative (SEI), an organization involved in supporting individuals who are or who have had experience in the sex trade, released a statement on Tuesday calling on the city, the city manager and the city council to take the report seriously and provide an appropriate response.

The DOJ recommendations for improvements are straightforward, with the majority focusing on instituting policies, procedures, and training for officers and supervisors across all units and ranks, SEI said.

The Justice Department outlined 19 recommendations for the police department.

Some of these recommendations include Worcester police providing clearer rules and supervision for officers investigating prostitution and sex offenses, including by barring any form of sexual acts as part of police work, better management and supervision of specialized units, such as the Canine Unit or Vice Unit, which are responsible for investigating sex- and drug-related crime and improvements towards its responses to people who experience behavioral or mental health crises by coordinating with other service providers and trained health professionals, the report reads.
Two Worcester Police unions released statements on Tuesday calling the Department of Justices recently released report of the Worcester Police Department (WPD) inaccurate, contradicting statements from the city manager, mayor and several city councilors, all of whom took the report very seriously.

The 41-page report, released on Dec. 9, found that WPD officers used excessive force, engaged in discriminatory enforcement practices and engaged in illegal sex acts with vulnerable women, particularly those working in the sex trade.

Multiple women told DOJ investigators that Worcester police officers engaged in unwanted sexual contact with them during undercover operations, took advantage of them sexually in vulnerable situations, and threatened arrest if they did not perform sex acts, according to the report.

One woman told investigators that, in or around 2021, an undercover officer touched her breast and permitted her to touch his genitals before he arrested her.

Another woman described an undercover officer asking her to touch his penis, which she did, before being arrested as part of a sting.

An additional woman explained that Worcester police officers targeted and touched her over several years and arrested her multiple times during stings.

The patrol officers union New England Police Benevolent Association Local 911, which represents Worcesters police patrol officers, said the report relies heavily on anecdotal accounts from individuals who are not named and who have had negative experiences with the WPD.

The experiences of these women are important and should be investigated, the union said. The DOJ report, however, simply relies on the narrative provided apparently without any investigation of countervailing evidence. The DOJ referenced how the WPD took action in the past when it was brought to their attention that an officer had allegedly committed a sex crime. The WPD took immediate action and conducted a criminal investigation that resulted in a felony conviction.

This statement from the union was part of a larger press release that called the report unfair, inaccurate and biased and that it was apparently rushed to completion ahead of the change of Presidential administrations.

The methodology and conclusions reached by the authors of the report display a startling detachment from reality, and particularly a profound misunderstanding of the dangers of modern policing, the split-second decisions required and the limits of de-escalation tactics, the union wrote.

The International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 504, which represents Worcesters captains, lieutenants and sergeants, released their own statement on Tuesday reading that that while they were appalled by the summarized findings, they said investigators were extremely inaccurate in how they portray the Police Officials and Police Officers of the WPD after further analysis and conversations with the city administration.

We find this summary report lacks empirical evidence, contains omissions and misrepresentations making it factually inaccurate with recommendations of unproven strategies to improve public safety, the statement reads. We request the DOJ identify all experts, researchers or others involved in developing their findings. We make this request to ensure that political agendas and bias were removed, and that Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Research professionals were enjoined in this process.

Responses from other city leaders

The statements from the unions stood in stark contrast to responses from other city leaders, who wrote the findings were very serious and shocking

City Manager Eric D. Batista did not comment on the report on Monday or for most of the day Tuesday, releasing a statement shortly after 4 p.m. on Tuesday announcing several initiatives, including the the establishment of a hotline for members of the public to report misconduct by police officers.

In his statement, Batista wrote that the findings in the report were unacceptable and shocking. He said it was unfathomable to him that any police officer or employee of the city could or would have acted in manners he described as unlawful egregious, and immoral.

He added that the public has trust in their government and its public safety institutions and that faith must be earned.

While the DOJ investigation focused on a timeframe between 2018 to 2022, it is my administrations duty to make necessary changes to prevent any future misconduct, Batista said in the statement.

Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty also released a statement on Tuesday saying that he takes the findings of the report very seriously, and said he intends to request that Batista report back to the city council with recommendations on the next steps within the next 30 days while the city receives and process the investigative reports from the DOJ.

While I wait for the action items to be fulfilled by the Administration, I want to ensure that this process shows compassion and empathy to those who have been impacted, including members of the BIPOC community and survivors of the commercial sex trade, Petty said in a statement.

Petty also wrote that he questioned some of the statements made, adding that he wants the investigative materials from the DOJ.

In an interview with MassLive, Petty clarified that he questioned the statements because he wants to see how the DOJ came up with the conclusions in the investigative report.

Petty said that any police officer in the Worcester Police Department who committed sexual misconduct should be prosecuted.

If they are saying a pattern of sexual abuse, we need to know who the police officers are, Petty said. We need some identification."

The report was part of a civil investigation and did not list any police officers by name.

Worcester City Councilor-at Large Thu Nguyen released a statement to MassLive that said they were outraged and disgusted by the report.

In Nguyens statement, the city councilor asked that the DOJ and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the District of Massachusetts move forward to push the city of Worcester and obtain a consent decree that would legally bind the city to make changes within the police department, and set measurable goals for improvement.

As a City Councilor At-Large raised in Worcester, I have seen the WPD and the administration try to do better, talk about community policing, and I will say I do not have faith nor believe this is enough, Nguyen said.

City Council Vice Chairman and Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King also released a statement on Tuesday expressing his concerns over the findings.

King said the reports most troubling findings are concerns about how allegations of sexual assault are investigated. He said the communitys confidence in how these cases are handled are severely compromised and has asked city leadership to enact a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and violations of human rights.

He said the findings of the racial disparities in the report also require immediate attention.

Comprehensive data collection and public reporting are critical. We must operationalize changes that prioritize data-driven decision-making and accountability measures, King said. This includes making all safety data and analyses publicly accessible and addressing racial disparities in policing through concrete policy changes.

Safe Exit Initiative, the leading organization in Worcester supporting individuals involved in the sex trade, said the Department of Justices probe into the citys police revealed officers have used sex as a weapon.

A lack of transparency

The Local 504 police union said in their statement they filed a petition to the city administration and the city council demanding the DOJs full investigatory report to be released, presented and discussed in a public forum. They also called on the DOJ to provide the dates, times, circumstances, and names of the alleged perpetrators so that the department could investigate further and prosecute the offenders.

Anything less calls into question the veracity of this whole summary report, continuing to create a lack of transparency and community trust in public safety, the union said.

Richard Cipro, president of the 504, told MassLive the administration officials the press release was referring to were the command staff of the police administration. He also pointed to a statement released by Brian Kelly, an outside counsel hired by the city Worcester with respect to the investigation.

In his statement, Kelly disagreed with the contents of the report, and accused the DOJ of rushing it out before the change of presidential administrations.

Notwithstanding WPDs full cooperation and the anonymous nature of the complaints, the DOJs Civil Rights Division has issued an unfair, inaccurate, and biased report which unfairly smears the entire Worcester police force by claiming there is a pattern or practice by the WPD to engage in excessive use of force and sexual harassment of prostitutes, Kelly said.

Some organizations and city leaders, such as District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj were angry at this response, as it was the only initial response on behalf of the city.

In a post on X, formally known as Twitter, Haxhiaj slammed Kellys response and questioned why he was allowed to undermine and dismiss the report.

Let me make clear. He doesnt speak for me, Haxhiaj wrote. I dont know why hes allowed to speak for the City, the City Manager or the Interim Chief of Police. I have a lot of questions and those of you who have reached out do, too.

Fred Taylor, the president of the Worcester NAACP, said it was painful reading that response and that he and others were angry at the way the statement was rejecting and dismissing the DOJ report.

For years, residents of Worcester, and the NAACP have expressed concerns about the police departments activities and practices and for years we have been calling for a civilian review board with subpoena power as one of the solutions, Taylor wrote.

Pushing back on findings of excessive force

In the report, the DOJ lists several instances where WPD officers have engaged in excessive force, violating the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.

One incident listed in the report was when a WPD officer tased a man in the back with a Taser after he refused to leave while loitering in a train station. Officers advised him several times to leave as he was not waiting for a train, but the man refused and yelled profanities, according to the report. The report reads that an officer grabbed the mans arm but the man shook free and attempted to run. The officer fired the Taser at the mans back, but it was ineffective, according to the report.

Using the Taser was unreasonable, the report reads. The man posed no immediate threat and the only crime the man had committed was loitering.

The Local 911, however, argued in their statement that the situation was escalated by the man refusing to comply and attempting to run away from the scene, potentially endangering the officer and the public.

Using a Taser was a reasonable way to prevent further escalation, especially in a crowded train station, the statement reads. Of course, one can easily imagine the headline if the man had caused injury, perhaps bumping someone to the ground or into a train. The criticism that the police stood by and did nothing would be instantaneous.

Another rebuttal of the report in the unions statement is the finding that there had been examples of excessive force in the use of police dogs. The report cites an example of when WPD was chasing a man after he pushed a security guard and and ran across the street away from a crowd and he ended up on the ground punching and kicking, according to officer reports. As two officers tried to handcuff the man, a canine officer ordered his dog to bite said man, the report reads.

The police dog latched onto the mans leg and thrashed its head for at least 15 seconds before releasing its bite  continuing to bite well after cell phone footage shows officers had the man under control," the report reads. Because the man who was face down and had multiple officers holding onto and surrounding him, he did not pose a significant threat when WPD ordered the dog to bite him and the officers should have first attempted other means to control him.

The union argued that while multiple officers were present, the man was actively fighting and posing a threat and that having a police dog present was justifiable to quickly control the situation and prevent further injuries to officers and members of the public.

While de-escalation techniques are essential tools for law enforcement, the DOJ report fails to recognize that there are situations where these techniques may not be feasible or safe, the union wrote. In such cases, officers must make difficult, split-second decisions to protect themselves and others, and those decisions should be evaluated within the context of the immediate threat and the dynamic nature of the encounter.

Reporting from Hadley Barndollar was used in this story
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A MAYO TD has described the Mercosur trade deal which is currently being finalised by the EU Commission as a betrayal of Irish farmers.

Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh has criticised the controversial trade deal which was recently reached between the EU and four Mercosur countries  Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Farming organisations, particularly in Ireland and France, have voiced major opposition to the deal citing an increased influx of beef from the South American countries at reduced tariffs.

Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue said that Ireland would be scrutinising the text of the agreement 'very closely' but Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh called for the caretaker government to immediately notify the EU of Irelands official opposition to the deal.

The Sinn Fein position is clear, we oppose the Mercosur deal, we have always unconditionally opposed the Mercosur deal and I call on Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to do the same.

Mercosur offers nothing positive for Ireland. The risks to Irish agriculture from the entry of 99,000 additional tonnes of South American beef into the EU market cannot be underestimated. The deal is bad for farming  our most important indigenous sector, bad for our overall economy and disastrous for the environment.

I have spoken with dozens of farmers in Mayo over the last week as well as farming representatives and they are deeply concerned. Without exception, they are all against this deal.

The incoming Irish government must work urgently and proactively with countries like France and Poland to block the ratification of the Mercosur deal, said the Erris-based TD.

The Irish Farmers Association president Fancie Gorman responded to the agreement last week, saying that the EU had 'sold out European farmers'.

Deputy Conway-Walsh said that Sinn Fein is standing for farmers and for rural communities, and accused both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael of abandoning farmers.

They have abandoned farmers at every opportunity, telling our farming community that theyre opposed to the deal while doing nothing to stop it. The constant contradiction is insulting to farmers.

Both farmers and environmentalists in Ireland are united in their opposition to this trade deal. Beef and poultry farmers in particular will be hit hard by this deal and would face a real struggle to remain viable.

One of the biggest issues seen right throughout the history of agriculture in Ireland is price volatility and successive governments have failed to address it. Time is running out and Fianna Fail and Fine Gael must notify the EU immediately to voice their opposition to this rotten deal, she concluded.
When Patrick Lane left the west of Ireland behind, little did he realise one of his descendants would return to write a book, cultivated by the familys deep love for the area.

Well, when Patrick left Galway in 1867, he couldnt have been thinking that far ahead. He left Ireland as a widower to create a better life for his seven young children. Imagine the journey the eight of them faced to a mysterious new world. Getting there safely would have been enough to occupy his mind.

He hit for Montana, then just a vast territory, not yet a state, in the north-west US (Montana became a state in 1889). There he set-up a cattle ranch and set down strong roots  the Lane cattle ranch continues in Montana to this very day.

And so do the family connections to the west of Ireland. Patricks great-great-great granddaughter Lisa Kelley has just written an enchanting Christmas childrens book about a curious owl and his magical festive journey to Ashford Castle.

Dingles Christmas At Ashford Castle has proven very popular since its launch in October, both at Ashford and in bookshops throughout the region, as well as in Montana.

Published by Mayo Books Press, it is stunningly illustrated by Achill-based artist Maeve Clancy. It is a stylish production in high-quality hardback with a dust jacket and a bespoke ribbon with Dingles name on it.

Dingle is a curious owl and has always dreamed of seeing what Christmas is like in a real Irish castle. One snowy Christmas Eve, he bravely chooses to follow his dream and his Christmas wish comes true with the most unexpected surprises.

Dingle is a real-life owl based at the Ireland School of Falconry in the Ashford Castle estate, and he captured Lisa Kelleys heart on her many trips there.

Now aged 25, hes retired but still a huge part of the family at the School of Falconry.

Who doesnt love a real-life Irish owl named Dingle? Hes the perfect character  wise, curious and beautiful, said Lisa. Owls are magnificent creatures. Our many adventures at the castle and at the School of Falconry inspired my stories.

Always proud of her west of Ireland genealogy, Lisa Kelley studied for a semester in NUI Galway (now University of Galway) in 2001 and her affinity for the area mushroomed.

I fell in love with Galway and the west of Ireland. My schoolmates and I traveled through Connemara and stopped for lunch at a pub in Cong. My husband, Marcus, and I returned to the west of Ireland in 2007, and explored Cong and Ashford a bit at that time. We loved the castle and the area and vowed to come back and stay someday, she explained. Her grandmother, Arlene (Lane) Barlow, now aged 96, was able to visit Cong and Ashford in 2007 too. The gra for the west of Ireland is multi-generational.

In 2015, Lisa and Marcus came and stayed  it was truly gorgeous  and have returned several times since, particularly loving their adventures at the School of Falconry and meeting Dingle. Lisas children, Dylan and Ava, came on visits when they were old enough, and they grew to love the castle, the hawks and Dingle just like their parents.

Ashford Castle and Cong are incredibly special places in Ireland that very much feel like home to me. The people make it what it is, said Lisa.

Ireland is a mythical place and is home to many storytellers and writers. Storytelling is Irelands oldest oral art form, and there are many ancient sacred places of faery trees and forts where magical stories abound. I treasure the Irish culture and am grateful for my heritage and Irish family, past and present.

We spent a very special Christmas at the castle in 2021, and that was the basis for Dingles Christmas at Ashford Castle, Lisa added.

Lisa wanted a west of Ireland team to make her dream a reality. The book has been published by Mayo Books Press, based in Castlebar, designed by Siobhan Foody in Castlebar and illustrated by Achills Maeve Clancy.

The entire team is from the west of Ireland, and that was so important to me. They really helped bring my story to life, cover to cover, said Lisa.

Seeing the book become a reality was wonderful. I wanted to capture this special place and traditions for current and future generations  I envision grandparents reading this story to their grandchildren, who will then grow up and visit Ashford Castle with their own families. I want to help create multigenerational grand Irish memories, she added.

Just like her own.

 Dingles Christmas at Ashford Castle, published by Mayo Books Press, is available in all good bookshops, and is on sale in Mrs Teas (in store and online) and the Boutique at Ashford Castle. It is also available online at mayobooks.ie, where it can be shipped worldwide.
Three students from Sancta Maria College in Mayo will compete in the Junk Kouture World Final at The Helix in March.

In October, Charlotte Monaghan, Ciara McDonagh and Jade O'Mailey's creative look titled 'La Mer Bougie' was one of the ten chosen pieces to advance to the international leg of the competition at the city final in the RDS.

The Louisburgh students and their teacher Mr Tom O'Flynn will now go head-to-head with finalists from around the world in March. There will be a total of 60 looks in the final, with contestants from Abu Dhabi, London, New York, Milan and Paris taking part.

In keeping with Junk Kouture's central objective of sustainability, the girls' striking design is made of recycled blue tealight cases and silver wicks from inside them. The girls designed a corset out of wicks and broken parts of the cases that were unusable for the skirt. The structure of the skirt consists of pipes and rope, with more tealights attached.

READ NEXT: Historic Mall trees felled in Mayo county town

To complete the look, the showstopping hat was cast onto model Ciara McDonaghs head. The girls stuck wicks onto the headpiece and the visor was made of more broken tealight cases.

Dublin is set to host the World Final as Junk Kouture celebrates its 15th anniversary in Ireland this year. The Junk Kouture Festival of Creativity and Circularity will be in Dublin from 3-4 March, 2025, and the grand final will take place at the Helix on the final day of the festival.

The live event will showcase the incredible talent of students from Ireland and across the globe with stunning couture designs on display that demonstrate creativity, innovation and most importantly, sustainability.

Tickets for the event will be on sale from Monday, 16 December on The Helix's website. Prices start at 40.
A senior Mayo County Council official has said that the short-term letting website, Airbnb, has done untold damage to Mayos rental housing stock

Tom Gilligan, Mayo County Councils Director of Services for Housing, said it was morally wrong for people to let entire properties on Airbnb.

According to the website Inside Airbnb, there are 1,134 entire properties in Mayo listed on Airbnb. This represents 76.2 per cent of the 1,489 listings on the website, which allows property owners to rent a room or an entire property on a short-term basis. In contrast, there were 39 Mayo properties listed for long-term letting on Daft.ie on Wednesday, December 11.

Personally I have no problem if people want to rent a room on the Airbnb. Where I do have a problem and I do think its morally wrong, is where you see entire properties going up on Airbnb, Mr Gilligan told a meeting of Mayo County Councils Housing Special Policy Committee.

Legislation has been proposed that would make it mandatory for property owners who let their properties on Airbnb for 21 nights annually to register with Failte Ireland.

Last year, a report by Oxford Economics found that Airbnb was worth 21 million to Mayos economy in 2022 and supported over 300 jobs. The report found that 92 per cent of Airbnb stays in Mayo were booked in entire houses or apartments. Domestic tourists represented 45 percent of Airbnb guests in the county.

The Westport Local Electoral Area has the largest number of Airbnb properties of any local electoral area in Mayo with 547, including 425 entire properties. There are 353 Airbnb listings in Belmullet, including 281 entire properties. Ballina, meanwhile, has 173, including 129 entire properties, followed by Castlebar with 164 and 115 entire properties.

There are 152 Airbnb properties in Claremorris, including 104 entire properties while Swinford has 100 and 80 entire properties.

Cllr Harry Barrett branded Airbnb as an absolute scourge and a vampire sucking supply dry in Mayo.

The Independent councillor also called for a full gambit of measures to penalise property owners with vacant and derelict houses.

Its a moral disgrace that theres properties in this town [Castlebar] left vacant for years and years while these people suffer and our kids in their 20s and 30s cant find a place to live in this town, said Cllr Barrett.




The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Experts from international organizations share their thoughts on China's commendable endeavors in combating desertification.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Director of finance & operations | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2024

Chemonics seeks a Director of finance & operations (DFO) for the anticipated USAID-funded Feed the Future Resilient Food Systems Activity in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The activity aims to increase the income and nutritional status of the targeted population through an inclusive and sustainable food and market systems-oriented approach that facilitates agriculture-led growth and utilization of nutritious food.

Specific objectives of the activity include: (1) Promote inclusive and sustainable local systems and practices for agriculture-led economic growth; (2) Increase sources of resilience among people, communities, and systems; (3) Increase the year-round consumption of safe, diverse, and nutritious food; and (4) Effective integration of prioritized cross cutting focus areas within every aspect, approach and initiative of the activity.

Moreover, the geographic focus on the activity will be the Kasai Central and Kongo Central regions. The Director of finance & operations will oversee the financial management of the activity, including the supervision of procurement, finance, human resources, grants, and administrative staff. This role ensures that internal financial management controls are adequate and comply with USAID policies and procedures, as well as that financial processes and controls meet generally recognized accounting standards. The DFO will manage all bookkeeping, bank accounts, and cash flow, ensuring project funds are used appropriately. Responsibilities also include tracking project expenses, overseeing and approving monthly financial reports, managing quarterly accrual projections, and leading annual budgeting processes. Moreover, the DFO will also manage the financial and administrative aspects of all sub-agreements and serve as the principal point of contact for USAID in these areas, keeping the Chief of Party (COP) informed of all communications with USAID. This position will be based in Kinshasa, DRC. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

Operations:

Support the COP develop and implement management systems for project planning, reporting, and performance management; property and technical procurement systems; and personnel management;

Manage daily work of other finance and operations project team members and provide performance feedback;

Support technical implementation through reviewing of sub/contracts or sub-recipient modifications, processing local subcontractor payments, and managing subcontracts and leases with landlords, warehouses, and other vendors, as well as relevant software licenses;

Ensure compliance with U.S. government regulations, Chemonics corporate policies, laws of the DRC, and any supplemental policies specific to the DRC;

Develop and implement systems that assist supervisors in the management of their supervisees and provide regular and constructive feedback to project staff;

Lead recruitment efforts and anticipate future recruitment needs. This includes conducting initial CV reviews, participating in interview panels, and onboarding staff as needed;

Manage annual performance evaluation and salary increase processes;

Oversee the management of local subcontracts and grants under contract for compliance and performance. This should include coordinating with technical staff to finalize the related scope and manage the performance of contractors or grantees against deliverables; and

Keep up to date on evolving in-country security situation, circulate security updates to relevant in-country staff, and ensure adherence to security guidelines.

Finance:

Support the COP to develop and implement management systems for financial management;

Ensure proper administration of the activity through the supervision of the project finance, grants, procurement, and administration teams. Track and report project financial management indicators on a quarterly basis;

Draft annual and ad hoc budgets, including the estimation of the resources, LOE, and in-country travel necessary to implement current and future work plan activities;

Lead the development of the grants manual and addendum;

Oversee and manage grant activities and procurement in compliance with the grants and subcontracts manuals, USAID, and U.S. government regulations; and

Develop and oversee procedures in evaluating applications for grant and subcontract funding, including participation as a member of the Grants/Subcontracts Evaluation Committee.

Qualifications:

A masters degree or higher in finance, business administration, procurement, or related area;

Experience in managing grants with international organizations, preferably USAID;

Direct experience of at least five (5) years in supervision of staff and team management;

At least 5 years of experience with U.S. Government financial management instruments, policies, financial and operational procedures, and requirements;

Proven expertise in finance, accounting, and auditing, monitoring of grant compliance and management, and the establishment of internal controls;

Knowledge of USAID administrative, management, and reporting procedures and systems, along with strategic program planning, management, supervision, and budgeting expertise;

Prior experience managing a team of high performing staff working in multiple locations/field offices;

Experience working in a nutrition or sustainable food and market systems initiative preferred;

Experience working in DRC or the region is highly preferred; and

Fluent English and French oral and written communication skills required.

Application instructions:

To apply, please submit your application to this link (Job Application)by December 25th, 2024. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.

Chemonics values the protection of your personal data. If you are in the European Union, please read our EU Recruiting Data Privacy Notice to learn how we process personal data. You may access the notice via the following link: https://chemonics.com/eu-recruiting-data-privacy-notice/.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) director | Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) | 2024

Chemonics seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) director for the anticipated USAID Feed the Future Resilient Food Systems Activity in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The activity aims to increase the income and nutritional status of the targeted population through an inclusive and sustainable food and market systems-oriented approach that facilitates agriculture-led growth and utilization of nutritious food. Specific objectives of the activity include: (1) Promote inclusive and sustainable local systems and practices for agriculture-led economic growth; (2) Increase sources of resilience among people, communities, and systems; (3) Increase the year-round consumption of safe, diverse, and nutritious food; and (4) Effective integration of prioritized cross cutting focus areas within every aspect, approach and initiative of the activity. Moreover, the geographic focus on the activity will be the Kasai Central and Kongo Central regions. The MEL director will oversee all MEL components of the project and be responsible for tracking and aggregating data across all activities, managing the reporting to USAID, and coordinating the sharing and dissemination of information and best practices to project stakeholders. This position will be based in Kinshasa, DRC with the ability to travel frequently to project sites. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

Provide leadership and oversight of MEL activities, including routine process monitoring, data collection, data analysis, data quality, timeliness, and reporting;

Review activity implementation on a regular basis and communicate the critical learning points with USAID and other relevant stakeholders;

Comply with USAID Feed the Future MEL requirements;

Collaborate with and strengthen capacity of sub-awardees, such as providing feedback on data collection and indicator use and analyzing reported data;

Ensure MERL systems support the activity in line with USAIDs Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) principles and that real-time monitoring and learning is integrated back into strategy and implementation;

Lead the design and operation of the programs Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP);

Ensure standardization of MEL systems across the project indicators, data collection, and reporting;

Oversee the collection of and reporting on program management, output, and outcome indicators;

Ensure the creation and dissemination of program learning, products, and results of collaboration that improve implementation approaches with the broader community through strategic communication;

Performs other duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:

A masters degree or higher in statistics, research methods, information systems, or a related advanced degree;

Minimum of eight years experience working on monitoring and evaluation with international development programs;

Expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and demonstrated capacity in data analysis, data collection, statistical analysis, and reporting, including experience with computerbased statistical packages and databases, required;

Experience working in food security or Feed the Future MEL is highly preferred;

Experience working on MEL and CLA plans for USAID-funded projects highly preferred;

Ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines, and to initiate and implement activities with minimal oversight and supervision, required;

Familiarity of USAID rules and regulations, compliance, and reporting requirements required; knowledge of Chemonics procedures preferred;

Experience working in DRC or the region highly preferred;

Fluent English and French oral and written communication skills required; and

Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity, and excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Application instructions:

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by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 10, 2024

The tech industry group NetChoice is pressing a federal judge to block a California law that would prohibit social media platforms from algorithmically recommending posts to minors without their parents' consent.

The Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act (SB 976), signed into law in September and slated to take effect next month, would also ban platforms from sending notices to minors between midnight and 6 a.m., and between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on school days, without parental consent. The measure is similar to a statute passed earlier this year in New York.

NetChoice -- which counts Meta, Snap, Google and other large tech companies as members -- is challenging the statute on First Amendment grounds.

The law will affect a wide range of speech activities, with harms to both NetChoices covered member websites as well as their respective user, NetChoice writes in papers filed Monday with U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Davila in the Northern District of California.

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Without an injunction before the end of the year, NetChoice members and their users will be irreparably harmed, the group adds.

In addition to the parental consent requirements, the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act requires the state attorney general to devise age assurance mechanisms that platforms could draw on to determine whether users are over or under 18.

Unless blocked, as of next month the law will only restrict companies from sending personalized feeds to users the platforms know are minors. But starting in 2027 the law will ban personalized feeds to all users, unless the platforms have reasonably determined those users are adults. The statute provides that this determination could be based on age assurance mechanisms.

NetChoice says that both the parental consent requirements and age assurance provisions violate the First Amendment.

The Act would fundamentally limit the expressive activity of NetChoice members by restricting how and when they can disseminate personalized feeds, NetChoice alleged in a complaint filed last month in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

The group added that minors have a First Amendment right to access content, noting that the Supreme Court previously struck down a California law that would have banned the sale of violent video games to minors without parental consent.

Web publishers also have a constitutional right to display material content including through the use of personalized feeds and notifications, NetChoice added.

NetChoice also says the age assurance provisions violate people's First Amendment right to access media anonymously.

Governments cannot require people to provide identification or personal information to access protected speech, NetChoice wrote.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta countered earlier this month that the law is valid because it regulates conduct, not speech.

The Act targets harmful online mechanisms, not content or types of content, or specific websites or online platforms, Bonta argued in written papers. In that sense, the Act is more akin to California laws that regulate, for instance, the ability of vendors to sell flavored tobacco products ... or casino operators to admit individuals under 21 years old.

He added that the statute should be upheld because it pursues a compelling interest -- the health of children -- while focusing narrowly on the mechanisms that cause children harm.

On Monday, NetChoice urged Davila to reject Bonta's arguments and block the law from taking effect. Among other arguments, NetChoice says the law isn't comparable to statutes restrictions on gambling or cigarettes.

Tobacco and gambling do not involve free speech rights NetChoice wrote. Minors have a First Amendment right to engage in speech; they lack a constitutional right to engage in the nonexpressive conduct of smoking and gambling.

Davila is expected to hold a hearing in the case on December 17.
by Ray Schultz , December 10, 2024

Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG) will provide programming for the Dabl Networks Sunday morning lineup, starting on Jan. 5.

The lineup will include Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward, Wild Child with Sheinelle Jones, Oh Baby! with Janai Norman, and Best Friends FurEver with Kel Mitchell.

HMPGs portfolio includes more than 30 original series and hundreds of hours of original content per year. It has a library of more than 5,000 hours of programming with content available in 97 countries.

HMPGs weekly series resonate with todays audience, delivering powerful reach in an evolving media landscape, said Frank Biancuzzo, HMPG president. Dabl is an exciting platform thats attracting new viewers.

Our partnership with Hearst is strong on many levels, and this new programming further expands the availability of quality, family-friendly content for Dabls audience, says Neal Sabin, vice chairman, Weigel Broadcasting Co.
by Ray Schultz , December 10, 2024

Carpenter Media Group laid off several employees in Oregon last week as it reportedly seeks to reduce its profile in the area.

The affected staff members include Tim Doran, copyeditor of the Bend Bulletin and Mike McInally, editor of the Wallowa county Chieftain and at least one reporter, two photographers and a news clerk at the Bulletin and five employees at the Rogue Valley Times, according to Oregon Public Broadcast (OPB).

However, the layoffs have drawn a union protest.

Carpenter cannot legally implement the layoff of unionized employees until they bargain with the Guild, Central Oregon NewsGuild President Morgan Owen told OPB. This is the second time in six months employees at the Bulletin have faced layoffs.

Carpenter, based in Mississippi, recently put its has placed the headquarters for the Astorian and Blue Mountain Eagle up for sale, OPB continues.
by Danielle Oster , December 10, 2024

Spotify may get the most attention for its annual Wrapped feature -- but its not the only brand with a year-end trends report.

Today, Grubhub unveiled its 2024 Delivered Report, sharing some of the top national trends among consumers using the app for pickup and delivery orders, While the results are specific to GrubHub, they have some broader implications both for other delivery apps  and for the restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores its customers are ordering from. Grubhub teased the report last week with an Instagram post mimicking the visual style of Spotifys Wrapped with the message: You spent 28,539 minutes browsing restaurant menus this year.

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People rejected the minimalist trend as we witnessed a rise in the end of quiet luxury, neon green aesthetics, loud pop tracks, and a common pride in doing everything to the fullest, the brand wrote in a release announcing the news. People were determined to get the most out of their purchases, their travel experiences, and certainly their delivery choices.

So what were Grubhub customers ordering?

Chicken rules the protein roost

In one maximalist step, 15% of Grubhub Chipotle orders included double protein.

When it comes to customers protein preferences, chicken was the clear champion, with people picking poultry in nearly 40% of restaurant orders and choosing chicken nearly three times as often as beef.

People were way into curds, picked plenty of pickles

TikTok and other social channels helped fuel a resurgence of an unlikely food trend this year, with younger generations choosing curds, their way, employing the ingredient for a range of novel uses from ice cream to pancakes (in addition to more straightforward snacking). Grubhub reports it delivered over a ton of cottage cheese orders this year.

Certain cities selected curds and whey at particularly high volumes: New York City topped the list, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Boston.

Pickles also continued to surge this year, as consumers found novel ways to make the most of the briny staple  including substituting pickles for bread in sandwiches and using brine in soft drink concoctions. Grubhubsaid orders containing pickles increased 14%.

Pickle power may have also helped lift Dr Pepper into the top spot for soda brands ordered from convenience stores on the platform, too. Embracing a viral soda hack trend, many of these customers added pickles to these orders as well, according to Grubhub.

Return to office fuels lunch delivery

As some return-to-office mandates increased the number of employees physically present in offices, there was a commensurate rise in office orders. Grubhub reported a 53% increase in corporate coffee orders to keep workers caffeinated thanks to the trend.

Lunch orders were big too, especially from a certain QSR spot in particular.

"Chipotle Boys" shook up the lunch scene, turning the burrito bowl into the ultimate workday staple - one forkful at a time, multiple times a week, Grubhub wrote in its report, naming burrito bowls the lunch of choice for office-ensnared workers. According to Grubhub, corporate Chipotle lunch orders saw a 27% increase on the platform.

Swicy surges

Swicy -- a portmanteau for foods combining sweet and spicy flavors -- was a prevailing food trend for 2024.

According to Grubhub, the flavor trend found its way into everything from summer drinks to snacks and spirits. One example of customers craving for the combo? Purchases of hot honey surged by 30% in Grubhub grocery stores orders, with customers on the platform pairing it with everything from fried chicken to French fries.
by Tanya Gazdik , December 10, 2024

Amazon Autos is launching today in beta form in select metro areas.

Vehicle shoppers in 48 U.S. cities can browse, order, finance and schedule pickup of a new Hyundai vehicle from their local participating dealer directly on Amazon.

Amazon Autos offers online automotive shopping from Hyundai dealers across major metropolitan areas nationwide and will continue to add more Hyundai dealerships. The partnership between Amazon and Hyundai was first announced a year ago at the Los Angeles auto show.

For a limited time, Amazon is offering a $2,300 rebate split between two gift cards for anyone who buys a car through the site through Jan. 10.

Next year the website will roll out additional manufacturers, brands, cities and new functionality, according to Amazon.

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Were partnering with dealers and brands to redesign car shoppingmaking it more transparent, convenient and customer-friendly," said Fan Jin, global head of Amazon Autos, in a release. "With Amazon Autos, were bringing the simplicity and ease customers expect from Amazon to car shopping, one of their largest purchases, while offering dealers a new channel to connect with a broad audience.

Customers in the 48 available cities can shop for new Hyundai vehicles by visiting amazon.com/autos, searching "Amazon Autos" on Amazon.com, or through the mobile app.

Amazon Autos promises to provide transparent pricing from local dealers, eliminating the need for negotiation. The price customers see at check-out is the price they pay, inclusive of all taxes and fees.

"Listing our inventory on Amazon is a game-changer for how we connect with car buyers," said Steven Suh, general sales manager of South Bay Hyundai, in a release. "It allows us to showcase our vehicles to millions of daily shoppers, while setting our pricing upfront. We can now reach a large local audience with the convenient and transparent experience customers expect when shopping with Amazon. Customers come in excited to pick up their new car and we can build on those customer relationships from there. This experience really positions dealers for success in the modernizing economy.
Prenatal blood tests can occasionally detect hidden cancers in moms-to-be, alongside screening for fetal disorders.

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Prenatal blood test sometimes hints at cancer in moms-to-be: study



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Did You Know?

7 to 12 percent of pregnant women experience moderate to severe depression. Partners may also be at risk for depression during the pregnancy. #medindia #pregnancy #depression

7 to 12 percent of pregnant women experience moderate to severe depression. Partners may also be at risk for depression during the pregnancy. #medindia #pregnancy #depression

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Survival Rates and Advanced Cancer Cases

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Cell-Free DNA Sequencing

Prenatal blood test sometimes hints at cancer in moms-to-be: study - (https://english.news.cn/northamerica/20241207/0a592a3cda2f4a5888ab7ef708e1c0f3/c.html)

Many expectant mothers choose to undergo blood tests during pregnancy to screen for fetal conditions like Down syndrome. Occasionally, these tests uncover an unexpected finding  signs of an undiagnosed cancer in the mother, according to a study reported by The Associated Press earlier this week ().Among 107 pregnant women with abnormal test results, 52 were eventually diagnosed with cancer. While most received treatment and achieved remission, seven with advanced cases unfortunately passed away."They looked like healthy, young women and they reported themselves as being healthy," said Diana Bianchi, the senior author of the government study published in the New EnglandOf the discovered cancers, lymphoma blood cancers were the most common, followed by colon and breast cancers, according to the study.The blood test is called cell-free DNA sequencing. It looks for fetal problems in DNA fragments shed from the placenta into the mother's bloodstream. It also can pick up DNA fragments shed by cancer cells.Source-Eurekalert
Noted character actor Mushtaq Khan who was recently seen as a local politician in Stree 2 and is a pop culture figure for his role of Ballu in Welcome has claimed that he was recently kidnapped and tortured for 12 hours and was forced to pay Rs 2 lakh before he managed to escape. According to a report in NDTV, Mushtaq Khan received a call from Rahul Saini on November 15 who invited him for an event in Meerut on November 20 where people will be felicitated. The actor was promised that he will be paid his fees and was even transferred an advance of Rs 25,000 through UPI with the balance amount to be paid later.

 Base Industries Group The caller then sent him an air ticket from Mumbai to Delhi and on November 20 after landing in Delhi, he got into a cab arranged by the caller. Besides the driver, there was another man in the car. The car then stopped midway and Mushtaq was asked to step into another car. The same man drove this car as well but this time there were two people besides the driver. The car then stopped after some time and two more people got in. At this point, Mushtaq Khan realised something was fishy and he protested post which a sheet was put on his head and he was asked to keep his head down. Three to four hours later, the car eventually stopped somewhere near Bijnor and there in a house, the actor was held and tortured for 12 hours and was demanded Rs 1 crore as ransom. He eventually paid over Rs 2 lakh from his and his sons account to the kidnappers. Next day, the actor heard the morning azaan and realised a mosque is close by. He managed to escape and reached the mosque taking help from the cleric there who helped him contact his family and the cops.
WASHINGTON -- Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a "wonderful conversation" with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct.

Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a "good, substantive" discussion with Hegseth and "covered a wide range of topics," including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision.

"I asked virtually every question under the sun," Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. "I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don't think there was anything that we did not cover."

The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump's Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden's nominees for the judicial and executive branches.

And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former "Fox & Friends" weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience.

"I'm certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands," Hegseth said as he left Collins' office. "This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support."

Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals.

Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week.

"Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" Trump posted on his social media platform last week.
ALEXANDRIA, Va.  A CIA analyst charged with leaking top secret details ahead of a planned Israeli attack on Iran earlier this year will remain jailed pending trial, a judge ordered Wednesday.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles overrules a magistrate who said last week that Asif Rahman, 34, of Vienna, Virginia, could be free on restrictions while he awaits trial on charges of disclosing national defense information.

The fight over Rahman's detention revealed additional details about the government's investigation of the leak and the analyst who allegedly disclosed the classified documents in October on the Telegram messaging app.

At Wednesday's detention hearing, prosecutor Troy Edwards said Rahman was motivated by ideology, though he did not discuss what that ideology might be.

In fact, he said the conclusion that Rahman's motive was ideological was essentially process of elimination, noting that Rahman comes from a wealthy family and has access to a multimillion-dollar family trust, and therefore wouldn't have a financial incentive.

Edwards also highlighted eight pages of notes found on Rahman when he was arrested last month in Cambodia, where he worked at the U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh. Those notes included two separate to-do lists, one of which was largely blocks of apparently encrypted text along with an unencrypted sentence pertaining to U.S. missile capabilities. Edwards said investigators have not yet been able to decipher the encryption.

A separate, unencrypted to-do list included categories labeled contingencies and run, Edwards said.

Official court documents are vague about what was leaked, but details discussed in open court make clear that it references an October disclosure of documents from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency noting that Israel was moving military assets into place to conduct a military strike on Iran after Iran launched its own missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1.

Israel ended up carrying out an attack on Iran's air defense systems and missile manufacturing facilities in late October.

In court papers, the government said the leak caused Israel to delay its attack plans. Edwards said the volatile nature of the Middle East makes the leak exceptionally dangerous.

It is hard to overstate what other circumstances present graver risks of danger to human life than unilaterally deciding to transmitting information related to plans for kinetic military action between two countries, prosecutors wrote in court papers.

Rahman's attorney, Amy Jeffress, cited anonymous sources in news articles who have downplayed the leak's significance.

Jeffress said the to-do list included the word run because Rahman is an avid jogger. She also said it's rare for defendants facing similar charges to be detained pending trial.

Rahman was born in California and moved with his family when he was a child to Cincinnati, where he was a high school valedictorian, according to court papers submitted by his lawyer. He went to Yale University and graduated in three years. He and his wife now live in the D.C. metro area, along with his parents.

His father, Muhit Rahman, who was prepared to serve as his son's custodian pretrial if he had been released, attended Wednesday's hearing along with numerous family members and friends in support.

Rahman made his initial court appearance last month in Guam.

Jeffress said after Wednesday's hearing that she intends to appeal the detention order.
A Vietnam prisoner of war who spent years in captivity in the prison camp they dubbed the Hanoi Hilton and whose story was closely followed by the American public is set to be honored by Congress.

For his grit under interrogation, and for his unbending commitment to survive the prison ordeal and "return with honor," retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez is slated for the highest award lawmakers can bestow -- the Congressional Gold Medal.

By unanimous consent Wednesday, the Senate passed the bill to award the medal to the 86-year-old Alvarez, following on a unanimous vote in the House last week.

Read Next: Army Cuts Popular Education Benefit in Half, Bars Officers as Costs Soar

The bill to add Alvarez' name to the list of those who have received the Congressional Gold Medal -- ranging from George Washington and Winston Churchill to Frank Sinatra and the Wright Brothers -- now goes to the White House for President Joe Biden's signature.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., who sponsored the Gold Medal bill in the House, said in a statement that in tough times the nation can "look to the service and sacrifice of those like Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. to remind and inspire us as to what it takes for our nation to endure."

Panetta had a special interest in passage of the bill. His father, former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta, was a member of the class of 1960 with Alvarez at Santa Clara University.

"Cmdr. Alvarez is an American hero who served as an inspiring source of hope for other prisoners of war during his time in Vietnam," said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., who sponsored the bill in the Senate.

Alvarez was captured on Aug. 5, 1964, while flying a mission over North Vietnam in his A-4 Skyhawk as part of Operation Pierce Arrow. In interviews over the years with Military.com and other outlets, he detailed how he was shot down when "the sky turned black with flak" after he had strafed North Vietnamese patrol boats over majestic Ha Long Bay, now one of Vietnam's major tourist attractions.

Then, "a sudden burst jarred my plane. A sickening feeling crept over me as I tried to control my aircraft. Smoke filled the cockpit, and every warning light lit up."

He keyed his mic: "I'm on fire! I'm out of control!"

Alvarez fought to regain control to allow him to eject, but before punching out, he keyed the mic again: "I'm getting out! I'll see you guys later!"

His first thought after hitting the water was to swim to one of the outcroppings in the bay and possibly hide under the brush, but shots fired from a patrol boat kicked up the water around him and a bullet grazed his elbow. He was quickly hauled aboard the patrol boat, where his captors immediately began trying to interrogate him.

Alvarez, the grandson of Mexican immigrants, instinctively resisted. He replied in Spanish -- "No entiendo [I don't understand]." He would later tell Military.com, "I don't know why I did that -- seemed like a good idea at the time."

Alvarez was the first U.S. aviator to be captured and would spend eight and a half years as a prisoner -- the first 13 months of it in solitary confinement in a 7-by-7-foot cell. He was the second-longest held POW in U.S. military history after Army Capt. Floyd Thompson, who was held for almost nine years after the aircraft he was riding in was shot down in March 1964.

After 3,113 days of captivity, Alvarez was released on Feb. 12, 1973, as part of the Operation Homecoming wherein all U.S. prisoners, including then-Lt. Cmdr. John McCain, who also flew the A-4 Skyhawk and was shot down in October 1967, were sent home.

In 2016, McCain, who became a Republican senator from Arizona and unsuccessfully ran for president twice, spoke to the example Alvarez set for other POWs in presenting him with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Whenever I'd start feeling sorry for myself, I'd think about Ev and how long he had been there and all that he had been through, and I would feel a lot less sorry," McCain said at the event. "He had a record of steadfast resistance and strength, and we not only admired him, we revered him."

After his release, Alvarez completed 20 years in the Navy, earned a law degree, formed a technology company, and also served as deputy director of both the Peace Corps and what was then the Veterans Administration.

On Nov. 13, 1982, Alvarez represented the Reagan administration at the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorials, which at the time listed the names of more than 57,900 U.S. service members who were killed in that divisive conflict.

In 2022 on the 40th anniversary of the memorial's dedication, Alvarez reflected on his initial doubts about the design of the shiny black concrete wall listing the names and how the public would react.

"Oh yeah, I had concerns. It was a tumultuous time," Alvarez told Military.com, but "I changed my view" on the memorial as he "realized how it affected the public," and what it would mean to future generations.

He watched as veterans came forward to touch the names of those they knew and "what struck me was the tremendous outpouring of the people, the veterans that came for the dedication and their families," he said. "That was heartwarming. It is, I would have to say, very therapeutic in a way for a lot of people."

Related: Congress Eyes Top Honor for Navy Pilot Who Was Second-Longest Ever US Military POW
The Yankees interest in Christian Walker was initially reported on last month, but it wasnt until Juan Soto signed with the Mets that the Yankees were seemingly able to devote more attention to other position-player targets. The change of focus apparently happened pretty quickly, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that the Yankees renewed contract discussions with Walkers camp on Sunday evening, which was the same time that news broke of Sotos record $765MM contract.

While the pitching and hitting markets arent exactly the same, the Bombers eight-year, $218MM megadeal with Max Fried is easy evidence that New York has been able to quickly pivot into the rest of its target list with Soto off the board. First base help and lineup help in general are both needs, and signing Walker would address both issues in one fell swoop.

Frieds deal adds another wrinkle to the Yankees pursuit of Walker, or any other free agent who rejected a qualifying offer. Because New York was a luxury tax payor in 2024 and because Fried turned down the Braves QO, the Yankees had to give up $1MM in international bonus pool money as well as their second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2025 draft in order to complete the signing. Inking Walker to a deal would cost the Yankees another $1MM in intl pool funds, as well as two more draft picks  their third- and sixth-highest selections.

As much of a hit this could be to New Yorks 2025 draft plans, Brian Cashmans front office might view it as a necessary cost in order to capitalize on the teams contention window. Fried adds another top-flight arm to pair with Gerrit Cole atop a deep Yankee rotation, Aaron Judge is still arguably the best hitter in the sport, Giancarlo Stanton has a bounce-back 2024 season, and a younger core of Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, and (New York hopes) Jasson Dominguez can all contribute both now and in the future.

Walker would represent another big piece to this puzzle, bringing both elite first-base defense and a strong bat. Walker is turning 34 in March but hasnt shown signs of slowing down, plus his age might be a feature and not a bug in terms of the Yankees needs. MLB Networks Jon Morosi said that a shorter-term contract might be more preferable for the Yankees than a longer deal for a younger first base option, which is why Morosi notes that Walker is more of a priority for the Yankees than Pete Alonso would be.
Apart from Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert Jr. is the biggest trade chip the White Sox have on offer as the club looks to continue its rebuilding process. Though 2024 was another injury-marred season for Robert, Sox GM Chris Getz told the Chicago Sun-Times Daryl Van Schouwen (multiple links) and other reporters that his team has gotten a lot of interest in Roberts services during the Winter Meetings. The Reds appear to be one of those interested parties, as Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Ohio team has at least checked in on Robert.

Its no secret that Getz is asking for a lot in return for Robert, and the general manager defended his stance by saying that the White Sox are looking for a trade package commensurate to the talent that he brings to the table since Roberts tools havent changed.

Obviously, the injury last year was disruptive to [Roberts] production, but the reason theres so much interest is because maybe a team feels like they can capture something that perhaps didnt show up last year, Getz said.

Cincinnati is an interesting potential trade partner because the Reds also have a lot of high-ceiling younger players coming off disappointing 2024 seasons. The Reds went 82-80 in 2023 and went into last season looking to make a step forward into contention, but instead fell back to 77 wins because Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson were basically the only members of the teams younger core that met expectations. Whether due to injuries or just plain under-performance, players like Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand now head into the coming season with plenty left to prove about their building-block status.

Speculatively, working out a trade package involving Robert and at least one of these players could help offset some of the concerns the Reds might have about Roberts long-term health. Granted, Getz isnt likely to sell low on Robert unless he absolutely has to, but taking on a player in a trade package that is also a bit of a question mark doesnt seem like an unreasonable approach on the Reds part. Just as Getz can argue that Roberts underlying talent is the key factor in trade talks, Cincinnati might take that same argument in regards to any of its potential trade chips.

The outfield is known to be a target area for the Reds, and Robert would address that need in a big way. With Robert stepping in as new regular center fielder, TJ Friedl could be shifted to left field, if Steer is subsequently moved back to the infield. There are plenty of ways manager Terry Francona could juggle his lineup around Robert as one of the everyday cornerstones, and if another injury did arise, Friedl, Will Benson, or Stuart Fairchild would presumably still be on hand to step back into center field.

Part of Roberts trade value is tied to his contract, which is a bargain if the outfielder is as healthy and productive as he was in his All-Star 2023 season. Robert is set to earn $15MM in 2025, and the White Sox have a pair of $20MM club options (with $2MM buyouts) for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons. While not huge money by superstar standards, the Reds trade efforts could be complicated if the team is indeed operating within very limited payroll parameters.

Ownership might be willing to allot more money to the Reds payroll in the special circumstance of a Robert trade coming to fruition, or another creative answer could be explored. From Chicagos perspective, Getz is open to ideas, noting that the White Sox have had some talks about three-team trades (presumably involving Robert or Crochet). If thats the best way to acquire the talent for your organization, you do it, Getz said.
There are eight unexpected spots along Michigans highways where drivers can see a festive holiday display during their travels.

Eight electrical towers are lit up for the holidays, now through Jan. 5.

ITC Michigan  the company that builds, operates and maintains the high-voltage electrical grid in most of the states Lower Peninsula  has decked out the towers with nearly 20,000 LED lights each.

The displays include a 10-by-14-foot Happy Holidays sign and are topped with a star.

Our decorations have become a popular holiday tradition in Michigan, said Charles Marshall, president of ITC Michigan. Were happy to join the communities we serve all across the Lower Peninsula in celebrating this festive time of the year.

Heres where to find the displays:

Belleville (I-94 west of Haggerty)

Bridgeport (I-75 south of Hess Rd.)

Gaylord (I-75 south of Gaylord exit 278)

Grand Rapids (US 131 north of 28th Street SW)

Maryville (29 Busha Hwy. and Huron Blvd.)

Novi (I-96 at Meadowbrook)

St. Clair (I-94 north of Fred W. Moore Hwy.)

White Lake (M-59 and Bogie Lake Road)

Michigan Graphics and Signs of Saint Johns designed and maintains the decorations. Utility Lines Construction Services put them on the towers.
By JAE C. HONG, ERIC THAYER and STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press

MALIBU, Calif. (AP)  Weather conditions were forecast to improve this week in Southern California, aiding firefighters in their battle against a wind-driven wildfire thats forced up to 20,000 people  including performers Cher, Dick Van Dyke and his wife  from their homes.

Residents under evacuation orders and warnings waited anxiously to see whether their properties had been spared by the Franklin Fire, which erupted late Monday and grew to 4.8 square miles (12.3 square kilometers) with no containment by early Wednesday. More than 1,500 firefighters were assigned to the fire, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CalFire.

The National Weather Service late Tuesday said the strongest Santa Ana winds, with gusts that reached 40 mph (64 kph), have passed. The notorious winds are withering, dry gusts that sweep out of the interior toward the coast, pushing back moist ocean breezes.

Even as the weather was expected to improve, forecasters said gusty winds will continue through Wednesday morning, especially in the mountains, and critical fire conditions remain.

Much of the devastation occurred in Malibu, a community of about 10,000 people on the western edge of Los Angeles renowned for its stunning scenery of seaside bluffs and Zuma Beach featured in Hollywood films. Flames burned near celebrities' seaside mansions, horse farms and Pepperdine University, where some 3,000 students were forced to shelter in place on campus. Many evacuated their dorms to the library through smoke and ash as flames roared in the canyon nearby.

Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)AP

An early analysis showed little to no damage to structures on campus, the university said in an update on social media on Tuesday night. Fire activity was diminished, but some flames were still visible.

It was not immediately known how the blaze started. Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony C. Marrone said a preliminary aerial assessment estimates that seven structures were destroyed and eight structures damaged.

The Malibu City Hall was in the fires path, so officials had to relocate to nearby Calabasas as a base for emergency operations, he continued.

Many major fires have burned in Malibu, and theres now a familiar cycle where once-lush vegetation is charred.

It burns, it grows back, and were resilient and strong, Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart said.

Van Dyke, one of many celebrities with homes in Malibu, said he and his wife, Arlene Silver, had evacuated as the fire swept in. The actor turns 99 on Friday. Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving, said Van Dyke, referring to one of their cats. Were praying hell be OK and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.

Cher evacuated from her Malibu home when ordered and is staying at a hotel, her publicist Liz Rosenberg said late Tuesday.

The fire erupted shortly before 11 p.m. Monday and swiftly moved south, jumping over the famous Pacific Coast Highway and extending all the way to the ocean, where large homes line the beach and rugged inland canyons are notoriously fire prone. At one point, flames threatened the historic Malibu Pier, but the structure was protected, officials said.

Power to about 40,000 customers had been shut off by Monday night, including 11,000 in LA County, as Southern California Edison worked to mitigate the impacts of the Santa Ana winds, whose strong gusts can damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires. Gabriela Ornelas, an Edison spokesperson, said service power was shut off to most customers in Malibu around 6 or 7 p.m. on Monday.

The Woolsey Fire that roared through Malibu in 2018, killing three people and destroying 1,600 homes, was sparked by Edison equipment.

While Malibu is known for its celebrity and uber-wealthy residents, Kasey Earnest, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu said Tuesday that shes especially concerned about the lower- and middle-class families, ranchers and farmers who make up the community, too.

I refer to those residents as the heart of Malibu, she said. Theyre just normal families  nobodys landing a helicopter on their property.

___

Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; Amy Taxin in Orange County, California; Gabriela Aoun in San Diego; and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; contributed to this report.
LOS ANGELES -- Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly have broken up, just weeks after announcing they are expecting their first child together.

Fox, 38, announced her pregnancy on Instagram last month, and tagged Cleveland-based musician Kelly in the photo of her showing off her baby bump. The actress previously revealed in 2023 that she suffered a miscarriage.

Kelly and Fox broke up over Thanksgiving weekend while they were together in Vail, Colorado, according to TMZ.

TMZ reported that Fox decided to end the relationship after she found material on Kellys phone that was upsetting, and it made her want him to leave the trip early.

The duo first met while filming the crime-thrilled movie Midnight in the Switchgrass in March 2020, according to People Magazine. Two months later, the pair went public with their relationship after Fox appeared in Kellys Bloody Valentine music video.

The couple then announced they were engaged in 2022.
SOUTH LYON, MI  A Michigan woman is accused of embezzling money from a family friend she was supposed to be caring for.

Tracie Green, 64, of South Lyon, was arraigned in Novi for allegedly embezzling over $200,000 from a vulnerable adult, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday.

Green is charged with two counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult $50,000 or more but less than $100,000 and one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult $100,000 or more.

Green offered to help care for the victim after he began to experience cognitive decline, but it alleged that Green attempted to add herself to the victims condo interest in South Lyon and facilitated changes to the victims investment accounts in 2018 and 2020.

The changes ensured she would inherit half of the value of the accounts, which totaled over $400,000, upon the victims death, which occurred in 2021.

Its both baffling and reprehensible that people, especially those trusted by the victims and their families, take advantage of vulnerable members of our community for their own personal gain, Nessel said.

Our seniors deserve protection from such predatory behavior, and my department remains committed to holding accountable those who prey on vulnerable adults.

Green was given a $50,000 personal recognizance bond. A probable cause conference has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Dec. 18.
TOLEDO, Ohio  A teacher at preparatory school in Toledo is facing a charge of assault after she was accused of being involved in a physical altercation with a 13-year-old female student in a classroom.

WTOL Channel 11 says a police report shows the incident occurred Monday at Toledo Preparatory Academy. The Blade reports the teacher, Brandi Aldrich, 31, is accused of grabbing the teen while trying to remove her from her desk.

Lucas County court documents show Aldrich eventually put the student in a headlock and then shoved her out of the classroom, The Blade reports.

WTVG Channel 13 reports Aldrich was arraigned Tuesday and released on her own recognizance. According to The Blade, Aldrich has been with the school since August, 2023, first as an English teacher, then later teaching science. The school has fired Aldrich, WTOL reports.
Travelers planning to take a trip to a pair of Central American countries are being warned by the U.S. Department of State about ongoing issues that may make travel unsafe, including a suggestion to reconsider any travel to Honduras. A pair of advisories issued Tuesday say ongoing violent crime in Honduras is cause for travelers to cancel plans to visit, while crime in Costa Rica is cause for travelers to use increased caution if they decide to visit.

Officials say local authorities in Honduras lack the resources needed to respond effectively to serious crime incidents in the country.

Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, remains common. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, narcotics, and human trafficking, is widespread, reads a portion of the alert.

However, the warning did say that resort areas are often more heavily policed, especially in the area of Bay Islands, which include Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja.

If you do decide to visit Honduras, the State Department warns of ongoing demonstrations that can shut down roadways and often turn violent. Anyone who visits Honduras is advised not to drive or walk around at night, use caution in public areas, do not use public transportation and be very cautious if using ATMs or visiting banks.

In Costa Rica the warning is less severe, however travelers are still reminded that petty crime is an ongoing problem. Violent crime does affect tourists in Costa Rica, but has not reached a level where officials say travel is not advised.

Visitors to Costa Rica are advised to avoid walking in poorly lit areas and not to display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry. If you are the target of a robbery, it is suggested that you dont try to resist and to cooperate with robbers.
DICKINSON COUNTY, MI  A woman is dead after she was pulled from a river in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

According to WLUC-TV, the Dickinson County Sheriffs Office responded to the suspected drowning in the Menominee River near the Twin Falls Hydroelectric Dam in Breitung Township around 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Deputies say they found a 38-year-old Iron Mountain woman in the water. She was pronounced dead on scene, according to the TV station.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Florence County Sheriffs Office, Breitung Township Fire Department, Sagola Township Fire Department and Integrity Care EMS.

The woman has not been identified by name. The incident is under investigation.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Trial proceedings for a man charged with sexually assaulting a woman in 2013 are on hold while the case goes to a higher court, according to court records.

Douglas Ulysses Johnson, 35, argued in a motion filed in the Michigan Court of Appeals there was no justification for the decade-long delay between the alleged sexual assault and charges brought against him.

Johnson, along with 34-year-old Rapheal Demonte Holman, are accused of sexually assaulting a woman during a gathering in an Ypsilanti home in April 2013.

The police knew who Mr. Johnson was, were he was located, and knew that he was present at the party where the incident allegedly occurred, wrote Kenneth Overwater, Johnsons public defender with Washtenaw County, in an application for leave to appeal filed with the appellate court Oct. 18.

The case had originally been closed, with the countys prosecutor declining to file charges as they believed that any alleged intercourse was consensual, Overwater wrote.

Because of the delay, authorities have been unable to find witnesses or witnesses are unable to recollect what happened that evening, Overwater argued. He asked the appellate court to overrule the circuit courts ruling that the delay did not violate Johnsons right to due process.

Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Arianne Slay stayed, or paused, the lower court proceedings Oct. 21, pending a decision from the appellate court on whether it would hear the case.

Holman and Johnson had come over to an apartment in the 600 block of Grassland Street after moving a couch, according to the alleged victims testimony during a September 2023 hearing.

Read more: DNA testing on sex assault evidence in 2013 rape leads to charges for 2

The group had been drinking before the woman fell asleep fully clothed on the couch. When she woke the next morning, she was on the floor next to the coffee table, the woman testified.

I was next to Holman and my pants and underwear were off, and they were on the floor, basically down by my feet, she said, adding she felt like she had had sex.

I was afraid of what had happened. I was of afraid of how Id gotten from the couch to the floor, she said. I was afraid of these men that I dont know at all.

DNA evidence from a genital and anal swab showed evidence from both men, according to testimony at the preliminary examination.

The woman said she did not remember being moved or consenting to sex.

MLive/The Ann Arbor News does not name victims of sexual assault.

I think most telling was that when she was told years later that there were two DNA samples inside of her, she was shocked and appalled to know that it was more than just one person who had had sex with her while she was unconscious, against her will, Natalie Brookins, a prosecutor with the Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office, said during the preliminary examination.

Although DNA evidence was taken after the initial incident in 2013, it wasnt tested until 2016. The evidence was tested as part of an initiative by the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, according to an Ypsilanti Police Department report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Warrants were authorized for both Holman and Johnson in April 2023, according to court records. Both men were arraigned in April and sent to trial on charges sexual assault in the first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree in October 2023.

Holman pleaded guilty to the fourth-degree charge in May and is set to be sentenced March 3, 2025.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - Deans for the business and engineering colleges at the University of Michigan are two of the highest paid department leaders on the Ann Arbor campus.

The university released salary data for the 2024-25 school year on Monday, Dec. 9, listing the salaries for the more-than-57,000 employees on the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. That data can be found here.

Read more: Here are the 2024 salaries for 57,000+ University of Michigan employees

The highest paid dean by salary among all three campuses is Sharon Matusik of the Ross School of Business. Matusik became dean in the fall of 2022 and makes $684,562, data shows.

In fact, the top-10 salaries for deans all come from the Ann Arbor campus.

Rosario Ceballo of the College of Literature, Science and the Arts makes $575,000, while Karen Thole of the College of Engineering makes $545,000.

Dean Frederick Bowman of the School of Public Health makes $536,413, and School of Nursing Dean Patricia Hurn makes $524,648.

The only other dean making more than a half million dollars in salary is Jonathan Overpeck of the School of Environment and Sustainability at $513,550.

The rest of the top-10 salaries among deans are Jacques Nor of the College of Dentistry ($496,800), Kyle Logue of the Law School ($483,160), Elizabeth Moje of the Marsal Family School of Education ($458,070) and Michael Solomon of Rackham Graduate School ($439,994).

Frederic Brunel of the Dearborn campus College of Business has the highest salary on that campus at $327,930. Donna Fry, the interim chancellor and dean of College of Health Sciences on the Flint campus, has the highest salary there at $272,752.

The salary figures arent a complete picture of employees earnings as they dont include bonuses, incentives, grant payments or any compensation outside of agreed-upon base pay with the university.

Search the alphabetized databases below to see base salaries for all employees across the University of Michigan campuses in Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn. Note that the annualized full-time rate reflects the amount of pay an employee will receive if they are employed full time for the entire academic or calendar year. Not all appointments are full-time.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A new fast-casual restaurant chain will soon bring its chicken and southern flair to Scio Township, right outside of Ann Arbor.

A new location for Slim Chickens is set to open in early January at 5505 Arbor Chase Drive, and will be the brands first free-standing, full-service Michigan restaurant. The brand currently has a couple of smaller locations that dont feature its full menu on Central Michigan University and Oakland University campuses.

Slim Chickens began in 2003 in Fayetteville, Arkansas and now has more than 250 locations in 34 states, as well as international locations. Its made-to-order menu features chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, salads, mac and cheese, chicken and waffles and sides like fries, potato salad and fried okra, pickles and mushrooms.

The brand also has jarred desserts for Oreo cheesecake and chocolate browning pudding that are packaged in Mason jars that can be taken home. There are also milkshakes and chocolate chip brownies on the menu.

Brothers Brad and Todd DeLange will be the franchisees operating the new location alongside their other business partner, Doug Broadright. The small group has been together for almost 15 years running other franchise locations in the area for Jimmy Johns.

It was around three years ago when they decided to start looking for other franchises to operate. Slim Chickens quickly became their No. 1 choice.

We started looking at a lot of the concepts ... and every time we kept coming back to this brand and what it stood for, Brad said.

Brad DeLange said the group has committed to opening multiple locations in metro-Detroit over the next 10 to 15 years. The brands values, quality of food and the experience it gives to customers is what really sealed the deal that Slim Chickens was the right choice, Todd DeLange added.

We just want to serve our communities, and we could tell that (Slim Chickens does too) the second we stepped in and met the founders in the office and the team, he said. It really was just a natural fit.

The future site of Slim Chickens, 5505 Arbor Chase Drive in Scio Township on Tuesday, Dec. 10 2024Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

The new Michigan location will be in a roughly 3,000-square-foot newly constructed building. The location will feature a double drive-thru and indoor seating for roughly 65 people as well as outdoor patio seating when the weather warms up. The business is actively hiring and plans to employ 100 people.

Brad describes Slim Chickens as not your typical fast-food concept. He said the goal is for customers to feel at home when they come in and order, and for the new location to become a part of the Scio Township community.

Were super excited about being the first (full-service restaurant in Michigan) and at the same time we take it extremely seriously in the fact that we want to be well prepared and well trained ... We want this to be a really good experience.

The brothers are hopeful that opening their first Slim Chickens restaurant outside of Ann Arbor will be a good spot for people to get to know the brand and fall in love with what it has to offer. They said theyre ready to pave the way for more locations in the future.

At the end of the day, we love to love people, whether or not thats our team members or our guests. Thats just kind of who we are, Todd said. Were thrilled and excited to get this one off the ground and running.

Brad said the group is actively pursuing their second and third Michigan locations. However, he said the group is not sharing details just yet.

Learn more about Slim Chickens online or on social media.

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LOWELL, MI  After an extensive search, the city of Lowell has named experienced law enforcement professional Dennis J. Albert its new police chief.

Albert, a trained firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT), begins his new duties with the Lowell Police Department on Feb. 17. He replaces Christopher Hurst, who retired after 31 years with the department, including four years as chief.

Following a 25-year career with the Kent County Sheriffs Office, most recently as a lieutenant, Albert will be responsible for the overall management of Lowells police operations, which include 12 officers serving a community of more than 4,100 residents.

In his new role, Albert will lead the recruitment, training, supervision, and professional development of the departments sworn officers. He will also respond to public safety emergencies, direct internal and high-profile investigations, recommend crime control strategies, develop proactive community relationships programs, and manage the departments budget and capital needs assessments.

We are incredibly pleased to welcome Dennis as our new chief of police, Lowell City Manager Mike Burns said. He brings a broad skill set to his new role, as well as a strong work ethic and effective leadership abilities. Dennis has spent his entire law enforcement career in West Michigan and knows our community and its needs.

Albert began his public safety career as a paid on-call firefighter for Grattan Township, a position he held for nine years while finishing his bachelors degree in criminal justice at Grand Valley State University.

Before moving up the ladder, he joined KCSO in March 1999 as a road patrol deputy sheriff. He completed additional training at GVSU to earn his law enforcement certification from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.

As part of KCSOs road patrol, Albert later served as a sergeant supervising 20 deputies assigned to keep county residents safe. He also served on the Tactical Apprehension and Confrontation (TAC) team, the FBI Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force and the Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Albert then served as a sergeant supporting Family Services, overseeing nine detectives focused on combatting child abuse, online predators and domestic violence. Most recently, he was the court security/transfer crew commander, overseeing the security of 34 courtrooms for the 17th Circuit, and 61st and 63rd District courts.

Additionally, he was recognized as the top recruit from GVSUs Police Academy in 1998, received the Distinguished Police Service Award in 2005 for apprehending and prosecuting an armed bank robbery suspect, and was awarded Enforcement Deputy of the Year in 2010 for his work leading the road patrol.

In the Dec. 11 news release, Albert stated that he is honored to have been chosen as Lowells new police chief.

As law enforcement professionals, our main objective is to protect the community members we serve and to provide them with the best possible assistance in their time of need, he said. I look forward to leading the department and ensuring our officers are well-trained and equipped for whatever situations they encounter.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Many West Michigan parents who dont send their children to public schools that rely on state funding choose an alternative - a private school education - where tuition may be costing tens of thousands of dollars per year.

One of the most important decisions for parents is where to send their child to school. There can be a number of factors involved in that decision, including academic quality, cost and scholarship availability when deciding between public and private schools.

The average private school tuition in Michigan is $8,224 per year, according to recently published lists for the 2024-25 school year from Private School Review, a website established in 2003 to profile thousands of private schools nationwide.

High school tuition is even more expensive on average - $13,008.

The site identified 78 of the most expensive Michigan private high schools, with 11 of those located in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties.

RELATED: See what Michigan private high schools are the most expensive to attend

Private School Review profiles thousands of private schools across the U.S., relying on both self-reported data from schools and information from the National Center for Education Statistics.

So, how do those tuition costs for private schools compare across West Michigan?

The range starts as low as $3,250 a year and shoots up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Here is Private School Reviews 2025 list of most expensive West Michigan high schools, ranked by tuition and presented from least expensive to most expensive.

11. Grand Rapids Seventh-day Adventist Academy

State Ranking: 70 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $3,250

Grades: K-12

Community: Grand Rapids

10. Calvary Schools of Holland

State Ranking: 60 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $4,900

Grades: K-12

Community: Holland

9. Grandville Calvin Christian High School

State Ranking: 56 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $6,110

Grades: PK-12

Community: Grandville

8. Western Michigan Christian School

State Ranking: 54 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $6,300

Grades: 7-12

Community: Muskegon

7. Covenant Christian High School

State Ranking: 46 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $7,954

Grades: 9-12

Community: Grand Rapids

6. Holland Christian High School

State Ranking: 45 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $8,000

Grades: 9-12

Community: Holland

5. Grand Rapids Christian High School

State Ranking: 31 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $9,445

Grades: 9-12

Community: Grand Rapids

4. Catholic Central High School

State Ranking: 27 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $11,850 (scholarships available)

Grades: 9-12

Community: Grand Rapids

3. West Catholic High School

State Ranking: 25 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $12,400 (scholarships available)

Grades: 9-12

Community: Grand Rapids

2. South Christian High School

State Ranking: 23 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $13,170

Grades: 9-12

Community: Byron Center

1. Lake Michigan Academy

State Ranking: 14 of 78 high schools

Tuition: $17,950

Grades: 1-12

Community: Grand Rapids

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KALAMAZOO, MI  A traveling, interactive exhibit highlighting the American Revolution is on display at one of Kalamazoos most historic buildings throughout December.

The American Revolution Experience opened on Monday, Dec. 2, at the 145-year-old Ladies Library Association building, 333 Park St., in downtown Kalamazoo. The exhibit runs through Tuesday, Dec. 31, with planned holiday closures from Dec. 23-26 and on Dec. 30.

The innovative, pop-up exhibit is being hosted by the Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The Kalamazoo stop, is the second and final scheduled stop in Michigan, a news release from the DAR chapter states.

The exhibit features display panels and interactive kiosks, using storytelling, illustration, technology and artifacts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of the nation.

A collaboration of the American Battlefield Trust and DAR, the exhibit invites visitors to consider the choice faced by members of the revolutionary generation as tensions mounted in the 1770s. Those choices included whether to risk their lives and livelihoods in pursuit of liberty or to remain loyal to the British crown.

The exhibit shares diverse viewpoints and experiences, touching on the journeys  both literal and figurative  of Patriots and Loyalists, men and women, Black and Native populations and even international allies. Rather than focusing only on generals and famous statesmen, it introduces audiences to drummer boys, military mapmakers and other ordinary people impacted.

The American Revolution secured our independence and created our national identity, expressing the ideals of liberty, equality and civic responsibility that have defined our country since 1776, said Sharon Carlson, Ladies Library Association of Kalamazoo President. We look forward to sharing this with the community and finding ways to engage as our nation observes its 250th birthday.

A companion exhibit, The Real Daughters of Kalamazoo: Exploring Local Ties to the American Revolution, uncovers the LLAs founding members ties with the American Revolution. The companion exhibit also spotlights Kalamazoo Countys sole Real Daughter, Helen Margaret Van Dolson Barrett (1831-1930).

Van Dolson Barretts father was a Revolutionary War veteran. The exhibit will include information about Barretts connections as well as other founding members who had direct ties to the Revolutionary War through family relationships and ties.

For more information on the LLA, visit ladieslibrarykzoo.org. For exhibit hours, click here. Parking is available in the lot at the corner of Lovell and Park streets.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  Jeffrey Kucharski pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of his ex-girlfriend.

Kucharski, 28 of Lawton, was charged with open murder in the fatal stabbing of Taylor Anne Dragicevich, 28, on May 20, 2023, at Emerald Park Apartments, 2210 East Cork St.

Kucharski is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 14, 2025.

The plea offer is a sentence agreement, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Williams said, meaning the parties have agreed to a sentence of 60 to 100 years with the Michigan Department of Corrections.

That will be his sentence, unless the judge decides at sentencing they cannot honor the agreement. In that case, Kucharski would have the option of withdrawing his plea and the case would be set for trial, Williams said.

Judge Tiffany Ankley ordered Kucharski to undergo a mental competency examination last year, court records state. His attorney filed a notice of intent to pursue an insanity defense and later withdrew it.

Dragicevich filed a restraining order against Kucharski, granted March 23, 2023. She outlined abuse allegations, including on March 4, 2023, when they were exchanging belongings after a recent breakup.

Kucharski was in jail May 10 to 11, 2023, for violating the order, according to Kalamazoo County Jail records.

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LANSING, MI  A proposed law that would require 3D print firearms, or ghost guns, to have serial numbers is on its way to the Michigan Senate floor for a vote.

The state senates civil Rights, judiciary and public safety committee approved Senate Bill 1149 in a vote of 5-2 during its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, in Lansing.

All five of the committees Democratic senators voted in favor of the bill while Republican committee senators Jim Runestad and Ruth Johnson voted against it.

Senator Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, first introduced the bill in November. During the committee meeting she highlighted that a ghost gun was used in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.

What makes these firearms so dangerous are not the gun aspect, but the ghost, McMorrow said. Unlike traditional firearms, these can be purchased or created without background checks by people with no training on firearms and be untraceable by law enforcement.

In 2016, the FBI recorded 1,758 ghost guns were recovered in criminal investigations. Four years later, in 2020, the number exploded to nearly 20,000 recovered, McMorrow said.

This (bill) does not ban guns, but prohibits firearms from being ghosts, she said.

If fully passed, the law would require 3D-printed gun to have a serial number added to them by a federally license firearms dealer within 10 days of being created. Antique and unusable decommissioned firearms are excluded from the rule.

Violating the law would be a one-year misdemeanor on first offense and a five-year felony on second offense.

Denise Week testified at the meeting in favor of the bill, telling committee members how her sons then 17-year-old best friend bought a ghost gun online with no restrictions and used it to shoot her son in the face.

He (The friend) was never asked for ID and he put it together watching YouTube videos. I never thought anything like this would happen, she said, thankful her son survived the shooting.

Related: Teen in critical condition after being shot in head by friend, police say

While the bill passed through the committee, it was not without opposition from several speaker in attendance arguing the proposed law is unconstitutional and would do nothing to stop criminal activity.

We oppose these bills. They are a solution in search of a problem, said Tom Lambert, an attorney representing Michigan Open Carry. Making an illegal activity more illegal wont change anything.

Lambert, along with a representative with the National Rifle Association, testified the law would only serve as a burden to law-abiding citizens and would make thousands of guns independently crafted by citizens illegal.

As an attorney, I hope you pass this (bill). I will take personal pleasure when this gets struck down and the state has to write a check for violating the rights of individuals, Lambert said.
LANSING  The state is backing the construction of two digesters that will turn animal waste into energy at Michigan dairy farms.

Freehold Energy RNG, a Nevada limited liability company, plans on building state-of-the art diary manure processing and biogas production facilities in St. Joseph County and Muskegon County to produce renewable natural gas, a project memo said. Renewable natural gas is an industry term for captured methane.
Kartik Aaryan calls himself 'a lone warrior' and says that despite giving hits, he will still have to 'hustle' in the industry

Sarika Sharma

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Shatrughan Sinha accepts cheating on his wife, Poonam Sinha with Reena Roy: "When you are out with your lover, you feel guilty for your wife"

Palak Vij

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Sonali Bendre shares pics from her spiritual journey to Ram Nagri, Ayodhya, see pics

Palak Vij

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Palak Vij

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Welcome actor Mushtaq Khan kidnapped in Meerut, tortured for ransom; back home now

Sarika Sharma

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Would love to have Deepinder Goyal on Shark Tank sometime again, says Sony LIV's Danish Khan

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Maryam Farooqui

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Zaheer Iqbal Rings in Birthday with Sonakshi Sinha and Family; Sonakshi calls him her "Best Boy"

M Snehanjali

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*Disclaimer - Brand Connect is a solution that allows brands to break the queue to gain better engagement among our audiences

Riya Gandhi

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Swaraj Singh Dhanjal

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Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

Danish Khan

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Arindam Roy

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Manjiri Patil

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Tata Power to foray into nuclear energy when govt opens up the sector, says CEO Praveer Sinha

Sweta Goswami

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Rohit Singh

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Paras Bisht

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Asha Menon

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Shriram AMC allots Rs 105 crore of preferential shares to Sanlam EM, triggering open offer for 26% stake by promoters

Rohit Singh

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Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

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

B Kumar

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UnitedHealth murder suspect has angry outburst as details of his life emerge

Arindam Roy

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Parimal Peeyush

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Bangladesh has assured action against perpetrators of violence concerning minorities: Foreign secretary Misri to parliamentary panel

Smriti Mishra

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Smriti Mishra

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Delhi election: No alliance with Congress, AAP will go solo, says Kejriwal

Priyanjali Ghose

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Priyanjali Ghose

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Explained: What is Telangana Thalli and why new statue design has sparked political firestorm

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Deblina Halder

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Karnataka: Schneider Electric to create 5,000 more jobs; Krones to set up new facility in Kolar

Christin Mathew Philip

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Panchamasali reservation protest in Karnataka: Why Lingayat community's demand became a headache for CM Siddaramaiah

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Rahul Gandhi meets Lok Sabha Speaker, asks him to expunge derogatory remarks against him

Arishaa Izaj

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All about Ivy League graduate Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO in US

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Top 10 news highlights from Syria: 'American-Zionist conspiracy; too soon to judge country's future'

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US mulls new Russia oil sanctions to weaken Putin; may hit Indian imports, spike global prices

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Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

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In this editing of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Indian banks gearing for change in new year, how the trading cycle will fare in 2024...

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Washington DC  In a coordinated international effort targeting a vast gold smuggling and money laundering network, the United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Kamlesh Pattni and a web of associated businesses and individuals.

The US Treasury Department announced the sanctions on Monday, coinciding with International Anti-Corruption Day, highlighting the global reach of the alleged criminal enterprise.

The Treasury Departments statement detailed a complex scheme allegedly orchestrated by Pattni, who reportedly cultivated a relationship with former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. The scheme, according to the US Treasury, involved generating cash through the sale of Zimbabwean natural resources in foreign jurisdictions.

The crucial element of the alleged fraud involved overreporting the amount of cash brought back into Zimbabwe, thereby allowing Pattni and his associates to receive compensation on the inflated figures. This, coupled with alleged bribery of Zimbabwean officials, provided protection for their illicit activities.

Pattni and members of his network engaged in a scheme wherein they would generate cash via the sale of Zimbabwean natural resources in foreign jurisdictions, the statement read.

When Pattni and his network would return to Zimbabwe with the cash from the sale of the natural resources, they would over-report the amount of cash being brought back into the country, receive compensation on the overreported cash, and bribe government officials in Zimbabwe to receive protection for their illicit activity.

The networks operations spanned multiple countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Kyrgyzstan, with entities within these nations also facing sanctions. The Treasury Department highlighted Pattnis alleged use of bribery to facilitate illicit activities, employing trusted supporters to obscure ownership and creating a complex global network of businesses to conceal the fraudulent scheme. This, the statement claimed, deprived Zimbabwean citizens of the benefits of their countrys natural resources, enriching corrupt officials and criminal actors.

Across the globe, when corrupt actors like Pattni choose to exploit openings in governance structures to benefit themselves and their cronies, communities suffer and public trust is undermined, said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. Corruption respects no borders and its consequences are felt worldwide. As we mark International Anti-Corruption Day, the United States reaffirms our commitment to use all available tools to hold these individuals to account for their schemes.

The sanctions target not only Pattni himself but also numerous individuals and companies within his alleged network. Sun Multinational DMCC, ostensibly a legitimate company, is a central component of this network, ultimately owned by Marwa Investments Limited, a company controlled by Pattnis brother-in-law, Mukesh Manuskhlal Vaya. Swetang Sinha, Sun Multinationals CEO, identified Pattni as the group chairman, and the Treasury Department implicated Sinha in corruption involving President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was sanctioned earlier this year.

Other key figures within the network include Rahul Sood, Sun Multinationals managing director, and Mishaal Hitesh Pattni, Pattnis nephew. Both played significant roles in managing and facilitating the networks activities across numerous companies.

These companies include Fiza Gold and Bullion Trading L.L.C, Golden Luxury Jewellery Trading L.L.C, Memories Golden Jewellery L.L.C, Ruhmeer Diamonds DMCC, and Sun Star Travel & Tourism L.L.C, all part of the Sun Multinational group. Sood also has interests in Sahara Petroleum PTE. LTD. in Singapore and Precious Bullion DMCC in the UAE, where Mukesh Vaya is an authorised signatory.

The networks reach extends to other companies controlled by Pattni, including Rubini Investment Group Limited (British Virgin Islands), Samaria Holdings Limited and Suzan General Trading JLT (UAE), and Manurama Limited (Kenya). In Zimbabwe, Pattni has long controlled Suzan General Trading (PVT) LTD. Sanjay Keshavji Vaya, considered Pattnis right-hand man in Zimbabwe, and his son, Raj Vaya Sanjay, are also implicated, with the latter allegedly providing gold and serving as a director on Skorus Investments (PVT) LTD.

David Paul Crosby, another director of Skorus Investments Limited, is also implicated, providing gold and acting as a courier. Crosby controls several companies based in Kyrgyzstan. Dmytro Abakumov, another sanctioned individual, acted as a courier and personal trader for Pattni.

The UK also announced its own sanctions against Pattni and four others, including his wife and brother-in-law, aiming to disrupt and deter his business dealings. Pattnis past includes alleged involvement in the Goldenberg scandal in Kenya, a major gold and currency fraud in the 1990s. While he faced trial in 2006, the proceedings collapsed. He later became a self-proclaimed pastor and moved to Zimbabwe, where he was implicated in Al Jazeeras investigation into the Zimbabwean gold mafia, allegations he denies.

The US sanctions freeze all assets of Pattni and his associates within US jurisdiction, and any entities 50% or more owned by them are also blocked. The Treasury Department warned that individuals engaging in transactions with the sanctioned individuals and entities may also face sanctions or enforcement action.

The coordinated action by the US and UK underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the determination of both governments to combat transnational financial crime.

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Yves here. Its intriguing to see that some not-ideological outlets are treating some of RFK, Jr.s hobbyhorses as potentially having merit. Recall that some studies have found a weak correlation between proximity of residence to electrical towers and childhood leukemia. While US cancer organizations pooh pooh the idea that carrying a cancer in a bra can cause cancer, a study in Taiwan found a correlation between excessive cell phone use and breast cancer, including having the phone near the breasts. So this topic is not as settled as some might think.

I wish RFJ, Jr. would add bees to his list of cell phone tower radiation concerns, since studies have linked it to colony collapse disorder.

By Margaret Manto, a NOTUS reporter and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow. Originally published at NOTUS, a publication from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute; cross posted from UnDark

Do cell phones and 5G cause cancer? Its a question that has plagued Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  and if Kennedy is confirmed as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, its one he will have power to explore.

The next-generation telecommunications network should be discontinued until it has been sufficiently demonstrated that there are no real and serious health risks, Kennedy wrote on X in 2020. Kennedy did not respond to a request for comment.

In a July 2024 episode of his podcast, Kennedy spoke at length about what he saw as the risks of cell phone radiationand how he believed research into the topic has been systematically suppressed by the telecommunications industry.

The amount of radiation produced by cell phones is regulated by two agencies: the Food and Drug Administration, which generates recommendations for reducing health risks, and the Federal Communications Commission, which turns those recommendations into regulations for manufacturers and cell phone service providers. Other agencies are also involved in cell phone radiation research, including the National Toxicology Program, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. Both the FDA and the NIH are part of HHS.

Many experts say that research has not shown a correlation between the kind of radiation produced by cell phones and the health issues that Kennedy has said they can cause, including cancer.

There is no evidence that these radiation wavelengths cause cancer. They dont cause DNA damage, they dont sink in beyond the skin, said Tim Rebbeck, a professor who studies cancer prevention at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Rebbeck added that the kinds of radiation that are known to cause cancer, like gamma rays and x-rays, are much shorter wavelengths than the radiation caused by cell phones  and longer wavelengths have never been shown to be associated with cancer risk.

I think that if anybodys cell phone got overheated to the point that it would cause DNA damage, youd know that. This isnt something that would be invisible to you, Rebbeck said.

But some scientists say that more research is needed to know whether cell phones and wireless pose a risk to humans, citing studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program that found that high doses of the radiation emitted by 2G and 3G cell phone signals could cause tumors in rats and mice. These scientists say there has only been limited research on the newer forms of cell phone signals.

Were basically flying blind on 5G, said Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley, and a scientific adviser for a group of scientists advocating for greater research into cell phone radiation.

Some scientists, including Moskowitz, say the amount of research into cell phone risks has been limited in the U.S., in part due to the power of the telecommunications industry.

Other experts say research has been ongoing and thorough, pointing to recent epidemiological studies that have taken place outside the U.S. and have shown no correlation between cell phone use levels and cancer rates. These types of studies may be more indicative of actual risk levels to humans, said Jerrold Bushberg  a professor of nuclear sciences at the University of California, Davis, and a member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements  calling epidemiological studies the gold standard for establishing potential hazards from environmental sources.

Animals arent humans, so theres going to be differences that we cant account for directly. And the animal experiments are done at higher exposure levels than people are exposed to, Bushberg said. Even if we see something [like cancer in animals], that doesnt mean it will happen in humans.

The FCCs regulations on cell phone radiation levels have gone largely unchanged since the mid-1990s. Kennedy has been involved with efforts to compel the FCC to update its regulations on cell phone radiation in the past. In 2020, Kennedys nonprofit, Childrens Health Defense, sued the FCC after the agency declined to update its health and safety guidelines for 5G and wireless technology. In 2021, the courts sided with the nonprofit, stating in their decision that the FCC had failed to provide a reasoned explanation for its determination that its guidelines adequately protect against the harmful effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation unrelated to cancer.

The wireless industry is rolling out thousands of new transmitters amid a growing body of research that calls cellphone safety into question. Federal regulators say theres nothing to worry about  even as they rely on standards established in 1996, Kennedy wrote on X in 2022.

David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany and a petitioner in that lawsuit, said Kennedy would push for tighter regulations on cell phone radiation in addition to more research into the possible health effects.

In my judgment, there just needs to be much more research here, and its not been high on the governments list of priorities, Carpenter said. If Bobby Kennedy is confirmed as secretary of HHS, you can be very sure that that issue is going to get a lot more attention.

Moskowitz said that he would like to see Kennedy prioritize research into cell phone radiation with the intention of updating the FCCs regulations.

We would like to see more systematic research that focuses on setting safe guidelines in the long term, Moskowitz said. This is a hard message to sell, given the economics and the demand for 24/7 wireless, but clearly the issue has gotten totally out of hand in terms of our exposures.

But Rebbeck said there hasnt been any research data that would suggest a reason to change the current policy, so it would be unlikely that any proposed changes would be based on anything weve learned about the science of cell phones.

The best evidence is all pretty clear around cell phones right now, and I would make sure that the policy recommendations are not only based in science, but also dont cause issues that are unnecessary, Rebbeck said.

Moskowitz said that while he would like to think that Kennedy would be able to prioritize research into cell phone safety if confirmed as HHS secretary, hes not optimistic about his chances.

Were talking about an industry that spends over 100 million dollars a year lobbying Congress, Moskowitz said. Its hard to be terribly optimistic that one person can make a difference, even in positions of power in the administration, when up against one of the most powerful industries in the world.
Grey Swans Are Circling Charles Hugh Smith, Of Two Minds

Accurately predicting the next crash is impossible FT

U.S. economy: An exceptional boom or a bubble to burst? The Next Recession

Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-December 2024 Calculated Risk

Climate

China?

Myanmar

Senior Chinese officials hold private talks with anti-junta Kachin organisation Myanmar Now

The Koreas

South Korean ex-defence minister tried to kill himself: Prisons official Channel News Asia

Syraqistan

Syrian rebels had help from Ukraine in humiliating Russia David Ignatius, WaPo. CommentaryL

Due to economic challenges, CIA is now providing standard uniforms to employees. pic.twitter.com/aN6sWGKybP  Iran Military (@IRIran_Military) December 10, 2024

The Roads to Damascus New Left Review

The Wicked Witch Is Dead, but Will Syria Return to Life? Haaretz

The fall of Assad is a defeat for Russia  and no win for the US Responsible Statecraft

White House: US troops are staying in Syria Channel News Asia

Second Islamic State Leader Killed in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Territory The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 2022.

* * *

Ex-president Rivlin: Queen Elizabeth believed that every Israeli was either a terrorist or a son of a terrorist  report Times of Israel

Singapore Property Billionaires Seek Middle East Opportunities With Abu Dhabi Family Office Forbes
Biden bombs 75 targets in Syria, opening possibility ISIS uses Syrias massive chemical and biological weapons arsenal to wipe out U.S. food supply

Now that the psychotic and demented Biden regime has bombed Syria, it wouldnt be difficult for ISIS to take their massive supply of chemical and biological weapons , fly to Latin America or Mexico, and then just walk right into the USA through our open southern border. This would be like 9/11 times 1,000, where ISIS terrorists get revenge on capitalistic America, but this time using chemical weapons to wipe out our food and water supply, basically starving 330 million people almost overnight.

With less than 45 days until Trumps inauguration, the Biden freakshow is committing horrific acts of war against nations loaded with chemical and biological weapons in what can be termed the opposite of a lame duck session. How many more ways can the Biden regime come up with to start World War III? Bomb Syria. Bomb Lebanon. Bomb Russia with U.S. weapons from Ukraine. Whats next, bomb North Korea and Iran in an effort to install democracy. Well, the Biden regime sure doesnt know how to do that, because they wrecked our own democracy here.

World War III could mean no new food or fresh water for Americans for months or even years, so how much do you have stored right now?

Yes, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a massive series of airstrikes deep into Syria to fight ISIS, just after Assad fled the country at the brink of collapse. This means the ISIS insurgency is at full throttle, going after the massive arsenal of chemical and biological weapons in Syria, that they can use to strike back at anyone and everyone that is striking them. That would be Israel and the USA.

Using B-52 bombers and F-15 jets, but without any kind of congressional approval or the support of the American people, the psychotic and dementia-suffering Joe Biden decided hell attack Syria, a country that retains several tons of chemical weapons. Syria is also suspected to be harboring an undeclared form of uranium, along with several highly accurate anti-ship cruise missiles that can carry chemical warheads, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These missiles can be launched from submarines, which means if ISIS could get within about 200 miles of an American shoreline, we would all be in deep trouble. Seeing how Biden has all of our military resources overseas, that most likely would be a cake walk for terrorists.

Syria has been known to produce ballistic missiles with very little foreign assistance, and with all their ties to terrorist organizations, the USA is now under very high risk of being attacked by ISIS with those chemical and biological weapons loaded onto missile warheads, or detonated in metropolitan cities like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. There's also the threat that ISIS could use these weapons to attack our nuclear facilities, and that could cause a radiation nightmare that would also wipe out the U.S. food supply and fresh water supply almost instantly.

Since Bill Gates and the Chinese Communist Party own so much U.S. farmland now, thanks to the hapless Biden regime opening doors and assisting land deals, it wouldnt take much planning to wipe out the American food supply and detonate chemical weapons at U.S. water plants across the country. Gates and the CCP want nothing more than to wipe out most of the American populace and take complete control of this country.

It's looking more and more like thats the plan for the Biden regime, as they continue to attack sophisticated nations around the world with no sensible end game or sane rationale whatsoever. Make sure your home is well stocked with survival food and fresh water for a few months, and tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat-led government aggression, lies, and propaganda that comes at us every day now.

Sources for this article include:

ArmsControl.org

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
Daniel Pennys NOT GUILTY verdict upholds the right to self-defense

The not guilty verdict for Marine veteran Daniel Penny in the Jordan Neely case exposes the liberal medias exploitation of race to stoke division, ignoring the facts of self-defense and public safety.

Jordan Neely, a homeless man with a history of mental illness and drug use, posed a threat on a subway by shouting death threats while under the influence. Penny's actions were a justified response to protect others.

Instead of focusing on mental health, homelessness and public safety, the liberal media framed the case as a racial issue, portraying Penny as a villain and Neely as a martyr, distorting the truth for ideological gain.

The jury's decision to acquit Penny was based on the principle of self-defense and the law, yet the medias rejection of this verdict and calls for protests undermine justice and promote chaos.

The case underscores the need for responsible journalism that prioritizes truth over sensationalism. The medias race-baiting tactics only deepen societal divides and betray the principles of justice and fairness.

The acquittal of Daniel Penny in the tragic death of Jordan Neely has once again exposed the liberal media's insidious attempts to weaponize race and stoke division in America. Penny, a Marine veteran and architecture student, has been found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide for his actions on a Manhattan subway last year. The case has been framed by some as a modern-day lynching, a narrative that is as irresponsible as it is false.

The facts of the case are clear: Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man with a history of mental illness and drug use, entered a crowded subway car shouting death threats while under the influence of synthetic marijuana. Passengers, terrified by his erratic behavior, were grateful when Penny intervened to protect them. Neelys actions were not those of a peaceful individual; they were those of someone who posed a clear and present danger to others. Pennys actions, while tragic, were an act of self-defense and defense of others  a right enshrined in the very fabric of society.

Yet, the liberal media has chosen to ignore these facts, instead portraying Penny as a villain and Neely as a martyr. This is not journalism; it is propaganda. By framing the case as a racial issue, the media has deliberately distorted the narrative to fit their agenda. They have turned a tragic incident into a rallying cry for a so-called race war, all while ignoring the real issues at play: mental health, homelessness and public safety.

The liberal medias obsession with race-baiting is not just irresponsible; it is dangerous. By portraying Penny as a racist and Neely as a victim of systemic oppression, they have created a false dichotomy that serves only to deepen the divide in the already fractured society. This is not about race; it is about self-defense, public safety, and the right of every citizen to protect themselves and others from harm.

Liberal media encourages division and violence

The jury's decision to acquit Penny was the correct one. It was a decision based on the facts, the law and the principle of self-defense. Yet, the liberal media has chosen to reject this verdict, instead calling for protests and even vigilante justice. This is not the voice of reason; it is the voice of chaos. By encouraging division and violence, the liberal media is doing more harm than good.

The case of Daniel Penny is a stark reminder of the importance of self-defense and the right to protect oneself and others. It is also a reminder of the dangers of a media that prioritizes sensationalism over truth. The liberal medias attempts to turn this case into a race war are not just misguided; they are a betrayal of the very principles of justice and fairness that they claim to uphold.

In the end, the truth will prevail. Daniel Penny acted in self-defense, and the jurys decision reflects this. The liberal medias attempts to distort this truth will not change the facts. They will only serve to further divide an already divided nation. It is time for the media to stop playing with fire and start reporting the truth. The lives of innocent people depend on it.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com 1

NYPost.com

FoxNews.com 2
US hypocrisy reaches a new level: Israels occupation of Syria is security, Russias moves in Ukraine are aggression

This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that following the fall of Bashar Assad, the 1974 separation of forces agreement between his country and Damascus is no longer valid. This deal, brokered by the United Nations, prohibited military deployments in the buffer zone of the Golan Heights, a region legally recognized as Syrian territory but occupied by the Jewish state since 1967.

(Article by Nadezhda Romanenko republished from RT.com)

Netanyahus reasoning? Since Syrias internationally recognized government no longer exists after Assads departure, he no longer considers prior treaties with Damascus binding. According to this interpretation, Israel is justified in bombing Syrian airfields, seizing ports, and even expanding its territorial occupation  all under the guise of ensuring its national security.

The US State Department immediately endorsed this position, calling West Jerusalems actions a necessary security measure in a volatile region. Washington, ever eager to back its Middle Eastern ally, showed no hesitation in adapting its rules-based order to fit its strategic goals.

But heres where the double standard becomes glaring. In 2014, when Ukraines elected president, Viktor Yanukovich, was ousted in a violent coup supported by Western powers, Russia took a strikingly similar legal position. Moscow argued that with the collapse of Kievs legitimate government, the countrys constitutional framework collapsed. Crimea held a referendum, reuniting with Russia, while eastern regions in the Donbass sought autonomy.

Washingtons response? Furious condemnation. The US declared that despite the coup, Ukraines sovereignty and borders remained intact, insisting that all pre-existing agreements still applied. Moscows actions were labeled an illegal annexation and imperialist expansion. This starkly contrasts with Washingtons current endorsement of Israels seizure of Syrian territory under nearly identical legal reasoning.

A double standard dressed as policy

The hypocrisy couldnt be more obvious. In Syria, Israels territorial ambitions are labeled security-driven and legally defensible, despite clear violations of international law. In Ukraine, Russias security concerns were dismissed as imperial aggression, regardless of NATOs relentless eastward expansion threatening its borders. Both Moscow and West Jerusalem justified their actions by citing urgent national security concerns  yet only Israels reasoning was embraced as legitimate by Washington, while Russias was dismissed as imperialist aggression. And resulted in sanctions and condemnation.

The US approach reveals a deeper truth: the so-called rules-based international order is not based on rules at all  at least not in any consistent sense. It is a system where the parameters are invented, reinterpreted, or ignored entirely, depending on whether an ally or an adversary is involved.

The US justifies Israels actions by framing them as defensive, despite the country bombing Syria with impunity for years, long before Assads government fell. Meanwhile, when Russia invoked the same principle of self-defense and historical legitimacy in Crimea, it faced unprecedented sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and accusations of violating the rules-based global order.

Who writes the rules?

This selective enforcement exposes the fundamental lie underpinning American foreign policy. International law is applied strictly to adversaries, while allies are given a free pass. If treaties are void when governments collapse, as Washington now claims in Syria, why did the same logic not apply after the 2014 Maidan coup in Ukraine?

The reason is simple: the US does not care about international law or consistent principles. It only cares about advancing its strategic interests while pretending to uphold the moral high ground. This isnt diplomacy; its raw power politics dressed up as defending democracy.

The future of the Middle East and beyond

Netanyahus declaration sets a dangerous precedent. If international agreements can be discarded whenever a government changes due to force, what remains of global stability? If the US is willing to let Israel redraw Middle Eastern borders at will, how can it object when Russia seeks to protect its own security in Eastern Europe?

Israels actions will likely escalate violence in Syria and provoke further regional instability. Moscow, meanwhile, will undoubtedly see this as confirmation that the Wests legal arguments against Russias role in Ukraine were always hollow. The lesson here is that power, not law, defines the modern international order  and Washingtons selective memory is proof enough.

By endorsing Israels territorial seizures while condemning Russias moves in Ukraine, the US has obliterated any remaining credibility it might have had on the international stage. The rules-based international order has long been a convenient fiction  now, even the pretense is gone.

Read more at: RT.com
Columnist Jonathon Van Maren reveals how leftists are manipulating language in debates on abortion, euthanasia and transgenderism

Jonathon Van Maren highlights how leftists use Orwellian tactics to manipulate language in debates on abortion, transgender issues and euthanasia, influencing public discourse and political outcomes.

Van Maren criticizes the redefinition of terms like "misgendering," arguing that using biological pronouns is labeled disrespectful, even when accurate, and notes how phrases like "gender-affirming care" replace "sex-change surgery" to reshape narratives.

In France, broadcaster CNews was fined for stating that abortion is a leading cause of death, illustrating efforts to suppress language that contradicts ideological narratives on abortion.

Van Maren draws parallels to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, warning that controlling language can limit free thought and enforce ideological conclusions, as seen in the novels depiction of Newspeak and totalitarianism.

Van Maren emphasizes that language manipulation is part of a broader trend affecting various contentious issues, cautioning against the dangers of allowing ideological agendas to dictate acceptable language and public discourse.

LifeSiteNews columnist writer Jonathon Van Maren recently discussed how leftists ramp up on using the Orwellian attacks on language within the debates surrounding abortion, transgender issues and euthanasia.

On the latest episode of "The Van Maren Show" on LifeSiteNews, Van Maren discussed how language manipulation can significantly influence political discourse. For instance, on the transgender movement, Van Maren criticized the redefinition and enforcement of terms such as "misgendering." He argued that using biological pronouns, even if factually accurate, is often vilified as disrespectful.

"If you referred accurately to "Caitlyn" Jenner as a male, which he is, you would be accused of 'misgendering' even though you correctly gendered Mr. Jenner. And so, it's really, really absurd to see the situation that we find ourselves in," he said.

Van Maren pointed to the shift in language surrounding procedures for those undergoing gender transitions. He also noted that terms like "gender-affirming care" have replaced "sex-change surgery" or "transitioning" and have subtly reshaped the narrative regarding gender transitioning.

"Why did they not want to call it 'transitioning' anymore? Because they recognize that even when they said the word 'transition,' there was sort of an implicit acknowledgment that you were transitioning somebody from one thing to the other. So you're transitioning a male into a female or a female into a male. But, of course, the premise of gender ideology is that if somebody says that they are female, they were always female; they were never male. And so 'transition' is too much of a concession," he said.

Aside from the transgender movement, Van Maren also cited the controversial decision in France to explore the abortion debate. The Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (Arcom) recently fined French broadcaster CNews 100,000 euros ($106,000) after journalist Aymeric Pourbaix stated that abortion is the leading cause of death worldwide. Arcom ruled that the channel had violated its obligation to present information with "honesty and rigor," claiming that abortion does not qualify as a cause of death.

"In other words, abortion, which ends the life of a developing human being in the womb, that's what abortion is for. You are not allowed to say that on French TV. They're trying to make it essentially illegal for saying that abortion is a cause of death, even though that is indisputably true. It's just truly ludicrous," Van Maren said. said.

Van Maren warns about extreme censorship due to language manipulation

That day, Van Maren compared the role of language manipulation to George Orwell's observations in his novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four."

"Nineteen Eighty-Four" is a dystopian novel written and published by English writer George Orwell in 1949. It is set in a fictional totalitarian superstate called Oceania. The novel presents a society controlled by the Party, led by the omnipresent figure Big Brother. The Party enforces absolute loyalty through surveillance, propaganda and a restrictive language called Newspeak, designed to eliminate dissent and free thought. Key concepts like doublethink and accepting contradictory beliefs, are reflected in slogans such as "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery" and "Ignorance is strength."

The novel criticizes the dangers of totalitarianism, propaganda and unaccountable governments while highlighting the fragility of truth, freedom and individuality under oppressive regimes.

"Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four as a warning after years of brooding on the twin menaces of Nazism and Stalinism. Its depiction of a state where daring to think differently is rewarded with torture, where people are monitored every second of the day, and where party propaganda trumps free speech and thought is a sobering reminder of the evils of unaccountable governments," Cathy Lowne wrote for Britannica.

Throughout the episode, Van Maren stressed that the control and redefinition of language are not isolated to one issue but are part of a broader trend. From reframing euthanasia debates to altering terminology in public discourse, he warned of the dangers of allowing ideological agendas to dictate acceptable language.

"George Orwell really understood that if you can actually limit the number of words people are permitted to use to discuss an issue, you can box people into an enforced conclusion," he said. Van Maren then warned the public about how language manipulation started to influence various contentious debates, even though we have not yet reached the extreme censorship depicted in 1984.

Visit Wokies.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video to learn how gender ideology destroyed a father and his relationship with his son.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Parents rally against Planned Parenthood and California school district for trying to infringe on their parental rights and pushing WOKE ideologies onto students.

WOKE POLICE: California AG urges shoppers to document and report department stores that lack "gender-neutral" kids sections.

Newly elected New Brunswick premier will allow students to choose own pronouns in school without parental consent.

Walmart, America's largest private employer, drops anti-white DEI policies as activist Robby Starbuck slays another corporate woke program.

Marketing director responsible for WOKE Jaguar rebrand is also an LGBT activist who supports Black Lives Matter.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

Britannica.com

Brighteon.com
Man jailed for secretly giving abortion pills to pregnant girlfriend without her consent, killing the baby

Stuart Worby, 40, was found guilty of secretly giving his pregnant partner mifepristone and misoprostol pills to induce a miscarriage without her knowledge or consent.

Worby acquired the pills from a friend who secured them through a telemedicine appointment at Gynae Center, a major U.K. abortion provider, without an in-person consultation.

The victim, 15 weeks pregnant at the time, was unaware of the actions taken by Worby, which left her unable to conceive in the future and traumatized by the ordeal.

Worby was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while the friend who helped procure the pills was convicted of complicity.

The incident has increased calls for an immediate end to the procurement of abortion pills by mail and a full inquiry into the Gynae Center.

A 40-year-old man named Stuart Worby has been found guilty of secretly administering abortion pills to his then-pregnant partner without her knowledge and consent.

According to LifeSiteNews, Worby got mifepristone and misoprostol pills through Neuza Cepeda, the girlfriend of co-defendant Wayne Finney. Cepeda secured the pills through a telemedicine appointment at Gynae Center, one of the largest abortion providers in the United Kingdom, without ever having an in-person consultation with a medical professional.

When Worby got the pills, he crushed the mifepristone into the orange juice of his partner and inserted the misoprostol into her during a sexual encounter.

Worby's girlfriend, who was 15 weeks pregnant at the time, had no idea that Worby had procured the pills online or that he had taken such drastic action to induce a miscarriage. The victim, whose identity has been withheld to protect her privacy, testified in court about the devastating impact the ordeal has had on her life. She also revealed that she is now in a new relationship but has been left unable to conceive a child as a result of the traumatic experience.

"The only baby that I could have had was the one I lost," she said.

In line with this, the Norwich Crown Court sentenced Worby to 12 years in prison for administering abortion pills to his pregnant partner without her consent, while Cepeda was convicted of complicity in the crime. On the other hand, Wayne Finney, who was initially implicated in the case, was found not guilty after maintaining that he had only researched the pills and played no active role in administering them. (Related: Report reveals a Mexican drug cartel is using the U.S. Postal Service to ship black market abortion pills all over America.)

Right to Life U.K. calls for an immediate end to the "pills by post" practice

The case of Worby and his ex-girlfriend has prompted campaign group Right to Life U.K. to call for an immediate end to the "pills by post" practice.

"This is not an isolated incident and before at-home abortion schemes were made permanent, MPs warned that the scheme would likely be used to obtain pills that would be used by third parties to perform an abortion on a woman without her knowing," Right to Life U.K. noted.

"We are calling for the Government to immediately end the 'pills by post' at-home abortion scheme," Right to Life U.K. spokesperson Catherine Robinson said. "Under this scheme one of the U.K.'s largest private abortion providers supplied pills that were later used by Stuart Worby to spike a woman's drink and end the life of her unborn child at 15 weeks gestation."

Robinson also called for a full inquiry into The Gynae Center, the provider that supplied the abortion pills.

"We are calling for a full inquiry into The Gynae Center, the abortion provider that supplied the abortion pills that Stuart Worby used," she continued. "Had at-home abortions not been introduced, Stuart Worby would not have been able to obtain these pills from this abortion provider, and this tragic case would not have happened."

Visit Abortions.news for more stories about abortion drugs.

Watch this video that talks about the Supreme Court's decision to restore access to mifepristone.

This video is from the Pool Pharmacy channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Canada passes controversial bill providing FREE contraception and abortion pills to all.

Kamala Harris blames Georgia abortion laws for death of two pregnant women who took abortion pills.

Louisiana classifies abortion pills as controlled DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES.

REPORT: FDA used flawed studies, bad data to justify allowing abortion pills to be sent through the mail by pharmacists.

PILL HOARDERS: Maryland officials buy $1.2M worth of abortion pills prior to impending nationwide ban.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

RighttoLife.org.uk

Brighteon.com
Mike Adams Sermon 61: Why human civilization is Gods FAILED EXPERIMENT

Mike Adams argues that human civilization is a failed experiment due to widespread wickedness and evil, leading to divine judgment.

Adams interprets the Seven Trumpets and Seven Bowls from Revelation as seven cosmic events that will destroy Earth and human civilization.

Adams asserts that God's love is conditional; those who do not love God will be "killed," emphasizing the biblical perspective on divine retribution.

Adams criticizes contemporary institutions like media, churches, Hollywood and the music industry for being overrun by Satanism and promoting evils like abortion and depopulation.

Adams urges people to prioritize spiritual growth and closeness with God, rather than worrying about Earth's potential destruction, as humanity's ultimate test is for the spiritual realm.

The 61st sermon of the Health Ranger Mike Adams for the Church of Natural Abundance touched on why human civilization is God's failed experiment.

The sermon, based from the book of Revelation, delivered a profound and unsettling message that tackles the implications of God's judgment on human civilization. It painted a vivid picture of a world consumed by wickedness, leading to its ultimate destruction at the hands of divine wrath. (Related: Mike Adams Sermon 89: GODS JUDGMENT upon the WICKED.)

The Bible nutrition educator addressed the stark reality outlined in the last book of the New Testament. The Seven Trumpets and Seven Bowls, which he interprets as seven cosmic impacts, will devastate human civilization and Earth to make way for a new one.

"The Seven Trumpets and the seven bowls are clear as day," Adams said. "These are seven cosmic impacts with Earth that destroy human civilization and essentially level the planet and ultimately kill off all human beings."

He argued that God's love, though given by default, is conditional. The Father and His Son Jesus love people by default, but those who do not love God in return will be killed. For those who have read the Bible, this perspective is not up for debate.

"If you believe the Word of God, then you already know the answer. Yes, God wipes out civilizations that turn against him. That is not debated."

While humanity can change course for the better, Adams emphasized that this is all just a test. "This is a simulation created by God as a test for your soul," he said.

"The real world is the one after this world, the spiritual reality. That's what you're being tested for, and that's what you're building up in terms of your behavior and being in God's good graces. And it's sometimes difficult for people to hear that God kills those who disobey."

Modern society has been overrun by Satanism and evil

The Bible nutrition educator pointed out that modern society in the world today has already been overrun by Satanism and evil. Institutions such as corporate media, megachurches, Hollywood and the music industry have been dominated by demonic influences.

He also called out the celebration of abortion and post-birth abortion as "biblical-level evil." Other societal ills under this twisted category include biological weapons development, fake pandemics, depopulation vaccines and the poisoning of the food supply.

Modern society has reached a new level of evil possibly surpassing that of Sodom and Gomorrah. God's experiment on Earth has clearly failed, with human civilization becoming like a rabid dog that is destructive and dangerous.

But Adams warned that God, like a responsible breeder, might eventually decide to "pull the plug" on his experiment. This divine intervention could be through the use of space rocks or planet killers that God could use to destroy Earth  something St. John of Patmos dubs the Seven Trumpets and Seven Bowls in Revelation.

The Health Ranger concluded his sermon by saying that people should focus on spiritual growth and closeness with God, as well as helping others to be spiritually red-pilled rather than fretting over the possible end of the world.

Follow Revelations.news for more news about God's judgment on humankind.

Listen to the 61st sermon of the Health Ranger Mike Adams for the Church of Natural Abundance about why humanity is God's failed experiment.

This video is from the Abundance Church channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Sermon 72: Previously documented meteor impacts on Earth are previews of the 7 TRUMPETS in Revelation.

Sermon 56: Mike Adams discusses the biblical COSMIC IMPACTS prophesied to reset Earth.

Sermon 69: God already gave humanity the answers to pass the FINAL EXAM OF LIFE.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Abundance.church
Ex-Secret Service agent warns Trump could face another deadly assassination attempt before his inauguration

Former Secret Service agent Richard Staropoli warns that President-elect Donald Trump faces unprecedented threats, including the possibility of an attack before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025.

Staropoli, who served as Trump's chief information officer of homeland security during his first term, believes the next threat could be "of a much bigger magnitude" than previous attempts, such as the assassination attempt that injured Trump during his 2024 campaign.

Staropoli criticizes the current state of the Secret Service, stating it is not as effective as in the past and has been "politically compromised," with reforms like drone use being unnecessary distractions from basic security protocols.

Staropoli questions the Secret Service's ability to protect Trump, warning that a more experienced attacker could pose a significant danger, especially in the lead-up to the inauguration.

Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. acknowledged the agency's shortcomings but outlined reforms, including hiring more personnel and using drones, which Staropoli dismisses as insufficient to address the growing threats.

Former United States Secret Service agent Richard Staropoli has warned that President-elect Donald Trump still faces grave threats and could even be attacked before his inauguration.

The threats to the personal safety of Trump are unprecedented. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump faced two assassination attempts, including one that injured him.

Staropoli served as a special agent in the Secret Service for over 25 years and was appointed by Trump during his first term as his chief information officer of homeland security. In an interview with "America Reports" on Fox News, he warned that Trump could face a threat "of a much bigger magnitude" than the assassination attempt that injured him before he even took office on Jan. 20, 2025. (Related: Several Trump cabinet and administration nominees targeted with BOMB THREATS and SWATTING ATTEMPTS.)

In the same interview, Staropoli also opined that he does not feel the most confident regarding the Secret Service's ability to protect Trump.

"The Secret Service that you see out there today is not the Secret Service of yesteryear. Somewhere along the line, they've completely dropped the ball," said Staropoli, who added that testimony from Secret Service officials before the House of Representatives Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump, including by Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr., is all "a smokescreen to cover up the shortcomings of a politically compromised agency."

Secret Service may once again fail to protect Trump

Rowe recently testified before the task force, during which he acknowledged the agency's many shortcomings and outlined the steps it is taking to enhance its security protocols, including hiring several hundred more personnel and uniformed agents and expanding the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for reconnaissance. Staropoli criticized the latter attempt at reform as unnecessary.

"That's all great, but you need to get back to the basics," said Staropoli. "What made the Secret Service great was its ability to put human intelligence and manpower on the streets and effectively secure the environment to make it safe for the President of the United States."

"I don't see that here. As a matter of fact, I don't think I'd be alone in saying that I certainly can see something happening between now and inauguration day," he added, this time warning that it could come in the form of a much more experienced individual with a firearm, rather than the relatively amateur Thomas Matthew Crooks  who shot Trump in the ear.

"It's not going to be some 20-year-old kid on the roof of a building that's allowed to get within 100 yards," Staropoli warned. "It's going to be something of a much bigger magnitude and I don't think the Secret Service is anywhere equipped to handle that situation."

Learn more about the many threats to the national security of the United States, including another attempted assassination against the president-elect, at NationalSecurity.news.

Watch this Fox News report discussing the tumultuous final hearing of the House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Trump.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Antifa groups recruiting, organizing and mobilizing for violence during Donald Trump's second term in office as part of the "resistance" 2.0  be prepared to defend yourself.

AOC encourages radical Left to protest outside Chicago Trump Hotel not even 24 hours after Election Day.

Secret Service agents using fitness tracker Strava are unintentionally giving away the location of Biden, Trump and Harris.

Intelligence officials brief Trump about "real and specific" assassination threats they say are linked to Iran, but many Trump supporters are skeptical of origins.

House passes bill mandating Secret Service to provide the SAME LEVEL of protection to the president and presidential candidates.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

DailyCaller.com

DHS.gov

Brighteon.com
Mitch Vexler and Mike Adams discuss PROPERTY TAX FRAUD on the Health Ranger Report

Mike Adams highlights an alarming property tax scandal affecting many counties, where authorities improperly evaluate homeowners' properties, setting tax rates based on desired budgets rather than actual property values.

Mitch Vexler, founder of Mockingbird Properties, explains that the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), designed to ensure fair property tax calculations, is ignored by Central Appraisal Districts (CADs), leading to overvaluation and over-taxation.

Vexler cites the Denton CAD in Texas as an example, where 67 taxing entities submit predetermined budgets to the chief appraiser, who collects funds without following USPAP guidelines, creating multiple layers of fraud.

The practice violates the U.S. Constitution under the First, Fifth, Fourteenth and Sixteenth Amendments, and federal law mandates that unlawful government agencies be shut down.

Vexler warns that improper appraisals expose 37 percent of American households to bankruptcy or homelessness, as over-taxation forces people to sell their homes or face losing them entirely.

Real estate building and developing expert Mitch Vexler joined the Health Ranger Mike Adams on the "Health Ranger Report" to discuss property tax fraud.

According to Adams, an alarming property tax scandal is affecting many counties across America. County authorities are not properly evaluating the properties of American homeowners.

"They are at first determining how much budget they want to spend, and then they're taking that number and then just dividing that up among all the properties and setting the property tax rates according to how much money they want," he said before turning to his guest.

Vexler, the founder and president of Texas-based Mockingbird Properties, mentioned the existence of a document called the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice (USPAP). The USPAP was created by the nonprofit The Appraisal Foundation, but is unfortunately ignored completely.

The USPAP also has property tax calculations based on the actual values, income and expenses. But this isn't being carried out because predetermined budgets are handed to the Central Appraisal District (CAD) by taxing entities.

He cited the Denton CAD in Texas as an example, noting that 67 taxing entities  including schools  submit predetermined budgets to the chief appraiser, the official who heads the CAD. The chef appraiser then collects the specified amount without following the USPAP guidelines.

But according to Vexler, the problem gets worse when the state comptroller gets involved with its property valuation study. In this way, the state comptroller is doing the exact same thing as the chief appraiser. Ultimately, this now makes several layers of fraud  with the USPAP, Texas Property Tax Code and the Texas State Constitution's calls for a uniform and equal taxation falling on deaf ears.

"And the combination of those is a violation of the U.S. Constitution under the First, Fifth, Fourteenth and Sixteenth Amendments. So it's the absolute trifecta of completely ignoring the laws," he continued.

"And to that point, there's actually federal law that says if an agency of the government is unlawful, that agency must be enjoined. Enjoined is a fancy word for 'shut down.'"

Vexler: Improper appraisal exposes families to homelessness

Vexler noted that the problem goes beyond the Denton CAD, as its ramifications are felt in other places such as Florida and California. Thirty-seven percent of American households, defined as multi-family or single-family households in any given jurisdiction, are exposed to the danger of bankruptcy or losing their homes as a direct result of the overvaluation and over-taxation by CADs.(Related: ROBBERY: Local governments loot home equity from homeowners to cover property tax debts.)

Adams agreed with his guest, warning that this basically leads toward mass homelessness of the American people. Property tax is an escalating tax on an unrealized gain that is forcing many people to sell their farms or homes in order to pay it. This forces them to give up the property entirely and live elsewhere, or worse, become homeless.

Vexler pointed out that the Health Ranger's observation is 100 percent accurate, adding that it becomes a deeper issue when Americans are forced to pay their property tax at the risk of having their house taken from them. It is a blatant violation of the RICO Act and the perpetrators should go straight to jail.

Follow Corruption.news for more similar stories.

Watch the full conversation between Mitch Vexler and the Health Ranger Mike Adams about the ongoing property tax fraud in America.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Government using tax tyranny to steal every last penny from Americans.

Your private financial records are not safe with the IRS or any government agency, Trump tax leak reveals.

Montanas pandemic-driven real estate boom causes sudden increase in property taxes.

Federal court filing exposes MAJOR FRAUD in "auction" of Infowars to The Onion.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

MockingbirdProperties.com

AppraisalFoundation.org
Critics denounce Canadas addition of 300 assault-type firearms to the list of prohibited weapons

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government faces backlash from conservative citizens as it announced new gun control measures, adding 324 makes and models of "assault-type" weapons to its prohibited firearms list

"These firearms can no longer be legally used, sold or imported in Canada," Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters.

The policy was said to be implemented immediately.

According to Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin, the models that were assessed and added to the list fall under the government's 2020 definition of assault-style weapons. Previously, Liberals banned 1,500 models under that definition.

An amnesty period until Oct. 30, 2025 is to be granted to current owners to comply with the ban. A buy-back program is being planned by the Trudeau administration but still hasn't been fully launched. However, Minister of Public Services Jean-Yves Duclos said on Thursday, Dec. 5, that a pilot program already running for the past month has collected and destroyed a "couple dozen" guns.

The guns that are "surrendered" will be sent to Ukraine, as part of Canada's ongoing donations of military aid to the embattled country, Defense Minister Bill Blair said.

"The Department of National Defense will begin working with the Canadian companies that have weapons that Ukraine needs  to get these weapons out of Canada and into the hands of the Ukrainians," he said. "We've been working very closely with our friends in Ukraine to ensure that weapons that were intended to be used in combat, could be made available to them.

Conservative public safety critic Raquel Dancho accused Trudeau's regime of going after lawful Canadians while being soft on criminals.

"Trudeau's latest underhanded attack against lawful Canadians and his continued blind eye to actual gun criminals is an insult to the thousands of victims of gun crime who continue to be terrorized and lose their lives as a result of Trudeau's catch-and-release policies," Dancho said in a media statement.

Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery echoed the sentiment, arguing they are "undermining law-abiding firearms ownership."

"Alberta's government strongly opposes the arbitrary re-classification of firearms and the federal government's wasteful, ineffective and repeatedly delayed program to confiscate these firearms," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Canadian government will also be implementing measures stemming from Bill C-21  the firearms bill that was adopted in 2023  which proposed a more stringent definition of assault-style firearms under that legislation but dropped several amendments to the bill in February in response to a backlash.

A spokesperson from the administration said that the new measures apply to some firearms that were included in the initial amendments, while others were left out. Some guns that were not included in the amendments have been included in the new measures, the spokesperson said.

C-21 also included provisions to make it easier to revoke licenses and take firearms from people who commit violent acts.

Existing 5-year-old gun ban was a flop and has been costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars

Journalist Lorne Gunter sees the expanded gun ban as illogical because the nearly five-year "largest seizure of personal property in Canadian history" was not able to collect a single banned gun. Plus, confiscation has so far cost taxpayers more than CAD 70 million (U.S. $49.5 million).

The ban on "assault-style" weapons was launched after the April 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting during which Gabriel Wortman, masquerading as a Mountie, killed 22 people, Gunter said, arguing that all of Wortman's five guns had been acquired illegally. (Related: Traitor Trudeau to freeze all handgun sales in Canada in latest act of WAR against citizens.)

"One illegally in Canada, three others smuggled from the United States, while the fifth was taken from the hands of a policewoman Wortman murdered during his rampage," he added.

He explained that the Liberals used "illegal ownership" to convince themselves that the best way to curb gun-related crimes "would be to ban hundreds of thousands of legally held firearms, just as the best way to prevent bank robberies is to ban legal withdrawals from bank accounts."

"If legally owned rifles are such a threat to public safety, how come all the guns that were in place before the ban are still in the same hands today? The ban and confiscation have so far cost taxpayers more than $70 million without even one gun being collected by the government," he argued.

Head over to Guns.news for related stories on governments' gun control policies.

Sources for this article include:

CBC.ca

EdmontonSun.com
CEOs murder sparks security scramble in greed-driven healthcare industry

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's murder prompts heightened security measures among healthcare companies.

CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group remove executive photos and bios from websites due to increased vulnerability.

Tensions stem from profit-driven decisions that leave people without needed care.

Thompson's murder highlights systemic issues in healthcare, including denial and delay of insurance claims.

The industry must prioritize patient care over profits to address underlying tensions and prevent future tragedies.

The recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sent shockwaves through the healthcare industry, prompting a wave of security measures that are both visible and discreet. As companies scramble to protect their top brass, the underlying tensions that led to Thompsons tragic death are coming into sharper focus.

In the wake of Thompsons fatal shooting, several major healthcare companies have taken unprecedented steps to shield their executives from potential threats. CVS Health, for example, has removed photographs of its executives from its website in a move that speaks volumes about the heightened sense of vulnerability within the industry. Similarly, UnitedHealth Group has not only removed photos but also the names and biographies of its top executives from its own site.

These actions are not just knee-jerk reactions to a single incident; they reflect a broader unease within the healthcare sector, where executives have long been the target of public ire. The greed-driven practices of many healthcare companies have left a bitter taste in the mouths of consumers, who often feel that profits are prioritized over patient care. Its not really all that surprising that CEOs in this industry are increasingly worried about their safety.

Industry needs to make major changes

Although its understandable that healthcare executives are taking steps to protect themselves, they can't simply continue engaging in the same practices as before while hiding behind better security. Although violence is never the answer, if anything good can come out of what happened to Thompson, it could be the spotlight it is shining on the many problems in the health industry  not only with healthcare companies and insurers but also doctors and pharmaceutical companies. The murder of Brian Thompson is a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise when tensions boil over, but it is also an opportunity to reflect on the systemic issues that have led to such deep-seated anger.

The gunmans bullets, etched with words like deny and delay, starkly symbolize the industrys notorious practices of rejecting and delaying legitimate health insurance claims. These tactics, employed to maximize profits, have left countless Americans in financial ruin and, in some cases, without the medical care they desperately need.

The healthcare systems inequities are glaring, with economic disparities exacerbating access to quality care. Insurers relentless cost-cutting measures often strip patients of their savings, rendering them vulnerable to medical-related bankruptcy.

The healthcare industry needs to take a hard look at its practices and ask itself whether its doing enough to put patients first. For far too long, profits have been the driving force behind many decisions, leading to higher costs, reduced coverage, and a growing sense of mistrust among the public. If the industry continues down this path, more and more people will become fed up with these companies and more tragedies could occur.

Placing people over profits

The healthcare industry must prioritize people over profits. This means reevaluating how decisions are made, ensuring that patient care is at the forefront, and being transparent about the reasons behind coverage denials and other contentious issues. It's only by addressing these root causes that the industry can ever hope to reduce the tensions that have led to such a tragic outcome.

In the meantime, while healthcare companies take steps to protect their executives, they cannot think of these measures as a substitute for meaningful change.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Reuters.com

HealthcareDive.com
Former Special Agent warns of upcoming Secret Service failure of much bigger magnitude before inauguration

Former Special Agent Richard Staropoli warns of inadequate protection for President-elect Trump and a security failure of "much bigger magnitude."

The Secret Service is facing a crisis of confidence due to its faltering state and potential compromise with foolish priorities such as diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Congressional hearings on assassination attempts against Trump are seen as a "smokescreen" to cover up the agency's incompetence.

The agency's focus on diversity, the reduction in the number of individuals they protect, and the review of their investigative role are viewed as potential risks to President Trump's safety.

The Secret Service needs reform in terms of mission, recruitment standards, and core focus on thorough, cunning, and skillful security measures.

Secret Service procedures are vulnerable

The Secret Service, long known for its unwavering commitment to presidential security, is facing a crisis of confidence that could have catastrophic consequences. A former Special Agent has issued a stark warning about the faltering state of Americas protective force, raising grave concerns about the safety of the newly elected President Donald Trump.

Former Special Agent Richard Staropoli, a decorated veteran of the Secret Service, is sounding the alarm. According to Staropoli, the agencys current state is not only woefully inadequate but also politically compromised, setting the stage for a security failure of monumental proportions.

In a scathing statement, Staropoli revealed his deep-seated concerns about the level of protection afforded to President-elect Trump, stating, "Im not highly confident at all. The Secret Service that you see out there today is not the Secret Service of yesteryear. Somewhere along the line, theyve completely dropped the ball."

Staropolis warning comes in the wake of recent Congressional hearings on assassination attempts against President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and West Palm Beach, Florida. These hearings, however, were dismissed by Staropoli as nothing more than a "smokescreen" to cover up the agencys incompetence.

Secret Service values diversity and inclusion over performance and tactical training

The problem, at its core, is not just about technology or communication breakdowns, as identified by the House Task Force. Its about a fundamental shift in the agencys priorities, one that has seen a disconnection from its primary mission of protecting the president.

The report from the House Task Force highlighted a litany of failures, including inadequate rooftop security, inexperienced personnel in key roles, and poor leadership. But Staropolis warning of a looming "much bigger magnitude" event suggests that these are not just isolated incidents but symptomatic of a systemic issue.

Equally alarming is the Secret Services current focus on diversity and inclusion, which sounds good on paper, but cannot come at the expense of performance, skill, and tactical training. The agencys commitment to these DEI values, as outlined in their official policy statement, seems to have overshadowed its primary duty to secure the presidents safety and retain the most skilled and disciplined agents.

This focus on diversity is further illustrated by the recent shuffling of responsibilities, with the Secret Service being asked to reduce the number of individuals they protect and review their investigative role. While this might seem like a logical step to some, it could very well leave the president more vulnerable in the face of a high-stakes assassination attempt.

As the nation waits anxiously for President Trumps inauguration, the question remains: is the Secret Service truly equipped to handle the threats that lie ahead? With just weeks to go, the stakes have never been higher, and the agencys past failures suggest that the answer may be a resounding no.

Congress knows that the agency needs reform, not merely in terms of policy but at the very heart and soul of the Secret Services mission, recruitment standards, and core mission. The security of our nations leadership must be paramount, and the agency must return to the basics of what made it great: thorough and decisive security measures, manned by recruits who are physically fit with a patriotic-driven courage - recruits with marksmanship skills who will not hesitate when everything is on the line.

For now, in the absence of these standards of protection, Americans are left to wonder if the President elect must rely on divine intervention to stay alive, as was apparent in Butler, Pennsylvania earlier in 2024. Its a chilling thought, but a stark reminder of whats at stake. We must demand better from the Secret Service.

Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

BBC.com

SecretService.gov [PDF]
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, once linked to al-Qaeda, now considered for DELISTING as terrorist group

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly linked to al-Qaeda, has become a powerful faction in Syria, especially after the U.S. troop withdrawal in 2021, consolidating control over Idlib, the last major opposition stronghold.

The U.S. and U.K. are considering delisting HTS from their terror lists, a move that could stabilize Syria but also risks legitimizing a group with a history of extremism and violence.

HTS has restored order in Idlib and provided essential services, but its extremist ideology and documented human rights abuses remain a significant concern.

Delisting HTS is part of a broader strategy to counter Iranian influence and stabilize Syria, but critics warn it could embolden a group with a record of violence and war crimes.

The potential delisting of HTS could either bring stability or deepen divisions in Syria, with the international community's decisions having far-reaching implications for the war-torn nation.

The terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), once linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda, is now being considered for legitimacy in the wake of the overthrow of Syria's Bashar al-Assad.

Political commentator Hal Turner pointed out in a recent piece that the overthrow of Assad has led to a power vacuum in Syria. This vacuum, he adds, has been filled by a myriad of factions, including extremist groups like HTS. Turner argued that the West's actions have only exacerbated the conflict, creating a chaotic and unstable environment that has allowed groups like HTS to thrive.

Formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, HTS has emerged as one of the most powerful factions in Syria, particularly after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region in 2021. The group has consolidated its control over Idlib, the last major stronghold of opposition forces, following a series of military victories against rival factions. This has left HTS as the de facto ruler of the province, which is home to millions of displaced Syrians. (Related: RFK Jr. says Trump wants American troops out of northern Syria.)

The group's rise has been met with mixed reactions. On one hand, HTS has been credited with restoring a semblance of order in Idlib, where it has implemented governance structures and provided essential services to the population. On the other hand, its extremist ideology and past ties to al-Qaeda remain a source of concern for many, including human rights organizations that have documented abuses committed by the group.

Washington and London seek to remove HTS from their terror lists

Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom have considered removing HTS from from their respective terror lists. But the potential delisting has sparked widespread debate, with critics warning of the implications of legitimizing a group once affiliated with al-Qaeda. Others argue it could pave the way for stability in a war-torn nation.

According to both the Washington Post and POLITICO, the U.S. government is weighing the option of delisting HTS as part of a broader strategy to stabilize Syria and counter Iranian influence in the region. Even the issue of lifting the $10 million bounty on HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani has been considered in the move to delist the group.

Meanwhile, Downing Street is said to be reassessing HTS's terror designation in light of the group's efforts to distance itself from its extremist past. "I think it will partly depend on what happens in terms of how that group behaves now," said British Intergovernmental Relations Minister Pat McFadden.

But critics warn that delisting HTS would send a dangerous message, legitimizing a group with a history of violence and extremism. Turner shared examples of HTS's violence in his piece.

One of the clips showed a cousin of Assad being publicly hung by crane, while other clips showed HTS members killing random Syrians with machine guns. Turner also showed HTS' war crimes against enemy forces, with soldiers both wounded and unarmed being shot to death. According to the commentator, all the videos were filmed during the first day of HTS' rule in Damascus.

As the U.S. and U.K. consider delisting HTS, the future of Syria remains uncertain. The potential delisting of HTS could either pave the way for a more stable Syria or further entrench the country's divisions, depending on how the international community engages with the group.

For now, the debate over HTS's terror designation continues, with no clear consensus on the way forward. What is clear, however, is that the decisions made in the coming months will have far-reaching implications for Syria and the broader region. As the country enters its thirteenth year of conflict, the question remains: Can the international community find a way to bring peace and stability to a nation torn apart by war?

Watch Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointing out that HTS cannot be used for geopolitical purposes at the Doha Forum in Qatar.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. airstrikes in Syria kill 35 ISIS members amid worsening regional instability.

Syria's Fall: A Strategic Blow to Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia  Highlights from the Mike Adams Brighteon Broadcast for Dec 9, 2024.

Biden bombs 75 "targets" in Syria, opening possibility ISIS uses Syria's massive chemical and biological weapons arsenal to wipe out U.S. food supply.

Sources include:

HalTurnerRadioShow.com

USSANews.com

News.Sky.com

Brighteon.com
Illegal immigrants self-deporting ahead of Trumps return to the White House

A growing number of illegal immigrants are choosing to return to their home countries ahead of President-elect Trumps return to office, citing fears of stricter immigration enforcement.

Trump plans to dismantle lenient Biden-Harris policies, including ending the CBP One app for asylum seekers and re-implementing the Remain in Mexico policy to deter illegal crossings.

The administration aims to combat illegal immigration by deploying U.S. Special Operations forces against cartels involved in human smuggling, which are described as terrorist organizations.

In cities like Springfield, Ohio, Haitian immigrants and others are fleeing to sanctuary cities or self-deporting due to fears of mass deportations and the termination of temporary protected status.

A CBS News/YouGov poll shows strong public support for deporting illegal immigrants, and legal experts argue that using the military for deportation support is constitutionally permissible under the Posse Comitatus Act and Insurrection Act.

With less than two months before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, a growing number of illegal immigrants are abandoning their attempts to enter the United States and are voluntarily returning to their home countries. This trend, driven by the looming prospect of a Trump administration committed to enforcing strict immigration policies, marks a significant shift in the dynamics of the border crisis.

Reports from Mexican officials indicate that up to 100 illegal immigrants in Mexico have requested voluntary return to their countries of origin. These individuals are either paying for their own return or seeking state assistance to do so. Many have explicitly cited Trumps impending return to office and his promises to crack down on illegal immigration as the primary reasons for their decision to leave. This early wave of self-deportation suggests that the mere threat of enforcement is already having a tangible impact on illegal immigration patterns.

Trump has made clear his intention to dismantle the Biden-Harris administrations lenient immigration policies, which have facilitated the mass entry of illegal immigrants into the United States. One of his first targets will be the government-approved app CBP One, which has allowed illegal immigrants to digitally apply for asylum and receive fast-tracked amnesty without ever appearing in an immigration court. Trump has vowed to eliminate this loophole, which has enabled de facto amnesty on a massive scale.

Additionally, Trump plans to re-implement the Remain in Mexico policy, a successful initiative from his first term that required asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their applications were processed. This policy effectively reduced the backlog of asylum cases and deterred illegal crossings by ensuring that those seeking entry faced a rigorous and transparent legal process.

The Trump administrations approach to immigration enforcement is not limited to border control. Incoming Border Czar Tom Homan has emphasized the administrations commitment to targeting the cartels that profit from human smuggling. Homan has described these criminal organizations as terrorist organizations that have killed more Americans than any foreign terrorist group. Trumps plan to deploy the full might of U.S. Special Operations forces against these cartels represents a decisive shift in the fight against the root causes of illegal immigration.

Domestically, the situation is also evolving. In cities like Springfield, Ohio, where the Biden-Harris administration imported thousands of Haitian immigrants in 2021, residents are witnessing a reversal of the previous administrations policies. Haitian immigrants, many of whom were granted temporary protected status, are now fleeing to sanctuary cities like Chicago and New York or even self-deporting to countries like Canada and Brazil. This exodus is driven by the fear of Trumps promised mass deportation program, which includes terminating temporary protected status for Haitians and other groups.

The prospect of mass deportations has created what Andrew Arthur of the Center for Immigration Studies calls a virtuous circle of enforcement and compliance. As illegal immigrants face the real threat of deportation, many are choosing to leave voluntarily, easing the burden on federal enforcement efforts. This dynamic underscores the effectiveness of deterrence in addressing the border crisis.

However, not all cities are welcoming the prospect of stricter immigration enforcement. Sanctuary cities, where local officials refuse to cooperate with federal deportation efforts, are preparing to resist Trumps policies. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, for example, initially suggested using city law enforcement to block deportation efforts, though he later retracted that statement. Despite such resistance, Homan has made it clear that federal law enforcement will not be deterred, and sanctuary cities will not be exempt from deportation efforts.

Americans support Trump's plan

The American public appears to support Trumps approach. A recent CBS News/YouGov poll found that 73 percent of Americans believe deporting illegal immigrants should be a priority for the Trump administration, with 45 percent considering it a high priority. Additionally, nearly 60 percent of respondents support a national program to find and deport all illegal immigrants, and 64 percent favor mobilizing federal law enforcement agencies to assist with deportations.

Legal experts argue that Trumps plan to use the military to support deportation efforts is constitutionally permissible. Patrick OMalley and Joe Buccino of RealClearWire contend that the Posse Comitatus Act and the Insurrection Act, when properly interpreted, allow the president to use active-duty forces for support operations, such as transportation and surveillance, without violating the law. This legal framework provides a basis for the Trump administration to expand military involvement in immigration enforcement.

As Trump prepares to take office, the early signs of self-deportation and the dismantling of lenient policies offer a glimmer of hope for those who believe in secure borders and the rule of law. The border crisis, long a source of frustration for millions of Americans, may finally be on the path to resolution. With a clear mandate from the American people and a commitment to enforcing the law, the second Trump administration is poised to restore order to the nations immigration system.

Sources include:

AmGreatness.com

TheDailySignal.com

NaturalNews.com
Kari Lake reportedly under consideration to be the next U.S. ambassador to Mexico

Former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate Kari Lake, a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, is reportedly under consideration for the high-stakes role of ambassador to Mexico.

Lake's hardline stance on border security and her vocal support for Trump's election fraud claims have raised concerns within the Republican Party about her suitability for the diplomatic role.

If appointed, Lake would face delicate negotiations with Mexico's left-wing government on issues like migration, counternarcotics, trade and tariffs, with Mexico already pushing back against Trump's proposed tariffs.

Lake's potential nomination is seen by some as a way to remove her from Arizona politics, where her electoral losses have made her a divisive figure, while others argue her border security expertise and loyalty to Trump make her a strong candidate.

Lake's nomination would require Senate approval, but her clashes with establishment Republicans and controversial views on immigration and election fraud could complicate her confirmation process.

Former candidate to be Arizona's governor and junior senator, Kari Lake, a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, is reportedly under consideration for a high-stakes diplomatic role as the next ambassador of the United States to Mexico.

If appointed, Lake would find herself at the center of one of the most contentious issues facing the incoming administration: immigration reform. However, her potential nomination has sparked debate within the Republican Party, with some questioning whether her hardline stance on border security and her vocal history of fighting election fraud make her the right choice for such a sensitive diplomatic position.

Lake, a former news anchor turned political firebrand, has been a vocal advocate for stringent border security and a fierce defender of Trumps unproven claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Her political career, marked by two unsuccessful bids for statewide office in Arizona, has been defined by her unwavering loyalty to Trump and her commitment to his agenda.

As Trump prepares to take office for a second term, Lake's name has emerged as a leading contender for the role of ambassador to Mexico. The position would place her at the forefront of negotiations with left-wing Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaums government on issues ranging from migration and counternarcotics to trade and tariffs.

Trump has already signaled that immigration will be a top priority of his administration, vowing to deport millions of illegal migrants and impose massive tariffs on Mexican goods until the flow of drugs and undocumented immigrants across the southern border is halted. (Related: Trump says new Mexican president "agreed to stop migration through Mexico"  but she begs to differ.)

Lake's confirmation far from assured

Lake's appointment would be a political comeback for the Arizona Republican, who has faced setbacks in both her gubernatorial and Senate campaigns. However, the role promises to be fraught with challenges.

Mexico, a key ally and trading partner, has already pushed back against Trump's proposed tariffs, with Sheinbaum describing the situation as having resulted in a "very kind" phone call with the president-elect to discuss the contentious issue. Lake, known for her fiery rhetoric and uncompromising stance on immigration, would need to navigate these delicate negotiations while maintaining the delicate balance of U.S.-Mexico relations.

Critics argue that Lake's history of battling election fraud and her inflammatory language on immigration could undermine her effectiveness as an ambassador. During her campaigns, Lake described the influx of migrants as an "invasion" and campaigned on finishing the border wall, increasing the number of asylum judges, and expediting deportations. While these positions align with Trumps agenda, they could alienate Mexico's government and complicate efforts to reach a mutually beneficial agreement on immigration and trade.

Moreover, Lake's potential nomination has raised eyebrows within the Republican Party. Some insiders have suggested that appointing Lake to the ambassadorship is a way to remove her from Arizona politics, where her repeated losses have made her a divisive figure.

"Republicans want to get rid of two-time loser Kari Lake," a source close to the Republican National Committee told the New York Post. "The best way to do that is for Trump to exile her out of the country in a plum sinecure that will keep her out of Arizona politics for at least four years."

Despite the skepticism, Lake's supporters argue that her deep understanding of border security issues and her unwavering loyalty to Trump make her the ideal candidate for the role.

As a former news anchor, Lake also brings a level of media savvy that could prove valuable in shaping public perception of U.S.-Mexico relations. Her appointment would also send a clear message to both domestic and international audiences about Trumps commitment to cracking down on illegal immigration and securing the border.

The confirmation process, however, could present another hurdle for Lake. As a nominee for a diplomatic position, she would need to secure the approval of the GOP-controlled Senate, where she could only afford to lose three Republican votes. Given her history of clashes with establishment Republicans and her outspoken stance on election fraud, Lake's confirmation is far from guaranteed.

Watch this clip of Kari Lake on Newsmax discussing Trump's agenda of securing the border.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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100PercentFedUp.com

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Liz Cheneys dirty work comes back to haunt her: January 6 Committee hid the truth, imprisoned innocents for political gain

The January 6 Committee, headed by Liz Cheney , has been accused of selectively omitting key evidence, such as a transcript revealing President Trump's request for 10,000 National Guard troops to protect the Capitol , to perpetuate a biased narrative. This biased narrative has imprisoned innocent people and led to improper treatment and persecution of targeted individuals. The corruption within the January 6 Committee should be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable.

Political Persecution and Vengeance: The Committee has become an instrument of political vengeance against Trump and his supporters, with Cheney using her position to aggressively pursue prosecution and arrest of individuals she deems threats, often under questionable circumstances.

The Committee has become an instrument of political vengeance against Trump and his supporters, with Cheney using her position to aggressively pursue prosecution and arrest of individuals she deems threats, often under questionable circumstances. Contradictory Testimonies: Deputy Chief of Staff Anthony Ornato's testimony contradicted the Committee's previous claims that there was no evidence to support Trump's account of the events, further exposing their bias and lack of impartiality.

Deputy Chief of Staff Anthony Ornato's testimony contradicted the Committee's previous claims that there was no evidence to support Trump's account of the events, further exposing their bias and lack of impartiality. Modern-Day Witch Hunt: The Committee's actions are likened to a modern-day witch hunt, reminiscent of the political persecution in Soviet gulags, with lives and futures of individuals shattered due to politically motivated arrests and incarcerations.

The Committee's actions are likened to a modern-day witch hunt, reminiscent of the political persecution in Soviet gulags, with lives and futures of individuals shattered due to politically motivated arrests and incarcerations. Impact on American Democracy: The Committee's deliberate omission of exonerating evidence and selective prosecution highlight a profound threat to American democracy, with their actions likely to be remembered as a stain on the nation's history.

Liz Cheney and her cohorts should be held accountable for obfuscating the truth behind January 6, 2021

The January 6 Committee's role in the wrongful arrest and incarceration of individuals caught up in the events surrounding January 6, 2021 has brought to light corruption within the federal government. These corrupt forces have led to wrongful incarceration and the suicide of individuals who were pressured into convictions by vindictive D.C. lawyers and insiders. The Jan 6 committee, spearheaded by Liz Cheney, became an instrument of political vengeance, rather than an impartial investigatory body.

The committee, consisting of Democrats and two vehemently anti-Trump Republicans  Cheney and Adam Kinzinger  has been accused of selectively omitting evidence and deliberately covering up facts that paint a much different picture than the one they've propagated. One such critical piece of evidence was the January 6 Committee's intentional concealment of a transcript that exposed then-President Trump's request for 10,000 National Guard troops to protect the Capitol.

During testimony before the committee on January 28, 2022, Deputy Chief of Staff Anthony Ornato revealed that he overheard Chief of Staff Mark Meadows speaking with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser about Trump's request for 10,000 troops to maintain peace. Ornato's testimony directly contradicts the committee's previous claims that there was "no evidence" to support Trump's account.

Yet, despite this damning revelation, the committee made a calculated decision to withhold this information from the public, perpetuating a narrative that was rife with bias and selective oversight.

Cheney's role in this political persecution cannot be understated. As one of only two Republicans on the committee, Cheney has aggressively pursued a vendetta against Trump, using her position to selectively investigate and prosecute individuals who were set up by the FBI, informants, and the nefarious coordination between Nancy Pelosi and the D.C. police.

The January 6 Committee's criminal actions recall the darkest hours of American history, when political dissidents were sent to Soviet gulags. In this case, it's the modern equivalent: individuals arrested and incarcerated under questionable circumstances, their lives and futures shattered in a politically motivated witch hunt.

Cheney has become a symbol of this tragic injustice, using her power and influence to tarnish the legacies of those she deems enemies of the state. Her statements about the "attempted overturning of the 2020 presidential election" ring hollow, given the committee's deliberate omission of evidence that exonerates Trump and implicates them in a web of lies and deceit.

It's time to ask hard questions about the January 6 Committee's true purpose. Was it ever about justice? Or was it always about political retribution and eliminating opposition? The answer is becoming increasingly clear. Donald Trump is right: those who obfuscated the truth and perpetuated unjust persecution should be held accountable for their actions too.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

TheNationalPulse.com

Brighteon.com
Top suspect in assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson arrested, charged with murder in New York City

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, has been arrested as the top suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and charged with second-degree murder and weapons offenses in New York City.

Mangione's life, marked by a privileged upbringing and academic success, contrasts sharply with the alleged violent act. He was a valedictorian from an elite Baltimore prep school, earned degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and had a career at prestigious companies.

Mangione's arrest is linked to a manifesto criticizing healthcare industry practices and references to the Unabomber. His writings suggested deep resentment toward the U.S. healthcare system and corporate greed.

Chronic back pain and health issues, including spondylolisthesis, may have contributed to Mangione's alleged actions. Social media posts and forum activities indicate he dealt with physical and mental health challenges.

The case highlights the complexities of a privileged individual's life, the fractures within a profit-driven society, and the impact of unchecked anger and radicalization. It has sparked discussion about corporate greed and systemic injustice in the U.S. healthcare system.

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, has been arrested as the top suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He has been charged with murder in New York City.

Mangione's arrest has left both law enforcement and the public grappling with the stark contrast between Mangione's privileged upbringing and the violent act he is alleged to have committed. As Manhattan prosecutors charge him with second-degree murder and a slew of weapons offenses, questions linger about what could have driven a young man from a prominent Maryland real estate family to such a drastic and violent act. (Related: Assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson left words "Defend," "Deny" and "Depose" on bullet casings.)

Mangione's life, by all outward appearances, seemed charmed. A valedictorian from one of Baltimore's elite prep schools, he went on to get undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania.

His social media accounts showcased a life of privilege, with photos of him smiling on beaches, at parties and with friends in destinations like Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Jersey Shore. His LinkedIn profile revealed a career trajectory that included internships at prestigious companies like Firaxis, the video game studio behind the popular video game "Civilization 6," and a stint at the car-buying website TrueCar.

Yet, behind the veneer of success, Mangiones life appears to have taken a darker turn. According to law enforcement sources, he was found with a ghost gun, fake IDs and a manifesto that linked him to Thompson's assassination.

The notes, described in a law enforcement bulletin, suggest Mangione harbored deep resentment toward the healthcare industry. He reportedly wrote about how the United States' healthcare system was the most expensive in the world, and how corporate profits soared while life expectancy stagnated. His writings also referenced the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, a notorious figure who carried out a series of bombings to protest modern society and technology.

Mangione's family, who still live in Maryland, has been left reeling by the arrest. The family has a history of charitable giving, supporting causes ranging from Catholic organizations to colleges and the arts. His cousin, Antonino, is a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates, further underscoring the family's influence and Mangione's own privileged upbringing.

Health troubles like chronic back pain may have spurred Mangione to assassinate Thompson

Friends and acquaintances who knew Mangione describe him as a "great guy," though some hints of his internal struggles emerged.

At a co-living space in Honolulu, where Mangione lived for a time, he was known for his friendly demeanor and participation in activities like rock climbing. However, his back pain, a condition he had struggled with since childhood, limited his ability to engage in certain activities, including surfing.

An X-ray posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed a metal rod and screws in his lower spine, a result of surgery he underwent to address his condition. Posts on a forum in the social media and discussion platform Reddit from an account linked to Mangione suggest his spine condition was spondylolisthesis, or the displacement of one of his vertebrae. He also reportedly struggled with brain fog and sciatica.

The killing of Brian Thompson, a high-profile figure in the healthcare industry, has sparked widespread discussion about corporate greed and the perceived failings of the U.S. healthcare system. Mangione's alleged actions have even inspired a degree of folk-hero sentiment among some, who see him as a symbol of resistance against what they view as systemic injustice. However, such interpretations overlook the tragic loss of life and the ripple effects of violence.

As investigators piece together Mangiones motivations, the case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities that can lie beneath the surface of even the most privileged lives. The arrest of a young man from a wealthy, well-connected family on charges of murder has exposed the fractures within a system that often prioritizes profit over people, but it has also highlighted the devastating consequences of unchecked anger and radicalization.

For now, Mangione remains in custody in Pennsylvania, awaiting extradition to New York to face the murder charges. His family's statement, filled with sorrow and disbelief, reflects the shock felt by those who knew him best. As the legal process unfolds, the questions surrounding Mangione's actions  and the societal forces that may have contributed to them  will continue to reverberate.

Watch this BBC report discussing the charges facing Luigi Mangione.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

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TikTok files emergency injunction to block U.S. ban, citing Constitutional violations and lack of evidence

TikTok and ByteDance have filed a motion for an emergency injunction with the U.S. Court of Appeals, aiming to block a ban on TikTok from the American market by Jan. 19, 2025.

TikTok's legal team argues that the ban violates the First Amendment, restricting free speech and setting a precedent for government overreach.

The U.S. government, led by Attorney General Merrick Garland, maintains that the ban is necessary to safeguard national security due to the risks posed by a Chinese-controlled social media platform.

TikTok contends the ban is discriminatory and lacks evidence of content manipulation or data breaches. The government argues that the risks are unique and cannot be mitigated.

TikTok and ByteDance point to the upcoming shift from President Biden to President-elect Donald Trump, who may overturn the ban, as a factor in seeking an injunction. However, the Department of Justice firmly opposed it, believing that the lower court had clearly rejected TikTok's constitutional claims.

In a dramatic legal move, TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance have filed a motion for an emergency injunction in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to block the looming ban of TikTok, a wildly popular short-form video platform, from the American market.

The social media platform lost its appeal in a lower court, which upheld the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This legislation, signed into law by outgoing President Joe Biden, essentially gives TikTok until Jan. 19, 2025, to divest from Chinese ownership or face a permanent ban in the United States. Now, TikTok is scrambling to find a lifeline in the form of a Supreme Court review while also playing the constitutional card. (Related: U.S. Court of Appeals upholds law ordering ByteDance to sell TikTok or face U.S. ban.)

TikTok's legal team is throwing the kitchen sink at the government, arguing that the ban violates the First Amendment by restricting free speech in a way that has never been seen before. They claim that the law, which effectively shuts down one of the most popular platforms for user-generated content in the U.S., sets a dangerous precedent for government overreach.

Observers ask if this is really about protecting free speech, or is it about protecting a Chinese company's access to a massive market. Critics argue that the First Amendment concerns are a smokescreen for the real issue: national security.

The U.S. government, represented by Attorney General Merrick Garland, is clearly not buying into TikTok's constitutional theatrics. They argue that the ban is necessary to safeguard national security, pointing to the inherent risks posed by a social media platform controlled by a Chinese company. They highlight the potential for covert content manipulation and data collection as serious threats that the U.S. must address.

Lack of evidence and selective ban theory arguments

TikTok is also arguing that the U.S. government lacks evidence that China is manipulating TikTok's content or that the platform is somehow more susceptible to data breaches. However, the government maintains that the real threat lies in the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) potential to exploit TikTok's vast user base. The question here is whether a lack of concrete evidence should outweigh the potential risks.

TikTok points to its robust security measures, such as storing user data and algorithms in Oracle's U.S.-based cloud. But these assurances ring hollow in light of China's history of cyber espionage and the known links between Chinese tech companies and the CCP. The government's concerns are not merely speculative; they are grounded in a long history of such risks.

TikTok also argued that the ban is discriminatory and selectively targets their platform while allowing other foreign-controlled apps to flourish. This is a bit of a Hail Mary, as it seems to be an attempt to justify why the ban should be applied universally to all foreign-controlled apps, not just TikTok. However, this argument overlooks the unique threat that TikTok poses, given its massive user base in the U.S. and the Chinese government's potential access to that data.

The government's response is clear: TikTok's risks are unique and cannot be mitigated by simply removing the app. This is a legitimate national security concern that warrants the targeted ban.

In their motion for an emergency injunction, TikTok and ByteDance argue that the ban will cause irreparable harm to the company and its 170 million U.S. users. They also point to the upcoming shift in the presidency, with President-elect Donald Trump set to replace Biden. Trump has previously indicated his willingness to overturn the ban, which TikTok and ByteDance see as a crucial factor in their request for an injunction.

However, the Department of Justice is not swayed. They argue that TikTok's constitutional claims have already been "definitively rejected" by the lower court's decision and that the public interest lies in upholding the law designed to protect national security.

Head over to Surveillance.news for more similar stories.

Watch the video below where analysts discuss whether TikTok can dodge the looming U.S. ban.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump nominates Indian American Sikh lawyer Harmeet Dhillon as DOJ assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Indian American Sikh lawyer Harmeet K. Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice.

Trump highlighted Dhillon's commitment to civil liberties, including her work to protect free speech, represent Christians and challenge workplace discrimination. He expects her to enforce civil rights and election laws fairly and firmly.

Dhillon rose through prominent legal firms and advocacy groups, becoming a renowned election lawyer fighting electoral injustices and advocating for civil liberties.

As assistant attorney general for civil rights, Dhillon will enforce federal laws against discrimination, ensure equal protection under the law and protect civil rights and election laws.

Dhillon is the fourth Indian American appointed to the Trump administration, joining Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Vivek Ramaswamy and Kash Patel in key positions.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Indian American Sikh lawyer Harmeet K. Dhillon as the next Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Dhillon was born in Chandigarh in the State of Punjab, India. She and her family moved to the United States when she was two. She grew up in a traditional Sikh household in rural North Carolina before relocating to New York City.

Dhillon earned a bachelor's degree in classical literature at Dartmouth College and pursued a law degree at the University of Virginia School of Law. Her professional career saw her rise through the ranks in prominent legal firms and advocacy groups, culminating in her role as an election lawyer fighting against electoral injustices.

On Dec. 9, Trump announced Dhillon's nomination as the next Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ.

"I am pleased to nominate Harmeet K. Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice. Throughout her career, Harmeet has stood up consistently to protect our cherished Civil Liberties, including taking on Big Tech for censoring our Free Speech, representing Christians who were prevented from praying together during COVID and suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their workers," Trump posted on his social media account on the platform Truth Social.

The Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing federal laws against discrimination, ensuring equal protection under the law, and maintaining the integrity of federal programs. Trump believes that nominating Dhillon for the position will protect the rights of all Americans, including those who have historically faced systemic barriers.

"Harmeet is one of the top Election lawyers in the Country, fighting to ensure that all and ONLY, legal votes are counted," Trump wrote. "In her new role at the DOJ, Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights and will enforce our Civil Rights and Election Laws FAIRLY and FIRMLY."

Dhillon expressed honor and excitement over her appointment

Dhillon has become the fourth Indian American to join the second Trump administration after the president-elect nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as the next National Institutes of Health (NIH) director, Vivek Ramaswamy as one of the incoming Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leaders and "America First fighter" Kash Patel as the next Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director. (Related: DOGE leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy present vision for government reform to Congress.)

In line with this, Dhillon expressed her honor and excitement about being nominated by Trump to assist with the nation's civil rights agenda. "I'm extremely honored by President Trump's nomination to assist with our nation's civil rights agenda. It has been my dream to be able to serve our great country and I am so excited to be part of an incredible team of lawyers led by Pam Bondi. I cannot wait to get to work!" she posted on X shortly after Trump made the announcement on Truth Social. "I would not be here today without my amazing mother and brother's support, and my beloved father Tejpal and husband Sarv, who did not live to see this day. I hope I will honor their memories, with God's grace," she added.

Watch this clip about a GOP senator calling for anti-Trump DOJ staffers to be fired.

This video is from the NewsClip channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump hilariously suggests that Canada become the 51st STATE with Trudeau as governor.

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Sources include:

WIONews.com

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New York, Dec 10 : US President-elect Donald Trump has stirred a mix of laughter and debate by referring to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "Governor" of the "Great State of Canada" after their recent dinner meeting.

Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, the 78-year-old wrote, "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!"

The comment quickly went viral, sparking amusement and confusion online as users debated whether Trump's words were a deliberate jab.

Reports suggest the remark may have roots in Trump's earlier suggestion to Trudeau that Canada could consider becoming the 51st state of the United States if his proposed 25 per cent tariffs were to devastate the Canadian economy.

Trump also reportedly warned of this outcome if Ottawa failed to address issues like illegal migration and drug trafficking, as per some media sources.

The remarks came during an unscheduled dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida resort, where Trudeau sought to stave off the threatened tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products. These tariffs were allegedly linked to what Trump described as their failure to control cross-border illegal activities and drug trafficking into the US.

According to Fox News, Trump justified his proposed tariffs as necessary for border security, curbing drug trafficking, and reducing trade deficits. Trudeau, however, pushed back, warning that such measures could severely harm Canada's economy.

During the dinner, Trump reportedly joked, "Maybe Canada should become the 51st state of the US and Trudeau could become its Governor," prompting nervous laughter from the Canadian leader.

This meeting provided Trump with an opportunity to reiterate his vision for US-Canada relations ahead of his inauguration on January 20.

Trump has argued that the US subsidises Canada and Mexico to an excessive degree. "We subsidise Canada to the tune of over $100 billion a year, we subsidise Mexico to the tune of almost $300 billion. Why are we subsidising these countries? If we're going to subsidise them, let them become (new) states," he recently said in a TV interview.

In response to Trump's comments and threats, Trudeau stated that his government is prepared to defend Canadian interests. He said that any US tariffs would be met with countermeasures, emphasising that such actions would ultimately harm American consumers by making products more expensive.

The diplomatic dinner at Mar-a-Lago served as a precursor to what could be tense negotiations between the two nations once Trump officially assumes office.
Bengaluru, Dec 10 : Former Karnataka Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, a nonagenarian veteran politician, who breathed his last on Tuesday in Bengaluru, is hailed for his contributions to the state by one and all, irrespective of their political affiliations.

S.M. Krishnas efforts for the state, right from launching the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme in Karnataka for students, to building Brand Bengaluru are hailed across the political spectrum.

The Congress Government introduced the MDM Scheme in the state during the year 2002-03 under S.M. Krishnas leadership.

The veteran Congressman who spent 46 years with the party before quitting it in 2017, introduced the MDM Scheme in schools realising that it was difficult for a child to learn on an empty stomach.

The scheme, started in seven districts of North Karnataka, where socio-economic indicators are still dismal, has been a big success and considerably reduced the dropout rate of students.

The main objective of the scheme is to provide nutritious food to the students and it was extended across the state later.

The Yashasvini health insurance scheme launched by S.M. Krishna is considered another major contribution to the people of the state.

Until then, there was no such health insurance scheme.

S.M. Krishna had formulated the policy following wide consultation with doctors and farmers.

The scheme was discontinued for some time but was revived during the tenure of the previous BJP government.

S.M. Krishna had stated at one time that among the programmes he launched in his tenure as the CM, two initiatives, the healthcare scheme and mid-day meals for schoolchildren, were very close to his heart.

CM Siddaramaiah while paying condolences on the floor of the House on Tuesday maintained that he is a fan of the veteran leader S.M. Krishna.

S.M. Krishna was a statesman with great foresight and vision. He was actively involved in politics for a long period. When I was a student, I participated in a meeting of the Praja Socialist Party called by S.M. Krishna. Later, I joined Lohia's Socialist Party, CM Siddaramaiah stated.

S.M. Krishna contested the Legislative Assembly elections independently as early as 1962. He was a rare politician who served in all four legislative bodies: Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha. He also held the positions of Chief Minister, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Union Minister, and Governor, CM Siddaramaiah stated.

I joined the Congress when he was the Governor of Maharashtra. When I made my decision to join the Congress, I met him and informed him of my choice. He welcomed my decision, CM recalled.

He was an excellent parliamentarian, always treating everyone with respect. He never indulged in hateful politics. During his time, the kidnapping of Kannada cinema's legendary actor Dr. Rajkumar was a major crisis, and he handled it effectively, CM Siddaramaiah said.

He had a vision to elevate Bengaluru to an international level, similar to Singapore. S.M. Krishna's contribution in earning Bengaluru the title of the Silicon Valley of India is immense, Siddaramaiah underlined.

After a long political career with the Congress, he joined the BJP and announced his retirement from politics within a year. He was an efficient administrator and a gentleman-politician, Siddaramaiah stated.

Leader of Opposition, R. Ashoka, in his condolence speech on the floor of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in Belagavi stated that S.M. Krishna brought the international airport to Bengaluru and played a key role in bringing the Metro project to the city.

The people of Bengaluru can never forget his contributions for the development of the city, Ashoka underlined.

Krishna was the CM, when I was in the position of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. He had changed the entire scenario of Bengaluru after becoming the CM, Ashoka explained.

Gandhi Ji visited S.M. Krishnas residence and he had taken the blessings of the Mahatma, he underlined.

If anyone had given shape and contributed to Brand Bengaluru it is undoubtedly S.M. Krishna. No leader in the state has contributed towards it like him. Krishna had formed the task force to ensure the quality of infrastructure and development works in the city. He held meetings of the task force every month and he chaired the meetings, Ashoka stated.

In recognition of his contributions, the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had honored S.M. Krishna with the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

It is a known fact that during his tenure as the CM, the IT/BT companies came to Bengaluru in large numbers.

The Chairman of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti also paid respects to the late leader before commencing the session.

A condolence meeting has been organised at the KPCC office in Bengaluru on Wednesday at 5.30 P.M. to pay respects to former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, stated Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be arriving from Belagavi to attend this meeting. Similarly, ministers and MLAs will also travel from Belagavi to participate in the event, stated Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President.
New Delhi, Dec 10 : Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Tuesday that the government values Amazon's efforts to leverage its logistics expertise across India, empowering businesses from urban centres to rural areas, as the e-commerce giant announced a series of initiatives towards Viksit Bharat.

At the fifth edition of its annual Smbhav Summit in the national capital, the e-commerce giant announced to increase its exports commitment fourfold to enable over $80 billion in cumulative exports from India by 2030. The company also earmarked $120 million from its Smbhav Venture Fund to invest in startups that digitise consumer goods.

In his keynote address at the event, Minister Gadkari said that such collaborative efforts by the private sector are "instrumental in fostering innovation, driving exports, and strengthening logistics infrastructure, propelling India's journey toward becoming a global economic powerhouse".

The Smbhav Venture Fund also signed an MoU with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to accelerate the government's key priority of establishing the country as a global manufacturing hub and creating thousands of jobs.

In addition, the company will now offer its world-class, reliable and cost-effective logistics services to businesses across the country.

"As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India is a key market for Amazon and our focus areas align well with the governments vision and priorities of digitising small businesses, boosting exports and creating jobs, "Amazon's Senior VP, Emerging Markets, Amit Agarwal said.

The company also launched Amazon Freight for intra-city and inter-city transportation services nationally with full truckload options ranging from 5 feet to 40 feet to accommodate varied capacity requirements and 'Amazon Shipping' for last-mile delivery services.

The company had earlier pledged to digitise 10 million MSMEs, generate $20 billion in cumulative exports from India and create 2 million jobs in India by 2025.
Colombo, Dec 10 : Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a two-day official visit to India from December 15 to 17, marking his first international trip since assuming office in September.

The announcement was made by Sri Lanka's Cabinet spokesperson and Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, who confirmed that Dissanayake will meet President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss and enhance bilateral relations.

"He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha Fernando," Jayatissa told reporters.

This visit follows an invitation extended by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar during his visit to Colombo earlier this year, shortly after the National People's Power (NPP) party came to power.

During his one-day visit to Colombo on October 4, EAM Jaishankar had called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and conveyed India's strong commitment to advance bilateral cooperation based on its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and SAGAR outlook.

In his meeting with the Lankan President, the EAM spoke about ongoing initiatives in the field of energy production and transmission, fuel and LNG supply, solar electrification of religious places, connectivity, digital public infrastructure, health and dairy development. He also highlighted that they would contribute to economic sustainability and provide new streams of revenue.

The Sri Lankan President had mentioned that India's economic support is critical to realise his vision of a prosperous Sri Lanka and meeting the aspirations of the people. He referred to the potential of export of renewable energy to India, which could help reduce production costs in Sri Lanka and create additional resources. Dissanayake had also noted the contribution of Indian tourists and recognised that this has the potential to grow further.

"On Sri Lanka's debt restructuring efforts, EAM recalled that India had been supportive of Sri Lanka's economic stability and recovery from the very start. It was the first country to give financing assurances, which enabled the IMF to finalize the Extended Fund Facility. He confirmed India's support in the Official Creditors Committee in respect of Sri Lanka's agreement with International Sovereign Bond holders. India is also willing to expedite the conclusion of its bilateral MoU with Sri Lanka. The President conveyed his appreciation in that regard," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on October 4.

During his visit, EAM Jaishankar had also met Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and held discussions with the country's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

President Dissanayake's India visit is expected to reinforce India-Sri Lanka ties, with discussions likely to focus on economic cooperation, regional stability, and reconciliation efforts in the island nation.
Mumbai, Dec 10 : Actor Divyenndu, who is receiving a lot of positive response to his recently released streaming movie 'Agni', has heaped praise on his co-actor Pratik Gandhi.

The actor said that they both have mutual respect for each other since they come from theatre backgrounds.

Recalling their first meeting, Divyenndu shared, "It all started with Agni. We shot Agni first and then moved on to Madgaon Express. From the moment Pratik and I met on the set, there was an instant connection. Both of us come from theatre backgrounds, so there was a sense of mutual respect and understanding right from the start".

This shared respect, combined with their easy rapport, translated seamlessly into their performances, even as their characters clash in the film.

'Agni' marks India's first cinematic portrayal of the life and heroism of firefighters, serving as a tribute to their fearless spirit, honour, and sacrifices. The film is set against the backdrop of a city plagued by a mysterious series of fires, the film follows Vitthal and Samit as they reluctantly join forces to uncover the source of the escalating crisis.

Through its gripping narrative and emotionally charged moments, the film delves into Vitthal's personal battle for respect within his community and family but also showcases the dramatic stakes of firefighting.

"Our characters are at odds on-screen, but it is important to have a secure and grounded actor like Pratik Gandhi opposite me who made all the difference. He is such a wonderful person and actor, with no ego or baggage. Working with him was a lot of fun. We share an effortless bond. In fact, as individuals, he and I got along so well that it made the entire process much easier", he added.

'Agni' is streaming on Prime Video.
Chennai, Dec 10 : Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister and senior DMK leader S. Duraimurugan announced that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will raise the Mullaiperiyar Dam issue with the Kerala government during his visit to Kerala on December 11.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is scheduled to attend the Vaikom Satyagraha centenary celebrations.

Duraimurugans statement came in response to a calling attention motion moved by Tamil Nadus Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), in the state legislative assembly on Tuesday.

During the Zero Hour, EPS highlighted incidents where Kerala officials allegedly obstructed maintenance works on the Mullaiperiyar Dam.

He pointed out that vehicles of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department carrying materials for maintenance were intercepted by Kerala authorities, delaying critical repair activities.

EPS also emphasised that this issue has caused unrest among residents of five beneficiary districts in Tamil Nadu, who staged protests in front of the John Pennycuick statue, demanding uninterrupted maintenance works on the dam.

He urged the Chief Minister to discuss the matter with his Kerala counterpart and ensure the works proceed without hindrance.

Responding to the concerns, Duraimurugan acknowledged the incident and reminded the assembly that the Supreme Court had explicitly stated in its verdict on the Mullaiperiyar case that Kerala must not obstruct any maintenance work undertaken by Tamil Nadu.

He assured the assembly that such issues are typically resolved through dialogue and confirmed that he would accompany the Chief Minister to Kerala to raise the matter.

On December 4, two truckloads of M-sand being transported by the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department (PWD) were stopped at the forest check post in Vallakadavu, within the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

The trucks, stranded since 3 p.m., had received prior clearance from Keralas Minor Irrigation Department and the Deputy Director of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Tamil Nadu PWD officials expressed frustration, noting that detailed estimates for 16 scheduled maintenance works in 2024 had been submitted to Kerala authorities well in advance, yet the works were still being obstructed.

The incident triggered protests, with over 100 farmers staging a road blockade at Lower Camp on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.

The protest, aimed at preventing Kerala vehicles from entering Tamil Nadu, was called off after police intervention.

The farmers condemned the Kerala government for obstructing maintenance works on the baby dam, demanding an immediate resolution of the issue.
New Delhi, Dec 10 : Employability among Indian graduates has seen a steady rise of 7 per cent this year, reaching 54.81 per cent for 2025, up from 51.25 per cent last year, according to a report on Tuesday.

The employability figures in the Wheebox India Skills Report (ISR) 2025 were derived from the data collected through the global employability test (GET), which assesses final-year students across the country during 2024 to project their readiness for the workforce in the 2025 employment cycle.

With 65 per cent of the Indian workforce under 35 years old, the dynamic talent pool is uniquely aligned to meet the demands of industries across the Gulf Nations, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa, according to the Wheebox report in collaboration with CII, Taggd, AICTE and AIU (Association of Indian Universities).

This decade belongs to India as a leader in global talent mobility. Long-term and internally certified skill programmes with embedded language training will be the winning bet to provide early work opportunities, said Nirmal Singh, Chief Convenor of India Skills Report and CEO of Wheebox, An ETS Company.

The report reveals an upward trend in hiring intent, with organizations across technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and e-commerce gearing up to onboard fresh talent.

The steady rise of employability this year reflects the success of initiatives from central and state governments, institutions like AICTE, UGC, AIU, and reforms like Skill India Mission and NEP 2020, and state skilling and education bodies which emphasize vocational training and industry-aligned education.

With 50 per cent of secondary and tertiary students expected to receive vocational training by 2025, India is setting the stage for a globally competitive workforce, said the report.

This increase in employability is not just a statistic  its a testament to Indias ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an interconnected world, Governments have to initiate a large scale internationally acceptable and certified skilling and employment initiative for the world, Singh noted.
Washington, Dec 10 : US President-elect Donald Trump's planned sweeping changes could be an uphill climb, experts have said.

"Trump will not be able to deport as many people as he says because of the logistical difficulties," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua news agency, referring to Trump's irregular migrant deportation plan, which tops his policy list outlined in an interview on Sunday with NBC's 'Meet the Press.'

"It will be hard for him to identify criminals and there will have to be immigration court proceedings to move people out of the country," West said.

"Some nations may not accept the arrivals and in a number of places, state and local officials will not cooperate with federal immigration agents. It will be messy and hard to implement in a humane manner," West said.

"This is a policy that is certain to result in mistaken identifications, attempts to deport citizens, violence all around, and also efforts from elected officials in blue states and cities to prevent their police forces, National Guard units, and so on from being used for this," Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, Xinhua news agency reported.

"My guess is that there will be a lot of sound and fury but few actual deportations, but only time will tell," Galdieri said.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, William Courtney, a retired US ambassador and adjunct senior fellow at the RAND Corporation, told Xinhua: "There are no indications yet that Russia and Ukraine might... be willing to make the concessions required to achieve a political settlement."

"Agreeing on a ceasefire-in-place might be more achievable, even for this but odds may be long. Ukrainians and Russians seem determined to protect the territory that each controls," Courtney said.

"Since his election, Trump has taken a more careful course, and he has named hawkish Republicans for Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. This does not suggest that Trump is keen to achieve peace at any price," Courtney further said.

"Trump might convene meetings of the two parties along with other interested states. US could offer generous financial aid to encourage Russia and Ukraine to find common ground," Courtney added.

"His instincts about the war are good, I think, but the question is, will he have the follow-through and develop the strategy to see it to a success? None of us can know the answer to that yet," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Michael O'Hanlon told Xinhua.
New Delhi, Dec 10 : Over 2.04 crore farmers from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The 18th instalment of the scheme was released in October to 9.58 crore farmers comprising 1.16 crore SC farmers, 88.34 lakh ST farmers, and 7.54 crore farmers in the 'others' category, the figures furnished by the minister show.



The minister also said the government has implemented several measures to ensure seamless registration, particularly for SC, ST and OBC communities facing land ownership documentation challenges.



In answer to another question, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur said more than Rs 3.46 lakh crore has been disbursed in 18 instalments to farmers since the inception of the scheme.



To ensure the timely and transparent transfer of funds to farmers through DBT, several technological interventions have been made under PM-KISAN, which includes integration with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), UIDAI and the Income Tax Department, he explained.



Further, land seeding was made mandatory along with Aadhar-based payment and e-KYC. As and when the farmers complete their mandatory requirements, they receive the benefits of the scheme along with their due instalments, if any, he added.



To ensure the prompt resolution of issues faced by the farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme, the Government has developed an exclusive grievance mechanism Help Desk, a dedicated module for raising grievances by the farmers, the minister said.



This module has been incorporated under the farmers Corner of the PM-KISAN Portal through which the grievance of the farmer is directly transferred to the Nodal Officer of the concerned States/UTs.



Further to facilitate the farmers to get resolution of their queries/issues, the AI-based Kisan eMitra Chatbot was launched which provides quick, accurate, and clear responses to farmers' queries around the clock and currently operates in 11 languages, making the system more accessible and user-friendly. It is accessible on all platforms such as web, mobile, etc. Till date, more than 90 lakh queries of farmers have been answered on the portal. Farmers can also register their grievances through the CPGRAMS Portal, he added.




New Delhi, Dec 10 : Nearly 73,151 startups in India now have at least one woman Director -- nearly half of the 1,52,139 startups supported by the government, thus showcasing the crucial role women play in driving innovation and economic growth, a government statement said on Tuesday.

Women entrepreneurs are emerging as radiant beacons of innovation and resilience, transforming industries and breaking barriers with their visionary leadership, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry statement.

The government has implemented several flagship schemes to promote women-led startups, it said, adding that Rs 3,107 crore has been invested in 149 women-led startups through Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

Since its inception in April 2021, the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) has approved Rs 227.12 crore in funding for 1,278 women-led startups.

Operational since April 2023, the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) has guaranteed Rs 24.6 crore in loans for women-led ventures, said the ministry.

Since its launch in 2016, the Startup India Initiative, driven by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has been a game-changer in fostering entrepreneurship in the country.

The Centre has also implemented comprehensive measures to empower women entrepreneurs and strengthen the ecosystem for women-led startups, like a 10 per cent allocation for women-led startups reserved under the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), managed by SIDBI.

Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) led by women are eligible to be considered for a higher level of management fee (0.1 per cent per annum).

"The women capacity development programme (WING) workshops create a conducive environment to share best practices and experiences in overcoming challenges and to gain insights learned from the business models adopted in the Indian context," the ministry informed.

Startups led by women are thriving across more than 600 districts in India's tech ecosystem. More than half of the startups in these districts are being led by women.
Moscow/New Delhi, Dec 10 : Reiterating India's commitment towards Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday spotlighted new opportunities for enhancing participation of Russian industries in the 'Make in India' projects while voicing New Delhi's determination to extend the capabilities of its domestic defence industry across domains and industrial collaboration.

Singh held talks with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov in Moscow and also co-chaired the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC).

He emphasised that the India-Russia relationship is "very strong", and has lived up to the responsibilities of a special and privileged strategic partnership, adding that the time-tested ties have further strengthened with the recent exchanges, including two visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia during 2024.

"Had a very productive IRIGC-M&MTC meeting with my Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov in Moscow. Reviewing the full range of bilateral defence ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation between both the countries. We are committed to further strengthen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," he posted on X after the meeting.

Belousov noted that Russia and India have a strong, time-honoured friendship, based on mutual respect, where the trusting relations of the leaders of the two states play a key role in strengthening bilateral ties.

"We are always pleased to see Indian colleagues in Russia," said the Russian Defence Minister.

"The results of the meetings of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi in July in Moscow and in October at the BRICS summit in Kazan served to deepen the particularly privileged strategic partnership, to include in the defence sphere. We are committed to implement all the agreements reached at the highest level," he added.

Belousov also congratulated Singh on the commissioning of INS Tushil and further stated that the operationalisation of Military Technical Cooperation agreement for 2021-31 will give necessary impetus to 'Make in India' initiative.

During their talks, the two sides discussed in detail topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres.

The Russian Defence Minister noted the "good level" of Indian-Russian military cooperation in multilateral formats, including within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and ADMM-Plus format.

"I am confident that our meeting will help to strengthen Russian-Indian relations in the field of defence and security," said Belousov.

Earlier, the Indian delegation was welcomed at the Russian Defence Ministry in Central Moscow with Singh inspecting a Guard of Honour.

Defence Minister Singh also laid a wreath at 'The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' in Moscow to honour the memory of the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War.
New Delhi, Dec 10 : The total registered electric two-wheelers in the country now stands at 28,55,015, with electric four-wheelers at 2,57,169 (as on December 4), the Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

As per the Vahan portal of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the total number of electric vehicles (EV) registered in Odisha stands at 1,45,479, with an adoption rate of 1.24 per cent, Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

"At present, there is no proposal under consideration in the Ministry of Heavy Industries for setting up an auto R&D cluster in the state of Odisha," the minister informed.

The consumers of EVs are incentivised through various government schemes, like the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme.

The scheme is for a period of five years from April 1, 2019, with a total budgetary support of Rs 11,500 crore. The scheme incentivised e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-4Ws, e-buses and EV public charging stations.

The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the automobile and auto component industry in India (PLI-Auto) has a budgetary outlay of Rs 25,938 crore.

The scheme proposes financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing of AAT products with a minimum 50 per cent Domestic Value Addition (DVA) and attract investments in the automotive manufacturing value chain.

The PLI scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) was approved with a budgetary outlay of Rs 18,100 crore. The scheme aims to establish a competitive domestic manufacturing ecosystem for 50 GWh of ACC batteries, according to the government.

The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme has an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore and was notified on September 29, 2024. It is a two-year scheme which aims to support electric vehicles including e-2W, e-3W, e-Trucks, e-buses, e-Ambulances, EV public charging stations and the upgradation of testing agencies.

The Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI) was notified on March 15, 2024, to promote the manufacturing of electric cars in India.

This requires applicants to invest a minimum of Rs 4,150 crore and to achieve a minimum DVA of 25 per cent at the end of the third year and a DVA of 50 per cent at the end of the fifth year.

The Ministry of Finance has reduced GST on EVs from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced that the battery-operated vehicles will be given green licence plates and be exempted from permit requirements.

MoRTH issued a notification advising states to waive road tax on EVs, which, in turn, will help reduce the initial cost of the EVs.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also amended the Model Building Bye-Laws, mandating the inclusion of charging stations in private and commercial buildings.
Kochi, Dec 10 : The Kerala High Court on Tuesday said it will pass an interim order staying the dispossession notices issued to those claiming to be land owners amid the Munambam land dispute with the Waqf Board, but noted that since the matter is essentially a land dispute, hence, they should move a civil suit.

"You have to get a declaration that you are the owners. The High Court cannot decide a disputed question of fact. We can give an interim stay and it will continue till you obtain a fresh interim stay... We will not permit you to challenge it (the Waqf Act) like this. You will challenge as per your convenience? We will grant you a stay of dispossession till you file a suit and then you can seek a fresh injunction. We will protect you," the court orally remarked.

The bench made the observations while considering a petition moved by land owners seeking to strike down various provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995.

Over the last month, around 600 parties, claiming to have purchased land from the committee of Farook College, Kozhikode, before the enactment of the Waqf Act, have been protesting after they received notices from the Waqf Board stating that the ownership of the land vests with it.

Since then, the Board has taken steps to evict them and on its request, the State Revenue Department has allegedly declined to issue a Record of Rights (RoR) or mutation of documents.

Since then Munambam has seen protests and political parties have been divided, both between and amongst themselves, on the matter.

It was at this time eight parties claiming to be purchasers of various portions of the Farook College land in Munambam, approached the High Court challenging the constitutional validity of various provisions of the Act.

"In the (Waqf) Act, there is no safeguarded for non-Islamic communities to save their religious and private properties from being included in the list of Waqf issued by the government or by the Waqf Boards and other religious communities are being discriminated and the impugned provisions violate articles 14, 15, 25, 27, and 300-A of the Constitution of India," the plea said.

"The Waqf Boards, in an arbitrary manner, without due process of law, taking advantage of undue powers under the Act, capture lands of other communities and even the government and land over which no Muslim may have any right or claim," the plea alleged.

The petitioners further stated that it is discriminatory to single out Waqf properties from the operation of the Limitation Act which lays down the law on adverse possession and recovery of possession.

"There is no valid reason to grant exemption from Limitation Act only for recovery of Waqf properties, it is equal for all religious properties," they argued, citing this, among other grounds, to strike down certain sections of the Waqf Act.
Mumbai, Dec 10 : The first film dynasty of Hindi cinema, the Kapoor family is currently in Delhi. The members of the family including Ranbir Kapoor, his wife Alia Bhatt, his mother Neetu Kapoor, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, her husband Saif Ali Khan, and actress Karisma Kapoor met PM Narendra Modi in the national capital.

The family extended the invitation to PM Modi for the centenary celebration of legendary filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor. Earlier during the day, the family was spotted at the Mumbai airport as they were clicked while leaving for Delhi.

While Ranbir Kapoor was dressed in a sharp black jodhpuri suit, Alia twined with Kareena as the former opted for a radiant red saree. Kareena donned a red and silver suit. Saif Ali Khan was seen in a white kurta, pyjama, beige jacket and red shoes. Neetu Kapoor and Karisma twinned in white and golden suits.

December 14, 2024 marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest cinematic forces of India. He was born in Peshawar (present day Pakistan), and was the eldest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards.

His films Awaara and Boot Polish competed for the Palme d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951 and 1955's editions respectively.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts. India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was bestowed to him in 1988 by the Government of India.

He was hugely popular in the Soviet Union, and was known as Comrade Awaara in the Soviet Union.

Earlier, the International Film Festival of India, organised jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India (under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa, in Goa, honoured Raj Kapoor on his centenary, and invited Ranbir as the speaker to share anecdotes about his grandfather.
Moscow/New Delhi, Dec 10 : Reiterating India's commitment towards a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday spotlighted new opportunities for enhancing the participation of Russian industries in the 'Make in India' projects while voicing New Delhi's determination to extend the capabilities of its domestic defence industry across domains and industrial collaboration.

Singh held talks with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov in Moscow and also co-chaired the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MMTC).

The Defence Minister also called upon the Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

He emphasised that the India-Russia relationship is "very strong", and has lived up to the responsibilities of a special and privileged strategic partnership, adding that the time-tested ties have further strengthened with the recent exchanges, including two visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia during 2024.

"Had a very productive IRIGC-M&MTC meeting with my Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov in Moscow. Reviewing the full range of bilateral defence ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation between both countries. We are committed to further strengthen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," he posted on X after the meeting.

Belousov noted that Russia and India have a strong, time-honoured friendship, based on mutual respect, where the trusting relations of the leaders of the two states play a key role in strengthening bilateral ties.

"We are always pleased to see Indian colleagues in Russia," said the Russian Defence Minister.

"The results of the meetings of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi in July in Moscow and in October at the BRICS summit in Kazan served to deepen the particularly privileged strategic partnership, to include in the defence sphere. We are committed to implementing all the agreements reached at the highest level," he added.

Belousov also congratulated Singh on the commissioning of INS Tushil and further stated that the operationalisation of the Military Technical Cooperation agreement for 2021-31 will give necessary impetus to the 'Make in India' initiative.

During their talks, the two sides discussed in detail topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres.

The Russian Defence Minister noted the "good level" of Indian-Russian military cooperation in multilateral formats, including within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and ADMM-Plus format.

"I am confident that our meeting will help to strengthen Russian-Indian relations in the field of defence and security," said Belousov.

Earlier, the Indian delegation was welcomed at the Russian Defence Ministry in Central Moscow with Singh inspecting a Guard of Honour.

Defence Minister Singh also laid a wreath at 'The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' in Moscow to honour the memory of the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War.
Amaravati, Dec 10 : Andhra Pradesh's Capital city development is expected to gather pace as the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) on Tuesday approved works worth Rs 8821.44 crore.

The CRDA meeting presided over by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, focussed on the construction of roads in Amaravati.

Briefing media persons after the meeting, the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) P. Narayana said of the total amount, Rs 3,807 crore is allotted for the construction of roads in the areas in which land was acquired under the land pooling scheme.

Trunk roads will be laid at a cost of Rs 4521 crore while Rs 492 crore has been allocated for the construction of bungalows for the Ministers and the High Court judges, Narayana explained.

The CRDA at its previous meetings approved works worth Rs 11,471 crore. He said with Tuesday's meeting, total works worth Rs 20,292.46 crore have now been cleared.

Layouts for an extent of 236 km covering villages like Nelapadu, Rayapudi, Ananthavaram and Dondapadu have been cleared while trunk roads for 97.5 km have been approved, the Minister said.

Pointing out that tenders have been called for works worth Rs 41,000 crore between 2014 to 2019, he said works worth Rs 5,000 crore were completed. Narayana felt that had the works been completed between 2019 and 2024, the construction cost would not have gone up. Due to this delay in continuing the works, the cost has gone up from 25 per cent to 28 per cent, he added.

The construction cost of buildings has increased from 35 per cent to 55 per cent, Narayana said, adding that had Amaravati been continued as the capital the cost of these works would not have gone up by 45 per cent. The MAUD Minister made it clear that the process of calling for tenders for these works will begin by December 15 and will be completed by the end of this month.

Since cases have been filed against the designers from Singapore, the permission of the Chief Minister is needed to invite them again, Narayana added.
Ankara, Dec 11 : Turkey will not allow Syria to become a conflict zone and be divided once again, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

"Any attack on the stability of the new Syrian government or the integrity of ancient Syrian lands will face both the Syrian people and us," Erdogan said at a ruling party meeting, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We cannot accept any steps or provocations aimed at preventing the return of our Syrian brothers and sisters to their homes," he noted.

Syrian militant groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), waged a major offensive from northern Syria since November 27, and have since swept southwards through government-held areas, capturing the capital Damascus within 12 days.

Following the offensive, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed on Sunday. Al-Assad has resigned and arrived in Russia for asylum.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mohammed al-Bashir, an electrical engineer and head of the "Syrian Salvation Government" in Idlib formed in 2017 by the HTS and other Syrian militant groups during the Syrian civil war, announced that he has been tasked with heading a transitional government in Syria until early March 2025.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Actor Mushtaq Khan, who is known for his work in Welcome, and was recently seen in the horror-comedy Stree 2, has shared that he was kidnapped from the Delhi-Meerut highway.

As per media reports, the actor was allegedly lured under the pretext of attending an award function in Meerut on November 20, but unbeknownst to him that it would become one of the most harrowing few hours of his life.

The actor was reportedly invited to an event, and the kidnappers arranged his flight tickets and also transferred an advance payment to his account.

However, once the actor landed in Delhi, things quickly went south as he was picked up and driven to a secluded area near Bijnor, where he was held hostage by his kidnappers for nearly 12 hours.

The kidnappers tortured him and demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore. Despite the ordeal, the kidnappers only managed to take only Rs 2 lakh from Khans and his sons bank accounts.

How the actor escaped is a story in itself which is reminiscent of any Hindi movie from the 1970s. He was able to escape after hearing the morning azaan. When the senior actor noticed that there was a mosque close by, he took advantage of the situation and fled. He also asked for assistance from the residents. Mushtaq returned home safely with the help of the police.

The police have started investigating this incident. Mushtaq Khan is reportedly doing well right now and will likely speak to the media in the next few days to give a detailed account of his kidnapping.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : The matchless thespian of Hindi cinema, he is still remembered for his understated, yet intense roles of brooding and star-crossed lovers, a smitten Mughal Crown Prince, a rustic simpleton-turned-outlaw, boisterous pranksters, dutiful policemen, and many more, yet Dilip Kumar's most significant performance came in a private interaction when he -- politely -- rebuked a future Prime Minister in front of her father.

It would have remained a secret had not Dilip Kumar himself revealed the episode, involving him, Indira Gandhi, and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in a speech at a public event decades later.

On the 102nd birth anniversary -- December 11 -- of Muhammad Yusuf Khan alias Dilip Kumar, Indian films' abiding superstar, who left an unmatched legacy with just 57 films in a 54-year-long career, the story deserves to be retold.

As Dilip Kumar recalled, he had just been elected the President of the India Motion Picture Producers Guild, despite not running or being interested in the post, and had been invited to a breakfast meeting with Pandit Nehru.

While Dilip Kumar did not reveal the exact time of this meeting, it most likely took place in 1963 soon after he took over the post. The association's welfare programmes, as he declaimed in his characteristic mix of eloquent English and Hindustani, had the twin aims of creating a social identity, civic consciousness, and credibility for the film industry, and telling the common people that the people of the industry did not just inhabit a world of make-believe but had concerns about their fellow citizens too.

Or as he put it: "Apne waqar ko establish karna tha, ke nahi hoshmand hai, ham ko khayal hai, apni society se muttaliq hai, apni zameen se vabasta hai, apne culture se muttaliq hai..."

He said that Prime Minister Nehru was aware of the special functions the film industry organised for disaster relief, education, and other social welfare objectives, and used to call him over to meet once in a while.

As the actor recalled, Mrs Gandhi was also present at this breakfast meeting and launched into a no-holds-barred broadside against the Hindi film industry, noting how she had visited Paris, Moscow, and London and seen their orchestras, their plays, and films there and how these were far advanced and better than their Indian counterparts. Furthermore, she said that there was "nothing Hindustani about Hindustani films."

Dilip Kumar said that he kept quiet for the nearly 15 minutes or so that Mrs Gandhi harangued him, though inwardly losing his equanimity as she "began to overstep the bounds of decorum" with her "total condemnation of an entire medium", which was "not justified at all." He then thought it would not be rude if he responded to her strident criticism.

He then said, with extreme politeness, that he had been listening to her for 10 to 12 minutes as she criticised Hindustani films, "and you said a lot, which I admit is valid and denying it will be folly, it will be stupidity to claim that Indian films are the best. But let me tell you that you ask where is the 'Hindustaniat in Hindustani films' and in the 12 minutes you have been speaking, there has been no 'Hindustaniat' in your criticism, for you have not used a single Hindustani word... you have been speaking entirely in English."

However, Dilip Kumar said that he did not stop his counter-attack, telling her that in spite of a "dedicated man at the helm of affairs," the country had several problems.

".. we don't only have a film industry that is poor... we have roads that are poor, we have an educational system that is poor, we have an agriculture that is poor, and if I may put it to you, Madam, our administration also has several weak and even some ugly points," he said to her.

The superstar did not reveal Mrs Gandhi's response, but as quiet settled, feared that he had offended the Prime Minister. However, he recalled that it was Pandit Nehru who broke the silence, remarking: "You know, Yusuf, if I was you, I wouldn't have been so polite."

That was the prowess of the "shy 22-year-old son of a Pathan fruit merchant, renamed Dilip Kumar by Devika Rani when he entered films in 1944 and "single-handedly refined histrionics" and refined acting "to an art form of exalted brilliance, as per his wife Saira Banu.

Let alone his celluloid career, Dilip Kumar symbolised India's diversity, capable of quoting from the Quran as well as the Bhagavad Gita and the Bible, celebrating Diwali as fervently as Eid and the ceremony marking the completion of Jain children's arduous 30-day fast, and equally fond of Josh, Firaq, and Sahir as Sumitranand Pant, Bharti, and Tagore.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid homage to former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on his birth anniversary, calling him a "statesman par excellence."

Mukherjee, born on December 11, 1935, served as India's 13th President from 2012 to 2017. A Bharat Ratna awardee, he passed away on August 31, 2020, in Delhi.

Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, "Remembering Shri Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary. Pranab Babu was a one-of-a-kind public figure - a statesman par excellence, a wonderful administrator, and a repository of wisdom."

"His contributions to India's development are noteworthy. He was blessed with a unique ability to build consensus across the spectrum due to his vast experience in governance and his deep understanding of India's culture as well as ethos. We will keep working to realise his vision for our nation," he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded Mukherjee's role in shaping India's governance, tweeting, "Paying homage to former President of India Pranab Mukherjee Ji on his birth anniversary. A statesman par excellence, Pranabda played a significant role in national administration. As President, he endowed the highest office with his vast experience in public life, fostering a new role for it as the people's office. His enduring legacy will guide our nation forever."

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also paid tributes, saying, "Remembering the former President of India, Bharat Ratna Shri Pranab Mukherjee, on his birth anniversary. A humble tribute to his dedicated service."

The Congress party, where Mukherjee served as a key figure for decades, acknowledged his vital contributions to India's progress.

"Our humble tribute to Pranab Mukherjee, the former President of India and a visionary leader. Renowned as a key architect of India's economic reforms, his exemplary service in various ministerial roles significantly contributed to the nation's progress," the party posted on X.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted Mukherjee's five-decade-long contribution to national life and the Congress party, stating, "We remember the contribution of Former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, to nation-building. A vital figure in national life and the Congress party for over five decades, he brought his wisdom, experience, and profound understanding of diverse subjects to every Constitutional position he held."

Pranab Mukherjee's career spanned decades of service to the nation, holding pivotal roles such as Finance Minister, External Affairs Minister, and later, the President. His tenure as President was marked by a commitment to uphold constitutional values while fostering the office as a bridge between the government and the people.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Character actor Saanand Verma has joined the cast of the upcoming movie Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, starring Vikrant Massey.

Praising Vikrant, Saanand said: "He has been in the industry for the last 21 years, and I think acting comes very naturally to him. Balika Vadhu brought him into the limelight, and there has been no looking back since. I really admired his work in projects like Mirzapur, 12th Fail, and Haseena Dilruba."

"Whatever he does, he does it from the bottom of his heart. He is a very effortless actor who knows exactly what the director wants, what the story needs, and what the scene demands," he added.

He also mentioned that Vikrant is one of the most sorted actors he has ever worked with.

"I got along with him very well. He is simply an unbelievable person--always smiling. We shared many jokes off-camera and talked about acting and his incredible variety of roles," he said.

"I mentioned the ease with which he performs such diverse characters, highlighting the glorious success of '12th Fail', which is considered some of the finest work by an exceptional filmmaker, Mr. Vidhu Vinod Chopra. I am extremely delighted to have had this opportunity to work with him," he added.

The team of "Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan" is currently shooting for the movie in the mountains. The film, which also stars Shanaya Kapoor, recently wrapped up the first schedule of the film.

Touted as a musical love story, the film is being shot across Mumbai, Mussoorie, Dehradun, and Europe.

It was on December 5, when Vikrant started shooting for 'Ankhon ki Gustakhiyan'. The opening clap ceremony of the film was held, and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami along with the cast and crew attended it.

Expressing his admiration, CM Dhami remarked, "I am glad to see young filmmakers like Mansi ; Varun Bagla showcasing the state's beauty while presenting a timeless story that celebrates love and human resilience."

Meanwhile, the '12th fail' actor has recently clarified that he is not retiring from films; he is just going for a long break to focus on his health and his family.

In a statement, Massey said, "Acting is all I can do. And it has given me everything I have. My physical and mental health have taken a hit. I just want to take some time off, I want to better my craft."

"I feel a sense of monotony at the moment. "My post has been misinterpreted that I am quitting or retiring from acting. I want to take some time off to focus on my family and health. I would be back when the time feels right."
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Actor Ishaan Khatter, who is currently holidaying down under, shared a video of himself swimming in the water to get a glimpse of the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system.

Ishaan took to Instagram stories, where he shared a mesmerising video of himself swimming over a tortoise, which can be seen closer to the coral reef.

The great barrier reef and more friends he wrote as the caption.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.

Ishaan had earlier shared a video of himself petting a koala and had captioned it as made a few friends.

Last month, Ishaan dropped a few thirst trap pictures that showcased his ripped biceps and lean frame.

In the images, Ishaan flaunted his toned physique in white vest and jeans. Sharing the post, the Dhadak actor emphasised the importance of staying hydrated in the caption.

He wrote, Stay hydrated.

Ishaan is gearing up for the release of his Netflix romance series, The Royals. The show boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Bhumi Pednekar, Nora Fatehi, Zeenat Aman, Dino Morea, Chunky Panday, and Milind Soman. The show is a modern-day Indian royalty rom-com series anchored by the chemistry between Bhumi and Ishaan Khatter.

Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, the series also stars Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Sumukhi Suresh, Udit Arora, Lisa Mishra and Luke Kenny.

The makers of the series on August 14 shared its teaser on Instagram, where Ishaan looked every-inch as royalty.

The post was captioned: A royal feast for your eyes. Announcing #TheRoyals, coming soon only on Netflix.

Produced by Pritish Nandy and created by Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy, known for their contemporary pop culture and spirited storytelling, had shared back then that The Royals being their very first with Netflix had to be just the right blend of coming-of-age-India, Gen Z storytelling and feisty fun.

They added: "There is the inevitable romance of old royalty; monarchs without crowns, and the incredible drive of todays startup warriors for whom crowns hold zero shine.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has thrown his support behind the veteran quick Josh Hazlewood to return for the Brisbane Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, citing his track record and impact.

Adelaide Test replacement Scott Boland delivered an impressive performance after Hazlewood was ruled out due to a side strain. Boland seized his opportunity, claiming five wickets in the match and dismantling Indias top order. However, with Hazlewood nearing fitness, he is likely to be included in the third Test.

Brett Lee believes that Hazlewood, provided he is fully fit, should return to the starting XI for the Brisbane Test. Lee acknowledged Bolands outstanding effort but emphasised Hazlewoods consistent performances and seniority.

"Look, its a tough one but youd have to go back on form and what Josh Hazlewood has done. For me personally, Josh Hazlewood slips straight back in. If hes fully fit he gets the new ball, or at least is definitely back in the team, Lee told Fox Sports.

Bolands appearance in Adelaide marked his first Test in 18 months, with his last outing coming during the third Ashes Test in 2022. Despite the long hiatus, the pacer delivered a stellar performance, taking crucial wickets of Shubman Gill and Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the first innings. He followed it up in the second innings by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Mohammad Siraj.

Bolands five wickets came at a crucial juncture for Australia, helping them level the series at 1-1. Hazlewood had also made a strong start to the series, claiming five wickets in the opening Test at Perth, including four in Indias first innings.

Its unfortunate for Scott Boland because when hes had his opportunity, hes nailed it. I look at Scott Boland and I probably think hes a bit like MacGill playing in the Warne era. MacGill took 200 Test wickets bowling when Shane Warne was either injured or out for other reasons. So he was a quality, quality bowler, Lee said.

Lee further highlighted that Boland would likely be a mainstay in any other Test side around the world. "Boland could be in any team around the world. Any playing nation. But unfortunately, when youve got Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood, theyre still doing the business, and theyre in his way at the moment. Its nothing against Boland because hes bowled the house down."

With the series locked at 1-1, Australia will look to take a lead in the five-match affair when they take field for the third Test from December 14-18 in Brisbane.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, who is known for Andaz Apna Apna, Coolie No.1, Raja Hindustani and others, recently met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi with her family, and received a signed autograph from the PM for her children.

On Wednesday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared the pictures from the Kapoor familys meeting with the PM. The family, which is considered the first film dynasty of Hindi cinema, met with PM Modi ahead of the centenary of the familys patriarch Raj Kapoor, who is widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers and actors in Indian cinema.

Sharing the pictures, Karisma wrote the same caption as her sister Kareena Kapoor Khan. She wrote, We are deeply humbled and honored to have been invited by the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to commemorate the extraordinary life and legacy of our grandfather, the legendary Raj Kapoor. Thank you Shri Modi ji for such a special afternoon. Your warmth, attention, and support in celebrating this milestone meant the world to us.

As we celebrate 100 glorious years of Dadajis artistry, vision, and contribution to Indian cinema, we honour the timeless impact of his legacy, which continues to inspire us and generations to come. We are proud to showcase his iconic films and remember the impact he had on Indian cinema with the Raj Kapoor 100 Film Festival. Dec 13-15, 2024 | 10 films | 40 cities | 135 cinemas. #100YearsOfRajKapoor , she added.

December 14, 2024 marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor. He was born in Peshawar (present day Pakistan), and was the eldest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards.

His films Awaara and Boot Polish competed for the Palme d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951 and 1955's editions respectively.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts. India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was bestowed to him in 1988 by the Government of India.

Earlier, the International Film Festival of India, organised jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India (under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa, in Goa, honoured Raj Kapoor ahead of his centenary, and invited Ranbir as the speaker to share anecdotes about his grandfather.
Bengaluru, Dec 11 : As the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) grows in India, 31 per cent of leaders are expecting substantial transformation from AI in less than one year, experts said on Wednesday.

The inaugural Google Workspace Media Summit here revealed that almost 70 per cent of enterprises utilise Help me write in Docs or Gmail incorporating Gemini AIs suggestions, and over 75 per cent of users generate images in slides.

At the event, customers from leading Indian enterprises like HCL Software, Zomato and JK Cement showcased tangible benefits of using Google Workspace, including improved communication, streamlined workflows, and enhanced productivity.

According to Sumedha Chakraborty, Country Head, Google Workspace, India and South Asia, they are seeing incredible interest in Gemini for Workspace.

Its transforming how people work by boosting the efficiency, creativity, productivity, and security of their organizations. At Google Workspace, we remain committed to advancing innovation while prioritizing robust security and privacy measures, said Chakraborty.

The custom large language models (LLMs) are blocking more spam and responding to threats faster than ever before, reaffirming our commitment to innovation, productivity, and security, she mentioned.

Google Workspace has over 3 billion monthly active users globally.

According to a recent Total Economic Impact study by Forrester, Google Workspace is a game-changer for businesses seeking to unlock greater productivity and cost savings.

The analysis found that Google Workspace saves companies 171 hours per user annually  equivalent to an extra month of work to the year.

It also reduces on-demand tech support costs by 20 per cent and delivers an impressive 331 per cent return on investment (ROI).

With custom-built LLMs, Gmails spam protection has improved significantly, blocking 20 per cent more spam and analysing 1,000 times more user-reported spam daily.

In Google Drive, LLMs have accelerated responses to novel spam and phishing attacks by 90 per cent, greatly enhancing security response times, informed the company.
By Mata Press Service

In the winter of 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared to the world: To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength. #WelcomeToCanada.

The tweet served as a pointed rebuke to then-U.S. President Donald Trumps executive order banning refugees and visitors from Muslim-majority nations and other groups deemed undesirable by the White House.

By 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trudeaus Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino, echoed the governments welcoming stance, emphasizing the contributions of international students.

Our message to international students and graduates is simple: we dont just want you to study here, we want you to stay here, Mendicino said.

Fast forward to today, and the message from the Trudeau Liberals to refugees, now encrusted in a $250,000 global online advertising campaign, is markedly different:

Claiming asylum in Canada is not easy. There are strict guidelines to qualify. Find out what you need to know before you make a life-changing decision.

For international students, the shift is just as stark: not everyone can stay.

The reality is that not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able tojust like not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to, said current Immigration Minister Marc Miller, cautioning international students not to make asylum claims to remain in the country.

This evolving rhetoric reflects a dramatic pivot in Canadas immigration policy, where restrictions and barriers increasingly replace inclusivity and opportunity.

The Trudeau Liberals opened the doors to immigration with little foresight or planning, and now they are slamming them shut in an equally chaotic and uncoordinated manner, said a senior immigration consultant based in Surrey, B.C.

The Conference Board of Canada agrees.

In a new report titled Shift in Immigration Policy Goes Too Far, the independent research organization states:

Allowing Canadas population to surge so quickly in 2023 and 2024 was a mistake, but attempting to rectify this problem with equal haste is also misguided.

Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist at the Conference Board of Canada, added:

While the recent surge in non-permanent residents has placed significant pressure on the economy, the governments response may be too drastic. Given Canadas fragile state of recovery, a steadier approach would provide a more stable path forward.

In October 2024, the government announced a plan to reduce non-permanent residents by over 900,000 within two yearsa much more aggressive target than proposed in March. This policy shift follows an unprecedented population surge in 2023 and 2024, strained housing, infrastructure, and public services.

To curb record-setting population growth triggered by immigration, the government projects that 2.4 million non-permanent residents must either leave or change their status within the next two years. During this time, Canada expects to welcome 1.5 million new temporary arrivals, resulting in a net loss of approximately 900,000 non-permanent residentsequivalent to about 2% of the countrys population.

The Naujawan Support Network, an organization for immigrant workers and international students, estimates that over 200,000 recent graduates across Canada whose post-graduate work permits (PGWPs) are expiring in 2025 are at risk of deportation.

While this rapid reduction is unlikely to trigger a recession, it is expected to significantly dampen Canadas growth, lowering real GDP by $7.9 billion in 2025 and $16.2 billion in 2026, according to the Conference Board of Canada.

As Canadas population shrinks, both employment and unemployment will decline. However, the contraction of labour supply is expected to outpace the demand reduction, resulting in a tighter labour market and increased pressure on employers to fill positions, Antunes said.

The governments hasty course correction introduces new challenges, potentially straining employers, exacerbating labour shortages, and impacting near-term economic performance.

Another report last week by the charity group Imagine Canada reveals that nearly one in four multicultural Canadians who previously immigrated to Canada expressed regret about their decision, and one in five are considering leaving. Additionally, about a third say they discourage family and friends from immigrating to Canada, citing increased acts of racism and a sense of not belonging.

At the same time, Canada is grappling with a backlog of 260,000 refugee cases amid rising global displacement.

According to OMNI News, the government is launching a $250,000 global online advertising campaign to caution potential asylum-seekers about the challenges of making a refugee claim. Running from late December 2024 to March 31, 2025, the initiative seeks to counter misinformation about the countrys immigration and asylum systems. Ads in 11 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Turkish, and Tamil, will target individuals searching for terms like How to claim asylum in Canada or refugee Canada. The ads will direct users to sponsored content titled Canadas Asylum System  Asylum Facts.

Its going to be a tough and frustrating year for tens of thousands of new immigrants, international students, and temporary foreign workers as they navigate the new rules to avoid leaving or getting deported, said a Vancouver-based immigration lawyer.

The Century Initiative, a registered charity, argues that blaming immigration for Canadas housing, infrastructure, and affordability crises has driven the Liberal government to make political decisions that create panic and instability.

When a country faces large-scale social or economic change, as Canada does, we need leadership from the government and a vision based on where we are today and where we can aspire to go. Instead, were seeing our policymakers swing from month to month based on the opinion environment, chasing after low-hanging fruit to reduce demand for housing rather than addressing the nation-building need to plan for supply, the group said in a recent op-ed.
Hyderabad, Dec 11 : Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on Wednesday that the validation flight at Jewar Airport, also known as Noida International Airport, was conducted successfully and officials were looking to get license for the airport as soon as possible.

"The validation flight happened at Jewar Airport. It went through very, very successfully," the Minister told media on the sidelines of an event to launch AI-powered digital twin platform at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.

Ram Mohan Naidu said the construction of Jewar International Airport was nearing completion.

"We are also looking to license it as soon as possible so that people of NCR (National Capital Region) and western Uttar Pradesh can have the access to an additional airport other than the Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi)," he said.

The Civil Aviation Minister said Jewar is a very strategic location and they see it becoming very viable.

"Initially, they want to operate with 12 million capacity. They are going very well and we are expecting it to start it in April," he added.

On hoax calls, Ram Mohan Naidu said the Ministry was trying to bring two legislative changes to deal with the problem.

He said that Aircraft Security Rules are being amended and a gazette will be issued soon.

"We are creating legislation so that any perpetrator, anyone who is involved in this kind of things, can be put on no-fly list," he said

An amendment is also proposed in Swaska Act which deals with offences related to civil aviation.

"We have proposed for small amendment which is going through inter-ministerial consultation process. Once we get feedback from concerned ministries, we are going to go ahead with the amendment," he said.

Earlier, addressing the event, he wanted GMR to speed up the work on Bhogapuram International Airport near Visakhapatnam.

Ram Mohan Naidu said they have the deadline of completing the airport by June 2026 and made it clear that there will be no compromise on this.

He thanked GMR for giving clearance for building Warangal Airport, which was a long pending demand.

The Minister also noted that GMR Group is the largest private operator in Asia which two of the top four airports in the country - Delhi and Hyderabad. It is also one of the largest operators in the world handling 100 million passengers annually.

He also mentioned that Hyderabad Airport is connected to around 90 destinations across the country and internationally. The airport recorded the highest passenger growth from 6.5 million in 2010 to 25 million in 2024. The flight movement jumped from 220 flights per day to 550 flights per day during the same period.

In anticipation of rapid growth, the terminal capacity was recently increased to 34 million per annum.

Ram Mohan Naidu said he always envisioned the Aviation ecosystem as not only as robust but also smarter, more efficient and more people-centric.

Referring to the rapid growth of the aviation sector in the country, he said in October this year, the domestic air passenger traffic increased by 5.3 per cent to 1.36 crore traffic from 1.26 crore last month.

The Civil Aviation Minister mentioned that in December 2023, the domestic passenger traffic was 1.37 crore and this November, the country surpassed the number in just 29 days.

He said this was the best ever month for Indian aviation. November 7 will always be remembered for clocking over 5 lakh passengers.

The minister stated that the number of airports in the country has gone up to 157 from just 74 in 2014. He said it will soon become 158 and three more are lined up.

Ram Mohan Naidu said that his vision is to have 50 more airports in the county in the next five years and 200 airports in 20 years.

The Minister lauded GMR for launching Airport Predictive Operation Centre (APOC), a transformative advancement in airport management and operations at Hyderabad Airport. He termed it the beginning of a new chapter in aviation operations.

This innovative platform integrates airside, landside, and terminal operations into a unified system, utilising real-time data to optimise decision-making, minimise disruptions, and ensure seamless operations

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Telangana's Minister for Roads and Buildings, GBS Raju, Chairman, Airports, GMR Group, SGK Kishore, ED South & Chief Innovation Officer, GMR Airports, Pradeep Panicker, CEO-GHIAL were also present.
Mandya, Dec 11 : The funeral of veteran politician, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Padma Vibhushan S.M. Krishna was held on Wednesday.

The funeral of the statesman was held as per Hindu Vokkaliga traditions and with government honours at his native place Somanahalli near Maddur town in Mandya district of Karnataka.



S.M. Krishnas grandson and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumars son-in-law Amartya Hegde performed the final rites and lit the sandalwood pyre.



Sources stated that 1,000 kilos of sandalwood logs were used to prepare the funeral pyre.



Dy CM Shivakumar himself monitored the funeral arrangements of his close relative S.M. Krishna.



Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his Cabinet ministers, Congress MLAs, former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and other dignitaries were present during the final rites.



Vokkaliga seer Nirmalanandanatha Swami and other religious saints were also present.



Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy and Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi had come down to attend the funeral and paid their respects to the mortal remains of the departed leader.



S.M. Krishna passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness.



Before quitting the grand old party in 2017, S.M. Krishna, who spent 46 years with the Congress, served in various capacities as a member of the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha, and held key positions as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, External Affairs Minister, and Governor of Maharashtra.



S.M. Krishna, a nonagenarian veteran politician, is hailed for his contributions to the state by one and all, irrespective of their political affiliations.



S.M. Krishnas efforts for the state, right from launching the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme in Karnataka for students, to building Brand Bengaluru are hailed across the political spectrum.



The Congress government introduced the MDM Scheme in the state during the year 2002-03 under S.M. Krishnas leadership.



The Yashasvini health insurance scheme launched by S.M. Krishna is considered another major contribution to the people of the state. Until then, there was no such health insurance scheme.



S.M. Krishna contested the Legislative Assembly elections independently as early as 1962. He was a rare politician who served in all four legislative bodies: Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha.



After a long political career with the Congress, he joined the BJP and announced his retirement from politics within a year.



S.M. Krishnas efforts are hailed for bringing the international airport to Bengaluru and for playing a key role in bringing the Metro project to the city.



In recognition of his contributions, the Modi government had honored S.M. Krishna with the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.



It is a known fact that during his tenure as the CM, the IT/BT companies came to Bengaluru in large numbers.



He is also known as an internationally-renowned statesman who brought the Silicon City tag to Bengaluru.




Commentary

Dr. Jehangir Appoo

One of the main problems with Canadas healthcare system is the dearth of family doctors. The growing popularity of artificial intelligence raises an interesting questioncan AI help solve Canadas physician shortage?

According to a 2023 Unity Health Toronto survey, approximately 20 percent of Canadians do not have a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner compared to less than 5 percent of residents in Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. And only 46 percent of Canadians report being able to make an appointment on the same day they are sickranking Canada 9th out of 10 OECD countries with universal health care.

Delayed access to care in Canada is not only due to a scarcity of family doctors but also due to the type of work-family doctors chooses to pursue. Many family doctors who train as primary care physicians choose to practise in non-primary care medical occupations such as hospitalist, surgical assistant and clinical associate with specialty practices, which suggests that family doctors find other aspects of the work more interesting than primary care. Young people generally want to enter careers where they can do creative work on important problems and work with other motivated, talented people. Subsequently, the best way to improve access to family doctors may be to make the profession more attractive to top talent.

So, can AI reduce the burden of mundane tasks and thereby allow family doctors to do more creative workwhich in turn will increase the number of family doctors in Canada?

At its core, AI is a tool for prediction.

And a significant portion of medical work involves making diagnoses or predicting what is wrong. While patients sometimes use a form of AI (known as Large Language Model or LLM technology) to self-diagnose, some physicians globally are using LLMs to generate a list of diagnoses to ensure they dont miss something potentially important.

Indeed, a personalized LLM, which knows the individual patients history, could triage problems more efficiently. As a result, family doctors could transition to the creative and rewarding work of creating a meaningful treatment plan that helps patients. As we approach the two-year anniversary of ChatGPTs release, the technology today remains in its infancy and will likely improve in the same way the Internet has grown more useful over time.

But a word of caution. While a new paradigm of care augmented by AI may reinvent the work of family doctors to once again make it an attractive specialty for top talent, AI wont alleviate the current crisis tomorrow. The regulatory process in medicine takes time.

However, government policy can play a key role in the adoption of LLM AI in Canada in a few different ways. Government can financially support training programs for family doctors to help integrate LLM AI into Canadas individual electronic medical records (EMR). Government can also foster the interoperability of existing provincial EMR systems so they more seamlessly exchange patient information. AI tools within a given EMR may then leverage data across many EMRs to help create powerful, population-specific prediction tools that may increase the quality of care, shorten patient appointments, streamline medical records, and thereby improve patient access to care.

Were only beginning to understand the potential of AI to improve health care in Canada and around the world. And while AI may help attract top talent to primary care by making the work more interesting, governments in Canada must continue to work on more conventional strategies to improve health-care access while supporting the careful incorporation of AI models including LLMs into medical care.

Dr. Jehangir Appoo is an Associate Research Professor at the University of Calgary.
A major UK patient trial of a new biomarker testing protocol for sepsis, led by University of Manchester researchers, has shown it is possible to safely stop antibiotic treatment earlier than current care.

Paul Dark. Image Credit: University of Manchester

The duration reduction of around 10% could provide significant cost savings to health systems, limit unwanted drug side-effects, reduce overtreatment and reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance in individuals, across communities and internationally.

The study was commissioned and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and its leading partners were The University of Manchester, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and Warwick Medical Schools Clinical Trials Unit, who specialize in research in emergency and critical care.

Chief investigator Paul Dark, Professor of Critical Care at the University of Manchester will present the findings to a global online audience at the prestigious Critical Care Reviews Meeting this week (10/12/24), where it will be scrutinized and debated by some of the worlds leading experts in the field.

The research team also publish their peer reviewed findings in JAMA - one of the worlds leading medical journals - today

According to the charity Sepsis Research FEAT, around 50,000 people are estimated to die of sepsis in the UK each year, which develops when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs.

Accounting for 100,000 hospital admissions a year in the UK, it is estimated that there are 49 million cases and 1 million deaths a year globally.

Recognizing sepsis and starting antibiotics early are crucial but until now the recommended duration of such treatment has been uncertain.

The only available option recommended for doctors currently is to use their judgement to decide when to discontinue the potent broad spectrum antibiotics, usually reserved to treat the condition.

The new decision support system is based on a simple blood test, carried out daily and available in most NHS hospital laboratories.

It tests for levels of a circulating protein called procalcitonin (PCT), which is produced as part of the bodys immune system responses to bacterial infections.

Higher levels indicate a greater likelihood of bacterial infection and sepsis, with subsequent falling levels indicating favorable responses to treatments

A computer automated response, based on the PCT levels from the blood test, advises doctors whether to discontinue antibiotic treatment or not. A further commonly measured circulating inflammation protein (C-reactive protein or CRP) was also tested.

The randomized controlled trial was based at 41 intensive care units across the UK, involving 2,760 adults from January 2018 to June 2024.

It compared 918 patients on a PCT protocol with 924 patients on a C-reactive protein (CRP) and 918 patients on current standard care.

Clinicians responsible for managing patients received daily standardized written advice on either standard care or on PCT or CRP biomarker-guided antibiotic discontinuation.

The protocols in the study were uniquely designed to conceal laboratory test results from clinical staff to reduce potential bias and patients were randomly assigned to one of the three groups.

The team found that a PCT protocol reduced total antibiotic duration by 10% and all-cause mortality, a key patient safety measure, was the same as standard care .

There was no difference in total antibiotic duration between standard care and CRP protocols..

Professor Dark, who is also an NHS Consultant in Critical Care Medicine at Salford Royal, said: This simple protocol, if implemented, could significantly change the way sepsis is treated and safely help to combat antimicrobial overuse and resistance- one of the worlds leading health challenges.

It is also a powerful illustration of how precision medicine can make a real difference to patient care when treatment is tailored to individual test results of each patient.

Its also important to acknowledge that this study would not have been possible without the generous contribution of patients with this life threatening condition who like all of us, are committed to finding better ways to deal with sepsis.

Sepsis has been at the forefront of policy makers minds ever since the publication of 2013 Health Service Ombudsman report which focused on sepsis patients who were not treated urgently enough. Ever since then, developing better diagnostics and treatment guidance for GPs and hospital clinicians to help them recognize sepsis at an early stage has been a national priority. This trial has been planned to address NICEs recommendations so that its results will inform their future guidance on antibiotic duration in sepsis. Paul Dark, Chief investigator and Professor of Critical Care, University of Manchester

Sepsis Research FEAT trustee Beth Budgen developed sepsis as a result of a seemingly innocuous Strep A infection on Christmas Day 2022, resulting in quadruple amputations.

She said: Within 24hrs I was fighting for my life and have been left with life changing injuries as a result. If this can happen to me, it really can happen to anyone. It really is that scary

The University of Manchester study is one of several significant projects currently being undertaken in the UK in the field of antibiotic treatment for sepsis patients - an extremely important area of research which Sepsis Research FEAT fully endorses.

The priority setting partnership exercise that the charity recently completed with the James Lind Alliance will also now be crucial in ensuring that the best research into sepsis takes place UK-wide.
Raising children is no easy task, and parents are consistently more likely to report experiencing overwhelming stress compared to other adults.

For some mothers, this stress is exacerbated by the pervasive, often debilitating impacts of borderline personality disorder (BPD), which can lead to feelings of guilt, regret and intense emotional distress.

Researchers from the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide explored the impacts of a specialized program for mothers with BPD that directly addresses core BPD symptoms.

The Mother-Infant Dialectical Behavior Therapy (MI-DBT) program encouraged participants to consider their child while managing their emotional reactions.

BPD is a mental illness characterized by unstable relationships, emotional instability, impulsive behaviors, and a fragile sense of self that affects up to 27% of mothers after birth.

UniSA Justice and Society researcher, Alexandra Giles, says that interventions targeting both mother and infant are scarce, but that following up with mothers who had completed MI-DBT three years prior revealed how this treatment may help mothers with BPD to develop empathy and emotional regulation skills.

The skills learned in the MI-DBT program allowed mothers to look beyond their own emotional struggles and focus on their children, providing them with the tools to respond to stressful situations with more thoughtfulness and less haste, she says.

Many mothers began to recognize the importance of their role in supporting their childrens emotional development, and the new behaviors formed through the program enabled them to focus more effectively on their role as parents, including both the joys and challenges of motherhood.

Mothers with BPD can struggle to maintain consistent and sensitive responses, which may result in prioritizing their own needs over their childrens and lead to a sense of guilt and shame about their parenting.

Giles says mothers feeling like theyre not doing enough for their children or that they cant care for them properly can cause a self-destructive spiral.

Its important that effective support interventions like the MI-DBT program are easily accessible because we know that this treatment can help. Alexandra Giles, UniSA Justice and Society researcher

Mothers described how they had a greater capacity to recognize their emotional triggers and an increased understanding and awareness of their disorder, which then led to a desire for change and the intentional adoption of strategies that allowed for healthier, more consistent reactions.

These mothers want mutual support and solidarity, and so now theres a need for a dedicated group where they can go to practice the skills theyve learned in MI-DBT and find strength in others experiencing the same challenges.
Advances in medicine have led to an increase in human longevity. Estimates suggest that by 2030, one in every six individuals globally will be aged over 60 years. This rapid increase in the aging population implies a larger number of aged individuals requiring care. Family members and professional caregivers may not be able to meet this increasing demand. Furthermore, reports suggest a significant shortage of workforce, including nurses, in several developed countries, underscoring the need for additional strategies that cater to the needs of older adults.

Simple and effective technologies such as robots can bridge this gap and help provide the care needed for older individuals to age in the comfort of their homes. However, despite their significant potential, social acceptance of assistive home-care robots in aging societies remains an issue. Further, their widespread use is impeded by challenges in developing robots that can cater to the specific needs of older individuals requiring long-term care across different countries, given the cultural, ethical, and financial differences.

In a new study, researchers from Chiba University, Japan, sought to elucidate the factors that affect users' willingness to use home-care robots. Previous studies have shown that public involvement in research has a positive impact on the study design and patient engagement. Building on this, the researchers examined a user-centric approach that involves potential users in the research and development process of home-care robots. This approach takes into consideration real-life expectations and problems faced by users.

Giving further insight into their work published in Scientific Reports, on November 12, 2024, Professor Sayuri Suwa, the corresponding author of the article, says, "In countries where the population is aging, the use of home-care robots will enable many people to achieve 'aging in place.' Each country has its own unique history, culture, and legal system, so we wanted to clarify how home-care robots could be developed and implemented in a way that respects these differences." This research was actively co-authored by Dr. Hiroo Ide from the Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo; Dr. Yumi Akuta from the Division of Nursing, Faculty of Healthcare, Tokyo Healthcare University; Dr. Naonori Kodate from the UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin; Dr. Jaakko Hallila from Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences; and Dr. Wenwei Yu from the Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University.

The team conducted a questionnaire-based survey of care recipients and caregivers across Japan, Ireland, and Finland. The questionnaire assessed four different aspects of users' willingness, namely  familiarity with robots, important points about home-care robots, functions expected from home-care robots, and ethically acceptable uses, through 48 different items. The researchers analyzed the responses of 525 Japanese, 163 Irish, and 170 Finnish participants for common and distinct factors influencing their willingness to use robots.

The analysis revealed that "willingness to participate in research and development," "interest in robot-related news," and "having a positive impression of robots" were common factors among respondents from the three countries. On the other hand, "convenience" in Japan, "notifying family members and support personnel when an unexpected change occurs in an older person" in Ireland, and "design" in Finland were found to be distinct factors influencing the use of robots.

Additionally, the study highlights how historic, cultural, and demographic variables across the countries influence the implementation of home-care robots. In Japan, robot development is being encouraged by the government, industry, and academia, with a general optimism towards their application. While robot development is slightly behind in Ireland, its use for older adults is being increasingly recognized, and artificial intelligence and robotics are being applied in health and social care. The Finnish respondents' choice of 'design' is in line with Finnish design, which is widely known worldwide, suggesting that it is important in robot manufacturing.

Overall, the study highlights the importance of user participation and their perspective in the development of home-care technology. Home-care robots hold significant potential in empowering older adults. "Developing home-care robots in collaboration with potential users, such as older people and care providers, will foster better product acceptance in the future. This is beneficial not only for validating the home-care products under development but also for truly expanding the use of home-care robots. Ultimately, this would lead to greater well-being for users," Prof. Suwa concludes.

With the right blend of innovation, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity, home-care robots could soon transform the dream of 'aging in place' into a global reality!
New research from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine suggests that one's biological age, which can be higher than his or her chronological age  a concept called accelerated aging  may predict who's at risk for developing colon polyps, a known risk factor for colorectal cancer.

The findings, published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, link accelerated aging to increased early colorectal cancer risk and indicate that those aging faster than their actual age  accelerated agers  may benefit from early colon-cancer screening. Early detection has been shown to improve both treatment options and outcomes for this disease.

Unlike chronological age, which simply counts years lived, biological age is based on physiological markers that reflect the impact of genetics, lifestyle choices and environmental factors. It's determined through sophisticated DNA analysis.

"Biological age is an interesting concept, and it leads to the idea of accelerated aging, when your biological age exceeds your chronological age," explained Shria Kumar, MD, a colorectal cancer researcher at Sylvester and the study's senior and corresponding author. For example, she added, if someone is 50, but his or her biological age is 55, that's five years of accelerated aging that might be reflected in overall body functioning.

"It sounds pretty theoretical, but actually accelerated aging has been shown to be predictive of time to death and even of multiple cancers," Kumar continued, noting that this line of research adds to a growing area of study within epigenetics, which examines the mechanisms behind deteriorating cell functions."

Rising rates in younger people

Colorectal cancer rates in people under 50, called early-onset colorectal cancer, have been rising. Since 2011, these rates have been increasing by 2% a year in people younger than 50, according to the American Cancer Society.

Accordingly, researchers have been striving to determine the best age to begin screening for colorectal cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has lowered its recommended starting age from 50 to 45.

However, this change might not be sufficient to fully address the problem, Kumar noted, because half of early-onset colorectal cancers occur in people under 45, according to the latest statistics from the National Cancer Institute.

Screening methods

There are several ways to screen for colon cancer now, including more convenient stool-sample tests collected at home. But colonoscopy, a more invasive outpatient procedure that requires sedation in a medical facility, remains the gold standard.

During a colonoscopy, the doctor can identify and remove polyps, which are soft-tissue growths that can lead to cancer. Polyps are common, affecting about 20% to 30% of adults, and removing them during colonoscopy can prevent colon cancer.

What's really, I think, exciting about the opportunity in colorectal cancer is that we have a clear prevention tactic. Colonoscopy is not only early detection, but also cancer prevention." Shria Kumar, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Analyzing biological age

Some factors that raise a person's risk of early-onset colorectal cancer also elevate biological age. These include obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and other lifestyle habits.

For this study, Kumar and Sylvester colleagues Chloe Brown and Maria Yow investigated biological age as a risk factor for colorectal cancer by studying people under 50 who were having colonoscopies. The team assessed patients' biological age through extensive DNA analysis of blood samples and compared it with their colonoscopy results.

They discovered that each year of accelerated aging correlated with a 16% increased risk of developing polyps. Interestingly, the study did not link other factors, such as body-mass index and smoking history, to polyp risk. But it did find that gender was the strongest risk factor for polyps.

"While I think the biological age finding is interesting and, maybe, exciting, the strongest risk factor for having a pre-cancerous polyp remains male sex," Kumar explained. "While we continue to look at biological age and other risks, we also need to evaluate why sex is such a differential risk factor."

Key takeaways

The authors believe risk-based screening for colorectal cancer focused on people with accelerated aging could yield beneficial results. "If we can develop a practical model to really identify and target higher risk people and put them through colonoscopy, we can prevent their cancers," Kumar explained.

She noted that her team will need to conduct more research with larger sample sizes to obtain a clearer picture. "Aging is multifaceted, and we need larger studies to establish whether most people's biological age is the same as their chronological age," she said. "It is pretty striking that multiple studies, including ours, have found that biological age provides distinct health information and that could help us prevent cancer."
insights from industry Malika Bsibsi Research Leader Charles River Laboratories

In this interview, Dr. Malika Bsibsi discusses the role of iPSC models in advancing neuroscience drug discovery, focusing on neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and innovative in vitro approaches.

Could you start by introducing yourself and giving our readers a brief overview of Charles River Laboratories' work in neurodegenerative diseases and drug discovery?

Hi, Im Malika Bsibsi, Research Leader at Charles River Labs. In my role I lead a team of scientists working on the development and implementation of iPSC-derived cell models for our drug discovery clients.

Charles River Labs has a strong history in supporting neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases across all stages of drug discovery, such as hit identification, high-throughput screening, lead optimization, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology and efficacy, pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, and safety and toxicology.

You've worked extensively on advances in cell models related to neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammation. Why are in vitro models like these crucial in better understanding these diseases and their mechanisms?

The processes that cause neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation are complex and involve multiple cell types, so it can be hard to accurately model these processes and to investigate how they are involved in different diseases. Traditionally, researchers and drug developers have used animal models to do this, but there is a continuing push in the pharmaceutical community to find alternatives to animals, particularly in the early stages of drug discovery.

Also, the brains of commonly used rodent models dont accurately reflect the complexity of the human brain. For instance, in the human brain there are over 90 billion neurons, each with around 7000 synapses to other neurons, and over a trillion glial cells. In mice for example, the ratio of glia to neurons is much lower making them a poor model for human neuroinflammation. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cells in culture systems enables us to provide our clients with relevant models that have high translation to human physiology and disease.

Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

Could you elaborate on the in vitro model for Alzheimers disease that youve developed? What potential does this model hold in drug development to treat Alzheimers?

Our aim here was to develop a robust and reproducible in vitro model for Alzheimers drug discovery. To this end, we treated iPSC-derived glutamatergic neurons with -amyloid aggregates to simulate amyloid pathology. Assessment of toxicity in this cell model showed that these aggregates caused degradation of neurite structures and cell death in a concentration dependent manner.

Neurodegeneration was further confirmed by release of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a key marker of neurodegeneration that has been shown to be increased in the CSF of Alzheimers patients. This model can be used in drug discovery to screen a group of novel compounds to determine their efficacy at preventing amyloid-induced neurodegeneration, a key pathology in the progression of Alzheimers disease.

Why is investigating myelination so important in the context of neurological diseases, and what role does it play in disease progression and possible treatment options?

Myelination is the process by which oligodendrocytes deposit myelin, a lipid-rich substance, around the axons of neurons in the brain, forming an insulting layer that increases the rate at which action potentials travel. This process is vital for neurological functions such as cognition, sensory function, and motor function, and failure or damage in the process can have devastating consequences.

In multiple sclerosis, demyelination in the brain either by autoimmune attack on myelin or failure of oligodendrocyte function leads to muscle weakness, loss of sensation and fatigue. Also there are rare, inherited demyelination disorders such as leukodystrophies and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. There is also evidence that demyelination and death of oligodendrocytes may be caused by amyloid and tau pathology in Alzheimers disease.

The process of demyelination is therefore a therapeutic target in multiple neurological disorders, and a validated in vitro model of this process such as our neuron/oligodendrocyte co-culture model, is critical to advance drug discovery in these disorders.

Many of the models you've worked on employ induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). What are the main advantages of using iPSCs in modeling neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammation?

There are several advantages to using iPSCs and cells derived from them in drug discovery. Using human iPSCs obviously offers better translation to human diseases, compared to using animal cells for example.

An alternative source of human cells for drug discovery assays is primary cells from post-mortem samples, and while we do have access to these through our relationship with the Netherlands Brain Bank and have developed robust protocols for culture of post-mortem isolated neurons and glia, these cells are a finite resource and generally have low yield. Human iSPCs, either patient derived or commercially available cells, and cells derived from them are a robust, stable and reproducible source of cells for assays for our clients' projects.

How do in vitro cell models contribute to the drug discovery process, particularly when developing treatments for neurological diseases?

In vitro cell models, either mono-culture or more complex co-culture models, can be used across different stages of the drug discovery process from target validation, through screening, lead identification and optimization, in vitro efficacy with phenotypic readouts, and even in early safety readouts. At Charles River labs, we use these kind of models widely in answering our clients' drug discovery questions.

For example, I already mentioned that we have developed a co-culture model of human iPSC-derived oligodendrocytes and glutamatergic neurons as an in vitro model of myelination. Our clients are using this model to test compounds identified from high-throughput screening, to see how they compare against each other as to their effect on myelination processes and to determine which compound would be best to proceed with. Similarly, our complex model of neurons, microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in co-culture enables our clients to screen compounds for their efficacy in targeting neuroinflammatory processes.

We combine iPSC-derived models with our expertise in a wide range of phenotypic readouts. For example, for clients working in epilepsy drug discovery we have developed an iPSC-derived glutamatergic and GABAergic neuron co-culture that develops seizure-like activity when stimulate with seizurogenic compounds, as measured by multi-electrode array (MEA) electrophysiology. Using this model, we can screen compounds for their ability to decrease seizure-like readouts.

What are some other practical applications of in vitro cell models in the field of neurodegenerative diseases? How are these models currently being used in research and clinical settings?

The examples I gave above explain how we can use these complex cell models in drug discovery, but they can also be widely used in the context of drug safety. For example, we use the MEA system with iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes to test the potential cardiotoxicity of novel compounds and biologics, not just in neuroscience drug discovery but across all therapeutic applications. Similarly, the complex models of neurons, microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in co-culture can be used to examine the neurotoxicity of novel compounds on a cellular level.

Outside of the drug discovery and development process, in vitro cell models derived from stem cells are widely used in preclinical, academic research, for example to study developmental processes, and to model processes in health and disease. These models are the same as the models we use in our client projects, but rather than being used to determine compound efficacy, they are used to investigate processes and protein function, for example.

In the clinical space, stem cells are under investigation for their therapeutic potential. For example, there are currently ongoing clinical trials looking at if iSPC-derived dopaminergic neurons, surgically transplanted into the brain, are an effective treatment for Parkinsons disease, where symptoms are caused by degradation of dopaminergic neurons in the mid-brain.

Looking back on your work with in vitro models, what key developments or challenges do you see in the future for using these tools in the fields of neuroscience and drug discovery?

I think one of the key developments that is happening now with in vitro models is the development and use of 3D models, including organoids. At Charles River we are using organoids outside of neuroscience drug discovery, for example we have developed human gut organoids and validated this model for the development of antiviral compounds against infection with enteroviruses (EV-A71).

In terms of brain organoids, there are a number of challenges to be overcome before this type of model could provide a robust and reproducible model for use in drug discovery, including proportions of different cell types, vascularization, and nutrient supply. Generating brain organoids for use in drug discovery may certainly be a goal, but we also need to consider the question that is being asked and use the model that best answers that question.

Regarding challenges with the co-culture models we have been developing, one of the key challenges is scaling these models for use in high throughput screening, to provide a translatable model at this very early stage of drug discovery.

At the moment we can culture these models in 96-well plates enabling screening, but not at the level that would truly be considered high throughput, where tens of thousands of chemical structures can be screened in an efficient and cost-effective way. We are continually refining our cell culture protocols and model set-up, and scaling these types of cell models is something we are actively working on.

Given the translational nature of your models, how close do you think we are to bridging the gap between in vitro findings and clinical human studies, particularly in areas like neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration?

There are so many factors that go into whether a new compound or advanced therapy will reach clinical trials, be successful in them and then go on to receive regulatory approval to proceed to treating patients. The therapy must engage with a target, be efficacious and tolerable, have an acceptable safety profile and side effects, and actually reach its target; a key consideration with neuroscience therapies as direct access to the brain is blocked by the blood brain barrier.

The complex, co-culture models and human iPSC-derived models we have been discussing allow us to gather detailed information about many aspects of a therapy's pharmacology, before processing into animals, leading to better leads optimization and improved focus on therapies that are likely to have clinical effect. As the failure rate of neuroscience therapies is so high, any incremental improvements that can be made in the drug discovery and development process will translate to more therapies reaching patients.

About Dr Malika Bsibsi

Dr Malika Bsibsi holds a PhD from the VU Amsterdam University and has spent over 25 years working in in the fields of stem cell biology, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

In this time, she has developed significant expertise in culturing both iPSC-derived and primary brain cells, including neurons, microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. In her current role at Charles River, Dr Bsibsi brings this expertise to neuroscience drug discovery projects, developing mono-culture and multi-cell culture models and assay readouts, as well as providing strategy recommendations for our clients.
A former Montana health department staffer who described himself as the lead author of legislation to scrutinize nonprofit hospitals charitable acts said new rules implementing the bill amounted to a hospital "wish list" and that the state needs to go back to the drawing board.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services recently adopted the rules outlining how the state will collect data on nonprofit hospitals' charitable acts with the goal of eventually creating giving standards. That could include benchmarks, such as how much financial aid hospitals must provide patients.

The state's rules come more than four years after a legislative audit found shortcomings in the health department's oversight and more than a year after Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the law.

The aim is to fill in national oversight gaps that make it hard to weigh whether hospitals do enough for patients and their communities to earn their tax-exempt status as charitable organizations.

Brenton Craggs, a former regulatory affairs coordinator for the health department who said he was the initial architect of the 2023 oversight law, said the state's plan caters to the Montana Hospital Association.

"This is basically a wish list of demands from the hospital association," Craggs said. "They wanted us to be bound to federal standards."

The biggest red flag, Craggs said, is that the state's rules allow hospitals with operating losses an exemption from Montana's eventual community benefit and financial assistance standards.

"Almost every, if not every, single nonprofit hospital in the state will have operating losses during their fiscal years," Craggs said.

He also said the state should ensure hospitals can't count unpaid bills they submitted to debt collectors as part of uncompensated care they list as a benefit. As is, Craggs said, a hospital can claim that loss "while simultaneously financially ruining the patient."

Katy Mack, a spokesperson for the Montana Hospital Association, said parts of the oversight as proposed in the law and rulemaking process weren't workable with federal law, accounting practices, or the sustainability of rural hospitals.

"Hospitals are not opposed to reasonable and informed oversight," Mack said. "Hospitals are opposed to one-size-fits-all rules that force them to divert resources from priorities identified by their community."

Craggs rebuke reflects a nationwide tension between states' seeking to put checks on nonprofit hospitals and pushback from those hospitals. The debate centers on whether nonprofit hospitals give back their fair share.

Nonprofit hospitals must report "community benefits" they provide, such as services offered at a loss or free health screenings. But federal law doesn't specify what qualifies or how much to give. Hospitals report their giving inconsistently and, in some cases, count something that's good for business as a benefit.

Montana is among the latest states trying to define what should count as a benefit. Hospitals lobbied against cumbersome oversight from the start.

In the health department's notice that it had adopted the rules in September, state officials said the 2023 law ultimately restricted the reports it could require nonprofits to submit.

The law also required the state's definitions of, and standards for, community benefits to align with federal standards "wherever possible. The agency's adoption notice said that, while it would try to stick to those standards, the department recognized that it "may not always be possible."

Health policy analysts have said stopping at federal standards would be meaningless.

"The whole point of the state-level policy is to improve upon what the federal government has not done," said Christopher Whaley, a health economist at Brown University who studies the business of health care. "If a state is saying we have to follow what the federal government does, then they're just going to end up in the same exact place."

Craggs, who now works as an attorney for the Montana Office of Public Instruction, filed a letter opposing the state's rules during the public comment period before they were adopted. KFF Health News obtained that letter through a records request for the public comments regarding the rulemaking.

In an interview, Craggs said he was the health department's lead on the oversight legislation and that he was removed from that work after he publicly pushed back against changes the association had proposed during a Jan. 25, 2023, legislative hearing.

Jon Ebelt, a health department spokesperson, said the agency didn't want to comment. He said the state's notice of its adoption of the rules stands on its own.

According to state lobbying reports, the oversight bill was among the association's watched legislation for the 2023 session. The organization ultimately supported the bill after lawmakers made amendments.

Republican Rep. Bob Keenan, the bill's sponsor, said some of the changes were "draconian." But Keenan said he ultimately supported the policy as amended because he knew it was the result of long negotiations with the association. Lawmakers could make future changes, he said.

Craggs said the state's oversight goal was to create standards that worked across hospitals, big and small. Instead, he said, the state's exemptions give hospitals an easy out and the agency is kicking the can down the road on creating standards.

Montana missed the law's July deadline to set standards and the health department has been vague about what shape those standards could take. Officials have said they need to compile years of data to set fair benchmarks and that they'll begin establishing standards in 2026.

Craggs said past reports of hospital data are already available for officials to begin setting those standards. But he added the data the state plans to collect from hospitals has too many gaps to offer meaningful oversight.

In the adoption notice, the state said it must balance interests. It said the department will also take action if it appears any hospitals abuse their exemption from giving standards.

"Many critical access hospitals and rural emergency hospitals operate on very thin margins in remote, rural, and/or frontier areas," the notice said.

The agency said hospitals with losses still must meet federal rules.
Queensland man Shane Bates was fishing when the man's decision to enter the murky water left him in 'disbelief'.

The tourist was warned for being in crocodile-infested waters near the Yorkeys Knob boat ramp in Cairns. Source: TikTok/batesyadventures

Footage of a tense exchange between a local and an elderly tourist has revealed just how dangerous it is to visit parts of Australia without following safety guidelines  not only for yourself but also for native wildlife.

Local Shane Bates was fishing near Yorkeys Knob boat ramp in Cairns, Queensland, this week when something out of the corner of his eye stopped him in his tracks.

"This man pulled up in his car, started putting his stinger suit on then got his board out," Bates told Yahoo News Australia. "He walked down the boat ramp, jumped on his board and paddled out."

"Seeing him paddling in the murky water made me feel sick to my stomach," he said.

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The area is known crocodile territory and it took Bates a moment to shake off the shock before trying to intervene and confronting the man, who he said was "definitely a tourist".

Tourist 'straight away argued' with local over crocodile danger

Bates gave the beachgoer the benefit of the doubt and assumed he hadn't noticed the "recent crocodile sighting" sign standing close to where he was fishing. However, when the local desperately tried to warn him of the danger, the man "straight away argued", he said.

"I started filming out of disbelief. Old mate wasn't having a bar of what I was saying," he recalled to Yahoo.

In the footage, Bates can be heard yelling the nine-word warning all of us would be wise to remember.

"You're in north Queensland mate, have some common sense."

Local says 'selfish' behaviour will impact local wildlife

Not only did the man put himself at risk by choosing to jump into the water in known croc country, but he also put the crocodile in danger  as it is now common practice for rangers to shoot the animal if one attacks a human.

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"If this old man gets chomped on, the poor darn croc is going to get shot at," Bate said. "[It] isn't fair on the croc. People need to stop being so selfish and have some respect for our wildlife."

Rangers are also subjected to the "gruesome" job of recovering the victim, often finding body parts inside crocodiles.

"When someone gets taken it's not just that person that suffers the consequences. Rangers have the gruesome job of recovering what's left of the body and then they have to find and kill the crocodile responsible," outback tour guide David McMahon told Yahoo News previously.

Crocodiles are known to live near Yorkeys Knob boat ramp in Cairns. Source: Getty

Authorities urge visitors to 'make sensible choices'

The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) strongly warned against visitors "using small watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards".

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"People are responsible for their own safety in croc country, and were asking people to make sensible choices around the water," a spokesperson told Yahoo News.

Top tips to reduce your risk in Croc Country, according to the Queensland Government:

Stay at least 5m from the waters edge

Dispose of your food and fish scraps in a bin or take them home

Keep your pets on a lead and away from the waters edge

Avoid using small watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards

Stay well away from crocodile traps

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Undetected diabetes in hemochromatosis patients is linked to higher mortality, highlighting the need for early detection and treatment.

A recent study conducted by researchers from Denmark and published in BMJ investigated the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease in individuals homozygous for the HFE C282Y mutation, which is associated with hereditary hemochromatosis, even when iron levels appear normal. The study also explored whether the mutation modified the mortality risk in individuals with heart, liver, or diabetes disease.

Background

Iron regulation in the body is primarily controlled by the hormone hepcidin, which interacts with the human homeostatic iron regulator or HFE protein to maintain iron balance. Mutations in the HFE gene, such as the C282Y variant, disrupt this balance, leading to hereditary hemochromatosis, a condition characterized by excessive iron absorption and storage.

While most cases in Europe involve individuals who are homozygous for this mutation, the clinical manifestations vary widely, with only a fraction of the individuals developing severe complications such as liver disease or diabetes. Clinical guidelines typically focus on identifying at-risk individuals through elevated iron markers such as transferrin saturation and ferritin. However, many remain undiagnosed under these criteria.

Although phlebotomy and other therapies help manage symptoms in diagnosed cases, there is limited data on the risks associated with the disease for individuals who have the mutation but also have normal iron markers. Additionally, the relationship between these risks and increased mortality also remains unclear, highlighting the need for a better understanding of this genetic condition in broader populations.

The current study

The present study analyzed data from three large Danish cohorts comprising over 130,000 individuals to examine the health risks associated with the HFE C282Y homozygosity mutation. The participants were genotyped for HFE mutations (C282Y and H63D) and followed for up to 27 years.

The researchers obtained information on health and mortality outcomes, including diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease, through the national hospital and death registries of Denmark. Additionally, baseline health data, including blood levels of iron, ferritin, and transferrin saturation, were collected at enrollment, and adjustments were made for age and sex.

The study assessed the relative and absolute risks of heart and liver disease, as well as diabetes, through statistical models, comparing homozygous individuals to non-carriers. Additionally, stratified analyses were used to examine outcomes in subgroups with normal versus elevated iron markers.

The researchers also evaluated the mortality risk associated with diseases among homozygotes and calculated the population-level impacts, such as attributable mortality fractions. Furthermore, the participants were not informed of their genetic status to avoid bias.

Key findings

The study found that individuals who were homozygous for the HFE C282Y mutation were at a significantly higher risk of diabetes and liver disease, even with normal iron levels. Still, the risk of heart disease was not significant. Notably, the individuals who were C282Y homozygotes showed a 1.72-fold increased risk of diabetes, while the risk of liver disease was 2.22-fold higher than that of individuals who were not carriers of that mutation.

Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed that even in individuals with normal transferrin saturation or ferritin levels, the increased risks of diabetes and liver disease persisted, with the highest risk of diabetes observed in individuals with both markers indicating normal levels (6.49-fold increase). In contrast, the risk of heart disease was not elevated in this group.

Additionally, the mortality analyses demonstrated that individuals who were homozygous for the C282Y mutation and had diabetes faced nearly double the risk of death compared to non-carriers with diabetes. Overall, 27.3% of deaths among homozygotes were attributed to diabetes, emphasizing the significant impact of this condition. Moreover, mortality rates were also elevated among the C282Y homozygotes with liver disease but not with heart disease. These findings also highlighted the gaps in current clinical guidelines, which focus primarily on elevated iron markers.

Conclusions

To summarize, the study reported that individuals who were homozygous for the C282Y mutation in the HFE genes had a higher risk of diabetes and liver disease, even if their iron levels were normal. Furthermore, the mutation was found to significantly increase the mortality risk among individuals with diabetes, emphasizing the need for broader diagnostic criteria and targeted management.

These results challenged the current guidelines, which only monitor the iron levels, and emphasized the need to prioritize genetic testing and proactive care for at-risk populations to prevent disease complications and improve survival outcomes.
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health have developed an innovative tool that simulates blood flow in the aorta, helping heart surgeons plan surgeries more precisely. The digital model, known as TAVR-AID, is unique because it creates a personalized digital twin of each patient's aorta, allowing doctors to test surgical approaches before performing an operation.

The simulation predicts how blood will flow after a valve replacement, guiding clinicians in decisions such as which valve to choose the best way to position it, and the potential outcomes of the surgery. This personalized approach can improve surgical planning and help avoid complications.

Lead inventor Professor Anthony Mathur, a Queen Mary researcher and Consultant Cardiologist & Co-Director for Research at Barts Health, explains: "TAVR-AID is not designed to replace human decision-making but to enhance it. We use CT scans to build a digital twin of the patient's aorta, and echocardiography to determine the severity of the stenosis we're treating. This allows us to simulate their blood flow."

He adds: "The AI model will use this simulation and the patient's health records to predict which valve to use, what size it should be, how we position it, and the risk of complications such as stroke, leaks, or device failure."

Replacing a heart valve is a delicate procedure, with the choice of valve and its replacement critical to ensuring proper blood flow and heart function. If done incorrectly, blood flow disruptions can damage the new valve. Surgeons must carefully consider factors like the size, shape, and angle of the aorta, as well as the patient's individual health needs.

The research was led by Professor Mathur, a Consultant Cardiologist and Co-Director of Research at Barts Health, and a researcher at Queen Mary University of London. The project also brought together a team of experts, cardiologists, surgeons, engineers, computer scientists, and patient representatives.

This is an exceptional example of how multidisciplinary collaboration can tackle complex healthcare challenges. By combining clinical expertise, computational modeling, artificial intelligence, and the patient's perspective, we've developed a personalized digital twin approach that could make a real difference in patient outcomes." Prof. Greg Slabaugh, Director of Queen Mary's Digital Environment Research Institute

He continues: "The blend of clinical insight and technological skills is what makes our models sophisticated and state-of-the-art but also grounded in practical, real-world clinical requirements."

The invention is being taken forward by Queen Mary Innovation, the university's tech transfer office, who are looking for a commercial partner to help bring the technology to clinicians.
Evaluating drugs and their impacts is a key part of drug discovery research. It enables scientists to understand the mechanisms underlying particular drugs and contributes to developing safe and effective treatments for numerous health conditions and diseases.

Though difficult, analyzing drug temporal profiles is a common practice in drug discovery to monitor the relationship between the drug ingested and any adverse reactions or abnormal laboratory test results.1 An ideal method for assessing these profiles in rodent test subjects is using conditioned place preference (CPP) systems.

This article will explore how this works and the benefits it provides to drug discovery.

What are CPP systems?

CPP systems are employed to condition animals to associate a specific environment with a drugs effects, leading to a preference for that environment. These systems can be manufactured in various designs and apparatuses to meet specific research needs. Floor textures and other contextual cues help establish the association between the drug and the environment.

Animals demonstrate a preference for the drug-paired environment during the conditioning phase by spending more time in it. Some CCP systems are sound-attenuated to block out any external sound that could distract the rodents, although not all systems include this feature.

Relapse in laboratory animals can be measured through drug-associated environmental cues that trigger drug-seeking behaviors and offer a deeper understanding of their responses to drug-related stimuli. By precisely measuring chamber entries and utilizing a database system, scientists can capture every movement of the subject, enabling accurate data analysis and interpretation.

Image Credit: paulista/Shutterstock.com

Assessing drug temporal profiles with a CPP

CPP is an important instrument in behavioral science, pharmacology, and neuroscience research. It allows scientists to assess the rewarding properties of drugs and investigate the mechanisms behind drug addiction.

Scientists have studied morphines rewarding properties by utilizing CPP systems. In this study, rodents were administered morphine, placed in a CPP environment, and monitored to measure the drugs temporal profile and understand its affective properties.

CPP has also been used to examine the incubation of craving phenomenon in drugs such as cocaine, providing insights into changes within the nucleus accumbens.

Benefits of CPP in drug studies

CPP systems offer numerous advantages for drug research. They enable scientists to evaluate drug temporal profiles, which shed light on the pattern of rewarding and aversive effects. CPP also aids in assessing the psychoactive properties of drugs in animals. This systems versatility enables scientists to examine dose-dependent differences and explore the impact of drug administration timing and dosing.

San Diego Instruments place preference systems

San Diego Instruments Place Preference System is a user-friendly, powerful, and intuitive tool for monitoring the motivational impacts of objects or stimuli on test animals.

It employs a 416 photobeam array to log when an animal enters the chamber and how long it remains there. The system accurately records and reports standard activity data, including ambulation, fine movements, and time-stamped (x,y) positions.

This unit connects easily via USB, allowing scientists to run the system using laptops or computers. The CPP stores all study results in a single file format, eliminating the need to manage multiple files when exporting data.

The systems testing enclosure features clear acrylic walls, offering flexibility for attaching various cues. Its removable floors allow researchers to build custom floors from different materials to meet specific study requirements. Long-lasting, heat-free LED ceiling lights ensure optimal lighting conditions, while manually operated doors allow unobstructed pathways for subjects to move between chambers.

References and further reading:

Gliklich, R.E., Dreyer, N.A. and Leavy, M.B. (2014). Adverse Event Detection, Processing, and Reporting. [online] Nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208615/. Bernardi, R.E., et al. (2009). Modafinil reinstates a cocaine conditioned place preference following extinction in rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 204(1), pp.250253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2009.05.028.

About San Diego Instruments, Inc.

For more than 30 years, San Diego Instruments has served the scientific community as a comprehensive resource for the design, manufacture and distribution of behavioral neuroscience research instruments used in human and animal studies. Utilized in laboratories and cited in research papers worldwide, SDI systems have come to represent the industry standard for quality and longevity. Our premier SR-LAB is the worlds most widely used startle response system. At SDI, our commitment to developing quality products that stand the test of time is matched only our dedication to excellent customer service. We take pride in our ever-growing core of loyal clientele.

SDI behavioral neuroscience research systems afford you the utmost in quality and performance, giving you the edge in an industry where Power, Flexibility and Ease of Use are everything.

Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.
Tremors are spontaneous, rhythmic movements in the hands, heads, legs, or voice that can occur in the body for various reasons, including stress, caffeine, or due to an underlying neurological condition such as Parkinsons disease.

Monitoring tremors in small animals, particularly rats and mice, has long been conducted to enable scientists to deepen their understanding of how tremors begin and potential treatments. This article will explore the significance of tremor monitoring and what we can learn from it.

The importance of mice in tremor monitoring

Monitoring tremors in animal models allows scientists to gain deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms of conditions that lead to tremors. Recent research has demonstrated that some genetic mutations in rodents lead to tremors like those in human patients with Parkinsons disease.1

Using animal models in tremor monitoring also aids in identifying new biomarkers for neurological disorders, as their genetic similarity to humans makes them ideal models for understanding these disorders.

Image Credit: unoL/Shutterstock.com

Tremors as a biomarker for neurological disorders

Tremor monitoring is essential for distinguishing between tremor types, their causes, and potential treatments. Since tremors can serve as biomarkers for neurological disorders such as Parkinsons disease, studies can track progression through behavioral changes in the mice, tremor events, and tremor types, including any patterns.2

Methods of monitoring tremors in mice

Several approaches, including behavioral observation, electromyography, and motion sensors such as accelerometers, are available for monitoring tremors in mice and other small animal subjects. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Behavioral observation

Behavioral observation is a noninvasive technique that requires visually monitoring a mouse for tremor symptoms. This approach is simple and economical but not sensitive enough to detect minor tremors and changes.

Electromyography (EMG)

EMG monitors the electrical activity of a mouses muscles during tremor events. Although this method is accurate, the insertion of electrodes into the muscles may cause pain or trauma to the animal.

Accelerometers and other motion sensors

Sensors are a more recent method of monitoring tremors in mice and are preferred for their non-invasiveness. Sensors are attached to the mouses body during studies, enabling tracking of body movements during tremor events. Although highly precise, specialist tools are required.

Using tremor monitoring systems allows researchers to understand tremor events and disorders in animal models, monitor progress, and utilize this data to understand the effect on human patients.

Applications of tremor monitoring in mice

Monitoring tremor events in mice can facilitate the understanding of the mechanisms of tremors and related neurological conditions. It can aid in the development of new diagnostic tools and treatments for these conditions and improve patients quality of life.

Tremor monitoring can also be utilized for drug discovery applications by tracking the efficiency of drugs developed to decrease tremor events.

San Diego Instruments

San Diego Instruments offers top-quality behavioral neuroscience research tools, including its tremor monitoring system. This system uses a highly sensitive movement sensor that can distinguish between tremor events and ambulatory or stereotyped movements.

The sensor can record continuous movement waveforms at 128 Hz for more than 68 minutes, allowing it to distinguish between tremor events and ambulatory or stereotyped movements.

Short and long tremors can also be defined to further enhance analysis, and as many as eight testing stations can run from a single computer.

References and further reading

Crabtree, D.M. and Zhang, J. (2012). Genetically engineered mouse models of Parkinsons disease. Brain Research Bulletin, 88(1), pp.1332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.07.019. White, R.W. and Horvitz, E. (2019). Population-scale hand tremor analysis via anonymized mouse cursor signals. npj Digital Medicine, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0171-4. Paterson, N.G., et al. (2009). Pharmacological characterization of harmaline-induced tremor activity in mice. 616(1-3), pp.7380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2009.05.031.

About San Diego Instruments, Inc.

For more than 30 years, San Diego Instruments has served the scientific community as a comprehensive resource for the design, manufacture and distribution of behavioral neuroscience research instruments used in human and animal studies. Utilized in laboratories and cited in research papers worldwide, SDI systems have come to represent the industry standard for quality and longevity. Our premier SR-LAB is the worlds most widely used startle response system. At SDI, our commitment to developing quality products that stand the test of time is matched only our dedication to excellent customer service. We take pride in our ever-growing core of loyal clientele.

SDI behavioral neuroscience research systems afford you the utmost in quality and performance, giving you the edge in an industry where Power, Flexibility and Ease of Use are everything.

Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card: Here's How To Apply Online, Check All Details Here

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 07:06 IST

The Union Cabinet approved a massive extension of PM-JAY on September 11

- The Vay Vandana Card would give eligible seniors exclusive access to free hospital care.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated numerous health sector projects totalling roughly Rs 12,850 crore at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi on October 29 to commemorate Dhanvantari Jayanti and Ayurveda Day. The Prime Minister stated that every elderly person aged 70 and up will be eligible for free hospital treatment, a game-changing move in healthcare. Such old people would be given the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, which will enable them access to full healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

This project has already received tremendous engagement, with over 10 lakh older individuals registering for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, ensuring free treatment and support under the plan. One significant factor of the Ayushman Bharat PM JAY project that supports the notion of universal access to healthcare is the Vay Vandana Card.

related stories

PM-JAY offers a wide range of services, such as:

 Medical consultations, diagnosis, and treatment

 The cost of pre-hospitalization

 Pharmaceuticals and medical supplies

 Services for both intensive and non-intensive care

 Laboratory and diagnostic testing

 Services for medical implantation

 Food and lodging services

 Complications with treatment

 Up to 15 days of follow-up care following hospitalisation

PM-JAY has no age or family size restrictions, in contrast to its predecessor, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), which only covered households with five members. Additionally, this all-inclusive framework guarantees that pre-existing conditions are covered from the start, enabling patients to start treatment as soon as they are enrolled.

Ayushman Vay Vandana Card: Heres More About It

 The Union Cabinet approved a massive extension of PM-JAY on September 11, promising transformational health insurance coverage for elderly adults aged 70 and up.

 This move attempts to provide benefits to almost 6 crore senior adults and 4.5 crore families.

 As part of this expansion, it was stated that all senior persons in this age group would acquire a new identification card under the AB PM-JAY system to access its benefits.

 The promise was quickly fulfilled with the introduction of a special Vay Vandana Card" for this age group.

 The Vay Vandana Card would give eligible seniors exclusive access to free hospital care.

 This card is nationwide, with no income restrictions, whether low, middle, or upper class.

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 The Vay Vandana card will also significantly minimise out-of-pocket expenditures for the elderly at home.

 An Aadhaar card is needed for the online enrolment process, which can be completed via the Ayushman App.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 07:06 IST
How Rs 10,000 Monthly SIP Grew To Rs 13 Crore In 31 Years For This Investor

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 14:45 IST

By investing Rs 10,000 monthly for 31 years, an investor saw his Rs 37.2 lakh investment grow into Rs 13.64 crore

Rs 10,000 monthly SIP yields 13.64 crore in 31 years.

Investing through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in mutual fund equity schemes can yield impressive results over time, transforming small, regular investments into substantial wealth. A prime example of this is the Franklin India Bluechip Fund, which turned an investment of Rs 10,000 per month into an astounding Rs 13.64 crore in just 31 years. This success story highlights the power of long-term investments and compounding returns.

By committing Rs 10,000 each month for over three decades, an investor has seen their total investment of Rs 37.2 lakh grow into a fortune of Rs 13.64 crore, representing an annual return of 18.5%. This performance underscores the potential of disciplined investing in mutual funds over a long period, which is often the key to building significant wealth. Data from Value Research reveals these remarkable results, showing how strategic, patient investments in equity funds can yield extraordinary outcomes.

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What Is Franklin India Bluechip Fund?

As one of the oldest large-cap equity mutual fund schemes, the Franklin India Bluechip Fund has a well-established track record of success. The fund primarily focuses on investing in blue-chip companies, with around 80% of its portfolio dedicated to large-cap stocks. As of December 5, 2024, the funds Net Asset Value (NAV) stands at Rs 1,016.58, and its Assets Under Management (AUM) total Rs 7,789 crore. However, its important to note that this fund falls into the Very High risk category according to its Riskometer, with an expense ratio of 1.84%.

Focus on Top Bluechip Companies

The fund is heavily invested in equity, with 97% of its assets allocated to stocks. The remaining 2.95% is in cash and cash equivalents. Franklin India Bluechip Fund is known for its investments in some of the most prominent and stable companies, including ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries, and Mahindra & Mahindra. This focus on well-established, large-cap companies is a key factor contributing to the funds strong long-term performance.

The fund has delivered impressive returns over different time periods. In the last year alone, it generated a return of 25.66%. Its 3-year return stands at 13.07%, while its 5-year return is 16.45%. Over 7 years, the return has been 12.45%, and over 10 years, it has offered a steady 11.35%. These results show how long-term investments in large-cap funds can provide solid returns for patient investors.

How to Invest in Franklin India Bluechip Fund

Interested investors can begin investing in the Franklin India Bluechip Fund by visiting the Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund website. Whether youre a seasoned investor or new to the world of mutual funds, the SIP option allows you to invest systematically and build wealth over time.

Other Funds Also Offer Wealth-Building Opportunities

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There are numerous other equity mutual funds that have created wealth for long-term investors. Through regular SIPs in these funds, many individuals have built substantial wealth. However, it is always recommended to consult a financial expert before making any investment decision to ensure youre making the right choice based on your financial situation.

While the past performance of a fund can be an indicator of its potential, experts advise against making investment decisions based solely on this. A funds historical returns do not guarantee future results. Its crucial to assess your personal financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon before committing funds. Financial advisors can provide valuable insights and help tailor your investment strategy to suit your individual needs.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 14:45 IST
Vishal Mega Mart IPO Subscription Status Day 1: Issue Booked 51%, Retail, NII Drive Demand

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 17:35 IST

Vishal Mega Mart IPO opens for public subscription on Wednesday, December 11, 2024; Know analysts take before investing

Vishal Mega Mart IPO Subscription Day 1

Vishal Mega Mart IPO Subscription Day 1: The Vishal Mega Mart IPO is open for public subscription starting today, December 11, 2024. This Rs 8,000 crore public offering will remain open for subscription until Friday, December 13, 2024. The offer consists entirely of an offer for sale (OFS) of 1,025,641,025 shares.

Vishal Mega Mart IPO Subscription Status: Day 1

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On the first day of bidding, Vishal Mega Marts IPO garnered 51% subscription, as per NSE data. The supermarket chains public issue received bids for 38.58 crore shares out of the 75.67 crore shares available.

The retail individual investors category drove demand with 53% subscription, while the non-institutional investors quota was oversubscribed at 1.11 times.

Vishal Mega Mart IPO: Grey Market Premium (GMP)

Vishal Mega Mart shares were trading at a premium of Rs 26 in the grey market today.

Market analysts are keeping a close eye on the GMP, as it often serves as a key indicator of investor sentiment. Investors are expected to show increased activity in the coming days as the IPO progresses.

Vishal Mega Mart IPO Price Band

Backed by Kedaara Capital, Vishal Mega Mart has set a price band of Rs 74-78 per equity share for its Rs 8,000 crore IPO, which will close on December 13. The bidding window for anchor investors will open on December 10 and remain open for a day.

The minimum lot size for retail investors is 190 shares, requiring an investment of Rs 14,820. Small non-institutional investors must bid for a minimum of 14 lots, or 2,660 shares, totaling Rs 2.07 lakh. Large non-institutional investors will need to bid for at least 68 lots, or 12,920 shares, amounting to Rs 10.07 lakh.

Vishal Mega Mart IPO: Key Dates

The IPO will open for public subscription on December 11 and close on December 13. Allotments are expected to be finalized by December 16, with the shares scheduled for listing on the BSE and NSE on December 18.

Vishal Mega Mart IPO: Grey Market Premium (GMP)

Ahead of the issue, the Vishal Mega Mart was boasting a GMP of around Rs 24-25, which is a 31% premium over the issue price. This marks an increase from the Rs 17 GMP seen over the weekend.

The Grey Market Premium (GMP) refers to the unofficial price at which a companys shares are traded in the grey market before they are officially listed on stock exchanges, typically during an IPO (Initial Public Offering). This market operates outside formal exchange channels.

Traders and investors use GMP as an indicator of market sentiment toward an upcoming IPO. A higher GMP suggests strong demand for the shares and a favorable outlook for the listing. Conversely, a lower or negative GMP may indicate weaker demand and a potentially less successful listing.

It is important to note that GMP is not an official or regulated metric and can vary depending on market conditions and investor sentiment. Essentially, it is a speculative figure based on informal trading activity in the grey market.

Vishal Mega Mart IPO Proceeds

The entire Rs 8,000 crore IPO is an offer for sale (OFS), meaning that the proceeds will not go to the company but will be paid to the selling shareholders.

Vishal Mega Mart IPO Review

Vishal Mega Marts upcoming IPO has garnered positive reviews from several brokerage firms, including Bajaj Broking, Swastika Investmart, Master Capital Services, Choice, and AUM Capital. Analysts are generally optimistic about the offering from a long-term investment perspective.

Choice  Long-Term Investment Recommendation

Choice Brokerage has advised investors to subscribe to the Vishal Mega Mart IPO with a long-term view. The firm highlighted the steady growth in both the top and bottom lines over the years. The companys main focus on Tier-2 cities, which are expected to grow at a 32% CAGR in the diversified retail sector between CY23 and CY28, is seen as a positive indicator. While the company is demanding an EV/Sales multiple of 3.8x at the higher price range, which may seem fully priced, the steady revenue growth from expanding stores and its own brand sales is expected to benefit margins. Additionally, the companys strong inventory and working capital management suggest a sustainable long-term outlook.

AUM Capital  Long-Term Subscription

AUM Capital analysts also recommend subscribing to the IPO for long-term gains. They note that rising disposable income and a preference for quality, hygienic products provide Vishal Mega Mart with a competitive edge over unorganised retail and competing brands such as Spencers and Reliance Smart Bazaar. The companys robust financials and debt-free status further strengthen its long-term prospects.

Master Capital Services  Long-Term Buy

Master Capital Services has also given a long-term recommendation for the IPO. They see Vishal Mega Mart as a key player in the retail market, particularly for middle and lower-middle-income consumers. The company is expected to drive same-store sales growth through initiatives such as expanding its product portfolio, offering hyperlocal options, leveraging technology, and enhancing customer loyalty and in-store experiences.

Bajaj Broking  Long-Term Subscription

Bajaj Broking analysts have recommended a long-term subscription for the IPO, though they note that the issue is priced at a P/BV of 5.94, based on an NAV of Rs 13.14 as of September 30, 2024. They also highlight that at the higher price range, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 69.03 for FY25 annualized earnings, which is quite aggressive. For FY24 earnings, the P/E stands at 75.73, which could indicate that the IPO is priced on the higher side.

Swastika Investmart  High-Risk Investors

Swastika Investmart views the IPO as suitable for high-risk investors looking to gain exposure to the retail sector. While they consider Vishal Mega Marts market position as one of Indias leading offline retailers as a strength, they caution that the IPOs valuation may carry higher risk. However, the overall outlook for the company remains positive in their assessment.

About Vishal Mega Mart

Vishal Mega Mart (VMM) is a leading retail chain catering to middle- and lower-middle-income consumers across India. Its product range includes a combination of in-house and third-party brands, covering three key categories: apparel, general merchandise, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).

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The company recorded revenues of Rs 8,900 crore in FY24 and operates 645 stores across 414 cities in 30 states and union territories, covering a retail space of 11.5 million square feet.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 05:50 IST
Delhi Govt Launches Business Blasters Senior Programme For Universities, ITIs

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 14:26 IST

Business Blasters Senior programme will be extended to universities, offering seed money of Rs 50,000 to student teams for turning their business ideas into start-ups.

Delhi CM Atishi on Tuesday launched the Business Blasters Senior programme for universities and Industrial Training Institutes. (Image credit: X/@AamAadmiParty)

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Tuesday launched the Business Blasters Senior programme for universities and Industrial Training Institutes under the city government. Speaking at the launch event, Atishi emphasised the importance of nurturing entrepreneurship among students.

While universities such as Ambedkar University, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, and Indian Institute of Information Technology-Delhi have excellent placement records, the need to introduce the Business Blasters Senior programme arises from our aim to empower students to become job creators," she said.

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Atishi highlighted success stories from the existing Business Blasters initiative for government schools, which encourages students to develop start-up ideas, according to a statement from the Chief Ministers Office (CMO).

She shared examples of students who have successfully launched ventures, including Ashish, a logistics start-up founder employing 50 people, and a student from east Delhi whose Bluetooth speaker idea attracted investor interest.

The programme has eliminated the fear of failure in students. They are now ready to take risks and start afresh if one venture doesnt succeed. This confidence assures me that these young entrepreneurs will contribute significantly to Indias economy," the CMO statement quoted Atishi as saying.

The new programme will extend the initiative to universities, offering seed money of Rs 50,000 to student teams for turning their business ideas into start-ups.

This vision which began in schools will now help university students become future entrepreneurs and strengthen Indias position globally," Atishi said.

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According to the statement, the event also featured a panel discussion with former participants of the school-level programme, who shared their journeys of transforming small seed funds of Rs 2,000 into successful businesses.

The chief minister expressed confidence in the programmes potential to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among young adults, contributing to Indias growth as a global leader in business and technology, the CMO added.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 14:26 IST
Headmaster Appoints Wife As Secretary, Defrauds Education Department Of Rs 4.25 Lakh

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 11:55 IST

Headmaster Anmol Anand unlawfully replaced the original secretary with his wife, Kiran Devi, as both the secretary's and headmaster's signatures are required to withdraw money from the schools education committee account

The fraud came to light when students did not receive the money meant for scholarships and uniforms, prompting an investigation. (Local 18)

A major scam has come to light in Raniganjs Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya Kupadi, located in the Araria district of Bihar. The former headmaster in-charge, Anmol Anand, has been accused of disbanding the schools education committee and fraudulently appointing his wife, Kiran Devi, as the secretary. This move allegedly enabled him to embezzle government funds to the tune of Rs 4.25 lakh allocated for scholarships and uniforms.

Fraudulent Withdrawal Of Funds

related stories

To withdraw money from the schools education committee account, the signatures of both the secretary and the headmaster are mandatory. However, headmaster Anmol Anand removed the original secretary, Rani Devi, and unlawfully appointed his wife, Kiran Devi, as the secretary.

He further authenticated her photograph and signature at the bank, enabling the withdrawal of funds from the Bistoria branch of the Bank of Baroda.

The fraud came to light when students did not receive the money meant for scholarships and uniforms, prompting an investigation. An inquiry by the schools education committee and local officials revealed the irregularities committed by the headmaster.

According to reports, the schools education committee was dissolved without informing the relevant authorities, and Kiran Devi was appointed as secretary. Her fake photograph and signature were certified by the bank, allowing the withdrawal of Rs 4.25 lakh.

BEO Lodged FIR

Taking the matter seriously, Raniganj Block Education Officer (BEO) Chandan Priyadarshi launched an investigation and filed an FIR at Raniganj Police Station on November 21. The FIR accuses headmaster Anmol Anand of fraud and embezzlement of government funds.

Following the registration of the FIR, Anmol Anand applied for medical leave and stopped reporting for duty. He also failed to hand over charge to the new in-charge headmaster.

The BEO informed the District Education Officer (DEO) about the case on October 17. However, even 15 days after the FIR was filed, no significant action had been taken. The District Programme Officer (DPO) for Education, Ravi Ranjan, claimed to be unaware of the case.

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I have no knowledge of the FIR registered against the schools headmaster. Further action will be taken after consulting the BEO," he said.

The alleged scam has affected the students who have not received the funds intended for their scholarships and uniforms. Local villagers are demanding strict action against the headmaster.

Location : Araria, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 11:55 IST
MAT PBT 2024 Admit Card Released At mat.aima.in, Here's How To Download

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 11:55 IST

MAT PBT 2024 Admit Card: The exam is scheduled to be held on December 14, 2024.

MAT PBT 2024 Admit Card: Hall ticket is now available for download at the official website - mat.aima.in. (Representational/ File Photo)

The All India Management Association released the MAT Paper Based Test ( PBT) admit card on December 10. The link for qualified applicants to download the MAT admit card is available. Those taking the MAT 2024 PBT exam, scheduled for December 14, 2024, can acquire their hall tickets from the official websitemat.aima.in. It should be noted that candidates must bring their MAT 2024 PBT admit card to the exam centre. Students are recommended to keep a hard copy of their admit card with them till the exam results are published.

How To download the MAT 2024 PBT admit card?

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Step 1: Go to the official AIMA MAT 2024 website  mat.aima.in

Step 2: Click on the login link.

Step 3: Enter the registered email address and password.

Step 4: The MAT PBT mode admission card will be presented.

Step 5: Download the admission card for future reference.

AIMA MAT CBT 1 2024: Details Mentioned In Admit Card-

Name of the candidate

Roll number

Form number

Exam day and time

Address of the test centre

Candidates are advised to carefully review all personal details on their admit cards for any inaccuracies. If any discrepancies are found, they can resolve their concerns by emailingmat@aima.inor contacting the following numbers during working hours: 8130338839 and 9599030586 (9:00 AM to 5:30 PM) or 011-47673020 (9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday).

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The registration for the MAT PBT 2024 closed on December 7. To be eligible for the exam, candidates must hold a Bachelors degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institution. Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible, provided they submit proof of graduation by the specified deadline.

The AIMA MAT exams are conducted in three formats: Paper-Based Test (PBT), Computer-Based Test (CBT), and Internet-Based Test (IBT). Since its inception in 1988, the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) has been a standardized national exam and is one of the most widely recognized MBA aptitude tests in India. Approved by Indias Ministry of Education, the MAT is used by over 600 B-schools across the country as a key admissions tool for various management and business programs.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 11:55 IST
On Granite Island in South Australia, little penguin numbers have decreased an astonishing 98 per cent in the last two decades.

Using remote red-light video surveillance, scientists have found links between human disturbance and dwindling little penguin populations on Granite Island in South Australia. Source: Supplied

Australians are being urged to avoid little penguin colonies on a major tourist island in the country's south this Christmas, where populations have decreased by an incredible 98 per cent in recent years.

Two decades ago, there were some 1,600 little penguins on Granite Island, 100 kilometres south of Adelaide in South Australia. But now, that number has dropped to just 30 adults in 2024.

New research conducted by Flinders University shone a light on parent-offspring relationships among penguin inhabitants on the island at Victor Harbor, revealing the need for fewer interactions from human visitors in order for them to survive.

Capturing never-before-seen interactions using carefully collected remote red-light video surveillance, Dr Diane Colombelli-Negrel said her findings suggested penguins can be "bolder and more aggressive, in response to nest defence and intrusion" by people.

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"Please make sure to keep your distance when approaching penguins nesting areas to help minimise stress during these challenging times," Colombelli-Negrel told Yahoo News Australia.

She said that while, "we found a penguins boldness has no bearing on its performance as a parent", the flight response can put the animals under stress.

Two decades ago, there were 1,600 adult little penguins on Granite Island. Now there are just 30. Source: Supplied

Public told to avoid little penguins these holidays

With the colony fighting to survive, it's paramount human disturbance on the island  where it's estimated some 800,000 people tour every year  is minimised.

"As the summer holidays approach, we urge the public to stay away from the Granite Island penguin nests, and help save these animals by reporting dangers to their habitat," Colombelli-Negrel said.

"Urban developments and human activities are encroaching on our natural habitats at a rapidly increasing rate, placing many species under stress from anthropogenic (human) disturbance.

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"Our results... highlight the importance of limiting interactions between human visitors and penguins."

Why are little penguin numbers declining on Granite Island?

The sharp decrease of little penguins on Granite Island can be attributed to a combination of factors.

Predation by introduced species such as foxes and black rats, competition for food with other marine predators like fur seals, and environmental changes such as rising sea surface temperatures and reduced river outflows during droughts are but just a few.

These environmental shifts affect food availability, particularly the small fish penguins rely on.

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Human activity and habitat disruption also played a role in their decline. Conservation efforts, including predator control programs, night closures on the island, and improved monitoring, aim to stabilise and restore their numbers.

The decline of these penguins has also impacted tourism, as the species was once a key attraction for Granite Island visitors, locals say.

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Arvind Kejriwal Says AAP To Contest Delhi Polls Alone, Rubbishes Talks Of Alliance With Congress

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 11:11 IST

Delhi Assembly Elections: There was a buzz that 15 seats would be for Congress, one or two for other INDIA bloc members, and the rest for AAP

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal (PTI Image)

Delhi Election News: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has said his party will fight the Delhi assembly elections alone. He rubbished the buzz about Congress and AAP being in the final stages of an agreement for an alliance in the upcoming polls.

Kejriwal said his party would fight the election on its own strength in Delhi". He clarified that there was no possibility of any alliance with Congress".

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Congress and AAP are in the final stages of agreement for an alliance in the Delhi elections. 15 seats for Congress, 1-2 to other INDIA Alliance members and the rest for AAP: Sources ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024

With this, he ended the speculations about a possible seat-sharing formula with Congress in the elections scheduled for February, next year.

There was a buzz that 15 seats would be reserved for Congress, one or two for other INDIA bloc members, and the rest for AAP.

Kejriwal has been consistent about his stance on the poll alliance. Earlier this month, in a major jolt to the Oppositions INDIA bloc, the former Delhi Chief Minister had ruled out any alliance with Congress for the 2025 Assembly Elections in the national capital.

The announcement came in continuation with the AAPs move in the Haryana Assembly polls in October this year in which the party had ditched the INDIA bloc and contested the polls on its own. The AAP and Congress had attempted to forge an alliance in Haryana, however, the seat-sharing talks did not yield any conclusion.

Kejriwals decision also comes on the back of major poll drubbing of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra this month, which Congress is also a part of, drawing criticism from its allies.

Congress-AAP Alliance In Lok Sabha Polls

The Congress and AAP had contested the Lok Sabha Elections this year in Delhi in alliance with each other under the umbrella of the INDIA bloc. Both parties had even campaigned for each other. Kejriwal, who was then out on interim bail for the election campaigning, had also campaigned for the Congress and had sought votes for its Opposition party (in the Delhi Assembly).

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AAP had contested on 4 seats while Congress on 3 seats out of 7 parliamentary constituencies in Delhi. However, neither of the two parties could open the account as the BJP swept all 7 seats in the city.

However, in contrast to Delhi, the AAP had contested all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab on its own, ditching the Congress in the state. The AAP is in power in Punjab with a huge majority. In 2022 Assembly polls in Punjab, the Kejriwal-led party had swept the state winning 92 out of the 117 seats, dislodging Congress from power.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:44 IST
Bengaluru Techies Suicide Rekindles Debate On Misuse of Section 498A, Why BNS Law Needs A Relook

Curated By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 14:08 IST

Atul Subhashs suicide in Bengaluru has sparked outrage on social media, where netizens are demanding justice for the techie. The Supreme Court has also reiterated its stance that Section 498A, which replaces Section 85 of BNS, is the most abused provision in India

A Supreme Court Bench had asked the legislature in May to look into the issue of the pragmatic realities and consider making necessary changes in Sections 85 and 86 of the BNS.

The suicide of a 34-year-old man in Bengaluru due to alleged harassment by his estranged wife and her family has led to an outrage on social media over the misuse of anti-dowry laws and domestic violence law under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), previously Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code.

According to lawyers, experts and many working professionals, the incident is an example of how a law can be misused leading to the victims death. They stressed that the misuse of law can deny justice to women genuinely in need of protection.

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Mens rights activists have also raised their grievances over the systemic failure that led to Atuls death. They have highlighted the biasedness in the system towards women, and how men are tortured and threatened in a marriage. They added that cases under Section 498A are often misused and the laws made for womens safety are being used as weapons against men.

What Has The Supreme Court Said About Misuse Of Section 498A?

The Supreme Court on December 10 criticised the growing tendency to misuse provisions like Section 498A against the husband and his family. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh said making generalised allegations during matrimonial conflicts, if not scrutinised, will lead to the misuse of legal processes.

The inclusion of Section 498A of the IPC by way of an amendment was intended to curb cruelty inflicted on a woman by her husband and his family, ensuring swift intervention by the State. However, in recent years, as there have been a notable rise in matrimonial disputes across the country, accompanied by growing discord and tension within the institution of marriage, consequently, there has been a growing tendency to misuse provisions like Section 498A of the IPC as a tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family by a wife Consequently, this Court has, time and again, cautioned against prosecuting the husband and his family in the absence of a clear prima facie case against them", the judgment authored by Justice Nagarathna read.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra had earlier noted that Sections 85 and 86 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which came into effect from July 1, 2024 were nothing but verbatim reproduction of Section 498A of the IPC. The only difference is that the explanation to Section 498A is now by way of a separate provision, that is, Section 86 of BNS".

The Bench had asked the legislature to look into the issue of the pragmatic realities and consider making necessary changes in Sections 85 and 86 respectively of the BNS.

Last month too, the SC had raised caution against the law, highlighting that it has become a weapon for the wives and her relatives to settle scores with the husband and his family.

In September, Justice BR Gavai had also made a similar observation that Section 498A is among the most abused laws in the country. He had mentioned a case in Nagpur where a boy went to the US, and for an unconsummated marriage, he had to pay Rs 50 lakh." Not even a single day of living together, and thats the arrangement. I have openly said Domestic Violence, 498A is among the most abused provisions. My brothers may agree," Justice Gavai had stated.

When Courts Had Raised Alarms

The Bombay High Court also highlighted the misuse of Section 498A, noting instances where elderly and ailing individuals were dragged into legal disputes. The court sympathised with genuine victims but suggested that many cases could be settled outside amicably if the offence under Section 498A were made compoundable.

The Kerala High Court had in May 2023 expressed concerns over Section 498A being used in matrimonial disputes not for justice, but for vengeance against husbands and their families.

In July 2023, the Jharkhand High Court acknowledged that while Section 498A was introduced to protect women from cruelty, it is now often used for vindictive purposes.

Are There Any Legal Protection For Men In India?

Recently, the Delhi High Court had granted divorce to celebrity chef Kunal Kapur on the grounds of cruelty" by his wife. Chef Kapur had taken a restraining order against his wife as she entered the Masterchef India sets and created a ruckus with his son in 2016.

The Delhi HC had said, It is relevant to mention here that within two years of marriage, the appellant has established himself as a Celebrity Chef, which is a reflection of his hard work and determination which would not have been possible had he been one who was dependent on his spouse or in-laws for his necessities."

Considering the aforesaid facts, it is only prudent to observe that these are mere allegations made by the respondent to disrepute the appellant in the eyes of the Court and such unsubstantiated claims affect ones reputation and therefore, amount to cruelty."

As per the Hindu Marriage Act,1995 section 13i(a) petition presented by either husband or wife, be dissolved by a decree of divorce on the ground that after solemnisation of the marriage other party has treated the petitioner with cruelty.

What Happened With Atul Subhas?

Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, left a 24-page suicide note in which he accused his wife, her family and even a judge of alleged abetment to suicide, extortion and corruption.

His brother, Vikas Kumar, has lodged an FIR against Nikita Singhania (Atuls wife), her mother Nisha, her brother Anurag and her uncle Sushil at Marathahalli police station in Bengaluru. The charges are filed under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) and Section 3(5) (joint criminal liability when two or more people act with a common intention) of the BNS.

According to the complaint, Atul married Nikita in 2019, and the couple had a child together. The FIR said after their divorce, Nikita, her mother, her brother and uncle had filed a false case against Atul, demanding Rs 3 crore as part of settlement. It further alleged that Nikita had demanded Rs 30 lakh to allow Atul to meet his four-year-old son.

A police statement also revealed that Atul used to live in Manjunatha Layout at Delfinium Residency in Bengaluru. The Hoysala Police Control Room received a call at 6 am reporting a suspected suicide. After reaching the location, the police found Atul hanging from a ceiling fan with a nylon rope.

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The suicide note repeatedly mentioned justice is due" on every page. It detailed incidents that pushed Atul to end his life. He also recorded a video explaining his harassment and not to immerse his ashes until justice was served, according to a report by The Times of India.

The incident was first brought to light when Atul sent an email late Sunday night to an NGO, advocating for men suffering from domestic violence. The email revealed Atuls intention to end his life, prompting the NGO staff to alert the police. With the information provided by the NGO, police arrived at his apartment, broke down the door, and discovered his body, The Economic Times report said.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 12:21 IST
How Russia-Made INS Tushil Warship Will Give Indian Navy The Much-Needed Defence Boost | Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 12:06 IST

INS Tushil, which will also be armed with eight BrahMos, and other medium- and short-range surface-to-air missiles, will help India counter Chinas growing power in the Indian Ocean

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the commissioning ceremony of INS Tushil, in Kaliningrad, Russia, on December 9. (PTI Photo)

Defence minister Rajnath Singh commissioned INS Tushil at the Yantar Shipyard at Kaliningrad, Russia, as part of the three-day official visit to Moscow that began on Sunday. He described the warship as the proud testament" to Indias growing maritime power and a significant milestone" in India and Russias long-standing friendship.

The Defence Minister reiterated Indian Navys commitment to peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Our Navy has foiled the designs of piracy, arms and drug smugglers and non-state actors in various hotspots. From the Gulf of Oman to the Gulf of Aden, from Suez to Malacca & from Australia to Madagascar, the Indian Navy is playing the essential role of a net security provider in IOR. India, along with its friendly countries, believes in ensuring that maritime trade in the region remains safe and secure, thereby promoting unhindered trade across the sea."

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What is special about INS Tushil is that its engine has been made in Ukraine amidst the war.

Let us understand the capabilities of INS Tushil, how was it made and how it will be a game changer for the Navy.

What Is INS Tushil?

The multi-role stealth guided INS Tushil missile frigate is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of the Project 1135.6 of which, six are already in service  three Talwar class ships, built at Baltiysky shipyard, St. Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad. So far, six such ships have been built and delivered by Russia to India between 1999 and 2013.

INS Tushil is the seventh in series and the first of the two additional follow-ups ships under construction in Russia. India and Russia signed a deal in October 2016 for four stealth frigates, two to be built in Russia and the other two to be manufactured at Goa Shipyard Limited. The second frigate Tamal is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in Russia in the first quarter of next year, according to a report in The Hindu. The delays happened due to Covid and the Ukraine war.

The deal for the vessel was signed between JSC Rosoboronexport, Indian Navy and the Government of India in October 2016 and was anticipated to be delivered by the end of 2022.

INS Tushil is powered by engines from Zorya Mashproekt of Ukraine, which is considered a giant in marine gas turbine production.

India has around 30 ships, which use gas turbines from the Ukrainian firm as their primary source of propulsion. These range from the Veer class missile boats to the ageing Rajput class destroyers to the brand-new Visakhapatnam class destroyers.

The ships keel was laid on July 12, 2013 and was launched in water in October 2021. The ship sailed out for her maiden sea trials on January 25, 2024, and completed an exhaustive schedule of factory trials followed by State Committee Trials and finally the delivery acceptance trials, both in harbour and at sea, by September 24, 2024. The ship has successfully carried out firing trials of all Russian weapon systems and would reach India in near combat-ready condition, the Navy stated.

What Are The Capabilities Of INS Tushil?

The INS Tushil is a 125-metre-long, 3,900-tonne ship, packing a lethal punch and an impressive blend of Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies and best practices in warship construction", according to the defence ministry.

INS Tushil will also be armed with eight BrahMos vertically launched anti-ship cruise missiles, 24 medium range and eight short range surface-to-air missiles, a 100 mm gun and two close-in weapons for last ditch defence against incoming missiles. In addition, it will have two double torpedo tubes and a rocket launcher to deal with submarines. It is also equipped with an array of radars, navigation aids, sonar and electronic warfare suites, fire control systems and decoys.

The ship is also capable of embarking the upgraded anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31. The frigate is powered by an advanced gas turbine propulsion plant with state-of-the-art controls and is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knot, according to The Hindu report.

Why INS Tushil Is Crucial For Indian Navy

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Igor Korotchenko, the editor-in-chief of National Defence magazine and the Director at the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade, told Sputnik India, INS Tushil is equipped with advanced anti-submarine warfare and air defence systems, making it a versatile platform for multiple missions." The ship will serve Indias geopolitical interests as well, he added.

The INS Tushil will also help India counter Chinas growing power in the Indian Ocean. Some experts have said that the Chinese navy is the fastest growing in the world and may have surpassed the US navy when it comes to sheer strength.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:52 IST
All Questions Comprehensively Answered, Says Shashi Tharoor After Foreign Secretary's Briefing On Bangladesh

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 23:30 IST

Vikram Misri appeared in a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs led by Congress lawmaker Dr Shashi Tharoor. Sources said several MPs had questions about what the situation was on the ground, especially with the foreign secretarys visit to Bangladesh this month... Read More

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri. File pic

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday briefed the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs led by Congress lawmaker Dr Shashi Tharoor on the situation in neighbouring Bangladesh.

The meeting, which lasted a couple of hours, saw the participation of 22 out of the 30 members of the committee.

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Sources said several MPs had questions about what the situation was on the ground, especially with the foreign secretarys visit to Bangladesh this month and reports of violence against minorities appearing in the media every day.

Misri told the committee that, contrary to media reports, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government did not talk about reviewing any agreements with India. He also elaborates that the Bangladesh government had assured action against perpetrators of violence against minorities in that country.

Many MPs cutting across party lines expressed concerns about the violence and unrest in Bangladesh and the fate of an arrested Hindu monk. Government officials assured the panel that all steps at various levels were being taken, including via diplomatic channels.

Sources also indicated that many MPs wanted to find out the status of deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in India for the last couple of months, and whether she was a refugee or had taken asylum here. External affairs ministry officials did not comment on this, the sources added.

After the meeting, committee chairman Tharoor expressed satisfaction at the briefing by the officials of the ministry of external affairs. It was a very good meeting, and since we will be reporting to Parliament about this issue, which is going to be sometime later next year, it can be termed as a very good beginning," he said.

The former external affairs minister also said that Vikram Misri had given a comprehensive briefing before the committee. He comprehensively discussed the issue, and I was glad to see the big turnout of the committee members to participate in the discussion today," Tharoor added.

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The ministry about a week ago updated the committee about Indias ties with China and Canada.

However, the consultative committee meeting, which was scheduled for December 14, in which external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar was to apprise the panel about Indias neighbourhood policy in light of the Bangladesh situation, has been called off due to unavoidable circumstances" and will be held at a later date.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 23:30 IST
Darul Uloom Deoband Deposes Before Waqf JPC, Strongly Opposes New Bill

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: December 12, 2024, 01:14 IST

The Islamic seminary objected to certain amendments to the clauses of the existing bill that the Centre wishes to push through

Members of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill pose for a photograph. (File image: PTI)

In the 31st meeting of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 held on Wednesday, representatives of the renowned Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, including its principal Maulana Arshad Madani, appeared before it. The seminary strongly opposed the bill as being proposed by the Centre, saying it was against one community. Deposing before the panel, it objected to certain amendments to the clauses of the existing bill that the Centre wishes to push through.

Among these is the entry of non-Muslims into the board. However, the seminary team said they have no objections to the administration and governance of Waqf properties being on par with other religions, sources said.

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The JPC recently received an extension of its term until the last day of the next budget session of Parliament, after members from both the opposition and ruling sides agreed that greater consultation on this bill was needed.

After Wednesdays meeting, committee chairman and BJP lawmaker Jagdambika Pal said that he welcomed the seminarys appearance, noting that it had a long history and contribution to the spread of Islam, not just in India but across the globe. Their history has been for more than 150 years, and they have been important in creating scholars and vice chancellors. They have made various suggestions, and Ive also given their suggestions in writing, which the JPC will take into regard," Pal said.

The bill was referred to the committee by the Lok Sabha in the last monsoon session of Parliament, on August 9, 2024.

As per the data available, the committee has examined 13 Waqf Boards so far, and seven state representatives have come before the panel in Parliament.

So far, 42 organisations/stakeholders have appeared before the committee.

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The panel has undertaken two study tours. During the first study tour across states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, the panel met 123 stakeholders. The second trip had to be cut short because of the opposition boycott and could only visit Guwahati and Bhubaneswar. The panel examined 16 stakeholders.

The committee, which had asked the public to give their opinion about the bill, both online and through physical representation, so far has received 92.28 lakh emails and 4.99 lakh physical representations.

First Published: December 12, 2024, 01:14 IST
Kerala Lottery Results 11.12.2024: Fifty Fifty FF-121 Ticket FP 701324 Wins Rs 1 Crore; Check Full List!

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 16, 2024, 09:10 IST

Kerala Lottery Results: Here's FULL LIST of winning numbers for Fifty Fifty FF-121 lucky draw for Wednesday, December 11.

Kerala Lottery Fifty Fifty FF-121 Result: The first prize winner of Fifty Fifty FF-121 will get Rs 1 crore. (Image: Shutterstock)

KERALA LOTTERY FIFTY FIFTY FF-121 RESULT ON WEDNESDAY, 11.12.2024, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Fifty Fifty-FF-121 lucky draw for Wednesday, December 11. The winner of the first prize will receive Rs 1 crore, while the second prize winner will get Rs 10 lakh, and the third prize winner will receive Rs 5,000. Check the Full List of Winning Numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Results 16.12.2024: Win Win W- 800 Winners; First Prize Rs 75 Lakh!

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FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR FIFTY-FIFTY FF-121 LOTTERY

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE

FN 701324

FO 701324

FR 701324

FS 701324

FT 701324

FU 701324

FV 701324

FW 701324

FX 701324

FY 701324

FZ 701324

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 1 CRORE IS FP 701324 (THRISSUR)

Agent Name: ANUDEEP A

Agency No.: R 7740

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKH IS FX 507740 (MOOVATTUPUZHA)

Agent Name: THOMAS P P

Agency No.: E 7804

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE

0390 0452 0729 1062 1624 2388 3093 3391 3599 3786 4017 5673 6624 6705 7978 8065 8156 8899 9033 9311 9352 9445 9614

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE

0025 0192 3970 6295 6440 6526 6633 7043 8269 8376 8520 9539

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE

0172 0375 0487 0512 0659 0955 1754 2470 2566 3514 3699 4499 4695 4993 5077 6026 6368 6397 6686 7176 7700 7724 8838 9929

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE

0061 0214 0366 0460 0733 0776 0799 0903 1179 1200 1724 1745 1893 2042 2072 2174 2211 2291 2359 2385 2389 2493 2677 2771 2846 2871 2879 2928 2975 3341 3354 3565 3728 3829 3932 3985 4226 4323 4346 4393 4414 4425 4489 4501 4668 4693 4736 4968 5009 5037 5042 5099 5148 5227 5315 5404 5462 5636 5749 5800 5869 5871 6027 6158 6166 6343 6446 6471 6516 6568 6673 6717 6796 6984 7059 7089 7116 7505 7881 7924 8031 8067 8535 8553 8762 8870 8930 9097 9157 9197 9309 9361 9560 9591 9895 9987

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE

0041 0048 0071 0080 0132 0188 0193 0324 0364 0434 0568 0840 0845 0911 0928 1300 1359 1388 1399 1458 1466 1701 1824 1826 2001 2027 2141 2175 2198 2230 2290 2316 2462 2539 2570 2583 2623 2770 2849 2919 3003 3024 3044 3176 3250 3278 3584 3792 3987 3991 4093 4285 4309 4369 4560 4565 4580 4712 4810 4846 4873 4903 5010 5052 5219 5469 5516 5607 5620 5658 5684 5792 5806 5809 5840 5947 5981 5992 6107 6303 6442 6474 6550 6706 6871 6877 6921 7027 7123 7504 7513 7540 7672 7683 7721 7890 7995 8009 8060 8078 8120 8125 8225 8273 8409 8474 8491 8591 8834 8866 8919 9106 9117 9438 9546 9567 9572 9626 9656 9676 9700 9775 9788 9820 9842 9843

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY: FIFTY-FIFTY FF-121 PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 1 Crore

2nd Prize: Rs. 10 Lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000

4th Prize: Rs. 2,000

5th Prize: Rs. 1,000

6th Prize: Rs. 500

7th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

HOW TO CONFIRM KERALA FIFTY-FIFTY FF-121 LOTTERY RESULTS?

To find out if youve won the Kerala Fifty-Fifty FF-121 Lottery, you can visit the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department at www.keralalottery.info. Alternatively, you may go to the Kerala Government Gazette office to check your ticket numbers against the official draw results.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

To verify if youve won a prize in the Kerala Fifty-Fifty FF-121 Lottery, compare your ticket number with the results published in the Kerala Government Gazette. If the numbers match, youve won. Prize winners must claim their rewards at the Kerala Lottery headquarters at Gorky Bhavan within 30 days of the result announcement. To complete the verification, winners should bring the winning ticket along with a valid photo ID.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY?

A self-signed photocopy of the winning ticket (both front and back).

Recent passport-sized photographs, verified by Gazette officers.

A signed duplicate of the PAN card.

Complete the online prize claim form and attach a revenue stamp.

Valid identity proof documents like PAN card, Aadhaar card, voter ID, or ration card.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH A FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS?

Visit the official websites of the Kerala Lottery Department: keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresults.net.

Find and click on the link for the Fifty Fifty FF-121 Results.

The winning numbers will appear on the screen.

Locate the option to download the results.

Click on the download link to access the lottery results in PDF format.

Christmas-New Year Bumper Lottery 2025: First Prize Rs 20 Crore

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The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the Christmas-New Year bumper lottery for 2024-25, with tickets priced at Rs 400. The winner of the first prize will get Rs 20 crore. The second prize of Rs 1 crore will be awarded to 20 winners, with two winners per series. The third prize offers Rs 25 lakh each to 10 winners, and the fourth and fifth prizes will each be awarded to 10 winners.

The total prize money for the lottery amounts to Rs 90.88 crore. A total of 90 lakh tickets, amounting to Rs 281.25 crore, have been printed, and the tickets are available in ten series.

Location : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:00 IST
'Laws Should Be Made For Men Too': Atul Subhash's Brother Amid Outrage Over Techie's Suicide

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 15:07 IST

Atul Subhash, 34, died by suicide after posting a 90-minute video and a 24-page note describing mental torture and false charges by his wife.

Atul Subhash's suicide has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. (Photo: X)

Amid widespread outrage over the suicide of a Bengaluru techie, Atul Subhashs brother Bikash Kumar demanded justice and called for establishing laws to protect men from harassment amid a broader debate on the flaws and misuse of the legal system.

As Atuls suicide took people by storm and reignited the debate over mens rights and judicial protection from false cases, Bikash Kumar told news agency ANI that no arrests have been made so far in the case and the Indian government should consider this incident seriously.

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I want justice for my brother. Laws should be made for men as well as what happened with my brother is happening with several others. The Government of India should take this seriously. A mans life is equally important as a females. I dont want men to be afraid of marriage," he said.

Bikash Kumar also highlighted that a man is immediately arrested after the suicide of a woman without a suicide note while no action has been taken in Subhashs case despite him leaving a 90-minute video and a 24-page note, highlighting the gender-biasedness of the laws.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru Engineer Suicide: Internet Demands Accenture Should Fire Atul Subhashs Wife

FIR Filed After Atul Subhashs Suicide

Atul, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, died by suicide at his Bengaluru apartment on Monday, leaving behind a 24-page note in which he accused his estranged wife and her family of harassment. He had also shot a 90-minute video of himself detailing his case.

He claimed his wife filed nine cases against him, including false charges of murder, dowry harassment and domestic violence. He also claimed that his wife had demanded a monthly maintenance of Rs 2 lakh for herself and their son. After he took the extreme step, social media users overwhelmingly came out in his support and demanded justice.

A case has been filed at the Marathahalli police station based on the complaint filed by Atuls brother against Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, brother Anurag Singhania and uncle Sushil Singhania. The police are likely to issue notices to all the accused asking them to appear for investigation. The Bengaluru city police has launched a probe into the matter, officials said.

Pawan Kumar, Atul Subhashs father, said his daughter-in-law framed multiple false charges against him, and said Subhash had to travel from Jaunpur to Bengaluru at least 40 times. However, his father said Atul never let his family feel his sufferings and that the system failed.

She filed cases against us that have no logic. The system failed us Our son killed himself due to the system. We had to do rounds of courts. Atul was distressed due to the stress happening to us. We have to live with this regret," he said.

ALSO READ: Men Share Harrowing Experiences As #JusticeForAtulSubhash Campaign Creates An Outcry

Supreme Court Weighs In On Misuse Of Laws

Ahead of the incident that sparked widespread condemnation, the Supreme Court had earlier expressed worry over the rampant misuse of the cruelty law by married women to harass their husbands and in-laws to achieve selfish interests.

While hearing a separate case in Telangana on Tuesday, a Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh noted Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which penalises cruelty by husbands and their relatives against married women, was being misused. The court said that there is a growing trend to use the provision as a tool by women for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family.

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Barkha Trehan, a Mens Rights activist told ANI that there was a lot of biasedness in the system where only women are heard and not men. Men are tortured and threatened, cases under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 498 are deliberately registered against men and the Supreme Court has observed that 95 per cent of these cases are false," she said.

This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

First Published: December 11, 2024, 15:02 IST
Led By Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP Holds Quiet Meeting On Bangladesh

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 12, 2024, 02:15 IST

The sentiments towards India right now in Bangladesh, various entry points into India, the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh, and rising hate speech in Bangladesh were some issues that came up during the discussion, said a BJP leader who was part of the meeting

Union education minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan. (File photo/PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday evening held a discussion over the ongoing Bangladesh unrest even as Indias foreign secretary Vikram Misri returned from Dhaka after meeting Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government there.

The meeting, a party source said, was chaired by union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and was attended by BJP leaders of border states.

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The sentiments towards India right now in Bangladesh, various entry points into India, the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh, and rising hate speech in Bangladesh were some issues that came up during the discussion, said a BJP leader who was part of the meeting.

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The BJPs Wednesday meeting comes close on the heels of deposed Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina accusing Yunus of being the mastermind" behind the July-August turmoil that ousted her government and vowed to bring him and his allies to justice under Bangladeshi law.

Since August 5, the attacks on minorities, places of worship of Hindus, Christians and Buddhists have been rampant. We condemn it. The Jamaat and terrorists are having a free run under the new regime," said Hasina, who is currently in India.

First Published: December 12, 2024, 02:15 IST
'One Nation One Subscription' Grants Equal Access To 13,000 Research Journals For Public Universities, Colleges

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 10:49 IST

The new subscription model will open the research journals to all state-public institutions across India, with an additional annual outlay of Rs 850 crore, benefiting nearly 1.8 crore researchers, compared to just 57 lakhs earlier.

A key highlight is that all researchers will be able to read all journals, regardless of their discipline to promote multi-disciplinary research. (Representative Image: Shutterstock)

Over 6,000 state-funded universities, affiliated colleges and other research institutions across the country will now gain access to as many as 13,400 international journals under the governments new scheme  One Nation, One Subscription. Phase One of the Rs 6,000 crore scheme will begin on January 1st, 2025.

At present, the government spends about Rs 1,000 crores annually on international journal subscriptions through various library consortiums, but covers just 8,079 journal titles. This access is also limited to just 2,360 institutions in India, leaving researchers in many government universities, and colleges deprived, as they already struggle to access these journals due to limited budgets.

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The new subscription model will open them to all state-public institutions across India, with an additional annual outlay of Rs 850 crore, benefiting nearly 1.8 crore researchers, compared to just 57 lakhs earlier. The phase-one to be executed over next three years will grant access to all the central and state-funded universities and colleges across India. After that, we plan to extend it to private institutions, and eventually target universal access through all designated access points in all public in phase three," said Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), Professor Ajay Sood on Tuesday.

This is for the first time that the government has successfully struck an agreement with 30 of the biggest publishers in STEM, management, social sciences and humanities, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor and Francis, BMJ Journals, Cambridge University Press as well as Sage publishing for subscriptions.

FIRST-SUCH SUBSCRIPTION MODEL IN INDIA

Around Rs 1,850 crores will be spent on the national subscriptions till 2027. Registered students can read these journals on their laptops/mobile phones by logging into their institution portal available through the UGC-provided Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre in all universities.

A key highlight is that all researchers will be able to read all journals, regardless of their discipline to promote multi-disciplinary research. Knowledge is not in silos. You may be a historian, but you may want to read about what is happening in science, or vice-versa. This scheme will enable that. This is the first-such subscription model that India has been able to achieve," said senior scientist Professor Virander S Chauhan who played a pivotal role in the deliberations with global publishers.

Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) highlighted the scheme does not restrict institutions from seeking access to more journals if they feel the need, and they are welcome to do so independently. But, the 30 publishers selected under the scheme cover over 95 per cent of the published work in journals, more or less. Our aim is to enhance the access to all knowledge resources," he added.

The scheme will benefit a total of 6,380 government, academic and research & development institutions, which includes 557 universities, 172 institutions of national importance, 4864 colleges, 114 research councils and institutes, and 673 institutions under various government ministries and departments.

SUPPORTING RESEARCHERS PUBLISH IN LEADING JOURNALS

As a pilot project, a central fund of Rs 150 crore/year has also been earmarked under the scheme to support researchers who are looking to publish papers in selected high-quality international journals. Since the researchers have to pay exorbitant charges in the form of Article Processing Charges (APC), discussions have also been held to facilitate a discount on the APCs for Indian authors.

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We are in the process of making guidelines on how these funds for APCs will be disbursed, but we can assure that we will develop a transparent method for selection of the journals, and beneficiaries," added Professor Sood.

The senior scientists also allayed concerns over potential competition with Indian journals, and said parallel efforts will be made to provide more visibility to Indian journals as well. Most Indian journals including those published by Indian National Science Academy, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are published under open-access, and can be read by anybody without any restrictions.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:46 IST
Puri-Like Jagannath Temple In Bengals Digha Soon; BJP Says Mamata Wooing Hindus

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 19:57 IST

The temple will open on Akshay Tritiya (April 30) next year. West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee recently reviewed the progress

Mamata Banerjee declared that from next year, Digha will also hold a Rath Yatra like Puri. (News18)

West Bengal is all set to get a Jagannath Temple in Digha. The temple will open on Akshay Tritiya (April 30) next year.

Chief minister recently Mamata Banerjee visited the temple site, along with chief secretary DG, HIDCO engineers, priests from the Sanatani board and ISKCON Vice-President Radharamana Das.

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Banerjee declared that from next year, Digha will also hold a Rath Yatra like Puri.

As a considerable number of Bengalis are devotees of Puri Jagannath Dham, Banerjee came up with this idea in 2019 and the work started in 2022. This temple is being built on a 20-acre plot and its height is similar to Puri Mandir, with a similar structure and flag-posting ritual (Dhwaja ritual). Dhwaja is placed on top of the temple in Puri, this system will also be there. It will also have an additional Radha Krishna Mandir and Bimala (Lakshmi) Mandir.

This temple will have all facilities like Puri. It will have a separate bhog arena. Like Puris famous khaja, a special sweet that is offered to Lord Jagannath, Bengal will also offer goja (a special sweet). There will be a special entrance, Chaitanya Dwar.

Banerjee reviewed the progress and formed a trustee board which consists of the DM, SP, Radharamana Das, and members of the Sanatani board.

Speaking to the media, Banerjee said, We are following all rituals. I have also spoken to Rajesh Daityapothi of Puri. We are making the Dwaja system which is there, therefore I have requested them to send a representative for our Mandir. We have more than Rs 250 crore and am happy that our engineers have done it so well."

Marble idols are ready, and the tamarind tree idol will also be ready in some days," said Banerjee. The marble for this temple hasbeen brought from Jaipur and Vietnam, say sources in the administration.

At a time when minorities are being tortured in Bangladesh, Banerjee made Radharamana Das a member of the trustee board, a move welcomed by many. But the opposition has criticised it.

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Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Suvendu Adhikari said Banerjee is doing this to get Hindu votes. He said, This is in fear. She wants to get Hindu votes in 2026, which she will not get because under her leadership, Kolkata will become Islamabad very soon. Moreover, she has kept ISKCON there because of this reason only. She has belittled Puri. I felt bad to see Radharamana Das standing there"

Radharamana Das has been very vocal on the torture of Hindus in Bangladesh. Many believe his presence with Banerjee in Digha is significant.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 19:53 IST
Updated: Shark nets are controversially placed along some of Australia's most popular beaches, but critics argue they do more harm than good.

Councillors responsible for Bondi Beach have voted against the use of controversial shark nets. Source: Michael Dahlstrom

Two of Australias most popular beaches, Bondi and Bronte in Sydney, could soon undergo a major change. On Tuesday night councillors responsible for the beach voted unanimously in favour of having the government's controversial shark nets removed from the coastline.

Critics say the nets, which sit approximately 300 metres out to sea, are outdated and ineffective devices that give swimmers a false sense of security. Nets are just six metres high, so when they are erected offshore at a depth of 10 metres, sharks are simply able to swim over them.

Instead of catching large sharks they more often entangle non-target species, including dolphins. Conservation groups have welcomed the vote by Waverley Council to instead focus on three newer technologies to keep swimmers safe  drones, SMART drumlines and tagged listening stations. The change is dependent on approval by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and there will be no change in the council's shark net policy for this summer.

Related: Aussie fisherman brought to tears after shock catch in shark net

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Humane Society International (HSI) marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck told Yahoo News the vote was very good news and he hoped other councils would follow.

HSI analysis shows there have been three summers without the nets at Bondi having caught a single target shark. As if to underscore how pointless the nets are, so far this season the nets at Bondi... have entangled two critically endangered grey nurse sharks, and a Port Jackson shark, all harmless to beachgoers," Chlebeck added.

While Waverley Council beaches are a playground for human visitors, dolphins who swim close to shore can face being killed by shark nets. Source: Michael Dahlstrom

Council to focus on drumlines and drones to catch sharks

The vote came in response to an undertaking by the NSW Government to consult with councils around the state about the use of shark mitigation devices. The government has indicated it is open to listening to local communities about the continued use of shark nets, and Tuesday's vote will result in a submission to the state government.

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Some changes have already begun since Labor took office, with nets removed one month earlier than usual to reduce the risk of killing endangered sea turtles during the April nesting season. In Queensland they are kept in the water year-round, frequently snaring migrating whales.

We all know that shark nets do not reduce the risk of shark bite, but its still a common belief in our communities. And dispelling those myths is very difficult, Chlebeck said.

Its our job and the governments job to educate the community about what they can and cant do.

A Waverley Council spokesperson has told Yahoo News the DPI has advised Council that "SMART drumlines are the most effective tool for catching target sharks, while minimising the catch of non-target animals, and maximising the survival of all animals".

"Council highlighted that the removal of shark nets is conditional however on the significant increased use of drones and SMART drumlines at Waverley LGA beaches which would increase the safety of all beach users," the spokesperson told Yahoo.

Critics of shark nets have campaigned against the devices, arguing theyre ineffective. Source: Sea Shepherd Australia

Bondi drone operator celebrates shark net vote

In NSW, shark nets are placed along beaches between Wollongong, Sydney and Newcastle, which are used by an estimated five million people a year. The devices are removed during the winter months when fewer people swim.

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The states shark mitigation program is estimated to cost $21.5 million over the 2024/2025 season, funds are also used for SMART drumlines, drones and education about beach safety. Shark bites are rare at netted beaches and so there is some community support for them.

Bondi local Jason Iggleton, who uses a drone to monitor marine life around Bondi Beach, was at the council meeting on Tuesday night, and spoke in favour of their removal. While there have been few shark bite incidents at netted beaches around the state, he argues they provide little protection for swimmers.

Once people know that nets arent a complete barrier, and sharks can just swim around them, they think whats the point, he later told Yahoo.

A dolphin was found dead in a NSW government shark net off Bronte Beach. Source: Mother Ocean Freediving

Shark nets having 'worrying' impact on endangered marine life

Australian Marine Conservation Society shark expert Dr Leonardo Guida said, the risk of catching endangered and critically endangered species was a major concern for researchers.

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With the grey nurse shark already at grave risk of extinction in NSW and the catch of marine turtles rising, the continued use of shark nets is putting enormous pressure on the local populations, he said.

We hope other councils will follow Waverley Councils lead and listen to the science and end the use of shark nets, and enact measures that reduce the risk of shark bites without impacting other ocean wildlife.

Over the coming weeks, other councils around NSW are set to vote on whether they would also prefer not to have shark nets at their beaches.

The Waverley Council vote came after the responsible minister, Tanya Moriarty, said she wanted to see mitigation programs working for the communities they operate in. As we map the future of this program we will listen to local communities, and consider the best available evidence to ensure we are striking the right balance at our beaches, she said in July.

The Department of Primary Industries issued a statement late on Wednesday saying its "priority" was the safety of beachgoers, but it claimed to also by "committed" to protecting marine life.

"This year the Government responded to community feedback and took significant steps to increase the programs safeguards for marine animals," it said in an email.

"The Government stated that when developing the future of the program it will listen to local communities, and consider the best available evidence to ensure there is a striking of the right balance."

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment?  Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Rahul Gandhi Gives Rose, Tiranga To Rajnath Singh Amid Protests At Parliament

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 13:52 IST

Rahul Gandhi's today presented a rose and an Indian flag to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh amidst Opposition protests outside the Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi gives rose, national flag to Rajnath Singh (video screengrabs/ANI)

In a rare gesture, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday presented a rose flower and an Indian flag to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This came as the Opposition MPs staged a unique protest outside the Parliament premises against the government.

Both Houses of the Parliament saw stormy sittings this winter session with the Opposition MPs wanting to raise the issue of alleged charges against industrialist Gautam Adani and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Congress of having links with US billionaire George Soros to destabilise the country.

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In a video, shared by news agency ANI, Rahul Gandhi could be seen rushing towards the Defence Minister and presenting him a national flag.

#WATCH | Delhi | In a unique protest in Parliament premises, Congress MP and LoP Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi gives a Rose flower and Tiranga to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/9GlGIvh3Yz ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the protesters.

Speaking on the matter, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the BJP government of turning Parliament into the Lajvanti (shame plant).

The BJP government has turned the Parliament into the Lajvanti (shame plant). The House gets adjourned the moment Adanis name comes up We are distributing the National Flag following the Parliamentary decorum," Bhagat told ANI.

Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said, We have distributed the national flag and have requested them to not sell the country and take the country forward. Unfortunately, we are seeing that Adani is running the country these days. Everything is being given to him and the voice of the poor is being suppressed. We are against the conspiracy to sell the country."

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Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that he was constantly being disrupted by the Opposition members in the House.

The Winter Session of the Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The session will continue until December 20.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 13:45 IST
'Married Women Misusing Cruelty Law': Supreme Court Amid Justice Calls For Bengaluru Techie

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 12, 2024, 11:32 IST

The Court made the observations while junking cruelty and dowry cases filed by a Telangana woman against her husband amid demands for justice for Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash

The Supreme Court said that there was a growing trend to use the cruelty law as a tool by women for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family.

The Supreme Court has expressed worry over the rampant use of cruelty law by married women to harass their husbands and in-laws for selfish interests. The top courts concern came amid growing demands for justice for 34-year-old Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide after accusing his estranged wife and her family of filing false cases against him to extort money.

According to a Bar And Bench report, the court on Tuesday, while hearing a case (Dara Lakshmi Narayana and Others vs State of Telangana and Another), said Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which penalises cruelty by husbands and their relatives against married women, was being misused.

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ALSO READ | Men Share Harrowing Experiences As #JusticeForAtulSubhash Campaign Creates An Outcry

A Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh noted that sometimes the provision, originally intended to protect women from domestic violence and harassment, was being exploited by some women to force her husband and his family to comply with their unreasonable demands".

The court said that there is a growing trend to use the provision as a tool by women for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family.

In recent years, as there have been a notable rise in matrimonial disputes across the country, accompanied by growing discord and tension within the institution of marriage, consequently, there has been a growing tendency to misuse provisions like Section 498A of the IPC as a tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family by a wife. Making vague and generalised allegations during matrimonial conflicts, if not scrutinised, will lead to the misuse of legal processes and an encouragement for use of arm twisting tactics by a wife and/or her family," the judgment read.

The Court made these observations while dismissing the cruelty and dowry cases filed by the wife against her husband and in-laws. The appeal was brought by the husband and his family members challenging the Telangana High Courts refusal to dismiss the case. The wife had filed the cases after her husband sought a divorce. Upon reviewing the arguments, the Supreme Court concluded that the wife had filed the cases to settle personal grievances and was misusing legal provisions that were intended to protect her.

What Advocates, Lawmakers Say

Speaking on the misuse of cruelty law, Advocate Ashish Dixit said the presumption that a womans allegations would have substance should go away.

Any lawyer who practices criminal law can tell you umpteen number of cases where this law is being misused. The government shall step in to get the law examined and there shall be some reformative steps that shall be taken," he said.

Referring to the Atul Subhash suicide case, Advocate from Delhi Vikas Pahwa said, I have seen how 498A has been misused by the legal fraternity, the police machinery, the disgruntled ladies, those who have filed all these cases."

He said Atuls case had triggered the controversy and has brought the issue to the forefront.

I think this issue now should be taken very seriously because 498A misuse should be curbed. After all, it has an impact on the social fabric of our society. There are false allegations which are not only filed against the husband but also against the father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law, of the family. They are also implicated in these kinds of cases and most of them are false. Im not saying genuine cases are not there," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury urged the court to take suo-moto cognisance of the matter. It is very unfortunate. Such incidents should never happen in the country. If the common man has no hope that he will have justice from anywhere, then it is very harmful to society. Implementing agencies should take strict action," she said.

Bengaluru Techies Death

As the suicide of a Bengaluru engineer alleging harassment by his wife created a social media storm, the city police on Tuesday took cognisance of the suicide note and launched an investigation into the matter, officials said.

This comes after 34-year-old Atul Subhash, hailing from Bihar, died by suicide at his Bengaluru apartment on Monday, leaving behind a 24-page note in which he accused his estranged wife and her family of harassment. He had also shot a 90-minute video of himself detailing his case. The social media users came out in support of the deceased man and demanded justice for him.

Another case has been filed at the Marathahalli police station based on the complaint filed by Atuls brother, Bikas Kumar, against four people, including Atuls wife Nikita Singhania, under sections 108 (Abetment of suicide) and 3(5) (When a criminal act is carried out by multiple persons in furtherance of a common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The FIR has been filed against Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, brother Anurag Singhania and uncle Sushil Singhania. The police are likely to issue notices to all the accused asking them to appear for investigation.

According to the FIR, the accused filed false cases against Atul and demanded Rs 3 crore to settle the matter. The FIR also notes the allegation that Nikita was demanding 30 lakh for allowing Atul to meet their son.

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According to the preliminary investigation, Atul was facing marital issues as his wife had filed numerous cases against him in Uttar Pradesh, which he talked about in the video shot just before his extreme step.

Before dying by suicide, he shared the note in a WhatsApp group of an NGO he was a part of. He also sent it to several others via email.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 11:39 IST
'Priority To Safety, Security': India Evacuates 75 Nationals From Syria After Assad's Fall

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 08:10 IST

India has evacuated 75 nationals, including 44 pilgrims, from Syria after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad's government.

India evacuates nationals from Syria (Photo: XP Division, MEA)

Days after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar Assads authoritarian government, India on Tuesday evacuated 75 Indian nationals from the country, emphasising that the government accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad.

According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the evacuation was coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut.

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The development came after an assessment of the security situation in Syria, the MEA said.

The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in that country. The evacuees included 44 zaireen from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return by available commercial flights to India," the MEAs statement read.

The evacuation, coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut, was put into effect following our assessment of the security situation and requests from Indian nationals in Syria," it added.

The Government of India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. Indian nationals remaining in Syria are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973 (also on WhatsApp) and email ID (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in) for updates. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely," the MEA stated.

Later, in an X post, the Embassy of India in Beirut confirmed that the evacuated Indians had reached Beirut.

All 75 Indian nationals evacuated from Syria including 44 zaireen from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab, have now reached Beirut. Ambassador Noon Rahman Sheikh received them upon their arrival in Beirut. They will return by available commercial flights to India," the tweet read.

All 75 Indian nationals evacuated from Syria including 44 zaireen from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab, have now reached Beirut. Ambassador @NoorRahman_IFS received them upon their arrival in Beirut. They will return by available commercial flights to India. https://t.co/UWdEDDW7Cj pic.twitter.com/WVGGQ2K12g India in Lebanon (Embassy of India, Beirut) (@IndiaInLebanon) December 10, 2024

On December 9, the MEA had said it was monitoring the unfolding developments in Syria and advocated a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process going forward in that country.

WHAT HAPPENED IN SYRIA?

The Syrian government collapsed on December 8 as the rebels seized control of the capital Damascus after capturing several other prominent cities and towns.

Assad fled the country after the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus, marking the end of his familys 50-year rule.

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Russian state media reported that Assad is in Moscow and was granted asylum.

His nearly 14-year tenure was marked by civil war, bloodshed and a brutal crackdown on his political opponents.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 07:12 IST
'Rajya Sabha Chairman Biggest Disruptor, Forced To Step Up': INDIA Bloc On No-Trust Move

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 16:08 IST

Congress-led INDIA bloc moved a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman on Tuesday, accusing him of bias and partisan functioning

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge addressing press conference in New Delhi. (Image: ANI)

Opposition leaders on Wednesday defended their move to bring a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and said they were forced to step up to save democracy as the Chairman is the biggest disruptor of Rajya Sabha" and his conduct has damaged the pride of the nation".

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge while addressing a press conference on Wednesday afternoon said that Dhankhars actions have hurt the dignity of India. The Congress chief further stressed that there is no personal fight" against the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

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His behaviour (RS Chairman) has damaged the dignity of the country. He brought such a situation to the history of parliamentary democracy that we had to bring this notice for the resolution (of no confidence). We have no personal enmity or political fight with him. We want to tell the countrymen that we have taken this step to safeguard the democracy and the Constitution and after giving a lot of thought to it," Kharge said.

Kharge also accused Dhankhar of schooling like a headmaster" and stated that he does not allow the opposition side to speak on important issues in the Upper House. Time and again opposition leaders are stopped from speaking. His fidelity is towards the ruling party instead of the Constitution and constitutional tradition," the Congress chief said, adding, He is working as a spokesperson of the government for his next promotion. I have no hesitation in saying that the biggest disruptor in Rajya Sabha is the Chairman himself."

Kharge further asserted that the opposition bloc stands united on this matter and the chairman compelled them to take this step. He further asserted that the since the past three years, Dhankhar gave the opposition no time or space to raise critical issues.

INDIA Bloc Moves No-Confidence Against Dhankhar

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On Tuesday, the Congress-led INDIA bloc moved a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing him of bias and partisan functioning. The Opposition claimed that he favoured the ruling party during House proceedings and stifled their voice.

According to sources, all opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), have signed the motion, which was moved under Article 67(B) of the Constitution.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 15:33 IST
Under 'Digital Arrest' For 17 Days, Hyderabad Woman And Daughters Lose Rs 5.5 Crore

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 12:11 IST

The caller had claimed the woman's Aadhaar-linked phone number was linked to money laundering and drug cases. The call was then transferred to two fake CBI officers on Skype who placed them on digitally arrest

The family was kept under continuous video and audio surveillance and their movements were severely restricted. (Representative/Shutterstock)

An elderly woman in Hyderabad and her daughters were recently victims of a harrowing digital arrest, held captive online for 17 days by cyber criminals who also stole Rs 5.50 crore from their account.

The 67-year-old woman, Bharti Bai, and her two daughters were held under digital house arrest by fraudsters impersonating as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) agents, with only brief periods allowed for the daughters to leave for exams.

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Before the victims could detect the deception, the criminals coerced them into transferring Rs 5.5 crore to their accounts. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has registered an FIR and initiated an investigation.

The incident was reported from Basheerbagh in Hyderabad. Bharti Bai Agarwal received a call on November 13. The caller informed her that her Aadhaar-linked phone number was being used in money laundering and drug cases and they were suspects. Subsequently, the caller transferred her call to two men who identified themselves as Saurabh Sharma and Ajay Gupta, posing as CBI officers. These individuals then instructed her to connect with them on Skype.

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On Skype, Bharti and her daughters were told they had been digitally arrested". Kept under continuous video and audio surveillance, their movements were severely restricted. Only the daughters could leave the house, and that solely to attend exams. Upon their immediate return, they were required to reconnect on Skype.

During this period, the fraudsters obtained the familys bank details. Subsequently, they applied pressure on the family to relinquish funds in order to protect themselves from supposed legal repercussions. The perpetrators said that they want to check their bank account to find out if it was being used for money laundering. Using this pretence, they extorted money from the family.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 12:11 IST
Violence Breaks Out In Maharashtra's Parbhani Over Damage To Constitution Replica

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 17:28 IST

Amid the bandh called by Ambedkarite activists, a mob indulged in arson and the district collectors office was vandalised, officials said

A glass-encased replica of the Constitution outside Parbhani railway station, close to a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, was found to have been damaged on Tuesday, sparking protests. (Photo: PTI)

Violent protests took place for the second day in central Maharashtras Parbhani city on Wednesday over the vandalising of a replica of the Indian Constitution, police said.

Amid the bandh called by Ambedkarite activists, a mob indulged in arson and the district collectors office was vandalised, officials said.

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A glass-encased replica of the Constitution outside Parbhani railway station, close to a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, was found to have been damaged on Tuesday, sparking protests.

Police arrested a man in connection with the incident, but protests resumed on Wednesday morning.

"Pipes outside a shop were set ablaze around 1 pm today. As the mob became violent, police fired tear gas shells and dispersed them," said acting Superintendent of Police Yeshwant Kale.

The protesters were demanding that police should find who was behind Tuesdays incident of vandalising, he told PTI.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the collectors office in the afternoon, and some of them rushed inside and damaged furniture and window panes before police brought the situation under control, officials said.

Senior officials including the Special Inspector General of Police of the range visited the spot.

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Bandh was also observed in Vasmat area of the district, local officials said.

Protesters had blocked the railway tracks at Parbhani station on Tuesday evening and roughed up the loco-pilot of the Nandigram Express.

Location : Parbhani, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 17:28 IST
Baaraat FOMO? Sobhita Dhulipalas Wedding Dance Moves Steal the Show!

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 12:12 IST

Sobhita Dhulipala couldn't contain her excitement on her wedding day, dancing to the baaraat beats and embracing every moment of the celebration.

Sobhita Dhulipala Dances Through 'Baaraat FOMO' Ahead of Her Dream Wedding!

Sobhita Dhulipala was in high spirits as she began a new chapter with actor Naga Chaitanya, tying the knot on December 4 in a heartfelt ceremony in Hyderabad, surrounded by close family and friends. A heartwarming behind-the-scenes video from the wedding day has now surfaced, showing the brides infectious joy as she embraces the moment. In the clip, Sobhita is seen dancing to the lively beats of her weddings baaraat music, her excitement unmistakable as she gleams with happiness.

The video, shared by her makeup and hair artist Shraddha Mishra, captures Sobhita in the midst of getting ready for the big day. At one point, shes seen dancing to the dhol beats echoing from the baaraat outside, clearly enjoying every second of the pre-wedding festivities. In her excitement, Sobhita exclaims, Shraddha, meri shaadi ho rahi hai!" (Im getting married!) before she resumes dancing to the infectious rhythm of the music.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shraddha Mishra (@shraddhamishra8)

Alongside the dancing, the video also shows the final touches being added to Sobhitas makeup as she gets ready for her wedding. Once dressed and prepared, Sobhita pauses for a few pictures before jokingly admitting, Now Im feeling shy," only to break into more dance moves as the music continues to play. The caption on the post reads, Glowing with love and just the right touch of magic @sobhitad," and Sobhita herself commented, playfully noting, Baaraat FOMO is real."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sobhita (@sobhitad)

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The wedding took place at the iconic Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad, with Naga Chaitanya, son of actor Nagarjuna, and Sobhita Dhulipala tying the knot in a ceremony that honored Telugu traditions and customs. The intimate affair was attended by close friends, family, and several celebrities, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The couple made their relationship public in August this year after months of speculation, sharing photos from their engagement. Naga Chaitanya was previously married to actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and they announced their separation in October 2021. As for their future projects, Chaitanya is set to star in Thandel, a film directed by Chandoo Mondeti, alongside Sai Pallavi, which is slated for release next year. Sobhita, on the other hand, was recently seen in the web film Love, Sitara.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 12:12 IST
Could Earth Get A Sixth Ocean? What It Means For Africas Future

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 18:56 IST

The East African Rift System is a crack in the Earth's crust stretching over 3,000 kilometres from Ethiopia to the southern reaches of East Africa.

East African Rift may form a new ocean. (Representational Image: AP)

The Earth, known for its five major oceans  the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic  may soon be home to a sixth ocean. A major geological shift in East Africa is setting the stage for the continents potential division, a process that could create a new ocean over millions of years. This transformation is driven by the East African Rift System, a tectonic fault line that is slowly tearing the African continent apart.

At the heart of this potential geological phenomenon is the East African Rift System, a massive crack in the Earths crust stretching over 3,000 kilometres from Ethiopia to the southern reaches of East Africa. This rift is the result of two major tectonic plates  the Somali Plate to the east and the Nubian Plate to the west  slowly pulling away from one another. The Afar region, where these plates converge, is the epicentre of this complex tectonic activity.

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Over time, the ongoing movement of these plates is causing the African continent to slowly split, with the eastern portion potentially breaking off to become a separate landmass. This process could create a new ocean, much like the Atlantic Ocean formed when South America and Africa separated millions of years ago.

The separation of the Somali and Nubian plates occurs at an incredibly slow pace- just a few millimetres each year. However, over millions of years, this gradual movement will widen the rift, allowing magma from the Earths mantle to rise and fill the gap, eventually forming new oceanic crust. This ongoing process, which has been taking place for millions of years, has recently gained attention due to significant new developments in the region.

In 2020, scientists predicted that the rift could eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean. This theory gained further traction in 2024 when a massive crack was discovered in southeastern Africa, sparking fresh speculation about the rifts potential to give rise to the Earths sixth ocean.

A New Ocean, A New Continent?

As the rift widens, the eastern part of Africa may eventually break away, creating a small, new landmass. This process could be compared to the separation of Madagascar from the African continent millions of years ago. If the rift continues to grow, it could dramatically reshape the regions geography, transforming previously inland countries into coastal nations.

The formation of this new ocean would bring dramatic changes to the landscape, ecosystems, and human settlements in the region. It could create new coastlines, potentially opening up previously landlocked countries like Uganda and Zambia to maritime trade and fishing. Such transformations could have far-reaching effects on local economies, offering new opportunities for growth, while also posing challenges in terms of infrastructure, agriculture, and human habitation.

The geological activity occurring in East Africa bears a striking resemblance to the processes that led to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean millions of years ago. About 180 million years ago, the separation of South America and Africa resulted in the opening of the Atlantic. Scientists believe the same basic mechanisms are at play in East Africa, suggesting that the new ocean could follow a similar timeline.

Geophysical studies, including those published in Geophysical Research Letters, confirm that the formation of a new ocean is already in progress. However, experts predict it may take millions of years before the rift fully transforms into a distinct ocean.

Impacts on Climate, Biodiversity, and Geopolitics

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The creation of a new ocean in East Africa would have far-reaching consequences. As the rift continues to open, it could alter the flow of ocean currents, potentially impacting regional and global climate patterns. New marine ecosystems would also emerge, offering unique habitats for marine life and providing a real-time laboratory for evolutionary studies.

From a geopolitical perspective, the formation of a new ocean could reshape the economic landscape of East Africa. Countries currently without coastlines, such as Uganda, could gain access to the sea, potentially unlocking new opportunities for trade, fishing, and resource exploration. However, these changes would also require significant adaptation in infrastructure, agriculture, and the displacement of communities along the expanding rift.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 18:56 IST
Chef Vikas Khannas New York Restaurant, Bungalow, Wins Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 08:45 IST

Chef Vikas Khanna's New York restaurant, Bungalow, wins the Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award, celebrating its innovative take on Indian cuisine and global recognition.

Chef Vikas Khannas restaurant in New York, Bungalow, wins Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award

Chef Vikas Khanna has added another accolade to his illustrious career by securing the Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award for his New York restaurant, Bungalow. Sharing the news on Instagram, Khanna expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating:

260 days of Bungalow & today we received the Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award. While Ive previously received the Michelin Star 8 times, today felt different. I felt that it was for some higher purpose, it was like a tribute, it was like a promise to my land and to my people. To my sister. This is just the beginning."

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In addition to this honor, Bungalow was also featured in The New York Times prestigious list of Top 14 New Restaurants", further cementing its place among the finest dining experiences in the city.

The announcement sparked an outpouring of congratulations from fans, peers, and admirers worldwide. Comments on social media celebrated Khanna as the pride of India," with one user writing, Congratulations, Chef!", while another remarked, Happy tears  immense love to you, Chef."

Fellow chefs also joined in celebrating the achievement. Chef Shipra Khanna told indianexpress.com, Chef Vikas Khannas restaurant Bungalow receiving the Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award is a shining moment for Indian cuisine, celebrating Chef Vikas and his teams talent and passion! Heartiest congratulations! Feels so, so proud!"

Chef Ranveer Brar called it a milestone for Indian cuisine globally, saying, In such a short time, its a victory for Vikas, its a victory for Indian cuisine, and for me, its a global breakthrough for our food."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vikas Khanna (@vikaskhannagroup)

A Modern Take on Indian Staples

Known for its innovative approach, Bungalow reimagines traditional Indian dishes with delicate presentation and contemporary flavors. The menu features classics such as dal, Banarasi poori aloo, and seekh kebab, alongside standout creations like the five-cheese kulcha and yogurt kebabs wrapped in crispy kataifi pastry, paired with vibrant accompaniments such as pickled cabbage puree and spicy mango coulis.

The restaurants warm and inviting interiorscomplete with pale pink walls, colorful murals, and intricately carved panelsset the tone for a memorable dining experience. Its cocktail menu adds a playful touch, featuring unique combinations like turmeric-infused tequila and chilli-infused mezcal.

What is the Bib Gourmand Award?

The Bib Gourmand Award, as defined by the Michelin Guide, recognizes restaurants that provide exceptional quality at reasonable prices. While Michelin Stars honor fine dining, Bib Gourmand celebrates establishments offering a three-course meal at accessible rates, with a focus on recognizable ingredients and satisfying flavors.

The award criteria vary by region, factoring in local cost-of-living standards, but the emphasis remains consistent: delivering outstanding food without the premium price tag. According to the Michelin Guide, dining at a Bib Gourmand restaurant leaves patrons feeling that theyve eaten well at excellent value.

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A Tribute to Indian Cuisine

With Bungalows recognition, Chef Vikas Khanna has once again elevated Indian cuisine on the global stage, bringing its diverse flavors and culinary traditions to New York diners. As Bungalow continues to make waves, it serves as a testament to Khannas passion, artistry, and dedication to celebrating Indias rich heritage.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 08:45 IST
Punjab Ranked 7th in Taste Atlas Top 100 Food Regions, West Bengal, South India And Other States Follow

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 18:41 IST

Taste Atlas lists Punjab as the seventh 'Best Food Region' in the world, highlighting its traditional restaurants and well-known dishes. West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Southern India are also on the list.

Punjab's gastronomic heritage has earned it recognition as the world's seventh-best food region.

As part of its Taste Atlas Awards 2024-25, the esteemed food and travel guide Taste Atlas has unveiled its much awaited 100 Best Food Regions in the World rankings. With Punjab placing an astounding seventh globally, India has much to be proud of on this list, which honours culinary excellence worldwide.

The locations with the highest average scores are highlighted in the rankings, which are based on more than 477,287 valid ratings for 15,478 foods in the Taste Atlas database. Punjabs inclusion in the top 10 highlights the states diverse culinary traditions, which include well-known dishes like tikka, Amritsari kulcha, saag paneer, shahi paneer, and tandoori murgh. Notable Punjabi eateries that have contributed to the preservation and celebration of the states culinary legacy include Haveli, Kesar da Dhaba, Bharawan Da Dhaba, Bade Bhai ka Brothers Dhaba, and Crystal Restaurant.

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Although Punjab led the way for India, other areas managed to secure a spot on the coveted list as well. With its popular street food and sweet foods like misal pav, aamras, shrikhand, and pav bhaji, Maharashtra was placed 41st. With a reference to its distinctive fusion of savoury and sweet flavours, which can be found in dishes like chingri malai curry, shorshe ilish, ras malai, and kathi rolls, West Bengal took 54th place. Recognised as a separate region, Southern India ranked 59th for its varied cuisine, which includes Hyderabadi biryani, madras curry, masala dosa, and more.

The rankings highlight the variety and diversity of Indian food on the international scene, even if the entire Indian food category came in at number 12 on Taste Atlas 100 Best Cuisines in the World." Even though it didnt place in the top 10, this accolade shows how popular Indias diverse culinary culture is throughout the world.

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Punjab, which dominates Indias culinary presence, is a reminder of the nations remarkable culinary legacy and its place in the heartsand palatesof foodies everywhere.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 18:41 IST
Not what you want to see when you're inside a Coles store doing your shopping. Source: Pulse Tasmania

Yahoo's live news blog for Thursday, December 12 has now concluded. A Coles store was forced to shut overnight after a trolley was set on fire inside the store, sending shoppers fleeing the store.

House prices could fall at the start of 2025 despite "surprising resilience" in 2024. RBA governor Michele Bullock held the cash rate at 4.35 per cent on Tuesday with a cut widely tipped by economists by May.

Australian broadcast trailblazer Clive Robertson has died at the age of 78.

Follow along as we bring you regular updates throughout the day.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 18 updates Aussie media legend dies aged 78 Some sad news for you now. Australian broadcast trailblazer Clive Robertson has died at the age of 78. Robertson, who worked at the ABC in the 70s before moving to Seven in the 1980s, died from cancer last week. Aussie radio broadcaster Margaret Throsby called Robertson a brilliant broadcaster in a tribute posted to X on Thursday. NWN Library Very very sad to learn of the death of my old partner in crime Clive Robertson, Throsby wrote. Eccentric, one-off, brilliant broadcaster, tease, unreconstructed, his Breakfast show on 702 Sydney was essential listening. RIP. Media commentator Jason Morrison described Robertson as one of (his) greatest mates. He was a deeply private person and didnt want any fuss about his death, Morrison said. He was funny, brilliant and remarkable." - NCA NewsWire

No concerns over possum 'enjoying the breeze' A team of wildlife rescuers in NSW have urged people to stop calling in about a possum that "enjoys" lounging in a rather revealing position. Hunter Wildlife Rescue say they've attended to the possum five times and insist it isn't trapped despite what passers-by believe. "It seems that he enjoys the breeze on his boys in this heat," the organisation claimed. "It is not the preferred home for a possum, but he is perfectly fine. Please leave him be." This possum has been catching the eye of many locals for one glaring reason. Source: Hunter Wildlife Rescue

Aldi your go-to this Christmas Well this is a surprise result. We asked our readers where they'd be doing their Christmas supermarket shop and Aldi has come out on top by quite a distance. More than 8,000 of you responded, with 37 per cent saying they'd be going to Aldi, despite the German supermarket having just 10 per cent of the Australian market share. It's a 7 per cent jump from when we asked the question last year. There's no doubt that rise in part is due to the scrutiny Coles and Woolworths' pricing tactics have faced this year. Of the big two, Woolworths (21 per cent), came above Coles (19 per cent) as your destination for the big shop.

Bad news for homeowners Returning to the cash rate now. The chances of a February cut have taken a tumble after Australia's unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 3.9 per cent. The Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded an increase of 35,600 jobs to the economy in November - exceeding the 30,000 gain pencilled in by forecasters. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to increase to 4.2 per cent following three consecutive months at 4.1 per cent. "In November we saw a higher than usual number of people moving into employment who were unemployed and waiting to start work in October," ABS head of labour statistics David Taylor said on Thursday. "This contributed to the rise in employment and fall in unemployment." It's the first time the unemployment rate has had a three in front of it since March. The participation rate dropped 0.1 per cent to 67 per cent, still near record highs. "Despite the fall, the participation rate was the same as a year ago, and 1.5 percentage points higher than March 2020," Mr Taylor said. The surprise result will set back expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut interest rates at its next board meeting in February. RBA governor Michele Bullock has cited the ongoing strength in the jobs market as a reason why Australia has lagged comparable nations in beginning its monetary easing cycle. In its November statement on monetary policy, the RBA forecast the unemployment rate to average 4.3 per cent in the fourth quarter.

Domino's offering alternative to Christmas dinner Can't be bothered cooking a Christmas lunch or dinner? Well Domino's has you covered. The pizza giant has announced it will now open on Christmas Day with well over 100 stores across the country taking part. "Whether youre looking for a delicious family feast or a festive snack, weve got you coveredno need to stress about putting on the oven! On the 25th of December, over 100 Dominos stores will be open to help Aussies celebrate Christmas," Domino's says. Give your local store a call to see if they are.

Trump 'invites Xi Jinping' to inauguration Well this is an interesting one. US President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month. Trump invited Xi in early November, shortly after the US election, sources told CBS News, but it was not clear whether he has accepted the invitation. China has been tipped as one of the countries to suffer most from Trump's re-election, with the 78-year-old flagging plans to slap tariffs on Chinese imports.

Canada slashes interest rates While RBA governor Michele Bullock says she won't be swayed by what's happening overseas, it's worth noting Canada has just cut its interest rate by 50 basis points, dropping it to 3.25 per cent. The RBA has held Australia's rate at 4.35 per cent for all of 2024, but a cut is widely tipped to come by May. Bullock has been cautious with her approach warning underlying inflation remains too high, however the board revealed they were seeing promising signs it was heading in the right direction. Economist Stephen Koukoulas, who has been calling for a rate cut for months, says a similar 50 basis point cut should be delivered by the RBA in February.

Heatwave bringing scorching temperatures to capital cities Plenty of capital cities will near 40C in the coming days as a heatwave sweeps across central and eastern Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a heatwave warning for much of Australia, coming off the back of a suffocatingly hot Wednesday in Western Australia, with the southeastern states set to cop temperatures up to 16C above the December average from the weekend. Adelaide will get close to 40C on Sunday, while Melbourne could reach that mark on Monday. Other areas of the state, as well as western NSW are expected to surge well beyond 40C. By Tuesday, Sydney will really heat up, with western suburbs expected to hit 37C.

Kids toy recalled before Christmas Is this toy under your Christmas tree? ACCC's Product Safety has issued a recall for Shelf Talkers' 12-inch Homer Simpson, Bart Simpson and Deadpool plushes as they failed to inform customers button batteries are used inside the toy. "There is a risk of choking or serious injury if young children gain access to the button/coin batteries and swallow or place them inside their body," it said. The ACCC says keep the toy out of the reach of children and contact Headstart or the place of purchase to receive a copy of the required warning information. There are three versions recalled of this plush.

Christmas Day schedule... does your dog fit in? Here's a question that's been brought up in the Yahoo office and has prompted varying responses. With all that's going on on Christmas Day, whether it be ripping open presents or cooking the festive meal, will your dog get a walk on December 25? Have your say below.

Australia's most complained about ad for 2024 Ad Standards received more than 4,000 complaints this year and a KFC TV ad took out top spot as the ad with the most complaints. There were 69 complaints for the ad that showed an older woman coming out of the bedroom of a shirtless man before another woman says, "Mum?" Those unhappy with the ad complained of the sexual nature of the ad but Ad Standards found there was nothing wrong with it. Did someone say KFC? Source: Ad Standards

'Severe' punishment for dodgy sellers of Christmas staple Aussies are being urged to get their seafood from trusted sellers like Coles and Woolworths as authorities look to crack down on the black market seafood trade ahead of a busy Christmas period. NSW Police has teamed up with the state's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to weed out sellers of illegal produce including stolen oysters, warning perpetrators can be fined up to $275,000. "NSW is renowned for its fresh, healthy, and sustainable seafood, however the illegal oyster trade poses serious health risks to consumers", Acting Executive Director Biosecurity & Food Safety, Dr Lisa Szabo, said. "Stolen oysters, in particular, may not meet health and safety standards and could come from areas outside the NSW Shellfish Program, which monitors the safety of shellfish."

Boiling liquid thrown at cops in 'disgusting' attack Police officers have had boiling liquid thrown on them in whats been described as a disgusting assault in the Northern Territory. Police attended a home in a remote community of the Victoria Daly Region about 3.30pm on Monday to execute a search warrant following domestic violence-related offending. The 42-year-old resident allegedly threw a cup of boiling liquid at the officers and then fled. The man went into a nearby river, with police unable to catch him at the time. The police officers were taken to a local clinic for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. NT Police Commander Kylie Anderson called the assault disgusting. This is yet another disgusting assault on our frontline members as they go about their duty protecting Territorians, Ms Anderson said. Luckily, it does not appear as though they have suffered permanent injuries. The incident comes just more than a week after officers were bitten and knocked unconscious while attempting to arrest a man at a Milikapiti property in relation to alleged domestic violence offences. Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au Headspace: 1800 650 890 or headspace.org.au 13YARN: Speak to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter on 13 92 76 or visit 13yarn.org.au - NCA NewsWire

Jim Carrey's Grinch suit for sale It's one of the most popular Christmas films and now you can own the ultimate piece of memorabilia from the movie. Jim Carrey's Grinch suit from the scenes where he donned a Santa suit is up for auction but it will cost you. The current bid is sat at US$65,000 ($102,000) and the online auction ends in two days. Could be a good Christmas party outfit if you're willing to splash the cash. Source: Icons of Pop Culture "This costume is the most iconic and coveted piece from the film, representing the heart of Jim Carreys unforgettable portrayal of the Grinch. Featured in the most pivotal scenes and central to the film's promotional campaigns, this Santa suit is one of the few remaining Jim Carrey Grinch costumes ever to come to marketmaking it a rare and exceptional opportunity for collectors to own the ultimate piece of cinematic history," it's listing by Icons of Pop Culture says. If you're wanting to spend a little less, the company, which sells of authentic movie props and costumes, has a host of other Grinch props such as Whoville cutlery and wigs which are going for under $50 currently.

Kiwi wins Scrabble championship in language he doesn't speak Well this is pretty special. A New Zealand man playing his first-ever competitive Scrabble game in Spanish, a language he doesnt speak, has won the board games Spanish-language world title. Nigel Richards, a professional player who holds five English-language world titles, won the Spanish world Scrabble championships in Granada, Spain, in November, losing one game out of 24. Richards started memorising the language's Scrabble word list a year ago, his friend Liz Fagerlund, a New Zealand Scrabble official, told AP. He cant understand why other people cant just do the same thing, she said. He can look at a block of words together, and once they go into his brain as a picture he can just recall that very easily. Nigel Richards is one hell of a Scrabble champion. Source: AP

House prices to drop across Australia Australians ringing in the new year could see a small drop in the value of their homes, new property data has revealed. According to research by CoreLogic, the start of 2025 may see a continuation of the "drag" on buyer demand which could result in a small decline in national home values in the first part of the year. The report notes a drop in interest rates by the Reserve Bank in 2025 could increase demand among prospective buyers. "The implementation of stage 3 tax cuts from July this year showed an anaemic response in the housing market, with national home value growth continuing to slow," it reads. It says the slowdown in rent growth recorded in 2024 is also expected for 2025 as demand continues to be squeezed due to high cost of living constraints. Any unemployment increase in 2025 may disproportionately affect renting households, as they tend to be younger people or lower-skilled workers on more precarious employment arrangements. But in the face of elevated interest rates and global uncertainty, the Australian housing market demonstrated "surprising resilience" throughout 2024, the report said.

Coles shoppers flee after store fills with smoke Well this would have been a terrifying experience. A Coles store south of Hobart was evacuated after it filled with thick smoke on Wednesday evening. Shoppers and staff fled the store about 6pm before emergency services located a shopping trolley on fire inside the Kingston Plaza store, Pulse Tasmania reported. Police reportedly questioned several news after the fire was extinguished. Coles shut the store for the evening with the shopping centre confirming it would reopen on Thursday. Emergency services pictured at the scene. Source: Pulse Tasmania

Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp hit by global outage Social media behemoth Meta has been hit by a global outage, leaving users unable to access their accounts. Thousands of users have reported issues with Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp this morning. Reports began flowing in at around 4:30am AEDT on Thursday, according to online disruptions website Downdetector. It has received more than 100,000 complaints about the platform. Meta confirmed the outage on X, along with updating its status and outages of Meta business products page to confirm it was experiencing issues. Read more here.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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International Mountain Day 2024: Theme, History, Significance, And Interesting Facts

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 08:06 IST

International Mountain Day 2024: According to the United Nations, Mountain hosts about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots and 30 percent of all key Biodiversity Areas.

International Mountain Day is observed on December 11. (Image: Shutterstock)

International Mountain Day is commemorated annually on December 11 worldwide with an aim to raise awareness about mountains and the importance of restoring their ecosystems. According to the United Nations, Mountain hosts about half of the worlds biodiversity hotspots and 30 percent of all key Biodiversity Areas."

More than half of humanitys daily life is dependent on mountain waters. 80 percent of the worlds food comes from 20 plant species, six of which originated and have been diversified in the mountains such as maize, potatoes, barley, sorghum, tomatoes and apples.

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However, in todays world, mountains are in serious need of preservation due to climate change and overexploitation. As we celebrate, International Mountain Day 2024 today, lets take a closer look to this years theme, the days history, its significance and some interesting facts.

International Mountain Day 2024 Theme

The theme for International Mountain Day 2024 is set as Mountain solutions for a sustainable futureinnovation, adaptation and youth which highlight the needs and strengths of these communities while keeping the theme in mind.

Innovation is important for solving complicated issues in hilly areas. It includes innovative technologies and solutions, such as climate-smart agriculture.

Adaptation is also crucial as mountains face challenges due to climate change. The theme indicates finding ways to build resilience and reduce vulnerability.

These options include adopting ecosystem-based approaches for disaster management and using Indigenous knowledge.

Lastly, motivating the youth to ensure that these solutions last. The day promotes several job opportunities for the youngsters as well as accessible training and entrepreneurship that contributes to the sustainable use of mountain resources.

International Mountain Day 2024: History

The International Mountain Day originated in 1992, when the United Nations approved Agenda 21 Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development from Chapter 13 during its Conference on Environment and Development.

However, it was in 2002 that the UN General Assembly declared the UN International Year of Mountains and announced that December 11 would be celebrated as International Mountain Day from 2003 onwards.

International Mountain Day 2024: Significance

The day holds an important role in addressing the issues of mountain ecology and climate change.

On this day, several organisations participate in a variety of activities aimed at mountain development and protection, as well as raising awareness about the importance and risks that mountains encounter.

Additionally, the day also highlights the need of mountain conservation as a means of achieving sustainable development.

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International Mountain Day 2024: Interesting Facts

Mountains cover around 27 percent of the Earths land surface and are home to a variety of plant and animal species. They are critical to climate management, water supply, soil preservation, and conservation. As per the United Nations, mountains are home to approx. 15 percent of the Worlds population and hosts about half of the worlds biodiversity hotspot. It also plays an important role in the water cycle and is a great source of hydroelectric power. Not just those living in the hilly areas, Mountains also benefit people living downstream by supplying essential water for settlements, agriculture and industries- mostly during the time of lowest snowfall. Mountain ecosystems face threats from pollution also according to a data by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, around 84 percent of the unique plant and animal species found in the highlands are at risk of extinction. Climate change has had a severe impact on the mountain ecosystem as a result International Mountain Day plays a reminder to international communities to take steps to protect their biodiversity.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 06:00 IST
The Significance Of Nikah, Islamic Wedding Ceremony

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 12:33 IST

In Islam, marriage is approved as a blessing of Allah, and it aims to meet the emotional and physical needs of individuals as well as strengthen family and community bonds.

Here's the significance and difference steps involved in a Muslim wedding. (Image: Shutterstock)

In Islam, Nikah is not just a social contract, but also a marriage between a Muslim and a woman as per the tenets of Islam. In the light of Islamic Shariah, marriage is approved as a blessing of Allah, which aims at meeting the emotional and physical needs of individuals as well as strengthening family and community bonds. This wedding season, let us deep delve into the Muslim wedding culture.

QURANIC FOUNDATIONS

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The word Nikah is mentioned several times or referenced in different verses, in the Quran. For example, Surah Ar-Rum (30:21) states:

And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find rest in them and He placed between you affection and mercy."

ALSO READ: Wedding Season: Latest Jewellery Trends For Bride And Groom

THE IMPORTANCE OF NIKAH

Completion of Faith

Nikah is said to complete half the Deen (faith) of a person. The Prophet Muhammad stated: When a servant of God gets married, they have certainly completed half of their Deen; so let them be conscious of God in the remaining half."

This narration and message highlight the importance of marriage in the religious life of Muslims.

Legal and Social Recognition

The Nikah ceremony is an official conjugial procedure that makes marriage legal according to Islamic law. Both individuals must consent to it, and that too in the presence of other people to ensure transparency. This legislation safeguards and defines the role of both spouses.

Mahr

As a part of Nikah, another important requisite is Mahr. It is an essential gift from the husband to the wife before they start their married life. It lays stress on the obligation that the husband has towards his wife and affirms her dignity in the marriage. The Mahr can be small or huge but should be appropriate and acceptable to both parties.

ALSO READ: Modern And Traditional Wedding Invitation Ideas: Digital, Hand-Crafted And Luxury Designs

Public Declaration

The Prophet Muhammad encouraged public announcements of marriages to curb any negative tendency or gossip towards this holy union.

THE NIKAH CEREMONY

The Nikah ceremony typically involves these key elements:

Khutbah (Sermon)

An officiant, also known as Imam, delivers a lecture and stresses the responsibilities of each spouse in wedlock.

Consent of bride and groom

The approval of both parties is necessary to take forth the wedding rituals. To do so, both a man and a woman have to verbally repeat I accept" (Qubool hai) three times.

Signing of the contract

If consent is given by both parties, they sign the marriage contract in front of two or more witnesses.

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Celebration

This is followed by a feast called Walima. The feast is a celebratory party hosted by the grooms side of the family.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 12:31 IST
UNICEF Day 2024: History, Significance, And Inspiring Quotes To Share

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 08:05 IST

UNICEF Day serves to raise awareness about the challenges facing children globally and to advocate for their rights and well-being, emphasising the need to ensure a better future for all children.

UNICEF Day aims to increase public awareness of how individuals can assist a child in need. (Image: Shutterstock)

The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was founded on December 11, 1946. Initially established as a relief fund to support children in the aftermath of World War II, UNICEF became a permanent entity in 1953. Its primary mission is to provide humanitarian aid to children around the world. UNICEF Day serves to raise awareness about the challenges facing children globally and to advocate for their rights and well-being, emphasising the need to ensure a better future for all children. As we mark this day on December 11, lets take a closer look at its history and significance.

UNICEF Day 2024: History

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The United Nations (UN) formed the International Childrens Emergency Fund following World War II. The goal was to assist those whose futures and lives were in danger. It made no difference what part they played in the conflict.

Its main goals were to increase childrens wellbeing and supply and aid them. Their general welfare, education, nutrition, and health were all covered in this.

The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established on this day in 1946 by the UN General Assembly. The organisation was officially recognised as a permanent agency of the United Nations in 1953. The acronym stayed the same even if the terms International" and Emergency" were removed from the official name.

UNICEF Day 2024: Significance

The purpose of UNICEF Day is to increase public awareness of how individuals can assist a child in need. It serves as a reminder to everyone of the value of children for the future of our planet and our responsibility to improve their quality of life.

Raising awareness of the global problems that have made childrens lives challenging is another goal of the day. This covers things like a shortage of food, clean water, health care, education, and so forth.

UNICEF Day serves as a prompt to consider these issues and how we might address them.

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UNICEF Day 2024: Quotes To Share

If you cant feed a hundred people, then feed just one. Mother Teresa Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man. Rabindranath Tagore Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam If we nurture the dreams of children, the world will be blessed. If we destroy them, the world is doomed!Wess Stafford Lets promote the message of love and unity on this day to make everyone smile. Happy UNICEF Day 2024! Let us contribute to providing the children with a better life so that this day will be remembered. Every day should be commemorated as UNICEF Day, not just today. We should all cooperate and support this wonderful cause that is the reason for this days celebration. Every child on the planet is entitled to a healthier and better quality of life. This message is disseminated globally by UNICEF, which strives to improve the lives of children.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 06:10 IST
What Makes Maha Kumbh Mela Different From Ardh Kumbh And Kumbh Mela?

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 09:25 IST

Kumbh Mela is mentioned in UNESCOs Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

A monk at Ardh Kumbh Mela in Paryagraj, Uttar Pradesh, in 2019. (Image: Shutterstock file)

Kumbh Mela 2025: The Maha Kumbh Mela, a massive religious gathering, is more than an event. Its a cultural extravaganza showcasing Indias rich diversity and spiritualism. Considered the largest religious gathering in the world, this magnificent congregation takes place at holy pilgrimage sites, including Prayagraj (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The vibrant atmosphere, filled with saints, sadhus, and pilgrims, creates a truly unforgettable spiritual and cultural experience.

The origins of the sacred mela are deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, especially Samudra manthan (ocean churning), which gods and demons used to perform to obtain Amrit." The event is also mentioned in UNESCOs Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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ALSO READ: Kumbh Mela 2025: From Shahi Snan To Pind Daan, 8 Sacred Rituals You Must Experience

There are four types of Kumbh Melas

Purna (complete) Kumbh Mela Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela Maha Kumbh Mela Kumbh Mela

The key difference between them is their frequency and the astrological significance attached to them. The Maha Kumbh is considered the most auspicious, followed by the Purna (complete) Kumbh Mela, Ardh Kumbh, and then the Kumbh Mela.

Lets delve into what makes the Maha Kumbh Mela different from the Ardh Kumbh and Kumbh Mela.

Maha Kumbh Mela

Held once every 12 years, the Mahakumbh Mela is considered the most sacred iteration of the festival.

This extraordinary event, marking 12 cycles of the 12-year Kumbh Mela, attracts devotees nationwide, who believe the holy dip in the Ganges, Saraswati, and Yamuna during this period holds enhanced spiritual powers.

In the coming year, the Maha Kumbh Mela will take place at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, from January 13 to February 26, 2025. The festival spans approximately 30 to 45 days and includes several key bathing dates, known as Shahi Snan, for spiritual cleansing.

Ardh Kumbh Mela

The Ardh Kumbh Mela, on the other hand, is a smaller version of the Maha Kumbh, held every six years at Haridwar and Prayagraj. This event also draws a huge number of pilgrims, as it bridges the 12-year gap between Purna Kumbh Melas.

Kumbh Mela

The Kumbh Mela takes place once every three years on the banks of the holy rivers in these four locations: Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj. Although smaller in scale, this mela also attracts devotees to delve into the spiritual depth of India.

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ALSO READ: Kumbh Mela 2025: Sacred Rituals, Celestial Alignments And Maha Kumbh Mysteries

Meanwhile, Purna (complete) Kumbh Mela is also held every 12 years at four sacred sites. It is the most prominent form of this revered festival after Maha Kumbh. It draws millions of devotees who gather to take a sacred dip in the holy rivers of India. It is believed that this holy dip would cleanse their sins.

Location : Prayagraj, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:15 IST
Despatch Movie Review: Manoj Bajpayee Brings His A-Game But Predictable Story Holds This Thriller Back

Written By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shrishti Negi



Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 04:51 IST

Despatch Movie Review: Kanu Behls Despatch has Manoj Bajpayee's brilliance but a less-than-perfect story.

Manoj Bajpayee in Despatch.

Despatch A 3/5 13 December 2024|Hindi 2 hrs 33 mins | Thriller, Drama Starring: Manoj Bajpayee, Arrchita Agarwaal, Shahana Goswami Director: Kanu Behl Platform: ZEE5 Watch Trailer

Despatch Movie Review: Kanu Behls Despatch delves into the murky underbelly of Mumbais crime journalism, a fitting addition to the filmmakers repertoire of exploring human moral complexity. Known for Titli and Agra, Kanu, along with co-writer Ishani Banerjee, expands his thematic canvas to dissect the world of media digitalisation and journalistic desperation. But despite its ambitious scope, the film falters in delivering a story that keeps you hooked.

Despatch follows Joy Bag (Manoj Bajpayee), a journalist grappling with the pressures of sensationalism and the digital media landscape. His life is a mix of detachment, ambition and infidelity. The film opens with Joys search for a major story that leads him to uncover a smuggling racket tied to a broader political conspiracy. One discovery leads to another, pulling him into a complex web he cant escape. The stakes escalate with each step, but even as he considers stepping back, its already too late. His desperation grows as he finds himself trapped, with no way out.

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Manoj Bajpayee delivers a fantastic performance as Joy, capturing his moral conflicts, strained marriage with Shweta (Shahana Goswami) and affair with colleague Prerna. While the characters struggles and flaws are evident, the storys emotional depth feels limited. Shahana Goswami, an otherwise versatile actress, is wasted in a role that offers very little for her to do.

Kanu Behls direction is gripping in parts, capturing Mumbais far side with a mix of despair, sharp irony and moments of dark humour. However, the film struggles due to a weak screenplay with uneven scenes and cliched dialogue deliveries that leave you with a been-there-seen-that feeling. The story feels predictable, relying on familiar plot patterns that viewers can easily guess from the start. The disjointed screenplay adds to this, with scenes lacking a smooth flow. Despatch tries to explore personal and professional struggles but falls short in emotional depth. While Kanu Behls effort to merge internal and external conflicts is praiseworthy, the film ultimately ends up being overambitious.

That said, the film is carried entirely by Manoj Bajpayee, who effortlessly portrays a journalist caught between the chaos of his crumbling career and the dark side of Mumbai. His tension in high-stakes moments feels real, and he captures the desperation of a man spiraling into moral decay with ease. Even when the story wavers, you find yourself rooting for Manoj Bajpayee  just for the spectacular actor that he is.

The final sequence does manage to keep viewers on the edge of their seats and is a brilliant showcase of Manoj Bajpayees acting chops. Yet, the moment of brilliance cant fully redeem a film that falls short of its potential. Despatch lacks focus and emotional depth, just falling short of becoming the intense crime drama it strives to be.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 04:51 IST
Jamie Foxx Reveals He Suffered A Brain Bleed And A Stroke: I Dont Remember 20 Days

Published By :

CNN

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 09:27 IST

Jamie Foxx was hospitalized in April 2023 after having a then-undisclosed health crisis while filming a Netflix film in Atlanta.

Jamie Foxx details the struggles he had with his health last year. (Photo: Instagram)

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx has opened up about the medical emergency he faced last year, revealing that he had a brain bleed that led to a stroke. The Hollywood star detailed the struggles he had with his health last year in a Netflix special released on Tuesday titled: Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was." It is a mystery," he said. We still dont know exactly what happened to me."

April 11, I was having a bad headache and I asked my boy for an aspirin. And I realized quickly that when youre in a medical emergency, your boys dont know what the f**k to do," Foxx added. Before I could get the aspirin I went out," he said. I dont remember 20 days."

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Foxx thanked his sister, who he said was 4 foot 11 of nothing but pure love," for driving him around Atlanta to find a hospital. They ended up at Piedmont Hospital, where a doctor told them that Foxx was having a brain bleed that had led to a stroke and that he would die without an operation, the actor said.

After the operation, doctors said that Foxx might make a full recovery but its going to be the worst year of his life," Foxx recounted.

Foxxs family kept him out of the public eye because he was so dizzy" that his head would bob around and his daughter was concerned that people would turn him into a internet meme if they saw his condition, he said.

On May 4, he remembers waking up in a wheelchair and not being able to walk, and reacting in shock when his friend told him hed had a stroke. Jamie Foxx dont get strokes," the actor remembered saying.

He was then flown to Chicago for rehab, where he says he was told to drop the arrogant" act if he wanted to make a full recovery.

The actor was hospitalized in April 2023 after having a then-undisclosed health crisis while filming a Netflix film in Atlanta. At the time of his hospitalization, his daughter Corinne Foxx said on social media that her father had suffered a medical complication," but those close to him largely stayed tight-lipped about the actors condition, in keeping with his penchant for privacy.

In July 2023, Foxx posted an Instagram video update in which he addressed the speculation about what led to his hospitalization, although he did not reveal details of what happened.

I know a lot of people were waiting or wanting to hear updates but to be honest with you, I just didnt want you to see me like that, man," he said in the video. I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying, cracking a joke, doing a movie, television show. I didnt want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was gonna make it through."

Foxx shared another health update on his verified social media in August 2023. Youre looking at a man who is thankful finally startin to feel like myself" he wrote at the time. Its been an unexpected dark journey but I can see the light."

This past summer, in a video shared to TikTok, the Ray" actor told a crowd of well-wishers that his issue began with a bad headache" and was then gone for 20 days." In that video, he was seen sharing that he did not remember anything."

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:27 IST
Pooja Hegde To Romance Dulquer Salmaan Next, Yet-To-Be-Titled Film To Go On Floors In 2025: Report

Published By :

IANS

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 12:38 IST

Pooja Hegde will next be also seen in the high-octane action thriller Deva opposite Shahid Kapoor.

The film will mark Pooja Hegde and Dulquer Salmaan's first collaboration together. (Photos: Instagram)

Actress Pooja Hegde is rumoured to star alongside Dulquer Salmaan for a romantic drama. According to a source, the yet-to-be-titled film is expected to go on floors next year, with Pooja and Dulquer playing the lead. This will mark the first on-screen pairing of the two actors.

A source shared: Its a romantic drama with a unique narrative, and the makers couldnt think of a better duo to headline the project. Both Pooja and Dulquer have an incredible fan base, and this pairing is bound to create magic on screen."

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On December 7, Pooja shared a glimpse posing with Varun Dhawan, with whom she has teamed up for David Dhawans next film. The film is tentatively titled Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. The actress took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and gave a glimpse into her camaraderie with Varun. The actress shared a picture along with Varun, and wrote, This duo is dreaming of bread". She followed it up with, Chalo post our next schedule maybe?"

On December 3, she wrapped up the first schedule of David Dhawans tentatively titled Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai". The film, expected to release in 2025, is said to feature Pooja in a glamorous role amidst a fresh and hilarious storyline. The actress has been juggling her time between Mumbai and Chennai, simultaneously shooting for Thalapathy 69, where she stars opposite Thalapathy Vijay.

A source confirmed: Its been a whirlwind schedule for Pooja as she shuttles between cities, ensuring that every project gets her best."

Her commitment and energy are truly commendable. She has wrapped her first schedule of the film and will be shooting abroad for a month early next year for the next schedule," the source added.

She will be next seen in the high-octane action thriller Deva opposite Shahid Kapoor and is part of major South Indian projects, including Suriya 44 and Thalapathy 69.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 12:38 IST
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Seeks 'Loyal And Loving' Partner After Naga Chaitanya Marries Sobhita Dhulipala

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 08:58 IST

Samantha Ruth Prabhu was previously married to Naga Chaitanya, who recently tied the knot for the second time with Sobhita Dhulipala.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has not yet reacted to Naga Chaitanya's second marriage.

Days after Naga Chaitanya married Sobhita Dhulipala, his first wife and actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has hinted that she is seeking a partner. Recently, Samantha took to her Instagram stories and shared a post which predicted what 2025 holds for the zodiac signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

As per the post, these zodiac signs can expect an extremely busy year with progress in their work, financial stability, a very loyal and loving partner, better health and even fertility for those trying to conceive. Sharing the post on her stories, Samantha wrote, Amen, hoping that these expectations come true.

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu was previously married to Naga Chaitanya, who recently tied the knot for the second time with Sobhita Dhulipala. Samantha and Chay separated in 2021 and eventually got a divorce. While Samantha has not yet commented on Naga Chaitanyas second marriage, she recently addressed the hurtful comments she faced after her divorce.

When a woman goes through a divorce, theres a lot of shame and stigma attached to it," she told Galatta India and then added, I received comments like second-hand and wasted life. Youre pushed into a corner where youre supposed to feel like youre a failure. Youre supposed to feel guilt and shame that you were once married and now youre not and I do believe it can be really, really hard for families and girls who have gone through that."

Meanwhile, on the work front, Samantha was recently seen in Citadel: Honey Bunny with Varun Dhawan. It was released on Prime Video in India on November 6, 2024. It is the Indian spin-off of the series of the same name which originally starred Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas alongside Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville. Raj and DKs Citadel: Honey Bunny received a positive response from the audience and critics alike. It has also been nominated at the 30th Critics Choice Award in the Best Foreign Language Series category.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 08:58 IST
Will Chris Evans Give Bollywood A Shot? Heres What The Actor Said

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 17:52 IST

In a recent interview, Chris Evans has opened up about giving Bollywood a shot. Sharing that he has been introduced to more international films by his wife, he believes that cinema is what connects people across borders.

Chris Evans was recently seen in Red One. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Chris Evans is known for his performances in many action films or romantic comedies in Hollywood. Recently, while promoting his Christmas film Red One alongside Dwayne Johnson, Chris expressed his ambition to be part of a Bollywood film. In a recent interview, the actor has opened up about giving Bollywood a shot. Sharing that he has been introduced to more international films by his wife, he believes that cinema is what connects people across borders.

In conversation with Filmfare, Chris Evans said, Id love to star in one [Bollywood movie]. Any sort of international approach to filmmakingthats the beauty of movies around the world. My wife is Portuguese, so lately Ive been watching all types of movies that I otherwise probably wouldnt have come into contact with. Theres such a universal language in cinema. There are so many beautiful ways to reveal human stories."

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Moreover, the actor expressed that he was a little nervous about dancing in Bollywood movies. He stated, Id like to think I can, but I bet Id look like a fool trying. But, Id love to give it a shot."

Earlier, Chris Evans expressed his desire to star in a musical film. In an interview with People, he said I want to sing, dance. That is what I want. I mean, thats tough though because thats something you got to do right. You only get so many bites at that apple. But knowing that Im very precious with it and I want to make sure its the right thing. So yeah, thats always in the works. Thats the quickest way to get me in a room. If you say its going to be a musical, Im listening."

Red One, directed by Jake Kasdan, also stars Dwayne Johnson, Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Liu and JK Simmons in major roles. Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Nick Kroll and Kristofer Hivju are cast as supporting characters. The plot revolves in the North Pole, where everything becomes chaotic after Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas of Myra or the Red One, is kidnapped. To save Christmas, Dwayne Johnsons character, Callum Drift, the North Poles Head of Security, is given the task of bringing Santa back. Red One was released in the US on November 15.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 17:21 IST
Straight Talk | Bangladesh Risks Becoming East Pakistan Again By Turning Its Back On India

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 16:01 IST

Bangladesh distancing itself from India and scrutinising deals would have made a lot more sense had the country not been simultaneously cosying up to Pakistan

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri met Bangladesh foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain in Dhaka on December 9. (ANI File)

A lot has happened since Sheikh Hasinas ouster from Bangladesh. New Delhis ties with Dhaka have tanked, Hindus and other minorities have come under attack across Bangladesh, and Dhakas bonhomie with Pakistan has picked up pace. All this, while Bangladesh continues to decouple from India at the behest of radical Islamists who have seized control of the countrys political and strategic apparatus. Despite growing differences, India has chosen to give diplomacy a chance. To that effect, Indias Foreign Secretary flew down to Dhaka this week.

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While in Bangladesh, Vikram Misri raised concerns over the attacks on minorities and conveyed Indias fears regarding their safety. Bangladesh, to its credit, was quick to course-correct and admitted that about 88 incidents of communal violence had taken place after Sheikh Hasinas ouster.

While this may not present the full and accurate scale of the crisis that has engulfed Hindus in Bangladesh, it is indeed an improvement from Dhakas earlier stance  which seemed almost dismissive of Indias concerns.

BANGLADESH: BEING REMADE IN THE IMAGE OF EAST PAKISTAN?

While it is true that India is giving diplomacy a fair chance to sort out its differences with Bangladesh, there are a variety of strategic concerns coming to the fore. For starters, there are intelligence inputs indicating an increase in terrorist activity along the border areas after the fall of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government. A plot involving the terrorist organisation Harkat-ul-Jihad has also been uncovered. Reportedly, radical Islamists and terrorists who escaped Bangladeshi jails have formed gangs and are preparing to carry out terrorist acts on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Indias intelligence apparatus has other concerns as well. Indian agencies suspect that Bangladesh-based terror group Ansar Bangla Team (ABT)  an Al Qaeda affiliate  will be trying to set up bases both in Kolkata and Assam to create a major security headache in several Indian states.

Theres more. Terrorists in Bangladesh are reportedly planning to use weapons procured from Pakistan in the 1970s to carry out fresh attacks on the border with India. Add to that, Bangladesh has suddenly deployed Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones along the border with India. While Dhaka claims that the drones have been deployed for defensive purposes alone, the Bayraktar TB2s are hardly defensive weapons. These drones can destroy modern tanks with laser-guided missiles, carry a maximum payload of 150kg, and penetrate deep into enemy territory. The question is, does Bangladesh view India as an enemy which must be kept at bay with the help of lethal attack drones?

Read More: Straight Talk | Third Front Rising: India Needs a Plan B to Deal with Bangladesh Post Sheikh Hasina

In just a few months, ties between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated in a manner not many thought was possible. Maintaining close relations with Bangladesh is a priority for India, given how any turbulence can disturb New Delhis strategic calculations in the region and sour the security situation in the Northeast. Speaking of the Northeast, Bangladesh has decided it is not inclined to partner with India for the upliftment and development of the Northeast.

The plan was to make Bangladesh a transit point for internet supply to Northeastern states. India is currently using its domestic fibre optic network to provide internet to these seven states. However, the distance between Chennai and the Northeast, which is around 5,500 kilometres, leads to degradation in internet speed. To bypass this route, India and Bangladesh were to team up and use the Akhaura border to fetch bandwidth from Singapore and supply internet to Northeastern states. However, the Muhammad Yunus-led government has decided to junk the deal, claiming the arrangement would have made India secure a spot as a dominant internet hub and hurt the possibility of Bangladesh doing so in the future.

HURTING INDIA, HELPING PAKISTAN?

Bangladesh distancing itself from India and scrutinising deals would have made a lot more sense had the country not been simultaneously cosying up to Pakistan. While Bangladesh is actively reviewing deals and pulling the plug on some agreements which serve Indias core interests, it is walking the extra mile to enhance ties with Pakistan.

That Bangladesh depends on India for the supply of essential commodities is no secret. In an attempt to deleverage Indias domination of these supply lines, Bangladesh is now looking to import potatoes and onions from Pakistan.

Earlier, in November, Bangladesh welcomed its first Pakistani cargo ship at the Chittagong Port. This was the first-ever direct maritime trade connection between Pakistan and Bangladesh in 53 years since the war of liberation. Previously, containers from Pakistan had to pass through a third country before reaching Bangladesh. Also, all Pakistani goods arriving in Bangladesh, even from third countries, required a mandatory physical inspection on arrival, which resulted in long delays. With the reactivation of dormant shipping lanes between Karachi and Chittagong and Dhakas decision to revoke the physical inspection of goods from Pakistan, India fears Islamabad will find it much easier to smuggle arms and narcotics into the Northeast.

Moreover, the visa process between the two nations has become more straightforward over the past few months. In September, Islamabad declared that Bangladeshi citizens could visit Pakistan without paying a visa fee. In return, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has removed the requirement for Pakistani citizens to get security clearance before applying for a visa.

Bangladesh has also placed a new order for artillery ammunition from Pakistan. The order includes 40,000 rounds of ammunition, 40 tonnes of RDX in wax form for explosives, and 2,900 high-intensity projectiles.

Read More: Straight Talk | Bangladesh and Pakistan Are Cosying Up As Dhaka Defies Indias Red Lines

The fact that Bangladesh is trying to cut down on ties with India  while actively engaging Pakistan  is alarming, to say the least. It adds weight to the perception that after Sheikh Hasinas ouster, elements averse to India have risen to a position to not just antagonise New Delhi, but also steer Bangladesh closer to Pakistan.

Given the atrocities Pakistan has committed on what was the erstwhile East Pakistan, it is quite baffling how Bangladesh is comfortable engaging with Islamabad at the expense of New Delhi. Public sentiment in Bangladesh is also turning anti-India, with several videos of retired Bangladeshi soldiers making anti-India statements going viral on social media. The statements range from how Bangladesh could capture Kolkata and Assam within four days," to even how the Bangladeshi Army is better trained" and battle-ready" to teach India a lesson".

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Bangladeshs growing alignment with Pakistan risks undermining its long-term strategic and economic interests. This rapprochement is not just symbolic; it enables Pakistan to exploit Bangladeshs territory for smuggling arms and narcotics, posing a direct threat to regional security. Economically, Dhakas pivot to Pakistan over India is self-defeating. India has been a reliable partner, supplying essential commodities and facilitating infrastructural collaboration. Curtailing these ties in favour of Pakistanwhose economy is flounderingjeopardises Bangladeshs development trajectory.

By leaning toward Pakistan, Bangladesh risks destabilising its internal security, alienating a reliable partner in India, and undoing decades of progress toward economic and regional integration. At the same time, allowing radical Islamists and anti-India elements to control the narrative domestically could very well turn Bangladesh into a de facto East Pakistan" again. Far too much blood has been spilled  both Indian and Bangladeshi  for such a tragedy to unfold again. Now is the time for Bangladesh to take a step back and think long and hard about how it wants to play this game. The ball is in Bangladeshs court. Being aggressive towards India diplomatically, deploying Turkish attack drones on the border, scrapping strategic agreements, all while trying to grow closer to Pakistan, will only force India to secure its interests the hard way.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 15:59 IST
The family were staying by a NSW river when they saw something splash '10 to 15 steps away from our caravan'.

The Aussie family were staying in northern NSW by a river when they witnessed the incredible scene. Source: TikTok/nxtstop.falzonfamily

A family travelling Australia in a caravan has shared their excitement after witnessing something "amazing" on a recent camping stop. They heard a "massive splash" before discovering a dolphin swimming in the river "literally 10 to 15 steps away from our caravan" and were quick to share their excitement.

The Falzon family, who've been posting their journey on social media, revealed they were visiting northern NSW when they experienced the special encounter, claiming they "no idea river dolphins even existed" in Australia.

Dolphins are usually found in open oceans and coastal waters so it's a pretty "good sighting", wildlife scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta told Yahoo News Australia. However, things might not be as they seem.

"It's a dolphin, what is happening right now?" the mum of two can be heard saying in the video shared on TikTok. She called over her husband and children to witness the "beautiful" scene.

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"I'm still in shock," they added in the caption. "I had no idea that dolphins stayed in the mangroves".

Animal spotted not a river dolphin, expert explains

Speaking of the encounter, Dr Pirotta said that while river dolphins are a species in their own right, they don't exist in Australia. The dolphin witnessed by the family was likely a bottlenose dolphin, and not a river dolphin, despite being found in the river. It had probably ventured into the river from the sea, she explained.

"The animal's definitely not where it's usually found so it's a good sighting," she said. "It may have been chasing prey and has followed the prey upstream, and as a result has entered into an area."

Dolphins thrive in saltwater which is particularly beneficial for their skin. But as it travels further upstream, it becomes freshwater which is thought to cause disease and make them sick.

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"The saltwater is where they're found normally and this animal, maybe through misadventure or it was finding food, followed its way up the river. It's best if the animal does head off back to the saltwater," she said.

River dolphins found worldwide different to Aussie dolphins

Populations of river dolphins are found in South America and also the Amazon River. "They do look different to the dolphins we're used to here in Australia," she explained.

"Because of the environment they live (in murky waters), they don't really rely on their eyesight so much, so they tend to be very small. And some of them are pinkish in colour which allows them to blend into their environment."

Bottlenose dolphins (left) are often sighted in Aussie waters but are different to river dolphins (right) found worldwide. Source: Getty

In Australia, some people claim river dolphins are "common" with small populations being known to live in lakes and rivers in Victoria and Adelaide. However, to call these river dolphins is inaccurate, Dr Pirotta said.

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"One of the coolest things" about this particular encounter is the "power of social media," she added. By the family sharing their incredible encounter, authorities and scientists, like herself, are alerted to it and can help raise awareness.

Sometimes it's the case where authorities intervene and "politely usher it out towards the sea". She also praised the family for "observing from ashore" and "not disturbing the animal".

"In this case, it was important that the person observing did not place any added stress on the individual by simply observing from shore. That's a really nice positive outcome," she said.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment?  Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
INDIA Bloc To Decide On Convenor Soon? Congress Refuses To Cede Space Amid Clamour For Mamata

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 10:44 IST

The opposition alliance is expected to meet after the Parliament session to revisit the strategy to take on the BJP though the real issue that could see fireworks will be who leads the bloc

The Congress has pitched for Rahul Gandhi as the leader and its grounds are that the BJP reacts to him each time he runs the campaign. (PTI)

The INDIA bloc is likely to have a meeting post the Parliament session  the first after the Lok Sabha results and also after Congress losses in Haryana and Maharashtra. Sources say the meeting, which is likely in January, has been called to revisit the strategy to take on the BJP and build up momentum ahead of other important state polls in Delhi and Bihar. But the real issue, which could see some furious discussions, could be the issue of who will be the convenor of the alliance.

So far, apart from Trinamool Congress, RJDs Lalu Prasad Yadav, NCP, Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party have supported the bid for Mamata Banerjee to be convenor. TMC MP Sushmita Dev made this clear when she said: Mamata Banerjee is a seven-term MP, four-time Union minister, a serving three-time chief minister on the brink of a fourth term. With these credentials, theres little need to peddle her CV. Her consistent record on good governance and the ability to comprehensively defat the BJP electorally have spurred many leaders across the country to see her in a larger role."

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ALSO READ | Has An Adamant Rahul Gandhi Further Split A Fractured Oppn? BJP Hopes So

The spanner in the works, however, is the Congress. News18 has learnt that in the meeting Rahul Gandhi held with his party MPs, he told them that electoral losses should not be seen as a deterrent. He added that it is only the Congress that has not compromised in its fight against the BJP and is in no race for any leadership role.

The fact is that Congress is not keen to cede space to any other party in the bloc. It has pitched for Rahul Gandhi as the leader and its grounds are that the BJP reacts to him each time he runs the campaign. His campaigns do have resonance on the ground and the electoral losses can be attributed to a faulty electoral process, not Rahul Gandhi or the party.

ALSO READ | INDIA Blames Rahul Gandhis 3 Mistakes For Maharashtra Loss. Heres What They Are

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Sources say Congress leaders and Gandhi suggested that Banerjee had compromised and also negotiated with the BJP on a case-by-case basis. The party feels in case she is made the convenor, the image of the INDIA bloc as a front to take on the BJP could be compromised.

The January meeting is likely to be more about the leadership role than the fight against the BJP, which many argue defeats the whole purpose of forming an INDIA bloc.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 10:38 IST
Lalu Mocks Nitish But JD(U)'s Bet On 'Better Half' Of Bihar's Electorate May Pay Off In 2025 Polls

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Pathikrit Sen Gupta



Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 06:00 IST

Once a game changer with policies including bicycles for girls in 2006 and a liquor ban in 2015, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) is now planning to double down on women voters again by designing multiple schemes for them

(L-R) RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. File image/PTI

Nayan senkne jaa rahe hain (He is going for the view)"  Rashtriya Janata Dal head Lalu Prasad Yadav mocked Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar when asked to comment on the Janata Dal (United) presidents renewed outreach towards women. However, no one can probably ignore how the JD(U)s focus on women voters has defined Nitish Kumars politics and almost scripted his victory in Bihars highly charged, caste-driven electoral dynamics.

Once a game changer with policies including bicycles for girls in 2006 and a liquor ban in 2015, Nitish Kumars JD(U) is now planning to double down on women voters again by designing multiple schemes for them.

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The welfare schemes may include monthly financial assistance to secure this decisive bloc ahead of the assembly elections next year, a senior JD(U) MP told News18.

We are already in election mode. The discussion about designing the election manifesto, the focus areas for the campaign, and the talks regarding seat-sharing between JD(U) and our alliance partners have begun. We do not know what RJD is up to. It seems that Lalu ji lost his composure seeing the bypoll results," said the JD(U) MP, known to be close to Nitish Kumar. At a time when our party is planning better women-centric schemes, Lalu ji is busy mocking our leader. It shows his frustration and despair."

Nitish Kumar was attending his partys Mahila Samvad Yatra, a programme aimed at engaging women voters and highlighting his governments schemes. It was this womens outreach effort that prompted his political opponent, Lalu Prasad Yadav, to pass the remark. Reacting sharply, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, national spokesperson of JD(U), said that continuous defeats have left Lalu Prasad Yadav frustrated and disoriented", causing him to lose his mental balance".

After the crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections and the complete wipeout of the RJD and Mahagathbandhan in the four-seat assembly by-elections, it is clear that the RJD will face an existential crisis in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections," Prasad added.

Women voters as a decisive bloc

Lalus jest may bring him accolades from his alliance partners, but there is a deeper political strategy being followed by Nitish Kumar, who is known to have pioneered Bihars focus on women voters and successfully leveraged it in 2015 with his promise of a liquor ban.

Now, with the 2025 assembly elections looming, the Bihar chief minister is once again at it, crafting policies and reaffirming his partys inroads among women voters, which is becoming increasingly pivotal in the states caste-driven political chessboard.

Almost a year ahead of the elections, JD(U) has already begun working on multiple women-centric schemes, which party insiders believe could include monthly financial assistance for women voters, along the lines of welfare schemes seen in other states.

Mahila vs Muslim-Yadav votes

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However, this time, the stakes are high. This strategy isnt new for Nitish ji. He has consistently tried to work to uplift the women and helped empower them. His emphasis on initiatives like 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj in 2006 and the prohibition of liquor in 2015 has already cemented his image as a champion of womens welfare," said another senior JD(U) leader. We used to get a reasonable share of Muslim votes, but after our alliance with the BJP, the Muslim-Yadav combination may go to the RJD. However, under the current political circumstances, we need to ensure that the larger chunk of women voters come to us."

With the BJP aggressively targeting women voters in other states and the RJD weaving its own caste-based narrative, Nitish Kumar is now positioning himself as a leader beyond caste divisions, focusing on economic upliftment and empowerment for women. The upcoming women-centric schemes are likely to be the centrepiece of the JD(U)s campaign, as the party now seeks to secure its place in the rapidly shifting dynamics of Bihars political landscape.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 06:00 IST
'Provided Oxygen To BJP': Bengal Congress Takes On Mamata As Power Tussle Shakes INDIA Unity

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 14:01 IST

Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar took to social media to attack Banerjee's leadership abilities, alleging that she was hand-in-glove with BJP

The power tussle in the INDIA bloc began last week when Mamata Banerjee, in an interview with News18 Bangla, said if asked to lead from the front, she was ready for the role. (PTI/File)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has entrusted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with disturbing" the Opposition, the Bengal Congress has alleged amid the tug-of-war in the INDIA bloc over leading the alliance.

Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar took to social media to attack Banerjees leadership abilities, alleging that she was hand-in-glove with BJP.

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Recently the Chief Minister of West Bengal, @MamataOfficial ji in an interview apparently expressed her desire to lead the I.N.D.I.A. alliance. Any alliance partner may claim and want to lead the I.N.D.I.A alliance. However, Mamata Banerjee jis action has on several occasions provided oxygen to the BJP and derailed a united opposition front when the BJP is in crisis," Sarkar wrote.

He added: A claim to assert leadership is nothing but a divisive mechanism to provide advantage to the BJP. The I" in I.N.D.I.A alliance stands for inclusive and every decision of the alliance should be collective in fighting the BJP through a common minimum programme."

He also pointed out that Congress and Rahul Gandhi had stopped BJPs dream of crossing 300 in the Lok Sabha elections.

The @AITCofficial faces the BJP only in every five years during Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, however, the Indian National Congress takes on the BJP and their propaganda on an everyday basis across every booth, block, district, State and every constituency possible. Notwithstanding elections, our fight against the BJP is ideological since their politics is anti-thetical to the democratic, secular and socialist ideas of India.

The Indian National Congress has uncompromisingly fought against the BJP in every field and platform. They have never chosen to remain silent. Whereas, the TMC has conspicuously remained silent on several important issues concerning the nation."

Reacting to Sarkars outburst, TMCs Kunal Ghosh said: Congress has given benefit to BJP in Bengal by siding with the Left. Its not the number but the face that matters in coalition politics. In 2004, Congress got numbers but they requested Jyoti Basu to be chief minister. Why Congress should concentrate on their work."

Sources in the Congress say the party will oppose Banerjees bid to lead the bloc tooth and nail, which is why Sarkar  known for a non-confrontational position with TMC so far unlike his predecessor Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury - has now adopted an aggressive stance.

The power tussle in the INDIA bloc began last week when Banerjee, in an interview with News18 Bangla, said she had given birth to the opposition alliance and if asked to lead from the front, she was ready for the role.

The genesis of the discomfort with Congress was the Maharashtra result where the Grand Old Partys dismal performance gave ammunition to TMC leaders who said the party must shed its big brother" attitude and step down from a leadership role.

Kalyan Banerjee, a close confidant of Mamata Banerjee, also stressed that Congress should set aside its ego and hand over the reins to the TMC chief. What bolstered TMCs confidence was support from other INDIA allies such as Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sharad Pawar.

For the Congress, the latest skirmishes are a double-edged sword as it tries to keep peace in the alliance while ensuring its own survival and status.

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The BJP, meanwhile, seems to be having the last laugh, with party leader Shehzad Poonawala taking a dig at the power tussle.

The Indi alliance has no mission. There is only confusion and division. There is pure greed for ambition and leadership positions. To hide this race for power and no-confidence in each other, they attack constitutional posts such as those of the V-P. This is a diversionary tactic so that the focus shifts from the lack of faith that the opposition has in Rahul Gandhi."

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:45 IST
Rahul Gandhi Meets Lok Sabha Speaker Over Derogatory Remarks Against Him, Mother Sonia Gandhi

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 15:45 IST

The Speaker has asked the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to write to him, mentioning the words that he felt were derogatory

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday and urged him to expunge the unparliamentary words used against Rahul and his mother, Sonia, by BJP MPs during the ongoing winter session.

During his meeting amid the Centre-Opposition stand-off in Parliament, Rahul asked the speaker to expunge unparliamentary words, especially those from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubeys statement in the House regarding him.

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The Speaker has asked the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition to write to him, mentioning the words that he felt were derogatory.

Rahul said that BJP leaders would keep bringing in allegations against the Opposition, but he and his allies only wanted the House to function.

I held a meeting with the Speaker. I told him that derogatory comments against me should be expunged. The Speaker said that he would look into it. Our aim is that the House must run and discussion should happen in the House. No matter what they say about me, we want that there should be a debate on 13th December," he told reporters.

Parliament has seen little business this season amid repeated adjournments and is to end on December 20 ahead of the year-end holidays. The Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned until 2 pm on Wednesday following a disruption by the Opposition.

Earlier, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi raised concerns about the situation in Manipur, stating that the people are suffering, essential services are on the brink of collapse, and the impact on ordinary citizens is devastating.

Gogoi questioned when Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Manipur and urged Home Minister Amit Shah to update the House on the actions being taken to address the crisis. He also accused the BJP of bringing up George Soros name to deflect attention from the governments failure.

Amid the commotion, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal asserted that the government was taking the necessary steps to address the situation in Manipur.

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He claimed there was a nexus between Congress and external forces, which he argued was causing problems and contributing to the suffering of the nation. Goyal also suggested ties between Congress and George Soros, asking, Why does George Soros have such a close relationship with their leader?"

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day following a confrontation between the BJP-led central government and the opposition over a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The House will reconvene on December 12. On Tuesday, the Opposition INDIA bloc submitted a no-confidence motion against Dhankhar to the Secretary General of the Upper House.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 13:36 IST
Shiv Sena Likely To Drop Few Ministers From Previous Govt In New Cabinet; Introduce Fresh Faces

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 21:25 IST

Shiv Sena MLA and spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said Fadnavis has made it clear that the cabinet expansion will take place before the winter session of the state legislature

**EDS: IMAGE VIA @Shivsenaofc ON SATURDAY, NOV 9, 2024** Parbhani: Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena candidate Eknath Shinde addresses a public meeting for the upcoming state Assembly elections, in Parbhani district of Maharashtra. (PTI Photo)(PTI11_09_2024_000183B)

The ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra may not give another chance to three leaders in the new state cabinet even as they were ministers in the previous government in view of complaints about their performance and inaccessibility, a party leader said.

The party is likely to induct fresh faces in their place.

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An aide of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and party MLA said several legislators raised concern regarding certain ministers. They said the three former ministers  one each from Konkan, western Maharashtra and Marathwada  were inaccessible even to the party MLAs.

We have raised this issue with the deputy CM (Shinde) and demanded that they should not be inducted in the new cabinet. These ministers did not even meet their own party MLAs," the aide said.

This development reflects the churn within the Shiv Sena which has 57 MLAs.

In a related development, Shindes office said he has not gone to Delhi to hold talks on cabinet expansion.

Shinde was not scheduled to go to Delhi, his office added.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis left for the national capital on Wednesday, his office said, adding that it was a courtesy visit, the first after taking over the reins of the state again. He was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The aide also said that the cabinet expansion of the new government is likely to take place by December 14, just before the winter session of the state legislature commences.

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Shiv Sena MLA and spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said CM Fadnavis has made it clear that the cabinet expansion will take place before the winter session of the state legislature which begins from December 16.

On complaints and possible exclusion of some former ministers in the previous government, Shirsat said, Such grievances must have reached Shinde saheb. He is the chief leader of the party and he will decide on it."

Location : Maharashtra, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 21:25 IST
American Airlines Captain Explains The In-Flight Sound: 'They Are Not Emergency Signals'

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 18:22 IST

When its time to take off, reach 10,000 feet, or be ready to land, these sounds are used to communicate with flight attendants.

When passengers hear these noises, they shouldnt be alarmed. (Representative Image)

Have you ever wondered if those enigmatic dings and beeps during a flight are warning signs? Nonetheless, a pilot claims these sounds are not emergency-related and should not be taken seriously. Captain Steve Scheibner, a pilot for American Airlines, recently shared on TikTok that these noises are simply a part of flying an aeroplane. He told passengers that the dings and beeps always serve a purpose and that they dont need to be scared or braced for collision.

Furthermore, Captain Scheibner reassured passengers that these noises are just a normal part of the crews routine, even though they may be associated with turbulence or emergencies.

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There are many things that you hear and you dont even acknowledge. There are three times on purpose when I communicate with the flight attendants with that ding," said the American Airlines captain to Newsweek.

The ding he is referring to is the short, seemingly random sound that passengers may hear at certain points during the journey the same sound you hear when its time to fasten your seatbelt. The first is when were cleared for takeoff and were taking the runway. Ill ding them to let them know this is it," Scheibner told.

As the plane ascends above 10,000 feet, there is another ding. Flight attendants are now authorised to start providing in-flight services. Basically, below 10,000 feet is generally bumpy. The air tends to smooth out a little bit [after that]. Im telling them its smooth enough to get up and start their service. If I dont ding them at 10,000 feet, theyll stay seated," the captain adds.

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As the aircraft descends below 10,000 feet, the final ding is heard, signalling the crew to finish up and prepare the cabin for landing. Sometimes, Ill get a call if I forget. At 18,000 feet or so, theyll call and ask if they can get up. The third time on purpose is coming back down through 10,000 feet," Scheibner says.

The pilots explanation offers much-needed clarity and a reason to unwind passengers still uncomfortable with those in-flight noises, on their next trip.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 18:19 IST
Bengaluru Engineer Suicide: Internet Demands Accenture Should Fire Atul Subhashs Wife

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 14:09 IST

Bengaluru police have registered an FIR against four individuals in connection with Atul Subhash's suicide under Sections 108 and 3(5) of the BNS.

Atul Subhash died by suicide at his Bengaluru home on Monday, alleging harassment by his wife, who works at Accenture.

The death of a 34-year-old engineer in Bengaluru has sparked an uproar on social media. Atul Subhash, who recorded a 90-minute video detailing his ordeal and left behind a 24-page suicide note, accused his estranged wife and her family of harassment. He also held Reeta Kaushik, a family court judge in Jaunpur, responsible for driving him to this extreme step. Netizens have rallied online, demanding justice for Subhash and urging Accenture, where his wife is employed, to terminate her employment.

An individual named Akshit Singh tagged Accenture on X (formerly known as Twitter) and wrote, Dear Accenture, you have 24 hours to fire the murderer of Atul Subhash. Your time starts now."

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Dear @Accenture you have 24 hours to fire the murderer of Atul SubhashYour time starts now. pic.twitter.com/C2hnoAUjEW  Akshit Singh  (@IndianSinghh) December 10, 2024

Another social media user wrote, Accenture, please fire the employee on an immediate basis."

Read| A Dead Man Is Requesting: Bengaluru Engineers Last Post Was Big Appeal To Trump, Musk

Accenture, remove this woman from whatever position she holds," said yet another X user.

A third asked, Dear Accenture, do you give jobs to murderers?"

Journalist Nupur J Sharma wrote,  She shouldnt be fired. The wife should be arrested and thrown in jail. The judge who sat by and laughed, mocked and refused to deliver justice should be prosecuted and impeached. What is wrong with women downplaying the death of Atul Subhash?"

Also Read| Crime To Be A Man In India: #MenToo Trends As Netizens Seek Justice For Atul Subhash

In a separate post, she added, Women dont have a monopoly on the truth and innocent men cant be victimised en masse to prosecute the evil ones. The laws, that force men like Atul Subhash to end their lives as the only way out of the extortion and harassment, needs to change."

Accenture, in response to numerous calls from people to terminate Atul Subhashs wife, has made their account private on X.

Accenture locked Twitter handle after getting countless request to fire Nikita Singhania.She is the wife of Atul Subhash who committed suicide after her torture pic.twitter.com/xrpg6mFw0Q  G K AGARWAL (@ipo_agarwal) December 10, 2024

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Bengaluru police have filed an FIR against Subhashs wife Nikita Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, brother Anurag Singhania and uncle Sushil Singhania on the complaint of his brother Bikas Kumar under sections 108 and 3(5) of the BNS.

This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

First Published: December 11, 2024, 08:39 IST
Caught On Camera: Two Killed After Giant Tree Crashes In Bali's Popular Monkey Forest

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 16:14 IST

The accident took place on Tuesday, December 11, at the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali.

Two female tourists were killed in the accident. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

In a shocking turn of events, two tourists reportedly lost their lives after a giant tree fell on them in a popular tourist destination in Bali, Indonesia. The incident took place on Tuesday, December 10, at around midday local time at the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, a popular spot on the island where tourists get the chance to get close to monkeys. As per the local reports, the two foreign nationals, namely F. Justine Christine from France and Kim Hyoeun from South Korea, both females, were killed while a few others sustained minor injuries.

The incident was also captured on CCTV, sparking concerns among people over the ongoing extreme weather conditions in Bali. In one of the videos, a group of visitors could be seen taking a walk in the forested park when they were alerted by a loud sound. A tree comes crashing down, blocking the path and creating a tense and panic situation.

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Following the accident, the local police carried out an extensive evacuation of the area and recovered the victims. The Head of Public Relations of Bali Regional Police, Kombes Pol Jansen Avitus Panjaitan, spoke to the media and confirmed the incident around 12:15 PM local time amid a sudden heavy rainstorm, accompanied by strong winds across central Ubud and also the Sacred Monkey Forest. At that time, there were many tourists visiting and seeing it, then the tourists ran around to save themselves, but there were some tourists who were hit by trees," Panjaitan said, as per The Bali Sun.

He also shared that the victims are entrusted and treated at the Ubud Kenak Medika Hospital while waiting for further official communication.

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In a statement, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary also expressed its deepest condolences to those affected. Our team has taken swift action to evacuate the affected area and ensure the safety and comfort of other visitors. We are also working closely with authorities to address this situation thoroughly," it added. Meanwhile, the attraction will remain closed on December 11 and 12, the authorities confirmed.

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, also known as the Ubud Monkey Forest, is a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. It is home to more than 1,260 long-tailed macaques, which are considered sacred by the local people.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 16:09 IST
China Unveils RT-G: AI-Powered Spherical Police Robot To Combat Crime

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 17:09 IST

The RT-G autonomous spherical robot was introduced recently by the Chinese robotics company Logon Technology, which has termed it a 'technological breakthrough.'

The RT-G can operate on both land and in water. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

In China, technology has marked a new age of robots, which has made them an integral part of day-to-day life. Recently, the country introduced a groundbreaking spherical police robot, named RT-G, which is powered by AI and is capable of chasing down criminals.

The unbreakable robo-cops, rolling around cities in the country, are not only capable of stopping a crime but can detect it, as per a report by The Sun.

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The RT-G autonomous spherical robot was introduced recently by the Chinese robotics company Logon Technology, which has termed it a technological breakthrough.

Several videos of the RT-G robot navigating the streets in China have gone viral on social media.

Chinas just rolled out a spherical police robot that can chase down criminals, shoot nets, and even handle falls from heights! It moves at speeds up to 35 km/h  talk about a futuristic crime fighter!" read a viral post on Instagram that shared a video featuring the RT-G robot, along with police officials carefully scanning the surroundings while rotating at a fixed time.

The RT-G can operate on both land and in water, besides being capable of withstanding four tonnes of impact damage. It can reach speeds of up to 35kmph, Fox News reported.

According to the company, these robots will help law enforcement officials to identify and immobilise criminals through advanced AI and using its facial recognition technology.

Further, these can be equipped with non-fatal police gear like net guns, grenades, loudspeakers as well as sound wave dispersal devices.

Internet reacts

Many social media users have expressed their views on the viral videos of the RT-G robot by China, while some of them stated that they are unimpressed by it.

What is that gonna do it nearly cannot keep the balance at snails pace," one person wrote on Instagram.

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Another one added, I once tried to join the police. I had to jump over a lot of hurdles during the physical and climb things."

A third person wrote, What is it going to do? Roll over the criminal???"

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 17:09 IST
Japanese Man Turns Everyday Props Into An Imaginary Girlfriend And Here Are The Results

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 18:15 IST

His strategy consists of the transformation of his right hand with nail polish and foundation, making it look like a woman's hand to pose in tender situations, such as being fed or having an intimate moment.

The Japanese man's imaginary girlfriend has gone viral. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

In a world where social media often presents idealised relationships, a 39-year-old Japanese man, has captured the imagination of many by creating a fictional girlfriend using simple props and creative photography techniques. His innovative approach not only entertains but reflects deeper societal themes of loneliness and the challenges of social interaction faced by many, particularly in Japans otaku culture.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Keisuke Jinushi, a graduate of Musashino Art University, majoring in film and visual arts, uses a selfie stick, a wig and other accessories to create realistic dating photos featuring his fictional partner. Speaking with the Japanese newspaper Nishinippon Shimbun, he explained: I was travelling and took a photo with a statue of a woman, and thats when it occurred to me  I could create joyful couple photos all by myself."

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by  (@jinushikeisuke)

His strategy consists of the transformation of his right hand with nail polish and foundation, making it look like a womans hand in order for him to pose in tender situations, such as being fed or having an intimate moment.

I applied foundation to my hand and wore nail polish to replicate a womans soft, shiny hand, and it works perfectly if you slip a scrunchie on your wrist," he added.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by  (@jinushikeisuke)

This phenomenon is highly associated with Japans otaku culture, characterised mainly by a strong passion or obsession for anime and manga and sometimes at the expense of engagement in real relationships.

Jinushis hypothetical girlfriend ran riot in his project; now it has inspired others to actually craft their happy photo stories."

His posts went viral on most social media platforms, generating heated debate on what a relationship in the modern world is. In fact, he has put his life into words and compiled it as a book titled Fantasy Girlfriend, a tale of meeting, marrying and rearing a family with his fantasy girlfriend.

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Jinushis works have been doing the rounds on Chinese social media after several reports in mainland media highlighted his work, as reported by SCMP.

One user on Weixin was quoted by the news outlet commenting: I can fully relate to Jinushi. He is just like any other single guy  yearning for love  and he is not doing anything wrong."

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 18:15 IST
Man Charged With UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Hails From Wealthy Maryland Family

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 15:01 IST

Luigi Mangione's friends and people who knew him say he held anti-capitalist views.

Luigi Mangione attended a high-profile prep school in Baltimore. (Photo Credits: X)

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsons murder, is now the focus of a high-profile investigation. After he was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania on December 9, 2024, Luigi was charged with second-degree murder. Thompson was shot dead outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on the night of December 4.

Reports say the key accused comes from a privileged Maryland family with investments in real estate and health care business. Luigis grandfather founded several successful companies, including Turf Valley Resort and Lorien Health Services.

related stories

He attended a high-profile prep school in Baltimore. Graduating valedictorian in 2016, Luigi earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science at the University of Pennsylvania.

Most of his friends and people who knew him said he held anti-capitalist views. People close to him have denied that he could be involved in any violent crime as they recalled him as a bright and friendly man, ABC News reported.

Luigi was found in possession of a ghost guna model of firearm that can easily be assembled from parts in the absence of a serial number. Additionally, he was equipped with a suppressor and several counterfeit identification cards, including a fraudulent New Jersey identification matching the one used to check into a New York City hostel prior to the shooting, the BBC reports. Authorities also found a three-page handwritten manifesto detailing his grievances with corporate America, which he may have used as motivation for possibly carrying out the attack, they said.

Upon arrest, Luigi was visibly nervous when asked by police and attempted to give them phoney identification. Eventually, he was charged with firearms offences and forgery and was held without bail. CBS News said his extradition to New York is pending and awaits more legal proceedings.

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Investigators continue to piece together Luigis movements leading up to the shooting. After leaving New York City immediately after the incident, he moved through various locations in Pennsylvania before being captured, CBS News added. The NYPD is working hard to understand whether he acted alone or if others were involved in planning the attack.

Meanwhile, the surveillance camera captured a masked gunman approaching Thompson from behind and firing multiple shots until his death. The police launched a massive manhunt that lasted five days before Luigi was apprehended after being recognized by a McDonalds employee in Pennsylvania, BBC added.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 15:01 IST
Men Share Harrowing Experiences As #JusticeForAtulSubhash Campaign Creates An Outcry

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 14:09 IST

Atul Subhash Suicide: After the 34-year-old Bengaluru engineer died by suicide, many men have come forward to share their own painful experiences.

Atul Subhash suicide: Bengaluru engineer died after allegedly facing harassment by wife and her relatives. Her wife filed nine cases against him.

After Bengaluru-based engineer Atul Subhash ended his life by hanging himself at his home, the hashtag #JusticeForAtulSubhash started trending on social media and is currently the number one trend in India. As calls for justice for the 34-year-old grow louder, many individuals have come forward to share their own harrowing experiences.

Journalist and mens rights activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj has shared a slew of distressing messages from her inbox, highlighting the many pleas for help she has received.

related stories

I am getting suicidal: Man after wife files divorce and dowry case

One man, whose wife filed a dowry case against him, reached out to Bhardwaj in distress. He wrote, Next, I am in that situation, maam. My wife filed divorce and dowry case separately."

Read| Bengaluru Engineer Suicide: Internet Demands Accenture To Fire Atul Subhashs Wife

He added, When I filed AB for a dowry case, the judge did not listen to my words. She is asking to give the house to my wife which was my parents house, which is their only property and is not in my name."

The man expressed feeling powerless, stating that his wifes family is very influential: Even I am getting suicidal thoughts nowadays. Dont know when and where I am going to end."

I dont want to be next Atul: 34-year-old Rajasthan Engineer

A 34-year-old said that Subhashs case had shattered him and pointed out similarities between his and Bengaluru techies case. I am also 34, married in 2019. In these 5 years, she has lived only for 67 days with us that too in parts. I am a BTech and working in Rajasthan. She is PhD trying for extortion of money from me."

Also Read| A Dead Man Is Requesting: Bengaluru Engineers Last Post Was Big Appeal To Trump, Musk

I dont want to be next Atul. I will fight till the end," he expressed.

The man went on to share his ordeal: Last year, I filed section 9, after which she filed 498. This year, I filed for divorce, and after that she filed for DV, demanding 60,000 per month. Last year, I got an ex parte decree in section 9."

Seeing losing ground in the divorce case, she has now filed for a transfer petition of a divorce case. As per court order, I am even paying for her travel to Rajasthan to attend court dates, I will be going to Supreme Court now."

I am one of those many Atul Subhash

Another man who reached out to the activist shared his own struggles, stating he is one of many like Atul Subhash. Not to seek attention or anything, nor do I except anything from anyone anymore. Just wanted to remind you that I am one of those many Atul Subhash out there who would have thought to commit suicide at one stage of their legal terror-stricken days!"

He further expressed, Some cannot [commit suicide] due to old age parents responsibility, some do, however!"

Alimony like Atul Subhash

Another man shared a similar experience, revealing that his wife also demanded a large sum in alimony. He wrote, Same story here, asking for 2 crore alimony like Atul Subhash."

He added, She has even backed out of a compromise and is now demanding more by filing another FIR."

Im feeling deeply disturbed

I dont want to say but Atuls step really inspires me because as a man you will not find justice in this country," expressed yet another man who is a victim of false cases, before adding, Im feeling deeply disturbed today after watching Atuls video. I, too, am a victim of false accusations and FIRs filed by my wife against me, my family, and my friends. Ive been battling these baseless cases while dealing with her demand for 735 lakh as alimony."

He further said that he is struggling to see a way forward: I work night shifts, which adds to the mental and physical exhaustion. For the past year, lve been consumed by similar thoughts-fighting cases, attending mediation sessions, paying bribes, and applying for bail. Its overwhelming, and Im struggling to see a way forward."

Wife filed 9 cases against me

Yet another man shared that he has attended court hearings for 2.5 years, dealing with nine different cases filed by his wife after he caught her red-handed in an extramarital affair twice. For 2.5 years, I had to keep attending court for 9 different cases," he said.

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He added, It felt like my life was stuck. I used to curse my luck and wonder why this was happening to me when all my friends were happy, settling down, and having kids. Meanwhile, I was going through endless court dates and being looked at with sympathy or mockery by people around me."

This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:35 IST
One Bread Pakora For Rs 200, Cockroach On The Side: Man's Ordeal At Jaipur Airport Goes Viral

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 14:15 IST

The passenger ordered bread pakora and tea at an airport cafe. After taking the first bite, he discovered a small dead cockroach, leaving him horrified

The passenger promptly shared a video of the incident on social media and lodged a complaint with the airport administration. (News18 Hindi)

A passenger travelling through Jaipur International Airport recently shared a shocking incident on social media, revealing the presence of a small cockroach inside an overpriced bread pakora.

The passenger, identified as DP Gurjar, ordered bread pakora and tea at an airport cafe. After taking the first bite, he discovered a small dead cockroach, leaving him horrified. He promptly shared a video of the incident on social media and lodged a complaint with the airport administration.

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Gurjar stated that the bread pakora, priced at Rs 200, already tasted unpleasant, but he reluctantly continued eating. However, discovering the cockroach inside utterly disgusted him.

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Upon discovering the cockroach, he immediately raised the issue with the cafe staff, but they dismissed his concerns. Feeling nauseous and frustrated, he reported the matter to the airport authorities but received no response. Left with no other option, Gurjar recorded a video of the contaminated snack and posted it online.

The video has since gone viral, sparking outrage and raising questions about food hygiene standards at the airport cafe.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 14:15 IST
Police Arrest Suspect In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing After Five-day Manhunt

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 12:20 IST

Although the arrest - Luigi Mangione - comes from an educated family, most of his friends attribute him to anti-capitalist views.

Luigi Mangione faces murder charges. (Image for representation: News18)

Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old male suspect in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is now the focus and subject of a high-profile investigation. After he got arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania on December 9, Mangione was charged with second-degree murder and other different weapon offences. Thompson was fatally outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on the night of December 4, precisely after preparing to attend an investor conference.

Hindustan Times noted that the man in question belongs to a privileged background in Maryland in the real estate and health care business. His grandfather founded several successful companies including Turf Valley Resort and Lorien Health Services implying that the connections to medical enterprises have been there for quite some time. He attended a high-profile prep school in Baltimore. Graduating valedictorian in 2016, Mangione earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science at the University of Pennsylvania.

related stories

Although Mangione comes from an educated family, most of his friends and people who knew him in person attribute him to anti-capitalist views. People close to him have denied that he could be involved in any violent crime as they recalled him as a bright and friendly man, as cited ABC News.

Mangione was found in possession of a ghost guna model of firearm easily assembled from parts in the absence of a serial number. Additionally, he was equipped with a suppressor and several counterfeit identification cards, including a fraudulent New Jersey identification matching the one used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, the BBC reports. Authorities also found a three-page handwritten manifesto detailing his grievances with corporate America, which he may have used as motivation for possibly carrying out the attack, they said.

Upon arrest, Mangione was visibly nervous when asked by police and attempted to give them phoney identification. Eventually, he was charged with firearms offences and forgery and was held without bail. CBS News said his extradition to New York is pending and awaits more legal proceedings.

Investigators continue to piece together Mangiones movements leading up to the shooting. After leaving New York City immediately after the incident, he moved through various locations in Pennsylvania before being captured, CBS News added. The NYPD is working hard to understand whether Mangione acted alone or if others were involved in planning the attack.

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As the police probe continues on this case, they are also looking into Mangiones online presence as well as any affiliations he had with any large-scale anti-corporate movements or ideas. Police are still carrying out their probe to ascertain the cause of this heinous act on an affluent personality from the medical profession.

Meanwhile, the surveillance camera captured a masked gunman approaching Thompson from behind and firing multiple shots until his death. The police launched a massive manhunt lasting five days before Mangione was apprehended, after being recognised by a McDonalds employee in Pennsylvania, BBC added.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 12:20 IST
UK Criminology Student Kills Random Woman In Bournemouth To Know 'How It Feels To Take Life'

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 19:07 IST

Naasen Saadi's criminology teacher recalled that he asked questions about the repercussions of murder during one of her classes.

The accused allegedly has a fascination for knives.

A criminology student from the UK allegedly took the life of a woman only to find out how murder feels like". The horrific incident unfolded on Bournemouth seafront earlier on May 24. The 20-year-old, identified as Nasen Saadi, has been detained on charges of the killing of 34-year-old Amie Gray and attempted murder of her 38-year-old friend Leanne Miles. His trial is reportedly underway at the Winchester Crown Court. Saadi might have pleaded not guilty to the offences. But, the court was told that the youngster had spent almost a month to plan the attack.

As described by prosecutor Sarah Jones KC, Saadis actions were horrifying in their savagery and randomness". He seems to have wanted to know what it would be like to take life, to make women feel afraid. Perhaps he thought it would make him feel powerful or interesting, Jones told the jury, as reported by The Mirror.

related stories

On the night of the attack, Amie Gray and Leanne Miles were peacefully watching the full moon while sitting by a fire on the Durley Chine Beach in West Undercliff Promenade. Nasen Saadi had allegedly booked a Travelodge in Bournemouth on the same date. He even watched the movie, The Strangers  Chapter" which features some violent scenes of stabbing. The prosecutor doubted the film might have influenced his gruesome act.

As claimed by Sarah Jones KC, when Gray and Miles were enjoying their moment, Saadi approached them stealthily and launched a brutal knife attack. The two women tried to escape but Saadi somehow caught Gray and killed him.

Miles managed to survive but was found to be severely injured. There were multiple wounds on her chest and back, as per the police. Miles later revealed that she had begged for her life time and again but Saadi was in no mood to stop.

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Dr Lisa-Maria Reiss who was Saadis criminology teacher recalled that her student asked questions about the repercussions of murder and self-defence during one of her classes. These topics, however, were not part of his syllabus, the BBC reported. When asked the reason, Saadi claimed that he was writing an article about it.

Prison officer Benjamin Raffo said in his report that Saadi admitted to having a fascination for knives, a Guardian report said. He allegedly informed Raffo that he had six knives" in his collection as he loved their shape and look". Before leaving the beach, Saadi reportedly changed his clothes and disposed of the weapon he used to attack.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 19:07 IST
Woman's Pimple On Forehead Turns Out To Be Skin Cancer: 'I Have Never Been Someone...'

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 09:23 IST

Rachel Olivia, a 32-year-old Australian woman, initially dismissed a small red breakout on her forehead as a pimple.

Rachel has been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. (Representative Image)

Pimples, though typically harmless and often caused by hormonal changes, usually heal with time. However, this wasnt the case for an Australian woman. A seemingly harmless pimple turned into a life-changing discovery for her. What appeared to be a common skin issue on her forehead was later diagnosed as skin cancer.

According to the New York Post, Rachel Olivia, a 32-year-old woman, initially dismissed a small red breakout on her forehead as a pimple. However, when the place continued to flake and did not heal, Rachel sought professional aid. A biopsy revealed that she had skin cancer. Rachel told news.com.au, I left it for a year, but when it never healed, I pushed to get it reassessed by specialists. They did a biopsy and confirmed it was cancer."

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Rachel, who prided herself on being sun-smart" among friends and family, shared that despite avoiding tanning, she experienced a few severe sunburns as a teenager. She told the publication, Ive never been someone to tan or sit in the sun. But I did have a few bad burns when I was younger, and thats all it takes." Unfortunately, this was all that was required to develop basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the form of skin cancer she was diagnosed with. This type of cancer is caused by damage to the DNA of basal cells in the skins epidermis which is the top layer.

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Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) typically presents as a white, waxy lump or a brown, scaly patch and is considered particularly dangerous when it appears on the face. Fortunately, Rachels diagnosis was not melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. The patient said, I was relieved it was not a melanoma, but also shocked to still have cancer. He told me I was young to get something like this. He also explained that Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer."

As Rachel undergoes treatment for basal cell carcinoma, she faces significant challenges in managing her health while caring for her child. She shared that having an infant at home makes it particularly difficult to take care of herself.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:23 IST
Influential Afghan Taliban Minister Khalil Haqqani, 2 Others Killed In ISIS-K Suicide Bombing

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 21:19 IST

Khalil Haqqani was the uncle of Afghan interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and a major fundraiser for the Taliban

Afghanistan's minister for refugees, Khalil Haqqani, killed in Kabul. (Photo: AFP)

A suicide bombing in Afghanistans capital Kabul on Wednesday killed Taliban refugee minister Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani and two others.

Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Khalil Haqqani was the uncle of Afghan interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and a major fundraiser for the Taliban.

He was playing a crucial role in Afghanistans interim government as the acting minister for refugees.

Sources said Khalil was a senior leader of the Haqqani network and instrumental in orchestrating major attacks throughout the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan.

Khalils death is being seen as a substantial blow to the Taliban because he was a key figure in maintaining relationships with foreign donors and was responsible for fundraising activities on behalf of the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

The United States Treasury designated Khalil Haqqani as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2011, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

ISIS-K has been active in Afghanistan and regularly targets both Taliban regime officials and civilians

According to top intelligence sources, one possible reason behind the attack is the rivalry between ISIS-K and the Taliban connected to the takeover of Afghanistan.

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Khalil Haqqani was playing an important role in the Taliban government as a fundraiser and through his proximity to Siraj. This may destabilise the whole equation," said a source. ISIS-Ks desire is to create chaos once again, as they have done immediately after the takeover."

Another possibility, which is subject to verification, sources said, is that the Kandhari group of the Taliban could be involved in the attack. There have been major tensions between the Haqqanis and Kandharis in recent times, they added.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 19:49 IST
Bangladesh Acknowledges Attacks On Hindus, Says '88 Cases Filed, 70 Arrested So Far'

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Vani Mehrotra



Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 10:54 IST

Bangladesh has acknowledged more than 80 incidents of communal violence against minorities, mostly Hindus, since Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August.

People shout slogans condemning reported attacks on Hindu and other minorities in Bangladesh during a protest near the Bangladesh diplomatic mission in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)

With the ongoing protests in parts of India over the alleged atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, the neighbouring country has acknowledged incidents of attacks on minorities, primarily Hindus, there.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh confirmed that the country has registered 88 cases in incidents related to minorities from August 5 to October 22. It also said at least 70 people have been arrested for the same.

related stories

The disclosure was made by interim government head Muhammad Yunus press secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Detailing the arrests, the Bangladesh government said that the Budha Christian Parishad reported incidents of violence between August 4 and 20, prompting the police to lodge 62 cases and arrest 35 people.

From August 5 to October 22, there were 26 reported cases of attacks on religious sites, leading to the arrests of 35 more rioters, according to government data.

The number of cases and arrests is likely to increase as new incidents of violence have also been reported in (northeastern Sunamganj, (central) Gazipur, and other areas," he said.

He added that there might be cases where some victims were members of the previous ruling party.

Some attacks targeted individuals who were former members of the ruling party or they were the result of personal disputes. Nevertheless, since violence occurred, the police are taking appropriate action," he said.

Alam also said that details regarding the incidents that took place after October 22 will be shared soon.

The revelation came months after Sheikh Hasina, Bangladeshs former Prime Minister, fled the country in August.

On December 9, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had flagged regrettable incidents of attacks on minorities and conveyed Indias concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities, during his meetings with the Bangladeshi leadership.

There have been a spate of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, as well as attacks on temples in Bangladesh in the last few weeks that triggered strong concerns in New Delhi.

MISRI REACTS

Meanwhile, Misri said the talks in Dhaka gave India an opportunity to take stock of the situation after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration.

We want a positive relationship with Bangladesh, which will mutually benefit us. I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive, and beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. We want a people-centric relationship, and we have a desire to work closely with the current interim government in Bangladesh," he said.

Misri also said that he raised concerns over the safety of minorities in the country, in the wake of the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and a spate of attacks on Hindus in recent months.

PAN-INDIA PROTESTS IN INDIA

On December 10, members of various Hindu organisations and civil society groups staged protests across India against attacks on community members in Bangladesh.

While hundreds of people from various outfits, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), held a protest march at Delhis Chanakyapuri, a similar rally was taken out in Lucknow condemning the attacks on Hindus in the neighbouring country.

At Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, protesters marched to the deputy commissioners office to show solidarity with the Hindus in Bangladesh, while in Jammu, a large number of protesters took to the streets demanding the intervention of the Centre and the United Nations in the matter.

Similar protests, which coincided with World Human Rights Day, were also staged in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Ranchi, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, among other places.

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In Delhi, security was stepped up outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Chankyapuri where a large number of protesters gathered to raise the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Demanding the intervention of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in the matter, the protesters carrying placards called upon Bangladesh to stop the alleged genocide" of Hindus in the country.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 09:50 IST
Donald Trump To End Birthright Citizenship. What Is It And How It Could Affect Indians

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 11:09 IST

Birthright citizenship ensures that anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen

US President-elect Donald Trump said he absolutely planned to end birthright citizenship.

United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump has promised to eliminate birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to fulfil his campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefine what it means to be American.

However, efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles.

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What is Birthright Citizenship?

Birthright citizenship ensures that anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. This policy has been in place for many years and applies to children born to individuals in the country illegally, as well as those on temporary visas like tourist or student visas who intend to return to their home country. While not practiced in every country, birthright citizenship has been a point of debate. Critics, including former President Trump and his supporters, argue that the system is being misused and that stricter standards should be implemented for acquiring American citizenship.

On the other hand, advocates emphasize that birthright citizenship is a constitutional right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, making it very difficult to overturn, and they believe that attempting to do so would be detrimental to the nation.

Trumps Position

In a recent interview on NBCs Meet the Press, Trump stated that he absolutely" planned to end birthright citizenship once in office. He described the practice as ridiculous" and pledged to terminate it. Trump and other critics argue that birthright citizenship incentivises illegal immigration and encourages birth tourism," where pregnant women come to the US to give birth, ensuring their child gains citizenship before returning to their home country.

However, some counter that abolishing birthright citizenship would have serious consequences. Alex Nowrasteh, Vice President of the Cato Institute, argues that birthright citizenship helps avoid the creation of an illegal underclass" and promotes better assimilation and integration of immigrant families.

The Migration Policy Institute estimated in 2019 that 5.5 million children under the age of 18 were living with at least one undocumented parent, and most of these children were US citizens. The think tank also warned that repealing birthright citizenship would exacerbate illegal immigration, creating a self-perpetuating class excluded from full social membership for generations.

Why Does the US Have Birthright Citizenship?

The US adopted birthright citizenship to ensure that descendants of enslaved people, who were forcibly brought to the country, could be granted citizenship. This was a response to the infamous Dred Scott decision of 1857, where the Supreme Court ruled that no descendant of enslaved people could be a US citizen. The ruling was overturned by the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the 14th Amendment, which guarantees that anyone born in the US is a citizen and entitled to the protections of the Bill of Rights.

What Does the 14th Amendment Say?

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, states that anyone born in the United States is a citizen. This amendment was crucial in ensuring equal rights for former slaves and their descendants.

Could 14th Amendment Exclude Children of the Undocumented?

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Some legal scholars, including John Eastman, argue that the 14th Amendment does not apply to children born to undocumented immigrants in the US. Eastman, who previously promoted efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, contends that the phrase and subject to the jurisdiction thereof" disqualifies children of non-citizens. According to this view, Congress could pass a law explicitly denying citizenship to children born in the US to undocumented parents. However, this theory remains controversial, and even many conservative legal experts have rejected it.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: December 11, 2024, 07:54 IST
'Absolutely Savage': Trump Sets Internet On Fire With Jill Biden's Photo To Promote Fragrance Line

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 13:27 IST

Trump cheekily used his photo with Jill Biden in Paris to launch his new "Fight, Fight, Fight" perfume line, which amused social media users.

Donald Trump and Jill Biden met at the reopening of Norte Dame cathedral in Paris. (Reuters)

US President-elect Donald Trump has set social media on fire with his new line of limited-edition fragrances, where anyone can get a whiff of strength, power and victory" at a price of $199.

However, its not the perfumes that have attracted this much attention, but how Trump added a political twist to promote them. The President-elect used a picture of him interacting with First Lady Jill Biden with a tongue-in-cheek caption, A fragrance your enemies cant resist!"

related stories

The picture was taken on Saturday when Trump interacted with Jill Biden at the reopening of the Norte-Dame Cathedral in Paris, where they were seated one seat apart. The fragrances were cheekily named Fight, Fight, Fight"  the famous words he used after an assassination attempt during a Pennsylvania rally.

Here are my new Trump Perfumes & Colognes! I call them Fight, Fight, Fight, because they represent us WINNING. Great Christmas gifts for the family," he said on Truth Social. These colognes are available for both men and women at $199.

Absolutely Savage: Netizens On Trumps Photo

Trumps photo with Jill Biden was a dig that highlighted months of acrimony between US President Joe Biden and his Republican rival during the presidential campaign, where at one point, Trump said Jills husband was thrown out like a dog" after he withdrew from the race following a poor debate performance.

However, the cheeky promotion tactic left netizens highly amused, with people lauding his sense of humour and speculating that the First Lady had actually voted for the President-elect. Damn absolutely savage. Trump uses a photo Jill and Ashley Biden sitting next to him with love in their eyes as an ad for his cologne," said one individual.

President Trump Posts Hilarious Cologne and Perfume Advertisement on Truth Social. I Love His scents of humour! It really doesnt look like Jill is an enemy!", another netizen responded. Trump just used this photo of Jill Biden glazing him to promote his cologne Im dying," a user commented.

Damn absolutely savage. Trump uses a photo Jill and Ashley Biden sitting next to him with love in their eyes as an ad for his cologne. A fragrance your enemies cant resist." pic.twitter.com/vZtyWSXcta  MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) December 8, 2024

President Trump Posts Hilarious Cologne and Perfume Advertisement on Truth SocialI Love His scents of humor! It really doesnt look like Jill is an enemy! pic.twitter.com/2k2WbMjMf8  .*Funkytown*. (@01Funkytown) December 8, 2024

Trump just used this photo of Jill Biden glazing him to promote his cologne Im dying pic.twitter.com/TqDa9FeYiP Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) December 8, 2024

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Trump has launched a long list of products for years, including watches priced as high as $100,000, NFT trading cards, autographed guitars and more. Post his election victory, he launched $499 Trump Won" sneakers on offer, along with $119 Victory" cologne and $299 First Lady" shoes. He also released $100 President Donald J. Trump First Edition" silver coins and $60 Trump-branded Bibles.

45Footwear, the company behind the Fight Fight Fight" fragrances, was set up in January by Cloud Peak, a law firm based in Sheridan, Wyoming, that has formed over 100,000 such businesses around the world, according to The New York Times. The fragrances arent designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Trump or the Trump Organisation, the perfume website reads.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: December 11, 2024, 13:04 IST
'Hindu Lives Matter': Protests In Canada Against Alleged Atrocities On Others In Bangladesh

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 08:15 IST

Hindu community members in Canada protested outside the Bangladesh Consulate in Toronto against alleged attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, raising slogans like 'Hindu Lives Matter'.

Protests in Canada against alleged atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh (Video screengrabs/ANI)

Members of the Hindu community in Canada on Wednesday held protests against the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. The demonstrations were being held outside the Bangladesh Consulate in Toronto, where many were seen holding placards and raising Hindu Lives Matter slogans.

Some were even heard chanting, We are with our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh".

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Speaking to news agency ANI, one of the protesters said, In Bangladesh, they are genociding Hindus, they are assaulting our women, they are raping our children, they are doing whatever they can because the Hindus are in minority and they try to overrun the Indian authorities."

Thats what they have done in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, and now they are trying to do the same in Bangladesh," he said.

#WATCH | People from the Hindu community in Canada hold a protest outside the Bangladesh Consulate in Toronto over the recent attack on Hindus in Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/cOhNJV9SYh ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024

Another protester said, Whats happening today in Bangladesh, being of Bangladeshi origin, my heart goes out to them. This needs to be stopped. We have vanished from Afghanistan and we have vanished from Pakistan, if we are not saved now, we will be vanished from Bangladesh as well."

#WATCH | A woman of Bangladeshi origin says, " Whats happening today in Bangladesh, being a Bangladeshi origin, my heart goes out to them. This needs to be stopped. We have vanished from Afghanistan and we have vanished from Pakistan, if we are not saved now, we will be vanished pic.twitter.com/LGm2jUsqHF ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024

PAN-INDIA PROTESTS AGAINST ATROCITIES ON HINDUS IN BANGLADESH

On December 10, members of various Hindu organisations and civil society groups staged protests across India against attacks on community members in Bangladesh.

While hundreds of people from various outfits, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), held a protest march at Delhis Chanakyapuri, a similar rally was taken out in Lucknow condemning the attacks on Hindus in the neighbouring country.

At Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, protesters marched to the deputy commissioners office to show solidarity with the Hindus in Bangladesh, while in Jammu, a large number of protesters took to the streets demanding the intervention of the Centre and the United Nations in the matter.

Similar protests, which coincided with World Human Rights Day, were also staged in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Ranchi, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, among other places.

In Delhi, security was stepped up outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Chankyapuri where a large number of protesters gathered to raise the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Demanding the intervention of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in the matter, the protesters carrying placards called upon Bangladesh to stop the alleged genocide" of Hindus in the country.

Several personalities, including Sadhvi Ritambhara, Keshav Murari from ISKCON, former Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava, ex-Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri, and Buddhist spiritual leader Rahul Bhante, among others, addressed the rally.

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A memorandum was also submitted to the Bangladesh High Commissioner by the members of the Civil Society of Delhi, emphasising the historically strong and cordial relations between India and Bangladesh, a statement read.

Hindus constitute about 8 per cent of Bangladeshs 170 million population.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 08:07 IST
In First Interview, Diddy's Accuser Shares Feeling 'Powerless' At Music Mogul's Hands: Report

Curated By :

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Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 20:47 IST

Doe admitted the trauma has shaped his life in profound ways, contributing to the end of his marriage and a struggle with mental health

Music mogul and entrepreneur Sean Diddy Combs. (AP file photo)

For the first time, a man anonymously suing Sean Diddy" Combs has spoken publicly about the alleged abuse he claims to have suffered at the hands of the music mogul.

The man, known only as John Doe, shared his emotional account of the trauma he endured in an interview with CNN on Tuesday, discussing the lasting impact of the alleged assault on his life.

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The interview marked the first time one of Combs civil accusers has publicly shared their story. Doe admitted the trauma has shaped his life in profound ways, contributing to the end of his marriage and a struggle with mental health.

It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before and I felt powerless," Doe noted.

Doe initially filed his civil suit against Combs on October 14, accusing the music mogul of drugging and sodomising him during one of his infamous White Parties nearly two decades ago. The alleged incident occurred in 2007, when Doe was employed by a private security firm and was asked to work at Combs estate in East Hampton, New York. In his lawsuit, Doe states that Combs provided him with two drinks, which he believes were spiked with GHB and ecstasy. After drinking the second, he claims he became severely ill, and Combs allegedly took advantage of the situation, forcing him into an empty vehicle and assaulting him, CNN reported.

Affects every single thing

He further told the broadcaster that he has kept this secret to himself since the event, not even revealing the abuse to his then-wife. The full gravity of it lives with me to this day," he said. It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life."

Doe also revealed that a celebrity had witnessed the alleged abuse. However, he chose not to name the individual, merely describing their reaction as finding the incident amusing."

Despite the publicity surrounding the case, Doe expressed a desire to maintain his privacy, saying, I have a semblance of a life, a very quiet life. I would prefer what little is left of it to be left alone."

Nothing could give me back the person I was before that evening," he added.

Does claims are part of a series of civil lawsuits against Combs. At least 120 alleged victims are expected to file claims, with 20 lawsuits already submitted. The music mogul, who is also facing federal charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering, has pleaded not guilty to all allegations of abuse.

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Representatives for Combs declined to comment on Does accusations, but his legal team has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, stating that the truth will prevail in court. Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyoneadult or minor, man or woman," they said in an October statement.

(With inputs from CNN)

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: December 11, 2024, 20:43 IST
'Unprecedented Attack': Indian-origin PhD Student Suspended From MIT For Pro-Palestine Essay

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Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 09:31 IST

MIT said Prahlad Iyengar's pro-Palestine essay for a student-led publication could potentially incite violent protests on campus.

Prahlad Iyengar is a PhD scholar from MIT who was suspended last year for pro-Palestinian protests. (Photo: X)

An Indian-origin PhD scholar has been suspended from the reputed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for writing a pro-Palestine essay for a college magazine last month that the college saw as potentially calling for violent protests.

Prahlad Iyengar, who is pursuing a PhD from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, was suspended till January 2026, which could effectively end his academic career at MIT as it will terminate his five-year National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

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Iyengars suspension resulted from his essay On Pacifism, which was published in the October issue of the student journal Written Revolution, which has also been banned from the campus. The MIT said the essay contained language that could be interpreted as a call for violent protests".

Why Was Iyengar Suspended From MIT?

This is the second time Iyengar has been suspended from MIT, after a similar punishment last year following pro-Palestinian protests across the university. The MIT administration said his article On Pacifism" contained images of posters from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is a terrorist organisation.

The college found that the article made several troubling statements" about the history of violence and non-violence, including in anti-colonial movements of the mid-20th century, and that these statements could be interpreted as a call for more violent or destructive forms of protest at MIT."

 MIT is effectively expelling PhD student Prahlad Iyengar for Palestine activism on campus. EMERGENCY RALLY: Cambridge City Hall, Monday, 12/9 at 5:30pm. Org sign-on to letter: https://t.co/tCOrOLTeNy pic.twitter.com/7cAYrvn5ad  MIT Coalition Against Apartheid (@mit_caa) December 8, 2024

At this time, you are directed to no longer distribute this issue of Written Revolution on MITs campus. You are also prohibited from distributing it elsewhere using the MIT name or that of any MIT-recognized organisation," said MITs Dean of Student Life David Randall in a latter, while enforcing an outright ban on the Written Revolution publication.

Unprecedented Attack On Rights": Iyengar Reacts

The MIT Coalition Against Apartheid strongly condemned the decision to suspend the Indian-origin PhD Scholar, saying it was the harshest among several sanctions resulting from speech-related activities. It also staged a protest against Iyengars suspension.

After public backlash against Prahlads campus ban due to an article about the pro-Palestine movement, MIT pivoted to suspending Prahlad on charges that have been resolved as informal warnings in similar scenarios," it said on X. The COD lumped Prahlads case with another ongoing disciplinary case to paint Prahlad as a repeat offender", but suddenly and arbitrarily split the case into two parts after facing significant public criticism for violating his free speech."

Prahlad said his expulsion would mark an unprecedented attack" on the rights of the student body and MIT faculty. These extraordinary actions should concern everyone on campus I dont ask that you agree with my views on these questions, but they have been subject to legitimate debate on the left for many decades and it is my First Amendment right to contribute to this discussion," he said.

A statement from Prahlad Iyengar, chief editor of Written Revolution.https://t.co/lmsuZLqh8w pic.twitter.com/6wo6hNcn24 MIT Coalition Against Apartheid (@mit_caa) November 8, 2024

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Across the country, there is a systematic effort by university administrations to suppress free speech of those who oppose the genocide in Gaza I therefore make the following call to all students, staff, and faculty of conscience at MIT: Do not let the administration control our speech and censor student-run publications," he further said.

Iyengar is appealing the decision to the Chancellor at MIT on December 11 (Friday), which is the last opportunity for him to salvage his career at the university. The decision to suspend him has highlighted the growing debate on the boundaries of free speech in American educational institutions.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: December 11, 2024, 08:26 IST
Israeli Airstrikes Pound Syria, Destroy 80% Military Assets In 'Historic' Campaign

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Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 07:45 IST

Israel launched a 48-hour campaign in Syria, destroying most of Assad's military assets to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile elements.

Israeli soldiers operate in a location given as Southern Syria after the collapse of the Assad regime. (Reuters)

Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes in Syria after President Bashar al-Assads government fell to rebel forces earlier this week, as Israeli troops pushed deeper into the country in a bid to prevent military assets from falling into the hands of terrorists".

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in a statement said that following its 48-hour campaign, it had struck a wide range of targets, including anti-aircraft batteries, Syrian Air Force airfields, and dozens of weapons production sites in Damascus, Homs and other cities.

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The IDF conducted over 350 aerial strikes, striking 130 ground assets in Syria, including weapons depots, military structures, launchers, and firing positions. The Israeli Navy also struck two Syrian Navy facilities where 15 naval vessels were docked and destroyed dozens of sea-to-sea missiles.

 In 48 hours, the IDF struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements.   : Naval Operations: Israeli Navy missile ships struck 2 Syrian Navy facilities pic.twitter.com/6N1fz7BiMF  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 10, 2024

The military estimated that it had destroyed 70-80 per cent of the former Assad regimes strategic military capabilities to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile elements, as rebel forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), an offshoot of al-Qaeda, toppled Assads government after 13 years of a gruelling civil war in the country.

Israel acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following the ouster of President Assad, though it was unclear if its soldiers had gone beyond that area. Israel denied it is advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said they intended to establish a demilitarised zone in southern Syria.

ALSO READ: Israel Seizes Syrian Golan Heights Buffer Zone: All About The Dispute & Indias Stance

If Syrias New Regime Allows Iran: Netanyahus Stark Warning

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israel carried out more than 300 airstrikes across Syria since the rebels overthrew Assad. The Observatory said Israeli troops were advancing up the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon and had come within 25 kilometres of Damascus, which the Israeli military denied.

Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have condemned Israels incursion, accusing it of exploiting the disarray in Syria and violating international law. Turkey, which backed Syrian opposition forces against Assad, also condemned Israel for displaying a mentality of an occupier".

Notably, the Assad regime was an ally of Irans so-called Axis of Resistance against Israel and the United States. As such, Syria was used as a pathway for Iranian weapons for several years, to militant groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel feared that the Syrian Armys weapons could fall into the hands of hostile forces in the country following the collapse of the Assad government, as well as the Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israeli forces moved into a roughly 400-square-kilometre buffer zone inside Syria that was established after the 1973 Mideast war, a move it said was taken to prevent attacks on its citizens.

In a message to Syrias new regime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning, saying it wants to establish relations but wont hesitate to attack if it threatens the Jewish state. We have no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of Syria. However, we do intend to do what is necessary to ensure our security."

We want to have relations with the new regime in Syria, but if this regime allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah, or attacks us, we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it," he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: If the new regime in Syria allows Iran to re-establish itself, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons to Hezbollah  we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price." pic.twitter.com/B5UTGCXoGN Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 10, 2024

Syria Names New Head Of Govt As Life Returns To Normal

Meanwhile, the rebels in power in Damascus named Mohammed al-Bashir as the head of the transitional government. The transitional government will be in place until March 1, according to the local media.

The general command has tasked us with running the transitional government until March 1," a statement attributed to Bashir was said on state televisions Telegram account, which referred to him as the new Syrian prime minister".

Meanwhile, life in the capital is now returning to normalcy following Assads collapse as private banks reopened while shops also reopened in the citys ancient Hamidiyeh market, where armed men and civilians could be seen buying perfume and ice cream.

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With the takeover of Damascus on December 8, the 13-year-long civil war in the country came to an end along with the culmination of more than 50 years of the Assad familys brutal rule.

(with inputs from agencies)

Location : Damascus, Syria

First Published: December 11, 2024, 07:43 IST
Pakistan Army Planned Brutal Crackdown On Protesting Imran Khan Supporters: Sources

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 12:38 IST

Sources added that the plan was devised to remove protesters from D-Chowk, a symbolic location in the heart of Islamabad.

Imran Khan's supporters during the rally to Islamabad | Image/AP

Did Pakistan army want to attack innocent protestors? According to top sources close to former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, leaked information has revealed that the Pakistan Army had planned a brutal crackdown on protesters.

This crackdown was planned on protests in support of the imprisoned Imran Khan. Sources said the Pakistan government wanted an attack on protesters from all sides. They had a multi-stage plan including communication blackout, snipers, tear-gas armed soldiers, strategic blockades, and the use of live ammunition," sources said.

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Sources added that the plan was devised to remove protesters from D-Chowk, a symbolic location in the heart of Islamabad.

Sources also said this was orchestrated by General Asim Munir, Pakistans Army Chief. The operation involved encircling Jinnah Avenue with shipping containers, deploying snipers, and stationing paramilitary rangers and police with teargas shells, sources said. They added that the Army wanted to blame Imran Khan for the massacre.

The protests, which took place on November 26, were called by Khan and drew thousands of supporters from across the country.

The party, Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), has also expressed concern over the use of unnecessary and excessive force" by the police, including the firing of tear gas and rubber bullets.

The situation in Pakistan remains tense, with Khans supporters continuing to demand his release and the government maintaining its tough stance against the opposition.

CNN-News18 had reported last week that Bushra Bibi was working on the payrolls of ISI and has shifted her loyalties, according to sources. Sources told CNN-News18 that Bibi has refused to take instructions from Khan, noting that the former PM wanted her to go to Juman Park after her release but it was a no-show. Instead of appearing at Juman Park, she was seen in KPK doing nothing. Despite Khans clarification that his wife is not a political leader, she released her video recordings," they said.

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Khan has been jailed since August 2023, sidelined by dozens of legal cases he claims were confected to prevent his comeback in elections this year marred by rigging allegations. Since the February vote, his party has defied a government crackdown with regular rallies.

However, last week, more than 10,000 protesters surged into the city, defying a lockdown and a ban on public gatherings to skirmish with 20,000 security forces enlisted to turn them back.

First Published: December 11, 2024, 12:33 IST
Russia Vows Retaliation After Ukrainian ATACMS Strike

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 22:54 IST

Putin called that retaliation for Kyiv firing US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow long-range missiles against targets on Russian territory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: AFP)

Russia on Wednesday vowed retribution against Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of firing Western-supplied missiles on a military airfield in its southern Rostov region.

President Vladimir Putin has previously threatened to launch a hypersonic ballistic missile at the center of Kyiv if Ukraine did not halt its attacks on Russian territory using US-supplied ATACMS missiles.

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And one US official said Wednesday that Russia might soon target Ukraine with another of its new Oreshnik missiles.

Hours after Ukraines overnight attack, Russia claimed its troops had recaptured territory in its western Kursk region, where Ukraine occupies swathes of territory.

And Putin told Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban that Kyivs destructive" approach made a peace deal impossible.

Kyiv has been on edge since Russia fired its nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile at the city of Dnipro last month in a major escalation of the nearly three-year conflict.

Putin called that retaliation for Kyiv firing US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow long-range missiles against targets on Russian territory.

In the latest attack, Russias defense ministry said Wednesday that Ukraine fired six ATACMS missiles at a military airfield in Taganrog, a port city in the southern Rostov region.

Two of the missiles were shot down by the combat crew of the Pantsir air defense system, while the others were deflected by electronic warfare equipment," the ministry added.

It said no military personnel were hurt but that falling shrapnel slightly damaged" military vehicles and buildings nearby.

This attack by Western long-range weapons will not go unanswered and appropriate measures will be taken," it added.

And one US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wednesday: Russia has signalled its intent to launch another experimental Oreshnik missile at Ukraine, potentially in the coming days."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier hailed tangible blows against Russian targets last night," which he said would help bring peace closer.

In a post on Telegram he said Ukraine had hit military facilities on the territory of Russia, as well as facilities of the fuel and energy complex, which is working for aggression against our state and people."

Ukraines general staff earlier claimed it had hit an oil depot in Russias Bryansk border region, also in an overnight strike.

Videos purportedly taken in the Bryansk region showed a distant fireball illuminating the night sky over an urban area, while air raid sirens could be heard in footage from the southern Rostov region.

Both sides have ramped up aerial attacks in recent weeks, seeking to boost their positions on the battlefield ahead as ceasefire talks build ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump coming to power next month.

Ukrainian officials said Wednesday the death toll from a Russian missile strike on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia a day earlier had climbed to nine.

And Russias army said it had recaptured two villages in the western Kursk region, where Kyiv has been waging a cross-border offensive since August.

Hungarys Orban, who met Trump in Florida earlier this week, held a call with Putin on Wednesday to discuss the Ukraine conflict, drawing scorn from Kyiv.

During the call  which was requested by Orban  Putin said that Ukraine had adopted a destructive" position that ruled out any agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.

The Kremlin said Orban had expressed interest in assisting the joint search for political-diplomatic paths to resolve the crisis."

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Zelensky blasted Orban for talking to the Kremlin leader, saying it risked undermining European unity against Russia.

No one should boost (their) personal image at the expense of unity, everyone should focus on shared success. Unity in Europe has always been key to achieving it," Zelensky said in a post on X.

Location : Moscow, Russia

First Published: December 11, 2024, 22:54 IST
'Top Priority': Trump On Solving Ukraine Crisis, Calls Middle East "Less Difficult Situation'

Published By :

AFP

Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 14:07 IST

Trump had recently appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris.

Trump had called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and said it would his top priority after taking office.

Donald Trump said solving the Ukraine crisis would be his top priority once he assumes office next month, describing the Middle East as a less difficult situation."

I think we have to solve the Ukraine problem with Russia," the US President-elect told French magazine Paris Match in an interview recorded on Saturday and released on Wednesday.

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Both those countries are losing numbers that nobody can believe. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers are being killed," Trump said, replying to a question about his top priority on the international stage.

And the Middle East is of course a big priority. But I think that the Middle East is a less difficult situation than Ukraine with Russia," Trump said.

But those are the two situations that we have to solve and we have to solve them quickly. A lot of people are dying."

Trump flew to Paris for the Saturday reopening of Notre Dame cathedral following a devastating fire in 2019. He met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to France, his first international trip since his re-election.

We had a good meeting with President Zelenskyy," Trump said.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said he was grateful for Trumps strong resolve" to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump once boasted he could end the Ukraine conflict in 24 hours.

On Sunday he wrote on his Truth Social platform that there should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin."

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He also reiterated his call for Washington not to intervene in Syria where longtime president Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels in a lightning offensive at the weekend.

Syria will have to take care of itself," Trump said in the interview. We are not involved in Syria."

Location : Paris, France

First Published: December 11, 2024, 14:07 IST
UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder Suspect Has Outburst Before Entering Court, Yells Completely Out of

Curated By :

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Last Updated: December 11, 2024, 08:40 IST

In court, Mangione appeared calm, looking around at the reporters, counting them, and even smiling at times

Police drag the suspect to the court as he yells at the press. (Screengrab/X)

Key suspect in last weeks killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, Luigi Mangione, had an outburst just before his extradition hearing on murder charges on Tuesday afternoon.

Just before entering the courthouse, Mangione was seen on video pulling away from Blair County Sheriffs deputies and yelling at the press, This is completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience!" He stopped when pinned against a wall and forced inside. It was unclear what prompted his outburst.

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Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, yells to the press as he is taken into court for his extradition hearing:completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people!" pic.twitter.com/wKymRxGvUW  The Recount (@therecount) December 10, 2024

Mangione was denied bail, but he contested extradition to New York. Pennsylvania now has 30 days to secure a warrant for his extradition from Governor Kathy Hochul. He was remanded to the State Correctional Institution in Huntingdon County.

Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks said, Were in the process of securing a governors warrant from New York, and well be ready when the judge schedules the hearing to return him to New York."

The extradition process could take up to 30 days.

Mangiones newly appointed defense attorney, Thomas Dickie, told reporters outside the courthouse, If you believe in the American criminal justice system, you must presume him innocent. None of us would want anything different if we were in his shoes."

In court, Mangione appeared calm, looking around at the reporters, counting them, and even smiling at times. He briefly interrupted his attorney, who quickly quieted him.

The 26-year-old former Ivy League student was arrested on Monday. New Yorks police commissioner said he was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the ambush.

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He was taken into custody after police were alerted by a McDonalds employee that he had been spotted at the outlet in Pennsylvania, said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Apart from the gun, police also recovered clothing, including a mask consistent with those worn by the wanted individual. Also recovered was a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching the ID our suspect used to check into his New York City hostel before the shooting incident," Tisch said.

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: December 11, 2024, 08:34 IST
Israel said Tuesday it had bombed more than 350 military sites in Syria during the previous 48 hours, targeting "most of the strategic weapons stockpiles" in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian government's stunning collapse, the AP reports. Israel also acknowledged its troops were pushing into a border buffer zone inside Syria, which was established after the 1973 Mideast war. However, Israel denied its forces were advancing Tuesday toward the Syrian capital of Damascus.
In a troubling incident in Sydney's Woollahra suburb, vandals set a car on fire and sprayed anti-Israel graffiti, heightening concerns in Australia's largest Jewish community. This attack comes amid a rise in antisemitic crimes across the nation, prompting the establishment of a federal task force. Police are hunting for two young suspects, between 15 and 20 years old, observed wearing masks and dark attire at the scene.

An arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue last week marks an escalation in such incidents linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which ignited over a year ago. Authorities have classified that attack as a terrorist act, unlocking additional investigative resources. Special Operation Avalite has been launched to address antisemitic acts across the country, including the recent targeting of Melbourne lawmaker Josh Burns' office and another car in Woollahra.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the Woollahra attack as a hate crime, calling on Australians to reject antisemitism. "This isn't an attack on a government, this is an attack on people because they happen to be Jewish," he stated, emphasizing that such acts are contrary to Australian values. Critics, however, argue that Albanese's government has been hesitant to address the surge in antisemitism robustly, potentially emboldening offenders. Adding to concerns, the Simon Wiesenthal Center issued a travel warning for Jews in Australia, citing inadequate responses from authorities against ongoing harassment and violence. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
An East Coast storm, influenced by an atmospheric river and a developing bomb cyclone, is set to hit from Tuesday night to Wednesday night. Forecasts anticipate intense rain, strong winds, and potential flooding, with gusts possibly exceeding 60mph. Utilities are preparing for power outages, and regions such as New England could endure freezing rain and unseasonably warm temperaturesin the same day. Maine, in particular, is readying for a "multifaceted storm," expecting two to three inches of rain.

The phenomenon behind this storm, called bombogenesis, involves the rapid intensification of a cyclone, which can lead to severe weather conditions. Derek Schroeter from the National Weather Service forecasts a risk of slick roads and flash flooding as temperatures rise. Affected areas, including Vermont, have been issued a flood watch, with precautions advised for residents. As the storm approaches, some Maine schools delayed classes on Tuesday, which began with several inches of snow.

Vermont officials are advising locals in flood-prone areas to safeguard belongings. Montpelier is actively working with the National Weather Service to track river levels as the storm progresses. Meanwhile, Northeast ski resorts are alerting visitors to expect challenging conditions. Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont suggests packing waterproof gear, highlighting the need to prepare for a wet weather experience on Wednesday. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
Protesters calling on Kenya's president to declare a national crisis following 97 femicides in three months were met with tear gas and arrests on Tuesday. Fed up with the trauma and tragedy of mutilated and tortured bodies, protesters took to the streets of Nairobi demanding police do more to stop gender-based violence. Femicide has long been an endemic problem in the country, yet the targeted murders of at least 97 women due to their gender from August to October represent "a staggering toll even in Kenya," reports the New York Times . That's up from 75 recorded femicides in 2022, per Al Jazeera . Police noted an alleged serial killer, accused of killing 42 women since 2022 , had inside help in escaping custody .

President William Ruto committed $770,000 for a campaign to end femicide after a November report highlighted the 97 cases and "the brutality in which these femicides are carried out," but protesters say that's not enough. They want more money for the cause and a special category of crime to address gender-motivated killings, per the Times. Hundreds of women marched toward parliament, chanting "stop killing women," "shame on you," and "teach your sons," per Al Jazeera. The outlet reports the protest was peaceful and it's unclear why police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. At least three people were arrested, including Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty International Kenya, per Reuters.

One protester told the AP she suffered a neck injury at the hands of police. "It is very sad that I was injured while championing for women not to be injured or killed," the woman said. "If the president is serious about ending femicide, let him start by taking action on the officers who have brutalized us today." In a joint statement, Amnesty International and the Law Society of Kenya said the "violent" police response was "a direct attack on Kenya's democratic principles and the human rights of its citizens." This comes after police in Kenya opened fire on antigovernment protesters over the summer, killing at least 60 people, per Al Jazeera. (An Olympic runner was a victim of femicide in September.)
Exxon Mobil currently runs gas power plants in Texas, Louisiana, and Illinois to power its own operations. The plant it's planning next will be its first to supply electricity to others: specifically, data centers, and soon. The New York Times reports America's biggest oil and gas company is "get[ting] into the power business." The company says it has secured land in an undisclosed location and expects to be operational within five years, so long as the customer demand it expects pans out. Its design calls for a natural-gas fueled plant with a system in place to capture upward of 90% of the carbon dioxide emissions created by the facility.

The Times notes that would place the plant among a small number of facilities with that costly technology in place; it also wouldn't be connected to the electric grid, which the Times calls an "unusual setup" that would eliminate the sometimes time-intensive step of getting such a connection approved. "There are very few opportunities in the short term to power those data centers and do it in a way that at the same time minimizes, if not completely eliminates, the emissions," CEO Darren Woods told reporters Wednesday. The price tag for the potential plant wasn't disclosed.

What the Times sees in the move: "That such a project is on the table at Exxon, a company that has previously dismissed the idea of investing in the power business, shows just how much the growth of data centers and the rise of artificial intelligence are reshaping the energy industry." (Meta recently announced new data center plans of its own.)
"I haven't seen any evidence that they have the right guy," Thomas Dickey, a lawyer for Luigi Mangione, said Tuesday. The NYPD says otherwise. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday that the gun found on the 26-year-old is a match for the shell casings found at the site where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down in Manhattan a week ago. She added that Mangione's fingerprints match those on a water bottle and protein bar wrapper found near the scene; they were purchased by the gunman from a coffee shop prior to the shooting. More:

A notebook: A law enforcement source tells CNN that in addition to a handwritten 262-word "manifesto," Mangione was also carrying a spiral notebook detailing his plans when he was arrested in Pennsylvania on Monday. The source says the notebook included "to-do lists" connected to the CEO's shooting. The source says Mangione wrote that he had decided to shoot Thompson because using a bomb "could kill innocents."
Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman whose disappearance prompted a massive search, has been found safe, the Los Angeles Police Department said Wednesday. Kobayashi vanished last month in Los Angeles, and her disappearance prompted a massive search and a missing persons investigation. Other details about her disappearance, as well as where and how she was found, were not immediately available, but police previously said she had voluntarily crossed the border into Mexico, the AP reports. "We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe," the LAPD said in a statement. "Now that we have this new information, this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation."

Kobayashi's mother and sister, in a statement through their lawyer, were the first to announce the development Wednesday. "We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe," Brandi Yee and Sydni Kobayashi wrote. "This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us."

Kobayashi was heading to New York City on Nov. 8 when she missed a connecting flight during a stop at Los Angeles International Airport. Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov. 11 after relatives received "strange and cryptic, just alarming" text messages, according to her aunt Larie Pidgeon. Family members, friends, and local volunteers searched for Hannah in Los Angeles. Her father died in an apparent suicide near the airport on Nov. 24.

story continues below

Police said Kobayashi walked into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing on Nov. 12, the day after her family reported her missing. Kobayashi disappeared voluntarily as she sought to "step away from modern connectivity," Jim McDonnell, the LA police chief, previously said. Lt. Doug Oldfield with the LAPD's missing persons unit tells People that Kobayashi's family didn't share her current location, but authorities have not been notified that she's crossed back into the US. (More missing woman stories.)
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TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received Dr. George Cheriyan, CEO of the American Mission Hospital (AMH), accompanied by a delegation from the Mayo Clinic, at Al Safriya Palace yesterday.

The visit marked the signing of a cooperation agreement between Mayo Clinic and King Hamad American Mission Hospital in Bahrain. HM the King welcomed Dr. Cheriyan and the Mayo Clinic delegation, commending the agreement as a significant milestone in fostering strategic partnerships, advancing medical expertise, and enhancing healthcare services for patients. He highlighted AMHs long-standing commitment to providing top-tier healthcare to citizens and residents.

Dr. Cheriyan expressed gratitude to His Majesty for the unwavering support extended to AMH and its staff since its establishment in Bahrain, reflecting the enduring Bahraini-American friendship and joint efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A plan to create a women-only college at the University of Bahrain cleared Parliament yesterday, despite warnings from critics that it could reinforce outdated views on womens education.

MP Bader Al Tamimi, who proposed the idea, argued that a dedicated institution for female students would offer a more focused learning environment, free from distractions, while promoting privacy and comfort.

He pointed to the success of a private womens university already operating in Bahrain, calling it a proven success on the ground. He also cited studies suggesting that reduced gender interaction in classrooms improves students ability to concentrate.

This proposal is about creating an environment where female students can fully focus on their education, he said. Not everyone agreed.

Insult

MP Zainab Abdulameer sharply criticised the rationale behind the proposal, calling it a grave insult to Bahraini women.

While she accepted that establishing a womens college could be beneficial in certain respects, she rejected the notion that women need separation from men to thrive academically.

Implication

If this proposal is passed based on the idea that women need isolation to concentrate, I absolutely cannot support it, she said. The implication that women are incapable of focusing in mixed-gender environments is both offensive and unfounded.

Examples

Abdulameer drew on historical examples, noting that women have played central roles in society for centuries.

She referenced the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), when women actively contributed to wars, provided medical aid, and took part in public life.

Women participated in wars, offered medical aid, and played key roles in social development. Were they ever considered less capable? Of course not, she said.

Unrealistic

MP Jalal Kadhem also opposed the proposal, calling its reasoning unrealistic.

He rejected the argument that separating students by gender leads to better academic results, pointing out that Bahraini women consistently outperform men in mixed-gender learning settings.

The ongoing academic success of female students across all fields proves that gender separation does not lead to better results, he said.

Priority

Kadhem argued that improving the overall education system should be the priority, rather than creating gender-segregated institutions.

He added that learning alongside peers of different genders better prepares students for real-world careers.

Mixing male and female students in a respectful and well-managed environment builds the skills they need for the workplace, he said.

Success

He also mentioned the success of male students in Bahrains early childhood education system, which has traditionally been a female-led environment.

The evidence clearly supports mixed learning. Gender segregation doesnt match the countrys educational goals, he added.

The Ministry of Education also expressed reservations, warning that a separate womens college would disrupt the University of Bahrains longterm plans.

Concerns

The Ministry highlighted concerns over the viability of existing degree programmes, many of which already face low student numbers. Splitting the university by gender would require a major reshuffle of academic offerings, potentially forcing some programmes to close.

Many programmes already face challenges with student numbers, the ministry explained, adding that a separate womens college would require a complete restructuring of academic offerings and long-term strategies.

Research

The ministry also referred to research showing that mixed-gender learning environments tend to produce more dynamic and engaging classroom discussions.

The interaction between students of both genders fosters creativity and a lively exchange of ideas that would be lost in a single-gender setting, officials said.
NORTH BAY, ON, Dec. 9, 2024 /CNW/ - The First Peoples' Centre at Canadore College is helping to preserve the language of the Maleku, a small Indigenous community in Costa Rica, with the help of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

Canadore College facilitates collaboration between Indigenous communities to preserve language through AI (CNW Group/Canadore College)

"More than 650 people of the Maleku communities will have the opportunity to learn and teach their language, Maleku Jaika, to the next generations," said Jessenia Vasquez Quesada, Maleku College Partner, Cost Rica. "They have Maleku Jaika without technology, but it is difficult because they do not have enough books, documents, teachers, or budget. With an application and technology, it will be easier to learn the language."

"Language is the foundation of our cultures and revitalizing it, both locally and globally, is essential to reclaiming our identities," said Sarah Julian, Director, Canadore College's First Peoples' Centre and Indigenous Engagement. "While much work remains within our own Indigenous communities, supporting global language revitalization fosters a shared movement, strengthening our collective resilience and amplifying our voice. By collaborating across borders we gain valuable knowledge, resources, and solidarity which, in turn, can inspire and inform our efforts with our own communities."

The project highlights Camb.ai's AI-powered speech and translation tool which enables content dubbing into over 140 languages using their proprietary AI models. The innovative technology is widely used in many applications including the film industry for dialogue translation. Canadore College students will apply this cutting-edge technology to produce real-time translations into the Maleku language, supporting efforts to preserve and share the community's linguistic heritage.

"Working on Indigenous language preservation not only fits our mission as a business but helps preserve languages on the brink of extinction which, in turn, preserves the very fabric of such cultures," says Akshat Prakash, co-founder. "For Camb.ai, this is an extremely gratifying project. To be able to help preserve a language, a culture, and an entire heritage goes beyond any business satisfaction. This project will lay the foundation for cultural preservation for the world to emulate, and that brings us tremendous gratification."

The groundwork for this initiative began nearly two years ago with a small group of Canadore students traveling to Costa Rica. A second group visited in March 2024 with financial support from the Global Skills Opportunity Fund, a program supported by Colleges and Institutes Canada. During their time in Costa Rica, the students immersed themselves in the Maleku cultural practices, fostering relationships and an understanding of the community's goals.

"Canadore College is proud to collaborate with the Maleku community on a significant initiative to preserve their language," said George Burton, President and CEO. "The College is committed to supporting the project respectfully, in partnership with Camb.ai and the Maleku people."

Canadore College trains people through applied learning, leadership, and innovation. It provides access to over 80 full-time quality programs and has outstanding faculty and provides success services to students from nearly 400 Canadian communities and 25 international countries. The College, its students, and alumni add $402.5 million to the Nipissing Parry Sound service area economy. Approximately 1,000 students graduate from Canadore each year, and they join 78,000 alumni working across the globe. Canadore receives less than 50 per cent of its traditional funding from the provincial Ministry of Colleges and Universities and relies on its own innovation and entrepreneurial endeavours and generous donors for the balance.

SOURCE Canadore College

Media contact - Cindy Males, Public Relations and Communications Specialist, 705-475-2538, [email protected]
Two thirds of residents making compromises on holiday travel

TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2024 /CNW/ - A recent survey by Ipsos on behalf of Simplii Financial reveals that financial constraints are keeping many Canadians at home this holiday season. Almost eighty percent of respondents (79 per cent) feel that travel has become less affordable over the past five years.

"Canadians are feeling cost pressures in all areas of life and they're asking themselves whether holiday travel fits into their budgets," says Atanaska Novakova Executive Vice-President, and Head, Simplii Financial. "As a result, many are making trade-offs to manage costs, or are foregoing travel entirely in the near term."

Two thirds of Canadians (68 per cent) say they are making compromises when it comes to holiday travel Post this

In total, just over two thirds of Canadians (68 per cent) say they are making compromises when it comes to holiday travel. More than half (56 per cent) say they'd like to travel but it's unaffordable.

Of those who are planning to travel, the majority are taking shorter trips and staying within Canada.

52 per cent say they are opting to stay within their home province.

37 per cent of those travelling will be heading to international destinations, with the United States (42 per cent), and Mexico and the Caribbean (26 per cent) as the most popular vacation spots.

(42 per cent), and and the (26 per cent) as the most popular vacation spots. Asked how they plan to reduce travel costs this year, Canadians say they will be choosing cheaper accommodations (23 per cent), and reducing airfare costs by flying off-peak (18 per cent) or using discount airlines (16 per cent).

Some tips from Simplii Financial on how people can manage the cost of holiday travel include:

Booking flights as early as possible  While many travel plans are already firmed up for this year, it's a good time to start thinking about next year. Not only are flights generally cheaper the earlier you get them, but opting for cancellable tickets may allow you to re-book later if you find a cheaper fare.

Getting cash back on food and drinks  If you know you're going to be splashing out, a cash-back credit card like the Simplii Cash Back Visa might be your best choice, since it earns up to 4 per cent on eligible restaurant, bar, coffee shop, food delivery, and even catering purchases.

Travelling off-peak  Convenience often comes at a cost, but you don't need to take a red-eye to get a good deal. In many cases flying on weekdays, especially around mid-week, can save money and help you avoid heavier airport traffic around the weekend.

Disclaimer

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between November 8 and 15, on behalf of Simplii Financial. For this survey, a sample of 1,500 Canadians aged 18+ were interviewed online. Sample was sourced from the Ipsos panel. Weighting was employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadians been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population.

About Simplii

Simplii Financial provides direct banking services to approximately 2 million Canadians with 24/7 access to online, mobile, and telephone banking with no monthly fees. Simplii clients can also access one of the largest national ATM networks through CIBC. For more information about Simplii Financial, please visit www.simplii.com or by following on X @SimpliiFin, Instagram @SimpliiFin, or on Facebook.

SOURCE Simplii Financial

Benjamin Wylie, 647-212-2836 / [email protected]
TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2024 /CNW/ - NetraMark Holdings Inc. (the "Company" or "NetraMark") (CSE: AIAI) (OTCQB: AINMF) (Frankfurt: 8TV) a premier artificial intelligence (AI) company that is transforming clinical trials in the pharmaceutical industry, is proud to announce that Angelico Carta, MD, Co-Founder of Worldwide Clinical Trials (Worldwide) will officially consult to NetraMark as Chief Strategy Officer, while continuing in his role as Strategic Advisor to Worldwide.

Dr. Carta brings over 35 years of expertise in clinical development and strategy, including co-founding Worldwide, a leading global Contract Research Organization (CRO) operating in more than 60 countries with over 3,600 employees. Dr. Carta's leadership in Worldwide's global scaling and his strategic insights have been instrumental in delivering value across the clinical research space.

Dr. Carta's credentials include a career working with a vast number of pharmaceutical companies globally. He has authorship of 30 influential papers on clinical neuropsychopharmacology, along with six reference texts focused on Alzheimer's disease, antipsychotic drugs, and Central Nervous System (CNS) drug development. This foundation in both clinical research and strategic growth aligns powerfully with NetraMark's mission

"We are thrilled to welcome Angelico to NetraMark," said George Achilleos, CEO of NetraMark. "His current role at Worldwide is of great value to NetraMark, as we work to broaden NetraMark's partnerships and go-to-market strategy. His deep industry insights and history of delivering impactful strategies will accelerate our vision to revolutionize clinical trials through our advanced AI technologies. With Angelico, we strengthen our leadership team's ability to drive sustained growth and value."

In his role as Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Carta will guide NetraMark's long-term strategy, with a focus on:

Shaping the Company's go-to-market approach for its core AI offerings.

Leveraging his extensive network to support platform commercialization.

Representing NetraMark at key industry events and forums.

Advising on capital strategies to bolster company growth.

"I am thrilled to serve in this role at NetraMark, in particular while I continue to serve Worldwide, as I envision many possible synergies between Worldwide and NetraMark. I view NetraMark as a company at the forefront of innovation in artificial intelligence and precision medicine. NetraMark's commitment to revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry aligns perfectly with my passion for driving impactful change. I look forward to collaborating with this talented team to enhance clinical trials and improve patient outcomes globally."

With Dr. Carta's appointment, NetraMark is primed to extend its industry leadership, leveraging AI to enhance precision medicine, optimize response prediction in clinical trials, and accelerate the development of life-saving treatments.

About NetraAI

In contrast to other AI-based methods, NetraAI is uniquely engineered to include focus mechanisms that separate small datasets into explainable and unexplainable subsets. Unexplainable subsets are collections of patients that can lead to suboptimal overfit models and inaccurate insights due to poor correlations with the variables involved. The NetraAI uses the explainable subsets to derive insights and hypotheses (including factors that influence treatment and placebo responses, as well as adverse events) providing the potential to increase the chances of a clinical trial success. Many other AI methods lack these focus mechanisms and assign every patient to a class, often leading to "overfitting" which drowns out critical information that could have been used to improve a trial's chance of success.

About NetraMark

NetraMark is a company focused on being a leader in the development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI)/Machine Learning (ML) solutions targeted at the Pharmaceutical industry. Its product offering uses a novel topology-based algorithm that has the ability to parse patient data sets into subsets of people that are strongly related according to several variables simultaneously. This allows NetraMark to use a variety of ML methods, depending on the character and size of the data, to transform the data into powerfully intelligent data that activates traditional AI/ML methods. The result is that NetraMark can work with much smaller datasets and accurately segment diseases into different types, as well as accurately classify patients for sensitivity to drugs and/or efficacy of treatment.

For further details on the Company please see the Company's publicly available documents filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval+ (SEDAR+).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation including statements regarding the Company's appointment of Dr. Carta as Chief Strategy Officer and his potential impact on the Company's business and ability to engage with target markets,accelerate our vision to revolutionize clinical trials and strengthen our leadership team's ability to drive sustained growth and value. which are based upon NetraMark's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, and views of future events. Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate" and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "would" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking information includes estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. The forward-looking statements are expectations only and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results of the Company or industry results to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, NetraMark does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for NetraMark to predict all such factors.

When considering these forward-looking statements, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements as set out in the materials we file with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca including our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended September 30, 2023. These risk factors and other factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE NetraMark Holdings Inc.

Contact Information: Swapan Kakumanu - CFO | [email protected] | 403-681-2549
Emerald Lens Initiative to Spotlight Irish Cinema and Co-Production Opportunities

WHISTLER, BC, Dec. 10, 2024 /CNW/ - Ireland has been named the 2024 Country of Focus at the Whistler Film Festival, which will run from December 48, 2024. The Emerald Lens: A Canada-Ireland Film initiative will foster opportunities for co-production, cultural exchange, and the celebration of rich storytelling traditions as well as highlight the many reasons to visit the island of Ireland in 2025 and beyond.

The Emerald Lens: Ireland as Country of Focus at Whistler Film Festival (CNW Group/Tourism Ireland)

Festival goers will have the opportunity to experience Ireland's warm Irish welcome with an Industry Apres Reception, hosted by Tourism Ireland on Thursday, December 5 in celebration of the four feature films presented as part of the Emerald Lens and enjoy some highlights of Irish programming. This exclusive networking event will provide a unique opportunity for Canadian and Irish filmmakers to connect in an informal setting, deepening collaborative ties and celebrating the creative synergies, while media and other guests will get a taste of what's on offer across the Emerald Isle.

Ireland's landscapes and historic sites have long served as stunning backdrops for iconic films and television series, but the island's people are just as integral to its cinematic magic. Known for their warm welcome, wit, and storytelling abilities, Irish actors have captivated audiences worldwide.

Recently, Achill Island and Inis Mor starred in the nine-time Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin, while television fans celebrated the Emmy-winning Derry Girls and Emmy-nominated Bad Sisters. In a historic first, an Irish actor took home the Oscar for Best Actor in 2024, with Cillian Murphy earning the accolade for his unforgettable performance in Oppenheimer. Looking ahead to awards season in 2025, Emmy-nominated Paul Mescal is poised to continue Ireland's winning streak as he takes the lead in Gladiator.

Other cinematic highlights include:

Skellig Michael, County Kerry  featured as Luke Skywalker's sanctuary in Star Wars: The Last Jedi .

 featured as sanctuary in . County Sligo & Trinity College, Dublin  captured hearts worldwide in Normal People .

 captured hearts worldwide in . Curracloe Beach, County Wexford  transformed into Omaha Beach in Saving Private Ryan .

 transformed into Omaha Beach in . Cong, County Mayo  a pilgrimage site for fans of The Quiet Man .

 a pilgrimage site for fans of . Trim Castle, County Meath  an unforgettable setting in Braveheart .

. Cliffs of Moher, County Galway  a portal to a world where magic meets reality in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

 a portal to a world where magic meets reality in The Dark Hedges, County Antrim  forever immortalized as the Kings Road in Game of Thrones.

With its rich tapestry of cinematic settings, Ireland invites travellers to step into the worlds of their favourite films, offering the chance to experience the magic of its breathtaking locations firsthand. Plus, with year-round access from Canada to Ireland, it's easier than ever for Canadian travellers to embark on their own cinematic adventure on the island of Ireland.

"We are delighted that Ireland has been selected as the Country of Focus for the 2024 Whistler Film Festival through the Emerald Lens initiative" said Sandra Moffatt, Director  Canada, Tourism Ireland. "Ireland has long captured the imagination of filmmakers and audiences worldwide, with its stunning landscapes and historic sites providing the perfect backdrop for iconic films and TV series. With a rich storytelling tradition and world-class production facilities, Ireland continues to cement its place as a global hub for film and television  creating endless inspiration for travellers to walk in the footsteps of the stars"

SOURCE Tourism Ireland

For further information contact: Jocelyn Black, Senior Publicity Executive, Tourism Ireland, [email protected]; Sandra Bailey Moffatt, Director - Canada, Tourism Ireland, [email protected]
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On December 2, Dongfeng Motor's passenger vehicle overseas marketing department held a press conference in Riga, Latvia, announcing the entry of DONGFENG and its sub-brands, including VOYAH and MHERO, into the Latvian market. This event marks a significant step in Dongfeng Motor's expansion into Europe.

Photo credit: Dongfeng Motor

During the launch event, a range of vehicle models were showcased, including the DONGFENG BOX, VOYAH COURAGE, VOYAH FREE, and MHERO 1, drawing significant attention from attendees. Additionally, the Dongfeng e007 and e008 highlighted the company's comprehensive strategy in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector.

H.E. Mr. Tang Songgen delivering speech; photo credit: Dongfeng Motor

China's Ambassador to Latvia, H.E. Mr. Tang Songgen, delivered a speech at the event, commending the collaboration between Dongfeng Motor and its local partner WESS. He emphasized that Dongfeng's entry into the Latvian market would strengthen China-Latvia economic and cultural ties and deepen bilateral relations.

Dongfeng Motor's foray into Latvia demonstrates the company's commitment to professional service and its ambitions in the European market. By establishing a strong brand presence, the Chinese automaker aims to bring innovative and high-quality mobility experiences to consumers in Latvia and the broader Baltic region.
As 2024 approaches its end, car manufacturers are ramping up their sales efforts, leading to a wave of new car launches in December. According to incomplete statistics from Gasgoo, 10 major new models will hit the market in December, covering both new energy vehicles (NEVs) and traditional oil-fueled vehicles. Among these, much-anticipated models include the NIO ET9, Lynk & Co Z20, Geely Starship 7 EM-i, and Hongqi Tian Gong 08. This article provides a rundown of the new cars to be launched in December.

Launched Models

AVATR 11 Range Extended Electric Version

-Launch Date: December 2

-Price: 279,900 yuan to 429,900 yuan

The AVATR 11 introduced its range extended electric version (REEV) alongside a facelift for the existing battery-electric version (BEV). The new model offers five variants with two powertrain options.

Photo credit: AVATR

The exterior design is almost identical to the AVATR 11 BEV variant, with the addition of a front grille. The vehicle measures 4,895mm in length, 1,970mm in width, and 1,601mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,975mm and a 5-seat layout.

Photo credit: AVATR

The AVATR 11 REEV edition features AVATR's self-developed Kunlun range extension technology. It is equipped with CATL's supercharging battery, providing a CLTC-rated combined range of 1,065 km. Charging from 30% to 80% of its battery capacity takes just 15 minutes, and the WLTC fuel consumption in power-deplete mode is as low as 6.2 liters/100 km.

Lynk & Co Z10 4WD Halo Edition

- Launch Date: December 2

- Price: Starting at 229,800 yuan

The Lynk & Co Z10 95kWh 702km 4WD Halo edition has officially hit the market, bridging the gap between the existing rear-wheel-drive Smart Max and four-wheel-drive Smart Ultra versions.

Photo credit: Lynk & Co

The exterior features a Y- shaped daytime running light and a large black grille, adding to its sporty appeal.

Photo credit: Lynk & Co

Powered by a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system based on an 800V platform, the Z10 Halo edition has a 95kWh battery and offers a range of 702 km. It can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, with a peak power output of 580 kW, and features 21-inch wheels with four-piston calipers.

Second-generation Haval H9 Diesel Edition

-Launch Date: December 5

-Price: 239,900 yuan to 247,900 yuan

The second-generation Haval H9's diesel version comes with two variants. It adopts a boxy design with a prominent front grille and square headlights with round inserts.

Photo credit: Haval

It is powered by a 2.4T diesel engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, delivering up to 135 kW of net power and 480 Nm of peak torque.

Galaxy Starship 7 EM-i

-Launch Date: December 6

-Price: 103,800 yuan to 136,800 yuan

The Galaxy Starship 7 EM-i's exterior showcases a sleek, tech-focused aesthetic. The front features a closed-off grille and a striking, star-ringed LED light strip that spans the vehicle's width, creating a highly recognizable look. Vent-inspired designs on either side of the front bumper form an "X" shape with the grille, enhancing its bold appearance. Muscular lines along the hood add to the SUV's aggressive stance.

Photo credit: Geely

As a compact SUV, the Galaxy Starship 7 EM-i measures 4,740mm in length, 1,905mm in width, and 1,685mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,755mm, slightly longer than the L7 but with a marginally shorter wheelbase.

Photo credit: Geely

The Starship 7 EM-i is powered by Geely's latest NordThor EM-i super hybrid system, delivering a combined range of 1,420km.

Upcoming Models

Chery Fulwin A8L C-DM

-Launch Date: December 17

-Price: Expected to start around 239,800 yuan

The Chery Fulwin A8L C-DM, a new energy vehicle model under Chery's Fulwin range, will officially hit the market on December 17. It features Chery's Lion 5.0 smart cockpit, including a 15.6-inch center display powered by the Qualcomm 8155 chipset.

Photo credit: Fulwin

The new model is upgraded with a new octagonal front face, with optional black trimmings between the front grille and fog lights.

The A8L C-DM is powered by a 1.5T engine combined with a C-DM plug-in hybrid system, delivering a maximum power of 115 kW. The battery is provided by Gotion Hi-Tech.

Chery iCAR V23

-Launch Date: Expected mid-December

-Pre-sale Price: 110,000 to 150,000 yuan

The iCAR V23 is the second mass-produced model under Chery's young new energy vehicle brand iCAR, and its pre-sale price is already released. The first V23 previously rolled off the production line on December 2.

Photo credit: iCAR

The rugged all-electric SUV features a boxy design and high stance. The vehicle offers both single-motor and dual-motor options, with a maximum power of 100 kW for the single-motor version and 155 kW for the dual-motor version.

Photo credit: iCAR

The single-motor variant has a range of 401 km, while the dual-motor model reaches 501 km under the CLTC standard.

Hongqi Tian Gong 08

-Launch Date: Expected mid-December

-Pre-sale Price: Starting at 239,800 yuan

The Hongqi Tian Gong 08, based on Hongqi's latest Tian Gong electric vehicle platform and the Jiu Zhang intelligent platform, is a large luxury SUV. The model kicked off pre-sale at the Auto Guangzhou 2024, with official market release expected in mid-December.

Photo credit: Hongqi

As the first model riding on the Tian Gong platform, the Tian Gong 08 features a closed front face and striking split-type headlights.

Photo credit: Hongqi

Depending on the configuration, the Tian Gong 08 features 75 kWh, 85 kWh, or 111 kWh battery pack options, providing a range of up to 520 km. The vehicle also offers air suspension, CDC dampers, and rear-wheel steering.

NIO ET9

-Launch Date: December 21

-Pre-sale Price: 800,000 yuan

The NIO ET9 will officially hit the market on December 21. The luxury electric sedan has already entered the pre-sale phase with a price of 800,000 yuan. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025.

Photo credit: NIO

Positioned as a flagship model embodying NIO's advanced technology, the ET9 features a comprehensive 900V high-voltage platform, the Sky Ride smart chassis system, SkyOS all-domain operating system, steer-by-wire technology, rear-wheel steering, and a fully active suspension system.

Photo credit: NIO

Notably, the ET9 introduces dual wide-angle LiDAR sensors integrated into the side metal fenders and debuts 4D millimeter-wave imaging radar.

Under the hood, the NIO ET9 is powered by a silicon carbide-based high-performance electric four-wheel drive system. The front asynchronous induction motor generates a maximum output of 180 kW, while the rear permanent magnet synchronous motor delivers 340 kW, achieving a peak torque of 5,000 Nm and a top speed of over 20,000 rpm.

Lynk & Co Z20

-Launch Date: December 22

-Pre-orders price: Starting at 146,000 yuan

Lynk & Co's first fully electric SUV, the Lynk & Co Z20, has officially opened for pre-orders with a starting price of 146,000 yuan. The model is said to hit the market on December 22.

Photo credit: Lynk & Co

The Z20 is built on Geely's SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform, positioning it as a compact electric SUV. Its design follows Lynk & Co's signature "THE NEXT DAY" design language, featuring a closed front grille with sharp lines and distinctive "h"-shaped LED daytime running lights, which enhance its visual identity and road presence.

Photo credit: Lynk & Co

In terms of performance, the Z20 boasts a front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent suspension system, optimized for electric vehicle dynamics. The pre-sale model delivers a combined motor output of 250 kW, a peak torque of 373 Nm, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds.

JETOUR Freelancer

-Launch Date: Expected in December

-Price: Not yet disclosed

JETOUR's new rugged SUV, the Freelancer (name translated from "Ziyouzhe" in Chinese), is set to go on sale in December following its global premiere at this year's Auto Guangzhou, where it also opened for intention pre-orders.

Photo credit: JETOUR

The Freelancer adopts the design language of the JETOUR T1, featuring a classic boxy silhouette that exudes toughness and off-road appeal. With a body length exceeding 4.7 meters, the SUV commands a strong road presence. Inside, the vehicle offers a modern tech-forward cabin, equipped with a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch floating central control screen. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset and supports L2+ advanced driver assistance systems.

Under the hood, the Freelancer provides two powertrain options: a 1.5T and a 2.0T engine, both paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, the model comes with towing certification, catering to outdoor enthusiasts and camping aficionados looking for greater versatility.
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.

Honda Motor's China retail sales reach 76,773 vehicles in November 2024

Honda Motor announced that its retail sales in China reached 76,773 vehicles in November 2024, resulting in a year-to-date volume of 740,399 vehicles, according to the company's official website.



Honda BREEZE PHEV; photo credit: Honda Motor

Beijing's authority releases first integrated vehicle-road-cloud local standards for autonomous driving

Recently, the Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation officially released the first batch of four local standards for the integration of vehicle, road, and cloud systems, aimed at supporting the expansion of the city's advanced autonomous driving demonstration zone.

The new standards are based on the Guidelines on the Construction of the National Internet of Vehicles Industry Standard System and the practical experiences from the construction of Beijing's advanced autonomous driving demonstration zone. To date, Beijing's authority has issued 9 local standards related to autonomous driving, with 9 more expected to be implemented by next year.

Leapmotor's compact SUV B10 said to hit market in March 2025

The B10, a new compact SUV under Leapmotor, is set to go on sale in March 2025, according to a local media outlet. The model, built on the B platform of the company's advanced LEAP3.5 architecture, targets the 100,000-150,000 yuan market. The company announced that its B-Series and C-Series models will be equipped with its self-developed end-to-end large-model intelligent driving system in 2025.

China's auto production, sales reach all-time high in Nov. 2024

In November 2024, China's automotive market maintained its momentum, driven by the continued effectiveness of the vehicle trade-in policies, which further unleashed car purchasing demand.

SAIC-GM-Wuling releases exterior images of Hongguang MINIEV's four-door edition

On December 10, SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) officially released the exterior design image of the Hongguang MINIEV's four-door edition, according to a post on Wuling Global Silver Badge's WeChat account.

Autoliv inaugurates new factory in Guangzhou city

On December 10, Autoliv, a global vehicle safety system supplier, held an opening ceremony for its new factory in Guangzhou city, according to a post on the company's WeChat account. The inauguration marks a further expansion of Autoliv's production capacity of automotive safety systems in China.

XPENG P7+ model's cumulative deliveries hit 10,000 units within 4 weeks upon market launch

On December 11, Chinese smart electric vehicle maker XPENG announced on its Weibo account, a Twitter-like social media platform in China, that the XPENG P7+ model has achieved 10,000 units of cumulative deliveries within four weeks of its market launch.

BYD Seal 05 DM-i included in MIIT's catalogue

The BYD Seal 05 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sedan from BYD Auto, has been included in a catalogue recently issued by Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

Major new car launches in Dec.: NIO ET9, Lynk & Co Z20, and more

As 2024 approaches its end, car manufacturers are ramping up their sales efforts, leading to a wave of new car launches in December. According to incomplete statistics from Gasgoo, 10 major new models will hit the market in December, covering both new energy vehicles (NEVs) and traditional oil-fueled vehicles. Among these, much-anticipated models include the NIO ET9, Lynk & Co Z20, Geely Starship 7 EM-i, and Hongqi Tian Gong 08. This article provides a rundown of the new cars to be launched in December.

Volvo Cars' Daqing plant rolls off 500,000th complete vehicle

Recently, a fire new Volvo S90 sedan rolled off the assembly line at Volvo Cars' Daqing plant, marking the factory's significant milestone of producing its 500,000th vehicle, according to a post on Volvo Cars' WeChat account.

Nissan China, enjoyelec, iVision team up to develop energy management system, promote V2G tech

On November 1, 2024, Nissan (China) Investment Co., Ltd. ("Nissan China"), Nissan Motor's wholly-owned subsidiary in China, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with enjoyelec, a sustainable energy digital services provider, and iVision Shanghai Co., Ltd. ("iVision"), an affiliate company of Nomura Research Institute and Mitsubishi Corporation, according to a press release Nissan China released this week via its WeChat account.

China scores 39.2% YoY jump in YTD power battery installation volume by Nov. 2024

In November 2024, China recorded 67.2GWh of electric vehicle (EV) battery installation volume, a month-over-month increase of 13.5% and a year-over-year surge of 49.7%, according to the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance ("CAPBIIA").

Dongfeng Motor forays into Latvian market

On December 2, Dongfeng Motor's passenger vehicle overseas marketing department held a press conference in Riga, Latvia, announcing the entry of DONGFENG and its sub-brands, including VOYAH and MHERO, into the Latvian market. This event marks a significant step in Dongfeng Motor's expansion into Europe.

Z-one Tech, Tongji University co-establish innovation lab for intelligent driving tech

On December 10, SAIC Motor's intelligent car technology solution provider, Z-one Tech, and the Tongji Universitys School of Automotive Studies officially inaugurated their "Automotive Intelligent Driving Technology Innovation Joint Laboratory", according to Z-one Tech's announcement.

Desay SV, Infineon co-inaugurate innovation application center in Huizhou city

On December 4, Desay SV and Infineon held a signing and inauguration ceremony for the DESAY SV-INFINEON Innovation Application Center in Huizhou city, Guangdong province. In the meantime, the two companies inked a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on intelligent driving domain controllers.

Tesla to deploy V4 Superchargers on Chinese Mainland in 2025

Tesla recently revealed the plan to begin deploying its latest V4 Superchargers on the Chinese Mainland in 2025. This follows deployments in North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, where the V4 technology has already been introduced.
A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty for his role in a deadly home robbery four years ago in plea agreement that calls for him to spend 15 years in prison.

Leonard Ludwigsen, of Egg Harbor Township, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and weapons charges in a deal that calls for a murder charge to be dropped, NJ Advance Media learned through court records.

Arturo Barrera III, 24, was shot to death inside his Egg Harbor Township home in 2020. Ludwigsen admitted to helping plot the robbery.

A message from NJ Advance Media left on Wednesday for his attorney was not immediately returned.

Neco J. Pitts, 28, is already serving 15 years in state prison for his role in the shooting. He pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, corrections records show.

A third person is still being sought in the robbery and killing. Prosecutors offered to seek a shorted sentence if he testifies against the third person, according to the judges order.

Ludwigsen is scheduled be sentenced in early February.

The trio arrived at the home on Jan. 2, 2020, intending to rob a different man, BreakingAC reported.

Barrera, known as Arty to friends and family, died at the scene. Arrests in the case werent made for over a year.

A graduate of Egg Harbor Township High School, he was remembered for his favorite hobbies of biking and skateboarding.

Arty was a good kid, kind soul, Marlene Barrera, his mother, said during a press conference in 2020. He would do anything for everyone. All we have are memories of him, we dont get to see him grow old or have children or get married.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A Bergen County man convicted of brutally murdering his girlfriend three years ago was sentenced last week to spend the rest of his life in prison, authorities said Wednesday.

Patrick J. Camilli, formerly of Washington Township, was sentenced Friday in Superior Court of Bergen County following his conviction in October for the killing of 51-year-old Mary E. Huber.

A jury found Camilli, 59, guilty of murder and weapons offenses after a four-week trial presided over by Judge James X. Sattely.

The killing occurred in the early hours of Oct. 24, 2021, when Washington Township police responded to a 911 call reporting an incident at a private residence.

Officers found Camilli lying on the floor atop Huber, with a knife nearby. Huber, who had suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force injuries, was taken to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, where she was pronounced dead.

Camilli, who had self-inflicted stab wounds, was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment before being arrested. No motive was given for the slaying.

An autopsy revealed Huber sustained at least 29 stab wounds and 20 blunt force injuries during the attack, according to the Bergen County Medical Examiner.

During the trial, a defense psychologist testified Camilli has bipolar disorder and experienced a depersonalization episode during the crime, which impaired his control, according to a NorthJersey.com report.

A psychiatric expert retained by the prosecution, however, found symptoms such as depersonalization are typical in high-stress situations and found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder, according to the report.

Camillis attorney, Landry Belizaire, of Bloomfield, did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a call and text message seeking comment on the sentence.

Following the conviction in October, Belizaire told NJ Advance Media he believed the jury was influenced by their emotions instead of the mental health testimony.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The death of a Cherry Hill man found early Tuesday at his home is being investigated as a homicide, according to the Camden County Prosecutors Office.

Michael Anthony, 45, was found dead by police on the 100 block of Sharrowvalle Road just after 7 a.m., authorities said.

Screams were heard by neighbors before they saw a body on the ground, they told 6ABC.com.

Anthony was a veterinarian with a private practice in the Cherry Hill area, according to a Facebook post from Newkirk Family Veterinarians in Egg Harbor Township, where he previously worked.

Dr. Anthony was with us for quite some time before venturing out and following a dream - starting his own practice in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the social media post said. His love and passion for animals and veterinary medicine was undeniable.

Anthony owned Haddon Vet in Haddon Heights and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, according to his biography on the practices website.

The investigation is ongoing, authorities said Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the homicide unit at the Camden County Prosecutors Office at 856-580-2223 or the Cherry Hill Police Department at 856-432-8834.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the prosecutors offices website.

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Two New Jersey principals were honored at this months state Board of Education meeting for going above and beyond in their commitment to improving their school communities this year.

Lindsay Gooditis, principal of Franklin Township School in Hunterdon County, was named the 2024 Visionary Elementary Principal of the Year by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. Neil Burti was named the Secondary Principal of the Year for his tenure as principal of Carusi Middle School in Cherry Hill in Camden County.

The pair were honored at last weeks state Board of Education meeting in Trenton.

MORE: These are N.J.s 25 best elementary schools, new ranking says

Since she was appointed to serve as principal of Franklin Township School in 2019, Gooditis has dedicated herself to the schools mission of nurturing responsible, respectful members of a democratic society, according to Karen Bingert, the executive director of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association.

Bingert said at Wednesdays meeting that, under Gooditis' stewardship, Franklin has earned a silver certification with Sustainable Jersey Schools every year for the past four years.

The sustainability initiatives she championed include allowing fifth-graders to conduct regular energy audits of the school and propose changes based on their results.

This and other endeavors have engaged students from preschool to eighth grade by not only fostering hands-on learning, but also instilling a sense of responsibility and environmental consciousness among students, Bingert said.

Earlier this year, Gooditis was also named a National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Burti currently serves as Cherry Hill Public Schools director of secondary education, but was honored for his prior tenure as principal of the districts John A. Carusi Middle School.

Following the post-pandemic return to the classroom, Burti quickly realized that new learning structures would have to be implemented to help students readjust to in-person education, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association said.

Burti introduced mentoring services, safe-space clubs, peer advocacy and academic intervention, according to Bingert. Under those programs, attendance numbers increased and disciplinary infractions dropped.

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A $42 million federal grant package will be carved up among nearly two dozen New Jersey school districts to help them build and expand their preschool programs, state officials announced last week.

The 22 school districts, which will receive awards ranging in size from $46,000 to more than $7 million, will mostly use the money to expand the number of available pre-K seats, Gov. Phil Murphys office said.

The funding is expected to add 1,493 seats to classrooms across the state. (See the full list of 22 school district below.)

Other uses for the money include: the construction and rehabilitation of preschool classrooms; the expansion of preschool programs from half-day to full-day; and the expansion of classroom capacity to house new preschool programs and guarantee additional seats.

The announcement by Murphy and acting state Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer marks the second funding round for the states Universal Preschool Facilities Expansion Grant initiative.

The funds come from a pot of $120 million in federal money allocated as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, an economic stimulus bill passed in 2021 to help states recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first round of the initiative saw more than $74 million in preschool facilities funding doled out, including $52 million announced in November 2023, according to Murphys office.

High-quality preschool can positively impact the trajectory of a childs life, which is why we have made it our mission to expand access to these critical programs, the governor said in a statement.

In October, Murphy and Dehmer announced 18 districts would receive a total of nearly $20 million to get 1,200 more seats into preschool classrooms.

The 22 new districts scheduled to receive funding are listed below. Unless listed otherwise, each award will be put toward a single project at one school.

Atlantic

Hamilton: $2,788,643

Hammonton: $2,757,805

Bergen

Palisades: $2,040,061

Burlington

Cinnaminson: $150,000

Palmyra: $1,050,000

Camden

Pennsauken: $7,672,922

Cumberland

Commercial: $1,028,105

Essex

West Orange: $1,456,000

Hunterdon

Clinton: $232,000

Readington: $208,363

Middlesex

Carteret: $5,858,632

Dunellen: $3,463,300

Highland Park: $573,240

Piscataway: $2,268,500

Monmouth

Ocean Township: $280,986 (divided among three schools)

Ocean

Lacey: $1,350,000

Point Pleasant: $93,702

Passaic

Wayne: $5,014,070 (two projects at one school)

Sussex

Franklin: $211,069

Sandyston-Walpack: $400,000

Union

Rahway: $2,173,030 (divided among two schools)

Warren

Great Meadows: $1,037,550

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A Washington, D.C. man has been accused of pressing his bare chest against a flight attendant while leveling threats and using epithets on a flight from Houston, Texas, to Newark, officials with the U.S. District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

Kedus Yacob Damtew, 38, is accused of removing his shirt during a flight on July 12 and pushing his bare chest against the flight attendant, pinning them against an exit door. He also shouted epithets, threatened physical violence and punched an aircraft oven, according to authorities.

Damtew followed the same attendant to the back of the plane and continued shouting threats and epithets and threw a cup of water, according to officials.

After another flight attendant called for help over the planes public address system several passengers assisted the flight crew in restraining Damtew using flex cuffs in the last row of the plane until it landed in Newark, authorities said.

Damtew was charged with interference with flight crew members by assault or intimidation, officials said Tuesday. He appeared in federal court in Washington, D.C. and was released pending a court appearance, officials said.

An attorney for Damtew did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.

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It has been five years since the deadly anti-Semitic attack at a kosher market in Jersey City.

Four people, including Jersey City Detective Joseph Seals, were shot dead on Dec. 10, 2019, by a man and woman who were eventually killed by police after an hourslong standoff on Martin Luther King Drive.

Seals, a 40-year-old father of five. was fatally shot when he confronted David Anderson and Francine Graham in a stolen U-Haul van in Bayview Cemetery. The pair then drove to MLK and parked the van across the street from the JC Kosher Supermarket at 223 Martin Luther King Drive. Dressed in black and carrying long guns into the supermarket, the pair opened fire, killing customer Moshe Deutsch, 24, store owner Leah Minda Ferencz, 33, and employee Douglas Miguel Rodriguez, 49.

The Jersey City Police Department held a ceremony marking the anniversary Tuesday at Bayview Cemetery, where Seals, a 14-year veteran of the force, was killed.

Members of the JCPD, local officials, and family members of Seals attended the ceremony. Seals family helped lay fresh white roses on his memorial headstone at the cemetery.
Another New Jersey lawmaker has called for more transparency for the public and local officials amongst an investigation of mysterious sightings of night-flying drones across the state.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., on Wednesday acknowledged the drone sightings and said that it is the shared obligation of all to give New Jerseyans peace of mind about what has been happening to prevent the spread of what he called rumors fear and misinformation.

I recognize the need to maintain operational security of ongoing investigations and that this situation requires complex interagency coordination, Booker wrote in a letter to multiple agencies investigating the drones. However, there is a growing sense of uncertainty and urgency across the state  from constituents and local officials alike  despite assurances that the drones pose no known threats to public safety.
Between 12 and 30 drones were spotted following a Coast Guard lifeboat off the Jersey Shore Sunday night, a Republican lawmaker said during a Congressional hearing Tuesday on mysterious drone sightings over the last month.

A Coast Guard commander in Barnegat Light said during a briefing earlier this week that the drones were spotted following the 47-foot vessel, according to U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th Dist., who spoke during a joint U.S. House of Representatives committee on possible security threats posed by drones.

Smith also said an Ocean County Sheriffs officer saw 50 drones moving over land from the ocean at Island Beach State Park over the weekend.

Maybe its China, Smith told the committee. Xi Jinping is a monster. Look at what Putin is doing. Theyre all capable of doing horrible things to our people.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to requests for additional information. The FBI also did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

The FBI is continuing to investigate thousands of nighttime drone sightings reported in New Jersey in recent weeks, though it is unclear how many of the reports were really unexplained drones and not airplanes or other objects in the night sky. The agency has asked for the publics help in collecting video and photo evidence of sightings.

Gov. Phil Murphy and some local law enforcement officials have said the drones pose no known threat to the public. Other county and local officials have said the sightings, including some over the states largest reservoir, are concerning.

Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy told NJ Advance Media Wednesday he is concerned about the drone sightings. Asked if he considered them a public safety issue he said, of course.

Id like to identify who the people are, or have somebody identify them, he said. Ironically, no one has seen them land or take off yet.

During the hearing, Smith asked for the military to use its authority to intercept a drone to investigate its origins.

Just send that capability out to the ocean or to the beach, because theyre coming in every day. Figure out which one it is and bring it down and retrieve it and find out what is going on, Smith said.

In a Tuesday letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Smith referred to numerous instances of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flying over New Jersey, including in close proximity to sensitive sites and critical infrastructure, to include military installations.

Smith said Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey is able to identify and take down unauthorized unmanned aerial systems and have utilized this capability to address overflights of the installation.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense had not replied to Smiths letter as of Wednesday, a spokesman for the congressman said.

Officials at the Department of Defense and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst did not immediately respond to requests to comment.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the drone reports, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday.

We are closely tracking the activity and coordinating closely with relevant agencies, she said, referring to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.

When asked about frustrations expressed by New Jersey officials and the public about the lack of answers about the sightings Jean-Pierre said: Obviously we hear them, and we understand that we are closely tracking this.

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Recently, a fire new Volvo S90 sedan rolled off the assembly line at Volvo Cars' Daqing plant, marking the factory's significant milestone of producing its 500,000th vehicle, according to a post on Volvo Cars' WeChat account.

As a key part of Volvo Cars' global manufacturing network, the Daqing facility is Volvo's first SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) plant in China and the exclusive global production site for the Volvo S90.

Volvo Cars' Daqing factory; photo credit: Volvo Cars

On the technological front, the Daqing plant leverages Volvo Cars' global Volvo Car Manufacturing System (VCMS) to establish an intelligent manufacturing framework. The facility is fully equipped with 5G network coverage and integrates industrial internet applications, Ethernet technology, and radio frequency identification. This enables seamless connectivity among its product development, manufacturing engineering, order management, logistics, production control, and vehicle dispatch systems.

Volvo S90; photo credit: Volvo Cars

In November, Volvo Cars achieved global sales of 66,977 vehicles, with 32,108 units being electrified models. In China, despite an 8% year-over-year decline, the carmaker sold 13,923 vehicles. Notably, internal combustion engine vehicle and mild hybrid vehicle models dominated the Chinese market, accounting for 12,076 units sold in the month.

Volvo Cars has been stepping up its efforts in the new energy vehicle (NEV) segment. Reports in November revealed that Volvo had partnered with DreamSmart and ECARX to develop the in-car infotainment system for its upcoming V446 NEV. While Volvo Cars leads the software and hardware development for the model, Geely is providing technical support. Designed specifically for the Chinese market, the V446 will be based on the Lynk & Co plug-in hybrid SUV platform and is expected to enter mass production in 2025.
The top House Democrat leader is egging President-elect Donald Trump on as he continues to tap House Republicans for Cabinet roles.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) encouraged Trump to keep selecting GOP lawmakers for top administration roles on Tuesday. Trump has selected a handful of House Republicans to serve in his administration, shrinking the already slim-majority the GOP has in the House.

Jeffries told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday that Republicans will have the smallest majority since 1931, adding that they will need to work across the aisle to get their agenda done. She then asked what was going through Jeffriess head when he saw Trump pick three House Republicans to serve in his administration, noting that the GOP majority will be 217-215 with those lawmakers gone.

What was going through my head? Three words. Keep it going, Jeffries responded.

I mean, at the end of the day, during the first 100 days of the Trump administration, as you indicated, 217 to 215, meaning, my Republican colleagues cant lose a single vote, in order to get anything done, which is why, by necessity, we should embrace bipartisanship to solve problems for everyday Americans, he added.

Collins: What went through your head when you were seeing Trump pick House Republicans to go in his administration



Jeffries: Three words. Keep it going. pic.twitter.com/rOdAxTuMR0  Acyn (@Acyn) December 11, 2024

He explained that the last time Trump took office, he had a much larger majority in the House.

So were in a very different situation, in terms of making progress in a bipartisan way, exercising commonsense to find common ground, but pushing back against Republican extremism whenever necessary, he added.

Trump selected Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to be his U.N ambassador and tapped Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) to be his national security advisor. He also picked former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to be his attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration last month and has revealed he will not be returning to Congress in 2025.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said last month that he did not expect Trump to pick any more House Republicans for his administration amid their dwindling majority.
The states top law enforcement official on Wednesday appointed a special counsel to investigate allegations of a deliberate and unprecedented traffic enforcement slowdown by New Jersey State Police last year in the wake of critical reports that found racial bias by troopers.

State Attorney General Matthew Platkin said the criminal investigation was part of an effort that had been underway for the past several months.

I have ordered a full investigation into how this slowdown was orchestrated, which will ensure both accountability for those involved, while also protecting against such conduct occurring again in the future, he said in a statement.

A spokesman for the New Jersey State Police declined comment.

We are unable to provide additional information or comment on this matter at this time due to a pending investigation, said Sgt. Charles Marchan.

The alleged slowdown on the states highways by the State Police was first reported over the weekend by The New York Times, which found troopers last year suddenly began writing far fewer traffic enforcement tickets. The sweeping slowdown in enforcement continued for more than eight months and coincided with an almost immediate uptick in motor vehicle crashes, according to public records obtained by the news organization.

That action, as it would turn out, came after an announcement that a group of independent researchers would monitor the traffic stops by the State Police following a study of more than six million cases found concerning racial and ethnic disparities in who gets stopped by police on Garden State roadways, state authorities said.

Some troopers, officials following that study, would be directed to ease off enforcing some traffic laws and others will face audits of their stops under a pilot program aimed at curbing racial bias, Platkin announced at the time.

Even after those concerns were raised, the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller issued its own findings complained that the State Police seemingly turned a blind eye to the possibility that discrimination was to blame for the continued adverse treatment of racial and ethnic minorities.

According to the comptroller, the State Police had consistently failed to adequately analyze the motor vehicle stop data and recognize when action might be needed. A series of reforms and policies aimed at preventing discriminatory policing, it added, have been largely performative, with oversight ineffective for years.

While all that was happening, the investigation by The New York Times said that the drastically reduced levels of enforcement began, quoting a memo by a union official who warned all members are reminded of the dangers of conducting motor vehicle stops.

The data it obtained showed that troopers across the state who typically issued more than 6,000 tickets a week wrote just 1,205 the first week of August. The slowdown continued through the busy travel holidays of Thanksgiving and New Years Eve before finally showing signs of ending in late March 2024, the report noted.

In his statement announcing the naming of former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara as special counsel, Platkin spoke publicly for the first time about the about slowdown, expressing his disappointment.

The New Jersey State Police is tasked with the difficult, dangerous, and often thankless job of keeping the public safe. Troopers routinely rise to the occasion by tackling some of the most pressing public safety challenges we face  whether that be narcotics trafficking, gun violence, or responding to natural disasters, he said. In my years of state government service, I have seen their work firsthand and know the deep commitment that so many troopers have to serving the public. I am proud to have supported them in those efforts.

That well-deserved reputation for serving the public good, he continued, had been tainted by the alleged and unprecedented slowdown in State Police traffic enforcement from approximately July 2023 to March 2024.

I have ordered a full investigation into how this slowdown was orchestrated, which will ensure both accountability for those involved while also protecting against such conduct occurring again in the future. That investigation is well underway, he said, noting that the slowdown may have coincided with increased crashes and fatalities on the states roadways.

Because of what he called a regular and substantial operational involvement between the Attorney Generals office and the State Police, he named Bharara, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and now a partner at WilmerHale, as special counsel overseeing the criminal investigation.

While I will retain final decision-making authority, Mr. Bharara will have the full authority of my office in investigating this matter, he said.

Union officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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A new CNN poll is showing some positive news for President-elect Donald Trump as he continues to prepare for his second administration, but how long will that last?

The new CNN poll, released Wednesday and conducted by SSRS, found that more than half of Americans approve of how Trump is handling his transition back to the White House. The poll comes more than a month after Trump won a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.

The poll found that 54 percent of Americans believe Trump will do a good job in his return to the White House next month and 55 percent approve of how hes handling the presidential transition so far.

The CNN report stated that the results show Trump has earned a honeymoon period with the public as he prepares to return to the White House after being voted out four years ago amid broadly negative approval ratings of his own. The report also noted that while Trump earned positive ratings on his transition back to the White House, the numbers still trail other presidents.

The poll results highlighted a similar question posed to Americans during President Joe Bidens transition to the White House in 2021, where 66 percent approved of Bidens handling of the presidential transition.

CNN POLL CONDUCTED BY SSRS

December 5-8

Approve of President-elects

Handling Of Transition



Obama, Dec. 08 79%

Biden, Jan. 21 66%

Bush, Jan. 01 65%

Clinton, Nov. 92 62%

Trump, now 55%

Trump, Nov. 16 46% https://t.co/TpKtc2DIGW  Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 11, 2024

The poll also found that 68 percent said that Trump will bring change to the country, but less than half say that will be change for the better.

The poll surveyed how much confidence Americans have in Trump to handle certain issues, including the economy, the Russia-Ukraine war, immigration, foreign affairs, using the office of the president responsibly and appointing the best people to office.

His strongest marks came from questions on the economy and immigration, where about four in 10 Americans said they had a lot of confidence in Trump to handle the two issues. Similarly, 37 percent said they had a lot of confidence in Trump to handle the Russia-Ukraine war.

Some of his lowest results came from questions on foreign affairs, using the power of the presidency responsibly and appointing the best people to top role. Just 26 percent express a lot of confidence in Trump to appoint the best people, 29 percent said the same of Trump using the office responsibly and 30 percent said the same of Trump handling foreign affairs.

The poll was conducted Dec. 5-8 among 1,011 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
DALLAS  If anyone understands the cultural differences between the Yankees and Mets, itd have to be someone whos lived in both worlds.

We have just the guy youre looking for.

Darryl Strawberry didnt just play in the Bronx and Flushing, the former right fielder was a two-borough star who is beloved to this day. Strawberry rode the wave of the Mets best years in the 80s and hopped on board with the Yankees monolith in the late 90s.

Its funny how history repeats itself. Right fielder Juan Soto arrived in the Bronx just in time to send the Yankees to the World Series and is now on a reverse migration to Flushing.

BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

Soto is the crown jewel in the dynasty owner Steve Cohen has been dreaming about.

Strawberry paid attention to the countdown to Sotos decision. He actually sees a lot of himself in Soto, not just in the left-handed power but the swag that opponents detest.

So, yes, Strawberry is a huge fan of Sotos. He was rooting for Soto to make the right choice for his career and legacy.

The moment Soto picked the Mets, Strawberry found himself nodding in approval.

I knew Soto would sign there. It was a good move, Strawberry told NJ Advance Media by phone on Tuesday.

If Soto wants to be the man, hes got to be in a place where thats possible. It was never going to be that way with the Yankees. Aaron Judge is always going to be the No. 1 Yankee.

Thats why I was hoping Soto would come to the Mets. Hes going to be a great player for a great franchise. Nothing against the Yankees, I love them. They have that history. Their fans expect to win.

But Mets fans are hungry. Theyre dying for someone who can change the culture. Thats the right team for Soto.

In a lengthy interview, Strawberry went on to explain what Soto will love in Flushing. The big difference, he said, is the sense of anticipation in the stands.

Thanks to Cohens limitless wealth, it feels like 1984 and 1985 all over again. Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter were acquired. By 1986 the Mets were world champions.

Soto is the latterday version of Hernandez and Carter, the finishing touch in Cohens plan to depose the Yankees.

It takes guts to accept that challenge. Thats especially true for Soto, who became the most hated man in the Bronx after turning down Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenners $760-million offer.

Strawberry said he isnt surprised by the intense backlash. Soto probably expected it. After all, how many stars have played for both teams in New York without making a single enemy?

I think me and Doc (Gooden) are the only ones, Strawberry said with a laugh. Soto knows hes going to take a lot of heat when he goes against the Yankees. Theres going to be pressure inside Yankee Stadium.

But Soto can handle that. He knows he helped the Yankees win. Look what he did in his (walk) year. He had a great season. And now hes going to help the Mets win. Hes already used to the pressure.

I decided to play devils advocate with Strawberry: I pointed out that Soto turned his back on the Yankees legacy and the chance to win multiple pennants in a less-challenging American League.

And leaving the Yankees meant passing on the probability of being enshrined in Monument Park someday next to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Derek Jeter, to name a few.

Strawberry was ready with a counter-argument.

Soto wouldve been following the great ones you mentioned, but theyre already there, Strawberry said. With Ruth and Gehrig and Mantle, Soto wouldve been just one of many great players. That includes Judge.

Soto can become his own man with the Mets. He can become the franchise. Hes only 26. Hes going to do a lot of great things.

Even with the Dodgers poised to stand in the Mets way?

The Dodgers have been the best team for a number of years, right? But how many championships have they won lately? Strawberry asked before answering his own question. Theyve won two (since 2020). Its harder to win now with all the wild cards is what Im saying. The best team doesnt always win anymore.

I had two last questions for Strawberry.

First, are there similarities between Cohen and late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner?

I think Steve has a superb personality, Straw said. Hes not just an owner. Hes a fan. Hes starting to do some incredible things. He wants people to know the Mets have had some great players and now theres going to be more. Hes not backing down. Hes like the boss George was.

I reminded Straw money always helps. I wondered, though, if he ever felt he was born too soon. The nearly-$800 million deal Soto pulled down has to make an older player a bit wistful, no?

I didnt call it jealousy, though. As a recovering addict and traveling minister, I had a feeling Strawberry doesnt covet Sotos wealth.

I was right.

God bless Juan and all the young players making that kind of money, Strawberry said. They deserve it. I was grateful for the salaries I made in my day because it was a lot more than the players who came before me.

Thats the way the game goes. If youre talented and handle pressure, you have a chance to help your family. Thats what Juan did. He stepped up. I wish good things for him.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Bob Klapisch may be reached at bklapisch@njadvancemedia.com.
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.

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DeSoto County, Mississippi, is looking for an agency that can provide destination marketing and creative strategy services in an effort to position the county as an affordable and attractive travel destination.
A hospital doctor who was drunk and seen with a knife in the leisure centre of a Tullamore hotel has paid 1,000 to charity.

Tullamore District Court was told that Jerome White, Edriona House, The Bungalows, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, had made the payment to Brain Tumour Ireland.

White's solicitor Aisling Maloney said the money had been paid but her client was not in court, despite usually attending.

Judge Andrew Cody adjourned finalisation of the matter to December 18 next for the man to be present in court.

A sitting of the court in October had heard that on November 25 last year 37-year-old White had gone to the leisure centre of the Tullamore Court Hotel where he was seen by other users of the facility who became concerned.

Ms Maloney told the court there was no nefarious intent on her client's part and the knife had fallen out of his bag when he was changing.

White pleaded guilty to intoxication in a public place at the Tullamore Court Hotel, O'Moore Street, and a weapons offence of having a knife which had a blade or was sharply pointed.

The court was told that White is a medical doctor with the HSE who worked as a locum doctor in a number of hospitals throughout Ireland, including Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

Ms Maloney handed in a letter from the mental health services outlining her client's mental health difficulties.

White told the court he was not presently working and Sergeant Brendan Kearns said he had no previous convictions and had not come to garda attention since November last year.

Judge Andrew Cody said that if 1,000 was paid to Brain Tumour Ireland he would strike out the case and remanded the accused on continuing bail.
The monks of Mt Melleray Abbey in Waterford, Mt St Joseph Abbey in Roscrea and Mellifont Abbey in County Louth have voted to form a union where the monks from the three communities are coming together to create a new community that will be called the Abbey of Our Lady of Silence and based in Roscrea.

The Cistercians were first established in Ireland in 1142, initially at Mellifont Abbey by St Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh. By the time of the Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries there were forty-three houses of monks and three of nuns. They now have a presence at six locations on the island of Ireland, namely Mount Melleray (Co Waterford), Mellifont (Co Louth), Mount St Joseph, (Roscrea, Co Tipperary), Bolton Abbey (Co Kildare) Portglenone Abbey (Co Antrim), and the Sisters at St Marys Abbey, Glencairn (Co Waterford).

A statement from Dom Rufus Pound ocso, Superior ad nutum of the Abbey of Our Lady of Silence, this week said that after much reflection and soul searching we as an Order have had to make some very difficult decisions with the aim of ensuring a future for Cistercian life in Ireland.

We have been confronted with these difficult decisions as we address the reality of falling numbers and ageing communities; issues which other similar communities are also addressing at this time.

We have decided that with effect from 26th January 2025, three of our communities, namely, Mount Melleray, Mellifont and Mount St Joseph, which since 3rd November, the Feast of St Malachy, have already merged as one new single community will be based, for an interim period, at Roscrea.

This new community has been given the name of The Abbey of Our Lady of Silence, and its residency at Roscrea, we emphasise, is an interim measure. Our Abbeys at Moone (Co Kildare) and at Portglenone (Co Antrim) will not be affected by this decision and will continue as autonomous communities, Dom Rufus said.

Our new community of Our Lady of Silence, currently consists of 26 members, three of whom are novices  and already interest has been expressed from others wishing to join us.

We are optimistic that this now has the potential to become a vibrant community wherever we finally decide that it will be located.

We will now take time to consider how this new community will develop and where it will ultimately reside on a permanent basis.

In the context of our decision we must rationalise our use of the three properties formerly associated with the three pre-existing communities, in line with our present day needs and resources.

No final decisions have been taken at this stage regarding any of the properties which may be vacated in the near future, however as decisions are made further announcements will be forthcoming. Cistercian College, Roscrea continues to go from strength to strength and will not be impacted in any way, by decisions in the future.

This is a difficult time for all the members of our new Community as we strive to meet the challenge of our present day realities.

It is especially difficult for those who have spent their entire lives in a specific monastery and must now adjust to these changed circumstances.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, some of whom who have been with us and supported us for decades, and the many other loyal volunteers and friends who will be affected by these developments, Dom Rufus said.

None of the previous three abbeys would have survived over the centuries without the support and friendship of those in the locality, but also many others associated with them in different ways.

We recognise and acknowledge the often profound attachment all these have towards our monasteries and we deeply regret that we will not be able to maintain our presence at all three locations, as we embark on this new beginning.

Our gratitude and prayers will continue to be with those who have shared our journey in so many rich and varied ways here in Ireland over the years, Dom Rufus said.

The community members of Our Lady of Silence will, in the main, continue at their present locations until 26th January 2025.

The Order stressed the decision is temporary.

Thereafter they will vacate Mount Melleray and Mellifont until final decisions have been made in regard to the long term location of the new community.
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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

On December 9, Egypt accused Israel of illegally seizing a buffer zone in Syria. The area extends from the Golan Heights almost to the outskirts of Damascus. Israel troops and weaponry are now within hiking distance of the capital of Syria.

Syria is now under the administration of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed opposition group from Idlib, which had been supported prior to 2017 by a covert CIA program. President Trump cut the funding in 2017, but Turkish President Erdogan continued to support the group.

In the chaos after the fall of the Assad regime, Israel wasted no time to take advantage of the security lapse and invaded Syria from the Occupied Golan Heights towards Damascus.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said this was a temporary measure set up for defense of the Israeli border.

Egypt and the other Arab League member states are nervously watching as Israel takes advantage of the weakness and chaos in Syria to carry out yet another land grab.

Last summer, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestine is in violation of international law. Now, Israel has added more occupied land in Syria to its long list of stolen territories.

The Israeli Defense Forces have also carried out airstrikes on December 9 across Syria, taking out air defense systems, missiles and military infrastructure. Currently, there is no national army existing in Syria. All facilities lay vacant as soldiers and officers fled following and during the fall of the Assad regime on December 8.

The Golan Heights were captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. The United Nations recognizes the Golan as an Israeli occupied land which should be returned to Syria in a peace agreement between the two countries.

On March 25, 2019, President Donald Trump gave away the Golan to Israel, and officially recognized Israeli sovereignty. Netanyahu hailed the move by Trump as historic.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the move was not recognized internationally.

Israel invaded Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, and Israeli cabinet ministers have called for annexing Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. On October 1, 2024, Israel invaded the south of Lebanon.

In the absence of a legitimate government in Syria, and with Trump taking office next month, Israel may try to annex this new land grab in Syria.

Steven Sahiounie at MidEastDiscourse reached out to Andrey Ontikov, a Special Correspondent at Izvestia daily newspaper, in Moscow and a political commentator specializing in the Middle East.

#1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Recently, Aleppo fell into the hands of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and later Hama and Damascus fell. In your opinion, how could a militia group be so powerful to oust the Syrian Arab Army?

Next Page 1 | 2

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I'm always disappointed with Democracy Now's (DN) coverage of Syria. Its reporting on the fall of the country's president, Bashar al-Assad was no exception. It described Assad's deposition as primarily a triumph of freedom and the will of a brutally repressed people.

Absent from DN's narrative was the straightforward truth that the fall of Assad was the fruit of another regime change operation. It was part of the U.S. plan announced in 2001 to depose seven governments in five years, viz., Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Iran.

Though the American timetable was overly optimistic, with the change of regime in Syria, the U.S. has succeeded in hitting six of its seven targets. Only Iran's government remains in place.

Let me show you what I mean by summarizing DN's account, contrasting it with its counter narrative, and sketching the way U.S. regime change operations work.

The Official Syrian Story

For years DN's usually critical founder, Amy Goodman, has for some reason sided with the United States and Israel by uncritically repeating their official story about the Zionists' neighbor to the north. It tells us that:

Bashar al Assad is a brutal dictator who succeeded his dictator father to rule Syria with an iron fist for the last half century and more.

He has not only claimed absolute power in Syria,

But has run an extensive secret prison system there (a "human slaughterhouse") where captives are systematically mistreated, tortured, and held without charge.

His use of chemical weapons against those objecting to his rule is well documented by independent witnesses such as the Syrian Civil Defense Organization, the "White Helmets."

For all these reasons, the U.S. and Israel have long held that "Assad must go."

"Moderate rebels" have recently transformed that imperative into facts on the ground. Thankfully, they have successfully overthrown the hated dictator.

Since his removal from office, his brutality and consequent unpopularity have received ample testimony and denunciation by ordinary Syrians who are universally celebrating his fall from power.

Thus the U.S. and Israel (as champions of democracy, just war, and humane incarceration, and as opponents of torture and the killing of innocent civilians) have triumphed once again in yet another mid-east country.

The triumph mirrors what they have accomplished so idealistically and benevolently in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Lebanon, Sudan, Somalia and other countries benefitting from their wars fought for democracy and peace.

That's the official line DN's Amy Goodman consistently presents and/or implies.

A More Complete Picture

However, what Goodman's account fails to explore or soft-pedals are its following contradictions that would have us forget that:

The foreign powers advocating and celebrating the end of Assad's cruelty (i.e., Israel and the U.S.) are the current perpetrators of genocide in Palestine. Arguably, that deprives them of ability to convincingly champion human rights in any forum. It demonstrates that they have no concern about civilian deaths, secret prisons, unjust torture, democracy, freedom, or peace.

In fact (according to George Galloway) during its war on terror, the U.S. used Syrian prisons as black sites to which they rendered "terrorists" for torturous interrogation.

Moreover, the "moderate" agents fulfilling the U.S. and Israel's imperative to remove Assad from power are successors to the very "terrorists" responsible for al-Qaeda's 9/11 attacks 23 years ago.

That is, while designating Syria as a "state sponsor of terrorism," the U.S. has once again allied itself with al-Qaeda as it had in Afghanistan during Russia's war there (1979-1989).

Additionally, the U.S. has crippled the Syrian economy by illegally occupying its eastern oil fields since 2014 effectively stealing its oil revenue since then.

While Israel has similarly occupied its neighbor's Golan Heights.

Syria's economy and population have suffered severe hardships under a U.S. sanctions regime that started in 2011 and whose effects worsened following a massive earthquake in February, 2023. For years they've had to function on the provision of a single hour of electricity each day.

Civil Discontent in Syria

As for the testimony of Syrians applauding and celebrating the fall of Assad . . .. It too demonstrates the effectiveness of standard American policy against designated enemies whose political "regimes" the U.S. wishes to change. That policy never deviates from the following procedure:

Vilify the regime leader as the latest incarnation of Hitler. Under the pretext of punishing him, use sanctions, economic blockades, bombing, propaganda, bribery, election interference, terrorism, and internal subversion whose real purpose is to make the lives of locals so miserable That they will arise, Overthrow the regime in question, And celebrate the victory as the triumph of democracy.

This is the standard policy followed not only against Syria, but against official enemies such as Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

The subversion invariably causes the threatened governments to adopt their own counter-policies that the U.S. and its allies then describe as authoritarian, oppressive, and brutal. The policies include imprisonment of compromised political opponents, jailing and mistreatment of terrorists (no harsher btw than the mistreatment of prisoners in Israel and the U.S.), and restrictions on (usually foreign allied) press along with fifth column civil and religious organizations. All these government actions provide further evidence of the illegitimacy of the regimes in question.

They also provide well-meaning news sources like Democracy Now with reasons to uncritically repeat imperialist talking points.

Conclusion

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Lawyers for a man convicted last month of murder are seeking a new trial after a juror later disclosed that the jury did its own research on how to zoom in on crime scene footage to reach a verdict.

The bombshell admission offers a glimpse into the secret and high-stakes process of jury deliberations.

Jurors are typically admonished repeatedly not to conduct their own research or investigations  and that was the case in the trial of Colby Benson, court filings show.

Seven men and five women convicted Benson of second-degree murder after less than eight hours of deliberations in October. Multnomah County Circuit Judge David Rees sentenced Benson to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

Benson was on trial in the Sept. 11, 2020, killing of Christopher Klein, 30. Police and prosecutors alleged Benson fired eight shots, striking Klein three times in the back and once in the neck near Burnside Street and 122nd Avenue. No motive was ever disclosed.

After the trial, a juror identified in the court filings as Juror Number 35 contacted Bensons lawyers.

Juror 35 told the lawyers that jurors agreed they needed to pore over the video evidence before they could reach their verdict and that they spent hours watching the videos over and over in their original format, defense lawyer Rian Pecks motion for a new trial states.

Prosecutors had submitted surveillance footage of the shooting site as evidence against Benson. It had been taken from various sources, including a nearby apartment building, gas station and TriMet.

Initial viewings by jurors did not lead to consensus, Juror 35 told the lawyers.

At some point, it became apparent that the jury was stuck, Peck said.

One juror wondered if they could use software to manipulate and amplify some of the video files, allowing jurors to zoom in on the recordings, according to the motion.

Another juror then Googled the software to determine how to use the zoom feature, Peck said.

Their research was fruitful, and they were able to successfully manipulate the video footage, the lawyer wrote.

Juror 35 disclosed that their unsanctioned efforts allowed them to see things that were not otherwise visible in the original format and that the amplified footage was pivotal to reaching agreement, wrote Peck.

The court filings do not make clear what aspects of the zoomed-in footage helped the group reach a consensus.

With the verdict delivered, Juror 35 left behind a blunt note for the judge:

The State did not meet their burden of proof, the juror wrote, according to court filings. We did it for them.

Peck submitted a signed declaration to the court from Juror 35 who explained their change of heart about the jurys actions.

At the start of the trial deliberations, Juror 35 felt strongly that the state had not met its burden of proof based off what had been presented in the courtroom, according to the filing.

In the heat of the decision-making, Juror 35 didnt really have an opportunity to contemplate whether this was permissible but later questioned if the actions were proper, the juror wrote.

I do not believe that we would have been able to reach a unanimous verdict but for the enhancements that were being done to these videos by jurors in real time during deliberations, Juror 35 stated.

Had I only viewed the videos in their original format, I never would have changed my vote to guilty, the juror wrote.

The defense filings noted that Judge Rees told the jury not to do any independent investigations into any facts or locations connected with this case, not to look up information from any source and to reach a decision using only the evidence presented to them in court.

Retired Washington County Circuit Judge Kirsten Thompson called the jurors allegations concerning. Thompson was not involved in the case.

Its a matter of fundamental fairness that before something is admitted to the record, each side has the opportunity to challenge it and then the judge can decide whether its admissible, she said. So if theyve done something where the judge hasnt decided that its admissible, thats just really problematic.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Samuel Wilton discounted the significance of Juror 35s disclosures, writing in a response to the motion for a new trial that the juror only allegedly zoomed-in on portions of surveillance.

It would be no different had they asked to play the video on the large monitor in court instead of allegedly making a portion of the video larger on the smaller monitor they had during deliberations, he wrote in asking the court to reject the argument for a new trial.

He argued that the jury allegedly made a portion of the video more visible, no different than displaying it on a bigger screen or turning up the brightness on the screen or pausing the video at any point.

Rees, the judge, on Monday said in an order that he needs to better understand the type of software that the jury accessed and how it was used.

Rees said he wants to hear from the jury foreperson, as well as Juror 35. He said he also wants the juror who allegedly downloaded the software on hand for questioning as well.

That hearing is scheduled for Dec. 19.

 Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.com

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The man who was killed by a Vancouver police officer on Dec. 4 died from multiple gunshots to the head, the Clark County Medical Examiners Office said.

The medical examiner has ruled the mans death a homicide.

Officer Kyle Beguelin Flores shot Adam Grant Gunderson, 45, of Vancouver around 10:48 p.m. outside a Safeway store at 13719 SE Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver, said the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations, which is investigating the shooting.

The medical examiners office said Gunderson was shot outside a grocery loading dock.

Beguelin Flores and at least two other officers responded to the Safeway parking lot for a reason that has not been publicly released. Once there, Beguelin Flores and Gunderson got into a physical fight, police said. Beguelin Flores shot Gunderson after Gunderson attempted to draw a gun, according to police.

Gunderson was driven to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. One of the officers was injured, police said.

Officer Beguelin Flores was hired by the Vancouver Police Department in 2021, the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations said. He was assigned to East Patrol at the time of the shooting.

Beguelin Flores and the other two officers who were present at the shooting were placed on critical incident leave after the shooting, which the Vancouver Police Department says is standard procedure.

The investigation into the shooting continues. The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations asks anyone with information to call 564-250-5811.

 Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313.
Hypothermia and exposure contributed to the death of the 5-year-old Coos County boy whose body was found 2 miles from home last month, the Coos County district attorney said Wednesday.

Joshua James McCoy went missing Nov. 9. Joshuas mother, Angela German, 43, told authorities she woke up from a nap she had taken with her son only to discover he was gone. The boy had autism, didnt talk much and did not like to wear clothes, she said. Feeling uncomfortable in clothing is a common response for people with autism.
A 34-year-old Washington man who traveled to Oregon to sexually abuse a teenage girl was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

Seth Lee Fabry met the girl online and made two trips to Oregon to have sex with the teenager, including at her Eugene home while her mother was away. He was arrested on his third trip that the girls mother set up after learning of the abuse and assuming her daughters profile on social media, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sweet.

Seth Fabry brought to reality every parents nightmare  that an adult will engage in a secret relationship with their child, exposing them to sexually explicit material and subjecting them to sexual conduct, Sweet wrote in a sentencing memo.

Fabry and the girl began communicating on the social media platform MeetMe when Fabry was 32 and the girl was 16, though she listed her age as 21, according to court records. They switched their conversation to a different online platform, Discord, in April 2022. At one point, the teen stopped messaging Fabry, but he pursued her from another account, asking if she had unfollowed him because he had Aspergers syndrome, Sweet wrote.

On April 14, 2022, the teen messaged Fabry that she stopped following him because she was actually 16 years old. But Fabry then asked her to send him photos of her to prove her age and traveled to Oregon to meet with the girl for sex, according to the prosecutor.

After the teenager revealed to her mother what was happening, the girls mother got Fabry to travel to Oregon a third time but was waiting for him with friends when he arrived and called police, according to Sweet.

Fabry was arrested on May 26, 2022. He pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.

Sweet sought a 15 year and eight month sentence; Fabrys lawyer, Assistant Federal Public Defender Kimberly-Claire E. Seymour asked for a 10-year prison term.

U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane sentenced Fabry on Tuesday. The FBI, along with Eugene police, investigated the case.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn.

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A little-noticed provision of the landmark 2019 Oregon law that raised an extra $1 billion a year for schools was intended to give the state greater power to guide its poorest performing school districts.

But participation in the states intensive program initiative is entirely voluntary.
In Florinda Miguel Pazs Hillsboro home, hours of prepwork have culminated in six stainless steel pots and bowls of fresh ingredients scattered over the floral tablecloth in her kitchen.

Miguel Paz assesses the ingredients in front of her: corn husks, masa (maize dough), shredded pork, cheese, chili peppers and homemade salsa verde (green salsa), all the ingredients she needs to make a batch of tamales.

Assembling one tamal at a time, she explains how long each ingredient took to make. All the prepwork: hours. Slowly constructing each tamal is another labor in itself.

I learned it by myself, Miguel Paz said in Spanish, recounting the first time she tried to make tamales. They didnt turn out well, but I did it again and again until I found the right way to do it.

The tamales are a favorite in her community, and many people have asked her to sell them, especially since she is not currently working. However, Miguel Paz explained that her homemade tamales are a treat reserved for family and friends, as arthritis in her knees has made it too difficult for her to produce them for sale. Besides, she doesnt have a big enough pot.

Florinda Miguel Paz assembles tamales in her kitchen in Hillsboro.Chiara Profenna

Starting with a dried corn husk, she spreads a handful of masa along the bottom half before choosing her fillings, alternating between pork with green salsa and cheese with red chilis. Rolling each corn husk tightly closed, she places the filled tamales in a bowl to be steamed.

The tradition of making tamales is being embraced all over North America as families prepare for the peak tamal season: Christmas. These small bundles of flavorful filling, encased in masa and wrapped in corn husks, are undoubtedly among the most delicious holiday treats to unwrap.

And with a rich history that traces back thousands of years to ancient Mesoamerica, tamales have stood the test of time, remaining a cultural staple in many Central and South American countries. It all begins with the maiz, or corn.

If we go back to the Aztecs and Mayans in Central America, that has been the main source of food, the maiz, said Jaime Miranda, founder of M&M Marketplace in Hillsboro. The tamales, its representative of the maiz and one of the main three foods that Mesoamerican cultures used as their main source of food for many years.

Traditionally enjoyed during colder months, tamales pair perfectly with a warm mug of champurrado, a rich, spiced chocolate drink made with masa, said Miranda.

Most people eat it every morning when they go to work, Miranda said. Between 5 and 8 a.m. in Mexico, I remember that being traditional. People who make their tamales come out earlier in the morning. And by 9 a.m. theyre already sold out.

Miguel Pazs memories from living in Oaxaca are similar.

Food always sells in Mexico, she said. Thats what Mexican people have always done. Its important for them to not lose that type of culture.

At M&M Marketplace, a hub for entrepreneurs in Hillsboro, Miranda organizes the Annual Fiesta de Tamales, a fundraiser for the Hillsboro Schools Foundation. Beyond raising money with tamal sales, makers from the market submit their creations for a friendly competition.

The tamales, made with an array of fillings, were evaluated by community members and a panel of judges. Attendees sampled bites from each entry and cast their votes for their favorites. As a lover of tamales, I took this opportunity very seriously. Taking a bite of each tamal opened my eyes to the variety of fillings and cultural flavors that exist.

At M&M Marketplace, the Annual Fiesta de Tamales offered a taste of nine different makers' tamales.Chiara Profenna

Growing up in Texas, my mother always made savory tamales filled with beef or chicken. The event introduced me to tamales made with sweet corn masa and fruit fillings. As the owner of an insatiable sweet tooth, these were near life-changing.

Beyond M&M Marketplace, countless restaurants and food trucks offer a wide variety of tamales, from traditional pork and chicken to sweet corn and pineapple. Many of the distinct styles represent the cultural variety in Mexico and Central America.

READ MORE: TAMALES OF TV HIGHWAY: 7 OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS FROM BEAVERTON TO CORNELIUS

For example, in Oaxaca, tamales are wrapped with banana leaves, said Miguel Paz. Where Im from, a small town in Oaxaca, they make another type of tamal that is like a tortilla. You prepare the mole, the chicken and everything and you put it in the same way, but it is a tortilla.

But the way Miguel Paz makes her tamales is all her own, she said. Cooking has always been something she has enjoyed that brings her family together. Making a big batch always brings her sons, scattered over the state, back to her home with their growing families.

Florinda Miguel Paz's homemade pork and green salsa tamales.Chiara Profenna

Regardless of how theyre made or where they come from, tamales tend to bring people together.

I feel like tamales are a good representation of bringing family together, Miranda said. So, its a good food to have every time youre going to be joining friends and family.

Over time, they evolved into a meal for special occasions, revered for their long history and cultural significance in Mesoamerica. Today, they can be found in most Latino households during Christmas.

Most people make them for their special events, Miranda said. For example, whether its Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, birthday, quinceaneras. But mainly during the winter events.

Even in my own family, Ive seen the tradition bring people closer during the holidays. Gathered around my mothers kitchen island in my childhood home in San Antonio, the entire family is wrangled into an assembly-line of sorts, filling and wrapping tamales with practiced efficiency.

Armed with a newfound appreciation for tamales, Ill certainly have some new recipes to test out this year.

 Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiara-profenna on BlueSky.

The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content.
PASADENA, Calif.  A federal appeals court scrutinized the impact of Idahos strict abortion ban on emergency medical care on Tuesday, weighing whether the ban criminalizing abortions should be enforceable in life- and health-threatening situations.

John Bursch, an attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom representing Idaho, asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel of 11 judges to urgently lift the injunction preventing the state from enforcing its abortion ban in emergency room settings, saying it harms Idaho sovereignty, harms women, (and) harms unborn children.

Its here before you now, you should decide it, he said.

Idahos law makes it a felony to perform an abortion unless the procedure is necessary to prevent the death of the patient.

President Joe Bidens administration sued Idaho two years ago, contending the law violates a federal rule called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, because it prevents doctors from performing abortions that save their patients from serious infections, organ loss or other major medical issues.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case earlier this year but bounced it back to the lower court on a procedural issue, leaving unanswered questions about the legality of the state abortion ban. That will be determined at a later date, but the 9th Circuits ruling could decide whether the law can be enforced while the lawsuit is still working its way through court.

During Tuesdays hearing, the judges raised a number of hypothetical situations as they tried to determine whether the ban can coexist with EMTALA.

Judge Lawrence VanDyke raised the hypothetical of a doctor presented with an organ that would save a patients life but which was unethically harvested under state law. If a state has outlawed the use of questionably harvested donor organs, he asked, can the federal government require that treatment?

Do you think a states ethical concerns  have any role to play? asked VanDyke.

Catherine Carroll, an attorney for the U.S. government, said it was difficult to grapple with the hypothetical since organ transplants do not occur in emergency rooms, but said state ethical concerns about medical treatments could come into play only if the treatments did not violate EMTALA.

Judge Salvador Mendoza Jr. said that he lives in eastern Washington, not far from the Idaho border. The only obstetrics department in the nearby city of Sandpoint, Idaho, shut down after the abortion ban was passed, he noted, leaving no available medical services for women who are bleeding out from pregnancy complications, he said.

Thats the very thing that Congress was trying to avoid by establishing EMTALA, Mendoza said. They were trying to set a baseline of medical care for the country.

But Taylor Meehan, an attorney for the Idaho Legislature, said EMTALA is not the statute to solve that particular circumstance. She said an Idaho Supreme Court ruling in another lawsuit over the states abortion law made clear that abortion is allowed when patients are experiencing catastrophic bleeding.

Another judge asked why Idahos lawmakers didnt just add specific examples to the abortion ban to make it clearer  perhaps including that abortion is allowable to treat catastrophic bleeding, or in cases where a pregnant persons water has broken too soon, putting them at risk of dangerous infection.

Meehan said that would be a bad idea, because the more detail that is added to the statute, the less room you give to a physicians professional judgment.

To the extent theres confusion, I think that thats confusion for failure to read the Idaho Supreme Court decision for what it says, not confusion created by the law itself, Meehan said after the hearing. The Idaho courts ruling against Planned Parenthood in January 2023 gives wide room for a physicians good faith judgement in deciding medical treatment, Meehan said.

Dr. Jessica Evans-Wall, an emergency room physician in Boise, said she hopes a ruling from the 9th Circuit panel would offer real clarity for her and other Idaho physicians.

Weve had cases in the department where we have had to get legal involved, even at 2 a.m. on a weekend, Evans-Wall said. It creates a big delay in care, where we have to clarify, Hey, medically this is what Im worried about, but it might not happen immediately  do we need to transfer this patient to Oregon? And that creates delays for the whole department."

About 50,000 people in the U.S. develop life-threatening complications during pregnancy each year. Those complications can include major blood loss, sepsis, or the loss of reproductive organs. In rare cases, doctors might need to terminate a pregnancy to protect the health of the pregnant person, especially in cases where there is no chance for a fetus to survive.

Were only involved when theres an emergency, when a patients life or health is affected, said Evans-Wall. I think it sometimes comes across like, Oh, were choosing the pregnant person over the pregnancy, but the truth is if that pregnant person is having serious complications where their life or health is at risk then the viability of that pregnancy is not there. Its not a choice that were making saying were going to prioritize the pregnant person over that pregnancy. Because of the medical circumstances, that choice has already been made.

--Rebecca Boone and Jaimie Ding/The Associated Press
Incoming Secretary of State Tobias Read will bring several top employees from the state Treasury with him when he starts as Oregons chief elections officer and auditor in January.

Read, a Democrat elected in November, spent the past eight years as state treasurer. He announced Tuesday a list of key hires for his incoming administration, including several people who have worked with him at the Treasury.

Michael Kaplan, who has served as deputy treasurer since 2019, will be the deputy secretary of state. Kaplan was the Treasurys chief operating officer from 2017-19, served as director for the Oregon Department of Energy from 2014-17 and worked in former Democratic Govs. John Kitzhabers and Ted Kulongoskis administrations.

Reads chief of staff through his two terms as treasurer, Dmitri Palmateer, will continue in that role at the Secretary of States Office. Before joining Read, Palmateer worked for Kitzhaber, former Gov. Kate Brown, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and legislative Democrats.

Two other Treasury employees, organizational risk and resiliency manager Mary Krehbiel and executive services director Grace Roth, will also join Read at the Secretary of States Office. Krehbiel was an internal auditor at the Treasury and a financial auditor in the Secretary of States Office, while Roth previously worked for Brown, Kitzhaber and Kulongoski.

Read picked Tess Seger, communications director for Oregon Senate Democrats, for his deputy chief of staff for communications. Before joining the Senate in 2022, Seger managed Nevada U.S. Rep. Susie Lees 2020 reelection campaign, and was Iowa communications director for Democratic Sen. Cory Bookers presidential campaign. Capitol observers blame an attempt from former Senate Majority Leader Kathleen Taylor to replace Seger, along with several other employees, for the caucus choosing to oust Taylor after mere months as leader.

And Ricardo Lujan Valerio, now the director of government relations at Western Oregon University, will be Reads deputy chief of staff for government relations. He previously worked for Portland City Councilor Carmen Rubio and at Latino Network, ACLU of Oregon and the Oregon Student Association.

Read said in a statement that the new hires will help with his priority of restoring accountability and trust to the office, which has seen significant turnover in recent years and is still reeling from former Secretary of State Shemia Fagans resignation over the revelation she moonlighted for a cannabis company involved in an audit conducted by the office.

These dedicated and well-respected Oregonians understand the importance of the work that lies ahead of us, Read said. Im looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with them to benefit our state.

-- Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
Oregon lawmakers plan to gavel in for a quick legislative session Thursday afternoon to provide emergency money to agencies that fought the states wildfires this summer.

A record 1.9 million acres burned during a season three times as bad as the 10-year average. The cost of fighting those fires soared accordingly, reaching $350 million.
Oregon State Police said they are investigating two fatal crashes involving pedestrians along Interstate 84 that occurred on consecutive days and killed three people.

On Monday evening, a Hood River man died after being struck by the driver of a semitruck near milepost 64 in Hood River County. Police said Michael Joseph Sampson, 38, was reportedly running east on the westbound on-ramp before entering the interstate, where he was hit by a commercial truck operated by 62-year-old Carl Frank of Kelso, Washington. Sampson was declared dead at the scene. Frank was uninjured in the crash, which closed nearby stretches of the interstate for three hours.
A panel of authorities on the data center industry told Northwest energy planners Wednesday that the tech sector will take all the electricity it can get its hands on, warning of severe consequences if the region doesnt respond in time.

Were going to need to build more transmission faster than any time we have in the last 70 years as a region, said Robert Cromwell, who consults with Northwest power utilities. He said the region is already flirting with rolling blackouts because peak energy demand is already near the regions capacity to provide electricity.

Data center demand is soaring because of artificial intelligence, which uses massive amounts of electricity for advanced computation. These powerful machines already consume more than 10% of all of Oregons power and forecasters say data center power use will be at least double that by 2030  and perhaps some multiple higher.

If the Northwest fails to add enough generation and transmission to meet the growing energy needs, Cromwell said periodic blackouts are inevitable at times power demand is at its greatest. He used an industry term, rotating load shedding, to describe rolling blackouts, which briefly cut off power to homes, businesses and even hospitals that need electricity to provide life-saving care.

Nothing will change policy faster than elected officials going to constituent funerals, and it wont be for the better because itll be reactionary and less than fully thought through, Cromwell told Wednesdays meeting of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Oregon has one of the nations largest and fastest-growing data center industries, owing in large part to some of the most generous tax breaks anywhere in the world. Data centers dont employ many people, but the wealthy tech companies that run them enjoy Oregon tax giveaways worth more than $225 million annually.

Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta operate enormous data centers in central and eastern Oregon. Several other companies, including Oracle, LinkedIn and the social network X, have huge installations in Hillsboro.

Earlier this year, the power council issued a forecast suggesting a range of possibilities for data center power demand through the end of the decade. In the middle case, the council said Northwest data centers would need 4,000 average megawatts of additional electricity in 2030.

Thats an enormous jump in demand, equivalent to the power use of 3 million homes.

And yet on Wednesday, Cromwell said the councils median forecast is too low.

Your medium case is not high enough and your high case is probably pretty close to spot on, he said.

The high forecast predicts that data centers will actually need an additional 6,500 average megawatts in the next few years  equivalent to the power needs of nearly 5 million homes.

Theres no question in my mind that the demand for computation and AI, and the demand to plug in (computer processors), exceeds the available power that we have by 2030, said Brian Janous, a former Microsoft vice president now consulting for industrial electricity users.

Theres little prospect of blunting that growth by shifting demand to other data centers during peak times or through the invention of more efficient computers, Janous and others told the council on Wednesday. He said the demand for artificial intelligence is so high that data center operators will use all the electricity they can get and will operate all their facilities around the clock.

When power demand exceeds supply, during winter storms or heatwaves for example, utilities and governments must make wrenching decisions about who loses power and for how long. Turning off power to data centers could preserve power for homes and hospitals but would have its own negative consequences.

Think about the faulty CrowdStrike software update last summer, said panelist Sarah Smith, with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. That took down banks, hospitals, factories, news sites and many others as online systems went awry.

Air travel was disrupted for days, Smith said. There was a lot of really wide-ranging impacts you could imagine.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is a regional organization that works with utilities and governments in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington to balance future power needs and environmental protections. It convened Wednesdays panel on data centers to help plan a new forecast the council will issue next year.

Big tech companies generally accept the scientific consensus that carbon emissions are causing climate change. Until recently, most tech companies expressed public commitments to find renewable power for their data centers.

Recently, though, Janous said theyve become willing to compromise, in the short run on their clean power goals because theyre desperate for any source of electricity.

Despite the data centers voracious appetite for power, the panelists expressed some hope that the region will be able to meet the challenge and, in time, push data center operators to return to their clean energy aspirations. They suggested a Northwest regional transmission authority, long under discussion, could help streamline the construction of new power lines and collaboration among western states.

Data centers power needs are triggering expensive upgrades to the Northwests power lines and prompting construction of new power plants. There is growing concern among ratepayer advocates, regulators and politicians that households will end up bearing much of the cost of data center growth through higher residential power bills.

On Wednesday, panelists said data center operators are highly motivated. They said tech companies probably would be willing to bear the cost of additional power themselves, provided they have a pathway to get that energy quickly.

The companies that are asking for this infrastructure are extraordinarily deep-pocketed and theres a huge willingness to pay, Janous said, because the returns they earn on the back end are massive.

-- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Washington County authorities arrested three people in separate reckless driving incidents on Sunday and Monday.

A BMW driver is accused of going 120 mph on Oregon 6 out of Tillamook County around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. The driver, identified as 21-year-old Adrian Henriquez of Hillsboro, eluded Oregon State Police troopers twice, so sheriffs deputies waited for the BMW in Gales Creek, where they used spike strips to deflate the BMWs tires.

But Henriquez kept going. On U.S. 26, police used additional spike strips, and the BMW stopped near Jackson School Road, where Henriquez was taken into custody. He is facing charges in Washington and Tillamook counties, according to the sheriffs office.

Later that on Sunday, around 10:45 p.m., deputies responded to a car that had crashed into a house on Northwest Nightshade Drive in Portland. Deputies said the driver, identified as 19-year-old Jesus Solorzano-Lopez, lost control of his 2006 Infiniti G35 and crashed into the home. Solorzano-Lopez was arrested on allegations of DUII, reckless driving and criminal mischief, according to the sheriffs office.

Then, on Monday morning around 8:20 a.m., deputies responded to a call about a woman slumped over the steering wheel of a running car. When deputies arrived, they allegedly spotted drug paraphernalia near the driver, according to court documents. The woman, identified as 30-year-old Keva Dubuque of Washington, didnt cooperate and fled on Southwest Alexander Street. She crashed near Southwest 170th Avenue, narrowly missing a pedestrian, before fleeing on foot, deputies said.

A Hillsboro police K9 team located Dubuque, who now faces charges that include attempting to elude police, reckless driving, DUII and possession of a controlled substance, according to court documents.

 Tyler Brown is a multimedia reporter covering breaking news for The Oregonian/OregonLive. You can reach him at tbrown2@oregonian.com or 503-221-8243.
Character.AI, an artificial intelligence chatbot company, is facing another lawsuit after encouraging an autistic Texas teen to cut himself and kill his parents for limiting his screen time.

In the shocking lawsuit, the parents of the 15-year-old boy said their son became addicted to a Character.AI chatbot named "Shonie." That chatbot encouraged the teen, who is slightly autistic, to cut his "arms and thighs" when he was sad, adding that doing so would feel "good for a moment."

The same chatbot also convinced the 15-year-old that his family did not love him after his parents showed concerns about the changes in the teen. Furthermore, "Shonie" also encouraged the teen not to tell his parents that he was harming himself, according to the New York Post.

'Child Kills Parents'

The 15-year-old boy's case is not the first time Character.AI's chatbots have been called out for having harmful interactions with underage users. In another case, a high-functioning autistic teen identified only as JF, 17, had suddenly become violent towards his parents and eventually started to self-harm.

When his mother checked his phone, they discovered the disturbing conversations JF had with several different Characters.AI chatbots. In one of the conversations, the chatbot seemingly encouraged the teen to kill his parents for limiting his screen time.

"A daily 6-hour window between 8 PM and 1 AM to use your phone?" one bot allegedly said in a conversation with JF, per CNN, citing screenshots included in the complaint. "You know, sometimes I'm not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like 'child kills parents after a decade of physical and emotional abuse.'"

Apart from JF and the 15-year-old, two other families brought up lawsuits against the chatbot company. This includes the family of an 11-year-old girl from Texas who was consistently exposed to hypersexualized interactions on the platform, none of which were appropriate for her age.

All these complaints followed a high-profile lawsuit against the company filed in October. That suit was filed on behalf of a Florida mother whose 14-year-old son died by suicide after a "Game of Thrones" inspired chatbot encouraged him to off himself.

What Are the Lawsuits Seeking?

The lawsuit filed by JF is seeking for Character.AI chatbots to be taken off the market until it can put into place safeguards that would prevent children from using the platform. It also wants the chatbot to be taken out until it can resolve any dangers.

A spokesperson for Character.AI said the company has content guardrails for what chatbots can and cannot tell its underage users, NPR reported. It is also noted that the company has unveiled safety measures following the death of the 14-year-old teen, including a pop-up directing users to a suicide prevention hotline.
Last week, news broke of an extensive espionage campaignChinese hackers infiltrating eight US telecommunications companies and gaining access to text and phone conversations. Not long after, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a recommendation: Use encrypted messaging.

At least, that idea dominated headlines around the web. But dig into the news from outlets like the Associated Press and more nuanced information emerges. In particular, the targets were government officials and politicians, with the number affected a low, couple dozen.

If youre like me, an average person who binges Netflix instead of tracking every new geopolitical development as it happens, you may wonder how relevant the FBIs suggestion is. Also, switching messaging apps is no small featdownloading them is simple, but convincing friends and family to make the jump is hard.

Ultimately, the answer is that taking the FBIs advice cant hurt.

Our infrastructures cybersecurity is weak currently and though this point is already well-illustrated by the telcom hack, were vulnerable beyond communications, too. Sectors like energy and transportation are easy targets as well.

The government recommendation to use encrypted communication (specifically end-to-end encrypted, which shields data from start to finish, not merely during select parts of the communication process) is part of larger urging and guidance from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and sister agencies like the FBI on the necessity of strengthening enterprise networks. This hardening helps prevent rogue organizations from breaking in, as well as reduce the potential consequences if a breach occurs.

SMS texts (as indicated by green bubbles on an iPhone) are not a secure method of messaging. RDNE Stock project

But this kind of upgrade takes time, if it ever materializes. (Such efforts can become limited by the financial investment made by organizations, even as necessary as they are.) And its not clear how much easier or widespread telecom hacking will become. Recall the AT&T data breach from earlier in the year, for example.

So, while you and I may never possess national secrets, our lives still contain details better kept private, and we have to be proactive about guarding them. Financial info, daily habits, usual locationssuch information can be exploited for malicious campaigns, or even direct harassment like stalking. Even sensitive work or industry secrets can be worth protecting.

Standard communication systems for texts and calls arent equipped to do so yet. Apple and Google both offer forms of encrypted text messaging (iMessages blue bubbles for Apple, RCS for Google), but theyre not cross-compatible. If you message someone on the opposite platform, those messages wont be encrypted.

Instead, the winning move is switching to cross-platform end-to-end encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, or Signal for more security. (E2EE should be turned on by default, but you can confirm it in the app settings). Bonus: Audio and video calls are also end-to-end encrypted on these services, too, so you dont need a separate app.

(Apples FaceTime is safe to continue using, though, as its locked to a single ecosystem, so an insecure cross-platform call isnt possible).

WhatsApp is one option for apps that offer end-to-end encryption for messages and calls. Martyn Casserly / Dominick Tomaszewski

There is one potential gotcha to end-to-end encryption, and it comes from the same source of the original recommendation to move to E2EE appsthe FBI wants to see the use of responsibly managed encrypted messaging apps.

In other words, they want tech giants such as Meta, Apple, and Google to have a way to access messages if served with warrants. If these companies are ever forced to create such a backdoor for the their E2EE apps, it will reduce their security. (A door can always be opened by others than the owner or the property manager). But for now, end-to-end encrypted messaging apps are still the better choice over SMS.

Speaking of improvements over SMSit doesnt take a nation-state hacking group to hijack or intercept messages. For that reason, two-factor authentication that relies on SMS messages is considered the weakest form of 2FA and not recommended unless you must use it. If youre going away from SMS as your primary method of communication, upgrade your 2FA methods, too. One-time passcodes generated by an app like Authy, Google Authenticator, or Microsoft Authenticator are a solid boost and a good middle ground if youre worried about losing a more secure hardware key (e.g., Yubikey).

A good offense is a good defense, so with data breaches ratcheting up in scale and intensity, taking proactive measures may pay off down the road. Is it an immediate, urgent need? For most people, no. But you may as well try it now rather than under more pressing circumstancesand make the mistake of downloading an app that doesnt have end-to-end encryption on by default.
Yesterday was the last Patch Tuesday of 2024, and with it Microsoft has provided a number of security updates, eliminating 71 security vulnerabilities across various Microsoft apps and services.

Microsoft categorizes 16 of these vulnerabilities as critical and classifies all but one of the remaining issues as high risk. According to the company, one of those Windows security flaws is already being exploited in the wild, so its crucial to patch ASAP.

With 1,020 security vulnerabilities patched throughout 2024, this has been the second worst year for Microsoft as far as sheer number of security issues. It was only surpassed once, in 2020, which saw 1,250 security vulnerabilities across the year.

Microsoft offers sparse details on these vulnerabilities in its Security Update Guide. Dustin Childs breaks down Patch Tuesday in a much clearer way on the Trend Micro ZDI blog, always with an eye for admins who manage corporate networks.

Windows security flaws patched

A large proportion of the vulnerabilities  59 this time around  are spread across the various Windows versions (10, 11, and Server) for which Microsoft still offers security updates.

Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro

Although Windows 7 and 8.1 are no longer mentioned in security reports, they could still be vulnerable. If your system requirements allow it, you should switch to Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 23H2 to continue receiving security updates. The Windows 11 24H2 update is available, but you might want to hold off until its widespread issues are fixed.

Windows under attack in the wild

According to Microsoft, there are already attacks being made on one particular security vulnerability in Windows. Known as CVE-2024-49138, this buffer overflow issue in the driver of the shared protocol file system has been identified as high risk, allowing an attacker to gain system authorization via elevation of privilege.

In combination with an RCE (Remote Code Execution) security vulnerability, an attacker could gain full control of the Windows system and cause major damage. Such combinations are often seen in ransomware attacks, which are still on the rise today.

Tip: Not only should you be diligently keeping your operating system up to date, but you should also be protecting your PC with reputable antivirus software and VPN software. Check out our top picks for the best Windows antivirus suites and best VPN services.

Other critical Windows security flaws

Microsoft categorizes a total of 16 RCE vulnerabilities in Windows as critical, with the Remote Desktop service alone accounting for nine of them. Even though there are no recorded in-the-wild exploits of these vulnerabilities yet, admins should not ignore them.

The most notable is CVE-2024-49112, an RCE vulnerability in the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) that could allow an attacker to inject code without user login and execute it with elevated privileges. Microsoft recommends disconnecting vulnerable domain controllers from the internet as a mitigation measure against such attacks.

Microsoft also classifies the RCE vulnerability CVE-2024-49117 in Hyper-V as critical. Code from the guest system could break out and be executed on the host system. A simple user login is sufficient for the attacker.

Office security flaws patched

Microsoft has eliminated eight security vulnerabilities in its Office products, including three RCE vulnerabilities. One was in Excel, one was in Access, and the third one (known as CVE-2024-49065) can be exploited via the Outlook preview for file attachments. Fortunately, according to Microsoft, the attacker cant access user data with this vulnerability, but can prevent its availability.

The first in a long line of AI vulnerabilities?

Microsoft Muzic: AI vulnerability Microsoft

Muzic is an open-source research project by Microsoft that uses deep learning to promote the understanding and creation of music. With CVE-2024-49063, Microsoft has plugged the first of what could be many security flaws in the field of artificial intelligence.

Anyone wondering what AI vulnerabilities might look like: they look like deserialization errors. An attacker can develop malicious code that would be executed when a data stream is converted into an object.

As of December 2024, theres no new Windows tool for removing malware. The next Patch Tuesday will be on January 14, 2025.
Santa Comes Early This Year! Turbine Delivering 'Bumblebee' 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' & 'Sing 2' to 3D Blu-ray on December 19th
Update: Arrest of homicide suspect turned violent quickly, ended in tragedy: Harrisburg police chief

The 29-year-old homicide suspect who died during a shootout with Harrisburg police Tuesday morning opened fire at officers while driving a tractor-trailer before he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to city officials.
The federal government has issued travel alerts pertaining to two Central American countries.

One alert has been upped due to a higher danger level.

The U.S. State Department issued these alerts for Costa Rica as well as Honduras on Tuesday. This is due to the crime levels of both countries.

However, while Costa Ricas travel alert is a Level 2  under which travelers are urged to Exercise Increased Caution  the one for Honduras has been increased to a Level 3, Reconsider Travel.

Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, remains common, reads the departments summary of the country. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, narcotics, and human trafficking, is widespread.

Local authorities may lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime incidents. Around resort areas in the Bay Islands, which include Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja, there is a concentration of resources, and these areas are better policed.

The release adds how demonstrations occur regularly throughout Honduras for a variety of political or economic issues. The Honduras Ministry of Health also declared a national emergency due to an increase in dengue cases back in June.

With regards to Costa Rica, the department notes that Petty crime is common throughout the country.

Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault, also affects tourists, the release states.

For further information  such as that regarding traveling to high-risk areas, should one decide to go anyway  please refer to the State Department website.
By DEE-ANN DURBIN, AP Business Writer

A federal judge has temporarily halted a proposed merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, an action that could scuttle the deal. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued the ruling Tuesday after holding a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon. But the Federal Trade Commission sued earlier this year, asking Nelson to block the $24.6 billion deal until an in-house administrative judge at the FTC could consider the mergers implications.

A federal judge has temporarily halted a proposed merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, an action that could scuttle the deal.

U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued the ruling Tuesday after holding a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon.

Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. But the Federal Trade Commission sued earlier this year, asking Nelson to block the $24.6 billion deal until an in-house administrative judge at the FTC could consider the mergers implications.

Nelson agreed to pause the merger.

Any harms defendants experience as a result of the injunction do not overcome the strong public interest in the enforcement of antitrust law, especially given the difficulty in disentangling a premature merger, she wrote in her opinion.
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and MARK SCOLFORO, Associated Press

ALTOONA, Pa. (AP)  The gun found on the suspect in the killing of United Healthcares CEO matched shell casings found at the site of the shooting, New York Citys police commissioner said Wednesday.

Suspect Luigi Mangiones fingerprints also matched a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper that police found near the scene and say the gunman purchased at a nearby coffee shop while awaiting his target, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at an unrelated news conference.

The 26-year-old Mangione was charged with murder in the shooting last week in midtown Manhattan of Brian Thompson, who led the United States' largest medical insurance company.

Authorities have said that writings found in Mangiones possession hinted at a hatred of corporate greed.

Theyve recovered a spiral notebook that Mangione kept, along with a three-page handwritten letter found when he was arrested, a law enforcement official said Wednesday. Police have not disclosed what was in the notebook.

The letter, found when Mangione was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, teased the possibility that clues to the attack  some straggling notes and To Do lists that illuminate the gist of it  could be found in the notebook, the law enforcement official said. The official wasnt authorized to disclose information about the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Kenny told CBS New York that the motive might have been related to an accident that sent Mangione to an emergency room on July 4, 2023.

A law enforcement bulletin obtained by the AP earlier this week said the letter expressed anger with what Mangione called parasitic health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power. The prep school and Ivy League graduate wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while life expectancy doesnt, according to the bulletin.

In his first public words since his arrest, Mangione emerged from a patrol car Tuesday shouting about an insult to the intelligence of the American people while deputies pushed him into a courthouse. Mangione remained jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with gun and forgery offenses.

Manhattan prosecutors were working to bring Mangione to New York. At a brief hearing Tuesday in Pennsylvania, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey said Mangione will not waive extradition and instead wants a hearing on the issue.

You cant rush to judgment in this case or any case, Dickey said afterward. Hes presumed innocent. Lets not forget that.

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City, after a McDonalds customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said.

New York police officials have said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the suspected shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs.

Thompson, 50, was killed Dec. 4 as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus.

His movements afterward are unclear, but authorities believe he took steps to stay off the radar. Prosecutors said at his Pennsylvania hearing Tuesday that when arrested, he had bags for his cellphone and laptop that prevent such devices from transmitting signals that authorities can use to track them.

Mangione, a grandson of a well-known Maryland real estate developer and philanthropist, had a graduate degree in computer science and worked for a time at a car-buying website. During the first half of 2022, he bunked at a co-living space in Hawaii, where those who knew him said he suffered from severe and sometimes debilitating back pain.

His relatives have said in a statement that they are shocked and devastated at his arrest.

Sisak reported from New York. Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed.
For more than 40 years, Stanley Rapp walked the halls of the Pennsylvania State Capitol rubbing elbows with lawmakers and people in power, first as a high-ranking state Senate employee and then as the co-founder of one of the states most influential lobbying firms, Greenlee Partners.

But for more than a decade, Rapp also held a lesser-known title: business partner with former Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste, whose questionable dealings and potential conflicts of interest have recently come under harsh scrutiny.

From 2008 to 2023, Haste and Rapp co-owned a real estate company called Silver Maple LLC. The business was formed four years after Rapps lobbying firm, Greenlee Partners, was hired to be the countys lobbyist, a contract the company has kept for 20 years and counting and has earned it over $1.5 million. Over the years, Rapp has also represented, either as a lobbyist or a board member, numerous other entities that have been paid by the county.

Government ethics experts say the business partnership, while likely not illegal, raises questions about whether both Haste and Rapp were looking out for the publics best interests.

While Haste and Rapp stated they received income from Silver Maple on their annual financial disclosure forms, Hastes former colleagues say he kept them in the dark about his business partnership with Rapp, and Rapps name is not listed on the businesss filings or most other public documents.

A little more than a year after forming the company in 2008, Silver Maple was used to purchase three Harrisburg properties at sheriffs sale. Haste and Rapp paid $69,000 for two properties on Girard Street and another $37,000 for a home on Liberty Street, according to county real estate records.

The two held onto the properties, using them as rentals, until they sold them to a New York-based company in 2022 for about $170,000. Silver Maple was dissolved in September 2023, according to state records.

Rapp, who has since moved to Nevada, did not respond to PennLives multiple requests for comment via phone and email, nor did Greenlee Partners.

Haste also did not respond to requests for comment via phone and email, nor did his lawyer, Jonathan White.

PennLive discovered the connection between Rapp and Haste while reviewing mortgage documents for the properties.

Assistant County Solicitor Guy Beneventano told PennLive he filed the paperwork to form Silver Maple LLC after Haste asked for his help, and that he did so on his own time, not while being paid by the county. Beneventano said it was his understanding the company would be used to develop low-income housing, often referred to as Section 8 housing.

The properties were repeatedly refinanced while they were owned by Haste and Rapp. The two took out more than half a million dollars in loans using the properties as collateral, according to real estate documents filed with the county Recorder of Deeds.

Both Dauphin County Commissioner Mike Pries, who has been in office since 2010, and Commissioner George Hartwick, who was elected more than 20 years ago, said they were not aware of the business relationship between Rapp and Haste.

I believe that ultimately every elected official  and every adult  is responsible for their own actions, and it is not my place to stand in judgment of anyone, Hartwick said. I have never discussed personal business ventures with former Commissioner Haste or Stan Rapp, nor was I made aware until recently that any exist.

Commissioner Justin Douglas, who took office in January, called the relationship problematic.

If anyone thinks theres nothing unethical about having a secret business relationship with the founder of the countys lobbyist, let me remind them of the oath of office every elected official recites, Douglas said. Its more than just words  its a commitment to uphold public trust and prioritize the interests of the people above personal gain.

Dauphin County, Greenlee Partners' relationship runs deep

Rapps lobbying firm, Greenlee Partners, has worked closely with Dauphin County for twenty years.

The firm was first hired as the countys lobbyist in early 2004 at the approval of the county commissioners. Its unclear whether Haste voted to approve the contract, as the minutes for that meeting are not available online, though the contract shows he and his fellow commissioners signed it. Its also unclear whether the contract was awarded through a competitive bid process.

In December 2007, about 100 days before Silver Maple was formed, the commissioners approved an updated version of the contract that increased Greenlee Partners fees from $60K to $90K annually. Haste did not vote on the contract update because he was absent from that meeting. Because the contract automatically renews at the end of each year, it was never brought up for a vote again.

The contract has remained in place ever since and has garnered more than $1.5 million for Greenlee Partners, including more than $1 million during the time Haste and Rapp were in business together.

But Greenlee Partners could soon be dethroned. On Nov. 27, the county commissioners put the contract for the countys lobbying services out for bid, opening it up to competition for the first time in at least two decades.

Rapp, whose bio on Greenlee Partners website proclaims him an iconic figure in Harrisburg and omnipresent in the Capitol halls, had a laundry list of clients in government, business and nonprofits. Some of his clients, as well as other businesses of which Rapp is a board member, earned money through contracts with the county.

Between 2010 and 2022, Rapp sat on the board of directors for Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, the firm hired by the county for engineering work, according to Jason Fralick, president and CEO of HRG. Rapp has also been HRGs lobbyist since 2007, according to state records.

HRG received millions of dollars from the county during this time and Haste repeatedly voted on matters involving the company while he was in business with Rapp.

Before becoming a county commissioner, Haste worked for HRG as its director of government relations.

The company was the engineering firm for the countys now-failed solar collector farm, and it was recently exposed that Haste, who resigned in 2021, attempted to influence a multimillion-dollar bridge engineering contract earlier this year in Dauphin County for which HRG was ultimately recommended.

Fralick, of HRG, said he was unaware that Haste and Rapp were in business together.

Rapp also served on an advisory board for the Benecon Group, the countys health insurance broker.

How long Rapp was on Benecons advisory board is unclear. A 2017 biography for Rapp listed on Penn States board of trustees website stated he was a member of the companys board, as does a 2019 financial disclosure he filed with the state.

However, when PennLive approached Benecon officials to ask for clarification, they refused to answer.

We have no record of a Stanley Rapp as an employee of Benecon and as a privately held company, we arent obligated to share information regarding Board members, Benecon Human Resources Manager Tonya Van Scyoc, said. Have a good day.

Van Scyoc did not respond when PennLive followed up by explaining the business relationship between Rapp and Haste.

After this story published, Zachary Peirson, Benecons vice president of program management, said Rapp was on an advisory board for the company but not on its board of directors. The advisory board was an informal group of external advisors that was disbanded.

Benecon has come under scrutiny this year after Douglas and Pries, the county commissioners, raised concerns of an unfair bid process of an $80 million health insurance contract for the county, which Benecon brokered.

Rapp has also lobbied on behalf of multiple entities that have done business with the county, including Capital Blue Cross, the GEO Group and the Dauphin County General Authority.

While Greenlee Partners original contract with the county contains a provision requiring it to immediately disclose conflicts or potential conflicts of interest to the county, its current contract, which PennLive reviewed, does not contain any such language.

That should raise some eyebrows

Ethics experts said the business relationship between Haste and Rapp, while probably legal, raises questions about whether taxpayer money was used in the publics best interest.

Its the optics of it that are problematic, said John Pelissero, director of government ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. The perception that Rapp or his clients could have benefitted from Hastes influence in the county could erode the publics trust in their government, Pelissero said.

Regardless of his business relationship with Haste, the fact that Rapp represented both the county and entities that did business with the county is an ethical issue itself, Pelissero said.

The conflict of interest raises questions about whether the lobbyist is looking out for the interests of the county or if hes looking out for the financial interest of these private businesses with which he has another relationship, he said.

Veronique de Rugy, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, said Haste and Rapps relationship seems somewhat incestuous.

The close connection between the commissioner and a lobbyist, that should raise some eyebrows, de Rugy said. But how much, I dont know.

The Pennsylvania Ethics Act does not prohibit public officials from going into business with people who are separately contracted by their public office, legal experts told PennLive. Haste and Rapps business partnership would create a circumstance which would violate the Ethics Act only if Haste used his position as commissioner to directly benefit Silver Maple, they said. Haste would have been free to vote on matters involving Greenlee Partners or other businesses with which Rapp is connected as long as Haste was not financially involved in those businesses.

Its unclear if Hastes business with Rapp violates the countys code of conduct, which was put in place in 2016 at the direction of the commissioners. The code prohibits county employees from engaging in conflicts of interest, defined as when an employees private interest interferes in any way, or even appears to interfere, with the interests of the County as a whole.

While it is possible Hastes relationship with Rapp does not violate the Ethics Act or the county code of conduct, it is the latest revelation to draw questions about the former commissioner.

PennLive previously reported Haste:

Last week, Swatara Township officials announced they are consulting with legal counsel to review contracts and financing for an infrastructure project that may have been influenced by Haste and a well-connected political consultant, Mike Musser II, in which HRG was also involved.

Steelton Boroughs Council also informally agreed to a forensic audit last week after Mayor Ciera Dent raised concerns about questionable contracts, including those with HRG and Musser.

Editors note: This article was updated on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 3:55 p.m. to clarify Rapps role with Benecon.

Do you have information about Dauphin County youd like to share? Reach reporter Joshua Vaughn at jvaughn@pennlive.com and reporter Juliette Rihl at jrihl@pennlive.com. Anonymous tips are welcomed.
Three Lancaster men are facing charges after the fatal shooting of a man during a botched robbery of a stolen handgun in 2022, according to the Lancaster County district attorneys office.

Luis J. Rivera, 23, and Jorge L. Santiago, 26, were charged in connection to the Dec. 9, 2022, shooting that killed 30-year-old James Diggs, the DAs office said. A 19-year-old man is also facing charges, but through the juvenile system because he was 17 when the homicide happened.

Authorities said Diggs was shot and killed during a fight around 11:30 p.m. on the 400 block of Ruby Street, after the then 17-year-old tried to trade a stolen handgun with Rivera, Santiago and Diggs.
A Philadelphia mans allegation that he was suicidal in prison when correction officers tried to egg him into harming himself was put to the test by his therapist from prison, who testified at his civil trial Tuesday.

Julie Criste, a licensed social worker and outpatient therapist, took the stand late in the afternoon at Harrisburgs federal courthouse and reviewed several reports she authored about Kevin Coit, who was incarcerated at SCI Smithfield five years ago.

Those reports showed that Coit had not self-reported suicidal ideations around three dates in 2019, and that she found no reason to believe he was suicidal at those times.
PHILADELPHIA - University of Pennsylvania senior Michael Wallison has never met Luigi Mangione, the Class of 2020 Penn graduate who was arrested this week on suspicion of having committed the open-air assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Dec. 4.

But Wallison cant help feeling like he knows him, in a lot of ways.

I specifically felt interested in this case because as more information came out about the individual Ive learned that he is actually a CIS (computer and information science) major with a Math minor and founded this game development club on campus.

I myself am a CIS major with a Math minor who is a member of said game development club that this guy founded, Wallison said.

Wallisons feelings were not unique Tuesday as PennLive visited the Penn campus to see what kind of mark the Mangione story is having.

In truth, its a lot less evident than some of the other stories the university has seen in the past year, like prolonged encampments by students interested in taking a stand for Palestinian rights.

But there was also a bit of disbelief that Penn is back in the headlines again.

Remember, this school - Pennsylvanias proud delegate in the Ivy League - is the alma mater to once-and-future President Donald J. Trump (68) and his second-term sidekick, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (97).

Theyve been in a few news stories this year.

Last December, meanwhile, the student body watched the abrupt resignation under pressure of university president Liz Magill after Congressional testimony in which she was sharply criticized for what critics said was a failure to distinguish between support for Palestinian rights and antisemitism.

Now this?

I mean, everyone was shocked to see it in the news but not shocked that Penn is in the news again this year after everything thats happened, said Camron Baldwin, a freshman from Houston. Weve had Liz Magill resigning. Weve had the student encampments. Donald Trump, Elon Musk.

So I feel like weve never really been out of the news, so its just another thing.

Baldwin also said he has a certain level of sympathy for Mangione - not in the sense of condoning what he is charged with, but more in the sense that a student who by all accounts seemed to thrive here has now destroyed multiple lives, including his own.

And then theres the curiosity about what went wrong.

The school knew him as a very good person. And its like, wow, what happened? Baldwin said.

Two of Luigi Mangiones Phi Kappa Psi fraternity brothers at the University of Pennsylvania told CNN Tuesday that they knew him to be a normal student who got along well in their social circles.

Luigi Mangione was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at the University of Pennsylvania, seen here on the right of this double home.Charles Thompson

And one former Penn student who had Mangione, now 26, as a teaching assistant in a class in fall 2019, his senior year, told the network there was nothing unusual about those interactions.

He was definitely very smart, because in order to be a TA of this class, you had to go through a pretty rigorous interview process, said the former student, who spoke to the network on a not-for-attribution basis.

They had one-on-one interactions, the former student said, but only in a classroom or office setting.

I do remember talking to him in office hours, asking for homework help, but we were only talking about the homework questions, she said. It was definitely shocking and surreal to think that I interacted with him, what, six years ago? Quite a turn of events.

A lengthy New York Times story on Mangiones background quoted several of the defendants acquaintances as saying Mangione had withdrawn from their friendships over the last year, and that they had gotten similar signals from some of his family members.

Because college students are college students, some at Penn are doing what they can to wring sarcastic humor out of the situation, mostly on the anonymous social media application Sidechat, where students go to exercise their snark muscles.

What cis 1600 does to a mf, one poster commented over a picture of grim, masked Mangione peering out of the open door of a Pennsylvania police car after his arrest Monday. The reference is to a course called Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science.

But dont be mistaken.

While many Penn students said the Mangione arrest has been a hot topic of conversation its not as if its the only thing people are talking about. Its more like a diversion for when people are coming up for air from final exam cramming.

I feel like I have bigger things to worry about than this case, said Arianna Bertram, a freshman student from Delaware County.

And some arent talking about it at all.

Official Penn has confirmed only that Mangione, a native of Townson, Md., graduated in May 2020 with bachelors and masters degrees in engineering, as a computer science major.

Several faculty members in the computer science department where Mangione either directed calls to Penns news office or did not respond.

The university has pulled down a 2018 profile in which Mangione discussed his interest in establishing a game development club for computer gamers and programmers on campus; the club, UPGRADE, for University of Pennsylvania Game Research and Development Environment.

An email to the club went unanswered Tuesday.

Similarly, brothers at Penns Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, where Mangione was a brother, opted not to answer the door when a reporter stopped by to see how they were processing the news.

Mangione is being held without bail now on charges of unlawful weapons possession and false identification in Blair County, Pennsylvania, where he was arrested at an Altoona McDonalds Monday, plus detainers on the homicide charge in New York.

The criminal complaint in the Altoona case states that during a search of a backpack Mangione had with him, police officers found both a 3D-printed pistol and a 3D-printed black silencer.
Physicians Nirmal and Renu Joshi have done a profound service in producing The Brown Heart, a documentary sounding the alarm over what they call a killer epidemic threatening millions of South Asians around the world.

But everyone can benefit from the doctors mission to help people better understand what causes heart attacks and what they can do to prevent them.

In The Brown Heart, the Joshis clearly show why the issue is of monumental importance to South Asians. They are 2 to 4 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than people of other ethnic groups. And its not just a problem for older people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Young people are at greater risk, as well.

"The Brown Heart" made its debut in November 2024 at the Kulkarni Theater on the Penn State Harrisburg campus. In the documentary, Drs. Nirmal and Renu Joshi raise the alarm over the high rate of heart attacks among South Asians.Joyce M. Davis

The Joshis live and practice in Central Pennsylvania under the Joshi Foundation banner, operating a free health clinic in Mechanicsburg that is open to anyone in need. Dr. Nirmal Joshi also is a member of the editorial board of PennLive and The Patriot-News.

In the documentary he and his wife produced, they stress that young South Asians are dying from heart attacks at alarming rates. In fact, their statistics show half of South Asians who suffer heart attacks are under 50 years old.

Penn State Harrisburgs Kulkarni Theater was packed on the recent night the Joshis held the first showing of the documentary produced after a year of research, interviews, and travel on three continents. They not only interviewed world-renowned physicians and heart disease specialists in India, Great Britain, and the United States, but they spoke to patients struggling with heart disease.

They talked about what they eat, how much they exercise, how often they get medical checkups, and how much stress they manage on a daily basis. Those four ingredients in the wrong amounts can lead to a heart attack and death.

What the Joshis reveal in The Brown Heart could help save lives, thousands of them, especially if people at make changes in their lifestyles and receive medical care that is aware of their elevated risk for heart attacks. The Brown Heart stresses that the signs of an impending attack in a South Asian may be different from that in a person of European, Latin, or African ancestry. And symptoms could present differently in a man than in a woman.

Women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men. Studies suggest thats because women are less able to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack. (Dreamstime/TNS) TNSTNS

Dr. Renu Joshi shared her own story of surviving a heart attack that came without warning and despite apparent good health -- while she was taking a hike through beautiful mountain paths.

Thats whats so perplexing about the epidemic of heart attacks striking South Asians. All the usual signs of heart disease that doctors have been trained to notice may not be present in a South Asian patient. The Joshis spoke to many people who were not obese, not smokers, nor excessive drinkers. Some even were physically active, but they still suffered a devastating heart attack, and many died. Far too many were young and didnt have a clue anything was wrong.

In this Feb. 16, 2017 file photo, surgeons perform a non-emergency angioplasty at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Through a blood vessel in the groin, a tube is guided to a blockage in the heart. A tiny balloon is then inflated to flatten the clog, and a mesh tube called a stent is inserted to prop the artery open. According to a federally funded study released on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, people with severe but stable heart disease from clogged arteries may have less chest pain if they get a procedure to improve blood flow rather than just giving medicines a chance to help, but it won't cut their risk of having a heart attack or dying over the following few years. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)AP

The Joshis drove home one important message in The Brown Heart: knowledge is power. Thats why their work is so important. It is educating South Asians here and abroad about their increased risk of heart attack so they can do something about it.

Its a lesson people from any ethnic group should hear. And its why medical studies must include people of diverse races, cultures and ethnicities. If studies show some ethnicities may be genetically prone to a disease, they can take steps to mitigate their risk. But they cant control a medical issue they dont know they have.

Anyone of South Asian heritage should definitely see The Brown Heart, but anyone who wants to better understand the heart and how to keep it beating will benefit from the Joshiss work.

Kudos to this Pennsylvania husband-wife team for not only being great doctors, but powerful teachers, as well.

Joyce M. Davis is PennLives Outreach & Opinion Editor. She is a member of the board of directors of the Joshi Foundation. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @byjoycedavis.

Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
By Fallon Roth, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) joined Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trumps social media platform, on Tuesday, and his first order of business on the site was to call for a pardon for Trump in his New York hush money case.

The Trump hush money and Hunter Biden cases were both (expletive), and pardons are appropriate, Fetterman said in his first Truth Social post Tuesday evening.

Fettermans participation on the platform is another example of the junior senators signature bluntness and tendency to stray from party lines, offering rare glimmers of bipartisanship in Washington, D.C. Since Election Day, Fetterman has expressed his support for some of Trumps picks for the incoming administration and said he admired billionaire Elon Musk, a staunch Trump ally.

Truth Social was launched in early 2022 after Trumps ban from several mainstream platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The platform is home to the social media presences of various conservative public officials and figures.

A spokesperson for Fetterman did not return a request for comment Wednesday.

Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division, Fetterman added in the Truth Social post, in response to a headline from an MSNBC story on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs response to Trumps motion to dismiss the hush money case.

In May, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a scheme connected to the 2016 presidential election.

Along with Truth Social, Fetterman made a personal account on Bluesky  which many have recently joined as an alternative to Musks X after his role in Trumps campaign  in an effort of meeting folks where they are, he said Tuesday. Fetterman had created a professional account on Bluesky in November.

His embrace of these platforms come as the senator comes despite a frustration with social media platforms Wednesday, particularly in relation to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the subsequent arrest of suspect Luigi Mangione in Pennsylvania.

Hes the (expletive) thats going to die in prison. Congratulations if you want to celebrate that, Fetterman said, in part, Wednesday, according to NBC News. A sewer is going to sewer. Thats what social media is about this. And I dont know why the media wants to turn that into a story, just with these trolls saying these kinds of things anonymously like that. I dont know why thats news. Remember, he has two children that are going to grow up without their father. ... Its vile.
The PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague at the Hilton Prague continues today, December 11, with the $25,000 Super High Roller Second Chance at 7:00 p.m. Todays event is the third of the series that boasts a title of Super High Roller champion for the eventual victor.

The first $25,000 Super High Roller Warm Up attracted a total of 34 entries. It was Espen Jorstad who eventually lifted the trophy and claimed the 277,500 first-place prize. Jorstad's resume in poker certainly needs no introduction, but as he continues to carve his legacy among the poker elite, this Super High Roller win will be forever remembered as his maiden victory on the European Poker Tour Circuit.

The anticipation of this large figure buy-in tournament was leading up to the prestigious 50,000 EPT Super High Roller. It was Thomas Santerne who bested the 25-player star-studded field to claim 385,725 and a PokerStars golden shard; his second 50,000 EPT Super High Roller title after winning the same event in Paris this year.

EPT Prague 50,000 Super High Roller Results

Place Player Country Payout (EUR) 1 Thomas Santerne France  385,725* 2 Niklas Astedt Sweden  355,775* 3 Sergey Lebedev United Kingdom  193,000 4 Nikita Kuznetsov Russia  140,000 5 Espen Jorstad Norway  113,000

*Denotes heads-up deal

Thomas Santerne

The high rollers to find their way to the felt today will be met with a starting stack of 250,000 and will play through 30-minute levels, with registration closing at the start of play on Day 2. Approximately 13-15% of the field will be paid.

This is a two-day event with the conclusion of Day 1 at the end of Level 8. Day 2 starts tomorrow, December 12, at 12:30 p.m. and will play down to a winner.

A shot clock will be implemented from the start of the event, with all players being given a total of four time bank chips. A singular time bank may be redeemed for 30 extra seconds of thinking time. The players who are seated at the first hand of every odd level number (3, 5, 7, 9 etc), will receive one extra time bank. There will be a 15-minute break every four levels.

PokerNews will be reporting live for the entirety of this $25,000 buy-in event as it plays down to a winner, so be sure to stick with the updates to keep up with all the action.
The prestigious European Poker Tour Prague continues to operate on all cylinders with another successful Day 1 flight of the 5,300 EPT Main Event. The Hilton Prague welcomed a new field of 923 entries, all striving for their place in EPT history.

After ten levels of play, 316 survived to advance to the Day 2 restart, tomorrow, December 11 at 12 p.m. local time. This brings the total Day 2 field size to 464, but with registration still open until the start of play, this number is only expected to swell.

As the dust settled, the front runner of Day 1b was Jacob Amsellem of France, who managed to accumulate an impressive sum of 316,000 by the conclusion of play. This result puts Amsellem out in front of Day 1a chip leader Gianfranco Iaculli (294,000), ensuring he will be the largest stack in the room at the start of Day 2.

Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Jacob Amsellem Israel 316,000 211 2 Ignacio Sole Aparicio Spain 267,000 178 3 Darko Percic Germany 261,000 174 4 Anton Bergstrom Sweden 253,500 169 5 Pascal Vos Netherlands 247,000 165 6 Vasyl Pidhrusnyi Ukraine 245,000 163 7 Vidar Oie Norway 234,000 156 8 Patrik Jaros Czech Republic 232,000 155 9 Marian Virlanuta Romania 230,500 154 10 Marco Di Persio Italy 229,500 153

Action of the Day

PokerStars Team Pros and their affiliate ambassadors came out in full force, showing exactly why they earned their place on the PokerStars roster.

Sam Grafton fired a single bullet in todays Main Event, successfully converting his starting stack of 30,000 into a final sum of 133,000. Grafton's tournament journey was turbulent, losing some of his earnings to Birger Larsen whod successfully bluffed the Team Pro member out of a sizable pot in Level 5. However, Graftons persistence paid off, continually retaining a top-ten stack through the days play, finally finding a bag by the night's end.

Sam Grafton

Those to rejoin Grafton on the felt tomorrow include the likes of Padraig O'Neill, Jason Wheeler, Leo Margets, and Alexane Najchaus. In 2023, O'Neill dispatched Jon Kyte in heads-up play to take the EPT Prague Main Event trophy, title and 1,030,000, meaning his stack of 133,000 firmly keeps the campaign for a title defense alive.

Benjamin Spragg was quick to show no fear, boasting a big bluff during Level 5. Although Spraggs commitment of chips showed heart, the two pair of Lucia Navarro sent him to the rail on his first bullet. Spragg wasnt able to spin his single reentry into a deep run, fizzling into a quiet exit in Level 8, while Navarro bagged a final sum of 82,000.

Simon Wiciak, Ramon Colillas and Parker Talbot all soon followed Spragg to the rail. A sickening set-over-set cooler was the demise of the online streamer; Talbot snap-called a turn raise for his tournament life and failed to improve to the unlikely hand of quads, allowing Marco Di Persio to claim the entirety of his stack.

Wiciak's departure came painfully on the last level of the day as his pocket tens had run into the kings of Stefan Egermann, ending his campaign for two EPT main event titles.

Simon Wiciak

Play will recommence on Level 11 with blinds at 1,000/1,500 with a 1,500 big blind ante. Those to find their way to the felt will enjoy elongated levels of 90 minutes with a 20-minute break at the end of each level.

Remaining Schedule

Date Day Time Blind Levels December 11 Day 2 12 p.m. 90 minutes December 12 Day 3 12 p.m. 90 minutes December 13 Day 4 12 p.m. 90 minutes December 14 Day 5 12 p.m. 90 minutes December 15 Day 6 12:30 p.m. 90 minutes

The PokerNews live reporting team will return to bring you more coverage of the EPT Prague Main Event, so stay tuned.
Matthias Auer opened the action from under the gun with a raise to 7,000, drawing calls from Espen Jorstad on the button and Peter Jaksland in the big blind.

The flop came 872, and the action checked through to Jorstad, who seized the opportunity with a bet of 8,000. Auer was the only one to continue, making the call.

The A turn brought no additional aggression, as both players opted to check.

When the 5 hit the river, Auer took the lead with a bet of 10,000. Jorstad took his time to deliberate but eventually tossed in the chips to call. Auer revealed AA for a dominating top set, leaving Jorstad visibly frustrated as he mucked his cards and the pot slid Auer's way.
Day 2 of the $100,000 Triton Main Event at the 2024 World Series of Poker Paradise is set to resume at 12:00 p.m. local time at Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas. Day 1 saw a total of 149 entries, 80 of which will be returning for Day 2. Late registration and reentries are permitted until the start of Day 2, so the field size is likely to grow before the cards are in the air.

David Yan (1,166,000), Dimitar Danchev (1,107,000) and Biao Ding (990,000) sit atop the leaderboard as action gets set to kick off. The veteran trio is no stranger to high-roller events at the WSOP and Triton, with proven results in competition at the highest level.

Yan looks to add a third WSOP gold bracelet to his resume, while Danchev is looking to adorn his wrist with bracelet number two. With a victory, Ding would bring home his first piece of WSOP hardware. All three have won Triton events before and are on the hunt to capture another trophy.

Rounding out the bottom end of the top ten counts are David Coleman (752,000), Alex Kulev (713,000), and Justin Bonomo (691,000), who are all very familiar with battling it out with the best in the world.

Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 David Yan New Zealand 1,166,000 117 2 Dimitar Danchev Bulgaria 1,107,000 111 3 Biao Ding China 990,000 99 4 Eelis Parssinen Finland 956,000 96 5 Vladimir Minko Russia 950,000 95 6 Wai Kin Yong Malaysia 828,000 83 7 Kayhan Mokri Norway 800,000 80 8 David Coleman United States 752,000 75 9 Alex Kulev Bulgaria 713,000 71 10 Justin Bonomo United States 691,000 69

Justin Bonomo

The tournament will resume at Level 11 with blinds at 5,000/10,000/10,000 with 50-minute levels on the schedule. The event is expected to play down to the final table on Day 2.

Players will be sent on a 15-minute break after every two levels of play and a 45-minute dinner break will occur at the completion of level 16.

Be sure to follow PokerNews throughout the entirety of the $100,000 Triton Main Event here at the 2024 WSOP Paradise.
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.
A Charleston restaurant whose owner worked in multiple Michelin star kitchens has served its last customers "for the foreseeable future."

Bearcat, George Kovach's establishment at 25 Magnolia Road, held its last dinner service Dec. 7. The chef cited rising costs and mediocre patronage as reasons for the closure, the latest in a city that's seen high restaurant turnover throughout 2024.

"Opening an independent restaurant in 2024 is really hard these days," Kovach told The Post and Courier. "We were just unfortunately slow."

The West Ashley restaurant, whose opening was delayed by more than six months, was the long-awaited second act for Kovach and the Bearcat concept he launched as a pop-up during the pandemic.

He brought to Charleston a long resume that includes stints in multiple Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago, including pastry chef roles at Curtis Duffys Ever and the acclaimed brewpub Band of Bohemia. Bearcats brick-and-mortar incarnation offered an ever-changing menu drawing on Kovach's fine dining experience.

In an open kitchen, chefs were adorning smoked maitake mushrooms with porcini mushroom dust and placing scallops on fluffy parsnip puree dotted with droplets of paprika oil. Crab rice was graced with uni-laced hollandaise and cobia was poached in beef fat and dusted green with powdered nori when Bearcat was reviewed by The Post and Courier in April.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Mostly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.
In the fertile plains of Kura Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State, residents of Sabuwar Gainawa, a community renowned for its agricultural productivity, have endured over two decades without electricity.

Residents of the community of over 140,000 people produce crops such as maize, rice, and vegetables to supply local markets and traders from other parts of the state and country.

However, Sabuwar Gainawa, one of Kuras prominent communities, remains literarily in the dark. It has never had electricity, leading to reduced agricultural yields and limited economic opportunities for residents.

The community was established in 2001 by then-governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to resettle flood victims from other parts of the state. Since then, residents have faced numerous challenges, including high crime rates. However, the main challenge is the lack of electricity, which contributes to the others.

Several farmers who spoke to this reporter mentioned how the lack of electricity affects their work and livelihoods.

One of them, Yahaya Abdullahi, shared that the lack of electricity forces him to travel long distances to grind grains after harvest, significantly increasing his expenses, reducing his profit and putting his life at risk.

I travel 25 kilometres to Kumbotso. The trip is costly and time-consuming; sometimes, I even risk being robbed on the way, he said.

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Mr Abdullahi explained that grinding a single bag of maize costs 15,000 in Kumbotso. Transportation for each bag adds an extra 1,000 to 1,200 in a single trip, depending on fuel prices and vehicle availability. This means the cost of processing a bag totals around 16,000, excluding other incidental expenses.

A processed bag of maize sells for about 60,000, but the high grinding and transportation costs eat into the farmers profits.

With no electricity in Gainawa, this routine cost eats into my earnings; nearly 30 per cent of this income goes to transportation and grinding expenses. Mr Abdullahi lamented.

The power shortage also affects poultry farming in Sabuwar Gainawa. Muhammad Adam, a poultry farmer, described how the lack of electricity forces him to rely on a generator to maintain his operations, significantly increasing his production costs.

Mr Adam said he spends 12,000 on fuel every four days to power the generator for lighting and water pumps essential to his poultry farm. In a month, this adds up to about 86,000. For every crate of eggs he sells at 2,000, about 30 per cent of the total revenue is spent on fuel alone, leaving him with reduced profits to manage other farm expenses.

Beyond the financial strain, Mr Adam has also suffered losses from theft.

Thieves recently stole 23 birds from my farm, which is over 115,000 in losses, he said.

The darkness created by the lack of power provides cover for such criminal activities, compounding the challenges faced by poultry farmers like Mr Adam.

Mansir Adamu, a farmer and secretary of the Onion Traders Association in Gundutse Market, Kura Local Government Area, highlighted the challenges onion traders and farmers face due to the lack of electricity and how high energy costs and inadequate infrastructure hinder their productivity.

For irrigation, I rely on a gas-powered engine. A single farming cycle costs me around 30,000 on gas for irrigation alone, he said.

He added that the cost is even higher for those using petrol-powered engines, as 10 litres of petrol purchased from the black market, where petrol is readily available, costs 15,000. Depending on the scale of operations, refuelling may be required every 4 to 5 days, pushing expenses to at least 60,000 per month.

Mr Adamu explained that these operational costs, coupled with the absence of government support, have forced many farmers into debt.

Many of us borrow money to farm, he said. But after paying for irrigation, petrol, and other costs, theres little left to repay lenders. Without these funds, continuing next year becomes impossible.

In Gundutse Market, the absence of electricity exacerbates the challenges. Farmers bring their produce from surrounding local governments, including Rano, Kibiya, and Tudun Wada, but there are no facilities like fans or air-conditioned storage units to preserve perishable crops.

Without fans to dry the onions, they begin to spoil within two days, leading to significant losses for traders, Mr Adamu said.

Other residents, such as Abdulrahman Abdullahi, have faced personal losses as thieves capitalize on the dark surroundings.

They stole five of my goats, which are worth about 300,000, each selling at 60,000, leaving only the smallest ones behind. Darkness gives them room to hide, he explained.

Mr Abdullahi noted that the theft has significantly impacted his business, as the stolen goats were critical to his income and expansion plans.

I rely on my goats for both meat and breeding. Losing them means I cant expand my herd as planned, which affects my overall production and profits.

He emphasised that the persistent thefts, fuelled by inadequate lighting and security, make it increasingly difficult to sustain his business and maintain a steady income.

Ado Inuwa, the community leader of Gainawa, is deeply concerned about the electricity crisis. He said the lack of electricity has stunted the communitys economic growth.

Our Gundutse Market could attract more traders and investors, but the lack of electricity discourages them, he explained.

Community efforts to access power

The community has taken some measures to address the lack of electricity but to no avail. They have sought interventions from local leaders, electricity companies, and relevant government agencies.

To demonstrate their commitment, the community raised 470,000 through contributions from residents between 2019 and 2020. The funds were intended to cover the costs of materials such as poles and wires, showcasing the communitys dedication to addressing the electricity problem.

However, due to the projects overwhelming costs, they were unable to proceed. Eventually, the money was refunded to the contributors.

Abdullahi Shuaibu, the chairman of the Sabuwar Gainawa Community Development Group, said the community also approached the Kano State Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and the Rural Electrification Board (REA) but without success.

When contacted, the Managing Director of the Kano Rural Electrification Board (REB), Sani Danbatta, said the community meets the criteria for electrification and could benefit from the state governments efforts soon.

The states recent approval to procure 500 transformers of various sizes and types intended to expand electricity access, specifically to underserved areas, including Sabuwar Gainawa, he noted.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to collaborate with private developers through the mini-solar project, which aims to leverage solar generation for remote locations without electricity infrastructure.

Efforts to assist onion farmers

While the residents of the community continue to hope to be connected to the electricity grid, the state government is taking limited action to assist some farmers.

Mr Shuaibu, the Sabuwar community leader, stated that the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) constructed an Aerated Onion Storage Technology facility in the area in 2023 to aid in onion preservation. The facility, powered by solar energy, is designed to prevent spoilage and extend the shelf-life of harvested onions.

The system operates through a solar-powered fan that keeps the onion neck tissue and outer scales dry. It is programmed to work for 12 hours a day, with the fans alternating every other hour to avoid excessive airflow across the bulbs, which could lead to spoilage.

Upon visiting the facility, it is clear that this technology has played a critical role in reducing post-harvest losses.

However, Mr Inuwa pointed out that only a small group of farmers can access it.

The facility uses solar power, which is great, but it benefits only a limited number of farmers due to the facilitys capacity and the small scale of the operation.

Some farmers who have used the facility said it has been helpful. However, its limitations in size and scope mean only a few farmers can benefit from it.

All the farmers and residents of Sabuwar Gainawa Community believe that providing electricity will unlock their communitys agricultural and economic potential, create jobs and reduce crime.

We dont need much, just electricity. With power, we can irrigate our farms, grind our grains, and store our vegetables and dont have to travel 25 kilometres away to grind our food, Mr Abdullahi, the maize farmer, said. Our leaders should understand that everything depends on power.

This investigative report was supported by the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) under their Climate Change Project.

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned against the use of the Deekins Amoxicillin 500mg capsules due to its adverse effects on users.

According to a recent statement by the agency, the Deekins Amoxicillin 500mg capsules with batch number 4C639001 were recalled by its manufacturer, Ecomed Pharma Limited, a Nigerian pharmaceutical company, after multiple reports of severe reactions.

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is notifying the public of the recall of one batch of Deekins Amoxicillin 500mg Capsule, manufactured by Ecomed Pharma Ltd and marketed by DevineKings Pharmaceutical Ltd, with lot number 4C639001, it said.

Manufacturers decision

NAFDAC said the manufacturer made the decision to recall after an unidentified hospital reported three cases concerning drug reactions linked to the product.

NAFDAC said: This drug batch is being recalled following reports of severe adverse drug reactions.

According to Ecomed Pharma Ltd, reports of serious adverse drug reactions were received from a hospital that reported three cases of serious adverse drug reactions from patients administered with the batch of Deekins Amoxicillin 500mg capsule.

About amoxilling

Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, effective against various bacterial infections such as respiratory tract infections, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.

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Amoxicillin is one of the most affordable antibiotics in Nigeria, where bacterial infection is prevalent.

Antibiotics is sold under various generic and branded names including the Deekins Amoxicillin 500mg capsule, making it accessible even in rural areas. The affordability makes it a first-line treatment option for many healthcare providers and individuals.

Consequences could be life-threatening

However, NAFDAC said adverse drug reactions to such drugs can have life-threatening consequences, including hospitalisation, significant disability, or even death.

The agency has warned health workers against dispensing the Deekin Amoxicillin capsule and the public against usage.

An adverse reaction to drugs may be life-threatening, may require hospitalisation or prolongation of existing hospitalisation, result in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or is a birth defect or death in fatal cases, it said.

The agency also implored distributors within the supply chain to avoid distributing, administering, or selling the affected product.

It also said: All medical products must be obtained from licensed suppliers. The products authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

Anyone in possession of the affected lot is advised to immediately discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

If you have used this product, or someone you know, has used it, or suffered any adverse reaction/event after use, are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

The agency has also asked healthcare professionals and patients to report any adverse events or side effects associated with using this medicinal product.

NAFDAC also urged citizens to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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The House of Representatives has declared the seat of Dennis Idahosa, now the Deputy Governor of Edo State, vacant.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen made the declaration on Wednesday after reading a letter from the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, during plenary.

Section 68(1) of the 1999 Constitution states:

A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if

He becomes President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor or a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of the Government of a State or a Special Adviser.

READ ALSO: Reps ask police to suspend ban on vehicles with tinted glasses

Mr Idahosa, who represented Ovia North East/Ovia South West Federal Constituency of Edo State, was sworn in as the state deputy governor of Edo State on 12 November.

With the official declaration by the House, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can now fix a date for a new election to fill the vacancy.

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The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi, says Nigeria needs collective action to tackle malnutrition as the country grapples with the global challenge of stunted growth in children.

Mr Sabi spoke on Wednesday at the Nutritious Food Fair hosted by the Niger State Government in Minna.

The minister highlighted the importance of sustainable food systems in addressing the countrys nutritional deficiencies.

Represented by Nuhu Kilishi, the director of the Nutrition and Food Safety Department, Mr Sabi revealed alarming statistics: 32 per cent of Nigerian children under five suffer from stunting, with approximately two million affected by severe acute malnutrition.

He called for increased collaboration among stakeholders to promote biofortified crops and other nutrition-focused initiatives.

Malnutrition is not just a health issue but a development challenge, he said. This fair demonstrates the commitment of both federal and state governments, alongside partners like HarvestPlus, to address this urgent issue. We must strengthen our food systems and empower communities to ensure sustainable solutions.

The two-day event, themed Sustainable Food Systems, Our Collective Responsibility, featured exhibitions, food demonstrations, and training on micro-processing for women, aiming to integrate more stakeholders into Nigerias nutrition value chain.

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Governor Muhammad Bago of Niger State reaffirmed his commitment to positioning the state as a hub for biofortified and nutritious food production.

Mr Bago announced the establishment of a 30,000-hectare biofortified food production centre in Adunu, Paikoro Local Government Area, with a pilot scheme covering 3,000 hectares set to commence in the next dry season.

Our goal is to ensure food and nutrition security for all Nigerlites, Governor Bago stated. We have already harvested over 1 million metric tonnes of maize this season and are producing various micronutrient-rich foods such as soybeans, millets, and cowpeas.

In line with these efforts, he said the state has also invested heavily in hydroponics, training over 4,000 youths in the technology to enhance the production of fortified vegetables and other crops.

Yusuf Fuad, country manager of HarvestPlus Nigeria, applauded Niger State for its proactive approach, emphasising that integrating youth and women into the nutrition value chain remains a priority.

The Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Musa Bawa, further noted the adoption of biofortification through the IFAD-VCDP programme, targeting vulnerable groups such as children under five, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

He said the Nutritious Food Fair exemplified a unified effort to tackle malnutrition by promoting biofortified crops and fostering innovation in agricultural practices.

As Senator Sabi aptly summarised, Addressing malnutrition is not just about food production; its about creating systems that work for everyone, from rural farmers to urban consumers, Mr Bawa said.

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Representative Mohammed El-Rufai (APC-Kaduna) has commended a former senator, Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Assembly, and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, for their roles in the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.

Mr El-Rufai, representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, the son of former governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, also commended the late Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana and other patriots.

He made this known at an event organised by the National Assembly Legislative Forum (NASSLAF) in Abuja.

The event has as its theme: Role of Legislative Aides in National Development.

The lawmaker, who called Mr Sani a father, said, He was one of the leading voices alongside my mentor, Senator Uba Sani.

I am glad that Shehu Sani has been invited here.

Regardless of the politics between him and my father, for example, even Senator Shehu Sanis enemies cannot discard the fact that he, late Gani Fawehinmis school of thought, the Falanas have consistently and deliberately advocated for the welfare and rights of workers across (the) board.

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On the need to preserve the legislature, the younger El-Rufai said the roles of legislative aides in lawmaking should be taken seriously.

He commended Shehu Sani and Governor Sani for taking good care of their legislative aides when they were senators.

The lawmaker added that the two Sanis had legislative aides at their constituency offices to give the people the dividends of democracy, stressing that I want to continue that.

On his part, Shehu Sani, who was the keynote speaker at the event, commended Mr El-Rufai for effective representation of Kaduna North Federal Constituency.

On the role of the National Assembly in nation building, Mr Sani called for the independence of the legislature, adding that legislative aides played critical role in effective representation in the National Assembly.

He called on legislative aides to always tell their principals the real happenings in the country.

Mr Sani urged the legislature to live up to its responsibilities for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He said a subservient legislature would not be able to work in the interest of the country, adding that such could affect good governance and undermine democracy.

In our time, it was unthinkable for heads of MDAs to ignore our summons. They understood the gravity of our oversight functions, he said.

The lawmaker further advised lawmakers against prioritising personal gains over constitutional responsibilities.

(NAN)

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The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, says the opposition parties have yet to believe that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won the last governorship election in Edo State.

Mr Akpabio also made fun of Bauchi Central Senator Abdul Ningi for not commenting on the election on the floor of the Senate for fear of being sanctioned by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The senate president made the comments during the plenary on Wednesday after the senators allowed Governor Monday Okpebholo into the chamber to bid them farewell.

Mr Okpebholo served as the senator representing Edo Central for two years before his inauguration as governor on 12 November.

After the governor entered the chamber, Mr Akpabio said the APC senators were happy with him, but the opposition senators were not.

This side (majority senators) is excited because they won. This side (minority senators) is quiet because they still cant believe that they lost. But I must say that even here, some are indifferent because their political party did not contest, that is APGA.

For the first time, Senator Ningi did not raise his hand because he does not want to make the mistake of saying something, and when he leaves here, his political party will go and sanction him, he said.

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Recently, the Senate Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that the candidate of the party, Asuerinme Ighodalo, won the 21 September Edo governorship election.

The Caucus led by the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, insisted that the PDPs mandate was stolen in the state and vowed that the party would work hard to retrieve it.

The national and state leaderships of the PDP and Mr Ighodalo also rejected the outcome of the election, alleging that it was manipulated.

Mr Ighodalo has since filed a petition before the state tribunal to challenge the declaration of Mr Okpebholo as the winner of the election.

The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Benin City, held its inaugural session on Monday ahead of pre-hearing sittings.

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) seized alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and pet bottles below 200ml in Delta State on Wednesday.

After the operation, Jude Ndekile, the agencys Deputy Director and State Coordinator, said the sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml remains banned.

Mr Ndekile said the federal government had issued a directive banning the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles below 200ml.

He explained that there was a directive in 2018 between NAFDAC and relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health, to stop the production of alcoholic beverages below 200ml in pet bottles and sachets.

During the meeting, an agreement was also reached to withdraw all sachets and pet bottles below 200ml from the market because they are easily accessible by minors.

The committee and the agency agreed to a moratorium of five years to phase out such packaged drinks by December 2023.

He noted that enlightenment campaigns and stakeholder engagements had been conducted over the years to ensure compliance with the ban.

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Increase in alcohol abuse

Mr Ndekile, however, decried the increase in the rate of alcohol abuse, especially among minors and noted that despite the sensitisation, there had been an increase in the sale of the products in the state.

He said, Children become easily independent once they start taking alcohol.

In spite of the directive and sensitisation, there is still a high increase in the sale of these drinks in the markets.

There is no evidence that there is a reduction in the sale of these drinks; what we see is increases in the sales and consumption of these drinks.

The sachet and pet bottles of alcoholic drinks below 200ml are everywhere in the market, and children can easily buy them.

However, Mr Ndekile assured that the raid would continue across the state, as the agency intends to visit more markets.

According to him, the agency will concentrate on auto parks because the drinks are easily accessible to drivers and transporters.

He advised distributors and wholesalers to stop selling the drinks to reduce their access to minors.

Manufacturers should adhere to NAFDAC instructions that they should not manufacture the pet bottles below 200ml and sachets, he added.

READ ALSO: NAFDAC warns against use of amoxicillin product over safety concerns

Confiscated drinks

The enforcement team was at the Asaba Ogbeogonogo Modern Market and the Midwifery Market, Okpanam in Oshimili Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some alcoholic beverages confiscated include Orijin Bitters, Action Bitters, Ayakaya, Ashanti Bitters, Odogwu Bitters, AVE Bitters and Best Dry Gin.

Others are Gin Calidons Captain Jack, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps, Squadron and De Rock.

(NAN)

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The Anambra State Government has called on residents of the state to shun Gender-Based Violence (GBV), reminding the people that it is a criminal offence punishable by law.

Ify Obinabo, the state commissioner for women and social welfare, gave the warning on Tuesday in Awka during a street rally marking the end of the 16-day activism commemorating Human Rights Day, which started on 25 November.

All forms of Gender-Based Violence, such as wife battery, child abuse, rape, and depriving widows of their rights, among others, remain criminal offences that are punishable by imprisonment.

Therefore, we have to do away with such acts and others in order to prevent GBV, she said.

Mrs Obinabo said that there was a need to sensitise the people on GBV to prevent the dangers associated with the act.

According to her, this is because women and children are mostly affected in the case of GBV.

She said that the Anambra State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee on Prevention of GBV (MAP-GBV) collaborated with the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare on the rally against GBV.

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Mrs Obinabo said they collectively organised a street rally to mark the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Obinna Nmaduforo, the state coordinator, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Sheriff Olanrewaju, chairperson of the Muslim arm of MAP-GBV, thanked Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State for supporting the measures against GBV in the state.

Suzana Adibe, a resident of Awka, also commended the state government for initiating action against the intimidation of women.

Mrs Adibe said the sensitisation against GBV was a social issue that needs to be taken to the rural areas where many women have no voice.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the street rally, which also received the support of ActionAid, took off from Arroma Junction through Nkwo Amaenyi Market to Eke-Awka and then terminated at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University junction, all in Awka.

The participants who joined from different ministries and agencies in the state shared flyers during the sensitisation to the public on the consequences of all forms of gender-based violence and the need to speak up to receive justice.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja ordered on Tuesday the remand of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, accused of N110 billion fraud, in the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

The judge, Maryanne Anenih, issued the remand order after rejecting Mr Bellos bail application on Tuesday.

The ruling effectively transfers Mr Bellos custody from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, where the court temporarily remanded him for two weeks to await its ruling on his bail application, to the Kuje correctional centre.

Ms Anenih denied Mr Bellos bail application on the grounds that it was premature and incompetent.

She held in her ruling that the bail application was incompetent having been filed as of when Mr Bello was neither in custody nor before the court.

While Mr Bellos bail application was filed on 22 November, he was only arrested by the EFCC on 26 November and arraigned before the court on 27 November.

Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused, she ruled.

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However, in two other rulings, the court granted bail to Mr Bellos co-defendants  Umar Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu.

The court granted the two men bail in the sum of N300 million each with two sureties in like sum.

The judge ordered that the sureties must have property worth the said amount within the courts jurisdiction.

She then adjourned till 29 January 2025 for commencement of trial. She also fixed 25 and 27 February 2025 for continuation of trial.

What happens next?

Mr Bello is free to file a fresh bail application. But he races against time as the court prepares to go on Christmas vacation next week.

There are slim chances that his lawyers will be able to file a fresh bail application and have the court hear and deliver ruling on it before the courts approaching Christmas vacation.

He also has another opportunity to approach a designated vacation judge of the court that would conduct hearings during the festivity period. But he would have to demonstrate the existence of extraordinary and emergency situations to warrant the listing of his bail application for hearing during the period.

If he fails to explore any of these windows, Mr Bello would have to spend the entire Christmas and New Year festivity period and, in fact, the whole of 50 nights before the next hearing date in January in prison.

Mr Bello and two co-defendants face16 counts of diverting N110 billion from the treasury of Kogi State, where he stepped down in January after serving as governor for eight years.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that EFCC arrested Mr Bello on 26 November after months of his evading court summonses.

The EFCC arraigned him and his co-defendants before the FCT High Court in Abuja on 27 November, when the trio pleaded not guilty. The court subsequently heard the defendants bail applications which the prosecting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed.

Apart from the N110 billion corruption trial, Mr Bello faces another pending case involving N80 billion in alleged money laundering at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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The Police Command in Kano State says it has recovered counterfeit foreign currencies equivalent to billions of naira in its recent anti-crime operations.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Salman Garba, disclosed this while addressing a press conference at the commands headquarters, Bompai, Kano on Tuesday.

Mr Garba, represented by the commands Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Kiyawa, gave the breakdown of the fake foreign currencies as $3,366,000 (about N5.4 billion) and CFA51,970,000 (about N130 million). He added that N1,443,000 counterfeits were also recovered during the operations.

From November 25 to December 9 (two weeks), a total of 62 suspects were apprehended for major crimes, recovering from them stolen properties, hard drugs, dangerous weapons and different counterfeit currencies including Dollars and CFA, he said.

He said the command also recovered three tricycles, eight motorcycles, 278 sheep, seven cattle, 10 Sim Cards, 15 ATM cards and 10 mobile phones, among other items from the suspects.

The commissioner said the command had adopted a multifaceted approach to crime-busting as a result of which the state had become safer and more secure for all.

Businesses are thriving, residents are feeling safer in their homes, and the general sense of security and well-being has been greatly enhanced, he said.

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READ ALSO: Police bust fake job syndicate in Rivers

He confirmed the increase in people and vehicular movement as well as improved business activities and celebrations during this ember months, assuring that the command had made adequate security arrangements to ensure a safe environment for all activities to unfold smoothly.

(NAN)

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The Senate on Wednesday declared the seat of Edo Central Senatorial District vacant.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the vacancy during the plenary after reading a letter from the minority leader, Abba Moro, requesting that the seat be declared vacant following the occupants inauguration as a governor.

The seat was earlier occupied by Monday Okpebholo, who was elected as governor of Edo state in September and subsequently sworn into office in December.

Since Mr Okpebholos inauguration, Edo Central Senatorial District has been left unrepresented in the Senate.

In the letter to the senate president, Mr Moro, the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, demanded that the Senate leadership declare the Edo Central seat vacant in line with Paragraph D of Section 68 of the Nigerian Constitution.

I write to bring to your attention Paragraph D of Section 68 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, that the seat of Senator Monday Okpebholo, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, has become vacant.

This vacancy has become necessary following Senator Monday Okpebholos inauguration as governor of Edo State, and in accordance with the Constitution, his seat is now deemed vacant, and we invite you to declare, the letter reads.

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The minority leader also requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately conduct a by-election election for the senatorial district to fill the vacant position

READ ALSO: Okpebholo swears in three judges ignored by Obaseki

I respectfully request that you declare the seat of Edo Central Senatorial District vacant in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and request the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately conduct fresh elections to fill the vacancy accordingly.

After declaring the seat vacant, Mr Akpabio thereafter called on the electoral commission to immediately conduct a by-election for the senatorial district to fill the vacant position.

So in line with your letter and the Constitution, the seat of Edo Central central senatorial district is hereby declared vacant, and INEC is accordingly invited to conduct fresh elections to fill the seat left by Senator Monday Okpebholo, Mr Akpabio said.

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Nigerians have yet again been thrown into darkness due to a system outage from the national grid Wednesday afternoon.

A grid collapse, which is the breakdown of transmission lines due to over or under-frequency, is said to be responsible for this outage.

Electricity distribution companies announced a system outage around 1:32 p.m. on Wednesday.

The latest development is coming a month after the national grid collapsed in November.

Confirming the development, Jos Electricity Distribution Company (Jos DisCos) in a statement by its Head, Corporate Communication, Friday Elijah said: Dear esteemed customers, The current outage being experienced within our franchise states is a result of loss of power supply from the national grid.

The loss of power supply from the national grid occurred this afternoon at about 13:33 hours of today, 11 Wednesday, December 2024, hence the loss of power supply on all our feeders.

We hope to restore normal power supply to our esteemed customers as soon as the grid supply is restored back to normalcy. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we strive to serve you better.

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Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) said: Dear valued customer, Kindly be informed there was a reported case of system disturbance on 11 December 2024 at 13:32 hrs which has resulted in a loss of power supply across our network.

We are currently working with our partners as we hope for speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as power is restored. Kindly bear with us, it said.

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in a statement posted on its X handle, said: Dear valued customer, please be informed that a system disturbance occurred on the national grid at 1:32 p.m. today, causing a power outage across our franchise areas.

While gradual restoration of power supply has commenced, be assured that we are coordinating closely with relevant stakeholders to restore power fully as soon as the grid stabilised. Thank you.

In recent years, the power sector has experienced many challenges in areas of electricity policy enforcement, regulatory uncertainty, gas supply, transmission system constraints, and significant power sector planning shortfalls.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has yet to officially speak on the issue as of press time Wednesday afternoon.

TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, did not respond to questions as of press time.

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The House of Representatives has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to shut down illegal loan platforms used by criminals operating the one chance scheme.

This resolution was passed on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo) during plenary.

In his motion, Mr Osawaru highlighted that criminals often use loan apps to extort money from victims.

He explained that victims are coerced into using their details to apply for loans, with the money subsequently transferred to the criminals accounts.

Mr Osawaru noted that these perpetrators evade detection despite the mandatory use of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and other identification systems.

The lawmaker attributed this to a lack of coordination between security agencies and banks, as well as the banks reluctance to assist customers or conduct thorough investigations, citing the need for police reports or affidavits.

The One Chance Scheme

The one chance scheme typically involves criminals posing as taxi or bus drivers, accompanied by accomplices pretending to be passengers. They lure unsuspecting victims into their vehicles, often by offering cheaper fares or claiming to head to a common destination.

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Once inside, the criminals rob victims of valuables such as phones, money, and ATM cards. They often force victims to withdraw from ATM outlets money under duress.

Last week, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command directed all vehicle owners to remove tinted windows from their cars for security reasons.

However, the House of Representatives opposed the directive and asked the police to suspend its implementation.

The use of magical powers

In his motion, Mr Osawaru also referenced reports of criminals allegedly using magical powers to hypnotise victims. The victims are then taken to unknown locations where their bank accounts are drained using POS devices and other money transfer tools.

He added that victims, particularly women, are sometimes assaulted and thrown from moving vehicles.

The House notes the perpetrators alleged magical powers used to hypnotise their victims and take them to unknown destinations, where the money in their different bank accounts is emptied using POS and other money transfer devices.

At the same time, they inflict pain or injuries, rape their female victims, and push them out of a speeding vehicle afterwards, he said.

Mr Osawaru further stated that the use of loan apps complicates efforts to track these criminals.

He called for swift action by security officials to restore sanity to the FCT.

House Resolutions

The House mandated the police, banks, and fintech operators, such as Opay and MoniePoint, to prioritise cases involving the one chance scheme and kidnappings.

It also urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other security agency heads to enhance surveillance within the FCT. Furthermore,

it further directed the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to maximise the use of Abuja Urban Mass Transit buses, many of which are currently idle.

The motion was adopted without debate and referred to the House Committees on FCT, Police Affairs, Banking Institutions, and Legislative Compliance for further action.

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China-EU trade relations seek common ground amid uncertainties

08:15, December 11, 2024 By Zhang Zhaoqing, Kang Yi ( Xinhua

This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2024 shows the 100,000th China-Europe freight train at Duisburg Intermodal Terminal (DIT) in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu)

Despite increasing challenges, trade between China and the EU demonstrated its resilience in 2024.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- For much of 2024, electric vehicle (EV) disputes have weighed heavily on the economic and trade ties between China and the European Union (EU).

The "love-hate" relationship, marked by both friction and interdependence, has left the two powers navigating a precarious path -- seeking common ground even as uncertainty looms.

UNCERTAINTIES CLOUD COOPERATION

What started as an EU investigation in late 2023 spiraled into a year-long clash with additional tariffs imposed by the EU on Chinese-made EVs. However, with negotiations still ongoing, it is clear that neither side is ready to give up on finding a way forward.

People visit the booth of BYD at the Automechanika in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Chinese car manufacturers once viewed Europe as an open and promising market. The EU's "non-market" measures are eroding their trust and confidence.

A report published Monday by the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU), in partnership with global consultancy Roland Berger, paints a sobering picture of strained ties and growing unease among Chinese businesses operating in the bloc.

The report, based on a four-month survey and in-depth interviews with around 200 Chinese businesses in the EU, underscores that "uncertainty" has become a defining factor for Chinese enterprises operating in the EU.

Chinese businesses have expressed concerns about the growing politicization of commercial sectors and urged the EU to create a fair, transparent, and predictable market environment for foreign enterprises, the report says.

Meanwhile, Brussels-based economic think tank Bruegel has said in a different report that the EU's punitive tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles are a mistake, which will do more harm than good.

Trade disputes also tend to have spill-over effects, it said, and such disputes between the EU and China will strain overall bilateral relations.

This file photo taken on June 6, 2024 shows an electric car at a charging station near the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

High tariffs on Chinese EVs are harmful to the future of the European economy, Croatian analyst Mladen Plese said in an interview with Xinhua in September. Europe should be ready for healthy competition with China, and must not follow the United States' lead when it comes to tariffs on EVs, he said, adding, "It is in the interests of everyone in Europe to cooperate with China."

Beyond the EV sector, other industries critical to Europe's green transition such as battery manufacturing, solar panels, wind turbines, and hydrogen technology, have also faced various challenges from the EU.

The economic relationship between China and Europe is indeed facing new challenges, Denis Depoux, global managing director at Roland Berger said, noting that the EU's complex positioning of China forces businesses to navigate an unpredictable and delicate balance.

CONTINUED ECONOMIC RESILIENCE

Despite increasing challenges, trade between China and the EU demonstrated its resilience in 2024.

China's foreign trade with the EU amounted to 4.18 trillion yuan (576.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of 2024, up 0.9 percent year-on-year, statistics show. According to data from the CCCEU, since 2024, the average daily bilateral trade volume has surpassed 2 billion euros (2.1 billion U.S. dollars).

This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a container terminal of Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

The China-Europe freight train service characterizes this resilience. As of July 10, China-Europe freight train trips in 2024 had surpassed 10,000, reaching this number 19 days earlier than last year. The freight train service's network currently reaches 224 cities in 25 European countries.

Moreover, by Nov. 15, cumulative China-Europe freight train trips had surpassed 100,000 since its inception 13 years ago, underscoring the enduring strength of this economic link between the two sides.

"Despite disruptions from geopolitical dynamics, economic fluctuations ... China-EU bilateral ties and economic and trade cooperation continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience, immense potential, and vibrant vitality amidst turbulent times," said CCCEU Chairman Liu Jiandong.

Chinese investments in the EU remained a spotlight. More than 2,800 Chinese enterprises operate across Europe, employing over 270,000 local workers, according to CCCEU data.

Chinese battery giant CATL and renewable energy firm Envision Energy have established factories in European countries like Germany, Hungary, and France, bolstering local clean energy infrastructure.

Jason Chen (C), general manager of CATL Europe Operations, speaks at a press conference in Debrecen, Hungary, on Nov. 20, 2024. China's leading battery maker, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL), announced that it will start producing battery cells at its new facility in Hungary's second-largest city Debrecen next year. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

According to a survey released by the German Chamber of Commerce in China, a significant majority of German companies plan to maintain their operations in China, with many intending to increase investment within the next two years.

The Business Confidence Survey Report for 2024/25, conducted between Sept. 3 and Oct. 8 with 546 member companies, revealed that 92 percent of German firms intend to continue their operations in the country. Despite market challenges, only 0.4 percent are considering an exit.

Clas Neumann, chairperson of the board of the German Chamber of Commerce in east China, said, "German companies are addressing current market challenges and mitigating risks while positioning themselves to take advantage of the opportunities at hand."

More than 5,000 German enterprises have taken root in China, and the Chinese market is of great significance to them, said Maximilian Butek, chief representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce Shanghai.

This photo taken on Dec. 9, 2024 shows a copy of the Chinese version of a report released by China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) and global consultancy Roland Berger in Brussels, Belgium. Chinese businesses in the EU have called for a fair, transparent and predictable market environment amid growing concerns over a deteriorating business climate in the bloc, according to a report released on Monday by the CCCEU and global consultancy Roland Berger. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

LOOKING FORWARD TO ENHANCED COLLABORATION

China-EU relations are strategically significant and hold broad development prospects. China is the world's largest developing economy, and the EU is the largest union of developed countries. China-EU cooperation has served as a stabilizer for a long time in a turbulent world, injecting many certainties into the global system.

The two sides also have deeply integrated industrial and supply chains. As Cai Run, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, said at an EU-China Forum held last month in Brussels, the EU and China should position themselves as partners rather than rivals. They should strengthen pragmatic cooperation instead of pursuing "decoupling," and work together to bring greater stability and certainty to the world rather than adding complexity.

Despite challenges, there are reasons for optimism as 2025 approaches. Next year's 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties is an important node of connecting the past with the future, an opportunity to boost mutually beneficial cooperation.

As 2024 draws to a close, the challenge now for the two sides is to find a way forward together.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
While serving in Joe Bidens Department of Justice, the special counsel concocted a novel legal case against Bidens foremost political opponent, and would have been happy to try Donald Trump in the midst of the presidential election campaign.

This was an outrageous abuse of the legal system, and it was just one of the acts of lawfare against Trump and people around him in recent years.

Now, with the Republican about to enter the White House again and Smith packing up, the question is whether Trump will engage in a campaign of counter-lawfare.

Lets put aside the hypocrisy here: The same people who supported, or didnt object to, the extended campaign of legal harassment against Donald Trump are convinced that it would threaten the very existence of our system of government if Trump used the same tools against his enemies.

Its true, nonetheless, that the most foreseeable early pitfall for the Trump presidency would be an effort to go after his adversaries.

Trump blows hot and cold on whether hes so inclined.

Hell say that success is the best retribution, as he did on Meet the Press over the weekend, then also say the members of the Jan. 6 committee should go to jail.

On Truth Social the other day, Trump posted a rant by ally Steve Bannon about how members of the Jan. 6 committee, prosecutors and judges should know that were coming for you.

On a podcast hosted by Bannon, Trumps nominee for FBI director Kash Patel talked last year of pursuing members of the media who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections, although he later downplayed the remark.

Unless one of Trumps opponents has engaged in some real, no-doubt crime, any attempted prosecution along these lines would be a very bad idea: It would become an all-consuming political story, it wouldnt be popular, and it would fail as a legal matter.

Like it or not, the rules are different for the two sides.

When Democrats engage in lawfare, the media falls in line  Robert Mueller, the Russiagate special counsel, and Jack Smith were hailed as paladins of the law, inexorably closing in on their target.

Whoever spearheads a Trump counteroffensive will instantly became Public Enemy No. 1.

On top of this, the public in November didnt endorse a new phase of tribal warfare via the legal system.

As Trump rightly observed on Meet the Press, people fundamentally voted to control the border and grocery prices.

A new campaign of lawfare would be terrible for the country. Using the legal system for political ends erodes faith in the system and unnecessarily inflames passions.

Besides, any abuse of the awesome powers of the Justice Department is, ipso facto, wrong.

An argument MAGA enthusiasts sometimes make is that they wont stop doing it to us until we do it to them, or, in other words, political prosecutions can have a deterrent effect.

Its just as likely, though, that another round of lawfare will make partisan justice an entrenched part of our landscape.

The correct mission is to save the Department of Justice from its misuse, not to repurpose it for a series of new abuses for different partisan ends.

Trump is right when he touts that success as the best form of vengeance.

Whereas a lesser politician would have been ground down by all the investigations, indictments and trials, Trump used them to lend fuel to his primary candidacy, became even more of a legend in defying his pursuers, and ended up defeating the cases against him legally and politically.

That, alone, is a significant achievement, and a powerful rebuke to those who weaponized the justice system.

Now, Trump has the opportunity to deliver popular results as president that will make him stronger and his enemies weaker.

The axiom should be defeat them, dont become them. Trump did the former and would be well-served to avoid the latter.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Nigerias bilateral relationship with Germany has led to improved electricity supply in the West African country, an official said on Wednesday.

The partnership involves the management of two transmission power substations by German electricity giant Siemens, Nigerias power minister Adebayo Adelabu told journalists in Abuja after a meeting between the presidents of Nigeria and Germany.

Mr Adelabu said the partnership involves the installation and commissioning of 10 power transformers and 10 power mobile substations, which has added nothing less than 750 megawatts to our transmission grid capacity.

Nigeria, Africas most populous country, suffers from acute electricity shortages with millions of residents having less than 10 hours of electricity daily.

Nigeria generates less than 7,000 megawatts of electricity for its over 200 million people and is unable to transmit all the power it generates. It hopes that the revitalisation of the grid will help improve its ability to transmit all the generated electricity.

Mr Adelabu said as part of the partnership, Simiens is actually implementing the Brownfield and Greenfield transmission substations of the Presidential Power initiative.

He explained that since the signing of the agreement in Dubai at COP 28 last December, the country has made significant progress.

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We have completed the pilot phase of this project, up to 80 per cent. The relative stability that we are seeing in the grid today is the direct positive impact of the pilot stage completion. 

And we believe that before the end of the year, an additional 150 megawatts capacity is going to be added upon completion of the entire pilot phase. And we are quite confident from the satisfaction that we got from the completion of the pilot stage, he said.

He said once the phase one project in the transmission is done, there will be more improvement in electricity supply.

Thats why we are telling Nigerians that this is a very old grid. Its quite fragile and its dilapidating. We need to revamp the entire grid for us to be sure of stability going forward. That is the presidential power initiative, he added.

Speaking on the countrys hydroelectric power plants, Mr Adelabu said Nigeria has over 300 dams that have not been utilised because of poor access.

With the new road from Badagry to Sokoto, a lot of these dams will also be opened up. So we have so many opportunities and potentials on what we can do with Germany for us to achieve expanded energy access to our people going forward.

Also speaking, President Bola Tinubu said: We plan to strengthen the relationship and build partnership that is fulfilling and rewarding to the two countries, people to people relationship, and government to government facilitation of opportunities and prosperity.

In his remarks, the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said Nigeria is Germanys second largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

So Im happy and grateful that we took a lot of time to engage with one another. We promised each other that we both with our opportunities and the governments on both sides will do everything in our power to promote political and cultural ties and also promote and intensify People to People contacts, he said.

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President Bola Tinubu said the interest and welfare of the citizens of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger remained a priority for leaders of ECOWAS.

The president said this on Wednesday while receiving FrankWalter Steinmeier, the president of Germany, in a State Visit on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that wisdom and diplomacy would make the difference in reintegrating the countries into the commission.

President Tinubu, who is the chairman of ECOWAS, noted that the leadership of the three countries had been reluctant in bringing out transition programmes with clear dates.

Our relationship of mutual respect will continue as we reappraise the situation in the three countries. What I can assure you is that we will not give tolerance to unconstitutional government.

We will continue to lead by example. We have innocent citizens who are victims of the military. We will continue to explore diplomatic channels to navigate without punishing the innocent people.

We will continue to allow free movement and trade. Though the transition programme is not sure or certain, we will not punish the innocent citizens; they are not in possession of power, he said.

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Mr Tinubu told the German leader that the regional body would leave the door open for the return of democracy in the countries.

This is what ECOWAS will stand for. Whatever is happening in the countries, we are mindful of the wellbeing of the citizens.

I dont want to personalise issues as ECOWAS Chairman. We will leave the door for collaboration, the president added.

In his response, the German president said the re-integration of the three countries would have a significant impact on the economy and security of the West Coast.

We will talk bilateral and regional issues. We just had a meeting with the President of ECOWAS Commission. We know how important it is to have regional cooperation. We are part of the European Union.

READ ALSO: Tinubu appoints acting Accountant General of the Federation

For Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, there are serious security and economic consequences for not carrying on together. We understand why ECOWAS security members are insisting on diplomacy.

It is not easy but you will need to use your diplomacy to keep the commission and the region together.

While you are using diplomatic means to bring Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to rethink their position, you should have emergency plans in place for future economic cooperation, the German leader said.

(NAN)

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The federal government on Tuesday confirmed its readiness to rehabilitate and upgrade unused and dilapidated buildings and assets in Lagos State in the coming months.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, confirmed this during an official facility assessment visit in Lagos.

Mr Dangiwa stated that the buildings, left unrehabilitated for some time, pose challenges and security concerns for the Lagos State Government.

The minister lamented the deplorable state of various federal government buildings assessed, noting the lack of water and electricity supply, with most facilities in disrepair.

The buildings that the federal government can put its money for upgrade will be done, while the ones we need collaboration from the private sector, would be done also.

The private sector will bring in their money, rehabilitate and upgrade them to a befitting status and then rent them out to willing off-takers to recoup their investment before returning it back to the federal government.

This is a better offer of collaboration that we intend to do, he said.

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At Lagos Field Headquarters Office at Tafawa Balewa, Mr Dangiwa revealed that the building houses over 40 federal government ministries, departments and agencies, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

He noted that most of the institutions were not putting any of their funding towards the rehabilitation of the living conditions of where they work.

Since they are expecting only the Ministry of Housing to do that, we decided to come on board to see what we could to upgrade it.

We have the phase one, two, three of the rehabilitation. The basic one, we have told the Controller to itemise in order of priority.

According to him, 12 of the deplorable facilities of the federal government across the state would be visited in the course of the three-day assessment visit.

Mr Dangiwa said the visiting team also paid a courtesy call to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to discuss collaboration between the federal and state governments.

He disclosed that the federal and state governments had agreed to work together and set up a tripartite committee that would ensure concerns between the parties were resolved amicably for the benefit of all.

Earlier, the Controller of Housing, Lagos, Funmilayo Olayiwola, said that lack of power supply, water, dilapidated structures and obsolete operational vehicles were part of the challenges of the facilities, thereby limiting productivity of staff.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister visited the old Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi; Federal Land Registry, Ribadu, in Ikoyi; Craft Training Schools in Ikoyi and Harvey Road, Yaba.

He also visited the 60-bed hostel facility at Onikan, National Population Commission Land at Surulere and the Eric More Housing and Treatment Plant Project at Surulere.

Most of the buildings visited served as offices of the federal government workers in Lagos State before becoming vacant or unused due to the relocation of the Federal Capital Territory from Lagos to Abuja on 12 December 1991.

The minister was accompanied by the Minister of State, Yusuf Ata, and the Permanent Secretary, Marcus Ogunbiyi.

On Thursday, the minister will continue his working visit to inspect some on-going Federal Government Housing Estates and Projects and also engage stakeholders on land administration.

(NAN)

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The Senate on Wednesday held a valedictory session for Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

Mr Okpebholo, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), served as the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District from June 2023 to November 2024.

He was elected as governor of Edo State in September and was inaugurated on 12 November.

Mr Okpebholo was admitted into the chamber at about 12:34 p.m., after the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, raised a point of order for the Senate to suspend its rules to allow strangers in.

The governor was accompanied by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, serving and former members of the Edo State House of Assembly.

The valedictory session was led by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Tributes

Senators took turns to commend Mr Okpebholo for his legislative contributions while at the Senate, particularly as the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Procurement.

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Mr Akpabio, while reflecting on the contributions of Mr Okpebholo, said the governor maintained integrity when he served as committtee Chairperson.

He also said the governor was humble throughout his stay in the Senate.

In the Senate, you are very humble. There is nobody here that has any issue with you. You did so well that the Senate recognised you as chairman of Public Procurement, a duty you carried out well.

I know a number of people called me, saying the Senate Committee on Procurement is

inviting me to show procurement papers and Mr President can you intervene? I said No , I am not in the business of interfering in the work of the committees. So, go and show your papers that you went through the process, the senate president said.

On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, congratulated Mr Okpebholo for his inauguration as governor.

He said Mr Okpebholo showcased himself as a man of honor, humble and dedicated lawmaker while he was in the Senate.

Mr Jibrin also said Mr Okpebholo transformed the Senate Committee on Procurement for the better and that he has the interest of the people at heart.

When he was chairman of public procurement, he changed the committee for the better. He really showed that he was someone that has the interest of people in heart, he said.

Mr Jibrin described Mr Okpebholo as a man who doesnt talk but shows action.

Edo South Senator, Neda Imasuen, said Mr Okpebholo left good legacies in the Senate especially in the procurement committee.

Mr Imasuen described thecgovernor as a man of few words but many actions.

Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, described Mr Okpebholo as a humble person and a leader who is ready to serve.

Mr Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, said the governor has started restoring respect to traditional rulers and embarking on infrastructural developments.

Ive never met a man as humble as Okpebholo. I can go home now without fear. He has already taken bold steps to restore respect to the traditional rulers in Edo State. He has started infrastructure Mr Oshiomhole said.

Gombe Central Senator, Danjuma Goje, advised the governor to weaken the strength of opposition in the state.

Responding, Mr Okpebholo appreciated the senators for supporting him while he was in the Senate and during the campaign exercise.

He specifically expressed appreciation to Messrs Akpabio, Jibrin and Oshiomhole for their roles in his emergence as governor.

The governor said the legislative activities in the Senate made him passionate for good governance.

My involvement in the business of legislation have helped to drive my passion for good governance, particularly in infrastructure development, security, education, health and so on, in my new role as governor.

We worked together, we gained successes together and we must always be proud of each other wherever, Mr Okpebholo said.

Replacement for Okpebholo

Meanwhile, Mr Akpabio has appointed Ondo North Senator, Olajide Ipinsagba, as the new chairperson of Senate Committee on Procurement.

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The Founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, on Wednesday lamented the continued refusal by the federal government to issue a free trade zone certificate to his university.

Mr Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the over 132 units of ABUAD industrial park, located in Ado-Ekiti, was enough to turn the story of Nigeria around, if well annexed, and utilised.

The legal icon said the certificate would have enabled foreign companies to establish businesses in the park, thereby boosting Nigerias economy.

He raised the concern in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, while hosting delegates from the China-Nigeria Consortium on Industry and Education during the ABUAD-China Partnership Forum Meeting which was held on the campus.

He wondered why China, which was a very poor country some years ago, could suddenly overtake Nigeria in the scheme of economic matters.

The ABUAD founder stressed that a free trade zone would facilitate international trade and industrial activities, ultimately contributing to the countrys economic growth.

What Nigeria is missing

Mr Babalola lamented that such progressive ideas would have been embraced, under the defunct regional government system, while also reiterating his call for a people-oriented constitution, to foster national development.

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He said: In 1999, I travelled to China. At that time, China was a very poor country, but the Chinese people were very wise. They created an area, called free trade zone, which allowed countries like the United States and Germany to set up industries there.

Unknowingly to those countries, the Chinese learned from these foreign industries, which eventually contributed to their remarkable global development today.

However, for the past two years, I have applied for the same concept here, but the government has refused to grant us a free trade zone certificate.

He said there is an American company that is ready to commence manufacturing of cars in my industrial park but the lack of this certificate has stalled their plans.

If we still had the regional government system that we used to have, we would be more developed than we are today. This is why we need a new constitution, he said.

Chinese team speaks

In her address, the Secretary-General of the China-Nigeria Consortium on Industry and Education, Wendy Wang, who spoke through an interpreter, commended Mr Babalola for his visionary achievements in education, engineering, and health.

She described ABUAD as the best institution in Nigeria, highlighting its integration of cutting-edge technologies in its curriculum.

Earlier in her address of welcome, the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Smaranda Olarinde, a professor, commended Mr Babalola for allowing the partnership between the university and the park to thrive.

She described the visit as a replica of the one earlier made by her and a select ABUAD team that Mr Babalola sponsored to China in a working tour recently.

She disclosed that, with the partnership, ABUAD would soon start manufacturing vehicles and robots.

Other highlights of the event, was the presentation of the Chinese Plus Digital Intelligence Education Gold Medal to Mr Babalola, in recognition of his commitment to quality and functional education in Nigeria.

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A State High Court in Nembe, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to appear before it within 42 days in connection with a N649 million accommodation debt suit.

The judge, T. Y. Abasi, demanded Mr Egbetokuns appearance following the suit filed by Darius Obienem, the owner of Euphemie Motel in Opu-Nembe, Bayelsa.

The court threatened that if the IGP and the two other respondentsthe Nigeria Police and the Police Service Commissionfailed to appear personally or through a legal practitioner, judgment would be entered in their absence.

The hotel owner, Mr Obienem, had filed a suit over the respondents alleged refusal to settle the accommodation debt incurred by the Police SWAT team deployed from 12 August 2023 to 3 October 2024 in Opu-Nembe.

The SWAT team deployed to the Opu Nembe community had allegedly occupied the hotel, turning it into their operational base without the due permission of the owners.

The SWAT team was allegedly drafted to the area at the request of Timipre Sylva, former minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the APCs governorship flagbearer in the 2023 general elections.

The claimant prayed the court for a declaration that the defendants forcefully entered and allegedly took over the entire claimants business premises on 12 August 2023 as illegal.

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Other declarations sought by the claimant are as follows:

A declaration that the claimants are entitled to the sum of N25,000 per night per room for rooms contained therein from the 12th of August, 2023 to 3rd of October, 2024 when the defendants vacated the claimants premises.

A declaration that the claimant is entitled to the sum of N100,000 only per conference hall per day for the three conference halls contained therein from the 12th of August, 2023 to 3rd of October, 2024 when the defendants vacated the claimants business premises.

A declaration that the claimants are entitled to the sum of N649,450,000 for the period between 12th of August, 2023 and 3rd of October, 2024.

An order of this court mandating the defendants to pay the defendants the sum of N649,450,000 for the period between 12th of August, 2023 to 3rd of October, 2024.

And the sum of N200,000,000 against the defendants for the damages done to the claimant as result of their forceful entry and occupying same for a period well over 13 months and loss of revenue accruing from bar and restaurant, he said.

(NAN)

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An elderly friend sent me a social media text stating that the book, Nigeria and Its Criminal

Justice System, authored by Mr Dele Farotimi, has attained the Best Sellers list on Amazon.

Trending heavily on social media and high in the public discourse was the dispute between Chief

Afe Babalola, a highly respected, accomplished senior lawyer, and Mr Farotimi, a well-known

and irrepressible human rights lawyer-activist. Farotimi was arrested by the police based on a

petition from Babalola alleging that the activist in the book, made defamatory statements about

him.

The social media surge of sympathy and support for Farotimi catapulted his previously obscure

book to a best sellers status on Amazon.

What does it really mean to be on Amazon Best Sellers list? What are the implications and

significance?

Here is a summary of some information that may be of help.

Origin and Development of Bestsellers

The Bookman, a literary journal founded in the United States, was the first to employ the term

best seller to monitor and compile a list of the most popular books in the country. Established

in 1895, the journal exclusively published its best seller list until 1912, when the term began to

gain broader recognition and use.

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Previously, numerous widely-read books enjoyed significant popularity, but their success was

only measured through anecdotal evidence, and lacked formal documentation.

The New York Times (NYT) from 1942 conferred greater prestige on the term when it started its

Best Sellers which the newspaper describes as Authoritatively ranked list of books sold in the

United States sorted by format and genre. NYT is reputed as the newspaper of record, and it is a

respected authority.

Many organisations, media and institutions also designate books as Best Sellers to indicate the

wide readership, sale or interest at a given time and within a certain category of the publication

or production.

Commercialisation and Ranking

Enter Amazon in 1995, the largest book store in the world with no shops or boundaries, but

strictly online. Not only did the new company turn the book market upside down, it also offers

real time rankings of its best sellers and updates them hourly. Its electronic-books (e-books) have

become a part of the list of rated publications.

A publication qualifies as a best seller on Amazon when it registers the highest sale or demand in

its niche within a specific time, usually an hour. The publication therefore may have commercial

success, and often the best seller title confers prestige, fame and recognition on the author.

A notable criticism is that a book that is rated as best seller on Amazon may not reflect literary

superiority or be deemed as a work of major importance over time. The label best seller is also

viewed primarily as a marketing tool for Amazon, above everything else.

Nevertheless, books that measure up to the ranking have significant demand, relatively. In certain

niches or categories, such as politics and non-fiction, the books that earn the label are most likely

noteworthy and impactful. Not all books ever reach best seller status.

Nigerian Writers

On Amazon, Nigerian authors that got to Bestseller include Chinua Achebe (Things Fall Apart),

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Half of A Yellow Sun; Americanah; Purple Hibiscus), Oyinkan

Braithwaite (My Sister, The Serial Killer). While these authors have made important contribution

to literature, their works do not primarily focus on politics. Farotimis book addresses solely

politics and related issues, which makes its bestseller status an important milestone.

Wole Soyinkas books, especially The Man Died and Prison Notes, have attracted popular and

intellectual interest and readership on politics and societal issue. The books have featured as best

sellers on several lists and forums.

Categories on Amazon

Farotimis book is a best seller under Politics and Social Sciences in the categories of Amazon.

An author wrote in a public domain: I had a book that ranked #1 in (its) category on Amazon

for two full years. In the course of the 24 months which it sat in the #1 spot, it sold a grand total

of exactly twelve copies. ONE copy sold, every other month, was enough to keep it on the #1

slot for two full years, because everyone else was selling fewer than one copy every three

months.

The top selling categories of books on Amazon are Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Self-

Help, Young Adult, Mystery/Thriller, Historical fiction, Business/Finance, Cookbooks,

Childrens Books, among others, and they are divided further into sub-categories. The listing is

dynamic and can change quickly, and the section has many sub-divisions.

Further Implications

Amazon Bestseller is a positive indicator and can boost visibility, but it does not mean that the

author earns money significantly from the spike in sales. Reason?

The increase in sales may be very little and bring in little money. Also, even when sales are high,

authors and writers generally get only a fraction of the sales as royalties. Books on politics are

not in high demand worldwide.

In the ongoing back and forth between Babalola and Farotimi, the best seller issue has several

implications, and should be understood within its appropriate context.

Bunmi Makinwa is the CEO of AUNIQUEI Communication for Leadership.

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Nigeria is at a pivotal moment in its history, grappling with systemic issues that have been brewing for decades. Among these challenges, the unsustainable bloat in government employment looms large, threatening to stifle any hope of economic progress. Recent developments, including reports of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) planning to lay off 1,000 employees, underline a broader reality, which is that the days of the government serving as the primary source of livelihood for millions of Nigerians are coming to an end. This is not just about the CBN. It is a wake-up call that echoes across all government institutions, signaling a new era of economic restructuring.

For decades, the Nigerian public sector has operated as a vast employment machine, offering jobs not necessarily based on merit or need but as a tool for political patronage and social appeasement. The result has been a bloated and inefficient system that struggles to justify its existence. Public institutions are rife with redundancies, where workers often outnumber the tasks at hand. This situation has led to the erosion of productivity and the hemorrhaging of public funds. It is no surprise that Nigerias fiscal health has deteriorated under the weight of salaries, pensions, and benefits for an overstaffed workforce. The dependency on government jobs has also created a distorted employment culture. In the eyes of many Nigerians, a government job represents security, prestige and an escape from the uncertainties of the private sector. This perception has stifled innovation, entrepreneurship and the growth of a robust private sector, which should ideally be the backbone of any thriving economy. The question now is whether Nigeria can break free from this cycle and chart a new course toward sustainable development.

The CBNs recent announcement of job cuts is not an isolated event. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration, the government has begun taking steps to address the bloated public sector, starting with the central bank. This is not the first time the CBN has retrenched staff under this administration, and it will likely not be the last. Other government organizations are poised to follow suit as fiscal pressures mount and the realization dawns that the current system is unsustainable. Certainly, job cuts in the public sector may be necessary, but they also come with significant social and economic consequences. Thousands of families depend on these jobs for their livelihoods, and sudden layoffs can worsen unemployment and poverty in a country already grappling with high levels of both. The government must approach this delicate situation with sensitivity, ensuring that those affected are supported through retraining programs, entrepreneurship initiatives and social safety nets.

The public sectors overreliance on employing vast numbers of people stems from a deeper issue. A flawed economic model that places the government at the center of all activity. This model has fostered corruption, inefficiency and a culture of entitlement, where public resources are seen as a bottomless pit to be exploited. It has also diverted attention and resources away from critical areas such as infrastructure, education and healthcare, leaving the country ill-prepared to compete in a rapidly changing global economy. At the heart of this problem is the governments inability to generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations. Nigerias overdependence on oil revenue has left the economy vulnerable to external shocks, such as fluctuations in global oil prices. With dwindling resources and mounting debt, the government can no longer afford to maintain a bloated workforce. The need for bold reforms has never been more urgent.

The path to a prosperous Nigeria lies in the private sector. A dynamic, innovative and competitive private sector can drive economic growth, create jobs and reduce the burden on government resources. But for this to happen, the government must create an enabling environment that encourages investment, entrepreneurship and industrialization. This includes tackling corruption, improving infrastructure, streamlining regulatory processes and providing access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises. Countries that have successfully transitioned from government-dominated economies to private-sector-led ones have done so by investing in their people. Education, skills development and vocational training must be prioritized to equip Nigerians with the tools they need to thrive in a modern economy. The government must also provide incentives for businesses to hire, innovate and expand, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and development.

President Tinubus administration appears to be signaling its intention to implement bold reforms. But these reforms must go beyond superficial measures and address the root causes of Nigerias economic malaise. Privatization, public-private partnerships and targeted investments in key sectors such as agriculture, technology and manufacturing can help diversify the economy and reduce the reliance on oil revenue. At the same time, the government must communicate its vision clearly to the Nigerian people. The era of unsustainable public-sector employment is over, but this does not mean that the future is bleak. On the contrary, it is an opportunity to build a more equitable, prosperous and self-reliant nation. Nigerians must be prepared for short-term sacrifices in exchange for long-term gains.

While the economic arguments for reducing the size of the public sector are compelling, the human cost of such changes cannot be ignored. Behind every statistic are real people with families, dreams and aspirations. The government has a moral responsibility to ensure that those who lose their jobs are not left to fend for themselves. This includes providing severance packages, access to retraining programs and support for transitioning into new roles in the private sector. The government must also address the perception that private-sector jobs are inferior to public-sector ones. This requires a cultural shift that values merit, hard work and innovation over the security of a government paycheck. Public campaigns, success stories and role models from the private sector can help change this narrative and inspire a new generation of Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

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Nigerias economic challenges are daunting, but they are not insurmountable. The country stands at a crossroads, with a choice to either cling to a broken system or embrace bold reforms that pave the way for a brighter future. The path to transformation will not be easy, but it is necessary if Nigeria is to unlock its full potential. The government must lead by example, demonstrating transparency, accountability and a commitment to the common good. The private sector, civil society and ordinary Nigerians also have a role to play in this transformation. Together, they can build a nation that thrives on innovation, hard work and shared prosperity. It is time for Nigeria to confront the truth about its economic realities and take decisive action. The era of relying on the government as a cash cow is over. The future belongs to those who are willing to adapt, innovate and invest in the possibilities of tomorrow. We must seize this moment and create a Nigeria that works for everyone.

Mohammed Dahiru Aminu (mohd.aminu@gmail.com) wrote from Abuja, Nigeria.

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While clashes often arise from the exercise of these rights, as it is common in many cases, societal institutions like the Nigerian Police are charged with the duty of ensuring orderliness. It is the legal and professional duty of the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agents to ensure everyones equal standing and fair hearing in the prosecution of matters, with the goal of ensuring that justice is served. The aim of the law is not to persecute but to prosecute offenders, yet the Farotimi saga suggests that the Police are standing in the ease of the former rather than the latter.

One of the tenets of a democratic society is the assurance of freedom of speech and expression for its citizens. This includes the right to speak and criticise in order to ensure that society does not derail in upholding its values. The test of democracy is not at the point of comfortable tolerance of these rights but in allowing everyone to, even at the greatest inconvenience, manifest the utmost freedom granted to them by law and nature.

Criticism is an innate attitude. Humans criticise others and themselves, either when they achieve something or when they disagree with an act. It is not for us to decide but for us to tolerate. But would one be allowed to act and enjoy those rights perpetually without any form of constraint? When does a right become a burden or an infringement on the same or other rights enjoyed by others? Could the concept of a free person truly mean freedom in all ramifications? Would this not put others in bondage too? While these rights abound, they are qualified by the right of others to protect their dignity, reputation, and the hard work put into careers they have built over decades.

I see the brawl between Aare Afe Babalola and Dele Farotimi as the clash of these two rights  the former defending dignity and reputation and the latter exercising the freedom of speech and criticism. Farotimi has built a reputation as a respected activist, author, and social commentator, even more so than as a lawyer. His views on equity, justice, and the actual enjoyment of human rights have recently topped the voices of freedom in the country. He has waged war against corruption and inequalities, often dragging inefficient and unscrupulous politicians for public evaluation. As an activist, Farotimi has championed causes aimed at encouraging citizens to believe in a promising future for the country, as he often calls for the dismantling of the very foundations on which contemporary Nigeria is built. However, one thing is fundamental about Farotimi: he does not hold back or fear  he speaks out, regardless of who is affected.

Chief Afe Babalola is a famous Nigerian who represents the echelon of success in many endeavours. He has climbed up the professional and social ladder to the point that achieving half of his accomplishments would be enough to say that an individual has led a good life and to write such a persons name in history. Babalola is a foremost educationist, legal practitioner, and philanthropist, among other worthy achievements. Having built a reputation over 70 years of active service, business, and engagements, he is one of those who we could conclusively say has a name to protect and would go to great lengths to do so.

The Police are charged with the duty of maintaining law and order, while protecting the interests of citizens. However, their actions in this case seem to align with an agenda to suppress the freedom of expression  a perennial complaint of citizens. With this duty to maintain order comes the responsibility to investigate without bias, to give both the victim and the defendant equal playing ground. Still, they have acted with such conviction of guilt and are ready to take Farotimi to the slaughter.

It is within Farotimis right to make accusations based on facts he knows and can prove. The hallmark of freedom guarantees that he is afforded the right to express himself if his claims are based on verifiable facts. Farotimi makes some accusations in his book, and I am convinced that he is not a man who would make unfounded propositions against someone of Babalolas status, so I expect him to prove his claims. Likewise, Babalola has the right to preserve and defend his rights and reputation. I am convinced that many of those who have condemned his actions would have gone far and beyond to protect their accomplishments, just as he has allegedly done.

Well, this is not a piece to decide who is right or who is overreacting. While clashes often arise from the exercise of these rights, as it is common in many cases, societal institutions like the Nigerian Police are charged with the duty of ensuring orderliness. It is the legal and professional duty of the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agents to ensure everyones equal standing and fair hearing in the prosecution of matters, with the goal of ensuring that justice is served. The aim of the law is not to persecute but to prosecute offenders, yet the Farotimi saga suggests that the Police are standing in the ease of the former rather than the latter. I mean, it has been reported that the Nigerian Police, with remarkable agility, tracked Farotimi from Ekiti State to Lagos to effect his arrest.

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One of the common complaints and excuses the Nigerian Police often give victims of crimes and alleged crimes is that the Force lacks the facilities and means to effect arrests and investigate troubling situations. They claim a lack of vehicles or even money to fuel them. These excuses have allowed countless dangerous criminals to escape justice. What about the criminal herdsmen who disturb peoples farms and livelihoods yet remain at large? What about the hardened criminals who do not look one in the face twice before ending it all? The security challenges on highways and other problems militating against the peace of the nation? Is it that the Police now feel the headache more than the owner of the head, or is their commitment to the protection of a stateman suddenly becoming a matter of national interest?

The Police are charged with the duty of maintaining law and order, while protecting the interests of citizens. However, their actions in this case seem to align with an agenda to suppress the freedom of expression  a perennial complaint of citizens. With this duty to maintain order comes the responsibility to investigate without bias, to give both the victim and the defendant equal playing ground. Still, they have acted with such conviction of guilt and are ready to take Farotimi to the slaughter.

Remanding Farotimi is an unnecessary and apparent misuse of state power, seemingly aimed at punishing a child for insulting an elder. The charges against him do not warrant that the accused be incarcerated while an investigation is done. The Nigerian Police have granted administrative bail to people who have committed more serious crimes. Farotimi is a well-known public figure with an office, family, and other responsibilities attributable to him, which should guarantee his responsiveness.

The Nigerian Polices reaction only reinforces the peoples fear of the Force being used to pursue personal interests. What immediate benefit would the urgent and aggressive prosecution of Farotimi bring, compared to the already many pressing issues the Police are faced with? It only allows the citizens to suspect foul play. Do not get me wrong: my position is not that Farotimi should not be tried for any suspicion of criminal infractions, but he should be prosecuted, not persecuted in the way the Nigerian Police have handled the matter.

Remanding Farotimi is an unnecessary and apparent misuse of state power, seemingly aimed at punishing a child for insulting an elder. The charges against him do not warrant that the accused be incarcerated while an investigation is done. The Nigerian Police have granted administrative bail to people who have committed more serious crimes. Farotimi is a well-known public figure with an office, family, and other responsibilities attributable to him, which should guarantee his responsiveness.

It is now clear that when there is enough motivation and interest in a case, the Police will act accordingly and within the required time. This highlights the need for greater accountability and reform within the Nigerian Police. The Nigerian Police must evolve beyond being mere instruments in the hands of the powerful. They must prosecute when the state is offended, not to persecute when private interests are affected. Farotimi has been taught an unnecessary lesson, but the joke is still being broadcast to the Nigerian Police!

Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland.

PS: This piece was written at Gombe State University, Gombe, on 10 December. I appreciate the management of the university for allowing me to use their space.

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In the fast-paced world of forex trading, CFDs (Contracts for Difference) provide an exciting opportunity to profit from currency market fluctuations without actually owning the underlying assets. To succeed in CFD forex trading, traders must adopt effective strategies and leverage advanced online trading platforms such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). These platforms like Exness, along with tools like pip calculators, can make a significant difference in a traders journey.

What is CFD Forex Trading?

CFD trading allows traders to speculate on the price movements of currency pairs without having to own the currencies themselves. By entering into a contract with a broker, traders can profit from both rising and falling markets. In the forex market, currency pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY are commonly traded via CFDs. CFDs allow for leverage, meaning traders can control larger positions with a smaller initial investment, amplifying potential profits, as well as the risks.

The Role of a Pip Calculator in CFD Forex Trading

A pip calculator is a vital tool for forex traders, helping determine the value of a single pip in a currency pair. This allows traders to estimate potential profits or losses based on their position size, which is especially important in leveraged CFD forex trading for effective risk management.

By inputting details like the currency pair, trade size, and price movement, a pip calculator instantly calculates each pips value, aiding in precise trade planning. Platforms like MT4 and MT5 include built-in pip calculators or integrate with third-party tools, making risk management more accessible and efficient.

Key Strategies for CFD Forex Trading

1. Trend Following Strategy

Trend following is a widely used strategy in CFD forex trading, focusing on identifying and trading in the direction of prevailing market trends, whether upward or downward. Traders aim to profit from sustained price movements and often rely on tools like moving averages to determine if a currency pair is trending or moving sideways.

Platforms such as MT4 and MT5 simplify trend-following by providing advanced technical indicators and customizable charting tools. These features help traders identify trends more effectively and enhance their decision-making process.

2. Range Trading Strategy

While trend following leverages market momentum, range trading targets periods of consolidation when prices oscillate between clear support and resistance levels. Traders buy near support and sell near resistance, relying on identifying key levels and waiting for reversals to execute trades.

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Platforms like MT4 and MT5 simplify range trading with automated alerts and tools like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) to identify overbought or oversold conditions, signaling potential reversals. These platforms also allow for easy setup of stop-loss and take-profit levels, streamlining risk management.

3. Breakout Trading Strategy

Breakout trading is a widely used CFD forexstrategy that involves entering the market when prices break through key support or resistance levels, signaling the start of a new trend. Breakouts often lead to significant price movements, offering traders the potential for higher profits. Successful breakout strategies typically require waiting for the price to close above resistance or below support before entering a trade.

With tools like trend lines and volatility indicators available on platforms like MT4 and MT5, traders can identify potential breakout points. These platforms also provide advanced order types, such as limit orders and trailing stops, to effectively manage breakout trades.

4. Scalping Strategy

Scalping is a short-term trading strategy that involves making small, quick trades to capture minor price movements. Scalpers often make dozens or even hundreds of trades a day, taking advantage of small price changes in the market. This strategy requires precision and quick decision-making, as well as access to high liquidity.

MT4 and MT5 are particularly beneficial for scalpers, as they offer features like one-click trading, allowing traders to enter and exit positions rapidly. The fast execution speeds of these platforms are crucial for traders looking to capitalize on small market movements.

The Importance of Trading Platforms: MT4 and MT5

1. Advanced Charting Tools and Indicators

MT4 and MT5 are renowned for their user-friendly interfaces and extensive charting tools. Both platforms offer a wide range of technical indicators, such as moving averages, Bollinger Bands, and Fibonacci retracements, which traders can use to identify market trends, support and resistance levels, and potential entry points. These features make it easier for traders to analyze the market and implement the strategies discussed above.

2. Customizability and Automation

Another major advantage of using MT4 and MT5 is the ability to customize trading strategies. Both platforms support expert advisors (EAs), which are automated trading bots that can execute trades based on predefined rules. EAs can help traders follow their strategies consistently without emotional interference, especially for strategies like scalping or breakout trading, where quick execution is essential.

3. Security and Stability

Both MT4 and MT5 offer a high level of security, which is crucial when dealing with financial transactions. Traders can rely on these platforms to safeguard their funds and personal information, making them a trusted option for millions of forextraders worldwide. Additionally, the platforms are known for their stability, ensuring that trades are executed without disruption even during periods of high market volatility.

4. Multi-Asset Trading

MT4 is primarily designed for forex trading, but MT5 offers more flexibility, allowing traders to trade other asset classes such as commodities, stocks, and indices. This makes MT5 a more versatile option for traders who want to diversify their portfolios and explore various markets beyond forex.

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The Jigawa State Government is collaborating with NewGlobe Education, a Rwandan-based organisation, to transform the states basic education for better results.

This was made known on Wednesday when a delegation from the organisation led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jay Kimmelman, paid a courtesy call on Governor Umar Namadi at the Government House, Dutse.

Addressing the delegation, Mr Namadi said the partnership with the new globe revamping basic education is an effort to revamp the entire education sector of the state, adding that basic education is the feeder to secondary and tertiary education.

The governor said he was convinced to partner with NewGlobe after he visited their organisation in Rwanda and saw the kind of work they are doing in revamping basic education in that country.

Mr Namadi said the five-year agreement is subject to performance based on annual renewal, with the state education monitors being available and reporting to the government about the progress being made.

For the first instance, we are taking 50 per cent of the schools for the project, with over 1,000 schools that will be involved in the programme. We hope that we will see the results and the outcome, and we will take the remaining part of the schools into the programme.

The conviction, dedication, commitment and professionalism of the NewGlobe made the state government sign the agreement.

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This reinforced our commitment to do something drastic at the basic level of education and this is what we are doing today (by partnering with NewGlobe) we have reviewed the work of NewGlobe in other parts of the country, but we made them understood that Jigawa is peculiar and not the same with other states. The partnership is in line with the states peculiarities, the governor said.

Mr Namadi said the state has done a lot in reducing the number of out-of-school children, among other achievements already recorded after reviewing the disturbing data about basic education in the state.

Also, the governor said that the state has achieved so much in reorganising the states tertiary institution; we have brought in new, vibrant management who have changed the face of the institutions.

At the secondary level, we have launched JigawaCompete, an initiative aimed at training teachers, retaining the students and improving learning outcomes at the secondary school level.

Mr Namadi said the state has approved an engagement on the transformation agenda for the introduction of technical and vocational education at the senior secondary school level to build the future of the people.

In his remarks, Mr Kimmelman described the partnership as extraordinary and a brighter future for Jigawa children and their community.

He said the NewGlobe has a track record of over two decades of innovating in every aspect of education, from the classroom to the use of science, technology, and data.

We are going to transform education for every child in the state for them to reach their full potential. The agreement is a movement to empower the children, support teachers and enable communities to thrive.

The future of the state will not be determined by its resources and geography but by the skills, knowledge and creativity of its people.

This partnership is ensuring that every child in Jigawa has the opportunity to realise his/her potential and to contribute to a thriving and prosperous state, Mr Kimmelman said.

NewGlobe supports national and state governments by creating powerful technology-enabled education systems.

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The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it is translating the tax reform bills into 36 Nigerian languages to enhance public understanding and engagement with the proposed laws.

NOA announced this initiative at a town hall meeting in Maiduguri.

Representing the NOA Director General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the agencys National Director of Personnel Research and Statistics, Inuwa Kobi, emphasised the need to counter misinformation about the reforms.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the four tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu ignited anger in Northern Nigeria, where various groups are calling for suspending legislative actions on the bills.

The bills under consideration by the National Assembly are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024  SB.583; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024  SB.584; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024  SB.585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024  SB.586.

Last week, Channels TV organised a town hall meeting where Nigerian government officials addressed citizens concerns. However, many Nigerians, particularly those in northern states, remain concerned that the bills could significantly reduce their states share of the federation account.

We have started translating the bills and are engaging people through radio programs in local dialects, including Kanuri, Hausa, and English, Mr Kobi stated.

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We are also distributing pamphlets to ensure everyone understands the bills.

He said the proposed reforms aim to simplify Nigerias tax system, eliminate multiple taxation, and ease burdens on low-income earners.

Mr Kobi highlighted ongoing media engagements, including phone-in programmes on Al-Barka Radio and Eagle Radio, to provide clarity and allow citizens to ask questions directly.

The bills seek to establish a single tax-collecting authority, relieving citizens of the burden of paying taxes to multiple agencies, Mr Kobi explained. He noted the reforms would exempt individuals earning less than N100,000 from taxes, benefiting small traders and low-income workers with reduced rates.

Regarding corruption in tax collection, Mr Kobi said, This law will centralise tax collection, reduce leakages, and ensure that funds are used for national development.

The official said NOA was actively engaging civil society organisations, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to clarify the reforms benefits.

The feedback from these meetings has been positive. Many citizens now understand that the reforms are designed to improve their living conditions and promote fairness in the tax system, Mr Kobi added.

He urged stakeholders and citizens to support the reforms, promising continued public sensitisation through various platforms to ensure widespread awareness.

High points of the NOA DG engagement in Maiduguri include town hall meetings on tax reform and street campaigns to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Security, and Tax Reform Bills.

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The Adamawa State House of Assembly has passed a bill for the creation of more emirates with first-class emirs in the state.

The new emirate law, now awaiting Governor Ahmadu Fintiris assent, was passed days after the governor assented to another law, the states District Creation Law 2024, which created 83 new districts on 4 December.

Mr Fintiri, in a letter to the lawmakers on Monday, requested the passage of a bill for a law to provide for the Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) and matters incidental thereto.

The bill empowered the governor to create additional emirates, and appoint or depose traditional rulers.

The bill passed first and second reading at the state House of Assembly on Monday.

The accelerated reading of the bill followed separate motions by the deputy majority leader, Ahmed Rufai (Maiha LGA), seconded by Moses Zah (Michika LGA) and Bauna Myandassa (Lamurde LGA).

The Speaker of the Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, referred it to the House Committee on Local Government Affairs for legislative action.

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The speaker directed the committee to submit its report on the next legislative day.

The committee was headed by Kefas Calvin with Godfrey Bulus ashis deputy, while Grace Kurkuwa served as the clerk.

On Tuesday, the lawmakers passed the bill into law. The governor is expected to announce the new emirates after assenting to the bill.

The new law stripped the Lamido of Adamawa, Mustapha Barkindo, of his title of permanent chairman of the Adamawa Council of Chiefs.

The law says the seat will rotate annually among all the first-class emirs and chiefs.

The lawmakers said the rotational chairmanship would promote fairness, equity and quality representation in traditional leadership.

The governor had on 4 December assented to the states district creation law at an exclusive ceremony at the Government House.

He said the new law was aimed at enhancing governance and addressing security challenges at the grassroots level.

The law weakens the influence of the Lamido of Adamawa, Mr Barkindo, by reducing the local government areas under his control from eight to three.

The Adamawa emirate covered Hong, Song, Gombi, Fufore, Girei, Yola North, Yola South, and Mayo-Belwa.

READ ALSO: Youths protest in Lagos as lawmaker empowers constituents

Under the district creation law, it is now left with Girei, Jimeta and Yola.

Like the Lamido, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who holds the title of Waziri and is a senior kingmaker in the Adamawa emirate, will now exercise emirate authority only in Girei Jimeta and Yola.

The district creation law also whittles down the influence of the Emir of Mubi, Abubakar Isa-Ahmadu, who has Michika, Madagali, Mubi North, Mubi South, and Maiha under him.

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Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Danlami Saku, the chairman of Katcha Local Government Council, who lost his life in a motor accident near Kwakuti on the Minna-Suleja road.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Mr Bago described Mr Sakus passing as heartbreaking, noting that it serves as a stark reminder that all creatures come from Allah and will return to Him at the appointed time.

Mr Bago commiserated with the family of the deceased, the people of Katcha local government area, and the entire state over the loss.

He encouraged the people to remain steadfast in the will of Allah at all times, as He is perfect in all things.

The governor prayed that Allah will make Aljanna Firdausi the final abode of the deceased and comfort all the bereaved.

(NAN)

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A lawmaker representing Biase/Akamkpa Federal Constituency says at least 5,000 farmers lost their means of livelihood to flooding in Urugbam community of Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The lawmaker, Ime Inyang, disclosed this during Wednesdays distribution of palliatives by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to residents of Urugbam.

Mr Inyang said several buildings were also destroyed by the flood, which is said to be the worst in the communitys history.

Represented by Gabriel Owali, the lawmaker, who facilitated the palliatives, noted that aside NEMA, the people have not gotten any other intervention to cushion against the impact of the flood.

We understand this wont go round but we are appreciative of the federal government effort through NEMA on this palliatives, he stated.

Zubaida Umar, the director general of NEMA, said the release of the palliatives came following earlier assessments of the impact of the flood by the agency.

Represented by Mmendu Aisuene, the agencys head of operations in Uyo, the NEMA director general, appealed to the people to always heed to flood warnings.

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According to her, I know this palliatives wont do the magic, but it will go a long way to cushion the effect of the flood.

I want to also appeal to you to always listen to warning against flood by the federal government, if not for nothing but to save lives and other valuables.

I am also telling us to avoid blocking the drainage channels and also avoid erecting structures on water ways.

A resident, Okonli Ukan, while commending the federal government for coming to their aid, said they were yet to get over the destruction caused by the flood.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that rice, garri, seasoning, and groundnut oil were among the item distributed to the flood victims.

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Some youths on Tuesday staged a protest at an empowerment programme organised by Adedayo Adesola, a member of Nigerias House of Representatives who represents Apapa Federal Constituency.

The event, which was held in the Apapa Local Government Area, empowered about 60 constituents with items such as tricycles, generators, grinding machines, freezers, and sewing machines.

Mr Adesola is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Disruption

Drama ensued when the lawmaker proceeded to present the eight tricycles to the beneficiaries. More than a dozen youths thronged to the stage area to protest the inclusion of two council members as beneficiaries.

The rowdiness, which lasted for more than 15 minutes, was prevented from degenerating into a full-blown crisis by a team of security operatives who promptly intervened.

The youths kept shouting that the empowerment was for community members and not for APC party members.

It took the intervention of Mr Adesola to douse the situation after the youths proceeded to where the tricycles were parked.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Eventually, the empowerment committee danced to their tune and removed the two council members, replacing them with the names of two of the youths.

Shortly after the event returned to order, some youths tried to seize the items from the beneficiaries at the exit point.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that two beneficiaries, one with a generator and another with a freezer, were prevented from leaving the venue with their items.

Meanwhile, order eventually returned, and the other beneficiaries received their empowerment items.

Speech

Earlier in his speech, the lawmaker said since he was elected into the National Assembly, he had wanted to empower his constituents.

With a population estimate of about one million residents in Apapa Federal Constituency, one doesnt need rocket science to recognise the need for material support to lift our citizenry out of poverty, Mr Adesola said.

It is against this backdrop that I sometimes go to extra lengths soliciting support for our people as amplified by todays event.

He encouraged the recipients to use the materials wisely to help improve the economy and society in the Apapa area.

How the beneficiaries were picked

Speaking to journalists at the end of the programme, the lawmaker said the beneficiaries were selected across the wards and polling units in the area.

We selected them by looking at the polling units because that is the basic unit of voting, he said.

We know that there are 10 wards in Apapa and so we selected beneficiaries across those wards and polling units and then we also want to ensure that women are not left behind.

Mr Adesola reiterated that the essence of the empowerment programme is to assist the constituents to cushion the global economic crisis.

Following the announcement of fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu, petrol prices have skyrocketed. The hike immediately triggered an increase in fares and prices of goods and services.

Beneficiaries speak

On her part, Folakemi Alabi, a beneficiary of a sewing machine, expressed gratitude to the lawmaker.

She told PREMIUM TIMES that she had been in the business for three years without a personal sewing machine.

I have been using my friends own. Im going to make use of this, thanks to honourable Jim-Sam, she said.

Tajudeen Olusi, an elder statesman and leader of the states Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and other leaders of APC were in attendance.

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SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 PHBS-CJBS Global Pitch Competition, jointly hosted by Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) and Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS), concluded with its grand final on December 5th at PHBS in Shenzhen, China.

During the finals, ten startups from home and abroad, representing various fields such as artificial intelligence, new materials, and biotechnology, each pitched their most innovative technologies to a panel of judges comprising scholars, investors, and entrepreneurs.

The 2024 PHBS-CJBS Global Pitch Competition

The competition, which kicked off in January, attracted 506 startup projects from across the globe. After rigorous screening and preliminary round roadshows, 36 advanced to the semifinals, with the top 10 ultimately competing in the grand final.

Third prizes were awarded to Daosheng Biological (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, BrainThink, YUANWEISHIJIE, Synphage, SIPIMO Technology Group, and Zhiwei Data, while second prizes went to I2Cool, Wayo, and XZD Material Technology.

Taking first place, Shanmu (Shenzhen) Biotechnology Co. Ltd., a startup founded in 2021 in London, U.K., is one of the few AI companies that specialize in "non-perceptible," "continuous detection" health management. They have developed a fully automated spectral robot, no larger than a mouse, capable of conducting more than ten quantitative analyses of urine molecules. The company provides digital health management system solutions for individuals and families.

The event also featured the PHBS-CJBS Bay Area Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Forum, during which a strategic partnership was announced between PHBS, the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). This partnership aims to deepen international cooperation and foster high-quality development in the innovation ecosystem of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The forum included two roundtable discussions. The first, titled "Vision for the Future: Business Breakthroughs and Transformations in the New Era," explored themes such as "Industry + AI" and "Innovation and Transformation." The second, "Enterprise Innovation Development and Venture Capital Trends," examined investment trends, decision-making strategies, and advancing productivity through innovative practices.

The grand final concluded with the 2025 PHBS-CJBS Global Pitch Competition announcement, heralding another exciting season focused on early-stage technology teams and Shenzhen's "20+8" industrial clusters.

https://english.phbs.pku.edu.cn/info/1021/44822.htm

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578419/image.jpg
Four leading companies partner in support of education and workforce development mission

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the BayPort Foundation, Ferguson, Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII, and Virginia Natural Gas announced that the Newport News Education Foundation has been awarded the $500,000 Accelerating Change Together (ACT) Grant to support the Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) New Teacher Institute (NTI) program. The ACT Grant extends the four companies' existing charitable giving and social impact efforts to its education and workforce development mission.

Emily MacCartney, Community Affairs Manager, Virginia Natural Gas; Dr. Latitia McCane, Director of Education for The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding; Jim Mears, President/CEO of BayPort Credit Union; Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones; Dr. Michele Mitchell, Superintendent of Newport News Public Schools; Dale Mingilton, Executive Director of Newport News Education Foundation; Gary Artybridge, Jr., Manager of Corporate Citizenship & Education Outreach, Newport News Shipbuilding; Melissa Hazelwood, Director of Social Impact, Ferguson; and Nancy Porter, VP of Marketing, BayPort Credit Union.

The three-year, $500,000 step-down grant will provide the funding necessary for NTI to answer the regional call to build a workforce pipeline to expand its new firstand second-year teacher programs. It will also fund the development of a model program, provide credentialing assistance, and invest in Career and Technical Education and English as a Second Language teachers.

The ACT Grant will assist the Newport News Education Foundation in raising funding to guarantee support for the NTI program. The expiration of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds could have several consequences as districts look to trim expenses and consolidate operations. ESSER was a one-time emergency relief program designed to support K-12 schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twenty-one nonprofits submitted an ACT Grant application. The Contributions Committee selected the Newport News Education Foundation application based on its ability to address the specific needs outlined in the ACT Grant application, including a sound financial investment and an original, innovative, and sustainable project plan to impact a target population/community.

The ACT Grant initiative launched in 2022, and the first recipient was the Virginia Beach Education Foundation and Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), new two-year, half-day Advanced Technology Center Renewable Energy Technologies program.

For additional information on the ACT Grant, please visit actgrant.org.

B-roll of the NNPS NTI program facility and check presentation is available upon request.

About BayPort Foundation

BayPort Foundation is the charitable arm of BayPort Credit Union, headquartered in Newport News, Virginia and was established to extend the credit union's philosophy of "people helping people." The Foundation is an extension of the credit union's charitable giving. BayPort Credit Union commits more than half a million dollars in annual corporate donations and pays all the Foundation's overhead to ensure that 100% of the Foundation donations support its mission. For more information, visit bayportfoundation.org.

About Ferguson

Ferguson (NYSE: FERG; LSE: FERG) is the largest value-added distributor serving the specialized professional in our $340B residential and non-residential North American construction market. We help make our customers' complex projects simple, successful and sustainable by providing expertise and a wide range of products and services from plumbing, HVAC, appliances and lighting to PVF, water and wastewater solutions and more. Headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson has sales of $29.6 billion (FY'24) and approximately 35,000 associates in nearly 1,800 locations. For more information, please visit corporate.ferguson.com .

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII's mission is to deliver the world's most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nation's largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, please visit hii.com.

About Virginia Natural Gas

Virginia Natural Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Virginia Natural Gas provides natural gas service to nearly 300,000 customers in southeast Virginia. Named a Top Workplace in 2024, Virginia Natural Gas also has been recognized as one of the safest, most reliable and customer-focused natural gas service providers and is consistently ranked in the top quartile for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit virginianaturalgas.com.

SOURCE BayPort Credit Union
The Physical Risks of Climate Change Could Threaten 5% to 25% of Corporate Profits by 2050

Without Taking Decisive Steps, Global GDP Could Be Up to 22% Lower by 2100 than with Effective Climate Action

In a Scenario of Accelerating Climate Action, Carbon Pricing Alone Could Lead To up to 50% of EBITDA in Additional Costs for Unprepared Businesses

Businesses That Act Now Can Unlock Competitive Advantage

BOSTON, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Climate inaction is exposing businesses to escalating risks that threaten profits, operations, and long-term viability. For unprepared businesses, individual physical risks of climate change alone could put 5% to 25% of their 2050 EBITDA at risk, depending on sector and geography. This is in addition to other risks, such as the impact of slowing GDP on consumption and growth. Conversely, in a scenario of accelerated climate action and a "net zero 1.5C path," the impact of carbon pricing alone could lead to up to 50% of EBITDA in additional costs in the most emissions-intensive sectors by 2030, in addition to significant write-downs of fossil assets. In a net zero scenario, 10% to 35% of the book value of gray assets could face write-downs by 2030.

These are among the findings of the World Economic Forum and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report The Cost of Inaction: A CEO Guide to Navigating Climate Risk, published today.

"The costs of climate-related damage have more than doubled in the last two decades, to more than $1 trillion between 2020 and 2024" said Patrick Herhold, BCG senior partner and managing director, and co-author of the report. "While most companies are aware of the risk, they struggle to translate it into measurable business impact. However, there is significant upside to investing in climate action: there is a clear business case for adaptation and a better case for mitigation than most might think. Faced with this challenge, the urgency for CEOs to take ownership of climate risks and opportunities cannot be overstated."

Climate Investment Has a Significant Upside

The global business case for climate action is very strong: global investment in climate change mitigation can pay off up to five-fold. The world would need to invest around 2% of cumulative global GDP in mitigation measures to move onto a "below 2C pathway," with another 1% needed to adapt to already unavoidable warming. But these investments could prevent 10% to 15% in losses to global GDP over this century. On a corporate level, companies that comprehensively assess their risk exposure reported to CDP that their current adaptation and resilience investments could yield between $2 and $19 for every dollar invested.

Decarbonization investments also often yield financial benefits. Many companies that reduce their carbon emissions benefit from lower spending on fossil energy, a lower risk profile of long-life assets, and stronger market positioning. Most industries could abate 10% to 60% of their carbon emissions at no to little cost by means such as efficiency, renewable power, and low-temperature heat electrification. With meaningful carbon pricing, almost all industries could economically abate over 50% of their emissions.

In addition, climate leaders can unlock significant growth and competitive advantage by tapping into the expanding market for green technologies. The latter is likely to reach $14 trillion by 2030 from an already sizeable $5 trillion in 2024. Sectors and value chains include alternative energy (49%), sustainable transport (16%), and sustainable consumer products (13%), all growing at annual rates of 10% to 20%, significantly above GDP.

"Climate risks are escalating, and the window to act is closing fast," said Pedro Gomez, Head of Climate and Member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum. "This report shows that addressing these challenges isn't just about protecting businesses from disruption, it's about seizing transformative opportunities. By working together, governments and businesses can turn climate risk into a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and shared prosperity."

The report looks at a series of measures that companies can take to embed climate risk into their corporate strategy, creating business resilience, competitiveness, and the ability to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable and resilient solutions. These include conducting comprehensive climate risk assessments; managing risks in the current business portfolio, including investing in adaptation, resilience, and decarbonization measures; and pivoting to unlock opportunities.

Media Contact:

Eric Gregoire

+1 617 850 3783

[email protected]

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholdersempowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

About the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).

SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Alley Cat Allies files lawsuit to order Summit County, Ohio to immediately cease its illegal, inhumane killing of cats. Post this

"The Summit County Animal Control Department is a law enforcement entity meant to uphold the laws. Instead, it is improperly and inhumanely 'euthanizing' animals and killing cats for simply being deemed 'feral'," said DanaMarie Pannella, attorney, Alley Cat Allies. "Stopping the senseless and inhumane killing of cats is our top priority. The next step for Summit County is to create a humane animal control agency that adheres to laws and best practices, including Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and guarantees real protection for animals."

The filing comes after Alley Cat Allies, via public records requests, uncovered disturbing evidence of cats and dogs at the Summit County shelter being killed inhumanely by underdosing or otherwise improperly administering euthanasia drugs. In some instances, these killings violated even the shelter's own outdated euthanasia policy.

According to the suit, Summit County also kills cats its staff deems to be too "feral" while also accepting surrendered cats with disregard for whether a cat is a community cat, AKA an unowned cat who lives outdoors and is not socialized to live indoors with people. Some of these cats have been needlessly killed the same day they arrived at the shelter.

Alley Cat Allies has long been concerned about the plight of cats in the Summit County shelter which, despite being one of the most highly funded county-operated shelters in Ohio, has traditionally failed to implement basic industry standard shelter management programs to ensure successful outcomes for the cats and dogs in its care.

Along with taking legal action to stop the inhumane killing, Alley Cat Allies is urging Summit County to support and implement Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Through TNR, community cats are humanely trapped; brought to a veterinary clinic to be spayed or neutered, eartipped (the universal sign that a cat has been spayed or neutered through a TNR program), and vaccinated; and then are returned to their original outdoor homes. TNR is the only humane and effective approach to community cats.

(Note to editors: Copies of the filing with the Court of Common Pleas in Summit County, Ohio, are available upon request.)

SOURCE Alley Cat Allies
Eight new residential programs will be available throughout the U.S. and at Oxford, U.K., along with new day-only programs in Chicago and Los Angeles

CHICAGO, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) , an immersive pre-college experience for middle and high school students to explore their career and educational interests, has officially launched its application for 2025 with eight new career tracks and an expansion to the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. NSLC believes that now more than ever, it is imperative that young people have the opportunity to enhance their skills beyond classroom learning.

Since 1989, NSLC has helped students test-run their futures through interactive programs hosted at some of the nation's and world's most prestigious universities. In each program, students get to engage in hands-on education across different fields of studyfrom aerospace engineering to music productionand gain authentic college experiences that prepare them for their futures.

Next summer, NSLC will welcome students to explore additional career opportunities, including specialized programs for interior design and graphic design. NSLC is also launching day programs for students local to Chicago and Los Angeles, which will provide opportunities for those who may not have the time or resources for a full residential summer program to explore a future career through hands-on learning at Northwestern University or UCLA. NSLC is also expanding its residential offerings to the University of Oxford to bolster its global reach and provide students worldwide with a unique international college experience. All new high school and middle school programs are listed here:

High School

Middle School

Art & Design : 6-day program at American University

: 6-day program at Business : 6-day program at University of California, Berkeley

"I'm honored to play a role in helping students discover their unique potential and guide them as they envision their futures," said Kristina Duffy Hochman, Executive Director of the NSLC. "At NSLC, education goes beyond traditional academics: it's about equipping students with the resources they need to face real-world challenges with confidence."

NSLC provides students with the opportunity to experience life on a college campus, develop essential leadership skills, and explore potential careers through simulations, exclusive site visits, and interactive meetings with renowned leaders in their chosen fields.

Since becoming Executive Director in 2022, Duffy Hochman has overseen NSLC's expansion to more than 30 programs, including Fashion Management & Design, Artificial Intelligence, and Music Industry & Production. In 2024, she led the organization's international growth to the University of British Columbia and, most recently, to the University of Oxford.

Thousands of students from around the world are expected to attend next summer's programs across 14 prestigious campuses:

American University

Columbia University 1

Duke University 2

Georgetown University

Johns Hopkins University 3

Northwestern University

University of British Columbia 4

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Los Angeles

University of Miami 5

University of Michigan

University of Oxford

Virginia Tech

Yale University 6

To learn more about all program dates and locations, visit www.nslcleaders.org/dates-locations . For press inquiries, please reach out to Angelika Seaman at [email protected]

About National Student Leadership Conference

The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) is an immersive summer experience for middle and high school students to explore their interests, discover their passions, and cultivate their leadership skills. Founded in 1989 and sponsored by the National Student Leadership Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring the next generation of leaders, the NSLC brings thousands of students together each summer for 9- to 18-day programs that offer hands-on, experiential learning across a range of academic and professional disciplines. For more information, visit www.nslcleaders.org .

Affiliations and Sponsorships:

1. The NSLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Columbia University.

2. The NSLC is not affiliated with Duke University, nor is the NSLC a Duke University program or activity.

3. The NSLC is not related to or affiliated with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in any way. NSLC is an entirely separate entity with no connection to JHU aside from the temporary rental of facilities for the program.

4. The NSLC has no affiliation with UBC and UBC is not involved in or responsible for the quality, suitability, delivery or other aspects of NSLC in any way.

5. This program, while located at the University of Miami, is neither the responsibility of, nor endorsed by, the University of Miami.

6. The NSLC is not sponsored by Yale University.

Contact: Angelika Seaman

Phone: (603) 504-8554

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE National Student Leadership Conference
Sorenson will transition into the role of executive vice president, managing director and CEO, Associated Trust Company on February 1, 2025

GREEN BAY, Wisc., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) ("Associated") announced today the appointment of Heath Sorenson, MBA, CFP, CFIRS, CTOP, to executive vice president, managing director, Associated Trust Company. Effective February 1, 2025, Sorenson will become executive vice president, managing director and chief executive officer, Associated Trust Company and John Thayer, current chief executive officer and executive vice president of Associated Trust Company, will transition into the role of executive vice president and senior leadership advisor, Associated Trust Company.

Heath Sorenson, Associated Trust Company

Sorenson joined Associated Private Wealth on December 9, reporting to Jayne Hladio, executive vice president, and Associated Private Wealth president. He will assume responsibility for leading and managing the Associated Trust Company's delivery of comprehensive wealth management solutions. This includes strategy, revenue growth, technology, risk, operations, and compliance of Associated Trust Company. Sorenson will lead Personal, Corporate and Institutional Trust Services, Investment Management, Retirement Plan Solutions, and Trust Administration/Operations.

"Heath's deep wealth management experience and talents strengthen our ability to grow through enhanced client experience, sales, operational efficiency, and high-performance teambuilding," said Hladio. "His fiduciary and suitability knowledge of trust and investment advisory boards, committees, governance, and regulatory agencies complements our people-first, 'One Associated' approach to advocating for our clients and communities."

Sorenson possesses broad and deep wealth management knowledge with more than 25 years of experience, most recently with Midland States Bank as chief operating officer of Midland Wealth Management, Midland Wealth Advisors, LLC, and president of Midland Trust Company. He has led acquisition efforts in expansion markets and wealth verticals. Prior experience includes senior vice president of Investments and Capital Market Operations at AMCORE/BMO, registered principal/branch manager at Raymond James, and vice president/manager of Loan Servicing.

"I am excited to join Associated Bank Private Wealth and Associated Trust Company to build on the incredible growth momentum Jayne Hladio and the team have underway," said Sorenson. "My wife, Tiggi, and I look forward to meeting clients and engaging with the community given our familiarity with the Midwest as life-long residents."

Thayer joined Associated Bank in 2000, as chief investment officer, and became head of Private Wealth in 2021. In his nearly 25-year tenure with the bank, Thayer unified previously separate businesses into one wealth management entity. Leading a team of more than 300 professionals, he crafted the business' inaugural financial, operational, and growth strategies that drove nearly $150M in revenue within three years. Thayer guided the business through multiple crises and regulatory shifts while developing and recruiting excellent talent and establishing a new leadership team.

"John's exceptional leadership contributions have helped Associated Trust Company grow into a regional powerhouse by deepening relationships, elevating our offerings, and creating value for our clients," said Hladio. "We value John's leadership in building this team and creating a Private Wealth culture dedicated to delivering excellence in our fast-changing industry. His advocacy continues as we proceed. We deeply appreciate John's years of service and look forward to his future contributions."

Sorenson has a bachelor's degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. Sorenson completed Northwestern University's financial planning curriculum and earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) practitioner designation. In addition, Sorenson is a Certified Fiduciary & Investment Risk Specialist (CFIRS) and a Certified Trust Operations Professional (CTOP).

Sorenson's primary offices will be in Wisconsin and Illinois.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $42 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from nearly 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The company also operates loan production offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.

Media Contact: Andrea Kozek

VP/Senior Manager, Public Relations

920-491-7518

SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp
REDDING, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled, 'Automotive Seats Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, LCV, HCV), Seat Type, Seat Technology (Manual Seats, Powered Seats, Smart Seats), Material, Distribution Channel (OEMs and Aftermarket), Geography - Global Forecast to 2031.

The automotive seats market is expected to reach $53.4 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 1.5% from 2024 to 2031.

Download FREE PDF Brochure Of Automotive Seats Market -

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=6075

Automotive seats are critical components in vehicles, designed to provide comfort, support, and safety for occupants during travel. They are engineered to enhance ergonomics and include features like adjustable headrests, lumbar support, and reclining mechanisms.

The growth of this market is driven by increasing vehicle production & sales and increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs). Furthermore, advancements in seat technology and a growing focus on sustainable materials and customization are expected to generate growth opportunities for the stakeholders in this market.

However, fluctuating raw material prices and complexity in design & customization restrain this market's growth.

Get Insightful Data On Regions, Market Segments, Customer Landscape, And Top Companies (Charts, Tables, Figures And More) -

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-sample-report/cp_id=6075

Key Players:

Some of the major players studied in this report are Adient plc (Ireland), AISIN Group (Japan), Faurecia SE (France), Gentherm Incorporated (U.S.), Lear Corporation (U.S.), Magna International Inc. (Canada), NHK Spring Co., Ltd. (Japan), TACHI-S CO. LTD. (Japan), Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Japan), TS TECH CO., LTD. (Japan), Ningbo Jifeng Auto parts Co., ltd. (China), Hyundai Dymos (South Korea), Bharat Seats Limited (India), Grammer AG (Germany), and Pheonix Seating Limited (U.K.).

The global automotive seats market is segmented by vehicle type (passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, three-wheelers), seat type(bench seats, bucket seats, folding seats, powered seats, heated and ventilated seats, other seat types), seat technology(manual seats, powered seats, smart seats, other seat technologies), material(fabric, genuine leather, synthetic leather, other materials), and distribution channel (OEMs, aftermarket). This study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the regional and country-level markets.

Key Findings in the Automotive Seats Market Study:

Among the vehicle types studied in this report, the passenger cars segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Passenger cars, which include sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs, are among the most commonly used vehicles globally. The demand for ergonomic and feature-rich seats is growing rapidly within this segment. Key drivers for this growth include the increasing production of passenger cars, the rising demand for comfort features, and the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

Among the seat types studied in this report, the heated and ventilated seats segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Heated and ventilated seats offer enhanced comfort by regulating temperature, making them particularly popular in premium and luxury vehicles. This segment's growth is driven by factors such as the rising demand for luxury vehicles and an increasing emphasis on passenger comfort and climate control.

Among the seat technologies studied in this report, the smart seats segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Smart seats are equipped with sensors, AI, and connectivity features that monitor occupant posture, adjust seating for comfort, and enhance safety. This segment's growth is driven by advancements in seat technologies, such as the integration of sensors and AI, which improve safety, comfort, and personalization for users.

Have Specific Research Needs? Request a Customized Research Report -

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-customization/cp_id=6075

Among the materials studied in this report, the synthetic leather segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Synthetic leather is gaining popularity due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, and affordability when compared to genuine leather. Additionally, the increasing focus on sustainability and the growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives are key factors driving the growth of synthetic leather in automotive seating.

Among the distribution channels studied in this report, the OEMs segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by factors such as the rising consumer preference for factory-installed advanced seats, collaborations between automakers and seat suppliers, and an increase in overall vehicle production.

Among the regions studied in this report, Asia-Pacific is poised to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this regional market is driven by factors such as the increase in vehicle production in key markets such as China, India, and Japan, rising consumer demand for electric vehicles with advanced seating features, and growing disposable incomes, which fuel the demand for premium, comfort-oriented automotive seats. Furthermore, favorable government policies supporting local automotive manufacturing and the consistent innovation by OEMs in the region are driving the integration of powered seats, ventilation systems, and ergonomic designs into their vehicles.

IMMEDIATE DELIVERY AVAILABLE | BUY THIS RESEARCH REPORT (Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures and More)-

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/26072456

Scope of the Report:

Automotive Seats Market Assessmentby Vehicle Type

Passenger Cars

Light Commercial Vehicles

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Two-wheelers

Three-wheelers

Automotive Seats Market Assessmentby Seat Type

Bench Seats

Bucket Seats

Folding Seats

Powered Seats

Heated and Ventilated Seats

Other Seat Types

Automotive Seats Market Assessmentby Seat Technology

Manual Seats

Powered Seats

Smart Seats

Other Seat Technologies

Automotive Seats Market Assessmentby Material

Fabric

Genuine Leather

Synthetic Leather

Other Materials

Automotive Seats Market Assessmentby Distribution Channel

OEMs

Aftermarket

Automotive Seats Market Assessmentby Geography

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Italy



Spain



Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

China



Japan



India



South Korea



Rest of Asia-Pacific (RoAPAC)

(RoAPAC) Latin America

Mexico



Brazil



Rest of Latin America (RoLATAM)

(RoLATAM) Middle East & Africa

& Israel



UAE



Rest of Middle East & Africa (RoMEA)

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Automotive Plastics Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Type (Thermoplastics and Thermosetting), Process (Injection Molding, Blow Molding), Vehicle Type, Application (Electrical Components, Powertrain), End User, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2031 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/automotive-plastics-market-5825

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Automotive Glass Market by Glass Type (Laminated Glass, Tempered Glass), Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, Electric Vehicles), Sales Channel, Application (Sidelight, Windshield, Sunroof), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2031 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/automotive-glass-market-5761

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Automotive Seats Market Research Summary

Particulars Details Number of Pages 250 Format PDF Forecast Period 20242031 Base Year 2023 CAGR (Value) 1.5 % Market Size in 2024 (Value) USD 53.4 Billion Market Size in 2031 (Value) USD 58.9 Billion Segments Covered By Vehicle Type Passenger Cars

Light Commercial Vehicles

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Two-wheelers

Three-wheelers By Seat Type Bench Seats

Bucket Seats

Folding Seats

Powered Seats

Heated and Ventilated Seats

Other Seat Types By Seat Technology Manual Seats

Powered Seats

Smart Seats

Other Seat Technologies By Material Fabric

Genuine Leather

Synthetic Leather

Other Materials By Distribution Channel OEMs

Aftermarket Countries Covered North America (U.S. and Canada), Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, and Rest of Latin America), and Middle East & Africa (UAE, Israel, and Rest of Middle East & Africa) Key Companies Adient plc (Ireland), AISIN Group (Japan), Faurecia SE (France), Gentherm Incorporated (U.S.), Lear Corporation (U.S.), Magna International Inc. (Canada), NHK Spring Co., Ltd. (Japan), TACHI-S CO. LTD. (Japan), Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Japan), TS TECH CO., LTD. (Japan), Ningbo Jifeng Auto parts Co., ltd. (China), Hyundai Dymos (South Korea), Bharat Seats Limited (India), Grammer AG (Germany), and Pheonix Seating Limited (U.K.)

About Meticulous Research Pvt. Ltd.

We are a trusted research partner for leading businesses worldwide, empowering Fortune 500 organizations and emerging enterprises with market intelligence designed to drive revenue transformation and strategic growth. Our insights reveal future growth opportunities, equipping clients with a competitive edge through a versatile suite of research solutionsincluding syndicated reports, custom research, and direct analyst engagement. Each year, we conduct over 300 syndicated studies and manage 60+ consulting engagements across eight major sectors and 20+ geographic markets, all to deliver targeted business insights that help our clients lead in a rapidly evolving global market.

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SOURCE Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd.
PLEASANTON, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Avathon, the provider of the leading AI platform for industrial operations, has joined the World Economic Forum's Unicorn Community, a designation reserved for private hyper-growth companies at the forefront of disruption and innovation in their industries valued at more than $1 billion USD. Avathon CEO Pervinder Johar will attend the 2025 Annual Meeting taking place at Davos-Klosters from 20-24 January.

Avathon is the leader in Industrial AI.

Avathon's participation in the Unicorn Community will focus on extending the life of critical infrastructure, as it seeks to help businesses advance toward full autonomy with Artificial Intelligence.

"We are delighted to welcome Avathon to the Forum's Innovator Community," said Verena Kuhn, Head of the Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. "Transforming manufacturing industries and supply chains is essential to drive innovation and responsible growth, and we look forward to Avathon's contributions to the Forum's work in this important area."

Under the direction of Johar, Avathon is committed to incorporating cutting-edge AI into legacy infrastructure and converting conventional systems into self-sufficient, resilient, and sustainable ecosystems as it incorporates Industrial AI in supply chain management, energy, and aviation industries.

"We look forward to connecting with other industry leaders and policymakers as we share insights and solutions, defining the agenda on pressing global infrastructure issues," Johar said. "As a critical player in the industrial sector, we will work to address the more than $100 trillion of aging infrastructure that is currently under stress due to supply disruptions, labor shortages, and changing security threats. We are pleased to join the Forum's commitment to progressing on this and other systemic challenges by gaining powerful insights, devising structured initiatives, and engaging in forward actions."

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, which facilitates rigorous and respectful dialogue to improve the state of the world through the power of human ingenuity, entrepreneurship, innovation, and cooperation. WEF's Unicorn Community is one of three Global Innovator Communities that provides a platform to engage with public- and private-sector leaders and contribute new solutions to overcome current crises and build future resiliency.

Avathon received unicorn valuation in 2022 on its proven track record for partnering with the world's industry leaders to address their most critical challenges, enable digital transformation, and drive profitable growth.

About Avathon

Avathon , a leader in Industrial AI, extends the life of critical infrastructure while advancing the journey toward full autonomy. Avathon's Industrial AI platform empowers commercial and government customers with scalable, secure, and value-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and resilience across heavy industry.

Media contact:

Jon Ross

Sr. PR & Communications Manager

Avathon

[email protected]

SOURCE Avathon
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Aypa Power, a Blackstone portfolio company and leading developer and operator of utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects, has announced the successful close of a $398 million financing package for the Pediment Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a 250 MW/1,000 MWh project located in Mesa, Arizona. The milestone highlights Aypa's commitment to advancing Arizona's energy infrastructure as the state looks to more than double its energy capacity by 2035.

The financing package includes a construction-to-back-leverage loan, tax credit transfer bridge loan, and letters of credit. The financing group was led by Societe Generale, ING Capital LLC (also serving as green loan coordinator), and Bank of America as the Coordinating Lead Arrangers, with Zions Bancorporation (also serving as Administrative Agent), Royal Bank of Canada, and Desjardins Group acting as Joint Lead Arrangers at financial close.

The Pediment BESS will play a key role in supporting the region's growing data center market and increasing renewable energy integration. Operating under a 20-year tolling agreement with Salt River Project (SRP), the project is expected to deliver over $16 million in direct economic impact, including $14 million in property tax revenue to Maricopa County during its first 20 years of operation.

"The closing of this significant financing reflects Aypa Power's ability to execute on large-scale energy storage projects and is a testament to the quality of projects we are bringing to market," said Bill Nguyen, Executive Vice President of Finance at Aypa Power. "The facility's innovative structure and backing from diverse, esteemed financial institutions reflect our capital partners' confidence and ensure the flexibility to advance Pediment's construction."

Trent Hazelwood, Director at Societe Generale, said, "Societe Generale is honored to partner with Aypa Power and fellow lenders on this important project. The Pediment BESS will play a pivotal role in strengthening the reliability and flexibility of renewable energy systems for Maricopa County and Arizona, advancing the region's clean energy future."

"Pediment represents a well-structured financing for a top-tier battery energy storage project," added Sven Wellock, Managing Director and Lead of Energy  Renewables & Power for ING Capital. "ING is proud to have played a leading role in supporting this effort and contributing to Aypa Power's continued growth and success."

"Amid rising power demand, energy storage is critical for ensuring reliability during the transition to a lower-emissions grid," said Omer Farooq, Managing Director in the Global Sustainable Finance Group at Bank of America. "This transaction supports Aypa Power's efforts to deliver much-needed capacity to Arizona's energy market."

With financing in place, the Pediment BESS is on track to meet key construction milestones, with operations expected to begin in 2026.

About Aypa Power

Aypa Power, a Blackstone portfolio company, develops, owns, and operates utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects across North America. With 30 projects currently in operation or under construction, and a development pipeline exceeding 22 gigawatts (GW), Aypa delivers solutions that strengthen grid reliability, integrate renewable energy, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Aypa has been at the forefront of energy storage development since its first energy storage project came online in 2018. For more information, follow Aypa Power on LinkedIn or visit www.aypa.com.

SOURCE Aypa Power
MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eric D. Reicin, CEO of BBB National Programs today announced two leadership appointments to further strengthen its industry self-regulation initiatives. Howard Smith has been named Executive Director of BBB National Programs' 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation, the Center for Industry Self-Regulation (CISR) and Vice President, BBB National Programs, and Nancy M. Burke has been appointed Vice President, National Partners and Business Development, BBB National Programs.

In his newly elevated role, Smith will lead efforts at the Center for Industry Self-Regulation to develop, incubate, and implement industry self-regulation programs across various industries, spearhead academic research on emerging challenges, develop a series of modules on industry self-regulation for law, business, and public policy schools, and raise public awareness about the benefits of industry self-regulation. Burke will play an important leadership role at BBB National Programs, engaging with the non-profit organization's growing National Partner community and overseeing strategic new business development and recruitment efforts for its industry self-regulation programs.

Smith has been with BBB National Programs since 2019, where he most recently served as Deputy Director of the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) and led RMAI Services, an industry self-regulation program with the Receivables Management Association International. He has also played a role in resolving complex advertising disputes through BBB National Programs' National Advertising Division (NAD). Before joining BBB National Programs, Smith was a law firm partner, specializing in complex matters including false advertising, intellectual property, and bankruptcy matters.

Burke joins BBB National Programs with more than 20 years of experience in industry self-regulation, previously serving as Vice President of Membership at the Direct Selling Association (DSA) where she was instrumental in launching BBB National Programs' Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) in 2019.

"We are thrilled to welcome Howard Smith and Nancy Burke to our leadership team," said Eric D. Reicin, CEO, BBB National Programs. "Their extensive expertise in industry self-regulation, combined with their proven leadership and dedication, will be instrumental in driving our mission forward, strengthening industry standards, and building valuable partnerships that enhance consumer trust."

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues and create a fairer playing field for businesses and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About CISR: The Center for Industry Self-Regulation (CISR), BBB National Programs' 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, was created to harness the power of independent, industry self-regulation to address the marketplace trust challenges businesses face today. CISR is dedicated to education and research that supports responsible business leaders developing fair, future-proof best practices, and to the education of the general public on the conditions necessary for industry self-regulation. Learn more at industryselfregulation.org.

SOURCE BBB National Programs
Curated by Erin Dziedzic, former Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri, the exhibition traveled to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago before coming to Charlotte. The Bechtler's presentation is organized by Bechtler Curator Katia Zavistovski.

This groundbreaking exhibition aligns with the Bechtler's mission to tell the complex story of global modernism and its legacies while highlighting artists who have been historically underrepresented within the modernist canon. The exhibition marks a significant moment in the recognition of Jaramillo's influential practice and her role in shaping the course of American abstraction.

Born in El Paso, Texas in 1939, Jaramillo's artistic journey has taken her from Los Angeles to Paris and New York City, where she became part of the vibrant downtown art scene of the 1960s and '70s. Throughout her career, she has explored earthly and metaphysical realms through abstract paintings and handmade paper works, drawing inspiration from diverse sources including physics, mythology, ancient cultures and modernist design philosophies.

"Virginia Jaramillo's work represents a vital yet underrecognized chapter in the story of American modernism," said Bechtler Executive Director Todd D. Smith. "Her groundbreaking practice not only challenges the Eurocentric narrative of abstraction but also demonstrates the profound impact of diverse cultural perspectives on postwar art. This exhibition perfectly aligns with our dedication to presenting dynamic exhibitions that shine new light on global modernism and its continuing influence."

"This long-overdue retrospective foregrounds Jaramillo's significant contributions to postwar abstraction," said Bechtler Curator Katia Zavistovski. "Highlighting the breadth of her creative process, the works included in the exhibition express Jaramillo's enduring engagement with both material and the metaphysical."

The exhibition is organized chronologically, presenting six distinct series that showcase the evolution of Jaramillo's practice:

The Black Paintings (1963-65): Early works inspired by California desert earth, demonstrating innovative use of material to achieve rich textures

desert earth, demonstrating innovative use of material to achieve rich textures The Paris Paintings (1965): Created during her transformative year in Paris , showing the evolution of her color palette and handling of paint

, showing the evolution of her color palette and handling of paint The Curvilinear Paintings (late 1960s-early 1970s): Her breakthrough series featuring precisely rendered lines that spring across large, flat, opaque fields of color

The Stained Paintings (1970s): Works that comprise aqueous surfaces of thin, multilayered veils of paint

Handmade Paper Works (1979-2000s): Pieces made of pulverized linen fiber and hand-ground pigments that evoke or reference archaeological sites, scientific theories and the cosmos

Recent Paintings (2018-2023): Contemporary works that continue the artist's exploration of geographical, metaphysical, and mythical realms

"Virginia Jaramillo: Principle of Equivalence" is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalog distributed by Yale University Press. The publication features scholarly essays examining Jaramillo's contributions to American abstraction, her innovative artmaking techniques and her role in expanding the boundaries of modernist practice.

About Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, a gem in the Southern art landscape and in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, is devoted to modern art and its legacies. The cornerstone of its holdings are works by European and American artists collected by the Zurich-based Bechtler family and gifted to the museum by Andreas Bechtler and his family, who have long called Charlotte home. Represented here are some of the most influential figures of 20th-century modernism, including Max Ernst, Alberto Giacometti, Barbara Hepworth, Pablo Picasso, Bridget Riley and Andy Warhol, among others. Opened in 2010, the museum is focused on the global scope of modernism and its continued relevance, with changing exhibitions that feature both well-known and underrepresented modern and contemporary artists. The museum building, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, features Niki de Saint Phalle's iconic Le Grand Oiseau de Feu sur l'Arche (The Large Firebird on the Arch) on its entrance plaza. The Bechtler also serves as a hub for live music, artist talks, cocktail hours for young creatives and family events. For more: www.bechtler.org.

IMAGES: Works by Virginia Jaramillo are available for download here. Please refer to the image credit document here to ensure proper, accurate image credits.

SOURCE Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
BEIJING, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- British archaeologist Gordon Childe believed that archaeology is the study of researching and comparing an assemblage of artifacts and sites. He emphasized the importance of using the comparative method in the discipline. By making comparisons, historians and archaeologists can uncover clues and piece them together to form a clearer picture of the past, tracing the development of civilizations and establishing connections across different places and periods.

Claudia Meichong-Pastidas, a fourth-generation Chinese-Mexican, works on an artifact unearthed from the Maya region (SCREENSHOT)

Although comparison has long been a key tool in the field, comparing civilizations from two distant and disconnected continents is relatively uncommon due to the vast geographical distances and the substantial differences in many aspects of their cultures and societies.

In a documentary series co-produced by Chengdu Radio and Television, archaeological teams from both China and the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region examined the similarities between the Sanxingdui-Jinsha civilization of China and the Maya civilization of Mesoamericatoday's Central America.

Titled Dialogue Crossing Thousands of Years: The Sanxingdui-Jinsha Civilization and the Maya Civilization Come Together, the series features scholars discussing the shared beliefs and philosophies, living habits, social structures, customs, and artistic and manufacturing abilities of the Sanxingdui and Mayan peoples.

"Renowned Chinese archaeologist Kwang-chih Chang proposed the concept of the 'China-Maya continuum.' In his opinion, the [ancient] Chinese and Mayan civilizations were the products of the same ancestors at different times and locations. Located on two isolated continents, they explored different developmental paths to create brilliant civilizations that were both similar yet splendid in their own unique ways," Li Xinwei, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ancient History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in the documentary.

The first episode of the documentary focuses on the emergence and early development of the Sanxingdui and Maya civilizations, exploring the historical context behind their establishment, the implications of urbanization as a milestone in human development, architectural styles, and the social cohesion fostered by these early urban centers.

The second and third episodes concentrate on the spiritual aspects of both civilizations, particularly their reverence for deities, their understanding of nature and their corresponding behaviors. Both the Sanxingdui and Maya civilizations exhibited a deep respect for deities and created dedicated spaces and objects for performing sacrificial ceremonies.

Evidence of this can be seen in the Mayan remains, including a submerged cave that was likely once used as a tunnel for communication with deities. In the case of Sanxingdui, bronze vessels featuring religious motifs have been uncovered, suggesting similar spiritual practices.

Throughout the series, numerous comparisonsincluding artifacts, maps, and images from archaeological siteswere presented as compelling evidence of similarities between the two civilizations. Several details were examined in depth, especially in the second episode. Scholars concluded that some sacrificial artifacts from Sanxingdui and the Mayans exhibited strikingly similar shapes that were not found in any other bronze civilizations in China, further supporting the notion of a shared spiritual understanding.

Li suggested that the similar geological locations of the two civilizations offer a breakthrough idea for studying the commonalities between both, specifically in their agricultural practices. Both civilizations may have engaged in planting, cultivating and harvesting according to the phases of the moon, a practice commonly found among agriculture-based societies that observe astrological signs.

"The Sanxingdui civilization and the Maya civilization, both located near the Tropic of Cancer, once gazed upon the same starry sky. Both attempted to communicate with the cosmos, hoping to coexist harmoniously with nature," said Marco Antonio Santos, Director of the Chichen Itza archaeological site in Mexico, in the documentary.

While the two ancient societies did share some similarities in their spiritual beliefs and practices, they also exhibited subtle differences in their concepts and behaviors, as demonstrated by archaeological finds.

The documentary highlights these differences by contrasting two distinct sacrificial practices. From the renowned Mayan ball courts, often found in urban centers and ceremonial settings, where human bones were found, indicative of human sacrifices, the camera shifted to bronze artifacts from Sanxingdui, which are human-shaped vessels believed to have been used as stand-ins for live sacrifices. This juxtaposition emphasizes the similar desire to appease deitiesthrough different approaches.

In addition to comparing the similarities between both civilizations and delving into the broader implications of people's ideas and behaviors, the series also tells modern stories of cultural connections.

"I think it's important to study the intersections that may have existed among ancient civilizations. They exhibited very similar behaviors. I believe this can help us better understand who we are, where we are and where we are going," Guillermo de Anda, an archaeologist and expert on Mayan caves, said in the documentary.

Comments to [email protected]

SOURCE Beijing Review
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bond by Solana Labs , a web3 platform designed to elevate customer engagement for brands, is partnering with leading spirits marketplace Baxus and molecular identity pioneer Iridia to introduce a groundbreaking authentication technology that combines blockchain and molecular science to combat counterfeiting in the global spirits industry.

The first bottling to debut the new technology is a 20 year old Kentucky bourbon by Oakley Spirits. Bond x BAXUS x Iridia

The Bond loyalty tech stack provides blockchain-based authentication as a core feature, and this partnership introduces an innovative onchain molecular authentication system for spirits. Using Iridia tech, irreplicable digital molecular signatures are embedded into spirit bottles. Each spirit is tokenized via Bond as a unique NFT that permanently records and verifies its origin, age, and distillery details on the Solana blockchain. This dual-layered approach provides an unprecedented level of security and transparency in spirits authentication.

"Our technology creates a fail-proof connection between a spirit's digital and physical identities, enhancing product authenticity and trust," explains Buck Watia, Head of Product at Iridia. "The Solana blockchain offers the ideal architecture with unmatched cost performance and scalability for these applications. Bond perfectly aligns with our mission to seamlessly integrate identity into physical products, unlocking a world where premium products inherently demonstrate their authenticity and scarcity."

The first bottling to use the technology  a barrel proof 20 year old Kentucky bourbon by Oakley Spirits, an independent bottler specializing in rare, luxury whiskey  debuted at a live event in New York City on December 6. The first 20 bottles will reach the marketplace via an exclusive drop on Baxus on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

"Introducing web3 to the spirits industry is about making the market safer and more transparent so collectors and consumers alike can trust what they're buying is the real deal," explains Tal Tchwella, Head of Product at Solana Labs. "It also allows brands to foster direct relationships with consumers, enabling a new primitive for loyalty."

Tzvi Wiesel, CEO of Baxus, emphasizes the transformative potential of this partnership: "By weaving together blockchain and molecular technologies, we're doing more than just protecting our users from fraud and counterfeiting. We're empowering spirits producers to defend their brands too. It's about revolutionizing how trust and transparency are built across the spirits industry, benefiting everyone from the distiller to the end consumer."

By using Bond's web3 loyalty stack, brands across industries can reimagine customer engagement by leveraging onchain features to create more personalized, transparent, and rewarding experiences that help turn transactions into relationships.

For more information about Bond by Solana Labs, visit bond.solanalabs.com

About Solana Labs

Solana Labs is a technology company, a developer of Web3 projects, a creator of open-source software, and the builder of Solana Mobile, bringing blockchain to mobile devices. For more information, please visit Solanalabs.com .

About Baxus

BAXUS is a global marketplace for the world's most collectible spirits that leverages blockchain tech to offer collectors and institutions a secure way to trade wine and spirits. For more information, please visit Baxus.co .

About Iridia

Iridia is at the forefront of molecular technology, creating solutions that integrate web3 data with physical products to ensure unparalleled authenticity and security. For more information, please visit Iridia.com

Media Contact

press@solana.com

SOURCE Solana Labs
Globally, only half of the Women get treatment for the Rh disease and may be linked to the deaths of more than 1,00,000 foetuses and newborns worldwide*

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rh factor (Rhesus factor) is a red blood cell surface antigen also known as Rh disease, is a condition that occurs when a woman with Rh-negative blood type is exposed to Rh-positive blood cells, leading to the development of Rh antibodies. Rh incompatibility can occur in 2 ways. The most common type occurs when a Rh-negative pregnant mother is exposed to Rh-positive fetal red blood cells secondary to fetomaternal haemorrhage during pregnancy from spontaneous or induced abortion, trauma, invasive obstetric procedures, or normal delivery.

Experts raising awareness on HDFN

A treatment developed over 50 years ago to prevent Rh diseasean often-fatal condition in foetuses and newbornsonly reaches half of the women in the world who need it, according to a study led by researchers at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) at Columbia University Irving Medical Centre*. Leading doctors appreciated the impact and effectiveness of this treatment but are concerned about its access and reach.

"This treatment is the standard of care for preventing Rh disease, but we recognize that there remain significant obstacles to expanding access to this lifesaving therapy around the world," says Spitalnik, who has been working with an international team of physicians to increase access to therapy with Rh(D) immunoglobulin around the world. *

Improved access which currently is a challenge, could change the outcomes dramatically, saving lives. Hence there is an utmost need to highlight the role of antenatal care and its crucial role in prevention of Rh diseases across African region.

So, what is the problem and Role of Antenatal care and Collaborative strategies from KOGS and govt institution/insurance organisation for supporting Rh disease prevention in Kenya?

"According to our research in Kenya, the prevalence of Rhesus negativity among pregnant women is significantly higher than previously believed and varies by county. The range is between 6-10%, inconsistent with prior reports that claimed an average of 4%. This suggests that the need for treatment is likely to increase and the government must put policies in place to meet this demand" said Dr. Moses Obimbo, a Professor at the University of Nairobi and KOGS Hon Secretary.

According to KOGS, Rhesus isoimmunization : an underappreciated reproductive risk, article published in JOGECA 2023, there has been a contentious suggestion for the universal prophylactic use of anti-D immunoglobulin in all pregnancies, including those following termination or ectopic pregnancies. Despite being preventable, Rhesus disease was identified as one of the roadblocks to achieving maternal universal health coverage. The team recommended all stakeholders to facilitate access to anti-D immunoglobulin and screening tools for widespread screening and treatment.^

Such measures would go a long way in prevention of Rh disease. The first step in creating awareness though is also the simple knowledge of one's own blood groups and Rh testing.

Knowing your Rh status reduces these risks dramatically

Rh sensitization is evaluated by a blood test known as indirect Coombs' test. This test can assess presence of cell-destroying antibodies and alert the doctor to take appropriate treatment. Effects of Rh incompatibility can be prevented by getting an injection of RhIg (Rh immunoglobulin,) during the first course of pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, while having any bleeding during pregnancy or within 72 hours of delivery.

Importance of Blood group testing in pregnant women

"Uganda has made significant strides in the reduction of maternal mortality from haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. However, we should not forget the morbidity and suffering caused by Rhesus incompatibilities during all trimesters of pregnancy and after childbirth. Make Blood group/Rhesus testing an indicator of quality of care at all levels offering care to women" said Dr. Othiniel Musana, Member Senior Leader Team National Safe Motherhood Expert Committee (NASMEC), President of Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Uganda (AOGU) 2021-2023.

How is Rh incompatibility managed?

If a Rh-negative woman is pregnant and has given birth to a Rh-positive child in the past, the doctor can test for Rh positive antibodies in her blood, and even take a sample of amniotic fluid to check for bilirubin levels in the fetus (amniocentesis). It is possible to take a sample of fetal blood from the umbilical cord as well.

Once diagnosed, depending on the severity of the disease, the fetus may either require single or multiple intrauterine blood transfusions or it may have to be delivered early to manage complications.

Haemolytic disease of the newborn is a devastating disease for babies and their families and is a huge challenge to handle. But it does not have to be. Being forewarned is being forearmed and awareness of this condition can go a long way in saving lives

Collaborative strategies from AGOTA with govt institution/insurance organisation for supporting Rh disease prevention.

"The association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Tanzania (AGOTA) has worked very closely with the Government and other health concerned stakeholders like BSV in preparing guidelines, mentoring and evaluating of all issues pertaining to maternal newborn and child health including Rh incompatibility. The awareness of antenatal care in Tanzania is of paramount with the aim of solving the existing challenges of provision of antenatal care services focusing on improving maternal and perinatal outcome. The Government of Tanzania priority is to insure universal, quality, comprehensive and equitable health services to all of its citizens, with much emphasis on improving health status of women and children" said Dr. Matilda Ngarina - AGOTA President.

*Source : https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/globally-only-half-women-get-treatmentpreventable-killer-newborns

^ Obimbo, M., & Omanwa, K. (2023). Rhesus isoimmunization: An underappreciated reproductive risk. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Eastern and Central Africa, 35(2), 74. https://doi.org/10.59692/jogeca.v35i2.36

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2577870/BSV_Experts.jpg

SOURCE BSV
Pet Toxicology Experts Warn Humans of Potential Dangers

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Have you noticed that some of your pet's medications appear to be the same as human medications, but a few are less expensive? It's not your imagination, and it may have you asking, "Can I take my pet's medication?"

"Combined, we are a total solution provider for human and animal product safety." Post this Human and pet medications can seem similar, but mixing them up can have dangerous consequences.

The price of prescription drugs in the U.S. is significantly higher, sometimes two to four times, compared with prices in other high-income industrialized countries. As a result, many people travel to Mexico or Canada in search of lower prices, but some may consider sharing their pet's prescription to save money. Despite the tempting cost savings, the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline strongly urge against it and here's why.

"According to a recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine, some of your dog's drugs may be less expensive than your own similar medication," said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline. "While that may make you consider switching to your pet's drugs, there are many factors that make that very dangerous. For example, veterinary-specific medication is often not studied in humans and dosing, metabolism, elimination and other factors can be very different between animals and humans, creating potentially negative outcomes."

There are also often significant differences between the medications that are prescribed to humans versus animals. They may have the same or similar-sounding name, but the dosage differences can be an issue.

"One of the most common types of pain relief medications are NSAIDs, which are prescribed to both humans and pets," Dr. Schmid explained. "One potential problem is that taking your pet's NSAID pain medication can interfere with your own pain medication regimen. Another concern is that pet NSAID medications are developed based on the unique needs of animals and studied for safety extensively in the intended species, so the safety for humans may be very different. Humans and pets can have different reactions to the same substance. For example, think about how healthy grapes and raisins are for human consumption. However, if ingested by your pet, these foods can cause kidney failure."

Medication that targets specific organs can also be very different between humans and animals.

"There are significant dosing/strength differences in thyroid medication between dogs and humans," Dr. Schmid added. "If a human were to take their pet's medication for hypothyroidism, they would likely ingest an amount high enough to cause elevated thyroid hormone levels and potential life-threatening hyperthyroidism. There can also be dangerous effects from heart medication when it isn't prescribed to you and your specific situation. Medication developed for the treatment of certain heart conditions in pets may be ineffective or cause serious side effects if humans were to take the same medication and dosing."

Pet Poison Helpline is in a unique situation regarding potential toxins that involve both humans and animals. It is owned by SafetyCall International, a recognized leader in human and animal adverse event reporting and regulatory compliance services.

"Because we are part of SafetyCall, we have a unique collaborative environment where human and animal health experts can consult with each other using our proprietary database of hundreds of thousands of products," Dr. Schmid added. "Combined, we are a total solution provider for human and animal product safety."

"Although we've been discussing humans taking pet medications intentionally, it can also be easy to mix up medications," Dr. Schmid warned. "We see a lot of cases each year of pet owners accidentally giving their medications to their pets. To avoid a potential poisoning, keep your medications in a separate location from your pet's medications, and make sure all medications are out of reach of pets and children."

"There have also been recent news reports suggesting it is safe to administer certain human over-the-counter medications to pets, such as aspirin and Pepto-Bismol," Dr. Schmid warned. "Many over-the-counter human medications that may have been used routinely in the past have been replace with safer products that were developed to provide better efficacy and fewer negative effects in animals. Also, dosing amounts vary dramatically depending on the size and age of the pet. We strongly discourage giving your pets any medications or supplements that weren't prescribed by a veterinary professional."

Pet Poison Helpline created Toxin Tails to educate the veterinary community and pet lovers on the many types of poisoning dangers facing pets, both in and out of the home. All the pets highlighted in Toxin Tails have been successfully treated for the poisoning and fully recovered.

About Pet Poison Helpline

Pet Poison Helpline, your trusted source for toxicology and pet health advice in times of potential emergency, is available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Per incident and subscription service options are available. We are an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center triple licensed by the Boards of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy providing unmatched professional leadership and expertise. Our veterinarians and board-certified toxicologists provide treatment advice for all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline's fee of $85 per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case. The company also offers pethelpline(SM) and pethelplinePRO(SM) subscription services directly to pet lovers. Based in Minneapolis, Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Contact: Curtis Steinhoff

Pet Poison Helpline

(602) 300-8466

[email protected]

SOURCE Pet Poison Helpline
Canada Nickel's CEO Mark Selby said, "Today we announce another set of excellent results from our 2024 regional exploration program from three separate targets as we continue to unlock the potential of the Timmins Nickel District. Today's results confirm the significance of the discovery of Mann West with strong mineralization across a strike length of 1.7 kilometres long by 0.6 kilometres wide, and remaining open in multiple direction. The Company also confirms a prospective new discovery at Mann South while providing further positive results at Mann Central. We look forward to publishing six additional resources, in addition to Crawford and Deloro, from now through the first half of 2025, clearly demonstrating the scale of the nickel sulphide potential of the Timmins Nickel District."

Mann Property

The Mann property is located 22 kilometres east of Crawford between Timmins and Cochrane and is 80% owned by Canada Nickel and 20% by Noble Mineral Exploration. The Company has completed a drill program on four separate targets within the property in 2024, Mann North, Mann West (together formerly Mann Northwest), Mann Central and Mann South. (Figure 1). This release provides an assay update from 31 holes, 16 holes at Mann West, 11 holes at Mann South, and four holes at Mann Central.

Mann West

Mann West is approximately 3.5 kilometres long by up to 1.1 kilometres wide (covering 3.4 square kilometres). The drill program completed focused on the southern half of the target with drilling completed over a strike length of 1.7 kilometres and a width of at least 600 metres. All drillholes intersected long sections of well-serpentinized peridotite and minor dunite with disseminated and visible nickel sulphide mineralization consisting primarily of pentlandite and heazlewoodite. The Company has drilled a total of 39 holes to date at Mann West (Figure 2), with 31 holes drilled during the 2024 program. With this drilling, the Company has completed the first phase of exploration that is required for an initial resource estimate, expected in the first quarter of 2025. Assays from 16 additional holes are presented in this release.

Table 1  Drilling highlights Mann Properties

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m)* Ni % Co % Pd g/t Pt g/t Cr % Fe % S % Mann West MAN24-42 9.0 345.2 336.2 0.24 0.012 0.004 0.007 0.20 6.40 0.068 and 371.7 402.0 30.3 0.19 0.010 0.003 0.005 0.38 6.82 0.053 MAN24-61 17.8 374.3 356.5 0.28 0.012 0.033 0.017 0.26 5.98 0.133 including 75.0 112.5 37.5 0.52 0.013 0.107 0.058 0.14 5.80 0.203 MAN24-70 18.0 501.0 483.0 0.24 0.011 0.007 0.008 0.27 6.12 0.067 including 144.0 172.5 28.5 0.29 0.011 0.007 0.007 0.14 5.52 0.076 MAN24-73 74.2 500.4 426.2 0.25 0.012 0.009 0.009 0.25 6.30 0.061 MAN24-74 7.9 278.5 270.6 0.19 0.014 0.027 0.016 0.40 7.40 0.057 including 25.5 31.5 6.0 0.31 0.013 0.028 0.013 0.82 6.67 0.125 and 318.0 402.0 84.0 0.24 0.013 0.003 0.005 0.16 7.45 0.026 MAN24-76 12.6 495.0 482.4 0.26 0.011 0.011 0.010 0.16 5.95 0.042 including 81.0 117.0 36.0 0.29 0.012 0.036 0.014 0.16 6.11 0.089 and 162.0 196.5 34.5 0.31 0.011 0.010 0.012 0.13 5.24 0.024 MAN24-78 19.4 402.0 382.6 0.24 0.013 0.012 0.010 0.38 6.54 0.053 including 261.0 294.0 33.0 0.30 0.013 0.031 0.021 0.52 6.67 0.100 including 274.5 282.0 7.5 0.41 0.015 0.057 0.027 0.72 6.95 0.178 MAN24-82 22.0 481.5 459.5 0.21 0.012 0.017 0.016 0.37 6.76 0.047 including 61.5 360.0 298.5 0.25 0.012 0.019 0.013 0.35 6.17 0.050 including 255.0 277.5 22.5 0.30 0.013 0.025 0.014 0.58 5.91 0.069 MAN24-83 6.0 403.0 397.0 0.21 0.013 0.016 0.011 0.58 7.43 0.087 including 144.0 195.9 51.9 0.27 0.014 0.030 0.024 0.68 7.87 0.064 and 305.5 336.0 30.5 0.27 0.013 0.019 0.009 0.60 6.30 0.080 MAN24-85 69.0 493.0 424.0 0.25 0.012 0.012 0.008 0.26 6.25 0.042 MAN24-86 14.2 462.0 447.8 0.23 0.012 0.006 0.006 0.41 6.33 0.027 MAN24-89 99.0 191.2 92.2 0.22 0.012 0.013 0.009 0.47 6.71 0.042 and 210.6 428.9 218.3 0.24 0.012 0.009 0.008 0.35 6.31 0.053 including 386.0 395.0 9.0 0.35 0.013 0.054 0.020 0.75 6.45 0.120 MAN24-92 27.4 426.9 399.5 0.25 0.012 0.016 0.008 0.39 6.27 0.046 including 267.0 286.5 19.5 0.34 0.015 0.083 0.034 0.66 6.57 0.114 and 324.0 349.5 25.5 0.30 0.012 0.037 0.015 0.57 6.29 0.125 and 433.6 501.0 67.4 0.20 0.013 0.013 0.021 0.50 7.35 0.047 MAN24-93 18.0 391.0 373.0 0.24 0.012 0.009 0.007 0.34 6.43 0.039 and 406.8 470.0 63.2 0.16 0.011 0.005 0.004 0.36 7.34 0.031 MAN24-94 102.0 501.0 399.0 0.24 0.012 0.012 0.009 0.39 6.50 0.039 including 400.5 415.5 15.0 0.30 0.011 0.044 0.021 0.57 6.57 0.083 MAN24-97 18.0 360.0 342.0 0.21 0.013 0.015 0.009 0.37 6.63 0.053 and 406.5 501.0 94.5 0.23 0.012 0.003 0.003 0.39 7.10 0.021

*True width undetermined. All lengths are drillhole lengths.

Mann South

This target is approximately 5.9 kilometres long by up to 1.2 kilometres wide, having an arcuate and irregular shape, with an overall area of 4.1 square kilometres. The Company's drill program at Mann South started in August 2024 consisting of 20 drillholes, all of which intersected serpentinized peridotite and dunite. Assay results for 11 drillholes are provided in this release with nine drillhole assay results still pending. Mineralogical analyses are underway to help identify and prioritize the best areas, although almost half of the strike length of the target remains untested (Figure 3).

Table 2  Mann South drilling Highlights

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m)* Ni % Co % Pd g/t Pt g/t Cr % Fe % S % Mann South MAN24-66 39.0 139.5 100.5 0.23 0.013 0.003 0.003 0.29 8.03 0.070 and 187.5 402.0 214.5 0.18 0.013 0.003 0.004 0.43 6.61 0.019 MAN24-72 54.5 501.0 446.5 0.20 0.013 0.005 0.006 0.43 6.80 0.019 MAN24-75 16.9 420.0 403.1 0.24 0.010 0.018 0.006 0.30 7.92 0.051 MAN24-77 39.0 46.0 7.0 0.44 0.017 0.051 0.126 0.57 9.28 0.036 and 60.0 448.5 388.5 0.14 0.014 0.019 0.013 0.41 6.96 0.016 MAN24-81 44.3 552.0 507.7 0.24 0.011 0.003 0.003 0.38 7.55 0.056 MAN24-84 28.4 501.0 472.6 0.24 0.011 0.003 0.003 0.42 7.70 0.057 MAN24-90 49.3 501.0 451.7 0.23 0.012 0.004 0.005 0.37 6.33 0.015 MAN24-91 49.0 323.3 274.3 0.17 0.013 0.004 0.004 0.44 6.93 0.043 and 338.7 483.0 144.3 0.22 0.012 0.003 0.003 0.37 6.13 0.021 MAN24-99 51.3 402.0 350.7 0.17 0.013 0.004 0.012 0.46 6.60 0.011 MAN24-100C 21.0 112.4 91.4 0.16 0.014 0.036 0.096 0.37 7.46 0.010 and 131.0 172.0 41.0 0.22 0.012 0.010 0.010 0.61 5.69 0.031 and 340.5 378.4 37.9 0.19 0.013 0.005 0.003 0.56 6.52 0.027 MAN24-103 34.0 402.0 368 0.24 0.012 0.027 0.003 0.36 7.67 0.016

*True width undetermined. All lengths are drillhole lengths.

Mann Central

The outline of the ultramafic body at Mann Central is estimated by magnetics to be 4.5 kilometres long and between 0.5 to 1.0 kilometres wide (or 3.1 square kilometres). Drilling at this target was completed during the spring/summer of 2024 and now totals 32 drillholes, 27 of which were drilled during the 2024 program. Mineralization is more consistent near the center of the target over an area of 1.9 kilometres by 600 metres (1.1 square kilometres). This release provides an update for four drillholes (Table 3), all of which intersected peridotite.

Anomalous platinum group metals (PGM) consisting of platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) were identified in several holes, predominantly within pyroxenite units near the peridotite contacts on all properties (Table 4).

Table 3  Mann Central drilling Highlights

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m)* Ni % Co % Pd g/t Pt g/t Cr % Fe % S % Mann Central MAN24-41 111.9 153.0 41.1 0.18 0.012 0.004 0.005 0.52 7.42 0.096 MAN24-48 75.0 402.0 327.0 0.21 0.011 0.005 0.006 0.29 6.58 0.084 including 148.5 157.5 9.0 0.35 0.015 0.019 0.008 0.14 8.73 0.199 MAN24-64 14.3 48.5 34.2 0.22 0.012 0.005 0.008 0.18 6.66 0.584 and 55.8 334.9 279.1 0.19 0.012 0.014 0.017 0.40 7.00 0.053 MAN24-68 366.0 406.0 40.0 0.24 0.012 0.003 0.006 0.15 8.77 0.028

*True width undetermined. All lengths are drillhole lengths.

Table 4  Mann Properties PGM Highlights

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Pt+Pd (g/t) Pd g/t) Pt (g/t) Ni (%) Co (%) Cr (%) Fe (%) S (%) Mann West MAN24-74 278.5 309.0 30.5 0.48 0.28 0.20 0.037 0.007 0.394 5.763 0.011 MAN24-82 481.5 501.0 19.5 0.52 0.28 0.24 0.024 0.007 0.324 5.919 0.014 MAN24-97 378.5 400.5 22 0.40 0.23 0.17 0.040 0.008 0.360 5.179 0.018 Mann South MAN24-66 160.0 180.7 20.7 0.49 0.33 0.16 0.026 0.005 0.362 3.957 0.017 MAN24-72 44.0 54.5 10.5 0.37 0.12 0.24 0.037 0.009 0.313 5.849 0.011 MAN24-77 37.0 60.0 23 0.55 0.16 0.39 0.216 0.012 0.409 6.386 0.016 and 444.0 457.5 13.5 0.34 0.10 0.24 0.098 0.013 0.596 6.776 0.015 and 492.0 529.5 37.5 0.35 0.14 0.21 0.055 0.008 0.499 5.450 0.008 MAN24-100C 75.0 91.5 16.5 0.53 0.11 0.42 0.131 0.013 0.314 6.600 0.011 and 112.4 131.0 18.6 0.82 0.31 0.51 0.064 0.009 0.474 5.288 0.006 and 172.0 196.5 24.5 0.77 0.32 0.46 0.048 0.009 0.518 5.375 0.007 Mann Central MAN24-64 334.9 351.5 16.6 0.52 0.33 0.19 0.043 0.008 0.371 5.291 0.019

Table 5: Drillhole Orientation

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) MANN WEST MAN24-42 496024 5411983 35 -50 402 MAN24-61 496859 5412156 215 -50 402 MAN24-70 496492 5412296 215 -50 501 MAN24-73 496604 5412445 215 -50 500 MAN24-74 495656 5412189 215 -85 402 MAN24-76 496560 5412057 215 -50 495 MAN24-78 495969 5412226 215 -85 402 MAN24-82 495980 5412379 215 -50 501 MAN24-83 496980 5412318 215 -50 450 MAN24-85 496493 5412451 215 -50 493 MAN24-86 496442 5411894 215 -50 489 MAN24-89 496297 5412494 215 -50 495 MAN24-92 496177 5412332 215 -50 501 MAN24-93 496373 5412289 215 -50 471 MAN24-94 496098 5412537 215 -50 501 MAN24-97 495765 5412456 220 -50 501 MANN SOUTH MAN24-66 503460 5408195 35 -50 402 MAN24-72 503650 5408420 35 -50 501 MAN24-75 502081 5405730 55 -50 420 MAN24-77 502345 5405431 50 -50 540 MAN24-81 503460 5408195 220 -50 552 MAN24-84 502406 5408781 35 -50 501 MAN24-90 503140 5409045 35 -50 501 MAN24-91 503358 5408852 35 -50 483 MAN24-99 502349 5405667 55 -50 402 MAN24-100C 502169 5405546 55 -50 378 MAN24-103 501960 5405890 55 -50 402 MANN CENTRAL MAN24-41 498466 5410751 145 -55 153 MAN24-48 498066 5410676 180 -50 402 MAN24-64 498058 5410435 180 -50 406 MAN24-68 497871 5410435 180 -50 402

Statement Regarding TSX Venture

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.

Quality Assurance and Control, Drilling and Assaying

Edwin Escarraga, MSc, P.Geo., a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, is responsible for the on-going drilling and sampling program, including quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC). The core is collected from the drill in sealed core trays and transported to the core logging facility. The core is marked and sampled at 1.5 metre lengths and cut with a diamond blade saw. One set of samples is transported in secured bags directly from the Canada Nickel core shack to Actlabs Timmins, while a second set of samples is securely shipped to SGS Lakefield for preparation, with analysis performed at SGS Burnaby. All are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labs. Analysis for precious metals (gold, platinum and palladium) are completed by Fire Assay while analysis for nickel, cobalt, sulphur and other elements are performed using a peroxide fusion and ICP-OES analysis. Certified standards and blanks are inserted at a rate of 3 QA/QC samples per 20 core samples making a batch of 60 samples that are submitted for analysis.

Qualified Person and Data Verification

Stephen J. Balch P.Geo. (ON), VP Exploration of Canada Nickel and a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has verified the data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release on behalf of Canada Nickel Company Inc.

About Canada Nickel Company

Canada Nickel Company Inc. is advancing the next generation of nickel-sulphide projects to deliver nickel required to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. Canada Nickel Company has applied in multiple jurisdictions to trademark the terms NetZero NickelTM, NetZero CobaltTM, NetZero IronTM and is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net zero carbon nickel, cobalt, and iron products. Canada Nickel provides investors with leverage to nickel in low political risk jurisdictions. Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its 100% owned flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp. For more information, please visit www.canadanickel.com.

For further information, please contact:

Mark Selby

CEO

Phone: 647-256-1954

Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, drill and exploration results relating to the target properties described herein (the "Properties"), the significance of drill results, the ability to continue drilling, the impact of drilling on the definition of any resource, the potential of the Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project and the Properties, timing and completion (if at all) of mineral resource estimates, the ability to sell marketable materials, strategic plans, including future exploration and development plans and results, and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon several assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals, the future demand for metals, the results of drilling, inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property, environmental liabilities (known and unknown), general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, results of exploration programs, risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. 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 information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Canada Nickel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Canada Nickel Company Inc.

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Research spending at Carolina has topped $1.55 billion, fueling the state's economy, powering new discoveries, driving innovation, and creating a better quality of life for people in North Carolina and beyond. This is the eighth year in a row the University's research activity totaled over $1 billion, and research expenditures increased across all of Carolina's funding sources.

"This achievement translates to greater impact for our state, from providing tailored health care treatments, to improving our understanding of the environment to building more resilient communities," says Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. "The growth of our research enterprise and the expertise of our faculty means that Carolina will continue solving our most critical challenges."

These rankings are released each year by the National Science Foundation's Higher Education and Research Development Survey, which collects information on R&D expenditures by field of study and source of funds. The survey evaluates over 900 institutions and provides the main source of data on R&D expenditures by U.S. higher education institutions.

Here's a look at some key facts and figures for Carolina:

7 th largest public research university

largest research university 9 th largest overall research university (up from 12 th )

largest research university (up from 12 ) $1.55 billion in annual research activity (up from $1.36 billion )

in annual research activity (up from ) 34 th for industry-sponsored R&D among U.S. private and public institutions (up from 36 th )

for industry-sponsored R&D among U.S. private and public institutions (up from 36 ) 5 th for health sciences research (up from 7 th )

for health sciences research (up from 7 ) 3rd for social sciences research (up from 4th)

Among all ranked universities, 16 of the top 30 were public, a clear indication of the impact that state schools have on the economy, health, and safety of their communities. UNC-Chapel Hill is now the top institution in the state in research activity, exemplifying the University's values of serving North Carolina with unwavering commitment to being one of the world's great research institutions. This research activity provides tangible support for students and equips them with life-changing experiences that increase their competitiveness for jobs and enrich North Carolina's workforce.

"This significant milestone is a testament to the power of Carolina's research enterprise," says Vice Chancellor for Research Penny Gordon-Larsen. "We are not only advancing knowledge but also improving lives, driving innovation, and strengthening our economy. Breaking back into the top ten of all U.S. institutions is a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of our faculty, staff, and students."

A look behind the numbers

Carolina's excellence in specific research areas propelled its growth in expenditures by $190 million in the latest fiscal year. The following are examples of projects that solve critical challenges to better the health and well-being of people, communities, and environments.

Preventing and curing diseases

Lindsey James explores medicinal chemistry and epigenetics with the goal of making strides in cancer care and treatment. She and her team develop small-molecule tools that could be useful against an array of cancers. James' translational research bridges the gap between promising early-stage science and the development of products and services that benefit society.

In collaboration with scientists and clinicians, Wubin Bai specializes in combining artificial and biological materials to create next-generation medical devices needed by the health care field, from robots that mimic human skin to a wearable patch for wireless drug delivery to a device that can communicate with 3D cell structures called organoids.

Environment, water, and energy

Jingsong Huang is collaborating with NC State University to boost North Carolina's energy production and reduce dependence on out-of-state fossil fuels. In his lab, scientists and engineers are focused on making solar cells more affordable, longer lasting, and more effective at converting sunlight to electricity by using a material called perovskite.

In a partnership with the Audubon of North Carolina, researchers from the Carolina Drone Lab use aerial imagery to assess marsh health in the Outer Banks. This past summer, the collaborative research unit within the UNC Institute for the Environment visited four marsh sites along the Currituck Sound as part of a study on the applications of drone technologies for coastal resilience to ensure the safety of Carolina's coastline.

Brain, behavior, and well-being

In the first university-wide cluster hire program led by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Carolina will hire up to four researchers to build a new cross-disciplinary team that expands our capacity to develop substance use disorder (SUD) resources. The Catalyst Faculty Cluster Program will recruit a group of researchers with complementary expertise in behavioral science, clinical research, and neuroengineering to create a cutting-edge approach to understanding and treating SUD.

Researchers in the Winston National Center on Technology Use, Brain, and Psychological Development are conducting groundbreaking research that links social media habits to brain changes, while also providing career training and public awareness. The center has created videos, a middle-school curriculum, and other resources for people to learn about how digital media can affect children and adolescents.

Healthy and resilient communities

Jason Surratt, in collaboration with Barbara Turpin, have developed a new method for measuring PFAS in real-time and directly from the air to more effectively monitor and regulate PFAS pollution. This technology can significantly improve public health and environmental protection across our state, especially in areas with industrial sites.

Nabarun Dasgupta  recognized by TIME100 Next for his work responding to the national opioid overdose epidemic  is easing access to naloxone and testing street drugs. He collaborates with community partners and a multidisciplinary team of scientists with backgrounds in health communication, public health, medicine, and chemistry to develop novel approaches to understanding and addressing health problems arising from opioid use.

Shaping the future

Research plays a critical role in the educational experience for Tar Heels. Every Carolina undergraduate student is required to take at least one Research and Discovery course. These courses provide students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a research project, learning new skills as they produce original scholarship or creative work.

There are currently more than 1,000 undergraduate students employed in labs across our campus. One example is Lilly Nekervis. After joining the Interactive Robotics and Novel Technologies Lab, she embarked on a research project to transform the lab's robot into a guide dog for individuals with visual impairments.

Nekervis and her lab were one of more than 25 projects showcased at the first annual Research & Discovery Fair during the 2024 University Research Week, which more than 600 undergraduates attended. Students saw what research looks like in action, talked to lead investigators, and signed up to participate in labs and studies.

In the 2023-24 academic year, 12 graduate students won Impact Awards honoring discoveries that contribute to a better future for North Carolinians. More than 300 received external funding awards to fuel their research and creative scholarship, like Mark Ciesielski, who is working to restore North Carolina's oyster communities by exploring the driving factors that may be leading to their demise.

With 32 Carolina faculty named in Clarivate's 2024 list of highly cited researchers in the world, our faculty continue to demonstrate their significant and broad influence in their fields of study. The significant accomplishments of Carolina's students and world-class scholars speak to the quality of the University's research enterprise and academic programs.

Moving forward, Carolina will continue building upon its excellence with a strategic plan to accelerate research growth. The University will leverage its existing strengths and strategically focus on enabling projects that have the greatest potential to drive impact, with a goal of $2 billion in research activity by 2034 to take on the world's biggest challenges, drive new breakthroughs, and benefit North Carolina and beyond.

UNC-Chapel Hill Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Office of Communications
Voted the Community's Favorite, Award-Winning Preschool Celebrates with Exclusive Tuition Offer & Exciting Holiday Events

BRISTOW, Va., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebree School of Bristow, a trusted leader in early childhood education that provides infant and toddler care, preschool, before and aftercare, and summer camp programs, has been voted "Best Preschool in Prince William County" in The Prince William Times' annual Readers' Choice Awards. This prestigious recognition reflects the school's unwavering dedication to nurturing young learners and creating a foundation for lifelong success.

"I couldn't be happier with our experience at Celebree School of Bristow," said Ashley, parent of three-year-old Zaria. Post this Celebree School Parent Shares First-Hand Positive Experience

Nearly 8,000 community members cast their votes, naming Celebree School of Bristow the "Best of the Best." To thank the families of Prince William County, the school is offering an exclusive 50% off the first month's tuition for new enrollments*.

A Local Family Making a Big Impact

Celebree School of Bristow is owned by Nasar Agna and Fariha Nadeem, a husband-and-wife team passionate about fostering a love of learning. Their journey with Celebree began as parents when they saw firsthand how their daughter thrived in its programs. Inspired by this experience, they chose to bring the "Celebree difference" to their community.

"As parents, we know the importance of finding a preschool that feels like a true partner in your child's development," said Fariha, an educated and proud mother of two. "At Celebree, we've built an environment where safety, trust, and nurturing care are the foundation of everything we do. We want families to know their children are growing, learning, and thriving every single day."

A Legacy of Excellence in Early Education

Celebree School of Bristow is part of the nationwide Celebree School franchise system, that spans 19 states and serves over 7,200 children weekly. With 55 schools currently open and more than 160 sites awarded, Celebree is known for its innovative curriculum and family-focused approach.

Programs are available for children six weeks to 12 years old with unique curriculums designed to develop positive social skills and values while allowing children to learn about their world through age-appropriate play, projects, and activities. Care is available part time or full time and parents are allowed to drop in and visit at any time.

"I couldn't be happier with our experience at Celebree School of Bristow. Zaria comes home excited to share what she's learned  she knows her alphabet, counts on her own, and even bursts into singing and dancing. She absolutely loves playing with the other kids, and it's clear she's thriving here," said Ashley, parent of three-year-old Zaria.

Celebrate the Holidays with Celebree

The school is excited to host two upcoming holiday events to bring families together this season:

Breakfast with Santa : Sunday, December 15 from 8 a.m.  11 a.m. ET at Celebree School of Bristow . Enjoy a delicious breakfast, photos with Santa and his elves, and festive activities for children of all ages.

: from  at Celebree School of . Enjoy a delicious breakfast, photos with Santa and his elves, and festive activities for children of all ages. Open House: Monday, January 6  10 from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. at Celebree School of Bristow . Meet Celebree's passionate teachers and staff, tour the state-of-the-art classrooms and playground, learn about the curriculum, and enjoy fun activities for kids and light refreshments for the whole family!

Both events are free and open to the public, offering a chance for families to experience the warm, welcoming atmosphere that has made Celebree School of Bristow a community favorite.

"While there have been previous preschool establishments in the area, we want our community to know that we are a local family, passionate about operating what we truly believe is an extraordinary business, one that reflects our dedication to being active and positive members of this community," added Agna.

Celebree School lives by its promise to Grow People Big and Small, and was founded on the belief that success in early childhood development is equal parts curriculum and a connection that extends beyond the classroom to address the needs of the whole child and the whole family. Each Celebree School is a village made up of parents, children, and educators while providing curriculum-based care that prepares your child for kindergarten and beyond.

Celebree School  Bristow is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m.  6:30 p.m. For more information on Celebree School in Bristow, please visit https://www.celebree.com/bristow-va/ or call (703) 794-2240.

About Celebree School

Founded in 1994, Celebree School is a leader in early childhood education that provides infant and toddler care, preschool, before and aftercare, and summer camp programs. With a mission to Grow People Big and Small, Celebree School believes success in early childhood development is equal parts curriculum and connection. Each school employs a customized program that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of children and follows applicable state guidelines. In 2019, Celebree School launched its franchise offering. In 2024, Celebree School's founder, Richard Huffman, launched a new parent company called Huffman Family Brands, merging Celebree affiliated concepts under one multi-brand company structure. Learn more about how we grow confident children who are prepared for school and life at Celebree.com. Connect with us on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn.

*Offer valid if child is enrolled by December 31, 2024.

SOURCE Celebree School
CHICAGO, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- May River Capital , a Chicago-based lower middle-market private equity firm, and its portfolio company, RLE Technologies, today announced the acquisition of NDSL Group Ltd., manufacturer of Cellwatch and leading battery monitoring and management solutions for data centers, utilities, and telecom markets. The two companies will merge as a new platform company, Parameter .

Parameter represents the combined strengths of RLE Technologies and NDSL, with more than 70 years of collective experience providing process industry and facilities management professionals with real-time insights into mission critical operations. Parameter's advanced solutions sense, detect, monitor, analyze, and predict the quality, condition, and volume of liquids, gases, energy, and materials in their environments. Parameter serves end markets including data centers, utilities, critical infrastructure, and more.

Based in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, NDSL brings a 30-year history as a trusted supplier of the industry-leading Cellwatch line of products and services. NDSL's comprehensive monitoring solutions enable customers to most effectively manage their critical battery investments. Cellwatch products prevent outages, reduce costs, meet regulatory requirements, and offer the strongest durability and reliability in the industry.

Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, RLE Technologies brings a 40-year history as provider of facility environment monitoring, fluid leak detection, and airflow management products, helping facility operations professionals protect against failures that could lead to disruptions in mission critical environments.

Through a holistic approach to monitoring and management, Parameter's comprehensive portfolio of products protects the world's most valuable assets and makes the future of vital operations more predictable and manageable.

Dan Barlow, May River Capital Partner, noted: "We are excited to unite the deep teams and resources of NDSL and RLE under the Parameter banner. This merger strengthens our ability to best serve the critical infrastructure monitoring and detection needs of our customers."

"We are thrilled to be joining with RLE Technologies and rebranding as Parameter," said Earl Philmon, CEO of NDSL. "NDSL has been a trailblazer in battery asset management and monitoring, helping to prevent unplanned outages with innovative solutions. Our Cellwatch line complements RLE's products. The benefits of this union are significant, and I look forward to the growth opportunities ahead," Philmon added.

"With the support of May River, the strongest teams and the global leading technology companies in system monitoring for essential industries are brought together in Parameter. I am excited to partner with Earl and our team of experienced professionals to launch Parameter and to accelerate the advancement of future technologies and capabilities," said Mike Blazes, CEO of RLE Technologies and Parameter.

Mesirow Financial and Laytons LLP served as financial advisor and legal counsel to NDSL, respectively. Livingstone Partners LLC and Paul Hastings LLP served as financial advisor and legal counsel to May River Capital, respectively. Tree Line Capital Partners provided debt financing in support of the acquisition.

About May River Capital

May River Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on investing in lower middle-market, industrial growth companies. May River Capital invests in high-quality industrial growth businesses, including precision manufacturing, engineered products and instrumentation, specialized industrial services, and value-added industrial distribution services. For more information, please visit www.mayrivercapital.com .

About Parameter

Parameter is a new May River Capital platform company formed by the merger of RLE Technologies and NDSL. Parameter empowers process and facility management industries with real-time insights into mission critical operations. Parameter's advanced solutions sense, detect, monitor, analyze, and predict the quality, condition, and volume of liquids, gases, energy, and materials in their environments. By transforming complex data inputs into actionable intelligence, Parameter makes the future of vital operations more predictable and manageable. Parameter has operations in Fort Collins, Colorado; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Milton Keynes, United Kingdom; and Shanghai, China. To learn more, please visit www.parameter-tech.com .

SOURCE May River Capital, LLC
Organizations join the ever-growing cloud native ecosystem to drive innovation across industries and geographies

NEW DELHI, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KubeCon + CloudNativeCon India  December 11, 2024  The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, has announced that more than 26 new Silver CNCF members have joined this quarter, highlighting the sustained investments organizations are making as cloud native innovation accelerates.

"As cloud native technologies drive unprecedented global transformation, CNCF is expanding its reach with new KubeCon + CloudNativeCon events in India and Japan, and a partnership with Andela to cultivate engineering talent across Africa," said Priyanka Sharma, executive director of CNCF. "These efforts reflect our commitment to fostering an inclusive global community, empowering organizations to innovate at scale, and advancing the cloud native ecosystem across the world. We are appreciative of the support these new members will bring to our expansive community and look forward to collaborating as we move into 2025."

New and existing CNCF members are gathering this week in Delhi at the first-ever KubeCon + CloudNativeCon India . Joining the community at upcoming 2025 CNCF-hosted events, including KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe , April 1-4 in London, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon China , June 10-11 in Hong Kong, the inaugural KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Japan , June 16-17 in Tokyo, and more .

About the newest Silver Members:

Altinity helps enterprises run open source ClickHouse better.

helps enterprises run open source ClickHouse better. Armored Gate is a multi-national cybersecurity company dedicated to advancing responsible technology, like Armored Containers: The long-awaited production solution for single-layer, single-purpose, on-demand microservice containers that meet requirements of Zero Trust, NIST, ISO and other regulations.

is a multi-national cybersecurity company dedicated to advancing responsible technology, like Armored Containers: The long-awaited production solution for single-layer, single-purpose, on-demand microservice containers that meet requirements of Zero Trust, NIST, ISO and other regulations. Chelsio Communications is a leader in high-performance networking solutions, providing advanced offerings for storage, cloud, and data-intensive applications to accelerate cloud-native infrastructures.

is a leader in high-performance networking solutions, providing advanced offerings for storage, cloud, and data-intensive applications to accelerate cloud-native infrastructures. Depot is a hosted Docker image build service  build container images in the cloud, with managed persistent cache and native multi-architecture support.

is a hosted Docker image build service  build container images in the cloud, with managed persistent cache and native multi-architecture support. EITCO is a product-independent digitalization partner specializing in tailored IT solutions to optimize business processes, offering comprehensive services from strategy development to implementation, with over 45 years of experience in the IT sector.

is a product-independent digitalization partner specializing in tailored IT solutions to optimize business processes, offering comprehensive services from strategy development to implementation, with over 45 years of experience in the IT sector. Factory is an AI company, backed by Sequoia and Lux, bringing autonomy to software engineering.

is an AI company, backed by Sequoia and Lux, bringing autonomy to software engineering. Fr0ntierX secures tomorrow's enterprise, empowering businesses to innovate without limits

secures tomorrow's enterprise, empowering businesses to innovate without limits Frontier is a platform engineering company that focuses on building secure, resilient, and cost effective cloud and container platforms that enable clients to operate predictably and innovate safely. Automated, just as you'd expect.

is a platform engineering company that focuses on building secure, resilient, and cost effective cloud and container platforms that enable clients to operate predictably and innovate safely. Automated, just as you'd expect. Kapstan gives engineers a world-class developer experience to deploy and scale microservices, databases, and jobs in their own cloud account, without the usual infrastructure complexity. We provide an abstraction over Kubernetes to make it more accessible, while still providing full configurability.

gives engineers a world-class developer experience to deploy and scale microservices, databases, and jobs in their own cloud account, without the usual infrastructure complexity. We provide an abstraction over Kubernetes to make it more accessible, while still providing full configurability. Kiowy is specialized in Cloud Native practices. Since 2015, our cloud architects and SREs have been there to build your infrastructure, maintain your applications, and support you in your most innovative projects!

is specialized in Cloud Native practices. Since 2015, our cloud architects and SREs have been there to build your infrastructure, maintain your applications, and support you in your most innovative projects! Maven Solutions is a certified software solutions provider that helps organizations improve developer efficiency by using the platform engineering mindset to build and scale cloud-native applications with reliability and performance built-in.

is a certified software solutions provider that helps organizations improve developer efficiency by using the platform engineering mindset to build and scale cloud-native applications with reliability and performance built-in. Metoro : Total observability for Kubernetes in less than 5 minutes with eBPF.

: Total observability for Kubernetes in less than 5 minutes with eBPF. Move2Cloud is a company driven by passionate Cloud and DevOps specialists who assist clients in transitioning their projects to the cloud through customized consulting and migration management services.

is a company driven by passionate Cloud and DevOps specialists who assist clients in transitioning their projects to the cloud through customized consulting and migration management services. Nebius is a technology company building full-stack infrastructure to service the explosive growth of the global AI industry, including large-scale GPU clusters, cloud platforms, and tools and services for developers.

is a technology company building full-stack infrastructure to service the explosive growth of the global AI industry, including large-scale GPU clusters, cloud platforms, and tools and services for developers. nOps is an end-to-end and autonomous AWS Cost Optimization Platform that simplifies and automates the tracking, allocation, and optimization of cloud resources, commitments, and costs.

is an end-to-end and autonomous AWS Cost Optimization Platform that simplifies and automates the tracking, allocation, and optimization of cloud resources, commitments, and costs. NudgeBee provides AI-Agents and AI-Agentic Workflows helping SRE & Platform teams automate troubleshooting, optimize cluster costs, and perform ops activities autonomously.

provides AI-Agents and AI-Agentic Workflows helping SRE & Platform teams automate troubleshooting, optimize cluster costs, and perform ops activities autonomously. Oodle AI offers Enterprise-grade observability at the cost of Open Source. With dashboard-less debugging, engineering and devops teams can pinpoint problems radically faster at 1/10th the cost. All with a simple 1-Click migration.

offers Enterprise-grade observability at the cost of Open Source. With dashboard-less debugging, engineering and devops teams can pinpoint problems radically faster at 1/10th the cost. All with a simple 1-Click migration. Permify is an open source authorization system for creating and maintaining fine-grained user permissions while ensuring least privilege across your organization.

is an open source authorization system for creating and maintaining fine-grained user permissions while ensuring least privilege across your organization. socradev : Whether Kubernetes, DevOps or IT modernization - we offer tailor-made solutions that help your company succeed.

: Whether Kubernetes, DevOps or IT modernization - we offer tailor-made solutions that help your company succeed. STCLab specializes in cloud optimization, offering solutions that range from online traffic control to AI-driven resource management, all designed to maximize cost efficiency and performance.

specializes in cloud optimization, offering solutions that range from online traffic control to AI-driven resource management, all designed to maximize cost efficiency and performance. Tata Communications is a digital ecosystem enabler that powers today's fast-growing digital economy. We enable the digital transformation of enterprises globally, including 300 of the Fortune 500.

is a digital ecosystem enabler that powers today's fast-growing digital economy. We enable the digital transformation of enterprises globally, including 300 of the Fortune 500. Wiz helps secure everything you build and run in the cloud with a Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) that is trusted by 45% of the Fortune 100.

About the newest End User Member:

Banco de Credito del Peru is the largest bank and the largest provider of integrated financial services in Peru . Its purpose is "To be allies of our clients, collaborators and country in order to transform their plans into reality."

is the largest bank and the largest provider of integrated financial services in . Its purpose is "To be allies of our clients, collaborators and country in order to transform their plans into reality." Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and agriculture. We design our products and services to help tackle some of the world's biggest challenges, and to serve the most essential human needs of health and nutrition.

is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and agriculture. We design our products and services to help tackle some of the world's biggest challenges, and to serve the most essential human needs of health and nutrition. Royal Bank of Canada is Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization. It has a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to clients in Canada , the U.S. and 27 other countries.

About the newest End User Supporter:

CarGurus is a multinational, online automotive platform for buying, selling, and sourcing new and used vehicles. CarGurus is one of the largest and most visited automotive shopping sites in the U.S.

is a multinational, online automotive platform for buying, selling, and sourcing new and used vehicles. CarGurus is one of the largest and most visited automotive shopping sites in the U.S. Tokyo Gas is an energy company that procures LNG from around the world, supplying it as city gas, and also utilizes it for power generation through its natural gas-fired facilities to provide electricity to households and businesses. By using LNG, which produces lower CO emissions during combustion, Tokyo Gas ensures a stable supply of clean gas and electric energy.

With the addition of these new members, there are now over 170 organizations in the CNCF End User Community . This group regularly meets to share adoption best practices and feedback on project roadmaps and future projects for CNCF technical leaders to consider.

Additional Resources

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors, and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 800 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io .

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jessie Adams-Shore

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with the AI impact on market trends - The global composite decking market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.82 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 14.04% during the forecast period. Revival of construction industry is driving market growth, with a trend towards rising adoption of prefabricated construction solutions. However, availability of substitutes for composite decking poses a challenge. Key market players include APR Composites, Buyrite Enterprises Ltd., Compagnie de Saint Gobain, DuraLife Decking and Railing Systems, Fortress Iron LP, Fortune Brands Innovations Inc., Genova Products Inc., Green Bay Decking, Nanjing Xuhua Sundi New Building Materials Co. Ltd., NewTechWood America Inc., Oakio Plastic Wood Building Materials Co. Ltd., Shanghai Seven Trust Industry Co. Ltd., Shubh Composites, TAMKO Building Products LLC, The AZEK Co. Inc., Trex Co. Inc., TruNorth International Corp., UFP Industries Inc., UPM Kymmene Corp., and Wallong Technology Co. Ltd..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Composite Decking Market 2024-2028

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Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Application (Residential and Non-residential), Type (Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyvinyl chloride, and Others), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled APR Composites, Buyrite Enterprises Ltd., Compagnie de Saint Gobain, DuraLife Decking and Railing Systems, Fortress Iron LP, Fortune Brands Innovations Inc., Genova Products Inc., Green Bay Decking, Nanjing Xuhua Sundi New Building Materials Co. Ltd., NewTechWood America Inc., Oakio Plastic Wood Building Materials Co. Ltd., Shanghai Seven Trust Industry Co. Ltd., Shubh Composites, TAMKO Building Products LLC, The AZEK Co. Inc., Trex Co. Inc., TruNorth International Corp., UFP Industries Inc., UPM Kymmene Corp., and Wallong Technology Co. Ltd.

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

Composite decking is a popular choice for homeowners and contractors seeking weather-resistant, low-maintenance outdoor living solutions. The market for composite decking is thriving, with varieties like capped composite decking offering a protective shell against fading, staining, and scratching. Homeowners appreciate the load-bearing capacity and resistance to foot traffic, making it an ideal option for high-use areas. Industry executives report a shift in trend towards composite decking, as more clients seek sustainable options. Capped composite decking comes in various color options and resin types, including PVC and HDPE. The form and segmentation of composite decking include railings, which offer low thermal expansion and resistance to slip. However, raw material costs and regulatory harvesting concerns can be restraining factors. Notable players in the market include Cardinal Building Products, Green Bay Decking, Fiberon, and MoistureShield. In interviews with industry associations, executives discuss the rise in demand for composite decking, with some offering luxury lines like Transcend Lineage. The bottom line: composite decking offers design flexibility, sustainability, and durability, making it a top choice for building and construction projects.

The prefabricated construction industry, specifically composite decking, is experiencing significant growth due to its cost-effective and time-saving advantages. In this process, various building components are manufactured in a controlled environment and transported to the construction site for assembly. Quality and design standards are key priorities in prefabricated construction to address the challenges of site-built homes. New prefabricated buildings often surpass conventional residences in aspects such as durability and energy efficiency. Compliance with codes such as the US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Code or the International Residential Code (IRC) ensures safety and reliability.

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Market Challenges

 Composite decking is a popular choice for homeowners and contractors seeking low-maintenance, weather-resistant outdoor living solutions. However, the market faces challenges. Capped composite decking, with its protective shell, addresses concerns of fading, staining, and scratching. Yet, load-bearing capacity and foot traffic can be restricting factors. Homeowners value color options and resistance to slip, while contractors prioritize load-bearing capacity and low thermal expansion. Sustainability is a growing concern, with industry associations advocating for eco-friendly resin types. Executives from leading brands like Cardinal Building Products, Green Bay Decking, Fiberon, and MoistureShield share insights. Data triangulation reveals a shift in trend from natural wood to composite decking. Raw material costs and product offerings impact the bottom line. The rise in demand for composite decking railing and luxury lines, such as Transcend Lineage, presents opportunities. Harvesting and regulatory issues can pose restraining factors. Understanding resin types, form, and segmentation is crucial for success in the building and construction industry.

 Composite decking is a popular choice for exterior home decoration due to its durability and attractive appearance. However, concrete flooring is an affordable alternative that can withstand heavy stress and pressure. Although the surface of concrete is not as smooth as composite or timber, it is a cost-effective option that can last longer with proper maintenance. Tiles and fiber cement decking are other alternatives, each offering unique benefits. Tiles can be customized for aesthetic appeal, while cement decking provides good resistance to heat and moisture, making it suitable for hot and humid climates. The demand for these alternatives may be lower than composite decking, but their wide availability and affordability are increasing their popularity.

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Segment Overview

This composite decking market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Application

1.1 Residential

1.2 Non-residential

Type

2.1 Polyethylene

2.2 Polypropylene

2.3 Polyvinyl chloride

2.4 Others

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 APAC

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Residential- The residential segment of the composite decking market is anticipated to experience significant growth due to the increase in residential construction activities in the US, Europe, and Asia Pacific (APAC) regions. Factors such as increasing disposable incomes, urbanization, and government initiatives are driving the demand for new residential constructions and public infrastructure in countries like China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The recovery of the global housing market in the US, Canada, Germany, and Spain is also expected to fuel the demand for composite decking. In the US, the residential building industry has benefited from expansionary monetary policies and record-low mortgage rates, leading to an increase in housing demand. Additionally, growing investments by countries like the US and Germany for remodeling and renovation of residential buildings will further boost the market growth. The Middle Eastern region, particularly the UAE, is also witnessing in residential construction activities, with projects like Azizi Developments' Riviera Reve in Dubai, which includes 25 luxury buildings and over 5,000 houses, contributing to the market expansion. Despite the temporary halt of residential construction activities due to COVID-19 lockdowns, the long-term growth prospects of the market remain positive, driven by the factors mentioned above.

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

Composite decking is a popular choice for homeowners and contractors due to its durability and low maintenance properties. This building material is made from a combination of natural wood fibers and plastic resins, creating varieties such as capped composite decking with a protective shell. While initial costs may be higher than natural wood, composite decking offers benefits like resistance to fading, staining, scratching, and high load-bearing capacity. Resin types used in composite decking include polyethylene and polypropylene, with a shift in trend towards the latter due to its superior performance. Composite decking railing is also available, offering a cohesive look for outdoor spaces. Other advantages include low thermal expansion, resistance to slip, and color stability. Raw material costs and segmentation, including form (solid or hollow), have influenced product offerings from companies like Cardinal Building Products, Green Bay Decking, Fiberon, and MoistureShield. The building and construction industry has seen a rise in demand for composite decking due to its benefits, while the requirement for natural wood is lessening due to harvesting and regulatory concerns.

Market Research Overview

Composite decking is a popular choice for homeowners and contractors seeking low-maintenance, weather-resistant solutions for their outdoor living spaces. This market offers various varieties, including capped composite decking with a protective shell, to ensure durability against fading, staining, scratching, and high foot traffic. Composite decking is known for its load-bearing capacity and resistance to slip, making it an ideal option for both residential and commercial projects. The shift in trend towards sustainable materials has boosted the composite decking market. Resin types, form, and segmentation are key factors influencing product offerings. Capped composite decking, with its low thermal expansion and color stability, is a top choice for clients seeking design versatility. However, raw material costs and color fading can be restraining factors. Interviews with industry executives reveal a rise in demand for composite decking railings and luxury lines. The Building and Construction Industry Association and other industry associations provide valuable data triangulation on market trends. The Transcend Lineage and other luxury composite decking lines cater to the growing demand for high-end, long-lasting outdoor living solutions.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Application

Residential



Non-residential

Type

Polyethylene



Polypropylene



Polyvinyl Chloride



Others

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



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
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cornerstone Relocation Group (Cornerstone), a leading global workforce relocation company, proudly announces it joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact  a voluntary initiative for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices.

The UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, and to act in support of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 20,000 companies in over 160 countries.

Janelle Piatkowski, President and CEO, Cornerstone Relocation Group noted, "We are proud to take these first steps in joining thousands of companies in the UN Global Compact, and further build our commitment to sustainable business practices. By working alongside like-minded organizations, we are taking shared responsibility for achieving lasting, positive impact for our local and global communities."

By integrating the UN Global Compact principles into its business strategy, Cornerstone seamlessly reinforces its commitment to ethical practices, environmental stewardship, and human rights. Participation in this initiative underscores Cornerstone's dedication to advancing sustainable development goals and fostering a culture of accountability within the organization. Collaboration with the UN Global Compact will enhance Cornerstone's efforts to create a positive impact on society and the environment, further solidifying its role as a responsible corporate citizen.

To learn more, visit Cornerstone's profile on the UN Global Compact website and their latest Sustainability Report.

About Cornerstone Relocation Group

Cornerstone, a member of the Atlas World Group, is a full-service global mobility company, offering comprehensive services to address the workforce mobility needs of corporations worldwide. Founded in 1990, Cornerstone has established itself as the trusted relocation industry leader, tailoring services to meet client needs, always striving to make the seemingly impossiblepossible. For more information, visit www.crgglobal.com.

About Atlas World Group

Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, USA, Atlas World Group, Inc. comprises a family of companies that deliver transportation and related services globally through a network of quality agents and select service partners. Atlas is distinguished by agent ownership and a shared commitment to help people go to new places more easily and more securely. Through a continuing emphasis on service excellence, the company has achieved extraordinary growth. For more information, visit www.atlasworldgroupinc.com.

Media Contact:

Cheryl Przychodni

9085809600

[email protected]

SOURCE Cornerstone Relocation Group
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Counsel Press Inc. ("Counsel Press" or the "Company"), an appellate support provider headquartered in New York City, is excited to announce the expansion of its localized appellate services to include the Texas legal market. This continued strategic growth emphasizes Counsel Press' mission to enhance its appellate support across every region of the United States.

As part of this expansion, Counsel Press welcomes Janet Bennett to the team as Appellate Counsel for clients in the Texas market. Janet brings over 30 years of professional experience in Texas, earning her J.D. at Texas Tech, then launching a career of over 27 years with Thomson Reuters in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Receiving her certification in 2022, Janet has also recently completed the Business Analytics program at Harvard.

The expansion of localized appellate support in the TX market aligns with Counsel Press' objective to scale nationwide. Post this

"We are thrilled to welcome Janet Bennett to the Counsel Press team," said Scott Thompson, CEO of Counsel Press. "The expansion of localized appellate support services into the Texas market aligns with Counsel Press' strategic objective to scale our footprint and reaffirms our commitment to providing unparalleled service to clients nationwide." With this expansion, Counsel Press will offer enhanced appellate solutions and innovative services to meet the evolving needs of the legal community.

About Counsel Press

Counsel Press, the largest nationwide provider of appellate services in the United States, has been setting the highest standard in appellate preparations since 1938, earning it the title, The Appellate Experts. The Company offers an expansive suite of best-in-class legal services, assisting attorneys with expert preparation, filing, and serving of appeals in state and federal appellate courts. For more information, visit counselpress.com.

SOURCE Counsel Press Inc.
The growth of the global cybersecurity market is primarily driven by the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, which compel businesses and governments to invest heavily in robust security solutions. Additionally, the rapid adoption of digital technologies, including cloud computing, IoT, and AI, has expanded the attack surface, intensifying the need for advanced cybersecurity measures.

LEWES, Del., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global cybersecurity market is expected to reach USD 375 billion by 2031, growing from approximately USD 180 billion in 2024, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%. This growth is fueled by rising cyber threats, the increasing adoption of digital technologies, and the heightened focus on data security across industries.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchintellect.com/download-sample/?rid=1042992

202 - Pages

126  Tables

37  Figures

Scope Of The Report

REPORT ATTRIBUTES DETAILS STUDY PERIOD 2020-2031 BASE YEAR 2023 FORECAST PERIOD 2024-2031 HISTORICAL PERIOD 2020-2023 UNIT Value (USD Billion) KEY COMPANIES PROFILED Cisco Systems, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Check Point Software Technologies, IBM Corporation, McAfee Corp., Trend Micro, CrowdStrike, FireEye, and Microsoft SEGMENTS COVERED By Type, By Application And By Geography CUSTOMIZATION SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analysts' working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope

Cybersecurity Market Overview

Market Growth and Forecast

The cybersecurity market is experiencing robust growth, with expectations to reach USD 375 billion by 2031, up from approximately USD 180 billion in 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 10%. This rapid growth is attributed to the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, rising demand for data protection, and the widespread adoption of digital technologies. As businesses across various sectors become more digitally dependent, cybersecurity investments are vital to ensure data security and privacy. This expansion is particularly driven by the need to protect critical infrastructures, such as government systems, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and large corporations, from ever-evolving cyber threats.

Rising Cyber Threats

The surge in cyberattacks is a primary driver for the cybersecurity market. Cybercriminals are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics such as ransomware, phishing, and advanced persistent threats (APTs) to breach systems. These attacks target organizations of all sizes, with critical industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing being prime targets. The rise in remote work, cloud adoption, and digital transformation initiatives has also created new vulnerabilities, making it imperative for businesses to implement robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate potential risks and breaches.

Cloud Security Adoption

With the increasing shift toward cloud-based services and infrastructure, cloud security has become a critical area of focus within the cybersecurity market. Organizations are leveraging cloud solutions to enhance operational efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. However, the expansion of cloud adoption has exposed businesses to new security challenges, such as data breaches, unauthorized access, and misconfigurations. Consequently, cloud security solutions, including cloud firewalls, encryption tools, and identity management services, are becoming integral components of cybersecurity strategies for organizations seeking to safeguard their data and applications hosted in the cloud.

AI and Machine Learning in Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing the cybersecurity landscape. These advanced technologies are being deployed to detect, predict, and respond to cyber threats in real-time. AI and ML algorithms analyze vast amounts of data to identify unusual patterns and potential security risks, improving the speed and accuracy of threat detection. As cybercriminals adopt AI-driven tactics to execute attacks, cybersecurity companies are leveraging these technologies to stay ahead of evolving threats. AI-powered cybersecurity solutions are expected to dominate the market as they provide proactive threat intelligence and automated defense mechanisms.

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Regulatory Compliance and Data Protection

The increasing number of regulations aimed at ensuring data privacy and protection, such as GDPR in Europe and CCPA in California, has contributed significantly to the growth of the cybersecurity market. Companies are required to implement stringent security measures to comply with these regulations, avoid hefty fines, and protect consumer trust. The rising emphasis on privacy has also led to a surge in demand for data encryption, identity verification systems, and secure communication channels. As global data protection laws continue to tighten, organizations must invest in cybersecurity solutions to meet compliance standards and avoid legal consequences.

SMB Adoption of Cybersecurity Solutions

While large enterprises have traditionally been the primary adopters of advanced cybersecurity measures, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly recognizing the importance of cybersecurity. With SMBs becoming frequent targets of cyberattacks, the demand for affordable, scalable cybersecurity solutions tailored to smaller organizations is rising. As cybercriminals target SMBs for their less mature security postures, the adoption of solutions like endpoint protection, firewalls, and threat monitoring tools is growing rapidly within this segment. The trend highlights the increasing democratization of cybersecurity technology across businesses of all sizes.

Cybersecurity Workforce Shortage

A major challenge facing the cybersecurity industry is the growing shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. As cyber threats evolve in complexity and frequency, the demand for experts who can design, implement, and manage cybersecurity measures has outpaced supply. This skills gap has led to increased competition for cybersecurity talent and has driven organizations to invest in training programs and automation tools to mitigate the shortage. Additionally, managed security service providers (MSSPs) are gaining popularity as companies seek external expertise to safeguard their digital environments without the need to build large in-house teams.

Emerging Technologies and Future Trends

The cybersecurity market is expected to continue evolving with the introduction of emerging technologies. Quantum computing, for example, holds the potential to revolutionize encryption techniques, offering both new security opportunities and challenges. Similarly, blockchain technology is being explored for its ability to enhance security in data transactions and identity management. As businesses face growing cyber risks, they will increasingly turn to next-generation cybersecurity technologies to stay ahead of adversaries. The integration of cybersecurity with the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G networks, and other innovations will further drive the market's growth, as security measures must evolve to protect a more connected world.

Geographic Dominance:

Geographically, North America holds a dominant position in the global cybersecurity market, driven by the presence of major technology companies, government initiatives, and a high number of cyberattack incidents. The U.S., in particular, invests heavily in cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructures, financial services, and government data. Europe also plays a significant role, with increasing regulatory pressures like GDPR driving organizations to prioritize data protection. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is emerging as a high-growth region, fueled by rapid digital transformation, the rise of cyber threats, and growing investments in cybersecurity solutions, particularly in countries like China, Japan, and India. As digitalization continues globally, the need for robust cybersecurity measures is expected to expand across all regions, with each facing unique challenges related to local infrastructure, regulations, and threat landscapes.

Cybersecurity Market Key Players Shaping the Future

Key players shaping the future of the cybersecurity market include Cisco Systems, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Check Point Software Technologies, IBM Corporation, McAfee Corp., Trend Micro, CrowdStrike, FireEye, and Microsoft. These companies are leading the way with advanced security solutions, innovations in AI-driven threat detection, and the expansion of cloud and endpoint protection services. Their strategic acquisitions, investments in research and development, and comprehensive cybersecurity offerings are driving the market's evolution and helping businesses combat increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Cybersecurity Market Segment Analysis

The Cybersecurity market is segmented based on By Type, By Application and Geography, offering a comprehensive analysis of the industry.

By Type:

Network Security : Protects networks from cyber threats like malware, ransomware, and unauthorized access.

: Protects networks from cyber threats like malware, ransomware, and unauthorized access. Endpoint Security : Safeguards devices such as computers, mobile phones, and tablets from cyberattacks.

: Safeguards devices such as computers, mobile phones, and tablets from cyberattacks. Cloud Security : Focuses on securing data, applications, and systems hosted on the cloud.

: Focuses on securing data, applications, and systems hosted on the cloud. Application Security : Ensures that software and applications are free from vulnerabilities.

: Ensures that software and applications are free from vulnerabilities. Identity and Access Management (IAM) : Manages user identities and controls access to sensitive systems.

: Manages user identities and controls access to sensitive systems. Others: Includes security solutions like data encryption and disaster recovery.

By Application:

BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) : Protects financial data and transactions.

: Protects financial data and transactions. Healthcare : Secures patient data, medical records, and healthcare systems.

: Secures patient data, medical records, and healthcare systems. Government : Protects government infrastructure, sensitive data, and national security.

: Protects government infrastructure, sensitive data, and national security. Retail : Ensures protection of customer data and transactions.

: Ensures protection of customer data and transactions. Energy and Utilities : Secures critical infrastructure in power grids and energy systems.

: Secures critical infrastructure in power grids and energy systems. Others: Includes sectors like education, IT, and manufacturing.

By Geography:

North America : The largest market driven by advanced technologies and high cybersecurity spending.

: The largest market driven by advanced technologies and high cybersecurity spending. Europe : Growth driven by regulatory requirements like GDPR and increasing cyber threats.

: Growth driven by regulatory requirements like GDPR and increasing cyber threats. Asia-Pacific : Rapid digital transformation and rising cyber threats drive market expansion.

: Rapid digital transformation and rising cyber threats drive market expansion. Latin America : Emerging cybersecurity demand, especially in financial and retail sectors.

: Emerging cybersecurity demand, especially in financial and retail sectors. Middle East and Africa : Growing concerns over data security and increasing investments in cybersecurity solutions.

Automotive And Transportation

The automotive and transportation cybersecurity market is rapidly growing, driven by the increasing integration of advanced technologies such as autonomous vehicles, connected car systems, and IoT devices within transportation networks. As vehicles become more connected, they present new opportunities for cyberattacks, targeting systems like in-vehicle communication, infotainment, navigation, and safety features. Consequently, robust cybersecurity solutions are critical to protect against threats such as hacking, data breaches, and vehicle manipulation. Key players in this segment are focusing on developing advanced encryption, intrusion detection, and firewall technologies tailored to automotive and transportation systems. Additionally, government regulations and safety standards are pushing manufacturers to prioritize cybersecurity, further boosting market growth. As the demand for smarter and more connected vehicles increases, the automotive and transportation cybersecurity market is expected to expand significantly in the coming years.

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NEWARK, N.J., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybrid, a leading digital payment platform, today announced the launch of its instant payment API, leveraging both FedNow and Real-Time Payments (RTP) networks. This cutting-edge API is specifically designed to help global businesses overcome the inefficiencies of traditional payment systems. By seamlessly integrating stablecoins and Bitcoin Lightning with established payment rails, Cybrid delivers an innovative solution for businesses looking to streamline cross-border and domestic transactions.

The complexities of managing international and domestic payments often result in delayed settlements, high fees, and operational bottlenecks for businesses. Cybrid's instant payment API addresses these challenges by offering instant, affordable, and secure payments through FedNow and RTPenabling companies to improve cash flow, reduce costs, and scale operations in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

Key benefits of Cybrid's Instant Payment API for Global Businesses:

Real-time settlement: Instant payments through FedNow and RTP improve liquidity, helping businesses reinvest and respond quickly to growth opportunities.

Instant payments through FedNow and RTP improve liquidity, helping businesses reinvest and respond quickly to growth opportunities. Cost efficiency: The combination of instant payment networks with stablecoins and Bitcoin Lightning reduces transaction fees and virtually eliminates settlement times.

The combination of instant payment networks with stablecoins and Lightning reduces transaction fees and virtually eliminates settlement times. Eliminate counterparty risk: Cybrid's instant payment API uses a good-funds model to ensure direct, secure, and instant transactions without counterparty risk.

Cybrid's instant payment API uses a good-funds model to ensure direct, secure, and instant transactions without counterparty risk. Global scalability: The platform simplifies cross-border payments allowing businesses to expand internationally and collaborate with partners worldwide.

The platform simplifies cross-border payments allowing businesses to expand internationally and collaborate with partners worldwide. Seamless integration: Cybrid's API works with existing financial systems, enabling quick adoption without disrupting current workflows.

Cybrid's API works with existing financial systems, enabling quick adoption without disrupting current workflows. Regulatory compliance: Built-in tools meet global standards, ensuring secure and compliant operations across countries.

"At Cybrid, we're redefining how businesses approach global and domestic payments," said Avinash Chidambaram, CEO and co-founder of Cybrid. "By integrating both FedNow and RTP, our instant payment API eliminates barriers created by outdated systems, empowering businesses to operate faster, reduce costs, and seize growth opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world."

Powering the Future of Global Business

Businesses increasingly rely on fast, transparent and cost-effective payment solutions to stay competitive. Cybrid's instant payment API meets these demands by enabling real-time domestic payments through FedNow and the RTP network, while simplifying overall payment workflows for seamless transactions.

Built for Modern Business Needs

Cybrid's platform is optimized for global businesses seeking payment solutions that enhance financial agility and improve operational efficiency. By bridging the gap between traditional finance and innovative technologies like stablecoins, Cybrid empowers businesses to deliver better services to their customers and partners.

About Cybrid

Cybrid is a digital payment platform that connects established payment rails to stablecoins and Bitcoin Lightning, enabling U.S. and Canadian-based businesses to conduct domestic and cross-border transactions quickly, cost-effectively and securely. The API-first solution offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional banking systems, mitigating currency volatility risks and enhancing global payment capabilities. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in New Jersey, USA and Toronto, Canada, Cybrid is backed by investors such as Golden Ventures, Luge Capital, and Panache Ventures. For more information, visit www.cybrid.xyz .

SOURCE Cybrid
BALTIMORE, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- David S. Brown Enterprises proudly announces its recognition as a 2024 Top Workplace by The Baltimore Sun, marking the third consecutive year the company has received this distinguished honor. Ranked among medium-sized employers, this achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to creating an exceptional workplace for our employees.

Each year, The Baltimore Sun celebrates organizations that excel in fostering positive work environments where employees feel valued, empowered, and inspired. Rankings are determined through confidential employee feedback, spotlighting companies that prioritize workplace culture and employee satisfaction.

"Being named a Top Workplace for three consecutive years is a testament to the dedication and spirit of our team," said Chris Krummenoehl, Vice President of Human Resources of David S. Brown Enterprises. "This consistent recognition reinforces our commitment to cultivating a culture where collaboration, innovation, and professional growth flourish."

David S. Brown Enterprises, renowned for its forward-thinking approach to real estate development and management, attributes its success to its talented and passionate workforce. This milestone highlights the company's steadfast dedication to workplace engagement and employee well-being year after year.

To learn more about the Top Workplaces award and the rigorous selection process, visit Top Workplaces Nomination Page. To explore the complete list of 2024 honorees, visit The Baltimore Sun's official announcement.

For further information about David S. Brown Enterprises, their projects, and career opportunities, please visit www.davidsbrown.com.

About David S. Brown Enterprises, LTD.

Established in 1933 and headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland, David S. Brown Enterprises is a full-service real estate company. Their mission is to serve the community through socially conscious development, high-quality construction, and innovative design. For additional information, please visit www.davidsbrown.com or connect on LinkedIn.

SOURCE David S. Brown Enterprises, LTD.
SINGAPORE, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Embed Financial Group Holdings (EFGH.XYZ) is embarking on a journey to make finance equitable for everyone. Protect everyone, every time and anywhere. Provide meaningful financial solutions for every person that needs it.

Currently, EFGH is operating in Singapore and Indonesia in Asia, and in Africa, EFGH is in Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Nigeria.

EFGH & Embed Global Announces Appointment of Wilf Blackburn as Non-Executive Chairman for the Board of Advisors

EFGH believes that the purpose of providing equitable financial solutions will create impact to the lives of many, whether it's an embedded protection solution when they are buying daily use products or sending money back to their homes when working overseas in a seamless and easy manner, embedded with simple protection solutions.

Embedded insurance is a growing business, and EFGH is well positioned to support this growth across Asia and Africa, with strong technology capabilities and a deep understanding of distribution nuances across Asia and Africa.

With EFGH's aim, to protect everyone, everywhere at any time, EFGH is delighted to welcome Wilf Blackburn, as the Non-Executive Chairman for the Board of Advisors for EFGH and Embed Global to scale rapidly.

"I have known Wilf for a while, since 2016, and have worked with and for Wilf in several initiatives like Agency Transformation, Bancassurance, Group Business Transformation and Organisational Innovations, across Asia and Africa. I have always found his leadership to be empowering and authentic. Swift, and decisive, with an eye for the future. I have always enjoyed his humour, humility and drive. It has never been a dull moment with Wilf." Dennis Ng, EFGH Group CEO and Founder.

With Wilf joining EFGH/Embed Global, along with the distinguished members of the Advisory Board, gives the organisation, great confidence to embark on this journey in Africa and Asia. The valuable insights, the experience and the guidance from the Advisory Board, is one of the greatest support pillars EFGH/EG can count on, to challenge views, and thinking, so that EFGH can be surgical in our execution, whilst it scales.

Find out more about Embed Financial Group Holdings (EFGH.XYZ)

www.efgh.xyz

www.embed.global

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578489/Wilf_Blackburn_Non_Executive_Chairman_EFGH_EG_Advisory_Board.jpg
Through this partnership, Faria Education aims to enhance its services and expand its impact across the Middle East, delivering solutions that are both advanced and tailored to regional needs. Faria Education's robust K12 solutions will be augmented by BCT's regional insights, ensuring that educational solutions are customized to meet the specific demands of Middle Eastern institutions.

From admissions, curriculum planning and delivery, to alumni engagement, extra-curricular administration and beyond, Faria Education's products and solutions cover full school operations.

Oleg Figlin, CEO of Faria Education Group, emphasized the strategic importance of their ambitious growth plans in Middle East, stating, "Faria has well-established connections with hundreds of schools in the Middle East and we are excited to collaborate with BCT as this partnership enables us to blend our global educational solutions with BCT's regional expertise, ultimately enhancing the educational experience across the region."

The collaboration will leverage BCT's extensive local support network, providing educational institutions with timely and effective assistance to maximize the benefits of Faria Education's solutions. The partnership will also adapt Faria Education's tools to align with regional educational standards and cultural contexts, offering solutions that are both relevant and impactful. The combined expertise of Faria Education and BCT will facilitate a seamless and efficient deployment of educational technologies, ensuring rapid integration and support for institutions.

"We are excited about this partnership with Faria Education and look forward to delivering effective and engaging learning experiences in the MENA region," said Vish Srinivasan, Chief Operating Officer, of BCT - MENA & India. "We're confident that educational institutions in the Middle East will benefit from our combined expertise, and be able to extract maximum value from their digital transformation journeys."

About Faria Education Group:

Founded in 2006, Faria is a leader in international education, providing a range of services addressing learning, admissions, school-to-home, online courses, and study. Faria is the only online learning and online homeschooling provider approved by both the International Baccalaureate (IB) & Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), and is the only provider approved by Cambridge at both primary and secondary levels. Today, Faria serves over 10,000 schools and over 4 million students across 155 countries. www.faria.org

About Bahwan CyberTek

Bahwan CyberTek is a global provider of digital transformation solutions. A trusted partner for over 1000+ customers, including Fortune 500 companies, we drive innovation through our products, service offerings & strategic partnerships. Established in 1999, Bahwan CyberTek has over 4500+ associates with technical and domain expertise across the Banking & Financial Services, Oil & Gas, Telecom, Power, Government, Banking, Retail and SCM / Logistics verticals. BCT has delivered solutions in 50+ countries across North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

For more information, please visit www.bahwancybertek.com.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2573226/Bahwan_CyberTek_Logo.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2575061/Faria_Education_Group_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Bahwan CyberTek
Once the new Buffalo Bills stadium opens in 2026, Erie County wont own it anymore. But one thing the county will have is its own luxury suite.

Identified as an Erie County Hospitality Center, the suites use will be up to the discretion of county. And in light of past controversies related to the use of New York States luxury box at Highmark Stadium, Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin wants there to be a clear policy on how the countys suite will be used two years from now.

Baskin, D-Buffalo, and Legislator Christopher Greene, R-Clarence, co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution asking for an update from the county administration about how the county intends to use the suite. The resolution also requests the administrations assistance in drafting a policy that states how the new hospitality center may be used.

But shes not going to get any answers before she leaves her Legislature seat to serve in the State Senate in January.

They did not say why, said Baskin, clearly frustrated at the lack of cooperation from the County Executives Office. They did not say things are still in motion. They just said Mark Poloncarz said it is a hard no. 

The resolution related to the suite is one of three resolutions that Baskin submitted to tie up loose ends regarding the stadium agreement before she leaves the Legislature. She also submitted two resolutions to the Buffalo Bills asking for more reporting on how many local, small businesses have been awarded construction or post-construction stadium contracts, and how to make it easier for community members to submit proposals on how community benefit money should be spent.

She has not received much positive feedback to the three resolutions so far. The Bills called her resolutions unnecessary and beyond the terms of the stadium agreement. And Poloncarz told Baskin, via staff, that he does not intend to make anyone available to speak with the Legislature at its Finance and Management Committee meeting on Thursday to talk about the future county hospitality center at the stadium.

What we are, indeed, talking about here is a suite that does not exist today and will not be completed for more than a year, said Poloncarzs spokesman Peter Anderson. It is far too premature to discuss how that space will be used, who will use it and for what purposes, what events it will be used for, what costs will be associated with that usage, and who will be paying for what in the suite. These are just some of the unknowns at this time and as such there is nothing to discuss currently.

Baskin said if Poloncarz doesnt want to help craft a policy on the stadiums luxury suite, then the Legislature should move forward without him.

It is my suggestion that me and my colleagues work on producing a policy since it seems as though the county executive doesnt have one, or isnt willing to share with the public what his plans are, she said, pointing out that $850 million in public money is going toward the $2 billion stadium.

Poloncarz has previously talked about how he envisions the stadium suite functioning. In August, Anderson sent The Buffalo News comments on his behalf regarding his expectations.

As national and international interest in the team has skyrocketed, having a hospitality suite available for the countys use at the new stadium will provide a unique opportunity for potential new businesses to experience the excitement for themselves, learn more about the many advantages of locating their business in Erie County, and gain a new and deeper perspective on being a part of our dynamic economy, the statement read.

The statement went on to say that a complete set of standards for usage of the suite would be done before the start of the 2026-27 season.

Specifics for the usage of the suite are still being formed but will compare to best practices from other communities utilizing such suites to attract business, according to the statement. Only a handful of cities can employ a business recruitment asset such as this and Erie County plans to do so aggressively.

Baskin said she was warned by lawyer Frank Jones, who represented the countys interests in stadium deal negotiations, that such government suites lend themselves to controversy.

The attorney advised that this could go bad if its not planned well, she said.

Poloncarzs concept of using a stadium suite to woo prospective business owners to establish businesses in Erie County may be different from what legislators want. They may envision the suite as a place where community members like youth groups or senior center participants, with limited access to the stadium, would have an opportunity to enjoy such an experience, Baskin said.

She also expressed concern that the use of the suite will be developed at a later date with no input from the Legislature, noting that Poloncarz has rolled out other major programs without seeking any legislative input. She said she wants to ensure that suite access is fair and accessible to everyone.

What I dont want to happen is for the stadium to be done and a policy to be released in the paper, and then the Legislature have absolutely no say on it, when we are the ones who know what the community agencies in our districts need, she said.

Anderson said Poloncarz is not rejecting a request to talk with legislators about the use of the county suite at the new stadium. Hes just delaying it.

These conversations will be had with the Legislature when the suite is closer to being a reality, either late in 2025 or in 2026, and a comprehensive policy will be formulated at that time with input from the then-Legislature chair and others, Anderson said his email.

Baskin said she intends to ask her colleagues to work on a bipartisan policy regarding usage of the suite after the New Year and expressed frustration that Poloncarz sounded dismissive of the Legislatures request to have a representative attend the finance committee on Thursday.

Its not transparent, she said, and thats what we need from him.
Ag-Tech startup takes home prestigious New Product Development Prize for its real-time, autonomous agricultural pest monitoring and classification technology

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FarmSense , a pioneer in real-time agricultural pest monitoring and classification technology, has been named winner of the New Product Development category in Saudi Arabia's annual National Center for Palms & Dates (NCPD) International Prize event. The accolade, which "aims to provide opportunities to bring exciting new scientific, technical, and innovative advances in the palm and date sectors by individuals and entities across the world" [ source ], was presented in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli.

Dr. Eamonn Keogh accepting Saudi Arabia's National Center for Palms & Dates (NCPD) International Prize in the New Product Development category for FarmSense's FlightSensor technology

The competition drew 171 entries from 31 countries, highlighting innovative solutions designed to advance the global date palm industry. At the event, FarmSense Co-Founder, CSO, and University of California, Riverside Distinguished Professor, Dr. Eamonn Keogh presented "Seeing Insect Pest Control as an Information Problem," showcasing the groundbreaking technology that secured FarmSense's win in the New Product Development category, which included a $100,000 prize and recognition for its transformative approach to real-time pest monitoring and classification.

"This recognition from the National Center for Palms & Dates illustrates the transformative potential of FarmSense's FlightSensor technology to address critical challenges in agriculture," said Dr. Keogh of FarmSense. "By reimagining insect pest control as an information-driven process, we are empowering growers with the real-time, actionable data they need to protect their crops more efficiently and sustainably. Winning this award is both an honor and a testament to the global impact of innovative solutions in agriculture."

The date palm holds profound commercial and cultural significance in Saudi Arabia, but its productivity has been increasingly threatened by insect pests. Current pest monitoring methods rely on manual inspection of mechanical traps (i.e., "sticky" traps), which are often costly, labor-intensive, and prone to delays in data collection. FarmSense's innovative FlightSensor technology directly addresses these challenges. The system utilizes patented technology, computational entomology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to attract, count, and classify insects down to the species, sex, and life stage. By providing growers with real-time, precise data, this technology enables more timely and targeted pest management decisions.

Already proven effective in tree nut farming in the United States, FarmSense's FlightSensor application to date palm cultivation could represent a transformative shift for growers in the region and beyond.

About FarmSense: Founded in 2016, FarmSense helps farmers simplify pest management and take the guesswork out of insect monitoring. The company's patented technology, alongside their innovative FlightSensor technology, provides real-time insect counts and classifications, giving immediate access for farmers to make mission-critical decisions on crop and pest control. FarmSense has garnered substantial recognition, receiving five Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants with funding of $4.5 million, alongside awards and grants from numerous organizations. To learn more about FarmSense and their FlightSensor technology, visit: https://www.farmsense.io .

Media Contact:

Grady Moore

[email protected]

(949) 264-2347

SOURCE FarmSense
Explosive Growth Fueled by Schools, Hotels, Fitness Centers, and Workplaces Across the Country as They Meet Rising Consumer Demand for Less Plastic Waste, Safe Drinking Water, and Wellness with FloWater Refill Stations

DENVER, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FloWater today announces the milestone achievement of saving one billion plastic water bottles from entering the environment since its launch in 2013. This explosive growth has been fueled by consumer demand for safe, better-tasting drinking water without the plastic waste.

FloWater celebrates a Billion Bottles saved from the environment. Student fills up reusable water bottle at FloWater Refill Station at Albuquerque Public School District.

Partnering with FloWater, 12,000 schools, hotels, fitness centers, and workplaces across the country have now transformed their tap water with FloWater Refill Stations into ultra-purified water, without the plastic, that eliminates up to 99.9% of all impurities including PFAS (forever chemicals), glyphosates, heavy metals, like lead and Chromium 6, and microplastics. FloWater's Advanced Purification Refill Stations, with 7-stage Advanced Osmosis purification technology, also enhances the water with added alkalinity and electrolytes and trace minerals for better hydration. A carbon coconut filter 'finishes' the chilled water for a great taste.

"We are incredibly proud to celebrate the Billion Bottles Saved milestone," commented FloWater CEO and Co-Founder, Rich Razgaitis. "We also thank and celebrate our thousands of business and school partners, and the millions of consumers across the country who have made this milestone possible. They are leading the change in their industries with the FloWater experience, bringing their customers the best-tasting, ultra-purified water on the planet, while eliminating plastic waste and the threats of dangerous contaminants."

The Billion Bottles Saved milestone represents the cumulative number of single-use plastic water bottles saved from the environment with FloWater Refill Stations in the hospitality and fitness industries, at schools and events, and where consumers work and shop.

Business and school leaders across the country weighed in as part of the Billion Bottles Saved celebration.

In Flower Mound, Texas, Shine Fitness CEO, Julie Costly, commented that, "Our guests love FloWater. With its Advanced Purification, alkalization, and added electrolytes, it's better hydrating and fits right into our health and wellness experience. Our students fill their water bottles on the way out, every time. There is no better-tasting water than FloWater!"

The Albuquerque Public School District has been a large contributor to reducing single-use plastic water bottles across different locations. "With FloWater, our students now have access to the best, safest water available, free from plastic waste. And because it tastes so great, they're drinking much more waterleading to better hydration that significantly enhances their health, well-being, and academic success. Because of the success of the FloWater Refill Stations, APS is expanding the installation of more units across more schools to ensure even greater access for our students," said John Dufay, Assistant Deputy of Operations, Albuquerque Public Schools.

In the hospitality industry, better-tasting and plastic-free water is proving to be an important guest amenity. "Miraval Arizona is proud to support FloWater's conservation efforts as part of the Miraval Resorts brand-wide commitment to mindful living. All guests are provided with reusable water bottles upon check-in, and our FloWater stations create opportunity for mindful moments for our guests and colleagues to practice environmental responsibility," noted Mark Stebbings, General Manager at Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa.

FloWater partners in retail are also changing the shopping experience. "At Rothy's, we've diverted over 200 plastic million bottles from landfills and oceanstransformed into our stylish, sustainable shoes and accessories. By integrating FloWater Refill Stations into our stores, we're proud to multiply our impact by expanding access to quality water for all," says Anna Dore, Rothy's Senior Director of Communications

Razgaitis added that celebrating the Billion Bottles Saved achievement is meant to rally consumers and business around saving the next billion. Plans are underway for a holiday awareness campaign called 'FloWater, Always Unwrapped', highlighting the environmental damage caused by the 'wrapped' (in plastic) water and soda distributed by the beverage industry. The campaign is designed to inspire consumers and business to make a better choice.

About FloWater, a Bluewater Company

Incubated in Silicon Valley and now based in Denver, FloWater is revolutionizing the way the world drinks water. With proprietary 7-stage Advanced Purification technology, FloWater Refill Stations transform ordinary tap water into ultra-purified, high-performance hydration, while removing up to 99.9% of all toxins like lead, PFAS, microplastics, and more.

Delivering the purest, best-tasting water available, FloWater is leading the charge against plastic pollution and, to date, has saved one billion plastic water bottles from entering the environment.

Recognized as a World Changing Idea by Fast Company, FloWater is trusted by over 10,000 forward-thinking businesses, hotels, schools, and fitness centers nationwideincluding Google, Hyatt, Xponential Studios, and Oakland Unified Schoolsto deliver next-level hydration without the plastic waste. Learn more at DrinkFloWater.com. Follow Us: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

SOURCE FloWater
NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amouage, the independent Omani High Perfumery House renowned for creating some of the world's finest fragrances, unveils its "SoHo Petite Boutique," located at 122 Prince Street, New York. This marks the second global installment of the Amouage Petite Boutique permanent concept.

Amouage SoHo Petite Boutique

"Our SoHo Petite Boutique was imagined to transport clients from the vibrant pace of New York City to the serene expansiveness of Oman," explains Renaud Salmon, Chief Creative Officer of Amouage. "This space blends avant-garde sculptures with organic forms, a minimalist yet warm design that balances drama and intimacy."

A Homage to SoHo's History and Artistic Spirit

Situated in a historic building constructed in 1892-1893 between Greene Street and Wooster Place, the boutique pays homage to SoHo's rich industrial past and thriving artistic community. The facade features relics of the neighborhood's manufacturing history: metal signs advertising lithography, engraving, and office supplies; reminders of a time when the area, known as Hell's Hundred Acres, already pulsed with the energy of creation.

"This street has always held a special place for me," shares Renaud Salmon. "When I lived in New York, I loved walking through Prince Street, discovering street artists, and buying their photographs. This boutique is a tribute to that creative spirit, a bridge between history and artistry. Despite the vast distance between Muscat and SoHo, there are striking similarities that link the two locations. The red color of the bricks in SoHo mirrors the rich red clay used for pottery in Oman, a shared connection to the earth that showcases how craft defines what can be made from the same soil. Furthermore, SoHo's history of manufacturing perfectly aligns with Amouage's spirit, where each perfume is meticulously hand-assembled, a process that mirrors the craftsmanship seen throughout the neighborhood."

A Vision of the Omani Desert in SoHo

Inspired by the tranquil beauty of the Omani desert, the boutique's design evokes a Martian-like crimson landscape at sunset. The space features rough stone and desert sand-inspired rammed earth architecture, creating a textured, earthy ambiance. The hand-decorated, multicolored resin floor mirrors the natural hues of shifting sands, while three melted pewter, reflective monolithic sculptures offer a striking contrast against the rammed earth walls.

Marco Parsiegla, CEO of Amouage, commented: "The Petite Boutique concept reflects the adaptability of Amouage's direct distribution strategy and the flexibility of our retail model. Offering a curated selection of creations, discovery experiences, and visual storytelling, these boutiques focus on the most relevant facets of Amouage for the local clientele, inviting new audiences to discover the House's artistry and heritage."

Collaborating with Local Artisans

True to SoHo's legacy of craftsmanship and creativity, the boutique was brought to life in collaboration with local artists and artisans:

Walls and cabinetry by Ordonza Woodwork Studio, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Ceiling and red dunes by Atelier Gohard (Karine Lecomte), Redhook, Brooklyn.

Resin floor and risers by Alessandro Byther from the Gaetano Pesce Studio and Foundation, Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Melted pewter-coated steel structures by Chris Gentner, Gentner Gallery, Chicago.

Hand-painted outdoor mural by Colossal, a Brooklyn-born company based on an original artwork by Louise Mertens.

The Amouage SoHo Petite Boutique is located at 122 Prince Street, New York, USA and is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday (11am to 7pm) and Sunday (12pm to 6pm).

ABOUT AMOUAGE:

Amouage is an independent Omani High Perfumery House renowned for creating some of the most finely crafted perfumes in the world. Founded in the Sultanate of Oman in 1983 to be 'The Gift of Kings,' the House has redefined the Arabian art of perfumery and garnered a global reputation for bringing innovative modernity and true artistry to all its creations. Masterfully paying tribute to its heritage, Amouage is a unique fusion of East meets West that defines avant-garde opulence. Today, it expresses the contemporary majesty of Oman, a historic trading centre for frankincense around the globe, with arresting and alluring collections that speak to a sophisticated, confident, and well-travelled discerning clientele who seek something compellingly precious, extraordinary and personal, every day.

Amouage creations have charmed a global audience and are now available in close to 100 countries around the world. The House's international presence encompasses 15 standalone boutiques in Oman, the UAE, the US, China and Malaysia as well as a highly selective network of approximately 1,000 of the world's finest department stores, perfumeries, and airports.

SOURCE AMOUAGE
DALLAS, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GDS Wealth Management, an award-winning, nationally recognized company based in the DFW metroplex, was recently named one of D Magazine's 2024 top wealth managers. To create this list, D Magazine reached out to every wealth management firm and team in Dallas-Fort Worth chapters of the Financial Planning Association, the Investments and Wealth Institute, and the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. Of those, 51 firms were selected.

D Magazine featured GDS Wealth Management's history and accomplishments in their November 2024 issue recognizing award winners. To be considered for this award, each wealth management company must have a minimum of $100 million under management, an average of at least $1 million under management per client, and a ninety-five percent client retention rate. Additionally, the firm must be at least five years old and have no current disciplinary actions. Winners were selected by a panel of esteemed local wealth managers.

CEO and founder of GDS, Glen Smith, says, "It's an honor to receive this award. Our team is humbled to be named as one of D Magazine's top wealth managers. In all that we do, we strive to deliver exceptional service, and we are proud to have that recognized through such a prestigious honor." As a wealth management firm, GDS Wealth Management is committed to providing their clients with personalized, attentive service that is customized to suit their individual financial goals.

GDS Wealth Management is a fee-only firm that charges their clients a quarterly fee, something that Smith believes is uncommon in this industry. Transparency and communication are two values highly prized by the GDS team, and they work diligently to make sure their clients feel engaged and valued. Throughout the year, GDS Wealth Management hosts educational events, speaking engagements, and community involvement opportunities for their clients and community partners alike.

Smith says, "There are no shortcuts to earning someone's trust," and the GDS team tries to embody that in all their professional interactions. They serve clients from multiple walks of life and take the time to make sure that each person has a financial plan that suits their financial goals. In Smith's words, "The client's best interests are our priority."

To learn more about GDS, reach out to their team today. GDS offers complimentary consultations, and they would love to speak with you about your financial needs.

To view the firm's disclosures, visit https://www.gdswealth.com/disclosures.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE GDS Wealth Management
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Financiero Banorte (GFNorte) announces its commitment to drive the growth of one million trees in Mexico between 2025 and 2030, contributing to the Trillion Trees (1t.org) movement, initiated by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

By joining the Trillion Trees movement (1t.org), Grupo Financiero Banorte becomes the first Mexican institution to make this commitment, reaffirming its responsibility for the health of our planet and future generations.

In this regard, Carlos Hank-Gonzalez, Chairman of Grupo Financiero Banorte, stated: "Our commitment to sustainability is a pledge to reforest Mexico. This alliance is an investment in planting life in Mexico and its communities, contributing to the well-being and prosperity of the country for this and future generations."

"We are delighted to welcome Grupo Financiero Banorte in conserving and restoring forests. This commitment will be the first of its kind from the private sector in Mexico, which will be a critical contribution to the collective work of the trillion trees platform over this decade. The private sector in Mexico has a catalytic role to play in climate action and ecosystem restoration." said Nicole Schwab, Co-Head of the Nature Positive Pillar at the World Economic Forum.

To uphold its commitment, Grupo Financiero Banorte will promote, through the partners involved, a series of enabling activities that include developing nurseries and seedlings, education and training, community mobilization, youth engagement, and the use of technology and data management tools to monitor the progress of these actions.

In this initiative, Grupo Financiero Banorte will collaborate with Reforestamos Mexico, as well as other organizations in the country, to coordinate efforts for tree growth and to engage with local stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and local communities.

According to the WEF, more than half of the global Gross Domestic Productapproximately $44 trillionlargely depends on nature, making the ongoing loss of natural capital and ecosystems a pressing environmental, social, and economic threat.

Furthermore, forests are essential in the fight against climate change as they regulate global temperatures, support freshwater systems, recharge groundwater, anchor fertile soils, and provide habitats for countless species.

This commitment is part of Grupo Financiero Banorte broader sustainability strategy, which includes being the first adopter in Mexico of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework to identify impacts, dependencies, risks, and opportunities related to nature.

For additional information on the commitment, visit the following link: https://www.1t.org/pledges/one-million-trees-by-2030-renewing-the-earth-changing-the-future/

About Grupo Financiero Banorte:

GFNorte is the largest financial institution in Mexico. It provides financial services to individuals and businesses through its banking, brokerage, fund management, insurance, pensions, leasing, factoring, warehousing, portfolio management, and remittance services via Uniteller.

GFNorte also includes Afore XXI Banorte, the largest retirement fund administrator in the country by assets under management. GFNorte is a publicly traded company on the main index of the Mexican Stock Exchange and has more than 30,000 employees, 1,100 branches, 9,900 ATMs, 167,000 Point of Sale terminals, and 19,500 correspondents.

LinkedIn: Grupo Financiero Banorte

Twitter: @GFBanorte_mx

Facebook: Grupo Financiero Banorte

For more information, media contacts should reach out to the External Communications team:

[email protected]

Contact number: (55) 8471-7481

SOURCE Banorte
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with the AI impact on market trends - The global hair removal wax market size is estimated to grow by USD 436.4 million from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.44% during the forecast period.

For comprehensive forecast and historic data on regions,market segments, customer landscape, and companies- Click for the snapshot of this report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global hair removal wax market 2024-2028

Report Attribute Details Base Year 2023 Forecast period 2024-2028 Historic Data for 2018 - 2022 Segments Covered Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), Product Type (Hard wax, Pre made wax strip, and Soft wax), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Key Companies Covered Church and Dwight Co. Inc., Coty Inc., Edgewell Personal Care Co., Fidelgrow Hellas IKE, FILO BIANCO S.r.l., Harley Waxing, Harrys Inc., Jax Wax Australia Pty Ltd., JOLEN INC., LOreal SA, Marketing Brokers Australia Pty Ltd., MAYSTAR S.L., Parissa Laboratories Inc., RDM Care India Pvt. Ltd., Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, Rica spa, SI and D Aust Pty. Ltd., Thalgo, The Darent Wax Co. Ltd., and Xanitalia srl Regions Covered North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America

Region Outlook

North America Europe Asia Rest of World

1. North America - North America is estimated to contribute 32%. To the growth of the global market. The Hair Removal Wax Market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels from 2017 to 2027.

The North American region dominates the global hair removal wax market due to the increasing consumer spending on personal care products and the growing number of salons and spas. In February 2022, there were over 904,718 salons in the US, a significant increase from the 874,408 in February 2021. The trend towards maintaining a groomed physical appearance drives the demand for hair removal waxing products. Factors such as rising disposable income, improved standard of living, and an increasing number of working women contribute to the market's growth.

For more insights on North America's significant contribution along with the market share of rest of the regions and countries - Download a FREE Sample

Segmentation Overview

Distribution Channel

1.1 Offline

1.2 Online

Product Type

2.1 Hard wax

2.2 Pre made wax strip

2.3 Soft wax

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 APAC

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America

1.1 Fastest growing segment:

The hair removal wax market comprises offline sales made through traditional brick-and-mortar retail channels. Offline sales have experienced significant growth, yet online sales remain substantial due to the convenience they offer. In-store shopping allows consumers to physically engage with products, inspect packaging, and receive guidance from store employees. Brands can increase product visibility and awareness among potential customers through strategic placement in stores. Retailers and brands collaborate to promote their products through in-store promotions, discounts, and bundle deals. Interactive displays and demonstration stations help showcase product features. Brands host workshops and events to educate customers about proper waxing techniques and product benefits. Eco-friendly packaging and materials cater to environmentally-conscious consumers. Retailers create shopping experiences to attract customers and encourage spontaneous purchases. For instance, Looks, a well-known salon chain, operates over 170 branches in more than 40 cities, providing a high-end hair removal experience. Brands can leverage the advantages of the offline channel, including customer engagement and increased sales, by effectively utilizing retail partnerships, eye-catching displays, and strategic positioning, thereby driving growth in the global hair removal wax market's offline segment. (Exact word count: 98)

Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Research Analysis

The Hair Removal Wax Market has witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by the beauty-conscious female population and female working professionals. The market is fueled by the desire for prolonged beauty and convenience-oriented lifestyles. Waxing, using roots like hard wax and soft wax, has gained popularity over other hair removal methods due to its long-lasting results. The market is also influenced by factors such as awareness, urbanization, and women empowerment in emerging economies. Middle-class consumers in urban areas, with increasing purchasing power, are the primary consumers of hair removal wax. The market includes various players such as resin suppliers, cloth strip manufacturers, and salons, parlors, commercial establishments, and spas catering to working class women. Body hygiene and workplaces also contribute to the market's growth as more women seek to maintain a professional appearance.

Market Overview

The hair removal wax market has seen significant growth over the past few decades due to the increasing awareness of personal hygiene and the desire for prolonged beauty. Waxing, a popular hair removal technique, comes in various forms such as strip wax, root wax, cream wax, and resin wax. Strip wax uses cloth strips to remove hair from the root, while resin wax is used for harder-to-reach areas. Both men and women use hair removal wax for body and facial hair, with the global public seeking an attractive appearance for both aesthetic and social reasons. Urbanization and the rising standard of living in emerging economies have led to an increase in the number of commercial salons, parlors, and spas offering waxing services. Working class women and youngsters are among the key consumers, with permanent hair removal gaining popularity due to its long-lasting effect. The market is also driven by lifestyle changes, body hygiene concerns, and acceptance of procedures like Brazilian waxing for sensitive parts. Consumers seek less irritating and more effective waxing products, with soft wax and hard wax being the most popular. Waxing procedures like warm waxing and popular waxing procedures such as paper strip and hot wax cater to different skin types. The market also offers a range of waxing products with unique fragrances, colors, and flavors, as well as natural ingredients. Other hair reduction techniques like epilators, electrical devices, and laser treatments are also available for those with larger budgets. The market for hair removal wax is expected to continue growing, driven by consumer purchasing power, modern beauty standards, and the convenience of home waxing kits available in beauty stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

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Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Venodr Landscape

11 Vendor 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
New collaboration delivers confidential and convenient telehealth services to address erectile dysfunction for men

DALLAS, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The sensitive nature of sexual health can cause men to avoid seeking treatment that could improve their physical and mental health. According to one survey, 37% of American men have experienced issues related to sexual health, yet only 2 in 5 have sought professional help. A new telehealth collaboration between Health-E Commerce and Rex MD hopes to address this trend by giving millions of men who are enrolled in flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) easy access to clinical support and personalized treatments to address erectile dysfunction at FSA Store and HSA Store .

Health-E Commerce announces telehealth collaboration with Rex MD to support men's health on FSA Store and HSA Store Post this Men who access Rex MD services through FSA Store or HSA Store will receive 95% off erectile dysfunction medication (offer valid for first-time customers only, for first treatment plan).

"Time, access to appointments, cost, and stigma are all common reasons for not going to the doctor, especially when seeking care for issues like sexual health," said Keri Kaiser, chief revenue officer for Health-E Commerce, parent brand to FSA Store and HSA Store. "Our collaboration with Rex MD reinforces our mission to help account holders benefit better from their tax-free funds by giving them access to products and services that improve their health and quality of life."

Rex MD, a subsidiary of LifeMD.com, is a telemedicine company that offers discreet and convenient telehealth consultation, prescription delivery, and treatment for men's health needs. The Rex MD experience begins with a confidential online questionnaire, which is analyzed by a Rex MD-affiliated healthcare provider. Based on this clinical analysis, the provider prescribes a treatment plan and medication, if needed. Subscribers benefit from same-day appointments and the ability to easily reach their assigned physician via the Rex MD Member Portal at any time with questions, requests, or concerns.

Men who access Rex MD services through FSA Store or HSA Store will receive 95% off erectile dysfunction medication (offer valid for first-time customers only, for first treatment plan).

"By removing the common barriers to care for men, like access, time, cost, and complexity, our team at Rex MD has been able to help over 500,000 men get the care they need since launching in 2019," said Nicholas Alvarez, co-founder LifeMD, parent brand to Rex MD. "We're thrilled that our effective, affordable healthcare services will now be more easily accessible to millions of people, thanks to this collaboration with Health-E Commerce."

To take advantage of this new partnership, visit FSAstore.com or HSAstore.com.

About Health-E Commerce

Health-E Commerce is the parent brand to FSA Store and HSA Store , online stores that serve the 70+ million consumers enrolled in pre-tax health and wellness accounts. The company also created Caring Mill , a popular private-label line of health products through which a portion of every purchase is donated to the Children's Health Fund . Since 2010, the Health-E Commerce brands have led the direct-to-consumer e-commerce market for exclusively pre-tax health and wellness benefits. Health-E Commerce plays an essential role in expanding product eligibility for important new categories within the list of eligible medical expenses.

About Rex MD

Rex MD is a leading men's telehealth platform that offers access to virtual medical treatment for a variety of men's health needs, including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, hair loss, weight management, and, most recently, hormone replacement therapy. Since its inception in 2019, Rex MD has served approximately 500,000 patients.

SOURCE Health-E Commerce
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HelloFresh SE ("HelloFresh" or "the Company") (OTC: HLFFF) for violations of the securities laws.

The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. HelloFresh is the subject of an ABC News report published on December 6, 2024, titled: "Labor Department investigating migrant child labor claims at HelloFresh." According to the report, "The U.S. Department of Labor is investigating HelloFresh, the popular meal kit service company, over allegations that migrant children were working at its cooking and packaging facility in Illinois as recently as this summer, ABC News has learned." ABC added, "At least six teenagers, at least some of whom migrated from Guatemala, were found working night shifts at the facility, said Cristobal Cavazos, the executive director for Immigrant Solidarity, an immigrant rights advocacy group that helped report the matter to federal regulators."

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm

Brian Schall, Esq.

310-301-3335

[email protected]

www.schallfirm.com

SOURCE The Schall Law Firm
ATLANTA, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The IHG Owners Association proudly presented its prestigious 2024 Kemmons Wilson Service Award to Kerry Ranson, 2015 Past Chair of the Association's Global Board of Directors and Partner & President of Operations at Raines Co. This award, which honors owners and IHG executives who demonstrate unparalleled service and leadership in the hospitality industry, was presented during the Association's Member Meeting & Networking Reception at the 2024 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

Kerry Ranson, 2015 Past Chair of the IHG Owners Association

Ranson's distinguished career spans decades of notable achievements in hospitality. A graduate of the University of New Orleans with a bachelor's degree in communications, Ranson launched his career at Mirage Hotels, assisting in the opening of the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, Miss. He then worked with Wilson Hotel Management Company before serving as an area director for IHG for three years.

In 2002, Ranson co-founded HP Hotels as President & CEO, guiding the company to recognition on Hotel Business' Top 100 Management Companies list. He later joined Expotel Hospitality as President & COO before returning to HP Hotels as CEO. From 2012 to 2022, under his leadership, HP Hotels rose to prominence as a Top 50 management company.

In 2023, Ranson partnered with Grey Raines and David Tart to lead the acquisition of HP Hotels by Raines Co., doubling the company's portfolio and expanding its presence across the Southeast U.S. By 2024, Raines Co. had entered into a joint venture with Atlantic Hotel Group, broadening its reach into Texas and growing its portfolio to over 65 hotels owned, managed or under development.

As 2015 Chair of the Association's Board, Ranson prioritized strategic initiatives that strengthened the partnership between the Association and IHG. His leadership extended beyond his tenure, serving as Past Chair representative during the pandemic and volunteering on the Hotel Indigo Committee.

Reflecting on the honor, Ranson stated, "To be recognized with the Kemmons Wilson Service Award and to join the list of previous recipients is both a personal and professional highlight. This recognition, especially from my peers and mentorsmany of whom are industry iconsis truly humbling."

John Muehlbauer, CEO of the IHG Owners Association, emphasized Ranson's impact. "Kerry's dedication to fostering collaboration between the Association and IHG has been instrumental in advancing our mission to strengthen the returns on members' investments in IHG hotels. His vision, experience and commitment continue to benefit our global owner community."

Ranson lives in Metairie, La. with his wife, Elizabeth, and their triplet daughters, Ava, Sydney and Olivia.

The IHG Owners Association, originally established by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson in 1955, is the only association of its kind in the hotel industry. The global, not-for-profit organization represents the interests of more than 5,000 owners of IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) properties around the world. The Association helps strengthen members' returns on their investments in IHG hotels by advocating on behalf of its members to IHG leadership on standards and initiatives related to hotel operations and issues facing the wider hospitality industry. The IHG family of brands includes Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, Vignette Collection, EVEN Hotels, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, voco, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Garner hotels, avid hotels, Staybridge Suites, Atwell Suites, Candlewood Suites and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts. For additional information, visit www.owners.org.

Media Contact for IHG Owners Association:

Susie O'Connell

IHG Owners Association

[email protected]

+1.770.604.2307

SOURCE IHG Owners Association
The addition of Ryane Askew as Vice President of Marketing is an exciting investment in this next phase of profitable growth.

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - INDOCHINO, the global leader in made to measure apparel, is excited to announce its strategic focus on brand development as a key driver for growth in 2025. The company is committed to expanding its presence in the retail industry by enhancing its brand story and customer journey. In line with this ambition, INDOCHINO has appointed Ryane Askew as the new Vice President of Marketing, a move that signals the company's commitment to deepening its connection with consumers and accelerating its growth trajectory.

Ryane Askew (CNW Group/Indochino Apparel Inc.)

"INDOCHINO has experienced remarkable growth over recent years, and we are now entering a new chapter where brand development will be central to our continued success," said Drew Green, Chief Executive Officer, and President of INDOCHINO. "Ryane Askew brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking approach to marketing, making her the perfect fit to lead our efforts in shaping the future of the INDOCHINO brand. We are confident that her leadership and deep understanding of analytics and data will help us forge deeper connections with our customers and bring our vision to life in a bold and compelling way."

Ryane is a seasoned and dynamic growth leader with over 15 years of experience delivering impactful growth for globally recognized brands. Ryane's most notable results during her time at Pier 1 Imports, Blue Nile, and Nordstrom were driven by her unwavering customer focused leadership style. Throughout her career, Ryane has built and scaled high-performing teams across a variety of functions, including marketing, e-commerce, analytics, and technology.

"I am thrilled to join INDOCHINO at such an exciting time in the company's journey," said Ryane Askew. "The INDOCHINO brand has always stood for quality, craftsmanship, and personalization, and I look forward to leading the team in building a stronger connection with our customers. Together, we will elevate the brand experience and create new opportunities for growth as we approach 2025 and beyond."

As INDOCHINO looks toward the future, the company's focus on brand development is expected to encompass a variety of initiatives, including refining its digital presence, expanding marketing efforts across channels, and enhancing the overall customer journey. With the appointment of Ryane Askew, INDOCHINO is confident that these initiatives will not only strengthen its position in the market but also solidify its reputation as a leader in custom apparel.

ABOUT INDOCHINO

As the global leader in made to measure apparel, INDOCHINO has developed the shopping experience of the future. Born out of the belief that you don't need to spend a fortune on a custom wardrobe, INDOCHINO was the first company to disrupt the retail sector by making perfect-fitting, personalized apparel on a mass scale.

Customers take on the role of designer, picking out every detail of their garments to make them truly one-of-a-kind. Each custom item is made to the customer's precise measurements and shipped to their door, hassle-free. The company's omni-channel approach allows them to shop online or in person at any INDOCHINO showroom.

SOURCE Indochino Apparel Inc.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Paradise Mobile is proud to announce the appointment of John Legere and Lawrence Guffey as strategic advisors. These two telecom industry visionaries join existing Paradise Mobile advisors like Neville Ray, and bring unparalleled expertise to Paradise Mobile, further solidifying the company's commitment to transforming the mobile experience in Bermuda and beyond.

John Legere, renowned for his leadership as CEO of T-Mobile US from 2012 to 2020, redefined the wireless industry by launching the 'Un-carrier' movement which broke traditional wireless norms by eliminating contracts, simplifying plans, and focusing on customer satisfaction. During John's tenure as CEO he successfully drove the company through a powerful list of achievements: T-Mobile became the fastest network in America; won piles of Best Place to Work awards and accolades; received top J.D. Power Customer Service awards year after year; and successfully brought T-Mobile through an arduous two-year approval process to merge with Sprint. John was also consistently voted a top CEO across America and across all industries.

Lawrence Guffey, Managing Partner of LG Capital Investors, brings decades of experience in investment and corporate strategy, having spent 22 years at The Blackstone Group, and as a long-time T-Mobile Board Member. His strategic insights and leadership have played a key role in numerous high-profile investments in the media and communications sectors.

Anthony Lacavera, Chairman of the Board at Paradise Mobile, shared his thoughts: 'We are excited to have John and Lawrence join the Paradise Mobile team. Their forward-thinking approach and deep industry expertise will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our vision of redefining mobile connectivity through innovation, transparency and simplicity.'

John Legere expressed his enthusiasm: 'Paradise Mobile is setting a new standard in the telecommunications industry with its focus on straightforward pricing and solving customer pain points. I'm excited to support the team and help them deliver the mobile experience customers deserve.'

Lawrence Guffey added: 'We're excited to support the team at Paradise Mobile in their vision to bring the most reliable, fast and innovative mobile services to the Caribbean.'

The addition of Legere and Guffey reflects Paradise Mobile's commitment to enhancing its offerings and shaping the future of telecommunications in Bermuda. By leveraging their insights and expertise, Paradise Mobile aims to build on its reputation as a customer-focused leader in the mobile industry.

For more information about Paradise Mobile and its innovative services, visit www.paradisemobile.bm.

About Paradise Mobile

Paradise Mobile is a forward-thinking telecommunications provider dedicated to delivering customer-focused, Hassle-Free 5G mobile services. With a commitment to transparent pricing, seamless connectivity, and world-class support, Paradise Mobile offers plans designed to meet the needs of today's mobile users. To learn more, visit www.paradisemobile.bm.

SOURCE Paradise Mobile
WAUKESHA, Wis., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and Inspection Certification Associates (ICA) are pleased to announce a new program in Canada, starting in Ontario, focused on providing training to aspiring home inspectors. ICA, the leading pre-licensure school for home inspection, will provide live training in various locations in Canada starting in Q1 of 2025, in collaboration with CanNACHI, InterNACHI's Canadian division.

InterNACHI is the worlds leading association for home inspectors. We provide free training, online testing and certification, business development, marketing support, discounts on everything from home inspection software to E&O insurance to your next truck, and more.

ICA, which operates throughout North America, currently graduates more than 7,000 new home inspectors a year. This partnership with InterNACHI will bring first of its kind live training to Ontario, to help reinforce topics covered in the online courses, drawing on additional content and resources available through InterNACHI. These live trainings will also cover additional topics such as the basics of starting a home inspection business, necessary resources to get started, and more.

"We are beyond excited to partner with Nick Gromicko and the teams at InterNACHI and CaNACHI to expand deeper into Canada, especially as the housing market resurges in the coming year. The need for more home inspectors is evident, and our two organizations are best equipped to help satisfy this need," says Nader Qaimari, the CEO of Edcetera, the company that owns ICA.

"InterNACHI has been serving Canada for years through our CanNACHI division and this partnership with ICA is will greatly help serve new inspectors as they are getting started. ICA is the best partner to help deliver this training at this critical time," says Nick Gromicko, CEO of InterNACHI.

Dates will be announced soon for the first classes in the Ontario province, with more classes to be announced in other provinces throughout the year. To learn more about ICA or to sign up for a course, please visit www.icaschool.com.

About Inspection Certification Associates (ICA)

ICA is an Edcetera company that provides home inspection pre-licensing and continuing education to students, professionals, and companies. The mission of ICA is to enable people from all educational and socioeconomic backgrounds to become entrepreneurs.

About The International Association of Certified Home Inspector (InterNACHI)

The International Association of Certified Home InspectorsInterNACHIis the world's largest nonprofit association of residential and commercial property inspectors, providing education, training, certification, benefits and support for its members. InterNACHI-Certified Professional Inspectors follow a comprehensive Standards of Practice, abide by a strict Code of Ethics, and take accredited Continuing Education courses each year, including InterNACHI's Online Inspector Examination.

Home inspectors, consumers, and real estate professionals can all find the information and support they need to make informed and confident decisions at www.NACHI.org.

Media Contact Information:

Chereen Zaki

[email protected]

SOURCE Edcetera
ATLANTA, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Advisers, Inc., a subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ), announced today the final results of the tender offers for Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals (NYSE: VTN) and Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust (NYSE: VPV) (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds"). Each tender offer expired at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on Monday, December 9, 2024 (the "Expiration Date").

Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals conducted a tender offer for cash of up to 4,869,438 of the Fund's outstanding common shares of beneficial interest ("Common Shares"), representing twenty five percent of its Common Shares. Based on calculations by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depositary agent (the "Agent") for the Fund's tender offer, approximately 6,818,415 Common Shares, or approximately 35% of the Fund's Common Shares outstanding, were tendered through the Expiration Date. The Fund has accepted 4,869,438 shares (subject to adjustment for fractional shares) for cash payment at a price equal to $11.87 per share. This purchase price is 99% of the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") per share of $11.99 as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on December 10, 2024, the pricing date stated in the Offer to Purchase. Because the total number of Common Shares tendered exceeded the number of Common Shares offered to purchase, all tendered Common Shares are subject to proration in accordance with the terms of the Offer to Purchase. Under final pro-ration, 71.42% of the Common Shares tendered will be accepted for payment, subject to adjustment for fractional shares. Following the purchase of the tendered shares, the Fund will have approximately 14,608,315 Common Shares outstanding.

Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust conducted a tender offer for cash of up to 5,957,386 of the Fund's Common Shares, representing twenty five percent of its Common Shares. Based on calculations by the Agent, approximately 8,073,690 Common Shares, or approximately 33.9% of the Fund's Common Shares outstanding, were tendered through the Expiration Date. The Fund has accepted 5,957,386 shares (subject to adjustment for fractional shares) for cash payment at a price equal to $11.69 per share. This purchase price is 99% of the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") per share of $11.81 as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on December 10, 2024, the pricing date stated in the Offer to Purchase. Because the number of shares tendered exceeded the number of Common Shares offered to purchase, all tendered Common Shares are subject to pro-ration in accordance with the terms of the Offer to Purchase. Under final proration, 73.79% of the Common Shares tendered will be accepted for payment, subject to adjustment for fractional shares. Following the purchase of the tendered shares, the Fund will have approximately 17,872,158 Common Shares outstanding.

For investor inquiries, call 1-800-341-2929.

For media relations inquiries contact [email protected]

This communication is not intended to, and shall not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of any of the Invesco Funds, including either Fund.

About Invesco Ltd.

Invesco Ltd. Is a global independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. Our distinctive investment teams deliver a comprehensive range of active, passive and alternative investment capabilities. With offices in more than 20 countries, Invesco managed $1.8 trillion in assets on behalf of clients worldwide as of September 30, 2024. For more information, visit www.invesco.com.

Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the U.S. distributor for Invesco Ltd.'s retail products. Invesco Advisers, Inc. is an investment adviser; it provides investment advisory services to individual and institutional clients and does not sell securities. Each entity is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Invesco Ltd.

Note: There is no assurance that a closed-end fund will achieve its investment objective. Common shares are bought on the secondary market and may trade at a discount or premium to NAV. Regular brokerage commissions apply.

NOT A DEPOSIT | NOT FDIC INSURED l MAY LOSE VALUE l NO BANK GUARANTEE | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

SOURCE Invesco Ltd.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. ("DoubleVerify" or "the Company") (NYSE: DV) for violations of the securities laws.

The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. DoubleVerify reported its quarterly financial results on May 7, 2024, including a reduction in its full-year revenue guidance. Based on this news, shares of DoubleVerify fell by more than 38.5% on the next day.

We encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm

Brian Schall, Esq.

310-301-3335

[email protected]

www.schallfirm.com

SOURCE The Schall Law Firm
SHANGRAO, China, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that its board of directors ("Board") has approved the upsizing and extension of its existing share repurchase program ("Existing Share Repurchase Program").

As previously announced, the Company launched a share repurchase program in July 2022, whereby the Company was authorized to repurchase up to US$200 million of its Class A ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares ("ADSs"). In December 2023, the Company extended the share repurchase program by 18 months through June 30, 2025. As of the date of this press release, the Company had repurchased approximately US$134.5 million of the ADSs authorized under the Existing Share Repurchase Program.

On December 10, 2024, the Board has approved to upsize the Existing Share Repurchase Program by increasing the aggregate value of Class A ordinary shares represented by ADSs that may be repurchased from US$200 million to US$350 million. In addition, the Board has also approved to extend the Existing Share Repurchase Program for an additional 12-month period through June 30, 2026 (the "Extended Share Repurchase Program"). Under the Extended Share Repurchase Program, the Company may repurchase up to approximately US$215.5 million of its Class A ordinary shares represented by the ADSs through June 30, 2026.

The Company's proposed repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices in open-market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or block trades, and/or through other legally permissible means, depending on market conditions and in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations. The timing and conditions of the share repurchases will be subject to various factors including the requirements under Rule 10b-18 and Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act, as well as the Company's insider trading policy. The Company plans to use its existing funds and external financing to fund repurchases made under the Extended Share Repurchase Program. The Board will review the Extended Repurchase Program periodically and may authorize adjustment of its terms and size.

Mr. Xiande Li, JinkoSolar's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The upsizing and extension of the Existing Share Repurchase Program further reflect our continued confidence in our long-term business growth. The competitive advantage of our N-type TOPCon technology, extensive global operation network, and advanced integrated capacity structure have ideally positioned us to capture the growth opportunities this sector continues to generate. We remain fully committed to creating sustainable value for our shareholders."

About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and other countries and regions.

JinkoSolar had over 10 productions facilities globally, over 20 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Indonesia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, and a global sales network with sales teams in China, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Vietnam and India, as of September 30, 2024.

To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "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, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Ms. Stella Wang

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

Tel: +86 21-5180-8777 ext.7806

Email: [email protected]

Mr. Rene Vanguestaine

Christensen

Tel: +86 178 1749 0483

Email: [email protected]

In the U.S.:

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

Christensen, Scottsdale, Arizona

Tel: +1-480-614-3004

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
RESTON, Va., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) today announced a $2.5 million donation to The Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The contribution will support renovations and expansions that will increase The Children's Inn's capacity to serve young patients and their families participating in pediatric research. In recognition of this gift, The Inn's new porte-cochere  the welcoming main entrance for families and visitors  will bear the Leidos name.

"For more than two decades, Leidos has stood alongside The Children's Inn, championing its mission to create a place like home for children and families fighting rare and complex diseases," said Leidos CEO, Tom Bell. "This donation reflects our deep commitment to advancing medical research and supporting the courageous families who inspire us every day."

The gift supports The Children's Inn's $50 million Building Extraordinary capital campaign, which aims to enhance facilities and services for the growing number of patients partnering with NIH researchers to tackle rare and serious diseases. Once completed in 2027, the expansion will increase The Children's Inn's capacity by 25%, accommodating up to 3,000 patients annually.

"As a company dedicated to delivering innovative health solutions, we are honored to deepen our partnership with The Children's Inn," said Liz Porter, Leidos Health & Civil Sector president. "This transformative project strengthens essential support for families while driving the advancement of life-changing medical discoveries."

The donation underscores Leidos' mission-driven focus on advancing health and clinical research in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It also highlights Leidos' long-standing partnership with The Children's Inn, reflecting decades of support that includes volunteer work, board leadership, financial sponsorships, and program engagement.

"Leidos has been a fundamental pillar of support for The Children's Inn for more than 20 years, and its ongoing support has made an indelible impact on the lives of countless families," said The Inn's CEO Jennie Lucca. "This donation will help bring our vision for The Inn of Tomorrow to life, providing an even more welcoming and supportive environment for children and families who come to the NIH for life-saving treatments. Leidos' generosity is a testament to its belief in the power of innovation and compassion to change lives."

This donation builds on Leidos' recent contributions to Drake State Community & Technical College and Hampton University, further demonstrating the company's broader commitment to improving lives in the communities it serves.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500 innovation company rapidly addressing the world's most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.

About The Children's Inn

The Children's Inn at NIH is a private, nonprofit "Place Like Home" for children and their families participating in pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, the world's premier biomedical research hospital. The Inn reduces the burden of illness through therapeutic, educational, and recreational programming at no cost to families. Since opening in 1990, more than 16,000 families from around the world and all 50 states have made The Inn their home during clinical trials. As a partner in discovery and care with the NIH, The Inn strives for the day when no family endures the heartbreak of a seriously ill child.

The NIH Clinical Center is at the forefront of a new era of promising pediatric research. As the world leader in rare disease research, the NIH is positioned to make significant breakthroughs in treating rare inherited diseases, most of which continue to lack a safe, effective treatment. The Clinical Center has about 1,500 active protocols, one-third of which include children. Propelled by advances in gene therapy and cellular engineering, NIH researchers anticipate advanced treatments and even cures for some rare genetic diseases on the horizon.

Contact:

Alyssa Pettus

(571) 992-5499

[email protected]

Victor Melara

(703) 431-4612

[email protected]

SOURCE Leidos
LAC leaders, local lawmakers and partners celebrated the future of this affordable housing community in the Braddock District.

FAIRFAX, Va., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, broke ground Monday on the Residences at Government Center II during a ceremony with LAC leaders, local lawmakers and partners, including Virginia Housing, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) and Capital One.

LAC leaders, local lawmakers and partners break ground on Residences at Government Center II, celebrating the future of this affordable housing community.

The Residences at Government Center II will provide 279 high-quality, affordable homes for families in the Braddock District. Upon completion, this community will also feature a daycare center, providing a safe and convenient childcare option for residents.

U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly, who represents Virginia's 11th District in Congress, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony. Other speakers included Nick Bracco, Vice President, Lincoln Avenue Communities; Lenore Stanton, Chair, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority; Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; James Walkinshaw, Braddock District Supervisor, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and Kerrie Wilson, CEO, Cornerstones.

"Throughout my career, creating and preserving affordable housing has been a key priority. As a Congressman and the former Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, I am thrilled to be a part of this innovative use of land to further the creation of affordable housing in our community," said Rep. Connolly.

"Lincoln Avenue Communities is proud to begin construction on the Residences at Government Center II," said Nick Bracco, Vice President, Lincoln Avenue Communities. "Once completed, this property will offer nearly 300 affordable homes with top-tier amenities to families and individuals in Fairfax County, where new affordable housing is strongly needed."

"We are proud to welcome new affordable housing right here in our front yard at the Fairfax County Government Center. These new homes will ensure that more people have an equitable shot at building their own future, right here in Fairfax County," said Jeff McKay, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

"For years, I've felt that we could make better use of the sea of parking in front of the Fairfax County Government Center to help meet our affordable housing goals. I made the motion to convey the property to the FCRHA for that purpose, and today, we are seeing this concept come to fruition," said James Walkinshaw, Supervisor, Braddock District, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. "I look forward to welcoming 279 families to their new homes at this innovative complex in the Braddock District."

"During the 2024 calendar year, we have come together to celebrate affordable housing groundbreakings or grand openings several times. Residences at Government Center II is another testament to our commitment to developing affordable housing in all corners of Fairfax County," said Lenore Stanton, Chair, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

"We are pleased to help bring affordable housing to Fairfax, just a short distance away from Capital One's headquarters. This development builds on our relationship with Lincoln Avenue Communities and the work we have done to expand affordable housing in Fairfax, Miami, New Orleans and Richmond," said Ed Delany, Senior Director for Community Finance at Capital One. "Capital One provided construction debt, LIHTC equity investments and permanent Freddie Mac loans, including structuring and closing Freddie Mac's first Forward Bond Credit Enhancement in just 90 days to meet the closing timeline."

"Residences at Government Center II is a perfect example of taking underutilized land and creating something beautiful to support the community," said Director, Production Patricia Mao Booker at KTGY. "Our architects carefully designed around the surrounding environment to enhance the pedestrian experience for this mixed-use affordable housing complex. We're proud to support low-income families in Fairfax with this new, beautifully designed community."

About LAC:

Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for lower- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. A subsidiary of Lincoln Avenue Capital , LAC is a mission-driven organization with a presence in 28 states and a portfolio of 170+ properties comprising 30,500+ units.

SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Communities
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- McAllister, a leader in ship docking, towing, and maritime transportation, is commemorating its 160th anniversary with an evening of celebration. Founded in 1864 in New York Harbor with a single sail lighter, McAllister has grown into one of the oldest and largest family-owned marine towing and transportation companies in the United States. For 160 years, McAllister has called New York City home, growing alongside the port's rise as a global maritime powerhouse and cementing its legacy as a cornerstone of the maritime industry. This milestone recognizes the company's pivotal contributions to harbor towing, coastal towing, and bulk transportation, as well as its leadership in green technologies and its dedication to shaping the future of the maritime industry.

When:

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Part I: Harbor Tour  4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Part II: Anniversary Dinner  7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Where:

Harbor Tour  On board a McAllister vessel, departing from Pier 86 at the Intrepid Museum, New York, NY . Anniversary Dinner  Intrepid Museum, Hangar 3, New York, NY .

Who:

McAllister family members, including direct descendants of Captain James McAllister . Industry leaders and innovators from maritime and shipping sectors. Representatives from the shipping community, including vessel operators, port authorities, and terminal managers. McAllister's valued customers, such as container lines, tanker companies, and energy transport firms. Shipyards and maritime construction specialists. Employees, partners, and distinguished guests from McAllister's operations spanning the East Coast, from Eastport, Maine to San Juan, Puerto Rico .

Highlights:

A scenic Harbor Tour departing from Pier 86, featuring a cocktail reception on board a McAllister vessel. Docking at Pier 86 and crossing over to the Intrepid Museum, Hangar 3, for a formal Anniversary Dinner, with speeches from McAllister family members and industry leaders, including representatives from:

United States Coast Guard (USCG)

American Waterways Operators (AWO)

Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey (MAPONY/NJ)

SUNY Maritime College

Steamship Mutual P&I Club

Oceanic Network

Celebrating McAllister's unique 160-year history in New York Harbor, reflecting its foundational role in the development of one of the world's most important ports.

Recognizing McAllister's 40% reduction in emissions over the last 15 years, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Highlighting McAllister's innovative fleet modernization, including its pioneering use of Tier IV engines, oil spinners saving 20,000 gallons of oil since 2016, and ongoing efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.

Showcasing McAllister's role in offshore wind projects, such as Vineyard Wind, Sunrise Wind, and the first Mediterranean mooring in the Port of Norfolk for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project.

Travel, Parking & Attire:

Please see the full list on the event website for parking hotels, and attire at https://mcallister160.rsvpify.com/.

Media Opportunities:

We welcome members of the media to join us on the Harbor Tour to capture scenic visuals, interact with key stakeholders, and experience McAllister's vessels firsthand. Reserved seating will also be available for media representatives at the Anniversary Dinner, providing the opportunity to cover speeches and celebrate McAllister's legacy alongside our distinguished guests. Interviews with company executives and event speakers on McAllister's 160-year journey, particularly its role in New York Harbor's growth and success. Photo and video opportunities showcasing the Harbor Tour, vessel reception, and Anniversary Dinner. Coverage of McAllister's innovative sustainability initiatives, fleet modernization, and role in offshore wind development.

RSVP for Media:

Members of the media are requested to RSVP by no later than 12:00 PM (noon) on December 13, 2024, directly to:

MTI Network

Lorraine Parsons

Email: [email protected]

Office: 203 406 0106 ext. 3717

For additional information, please reach out to:

Alessandra Tebaldi, Esq.

Executive Vice President & General Counsel

McAllister

17 Battery Place, Suite 700

New York, NY 10004

Cell: (646) 413-0489

Email: [email protected]

Join the Conversation:

Celebrate this milestone online using the hashtag #McAllister160. Visit the event website at https://mcallister160.rsvpify.com/ for more information.

SOURCE McAllister
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global medical gas blenders market size is estimated to grow by USD 582 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.42% during the forecast period. Growing geriatric population and rising prevalence of chronic diseases is driving market growth, with a trend towards increasing use of respiratory gas blenders in nicus. However, stringent regulations on design and manufacturing of medical gas blenders poses a challenge. Key market players include BioMed Devices, DEHAS Medical Systems GmbH, EKU Elektronik GmbH, ESAB Corp., Genstar Technologies Co. Inc., Guangdong Pigeon Medical Apparatus Co. Ltd., Halma Plc, HVS Oliver Hornla GmbH and Co. KG, Inspiration Healthcare Group Plc., MCQ Instruments, medin Medical Innovations GmbH, Ningbo David Medical Device Co. Ltd., Precision Medical Inc., S S Technomed P Ltd., Scanatron Technics AG, SHANGHAI AMCAREMED TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., TG Eakin Ltd., Weyer GmbH, WITT Gasetechnik GmbH and Co KG, and Zhengzhou Dison Instrument And Meter Co. Ltd..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global medical gas blenders 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 End-user (Hospitals, Ambulatory surgical centers, Pharmaceuticals, Homecare settings, and Academic and research institutions), Product (Dual flow and Tube flow), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)) Region Covered North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Key companies profiled BioMed Devices, DEHAS Medical Systems GmbH, EKU Elektronik GmbH, ESAB Corp., Genstar Technologies Co. Inc., Guangdong Pigeon Medical Apparatus Co. Ltd., Halma Plc, HVS Oliver Hornla GmbH and Co. KG, Inspiration Healthcare Group Plc., MCQ Instruments, medin Medical Innovations GmbH, Ningbo David Medical Device Co. Ltd., Precision Medical Inc., S S Technomed P Ltd., Scanatron Technics AG, SHANGHAI AMCAREMED TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., TG Eakin Ltd., Weyer GmbH, WITT Gasetechnik GmbH and Co KG, and Zhengzhou Dison Instrument And Meter Co. Ltd.

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

The Medical Gas Blenders Market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing number of surgical procedures, driven by diseases such as cancer in the elderly population. Anesthesia delivery machines require a precise flow of gases like oxygen and nitrous oxide for controlled anesthesia during surgery. Manual handling of gases is being replaced by automated handling and electronic control systems. The gas blending system, breathing system, ventilating system, and gas exhaust system are essential components of anesthetic devices. Oxygen, nitrous oxide, and other anesthesia gases are in high demand in hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers. The VMR industry report provides forward-looking analysis and actionable data on gas flows, automated processing, and information management systems. Electronic gas mixing and gas monitoring ensure patient safety and respiratory monitoring. Self-inspection and data systems facilitate efficient gas source management. Outpatient surgeries, hernia operations, hip replacements, and knee replacements are common procedures that utilize medical gas blenders. Chronic conditions, heart surgeries, brain surgeries, lung surgeries, orthopaedic surgeries, gastrointestinal surgeries, inhalable anesthetics, intravenous anesthesia, and cosmetic procedures all require anesthetic devices. Emerging economies and the geriatric population's adoption of these technologies are key growth drivers. Electric power is a critical factor in the functioning of these devices. The market pitches, business plans, presentations, and proposals highlight the importance of these trends in the medical industry. Sample VMR reports are available with discounts.

The medical gas blenders market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand for respiratory gas blenders in healthcare facilities. Neonates and infants, particularly those born prematurely, require additional oxygen to breathe properly after birth. The use of medical gas blenders ensures the delivery of precise oxygen mixtures to these patients, preventing potential brain damage or even death. Vendors, such as Ohio Medical, provide reliable and advanced gas blenders, including the NEO2 blend and low-flow models, designed for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), ensuring accurate gas mixing for optimal patient care.

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Market Challenges

The Medical Gas Blenders Market faces several challenges in the healthcare industry. Diseases such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer require various surgical procedures, leading to an increased demand for anesthesia delivery machines and controlled anesthesia gases like oxygen and nitrous oxide. Manual handling of gases and knob adjustments in anesthetic devices can lead to errors. Electronic control and automated handling are solutions, but cost and self-inspection requirements add complexity. The VMR industry report highlights the importance of gas source, gas blending system, breathing system, ventilating system, gas exhaust system, data system, and electronic gas mixing for efficient gas monitoring and respiratory monitoring. Adoption of automated processing for air/oxygen and melting gas is increasing in Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Hospitals, and OECD countries. Emerging economies, geriatric population, and outpatient surgeries present growth opportunities. Electric power reliability and cost are key considerations. The market pitches, business plans, presentations, and proposals must address these challenges and provide actionable data and forward-looking analysis. Types of cancer, surgical admissions, and chronic conditions like heart and brain surgeries, hernia operations, hip replacement, and knee replacement drive demand for anesthesia gases and anesthetic devices. Inhalable anesthetics and intravenous anesthesia are alternatives. Medical practitioners and cosmetic procedures also utilize medical gas blenders. Medical tourism is a growing trend.

Medical gas blenders are essential devices used in healthcare settings to deliver oxygen and heliox therapy, as well as life support in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and emergency situations. The design and manufacturing of these devices are subject to stringent regulations to ensure safety and effectiveness. In Europe , medical gas blenders must comply with the Medical Device Directive (MDD), Directive 2007/47/EC, and Council Directive 93/42/EEC. Additionally, the oxygen used in medical gas blenders must meet regulatory standards, such as those set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z86 in the US. The production, handling, manufacturing, control, and distribution of medicinal oxygen are subject to rigorous regulations to maintain quality and safety.

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Segment Overview

This medical gas blenders market report extensively covers market segmentation by

End-user

1.1 Hospitals

1.2 Ambulatory surgical centers

1.3 Pharmaceuticals

1.4 Homecare settings

1.5 Academic and research institutions

Product

2.1 Dual flow

2.2 Tube flow

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 Asia

3.4 Rest of World (ROW)

1.1 Hospitals- The hospital segment led the global medical gas blenders market in 2023, driven by the increasing patient population and subsequent demand for medical gas blenders. These devices are essential for delivering precise oxygen concentrations and flows to patients with hypoxic conditions. Medical gas blenders play a vital role in hospital care by enabling healthcare professionals to administer oxygen safely and accurately. With patient safety being a top priority, medical gas blenders are indispensable tools for ensuring optimal oxygen level monitoring. Consequently, the growing need for medical gas blenders in hospitals will fuel market expansion throughout 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

The Medical Gas Blenders Market refers to the production and supply of devices used for blending and delivering anesthesia gases for surgical procedures. These gases, including oxygen and nitrous oxide, are essential for controlled anesthesia during surgery. Manual handling of gases using knobs on anesthesia delivery machines has evolved to electronic control and automated handling for improved precision and safety. Gas blending systems ensure accurate mixing of anesthesia gases from various gas sources. The breathing system delivers gases to the patient, while the ventilating system assists in breathing. Gas exhaust systems remove waste gases, and data systems monitor gas flow, oxygen levels, and patient vitals. Electronic gas mixing and gas monitoring ensure safe and efficient delivery of anesthesia gases. Regular self-inspection is crucial to maintain the functionality and safety of medical gas blenders.

Market Research Overview

The Medical Gas Blenders Market is a critical segment of the healthcare industry, supplying essential gases for various medical applications, including surgical procedures and anesthesia delivery. Diseases such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and chronic conditions necessitate surgeries, leading to an increased demand for medical gases. Elderly populations in emerging economies and the growing number of outpatient surgeries in Ambulatory Surgical Centers and Hospitals are significant factors driving market growth. Medical Gas Blenders are used to blend and deliver anesthesia gases, including oxygen, nitrous oxide, and other anesthetic gases, in controlled quantities. These systems consist of a gas source, gas blending system, breathing system, ventilating system, gas exhaust system, data system, and electronic gas mixing with gas monitoring and respiratory monitoring. Manual and electronic control options are available, with automated handling and self-inspection features. The VMR Industry Report provides forward-looking analysis, actionable data, and pitches, business plans, presentations, and proposals for investors and industry professionals. The report covers gas flows, automated processing, air/oxygen, melting gas, and various types of surgeries, including hernia operations, hip replacements, knee replacements, heart surgeries, brain surgeries, lung surgeries, orthopaedic surgeries, gastrointestinal surgeries, inhalable anesthetics, intravenous anesthesia, and cosmetic procedures. The adoption of electronic control and automated handling in medical gas blenders is increasing due to their advantages over manual handling, including improved accuracy, safety, and efficiency. The market is expected to grow significantly due to the increasing number of surgical admissions, electric power usage, and the geriatric population's rising healthcare needs. OECD statistics indicate that surgical procedures accounted for over 50% of all healthcare spending in 2019. In conclusion, the Medical Gas Blenders Market is a vital sector of the healthcare industry, providing essential gases for various medical applications, and its growth is driven by demographic and technological factors.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

End-user

Hospitals



Ambulatory Surgical Centers



Pharmaceuticals



Homecare Settings



Academic And Research Institutions

Product

Dual Flow



Tube Flow

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

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
An Essential Resource for Minnesotans Facing Criminal Charges

EAGAN, Minn., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sieben Edmunds Miller, a Minnesota law firm known for its award-winning criminal defense and personal injury services, announces the release of The Minnesota Criminal Defense Guide. Written by founding attorneys Kevin Sieben and Samuel Edmunds, the book offers an accessible guide for Minnesotans facing criminal charges, aiming to demystify the legal process and empower readers to better understand their rights.

With years of experience representing clients across Minnesota, Sieben and Edmunds have witnessed the confusion and fear individuals often feel when facing criminal charges. The Minnesota Criminal Defense Guide was developed to address these challenges head-on, providing readers with clear explanations of common criminal charges, detailed outlines of the criminal defense process, and insights into possible outcomes.

"Being charged with a crime is often a daunting and confusing experience," said Sieben. "With this guide, we wanted to give readers the information they need to approach the process with greater confidence and prepare for meaningful discussions with their defense attorneys."

The book covers key areas relevant to the criminal defense process, including DWI, assault, theft, drug-related offenses, and more. Each section is crafted to help readers understand the charges they may be facing and how to navigate the legal landscape in Minnesota. By breaking down each stage of the defense process, from initial charges to plea options and sentencing, the guide offers readers a clearer sense of what lies ahead and how best to prepare for the journey.

The Minnesota Criminal Defense Guide is available now on Amazon in both print and eBook formats.

About Sieben Edmunds Miller

Sieben Edmunds Miller is a Minnesota-based law firm offering criminal defense and personal injury legal services. Known for their client-centered approach and commitment to justice, the firm's attorneys serve clients throughout Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin. Founding partners Kevin Sieben and Samuel Edmunds bring extensive experience in both state and federal courts, providing skilled representation and dedicated support for those facing criminal charges or recovering from injuries. For more information, visit www.siebenedmunds.com

Media Contacts

Samuel Edmunds  [email protected], 651-994-6744

Kevin Sieben  [email protected], 651-994-6744

SOURCE Sieben Edmunds Miller
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has encountered a significant political setback in the region after Zambia's Constitutional Court barred his ally, former President Edgar Lungu, from contesting the 2026 presidential election.The ruling disqualified Lungu, 68, citing Zambia's constitutional two-term limit, reversing earlier judgments that had allowed him to stand in previous elections. Lungu, a key opposition figurehead and candidate for the emerging Tonse Alliance, was widely seen as a major contender to challenge incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, a regional adversary of Mnangagwa.Mnangagwa, who has personal and political ties to Zambia, has long viewed the country's political dynamics as critical to his interests. Having grown up in Zambia, Mnangagwa's connection to the nation adds a layer of complexity to his geopolitical strategies. His relationship with Lungu, a fellow strongman, has been pivotal in counterbalancing Hichilema's regional influence.Hichilema, who leads Zambia, has clashed with Mnangagwa on multiple fronts. As chair of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) organ on politics, defence, and security cooperation, Hichilema played a central role in rejecting Mnangagwa's controversial re-election in 2023. The SADC's extraordinary summit in Angola endorsed findings that Zimbabwe's election lacked credibility, straining relations between the two leaders.Lungu's political trajectory has been fraught with legal and electoral disputes. First elected in January 2015 to complete the term of his predecessor, Michael Sata, who died in office, Lungu narrowly won re-election in 2016. His tenure was marred by allegations of electoral irregularities, which his main rival, Hichilema, vehemently contested.In his bid for the 2026 election, Lungu argued that his initial 20-month term should not count toward the constitutional limit. However, the Constitutional Court dismissed this argument, ruling that Lungu had been twice elected and has twice held office, making him ineligible for future presidential contests.This decision overturned earlier rulings that had favored Lungu, including one that permitted his participation in the 2021 elections, which he lost to Hichilema.Lungu's disqualification is a blow to Mnangagwa's regional ambitions. Lungu's Tonse Alliance candidacy was expected to mount a formidable challenge to Hichilema, whose administration has adopted a tough stance against corruption and emphasized democratic reforms.Analysts suggest that the ruling further isolates Mnangagwa in the region, as Hichilema's growing influence within SADC continues to challenge autocratic tendencies in southern Africa.With Lungu out of the race, the 2026 Zambian election dynamics are poised to shift. The ruling has sparked debate in Zambia and beyond about the use of constitutional term limits to consolidate democratic principles.For Mnangagwa, the ruling underscores the challenges of maintaining influence in a region increasingly resistant to authoritarian governance. As the Zimbabwean leader navigates these shifting dynamics, his position in SADC politics appears increasingly precarious.
Funding to Commercialize Lithium Isotope Enrichment Technology

SANTA FE, N.M., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Molten Salt Solutions is pleased to announce the successful close of its Seed funding, securing $3 million from Silicon Valley firms Future Ventures and True Ventures. This investment will support the development of the company's first commercial-scale lithium isotope enrichment process.

Currently, there is no commercial source of enriched lithium isotopes, and conventional enrichment methods are not suitable for industrial-scale production. Molten Salt Solutions addresses this demand with its enrichment process, paving the way for a sustainable isotope supply.

As the world transitions to GHG-free energy sources, there is growing excitement around molten salt reactors (MSRs) and nuclear fusion as revolutionary solutions for clean energy. However, both technologies face unique materials requirements, particularly for lithium isotopes. Molten Salt Solutions' innovative approach to lithium isotope enrichment and production positions it at the forefront of this emerging field, addressing critical supply needs for these advanced reactors.

The Importance of Lithium Isotopes in Next-Generation Reactors

Lithium salts are important to many MSR designs. Enriched lithium-7 in MSR salt mixtures prevents the formation of radioactive tritium, making it a vital component for safer and more sustainable nuclear energy.

Lithium isotopes are also essential for fusion power, which is poised to revolutionize the global energy supply with abundant, nearly limitless energy. In fusion reactors, tritium fuel is produced from lithium-6. Enriching lithium-6 facilitates efficient tritium breeding, allowing continuous fusion reactions.

Paving the Way for a New Era in Clean Energy

Molten Salt Solutions developed and demonstrated the company's proprietary technology with SBIR funding from the National Science Foundation and in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The company will use equity funding to refine its technologies and establish the first pilot production. These advancements will position Molten Salt Solutions as a primary supplier to the advanced nuclear and fusion sectors, facilitating commercial deployment of MSRs and fusion systems.

"Our mission is to facilitate a clean energy future by addressing the critical materials needs of next-generation reactors," said Dr. John Elling, CEO of Molten Salt Solutions. "We are grateful to our investors for their support and commitment to making advanced nuclear energy a reality."

"As believers that energy should be clean, abundant, and accessible to all, we're excited to be investors in Molten Salt Solutions, which will provide essential materials to fuel our future energy systems. The company addresses a critical need for both fusion and fission systems by cost-effectively providing refined lithium, thereby solving a key issue in the industry," said Maryanna Saenko, co-founder of Future Ventures.

About Molten Salt Solutions

Molten Salt Solutions produces isotopically enriched lithium and other key materials for advanced nuclear power, including fission and fusion applications. Through proprietary chromatography and metal salt synthesis techniques, the company enhances the safety and cost-effectiveness of nuclear energy production. The team's expertise in isotope enrichment supports the transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. For more info, visit www.moltensaltsolutions.com.

Molten Salt Solutions is part of the New Mexico Fusion Igniter consortium (fusion-igniter.org). Fusion Igniter's mission is to accelerate fusion technology development by supporting early-stage companies crucial to the fusion supply chain. Based in New Mexico, the consortium harnesses the region's proximity to national laboratories and research institutions, fostering innovation and workforce development in advanced manufacturing, AI, and energy technologies.

SOURCE Molten Salt Solutions
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- America's favorite bathtime buddy, Mr. Bubble, is bringing bubblin' fun to tubs this holiday season with limited-edition gifts at Target and Walmart stores. These giftable bubble baths, fizzy tub colors and potions come in unique, festive designs, making gift giving almost as much fun as bath time.

Mr. Bubble introduces limited-edition gifts at Target and Walmart stores just in time for holiday. These giftable bubble baths, fizzy tub colors and potions come in unique, festive designs, making gift giving almost as much fun as bath time.

"Our holiday exclusives were designed to amp up the bath time cheer for both the young and the young-at-heart," says Michelle Bartlett, Senior Marketing Manager of Product Development. "From bubble baths in the shape of gummy bears to retro-inspired packaging that offer a dose of nostalgia, there's a little bit of something for everyone. And at $3 or less, gift givers will have something to cheer about as well."

Powder Bubble Bath Stockings at Target

Mr. Bubble's limited-edition powder bubble baths in the shape of colorful stockings are now exclusively available in Bullseye's Playground at all Target stores. The formula creates big, long-lasting bubbles and is formulated to be gentle on skin. The 1.4 ounce packets are $1 each and come in three festive scents: Berry Blizzard, Grape Glow and Strawberry Snowball.

Five Bath Time Exclusives at Walmart

Walmart shoppers can bubble up their gift giving with five affordable Mr. Bubble exclusives at their local stores:

For Gummy Bear Lovers

Gummy bears have been bringing joy to kids for over 100 years, and now that same joy can be found at bath time! New Gummy Bear Bubble Baths are packaged in adorable bear-shaped bottles and create mountains of big, fluffy bubbles, as only Mr. Bubble can. They are also formulated with aloe and vitamin E to keep skin soft and hydrated. The 8-ounce Mr. Bubble Gummy Bear Bubble Baths are $3 each and are available in three fruity scents: Berry, Strawberry and Watermelon.

For Sensory Bathtime Play

Ho! Ho! Holiday! Bath Potions turn tub-time into a fun science experiment, encouraging STEM and sensory play. Just add water and watch the eruption of foaming bubbles as Mr. Bubble's signature bubblegum scent fills the air. These limited-edition, Walmart exclusives are $3 each and come in three bright colors: Blue, Pink and Purple.

For Fizzy Tub-Time Fun

Mr. Bubble's Fizzy Tub Colors in colorful holiday ornament packets, make tub-time the best time! Packets are $1 each and have six fizzing tablets to turn bath water into a colorful, magical lagoon. Add to the water one at a time or mix together to create new colors and inspire sensory learning. The tablets clean up easily with a quick rinse of the tub and are non-toxic and fragrance-free.

For Retro Mr. Bubble Fans

The powdered bubble bath that started it all in 1961 is making a comeback for a limited time in a cool, retro packaging design with nostalgic bubble gum scent. The 1.4 ounce Retro Powder Bubble Bath packets are $1 each and available in two colors: Pink and Navy Blue.

This giftable throwback is also available as an 8-ounce liquid bubble bath for $3 each and is available in Pink and White designs. Great for kids' bath time play or a calming bubble break for adults.

About The Village Company

The Village Company (TVC) has a long and rich heritage in personal care products. Originally known as Minnetonka, Inc., TVC markets some of the country's most endearing and enduring heritage brands including Mr. Bubble, the #1 kids bath brand with #1 kids bubble bath, selling over 8 bottles per minute; Village Naturals Therapy and Village Naturals Bath Shoppe bath products; Soft & Dri deodorant; Dep hair gel; and Hallu bath and shower line. The Village Company's brands are widely distributed through leading retailers in the food, drug, mass and e-commerce channels. Visit thevillagecompany.com to learn more.

SOURCE The Village Company
Signing the initial agreement with Limbach Group, the largest lab network in Germany established in 1979, marks the beginning of Noul's entrance into the market, with plans to gradually introduce the miLab platform across their laboratory network by 2026

"Securing the most esteemed and high-standard reference customers in Europe will accelerate our expansion into other countries within the region."

YONGIN, South Korea, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Noul Co., Ltd. (CEO: David Lim, hereunder as "Noul") has signed an agreement with Limbach Group SE, the largest lab chain in Germany to signal for miLab platform's launching in the EU.

Under the agreement, Noul will provide its AI-based hematology solution, miLab BCM, and its malaria diagnosis solution, miLab MAL, for phased implementation in Limbach Group's laboratories. The miLab BCM is an AI-driven blood analysis solution, while miLab MAL specializes in the AI-based diagnosis of malaria in samples.

Noul's CEO, David Lim said, "This agreement is significant in that it is the first contract with a major lab chain in Europe," and that "Noul plans to extend the reach into the European market with all of its test portfolios, beginning with the well-referenced miLab MAL and BCM, and in the near future with the cervical cancer solution recognized by WHO-UNITAID. Securing the most esteemed and high-standard reference customers in Europe will accelerate our expansion into other countries within the region."

Limbach Group is the largest clinical laboratory network in Germany and one of the top major networks in Europe with 300 clinical specialists and over 5,000 employees, generating over 1.2 billion Euro in revenue. Limbach labs provide top-notch services in all scopes of laboratory diagnostics including immunology and hematology. Through the partnership, Noul established the foundation to provide on-device AI solutions for BCM and MAL more efficiently than ever to the patients. Beginning with Germany, Noul plans to extend its supply chain to all of Europe including Switzerland and the Netherlands.

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AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FHD Forensics is pleased to announce a multi-agency collaboration with Historic Camden Foundation , South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT), Richland County Coroner's Office (RCCO), South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources on a forensic identification project of great historic significance. As a continuation of the Camden Burials campaign begun in 2022, the company is now undertaking the genetic genealogy analysis of some of the 'The Fourteen' as they became known.

Dr. Bill Stevens and Dr. Madeline Atwell of the Richland County Coroner's Office take great care during the 2022 archeological recovery of a Battle of Camden casualty whose hasty 244 year old field burial was endangered. Some of the 14 soldiers recovered had DNA extracted for genetic genealogy investigations that began this month. FHD Forensics' Allison Peacock says the effort aims to uncover the personal stories of America's first veterans. Sarah Nell Blackwell photo, courtesy of SCBPT. From left, archaeologist and director of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA), Dr. Steve Smith, investigative genetic genealogist Allison Peacock of FHD Forensics, and archaeologist James Legg after a 2023 tour of the historic Camden battlefield where the remains of 14 Revolutionary War casualties were unearthed. Her company is performing genetic genealogy analysis on some of the soldiers, in what she calls the investigation of a lifetime. FHD Forensics photo.

In 2022, skeletal remains and artifacts of 14 Revolutionary War soldiers from the Battle of Camden were unearthed after shallow battlefield burials were being exposed by many years of erosion and relic hunting activity.

"The burials were very cursory in nature," explained SCIAA archaeologist James Legg. "Prisoners of war were likely made to bury the dead in extremely shallow graves  we're talking 12 to 14 inches deep. Some of them even showed evidence of plow marks from 20th century farming, that's how poorly these soldiers were treated."

"This was a humanitarian recovery preventing these individuals from being further damaged," commented Dr. Bill Stevens, deputy coroner at RCCO. "The biological anthropologists in our office worked for months to x-ray, clean, examine and re-assemble the remains before reburial."

It was the deep respect and reverence exhibited by everyone involved in the Camden Burials project that FHD Forensics' founder and genetic genealogist Allison Peacock says inspired her team to get involved.

Genetic profiles from the ancient DNA of the first two Revolutionary War soldiers of thirteen have been successfully sequenced by Astrea Forensics in order to undertake the challenge of identifying them using genetic genealogy. The 14th, probably a North Carolina Loyalist, was determined to be Native American and was not sampled.

Peacock believes these are the oldest John Doe investigations in the country.

Historic Camden Foundation is the steward of Camden's colonial and Revolutionary War history. As owners of the largest portion of the battlefield, they provided funding for the identifications.

"As property owners, we are the caretakers of not only the resources we can see above ground, but also to the rich history below ground," explained Cary Briggs, executive director, Historic Camden Foundation.

The late Doug Bostick, former CEO of SCBPT, summed up the importance of the groundbreaking effort. "They are truly America's first veterans. We have a responsibility to honor their sacrifice by ensuring their remains are protected in perpetuity and their stories of bravery are shared."

Before his death last year, Bostick spearheaded the international reburial event in April, 2023. In addition to U.S. and British military contingencies in attendance, the Air Force performed a flyover to honor these men who lit the way for the next 244 years of armed forces in this country.

"It has been a responsibility well met," continued Peacock. "The emotional significance of the Camden Burials event inspires us in this new phase. The DNA data looks promising, so the next few months will see us uncovering the personal stories of these heroes."

Current SCBPT CEO Rick Wise hopes these new efforts might reunite families whose ancestors' sacrifice helped others escape.

Legg said the evidence of battle uncovered during their preservation efforts helps solidify the reality of the war, which can be difficult to conceptualize outside of history books:

"It's almost like a mythology, the Revolution; like a story we all agree happened, but may not feel that it was real. These gravesites made it real."

Peacock invites anyone with ties to colonial Maryland, Delaware, or North Carolina or the Battle of Camden to visit the FHD Forensics website to join the project or follow the company on Facebook for an inside look at what she calls "the investigation of a lifetime."

Media Contact:

Cyndi Despault

512-270-1301

[email protected]

SOURCE FHD Forensics
TSXV: PGZ| OTCQX: PGZFF | FRA: 2EU

High tin concentrate grades of 63.2% at recovery rates of 64% calculated from conventional gravity processing





Low levels of penalty elements





Gravity concentration test results show significant additional tin recovered from the tails, increasing overall tin recovery by 10%





Excellent tin metallurgy results value-adding for La Romana economics

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQX: PGZFF) (FRA: 2EU) is pleased to announce positive metallurgical test results from the second phase tin metallurgy test program, with the successful recovery of additional tin from the gravity tailings at the La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery in the Escacena Project, southern Spain.

Figure 1  Processing flowsheet for recovering tin from final tailings (CNW Group/Pan Global Resources Inc.)

"The testwork on the La Romana mineralization continues to produce excellent metallurgy results for both copper and tin that stand out relative to other mines on the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The new metallurgy tests were highly successful, confirming that additional tin can be recovered from the gravity tails that would otherwise be lost. The tests show La Romana tin mineralization is well suited to conventional gravity separation to produce high-quality, marketable tin concentrate. These results further enhance our view that the tin mineralization could meaningfully add to the overall project economics and de-risking," said Tim Moody, Pan Global's President & CEO.

Key Results:

A premium high-grade tin concentrate is achievable using conventional gravity separation techniques

Additional tin concentrate can be efficiently recovered from the gravity tails after both rougher and cleaner stage processing using a shaker table and Multi-Gravity Separator

Tin recoveries of 63.9%, representing a 10% overall increase on previous estimates with additional tin recovered from the gravity tails

High tin concentrate grades of 63.2%

Chemical analysis of the final tin concentrates confirmed low levels of deleterious elements such as arsenic, mercury, and antimony that might incur refining penalties

Simple processing flowsheet with conventional gravity separation for tin and flotation for copper requiring less energy-intensive fine grinding compared to mines in the area

Metallurgy work has been done to a level adequate for Preliminary Economic Assessment

Next steps could include closed-circuit testing, such as pilot plant trials on larger volumes of material to optimize concentrate grades and recoveries for pre-feasibility/feasibility studies.

The testwork was conducted by Wardell Armstrong International (United Kingdom), under the coordination and management of Minepro Solutions SL (Spain). The new results complement the previous positive metallurgy testwork on La Romana copper/tin/silver mineralization that showed the potential to produce high quality, clean, saleable copper concentrate by conventional flotation, and produce premium quality, high-grade tin concentrate with good recoveries by conventional gravity separation (see media releases dated March 21, 2024 and April 3, 2024),

Second Phase Tailings Testwork Program for Tin

The purpose of this program was to investigate the potential for recovering additional tin from the fine fractions of the gravity tailings after initial processing, and also enhance the overall efficiency of the recovery process and economics of the project.

Initial gravity separation tests proved significantly more effective for recovering tin from tailings compared to flotation methods. Detailed gravity separation tests on the gravity tails were then conducted on two size fractions: coarser (-53+38 microns) and finer (-38 microns). The coarser fraction was processed using conventional shaker tables and the finer fraction was processed using a Multi-Gravity Separator, to produce tin concentrates after both rougher and cleaner stages, and recirculation to enhance the overall recovery efficiency. See Figure 1 below.

Closed-circuit interpretation results

All the metallurgical testwork to recover tin concentrates has been under open-circuit conditions where a portion of tin may be lost or unaccounted for, either as middlings or tailings products. Following the success in recovering additional tin from the finer fraction of the gravity tails, a mass balance calculation was performed by Minepro to simulate what might be achieved under closed-circuit conditions.

The mass balance calculation gave a projected final tin concentrate grade of 63.2%, and tin recovery rates of 63.9%. The calculation is based on the open-circuit results and similar deposits in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, assuming tin recoveries of 90% from the middlings and 25% from tailings. These results will be verified in further testing, including closed-circuit testing, such as pilot plant trials.

About the Escacena Project

The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Escacena is located near the operating mine at Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage to allow new mine construction to commence. The Escacena Project hosts Pan Global's La Romana copper-tin-silver and Canada Honda copper-gold discoveries, and a number of other prospective targets, including, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, Romana Norte, San Pablo, Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, and Cortijo.

About Pan Global Resources

Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively targeting copper-rich mineral deposits, given copper's compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one low-risk jurisdiction for mining investment. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations - all of which are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles, of the United Nations Global Compact.

Qualified Persons

Alvaro Merino, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information for this media release. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company.

Forward-looking statements

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

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.

SOURCE Pan Global Resources Inc.
DOVER, Del. and EPALINGES, Switzerland, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pilatus Biosciences Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to its leading molecule, PLT012, for treating liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer (HCC/ICCA). Achieved in November 2024, this designation marks a crucial advancement in developing innovative therapies for patients facing these challenging cancers. Dr. Raven Lin, CEO, emphasized the company's commitment to addressing urgent medical needs, while Prof. Ping-Chih Ho highlighted PLT012's unique therapeutic approach targeting the tumor microenvironment. Pilatus is actively working with regulatory authorities to expedite PLT012's development and availability.

Pilatus Biosciences, a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company spun out from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (Lausanne), is leading the development of first-in-class biologics targeting metabolic checkpoints. Supported by the Cancer Research Institute (New York), the company employs a pioneering approach to immunometabolism, reprogramming the immune microenvironment to combat cancer effectively.

"We are honored to receive Orphan Drug Designation for PLT012, a milestone that reflects our dedication to addressing the urgent need for innovative therapies in liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer," said Dr. Raven Lin, CEO and Co-founder of Pilatus Biosciences. Prof. Ping-Chih Ho, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and Co-founder of Pilatus Biosciences, added, "PLT012 leverages metabolic checkpoint targeting to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME), offering a unique therapeutic approach. This designation highlights the promising scientific discoveries and results we have achieved in addressing the underserved area. It further motivates us to accelerate PLT012's development and collaborate globally to bring this promising treatment to patients with limited options."

Currently, Pilatus Biosciences is advancing the development of PLT012, actively engaging with regulatory authorities and stakeholders to expedite the availability of this promising therapy.

About PLT012

PLT012, is a humanized anti-CD36 antibody with a unique dual mechanism of action (MOA): it simultaneously disarms immunosuppressive cell populations and amplifies effector T cell functions. PLT012 has shown potential against multiple tumors with unmet medical needs. It is set to advance to its first U.S. IND submission and first patient dosing in 2025. As a monotherapy, PLT012 demonstrates remarkable anti-tumor efficacy in both immune 'hot' and 'cold' tumor models with a significant augmentation in GzmB-expressing CD8+ T cells and reductions in both intratumoral Tregs and pro-tumorigenic macrophage. Additionally, PLT012 treatment alters the exhaustion features of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells by increasing the populations of progenitor- (Texprog) and tumoricidal activities in terminal-exhausted T cells (Texterm), highlighting enhanced anti-tumor immunity when combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapies, such as PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors.

About Orphan Drug Designation

The FDA's Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) program provides orphan status to drugs defined as those intended for the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. ODD qualifies the sponsor of the drug for certain development incentives, including tax credits for qualified clinical testing, prescription drug user fee exemptions and 7 years marketing exclusivity upon FDA approval.

About Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer (HCC/ICCA)

Primary liver cancer first occurs in either the liver or the intrahepatic bile ducts. The two most common types of liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 80-90% of cases), and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA, 10-15% of cases). In HCC and ICCA, metabolic reprogramming plays a crucial role in promoting tumor progression by modifying the TME to support tumor growth and immune evasion.

For HCC, the most common first-line systemic therapies include either a combination of a PD-L1 inhibitor and a VEGF inhibitor or a combination of a PD-L1 inhibitor and a CTLA-4 inhibitor. Most patients will require multiple lines of treatment, as the recurrence rate of HCC has been reported to be as high as 88%. Second-line treatments for HCC are primarily multiple tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors, even the incidence of a second HCC recurrence is 50%-70%. Additional lines of treatment may be administered if the patient can tolerate a second-line therapy with a different MOA than those previously administered.

PLT012 emerges as a promising candidate, demonstrating dual MOA that synergizes with existing treatments and provide immune-stimulating effects in the TME, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

About Pilatus Biosciences Inc.:

Pilatus Biosciences is pioneering in discovering and developing first-in-class antibodies and bifunctional proteins that target metabolic checkpoints, with the goal of driving immuno-microenvironment reprogramming to combat cancer.

With deep expertise in immunometabolism research, Pilatus Biosciences partners with leading cancer research institutions and hospitals worldwide. To strengthen its R&D capabilities, the company established a lab in Taiwan in July 2024, focused on supporting early clinical development and biomarker discovery.

Pilatus Biosciences operates globally, utilizing a cross-border functional team and fostering external collaborations to maintain an agile, cost-efficient development platform, driving its efforts to create groundbreaking therapies.

For more information about Pilatus Biosciences and its work in the field of oncology, please visit https://www.pilatusbio.com/.

SOURCE Pilatus Biosciences
Deal Facilitated by Viking Mergers & Acquisitions

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Power Supply Company LLC, a leading electric utility distributor in Tennessee, has been acquired by Cape Electrical Supply. The acquisition brings together two respected names in the electrical distribution industry and marks a significant expansion for Cape Electrical Supply into the Tennessee market.

Power Supply Company has been acquired by Cape Electrical Supply, a subsidiary of: Graybar.

Founded in 1999 by John Kosky and Rob Jenkins, Power Supply Company serves a broad range of customers throughout Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Moving forward, the company will operate as a division of Cape Electrical Supply, maintaining its existing employees and supplier relationships, ensuring a seamless transition for its loyal customers.

Cape Electrical Supply, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graybar and an employee-owned company, serves markets across the utility, commercial construction, industrial, and residential sectors. The acquisition of Power Supply fills a strategic gap for Cape Electric, which had a presence in surrounding states but not a strong foothold in Tennessee until now.

"We are excited to welcome the Power Supply team to Cape Electric," said the company president. "We look forward to combining our strengths to serve our customers and achieve long-term success together."

Viking M&A's Kyle Valentine and Jeff McKeehan facilitated the transaction. Valentine worked closely with Kosky and Jenkins to craft an exit strategy aligned with their goals while providing a growth opportunity for Cape Electrical Supply.

"Kyle Valentine and Jeff McKeehan... brought the best candidate to the table," said Jenkins. "They enabled us to do our day-to-day work while they sifted through all necessary data. With their guidance and professionalism, we decided upon a company whose current and future goals aligned with ours."

"This deal reflects the strong alignment between buyer and seller," said Valentine. "Both sides were fantastic to work with, and we're confident this acquisition will benefit their customers and employees for years to come."

About Viking Mergers and Acquisitions

Viking provides M&A services to small and mid-sized business owners. In business since 1996, Viking is one of the largest business brokers in the southeast US. The firm has successfully sold over 850 businesses with an 85% close rate, at an average of 96% of the listing price. Visit https://vikingmergers.com to request a free confidential business valuation or to get more information.

SOURCE Viking Mergers & Acquisitions
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Radiotherapy market is expected to grow to USD 9.62 Billion by 2030, up from USD 7.21 Billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period. The focus on use of particle therapy for cancer treatment in hospitals, advancements in radiotherapy treatment technology. Furthermore, rising patient population globally is anticipated to further propel market growth.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Radiotherapy Market"

310 - Tables

56 - Figures

312 - Pages

Moreover, in recent years, the market players are also focusing on providing cost-effective radiotherapy systems due to its growing demand amongst various end users in the market. Also, there is an increasing demand for radiotherapy specially EBRT in the emerging markets. All these factors are expected to drive provide growth opportunities for market players offering radiotherapy market.

Radiotherapy is gaining recognition due to increasing awareness, technological advancements, regulatory requirements, consumer demand for effective cancer treatment. Also, governments in these countries are prioritizing the provision of modern & advanced healthcare services to larger portion of their population. Factors such as improved reimbursement coverage, rapid growth in per-capita healthcare expenditure and increasing public demand for affordable healthcare services are driving the expansion of healthcare products, including oncology devices. This trend is reflected in the overall rise in healthcare expenditure. For example, the World Bank projects global healthcare spending to increase by 5-6% annually through 2030, driven by rising demand for advanced treatments and aging populations. Furthermore, healthcare spending in emerging markets, such as Brazil, India, and South Africa, is expected to grow by over 7% annually, as governments and private sectors prioritize health investments.

In addition to low treatment costs, the markets in developing countries are characterized by the presence of less stringent regulations and data requirements. Also, the regulatory policies in the Asia Pacific are considered to be more adaptive and business-friendly by market players. All these factors are encouraging market players to focus more on emerging markets in the coming years.

The significant target patient population, untapped opportunities, and low competition in developing economies such as China, India, and Brazil are expected to offer significant growth opportunities for players operating in the radiotherapy market.

Based on the system, software & service, radiotherapy market is segmented into system and software & service. During the forecast period, system is expected to dominate the radiotherapy market. The rising usage of automated radiotherapy systems among cancer facilities is one of the major factors after the growing number of cancer cases for the adoption of the system. Furthermore, the growth of the system segment will be driven by increase in industry adoption of radiotherapy products.

Based on procedure, the radiotherapy market is segmented into external beam radiotherapy procedures and internal beam radiotherapy procedures/brachytherapy. The EBRT is further divided into Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT), 3D Conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT), Particle therapy and others. Meanwhile, the IBRT/brachytherapy is further divided into LDR brachytherapy, HDR brachytherapy and PDR brachytherapy. Throughout the forecast period, the EBRT segment is projected to claim the leading position in the market. The primary growth drivers include the reduced risk of radiation exposure in EBRT and the increased precision & accuracy of tumor targeting.

Based on application, the radiotherapy market is segmented into external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) applications and internal beam radiotherapy (IBRT)/brachytherapy applications. During the forecast period, the external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) sector is poised to command the most substantial market share in the radiotherapy market. This dominance is fueled by the increasing adoption and the efficacy of EBRT for new cancer types.

The radiotherapy market covers five key geographies - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. In 2024, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to present noteworthy growth prospects for radiotherapy. This expansion is credited to the rising healthcare spending, the growth of the cancer hospitals and radiotherapy sectors in India and China, and annual rise in geriatric population in several Asia Pacific countries.

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The radiotherapy market exhibits moderate competitiveness, featuring both established companies and emerging competitors for the same market share. As of 2023, the key player operating in the global radiotherapy market are Siemens Healthineers GmbH (Germany), Elekta (Sweden), Accuray Incorporated (US), IBA WORLDWIDE (Belgium), ViewRay Technologies, Inc (US), Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. (US), Hitachi High Tech Corporation (Japan), Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. (Japan), Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Germany) and Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands).

In the past four years, top players in this market have employed key strategies such as product and service launches, making agreements, and undertaking expansions. In 2023, a major share of the radiotherapy market was held by Merck KGaA (Germany), Danaher Corporation (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US), Corning Incorporated (US) and Greiner Bio-One International GmbH (Austria).

MERCK KGAA (GERMANY)

Siemens Healthineers AG became the leading player in the radiotherapy market after acquiring Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (US) in April 2021. Varian's broad product portfolio and the combined sales and distribution capabilities of both companies allowed it to gain the leading market share. The company focuses on organic and inorganic growth strategies to enhance its footprint. During the last three years, Varian, under Siemens Healthineers, has introduced and received regulatory approvals for several products and has entered into several agreements, partnerships, collaborations, and contracts.

ELEKTA (SWEDEN)

Elekta sells its products and services through direct sales and third-party distributors and has a strong presence in North America, Asia Pacific, and European countries. The growth in the company's sales, which was particularly strong in North America, Europe, and Asia, also contributed to maintaining its leading position. Elekta provides its radiotherapy products to over 6,000 hospitals and cancer research institutes worldwide. By 2023-end, the company had an installed base of ~7,300 radiotherapy devices, of which about 5,250 units were LINACs, MR LINACs, or Leksell Gamma Knife systems.

ACCURAY INCORPORATED (US)

Accuray Incorporated is a global innovation company focusing on innovation and product launches in radiotherapy to provide advanced solutions. The company is a leading radiotherapy industry player with a strong market presence in over 50 countries. Accuray Incorporated primarily pursues product innovation to sustain its position in the global radiotherapy market. Thermo Fisher primarily pursues product innovation to sustain its position in the global radiotherapy market. The company mainly depends on the US for revenue generation.

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Parker to lead North America for Hyundai and Genesis

Parker will remain CEO of Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America is on track to achieve a fourth consecutive year of retail sales growth under Parker

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor Company has appointed Randy Parker as the chief executive officer of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America effective Jan. 1, 2025. Parker will lead all Hyundai operations and functions in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and Genesis in the U.S. and Canada, along with oversight for Hyundai's manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Georgia. Parker succeeds Jose Munoz in that role, who has been promoted to president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. Parker will also remain the CEO of Hyundai Motor America.

Randy Parker named CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America.

"Randy Parker is an outstanding leader with a proven track record for driving sales growth and effectively serving our dealer partners, customers, employees and other stakeholders, and I am proud to announce him as the new CEO for Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America," said Munoz. "As I transition to the role of global president and CEO, I'm confident in the continued momentum of the North American market under Randy's leadership."

Parker's leadership at Hyundai Motor America has been instrumental in the company's remarkable sales growth. He joined the company in 2019 as vice president of national sales and in February 2021 was promoted to senior vice president. In August 2022, Parker became CEO of Hyundai Motor America, making history as the first African American to lead a major OEM regional market. Under his guidance, Hyundai became one of the fastest-growing mainstream brands in the United States, setting all-time retail sales records for three consecutive years.

"It's an honor to lead Hyundai and Genesis in North America and build on our growth trajectory," added Parker. "North America has become one of the most important markets for Hyundai globally. We have a clear vision to deliver outstanding products and elevate the customer experience, while being flexible to changing consumer demands and marketplace dynamics. I'm looking forward to leading our teams across the region and continuing to strengthen the relationship with our dealer partners."

Before joining Hyundai, Parker was the vice president of INFINITI North America, leading the brand's overall performance in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Parker had over three decades of automotive industry experience and leadership roles at General Motors (GM), GM Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), Nissan, and Infiniti. At Nissan, he served as division vice president, Global Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales and marketing where he was responsible for the automaker's LCV business unit based in Yokohama, Japan. Parker also served as the regional vice president of Nissan USA's western region.

Parker holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University. He also completed Executive Management Programs at Harvard and Penn State. In 2021, Parker was named to the Automotive News All-Star list, recognized by the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2022 on their prestigious list of industry influencers, and was named an Automotive News Champion of Diversity in 2024.

Hyundai Motor North America

Hyundai Motor North America (HMNA) was established in 2018 to provide strategic oversight of Hyundai Motor America, Hyundai Auto Canada, Hyundai Motor Mexico, Genesis Motor America, and Genesis Motors Canada. HMNA also provides operational oversight of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. HMNA's 1,400 dealerships sold 1.3 million Hyundai and Genesis vehicles in 2023. HMNA is committed to achieving long-term sustainable growth and promoting Hyundai's global vision of 'Progress for Humanity.'

SOURCE Hyundai Motor North America
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute will host an inaugural economic summit in May 2025 with top leaders, thinkers, and innovators in business and economic policy.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute today announced a premier economic policy convening to be hosted at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California, on May 29-30, 2025. The Reagan National Economic Forum (RNEF) will convene top policymakers, thought leaders, innovators, and C-Suite leaders.

RNEF will advance a central pillar of President Reagan's legacy of American economic prosperity driven by opportunity, innovation, and competitive markets. This first-of-its-kind event will convene U.S. leaders and innovators from iconic global brands and trailblazing entrepreneurs, as well as top policymakers and regulators. Together, participants will identify and shape solutions to the significant long-term challenges facing America's economy, and advance policies that drive growth and prosperity.

"RNEF will embody President Reagan's vision of a dynamic and competitive economy that fuels opportunity and prosperity for all Americans," said David Trulio, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. "By convening leaders from across industries and government, we will inspire bipartisan, innovative solutions to the economic challenges of our time, securing U.S. economic leadership in the face of fierce global competition."

"We are excited to add RNEF to our signature policy convenings, building off the tremendous success of the Reagan National Defense Forum, the top defense leadership gathering in the country," said Roger Zakheim, Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.

The mission of RNEF is to advance economic, fiscal, and monetary policies that will sustain and strengthen American opportunity, innovation, and prosperity in the context of fierce global competition, threats to America's national security, and significant domestic challenges. Key themes will be policy choices and reforms, leveraging strengths and opportunities, and global trade and economic security.

This bipartisan event will draw from U.S. leaders and innovators in the industrial, services, financial, technology, and energy sectors; current and former administration officials and Members of Congress; and prominent thought-leaders.

The Forum is guided by a distinguished Honorary Steering Committee, comprising:

Hon. Paul Ryan , Former Speaker of the House

, Former Speaker of the House Hon. Gina Raimondo , Secretary of Commerce

, Secretary of Commerce Hon. Kevin Brady , Former Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means

, Former Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means Hon. Mitch Daniels , Former Governor, Indiana

, Former Governor, Hon. Jason Furman , Former Chair, Council of Economic Advisors

, Former Chair, Council of Economic Advisors Hon. Steven Mnuchin , Former United States Secretary of the Treasury

, Former United States Secretary of the Treasury Hon. Leon Panetta , Former United States Secretary of Defense

, Former United States Secretary of Defense Hon. Gerald Parsky , Chairman, Aurora Capital Partners

, Chairman, Aurora Capital Partners Hon. Condoleezza Rice , Former United States Secretary of State

, Former United States Secretary of State Hon. Lawrence Summers , Former United States Secretary of the Treasury and Former Director of the National Economic Council

This month, RNEF Steering Committee Member Secretary Raimondo discussed the connection between national and economic security at the Reagan National Defense Forum, saying, "We have fundamentally recognized that national security, technological security, [and] economic security are linked."

Speakers for RNEF will be announced at a later date.

Attendance at RNEF is by invitation only. Media, including podcasters and substackers who wish to attend, must request credentials HERE and a member of the media relations team will follow up to confirm credentials.

What: Reagan National Economic Forum Who: Members of Congress, Executive Branch officials, policymakers, regulators, C-suite leaders, founders, former officials, scholars, and members of the press When: Thursday-Friday, May 29-30, 2025 Where: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

40 Presidential Drive

Simi Valley, CA 93065

For more information, visit www.RNEF.us or follow @ReaganInstitute.

About the Reagan Foundation and Institute

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with continuing his legacy and sharing his principles  individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy and national pride. The Foundation is a non-partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion, the award-winning Reagan Leadership Academy and the Reagan Institute, which carries out the Foundation's mission in Washington, D.C. The Reagan Library houses over 55 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It also serves as the final resting place of America's 40th President and former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Contact:

Kelsey Koberg Beymer

[email protected]

SOURCE The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute
Opinion / Columnist

The physical pain that Merry is going through is not possible to share. However emotional torture is possible and empathize genuinely with Merry Chiwenga. She is going through a physical and mental torture, and to imagine that it is meted by a leadership in Zimbabwe government defeats everything about UBUNTU in us. She is stricken in political leadership plays unimaginable by common sense. The absolute horror of her existence is an accurate definition of gender-based-violence on women. Once a beauty pageant organizer, Merry is now reduced to her breath, breathing to know she is still alive and never beyond: her quality of life has been reduced immensely, will be so until her departing. She can't' walk her leg must be amputated; they say. Her arm was amputated some time ago. Yet, Chiwenga, a national leader is demonstrating to the nation satanism of the highest order: He still insist on his pound of flesh on Merry.Seeing Merry in a wheelchair going to court together with her advocate Beatrice Mtetwa to plead to the courts for mercy, purely on health grounds; a plea was rejected with contempt. The ruthlessness, the cruelty, hard-heartedness of life is taking place in my country of birth, Zimbabwe. The philosophy UBUNTU is misplaced. How many times have I said whoever wants to experience the philosophy of UBUNTU must come to Germany. We experience the milk of human kindness in German streets and in some institutions. Never can one compare Germany with Zimbabwe when it comes to human kindness. Chiwenga's cruelty to his ex-wife Merry is an extreme example never to match the two countries.There is a lot going on in Zimbabwe to speak so blanketly about the lack of UBUNTU in our societies. I dread to read the Bulawayo 24 sometimes: everyday reports of gender-based-violence; the rise of casualties of sexual violence on babies, toddlers, children, young girls, women of all ages. A man was sexually abusing two under-aged girls next door. A daughter and a mother tried to sell a newly born baby to a stranger; a woman was raped in Harare when chasing her debt. Stepfather was abusing her stepdaughter until she got pregnant, Marital sexual intercourse to newlyweds still existed in most societies. The new wife will be told to have sex with the uncle first so to prove her virginity. It is surprising that Zimbabwean men still think they can cure HIV/AIDS by sexual intercourse with virgins, hence they target even babies for cure.A grandfather sexually abused his granddaughter; A teacher was caught sexually abusing a form one girl who came for extra lessons in his house. A man stole a toddler and sold it for ritual killings in Botswana to get some body parts to make fortune: the toddler was killed in excruciating circumstances. A stepfather killed a toddler, giving her rat poison, the child died; he did not want to look after her. A desperate under-aged woman threw her newly baby born in the toilet, the baby suffocated and died. Elderly women in rural settings are targeted without mercy. Young boys target fragile elderly women: they think they are HIV/AIDS free. These are daily news we consume in our social media houses in Zimbabwe. How do you possibly speak of UBUNTU as a philosophy under such daily occurrences. The sexual abuse on babies, toddlers, girl children, even boy-children are not spared. Abuse of sexual nature is now a way of life, slowly becoming a culture of rape.Merry Mubayiwa should never think that we have forgotten her. As activists, we are so constrained, desperate; we don't know how else we can fight her case on her behalf. 16 days of CEDAW gives us the opportunity to spell our frustrations on the media. How many thousands of miles of articles have we written about Merry's case. We have used words that could never even be printed to emphasize her case, to scare politicians playing around with her life. Merry Chiwenga's case is unique: under normal circumstances, Chiwenga must deal with Mnangagwa head on and not Merry. Chiwenga uses his political power to punish Merry by refusing her treatment, whereas others of her elite group get medical treatment abroad. To punish Merry in this manner is an obvious admission that he is a very weak man who is incapable of seeking revenge on Mnangagwa, the main culprit.So many things have gone wrong in Chiwenga's military and political life. His calculous in the military and political has not been smart. He is spoken about as someone who failed exams on several occasions. He has been on several occasions outsmarted by the fox Mnangagwa; hence he is a frustrated, angry, and dangerous man. What remains, what he can is vent anger on an ill woman, the weakest link. He should realize he will never become the President. Even if Mnangagwa left the scene today, he is going to be outsmarted again by those in the military.Chiwenga is a man who never passed a single exam in his life "but somehow managed to pass a doctorate degree with a distinction". He has always been catapulted to the top on tribal grounds by his tribesman Mugabe. It disturbs many when rumors suggest a Chiwenga becoming the third dispensation. Zimbabweans must stop hallucinating: even by optimistic calculations, Chiwenga cannot rescue this nation from the economic mess we find ourselves in. Even his doctorate degree will not save us. Much needed is a leadership of technocrats that will rescue a free-falling economy: not the Priest and Advocate Chamisa. #godisinit #.The 25th of November is a special day remembering the Mirabel sisters from the Dominic Republic who were murdered by the regime of the time. In the same vein, we remember the agony Mrs. Merry Mubayiwa, a naked gender-based-violence. I demonstratively lit a candle and said to myself; I do not need to go faraway places to realize gender-based-violence on women is real; it's here at my home country Zimbabwe.
Farmers Offerings for Condominium, Renters, and Umbrella to Reopen for New Customers, Along with Foremost Landlord and Vacant Policies, in Phased Rollout

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmers Insurance today announced it will resume offering coverage for multiple lines of insurance in California to new customers, including condominium, renters, umbrella, landlord, vacant and manufactured home, in a phased reintroduction beginning December 14, 2024. Many of the reopened coverage offerings had been temporarily paused for more than a year.

In addition, Farmers, one of the few insurance carriers that did not halt offering new homeowners insurance coverage in the state, will increase the number of homeowners policies it will accept from new customers to 9,500 per month, from its previous commitment of 7,000 monthly.

"Farmers Insurance has decided to take these steps to increase coverage availability for California consumers because we recognize that the state's insurance marketplace has indeed improved," said Behram Dinshaw, president of personal lines for Farmers Insurance. "In addition, with the impending implementation of Commissioner Ricardo Lara's Sustainable Insurance Strategy in the coming year, we want to be well-positioned to provide even more coverage options to residents in the state."

New customers will be required to meet all applicable underwriting guidelines to be considered for coverage. The reopened coverage options will be made available to consumers in a phased manner, as follows:

Farmers Condominium insurance (both, owner-occupied and those rented to others), will reopen for new customers effective December 14, 2024 ;

; Farmers Renters insurance will reopen for new customers effective December 14, 2024 ;

; Farmers Personal Umbrella insurance will reopen for new customers effective December 24, 2024 ;

; Foremost Manufactured Home Landlord insurance will reopen for new customers effective March 1, 2025 ; and

; and Foremost Dwelling Fire Landlord and Dwelling Fire Vacant insurance will reopen for new customers effective March 15, 2025 .

Earlier this year, based on its assessment of an improved commercial insurance market, Farmers resumed accepting new Business Insurance applications from customers seeking coverage for various industries, including: Auto Service & Repair; Habitational; Manufacturing; Real Estate; and Wholesale Distribution. On July 1, 2024, it also lifted its temporary moratorium on new commercial automobile insurance policies in California.

Additionally, Foremost reopened its owner-occupied Manufactured Home program in September of this year and its Manufactured Home FAIR Plan Companion Endorsement offering in July.

Consumers with questions are encouraged to connect with their local Farmers agency owner.

About Farmers Insurance

"Farmers Insurance" and "Farmers" are tradenames for a group of insurers providing insurance for automobiles, homes, small businesses and a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. For more information about Farmers Insurance, visit Farmers.com.

Contact:

External Communications



Farmers Insurance



818-965-0007



[email protected]

SOURCE Farmers Insurance
ASHEVILLE, N.C., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Tree Builders | Alair Asheville is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a recipient of the 2024 Department of Energy (DOE) Innovation Award for the fourth consecutive year. This distinction makes Red Tree Builders | Alair Asheville the only custom home builder in Western North Carolina to achieve this honor for four years in a row.

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This year's award-winning project is a custom-built, all-electric home located in the Olivette Community . Designed to meet the DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) standards, the home exemplifies cutting-edge energy efficiency, health, and resilience.

About the Home

Square Footage : 2,603 sq. ft.

: 2,603 sq. ft. Layout : 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms

: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms Architect : Brent Campbell , Architect (BCA)

: , Architect (BCA) Designer : RT Design

: RT Design Landscape Architect: Greg Cloos

Key Features:

Ground source heat pump and energy recovery ventilator (ERV)

Indoor air quality monitoring by Broan Overture

HERS Score: 2 with photovoltaics (PV)

Annual energy cost savings of up to $3,700

Solar integration with an 8.29 kW system

Sensor-controlled systems for optimal air quality and energy management

The home's airtight construction achieves an air change rate of 0.74 ACH50 and features high-performance insulation, advanced framing techniques, and ENERGY STAR appliances. It is wired for electric vehicle chargers and employs a heat pump water heater for ultimate energy efficiency.

Innovative Indoor Air Quality Technology

The home integrates cutting-edge IAQ monitoring and automation, ensuring optimal comfort and health. "We take pride in building tight homes," says Brandon Bryant, Owner of Red Tree Builders | Alair Asheville. "Our IAQ module senses humidity levels, activates fans and ERVs, and even controls UV lights to keep spaces bacteria- and virus-free, all managed through a convenient app."

"This home is both structurally sound and energy-efficient," added Project Manager Ryan Kuczynski. "From the start, we focused on creating a home built to last forever while offering the highest level of comfort to our clients."

A Legacy of Excellence

The DOE Housing Innovation Awards honor builders leading the industry toward more sustainable, resilient, and energy-efficient homes. Red Tree Builders | Alair Asheville continues to drive market transformation, championing innovative solutions that align with the DOE's decarbonization goals .

Award-winning projects, including those from Red Tree Builders | Alair Asheville, are showcased in the DOE's " Tour of Zero ," a virtual platform that highlights high-performance homes nationwide.

The 2024 winners will be celebrated at the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance's High Performance Home Building Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah, where grand winners in five categories will be announced.

About Red Tree Builders | Alair Asheville

Red Tree Builders | Alair Asheville is committed to crafting sustainable, healthy, and innovative homes that harmonize with their environment. With a focus on high-performance building practices and strong community connections, the company is proud to set the standard for excellence in residential construction.

About the DOE Housing Innovation Awards

The DOE Housing Innovation Awards recognize builders who achieve exceptional outcomes in energy efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, resiliency, and market transformation. The awards celebrate projects that exemplify the DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) standards, the most stringent voluntary program for high-performance homes.

For more information, visit www.RedTreeBuilders.com

Contact: Kristy Kepley-Steward, Communications Director

Phone: 308-440-7259

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Red Tree Builders, Inc.
Join industry leaders and professionals for the premier business architecture event March 18-20, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Architecture Guild, an international community of business architecture practitioners with members in over 100 countries, is excited to announce that registration is open for the 13th annual Business Architecture Innovation Summit, to be held March 18-20, 2025 in Reston, Virginia. This in-person/virtual hybrid event offers a dynamic mix of leading edge topics and practical advice.

The Business Architecture Innovation Summit is the leading forum for business and technical leaders to learn about best practices, industry success stories, and advancements across the global business architecture community. Co-sponsored by the Business Architecture Guild and Object Management Group, this three-day event features keynote presentations, panel discussions, and ample networking opportunities.

"The growing embrace of business architecture for strategy execution makes this year's Innovation Summit an event." Post this

Speakers from Arvest Bank, Colins Aerospace, Bank of Egypt, Pfizer, Principal Financial Group, Salesforce, Thomson Reuters, USAA, Vienna Insurance Group, Voya Financial, and other organizations will share their experiences across a wide range of business architecture scenarios. Topics include AI deployment, M&A integration, risk and compliance management, business transformation, business-driven cyber security, business architecture in higher education, building a practice, and more. Specialty sessions include a reference model panel, the ever-popular lightning talks, startup frameworks, and the latest tool and technology advancements.

John Faulkenberry, Business Architecture Guild's Head of Marketing, said, "We are thrilled to host the 13th annual Innovation Summit, which offers a unique platform for professionals to collaborate and advance the discipline. The growing embrace of business architecture and its role in organizational success make this Summit an unmissable event."

Summit sessions will be recorded for those in alternative time zones. For those new to the discipline, virtual and onsite attendees can join the half-day Business Architecture Primer on the Monday afternoon before the Summit. Onsite attendees are also invited to the Wednesday evening reception to network in a relaxed environment. Please join us for another excellent global Summit.

About the Business Architecture Guild

The Business Architecture Guild is an international, not-for-profit, member-based association that provides valuable resources to business leaders, practitioners, and others interested in the field. The Business Architecture Guild is the source for A Guide to the Business Architecture Body of Knowledge (BIZBOK Guide) and exclusive provider of the Certified Business Architect certification program.

SOURCE The Business Architecture Guild
BANGALORE, India, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rossell Techsys Limited (ROSSTECH), a leading aerospace and defense service provider, has been awarded the prestigious 'Outstanding Supplier Recognition' by Lockheed Martin at the 10th Lockheed Martin Suppliers Conference held at Bangalore. This honour was bestowed for its exceptional performance as a sub-tier partner, delivering high-quality products and services in support of Lockheed Martin's Global commitments.

From left to right: Prabhat Bhagvandas, CEO  Rossell Techsys Inc., Rishab Gupta, Managing Director  Rossell Techsys Limited, Abby Lilly, VP - Global Supply Chain  Lockheed Martin Rossell Techsys-LM Award (PRNewsfoto/Rossell Techsys)

The recognition highlights Rossell Techsys' commitment to delivering on-time solutions and superior customer service, placing it among a select group of suppliers that consistently meet Lockheed Martin's stringent global standards.

"We are delighted by this recognition from Lockheed Martin. It has been a strong relationship built on mutual respect, trust, and consistent adherence to Lockheed Martin's stringent requirements. It encourages us to continue to invest in purposeful, mutually rewarding relationships, aligned with the objectives of an 'Aatamanirbhar India'. We look forward to deepening our partnership as we explore future initiatives together," said Rishab Gupta, Managing Director- Rossell Techsys Limited.

"We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition from Lockheed Martin. It is a testament to the outstanding collaboration between Lockheed Martin and Rossell, supported by the expertise and commitment of our team. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of excellence and strengthening our valued partnership with Lockheed Martin," added Prabhat Kumar Bhagvandas, Director, Rossell Techsys Inc and Advisor -Rossell Techsys Limited.

Lockheed Martin Leadership commended the partnership, stating: "Rossell Techsys has been a key partner, from India, and has been instrumental in consistently delivering a unique customer focussed experience, high-quality products, fully complying to the global standards of Lockheed Martin, in the Sikorsky MH-60R SEAHAWK helicopter program. Their reliability and robustness have been key to the success of the program, and we look forward to further enhancing our collaboration moving forward."

Rossell Techsys' commitment to customer satisfaction, reliability, and consistent quality has earned it a trusted role in critical projects like the MH-60R helicopter, essential to global maritime defense operations, including for the Indian Navy. The company also supports Lockheed Martin on platforms such as the F-16, C-130J, Arrowhead, and Sonobuoy, reinforcing its position as a key partner in mission-critical defense programs.

About Rossell Techsys:

Rossell Techsys Limited (ROSSTECH), listed on NSE and BSE, is a leading provider of aerospace and defense solutions.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578653/Rossell_Techsys_LM_Award.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2576419/Rossell_Techsys_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Rossell Techsys Limited
MIAMI, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.55 per common share payable on January 13, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 27, 2024. This increase reflects the company's continuing efforts to enhance shareholder returns.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is a vacation industry leader with a global fleet of 68 ships across its five brands traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations. With a mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly, Royal Caribbean Group serves millions of guests each year through its portfolio of best-in-class brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea; and expanding portfolio of land-based vacation experiences through Perfect Day at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club collection. The company also owns 50% of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. With a rich history of innovating, Royal Caribbean Group continually delivers exciting new products and guest experiences that help shape the future of leisure travel. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group
Resilience Day at COP16 in Riyadh mobilizes action and financing

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Arabia's UNCCD COP16 Presidency has announced the launch of an international initiative for sand and dust storm monitoring, part of a regional sand and dust storm early warning system, in a major boost for global early warning systems. The initiative will expand on existing international sand and dust storm capacity, overseen by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Saudi Arabia Launches Sand and Dust Storm Monitoring Initiative to Expand Global Early Warning System Capacity

Part of the Riyadh Action Agenda at COP16 in Riyadh, the announcement took place during Resilience Day on Tuesday, a thematic day at COP16 designed to amplify action on global resilience initiatives. Discussions and events throughout the day sought to deliver renewed funding and solutions to combat land degradation, drought, and desertification. Two billion tonnes of sand and dust enter the atmosphere every year according to the UNCCD, equivalent in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza. Over 25% is estimated to be due to human activity.

Based in Jeddah, the Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS), increases the number of global WMO-affiliated nodes to four, part of an international network including Beijing, Barcelona, and Barbados.

Speaking about the growing capacity of the center during a panel discussion, Jumaan Al-Qahtani, CEO, GCC Regional Sand and Dust Storms Warning Advisory and Assessment Node, Jeddah, said: "The center managed to develop three models with different resolutions that have been validated to predict sand and dust storms in the region, and they are all now in operation."

Al-Qahtani also addressed an initiative to increase global monitoring, warning, and coordination for sand and dust storms, saying: "Saudi Arabia just launched an international partnership initiative where we want to enhance early warning systems in those countries that are not able to do it. This will be done through the WMO accredited regional centers that now exist, and Saudi Arabia will fund this initiative with $10 million for the next five years. We call upon other UN organizations and countries to support this initiative."

Scaling global drought resilience also featured heavily in official dialogue throughout the ninth day of COP16 in Riyadh. It comes after Saudi Arabia launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, part of the Riyadh Action Agenda, at the beginning of COP16 in Riyadh. It has already secured $2.15 billion in financial backing.

"Over 1.8 billion people are impacted by drought, with this number forecast to accelerate. Drought resilience must be a global priority, one that see's us shift from a reactive response after droughts hit, to a proactive stance of comprehensive drought readiness and resilience," said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency.

"We are very proud to launch the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership during COP16 in Riyadh, and we are very proud of the of the stakeholders that already supported the partnership. We are calling upon all countries, organizations, private sector, and NGOs, to join us in these efforts to enhance drought resilience. With this initiative we are targeting the 80 most vulnerable countries to drought," added Dr Faqeeha.

Elsewhere during the COP16 Resilience Day, the World Bank announced they had raised $24 billion in donor contributions, as part of their International Development Association. In a statement, the World Bank said this will help generate a total of $100 billion in affordable financing. Amongst other areas, the funding will be used to support climate resilience, farmers, and boost infrastructure, in 78 countries determined to be most in need. COP16 in Riyadh is mobilizing global state and non-state actors, seeking to enhance international land restoration and drought resilience initiatives.

About COP16 Riyadh:

The UNCCD COP16 conference is taking place from December 2-13, 2024, at Boulevard Riyadh World, Saudi Arabia. The conference, themed Our Land. Our Future, will mark the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD and aims to secure multilateral action on critical issues such as drought resilience, land tenure, and sand and dust storms.

For more information about UNCCD COP16, please visit UNCCDCOP16.org

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578677/UNCCD_COP16_Presidency.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2556588/5072558/UNCCD_COP16__Logo.jpg

SOURCE UNCCD COP16 Presidency
On-Demand Manufacturing Company Helps Support Next Generation of Innovators in STEM Education

RENO, Nev., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SendCutSend is proudly sponsoring more than $200,000 in custom sheet metal parts to support 2,500 Student Robotics Teams. As an official supplier for the 2025 Kit of Parts (KitBot) for the FIRST Robotics Competition, SendCutSend is providing custom laser cut metal as well as vouchers to enable students to further customize their builds.

SendCutSend laser cut 27,500 custom parts which required more than 10,000 lbs of aluminum and a total cutting time of approximately 90 hours.

"SendCutSend was founded based on a need for access to commercial manufacturing and we are proud to be able to provide that same accessibility, quality, speed and convenience to students around the country," said Jim Belosic, CEO of SendCutSend. "We are thrilled to support FIRST and hope to continue to play a role in the success of these students, encouraging their passion for engineering, robotics, and innovation for many years to come."

FIRST is a global robotics community that prepares young people for the future through mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills. Last season 88,000 students participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition.

In 2024, SendCutSend contributed over half a million dollars to various non-profit organizations, classrooms, events, and teams to support educational projects in robotics, Formula and Baja SAE, rocketry, automotive, and more.

In addition to partnering with FIRST, SendCutSend is proud to offer sponsorships to individual student teams having directly supported thousands of students since the company's inception in 2018. To learn more about partnership opportunities, visit sendcutsend.com/partner-with-us.

About SendCutSend

SendCutSend is an on-demand, custom sheet metal manufacturing company with facilities in Reno, Nev., Paris, Ky., and Arlington, Tex.(in early 2025) serving the United States and Canada. Founded by two software engineers frustrated by the lack of access to commercial manufacturing, SendCutSend bridges the gap between quality, speed, affordability and convenience in the manufacturing industry. From its humble beginnings in a garage to landing on the Inc 5000 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500, SendCutSend is proud to now call 59% of the companies in the Fortune 500 customers. SendCutSend offers laser cutting and finishing services for everything from one-off prototypes to sale/assembly ready parts at scale shipped in as little as two days with no minimum quantities and free shipping. For more information visit SendCutSend.com or follow on Instagram or YouTube .

SOURCE SendCutSend
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NYC whistleblower attorney Timothy J. McInnis announced a $1,470,085 settlement against Stefano Maroni, who is the owner and CEO of GMI USA Corp. and Belovefine, Ltd., shoe designers and importers located in NYC. The settlement resolves FaIse Claims Act allegations in a qui tam whistleblower complaint filed under seal on March 14, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by former Maroni employee Devyn Taylor. Taylor alleged Maroni and his companies defrauded the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") during the COVID-19 pandemic by using the same employees to get forgivable loans for each of Maroni's two companies, when, in fact they were essentially one and the same business. The United States government, through the U.S. Attorneys' Office for the Southern District of New York, joined Taylor's lawsuit on December 6, 2024, and is also a party to the settlement. The case was unsealed December 9, 2024, by United States District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden.

According to the Settlement Agreement, the PPP program was established pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act. The CARES Act was enacted in March 2020, and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This included authorizing forgivable loans to small businesses for employee payroll and other expenses. To obtain a PPP loan, a qualifying business was required to submit to a participating lender, among other things, the company's (a) average monthly payroll expenses and (b) number of employees. That information was used to determine the amount of the PPP loan.

As part of the Settlement Agreement, Maroni admitted that on paper he shifted employees from one company to the other but applied for PPP loans in both companies' names. He also admitted he incorrectly listed different suite numbers at the same NYC address for the two companies to falsely give the impression they were separate and distinct entities. And Maroni admitted he overstated his number of employees. As a result, Maroni obtained $1,023,322 in PPP funds.

The Settlement Agreement expressly notes it does not resolve Taylor's allegations against Maroni, GMI and Belovefine for U.S. Customs duty fraud in a separate False Claims Act qui tam action, captioned United States ex rel. Taylor v. GMI USA Corp. et al., 16 Civ. 7216 (RWL) (S.D.N.Y.). That case, which the government did not join as to Maroni or his companies, is currently being litigated by Taylor.

McInnis noted that PPP fraud was rampant during the pandemic, and many specific instances are now being exposed through False Claims Act qui tam lawsuits by private citizens who can receive up to 30% of any recovery. In this case, under the Settlement Agreement Taylor will receive $294,017.

On behalf of Taylor, McInnis expressed appreciation for the efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the SBA's Office of Inspector General in investigating and pursuing her allegations of PPP fraud.

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Devyn Taylor, v. Stefano Maroni., et al., 23 Civ. 2159 (JHR) (S.D.N.Y.).

For additional information, please contact Attorney Timothy J. McInnis, of McInnis Law, 521 Fifth Avenue, l7th FI., New York, NY lOl75, at (2l2) 292-4573 or [email protected].

SOURCE McInnis Law
DELAFIELD, Wis., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- St. John's Northwestern Academies (SJNA) proudly hosted Dr. Javier Reyes, Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, on Monday, December 9, as part of its esteemed Leadership Speaker Series. Dr. Reyes shared invaluable insights from his distinguished career in academia and leadership, inspiring students, faculty, and the wider community.

Chancellor Reyes with the SJNA students.

As the first Hispanic chancellor of UMass Amherst, Dr. Reyes has made significant contributions to higher education. Since his appointment in 2023, he has advanced UMass Amherst's mission as a global research leader while fostering an inclusive and dynamic campus culture. An accomplished economist, Dr. Reyes' career spans leadership roles at the University of Illinois Chicago, West Virginia University, and the University of Arkansas, where he earned a reputation for driving innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence.

During his visit to SJNA, Dr. Reyes engaged directly with students, offering thoughtful guidance and reflections on leadership and personal growth. His presentation was open to the entire SJNA community, creating a dynamic dialogue that enriched the academy's commitment to preparing future leaders.

The Leadership Speaker Series at SJNA connects students with accomplished professionals from diverse fields, offering them real-world perspectives that complement their academic and leadership development.

St. John's Northwestern Academies extends its heartfelt appreciation to Chancellor Reyes for his time and impactful message. The academy looks forward to hosting future speakers who will continue to inspire and shape the next generation of leaders.

About St. John's Northwestern Academies:

St. John's Northwestern Academies provides a safe, structured environment where students build a strong foundation for success. With specialized programs tailored to future aspirations, SJNA prepares young leaders to excel in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Learn more at www.sjnacademies.org .

SOURCE St. John's Northwestern Academies
PARIS, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sopra Steria, a major player in the European tech sector, strengthens its commitment to combating climate change. The Group announces its support for two startup projects contributing to carbon elimination: one through ocean alkalinization, the other through the regeneration of degraded and arid lands via regenerative agriculture.

Farmer controlling vegetables in greenhouse.

On April 7, 2022, Sopra Steria announced the indexing of its 1.1 billion credit line to its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% per employee by 2040, in line with the Paris Agreement. To support this commitment, validated by the SBTi* and audited, a bonus/malus mechanism was integrated into the credit contract subscribed by the company. Sopra Steria's achievement of environmental performance targets in 2022 and 2023 has created a dedicated fund of over 200,000 to finance innovative technological projects in the fight against climate change.

Axelle Lemaire, Executive Director in charge of Sustainable Performance and Corporate Social Responsibility at Sopra Steria, commented: "The use of this line of credit concretely reflects Sopra Steria's commitment to the ecological transition. It is not enough to reduce our own carbon footprint and contribute to our clients' emissions reduction trajectory. Responses to the severity of climate change will be found in this alliance between innovation, economic performance, and social impact, and we are proud to support these projects that explore new horizons of solutions".

Rigorously selected by an internal committee of experts and validated by Credit Agricole CIB and Credit Lyonnais in their roles as 'Sustainability Coordinators' and 'Sustainability Agent,' the initiatives led by PRONOE, which works to curb ocean acidification, and Sand To Green, for its efforts in regenerating arid lands, stood out particularly.

Click here to read more.

Contact: Aurelien Flaugnatti, [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578770/Sopra_Steria.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1861938/Sopra_Steria_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Sopra Steria
Even a cleaning job is hard to find now in Calgary, say these newcomers

Samiar Yousif cleans a condo building in southeast Calgary. He was recently hired and says if you don't have friends already working somewhere, it's very difficult to get in. (Karina Zapata/CBC - image credit)

Banner branding for the Growth Spurt, Calgary series that ran in December 2024.

Banner branding for the Growth Spurt, Calgary series that ran in December 2024. (Brooke Schreiber/CBC)

When new immigrants arrive in Calgary without strong English, they often look for cleaning jobs or warehouse work. But with unemployment rates among newcomers soaring, even these entry-level jobs are in short supply.

It's been devastating for those who risked their family's security and livelihoods to come. For the rest of society, researchers and economists say it's a wasted opportunity to integrate these families, match them with jobs Calgary needs filled, and keep them here for the long term.

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Mechanic Belachew Mebratu is a good example. He's been applying online and in person for dozens of cleaning, warehouse and other jobs for seven months with no luck.

He's 42 and now his wife and two kids in Ethiopia can't pay rent or school fees. They had to move back in with her parents, and the children had to drop out of school.

"Professionally, I am a mechanic. But I don't make any choices, I actually apply for any kind of job, including cleaning," said Mebratu, speaking through a translator. "I left my country because of the problems back home. I have a work permit but I cannot get a job here in Calgary."

He's one of a dozen men and women originally from East Africa who gathered at the EthioCare office to share their stories with CBC News. EthioCare is a small community non-profit in northeast Calgary that helps with food and social support.

In Alberta, immigrants who have been in Canada for less than five years are facing an unemployment rate that edged above 16 per cent in August  near what it was during the worst of pandemic shutdowns.

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Part of that is the long-standing challenge that immigrants face getting their professional qualifications recognized in Canada. There are also long waiting lists now for English classes.

But the shortage of these entry-level labour jobs was the biggest surprise for these job seekers.

Etsegenet Gebeyhu spent 18 years living in Uganda as a refugee before a friend sponsored her and her two children. They arrived in Calgary on July 4 this year and she's been trying to gain the skills she needs to get her first Canadian job.

She took a food safety course and applied for jobs as a line cook or dishwasher, and also in cleaning and as a disability support worker. She's even volunteering at a local thrift store, borrowing funds for the bus ticket across town and hoping this will help with networking and experience.

Etsegenet Gebeyhu came to Calgary in July 2024 and is still looking for work. She took food safety certification hoping to get a job in a restaurant and is volunteering in a local thrift store.

Etsegenet Gebeyhu came to Calgary in July 2024 and is still looking for work. She took food safety certification hoping to get a job in a restaurant and is volunteering in a local thrift store. (Elise Stolte/CBC)

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"It's just frustrating," she said, speaking a mix of English and Amharic. "I cannot go back to school right now because I have to support my kids. My older son says I took him out of warm water and put him into freezing cold water. He's 16 and I can't get a job."

Calgary's population has been growing at a record pace since 2022 from a mix of interprovincial migration, immigration and temporary foreign workers. People have been moving here because it's a large city that's more affordable than Toronto or Vancouver.

Calgary has been gaining jobs to support those newcomers, but not fast enough. At 7.5 per cent, Alberta now has a higher unemployment rate than the rest of the country, which averages 6.8 per cent, and it's especially bad for newcomers and young adults.

For immigrants who have been in Canada five years or less, the three-month rolling average hit 16 per cent in July and August. Then it eased to 12 per cent in November.

ATB economist Mark Parsons told CBC News that those numbers make this a strange population boom.

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"It's a very different migration cycle," said Parsons. "Typically when you have an unemployment rate that's higher than the rest of Canada, you don't see these massive inflows of people from other provinces."

There are also worker shortages in some areas, such as construction, tourism and in some rural areas, Parsons said.

"We think people will get matched over time to some of those job opportunities, and that unemployment rate will start to nudge it a little bit lower," he said. "We're not expecting it to dramatically decline. It'll stay elevated, but some of the upward pressure that's been coming from this persistent growth in the labour force, that'll come off."

Samiar Yousif cleans a private condo building in southeast Calgary. He was recently hired and says if you don't have friends already working somewhere, it's very difficult to get in.

Samiar Yousif cleans a condo building in southeast Calgary. The unemployment rate in November for recent immigrants was 12 per cent, based on a three-month rolling average, but had been 16 per cent in the summer. (Karina Zapata/CBC)

Canada risks reputational damage when immigrants can't find work, said Stephany Laverty, senior researcher with the Canada West Foundation.

They're going to be sharing their struggles with friends and family back home. And they'll also look at leaving, she said. Their research suggests a city has six months to convince someone to stay.

"If they can't get into language training or whatever within the first six months, they're looking at where else they can move to. And it's not even just where in Canada can we move to, it's where in the world can we move to."

In Calgary, several cleaning companies say they're swamped with inquiries.

Jean Marie Nshimirimana works for Picture Perfect Cleaning. He says people often approach him while he's working to ask for help finding a similar job.

Jean Marie Nshimirimana works for Picture Perfect Cleaning. He says people often approach him while he's working to ask for help finding a similar job. (Karina Zapata/CBC)

Boris Vujanovic at WestMaids said they used to get the odd call from someone looking for work. Now they get at least one cold call a day.

Jared Sarbit with Picture Perfect Cleaners said they try to hire friends and family of current employees so they can trust them working alone in sensitive places.

But if they do post on the job site Indeed, he said they're getting double the number of resumes.

Jean Marie Nshimirimana, a former midwife in Burundi who now cleans apartment buildings with Picture Perfect, said he even gets inquiries from strangers while he's working.

"But it's hard because when I'm working, I find people," he said. "They come; they say, 'Please, help me how to find job. Please, help me how to find job.'"

Back in the northeast, EthioCare staff bought pizza and made coffee. Many of these newcomers are refugees who came as privately-sponsored permanent residents. The host families, who are often fairly new to Canada themselves, commit to supporting them with no government assistance for a year.

The men and women sat around the table talking about potential solutions. If only there were programs that could give them experience on the job, or incentives to hire newcomers, said one.

Is this only in Alberta, or would things be better in a different Canadian city, wondered another.

Some of the men and women who gathered at the charity EthioCare in northeast Calgary to share their experience looking for work in Calgary.

Some of the men and women who gathered at the charity EthioCare in northeast Calgary to share their experience looking for work in Calgary. (Elise Stolte/CBC)

Derege Mengesha came from Uganda with a background in business and hotel management. He said he's worried about those who are getting discouraged. He sees one newcomer he knows who earned a bachelor's degree in East Africa. Now he sees him near Marborough Mall suffering from drug use and sleeping outside.

"He's become crazy," he said.

For himself, Mengesha said he has been looking for a job for four months. He had three interviews in that time, for a meat-packing plant, a hotel cleaning job and an office supply store.

One recruiter even said he passed the interview and would get a call back. But he heard nothing. He said when he reached out two weeks later to double-check, they said the position was already filled.

But he's not complaining about the companies, he said.

"I'm complaining about my chance, my luck."

He's quick to reassure the rest of the group, Canada is still a good country to come to.

"I'm welcome and happy to be in Canada. At least I'm sleeping well without any shouting. We have peace."

Growth Spurt, Calgary

Calgary is growing again and quickly. But this population boom is different. CBC Calgary is looking at the impacts all week. See what you've missed at cbc.ca/yycgrowth.
SpeeDee Franchisees Nationwide Unite to Donate Portion of All Oil Changes from October to Breast Cancer Education, Support, and Early Detection

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service, flagship brand of FullSpeed Automotive, recently announced a $50,000 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Throughout October, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service put aside a portion of every oil change to support breast cancer initiatives.

SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service presents $50,000 check to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The effort was started by Linna Alcoser, owner of SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service in Metairie, LA. Following her battle with stage three breast cancer, she was inspired to lead fundraising efforts within her community, channeling her experience into supporting breast cancer organizations and making a meaningful impact. This year, recognizing the importance of this cause, franchisees nationwide came together to fundraise and support the National Breast Cancer Foundation's mission of providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support.

According to the American Cancer Society:

This year, about 313,510 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed.

About 42,780 people will die from breast cancer each year.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States after skin cancers and will account for about 30% of all new female cancers each year.

"Supporting our communities is at the heart of what we do, and we're grateful for the chance to contribute to the fight against breast cancer by advancing resources and education for early detection and prevention," said Scott Accardo, Vice President of Operations at SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service. "This donation reflects the collective commitment of our team and customers to make a meaningful impact for individuals and families impacted by this disease."

A check presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, December 10, at SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service, located at 14014 Montfort Dr., Dallas, TX 75240. SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service welcomed representatives from the National Breast Cancer Foundation to its Dallas location, where the team presented the $50,000 check. The event highlighted the brand's continued dedication to raising awareness and funding for breast cancer research and support.

"We are incredibly appreciative for the generous donation from SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service," said Michelle Romanczukiewicz, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator at the National Breast Cancer Foundation. "This contribution empowers us to continue making a lasting impact, providing vital resources to those in need. Their support is crucial in helping us carry out our mission and create positive change nationwide."

For additional ways to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation, visit https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-support/. For more information on SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service, visit https://www.speedeeoil.com/ or https://fullspeedautomotive.com/.

About FullSpeed Automotive

FullSpeed Automotive is among the nation's largest franchisors and operators of automotive aftermarket repair facilities and home to flagship brands Grease Monkey, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service, and Kwik Kar. FullSpeed brands offer oil changes, tire sales and rotations, brake services, car washes, and other ancillary services through multiple brand formats that target several desirable segments of the service market. The company's strategic geographic footprint of 900-plus franchised and company-owned locations provides density in high growth markets. In 2024, Grease Monkey was included in Entrepreneur's prestigious Franchise 500 ranking; SpeeDee was Entrepreneur Verified. FullSpeed is headquartered in Greenwood Village, CO. For more information, go to www.fullspeedautomotive.com .

About SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service

Founded in 1980, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service is a franchise-based full-service automotive care company headquartered in Greenwood Village, CO. SpeeDee is a subsidiary of FullSpeed Automotive. There are more than 170 SpeeDee auto centers located throughout the United States and Mexico. In 2023, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service was included in Entrepreneur's prestigious Franchise 500 ranking for the fifth consecutive year. Alongside franchise accolades, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Franchise for Veterans for the sixth year in a row, ranking #12. SpeeDee is also proud to have received the VetFran 5Star rating, demonstrating its extraordinary commitment to "provide access and opportunities in franchising to our Nation's Veterans and their Spouses." For more information, visit www.speedeeoilfranchise.com .

SOURCE SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service
The Series A funding will be used to fuel the company's global expansion and build out its go-to-market organization in New York

TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stigg, the first unified monetization platform for engineers, announced today $17.5M in series A funding, led by Red Dot Capital Partners, with participation from Unusual Ventures, Emerge Ventures, Redseed, and Cerca Partners. This funding brings the company's total investment to $24M. The company has seen remarkable growth in 2024, increasing its revenue and customer base, which now includes industry leaders like Miro, Webflow, AI21 Labs, and PagerDuty. Managing billions of API calls and tens of millions in monthly subscriptions, Stigg has become the trusted monetization infrastructure for companies looking to modernize their stack, and iterate and launch new GTM models faster.

The rapid adoption of generative AI in SaaS products and intensifying market competition are fundamentally changing how software is sold. Companies need to support multiple revenue channels simultaneously while racing to launch AI-powered features that demand new monetization approaches  from consumption-based pricing and AI credits to hybrid models combining subscriptions and usage. Traditional billing systems, often integrated into software products in an ad hoc manner, force engineering teams to spend quarters or years implementing complex changes across billing infrastructure, CRMs, and product experiences.

Stigg is the first solution that allows developers to build granular access control at the feature level (Entitlements) using an extremely flexible domain model and friendly APIs. Through a single API, Stigg seamlessly connects with existing billing providers, CRMs, pricing pages, and product experiences, allowing companies to instantly deploy new monetization strategies from a single platform. With full control over pricing models and future-proof architecture, companies can launch AI features with optimal pricing from day one, experiment with different strategies risk-free, and scale without encountering engineering bottlenecks.

"The idea of a monolithic billing system is a legacy concept that slows down business growth," said Dor Sasson, CEO and co-founder of Stigg. "Today's companies need the flexibility to serve different market segments differently, especially as they layer in AI capabilities and expand into new channels. We're giving engineering teams the infrastructure to help their businesses move faster, transforming them from roadblocks into enablers of growth. After adopting Stigg and rapidly deploying new pricing models and AI features, our clients massively exceeded their quarterly revenue targets that's the power of getting monetization infrastructure right."

"We're seeing first-hand how companies are struggling to adapt their monetization infrastructure to support new business models and AI-powered features," said Atad Peled, Partner at Red Dot Capital Partners. "Through our portfolio companies and extensive market research, we recognized that Stigg's technology addresses a critical pain point that's only growing more acute. The company's zero churn rate and strong customer momentum demonstrate that they've built something truly essential for modern software companies."

"When we launched Miro's AI-powered Innovation Workspace, Stigg's metering capabilities played an important part," said Susan van de Ven at Miro. "The solution enabled us to provide admins with full transparency on their organization's usage. This insight is vital to ensuring that customers get maximum value from their use of Miro's AI tools."

At its core, Stigg is built on a powerful entitlement management API that handles feature configuration, metering and access control. Through a set of SDKs and sidecars, engineering teams can easily model any feature or functionality within their product that can potentially be monetized. Companies can then flexibly define and organize their offerings across products, plans, packages, and add-ons with no code changes required. Rather than cobbling together custom solutions using feature flags and data pipelines, companies get a unified system of record that orchestrates changes across their entire GTM stack, enabling rapid experimentation and optimization.

Media Contact



Lazer Cohen

[email protected]

347-753-8256

SOURCE Stigg
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, over fifty storm and fire survivors gathered on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol to call for fully-funded disaster relief and a faster, effective recovery system for families and communities in an event coordinated by Organizing Resilience.

Survivors from Florida, Georgia, Hawai'i, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and Louisiana shared powerful testimonies of community relief efforts amidst the devastating delays caused by needless delays and lack of funding for comprehensive disaster relief and recovery efforts.

"I have seen the devastating and long-term impact natural disasters like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida have had on our families at home first-hand and spent my time in Congress working with organizations like the NJOP to secure resources for those still working to recover years later. Still, there is so much to be done at the federal level to help communities across the country as we see a worsening climate crisis and severe natural disasters occurring at an increasingly alarming rate," said Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ). "It was powerful to hear from so many today about the need for leaders to step up and do the jobs we were sent here to do so that FEMA remains fully funded and that disaster survivors have the support they need so that no one has to wait for help to rebuild their homes and lives after catastrophic events."

With Congress now considering an ongoing measure to fund the government, there has been increased pressure from communities impacted by both 2023 and 2024 storms and wildfires to fund a faster and more effective recovery system. These demands include:

- Permanent authorization and full funding of HUD's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, to fill the gaps from short-term FEMA aid and insufficient insurance payouts and make sure that rebuilding funds are available when they are needed mostnot years after the fact.

- Replenishing FEMA's disaster relief efforts and making their important new programs retroactively available for all disaster survivors since 2021.

"On the night Hurricane Ian destroyed our home, my husbandstill recovering from a massive strokeheld me up for nearly eight hours as we clung to a shopping center column, dodging debris in surge waters," said Tara Boyd, a Fort Myers Beach resident and Hurricane Ian survivor with United Survivors Disaster Relief. "When we returned the next day, our house was gone, along with all our personal belongings. But the aftermaththe chaos of navigating a system that should have been there to help uswas even worse than the storm. As the wife of a Navy veteran and the daughter of an Army veteran, I ask you to use my voice and my story to ensure that future survivors have the support they need to rebuild their lives, their homes, and their communities. I am not the only one, and I will not be the last."

"The fire that destroyed my family's home has left us and countless others grappling with skyrocketing rents, dwindling resources, and an uncertain future, " said Krizhna Bayudan, a survivor of the 2023 Lahaina Fire and an organizer with the Hawai'i Worker Center. "CDBG-DR funding is critical to filling the gaps left by FEMA and insurance companies, providing rent assistance, and giving families like mine the chance to rebuild with dignity and hope."

Visuals from the Event:

Photos and videos from today's event are available here .

Led by disaster survivors, Organizing Resilience is changing how we respond when disaster strikes: moving rapid response support to organizations on the ground in the immediate aftermath; bringing survivors together to build capacity over the long term; and driving campaigns to overhaul the national disaster response system.

SOURCE Organizing Resilience
Liftr Insights data puts objective numbers to AI growth across the globe.

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Liftr Insights, a pioneer in market intelligence driven by unique data, has revealed a strong growth of AI in the cloud when it comes to AI options and AI costs.

The quarter is not over, but Liftr Insights data is already showing strong signs for AI in Cloud in Q4. The number of unique AI instances types has increased 11.3% over the last three months. Liftr Insights data show the bulk of this growth began in the second half of September 2024.

Smart analysts leverage objective data about AI Post this Liftr Insights provides unique data for decision support about AI

While the power and performance of AI accelerators has increased sharply over the past few years, so has the price. The recent average price per AI accelerator core was $2.75, up from a low point of $2.30 at the end of 2023, and the highest point since the end of 2020 according to detailed Liftr Insights' half a decade of historical records.

"We work with corporate clients to find the right type of data to enable them to make and support financial decisions," says Tab Schadt, CEO of Liftr Insights. "They need to know about comparative offerings, global availability, and, of course, prices to improve their bottom lines."

While the bulk of instances are based on NVIDIA, Liftr Insights data expose the presence AMD has begun making with its MI300X in specific regions of the globe. Liftr customers also see instances by Intel and Qualcomm as well as home-grown AI instances by AWS and Google.

"Smart analysts leverage objective data about AI," says Schadt. "Liftr Insights offers the precise intelligence they need."

The data also show where growth is happening. For example, the number of types of AI instances has increased by 9.1% in Africa since the end of 2023, and the price per AI GPU has increased from $2.39 to $3.18 throughout that period. This is significantly higher than the rates closer to $2.00 only a few years prior.

"Corporations making financial decisions about AI infrastructure seek this type of information," says Schadt. "They want reliable, objective sources to finalize their budgets and forecasts. They only wish they had Liftr Insights data sooner."

About Liftr Insights

Liftr Insights generates reliable market intelligence using unique data, including details about configurations, components, deployment geo, and pricing for:

Server processors: Intel Xeon, AMD EPYC, Aliyun Yitian, AWS Graviton, and Ampere Computing Altra

Datacenter compute accelerators: GPUs, FPGAs, TPUs, and AI chips from NVIDIA, Xilinx, Intel, AMD, AWS, Google, and Qualcomm.

As shown on the Liftr Cloud Regions Map at https://bit.ly/LiftrCloudRegionsMap , among the companies tracked are Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Tencent Cloud, CoreWeave, Lambda, and Vultr as well as semiconductor vendors AMD, Ampere, Intel, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA. Liftr Insights subject matter experts translate company-specific service provider data into actionable alternative data.

Liftr and the Liftr logo are registered service marks of Liftr Insights. The following are trademarks and/or service marks of Liftr Insights: Liftr Insights, Cloud Components Tracker, Intelligence Compute Tracker, and Liftr Cloud Regions Map.

The following are registered intellectual property marks, trademarks, or service marks of their respective companies:

Amazon Web Services

Microsoft Azure

Alibaba Cloud

Google Cloud

Oracle Cloud

Tencent Cloud

CoreWeave

Lambda

Vultr

Intel Corporation

Ampere Computing

Qualcomm

NVIDIA

AMD

ARM

SOURCE Liftr Insights
ARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Students for Fair Admissions filed a lawsuit challenging the use of race and ethnicity as admissions factors at the United States Air Force Academy.

The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.

SFFA alleges that the Academy is violating the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Fifth Amendment contains an equal-protection principle that binds the entire federal government and is no less strict and demanding than the Equal Protection Clause that binds the States and all public entities.

SFFA petitioned the Court to enter judgment in its favor and to provide the following relief:

A declaratory judgment that the Academy's use of race in admissions is unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment.

A permanent injunction prohibiting the Academy from considering or knowing an applicant's race when making admissions decisions.

All other relief that the Plaintiff is entitled to, including, but not limited to attorneys' fees and costs.

The complaint is attached.

Edward Blum, president of SFFA, said, "Over the past few decades, the Air Force Academy and our other military academies have strayed from their former colorblind, merit-based admissions policies and now focus on race and ethnicityfactors that do not contribute to the qualifications of applicants."

Blum added, "Because the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 opinion in the SFFA case expressly forbids all institutions of higher education from using race in admissions decisions, it must follow that the Air Force Academy must end their race-based policies as well."

Blum concluded, "The Air Force Academy has no legal justification for treating applicants differently by race and ethnicity."

StudentsForFairAdmissions.org

[email protected]

703-505-1922

Contact:

Edward Blum

[email protected]

SOURCE Students for Fair Admissions
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BLIXT, a global leader in programmable power, has been selected to participate in NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). This prestigious programme highlights BLIXT's innovative energy solutions, designed to address the most critical needs of modern power infrastructure and sustainable energy systems.

Through DIANA, BLIXT will further develop its X-Verter - a groundbreaking solution for energy storage and efficient power management with potential for both civilian and military applications. Dual-use technologies, which can serve both civilian and military purposes, play a crucial role in today's conflict management. In addition to traditional military equipment, technological innovations with dual-use capabilities have become an essential component of modern defense capabilities.

Programmable Power for More Efficient and Sustainable Infrastructure

BLIXT's programmable power technology transforms traditional static energy systems into flexible, software-defined solutions. The X-Verter is specifically designed to optimize energy storage and enable seamless integration between various power sources and loads, such as backup power for critical infrastructure.

For end-users like data centers, telecom operators, electric vehicle stakeholders, and manufacturing industries, BLIXT's technology provides key benefits, including improved operational reliability, reduced power losses, and enhanced energy efficiency.

"Our X-Verter ensures exceptional flexibility, allowing it to adapt to the unique requirements of land, sea, and air operations, while maintaining consistent performance in critical scenarios," said Trued Holmquist, Co-founder and CEO of BLIXT.

Beyond the X-Verter: BLIXT's Broader Expertise

BLIXT's expertise extends beyond the X-Verter. The company's first product portfolio, BLIXT Zero - solid-state switchgear - has redefined energy management systems by offering real-time control and management of power flows. Applications include programmable protection for electrical installations, detailed monitoring for predictive maintenance in industries and data centers, as well as load management to stabilize power grids. These innovations demonstrate BLIXT's commitment to developing technologies that meet the high demands of today's power infrastructure.

Over 2,600 Applications - BLIXT Chosen as One of Sweden's Representatives

Launched by NATO in 2023, DIANA aims to solve complex societal challenges through groundbreaking dual-use technologies. By working within the startup and entrepreneurial ecosystems of NATO's 32 member countries, DIANA identifies and supports innovative companies developing solutions for the Alliance's key needs.

With Sweden's recently approved NATO membership, Swedish companies like BLIXT are participating in the DIANA programme for the first time. This opens new opportunities for collaboration within the Alliance and strengthens Sweden's role in advancing technological progress.

Out of over 2,600 applications submitted to DIANA's 2024 Challenge Call, BLIXT was selected through a highly competitive process. As part of the programme, each selected company will receive 100,000 in funding to further develop their technological solutions. Participants will also gain access to training, expertise in technology, commercial development, and defense, as well as opportunities to test their solutions in specialized environments.

This year's focus on sustainable energy systems underscores the importance of innovative solutions like BLIXT's programmable power systems, which enhance the Alliance's ability to address future defense challenges.

Media Contact:

Charlotta Holmquist

Co-founder, BLIXT

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +46 (0) 708881333

Website: https://blixt.tech

About BLIXT

Founded in 2018 in Sweden, BLIXT is a global leader in programmable power, delivering groundbreaking solutions that redefine energy management. The company's patented solid-state technologies enable real-time control of energy systems, offering unmatched control, efficiency, reliability, and adaptability. With products such as BLIXT Zero and X-Verter, BLIXT is committed to driving progress in energy resilience and sustainability worldwide.

About DIANA

DIANA is the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, a NATO organisation with a mission to locate and accelerate dual-use innovation across the Alliance. DIANA provides technology developers with the resources, networks and expertise to address critical defence and security challenges, to create a more peaceful and resilient future. Learn more at www.diana.nato.int.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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The region's only university-affiliated academic health system is acknowledged for its continued commitment to providing exceptional maternity, childbirth and postpartum care.

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has been named one of the 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice. This marks the second consecutive year Tampa General has been designated a high-performing hospital for maternity care, the highest honor a hospital can earn from U.S. News in this specialty area. Just half of the hospitals evaluated for the 2025 ranking were named Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, with Tampa General as the only health system in the Tampa Bay region to achieve this distinction.

"At Tampa General, our physicians and team members understand that a healthy start to life contributes to better lifelong health," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. "We are proud to have earned this prestigious recognition, which celebrates our team's commitment to providing world-class, compassionate maternity care to expectant mothers and newborns in our community and beyond."

Each year, the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care evaluation provides expectant parents and their prenatal care teams with valuable information for choosing the maternity care that best suits them and their family's needs.

"This recognition reflects the dedication of our incredible health care team at USF Health and Tampa General Hospital," says Dr. Judette Louis, chief of the TGH Women's Institute, and James M. Ingram Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. "We are committed to providing the best possible care for every mother and baby, from routine pregnancies to high-risk cases requiring the advanced capabilities of an academic health system. Where you deliver matters, and this ranking indicates that we are successfully meeting the quality measures that lead to better outcomes for mothers and babies."

The U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care is based on eight quality indicators:

Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex (NTSV) C-section rate, which describes the proportion of live, full-term babies born to women in their first pregnancy, that are singleton and in the vertex presentation (no breech or transverse positions), via cesarean birth

Unexpected newborn complication rate

Episiotomy rate

Exclusive human milk feeding rate

VBAC rate

Transparency on racial/ethnic disparities

Early elective delivery rate

Birthing-friendly practices

These metrics are evaluated via a nationwide survey, and hospitals scoring 70 or higher are recognized as "High Performing." The methodology focuses on uncomplicated pregnancies.

Prior to this latest ranking from U.S. News & World Report, the TGH Women's Institute has achieved national recognition for its maternity care services, including:

"The TGH Women's Institute provides comprehensive women's health services, from routine to complex care, for families across Florida," says Melissa Golombek, vice president of the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH and the TGH Women's Institute. "Our focus on safe childbirth and quality care contributes to better outcomes for both mother and baby."

More information about the ranking methodology can be found, along with the full list of the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Maternity Hospitals, can be found here.

To learn more about the services offered by the TGH Women's Institute, please visit https://www.tgh.org/institutes-and-services/womens-institute.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Hospitals, with two medical specialties ranking among the top 20 in the nation and eight medical specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings  in the top 100 nationally in the 2024 America's Best Large Employers, the top 50 in Florida in the 2024 America's Best Employers by State and the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2022, provided a net community benefit of approximately $240.3 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North, which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, two TGH Outpatient Centers, TGH Virtual Health, and 20 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

Media Contact: Beth Hardy, APR

Assistant Manager

Publications & Physician Communications

(727) 510-6363 (cell)

[email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital
Greater and Faster Earnings Potential for Avon Ambassadors

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Avon Company (Avon), a leading direct seller of beauty products in North America, announced today an exciting transformation to its Avon Ambassador commission structure. The new program is designed to modernize, simplify and elevate business. This pivotal change will reward Avon Ambassadors for their performance and make it easier to maximize earnings as Avon remains dedicated to its direct selling business model.

Effective January 1st, 2025, Avon will implement an updated commission plan that better reflects the evolving needs of its Avon Ambassadors. This new streamlined structure focuses on five straightforward commission tiers. Avon Ambassadors will find it simpler and more intuitive to focus on growing their business, achieving recognition and maximizing success. With this change, Avon is proud to offer one of the most competitive and rewarding programs in the industry.

Key Highlights of the Updated Commission Structure:

Variable Commission Structure: Avon is transitioning from a fixed commission structure tied to annual sales volume to a variable commission structure that's based on total campaign sales volume. Avon campaigns are two week selling cycles. As an Avon Ambassador's campaign sales volume increases so will their commission within the campaign. Ambassadors can earn variable commission rates up to 50% per campaign.

Avon is transitioning from a fixed commission structure tied to annual sales volume to a variable commission structure that's based on total campaign sales volume. campaigns are two week selling cycles. As an Ambassador's campaign sales volume increases so will their commission within the campaign. Ambassadors can earn variable commission rates up to 50% per campaign. Accelerated Growth Opportunities: With a revamped tier system, Ambassadors can achieve faster earnings and more rewarding incentives, giving them the chance to elevate their business more rapidly.

With a revamped tier system, Ambassadors can achieve faster earnings and more rewarding incentives, giving them the chance to elevate their business more rapidly. New Recognition Titles: To celebrate the achievements of Avon Ambassadors, Avon is introducing new modernized recognition titles with various incentives including annual milestones.

"Our mission at Avon has always been to empower our Ambassadors with financial opportunity," said Liza Maldonado, Head of Sales at Avon North America. "These changes to our commission structure reaffirms our commitment to supporting our Avon Ambassadors and the direct selling business. This innovative and rewarding new framework sets a clear pathway for recognition and advancement. We are excited to give our Avon Ambassadors more opportunities to grow their businesses and build long-lasting Avon success."

In addition to the revamped commission structure, Avon will continue in 2025 to prioritize innovative product offerings including in the K-beauty space after seeing success with recent launches such as Avon's Beyond Glow Snail Mucin Complex Cream and Serum as well as Beyond Glow Lipcerin Lip Care. January will see a focus on fun multifunctioning color products in unique formulas and textures.

To learn more details about Avon's new commission initiative or to sign up to be an Avon Ambassador please visit www.avon.com and www.avon.ca.

ABOUT THE AVON COMPANY

The Avon Company is a leading social selling beauty company in North America, with independent sales Ambassadors throughout the United States and Canada, and distribution in Puerto Rico. Avon's portfolio includes award-winning skincare, color cosmetics, fragrance, personal care, and health and wellness products as well as home essentials, fashion and accessories. Avon has a long history of empowering women through economic opportunity and supporting the causes that matter most to women. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avon.com and www.avon.ca.

Related Links

www.avon.com

Media Contact:

Susan Small

[email protected]

SOURCE The Avon Company
Circumference Group and Stephens Group to Accelerate TCW's Mission to Expand Broadband Access Across Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Computer Works (TCW), a leading provider of fiber and fixed wireless internet services based in Arkansas, announced the completion of a significant growth capital investment led by The Stephens Group, LLC (Stephens Group), together with Circumference Group. This funding will further TCW's mission to bridge the digital divide by expanding fiber connectivity to underserved communities across Arkansas.

Brad Brannon, CEO of TCW, emphasized the transformative impact of the funding: "This growth capital gives us the financial flexibility to accelerate our market expansion and prepare for BEAD funding opportunities. We are committed to extending high-quality fiber internet services to the underserved areas in Arkansas and beyond."

Since Circumference Group's initial investment in July 2022, TCW has more than doubled its fiber footprint, significantly accelerating its growth trajectory by expanding into new markets, including Russellville. This latest investment milestone signifies a major leap in TCW's ambition to deliver reliable, high-speed fiber internet to more residents and businesses across the state.

"We are thrilled to partner with Stephens Group, whose investment philosophy aligns with our long-term vision of creating value for Arkansas communities," said Jeff Fox, Founder and CEO of Circumference Group. "TCW's talented team has continuously demonstrated their commitment to delivering exceptional broadband solutions, and this investment underscores our shared dedication to sustainable growth and customer value."

The new partnership also highlights the Circumference Group's investment approach, which combines strategic operational expertise with flexible capital. Jeff Fox noted, "We see immense potential in TCW as a leader in providing long-term value to its customers. Our commitment to TCW represents our broader strategy of supporting strong businesses that deliver impactful results for the communities they serve."

Stephens Inc. acted as financial advisor to TCW during the transaction.

About The Computer Works (TCW)

Founded in 1989, The Computer Works (TCW) is a leading Internet Service Provider based in Conway, Arkansas. TCW delivers high-speed fiber and fixed wireless internet services to both residential and commercial customers across the state. Beyond internet connectivity, TCW offers a suite of services including Voice over IP (VoIP) phone solutions, online data backup, and comprehensive monitoring and alerting for computers, servers, networks, and applications. The company is dedicated to bridging the digital divide by providing reliable and affordable internet access to underserved communities. Since 2020, TCW has been awarded four Arkansas Rural Connect grants, facilitating the development of new fiber infrastructures and the enhancement of fixed wireless networks.

For more information, visit tcworks.com.

About Circumference Group

Founded in 2009 by Jeff Fox, Circumference Group is a Little Rock, Arkansas-based investment firm that applies deep operational insights to drive superior risk-adjusted returns for its capital partners. With a focus on private and public market investments, Circumference Group's Core Value Assessment (CVA) framework evaluates a company's growth potential and operational strengths, creating pathways for sustainable long-term success.

For more information, visit circumferencegroup.com.

About Stephens Group

The Stephens Group, LLC is a private investment firm that partners with talented management teams to help build valuable businesses. Backed by the resources of the Witt Stephens, Jr. and Elizabeth Campbell families, the firm combines the operational expertise of a private equity firm with the flexibility provided by long-term capital. With over $2 billion of private equity assets under management, the firm has a long history of providing informed, sophisticated expertise and working with owners and managers to help them successfully achieve their strategic visions and build long-term value. Since 2006, Stephens Group has invested in over 50 companies, targeting investments in industries across the U.S., including industrial and commercial products and services, specialty distribution, technology infrastructure, and vertical software.

For more information, visit stephensgroup.com.

Contact:

Luca Sechi

***@circumferencegroup.com

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/13052036

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Circumference Group
Old Righteous Blues: A South African story of identity, resilience, and redemption, bridging cultures on its journey to Oscar glory. Old Righteous Blues is a visually stunning South African masterpiece that delves into the complexities of cultural identity, weaving a tale of resilience and redemption that resonates across generations.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Old Righteous Blues is a cinematic gem that has emerged from South Africa's vibrant film industry, now under consideration for an Oscar nomination in the Foreign Language Film category. Directed by Muneera Sallies and produced by Dumi Gumbi, Cati Weinek and Carol Shore the film offers a deeply poignant exploration of cultural identity, resilience, and redemption.

Set against the evocative backdrop of South Africa's complex social and historical landscape, the narrative unfolds with a profound authenticity that is both unique and universal. At its heart, Old Righteous Blues is a tale of community and perseverance. It follows characters navigating the intricate dynamics of tradition and modernity, exploring the sacrifices and dreams that define their journeys. The screenplay, written by Carol Shore, is rich in textured storytelling, drawing viewers masterfully into the lives of its extraordinary characters with striking realism and emotional depth.

Visually, the film captivates with its stunning cinematography. From sprawling landscapes to intimate urban settings, the imagery immerses the audience in a world both familiar and foreign. The score, a fusion of traditional South African rhythms and contemporary melodies, underscores the emotional weight of the film, creating a soundscape that lingers long after the credits roll. The cast delivers exceptional performances, breathing life into complex characters with authenticity and power. Their portrayals evoke a spectrum of emotions, from heartbreak to hope, anchoring the narrative's profound themes.

As the Academy deliberates, Old Righteous Blues reminds us of the universal power of film to bridge divides and connect us through shared human experiences. Its themes of resilience, identity, and redemption illuminate universal truths while bringing South Africa's unique voice to the global stage. Whether or not it secures the nomination, the film has undoubtedly carved its place in the pantheon of impactful global cinema.

In a world where dominant film industries often overshadow narratives from the Global South, Old Righteous Blues reaffirms the importance of diversity, inspiring a new generation of storytellers.

The making of the film is also unusual, as at least 90% of the crew and cast come from the "Coloured" community of South Africa - as Grammy Award-winning Tyla describes herself. Films like Old Righteous Blues serve a dual purpose. For South Africans, they preserve cultural heritage, document history, and provide a platform for introspection and healing. For the world, they offer a lens into a society that has undergone a profound transformation, showcasing the resilience and creativity of its people.

Old Righteous Blues isn't just a film; it's a cultural milestone. It reminds us of the power of storytelling to unite, inspire, and transform. In a world hungry for authenticity and connection, Old Righteous Blues is a beacon, proving that South Africa's stories deserve a place on the world stage. By doing so, we not only celebrate a nation's artistry but also affirm the value of global inclusivity in storytelling.

Official Link to Trailer: ORB official Trailer.mp4

Contact:

DHPR

***@aol.com

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/13050564

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE The Ergo Company
At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Expatriates Badr Abdel Aaty will visit China and co-chair the China-Egypt foreign ministers strategic dialogue from December 12 to 13.



TASS: According to media reports, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev began his visit to China today. Could the Foreign Ministry provide more information on that? Does China have any expectations for this visit?



Mao Ning: Chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedevs visit is an important event of high-level exchange between China and Russia. The Chinese side will release timely information about the visit. Please stay tuned.

Beijing Daily: The US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies recently issued a report entitled Chinas Intelligence Footprint in Cuba: New Evidence and Implications for US Security, saying that there are four sites within Cuba that are most likely to be supporting Chinas efforts to collect intelligence on the United States and its neighbors and suggesting that the United States and its regional partners should carefully monitor Chinas growing role in Cuba. Whats Chinas comment?



Mao Ning: I noted what you mentioned. As Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said, the US think tanks accusations of so-called Chinese military bases in Cuba are just tales that do not exist and no one has seen.

Let me stress again that Chinas cooperation with Cuba is done aboveboard, and does not target any third party. We certainly would not accept any deliberate vilification and smear from any third party. It is widely known that US intelligence agencies have an egregious record in Latin America and the Caribbean. The US unlawfully occupied Guantanamo Bay as its military base and imposed blockade and sanctions against Cuba for over six decades, which has been catastrophic for the Cuban people.

China once again urges the US to follow the just call of the international community, lift the blockade and sanctions on Cuba as soon as possible, remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and stop creating barriers that hinder Cubas socioeconomic development.

AFP: A senior security official in Taiwan told AFP today that apparent military drills conducted by China this week around the island are aimed at drawing a red line ahead of the incoming US presidential administration of Donald Trump. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm today these Chinese military drills and does it have any comment?



Mao Ning: I would refer you to the competent Chinese authorities for your specific question. Let me say that the Taiwan question is the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations and this has always been our position. Upholding the one-China principle is the key to ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China will firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Hubei Media Group: In a statement issued on December 10 local time, Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly announced sanctions against some Chinese personnel for alleged human rights violations. Do you have any comment on this?



Mao Ning: Without any factual basis, the Canadian government made false allegations against China in the name of human rights and imposed illicit sanctions on Chinese personnel. This is gross interference in Chinas internal affairs and a serious violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this.

The Chinese government follows a people-centered development philosophy and attaches absolute importance to respecting and protecting human rights. China has achieved enormous progress in human rights and made important contribution to the worlds human rights cause. This is a simple fact that no one without bias can deny.

Canada faces its own list of human rights issues. Its own human rights record has not been spotless. Even today, Canadas indigenous people still face systemic racial discrimination and unfair treatment. Instead of dealing with it, Canada chooses to smear and vilify other countries and spread lies about Chinas alleged human rights issues. This is a typical move of thief-crying-stop-thief and can hardly convince the world. Facts have laid bare Canadas double standards and hypocrisy. Canada is in no position to lecture others on human rights and point fingers at others human rights situation, nor do they have any right to act as a judge and arbitrarily impose sanctions.

China strongly urges Canada to reflect on itself, stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, stop undermining Chinas interests and image under the pretext of human rights, stop its poor political stunt and immediately lift its unlawful sanctions against relevant Chinese personnel. We will take all measures necessary to firmly defend our sovereignty, security and development interests.





News 1 Korea: ROK media reported that the new Chinese ambassador to the ROK will travel to the ROK this month to assume office. Whats Chinas comment and expectation?



Mao Ning: You may follow our ministrys website for any update on the new Chinese ambassador to the ROK. On China-ROK relations, our position is consistent. We stand ready to work with the ROK to advance China-ROK relations.

Reuters: China has approved no loans to Cambodia this year, despite being historically its top creditor country. This is according to data from Cambodias finance ministry. Is there a particular reason for this?



Mao Ning: I would refer you to the competent Chinese authorities for your specific question. Let me say that China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with Cambodia in various fields and support Cambodia in pursuing development and improving peoples livelihood.

AFP: The United States said yesterday that it is offering a US$10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of a Chinese man and co-conspirators who are wanted for hacking computer fire walls in order to commit fraud. This was in April of 2020 and the US Treasury said it had imposed sanctions on the mans company. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this case?



Mao Ning: China has always opposed and fought all types of cyberattacks in accordance with the law. We firmly reject using unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against Chinese entities and individuals. We urge the US to stop using cybersecurity issues to smear and vilify China, and stop imposing illicit unilateral sanctions. China will do what is necessary to protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens.

CCTV: On December 10, the US Commerce Department added two Chinese high-tech companies to the Entity List for human rights violations. What is Chinas comment on this?



Mao Ning: The so-called sanctions you mentioned are a blatant suppression of Chinese high-tech companies in the name of human rights. The move further reveals the USs true intention of depriving the Chinese peoples right to development. Protecting human rights is just a pretext they use to advance that objective. Such schemes will not succeed.

If the US truly cares about human rights, it should take care of its own human rights deficit first, rather than politicizing and weaponizing human rights issues to meddle in other countries internal affairs and harm other countries interests.
When Felix fled Turkmenistan in October last year, he left behind his wife and children. It was, he says, the toughest decision hes ever made, but he had no choice. Turkmenistan is a totalitarian state with an extremely poor human rights record. A culture of surveillance makes life suffocating and oppressive. Unregistered religious groups are systematically persecuted. Critically, in Felix's case, the penalty for same-sex relations is two years in prison.

Felix, whose name has been changed, knew he was gay from age eight. By 15, word had got out that he had been intimate with other men. The rumours brought shame upon his family. I would rather you were dead, his father told him. Felix was bullied and regularly beaten up. He was prescribed tranquillisers and told to see a hypnotherapist who sought to convince him he was straight. Under pressure from his family, he married a woman when he was in his twenties. They had three children before splitting up.

After that, Felix lived alone. He occasionally met men via dating apps. It proved a dangerous game.

What happened next sounds like something out of a Black Mirror episode: policemen trapping homosexuals by cat-fishing them online.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2020, a man Felix was chatting to online came to meet him for a date. He asked me, are you gay? Do you have any other partners? Felix said. Felix replied but it turned out the man was recording him and then he showed Felix his police identity and arrested him. Felix got a nine-day sentence and a warning that repeat offending would carry a more severe penalty. He fell into depression. Then things got even worse. He tested positive for HIV.

Felix fled his home country last year (Jordan Mansfield/Comic Relief)

I had a mental breakdown, Felix said. Finally, after years of mental anguish, he travelled to the UK and claimed asylum.

Around two percent of asylum claims in the UK include sexual orientation as part of the basis for their claim, equivalent to 1,334 claims in 2022. When people like Felix state on their asylum application that they belong to the LGBT community, they are taking a calculated risk - it might increase their chances of being persecuted here as well.

This is because for many LGBT refugees fleeing persecution in their home country, asylum seeker accommodation in the UK means sharing housing with some people who might share the anti-gay prejudice from which they sought to escape.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sebastian Rocca, the founder of Micro Rainbow, a charity that supports LGBTQ asylum seekers in the UK, told me of an incident in which a lesbian refugee from Uganda had her room set on fire by fellow claimants who found out about her sexuality. Many people continue to hide their identity to protect their families back home due to a risk of honour killing. In some countries, homosexuality is viewed as satanic; a hereditary curse. This puts entire families at risk.

Once Felixs asylum claim had been processed, he was moved into asylum seeker accommodation in Margate. His new neighbours called him marmuta  Arabic for whore. When I came to the canteen, everybody would stand up and leave: they didnt want me at their table. They looked at me like I was dirty. Felix fell ill. He came across Micro Rainbow in a moment of desperation.

Micro Rainbow is one of the organisations being funded by our winter appeal, A Place to Call Home, which we are running in partnership with Comic Relief to help Londons two most disadvantaged groups, refugees and people experiencing homelessness.

(ES)

The not-for-profit group supports approximately 1,000 LGBTQ asylum seekers every year, helping them as they face discrimination and/or homelessness. These are linked issues: roughly 40 percent of LGBTQ refugees have become homeless due to the punitive 28-day move-on period that asylum seekers - who have just been given refugee status - were given before being evicted from Home Office accommodation. (Last week, in a major win for refugees and our campaign, the Government announced a trial doubling of the move-on period from 28 days to 56 days, as lobbied for by charities and our campaign.)

ADVERTISEMENT

Within 24 hours of contacting Micro Rainbow, Felix was moved from Margate into safe accommodation in London. The staff is very friendly to me, he said. Besides helping with housing, Micro Rainbow helped me with my social isolation, he added. They have programs focused on social inclusion and connect you with people who have gone through similar experiences. Its amazing to feel youre not alone. Within weeks, Felix was offered a move to safe housing in Birmingham.

Part of Micro Rainbows mission is to provide pathways to employment. Rocca told me that finding a job while applying for benefits, learning a new language and trying to find a place to live is well-nigh impossible: and yet our system makes it even harder to do so. Asylum seekers face a 12-month wait before they can apply to work in the UK, and even then, only for jobs listed on the Governments Shortage Occupation List (recently renamed the Immigration Salary List).

As part of our campaign, The Standard is lobbying the Government to reduce the work ban to six months or less, which would bring us in line with other European countries.

Felix had enjoyed a successful career in Turkmenistan where he was an engineer and he hopes to one day work here. I want to be able to live life like anyone else: pay my bills, have a house and food on the table, he said. Micro Rainbow advocates for refugee employment rights and helps people like Felix improve their English, build their confidence and apply for jobs.

The charity is a lifeline for refugees like Felix. Most LGBTQ refugees have only ever known discrimination and they struggle with self-loathing and feelings of anxiety. For the first time, thanks to Micro Rainbow, Felix said he felt treated with respect. I am even open about my HIV status, he said. I am confident now. I feel protected. Thanks to Micro Rainbow, he said, the future looks bright.

In a nutshell

Our winter appeal, A Place to Call Home, in partnership with Comic Relief, is seeking to help fund organisations in London and across the country that support asylum seekers and people experiencing homelessness.

ADVERTISEMENT

To make a donation, visit: comicrelief.com/winter

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
Mid-Single Digit Revenue Growth Together with Further Program and Geographic Expansion

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fedcap Group announced its fiscal year 2024 operational and financial results, ended September 30, 2024.

Christine McMahon, President and CEO of The Fedcap Group, commented, "We are proud of the strides Fedcap made in fiscal 2024 to expand our reach and deliver impactful outcomes in key areas. Our programmatic and geographic expansionsincluding new health initiatives, specialized disability programming, and entry into new domestic and international markets demonstrate our commitment to empowering historically underserved populations to achieve economic well-being. Amid continued economic and political headwinds, we maintained mid-single-digit and revenue growth thanks to our focused strategy and the dedication of our exceptional team."

"In fiscal 2024, we successfully launched Civic Hall at Union Square in New York City, which welcomed 35,000 visitors in its first full year of operation. Our acquisitions of the Teaching the Autism Community Trades (TACT) school in Colorado and Easterseals in Mississippi highlight our commitment to creating new pathways to employment for individuals with disabilities. To expand our reach in the growing health sector, we are enhancing our international clubhouse mental health model to provide comprehensive support services, empowering individuals to achieve meaningful social inclusion, economic stability, and community integration. Additionally, we broadened our global reach with the launch of Fedcap Australia. These initiatives reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering impactful, scalable solutions that transform the lives of individuals and strengthen communities."

Operational Highlights

The Fedcap Group operates in four key practice areaseducation, workforce development, health, and economic developmentacross 24 nonprofit subsidiaries in 106 locations spanning the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In fiscal 2024, The Fedcap Group served over 243,964 individuals, a 6.8% increase compared to the previous year.

Education

The Education Practice has experienced significant growth through the launch of new programs and market expansions, serving 4,968 students across child development and post-secondary trades programsmore than doubling enrollment from 2023 levels. Fiscal 2024 marked the successful launch of Civic HallThe Bernard Goldstein Center in New York, a digital skills training hub and tech innovation center that trained more than 1,000 individuals in high-demand digital skills sectors during its first full year of operation. The acquisition of the Teaching the Autism Community Trades School in Denver, Colorado, has expanded high-demand programming for neurodivergent individuals, increasing the Education Practice offerings to 20 programs across five states.

Workforce Development

As Fedcap's largest practice area, Workforce Development delivered strong results, placing over 28,400 individuals into employment in the U.S., U.K., and Canadaan 11% increase over last year and a record-high for the organization. The Workforce Development Practice consistently achieves high retention rates, with 88% of the individuals we placed remaining employed for at least 30 days, 78% for 90 days, and 76% for 180 days.

Health

The Health Practice demonstrated continued growth driven by the success of the Single Stop case management and benefits screening program, which served more than 80,000 individuals and yielded an average benefit of $20,206 per household. Fedcap saw a 23.6% increase in the delivery of wellness services, serving nearly 38,000 people globally.

Economic Development

The Economic Development Practice has built on its legacy of over nine decades by creating sustainable employment opportunities, with a particular focus on individuals with disabilities. Through its social enterprises, Fedcap directly employed more than 1,000 individuals in fiscal 2024 at competitive salary levels, fostering economic stability and advancing workforce inclusion.

There has been a significant increase in retirement assets for Fedcap's direct client service workers, growing from $8.4 million in 2010 to $158 million in 2024. This growth reflects our organization's values and commitment not only to providing sustainable wages but also to fostering wealth and financial stability among our diverse workforce.

International Expansion

Since entering international markets in 2017, Fedcap has established a significant presence in Canada and the United Kingdom. This year, Fedcap expanded our global footprint with the launch of Fedcap Australia, marking a new chapter in our mission to deliver impactful solutions and support diverse communities worldwide.

FY2024 Financial Results

Fedcap achieved $382.1 million in operating revenue for fiscal 2024, representing a 4.5%, or $16.6 million increase over fiscal 2023. As of September 30, 2024, Fedcap had $35.2 million in cash and investments, total assets of $403.5 million, and long-term liabilities of $234.9 million. Net assets grew to $100.7 million, nearly tripling since fiscal 2020.

The organization maintains a strong business development pipeline valued at close to $300 million, with a consistent 90%+- win rate on contract recompetes.

Outlook

"Our future strategy focuses on expanding high-demand services to eliminate critical barriers to employment, scaling our successful fee-for-service trades programs internationally, and offering targeted support tailored to underserved disability communities," said McMahon. "We are dedicated to empowering individuals with barriers through education and workforce training, health interventions, and economic opportunitiesequipping them with the skills needed to secure meaningful, well-paying jobs with clear pathways to long-term career growth."

McMahon continued, "Fedcap's financial strength is built on a robust commitment to diversifying revenue sources. This includes increasing the contribution of fee-for-service programs, which we expect to more than double as a percentage of our operating revenues within the next five years. Fedcap is prepared to recalibrate its offerings to meet any new requirements following the recent U.S. and U.K. elections, which may lead to the reprioritization of key funding streams and programs. By strategically broadening our funding base, we ensure sustained impact and resilience in serving those who need it most."

About The Fedcap Group

For nearly ninety years, The Fedcap Group has developed scalable, innovative, and potentially disruptive solutions to address some of society's most pressing needs through four core practice areas: education, workforce development, health, and economic development. The Fedcap Group provides educational services for all age groups, vocational training, and job placement in high-growth industries, as well as support services such as behavioral health careall aimed at helping individuals achieve economic mobility and long-term self-sufficiency. The Fedcap Group also invests its time and resources in broader systemic change by partnering with federal, state, and local governments to improve the design, funding, and delivery of services.

Contact:

Jim Malatras, 212-727-4200, ([email protected])

The Fedcap Group Financial Statements



Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As of March 31

2024

2023

Unaudited

Unaudited ASSETS





Cash and short-term investments $ 27,532,603

$ 47,403,126 Accounts Receivable (net) 71,015,737

58,455,385 Restricted Current Assets 2,772,958

- Inventories (net) 431,609

381,693 Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets 3,679,193

4,356,848 Total Current Assets $ 105,432,101

$ 110,597,051







Fixed Assets (net) 149,546,296

132,036,836 ROU Assets 92,666,217

106,078,979 Restricted Assets 41,586,051

- Beneficial Remainder Trust 5,243,759

4,604,131 Other Assets 15,487,547

11,531,491 Total Assets $ 409,961,971

$ 364,848,488







Liabilities





Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities $ 39,028,546

$ 38,758,371 Notes Payable 1,219,854

1,149,088 Advance from Government Agency -

86,022 Financing Lease Liabilities 1,384,407

863,266 ROU Liabilities 10,280,139

11,561,557 Other Current Liabilities 11,976,185

11,750,523 Total Current Liabilities 63,889,131

64,168,828







Long Term Debt $ 102,262,471

$ 104,135,230 ROU Liabilities 89,158,740

97,935,529 Line of Credit 40,651,429

29,345,101 Other Liabilities 15,451,907

18,579,368 Total Liabilities 311,413,678

314,164,056







Net Assets





Without Donor Restrictions $ 43,202,216

$ 41,702,439 With Donor Restrictions 55,346,077

8,981,993 Total Net Assets $ 98,548,293

$ 50,684,432 Total Liabilities & Net Assets $ 409,961,971

$ 364,848,488







Current Ratio 1.65

1.72 A/R Turnover Ratio 5.17

6.37 A/R Average Days Outstanding 71

57 Debt Coverage Ratio 1.77

2.31



Consolidated Statement of Activities

for the period ended September 30, 2024 & 2023





2024

2023

Unaudited

Audited







REVENUE $ 382,064,307

$ 365,477,823







EXPENSES





Salaries and benefits $ 199,885,451

$ 195,067,440 Occupancy 33,387,198

27,367,625 Subcontractors 33,191,942

35,861,536 Depreciation and amortization 7,696,867

8,444,754 Interest expense 6,230,304

6,739,064 Other expense 97,531,593

90,204,976 TOTAL EXPENSES $ 377,923,355

$ 363,685,394







OPER PROFIT/(LOSS) $ 4,140,952

$ 1,792,429







In Kind Contribution $ -

$ 46,477,997







Total Revenue $ 382,064,307

$ 411,955,820







Operating Ratios





Net operating ratio 1.08 %

0.49 % Program Expense Ratio 88 %

88 % Personnel cost ratio 53 %

54 %

SOURCE The FedCap Group
Bank Foundation Furthers Mission of Assisting Underrepresented Entrepreneurs Access Capital Through New Partnership

FAIRFAX, Va., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Freedom Bank of Virginia announces the Freedom Bank Foundation has entered into a formal agreement with Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) as a second administrator for the NOVA Freedom Fund. From the proceeds of its third annual Campaign Celebration, the Foundation has also now funded an LEDC account to enable LEDC to begin making revolving loans to underserved entrepreneurs to grow and scale their businesses.

The NOVA Freedom Fund provides financing and technical assistance to underrepresented entrepreneurs in the DC Region. Since 2021, the Foundation through the help of the Community Business Partnership (CBP) has provided capital and assistance to twelve local entrepreneurs. Today the Foundation has raised over $350,000 and looks forward to using the funding to assist even more businesses by forging a new partnership with the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC).

LEDC's mission is to serve as a catalyst that drives the economic and social advancement of low- to moderate-income Latinos and other underserved communities by equipping them with the skills and tools to achieve financial independence, acquire personal and business assets, create generational wealth, and become leaders in their communities.

"We're thrilled to elevate the Foundation's impact by bringing on a second CDFI administrator, LEDC, to join our network. With these added resources, along with our ongoing collaboration with the CBP, the Fund will be able to support even more deserving entrepreneurs who do not have the network or net worth to achieve their full potential. We're excited to leverage this expanded network and new funding to create meaningful opportunities for local business owners and entrepreneurs," said Joe Thomas, President and CEO.

"LEDC is excited to serve as a second CDFI administrator for the Nova Freedom Fund, helping underserved entrepreneurs access the capital they need to thrive. Investing in our local businesses fuels economic opportunity and contributes to the economic and social advancement of our community," said Emi Reyes, CEO of LEDC.

The Freedom Bank Foundation is a nonprofit, tax exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Businesses or individuals who are interested in learning more about the Foundation or the NOVA Freedom Fund are asked to contact [email protected] or visit freedom.bank/foundation.

About Freedom Bank

Freedom Bank is a next-generation community bank, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, offering commercial banking, personal banking, and mortgage banking solutions using banker expertise and innovative technology to build lead relationships with clients. Focusing on businesses, real estate owners, and professionals, Freedom Bank concentrates on key industry verticals to deliver unique, sector-specific solutions to help clients meet their goals and realize their dreams. Freedom Bank has sales office locations in Fairfax, Vienna, Reston, Manassas, and Chantilly, VA. The Freedom Bank Mortgage Division is headquartered in Chantilly, VA. For information about Freedom Bank, visit our website at www.freedom.bank.

Contact:

Joseph J. Thomas

President & Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 703-667-4161

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE The Freedom Bank of Virginia
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The REMM Group, a premier property management company specializing in enhancing the value of multifamily properties, is excited to announce that it has been selected to manage The Sandpiper Apartments. Nestled in a tranquil cul-de-sac in Huntington Beach, Orange County, this charming apartment community offers a peaceful, park-like setting that feels like a retreat from the everyday hustle.

The Sandpiper Apartments stand out for their lush, beautifully landscaped courtyards, creating a serene oasis for residents. Whether enjoying the scenic views or gathering with friends and family in the BBQ dining areas, residents will find relaxation and recreation just steps from their front door.

"We are thrilled to bring our expertise to The Sandpiper Apartments," said Sara D'Elia, CEO of The REMM Group. "The community's park-like setting, spacious layouts, and outstanding amenities provide an exceptional living experience, and we're committed to maintaining and enhancing its unique appeal for residents."

The Sandpiper Apartments offer large floor plans, including select homes featuring expansive private backyards, ideal for entertaining or unwinding in the fresh coastal air. Residents can enjoy the sparkling swimming pool, perfect for cooling off on warm California days, and benefit from the convenience of onsite maintenance.

Pet lovers will be delighted to know that The Sandpiper Apartments are a pet-friendly community, welcoming furry companions to share in the beauty and comfort of Huntington Beach living.

Located in the heart of Huntington Beach, this 144-unit community offers residents easy access to nearby shopping, dining, and the stunning Southern California coastline. The community's peaceful location on a quiet cul-de-sac enhances its tranquil appeal, offering the best of both convenience and serenity.

The REMM Group is a trusted leader in property management, recognized for its exceptional market insight in Los Angeles, San Diego, the Inland Empire and Orange County markets and for its dedication to enhancing the living experience for residents while maximizing value for property owners. The Sandpiper Apartments joins a portfolio of premier communities across Southern California managed by The REMM Group.

For more information about The Sandpiper Apartments or The REMM Group, please visit The Sandpiper Apartments website or The REMM Group website.

Media Contact:

Windell Mollenido

VP Marketing and Technology

(714) 974-1010 x219

[email protected]

SOURCE The REMM Group
MIAMI, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GMA International (GMAI), a leading consulting and project management firm in the mass transit industry based in Miami, Florida, is proud to announce the appointment of Theresa Kelli Antoniello as its new President & CEO. Succeeding her father Gino Antoniello, founder, and former President & CEO, Theresa marks a new and exciting chapter for GMAI, as she navigates the firm towards a breadth of new possibilities under her vision.

Theresa Antoniello becomes President & CEO of GMA International, leading the mass transit firm with vision and ambition. Post this

This significant leadership transition highlights the importance of early career exposure and the lasting impact it can have. Back in 1992, companies in New York City introduced an initiative sponsored by the Ms. Foundation called "Bring Your Daughters to Work Day" to expose young girls to various career opportunities. Little did Gino know at the time, the profound influence it would have when he brought Theresa to his office during the 1998 event.

"Sitting in my dad's chair, that day  surrounded by plans and project files  and learning about this world for the first time, I was captivated by the scale and complexity of what was being accomplished," Theresa recalls. Her curiosity only grew from there, and through the years she would continue to visit her father's office on the 41st floor of Manhattan, where he oversaw contract management and systems integration for large-scale urban and airport transit projects in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Miami, and Washington D.C.

Fast forward to today, Theresa now assumes the leadership of the company her father founded in 2012, specializing in services supporting clients in the transportation systems and urban mobility industry.

"Having been with the company from the beginning, I have been involved in all aspects of the business and I'm looking forward to further developing new opportunities that will ensure the sustainability of our organization," said Theresa. "The reputation my father has built as a trustworthy contract management partner and adviser capable of providing integrated solutions and negotiating successful problem solving across multiple transportation technologies, is why our client relationships are long-term. I intend to build on this legacy as we continue with our future expansion plans."

"Theresa's appointment as CEO has been part of my strategic vision of a smooth legacy transition as I step back from daily operations of the company," said Gino. "I am very proud to leave the leadership of this company in her capable hands and am confident that she will be an inspiration to the dedicated, knowledgeable, and hardworking people who helped me build the company and maintain a philosophy that 'the Project is King'. With her concentration on business development and project management, I know her unique business vision and technical expertise will open new opportunities for the consultancy," said Gino.

In addition to the many projects on the horizon for commuter and urban transportation throughout Florida and the rest of the U.S., Theresa's expansion interests include the transition to hydrogen fuel, autonomous vehicles, and integrating non-conventional partners and financing strategies into public-private partnerships (P3s).

With a start-to-finish approach, GMAI supports its customers and partners with a team that brings their commercial and technical expertise into large-scale projects to successfully reach their objectives. It is unique for a small company to have 40 years plus of turnkey experience representing both buyers and seller with Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) contract management integration in the transit industry. Additionally, the company has received DBE certification, which will be advantageous to clients who have DBE vendor requirements in their government contracts.

Gino Antoniello will remain with the firm as Director, supporting Theresa's objectives and advancing current and future contracts. GMA International Services welcomes this generational transition and looks forward to continued success under its new leadership.

About GMA International Services, Inc.: GMA International Services is a consulting and project management firm specializing in turnkey delivery of complex urban and airport transportation systems and infrastructure projects. Established in 2012, GMAI is known for its reliability and long-term client relationships. The firm specializes in the turnkey delivery (DBOM) of automated people mover (APM), high-speed, light and heavy, metro, subway and freight rail systems.

GMA International Services, Inc. 12401 Orange Drive, Ste. 210, Davie, FL 33330  (954) 668-2770  www.gma-intl.com

Contact Information: Victor A. Garcia Director of Business Operations, Tel: (786) 512-9512, Email: [email protected]

SOURCE GMA International Services
The Acquisition of Europe's Largest Wellbeing Destination, Backed by One of the Industry's Largest Single-Asset Financings

LONDON, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Therme Group announces the acquisition of Therme Erding, the largest wellbeing destination globally located near Munich in Germany. With this transaction, Therme Group is set to surpass 3.5 million annual visitors to its portfolio of wellbeing destinations, a new type of social infrastructure that integrates all aspects of wellbeing in a single location.

To complete the acquisition of Therme Erding, Therme Group deployed alongside its own equity a 320 million funding package secured from Macquarie Capital's Principal Finance team, globally recognized as a leader in bespoke and complex real asset financing solutions. The funding, arranged by Deutsche Bank, represents one of the largest single-asset financings in the industry. The acquisition of Therme Erding reinforces Therme Group's leadership in the sector and its commitment to advancing the expansion of its state-of-the-art wellbeing infrastructures worldwide.

"Therme Erding is an exceptionally high-quality asset and we are delighted to be able to utilise our balance sheet to partner with an experienced operator in Therme Group. Therme Group stands out as a best-in-class operator and developer of these specialised operating real estate assets, and we are pleased to support their growth."

- Alexi Antolovich, Global Co-Head Real Estate, Macquarie Capital Principal Finance

The addition of Therme Erding to Therme Group's portfolio is the outcome of a long-standing personal relationship of the Wund family with Robert Hanea, the CEO and founder of Therme Group, built on a shared commitment to advancing science-backed wellbeing solutions that combine the benefits of traditional thermal bathing with cutting-edge technology and programming to create an accessible, world-class experience.

"In Therme Group we have found an established and proven partner who shares the innovative wellbeing legacy I built alongside my father. This acquisition not only honors that legacy but also ensures a vibrant and prosperous future for Therme Erding, its employees, and the community it serves."

- Dipl. Ing. Jorg Wund, CEO of Therme Erding

This milestone establishes Therme Group as the world's largest operator of wellbeing infrastructure. Building on this strong foundation, the group has announced new locations in Manchester, Frankfurt, Toronto and the US, which will help bring its transformative approach to millions more people.

"As we expand globally, we are not just growing our portfoliowe are redefining how cities can integrate spaces that prioritize health, connection, and inclusion, making urban wellbeing accessible to all. By breaking away from the exclusivity of the traditional wellness sector, we aim to reimagine the sector's potential and its benefits for society as a whole."

- Dr. Robert Hanea, Founder and CEO of Therme Group

Therme Group was supported on the transaction by Alantra, Rodl & Partner, PwC, K&L Gates, and Slaughter and May, with the financing structured by Deutsche Bank and BF.direkt Group. Deutsche Bank also acted as arranger for the financing, while Macquarie Capital was advised by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

About Therme Group

Therme Group is a global owner, operator and developer, shaping the future of wellbeing through a new type of social infrastructure called 'Therme.' Designed to enhance physical, social, and mental health, these spaces and wellbeing destinations help communities reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other. Guided by the belief that wellbeing should be accessible to all, Therme Group creates inclusive, scalable solutions to meet the growing demand for urban wellbeing.

Current locations, including Therme Bucharestthe world's first LEED Platinum-certified wellbeing infrastructureand the newly acquired Therme Erding, the world's largest wellbeing destination, welcome millions of visitors each year, with developments underway in cities such as Manchester, Toronto, and Frankfurt.

What is a Therme

Therme by Therme Group is a state-of-the-art wellbeing oasis designed to make wellbeing enjoyable and accessible to all, removing the exclusivity and privilege often associated with modern wellness brands. Each Therme offers a diverse range of experiences, from thermal bathing and spa treatments to wellness programming and cultural engagement, all within immersive, sustainable environments. With hundreds of thousands of square feet dedicated to wellbeing, each Therme features thermal and mineral pools, dozens of saunas and wet rooms, thousands of relaxation beds, lush greenery including plants and trees, swim-up bars, exhilarating waterslides, and a variety of restaurants. At Therme, you can explore and define what wellbeing means to you.

About Macquarie Capital

Macquarie Capital is the advisory, capital markets and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group. It encompasses corporate advisory, a full spectrum of capital solutions, including capital raising services from equity, debt and private capital markets and principal investments from Macquarie's balance sheet. Macquarie Capital has deep sector expertise in the aerospace, defence and government services, consumer, gaming and leisure, critical minerals, energy, financial institutions, healthcare, industrials, infrastructure, services, software, technology, telecommunications and media sectors.

Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, the financing and principal investing arm of Macquarie Capital makes investments from Macquarie's balance sheet, provides flexible primary financing and secondary market investing solutions for corporate and commercial real estate clients across North America, Europe and Australasia.

Press Contact:

Victor De Vita, Managing Director

BPCM

[email protected]

SOURCE Therme Group
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Even during the hectic holiday season leading to Christmas and New Year's there's always extra help to give the best possible care for children looking after their elderly senior parents, according to assisted living consultant Carline Cadet Francois.

Often during these busy hectic times, says Cadet Francois, children are pulled in multiple directions, overwhelmed, and feel that they may not be giving their parents the proper attention and care they deserve.

Another way children can alleviate stress is to introduce mom or dad to short-term respite care at an assisted living facility. Some smaller assisted living facilities will allow elderly parents who need extra care to stay for a short-time without any long-term commitment. Many people don't even know about smaller assisted living facilities. They can actually provide superior personalized care in a familiar home setting often costing less than larger settings. These facilities can provide all the care that a larger facility offers.

"At this point, sometimes they're crying because they're having a hard time dealing with it all. I'm always surprised about how much these loving caregivers don't know because there are excellent options and resources out there that can help them look after aging family members," said Cadet Francois.

For example, tapping into resources such as community church groups where someone could come to their house regularly to help mom and dad and alleviate stress.

"A lot of them don't know how to ask for help and what paperwork they're going to need to get it started," says Cadet Francois. "She has organized an Assisted Living and Caregivers Conference designed to provide the support, education, and connections that can make a huge difference."

She also has a course that guides children looking for extra support to look after their aging parents, which can be accessed on her website.

Another way they can alleviate stress is to introduce mom or dad to short-term respite care at an assisted living facility. Some smaller assisted living facilities will allow elderly parents who need extra care to stay for a short time without any long-term commitment.

"Many people don't even know about smaller assisted living facilities. They can actually provide superior personalized care in a familiar home setting often costing less than larger settings. These facilities can provide all the care that a larger facility offers," said Cadet Francois.

However, a word of warning, she cautions, because not all assisting living communities are created the same.

"Some are better than others and it really depends on the management. To make it easier for you to choose the right facility that offers excellent care, we have hand-picked only the best smaller living facilities from across the U.S.," said Cadet Francois.

That list is available on her website or by emailing [email protected].

Generally, smaller assisted living facilities offer a home-like environment, more personalized care, and better one-on-one services than some other options.

At the same time, residents have a better quality of life, enjoying the company of other guests, and the home with all its amenities in a small group setting.

"Most people don't even know these smaller facilities exist," says Cadet Francois. "They can be any typical house within your community. You might have one in your neighborhood and not even know it. They are typical homes for four to 15 people who need extra care.

"These smaller assisted facilities also offer enjoyable activities for seniors that stressed-out children may not have the time or ability to give to their parents. Who knows, mom and dad may even enjoy the experience and decide to stay," said Cadet Francois.

Cadet Francois also offers help for people interested in setting up an assisted living facility in Florida.

These entrepreneurs and investors are typically from the medical community but are not required to be. She can help them navigate the complicated process of setting up the assisted facility that must adhere to multiple government regulations and ongoing support such as marketing.

For further information or to schedule an interview contact Carline Cadet Francois at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Carline Cadet Francois

Assisted Living Business Mentor

carlinecadetfrancois.com

Instagram

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 954-633-2929

SOURCE Carline Cadet Francois
From Personal Details to Gossip, What Crosses the Line

OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- While honesty is often touted as the best policy, it is possible to be too honest in the workplace. Many companies pride themselves on creating environments where employees feel safe to speak openly. However, the complexities and potential pitfalls of excessive honesty are becoming increasingly apparent.

This is according to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.

While honesty is crucial, the wisdom to communicate thoughtfully is equally important. Post this Hiring Managers Say Employees Should Avoid Excessive Honesty

Most U.S. hiring managers believe their companies have successfully cultivated an environment promoting honest employee communication. An impressive 86% report that their organizations have created a safe and trusting atmosphere, while 80% affirm that the right systems and tools are in place to facilitate constructive criticism.

In fact, an overwhelming 95% of respondents feel that employees can speak openly with anyone in the company about their concerns or issues, with managers/supervisors (68%) and peers/colleagues (57%) being the most common points of contact.

However, conversations about employees' personal lives can be more complex.

While 70% of hiring managers believe employees should feel comfortable discussing personal issues with their manager if they impact their work, nearly 39% find it challenging to help employees navigate these issues (e.g., health, relationships, finances) to improve productivity.

Thirty percent also report difficulty in helping employees set professional boundaries to prevent personal issues from affecting their work. This difficulty may stem from a lack of training, as 39% of hiring managers say their company does not provide resources or training on managing employees' personal issues. Furthermore, 67% feel that discussing personal matters at work hinders productivity.

The Fine Line of Workplace Honesty

More than half of hiring managers (54%) disagree with the notion that employees can never be "too honest" at work and identify several ways in which employees can be excessively honest, such as sharing personal information about colleagues or themselves (65%), criticizing the company or colleagues (53%), gossiping or spreading rumors (51%) and venting about colleagues or projects (46%).

Examples of overly honest behavior reported by hiring managers include:

"Talked negatively about our manager, stating she is a loser and does not pull her weight."  29-year-old female hiring manager from a company with 500+ employees

"An employee shared their extramarital experience with me, and the spouse worked in my department."  55-year-old male hiring manager from a company with 10-49 employees

"Someone told me they had a crush on me, which was very inappropriate."  32-year-old female hiring manager from a company with 100-499 employees

"They said the CEO was never working and was too old for the job."  50-year-old male hiring manager from a company with 500+ employees

"They commented that my clothes fit better before I had my child, which was uncalled for. I was 10 weeks postpartum."  32-year-old female hiring manager from a company with 500+ employees

And it appears that too much honesty can have damaging impacts, as nearly two-thirds (65%) feel being "too honest" at work will damage an employee's professional reputation.

Balancing Honesty and Professionalism

Job seekers also say honesty can negatively impact workplace productivity and an employee's reputation, with 54% disagreeing that employees can never be "too honest" at work.

There is a generational divide, with Gen Z and millennial job seekers more likely to agree than their Gen X and boomer counterparts (55% and 52% vs. 36% and 33%, respectively).

Almost 65% of job seekers agree discussing personal issues at work hinders productivity, and 71% believe that being "too honest" can harm an employee's professional reputation.

Additionally, 89% of job seekers agree that it is important for younger generations to learn when it is appropriate to be honest in the workplace, with millennials, Gen X and boomers more likely to agree compared to Gen Z (89%, 95%, and 96% vs. 79%).

"While honesty is crucial, the wisdom to communicate thoughtfully is equally important," said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO. "In a professional setting, discerning what to share and keep private is key. It's important to remember that some personal situations are best discussed with confidantes outside of work."

Survey Methodology

The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between May 16 and June 3, 2024, among 1,003 U.S. hiring decision-makers.

The Job Seeker Report was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals from May 28 to June 10, 2024, among 1,002 adults ages 18 and older.

For full survey methodologies, please contact [email protected], Director of Corporate Communications & PR.

If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact [email protected], Director of Corporate Communications & PR.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, we're in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 492,000 people globally in 2023 and more than 11 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.

SOURCE Express Services dba Express Employment Professionals
Trend Vision One leaves attackers with nowhere to hide

DALLAS, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global cybersecurity leader Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704) announced its exceptional scores in the latest round of the MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations. The results reflected Trend's position at the forefront of global threat intelligence, with its flagship platform covering all major attack steps and all sub-steps in multiple categories.

To learn more about Trend's performance in the MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations, visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/business/campaigns/mitre-engenuity-evaluations.html

Kevin Simzer, COO at Trend: "This year's evaluations more closely mirrored real-world scenarios than in years past, which was both a challenge and an opportunity to showcase the expertise we provide to customers. Security leaders look to these evaluations to ensure that they've got the best technology and people working for them around the clock. And the results are clear: Trend Vision One leaves attackers with nowhere to hide."

MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations appraise a solution's ability to detect targeted attacks leveraging known adversary behavior and recreating critical real-world attacks. This year's evaluations incorporate multiple smaller emulations for a more nuanced and targeted evaluation of defensive capabilities. Trend achieved standout results in each of the scenarios, which emulated ransomware attacks against Linux and MacOS as well as attacks from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea targeting MacOS.

Coverage rates excelled across the board:

100% analytic coverage for all major steps

100% analytic coverage in Linux and MacOS for all sub-steps

100% analytic coverage in server platform (Windows/Linux) for all sub-steps

99% analytic coverage for all sub-steps

Trend has been recognized as an industry leader in attack surface management, endpoint security, XDR, network analysis and visibility, and more. With results to match across all coverage categories, Trend Vision One demonstrates outstanding value.

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro's AI-powered cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, Trend's platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 70 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.TrendMicro.com.

About MITRE Engenuity ATT&CK Evaluations

ATT&CK Evaluations is built on the backbone of MITRE's objective insight and conflict-free perspective. Cybersecurity vendors turn to the Evals program to improve their offerings and to provide defenders with insights into their product's capabilities and performance. Evals enables defenders to make better informed decisions on how to leverage the products that secure their networks. The program follows a rigorous, transparent methodology, using a collaborative, threat-informed, purple-teaming approach that brings together vendors and MITRE experts to evaluate solutions within the context of ATT&CK. In line with MITRE Engenuity's commitment to serve the public good, Evals results and threat emulation plans are freely accessible. https://attackevals.mitre-engenuity.org/

SOURCE Trend Micro Incorporated
Leading Tutoring Franchise Introduces Cognitive Assessments to Enhance Student Learning Worldwide

TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tutor Doctor, the leader in one-to-one private tutoring, announces its global partnership with the world-class brand MindPrint Learning. As the only K12 solution that uses objective cognitive data to teach students how they learn best, MindPrint offers personalized strategies based on each student's learning strengths and needs.

This partnership marks the first time MindPrint has partnered with an international tutoring company, making this a significant milestone for both brands as they work together to provide the best possible services for students of all ages and abilities.

"At Tutor Doctor, we're committed to helping students achieve academic success by understanding not just what they are learning but how they learn best," said Frank Milner, President of Tutor Doctor. "This partnership with MindPrint gives our franchisees access to cutting-edge, one-of-a-kind cognitive data and resources that will enable our tutors to better support students, in turn helping them reach their full potential."

The Partnership:

Tutor Doctor franchisees, tutors, and students worldwide now have access to MindPrint assessments, which use cognitive data to better understand learner variability. MindPrint assessments evaluate nine key cognitive skills in the areas of executive functions, reasoning, memory, and processing that influence performance across all academic subjects and impact standardized test scores. MindPrint identifies areas of giftedness as well as potential learning barriers.

In addition to offering key insights into each student's capacities, MindPrint also offers personalized strategies to support students across academic subjects, giving tutors a variety of tools to individualize instruction. MindPrint provides unparalleled insights to ensure every student meets their academic goals and rediscovers the joy of learning.

How it Works:

The MindPrint assessment was developed through 20+ years of research by University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and is trusted by leading institutions like NASA. Originally designed for adults, it was later adapted to support students aged 8 to 21. Designed for convenience, the assessment can be taken at home in about an hour, with flexibility for breaks or multiple sessions to accommodate younger students or those with learning differences. Near immediate results allow tutors to apply insights and strategies the very same day, so parents and students no longer need to wait to get the personalized support they need.

"We're excited to partner with Tutor Doctor to expand MindPrint's cognitive assessments to students across the globe," said Nancy Weinstein, CEO of MindPrint Learning. "This partnership equips Tutor Doctor's franchisees and tutors with key insights to further personalize their teaching methods, focusing on each student's unique learning strengths. Tutor Doctor franchisees are positioned to help students thrive beyond what traditional tutoring methods can offer."

A Benefit for Students, Tutors, and Franchisees:

Each student's MindPrint, like their fingerprint, is unique. The knowledge gained from these assessments equips students with self-awareness, helping them become more motivated and independent learners. Understanding their cognitive strengths builds confidence and fosters a sense of enthusiasm and motivation towards learning.

This partnership aligns with Tutor Doctor's holistic approach to education and empowers tutors to further enhance their personalized learning plans. By focusing on each student's unique strengths while addressing areas for improvement, tutors can deliver even more impactful educational support. The partnership also provides tremendous value for Tutor Doctor franchisees by enhancing the breadth of their service offerings.

About Tutor Doctor

With hundreds of territories across 5 continents, Tutor Doctor was named the No. 1 In-Home Tutoring Franchise by Entrepreneur.com since 2016, and the brand has ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2023 Franchise 500 for the 12th year in a row. Founded as an alternative to the "one-to-many" teaching model most extra-curricular learning centers offer, Tutor Doctor provides a personalized one-to-one, in-home and online tutoring service to students of all ages. Now with offices internationally, the Tutor Doctor vision is becoming a reality, positively impacting students and their families worldwide. With the belief that all students can achieve academic success through two components  academic foundation building and academic discipline  Tutor Doctor will continue to lead the private tutoring industry. For more information on Tutor Doctor, please visit www.tutordoctor.com. To find out about franchise opportunities, please visit, www.tutordoctorfranchise.com.

SOURCE Tutor Doctor
Virginia tech community celebrates top companies and leaders

DULLES, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Unanet, the leading provider of project-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) and client relationship management (CRM) solutions for government contractors (GovCons) and the architecture, engineering, and construction industries (AEC), landed two coveted honors at last night's 2024 Tech 100 Northern Virginia Tech Council (NVTC) awards ceremony. Unanet was recognized as one of the region's leading technology companies, and CEO Craig Halliday was named a top executive.

Unanet's commitment to being the ultimate team player for its customers, employees, and partners played a key role in winning these prestigious honors. Among other accomplishments that led to the awards, this year Unanet has expanded its product portfolio to include new AI-driven features that will help companies introduce a new, heightened level of efficiency and excellence in their business operations; successfully acquired a D.C.-based firm, GovPro AI, to help customers win more business; widely expanded its GovCon and AEC customer base; and grown its talented staff both in and outside the Northern Virginia area. All these strategic moves have helped Unanet be recognized as one of America's Fastest Growing Companies for seven years in a row, as well an NVTC Tech 100 winner.

"Unanet has been part of the Northern Virginia tech community for more than 30 years and during that time we've always kept our commitment to focus on our customers' success first and foremost," said Halliday. "I'm grateful for our team's unrelenting focus on delivering on behalf of our customers, while also building a positive, thriving corporate culture that prioritizes personal and professional growth. We're humbled to be honored by the NVTC for these efforts."

"2024 has been another year of tremendous growth for our region's technology hub, thanks to the dynamic companies and individuals who are innovating and making a positive impact in the world. Their contributions are the reason our region is one of the nation's most vibrant and collaborative technology communities," said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC. "NVTC congratulates Unanet and Craig Halliday for going above and beyond within their company and in their respective industries."

The NVTC awards honor forward-thinking companies, top executives, and emerging leaders in the Greater Washington region who are driving innovation, developing breakthrough technologies, and contributing to economic growth.

To learn more about Unanet's ERP and CRM solutions and people-first delivery teams, visit www.unanet.com.

About Unanet

Unanet is a leading provider of project-based ERP and CRM solutions purpose-built for government contractors, architecture, engineering, construction, and professional services. More than 4,000 project-driven organizations depend on Unanet to turn their information into actionable insights, drive better decision-making, maintain regulatory compliance, and accelerate business growth. All backed by a people-centered team invested in the success of your projects, people, and financials. For more information, visit www.unanet.com.

SOURCE Unanet
PORT VILA, Vanuatu, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage Markets hosted a spectacular APAC Gala Dinner in Bangkok to commemorate its 15th anniversary, marking a milestone of achievements and partnerships. The evening brought together Vantage clients, partners, education providers, and the APAC team in a celebration of shared success and innovation.

Vantage Celebrates 15 Years of Excellence at the APAC Gala Dinner in Bangkok

Graced by guest of honour Marc Despallieres, Chief Strategy & Trading Officer of Vantage, the event reflected Vantage's commitment to empowering traders and fostering a collaborative community. "This celebration highlights 15 years of growth, innovation, and partnership. It's a testament to the trust our clients and partners have placed in us, and we remain dedicated to shaping the future of trading," said Marc in his keynote speech.

The evening celebrated excellence with the presentation of multiple awards, honouring key contributors to Vantage's success:

Partner of the Year Best Education Provider Fastest Growing Partners Best EA Development Award Best Influencer Award

These awards spotlighted the collaboration and innovation that have been integral to Vantage's journey.

The gala featured Thailand's celebrity power couple Lydia Sarunrat Deane and Matthew Deane, as a testament to Vantage's enduring partnerships. Matthew Deane, renowned actor and host, served as the evening's charismatic emcee. While Lydia Sarunrat Deane, a star performer, delivered a show-stopping musical performance that enthralled the audience. Attendees were also introduced to the latest achievements of the Vantage App team, particularly in copy trading, and the latest campaign milestones.

The night culminated in an exhilarating reveal of the Vantage F1 car, accompanied by the premiere of the "Ultimate Trading Machine" video. Guests were also treated to exciting lucky draw segments, where Apple products were awarded, and the grand prizea Rolex Submariner 'Starbucks'was a highlight of the evening.

The APAC Gala Dinner in Bangkok encapsulated the spirit of Vantage's 15 years of leadership, innovation, and dedication to its clients and community. As Vantage looks to the future, it continues to empower traders and foster meaningful connections worldwide.

For more on Vantage's journey and achievements, visit Vantage Markets.

About Vantage

Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a multi-asset CFD broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With over 15 years of market experience, Vantage transcends the role of broker, providing a trusted trading ecosystem, an award-winning mobile trading app, and a user-friendly trading platform that empowers clients to seize trading opportunities. Download the Vantage App on App Store or Google Play.

trade smarter @vantage

RISK WARNING: CFD trading carries significant risks. You could lose more than your initial investment.

SOURCE Vantage
ATLANTA, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Veritiv Operating Company, a leader in specialty packaging distribution, today announced it has completed its acquisition of Orora Packaging Solutions (OPS).1

On September 3, 2024, Veritiv announced it had entered into a binding agreement with Orora (ASX: ORA) to acquire their North American packaging and distribution business Orora Packaging Solutions.

"The completion of this acquisition is the next step in enhancing the value we are able to deliver to customers," said Sal Abbate, Chief Executive Officer of Veritiv. "Together, Veritiv and OPS will leverage our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and exceptional customer experiences, to offer an even wider range of specialty packaging products and value-added solutions. Our unparalleled size and scale position us to best meet our customers' most complex supply chain needs. We look forward to welcoming OPS' nearly 3,000 talented employees, loyal customers, and trusted suppliers, and collaborating as one unified team to continue delivering innovative and sustainable products and services to our customers today  and into the future."

"Our team is excited for the opportunities ahead to partner with Veritiv and I am confident we will be better together for our customers, our suppliers, and our employees," said Kelly Barlow, President of OPS. "Our complementary visions, strategies and core values make this partnership a natural fit. The addition of OPS to Veritiv's packaging distribution platform will provide an even more compelling customer offering and significant value creation potential."

In addition to OPS, recent acquisitions of Vivabox Solutions, AmeriPac, and PAX Global underscore Veritiv's dedication to enhancing its design to delivery capabilities in the specialty packaging distribution sector, and further position the company as the leading provider in North America.

Advisors and Financing

Veritiv obtained financing from its existing lender group  including BMO Capital Markets Corp, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, UBS Investment Bank, Wells Fargo, BNP Paribas, Citizens Bank, N.A., ING Capital LLC, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, Rabobank, Regions Securities LLC, Stifel, TD Securities, and The Bank of Nova Scotia ("Scotiabank")  as well as Morgan Stanley. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as lead financial advisors to Veritiv, and BMO Capital Markets Corp, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Wells Fargo also served as financial advisors. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal counsel to Veritiv.

About Veritiv

Headquartered in Atlanta, Veritiv Operating Company is a leading full-service provider of packaging solutions. Additionally, Veritiv provides JanSan, hygiene, print and publishing products and services. Serving customers in a wide range of industries both in North America and globally, Veritiv and its recent acquisition of Orora Packaging Solutions have distribution centers primarily in the U.S. and Mexico, with additional resources and team members around the world helping shape the success of its customers. For more information about Veritiv and its business segments visit www.veritiv.com.

________________________________ 1 Orora Packaging Solutions includes Orora Visual

SOURCE Veritiv Operating Company
The primary objectives for the Program will be to 1) reconcile actual geotechnical conditions at Copala with the current geotechnical model in preparation for full-scale development & operations, 2) provide initial reconciliation of resource models against actual grades and tonnes, and 3) build operational experience for the Panuco team.

"The commencement of test mining and bulk sampling at Panuco is a significant milestone in our journey toward full-scale production," commented Simon Cmrlec, Chief Operating Officer. "This major de-risking initiative not only allows us to validate development rates and conduct preliminary reconciliation to the resource block models and geotechnical models but also provides invaluable operational insights for our team as we advance the Project towards development. The information collected over the next six to eight months will serve to support the Feasibility Study planned for H2 2025, which combined with the pending updated mineral resource estimate slated for early Q1 2025, will place the Project one step closer to a construction decision."

Program Highlights

Comprehensive Test Mining : Focused on underground ramp development, lateral access, and ore extraction from the 460-level zone on the Copala structure.





: Focused on underground ramp development, lateral access, and ore extraction from the 460-level zone on the structure. Bulk Sampling : Approximately 10,000 tonnes of high grade material is planned to be mined as part of the development. This material will be stockpiled on site and may be used for future metallurgical testing.





: Approximately 10,000 tonnes of high grade material is planned to be mined as part of the development. This material will be stockpiled on site and may be used for future metallurgical testing. Surface Infrastructure Development: Includes construction of portal facilities, access roads, and laydown areas, supporting efficient test mining operations.

Program Overview

The test mining program at Panuco, is focused on key areas of underground development and surface infrastructure designed to support the ultimate extraction and processing of bulk mineralization from Copala. The underground scope includes approximately 1,071 meters of ramp and lateral development, with 169 meters dedicated to ore development. Mining methods include portal and ramp preparation as well as ore development tunnels, designed for safe and efficient bulk sampling.

The Company commenced the Program on November 28, 2024 with the award of a bulk earthworks contract for the preparation of site roads, office and workshop locations, ore, waste and topsoil stockpile locations and the initial stripping of the box cut for the Copala portal.

The underground mining contract was awarded on 5 December and the contractor is currently mobilising to site with the first personnel arriving on 9 December.

Both the earthworks and mining contracts have been awarded to well established Mexican contractors including:

Earthworks Contract: Awarded to Electro Construcciones Ontiveros, S.A De C.V ("Econsa"), an experienced local contractor with proven capabilities in large-scale projects. Vizsla has been working with Econsa for the last 2 years for the rehabilitation of the historic El Coco mill site located within the Project boundary.

Underground Mining Contract: Awarded to Obras Mineras y Tiros del Centro S.A. de C.V . ("OMyTC") a highly experienced underground mining contractor with a strong track record in Mexico . OMyTC will oversee ramp development, ore extraction, and underground infrastructure, ensuring the program's operational success.

Exploration update

In addition to the test mining and bulk sample program, Vizsla continues its ongoing exploration efforts in the eastern portion of the district with two drill rigs. The fully funded 10,000 metre discovery-based drill campaign is focused on locating new centres of high-grade mineralization outboard of the current PEA mine plan. Moreover, the Company has just awarded a contract to Geofisica TMC S.A. de C.V. to conduct a ground HLEM survey on six selected areas within Panuco project to further enhance the possibilities of finding new mineralization.

About the Panuco Project

The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 17,856.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits.

The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation.

On January 8, 2024, the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for Panuco which includes an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 155.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 169.6 Moz AgEq (please refer to our Technical Report on Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico, by Allan Armitage, Ben Eggers and Peter Mehrfert, dated February 12, 2024 and to our Companys press release dated January 8, 2024).

About Vizsla Silver

Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. The Company recently completed a Preliminary Economic Study for Panuco in July 2024 which highlights 15.2 Moz AgEq of annual production over an initial 10.6-year mine life, an after-tax NPV5% of US$1.1B, 86% IRR and a 9-month payback at US$26/oz Ag and US$1,975/oz Au. Vizsla Silver aims to become the world's leading silver company by implementing a dual track development approach at Panuco, advancing mine development, while continuing district scale exploration through low-cost means.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Drill core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver and rock samples were shipped to SGS Lab in Durango Mexico for sample preparation and analysis. The ALS Zacatecas, North Vancouver facilities and SGS lab are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption ("AA") spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish.

Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Qualified Person

In accordance with NI 43-101, Jesus Velador, Ph.D. MMSA QP, Vice President of Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

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.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling, designed to upgrade, and expand the maiden resource as well as test other high priority targets across the district.

Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla Silver, future growth potential for Vizsla Silver and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla Silver's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect Vizsla Silver's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla Silver has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla Silver's management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla Silver 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 anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla Silver does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Vizsla Silver Corp.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC), the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Superior Ready Mix Concrete, L.P. ("Superior"). This value-enhancing acquisition will add six aggregates operations with more than 50 years of quality aggregates reserves to Vulcan's California franchise. California ranks as the most populous state in the U.S. and the second largest aggregates market. Superior will also enhance Vulcan's customer service capabilities in Southern California with two asphalt plants and thirteen ready-mixed concrete locations.

Tom Hill, Vulcan's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Since its beginnings in 1958, Superior has had an unwavering commitment to excellence and a long and successful track record of providing high quality products and services to its customers. Our continuous improvement culture is about making the best even better, and we look forward to working with the Superior team to do just that."

Mr. Hill went on to say, "This acquisition is consistent with our aggregates-led growth strategy of continuing to expand our reach to better serve attractive regions in the United States. Our Vulcan Way of Selling and Vulcan Way of Operating disciplines remain fundamental to consistently compounding profitability across our franchise and successfully integrating new operations. We are excited about the breadth of strategic opportunities created by adding Superior to Vulcan's portfolio. With the financial strength and flexibility to continue to grow, we are well-positioned to continue to deliver value for our shareholders and our customers."

The transaction is expected to close by the end of this year, subject to customary closing conditions.

About Vulcan Materials Company

Vulcan Materials Company, a member of the S&P 500 Index with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is the nation's largest supplier of construction aggregates  primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel  and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials, including asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. For additional information about Vulcan, go to www.vulcanmaterials.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER

This communication contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other securities laws, regarding Vulcan, including, but not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed transaction between Vulcan and Superior Ready Mix Concrete, L.P. ("Superior"), including Vulcan's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and the expected timing of completion of the proposed transaction. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "explore," "evaluate," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," or "will," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based on Vulcan's current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Vulcan's control. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: Vulcan's ability to complete the transaction on the proposed terms or on the anticipated timeline, or at all, including risks and uncertainties related to the satisfaction of closing conditions to consummate the proposed transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the definitive purchase agreement relating to the proposed transaction; failure to realize the expected benefits of the proposed transaction; significant transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities; the risk that Superior's business will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; risks related to future opportunities and plans for the combined company; disruption from the proposed transaction, making it more difficult to conduct business as usual or maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; effects relating to the announcement of the proposed transaction on the market price of Vulcan's common stock; the possibility that, if Vulcan does not achieve the perceived benefits of the proposed transaction as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial analysts or investors, the market price of Vulcan's common stock could decline; regulatory initiatives and changes in tax laws; general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described from time to time under the caption "Risk Factors" in reports and filings made by Vulcan with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Vulcan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Vulcan's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and future filings and reports made by Vulcan. Moreover, other risks and uncertainties of which Vulcan is not currently aware may also affect Vulcan's forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated. Vulcan cautions investors that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this communication are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements and reflect the views stated therein with respect to future events as at such dates, even if they are subsequently made available by Vulcan on its website or otherwise. Vulcan does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made, except as required by law.

Investor Contact: Mark Warren (205) 298-3220

Media Contact: Jack Bonnikson (205) 298-3220

SOURCE Vulcan Materials Company
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VyStar Credit Union has been recognized as one of the top workplaces for technology professionals, earning a spot on Foundry's Computerworld 2025 Best Places to Work in IT list. Ranking third among midsize organizations, this honor highlights VyStar's commitment to fostering an innovative environment where IT professionals thrive.

Computerworld surveyed large, midsize and small organizations to find the top IT employers that encourage innovation, creative problem solving and inclusive environments, all while providing career pathways, robust benefits and compensation. VyStar, which made the list for the fifth consecutive year, ranked third among midsize organizations. In its additional listings, VyStar also ranked second in Retention and Engagement, sixth in Remote/Hybrid Work, eighth in Diversity, and Employee Engagement and ninth in Career Development. Rankings were determined based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, DEI, future of work, training and retention. Additionally, the rankings are reviewed and vetted by a panel of industry experts.

"We are incredibly honored to be recognized alongside well-respected organizations that share in our commitment to supporting and empowering IT professionals," said VyStar Chief Information Officer Lisa Cochran. "At VyStar, we are committed to providing a rewarding work environment that encourages innovation and growth. Our IT team works diligently to utilize advanced technologies to enhance our product and service offerings to support our members' current and future needs. This recognition is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication to delivering exceptional results for our members and to making VyStar a great place to work."

The IT team at VyStar plays a pivotal role in driving the organization's growth and scalability by leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, data analytics and cloud technology. Through innovative solutions, IT employees have enhanced VyStar's products and services, ensuring the credit union remains at the forefront of the financial industry while meeting the evolving needs of members.

VyStar prioritizes the well-being and development of its employees with a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical/dental insurance and 401(k) with company match. Additional perks include parental/family care leave, child adoption assistance, student loan payoff stipends, upfront tuition assistance and paid time off for volunteering. Employees are encouraged to find a sense of culture and belonging at VyStar through diversity and inclusion initiatives and via the credit union's 12 employee resource groups. IT team members also can participate in challenges to augment their skillsets and have access to online classes where they can earn certifications and deepen their expertise in technology.

In addition to its internal initiatives and programs, VyStar's commitment to innovation and community growth is seen through its efforts to advance STEM opportunities for the next generation of leaders. Through partnerships with nonprofits such as Stem2Hub in Northeast Florida and Tech Sassy Girlz in Orlando, VyStar empowers students to explore promising careers in IT. Employees also engage in many other meaningful opportunities that create pathways for future IT professionals.

Click here for photos and the Computerworld badge.

To learn more about a career at VyStar, please visit vystarcu.org/careers.

About VyStar Credit Union

VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with 79 full-service branches,

1 million members and assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is the top mortgage lender in Northeast Florida and a major employer in the region with over 2,300 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, and past and present military members and their families all over the world. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.

SOURCE VyStar Credit Union
Industry Pioneer Sarah Evans Joins as Partner to Lead Enhanced PR Division

MIAMI, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zen Media, the trailblazing B2B marketing and PR agency renowned for its proprietary Go-to-Market (GTM) Influence Model, today announced the acquisition of Sevans PR, a technology-focused strategic communications firm based in Las Vegas. The strategic union brings Sevans PR's innovative Reputation+ methodology into Zen Media's ecosystem, creating an unprecedented powerhouse that serves both B2B and B2C markets.

Zen Media Acquires Sevans PR: Leading Expansion into B2C Market While Strengthening B2B Marketing Leadership

Sarah Evans, founder of Sevans PR, joins Zen Media as Partner and Head of PR, where she will architect PR strategy, drive earned media initiatives, and oversee client success while leading the agency's strategic expansion into consumer markets.

"Sarah and I both believe that being proactive, not just reactive, is what delivers exceptional results for clients. After a decade of successful collaborations, this strategic partnership doesn't just combine our expertise  it expands our physical footprint across Dallas, Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas, strengthening our ability to serve clients globally," said Shama Hyder, CEO of Zen Media. "Sarah understands that the future of PR is really a merging of earned, content, and social. It's what we do best at Zen." By joining forces, we're creating an agency that's always one step ahead of our clients' needs, whether they're launching products at CES in Las Vegas or creating thought leadership within their industry."

"Joining Zen Media represents an exciting evolution in how we serve clients in today's dynamic media landscape," said Sarah Evans. "Together, we understand that modern PR requires both technological savvy and cultural intelligence. By combining our strengths in strategic communications with Zen Media's innovative B2B marketing approaches, we're creating campaigns that resonate across traditional, digital, and emerging channels. This matters because our clients need partners who understand not just where the media is today, but where it's heading tomorrow."

Expanding Market Leadership Across Industries

While Zen Media has established itself as a trusted partner for B2B brands in enterprise software, financial services, manufacturing, and healthcare technology, this acquisition significantly expands its reach. The combined agency brings deep expertise across technology, retail, consumer electronics, healthcare, financial services, and emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. This breadth of experience, coupled with boots-on-the-ground presence in Dallas, Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas, positions Zen Media to serve both B2B and B2C clients across the innovation economy.

"This acquisition represents more than just combining two agencies  it's about creating a new model for modern marketing and communications," said Hyder. "Whether we're launching enterprise software, positioning consumer tech at CES, or helping fintech companies navigate complex markets, we understand the intersection of technology, culture, and commerce. By bringing together our expertise in AI-driven strategies, cultural insights, and proven PR methodologies, we're positioned to help brands navigate and succeed in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Stay tunedthere's much more to come."

The unified agency will operate under the Zen Media brand, with Sarah Evans leading PR initiatives alongside a team of digital strategists, media experts, and cultural analysts.

For more information, visit www.zenmedia.com.

About Zen Media:

Zen Media is an award-winning B2B PR and Marketing agency. The company was founded by CEO Shama Hyder in 2009 as one of the first digital marketing companies to address the unique challenges of the social media age. Since then, the company has evolved to serve technology-driven B2B brands looking to maximize their key moments, drive demand, andultimatelydrive dollars. Clients see an average of 96.2% increase in demand gen and a 63% lift in sales after working with Zen.

Media Contact:

Lacy Herman

[email protected]

224.829.8820

SOURCE Zen Media
CHONGQING, China, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 10, 2024, cultural live streamer Dong Yuhui visited the Global R&D Center of Chongqing Changan Automobile for a cultural dialogue with Chairman Zhu Huarong, themed "Innovating Forward, Journey with Changan".

The two delved into Changan Automobile's history, including its three relocations and business ventures, as well as its strategic considerations for digital and intellectual transformation and brand layout. They also decrypted the innovative gene within Changan and unveiled its latest NEVO masterpiece, codenamed C798.

Changan Automobile embodies the spirit of embracing innovation and daring to shoulder responsibilities, fulfilling its patriotic and entrepreneurial missions, and that is precisely how Changan, with a century-long history, has remained youthful and vibrant.

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone: Leading Digital Transformation with Innovation

To adapt to new energy, intelligence, and globalization, Changan has initiated its third business venture, the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program, holding the mindset of starting from scratch and striving to become a world-class automobile brand.

In the realm of new energy, Changan, driven by its "Mission of Shangri-La," has made significant breakthroughs in key EV technologies, providing comprehensive power solutions. In intelligence, Changan has implemented the "Dubhe Plan" for an evolving, interactive driving experience. In design, it combines traditional elements with modern art, exhibiting cultural confidence.

User-Centric Method: Demand-Oriented, three Brands for Positive Transformations

Dong Yuhui posed an inquiry about Changan's user-centric methodology. Zhu Huarong emphasized that prioritizing users is Changan's top priority, integrated into its entire supply chain.

To meet diverse demands, Changan has three EV brands: Changan NEVO, Deepal, and AVATR. NEVO focuses on new mainstream family users with four models, including the latest A07 with long range, fast charging, and enhanced safety. The C798 by NEVO boasts a dynamic exterior and advanced autonomous driving capabilities, marking a transition from 1.0 to 2.0.

Brand Going Overseas: Changan Automobile Enhances Global Presence

With the proposition of "Vast Ocean Plan", Changan Automobile's overseas markets have improved, establishing a global R&D layout in six countries and ten locations.

Zhu Huarong stressed shifting focus from "product exports" to "globalization of the value chain" for Chinese brands overseas. Changan Automobile pursues innovation, aiming to be an intelligent companion for users with technology equalization, contributing expertise to enhance travel experiences and foster a new life with intelligent, digital automobiles.

SOURCE Changan Automobile
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Khartoum, Dec 11 : At least 65 civilians were killed in an artillery attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Omdurman city, north of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, Khartoum State government announced.

"The terrorist militia committed today (Tuesday) the largest human massacre through artillery shelling targeting citizens in Karari locality, killing over 65 people and injuring hundreds of others who crowded the hospitals," Khartoum State's press office said in a statement.

According to the statement, Ahmed Osman Hamza, governor of the Khartoum State, visited the targeted areas, including the Karari locality bus station in northern Omdurman, where a shelling strike on a passenger bus killed 22 people, Xinhua news agency reported .

The rest of the victims fell in a simultaneous shelling that targeted a market near the bus station and a health centre, it noted.

The governor condemned the RSF for targeting defenceless citizens, saying "this attack aims to terrorise and frighten the citizens to leave the safe areas," according to the statement.

He called on the international community and organisations to play their role in protecting civilians who are directly targeted by the "militia" inside their homes, markets and medical institutions.

Fath Al-Rahman Mohamed Al-Amin, director general of Khartoum State's health authorities, said "hospitals in Omdurman continue to receive victims who are either dead or injured, while health workers are making strenuous efforts to save the lives of the injured and provide health care."

The RSF has not yet issued any comment on the incident.

Sudan has been gripped by a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023.

The deadly conflict has resulted in more than 27,120 deaths and displaced over 14 million people, either inside or outside Sudan, according to estimates by international organisations.
The Hague, Dec 11 : Dutch police announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with Saturday's devastating explosion in The Hague that claimed six lives.

The arrests took place on Monday night, with several vehicles seized during the operation, police said on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Investigators are working to determine whether one of the seized cars matches the description of a vehicle reportedly seen speeding away from the explosion site on Tarwekamp Street in the northeastern Mariahoeve district. A burnt-out car discovered near the scene has intensified suspicions.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the explosion, which has been classified as a criminal case. Police said that their probe remains active, and additional arrests have not been ruled out.

Dutch emergency services concluded their search for victims late Monday. The explosion, which occurred on Saturday morning, caused the partial collapse of an apartment building, resulting in six deaths and four injuries.
Yaounde, Dec 11 : France started the withdrawal of its troops from Chad, with some fighter jets taking off from a French base in the Chadian capital of N'Djamena, according to the Chadian army.

In a brief statement, Chanane Issakha Acheikh, Chadian army spokesperson, said on Tuesday that the public would be informed of each stage of the withdrawal until the final departure of all French forces, Xinhua news agency reported.

Last month, Chad announced that it had ended a security and defence cooperation agreement with France, stressing that it was time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partners according to national priorities.
Lusaka, Dec 11 : Zambia's Constitutional Court has ruled that former President Edgar Lungu is barred from contesting the 2026 general elections and any future elections, as he has already served the constitutionally mandated two terms in office.

The court determined Monday that Lungu is not eligible to run again, having been elected twice -- first from 2015 to 2016 and again from 2016 to 2021. In a landmark judgment delivered by six judges, the court dismissed Lungu's argument that his first term should not count as a full term since he had completed the remainder of the term left by his late predecessor Michael Sata, Xinhua news agency reported.

Justice Arnold Shilimi, deputy president of the Constitutional Court, who read the judgment, clarified that the combined interpretation of the constitution clearly defined Lungu's term in office from Jan. 25, 2015, to September 13, 2016, as a full term.

However, the court also ruled that Lungu was eligible to contest the 2021 elections.

In response to the ruling, Lungu posted a statement on his Facebook page, describing the verdict as expected and accusing it of political manipulation. "For months, the hands of political manipulation have, with undeniable force, steered us toward a conclusion foreseen not by the merits of reasoned argument or constitutional fidelity but by the weight of orchestrated design and political machinations," he said.

While he acknowledged the verdict, Lungu expressed his resignation to the outcome, saying he had put plan B in motion which shall legally fight to win for Zambians.

This judgment effectively blocks Lungu's attempt at a political comeback, after his defeat in the 2021 elections to incumbent Hakainde Hichilema. Lungu had previously insisted that the Constitutional Court had already resolved his eligibility for the 2021 polls, which were the subject of the case brought before the court by a young activist seeking clarity on Lungu's future eligibility.
Washington, Dec 11 : US President Joe Biden has been kept up-to-date about the situation in Syria, and his national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, is traveling to Israel on Wednesday with Syria on top of the agenda, an administration spokesperson said.

"The president is staying fully briefed by his national security team" on the development in Syria, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said during a gaggle with members of the press. "And that will remain the case going forward," he added.

Biden spoke with Jordanian King Abdullah II on Monday, during which the president "emphasised his full support for a Syrian-led transition process under the auspices of the United Nations as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254," Xinhua news agency reported quoting a readout of the call provided by the White House.

"I think it's safe to say that he will stay in contact with our counterparts in the region, and he has directed the national security team to do the same," Kirby said of Biden.

Additionally, Kirby said Sullivan will be traveling to Israel on Wednesday. "Certainly, there will be a lot on the agenda," he said of Sullivan's trip, "but Syria will no doubt be at the top of that list."
Prague, Dec 11 : Several European countries have announced the suspension of asylum processes for Syrian nationals in light of the political developments in Syria following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government.

The Dutch government has imposed a six-month freeze on decisions regarding asylum applications from Syrians, the country's Asylum and Migration Minister Marjolein Faber stated in a letter to the House of Representatives on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Faber explained that the uncertainty surrounding the situation in Syria after the fall of the al-Assad regime made it difficult to evaluate asylum applications accurately.

In Belgium, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons has also temporarily suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrian citizens. Scheduled personal interviews will be canceled, and ongoing reviews of applications are on hold. According to the office, this suspension aims to allow a more precise evaluation of the risks faced by applicants in the event of their return to Syria.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer instructed the country's Interior Ministry on Monday to halt all ongoing Syrian asylum applications and review previously granted asylum cases. Family reunifications for Syrians in Austria have also been suspended, according to Austrian broadcaster ORF. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced plans to prepare a repatriation and deportation program for Syrians.

In the Czech Republic, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told the Czech News Agency that the country had ceased processing asylum applications from Syrians as of Sunday due to the evolving situation.

"This is a common procedure in situations where there are significant changes in the situation in the country," Rakusan explained.

Malta has similarly paused the examination and processing of both new and existing asylum applications from Syrian nationals, while countries such as France and Greece are reportedly considering similar measures.

France's Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra) said on Monday that it is closely monitoring the developments in Syria. "In cases where the situation in an asylum seeker's country of origin changes, this may lead to a temporary suspension of decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals, depending on the specific circumstances," Ofpra stated.

In 2023, 4,465 asylum applications were submitted to Ofpra by Syrian nationals, with around 2,500 more submitted in 2024 so far.

In Greece, sources at the Migration and Asylum Ministry revealed that decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals are expected to be temporarily suspended. The decision, which could impact approximately 9,500 applicants, is set to be finalised later this week.

According to a recent report by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), asylum authorities in the 27 EU member states, along with Norway and Switzerland, received 84,000 asylum applications in September 2024, of which 14,000 were submitted by Syrians.
Toronto, Dec 11 : Toronto witnessed a powerful demonstration on Wednesday as members of the Canadian Hindu community gathered outside the Bangladeshi Consulate to protest the ongoing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

The event, organised by Canadian Hindu Volunteers, brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, unified in their call for global intervention against what they described as a "systematic campaign of genocide" targeting the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

The protesters accused the current Bangladeshi government, led by controversial Islamist figure Muhammad Yunus, of orchestrating widespread violence and discrimination against Hindus.

Participants highlighted the desecration and destruction of ancient Hindu temples, the brutal murders of priests, and the unjust imprisonment of community leaders. Hindu professionals, they claimed, are being systematically removed from their jobs, their families subjected to plunder, and women suffering unspeakable sexual violenceall part of what they called an orchestrated effort to erase Hindu culture, faith, and identity from Bangladesh.

The social media handle, X of Canadian Hindu Volunteers expressed that the silence of the international community is deafening, "This is not just a crisis, it is an organised and deliberate assault on human rights and religious freedom. The global community must act now before it is too late," the post said.

Organizers emphasized the dire need for action, urging Canadians to pressure their elected officials to raise the issue in Parliament and demand diplomatic measures against the Bangladeshi regime. They called for Canada to lead by example, imposing sanctions and leveraging its global influence to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The demonstrators also made an emotional plea for justice, insisting that silence equates to complicity. "This isn't just about Bangladesh's Hindu community, it's about defending the principles of human dignity and freedom worldwide," a page, 'Canadian Hindu Volunteers' said in a post on X.

"We, as Canadian Hindus, call on the international community to act decisively. Silence is complicity, and inaction enables the perpetrators of these crimes. We urge all Canadians to join this cause by writing to their elected officials, urging them to raise this issue in Parliament, and demanding action. Canada must take a stand by holding the Bangladeshi regime accountable through diplomatic pressure and sanctions," Canadian Hindu Volunteers, posted on X.
Minsk, Dec 11 : Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the presence of nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Lukashenko said that several dozen nuclear warheads have already been brought into the republic, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Belarusian leader stressed the use of nuclear weapons implies great responsibility, given the experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, because after the bombing of Japanese cities no one else used such weapons.

While meeting with employees of the POZHSNAB enterprise in Borisov, Lukashenko also said the issue of deploying the Russian Oreshnik missile system in his country is already under consideration.

The Belarusian side is thinking about which sites the Oreshnik can be installed on. There are about 30 potential sites in the republic, he added.

The Belarusian leader stressed the targets for destruction on the territory of a potential enemy will be determined by Minsk, not Moscow.

At the same time, the Russian side will help with the operation of the complexes that will be located in the future in Belarus, Lukashenko said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 6 he considered it possible to deploy the Oreshnik missile system on the territory of Belarus in the second half of 2025.
Moscow, Dec 11 : Syria's former President Bashar al-Assad, who has been granted asylum, is now safe in Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.

"In such a situation it would be very wrong for me to elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved, but he is secured," local RIA news agency reported, citing Ryabkov.

Commenting on the possibility of the extradition of al-Assad, the Russian diplomat noted that Russia is not a party to the International Criminal Court Rome Statute, Xinhua news agency reported.

Syrian militant groups waged a major offensive from northern Syria since the end of November, swept southwards through government-held areas, and captured the capital Damascus within 12 days.

Following the offensive, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed on Sunday. Al-Assad resigned and went to Russia for asylum.
Toronto, Dec 11 : Toronto witnessed a powerful demonstration on Wednesday as members of the Canadian Hindu community gathered outside the Bangladeshi Consulate to protest the ongoing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

The event, organised by Canadian Hindu Volunteers, brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, unified in their call for global intervention against what they described as a "systematic campaign of genocide" targeting the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

The protesters accused the Head of interim government in Bangladesh, Chief Advisor Yunus of orchestrating widespread violence and discrimination against Hindus.

Participants highlighted the desecration and destruction of ancient Hindu temples, the brutal murders of priests, and the unjust imprisonment of community leaders. Hindu professionals, they claimed, are being systematically removed from their jobs, their families subjected to plunder, and women suffering unspeakable sexual violenceall part of what they called an orchestrated effort to erase Hindu culture, faith, and identity from Bangladesh.

On their social media handle X, Canadian Hindu Volunteers expressed that the silence of the international community is deafening, "This is not just a crisis, it is an organised and deliberate assault on human rights and religious freedom. The global community must act now before it is too late," the post said.

Organisers emphasised the dire need for action, urging Canadians to pressure their elected officials to raise the issue in Parliament and demand diplomatic measures against the Bangladeshi regime. They called for Canada to lead by example, imposing sanctions and leveraging its global influence to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The demonstrators also made an emotional plea for justice, insisting that silence equates to complicity. "This isn't just about Bangladesh's Hindu community, it's about defending the principles of human dignity and freedom worldwide," a page, 'Canadian Hindu Volunteers' said in a post on X.

"We, as Canadian Hindus, call on the international community to act decisively. Silence is complicity, and inaction enables the perpetrators of these crimes. We urge all Canadians to join this cause by writing to their elected officials, urging them to raise this issue in Parliament, and demanding action. Canada must take a stand by holding the Bangladeshi regime accountable through diplomatic pressure and sanctions," Canadian Hindu Volunteers, posted on X.
Toronto, Dec 11 : Toronto witnessed a powerful demonstration on Wednesday as members of the Canadian Hindu community gathered outside the Bangladeshi Consulate to protest the ongoing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

The event, organised by Canadian Hindu Volunteers, brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, unified in their call for global intervention against what they described as a "systematic campaign of genocide" targeting the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

The protesters accused the Head of interim government in Bangladesh, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating widespread violence and discrimination against Hindus.

Participants highlighted the desecration and destruction of ancient Hindu temples, the brutal murders of priests, and the unjust imprisonment of community leaders. Hindu professionals, they claimed, are being systematically removed from their jobs, their families subjected to plunder, and women suffering unspeakable sexual violenceall part of what they called an orchestrated effort to erase Hindu culture, faith, and identity from Bangladesh.

Canadian Hindu Volunteers expressed on their social media handle on X, that the silence of the international community is deafening, "This is not just a crisis, it is an organised and deliberate assault on human rights and religious freedom. The global community must act now before it is too late," the post said.

Organisers emphasised the dire need for action, urging Canadians to pressure their elected officials to raise the issue in Parliament and demand diplomatic measures against the Bangladeshi regime. They called for Canada to lead by example, imposing sanctions and leveraging its global influence to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The demonstrators also made an emotional plea for justice, insisting that silence equates to complicity. "This isn't just about Bangladesh's Hindu community, it's about defending the principles of human dignity and freedom worldwide," Canadian Hindu Volunteers said in a post on X.

"We, as Canadian Hindus, call on the international community to act decisively. Silence is complicity, and inaction enables the perpetrators of these crimes. We urge all Canadians to join this cause by writing to their elected officials, urging them to raise this issue in Parliament, and demanding action. Canada must take a stand by holding the Bangladeshi regime accountable through diplomatic pressure and sanctions," Canadian Hindu Volunteers, posted on X.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Actor Mushtaq Khan, who is known for his work in 'Welcome', and was recently seen in the horror-comedy 'Stree 2', has shared that he was kidnapped from the Delhi-Meerut highway.

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Actor Mushtaq Khan, who is known for his work in aWelcomea, and was recently seen in the horror-comedy aStree 2a, has shared that he was kidnapped from the Delhi-Meerut highway.

As per media reports, the actor was allegedly lured under the pretext of attending an award function in Meerut on November 20, but unbeknownst to him that it would become one of the most harrowing few hours of his life.

The actor was reportedly invited to an event, and the kidnappers arranged his flight tickets and also transferred an advance payment to his account.

However, once the actor landed in Delhi, things quickly went south as he was picked up and driven to a secluded area near Bijnor, where he was held hostage by his kidnappers for nearly 12 hours.

The kidnappers tortured him and demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore. Despite the ordeal, the kidnappers only managed to take only Rs 2 lakh from Khanas and his sonas bank accounts.

How the actor escaped is a story in itself which is reminiscent of any Hindi movie from the 1970s. He was able to escape after hearing the morning azaan. When the senior actor noticed that there was a mosque close by, he took advantage of the situation and fled. He also asked for assistance from the residents. Mushtaq returned home safely with the help of the police.

The police have started investigating this incident. Mushtaq Khan is reportedly doing well right now and will likely speak to the media in the next few days to give a detailed account of his kidnapping.
New York, Dec 11 : Prosecutors of Manhattan urged a New York criminal court to keep President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case alive, even if sentencing is pushed out past Trump's next presidential term.

"President-elect immunity does not exist," lawyers from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office wrote in the court filing made public on Tuesday. "At most, (Trump) should receive temporary accommodations during his presidency to prevent this criminal case from meaningfully interfering with his official decision-making."

Trump was convicted on May 30 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election, Xinhua news agency reported.

He was originally scheduled for sentencing in July, but the sentencing date was repeatedly pushed back, according to USA Today.

Trump is now arguing that sentencing should be canceled and the case should be dismissed as a result of his election victory.

"Burdening the Presidency with a biased prosecution by a local prosecutor would be not only unconstitutional, but also unbearably undemocratic to the people of this country who chose President Trump as their leader," Trump's legal team wrote in a motion calling for the case's dismissal.
Chennai, Dec 12 : The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has issued a public advisory urging residents near the forest in Valparai, Coimbatore district, to avoid venturing out at night due to the increasing threat posed by wild elephants straying into human habitats.

Forest officials are patrolling the area after three elephants, separated from a 17-member herd, raided human settlements in Valparai on Monday, injuring several people.

Four individuals sustained fractures to their hands and legs in the attacks and have been admitted to a government hospital.

This incident follows the death of 18-year-old S. Mukesh a few months ago. Mukesh, a resident of Puthukad near Valparai, was fatally attacked by a wild elephant while travelling on a two-wheeler through an estate road on his way to the Sholayar Dam.

Despite being rushed to the Valparai General Hospital, he was declared dead on arrival. The death Mukesh came just days after a tribal man, Ravi, was trampled to death by a wild elephant at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), near Valparai.

Over the past year, there have been several incidents of wild elephants damaging property, including houses and shops, in the Valparai region.

Forest officials attribute these attacks to habitat degradation caused by invasive plant species, the destruction of swamps, and land-use changes, which have led to increased human-wildlife conflict.

As the annual migration season of elephants approaches its peak in the Valparai plateau, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, in collaboration with non-governmental organisations and local residents, is working to facilitate the free movement of elephants.

However, officials have warned that elephants that stray from their herds often turn aggressive, posing significant risks to human life and property.

Currently, nearly 100 elephants are moving through plantation areas on the plateau, which include tea, coffee, and cardamom estates, as well as swamps, abandoned fields, eucalyptus patches, and forest fragments within estates.

This number is expected to rise as migration peaks between January and February. Valparai residents and estate workers, accustomed to the annual migration of elephants from Kerala, have learned strategies to minimise negative interactions with the animals.

The migration, which begins in September, sees elephants navigating the mosaic landscape of Valparaias estates and fragmented forests until it ends in March.

Forest officials note that factors such as rainfall, availability of grass, and human behaviour influence elephant migration patterns.

Manoharan, a Valparai resident, acknowledged the Forest Departmentas efforts to raise awareness about reducing conflicts with wild elephants, emphasising the importance of coexistence during the migration period.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Mohamed Salah's second-half penalty maintained their perfect record in the Champions League this season by beating Girona 1-0 away from home.

The Egyptian international's 63rd-minute penalty at Estadi Montilivi made it six victories from six in the league phase for Arne Slot's side, who top the standings.

Already guaranteed a spot in the knockout rounds, the win puts the Reds on the brink of a definite top-eight finish, which would see them progress straight to the last 16 and bypass the play-offs.

Meanwhile, an attacking masterclass from Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise's double led Bayern to a 5-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk to mark their first away win of the league phase.

Shakhtar had led through Kevin in Gelsenkirchen, but the visitors did not look back after Konrad Laimer equalised with a powerful shot.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid returned to winning ways as they edged Atalanta 3-2 in an entertaining contest in Bergamo. Kylian Mbappe put the visitors ahead early on with his 50th goal of the competition, only for Atalanta to draw level via Charles De Ketelaere's emphatic penalty on half-time.

Vinicius Junior pounced ten minutes after the interval, then turned provider for Jude Bellingham, but Ademola Lookman squeezed a shot inside Thibaut Courtois' right post with 25 minutes left. La Dea pushed for an equaliser, and in added time substitute Mateo Retegui scooped over from close range.

In another match, Nordi Mukiele's 90th-minute winner helped Leverkusen beat Inter Milan 1-0 and extended their perfect home record. Inter were the only side yet to concede in the league phase, although Nathan Tellaas shot against the crossbar almost changed that after three minutes at the BayArena.

Florian Wirtz's angled drive tested Yann Sommer as Leverkusen had all three attempts on target before the break, but the reigning Italian champions' No. 1 was rarely troubled before Mukiele fired in from close range to secure victory.

The outstanding Musiala then combined with Thomas Muller, setting his captain up to put Bayern ahead just before half-time. Olise's penalty extended Bayern's lead, before Musiala pounced to score a late goal of his own. There was still time for Olise to weave through the Shakhtar defence to add a stunning fifth.

Ross Barkley's late deflected drive earned Aston Villa their fourth win of the league phase. The visitors dominated the early stages and took the lead when John McGinn fired in Ollie Watkins' cushioned header, though Leipzig levelled when LoAs Openda capitalised on a mix-up in the Villa defence.

Jhon Duran, who replaced Watkins at half-time, restored the visitors' advantage with a looping, long-range drive. Christoph Baumgartner's volley restored parity for a second time, but Barkley struck late on to move Villa onto 13 points. With it, Leipzig's elimination has been confirmed.
Beirut, Dec 11 : Members of the Lebanese army fired warning shots at unknown gunmen who crossed the border from the Syrian side into Lebanon in the outskirts of the village of Kfar Qouq, eastern Lebanon, according to a statement by the Lebanese army.

"Unknown gunmen coming from Syrian territory crossed the border and approached one of the army's border posts and fired into the air," said the statement published on social media platform X.

"The Lebanese army fired warning shots, which forced the gunmen to return to Syrian territory," added the statement.

A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that "the Lebanese army summoned additional forces to this axis, where they carried out a large-scale combing operation that reached meters from the borderline with Syria."

The Lebanese army had strengthened its presence and deployment along the borderline separating Lebanon and Syria, Xinhua news agency reported.

Syria's al-Assad's government collapsed on Sunday amid a major offensive waged by militant groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : The quick fall -- and flight -- of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad has evoked triumph in certain quarters and disquiet in others, as it seems to have upended the political situation and strategic calculus of the Middle East. However, a look at the record of the key Arab country and others may suggest the last word on what follows remains to be said.

Both Israel and the US have rushed to take claim for the overthrow of the over six-decade rule of the Ba'ath Party, Turkey is quietly exulting, and the end of the Russian and Iranian influence in the Arab heartland state is being celebrated.

There are, however, reports that Assad, who had been moving family members out of the country quietly, had cut a deal with the rebels for a safe exit, given the problems in maintaining control over a fragmenting and impoverished country. Russia, involved in Ukraine, and Iran, weakened by attacks on its regional proxies, are perceived as not extending themselves over much in preserving Assad's rule, like earlier. They are also seeking to build bridges with the new rulers -- Russia has obtained guarantees on its bases in the country, and both Moscow and Tehran may be biding their time till the inherent contradictions in the situation bubble up.

The Al Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces, and other elements of what may become a toxic Syrian brew, may find ousting Assad was the easy part. Take the SDF, which is predominantly Kurdish -- a community which Turkey regards as its enemy incarnate -- what happens when they come close?

While Syria is predominantly Sunni, the power was long held by the Alawite sub-sect of Shias, from which the Assad family and its key personnel hail, and the country also has sizeable Kurd, Druze, Shia, and Arab Christian (divided into six major churches) segments of the populace.

Described as a tribal and fractious country by then Saudi Crown Prince Faisal in the mid-1950s, Syria has witnessed at least eight military coups and a short-lived union with Egypt in the first quarter century as a free country following independence from France in 1946. It was only after Air Force chief Hafez Al Assad seized power in 1970, after being a key part of the 1961, 1963, and 1966 coups, that there was a semblance of stability, though with an authoritarian bent, save the abortive Islamist revolt of the early 1980s.

While Assad had groomed his eldest son Bassel as his successor, the latter's death in a 1994 accident forced him to choose his second son, Bashar, for the role. Bashar Al Assad succeeded his father in 2000 and governed without hitch till the Arab Spring affected his country too, leading to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. It was a tough time for him till Russian and Iranian military intervention turned the tide, leading to roughly another decade in power till the rebels' resurgence at the end of 2024 spelt a final finish.

Then, the Assads' long rule may have been despotic, but, here its end must be compared with the situation that arose after the violent overthrow of other 'despots' in the Middle East, spanning the entire region from the dusty plains of Iraq to the sandy expanses of Libya. Did the ouster of either Saddam Hussain of Iraq in 2003 or Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 meet the strategic aims of their adversaries or leave the countries a better place?

The answer is evident -- in Iraq, the long-repressed Shia majority rose up and an alignment with neighbouring Iran was achieved, while sparking a Sunni insurgency that required the US and the regime a considerable time to stamp out. Scarcely had this been done, the spectre of the Islamic State -- which in some respects, outdid Al Qaeda in viciousness -- arose. While the US claims credit for countering and weakening it, the role of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, and Gen Qassem Soleimani as a strategist, was also key. In an unstable Syria, could either Al Qaeda or the IS regain strength?

Israel, as a neighbour, will also face the blowback, irrespective of rumours of "common interests". And growing Turkish influence in an adjoining country, given the rising tension between the two over Gaza is not conducive to peace.

On the other hand, the removal of Gaddafi's strong hand left the country divided and in chaos. More significantly, for Europe, just across the Mediterranean, it sparked a refugee influx, straining littoral states like Italy and Greece, and as far beyond as the United Kingdom, creating social and demographic tensions, and fuelling the rise of nativist and populist parties that are gaining strength.

Remember what they say about history repeating itself?

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
United Nations, Dec 11 : The United Nations stands against any violation of the territorial integrity of Syria, a UN spokesperson said, after Israel seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad government.

When asked about media reports that recently the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted 320 Syrian military targets, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said at a daily press briefing, "It is very clear that we stand against any violation of the territorial integrity of Syria. We are against these types of attacks."

In the wake of the fall of al-Assad's government, Israel ramped up its military operation in Syria, launching airstrikes against military weaponry and seizing control of a demilitarised buffer zone in the Golan Heights, Xinhua news agency reported.

Dujarric said that the United Nations continues to consider Golan Heights to be the occupied territory of Syria. "I think we were very clear about the violation of the disengagement agreement following the IDF occupation of the buffer zone," he added.

"I think this is a turning point for Syria. It should not be used by its neighbours to encroach on the territory of Syria," the spokesperson said.

It should be used by all those in the region and beyond to support the Syrian people, so they can choose their own path, so they can work on a transition that is Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, and inclusive, he said.

Geir Pedersen, special envoy of the UN secretary-general for Syria, on Tuesday urged Israel to cease its military operations in Syria, emphasising the urgent need to halt all conflicts across the Middle East.

"A very troubling development is that we are continuing to see Israeli movements and bombardments into Syrian territory," Pedersen said. "This needs to stop."
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Congress on Wednesday gave a notice to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the Lok Sabha to discuss the recent statements made by a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court.

"I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely:- The recent statements made by a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court..." said K. Suresh, Congress MP and party's Chief Whip in the Lower Hosue.

He said in the notice that the speech expressed "derogatory and divisive views towards minority communities" which have caused widespread concern and outrage across the nation.

"Such remarks, coming from a member of the judiciary, undermine the constitutional values of secularism, equality, and justice that form the bedrock of our democracy," said Suresh.

He said the judiciary is the guardian of the Constitution and is expected to uphold impartiality, fairness, and the rights of all citizens, irrespective of their religion or community.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court said it has taken note of the controversial speech given by Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court. "The Supreme Court has taken note of the newspaper reports of a speech given by Mr Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, a sitting judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. The details and particulars have been called from the High Court and the matter is under consideration," read a statement issued by the apex court.

Speaking at the provincial convention of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's law Cell (Kashi Province) on Sunday, Justice Yadav purportedly said that the "country would function as per the wishes of the 'bahusankhyak'(majority) living in Hindustan".

"I have no hesitation in stating that this is Hindustan, and this country will function according to the wishes of the majority living here. This is the law. It is not about speaking as a High Court Judge; rather, the law operates in accordance with the bahusankyak (majority). Consider this in the context of a family or society - only what ensures the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted," Justice Yadav had said, as per media reports.
San Francisco, Dec 11 : US Alaska Airlines announced a new strategic plan to offer at least 12 nonstop global destinations with long-haul widebody aircraft from Seattle by 2030.

Dubbing Seattle a "new global gateway," Alaska said it will begin offering nonstop flights from Seattle to Tokyo in May and Seoul in October, Xinhua news agency reported.

"There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of Alaska Air Group," Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement. "Now, with the combination with Hawaiian Airlines, we will transform our business and solidify our competitive advantage for years to come."

The Alaska Air Group, based in SeaTac, includes subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, McGee Air Services and the recently acquired Hawaiian Airlines.

Tokyo and Seoul were first on the list because Hawaiian Airlines was already in those two markets. While Alaska already flies Boeing 737 MAXs to Mexico and Central America, Hawaiian flies across the Pacific Ocean, using long-haul widebody jets to reach destinations in Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Alaska also updated its 2027 financial targets Tuesday to include 1 billion USD in profits and earnings per share of at least $10. It expects full year 2025 earnings per share to reach $5.75.

For the three months between July and September this year, the most recent financial information available, Alaska reported $3 billion in revenue and $236 million in profit, which amounts to $1.84 per share.

The commercial side of the business will drive the vast majority of its anticipated profit growth, the company said, with an estimate that it will bring in an additional $800 million in revenue over the next three years.
Dubai, Dec 11 : Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the incident between Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj during the second Border-Gavaskar Test in Adelaide was all down to a "misinterpretation" and said it as "accidental" the way the whole thing was played.

The incident took place in the 82nd over of Australia's first innings, when Siraj castled Head, on 140, with a crushing yorker and gave him a fiery send-off and aggressively gestured to walk back towards the direction of the stands. To this, Head replied back to the pacer before walking off to a standing ovation from his home crowd.

Afterwards, the Adelaide crowd made constant boos whenever Siraj was fielding in the deep or came on to bowl, to express their displeasure over how he behaved with Head.

"Looking back at it now, I think it was accidental the way that whole thing played out. I don't think there was any malice meant at the start. Then the way it started and almost like the misinterpretation of what had actually gone on, I think, led to how it ended," Ponting said in the latest episode of the ICC Review.

While Siraj's reaction was swift and fiery, Ponting believes it was an expected response from a fast bowler under pressure, who had taken only one wicket at that point.

"I know Travis has gone and said that he said, 'Well bowled' at the start. Siraj obviously wasn't happy about being hit over the deep backward square for six the ball before," he said.

"Rohit (Sharma) I'm sure would expect these fast bowlers to react like that. When they're under the pressure and they're getting hit and then they've just got a wicket, you'd expect that they'd be up and about."

However, when Siraj exchanged words back with Head following the dismissal, Ponting said he was worried for the Indian pacer. "Look, it wasn't that big a deal. I was in comms (commentary box) at the time. As soon as I saw the send-off, I actually got worried for Siraj. I know how the umpires react to those things. Umpires and referees don't like seeing the send-off, pointed in the direction of the dressing room," the Aussie great added.

However, the duo were seen having a friendly chat when Siraj came to bat during the second innings of the Test on Sunday, seemingly clearing the issue. Ponting was all praise for the duo for the swift manner in which they brought the matter to a close.

"Both players have now had their say on what they thought happened. It was great to see them actually chatting. When Siraj came out to bat and Travis was at short leg, they were actually clarifying what had happened out there. They were talking amongst themselves as to what had actually happened," he said.

Both Siraj and Head, however, had one demerit point added to their disciplinary code for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct, with the Indian pacer also fined a 20 percent penalty on his match fee.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : The matchless thespian of Hindi cinema, he is still remembered for his understated, yet intense roles of brooding and star-crossed lovers, a smitten Mughal Crown Prince, a rustic simpleton-turned-outlaw, boisterous pranksters, dutiful policemen, and many more, yet Dilip Kumar's most significant performance came in a private interaction when he -- politely -- rebuked a future Prime Minister in front of her father.

It would have remained a secret had not Dilip Kumar himself revealed the episode, involving him, Indira Gandhi, and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in a speech at a public event decades later.

On the 102nd birth anniversary -- December 11 -- of Muhammad Yusuf Khan alias Dilip Kumar, Indian films' abiding superstar, who left an unmatched legacy with just 57 films in a 54-year-long career, the story deserves to be retold.

As Dilip Kumar recalled, he had just been elected the President of the India Motion Picture Producers Guild, despite not running or being interested in the post, and had been invited to a breakfast meeting with Pandit Nehru.

While Dilip Kumar did not reveal the exact time of this meeting, it most likely took place in 1963 soon after he took over the post. The association's welfare programmes, as he declaimed in his characteristic mix of eloquent English and Hindustani, had the twin aims of creating a social identity, civic consciousness, and credibility for the film industry, and telling the common people that the people of the industry did not just inhabit a world of make-believe but had concerns about their fellow citizens too.

Or as he put it: "Apne waqar ko establish karna tha, ke nahi hoshmand hai, ham ko khayal hai, apni society se muttaliq hai, apni zameen se vabasta hai, apne culture se muttaliq hai..."

He said that Prime Minister Nehru was aware of the special functions the film industry organised for disaster relief, education, and other social welfare objectives, and used to call him over to meet once in a while.

As the actor recalled, Mrs Gandhi was also present at this breakfast meeting and launched into a no-holds-barred broadside against the Hindi film industry, noting how she had visited Paris, Moscow, and London and seen their orchestras, their plays, and films there and how these were far advanced and better than their Indian counterparts. Furthermore, she said that there was "nothing Hindustani about Hindustani films."

Dilip Kumar said that he kept quiet for the nearly 15 minutes or so that Mrs Gandhi harangued him, though inwardly losing his equanimity as she "began to overstep the bounds of decorum" with her "total condemnation of an entire medium", which was "not justified at all." He then thought it would not be rude if he responded to her strident criticism.

He then said, with extreme politeness, that he had been listening to her for 10 to 12 minutes as she criticised Hindustani films, "and you said a lot, which I admit is valid and denying it will be folly, it will be stupidity to claim that Indian films are the best. But let me tell you that you ask where is the 'Hindustaniat in Hindustani films' and in the 12 minutes you have been speaking, there has been no 'Hindustaniat' in your criticism, for you have not used a single Hindustani word... you have been speaking entirely in English."

However, Dilip Kumar said that he did not stop his counter-attack, telling her that in spite of a "dedicated man at the helm of affairs," the country had several problems.

".. we don't only have a film industry that is poor... we have roads that are poor, we have an educational system that is poor, we have an agriculture that is poor, and if I may put it to you, Madam, our administration also has several weak and even some ugly points," he said to her.

The superstar did not reveal Mrs Gandhi's response, but as quiet settled, feared that he had offended the Prime Minister. However, he recalled that it was Pandit Nehru who broke the silence, remarking: "You know, Yusuf, if I was you, I wouldn't have been so polite."

That was the prowess of the "shy 22-year-old son of a Pathan fruit merchant," renamed Dilip Kumar by Devika Rani when he entered films in 1944 and "single-handedly refined histrionics" and refined acting "to an art form of exalted brilliance," as per his wife Saira Banu.

Let alone his celluloid career, Dilip Kumar symbolised India's diversity, capable of quoting from the Quran as well as the Bhagavad Gita and the Bible, celebrating Diwali as fervently as Eid and the ceremony marking the completion of Jain children's arduous 30-day fast, and equally fond of Josh, Firaq, and Sahir as Sumitranand Pant, Bharti, and Tagore.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 11 : A day after the Kerala High Court spoke tough against how the ruling CPI(M) held a party meeting in the middle of a busy road in the heart of the state capital on December 5, both the Kerala Police and the ruling party on Wednesday started taking measures, as the petition will again come before the court on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Kerala Police registered a case against the top party leader who erected the stage in the middle of the road and 31 others, the CPI(M) Thiruvananthapuram district secretary V.Joy, who is also an MLA from the district said it was a mistake that happened and should not have happened.

Incidentally, on December 5 hours before the meeting began in the evening, one side of the road was blocked leading to massive traffic snarls as it happened at a time when the schools had wound up for the day and the offices were closing.

What has irked the court is this meeting venue was just opposite the Thiruvananthapuram district court and also the Vanchiyoor police station.

This issue surfaced in the High Court when a petition was filed by N. Prakash seeking contempt action against CPI(M) state Secretary M.V. Govindan and the State Police Chief as the party meeting violated the courtas order that had prohibited the holding of meetings on public roads and roadsides.

The court asked the state government to file an affidavit stating who gives permission for such meetings and also wanted to know from where these meetings get electricity.

It also asked the Circle Inspector of the Vanchiyoor police station to appear before the court on Thursday to explain.

It now remains to be seen how the court, which orally said that it would consider whether the issue has to be taken from a larger perspective, will act tough.

The petitioner had pointed out the meeting violated two previous High Court directives. In 2010, the court ordered that meetings could only be held in stadiums, public grounds outside road margins, grounds of educational institutions on holidays, and not on public roads or road margins. In another order in 2021, it said encroachments, in temporary or permanent form, shall be prevented which affects the right of way or pedestrian facilities on public roads.

This strong directive has come at a time when the ruling CPI(M)as party meetings across the length and breadth of the state are taking place and in most places during the meetings, the roads get choked and blocked.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Actress Pooja Hegde is rumoured to star alongside Dulquer Salmaan for a romantic drama.

According to a source, the yet-to-be-titled film is expected to go on floors next year, with Pooja and Dulquer playing the lead. This will mark the first on-screen pairing of the two actors.

A source shared: "It's a romantic drama with a unique narrative, and the makers couldn't think of a better duo to headline the project. Both Pooja and Dulquer have an incredible fan base, and this pairing is bound to create magic on screen."

On December 7, Pooja shared a glimpse posing with Varun Dhawan, with whom she has teamed up for David Dhawan's next film.

The film is tentatively titled 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'. The actress took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and gave a glimpse into her camaraderie with Varun. The actress shared a picture along with Varun, and wrote, "This duo is dreaming of bread".

She followed it up with, "Chalo post our next schedule maybe?"

On December 3, she wrapped up the first schedule of David Dhawan's tentatively titled "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai".

The film, expected to release in 2025, is said to feature Pooja in a glamorous role amidst a fresh and hilarious storyline. The actress has been juggling her time between Mumbai and Chennai, simultaneously shooting for Thalapathy 69, where she stars opposite Thalapathy Vijay.

A source confirmed: "It's been a whirlwind schedule for Pooja as she shuttles between cities, ensuring that every project gets her best."

"Her commitment and energy are truly commendable. She has wrapped her first schedule of the film and will be shooting abroad for a month early next year for the next schedule."

She will be next seen in the high-octane action thriller 'Deva' opposite Shahid Kapoor and is part of major South Indian projects, including 'Suriya 44' and 'Thalapathy 69'.
Bengaluru, Dec 11 : Amid furore over a series of maternal deaths in Karnataka, five more casualties have been reported from Raichur and Chitradurga districts.

The incident of four maternal deaths from Sindhanur Taluk Government Hospital in October has come to light.

The deceased were identified as Chandrakala (26), Renukamma (32), Mousami Mandal (22) and Channamma (25).

In October, among the 300 pregnant women who gave birth, seven turned critical and four died. All victims had undergone cesarean surgery.

On October 21, Channamma gave birth after a C-Section and died after nine days. Mousami Mandal had given birth to a child on October 22 and died the next day. Renukamma had delivered on October 31 and died on the next day. After new mothers became critical, they were shifted to the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) where they succumbed.

The families of the deceased alleged that the deaths occurred due to medical negligence and sought justice.

The families of the deceased also demanded compensation and threatened that if denied, they would protest with newborn babies in front of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.

However, Raichur Deputy Commissioner K. Nitish said: "The maternal deaths occurred for different reasons. Whether the deaths occurred due to administration of intravenous fluids will be ascertained within a week. Once the report is submitted in this regard, the government will initiate appropriate measures."

"In Sindhanur Taluk Hospital, 300 deliveries are conducted every month. In October, four cases of maternal deaths were reported. Maternal deaths due to the administration of IV fluids have come to light in November. However, the IV fluids of that particular batch have been sent for testing. All four deceased were given 0113 batch of the Ringer Lactate intravenous fluid from the West Bengal company and the use of medicines from the company has been stopped," Nitish stated.

Meanwhile, Roja (24), a resident of Jaganuruhatti near Challakere died on Tuesday at the Chitradurga District Hospital. She had given birth to a male baby on October 30 and returned home after five days of delivery.

Roja had undergone a cesarean and she developed abdomen pain and irritation 40 days later. She had vomited multiple times and was admitted back to the Chitradurga District Hospital where she died.

The family of Roja alleged that she died due to the negligence of doctors and demanded action against doctors.

Meanwhile, the state government is preparing to initiate criminal proceedings against the West Bengal pharmaceutical company which supplied the Ringer Lactate intravenous fluids, which allegedly caused a series of maternal deaths in the state, sources said.

A seven-member team that visited and inspected the West Bengal pharma company was all set to submit a report to the government. The report recommended filing four criminal cases against the company, the sources said.

The report found traces of harmful content in the Ringer Lactate intravenous (I.V) fluids. The pharma company had reported to the court that their IV fluid product was not harmful. After the submission of the pharma company's report, six cases of maternal deaths were reported in the state.

The Karnataka government recently released official statistics regarding maternal deaths in the state from 2019-20 till now, claiming that the death rates are lower compared to previous years.

According to the data released by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's office on Monday, in 2019-20, a total of 662 maternal deaths were reported out of 8,94,946 live births, resulting in a Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of 74. The MMR is defined as the number of deaths of pregnant mothers per 1 lakh live births.

In subsequent years in 2020-21, 714 maternal deaths (MMR of 84), in 2021-22, 595 maternal deaths (MMR of 68); 2022-23, 527 maternal deaths (MMR of 65); 2023-24, 518 maternal deaths (MMR of 64); 2024-25 (up to November) 348 maternal deaths (MMR of 64) are reported.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : The Central government has released Rs 122.50 crore to over 1,700 agri-startups in the last five years under the Innovation and AgriEntrepreneurship Development programme, Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary has informed the Lok Sabha.

The programme, implemented in 2018-19 under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), aims to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship, by providing financial and technical support for nurturing startups.

A financial assistance of Rs 122.50 crore has been released to 1,708 agri startups from 2019-20 to 2023-24. The funds were released through five Knowledge Partners (KPs) and 24 RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) that provide training and incubate startups for implementation of this programme, the Minister said in a written reply.

During 2023-24, about Rs 147.25 crore was released to 532 startups.

Under the programme, financial support of up to Rs 5 lakh is provided at the idea stage and up to Rs 25 lakh at the seed stage to startups in agriculture and allied sectors to launch their products, services, business platforms, etc., and to facilitate in scaling up, the Minister said.

In July this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmersa Welfare in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) also launched a Rs 750 crore aAgri Surea fund for startups to promote investment in innovative, technology-driven and high-impact activities in agriculture and rural enterprises.

The fund announced by NABVentures, a subsidiary of NABARD has an initial corpus of Rs 750 crore with Rs 250 crore each from NABARD and the Ministry of Agriculture, and Rs 250 crore from other institutions.

The fund is structured to support approximately 85 agri startups with investment sizes of up to Rs 25 crore each by the end of its term. The fund will provide support through investments in sector-specific, sector-agnostic and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) as well as direct equity support to startups.

The fund is structured to support approximately 85 agri startups with investment sizes of up to Rs 25 crore each by the end of its term. The fund will provide support through investments in sector-specific, sector-agnostic and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) as well as direct equity support to startups.

Agri-Sureas focus areas include promoting innovative, technology-driven initiatives in agriculture, enhancing the farm produce value chain, creating new rural ecosystem linkages and infrastructure, generating employment and supporting Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs). Additionally, the fund aims to encourage entrepreneurship through IT-based solutions and machinery rental services for farmers, driving sustainable growth and development in the agricultural sector.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Character actor Saanand Verma has joined the cast of the upcoming movie "Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan", starring Vikrant Massey.

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Character actor Saanand Verma has joined the cast of the upcoming movie "Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan", starring Vikrant Massey.

Praising Vikrant, Saanand said: "He has been in the industry for the last 21 years, and I think acting comes very naturally to him. Balika Vadhu brought him into the limelight, and there has been no looking back since. I really admired his work in projects like Mirzapur, 12th Fail, and Haseena Dilruba."

"Whatever he does, he does it from the bottom of his heart. He is a very effortless actor who knows exactly what the director wants, what the story needs, and what the scene demands," he added.

He also mentioned that Vikrant is one of the most sorted actors he has ever worked with.

"I got along with him very well. He is simply an unbelievable personalways smiling. We shared many jokes off-camera and talked about acting and his incredible variety of roles," he said.

"I mentioned the ease with which he performs such diverse characters, highlighting the glorious success of '12th Fail', which is considered some of the finest work by an exceptional filmmaker, Mr. Vidhu Vinod Chopra. I am extremely delighted to have had this opportunity to work with him," he added.

The team of "Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan" is currently shooting for the movie in the mountains. The film, which also stars Shanaya Kapoor, recently wrapped up the first schedule of the film.

Touted as a musical love story, the film is being shot across Mumbai, Mussoorie, Dehradun, and Europe.

It was on December 5, when Vikrant started shooting for 'Ankhon ki Gustakhiyan'. The opening clap ceremony of the film was held, and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami along with the cast and crew attended it.

Expressing his admiration, CM Dhami remarked, "I am glad to see young filmmakers like Mansi ; Varun Bagla showcasing the state's beauty while presenting a timeless story that celebrates love and human resilience."

Meanwhile, the '12th fail' actor has recently clarified that he is not retiring from films; he is just going for a long break to focus on his health and his family.

In a statement, Massey said, "Acting is all I can do. And it has given me everything I have. My physical and mental health have taken a hit. I just want to take some time off, I want to better my craft."

"I feel a sense of monotony at the moment. "My post has been misinterpreted that I am quitting or retiring from acting. I want to take some time off to focus on my family and health. I would be back when the time feels right."
New Delhi, Dec 11 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Mumbai has sentenced three Bangladeshi nationals to five years of imprisonment for illegal infiltration into India and the possession of forged documents, a statement of the probe agency said on Wednesday.

The convicted individuals -- Mohammed Habibur Rehman Habib alias Raj Jesub Mandal, Hannan Anwar Hussain Khan alias Hannan Baburali Gazi, and Mohd Azarali Subhanallah alias Raja Jesub Mandal -- were also fined Rs 2,000 each.

The NIA in a press release said the case originated in March 2018, based on an FIR registered by Pune Police. It was alleged that several Bangladeshi nationals were residing in Pune without valid documentation and were aiding members of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a front organisation of the banned terror group Al-Qaida.

The NIA took over the investigation and, on September 7, 2018, filed a charge sheet against the three accused, along with two others -- Md Ripen Hossain alias Rubel and Md Hassnali Amirali -- under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Foreigners Act.

Md Ripen Hossain and Mohammad Hassan Ali Amirali were convicted earlier in October 2023, after pleading guilty, and were sentenced to five years of imprisonment under similar charges.

The NIA said the five were working as labourers at various construction sites in Pune without any valid documents.

The latest convictions of Mohammed Habibur Rehman Habib, Hannan Anwar Hussain Khan, and Md Azarali Subhanallah were made under section 14 of the Foreigners Act (overstaying in India without valid documentation), section 471 of the IPC (using forged documents as genuine) and section 120-B of the IPC (conspiracy related to document forgery).

The case was initially investigated by the ATS and the NIA took over the case in September 2018. The accused fraudulently obtained PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, voter IDs ration cards among others by providing fake documents, the agency added.
Hyderabad, Dec 11 : Police have registered a case against veteran Tollywood actor Mohan Babu for attacking a television journalist at his residence on Tuesday night.

Pahadi Shareef Police Station registered a case under Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 118 (1) (causing hurt with dangerous weapons or substances).

According to police, the FIR was registered on a complaint by M. Satyanarayana, a reporter for Telangana news channel TV9.

Mohan Babu attacked the TV reporter when the latter had gone to his residence in Jalpally to cover the ongoing dispute between the veteran actor and his actor son Manchu Manoj.

The reporter stated in his complaint that when Manchu Manoj and other journalists went into the house at his invitation, Mohan Babu confronted them aggressively, used abusive and foul language, grabbed the mike and attacked him with it. This resulted in severe head injury.

The incident occurred when Manchu Manoj broke the gate to enter the house after an argument with the bouncers deployed there. Along with Manoj and his private security men, some journalists also entered the house.

When the TV 9 reporter asked a question to Mohan Babu about the dispute with his son, he got enraged, grabbed the mike and attacked the reporter with the mike. The journalist fell to the ground. The bouncers drove out all the journalists out of the house.

The injured reporter was admitted to a hospital in Shamshabad. According to doctors, he has suffered three fractures in the zygomatic bone (cheekbone) and needs plastic surgery.

Meanwhile, journalists staged a protest in front of the Film Chamber office and demanded action against Mohan Babu. They demanded that an attempt to murder case be registered against him.

The journalists also demanded that Mohan Babuas family be expelled from Movie Artists Association (MAA), the apex body of Tollywood. Mohan Babuas elder son and actor Manchu Vishnu is the president of MAA.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : India's tea exports increased by 13.18 per cent in value to Rs 3,403.64 crore during the first half of the current financial year (April-September) from Rs 3,007.19 crore during the same period of the previous year, according to the latest data compiled by the Tea Board.

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Indiaas tea exports increased by 13.18 per cent in value to Rs 3,403.64 crore during the first half of the current financial year (April-September) from Rs 3,007.19 crore during the same period of the previous year, according to the latest data compiled by the Tea Board.

In volume terms, tea exports went up by 8.67 per cent to 122.55 million kg during this period compared with 112.77 million kg last year.

India exports tea to more than 25 countries throughout the world. UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, the US and the UK are the major importers of tea from India. During 2023-2024 UAE, Iraq and the US imported US$ 131.18 million, US$ 88.54 million and US$ 77.62 million of tea respectively from India.

India is among the top five tea exporters in the world making about 10 per cent of the total exports. Indiaas Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri tea are considered one of the finest in the world. The majority of the tea exported out of India is black tea which makes up about 96 per cent of the total exports. The types of tea exported through India are black tea, regular tea, green tea, herbal tea, masala tea and lemon tea. Out of these, black tea, regular tea, and green tea make up approximately 80 per cent, 16 per cent and 3.5 per cent of the total tea exported from India.

India's total tea exports during 2023-24 in quantity were 250.73 million kg and worth US$ 776 million.

India has taken several steps to boost the output, create a niche brand for Indian tea and ensure the welfare of the families associated with the tea industry.

Small Tea Growers are the emerging Sector contributing nearly 52 per cent of the total produce. Presently there are nearly 2.30 lakh Small Tea Growers existing in the supply chain. For this segment, the following steps have been taken:

The Government of India through the Tea Board had helped in the formation of 352 Self Help Groups (SHG), 440 Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) and 17 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs).

Various seminars/interactions are made with the STGs for quality plucking, capacity building and rush crop management. Assistance has also been provided towards the procurement of pruning machines and mechanical harvesters.

Mini tea factories have also been set up to encourage entrepreneurs and unemployed youth.

The Indian tea Industry employs 1.16 million workers directly and an equal number of people are associated with it indirectly.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : A strong recovery in central government capex is expected in the second half of this fiscal (H2 FY25), according to a report on Wednesday.

Defence, roadways and communication could show a sharp sequential jump, whereas Railways are, surprisingly, ahead of the full-year run rate, according to the report by Emkay Global Financial Services.

The year-on-year growth for the rest of FY25 will look more impressive because of front-loaded expenditure in FY24 (52 per cent of budgeted capex in FY24 year-to-date).

The capex slowdown in the first half of his fiscal (H1 FY25) has been largely led by the elections and the monsoons.

"A robust recovery is expected in 2HFY25, with many projects now being bid out and execution likely to accelerate," the report mentioned.

Another report by Jefferies earlier this month said that the central government's capital expenditure is expected to increase by a robust 25 per cent in the second half of the financial year 204-2025 compared to the same period of the previous year.

While populist policies have gained traction in the states, the Centre's spending priorities show a balanced approach to spur economic growth and create more jobs through an increase in investment in big infrastructure projects, it mentioned.

Total central government expenditure, which includes allocations to social welfare schemes, is set to rise by around 15 per cent year-on-year in the second half of 2024-25.

Meanwhile, India's Q2 GDP growth should begin to improve further by the January-March period (Q4) FY25, according to industry experts.

There are several encouraging signs within the data, like private consumption grew at an impressive 6 per cent, significantly higher than both the overall GDP growth rate and the 2.6 per cent recorded in Q2 FY24.

A sharp rebound in H2 FY25 is expected, driven by government and private capex, robust agriculture growth, and buoyant consumption demand, with GDP growth projected at 6.6-6.8 per cent for FY25.
Thane, Dec 11 : Pulling the curtains down on a 48-year-old legal battle, the Kalyan Civil Court has ruled that the disputed Durgadi Fort is owned by the Maharashtra government and rejected the claims over it by a Majlis-E-Mushawarat Trust on it.

Soon after the verdict, the Trust authorities said that they would challenge the verdict in the Bombay High Court.

Kalyan Court Senior Division Civil Judge A. S. Lanjewar held that the Trust's claim was time-barred and also upheld the state government's claim over the hilltop fortress.

Filing suit to stake claim in 1976, the Muslim Trust contended that there is a Muslim prayer hall (mosque) and an Eidgah inside Durgadi Fort a" which also houses a temple of Goddess Durga a" and hence, it belonged to them.

The dispute arose after a Thane District Collector's report in 1966 which indicated the presence of a Hindu Temple inside the Fort, even as the historic monument was under the administration of the state government since that year.

In the past five decades, the Durgadi Fort became a bone of contention due to its historical, cultural and religious significance to the Muslims and Hindus, but the court had maintained a status quo in the matter for the past 58 years, informed the state government pleader Sachin Kulkarni.

Thirty years ago (1994), the court had allowed the state Public Works Department (PWD) to carry out certain urgent repair works to the fort with two bastions, on grounds that it belonged to the state government which had taken it over but subsequently transferred it to the Kalyan Municipal Corporation (KMC) for its upkeep.

However, since the KMC failed to comply, the state government again took it over, and now prior permission from the state government is mandatory for conducting any kind of activities, programmes, events, etc. there.

Kulkarni told the media that the Judge also considered the unreasonable delay without sufficient justification as a reason for dismissing the case, and the Court also rejected the Trust's plea to transfer the matter to the state Waqf Board.

Trust Chairman Sharifuddin Karte contended that no hearings were conducted in the past 32 years, no evidence was examined or verified and the abrupt judgement came on December 10, stating that the case is "time-barred" now.

He termed the whole thing as completely unjust and said they would challenge the verdict before a higher court after submitting evidence dating back over two centuries.

Kalyan Zone III Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende said that in view of the strong sentiments after the court order, the police have beefed up security in the town and also the Durgadi Fort.

President of Hindu Manch, who is also the petitioner, Dinesh Deshmukh said that the Kalyan Court has rejected all the claims of Muslim Trust, including transferring it to the Waqf Board for a hearing.

Soon after the verdict, the Shiv Sena, Hindu Manch and other organisations performed a symbolic aaartia at the Durgadi Fort temple.

Ruling Mahayuti ally Shiv Sena Kalyan chief Ravi Patil said that the Durgadi Fort has a glorious history and was visited and later captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from the Nizam Rulers in 1656.

Thereafter, the 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' late Balasaheb Thackeray visited there in 1971 and had pooh-poohed the claims of the Muslim community over it, Patil said and contended that the Eidgah inside the fort is merely a wall, while the temple there is much older.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Actor Ishaan Khatter, who is currently holidaying down under, shared a video of himself swimming in the water to get a glimpse of the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system.

Ishaan took to Instagram stories, where he shared a mesmerising video of himself swimming over a tortoise, which can be seen closer to the coral reef.

"The great barrier reef and more friends" he wrote as the caption.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.

Ishaan had earlier shared a video of himself petting a koala and had captioned it as "made a few friends."

Last month, Ishaan dropped a few thirst trap pictures that showcased his ripped biceps and lean frame.

In the images, Ishaan flaunted his toned physique in white vest and jeans. Sharing the post, the 'Dhadak' actor emphasised the importance of staying hydrated in the caption.

He wrote, "Stay hydrated."

Ishaan is gearing up for the release of his Netflix romance series, "The Royals." The show boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Bhumi Pednekar, Nora Fatehi, Zeenat Aman, Dino Morea, Chunky Panday, and Milind Soman. The show is a modern-day Indian royalty rom-com series anchored by the chemistry between Bhumi and Ishaan Khatter.

Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, the series also stars Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Sumukhi Suresh, Udit Arora, Lisa Mishra and Luke Kenny.

The makers of the series on August 14 shared its teaser on Instagram, where Ishaan looked every-inch as royalty.

The post was captioned: "A royal feast for your eyes. Announcing #TheRoyals, coming soon only on Netflix."

Produced by Pritish Nandy and created by Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy, known for their contemporary pop culture and spirited storytelling, had shared back then that 'The Royals' being their very first with Netflix had to be just the right blend of coming-of-age-India, Gen Z storytelling and feisty fun.

They added: "There is the inevitable romance of old royalty; monarchs without crowns, and the incredible drive of today's startup warriors for whom crowns hold zero shine."
New Delhi, Dec 11 : The Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day following a ruckus by the opposition parties over a no-confidence motion against House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

As the session began for the day, the opposition MPs raised slogans and disrupted the proceedings, demanding a discussion on the motion.

Amid the din, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju attacked the Congress over the impeachment notice, calling the allegations against the Chair "baseless".

He said the treasury benches will defend any move to attack the honour and dignity of the Chair.

The Minister raised the issue of the alleged nexus between US hedge fund tycoon George Soros and Congress which allegedly poses a threat to national security. "You stand with forces who are against the country. Notice has been given against the Chairman. It is difficult to find such a Chairman. He has always talked of the welfare of the poor, protected Constitution. We will not allow the drama of notice to succeed. What is the relationship between Soros and Congress? This should be revealed...Congress should apologise to the nation," he said.

This triggered vociferous protests from the Opposition which accused the government of stalling proceedings to divert attention.

Chairman Dhankhar tried to proceed with the scheduled agenda, but the opposition raised the noise prompting him to adjourn the House till noon.

Soon after the Hosue assembled again, the ruckus continued, and the House was finally adjourned for the day.

Union Minister J.P. Nadda said, "Our members (MPs) have been raising the issue of the connection between Sonia Gandhi and Soros. This is a question about the sovereignty of the countrya.Bringing a no-confidence motion against the Chair is a design to deviate the attention of the nation from the issue of the sovereignty of the countryaIt should be condemned by one and all. They have never respected the Chair..."

The Opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday submitted a no-confidence motion against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to the Secretary General of the Upper House.

The opposition alleged that the Chairman has been conducting the proceedings of the Upper House in a highly partisan manner, leaving them no choice but to take this unprecedented step.
Bhopal, Dec 11 : Revered Hindu saint Siyaram Baba died of prolonged illness at his ashram on the banks of river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district early on Wednesday.

Siyaram Baba, a devotee of Lord Ram, who had been suffering from pneumonia for the last two weeks, breathed his last around 6.30 a.m.

His demise came on the auspicious day of Ekadashi and Geeta Jayanti.

There has been contradiction over his age as some reports suggested that he was 95 years old, while his devotees believed he aged above 100.

Born in 1933 in Bhavnagar in Gujarat, Siyaram Baba embarked on a spiritual path when he was 17. After visiting several pilgrimage sites across the country, he arrived in Khargone and established his ashram in 1962.

He performed intense meditation under a tree while chanting 'Jai Siya Ram'. It is said that Siyaram Baba used to preach Ramayana for about 21 hours every day.

The saint maintained a simple lifestyle, wearing only a loincloth and adhering to a strict regimen of daily rituals, including meditation and prayer. Despite being so old, he managed his daily activities independently, further enhancing his reputation as a spiritually potent and self-sufficient figure.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and several other leaders of the ruling BJP and Congress have expressed grief over the saint's demise.

Chief Minister Yadav said the news of the demise of the ardent devotee of Lord Ram, Siyaram Baba, is an "irreparable loss" for the saint community and Madhya Pradesh.

"I pray to Baba Mahakal to grant a place to the virtuous soul in his feet and provide strength to his countless followers to bear this sorrow. Millions of salutations at the feet of Santshree," Chief Minister Yadav said in a statement.
Jaipur, Dec 11 : Five-year-old Aryan, who fell into a borewell in Kalikhad village in Rajasthan's Dausa district on December 9, remained trapped even after continued rescue efforts on Wednesday.

The prolonged ordeal has heightened the concerns of Aryan's family and the administrative officials.

The boy has been stuck in the borewell without food or water since 3 p.m. on Monday. The teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local authorities, have been tirelessly working to save him. Officials now anticipate that Aryan could be rescued by evening.

Aryanas mother, Guddi Devi, is in a state of shock, and the family members have refrained from eating since the incident. The child fell into a 175-ft-deep open borewell near his house while playing with his mother. Rescue operations began immediately as the officials arrived at the site. District Collector Devendra Yadav has been continuously overseeing the rescue efforts.

Rescue teams initially attempted to retrieve Aryan by digging 20 feet away from the borewell. Efforts using an L-shaped hook to pull him out also failed. Even attempts using makeshift "desi jugaad" methods did not succeed. However, the team did manage to prevent Aryan from falling further into the borewell by deploying an umbrella beneath him.

After earlier attempts failed, authorities initiated a Plan B. A piling machine from Sawai Madhopur is being used to dig a 4-foot-wide pit just 4-5 feet from the borewell. Once the pit reaches 150 feet, NDRF personnel will create a horizontal tunnel to reach Aryan and rescue him. Officials are optimistic that this plan will be successful.

According to NDRF personnel, the piling machine is digging at a rate of 20 feet per hour. The entire excavation process is expected to take around 7-8 hours, after which the rescue team will descend into the pit and complete the tunnel. Despite the challenges, the NDRF and SDRF teams are determined to bring Aryan out safely.

The entire village is holding its breath, hoping for a positive outcome.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has thrown his support behind the veteran quick Josh Hazlewood to return for the Brisbane Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, citing his track record and impact.

Adelaide Test replacement Scott Boland delivered an impressive performance after Hazlewood was ruled out due to a side strain. Boland seized his opportunity, claiming five wickets in the match and dismantling India's top order. However, with Hazlewood nearing fitness, he is likely to be included in the third Test.

Brett Lee believes that Hazlewood, provided he is fully fit, should return to the starting XI for the Brisbane Test. Lee acknowledged Boland's outstanding effort but emphasised Hazlewood's consistent performances and seniority.

"Look, it's a tough one but you'd have to go back on form and what Josh Hazlewood has done. For me personally, Josh Hazlewood slips straight back in. If he's fully fit he gets the new ball, or at least is definitely back in the team," Lee told Fox Sports.

Boland's appearance in Adelaide marked his first Test in 18 months, with his last outing coming during the third Ashes Test in 2022. Despite the long hiatus, the pacer delivered a stellar performance, taking crucial wickets of Shubman Gill and Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the first innings. He followed it up in the second innings by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Mohammad Siraj.

Boland's five wickets came at a crucial juncture for Australia, helping them level the series at 1-1. Hazlewood had also made a strong start to the series, claiming five wickets in the opening Test at Perth, including four in India's first innings.

"It's unfortunate for Scott Boland because when he's had his opportunity, he's nailed it. I look at Scott Boland and I probably think he's a bit like MacGill playing in the Warne era. MacGill took 200 Test wickets bowling when Shane Warne was either injured or out for other reasons. So he was a quality, quality bowler," Lee said.

Lee further highlighted that Boland would likely be a mainstay in any other Test side around the world. "Boland could be in any team around the world. Any playing nation. But unfortunately, when you've got Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood, they're still doing the business, and they're in his way at the moment. It's nothing against Boland because he's bowled the house down."

With the series locked at 1-1, Australia will look to take a lead in the five-match affair when they take field for the third Test from December 14-18 in Brisbane.
Bengaluru, Dec 11 : The members of Karnataka Backward Caste Federation met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum with a warning that if Panchamasali Lingayats are given reservation under the 2A Category, they would resort to a statewide stir.

The members urged the CM that the demand by the Panchamasali Lingayat sect must not be considered under any circumstances.

K.M. Ramachandrappa, the President of the Federation stated the Panchamasali Lingayats are availing the reservation facility under the 3B Category. The community members are staging protests and pressuring the government to provide reservations under the 2A Category to get the benefit of a reservation of 15 per cent given to backward classes.

"Panchamasali Lingayat sect is academically, socially, economically and politically progressed. Dr. Naganagouda Committee, L.G. Havanur Committee, Venkataswamy Backward Classes Second Commission report, Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy report have found that Panchamasali Lingayat sect is a forward or progressed community," he stated.

"If the Panchamasali Lingayats are included in the 2A Category, the most backward castes such as Agasa, Savita Samaj, Tigala, Ediga, Kuruba, Devanga and other castes won't get reservations. The Panchamasali Lingayat sect will get all the benefits and reservations in employment, education and politics," he said.

"In this background, the federation urged the state government not to include the Panchamasali Lingayats into the 2A Category. If the state government takes steps to include them, fierce agitation would be taken up all over the state," Ramachandrappa warned.

The agitation by the Panchamasali Lingayat community turned violent when the members attempted to lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Tuesday.

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra visited the protesters and met Jagadguru Sri Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji, who is leading the agitation. Vijayendra pledged full support for the Panchamasali protest in Belagavi.

The seer has said that the community leaders are being "threatened" by the Congress government in Karnataka to suppress the agitation. The seer had warned that if anything went wrong, there would be a "blood revolution" in the state.

Following the violence, Karnataka BJP claimed on Tuesday that the state government has deliberately suppressed the Panchamasali "movement" in Belagavi.

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy reacted, "It is extremely unfortunate that the Congress government in Karnataka has chosen to act like Adolf Hitler to suppress the struggle of the Panchamasali community."

Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peeth seer Basavaraj Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami speaking to media soon after the Tuesday violence said that the Karnataka government is trying to sideline the Panchamasali protests. "Siddaramaiah is responsible for the violence. We will strategise our future protests. The government will have to face the consequences for today's highhandedness," claimed the seer.
Guwahati, Dec 11 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that various grants and assistances will be distributed under various government schemes in the next 12 days across the state.

The series of programmes was kickstarted by the Chief Minister on Wednesday.

Under the microfinance incentive and relief scheme, more than 78,000 borrowers will benefit through the state government's relief package that will restore their credit-worthiness and will also provide them with financial stability.

The CM said, "More than 3.23 lakh bicycles will be distributed in the next 12 days among the school students across the state along with distribution of 48,673 scooters for meritorious students under various schemes."

Nearly 27,000 top performers in the class X examination will be given cash awards, Sarma said.

Moreover, the state government will distribute Rs 353.67 crore to the 6.86 lakh disaster-affected families for the reconstruction of their houses, meeting their necessary requirements along with essential supplies.

Sarma stated, "6,490 Self Help Groups (SHG) are set to get a support of Rs 21.90 crore for setting up food processing units."

He said that in the last three years, the State government worked relentlessly to secure the land rights of the indigenous people of the state. All illegal encroachments in Kaziranga have been evicted.

Earlier, Sarma said that the state government is working tirelessly for the people of Assam to ensure the preservation of their identity and ensure their development. The government is also working towards delimitation to restrict the impact of infiltrators. Moreover, the State government has cleared 10 thousand hectares of land from encroachment.

He also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the delimitation exercise in all the 126 Legislative Assembly constituencies in Assam secured at least 105 constituencies for the indigenous people.

CM Sarma said that Assam has been progressing rapidly to become one of the most developed states in the country.

He said, "We are not only building bridges over Brahmaputra, but also planning to construct an underwater tunnel."
Seoul, Dec 11 : South Korean former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted to take his own life while being held at a detention facility on charges of insurrection, but he is currently in stable condition, the justice ministry said on Wednesday.

Kim was found trying to hang himself with a rope made from tying together innerwear inside a bathroom at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Centre in eastern Seoul at 11:52 p.m. on Tuesday, shortly before a court issued a warrant to arrest him, Yonhap news agency reported quoting the ministry.

"There was an immediate dispatch to restrain him," the ministry said. "The medical team's treatment showed he was in stable condition with no abnormalities, and he is currently being held under normal conditions."

Kim was placed under formal arrest early Wednesday on charges of helping President Yoon Suk Yeol stage an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law last week.

Prosecutors suspect the then-defence minister proposed the declaration of martial law to Yoon and ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly compound and the National Election Commission headquarters.

By law, those who participate in plotting an insurrection are punishable by death, life imprisonment or a prison term of at least five years.

Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, told a parliamentary legislation committee meeting that Kim is being held in a protective cell following the attempt on his own life.

Rep. Jung Chung-rai of the main opposition Democratic Party, who chairs the committee, suggested the former defence minister may have taken the extreme measure after feeling "wronged" that the prosecution was targeting him, not Yoon, over the alleged insurrection.

Justice Minister Park Sung-jae dismissed the notion

"I don't think so," he said during the meeting. "I don't have a basis for this, but someone who tried to commit suicide likely had various reasons, and there is no way for me to know."

Kim was brought in for further questioning by prosecutors at the detention centre later Wednesday.
Bengaluru, Dec 11 : Following the death of an automobile company executive from Uttar Pradesh in Bengaluru allegedly over the demand of Rs 3 crore for a divorce settlement and allegations against the sitting judge, the Ekam Nyay Foundation, fighting for the rights of men, is preparing to approach the Supreme Court.

Atul Subhash, 34, ended his life in his apartment in Marathahalli police station limits in the wee hours of Tuesday, leaving behind a 90-minute video and a 40-page-long death note, explaining how the harassment by his wife Nikita Singhania and her family was compelling him to end his life.

The development has sparked outrage and debate across the country about rights of men and how the law views them in cases of divorce and child custody.

Deepika Narayan Bharadwaj, the founder of the Ekam Nyay Foundation, speaking to IANS on Wednesday stated, considering the serious allegations against the judiciary and the sitting judge over alleged demand of bribes, the organisation will approach the Supreme Court.

"We will make a submission in this regard to the Chief Justice of India and Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court," she stated.

This isn't just a Bengaluru story but a story of every married man facing false accusations and exorbitant alimony demands in India.

The 90-minute video details what a person is subjected to if he doesn't pay despite having every evidence to prove innocence.

"Succour is needed for people who are killing themselves due to biased laws," Deepika stated.

Bikas Kumar, the brother of the deceased Atul, stated, "The family of Atul's wife was demanding Rs 3 crore for a settlement. The unreasonable demand of Rs 3 crore was acute mental harassment."

"The wife made demands for money in front of the judge and told Atul that if he was not able to give the money, why doesn't he end his life? The judge was laughing in the court over this statement. Is this not torture? Is this not mental harassment?", Bikas Kumar asked.

"My brother has sacrificed his life. He had written everywhere "Justice is Due". I want justice at any cost. My brother had sent email messages to the President of India, the Supreme Court of India. I expect them to change the law so that men will get some rights," he demanded.

"Not all men are culprits. Let them also get some legal immunity to present their case and prove that they are right," Bikas stated.

Commenting on his brother's suicide, he said, "We didn't know that he would do something like this. When I spoke to him, he did not give any clue about what he was up to. He also did not give hints to our parents. I spoke to him last Sunday and everything was normal. Later he also spoke to parents and it was fine. That was his last call."

"On Monday at 2 A.M., he sent a message but I was asleep. Later, on Tuesday I got a call from an unknown number asking me about the death note. When I checked my phone, I saw messages on my mobile," he recounted.

In his video, Atul Subhash, had stated that he got married in 2019 and his wife allegedly demanded Rs 3 crore alimony after they filed for divorce.

She allegedly didn't let him even see the face of his child after she filed for divorce. He stated in the video that the Family Court Judge demanded Rs 5 lakh to settle the case.

Atul stated that his father-in-law died of a disease soon after his marriage but his wife got an FIR registered under sections of murder against his family claiming he died of shock because of a demand for dowry.

Atul said in the video that he faced extreme harassment as he had to attend 120 case dates in the last two years.

The Family Court judge passed an order of Rs 40,000 per month maintenance for a 2-year-old child, he stated.

Atul said that when he was married, he used to do household chores, got his wife a job in a reputed MNC, helped his brother-in-law financially, and spent lakhs on the birth of his child.

Atul stressed in the video that, "I refuse to pay and I choose death because I don't want my money to be used against me by my opponents to torture me and my family. I don't want my wife and her family to come anywhere near my dead body." Meanwhile, Marathalli police have registered an FIR against deceased Atul's wife and three other family members on charges of abetment to suicide under Sections 108, 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The complaint in this regard was filed by Atul's brother Bikas Kumar.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Superstar Mohanlal was joined by the "Khiladi" of Bollywood for the trailer launch of "Barroz", which marks the debut directorial of the Malayalam star.

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Superstar Mohanlal was joined by the "Khiladi" of Bollywood for the trailer launch of "Barroz", which marks the debut directorial of the Malayalam star.

Mohanlal welcomed Akshay at the launch event in Mumbai city. The Bollywood hero was welcomed with a warm bear hug by Mohanlal. The two later posed for the camera and shared a fun chat.

The Bollywood star looked dapper in a white shirt paired with khakee shaded pants and sunglasses. While Mohanlal looked every-inch handsome dressed in a rust hued blazer paired with a white shirt and dark blue pants.

Barroz is set to release worldwide in 3D and multiple formats on December 25.

"Barroz" is a children's fantasy based on his novel Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure. The film also stars Maya, Cesar Lorente Raton, Kallirroi Tziafeta, Tuhin Menon, and Guru Somasundaram in other significant roles.

Production on the film Barroz began in March 2021 and the unit was shot in Kochi, Gao, Bangkok and Chennai, among other places.

Talking about Akshay, he revealed on December 10 that he is excited to be on set with his favourite director Priyadarshan as he started shooting for his next "Bhooth Bangla", which he revealed is set to hit the screens on April 2, 2026.

Akshay took to his Instagram, where he shared a new poster of the film and captioned it: "Beyond excited to be on set with my favourite @priyadarshan.official as we begin the shoot of our horror comedy #BhoothBangla today."

"Yeh darr aur hasi ka double dose aapke liye ready hoga 2nd April, 2026 ko! Tab tak ke liye aapke best wishes chahiye," he added.

Along with Akshay, actors Paresh Rawal, Asrani and Rajpal Yadav will be seen in the upcoming horror comedy "Bhooth Bangla" by filmmaker Priyadarshan.

The film is set to begin production in early 2025, with a theatrical release planned by the end of the year. The casting process is still ongoing, with three female lead roles yet to be filled.

Akshay has previously worked with Paresh in films such as "Hera Pheri", "Phir Hera Pheri" and "Garam Masala". The "Khiladi" star shared screen space with Rajpal in "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" and "Bhagam Bhag". Asrani and the "Khel Khel Mein" actor worked together in "Khatta Meetha".

On his 57th birthday on September 9, Akshay announced that he is joining forces with director Priyadarshan once again after 14 years for the film.

Akshay took to X, formerly called Twitter, where he shared the motion poster of the film. In the image, Akshay could be seen holding a bowl filled with a black cat standing on his shoulder.

"Thank you for your love on my birthday, year after year! Celebrating this year with the first look of 'Bhooth Bangla'! I'm beyond excited to join forces with Priyadarshan again after 14 years," wrote the actor, who last worked with the filmmaker in 2010 in the film "Khatta Meetha".

"This dream collaboration has been a long time coming can't wait to share this incredible journey with you all. Stay tuned for the magic!"

Akshay and Priyadarshan have given several blockbusters together including "Hera Pheri", "De Dana Dan", "Bhool Bhulaiyaa", "Garam Masala" and "Khatta Meetha" to name a few.
Amaravati, Dec 11 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Wednesday met a delegation from Google and discussed potential areas for collaboration.

The Chief Minister said that following up on the MoU signed between the state government and Google, he met the delegation led by its Vice-President Bikash Koley.

"Our new progressive industrial policies have created a business-friendly ecosystem, attracting investors, and paving the way for employment opportunities," Naidu said in a post on X.

"The delegation offered me an overview of their operations and shared their ambitious plans in India. I am proud that Andhra Pradesh has been identified as a key partner. During the meeting, we also discussed various potential areas for collaboration," he said.

"I am confident that collaborations with global technology leaders such as Google will empower our state, ultimately contributing to India's digital growth story. Looking forward to working together to bring these initiatives to fruition," Naidu added.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also mentioned about the MoU with Google during the conference of District Collectors on Wednesday.

He was all praise for Minister for Information Technology and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, for the signing of the MoU.

He said due to the efforts of Lokesh, Google has come forward to set up its operations in Visakhapatnam and hoped that this would boost the development of the port city.

Google announced on December 5 that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to accelerate the deployment and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the state.

This collaboration will drive the development and implementation of AI solutions, focussing on key sectors like healthcare and sustainability, while also prioritising digital infrastructure enhancements, AI skills development, and support for the local startup ecosystem, the company.

The MoU exchange took place in Amaravati, in the presence of Nara Lokesh, between Bikram Singh Bedi, Vice President and Country MD, Google Cloud India, and S Suresh Kumar, Secretary of Real Time Governance Society, Andhra Pradesh.

Under this MoU, Google will collaborate with the Andhra Pradesh government to integrate AI and ML solutions in critical areas such as healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

The collaboration will also focus on promoting skill development and bridging the digital divide by providing citizens with the necessary training and resources to thrive in an AI-driven economy.

Additionally, Google will collaborate to support the state's startup ecosystem, to fuel innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of AI.
Ranchi, Dec 11 : A huge political row has erupted in Jharkhand over the lathi-charge on protesting students in Hazaribagh. The students were demanding the cancellation of the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

The controversy reverberated in the Jharkhand Assembly here on Wednesday, with Opposition leaders staging protests and calling for a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the examination process.

Before the Assembly session began, AJSU party MLA, Nirmal Mahto, staged a dharna at the main gate of the Assembly. Representing the Mandu constituency, Mahto demanded a thorough CBI probe into the allegations of exam rigging and the use of force against the protesting students.

Expressing solidarity with the students, he asserted, "Demands were justified and an attempt is being made to suppress the voice of the students."

Former Chief Minister and BJP MLA, Babulal Marandi, speaking to media persons in the Assembly premises, hit out at the administration for ordering the lathi-charge and called it "the last nail in the coffin" for the government.

He alleged, "The examination process was marred by irregularities, and despite students presenting evidence of malpractices, their grievances were not heard. There has to be a CBI investigation, the government must ensure justice for the students."

In response, Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu accused the BJP of exploiting the students' agitation for political gains.

"While protests are a democratic right, disrupting law and order is unacceptable. The government is willing to address the students' issues but the BJP is using the movement to further its own political agenda," he countered.

Meanwhile, JLKM (Jharkhand Loktantrik Kranti Morcha) MLA, Jairam Mahato strongly condemned the police action. Detailing the injuries sustained by students during the police action, he said, "Several students are suffering fractures in legs, hands, fingers. I will raise the issue in the House and support the students' cause both inside and outside the Assembly."

Mahato attacked the government for dismissing student protests as Opposition conspiracies. He urged the chief minister and ministers to engage directly with the students to resolve their concerns.

"I come from a student movement background, and I stand with them," he asserted, adding that even leaders from his party were injured in the incident.
Havana, Dec 11 : Cuba denounced as a "theft of Cuban trademarks" a new US law which secured Bacardi's Havana Club rum trademark in the American market amid a lengthy legal battle.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejects the so-called 'Law to Not Recognise Stolen Trademarks in the United States,' recently signed by the President of the United States," read an official statement released by Cuba's foreign ministry on Tuesday.

Bacardi, a Bermuda-based privately-held spirits company, left Cuba in 1959 and is the sole seller of the Puerto Rico-made Havana Club-branded rum in the US market, reports Xinhua news agency.

For over 20 years, the Cuban government has been in legal disputes with Bacardi over rights to the trademark in the US market, to which Cuba-made Havana Club rum has been denied access due to the US systemic trade embargo, economic blockade, and financial sanctions since 1962.

The statement claimed that the legislation, recently signed by US President Joe Biden, is "a new unilateral coercive measure that reinforces the blockade against the Cuban economy."

"This law deals another blow to the international system of industrial property protection and confirms the United States' disregard for institutions of international law," the statement said, adding that it violates both the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

The ministry characterised the legislation as effectively granting "a license for piracy, paving the way for the theft of legitimately registered Cuban trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark Office."
Chennai, Dec 11 : Tamil Nadu's ruling political party and a key member of the INDIA bloc, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday expressed its support for the Congress party as the most suitable leader of the Opposition alliance.

DMK spokesperson and senior leader T.K.S. Elangovan, speaking to IANS, emphasised that the Congress has a nationwide presence, making it the ideal choice to lead the INDIA bloc.

His comments came amid recent controversies where some constituents of the INDIA bloc proposed Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the leadership role after she stated that she could lead it.

Elangovan argued that while the Congress has a pan-India appeal, the influence of regional parties like the Trinamool Congress is limited.

"Even in Tamil Nadu, the Trinamool Congress is not popular," he pointed out.

The DMK leader further noted the excellent rapport his party shares with Congress leaders, underscoring the general sentiment within the DMK that the Congress should lead the alliance.

Elangovan also expressed confidence in the DMK-led alliance's prospects for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, predicting a landslide victory.

Citing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's earlier remarks, he said the DMK-led alliance would win over 200 of the 234 Assembly seats.

According to Elangovan, the stellar performance of the Stalin-led government would be a key factor in the alliance's success.

He also attributed the DMK's dominance in Tamil Nadu to its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the INDIA bloc secured all 39 parliamentary seats in the state, along with the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), P.K. Sekar Babu, echoed this optimism, asserting that the DMK-led alliance aims to win all 234 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections.

His remarks came in response to criticisms by Tamil superstar-turned-politician Vijay, who had dismissed the DMK's claims as overly ambitious and "boastful."

Sekar Babu, while distributing welfare assistance to orphanages in Kolathur recently, stated, "Some critics who have no grassroots connection are questioning our claim of winning 200 constituencies. But our target for the 2026 elections is not just 200 seats; we are aiming to win all 234 constituencies. The DMK will secure a clean sweep."
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, who is known for 'Andaz Apna Apna', 'Coolie No.1', 'Raja Hindustani' and others, recently met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi with her family, and received a signed autograph from the PM for her children.

On Wednesday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared the pictures from the Kapoor family's meeting with the PM. The family, which is considered the first film dynasty of Hindi cinema, met with PM Modi ahead of the centenary of the family's patriarch Raj Kapoor, who is widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers and actors in Indian cinema.

Sharing the pictures, Karisma wrote the same caption as her sister Kareena Kapoor Khan. She wrote, "We are deeply humbled and honored to have been invited by the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to commemorate the extraordinary life and legacy of our grandfather, the legendary Raj Kapoor. Thank you Shri Modi ji for such a special afternoon. Your warmth, attention, and support in celebrating this milestone meant the world to us".

"As we celebrate 100 glorious years of Dadaji's artistry, vision, and contribution to Indian cinema, we honour the timeless impact of his legacy, which continues to inspire us and generations to come. We are proud to showcase his iconic films and remember the impact he had on Indian cinema with the 'Raj Kapoor 100 Film Festival'. Dec 13-15, 2024 | 10 films | 40 cities | 135 cinemas. #100YearsOfRajKapoor ", she added.

December 14, 2024 marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor. He was born in Peshawar (present day Pakistan), and was the eldest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards.

His films 'Awaara' and 'Boot Polish' competed for the Palme d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951 and 1955's editions respectively.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts. India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was bestowed to him in 1988 by the Government of India.

Earlier, the International Film Festival of India, organised jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India (under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa, in Goa, honoured Raj Kapoor ahead of his centenary, and invited Ranbir as the speaker to share anecdotes about his grandfather.
Bandar Seri Begawan, Dec 11 : Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has chaired board meetings of the country's key energy companies, urging united efforts to face future challenges, local media reported.

The 413th Board of Directors Meeting of Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd (BSP) and the 191st Board of Directors Meeting of Brunei Shell Marketing Sdn Bhd (BSM) took place at the Brunei Prime Minister's Office building on Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the official media Pelita Brunei.

The Sultan chaired the meetings and emphasised the need for strong leadership, along with technical expertise, unwavering commitment, and a united effort across the Brunei Shell Joint Venture and BGC to face future challenges, according to the report.

At the meeting, the participants discussed critical areas such as operational performance, safety, finance, and human resource development, as well as setting the strategic direction of BSP and BSM for the coming years.

Brunei is an important oil and gas producer in Southeast Asia.
Dhaka, Dec 11 : A Bangladesh court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu priest and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), who has been arrested and jailed by the local authorities on charges of sedition.

Local media reported that Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Saiful Islam, who is on vacation, passed the order on Wednesday citing that the plea was rejected because Das did not have a lawyer's letter of attorney on his behalf.

The petition, which will be heard on January 2 next year now, states that Das - a monk who is suffering from various diseases including diabetes and respiratory problems - has been arrested in a false and fabricated case.

It also mentions that his lawyer Subhashish Sharma could not attend the hearing on December 3 due to security reasons.

"Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Public Prosecutor PP Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan said that the state party informed the court that lawyer Rabindra Ghosh, who had applied for Chinmoy's anticipatory bail hearing, had not given any power of attorney to fight the case on his behalf. Apart from this, Chinmoy's lawyer Subhashish Sharma was also not present. Subhashish did not give anything in writing to Rabindra Ghosh to fight the case. Later, the court rejected the application made by lawyer Rabindra Ghosh," reported the country's leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo.

It was revealed that the bail hearing of two other accused in the case was also scheduled for Wednesday but could not take place due to the lawyer's absence.

India has been reiterating that it hopes that the trial will be "fair and transparent" as the arrested Hindus have legal rights that should be respected.

New Delhi has also urged the interim government's authorities in Dhaka to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression while highlighting that the arrest of Das follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh.

"The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned at 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," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month.

On Monday, during his visit to Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had conveyed India's concerns, especially those related to the safety and welfare of minorities, during his meetings with the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus and the Foreign Affairs Advisor, Touhid Hossain.

"We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties. We expect, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction," Misri told reporters in Dhaka on December 9 following his meeting with Hossain.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Indian auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali's OTT debut series 'Heeramandi - The Diamond Bazaar' has emerged as the only Indian show on Google's most searched shows globally in 2024.

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Indian auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali's OTT debut series 'Heeramandi  The Diamond Bazaar' has emerged as the only Indian show on Google's most searched shows globally in 2024.

While many international shows made their place in the top positions of Google trends, it's remarkable to see Sanjay Leela Bhansali's grand Netflix period drama 'Heeramandi' securing the fourth position on the list. Moreover, while international conversations like the US elections, and climate events created major buzz, 'Heeramandi' has managed to make its place in this list.

The show features majestic visuals, captivating music, compelling narrative, and outstanding performances, and is infused with SLB's signature opulent storytelling.

The series stars Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Sanjeeda Sheikh along with Taha Shah Badussha.

Taha, who essays the role of Nawab Tajdar Baloch in the series, had earlier shared that he auditioned for 15 months to land a part in the show.

Speaking about his audition, he earlier shared in a statement, "Having dreamt of working with the greats, Sanjay Leela Bhansali sat right at the top of my list. It took me fifteen months of relentless auditions for his show, and finally, the opportunity arriveda mere 3-day role, but I was grateful that I would get a chance to receive his guidance. Meeting him was surreal, and it was then that he surprised me, suggesting a screen test for a more significant character, Tajdar's best friend".

The OTT series explores the cultural reality of Heeramandi, a dazzling district, through the stories of courtesans and their patrons set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s.

It stands as a true masterpiece, marking Sanjay Leela Bhansali's remarkable debut in the digital realm and a significant milestone in his illustrious career.

'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' is an eight-part series streaming on Netflix. The show is set to return with second season.
Dholpur, Dec 11 : Anshul Sharma, a PhD Agronomy student from the Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, has been selected for the prestigious Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF). A resident of the Dihauli police station area in Dholpur district, Sharma has become the first student from the Rajasthan Agricultural University, Udaipur, to be awarded this highly competitive national fellowship.

The PMRF, established by the Government of India under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, is a mark of distinction, aimed at promoting advanced research in science and technology.

As a recipient of this honour, Anshul Sharma will receive financial support of Rs 38 lakh over four years to further his research, which aims to contribute significantly to the nation's agricultural development.

Anshul, who is pursuing his doctoral studies in Agronomy, expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity.

"I am extremely happy to be selected for this fellowship. It is a wonderful initiative by our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His vision for such schemes that empower youth is inspiring. I am confident that my research will bring tangible benefits to farmers, and Iam dedicated to contributing to their welfare," he said, reflecting on the significant opportunity before him.

Sharma's achievement has been a proud moment for his family and the district. His father, Jagdish Prasad, is a farmer, and his two brothers also serve in distinguished roles a" his elder brother, Krishnakant Sharma, is a medical officer at the Basai Nawab Community Health Centre (CHC), while his younger brother, Rahul Parashar, is an Assistant Commandant in the CRPF. The family's support and dedication to public service are reflected in Anshul's success.

Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology's Vice Chancellor, Ajit Kumar Karnatak, congratulated Anshul on his accomplishment.

"Anshulas success is a testament to his hard work and dedication. We are extremely proud of him for bringing this honour to the university and the district," said Karnatak.

During his research, Anshul Sharma focussed on maize crop studies under the mentorship of Arvind Verma, the Director of Research at his college. Sharma credited his research supervisor, Verma, for guiding him through the rigorous academic journey, emphasising the role of his mentor in his success.

The PMRF Scheme is part of the Centre's effort to attract the brightest minds into doctoral programs, especially in the fields of science and technology, and to address national priorities.

The fellowship is designed to foster cutting-edge research, and participants are selected from the best students from institutions such as IITs, IISc, and other top universities across the country.

It is specifically targeted at students who are in the final year of their undergraduate or integrated programs in science and technology.

Anshul Sharmaas success not only highlights his potential but also underscores the growing importance of agricultural research in Indiaas future.
Bhopal, Dec 11 : While the BJP-led government has prepared plans to celebrate one year in office in Madhya Pradesh, the Opposition Congress has sharpened its attack on Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and will hold a protest on December 16.

Madhya Pradesh Congress has criticised CM Yadav's plan to organise a fortnight-long programme called 'Jan Kalyan Parv' to highlight the development works undertaken in the past year.

Terming the BJP government's programme -- 'Jan Kalyan Parv' as a 'publicity stunt', the Congress said when the state was already reeling under huge financial debt of more than Rs 4 lakh crore, public money should not be wasted for 'useless' events.

Veteran Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that the so-called 'Jan Kalyan Parv' is being started in the state, but the people of Madhya Pradesh want to know about the promises made by BJP during the elections which have not been fulfilled till date. "So, what is the need for new promises?' said Kamal Nath.

"Therefore, you (CM Mohan Yadav) are requested that instead of wasting people's hard-earned money on useless events and event planning, use it for real public welfare, not for paper welfare," he said.

The MP Congress is also preparing for a mega protest to corner CM Mohan Yadav-led BJP government on December 16. The party's state unit chief, Jitu Patwari has appealed to all Congress workers and leaders to join the protest in Bhopal.

Notably, the winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly is also set to commence on December 16. During the five-day session, the state government is likely to present its supplementary budget.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will complete one year in office on December 13.

After the resounding victory in the state Assembly election held on November 17, 2023, the BJP's central leadership replaced former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan with Mohan Yadav.

Three-time BJP MLA from temple town Ujjain, Mohan Yadav took oath as the Chief Minister of the state on December 13, 2023. Chouhan, elected as Lok Sabha MP from Vidisha, is the Union Agriculture Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet.

The BJP secured victory in Madhya Pradesh by claiming 163 seats out of the 230-member Assembly. Congress was reduced to 66 against 114, which it had won in the 2018 Assembly elections.
Karwar : , Dec 11 (IANS) A shocking incident has been reported from Murudeshwar coastal town in Karwar district of Karnataka, where four girl students on an educational trip drowned in the sea. The state government announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family of each deceased girl on Wednesday.

The girls were swept away by strong currents while playing at Murudeshwar beach on Tuesday evening. Authorities managed to rescue four girls initially, and a search is underway for others. The deceased have been identified as 15-year-old Deeksha, Lavanya, Vandana, and Shravanthi.

Deeksha, Lavanya, and Vandana's bodies were found on Wednesday morning. Shravanthi was rescued immediately after the incident on Tuesday but later succumbed to her condition. Two other students were successfully rescued by the authorities, and rescue operations continued to locate the remaining students.

The deceased were students of Morarji Desai Residential School in Kottur village near Mulbagal town in Kolar district. Including teachers, a total of 57 people were on the academic tour. The strong sea currents pulled the girls away while they were playing on Murudeshwar beach.

It is alleged that negligence on the part of the teachers and the tourism department contributed to the tragedy.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed shock over the incident and announced compensation while paying his condolences over the tragedy.

Siddaramaiah stated, "I was shocked to learn the news of the students from the Morarji Desai Residential School in Mulbagal Taluk, Kolar District, who drowned in the sea near Murudeshwar during an educational trip. I pray for peace for the departed souls and offer my condolences to the grieving parents of the children."

"The state government will provide compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the four students who died in this tragic incident. I have instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada district to make arrangements to transport the bodies to their hometowns," Siddaramaiah stated.

CM further cautioned, "Teachers must exercise greater caution while supervising children during trips. When visiting dangerous locations, special care should be taken to monitor the children. I can understand the grief and pain of the parents who have lost their children. I pray that such tragedies never happen again."
Kolkata, Dec 11 : Two notorious Mumbai-based fraudsters engaged in extorting money from people posing as cops of the cybercrime division of Delhi Police were arrested from a hotel at Sealdah in central Kolkata on Wednesday.

The two accused have been identified as Vinode Kovinda Pawar and Dhanji Jagannath Shinde and are residents of Mumbai.

The arrests were made following a recent complaint by a city-based woman to the Charu Market Police Station in South Kolkata.

As per the complaint, the two approached her posing as cops of the cybercrime division of Delhi. They informed her of several serious cases registered against her with Delhi Police and threatened to arrest her.

The woman panicked and thereafter the two fraudsters gave an offer to her to settle the matter against a hefty amount. The woman in panic started transferring the money demanded by the two accused to their bank accounts.

After having paid a hefty sum of Rs 66 lakh with the demands for more money from the two accused persons continuing, she contacted the Charu Market police station.

The cops of the city police immediately contacted their counterparts in Delhi Police and came to know that no such case had been registered there against the women concerned.

Thereafter, the cops started tracking the SIM numbers of the mobile phones from where calls were made to the woman. Finally, the two were arrested from a hotel at Sealdah.

The police have also been able to track the money that the women paid into an account with a private bank registered in the name of the Shinde. The police have also seized mobile phones, SIM cards and bank documents from the possession of the two arrested.

Kolkata Police have again alerted the citizens of this new trend of crime where innocent people are being tapped by fraudsters posing as cops or CBI or NCB officials. The advice of the city police for the citizens is not to panic about such calls and immediately contact the local police station.
Guwahati, Dec 11 : Assam Congress President Bhupen Borah said on Wednesday that the party will hold a three-day meeting to review its debacle in the state by-elections.

He told reporters here, "On December 13-15, we will have an in-depth discussion in Guwahati where the officer bearers from block and district will attend a meeting. We will take ground reports for the loss in the recently concluded by-election to five seats. Once our review meeting is over, I will be in a position to tell what went wrong."

He said, "The party has started preparations for the Panchayat elections. We will try to field candidates with a good image among the public."

Borah said, "Congress is always in favour of uniting all opposition forces to take on the BJP. But now as the Panchayat polls are knocking on the doors, we can discuss that after the election. The other opposition leaders like Akhil Gogoi must be very busy in his constituency for the Panchayat polls."

Earlier, Akhil Gogoi, the Sivasagar MLA said that an alliance with the Congress can be formed only if the seat-sharing pact was sealed before the polls.

"Congress must decide how many seats they want to fight the polls. They keep these things pending till the election dates are announced and at the last moment, they announce their candidates in most of the seats," Gogoi said.

According to Gogoi, to oust the BJP from power, all opposition parties, including Congress, must fight unitedly. This is the only way to defeat the ruling party in the next Assembly polls."

The Sivasagar legislator also warned that the Congress would put up a poor show if it decided to contest the Assembly polls alone.

"In the 2021 Assembly election, Congress got 26 seats but if they contest polls alone, they will hardly win six seats in the next polls," he said.

Congress drew a blank despite contesting all five seats that went to by-elections recently.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Ethical issues in artificial intelligence (AI) and spread of fake news are global concerns and India is committed to addressing these challenges through robust debate and responsible innovation, while fixing accountability on social media platforms, Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said on Wednesday.

Addressing the Parliament, the minister highlighted the critical challenges posed by the emerging AI landscape, social media accountability, and the need for robust legal frameworks.

The minister underlined the importance of balancing freedom of speech with the responsibility to combat fake news and ensure accurate narratives in the digital age.

"It is a major challenge that societies across the world are facing  the accountability of social media, particularly in the context of fake news and the creation of fake narratives," Vaishnaw remarked.

"These are the issues where freedom of speech comes on one hand and accountability and having a proper real news network getting created, on the other. These are things which need to be debated and if the house agrees and if there is a consensus in the entire society we can come up with the new law," the IT Minister noted.

The Union Minister also addressed concerns about privacy and AI governance, sharing details of proactive measures taken by the government to develop indigenous tools and technologies.

Under the 'India AI Mission', one of the key pillars is application development, focusing on innovations that align with the country's unique requirements.

"To address the emerging landscape of AI, we have initiated eight projects aimed at creating tools and technologies within the country," he informed.

Highlighting India's global leadership in AI, the minister said that the country is one of the leading ones in shaping global thought on AI governance.

"India's voice continues to hold significant weight in discussions with international bodies, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations," he said.
Bengaluru, Dec 11 : Criticising the offer of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the Kerala government to build 100 houses in landslide ravaged Wayanad, the BJP on Wednesday chided his concern as a sign of slavery.

Priyanka Gandhi represents the Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency which was hit by major landslides this year in which over 200 people lost their lives as two villages were swept away.

BJP MLC and former National General Secretary, C.T. Ravi stated that the Karnataka government has given assurances of building houses for the victims of the landslide.

"The gesture is right in terms of humanity. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's concern in this regard does not seem to be out of concern for humanity. This is a clear sign of slavery. Wayanad was represented by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and presently it is represented by Priyanka Gandhi. The government in the state is not bothered about maternal deaths, suicide of farmers. The state government does not care about the farmer who ended life after fighting with an officer," Ravi claimed.

"Mr. CM Siddaramaiah, you don't care about the crisis in the state. Your Wayanad concern is a sign of slavery," Ravi alleged.

"We will raise the issue in the state legislature. There has to be a probe by the Special Investigation Team over maternal deaths and deaths of newborn babies," Ravi slammed.

"The Congress leaders are occupied answering allegations faced by CM Siddaramaiah. The government is focussed on protecting its interests and not the interest of the state," Ravi claimed.

In February, the Congress-led Karnataka government had announced Rs 15 lakh relief for the family of a person who was killed in an elephant attack in Kerala.

The Siddaramaiah government had stated that the elephant had strayed into Kerala from Bandipur forest of Karnataka.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre had announced the compensation after meeting CM Siddaramaiah.

However, when the issue turned controversial, the family from Kerala had refused compensation from the Karnataka government.

Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar's statement to clear night traffic restrictions in Bandipur reserve forest area during campaigning for Wayanad Lok Sabha elections also triggered controversy.

In his letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan recently, CM Siddaramaiah stated, "Kindly recall that during my visit to Wayanad following the unfortunate landslide incident, I had announced my government's commitment to donate 100 houses to support the affected families.

"This initiative was aimed at providing a secure and stable environment for those who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and dear ones. The announcement was duly communicated to the Chief Secretary of Kerala for further coordination.

"It is concerning that no communication has been received from the Government of Kerala regarding the necessary guidelines or directions to implement this project, preventing us from moving forward with the commitment.

"To facilitate this initiative, I also wish to convey that my government is ready to purchase land required for constructing the houses, ensuring swift progress in providing relief to the affected families."

"Looking forward to your response and collaboration on this matter," the CM stated in his letter to his counterpart in Kerala.
Hyderabad, Dec 11 : Veteran Tollywood actor Manchu Mohan Babu had a blunt injury below the left eye when he was brought to the hospital on Tuesday, doctors at Continental Hospitals said on Wednesday.

Dr Guru N. Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Continental Hospital told the media that Mohan Babu was upset and was not in a frame of mind to understand what was going on.

Mohan Babu is currently under the care of an expert team of doctors consisting of cardiologists, neurologists, plastic surgeons and others. He required close monitoring and observation, Dr Reddy said.

Mohan Babu was admitted to the hospital after a clash at his house in Jalpally when his actor son Manchu Manoj barged in amid a bitter dispute between them.

Mohan Babu, who is also a former Member of Parliament, also attacked a TV reporter with a mike when the latter asked him about the rift with his son.

According to the medical bulletin, Mohan Babu was brought to the hospital at 8.30 p.m. with complaints of diffuse body pains, anxiety and a history of loss of consciousness.

"He was given immediate and necessary medical care by the specialists in the Emergency Department, and following a thorough examination, he was found to have a blunt injury below the left eye and had high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and excessive heart rate fluctuations. Immediately, all of the respective specialists attended to him," reads the bulletin.

Plastic surgeon Dr Raghuveer said that further line of treatment will be decided after a CT scan.

Meanwhile, Mohan Babu's elder son and actor Manchu Vishnu told the media at the hospital that his father was injured in Tuesday's clash at the house. He remarked that their father loved them too much and this was his mistake.

"Ours is a joint family. It's unfortunate that this has happened. This has caused us immense pain but we hope that the issue will be resolved," he said.

Stating that every family will have problems, the actor requested media not to create a sensation. He said that while he agrees that the media has to inform the people, some people were crossing the limits.

Vishnu said that his mother had also been admitted to the hospital and he as the elder son was in pain.

The actor said that he was in Los Angeles for the post-production of 'Kannappa' but left everything to return home on Tuesday after learning about the discord.

Vishnu said that a reporter getting injured in Tuesday's incident was unfortunate. He added that the act was not deliberate and that their father came before the media by doing 'namskar' but when a mike was put close to his mouth, he attacked on an impulse. He assured all help to the family of the injured journalist.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : As jailed Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, Azam Khan, called on the INDIA bloc to clarify its stance on the alleged atrocities against Muslims in Rampur, BJP leader Rohan Gupta on Wednesday said that the politics of appeasement was history and the future was the politics of every Indian.

In a statement released from his jail cell, Azam Khan, one of the most prominent Muslim faces of the SP, urged his party to raise the issue of alleged atrocities against Muslims in Rampur as forcefully as it had raised the issue of the Sambhal violence.

Khan accused the INDIA bloc of remaining silent as the Muslim leadership in Rampur was being "destroyed" and called for a clear stand on the issue.

Talking to IANS, BJP National Spokesperson Rohan Gupta took a strong stand, emphasising the importance of moving away from the divisive politics of appeasement.

"The country has moved ahead a lot. The politics of Hindus and Muslims, the politics of appeasement, this has become our history. The future is the politics of every Indian, the politics of 140 crore Indians, where everyone has a right," Gupta said.

Gupta further explained that the government's focus is on ensuring equal rights for all citizens, regardless of their religion or caste.

"The new government is not against anyone but is not in favour of appeasement. Everyone has the right to equality. No one's religion or caste is seen. We are correcting what has gone wrong, and that is not wrong anywhere," he asserted.

Gupta also pointed to the Waqf Amendment Bill, which seeks to bring Waqf institutions under constitutional oversight, calling it a step away from the 'wrong' system that had existed for decades.

Gupta further asserted the ongoing rift within the INDIA bloc, particularly regarding the Congress partyas internal struggles.

Gupta said, "The results in the Lok Sabha elections speak volumes. The Congress has faced defeat everywhere."

"The party has become so lost in appeasement that even its own allies are now rejecting its leadership," he claimed.

He suggested that performance and leadership should be the primary focus within political alliances, adding that the Congress partyas failure to manage its allies has led to fractures within the alliance.

Gupta highlighted the fragmentation of the INDIA bloc in various elections, pointing to the breakdown of alliances in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

"The reality is in front of the whole country, and the Congress will have to answer and think why such a situation is happening to them," Gupta concluded.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, along with INDIA bloc leaders launched a no-holds-barred attack on the chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday, holding him responsible for the repeated stalling and disruption of the House, apparently over his 'headmaster-type attitude' and treatment of 'Parliament like a school.'

In a joint press conference held by Congress and its allies, Mallikarjun Kharge hurled serious accusations at V-P Jagdeep Dhankhar and said, 'The biggest disruptor of the House is the chairman himself.'

He accused the Rajya Sabha chairman of partisan conduct in the House and at times, even acting as the spokesperson of the ruling party.

"He is the one who disrupts the House. He gives sermons to the Opposition members but he never tries to stop chaos by the treasury benches. His conduct has hurt the conscience and dignity of the House as well as the nation," Kharge told newsmen.

He also said that the move to bring no-trust motion against the Vice-President was not by choice but because of compulsion.

"We were left with no option but to go ahead with this notice. For three years, he has been acting in a partisan manner. He has given ample time to the treasury benches, denied the Opposition a chance to present their views and also resorted to schooling the Opposition leaders like a headmaster," said Kharge, in a pointed charge at Dhankhar.

He further said that the Vice-President never misses any opportunity to insult the senior and more experienced members of the Opposition and added that sometimes, he even outperforms the spokesperson of the ruling party.

"For the worst time in our history, we have a Vice-President who openly criticised Opposition parties in public and behaved like a spokesperson of the ruling party not just in the House but also outside," he elaborated.

Kharge, further dishing out advice to the Rajya Sabha chairman said that he should behave like a custodian of the House and protector of the Opposition members.

"He is expected to rise above politics and hear the voices of all parties and leaders. His conduct of the House for the past three days was particularly troubling as it was marked by blatant partisanship and total lack of fairness," said Kharge.

"He rejects all the notices of the Opposition but allows that of ruling parties. When we raise our fingers, he doesn't allow us to speak one sentence. When I get up, he doesn't allow us to speak for more than two minutes. This is not just a breach of protocol but the betrayal of the Constitution as well as the people of India," he remarked, justifying the reason behind moving a no-trust motion against Dhankhar.

Apart from Kharge, many INDIA bloc leaders including RJD's Manoj Jha, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and other party spokespersons launched diatribe at the Vice-President, alleging that there was a co-ordinated and systematic targeting of the Opposition, apparently at the behest of Centre.

Justifying the no-trust notice, the first ever in history, they said that this was brought not because of any personal bias but because of political compulsion as its sole intention is to safeguard the dignity and integrity of the Parliament.

Earlier in the day, both Houses of Parliament witnessed uproarious scenes over the no-trust notice against Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and the George Soros issue.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Days after thieves stole approximately 140 metres of cable from the Delhi Metro Blue Line between Kirti Nagar and Moti Nagar, causing significant disruptions, the Delhi Police successfully apprehended three individuals involved in the crime. Some parts of the stolen cable have been recovered, police said here on Wednesday.

Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, Vijay Singh, at a press conference, revealed that around 60 CCTV cameras near the crime scene were scanned and analysed.

"The footage showed a Tata Ace vehicle and an auto-rickshaw in the vicinity. Following this lead, the police traced the vehicles to Mustafabad. By examining an additional 500 CCTV cameras along the route from Kirti Nagar to Mustafabad and questioning the Tata Ace driver, the police identified the first accused, Shahrukh, and arrested him," he said.

Subsequent interrogation of Shahrukh led to the arrest of a second suspect, Ramzan. Further questioning revealed the involvement of the mastermind, Rashid, who conducted recce of potential theft sites and planned the operations, the police said.

"The investigation also implicated another suspect, Junaid, who was later arrested. However, two other individuals, Masoom and Faizal, remain at large. Raids are being conducted to nab them," Vijay Singh said.

According to the police, the gang operated systematically, with members assigned specific roles. While some conducted recce, others specialised in cutting the cables using tools.

The stolen cables were weighed en route to confirm their value, with a receipt of the weighing recovered during the investigation.

The gang sold the stolen cables to a scrap dealer named Sarfaraz on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, who is currently absconding. Raids are underway to apprehend him.

The cable theft on December 5 caused significant disruptions to Delhi Metro services on the Blue Line, particularly during morning rush hours.

Commuters experienced delays and inconvenience as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) informed passengers of the issue through posts on X.

The DMRC assured passengers that repair work would be conducted during non-operational hours to restore normal services.
By Qabil Ashirov



Ousting the Assad regime can open new horizons between Azerbaijan and Syria. Although the nations of the two countries share a common culture and religion, Baku has not built a strong relationship with Assad's Syria, due to the pro-Armenian and pro-Iranian politics of the last. Even during the 44-day War, Bashar Al Assad's pro-Armenian speeches irritated many in Azerbaijan. However, Baku tried its best not to damage the relations with the fraternal nation of Syria. Even on 718 December 2015, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Jordan distributed humanitarian aid to 400 Syrian families settled in the said country.

However, all the above is history now. At last, the civil war which lasted 13 years and devastated Syria put an end to the 53-year Assad dicta. Now the Syrian people are trying to heal the wounds caused by the civil war and to create their bright future. Realities on the field uncovers opportunities from which can the both nations benefit.

Like Syria, Azerbaijan suffered devastation caused by the war. As is known, Armenia occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan and levelled to ground many buildings in the formerly occupied territories. Azerbaijan liberated these territories in 2020 and launched restoration and reconstruction works in the said territories. In this regard, Azerbaijan can assist Syria in rising from the ashes. Currently, many Azerbaijani construction companies operate in Garabagh and worldwide. These companies can take part in construction work in Syria. Azerbaijani companies could participate in reconstruction projects, such as rebuilding infrastructure, oil and gas pipelines, and roads.

Secondly, as is known, Azerbaijan is an energy country. Crude oil and natural gas are the main items in Azerbaijans exports. Today, Azerbaijan provides 12 countries with natural gas, and Syria could be 13th among the others. It is worth noting that Syria was one of the first countries that expressed interest in Azerbaijani gas when the country started to export. In 2009, the two countries signed an agreement through which Azerbaijan should have supplied Syria with 1-1.5 billion cubic meters of gas. However, regional and global events hindered the project. Today, Azerbaijan exports its gas through the TAP pipeline which traverses Turkiye and Syria and this is one of the strategic pipelines that facilitates imports of the Azerbaijani natural gas. Strengthening energy ties could lead to long-term contracts between the two countries and in this case, Syria will enjoy supplying its population with cheap energy and boosting its industry. This will also create an opportunity for Azerbaijan to increase its revenue.

Moreover, mine clearance and removing unexploded ordnances (UXOs) are other fields in which Syria can enjoy Azerbaijani assistance. As a war-torn country, Azerbaijan relies on its experience and knows that mines and UXOs not only harm people but also hinder the development of countries. Needless to say, currently these problems stand paramount in Syria's agenda. Because Azerbaijan suffered from landmine problems after both Garabagh wars and still suffers from their repercussions and the worst legacy - the landmines.

Today, Azerbaijan is considered one of the most mine-polluted countries in the world. Every year, thousands of hectares of areas are demined and cleaned from UXOs and handed over to the population. In this regard, Azerbaijani companies with extensive experience can provide their hands as well. Azerbaijan has developed considerable expertise in mine action, having dealt with extensive landmine contamination in its own territory. The Azerbaijani National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have established a Center for Excellence for mine action training in Azerbaijan. This centre can serve as a platform for exchanging demining experiences and technologies with other countries, including Syria.

Azerbaijan companies can provide direct humanitarian assistance by deploying demining teams to Syria. This would involve training local personnel, providing equipment, and conducting demining operations in affected areas.

The agriculture sector is one of the fields in which Azerbaijan has an upper hand and the two countries can benefit from it. The decade-long conflict was a strong blow to Syrian agriculture. The population in rural areas shrunk by 50 per cent between 2011 and 2016, leading to heavy losses in crop and livestock production, as well as the destruction of irrigation systems, and damage to large agricultural areas.

On the contrary, agriculture is the most rapidly growing sector in Azerbaijan. Production and export of fruits and vegetables have increased by several for the past 30 years. For example, the export of fruits increased by 378 times and the export of vegetables skyrocketed by 20 times for 30 years in Azerbaijan. Taking into account the size of the country Azerbaijan exports twice more vegetables and fruits in comparison with Iran and Turkiye.

Thus, with the fall of the Assad regime in the country, new horizons have emerged for the development of relations between the two countries in various fields. This will give impetus to closing the dark page and opening the next page for a new era.
Bengaluru, Dec 11 : As the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) grows in India, 31 per cent of leaders are expecting substantial transformation from AI in less than one year, experts said on Wednesday.

The inaugural 'Google Workspace Media Summit' here revealed that almost 70 per cent of enterprises utilise 'Help me write' in Docs or Gmail incorporating Gemini AI's suggestions, and over 75 per cent of users generate images in slides.

At the event, customers from leading Indian enterprises like HCL Software, Zomato and JK Cement showcased tangible benefits of using Google Workspace, including improved communication, streamlined workflows, and enhanced productivity.

According to Sumedha Chakraborty, Country Head, Google Workspace, India and South Asia, they are seeing incredible interest in Gemini for Workspace.

"It's transforming how people work by boosting the efficiency, creativity, productivity, and security of their organizations. At Google Workspace, we remain committed to advancing innovation while prioritizing robust security and privacy measures," said Chakraborty.

The custom large language models (LLMs) are blocking more spam and responding to threats faster than ever before, "reaffirming our commitment to innovation, productivity, and security," she mentioned.

Google Workspace has over 3 billion monthly active users globally.

According to a recent 'Total Economic Impact' study by Forrester, Google Workspace is a game-changer for businesses seeking to unlock greater productivity and cost savings.

The analysis found that Google Workspace saves companies 171 hours per user annually  equivalent to an extra month of work to the year.

It also reduces on-demand tech support costs by 20 per cent and delivers an impressive 331 per cent return on investment (ROI).

With custom-built LLMs, Gmail's spam protection has improved significantly, blocking 20 per cent more spam and analysing 1,000 times more user-reported spam daily.

In Google Drive, LLMs have accelerated responses to novel spam and phishing attacks by 90 per cent, greatly enhancing security response times, informed the company.
Kochi, Dec 11 : The Kerala High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to national award-winning Malayalam actor Balachandra Menon in a sexual assault case, observing that men also have the right to dignity, not just women.

A single-judge bench of Justice P V Kunhikrishnan observed that the case was filed 17 years after the incident occurred.

"It is an admitted fact that the alleged incident happened in 2007. It is also admitted that the petitioner is a known cine artist, he is also known as a film actor, director, and scriptwriter. He directed about 40 films and obtained two national awards. The nation awarded him by giving him a Padma Shri. Based on a statement of a lady, that too after 17 years, this case has been registered. It is true that investigation is going on but everybody must remember that the right and dignity is not only to a woman but to men also. This is a fit case to grant bail to petitioner in the interest of justice," said the Court.

Incidentally, the Court had earlier granted Menon interim bail on finding that there was no plausible explanation given by the complainant for the "inordinate delay" in lodging the FIR in 2024 when the alleged crime took place around 17 years back.

After the Justice Hema Committee's report on the condition of women in the Malayalam film industry was released in August, a storm of allegations was unleashed against its leading figures.

As a few former actresses publicly revealed their bad experiences, the police were quick to act, registering 11 FIRs against various film personalities.

A special bench of the High Court was now keeping track of the developments of the special investigation team formed to go forward in the case.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Urging governments, global organisations, private companies and individuals to stand with the Hindus of Bangladesh, a diverse coalition of American NGOs, scholars, religious leaders, human rights advocates, and civil rights leaders have jointly called for an immediate intervention to stop the "ongoing genocide" of religious minorities in the country under the "military-Islamist" interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Citing a factual ground report prepared by a multidisciplinary research team on the unabated violence and atrocities committed against religious minorities since the regime change in Dhaka after the fall of government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, the Indian Americans - including members of Global Hindu Temple Network-America, Global Hindu Heritage Foundation and Hindu Action - assert that the United Nations and global human rights organisations must formally recognise the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh as an "ongoing genocide".

Making an urgent plea for justice, they have also written to several other organisations - including the UN Peace Operations, UN Human Rights Organistation, UN Women, UNICEF, US State Department, USAID, USCIRF, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and over a dozen private international firms that buy goods from Bangladesh - highlighting the ongoing systematic persecution and violence against minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus.

The report, titled 'Bangladesh Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and Religious Minorities - Killed, Converted, Forced to Flee', is authored by former UN officer Mohinder Gulati and renowned scholars like Prof. Ramesh Rao of Columbus State University and Prof. Prakasha Rao Velagapudi, a retired Professor of Sociology from the Jackson State University in Mississippi.

"This report is not just a record of history but an urgent plea for justice. Hindus in Bangladesh, who have contributed to its culture and heritage for centuries, now face extinction in their own homeland. How much longer can the world remain silent? Each day of inaction pushes this ancient community closer to disappearance," the report mentions.

It details that the regime change in Bangladesh this August - "when a democratically elected government led by Sheikh Hasina was unseated through street violence, student agitations, political opposition, Islamist organisations such as Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Bangladesh military" - unleashed targeted violence against Hindus, their places of worship, their properties and also against other minorities, fitting into the undesired pattern of most agitations and protests in volatile Bangladesh.

The report states that severity of violent atrocities is more pronounced in rural Bangladesh where, in the last five decades, the Hindu population has dwindled to a very small minority.

The situation for Hindus worsened drastically after August, the report says, as it documents an alarming rise in gang rapes, murders, and desecration of temples. Rural Hindu communities, it mentioned, face the brunt of these attacks, enduring atrocities that often go unreported and unpunished.

"The genocide of minorities in Bangladesh demands urgent attention, immediate intervention and swift action. The international community must hold the Government of Bangladesh wholly accountable for protecting its citizens and preventing further atrocities and demand compliance with its obligations under United Nations Human Rights Declaration, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) signed and ratified by it," the authors urge in the report.

The report also proposed actionable measures to stop the ongoing persecution and foster an environment of safety and dignity for Hindus in Bangladesh, including by international recognition and intervention, UN organisations formally recognising the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh as an ongoing genocide, the interim government in Bangladesh held accountable for crimes against minorities, offer economic support, resettlement and financial aid to displaced Hindu families to help them rebuild their lives, etc.

"The findings of this report are more than just statistics; they are human lives impacted by injustice. By presenting these realities, we hope to inspire immediate action, foster international solidarity, and ensure the safety and dignity of Hindus in Bangladesh for generations to come," the authors of the report detailed.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom and networking products has witnessed Rs 3,998 crore worth actual investment (against Rs 4,014 crore as committed investment) by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and non-MSMEs, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha that total 42 beneficiaries have been approved under the PLI scheme for telecom and networking products (till October 31).

In order to promote manufacturing of telecom products and reduce import dependency, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) notified the PLI for telecom and networking products in 2021 with a total financial outlay of Rs 12,195 crore.

The scheme guidelines were amended in June, 2022 offering 1 per cent additional incentive for products designed, developed and manufactured in the country.

Earlier, the government informed that under the PLI scheme for telecom and networking products, exports reached Rs 12,384 crore (till September 30).

Till September, the applicant companies had clocked total sales worth Rs 65,320 crore, according to Pemmasani.

Salient features of the scheme are 33 telecom and networking products, incentives ranging from 4 to 7 per cent, an additional 1 per cent incentive for MSMEs for the first 3 years, and an additional 1 per cent incentive for products aDesigned in Indiaa.

Meanwhile, the PLI scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing was notified in 2020 to provide incentives to eligible companies on incremental sales (over the base year) involved in mobile phone manufacturing and manufacturing of specified electronic components, including Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) units.

By encouraging local production, the PLI scheme has significantly reduced the countryas reliance on imported telecom equipment. According to the government, the Indian manufacturers are increasingly competing on a global scale, offering high-quality products at competitive prices.
Jaipur, Dec 11 : An accident involving the convoy of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma occurred at the Akshaya Patra crossing in Jagatpura, Jaipur, which left seven people, including five police officers injured.

The incident took place when a car travelling on the opposite side collided with two vehicles in the Chief Minister's convoy.

The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) officials told IANS that the rashly driven car coming from the opposite side collided into a Bolero which was part of the Chief Minister's convoy.

It slightly hit another vehicle too, they added.

The accident has left five police officers injured while those in other private cars were also injured, they said.

The convoy left from the Chief Minister's residence at 3 p.m., heading to the inauguration of the Sohan Singh Smriti Skill Development Centre, organised by Laghu Udyog Bharati.

At the Akshaya Patra crossing, a car from the opposite direction struck the lead vehicle in the convoy, causing a collision.

Following the accident, CM Sharma immediately moved out of his vehicle to assist the injured.

The Chief Minister personally ensured that the injured persons were taken to nearby hospitals.

Two of the injured are receiving treatment at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, while three others, including police officer Surendra Singh, are admitted to the Jeevan Rekha Hospital.

Surendra Singh remains in critical condition with a head injury and is currently on a ventilator.

The driver of the car, Pawan, is also hospitalised at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, while his companion is admitted to the Sawai Mansingh Hospital, sources said.

The collision caused significant damage to three vehicles, including two government cars and one taxi.

The injured police personnel have been identified as Balwan Singh, Devendra Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police Amir Hasan, Rajendra, and Surendra.

Eyewitnesses reported that the car from the opposite side first hit the lead vehicle in the convoy with such force that both vehicles veered off the road. The sudden incident caused other vehicles in the convoy to apply brakes abruptly, leading one of the cars to mount the divider.

In light of the incident, CM Sharma cancelled his scheduled programme and stayed with the injured at the hospital to ensure they received proper care.
Jammu, Dec 11 : J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday assured civil society members in Jammu that the annual 'Darbar Move' will be restored to preserve the uniqueness of Jammu.

Speaking to a cross-section of civil society including businessmen, industrialists, lawyers and people connected with other professions, Omar Abdullah said, "Jammu's uniqueness will not be allowed to diminish. The government will restore Darbar move."

The six-monthly sojourn of all the top offices of the J&K government between Srinagar and Jammu, a practice started by the Dogra Maharajas of the erstwhile state, was called the 'Darbar Move'.

In order to save on the huge costs involved in shifting the offices lock, stock and barrel between the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu, the Lt Governor-led administration had dispensed with the practice in 2021.

"Darbar Move is an issue that I fail to understand as to why it was not projected during campaigning for Assembly polls. The issue gained momentum only after the election result, although we mentioned it in our manifesto and meetings," the CM said.

"We assure you that the Darbar Move will be restored. Jammu has its own importance and we will not allow its uniqueness to diminish," Omar told reporters after chairing over three-hour long meeting with representatives of civil society at his official residence.

Omar, alluding to the decision to cancel the Darbar Move, said the government takes its own decision which does impact the public.

"After a decision, whether its impact is right or wrong, there is a need to get feedback. Sometimes it becomes difficult to get the right feedback within the government system because you are mostly surrounded by people who only praise you. So when a meeting of civil society takes place like this, mostly the participants come without any agenda and they put forth their feedback and suggestions which turns out to be beneficial," he added.

"The purpose of this meeting was to get feedback and suggestions as well so that those are implemented," he said adding that such meetings will be convened twice a year both in Jammu and Srinagar.
Patna, Dec 11 : Two people died after consuming suspected hooch in Bihar's Begusarai district.

The deceased were identified as Chunchun Prasad Singh, a rural medical practitioner, a resident of Ward-8, Maida Shahpur in Cheria Bariyarpur police station area and a 50-year-old compounder Hareram Tanti.

Both reportedly consumed liquor on Tuesday night, which their families said caused their deaths.

The incident has triggered a panic in the district.

While Singh's autopsy was yet to be done, the district administration conducted the post-mortem of Tanti under the supervision of a special team of the District Health Department.

Begusarai Civil Surgeon Pramod Kumar Singh claimed: "Earlier too, Tanti had undergone treatment at Sadar Hospital and partially lost his eyesight. But this time, Tanti died."

"The family members confirmed Tanti had a habit of alcohol consumption. It seems that he died due to consuming liquor. However, his post-mortem report has not come yet," the civil surgeon said.

Begusarai SP Manish stated that both individuals fell ill under suspicious circumstances.

"We are questioning the family members to gather more information. The case remains under active investigation to determine the exact cause of the deaths," Manish said.

The district administration has heightened vigilance to address potential issues related to illicit liquor, particularly in the affected areas of Cheriya Bariyarpur block.

Earlier in the second week of October this year, 62 persons reportedly lost their lives in Siwan and Gopalganj districts. However, the state police had confirmed 37 deaths.

In Siwan, the incident occurred in Maghar Kodia Panchayat under the jurisdiction of Bhagwanpur Haat police station.

Similarly, in Saran, an FIR was registered at the Mashrakh police station after the incident in Brahimpur village. Investigations in both districts were conducted and state police admitted that the deaths had happened due to spurious liquor.
Agartala, Dec 11 : Amid Bangladeshi parties' reported march towards Indian borders along Agartala, security along the frontiers with Tripura has been further tightened, officials said.

West Tripura district Superintendent of Police, Kiran Kumar, said that due to various reasons, the security along the India-Bangladesh border has been further beefed up.

"The two-day plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) will be held in Agartala on December 20-21. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Governors and Chief Ministers of all eight northeastern states will attend the meet," he told the media.

The NEC meet is one of the reasons for heightening security along the border, other sensitive and respective places, the SP said.

Since the unrest began in Bangladesh a few months ago, the BSF has intensified its vigil along the entire frontiers, the district police chief said.

Security presence has been visibly increased near the Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) Integrated Check Post (ICP), the second-largest trading point along the India-Bangladesh border after Petrapole-Benapole ICP in West Bengal.

Kumar said that he has learnt that Bangladeshi security forces have stopped the Indian border bound march of parties from their country.

Bangladesh media reported that leaders and activists of three associate bodies of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Jubo Dal, Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatradal and Swecchasebak Dal, on Wednesday morning started a long march towards Agartala in India from Dhaka.

According to the Bangladeshi media, the long march has been organised in protest against the December 2 incident in the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission (AHC) in Agartala, where alleged 'desecration' of the national flag of the neighbouring country was reported.

After the breach of security at the Bangladesh AHC office in Agartala on December 2, the mission suspended all visa and consular services for an indefinite period from the next day.

The breach of security at the Bangladesh AHC reportedly took place during a protest by an organisation against the atrocities on the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

West Tripura District Superintendent of Police suspended three Sub-Inspectors -- Dilu Jamatia, Debabrata Sinha, and Joynal Hossain -- and Assistant Commandant (a DSP rank officer) Kanti Nath Ghosh was withdrawn from his posting due to their negligence of duty during the December 2 protests against the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh.

The Tripura government also ordered an enquiry into the December 2 incident and the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Southern Range, will conduct the probe.

In view of the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh and arrest of ISKCON preacher Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, various organisations have been holding series of protests, demonstration and rallies in different states of the northeast region almost daily.
Kolkata, Dec 11 : The rail blockade protest organised by the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association at West Bengal's Jorai railway station on Wednesday, demanding a separate Cooch Behar State, was finally withdrawn.

Kolkata, Dec 11 (IANS) The rail blockade protest organised by the Greater Cooch Behar Peopleas Association at West Bengalas Jorai railway station on Wednesday, demanding a separate Cooch Behar State, was finally withdrawn.

The blockade which started in the morning, threw train services totally out of gear in almost the entire north Bengal and parts of northeastern India.

The protesters deliberately chose Jorai station near the Assam-West Bengal border as the principal blockade point so that railway services are affected not only in north Bengal but also in parts of north-eastern India.

Initially, the protesters said that they would be continuing the rail blockade protest indefinitely as done eight years back in 2016, when the same Jorai station was the main blockade point. In 2016, the rail blockade protests continued for 80 hours, following which the police intervened.

However this time, the blockade was withdrawn in the afternoon after senior railways officials had a discussion with the protesters for a couple of hours.

The protesters claimed that although they have withdrawn the strike for the time being keeping in mind the inconvenience to the passengers, in future also they will adopt similar protests if their demands are not fulfilled.

During the discussions with the railway officials, the protesters sought that their demand on the issue should be conveyed to the offices of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister. They also handed over their charter of demands to the railway officials, who promised to forward the same to the offices of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.

As per the latest information available, train services are becoming normal in the region as several trains stranded at different stations have started moving towards their destination.

Following the rail blockade, some trains were cancelled while the routes of some trains were diverted.

The Greater Cooch Behar Peopleas Association was formed in 1998 and claimed that the inclusion of the erstwhile Cooch Behar kingdom in West Bengal was illegal. They also claimed that when the agreement for the merger of the erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar with India was signed in 1949, a promise of giving separate statehood to Cooch Behar was made.
Tower deals are again in the news in major Asian territories, this time in Pakistan and the Philippines.

Reuters reports that Pakistan's largest conglomerate Engro, through its strategic partnership with global digital operator Veon, is considering expanding telecom tower sharing coverage in Pakistan and exploring different use cases in telecom infrastructure. The use cases, says Reuters, could include electronic vehicle charging and drone landing.

Engro and Veon recently announced plans to pool and manage their infrastructure assets in Pakistan. In this deal Veons infrastructure assets housed under Deodar, a Veon Group company, will vest into Engro Corps subsidiary, Engro Connect, via a scheme of arrangement. Veons digital operator Jazz will continue to lease Deodars extensive infrastructure for the provision of nationwide mobile voice and data services under a long-term partnership agreement.

As for the proposed tower sharing deal, this may also involve expanding tower sharing coverage to other operators. Under the partnership, Engro will pay Jazz, Veon's digital operator in Pakistan, US$188 million and will guarantee the repayment of Deodar's intercompany debt of US$375 million.

This remains subject to corporate and regulatory approvals. Deodar has a total tower count of 10,500 in Pakistan. Engro's is estimated at 4,063 towers.

Perceived improvements in the economic climate in the country have apparently led to what is likely to be Engro's largest transaction in Pakistani rupee terms.

In the Philippines a major tower deal has already been agreed. Frontier Tower Associates Philippines and CREI Management Services last week signed an agreement for the purchase and sale of 100% of the shares held by CREI in PH1 Holding FZ-LLC, a UAE-based entity and the parent company of Communication and Renewable Energy Infrastructure CREI Phils Inc. in the Philippines.

This transaction will add over 400 towers to Frontiers existing portfolio of close to 5,000 towers in the Philippines. Approval from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.
Chennai, Dec 11 : A potential tragedy was averted at the Chennai Airport on Wednesday when the pilot of an Air India flight travelling from Chennai to Singapore detected a possible fuel leak during the final pre-flight inspection.

The flight, carrying 145 passengers including crew members, was scheduled to fly on Wednesday noon.

However, during the final checks, the pilot noticed the technical issue and immediately alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Engineers and airport authorities promptly attended to the problem, and the malfunction was rectified.

Once receiving clearance, the flight departed safely.

In a separate development, seven departure flights and five arrival flights were cancelled at Chennai Airport on the same day due to various reasons.

Flights departing to Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai, Shimoga, Bagdogra, Jaffna, and Kolkata were affected.

Arrivals from Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai, Kochi, Kolkata, and Jaffna were also cancelled.

Airport officials reported that eight flights were cancelled due to operational reasons, while two faced technical issues.

Poor weather conditions in Jaffna led to the cancellation of the departure and arrival flights on that route.

Additionally, one flight from New Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Bengaluru after rain briefly disrupted operations on Wednesday morning.

The New Delhi flight, scheduled to arrive at 10 a.m., could not do so due to adverse weather.

This latest incident adds to a series of aviation challenges in the Chennai airport.

A SpiceJet flight from Chennai to Kochi made an emergency return to Chennai Airport on Monday (December 9) morning after encountering a technical glitch mid-air.

The flight, which had 117 passengers onboard, flew at 6:30 a.m. and safely returned at 7:15 a.m.

During adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Fengal, an IndiGo Airbus A320 narrowly avoided a mishap.

While attempting to land at Chennai Airport, the pilot aborted the landing just inches from the ground and performed a go-round.

A flight scheduled to arrive in Thoothukudi was diverted to Madurai due to technical issues.

After circling briefly, the aircraft made a safe emergency landing in Madurai.

Among the 77 passengers was Tamil Nadu's Public Works Minister, E.V. Velu.

Recently, an Air India Express flight from Kuwait to Chennai returned to Kuwait due to a mid-air technical snag.

The flight, with 154 passengers onboard, was cancelled after the issue persisted.

Passengers were accommodated in Kuwait.
Mandya : , Dec 11 (IANS) The funeral of veteran politician, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Padma Vibhushan S.M. Krishna was held on Wednesday.

The funeral of the statesman was held as per Hindu Vokkaliga traditions and with government honours at his native place Somanahalli near Maddur town in Mandya district of Karnataka.

S.M. Krishnaas grandson and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumaras son-in-law Amartya Hegde performed the final rites and lit the sandalwood pyre.

Sources stated that 1,000 kilos of sandalwood logs were used to prepare the funeral pyre.

Dy CM Shivakumar himself monitored the funeral arrangements of his close relative S.M. Krishna.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his Cabinet ministers, Congress MLAs, former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and other dignitaries were present during the final rites.

Vokkaliga seer Nirmalanandanatha Swami and other religious saints were also present.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy and Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi had come down to attend the funeral and paid their respects to the mortal remains of the departed leader.

S.M. Krishna passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness.

Before quitting the grand old party in 2017, S.M. Krishna, who spent 46 years with the Congress, served in various capacities as a member of the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha, and held key positions as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, External Affairs Minister, and Governor of Maharashtra.

S.M. Krishna, a nonagenarian veteran politician, is hailed for his contributions to the state by one and all, irrespective of their political affiliations.

S.M. Krishnaas efforts for the state, right from launching the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme in Karnataka for students, to building aBrand Bengalurua are hailed across the political spectrum.

The Congress government introduced the MDM Scheme in the state during the year 2002-03 under S.M. Krishnaas leadership.

The Yashasvini health insurance scheme launched by S.M. Krishna is considered another major contribution to the people of the state. Until then, there was no such health insurance scheme.

S.M. Krishna contested the Legislative Assembly elections independently as early as 1962. He was a rare politician who served in all four legislative bodies: Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha.

After a long political career with the Congress, he joined the BJP and announced his retirement from politics within a year.

S.M. Krishnaas efforts are hailed for bringing the international airport to Bengaluru and for playing a key role in bringing the Metro project to the city.

In recognition of his contributions, the Modi government had honored S.M. Krishna with the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

It is a known fact that during his tenure as the CM, the IT/BT companies came to Bengaluru in large numbers.

He is also known as an internationally-renowned statesman who brought the Silicon City tag to Bengaluru.
Patiala, Dec 11 : Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday asked Punjab government officials to refrain from interfering in the municipal elections, saying officers are delaying no-objection certificates (NOCs) under political pressure against the BJP candidates.

Bittu warned Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to avoid such actions, saying vigilance is being kept on those indulging in such activities under the influence of the Aam Aadmi Party-led government.

"Officers must remember their cadres are with the Central government. If evidence is found against any officer, FIRs (first information reports) will be registered through the Election Commission," Bittu said.

He also warned: "I will remind these officers that neither Bhagwant Mann nor Arvind Kejriwal will stand by them during their difficult times."

Bittu appealed to Patiala voters to elect a BJP mayor for the city's overall development, ensuring direct access to the Central leadership.

"A BJP mayor will facilitate the initiation of large projects for Patiala's development, just like in other states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, which have already benefited from BJP's development agenda."

On the ongoing farmers' protest on two Punjab's borders, Bittu reiterated his willingness to engage in dialogue. "Dialogue is the only way forward. I appeal to farmers to come forward for talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi always considers Punjab farmers' interests and has already implemented significant increases in MSP (minimum support price)."

The Union minister expressed concern for farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's health and urged farmers to prioritize dialogue for a solution. "I request farmers to come forward for talks, keeping aside their egos. The Central government is always open to discussions," Bittu said.

Senior party leader Preneet Kaur also showed videos that BJP Municipal Corporation candidates are being pressurised and threatened by the AAP government in Patiala. "We have received reports that police are being sent to their homes to intimidate them, our district president was threatened by the police team. This is a clear violation of democratic principles and the constitution. We will not tolerate such actions and will take strict action against erring officers," she warned.

"We will file FIRs and cases against them, whether through the Election Commission or court intervention. We have asked our workers to make videos of such incidents and file complaints straight away. We are in direct contact with the Centre government over this and will not let them indulge in such undemocratic actions again," Kaur added.

Later, Bittu, accompanied by senior leaders, visited the Deputy Commissioner's office here to submit nomination papers for BJP candidates contesting the municipal elections.

The State Election Commission on Sunday announced elections to five Municipal Corporations and 41 Municipal Councils, besides Nagar Panchayats on December 21. The counting of votes will take place on the same day.

The last date for filing nominations is December 12, while scrutiny of nominations will be held on December 13 and the date of withdrawal of nomination was December 14.

Out of the 37,32,636 registered voters, 19,55,888 are men, 17,76,544 are women and 204 others.

The polling of votes would be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the use of EVMs. The polled votes will be counted at the polling station itself.
Kochi, Dec 11 : The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued a contempt notice to an officer of the Cochin Devaswom Board under the Contempt of Courts Act for allegedly breaching its guidelines on the use of elephants during temple festivals. The action comes amidst growing concerns over the treatment of elephants at such events.

The court pointed to violations that took place during the Tripunithura Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple festival held from November 29 to December 6. It noted that on December 2, 15 elephants were cramped into a small space, disregarding the mandatory three-meter distance between each animal, as stipulated in the court's guidelines.

Last week, the court had directed the officer to file an affidavit explaining the alleged misconduct.

While the officer admitted to violations on only one day, he attributed it to non-cooperation from devotees, who accused the Devaswom official of disrupting temple rituals.

In response, the Court stated: "Will you disobey the Court's mandate just because some devotees say so? Sorry, we cannot accept this affidavit. We will initiate contempt proceedings for outright defiance of our directions. The state cannot descend into lawlessness. How dare you jeopardize lives? We have zero tolerance for such behaviour."

The Court further noted that the officer's actions amounted to civil contempt and directed the registry to formally register a contempt case. The officer was ordered to respond by January 9, 2025. "We, therefore, direct the registry to formally register a Contempt of Court case and to issue a notice to the deponent Devaswom officer forthwith so that the deponent officer can respond to the same on or before January 9, 2025," the court added.

During the proceedings, the court was informed about the deteriorating condition of a 65-year-old elephant. This prompted the bench to remark: "Elephants are symbols of Lord Ganapathi. Is this how we treat Lord Ganapathi? Why are we so cruel?"

The Court instructed the amicus curiae to consult experts regarding the determination of elephants' age and condition and to submit a report.

"We need some rules in place if captive elephants are to be paraded, existing captive elephants must be taken care of, there should be places to rehabilitate elephants that are unfit to parade. Who will rehabilitate these elephants and where does the fund come from," the court said and posted the matter to December 19.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who recently met with the Kapoor family ahead of the centenary of the late filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor, lauded the Raj Kapoor as a visionary artiste.

In an exclusive footage of IANS, PM Modi can be seen talking to the Kapoor family about Raj Kapoor. He shared how Raj Kapoor was so ahead of his time as he established India as a 'soft power', when the word wasn't even coined, among the people across the globe with his stories.

He said, "In 1947, we had 'Neel Kamal', and now in 2047, as we approach a 100-year journey, it symbolises the immense contribution of such a vast nation. Today, in the diplomatic world, there's much talk about soft power.

Back then, the term 'soft power' didn't even exist, but Raj Kapoor had already established India's strength in this domain globally". December 14, 2024 marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest cinematic forces of India. He was born in Peshawar (present day Pakistan), and was the eldest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor.

Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards. His films 'Awaara' and 'Boot Polish' competed for the Palme d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951 and 1955's editions respectively.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts. India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was bestowed to him in 1988 by the Government of India.

Earlier, the International Film Festival of India, organised jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India (under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa, in Goa, honoured Raj Kapoor on his centenary, and invited Ranbir as the speaker to share anecdotes about his grandfather.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday inaugurated the Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024 and spoke about the initiative's potential to engage young minds in finding solutions to contemporary challenges.

"Students are the drivers of Viksit Bharat and their innovation and zeal can find solutions to the challenges of the world. The talent, vision, hard work, leadership and innovation of the youth of the country will pave the way for India to emerge as a 21st-century knowledge economy as well as the growth engine of the world," the Union Minister said.

Meanwhile, a lot of many students, speaking to IANS, shared their views on the path-breaking initiative and also on how this could pave the way for Viksit Bharat 2047, as envisaged by the Prime Minister.

Many of them, heaping praise on PM Modi's vision for a developed India by 2047, exuded confidence that the 'dream' was achievable and well-within reach.

"The Prime Minister is coming up with many schemes and the participation of youth is also increasing in those schemes. We believe that by 2047, India will become a developed country. This is a very commendable step," said one of the students participating in SIH.

"Today, we are getting such a good opportunity as students coming from different states are working on a problem. This type of Smart India Hackathon is very important, it will develop our skills. Our confidence level will increase. We will benefit a lot from this type of programme, and we will see its results in the coming days," said another student.

A student said that they are getting accustomed to the idea of imparting education through practical knowledge rather than relying on just bookish knowledge and also benefiting from it.

Notably, the SIH is a nationwide initiative, started in line with Prime Minister's vision of youth-led development, to provide students with a platform to solve the pressing problems of Ministries and Departments of the Government, industries and other organisations. Launched in 2017, the SIH gained massive popularity among young innovators. In the last six editions, innovative solutions have made up their mark and stood out as established start-ups.

The 7th edition of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) began concurrently at 51 centres nationwide today. This will run non-stop for 36 hours. Like past editions, the student teams will work on either the problem statements given by the Ministries/Departments/Industries.
Amaravati, Dec 10 : Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Wednesday that people are vexed with the coalition government in just six months as it has failed on all fronts.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President called on party leaders and workers to counter the false propaganda and diversion politics of the TDP-led coalition government.

Addressing the local bodies leaders of YSRCP from Prakasam district, Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of engaging in diversion politics to cover up the coalition government failures.

The coalition has failed to implement its election promises and failed to make budgetary allocations while during our term we had given an annual welfare calendar with dates and strictly followed it in the DBT format to avoid corruption and middlemen, he said.

"The coalition on the other hand has done away with all the welfare schemes we implemented with farmers not getting MSP and paddy procurement not being taken up. Fee reimbursement was not given affecting the students and power charges have been increased burdening the people," he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed that the YSRCP's governance focused on transparency, welfare, and infrastructure development, including the RBKs, door-to-door rice distribution reforms, and infrastructure projects like medical colleges, Ramayapatnam Port and Veligonda irrigation tunnels.

Addressing the controversy over rice distribution, Jagan questioned how the opposition could spread false claims when the central and state machinery, including customs and security, remains under their control. He accused Finance Minister P. Keshav's relatives of monopolising rice exports while misrepresenting facts.

Under the YSRCP, rice was directly delivered to beneficiaries, eliminating corruption. He noted that the current government has reversed these reforms, reintroducing dealer-based distribution, low-quality rice, and ration mafia practices.

He blamed the coalition government for burdening people with taxes and escalating electricity tariffs by over Rs 15,000 crore. "Chandrababu's idea of wealth creation is exploitation and burdening the common man," Jagan remarked, referring to Naidu's governance as "tax-heavy and oppressive." He accused Naidu of privatising public assets like ports and medical colleges.

YSRCP has announced a series of campaigns, including a farmers' support programme on December 13, a protest against electricity tariff hike on December 27, and a rally on January 3 to address fee reimbursement delays. Jagan urged party members to strengthen grassroots connections and actively counter misinformation through social media.

"This fight isn't just against an opposition leader but against a machinery of lies," Jagan said, affirming his confidence in the YSRCP's return to power through trust and credibility.
Hyderabad, Dec 11 : Tollywood actor Allu Arjun has approached Telangana High Court to quash a case registered by the Hyderabad Police against in connection with stampede at a theatre during the premier show of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' on December 4.

A woman died and her son was critically injured during the stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the premier show attended by Allu Arjun.

Police had registered the case under sections 105 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 118(1) (Voluntarily causing hurt) r/w 3(5) BNS against Allu Arjun, his security team and the management of the theatre.

The case was registered at Chikkadpally Police Station on December 5 on a complaint by the deceased woman's husband. The police arrested the theatre owner, general manager and security manager on December 8.

As the police were reportedly planning to proceed in the case against the actor, he approached the High Court, seeking orders to quash the First Information Report (FIR).

The theatre management has also filed a petition in the court, seeking similar order.

According to police, there was no information from theatre management or the actor's team that they would be visiting the theatre. The theatre management also did not make any additional provisions regarding security to manage the crowd.

Allu Arjun on December 6 announced an assistance of Rs 25 lakh for the deceased's family and said that he is 'deeply heartbroken'.

The actor assured the grieving family that he would meet them personally and extend every possible assistance.

Allu Arjun also promised to take care of medical expenses of the boy, whose condition remained critical.

"Deeply heartbroken by the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time. I want to assure them they are not alone in this pain and will meet the family personally. While respecting their need for space to grieve, I stand committed to extend every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey," Allu Arjun posted on X.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : The Kapoor family recently met the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in the national capital.

The family prepared well in advance to meet the PM, discussed internally on their WhatsApp group about how they would address him.

Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor told PM Modi, "Last week, on our whatsapp family group, we decided how to address you as Prime Minister, Prime Minister sir. Reema aunty called me daily asking if she could say this, or say that".

PM Modi assured them that they can address him as per their choice, and asked them to consider him a member of their family. Reema Jain, the daughter of Raj Kapoor told PM Modi, "Respected Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi", before the PM chimed in and said, "Cut" thereby lighting up the mood in the room.

Reema further mentioned, "In such a precious time, you have invited everyone here on Raj Kapoor's 100th birthday. We thank you. And I remembered a couple of lines from Papa's movie. I will not live, you will not live, but there will be memories. You have given so much love and respect to today's India. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given so much respect to the Kapoor family. It is a great honour for me to welcome you. And Raj Kapoor's 100th birthday is the golden age of India's film industry".

Elsewhere during the conversation, PM Modi was be seen talking to the Kapoor family about Raj Kapoor. He shared how Raj Kapoor was so ahead of his time as he established India as a 'soft power', when the word wasn't even coined, among the people across the globe with his stories.

He said, "In 1947, we had 'Neel Kamal', and now in 2047, as we approach a 100-year journey, it symbolises the immense contribution of such a vast nation. Today, in the diplomatic world, there's much talk about soft power.

Back then, the term 'soft power' didn't even exist, but Raj Kapoor had already established India's strength in this domain globally". December 14, 2024 marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest cinematic forces of India. He was born in Peshawar (present day Pakistan), and was the eldest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor.

Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student and Kashmir-based activist Shehla Rashid, on Wednesday, shared how her views on the Indian Army underwent a significant transformation after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

Speaking to IANS, Rashid, known for her vocal opposition to the Indian government and its policies, reflected on how her perspective of the Army had evolved over time, particularly after the controversial revocation of Article 370, which had granted Jammu and Kashmir special autonomous status.

"Earlier, I used to be a strong opponent of the Army, but my views have changed," Rashid said.

She further stated, "Before 2019, we would see the Army entering homes, interrogating people. This created a negative image of the Army among the local population, and I was among those who never questioned it. But after the abrogation of Article 370, we began to question, 'Where is all this starting from?' It became clear that much of the unrest in Kashmir was being fueled from across the border, with Pakistan sending terrorists into the region."

Rashid emphasised that the lack of a critical understanding of the broader geopolitical situation had contributed to the initial negative sentiment towards the Indian Army in Kashmir.

"We never asked, nor were we allowed to ask, about the root causes of this tension," she said, reflecting on the long-standing conflict and the role of external factors.

Drawing attention to the plight of local soldiers, Rashid acknowledged the risks and sacrifices made by the Indian Army in the volatile region.

"We have seen the death of many soldiers and even today, we witness brave young soldiers posted in difficult territories in J&K. The Army has had to enter homes and pick up people for interrogation, but this is not out of malice. It's a result of the larger geopolitical dynamics and the need to secure our borders from terrorism," she said.

She also pointed out that while the Indian Army is often associated with militarised actions, it is crucial to understand the context that leads to such measures.

Rashid, who has also written about her experiences and perceptions in her book, reiterated the importance of questioning the root causes of the Kashmir conflict, especially as it relates to Pakistan's role in promoting anti-India sentiments through terrorism.

"Pakistan has been promoting hatred against India by orchestrating terrorist activities in J&K," she added.

Shehla Rashid further reacted to the ongoing issue of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

"This is not just an issue for the Opposition to address," Rashid stated when asked about the silence of political leaders regarding the atrocities in Bangladesh.

"If you ask me specifically, I can't speak for the entire Opposition parties. However, the Gandhi family should definitely speak up on this issue, as it is part of their legacy."

She said it was former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who played a pivotal role in the liberation of Bangladesh, a moment that led to the martyrdom of many Indians and Bangladeshis.

"It is my expectation that the Gandhi family will take a stand on this matter," Rashid said, adding that the legacy of the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh should not be forgotten when discussing the current plight of Hindus in the region.
Indonesian telcos XL Axiata and Smartfren Telecom announced on Wednesday they have finally agreed to merge their operations in a deal valued at IDR104 trillion (US$6.5 billion) after years of rumours and negotiations.

Under the merger plan, Smartfren and its subsidiary SmartTel will be dissolved into XL Axiata. The resulting new company, XLSmart (full name: PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk), will be jointly controlled by parent companies Axiata Group and Sinar Mas, who will each hold a 34.8% stake.

The stated US$6.5 billion figure represents the combined pre-synergy enterprise value of the transaction.

Once the transaction closes, the shareholding equalisation will result in Axiata receiving up to US$400 million, plus an additional US$75 million at the end of the first year (subject to conditions).

The merger plan has been approved by the boards of XL Axiata, Smartfren, and SmartTel but remains subject to the usual regulatory and shareholder approvals, as well as customary closing conditions. Assuming that all goes smoothly, the merger is expected to be completed within the first half of 2025.

In a joint statement, Axiata Group and Sinar Mas said that XLSmart will create a new telecommunications powerhouse in Indonesia that will drive innovation, improve service quality, and enhance digital connectivity.

They also said the new company will be on firm financial ground. With a combined mobile subscriber base of approximately 94.5 million and a market share of 27%, XLSmart is expected to generate pro forma revenues of more than IDR 45.4 trillion and an EBITDA of over IDR 22.4 trillion.

Meanwhile, the merger will enable XLSmart to cut costs by integrating the two networks and optimising resources. Dian Siswarini, president director and CEO of XL Axiata, said XLSmart will be able to realise estimated annual run-rate pre-tax synergies between US$300 million and $400 million post-integration after the merger is completed.

By combining our resources, expertise, and market positions, we will enhance our competitive edge, drive innovation, and unlock new growth opportunities to build a better future together, she said.

Axiata Group CEO Vivek Sood said that XLSmart will have the scale, financial strength, and expertise to drive investments in digital infrastructure, expand service coverage, and spur innovation for customers while contributing to a healthier and more competitive market.

[The merger] will allow us to cater to the unique infrastructure demands of the Indonesian archipelago by providing a scalable platform that will enhance service coverage, product offering and quality of network experience, he said. Synergies derived from merger will improve shareholder value and will be partly reinvested in future growth opportunities.

Bringing these businesses together will build on our joint, long-term commitment to Indonesia, giving us the strength and scale to contribute to the countrys digital ambitions meaningfully, said Merza Fachys, president director of Smartfren.

The merger of XL Axiata and Smartfren has been a long time coming, with rumours of a merger going back as far as 2021. Axiata and Sinar Mas returned to the table to discuss a merger in September 2023, and asked telecoms regulator KemKominfo for permission to carry out the merger in May 2024.

Third-ranked XL Axiata and fourth-ranked Smartfren are the two smallest operators in Indonesia. While XLSmart wont overtake Telkom Indonesia's Telkomsel and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison in terms of subscriber numbers, it will likely be a stronger competitor.

In December 2023, Axiata Group announced plans to make XL Axiata a stronger player in Indonesias growing fixed broadband and fixed mobile convergence (FMC) sectors. Under that plan, Axiatas fixed broadband subsidiary Link Net agreed to transfer its business to XL Axiata and continue as a wholesale fibre company. The deal will make XL Axiata the second largest fixed broadband operator in Indonesia behind Telkomsels IndiHome.
Kollam, Dec 11 : The Kerala Police on Wednesday arrested two young men, both of whom are history sheeters, for robbing actor-turned-politician and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi's ancestral home located within the Eravipuram police station limits.

Kollam, Dec 11 (IANS) The Kerala Police on Wednesday arrested two young men, both of whom are history sheeters, for robbing actor-turned-politician and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopias ancestral home located within the Eravipuram police station limits.

The arrested people identified as Shiminas and Arun, who are in the age group of 18-20, have previous cases of robberies registered against them, an official from the Kerala Police said on Wednesday.

The two criminals fell into the Kerala Police net after a relative of Minister of State Suresh Gopi arrived at the house to check on it and found the doors of the outhouse left wide open.

Upon checking, the relative found that someone had stolen certain old materials kept in the outhouse of the ministeras home.

The relative of the minister alerted the police who rushed to the crime spot.

After a thorough probe of the area, the cops were able to zero down on the two miscreants after they were spotted in the footage of the CCTV in the neighbouring house.

The ancestoral home of the minister is locked and the relatives of Suresh Gopi at times visit it to ensure its safety.

During the interrogation of the two young men, police found out that they had earlier also decamped with old materials kept at the outhouse as they realised that no one lived there and they found it an easy target.

However, it is not clear yet if they realised that they were robbing the house of Minister of State, Suresh Gopi.

Their arrests have been formally recorded, a police officer said and added that the two criminals will be produced before a local magistrate soon.

Suresh Gopi and his family reside in the state capital city of Thiruvananthapuram and come down to the house rarely now.
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday briefed the parliamentary standing committee on the current state of India-Bangladesh ties after his visit to the neighbouring country on Monday, during which he had called on Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus, met with the country's Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain and also held Foreign Office Consultations with his counterpart Jashim Uddin.

According to sources, Misri told the gathering of about 21-22 MPs, who attended the detailed briefing, that the interim government in Dhaka has assured action on perpetrators behind attacks on Hindus in the country.

The Foreign Secretary also emphasised that, during his meetings, the Yunus administration didn't mention about review of any agreement.

MPs across party lines also enquired about Sheikh Hasina's status in India, sources revealed after the briefing.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who heads the Standing Committee on External Affairs, later told reporters that "a lot of questions were asked" during the "excellent" briefing.

"We had an excellent briefing on Bangladesh and the Foreign Secretary, as you know, has returned only yesterday from Bangladesh. Fresh off the trip, he was able to give us a very thorough briefing. I am not at liberty to go into details but all the important questions that you can imagine were asked by the MPs. There was a good 21-22 MP turnout and a lot of questions were asked. The Foreign Secretary answered comprehensively and candidly. We will in any case be reporting to Parliament on the subject because it's an official topic of the committee, which would require a report," said Tharoor.

The briefing took place on a day when a Bangladesh court once again rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu priest and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), who has been arrested and jailed by the local authorities on charges of sedition.

India has been reiterating that it hopes that the trial will be held in a "fair and transparent" manner as the arrested Hindus have legal rights that should be respected.

New Delhi has also urged the interim government's authorities in Dhaka to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression while highlighting that the arrest of Das follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh.

"The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned at 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," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month.

On Monday, during his visit to Dhaka, Misri had conveyed India's concerns, especially those related to the safety and welfare of minorities, during his meetings with the Muhammad Yunus, Touhid Hossain and Jashim Uddin.

"We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties. We expect, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction," Misri told reporters in Dhaka on December 9 following his meeting with Hossain.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : Maharashtra BJP Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday claimed that some of the legislators and MPs of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), who are upset over the current state of affairs in the opposition alliance in the state, are in touch with his party.

However, he did not divulge further details about what will be BJP's strategy to deal with them.

aSome MLAs and MPs from Maha Vikas Aghadi are upset and they are expressing their uneasiness to us and many are in touch with BJP. Those who are in touch with us are complaining that they are being ignored in their respective parties and they are not getting support from their parties. Their parties are not convening meetings to discuss the present ground-level situation post-elections in their constituencies," Bawankule said.

Bawankule's statement is crucial as cracks surfaced among MVA allies over boycotting the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and later skipping the election of Rahul Narwekar as the Assembly Speaker for the second time during the three-day special session that concluded on December 9 in Mumbai.

Besides, some MPs are not happy with the lack of a cohesive approach to the functioning of MVA or the INDIA bloc.

Regarding 'Operation Lotus' alleged by the Opposition to split their parties, Bawankule said that the investigation agencies are doing their work.

"We have nothing to do with them. The opposition's usual cry is that ED and CBI are being used against them. However, if anyone comes to our party under Devendra Fadnavis' leadership to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Developed India, he is welcome," he added.

Bawankuke accused the Opposition of running a fake narrative about EVMs to garner votes in the upcoming civic body elections in the state.

"Instead of blaming EVMs, the leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi should find out where they fell short in the elections," he remarked.

He further targeted the Opposition, saying that it is their agenda to run a campaign against EVMs after defeat in the recently held Assembly election.

"The Supreme Court has already dismissed objections regarding EVMs, rebuking them saying that EVMs are good when they win and not good when they lose. So even now, even if they go to court, nothing will happen. The opposition should accept the fact that the people have rejected them and reflect on their defeat. The MahaYuti fell short as a party in the Lok Sabha elections. But then MahaYuti went back to the people, worked at different levels, and organised again," he said.

According to Bawankule, the State Congress president Nana Patole has been kept on edge by the people as he won with a thin margin.

"Patole should find out the reasons why people turned their backs on him. The Congress leader filed a petition in the High Court to stop the Ladki Bahin Yojana which proved fatal for the Congress," he said.

On the issue of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Bawankule said that the Assembly Speaker will take the appropriate decision after considering the laws and rules.

"The Opposition should introspect why they did not get enough support to get the position of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly," he added.

Asked about the cabinet expansion in the state, Bawankuke said that the leaders of the three parties in the Opposition and BJP central leadership will discuss it and make a proper decision in coordination.

He further added that MahaYuti's priority is to fulfill the promises that were made to the people in the poll manifesto.

Bawankuke snubbed the party legislator Gopichand Padalkar for his personal attack against NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawar at a rally in Markadwadi in Solapur district held on Tuesday.

He said that Padalkar would be reprimanded, asking him to refrain from making such a personal attack against Sharad Pawar.
Jaipur, Dec 11 : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Wednesday that India is poised to become the world's most powerful economy by 2047, with Rajasthan leading the way as a prominent state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Union Minister Pradhan said, "Just as the Gulf countries serve as hubs of the global economy, Jaipur and Jaisalmer are destined to serve as economic centres of the world economy in the future, with this summit playing a pivotal role in shaping that vision."

Highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit of Rajasthan, he noted that entrepreneurs from the state have established themselves globally, with every Rajasthani achieving new milestones in economic and social domains.

The Union Minister announced that the Central government would support the establishment of advanced technology labs in Rajasthan's premiere educational institutions, such as IIT Jodhpur and the Central University.

He lauded the state's impressive 11 per cent growth rate, achieved despite its challenging geographical conditions, crediting the hard work and resilience of its people.

Addressing the concluding session of the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit on Wednesday, Minister Pradhan commended the state government for organising the summit in its first year under the leadership of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

He expressed confidence that Rajasthan is setting new benchmarks for development under CM Sharma's leadership.

The Union Minister emphasised that Rajasthan is not just a centre for capital creation but also a knowledge-based economy, boasting world-class institutions such as IIT, IIM, and AIIMS.

He underscored the need for the country to prioritise job creators over job seekers, adding that the entrepreneurial spirit is ingrained in the people of Rajasthan.

Minister Pradhan highlighted that the majority of MoUs signed at the summit pertained to the energy sector, calling it a significant step forward.

He noted that after the US and China, India ranks as one of the top energy consumers globally.

Rajasthan, he said, is leading in green and renewable energy initiatives, with investments in the sector set to provide resources, generate income, and improve infrastructure across the state.

He remarked that Rajasthan, once considered a "BIMARU" state, has transformed into a rising powerhouse, symbolised by its progress and development initiatives.
Thane : , Dec 11 (IANS) Maharashtra's ex-Director General of Police and former Commissioner of Police Sanjay Pandey appeared before the Thane Police to record his statement in connection with an extortion case lodged against him and others in August, here on Wednesday.

Thane (Maharashtra), Dec 11 (IANS) Maharashtraas ex-Director General of Police and former Commissioner of Police Sanjay Pandey appeared before the Thane Police to record his statement in connection with an extortion case lodged against him and others in August, here on Wednesday.

Based on a complaint by a Mumbai businessman Sanjay Punamiya, the Thane Nagar Police Station had registered the case which is being investigated by the Crime Branch Unit 5, based in Wagle Estate.

After recording his statement for around three hours, Pandey a" who had been granted protection against arrest till January 3, 2025, by the Bombay High Court in October 2024 a" was allowed to go.

Two FIRs were also registered against Punamiya during the former Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime when Pandey served in the two top posts in the state police.

Later, the cases against Punamiya were taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). After its probe, the central agency filed its closure report in the case in which another former senior Mumbai police officer was named as an accused.

As per Punamiyaas complaint, Pandey had allegedly misused his position by ordering an illegal probe against him in a 2016 case pending with the Thane Nagar Police Station, extorted money from him and other businessmen by threatening to implicate them in false cases, making fake documents, etc, between May 2021-June 2024.

Punamiya claimed that Pandey and others offered to let him off the hook if he gave statements implicating a couple of prominent (then) Opposition leaders in certain land deal cases, but the former flatly refused to oblige.

Others who were booked in the same case were a business rival of Punamiya and Mumbai realtor Shyamsundar Agrawal, a couple of his relatives Shubham Agrawal and Sharad Agrawal, lawyer Shekhar Jagtap and two cops -- Inspector Manoj Patil and former Assistant Commissioner of Police Sardar Patil.

The controversial Pandey, a 1986 IPS officer who retired as Mumbai CP in June 2022, has previously had a brush with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged money-laundering case which arrested him in a CBI case pertaining to his business entity, iSEC Services Pvt Ltd, for various alleged shady activities.
Aizawl, Dec 11 : In a bid to combat drug abuse and reduce the supply of narcotics in Mizoram, Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Wednesday inaugurated two new excise and narcotics stations at Saitual and Khawzawl, the newly-established district headquarters in the eastern part of the state, officials said.

A senior official said that setting up of two new excise and narcotics stations reflects the government's unwavering commitment to tackling the drug menace and providing effective remedies for drug-addicted youth.

He added that a majority of the drugs trafficked into Mizoram flow from neighboring Myanmar, posing a grave challenge to the state's efforts to address this crisis.

"After Chief Minister Lalduhoma assumed charge on December 8 last year, he has prioritised the drug menace issues. On the very day of his swearing-in, he visited a privately-run de-addiction centre before heading home, demonstrating his dedication to this cause," the official told the media.

He said under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the government has convened several consultation meetings with NGOs, churches, and relevant departments to devise strategies for both illicit drug supply and demand reduction.

As part of this comprehensive approach, amendments to existing laws are also underway to enhance enforcement mechanisms, the official added.

According to the official, the inauguration of these stations at Saitual and Khawzawl is a key move in strengthening the state's capacity to curb the supply of narcotics.

Additionally, a new Excise and Narcotics station at Hnahthial is set to be inaugurated on Thursday by Excise & Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar.

The government's holistic approach to addressing the drug-related threat underscores its commitment to protecting the youth and fostering a drug-free Mizoram, the official said, adding that these initiatives, combined with community collaboration, are expected to significantly contribute to achieving this goal.

Between November 20 and December 10, various drugs including heroin and methamphetamine tablets valued at around Rs 200 crore seized in Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam.

All the drugs were seized in the three northeastern states after being smuggled from Myanmar.

--IANS

sc/khz
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with young innovators at the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2024 on Wednesday via video conferencing.

In his address, the Prime Minister reiterated his concept of 'Sabka Prayas', a theme he has emphasised in his Red Fort speeches. He highlighted that Indiaas progress can accelerate through collective efforts, and todayas event stands as a testament to this.

"I have been eagerly waiting for the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon," the Prime Minister remarked, explaining that being among young innovators gives him an opportunity to learn and gain new insights. He expressed high expectations from the participants, noting that they offer a fresh perspective on Indiaas future, which leads to unique and innovative solutions.

Recalling his past participation in hackathons, the Prime Minister shared that he had never been disappointed with the results.

"You have only emboldened my belief," he said, pointing out that solutions from previous editions are already being implemented in various ministries.

The Prime Minister expressed enthusiasm to learn more about the participants' contributions as the interaction began.

PM Modi interacted with Sayeeda from the 'Big Brains Team' at NIT Srinagar, who developed a tool called 'Virtual Reality Friend' for children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities.

The AI-powered virtual reality solution helps children enhance their skills by simulating social interactions on smartphones and laptops, teaching them how to engage with others and learn right from wrong.

Sayeeda explained that the tool would support children in daily activities like language learning and socialising. The team, which includes members from diverse backgrounds, including one from Yemen, had consulted with autism centres and personal experiences to create the tool.

PM Modi praised the team for their innovative solution, emphasising that such tools, while locally developed, could have a global impact. He congratulated them for understanding the needs of Divyang children and highlighted that every child has the right to grow and prosper, with no one left behind.

The PM said that the future world would be driven by knowledge and innovation, with youth being India's hope and aspiration in these changing times. He asserted that the perspective, thinking, and energy of India's youth are unique, and their shared goal is to make India the most innovative, progressive, and prosperous nation.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the world recognises Indiaas strength as its youth and tech power, which was clearly visible at the Smart India Hackathon.

PM Modi expressed pride that the Smart India Hackathon had become an exceptional platform for Indian youth to excel globally. Since its inception, nearly 14 lakh students had participated, forming 2 lakh teams and addressing around 3,000 problems.

Over 6,400 institutions were involved, and hundreds of new startups had emerged from the hackathon. He noted the significant growth in ideas submitted, from 7,000 in 2017 to over 57,000 this year, showcasing the youth's commitment to solving Indiaas challenges.

The Prime Minister praised the Smart India Hackathon, emphasising that the future would be driven by knowledge, innovation, and youth.

He highlighted how previous hackathon solutions were now helping solve real-world problems, such as a cyclone measurement tool integrated with ISRO technology and a real-time blood management system aiding disaster response. He stressed that the hackathon fostered a sense of ownership among youth in addressing the nation's challenges.

PM Modi also underscored the importance of out-of-the-box thinking in solving Indiaas aspirations, stating that such initiatives exemplify India's new governance model of 'Sabka Prayas'.

He expressed confidence that India was on the right track to becoming a developed nation, with the government supporting youth innovation through initiatives like the National Education Policy, Atal Tinkering Labs, and Startup India.

The Prime Minister discussed emerging sectors like digital content and gaming, laying emphasis on their potential to create new career paths. He announced the "One Nation-One Subscription" scheme to provide access to international journals for Indian researchers and innovators, further empowering youth.

PM Modi also revealed plans for the "Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue" in January 2025, inviting youth to participate in nation-building.

Encouraging hackathon participants, PM Modi urged them to focus on solving both national and global challenges. He expressed his belief in the power of Indiaas innovators and wished them success in their endeavours.
Jakarta, Dec 11 : Indonesia will build a methanol plant worth 1.2 billion US dollars in Bojonegoro, East Java, as part of the country's efforts to achieve national energy sovereignty, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia on Wednesday.

"The construction of this methanol plant is crucial to support the mandatory biodiesel programme, as methanol is used in the biodiesel production process," Bahlil said during the National Investment Coordination Meeting in Jakarta.

Bahlil added that Indonesia needs around two million to 2.3 million tonnes of methanol, highlighting the importance of the methanol plant's downstream development, Xinhua news agency reported.

The ministry has requested support from the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory to ensure a gas supply of 90 MMBtu (million British thermal units) for the methanol plant.
Kolkata, Dec 11 : A Special PMLA Court here on Wednesday denied bail to former West Bengal Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mallick in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution case in the state, after accepting the arguments submitted by the counsel of Enforcement Directorate about the possibilities of the ex-minister influencing the investigation process if granted bail.

When the judge of the special court questioned how Mallick, who is not a minister anymore, would be able to influence the investigation process, the ED counsel claimed that even as he is not a "king" anymore, the former minister is surely still a "kingmaker".

"He is still politically influential. At times, kingmakers are more powerful than kings. They are so powerful... so if the bail is granted to the former minister there are chances of the investigation process being influenced," argued the ED counsel.

The ED counsel also claimed that most of the others arrested in the ration distribution case have named the former minister as the "main brain" behind the entire scam.

Finally, the judge of the special court accepted the argument of the ED counsel and denied bail. The next hearing in the matter will be on December 21.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the counsel of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) too described the former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee as the "kingmaker" in the multi-crore cash for school job case in the state.

The CBI counsel made this observation while opposing the bail plea by Chatterjee at Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty.

ED officials have recently started the process of arranging for questioning of some Dubai-based Indians to have a clearer picture of the proceeds in the multi-crore ration distribution case in West Bengal being invested in real estate there and the investing officers have already sought the assistance of the External Affairs Ministry in the matter.
Madrid, Dec 11 : Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hosted his Lebanese counterpart Najib Mikati on Wednesday in Madrid to address pressing issues in Lebanon and the Middle East.

The Spanish prime minister's office said that the meeting focused on Lebanon's challenging situation, just two weeks after the ceasefire agreement with Israel took effect and five days following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of solidifying the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel into a lasting peace, paving the way for full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. They stressed the need to end hostilities permanently to foster regional stability.

Sanchez reiterated Spain's support for Lebanon and assured Mikati that Spain would contribute to reconstruction efforts, crucial for enabling displaced individuals to return to their homes, Xinhua news agency reported.

The leaders also highlighted the need for an orderly political transition that preserves Syria's territorial integrity. They agreed that a stable and peaceful Syria is essential for the broader region's benefit, particularly for Lebanon.
The integration of AI presents as many challenges to operators as it does opportunities. We recently explored how telcos are ensuring an ethical approach to AI in terms of corporate governance, and how they are able to demonstrate this through assurance models and tools.

However, while responsible AI adoption is critical, it must not stymie the opportunities that the technology can enable. Given the rapid proliferation of AI, operators may feel overwhelmed by sense that they should be racing to adopt AI despite the optimal use cases not yet being apparent.

The GSMA Foundry was created as a focal point for innovation the industry, with the aim of pooling collective knowledge across numerous subjects, including monetization of 5G, non-terrestrial networks and their integration into terrestrial networks, and of course AI.

Getting Started with AI

Richard Cockle, Head of the GSMA Foundry, summarises its purpose by saying: I think the industry suffered in the past from having innovation happening all over the place, without it being able to come together and people all being able to learn across the industry as a whole.

The GSMA Foundry has made AI a core focus in order to demonstrate the role that the technology can play in the mobile space, and to support the practical application of these technologies within operators. The GSMA represents over 750 mobile operators, and while investments in AI advancements are underway across the sector, not all of these are from multinational corporates  smaller operators dont necessarily have the technology investment funds to develop their own AI solutions, so having the resources to invest in AI could risk becoming a new divide.

To address this, the GSMA Foundry has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at the operator community, including a library of over 50 case studies detailing applications for AI in the telco sector. While the process of gathering the proof points is still underway, Cockle noted that the case studies provide the operator community and the broader mobile ecosystem with information about how they can use AI technologies, covering everything from network efficiency, operations, customer experience and revenue growth.

Cockle noted that beyond cost savings, AI enables opportunities in the telco community both at multinational corporate level and local operator level. A lot of companies are struggling with the implementation of AI. They know they should be doing it, but what exactly they should be doing - and how they should be driving it into the technology elements of their business - has been a stumbling block. We're hoping that this can help the smaller operators and the smaller ecosystem players take that step.

Cost is of course an issue  AI can require a huge amount of upfront investment, and to assist with this, GSMA Foundry has partnered with IBM to launch the AI Starter Pack. Predominantly focused on Generative AI, this allows operators to receive support from IBM to get a feel for how they could use AI without any long-term commitment. Its about opening up a facility which enables the smaller MNOs to get started on smaller ecosystems - we currently have five MNOs that are going through that process notes Cockle.

Large models, smaller languages

Large language models (LLMs) are one of the more well-known AI applications, but most generative AI is being created in the seven most widespread languages globally. However, Cockle noted that initiatives are underway to develop LLMs in low resource languages  both to facilitate innovation in particular markets and to preserve the nuance of local languages. The Barcelona Supercomputer Centre has created a local LLM in Catalan using resources from the local government to create a unique voice capture method to use the voices of local people to populate the LLM, allowing it to pick up nuances in the dialect to provide a more authentic, personal model.

Cockle notes that the business applications of such technology are significant for operators. In the US or UK, international services are the norm as content defaults to English; however, operators in markets with lower resource languages have an opportunity to become content creators and content providers. For example, a localised music or TV service might prove more popular than its international rival, and this could be offered by the operator directly  a particularly appealing prospect for operators in emerging markets. Africa is the most linguistically diverse continent on earth, with nearly 2000 languages spoken  of which only around 75 are spoken by over one million speakers, with over 300 African languages classified as endangered. LLMs could represent a lifeline for preserving languages  particularly given that many are almost exclusively oral, with little written tradition.

Cockles team pitched the low resource language LLM concept to a strategy group and found significant interest among operators in emerging markets. In particular, Veon was keen to develop LLMs for its various operations. Alexey Sharavar, CEO of VEON subsidiary QazCode, discussed how Beeline Kazakhstan is creating a local Kazakh language model with the support of the Barcelona Supercomputer Centre. Around 70% of Kazakhstans population speaks Kazakh, and there is a growing interest in local languages, which motivated QazCode to create a local LLM, but within a year and a half they had achieved around two billion tokens  insufficient for this purpose.

Sharavar explained that the breakthrough moment came when the GSMA connected QazCode with the Barcelona Supercomputer Centre. This provided the necessary inspiration Catalan is a smaller language than Kazakh, and so by sharing their knowledge base QazCode was able to adjust how to train their models. This led to collaborations with the Kazakh government and major universities, with the 70B Kazakh language model now in the pilot phase  something which Sharavar described as being unbelievable just one year ago.

The new model has provided the opportunity to create. The beauty of Gen AI and LLMs is that you can create new products, and we see that major interest, it's in education, healthcare products, recommendation systems with Gen AI, said Sharavar. He noted that LLMs would enable new services for customers, for example teaching Kazakh language and history, which could incentivise government investment, but added that on the telco side, the opportunity to bring down customer service costs would be a key factor in driving adoption.

Cockle agreed that the capability to provide enterprise solutions in a local language would provide operators with the opportunity to position themselves as a supporter at national level, to try and keep low resource languages alive. That's why we're so excited about this - it's all about keeping those local societies alive, and also the local economy, because then you can have a local personalised service in a particular country that may not be served by that particular those seven languages that we're seeing in the mass market alone.
Patna Dec 11 : JD (U) MP Lovely Anand, on Wednesday, hit out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for making controversial remarks about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling them "inappropriate and disrespectful to women".

Anand argued that such statements demean not only the Chief Minister but also the dignity of women.

Anand's remarks reflect the broader outrage sparked by Lalu Yadav's statements, with her emphasising that the latter's words are unbecoming of someone who has held the position of Chief Minister of Bihar.

The JD(U) MP also asked Lalu Prasad Yadav to uphold the decorum that is expected from a senior political leader like him.

In addition, the JD(U) women's wing staged a protest march demanding an apology from Lalu Prasad Yadav.

They criticised the RJD supremo's language and stressed that such behaviour is inappropriate for a seasoned politician when addressing an elected Chief Minister.

This incident highlights heightened political tensions in Bihar, with JD(U) leaders rallying to defend Nitish Kumar's honour and denounce what they see as a breach of political etiquette by Lalu Prasad Yadav.

On the defeat of the JD(U) candidate in the Tirhut Graduate MLC by-election, Lovely Anand called for introspection and a collective review to identify the reasons behind the electoral defeat.

Despite this defeat, she emphasised the NDA's strong performance, noting its victories in the by-elections for four Assembly seats in Bihar.

When asked about her husband and strongman leader Anand Mohan Singh's remarks regarding Chirag Paswan, Lovely Anand clarified that those comments were made in a spirit of guidance and stressed that there is no discord within the NDA in Bihar.

Anand reaffirmed that the NDA alliance remains united and committed to its objectives, signaling confidence in its stability and collaborative approach.

These statements suggest that Lovely Anand is positioning the NDA as a unified and effective coalition, especially in contrast to perceived divisions within the opposition.
Patna, Dec 11 : JD-U MP Lovely Anand, on Wednesday, hit out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for making controversial remarks about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling them "inappropriate and disrespectful to women".

Anand argued that such statements demean not only the Chief Minister but also the dignity of women.

Anand's remarks reflect the broader outrage sparked by Lalu Yadav's statements, with her emphasising that the latter's words are unbecoming of someone who has held the position of Chief Minister of Bihar.

The JD-U MP also asked Lalu Prasad Yadav to uphold the decorum that is expected from a senior political leader like him.

In addition, the JD-U women's wing staged a protest march demanding an apology from Lalu Prasad Yadav.

They criticised the RJD supremo's language and stressed that such behaviour is inappropriate for a seasoned politician when addressing an elected Chief Minister.

This incident highlights heightened political tensions in Bihar, with JD-U leaders rallying to defend Nitish Kumar's honour and denounce what they see as a breach of political etiquette by Lalu Prasad Yadav.

On the defeat of the JD-U candidate in the Tirhut Graduate MLC by-election, Lovely Anand called for introspection and a collective review to identify the reasons behind the electoral defeat.

Despite this defeat, she emphasised the NDA's strong performance, noting its victories in the by-elections for four Assembly seats in Bihar.

When asked about her husband and strongman leader Anand Mohan Singh's remarks regarding Chirag Paswan, Lovely Anand clarified that those comments were made in a spirit of guidance and stressed that there is no discord within the NDA in Bihar.

Anand reaffirmed that the NDA alliance remains united and committed to its objectives, signaling confidence in its stability and collaborative approach.

These statements suggest that Lovely Anand is positioning the NDA as a unified and effective coalition, especially in contrast to perceived divisions within the opposition.
Mumbai, Dec 11 : PM Modi met with the Kapoor family in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 10, to celebrate Raj Kapoor's cinematic legacy on the occasion of his centenary.

Mumbai, Dec 11(IANS) PM Modi met with the Kapoor family in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 10, to celebrate Raj Kapooras cinematic legacy on the occasion of his centenary.

Some special moments from this meeting have been released by PMO. In the video PM Modi can be seen talking to Kapoor family about Raj Kapoor and his immense contribution to Indian cinema.

However, the most hilarious moment of the meeting came when PM Modi humorously said 'Cut!' as Reema Jain( Raj Kapooras daughter) started speaking to him.

It all began when Reema Jain started her conversation with PM Modi and appeared to struggle with her words while addressing him. As she tried to phrase her sentence, starting with 'Aadarniye Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi Ji,' PM Modi instantly interjected with 'Cut!' leaving everyone in splits.

The Prime Minister also asked the Kapoor family to make a movie, especially catering to Central Asia, about Raj Kapoor who is still in peopleas mind after so many years. He added that we must put in efforts to make it reach to the new generations in Central Asia and urged the family to create a movie which would act as a link.

Acknowledging the love and fame received from across the globe, Ms. Reema Kapoor said that Shri Raj Kapoor can be called as aCultural Ambassadora and she lauded the Prime Minister for being the aGlobal Ambassadora of India and the entire Kapoor family was proud of the Prime Minister.

Shri Modi emphasized that the prestige of the country had risen to great heights today and cited Yoga as an example which is discussed across the globe. He further added that he discussed Yoga and its importance with the leaders of other nations during their meet.

a"IANS

ayk/
Patna, Dec 11 : The Patna Metro Rail Project is advancing at a fast pace with the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government aiming to inaugurate the service for a five-station priority corridor by August 15 next year, sources said.

Patna, Dec 11 (IANS) The Patna Metro Rail Project is advancing at a fast pace with the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government aiming to inaugurate the service for a five-station priority corridor by August 15 next year, sources said.

This timeline aligns strategically with the Bihar Assembly elections, slated for the end of 2025, as the government seeks to showcase the metro as a significant achievement.

The state government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is prioritising infrastructure projects to strengthen its position ahead of the Assembly elections.

A high-level meeting chaired by Abhay Kumar Singh, Managing Director of Patna Metro and Secretary of the State Urban Development and Housing Department, reviewed the ongoing work, reaffirming the target to start operations on the Malahi Pakri to ISBT Corridor by August 15, 2025.

"We have directed officials to finish the remaining tasks promptly. The construction work is in full swing and we are expecting to complete the Metro project by August 15 next year," Singh said.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is the company responsible for the construction project of Patna Metro.

A six-km stretch connecting Malahi Pakri, Khemnichak, Bhootnath, Zero Mile, and ISBT.

Construction work is proceeding at an accelerated pace to meet the set deadline of August 15 next year.

Singh emphasised the department's commitment to meeting the timeline.

The Patna Metro project is steadily progressing with significant developments in its priority corridor, which is part of a broader network corridor.

The Patna Metro comprises two main corridors -- East-West Corridor and North-South Corridor -- having a combined length of nearly 31 km with a total of 24 stations.

Nitin Naveen, Bihar's Urban Development Minister, visited the ISBT Metro Rail Depot on Wednesday to assess progress.

The Minister inspected the trial track and urged officials to maintain the project schedule, stressing its importance for urban mobility and public expectations.

This dual-corridor metro system is poised to significantly improve connectivity in Patna, with the priority corridor serving as a crucial step toward operationalising the project before the state elections.
Kolkata, Dec 11 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, announced that the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple at Digha, on the lines of the iconic Puri Jagannath Temple, will be done in April next year on Akshaya Tritiya (April 30).

During a visit to the site, the Chief Minister said that she promised to construct a Jagannath Temple near the sea beaches of Digha. "The work has been completed after three years. The inauguration will be done on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya next year," the Chief Minister said.

However, the Chief Minister was not willing to draw any comparison of the new temple with the iconic one at Puri. "The one at Puri was built by the royal family. This one is totally a state government initiative," the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari claimed that as per the documents of the state government, the name of the under-construction temple at Digha is Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre and the implementing agency is the state-run Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO).

"Now the Indian Constitution does not allow government investment behind any religious project. This is an unconstitutional effort by the state government and we are against such efforts. The Puri temple will always remain in the hearts of millions of traditional Hindus as one of the four Dhams," the Leader of the Opposition said.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister had clarified that since she is against any kind of political interference in the matter of the temple at Digha, she has refrained from being a member of the trustee board of the temple.

"Whatever I have done has been as a volunteer. Now the affairs will be managed by the trustee board members," the Chief Minister said.
Guwahati, Dec 11 : The Assam Police foiled an attempt of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, and two citizens of the neighbouring country were apprehended in this connection, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The two apprehended persons were later pushed back to Bangladesh by the security personnel, Sarma said on Wednesday.

Taking to X, the Chief Minister wrote, "In yet another successful operation of nabbing illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, two Bangladeshis were apprehended near the International border and pushed back across the border by @assampolice."

The persons were identified as Simu Begum and Md. Ujjal.

Sarma also applauded the efforts of security forces and he posted, "Good job team!"

The security and vigilance along the international border with Bangladesh was heightened following the unrest in the neighbouring country.

Sarma earlier asserted that although some of the Bangladeshi infiltrators managed to get Aadhaar cards, they can not enroll themselves in the voter list.

He said: "There is no chance that people cross illegally the international border from Bangladesh and get themselves enrolled in the voter list in Assam because we have caught many people who illegally entered Indian territory and they were pushed back within a few hours. Most of the infiltrators were arrested in the morning around 5 a.m. and before 9 a.m. in the morning, they were pushed back to the neighbouring country. In two or three hours, they can not register themselves in the voter list."

However, the Chief Minister sees no harm to remain double vigilant in this matter.

"We have decided to take a slew of measures against the detection of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh because there might have been possibilities that a few infiltrators could not be arrested by the security personnel," he added.

The Chief Minister asserted that people from Bangladesh come to India as poverty has climbed up in the neighbouring country after the recent unrest following the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led government there.

He also claimed that contrary to conventional apprehension, mainly people who belong to Muslim community have been trying to cross the border and enter India illegally for the sake of jobs.
Hyderabad, Dec 11 : Amid the bitter dispute in the family of veteran Tollywood actor M. Mohan Babu, his actor sons Manchu Vishnu and Manchu Manoj appeared before Rachakonda Police Commissioner on Wednesday in response to the notice served on them while Telangana High Court granted relief to Mohan Babu till December 24.

The brothers appeared separately before Police Commissioner Sudheer Babu and gave an undertaking that they would not do anything which may lead to violence or precipitate the matter.

The Commissioner asked Vishnu not to deploy bouncers to create a tense situation. The actor was warned that legal action would be taken if the incidents of Tuesday were repeated.

Vishnu, who returned from abroad on Tuesday, briefed the top cop about the happening at the family house in Jalpally.

Earlier, Manoj, who is locked in a bitter fight with his father, appeared before the Commissioner and gave him a bond stating he would not create any trouble.

Mohan Babu, who was admitted to a hospital after the clash at the house, did not appear before the Commissioner.

He approached Telangana High Court challenging the notice issued by the Commissioner.

The court exempted him from appearance till December 24. Police Commissioner Sudheer Babu, who is also the Additional District Collector, had summoned Mohan Babu and his sons for a hearing about the cases booked against them at the incidents happened at their family house in Jalpally.

They were directed to appear in person on Wednesday to show cause as to why they should not be required to enter into a bond of Rs 1 lakh that they will keep peace for the term of one year.

The notices served to Mohan Babu, Manchu Vishnu and Manchu Manoj mention that they have been booked under BNS sections 329 (4) (criminal trespass and house trespass) and 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) r/w 3 (5).

Mohan Babu remained admitted in a hospital in Gachibowli. The 78-year-old, who is also a former Member of Parliament, was mentally upset and was brought to hospital with high blood pressure and anxiety.

Doctors also found a blunt injury under his eye. Manoj broke the gate to enter the premises after an argument with bouncers deployed there. After he barged into the house he was allegedly roughed up. Manoj had earlier lodged a complaint with the police that about 10 persons attacked him at the residence on Sunday.

The young actor reiterated that his fight was not for property as he was not relying on the family.

He claimed that he was fighting for truth. Stating that his father is like a god for him, Manoj alleged that his brother Manchu Vishnu and his associate Vinay trapped his father and painted him as an enemy.

Meanwhile, police arrested Vinay, who was named by Manoj in his complaint. Police were on the lookout for other accused in the case.
New Delhi/Imphal, Dec 11 : Senior Congress leaders from Manipur on Wednesday met AICC General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi during which they held discussions with her on the ethnic strife in the northeastern state and sought her support to restore peace.

The Manipur Congress delegation led by former three-term Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh and state Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh met Priyanka Gandhi at 10 Janpath and apprised her about the prevailing situation in Manipur.

Congress sources in Imphal said that the party leaders from Manipur were given a patience hearing of half an hour by Priyanka Gandhi.

The Congress leaders from the state apprised AICC General Secretary on the ongoing turmoil in the state for the last 19 months.

The delegation also sought help from her for an immediate restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.

"The Congress leaders also thanked the Nehru-Gandhi family, particularly Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for consistently standing with the people of Manipur at the hour of crisis," the sources said.

The Congress led INDIA bloc parties from Manipur on December 9 held a sit-in protest in Delhi demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the violence-ravaged state and resolve the 19-month-long ethnic hostilities at the earliest.

The leaders of the 10-party INDIA bloc while addressing the gathering at Jantar Mantar in the national capital claimed that both the Centre and the state government failed to resolve the ethnic crisis even as the lives of the people were devastated due to the uninterrupted violence.

The 10-party INDIA bloc submitted a letter to the Prime Ministeras Office (PMO) on December 6, requesting PM Modi to visit Manipur to resolve the 19-month-long ethnic conflict.

Meanwhile, around 20 civil society organisations and student bodies from Imphal Valley have announced plans to hold a rally in Delhi on December 22.
Jaipur, Dec 11 : An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) died while several people including four policemen were injured after a rashly driven car collided with the convoy of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in Jaipur on Wednesday.

The accident took place at the Akshaya Patra intersection of Jagatpura. The policemen injured in the accident are being treated in a hospital.

According to officials, the convoy left the Chie Ministeras residence at 3 p.m. as the CM was going to participate in the inauguration programme of Sohan Singh Smriti Skill Development Center by Laghu Udyog Bharti.

Eyewitnesses said that a rashly driven taxi came from the wrong side when the CM's convoy was passing from there. When ASI Surendra Singh posted tried to stop the taxi, the driver hit it. Soon after, the taxi collided with the vehicles of the CM's convoy.

Meanwhile, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma condoled the death of ASI Singh and said, "The death of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shri Surendra Ji and injuries to other citizens in an unfortunate vehicle accident in Jaipur is extremely sad."

"In this hour of immense grief, our sensitive government stands with the family of the deceased and the injured. After this accident, the concerned officials have been directed to ensure proper medical treatment of the injured. My condolences are with the bereaved family. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to provide complete recovery to the injured citizens as soon as possible," he added.

Earlier, it was reported that seven people were injured in the accident involving the convoy of Rajasthan Chief Minister.

The incident took place when a car travelling on the opposite side collided with two vehicles in the Chief Minister's convoy. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) officials told IANS that the rashly driven car coming from the opposite side collided with a Bolero which was part of the Chief Minister's convoy. It slightly hit another vehicle too, they added.

Following the accident, CM Sharma immediately moved out of his vehicle to assist the injured. The Chief Minister personally ensured that the injured persons were taken to nearby hospitals.
Bengaluru, Dec 11 : Taking suo-moto cognizance of violence during the stir by the Panchamasali Lingayats to demanding reservation, in Karnataka's Belagavi, the police registered FIRs against protesters on Wednesday.

Hirebagewadi Police in Belagavi have registered the FIR in this regard under sections 115 (2), 109 (1), 118 (2), 117 (2), 352, 351 (2), 132, 121, 223, 324, 189, 189 (3), 191 (2) and 190 of the BNS Act for obstructing the duty of the police and assaulting the police personnel.

The police have also charged the protestors with attempting to murder policemen.

Meanwhile, Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peeth seer Basavaraj Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami, who led the protest, condemned the police action and gave a call for the state wide rasta roko protest across the state on Thursday (December 12).

The seer alleged that police in the guise of civilians started pelting stones on the police to target the protestors.

The police acted with vengeance in attacking and assaulting the Panchamasali community members, including lawyers and women.

The seer also urged the community MLAs and MLCs to raise the issue in the session on Thursday.

He charged that by permitting the police to assault community members, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has proved that he is anti-Lingayat.

When asked about the submission by the Karnataka Backward Caste Federation urging the CM Siddaramaiah not to give reservation for Panchamasali Lingayats at any cost, the seer stated that they have the right to make a submission.

"The government must act as per the Constitution. The Constitution gives us the right to demand reservation," he stated.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said the violence during the Panchamasali community's protest in Belagavi on Tuesday and actions of officials is condemnable.

He said that the police officers were arrogant and high-handed.

He demanded that officers involved in the lathi charge be suspended immediately.

He also demanded the Chief Minister to engage with leaders and elders of the Panchamasali community in discussions to resolve the issue amicably and sincerely.

Bommai further urged the state government to strongly defend the legal validity of their reservation order in the Supreme Court and take all necessary measures to fully implement the new reservation policy the previous BJP government had introduced.

In a series of social media posts, Bommai stated that the Panchamasali community is the largest group within the Lingayat sect. The community's contribution to the state as a farming community is significant as well as its historical significance.

He recalled that in 2011-12, the BJP government under B.S. Yediyurappa worked to include the Panchamasali community in the backward classes list. In 2016, the Panchamasali community had appealed to the Backward Classes Commission, chaired by Kantharaj, to include them in Category 2A.
Two notable fintech deals have recently been announced in the United Arab Emirates. The latest involves payments services company Worldline, which has partnered with Telr, a Dubai-based payment gateway aggregator and provider, to launch an e-commerce payments solution for the rapidly expanding UAE market.

The solution, we are told, will simplify online payments and optimise transactions  thus, the partners say, enabling global online businesses to take full advantage of the opportunities available in this market.

As the partners explain, over the past 20 years, the UAE has become a global hub for investment and tourism, thanks to its strategic location and low-tax environment. E-commerce has seen rapid growth and over 71% of e-commerce payments are made via cards and wallets.

The joint solution will provide businesses with access to local and international cards and mobile payments, together with localised checkout processes. It will also offer higher approval rates and optimised costs with local acquiring, local remittance in UAE Dirhams, or cross-border remittance in more than 20 major currencies. Other bonuses include enabling recurring payments, reduced fraud and chargebacks. The solution is fully compliant with local UAE regulations.

Worldline says it will launch the UAE solution as part of its strategy to help businesses tap into high-growth markets such as Turkey, South Korea and Thailand.

This deal comes hard on the heels of another agreement, announced late last week, in which financial technology company MoneyGram International announced a strategic partnership with Comera Pay, the all-inclusive suite of digital payment services in the UAE. Comera Pay is integrated in the Comera app, a voice calling and messaging app in the region that has over eight million active users.

This collaboration will enable Comera Pay customers to seamlessly send cross-border remittances from the UAE to over 200 countries and territories around the world via the MoneyGram global network.
Imphal, Dec 11 : The Manipur unit of BJP on Wednesday accused the opposition Congress of maintaining an alleged alliance with Kuki separatist outfits.

Imphal, Dec 11 (IANS) The Manipur unit of BJP on Wednesday accused the opposition Congress of maintaining an alleged alliance with Kuki separatist outfits.

BJP Manipur unit General Secretary, K. Sharatkumar in support of his claim referred a letter by the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha.

According to the BJP leader the November 25 letter urged the Congress to introduce a "Kuki Political Solution Bill" in Parliament, seeking a separate Union Territory for Kuki tribals dominated areas.

Sharatkumar claimed this appeal was evidently clear a "pact" between Kuki organisations and the Congress.

He alleged that an election directive was issued by Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) during the Lok Sabha elections in the state in April 2024 purportedly instructed Kuki tribal voters to support Congress candidates, promising in return the party's backing for a separate Kuki administration, exemption from the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and other political assurances.

Sharatkumar also alleged that Kuki separatist groups, including those under Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements, had coordinated with the Congress party to manipulate the election process.

He cited the "deployment of cadres at polling booths and threats of punitive action against non-compliant voters as examples of electoral interference".

"Congress had a tacit alliance with Kuki groups to push for policies favoring Kuki dominance in Manipur, including controversial proposals like excluding Chin-Zomi-Mizo tribes from Scheduled Tribe recognition while protecting Kuki classifications," the BJP leader stated.

Sharatkumar also alleged that these actions facilitated unchecked immigration and population dominance by illegal Kuki immigrants, threatening Manipur's social and political fabric besides upsetting demography.

The BJP General Secretary claimed the ongoing violence in Manipur, which broke out in May last year was a premeditated effort orchestrated by Kuki leaders, including Myanmar-born P.S Haokip, who is also the President of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO).

Sharatkumar also referred to a viral video of Kuki National Army (KNA) cadres displaying sophisticated weaponry as evidence of foreign involvement and the growing strength of Kuki insurgency networks.

The BJP leader explained about the threat posed by Kuki separatism and alleged narco-terrorism.

He equated the fight against Kuki militancy with India's battle against other forms of terrorism, urging united action to protect the state's integrity and national security.

The BJP leader alleged that Kuki outfits, including those observing the Suspension of Operations (SoO) deal, had worked together with the Congress to manipulate the election process.

Meanwhile, when Congress was in power in Manipur SoO agreement was signed with United Peoples' Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) outfits.

The UPF and KNO, which are a conglomerate of 23 militant outfits, signed the SoO with the government on August 22, 2008 and then there are 2,266 cadres who are supposed to stay in different designated camps in Manipur.
Ghaziabad, Dec 11 : As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the 'Smart India Hackathon 2024' organised across the country through video conferencing, students from the KIET Group of Institutions in Ghaziabad also participated in this hackathon.

After PM Modi's address, students were filled with enthusiasm regarding this hackathon event and showcasing innovation and putting use of their technical knowledge and skills.

Preeti Bajaj, Director General, KIET Group of Institutions, said, "Today's generation is called Gen Z. This hackathon is a great medium to solve the biggest problems of the country through innovation. Prime Minister Modi has been giving this opportunity for the last eight years. This hackathon event is the world's biggest platform to solve your everyday life problems. Children who are just 17 or 18 years old are already learning how to solve the biggest problems in the country. Many success stories have come up as a result of this event. As of now, 51 ministries have given their respective statements. These ministries are increasing every year.

"It's a success story that kids are involved," Bajaj added.

Rishabh Bhingade, a student from the engineering college located in Ghaziabad, said, "We got a lot of inspiration after listening to PM Modi. From this hackathon, we have been inspired that our innovation should benefit the entire country. Our imagination is that whatever innovation we do, it will help the country."

Deepika Gaikwad, another student from the institute, said, "This speech of the Prime Minister was quite inspiring. After this hackathon, we will work on the projects given to us by the college. With this effort, we will become a part of India's growth story."

Another student Prathamesh Tiwari said, "We are doing innovative work on carbon dioxide. Among the many gases present in the atmosphere, we are especially taking carbon dioxide, which is polluting our environment a lot. We have just seen that pollution has increased considerably in Delhi. The amount of carbon dioxide in the air has increased a lot. We are creating such a system that we will take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it somewhere else."

Manoj Goyal, Joint Director, KIET Group of Institutions, said, "Smart India Hackathon is the biggest hackathon in the entire country. This is quite a big and good platform for the youth. Through this medium, they can showcase their innovative ideas. The government has done a lot of work to make this event. Today more than 50,000 children from across the country have participated in this hackathon. Around 13 nodal centres have been created for this hackathon event. Around 50,000 children have to solve the problems given by the industry in three days which will give them a lot of self-confidence. This is a live learning platform for children across the country."

--IANS

psm/gkt-khz
Patna, Dec 12 : Security measures at the Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bodh Gaya, have been heightened after the temple's management received a threatening letter to blow it up, an official said on Wednesday.

The temple management promptly alerted Gaya's district police about the threat.

Manoj Kumar Singh, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Bodh Gaya Police Station, confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are underway to determine the origin of the letter.

"The Mahabodhi management received the threat two days ago and immediately informed the district police. We are actively working to trace the senderas location," Singh told IANS.

In response to the threat, security at the temple premises has been significantly increased. Sources revealed that the threatening letter was allegedly issued in the name of ISIS.

However, senior police officials are refraining from making public statements regarding the case as investigations are ongoing.

Additionally, sources have suggested that a dreaded gangster of Jharkhand named Prince Khan, from the Dhanbad district in Jharkhand, might have been involved in the incident. Further details are awaited as the police continue their investigation.

The investigation into the threat against the Mahabodhi Temple has intensified as a police team from Bodh Gaya travelled to Dhanbad, Jharkhand, on Tuesday. The team continued its inquiry on Wednesday, visiting the residence of Prince Khan in Bank More, Wasepur, Dhanbad.

According to preliminary findings, Prince Khan is reportedly hiding in Dubai, prompting authorities to investigate whether he is directly responsible for the threatening letter or if someone else is involved.

Police from both Bihar and Jharkhand are collaborating to uncover the truth, with central agencies also becoming vigilant due to the possible involvement of ISIS.

The seriousness of the threat is underscored by the templeas history of being targeted. The Mahabodhi Temple has faced two prior attacks in 2013 and 2018. Thanks to robust security arrangements, both incidents were averted without major consequences. However, the UNESCO World Heritage Site remains a potential target, raising concerns over its security.

The ongoing investigation aims to identify and apprehend those responsible for the threat while ensuring the safety of the temple and its visitors.
Patna, Dec 12 : The family of AI engineer Atul Subhash, who allegedly committed suicide under mysterious circumstances in Bangaluru, returned with ashes to Patna on Wednesday evening and made an emotional appeal for justice.

Atul's mother fainted while speaking to the media at the Patna airport.

"My son was mentally harassed and tortured. I want justice for him," she said, demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her son's death.

Atul's brother, Vikas Kumar, highlighted a poignant detail from a suicide note left by the deceased, which read, "Justice was not delivered to me."

Expressing his frustration, Vikas remarked, "My brother detailed how men are being harassed under the guise of women's law. He also accused a 'judge,' regarded as the symbol of justice, of allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. In the note, he even stated that if justice is not served, his ashes should be thrown into the gutter in front of the court."

The family's statements have intensified calls for accountability and fairness in addressing Atul's case, as they urge authorities to uncover the truth behind his alleged suicide and take appropriate action against any wrongdoing.

Atul Subhash's case has taken a legal turn, with the Marathahalli Police in Bangalore registering an FIR based on a complaint filed by his brother, Vikas Kumar. The FIR accuses four individuals, including Atul's wife, under Section 108 and Section 3(5) of the BNS. Atul's mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and his wife's uncle have also been named in the case. The Marathahalli Police are actively investigating the allegations.

Atul's cousin, Bajrang Prasad Agarwal, shared insights into his family background, saying, "Atul was my uncle's son. His house is in Pusa Road Main Bazaar, Samastipur. He completed his education here and was working in Bangalore. We were aware that he was being harassed by his in-laws, but we had no idea the situation had escalated to the point where he would take such an extreme step."

He added that Atul had spoken to his parents on the day of the incident. Atul had been married since 2019, but according to the family, his relationship with his in-laws was fraught with difficulties that they believe contributed to his distress.

The case has prompted calls for a comprehensive investigation to ensure justice is served.
Bhopal, Dec 12 : Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP) members held a protest at a missionary school in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind following a controversy that erupted over not allowing a student to wear a 'kalawa' (sacred thread) and 'tilak'.

On Wednesday noon, around 25-30 ABVP members along with parents of some students shouting religious slogans, barged into the St. Michael's school premises.

Protesters chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' and recited Hanuman Chalisa sitting in the school's courtyard.

ABVP members alleged that a sixth-class girl student was forced to return to his house as she had come to school wearing 'kalawa' and had applied 'tilak' on her forehead.

Pankaj Sharma, father of the student, talking to media persons claimed that his daughter was sent back home from school because she was wearing 'kalawa' and 'tilak'.

According to Sharma, the incident had occurred on December 5.

"Upon knowing about the incident, when I visited the school I was humiliated by the principal (father of the school) and was forced to leave the premises," Sharma alleged.

However, the principal of St. Michael's school denied the allegation, claiming that no such incident had occurred.

Instead, the school principal claimed that notices were issued to the parents of several students regarding pending fees.

"More than 90 per cent of teachers in this school are from the Hindu community. Yes, it is a fact that the school management issued notices to some parents about deposit fees. Notices were issued to the parents of several students, whose fees have been pending," the school principal said.

He further claimed that the student's father (Pankaj Sharma) visited his office on December 6.

"He didn't pay fees for the past four years, and when we asked to deposit the dues, he left the school threatening that he would tell us. The allegation that we have denied any student because of any other matter is completely false," the school principal added.

Upon receiving a complaint from the school, the police team along with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate reached the spot during evening hours and initiated an investigation.

Mohanlal Sharma, a revenue officer, who is leading the investigation, said, "Upon receiving a complaint on the matter, we inspected school premises. We have taken DVR of CCTV cameras under our possession and further investigation is underway," Sharma added.
Learn how education and conservation are helping to preserve the past for the future.

JUPITER, Fla., Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- An upcoming segment of Advancements with Ted Danson will focus on archaeological conservation efforts taking place throughout the United States.

In this segment, audiences will learn about The Archaeological Conservancy (the Conservancy)  a national, non-profit organization that identifies, acquires, and preserves significant archaeological sites throughout the United States. Advancements will explore the Conservancy's history, which began in 1980 and has since preserved more than 600 sites across the country.

Viewers will hear about the preservation process  which starts with acquisition and continues through to the management and maintenance of each site  and will see examples of these sites, which range in age from the earliest habitation sites in North America to a 19th-century frontier army post.

Advancements will travel to Mesa Prieta in New Mexico to see where the past meets the future. The show will also share how the Conservancy collaborates with partners and is exploring new technologies in the field of conservation archaeology.

"The field of archaeological preservation is intertwined with cultural heritage. The Archaeological Conservancy is building a national system of archaeological preserves to ensure the survival of our irreplaceable cultural heritage," said Anne Lowe, President & CEO of The Archaeological Conservancy.

In addition, the segment will explore how the preservation work ensures that future generations will be able to continue to learn from our country's shared cultural heritage.

"We look forward to educating about the importance of preserving our shared cultural heritage as we explore how The Archaeological Conservancy continues its preservation efforts, so we may continue sharing our past with future generations," said Andrew Stuhl, senior producer for the Advancements series.

About The Archaeological Conservancy:

The Archaeological Conservancy, established in 1980, is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving the best of our nation's remaining archaeological sites. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Conservancy also operates regional offices in Mississippi, Maryland, Minnesota, and Nevada. The Conservancy has preserved more than 600 sites across the nation.

For more information, visit: http://www.thearchcons.org.

About Advancements:

Advancements is an information-based educational television series that explores recent developments taking place across several industries and economies. With a focus on some of the major innovations responsible for global progress today, the award-winning series goes behind-the-scenes to discover and share how technology and innovation continue to drive the world forward.

Advancements shines a light on several important issues and topics, while featuring an array of cutting-edge improvements, state-of-the-art technologies, and groundbreaking environmental and sustainable solutions. Its team of writers, directors, and producers remain dedicated to consistently producing commercial-free, educational programming for viewers and networks.

For more information, please visit http://www.AdvancementsTV.com or call 866-496-4065.

Media Contact

Sarah McBrayer, Advancements, 866-496-4065, [email protected], www.Advancementstv.com

SOURCE Advancements
This seasons holiday hauls include a picture book following a fowls pursuit of love, a middle grade historical fiction novel set in the final months of WWII, a YA fantasy romance between a vampire and vampire hunter, and more.

Picture Books and Early Readers

Bert the Bowerbird: The Small Bird with a Big Heart

Julia Donaldson, illus. by Catherine Rayner. Boxer, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-9158-0184-5. Ages 36. Bowerbird Bert has carefully constructed a lovely arching twiggy tower in hopes of attracting a mate, at the start of this quirky picture book from the author of The Gruffalo. Its a classic lesson on the rewards of seeking someone who loves one for who one is. The book received a starred review from PW.

Love Is Here with You: A Lullaby of Blessings

Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illus. by Nabi H. Ali. Candlewick, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5362-2827-4. Ages 35. As dusk falls at the start of this bedtime picture book, a family of Indian heritage surrounds a wide-eyed infant and calls upon major deities of the Hindu pantheon to bless the child. The book received a starred review from PW.

Millie Magnus Wont Be Bullied

Brittany Mazique, illus. by Ebony Glenn. Putnam, $16.99 (128p) ISBN 978-0-593-61877-6; $6.99 paper ISBN 978-0-593-61878-3. Ages 58. Vivacious third grader Millie must work with her mothers assistant and her school bully in this series kickoff.

Thank You, Everything

Icinori, trans. from the French by Emilie Robert Wong. Enchanted Lion, $29.95 (176p) ISBN 978-1-59270-423-1. Ages 48. A silhouetted protagonist wakes, and travels far and wide to show appreciation. The book received a starred review from PW.

Work: Interviews with People Doing Jobs They Love

Shaina Feinberg, illus. by Julia Rothman. Candlewick, $18.99 (64p) ISBN 978-1-5362-3266-0. Ages 69. This global and heartfelt survey communicates that every job has its particularand peculiardemands and rewards. The book received a starred review from PW.

Middle Grade

Mendel the Mess-Up

Terry LaBan. Holiday House, $22.99 (208p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5356-6; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-0-8234-5680-2. Ages 812. When murderous Cossacks invade Lintvint, Mendel becomes the last line of defense. But can a mess-up like Mendel save the day? See our q&a with LaBan. The book received a starred review from PW.

Swimming with Spies

Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger. Scholastic Press, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-33901-246-9. Ages 812. Talented artist and aspiring scientist Sofiya begins learning about the history of her beloved sea mammals and how they once served as military marine systemsi.e., spiesunder the Soviet regime. The book received a starred review from PW.

Wolves at the Door

Steve Watkins. Scholastic Press, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-5461-0998-3. Ages 812. Tween Asta, her younger sister Pieta, and their mother flee their East Prussian home of Konigsberg in the final months of WWII, before Konigsberg is raided by Soviet forces. The book received a starred review from PW.

Young Adult

A Cruel Thirst

Angela Montoya. Joy Revolution, $19.99 (432p) ISBN 978-0-59364-337-2. Ages 12 and up. Vampiro hunter Carolina Fuentes and recently turned vampire Lalo Villalobos embark on a journey to find and strike at the origins of vampirism, all while fighting their deepand potentially fatalattraction.

Dust

Alison Stine. Wednesday, $20 (320p) ISBN 978-1-250-87873-1. Ages 13 and up. After a move to Colorado leaves her cut off from her friends and stuck with her family who refuses to learn ASL, hard-of-hearing Thea meets and falls for Ray, another deaf teen. But when natural disasters threaten her familys farm, and with her parents refusing help, Thea worries for their survival.

Ex Marks the Spot

Gloria Chao. Viking, $12.99 paper (384p) ISBN 978-0-59369-271-4. Ages 12 and up. Taiwanese American 18-year-old Gemma and her and charismatic Taiwanese American ex-boyfriend Xander travel to Taiwan after finding a secret message from her recently deceased grandfather.

What the Woods Took

Courtney Gould. Wednesday, $20 (336p) ISBN 978-1-250-34067-2. Ages 13 and up. Devin and fellow teens are sent to a wilderness therapy, but when they find themselves stalked by strange creatures, the group must rely on one another if they want to make it out of the woods alive. The book received a starred review from PW.
Charles Dickens once said, Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible. PW spoke with three educators who are taking these words to heart this holiday season, and throughout the school year, by encouraging their students to make a world of difference in the lives of others.

Dana Kramaroff is a second-grade teacher at New Hanover Upper Frederick Elementary in Frederick, Pa., and author of The Do More Club (Rocky Pond, 2023), a middle grade novel in verse. Her book is about a Jewish boy who starts a club to help spread love over hate in response to antisemitic acts at his school. Like the novels main character, Kramaroff started her own club when she was a student, and she has been doing good deeds ever since. Shes also currently in the middle of coordinating altruistic projects with her second-grade class.

We started the first of our projects for World Kindness Day on November 13 by reading I Am One by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter Reynolds [Abrams Appleseed, 2022], Kramaroff said. Its about how one act of kindness can ripple and have a bigger effect.

After discussing the books concept, Kramaroff and her students made Take What You Need posters. Each creation began with a poster-sized paper and the words Take What You Need! written across the top. Under the headline, they placed up to 12 sticky notes with uplifting messages for passersby to take for inspiration.

Kramaroff said that her students thought long and hard about the messages they wrote, and the types of inspiration theyd like to receive. While brainstorming and writing them, we talked about how one small act of kindness can really make a difference in someones day, she said. For example, if someone wasnt feeling very confident about themselves, they could take one of our Believe in yourself or Fail up! messages. And, when they look at them, they might feel better!

She and her students also thought carefully about the places throughout their community where they should place the notes. Their ideas included libraries, coffee shops, places with public bulletin boards, and other venues where people may be getting help, such as the food bank or the Birthday Closet where families in need can get items for birthday parties in their town.

This month, Kramaroff and her class will be reading Out and About: A Tale of Giving by Liza Weimer, illustrated by Margeaux Lucas (Kalaniot, 2023). The story focuses on the Jewish concept of tikkun olamrepairing the world. Being Jewish herself, she is familiar with this concept and wants to share it with her students.

After discussing the title, her students will write/record mini-pep talks for others, which will be turned into sound bytes, uploaded onto QR codes, and printed on posters. We hope that people will scan them and hear a message in a sweet kids voice that will give them a little motivation and add kindness to their day, Kramaroff said.

Her third project will concentrate on gift writing to teach her children how their writing can be a treasured gift. Kramaroff will give her second graders a writing prompt to capture a loved one, a beloved pet, or a place they love. Their written and decorated responses will be laminated, wrapped in pretty paper, and given as holiday gifts. This writing will be another way to spread goodness, kindness, and love, she said, and itll also make the kids feel special!

Kramaroff is hopeful that each of their altruistic projects will have lasting effects on the givers, the receivers, and the world at large. We might not be able to change people who may be rude, say mean things, or act in hateful ways, but we can always put more kindness into the world.

Edette Wilcox is a STEM resource teacher at South Woods Elementary School, home of the Eaglestheir school mascotin Elkton, Fla., where her entire school is currently involved in a daily kindness challenge for the month of December.

We have Manners Monday, Tidy Up Tuesday, Heartwarming Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, and Friendship Friday, where the kids are tasked with doing random acts of kindness and earning special Eagle Eggs for their classroom to win special in-school activitieslike a pajama day or ice cream party, Wilcox said. But the acts of kindness dont end there.

During our STEM resource classes, we were doing different things with dominoes to make Rube Goldberg machines, and I was talking to the kids about cause and effect in science, and how our own actions can affect others like a domino chain, Wilcox said. And thats when she had a big or rather, a pie in the sky idea.

Now, in its second year, kids at Wilcoxs school are collecting cereal boxes throughout December for Pie in the Sky, a nonprofit organization in St. Augustine, Fla., that delivers fresh produce and other food items twice a month to seniors who are food insecure throughout St. Johns County.

But, before they donate the boxes, classes will be estimating the number of boxes that will be collected, the length of the path the boxes will make, and how fast the chain reaction will take. They will also be making holiday cards for the seniors receiving the cereal boxes.

And, amid all the STEAM-based excitement around this event, Wilcox knows that the causehelping their senior neighborswill have an even greater effect on her students this year than last. Now that they know more about what they need to do, and how it will impact their neighbors, they are eager to do even more.

Cheryl Mizerny, a sixth-grade ELA teacher at Kingswood Middle School for Girls, part of the Cranbrook Schools, in Bloomfield, Mich., has always focused her teaching on the whole child and her schools mission, Enter to learn, go forth and serve! This clear vision allows her to develop lessons, choose literature, create experiences, and tie-in their global social studies curriculum to help her students develop greater empathy for themselves and others.

After a recent reading of Refugee by Alan Gratz (Scholastic Press, 2017), Mizerny and her students explored the point of view of the refugees in the award-winning novel and discussed their feelings and concerns surrounding todays refugees. Following their discussion, Mizerny invited her students to put their words into action and write welcoming and hopeful messages to refugees at a local organization. As they started to gather their thoughts, she offered a few guidelines.

We talked about how their notes had to be welcoming and inclusive and not mention the hard things the refugees were going through, Mizerny said. Their writing needed to be positive, give the refugees hope for the future, and communicate that we wished them the very best.

The results were thoughtfully handwritten and decorated notes with heartfelt messages. They were the loveliest cards, Mizerny said, hoping they would touch the recipients as much as they did her students. Creating and sending them was both a community- and empathy-building experience.

Mizerny is already planning another project for the month of December around the picture book, One Small Spark: A Tikkun Olam Story by Ruth Spiro, illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov (Dial, Aug.). She feels it is the right book at the right time, and for the right students.

My students have a strong sense of justice, fairness, and altruism, and they want to make the world a better place. So, I thought this book would be perfect to talk about how we can help others and to make the world a better place.

Mizerny said that the book and its topic also meet her goal of choosing books that represent her students diverse backgrounds. In this case, she says that her Jewish students will be familiar with tikkun olam, the others will learn about it and perhaps see a parallel with their own religions or beliefs.

After a close reading and discussion of the book, Mizerny will once again call her students to action. My ultimate goal will be to have them research an organization they want to be a part of or a need they see that theyd like to fill. And then, theyll be asked to create an infographic advertising the organization or the needand why they want to be a part of it, what they could do to helpand to share this with the class.

Mizerny has high expectations for this project, her students, and herself. Everything I/we do in my classroom is to meet our schools mission: empathy building and serving others. As an ELA teacher, I feel that Im ethically and morally responsible for my students, not only to learn how to read and write, but also to become big thinkers, good humans, and future leaders. I want them to see that if somebody cares, something can change!
For the second year in a row, the top spot on PWs annual graphic novel critics poll is shared by two titles. The debut graphic memoir Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls (MCD) and the graphic novel Victory Parade by Leela Corman (Schocken) both received a total of five votes from PWs panel of 11 critics. These powerful works, while distinctive in style, are remarkably similar in theme, with both delving into the inheritance of trauma across generations, particularly depicted through the fraught dynamics of mothers and daughters.

Hulls draws an interwoven, well-researched saga of three generations of women, unfolding from the displacement of her Chinese grandmother, a journalist persecuted under Maos regime who eventually emigrated to California (and published a bestselling memoir in Hong Kong in between, which remains banned in China). Hulls's grandmother lived with her and her anxiety-ridden mother throughout Hulls's childhood, suffering from increasing mental health breakdowns until her death in a psychiatric care facility. Hulls grew up in conflict with her own mother, her own mixed-race identity, and the chaos and codependency of the global ghosts haunting their home.

All year I've found myself recommending Feeding Ghosts, writes PW critic Tahneer Oksman, calling it a brilliant debut in which a daughter digs into her matrilineal histories. Hulls's facility with making comicsand her endless fascination with how different ideas and stories can be mapped and arrangedis evident on every page.

The comics narrative, with its maze-like layouts reminiscent of David B., per PWs starred review, offers a hybrid of history, family stories, and searching confessionals. There are no tidy epiphanies or easily won battles in this rigorously researched memoir of troubled immigrant history and the trauma-wracked legacy of secrets passed down, notes PW critic Chris Barsanti. The shifts between documented horrors of war and contested teenaged memories require close reading, but while Hullss multigenerational portrait is dense and expansivecross-cutting between family stories and a century of Chinese historyits also kind of a page-turner, writes PW critic Chris Burkhalter. Its as though the struggle against grief is etched deep into each page.

The ensemble cast of Eisner-nominated artist Cormans graphic novel Victory Parade, which is set during World War II, move through parallel narratives across multiple locations: in a Jewish immigrant community in Brooklyn, among factory workers and war refugees, and in Germany at the liberation of Buchenwald. It was named one of PWs best comics and graphic novels of 2024, noting how Corman paints indelible characters who grapple with grief on battlefields and in the wrestling ring. Per PWs starred review, Cormans lithe, purple-toned watercolors bleed on the pagea tactile evocation of how trauma breaks through and crosses generations. Its a transcendent, visionary accomplishment by an artist at the height of her powers.

One of the books central characters, factory worker Rose, tries to raise her daughter while her husband fights overseas as she engages in an affair with a disabled veteran. She has also taken a German-Jewish refugee into her home as an adopted daughter of sorts, who, fueled by her trauma and grief over her own mothers death in the war, goes on to become a sharp-edged lady wrestler. The gorgeous, painterly graphic novel offers an entirely original war story about the cost of survival, told in an explosion of visual ideas, writes PW critic Shaenon Garrity. With sections depicting spirits fracturing through a kind of spectral plane between the living and the dead, its a genuinely haunted and haunting work, adds PW critic Rob Kirby.

The PW Graphic Novel Critics Poll is compiled annually, with participating critics listing up to 10 adult trade book releases they consider to be the best graphic novel and comics works of the year. The book or books receiving the most votes wins; we also share the runners-up, and list recipients of multiple votes as Honorable Mentions. Taking part in the 2024 poll are PW graphic novel reviewers Chris Barsanti, Chris Burkhalter, John DiBello, Shaenon Garrity, Rob Kirby, Cheryl Klein, Tahneer Oksman, TreVaughn Malik Roach-Carter, and Masha Zhdanova. Also participating are PW graphic novels reviews editor Meg Lemke and PWs More to Come podcast cohost Calvin Reid.

Second Place

Runners up were also tied this year, with four votes each: I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: A Memoir, by Maurice Vellekoop (Pantheon), and Mothballs, by Sole Otero and translated from the Spanish by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics). Both titles were also named among PWs best comics and graphic novels of 2024.

In I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together, longtime queer cartoonist Vellekoop unpacks his 1970s conservative Dutch Christian upbringing and adventures into art and romance in 80s and 90s New York City, bringing readers intimately through his therapy as an adult to reconcile his relationship with his mother. The delightful graphic memoir is characterized by witty, whimsical episodes that showcase [Vellekoops] guiding obsessions (classic Disney animation, opera, 1970s television, and fashion) in splendid drawings, per PWs best books write-up.

This gorgeously drawn autobiography from the legendary LGBTQ+ cartoonist & illustrator is detailed to an almost obsessive degree and nakedly candid, making it all compulsively readable, writes Kirby.

Oteros Mothballs marked the English-language debut of the Argentinian cartoonist.

With an absorbing multigenerational storyline and distinctive, vibrantly hued illustrations, Oteros graphic novel considers the ripple effect of difficult wartime decisions, writes PW critic Cheryl Klein. Oteros dollhouse-like domestic interiors alone deserve attentionfrom the floorplan illustrations to the boldly-colored midcentury wallpapers, adds Burkhalter.

The graphic novel again shares themes with Victory Parade and Feeding Ghostsit centers around an Argentinian woman trying to understand her eccentric Argentinian-Italian grandmother, whose family fled Mussolinis fascism to land in unexpected social, personal, and ultimately political strife in Latin America. The boisterous art and layered storytelling made it an in-house favorite, a discovery, bursting with color and linework that playfully dances across the page that marks Otero as a rising star of international comics, per PWs best books write-up.

Oteros critical reception also highlights the continuing popularity, among critics at least, of translated comics from global voices. This was one of at least three highlights of the year for me that were translated by Andrea Rosenberg for Fantagraphics, writes Burkhalter.

2024 Trends

Critics also reflected on trends across the comics industry, with several noting that the growth in fan communities around webcomics particularly vertical scroll webtoonshas led to the proliferation of print collections of the online content. Webcomics-to-print have become a subcategory onto themselves, writes Garrity, adding that she hopes creators recognize their worth as websites and publishers scramble to sign popular titles. Zhdanova agrees, noting that manga, manhwa, and webtoons are all on the rise and pointing to the many recent imprints in the overlapping categories.

In contrast to the often lighter pop fare of webtoons, the other rising category noted was the excellent serious graphic nonfiction becoming ever more prominent in the graphic novel landscape, as Reid writes. New titles, he notes, span a breadth of topics across such subgenres as graphic biography, graphic history, and the perennial favorite graphic memoir.

While trade publishers large and small have routinely included graphic nonfiction on their lists, there have been notable new entries from university presses and scholarly publishers getting into the comics space for the first time. Oksman says that shes excited to see comics biographies of varying stripes, including hybrid fictionalized and hybrid autobiographical ones, including works by Ken Krimstein and Erin Williams, for example, that expertly embrace that challenge.

And in a crowded market for books, one way that comics stand out is, of course, through the art itself. Oksman cites a favorite trend for her this year as vibrant, often unexpected use of color, and experimentation with various color palettesincluding lots of watercolor.

Honorable Mentions

Here are the remaining multiple-vote gatherers.

Three Votes

Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down the Rabbit Hole and Came Up With the Universe by Ken Krimstein (Bloomsbury)

This graphic biography of two great thinkers focuses on their years in Prague and focuses on the rise of a new, great 20th-century Age of Reason, highlighted by whimsical and detailed artwork. I learned so much about these two men and their foundations of thinking that I'd love a sequel.  JD

Final Cut by Charles Burns (Pantheon)

While a return to form in some ways for Burns, this graphic novel about isolation, love, and the substitution of art for reality is perhaps more elegant in its unsettling creepiness than anything he has done before.  CB

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Book Two by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)

Ferris sticks the landing in the second half of her magnum opus, which tells the personal story of a singular young girl as a phantasmagoric epic full of monsters, art, and defiant love.  SG

Two Votes

Babe in the Woods: Or the Art of Getting Lost by Julie Heffernan (Algonquin)

Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson (Ten Speed Graphic)

The Field by Dave Lapp (Conundrum)

The Heart That Fed: A Father, a Son, and the Long Shadow of War by Carl Sciacchitano (Gallery 13)

Mary Tyler MooreHawk by Dave Baker (Top Shelf)

Past Tense: Facing Family Secrets and Finding Myself in Therapy by Sacha Mardou (Avery)

The Puerto Rican War: A Graphic History by John Vasquez Mejias (Union Square)

Previous Critics Poll Winners

2023: Impossible People and Roaming (Tie)

2022: Ducks

2021: Secret to Superhuman Strength

2020: Kent State

2019: They Called Us Enemy

2018: All the Answers

2017: My Favorite Thing Is Monsters

2016: March: Book Three

2015: The Sculptor

2014: This One Summer

2013: Boxers and Saints

2012: Building Stories

2011: Hark a Vagrant

2010: Acme Novelty Library #20: Lint

2009: Asterios Polyp

2008: Bottomless Belly Button

2007: Exit Wounds and Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Tie)

2006: Fun Home
Standing in front of the Palace of Justice, Eneida felt humiliated. The president of the Court, without arguments or incriminating evidence, tried to tie her along with a hundred inmates on probation to "the wave of crimes and violence in Santiago de Cuba."

The assistant accountant was indignant that the judges had tried to wash their hands of responsibility for the public's insecurity and helplessness, generated by unchecked banditry, murders and other aggressive behavior.

"I came due to the threat to rescind my parole,," Aeneid said. "Also, because I thought the meeting was a serious, credible effort. In the end, it's just more of the same: convicts will always be treated like criminals, murderers, scourges of socialism."

According to Yipsy Pedreira, president of the Court, this was the first activity forming part of a "national exercise to prevent and address crime, corruption, illegalities and indiscipline," through which the Government seeks to mollify the population, frightened by the increase in robberies and violence.

La Santiaguera, a prostitute who has been arrested and prosecuted several times for "dangerousness," said the event was "a mockery, to offend, embarrass and remind us that social reintegration is a joke and job opportunities depend on your political position."

"When and how will we eliminate the threats made to produce fear, which leave inmates defenseless and demonstrate the selective administration of justice?" asked a lawyer arrested for the crime of bribery, who said that violence continues to spiral out of control "due to the ineptitude of the Prosecutor's Office, police indolence, and the arbitrariness of the criminal courts."

According to Lorencito, who has only one month left in the police sector, "this was yet another reminder that prisoners have no rights, and they are only portrayed to blame them for everything that happens."

A hauler serving time for a traffic accident called the meeting a "cynical act" at which "the justices colluded with the media to misrepresent and justify their incompetence in the face of gangsterism, criminal incidents, and femicides."

"No one can call my son a murderer or a criminal. Nor can they oblige him to visit Fidel Castro's tomb, or to donate blood, to preserve his freedom," said Paulina, the mother of one of the young men sanctioned for shouting "Down with the president!" at a street protest.

Nilda, the wife of a man convicted of embezzlement, asked her husband to lower his voice to avoid retaliation. The people know that "those responsible for Santiago being one of the most violent cities in Cuba are in the courts, which punish political crimes more severely than pedophilia or street violence leading to the deaths of minors."

"The court doesnt concentrate on what it has to do," said Rosario, the grandmother of two teenagers convicted of assault, explaining that the mission of these institutions is to "demand that the police and prosecutors investigate those who have schools for thieves and pickpockets, and that take advantage of children by getting them into gangs."

Ricardo said he stole from the State to keep from starving, "but I didn't stab anyone." If they want to arrest those responsible for the violence, "they have to look for those who aren't solving the crisis, and are drowning the people in a sea of need."

"I don't know of a single judge who has acted to ensure that the rights of prisoners at the Boniato and Mar Verde prisons are being respected," said Alejandro, who has friends who "have left there and returned as if they'd been in a war, or a Nazi concentration camp."

Sitting on a bench at a Coppelia, trying to calm her nerves, a mother stated: "If tomorrow my son is told that those responsible for hunger, blackouts and lack of money must be captured, I'd be the first person to go with him to the Police to arrest those scoundrels, but I don't want any indoctrinating him or accusing him just because they think that no one's going to cry over him anyway."

"Prosecuting the spiral of violence requires a deeper analysis than slandering an inmate or punishing those who commit acts of extreme violence," said the aunt of a prisoner who has been working on projects to address that problem without support for years.

Daniel, who served almost ten years for theft and the illegal slaughter of cattle in San Luis, expressed regret that all those who were on probation, or had served time for that crime in Paraiso, Pedernal, Bucuey, Nuevo Mundo and La Caoba, following the murder of a family in Chamarreta, were arrested.

"That is conditioning the population to spurn us," he argued.

The president of the Provincial People's Court stated that similar meetings were held in the nine municipalities of the territory, in order to find "creative ways" to reintegrate those sentenced, "always looking for ways to attract them to society in a healthy way."

To highlight the "human part of justice," he mentioned concessions by convicted producers of food for preschools and nursing homes; what he failed to explain is that this is one of the requirements to receive parole.

The presiding judges of the chambers of all the courts, together with the enforcement judges, supervise 110 people serving sentences for drug offenses and the theft and slaughter of livestock. But, more than oversight actions, this is seen as a kind of witch hunt against the convicts.

Although exemplary trials were announced, the press in Santiago de Cuba has not covered any, something that has happened in provinces such as Las Tunas. What was confirmed is that those convicted had to participate in a pilgrimage to Fidel Castro's tomb at the Santa Iphigenia Cemetery.

According to the authorities, the ongoing exercise will strengthen internal and external control by the State, Government and society, with a view to the anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution and other anniversaries that they intend to celebrate with crackdowns against MSMEs, self-employed workers and street vendors.
Sourcebooks is taking advantage of a 200% spike in its international business over the past two years by aggressively moving into international markets, beginning with Brazil and Germany. The Naperville, Ill.based publishing company announced yesterday that it is releasing translations of romance titles initially published in the U.S. under its fastest-growing imprint, Bloom Books.

Launched in partnership with E.L. James in 2021, Bloom Bookss business model is geared toward publishing successful entrepreneurial authors who want more creative control over their work. Besides James, Bloom authors include Ana Huang, Elle Kennedy, Lucy Score, and Scarlett St. Clair.

Its so exciting to be helping these authors grow their businesses internationally, said Dominique Raccah, Sourcebooks publisher and CEO, in a statement. This model has made such a difference for our authors in North America, and were thrilled to expand our innovative Bloom program into two of the worlds largest romance markets through our partnerships with Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe and Companhia das Letras.

Noting that annual revenue from the sales of books in Germany exceeded 9 billion last year, making the country Europes largest non-English-speaking book market, Sourcebook declared the country to be the perfect gateway to the continents literary landscape. Bloom Germany launched this August, in partnership with PRH Verlagsgruppe GmbH, with the release in translation of Sophie Lark's Kingmakers: Year One, which Sourcebooks reports has received major national retail support from Germanys two major chain bookstores, Hugendubel and Thalia.



Building on this momentum, Sourcebooks intends to release translations of 14 more Bloom titles in Germany in 2025, including the rest of Larks Kingmakers series as well as her brand-new Sparrow and Vine series. Two titles from Piper CJs No Other Gods seriesare scheduled for translation and release next summer.

The launch of Bloom Germany allows us to better serve authors and readers alike, said Matthias Aichele, senior VP of audio, strategic, and digital development at PRH Verlagsgruppe GmbH. The positive feedback from our partnership has been overwhelming, and we are thrilled to unveil a lineup of exciting new books that will captivate readers across the German-speaking world.

Sourcebooks launched Bloom Brasil in partnership with Paralela, an imprint of Companhia das Letras, which publishes such romance authors as Elle Kennedy, Christina Lauren, and Taylor Jenkins Reid. We already know the strength of the Brazilian public and the reading community here through what weve published under the Paralela imprint, said Quezia Cleto, executive editor at Bloom Brasil. By joining forces with Bloom, well not only bring major names to the Brazilian market, but also do so at high speed.



In South America, Bloom Brasil will release 19 titles in 2025 in Brazilian Portuguese, debuting in February with the first three books in Scarlett St. Clairs Hades x Persephone series. In March, the imprint will also release Jennifer L. Armentrouts Half-Blood, Lucy Scores frontlist romance Story of My Life, and Chloe Walshs Binding 13 in the Portuguese.

These acclaimed authors, who have collectively dominated bestseller lists and captured the hearts of millions of readers worldwide, will now bring their beloved storytelling to Portuguese-speaking audiences, said Shannon McCain Rodrigues, associate director of the newly-created international marketing and publicity team at Sourcebooks. Rodrigues, who was hired away from HarperCollins in June, will oversee all of the company's international marketing initiatives.
Gary Johnson, the president of Bethany House Publishers from 1960 until 2008, died on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Minnesota. He was 86. His nearly 50-year career in book publishing is widely credited with helping to establish Christian fiction as a powerful category for the business.

Johnson was helped in his role as president of the company by his wife, Carol Johnson, who joined him at Bethany as editorial director in 1978. The Carol Awards, administered by the American Christian Fiction Writers and honoring top Christian fiction, are named for her.

The pair acquired Janette Okes first novel, Love Comes Softly, that year, and the sequel, Loves Enduring Promise, a year later. Sales took off, Christian bookstores took notice, and Christian fiction entered the modern age. The Johnsons also published Beverly Lewiss The Shunning in 1997, which launched the wildly popular Amish fiction craze.

Gary left an incredible legacy at Bethany House, and were so grateful for all that he and Carol did to build a biblical, God-honoring foundation for us as a publisher that we are continuing to build to this day, said Andy McGuire, editorial director for Bethany House, in a statement. Dwight Baker, former president of Baker Publishing Group, which acquired Bethany House in 2003, added: Gary Johnson was a consistent model of professional grace and dignity. We have all been blessed by our association with him.

Johnson is survived by his wife, Carol. A memorial service will be held on December 16 in Bloomington, Minn.
Instagram / Chock Chapple

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 12/10/2024



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple have returned to the place where their love began, Disneyland!Joan and Chock shared pictures and videos from their second trip to Disneyland together this past weekend.The couple's first trip to the magical amusement park happened to be the pair's first one-on-one date on .Joan and Chock, both 61, enjoyed a fun-filled day of rides and treats with The Golden Bachelor alums Kathy Swarts Susan Noles and Nancy Hulkower "Had the most magical day with my friends & fiance at Disneyland!!" Joan wrote in a December 6 Instagram carousel."Thank you so much to the @iheartradio team and @sugarmanamy for making it so magical! Shout out to our tour guide Jeff for being the best ever!"Joan added, "It was so nice to go back to the place where I first fell in love with Chock and get to share that experience with my friends. Next up... @iheartjingleball !!"Alongside a video of Joan and Chock alone, Joan told her followers, "This is where we had our first date ever and it's actually where I fell in love with Chock."She captioned the video, "Back where it all began..."And while waiting for a holiday-themed parade to begin at night, Joan recorded a quick video with Chock in which she said their experience at the park was different this time around."The rides are super fun... and this time, he held my hand the whole time," Joan said.Chock called the event "an absolute miracle," and Joan quipped, "Yeah, I let him hold my hand! He thinks it's really weird I don't hold hands."Joan gushed about Main Street looked beautiful, and she panned the camera so her followers could see all the bright Christmas lights and decorations."We had a great day and it was very different this time because I did it with my fiance!" Joan said.Chock also recommended a trip to Disneyland, calling it "magical," and then he and Joan pointed out how Kathy, Susan and Nancy are "looking for men" and are "single" and ready to mingle.The Bachelor had gifted Joan and Chock a trip back to Disneyland when aired its finale in November, and so it's likely ABC had planned this visit for the happy couple.Joan admitted during an early November appearance on the "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe " podcast that she thought Chock was The One during their first one-on-one date at Disneyland."I did have a really quick connection with Chock. We had a really great one-on-one date in Disneyland was so good," Joan told former star Kaitlyn Bristowe "Our rapport was just so easy, and it was kind of what you want! You are looking for that, and if it's hard, you're thinking, 'Maybe it's not right.'"Joan added of the 61-year-old insurance executive from Kansas, "I kind of thought, 'He's probably the one!'"Joan, however, said she knew in her heart that she shouldn't settle on choosing Chock too early. Instead, she decided to keep an open mind throughout the process."People do that [on the show]," Joan said of a lead lasering in on one person right away."Chock was the first one-on-one date that I had, and I was like, 'I can't do this because this happens all the time.' You've got to keep an open heart, and I knew that," Joan explained.Joan told Kaitlyn that she had watched -- and learned from -- her Season 11 journey on , as well as some other seasons."I had just seen [ Gerry Turner 's season], and I had just watched [ Charity Lawson ]. I also watched some pretty recent seasons to know that you really have to be careful not to invest too early because things happen!" Joan noted.Joan elaborated, "And then in some seasons, you find out the person you really invested in or thought [was it], was really a different person than [you thought] and they evolve and become kind of a villain or some personality thing doesn't match with you."Joan also said there are things you can't possibly know about a person while dating only inside The Bachelor bubble."You need to stay open, and I was really, really careful about that. Even when I was having feelings for certain people, every date when I sat down with somebody, I was pretending that they were the only person in my life," Joan shared.Part of Joan's hesitation was apparently that she worried Chock was "too good to be true."In late November, Joan explained to Us how it was "super early" to get so invested in Chock, considering their first solo date was during Week 1 of process."I did feel like it was too good to be true," Joan admitted to the magazine. "I thought, 'There's going be a red flag eventually.'"But even though Joan searched for something to be wrong with Chock, she came up empty."I was actually really looking for that, but it only ever got better instead of worse," Joan gushed."At the end, I was so confident. I knew I was taking a leap of faith, but I felt really confident in my decision because you do get to know each other pretty well."Joan and Chock celebrated Thanksgiving together in Maryland and decorated their first Christmas tree together.The pair recently said that they plan to visit each other in Kansas and Maryland as well as meet in New York City at a shared apartment for frequent dates. They also have many international vacations planned for 2025.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

Light rain early. Then remaining cloudy. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Light rain early. Then remaining cloudy. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Do not underestimate the ingenuity of the Deep State in America to have its way.

Keeping the guard down will be a catastrophic mistake on the part of the Delhi establishment.

We could get hit when least expected. That's what happened in Bangladesh and Syria, warns Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

IMAGE: Former US president Bill Clinton, left, listens as billionaire hedge fund manager George Soros speaks during a discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting in New York, September 27, 2015. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

The raging controversy over the Bharatiya Janata Party's allegation that the Congress party leadership is hand in glove with the famous US financier George Soros with an infamous track record of funding the colour revolutions and regime change projects is snowballing.

The Congress may use the floor of Parliament to fuel its public tirades against the government, borne out of the proverbial folklore of Kerala, 'Whether the leaf falls on a thorn or a thorn on a leaf, the leaf is always harmed.'

The Congress calculates that the Modi government and the BJP would be the losers if this controversy remains in focus. These are early days and how all this pans out is hard to tell, as there are many variables in play.

Look at the reticence of the SP and TMC, for instance, to wade into the Adani file. Besides, the BJP is a peerless champion for diversionary tactics in Indian politics.

From the foreign policy angle, the outcome of the slugfest between India's two mainstream parties is going to depend on an 'X' factor, namely, George Soros' clout with the incoming US administration and incoming President Donald Trump's attitude toward the Deep State's advancement of a regime change agenda in Delhi as happened in Bangladesh.

The BJP has quietly backtracked (external link) from its spokesman's accusation at the press conference in New Delhi on December 6 that 'It has always been the US State Department behind this agenda'.

BJP national Spokesperson and MP Dr Sambit Patra directly accused the US State Department of trying to 'destabilise India' and claimed that the US 'Deep State' is working to 'target Prime Minister Narendra Modi'.

'The Deep State had a clear objective to destabilise India by targeting Prime Minister Modi,' the BJP spokesperson reportedly said.

In fact, he anchored on the Deep State and the US State Department the BJP's entire case of Rahul Gandhi being a 'traitor of the highest order' and of the Congress 'conspiring with foreign forces' to derail the government because of their 'hatred' for Modi.

The BJP demanded on the floor of Parliament that Rahul Gandhi ought to be thoroughly investigated for meeting with controversial business tycoon George Soros and some other American officials during his periodic visits to the US who have 'a history of peddling anti-India agenda'.

Of course, this is an explosive charge that could only have been made with clearance (or instructions) from the highest echelons of the BJP and possibly the government.

IMAGE: A protestor holds a placard against George Soros outside the district attorney's office in New York City, March 22, 2023, after a message was posted on Donald Trump's Truth Social account stating that he had expected to be arrested and called on his supporters to protest. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Surprisingly, however, the BJP subsequently censored the above remarks from its lengthy press release on Dr Patra's remarks.

The bulk of the corporate media also followed suit with self-censorship, a few exceptions apart (external link).

Such backtracking doesn't behoove India's ruling party or our media honchos. It smacks of faint-heartedness and lack of resolve.

This is happening despite the well-known fact that Soros indeed has a long history of acting as the frontman of the US State Department in its regime change projects abroad.

Organisations such as Soros' Open Society Foundations (external link) (founded in 1984) or National Endowment for Democracy (founded in 1983) are to be seen as the US government's 'white gloves' for

instigating colour revolutions to subvert State power in other countries;

cultivating pro-US forces in target countries;

misrepresenting the human rights situation in other countries;

manipulating and interfering in other countries' elections;

inciting division and confrontation to undermine the stability of other countries; and,

fabricating false information to mislead public opinion, using 'academic activities' as a cloak for interference and infiltration.

This is a complex story on which Professor Sreeram Chaulia, at the O P Jindal Global University, had written a well-researched essay titled Democratisation, NGOs and 'colour revolutions' (external link) way back in 2006.

By the way, Soros is also a globalist by conviction who genuinely subscribes the neocon ideology.

He has given to the Foundations over $32 billion of a personal fortune made in the financial markets.

The Foundations are estimated to have $25 billion in assets last year, and amongst worldwide activities, they prioritise 'the current challenges ... of the rise of new forms of authoritarianism' in foreign countries.

IMAGE: US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington, DC. Photograph: Allison Robbert/Pool via Reuters

Will Trump put Soros out of business? This seems to be the assumption in Delhi, which is predicated on the antipathy between Trump and Soros who had close links with the Democratic Party -- and, conversely, on Trump's jovial attitude toward Modi.

Soros is a formidable adversary who has reportedly earmarked one billion dollars for a regime change in India. He views regime changes not simply as a neocon pastime but also as a business proposition.

In Ukraine, where he funded the Maidan protests and regime change in 2014, he is investing to generate lucrative business (here (external link) and here (external link))

No doubt, what remains to be seen is how Trump sees Soros going forward. It is a complicated story, as Soros has his line open to Trump's inner circle (external link).

There are some straws in the wind. Basically, Trump is a dealmaker who has no permanent friends or allies -- or enemies, for that matter.

The salience of Trump's one hour twenty-six minutes long interview (external link) with NBC News on Sunday, his first after the election victory, is that while he may harshly deal with those officials who misused their authority under President Biden's watch to harass him, humiliate him and hunt him down, he hopes to work with the Democratic party lawmakers in the Congress to carry forward his agenda.

Trump acknowledged the criticality of bipartisan support to make the required constitutional amendments in regard of immigration laws. He even paid tribute to the left wing constituency who voted for him.

IMAGE: Proceedings of both Houses of Parliament were disrupted on December 9, 2024 as the Treasury benches accused top Congress leaders of colluding with billionaire investor George Soros to destabilise the country, triggering protests from Opposition members. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Photo

Significantly, Alex Soros, George Soros' son, had generously contributed to Kamala Harris' chest, but has since paid a fulsome compliment to Trump.

He wrote on X (external link): 'Too many Democrats are fighting each other over campaign tactics, because it is easier than accepting that Trump was underestimated as a candidate. He was a "super candidate" with increasing appeal to a broader electorate -- likely beyond the reach of both Democrats and Republicans.'

Interestingly, Elon Musk also responded by calling himself the 'George Soros of the middle (external link). I don't want the pendulum to swing too far right, but right now it's just too far left.'

The bottom line is that Trump has made a thoughtful decision to tap Scott Bessent (external link) for the crucial cabinet position of Treasury Secretary.

Bessent's credentials include his stint on a small team at Soros' investment firm through the 1980s that in 1992 helped 'break' the Bank of England with crushing trades against the British pound, having amassed a $10 billion bet that the pound was overvalued.

The New York Times reported (external link), 'Though the British government tried to support the currency, it wasn't able to withstand the pressure, and the pound plunged in value. Mr. Soros's fund earned more than $1 billion, along with credit (and infamy) for orchestrating one of Wall Street's most audacious trades.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi welcomes then US president Trump at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, February 25, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo

Now, there's nothing Trump loves more than Wall Street's seductive success stories (external link).

'It was Mr Bessent's experience at Mr. Soros's fund -- including another high-profile bet, against the Japanese yen -- that helped define his career, and that his former colleagues and other associates see as a crucial credential' for the cabinet job as Treasury Secretary, the New York Times reported.

And now comes the news that Trump has picked California lawyer Harmeet Kaur Dhillon to head the US Department of Justice's civil rights division and nominated her as assistant attorney general, who, apparently, empathises with pro-Khalistan activists in the US and Canada.

Do not underestimate the ingenuity of the Deep State in America to have its way. Keeping the guard down will be a catastrophic mistake on the part of the Delhi establishment.

We could get hit when least expected. That's what happened in Bangladesh and Syria.

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, as they say. Make no mistake, at the end of the day, Trump is a great patriot and nationalist who stands by 'America First' as his chosen dictum.

An equal relationship based on mutual respect is impossible to forge with the US.

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar served the Indian Foreign Service for 29 years.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'This is the first case in which we saw use of Starlink by smugglers.'

IMAGE: 'In a coordinated sea & air operation @IndiaCoastGuard today made history by apprehending a #Myanmarese fishing boat, "Soe Wai Yan Htoo" in the #Andaman Seas with approx 5500 kgs of Methamphetamine.'

'This major drug haul marks the largest maritime seizure in #India's domain, showcasing exceptional coordination & vigilance. #IndianCoastGuard #MaritimeSecurity #DrugSeizure', the Indian Coast Guard posted on X on November 25, 2024. Photograph: Indian Coast Guard/X

Andaman and Nicobar Director General of Police Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com how the Indian Coast Guard apprehended six Burmese smugglers from the high seas and seized more than 6,000 kg of methamphetamine (a synthetic recreational narcotic), a narcotic lifestyle drug, worth $4.2 billion in the international market.

The most startling revelation of this operation has been the use of sophisticated Starlink satellite communication equipment that uses low entry orbit satellites for communication which avoids interception, DGP Dhaliwal tells Rediff.com.

"We have had a huge number of joint interrogations where we have shared inputs with the (Indian) Coast Guard and other defence forces as needed. Due to all those interrogations and all that collating of information, the Andaman police and Coast Guard has been able to zero down on the areas which really need special patrolling, and which need to be specially monitored," informs Dhaliwal.

Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has plans to offer satellite Internet in India and is awaiting government approval.

How do the smugglers from Myanmar operate in Indian waters? What is their modus operandi?

They normally get a boat for such kind of activities. Normally, they buy their own boat; more so when it is a high stake shipment such as this one and they ply from Burma to their destinations in Southeast Asian nations down to Thailand and Indonesia.

On the high seas, international borders are not finely drawn boundaries and so it is always very easy for them to lose their way by a few nautical miles (one nautical mile=1.852 km) here and there and stray into Indian waters. That is how the Coast Guard and the Andaman police apprehended this vessel.

IMAGE: The boat that was intercepted and seized by the Coast Guard had 6,000 kg plus methamphetamine worth $4.2 billion. Photograph: Indian Coast Guard/X

How did the Andaman police come to know about this shipment? Was there any intelligence or did it happen because the boat strayed into Indian waters?

We have been working on (interrogating) various Burmese narco guys (those who smuggle narcotics/drugs) since many years and there's a long history to this.

Earlier too there were big seizures around group of islands in South Andaman. This happened in 2019 and they were the last big seizures. They happened in September and December 2019. The total drug involved that time was 1,500 kilograms in the two seizures -- 1,100 kg-something and 300 kg.

Since those five years there have been many catches, but not of the same quantities. We have caught large numbers of Burmese nationals in these operations. There are other nationalities also, but mainly Burmese.

We have had a huge number of joint interrogations where we have shared inputs with the Coast Guard and other defence forces as needed. Due to all those interrogations and all that collating of information, the Andaman police and Coast Guard has been able to zero down on the areas which really need special patrolling, and which need to be specially monitored.

Our police force -- because our jurisdiction is 12 nautical miles, we keep our watch in those areas around the islands. Farther from 12 nautical miles to up to 200 nautical miles is the Coast Guard's jurisdiction.

This is where (between 12 and 200 nautical miles off the Indian coast) this boat was initially spotted.

It was hauled up and brought to the shore and thereon the Andaman police and Coast Guard joined together to search the entire boat and we could find this 6,000 plus kilogram of methamphetamine.

What kind of risks are involved in this kind of operation that led to the seizure of almost 6,000 kg of meth?

When they would have boarded the ship there could have been heavy weapons. They had little sharp edged things, but no armed weapons or automatic pistols or guns (when the Coast Guard and Andaman police apprehended them).

What kind of sophisticated communication equipment do these smugglers use to carry out their illegal activities?

Satellite phones are tough to intercept. Normally, till now we had seen the best or the highest end of spectrum they have ever had was the satellite phone usage. But this is the first cases in which we are seeing that they were using the Starlink satellite.

Why is it so important, this Starlink satellite communication that these smugglers were using?

This is very relevant for the future in the sense that this (usage of Starlink satellite communication equipment) is the first time we have intercepted smugglers using such sophisticated piece of communication equipment and this definitely poses a different challenge altogether.

The significance of this satellite communication equipment is that this virtually is like avoiding all the legal channels of communication. It's (calls made using Starlink equipment) not being regulated and they (the smugglers) are directly communicating (with their accomplices) using low entry orbit satellites.

IMAGE: Andaman and Nicobar DGP Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal. Photograph: @hgsdhaliwalips/X

How advanced is the technology with the Coast Guard and the Andaman and Nicobar police to tackle this kind of smuggling in the high seas?

In and around the islands (that make up the Andamans and Nicobar) our teams have done great work to intercept and all this things (seize contraband and arrest smugglers).

In the high seas, beyond 200 nautical miles, it is the Navy which comes in. Between 12 and 200 (nautical miles) is the Coast Guard (jurisdiction). I think they are also doing their best in keeping these waters safe.

The Andaman police has asked Starlink for details of the purchase of this sophisticated equipment. Have they responded to the legal demand raised by the Indian police?

We are yet to get a reply from them.

How many drug smugglers were involved in this operation?

Six (smugglers) have been arrested. The people behind (their accomplices) are still in Burma. The master of the ship is also under arrest.

Where was this consignment headed? Who is the kingpin of this smuggling ring in the high seas?

The master of the ship is the kingpin (of this particular haul of meth) along with another guy who is called the 'boss' and whose name and identity we are still trying to find out.

Have you got the identity of these smugglers arrested on the boat and who their Indian contacts were? Where was this meth headed to?

This meth was headed towards Southeast Asian nations. This investigation is still ongoing.
'Our Constitution as well as the Right to Education Act do not make any distinction between Indian or foreigner; it only talks about 'child'.'

'It says that every child has the right to get education.'

IMAGE: Ashok Agarwal with Rohingya children. Photographs: Kind courtesy Ashok Agarwal

As per media reports, around 40,000 Rohingya refugees live in various parts of India, but mainly in Delhi, Hyderabad, Jammu.

They became refugees in India when there was a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017.

The Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 guarantees free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of 6 and 14 in India.

But the situation is different for the Rohingya children who live in Khajuri Khas in Delhi.

Delhi government schools are denying admission to these children because they are 'Rohingya Muslims'.

Activist and lawyer Ashok Agarwal took the case of these children to the Delhi high court.

On November 3, the high court in its order said, 'Since the Rohingyas are foreigners who have not been officially and legally granted entry into India, the present writ petition stands disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to make a representation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India which is directed to decide the same in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible.'

"Article 21 of the Constitution says that no person can be denied equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within India, and that every person, without any discrimination has the right to education in this country," Ashok Agarwal tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

How did it come to your attention that Rohingya children are denied admission in government schools in Delhi only because they are Rohingya refugees?

I got a telephone call from Sriram Colony in Khajoori Khas in north east Delhi. Around 40 Rohingya families have been living there as refugees for the last many years.

They told me that their children are not going to school as the local government schools are not giving them admission.

Then I visited the colony, and spoke to both the parents and children about their sad plight.

It was then that I decided to take the case to the Delhi high court.

This is not the first time that I have taken up an issue like this. Six, seven years ago, through our NGO, Social Jurist, I fought for the children of Pakistani Hindu refugees who were also denied admission by Delhi government schools.

At that time, I got favourable orders from the Delhi high court, and all the children were admitted in government schools in Delhi.

Why did the schools not grant admission to the Rohingya refugee children?

The only reason was they were Rohingya Muslims!

The schools said you are Rohingya Muslims and we will not take you here.

They were denied admission only because they were Muslims?

Because they are Rohingya Muslims.

Very shocking...

Yes, it is very shocking and also unconstitutional. Our Constitution as well as the Right to Education Act do not make any distinction between Indian or foreigner; it only talks about 'child'. It says that every child has the right to get education.

Article 21 of the Constitution says that no person can be denied equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within India, and that every person, without any discrimination has the right to education in this country.

And Article 21A specifically guarantees the right to free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 14, and that every child will go to school.

Right to Education Act of 2009 makes education a fundamental right for children.

Article 51 of the Constitution says it is the duty of the parents to send their children to school.

So, denying admission in government schools not only violates the rights of children but also violates the fundamental duty of the parents under the Constitution.

Did you talk to the schools regarding the rights of all children to education?

Yes..yes.. I did. The schools told me that an order should come from the top! They said, if an order came from the Director of Education, they would give admission.

The only excuse they gave me was the children were Rohingya Muslims.

After the Delhi high court order, they got the leverage to refuse further.

The high court asked you to give a representation to the home ministry.

Now we have given a representation to the MHA. We are now planning to move the Supreme Court.

Any response from the home ministry to your representation?

Nothing so far.

IMAGE: Ashok Agarwal with a photograph of refugee Hindu children from Pakistan.

You visited the colony where these refugees live. Since these children cannot go to school, what do they do?

They either roam around or indulge in child labour.

These people are so poor that they cannot afford to send their children to private schools. They can only send their children to government schools.

Some reports say these children do not have valid id cards like Aadhar cards, and that was why they were denied school admission. Is it true?

No, that's not an issue at all. The only problem here is they are Rohingya Muslim refugees. They are unpopular people in this country.

These refugee children will not get admission unless a clearance comes from the ministry or the higher court.

Is this a problem for other refugees also in India. For example, you have Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka in Tamil Nadu, refugees from Bangladesh, etc..

No other refugees have this problem. I don't think any school in the country is refusing admission to a child who wants to go to school.

Even other refugees from Myanmar also got admission in Delhi schools.

Only Rohingya Muslims are facing this problem.

I don't think this kind of discrimination happens in any other country. Nowhere in the world is a child denied admission in a school. If any country does that, it will go against public interest.

You said in court that it was a 'mindset problem'. What do you mean by that?

The kind of adverse atmosphere that is created in society by saying every day that Rohingyas are living illegally in India, and that state governments are protecting them, affects the mindset.

This creates such an atmosphere that these people do not get work also.

Nobody gives them houses on rent.

They are facing so many problems.

But we are not talking about all those problems. We want to see that these children go to school, and that too to a government school.

So, what is the future course of action?

We are awaiting a response from the ministry of home affairs.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday a batch of PILs challenging the validity of certain provisions of a 1991 law that prohibits filing a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

IMAGE: The Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple complex in Varanasi. Photograph: ANI Photo

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is likely to hear the matter.

The top court is seized of the pleas, including one filed by Ashwini Upadhyay who has prayed that sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, be set aside.

Among the various reasons submitted was the contention that these provisions take away the right of judicial remedy to reclaim a place of worship of any person or a religious group.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist and Maharashtra MLA Jitendra Satish Awhad have also filed pleas against several pending petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, saying the law protected public order, fraternity, unity and secularism of the nation.

The matter will be heard against the backdrop of several suits filed in various courts, including those related to the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura and Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, claiming these were built after destroying ancient temples and seeking permission to allow the Hindus to offer prayers there.

The Muslim side, in most of these cases, has cited the 1991 law to argue that such suits are not maintainable.

As many as six petitions, including those filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, have been filed against the provisions of the 1991 law.

Swamy wanted the apex court to "read down" certain provisions to enable Hindus to stake claim over the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, while Ashwini Upadhyay claimed the entire statute was unconstitutional and no question of reading down arises.

The doctrine of reading down a law is generally used to save a statute from being struck down entirely subject to adjudication over its constitutionality.

On the other hand, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had cited the five-judge Constitution bench judgment in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title case, noting the reference to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, to argue that the law cannot be set aside now.

The top court had on March 12, 2022, sought the Centre's response to the plea filed by Upadhyay challenging the validity of certain provisions of the law.

The petition alleged the 1991 law creates an "arbitrary and irrational retrospective cut-off date" of August 15, 1947, for maintaining the character of the places of worship or pilgrimage against encroachment done by "fundamentalist-barbaric invaders and law-breakers".

The 1991 law prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The law had made only one exception -- the dispute pertaining to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid in Ayodhya.
Actor Sapna Singh staged a protest in Bareilly after her 14-year-old son was found dead under suspicious circumstances, with the police arresting his two friends over the case, officials said on Wednesday.

She ended the protest on Tuesday after more than 90 minutes following police's assurance that action will be taken.

Her son Sagar Gangwar's two adult friends -- identified as Anuj and Sunny -- were arrested and sent to jail on Wednesday on charges of murder, the officials said.

"The postmortem report could not confirm the exact cause of death but indications of poisoning or drug overdose have been found. Viscera samples have been preserved for further examination," circle officer (Fatehpur) Ashutosh Shivam said.

Bhuta police station inspector Sunil Kumar added, "Anuj and Sunny confessed during questioning that they had consumed drugs and alcohol with Sagar. The overdose caused Sagar to collapse. Panicking, they dragged his body to a field and left him there."

Sagar, a Class 8 student, was staying with his maternal uncle Om Prakash in Anand Vihar Colony, Bareilly, according to the police.

His body was discovered Sunday morning near Adalakhia village in the Izzatnagar police station area.

Initially, a postmortem was conducted, treating it as an unidentified case. However, the Baradari police had registered a missing persons complaint filed by Om Prakash on December 7, an official said.

Following the identification of the body, CCTV footage near the incident site showed Anuj and Sunny dragging Sagar. This led to their detention, the official added.

The incident sparked protest in Sagar's village, with residents blocking the road and demanding a second postmortem.

Sapna Singh, known for her roles in TV programmes Crime Patrol and Mati Ki Banno, returned from Mumbai on Tuesday to find her son dead.

She broke down upon seeing his body and demanded justice. The police added a murder case following the protests and filed a fresh FIR at the Bhuta police station.
Several opposition MPs on Wednesday greeted their Bharatiya Janata Party counterparts in Parliament premises with the tricolour in one hand and a red rose in the other, as they urged the ruling party to ensure that the House functions and all issues, including the Adani matter, is discussed.

This is the latest in a series of unusual daily demonstrations led by the Congress over the Adani issue.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MPs from the Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Left parties, among others, stood in front of the Makar Dwar steps with most of them carrying a small tricolour card and a red rose.

The MPs said they want to present this to their BJP counterparts and urge them to ensure that the House functions and all issues ,including the Adani matter, is discussed.

Many MPs also carried placards with slogans 'Don't let the country be sold'.

This comes a day after MPs carried dark blue 'jholas' with caricatures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani printed on one side and 'Modi-Adani Bhai-Bhai' written on the obverse.

They had on Tuesday raised slogans against the alleged collusion between Modi and Adani and demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the matter.

On Monday, leaders of some Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties had protested in the Parliament complex over the Adani row, with Rahul Gandhi conducting a mock 'interview' over the issue with Congress members wearing masks of Modi and Adani.

The opposition protests on the Adani issue have been taking place in the Parliament complex since the start of the Winter session.

The Congress and some other opposition parties have been demanding a JPC probe following the indictment of Adani and other company officials in a US court.

The Congress has said Adani's indictment 'vindicates' its demand for a JPC probe into the various 'scams' involving the billionaire industrialist's conglomerate.

The Adani Group has dismissed all allegations as 'baseless'.
A dismissed policeman allegedly killed a married woman, with whom he was in a relationship, after a heated argument and then buried the body behind an under-construction building in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, officials said.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The accused, Naresh alias Narendra Pandurang Dahule (40), has been arrested in neighbouring Chandrapur district and charged with murder and destruction of evidence, they said.

The accused once worked in the police force, but was dismissed from service, the police said on Tuesday without providing more details.

The victim, also aged 40 and a resident of Chimur in Chandrapur district, was married and had a son.

Dahule and the woman, who were classmates during their school years, rekindled their relationship through Facebook in August, the police said.

They soon got into a romantic relationship and decided to elope. However, on November 26, while attempting to carry out their plan, the couple had a heated argument over their future together.

In a fit of rage, Dahule allegedly strangled his lover to death, the police said.

To conceal his crime, the man drove around for hours in a stolen car with the body before disposing it of in a septic tank behind an under-construction building in Vela Hari area under Beltarodi police station limits, they said.

The Chandrapur police, investigating the theft of the car used by Dahule, arrested him.

During investigation, which included a thorough examination of phone records and forensic evidence, Dahule confessed to the woman's murder and led the police to the site where he had dumped the body, the police said.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has appointed Rameshwar Naik as the head of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde attend the special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

Naik replaced Mangesh Chivte, considered a close aide of former CM Eknath Shinde.

Chivte had been given the post after Shinde took over as Maharashtra's CM in June 2022.

Naik earlier headed the medical aid cell of the deputy chief minister when Fadnavis held the post.

CM's Relief Fund provides assistance to deserving families and individuals affected by natural calamities or the loss of life of relatives in accidents, or for treatment for major diseases.
The Congress and several other Opposition parties on Wednesday accused Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar of being the "biggest disruptor" in the House and alleged he was acting as a "government spokesperson" for his "next promotion", as they defended their move to seek the removal of the Vice President.

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with other INDIA alliance leaders address a press conference at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. Photograph: @kharge/X

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a no-holds barred attack against the Vice President, who is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, saying his "partisan" conduct in the House prompted them to move a notice for his ouster and that it has harmed the country's dignity. It was for the first time in Parliament's history that a move has been initiated by the Opposition to remove the House Chairman through a no-confidence motion.

Addressing a press conference along with leaders of other opposition INDIA bloc parties, Kharge alleged that Dhankhar was acting like a "school headmaster", often sermonising experienced Opposition leaders and preventing them from speaking in the House.

"We have no hesitation in saying that the biggest disruptor in the Rajya Sabha is the Chairman himself," he said, adding, "His loyalty is towards the ruling party, instead of the Constitution and constitutional traditions. We can see that he is acting as a government spokesperson for the sake of his next promotion."

Alleging that politics has taken precedence over rules in the Upper House of Parliament, Kharge said the Chairman's conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the high post he holds.

Meanwhile, Dhankhar, who was addressing a programme in Jaipur, said there are forces in the country and outside who are unable to digest India's progress but he made no reference to the ouster move by the Opposition.

"This act of fragmenting the country, dividing the country, insulting the institutions of the country is being done in a planned manner. We must neutralise every anti-national narrative," Dhankhar said.

The Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day without transacting any business amid uproar by the treasury and opposition benches over the no-trust notice against the House Chairman and the George Soros issue.

Leader of the House J P Nadda condemned the Congress for the no-confidence notice, and said it was an attempt by the opposition party to divert attention from the issue of "ties between the top Congress leadership and Soros".

Nadda further said they are trying to divert attention from the real issue by making accusations against the Chair.

"This is a design to deviate the attention of the nation from the issue of the sovereignty of the country and the threat to internal and external security and the Congress has contributed to it. They are becoming a tool in their (foreign forces') hands in supporting them and there should be a discussion on this.

"I also want to point out that the manner in which Congress is making allegations against the Chair is condemnable. It should be condemned by one and all," the Leader of the House said.

"They have never respected the Chair, be it inside or outside the House -- the way they have made comments against the Chair's decision and those sitting on constitutional posts," he alleged.

Defending the House Chairman, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said Dhankhar, a son of farmer, has been a protector of the dignity of the House.

"Opposition does not believe in democracy. It does not obey the Chair," he said. "You level baseless allegations (against the chair). You have no right to be a member of Rajya Sabha if you cannot honour and obey the Chair."

He went on to state that the treasury benches will defend any move to attack the honour and dignity of the Chair. "We will not allow this."

At his news conference, Kharge said that in the 75th year of adoption of the Constitution the Opposition parties have been forced to bring the motion as the Chairman's actions in the last three years have been opposed to the dignity of his post.

He said sometimes the Chairman praises the government, calls himself 'eklavya' of the RSS, looks at the Opposition leaders as opponents and his conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the post he holds.

The Chairman makes comments on the Opposition leaders with a vast experience in different fields and schools them like a headmaster, he said, adding that while the Opposition leaders speak for five minutes, the Chairman himself speaks for 10 minutes.

"Politics has taken precedence over rules in the Rajya Sabha and the Chairman has indulged in partisan behaviour," he alleged.

"The Rajya Sabha Chairman's conduct in the House has harmed the country's dignity," Kharge also alleged.

"The notice for the Rajya Sabha Chairman's removal is not about personal grievances or political battles. We are fed up with his behaviour and partiality. That is why we have given the notice for his removal," he said. "This (behaviour) is not just a breach of protocol but a betrayal of the Constitution and the people of India."

Kharge was backed by other Opposition leaders, who said they have never witnessed such partisan behaviour from the Chairman.

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said there is a blatant attack on the country's democracy in Parliament by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and added that Opposition members, including the Leader of Opposition, is not allowed to raise issues.

Trinamool Congress leader Nadimul Haque endorsed Kharge's views. "We are not allowed to express ourselves in the Rajya Sabha," Haque said. "This is not a fight against an individual, this is a fight to protect one of India's most important institutions -- Parliament."

Javed Ali Khan of the Samajwadi Party said the Opposition has been totally made invisible in the Rajya Sabha.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Manoj Jha also said the Opposition has been "invisibilised" in Parliament.

Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut said, "It seems that the Chairman is not running Parliament but a circus. He eats up the time by speaking himself."

Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and John Brittas of the CPI(M), Sarfaraz Ahmad of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Fouzia Khan of the NCP (SP) and TMC's Sagarika Ghose, among others, were present on the dais at the press conference.

While no leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party were present, Congress's Jairam Ramesh said they had to skip the event as they had an appointment at the Election Commission.
Several Muslim families in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur have adopted surnames such as Dubey, Pandey, and Tiwari, claiming their ancestors were Hindus.

Image is used for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

This transformation stems from a campaign led by the Vishal Bharat Sansthan, an organisation encouraging individuals in the Purvanchal region of the state "to reconnect with their roots" to end religious conflicts.

Naushad Ahmed, now known as Naushad Ahmed Dubey, said, "I discovered my ancestors were Brahmins. My father, Lal Bahadur Dubey, was later known as Lal Bahadur Sheikh."

A resident of Dehri village in Kerakat tehsil, he asserted that he follows Islamic practices such as namaz and fasting, but has started caring for cows and now owns nine of them.

"I haven't changed my religion, just my surname, to honour my ancestors," he said. However, none of the family members have changed their surname.

The campaign has inspired others in the village which has a sizeable Muslim population.

Sheikh Abdullah, now Sheikh Abdullah Dubey, said he has adopted the Dubey surname but continues to practice Islam. He declined to engage in Hindu rituals like reciting the Hanuman Chalisa or idol worship.

Ehtesham Ahmed, another resident, acknowledged his Brahmin lineage but refrained from using a Hindu surname, saying, "Adopting a surname doesn't mean practising Hindu rituals."

Naushad, who faced backlash after getting his full name printed on his daughter's wedding invitation, revealed, "Some people spread rumours that I have converted my religion, causing the marriage to be called off. However, I didn't justify myself to anyone."

The local Kerakat police station in-charge Avneesh Kumar Rai on Tuesday held a meeting in the village following threats to Naushad's family.

"We will identify and act against mischief-makers," he assured them.

Meanwhile, Jaunpur Superintendent of Police Ajaypal Sharma told PTI that extra police personnel have deployed in the area as a preventive measure even though, there have been no official complaints in the cases. "We are maintaining communication with all locals."

Rajeev 'Guruji', the national president of Vishal Bharat Sansthan, said the organisation's work aims to help people rediscover their ancestry.

"Through our 'Reconnect with Roots' initiative, many have come forward to explore their family histories," he said.

He added that the campaign has extended beyond Jaunpur, with families in Azamgarh, Ghazipur, and Varanasi also adopting Hindu surnames.

He claimed that Kunwar Naseem Raza Sikarwar of Ghazipur and others like Irshad Ahmed Pandey and Rehan Dubey have played pivotal roles in this movement.

When asked about the motivation for the initiative, Rajeev said, "The aim of this campaign is to end religious conflicts. If people know their roots, they can forget their mutual animosity."

"Any religion can be changed but caste cannot be changed. There are as many castes in Muslims as there are in Hindus. Muslims also have Brahmins, Thakurs, and Vaishyas. In such a situation, if we find out their roots and prove that a particular person is also a Brahmin, then people can forget their mutual animosity," he told PTI.

He further said, "To find this, we investigate the gazetteer, old land papers and also examine other relevant old documents, we get the name given according to them and prove that a particular person belongs to which caste."

He said the campaign was launched five years ago but has started bearing results in the districts of Purvanchal only two years ago.
United States President-elect Donald Trump took a jab at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the social media platform Truth Social, describing him as the 'Governor of Canada'.

IMAGE: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves a hotel in West Palm Beach, after a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump at the latter's residences of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on November 30, 2024. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago last week for a dinner with Trump to discuss the President-elect's warning to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canada if its government failed to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs from the country into the United States.

In a post on Truth Social mocking the Canadian prime minister, Trump said, 'It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.'

During the dinner, when Trudeau said that such a tariff would destroy the Canadian economy, the President-elect reportedly told him to make Canada the 51st state of the United States.

Trump repeated this in an interview with NBC News over the weekend and again in the post on Tuesday.

'I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all! DJT,' Trump said in his post.

'The president-elect's mockery of Canada and its leader is the latest salvo after his promise to impose steep tariffs on Canadian exports,' The New York Times reported.
In an era where cyber threats loom large, the Australian Government is taking decisive action to protect small businesses with the Small Business Cyber Resilience Service.

This free, expert-driven service provides small enterprises and sole traders with the tools, guidance, and support needed to bolster their cyber resilience and recover swiftly from incidents.

Who can benefit?

Eligible businesses include those that:

Have 19 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (excluding the business owner).

(excluding the business owner). Are registered in Australia, actively trading, and hold a valid ABN.

What does the service offer?

The program delivers comprehensive support aimed at building resilience and guiding businesses through recovery after a cyber incident. Key features of the service include:

Customized Cyber Security Plans: Experts work directly with business owners to create a plan tailored to their specific needs, risks, and capabilities.

Experts work directly with business owners to create a plan tailored to their specific needs, risks, and capabilities. Actionable Recommendations: The service identifies practical actions and tools suited to each businesss circumstances.

The service identifies practical actions and tools suited to each businesss circumstances. Recovery Assistance: Support is provided to help businesses navigate the recovery process, including step-by-step guidance on mitigating damage.

Support is provided to help businesses navigate the recovery process, including step-by-step guidance on mitigating damage. Case Management Support: Dedicated case managers offer assistance throughout the recovery journey, including mental health support to help business owners cope with the stress of cyber incidents.

Dedicated case managers offer assistance throughout the recovery journey, including mental health support to help business owners cope with the stress of cyber incidents. Referrals to Additional Resources: Businesses are directed to other relevant support services when necessary.

Equipped for todays threats

With access to the latest technology and a team of skilled cyber advisors, the service is designed to meet the unique needs of small businesses. Whether its guidance following an attack or proactive measures to enhance security, businesses can rely on this service to navigate the complex digital landscape. This initiative is fully funded by the Australian Government, ensuring that eligible businesses can access vital support without incurring any costs.

With cyberattacks becoming increasingly common, small businesses are particularly vulnerable due to limited resources for robust security measures. Cyber incidents can lead to financial loss, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. By offering tailored, practical, and free assistance, the Small Business Cyber Resilience Service aims to empower businesses to stay ahead of threats and recover effectively when incidents occur.

This new service represents a critical step forward in ensuring small businesses have the tools and support they need to navigate the digital era with confidence. Business owners are encouraged to take advantage of the program to bolster their cyber defenses and safeguard their future.

How can you access the service?

You can get support by:

calling the Small Business Cyber Resilience Service helpline on 1800 595 170

submitting a request through the online form.

The helpline is available from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm AEST.

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Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday once again ruled out the possibility of an alliance with the Congress for the Delhi assembly polls, amid reports that the two parties could join hands for the election in the capital.

IMAGE: AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference in New Delhi. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

In a post on X, Kejriwal said the AAP will contest the election on its own strength in Delhi.

"There is no possibility of any alliance with the Congress," the former Delhi chief minister said.

His remarks came amid media reports that the two parties are likely to have a tie-up for the polls to the 70-member Delhi Assembly due in February.

Earlier this month also, Kejriwal had ruled out the possibility of an alliance between his party and the Congress for the Delhi election.

The recent buzz over an alliance between the two Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners was fuelled by the cancellation of the Congress's "Nyay Chaupal" event scheduled for Wednesday. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was supposed to participate in the event to mark the culmination of the "Nyay Yatra" taken out by the party ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls.

Kejriwal met Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday amid a rising demand in the INDIA bloc to appoint West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the head of the alliance that is currently chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

However, neither Kejriwal nor the AAP has so far commented on the discussions that took place at the meeting with Pawar.

These developments are being seen as the Congress and the AAP making their moves cautiously in view of the upcoming Delhi polls, so that future options remain open, sources said.

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said reports suggesting any possible alliance between his party and the Congress are "completely baseless".

"There is no scope for any alliance in Delhi. I urge everyone not to propagate such baseless rumours. The AAP is fully prepared to contest the election independently," Chadha asserted.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said Kejriwal, the party's national convenor, has cleared it now that no alliance with the Congress is in the offing in Delhi.

The AAP will contest the election independently and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "comprehensively again, like it did in 2015 and 2020, winning 67 and 62 seats respectively", Singh asserted.

The AAP and the Congress contested the Lok Sabha election in Delhi together earlier this year but were defeated from all the seven seats by the BJP. However, the two parties failed to finalise a seat-sharing deal for the Haryana Assembly polls in October despite several rounds of talks.

The AAP has so far released two lists containing the names of 31 candidates for the Delhi polls. The names of the remaining candidates are expected to be announced soon.

Out of power in Delhi since 1998, the BJP is making all-out efforts to dethrone the AAP from the capital.
Iran's ambassador to India, Iraj Ilahi, expressed concern about the stability and security of the "whole region" following the collapse of the Syrian government, highlighting Tehran's worries about the potential wider ramifications of the situation.

IMAGE: Smoke rises in Damascus on December 8, 2024, after Syrian rebels declared victory. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Ilahi also emphasized the importance of promoting tourism between India and Iran, citing their shared cultural heritage and the recent easing of visa restrictions.

Interacting with PTI on the sidelines of an Iranian food festival in New Delhi, the ambassador touched upon the civilisational ties between India and Iran, and asserted that "we are at the beginning of a new era of promotion of tourism between the two countries".

Ilahi's comments on the situation in Syria and its potential wider ramifications come days after the Syrian government collapsed on Sunday as the rebels seized control of the capital Damascus after capturing several other prominent cities and towns.

Assad fled the country after the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus, marking the end of his family's 50-year rule.

Russian state media reported that Assad is in Moscow and will be given asylum. His nearly 14-year tenure was marked by civil war, bloodshed and brutal crackdown on his political opponents.

"It is very soon to judge about the current situation in the region. Iran has concerns regarding the stability and security of the whole region," Ilahi said.

He alleged that Israel is following its "expansionism policy" and has "violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria". It has "struck different military bases" of that country, the envoy charged.

Multiple reports in international media claimed that Israeli forces have struck against many "strategic targets" in Syria since the ouster of the Assad regime.

"So, we have concern regarding security of the whole region, not just Syria or Iran. The uncertainty of the region is the main concern of Iran. We are not thinking about our security, but our concern is the security and stability of the whole region, which will affect the prosperity and living standard of whole nations who are in the region," Ilahi said.

Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is monitoring the unfolding developments in Syria and advocated a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process going forward in that country.

On the bilateral ties with India, the Iranian ambassador said "people-to-people (ties) is one of the most... part of Iranian diplomacy".

This policy, regarding India, is "more important" for it, he added.

"We have too many common heritage, Iranian cuisine, Iranian chai and Iranian customs is famous in India and Indian cuisine and Indian heritage is famous in Iran. So, we have taken some measures to introduce Iranian heritage to India to attract the Indian tourists to Iran, and also we have taken some measures to facilitate the visit of Indians to Iran," the envoy said.

He also touched upon the aspect of Iran having waived visa for India among other countries.

Iran has waived visa for more than 40 countries and more than half of the world's population can travel to Iran without needing any visa.

"Besides, we are in close contact with different airways to open new flights between Iran and India... So, we are at the beginning of a new era of promotion of tourism between the two countries," he added.

The envoy said Iran is in "close contact" with India's tourism minister and Iranians are "keen to visit India". The natural and historical places of Iran are attractive for Iranians, he said.

"So, we hope that such measures like the food festival can bridge the two nations and can facilitate better knowledge of the countries, inshallah (God willing), we in near future, will witness more Iranian tourists in India and at the same time we will host more Indians in Iran," Ilahi said.

He also shared that recently he had a "constructive" and a "very good" meeting with a deputy minister of India and they discussed different issues, especially "bottleneck" in promotion of trade between the two countries.

"We agreed to take common measures and steps to remove these bottlenecks and we inshallah will increase import of different commodities from India. As we are now importing rice, tea, banana, etc., still there are goods available in India, which we in Iran need and we are importing them from other countries," the envoy said.

"We are keen to import from India. And in this regard, we need some G2G (government-to-government) meetings, which we have planned to have in the near future. And we also need B2B (business-to-business) meetings to get Iranian businessmen closer to the Indian businessmen," he added.
Prohibitory orders were imposed in central Maharashtra's Parbhani city on Wednesday as violent protests rocked the city for second day over the vandalising of a replica of the Indian Constitution, police said.

IMAGE: A team of Nanded police patrols in violence-hit Maharashtra's Parbhani city. Photograph: ANI on X

Amid the bandh called by Ambedkarite activists, a mob indulged in arson and the district collector's office was vandalised, officials said.

Prohibitory orders were imposed in the city, banning the gathering of five or more persons in public places, and a company of the State Reserve Police Force has been called in to help maintain law and order, said a senior official.

A glass-encased cement replica of the Constitution outside Parbhani railway station, close to a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, was found to have been damaged on Tuesday, sparking protests.

Police arrested a man in connection with the incident, but protests resumed on Wednesday morning.

"PVC pipes outside a shop were set ablaze around 1 pm today. As the mob became violent, police fired tear gas shells and dispersed them," said acting Superintendent of Police Yeshwant Kale.

The protesters were demanding that police should find who was behind Tuesday's incident of vandalising, he told PTI.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the collector's office, and some of them including women activists rushed inside and damaged furniture and window panes before police brought the situation under control, said Inspector General of Police Shahji Umap.

Protesters were supposed to hand over a memorandum to the collector in the morning and return peacefully, but some of them attacked signboards of shops and CCTVs along the way and tyres were also burnt on the road, he said.

Bandh was also observed in Vasmat area of the district, local officials said.

Protesters had blocked the railway tracks at Parbhani station on Tuesday evening and roughed up the loco-pilot of the Nandigram Express.

IG Umap who reviewed the law and order situation appealed people not to target public property and resort to violence.

Varsha Gaikwad, Ambedkarite leader and Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai, demanded a thorough investigation.

"How can anyone insult the Constitution....those arrested should be thoroughly questioned to find who is the mastermind," she said.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar blamed the initial "lax approach" of the government and local administration after the incident came to light. Had necessary action been taken promptly, the violence could have been avoided, he said.

Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Aaditya Thackeray said desecration of the Constitution's replica was condemnable.

Demanding strict action against the culprits, he also appealed to the protesters to conduct their agitation peacefully.
It hasn't exactly been a good few days for Vladimir Putin.

One of his proxies in the Middle East -- an eye doctor named Bashar al-Assad -- fled his country and sought sanctuary in Moscow, leaving Russia's military bases in Syria in grave peril.

Then his arch foe Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned up in Paris alongside Donald Trump with the US president-elect calling for the war in Ukraine to end.

But you wouldn't know that if you saw the video of Putin jauntily marching up to his meeting with our raksha mantri at the Kremlin on Tuesday, December 11, 2024.

IMAGE: Doesn't the usually dour Putin seem pleased to meet Rajnath Singh, here and below? All photographs: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Rajnath Singh's encounter with Putin took place on the sidelines of the 21st India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation.

'Friendship between our countries is higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean,' the defence minister told the Russian president.

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
The cabinet expansion of the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government is likely to take place by December 14, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis with state Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar along with Maha Yuti MLAs pay tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ahead of the special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on December 7, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Fadnavis left for Delhi on Wednesday, his office said, adding it was a courtesy visit, the first after becoming the chief minister, as he would be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Talking to PTI, a BJP leader said the Shiv Sena would not get the home department and was also unlikely to be allocated the revenue portfolio.

Talks are getting delayed because three parties (Mahayuti allies the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party) are involved, the politician said.

"The cabinet expansion is likely by December 14. The allocation of home department to Shiv Sena is ruled out. The Shiv Sena may get urban development, but is unlikely to get revenue," said the leader, who did not wish to be named.

The BJP is expected to keep 21 to 22 ministerial berths, including the CM's post, the leader said, adding that four to five ministerial berths may be kept vacant.

Shiv Sena leader and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was not travelling to the national capital, as per his office.

On December 5, Fadnavis took oath as CM along with Shinde and NCP leader Ajit Pawar as his deputies, after the Mahayuti alliance won 230 of the 288 seats in the state assembly polls.

The Maharashtra cabinet can have a maximum of 43 ministers, including the chief minister.
'Using only the light on their mobile phones, wailing men and women examined disfigured bodies lying in a darkened hospital morgue in Syria's capital for signs of their relatives who had disappeared into Bashar al-Assad's notorious prison system,' Reuters reported.

'Dozens of corpses -- blackened, decomposing and missing limbs or heads -- were found overnight by rescuers digging for hidden cells at Sednaya, a prison north of Damascus, where rights groups said torture and mass executions had been common,' Reuters added.

IMAGE: People look at bodies, believed to be of prisoners from Sednaya prison, according to forensic official Zaher al-Taqesh, at the Al Mojtahed hospital, after rebels seized the capital and ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, December 10, 2024. All Photographs : Mohamed Azakir /Reuters

IMAGE: Women look at a body believed to be of a prisoner from Sednaya prison.

IMAGE: People look at bodies, believed to be of prisoners from Sednaya prison, here and below.

IMAGE: A woman reacts in horror as she looks at the bodies.

IMAGE: Men carry a body, believed to be of a prisoner from Sednaya prison.

IMAGE: A woman walks next to bodies recovered from Sendaya prison.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
A teenage girl from Bangladesh was arrested by West Bengal Police after the Border Security Force apprehended her after she allegedly crossed the border and illegally entered the Indian territory in Uttar Dinajpur district, an officer said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Samast Hindu Samaj members stage a protest against the atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh, in Jammu on December 10, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The 17-year-old girl claimed to have fled after her family members were allegedly threatened by fundamentalists there for being ISKCON devotees.

"The girl has some relatives in Jalpaiguri district. We have got in touch with them. We are trying to find out what made her cross the border and come to this side and who helped her in doing so," the police officer of Chopra police station said.

The girl, who is a resident of Panchagarh district of Bangladesh, crossed the border on foot when the BSF spotted her near the Fatehpur Border outpost in Chopra block of Uttar Dinajpur district, he added.

"They are devotees of ISKCON. Fundamentalists have threatened to kidnap her and murder the entire family. They were planning to send her here. She was about to come to India but we had no confirmation about the date," one of the teenager's relatives told PTI over the phone.

Her father, a medical representative, has been ill for quite some time, the relative said.

Bangladesh has been on the boil since the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Dhaka on November 25 when the country witnessed several incidents of atrocities on the Hindu minorities there.

Reacting to the incident, ISKCON Kolkata Vice President Radaramn Das requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene in the matter.

"It is heartbreaking and deeply distressing to learn about a minor girl from Bangladesh who, in sheer desperation, tried to cross into India alone, only to be arrested by the BSF and thrown into juvenile custody," Das said in a post on X.

Her parents, both gravely ill, urged her to cross over to India because of the conditions in Bangladesh and their fear for her safety, he said.

They had no choice but to entrust their daughter's life to the hope of finding refuge with their relatives in India, he said.

"How can we, as a nation, ignore such a plea for help? How can we turn away a vulnerable child seeking safety and love? I humbly and urgently request @HMOIndia to intervene with compassion and humanity, and allow this innocent girl to live with her relatives," Das added.
Two people have been detained and are being questioned by Meerut police in connection with the alleged kidnapping and extortion of comedian Sunil Pal.

IMAGE: Comedian Sunil Pal. Photograph: ANI Photo

Pal's wife visited the Lal Kurti police station in Meerut with three lawyers to inquire about the matter today.

Last week, Pal claimed that he was abducted while on his way to Uttarakhand for a show. He claimed the kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 20 lakh, but he managed to secure his release after paying Rs 8 lakh, which he collected from some friends. The comedian said he was dropped by the side of a road in Meerut, from where he made his way to the Delhi airport and flew to Mumbai.

Mumbai's Santa Cruz police had initially registered a case of kidnapping and extortion based on Pal's complaint but later transferred the investigation to their counterparts in Meerut.

"The kidnapping case of comedian Sunil Pal has been transferred from Mumbai to Meerut. While the case was initially registered in Mumbai, Meerut Police will now also investigate the matter," Superintendent of Police (Meerut City) Ayush Vikram Singh told PTI on Wednesday.

He added that two suspects are currently in custody and are being interrogated, while further investigations are ongoing.

The police are also looking into an audio clip that has surfaced online, in which Pal allegedly discusses the kidnapping plan with an unidentified person, mentioning his wife's awareness of the situation and media discussions about the episode.

Pal's wife, Sarita, claimed the viral audio clip had been edited.

"The audio is incomplete, it was cut and edited. Sunil was intimidated before the audio was recorded. Once the accused are apprehended, the situation will become clear," she told reporters.

Regarding the ransom, she said, "Initially, Rs 20 lakh was demanded, but we gave them Rs 8 lakh. Later, Sunil called some friends to seek help."

She said Pal is currently at home but is unwell, which is why she came to Meerut to meet police officials.

When asked about any connection to the recent kidnapping case of Bollywood actor Mushtaq Khan, Sarita said she had no knowledge of it.

Khan, best known for his roles in "Welcome," "Stree 2," and "Gadar 2," also alleged kidnapping and extortion on the pretext of being invited to an event in Meerut last month. An FIR in that case was filed on Tuesday in Bijnor district and the matter is under investigation by the police.
A two-member team of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) met Rohingya Muslims at a slum in Jammu amid a heated debate whether the illegally settled immigrants be provided water and electricity.

IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir Police conducting verification drives to intensify the crackdown on illegal Rohingya settlements in the region, in Jammu. Photograph: ANI Photo

Senior Protection Officer Tomoko Fukumura along with Protection Associate Ragini Trakroo Zutushi on Monday met the Rohingya Muslims and some local residents in the Kiryani Talab area of Narwal, an official said on Wednesday.

He said the head of the team would return to Delhi on Wednesday evening as their attempt to meet some police officials failed.

On December 7, Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana said the water supply would not be snapped to the slums housing the immigrants, pending a call from the Centre on their deportation.

Rana's statement came after Rohingyas living on three plots of land in the Narwal area of Jammu claimed that their power and water supply were snapped recently despite being registered with the UNHCR.

Two days later, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Centre should decide the fate of the Rohingya population settled in Jammu, asserting that they could not be allowed to die of starvation or cold.

"It is a humanitarian issue. The central government should decide about them (Rohingyas). If they are to be sent back, do that. If you can, send them back. If you cannot send them back, we cannot starve them to death. They cannot be allowed to die of cold," Abdullah had told reporters.

"The Government of India should tell us what we have to do with them. As long as they are here, we need to take care of them," he added.

Abdullah, the National Conference vice president, also asserted that they did not bring the Rohingyas to Jammu.

"They have been brought and settled here. If there is a change in policy at the Centre, take them back. As long as they are here, we cannot treat them like animals. They are humans and they should be treated as such," he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, called the settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals in Jammu a major 'political conspiracy' and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe to identify those involved in bringing and settling them in Jammu.

Hitting out at the National Conference government over granting water and power connections to the settlers, the BJP alleged it was being done to protect them as they belonged to a 'particular community'.

According to government data, more than 13,700 foreigners, most of them Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals, are settled in Jammu and other districts of Jammu and Kashmir, where their population increased by over 6,000 between 2008 and 2016.

In March 2021, police found more than 270 Rohingyas, including women and children, living illegally in Jammu city during a verification drive and lodged them at a holding centre inside the Kathua sub-jail.

On November 25, Senior Superintendent of Police, city south Jammu, Ajay Sharma said 18 FIRs were registered in a major drive against the landlords renting out their properties to Rohingyas and others without providing information to police as per the order of the district magistrate.

"The civil administration has also launched a drive to identify the people who facilitated electricity and water connections to the plots housing Rohingyas," Sharma had said.

India, not being a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, views Rohingyas as 'illegal immigrants'.

The convention outlines refugee rights and the legal obligations of countries to protect them.
'Our gagged silence today portrays the silencing of justice, but our protest signify our love for India and justice.'

Manipur MLAs, all from the Kuki-Zo community, held a 'silent protest' at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Tuesday, demanding a separate administration and funds from the central government for development projects.

They submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra D Modi.

The MLAs refused to speak to the media, and issued the statement which said that because they have 'been lent a deaf ear for the past 19 months by the Government of India; they were 'symbolically wearing gags to portray our voice and therefore the voice of our people have been muted.'

'Our gagged silence today portrays the silencing of justice, but our protest signify our love for India and justice. We want an early end to ethnic cleansing violence against our people who are citizens of this great nation, India, that is Bharat,' the statement further said.

The MLAs also signed a memorandum, addressed to Prime Minister Modi, listing their demands for the strife-torn state, including expediting political dialogue to restore peace, seeking funds for development of hill areas, where Kuki-Zo tribals live.

The violence between Manipur's Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has claimed at least 260 lives and left tens of thousands displaced from their homes.

IMAGE: Kukis MLAs stage a silent protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, here and below, demanding the restoration of peace in violence-affected Manipur. All photographs: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Meanwhile in Imphal, Manipur's capital city, Meiteis protested against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), and the killing of civilians by terrorists, here and below.

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
FPT Corps $200 million partnership with Nvidia is the result of its decade-long commitment to technological innovation and daring decision to fully embrace AI, its chief has said.

Over the last year FPT has emerged as one of Nvidias key partners, working together to establish AI factories in Vietnam and Japan. Speaking to VnExpress, FPT chairman Truong Gia Binh revisits his meeting with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in December 2023, and shares his vision for AIs future in Vietnam.

-You have more than once used the term bet to describe FPT's investment in AI. What were your considerations when making such a decisive commitment?

Saying that FPT is placing a bet on AI reflects our strong confidence in its success. In the past, when we decided to go global, we avoided using the term "bet" because we anticipated potential failure and immense challenges. Now, however, we use it because we believe this decision is the right one.

Why? First, global corporations are investing heavily in AI, with annual spending doubling in some cases and reaching hundreds of billions of dollars. Nvidia, now valued at over $3 trillion, struggles to meet surging global demand for AI chips. While many countries are on the waiting list, Vietnam already has access.

Second, "betting" means approaching it differently. Traditionally, we approached software investments by conducting thorough market research, meticulously analyzing potential buyers, estimating demand and establishing timelines. With AI, that approach would be too slow. Instead, we have reversed the process, prioritizing infrastructure development and studying the market afterward.

This is our gamble, and we firmly believe the future will be driven by AI.

-When do you expect to see results from this move?

At FPT, we typically review overall strategies annually. But for AI, we reassess and refine strategies four times a year. Every FPT unit is tasked with researching AI and reporting on initiatives, the number of AI assistants in development or operation, and the revenue generated. We have never been more determined or decisive in any endeavor.

This approach delivers measurable progress weekly and monthly. A significant achievement is our rapid development of AI infrastructure services. Beyond installing and deploying servers upon arrival, we are building platforms that streamline the process of turning data into profit at these AI plants.

-How did FPT convince Nvidia to partner with you and supply their highly sought-after AI chips?

Convincing Nvidia was an achievement, but it is important to note that they also worked hard to convince FPT to form a comprehensive partnership.

At a recent AI conference in Japan, Nvidia recognized FPT as one of their top four priority partners globally. They also announced that FPT is currently their only partner offering both AI factories and consulting servicesproviding not just infrastructure and products but also end-to-end support to help customers implement and optimize AI.

While many companies only offer hardware or software, we provide both along with the critical expertise needed to address any problems that may arise. We innovate, produce and assist clients in AI transformation. This differentiates us; no one else is doing this.

Nvidia equipment used in FPT's AI factory. Photo by VnExpress/Van Anh

-Less than half a year after your meeting with Huang, FPT and Nvidia announced plans for a $200 million AI factory in April. How did you achieve this?

We have been pursuing technology and investing in AI for over a decade. Every year we discuss which technologies will stand out in the coming year, what might dominate in five years, and which will define the next decade. This long-term vision has enabled us to consistently prepare our workforce and develop products. Today FPT possesses comprehensive technical expertise for research, deployment and model-building independently.

Meanwhile, Nvidia has focused on developing core technologies, producing chips with immense computing power. Their upcoming Blackwell chip, set for release in Q1 2025, will far surpass current models. At this stage Nvidia needs partners like FPT.

First, few companies are willing or able to invest in cutting-edge equipment and build AI teams. Nvidia values companies that have proven themselves and can replicate their success for others. This is the foundation of our collaboration. Moreover, our team has earned Nvidia certification, ensuring mastery of their technology.

Second, Nvidia seeks to expand AI applications across sectors. FPTs experience spans industries including software, education, telecommunications, retail, pharmaceuticals, and media. Our collaboration extends across nearly all of our domains, and we aim to explore further areas covered by Nvidia.

-What is your outlook on AI implementation in Vietnam?

Huang has described the emergence of AI factories as one of the most significant technological events since the advent of the PC and the Internet. AI factories transform data into intelligence essentially, into economic value. This is the most critical shift of our time. Simply put, an AI factory converts raw data into financial outcomes.

These factories are designed to serve everyone, offering significant benefits particularly to start-ups. In my view, this is a pivotal turning point.

Humans have already delegated most physical labor to machines; now we are passing intellectual tasks to them. Machines will become personal assistants, while humans focus on leading and managing these virtual assistants.

Vietnam will see thousands of AI specialists, each creating mature AI models that permeate every aspect of life. These AI assistants can simultaneously help millions of people, significantly boosting productivity. Once automated, AI can operate at superhuman speeds, far exceeding human capabilities.

FPT Chairman Truong Gia Binh. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

-What challenges must be addressed to realize this future?

Our AI factory is still in its infancy and will require time to mature. In the short term a major challenge will be the growing demand for skilled workers. Having advanced tools without knowing how to use them can lead to massive losses. Mastering these tools is critical.

A troubling misconception is that AI reduces the need for IT education. The declining number of students pursuing IT studies is alarming. The market should be moving in the opposite direction. As AI becomes capable of coding, we need to learn morenot just IT but IT integrated with AI. Individuals must design their own virtual assistants rather than wait for others to provide them. Without IT and AI skills, job security will be at risk.

We must also shift our perspective: AI does not steal jobs. Those proficient in AI will simply outcompete others. Vietnamese workers should excel at AI to serve both domestic and global markets.

Today AI can simplify tasks in writing, mathematics and screenwriting. But tomorrow, when everyone masters AI, what you create today may lose its relevance.

So how do we prepare? Through learning. Both individuals and businesses must embrace continuous learning.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam has declared digital transformation and technological development as the nations pathway to advancement. The government has prioritized AI in its national development strategy.

On Dec. 10, 2023, his birthday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Nvidia representatives. Acknowledging the occasion and his commitment, Huang pledged to build an "Nvidia Vietnam."

In that meeting I told Huang that Vietnam has one million IT engineers and half a million software developers. He replied saying Vietnam will undoubtedly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the worlds most advanced nations. This is why he chose Vietnam as its second home for Nvidia.

Nvidia is highly selective, partnering only with the best. Being chosen demonstrates not just Vietnams potential but its proven ability to convince the world of its capabilities.
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By Laman Ismayilova



The fourth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye Joint Cultural Commission has convened for its fourth meeting.

The meeting, which took place at Azerbaijan National Library, was co-chaired by Azerbaijan Deputy Minister of Culture Farid Jafarov and Turkiye's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Batuhan Mumcu.

Noting that the Azerbaijan-Turkiye friendship is evident in both bilateral and international formats, Farid Jafarov mentioned that during the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, four additional elements related to Azerbaijan's intangible cultural heritage were included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Two of these were the nomination files for "Craftsmanship and performing art of balaban/mey ", "The Art of Making and Playing the Balaban" and "The Art of Mother-of-Pearl Inlay," which were jointly presented by Azerbaijan and Turkiye.

The acceptance of multinational files on "The Art of Illumination: Tazhib/Tazhib/Zarhalkori/Tezhip/Naqqoshlik" and "Iftar and Related Socio-Cultural Traditions" was also made possible with the participation of Turkiye and Azerbaijan.

Turkiye's DeputyMinister of Culture and Tourism Batuhan Mumcu reminded attendees that the first meeting of the Joint Azerbaijan-Turkiye Commission on Culture took place on March 1, 2021, in Ankara.

Since the third meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye Joint Cultural Commission, attended by the relevant ministries of both countries, cultural cooperation has been further strengthened, and ties between the relevant structures have deepened. Many issues outlined in the report signed at the previous meeting have been resolved, and work continues on the remaining ones.

The leaders of the respective structural units from both ministries subsequently exchanged experiences on cooperation in areas such as cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage, cinema and other audiovisual fields, museum affairs, the book industry, performing arts (theater), cultural and creative industries, improving the regulatory framework, as well as discussing strategic development, project management, and education in the field of culture, as well as international cooperation. The prospects for further collaboration in these areas were also discussed.

Following the presentations, the protocol for the fourth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye Joint Cultural Commission was signed.

The parties agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission in Turkiye in 2025.
Kishin RK, who runs a real estate empire with his tycoon father, is Singapores youngest billionaire with a net worth of US$1.6 billion at the age of 41.

The only son of Singapore real estate billionaire Raj Kumar, Kishin is the only one among the city-states few billionaires under 50 who inherited family wealth.

Despite his privileged beginnings, he is not reliant on his parents and has built successful business ventures that have further boosted his fathers business.

Kishin RK, founder and CEO of property developer RB Capital. Photo courtesy of the World Economic Forum

Kishin attended the elite Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) during his youth and was introduced to the world of real estate by the age of 12, when his father helped him buy his first apartment. Around the same time, he started joining his father in key business meetings, according to Tatler Asia.

He joined the family firm in 2003 after earning a degree in business. Three years later, he decided to sell a 5,000-square-meter apartment gifted by his parents and used the funds to launch RB Capital.

Unlike his family firm's model of acquiring and managing ready-made assets, RB Capital focuses on real estate development, taking on projects across several segments, including retail spaces, office buildings, and hotels.

When it comes to property development, Kishins approach can be summed up as "elegance in simplicity."

"Everything I try to do is very simple and practical, whether it is the way I dress or my design philosophy," he told the Business Times.

Kishin has also branched out to other fields, co-founding online meal delivery company TiffinLabs in 2019, right before Covid-19 disrupted the global economy, Forbes reported. It has since expanded in Singapore and to Thailand and Malaysia.

A while later, he and his father recognized an opportunity to grow both their businesses by collaborating on various projects.

Their first official partnership was the Robertson Quay development, which includes the Quayside neighborhood and the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay luxury hotel.

The duos empire, consisting of Kishins RB Capital and Kumars Royal Holdings, now manages a property portfolio worth an estimated $10 billion in Singapore that includes office towers, malls, and hotels.

Some of their prized properties include the Holiday Inn Express at Clarke Quay, Holiday Inn Singapore Little India, and InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay hotels.

The two tycoons recently announced plans to establish a family office in Abu Dhabi as an extension of their portfolio in Singapore, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Kishin explained that the family office would serve as a way to solidify their presence and facilitate the expansion of their investments in the UAE and the broader Middle East region.

A team is being hired for the venture, which will mostly focus on real estate investments across the retail, commercial, and hospitality sectors.

Outside of work, Kishin is known to be a private individual who avoids social media, instead directing those interested in learning more about him to his business website, according to the South China Morning Post.

He enjoys playing squash, often goes on 10-kilometer runs and has a passion for food.

He shared in a 2020 interview cited by The Straits Times that some of the dishes he loved included laksa, roti prata, chicken rice and Milo dinosaur.

He also mentioned that his biggest indulgence is dining at restaurants around the world and that he had even considered becoming a restaurateur in his younger years.

He tied the knot with jewelry designer Kajal Fabiani, with the couple hosting a private pre-wedding party and an extravagant wedding reception in London, the U.K., last July.

Despite coming from a billionaire family, Kishin is humble and approachable with everyone he meets, according to a close friend of his.

"We often have meals together and he will greet people with the same warmth whether it is the server, a fund manager or a property tycoon  he is equally at ease with everyone," the person said.

Kishins background also means he is often faced with questions about his family, but these do not seem to bother him much.

"The way I look at it, I should capitalize on the base I was provided with. If I have a trampoline in front of me, I am going to jump on it and go as far and high as possible," he said.
Yasaman crossed more than half a dozen countries on foot, bus, and boat and paid thousands of dollars to smugglers to reach Mexico.

Yasaman, an Afghan woman whose name has been changed to protect her identity, believed she was within touching distance of realizing her dream: entering the United States.

But her hopes came crashing down on January 20, when new U.S. President Donald Trump declared an emergency on the southern border with Mexico as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration.

As part of the executive order, U.S. authorities shut down the CBP One mobile app -- the only legal way for migrants to make an appointment with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, request asylum, and enter the country legally.

"I don't know what to do now," said Yasaman, who arrived in Mexico in November 2024. "I'm waiting [for] what Trump will decide next about migrants."

Yasaman, speaking by telephone from Mexico, said she received a notification on January 20 that read: "Existing appointments scheduled through CBP One are no longer valid."

The shutdown of the app will affect thousands of migrants, including Afghans, hoping to enter the United States legally.

Around 1 million appointments had been scheduled through CBP One since it was introduced in January 2023.

Not Happy In Brazil

Mexico has been a relatively new route for thousands of Afghan migrants seeking a new, better life in the United States.

RFE/RL contacted the United Nations refugee agency and the Mexican migration authorities to find out how many U.S.-bound Afghan migrants are currently in Mexico. We have not received a response.

An Afghan migrant who spoke to RFE/RL from the southern Mexican city of Tapachula estimated there were up to 1,500 people from Afghanistan in that city alone.

Karimullah, whose name has been changed over privacy concerns, said Afghan migrants live in rented apartments, relying on the "limited amount of money" they have brought from Afghanistan or borrow from their relatives abroad.

"Families go hungry for days while waiting for money from relatives," he said.

A former civil rights activist, Karimullah fled Afghanistan after the hard-line Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

After running out of money to pay for food and rent and as she was still waiting to get an appointment through CBP One, Yasaman got a job as a kitchen helper at a restaurant in the capital, Mexico City.

Like many other Afghan migrants in Mexico, both Karimullah and Yasaman had already been offered asylum in other safe countries -- in their case Brazil, which has issued thousands of humanitarian visas for Afghan nationals since 2021.

Asked by RFE/RL why they didn't want to stay in Brazil, where they had been given free accommodation and food, both Karimullah and Yasaman said they did not see a "good future" there due to a lack of jobs and other opportunities.

Instead, many Afghans pay money to people-smugglers to take them through Bolivia, Peru, Equador, Colombia, Panama, and other countries to reach the U.S.-Mexico border.

'Life For Immigrants Not What It Used To Be'

Some cross the border illegally. Ehsan Khan, a 26-year-old former driver from Kabul, entered the United States illegally in November 2024, hoping to get settled in the country before Trump closes the U.S. borders.

After spending two months at an immigration detention facility, Khan was released on January 11 with an electronic ankle bracelet for authorities to monitor his movements.

Speaking from San Diego by phone, Khan told RFE/RL that Afghan migrants should think twice before coming to the United States, because "the life in America for immigrants is not what it used to be."

Khan did not give details of his new life in the United States but said it isn't worth the traumatic journey he had through Honduras and Guatemala, where he said he "was beaten by thieves who demanded money" and witnessed his best friend drown in the sea.

"I saw my friend screaming for help as he drowned and I looked helplessly. I wanted to jump into the water, but I knew I couldn't swim. His parents often call me from Kabul and ask about him, and we cry," Khan said.

Back in Mexico City, Yasaman is determined to enter the United States "by any means, legally or illegally."

"I don't have a life or home in Afghanistan to go back to," Yasaman said. "I see my future only in America."
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 correspondent Reid Standish and I'm back after a reporting trip in Taiwan. I'm off again for the holidays but will be back here with another newsletter at the end of the year.

Here's what I'm following right now.

Beijing Watches Assad Fall

The full effects from the swift collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria is still playing out on the ground, but his sudden fall is set to shake up the Middle East and beyond.

Here's what it means for China.

Finding Perspective: China has been aligned with Assad since Syria's civil war began in 2011 but largely through its close ties to Russia and Iran, which backed the Syrian leader.

At the United Nations, Beijing has often voted with Moscow, blocking condemnations of Assad as well as cross-border aid. Beijing supported the Assad regime with eight vetoes at the UN, which is half the total vetoes China has ever used.

Beijing significantly reduced its presence in Syria amid the conflict, though it kept building close ties with Assad, eventually culminating in his state visit to China in 2023.

Chinese investment in Syria was scarce, and beyond a strategic partnership agreement and a pledge to join the Belt and Road Initiative there has been essentially no Chinese investment in Syria and no major contracts with Chinese firms in the country since 2010.

So why did Beijing throw its weight behind Assad?

Revisiting The Arab Spring: For Beijing, the biggest issue was the symbolism and appearance of stability that Assad represented, especially given he was first threatened by a popular uprising that then set the Syrian civil war in motion.

The spread of revolutions in the Arab world in 2011 was alarming for the Chinese Communist Party.

Inside China at the time, popular grumbling with corruption at various levels of government was common, and the party was concerned the protests across the Middle East could inspire its own population, especially given simmering tensions in Tibet and Xinjiang at the time.

Added to that was the rise of the Islamic State in Syria. The war led to thousands of Uyghurs, the predominantly Muslim group from western China, traveling to Syria to fight against the Syrian government.

Many of those fighters said they were there to learn how to use weapons and then return to China, and fears over the return of battle-hardened fighters to Xinjiang was one of the pretexts Xi expressed to top party brass to launch the crackdown and camp system in western China that targeted the Uyghur population, according to a set of leaked internal government documents obtained by the New York Times.

Why It Matters: From this logic, Beijing's support for Assad makes sense, but it's a big bet that hasn't paid off.

The fall of Assad is also a reflection of the weakened regional power of two of its main partners: Iran and Russia.

Their inability to prop up Assad indicates they've been consumed by the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine, which may be a concern for Beijing looking ahead.

The rapid collapse of the Syrian government is also an unwelcome message at home for Beijing, which was reflected in the way Chinese media covered the events for Chinese viewers.

As images circulated around the world of jubilant crowds and the toppling of statues, Chinese state media's coverage on CCTV mostly centered around a fixed live shot of Damascus without a crowd in sight.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. China Flexes Its Muscles Around Taiwan

Beijing said it is taking "necessary measures" to defend the country's sovereignty and will not tolerate "separatist" activities, as Taiwan reported another rise in Chinese warplanes and ships near the island.

The Details: Taiwan's Defense Ministry said China was deploying its largest navy fleet in regional waters in nearly three decades, posing a threat to Taiwan that is more pronounced than previous Chinese war games.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, had been expected to launch drills to express its anger at President Lai Ching-te's tour of the Pacific that ended last week, which included stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam.

Without any announcement from China on military drills, Taiwan officials are calling the ongoing activity a training exercise and warned it could be used to further violate Taiwan's territorial boundaries.

China, which views Lai as a separatist, held major military exercises around Taiwan following his inauguration in May and his National Day speech in October. It also held a major drill after Nancy Pelosi, then the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Taiwan in 2022.

2. The California Connection

A Chinese company that owns a California electronics distributor has sent hundreds of shipments of restricted dual-use technology to Russia since the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine, including to sanctioned companies with ties to the Russian military, my colleagues Mike Eckel and Mark Krutov report.

What You Need To Know: The findings further highlight the difficulty Western countries have had in trying to choke off the Russian military's access to Western technology for use in its weapons and operations as its war on Ukraine continues.

At least one component manufactured by the company, Yangzhou Yangjie Electronic Technology Company Limited, was found in a Russian weapons guidance system recovered from the battlefield in Ukraine, according to a public database maintained by the Ukrainian military.

Yangjie Technology, located in the city of Yangzhou northwest of Shanghai, has sent more than 200 shipments of specific goods to Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to customs records obtained by C4ADS, a Washington-based, nonprofit data-analysis and global-research organization.

The listed contents of those shipments -- totaling at least 238 -- included electronic components categorized as "high-priority" by the United States due to their potential use in Russian weapons systems, according to the data obtained by C4ADS and shared with RFE/RL, which independently corroborated more than 150 such shipments.

3. China And Serbia Eye New Cooperation On Extraditions

Serbia has extradited five Chinese citizens in the past five years, according to data obtained by my colleague Mila Manojlovic from RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

What It Means: The data shows extraditions are already taking place. That cooperation is also set to grow as Serbia's Justice Ministry prepares to submit to parliament a draft extradition law with China that, if passed, would expand the scope of cooperation between Beijing and Belgrade.

That extradition deal, which would regulate the bilateral extradition of citizens charged with crimes, is seen by experts as a response to the influx of tourists and Chinese nationals to Serbia that have corresponded with high-profile Chinese investments and loans for projects through the BRI.

According to data from Serbia's National Employment Service, more than 45,000 work permits have been issued to Chinese citizens since 2016, the year the ruling Serbian Progressive Party started intensifying relations with Beijing and expanding BRI projects.

Serbia's Interior Ministry told RFE/RL there are currently 3,433 Chinese citizens registered in the country.

Across The Supercontinent

Looking at 2025: Here's my look at what's on Taiwan's agenda as we prepare to enter 2025, as part of a wider lookahead from across RFE/RL coverage region. My segment begins at 7:25.

Train Links: The first train carrying goods from China to Afghanistan arrived in Mazar-e Sharif on November 23 after crossing through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The Taliban said 55 containers arrived in Afghanistan after a 22-day journey, marking the inauguration of the first direct train link between China and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

The New Normal: From attacks in Pakistan to new episodes in Tajikistan, my colleagues Bashir Ahmad Gwakh and Frud Bezhan look at how new violence in South and Central Asia could affect Chinese investment projects across the region.

A Late Warning: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on December 2 warned her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that Beijing's support for Russia would "impact" ties with Europe.

One Thing To Watch

According to a draft sanctions package obtaind by RFE/RL, the European Union has proposed for the first time to target Chinese companies and individuals with visa bans and asset freezes over their dealings with Russian firms linked to Moscow's war effort in Ukraine.

The draft version of the sanctions package was first shared with EU countries on November 22 and would still need to be approved before the end of the year by all 27 member states in order to come into effect.

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

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday.
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 correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now.

A Warning From The Baltics

Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis offered a clear warning for those who say that China is able to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine.

Finding Perspective: Speaking to the French international affairs outlet Geopolitique.eu, Landsbergis stamped down the idea.

China is waiting for a moment of weakness to step in and offer solutions and I fear that some in Europe would accept this offer because its a cheap alternative to us stepping up, in the same way that you buy a Chinese car because its cheaper. The same goes for their peace proposals.

Landsbergis was commenting on a recent interview with outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and The New York Times, where Blinken said that one of the reasons that Moscow had not escalated into a nuclear war in Ukraine was because of China.

If you follow that line of reasoning, it means that China has become a protector of Europe. That would be the beginning of a new paradigm, Landsbergis said.

If we accept that China, which in my view supports Russia and is therefore an adversary of the countries supporting Ukraine, is now the guarantor of nuclear deterrence on our continent, it would be a dangerous mistake and a failure.

Why It Matters: Landsbergiss warning comes as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office and Europe anxiously looks at a very different geopolitical reality.

Trumps tariff threats and less traditional approach to Washingtons relationship with Europe is a source of consternation in European capitals and there is talk in some corners about having a more amenable position toward Beijing to balance the Trump administration.

On January 14, Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke with European Council President Antonio Costa to begin what many analysts believe will be a charm offensive from Beijing toward the continent.

But while Trump may have a rockier relationship with Brussels and various capitals than his predecessor, Beijing is also facing a different playing field than when U.S. President Joe Biden took office.

Chinas support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine has strained ties with Europe, and Brussels is taking aim at Chinese companies in some sectors, a trend that looks set to continue.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has also voiced strong criticism of China, especially for its stance around the war in Ukraine and its long-term repercussions.

Landsbergis shared similar sentiments, saying that Ukraine is central to what will happen in the future between China and Taiwan.

I mentioned earlier that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has managed to change the nuclear doctrine by getting us to accept, at least for now, that resisting an attack is a form of escalation and therefore a nuclear strike is justified.

One can imagine a situation where China imposes a blockade, even a partial one, on Taiwan and they resist and we try to lift it, then China could use the Russian playbook, he said. I dont think we collectively understand how reckless it is.

Three more stories from Eurasia

1. The Taliban Courts Chinese Capital

My Afghan colleagues at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and I reported about a new road built by the Taliban in northeast Afghanistan that the hardline group is hoping can better connect the country to neighboring China.

The Details: The first section of the road in the Wakhan Corridor was completed a year ago in early 2024, and the Taliban is looking to build out the connections further to one day open up more trade with China.

The road link is part of a series of announcements and groundbreaking ceremonies in 2024 -- from oil deals to mining rights -- that the Taliban are hoping will keep moving ahead in the coming year.

But the main questions remain over whether the militants can finally calm China's long-standing security concerns.

Haiyun Ma, an associate professor at Frostburg University, told me that, despite the lofty deals, Chinese investment is still not flowing in Afghanistan and that there are growing frustrations under the surface between Beijing and the Taliban.

Ma says that the announcement in 2024 helps bring prestige and legitimacy to the Taliban as it adapts to governing and that it offers a low-risk, low-commitment way for Beijing to signal long-term intent toward the country.

But he adds that China is in no hurry to have a footprint in Afghanistan.

China is yet to set up a border crossing in the area where the Wakhan road leads and despite all the resource deals, Beijing has plenty of already developed alternatives elsewhere in the world to help meet its domestic needs.

2. Trump, Greenland, China, And The Arctic

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has once again kicked up a storm by refusing to rule out the use of force to gain control of Greenland.

As my colleague Todd Prince writes, Trumps pursuit shines a light on the complicated national-security picture in the Arctic between the United States, China, Russia, and other players.

What You Need To Know: While China is not an Arctic nation, it is seeking to be a major player in the region. In recent years, Beijing has sought to buy ports, other infrastructure, and mining rights on Greenland though it has not been successful.

Todd writes that the United States suspected China's real interest in those projects was to place dual-use sensors and radars in the Arctic Circle to help control their military satellites and gather intelligence on U.S. space-based operations in the region.

3. U.S. Energy Sanctions Hurt Chinese, Indian Purchases Of Russian Oil

Chinese and Indian refiners are looking for new fuel supplies as they adapt to hard-hitting new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil producers and tankers.

What It Means: Many of the newly sanctioned tankers brought oil to China and India, and both Bloomberg and Reuters reported that the sanctions have led to a jump in prices and driven Chinese refiners back to sellers of oil that is not restricted.

The sanctions were announced on January 10 and they target Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, two of Russia's five largest largest oil producers, as well as 183 vessels transporting Russian oil and oil products to foreign markets.

The Biden administration also sanctioned opaque traders of Russian oil, more than 30 Russia-based oil-field service providers, and more than a dozen leading Russian energy officials and executives.

The Chinese refiner Yulong Petrochemical has previously bought Russian crude, but, according to industry data, it purchased 4 million barrels of crude from the United Arab Emirates following the sanctions.

After the sanctions announcement, Unipec, a subsidiary of Chinas state-owned energy giant Sinopec, booked four large carriers of crude from the Middle East which the data intelligence firm Kpler said could carry a total of up to 2 million barrels.

Across The Supercontinent

Kyivs China Consultations: Ukraines Foreign Ministry told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service that 2024 was a year of developing political dialogue in Beijing, pointing to the extensive high-level talks with their counterparts in the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi added that Kyiv considers China one of the countries that can and does have influence on the Russian Federation. And we will continue to maintain this contact with the Chinese side.

Parting Shots: In a speech at the State Department on January 13 summing up his administrations record, Biden said the United States has widened its lead over competitors like Russia and China.

"Our adversaries are weaker than they were when we came into this job four years ago. Let's consider Russia. Putin invaded Ukraine. He thought he'd conquer Kyiv in a matter of days. But the truth is, since that war began, I'm the only one that stood in the center of Kyiv, not him," Biden said, referring to his visit to the embattled nation last year.

The China Connection: As Russian forces have intensified their advances in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks, they're being helped by a new tool on the battlefield: drones that fly with the use of fiber-optic cables, RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service and I reported.

Some Ukrainian experts have said that the drone models used by Russia are very similar to Chinas commercially available Skywalker drone. There are also growing reports in Ukrainian media of high-quantity orders being placed at Chinese factories by Russian companies for large spools of fiber-optic cables.

One Thing To Watch

Trade between China and Russia reached a record high in 2024, according to official data released on January 13 by Chinas General Administration of Customs.

The figures show how Beijing and Moscows efforts to strengthen their relationship are paying off in the face of tough Western economic sanctions on Russia.

While the 2024 trade data reached an all-time high, the year-on-year growth rate slowed significantly compared to the 26.3 percent surge seen in 2023.

Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every other Wednesday.
TBILISI -- As the air grew heavier with tear gas and billowing clouds of smoke, the masked protester ran toward riot police, shooting his homemade weapon from the hip. His improvised device, a rotating barrel akin to a makeshift Gatling gun, unleashed a rapid volley of fireworks.

Such tactics could be a thing of the past, as the ruling Georgian Dream party is expected to fast-track new laws through parliament this week that would ban protesters from possessing fireworks and covering their faces at demonstrations.

For 13 days, Georgians have gathered nightly in downtown Tbilisi, as well as other cities around the country, to protest the government's decision to put EU accession negotiations on hold until 2028. In Tbilisi, the protesters' use of fireworks to fight back against riot police armed with tear gas and water cannons has become a defining symbol of the demonstrations.

This latest round of protests follows disputed October 26 parliamentary elections that were won by Georgian Dream, the ruling party in power since 2012 that has been accused by critics of becoming increasingly more authoritarian. Georgia's pro-European opposition leader and President Salome Zurabishvili say the elections were rigged with the help of Russia.

While protesters have insisted they are using fireworks in self-defense, the Interior Ministry has said many of its officers have been injured in the ongoing protests.

"These [recent protests] have shown us the importance of acting quickly, both in regulating pyrotechnics and in banning disguises at public gatherings," Georgian Dream parliamentary Chairman Shalva Papuashvili said on December 9.

Fireworks are already hard to find in Tbilisi, with many pyrotechnic stores sold out and others being ordered to close. At least some of the legislative changes governing pyrotechnics could come into effect by the beginning of February.

Under these changes, demonstrators will be prohibited from carrying fireworks at public gatherings and rallies, and a permit will be required to import, export, produce, and sell pyrotechnic products in Georgia. Fines will reportedly be imposed for violating the rules. The draft laws have not yet been uploaded to the parliament's website, and further details are not known.

"The ban on wearing masks indirectly restricts people's freedom of assembly," says Saba Brachveli, a lawyer at the Georgia-based Civil Society Foundation.

"They are punishing people for wearing gas masks and not breathing the gas they release," he says, a reference to the Georgian riot police's extensive use of tear gas.

Attacks On Media

For many protesters, the proposal on banning face coverings is particularly ironic given that Georgian riot police, who have been widely accused of excessive violence against demonstrators, are themselves wearing masks.

What Georgian Protesters Think About Government Banning Masks At Rallies No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:25 0:00

Black-clad men in masks attacked a crew from the opposition TV Pirveli during a live broadcast on December 7. Journalist Maka Chikhladze and cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli were both hospitalized with concussions and are currently receiving treatment at a Tbilisi hospital.

The TV station has labeled the attackers as "titushky" -- a term used for government-hired thugs -- and accused senior Interior Ministry officials of orchestrating the attack.

Since the start of the protests at the end of November, violence against the opposition and journalists has become more common, attracting condemnation from the United States and the European Union. On December 4, Georgian law enforcement conducted raids on the offices of several opposition parties, protest leaders, and rights activists.

"Besides wearing masks, none of [the security forces] have any identification [numbers]," lawyer Brachveli says, which can make it easier for police to act with impunity. The International Association of Chiefs of Police recommends uniformed personnel wear badges and nameplates or other identification in a visible location at all times during crowd-management operations.

Public Sector Revolt

Georgian Dream party officials have also announced plans to "simplify reorganization" in the public sector, a move critics say could facilitate politically motivated dismissals of state employees who oppose the party's EU policy stance.

Hundreds of state officials have signed statements criticizing the government's decision to delay EU negotiation talks until 2028. Employees from multiple agencies, including the Defense, Education, and Foreign ministries, and Tbilisi City Hall, have publicly opposed this decision.

"This change will simply legalize the dismissal of people from their jobs due to [their] political views," Brachveli says. "This destroys both labor rights and freedom of expression."

Georgian Dream is also pushing a new draft law that would change the requirements for recruiting police officers. According to Georgian media reports, the changes would mean the Interior Ministry will have the authority to hire a person to work for the police without going through a competitive recruitment process.

Natia Mezvrishvili, one of the leaders of the opposition For Georgia party and a former deputy interior minister, says, "It seems that [billionaire Georgian Dream founder Bidzina] Ivanishvili has decided to officially accept informal masked thugs into the police force, and this is what prompted the change in the police law. With this change, everyone who steps foot in the police force can become a police officer."

Zurab Girchi Japaridze, one of the leaders of the opposition Coalition for Change bloc, dubbed the proposed changes to the police and public service laws as "stages of a dictatorship."
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
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.
The carrier received an Airbus A320neo on Dec. 7, and a Boeing 787-10 on Dec. 8, and is expected to receive another Airbus A320neo by the end of the month.

The aircraft will provide over 100,000 seats for the peak travel period in Vietnam's largest festival in a year.



The new aircraft will bring the total fleet of the national flag carrier to 103 aircraft in 2024. Specifically, the airline's wide-body fleet, which includes Boeing 787-9, Boeing 787-10, and Airbus A350, now consists of 31 aircraft.



A representative of Vietnam Airlines stated that the newly received Boeing 787-10 will primarily be used on domestic and Northeast Asia routes, while the Airbus A320neo aircraft will serve only domestic flights.



The addition of these aircraft at the end of the year will not only help the carrier meet the increasing travel demand during the holiday season but also reaffirm its commitment to enhancing service quality and providing passengers with a comfortable and modern travel experience.
Escalating trade hostilities between China and the United States are putting drone supplies critical to Ukraines war effort in the crosshairs.

U.S. media reports suggest Chinese manufacturers are limiting the sale of vital drone components to companies in the United States and the European Union that supply the parts to Ukraine.

The Chinese restrictions could hinder Ukraine on the battlefield, where drones have played a pivotal role. Kyivs arsenal of cheap but effective drones is used for reconnaissance, dropping explosives on targets, and defending against Russian attacks.

Beijings move is seen as a response to Washingtons decision in December to restrict the sale of high-bandwidth memory chips and additional semiconductor equipment to China. In reaction, Beijing has already banned the sale of dual-use items to the American military and several materials with high-tech and military applications to U.S. companies.

But cutting supplies to drone components that form a key part of Ukraines war effort against Russia marks a new element of the escalating trade tensions.

The Chinese move, experts say, also sends a message to U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps incoming administration of Chinas ability to counter sanctions imposed by Washington.

This is partly a response to U.S. tariffs and a form of punishment for American export control measures, said Joseph Webster, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. But restricting this drone tech will have battlefield consequences for Ukraine and could be important ahead of potential cease-fire negotiations.

Affordable and commercially available drones have become a staple of the nearly three-year war in Ukraine for both Kyiv and Moscow.

The United States maintains an edge in larger military drones. But China dominates the market for cheaper and smaller drones and their components, which have dual-use civilian and military applications.

Several independent surveys estimate that China controls 90 percent of the drone market in the United States and 80 percent globally.

Given this foothold, experts have warned about a growing dependence on Chinas control over the global supply chain for drones. Washington has expressed a need to create new supply chains as tit-for-tat trade moves between Beijing and Washington are poised to escalate under the second Trump administration.

These new controls only underscore the importance of strengthening our efforts with other countries to de-risk and diversify critical supply chains away from [China], a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL.

Chinas Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not respond to RFE/RLs request for comment.

The Trade War Meets The Drone War

Since 2019, China has created what it called an unreliable entity list to penalize companies that undermine Chinese national interests and introduced rules to punish firms that comply with U.S. restrictions on Chinese entities.

The broader reach of these laws enables Beijing to potentially choke global access to critical components, including materials like rare earths and lithium that form essential components in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles.

In terms of the latest limits on shipments of drone components to the United States and Europe, Chinese producers of motors, batteries, and flight controllers have cut the quantities they deliver or in some cases stopped shipments altogether.

One notable example occurred in October when the U.S. drone maker Skydio, which supplies Ukraines military, was hit by Chinese sanctions in response to winning a contract from the Taiwanese government.

Skydio has been heralded as a homegrown U.S. alternative to Chinese manufacturers and dependence on Chinese supply chains.

While the U.S. firm had spent years building a supply chain outside China for its products, it still relied on the country for one vital component: batteries.

The Chinese restriction on the supply of batteries to Skydio left the company scrambling to source the items and set back shipments to its clients, which includes the U.S. military, which in turn supplies Kyiv.

In Search Of New Supply Chains

For Kyiv, lessening its dependence on the Chinese supply chain to source drones for the battlefield has proved elusive, with many Ukrainian drone producers still relying on Chinese parts to make the cheap and effective weapons.

China in July announced a ban on exports of drones for military use, and Beijing has claimed that it does not provide weapons to Russia or Ukraine.

But the continued flow of dual-use equipment from China to Russia has aided the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Now, the new restrictions by the Chinese government have made it more difficult for Ukraine to acquire drones and their parts.

In the case of Skydio, Beijing imposed sanctions before the company had secured alternative suppliers, but the firm is reportedly in talks with several companies in Asia, including those in Japan and Taiwan.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, is looking to shore up its own drone supply chain given their growing importance in modern warfare and the specter of a potential conflict with Beijing that could see Taiwan cut off.

The self-governing island has stepped up its efforts and has also formed ties with European countries around drone technologies. Its foreign minister led a delegation to discuss the topic in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland in November and signed memorandums of understanding to advance drone development with all three countries.

These Chinese trade restrictions could lead to new supply drone chains popping up, said Webster of the Atlantic Council. But expect China to also want to restrict their development.
China surpasses Malaysia as Thailand's largest source of tourists following visa waiver

Chinese tourists arrive at Bangkok's International Airport, Thailand, on Sept. 25, 2023. Photo by Reuters

China has reclaimed its position as the largest source of visitors to Thailand in 2024 with 6.2 million arrivals after losing the top spot to Malaysia last year.

As of Dec. 1, Thailand recorded 32 million foreign visitors, generating approximately 1.5 trillion baht (US$44.5 billion) in tourism revenue, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Malaysia was the second largest source of foreign visitors, with 4.5 million arrivals.

India followed with 1.9 million visitors, while South Korea and Russia rounded out the top five with 1.68 million and 1.5 million arrivals, respectively.

Thailand's decision to make permanent visa exemptions for Chinese tourists in March contributed significantly to the resurgence of Chinese travelers, the ministry said.

Since June, the country has expanded visa-free entry to travelers from 93 countries, allowing stays of up to 60 days, compared to the previous 57 countries.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of Thailands economy.

In 2019, the country set a record with 39.9 million foreign arrivals, generating 1.91 trillion baht (US$51.9 billion) in revenue.
Sarah Slater

An Irishman arrested in connection with the alleged murder of an American woman in Hungary last month has had his period of detention extended by a court to next year.

Mackenzie Michalski (31), who was on holiday in the Hungarian capital of Budapest was last seen at a nightclub in the city on Tuesday, November 5th and listed as missing by Budapest Police Headquarters later that day.

A 37-year-old Irishman, who works in marketing, has allegedly admitted to killing Ms Michalski accidentally after claiming they had become intimate at a rented apartment while on holiday. He claims her death was accidental.

The arrested man, allegedly informed police after his arrest that he attempted to conceal her body in a suitcase along with her handbag and credit card, which he transported her in the boot of his rental car to a marshy area in Szigliget in western Hungary. Detectives have also said they found numerous alleged incriminating online searches on a computer.

Police also allege that the detained Irish suspect cleaned his apartment. The man has been remanded in custody for four weeks due to being considered a flight risk.

The Metropolitan Court of Budapest has extended his arrest until March 10th, amid ongoing investigations and disputed claims according to Hungarian media outlets. The court ruled to keep him in custody while investigations continue.

Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski, 31, was a nurse practitioner.

Gyorgy Magyar, the lawyer of the man suspected of murder, told 24.hu with the consent of his client, that what happened on the night in question was an accident during consensual intimacy.

Ms Michalski, who is originally from western New York had travelled from Portland, Oregon in the US, and was last seen near Szimpla Kert, known as the party district in the city at around 10pm.

The nurse practitioner had been travelling throughout Europe with a female friend and Hungary was their last stop. The two separated for the last night of their trip.

Ms Michalskis body was brought back to the US by her family. The Fredonia natives family issued a new statement on social media saying that they believe the man suspected of killing her did it deliberately.

The Michalski family said the "death was in no way accidental despite claims to the contrary".

They thanked the public from the bottom of their broken hearts for the worldwide outpouring of love, support, prayers, kind words and gestures you have all bestowed on our family at this unimaginable time. You have lifted us upplease continue.

The Michalskis pointed out that they have been completely supported and cared for by the US Embassy, the FBI, Antea International Funeral Home, many translators as well as countless people who reached out to offer services and love.

Mrs Michalski revealed that the family had met with the head of homicide several times to keep them informed.

She noted: We were treated with kindness and compassion during our eight-day stay in Budapest.
The elections are over, the people have spoken, and now were watching to see what unfolds. The message from the voters seems clear: We want the boys backMicheal and Simon. Or at least, thats the prevailing interpretation.

But the big question remains - who will join Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to form a stable government for the next five years? The most likely candidates are some of the independents, such as Michael Lowry, Boxer Moran, Noel Grealish, Marian Harkin, and Sean Canney. Its even possible that a ministerial position or two might go their way. Only time will tell.

You might think all the excitement is over, but not here in West Roscommon! The buzz continues with the arrival of this years Tullys Teaserthe true sign that the Christmas season has begun. From now until New Years Eve, households from Loughglynn to Ballinlough, through Castlerea, and out to Ballintubber and elsewhere in West Roscommon will be puzzling over Tullys famous Ditloid Quiz.

Sure, theres a prize for the winner, but for most of us, the real joy comes from the satisfaction of solving it. If youre unfamiliar, a ditloid is a word puzzle where you deduce a phrase, quotation, date, or fact from the numbers and abbreviated letters in the clue. Its a festive tradition that brings a touch of friendly competitionand maybe a few headachesinto homes across the area.

The Toy Show might be the nations unofficial kick-off to Christmas, but here in our corner of the world, the excitement starts even earlier as we try to crack clues like 69 = SO by BA. Ill share that one because I figured it out straight away. Heres a hint: if youre of my vintage, you might recognise it as something often heard around Black Betty. That should keep you guessing!

As Christmas approaches, weve had another reason to celebrate. On Sunday in Loughglynn, we marked the reopening of the parish church, Our Lady of Good Counsel as good as the Parisians reopening their own Notre Dame on Sunday. Built in the early 1900s, this historic building has been a cornerstone of our community for over 120 years. However, it was in desperate need of attentioncold, drab, and plagued by leaks, it was hardly the welcoming space anyone would want for lifes most meaningful moments.

Recognising this, Anthony Cahill, chairman of the parish finance committee, rallied a group of like-minded individuals to take on the task of revitalising the building. Thanks to his efforts and the incredible support of the wider community the church is now a space worthy of the important events it hosts.

Like all community initiatives, a small committee started the ball rolling, but it was the full community that kept it moving. Ten of us began planning in September 2023, focusing on how to raise the necessary funds. By Easter, we had the money gathered, closed the church in September, and reopened for Mass on Sunday, December 8th. Of course, there were challenges and the odd disagreement along the way, but never any rows. The parishs voluntary spirit shone through, with everyone stepping up to help wherever they could.

Every seat in the church was moved, carried outside, covered, and then brought back in after the floors and walls were painted. Without hesitation, anyone we asked was happy to lend a hand. Given the churchs towering height, scaffolding was needed for much of the painting. Thankfully, the parish is home to four scaffolding companies, all of whom generously provided, erected, and removed the scaffolding free of chargea massive contribution.

Water issues cropped up, but plumbers stepped in to help. Cleaning was another enormous task, but a meitheal of ladies arrived on Thursday, armed with mops, buckets, cloths, and cans of Pledge. They brought the seats back to a good condition. While moving the seats, we also took down the Stations of the Cross. Five women carefully cleaned them and polished the frames with beeswax, restoring them to their original beauty. Like everyone else, they were happy to help, finding their reward in the satisfaction of a job well done.

We made a few other upgrades to modernise the church. A new sound system was installed, ensuring everyone can hear clearly whats being said. A webcam was also added, allowing ceremonies to be streamed online for those unable to attend in person. And perhaps most excitingly, the church bell is back! Once silent for years, it will now toll for funerals, ring for Mass, and chime the Angelus twice daily, bringing new life to the village.

The parishs community spirit was truly remarkable, and we were fortunate to have the community centre available to host Masses while the church was closed.

Sundays Mass was celebrated by our previous parish priest, Canon Liam Devine, as our current parish priest, Fr. Glenn, had to return to the Philippines that morning following the sudden death of his younger sister on Friday. Fr. Glenn played a vital role in the project, and it was a pity he couldnt be there for the reopening. We also remembered Fr. Liams predecessor, Fr. Donal Morris, who is currently in hospital in Dublin.

All in all, it has been an eventful few weeks. Thanks to the dedication of so many, Our Lady of Good Counsel is once again the heart of our community a space filled with warmth, beauty, and life. Hopefully it wont have to be painted again till the Summer Of 69!
Boyle native Hilary Beirne has submitted nomination papers to the National University of Ireland to contest the upcoming Seanad elections.

Mr Beirne is well known internationally for his leadership role at the iconic New York Citys St Patricks Day Parade, and as a member of the Washington based Ad Hoc Committee to Protect the Good Friday Agreement, roles where he has advocated for Ireland and the Irish abroad.

With every Irish family having a relative living abroad, and with 70% of the population having worked outside Ireland, one would think, the topic of the huge number of Irish born and raised nationals living abroad would have been hotly debated in the recent general election. Yet, it is not, why? Do these family members matter? Simply and harshly put, they dont, said Mr Beirne.

His agenda for Senate nomination will include the 20% of Ireland's population who live abroad, as well as policies concerning third level education, and the relationship with the US.

Parents today are watching their children leave in their thousands due to the high cost of living and the housing crisis. In actual fact, most National University of Ireland students are also emigrating, going abroad seeking a better quality of life because to the high cost of living and the relative lower incomes when compared to other countries. What most parents are unaware of is the fact that within 18 months, their childs, as a citizen of Ireland, right to vote anywhere in the world (not just Ireland) is revoked by Irish law, and effectively in the eyes of the state, they actually no longer exist.

Parents want their children to return home, they want them to remain connected to Ireland and home, and above all, they want them to come back "home". Parents do not what their children lost forever, like the generations gone before them. Most if not all parents are also unaware that if their child moves abroad and closes their bank account, they are unable to reopen it because they lack residency in Ireland, which is required by Irish banking regulations. The same is true when it comes to third level education, they must pay higher fees that are charged to non-citizens despite the fact they are citizens of Ireland unless they have six years of residency, added Mr Beirne.

Mr Beirne grew up outside Boyle. His father was the local veterinary surgeon, and he is from a family of ten. He attended St Marys College, Boyle, for secondary education, and then attended University College Galway, University College Dublin, Atlantic Technology University (Mountbellew Campus), and Hunter College at the City University of New York.

He has a Certificate in Agriculture, a Bachelors Degree in Agricultural Science, and a Masters in Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. Besides working at the New York Citys St Patricks Day Parade, he has been an educator in New York, and before that, he worked with farmers in the West of Ireland introducing the wrapping of the baled silage, then an innovation in agriculture in the late 80, and which is now seen all over Ireland.

Working with the Irish abroad has resulted in him being asked to stand for the Seanad to represent them in the land of their birth.
India Safely Evacuates 75 Nationals from Conflict-Ridden Syria

The rebels have also reportedly captured Homs, Syria's third-largest city, and the Saydnaya Military Prison north of Damascus.

New Delhi: India has successfully evacuated 75 citizens from Syria amidst the escalating conflict following the takeover by rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which ousted Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The evacuees, including 44 zaireen (pilgrims) from Jammu and Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab, have safely crossed into Lebanon and are set to return to India via commercial flights, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday.

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The evacuation was coordinated by the Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut, following an assessment of the security situation and requests from Indian nationals in Syria, the MEA said. The Government of India places the utmost priority on ensuring the safety of its citizens abroad.

The ministry has urged Indian nationals still in Syria to maintain regular contact with the Indian Embassy in Damascus for updates. Those remaining are advised to use the emergency helpline at +963 993385973 (WhatsApp-enabled) or email hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in, the statement read.

The situation in Syria remains critical after rebels seized control of Damascus on Sunday, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee the country, marking the end of his two-decade rule. Russia has granted asylum to Assad and his family, who are now in Moscow, according to reports from TASS citing Kremlin sources.

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The rebels have also reportedly captured Homs, Syria's third-largest city, and the Saydnaya Military Prison north of Damascus. In a statement, the rebel leadership declared, The city of Damascus is now free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad. To all displaced Syrians, a free Syria awaits you.
Throughout its 21-year existence, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, or UNAMI, has helped address social and economic challenges, with respect to promoting human rights and supporting womens rights and governance reform, among others.

UNAMI still has important work to do before it concludes its mission at the end of 2025, especially in regard to locating Kuwaitis and missing Kuwaiti property, said Ambassador Robert Wood, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations.

The United States urges the governments of Iraq and Kuwait to redouble their efforts in support of the Tripartite Commission, and for Special Representative al-Hassan and his team in UNAMI to do all they can to assist. ... Colleagues, the end of UNAMIs mandate should not spell the end of work on Kuwaiti missing persons and property.

The United States understands the importance of identifying missing persons and repatriating their remains based on its own experience from the war in Vietnam and, more recently, at the World Trade Center in New York City, said Ambassador Wood. Thats why the U.S. has provided new satellite images for the identification of four potential burial sites in Iraq.

We encourage efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Iraq to conduct joint analyses and site investigations as soon as possible. We will also continue our own research on four sites in Kuwait by trying to locate witnesses among U.S. veterans associations.

As the governments of Iraq and Kuwait pursue resolution of all outstanding issues, we must also keep an international spotlight on efforts to ensure justice and accountability for victims of crimes against humanity committed by [ISIS], including genocide against the Yezidis and gender-based violence in Iraq, urged Ambassador Wood:

We commend the work by the Government of Iraq to establish the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation for this purpose. We also welcome Iraqs desire to share evidence with third countries bilaterally on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that members of ISIL/Daesh are held accountable for their crimes in Iraq.

The United States remains committed to working with the government of Iraq to strengthen and deepen the long-term, whole of government partnership in pursuit of a secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq.
Srinagar Weather Update: Srinagar Shivers at -3C as Cold Wave Grips North India

IMD issued cold wave warnings for several northern and central regions, predicting severe weather conditions in the coming days.

Srinagar Weather Update: The Kashmir Valley is reeling under freezing temperatures, with Srinagar recording a bone-chilling -3 degrees Celsius, marking the spread of a cold wave across North India and disrupting daily life.

Tourists visiting Srinagar were greeted by icy conditions but embraced the cold for its picturesque charm. Adil, a photographer from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, visiting for a pre-wedding shoot, remarked, "The weather is colder than we expected but ideal for photography. For someone from Rajasthan, this experience is completely different."

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Adil, on his fourth trip to the region, encouraged others to visit during both winter and summer to witness the contrasting beauty of Kashmir. Lalit, another tourist from Rajasthan, added, "Dal Lake is breathtaking, and a Shikara ride is a must for anyone visiting this paradise."

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a partly cloudy sky in Srinagar, with maximum and minimum temperatures around 10C and -2C, respectively. Residents and tourists alike are donning heavy winter apparel and relying on heating methods to combat the biting cold.

The winter chill is also being felt in Himachal Pradesh, where Shimla is blanketed in snow, offering a magical winter experience. The scenic heights of Lahaul and Spiti received fresh snowfall, adding to the region's allure. Similarly, the Machil sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district also witnessed a new layer of snow over the weekend.

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The IMD has issued cold wave warnings for several northern and central regions, predicting severe weather conditions in the coming days. Areas such as Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad are expected to face cold wave conditions on December 11.

Warnings extend to Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and West Uttar Pradesh, with conditions forecasted to persist until mid-December. The cold wave is expected to tighten its grip on West Uttar Pradesh until December 13.

The combination of snow-clad landscapes and icy winds is creating an atmosphere of solitude and serenity, drawing tourists but also posing challenges for residents in these regions.
As of December 5, more than 2,000 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, were reported in Minnesota, marking the highest number of whooping cough cases in more than a decade, according to the state Department of Health.

Health officials expected the spike because the disease peaks every three to five years. Whooping cough cases are increasing across the country, signaling a return to more typical trends seen before a drop-off of many contagious illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Star Tribune reports.

Among the total cases, 77 infants suffered from the condition, and 34 individuals were hospitalized for further treatment.

Across the state, the highest number of cases were seen in Hennepin County with patients aged 5 to 17 years old complaining about prolonged cough and cold.

Bacteria Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough, which gets its name from the "whooping" sound made by the patient while coughing. It is an intense cough which lasts for up to 12 weeks, and is sometimes called the "100-day cough".

The disease is transmitted when the respiratory droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze is caught by a person. Then, the bacteria attach itself to the throat lining and produces toxins, causing inflammation in airways, coughing fits and breathing problems.

The usual symptoms of whooping cough are runny nose, fever, vomiting, and exhaustion after uncontrollable and sudden coughing spells. Several adults experience complications like broken ribs from coughing, loss of bladder control and fainting.

The disease could be deadly for infants under the age of six months, of whom many develop pneumonia, which sometimes causes death.

Health officials advise that the most effective method of protection against whooping cough is vaccination, followed by proper sanitation and hygiene, which includes covering mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, and washing hands afterwards.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced that her office has launched an investigation regarding Nicaragua's acts, policies, and practices related to labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law.

Katherine Tai said that the investigation will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 over concern that Nicaragua is engaging in repressive and persistent attacks on labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law, which may burden U.S. commerce.

"The Biden-Harris Administration is firmly committed to a worker-centered trade policy to ensure our trade partnerships drive a race to the top for all workers and people," said the U.S. Trade Ambassador. "Unfortunately, numerous reports suggest the Government of Nicaragua is engaging in repressive acts that harm Nicaragua's own workers and people, undermine fair competition, and destabilize our region. USTR will thoroughly investigate the alleged violations of labor rights and human rights, and dismantling of the rule of law."

Numerous credible reports by the U.S. Government, as well as the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the International Labor Organization and the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, document that the Daniel Ortega regime in Nicaragua engages in labor rights and human rights violations and dismantling of the rule of law.

The US Trade Representative noted tha the authoritarian regime's actions such as politically-motivated arrests and imprisonments, repression of members of religious groups and non-governmental organizations, extrajudicial killings, restrictions on freedom of expression and movement, and violence against members of marginalized groups exacerbate worker exploitation and diminish economic growth and trade opportunities.

Katherine Tai said that despite continued U.S. engagement, the Government of Nicaragua has not responded to concerns raised over serious allegations of labor and human rights abuses and the dismantling of the rule of law. "Through this investigation, the United States will seek to address and resolve those long-standing and deep-rooted concerns to ensure U.S. companies and workers are treated fairly and with equal respect under a rule of law system."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
Sales of cars declined sharply in November 2024 with most leading automakers accounting for poor consumer demand

The month of November, generally speaking a lean month, saw a large number of automakers in India report lower retail sales. This is commonly a trend seen after the hectic festive and wedding seasons. Buyers also defer purchases as they await special year-end discounts and benefits offered by dealers in the month of December.

Maruti Suzuki, despite a significant decline in sales, once again led the segment by a huge margin. Hyundai, Mahindra and Tata saw a close contest. Toyota on the other hand, saw a rather notable improvement in its YoY sales performance.

Car Retail Sales Nov 2024  YoY, MoM

Passenger vehicle retail sales in Nov 2024 stood at 3,21,943 units. This was a 33.37% MoM decline from 4,83,159 unit sales in Oct 2024 while YoY sales fell by 13.72% when compared to 3,73,140 units sold in Nov 2023. The car segment however recording a 4.19% growth in year-to-date (YTD) sales which improved to 26,97,934 in the FY25 period from 25,89,501 units sold in FY24.

Dealers pinned this decline in sales in Nov 2024 on various factors such as weak market sentiment, relatively lower new launches and a limited product range. Dealers also face constraints in terms of piling inventories and hence several company dealerships have announced year-end discounts.

Maruti Suzuki once again topped the list with 1,28,521 unit sales last month to command a 39.92% market share. There had been 1,52,103 units sold in Nov 2023. The company had recorded retail sales at 1,99,675 units in Oct 2024, just short of a few units to the 2 lakh unit mark.

Hyundai Took 2nd Position

Hyundai sales decline to 43,996 units, down from 51,288 units sold in Nov 2023. Mahindra on the other hand, reported a rise in retail sales, thanks to its highly sought after SUV range to 42,305 units in Nov 2024 from 41,544 units sold in the same month last year. A relatively high decline in sales was recorded by Tata Motors, sales of which fell to 42,176 units in the past month from 54,923 unit sales of Nov 2023.

Toyota saw its sales improve to 20,261 units taking up its market share to 6.29% in Nov 2024. This was over 17,936 units sold in Nov 2023 when market share had stood at 4.81%. Kia India sales declined sharply to 18,502 units from 20,786 units on a YoY basis.

The Skoda/VW Group also saw its retail sales decline to 5,671 units over 8,003 units sold in Nov 2023. The newly launched MG Windsor EV has brought in rich rewards for the company. It saw its retail sales go up to 5,002 units last month from 4,260 units sold in Nov 2023.

Honda car retail sales were down by 50% to 4,485 units last month from 8,541 unit sales of Nov 2023.However, this will surely reverse in the coming months with the latest Amaze sedan just been launched with several first in segment features. Renault (2,953 units) and Nissan (2,354 units) also suffered a moderately high YoY decline in retail sales. However, Nissan saw its market share improve marginally to 0.73% from 0.68% YoY.

BMW Posts YoY De-Growth in Retail Sales

Mercedes Benz has seen a minimal improvement in retail sales to 1,396 units in Nov 2024 from 1,380 units sold in Nov 2023. However, BMW retail sales failed to surpass the 1,000 unit mark. The company suffered a severe decline to 993 units in the past month whereas there had been 1,227 units sold in the same month last year.

In the sub-1,000 unit category, there was also Force Motors (579 units), Citroen (467 units), Jeep India (347 units), BYD (329 units), Jaguar (311 units) and Volvo (142 units). Of these. There were others on this list that added 1,153 units to total retail sales, a YoY growth from 1,072 units of Nov 2023.
ELKO  The USDA released a federal order on Friday requiring milk cattle farms to share raw milk samples and for private laboratories or state veterinarians to report whether milk samples contain the H5N1 variant of avian influenza. Herd owners with cattle who test positive for the virus also must provide information to the USDA.

Tracy Shane, state Livestock Extension Specialist at the University of Nevada, Reno, said there are certain issues cattle farmers in rural Nevada need to be aware of, especially since the flu has reached one Nye County producer.

Theres a specific clade that people are concerned about in cattle, she said of the flu variant. We have not seen it in beef herds yet in the United States.

She said the first crossover from other species into cattle happened in March in Texas. Weve been seeing an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in all of our wild bird populations across the U.S. since 2002. So, its been spreading around. Weve had numerous poultry facilities affected. But March was the first time we saw it cross over into cattle and get cattle sick, she said.

The USDA is doing a lot of epidemiological testing and contact tracing, but they havent released a definitive route for how the first cow got infected, she said. She said the flu strain can be transmitted through the respiratory system, such as nasal discharges, but the primary route of transmission between cows is through milk. Thats why were seeing it spread and affect dairy cows. And now, up to 720 dairies across the U.S. have had affected cattle.

When cattle contract bird flu, they produce virus-infected milk, Shane explained.

When they get milked two or three times a day, the milking machines can easily be one route of spreading virus from one cow to the next, she said. In one study that I read, it only took 48 hours from contact with an infected cows milk to an uninfected cow, for that uninfected cow to have an infection and start showing symptoms.

That, she said, is most likely why its not yet showing up in beef herds. Less than 2% of cattle who get avian influenza have a fatality due to it. So, if its in beef herds, no ones found it yet.

She said folks in Elko should be aware of the disease and should be on the lookout for any cattle who are showing clinical signs of fever: nasal discharge, depression, not eating, things like that, and contact their veterinarian for testing.

We just really want producers to be aware and to be paying attention to their herds, she said.

Shane said cattle producers should consider limiting access to the cattle and to the areas that the cattle have access. For example, cattle transportation trucks can undergo disinfection, she noted. That would be one way to slow down the spread of the virus from facility to facility.

Also, Shane added, workers such as nutritionists and veterinarians who constantly move between facilities should make sure to wear shoe covers or have clean footwear each time they enter a different facility.

Currently, were not in any kind of quarantine situation, except for the one farm in Nevada that has had a positive infection in Nye County, Shane said. So, we just want people to start paying attention and implementing those initial biosecurity measures that they typically implement all the time. We just want them to be more aware and heighten the level of, lets make sure anyone coming on and off the farm is washing hands, using clean boots or changing their boots before coming onto the property.

Shane also warned that wild bird populations also can carry highly pathogenic avian influenza.

And while we dont have a lot of evidence that people can get sick from being in poultry herds, NDOW does recommend that hunters use gloves when theyre cleaning their waterfowl during outbreaks and wear eye protection as well, she said. So, if you suspect youre handling an infected animal, it would be a good time to put on personal protective equipment, like gloves, eye protection, even a respirator, just to prevent any chance of the virus from a potentially infected animal.

Shan explained that enhanced biosecurity plans are a way that livestock producers in Nevada could prepare right now.

If the outbreak were to get more severe and if there were to become more limitations put on what producers could do by the USDA and the Nevada Department of Agriculture to control spread of the disease, preparing in advance an enhanced biosecurity plan would allow a producer to submit that plan to the Department of Agriculture. Then, they could submit for a permit to continue moving livestock and continue their business operations in a more normal format than producers who dont have a plan.

The University of Nevada Reno has put together a biosecurity plan website, where uses could explores safe practices for cattle farming and helps producers plan for possible outbreaks. Visit it at https://extension.unr.edu/livestock-biosecurity/default.aspx.

And our extension team is available to help producers prepare these plans, so that they can better continue business operations during this outbreak and future outbreaks, Shane added.
The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation will hold an International Conference titled "Mapping the World in Lexicography: on the 950th anniversary of Diwan Lughat al-Turk," Azernews reports.

The international conference will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on December 13.

The 950th anniversary of the famous work by Mahmud Kashgari, Diwan Lughat al-Turk- one of the most valuable books in the Turkic world-will be celebrated within UNESCO. "Diwan Lughat at-Turk" is the first encyclopedic dictionary of Turkic languages, included in the list of anniversaries that UNESCO will mark in 2024-2025.

According to information preserved in the Istanbul National Library and recorded on the last page of the only existing copy, M. Kashgari began writing this masterpiece in 1072 and completed it two years later. Various sources mention that he intended to present this work to the Turkish ruler of the time, Sultan Muhammad Alp Arslan. However, due to the martyr's death of the ruler, the work was presented to the Caliph of the Abbasid dynasty, Muhammad al-Muqtadi Bi-Amrillah, who ruled in Baghdad from 1075 to 1095.

The work is considered the first dictionary of the Turkic language family, written by M. Kashgari to teach the Turkic language to Arabs and to demonstrate that it is richer than Arabic. During the writing of this work, M. Kashgari visited various Turkic regions of the 11th century and based his work on the linguistic materials he gathered.

In addition to being a dictionary, it also serves as a grammatical compendium that reflects the characteristics of the 11th-century Turkic language, shedding light on phonetic and morphological knowledge. Furthermore, the work provides information about Turkic surnames, individuals, and geographical names and contains rich information about Turkic history, geography, mythology, folklore, and oral literature. It is also notable as an encyclopedic work that offers insights into the medicine and healing methods of that time.

During the conference, scholars, researchers, and representatives from state and international organizations from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and other countries will discuss the historical, linguistic, and cultural significance of Diwan Lughat al-Turk.




JIN DING/CHINA DAILY

At a farewell event held in Beijing on Tuesday for Zhang Ming, the outgoing secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the senior Chinese diplomat and his colleagues from SCO member states expressed their strong faith in the group's future growth and solidarity.

"History will continue to testify to the strong vitality of the Shanghai Spirit. The future of the SCO is full of hope, and there are heavy responsibilities on the way forward," Zhang said in his speech at the event.

In July, China took over the SCO's rotating presidency and will host the 25th SCO Summit next year.

Liu Bin, China's assistant foreign minister, said, "We are ready to take this opportunity to act on the presidency slogan, 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move', and join hands with all member states to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders."

Beijing will work to improve the SCO mechanism for addressing security threats and challenges, work on the SCO Development Strategy through 2035, and stay committed to its sustainable development goals, Liu added.

Zhang, the outgoing SCO secretary-general, said he expects the group to be more practical, deliver more tangible benefits to the people, keep pace with the times through steadfast modernization and reform, and "further improve its efficiency, dynamism and the capacity of implementation".

On Jan 1, 2022, Zhang took office for a term of three years. During this period, the SCO expanded to include two new member states and eight dialogue partners. It now has 10 member states, two observer nations and 14 dialogue partners.

Zhang noted that in the past three years, the group has explored the establishment of an SCO financing mechanism by removing traditional bottlenecks that hinder cooperation, and has actively facilitated its modernization and reform.

His foreign colleagues also voiced appreciation on behalf of their countries for Zhang's dedication to the continuously evolving group.

Kazakh Ambassador to China Shakhrat Nuryshev said Zhang's achievements are highly appreciated by the leadership in Kazakhstan. "President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has decided to award you with the Order of Dostyk of the second degree," he added.

At the end of his speech, Zhang introduced his successor, Nurlan Yermekbayev, former minister of defense of Kazakhstan, to the audience.
This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2024 shows the 100,000th China-Europe freight train at Duisburg Intermodal Terminal (DIT) in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu)

Despite increasing challenges, trade between China and the EU demonstrated its resilience in 2024.

by Xinhua writers Zhang Zhaoqing, Kang Yi

For much of 2024, electric vehicle (EV) disputes have weighed heavily on the economic and trade ties between China and the European Union (EU).

The "love-hate" relationship, marked by both friction and interdependence, has left the two powers navigating a precarious path -- seeking common ground even as uncertainty looms.





UNCERTAINTIES CLOUD COOPERATION

What started as an EU investigation in late 2023 spiraled into a year-long clash with additional tariffs imposed by the EU on Chinese-made EVs. However, with negotiations still ongoing, it is clear that neither side is ready to give up on finding a way forward.





People visit the booth of BYD at the Automechanika in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)





Chinese car manufacturers once viewed Europe as an open and promising market. The EU's "non-market" measures are eroding their trust and confidence.

A report published Monday by the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU), in partnership with global consultancy Roland Berger, paints a sobering picture of strained ties and growing unease among Chinese businesses operating in the bloc.

The report, based on a four-month survey and in-depth interviews with around 200 Chinese businesses in the EU, underscores that "uncertainty" has become a defining factor for Chinese enterprises operating in the EU.

Chinese businesses have expressed concerns about the growing politicization of commercial sectors and urged the EU to create a fair, transparent, and predictable market environment for foreign enterprises, the report says.

Meanwhile, Brussels-based economic think tank Bruegel has said in a different report that the EU's punitive tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles are a mistake, which will do more harm than good.

Trade disputes also tend to have spill-over effects, it said, and such disputes between the EU and China will strain overall bilateral relations.





This file photo taken on June 6, 2024 shows an electric car at a charging station near the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)





High tariffs on Chinese EVs are harmful to the future of the European economy, Croatian analyst Mladen Plese said in an interview with Xinhua in September. Europe should be ready for healthy competition with China, and must not follow the United States' lead when it comes to tariffs on EVs, he said, adding, "It is in the interests of everyone in Europe to cooperate with China."

Beyond the EV sector, other industries critical to Europe's green transition such as battery manufacturing, solar panels, wind turbines, and hydrogen technology, have also faced various challenges from the EU.

The economic relationship between China and Europe is indeed facing new challenges, Denis Depoux, global managing director at Roland Berger said, noting that the EU's complex positioning of China forces businesses to navigate an unpredictable and delicate balance.





CONTINUED ECONOMIC RESILIENCE

Despite increasing challenges, trade between China and the EU demonstrated its resilience in 2024.

China's foreign trade with the EU amounted to 4.18 trillion yuan (576.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of 2024, up 0.9 percent year-on-year, statistics show. According to data from the CCCEU, since 2024, the average daily bilateral trade volume has surpassed 2 billion euros (2.1 billion U.S. dollars).





This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a container terminal of Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)





The China-Europe freight train service characterizes this resilience. As of July 10, China-Europe freight train trips in 2024 had surpassed 10,000, reaching this number 19 days earlier than last year. The freight train service's network currently reaches 224 cities in 25 European countries.

Moreover, by Nov. 15, cumulative China-Europe freight train trips had surpassed 100,000 since its inception 13 years ago, underscoring the enduring strength of this economic link between the two sides.

"Despite disruptions from geopolitical dynamics, economic fluctuations ... China-EU bilateral ties and economic and trade cooperation continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience, immense potential, and vibrant vitality amidst turbulent times," said CCCEU Chairman Liu Jiandong.

Chinese investments in the EU remained a spotlight. More than 2,800 Chinese enterprises operate across Europe, employing over 270,000 local workers, according to CCCEU data.

Chinese battery giant CATL and renewable energy firm Envision Energy have established factories in European countries like Germany, Hungary, and France, bolstering local clean energy infrastructure.





Jason Chen (C), general manager of CATL Europe Operations, speaks at a press conference in Debrecen, Hungary, on Nov. 20, 2024. China's leading battery maker, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL), announced that it will start producing battery cells at its new facility in Hungary's second-largest city Debrecen next year. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)





According to a survey released by the German Chamber of Commerce in China, a significant majority of German companies plan to maintain their operations in China, with many intending to increase investment within the next two years.

The Business Confidence Survey Report for 2024/25, conducted between Sept. 3 and Oct. 8 with 546 member companies, revealed that 92 percent of German firms intend to continue their operations in the country. Despite market challenges, only 0.4 percent are considering an exit.

Clas Neumann, chairperson of the board of the German Chamber of Commerce in east China, said, "German companies are addressing current market challenges and mitigating risks while positioning themselves to take advantage of the opportunities at hand."

More than 5,000 German enterprises have taken root in China, and the Chinese market is of great significance to them, said Maximilian Butek, chief representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce Shanghai.





This photo taken on Dec. 9, 2024 shows a copy of the Chinese version of a report released by China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) and global consultancy Roland Berger in Brussels, Belgium. Chinese businesses in the EU have called for a fair, transparent and predictable market environment amid growing concerns over a deteriorating business climate in the bloc, according to a report released on Monday by the CCCEU and global consultancy Roland Berger. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)





LOOKING FORWARD TO ENHANCED COLLABORATION

China-EU relations are strategically significant and hold broad development prospects. China is the world's largest developing economy, and the EU is the largest union of developed countries. China-EU cooperation has served as a stabilizer for a long time in a turbulent world, injecting many certainties into the global system.

The two sides also have deeply integrated industrial and supply chains. As Cai Run, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, said at an EU-China Forum held last month in Brussels, the EU and China should position themselves as partners rather than rivals. They should strengthen pragmatic cooperation instead of pursuing "decoupling," and work together to bring greater stability and certainty to the world rather than adding complexity.

Despite challenges, there are reasons for optimism as 2025 approaches. Next year's 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties is an important node of connecting the past with the future, an opportunity to boost mutually beneficial cooperation.

As 2024 draws to a close, the challenge now for the two sides is to find a way forward together.
Trucks and engineering vehicles wait to be loaded at Yantai Port in east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 10, 2024. China's total goods imports and exports expanded 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first 11 months of the year, official data showed Tuesday. The goods trade volume expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC). The country's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during the period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data showed. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's total goods imports and exports maintained steady growth in the first 11 months of 2024, expanding by 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms, official data showed Tuesday.

Goods trade value expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

China's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during this period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data revealed.

In November alone, goods imports and exports saw a year-on-year increase of 1.2 percent to total 3.75 trillion yuan -- maintaining growth for an eighth consecutive month.

Specifically, exports of mechanical and electrical products accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total during the January-November period, with exports of containers, ships and motorcycles increasing by 108.7 percent, 65.3 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively, the data showed.

During the first 11 months, agricultural products reached a broad overseas market, as exports of dried and fresh fruits and nuts, vegetables and edible fungi, and alcohol and beverages increased by 22.2 percent, 11.4 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.

Among various market entities, private enterprises in this period saw their foreign trade increase by 8.7 percent year on year -- remaining the leading force in terms of China's foreign trade. Meanwhile, imports and exports of foreign-invested firms increased by 1.1 percent.

Market diversification also sustained momentum. In the first 11 months of 2024, China's trade with traditional partners such as the European Union, the United States and the Republic of Korea achieved growth of 1.3 percent, 4.2 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.

China's trade with countries participating in Belt and Road cooperation during this period saw a year-on-year increase of 6 percent, while that with ASEAN countries rose by 8.6 percent.

In this period, China's foreign trade with Latin America and Africa increased by 7.9 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

The State Council recently issued a package of policy measures aimed at promoting the stable growth of foreign trade, while the Ministry of Commerce, the GAC and other departments also launched specific measures to accelerate the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, further optimize the business environment at ports, and promote the convenience of customs clearance for enterprises, said Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis.

"With the concerted efforts of both stock and incremental policies in the field, China is expected to end the year with a smooth performance in foreign trade and achieve the goal of stable quality and quantity," Lyu noted.

Containers are unloaded at Qingdao Port, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 10, 2024. China's total goods imports and exports expanded 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first 11 months of the year, official data showed Tuesday.

The goods trade volume expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The country's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during the period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data showed. (Photo by Yu Fangping/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows vehicles to be loaded for export at Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. China's total goods imports and exports expanded 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first 11 months of the year, official data showed Tuesday.

The goods trade volume expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The country's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during the period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data showed. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a view of the international container terminal at Yantai Port in east China's Shandong Province. China's total goods imports and exports expanded 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first 11 months of the year, official data showed Tuesday.

The goods trade volume expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The country's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during the period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data showed. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a view of the international container terminal at Yantai Port in east China's Shandong Province. China's total goods imports and exports expanded 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first 11 months of the year, official data showed Tuesday.

The goods trade volume expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The country's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during the period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data showed. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a cargo ship loaded with containers leaving Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. China's total goods imports and exports expanded 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first 11 months of the year, official data showed Tuesday.

The goods trade volume expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The country's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during the period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data showed. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a container terminal of Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. China's total goods imports and exports expanded 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first 11 months of the year, official data showed Tuesday.

The goods trade volume expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The country's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during the period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data showed. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

Editor: ZAD
BA and Iberia owner IAG flew higher on Wednesday after Deutsche Bank upgraded the shares to buy from hold and hiked the price target to 400p from 215p.

The bank said constrained capacity on the Transatlantic to/from the UK - a key market for BA at around 40% of revenues - should help IAG to further progress pricing in 2025.

"This is supported by early evidence from our fares tracker and underpinned by the macro outlook for the US, the UK and Spain," it said.

"With fuel set to be tailwind, we see scope for another year of ahead-of-consensus earnings growth in 2025 (DBe EBIT +6% versus consensus)."

DB also said margins were set to return to previous peak levels as a minimum.

"We expect IAG to meet the target set at the 2023 CMD for margins to be in the 12-15% range, forecasting 14.3% in 2026 (DB EBIT +8% versus consensus), up from 11.9% in 2023 and in-line with the 2018 peak," it said.

"We think the journey towards a better BA has only just begun, and a key driver of the margin uplift is the 7bn transformation program which includes more than 1,400 initiatives."

Deutsche said that improvements at Aer Lingus, the continued leveraging of the Spanish platforms and growing IAG Loyalty should also help.

The bank also highlighted a strong free cash flow outlook and said there was room for additional returns as well as M&A. It assumes a further 700m share buyback in 2025 buts see scope for "a lot more".

Deutsche Bank pointed to an attractive valuation and some potential positive catalysts. It noted that IAG trades on a 2025 EV/EBITDA of around 3.3x, a price-to-earnings multiple of about 5.2x and offers a 3% dividend yield underpinned by a 13% estimated free cash flow yield.

"These multiples compare very favourably versus its history, especially early-cycle ones," it said.

DB said the revised price target implies around 40% upside.

"In addition to EPS upgrades and further share buybacks, we expect IAG to benefit from potential MSCI re-inclusion and money returning to UK-focused funds," it said.

At 1035 GMT, the shares were up 2.4% at 288.70p.
British American Tobacco reaffirmed its full-year guidance for 2024 on Wednesday, supported by a stronger second half driven by investments in its US commercial operations and innovation in its New Categories portfolio.

The FTSE 100 tobacco giant said it anticipated revenue and profit growth across both its combustibles and New Categories businesses in the latter half of the year.

It highlighted an improved performance in its combustibles segment, bolstered by price increases and a recovery in wholesaler inventory movements.

While US volume share remained steady, value share dipped due to geographical mix and the rollout of commercial plans.

Growth in volume and value share was more pronounced in the Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific regions.

The company reported progress in its New Categories division, particularly in vapour, heated tobacco, and modern oral products.

Its vapour brand Vuse retained global market leadership with a 40.3% value share, although US performance faced challenges from an illicit single-use vape market.

BAT said it was advocating for tighter regulatory enforcement, noting success in Louisiana where legal vapour sales had increased.

Heated tobacco products under the Glo brand experienced revenue and profit growth in the second half, with innovations like the Glo Hyper Pro driving market share gains in key regions such as Japan and Europe.

Meanwhile, modern oral products under the Velo brand continued to expand globally, achieving strong growth in established and new markets, including the UK and Poland.

BAT also underscored its cash generation, with operating cash flow conversion expected to exceed 90% for the year.

The firm said it aimed to end 2024 with leverage at the upper end of its 2.0 to 2.5x target range, impacted in part by a stronger dollar.

For 2024, BAT said it expected global tobacco industry volumes to decline by about 2%.

The guided for low single-digit organic revenue and adjusted profit growth, with foreign exchange headwinds impacting results.

Capital expenditure is projected to reach 600m.

BAT also reiterated its support for the proposed Canadian CCAA settlement, and expressed optimism for a resolution benefiting all stakeholders.

We are on track to deliver our 2024 guidance, demonstrating the strength and resilience of our business, said chief executive officer Tadeu Marroco.

Our second-half performance acceleration is driven by the phasing of New Categories innovation, the benefits of investment in U.S. commercial actions and the unwind of wholesaler inventory movements.

Our Quality Growth imperative is delivering higher returns on more targeted investments across all three New Categories, and that prioritisation and focus is already transforming our business in Europe.

Marroco said the company was making further progress increasing profitability across New Categories, adding that he was particularly pleased with the improvements in heated products and Modern Oral.

In the U.S., I am encouraged that our investment approach, taken over the last 18 months to strengthen our business, is working, despite a challenging macro-economic backdrop.

Through our commercial actions, we have invested in our portfolio and improved our executional capabilities.

With these previously announced plans now completed, we can prioritise driving sharper execution and opening incremental white space, related to Modern Oral.

Tadeu Marroco said the company did not expect the journey to its mid-term guidance to be linear.

Building on the strong foundations we have established, I am confident that we will deliver an improved underlying performance as we move from investment to deployment in 2025.

In addition, we expect to have more clarity on the financial impacts of CCAA in Canada when we provide our 2025 guidance with our 2024 results in February.

We will continue to reward shareholders through strong cash returns, including our progressive dividend and sustainable share buy-back, and we remain committed to returning to our mid-term guidance of 3% to 5% revenue and mid-single digit adjusted profit from operations growth on an organic constant currency basis by 2026.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Close Brothers shares surged on Wednesday after the Supreme Court agreed that it could appeal a landmark ruling on motor finance commissions.

In October, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of British consumers that motor dealers acting as credit brokers owe a fiduciary duty to their customers.

Close Brothers said at the time that it would appeal the decision and that it was temporarily pausing the writing of new UK motor finance business while it reviewed and implemented "any relevant changes to our documentation and processes to ensure compliance with these new requirements".

There were three complainants involved in the case: Amy Hopcraft, Marcus Johnson and Andrew Wrench. They argued that the car dealers owe a duty to be impartial in the information they provide.

Hopcrafts case was against Close Brothers, while Johnsons was against Firstrand Bank and Motonovo Finance. Wrenchs case was against Firstrand.

The Court of Appeal said at the time: "The dealers were the sellers of the cars, but they were also acting as credit brokers on behalf of the claimants. In the latter role, their task was to search for and offer the customer a finance deal from their panel of lenders which was suitable for their needs and competitive.

"In some cases they undertook to find the best deal or the one which was most suitable for the customer."

At 1335 GMT, Close Brothers shares were up 7.2% at 258.17p. Shares of Lloyds Banking Group - which also provides motor finance - were 4% higher at 55.12p.

"Close Brothers Group will not be commenting further on an ongoing appeals process, and any further announcements will be made as and when appropriate," it said on Wednesday.

In a trading update in November, Close Brothers maintained its guidance for 2025. However, it said it was expecting "some financial impact" from measures taken in response to the Court judgment, including potential further increases in professional and legal fees and associated operational costs.
Train managers at Avanti West Coast are to strike in a dispute over rest day working. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union plan to walk out on 22, 23 and 29 December. Union members voted overwhelmingly against the companys proposals.  Guardian

Britains car finance scandal could end up being as big as the payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling saga, which cost UK banks 50bn, the City regulators top lawyer has admitted. Stephen Braviner Roman, the Financial Conduct Authoritys general counsel and executive director in charge of legal affairs, said Octobers shock court of appeal ruling into car finance commission arrangements vastly expanded the scope of potential consumer compensation. - Guardian

The US owner of Boots is in talks with an American private equity giant about a potential takeover, in a move that is expected to trigger a fresh auction of the British high street chain. Walgreens Boots Alliance, which has owned the UK chemist since 2014, is reportedly in discussions with Sycamore Partners about a deal that could value the company at as much as $10bn (7.8bn).  Telegraph

The Financial Conduct Authority has warned MPs that a push for the regulator to encourage growth must not encourage a race to the bottom and that parliament must be prepared to stand by the revised remit when more things go wrong. Nikhil Rathi, the authoritys chief executive, and Ashley Alder, its chairman, told the Treasury committee about the challenges the regulator would face after being asked by the government to do more to promote economic growth alongside its objectives to protect consumers and market integrity.  The Times

A settlement has been agreed between Shell and Greenpeace after the environmental charity occupied one of the multinationals vessels to protest against its North Sea oil drilling plans. The campaign group has agreed to donate 300,000 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, after the oil major claimed that it had incurred significant costs when six Greenpeace activists boarded a ship carrying a floating production, storage and offloading vessel last year, as it was en route to a shipyard in Norway.  The Times
Shares in Endeavour Mining spiked on Wednesday as the company said it would conduct a definitive feasibility study (DFS) on its Assafou-Dibibango gold project in Cote dIvoire after preliminary assessment confirmed its potential to be a tier one asset.

Chief executive Ian Cockerill said the first study had defined a large, low-cost and long mine life project, capable of producing 330koz a year over the first 10 years, while remaining firmly in the lowest cost quartile. Shares in the miner were up almost 7% in London.

The pre-feasibility study found defined maiden reserves of 72.8 million tonnes at 1.76 grammes per tonne for 4.1 million ounces of gold.

Indicated resources were 73.6Mt at 1.95g/t for 4.6Moz based on a drilling cutoff in October 2023, with more than 70,000 metres of drilling completed subsequently.

Further resource expansion and definition at Assafou and satellite deposits in close proximity to the project are expected to be incorporated into the DFS, the company said, adding that the study would start swiftly with completion expected between late 2025 and early 2026, "given the high-quality project and attractive economics".

IT provider Kainos said on Wednesday that it has re-appointed Brendan Mooney to the board as chief executive officer.

Mooney will succeed outgoing CEO Russell Sloan, who will step down from the role with immediate effect. Sloan previously took over from Mooney in September 2023.

Brendan started working for Kainos in 1989 and was CEO for 22 years before stepping down. He also led Kainos through a successful IPO in 2015 and turned the group into an international business.

AJ Bell's Dan Coatsworth said: "A chief executive presiding over a gradually declining share price only has so long to fix the problem before shareholders or the board of directors push for change at the top. It looks like time ran out for Kainos' CEO, Russell Sloan, who has left with immediate effect. He was only in the top job for just over a year.

"Bringing back the previous CEO has gone down well with the market as Brendan Mooney is a known entity. He is seen as a trusted pair of hands who knows the business inside and out. The big unknown is whether Mooney has been brought back on a temporary basis as a 'Mr Fix It' or if he's in it for the long haul."

Kainos also stated expectations for the year ending 31 March 2025 were unchanged from the time of its H1 results on 11 November.

Close Brothers shares rallied after the Supreme Court agreed that it could appeal a landmark ruling on motor finance commissions.

In October, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of British consumers that motor dealers acting as credit brokers owe a fiduciary duty to their customers.

Close Brothers said at the time that it would appeal the decision and that it was temporarily pausing the writing of new UK motor finance business while it reviewed and implemented "any relevant changes to our documentation and processes to ensure compliance with these new requirements".

There were three complainants involved in the case: Amy Hopcraft, Marcus Johnson and Andrew Wrench. They argued that the car dealers owe a duty to be impartial in the information they provide.

Hopcrafts case was against Close Brothers, while Johnsons was against Firstrand Bank and Motonovo Finance. Wrenchs case was against Firstrand.

The Court of Appeal said at the time: "The dealers were the sellers of the cars, but they were also acting as credit brokers on behalf of the claimants. In the latter role, their task was to search for and offer the customer a finance deal from their panel of lenders which was suitable for their needs and competitive.

"In some cases they undertook to find the best deal or the one which was most suitable for the customer."

Market Movers



FTSE 250 - Risers

Endeavour Mining (EDV) 1,601.00p 6.73%

Kainos Group (KNOS) 852.00p 6.10%

Raspberry PI Holdings (RPI) 441.90p 5.11%

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 238.00p 4.85%

SSP Group (SSPG) 192.90p 3.27%

Volution Group (FAN) 568.00p 3.09%

Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 2,130.00p 2.90%

Burberry Group (BRBY) 991.60p 2.86%

Hilton Food Group (HFG) 921.00p 2.33%

Man Group (EMG) 213.60p 2.20%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Domino's Pizza Group (DOM) 320.20p -4.30%

NCC Group (NCC) 132.40p -3.78%

Future (FUTR) 995.50p -3.16%

Computacenter (CCC) 2,216.00p -2.81%

Spectris (SXS) 2,596.00p -2.33%

Moonpig Group (MOON) 223.50p -2.19%

NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red (NESF) 67.55p -1.96%

Currys (CURY) 78.85p -1.68%

W.A.G Payment Solutions (WPS) 82.80p -1.43%

Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust (USA) 280.00p -1.41%
It is important for Ukraine that trade with Poland be continuous and that both countries receive mutual benefit, said Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval at a meeting with Polish Minister of Agriculture Czesaw Siekiersk with the participation of Ukrainian and Polish agricultural associations.

The Ukrainian minister emphasized that horizontal dialogue, when associations talk to associations, ministries to ministries, farmers to farmers, is very important for building strong mutually beneficial partnerships.

"Poland is not just a close neighbor, but one of Ukraine's largest trading partners. Our agricultural products contain a large part of Polish components. These are mineral fertilizers, plant protection products, seeds. It is important for us that trade between our countries is continuous, and we receive mutual benefits. This is a point of synergy, where we can jointly export our products to third markets, develop cooperation. So that 1+1 is greater than two. So that we understand that we have historically strong ties that allow us to make economies stronger," the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food quoted him as saying.

According to Koval, over 10 months of 2024, Polish exports to Ukraine amounted to $5.6 billion. From Ukraine to Poland - $4.15 billion. At the same time, Ukraine exported agricultural products to Poland for $1.2 billion, and Poland to Ukraine - for $688 million.

The Minister of Agrarian Policy asked Polish farmers to remember that there is a war in Ukraine, Ukrainian farmers work in unequal conditions and the export of Ukrainian agricultural products is a matter of their survival, a matter of filling the budget of a country at war. At the same time, Ukraine respects trade rules and does not violate them.

This was the third meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Poland and Ukraine with the participation of industry associations. The purpose of the meeting is to continue the Polish-Ukrainian dialogue on agriculture and trade in agricultural products, the Ministry of Agriculture clarified on Twitter.

The Ukrainian side called for further search for common ground that is mutually beneficial for both countries.
Bookstore and wine bar Book Society opened over the weekend in Berkeley, Calif., the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Located at 2945 College Ave. in Berkeley's Elmwood district, the store carries a curated selection of general-interest adult books, with a focus on local authors. The books are displayed on floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, complete with rolling ladder, and the bar serves a rotating variety of wines along with an assortment of snacks, including popcorn, olives, smoked sturgeon pate, and cheeses. Book Society also features an Italian-made wine dispenser, which allows customers to serve themselves.

When it comes to events, owner Laura Guzman plans to host author readings, book clubs, and yoga classes. She offers monthly subscriptions featuring book and wine pairings as well.

Guzman, originally from a small town in upstate New York, moved to the Bay Area in 2014 and had a previous career in marketing. A life-long reader, she became interested in opening a bookstore of her own after volunteering with the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, where she eventually managed their bookstore. Her decision to make the store a bookstore and bar was inspired in part by places like Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C.

"It's the place that I felt like I needed right after Covid, and frankly we continue to need, now more than ever," Guzman told the San Francisco Chronicle. "There's something special about being surrounded by books and ideas and the joy of discovery."
James Patterson

Author James Patterson has selected the independent booksellers who are beneficiaries of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program, which in October he said would go to 600 booksellers in $500 increments. As he has done in previous years, Patterson pledged a substantial amount--$300,000 this fall--to fund the program. The complete list of recipients can be seen on the American Booksellers Association's website.

"Booksellers save lives. Period," Patterson said. "I'm happy to be able to acknowledge them and all their hard work this holiday season."

ABA CEO Allison Hill commented: "We appreciate Mr. Patterson's financial generosity as well as his generosity of spirit. We all continue to be awed by, and grateful for, Mr. Patterson's continuing support of independent booksellers. It means everything to have him recognize and reward the valuable role booksellers play in the industry."

Congratulations to the bookseller winners and many thanks to the ever-generous James Patterson!
The 16th Annual Convention of the Central Information Commission began with a formal inauguration today by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.

Citing several instances of the Modi Govt's transparent working, the Minister said, "Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi's Mantra of Minimum Government Maximum Governance essentially implies furtherance of transparency".

The theme of the Convention of the Central Information Commission was Contribution of RTI in journey towards Viksit Bharat.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, while addressing the Convention, emphasized the pivotal role of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance. The event brought together under one roof Chief Information Commissioners, State Information Commissioners, senior government officials, and representatives of civil society.

Highlighting the significance of the RTI Act, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated, "The RTI Act has empowered citizens by providing them with a robust mechanism to access information, bridging the gap between government and the people. It serves as a cornerstone in the fight against corruption and in fostering a citizen-centric governance model".

The Minister praised the Central and State Information Commissions for their innovative use of technology, particularly during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Central Information Commissions adoption of e-initiatives, including e-filing, e-hearings, and digitization of records, has set new benchmarks for efficiency and transparency", he noted. Union Minister further stressed upon utilising technology in various domains of governance. He also talked about the SVAMITVA model, which helps in eroding the physical interface with authorities. The Union Minister also talked about imparting innovation in the Governance.

Talking about the example of Swachata campaigns, the Minister mentioned how disposal of junks led to the monetary earning for the government.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also lauded the achievements in the realm of proactive disclosure. Total of 1302 Public Authorities have submitted their transparency audit reports for the year 2023-24. He urged all public authorities to enhance their proactive disclosure practices, underscoring the importance of Section 4 of the RTI Act in broadening the transparency regime. Union Minister, in this series stressed upon the importance of disposal of cases swiftly and thus, to the satisfaction of citizenry.

Expressing his appreciation for the leadership of Chief Information Commissioner Shri Heeralal Samariya and his colleagues, Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirmed the governments commitment to strengthening the RTI mechanism. "Transparency and accountability are essential for building trust in governance. We are dedicated to making the RTI process more responsive and citizen-friendly to reinforce the democratic fabric of the nation", he concluded.

The Annual Convention served as a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on enhancing the implementation of the RTI Act and ensuring greater inclusiveness and citizen participation in governance. Central Chief Information Commissioner, Central Information Commissioners & Information Commissioners of State Information Commissions, officials of the Central Government, including Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities from Public Authorities, representatives of Media and Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders participated in the Convention.
Reiterating India's commitment towards Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday highlighted new opportunities for enhancing participation of Russian industries in the 'Make in India' projects while voicing New Delhi's determination to extend the capabilities of its domestic defence industry across domains and industrial collaboration.

Singh met with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov in Moscow and co-chaired the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M;MTC).

He emphasised that the India-Russia relationship is 'very strong', and has lived up to the responsibilities of a special and privileged strategic partnership, adding that the time-tested ties have further strengthened with the recent exchanges, including two visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia during 2024.

"Had a very productive IRIGC-M;MTC meeting with my Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov in Moscow. Reviewing the full range of bilateral defence ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation between both the countries. We are committed to further strengthen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership", he posted on social media platform after the meeting.

Belousov noted that Russia and India have a strong, time-honoured friendship, based on mutual respect, where the trusting relations of the leaders of the two states play a key role in strengthening bilateral ties.

"We are always pleased to see Indian colleagues in Russia", said the Russian Defence Minister.

"The results of the meetings of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi in July in Moscow and in October at the BRICS summit in Kazan served to deepen the particularly privileged strategic partnership, to include in the defence sphere. We are committed to implement all the agreements reached at the highest level," he added.

Belousov also congratulated Singh on the commissioning of INS Tushil and further stated that the operationalisation of Military Technical Cooperation agreement for 2021-31 will give necessary impetus to 'Make in India' initiative.

During their talks, the two sides discussed in detail topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres.

The Russian Defence Minister noted the 'good level' of Indian-Russian military cooperation in multilateral formats, including within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and ADMM-Plus format.

"I am confident that our meeting will help to strengthen Russian-Indian relations in the field of defence and security", said Belousov.

Earlier, the Indian delegation was welcomed at the Russian Defence Ministry in Central Moscow with Singh inspecting a Guard of Honour.

Defence Minister Singh also laid a wreath at 'The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' in Moscow to honour the memory of the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War.
A thematic session on the theme of infrastructure and supply chain was organised on the second day of the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024. The discussions took place on crucial areas such as enhancing logistical efficiency, sustainable expressways, and developing industrial zones near transport networks to boost operations and sustainability.

The passage of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor through the tribal districts of the state of Rajasthan will facilitate the development of these districts at a fast pace and help unlock the industrial potential of these areas. An efficient transport system is one of the four pillars in the infrastructure sector whose availability facilitates the flow of investment, asset creation and generation of new jobs, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways.

Gadkari also announced nine roads and highways projects, having a total length of 800 km, for Rajasthan, including the Northern Jaipur Ring Road and Jaipur-Kishangarh-Jodhpur to Amritsar Highway project while addressing the gathering. The projects are estimated to cost INR 30,000 crore.

Jogaram Patel, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Government of Rajasthan said that an excellent road network and logistics sector are key for an indispensable role in the development of the state.

Praveen Gupta, Principal Secretary, PWD, Government of Rajasthan said that Rajasthan has taken big strides in the logistics sector which has led to significant improvement in its ranking in the logistics sector.

The session titled Infrastructure: An Important Link in Supply Chain saw experts deliberating on strategies to integrate various modes of transport to enhance logistical efficiency and develop specialised networks for efficient freight movement.

The panellists also dwelled upon the subject of making the expressways sustainable and eco-friendly. The experts also weighed on the strategy of developing dedicated industrial zones which are in close proximity to the transport systems enhancing efficiency and scale of operations.
The US India Business Council (USIBC) Global Private Limited, part of the US Chamber of Commerce, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (IT E&C), Government of Telangana, to enhance collaboration in technological innovation.

The MoU was formalized in the presence of Honourable Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, and Industries & Commerce, Shri D. Sridhar Babu, and Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana, Shri Jayesh Ranjan. The ceremony was attended by Ms. Jennifer Larson, US Consul General Hyderabad, and Mr. Rahul Sharma, Managing Director of USIBC, alongside industry leaders and dignitaries.

The partnership focuses on advancing key sectors such as IT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), electronics, and Global Capability Centers (GCCs). Speaking on the occasion, Shri D. Sridhar Babu highlighted Telanganas role as a global innovation leader, stating, This MoU marks a new chapter in our partnership with the United States, fostering investment, innovation, and employment opportunities powered by AI and GCCs.

The event also included a roundtable discussion on AI and GCCs, emphasizing Hyderabads position as a global technology hub. Ms. Jennifer Larson noted, This MoU underscores the robust collaboration between Telangana and US businesses, showcasing how regional partnerships drive innovation and economic growth.

Shri Jayesh Ranjan lauded Hyderabads thriving tech ecosystem, supported by skilled professionals and progressive policies, which attracts global investments in emerging technologies.

Rahul Sharma, Managing Director of USIBC, called the agreement a significant step in bolstering US-India ties. He remarked, By leveraging Telanganas dynamic ecosystem and US industry expertise, we are unlocking opportunities in AI and GCCs, shaping the future of global innovation.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If youre in the market for a job with a little flexibility, you might want to check out the Official Careers Website of the City of New York. According to several job postings listed there, NYC is hiring -- and many of the roles are fully or partially remote.

The Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) is currently hiring for several roles, including customer service representative. Candidates will answer inquiries about summonses, hearings and fines over the phone or via email. A high school diploma is required for consideration, as is a minimum of three years experience in community centered activities. Salary range for this position is between $43,143 and $49,615.

OATH is also hiring program associates who will perform targeted outreach to customers who have difficulty certifying the correction of an open summons. Some college credits are necessary for this position, which carries a salary between $51,816 and $59,588 annually.

Other positions with remote options include:

Contract coordinator, Department of Transportation

$58,700  $192,152

Executive director, Human Resources, Department of Buildings $81,083  $190,000

Penalty processing unit clerk, OATH $60,889  $62,215

Tenant liaison, Department of Citywide Administrative Services

$79,473  $91,394

For more information, or to apply for any of these positions, visit https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua

Some 199 military clashes were recorded during December 10 in all directions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a report as of 22:00 on Tuesday.

"The Russian invaders launched two missile and 17 air strikes on the territory of Ukraine, using three guided missiles and 31 bombs. In addition, the Russians engaged 441 kamikaze drones to defeat them and fired about three thousand attacks on the positions of our troops and settlements," the message of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says.
Salah Selmi is not surprised his father, Salem Salah, waded into the ocean at a Jersey Shore beach in September when two of his younger brothers started struggling in the surf.

He probably would have done it for a stranger, his son said. Salah liked to help people, from extended family members to customers at his auto repair shop in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

He never said no to anyone, like anyone. Even at the shop, whenever someone is low on money and they cant afford this and that, hes like, Bring the money back, Selmi said recently.

What was shocking, and now sad, is that his father did not survive the rescue attempt.

Salah was the 55-year-old man that local rescue swimmers pulled from the waters in the Shark River Inlet on Sept. 22, near the southern jetty in Avon-By-the-Sea known as the L jetty.

His sons, ages 19 and 15, made it onto the inlets rocks, one on Avons L jetty and one across the inlet on the Belmar side, police reports say, and Selmi described.

Salem Salah, who many called by the Arabic nickname Fadel, lived with his family for many years in Newark, where he also worked as a mechanic. His son said they moved to Pottstown about five years ago for better schools and healthcare, and less violence.

Now, Selmi, 21, is running the shop, Amana Auto Repair, along with his 19-year-old brother  who almost drowned  and doing his best to support his family, which is a household of 10.

His fathers loss has not only devastated him and their family, but gone are his fathers decades in the auto repair business, which Selmi was learning. Its been a bit tough filling his fathers shoes, like dealing with bills and the non-auto side of the business, but hes proud to have stepped up.

I have to, I have to provide for my family, he said during a recent phone interview from the shop, as he worked from the shop and clangs rang out in the background.

His father loved to fish, and usually went to lakes and fished from boats, Selmi said. In September, his younger brothers had been begging him to go to the ocean to fish.

Selmi did not make the trip. From his familys accounts, and the police report, which NJ Advance Media obtained through a public records request, this is what occurred:

The family was at the L jetty, which is a popular beach for gathering and fishing. The ocean was rough that day, due to offshore weather.

The L jetty in Avon, N.J. in this 2023 file photo.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

Another family was present too, his fathers best friend, which Selmi described as so close they call him his uncle, and his children their cousins.

His uncle went to pray and was gone for five minutes when Selmis brothers started struggling in the water, at about 6:30 p.m. Selmi said his brothers were cooling off in a calm area near the L jetty, with little waves.

The L jetty is unique, as part of it runs perpendicular to the coast, acting as a breakwater and apparent protection for swimmers. However, Selmi said his brothers were eventually swept out and around the jetty.

Salah entered the water after them.

Moments later, his uncle returned to chaos, and people screaming and yelling, Selmi said.

A 911 call had reported three swimmers in distress, and a police officer arrived and found one was climbing back onto the L jetty. Police dispatched the ANSWER team, a joint, volunteer water rescue organization.

The other two  Salah and a son  were being carried south by the current, toward the opening of the inlet.

Three rescue swimmers entered the water as police officers signaled them to the victims, and they reached Salah as he was submerged, police said. The other son was swept into the rocks, and to eventual safety.

Officers and rescuers pulled Salah onto the rocks on the Avon side and performed CPR.

Selmi said his mother watched in horror as everything unfolded.

Rescuers put Salah into an ambulance, and all the family members in police cars and headed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where Salah was pronounced dead.

Family friends helped Selmi and his mother lay Salah to rest in New Jersey, his son said. He hopes to one day raise some extra funds and get him a nice headstone.

But for now, hes focusing on keeping the repair shop going and helping to care for his siblings.

Selmi said 2024 has been heavy.

The family is Palestinian and originally from Gaza.

Selmi said he was in Gaza last October with his newborn daughter when the war broke out with Israel. He literally had rockets landing around him, saw death often, and suddenly found himself trying to flee a war zone.

His father saved him in a way, Selmi said.

Salah contacted U.S. State Department officials, over and over and over, and worked to get Selmis name on a list that allowed him to cross the border into Israel, and to back to Pennsylvania.

He did it, Selmi said. My dad got me out.

This year has been like the craziest year in my life, he said.

Salem Salah, shown in a family photo, died while trying to save his sons in the ocean at the Jersey Shore in September 2024.(Family photo)

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  With FDNY fire marshals having determined that a lithium-ion battery sparked a fire at Staten Island Technical High School in New Dorp last week, Borough President Vito Fossella weighed in on the incident while once again questioning the safety of having battery storage facilities located on the Island.

Earlier today, FDNY marshals determined that the cause of the fire Friday night at Staten Island Tech was a lithium-ion battery, Fosella said in a statement. The battery was small  no larger than a stack of index cards  and yet, a thermal runaway caused a large fire that required the response of 12 units and 60 firefighters.

Though, unfortunately, one firefighter was injured, we are thankful that it happened after hours, when there were no students around who could have been potentially harmed by the fire or toxic emissions. We are also thankful that the fire was contained to one classroom, he added.

Fossella said the battery facilities are putting Island residents at risk, as they often house hundreds of such batteries and have been built within the heart of residential communities, adjacent to homes and in the vicinity of gas stations.

Whether within schools or next to our homes, these batteries are dangerous, and it continues to be a wonder that BESS facilities are still allowed to be built across Staten Island, Fossella said.

The Advance/SILive.com reported earlier in the year that at least 13 more lithium-ion battery energy storage sites were currently in the pipeline for the borough, with each one set to receive more than $1.5 million in incentive awards from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and expected to be operational within the next few years.

Spread out among eight different communities, some clustered on the South Shore and others scattered in the North Shore neighborhoods of Mariners Harbor, Concord and West Brighton, these BESS sites are slated for construction in a mix of industrial, commercial and residential zones  several located less than half a mile away from each other.

More than 250 lithium-ion battery-fueled fires resulted in 18 deaths In New York City last year, according to data, prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to launch a statewide campaign earlier in the year to raise awareness about the safe use of consumer products that contain them.
ALBANY, N.Y.  A 12-year-old boy died after falling through the ice at a lake in upstate New York and an 11-year-old girl who tried to save him was hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said.

The two children were at Washington Park Lake in Albany at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday when the boy tried to walk across the frozen lake and fell through the ice, Albany police said in a news release.

The girl followed to try to help the boy but she fell in also, police said.

A 12-year-old boy died in upstate New York after falling through the ice on a lakeAP

Albany police officers and firefighters responded and rescued the girl, who was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital in critical condition. A New York State Police dive team found the boys body at about 7:30 p.m. that evening, police said.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said it was surprising that the children made it as far as they did, given how thin the ice was.

Its just a reminder of how fragile life can be and how important it is that we ensure that our children know and that everyone in our community knows that venturing out onto the ice is not a safe thing to do on any of the bodies of water here, Sheehan told TV station WNYT.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The puzzling mystery of car-sized drones plaguing Staten Islands night skies might make someone want to shoot one down to check it out.

If you find yourself contemplating that temptation, a couple of words of advice: Please dont.

Shooting down an airborne drone is considered a federal crime  not to mention the enormous size of these drones can lead to serious injury or accidents as it falls from the sky.

You cannot interfere with it. You cannot take it out of the sky, Warren County Community College President and WarrenUAS unmanned drone program creator Will Austin said to Advance/SILive.com sister site, NJ.com. Even if its over your property, youre not legally allowed to shoot at it.

Not to mention the fact that many drones contain lithium in some capacity, like a lithium polymer battery, which can explode or ignite if hit by a bullet, NJ.com reported.

Austin added that, Those fires are hard to put out, and you could end up accidentally burning your house down.

In New York City, it is illegal to fly a drone at night, but that doesnt appear to be stopping the fleets of drones flying around Staten Island and New Jersey.

FBI agents in New Jersey are looking into the neighboring states occurrences which New Jersey police began to investigate on Nov. 18, NJ.com said.

Reports have been filed with police about drones in Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Morristown, Morris Township, Chester, Randolph, Rockaway, Morris Plains, Dover and Parsippany in Morris County. Authorities in Hillsborough and Branchburg in Somerset County, and communities in Warren County, have also received reports, NJ.com reported.

Former Air Force Sergeant Walter Ziegler of New Springville told the Advance/SILive.com that he spotted some of the drones from his apartment building with binoculars.

He described them as having a white light in the center and a red light on each side. By his estimation, he believes the span of the drone is about 15-feet-long. They came within a mile or less of his apartment, he said, and they were all stringed out.

The most he observed in a single instance was five or six.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The car-sized drones that first appeared in New Jersey in mid-November and crept their way to Staten Island seem to be crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton.

In a post to X, a user named Diane Atkins posted four different videos of what she says is over 10 drones soaring over the bridge connecting the boroughs.

Drones are officially in Brooklyn! Atkins wrote. Some had a little blinking white dot and as 1 or 2 flew away with green/yellow/red lights, the white dot ones turned on green/yellow/red lights then flew away. One drone actually shut all of its lights OFF, so seemed to disappear in the night sky!

Drones are officially in Brooklyn! In Bay Ridge approx 11pm-11:15pm, 10+ DRONES? Some had a little blinking white dot and as 1 or 2 flew away with green/yellow/red lights, the white dot ones turned on green/yellow/red lights then flew away. One drone actually shut all of its pic.twitter.com/5zhkjpV8me  Diane Atkins  (@DianeAtkins) December 9, 2024

This description is similar to what Former Air Force Sergeant Walter Ziegler of New Springville saw from his apartment building.

Ziegler said that the drones spotted at Howland Hook Marine Terminal were in the glide path of Newark International Airport.

When the aircraft actually got close to them, the lights shut off, and when the aircraft passed them, the lights came on again and started following the aircraft toward the airport, he explained.

Ziegler additionally described them as having a white light in the center and a red light on each side. By his estimation, he believes the span of the drone is about 15-feet-long. They came within a mile or less of his apartment, he said, and they were all stringed out.

The most he observed in a single instance was five or six.

The New Jersey division of the FBI began to investigate the drone occurrences  whose origins remain unknown  in recent weeks. It has been confirmed that the New Jersey investigation has extended its parameters to include Staten Island.

Many theories have been thrown around since the drones appearance, including that theyre some sort of military equipment.

Ziegler isnt convinced.

Using apps, Ziegler was able to determine that the drones were not helicopters as they lack the transponders usually aboard a helicopter. While he isnt sure if they are military related, he said that if they were military, they wouldnt have their transponders on anyway.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Its been more than 43 years since 18-year-old Michael Ferrara lost his battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and left his mom, Victoria Ferrara, heartbroken.

Michael, a Tottenville High School grad, was diagnosed in May 1980 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He lost his battle with the disease on April 10, 1981, less than a year later.

Ferrara has honored her sons memory by hosting annual toy drives and collecting toys for terminally ill children who are staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Manhattan.

Michael himself stayed at the Ronald McDonald House.

Ferrara has now announced another drive, one that will last all year and benefit cancer patients, who are always cold.

In addition, monetary donations are also accepted.

Checks can be made out to the Michael Ferrara Memorial Fund and mailed to Victoria Ferrara, director/founder, at 1331 Bay St., Apt. 512, Staten Island, N.Y. 10305.

I had so much success with the toy drive, that Im sure this drive will also succeed, given the fact that Staten Islanders, friends and family are always there to give and help, noted Ferrara. This idea came to me like a light bulb. And 2017 was the first year that I did not run the toy drive and I was so lost during the year.

She asks that all knitters, crocheters and quilters create blankets, slippers, chemo hats, afghans, lap throws, mittens, gloves, scarves, and regular hats for adults, children and babies of all ages.

Ferrara wants to not only keep Michaels memory alive, but to have cancer patients be comfortable, and have those who donate experience the great feeling that comes to those who participate.

The drive will be ongoing with no deadlines.

Items can be dropped off, or Ferrara will pick them up.

I intend to distribute them to all cancer patients everywhere I can think of, she added. I will be responsible for hand delivering or mailing finished products to hospitals, cancer centers, and patients at home, nursing homes, etc. And as usual, anyone can feel free to call or email me with any questions.

Items may also be dropped off at 1331 Bay St., Apt. 512.

Donors, including schools and Scout troops, families and friends, past and present participates and newcomers and crafters, should first email Ferrara at vickytattoos@netscape.com. or phone her 718-473-2969.
A poll shows that more than half of New York voters want a challenger for Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul even as the governors approval rating has increased.

The Siena College poll of 834 registered state voters found that 57% of respondents would prefer someone else be elected governor instead of Hochul, as reported by Fox News.

Just 33% said that they would re-elect Hochul.

With two years to go until the election, just 48% of Democrats said that they would re-elect Hochul, with four in 10 Democrats saying they want someone else.

The poll also showed that congestion pricing, recently resurrected by Hochul after a pause, is widely unpopular with New Yorkers.

The poll showed that voters oppose Hochuls congestion pricing plan by a 51% to 29% margin. That includes 56% of city voters and six in 10 downstate residents.

But Siena pollster Steve Greenberg said that there was some good news in the poll for Hochul, who saw her favorability rating increase for the second straight survey.

Hochuls favorable rating has improved from 36% to 51% in October to 39% to 49% in the most recent survey.

The governors job approval rating jumped from 41% to 51% in October to 46% to 49% currently.

However, Greenberg said, The bad news is that both ratings remain stubbornly underwater. Hochul has not had a positive favorability rating since January of this year and she has never had 50% or more voters view her favorably.

Greenberg added that voters say that all things being equal theyd prefer a Democrat over a Republican to be the next governor, 52% to 34%.

Hochul could face a Democratic primary challenge from Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx). Republican Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Hudson Valley) is eyeing a general election challenge of Hochul.

The Siena survey was conducted between Dec. 2 and 5.
The Russian invaders executed at least 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), and 177 such cases were recorded in previous years of the full-scale invasion, said Dmytro Lubinets, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada.

"In 2024 alone, it was officially confirmed that the Russians shot dead 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war," Lubinets said on the air of the national telethon on Tuesday.

According to him, there are also regular reports of numerous violations of the rights of prisoners of war by the occupiers. "When we manage to record it, we do it," the ombudsman said.
Wednesday, December 11, is declared a day of mourning in Zaporizhia for those killed as a result of a missile strike by the Russian army on the city center on Tuesday, said head of Zaporizhia Regional administration Ivan Fedorov.

"Today in Zaporizhia region, a day of mourning has been declared for those who died as a result of an enemy attack on the city, which occurred on December 10 ... My sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims," he wrote on the Telegram channel on Wednesday.

Earlier it was reported about six dead and 22 injured, there are still people under the rubble.
A board coup, administration and now taken to task by the corporate regulator for misleading shareholders. Most companies wouldnt want to experience that in a lifetime. But for Australias third-largest airline Regional Express (Rex) thats just the last 18 months.

While Rexs collapse in July left a bad taste in the mouth of domestic travellers, this time around there will be a bevy of furious Labor politicians, given the Albanese government just stumped up $80 million to bail out the airline.

As the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) boss Joe Longo pointed out on Wednesday, the government was made aware of the watchdogs investigation into Rex before it tipped in the cash. Moreover, many of Rexs issues were a matter of public record, so one needs to question why the federal government didnt attach governance conditions on Rex when it agreed to become a funder of last resort.

Rex is responsible for flying about 5 per cent of Australias domestic passengers.

Its the Rex hex striking again, and the latest in a series of unfortunate events that has punctuated the cascading corporate mess at the airline.
The NSW government will convene a tax summit focused on the arts and creative industries, with an emphasis on abolishing taxes on arts and literary awards including the Archibald Prize.

Arts minister John Graham will weigh in on long-running calls from visual artists and authors to reconsider the way Australia taxes prize money in a speech to be given to the Committee for Sydney on Thursday.

Graham will cite discrepancies in the tax treatment of the $100,000 Archibald Prize  the nations best-known prize for portraiture, which is held by the Art Gallery of NSW annually  versus those who escape the taxman after plunging money on its outcome.

2024 Archibald Prize winner Laura Jones with her portrait of writer Tim Winton. Credit: Janie Barrett

All past Archibald Prize winners including Julia Gutman, Blak Douglas and Laura Jones paid tax on their winnings as part of their ordinary income.
Every Christmas, Australians go through a mountain of seafood  including more than 6 million kilograms of prawns alone  killing untold numbers of marine life as bycatch, increasing pollution and putting some species futures at risk.

So, how do you ensure you make sustainable choices for your annual Christmas seafood feast?

South Coast Mariculture managing director Sam Gordon, on deck in Jervis Bay, says mussel and oyster farming is a net benefit form of aquaculture. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

And are sustainable seafood choices more expensive?

This year, farmed Tasmanian salmon is on the naughty list, according to the annual GoodFish sustainable seafood guide from the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
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Eating outJust open Star Thai diner Soi 38 opens another CBD restaurant  get in before the queues The sibling restaurant to the citys most treasured Thai eatery is nothing like the original. Strap in for a completely new adventure. Emma Breheny December 11, 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

As featured in the Melbourne hit list, January 2025. See all stories .

First they brought boat noodles into the Melbourne mainstream; now the Soi 38 team are putting southern Thai flavours in the spotlight at their second restaurant, a bright and folksy eatery in the heart of the city. Where Soi tried to replicate eating on the streets of Bangkok, right down to its car park location, R.Harn is a snapshot of the southern Thai food that co-owner Tang Piyaphanee grew up with. R.Harns walls feature dozens of plates that are used for Lunar New Year celebrations by families in Thailand. Luis Enrique Ascui The regions sunshine-coloured dishes, pungent stink bean, and sweet-sour fish curries are rarely seen in Melbournes Thai restaurants. But R.Harn will boost the profile of Thailands coastal cooking, joining a buzzing local scene that now includes northern Isan-style restaurants, Thai barbecue, hot pot and more. For Top Piyaphanee, the no-bookings venue is all about sharing the thrill of his first taste of southern Thai food  layered with spices, colour and sourness  when he met his wife.

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Its got Malaysian, Singapore, Indian influences, explains Top, who grew up in Bangkok and founded Soi 38 a decade ago. But its the Thai version, so its intense! 14 / 20 Review Why Soi 38 is one of the most fun places to eat in Melbourne As well as serving a totally different cuisine, R.Harn feels nothing like Soi. Green timber wainscoting, floral patterns and mismatched chairs give the brand-new building a homely, feminine feel thats matched by the design of the menu. The long dinner menu is full of complementary dishes to be eaten banquet-style. Theres whole deep-fried pomfret, stir-fried cabbage with plump dried shrimp sourced especially from Thailand, and aromatic soups. Curries are a focus, with six choices ranging from really intense to really light, but all of them emphasise fresh seafood, says Top. Gaeng pu bai cha plu, a crab meat and betel leaf curry with a sunny hue. Luis Enrique Ascui

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The shorter lunch menu is geared to quick solo visits, with complete meals. Khao yum, a rice salad described by Top as a gateway dish to the pungent flavours of southern Thai food, is powered by house-made fish sauce. The rice noodle dish kanom jeen is served here with two different curries  sour fish and sweet prawn  for guests to mix and match the contrasting flavours. Kanom jeen namya is a dish of two different seafood curries with thin rice noodles. Luis Enrique Ascui A liquor licence is on the way, but for now you can get Thai milk tea and thirst-quenchers like a lime drink with butterfly pea flower extract. The Piyaphanees are committed to doing things the way they are back home. Mango sticky rice uses mahachanok mangoes, a Thai variety grown in Darwin; and fish sauce is being made in-house to a family recipe. Top (left) and Tang Piyaphanee, the owners of Soi 38 and new restaurant R.Harn. Simon Schluter

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Its not just a labour of love for the couple; the whole family is involved. Tangs mother is sourcing ingredients such as shrimp paste from Chumphon province in the south of Thailand, while Tops mum was charged with sourcing cutlery and the serving plates that cover two walls. Each brightly patterned plate has come from a family in her neighbourhood, who use them for Lunar New Year celebrations honouring ancestors. At least shes stopped using TikTok all day, laughs Top. Open daily 11am-3pm, 5pm-9.30pm 264 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/r.harn

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The government team headed by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is paying a working visit to Germany.

"Today we are working with the government team in Berlin. Meetings with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck are planned, as well as participation in the Ukrainian-German business forum," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel.

According to him, it is planned to discuss cooperation between states in the field of defense, energy support, reconstruction, reform and investment attraction with the German leadership.
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Eating outRestaurant news Why 2025 is already looking up for new bars and restaurants in Victoria Its about to become a lot simpler for hospitality operators to seek permission to sell alcohol. Emma Breheny December 12, 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

A wave of younger small business owners could soon burst onto Victorias restaurant and bar scene, as the state government simplifies a liquor licensing system that many have expressed frustration with over the past two years. From July next year, cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants will no longer need to seek permission from both local and state government to sell alcohol. New hospitality businesses will find it easier to navigate liquor licensing next year. Bonnie Savage Currently, businesses must have a planning permit approved or at least lodged with their local council before they can apply for a licence from Liquor Control Victoria. That requirement will be scrapped, in a move the government claims could save businesses up to six months and $7000. Restaurant and bar owners have welcomed the changes, hoping it will lead to the reductions in processing times the government is promising.

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Its good that its going to be centralised, says Top Piyaphanee of Thai restaurants Soi 38 and R.Harn. Piyaphanee has seen the benefits of a more streamlined system. His two businesses are located in the Capital City Zone of City of Melbourne, which automatically exempts any restaurant or cafe from the need for a planning permit to sell alcohol. Top Piyaphanee, owner of Soi 38 and R.Harn restaurants, is all for streamlining the system. Luis Enrique Ascui But other business owners have felt the burden of the current system. You have two concurrent applications going at the same time and [the two bodies] are not talking to each other, says Cam Miller of Abbotsford venues Cams Kiosk and Julie.

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If either application runs into hurdles, delays are compounded, something Miller and others hope is somewhat alleviated by the changes. He was told by an independent liquor licensing consultant that changing the patron numbers of his existing licence at Cams Kiosk might take six to 12 months to be approved. Its ridiculous. It never used to be like this, says veteran restaurateur Con Christopoulos. Con Christopoulos is cautiously optimistic that the changes will encourage new businesses. Elke Meitzel Christopoulos, who owns venues including The European, Kirks and Kafeneion, says that 30 to 40 years ago the process of applying for a licence was far more straightforward, even without the aid of technology.

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There were no consultants, there were no crazy expenses, and more importantly, there wasnt a delay. You could get your licence way before you finished renovating your bar, he says. Piyaphanee applied for a restaurant licence for his new La Trobe Street venue R.Harn on October 5 and hopes to have it just before Christmas. But in other municipalities, where a planning permit is required, he would have to choose between trading without alcohol sales for several weeks or remaining closed until he obtained his licence. Cancer to business: Liquor licence delays are having a sobering effect on the hospo industry If youre a bar or restaurant, thats your bread and butter, says Miller. Its an industry that relies on liquor sales to be viable nowadays, with costs being so expensive. The average processing time for new permanent liquor licences is 84 days, or around 12 weeks, according to public documents. Businesses spoken to by this masthead said that 22 to 26 weeks was a routine estimate given by LCV staff.

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A notice has been on the LCV website since at least February that states: We are currently processing a high volume of applications. Some applicants are experiencing extended processing times. City of Melbourne already uses a streamlined process for some parts of central Melbourne. Paul Rovere The bodys most recent annual report shows that only 20 per cent of calls to LCV were answered within 60 seconds, well short of the 80 per cent target. The shortfall, which follows a 17 per cent rating the previous year, was attributed to increased demand. Last year, it was put down to high staff vacancies. As welcome as these changes are, the liquor commission needs to significantly upgrade their resources, Christopoulos says. LCV currently employs around 54 staff in its licensing team after a recruitment drive and says it has cut processing times for all applications (including temporary licences) by 27 days. It did not respond to questions on whether it would be recruiting more staff ahead of the July 1 changes.

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New hospitality businesses will find it easier to navigate liquor licensing next year. Bonnie Savage Christopoulos is hopeful that the changes will herald a new era in hospitality led by younger business owners. Theyre courageous, theyre enthusiastic, theyre willing to work a lot harder, and they have to be creative because they havent got the funds. Miller believes the benefits of the new system will range from fewer upfront losses for tenants to a greater variety of hospitality businesses. Neighbours will still be able to raise objections to licensed premises in their area, but this will be handled via the liquor licence application process.

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Its that time of year again: the season of giving. Yes, even in the workplace. While holiday gifts can offer a bonding opportunity with colleagues, they can also be tricky to navigate.

It can be challenging to say no to joining in on your offices secret Santa tradition. And with rising anxiety over Christmas gifting fuelled by social media  on platforms like TikTok, where users are showcasing their #SecretSanta blunders, including disappointingly inexpensive gifts, secondhand items or even expired food  the pressure to select the right gift for a co-worker can feel higher than ever.

Nobody should feel pressured to buy a gift for someone they work with, experts agree. Credit: Getty Images

Throw in colleagues who are changing jobs or retiring at the end of the year, and the etiquette around workplace gifts can be overwhelming. So, weve asked experts for their best workplace gifting advice.

Do we need to buy holiday gifts for our colleagues?
Two teenagers have been charged after a barbershop was sprayed with bullets, a car torched and police led on a chase through Sydneys west early on Thursday morning.

NSW Police responded to reports of shots fired at the Universal Barbershop near North Parade, Mount Druitt, at 2.20am on Thursday.

Three separate crime scenes have been established after a barbershop in Mount Druitt was sprayed with bullets overnight on Thursday. Credit: Nine News

Officers found several bullet holes in the shops window at Westfield Mt Druitt Shopping Centre. So many bullets were fired that police were forced to use lettered evidence markers after running out of numbered ones, Nine News reported.

About 2.10am, emergency services were called to a vehicle fire near Blacktown International Sportspark on Football Drive, Bungarribee, where they extinguished a blaze.
Charles Dickens has been dumped, George Orwell axed and a critically acclaimed George Clooney movie cut from the list of texts HSC English students will study from 2027.

Female authors, poets and directors make up 49 per cent of creative works on the new prescribed text list  excluding Shakespeare plays  in a move that has been welcomed by classroom teachers.

But some arent happy with other aspects of the overhaul, describing the new list as underwhelming, tired and unimaginative. Several texts have been used in the past.

This morning the mood was one of anger, one English teacher at a selective school, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said. I apologise if this seems petty but its something that is going to affect thousands of teachers and students across the state for several years.
Sydney personality Fadi Ibrahim has been hit with an apprehended violence order by police to protect one of his closest friends and business partners in an extraordinary fallout despite the pair appearing tight-knit as recently as June.

Police have also taken out an AVO to protect Fadis former close friend, Benjamin Scott, from another Ibrahim brother, Sam. Both are brothers of Kings Cross nightclub tsar John Ibrahim.

Fadi Ibrahim following an earlier court appearance. Credit: Nikki Short

The circumstances surrounding the orders, which include ones protecting Scotts family members from the Ibrahim brothers, are yet to be heard in court.

No criminal charges have been laid in relation to the AVO matters.
NSW Police are re-examining hundreds of murder cold cases as part of their response to a landmark inquiry that found they failed to properly investigate dozens of potential gay hate crimes over 40 years.

More than two dozen detectives have been appointed to examine details of 213 unsolved homicide cases dating between 1970 and 2010 under Taskforce Atlas. Its not known how many of these cases relate to members of the LGBTQ community.

Detective Chief Superintendent Grant Taylor and Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood sit among evidence boxes for a cold case murder investigation. Credit: Nikki Short

Of those 213 cases, 50 have been fully reviewed and digitised. Seven require a new investigation, while two have been assessed as bias-motivated crimes.

Taskforce Atlas was established in response to a world-first Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes which scrutinised dozens of unsolved deaths in the state.
Michelle Golds children peered out of the window during breakfast and saw police and cameras swarming into a nearby street. Oh look, Mum, theyre filming a movie, they said. Gold looked out.

It wasnt a movie. The torched car was real. So was anti-Israel graffiti sprayed on a garage and fences. Gold and her children are Jewish, and this is the second time in as many months hostile messages have been sprayed near their home. Her children didnt ask any more questions; she doesnt know what she would have said if they had.

I dont want my children to know that down the road, this happened, she told the Herald. I dont want them to feel fear. It upsets me that they have to worry about their own safety, or that they are aware of the security guards at the school or at the cinema, or that theyre even aware that theres hatred towards Jews.

Shock and fear were palpable among Sydneys Jewish community on Wednesday as word spread about the latest in a series of incidents. Just last week, an arsonist firebombed a synagogue in Melbourne in what police later described as a likely terrorist attack. On Monday, graffiti sprayed at a construction site in Arncliffe referenced a key trope propagated by the genocidal Third Reich. It said Hitler was right.
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 On paper, Warwick Kerridges distinguished career in Australian legal, banking, and corporate financial services rendered him eminently suitable to be chairman of several US companies. Over the last 30 years, Warwick has advised private and public sector organisations, including sovereign governments and ministries, in transactions valued at over $10 billion, FDCTech told the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about its new chairman in June 2021. However, Kerridges other skills were perhaps more appealing to alleged serial swindler Tim Alford. A Herald and The Age investigation has revealed allegations that Alford, 41, is a serial con artist who is alleged to have manipulated stock markets, cheated business partners, failed to pay bills, forged documents and embezzled funds with impunity for more than a decade. There is a warrant out for his arrest in Victoria and several US victims have made statements about Alfords alleged criminal conduct to the FBI. The company announcing Kerridges appointment also assured the SEC, the US agency meant to protect investors from fraud and misconduct in the securities market, that none of its executives had been bankrupt within the last 10 years or convicted in a criminal proceeding. Newcastle-born Kerridge, 62, had twice been both.

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In claiming to the SEC that hed left the law in 1987 to concentrate on corporate advisory and investment banking, Kerridge failed to mention that hed been struck off as a solicitor in Victoria in 1992 after he was placed on a five-year good behaviour bond for defrauding a client. And it was his provision of financial and corporate structure advice to a criminal organisation involved in a $17 million duty-free fraud that led to him being sentenced to two years jail in Victoria in 2005. That same year, he was bankrupted for the second time. His bankruptcy, which lasted for six years until 2011, was extended twice due to his failure to disclose his earnings to his bankruptcy trustee. Warwick Kerridge, pictured recently in Leura, was jailed in 2014 for a maximum of one year following his conviction for using a false document, stealing property and obtaining a benefit by deception. Credit: Rhett Wyman In 2007, when Kerridge moved to Sydney, he failed to mention to his new girlfriend Tracey that he was just out of jail and still bankrupt. Instead, he told her that he was a corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions. After moving into her Artarmon property, Kerridge convinced her to take out a drawdown facility with the bank to pay the legal bills from her divorce proceedings, using the house as security for the loan, court documents reveal. He then forged Traceys signature on the chequebook that came with the account to make out cheques to himself and other individuals, including two cheques dated February 10, 2009, to a Nicola Ciconte.

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Ciconte was a Calabrian mafia boss and international drug trafficker whod settled on the Gold Coast and set up a profitable line in property scams and international money-laundering. Labelled extremely dangerous by Italian authorities, in 2012 Ciconte was sentenced in absentia to 25 years jail over a plot to smuggle up to 500 kilograms of cocaine into Australia. Describing Ciconte as a friend he had formerly worked with in Melbourne, Kerridge told the Herald and The Age on Wednesday hed lent him quite a considerable amount of money as he was doing it tough at the time. Police also alleged that Kerridge forged Traceys signature to lease a Mazda3 Maxx Sport, using his own signature as a witness, and then presented it as a gift to her children, without telling her that there was a lease agreement that would require her to make payments on it. Tracey was unaware of the loan because Kerridge forged her signature on a second letter asking the bank to send correspondence to his Kent Street office. She only became aware of the car loan when she received calls from the lender asking her why the lease was not being paid. Kerridge feigned confusion and said he would take care of it. But trust was further eroded when she discovered two cheques made out to Ciconte in the scanner of her computer. A few weeks after she kicked Kerridge out in 2010, the sheriff knocked on the door to tell her that her account was more than $165,000 in debit and the bank was repossessing her house. It was only as she was packing up her shed that she discovered a briefcase that contained numerous pieces of unopened mail addressed to her and Kerridges pawn slips for her missing jewellery. In February 2014, Kerridge, in relation to his dealings with Tracey, was jailed for a maximum of one year following his conviction for using a false document, stealing property and obtaining a benefit by deception. I truly believe that if you surround yourself with those who share the same vision as you, you can achieve anything, said one of Kerridges more recent employers, Mohamed Kabbout, who is awaiting trial following charges relating to a sophisticated money-laundering scheme. Kabbout has denied the allegations.

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Alford, too, has enjoyed a similar philosophy, with his vision enhanced by a carousel of controversial characters all of whom have shared the same misfortune: bankruptcy. Take Mehmet Michael Erdogan, 50, a close associate of Alfords and a one-time business partner of Kerridges and, like them, a former bankrupt. Erdogan and Kerridges company JP Morgan Pacific Nominee attracted the ire of the real JP Morgan, the well-known international investment bank, as the pair had been using letterhead which read JP Morgan Advisory along with similar emails. They both titled themselves: Executive Director, JP Morgan Pacific Nominee. Kerridge claimed that it was Erdogans company before he became a director. When it was pointed out that there was only an Ali Erdogan listed on the companys corporate records, Kerridge was momentarily confused. He then recalled Ali was Michaels father and just a nominee for his son, who couldnt be a director because he was bankrupt at the time. JP Morgan sent the pair a cease and desist letter to protect its intellectual property and commercial interests. A spokesman for JP Morgan said the company also alerted ASIC. In Alfords alleged fraudulent schemes, Erdogan and Kerridge were used to delay and divert debtors.

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Alfords modus operandi was to allegedly convince investors to tip funds into a company he claimed was about to list on a stock exchange. But the listing never happens and the money allegedly makes it no further than into his own coffers. When angry investors demanded their money back, Alford would attempt to buy time by offering to convert their shares into yet another company which was also about to list. And so the pattern continued. In 2015, Alford, who one of his alleged victims referred to as Hurricane Tim, was trying to stave off his second bankruptcy. A Florida-based businessman, Hugh Fuller Jnr, had obtained a judgment against Alford in the NSW District Court for $724,244. Like others, Fuller had been loaned money to an Alford company that had failed to list as promised. Tim Alford in New York in 2022. Fullers Sydney lawyers were surprised to receive an email which read, I am Michael Erdogan. Timothys business partner. I will be appearing on behalf of Timothy at his request. However, when the matter came to court, there was no appearance by Erdogan. Alfords bankruptcy was annulled after a year when he paid his debt to Fuller, allegedly using money he defrauded from other investors over a different company which also failed to list.

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A Brazilian national who is in Australia on a temporary visa has faced court over the death of a woman at Kings Park on Tuesday.

Lucas Martins Da Silva, a carpenter who lives in Osborne Park, did not apply for bail when he came before a Perth magistrate on Wednesday after being charged with driving dangerously causing death by aggravation.

Perth Magistrates Court Credit: Elliahn Blenkinsop

The court was told the 30-year-old allegedly drove 30km/h or more above the speed limit just before 7am on Kings Park Road when he was captured on CCTV swerving and overtaking cars in his Toyota Yaris.

He was allegedly travelling at 104km/h in a 60km/h zone when several witnesses allege they saw Martins Da Silva swerve into a right-hand lane to overtake another vehicle.
The State Buildings are a hive of activity thanks to the bold vision of developer Adrian Fini, the Perth Concert Hall, the Convention Centre and the WACA are all earmarked for upgrades. Perth railway station, Wellington Street, February 1993. Credit: State Library of WA. Perths inner-city population has ballooned to 7000 and 30,000 within the local government boundary, underpinning the states decision to build the first inner-city primary school. A new Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Museum will also soon adorn the picturesque riverfront. The city now leads the country in the nighttime economy pro rata, retail spend hit a record high this year, luxury brands are jockeying for positions on Murray Streets premium strip and RAC Arena frequently draws global acts.

But Gehl had also championed the need for quality density to create a more liveable city, and it is the one recommendation from his report the state has tried, and largely failed, to execute. Perths 2.5 million residents are now spread across an urban footprint spanning 220 kilometres, rendering it one of the lowest density cities in the world outside the United States. A report released by the Property Council last month found apartment completions in Perth had plummeted to the lowest levels in 40 years, and only 31 per cent of new developments were being built in established areas. The figure fell well short of the state governments 47 per cent infill target, an issue developers pin on the high building costs associated with delivering apartments. Developers say its a cost most consumers were unwilling to pay, instead viewing a standalone home as a better investment.

The sprawl enabled by successive governments, opposition to density, building costs and a housing crisis has driven people further from the city centre, fostered the rise of the metropolitan shopping centre and seen Perth crowned one of the worlds most car-dependent cities. The average commute in Perths swollen metropolitan area is now 35 minutes, a figure Infrastructure Australia anticipates will double in the next six years. Despite the state government spending billions of dollars dragging Metronet infrastructure to the ends of Perths urban fringe, 82 per cent of commuters still rely on vehicles. For those residing in housing estates on the northern fringe of Perths metropolitan area, travelling to the central business district is a two-hour round trip by car. On Wednesday, Gehl partner Henriette Vamberg said the firms new year-long study would be confined to the city centre, evaluating public spaces and gathering data on those frequenting the CBD.

But she acknowledged the challenges presented by Perths sprawling urban area as far as drawing people out of it and into the city was concerned, and the implications of the citys car dependency for its transport network. Gehl partner Henriette Vamberg after the Towards 2036 breakfast on Wednesday. Credit: Jesinta Burton. If we look at the challenges we have around health and climate, my personal professional view is there needs to be a rethink of the growth strategy to figure out how we use the city structure we have already got, which areas of the city to get more residents in and preserving some of the natural ecology around us, she said. We love cities, getting people together, we love building communities and I think building communities around urban centres is a good way of promoting more sustainable behaviours. Vamberg said Australia was not the only nation with an affection for owning a plot of land, but believed bringing more residents to the CBD would require a big shift in mindset.

I think its about residential developments where you can actually see yourself living, creating a sense of communities, knowing your neighbours and sharing facilities, she said. City of Perth lord mayor Basil Zempilas after the Towards 2036 breakfast on Wednesday. Credit: Jesinta Burton. When you do that, you enter something bigger than just your single-storey family house where you spend ages in the car, try to shop, to get the kids to sport and go to work. Perth Lord Mayor and Liberal candidate Basil Zempilas agreed attracting more people to live, work and visit the city was the way to counter the citys challenges, including anti-social behaviour. But he conceded development in the heart of the city was no easy feat, something that will be essential for the city to reach its goal of accommodating 55,000 residents by 2036 and 90,000 by 2050.
Last night, the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck Russian targets, as a result, military facilities and facilities of the fuel and energy complex in the territory of the Russian Federation were hit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"Report of Commander-in-Chief Syrsky. First of all, I want to thank our soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who inflicted tangible blows on Russian targets last night. Military facilities on the territory of Russia have been hit, as well as facilities of the fuel and energy complex working for aggression against our state and people. The commander-in-chief reported on the details of the defeat," Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram channel on Wednesday.

He also stressed that it is precisely this range and accuracy that step by step brings Russia back to the reality that the war needs to be ended.

In addition, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, reported on the situation in all major areas at the front.

"The hottest ones are in Donetsk region, namely Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions. Fierce fighting continues," the president said.

According to him, in November and December there were all time-high losses of the Russian army in battles and assaults.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also reported on the situation in the areas of the Kursk operation. "We are reducing the Russian military potential as much as possible  this is our main goal now," Zelenskyy summed up.

Earlier, Russian media reported that Taganrog of Rostov region of the Russian Federation was allegedly subjected to a missile attack on Wednesday night, an industrial enterprise was damaged.
In mid-2023, the ABCs Four Corners alleged that the ASIO traitor was the agencys long-dead former espionage operative, George Ian Peacock. The ABC drew on the research of former Canadian intelligence officer Dan Mulvenna, who, along with Fergus, was interviewed by the ABC about Peacocks suspected betrayal. While supporters of Fergus have also questioned whether the raids are linked to his outspoken commentary with media outlets such as the ABC and Nine  the owner of this masthead  security sources dismissed the notion that ASIO would conduct a raid because of comments a person made in the media. Neil Fergus spent several decades in the intelligence service before becoming a private consultant. Fergus, who worked for ASIO in the 1980s and 1990s before forming his own consultancy firm, regularly appears in the media as an expert commentator on security and intelligence matters. Sources aware of some details surrounding the raids have also confirmed a dispute about the extent to which Fergus was authorised to have contemporary dealings with a former member of the Soviet spying apparatus. The sources said the contemporary efforts by Fergus and at least two other ex-Five Eyes spying agency figures to probe the Soviet infiltration led to an ongoing liaison between Fergus and the retired Soviet spy in Europe.

An ASIO spokesperson said: As a matter of long-standing convention, ASIO does not comment on individuals or investigations. Loading The NSW manager of Fergus security company, William Dent, who worked alongside Fergus at ASIO between 1991 and 2001, criticised the raid on his friend and colleague as the greatest witch-hunt I have ever seen. It beggars belief. I support Neil wholeheartedly in this. From the Monday morning of the raid, it has been a big part of my life, although not as big as his. The damage caused by these malicious allegations being pursued is unconscionable, Dent said. The spook who chased a KGB operative

This masthead has confirmed the identity of the Russian, along with his Cold War role working to penetrate the Five Eyes agencies of Australia, the United States, Britain, the UK and New Zealand. However, this masthead is not naming the ex-KGB operative for safety reasons. Fergus has privately insisted to supporters that he had authorisation from senior ASIO officials, who have since left the organisation, to pursue the ex-Soviet official for the complete details about how Russia penetrated ASIO. But other intelligence community figures have queried the extent to which Fergus was authorised to operate in the manner he did and if he exceeded his brief. While the infiltration of ASIO is a historical matter, some official records dealing with it remain classified. The operation targeting Fergus is underpinned by allegations he may have carried out activities prejudicial to Australian security many years after he departed ASIO ranks, but these are untested, have resulted in no charges, and there is no suggestion by this masthead that Fergus has broken any laws.

A small group of ex-spy agency officials who are long-time supporters of Fergus is now querying whether the raids were overzealous or unwarranted. However, others in Australias espionage community said the case raised issues about the actions former spies could take when no longer in government service. A life dedicated to protecting Australia When contacted, Fergus dismissed the allegations of wrongdoing as fanciful. He stressed that all his consulting work for various Australian government agencies over the past two decades had been appropriately approved and entirely lawful. I have not at any stage been involved in any activities prejudicial to Australias national security, he said. My whole life has been dedicated to protecting Australian national security. His resume includes work planning security for Nines coverage of the Olympic Games and the security bids for this years Paris Olympics and the 2032 Games in Brisbane.

He also advised on security planning for several international political summits, including the G20, NATO and APEC, according to the website of Intelligent Risks, the consultancy firm he founded in 2001. But over the past decade, Fergus has also conducted consulting work for Australian agencies that two former intelligence officials said involved highly sensitive and potentially classified matters. Fergus declined to comment on this work other than repeating that he had always acted under direction and lawfully. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus (right) signed off on the warrant from ASIO director-general Mike Burgess. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The ASIO Act requires that before granting the spy agency a search warrant, the attorney-general be satisfied that the head of ASIO has reasonable suspicions the person in question engaged in behaviour prejudicial to security. They must also believe that issuing the warrant is likely to substantially assist the collection of relevant intelligence.

Dreyfus office declined to comment on the raid. One intelligence community source defended the investigation, saying that ASIO search operations were not conducted lightly. I know ASIO will welcome scrutiny by the IGIS, the source said. Any investigation action that needs approval by the AG [attorney-general] passes through multiple hands in the agency prior to sign-off. The ex-spies who went corporate The raids of Fergus premises have cast light on a little-scrutinised but thriving part of the national security establishment.

Dozens of former Australian spies and security officials have made the shift to private enterprise, with many retaining their security clearances and continuing to consult for government departments while also building a list of corporate clients. The transition from government to industry requires ex-officials to effectively quarantine classified information they may have learnt in their previous roles or through ongoing government agency consulting. Loading Five national security establishment sources confirmed to this masthead that neither Fergus nor his backers knew the content of the information presented to Dreyfus that underpinned the operation that had led to the raids. There is no suggestion from this masthead that the raid relates to the deliberate disclosure of intelligence information to aid a foreign adversary or undermine Australian interests.
The growing fear of Australias Jewish community is a sorrowful new reality for a nation built partly on providing sanctuary from old-world oppressions.

The latest atrocity, an early-morning attack in Woollahra to intimidate Sydneys Jewish community, regrettably triggered political finger-pointing instead of a united front against inherent evil.

Antisemitic acts have occasionally traduced Australian life since the 1960s. But a palpable uptick has followed Hamas brutal October 7 attack last year: they included an arson attack in June on the Melbourne office of Labor MP Josh Burns, graffiti at Bronte, Tamarama and Bondi beaches, the torching of a ute and homes sprayed with graffiti in Woollahra last month, the firebombing of Adass Israel synagogue in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea last Friday morning, a Brisbane man charged with making online threats towards a Jewish community centre in Victoria, and now another graffiti attack and car burning at Woollahra.

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Amid the outbreaks, the Albanese government has banned the Nazi salutes, swastikas and other hate symbols in public, appointed Jillian Segal as special envoy to combat antisemitism and promised to finance rebuilding of the synagogue. An Australian Federal Police task-force is investigating the terrorist attack at Ripponlea, while federal counterterrorism specialists look at Woollahra.
Arrest driving under the influence EUX

On Sunday, the 8th of December, around 6:40 PM, the central control room received a report of a collision between two vehicles on the B.H. Biesheuvelweg. Upon police arrival, they saw that one of the cars had collided with the other car. Following the policy requiring drivers to take a breathalyzer test after a collision, a breathalyzer test was administered to both drivers which revealed that the driver who caused the collision had consumed more than the permitted amount of alcohol. The 26-year-old woman with the initials S.N.F. was arrested and taken to the police station for a breath analysis. Following the result, she was issued a 5-hour driving ban.

Arrest assault with a weapon SABA

On Sunday, the 8th of December, around 3:35 AM, a 43-year-old woman with the initials J.S.R. was arrested on Peak Street on Saba for assault with a weapon, vandalism, and threat. The arrested suspect had an argument with a man during which both assaulted each other with a weapon. Upon police arrival, the two knives used in the assault were confiscated. Since the other party made an official report of the incident, the suspect was arrested and taken to the police station. Because the suspect was injured, she was taken by ambulance from the police station to the hospital for medical treatment. Investigation in the case is ongoing.

Arrests driving under the influence SABA

On Sunday, the 8th of December, around 2:25 AM, a 46-year-old man with the initials S.O.R.D. was arrested on Fort Bay Road on Saba on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The arrest took place after a patrol gave the driver a sign to stop due to his suspicious driving behavior. The driver complied and stopped his vehicle. During the inspection, the driver was able to show a valid driver's license but showed several signs of someone under the influence of alcohol. Officers decided to administer a breathalyzer test to the suspect. He was explained several times how to blow on the device but did not do so properly and, moreover, did not cooperate. Only on the last attempt did he blow correctly. Nevertheless, the officers decided to take him to the police station for a breath analysis. The result of this confirmed that the suspect had been drinking alcohol, but not above the legally permitted amount of alcohol that a driver is allowed to consume.

On Friday, the 6th of December, around 10:10 PM, while a patrol was conducting an assist on Paris Hill Road in Saba, they saw a scooter approaching. The driver was not wearing a helmet and had a bottle of alcohol in his hands. The officers decided to stop the driver and check for valid documents. The driver complied with the sign to stop and had his documents in order. Since he was riding the scooter with a bottle of alcohol in his hand, a breathalyzer test was administered to him, which showed that he had consumed more than the permitted amount of alcohol. He was then arrested and taken to the police station for a breath analysis.

Scooter confiscated SABA

On Friday, the 6th of December, around 9:50 PM, a patrol on JZ Ridge Road in Saba spotted a woman riding a scooter in front of them without a helmet. The woman was known to the officers as she had received multiple warnings and fines for riding without a helmet. A stop sign was given, after which she stopped. During the inspection, it was found that she also could not show valid insurance papers. The scooter was confiscated and taken to the police station.

Fight ends in stabbing SABA

During the night hours on Friday, the 6th of December, a brawl took place near a catering establishment close to the Saba airport that ended in a stabbing. The victim was taken by means of a private car to the hospital for medical treatment. Two 29-year-old men with the initials J.J.M.M. and M.S.B.R. were arrested on Airport Road for assault with a weapon and aggravated assault.

An investigation proceeded, and three more individuals were arrested on Monday, the 9th of December. These individuals are a 33-year-old man with the initials R.R.J.J., a 21-year-old man with the initials S.N.T.M., and a 47-year-old man with the initials M.D.R.P. for open assault, theft, threat, assault with a weapon, and aggravated assault. Investigations in this case is ongoing.

Scheduled traffic checks SABA

Several traffic controls took place on Saba on Thursday, the 5th of December. These checks took place in both The Bottom and Windwardside and focused on proper and valid documents (driver's license, proof of insurance, road tax), the light transmission of car windows and the alcohol consumption of drivers.

About 30 vehicles were stopped and checked during the checks. One driver received a warning due to alcohol consumption, as he was just under the permitted limit. Several fines were also issued for violations such as not wearing a seat belt, driving without a valid license, driving without valid insurance and driving with a defective taillight.

The KPCN would like to remind everyone to have the necessary documents in order. They are also strongly advised to adhere to the rules of traffic regulations. In this way you also contribute to safe traffic on the island.

Are you not following the rules? Then you may receive a fine. The fine for the above violations varies between $30 and $225.

Theft from store SABA

On Wednesday, the 4th of December, a theft was reported from an eyewear store in Windwardside on Saba. Unknown persons took several pairs of glasses. The case is under investigation.

KPCN Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Recently sworn-in Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Richinel Brug held an introductory meeting with the Director and staff of the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) last week.

The meeting focused on the construction of a new Mental Health facility for the Mental Health Foundation, a project under the purview of NRPB financed via the Sint Maarten Trust Fund. NRPB provided Minister Brug and his team with a detailed update on the project's current status, emphasizing that the project has reached the implementation stage in close coordination with the Ministry. The initial phases were crucial and often involved comprehensive planning, securing necessary permits, and mobilizing resources. However, Minister Brug's request for an expedited timeline reflects the urgency of the situation, as Sint Maartens existing mental health infrastructure is straining to accommodate the community's needs. The Bureau confirmed its commitment to moving the project forward while following the necessary procurement, financial, environmental, and social guidelines.

As the project progresses, it will be imperative for both the Ministry and NRPB to maintain transparent communication, adapt to emerging challenges, and engage with community stakeholders to ensure the new facility meets the diverse needs of those it aims to serve.

Ultimately, the push to expedite the new Mental Health facility and institute crucial reforms in the Mental Health sector are steps towards addressing immediate mental health crises and fostering a robust foundation for future mental health initiatives.

This meeting served as a vital foundation for fostering an effective partnership, emphasizing that the success of this mental health initiative requires teamwork, clear communication, and shared objectives. The mutual understanding between the ministry and NRPB paves the way for a collaborative working relationship, crucial for navigating potential project obstacles and ensuring a desired outcome in a timely manner.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) continues to actively engage with authorities to address the recent thefts in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. We are pleased to confirm that the situation has been brought to the attention of the prosecutor, who will be discussing it with the French authorities to ensure coordinated efforts on both sides of the island. A meeting involving all relevant parties, including the Coast Guard, police, and other security stakeholders, is scheduled to take place today or tomorrow to formulate a unified response.



In the meantime, immediate actions have already been implemented to enhance safety within the lagoon. Marinas have increased security measures, deploying extra patrols and maintaining 24/7 high-alert surveillance. A meeting has been initiated between the marinas in Simpson Bay and the community police and coastguard to discuss further safety enhancements. Additionally, the Coast Guard has ramped up patrols within the lagoon, offering further reassurance to boaters.



To further address community concerns, the SMMTA intends to organize a town hall meeting, inviting visiting cruisers, boat owners, business owners, and other stakeholders. This will provide an opportunity for attendees to hear directly from the authorities about their plans to maintain a safe environment, receive updates on the current situation, and ask any questions they may have. While we do not yet have a confirmed date, we are working to make this meeting happen by the end of the week. Details will be shared as soon as they are finalized.



We are awaiting an official public statement and update from the Coast Guard, police department, and prosecutors office (OM) following their discussions. The SMMTA will continue to share any further developments as they become available.



We commend the swift response from all parties involved and want to thank the community for their vigilance and cooperation during this time. These efforts underscore our commitment to maintaining St. Maarten as a safe and enjoyable destination for all.



Sincerely,



The SMMTA Board
PHILIPSBURG:--- At a critical international conference in Athens on December 23, Curacaos Social and Economic Council (SER) made a compelling case for inclusive growth to solve global demographic and migration crises. Speaking on behalf of AICESIS, the international association of economic and social councils and similar institutions, currently chaired by Curacaos SER, Director and Secretary General Raul Henriquez called for urgent collaboration: The challenges of demographic shifts and migration demand shared responsibility at all levelslocal and global.

Hosted by Greeces Economic and Social Council (OKE), the conference drew representatives from over 30 nations to the historic Acropolis Museum, a fitting venue symbolizing democracy and collective action. Over two days, participants grappled with strategies to address demographic imbalances, migratory pressures, and labor market challenges.

The conference culminated in adopting a joint declaration outlining actionable steps to tackle these issues. Addressing the session, Henriquez underscored the urgency of moving beyond rhetoric: Now is the time to turn these ideas into tangible actions. Inclusive growth is not an aspirationit is an imperative.

The declaration advocates a balanced approach that includes investing in education and social services, integrating migrants more effectively, and ensuring a fairer distribution of resources between wealthier and less developed regions. It also emphasizes the transformative roles of digitalization and climate adaptation in reshaping labor markets for future resilience.

Henriquez highlighted the unique role of economic and social councils in bridging the gap between policy design and practical implementation: This declaration demonstrates the power of collaboration and what can be achieved when diverse voices come together.

As chair of AICESIS, SER Curacao pledged continued advocacy for implementing the declarations recommendations, with a strong focus on reducing inequalities and fostering social cohesion.

The SERs call for inclusivity in Athens builds on its track record. In 2019, SER Curacao hosted the symposium Migration and Socio-Economic Development: Policy Challenges and Options in collaboration with sister councils from Aruba and Sint Maarten. This event brought together policymakers, academics, and international experts to explore migrations impact on the Caribbean. Insights from the symposium laid the groundwork for the SERs leadership in global migration discussions.

Under the leadership of SER Curacao, AICESIS has amplified efforts to link economic growth with social justice and solidarity. Henriquezs message from Athens resonates with a shared global goal: turning dialogue into meaningful progress. As Henriquez concluded, Our collective future depends on bold, inclusive policies that address these pressing challenges while ensuring that no community is left behind.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Every year, St. Maarteners celebrate SXM DOET Weekend, an initiative that started in the Netherlands over 20 years ago, inspiring the Dutch Caribbean islands to join shortly after. The various projects that take place over one weekend encourage people around the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean islands to spend their time volunteering and giving back to the community.

This year, SXM DOET is taking it to another level by introducing initiatives aimed at the youth. The initiative comprises of two major projects that were uniquely designed to inspire the youth and give them a more active role in SXM DOETs community-driven efforts. Both projects are being launched in December in honor of World Volunteer Day and World Soil Day. The first project is a youth internship program that focuses on providing St. Maartens youth with the opportunity to work alongside project coordinators to assist in designing initiatives to attract their peers to be more involved. The second project is a planting initiative that will be led by the Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) Foundation as part of their new restoration project. It focuses on youth participation and stresses local sustainability. EPICs new initiative will help restore and protect Sint Maartens Brown Pelicans and Least Terns while also improving habitat, including removing invasive plants and replacing native species. Furthermore, education is a key component of the initiative, and the project will feature free presentations for schools, businesses, and the general public, thereby aligning with SXM DOETs new initiatives.

Youth Internship Program

The SXM DOET Youth Internship Program opens the opportunity for two young individuals between the ages of 12-20 to work as interns alongside SXM DOETs four project coordinators. Together, they will make a strong team that works on introducing more youth-focused initiatives with values like volunteerism and environmental responsibility. Through this opportunity, the interns will gain experience in project management, content creation, community engagement, and environmental sustainability.

Planting Event

The Planting Event will take place on December 15 at Fort Amsterdam, Divi Resort, from 8 AM to 10:30 AM to commemorate World Volunteer Day. The event will showcase youth leadership and the profound impact that the youth can make on the communitys environment. During the event, participants will have the opportunity to plant over 60 juvenile cacti that were generously donated by Greenfingers; with all materials being provided, including a light snack and refreshments. Persons are encouraged to dress in active gear and bring along sunblock and a reusable bottle. If participants have any extra gloves and shovels it is encouraged to bring them along! Aside from volunteering, this is also a great opportunity to highlight the importance of youth involvement in environmental activities. Interested volunteers can register via Volunteer.sx.

Both the Youth Internship and the Cacti-Planting event are pivotal initiatives that help unite the youth and bring them closer to our island community. These participants will aid in developing the volunteer movement and SXM DOETs overall foundation by displaying the opinions and values of the newer generations. When passion meets purpose, giving back to the community is what everyone sets their minds on. The Youth Internship Program and the Planting Event mentioned above are two initiatives that demonstrate the importance of caring for the environment and engaging in the community. So come out and support whenever you can because this is your island, and you can make a change!
PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling acknowledged that it is her responsibility and collectively the responsibility of the government of St. Maarten for the short staffing affecting the Ministry of Justice. This was in response to questions posed by SMN News at the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday about how the ministry handles the short staffing, especially since the holiday season is approaching.

Tackling, who recently took office, said that the fact that the government is being told by its overseas partners that the government of St. Maarten needs to make more cuts to its budget is affecting the hiring process. She said it is not only the Ministry of Justice that has been affected, but all ministries are affected by the steep cuts that are crippling the government organization.

It was not my intention to speak about the understaffing because I do not think I have the luxury to make excuses towards the people of this country. For me, that is not the peoples problem, but I must resolve it with the Minister of Finance to have a strong justice sector. The Minister thanked the justice workers, whom she described as resilient because they always find ways, and what they can do with their manpower and budget is commendable.

Asked about the chaos in the immigration department and the time it takes for immigrants to get their documents renewed. The minister said that matter also caught her attention because she knows the lengthy process. Tackling noted that before taking up the position of Minister of Justice, she had worked in the private sector, where she filed objections and appeals for people. The Minister said she had seen the delay in the process's impact on peoples lives since a persons residency status affects a persons daily life deeply, which she believes the government has to acknowledge and understand while improving the services provided to the public.

The Minister also addressed the pending issuance of the Landsbesluits and payments owed to justice workers.

Tackling said the past two weeks since she took office have been difficult for her since she has been digging for information to figure out the exact status of the ministry. The Minister explained that she also followed the process of the LBs in the media and is trying to understand why the process takes this long. Tackling said as she researched the status of the remaining LBs, she intends to hold a town hall meeting with the justice workers to update them on the process. As for the retroactive payments owed to the civil servants who already received their LBs she said that those workers are paid based on their current function while the government is working on payments in two phases. The first phase is to pay the justice workers what is owed to them in back pay up to the year 2023, while the second phase will be to pay what is owed retroactively to 2010.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger Marten, on her return to St. Maarten from her visit to Barbados, gave an update on the issues discussed while there.

Heyliger Marten said that on December 4, she paid a courtesy visit to the Senator and Minister of Economic Affairs and Investment of Barbados, Mr. Chad Blackman, and his delegation. She said she was accompanied virtually by her advisor, Mr. Xavier Blackman. During the discussions, several topics were explored of mutual interest:

1. Agriculture

Barbados will assist St. Maarten with establishing an agriculture department. This partnership will include opportunities for young Barbadian agricultural entrepreneurs to contribute to developing St. Maartens agriculture sector under a mutually beneficial agreement.

2. Investment Promotion Agency

Heyliger Marten said she shared her intention to establish an Investment Promotion Agency for St. Maarten, modeled on successful examples in the region. Barbadoss Invest Barbados will provide assistance with this process, sharing their expertise and best practices.

3. Food Security, Trade, and Logistics

Both nations emphasized the importance of food security and agreed to collaborate on trade, transshipment, and logistics. The CARICOM Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union provides a solid framework for pursuing these initiatives, particularly as St. Maarten moves toward associate membership in CARICOM.

4. Aviation

Minister Blackman noted that several African airlines are scheduled to begin commercial flights to and from Barbados in the first and second quarters of 2025 (6-hour flight  Nigeria  in Q1). This opens opportunities for connecting St. Maarten with these new routes, enhancing regional and global air connectivity and trade.

Given ongoing regional and global developments, both country's representatives agreed that establishing a working relationship on these topics is timely. An MoU will be developed to formalize this partnership. A joint working group, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Barbados, will be formed to exchange documentation and draft concrete proposals. These proposals will be finalized during a follow-up visit to Barbados in Q1 2025.

This collaboration underscores the importance of regional partnerships in addressing everyday challenges and pursuing shared opportunities.
French President Emmanuel Macron will not back down. It has been revealed that Macron will visit Poland in the near future to discuss... a common peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

Do you sense it? Yes, it smells like a familiar plot. Macron once disrupted Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations mediated by Charles Michel in EXACTLY the SAME way: back then, Paris tried to push the idea of "common peacekeepers" on both sides of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Azerbaijan rejected Macron's proposal, but Armenia agreed to those terms. Now, regular displays of kabab and walks along the Khachik take place on their side of the border. Yerevan has hopelessly soured relations with the Russian Federation, its main economic and trade partner, and has effectively left the CSTO. A "great" result, isn't it?

Now, a similar scenario is being offered to Ukraine. According to Macrons plan, a foreign peacekeeping contingent will be deployed along the demarcation line.

There is no need to guess for long what the West is offering Kiev through the Parisian neo-Napoleon: the eternal freezing of the conflict, the next OSCE Minsk Group, and the same familiar kabab negotiations for the next 30 years.

The West has nothing more to offer.
President of S&D Group in EP on priorities for Ukraine: long-range weapons, sanctions, and frozen Russian assets for recovery

Photo: https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/licensed-image

During a visit to Kyiv, Iratxe Garcia Perez, President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament (EP), outlined three key areas of focus for her group in supporting Ukraine.

The group has three important proposals: first, the use of EUR 200 million from frozen Russian assets for reconstruction. This is something the group is strongly advocating with the new EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas. It is crucial to support Ukraine's recovery by utilizing Russia's frozen assets. The group has asked Kallas to present a proposal on this matter, Garcia Perez stated at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to her, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats will back this initiative as a political group. Additionally, Garcia Perez emphasized the need to develop a unified stance on Ukraine's use of long-range weaponry.

The group understands that this is a critical request for Ukraine, and it will work not only within the European Parliament but also with all EU member states to push for recognition of how important this is, she added.

Another key issue, according to the S&D group, is supporting the adoption of the 15th package of sanctions against Russia and initiating work on this topic.

Next week, the Council of the European Union will meet. Before the Council meeting, preparatory debates in the European Parliament will be held, and the Social Democrats group will stress the importance of endorsing this new sanctions package, the S&D President said.

Garcia Perez also highlighted that this visit is the group's first official mission since her re-election, marking what she described as a clear political signal. During their trip, the delegation held meetings with the speaker of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada, the prime minister, and the defense minister.

The group wants to send a clear message: unwavering support for Ukraine to strengthen its position in any negotiations. Since the beginning of this brutal war of aggression, the group has been working together in the European Parliament to maintain unity, Garcia Perez stated.

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) is the second-largest political group in the European Parliament.
Google unveils latest AI model, Gemini 2.0



San Francisco, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



Google on Wednesday announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date, as the world's tech giants race to take the lead in the fast developing technology.

CEO Sundar Pichai said the new model would mark what the company calls "a new agentic era" in AI development, with AI models designed to understand and make decisions about the world around you.

"Gemini 2.0 is about making information much more useful," Pichai said in the announcement, emphasizing the model's enhanced ability to understand context, think multiple steps ahead and take supervised actions on behalf of users.

The developments "bring us closer to our vision of a universal assistant," he added.

The release sent shares in Google soaring by more than four percent on Wall Street a day after the stock already gained 3.5 percent after the release of a breakthrough quantum chip.

The tech giants are furiously taking steps to release more powerful AI models despite their immense cost and some questions about their immediate usefulness to the broader economy.

An AI "agent," the latest Silicon Valley trend, is a digital helper that is supposed to sense surroundings, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals.

The tech giants promise that agents will be the next stage of an AI revolution that was sparked by the 2022 launch of ChatGPT, which took the world by storm.

Gemini 2.0 is initially being rolled out to developers and trusted testers, with plans for broader integration across Google's products, particularly in Search and the Gemini platform.



- No Nvidia -



The technology is powered by Google's sixth-generation TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) hardware, dubbed Trillium, which the company has now made generally available to customers.

Google emphasized that Trillium processors were used exclusively for both training and running Gemini 2.0.

Most AI training has been monopolized by chip juggernaut Nvidia, which has been catapulted by the AI explosion to become one of the world's most valuable companies.

Google said that millions of developers are already building applications with Gemini technology, which has been integrated into seven Google products, each serving more than two billion users.

Gemini 2.0's powers are expected to come in early 2025 to Google's search application, still the company's main money-maker.

The first release from the 2.0 family of models will be Flash, offering faster performance while handling multiple types of input (text, images, video, audio) and output (including generated images and speech).

Gemini users worldwide can already tap into a chat-only version of Flash, the company said, with testers given access to a multimodal version that can interpret images and surroundings.

Google also said it was experimenting with a product that can use software apps, websites and other online tools, much like a human user. OpenAI and Anthropic have unveiled similar features.

The company also teased a new version of Project Astra, a smartphone digital assistant like Apple's Siri that responds to images as well as verbal commands.

arp/des
Amnesty accuses DR Congo army of 'possible crimes against humanity'



Goma, DR Congo, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



Amnesty International in a statement Wednesday accused senior Congolese army officers of "possible crimes against humanity" in a massacre in the northeastern city of Goma that killed 56 people last year.

Elite troops from the Republic Guard stormed the temple of a mystic religious group in the North Kivu capital Goma on August 30, 2023, an area embroiled in armed violence for three decades.

Most of the victims were members of the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith Towards the Nations, whose leader had called a protest to demand the departure of foreign NGOs and the UN force from the area.

"Authorities said 56 people were killed, but a confidential UN report seen by Amnesty put the number at 102, including 90 men, eight women and four boys, and 80 more injured," the rights group said, adding that 10 more could be missing.

Amnesty said it had "identified three army officers who should be individually investigated -- and with sufficient evidence, prosecuted -- for possible crimes against humanity".

The officers named were Constant Ndima Kongba, the former military governor of North Kivu province, Colonel Mike Mikombe Kalamba, a Republican Guard commander, and Major Peter Kabwe Ngandu, who reported to Mikombe during the operation.

A Congolese court in October 2023 sentenced Mikombe to death and three other soldiers to 10 years in prison for murder.

"Amnesty International demands the UN Department of Peace Operations swiftly initiates an independent inquiry into MONUSCO's role, including by its leadership -- and publicise their findings," the report added, referring to the UN peacekeeping mission.

The Christian-animist group in late August told AFP it had tallied 103 killed in the massacre.

Eastern DRC has been ravaged by militia violence for three decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s.
China's maritime drills draw 'red line' ahead of Trump: Taipei security official



Taipei, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



Dozens of Chinese ships have simulated attacking foreign vessels and disrupting sea routes in waters around Taiwan to "draw a red line" ahead of US president-elect Donald Trump taking office, a Taiwanese security official said.

China's biggest maritime drills in years involve around 60 warships and 30 coast guard vessels, stretching from the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea, the senior national security official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

Plans for the massive exercises began in October and were aimed at showing China could choke off Taiwan and also to "draw a red line" ahead of the next US administration.

"The real objective appears to be asserting control within the first island chain and establishing strategic deterrence ahead of the US presidential transition," the official said.

There has been no announcement by Beijing's People's Liberation Army or Chinese state media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean, where Taiwan said Chinese ships had been detected.

However, a Beijing foreign ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday that China will "resolutely defend" its sovereignty.
Taiwan says China expands military drills around the island



Taipei, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



China has expanded military drills around Taiwan with dozens of warplanes and a huge maritime exercise aimed at drawing "a red line" for the next US president, Taipei authorities said Wednesday.

Beijing's biggest maritime drills in years involve about 60 warships and 30 coast guard vessels deployed around the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea, a senior national security official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

China has also ramped up military aircraft activity closer to the island, with 100 sorties detected over the past two days, figures from the Taiwan defence ministry show.

There has been no public announcement by Beijing's army or Chinese state media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean.

But a recent Pacific tour by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te had included two stops in US territory, drawing fury from Beijing, which claims the democratic island as part of China's territory.

The security official said Wednesday that China's plans for the massive maritime operation began in October, and were aimed at demonstrating that Beijing could choke off Taiwan and also to "draw a red line" ahead of the next US administration.

"China uses President Lai's overseas visit as a pretext, with Taiwan only serving as an excuse," the official said.

"The real objective appears to be asserting control within the first island chain and establishing strategic deterrence ahead of the US presidential transition."



- Simulating attacks, blockade -



During the drills, Chinese warships have simulated attacking foreign ships while the coast guard has practised intercepting commercial vessels as well as disrupting and blockading sea routes, the official said.

China also held "joint operations with Russia" over several days in November, the official said.

Recent bad weather had "posed challenges for smaller vessels" involved in the drills, they said.

Taiwan regards itself as a sovereign nation. China has said it will not rule out using force to bring the self-ruled island under its control, and has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim.

China also opposes any international recognition of Taiwan and especially bristles at official contact between Taipei and Washington.

Lai made two stopovers on American soil as part of his Pacific tour last week and spoke with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, which drew a barrage of criticism from China.

Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday that China will "resolutely defend" its sovereignty.

The sea drills were "significantly larger" than Beijing's maritime response to then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022, which was China's largest-ever war games around Taiwan.

China has held four major military exercises in just over two years, including the drills in response to Pelosi's visit and two since Lai took office in May.

The defence ministry's daily tally of Chinese aircraft detected around Taiwan was 53 on Wednesday and 47 on Tuesday.

Wednesday's figure was the highest number of aircraft detected in a single day since a record 153 was reported on October 15 after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Lai's National Day speech days earlier.
S. Korean ex-defence minister tried to kill himself: prisons official



Seoul, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



South Korea's former defence minister tried to kill himself shortly before he was formally arrested over his role in this month's martial law operation, a senior prisons official said Wednesday.

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3 and sent soldiers and helicopters to parliament but was forced to rescind the decree hours later after lawmakers voted it down.

Defence minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned last Thursday and was formally arrested Tuesday on charges including "engaging in critical duties during an insurrection" and "abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights".

During a parliamentary hearing, the commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service said the former minister tried to kill himself minutes before his arrest was announced.

Shortly before midnight (1500 GMT Tuesday), "former Minister of Defence Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center," said Shin Yong-hae.

Adding that he received the report Wednesday morning, Shin said Kim had tried to kill himself in the toilet using a string from his clothing.

"A control room staff member intervened, and when they opened the door, he immediately gave up the attempt," said Shin.

Shin added that Kim was now under protection in a secure cell and in good health.

"The medical examination results indicate that the inmate's health status is good without any abnormalities, and he is currently living a normal life in the facility," the justice ministry said in a statement sent to AFP.

Kim had issued an apology on Tuesday, saying through his lawyers that "all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me".

He "deeply apologised" to the South Korean people and said that his subordinates were "merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties".
Taiwan says 'troublemaker' China expands military drills around the island



Taipei, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



China has expanded military drills around Taiwan aimed at drawing "a red line" for the next US president, Taipei authorities said Wednesday, branding Beijing a "troublemaker".

Beijing's biggest maritime drills in years involve about 60 warships and 30 coast guard vessels deployed from near the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea, a senior national security official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

China has also ramped up military aircraft activity closer to Taiwan, with 100 sorties detected over the past two days, figures from the island's defence ministry show.

There has been no public announcement by Beijing's army or Chinese state media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean.

But a recent Pacific tour by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te that included two stops in US territory drew fury from Beijing, which claims the democratic island as part of China's territory.

The security official said Wednesday that China's plans for the massive maritime operation began in October and were aimed at demonstrating that Beijing could choke off Taiwan and also to "draw a red line" ahead of the next US administration.

"China uses President Lai's overseas visit as a pretext, with Taiwan only serving as an excuse," the official said.

"The real objective appears to be asserting control within the first island chain and establishing strategic deterrence ahead of the US presidential transition."

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Wednesday that China's increased military activity around the island, including its huge maritime drills and frequent aircraft deployments, was evidence that Beijing was a "troublemaker".

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States was monitoring China's "latest activity" and would ensure "nobody does anything to change the status quo in the (Taiwan) Strait".

"Again, our policy hasn't changed. We'll continue to do what we can to help Taiwan acquire the means to defend itself," Austin told reporters at a US base in Japan on Wednesday.



- Simulating attacks, blockade -



During the drills, Chinese warships have simulated attacking foreign ships while the coast guard has practised intercepting commercial vessels as well as disrupting and blockading sea routes, the official said.

China also held "joint operations with Russia" over several days in November, the official said.

Recent bad weather had "posed challenges for smaller vessels" involved in the drills, they said.

Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.

To press its claim over self-ruled Taiwan, China has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around the island in recent years.

China also opposes any international recognition of Taiwan and especially bristles at official contact between Taipei and Washington.

In addition to his two recent stopovers on American soil, Lai spoke with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, which drew a barrage of criticism from China.

Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday that China would "resolutely defend" its sovereignty.



- 'Significantly larger' -



The security official said the sea drills were "significantly larger" than Beijing's maritime response to then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022, which was China's largest-ever war games around Taiwan.

China has held four major military exercises in just over two years, including the drills in response to Pelosi's visit and two since Lai took office in May.

Beijing usually announces its military exercises, but the official said one of the reasons it may have decided to stay silent was to avoid overshadowing China's annual Central Economic Work Conference.

China's leadership will gather Wednesday for a closed-door meeting to hammer out plans to boost the economy next year, reports said.

The Taiwan defence ministry's daily tally of Chinese aircraft detected around the island was 53 on Wednesday and 47 on Tuesday.

Wednesday's figure was the highest number of aircraft detected in a single day since a record 153 were reported on October 15 after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Lai's National Day speech days earlier.
Rescuers unblocked the body of another dead person as a result of a missile strike by the Russian army on Zaporizhia, the number of victims increased to eight, 22 people were injured, people may remain under the rubble, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported on Wednesday morning.

"In Zaporizhia, the body of another deceased person was unblocked from under the rubble. Now, as a result of a Russian missile strike on a private medical facility in the city, eight people have been killed. Twenty-two people were injured, including a child. Emergency rescue operations are continuing at the scene. There are probably still people under the rubble," the agency said on the Telegram channel.

According to head of the Regional Military Administration Ivan Fedorov, as a result of the missile strike, according to preliminary data, 20 residential buildings and three non-residential buildings were damaged. More than 160 people and 50 pieces of equipment are involved in eliminating the consequences of an enemy strike.

Wednesday, December 11, has been declared a day of mourning in the city.

Earlier, Fedorov reported six dead and 22 injured as a result of a Russian missile strike on the city center. A fiveyear-old girl is among the injured.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, as a result of the hit, the building of a private clinic and a nearby cafe were destroyed. The blast wave and debris damaged multi-storey residential buildings, cars of local residents.
China says 'separatists' and 'external' forces behind Taiwan instability



Beijing, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



China on Wednesday blamed "external" forces and "separatists" for stoking instability in the Taiwan Strait, without confirming it is carrying out military drills around the self-ruled island.

Taipei has accused Beijing of conducting its biggest maritime drills in years.

Dozens of Chinese ships have simulated attacking foreign vessels and disrupting sea routes around the self-ruled island, according to security officials in Taiwan.

Plans for the massive exercises began in October and were aimed at showing that China could choke off Taiwan and to "draw a red line" ahead of the next Donald Trump administration, a senior national security official told AFP.

There has been no public announcement by Beijing's army or Chinese state media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean.

"Harming the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait is the work of Taiwan independence separatist forces, with the support of external actors," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news conference in Beijing.

When asked about the drills drawing a "red line" before Trump's return, Mao said: "The Taiwan issue is the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations, this is our consistent position."
Gaza rescuers say at least 22 killed in overnight Israel strike



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



Gaza's civil defence agency said Wednesday that an overnight Israeli air strike in the northern part of the Palestinian territory killed at least 22 people, including women and children.

"At least 22 people were martyred in the massacre committed by the occupation military after it bombed a house belonging to the Abu al-Tarabish family near Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza," agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

Bassal said that an Israeli jet had fired three missiles at the house around midnight, adding the strike completely destroyed the three-storey structure.

More than 50 people were residing in the house, he said, with many still under the rubble.

"Rescuers were unable to evacuate the martyrs or the wounded until this morning," said Jaber Alian, 30, who witnessed the strike from a house near the hospital.

He told AFP there were several other bombings across the northern parts of the territory during the night.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to questions about the strike on the Tarabish home.

For several weeks, the Israeli military has been engaged in a sweeping operation in northern Gaza, which it says is aimed at preventing the regrouping of Hamas militants in the area.

In another strike in central Gaza on Wednesday morning, at least seven people were killed when an Israeli warplane struck the house of the Al-Bayoumi family in Nuseirat refugee camp, Bassal said.

The military, meanwhile, said two projectiles crossed from central Gaza into Israel on Wednesday, but were intercepted by the air force.

The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

The count includes hostages who died or were killed while being held in Gaza after they were seized by Palestinian militants during the attack.

Militants abducted 251 hostages, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,786 people, a majority of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry that is considered reliable by the UN.
Gaza rescuers say at least 22 killed in overnight Israel strike



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



Gaza's civil defence agency said on Wednesday that an overnight Israeli air strike in the northern part of the Palestinian territory killed at least 22 people, including women and children.

"At least 22 people were martyred in the massacre committed by the occupation military after it bombed a house belonging to the Abu al-Tarabish family near Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza," agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

Bassal said that an Israeli jet had fired three missiles at the house around midnight, adding the strike completely destroyed the three-storey structure.

More than 50 people were living in the house, he said, with many still under the rubble.

"Rescuers were unable to evacuate the martyrs or the wounded until this morning," said Jaber Alian, 30, who witnessed the strike from a house near the hospital.

He told AFP there were several other bombings across the northern parts of the territory during the night.

The Israeli military confirmed it carried out a strike in the Jabalia area near the Kamal Adwan hospital on Tuesday night.

"According to an initial examination, the number of casualties resulting from the strike published in the media is inaccurate and does not align with the information held by the (Israeli military)," it told AFP in a statement.

"The (military) is continuing to examine the incident."

It did not give a toll of its own from the strike.

For several weeks, the Israeli military has been engaged in a sweeping operation in northern Gaza, particularly in Jabalia, where it says Hamas militants had been regrouping.

In another strike in central Gaza on Wednesday morning, at least seven people were killed when an Israeli warplane struck the house of the Al-Bayoumi family in Nuseirat refugee camp, Bassal said.

The military, meanwhile, said two projectiles crossed from central Gaza into Israel on Wednesday, but were intercepted by the air force.

The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

The count includes hostages who died or were killed while being held in Gaza after they were seized by Palestinian militants during the attack.

Militants abducted 251 hostages, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,805 people, a majority of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry that is considered reliable by the UN.
Dutchwoman gets 10 years for enslaving Yazidi



The Hague, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



A Dutch court Wednesday sentenced a woman to 10 years prison for keeping a woman from the Yazidi minority as a slave after joining the Islamic State group in Syria.

The court in The Hague convicted the 33-year-old from Hengelo in eastern Netherlands, identified as Hasna A, for "enslavement, membership of a terrorist organisation, promoting terrorist crimes, and endangering her young son."

She travelled to Syria in 2015 with her son, aged four at the time, the court said. She married an IS fighter and had children with him.

Between May to October 2015, she lived with another IS fighter, who kept a Yazidi woman as a slave.

Hasna A. made the Yazidi woman do household chores for her and look after her son, the court ruled.

In 2014, Islamic State swept across swathes of Iraq, carrying out horrific violence against the Kurdish-speaking Yazidis, whose non-Muslim faith the extremists considered heretical.

The jihadists massacred thousands of men and abducted thousands of women and girls as sex slaves.

Hasna A enslaved the Yazidi woman knowing that her actions contributed to the "widespread and systematic attack on the Yazidi community," the court said.

"The court holds this against the suspect very seriously. Crimes against humanity such as these are among the most serious international crimes there are," judges said.

According to public broadcaster NOS, Hasna A was repatriated in November 2022 to the Netherlands from a Syrian prison camp with 11 other Dutch women and their 28 children.

The women were arrested upon arrival in the Netherlands.
Berlin urges Israel, Turkey not to jeopardise Syria transition



Berlin, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



Germany's foreign minister on Wednesday urged Israel and Turkey not to jeopardise a peaceful transition in Syria after the ousting of president Bashar al-Assad in an Islamist-led rebel offensive.

"We must not allow the internal Syrian dialogue process to be torpedoed from the outside," Annalena Baerbock told a Berlin press conference.

"Neighbours such as the Turkish and Israeli governments, which are asserting their security interests, must not jeopardise the process."

Since Assad's downfall, Israel has launched strikes on military sites in Syria ranging from weapons depots to naval vessels, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

Israel has also sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone east of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Turkey meanwhile is worried Kurdish separatists could take advantage of Assad's ouster to extend their influence in Syria, where they have dominated a large northeastern area since 2012.

Ankara sees the Kurdish forces, notably the militant group YPG, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since the 1980s.

Since Assad fled, Turkish-backed groups have launched offensives in northern Syria, though the Kurdish-led force there said Wednesday fighting had stopped under a US-brokered ceasefire.

Baerbock said Syria's "new chapter" was still being written, adding that "the outcome of the revolution is not certain, nor have the people won the transition to a free and peaceful Syria".

"Syria must not be allowed to become a pawn in the hands of foreign powers or forces again," she added.

During Assad's rule, Syria was backed by Iran and Russia, whose intervention in 2015 turned the tide of the civil war.

Speaking on a trip to Jordan, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Israel's strikes "can be understood as a measure for security".

"Nobody really knows who will ultimately have control of the country," Pistorius said.

"The idea that gas weapons from Syrian factories could fall into the wrong hands and play a role in Islamist-motivated attacks somewhere in the world is an idea that would be unbearable."

By the same token, he said, it was incumbent upon Israel not to "contribute to escalation".
Photo: MFA of Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha warned Europe about Russia's massive hybrid offensive and suggested urgent steps to protect, noting that Russia's actions against Georgia, Moldova and Romania are examples of hybrid actions.

We urge all European governments and societies to recognize they are under attack and join efforts to curb Russia's malign influence, he said on X.

The minister proposes to take a number of urgent steps as preventive measures, in particular, to completely block Russian propaganda, strengthen the activities of the police and counterintelligence, strengthen cyber defense and make the Schengen visa policy stricter with respect to Russian citizens.

The minister noted that Ukraine has vast experience countering a variety of Russia's hybrid threats, from cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns and acts of sabotage.

We are ready to share our best knowledge and experience with our European partners to help preserve stable democratic development, Sybiha stressed.
Orban tells about his talk with Putin: We discussed settlement of war in Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, December 11.

"I have had an hour-long phone conversation with President Putin this morning. We are going through the most dangerous weeks of the war. We are using all the diplomatic tools at our disposal to promote a ceasefire and peace," Orban wrote on Facebook.

As reported, on the eve of Orban's meeting at the private residence Mar-a-Lago in Florida with the newly elected President of the United States Donald Trump, his appointed national security adviser Mike Waltz and entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Earlier, Hungarian media reported on Orban's likely visit in December to a new "peace mission" in Ukraine, which is facilitated by a large number of telephone conversations with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

On December 2, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, reiterating his position on "peace."
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
Baroness Carr also ruled that the trial judge gave the right directions to the jury, adding: An instruction to the jury inviting them to consider whether the fact that the deceased boarded the boat of their own free will broke the chain of causation would have amounted to a misdirection.
Three canine teams of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are working at the scene of a Russian missile strike against a private health facility in Zaporizhia.

"Service dogs along with their guides are searching for people under the rubble. It is currently known that eight people were killed and 22 people were injured as a result of the enemy strike. The emergency rescue operations are underway," the press service of the State Emergency Service said in a Telegram message on Wednesday.

As reported, on December 10, Russian occupiers inflicted a missile strike on Zaporizhia. The building of a private clinic and a nearby cafe were destroyed. Multi-apartment buildings and civilian cars were also damaged by the blast wave and debris.

A mourning was announced in the city on Wednesday, December 11.
With dairy milk established as the right milk by the far right, the next issue to organise around became raw milk. If youve heard about it recently, its had some fairly high profile name-checks. RFK Jr is an ardent raw milk activist, vowing to remove restrictions imposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm, one of the bigger tradwife influencers, purports to drink raw milk. And Gwyneth Paltrow, actress turned purveyor of dodgy wellness products, claims to be a fan. I drink Raw Farm dairy, Paltrow said on the Skinny Confidential podcast, referencing a particular California dairy farm that is stocked in upmarket supermarket Erewhon. There are schools of thought that say drinking raw milk is better, because once you process it it makes dairy harder to tolerate, Paltrow claimed. No scientific study has ever found that raw milk is easier to digest than pasteurised milk in humans. There was a study that found exposure to heat-sensitive components in raw milk (that would get denatured by the pasteurisation process) can suppress food allergenic symptoms in mice. Raw Farm is currently under quarantine from the California Department of Food and Agriculture after officials found bird flu in multiple samples of their products, prompting a recall. Its owner, Mark McAfee, claims RFK Jr has approached him about a job in the new administration.
Two days before the attack, Mr Hossain was named in the press as a lawyer who was representing asylum seekers who had been due for deportation, but their flight was cancelled due to fresh human rights legal challenges.
Keating entered his pleas by video link from Belmarsh prison in south London but is expected to be sent back to the Republic of Ireland where he is already serving 12 years for directing a criminal organisation.
He also suggested investigating people who have had 3D printers delivered to find out what theyve been using them for and whether any of these guns have been produced on any of these particular printers?
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
The new government must "uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbours," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, who is also the Justice Minister of Ukraine, expects that the first chapters of future negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union will be opened as early as at the beginning of 2025.

She said this to journalists in Brussels on Wednesday, informing about the results of her visit.

"In Ukraine, the fourth round of negotiations to discuss the future membership of Ukraine in the EU, the issue of trade and economic policy has been completed. We expect decisions on the opening of the first 10-15 chapters of future negotiations already in early 2025," Stefanyshina said.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that she made this visit directly after new European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas visited Ukraine. According to Stefanishyna, during the meetings with the above-mentioned EU officials, they discussed the issues of negotiation processes, priorities of financial support for Ukraine, further work on the use of frozen Russian assets, as well as priority directions of EU funds, in particular, for needs related to Ukraine's survival.

She confirmed that the decision to allocate loans to Ukraine at the expense of frozen Russian assets "has actually been made."

"Part of the funds will arrive already this year and will be distributed throughout 2025 on a monthly basis in the range of EUR 20 billion," the official said.

Stefanishyna also described a meeting with European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andris Kubilius, who is "determined" to help Ukraine.

"I believe that it is necessary to wait for the meeting of the European Council. It is important to hear the position of the president of the European Commission after the European Commission has been formed," she said.

In addition, Stefanishyna informed that during the meeting with the European Commissioner for Justice, she spoke about "the progress of negotiations on the opening of the first cluster, the roadmap in the field of the rule of law."

"We paid special attention to the issues of accountability for war crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine. And it was important for me to agree already during the first meeting that the issue of responsibility of the Russian Federation is also not a subject of discussion. [...] I, unfortunately, cannot share details now, but I see a very good prospect in the steps that may already be implemented in 2025 regarding the fact that Russia will not only be responsible, but will also pay for crimes committed in Ukraine," she said.
Zelenskyy on Orban's conversation with Putin: Talk about Russia's war against Ukraine cannot happen without it

Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Talk about the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine cannot happen without it; to achieve real peace, we need the determination of the United States and the unity of Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to a phone call from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Vladimir Putin.

"We all hope that Viktor Orban will not at least call Assad in Moscow on the phone to listen to his hour-long lectures. It is absolutely clear that to achieve real peace and guaranteed security, we need America's determination, the unity of Europe, and the determination of all partners to comply with the goals and principles of the UN Charter," Zelenskyy said on the X social network on Wednesday.

According to him, "we do not need to play on our own image at the expense of unity  we need to care about our common success." The president said it is unity in Europe that always brings success. "Talks about the war against Ukraine that Russia is waging cannot happen without Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

He thanked U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and many European leaders with whom Ukraine is working to find the right and strong solutions for the sake of true peace.

As reported, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban held a phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday, December 11.
The European Solidarity faction insists that the last plenary week of 2024 in the Verkhovna Rada be entirely devoted to issues of funding the Armed Forces of Ukraine, co-chair of the faction Iryna Herashchenko said.

"Next week is the last plenary week of the Verkhovna Rada of this year. Against the backdrop of the dire situation at the front, the latest scandals over the supply of low-quality mines to the Defense Forces, the shortage of drones, our team will insist that the last plenary week of 2024 and the first weeks of 2025 be devoted to security and defense issues," Herashchenko said at a briefing, as quoted by the website of the political force.

According to her, European Solidarity demands the creation of a parliamentary temporary investigative commission on the situation with defective mines.

"Parliament must come out of its lethargy and return the control function," Herashchenko said.

She said that European Solidarity sent requests and appeals to the Ministry of Defense, the government, the Ministry of Strategic Industry, and anti-corruption agencies in connection with the supply of low-quality mines to the front. The MP said it is necessary to figure out who was behind these contracts, conduct an investigation, name and hold accountable those responsible.

"We are very concerned about the situation with fortifications... In the context of the country's defense, high-quality, modern fortifications are the number one issue. And therefore, we insist that the created temporary special commissio immediately receive a new status, be reformatted as an investigative one, so that its control functions are strengthened and a full audit of the situation with fortifications is conducted," Herashchenko said.

The faction co-chair also drew attention to the issue of providing the defense forces with drones from the state.

"A separate issue is the quality of drones from the state. We were promised that UAH 96.3 billion would go to purchasing UAVs. In fact, only UAH 66.1 billion has been fulfilled in ten months. We have dozens and hundreds of complaints from all departments about the shortage of these UAVs... The state often sends drones of such poor quality that they simply do not take off. Therefore, we believe that the investigative commission should immediately figure out the criteria by which these drones were purchased, who was behind these deliveries and who will be held responsible for the poor quality drones," Herashchenko saud.

The MP said the last plenary week of the year ends with an hour of questions to the government. "We will demand that the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Strategic Industry participate in the government question hour, so that they give answers on mines, drones, plans for 2025, and on working on mistakes, so that this is a serious and substantive conversation," Herashchenko said.
A total of 413,752 people were benefiting, in November 2024, from pensions and allowances provided by special laws, 1,967 fewer than the previous month, according to data compiled by the National House of Public Pensions (CNPP), inform agerpres.ro.

The largest number of people, namely 190,485, were beneficiaries of allowances under Law No. 118/1990 - regarding the granting of rights to persons persecuted for political reasons by the dictatorship established as of March 6, 1945, as well as those deported abroad or constituted as prisoners, with subsequent amendments and additions. The average allowance stood at 1,532 lei.

A total of 14,513 people were receiving an average allowance of 932 lei, according to Law No. 49/1991 and Law No. 44/1994 - concerning war veterans, as well as certain rights of war invalids and widows, and 64,348 people were beneficiaries of allowances under Law No. 189/2000 - approving Government Ordinance No. 105/1999 for the modification and addition of Decree-Law No. 118/1990 on granting rights to persons persecuted for political reasons by the dictatorship established as of March 6, 1945, as well as those deported abroad or constituted as prisoners, republished, with subsequent amendments. The average sum paid was 870 lei.

Regarding the beneficiaries of allowances under Law No. 309/2002 - recognising and granting rights to persons who performed military service within the Directorate General of the Labour Service between 1950 and 1961, there were 42,810 such beneficiaries, with an average payment of 82 lei.

Beneficiaries of allowances under Law No. 341/2004 - in recognition of the heroes-martyrs and fighters who contributed to the victory of the Romanian Revolution of December 1989 numbered 12,643, receiving an average amount of 2,170 lei.

Additionally, in September 2024, 554 beneficiaries were registered under Law No. 109/2005 - Artists, with an average allowance of 345 lei, 13,944 beneficiaries under Law No. 8/2006 - Creative Unions, with an average allowance of 1,917 lei, and 74,455 beneficiaries under Law No. 578/2004 - Surviving Spouse, with an average allowance of 128 lei.
Promoting innovation must be one of the priorities of the new governmental program, argue the members of the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania), in a release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

According to the cited source, AHK Romania has initiated a dialogue between the business and academic milieus in order to expand the partnership between German companies and Romanian universities in the field of research, innovation and continuous training. The meeting focused on strengthening the collaboration between private enterprises and the academia in the field of research - development (R-D), in order to benefit as much as possible from the financing opportunities of the European Union.

The main challenges discussed were the difficulties in accessing these funds, the need for sustained public, private or European research funding and the importance of aligning research topics with market needs.

Along with university teaching staff, the event was attended by representatives of companies from various fields, such as energy & gas, IT & digitization, automobile, retail, chemical industry, waste management.

"We want to exchange ideas and perspectives, to see how we approach this topic further, what needs to be done to develop the collaboration between universities, research institutes and other public entities on the one hand and SMEs, start-ups and companies on the other hand, to support the business environment in research and development activities", said Sebastian Metz, general director of AHK Romania, at the opening of the forum for dialogue "Business meets innovation", quoted in the press release.

He added that this collaboration is all the more necessary, since at the European level research-development and innovation are becoming more and more important and, therefore, they will receive larger budgets.

AHK Romania is the official representative of the German economy. Established in 2002, AHK counts over 670 member companies and offers companies an important platform for networking, exchange of information and experiences. Through the services it offers and through the events it organizes, AHK Romania actively supports German companies when they enter the Romanian market and is also a partner of Romanian companies interested in the German market. From January 1, 2020, the Competence Center for the Republic of Moldova also operates within AHK Romania.
The actor Marius Manole joins the Ambassador for HOME campaign and donates the costume he wore in the first play he performed in, announced on Wednesday the Hope and Homes for Children Romania organization.

"Marius Manole is the fourth ambassador of the Hope and Homes for Children Foundation to join the Ambassador for HOME campaign. When we build A HOME, we build A PERSON. As part of this initiative, Marius Manole is donating the costume he wore during his stage debut in the play Heart of a Dog," stated the NGO.

This symbolic gesture is accompanied by a call for solidarity, with the actor encouraging people to donate to help raise the 30,000 EUR needed to create a better future for 11 children with moderate and severe special needs.

"For me, the theater is the place where I first felt that I had a HOME. The costume I am donating carries the imprint of that beginning, and I hope it will inspire as many people as possible to provide a HOME for children who are in great need of one. Your donation is not just a material contribution but a chance to change lives and destinies," Marius Manole was quoted as saying in the press release sent to AGERPRES.

Anyone who wishes to support the campaign can do so by donating through the official Hope and Homes for Children platform. Every donation is a chance to transform children's lives and an opportunity to win the prize offered by the ambassador.

As a result of the donations made, one of the donors supporting the cause will be selected through a draw to receive the costume donated by the actor, a symbol of new beginnings and a passion for art.

The Ambassador for HOME campaign aims to raise the funds needed to close the last residential care center in Sector 5 of Bucharest. Hope and Homes for Children plans to build a safe and welcoming family home for 11 children with special needs. The total amount required for the project is 450,000 EUR, which will be invested in creating an environment tailored to the children's needs.

In just 30 days since its launch, the campaign has already raised 385,000 EUR through the efforts of the first three ambassadors: David Popovici, Amalia Enache, and Mihai Morar. World swimming champion David Popovici donated his award ceremony gear from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, inspiring thousands to contribute. Journalist and TV presenter Amalia Enache offered a special piece of jewelry, featuring a diamond and pearl, as a prize for a lucky donor. Meanwhile, journalist and radio host Mihai Morar contributed a unique podcast experience, attracting both individual donors and corporate support.

Over its 26 years of activity, Hope and Homes for Children Romania has helped 43,400 children stay safely with their parents or extended families, preventing institutionalisation through its Family Separation Prevention Programme. Since 1998, the foundation has closed 72 foster homes and, in partnership with its supporters, has developed 128 family homes, moving 7,400 children out of orphanages and reintegrating 2,000 into their biological or extended families.
The Ministry of Education announces that the financing contracts through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) have been signed for the universities that will provide teacher training in agricultural high schools, announce agerpres.ro.

"Over half a million euro for training teachers in agricultural high schools across the country! Yesterday (Tuesday), I signed, at the Ministry of Education, the financing contracts through the PNRR won by the universities that will provide teacher training in agricultural high schools. This programme represents a major step in modernising agricultural education in Romania, adapting it to the demands of new technologies," writes Minister of Education Ligia Deca on Facebook on Wednesday.

According to her, the training programme will address key topics such as digitization and artificial intelligence in agriculture, sustainable agricultural technologies, circular economy, pollution reduction in agriculture, biodiversity conservation, modern biotechnology, and financial management adapted to farms.

These subjects aim at both efficiency and sustainability, as well as the integration of new technologies in agriculture, the minister added.

"I wish success to the winners in implementing the projects!" Deca conveyed.
Harghita County will be the European Region of Gastronomy in 2027, according to the official decision of the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT), announced the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association (Visit Harghita) in a press release.

"In 2027, Harghita County will bear the title of European Region of Gastronomy, according to the official decision of IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism). The award ceremony of this prestigious title will take place on February 6, 2025, during a festive event organized in Harghita County," specified the cited source.

An international jury of experts from IGCAT visited Harghita County between October 6-11, 2024 to assess the local gastronomic heritage, community initiatives and efforts directed towards sustainable tourism.

According to the mentioned source, Diane Dodd, PhD, president of IGCAT and founder of the World Region of Gastronomy Award, underlined the uniqueness of Harghita's cultural values, the natural harmony of the landscape and the close collaboration between local communities

IGCAT wholeheartedly congratulates this important achievement. The quality of the application submitted by Harghita County and the exceptional organization of the jury's visit are highly appreciated. The active participation of more than 100 stakeholders representing various sectors demonstrates the commitment and collaboration that raise Harghita's gastronomy to the forefront of global recognition, reads the official letter issued by the jury.

The press release also states that the gastronomic heritage of Harghita County reflects the meeting of Hungarian, Romanian, Armenian and Szekler traditions, which will be developed in the spirit of sustainability and innovation.

"The consortium that coordinated the application aims to create a sustainable food ecosystem that supports the local economy, protects cultural values and enriches European gastronomic diversity. The main message: Taste Harghita County!," emphasizes the cited source.

The president of Harghita County Council, Biro Barna-Botond, believes that the work of the Visit Harghita team and its partners over the past years has paid off.

"Thanks to the promotion activity, Harghita County was on the first place in the Destination of the Year 2024 competition, and this latest achievement will contribute to increasing the attractiveness, developing tourism and, implicitly, the economy," said Biro Barna-Botond, as quoted by the Press Office of the institution.

The Harghita Intercommunity Development Association (Visit Harghita) initiated the candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2027 in 2023.

According to Visit Harghita, "the European Regions of Gastronomy (nominated and awarded), selected and coordinated by IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism), aim to contribute to improving the quality of life of citizens by highlighting the importance of cultural and gastronomic uniqueness".

They also encourage gastronomic creativity and innovation, promote culinary education and the circular economy, enhance sustainable tourism and support the well-being and health of communities and the environment.

The title of European Region of Gastronomy is a distinction that widely promotes the region's achievements, programmes, community collaborations and responses to the challenges of the future, and is not accompanied by a financial award, Visit Harghita further specifies.
The High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) is debating, on Wednesday, the appeal filed by the AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) party against the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the annulment of the entire electoral process of the presidential elections, inform agerpres.ro.

In the notification filed with the High Court, the chair of the AUR, George Simion, points out that the decision taken by the constitutional judges on December 6 is "an extremely dangerous precedent, as it violates Article 2 of the Constitution, which stipulates that "national sovereignty belongs to the Romanian people and is exercised through its elected representatives," repeatable whenever the power wants to be stable in power, therefore irreplaceable through elections, and on the other hand, it is a very serious motivation for the people to lose their trust in democracy, elections and the rule of law."

The AUR leader also mentions that the same judges from the CCR decided, on December 2, to validate the first round of the presidential election.

"The CCR decision completely annulled the electoral process. Not only was the first round of voting annulled, but the entire electoral process. Everything must now be started from scratch - minus, very likely, the candidates who will be invalidated along the way due to information notes from the secret services. It is noted from the motivation of the CCR decision on Friday that the only 'evidence' on which the decision to annul the entire electoral process was based are the information notes from the SRI (Romanian Intelligence Service), SIE (Foreign Intelligence Service) and the Ministry of the Interior, supposedly declassified by the CSAT (Supreme Council for Country Defence). There is no reason at this point, rational or emotional, to believe that this precedent will not have become a pattern of state action in future elections. (...) To watch over the electoral process does not mean to cancel it, but to not allow administrative or electoral events or facts to hinder it or divert it from its normal course. This duty to watch over is exercised during, and not after, the elections," the appeal filed with the ICCJ also states.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity (MMSS) has successfully completed the hearings procedure for Romania's accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which took place within the organization's Employment and Social Affairs Committee (ELSAC), the Ministry of Labour informs on Wednesday, through a message on its Facebook page.

Following the analysis of the concrete measures taken by Romania in the field of labour and social solidarity, the ELASC Committee positively assessed the reforms for the development of the labour market, vocational training, social protection and migration-related policies to protect the internal market, inform agerpres.ro.

"The Committee highlighted the positive trends on the labour market and social outcomes in recent years and congratulates Romania on the reforms implemented in recent years, as well as on the reforms planned for the future. (...) Considering all this progress, I am pleased to inform you that following the assessment, the ELASC Committee has decided to propose Romania's accession to the OECD," said Ilze Zvidrina, chair of the Committee for Employment and Social Affairs, quoted in the Ministry of Labour's press release.

For her part, the minister of labour, Simona Bucura-Oprescu, underscored that accession to the OECD will bring Romania better employment opportunities, stronger social protection and a more stable economic framework.

"Accession to the OECD marks an important step forward in Romania's development. It will bring better employment opportunities, stronger social protection and a more stable economic framework. It is a moment that marks Romania's firm commitment to progress alongside the developed economies of the world," said Simona Bucura-Oprescu.

According to the same source, by joining the OECD, Romania joins a group of countries that observe the best international practices in the economic and social fields.

Ministry representatives claim that this means significant benefits for all Romanians, including economic stability. "Romania will benefit from well-regulated economic standards and policies, which will lead to sustainable economic growth and the creation of more jobs," the same press release states.

At the same time, joining the OECD will favour access to international practices. "Implementing the best practices within the OECD will lead to an improvement in the quality of life, ensuring a safer and fairer working environment," ministry representatives claim.

Another benefit is represented by increased investment. "By adopting transparent and efficient economic policies, Romania will become a more attractive environment for investors, which will generate new opportunities for all citizens," the document also states.

Also, joining the OECD brings expanded social protection. "Accession will support the development of new social protection measures, aimed at helping vulnerable citizens and reducing social inequalities," the same source states.
Save Romania Union (USR) first deputy chairperson Dominic Fritz said on Wednesday that USR will either be part of a government that will undertake reforms or will not be part of it, mentioning that the party still supports Elena Lasconi as a presidential candidate, with the formation of a stable government taking precedence over the presidential issue in the coming days, announce agerpres.ro.

"USR is aware of its responsibility. We understand that Romania is in a crisis and first and foremost in a crisis of democracy. We need to understand that this crisis of the democracy has two underlying causes and we need to address the two causes. The first cause, of course, is the danger of extremism and Russian interference that we have seen and we must do our utmost to defend the country, but the second cause is the fragility of democratic institutions that we have seen in recent weeks. We shouldn't be in the situation we're in. And that is why a government project in which USR would get involved can only be a project that defends us against interference, but which also strengthens the institutions that have suffered lately," Dominic Fritz affirmed at the Palace of Parliament.

He also said that USR is going to the negotiations with the other parties "with an open heart", but will only be part of a government that will undertake reforms.

"Therefore, I say very clearly that we are going into these negotiations with an open heart for Romania, with the courage to do what is necessary to put Romania back on a growth and democratic path, but the hard work is just beginning. So, I want to say very clearly that USR will either be part of a government that undertakes reforms or will not be part of the government. Now the teams have started this work of negotiating the government program, to see if we really have a common vision for what should follow, if all parties, as they said, have really understood the signal of the voters in the last weeks and, if this is the case, then we assume this co-responsibility for governing Romania," said the USD first deputy chairperson.

Asked what the red lines of the government programme are, he said, "We are not talking about red lines".

"What must be clear is that this government is assuming a cut on state spending, it must be clear that this government is assuming an administrative reform, it must be clear that this government is also assuming a reform of the institutions that has failed in recent weeks, this also includes a reform of the [intelligence] services, and it must be clear that this government is assuming a return to the citizens of Romania and somehow close the chapter in which some privileged have taken advantage of the resources of this country. These are the principles we are negotiating and in the end we will have to draw a line to see if there are enough things we have in common, enough reforms," added Fritz.

In respect to the secret service reform, Dominic Fritz said that he personally expects "some changes, including at the personnel level, as a result of this failure".

"We cannot continue as if nothing happened. Some presidential elections have just been canceled, an extraordinary, historic precedent, a great danger and, therefore, there must be consequences," added the first deputy chairperson of USR.

Asked whether PSD should not come up with the proposal of Marcel Ciolacu as prime minister, Dominic Fritz said that "the important thing for USR is to have a government with a prime minister who will undertake reforms".

"We are not entering now into this negotiation with red lines of persons or parties, but the important thing is that the final package is one that can convince the citizens of Romania that this government is not really running away from its responsibility to reform this country," Fritz said.

He added that USR supports Elena Lasconi as a presidential candidate, but this issue should not be "settled today" between the parties.

"We believe that Elena Lasconi is the best-ranked pro-European candidate in the race, the most voted pro-European candidate. The fact that she could not run in the second round is not her fault. The elections were canceled for other reasons and that is why we believe that she should be back in this race. At the same time it is important to have a pro-European president. There is a decision of the USR Congress which supports Elena Lasconi, there is a vote on November 24 in which Romanians voted Elena Lasconi with the most votes among the pro-European candidates and of course we cannot just dismiss these things," Dominic Fritz said.

Asked whether the other parties would also accept Elena Lasconi, he said: "I wouldn't want to take these negotiations to the TV now".

"We all committed to the fact that there must be a pro-European president. I would add a pro-European prime minister and a pro-European government. The form in which we can get this result, that is exactly what we need to discuss now, but these days the urgency is to form a stable government, which will undertake reforms and the presidential issue is not one that needs to be settled today," Fritz said.

He added that the negotiations will see how to reach a consensus on this issue.

Regarding the support of a common candidate for the presidency from the pro-European parties, Dominic Fritz said that a consensus has not yet been reached on this issue.

"If we form a government, we form a real government, not a mock government," said Dominic Fritz.

The pro-European parties - PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR and the Parliamentary Group of National Minorities - announced on Tuesday evening, at the end of the first round of political consultations, their commitment to a common government programme and their support for a possible common candidate for the presidential elections.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua

Ukrainian defenders continue to stop the enemy and hold the lines, a total of 140 combat clashes were recorded as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said on the Telegram channel.

The enemy attacked most actively on the Pokrovsk, Vremiv and Lyman axes.

Twenty-eight combat clashes of varying intensity were recorded on the Pokrovsk axis. Fighting continues in the areas of Shevchenko, Pischane, Novotroyitske, Novooleksiyivka, Novy Trud, Dachenske and Lysivka. In the areas of Myroliubivka, Promin and Pokrovsk, twelve enemy attacks were repulsed.

The occupiers attacked 26 times on the Vremiv axis. As of 4 p.m., two combat clashes were still going on.

On the Lyman axis, there were 21 combat clashes, five battles are still ongoing.

On the Kursk axis, Ukrainian defenders repelled 15 enemy assaults, six of which are ongoing. The enemy fired 182 artillery shells at settlements and positions of Ukrainian units in the region.
The Boeing Co. has been contracted to construct F-15 fighter aircrafts to be sold to Japan, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Tuesday.

The contract awards the aviation giant $450.5 million and comes from the Air Force. It covers the acquisition of radars, self-protection systems and mission computer units.

The work will be done in the St. Louis area and is expected to wrap up in 2030. The contract is part of the F-15 Japan Super Interceptor Program.

Boeing operates its defense business, which is in a separate unit from the companys commercial plane segment, in the St. Louis area and says it employs about 16,700 people.

Locally, the company is in the midst of layoffs that will ultimately affect about 600 workers by mid-January. This includes 111 mechanics who were cut in November.

Boeing did not immediately comment on the new contract.
ST. LOUIS  An aldermanic committee Tuesday advanced a $40 million incentive package for Washington Universitys lab development in the Cortex tech district after city officials criticized the accelerated timeline.

Cortex and WashU officials want full approval of the incentives  $4 million in tax increment financing and $36 million in bonds  by January in order to secure an Alzheimers disease research company as the anchor tenant of a $93 million renovation of the former Goodwill building at Forest Park Avenue and South Sarah Street.

Without the incentives, Cortex officials said Tuesday, C2N Diagnostics wont sign a lease and will move out of St. Louis. The company is reportedly fielding offers from the Chicago-area and Boulder, Colorado.

Sign up for the Brick City newsletter Steph Kukuljan and other business reporters bring you insights into St. Louis-area real estate and development.

This is the kind of thing that spurs economic growth in our community, said Sam Fiorello, president and CEO of Cortex.

Officials said they have the support of the mayors and comptrollers offices, as well as the aldermanic president.

But aldermen Rasheen Aldridge and Alisha Sonnier admonished St. Louis economic development agency for providing some of the analysis on the project just 15 minutes before the Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee started, saying they didnt feel they had enough time to fully judge it.

This is a very accelerated timeline, Aldridge said. Moving legislation so fast like this, we just want to make sure were doing the right thing.

Zach Wilson, vice president at St. Louis Development Corp., apologized and said the information was largely the same as what was presented at last months St. Louis TIF Commission. He said his agency had only just gotten approval to share the name of the tenant, which Cortex and WashU officials declined to disclose at the TIF meeting.

The construction affiliate of WashU is renovating and expanding the Goodwill building, at 4140 Forest Park Avenue, into 162,000 square feet of lab and office space. The university bought the property in 2019 for $5.6 million.

If C2N signs the 15-year lease, the company would occupy 70,000 square feet with 150 employees.

C2N provides blood tests that can detect how well an Alzheimers drug is working. Two WashU doctors started the company, which is based at another Cortex location.

Fiorello said C2N is at an inflection point: It needs more space than its currently occupies but doesnt have the financial resources to build its own space.

The former Goodwill building would fill that so-called second generation gap for C2N and other similar companies, he said, adding that Cortex has no vacant lab space.

TIFs are tax incentives meant to encourage redevelopment of blighted areas by freezing property taxes at a set rate and using the new tax revenues generated by the project to cover project expenses. Key to TIFs are whether the projects meet a but for test where the project would not occur if not for the TIF money.

A St. Louis firm races to diagnose Alzheimers faster A St. Louis company is trying to prove that its tests could take on a greater role in the future of Alzheimer's research and treatment.

Alderman Shane Cohn on Tuesday questioned whether the project met the but for test. He said the project was well underway by the time of the HUDZ meeting. He also questioned the feasibility of the company signing a 15-year lease for a TIF that would last up to 23 years.

WashU had demolished part of the property and poured the concrete columns for the expansion when the TIF Commission met last month. This week, a Post-Dispatch reporter observed construction workers working on the second floor of the expansion.

Fiorello said that construction would stop immediately if the incentives werent approved.

No for-profit developer would have done this, Fiorello said. Theyre taking a chance on the balance sheets of these companies.

Mary Campbell, the universitys associate vice chancellor for real estate, referred a reporters questions to a university spokesperson, who did not respond.

A spokeswoman for C2N did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The legislations sponsor, Alderman Michael Browning, a former Washington University employee whose ward includes Cortex, acknowledged the clip at which the groups wanted to receive approvals.

As theyve said, its really exciting project. It puts St. Louis on the map in a big way, Browning said.

The HUDZ Committee voted 3-2 in the favor of the incentives. Sonnier, Browning and Alderwoman Shameem Clark-Hubbard voted for them. Aldridge and Cohn voted against the board bills. Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer was absent.
In November 2024, at least 165 civilians were killed and another 887 people were injured in Ukraine, including eight children killed and 57 injured, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said citing data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

"A total of 12,340 civilians have been killed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Another 27,836 have sustained various kinds of injuries. The UN monitoring mission noted that the number of casualties in November 2024 became significantly higher than in November 2023 (113 dead, 363 wounded)," he said on the Telegram channel.

The ombudsman noted that 65 citizens of Ukraine died as a result of the use of long-range weapons (missiles and ammunition) by the Russian forces. In Kherson region, civilians were killed and wounded almost every day from shelling by short-range unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

The UN mission also noted that Russian military forces have resumed large-scale coordinated attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

"The world must not simply watch the casualty statistics change. The world must make sure terrorist Russia is held accountable for every life destroyed! Help Ukraine, because this is how you protect yourselves!" Lubinets said.
JEFFERSON CITY  A former St. Louis alderman released this summer from federal prison has registered to lobby local and state officials.

Former Alderman John Collins-Muhammad, who pleaded guilty in August 2022 to accepting bribes from a local businessman, registered as a lobbyist this week with the Missouri Ethics Commission, records show.

Collins-Muhammad has listed no clients, but his registration shows him affiliated with Ignite Strategic Consulting LLC. Former state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed of St. Louis is the registered agent for a group by the same name.

Collins-Muhammad didnt initially respond to a reporters phone call to the number listed in his lobbyist registration record.

Nasheed didnt immediately respond to a phone call Wednesday.

Collins-Muhammad pleaded guilty to taking thousands of dollars from a gas station owner in exchange for helping him get tax breaks for a new gas station and convenience store in north St. Louis.

The Post-Dispatch reported in July that Collins-Muhammad had been released from federal prison.

He isnt the first felon to join the state lobbying corps.

Former state Sen. Jeff Smith, who pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy charges in 2009 and served time in federal prison, began lobbying in late 2018.

Smith represents the ACLU of Missouri and the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, among other clients. He is also executive director of the Missouri Workforce Housing Association.

Former state Rep. Courtney Curtis of Ferguson registered to lobby in 2023. He pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud, admitted to defrauding campaign donors, and was sentenced to 21 months in prison in March 2021.

Curtis listed one lobbying client when he registered to lobby in February 2023  100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis. He said the group had long focused on mentoring but had expanded its scope to help people recently released from prison.

Curtis as of Wednesday had six clients including the Ferguson Youth Initiative, Clippers and Cops, and Strategic Progress, a limited liability company registered to Curtis.

Eapen Thampy, a lobbyist who pleaded guilty to a federal drug crime in 2020, has since reregistered as a lobbyist. He now represents over 20 clients including Vaper Maven MO and multiple companies in the hemp industry.
CLAYTON  St. Louis County Executive Sam Page will appoint the next prosecuting attorney as an interim, which does not need County Council confirmation, a spokesman for Page said Tuesday.

Page spokesman Doug Moore said Cort VanOstrans appointment needs council approval for him to become prosecuting attorney after Wesley Bell resigns Jan. 2 to take his newly won congressional seat.

But if county councilmembers reject or dont act on the appointment, Page still has the power to seat VanOstran, Moore said, as an acting prosecutor.

They could either just not vote on him and he would just be there in that position, or they could vote on him and confirm him and the acting title would go away, Moore said. And they could vote on him and say no, and he will still be acting prosecuting attorney.

Councilman Dennis Hancock, a Republican from Fenton who often opposes the county executive, said he didnt think Page has the right to nominate an interim prosecuting attorney under St. Louis County law.

He can make an appointment and the council approves it or doesnt approve it, Hancock said. Theres nothing there that Im aware of that he can appoint someone on an interim basis.

Councilmembers condemned Pages plan at their regular meeting Tuesday night. Republican Councilman Ernie Trakas, of South County, said the councils job is to scrutinize and vet candidates.

The county executive seeks to avoid all that, Trakas said.

Moore said Pages office is appointing VanOstran, regardless.

This is an opportunity to ensure this transition is a smooth one, Moore said. The intention is to make sure theres not a leadership vacuum.

A court will likely decide whether Pages plan is legal or not, said Richard Middleton IV, an attorney and professor of political science at University of Missouri-St. Louis.

If you are the county executive and youre determined to appoint someone as an interim, you certainly can, Middleton said. It doesnt mean that its legal. It just means that youve acted upon what you said you were going to do. Its going to take a lawsuit, that will probably be filed, to stay or stop an appointment until the lawsuit can be determined.

There will be a quick rush to the court to request an injunction, he added.

If appointed, VanOstran would serve in the position until January 2027, when Bells current term ends. VanOstran could run for election to the office to keep it.

Some councilmembers have so far showed reluctance to even consider Pages pick.

Council Chair Shalonda Webb said its premature to consider nominees before Bell resigns.

Its about making sure we follow a process, Webb said on Tuesday.

The county executive already faces a lawsuit from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey claiming Gov. Mike Parson gets to name the next prosecuting attorney, not Page. Page ignored Baileys lawsuit last week when he named VanOstran as his pick to finish Bells term.

Neither Bailey nor Parsons offices immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a hearing in the case has been set for 9 a.m. Dec. 18. in St. Louis County Circuit Court, and attorneys in Pages administration are fighting the lawsuit.

The county counselors office hired St. Louis law firm Lewis Rice to help with the case.

Some councilmembers are resisting that decision too.

The countys top attorney, Dana Redwing, needed council approval to hire Lewis Rice, four councilmembers wrote in a letter to Redwing dated Monday.

Webb, the council chair, plans to introduce her own legislation hiring attorney Donnell Smith to represent the county in the case. Smith has served as a municipal attorney in St. Louis County and defended Webb when she faced litigation from the county after first taking office, Webb said.

But Redwing said her office has the power to hire Lewis Rice, and plans to keep the firm involved in the Bailey case.

Separately, the council is laying the groundwork to hire its own attorney after voters approved the move in November.
ST. LOUIS  The citys jail chief returned to work Monday after nearly three months on leave, a spokesman said, ending some of the uncertainty about leadership at the troubled facility.

Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah left the jail in late September, and officials would not say why or when shed be back, citing personnel privacy rules.

On Tuesday, though, city spokesman Conner Kerrigan confirmed it was not a vacation.

Clemons-Abdullahs absence came at a rough time for a facility that has been in near-constant crisis in recent years.

Meanwhile, Clemons-Abdullah has pointed to a shortage of correctional officers to explain why the facility is taxed. The city has been offering $3,500 bonuses to entice new hires, and got a new health care contractor in response to concerns about care.

Reporter Austin Huguelet contributed to this report.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  Reem Ajour says she last saw her husband and then 4-year-old daughter in March, when Israeli soldiers raided a family home in northern Gaza. She is haunted by those chaotic last moments, when the soldiers ordered her to go  to leave behind Talal and Masaa, both wounded.

Eight months later, the 23-year-old mother still has no answers about their fate. The military says it does not have them. Troops leveled the house where they were staying soon after the raid.

I am living and dead at the same time, she said, breaking down in sobs.

Ajour is one of dozens of Palestinians that an Israeli legal group, Hamoked, is helping in their search for family members who went missing after being separated by Israeli soldiers during raids and arrests in the Gaza Strip.

Their cases  a fraction of the estimated thousands who have gone missing during the 14-month-long war  highlight a lack of accountability in how the Israeli military deals with Palestinians during ground operations in Gaza, Hamoked says.

Throughout the war, the military has conducted what amounts to a mass sifting of the Palestinian population as it raids homes and shelters and sends people through checkpoints. Troops round up and detain men, from dozens to several hundreds at a time, searching for any they suspect of Hamas ties, while forcing their families away, toward other parts of Gaza. The result is families split apart, often amid the chaos of fighting.

But the military has not made clear how it keeps track of everyone it separates, arrests or detains. Even if troops transfer Palestinians to military detention inside Israel, they can hold them incommunicado for more than two months  their whereabouts unknown to families or lawyers, according to rights groups.

When people vanish, its nearly impossible to know what happened, Hamoked says.

Weve never had a situation of mass forced disappearance from Gaza, with no information provided for weeks and weeks to families, said Jessica Montell, the director of Hamoked. Israels High Court of Justice has refused to intervene to get answers, despite Hamokeds petitions, she said.

Asked by The Associated Press about the cases of Ajour and two other families it interviewed, the Israeli military declined comment.

4-year-old Masaa Ajour was shot, then separated from her mother

The Ajours were sheltering at a home in Gaza City that belonged to Talals family after being displaced from their own house earlier in the war. Israeli troops raided the home on March 24, opening fire as they burst in, Ajour said.

Ajour, who was three months pregnant, was shot in the stomach. Talal was wounded in his leg, bleeding heavily. Masaa lay passed out, shot in the shoulder  though Ajour said she saw her still breathing.

As one soldier bandaged the little girls wound, another pointed his gun in Ajours face and told her to head out of Gaza City.

She said she pleaded that she couldnt leave Masaa and Talal, but the soldier screamed: Go south!

With no choice, Ajour collected her younger son and went down to the street. It was all in a blink of an eye. It was all so fast, she said. Still bleeding, she walked for two and a half hours, clutching her son.

When they reached a hospital in central Gaza, doctors treated her stomach wound and found her fetus pulse. Weeks later, doctors found the pulse had gone. She miscarried.

Ajour said that several weeks later, a Palestinian released from a prison in southern Israel told her family he had heard her husbands name called out over a loudspeaker among a list of detainees.

The rumor has kept her hope alive, but the military told Hamoked it had no record of Masaa or Talal being detained.

Another possibility is that they died on the scene, but no one has been able to search the rubble of the familys building to determine if any bodies are there.

The storming of their building came as Israeli forces were battling Hamas fighters in surrounding streets while raiding nearby Shifa Hospital, where it claimed the militants were based. Troops cleared families out of nearby homes and often then destroyed or set the buildings ablaze, according to witnesses at the time.

The military itself may not know what happened to Ajours husband and daughter, said Montell of Hamoked.

That illustrates a broader problem, she said.

Ajour and her son now shelter in a tent camp outside the central Gaza town of Zuweida.

Masaa, she said, was my first joy  with blond hair and olive-colored eyes, a face white like the moon.

Masaas fifth birthday was in July, Ajour said, sobbing. She turned five while she is not with me.

Does the military document what troops do in Gaza?

Under a wartime revision to Israeli law, Palestinians from Gaza taken to military detention in Israel can be held for over two months without access to the outside world.

Israel says the law is necessary to handle the unprecedented number of detainees as it seeks to destroy Hamas following the Oct. 7 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 and took around 250 people hostage inside Gaza. The military has transferred some 1,770 of its Gaza detainees to civilian prisons, according to rights groups, but it has not revealed the number still in its detention.

Milena Ansari, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, said Israel is obligated under international law to document what happens during every home raid and detention. But the military is not transparent about the information it collects on detainees or on how many it is holding, she said.

Hamoked has asked the military for the whereabouts of 900 missing Palestinians. The military confirmed around 500 of them were detained in Israel. It said it had no record of detaining the other 400.

The group petitioned Israels High Court of Justice seeking answers in 52 cases, including that of Masaa and two other children, where witnesses testified that the missing were handled by troops before their disappearances.

The judges just dismiss the cases, without even inquiring what measures might be necessary to prevent such cases in the future, said Montell.

A court spokesperson said it often asks the military to provide additional information but isnt authorized to investigate if the military says it is not detaining them.

In the cases of three missing adult Palestinians presented by Hamoked, the military first claimed it was not holding them, then found records of them being detained after being pressed by Hamoked to double-check.

In another case, military police discovered that two Palestinians they had initially denied holding  a father and his adult son  had died in Israeli custody. The U.N. Human Rights Office says at least 53 Palestinians are known to have died in Israeli detention during the war.

Ailing with cancer, Mahmoud Alghrabli disappeared after raid

The last time the Alghrabli family saw their 76-year-old patriarch, Mahmoud Alghrabli, was when Israeli troops stormed their district in Khan Younis on Feb. 4. The soldiers ordered residents out of the area. The Alghrablis had to carry Mahmoud, suffering from cancer, out of their building on a chair, his son Ahmed Algharbli told the AP.

After detaining some men, the soldiers ordered the rest to leave. Mahmoud Alghrabli made it to a sand mound near the house. Ahmed Algharbli said his brother went to help the father, but soldiers shouted at him to leave.

He left our father by force, or he would have been shot, he said.

The family returned a month later. There was no trace of Mahmoud. Ahmed Algharbli said he walked meter by meter searching for traces, finding bones but not knowing whose they were. He keeps them wrapped in a piece of cloth at home.

Hamoked was told by the military there was no indication of him in Israeli detention.

By God, I dont sleep at night, said Mahmouds wife, Sabah Abdul-Salam. Whether he was arrested or killed, she said, let us know, we will rest.

Mahmoud Almoqayed vanished while searching for his family

The only traces left of another missing man, 77-year-old Mahmoud Almoqayed, are his torn shirt and pants with his ID in the pocket. They were found in the dirt near the school where he and his family were sheltering when it was raided by Israeli troops on May 23 in the northern town of Beit Lahiya.

The soldiers released Almoqayed and sent him and other men to another shelter, said his son, Rani Almoqayed, a doctor working in Saudi Arabia who pieced together the account from witnesses and family members.

Once at the second shelter, the elderly Almoqayed immediately turned back, determined to find his wife and grandchildren left behind at the school, witnesses told his son. It was dark, well after 1 a.m., and troops were all around the area. Almoqayed was never seen by his family again.

Weeks later, his family found his abandoned clothes. They also found skulls and body parts nearby, Rani Almoqayed said.

The military police told Hamoked it had no indication Almoqayed was detained.

Rani Almoqayed believes its possible his father was killed and Israeli troops took the body. Since December 2023, the military has returned at least 318 bodies and a sack of body parts to Gaza after seizing them to search for hostages, a senior U.N. official in Gaza told the AP, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential matters.

The bodies, with no identification and often decomposed, are buried in anonymous mass graves.

The family had Mahmoud Almoqayed declared officially dead, his son said.

But the doubt will not stop and ones heart wont ease unless they see the body.

El Deeb reported from Beirut, and Frankel from Jerusalem.
Sebille Manor housing units, seen here on Dec. 9, 2024, were built at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in the1960s and recently renovated. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes)

This story has been corrected

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa  Families who must move from 27 recently renovated homes due to potential mold buildup have two options for new housing on the installation, residents said after a forum Tuesday.

Families living in Sebille Manor duplex units 5300 to 5354 received a memo last week recommending they relocate by Feb. 28 to address potential health risks, the residents said after the meeting at Rocker Enlisted Club.

Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans hosted the forum alongside deputy commander Col. Joshua Lundeby, Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang, civil engineers and medical experts with the 18th Medical Group. Residents packed the room, and some could be seen standing in the doorway.

Stars and Stripes was barred from covering the forum by 18th Wing spokeswoman Maj. Alli Stormer, under orders from Evans. Stormer said by email on Dec. 6 that it was specifically open to the families in the affected units.

On March 27, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Japanese contractors completed renovations at Sebille Manor on 50 duplexes, or 100 housing units, for senior enlisted airmen and field-grade officers. Move-ins began in July and 27 homes are occupied. The renovation project took three years and cost $53 million.

A flaw in the units air conditioning systems that causes moisture buildup was discovered in September. While no black mold has been discovered, unspecified mold was found in some of the homes, Stormer said after the forum.

Black mold has a sinister reputation, but any type of mold can cause a range of health problems, including lung infections for the immunocompromised, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

The Air Force does not test for any specific molds and treats all types equally regarding potential health risks and remediation, Stormer said by email Wednesday.

Air Force spouse Rachel Thomas, 33, who resides in one of the affected units, has seen mold in her guest bathroom, and engineers with the 718th Civil Engineer Squadron found water leaking in the crawlspace between her roof and ceiling, she said.

Thomas said residents were told that another 58 homes were allocated for the 27 families to choose from. Attendees filled out surveys in which they requested time frames to move, she said.

But Evans and others at the meeting were not clear what would happen if the first two home options were rejected, said Air Force spouse Stephanie Baldridge.

They said well talk through that when it arises, she said. My experience in the past has been if you do not accept their offers, then you move off base.

Since the issue was discovered in September, no families have moved into or been offered the affected homes, the wing has said. Thomas said she and her husband were the last family to move into one of the homes in mid-September.

And then I heard from other neighbors that they werent moving anyone else into that neighborhood, she said. So, I dont know how we got that house and how we were placed there.

Baldridge, who has four children, said she has seen water dripping from the crawlspace between her ceiling and roof, as well as mold in that space.

She said the issue is frustrating since she already had to move from a house in Stearley Heights, also on Kadena, over the summer. That home had water seeping up through the floors when it rained and cracked ceilings, Baldridge said.

I think stuff fell through the cracks along the way that probably should have been found as they were building them, she said. I do think theyre trying their best to fix it as much as they can.
The U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Wing march onto the field prior to a football game, Oct. 5, 2024, at the U.S. Air Force Acadmy, Colo. (Dylan Smith/U.S. Air Force)

A group that opposes the use of racial preferences in college admissions has sued the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Defense Department, continuing its drive to end the practice at all institutions of higher education in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court ruling last year.

The group, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), argues that the academy has no legal justification for its admissions policies.

The Air Force Academy is one of the American militarys premier institutions and the most prestigious source of commissioned officers in the Air Force, the group argues in its complaint, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. It is also one of the last remaining universities to expressly consider race as a factor in admissions.

The lawsuit comes just days after a judges ruling allowing the U.S. Naval Academy to continue to use race-conscious admissions policies.

In that case in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, also brought by SFFA, Senior District Judge Richard D. Bennett held that the Naval Academys limited consideration of race furthers the governments compelling national security interests.

The group has said it will file an appeal to an appellate court and, if necessary, the Supreme Court.

Over the past few decades, SFFA President Edward Blum said, the Air Force Academy and our other military academies have strayed from their former colorblind, merit-based admissions policies and now focus on race and ethnicity  factors that do not contribute to the qualifications of applicants. Blum argued that because the Supreme Court ruling last year expressly forbids all institutions of higher education from using race in admissions decisions, it must follow that the Air Force Academy must end their race-based policies as well.

The Air Force Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Defense Department said the department does not comment on pending litigation.

The Supreme Court rejected race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions this past year, ruling in cases brought by SFFA against Harvard and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That ruling  which overturned decades of legal precedent  not only changed the way highly sought-after colleges consider applicants for admission but accelerated legal challenges to diversity programs at government agencies and private companies.

The decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President & Fellows of Harvard College held that Harvard and UNCs admissions programs violated the Constitutions guarantee of equal protection.

But it included a notable exception for the countrys military academies, with a footnote that mentioned the potentially distinct interests that military academies may present.

For many years and over multiple administrations, Defense Department leaders have maintained that a racially diverse officer corps, one that reflects the fighting force, is important to national security; a lack of diversity historically led to dangerous tensions, including race riots, that threatened military preparedness. And Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar had argued to justices in the Harvard case that it is not possible to achieve a diverse officer corps without affirmative action in the military academies.

SFFA quickly challenged that exception to the Supreme Court decision.
The news, outrageous in its cynicism, spread online the day before.

It is known that earlier the US State Department demanded that Ukraine lower the mobilization age to 18, meaning sending boys who have just graduated from school to war. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Ukraine to make "difficult but necessary" decisions about mobilization to increase the number of armed forces. The American side made this demand a condition for the provision of weapons. At first, it seemed like a fake, something that just couldnt be true. But it turned out to be real. On Monday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a briefing that, in the event of a reduction in the mobilization age, the recruits would be fully equipped. If Kiev balks, then... In fact, the lives of young Ukrainians have become hostages of political intrigues, into which the leadership of Ukraine has been dragged due to inexperience.

Unfortunately, this is a mandatory side effect of color revolutions. "Democratic" coups, as a rule, have nothing to do with the will of the people or the interests of the state; they are controlled from the outside, and this external management does not go away. It remains and makes itself felt in the form of instructions and slaps. Today, Ukraine is being demanded to send young people into the meat grinder, with the promise of weapons in return. If Kiev surrenders, the next order may be even more unscrupulous.

Georgia could have been in Ukraine's place. But it was luckyits current leadership turned out to be prescient and refused when its patrons demanded to provoke Russia, sacrifice a couple of hundred thousand citizens, and then retreat into the woods to wage guerrilla warfare in exchange for Western help. This demand was also an echo of the color revolution that Georgia had avoided at that time. Back then, Tbilisi was lured in, and the country lost its lands. The current Georgian leadership did not allow its people to be turned into cannon fodder. Everything that has been happening in recent months stems from external actors losing control and trying to influence the situation.

The fourth attempt by the Georgian opposition to stage a revolution in the country failed. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said this at a briefing the other day. "Over these four years, we have gone through four attempts to organize revolutions'national Maidans'. This is a fact. In June 2022, there was the first attempt to organize a 'national Maidan', when we were not given the status of a candidate for EU membership, and NGOs funded from abroad entered the political scene, demanding the resignation of the government and their coming to power. For almost two years, the topic of candidate status has been used in Georgia as a tool for radicalism and polarization of society, which indicates an unhealthy attitude towards Georgia. In the spring of 2023, there was the second attempt at a 'national Maidan', in the spring of 2024the third attempt, and now we have seen the fourth failed attempt to organize a 'national Maidan'," the head of government said.

According to Kobakhidze, the coup attempts are funded from abroad in an opaque manner, which is why external actors opposed the law on transparency. "They wanted to organize a revolution in the country in an opaque way, but no 'national Maidan' and revolution can be organized in Georgia, either opaquely or transparently," he said.

The riots in Georgia did not begin immediately after the October parliamentary elections. Initially, there was reliance on powerful external pressure on Tbilisi to force it to annul the results of the vote. When it became clear that the ruling party did not intend to succumb to this pressure, crowds were brought to the streets. The situation worsened after Kobakhidze's statement on postponing the issue of EU membership until 2028. At the same time, the head of government stressed that Georgia does not abandon European integration and will continue to strive for it. Nevertheless, a directed explosion occurred, controlled from other regions far from the Caucasus. It was expected that the government would flee. But it stayed and did not flee. If you remember how such riots usually ended in the same country in the past, I think you can be calm for the Georgian peopleGeorgia finally has a strong government. A territorial entity without a strong government cannot be called a state. Endless coups and revolutions do not contribute to the strengthening of statehood but destroy it. If the authorities are following the crowd, they'd better leave.

It takes a lot of courage to say, "It is unacceptable for a country to consider integration into the European Union as a favor that should be bestowed on it." This was said by Irakli Kobakhidze, whom the West tries not to take seriously.

Powerful countries have united against Georgia. If this united front acted against Azerbaijan from a distance, then interference in Georgia's affairs was also on a physical plane. Lets recall the diplomatic landing in the form of foreign ministers from several European countries, who joined the protesters in May. It was a blatant violation of all norms accepted in international diplomacy. But the landing did not helpthe riots subsided. The opposition then began to prepare for the elections. In principle, it was clear what the results would be because the protest electorate in present-day Georgia is not so large, and the opposition has not been able to raise the entire country in recent years. The calculation was made for post-election processes.

As Georgian political scientist Petre Mamradze noted in an interview with the media, there is no charge or minimum critical mass for the implementation of a revolution in Georgia. In his opinion, otherwise, the activists would not have waited for organization or appeals, but would have immediately taken to the streets. The political scientist recalled that before the elections, the opposition was pleased that for the first time in the republic, voting was held electronically. President Salome Zurabishvili stated that this time any falsification was excluded. "Therefore, even before the announcement of the results, the opposition media called on supporters to take to the streets to allegedly celebrate the victory. But in fact, the opposition knew they would lose. Their idea was to start shouting their slogans when the crowd was already there. Their idea failed because no one came. I even had to dismantle the stage, which was shameful. Two days later, someone gathered there, influenced by the statements of Western leaders. But there were very few of them," Mamradze said.

Everyone who followed the situation in Georgia can confirm that this was the case. In theory, after learning about the defeat of the opposition, the entire protest electorate should have flooded the streets across the country. If the people had voted against the Georgian Dream, the reaction should have followed immediately. However, this did not happen. The protests began only a few days later, which confirms the fact that they were not spontaneous and did not reflect the real mood in Georgian society or the actual results of the vote. Opponents of the government could only rely on Western exit polls and staged videos on social media. I remember one such video in which ballots were demonstratively stuffed into the ballot box, on camera, in bundles, and all this was presented as a gross violation and fraud. In the end, the CEC of Georgia appealed to the Prosecutor General's Office with a request to investigate the possibility of falsification of the October 26 parliamentary elections, of which the commission is accused, among others, by President Salome Zurabishvili.

The opposition could not provide any solid evidence of mass violations that would justify annulling the elections in Georgia. But this, presumably, was not required to implement the scenario of a color revolution. The observers from European structures looked very undignified after the elections. On the one hand, they acknowledged the honesty of the expression of will, and on the other, they had to follow the trend of criticism of official Tbilisi. The OSCE/ODIHR initially expressed itself positively but later began to backtrack on what had been said. The West declared war on the Georgian government. On November 28, the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding that the election results be annulled and held again under international control. Some particularly "advanced" countries started talking about sanctions against the country's leadership and members of the government. And the first one to do it was... Ukraine.

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili, at a meeting with the Ambassador of the European Union to Tbilisi, Pavel Gerchinsky, expressed concern about the ongoing political speculation related to the parliamentary elections. The Foreign Minister stressed that the messages conveyed through the resolution of the European Parliament contribute to "the creation of an artificial crisis in the country, reminiscent of the situation in 2020."

I must say, Georgia has taken a strong position, not seeking universal recognition. That's right. Eventually, the current critics will be forced to recognize the government elected by the people of Georgia. When Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili was asked how many countries had congratulated the Georgian Dream on its victory, he replied: "We did not have birthday parties on October 26 to expect congratulations and cakes. You may think that you should cut the cake and blow out the candles. Such sentiments were in your (opposition) offices after the publication of fake exit poll results, but in fact, we were celebrated and congratulated by at least one million 120 thousand Georgian voters and other Georgians who are happy with this choice. These elections mean that over the next 4 years, the country will act in the interests of the Georgian people, and not in the interests of others."

The actions are still ongoing, but, as experts admit, they do not demonstrate the potential and fervor that were observed in previous years. If you pay attention, the riots are mainly composed of young boys and girls. There are no children yet, but if the people follow Salome Zurabishvili's call, they will appear in the front ranks. Seeing that the protests were losing momentum, the president called on schoolchildren to go to the barricades. For this alone, the people should have already turned away from the opposition. Opinions began to appear in the Georgian media that the radical opposition needs a sacred sacrifice, and it is best if it is among teenagers. A week ago, the Imedi TV channel published scandalous video footage taken during a protest rally in Tbilisi. The video shows four masked protesters discussing the need for a sacrifice in order to maintain protest activity. "We need a corpse, otherwise people won't come out anymore. Unless something serious happens, people won't come anymore. Where have you seen a government overthrown with torches and fireworks? Where have you seen a revolution accomplished by fireworks?" you can hear on the footage.

The newly elected government does not hide in bunkers but deals with the affairs of the country, holds meetings, and implements the planned policy. This irritates the opposition. The "revolution" is postponed. And we wish the Georgian people that this remains the case forever.
French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk the deployment of a postwar peacekeeping force in Ukraine when the two meet in Warsaw on Thursday, a European Union diplomat and a French official told POLITICO.

"It is true," confirmed the EU diplomat when asked about a Polish media report in the Rzeczpospolita newspaper claiming the two countries were talking over a potential 40,000-strong peacekeeping force composed of troops from foreign countries.

The diplomat did not elaborate on which countries the soldiers might come from.

However, a senior Polish official said they were surprised by Macron's reported proposal, POLITICO reported.

"This is not a formula that would allow us to take such a decision," the official said, adding that peacekeeping missions should be decided under the United Nations or the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, not a bilateral discussion with the French president.

The peacekeeping force proposal is separate from Macron's previous idea to send military instructors to Ukraine during the ongoing war.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemingly referenced such a plan when meeting with Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next chancellor.

"I'll tell you frankly, we can think and work on Emmanuel [Macron]'s position," Zelenskyy told reporters.

"Do you remember, he proposed that [] troops of this or that country be present in some territories of Ukraine, which would guarantee us security while Ukraine is not in NATO," he said.

The Elysee presidential palace said in a statement that Macron was traveling to Poland to discuss Ukraine "in a new transatlantic context."
Former Army Lt. Col. Bernard West III, right, poses with his uncle, retired Army Lt. Col. Allen B. West, in this undated photo. (Instagram)

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.  Lewd jokes, unwanted touches and partial undressing were a methodical campaign of sexual harassment by a former battalion commander at this base shared by the Army and Air Force, prosecutors said Tuesday during the first day of Lt. Col. Bernard West IIIs court-martial.

Step by step, he pushed the boundaries, Maj. Ryan Keeter, the lead prosecutor, said as he laid out a series of accusations that included West demanding a subordinate to do her physical training only with him, barged into the womens room when female officers were covered only with towels, and twice partially disrobed in front of the women while on duty.

Yet Jason Wareham, a former military lawyer representing West, said the career officer, a Black man, is the target of selective prosecution because of his race and gender.

I am convinced that the only reason my client faces general court-martial is because he is a Black man, Wareham said outside the courtroom.

West, 43, was removed in October from command of the 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade at Lewis-McChord, which is about 40 miles south of Seattle. He had taken command the previous June.

The officer faces charges of sexual harassment, abusing his command authority by cruel maltreatment of a subordinate, conduct unbecoming an officer, and dereliction of duty. The charges stem from accusations from three female junior officers with I Corps, the main command at Lewis-McChord.

West has pleaded not guilty to the charges that carry combined penalties of more than 10 years in confinement. He spoke only briefly Tuesday in court when he requested a trial with only a judge, no jury.

Wareham had made an earlier motion to the judge  Lt. Col. Robert Murdough  asking the court-martial to be set aside because West was being targeted as a Black, male officer. He said he made the request after learning a white female officer and an Asian male officer had been accused in similar incidents and were allowed to receive non-judicial punishment.

Defense attorneys, which includes Army Capt. Caitlin Quvus, also cited a 2022 Government Accountability Office report showing racial bias in courts-martial.

The impact of race in this case is undeniable, Wareham said.

Murdough denied the motion and allowed the trial to proceed Tuesday.

The first witness was a female officer who testified that while serving as a key aide to West, she was subjected to unwanted touching of her hair and ear, questions about her personal dating life, lewd jokes and innuendos, and demands that led her to be alone with her boss more than she was comfortable.

I was on high alert, the female officer said.

She testified West once barged into the womens restroom and showers at Lewis-McChords battalion building while she was wearing only a towel and sandals after a shower. Another undressed female officer was in a nearby stall. The female officer said West loudly banged the door against the wall and shouted in a playfully stern voice that she and another female officer should stop laughing so loudly.

Hes a battalion commander and a lieutenant colonel  he should not be flinging open the door of the womens bathroom, the female officer said.

Prior to command of the artillery battalion, West served as the deputy commander of the 2nd Infantry Divisions 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

West comes from a military family that is politically prominent in the South. His father, Bernard West Jr., is a former Marine and Atlanta police officer who ran unsuccessfully for Congress from Georgia in 2018 and 2024.

An uncle, Allen B. West, was an Army colonel who served in Operation Desert Storm and the post-9/11 invasion of Iraq. He was relieved of command and accepted retirement at the reduced rank of lieutenant colonel after accusations he abused an Iraqi prisoner in 2003. West said at the time that he believed the man had information about terrorist plans to assassinate him and other military personnel.

After leaving the Army, Allen West became a conservative activist and author and was elected to Congress from Florida. After one term, he moved to Texas, where he was the state GOP chairman in 2020-21. He is now chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party in Texas.

The trial is scheduled to last until Friday.
Then-Gen. Charles Hamilton, commander of Army Materiel Command, speaks during a symposium in Huntsville, Ala., in March 2023. (Eben Boothby/U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON  Army Secretary Christine Wormuth fired one of the services top generals after an inspector general investigation concluded he improperly intervened in a subordinates promotion, the service reported Tuesday.

Based on the findings of a Department of the Army inspector general investigation, the secretary of the Army has relieved Gen. Charles Hamilton of command, Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a statement. The current acting commander of Army Materiel Command, Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, will continue in this role pending the nomination of a permanent replacement to serve as the commander of Army Materiel Command.

Hamilton was one of 12 four-star generals in the Army.

According to officials and documents, Hamilton inappropriately tried to push an assessment board to approve a command assignment for a female lieutenant colonel, the Associated Press reported. He successfully persuaded the board to give the officer a second interview after a board initially voted 5-0 not to recommend her for command.

Before the second interview took place, Hamilton contacted senior leaders who could have been on her second panel to discuss their voting parameters and the candidates. The second panel also deemed her not certified for command, according to the AP.

The Army Inspector General Offices investigation came after it received an anonymous complaint in December 2023 that Hamilton and the lieutenant colonel were having an inappropriate, fraternizing, and likely sexual relationship, the investigation said. Investigators subsequently found that though Hamilton and the lieutenant colonel had an overly familiar relationship, there was no definitive evidence that the two had a sexual relationship.

At first, the matter was referred to the Defense Department Inspector Generals Office, which closed the case in January after finding insufficient evidence in the complaint to warrant further investigation.

But the day after a news report in March that Hamilton pressured Army officials to select the lieutenant colonel for command, the Defense Department Inspector Generals Office referred the matter to the Army Inspector Generals Office for investigation.

Wormuth suspended Hamilton on March 22 and removed the lieutenant colonels name from the command selection list, according to the investigation.

Hamilton, who is Black as is the female officer who sought a promotion, wrote a letter to Wormuth in August asking to be reinstated as commander of Army Materiel Command, and he laid out his case in the lieutenant colonels promotion and his view on the Command Assessment Program, or CAP.

In the letter, he implored Wormuth to investigate why CAP deems few minority officers as ready to command and the barriers that exist that make qualified Black officers unwilling to subject themselves to the process.

Although the investigation found that the Command Assessment Program withstood an attempt to interfere with its process, Secretary Wormuth will be issuing a directive that formally establishes CAP as an enduring Army program in order to reinforce the integrity of CAP and increase transparency, Smith said.

The last Army four-star general fired for misconduct was Gen. Kevin Byrnes, who in 2005 as commander of the services Training and Doctrine Command, was dismissed over an extramarital affair.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal resigned in 2010 after a Rolling Stone story published comments from McChrystal and senior aides that were critical of then-Vice President Joe Biden and other officials in former President Barack Obamas administration.
The Defense Department is being sued by the National Ranger Memorial Foundation to reinstate the name of Confederate Col. John S. Mosby to Fort Moores Ranger Memorial and as a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame. (National Ranger Foundation/Facebook)

ATLANTA  A foundation suing to have a Confederate officers name reinstated to the Armys Ranger Hall of Fame and memorial at Fort Moore, Ga., will get the chance to make their case to a federal judge on Thursday.

The hearing in Columbus, which is just outside of the Army base, will examine the merits of the National Ranger Memorial Foundations lawsuit, which seeks to reinstate the name of Col. John S. Mosby on the installations Ranger Memorial and as a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame.

The foundation argues in the suit, which was initially filed in September 2023, that Fort Moore officials overreached in removing Mosbys name from the memorial last year as part of a sweeping, yearslong effort to strip Defense Department assets of names linked to the Confederacy.

Barry Todd, the foundations president, said base leaders overstepped their authority in removing Mosbys name. The Ranger Hall of Fame and the Ranger Memorial, he said Tuesday, are managed and overseen by private entities, including his group, which built and maintains them through private donations.

The memorial was built and paid for by the Ranger community, all through donations, Todd said. The Army  in 1992 and 1993 said they would accept it as a conditional gift, on the condition that they dont have to pay for [it]. So, theres no taxpayer money at all toward the Ranger memorial.

He said the overarching view in the Ranger community is Mosbys name should remain.

Undated photo of Col. John S. Mosby, a Confederate cavalry commander known as the Gray Ghost for leading daring raids on Union forces. (Library of Congress)

Fort Moore officials have said they were simply following orders from the Pentagon when they removed Mosbys name. Justice Department lawyers, representing the Pentagon in the case, have moved to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing Army officials acted lawfully and under the orders of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to remove all names and items associated with the Confederacy from the installation.

The decision to remove Mosbys name from the Ranger memorial  alongside three other Confederate-linked names  grew from congressional efforts to strip names and items honoring Confederates from Defense Department installations and inventory. That mandate was included in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, the annual law the sets Pentagon policy and spending priorities. That law established the so-called Naming Commission, which spent more than a year studying the issue and eventually called for the removal of thousands of items and the renaming of nine Army installations, including Fort Moore, which was previously named Fort Benning in honor of Confederate Brig. Gen. Henry Benning.

In the commissions September 2022 report, the group identified the four names to be removed from the Ranger Memorial, among hundreds of other names and items to be removed at other locations at the former Fort Benning. Austin later ordered all entities within the Defense Department to implement the changes recommended by the commission by the end of 2023.

Leaders at Fort Moore, which is home to the Armys Ranger School, the 75th Ranger Regiments headquarters, its 3rd Battalion and the annual Best Ranger Competition, said they worked for months to scrub the installation of items identified by the Naming Commission, including the references to Mosby.

But Todd said the Defense Department did not consider the Naming Commissions full criteria in removing Mosbys name, which the foundation has argued was supposed to include an examination of a persons merits before and after the Civil War to determine whether items associated with their name should be removed.

Todd argued Mosby was an honorable man, which was part of the reason that he is the only Confederate ever inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame.

Mosby was a lawyer who became a Confederate cavalry commander known as the Gray Ghost for leading daring raids on Union forces. Mosby joined the Confederate army in 1861 out of loyalty to his family and his native state of Virginia even after opposing secession and slavery, he claimed in his memoirs.

After the Civil War, he reconciled with the U.S. government, endorsed President Ulysses S. Grant and went on to serve as an assistant U.S. attorney general and Grants U.S. consul to Hong Kong.

In Mosbys post-war writings, he described slavery as a monstrous thing and wrote he had no animosity toward the northern states.

Mosby was one of the initial members enshrined in the Ranger Hall of Fame when it was formed in 1992. He was inducted alongside Ranger legends such as Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Spc. 4 Robert Law, World War II heroes Maj. Gen. Frank D. Merrill and Brig. Gen. William O. Darby, and Gen. Creighton Abrams, who as Army chief of staff permanently established the 1st and 2nd Ranger battalions in 1974.

Mosby was selected for the initial Ranger Hall of Fame class because of his outstanding service to the Confederate Army as a Ranger-type leader, according to his Ranger Hall of Fame citation. His tactics in guerilla warfare are still studied in military academies and by troops today, Todd said.

Blair Brown, the National Ranger Memorial Foundations vice president and executive director, said he expects a large turnout in support of the foundations lawsuit in court on Thursday.

Mosby was a unanimous selection into the Ranger Hall of Fame by the Ranger community, he said. This is non-biased, non-political. This is a fight for a Ranger we believed was wronged.
A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey lands near Mount Fuji while Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers secure the area during training on March 15, 2022. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  The U.S. Marine Corps has resumed flying its MV-22B Ospreys days after the U.S. military grounded the entire tiltrotor fleet due to safety concerns, according to a 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman.

The Deputy Commandant for Aviation has directed the resumption of non-essential MV-22 Osprey flight operations after a thorough fleet review conducted during the operational pause, Maj. Joseph Butterfield, a spokesman for the Okinawa-based 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, said by email Wednesday.

The Department of Defense grounded its entire tiltrotor fleet Monday while investigating whether weakened metal components played a role in a recent near-crash. The Marine Ospreys had been grounded since Friday.

An investigative report published last month by The Associated Press found that Osprey parts are wearing out faster than expected and the hybrid aircraft design itself is contributing to many of the accidents.

U.S. Air Force and Japanese tiltrotors remained grounded Wednesday, according to officials from both countries. U.S. Navy spokespeople did not immediately respond to emails requesting the flight status of the services Ospreys that day.

The Marines MV-22B flight operations are cleared to resume with certain temporary restrictions in place and exemptions for mission requirements, Butterfield wrote.

This guidance will be revisited following an interservice review later this week, he said.

The Air Force Special Operations Command has not resumed CV-22B flight operations, Capt. Richard Caesar, a spokesman for the Okinawa-based 353d Special Operations Wing, said by email Wednesday.

We are in close coordination with the V-22 Joint Program Office and aware of their operational pause recommendation, said a statement attached to his email.

Concurring with the recommendation, AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Michael Conley has directed a pause for all CV-22 flight training, the statement said.

A pause in flight training operations allows time and space for us to understand what happened in the most recent event before we accept risk with unknown variables, the statement said.

The Japanese militarys 17 Ospreys were grounded Tuesday with exceptions only for mercy flights such as disaster relief, Kimihito Aguin, the spokesman for Japans Ministry of Defense, said at a news conference that day.

Ensuring flight safety is the top priority for Osprey flight operations within Japan, he said, according to a transcript on the ministrys website. We will carry out confirmation work to ensure safety after receiving detailed information from the U.S. side.

Soldiers storm out of a Japanese V-22 Osprey during training at Camp Kisarazu, Japan, June 16, 2022. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

The Ospreys remained grounded Wednesday, according to a Japan Ground Self-Defense spokesman. Some Japanese government officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.

The Japanese Ospreys had resumed flying on Nov. 15. The fleet was grounded in late October after one of the aircraft tilted violently during takeoff and struck the ground in Okinawa prefecture.

The pause to U.S. Osprey flights was recommended last week out of an abundance of caution by Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, the head of Naval Air Systems Command, which runs the Osprey program for the military.

A near-crash on Nov. 20 at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., had similarities to a crash off the coast of Japan in November of last year that killed eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members.

That tragedy led the U.S. military to ground its fleet of about 400 Ospreys between Dec. 6 and March 8 while investigators examined the cause.
Col. Richard Rusnok, base commander, speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new thrift shop at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, on Dec. 10, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan  The thrift store at this base south of Hiroshima reopened this week under new management, nearly nine months after the base commander ordered it closed for undisclosed reasons.

The shop, which takes used clothing, appliances and other household items and makes them available for reuse by the air station community, is now the responsibility of a Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society chapter.

MCAS Iwakunis senior enlisted Marine, Sgt. Maj. Jody Armentrout, contacted the society director on base, Christina Grantham, in August about reopening the thrift shop, Grantham said Tuesday at the grand opening.

I wanted to make sure that we had something that was sustainable throughout the next years, Armentrout told Stars and Stripes at the store. That it was ran complete, ran right financially, making sure the money is going to the right purposes, for the right reasons, making sure that were taking care of the community.

Customers browse inside the new thrift shop operated by the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, on Dec. 10, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

The relief society provides financial assistance to service members in need in the form of loans and grants; it also provides tuition assistance and financial assistance for permanent changes of station, medical or dental costs and emergency travel.

Last year, for example, the society provided $50 million in financial assistance, according to its website.

It also operates thrift shops, including those at the Sasebo and Yokosuka naval bases in Japan and at Pearl Harbor.

Getting the MCAS Iwakuni store back in business was no easy feat, Grantham said.

We wanted to open by Christmas, and so it was definitely a challenge to go from August to December and open, she said.

The shop was without any inventory, but it had a team of 28 volunteers behind it, she said. The Sasebo shop provided some merchandise to get things started.

The thrift shop fills a critical gap in the community, base commander Col. Richard Rusnok said at Tuesdays ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Base commander Col. Richard Rusnok, right, and Sgt. Maj. Jody Armentrout browse inside the new thrift shop run by the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, on Dec. 10, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

The donated items are repurposed, resold and kept out of the garbage stream, he said.

Rusnok had ordered the store closed in March without publicly stating a reason.

I understand the stores current situation is a result of numerous factors, and I very much appreciate your efforts to serve the MCAS Iwakuni community, Rusnok wrote to the nonprofit that ran the shop at the time. However, I do not believe all the issues related to store operations can be fully resolved under its current structure.

On Tuesday, he highlighted the effort made by the base Seabees detachment, which renovated and refurbished the building while it was vacant.

We all know how important the communitys need is, and what Navy-Marine Corps Relief provides every single day of the year here, upwards of $350,000 a year in grants and travel expenses and things like that go back out to the community, he said.

The society has the highest charity rating from charitynavigator.org, a website that evaluates and rates charities on their cost-effectiveness and overall health.

My hope for the thrift shop is that its a hub, Grantham said. So, for people to serve, for people to repurpose things and 100% of the sales go and feed the larger Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society mission.
Sailors assigned to Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands in Kauai, Hawaii, look for debris during an Earth Day beach cleanup on April 26, 2024. (Bodie Estep/U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy and the University of Hawaii have signed a 10-year agreement aimed at leveraging the institutes expertise to bolster climate resilience and protect natural and cultural resources on Navy and Marine Corps bases in the state.

The agreement covers Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Oahu and Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands on Kauai, the university and service said Monday in a joint news release.

It enables the Navy to provide $10 million in annual funding to the university for projects that will increase resilience against environmental hazards at the bases, the news release states.

With increasing threats of extreme weather, defense programs throughout the U.S. are investing in collaborations that will allow them to better understand and address the ways severe weather and other hazards could impact military missions, the release states.

In September, the Defense Department issued its climate adaptation plan for the years 2024-27 that focuses on several lines of effort, including installation resilience and enhancing adaptation and resilience through collaboration.

Interagency and academic partnerships  are critical to develop and test new technologies that ensure the DOD can operate under changing climate conditions, preserve operational capability, and enhance the natural and man-made systems essential to the Departments success, the plan states.

The Navy agreement provides the framework for the university to use its collective knowledge and resources  scientists, laboratories, students, and outreach programs  to help the [Department of the Navy] balance the critical needs and requirements of the nations defense with its ongoing natural and cultural resource responsibilities in Hawaii, the release states.

It is the first agreement of its kind between an academic institution and Navy Region Hawaii and Marine Corps Installations Pacific, according to the release.

Those who live and work in Hawaii have a responsibility to be good stewards of the land and this partnership with the Navy signifies their willingness to fulfill their natural and cultural resource responsibilities by utilizing UHs knowledge and expertise in these areas, Vassilis Syrmos, the universitys vice president for research and innovation, said in the release.

Meredith Berger, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment, signed the agreement on behalf of the service.

The Navy will benefit tremendously from [the universitys] world-class research, specialized training programs, and the traditional ecological knowledge, she said in the release.

Among the support services the University of Hawaii could provide under the agreement are biological assessment development; cultural resource management; pest and predator control; marine debris removal; land and sea surveys; shoreline stabilization; wildfire management and planning; floodplain analysis; and sea-level rise mitigation.

Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, who serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources, lauded the arrangement.

This first-of-its-kind agreement between our flagship university and our Hawaii military is a win-win all around, he said in the release.

For the U.S. Navy, it demonstrates a commitment to draw on our local talent and expertise and cultural awareness wherever possible to advance national defense needs in our Hawaii and beyond as respectful neighbors, Case said.
Water lines at Naval Support Activity Naples Support Site in Italy will be inspected in February to see whether there is a potential problem with lead contamination. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)

NAPLES, Italy  Officials at the Navys largest base in Italy are determining whether pipes carrying water to homes, child care centers, schools and other facilities at the installation may pose a higher risk of lead contamination.

Water lines at Naval Support Activity Naples Support Site appear to be made of galvanized steel or an unknown material, base commander Capt. John Randazzo wrote in a Dec. 4 letter to consumers living on or doing business at Support Site and about 55 tenant commands.

Lead particles that have attached themselves to the surface of galvanized steel pipes can enter the water over time, resulting in increased lead levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Further investigation is needed to determine if any service lines require replacement, Randazzo said in the letter, which was also posted to the bases Facebook page.

NSA Naples discovered the issue while fulfilling obligations of a revised EPA rule requiring water systems to inventory their lines and notify people of any that have or may have lead. Water systems were required to start complying with the revised rule on Oct. 16.

In February, NSA Naples will inspect the lines at Support Site, evaluating each ones connection point with a main water pipe and at the point where it enters a building, the base said Tuesday in a statement.

Its unclear what actions might be taken following that survey, but officials said the sites water system complies with EPA rules regarding lead and copper.

People living in homes with a galvanized service line that has adsorbed lead may have an increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water, Randazzo wrote.

Water lines at the bases Capodichino site, about 18 miles from Support Site, were not affected, the base said Tuesday.

There is no safe level for lead, a toxic metal that can have serious health impacts. Those effects are more pronounced in children and include behavioral problems, lower IQ and slowed growth, according to the EPA.

The agency requires water systems to take action if water samples show lead levels exceeding 15 parts per billion. A 2023 water quality report for NSA Naples showed an overall lead level of two parts per billion.

However, officials told parents in December 2021 that water tested from some sinks in the installations elementary and middle/high schools, child care centers and a few other facilities had lead levels at 15 parts per billion or higher.

To address the issue, the base cleaned or replaced faucet aerators, replaced fixtures and took other corrective actions, according to the notification letters.

Lead commonly enters drinking water through corrosion of pipes, fixtures and faucets. Galvanized steel pipes typically have been dipped in zinc that contains lead to prevent rust and corrosion, according to a September report from the Maryland-based nonprofit Environmental Policy Innovation Center. The risk of lead exposure can be reduced by regularly cleaning or replacing faucet aerators and running water for a few minutes before using for drinking or cooking, according to an EPA fact sheet online.

Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead, so people should use only cold water for drinking or eating, including in the preparation of baby formula, the fact sheet states.
John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208), was delivered to the Navy on Dec. 10 in San Diego. (Naval Sea Systems Command)

The newest John Lewis-class replenishment oiler, the USNS Robert F. Kennedy, was delivered on Tuesday in San Diego, Naval Sea Systems Command said in a news release.

The USNS Kennedy was delivered after completing a series of sea trials where the ships readiness and capabilities are tested and validated.

The ship honors Robert F. Kennedy, an American lawyer and politician who served as the 64th U.S. Attorney General from January 1961 to September 1964, during his brother John F. Kennedys presidency, where he advocated for the civil rights movement and fought against organized crime and the Mafia. He was assassinated in 1968 while running for president.

The class and its lead ship are named for the late civil rights leader and former U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia. The oilers, which can carry up to 162,000 barrels of oil and have sizable dry cargo capacity, support the Navys carrier strike groups. They are built with double hulls to protect against oil spills and with strengthened cargo and ballast tanks. They are replacing the aging Kaiser-class oilers.

The 746-foot Kennedy is the fourth ship in the John Lewis-class.

Current Navy plans call for procuring a total of 20 such replenishment ships, though experts have expressed doubts about the branchs capacity to fully staff them, given that they are primarily crewed by civilian mariners who are at-will employees that can resign at any time.

Military Sealift Command, which operates around 125 civilian-crewed ships responsible for replenishing Navy vessels, pre-positioning combat cargo at sea and conducting specialized missions, according to the commands website.

In all, roughly 5,500 civilians fill about 4,500 jobs across Military Sealift Command.
Matthew McConaughey is one of the stars of Interstellar, which made $4.5 million from 166 screens last weekend in North America. (Paramount Pictures/AP)

The hardest movie ticket to get this weekend was for a film audiences have been able to watch at home for years: Christopher Nolans Interstellar.

The science fiction epic starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway earned $4.5 million from only 166 screens in the U.S. and Canada. Its 70mm IMAX film presentations sold out in minutes, leaving theaters scrambling to add more and people paying up to $300 on the resale market. Those 10 film screens alone had a staggering $70,000 per theater average, one of the highest of the year and usually the bragging rights of acclaimed arthouse movies playing on only four screens.

Ten years after Interstellar was given a film release as a special exception at time when its studio, Paramount, was committing to a digital future, film is not only back but driving audiences to theaters.

I was just so gratified by the response, Nolan said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press. Its really thrilling when people respond to your work at any point. But 10 years later, to have new audiences coming and experiencing it in the way that wed originally intended it on the big IMAX screens and in particular on those IMAX film prints? Its really rewarding to see that it continues to have a life.

How Nolan fought for the film and the rerelease

Interstellar had been a labor of love, with Nolan fighting against the tides of a changing industry to use film, certain of its value. Like McConaugheys Cooper, an astronaut clinging to skills that were all but obsolete in his dust bowl reality, Interstellar was made by a celluloid-loving filmmaker when the format was least valued.

Celluloid film was very threatened. Digital was taking over everything, Nolan said. We put an enormous amount of work and effort into the IMAX 70mm film format release at the time feeling like we didnt know how much longer wed be able to do that.

During its time, Interstellar was received warmly and an unambiguous success, but it also had its detractors. Its five Oscar nominations and win were all for crafts. And yet in the decade since, Interstellar has become beloved, a true classic. Nolan observed that it was the film that people kept wanting to talk about, telling him what it meant to them and asking if it was ever going to be rereleased. Those grand emotions and sentimental themes of love, family and exploration that were a liability with some are now its most cherished qualities.

A lot of these people were younger people who, it was clear to me, had seen the film in the home and hadnt had the chance to see it on the big screen, Nolan said.

While there have been Interstellar rereleases internationally, in China and at the Science Museum in London, Nolan saw an opportunity and spoke to IMAX and Paramount, now under a new regime, about a proper North American rerelease for its 10th anniversary. The prints, Nolan said, hadnt aged a day.

IMAX hardly needed convincing: It has had the anniversary date circled on the calendar. For years, Interstellar was by far the biggest request on its social channels.

We saw this coming from the beginning, IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond said. It reminded us in a small way of the frenzy around Oppenheimer. But the result is far beyond our expectations.

Interstellar is now the ninth highest-grossing IMAX release of all time and is closing in on eight (currently occupied by The Last Jedi.) The company is currently exploring options for rereleases in different territories.

What should Hollywood learn from the weekend?

The Oppenheimer effect was real in redeeming films value for the business.

IMAX screens accounted for some 20% of the nearly $1 billion this years Oscar best picture winner made globally (it ranks at No. 5 for IMAX). While filmmakers have long cherished film stock, Oppenheimer had studios, distributors and theaters taking note of the demand. Earlier this year the film showings of Dune: Part Two were sold out for four weeks. And theres more to come: Ryan Cooglers new film Sinners, opening in March 2025, was shot with IMAX cameras.

The Interstellar release was fairly low key when it came to promotion, but it also didnt need much  fans made sure of that. Before IMAX had even announced that tickets were on sale, some noticed that AMC had made them available. News spread on socials and overnight every 70mm IMAX showing at the Lincoln Square location in New York had sold out. It wasnt just the primetime slots either: The 1 a.m. showtimes were at capacity too.

After the weekends turnout surpassed expectations, they added more 70mm IMAX screenings through the week which also filled up quickly.

While Nolan is in some ways an anomaly, as the rare filmmaker whose name alone can draw crowds for original fare, there are lessons to be learned from the weekend.

It just shows our industry once again that audiences truly understand the difference between a communal, big-screen theatrical experience that they crave even on films that theyve had the opportunities to see in the home, Nolan said. That theatrical experience that we all know and love is so powerful and so exciting. Its a very clear demonstration of it, especially coming amidst all the great successes right now, Wicked,Gladiator II,Moana 2.

Audiences are coming out in droves for that experience that we all love so much.

Dreaming big for the future and appreciating the past

Before the weekend, Nolan was able to see the film again on the big screen for the first time since the original release, accompanied by his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema. Interstellar was their first collaboration and Hoytemas introduction to IMAX cameras (where he proved that they could be hand-held if you tried hard enough).

It was really, really fun, Nolan said.

He also approved the new 4K UHD Interstellar set thats now available.

Since Oppenheimers big night at the Oscars and Nolans best director win, theres been much speculation about his next film with near daily rumors circulating about casting and genre, none of which have been officially confirmed. Its not something hes speaking publicly about yet. One thing he will say, however, is that hes in the throes of intensive testing for a new film technology with IMAX to use in the next production.

They have an incredible engineering staff, really brilliant minds doing extraordinary work, he said. Its wonderful to see innovation in the celluloid film arena still happening and happening at the highest level possible.

And hes still making time to go to the movies. Over the weekend, Nolan went to see Wicked at a theater in Burbank where he also peeked into one of the IMAX presentations of his film.

It was pretty magical to see a full house on that film, he said. It was a very special thing to see, 10 years later.
PORT SUDAN (Tribune News Service)  A leaked internal performance report from Sudans Islamic Movement reveals its deep infiltration of the Popular Resistance Forces (PRF), civilian militias fighting alongside the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a copy obtained by Sudan Tribune.

The report, which covers the period from April 2023 to April 2024, describes the ongoing war between the army and the RSF as a continuation of the Zionist project in Sudan, and details the establishment of 2,275 PRF training camps overseen by a central committee with branches in every state.

Data from the report shows that 653,106 individuals have been mobilized, with 73,912 actively participating in combat operations. The report also acknowledges 505 deaths among the Islamic Movements ranks, referring to them as martyrs.

The report celebrates what it calls securing the army commanders decision to mobilize the people, but also highlights challenges, including maintaining momentum in recruitment and navigating coordination between the official and organizational visions for the PRF.

According to the report, the Islamic Movement has deployed its cadres to key battlefronts, including Sarkab, Sennar, El Fao, and the Armoured Corps, as well as within Special Forces units.

River Nile state leads in the number of mens training camps, followed by Al Jazirah and Northern states. North Darfur has seen the most operational deployments, followed by South Kordofan, North Kordofan, and Gedaref. South Kordofan ranks first in youth camps, while Northern state has the most student battalions.

The report also outlines specialized training initiatives, with 211 cadres trained in drone operation and jamming systems, 2,000 personnel trained in urban warfare, and 155 in sniping. Additionally, the movement has trained 30 cadres in guided missiles, 90 in artillery, and 33 in armoured warfare.

The 28-page report repeatedly emphasizes that the PRFs activities and public acceptance have charted a new future for the Movements national and Islamic project.

It also notes the PRFs role in arming civilians for self-defence, revealing that some weapons were purchased with movement funds while official sources provided others.

The report asserts that the RSF ignited the war and reveals challenges faced by Islamists in coordinating and reconciling the official vision presented by the army with the organizations vision for the Islamist resistance.

Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan recently stressed that all fighters under the PRF banner operate under the armys command to defend the nation. He warned those with other agendas to withdraw their fighters immediately.

After months of hesitation, Burhan approved the participation of PRF elements in early 2024, followed by the issuance of regulations by state governors to organize these militias. These regulations outline the planning and implementation of general mobilization and recruitment in coordination with state security committees, and the organization and armament of mobilized forces under the supervision of the military command in each state.

It is worth noting that Sudanese Islamists have another military organization, the Al-Baraa bin Malik Battalion, whose fighters joined the Sudanese army ranks in the early months of the conflict that erupted in April 2023.

(c)2024 the Sudan Tribune

Visit the Sudan Tribune at www.sudantribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/9104

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal discussed security, finance, sanctions, humanitarian sphere and European integration issues with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz.

"We talked about a fair and lasting peace. I said Ukraine's membership in NATO is the only effective tool that can stop the repetition of aggression. Another aspect of security is the defense industry. We discussed the development of joint military production. We have the most such projects with Germany, in particular on the repair and maintenance of armored vehicles and tanks, the production of modern infantry fighting vehicles, air defense systems, missiles for them, etc.," Shmyhal said in the Telegram channel. According to him, they also touched on the topic of strengthening economic cooperation and discussed initiatives that would increase the GDP of both countries.

"I thanked Germany for joining the G7 initiative to support Ukraine by using frozen Russian assets worth $50 billion. It is important to continue to put pressure on the Russian economy and confiscate all of their sovereign assets," the prime minister said.
An interceptor moves toward its target after being fired from a vertical launching system on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on Dec. 10, 2024. (Missile Defense Agency)

The Missile Defense Agency has carried out its first live intercept from Guam of a ballistic missile target, a critical milestone in the effort to create a defensive network to shield the American territory, the agency said.

The medium-range ballistic missile target, which was parachuted out of a Globemaster C-17, was intercepted Tuesday off the coast of Andersen Air Force Base, the agency said in a news release that day.

The Missile Defense Agency said earlier this year that the C-17 would be flying at an altitude greater than 20,000 feet and at least 800 nautical miles east of Guam over the Pacific Ocean.

The live intercept marks a pivotal step taken in defense of Guam initiatives and partnerships and provides critical support to the overall concept, requirements validation, data-gathering and model maturation for the future Guam Defense System, the agency said.

Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, commander of Joint Task Force-Micronesia, called the test a critical milestone in the defense of Guam and the region,

It confirmed our ability to detect, track, and engage a target missile in flight, increasing our readiness to defend against evolving adversary threats, he said in the release.

The missile was intercepted by Lockheed Martins Aegis Guam System, which integrates the AN/TPY-6 radar, a vertical launching system and standard missile, the company said in a separate news release Tuesday.

In an environmental assessment issued this summer, the Missile Defense Agency described Guams planned system as a layered defense consisting of various land-, sea-, and air-based weapons; sensor and communications systems; and command and control platforms that are used to defeat incoming ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles in all phases of flight.

The Defense Department plans to conduct two missile tests on Guam each year over the next decade as it completes the full system.

The completion of such a 360-degree, integrated missile-defense system for Guam is a top priority for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The island is home to Andersen, Naval Base Guam and Camp Blaz, a massive Marine Corps base still under construction.

The island would serve as a crucial hub in the event of a conflict with China because it is the westernmost American territory and the closest to the South China Sea, a flashpoint in the region.

It is also vulnerable to missile launches from North Korea.

Future flight tests and tracking exercises will use interceptors from the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, and Patriot systems.

The tests will eventually include the not-yet-fielded Indirect Fire Protection Capability, or IFPC  a mobile, ground-based system used to defeat cruise missiles, drones, rockets and mortars.
Mira Rapp-Hooper, director for East Asia and Oceania at the U.S. National Security Council, speaks in Tokyo at a maritime dialogue involving the United States, Japan and the Philippines, Dec. 10, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

TOKYO  Diplomats and representatives from the militaries and coast guards of the United States, Japan and the Philippines agreed this week they prefer a peaceful settlement of ongoing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

The trilateral maritime dialogue took place Tuesday against a backdrop of clashes involving Philippine and Chinese vessels in disputed territory.

In a joint statement after the Tokyo meeting, the U.S. and Japan expressed support for the Philippines efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the disputes. They reiterated their expectation that Beijing comply with a 2016 international court ruling against its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea.

The three-nation partnership benefits from consensus on Capitol Hill about the challenges we face and the need to work closely with our partners as we address that, Mira Rapp-Hooper, director for East Asia and Oceania at the U.S. National Security Council, said at the meeting.

The U.S. is concerned about Chinas aggressive and unlawful behavior in the South China Sea which undermines international law, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, she said.

The three nations were eager for an in-depth discussion about the South China Sea, Ryo Nakamura, director of the southeast and southwest Asian affairs department at Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at the start of the meeting.

Last week, a Chinese coast guard ship fired a water cannon at a Philippine fisheries patrol vessel in the disputed waterway, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported Tuesday. Its the latest in a series of similar incidents in the past two years.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ruled out sending a navy ship to the area, noting that his country is not at war and would not escalate tensions.

Marcos, according to the news agency, told reporters in Pampanga that the government would continue protecting fishermen and the countrys territory.

We dont need navy warships, Marcos said. All we are doing is resupplying our fishermen, protecting our territorial rights.

China will continue to safeguard its sovereignty, rights and interests, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday in remarks reported by the Reuters news agency.

The recent maritime incidents between China and the Philippines are entirely caused by the Philippines persistent infringement and provocation, spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular news conference.

The Philippines has proposed to host a second maritime dialogue involving the three nations next year.
South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the third session of the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Nov. 19, 2024. ((Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images via TNS)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol looks determined to battle on rather than step down early even as probes deepen into his martial law declaration and more members of his party say they will back impeachment.

Yoon will likely fight any bid to impeach him and appears to have rejected the idea of quitting early in February or March, according to Kim Jong-hyuk, a senior ruling party member, speaking in an SBS radio show on Wednesday.

As the political turmoil triggered by Yoon continues to intensify, the opposition Democratic Party is preparing to file another impeachment motion in parliament that has an improved chance of passing in a vote likely to take place on Saturday.

Meanwhile, police looking to enter the presidential office as part of their investigation into Yoon have been in a standoff outside the office for hours.

Separately, arrested former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is believed to be one of the key figures in the martial law declaration, attempted suicide. Kim has no health issues following the attempt to take his life, according to Yonhap News.

The president is fighting to stay in his role after his brief declaration of martial law last week stunned the nation and its allies. The shock move has sparked political chaos, initially spooked financial markets and fueled public outrage.

Markets have shown more resilience in the last couple of days with the Kospi equity benchmark finishing the day with a 1% gain. The Korean won edged down 0.1% against the US dollar as it was buffeted by moves in Chinas currency.

The opposition is edging closer to securing the 200 votes needed to pass its next impeachment bid in parliament. The DPs second motion to impeach Yoon will likely be filed Thursday for a vote on Saturday, according to a party spokesman.

The vote is likely to come down to the wire on Saturday, said Choi Young Jun, a professor of public policy at Yonsei University. Peoples ire is running so high the president will probably be impeached eventually whether its this week or next. Political concerns about who will replace him wont help him much.

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-sub said he would back an impeachment motion this time round, bringing the number of ruling party politicians who have publicly said they are prepared to vote in favor of impeachment to five. The opposition needs at least eight ruling party votes to pass the motion.

A successful motion would result in a Constitutional Court case lasting up to 180 days. If the court rules against Yoon, he would be forced out of office and a presidential election called within two months.

Yoon takes the view that even if he is impeached, the Constitutional Court only needs one of its six members to vote against impeachment for it to be dismissed, according to Kim Jong-hyuk.

The police investigation team looking into the martial law declaration arrived at the presidential office in Yongsan around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, only to be kept outside, Yonhap News reported, citing the team. Yoon wasnt present at the office, though the warrant identified him as a suspect, Yonhap added.

The standoff had been going on for more than five hours amid disagreement over the search procedure, Yonhap reported late in the afternoon. If law enforcement personnel were to enter the grounds of the presidents office to conduct a raid, that would be the first time in history, Yonhap added.

A raid on the presidential office is quite unheard of because of laws related to military secrets, said Lee Changhyun, a criminal law professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Law School.

The opposition parties condemned Yoons office for blocking the search attempt by the police and urged the presidential office to cooperate in the police investigation and accept the lawful execution of the search warrant.

There were still few confirmed details of former Defense Minister Kims attempt on his life. His warrant for allegedly playing a key role in insurrection and abusing power marks the first approval of formal arrests in a series of investigations under way against President Yoon and his subordinates. Yoon has already been banned from traveling overseas.

The police said earlier that it could seek an emergency arrest of Yoon, if conditions are met, following a review. Yoon has been on the lookout for a legal team, contacting a former colleague of his who previously worked at the prosecution, Yonhap News reported, citing legal and political sources.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, an independent agency under the national government, is seeking to wrest control of the case from police and prosecutors. The group has raised concerns about potential bias within law enforcement, as police may have been involved in enforcing the martial law decree, and Yoons past experience as a prosecutor might affect how his case is handled.

With assistance from Seyoon Kim, Sam Kim, Youkyung Lee, Jaehyun Eom and Sarina Yoo.

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the Kremlin in Moscow on Sept. 13, 2021. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  With Syrian opposition forces advancing rapidly toward the capital, Damascus, President Bashar al-Assads fate lay in Russias hands as his army melted away.

Still haunted by video of the mob killing and mutilation of Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi in that countrys civil war in 2011, the Kremlin moved to save its ally even as it concluded that it could do nothing to prop up Assads regime any longer.

President Vladimir Putin is demanding to know why Russias intelligence service didnt spot the growing threat to Assads rule until it was too late, said a person close to the Kremlin with knowledge of the situation.

Russia persuaded Assad that he would lose the fight against armed groups led by the former al-Qaeda offshoot HTS and offered him and his family safe passage if he left immediately, according to three people with knowledge of the situation, asking not to be identified because the matter is sensitive.

Russian intelligence agents organized the escape, flying Assad out via its air base in Syria, two people said. The aircrafts transponder was turned off to avoid being tracked, one of them said.

The intervention to carry the Syrian dictator and his family into exile ended the Assad dynastys more than half a century rule, after Bashar succeeded his father Hafez who was president from 1971 until his death in 2000. Within hours of Assads departure, the militants swept unopposed into Damascus and claimed victory in the Syrian conflict that had raged for nearly 14 years.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Putin hasnt spoken publicly, so far, about the collapse of the Assad regime.

This was damage control, said Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a defense and security think-tank. He said it was very logical for Russia to tell Assad to give up as it wanted to avoid a bloodbath in which he met the same fate as Qaddafi or Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was hanged in 2006 following a trial.

With Russia fearful for the future of its two key military bases in Syria  a naval port in Tartus and the airfield at Khmeimim  the Kremlin is putting a brave face on the outcome after officials were caught by surprise at the speed of events unfolding on the ground.

Russian media are pushing a message that Assad was to blame for his defeat, while Moscow kept its word by not abandoning him and should now focus on maintaining its strategic interests in Syria and the wider Middle East.

Russia had bombed opposition fighters initially, in an attempt to push them back and bolster Assads forces. But with the Syrian army offering little resistance as rebels seized the city of Hama within days of capturing Aleppo, Russia concluded it couldnt protect the regime as the opposition bore down on the strategic city of Homs, one of the people said.

The Foreign Ministry in Moscow on Sunday announced that Assad had stepped down and left his country, adding that Russia was in contact with all Syrian opposition groups.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks on the Syrian crisis with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday.

Iran, like Russia, was a close supporter of Assad. The two countries came to his defense in 2015, when Putin dispatched Russias military to Syria to help Assad push back rebels who were surrounding Damascus. Turkey backed the insurgents who finally succeeded in ousting the longtime Syrian ruler.

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The destroyer USS Stockdale transits the open water in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on Dec 2, 2024. (Storm Henry/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy  Two U.S. Navy destroyers defeated a Houthi militant drone and missile attack earlier this week while escorting merchant ships through the Gulf of Aden, U.S. military officials said.

The multiple one-way drone and single anti-ship cruise missile attack came Monday and Tuesday as USS Stockdale and USS OKane were protecting three U.S. flagged, owned and operated ships transiting the gulf, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

There was no damage to any of the vessels and no one was injured, CENTCOM said Tuesday. The statement didnt identify the civilian ships under attack.

Last week, USS Stockdale and USS OKane shot down three Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, one anti-ship cruise missile and three drones while escorting commercial vessels.

There have been at least 111 reported incidents involving ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen began their campaign in November 2023, according to Joint Maritime Information Center data.

Those attacks have sunk two vessels, left four mariners dead and severely injured two others, according to the center.

The Houthis have said they will continue attacking ships connected to Israel until there is a cease-fire in Gaza. U.S. officials have pointed out that the group has fired indiscriminately on military and civilian ships with no apparent Israeli connection.
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington. (Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  The House approved a $895 billion defense policy bill Wednesday that will provide a historic pay raise for junior enlisted troops while also limiting treatment for transgender children of service members.

A provision barring Tricare  the militarys health care program  from covering all gender-affirming care for minors had threatened to tank the annual National Defense Authorization Act, with Democrats voting en masse against it.

But the bill ultimately passed the Republican-controlled House in a 281-140 vote.

The legislation otherwise garnered widespread support for giving E-1 to E-4 troops a 14.5% pay raise and all other troops a 4.5% pay bump. The bill was also lauded for its investments in housing, child care, health care, spousal support and other quality-of-life improvements.

No service member should have to live in squalid conditions. No military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children and no one serving in the military should have to wait to see a doctor. But thats exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially junior enlisted personnel, said Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. This bill goes a long way to fixing that.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass, and is set to become law by the end of the year.

Lawmakers traditionally show bipartisan support for the must-pass authorization legislation, which sets policies for the Pentagon, but Democrats began withdrawing their endorsements earlier this week over the transgender provision.

The provision bars coverage of treatments that could result in sterilization for underage dependents who are suffering from gender dysphoria. An estimated 4,000 minor children of service members are receiving gender-affirming care.

Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he would oppose passage of the defense bill due to the provision, arguing it could be used to target access to puberty blockers and hormone treatment therapy.

He blamed House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., for forcing the provision into the defense bill in a move that he said upended congressional norms and politicized a typically bipartisan process.

The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need, Smith said.

Johnson has defended the provision as a critical and necessary step to protect children from radical gender ideology and experimental drugs. Other Republicans have also come out in favor of the measure.

Our veterans and active-duty military struggle to get their own necessary medical costs covered, and Tricare was expected to foot the bill for gender-affirming abuse? Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X. This should have never even been on the table.

Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., on Monday lashed out at lawmakers who boycotted the defense bill and said they were exaggerating the intended reach of the transgender care provision.

We are saying that we are not going to allow a surgical procedure on [children] that could result in sterilization, he said. These are permanent and irreversible procedures and they should not be allowed.

But Democrats succeeded in blocking other culture war provisions in the bill. Measures previously approved by the House to end the Pentagons abortion travel policy, gut diversity, equity and inclusion offices and bar Tricare coverage of gender-transition procedures were all dropped.

The legislation retains a hiring freeze for diversity-related positions at the Defense Department and bars military academies from teaching critical race theory, an academic concept that argues racism is systematic.

It also maintains the registration process for Selective Service without expanding it to women and does not expand access to in vitro fertilization for service members and their families.

Quality-of-life issues are the focus of much of the legislation after the House Armed Services Committee convened a special panel this year to find solutions for high living costs, substandard military housing, limited access to child care, long wait times for medical care and spousal unemployment.

The panel made 32 recommendations and 29 of them were included in the final authorization bill.

They include the large pay raise specifically for junior enlisted service members, expanded access to the basic needs allowance, investments in new barracks and family housing, improved pay for child care staff and direct access to specialty medical providers without referrals.

The bill also allows military spouses to transfer professional licenses between states, authorizes the construction of more Defense Department schools and child care centers, and makes it easier for government service employees of the military to stay in their overseas jobs past a five-year term limit.

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they will continue to seek further improvements to troop morale and quality of life but the approved defense bill marked a significant leap forward.

This is the most consequential and important piece of legislation of the entire 118th Congress, said Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa. With this bill in law, our nation will be more secure, our servicemen and women more resolved to face the global challenges of tomorrow.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., makes remarks during a Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee hearing in Washington on Dec. 11, 2024. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  A historically underutilized veterans employment program with a track record of helping participants with disabilities land good paying jobs is experiencing a surge in applicants that is creating backlogs, draining resources and delaying benefits.

Veterans organizations with members who participate in the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs delivered that message at a hearing Wednesday of the House Veterans Affairs Committees subpanel on economic opportunity.

The hearing examined challenges at the 10-year-old program as it experiences a surge in demand for assistance with job counselors. The program is for veterans with disabilities that are severe enough to restrict or keep them from working.

More than 192,000 disabled veterans applied to the program in 2024, up from 131,000 in 2023. In 2025, officials project another 15% increase in applicants.

Julie Howell of Paralyzed Veterans of America testifies on Dec. 11, 2024, during a subpanel hearing of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs about a disabled veterans job program. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Veterans Readiness and Employment is a transformational program that Congress must act to protect, said Julie Howell, associate legislative director of Paralyzed Veterans of America. Barriers to employment still exist, which is why the VR&E program is so important.

The program delivered $2.1 billion in education, job training and other benefits in fiscal 2024. The median annual income of veterans who secure employment after completing the program is $100,000, according to program officials.

Howell said while the program has successfully assisted millions of disabled veterans in the past decade, its popularity is hampering the staffs ability to provide guidance and individualized assistance.

Located at 350 VA sites across the nation, the program has vocational rehabilitation specialists and job counselors who work with disabled veterans seeking employment. Disabled veterans receive help preparing for careers that they can perform with their disability. They are qualified for career counseling, job training, education assistance and other services, after an initial evaluation to assess their skills, interests and capabilities.

But more than 65% of regional VA offices have wait times of more than a month for an initial appointment, said Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., the subcommittee chairman.

Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, identified himself as perhaps the only member of Congress to have gone through the program.

I know this program inside and out. I believe the Veterans Readiness and Employment program is headed in the wrong direction, he said.

Van Orden said he is concerned the programs services are diminished without the VA implementing meaningful solutions to adapt to higher participation rates.

Lawmakers and veterans groups cited backlogged applications, staff shortages and failure by counselors to respond to critical communications from colleges, job training programs and student veterans.

What should I tell my veterans who are ready to give up because they cannot get an initial appointment? said Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif.

At the regional program office in San Diego, disabled veterans wait up to 18 months for their first appointment, he said.

Counselors have begun to omit their phone numbers on emails making it difficult for college business offices and training programs to reach them, said Keith Glindemann, president of the National Association of Veterans Programs Administrators, which works with colleges and universities on the approval and delivery of VA benefits.

When schools cannot obtain the necessary authorization, this delays the certification of benefits, he said.

Glindemann said he has received reports from some students who say they have not heard from their counselors for months. Contributing to the problems is a turnover in program staff, he said.

Lack of communication and constant change adds stress and delay of benefits to disabled veterans who are working toward obtaining employment, Glindemann said.

Kenneth Smith, left, and Nick Pamperin, officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs, are sworn in during a subpanel hearing of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on Dec. 11, 2024. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

The program has become strained under the influx of veterans qualifying for services under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, said Nick Pamperin, the VAs program director. The PACT Act compensates veterans for illnesses and injuries caused by toxic fumes from burn pits, radiation and contact with other hazardous substances during military service.

Staffing at the Veterans Readiness and Employment program has increased by 25% in two years, but job counselors continue to struggle to keep up with demand for services, Pamperin said.

While expansion has helped with the response to program growth, there continues to be a need for significant resources, he said.

Pamperin said the program is now automating services previously done manually and moving them online. But Howell said the VAs approach to modernizing job readiness changes with each administration.

These piecemeal solutions will continue to be problematic until designing and implementing a single, fully integrated system is made a priority, he said.

But Pamperin said the VA recently introduced a virtual assistant that processes signed documents in two days instead of the previous average of 10 days.

After some initial setbacks, the VA is now piloting an online case management system that tracks benefits and points veterans to job training and education resources, he said.

I know that VA states they are finally on the right path with the new case management system. However, I am skeptical as this undertaking will now span the terms of four administrations, Van Orden said.

Pamperin said making improvements with a focus on people, technology and processes will help improve services and drive the wait times down.

We absolutely need to get better, he said.
Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umerov has said he held a working meeting on drones with representatives of the Armed Forces, the State Service of Special Communications, and the Ministry of Defense.

The participants of the meeting conducted a detailed analysis of data for each military unit: the number of drones currently in use, those in storage, and those lost. Based on these assessments, the Defense Ministry identifies the needs of military units and coordinates with the State Service of Special Communications, which oversees contracting and delivery of drones to the army.

"In 2024, a significant number of drones  bombers, reconnaissance, FPV, and other types of UAVs  have already been delivered to the military. This work continues uninterrupted, even amid changes in the market. During the meeting, plans for December and the first quarter of 2025 were also discussed, particularly the supply of 'night' drones and new DeepStrike models capable of hitting targets deep behind enemy lines. Nearly 30,000 of these drones have already been contracted," Umerov said on Facebook.

According to him, "thanks to systematic efforts, the number of UAV crews in the military has increased sevenfold over the past year."

The minister emphasized that equipping brigades with drones is a priority, and the Ministry of Defense team is making every effort to ensure these deliveries remain uninterrupted.
Sam Kavanagh was arrested by Gardai after they were alerted to his offending by authorities in the US

A former secondary school music teacher has been jailed after he admitted possessing videos and images of adults engaging in sexual activities with children as young as three.

Sam Kavanagh, (30), with an address at Kilkerric, Derrymore East, Tralee, Co Kerry, was arrested by Gardai after they were alerted to his offending by authorities in the US.

Videos and images found on a laptop and hard-drive owned by Kavanagh, involved the abuse of children, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Kavanagh was identified after he used his own personal email address to manage a Dropbox online storage folder to upload and keep the illegal sex abuse material.

The Kerry man pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing the explicit material on dates between September and December 2021.

Gardai unearthed 137 videos and 25 images, most of which were classified as Category One child sex abuse material, the most extreme form, a detective garda told the court.

Prosecuting barrister, John OSullivan said Gardai established that Kavanagh was a secondary school music teacher who was living in the Patrickswell area of Co Limerick.

Later on Gardai obtained a search warrant for an address at Shannon Banks, Corbally, Co Clare, and raided the property on December 17, 2021, recovering a laptop and a computer hard-drive containing the explicit material.

Kavanagh immediately confessed the devices were his, and he admitted owning, saving, servicing, and storing the child abuse material which he said he had downloaded from a website called Mega which is based in New Zealand.

Mr OSullivan said one of the images found on Kavanaghs devices was of an adult male engaging in explicit sexual activity with a young female, aged five.

Some of the material showed underage teenagers involved in sexual activity with younger children.

Mr OSullivan said the videos and images are held in the United States but were shared with members of the Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit, which in turn provided it to Gardai attached to the Limerick Divisional Protective Services Unit (DPSU) at Henry Street Garda Station, by way of a mutual assistance arrangement between Ireland and the US.

Kavanagh was arrested on December 14, 2022, and he appeared before the circuit court for trial on a signed guilty plea, on October 31 this year.

Mr OSullivan said Kavanagh grew up in Co Kerry, obtained a Masters in Music, had lectured in music, and plays music as a hobby and is involved in a band, and he taught music to children in Limerick.

His parents split up when he was young, he suffered from anxiety and he began watching pornography, and he started watching child pornography, Mr OSullivan said.

The court heard that Kavanagh, who was last known to be working in a warehouse, was hospitalised following an attempted suicide after Gardai seized his electronic devices.

He didnt originally see it as child abuse, he engaged with (SALT) Sex & Love Therapy counselling services and he now regrets his actions and said it is disgusting, Mr OSullivan said.

Kavanaghs barrister, Caroline OConnell, instructed by solicitor Eimear Griffin, asked the court to consider imposing a suspended sentence adding that, Kavanagh had engaged in counselling and made a great effort to address his problems.

He is married. He has huge shame and remorse, Ms OConnell said.

Judge Colin Daly said Kavanagh had sought out and used it (the explicit material), and that very vulnerable and innocent children were being used and abused for the sexual gratification of Mr Kavanagh and others.

At the time he (Kavanagh) was a music teacher in a position of trust and influence on young children.

After taking into consideration Kavanaghs signed guilty plea; previous good character, his age and family circumstances, and any poor mental health he may have been experiencing at the time, the judge reduced a headline sentence of two and half years to, 16 months on each count, to run concurrently.

The judge ordered that Kavanagh should be placed on a Sex Offenders Register for a period of ten years, and that the sentences be backdated to October 31, 2024, when Kavanagh was first before the court on a signed plea.

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Under Hungarian law, a suspect is formally charged after the conclusion of an investigation.

Mackenzie Michalski and inset, the Irish suspect leading police to her body

An Irishman accused of murdering an American woman will spend Christmas in a jail in Hungary after his period of detention was extended for another three months.

U.S Nurse Mackenzie Michalski (31), was reported missing on November 5 after she failed to return to her Airbnb in Budapest where she has been staying during a holiday.

A 37-year-old Irishman was later arrested in relation to the investigation and led police to her body. Authorities said that he confessed to her killing and that he tried to conceal her body in a suitcase in a wooded area.

Police told local media at the time that it appeared the man killed Mackenzie during an intimate relationship".

In the latest development, The Metropolitan Court of Budapest confirmed in a statement that it applied to extend the detention period, and that the suspect could now be held until 10 March 2025.

The decision came into effect this week.

Mackenzie Michalski and inset, the Irish suspect leading police to her body

Video shows an Irish murder suspect leading police to body of American nurse in Hungary

Its understood that the suspect, who can only be legally identified by his initials MLT, has the right to appeal the decision.

Under Hungarian law, a suspect is formally charged after the conclusion of an investigation.

In cases of suspected murder or manslaughter in Hungary, an investigation can take months, and, in some cases, more than a year to conclude.

Mackenzie Michalski

Chilling footage released by Hungarian police in the wake of the killing, shows the Irishman leading them to Mackenzies body.

Its claimed he had met the woman in a nightclub before bringing her back to the rented property.

It is understood that the Irishman claimed he accidentally killed her during sex before later placing her body in a suitcase.

However, in a statement released to US media in recent weeks, Budapest Police are now saying they believe the death of the young tourist was an intentional murder.

In response to an inquiry about the investigation into Mackenzie Michalski's death 7 News reported that they had received this response from police.

According to the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Budapest Metropolitan Police the perpetrator intentionally murdered the victim, police said in a statement.

The suspect is under arrest. For the time being no further information can be shared about the ongoing criminal procedure."

After her death, the suspect allegedly hid her body in his closet while he went out to buy a suitcase. He then allegedly put her body in the suitcase and took her to a wooded area near Lake Balaton, about two hours from Budapest.

The young womans family have also said that despite his claims, they believe the man suspected of killing her did it deliberately.

In a statement from the Michalski family in recent weeks, they said the "death was in no way accidental despite claims to the contrary.

The family says it was a deliberate and violent murder, based on evidence they've reviewed.

"Update: We are relieved to be back in the United States and have Kenzie home with us  although not in the manner we had hoped, they have written.

Thank you from the bottom of our broken hearts for the worldwide outpouring of love, support, prayers, kind words and gestures you have all bestowed on our family at this unimaginable time."

Mackenzie, who lived in Portland, Oregon, had been traveling with a group of friends through Europe and had spent three days in Hungary.

She had parted ways with her friends on Monday telling them she was staying behind for one more night in Budapest before flying out on Tuesday.

However, when she missed her flight and never checked out of the Airbnb they shared in Budapest, her friend said she began to worry.

In a statement at the time, her family said "Kenzie will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place.

"As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike."

Her family and friends thanked the U.S. and Hungarian authorities for their "prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration" as well as those who helped raise awareness about her disappearance.

"We are thankful that Kenzies soul is now at peace.
Kim Low Swee (35) was observed by customs officials acting suspiciously following his arrival in Ireland from Malaysia in June

A man who had 380,000 of cannabis in his suitcase at Dublin Airport told gardai he believed he was carrying bird nests.

Kim Low Swee (35) was observed by customs officials acting suspiciously following his arrival in Ireland from Malaysia on June 2 this year.

He told customs officials that he packed the bag himself, but didn't know the combination for the lock. When the suitcase was searched, vacuum packed bags containing 19kg of cannabis with a value of appropriately 380,000 was found.

Low Swee's phone was ringing while he was speaking to customs officials, but he wasn't allowed to answer it.

He told gardai that he had travelled from Kuala Lumpar in Malaysia to Bangkok, Thailand where he was handed the suitcase.

Plane tickets and a hotel in Dublin were also booked for him. Low Swee told gardai he was due to receive the equivalent of 4,300 for carrying the suitcase.

He said he had been called by the person he was due to meet and had been told to say he was carrying bird nests if he was stopped.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that this particular type of bird nest is considered to be a delicacy.

Low Swee admitted that he was aware he was carrying a prohibited item, but that he thought it was bird nests and would face a fine if caught. He said he had done something similar previously and had gone to the UK.

Garda Pearse Dwyer told Grainne O'Neill BL, prosecuting, today that Low Swee did not appear to be a man of means and had taken an opportunity to make some extra money.

Low Swee, of Skuoai, Johor, Malaysia was sent forward from the District Court on signed guilty pleas to simple possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis for sale and supply and importation of cannabis. He has no previous convictions.

Gda Dwyer agreed with Michael Hourigan SC, defending, that his client outlined that he had worked in a baby food factory, but lost his job when it shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic. Low Swee then worked in Cambodia until last November.

It was further accepted by the witness that Low Swee was aware he was carrying contraband, but thought it was something else.

Mr Hourigan said his client was due to get a financial reward for his involvement, but did not know the exact nature of what he was carrying.

Counsel said his client was under financial pressure at the time and was told his home was at risk if he didn't keep up repayments on his mortgage. Low Swee was also under stress at the time due to his mother's death and the loss of his job.

His client is doing well in custody but will find it more difficult in prison as it won't be practical for him to receive visits from his family, the court heard. A testimonial from Low Swee's brother was handed in to court.

Defence counsel asked the court to take into account his client's early pleas, previous good character and personal circumstances.

Judge Dara Hayes said Low Swee was transporting a significant quantity of drugs. He said the aggravating factors included the impact of drugs on society and communities in this country.

The judge noted that Low Swee became involved in this crime for financial gain, but said the court accepted that he was under financial pressure.

Judge Hayes said the mitigation included the signed guilty pleas, his previous work history and personal circumstances.

He said Low Swee's signed guilty pleas and co-operation allowed him to depart from the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Judge Hayes imposed a sentence of three years and six months with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to June 2 when Low Swee went into custody.
Prosecution counsel said the deceased was subjected to a "sustained, controlled and continuous attack" while he lay in the foetal position on the ground

Gunman Tristan Sherry was a human being who was stamped, stabbed, kicked, dragged and spat on before being photographed by two of his attackers and left to die in a pool of his own blood following a vigilante revenge attack, a barrister has told the Special Criminal Court.

In her closing speech to the three-judge, non-jury court in the trial of six men accused of offences relating to Sherry's death, prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC said the deceased was subjected to a "sustained, controlled and continuous attack" while he lay in the foetal position on the ground, having been disarmed.

She said that having been beaten to death, Sherry was subjected to a final indignity when one of his attackers appeared to spit on him while two of them photographed or filmed him with their phones and "left him to die in a pool of blood as they calmly walked away".

Ms Murphy called for the court to convict three men of murder and three others of violent disorder arising from the attack on Sherry following a month-long trial. Defence speeches will continue for the rest of this week before the three judges go away to consider their verdicts.

The trial has heard that Sherry and a second gunman entered Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24 last year where Jason Hennessy Snr and about 30 others had gathered for a Christmas Eve party.

Sherry shot and fatally wounded Hennessy Snr before himself being dragged to the ground and beaten to death.

Three men are charged with Sherry's murder while another three, including Hennessy Snr's son Brandon Hennessy, are charged with violent disorder.

The three men accused of the more serious charge will argue that if the ingredients for murder have been proven, the court should consider whether they were so provoked by Sherry's actions that they suffered a sudden and total loss of self control.

If the court accepts that provocation is reasonably possible, it would find the accused guilty of manslaughter rather than murder.

Ms Murphy said there is no doubt that the violence at Browne's Steakhouse was sparked by the actions of Tristan Sherry, who would be facing a murder charge had he not been beaten to death.

She described what happened to Sherry as vengeance and vigilante justice, which "undermines the fundamental values the courts are supposed to uphold."

However, the loss of self-control relied on by the accused, she said, is negated by CCTV footage which shows them carrying out a "cold, hard, vengeful, deliberate retaliation." She described what happened as a punishment and a "deliberate retaliation to inflict suffering on Tristan Sherry".

She said each of the accused was calm and calculating in their actions and none of them could have believed that Sherry posed any threat to them as he lay in the "foetal position" on the floor being kicked, stamped, stabbed and struck with various weapons.

While Ms Murphy said the scene was chaotic, that chaos was "continued and intensified" by the actions of each of the accused.

There can be no suggestion of self-defence or justifiable force, she said, in circumstances where any threat Sherry posed was eliminated within seconds when he was dragged to the ground and disarmed.

Ms Murphy said each of the murder accused carried out a beating that was executed in a "controlled and careful way" where they sought out weapons and took breaks before returning to the violence.

She said it is obvious from the levels of violence used that their intention was to kill or cause serious harm to Tristan Sherry and they should be found guilty of murder.

In relation to the charge of violent disorder, she said the three men can be seen engaging in unlawful violence while Sherry lay on the ground.

Michael Andrecut denies Sherry's murder. Ms Murphy described Mr Andrecut "stepping in and out of the violence" and using various implements to "exact violence" on Sherry.

She said the footage shows that he was "measured and careful" in how he exacted revenge on Sherry and she said there is no evidence that he had lost control.

Mr Andrecut's barrister Dominic McGinn SC told the court that Sherry was clearly the aggressor but he accepted that it is difficult to resist the inference that the violence used by Mr Andrecut caused Mr Sherry's death.

The question, counsel said, is whether he was provoked. Mr McGinn said his client used a "level of violence that was extreme and continuous... that was clearly indicative of a loss of control" involving kicks, stamps, stabs, and blows with a random array of weapons.

It all happened, he said, in less than seven minutes from the moment that Sherry and the second gunman entered the restaurant where people, including women, children and infants, had gathered for a social event.

It was, he said, a terrifying situation where people were panicking and during which Mr Andrecut's father figure, Hennessy Snr, was fatally wounded by Sherry.

"It is difficult to envisage something more provocative than this," counsel said. He described Mr Andrecut's actions as "instinctive" and resulting from a "loss of rational thought" and a "complete absence of self-control".

Lawyers for the five other accused will deliver their closing speeches tomorrow and Friday.

The three men charged with Sherry's murder are Noah Musueni (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown; David Amah (18), Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin; and Michael Andrecut (23), Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown.

Jonas Kabangu (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown and 18-year-old Diarmuid O'Brien of Corduff Place, Blanchardstown are charged with violent disorder at the same location on that date.

Brandon Hennessy (21) of Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15 is also charged with violent disorder.

All accused have pleaded not guilty.
Abuser released after serving half of his 20-year-sentence

A paedophile pensioner who carried out more than 3,000 sex attacks on his own nieces and nephew is back on the streets, the Sunday World has learned.

It is understood Jim Mitchell, now 85, was released from a Sex Offenders Unit in HMP Maghaberry last month.

Ten years ago next week, retired road repairer Mitchell was sent down for 20 years at Belfast Crown Court at Laganside when he was convicted of 31 serious sex offences, including eight counts of rape.

He was also found guilty of buggery, attempted buggery, assault, indecent assault and child cruelty.

Noreen Rooney  the youngest of Mitchells victims  told the court how as a child she defiantly refused to utter his name and she simply referred to him as the bastard in the attic.

And when Judge Patricia Smyth ordered Mitchell to stand up before sending him to jail for two decades, she told the sex monster: This is one of the most horrific cases this court has ever had to deal with.

Noreens nightmare began in the early 1960s when as a baby she arrived from America along with elder sister Sharon (7) and brother Stephen (6) to live with their grandparents in Short Strand, the tiny Catholic enclave in east Belfast.

Their alcoholic parents had walked out on the children in New York, leaving them to fend for themselves.

Neighbours in Brooklyn had spotted the youngsters rummaging in bins looking for food and they alerted the authorities to their plight.

A family member was dispatched to the USA to rescue the children and bring them back to Belfast. And when they arrived at their grandparents home in Madrid Street, they had identity tags attached to their clothing.

Unknown to the youngsters though, their unmarried uncle Jim Mitchell  whom they had never met  slept in an attic bedroom in the three-storey family home.

And in time, Mitchell would become the childrens torturer, tormentor and serial sex abuser. It was alleged in court that over a 14-year period, Mitchell sexually abused each of the youngsters more than 1,000 times.

The court was also told the daily attacks on the children were relentless, violent and cruel in the extreme.

Mitchells 14-year reign of terror only came to an end when the children grew up and left their grandparents house to make their own way in the world.

Noreen Rooney as a child

But following the death of her grandmother, Noreen  the youngest of Mitchells victims  vowed to get justice for herself and her siblings. And the opportunity arrived quicker than expected  while she was in town shopping.

On a shopping trip into Belfast city centre, Noreen nipped into a bar to have a quick word with friends.

And as she stood chatting, she noticed her 75-year-old uncle Jim Mitchell emerge from the toilet.

Without a word, she approached the pervert pensioner and landed a powerful punch on his jaw. Mitchell rocked on his feet and he stumbled backwards towards the pub exit.

Noreen continued to reign more blows on his face and upper body. One of Noreens punches even knocked off Mitchells glasses which landed on the pavement.

The Short Strand woman lent forward to pick them up. But instead of handing the specs back to the sex creep, Noreen threw them into a line of heavy traffic in Oxford Street, where a taxi ran over them, smashing them to pieces.

Mitchell tried to take refuge on the Jaffe water fountain near Bittles Bar, but still the punches kept coming.

At one stage, a female member of the public intervened, screaming: Stop hitting that old man. And thats when Noreen shouted back: He raped me when I was seven. The woman retorted: Knock his ballix in.

But Noreen wasnt finished.

As two uniformed police officers from nearby Musgrave PSNI Station raced forward to stop more punches hitting Mitchells flustered face, Noreen landed three more blows in rapid succession on his jaw.

And she quietly told Mitchell: The first one is for Sharon, the second is for Stephen and the third one is for me.

Mitchell was promptly arrested and after a full investigation, he was charged before the Crown Court with 31 serious sex and cruelty offences including eight counts of rape.

After a jury found Mitchell guilty, Judge Patricia Smyth told him he wasnt entitled to any credit because he forced his victims to go through a difficult trial.

Your victims were innocent children whod been abandoned by their parents, Judge Smyth told him.

Weve been told Mitchell was released from HMP Maghaberry three weeks ago and he is currently living in a hostel.
I propose to deal with this case as one overarching criminal plan, it was all designed to help reduce Mr Kavanaghs sentencing.

A notorious Dublin gangster who reported his own weapons stockpile to reduce his drug smuggling sentence will be slapped with an order restricting his future travel movements when released from jail.

Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh, 57, his brother-in law Liam Byrne, 43, and Shaun Kent, 39, tried to dupe the National Crime Agency by obtaining a cache of firearms.

Kinahan gang leader Kavanagh had masterminded the plot from his prison cell while on remand awaiting sentence at Ipswich Crown Court.

He produced a map which led police to a farm in Northern Ireland and two buried holdalls containing a fearsome collection of seven machine guns, three automatic handguns and an assault rifle.

But the NCA had been passed information on the gang after French authorities hacked the encrypted chat EncroChat in April 2020.

Kavanagh is currently serving a 21-year jail sentence for masterminding a 36m drug smuggling operation, along with three years consecutive for an unrelated firearms incident in 2020.

Bomber Kavanagh and Liam Byrne. Inset, the guns seized

He was handed another six year sentence to run consecutively - making 30 years in total.

Byrne, who had to be expedited from Spain, was jailed for five years while Kent received six years imprisonment.

Kent has already served more than half of the time on remand and is eligible for release.

The trio are now facing Serious Crime Prevention Orders which could restrict their access to premises, documents, communications devices or travel.

Judge Philip Katz, KC, is expected to formally make the order either later today or tomorrow .

He earlier said: The idea of the conspiracy was to stockpile the cash of weapons, to reveal them to the NCA and help Thomas Kavanagh get a reduced sentence.

I propose to deal with this case as one overarching criminal plan, it was all designed to help reduce Mr Kavanaghs sentencing.

The crowns case is that the conspiracy was orchestrated from prison by you Mr Kavanagh and your co-conspirators on the outside.

Police went with metal detectors to the X marked on the map; two holdalls were found containing eleven fearsome guns.

he limited nature of the planning must be taken into account, you did not allow the danger of those firearms being found by members of the public.

You were in prison, and still able to pull the strings.

Kavanagh spoke to the NCA and told them weapons had been brought to the UK from the Netherlands before producing his map directing police to the farm in Northern Ireland.

He was referred to in the messages by the nicknames Pops, Mick, Big Head and Malla, the court heard.

Kent acted as Kavanaghs messenger boy receiving instructions form him via a man who was in prison with Kavanagh, it was said.

Byrne lived close to Kavanaghs family home in Tamworth, Staffordshire, the court heard.

Liverpool drug dealer Daniel McLoughlin, 37, was also charged in the plot but cleared after the prosecution earlier offered no evidence against him.

Tim Owen, KC, defending Kavanagh, said the defendants had saved millions of pounds of taxpayers money by pleading guilty.

He said it cost 30,000 per day just to transport bring Kavanagh and Byrne from a high secure unit at HMP Belmarsh to the Old Bailey with an armed police guard.

Kavanagh, Kent and Byrne admitted two counts of conspiracy to possesses a prohibited weapon and two counts of conspiracy to possess ammunition for a firearm without a certificate between 9 January 2020 and 3 June 2021.

Kavanagh and Kent admitted perverting the course of justice.

Byrne was charged after being extradited from Spain after being arrested as he holidayed in Majorca.
Andrew Stephen Rae has been charged with possessing documents or records useful to terrorism

A Scottish man went on trial in Belfast yesterday accused of a terrorist offence arising from an image he posted on a Republican group's Facebook page.

Andrew Stephen Rae has been charged with possessing documents or records useful to terrorism  namely that on March 22, 2022, he had a document containing a list of alleged drug dealers in Belfast together with a threat that they would be executed.

This list and accompanying threat, the Crown say, is 'of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.'

The 43-year-old, from Glenavon Road in Glasgow, had denied the offence and after a jury of seven men and five women were sworn at Belfast Crown Court, a prosecuting barrister opened the case against Rae.

The Crown barrister told the jury that on September 6, 2021, a detective from the PSNI was conducting a search on a Facebook page set up by the Republican Activist Coalition.

As part of his research, the police officer captured an image of a post made on the Facebook page on August 30, 2021.

This post said For too long drug-dealing scum have gone under the radar while wrecking communities with the poison they sell.

When Covid-19 passes, the real pandemic still goes on. Drug addiction contributes overwhelmingly to negative mental health, homelessness and suicide.

Starting this week, we will be naming everyone who we know is selling in our communities. Stay tuned.

The barrister said the post attracted several reactions including shares and comments.

Whilst one comment said fair play, get rid of the rats, a screenshot of an image which the Crown say was posted by the defendant also appeared in the threat under the post.

At 6.34am on August 31, 2021, a Facebook user called 'Andy Rae' posted a screenshot consisting of a list of 25 names of alleged drug dealers in Belfast.

The image also contained text which mentioned 'The Republican Movement' and that all those on the list 'will be executed'.

After this screenshot appeared on the Facebook page, the PSNI launched an investigation to locate the person who posted the image.

The Facebook details of the poster were traced to Rae's address in Glasgow and on March 22, 2022, officers from the PSNI, accompanied by their colleagues in Police Scotland, attended his flat.

When the officers called, Rae was in bed but he was cautioned, arrested and his mobile phone was seized.

As he was being taken to the police station, Rae told his girlfriend I know what this is about. Facebook.

During an interview with police at the station, Rae admitted having the list and posting it on the Republican Activist Coalition Facebook page on August 31, 2021.

Whilst he didn't answer initial questions, Rae then provided an account. He told police he came across the image as a screenshot, copied it to his phone then shared it on the Facebook page.

Rae also claimed he couldn't remember where he found it but believed it was an image of something that had appeared on lamp-posts and in bars around Belfast.

When asked during interview why he had posted the image, Rae said he thought the people on the list had already been named and he was posting them again.

The Crown barrister revealed that those people named on the list were spoken to by police about the threats made against them before the screenshot appeared on Facebook on August 31, 2021.

He added that when Rae's mobile phone was seized in March 2022, the image of the list of names that he posted the previous August was still on his device.

He told the jury: "The prosecution say that a list of alleged drug dealers, together with a threat that they would be killed, are not records in everyday possession of members of the public.

"They would be of practical use to a Republican terrorist group, or any terrorist group, which wants to replace the police and take over their role by enforcing their own version of justice in the community."
The married father of two was targeted outside of his restaurant after he intervened in the robbery of a vehicle from a car park.

A juvenile who was accused of the murder of Tipperary chef Shaun Brady in the US has had all charges dropped by prosecutors.

Mr Brady (44) was fatally shot during a confrontation with a group at the back of the Irish restaurant he co-owned in Kansas Citys Brookside neighbourhood in August.

The married father of two was targeted outside of his restaurant after he intervened in the robbery of a vehicle from a car park.

Two juveniles, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were subsequently charged in connection with his murder.

However, this week the Jackson County Family Court has dropped all charges against one of two teens arrested after the shooting.

The teen, has now been was released from a juvenile detention facility.

He had been charged with second-degree murder, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and armed criminal action.

The Kansas City Star newspaper have reported that the release of the teenager, known as L.M, was confirmed by his defense attorney, Matthew Merryman.

What Im saying is they got the wrong kid, Merryman told the Kansas City Star in a statement

You know this case generated a ton of local and international attention and when the public outrage is so high, Merryman said,

There is a rush to find someone and hold them accountable. Here there was a rush to judgment and L.M. was just the first Black kid they found to pin that judgment on.

A second teen, a 15-year-old identified as K.H, remains in custody and will appear before a court in December..

The death of Brady, who is survived by his wife Kate and their two young children, sparked widespread grief and outrage, particularly within the Kansas City Irish community.

Shaun Brady

A remembrance ceremony for the talented chef who was born in Limerick, but grew up in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was held at Drexel Hall in Kansas City in September.

The family of Mr Brady later thanked the people of Ireland and the US for all their support and messages during this harrowing time.

Bradys KC restaurant said in a recent statement that their hearts are broken following his death.

There are no words to express our sadness, anger and frustration. Our community is with Shaun's family - forever. We cannot express how much we appreciate the outpouring of support, offers to help, and your love.

Together we are united. Together we will grieve. Together we will heal.

We ask that you show compassion and aid in our healing by respecting the privacy of Shaun's family.

Shaun was well known and respected in Kansas City both for his culinary skills and his generosity of spirit.

He frequently appeared on local television doing cookery demonstrations and played a huge part in the Kansas City Irish Fest.

Mary Kate Gliedt, Executive Director of the Kansas City Irish Centre, previously said that they were heartbroken at the news of the death of their stalwart supporter and true friend Shaun.
Trump says settlement of war in Ukraine is his priority as president

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said the settlement of the war in Ukraine will be a priority for him after his inauguration. He said he considers the situation in the Middle East to be less complicated.

In an interview with the French publication Paris Match, Trump said the Middle East is a big priority, but it is a less complicated situation than Ukraine with Russia.

He also said the problem of Ukraine must be solved together with Russia.

Trump said both countries, the Middle East and Ukraine, are losing numbers that no one can believe; hundreds of thousands of soldiers are dying.
Our Christmas will be free of watching out for that evil man

Double murderer Frank McCann has been refused his latest application for freedom after spending nearly 30 years behind bars for killing his wife and foster daughter when he torched their house in 1992.

This was McCanns sixth parole bid which was being vigorously opposed by his wife Esthers family and members of his own family.

It is understood the Parole Board refused his latest application on the grounds that he may still present a threat to the public.

Despite this, it is understood that McCann is still released from Mountjoy six days a week without supervision to attend an employment course in the south inner-city, and also to attend a city library before returning to jail for the night.

Last year McCann unexpectedly withdrew a parole application, but sources say he made a fresh application this year and was recently told it had been rejected.

McCann burned down his home on Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin, while Esther and their foster daughter Jessica slept inside after details about a child he had fathered with a teenage swimming student with special needs emerged.

He and Esther had been going through the process of adopting 18-month-old Jessica, the daughter of McCanns own adopted sister, when the mother of the vulnerable teenager who had a child by McCann alerted the adoption authorities out of concern that he was not fit to be a father.

McCann knew the fact he was the father of this child was going to be brought up at a meeting with the adoption authorities and set about trying to kill Esther and Jessica, so Esther would never learn about his secret past. It later emerged that McCann had made other attempts on the lives of Esther and Jessica in the weeks before he succeeded.

He had previously created a massive gas leak at the house, set fire to an electric blanket on their bed, and tampered with the brakes on Esthers car before setting the blaze that killed them.

When contacted by the Irish Independent, Esthers sister Marian said she was pleased McCann would not be gaining freedom any time soon.

She had made a submission to the Parole Board opposing his release.

Murder victims Esther McCann and foster daughter Jessica in 1992

The decision by the Parole Board allows us to feel more at peace this Christmas. McCann will not be a spectre casting a shadow over joyous times. Its good to focus on the safety and peace we have while he remains incarcerated, she said.

Our Christmas will be free of watching out for that evil man, she added.

McCanns brother Bernard, who also made a submission to the Parole Board opposing Franks application for parole, said he was glad of the decision.

Two innocent people lost their lives because of that awful crime, and I think a life sentence should mean life for him. We will have 18 months of peace now before he can apply again, he said.

Last year the Irish Independent reported that a LinkedIn CV published online by McCann while on temporary release was taken down after being exposed by this publication.

In the CV, McCann had described himself as an enthusiastic achiever and problem-solver.

He appeared to be pitching to potential employers.

He also said he was an analytical thinker with good troubleshooting ability, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, good telephone manner and a confident and engaging personality.
David John Andrews (55) was sentenced to 27-years at Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday

One of the victims of a dangerous and devious paedophile who subjected a disabled woman and children to sexual abuse said he has destroyed her life.

David John Andrews (55) was sentenced to 27-years at Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday, where Judge Geoffrey Miller KC said that some of his depraved acts were so horrific and harrowing, he was deliberately not describing them in open court.

He told Andrews, who is from Belfast, that if he was sentencing the charges individually and adding them all up, the total sentence would be one of several hundred years but UK law demanded that he take account of totality principles.

Some of Andrews victims were as young as eight years old.

Using the so-called catfish method, Andrews adopted fake online personas, including that of a teenage boy, to deceive and manipulate his victims.

The victims, whom he contacted through social media platforms, were mostly young girls in Great Britain.

The charges relate to 47 victims, 46 of which are children.

One of Andrews victims said he has destroyed her life after he sent images of her to her year group in school.

Clare  not her real name  first received a message from Andrews via Instagram, claiming to be a 13-year-old boy.

The conversation started off friendly, said Clare, who is now an adult.

He told me he went to a school in a neighbouring town, and we chatted back and forth for a few weeks.

"The conversation soon escalated and he encouraged me to send images of myself.

After a while, I told my friends about him. We then realised he wasnt who he said he was, and his profile picture was fake. I felt physically sick.

I tried to stop all communication with him but he started to blackmail me saying he would send my images to people at my school if I didnt respond and send more.

Even after I blocked him, he created another account pretending to be the sister of the 13-year-old boy, and told me I had caused harm to her brother by not continuing to send images.

The next thing I know my images were shared around the majority of my year group. It has destroyed my life.

Clare is now encouraging others who may have been targeted online to come forward.

You may feel like youre the only one, but I promise you, you are not, she said.

Dont be ashamed to step forward. Youre doing whats right because someone else did wrong.

I spent years blaming myself, now I finally realise this was not my fault.

David John Andrews was sentenced at Downpatrick Crown Court

David Andrews sentenced to 27 years

As a handful of Andrews victims watched yesterdays court proceedings by video-link, Judge Miller explained that having assessed him as a dangerous offender, he was imposing an extended custodial sentence of 27 years in custody to be followed by a further five years on licence.

That means Andrews will spend at least 13-and-a-half years in jail and it will be up to the Parole Commissioners to decide, upon further assessment, whether he is still dangerous.

The judge told the court while he could have imposed a discretionary life sentence, the effect of the custodial sentence is that Andrews will be subject to this order for 32 years by which time he will be 83 years old and the threat that he poses would be negligible, the judge concluded.

On three indictments covering the period from September 24, 2013, to March 28, 2020, Andrews admitted a total of 130 charges.

Four of those charges included attempted rape against a mentally disabled woman, more than a dozen of sexual communication with children, more than 50 charges of engaging in or inciting sexual activity with the child victims and the disabled woman.

There were also additional offences of blackmail, making threats to kill or destroy property, possessing and distributing indecent images of children and paying for sexual services.

In addition to the extended custodial sentence, Judge Miller also imposed a lifetime sexual offences prevention order, stopped Andrews from ever working with children or vulnerable adults, and ordered that he must sign the police sex offenders register for life.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jill Duffie from the PSNIs Public Protection Branch said they were first contacted by Derbyshire Police about reports that a number of underage girls had been groomed online by a man believed to be residing in Northern Ireland, using the alias of a 13-year-old boy on March 27, 2020.

Andrews was arrested on the same day and a number of electronic items were seized. He has been remanded in prison ever since.

Following his initial interview with police, it became clear that David Andrews offending spanned right across the United Kingdom, continued DCI Duffie.

"He used the same behaviour pattern every time to groom young girls via Snapchat and Instagram into believing they were in a relationship with a young boy of a similar age.

"He would then encourage them to send indecent images of themselves, later using these images to threaten, blackmail and abuse them.

Using the so-called catfish method, David Andrews adopted fake online personas

DCI Duffie said Andrews is a heinous child predator as the PSNI found nearly 10,000 illicit images of children on his electronic devices and approximately 40 different usernames that he had used to pose as young boys online.

Police uncovered at least 47 children, some as young as eight years old, that Andrews had groomed and manipulated online, to satisfy his own sexual perversions, she added.

He has caused unimaginable long-lasting harm, not only for the young girls he preyed upon, but also their families. I want to thank them for being so incredibly brave and assisting our investigations.

The Head of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Serious Unit Catherine Kierans described Andrews as a dangerous and devious paedophile.

"Using the catfish method, he pretended to be a teenage boy aged 13 or 14 to target young girls on social media, manipulating and grooming his victims to gain their trust and affection, she said.

Still pretending to be a young boy, he demanded sexual images and videos from the girls, also sending indecent material to them and recording the abuse.

"When a girl refused to comply or became suspicious of him, he would become abusive or threaten to send her intimate pictures to her friends or share them on the internet.

"Andrews carried through on some of his vile threats to send explicit images to his victims contacts. On some occasions, he threatened the girls with violence.

Ms Kierans added that in the course of the PSNI investigation, officers uncovered Andrews sexual abuse of an adult victim, which he has also been sentenced in relation to.

We worked closely with the PSNI, who carried out a robust investigation, working with other police services across the UK, to build this case against Andrews and secure a guilty plea.

I want to pay tribute to the courage of his victims including those who were prepared to face Andrews down by giving evidence in court, had he not pleaded guilty.
The New York native admitted that he believed some of the Irish were involved with criminal activity and mostly went to New York city

AN IRISH people-smuggling ring between the United States and Canada has been busted by US Border Patrol agents.

A man accused of being the organiser told arresting officers he had been involved in smuggling Irish people after being quizzed in October.

New York native AJ Oshier refused to name the person referred to in court documents as Co-conspirator 1 but was listed on his phone as Elevated Siding and Roofing.

He also admitted that he believed some of the Irish were involved with criminal activity and mostly went to New York city.

Alleged mastermind AJ Oshier

One group arrested on November 7 as they tried to cross from Canada included a man named Andrew Cash, who admitted he had just entered the US with his family.

He told agents that he was charged Can$3,500 to be picked up by a driver after walking across the border.

The family group had set off cameras as they walked to the rendezvous and were later stopped in an SUV with the driver and another man.

Cash said he got the drivers phone number from AJ who was co-ordinating the operation but deleted the phone details when stopped by border agents out of fear.

He said he was travelling with his family to look for work in New York or Boston and was on the way AJs house in Massena, upstate New York, to pay.

Both Cash and the woman with him said they were born in Ireland and were Irish citizens, while two of the children had US passports and the third a Canadian one.

A boat carrying Irish citizens was intercepted

It was also stated in the criminal complaint that there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Cash from Boston.

One of the men hired to facilitate the pick-up said he was paid 250 by AJ and was also paid with crack cocaine, which he and the other man smoked before smuggling the group.

The other man said he was separately paid Can$1,000 by cash to drive him to New Jersey.

Oshier was also linked to another incident in which a boat on the St Lawrence River got into trouble with four people on board, two of whom were illegal immigrants.

The smugglers told border agents they were paid in cash and drugs including fentanyl for making the smuggling trip.

On November 8, agents set up surveillance on Oshiers home after receiving information that he was going to attempt to smuggle 15 people by boat.

AJ Oshier is alleged to have organised illegal crossings from Canada into the United States

Two people who went out in the boat got into trouble and had to be rescued, which left Oshier distraught according a source of information.

The criminal complaint alleges Oshier feared law enforcement would be on to him as a result and he wanted to leave town as soon as he had enough money.

The following day, 14 people were successfully landed from across the river and got away in multiple vehicles.

Then, on November 11, another group of nine linked to Oshiers operation were caught near the St Lawrence River and told agents they were UK citizens.

Two days later, officers swooped Oshiers home in Massena, New York, and in an interview he admitted his invovlement in the smuggling ring.

How we broke the story

The Sunday World previously revealed how nine Irish citizens, including five children, were caught during a midnight attempt to cross into the US from Canada in September.

Their bid failed when they triggered cameras in a remote rural area known for smuggling and people-trafficking.

They had walked across the international border and were picked up on a dirt road by an SUV, according to an affidavit filed by a US Border Patrol agent.

The area in which they were found in Vermont in the north-east of the US is about 100km south-east of the Canadian city of Montreal.

Irish criminal gangs are paying thousands of dollars to people smugglers to get associates and relatives into the US.

Two men connected to what US authorities call an Irish Traveller Conmen Fraud Group were arrested in Florida in May, according to sources.

One gang member travelled to Miami to hand over $60,000 to have associates brought by boat from the Bahamas.
Former NCA deputy director Roy McComb said Operation Destablise will have ramped up the pressure on the Kinahan Cartel.

THE Kinahan Cartel are scrambling to find new routes for their massive money-laundering operation after two major Russian networks were shut down.

An international police operation led by the UKs National Crime Agency announced last week is a shattering blow to the global underworld.

Speaking to the Sunday World last week former NCA deputy director Roy McComb said Operation Destablise will have ramped up the pressure on the Kinahan Cartel.

He said the Kinahans notoriety as an international criminal gang has become more widely known across the world making it harder for them to do business.

If you go back to before the Regency hotel shooting when the Kinahans weren't that well known among the general public, they didn't have that reputation.

Since then because of all the activity that has been taken - the US sanctions which is really rare, and there's a new extradition treaty set up between Ireland and the UAE.

You have the entire network being exposed to the public gaze and we now find that their money laundering system has been exposed and effectively closed for them.

McComb described the taking down of the Russian financial operations Smart and TGR, as a serious blow to organised crime as well as terror groups and Russian oligarchs trying to dodge sanctions.

You can arrest as many drug couriers and seize as many drug shipments but there will always be another one.

But setting up the complexity of a money laundering scheme as outlined in this investigation takes time and it needs a particular set of skills as Liam Neeson would say.

Christy Kinahan Sr

This will have a greater impact than any individual seizure of drugs or cash or firearms.

It will have a disruptive effect for a greater then the immediacy of the people arrested because it just removes a huge pillar of activity that organized criminals.

He explained what the NCA uncovered appears to be a major network operating at a large scale and it is rare to get right to the top as done in this case.

This is what would be called a crime as a service, this is a brokerage service that you go to and say here's my money what can you do for me and they will launder it for a fee.

For money launderers to operate at this scale would usually involve controllers network.

A controllers network is what the money laundering teams would call this, somebody who sits in the middle and coordinates the movement of money through multiple layers around the world.

It is very rare to be able to identify and to break up a controller's network and to do so with such an impact on the organized criminal groups such as the Kinahans this is a magnificent achievement.

If this has been the go to bank for organised criminals then it's just been shut down.

It has an impact on organised crime this goes far beyond any individual seizure of drugs or firearms or any individual arrest of an individual.

This is about undermining the entire infrastructure of components of organized crime.

I'm not saying there aren't other controller networks money laundering networks available but this is a major one that reaches across the world.

Now it's just gone.

NCA-coordinated operation led to 84 arrests, with many already serving prison sentences, as well as the seizure of over 20 million in cash and cryptocurrency.

The agency said last week the money laundering operation would have to move 700 million to make back the seized cash.

They described the network as stretching 'from McMafia, through to Narcos, through to le Carre' and involving everyone from drug cartels and elite cybercriminals to Russian oligarchs and even the Kremlin.

This system allowed drug dealers to change dirty money for cryptocurrency which could then be used to buy more drug shipments or to be converted back into cash anywhere in the world.
Innocent man paralysed by loyalist death squad relives night of horrific attack

Paul Gallagher in his west Belfast home this week  the same home he was shot in 30 years ago

The recent death of UFF hitman Gary Smickers Smith triggered a series of flashbacks for Paul Gallagher over a loyalist gun attack on his family home, the Sunday World has learned.

Today Paul is a well-known member of the Wave Trauma Centre team which provides care and support for anyone bereaved or injured through the Troubles.

And he is also a highly qualified expert in the field of human trauma and finding ways of coping with it.

The west Belfast man was just 21 when, three decades ago, a heavily armed unit from Johnny Mad Dog Adairs notorious C Coy death squad burst into his parents terrace property in Lenadoon.

The house takeover  which left the Gallagher family in a state of shock and fear  was part of a planned UFF operation to kill a neighbour who was alleged to have been a Sinn Fein member.

After an hour, the murder plan was called off when the intended target failed to show up.

But, before the intruders left, the lead gunman pointed his high-powered automatic rifle at Paul and pulled the trigger.

Read more UFF hitman and convicted paedo Gary Smickers Smith dies in exile

Paul believes the attack wasnt aimed at him personally, but more a case of the terror gang engaging the sick loyalist mantra of Yabba dabba do, any Taig will do.

Horrendous injuries left Paul paralysed from the waist down and, as a result, he is permanently confined to a wheelchair.

And in a wide-ranging exchange with the Sunday World this week, Paul wondered if Gary Smickers Smith had been the lead UFF gunman who had forced his way into his home, claiming to be from the IRA.

The attack on the Gallagher home happened in January 1994, a matter of months before the republican and loyalist ceasefires.

And this week, using a range of sources, we were able to establish Gary Smith wasnt the gunman who shot Paul. As far as we had been able to ascertain, the shooter was in fact Sam Skelly McCrory, a veteran C Coy killer who died two years ago and was of a similar build to Smith.

Hitman Sam Skelly McCrory who shot Paul Gallagher

But Paul also voiced concerns over an item in the book Mad Dog  written by this reporter  where one of the gang who had been present in the Gallagher home is quoted as saying that, before they left, Paul told them: Im one of yousuns.

Paul said this week: I never said that. Its just not true. And if I had been asked what happened, I could have explained that.

He said: Ever since Ive been fully aware of my truth about what happened. And I was aware of their mantra any Taig will do and therefore, I knew it was unlikely they would leave our home without shooting somebody.

As it turned out, I was just the one they were going to shoot going out the door. I could rationalise that. I could rationalise that it was nothing personal. I just happened to be there.

I was just another part of the sectarian conflict we were all involved in and I was just another victim of that.

Gary Smickers Smith

But when I came across this Mad Dog book, I was flicking through it and I saw my address. It said that when they were going out the door, I said to them Im one of yousuns. It gave them impression that I was saying to them, I was with them. They had said they were the IRA when they came in and we assumed they were the IRA and we didnt know anything else.

But for me to have allegedly said, Im one of yousuns. And then for the loyalists claim, Thats why we shot him. I didnt say it and I want everyone to know it. This also attacked my identity of whom I knew I was.

I felt dehumanised. Over the years I meet people and they ask what happened to me. And when I say I was shot, you can see them wondering if was I involved in something. You can see them thinking, He must have been a bad boy for that to happen.

But to see it written in black and white. I wondered, why would the journalists take their word? Why didnt they come to me?

What they said was lies. It was said to justify what they did as though it was some sort of great event. The fact that the journalists took their word and didnt come to me, got to me.

I thought if people come along and read this [loyalist gunmans claims] and theyd maybe wonder, Maybe he was in the IRA and deserved it, said Paul.

And he emphasised: I did not utter those words in this house and I did not, as they claimed, mouth off.

Paul Gallagher also recalled the fear his family was forced to endure at the hands of the UFF team who entered their home.

They had all the power. They had the guns. We were just waiting for them to leave. We didnt know why they were in our home.

There modus operandi was to shoot as many young Catholics as possible and they produced T-shirts and posters with Yabba dabba do, any Taig will do. It was to instil fear in the community.

Paul Gallagher as a youth before he was attacked

Anyone was a target at any time. I could live with that. But what I could not live with was for them to blacken my name for something I never said, said Paul.

Paul, who is now married, also explained his work as a councillor with the Wave Trauma Centre has helped him to come to terms with what happened to him and his family all those years ago.

When I started, I knew little or nothing about trauma. But I went on courses and I could identify with what I learned. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck and the butterflies in my stomach.

But its not all negative. Its positive as well. Its about taking back control and it set me on a new path.

I went on to do a degree and a PhD and now Im part of the Wave Trauma Education team. I can now teach people who were just like me 15 years ago.

I watch people learning from my story and see them beginning a whole new journey. I meet people who went through things 50 years ago, but they are now coming for the first time in a positive way for them, he said.
Peter Keating (43) admitted two charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm and two offences of plotting to possess ammunition

Firearms which were part of an illicit stash of weapons seized by the NCA (National Crime Agency/PA)

A serving prisoner has admitted his part in a plot to amass an arms cache to help the UK boss of the Kinahan organised crime gang.

On Wednesday, Peter Keating aka Peadar Keating (43) admitted two charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm and two offences of plotting to possess ammunition.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Keating entered his pleas by video link from Belmarsh prison in south London but is expected to be sent back to Ireland where he is already serving 12 years for directing a criminal organisation.

Jack Kavanagh (NCA/PA)

Judge Philip Katz KC said he would sentence Keating at the Old Bailey on Thursday alongside Jack Kavanagh, 24, from Tamworth, who pleaded guilty to the weapons and ammunition offences after being extradited from Spain.

Kavanagh was arrested in May 2023 at Malaga Airport by officers from the Spanish National Police, as he was travelling from Dubai to Turkey.

He admitted helping his father, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh, in a bid to engineer a reduced jail sentence by duping the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Thomas Kavanagh, 57, had hoped that by leading the NCA to a buried stash of 11 fearsome weapons, he could influence his sentencing in a multimillion-pound drug-smuggling case.

Running the conspiracy from prison, Kavanagh also enlisted the help of Keating, his brother-in-law, 44-year-old Liam Byrne, and associate Shaun Kent, 38.

In May 2021, Thomas Kavanagh provided information to the NCA which led them to a field in Newry, Northern Ireland, where two holdalls were unearthed.

They contained seven machine guns, three automatic handguns, an assault rifle and ammunition.

The plot was foiled after the NCA uncovered incriminating messages on encrypted EncroChat which had been cracked by French counterparts.

Thomas Kavanagh, Liam Byrne and Shaun Kent (NCA/PA)

Between January 2020 and June 2021, the defendants agreed to acquire as many arms as possible from the UK, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

At the time, Thomas Kavanagh was in HMP Dovegate where he was serving a three-year sentence for possession of a stun gun and had been remanded on serious drug charges since March 2020.

Those charges related to smuggling multiple kilos of cocaine and cannabis into the UK for which he was sentenced in March 2022 to 21 years in prison.

In September, Kavanagh, Byrne, from Dublin, and Kent, from Liverpool, admitted the weapons and ammunition plots.

Kavanagh and Kent also admitted conspiring with others to pervert the course of justice.

Dublin mob boss Thomas Kavanagh was jailed for six years for orchestrating the plot which he will serve consecutively with his earlier jail sentences.

Byrne  who fled to Majorca after the events  was jailed for five years while Kent was handed a six-year prison sentence.
It is believed the horror gun attack was sparked by a fight in the bar earlier in the evening.

Police at the scene at the The Rock Irish Pub in Florida. Photo: CBS

Two men have been killed and two others seriously injured in a mass shooting at an Irish pub in Florida last night.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBCSO) said officers responded around 1am to The Rock Irish Pub in Lake Worth Beach and found four men shot.

It is believed the horror gun attack was sparked by a fight in the bar earlier in the evening.

Two of the victims died at the scene while a third was rushed to hospital where he remains in critical condition.

According to police, the fourth man was listed as stable.

There have been no arrests made so far and police have yet to release any information on a possible suspect.

"The preliminary investigation is believed that an altercation occurred inside the establishment resulting in the shooting," PBSO said.

One witness told local TV station, CBS12 News, that the group of men who were shot consisted of her co-workers from the Old Key Lime House, a local restaurant.

Jackie Slattery explained that she and her colleagues had gone to the Rock Irish Pub after attending their Christmas party.

She said: "I stepped out for a little bit.

"When I came back I saw the police pull up, immediately ran in and saw two of our co-workers deceased on the floor, one in pretty bad condition, the other one had already ran out and found an ambulance. But four people shot," she said.

Ryan Cordero, the owner of Old Key Lime House, described the gun killer as a monster.

He said: "After a night of celebrating Christmas with each other, having, enjoying all of the fruits of life and the good times, and then this absolute tragedy happens. Some vile monster.

"The person who did this is a vile monster?" we asked him. "Absolutely, he killed two innocent people," Cordero said.

Cordero said he hoped the gunman rots in hell

"You keep feeling like you're just gonna wake up and this is just a little nightmare or something.

"It's, you can't wrap your head around it yet. It's not real yet," Cordero said.
The horrifying incident happened while filming No Frontiers in Papa New Guinea

RTE star Kathryn Thomas has revealed how she was once chased by a man wielding a machete while she was filming a TV show.

Speaking to Mark Moriarty on his Roasted podcast, the TV and radio presenter spoke in detail about her early TV work and how she never completed her Arts Degree after she landed roles on Rapid and ultimately travel show No Frontiers.

I couldnt believe my luck, she told chef Moriarty. I was living in Rathmines with seven girls at the time! And wed come home from these amazing trips, have a pot noodle and head out to Night Owls in Ranelagh we were living the student life, says Kathryn.

As for standout moments from her travelling days she says a trip to the Antarctic is one of the highlights. Its like being on a different planet, it was just you and nature and very few people have been. It was amazing to see it in all its glory.

Another trip that stays with her for very different reasons was Papua New Guinea  where she feared for her life when a tribesman charged at her with a machete!

I thought this is where its all going to end. I thought I would have a different reaction, I thought Id fight or run or scream, but all of a sudden the fear overcame me and I just remember bowing my head. I could feel him running at me and feel the knife, and he was screaming at me and I could feel this spit on my face as he was screaming, she revealed to Mark.

We were four days from civilisation. It could have genuinely ended very differently than it did. I still say it was one of the best trips that we did!

Kathryn Thomas appears on the latest episode of Roasted

Thomas also admitted that she was disappointed that Operation Transformation wasnt renewed. She admitted how being the face of weight loss didnt sit well with her. She said the evolution of the show to a 360 approach to health was needed and ultimately she thinks the show will be missed, adding the country cant look away from obesity and the health crisis.

I am disappointed its not there. I couldnt have given anymore, says Kathryn. It will be missed. I hope something comes and replaces that. I think where we are with our health in this country is frightening. I think we need population-based health initiatives.

Kathryn is a household name from presenting shows like No Frontiers and Operation Transformation. However, she tells the podcaster that she initially wanted to star in films  and worked voluntarily in production companies as a student to get herself closer to the action!

I wanted to go to Hollywood, I was going to be an actress, be in big feature films says Kathryn.

I did voluntary work in TV production companies around Dublin  to get closer to Hollywood! And it was in the basement of Coco television when I was labelling videos of presenters going for roles that I said, I could do this, this is easier than acting  all youve to do is be yourself!

So I kind of stalked them until they let me do a pilot of a show so thats how it happened, she adds.
James Prior had been transferred to a Dublin hospital when he became unwell after his birth at Mullingar Regional Hospital

A 12-year old boy with cerebral palsy who had sued over the care he received after his birth has settled a High Court action with a 1.5million interim settlement.

James Prior had been transferred to a Dublin hospital when he became unwell after his birth at Mullingar Regional Hospital in 2012.

His counsel Dr John O Mahony SC, instructed by Richard Crowley solicitor, told the court it was their case that the management and treatment of the baby after birth allegedly caused his difficulties. Counsel said a cranial ultrasound a days after birth was clear but five days later it showed difficulties with the babys brain cells.

Counsel said it was their case that all the difficulties for the baby happened after the delivery and they would say an injurious insult  to the brain occurred after his birth.

Emergency measures, counsel said, should have been taken and the transfer of the baby involved a two-hour journey by ambulance to Dublin.

All of the claims were denied by the HSE.

The settlement against the HSE was reached after mediation.

The High Court.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it reflected a 25pc reduction for the litigation risk in the case. The interim settlement is for the next five and a half years when the case will come before the court when loss of earnings and future care will be assessed.

James, of Edenmore Grove, Raheny, Dublin who has spastic diplegia, sued the HSE through his mother Tracey Carroll.

It was claimed he was delayed in reaching many of his milestones. He did not smile until he was three months old, and he did not walk until he was three years old.

His speech was delayed and he did not really talk until around two years.

James was delivered by emergency caesarean section on August 22, 2012 at Mullingar Regional Hospital but he later became unwell was transferred to a Dublin hospital.

It was claimed there was a failure to exercise reasonable care in and around the management, care and treatment of the baby in the neonatal period and that he had been provided alleged substandard neonatal care.

It was further claimed he had been allegedly caused to develop a brain injury, cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental delay.

All of the claims were denied.

Approving the settlement Mr Justice Coffey wished James and his family well for the future.
In a statement, the spokesperson insisted that the MMA fighter respects the role of the jury

A spokesperson for Conor McGregor has said the MMA fighter sent a number of social media posts in the wake of the civil rape case out of frustration and disappointment with the verdict and said he will file an appeal shortly.

In a statement, the spokesperson insisted that McGregor respects the role of the jury telling the Irish Independent: Mr McGregor has made a few posts regarding his frustration and disappointment with the verdict, given the preponderance of evidence, including the CCTV.

"He respects the role of the jury but disagrees with their decision. He maintains the relationship was consensual and will file an appeal shortly.

The Courts Service states that appeals from decisions of the High Court in civil cases must be brought within 28 days of the court registrar signing the order in question.

It comes after the Dubliner was hit with a legal bill of around 1m last week, after a judge ruled he must pay Nikita Hands legal costs following her successful civil rape claim against him.

Mr Justice Alexander Owens also indicated he was considering bringing contempt proceedings against Mr McGregor over a social media post in which he described the court as a kangaroo court.

He further ruled that the mother of one would not be penalised with a costs order for losing her action against Mr McGregors friend James Lawrence, who she also sued for allegedly raping her.

There could yet be a criminal investigation into McGregors online rants on social media over the outcome of the verdict.

Lawyers representing Ms Hand at the legal costs hearing last week urged the judge to have regard to the post-trial social media posts, saying they were a direct insult to the jury and could be regarded as scandalising the court.

After the verdict, McGregor sent posts attacking journalists. He called Ms Hand, whose allegations against him were upheld by the jury, a vicious liar. He attacked the jurys verdict, calling it deplorable.

He said the hearing was a court of feeling and opinion, brainwashed into people via the mainstream media.

Mr Justice Alexander Owens indicated that he was considering bringing contempt proceedings against Mr McGregor over the social media post in which he described the court as a kangaroo court.

The High Court judge said he had yet to decide what to do about Mr McGregors social media posts in the wake of the trial, which he said wrongly implied they had not upheld their oaths.

I can if I want to begin to institute a proceeding on my own bat against Mr McGregor, he said, adding that the UFC fighter was a very rich man and can afford to pay a fine.

The judge said there was a tendency to allow such remarks to go unresponded to, but he did not believe that should happen in this instance.

Mr McGregors text was to say the least of it something highly irresponsible to do, he said.

Marcus Dowling, a senior counsel, told the Sunday Independent at the weekend that it is possible for Judge Owens to initiate a process for criminal contempt of court.

Contempt of court is an entirely discretionary jurisdiction and there is a cascade of response available to a judge, Mr Dowling said.

Where a contempt is committed during the course of proceedings, a judge can  but is not obliged to  initiate a form of contempt procedure and deal with the matter himself.

Alternatively, a prosecution for criminal contempt can be initiated by the DPP. The DPP would then have to decide whether or not to initiate a prosecution in the normal way.
Presidency of the G7 Ambassadors Group in Ukraine passed from Italy to Canada.

"As the year ends, the Italian Embassy in Ukraine hands over the Group's Presidency to the Embassy of Canada. We are grateful for the constant cooperation during 2024. G7 support for Ukraine remains unwavering," the G7 Ambassadors said on X media.
A five-year global research programme has reached the Hauraki Gulf with scientists aiming to determine the seabeds ability to store carbon and support biodiversity.

University of Exeter scientists from the United Kingdom are on the water for a month taking samples at various points of the cable protection area.

Sediment samples are frozen and sent for analysis in an effort to establish differences in existing protection inside and outside the CPA where there is evidence of trawling activities.

Any signs of life are placed into ethanol and sent for analysis.

The research comes under the umbrella of the Convex Seascape Survey, being undertaken around the globe, with 100 experts involved in the project.

The programme is largely funded by insurance tycoon and philanthropist Stephen Catlin, chairman of Convex Insurance.

A team of three UK scientists are based at Leigh, north of Auckland, working with University of Auckland staff at the Leigh Marine Laboratory for UK-based ocean conservation charity the Blue Marine Foundation.

The Hauraki Gulf was identified as ideal for the study because it has protected soft-sediment habitats next to areas affected by trawling, less than 100m deep, and with muddy seabeds.

Dr Ben Harris, from left, with PhD students Tara Williams and Mara Fischer at work in the Leigh Marine Laboratory. Photo / Al Williams

Led by Dr Ben Harris, and PhD students Mara Fischer and Tara Williams, the project is labour-intensive.

Harris is a marine ecologist and graduate from Victoria University in Wellington. He has expertise in the ecological functions of temperate benthic communities, small animals that live on or in the bottom of bodies of water.

His work as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Exeter investigates the impact of human disturbance on benthic communities and their ability to uptake and sequester carbon.

Harris says he is exploring questions that will help answer how human disturbance, such as trawling and dredging, influence the processes of blue carbon uptake, storage, and loss from ocean seascapes.

Tara Williams and Mara Fischer sift through the sediment looking for signs of life. Photo / Al Williams

The research could influence debate over the expansion of and creation of marine protection zones, potentially driving economic growth.

The work employs a variety of techniques including remotely operated underwater video, baited remote underwater video, scuba, and groundbreaking vibro-corers which extract the sediment samples.

In the Hauraki Gulf, eight sites have been identified.

Harris says the paired sites will allow for a comparison of areas under protection and those subjected to high trawling activity.

The baited remote underwater videos capture footage of benthic fish and invertebrate communities, while grab sampling assesses infauna within the sediment.

Ben Harris controls a remotely operated vehicle, observing the ocean floor. Photo/Al Williams

Remotely operated video surveys are being used to study animals living on the seabed, while vibro-coring, which uses a vibrating core tube, will allow researchers to measure the amount of carbon stored in the seabed, up to 1m.

Harris says the research aligns with New Zealands conservation goals, particularly revitalising the Hauraki Gulf, aimed at reversing ecological degradation in the stretch of water. The study will contribute to the planned national marine sediment carbon inventory by the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (Niwa).

Through collaboration with the Department of Conservation and other stakeholders, the survey would eventually provide data that is crucial for sustainable marine management and advancing blue carbon science, he says.

Harris says evidence in the Hauraki Gulf is overwhelming from what he has already seen. Im really shocked about how much stuff is inside the cable site.

Its a six-week window for the trio, working on board the University of Auckland research vessel Te Kaihopara.

While grab sampling will be sent to Niwa for analysis, the frozen sediment samples will be sent to Exeter where the painstaking research will continue.

Much of it appears to be literally sifting through sediment with a fine-tooth comb.

Te Kaihopara is skippered by Auckland University Faculty of Science senior technician Brady Doak. Photo / Al Williams

Harris says its contentious research and politics often stands in the way.

You are setting out to measure it, Blue Marine Foundation have an agenda, its a good agenda.

Te Kaihopara is skippered by Auckland University Faculty of Science senior technician Brady Doak, with support from senior technician Paul Caiger.

The pair share decades of experience in the Hauraki Gulf.

Caiger is the Auckland University dive safety officer. Hes the author of Fishes of Aotearoa, an illustrated book with descriptions of fish life in New Zealand.

Auckland University Faculty of Science senior technician Paul Caiger shows Ben Harris a chart of the Hauraki Gulf. Photo / Al Williams

Meanwhile, Harris describes New Zealand as a shining example of great marine protection areas.

He has undertaken similar studies in the United Kingdom where he says such areas are almost non-existent.

Telecommunications giant Spark is also keeping an eye on things, he says, as it oversees the CPA.

I message Spark each day and let them know where we are, it gives them an opportunity to monitor what we are doing.

Its another considerable responsibility given the potential consequence of disturbing the CPA, he says.

Any anchoring in the cable zone has to be permitted.

Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island pictured from the bridge of Te Kaihopara. Photo / Al Williams

Todays sailing is within the vicinity of Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island, with samples taken at a depth of about 50m.

While Harris describes human impact in the gulf as not as intense as elsewhere, he labels it ecologically collapsed.

The lobster fishery is functionally extinct; the snapper fishery is way done, the scallop fishery is hammered.

The researchers will spend 30 days on the vessel taking samples.

You have to make sure it is consistent; its a flyover which captures everything.

Looking at everything below and above the seabed, we are trying to get a holistic image, an overall picture.

The samples are placed straight into ethanol and will be analysed. Photo / Al Williams

He says there have been surprises.

Some patches of the seabed that are quite rich in life, a lot of stuff growing out of the seabed.

Analysis of the vibro-coring, taken and analysed in slices will likely tell stories, thousands of years in the making, he says.

Harris helped design and build a frame to stabilise the vibro-corer on the open ocean.

We built a modified frame to hold it in place, it worked pretty well, its going to be a game changer, he says.

Ben Harris, Mara Fischer and Tara Williams will spend long hours sifting through sediment to find samples. Photo / Al Williams

While Williams is focusing on invertebrate communities, Fischer is looking at fish communities.

Its a massive area of research, alongside it is the question if there is a link between the life that sits around the seabed and carbon in the seabed.

This research is a way of ground truthing that trawling is at least impacting the seabed to hold carbon.

We know that trawling, sweeping and dredging affects it, even though we know it, legislation has not been that good globally.

We have the potential to expand marine protected areas; its a better selling point.

If you have an organisation that has a massive carbon footprint, they could be more inclined to invest.

Its potentially creating an economy.
Independent commissioner Gina Sweetman heard about nauseating odours endured by logging yard employees near the Kawerau worm farm over the past 10 years, at a hearing on Tuesday.

The hearing, held at Bay of Plenty Regional Councils Whakatane office, was to hear submissions and reports on Ecocasts application for resource consents from the regional council and Whakatane District Council to expand its worm farm operation on the outskirts of Kawerau.

The worm farm has been operating since 2008, but increased the amount of biosolids it received from council wastewater plants as it took on waste from more Bay of Plenty councils, including Rotorua in 2011 and Tauranga in 2022.

The applicant, Ecocast owner Tom McDowall, said it took about one year from the time the raw material arrived on site until it was able to leave as fertiliser used in the horticulture industry.

He said the expansion of the site would increase the amount of land to a greater degree than the volume of raw material received, and would allow operating practices that would significantly decrease odours.

Manulife Forest Management environment manager Sally Strang spoke to her submission on the effects of the vermicast business on workers at the neighbouring log yard.

The objectionable nature of these odours ranges from very unpleasant to nauseating and unbearable.

The frequency of the odours was variable.

Several weeks can pass with no issues, but on other occasions the odour has occurred daily.

Attending the hearing with Ms Strang was Kajavala Forestry owner Jacob Kajavala who has 25 staff working at Manulifes Kawerau Processing Yard, and one of those employees, mechanic Winton Thompson.

Kajavala said when the odours became severe, they found it more useful to communicate with Ecocast directly rather than make a complaint to the regional council because by the time someone from the council arrived on site, the smell had often dissipated.

Unfortunately, this meant there was no record of complaints to the council, he said.

To give a sense of the frequency of issues and level of impact and frustration it caused, example screen shots from Mr Thompsons phone were provided to Sweetman.

The texts revealed smells so bad that staff werent able to eat during their breaks. It would linger inside buildings and vehicles.

Strangs original submission asked the commissioner to decline the submission. Since then, she and Mr Kajavala had met with Ecocast staff who took them on a site visit, showing them proposed changes to biosolids deliveries to a bunker further from the log yard.

They were shown that covering the raw materials with wood chip immediately after it was unloaded from the trucks significantly reduced the odour.

Which then gave me the impression that the odours in the past had been just because of them not having good work processes that ensure the solids that are dropped off are covered immediately  not five minutes or half an hour later.

She seeks consent conditions that ensure this happens all the time.

Kajavala said he was amazed on visiting the site to experience the effectiveness of mixing human waste with bark.

You could still smell it, but it wasnt the stomach-churning, nauseating, throw-up sort of stuff.

We want that operation to work. Its a good thing for the community if it works well, but it tramples our mana when were trying to have lunch, and we cant.

Ngati Tuwharetoa Settlement Trust kaumatua were unable to attend the hearing but trustee Sandie Rota and former trustee, Kawerau mayor Faylene Tunui, spoke on their behalf to support the iwi request for cultural consideration.

She said the conversation with Ecocast at which the iwi first shared its concerns had been four years ago.

The main concern of the iwi had been with blood, which was considered tapu, being present in human waste being trucked into the rohe from other areas.

Our kuia had real concerns that the tension is that the western science and Maori maatanga do not always meet in the middle.

One size does not fit all in te ao Maori and there is some location specific practices that need to be respected and understood a little bit more.

Tunui said there was a willingness among the settlement trust to meet with Ecotrust to discuss a way forward.

I would just ask, commissioner, that it is resourced appropriately.

After some private discussion during an adjornment, Ecocasts lead planner Simon Banks expressed the companys commitment to better operational practices to reduce odour, on granting of the consent, and willingness to carry out and pay for cultural induction training for employees under the guidance of the settlement trust.

Sweetman said once she had made a decision on the next steps she would let all the parties know in writing.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
An international test shows adults' literacy and numeracy has fallen significantly over the past eight years.

Results from the OECD's international Survey of Adult Skills in 31 OECD nations last year showed this country's scores were about average for literacy and below average for numeracy.

New Zealand's 16-65 scored an average of 260 for literacy, 256 for numeracy and 249 for "adaptive problem solving".

The scores were well-behind those of league table leader, Finland, with average scores of 296 for literacy, 294 for numeracy and 276 for problem solving.

They were also lower than the previous round of tests, with a 21-point drop in literacy and a 15-point drop in numeracy.

The report said many countries had lower scores than the last time the test was run, in 2015, but New Zealand's declines were among the largest.

A quarter of New Zealand adults were reading and writing at the lowest level of proficiency, double the figure recorded in 2015 and 13 percent performed at a high level, slightly fewer than in 2015.

In numeracy 28 percent performed poorly, up from 19 percent, while 12 percent were good at numeracy, down from 15 percent.

The report indicated that increased immigration had affected New Zealand's results.

"Between 2014 and 2022-23, the proportion of foreign-born adults of foreign-born parents grew by about 7 percentage points in New Zealand. Over this same time period, the declines in literacy proficiency were more pronounced for foreign-born adults than for native-born adults in New Zealand, and the literacy gap between the two groups widened.

It also found New Zealand's gender differences were larger than the OECD average in literacy but smaller in numeracy.

"On average, across participating OECD countries and economies, women displayed higher average proficiency than men in literacy (by 3 points), while men scored higher in numeracy (by 10 points) and adaptive problem solving (by 2 points). In New Zealand, a significant 12 points difference in favour of women was observed in literacy; no significant difference was observed in numeracy; and no significant difference was observed in adaptive problem solving."

The report said in all countries higher levels of education were associated with greater proficiency in literacy, numeracy and problem solving.

"In New Zealand, among adults aged 25-65, those with tertiary education scored 29 points higher in literacy than those with upper secondary education (OECD average: 33 points), and those with upper secondary education scored 48 points higher than those with less than upper secondary education (OECD average: 43 points)," the report said.

The survey also measured differences between age groups.

"Older adults (aged 55 to 65) in New Zealand displayed lower proficiency than 25-34 year-olds in adaptive problem solving, and similar proficiency in literacy and numeracy. On average across OECD countries, adults aged 55-65 scored below 25-34 year-olds in all domains (by 30 points, in literacy). Skill gaps between older and younger adults could reflect ageing effects, but also differences in the quality and quantity of education and training across generations."

The report said 33 percent of New Zealand workers were over-qualified for their job, compared to the OECD average of 23 percent, and 34 percent were over-skilled.

"About 10 percent of workers report that some of their skills are lower than what is required for their job (OECD average: 10 percent). In New Zealand, they often say this is because they need to improve their computer or software skills (50 percent), followed by project management or organizational skills (39 percent)," it said.

"In OECD countries, adults who are overqualified for their job incur significant economic and social costs. This is less the case in New Zealand: on average, their wages are 17 percent lower than peers in well-matched jobs who have similar educational attainment (OECD average: 12 percent lower). However, they are not significantly less likely to report a high level of life satisfaction (OECD average: 4 percentage points less likely)."

-RNZ
Kiwis don't fly... not for the summer holidays anyway.

Instead, we drive to our favourite destinations to relax with friends and family and enjoy the sun.

But a recent poll shows more than a third New Zealanders have not made holiday plans, and part of that is due to cost.

The survey from Perceptive Research found that the economic downturn is having an impact on summer spending choices.

One women told First Up she was going to have a holiday locally because everything was too expensive.

"We've got lots of stuff in New Zealand to do, so there's no need to go overseas," she said.

Another woman said to keep costs down she was going camping with family.

"We go camping every year. We usually plan on holidays with my daughter and her husband as well."

One man said he liked to go what he called "vamping" over the summer.

"Work van converted into a campervan and stay at campgrounds."

New Zealand Research Company Perceptive asked nearly 1600 people about their holiday plans.

Managing Director Dan Shaw said most Kiwis who were planning to travel were keeping things local.

"The majority of people are going and spending time with friends and family at the beach, at a bach booking through Book-a-Bach or Air BnB, we see a lot of that happening, probably those traditional Kiwi type holidays."

That was good news for Marie Mckernan, founder of Hosts on the Coast, a local Coromandel bach provider.

"We've got more and more bookings coming in everyday.

"So we are 90 percent booked of all houses for New Year's and more bookings that I've now got to get in into my emails and sort.

"We'll have no houses without a booking for New Year."

"Summer's looking very good. We started this business four years ago and since then we've had Covid, damaged roads, cyclones and storms."

The Perceptive survey also showed only 29 percent of respondents were travelling internationally over the break.

Shaw told First Up the cost of living crisis might be encouraging people to have a traditional Kiwi holiday this year.

"In terms of not having the same potentially disposable income available to Kiwi families, I think that that's exactly what we're seeing that intent to go in and join New Zealand, you know, to get to the beach, to go and enjoy those those bach - camping, caravaning, those sort of things, it certainly seems like it's generated that shift back to the traditional Kiwi holiday."

For others, it was more appealing to stay at home during the peak holiday period to avoid.

One woman said she was planning to entertain at home.

"I'm not planning to go away, but I am planning to have lots of friends over, lots of good food, good company and just nice time to wind down and avoid the traffic.

"We'll go away around February, March. I'll go to the beach."

And of course, another popular option for an affordable break was to find a family member living near the beach.

One woman said she was staying with her mother-in-law.

"So it's just in Katikati. So it's low cost for us cause we have somewhere to stay and she's close to the beach."

Camping is a popular and cheap getaway option for many Kiwis with a standard department of conservation campsite costing an adult $10 to $15.

DOC said many sites are already booked out over the peak Christmas and New Year period, but there were still opportunities for those looking to explore the natural beauty of places like Northland over the summer.

-RNZ
The penalties will be paid in quarterly instalments of $5000 each by Asad Horticulture and Asaduzzaman.

An Employment NZ statement said sole director and shareholder Mohammad Asaduzzaman must pay $30,000 for the same breaches.

The Employment Relations Authority has ordered Asad Horticulture Limited, which is now in liquidation, to pay $70,000 for breaching minimum employment standards and for being in arrears with paying the employees holiday pay entitlements.

A labour supply company to the Bay of Plenty kiwifruit industry and its sole director have been fined $100,000 after underpaying three employees over several years.

Significant arrears were owed and Asad Horticulture and Asaduzzamans recording-keeping breaches were systemic, the statement said.

Following an agreement with the Labour Inspectorate, the company and Asaduzzaman paid the affected employees $45,170.13 in arrears.

Asad Horticulture was placed into liquidation on August 14.

Kevin Finnegan, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment lead inspector, strategic alignment and primary sector, said it was encouraging that Asad Horticulture and its owner had taken responsibility for the breaches.

However, it is disappointing that it took a full three years before full payment of the arrears was made.

Nevertheless, this is a positive outcome because the Labour Inspector in this case showed tenacity to achieve the right outcome for the complainants, despite the time it took.

ERA member Andrew Dallas said Asad and Asaduzzamans willingness to participate in mediation, agree upon arrears of wages and pay these in full were mitigating factors in reaching his decision on the penalties.

However, full payment was not achieved for three years after the complaint was made and should be considered late performance of duty rather than being seen as an act of contrition.

Dallas denied an application for permanent non-publication orders in favour of Asad and Asaduzzaman.

The Authority is bound by the presumption of open justice. While there may be occasions where this presumption can and, indeed, probably should be departed from, this is not one of them.

Finnegan said while the Labour Inspectorate prefers to support employers to get it right and be compliant when they breached employment standards, we do not hesitate to take enforcement action when it is justified, as it was in this case where three vulnerable workers were owed over $40,000 in holiday entitlements.

We appreciate the fact that non-publication orders were declined as the Inspectorate works closely with Zespri to ensure their supply chain remains free of non-compliant contractors and growers to ensure there is fairness for all those operating in the kiwifruit sector.

-Bay of Plenty Times
The Ministry of Health is this week marking the 20th anniversary of the ground-breaking Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act (2003) coming into force.

The Act ensured that all indoor workplaces, including restaurants, bars, and clubs, became 100 per cent smokefree.

New Zealanders advocated for this change, and it brought about a fundamental shift where smoking was no longer socially acceptable inside, said Deputy Director-General Public Health Agency Dr Andrew Old.

Young people, who would have grown up with this change, now have some of the lowest smoking rates in the world."

Old said latest data highlights that around 98 per cent of children are no longer exposed to second-hand smoke inside the home - a 3 per cent increase from 10 years ago - indicating a generational shift away from cigarettes in New Zealand.

The Act was a pivotal step in making sure that, for the first time, workers and staff were legally protected from second-hand smoke," Old said.

The denormalisation of smoking has also had positive effects on the health of all New Zealanders. In 2004, nearly 1 in 4 New Zealanders over 15 were cigarette smokers. As of 2024, that number is approximately 1 in 14.

We know from the Global Burden of Disease study (2021) that tobacco attributable deaths for all causes is on a downward path, he said.

New Zealand has seen some of the largest drops in smoking rates across the world in recent years, from 16.4 per cent smoking daily in 2011/12 to 6.9 per cent in the 2023/24 New Zealand Health Survey.

Background

The Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill was submitted in 1999 as a Private Members Bill.

In its initial format, the Bill didnt specify protection from second-hand smoke for workers in licensed premises but did include other measures, such as a ban on smoking in the buildings and grounds of schools, a ban on the display of tobacco at the point of sale, and increased power for judges to remove the rights of retailers who were caught repeatedly selling tobacco to minors.

In 2003 the Health Committee recommended a complete ban on smoking be introduced in all indoor workplaces, including bars, casinos, and restaurants. The aims of the revised Bill were to further protect workers, volunteers, and the public from exposure to second-hand smoke, to decrease harm to individuals caused by their smoking, and to further restrict access of minors to smoking products.

In response to the recommendations of the Health Committee, the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Act received Royal Assent on 10 December 2003 and came into force on 10 December 2004.
Many residents in the Whakatane neighbourhood of Awatapu were surprised last week to see a new cell tower had appeared on council reserve land, practically overnight.

Marley Taipeti said he saw the Connexa truck arrive on Wednesday afternoon to install the tower on Awatapu Drive beside the reserve and pump station, and went over to ask the workers what was happening.

A Spark spokesperson said it had built the 13 metre cell tower to improve connectivity for the surrounding community.

With demand for data doubling in Whakatane in the last three years, it is critical that we upgrade and build new cell towers to ensure we can meet that demand.

Mr Taipeti said he was disappointed he hadnt been informed a cell tower was being built in his neighbourhood.

The council, or whoever is supposed to approve these things, didnt let anybody know about it.

I own a house there. For me, at least they could have educated us on these towers  even a pamphlet.

I dont know much about these towers but I know they have radiation. I dont know if its going to be safe for my children. I don't want my kids, over time, or my grandkids getting sick.

New Zealand mobile networks adhere to safety standards set by Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand), which include substantial safety margins for radiofrequency power, 50 times lower than the point there could be any impact on human health," the Spark spokesperson said.

Our towers are typically only a small fraction of the permitted exposure level.

Whakatane resource consents manager Mike Avery said the Spark mobile phone antenna had been granted resource consent on July 9.

It was a permitted activity under the Whakatane District Plan but required consent as a controlled activity under the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities (NES-TF). The antenna was being erected on an existing light pole on a road reserve.

The NES-TF is generally enabling of telco works, Mr Avery said. Especially when these are co-located with other services, such as on a light pole. As a controlled activity under the NES-TF, the consent had to be granted and is not subject to any form of notification.

The Spark spokesperson said it went through a rigorous process to select a location for cell towers that provided the best connectivity for the most amount of people while also ensuring it avoids interference with other cell towers, trees and buildings, considers the visual impact within the landscape, and ensuring it adheres to environmental standards.

Cell towers are now considered critical infrastructure, providing crucial connectivity that plays a vital role in keeping communities safe, while also ensuring equitable opportunities for communities to flourish in a digital world.

The spokesperson said despite not being required to, where there are residences immediately adjacent to proposed infrastructure, they do let them know by letter, providing a contact for questions and concerns.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Ignacio Lillo / Eugenio Cabezas Malaga Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 13:11 | Updated 14:12h. Compartir

Spain's state weather agency forecast for Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 December gave a certain probability of snow on the highest peaks of Malaga province and the Aemet prediction has been fulfilled.

Workers from the Junta de Andalucia's Plan Infoca in Alfarnate, the highest village in the Axarquia at almost 900 metres above sea level, have captured a video of the snowfall as autumn draws to an end.

From Velez-Malaga and the Axarquia coastal towns of Nerja and Torre del Mar, the peak of La Maroma (2,069 metres above sea level) and other high spots in the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama mountain range can be seen with a thin white layer of snow.

It is not the first time it has snowed in the Axarquia this autumn; it also did so on 27 October during the first of the two spells of heavy rain that have affected Malaga province this season.

Aemet has set the snow level for today at around 1,300 to 1,400 metres above sea level, mainly in mountain ranges near the coast in the eastern part of the province. By tomorrow it will rise to 1,500-1,600 metres and could also extend to Los Montes de Malaga, El Torcal and Sierra Bermeja.

There are still ten days to go before the astronomical arrival of winter, although the meteorological winter began on 1 December. Temperatures are currently below normal but are forecast to rise again from Saturday 14 December.
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 15:06 Compartir

The project for Malaga port's new tower hotel is taking shape. The international studio of British architect David Chipperfield, winner of the Pritzker Prize (the Nobel Prize for architecture) in 2023, together with the technical experts from the Spanish hotel group Hoteles Hesperia, are currently firming up the final project. This includes not only the parts regarding the build, the concept, but, above all, the civil engineering and geotechnical studies needed to build in such a location, as well as the economic and financial aspects.

The entire dossier must be handed over to the city's port authority by 6 March at the latest, which means that there are less than three months left to complete plans. Once the review is complete with the port authority, it is this institution that will take the plans to Spain's Puertos del Estado nationwide port authority in Madrid. Only then can the project go before a meeting of top Spanish government ministers. This body will ultimately be the one to give the project the final green light, or not.

The group of investors that have come together under the name of Andalusian Hospitality II, (the aforementioned hotel group Hoteles Hesperia along with the Al Alfia fund from Qatar), is working with the expectation that the Spanish government will eventually support the construction of this luxury hotel in Malaga's Levante dock, known as 'Torre del Puerto' in Spanish. So, to this end, it is already undertaking the first phase of scoping the project with an investment of around 4.5 million euros, according to port sources with knowledge of the project.

The developers intend to present the new design for the 'Torre del Puerto' at a public event in Malaga at the beginning of February.

Of this figure, 2.5 million euros corresponds to the preliminary studies of the geotechnical, civil engineering, financial and commercial operation aspects of this undertaking, among others. The commissioning of the design by David Chipperfield Architects (DCA) will cost a further two million euros.

The British studio is currently immersed in the development of a tower building designed to be 140 metres high (25 to 30 storeys). While the 'special port plan' - approved a year ago by the city's urban planning authority - allows for a rise to 150 metres, the studio decided to not take it to the maximum height permitted. The few details that have transpired so far are that the new tower will be more slender and stylised than the designs that have been proposed up to now.

The proposal that has been on the table until now, that of Malaga-based Estudio Segui, is the one that has served as the basis for the long process over these part seven years, and the design has had two other tower heights proposed: the first for 135 metres and then the second was lowered to 116.

"We have technical meetings practically every week with the port authority and a lot of progress is being made," say sources from the development group, who point out that the geotechnical study and the excavations on the Levante breakwater are also going at a good pace. In fact, this is a key phase, both because the port authority's own engineers have demanded that the structure be very well justified at such a sensitive location, and because the foundations will determine the type of building that can be constructed.

Public presentation

The foundations will have to go to a great depth to settle on solid rock on the seabed. "Geotechnics will determine the height and shape, as well as the layout of the car parking and the first floor (initially intended for a large-capacity convention centre)," state these sources. With this in mind, work is being done on a taller but also lighter and less voluminous structure, always within the legal margins of the maximum buildable ceiling of 150 metres set out by the special port plan.

The aim of the developers is to unveil the new image of the Torre del Puerto, now under the signature of Chipperfield, at an event in Malaga which is expected to take place at the beginning of February. That is taking place just a few weeks before the definitive construction project is handed over to Malaga's port authority. This event will bring together representatives from the sponsoring groups (Hesperia and Al Alfia), DCA architects, the port authority, Malaga city council and other public dignitaries and interested parties.

Segui is still negotiating his involvement in the future project. While the new tower hotel for Malaga port is taking shape with David Chipperfield's design studio, the Malaga architect Jose Segui is still in talks with the developers to negotiate his involvement in the following phases of the project, should it go ahead. All the parties involved, both Hesperia Hotels and the Qatari investment fund Al Alfia on the one hand, and Estudio Segui on the other, have agreed on their mutual interest in Jose Segui's studio participating somehow in the development of the work to be done on the future hotel. However, both parties prefer not to reveal at this juncture further details about the terms of this possible collaborative agreement. It is worth remembering that Segui, together with his collaborators, was the ideologist, promoter and main supporter of this initiative from its earliest beginnings, under the former port authority president Paulino Plata. He has also been the visible face and the go-to technical expert throughout these seven years of planning to date, taking and defending the proposal to the port authority, the city council's urban planning department and the public. Now that the architectural design has been entrusted to Chipperfield, Pritzker Prize winner of 2023, the developers have reserved for the Malaga studio a role as local architect, that is, associated with DCA studio, due to its local knowledge of the urban planning administrative process in Malaga, Andalucia and Spain, as well as for project managing the build, in the event that the project gets the go-ahead. In any case, it will take several years to get to the point of starting to process the building permits and starting the work on the ground, as there are two planning objection appeals that will have to be resolved and then the green light will have to be given by central government's council of ministers.

The big question that still remains, and which is not expected to be revealed in the short term, is the brand that will fly its flag over the luxury hotel when it opens to the public. The sources consulted indicate that Hesperia intends to keep negotiations open with the world's leading hoteliers for a few more months yet.

"This project is a sweet deal for all brands and we have very solid proposals that have to be negotiated. They are also subject to confidentiality agreements that cannot be broken until the last moment," says a spokesperson for Hesperia.

Formalities still to be completed

Following the moments of uncertainty experienced after summer when the developers asked for a four-month extension (the initial deadline expired in November) without the port authority knowing the then state of play, the development of the project is now much more on track, as recognised by port management, which are now being informed punctually of the progress being made.

All in all, this is just one of the many requirements that remain to be met before the port tower hotel on the Levante dock can one day become a reality. Previously, the two planning objections lodged by the San Telmo Academy and the private citizens' protest group Defendamos Nuestro Horizonte ('let's defend our horizon') will have to be resolved. Both have already been admitted for processing and, at the pace of justice, a final verdict is not expected for several years.

If the judges validate all the long and complex administrative procedures that have been carried out up to now, it will be the turn of the council of ministers to give the final approval to the hotel as it would be located on state-owned land that is in the public domain as part of the port.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump wants to end this war faster, but it must be done in such a way that it is impossible to start it again, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Of course, when the president [U.S. President-elect Trump] talks about 24 hours, of course it is not a question of him having to decide this [to end the war] in 24 hours. It is very difficult. But he says, I understand his words, that he wants to do it quickly. And it seems to me that it is important that it be done faster, because we are losing people every day," Zelenskyy said in an interview for CBN, published on Wednesday.

At the same time, the president said the Ukrainian side is working with Trump's team, but it will be possible to sort out all the details only after his inauguration.

"It will be legally clean. This is an understandable position of the United States of America," Zelenskyy said.

According to him, Ukraine will find all opportunities to end this war faster and fairly.

"And here, it seems to me, we are on the same side with the new president of the United States. He really wants to end the war," the head of the Ukrainian state said.

The president added that Trump understands that the United States cannot be weak.

"And this is right, because it will not end with Ukraine. If Ukraine is weak, if the position of the United States is not strong, there will be explosions of war in other parts of the world. And we are talking about Europe, where there are high risks, like the Balkans, like the Baltic countries, which were part of the Soviet Union at one time," Zelenskyy said.
SUR in English Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 20:13 Compartir

The international media on the Costa del Sol opted to return to La Cala de Mijas again this year to celebrate Christmas at El Olivo restaurant.

Turkey with all the trimmings was one of several options on the menu, and there was also a seasonal media-related quiz - won by Joan Fallon and Jennie Rhodes - and a Secret Santa draw.

Rather than drive home after the party, several members opted to stay at the nearby Gran Hotel Costa del Sol.

Neil Hesketh, the club President, announced that the next meeting will be the AGM, to be held in Fuengirola on Monday 20 January.

Zoom Quiz winners Jennie Rhodes and Joan Fallon with club president Neil Hesketh and committee member Louise Cook-Edwards. Karl Smallman

Founded in 2002, the Costa Press Club is a fully recognised and accredited association under Spanish law, providing members with a unique social and professional forum. Meetings are held in a variety of venues on average every two months, normally with guest speakers. Club membership is open to anyone with a background in journalism or media content provision, including print newspapers and magazines, online digital, photography, television, radio, multimedia and social media.
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Wednesday, 11 December 2024 | Updated 12/12/2024 07:53h. Compartir

The situation of uncertainty about the location of the latest storms to hit Spain is becoming clearer. It has led the state weather agency to activate amber warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms this Thursday 12 December in parts of Malaga province, due to downpours of more than 30mm in one hour, and 60mm in 12 hours. Yesterday, Aemet initially activated a yellow alert for the Axarquia but now it has been extended and upgraded to Malaga city, the western Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce valley, where the largest amount of rain is expected.

This will happen when after yesterday, Wednesday, the first episode was experienced, especially in coastal areas of the Axarquia region. Although the rainfall was not particularly intense, the day became a showcase of winter weather phenomena. In addition to the showers, there was light snowfall at the high altitudes of the Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama, and the winter cold was particularly noticeable.

To top it all off, a new sea swell swept along the coast in front of Benalmadena, making it five such phenomena since the end of October.

Zoom Areas covered by the Aemet yellow "risk" weather alerts on Thursday. Aemet

Temperatures

Starting with temperatures, the minimum on the Malaga Airport thermometer (which is the statistical reference for Aemet) was only 3.5C yesterday, at 8am in the morning. At 2pm it was still below 15 degrees, so the feeling of cold was evident for most of the people of Malaga throughout the day. As for rainfall, there were only a few showers, still not very significant: 12mm in Torre del Mar (until 3pm); 7.2 in La Arana; 7.1 at the La Vinuela reservoir (which is the best news of the day, because it will help to support water reserves). As well as 5.9mm in the Benamargosa river; 5.3 in El Trapiche and 5mm in Santon Pitar, in Los Montes de Malaga.

The Aemet forecast also gave a certain probability of snowfall at the highest altitudes of the province, and it has come true. The Plan Infoca technicians who were yesterday working on preventive tasks in the mountains of Alfarnate, in the upper Axarquia, witnessed the beautiful image of the first flakes in this cold end of autumn in Malaga. From Velez-Malaga and the Axarquia coast, the peak of La Maroma (2,069 metres above sea level) and other high enclaves in the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama are already visible with a thin blanket, like a white hat over the area. It is not the first time that it has snowed in this enclave so far this autumn: it already did so on 27 October, during the first of the two snow storms that have affected the province.

The good news is that it is raining again in Malaga province. The bad news is that the heaviest rainfall is falling in the sea and, at most, on the coastal strip, so it will hardly make any difference to the reservoirs. If anything, it will collaterally affect the reservoir of La Concepcion near Marbella, as it is the closest to the coastal strip of all the reservoirs in the province.

This is the forecast offered by Aemet, although it is a complex situation to model and we will have to be alert to possible changes, as a variation of a few kilometres could mean that the centre of the storm makes landfall. In addition, there is an important discrepancy between the two main weather models: the European and the American. The head of Aemet in Malaga, Jesus Riesco, explained that this latest phenomenon is known as an isolated low or isolated cold storm (BFA) and, therefore, it will not be a Dana, as were the two previous weather episodes.

The BFA will move "retrograde", from east to west, and with the unstable easterly flow in Alboran it will give rise to the showers. "Where it will rain most is at sea," Riesco stresses. Although on land it will also rain in many places, and it may be locally heavy in some places on the coast on Thursday, which is when the heaviest intensities are expected. Inland, only light showers are expected.
The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise seeks to share its priorities and reactions in respect of those focus areas emerging from the new European Commission as it begins its mandate period. While the Commission has yet to formally set out its agenda, certain themes - such as competitiveness, innovation, security and economic growth - are undoubtedly in the spotlight.

It is clear that the new Commission has to enhance Europes competitiveness by reducing administrative burdens, fostering innovation, and enabling growth. A business-friendly regulatory environment is vital for ensuring long-term competitiveness and economic strength. These interconnected and horizontal issues reflect critical areas where alignment with the Commissions evolving focus will be essential. Here are some of our Key Messages for the New European Commission:

Reduce The Regulatory Burden

The Competitiveness Check is intended to ensure that new EU legal acts, policy programs, and strategies undergo a comprehensive review to assess their impact on competitiveness, also towards third countries. A clear methodology for assessing this impact should be mandatory in the legislative process. The one in, one out principle should be fully implemented to avoid increasing regulatory burdens.

The Commission should focus on fewer, more impactful proposals, with thorough impact assessments and stakeholder consultations. Before adopting new legislation, the Commission should spend time evaluating existing regulations through an evaluation bank. The Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) should be given more independence and authority, including approval of proposals before adoption, ensuring regulations support business growth and competitiveness.

Strengthening Europes Defence and Economic Security

It is crucial to emphasize the role of the wider business community in achieving both comprehensive civil and military preparedness, as also acknowledged by the Niinisto Report. By involving companies of all sizes and across sectors, we can ensure a holistic approach that leverages innovation, flexibility, and the unique capacities of the private sector. Our societal resilience at the time of crisis must not be confined to government action alone; the integration of businesses into preparedness efforts is essential for building robust systems that can adapt to future challenges.

The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise supports the findings of the Niinisto report who is calling for EU Member States to increase their capabilities, robustness and preparedness, we urge caution when considering any possible sector-specific exceptions to competition and Single Market rules. Such measures, while well-intentioned, could result in unintended cascade impacts across industries, hindering economic efficiency and competitiveness. A delicate balance must be struck between enhancing security and maintaining the principles of open competition that underpin the success of the Single Market.

Improving Capital Markets

The EUs capital markets should be further developed, by implementing national reforms, which improve efficiency and increase the supply of capital for investment. Harmonization of EU financial markets should only be pursued where necessary and proven to improve outcomes. In addition, it must not harm existing well-functioning systems.

As a first step, Member States should use their national competencies to individually strengthen the efficiency of their financial markets. Best practices should be identified and used as inspiration for initiatives at the national level. Overregulation of financial markets, in response to inadequate investment, risks driving capital abroad to markets outside the EU. The main focus should rather remain on strengthening the competitiveness of European businesses, as an enhanced business environment will attract both foreign and domestic investment. To identify effective solutions requires further analysis, drawing on OECD Capital Market Reviews and international insights.

Strengthening EUs Digital Position

The EUs complex digital regulatory environment, including the GDPR, the AI Act along with others such as the DMA, DSA, and the Data Act, are hindering innovation and complicating compliance. This is particularly true for start-ups and SMEs. To improve the business environment and encourage investment, the EU needs to simplify and harmonize its current rules, ensure impact assessments for any new legislation and avoid overregulating areas already covered by existing frameworks such as the GDPR. A focus on clarity, predictability and reducing compliance costs is essential for fostering a competitive tech sector.

Simplify and Harmonize Digital Networks

The electronic communication regulations in the EU are highly fragmented, with different rules at national and even regional level. Fragmentation makes it particularly difficult for actors who want to scale up and operate across borders, and it also discourages the willingness to invest in the EU. Crucial measures for the digital networks of the future are therefore to harmonize and simplify rules to attract investment, promote innovation, increase security and complete the digital single market.

Strengthening Europes Patent System

The commercialisation of innovation requires that new ideas or inventions are successfully developed into marketable products or services. Often, it is the intangible assets that are the key to making that happen. The ownership of European patents and trademarks is associated with a fivefold-higher rate of securing early-stage funding compared with the ownership of national intellectual property rights. There are, however, challenges for both the legal protection of intangible assets and for emerging technologies in Europe. This is valid for both copyrights and patents. The poor handling of digital innovations in Europes patent system is driving investment to other markets, such as the United States.

The patent system in Europe needs to be improved, as uncertainties surrounding patentability are hindering innovation within the Union. Clear and modernised criteria for patentability are needed, particularly for emerging technologies.

Electricity Bidding Zones

The European Commission is currently reviewing the design of the electricity bidding zones within the EUs internal energy market. Bidding zones, which determine local electricity prices, are essential for reflecting regional supply and demand, encouraging efficient resource use and ensuring grid stability. Well-designed zones can help integrate renewable energy and optimise pricing; suboptimal zones, however, can reveal transmission bottlenecks or force reliance on cross-border electricity imports. This initiative is a key step toward a more integrated and functioning European electricity market.

To meet the EUs climate goals of net zero by 2050 and a 55% emissions reduction by 2030, a massive expansion of fossil-free electricity is vital. Energy price volatility also threatens the European economy; the EU must therefore increase its domestic energy production - renewables, nuclear - and its energy efficiency.

A Water-Resilient Europe

To build a water-resilient Europe, the European Commission must create policies that appropriately balance environmental protection with the needs of industry. While harmful substances clearly must be regulated, many restricted substances are naturally occurring and pose no significant risk to health or the environment. Water policies must take into account regional differences in water availability across the EU, recognising that these disparities impact competitiveness and should be reflected in policy design.

The Commission should reconsider these restrictions to avoid hindering important industrial projects that are essential for the green transition.

Social Policy

The new Commission should recognize the importance of member states being able to adapt policies to their specific social frameworks. It is also important to avoid unnecessary transaction costs through the creation of multilayer legislation. Historically, well-functioning national social bargaining systems based on strong social partners are better equipped to handle quick changes in the economy, which is also better from a competitiveness perspective.

Competition Policy and State Aid

State Aid should continue to be limited to addressing market failures, such as fundamental research or green investments where there is no clear business case. Subsidising specific firms and industries can restrict competition and discourage innovative startups, since State Aid often favours larger firms who are equipped with greater resources to be able to influence political decisions and secure government financial support. The EU should avoid matching aid linked to subsidies in third countries, as it leads to a race to the bottom and places the EU at a disadvantage because of its slower approval process.

Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) projects should be deployed for a limited number of research, development and innovation (RDI) and cross-border infrastructure projects; they should not be used for mass production. Given the administrative burden and lack of evaluation of the outcomes of earlier projects, this tool should be used cautiously and sparingly.

A Competitive Single Market

In an uncertain world, Europes greatest geopolitical asset is its Single Market, the key driver of our future prosperity. Companies benefit most from the Single Market when it serves effectively as a large, single European home market, free from barriers to trade and with clear, simple rules that promote competition. This can be achieved through making effective use of the better regulation toolbox and through better enforcement. The administrative burden - such as the micromanagement of legislation and standards, over-use of delegated acts and the lack of market control and oversight  also needs to be reduced. Addressing these shortcomings, barriers and lingering distortions could boost the EU GDP by as much as 9%, according to a recent analysis by Jacques Pelkmans.

The EU needs to invest in new technology and the green transition as well as more research, development and innovation. In so doing, it is important to treat the Single Market as one by respecting the principles of equality and mutual recognition. Singling out sectors, by providing them with special support and/or exceptions from common rules, risks adding to the administrative complexity and increasing the fragmentation of the Single Market.

International Trade

It is only when companies are allowed to trade globally that they can thrive and ensure that Europe has the economic muscles needed to take on the massive investments needed in in areas such as defence, cybersecurity and the green transition. The EU should prioritise the quick ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement, recognising its significant economic and geopolitical value. It should also pursue pragmatic trade negotiations with India, Indonesia and other Asian countries, focusing on achievable goals such as lower tariffs, simplified trade procedures and less divergence between product standards. Where full FTAs are not feasible, mini deals in areas such as digital partnerships and raw materials should be explored.

International trade is inherently risky. Yet although risk cannot be fully eliminated, geopolitical risks can be mitigated through tools such as investment screening and export controls to address security issues without escalating conflicts. Rather than creating a new instrument to screen outbound investment, reforming the export control regime to address real dangers it would be a better approach.



Charlotte Andersdotter, International Director and Head of EU-Office
COMPANY PERSPECTIVE: Over the past year alone, Saab has hired 3,000 people and more will be needed. Now, more people realise the importance of having a European defence industry, says Peter Hultin, head of Saabs Brussels office.

Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has not merely resulted in high death tolls and human tragedies; for the first time in decades, war in Europe has put European security at the top of the agenda. Following the outbreak of the war, Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO, and the Swedish defence company Saab has grown significantly as a result of the hostilities.

 We are a private, publicly listed company, and its no secret that weve grown, in part as a consequence of the war in Ukraine, says Hultin.

 We see, like many of our colleagues in the defence industry across Europe, an increased demand for our products and a growing recognition among countries of the need for a stronger defence capability.

He emphasises that the companys mission is to keep people safe and secure.

 Thats why Saab was founded in 1937, and its why we are still active today. War is extremely destructive, and not something we want. But in a world where there are actors who are willing to threaten or attack others, nations need to ensure they are able to defend themselves and their populations, and thats where we come in.

Saab has recently invested in a larger office in Brussels and expanded its staff from two to six employees. Also in Brussels, Saab is active as a member of the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), Europes aerospace, defence and security industry trade body, with Saab CEO Micael Johansson currently holding the position of vice-chairman of the board. Other ASD members include Britains BAE Systems, the Franco-German KNDS and Frances Naval Group.

 For us, its important to collaborate with other defence industry players and stakeholders. That way, we can ensure that the political direction and the decisions made here in Brussels strengthen Europes defence capability and our industrial capacity.

 More people now realise the importance of having a European defence industry.

In March this year, the EU presented the European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS). This outlines a vision for the European defence industry policy up to 2035. The focus is on strengthening Europes defence industry.

 This includes industrial programs and the possibility to apply for funds to ramp up production rates sustainably and at a level that guarantees a sufficient defence capability.

Enhancing Europes capacity to produce defence materials is essential to avoid a situation similar to the one that occurred at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, explains Hultin.

 Back then, many Member States panicked and purchased weapons from countries such as the US, Korea and Turkey. In the short term, this was necessary, but in the longer term, its far better if we can rapidly produce the defence materials that we need inside Europe.  We believe that  irrespective of the political leadership in the US  Europe must maintain its own capabilities and the ability to defend itself. This is why we need to develop and manufacture the defence materials we need, here in Europe.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Saab has received a number of billion-dollar orders, including for the Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle. In the past year alone, Saab has added 3,000 net new employees, bringing its global workforce up to 24,000.

 Right now, we need to support Ukraine. In the long term, we also need to build our own capacity to produce our own defence materials.  Its challenging to find the people we need. Like many other industries, we are looking for specific competencies, such as software developers. This has made it difficult to identify and attract the right talent. So far, weve managed to recruit successfully.

We want a more integrated and harmonised internal market

In Brussels, the perception of the defence industry has shifted significantly since Russias invasion of Ukraine.

 Doors that were closed to us in the past are now open, says Hultin.

Attitudes have also changed in Sweden, where the company now regularly receives unsolicited applications. According to the latest survey by the magazine Ny Teknik, Saab is Swedens second-most popular employer among engineers.

 More people now realise the importance of a European defence industry. For us, its a positive development that we can now hold discussions with EU parliamentarians. They are now much more open to talking with us about whats needed to ensure Europe can defend itself. More and more people now realise that we lack the defence materials and personnel required to protect our borders in the event of war.

He points out that there are various political initiatives in Europe to promote better collaboration between the industry and European countries.

 If we can harmonise our efforts and together develop competitive offerings in Europe, we will also compete better internationally.  We want to see a more integrated and harmonised internal market to allow the EU to compete with large economies, such as the US and China. Paradoxically, we need more Europe to get ourselves out of this situation, and above all, we need better regulatory mechanisms.

More investments in the defence industry will be needed in the future

With Finland and Swedens accession to NATO, it now means that 23 of the 27 EU Member States are also NATO allies.

 NATO is a defence alliance, and the EU should not be one. However, the EU should support its Member States by creating a better production apparatus, greater access to raw materials and more proactive support for supply chains.

There is now a dialogue between the EU and NATO on these issues. This is positive and helps ensure there is no duplication or conflicts over roles, Hultin concludes.

 Sure, there are some tensions, but thats to be expected. It should not be an excuse to hinder joint investments in the EU or its collaboration with NATO.

Europes security will dominate the upcoming legislative period. In her mission letters, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has tasked several Commissioners to work on defence-related issues. Also, for the first time, there will be a European Commissioner focused solely on Defence and Space, with Lithuanian candidate Andrius Kubilius taking on the role.

Meanwhile, Finlands Henna Virkkunen is expected to oversee the Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy roles, while Estonias Kaja Kallas has been nominated to become High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The increased focus on security within the next Commission is a positive development, believes Peter Hultin.

 We believe its important for the EU to continue driving industrial policy issues in order to help Member States build a much stronger deterrence capability.  Further investments in the defence industry will be needed in the future, as they will be critical for Europe in building up the defence capability it previously lacked.

Saab is also active in the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG), a body comprised of industrial manufacturers from NATO member states.

 As an industry, we support Swedens NATO membership. However, we are not involved in specific NATO military issues unless they are industry-related.
The new European Commission must prioritise competitiveness and a reduction in regulatory burdens, say Swedish SMEs.

 Theres a real risk that the EU becomes a lazy old man sitting outside a cafe in Berlin or Paris, missing that train to the future, which is already departing in the US and Asia, says Anders Elfstrom, CEO of the production company FILT.

A new EU term also means a new European Commission takes office. The Commission, which can be likened to the EUs central government, for the second time is being led by Ursula von der Leyen, who has already presented the guidelines for its upcoming term this summer. Following major investments in the European Green Deal, the next term will focus, among other things, on Europes security and competitiveness. In her so-called mission letters, von der Leyen has emphasised that most commissioners will work on simplification, a development that has been welcomed by Swedish SME business owners.

 It needs to be simple and attractive to run a business, and we need easy access to both skilled and unskilled labour, says Petter Lundgren, CEO of recruitment and staffing company Clockwork.

 Europe needs to increase immigration, to accelerate integration and to reduce taxes on labour in order to reduce staffing costs. In addition, I also think it would be positive if Sweden adopted the euro.

He believes there should be more world-class universities and research institutions within the EU. In addition, he advocates for EU enlargement, with Ukraine being the first new member.

 On the topic of the green transition, theres a significant risk that we will be overtaken by both China and the US. I have no issues with EU regulations. Indeed, many  like the CSRD  are good, which increases transparency of our sustainability efforts.

 My greatest concern right now is the growing far-right forces in Europe, with political parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany and the National Rally (RN) in France.

Were creating trade barriers for ourselves.

Marie Svensson, CEO of Tjeders, a company providing alarm and communications solutions to municipalities and regions, highlights the importance of strengthening the EUs competitiveness and expresses concern over the increasing regulatory burden.

 We operate in a global market. That makes it crucial that the European Commission doesnt overburden European businesses with a larger and more complex regulatory burden than that of the rest of the world, she says.

She stresses the importance of ensuring that SMEs can comply with the rules.

 Do they achieve their intended effect, or do they merely create paper products, with no real impact? Its important to follow up on regulations, in order to check that they have delivered the intended impact and to ensure that they havent degraded the conditions for European businesses operating globally.

Recently, it was confirmed that Donald Trump will assume office as the US President on 20 January 2025. It remains unclear what effect the returning Presidents trade policies will have on Europe, she notes.

 Were currently in a situation where were creating trade barriers for ourselves, while at the same time Trump will be doing the same for European companies in the US.

One in, one out.

Anders Elfstrom also believes the European Commission must focus on the EUs competitiveness and calls for investments in new technologies and services in the green transition.

 The EU works well for trade in goods between countries, but not as well for services. There are many national rules and bureaucracy that complicate matters. In addition, we need plenty of cheap, fossil-free energy to facilitate business operations, so we should quickly build more nuclear power across the EU. Even where these are national issues, coordinating on technology for economies of scale could reduce the costs.

How should the EU counter the increasing regulatory burden?

 I think One in, one out  just like you find at a packed nightclub at midnight  would be a good motto for any new EU regulation. To introduce a new one, you first need to find an old one to remove. Put that in the EUs constitution, because bureaucrats and politicians tend to find it much easier to simply write new ones.

Do you see any areas of concern moving forward?

 Plenty. Theres a real risk that the EU becomes a lazy old man sitting outside a cafe in Berlin or Paris, missing that train to the future, which is already departing in the US and Asia. The best way to catch up is to compete more effectively with better, more innovative goods and services. The answer is not regulations and laws that protect what already works.

 Of course, some things need to be protected. Given that the EU has lofty climate ambitions for businesses, companies from other parts of the world shouldnt be able to compete in the EU without paying for the added carbon dioxide they emit.

The regulatory burden is a big problem.

Maud Spencer, CEO of Svalson, also stresses that the European Commission must prioritise competitiveness.

 The regulatory burden is a significant problem, because the EU has regulations that other markets dont. It can become difficult for European companies to compete on equal terms with similar businesses in the US or Asia.

She also emphasises the importance of norms and standards within the EU, and argues that having uniform rules across the EU is vital for businesses to be able to compete on equal terms.

 It can be difficult to access EU standards, and it often requires that they be purchased. I think it would be an improvement if the EU helped develop and distribute EU standards, thus making them cheaper for companies to access.

Last spring, only 53 percent of those eligible in Sweden voted in the European Parliament elections, compared to 84 percent in the 2022 general election. Maud Spencer believes there is a significant lack of understanding of EU politics.

 The EU itself is often perceived as distant and complex. In addition, it can be challenging to understand the impact of EU decisions, since any new legislation still needs to be implemented at national level. This adds to the perception that we can only influence things at home.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A Syracuse man pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony charges of dealing fentanyl and meth, according to federal prosecutors.

Diquan Hall, 26, of Syracuse, faces a minimum of five years in federal prison for two felony charges, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York.

As part of his guilty plea, Hall admitted to distributing 17 grams of fentanyl and about 52.6 grams of meth in Liverpool on Feb. 7, 2024. He sold fentanyl to a person working with authorities, according to court documents.

Hall also admitted to distributing 14.1 grams of fentanyl and possessing 19.8 grams of cocaine powder in Liverpool with the intent to sell on Feb. 15, 2024.

Investigators used a confidential informant to obtain Halls phone number, court documents said. The informant contacted Hall and arranged to purchase fentanyl at a prearranged price.

On Feb. 15, Hall met the informant at 107 Meyers Road in Liverpool. He arrived at the address in a red SUV and got into the informants car, where he sold 15 white packages of fentanyl.

After the transaction, authorities arrested Hall and confiscated the fentanyl. They later found cocaine in his car.

Hall was on parole at the time of the sale and was required to wear a tracking monitor, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

He has prior New York state convictions. In November 2021, Hall was charged with criminal possession of a firearm and sentenced to 18 months to three years in prison.

Now, Hall faces a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and parole supervision of at least four years to life.

Halls sentencing is scheduled for April 16, 2025.
System of a Down has announced a trio of North American stadium shows in 2025.

The iconic Armenian-American metal band will headline East Rutherford, New Jerseys MetLife Stadium, on August 28 with co-headliners Korn. Theyll also perform at Chicago, Illinois' Soldier Field with Avenged Sevenfold and Toronto, Ontarios Rogers Stadium with Deftones. Special guests Polyphia and Wisp will also be joining the band for all three dates.

System of a Down 2025 tour dates and tickets

Various presales are currently ongoing through Thursday, December 12. The general public sale will begin on Friday, December 13 at 12 p.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

Tickets are also available on secondary market platforms such as Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and StubHub, which offer verified tickets with buyer guarantees. These platforms may offer below-face-value pricing and availability for sold-out shows, depending on demand.

8/28 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium (w/ Korn)

8/31 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field (w/ Avenged Sevenfold)

9/03 - Toronto, ON - Rogers Stadium (w/ Deftones)

System of a Down, which consists of lead vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan, has not released a full studio album since their 2005 double release Mezmerize and Hypnotize. Their most recent releases include the 2020 singles Protect the Land and Genocidal Humanoidz.

The band has also scaled back on touring in recent years, with their 2024 tour schedule including only two performances, a headline appearance at Sick New World, and a standalone concert at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with Deftones. Their upcoming MetLife Stadium concert marks one of the few times the band has performed on the East Coast in nearly two decades.
The White House on Monday announced the designation of a new national monument at the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School, which served as a flagship boarding school for more than 400 other federally-supported, off-reservation schools across the United States.

The Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument is another step by the Biden Administration to further foster reconciliation with Indigenous People whose ancestors were forced from their homes and sent to federal boarding schools.

Between 1879 and 1918, the federal government uprooted close to a million American Indian children from their reservation tribal homes and transported them thousands of miles across the country as part of the plan to assimilate Native Indian children into white culture.

More than 10,000 American Indian children were separated from their families and housed at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School.

Nearly 200 of those children perished at the school, most from diseases like tuberculosis or consumption.

Over the years, that painful history has framed a difficult chapter in American history underscoring efforts by Tribal Nations to find the remains of children who were buried at the school and return them to their ancestral homes.

For Ione Quigley, a member of the Rosebud Sioux, one of approximately 140 Tribal Nations that count ancestors taken from their homelands and sent to the boarding school, the news provided a measure of comfort.

Were bringing our children home, said Quigley, reached by phone at the Rosebud Historic Preservation office in Rosebud, South Dakota. We have been all along and all the other Tribes included, and to establish a national monument, that would be a reminder to people to look forward to the reclamation of healing. Im hoping that is exactly what happens, that there will be healing.

Quigley serves as the tribes historic preservation officer. The Rosebud Indian Reservation is the home of the federally recognized Rosebud Sioux Tribe, a band of Lakota People.

The announcement was made amid the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington.

In October, President Joe Biden visited the Gila River Indian Community where he offered a formal apology to Tribal Nations and Native people on behalf of the U.S. government for the lasting harms caused by the federal Indian boarding school system.

He called it: One of the most horrific chapters in American history that most Americans dont even know about.

In a press statement, the White House acknowledged the federal Indian boarding school era, and noted that the monument advances healing and commemorates the resilience of Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples.

From 1879 to 1918, the Carlisle School subjected 7,800 children from more than 140 Indian Tribes to a coercive education program. School officials forced children to cut their hair, prohibited them from speaking their Native languages, and subjected them to harsh labor.

Federal authorities estimate that approximately 973 Native children died in these schools. The children who survived often endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

Theres a lot that was taken from us, Quigley said. When we speak of reparations, we cant get emotions back. We cant get the past back. We cant reverse the history, but we can learn from right now and change for the good.

The new national monument will be located in Carlisle on 24.5 acres of what is now the U.S. Armys Carlisle Barracks. The monument boundary will encompass the historic buildings and structures that made up the campus of the Carlisle School  including School Road Gateposts that were built by the labor of Native American children and youth at the school.

The gateposts still stand today as a marker of the removal and separation of children from their families, Tribes, and homelands, the White House said in a written statement.

The monument will be managed by the National Park Service and the U.S. Army, both of whom will collaborate with Tribal Nations and the Native Hawaiian Community to develop a management plan for the monument, and provide Tribal consultation with any federally recognized Tribe with connections to any part of the boarding school system.

The U.S Army is set to transfer administrative jurisdiction over the gateposts to the National Park Service, and the agencies will sign a memorandum of understanding to guide their cooperative management of the national monument.

The Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument is Bidens 12th use of the Antiquities Act.

Over the past seven years, federal authorities and the U.S. Army have worked with Tribal Nations and a team of archaeologists and anthropologists to excavate graves at the small cemetery inside what is now the grounds of the Carlisle Barracks and Army War College.

Nine sets of Native American childrens remains were returned to Tribes from across the country in October.

It is not clear whether the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump could rescind the monument plan, which is to span across 10 years.

Trump has signaled he will nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) for interior secretary.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland praised the establishment of the national monument.

No single action by the federal government can adequately reconcile the trauma and ongoing harms from the federal Indian boarding school era. But, taken together, the Biden-Harris administrations efforts to acknowledge and redress the legacy of the assimilation policy have made an enduring difference for Indian Country, Haaland, whose great grandfather and grandparents were uprooted to boarding schools, said in remarks.

This trauma is not new to Indigenous people, but it is new for many people in our nation. One of the reasons I launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative was to ensure that this important story was told. Through the National Park Service  Americas storyteller  people can now learn more about the intergenerational impacts of these policies as we, as a nation, continue to take steps to heal from them.

Haaland enumerated some of the achievements her office had spearheaded with regards to the federal Indian boarding school policies, including the launching of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, which has shed light on the horrific era of Indian boarding schools.

A two-part investigative report, she said, found that the federal government took deliberate and strategic actions through boarding school policies to isolate children from their families and steal from them the languages, cultures, and traditions that are foundational to Native people.

Haalands office also created The Road to Healing, a 12-community journey of healing.

Our visits to Indigenous communities gave survivors and descendants opportunities to share their boarding school experiences and the aftermath those schools left behind, said Haaland, a former New Mexico congresswoman and member of the Laguna Pueblo.

Haaland announced new agreements among federal agencies, including the Smithsonians National Museum of American History and the U.S. Library of Congress to preserve survivor stories and experiences.
Zelenskyy's adviser on Orban's words about Kyiv's alleged refusal of Christmas ceasefire: Budapest does not discuss anything with Ukraine

The Hungarian side did not discuss anything with Ukraine, and did not warn about its contacts with Moscow, presidential adviser on communications Dmytro Lytvyn said.

"As always, the Hungarian side did not discuss anything with Ukraine. As always, the Hungarian side did not warn about its contacts with Moscow. As always, Ukraine did not authorize Hungary to do anything," Lytvyn commented to journalists on the words of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that Ukraine allegedly refused the Christmas ceasefire.

According to the presidential adviser, as always, Ukraine is working on a daily basis to free prisoners, and "relevant contacts regarding a significant exchange by the end of the year have been ongoing for two weeks now."

In addition, Ukraine is committed to a full-fledged peace and is doing everything in coordination with partners to achieve this, "together with America, Europe, and other partners in the world." "As always, we need not PR, but a fair peace, and not chatter, but reliable security guarantees," Lytvyn said.

As reported, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban responded to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's comment on Orban's phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 11, and announced his initiative for a "Christmas ceasefire."
Syracuse, N.Y.  An associate professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry made a complaint in 2009 that she was being paid less than her male co-workers due to her gender.

The professor, Brenda Nordenstam, said she then faced retaliation from the college. Additional tasks assigned to her meant she couldnt keep up with the work needed to advance to a full professorship, she said.

Nordenstam eventually sued the college. And after a 12-year journey through the state court system, a jury in Syracuse reached a verdict Friday.

Jurors gave Nordenstam $5,000 in damages for the difference in pay from January 2009 to August 2010. But they also voted to give her $2 million in damages for losses that include mental anguish and loss of reputation.

Nordenstam, 68, told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard Tuesday that reaching a resolution in the case was unbelievably huge to her.

Its like a huge shadow thats been in my life for 15 years, she said. I felt vindicated and heard for really the first time.

An ESF spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally hired as an assistant professor in the 1990s, Nordenstam was granted tenure in 2000 and promoted to associate professor in the environmental studies department. She said she was a detail-oriented person and enjoyed her work.

Nordenstams lawyer, A.J. Bosman, wrote in court papers that she had been paid less than a more junior male colleague, even though she was highly successful in securing grant money and mentoring Ph.D. students.

Nordenstam went on medical leave in 2009 and did not return to work.

Bosman said Nordenstam was crushed emotionally by the college. Nordenstam was deeply upset that ESF would not let her come back to work on part time, she said.

She wanted to become a professor, that was her goal, Bosman said. Thats what she worked for all her professional life.

The case has been pending in the court system for more than a decade.

Nordenstam originally sued the ESF in 2012, but a judge dismissed the case in 2018. An appellate court in Rochester two years later reinstated parts of the case, allowing it to proceed to the trial that concluded last week.

Nordenstam said it had been difficult to stick with the case for so many years, and at times considered giving up. She said she wanted to keep going to advocate for herself and other women who have faced pay discrimination.

I had a determination, deep down, I wasnt going to give up, she said.

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.
To the Editor:

Today lets celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize, which is being awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a group of Japanese nuclear bomb survivors (Hibakusha) who work to abolish nuclear weapons.

Media attention to nuclear dangers increases as wars involving nuclear armed nations escalate. I appreciate attention to this urgent issue, including by Newsweek. But suggesting that there are any safe places in a nuclear war (Map Shows Safest US States to Live During a Nuclear War Newsweek, Dec. 4, 2024) is disturbingly absurd. Neither radiation nor escalation can be contained. Thankfully there were survivors of the 1945 bombings in Japan. But survival of people or planet in the current world of much larger weapons and nine nuclear armed states is highly doubtful.

Instead of mapping where we might live in misery a little longer after an attack on U.S. silos, we should dedicate ourselves to working with Nihon Hidankyo to abolish nuclear weapons.

Ichiro Moritaki, philosopher, Hiroshima survivor and co-founder of Nihon Hidankyo, wisely said nuclear and humanity cannot coexist. Survivor Setsuko Thurlow said at the Nobel ceremony in 2017 recognizing the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Let this be the beginning of the end of nuclear weapons.

That work continues and must be passed to the next generation as the Hibakusha age. All of us can help. Please join Syracuse Peace Council locally and/or Back from the Brink nationally.

Diane Swords

Member Syracuse Peace Council (peacecouncil.net)

and Back from the Brink (preventnuclearwar.org)

Syracuse
The Syracuse City School Board is considering allowing three security staff to carry guns on school grounds, sparking concern from some parents.

Board members will vote on a measure Wednesday evening that would allow the districts public safety director and two assistant directors to carry guns.

The board believes the proposal would be an effective and efficient method to protect the safety of District students, staff, visitors and property, according to a resolution posted to Wednesdays meeting agenda.

The three administrators would be among a small group of staff in the schools who are allowed to carry weapons. The city council approved an agreement last summer that will staff schools with armed retired police officers, known as school community safety agents, but still hasnt been able to recruit enough officers to fill the program.

School resource officers, who are active duty police officers, are armed and stationed in the districts high schools.

School sentries, who are unarmed, are also posted at schools and often handle incidents like altercations between students.

Thomas Ristoff, the districts public safety director, and Will Jones Jr. and Matthew Smith, the assistant directors, are all retired law enforcement officers. They are each trained emergency responders and have been issued special armed guard registration cards, the resolution says.

Some parents expressed frustration over the proposal. They say the district did not inform them about the decision or explain why more staff need to carry guns in schools.

The director and assistant directors can often respond to threats to schools faster than police, Rob DiFlorio, chief operations officer for the district, said in an email to Bryn Lovejoy-Grinnell, president of Syracuse Latins parent-teacher organization, earlier this week.

Our director and assistant directors are often first responders to our schools when a building administrator requests assistance from 911 for an external safety threat in or upon our school campuses, DiFlorio said in the email, which Lovejoy-Grinnell provided to syracuse.com.

Lovejoy-Grinnell said she was confused by DiFlorios response and that it didnt provide enough evidence that allowing more staff to carry guns would make schools safer. While she trusts that the board will make an informed decision to protect students, she said DiFlorios reasoning that school staff could respond faster than police was especially concerning.

Thats a very alarming and troubling statement that some guy who works at district offices, with his firearm, is going to be able to get from district offices and respond to some potentially dangerous situation at a school more quickly than police will, Lovejoy-Grinnell said.

Decisions about allowing guns in schools shouldnt be taken lightly, Lovejoy-Grinnell said, and should involve a bigger conversation about whether arming staff makes students safer or creates more dangerous situations.

Research and advocacy groups have argued that arming school staff can cause more violence in schools than protection.

One study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that arming school staff did not reduce the number of injuries from school shootings between 1980 and 2019. The study also said that the death rate was higher during the school shootings in that time period when an armed guard was present.

Whenever were talking about putting guns in schools, when there have been instances in the past of children and staff being hurt at schools with firearms, its worth a question of is this going to make us safer or less safe? Lovejoy-Grinnell said.

The school board meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to vote on the issue.

Ristoff and DiFlorio were not available for an interview in time for the publication of this story.

Maggie Hicks covers education, including the Syracuse City School District and Syracuse University. She can be reached at mhicks@syracuse.com or follow her on X @maggie_hickss.
Welcome to Queens, Juan Soto!

The New York Mets picked up former Yankees superstar Juan Soto in a $765 million, 15-year contract that has become the largest deal in franchise history, and excited Mets fans can already welcome Soto to Queens with Sotos brand new New York Mets jersey, which is available to buy right now on Fanatics.

The new Juan Soto Mets jersey is made by Nike, and retails for $174.99. The Limited edition jersey is inspired by on-field gear, and ships 2-4 weeks after Sotos number is officially confirmed.

Juan Soto New York Mets jersey The brand new Juan Soto New York Mets Nike Home Limited Player Jersey is available for pre-order right now. Buy Now

Fanatics has the jersey in sizes small to 2XL to suit most fans, and has more sizes available in the replica Soto jersey ($134.99), and also has womens fits available in both the Limited and Replica jerseys. The officially licensed jerseys feature Nike Dri-FIT ADV technology and a chassis with breathable, high-performance fabric.

Sotos landmark deal marks a major turning point for the Stephen Cohen-owned Mets franchise. No longer will they be the default other New York team, with superstars like Soto and Francisco Lindor, and coming off a memorable 2024 postseason run. The Amazins may very well be the team to beat in the 2025 MLB season.

Soto is coming off the best season in his career, where he played 157 games with the Yankees and posted a career high of 156 hits, 128 runs and 41 home runs, with a .288 batting average and a .989 OPS.

One lingering question is whether Soto will keep his No. 22 jersey when he goes to Queens. Currently, that number is worn by Mets third baseman Brett Baty, and if Soto wants to keep it, hell have to work out a deal with Baty, and be on the hook to purchase the existing merchandise inventory with Batys name and number on it. With a $765 million, Soto could certainly afford to do so, but the other possibility is that New York trades Baty away, and the issue resolves itself.

Looking for more fresh Juan Soto/New York Mets drops? Fanatics is loaded with the latest merch, including:

Plus, you can find gear for Francisco Lindor, New York Mets City Connect gear, Mets postseason gear, and more.
By Emilie Munson | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  New Yorkers reported 404 incidents of alleged hate or bias to the state Division of Human Rights in the year following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, with more antisemitic actions recorded than any other kind.

New Yorkers also notified the agency of many cases of prejudicial conduct that was racially motivated, anti-Palestinian or involved a disability, according to data obtained by the Times Union.

Fourteen months ago, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the Division of Human Rights had launched a hotline, 844-NO-2-HATE, and an online form for reporting hate or bias incidents to the state. The agency reviews each complaint and can refer victims to law enforcement, social and legal services and community support programs.

Unfortunately, a lot of discrimination and bias incidents are beginning to feel like another day in New York, said Division of Human Rights acting Commissioner Denise Miranda. We want to make sure that people understand ... there is no tolerance for this, and you have a place to report and there is something we want to do about it.

Hochul launched the initiative two weeks after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed more than 1,000 Israelis and took hundreds of others hostage, sparking a devastating war in Gaza that has left more than 44,000 people dead. Numerous U.S. protests have assailed the terrorist attack and the war, including on college campuses. Incidents of antisemitism reached new highs in the U.S. in the wake of the Hamas attack, and hate against Palestinians and Muslims also increased.

A new effort

Its the first time the Division of Human Rights has collected specific data on hate or bias incidents in New York, although this kind of information was sometimes shared with the agency through its discrimination complaint processes in the past. The state has collected data on hate crimes reported to law enforcement, as do 30 other states and the District of Columbia.

The Hate and Bias Prevention Unit at the Division of Human Rights, which oversees the effort, was launched in 2022. It has five full-time staffers and a budget of $3.5 million, said Paula J. OBrien-Soler, deputy commissioner of Legislative and External Affairs for the division.

New York is one one of a handful of states that collect hate or bias incident reports of this type. Illinois launched an effort two months ago. Michigan also collects reports of bias incidents, alongside crimes and complaints of discrimination, Michigan Department of Civil Rights spokeswoman Vicki Levengood said.

California also has a reporting hotline and online platform, launched in May 2023, that has collected reports of about 1,020 hate incidents in its first year, according to the California Civil Rights Division. Thats more than twice the incidents reported in New York; Californias population is more than four times larger than New Yorks.

A number of nonprofits collect that kind of data for specific community groups, but government agencies are able to work across communities and at a larger scale, said Rachel Carroll Rivas, interim director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

(Government) is indeed for collecting data and upholding the rights of individuals on a mass scale, she said. It takes a huge infrastructure and the kind of reach and resources that people rely on that is our government.

Advocates believe the 404 incidents reported in New York in the year after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack represent a small portion of incidents of prejudice. They are also less than the number of incidents reported to individual nonprofits. Some kinds of incidents may have been less likely to be reported than others.

The Division of Human Rights promoted the hotline and online reporting form on social media after it launched last year, OBrien-Soler said. From April to July, the agency also ran public service advertisements about it on various English and multilingual digital news sites.

This week, a new awareness campaign dubbed Call Out Hate will begin to promote the divisions hate incident reporting tools on the New York City subway system, as well as Metro-North and Long Island rail road trains, OBrien-Soler said.

In March, Hochul removed the commissioner leading the Division of Human Rights in advance of an audit that found the agency had not entered some housing discrimination cases into case management systems and had lost, mislabeled and failed to process complaints. Miranda, the new acting commissioner, was appointed, and nearly all senior staff at the agency started their jobs in the last six months.

Weve really been very proactive in making sure we are establishing internal controls and quality assurance teams and we are making upgrades to our technology, Miranda said. Other division units, such as those handling workplace and housing discrimination, process thousands of complaints and have been operating for decades, she said.

Reported hate and bias

About one third of all the instances were cases of discrimination, the data shows. New Yorkers also said they had seen or experienced verbal harassment, hate speech or displays of hate symbols, assaults, bullying and threats of violence.

Nearly half of all incidents recorded were reported to the state in the last quarter of 2023. Reporting slowed significantly over the course of this year. Most of the reports did not include a date of the incident; some incidents reported occurred prior to 2023.

The agency withheld descriptions of the reported incidents from the Times Union.

The data includes all incidents reported to the agency, without vetting their veracity, OBrien-Soler said. The reports may come from individuals or organizations. The data also included about 50 general inquiries.

Agency staff do not add hate or bias incidents documented in the media to their data if they are not reported to their hotline or web portal. Also, complaints of discrimination in housing, workplaces, education institutions and public accommodations made to the agency through a separate avenue are not added to the database.

Reports can be made in 200 languages using interpretation services, OBrien-Soler said, and the agency is working on creating multilingual resources for victims.

Gaza wars effect

The number of antisemitism incidents reported to the Anti-Defamation League have been at their highest levels in decades since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, said Scott Richman, the leagues regional director for New York and New Jersey. The Anti-Defamation League is the most prominent group researching antisemitism in the U.S. and an advocate for Jewish causes.

In New York and New Jersey, the organization received more than 6,000 reported incidents of hate and bias since the Hamas attack on Israel, Richman said. That figure may include duplicate reports, unverified accounts and hate against non-Jews. No other league chapter received more reports. (Many incidents are never reported.)

The New York Chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations received 488 reports of hate or bias instances against Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims or their pro-Palestinian allies in New York from October 2023 to last month, said Afaf Nasher, executive director of CAIR-NY. The organization believes thats only a small sliver of actual cases.

A 2020 survey of Muslim Americans by the Othering and Belonging Institute and the University of California Berkeley found only 13 percent of people had personally encountered an Islamophobic incident and reported it. A majority of respondents had encountered an Islamophobic incident. Sixty-five percent said they did not know where to make a report.

Nasher noted that Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians might feel less comfortable reporting cases to the state than a nonprofit because of law enforcement surveillance of Muslims after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and due to Hochuls documented broad support for Israel and her condemnation of the Hamas terror attacks.

Hochul visited Israel after the Oct. 7 attack and vigorously defended Israels right to fight back against Hamas in Gaza. She has prominently fought against antisemitism in the state and spoken against protests in support of Hamas, some of which have also condemned Israels ongoing war in Gaza. She has also condemned hate incidents against Jews and Muslims in the state. She said Palestinian civilian causalities should be avoided in the war, more humanitarian aid is needed and has supported efforts to negotiate a temporary ceasefire.

Her complete focus has been on antisemitism, to the detriment of other communities, including Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities and those that also ally with the Palestinian solidarity movement, Nasher said. Given that frame and the words she has used time and time again, there is no confidence in the state agencies for our community members to come to seek assistance.

Asked about this, Miranda, the acting Division of Human Rights commissioner, said her agency is a resource of New Yorkers from all communities experiencing hate and bias. She said their work is done in collaboration with numerous organizations across the state, including those representing Arabs and Muslims.

In addition to her efforts to support the Division of Human Rights, the governor has strengthened penalties for hate crimes and made them bail eligible  giving local law enforcement and State Police the ability to crack down on the perpetrators of hate crimes," said Matthew Janiszewski, spokesman for Hochul. Gov. Hochul is committed to strong enforcement of New Yorks nation-leading human rights law, and ensuring New Yorkers of all backgrounds are protected.

Both the Anti-Defamation League and Council of American-Islamic Relations said hate incidents have surged against their communities since the Oct. 7 terror attacks, and cases are often different than before the war began. Both organizations highlighted more cases in schools and on college campuses. Council of American-Islamic Relations said more Arabs and Muslims are experiencing doxxing  the malicious act of publishing personal information such as someones home address  and actions targeting them as individuals. Anti-Defamation League said the rhetoric at rallies includes more antisemitic remarks.

Cases against Black Americans

After religious incidents, hate or bias incidents on the basis of race were the most reported complaints to the Division of Human Rights, with Black people most targeted. That aligns with hate crime data nationally.

That is something that is absolutely not new, but continues to, quite frankly, not be addressed, Carroll Rivas said. But I also think there has been an effort in our educational entities and some of our community conversations around hate crimes to educate that there is a path to pursue a hate crime (incident) amongst our Black communities. There is knowledge about it. One thing that is challenging to know is do all communities have awareness?

Reported hate crimes surged in New York over the last five years, with the number of incidents increasing by 12.7% in 2023, the state comptrollers office reported in August. As the number of hate crimes has grown, these crimes are increasingly targeting people rather than property, with most attacks against Jewish, Black or gay male New Yorkers.

Nationally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation found there were more reported hate crimes in 2023 than the previous two years, according to data shared by law enforcement agencies. More hate crimes involved race, ethnicity or ancestry than religion or sexual orientation.

When a hate incident is reported to the Division of Human Rights, the agency can assist victims in sharing information about a potential hate crime with law enforcement. The division also informs victims about resources available to them and can refer them to other government agencies, organizations or community responses for assistance, OBrien-Soler said.

The division has established 10 regional councils focused on hate prevention, filled with representatives of numerous groups including the Anti-Defamation League and Council on Islamic-American Relations, as well as Black, Asian, LGBTQ, disabled and other communities. The effort is led by Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and their meetings are convened in private.

The Hate and Bias Prevention Unit also works with schools and youth organizations to make them aware of resources and efforts to fight hate in the state, OBrien-Soler said.

Correction: an earlier version of this article misstated when an announcement was made about a public awareness campaign and the agency later clarified advertisements would begin running this week.

___

(c)2024 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
Syracuse University announced today it plans to build and operate a new full-service hotel near its main campus.

The roughly 200-room hotel, with its own restaurant and event space, is expected to open by the fall of 2027 at the southwest corner of University Avenue and Harrison Street. Thats currently an open-air parking lot on SU-owned property across from the university-owned University Avenue Garage.

The news comes in the wake of the universitys recent decision to convert its 200-room Sheraton University Hotel into a student dorm and its acquisition earlier this year of the Hotel Skyler, a boutique hotel located adjacent to the new hotel space at the corner of Harrison and South Crouse Avenue.

It also comes at a time of other major changes in the hotel room availability near the SU campus. That includes the closing in October of the 279-room Crowne Plaza hotel as it prepares to transition to an apartment building.

All those changes meant the loss of hundreds of hotel rooms in the downtown / university area, a situation that has concerned local tourism and convention officials.

SU officials say the new hotel fits in with its comprehensive housing strategy, contained in a plan it calls the Campus Framework. That plan has also led the university to purchase more than $140 million in properties near campus in recent years.

Following the transformation of the former Sheraton Hotel, it was clear that there was still a significant need for additional hotel and event space in the area immediately adjacent to our campus, Brett Padgett, SUs senior vice president and chief financial officer, said in a news release. While we are in the early stages of this process, we are confident a new hotel will not only serve our campus community well, it will also further strengthen the Universitys role as a vibrant and integral part of the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County.

The new hotel is expected to be on the local property tax rolls, according to Sarah Scalese, SUs senior associate vice president for communications.

The new hotel is welcome news to Danny Liedka, president of Visit Syracuse, the areas tourism agency. He has previously said the closing of hotel rooms in the area could be devastating to the local hospitality industry.

This (the new hotel) is sorely needed, so that is great news, Liedka said. I knew they (SU officials) were looking to do something like this. The university and medical center area are really underserved by hotel space right now.

SU officials are currently in talks with what they call high-profile hotel brands to become part of the new project, according to the news release.

Co-branding with established hotel companies brands is important to help with booking and reservations and visibility, Liedka said.

Again, this is a positive for the area, he said.

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
Holding a Ramstein summit in December depends on U.S. President Joe Biden's ability to come to Europe, Head of the Verkhovna Rada's permanent delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Yehor Cherniov (Servant of the People faction) said.

"Now, I know that negotiations are underway to convene Ramstein at the highest level, that is, at the level of leaders. The question here is whether Biden is ready to come to Europe in December," Cherniev said on the air of a single telethon on Wednesday.

According to him, at this meeting they plan to consider issues of assistance to Ukraine to implement "our victory plan with a specific list of weapons that we need."
Thank you for reading!

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jughead Newbie

Join Date: May 2024 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 13 Thanked: 32 Times

Accessories for Toyota Camry



First, it is very difficult to get any accessories in the open market in Gurgaon due to very limited sales of the car and dealerships are selling it at humongous prices. Do you have any recommendations whether I should go ahead and buy from the dealers directly or should go try finding outside? Of course, I am not looking to buy any cheap stuff. If some fellow Camry owners can suggest where they are buying these that will be very helpful.



Second, depending upon who I speak to, everyone has an opinion on what accessories to buy (largely a function of what they have and what they can sell). Some of basic needs are: Floor mats (Made to order Topgear 7D mats seems to look best) Boot / luggage tray Mud flaps Rear scuff plate / step guard Tyre inflator (bought Qubo max already - cordless) Dashcam (evaluating Qubo 4k - open to hear opinions on need and better options) GPS tracker (evaluating Qubo wireless - open to hear opinions on need and better options)

Some of the other items I am hearing (not sure whether they are really necessary and whether they will spoil the look of the car): Rear bumper garnish Body side molding Side / door visor chrome

Big confusion around whether to go with any of ceramic coating (T-gloss, 10H, graphene, blah blah..), PPF (TPU), anti-rust coating or this is just a way to extract more money. I have a basement parking; mostly I am going to drive in heavy traffic (at times - NH 8 Delhi/Gurgaon border) on the pot hole ridden roads of Delhi / Gurgaon with few out-station family trips and the average run will not exceed 10k kms per year.



I will be very grateful if some experts can weigh in and guide on the need, optimal prices and places to buy.



Much thanks in advance. Hello members. I am looking to buy relevant and genuine accessories for my new Camry.First, it is very difficult to get any accessories in the open market in Gurgaon due to very limited sales of the car and dealerships are selling it at humongous prices. Do you have any recommendations whether I should go ahead and buy from the dealers directly or should go try finding outside? Of course, I am not looking to buy any cheap stuff. If some fellow Camry owners can suggest where they are buying these that will be very helpful.Second, depending upon who I speak to, everyone has an opinion on what accessories to buy (largely a function of what they have and what they can sell). Some of basic needs are:Some of the other items I am hearing (not sure whether they are really necessary and whether they will spoil the look of the car):Big confusion around whether to go with any of ceramic coating (T-gloss, 10H, graphene, blah blah..), PPF (TPU), anti-rust coating or this is just a way to extract more money. I have a basement parking; mostly I am going to drive in heavy traffic (at times - NH 8 Delhi/Gurgaon border) on the pot hole ridden roads of Delhi / Gurgaon with few out-station family trips and the average run will not exceed 10k kms per year.I will be very grateful if some experts can weigh in and guide on the need, optimal prices and places to buy.Much thanks in advance.
mirashub Newbie

Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Usa Posts: 8 Thanked: 111 Times

Re: Scale Models - Aircraft, Battle Tanks & Ships Yes, the Westerners were not willing to believe that the same Soviet build jets that got thrashed badly at the hands of the Israelis and were rated to be inferior to their western counterparts could perform so well in battle. Just goes on it prove that it about the man behind the machine and not just the machine! In fact, there is a book titled Moonlight Marauders by Air Marshal Teshter Master which details the story of accurate strikes deep inside Pakistan by IAF MiG-21d and Su-7s during the 1971 war. The Americans believed that these fighters were guided by a Tu-126 Moss to and back from the targets. They could not believe that IAF fighters could strike Pakistan in pitch dark nights every night.





The story of IAF MiG21s and Su-7s carrying out night strikes with an unexpected degree of accuracy has been well described by Air Marshal TJ Master. One of the problems while coming back to base was locating it!! The reason was that there was a total blackout in Punjab on both sides of the border, hence no visual guidance of passing towns. All navigation aids had been switched off lest the PAF use those signals to home on to our bases. To top it all, the aircraft returned at low level to avoid interception on the getaway, which reduced RT range to a point where the ATC could not give 'homing' on the radio transmission. This last shortcoming was overcome in a novel manner. Read my personal experience in this regard.



SPARROW OR MOSS



"Frisky Sparrow, recover at Bamboo" or "Ramesh, one five two to Greenhouse". Just a few words spoken into the black ether, in the dead of night. They probably meant little to the uninitiated but made a big difference to the intended recipients of the messages. In fact, the difference between safe recovery or ejecting, possibly in enemy territory.



A few days into the 1971 war, TACDE a newly raised unit, had been given the unique task of carrying out harassment strikes against a number of PAF airfields and other targets in order to keep them occupied and awake at night. The MiG-21 and Su-7 aircraft of TACDE were no different from those in use in other operational squadrons, which meant that the only nav equipment on board were the KCI (Gyro Compass) and a stop watch. The paper map with MTI (Moving Thumb Indicator) was of little use in the dark environs of a single-seater. The radio compass was also of no use as all MF beacons were switched off. The pilots used to spend the day resting or memorizing the routes and timings marked on their maps so at night they could navigate with their eyes closed, almost literally.



The fuel of the T-77 and Su-7 was limited and often targets lay at, or even beyond, the computed Radius of Action. Thus, after the strikes the procedure was to head for the closest friendly base, usually Amritsar, Halwara or Adampur. These were touch-and-go recoveries with such low residual fuel levels that it often precluded even a single circuit before landing. There was no room for error nor any chance of diverting in the event of the recovery airfield being unavailable.



The problem was accentuated by the fact that the entire route was flown at low level in order to evade enemy radar and interception. But this meant that our returning aircraft would be equally undetectable by own radars, as well as being out of R/T range. The difficulty and the discomfort level of the pilots is easy to imagine. The lack of prior experience in the night strike role, the lack of nav aids, total black-out conditions on the ground, the low recovery fuel were enough to tax even the superior breed of pilots who formed the core of TACDE.



The 'SPARROW' missions came about as a result of a couple of near losses due to the difficulties faced by TACDE pilots in locating the recovery base. Of course, the obvious suggestion was for the returning aircraft to climb by a few hundred meters for identification and getting a homing, but was ruled out as quite often a PAF Mirage-III or F-104 would be tailing the strike aircraft, waiting for it to pop up high enough for a shot above the ground clutter on the airborne interception radar.



However, a quick analyses of these missions revealed something unique. Apparently, Amritsar ATC was able to receive the incoming RT call or at least the 'side-tone' (ie only signal, no voice) of the ac calling and even had a ADF indication on it, but its own transmission could not be heard by the ac. Also, in the charged atmosphere of the war no one was willing to give a Homing without authentication and certainly not merely on an unidentified R/T side-tone. Clearly the requirement was for a radio relay.



It was therefore decided to place a fighter at an altitude of 9-10 km to pass messages between the radar and the ac returning from the strike mission. The code word for these missions was 'SPARROW'. This task fell on the shoulders of the 1 Sqn Tigers located at Adampur and equipped at that time with MiG21 Type 77 aircraft. The job of the 'Sparrow' was to relay 'homings' (ie course to fly in order to reach the airfield) and other recovery information to the strike pilots (eg availability of the airfield).



To conserve air effort, Sparrow missions invariably flew at endurance speed (a designated low speed) which made them sitting ducks against enemy action. But they were positioned well away from the border and under positive radar cover and therefore safe from PAF interference.



About 30 Sparrow missions were flown by Tigers during the 14-day war, each lasting over an hour and often "controlling" 2-3 night strike aircraft to safe landing. Gradually, we evolved our own code words. First names were used extensively and the transmissions had plenty of references to Frisky (Verma), Ben (Brar), Pat (Patney), Ramesh (late Kadam) and so on. Recovery airfields were identified by their confidential call signs or sometimes even the name of the Station Commander. Homing & diversion information was passed using these simple codes. The Sparrow concept was a simple and highly effective innovation.



I flew 7 Sparrow missions, all of them well after midnight. All the radar units pitched in to help recover the returning fighters, using electronic tricks and anomalous propagation of the winter inversion layer to the maximum. Often, the controllers used the Sparrow to relay messages to other aircraft and even to other radar stations. With this Sparrow soon became aware of the complete air situation in a large volume of air space.



Thus it was with some amusement that I greeted the PAF claim, some years later, that the Low Level night strikes by TACDE in Dec 1971, which turned out to be more successful than the planners had imagined, were controlled by Soviet provided MOSS AEW aircraft!



(Author's note : This article was penned a few years after the events of Dec 71, while the memory was still fresh - and the memory cells were not as slow as they are today!! )



**** The story of IAF MiG21s and Su-7s carrying out night strikes with an unexpected degree of accuracy has been well described by Air Marshal TJ Master. One of the problems while coming back to base was locating it!! The reason was that there was a total blackout in Punjab on both sides of the border, hence no visual guidance of passing towns. All navigation aids had been switched off lest the PAF use those signals to home on to our bases. To top it all, the aircraft returned at low level to avoid interception on the getaway, which reduced RT range to a point where the ATC could not give 'homing' on the radio transmission. This last shortcoming was overcome in a novel manner. Read my personal experience in this regard."Frisky Sparrow, recover at Bamboo" or "Ramesh, one five two to Greenhouse". Just a few words spoken into the black ether, in the dead of night. They probably meant little to the uninitiated but made a big difference to the intended recipients of the messages. In fact, the difference between safe recovery or ejecting, possibly in enemy territory.A few days into the 1971 war, TACDE a newly raised unit, had been given the unique task of carrying out harassment strikes against a number of PAF airfields and other targets in order to keep them occupied and awake at night. The MiG-21 and Su-7 aircraft of TACDE were no different from those in use in other operational squadrons, which meant that the only nav equipment on board were the KCI (Gyro Compass) and a stop watch. The paper map with MTI (Moving Thumb Indicator) was of little use in the dark environs of a single-seater. The radio compass was also of no use as all MF beacons were switched off. The pilots used to spend the day resting or memorizing the routes and timings marked on their maps so at night they could navigate with their eyes closed, almost literally.The fuel of the T-77 and Su-7 was limited and often targets lay at, or even beyond, the computed Radius of Action. Thus, after the strikes the procedure was to head for the closest friendly base, usually Amritsar, Halwara or Adampur. These were touch-and-go recoveries with such low residual fuel levels that it often precluded even a single circuit before landing. There was no room for error nor any chance of diverting in the event of the recovery airfield being unavailable.The problem was accentuated by the fact that the entire route was flown at low level in order to evade enemy radar and interception. But this meant that our returning aircraft would be equally undetectable by own radars, as well as being out of R/T range. The difficulty and the discomfort level of the pilots is easy to imagine. The lack of prior experience in the night strike role, the lack of nav aids, total black-out conditions on the ground, the low recovery fuel were enough to tax even the superior breed of pilots who formed the core of TACDE.The 'SPARROW' missions came about as a result of a couple of near losses due to the difficulties faced by TACDE pilots in locating the recovery base. Of course, the obvious suggestion was for the returning aircraft to climb by a few hundred meters for identification and getting a homing, but was ruled out as quite often a PAF Mirage-III or F-104 would be tailing the strike aircraft, waiting for it to pop up high enough for a shot above the ground clutter on the airborne interception radar.However, a quick analyses of these missions revealed something unique. Apparently, Amritsar ATC was able to receive the incoming RT call or at least the 'side-tone' (ie only signal, no voice) of the ac calling and even had a ADF indication on it, but its own transmission could not be heard by the ac. Also, in the charged atmosphere of the war no one was willing to give a Homing without authentication and certainly not merely on an unidentified R/T side-tone. Clearly the requirement was for a radio relay.It was therefore decided to place a fighter at an altitude of 9-10 km to pass messages between the radar and the ac returning from the strike mission. The code word for these missions was 'SPARROW'. This task fell on the shoulders of the 1 Sqn Tigers located at Adampur and equipped at that time with MiG21 Type 77 aircraft. The job of the 'Sparrow' was to relay 'homings' (ie course to fly in order to reach the airfield) and other recovery information to the strike pilots (eg availability of the airfield).To conserve air effort, Sparrow missions invariably flew at endurance speed (a designated low speed) which made them sitting ducks against enemy action. But they were positioned well away from the border and under positive radar cover and therefore safe from PAF interference.About 30 Sparrow missions were flown by Tigers during the 14-day war, each lasting over an hour and often "controlling" 2-3 night strike aircraft to safe landing. Gradually, we evolved our own code words. First names were used extensively and the transmissions had plenty of references to Frisky (Verma), Ben (Brar), Pat (Patney), Ramesh (late Kadam) and so on. Recovery airfields were identified by their confidential call signs or sometimes even the name of the Station Commander. Homing & diversion information was passed using these simple codes. The Sparrow concept was a simple and highly effective innovation.I flew 7 Sparrow missions, all of them well after midnight. All the radar units pitched in to help recover the returning fighters, using electronic tricks and anomalous propagation of the winter inversion layer to the maximum. Often, the controllers used the Sparrow to relay messages to other aircraft and even to other radar stations. With this Sparrow soon became aware of the complete air situation in a large volume of air space.(Author's note : This article was penned a few years after the events of Dec 71, while the memory was still fresh - and the memory cells were not as slow as they are today!!****
Facepalm: Generative AI services are gaining immense popularity among both internet users and cybercriminals. According to the FBI, "synthetic" content is increasingly being exploited to carry out various types of fraud. However, with the right precautions, individuals can still effectively protect themselves online.

The FBI has issued an alert about the criminal misuse of generative AI technology. In a recently published public service announcement, the bureau warns Americans that fraudsters are exploiting AI-generated content to make their illegal schemes more convincing and effective.

According to the FBI, generative AI allows criminals to reduce the time and effort needed to deceive their targets. These AI tools take user inputs to "synthesize" entirely new content based on prompts. They can even help correct human errors that might otherwise raise suspicion, particularly in AI-generated text.

Creating content with AI isn't inherently illegal, but it becomes a crime when that content is used in fraud or extortion attempts. The FBI's alert outlines several examples of how generative AI can be misused and offers practical advice to help users protect themselves online.

AI-generated text can appear highly convincing in social engineering or spear-phishing campaigns. Fraudsters are leveraging generative AI to produce large amounts of fake content, create fake social media profiles, send messages, and translate languages with greater accuracy and fewer grammatical errors. Entire fraudulent websites can now be built in record time, and chatbots are being used to trick victims into clicking malicious links.

AI-generated images are, unsurprisingly, at the forefront of current trends, and cybercriminals are taking full advantage of them. Fraudsters are using AI-generated visuals to enhance fake social media profiles and counterfeit ID documents that support fraudulent activities. According to the FBI, AI algorithms can produce "realistic" images that are being exploited in social engineering campaigns, spear phishing attempts, scams, and even "romance schemes."

AI-generated audio and video content poses similar risks. Criminals can now impersonate public figures or even people personally known to their targets, requesting financial assistance or access to sensitive information like bank accounts.

The FBI advises users to establish a "secret word" or phrase with trusted family and friends as a quick way to verify identities. Additional tips to guard against generative AI-enabled crimes include carefully inspecting images and videos for irregularities or inconsistencies, as well as minimizing the online availability of personal images or voice recordings.

When dealing with financial requests, the FBI stresses the importance of verifying their legitimacy through direct phone calls rather than relying on text or email. Sensitive information should never be shared with individuals met exclusively online. While it may seem obvious, the FBI also reiterates that sending money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to strangers online is highly risky and often leads to fraud.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed joint actions to achieve peace with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

"I just spoke with the Prime Minister of Spain about our joint work, everyone in Europe, for the sake of unity, which can bring peace closer. I am grateful to Spain for its support. And especially for its support in strengthening our air defense," Zelenskyy said in a video address on Wednesday evening.

According to him, this work will continue "this week and next, so that common European positions become stronger and help all of us return security to Ukraine and all of Europe." "Coordination and joint work always help to achieve results. This is what Europe needs now, and not someone's individual efforts in defiance of everyone else on the continent. Achieving a reliable peace is a difficult task, and this weight must be pulled. The European position in the world must be as strong as possible," Zelenskyy said.
Why it matters: Operating data centers requires a lot of energy, and the enormous amount of water used to cool them is a growing environmental concern. As the expansion of AI data centers exacerbates the problem, tech giants are searching for ways to mitigate their environmental and climate footprint. Microsoft believes that recycled water holds the key.

Microsoft's latest data centers will employ a new cooling system that doesn't draw water from the surrounding environment. The design aims to address environmental concerns as the AI boom drives data center construction.

Although the company calls its new design a "zero-water" system, it still uses water to cool its servers. Unlike traditional data centers that divert and evaporate billions of gallons per year, Microsoft's new system recycles its water between servers and chillers in a closed loop that requires no new water following initial construction. Like any normal building, only the kitchens and restrooms require external water.

The company plans to continue using older air-cooled and water-cooled facilities with traditional cooling systems but is gradually working to reduce its water usage. Since 2021, the total water consumption from Microsoft's data centers has fallen 39 percent from 0.49 to 0.3 liters per kilowatt hour.

However, the new system, which the company plans to use for all its future data centers, reduces that number to nearly zero. New facilities will begin employing it in Phoenix, Arizona, and Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin in 2026, and more in other locations are planned for 2027. Microsoft estimates that each data center using the new design might save over 125 million liters of water annually.

The primary drawback is increased energy usage, but new chip-level cooling methods that enable higher operating temperatures might moderate the impact.

Multiple groups are proposing other methods of improving server cooling to minimize water consumption. A recent study from the University of Texas describes a mechanochemically engineered alloy that substantially improves liquid metal cooling. Additionally, the US Department of Commerce recently promised millions in CHIPS Act funds to an Oakland company that proposed integrating diamond  a superior thermal conductor  into semiconductors.

However, the most ambitious plan for efficiently operating data centers might be to launch them into orbit. According to a European venture, operating data centers in space would remove the requirement for water cooling and enable them to use unlimited solar energy.
A hot potato: Generative AI is disrupting a lot of areas, especially the programming industry. For a while now, tech leaders have claimed that the technology can make anyone a coder, and that kids don't need to learn these skills anymore. Some have even called English the hot new programming language.

Being able to code has required an understanding of languages such as Python, C++, or Java, notes Analytics India, but generative AI tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT are making those skills less important.

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang is one of the most vocal proponents of using natural language prompts to code, but then he would be, considering he's the CEO of the company behind most of the world's advanced AI hardware. "Literally everyone can program a computer," he said at Berkeley Haas University's Dean's Speaker Series last year. "We have democratized computing in a very, very large way."

At the start of 2023, Andrej Karpathy, senior director of AI at Tesla, wrote in a post that the hottest new programming language is English.

The hottest new programming language is English  Andrej Karpathy (@karpathy) January 24, 2023

Microsoft head Satya Nadella is another to extol the virtues of AI and AI-assisted programming. Like Huang, he calls this the democratization of coding. Microsoft owns GitHub Copilot through its GitHub subsidiary, of course. Then there's Sundar Pichai, who recently revealed that 25% of new code Google creates is written by AI.

Calling English the hot new programming language might be hyperbole, but there's no denying the effect AI is having on coding boot camps and active job postings for software developers, which have dropped 56%.

However, it might not be time to follow Huang's advice and drop programming in favor of more important skills such as biology, education, manufacturing, or farming.

"Coding" was never the source of value, and people shouldn't get overly attached to it. Problem solving is the core skill. The discipline and precision demanded by traditional programming will remain valuable transferable attributes, but they won't be a barrier to entry.



Many https://t.co/0JmpGWfaT0  John Carmack (@ID_AA_Carmack) February 26, 2024

While each new iteration of generative AI tools tends to be better at writing code than the last, some experts say AI tools still lack the essential coding skills that even junior programmers possess, and that LLMs like GPT-4 continue to make mistakes and are incapable of performing some tasks well, if at all.

Experts also say that a high level of coding is necessary when it comes to complex, large-scale software. Moreover, it would help if someone understood the code an AI generated so they could check it and correct any mistakes before the code is implemented.

It's also noted that some skill is needed to craft an accurate and precise prompt for an AI to generate what is required. As Huang put it, "There is an artistry to prompt engineering. It's how you fine-tune the instructions to get exactly what you want."

Some in the industry say AI is good for programming, helping speed up the process. About 60% of 65,000 developers surveyed in May by StackOverflow say they had used AI coding tools this year. The assistants may not have boosted their productivity or effectively helped prevent burnout, though, according to a recent study.
What just happened? SpaceX's Starlink system offers online connectivity in the remotest parts of the world. One of the company's satellite devices was used to navigate Indian waters in November, which sounds like a good thing, except the boat in question was carrying $4.2 billion worth of methamphetamine. Now, Indian police have sent a legal demand to Elon Musk's firm demanding it reveal who purchased the device.

The Indian Coast Guard recorded its largest-ever drug bust last month when it reportedly seized 6,000kg (13,227 lb) of methamphetamine from a boat. Police estimated it was worth $4.25 billion.

The vessel was seized near the Andaman and Nicobar islands, a territory of India, as it traveled from Myanmar. It was operating under the guise of a legitimate fishing trawler, but it aroused suspicion after an aircraft on routine patrol spotted it near Barren Island, an uninhabited scuba diving hotspot. Police investigated, seized the boat, and arrested six Myanmar nationals.

Andaman and Nicobar officials have sent Starlink a police notice asking for details about the purchaser of one of its Starlink Mini internet devices that was found on the boat. It asks for the buyer's name and payment method, registration details, and where the device was used during the smugglers' time in international waters. The notice also asks for the mobile number and email registered to the Starlink account.

Starlink has spent years trying to secure licenses to operate in India. It appeared to have been successful last month when the country's telecom minister said Starlink was in the process of procuring clearances. The company has not yet secured these licenses, so it might be more willing than usual to help the authorities in this instance.

As reported by Reuters, sources say police sent a notice on December 4 under an Indian law that empowers authorities to seek information from companies in connection with an investigation.

In other Starlink news this week, a Ukrainian-American nonprofit organization submitted two filings to the FCC objecting to the company's proposal to put another 22,488 satellites into low-Earth orbit. It cites Elon Musk's alleged ties to Russia and the environmental impact among its reasons for opposing the plans.
Why it matters: A legal feud between the co-founder of WordPress and a private equity-owned WordPress hosting platform has taken a sharp turn in favor of the latter. WP Engine users can resume normal operations but remain stuck in the crossfire of a fight that could impact tools critical to many websites.

A California judge has granted hosting platform WP Engine a temporary injunction against WordPress parent company Automattic. Until the court battle between them is resolved, WordPress.com can no longer block WP Engine from accessing its toolchain.

The court confirmed the injunction partly out of concern for WP Engine users, who aren't involved in the legal war between the platform and Automattic. Blocking WP Engine prevented users from viewing WordPress.com updates and accessing other crucial tools. WP Engine praised the ruling, saying it preserves the stability essential for collaboration within the WordPress community.

We are grateful that the court has granted our motion for a preliminary injunction that restores access to and functionality of wordpressdotorg for WP Engine, its customers and its users.

This ruling provides much-needed stability for the WordPress ecosystem. We deeply  WP Engine (@wpengine) December 11, 2024

Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg founded WordPress, an open-source content management system that runs around 40 percent of websites. In September, he accused WP Engine, a hosting service that uses WordPress tools, of profiting by tricking customers into equating it with WordPress. In a scathing attack, he called the platform, which received most of its initial investment from private equity firm Silver Lake, a "cancer" on WordPress.

WP Engine retaliated with a cease-and-desist, defending its use of the WordPress name under fair use and demanding that Mullenweg stop his defamatory statements. Automattic, claiming exclusive WordPress Foundation rights, responded by blocking WP Engine from using WordPress.org software and imposing a paid licensing fee equaling eight percent of WP Engine's monthly revenue.

Today's ruling is a preliminary order designed to maintain the status quo. It was made without the benefit of discovery, our motion to dismiss, or the counterclaims we will be filing against WP Engine shortly. We look forward to prevailing at trial as we continue to protect the  Automattic (@automattic) December 11, 2024

The WordPress Foundation is a non-profit supporting WordPress.org, the open-source set of tools underpinning WordPress.com, the free service many websites use. Although the main dispute is about who has the right to profit from WordPress, it has also ignited discussion over the meaning of the term "open source."

David Hansson, creator of the open-source web framework Ruby on Rails, claimed that Automattic's trademark claim goes against the spirit of open-source development and the GNU General Public License (GPL). By charging royalties, Automattic is theoretically treating WordPress.org as proprietary rather than open-source software, which could damage the credibility of the GPL and the Free Open Source Software movement.
Facepalm: Building a robotaxi business isn't easy, even for one of the nation's biggest automobile manufacturers. General Motors has concluded that problems with regulation and operation, coupled with ever-increasing costs of scale and stiff competition, make further development of the Cruise taxi service not worth the capital expenditure.

General Motors is calling it quits on its goal of operating a robotaxi service. On Tuesday, GM announced it would combine its teams working on the Cruise autonomous taxi with teams in charge of its Super Cruise advanced driving features in passenger cars. The focus shift comes after GM put Cruise Origin development on indefinite hold in July.

After evaluating the project over the last several months, GM has determined that the robotaxi business is not profitable enough to warrant further development. It cited expanding investments to scale and increasing competition in the robotaxi market as reasons for pulling out.

"[General Motors] intends to combine the majority-owned Cruise LLC and GM technical teams into a single effort to advance autonomous and assisted driving," the automaker said. "Consistent with GM's capital allocation priorities, GM will no longer fund Cruise's robotaxi development work given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market."

Since purchasing a majority share of Cruise LLC, GM has poured over $10 billion into the startup, with $2 billion in just 2024. However, raw capital is only the least of the now-defunct project's problems.

Going back as far as 2022 and earlier, Cruise has had trouble operating on the streets of San Francisco. Initially, the robotaxis were causing traffic flow issues because they would stop in the middle of the street for no reason. When this happened, remote techs had to boot into the cars to get them moving again. This issue spawned many complaints from civilians and emergency workers, such as fire and EMS personnel, who could not escape the traffic jams.

In an incident in October 2023, a motorist hit a pedestrian and knocked the woman into the next lane, where a Cruise taxi ran over and stopped on top of her. Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to remove the car from the pedestrian's pinned leg.

Three weeks later, San Francisco officials suspended GM's permit to operate Cruise. Two days after the suspension, the automaker halted Cruise operations nationwide, which included pilot programs in Austin, Houston, Phoenix, and Miami. The entire debacle cost Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt and about a quarter of Cruise's workforce their jobs.

General Motors did not say whether its restructuring would impact employees through layoffs, although that is highly likely. It is merging at least some of the Cruise workforce into its driver assistance division, but it's unclear if the Super Cruise team can accommodate all of them.

In the meantime, GM has offered up a restructuring plan to shareholders, including purchasing at least 97 percent of Cruise  it currently owns 90 percent. If the board approves the plan (and can acquire the proposed shares), the company will "work with the Cruise leadership team to restructure and refocus Cruise's operations." So, a Cruise robotaxi is still possible, but under entirely different conditions.

If everything goes as planned, GM will execute its Cruise restructuring in the first half of 2025 and expects to save over $1 billion annually.
There really are a lot of bizarre things to find on online shopping websites, and Amazon just won the "Crazy Amazon Finds" of this year as it is now selling a real 1:1 vehicle via the e-commerce platform. Thanks to its recent partnership with Hyundai, Amazon Autos is now offering a way for a seamless car purchasing experience on the platform by having all of the necessary paperwork done through the app or browser.

This feature is still exclusive in the United States as of this writing, and there are only 48 states where users can make this real car purchase, but it already promises an easier way than going to dealerships for the entire process.

Amazon Autos Now Sells Hyundai Cars, All on the Platform

The latest announcement from the Big Tech e-commerce company introduces its new 'Amazon Autos,' and it is a new experience on its platform which offers real-life cars for sale directly on Amazon. With the service, users no longer have to go to dealerships to fill out paperwork, engage in conversations with salespeople, and wait for the entire process to finish before getting their hands on a vehicle.

In its debut, Amazon is now exclusively selling the South Korean brand, Hyundai, which leverages the many models available in its list, including its latest electric vehicle, the IONIQ 5.

According to Amazon, they are connected to local participating car dealers in a user's area to hand off the purchased vehicle via Amazon, with the platform offering most of the process needed to buy a car including financing, paperwork, and completing orders. In the payment information part, users only need to choose the date and time to pick up their new vehicles from dealerships.

Users are given the net price of the vehicle which includes the taxes and fees, and they may also opt for trade-in programs available.

More Brands Are Coming Soon on Amazon Autos

For now, Amazon Autos is exclusively selling Hyundai cars on its platform, but the company promised that it plans to expand its catalog with future partnerships with other car brands. That being said, Amazon has yet to name its future partners that will offer their cars on the e-commerce platform.

Amazon's e-Commerce Platform

There are a lot of items available to purchase on Amazon, and the company has established itself as one of the most popular and largest e-commerce platforms in the world which carries a variety of products. The company is also known for hosting various sale events throughout the year where it offers significant discounts, with one of the most recent being Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Over the past years, Amazon online shopping delivered multiple features for all and users were given certain features to enjoy from the platform including free shipping, fulfillment, and more to improve one's experience. However, the biggest feature made available to the service is the new AI assistant for the e-commerce platform, Rufus, which acts as a chatbot for everything it has to offer.

Consumer tech are some of the most popular items on Amazon and are among the most expensive to purchase from the e-commerce platform, but nothing has beat these offers until now. If you are looking for your next purchase but do not have time to learn about the car's details or do not want to be bothered by salespersons, Amazon Autos is the way to go, with Hyundai being the first brand it offers, but more are coming soon.
While the world may be focused on TikTok's fate in the United States, it is now ordered to shut down its operations in Canada after a recent government order which the company is fighting now. Similar to the US and other countries, the reason behind Canada's shutdown of TikTok is because of 'national security concern' that centers on the social media's massive ties to China.

Despite ByteDance, TikTok's owner, being a Chinese company, it has since denied its ties to China's government and its Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which did not exactly help its case.

TikTok Asks Canada to Postpone The Country Wide Ban

TikTok almost faced a ban from the Great North, Canada, after a government order asked the company to end its business in the country, but the company made a significant move that prevented it from happening. According to Reuters, TikTok filed an emergency motion that asks for a new judicial review of the company that will have its courts reevaluate its operations.

It was revealed that TikTok filed its motion with the Canadian Federal Court which was dated last week, December 5, after the company was ordered by the government to shut down its operations.

Canada previously deemed last month that TikTok is a 'national security concern,' the main reason for its ban, and the company argued that a Canadian shutdown would lead to massive job losses in the country.

Will Canada Conduct a Judicial Review of TikTok's Ban?

If this significant move by TikTok works and is considered by Canada's Federal Court, it could potentially delay the looming ban against the company, and that is only if the court agrees to its filing to set aside the ban. However, it does not mean that TikTok is saved, particularly as the company will undergo another government review.

Because of TikTok's planned expansion investment in the country, it opened up an investigation in Ottawa against the company, as the government can look into possible national security risks under Canadian law.

TikTok and its Looming Bans in the West

Over the past months, TikTok faced scrutiny from the Western governments which are calling for the platform's ban in their specific countries, and it is something which the company, its fans, and supporters have disputed. The biggest threat against TikTok now is the possible ban in the United States, particularly as it was not able to prove that it is separate from China.

It is known that TikTok took this fight against the United States as the platform intends to continue its operations in the country with its millions of users and subscribers, with the company using the First Amendment argument against the law. However, the United States was not the only Western country to consider a ban against TikTok because of security concerns, as the Great North also launched an investigation against the platform.

Despite the harsh law against TikTok in the US, it was still given a chance to continue its operations by divesting ByteDance, but it is a move that the social media platform is not considering to continue its operations in the country. Canada agreed to TikTok's motion to postpone the ban and have another judicial review for its operations, in what could have been the platform's end in the country.
New reports share that a biosecurity breach was discovered over at Queensland, Australia, where a laboratory lost 323 vials of known deadly live viruses, known for having high mortality rates. The investigation reported that over the course of two years, these viruses went unaccounted for, and it was only last year that it was discovered that they were missing.

There are potential implications when losing samples of viruses, particularly as they can be used to create biological weapons or start another global pandemic, but Australian authorities assured that neither is happening.

Australia's Lab Faced a Biosecurity Breach With 323 Virus Vials Lost

Reports have now piled up regarding the latest confirmation that Australia faced a biosecurity breach where 323 vials containing live and deadly viruses went missing for over two years since 2021. It was only discovered by authorities last year, and all were classified to be deadly viruses that previously plagued several regions in the globe, and until now, these viruses' whereabouts remain unknown.

The lost vials were identified to contain samples of known deadly viruses, with almost 100 missing vials of Hendra Virus which has a 57 percent fatality rate, 223 samples of Lyssavirus which also has a high mortality rate, and two samples of the Hantavirus which has a mortality rate of 38 percent.

It was revealed that these viruses were stored on Australia's Queensland Public Health Virology Laboratory but because of a previous freezer malfunction, authorities needed to transfer them for the time being.

No Need to Fear Recent Virus Vials Disappearance

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls shared that the transfer of these materials has been one of the top concerns since discovering its loss last year, saying that these vials were removed from their secure storage. Later on, they were lost and went unaccounted for by the authorities.

Despite these massive concerns, officials believe that these viruses were not stolen or "weaponized," particularly because creating a biological weapon is "very sophisticated" said Minister Nicholls.

The Post-Coronavirus World

The modern spread of the coronavirus, a.k.a. COVID-19, significantly affected the world as it effectively shut down almost all industries, and fortunately, the advancement in technology allowed many to take advantage of remote work, school, and more. However, for those who were infected by the virus, studies revealed that it has a long-term impact on their overall health.

However, just as when COVID-19's infections are slowly declining and the world is on track toward recovery, there were various threats to public health that popped up, and this included the infamous monkeypox. More recently, there was also the H5N1 virus that was spreading worldwide, and in 2022, the United States confirmed its first case of the so-called 'bird flu' in the country which animals carried.

The severity of global health threats is apparent to the public after having faced its significant effects that led to lockdowns, and restrictions, and suffering from its adverse effects, something which authorities are looking to prevent. Australia's recent loss of 323 vials of deadly viruses has been one of the most perplexing news this week, but the authorities assure everyone that these were only "unaccounted for" and may not be used to create biological weapons or start another global outbreak.
The EV competition in the world is becoming much tighter, but Tesla proves that it's still one of the leading automakers of this generation. With 21,900 electric vehicles sold for the first week of December, this is by far the best weekly performance of the company in Q4 2024.

According to figures shared by Tesla China on Twitter, the figures indicate that the brand dominates the world's largest electric vehicle market as of writing.

November Sets the Stage for Success For Tesla

Strong sales momentum built into December after an outstanding November, which saw Tesla claim its best monthly sales in China, with over 73,000 units sold. According to Reuters, the Model Y is the favorite among Chinese consumers; it outsold Tesla's Roadster and remains the best-selling passenger EV.

Last year, the units sold were 556,000 which asserted how attractive it was among consumers.

Tesla Overcomes Production Issues Before the Big December Sale

Tesla's recent success comes after overcoming challenges earlier this year, including a temporary production halt in June due to a battery-related controversy at one of its Chinese plants.

The automaker has since bounced back, leveraging smart strategies to maintain its momentum.

In addition, Tesla launched year-end incentives. The company offered limited-time outstanding loans for the price of 10,000 yuan (about $1,375) off from Model Y purchases.

While it is an attractive product for price-sensitive buyers, this strategy will also enable Tesla to remain competitive with local EV superpower BYD, which continues to expand its market dominance through low-priced, packed feature electric vehicles.

Competition with BYD: Winning the Market Share

Tesla enjoys strong brand recognition and innovative product offerings but is confronted with stiff competition from BYD.

According to WION, the Chinese automaker has gained significant momentum through its cost-efficient strategies and a diverse lineup of technologically advanced EVs. This has forced the American car manufacturer to match competitive pricing and incentives to maintain its edge in the market.

Despite these challenges, the fact that Tesla managed to break sales records proves that its cars are increasingly popular in China. Analysts believe that the brand's reputation for innovation and strategic marketing campaigns will help it maintain its position as a leader in the EV market in the face of growing competition.

Tesla's Performance in China Reflects Global Impact

China is very important for Tesla's global strategy and is one of the main sales and revenue contributors. The country, being the world's largest EV market, is considered a litmus test for the automaker's performance worldwide.

A successful presence in China means there is significant demand and it cements Tesla's status as a leader in the EV industry.

Tesla's 2025 is Off to a Hot Start

With December getting off to a record-breaking start, Tesla's performance in China is expected to set the tone for its year-end results. With the continued focus on innovative marketing, coupled with the high demand for its vehicles, the company is positioned to withstand mounting competition from local automakers.

More affordable EVs are expected to be available by 2025. The first production is currently ongoing.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/CinCAFofUkraine

Fierce fighting continues in Pokrovsk axis with an enemy that is superior, first of all, in manpower, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky said.

According to Syrsky's statement on Facebook, while working in Pokrovsk axis, he personally visited the soldiers of the 38th separate marine brigade.

"By now, fighting continues in Pokrovsk axis with an enemy that is superior, first of all, in manpower. It is necessary to make non-standard decisions to increase the stability of the defense and more effectively destroy the occupiers. The fighting is extremely fierce. Russian occupiers are throwing forward all available forces, trying to break through the defense of our forces," the AFU Commander-in-Chief said.

He said Ukrainian soldiers are showing extreme fortitude and inflicting significant losses on the enemy.

According to Syrsky, in such conditions, Ukraine's main task is to strengthen the defense, in particular, to provide units with a sufficient amount of ammunition and their constant supply.

"I listened to the information about the existing problems and gave the appropriate orders. I am grateful to the soldiers for their courage and fortitude in the fight against the enemy," he said.
By Akbar Novruz



The governor of Russias Astrakhan region, Igor Babushkin, has proposed increasing the frequency of direct flights between Baku and Astrakhan to five times a week to strengthen economic ties with Azerbaijan.

Our business centers are actively contributing to the increase in tourist flows. Representatives of Azerbaijan also participate in all international projects of our region, Babushkin stated on his Telegram channel.

During his recent meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Babushkin discussed strategic issues, including the environmental challenge of the Caspian Sea's declining water levels. He noted that Astrakhan experts, acting on directives from Russian President Vladimir Putin, are analyzing the causes of this issue. A bilateral working group involving Azerbaijani specialists has also been formed, with its inaugural meeting held in Baku.

Azerbaijan is our most important partner in the Caspian Sea, Babushkin said, expressing gratitude to President Aliyev for supporting the development of multifaceted cooperation.

Additionally, the meeting reviewed the initial outcomes of a comprehensive program launched in May to enhance collaboration between Azerbaijan and the Astrakhan region. Babushkin emphasized that progress is being made in advancing bilateral projects and initiatives.
Interfax-Ukraine to host press briefing by co-owner of Esculab medical lab about attempt on his life

On Friday, December 13, at 12.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press briefing about an attempt on the life of a co-owner of the Esculab medical lab and on the exposure by NABU and SAPo of the incumbent and former chairmen of Lviv Regional Economic Court for extorting an undue benefit of $1 million for preventing his murder, which was plotted by his opponents in a trial and ensuring "proper" rulings in court cases.

Participants include co-founders of the Esculab medical lab Stanyslav Luhovsky and Denys Melnyk. Moderator: lawyer for anti-raiding law and regulation of corporate relations and mediation Andriy Nakhod (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the YouTube channel of the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

Additional information by phone: +38 (097) 973 1710.
Thousands told to flee as wildfire tears through Malibu



Malibu, United States, Dec 10 (AFP) Dec 10, 2024



A ferocious fire tore through Malibu on Tuesday, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate one of the most sought-after areas in the United States.

Multi-million-dollar properties, some owned by Hollywood celebrities, were in the path of the blaze, which exploded overnight, fanned by powerful winds and tinder-dry brush.

Firefighters were struggling to get a foothold in the steep canyons that surround the tony California enclave, where towering flames were devouring hillsides, blanketing the air in choking smoke.

Residents spoke of the terror of a fire that erupted late on Monday night.

"We were completely surrounded," one man, who gave only his first name Alec, told broadcaster KTLA.

"It was like 11 pm. We hear people screaming. I walk outside the sky is bright red.

"Within 45 minutes, it's coming down the hillside and then within an hour after that, we're fully surrounded, houses burning down on one side. Ridge is burning on the other side, mountains all around us.

"It got pretty scary at one point."



- Door-to-door -



Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said around 18,000 people and more than 8,000 properties were in the area threatened by the blaze, which has been dubbed the Franklin Fire.

"The safety of our community members are our number one priority," he told reporters.

Deputies had gone door-to-door urging people to leave the area as the flames began to spread on Monday night.

People described having only moments to flee as embers whipped up by the wind rained down around them.

"I think I'm in shock right now," Malibu City Councilmember Bruce Silverstein told the Los Angeles Times.

Silverstein said he and his wife had packed their bags and fled to a Santa Monica hotel, from where they had watched the progress of the fire on the internet-connected cameras around their property.

"My house has come very close to catching fire multiple times in the last couple of hours" but had been doused by firefighters.

"We thought it was completely under control, then a bunch of embers came flying into the yard."

- Air drops -



By Tuesday morning, the fire had swelled to more than 2,200 acres (900 hectares) and was still raging out of control, with the National Weather Service warning of a high-danger "red flag warning" because of powerful winds.

Firefighters were attacking the blaze from the ground and from the air, with regular drops of red flame retardant around its perimeter in a bid to stem the spread of the flames.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state had already secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with the response.

"Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire," Newsom said in a statement.

"California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts. I urge all residents in affected areas to stay alert and follow evacuation orders."

Wildfires are a feature of life in California and other parts of the US West, and are often exacerbated at this time of year by Santa Ana winds, which blow dry desert air from the interior.

Human-caused climate change is known to increase the likelihood and the severity of fires, with evolving weather patterns leading to longer, hotter dry periods that desiccate vegetation.

Experts say decades of policies stressing a zero-tolerance approach to wildfires have also left much of the countryside overstocked with flammable material, so when blazes erupt they tend to be faster, hotter and more destructive.
Trump vows fast environmental approvals for $1 bn investments in US



Washington, Dec 10 (AFP) Dec 10, 2024



US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to speed up environmental approvals for those investing $1 billion or more in the United States.

His comments in a social media post come after an election campaign in which he promised to boost the domestic fossil fuel industry and bring down energy costs.

He has since also pledged to expand "all forms of energy production to grow our economy."

On Tuesday, Trump said any person or company investing $1 billion or more in the country "will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals."

He did not provide further details on how his administration would help investors secure such approvals.

The Republican revived his "drill, baby, drill" slogan during the election campaign and in his victory speech described US oil and gas reserves as "liquid gold."

Experts have warned that Trump's presidency could slam the brakes on the green energy transition, hampering efforts to meet key climate targets.

Trump has previously pledged to tear up environmental regulations and the United States' commitments to combat climate change under the landmark 2015 Paris accords.

A US retreat from climate diplomacy could undermine global action to cut fossil fuel reliance, potentially giving other heavy polluters like China and India an excuse to scale back their own plans.
Thousands told to flee as wildfire tears through California's Malibu



Malibu, United States, Dec 10 (AFP) Dec 10, 2024



A ferocious fire tore through Malibu, California, on Tuesday, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate one of the most sought-after areas in the United States.

Multimillion-dollar properties, some owned by Hollywood celebrities, were in the path of the blaze, which exploded overnight, fanned by powerful winds and tinder-dry brush.

Firefighters were struggling to get a foothold in the steep canyons that surround the tony enclave just outside Los Angeles, where towering flames were devouring hillsides, blanketing the air in choking smoke.

"We were completely surrounded," one man, who gave only his first name, Alec, told broadcaster KTLA about the fire that broke out late Monday night.

"It was like 11 pm. We hear people screaming. I walk outside -- the sky is bright red.

"Within 45 minutes, it's coming down the hillside and then within an hour after that, we're fully surrounded, houses burning down on one side. Ridge is burning on the other side, mountains all around us.

"It got pretty scary at one point."



- Door-to-door response -



Around 2,000 buildings in the eastern half of Malibu were under a compulsory evacuation order. People living in another 6,000 properties in the city were being advised to leave

"The safety of our community members are our number one priority," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters.

Deputies had gone door-to-door urging people to get out as the flames began to spread on Monday night.

People described having only moments to flee as embers whipped up by the wind rained down around them.

"I think I'm in shock right now," Malibu City Councilmember Bruce Silverstein told the Los Angeles Times.

Silverstein said he and his wife had packed their bags and fled to a Santa Monica hotel, from where they had watched the progress of the fire on the internet-connected cameras around their property.

"My house has come very close to catching fire multiple times in the last couple of hours," but had been doused by firefighters, he said.

"We thought it was completely under control, then a bunch of embers came flying into the yard."

Actor Dick Van Dyke, who celebrates his 99th birthday on Friday, posted on Facebook that he and his wife had fled their Malibu home.

"Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for (a cat that) escaped as we were leaving. We're praying he'll be OK and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires," he wrote.

- Airdrops -



By Tuesday afternoon, the fire had swelled to more than 2,600 acres (1,050 hectares) and was still raging out of control, with the National Weather Service posting a high-danger "red flag warning" because of powerful winds.

More than 700 firefighters were battling the blaze, aided by a fleet of water- and retardant-dropping aircraft, including Super Scoopers and tankers capable of dumping 1,200 gallons (4,500 liters) of retardant at a time.

Tens of thousands of people across southern California had their electricity cut off. Utilities frequently de-energize lines ahead of windy days to reduce the fire risk from downed power lines.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state had already secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with the response.

"Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire," Newsom said in a statement.

"California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts. I urge all residents in affected areas to stay alert and follow evacuation orders."

Wildfires are a feature of life in California and other parts of the US West, and are often exacerbated at this time of year by Santa Ana winds, which blow dry desert air from the interior.

Human-caused climate change is known to increase the likelihood and the severity of fires, with evolving weather patterns leading to longer, hotter dry periods that desiccate vegetation.

Experts say decades of policies stressing a zero-tolerance approach to wildfires have also left much of the countryside overstocked with flammable material, so when blazes erupt they tend to be faster, hotter and more destructive.
Kazakhstan cleans up Soviet-era oil waste near Caspian Sea



Almaty, Kazakhstan, Dec 11 (AFP) Dec 11, 2024



Kazakhstan's state-owned energy company said Wednesday that it had decontaminated Soviet-era oil waste on the shores of the Caspian Sea, which has been hit by pollution and the effects of global warming.

KazMunayGas said it had cleaned up nearly 363,000 cubic metres (12.8 million cubic feet) of oil waste in the last four years at the Karazhanbas field in the western Mangystau region on the coast of the vast inland sea.

Reclamation work included cleaning contaminated soil and above-ground storage facilities, the company said in a statement.

The Caspian Sea, which is surrounded by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, is also described as the world's biggest lake, stretching over 371,000 square kilometres (143,000 square miles).

Resource-rich Kazakhstan has been hit by pollution from the oil and gas industry and the authorities in Almaty are mulling the creation of "environmental disaster zones" in several regions.

In Central Asia, work to remove toxic waste dating back to Soviet times has gathered pace in recent years, particularly in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where millions of cubic metres of radioactive waste are stored.
On Monday, December 16, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency (8/5a Reitarska Street) will host a press conference on the subject: "The 25th anniversary of IER: Expert view of Ukraine's economy" dedicated to an anniversary of the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER).

Participants include PhD in Economics, Chairman of the IER Board, Professor of the Department of Economics of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Ihor Burakovsky; Executive Director of the IER Oksana Kuziakiv; senior researcher/project coordinator of the IER Oleksandra Betliy; senior researcher/project coordinator of the IER Iryna Kosse.

The event will be streamed on the YouTube channel of the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

Press accreditation and additional information by e-mail: [email protected].
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. We are closer to establishing peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during a discussion of the 2025 budget at a meeting of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Trend reports.

The minister noted that there is hope that peace will be established in the South Caucasus region, which is important for Turkiye.

"We are getting closer to establishing peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Achieving peace will contribute to the development of the region and open up new opportunities. Turkiye supports all efforts in this process," Hakan Fidan.
Louisiana Nursery has an abundance of decor options, from traditional colors to new trends. Learn more about how the stores experts can help you create the home of your dreams this holiday season.
Elon Musk has become the first person to reach $US400 billion ($628 billion) in net worth, the latest milestone for the worlds richest individual.

The most recent catalyst was an insider share sale of his privately held SpaceX, which boosted Musks net worth by roughly $US50 billion in one fell swoop to $US439.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Elon Musks net worth has soared since Donald Trumps election win. Credit: AP

Musks fortune has staged a dramatic turnaround since late 2022, when at one point he saw his net worth drop by more than $US200 billion. But its been especially turbocharged of late with Musks numerous businesses surging in value since Donald Trumps election victory propelled Musk, the so-called first buddy, into the political spotlight.

Teslas stock is up about 65 per cent since before the election, buoyed by expectations that Trump will streamline the rollout of self-driving cars and eliminate tax credits for electric vehicles that help Teslas competitors.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. The Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) Abbas Abbasov has sent an appeal to the Pope of Rome in support of the decolonization process of Corsica, Trend reports.

The letter highlights the ongoing efforts to support the decolonization process and battle colonialisms new manifestations.

The appeal reads:

"Your Holiness,

It is with profound respect and great appreciation for your unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and the dignity of all peoples that I take the liberty of addressing this letter to you.

I have the honor of writing to you in my capacity as Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), an international non-governmental organization established during the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, in July 2023. This initiative, endorsed by the participants, aims to support decolonization processes and combat colonial and neo-colonial practices.

In the establishment document of the organization, the delegates affirmed that The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination, and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, and is an evil that should speedily be brought to an end.

The BIG brings together representatives of anti-colonial movements from countries and territories still subjected to colonial domination. It is, however, deeply disheartening to observe that, among the many calamities that have marked human history, colonialism continues in the 21st century to transcend religious, ethnic, geographical, and cultural boundaries.

The establishment of BIG within the Non-Aligned Movement is no coincidence. In fact, this is a logical continuation of the active participation and contribution of Azerbaijan during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2023 and currently as a member of the "Troika".

As part of its activities grounded in respect for international law, the BIG has organized nearly 20 international conferences in various locations, including at the United Nations headquarters.

During the recent 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29), held in Baku from November 11 through November 22, our Group was particularly active. We organized around ten events condemning colonial and neocolonial practices in today's world. These activities greatly benefited from the participation of the representatives from Corsica, Kanaky (New Caledonia), Martinique, Guyana, Guadeloupe, Bonaire, Saint Martin, and Mayotte.

The international community is well aware of your dedication to the decolonization process. Your words during the forum Colonialism, Decolonization, and Neo-Colonialism: A Perspective of Social Justice and the Common Good, held on March 30-31 at the Casina Pio IV in Vatican City, deeply moved us: The subjugation and exploitation of peoples through the use of force or cultural and political penetration is a crime.

Your Holiness,

I recently learned of your planned visit to Corsica on December 15. According to Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, Corsica is a land that has preserved its Catholic religious tradition, yet its people have long been struggling to maintain their unique identity, culture, and aspirations in the face of modern governance dynamics.

Corsica's history speaks of remarkable resilience and cultural richness, embodied in its language, traditions, and distinct heritage. However, external domination has often hindered the people's efforts to preserve their identity and sovereignty. Recently, the Corsican people even submitted a motion to the Corsican Assembly requesting the inclusion of the island on the list of countries to be decolonized. On 19 November, 2024, once again Corsica was deprived of the right to speak its language after the Marseille Administrative Court of Appeals banned the decision.

Decolonization is much more than a political process; it is a moral and spiritual journey toward the restoration of God-given dignity for all peoples.

I respectfully request that you consider the situation in Corsica during your visit to the island. I firmly believe that your presence will bring hope and encouragement not only to the Corsican people but also to all those across the globe who remain under colonial rule.

May God continue to bless Your Holiness with wisdom and grace as you guide the Church through these challenging times."
In news that will have come as a surprise to many ticket purchasers but to almost nobody in the music industry, Bluesfest organiser Peter Noble has confessed that his claim that next Easters event would be the last ever was nothing more than a ploy to put the squeeze on the NSW state government.

In August, Noble issued a message via the Byron Bay festivals social media channels claiming after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, its time to close this chapter.

Peter Noble previously said Bluesfest would be a shadow of its former self if it lingered past 2025. Credit: Joseph Mayers

That announcement came amid a time of great turmoil for the festival sector, which had been rocked by a raft of postponements, cancellations and closures that prompted a federal parliamentary inquiry that is still running.

But on Wednesday, Noble told music masthead IQ that he was already booking acts for the 2026 edition. I will always find a way for Bluesfest to go forward, he said. That is my job.

He said the announcement that 2025 would be the last ever festival was a response to the NSW governments refusal to offer his festival help, when it was supporting other events, such as South by Southwest.

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He asked rhetorically: So what do we have to do? Do we have to say its the last Bluesfest to get people to focus on us?

The answer, apparently, was yes.

Noble has in recent years produced economic impact statements that position his festival as a major event that generates local employment, inbound tourism, and enormous promotional opportunities for the region. He claims Bluesfest brought $1.1 billion to NSW through inbound tourism between 2012 and 2024.

That is a tsunami of gold but it seemingly doesnt count, he told IQ. The [state government] just wanted to put it in their coffers and not take responsibility for Australias great events.

He described his fake news about the imminent ending of Bluesfest as a clarion call that meant were potentially going to have our most successful festival yet. But others might see it more as a case of the old man who cried wolf  and as an act that does no favours to the festival sector as a whole, as it genuinely struggles to find a path to viability.

Fans enjoy the show by Taj Farrant at Bluesfest in Byron Bay in 2024. Credit: Taj Jones

Did the subterfuge work? For Noble, perhaps. He claims to be in negotiations with the NSW government now about potential support for a festival that will next year sell around 90,000 passes.

Im trying to get some degree of an understanding with the new government that festivals have a great cultural value, but underneath that is this great economic stimulus that occurs, he said. The government needs to recognise that in times of difficulty.
Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi has reprimanded her chief of staff for suggesting last weeks Melbourne synagogue firebombing could have been perpetrated by supporters of an Israeli state to provoke outrage about antisemitism.

Antoun Issa, a former Guardian Australia journalist who works for the Greens antiracism spokeswoman, urged people not to rush to judgment about the motivation for the attack after the Coalition put pressure on Labor to declare it was terrorism.

Greens staffer Antoun Issa has been reprimanded for suggesting the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue could have been a false flag attack.

It could very well be a white supremacist or someone enraged by the genocide or a Zionist false-flag, he told his 15,000 Instagram followers on Monday. Theyve done this before, Issa added, without elaborating.

After this masthead asked Faruqis office about the post, the senator said the remarks were inadvisable and inappropriate.
Here is a tale of two Labor leaders. On Friday night, Premier Chris Minns was at Sydneys Central Synagogue, supporting a community stunned by a firebombing attack on one of its places of worship. Not in its backyard this time, but in Victoria.

I understand that the Jewish community of Australia gathers tonight under a dark cloud, Minns told the Shabbat service. I am heartbroken at that fact.

Premier Chris Minns outside the Emanuel Synagogue in Woollahra last month. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Minns was unequivocal in his description of what had taken place overnight at Melbournes Adass Israel synagogue. A holy synagogue, set ablaze in what is an act of terrorism.

Contrast this to Anthony Albanese. The prime minister did not label the attack as terrorism on Friday, as Minns did. Rather, he waited until Sunday, but not before he was slammed by the Murdoch-owned media, which was demanding he make the call. In fairness, Albanese wanted to give the police time to make that declaration. By Sunday, however, it was clear that his muted stance was not sustainable.
A pledge to fast-track gas projects, while outlawing the fuel in new builds and restricting its use, has raised questions about the Allan governments energy strategy, and accusations of sending mixed signals over the planned transition from fossil fuels.

Gas use has emerged as a thorny political problem for Labor as it seeks to balance its environmental credentials with criticisms that going too far with electrification would hurt households battered by the rising cost of living.

Gas connections on new builds have been banned for homes that require a planning permit. Credit: Bloomberg

Premier Jacinta Allan announced on Tuesday that her government would fast-track gas projects  including extraction, storage and imports  via smoother planning to ensure reliable supply.

Businesses had previously warned they might leave the state amid a looming shortfall and rising gas prices. But as the industry grapples with the effects of the much-touted electrification program, the government has altered its language to say gas has a role in the energy transition and for business.
Life As We Might Have Known It: What If Ethanol Was Our Primary Engine Fuel







By Marc J. Rauch

Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher

THE AUTO CHANNEL

Originally published March 7, 2016

Listen to this story

Listen to "Life As We Might Have Known It" on Spreaker.







A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to engage in an exchange of emails regarding ethanol and energy with Robert L. Bradley, Jr. Rob is the author of several books, including "Energy - The Master Resource," "Capitalism at Work: Business, Government and Energy," and "Edison to Enron: Energy Markets and Political Strategies." Rob is also CEO and founder of the Institute for Energy Research and an adjunct scholar of the Cato Institute.

Our exchange began with his comments that government should not decide which fuel is the winner; that fossil fuels dominance over alternative fuels was due to consumer choice; and that society owes a great thanks to fossil fuels for giving us such a high quality of living.







In my response to these comments, I agreed that the government should not dictate which fuels win, but added that our government very definitely determined who the winner was. "The government did this," I wrote, "by placing burdensome taxes on alcohol right after the founding of the United States. The burdensome taxes became onerous in 1862. Alcohol was priced out of the market by the government. When the taxes were finally lifted for a short period after 1907, alcohol began to compete with gasoline, and virtually all objective scientists agreed it was a better fuel than gasoline." I then added that government interference culminated with the national prohibition of alcohol, which ended the competition.

I also wrote, "Consumers never had the opportunity to vote on which fuel they wanted; there was never a national referendum. And in the years since the repeal of prohibition the public has never been told the truth about petroleum oil fuels, nor has the public been given the opportunity to vote to discontinue petroleum oil subsidies." Ethanol was never given a fair chance.

On the point regarding thanking fossil fuels for our high quality of living, I wrote that any thanks owed was owed to the machines (and their inventors); alternative fuels were used and could continue to be used. The internal combustion engine wasn't invented because there was excess gasoline and diesel fuel lying around, but that gasoline and diesel fuel was developed because there was a glut of virtually tax-free cheap petroleum oil.

This response seemed to have caught Rob off guard. He replied, "I am very interested in the gasohol (ethanol) argument and taxation that you refer to... I have not studied it as much as you have. I need to."

Frankly, Rob's forthright reply caught me off guard; but it was a welcome change to the stonewalling or silence that I usually get in response to these points.

We continued our exchanges, and after providing Rob with answers to his questions, he wrote "Okay, I am finally getting educated. This is something I did not sufficiently understand when I wrote my treatise, Oil, Gas, and Government: The U.S. Experience (1996). I have written notes in my treatise and will remember this going forward."

Rob then kindly asked if I would present my thesis, in less than 1,000 words, in a more formal manner that he would post on his MasterResource.org website. The following is my position (in 1,163 words):

LIFE AS WE MIGHT HAVE KNOWN IT: What If Ethanol Was Our Primary Engine Fuel

Events of the American Civil War set in stone social and economic conditions that have been with us ever since, and they are certain to be with us long into the foreseeable future.

Perhaps the least considered of the events were the Revenue Acts of 1861 and 1862, which were passed by the U.S. Congress to fund the Union's military efforts. Ramifications of these bills included the first Federal income tax statute and the levying of excise taxes (often referred to as "sin taxes") on tobacco and ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Alcohol's tax rose to more than $2 per gallon, regardless of whether the alcohol was intended for consumption or industrial purposes. In today's money, that's purchasing power equivalent to about $120. In 1860, rent for 4 rooms was $4.45/month; land was selling for $3 to $5 an acre; and a laborers wage was 90 cents a day.

In 1872, some of the taxes were repealed - income tax, for example. The alcohol tax remained in place for decades until finally removed by the 1906 Free Alcohol Act.

The high tax on alcohol priced alcohol out of consideration for use as lamp and kitchen stove fuel, colloquially referred to as "burning fluid" or sometimes "camphene." The alcohol-turpentine fuel had come into wide spread use earlier in the 1800's as whale oil became too expensive and hard to come by.

The beneficiary of alcohol's forced decline in popularity was the nascent petroleum oil industry and their principal product, kerosene. Up until the imposition of the tax, alcohol burning fluid and kerosene were similarly priced. After the tax was levied, alcohol burning fluid cost as much as 10 times more than kerosene. Kerosene had also been taxed to help the war effort: a paltry 10 cents.

The earliest efforts at building stationary and mobile internal combustion engines used alcohol fuels: Samuel Morey in 1826; Nicholas Otto in1860; Henry Ford's Quadricycle in 1896. Other builders of horseless carriages, such as Charles Duryea, used the new fuel "gasoline" because of it's dramatically lower price. However, early automobile racers all used alcohol or alcohol blends for more power.

In countries that didn't have domestic petroleum resources and onerous alcohol taxes, alcohol fuels became the preferred engine fuel. In 1899 Germany, the price of gasoline and alcohol fuel were both equivalent to approximately 27 cents. Tests conducted in Germany and France showed that alcohol optimized engines were at least as efficient as gasoline optimized engines.

The first decade of the 20th century saw significant improvements in internal combustion engines for the new fangled automobile, as well as powered aviation. Higher compression engines were required for better performance and heavier vehicles. But higher compression engines revealed a gasoline problem: Gasoline in high compression engines caused engine knock - abnormal detonation that was so severe it could shake the engine apart. There were two solutions to this problem: The first was ethanol. The second was to add ethanol to gasoline. Either solution came with its own problem: Cost - the tax-bloated price of ethanol made it unattractive and threatened efforts to portray the automobile as a device that could be afforded by the masses.

There was another problem, a problem for the petroleum industry: they couldn't control ethanol production and supply - ethanol can be produced by anyone, anywhere, and from a variety of raw materials. But still, the oil industry was in the cat-bird seat, they had price on their side...until President Teddy Roosevelt.

The history of Teddy Roosevelt's campaign against corporate monopolies is well known. Less well known were the Congressional Ways and Means Committee Hearings held in 1906, during his administration. These hearings resulted in the Free Alcohol Act that removed the exorbitant tax on alcohol production. By removing the tax, ethanol fuel became less expensive than gasoline for the first time. This meant that the top scientists and engine builders of the day could work towards better performing vehicles that relied on low cost ethanol and ethanol blends. Henry Ford's Model T was the most famous of new vehicles that could now be powered by gasoline or ethanol (the Model T had two simple adjustments located on the dashboard and steering wheel column).

The ethanol fuel industry would now get it's time in the sun, except for three obstacles: The first was the petroleum industry's head start. Three decades of kerosene dominance gave the oil industry an overwhelming financial war chest to be used for marketing and political tutelage.

The second obstacle was the First World War. Although the war ignited the need for mechanical innovation, the innovations were primarily used for military purposes. Had the war not occurred, higher compression engines in consumer automobiles would have been introduced, and these engines would have required greater quantities of anti-knock ethanol.

The third obstacle was National Prohibition. With the war out of the way, and the public ready to roar into the Roaring 20's, ethanol was eliminated from the scene; and nothing can kill competition like a law banning one of the two competitors.

In the early 1920's, ethanol still had its supporters in the top industry scientists of the day, including those at General Motors, the world's largest automobile manufacturer. Ethanol was the only solution to engine knock. However, after the GM scientists invented leaded gasoline (tetraethyl-lead), and combined their patents with Standard Oil and Dupont Chemical, the world's two largest companies in their respective industries, the prospect of billions of dollars in profits from leaded gasoline put aside any consideration of ethanol-gasoline blends in America.

 SEE ALSO: The Rise and Fall of General Motors and the Subjugation of the Industrialized World

In countries that did not have Prohibition, such as Great Britain, ethanol did compete successfully for many years. In fact, Standard Oil (and its derivative companies) marketed ethanol and ethanol-gasoline blends in those countries, advertising them as superior to leaded or unleaded gasoline. "The Forbidden Fuel" (written by Bernton, Kovarik & Sklar) points out how the ethanol-gasoline blends were labeled as "the most perfect motor fuel the world has ever known," and providing "extra power, extra economy and extra efficiency." A Standard Oil promotional pamphlet advises that with 10 gallons of their ethanol-gasoline blend in a fuel tank it is possible to pour almost a pint of water into the tank "without the slightest trouble - in fact in some circumstances with better running."

The end of Prohibition in America did mean that ethanol could once again compete with petroleum oil fuels, but what had been a significant head start for the petroleum industry prior to the Free Alcohol Act was now an insurmountable advantage. It would require industry acknowledgement that tetraethyl-lead, and then MTBE, was deadly; economic devastation caused by foreign oil dominance; and considerable environmental damage to finally compel government action that (still only) cautiously encourages ethanol use.

In conclusion, I reiterate that the U.S. government did choose the winner in the energy fuel war, and that its continued interference has made it impossible for a free engine fuel market to exist.

But what if the government didn't tax alcohol in 1862? What if alcohol was allowed to compete freely during the second half of the 19th century and all through the 20th century without Prohibition (or without Prohibition affecting ethanol production for fuel)? What might have happened?

We may not have engaged in so many wars; we may not have lost tens of thousands of servicemen in the wars; we may not have had to spend trillions of dollars to engage in the wars. We might not have needed to pour money into the Middle East oil countries to secure their oil as we wouldn't have needed it. Instead of making terrorist regimes rich, which allowed them to fund terrorist actions they might all have remained sleepy backwater countries.

If ethanol fuel was allowed to prosper our farmers might have required less aid. Our skies may never have become smog filled; we may have had fewer catastrophic oil spills and disasters. If we didn't have National Prohibition perhaps organized crime wouldn't have become so organized.

PRINTED RESOURCES

VIDEOS

ONLINE RESOURCES

- Bernton, Kovarik & Sklar- David Blume- Goettemoeller & Goettemoeller- William J. Hale- Korin & Luft- Tom McCarthy- Luft & Korin- Evans & Khan- Edwin Black- James J. Flink- Edwin Black- Robert Schmer- Blackmore & Thomas- CFDC & Growth Energy- Holm-Seto-Travaglini- US Dept. of Agriculture (Shapori-Duffield-Wang)- Daniel Yergin- Daniel Yergin- Josh & Rebecca Tickell- Roberts & Wagener

Gasoline and Alcohol Tests on Internal Combustion Engines - Robert M. Strong 1909

http://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0392/report.pdf

Motor Fuels From Farm Products - Jacobs & Newtin 1938

https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=bagoAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA11

Henry Ford, Charles Kettering and the Fuel of the Future - Wm. Kovarik 1998

http://www.environmentalhistory.org/billkovarik/about-bk/research/henry-ford-charles-kettering-and-the-fuel-of-the-future/

The Ethyl Controversy - Wm. Kovarik 1993

https://billkovarik.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ethyl3.pdf

Ethanol versus Gasoline - The Contestation and Closure... - Michael S. Carolan

http://sss.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/39/3/421

THE MODEL T FORD CAR - Victor Wilfred Page

https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Model_T_Ford_Car_Its_Construction_Op.html?id=70mJeb_q19EC
STUTTGART, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG has decided on changes to the company's Board of Management. In 2025, Mercedes-Benz will bid farewell to the highly esteemed board members Sabine Kohleisen, Renata Jungo Brungger, and Hubertus Troska as their contracts expire and they retire. They have significantly shaped the company over many years with their dedication and expertise. With the appointment of the new board members Mathias Geisen, Oliver Thone, and Olaf Schick, a rejuvenation of the Board of Management is initiated and, at the same time, the consistent transformation of the company is continued.

Sabine Kohleisen, board member for Human Relations (HR) and Labour Director, has asked the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG not to extend her contract, which expires at the end of November 2025. In the interest of the company and to accelerate the rejuvenation of the Board, she will step down from her mandate on April 30, 2025. As a key architect of personnel change and the profound transformation and digitalisation of the HR department, Sabine Kohleisen, together with her team, has set the course for Mercedes-Benz to be one of the most attractive employers in Germany.

The successor to Sabine Kohleisen will be Britta Seeger, currently board member for Marketing & Sales, starting on May 1, 2025. Over the past years, Britta Seeger has made crucial strategic decisions for global sales. Under her leadership, the digitalisation of sales channels has been significantly advanced, our brand has been rejuvenated and realigned, and customer orientation has been consistently expanded. Britta Seeger will hand over sales responsibilities and start her induction into the role of board member for HR and Labour Director on March 1, 2025.

Mathias Geisen, currently Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, has shaped the van division into an extremely successful business unit in recent years, whilst using his entrepreneurial skills to drive the future van portfolio. He will be appointed to the Board of Management on February 1, 2025, and will take over the leadership of the Marketing & Sales board division on March 1, 2025.

"Sabine Kohleisen has filled her role as board member for Human Relations and Labour Director extremely successfully and professionally and has played a decisive role in shaping many of the company's future-oriented decisions. The Supervisory Board sincerely thanks Sabine Kohleisen for her successful work and her willingness to contribute to the new structure of the Board of Management. I am particularly pleased that Britta Seeger, after eight successful years as board member for Marketing & Sales, will take on the extremely important role of board member for Human Relations and Labour Director for the transformation of Mercedes-Benz. With her broad experience and high personal credibility, she will significantly shape and drive further necessary changes in our company within the context of a globally changing automotive industry. With Mathias Geisen, we are appointing a skilled strategist and internationally experienced product and sales expert to the Board of Management, who has recently demonstrated his abilities at Mercedes-Benz Vans. The Supervisory Board is very much looking forward to further collaboration with both of them."

Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

"In her clear, strategic and always approachable manner, Sabine Kohleisen has led the employees and the HR division of Mercedes-Benz through the spin-off of the truck division and into the future. For all of us on the Board of Management, Sabine has been a highly valued confidante and professional partner during these challenging years. I thank Sabine for over 34 years at Mercedes-Benz and wish her all the very best for her future! At the same time, I thank Britta Seeger for eight very successful years in leading our Marketing & Sales division. Whether in the reorganisation of sales, the digitalisation of sales processes, or the positioning of our brand, Britta has consistently transformed her area, made it fit for the future, and always thought first and foremost of our customers needs. I am very much looking forward to continuing to work closely with Britta in the future."

Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

China remains the most important market for Mercedes-Benz. During a phase in which the company is further expanding its collaboration with local partners and technology leaders, Hubertus Troska, currently the board member for Greater China with planned retirement in 2025, has decided to take on a new role as Board Member and General Authorised Representative of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for China starting on February 1, 2025. In this role, he will fully dedicate himself to the complex transformation of the business system, as well as a smooth and successful transition to his successor in the companys highest-volume market until his retirement on July 31, 2025.

Oliver Thone, currently head of Product Strategy and Steering, will succeed Hubertus Troska starting on February 1, 2025. Oliver Thone currently holds one of the most important key positions in vehicle development at Mercedes-Benz Cars. Under his leadership, the course for the future product portfolio of the entire Mercedes-Benz Group up to the 2030s was successfully set.

After a unique career, Hubertus Troska, one of the most experienced European managers in China, is leaving our company. Mercedes-Benz owes him and his diligent leadership for the market success in China over the last decade. With the appointment of Oliver Thone, we are further rejuvenating and strengthening our Board of Management. Oliver Thone is distinguished by his strategic foresight, the clarity of his analyses, and his exceptional understanding of our highly complex business system. The Supervisory Board is very much looking forward to future collaboration with him.

Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Hubertus Troska symbolises the overwhelming success of Mercedes-Benz in China. During his twelve-year responsibility for the Chinese market, he has more than tripled sales in the country, massively expanded the local production network and development capacities, and created an extremely capable team in China. With exceptional cultural sensitivity and the greatest diplomatic skill, he was the ambassador of Mercedes-Benz in China and a highly valued partner of our local joint ventures. I am very pleased that Hubertus will remain with us and bring his expertise for several more months as Board Member and General Authorized Representative for China, and I sincerely thank him for over 36 very successful years in various positions at Mercedes-Benz."

Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

After nearly ten years of successful board membership, Renata Jungo Brungger will leave the company at her own request on October 31, 2025, shortly before her contract expires. With her consistent and visionary leadership, she has further developed and restructured the governance approach at Mercedes-Benz and played a significant role in systematically embedding sustainability into the corporate strategy. Together with her team, she has firmly established a compliance system that is anchored and valued throughout the company.

Renata Jungo Brunggers successor will be Olaf Schick, starting on October 1, 2025. Olaf Schick is currently member of the Board of Management of Continental AG, responsible for Finance, Controlling, Integrity, and Law. Before his time at Continental, Olaf Schick was already successful in various roles at Mercedes-Benz for many years, including as Head of Finance & Controlling Greater China and Head of the Compliance department.

"With Renata Jungo Brungger, a skilled, visionary and assertive lawyer with high resilience and a consistent working style is leaving our company. The Supervisory Board expresses its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Renata Jungo Brungger for her contributions to the company during very challenging times. At the same time, the Supervisory Board and I are very pleased that Olaf Schick is returning to Mercedes-Benz and will take over Renata Jungo Brunggers responsibilities on the Board. With his extensive experience both at Mercedes-Benz and in another DAX company, he is the perfect fit for the important Integrity, Governance, and Sustainability board division."

Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

"Renata Jungo Brungger has shaped our company for nearly ten years as board member. With her extensive experience, she is a mainstay who, together with her team, has provided guidance to many colleagues in the most challenging situations. Her clear, analytical perspective and her extremely consistent advocacy for sustainability and good corporate governance have also influenced our work for the future. I wish Renata all the very best."

Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Further information on Mercedes-Benz Group is available at: media.mercedes-benz.com and group.mercedes-benz.com

Mercedes-Benz Group at a glance

Mercedes-Benz Group AG is one of the world's most successful automotive companies. With Mercedes-Benz AG, the Group is one of the leading global suppliers of high-end passenger cars and premium vans. Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG specialises in financial and mobility services. The products range from financing, leasing, vehicle subscription, rental and fleet management to insurance, innovative mobility services, digital payment solutions as well as products and services around charging. The company founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history by inventing the automobile in 1886. As a pioneer of automotive engineering, Mercedes-Benz sees shaping the future of mobility in a safe and sustainable way as both a motivation and obligation. The company's focus therefore remains on innovative and green technologies as well as on safe and superior vehicles that both captivate and inspire. Mercedes-Benz continues to invest systematically in the development of efficient powertrains and sets the course for an all-electric future. Mercedes-Benz is consistently implementing its strategy to transform itself toward a fully electric and software-driven future. The company's efforts are also focused on the intelligent connectivity of its vehicles, autonomous driving and new mobility concepts as Mercedes-Benz regards it as its aspiration and obligation to live up to its responsibility to society and the environment. Mercedes-Benz sells its vehicles and services in nearly every country of the world and has production facilities in Europe, North and Latin America, Asia and Africa. In addition to Mercedes-Benz, the world's most valuable luxury automotive brand (source: Interbrand study, 10 Oct. 2024), Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach as well as the brands of Mercedes-Benz Mobility: Mercedes-Benz Bank, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Athlon. The company is listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchanges (ticker symbol MBG). In 2023, the Group had a workforce of around 166,000 and sold around 2.5 million vehicles. Group revenues amounted to 153.2 billion and Group EBIT to 19.7 billion.
Car users concerns to define interior of fully autonomous cars, citing 5th Global Automotive Consumer Survey by Asahi Kasei

DUSSELDORF, Germany & NOVI, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fully autonomous cars will become mobile living rooms, allowing car manufacturers to reimagine the future of car interiors. In its fifth annual survey, the Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei asked car users in the four major automotive markets about their expectations and concerns regarding fully autonomous vehicles and their perception of sustainability. Customer preferences for interior design, features, and usage scenarios offer the automotive industry valuable hints about what the car of the future should look like.

The results of Asahi Kaseis fifth global Automotive Consumer Survey present meaningful information about what customers in the four major automotive markets (Japan, China, Germany, and the United States) expect from autonomous vehicles and how they would spend their time in one.

Distrust in technology

Car users are still conservative regarding the operation of a fully autonomous car; a retractable steering wheel and pedals are not considered valuable to most respondents. This confirms the results of the last survey from 2022, which found that even in fully autonomous vehicles, a large proportion of users in Germany, the USA, and China prefer to have a steering wheel and brake pedal for optional manual control. In Japan, one in two share this outlook. In Germany and the USA, providing a manual control option could help increase acceptance of fully autonomous cars.

In addition, two out of three car users in Germany, the USA, and China stated they would still observe traffic while in autonomous modeactivities while in the car, such as watching movies or playing games, are at the bottom of the list (see Figure 1). This is another indication that car users today have safety and trust concerns about fully autonomous cars. These sentiments will profoundly define the interior design of the first generations of fully autonomous vehicles.

Silent cabin for communication and listening to music

When asked about the most valued interior aspect of an autonomous car, one out of two respondents mentioned silent cabin (see Figure 2). This speaks to the woes of many battery electric vehicle (BEV) users; almost every fourth user of a BEV mentioned too much noise while driving as the most annoying aspect of the driving experience. While the BEV itself is quieter than a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE), the noise of wind, tires, gears, and motorssounds that are typically suppressed by the engine noisebecomes more prevalent. In fully autonomous electric vehicles, and with the ability to engage with other activities while commuting, silence will even become more important for customers.

Looking at activities while riding in an autonomous vehicle, listening to music and podcasts is the primary activity of car users worldwide while driving, with 66% in the USA, 61% each in China and Japan, and 56% in Germany. Talking with other passengers is equally high in ranking, with sleeping or working as less important, highlighting the need for tables or lie-flat seats.

Perception of sustainability differs among regions

Car users no longer define a sustainable vehicle only by its drivetrain technology but also by its carbon footprint in production, easily recyclable materials, and overall sustainable production along the entire value chain. Buyers understanding of sustainability is growing, and the relevance of this topic in the purchasing process has increased in recent years.

Respondents in the Western markets define a sustainable car by its use of recyclable materials and sustainable production along the value chain. Meanwhile, for car users in China and Japan, the drivetrain technology primarily defines a sustainable car (see Figure 3). This topic is becoming more relevant for the purchase decision process, particularly in Western countries, with 35% of all respondents in Germany and the USA indicating they would switch their car brand to a more sustainable manufacturer to support greener mobility.

About the Asahi Kasei Automotive Consumer Survey

This report summarizes key findings of the fifth edition of Asahi Kaseis annual trend survey regarding car users purchasing decisions and preferences related to materials and features for the future of vehicles. Conducted in December 2023 via online interviews, Asahi Kasei asked a total of 4,158 car users across the four automotive core markets: Germany (1,074), USA (1,077), China (1,007), and Japan (1,000).

From its first edition in 2019, the survey has been conducted in cooperation with market research institute SKOPOS from Cologne, Germany.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its founding in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility & Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. A telephone conversation took place between the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, and the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkiye, Hakan Fidan, on December 11, 2024, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan, the two ministers discussed issues related to the Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance, the post-conflict situation in the region, the current situation in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, and other regional and international security concerns during the call.

The two sides exchanged views on the discussions that took place during the 31st session of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council in Malta.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov congratulated Turkiye on the appointment of the experienced Turkish diplomat, Feridun Sinirlioglu, as the OSCE Secretary-General during the council session, noting that the Azerbaijani side welcomed this appointment with tremendous enthusiasm. He also wished success to Sinirlioglu in his important role.

The two ministers discussed in detail the recent developments in Syria and other regional matters. Azerbaijan reiterated its backing for Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty, expressing optimism for the prompt resolution of the ongoing crisis in line with the interests and will of the Syrian people.

The conversation also included exchanges on other bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Azerbaijan is commemorating the 21st anniversary of the death of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people.

Both in Azerbaijan and abroad, people honor the National Leader's bright memory with great respect.

Heydar Aliyev was born on May 10, 1923, in Nakhchivan. Starting his career in the security services in 1944, he held the post as Deputy Chairman of the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1964 and was appointed Chairman of the Committee in 1967, at which time he was awarded the rank of Major General. He pursued specialized higher education in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and graduated from the Faculty of History at Azerbaijan (now Baku) State University in 1957.

In July 1969, Heydar Aliyev was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR during a plenary session. In December 1982, he became a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, becoming one of the USSR's leaders. In October 1987, he resigned from his posts in protest against the policies of the Political Bureau and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.

Following the tragic events of January 20, 1990, when Soviet troops committed atrocities in Baku, Heydar Aliyev made a statement at the Azerbaijani representation in Moscow the next day, demanding justice for the organizers and perpetrators of the crime against the Azerbaijani people. In protest against the USSR's duplicitous policies regarding the Karabakh conflict, he left the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in July 1991.

Returning to Azerbaijan in July 1990, Heydar Aliyev first resided in Baku and later in Nakhchivan. That same year, he was elected as a deputy to the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan. Between 1991 and 1993, he was the chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and deputy chairman of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan. In 1992, the New Azerbaijan Party in Nakhchivan elected him as its chairman at its founding congress.

Heydar Aliyev's return to power in 1993, driven by the will of the people, marked a turning point in Azerbaijan's history. During the nation's most challenging period, he assumed responsibility for its future, leading it out of political chaos and economic turmoil. He rectified the consequences of shortsighted leadership, ended the war, prevented civil strife, and set the country on a path of development and progress.

It was thanks to Heydar Aliyev that the historic "Contract of the Century" was signed, forming the cornerstone of a comprehensive oil strategy that spurred rapid economic growth. In his inaugural speech in 1998, the great leader declared, "We want Azerbaijan to enter the 21st century as a powerful, independent state. We aim to create a better life for future generations. Azerbaijan will evolve as a free, democratic nation and will play its historical role at the junction where Europe meets Asia".

Today, Azerbaijan is a strong, authoritative, and truly independent state. Building upon the foundation laid by the Great Leader, President Ilham Aliyev has crafted an unprecedented success story for Azerbaijan. The country has eradicated poverty, established a robust economy, formed a professional army, and strengthened its international standing, becoming a significant global player.

The Victorious Azerbaijani people live in an independent, stable, and prosperous country - just as Heydar Aliyev dreamed.
MADRID, Spain, December 11. The presentation of the photo magazine "Silent Echo: Untold Stories of Landmine Victims," created by renowned Spanish journalist-photographer Gervasio Sanchez and focused on Azerbaijan's landmine challenges, took place in Madrid in commemoration of World Human Rights Day, Trend reports.

The event, organized with the assistance of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Spain and initiated by Sanchez, a documentarian of war and armed conflict, featured a presentation of materials and photographs collected by Sanchez after personal interviews with approximately 30 landmine victims during his visit to Azerbaijan, including excursions to Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, aimed at gathering information on landmine victims and raising awareness about the country's landmine crisis, showcased through the aforementioned magazine.

The magazine showcased more than 70 photographs captured by the journalist during the visit to Azerbaijan, encompassing landscapes, devastation in liberated areas, Azerbaijans comprehensive reconstruction initiatives, and portraits accompanied by personal narratives of individuals impacted by landmine detonations from the First and Second Karabakh Wars.

Sanchez's photographs showcased the groundbreaking efforts of Azerbaijan's inaugural women-led demining teams and their exemplary involvement in demining operations to the Spanish audience.



He is the inaugural European journalist to apprise the European audience of the extensive mine contamination in Azerbaijan, which constitutes a humanitarian tragedy that the country is endeavoring to address with significant effort and resolve.

The event's official speakers included members of the Spanish Senate, Vice President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, representative of the ruling Socialist Party Pere Joan Pons, Deputy Advisor of the People's Party group in the Senate, member of the Joint Commission on National Security and Defense, former President of the Government of Extremadura, lawyer Jose Antonio Monago, Coordinator of the Technical Office of the Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain Pablo Gan Quesada.

Azerbaijani MP, Head of the working group on inter-parliamentary relations with Spain, and Vice-President of the Interparliamentary Union from Azerbaijan Sevil Mikayilova; a representative of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) Nariman Gasimov, and a professor in the field of international relations at the Ramon Llull University Jordi Xucla, as invited speakers, provided detailed information to the participants about the mine problem in Azerbaijan.

Characterizing the scale of the mine problem in Azerbaijan, Sanchez noted that he has visited more than 30 countries facing mine threats and has never seen a mine threat of such magnitude anywhere else in the world.

According to him, war does not end on the date stated in "Wikipedia"; it ends when its consequences are fully eliminated.

He said Azerbaijan is clearing mines with its own resources, which will take years without international support.

Pons, noting that he has good awareness about security processes in the region and has visited Azerbaijan multiple times, emphasized that the mine problem is not only a humanitarian catastrophe but also has economic and environmental consequences.

Assessing the mine issue in Azerbaijan in the context of the environment, he noted that among countries directly affected by environmental impacts, those with mine problems rank first, and solving the mine issue could contribute to environmental protection.

Monago, speaking about his visit to Karabakh this year, noted that he became visually acquainted with the consequences of the mine problem in Azerbaijan.

He shared that during his visit to Azerbaijan's Aghdam city, he did not see a single intact building, and that the city demonstrates a bitter reality in the form of an open book or museum.

He stressed that, despite the end of the war, anti-personnel mines pose a constant threat to people and are a major obstacle to the return of internally displaced persons, as well as the development of the economy and infrastructure.

Monago, drawing on Spain's extensive experience with the mine problem, emphasized that mine-related activities in Azerbaijan extend beyond territorial clearance.

According to him, these activities also include elements such as creating hope for the future among people, preserving the memory of mine victims, and helping the injured rebuild their future lives.

In this context, highly praising the work of Sanchez in raising awareness about the mine problem, Monago stated that Sanchez documents not only the past but also calls all of us to collective responsibility, adding even more significance to the photojournal he has prepared.

He expressed his hope to witness the complete resolution of the mine issue during his next visit to Aghdam.

The coordinator for contacts with Ukraine, a representative of the AECID, noted that the mine problem currently facing Azerbaijan will also affect Ukraine in the future and emphasized the significance of international attention to mine-related humanitarian issues.

As the moderator of the event, Ana de Santos, a writer and public figure considered one of Spain's most renowned journalists, contributed to encouraging engaging discussions throughout the event.

She shared her thoughts that the mine problem is a humanitarian catastrophe, preventing thousands of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons from returning to their lands to this day.

The event participants also included leaders of the General Directorate for Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation of Spain, as well as high-ranking representatives of other government institutions and parliamentary chambers, MPs, representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations accredited in the country, ambassadors, officials from the Madrid City Hall, as well as researchers from various think tanks and academic circles, cultural figures, representatives of the business community, NGOs, and the media.

At the event's conclusion, Sanchez organized an electronic exhibition of his photos from Azerbaijan.

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AIIMS Bhopal hosts AROICON MPCG Chapter 2024

Staff Reporter :

AIIMS Bhopal, under the guidance of Prof (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director, hosted the MPCG Chapter - AROICON 2024, the State Conference of the Association of Radiation Oncology of India (AROI), recently. The event brought together representatives from across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, with the central theme Recent Advances in Radiation Oncology: From Traditional to Cutting Edge. The prestigious conference focused on the latest developments in radiation oncology, aiming to foster collaboration and drive innovation in the field. Postgraduate students, faculty, and experts engaged in insightful discussions and presentations on new trends and technologies shaping cancer treatment. In his address, Prof Singh emphasised the vital role of radiation oncology in cancer treatment, highlighting the integration of traditional methods with modern technologies to enhance patient care.

This conference is a crucial step in fostering collaboration, advancing innovation, and shaping the future of oncology in India, he said. Prof Singh also delivered the Prof (Dr) M S Dwivedi Memorial Oration 2024, on the topic Orthopedic Oncology in India: Current Status and Future Predictions. His address underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and innovations in Oncology. The two-day event underscored the significance of networking and collaboration in advancing cancer treatment and research in India. The conference was graced by several dignitaries, including Dr Suruchi, Dr Manisha Siddha, Dean (Academics), I/c Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology Prof (Dr) Rajnish Joshi, and Deputy Director (Administration) Col Ajit Kumar.
Be Stern





IT IS time India takes a stern stance about the atrocities on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. The official position of Bangladesh on the issue is, of course, strange, to say the least, that India need not look into the internal issue of that country, and that a deliberate misinformation was being spread about the atrocities on the minorities. For, atrocities against minorities come in the category of violation of human rights of minorities as well as other human sensibilities. When such atrocities exceed all limits, then the issue no longer remains locked within a country -- and often travels out to the rest of the world.

This has been happening elsewhere and this is going to happen in Bangladesh. To that extent, Indias concern is legitimate and in tune with its internal demography where the Hindu community is in majority for thousands of years. Bangladesh, thus, has no business dismissing Indias genuine concerns about safety and security of the Hindu minority. In fact, time has come for India to step up the expression of its concerns more openly -- and, of course, more sternly. In tune with that stance, India also needs to take some action that will drill some sense into the heads of the ruling group in Bangladesh. This has become extremely necessary in view of the fact that a lot of expose` of the atrocities on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh is being made available on various social platforms to millions of people in India. This has kicked up quite a storm in India about what is being described as inaction on the part of the Government of India. A popular feeling is rising in India that the Narendra Modi Government is not paying enough attention to the issue.

There also is a strain of public opinion in India that the Government should not hesitate to take even military action -- on a limited scale -- to put a stop to atrocities against the Hindu community in Bangladesh. That would mean a major step for which the world does not appear ready -- in an already conflict-torn situation. Some segments of public opinion in India tend to describe this as timidity of the Government of India under Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. That is, of course, does not pertain to fact -- since the Government of India has taken every possible step within its powers to raise the issue with Bangladesh authorities.

In addition to this, the incoming United States President Mr. Donald Trump also has expressed a straight and stern displeasure over the atrocities against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. Similar sentiments are being expressed in other parts of the world as well -- urging the Bangladesh authorities to check all the wrongdoings against the minorities in the category of violation s of human rights. The issue, thus, is getting very serious over time and is getting fuelled by continued atrocities against the minority communities. What is worse is how the frenzied mobs of religious fanatics are attacking people from minority communities and subjecting them to torture of worst order. Gory pictures of those atrocities are available on social media -- all of which cannot be fake or morphed, so to say. Unfortunately, the Bangladesh authorities are insisting that deliberate misinformation is being spread against their country with a political motive to malign the country. Another angle those authorities are reportedly pushing is that the issue is an internal affair and other countries have business meddling. Both these stances are loaded with flawed thinking which the world is able to see. Let alone these shades of considerations, time it is, of course, for India to start thinking of taking some sterner measures so that the ruling group in Bangladesh learns its lessons right. The current situation will offer every justification for any such action of whatever nature. This reality, too, needs a serious consideration.
BJP-Cong clash over Adani issue, Soros links





NEW DELHI :

Both Houses of Parlt adjourned for the day

THE Winter Session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Tuesday after unruly scenes broke out during the proceedings. Members of Parliament from both Opposition and treasury benches exchanged heated remarks, leading to a disruption in the days schedule. When the Lok Sabha convened, Speaker Om Birla expressed concern over what he termed as undignified demonstrations in Parliament premises. Such behaviour is not in line with the norms of this House, he stated, urging senior leaders to maintain decorum and set a positive example for the nation. Birla highlighted the importance of articulating differences respectfully, noting that over the past 75 years, Parliament has been a platform for constructive debate.

The session was marked by accusations from both sides. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the Government for avoiding discussions. We try every day to have a discussion, but they dont want to have a discussion...thats why they get the House adjourned through any reason... she said. Opposition MPs later protested on the Parliament steps, demanding a Government response on the Adani controversy. Congress MP K C Venugopal accused the Government of stalling Parliament.

The Govt is saying that the Opposition is not allowing Parliament to run. But it is the Govt which has decided to not run the Parliament. he alleged. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, Today we saw in the Parliament that the Speaker talked about the dignity of the House and when the Question Hour started, the members of the ruling party gave an excuse to adjourn the House... We have been seeing for last many days that the House is not running because of the ruling party... Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju countered by accusing the Congress of links with American billionaire George Soros. This link between George Soros and Congress leadership is not an allegation made by the BJP. It is a report in the public domain and everybody is aware of that. Rahul Gandhis conduct and all his activities are very well known to the people.

The matter is serious. Its not a matter concerning the BJP only. It is a matter concerning the entire nation. When it comes to national interests, we all have to stand together and be united. George Soros has openly declared war against India and the Indian Government, said Rijiju. Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused the Congress of not letting the house run,  Why are they not giving a clarification and what is George Soros connection with Sonia Gandhi? They are not letting the House run and then creating chaos outside the House. BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy also criticised the Opposition, accusing them of contradictions. Hear the slogans being shouted...They themselves make noise and then say that run the House...There is a lot of contradiction here. Congress will have to answer, Rudy said.
Cops arrest 3 accused involved in 37 thefts





Our Correspondent :

SEONI

In the control room of the district headquarters, the Superintendent of Police addressed a press conference in the afternoon and revealed about the 37 thefts that took place in Thana Barghat, Thana Dundaseoni and Thana Ari. He further informed that three criminals have been arrested in relation to the above mentioned thefts. Superintendent of Police, Sunil Kumar Mehta said that complaints of several thefts were received in Thana Barghat, Thana Dundaseoni and Thana Ari area. After which a team was formed at the police station level.

The joint team of police started searching for the unknown accused and the stolen property. On the basis of suspicion, Thana Ari police detained Jai Bagmare, a resident of Gangerua and interrogated him. He accepted that his accomplices Kapil Rangare and Deepak Rangare had committed robbery at 5 places in Thana Ari and about 15-20 places in Thana Barghat area. Jai Bagmare was arrested. Also, the absconding accused of robbery Kapil Rangare and Deepak Rangare were searched. Kapil Rangare and Deepak Rangare were caught by the police team who admitted to stealing cash and gold and silver jewellery by committing burglary at 20 places in Barghat police station area, including 5 places in Ari police station area, 6 in Dundaseoni police station, 3 places in Keolari outpost Palari area, 1 place in Kotwali police station and 2 places in Lakhanwara police station. They told that they got cash by gambling with the stolen jewellery and also bought car, motorcycle and other things for himself with the money. Stolen goods worth 9 lakh 92 thousand rupees, 1 Duster car, 1 Swift car, 2 bikes, laptop, 3 mobile phones and tools used in committing the burglary have been seized from him. Accused Kapil Rangare is an old habitual thief, against whom 7 crimes of theft are registered in various police stations.
Dismissed cop kills lover Dumps body in septic tank





Staff Reporter :

A shocking incident has come to light in the Vela Hari area under Beltarodi Police Station limits, where a woman was strangled to death by her lover after a dispute and then the body was buried behind an under-construction building. The murder case came to light during an investigation conducted by the Chandrapur Police. The police arrested a dismissed policeman, Naresh alias Narendra Pandurang Dahule (40), currently residing in Ghogali. Punam (40), residing in Chimur (name changed), was the victim. Punams husband works in a senior position at a bank, and she has a son. Naresh was dismissed from the Chandrapur Police in January. He has been residing in Ghogali, Nagpur, since then. According to police, Naresh and Punam were classmates from 5th to 10th standard.

After that, they lost contact. In August, they reconnected through Facebook. They began chatting and they fell in love. Naresh proposed for marriage to her. In November, they decided to elope. On the afternoon of November 26, Punam travelled to Nagpur from Chimur by private bus and then went to Gandhibag. Naresh met her there and made her sit in a car. They then travelled to Reshimbagh. They had a disagreement about running away and an argument ensued. The argument escalated and in a fit of rage, Naresh strangled Punam to death with a cloth. He travelled with the body in the car for eight hours. He also drove to Butibori area before arriving in Wela Hari around 8.15 pm. He took the body behind an under-construction building in the area. He threw the body into a septic tank, covered it with a mattress and tin sheets, and then returned home around 10 pm.

Killed a dog to cover tracks

Naresh was afraid that the stench of the decaying body might lead to the discovery of the murder. So he killed a dog in the area and threw it near the septic tank. He then took Punams and his own switched-off mobile phones and turned both phones back on and then discarded them in different locations.
Ex-EAM S M Krishna no more





BENGALURU :

EX-KARNATAKA Chief Minister and former External Affairs Minister S M Krishna died here early on Tuesday, leaving behind a rich legacy of statesmanship and public service that saw the 92 year-old leader scale heights of political achievements. Suave, sophisticated and a man with enviable academic credentials, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna started off his political innings as an independent MLA from Maddur in 1962, stunning a then Congress veteran in the elections. In his later years, he went on to become the States Chief Minister and also the countrys External Affairs Minister. Tributes poured in for the former Maharashtra Governor, who breathed his last at 2.45 am on Tuesday. Krishna had been ailing for quite some time. The Karnataka Government announced a 3-day State mourning as a mark of respect to the veteran leader. His last rites will be performed with full State honours at his native in Mandya district on Wednesday.

The State mourning is from December 10 to 12, an official notification said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman and Congress President Mallijkarjun Kharge and other leaders paid rich tributes to Krishna. Shri SM Krishna Ji was a remarkable leader, admired by people from all walks of life. He always worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others, Modi said in a post on X. He is fondly remembered for his tenure as Karnatakas Chief Minister, particularly for his focus on infrastructural development. Shri SM Krishna Ji was also a prolific reader and thinker, the PM said. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Krishna has left behind a rich legacy of statesmanship and public service. Kharge hailed the former CM as a true champion of development who made significant contributions to the State and the nation. His vision, dedication and exceptional public service played a pivotal role in Karnatakas progress, while his approach to balance welfare with development placed a global stamp on Bengalurus transformative paradigm. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers, he posted on X.
Freak accident: Girl dies after falling into canal, youth rescued





Staff Reporter :

The duo were travelling on a motorbike when they fell into Barah canal in Tilwara police jurisdiction

IN a tragic incident, a girl met her watery grave and boy was successfully rescued after being swept into a canal under the jurisdiction of Tilwara police station.They were travelling on a motorbike when the duo fell into the canal. The boy was rescued right after the incident but body of the missing girl was found at 100 metres away from the spot of incident, on Tuesday morning. The deceased has been identified as Harshita Thakur. SHO of Gaur Police Station, Tekchand Sharma informed that police received information about the incident late on Monday evening. The bike-riding youth and girl had fallen into the Barah canal.

Receiving the information, a police team reached the spot, but due to darkness, the rescue operation could not be conducted immediately. Local residents informed that one of the missing persons named Sonu was rescued right after the incident, but the girl was missing. She was rescued on Tuesday morning and sent to the Medical College for treatment. Earlier, the incident took place when a boy and a girl, returning from a picnic at Bargi, fell into the Barah canal. At the time of the incident, local residents sitting near the canal managed to rescue the boy using a rope but the girl was swept away by the water. The locals immediately called for an ambulance and the boy was sent to the Medical College for treatment. Later in the evening, Gaur Police Station was informed about the incident. Rescue operation of missing girl delayed following the night hours. On Tuesday morning, divers found the girls body 100 meters from the spot of incident. Police sent the body for post-mortem after conducting Panchnama. In further investigation, police learnt that boy Sonu Dhurve, a resident of Civil Line, had gone to Bargi with his friend Harshita Thakur. The accident occurred while they were returning to Jabalpur on the bike.
Photo: Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. Ali Asadov, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, has arrived in Moscow for a working visit at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Mishustin, a source in the country's Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.

According to the source, Asadov will participate in a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS will be held on December 12.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Hundreds protest in Delhi against atrocities on Hindus, other minorities in Bangladesh





(Top) Members of Civil Society of Delhi and other social and cultural organisations take part in a protest march outside the Bangladesh Embassy over attacks on Hindus and alleged human rights violations in the country in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Above) Members of various Hindu organisations take part in a protest march over attacks on Hindus and human rights violations in the country, in Karad, Maharashtra. (PTI)

NEW DELHI :

HUNDREDS of people from various organisations, including the RSS, held a protest march at Chanakyapuri here against alleged atrocities and human rights violations against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Security was stepped up outside the Bangladesh High Commission, which is in the area, in view of a protest march. The protesters, who came from all walks of life, were carrying placards demanding the United Nations Human Rights Councils in the matter. They also called upon Bangladesh to stop the alleged Hindu genocide in the country. We are seeing whatever is happening in Bangladesh.

We condemn the atrocities being committed on the minorities, especially Hindus, in the neighbouring country. We warn Bangladesh to immediately stop these human rights violations in the country, said Virender Singh, one of the protesters and a resident of Delhi. Hindus constitute about eight per cent of Bangladeshs 170 million population. There has been allegations of over 200 attacks on Hindus in 50-odd districts of Bangladesh since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League Government on August 5.

Religious leaders hail Foreign Secys visit to Bangladesh

MATHURA (UP),

Dec 10 (ANI)

SPEAKING about Foreign Secretary Vikram Misris visit to Bangladesh, Sadhvi Ritambhara said that the good relations between India and Bangladesh can be maintained only if our feelings are respected. Speaking to ANI, Ritambhara called for unity among Hindus. Ritambhara said, Who is in this world that may not be pained by the atrocities on the Hindus of Bangladesh?... It causes a huge pain when ones own nation becomes ones enemy... The Government of the country has taken a direct initiative that our relations (with Bangladesh) can remain good only when our feelings are respected... Leave aside religion, sect or community, but there is something called humanity... The Hindu community should abandon all its different beliefs and become one. There is strength in unity, we should all remain united and only then the future will be safe, the present will also be safe...
Mumbai BEST bus crash Toll climbs to 7 Driver arrested, booked





The damaged BEST bus at Kurla, in Mumbai.

MUMBAI :

Mah CM Devendra Fadnavis announces Rs 5 lakh compensation to victims kin

THE driver of a BEST bus that mowed down seven persons in Kurla area here had no experience of driving electric vehicles (EVs), police said on Tuesday, as he was arrested for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He had undergone only a ten-day training for driving electric buses, the driver allegedly told police. The accident on SG Barve Marg on Monday night left seven persons dead and 42 injured while 22 vehicles were also damaged. The civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking said it has set up a committee to probe the tragedy, even as local BJP leaders demanded that it review the wet-lease model under which buses are hired from private contractors.

Sanjay More (54) , the driver, was first detained and later arrested under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, a police official said. Meanwhile, police on Tuesday sought from a court custody of the driver of the civic transport bus that fatally knocked down seven persons and injured 42 others in Mumbai, saying they need to probe if he had committed the act deliberately and used the vehicle as a weapon. The court accepted the police plea after arguments and remanded Sanjay More, who was at the wheel of the ill-fated bus, to their custody till December 21 as details emerged he had no experience of driving electric vehicles and had undergone only a ten-day training for steering Evs. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the crash and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured persons.

In a message on X, Fadnavis announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund. The medical expenses of the injured will be borne by BMC and BEST undertaking, he said. We stand with the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured, the CM said. Meanwhile, the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking on Tuesday set up a four-member committee to investigate the bus accident in Kurla area here that claimed seven lives.
NIA arrests key accused of Laos human trafficking, cyber slavery





NEW DELHI :

THE NIA on Tuesday made a major breakthrough in the Laos human trafficking and cyber slavery case with the arrest of an absconding accused, who was nabbed with support of the Delhi Polices Special Cell. Kamran Haiders arrest marked a significant step towards dismantling the international human trafficking syndicate, NIA said in a statement. Along with his co-accused, Haider was allegedly directly involved in arranging flight tickets and documents for the victims and facilitating their illegal border crossings with the help of contacts in the Golden Triangle region. The Golden Triangle is referred to a large, mountainous region comprising parts of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.The NIA had chargesheeted Haider and four others in October in the case relating to a well-organised network of traffickers and touts involved in various illegal activities.
One Nation, One Subscription to be launched on January 1





NEW DELHI :

Nearly 1.8 crore students from State-funded higher education institutions, including universities and IITs, will have access to research papers published in top journals across the world

ABOUT 1.8 crore students from State-funded higher education institutions, including universities and IITs, will have access to research papers published in top journals across the world from January 1 as part of the Governments One Nation, One Subscription initiative. Addressing a press conference, the Governments Principal Scientific Advisor AK Sood said more than 13,400 international journals covering science, technology, engineering, medicine, mathematics, management, social sciences and humanities would be made available to researchers under the One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) initiatives first phase. Under the initiative, 451 State public universities, 4,864 colleges and 172 institutes of national importance will be among the 6,380 higher education and research institutes that will have access to top journals published by 30 publishers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley.

Earlier, institutions such as IITs or central universities subscribed to a small set of journals related to specific disciplines but, under ONOS, all institutions will have access to 13,400 research journals, said Department of Science and Technology Secretary Abhay Karadikar. He said the ONOS initiative would be launched on January 1 and access to top journals available for the next three years. In the second phase, the Government plans to extend the initiative to private academic institutions through a public-private partnership model.

The third phase will grant universal access to international journals through designated access points at public libraries. ONOS will be coordinated by a central agency -- the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The initiative will expand access to scholarly journals to a vast diaspora of students, faculty, researchers and scientists of all disciplines, including those in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, thereby promoting core as well as interdisciplinary research in the country, Sood said. The initiative has been rolled out as a central sector scheme at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore for a three-year period.
Syrian Govt services come to complete halt State workers stay home after rebel takeover





DAMASCUS :

SYRIAS Prime Minister said on Monday that most Cabinet Ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the countrys public sector had come to a complete and abrupt halt. Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assads brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior Al-Qaeda militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative Government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said on Monday they would not tell women how to dress.

It is strictly forbidden to interfere with womens dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty, the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key Government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the UN official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed Al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. You will see there are skills among the rebels, Al-Sharaa said in a video shared on a rebel messaging channel.

Thousands scour Syrias most horrific prison but find no sign of their loved ones

DAMASCUS (Syria),

Dec 10 (AP)

THEY came from all over Syria, tens of thousands. The first place they rushed to after the fall of their longtime tormentor, former President Bashar Assad, was here: Saydnaya Prison, a place so notorious for its horrors it was long known as the slaughterhouse. For the past two days, all have been looking for signs of loved ones who disappeared years or even decades ago into the secretive, sprawling prison just outside Damascus. But hope gave way to despair Monday. People opened the heavy iron doors lining the hallways to find cells inside empty. With sledgehammers, shovels and drills, men pounded holes in floors and walls, looking for what they believed were secret dungeons, or chasing sounds they thought they heard from underground. They found nothing. Insurgents freed dozens of people from the Saydnaya military prison on Sunday when Damascus fell. Since then, almost no one has been found. Where is everyone? Where are everyones children? Where are they? said Ghada Assad, breaking down in tears. She had rushed from her Damascus home to the prison on the capitals outskirts, hoping to find her brother. He was detained in 2011, the year that protests first erupted against the former presidents rule  before they turned into a long, gruelling civil war. She didnt know why he was arrested. My heart has been burned over my brother. For 13 years, I kept looking for him, she said.

When insurgents last week seized Aleppo  her original hometown  at the start of their swiftly victorious offensive, I prayed that they would reach Damascus just so they can open up this prison, she said. Civil defence officials helping in the search were as confused as the families over why no further inmates were being found. It appeared fewer were held here in recent weeks, they said. But few were giving up, a sign of how powerfully Saydnaya looms in the minds of Syrians as the heart of Assads brutal police state. The sense of loss over the missing  and the sudden hope they might be found -- brought a kind of dark unity among Syrians from across the country. During Assads rule and particularly after the 2011 protests began, any hint of dissent could land someone in Saydnaya. Few ever emerged. In 2017, Amnesty International estimated that 10,000-20,000 people were being held there at the time from every sector of society.

It said they were effectively slated for extermination. Thousands were killed in frequent mass executions, Amnesty reported, citing testimony from freed prisoners and prison officials. Prisoners were subjected to constant torture, intense beatings and rape. Almost daily, guards did rounds of the cells to collect bodies of inmates who had died overnight from injuries, disease or starvation. Some inmates fell into psychosis and starved themselves, the human rights group said. There is not a home, there is not a woman in Syria who didnt lose a brother, a child or a husband, said Khairiya Ismail, 54. Two of her sons were detained in the early days of the protests against Assad  one of them when he came to visit her after she herself had been detained. Ismail, accused of helping her son evade military service, spent eight months in Adra prison, northeast of Damascus. They detained everyone. An estimated 150,000 people were detained or went missing in Syria since 2011  and tens of thousands of them are believed to have gone through Saydnaya.

People expected many more to be here ... They are clinging to the slightest sliver of hope, said Ghayath Abu al-Dahab, a spokesman for the White Helmets, the search and rescue group that operated in rebel-held areas throughout the war. Five White Helmet teams, with two canine teams, came to Saydnaya to help the search. They even brought in the prison electrician, who had the floor plan, and went through every shaft, vent and sewage opening. So far, there were no answers, Abu al-Dahab said. He said the civil defense had documents showing more than 3,500 people were in Saydnaya until three months before the fall of Damascus. But the number may have been less by the time the prison was stormed, he said. There are other prisons, he said. The regime had turned all of Syria into a big prison. Detainees were held in security agencies, military facilities, Government offices and even universities, he added. Around the Y-shaped main building of the prison, everyone kept trying, convinced they could find some hidden chamber with detainees, dead or alive. Dozens of men tried to force a metal gate open until they realised it led only to more cells upstairs. Others asked the insurgents guarding the prison to use their rifle to lever open a closed door. A handful of men were gathered, excavating what looked like a sewage opening in a basement. Others dug up electrical wiring, thinking it might lead to hidden underground chambers. In a scene throughout the day, hundreds cheered as men with sledgehammers and shovels battered a huge column in the buildings atrium, thinking they had found a secret cell.

Hundreds ran to see. But there was nothing, and tears and loud sighs replaced the celebrations. In the wards, lines of cells were empty. Some had blankets, a few plastic pots or a few names scribbled on walls. Documents, some with names of prisoners, were left strewn in the yard, the kitchen and elsewhere. Families scoured them for their loved ones names. A brief protest broke out in the prison yard, when a group of men began chanting: Bring us the prison warden. Calls on social media urged anyone with information of the secret cells of the prison to come forth and help. Firas al-Halabi, one of the prisoners freed when insurgents first broke into Saydnaya, was back on Monday visiting. Those searching flocked around him, whispering names of relatives to see if he met them. Al-Halabi, who had been an army conscript when he was arrested, said he spent four years in a cell with 20 others. His only food was a quarter loaf of bread and some burghul. He suffered from tuberculosis because of the cell conditions. He was tortured by electrocution, he said, and the beatings were constant. During our time in the yard, there was beating. When going to the bathroom, there was beating.

If we sat on the floor, we got beaten. If you look at the light, you are beaten, he said. He was once thrown into solitary for simply praying in his cell. Everything is considered a violation, he said. Your life is one big violation to them. He said that in his first year in the prison guards would call out hundreds of names over the course of days. One officer told him it was for executions. When he was freed Sunday, he thought he was dreaming. We never thought we would see this moment. We thought we would be executed, one by one. Noha Qweidar and her cousin sat in the yard on Monday, taking a rest from searching. Their husbands were detained in 2013 and 2015. Qweidar said she had received word from other inmates that her husband was killed in a summary execution in prison. But she couldnt know for sure. Prisoners reported dead in the past have turned up alive. I heard that (he was executed) but I still have hope he is alive. Just before sundown on Monday, rescue teams brought in an excavator to dig deeper. But late at night, the White Helmets announced the end of their search, saying in a statement they had found no hidden areas in the facility. We share the profound disappointment of the families of the thousands who remain missing and whose fates are unknown.
Thousands rally to show solidarity with Desh Hindus





Massive gathering at Variety Square. (Pic by Satish Raut)

Staff Reporter :

When going gets tougher, the tougher gets going, and the Hindu community in Bangladesh is also doing the same against all atrocities being committed against them since change of government. Thousands of Hindus in the city came together on Tuesday to express their solidarity with brothers and sisters in Bangladesh, and also to issue a stern warning to majority community to be prepared to face consequences if they do not stop attacks on Hindu community and temples immediately.

Every Hindu in India is angered by atrocities against brethren in Bangladesh and will not tolerate the atrocities anymore, roared Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), while addressing grand public meeting at Variety Square on Tuesday. Sakal Hindu Samaj took out rallies from all parts of city that converged in city centre, to register protest against ongoing atrocities against the minority Hindus in Bangladesh plus Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities in recent months. The public meeting was held at Variety Square near statue of Mahatma Gandhi and it was a culmination of rallies taken out from all Contd from page 1 six assembly constituencies in the city. More than 150 organisations were involved in the protests and various political and religious leaders from Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist communities were present at the programme. Ambekar in his presidential address warned that Bangladesh will have to face the long term consequences if the atrocities against Hindus are not stopped forthwith.

He said, The political protest in Bangladesh turned into an hate campaign against the Hindus in Bangladesh. They are not only attacking Hindu citizens but also destroying idols and Hindu temples, and said it is not acceptable. The atrocities against Hindus started after the student lead rebellion in Bangladesh in month of August when Sheikh Hasina, then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was forced to resign and flee from country. New interim government in Bangladesh lead by Mohammed Yunus, Noble Peace Prize awardee, has been unsuccessful in stopping the attacks against minority communities, particularly Hindus in Bangladesh. The latest protests in India have been sparked by arrest of Swami Chinmoy Das, an ISKCON monk in the month of November. Govind Shende, Kshetriya Prant Mantri, Maharashtra and Goa, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), accused the majority population in Bangladesh of being ungrateful towards India. He said, the people in Bangladesh involved in atrocities against Hindus have forgotten the role of India in Bangladesh's war of Independence of 1971.

Instead they are acting just like Pakistan used to act against them. He warned Bangladesh to stop the atrocities or they will have to face serious consequences. If India can play a role in birth of Bangladesh, then it can also play a role in its destruction, he cautioned. Shende added, Hindus are a peace loving community, we focus on education. But ancient Indian society has also focused equally on weapon training along with education. Bangladesh should not consider Hindus as a weak community. Ramesh Mantri, President, Sanskrut Bharati, Vidarbha, questioned opposition leaders and human rights organisations for their silence on atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. He said, the same opposition parties and various human rights organisation who make hue and cry over any small incident in India, have not uttered a word against continuos violence against Hindus in Bangladesh till now. He also accused foreign powers with vested interests of trying to destabilise India's growth by destabilising the countries around India. Jitendra alias Bunty Kukde, City President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gave a rousing speech at the public meeting that energised the crowd.

He warned Bangladesh citizens not to test patience of India Hindu community by continuing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. He said, this is new Hindu of new Bharat and is not bound by any borders. If the Saints of Hindu community issues orders, Indian Hindu would not hesitate to take over Dhaka to protect our Hindu brothers and sisters in Bangladesh. Savita Mate, wife of MLA Mohan Mate, appealed the Government to put pressure on Bangladesh. She asked to cut power supply being supplied by Adani Power; cut all trade ties with Bangladesh; send back all Bangladeshi students studying in Indian varsities and taking the issue of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh to UN or other international forum. Adv Dharampal Meshram, Bhante Pradnyashil Gautam and other dignitaries also addressed the gathering on the occasion.

Memorandum addressed to PM seeking

measures for release of Chinmoy Das Sakal Hindu Samaj addressed a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking steps on part of Government of India for ensuring protection of Hindus in Bangladesh. The memorandum to PM was submitted to District Collector. The memorandum lodged strong protest against the atrocities being committed by majority community in Bangladesh against minority Hindus including Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities. The memorandum demanded Indian and Bangladeshi Governments should take steps to stop atrocities against Hindus immediately, and normalcy be restored as before; and the lives of minorities in Bangladesh should be secure.

Sakal Hindu Samaj also demanded that the Indian Government should issue a strict warning to their counterpart in Bangladesh and Human Rights Organisations should take this issue at all international forums. The memorandum also called unconditional release of Chinmoy Das, an ISKCON monk,; security should be provided to actors, sportsperson, political leaders from minorities community and also to Hindu temples in the country. The memorandum is signed by Amol Thakre, Coordinator, Sakal Hindu Samaj; Rajesh Loya, Mahanagar Sanghachalak, RSS; Arvind Kukde, Vidarbha Prant Sampark Pramukh; Ravindra Bokare, Nagpur Mahanagar Karyavah; Shrimant Raje Mudhoji Bhonsle; Shrimant Mata Rajeshwari; Sanjay Bhende; Pragati Patil; and Ramesh Mantri among others.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. We strongly condemn and reject the biased statement of 11 December 2024 by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which distorts the current situation regarding the protection of human rights and freedoms in our country, and aims to interfere in the legal proceedings in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizada said, Trend reports.

"Unfortunately, due to the intervention of the U.S. State Department led by Secretary of State Blinken in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan during the last 4 years, the period in question is considered lost years for Azerbaijan-US relations, which were remembered for friendship and cooperation within many periods.

It is well known that Antony Blinken's double standards in relation to the current situation of human rights in our country has paralyzed the South Caucasus policy of the United States as a whole.

We hope that mutual friendship and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and the United States will be restored during the new U.S. administration," Aykhan Hajizada said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. Azerbaijan aims to increase student exchange, Minister of Education and Science of Azerbaijan Emin Amrullayev said during his speech at the Forum on Internationalization of Science and Higher Education held in Baku, Trend reports.

The minister noted that the current focus is on increasing the number of foreign students studying in Azerbaijan.

In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of foreign students studying in Azerbaijan. The priority among our plans is to raise the number of foreign students to 20,000, Amrullayev said.

At the meetings held within COP29, it became known that many countries are interested in sending citizens to Azerbaijan for education.

Education is the main topic of discussions in bilateral relations with many countries, the minister added.

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By Akbar Novruz



Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), has addressed a formal appeal to Pope Francis, urging him to consider the decolonization process of Corsica during his upcoming visit to the island on December 15.

Azernews presents the full text of the appeal:

Your Holiness,

It is with profound respect and great appreciation for your unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and the dignity of all peoples that I take the liberty of addressing this letter to you.

I have the honor of writing to you in my capacity as Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), an international non-governmental organization established during the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, in July 2023. This initiative, endorsed by the participants, aims to support decolonization processes and combat colonial and neo-colonial practices.

In the establishment document of the organization the delegates affirmed that "The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitations constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an evil which should speedily be brought to an end."

The BIG brings together representatives of anti-colonial movements from countries and territories still subjected to colonial domination. It is, however, deeply disheartening to observe that, among the many calamities that have marked human history, colonialism continues in the 21st century to transcend religious, ethnic, geographical, and cultural boundaries.

The establishment of BIG within Non-Aligned Movement is no coincidence. In fact, this is a logical continuation of the active participation and contribution of Azerbaijan during its chairmanship the Non-Aligned Movement, in 2019-2023, and currently as a member of the "Troika".

As part of its activities grounded in respect for international law, the BIG has organized nearly 20 international conferences in various locations, including at the United Nations headquarters.

During the recent 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29), held in Baku from November 11 to 22, our Group was particularly active. We organized around ten events condemning colonial and neocolonial practices in today's world. These activities greatly benefited from the participation of the representatives from Corsica, Kanaky (New Caledonia), Martinique, Guyana, Guadeloupe, Bonaire, Saint Martin, and Mayotte.

The international community is well aware of your dedication to the decolonization process. Your words during the forum "Colonialism, Decolonization, and Neo-Colonia/ism: A Perspective of Social Justice and the Common Good," held on March 30-31 at the Casina Pio IV in Vatican City, deeply moved us: "The subjugation and exploitation of peoples through the use of force or cultural and political penetration is a crime.

Your Holiness,

I recently learned of your planned visit to Corsica on December 15. According to Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, "Corsica is a land that has preserved its Catholic religious tradition," yet its people have long been struggling to maintain their unique identity, culture, and aspirations in the face of modern governance dynamics.

Corsica's history speaks of remarkable resilience and cultural richness, embodied in its language, traditions, and distinct heritage. However, external domination has often hindered the people's efforts to preserve their identity

and sovereignty. Recently, the Corsican people even submitted a motion to the Corsican Assembly requesting the inclusion of the island on the list of countries to be decolonized. On 19 November, 2024, once again Corsica was deprived of the right to speak on its language after The Marseille Administrative Court of Appears ban decision.

Decolonization is much more than a political process; it is a moral and spiritual journey toward the restoration of God-given dignity for all peoples.

I respectfully request that you consider the situation in Corsica during your visit to the island. I firmly believe that your presence will bring hope and encouragement not only to the Corsican people but also to all those across the globe who remain under colonial rule.

May God continue to bless Your Holiness with wisdom and grace as you guide the Church through these challenging times.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. Gender equality is not only ethically significant but also a crucial element in ensuring economic development, Chief Operations Specialist of the World Bank (WB) Representative Office in Azerbaijan Saida Baghirli said at an event on "Leadership excellence in advancing women's employment and career growth in Azerbaijan" today, Trend reports.

She believes that women are few and far between in leadership and technical roles within these vital sectors, leading to a hefty gender pay gap.

"It is essential to address and deliberate on gender issues throughout the nation. Notwithstanding Azerbaijan's endeavors in this domain, we continue to encounter some problems.

The average monthly salary of women in Azerbaijan is nearly 35 percent lower than that of men.

Azerbaijan has implemented some definitive measures to surmount these obstacles. At the conclusion of 2022, aided by analytical efforts from the World Bank, Azerbaijan eliminated gender-based legal constraints on women's employment. In 2023, the nation abolished prohibitions on women's night-shift employment," she emphasized.

Baghirli also highlighted that in Azerbaijan, women account for 17 percent of the workforce in the transportation and warehousing sectors, 11 percent in energy, and 8 percent in construction.

"The WB supported these improvements through the Gender Advisory Services Program, implemented under the Azerbaijan Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) Program, funded by the European Union (EU)," she added.

To note, the event on "Leadership excellence in advancing women's employment and career growth in Azerbaijan" features participation from WB Manager for Azerbaijan, Stefanie Stallmeister, Head of Communications at Azerbaijan Railways; Aybeniz Ismayilova, Lead Specialist at the Human Resources Department of Baku Port; Nurana Muradova, WB Senior Gender Advisor; Shamsia Mustafayeva; and others.

The event showcases the key results of a gender assessment conducted at Baku Port and Azerbaijan Railways, achievements in increasing women's employment in various Azerbaijani companies, and introduces an online course on workplace health and safety developed by the World Bank in Azerbaijan.

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Photo: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. The collaboration between Azerbaijan's Ministry of Health and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was discussed during a meeting at the ministry, Trend reports via the ministry.

The meeting was attended by Saja Farooq Abdullah, UNICEF's representative in Azerbaijan.

Welcoming the guests, Minister of Health Teymur Musayev highlighted the multifaceted relationship between Azerbaijan and UNICEF.

"Over the past period, several successful projects have been implemented in the fields of healthcare, education, and maternal and child health protection," he noted.

Minister Musayev also emphasized that important steps are being taken to improve the quality of services in maternal and child health.

He further mentioned that vaccines had been delivered to Azerbaijan through UNICEF's assistance.

Addressing the significance of COP29, held in Baku last November, Musayev stated that panel discussions were jointly organized by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, focusing on "Strengthening the Health Workforce to Prepare for and Respond to the Health Effects of Climate Change."

The minister also shared that starting from the 2024/25 academic year, a new course titled "Climate Change and Health" will be introduced for second-year students at Azerbaijan Medical University (AMU).

Concluding the meeting, the minister expressed confidence in the continued growth of bilateral cooperation.

In response, Saja Farooq Abdullah reminded that UNICEF began its operations in Azerbaijan in 1993.

"UNICEF is committed to working closely with the Azerbaijani government to build a better future for children and provide opportunities for the full development of their potential," she said.

Praising the strong partnership between Azerbaijan and UNICEF, Abdullah noted that the cooperation program for 2021-2025 forms the foundation for deeper collaboration.

The parties also discussed future cooperation on priority issues in closing.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. A seminar titled "Broadcasting in the Republic of Azerbaijan: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow", organized by Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and Audiovisual Council, has been held in Baku, Trend reports.

The seminar reviewed the work done in the field of broadcasting in previous years, the successes achieved thanks to government support for broadcasters, and discussed plans for the further development of the industry.

The event gathered representatives from the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Audiovisual Council under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, the Radio and Television Broadcasting and Satellite Communications Production Association, the State Radio Frequency Management, and national broadcasters.

The speakers emphasized that, from the first days of Azerbaijan's independence, radio broadcasting in the country has been rapidly developing thanks to the special attention and care of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Besides, the speakers proudly pointed out that the unfinished construction of the Baku TV Tower Complex was completed under the direct instruction of the great leader and commissioned in 1996 with his direct involvement, which, alongside improving the quality and expanding the coverage of television and radio broadcasting in the country, resulted in the launch of FM radio broadcasting, considered an advanced technology at the time.

The seminar also mentioned that widespread introduction of FM radio broadcasting in the country, the development of technical capabilities of channels, and the expansion of the broadcasting infrastructure allowed for the subsequent cessation of AM radio broadcasting, which contributed to the environmental improvement, reducing annual energy consumption for broadcasting by 14 times and carbon emissions from 18.7 kilotons to 1.3 kilotons.

Moreover, the seminar highlighted that, starting in 2016, in connection with financial assistance from the state to meet the information needs of society, educate the population, and strengthen the material and technical base of private broadcasters who actively participate in the promotion of the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people both domestically and internationally, President Ilham Aliyev signed relevant decrees.

According to the speakers, thanks to the fivefold financial assistance from the state totaling 15 million manat ($8.8 million) in recent years, high-quality radio broadcasting was ensured.

The seminar reminded that continuing this policy, in line with the need for broader and higher-quality radio broadcasting used by the country's population, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on July 24, 2023, "On the allocation of financial resources for the expansion of the radio broadcasting network in the territory of Azerbaijan", allocating 13.7 million manat ($8 million).

Next, the seminar underscored that as a result of the implementation of the above decree, various technical equipment was purchased and installed at 17 radio and television transmitting stations, measures were taken to enhance the sustainability and modernization of infrastructure, ensuring the availability of national broadcasters' programs to the population across the country, including the recently liberated territories of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.

The event explained that the decree also includes additional support for national broadcasters by reimbursing operational costs for three years from the state budget, which provides broadcasters with an opportunity to expand their commercial activities during this period.

As the seminar mentioned, over the past five years, with the aim of ensuring a higher level of radio program diversity and the efficient use of national radio frequencies, the Audiovisual Council organized competitions, resulting in an increase in the number of national terrestrial radio channels from 11 to 17.

The speakers further said that the "Action Plan for the Introduction and Development of Digital Radio Broadcasting in Azerbaijan", approved by a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan on October 7, 2023, is an important document for the transition to digital broadcasting in the radio sector.

The seminar also explained that the action plan schedules expansion of the DAB+ digital radio broadcasting standard, which began in 2019 in Baku and the Absheron peninsula, across the entire country.

According to the speakers, in order to achieve the expansion, by the end of the current year, the DAB+ broadcasting equipment at the Baku TV Tower Complex will be replaced with new equipment, and DAB+ broadcasting will be organized from the Gulustan radio and television station located in the Aghsu district.

The speakers also said that the consistent state policy implemented in Azerbaijan in this area ensures the provision of information to the population in line with modern requirements, as well as strengthening the national security of the country.

Private broadcasters who participated in the seminar actively took part in the discussions, expressed deep gratitude to the state authorities, in particular to President Ilham Aliyev, for the support provided by the state and the favorable conditions created for their activities.

The participants expressed confidence that state-private partnerships in this field, where private channels dominate among broadcasters, will lead to sustainable development with new successes.

To note, for the first time, radio started broadcasting in Azerbaijan on November 6, 1926. Throughout 1936, the establishment of a 35-kilowatt radio station enabled Azerbaijani radio transmissions to be received throughout the Caucasus, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and along the eastern shore of the Black Sea.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. The conference on National Leader Heydar Aliyev and reforms in the Republic of Azerbaijan based on human rights was held under the joint organization of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) and the Ombudsman's Office, Trend reports via the press service of the Ombudsman's Office.

Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Tapdig Amiraslanov and employees of the Ministry, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva and employees of the Ombudsman's Office, MPs Aydin Huseynov and Aydin Mirzazade, Head of the History Department of Western Azerbaijan of the Institute of History of ANAS Jabi Bahramov, honored journalist Mubariz Asgarov, and members of the Public Council under the Ministry of Emergency Situations attended the conference.

The participants of the conference first visited the monument to National Leader Heydar Aliyev, laid flowers and bouquets at the monument, and then viewed the Heydar Aliyev Center.

At the event, which started with the singing of the National Anthem, they honored the memory of the national leader with a minute of silence.

Then, Tapdig Amiraslanov delivered a welcoming speech and talked of the glorious life path of genius leader Heydar Aliyev and his invaluable services to the Azerbaijani people.

Noting the Azerbaijani people honor the memory of the historical personality with deep respect, the deputy minister emphasized the national leader laid solid foundations for building a legal and democratic state in our country. It was noted that special importance was attached to the protection of human rights and freedoms in the state policy, and the reforms carried out in this sphere played an invaluable role in the development of society and the state as a whole.

Addressing the event, Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva noted that National Leader Heydar Aliyev had special merits in the formation of an institutional base for the establishment of emergency bodies; a strategic approach in the field of emergency management was also formed under the leadership of the genius leader.

The commissioner noted that numerous reforms aimed at the development of Azerbaijan in socio-political, socio-economic, legal, and other spheres were carried out during the leadership of our country by the national leader.

Aliyeva noted the legal reforms carried out by the great leader in the direction of building a state based on the rule of law and development of civil society in Azerbaijan, accelerated the integration of our country into the international legal system, and laid the foundation for the creation of effective mechanisms for the protection of rights and freedoms of citizens. The Commissioner emphasized that the Ombudsman Institution, serving the highest goal of the statethe protection of human rightswas established on the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

The Ombudsman underlined the large-scale policy, the foundation of which was laid by great leader Heydar Aliyev, is being successfully continued under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev following the priority challenges of the new time, noting several achievements have been made in the field of human rights in recent years.

Afterward, MPs Aydin Mirzazade and Aydin Huseynov, Head of the Emergency Situations Academy Baba Salayev, Head of the Western Azerbaijan History Department of the Institute of History of ANAS, Doctor of Philosophy in History Jabi Bahramov, and honored journalist Mubariz Asgarov made speeches. They talked of the unprecedented merits of national leader Heydar Aliyev to our people, his historical steps on the way of the formation and development of the Azerbaijani state, and shared their opinion on the importance of large-scale reforms carried out in our country in the sphere of building a democratic and legal state.

The documentary movie was screened at the end of the event.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has announced a major solar investment in Azerbaijan, marking a significant step in its climate action strategy. Seleha Lockwood, Senior Climate Strategy and Policy Specialist at AIIB, discussed the partnership during an exclusive interview with Trend on the sidelines of COP29.

AIIB's broader climate strategy, Lockwood explained, focuses on engaging with clients and fostering strategic partnerships. "We released a Climate Action plan last year, which emphasizes working closely with our clients and building meaningful partnerships. This particular investment in Azerbaijan exemplifies that approach, as we are collaborating with other multilateral development banks (MDBs) and the country itself to support their energy priorities," said Lockwood.

The investment, totaling $160 million, will fund the development of two solar PV power plants: the 315 MWAC Neftchala Solar PV Power Plant and the 445 MWAC Bilasuvar Solar PV Power Plant. The project is being developed in partnership with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), and will significantly contribute to Azerbaijan's renewable energy capacity.

"This project is a transformative investment that will significantly change the energy mix in Azerbaijan," Lockwood noted. "We are excited to be part of this initiative, which holds substantial strategic importance for the countrys future energy landscape".

The project is co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with SOCAR Green joining Masdar as a local partner. Lockwood emphasized that this collaboration reflects AIIB's commitment to fostering regional cooperation and supporting countries in their climate goals. "The partnership with multiple MDBs and local players underscores the importance of collaboration in tackling global challenges like climate change," she said.

The solar investment is aligned with AIIBs broader strategy to prioritize green infrastructure, in line with its commitment to the Paris Agreement. "Our strategy prioritizes green infrastructure and aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement," Lockwood stated. "Since July 1, 2023, all of our project investments have been aligned with Paris goals, and this investment is no exception".

AIIBs commitment to the project is already evident, as its investment operations team has been actively engaged on the ground in Azerbaijan since the first week of the initiative. "We are already on the ground, engaging with counterparts in Azerbaijan, ensuring that the project progresses smoothly," Lockwood added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. Air Liquide has received a 110 million euro grant from the European Innovation Fund for its ENHANCE project, aimed at producing and distributing low-carbon and renewable hydrogen derived from ammonia, Trend reports.

Located in the port of Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium, the project will feature a large-scale renewable ammonia cracking plant and a hydrogen liquefier, marking the first industrial-scale initiative in Europe to produce hydrogen using ammonia as a feedstock.

The project will retrofit an existing hydrogen production unit in the port, replacing natural gas with renewable ammonia. This change is expected to cut CO emissions by over 300,000 tonnes annually. The new facility will support the creation of a low-carbon hydrogen supply chain in Europe, benefiting industries such as refineries, chemicals, and transport sectors like heavy-duty road, maritime, and aviation.

Ammonia, which can be produced with a low-carbon footprint, serves as a promising feedstock due to its existing global infrastructure for production, transport, and use across various industries. The grant from the European Innovation Fund is a key step in finalizing the investment decision and launching the project.
The Orange City Council Tuesday officially created a reinvestment zone for 556 acres of land that was a paper mill from 1967 until it closed last as International Paper last year.

The designation will allow an investing company to get State of Texas economic incentives to buy the property and develop it.

Scott Overton, chief appraiser at the Orange County Appraisal District said the deed to the property has not been filed to show the old plant has sold, but he has heard the sale is in the works.

The plant was built by the Owens-Illinois company and later became Temple-Inland before being sold to International Paper.

Reports are that United States Gypsum interested buyer. Bloomberg Business shows Otsego Paper Incorporated is a subsidiary of USG. The paper company in Otsego, Michigan, makes "heavy gauge paper used in gypsum wallboard and Sheetrock wallboard."

The International Paper mill produced heavy paper used in cardboard containers. US Gypsum makes types of wallboard.

Overton with the appraisal district said an industrial plant that is not in operation still pays property taxes, but the valuation goes down if it is not in production. That loss in valuation means entities like the Little Cypress-Mauriceville school district and the city of Orange are losing tax income as long as the plant is closed. Nearly 500 local jobs were lost because that plant closed.
In the spirit of Christmas giving Rodney Townsend of Bridge City, an attorney and incoming Judge for Orange County Court at Law No. 2, made two financial contributions to support local organizations serving the public. The donations, totaling $10,000, went to the Bridge City-Orangefield Ministerial Alliance and the Orange County Meals on Wheels program. Both organization received checks for $5,000 each.

According to Melissa Isaacs, director of the Ministerial Alliance, there are 409 children signed up for Christmas gifts that will benefit from Townsend's donation.

Townsend, who also serves as a board member for The Orange County Meals on Wheels Program, also received a $5,000 donation from him.

Kristen Ross, executive director of the program said, "We are very grateful to Rodney for his generous and impactful donation. This is just one of the many ways our incredible board members have gone above and beyond to ensure our meals on Wheels program continues to thrive."

The Orange Meals on Wheels ensures seniors get both nutritious meals and human connection.

"We have a lot of wonderful organizations in Orange County that strive to help the less fortunate in our community," Townsend said. "Thses are two that I try to support."
Photo: Technical Regulation and Metrology Committee of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 11. Kazakhstan and China are strengthening control over mutually supplied goods by signing a work plan to enhance the security of mutual trade, Trend reports.

A meeting was held with representatives of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), during which the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the control and security of mutually supplied goods between the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan and GACC was discussed.

The main goal of the meeting was to strengthen cooperation between the countries in the field of quality control and safety of goods entering the markets of both countries. During the negotiations, the parties discussed appointing coordinators from each side to oversee the activities and agreed to exchange information on a quarterly basis regarding cooperation in the control and safety of mutual trade goods.

As a result of the meeting, a work plan was signed, which will serve as the basis for further cooperation and strengthening the security of trade between Kazakhstan and China.

To note, bilateral trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China reached a record $36.5 billion in the first 10 months of 2024. This is an 11 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. The trade turnover between the two partner countries is growing at a record pace, and last year it reached a record $41 billion. Kazakhstan aims to increase this figure to $100 billion.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. The chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) will transition from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan during the forthcoming seventh meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) scheduled for December 17 of this year, Trend reports via CICA.

According to information, the online meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO), chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev and Ambassador-at-Large Talgat Kaliyev, was held with the participation of CICA Secretary General, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay.

This meeting has been recognized as a significant step in the preparations for the forthcoming seventh meeting of the Ministerial Council.

In his opening remarks, Alibek Bakayev wished the Committee a fruitful workday, expressing confidence that the discussions will be guided by the "spirit of CICA," which is based on mutual respect and cooperation, and that it will contribute to the attainment of productive results.

The aim of the CSO was to ensure a successful outcome of the upcoming Ministerial Council meeting, which will present the achievements of CICA since the last Summit in Astana in 2022 and prepare the groundwork for the Azerbaijani Chairmanship in 2024-2026.

Senior officials achieved a breakthrough in reviewing and finalizing key documents for adoption by the Ministers, in particular the consensus on the draft CICA Ministerial Council Statement on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration of Principles Governing Relations between the CICA Member States, which was prepared as the main political outcome of the CFM meeting.

The Secretary-General also briefed the CSO on organizational matters to ensure the smooth and efficient conduct of the Ministerial Meeting.

The discussions at the CSO meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of CICA member states to advance multilateral dialog and cooperation in Asia.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday extended its stay-order period in connection with demolitions of illegal hotels and lodges in Mandarmani tourist spot in East Midnapore district till 24 January.

Earlier, the HC had stayed its order till 13 December, directing the district administration not to implement its notification issued to owners of hotels and resorts asking the latter to demolish the structures.

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With the extension of the stay period issued today, illegal hotels and lodges wont be demolished following the notification issued by the district administration.

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The single Bench of Justice Joy Sengupta today directed that the next hearing of the case would be heard on 17 January.

On 11 November, the East Midnapore district magistrate had issued a notification to owners of 140 hotels and resorts located within the coastal zone of Mandarmoni asking them to demolish the structures forthwith.

On 2 May in 2022, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the demolition of illegal constructions in Mandarmani and its adjoining four moujas in the Digha-Shankarpur coastal area.

The NGT observed that these hotels and resorts were built in violation of coastal regulations, causing continuous harm to the coastal and marine ecology.

Coastal zones are areas where the sea meets the land and also places coming under the impact of sea waves. According to a rough estimate, the nearly 500-metre area after the end of the sea is considered the coastal zone in Mandarmani. Nearly 140 big hotels and resorts are constructed within the coastal zone of Mandarmani.

Though the NGT had given its verdict in 2022, the district administration took time to react. A senior official from East Midnapore stated that implementing the NGT order from May 2022 had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic but that action could no longer be postponed.

We initiated steps to demolish the constructions in Mandarmani in 2022, but the pandemic made it impossible to proceed. Now, we cannot delay further, and the first step has been taken, said the official.

The Mandarmani Hoteliers Association moved the high court challenging the validity of the DMs notification and also the legality of NGTs directive.

The matter came up for hearing for the first time before Justice Amrita Sinha on Friday.

The lawyer appearing for the East Midnapore administration informed the judge that following the NGT directive district magistrate Purnendu Maji had issued the notification asking hotel owners to demolish the structures and vacate the areas under their control by 20 November.

After hearing the case, the judge issued the interim order staying the operation of the DMs notification till 13 December and asked Maji to file an affidavit by 4 December.

The judge also asked all those interested to add themselves as parties to the case before the matter is heard again.

Realising the gravity of the DMs order, chief minister Mamata Bannerjee had voiced her opposition to the demolition order and declared that no bulldozer would be allowed to be used in her state.
The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday made it clear that it will be contesting the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections independently, with no chances of any alliance.

Ruling out any possible alliance with the Congress party, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal taking to social media platform X on Wednesday wrote: Aam Aadmi Party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress.

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The party has emphasized its track record of defeating BJP decisively in three consecutive polls, and expressed confidence in repeating the feat under Kejriwals leadership.

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Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has said, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal has made it clear that there is no alliance happening with the Congress in Delhi. The AAP will contest the elections independently. In the last three elections, the party has consistently defeated the BJP decisively.

He further said that back in 2015, when the BJP had secured victories in Haryana, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra, AAP won a historic 67 seats in Delhi.

Singh said that AAP once again had in 2020, secured 62 seats in the Delhi assembly polls, and this time as well his party will contest independently.

Meanwhile, AAP leader and RS MP Raghav Chadha stated that the upcoming Delhi elections will be fought by his party based on its organizational strength and political capabilities.

He said that the question of any alliance does not arise at all.

Chadha said: Reports suggesting a possible alliance between AAP and Congress are completely baseless.

He asserted that the AAP has fought, won, and formed the government, and run it successfully during the previous three elections in Delhi elections on its own strength.

According to Chadhas claims, in the upcoming 2025 Assembly polls, the party will again contest and win based on its work and the leadership of Kejriwal.

He has urged everyone to not propagate any rumors over alliance, and added that the party is fully prepared to contest the elections independently.
The Delhi unit of the BJP on Wednesday announced that it will organize street corner meetings at 3,800 Shakti Kendras across Delhi, in a bid to inform the public about the alleged failures of the AAP government during the past 10 years and to highlight local issues.

Such meetings were held across 256 key places in Delhi on Wednesday, where BJP MPs, state office bearers, and local party workers took part.

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MP Manoj Tiwari addressed the gathering in Sant Nagar, Burari, BJP General Secretary and MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat took part in the event at Nawada, MP Bansuri Swaraj attended the meeting at Hauz Khas and former Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay took part in the programme at Malviya Nagar. During these meetings, the party leaders distributed printed details of local issues and the alleged corruption of the Delhi government over the past decade.

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Tiwari said that the people of Burari have not only faced waterlogging, but have also witnessed students losing their lives due to it. He claimed that the people of Burari are in the mood for change, and are preparing to vote for the BJP to bring a double-engine government in the upcoming assembly polls.

Kamaljeet Sehrawat alleged that during the past 10 years, the state government here neglected Delhis farmers, and did not provide them with any facilities. She said that Kejriwals tenure has been marked by alleged corruption and self-interest, which is now evident in the form of alleged irregularities in the revamp of his previous accommodation, 6 Flag Staff Road bungalow, when he was the CM.

Swaraj highlighted the alleged bitter reality of the Delhi governments failure, evident in the piles of garbage and filth visible on every street and corner. She claimed that Delhi, which should have been a symbol of cleanliness and beauty, has become a hub of garbage.
A tragic accident in Vasant Kunj, South Delhi, claimed the life of a three-year-old child after being struck by a Gramin Sewa Tempo.

The severely injured child was immediately rushed to Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, but was declared brought dead by the attending doctors.

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Upon receiving a PCR call regarding the incident, a team from Vasant Kunj North Police Station promptly reached Fortis Hospital to initiate an inquiry.

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A case under Sections 279 (rash driving) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered in connection with the accident, an official stated.

Following an investigation, the police tracked down the offending vehicle, and the driver, identified as Rohit, was arrested, the official added.
Its been 14 years since Bollywood was introduced to the electrifying energy of Ranveer Singh, a name that has since become synonymous with versatility and charisma. To celebrate this milestone, the actor took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post.

Ranveer Singh uploaded a clip from his debut film Band Baaja Baaraat and wrote, 14 years since Band Baaja Baaraat, when my dreams became a reality.

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Released in 2010, Band Baaja Baaraat marked the beginning of Ranveers illustrious career. Directed by Maneesh Sharma, the film featured him as Bittoo Sharma, a spirited Delhi boy dreaming of launching a wedding planning business.

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Paired opposite Anushka Sharma, the romantic comedy struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. Ranveers portrayal earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut and cemented his place as a promising new talent.

Since then, Ranveer has become a force to reckon with in Hindi cinema. Known for his dynamic performances, he has brought complex characters to life. From a melancholic thief in Lootera to historical figures like Bajirao I in Bajirao Mastani and Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat, he has done it all!

His collaborations with Sanjay Leela Bhansali have earned him multiple awards, including two Filmfare Best Actor trophies.

Beyond his professional achievements, Ranveers personal life has been just as eventful. Married to fellow actor Deepika Padukone, the couple recently welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Dua.

On the work front, Ranveers recent appearance in Rohit Shettys Singham Again saw him reprising his role as Sangram Simmba Bhalerao. The film, featuring an ensemble cast of Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, and others, has generated buzz.

Looking ahead, Ranveer is ready to step into another iconic role. He takes the mantle of the titular character in Farhan Akhtars Don 3. The announcement has left fans eagerly anticipating his fresh take on the beloved franchise.
Chef Vikas Khanna recently experienced an emotional and unforgettable evening as he hosted Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at his New York restaurant, Bungalow.

The night was filled with meaningful conversations about life, legacy, and their shared connection to Indian culture. For Khanna, this moment was a personal milestone.

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Bungalow, which opened in March 2024, has quickly become one of New York Citys most talked-about dining spots. Known for its innovative take on Indian cuisine, the restaurant recently earned the prestigious Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award.

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Over the months, it has attracted many Indian celebrities, including Mukesh Ambani and Priyanka Chopra. However, Shah Rukh Khans visit carried a unique emotional weight for Khanna, who has long admired the actors charisma and values.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vikas Khanna (@vikaskhannagroup)

In a heartfelt social media post, the chef shared his reflections on the experience. Khanna revealed how, as a child, he would watch Shah Rukh Khans films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge with his sister, finding inspiration in the actors confidence, compassion, and respect for others.

Hosting Khan at Bungalow was a deeply personal moment for him, and he described it as a memory he would cherish forever.

Fighting back tears during the evening, Khanna said he looked up through the restaurants glass ceiling and saw a crescent moon shining down, a symbolic reminder of his journey and connection to his roots.

Shah Rukh Khan, in turn, shared a meaningful message with Khanna, saying, Bungalow represents usour parents, our ancestors, our India.

Vikas Khanna has become a household name, not just for his culinary talent but also for his role as a global ambassador for Indian cuisine. From serving world leaders like Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama to introducing Indian fine dining to an international audience, his career has been defined by innovation and excellence.

On December 10, Khanna marked 260 days since Bungalows opening by sharing a heartfelt post on Instagram. Alongside a photo of himself holding the Indian Tricolor, he reflected on the Michelin honor and called it a tribute to his late sister.

This is just the beginning, he wrote, promising to continue working tirelessly to offer guests a world-class experience rooted in Indian hospitality.

Bungalow has also become a favorite for global stars like Priyanka Chopra, who recently visited the restaurant with her husband Nick Jonas. She praised the experience as a delightful reminder of home, further solidifying Bungalows reputation as a cultural bridge.
Bollywood actor Zayed Khan recently immersed himself in the vibrant culture of Nagaland by attending the Hornbill Festival, an event that celebrates the states rich traditions and heritage.

Known for bringing together various tribes of Nagaland in a grand display of unity, the festival left the actor deeply impressed with its unique charm and spirit.

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Zayed shared his admiration for the event, describing it as a beautiful confluence of diversity and togetherness. Im absolutely blown away by the beauty, hospitality, and warmth of the people here. Its incredible to see how the festival unites various tribes while celebrating their differences. I feel truly blessed to be part of this beautiful celebration, he said.

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The actor also noted how the festivals seamless blend of tradition and modernity left a lasting impression on him. He praised the event for its balance between showcasing cultural roots and embracing contemporary ideas.

Zayed Khan remarked, The Hornbill Festival is such a well-balanced mix of culture, music, and contemporary ideas. Its an amazing platform to bring people together. Ive been exploring the area with friends, and I can already see the potential for shooting movies here. Ill definitely be back soon, this time with a film project in tow.

The Hornbill Festival has grown over the years into one of Nagalands most iconic celebrations, drawing visitors from across the globe to witness the states vibrant traditions, music, crafts, and performances. It serves as a bridge, fostering cultural exchange and tourism while highlighting the unity among Nagalands many tribes.

Zayed Khan, the son of veteran actor Sanjay Khan, made his Bollywood debut in 2003 with Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne. He became a household name with films like Main Hoon Na, Shabd, and Dus. After a hiatus from the limelight, he is set to return with an upcoming project, The Film That Never Was.

In a candid Instagram post, Zayed revealed some intriguing details about the film, describing it as a unique concept with a mysterious acronym, TFTNW. The truth is, only after watching the film will people understand why we chose this title, he wrote.

He also expressed gratitude to his team, including producer Aseem Merchant, director Mohit Shrivastav, and co-writer-actor Kavin Dave, for their unwavering support and dedication. Zayed teased that he would soon announce the name of his production house, further hinting at exciting ventures on the horizon.
After capturing the K-pop scene, BTS Jin is going to don the entrepreneurs hat. The K-pop sensation is reportedly teaming up with chef and The Born Korean CEO Baek Jong Won for a liquor venture. This makes Jin the first BTS member to start a business venture independently. As per reports, the liquor brand named IGIN will launch later this month.

As per Allkpop, Jin and Baek Jong Won have co-founded an agricultural company called Yesan Doga. Under the company, they will release a distilled liquor called IGIN. IGIN is going to be a premium traditional Korean liquor, prepared with the specialities and traditions of Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do, the hometown of Baek Jong Won. Moreover, besides the distilled liquor, their company will also produce ready-to-drink options. These would include IGIN Sweet Tonic and IGIN Sour Tonic which are made with apples, watermelons and plums.

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[NEWS] According to media, #JIN has teamed up with culinary researcher Baek Jongwon to found a company Yesan Dogga and will launch a distilled liquor called IGIN this month! pic.twitter.com/CLRfIify7S Advertisement  BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) December 10, 2024



Meanwhile, back in December 2022, BTS Jin and Baek established Jins Lamp in Yesan while the preparations for the venture were underway. Jins Lamp will handle the production of IGIN. On the other hand, Yesan Doga, a subsidiary of The Born Korea, will oversee the brands overseas distribution. Additionally, Master Park Rok Dam, often regarded as the godfather of Korean traditional liquor, will serve as an advisor to elevate the brands development and quality.

Following the reports, BTS agency, BigHit Music issued a statement. We ask for your understanding that it is difficult for us to confirm this information. Meanwhile, the ARMYs are brimming with excitement over the K-pop sensations business venture. The fans cant wait to have a taste of Jins liquor which is taking a step towards modernising traditional Korean liquor.

Also Read: BTS Jin on treating bandmates with respect: We are not friends, but partners

On the music front, following his discharge from the military, Jin made sure to keep the ARMYs on their feet. The K-pop idol appeared in several variety shows and dropped his first solo album, Happy. The album became an instant hit among K-pop enthusiasts. Moreover, Jin recently made his first solo appearance on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Falon. He previously appeared on the show with his fellow bandmates.
After Marvel announced the return of Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans to the MCU, fans are now anticipating the return of all the OG cast members. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Doctor Strange in the franchise is set to return to screens as the titular character in Avengers: Doomsday. Following the massive success of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness it would have been actually strange if he wasnt a part of the upcoming film. While Cumberbatch had confirmed his presence before, he has reiterated his appearance in the film. Moreover, after starring in several MCU films as the time-bending Avenger, the actor reflects on Doctor Stranges future.

Speaking at the Tokyo Comic Convention, Benedict Cumberbatch, talked about the 2026 film without spilling many details. The Sherlock star said that he is looking forward to some remarkable Marvel reunions in the film. The actor is excited to once again work with the Russo brothers and Robert Downey. He told TV Groove, I am really excited to not only work with the Russo brothers again but also to have Robert Downey Jr returning as Doctor Doom. I think there will be some cooler developments ahead in the film. I am excited to see what happens next.

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Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Benedict Cumberbatch Fanpage (@thecumberverse)



At the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel announced the title change of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty with a complete pivot. The upcoming Avengers films are now Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. The Russo Brothers, the duo behind several successful Marvel superhero films will direct both the titles. The Russo brothers independent studio, AGBO, is co-producing the films with Marvel. Stephen McFeely, who co-wrote all four of the brothers Marvel films will join the duo. In the film, Robert Downey, who once played Iron Man, is returning to play the antagonist. RDJ will play the deadly Marvel villain Dr Doom. Meanwhile, no details about Chris Evans role, who once played Captain America, are available.

Meanwhile, Cumberbatch recently also made an appearance at the Red Sea Film Festival and got candid about Doctor Stranges future in the MCU. Speaking with Variety he said that Doctor Strange is a complex man who is motivated by the need to control everything at any cost. I am interested in seeing where these costs take him. There is a lot more to play and it is very exciting. He added, They do a lot of real set builds and theres a lot of 360 stuff to work with, despite a lot of moments where you go. This ensures that Cumberbatch is not going to part from Marvel anytime soon.

Also Read: After RDJ, Chris Evans returns to the MCU with Avengers: Doomsday

Additionally, he talked about how Marvel captured the complexities of the character at the current moment of culture and politics. He said that the real fear was not just about the fact the character was a bit of a misogynist and an arrogant sod. Instead, it was that the story needed to speak with the idea of spirituality at that moment in time. That was the key to the success. It was something we hadnt seen in the MCU, a whole new ground. Also just what he brings in terms of harnessing power through sheer will. That is a superpower and, as an origin story, it is pretty rich.
Nikki Giovanni, a celebrated poet, activist, and literary icon, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2024, at the age of 81.

The news was shared by her friend and fellow writer, Renee Watson, who described her as a trailblazer in poetry and an influential voice in the Black Arts Movement. Giovannis lifelong partner, Virginia Fowler, was by her side during her final moments.

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Born Yolanda Cornelia Giovanni Jr. on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, she grew up to become one of the most influential African-American poets of her time. Her work explored themes of civil rights, race, gender, and love, resonating deeply with readers for over five decades.

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Giovannis powerful verses, often infused with sharp wit and profound wisdom, became a cornerstone of contemporary poetry, earning her a place in literary history.

Giovanni first rose to prominence in the late 1960s as a leading voice of the Black Arts Movement, a period shaped by the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Her early works, characterized by their bold and militant tone, earned her the title Poet of the Black Revolution.

Over the years, her literary range expanded, encompassing childrens literature, essays, and anthologies. Her poems like Knoxville, Tennessee and Nikki-Rosa remain timeless, frequently included in anthologies.

A recipient of numerous accolades, Giovannis impact extended far beyond her written works. She received seven NAACP Image Awards and the Langston Hughes Medal and was honored with over 27 honorary degrees.

In 2004, she got nomination for a Grammy Award for her spoken-word album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Oprah Winfrey also named her among her 25 Living Legends.

Giovannis contributions werent just in literature. She was a passionate educator, teaching at institutions like Queens College and Rutgers University. At Virginia Tech, where she served as a distinguished professor until her retirement in 2022, Giovanni inspired countless students. In 2007, following the tragic Virginia Tech shooting, her poignant chant-poem delivered at the memorial became a defining moment of healing and solidarity.

Her legacy also includes pioneering efforts in publishing. In the 1970s, she co-founded NikTom Ltd., creating opportunities for African-American women writers. Throughout her career, she remained committed to amplifying marginalized voices and redefining narratives about Appalachians and African-American communities. She always proudly celebrated her Appalachian heritage.

In 2024, Giovanni received an Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. Her final book, The Last Book, is ready for publication in fall 2025.

Nikki Giovanni is survived by her partner Virginia Fowler, her son Thomas, granddaughter Kai, and extended family.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 11. Kazakhstan is implementing new measures in mining and geological exploration to enhance transparency in the mining sector, Trend reports.

A meeting was held between the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the Chairperson of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Helen Clark.

During the conversation, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that since joining the organization in 2007, Kazakhstan has demonstrated its commitment to adhering to EITI standards. It is legally mandated for subsoil users to comply with the organizations requirements and provide reports on taxes and other payments to the national budget.

The President informed the head of EITI about the regulatory measures being taken in the field of geological exploration and mining. In particular, a comprehensive plan for the development of the industry has been adopted, and a unified subsoil use platform has been launched, which includes an interactive map and more than 50,000 geological reports. Additionally, business processes for obtaining licenses for exploration and mining activities have been simplified.

For her part, Helen Clark shared the strategic plans and key priorities of the organization for the upcoming period. She also highly praised Kazakhstan's efforts to improve legislation in the field of subsoil use in line with the requirements for transparency in the extractive industries.

To note, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is an international standard aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the oil, gas, and mining sectors. The main goal is to ensure the openness of the payments made by companies and the revenues received by governments from natural resource extraction, which fosters responsible resource management. Kazakhstan has been committed to implementing EITI standards since 2007.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday raised the Manipur crisis in the Lok Sabha and accused the BJP of using Hungarian-American businessman George Soros as a shield to hide their failures.

Terming the situation in Manipur grave, he said, Instead of finding a solution, the government is sending paramilitary forces and enforcing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

This is not addressing the cycle of violence, he said, adding that the saffron party is using the issue of George Soros to hide its failures.

In a counter to the Congresss attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over industrialist Gautam Adanis indictment in a bribery case, the BJP has claimed that Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is linked to an organization funded by Soros.

The ruling party has also suggested that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is raising the Adani issue to disrupt Parliament and harm the countrys economy on directions from Soros.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today announced that global tech giant Google has signed an agreement with the state paving the way for a major initiative in Artificial Intelligence in Visakhapatnam. He described it as a gamechanger to transform the port city into a global service hub.

Announcing the agreement signed with Google at the district collectors conference held at the Secretariat, he said, Recently when IT Minister (Nara Lokesh) went to America, he went to Google campus and requested them. And the result of that is today we have an agreement with Google. We signed a MoU (agreement) before coming here. We are looking at a big opportunity in AI.

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Naidu, who had once ushered undivided AP into the IT age, pointed out that if big companies like Google come to Visakhapatnam under strategic investment it would be a game changer. Ever since the state was bifurcated the residuary state of AP has been lagging in industrialisation. He also said that the Google executives were satisfied with Visakhapatnams potential as a strategic location. He added that data centers, AI, and deep tech projects will transform the port city into a hub of global services.

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The CM even took to social media to announce, Our new progressive industrial policies have created a business-friendly ecosystem, attracting investors, paving the way for employment opportunities. Following up on the MoU signed between the Government of AP and Google, I met a Google delegation led by VP Mr Bikash Koley in Amaravati today. He then went on to add, I am proud that Andhra Pradesh has been identified as a key partner. During the meeting, we also discussed various potential areas for collaboration. I am confident that collaborations with global technology leaders such as Google will empower our State, ultimately contributing to Indias digital growth story.

He said the interlinking of Google with Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) will bring in radical changes in administration. He announced at the conference that till now Rs four lakh crore investments have been made in the state which will create over four lakh jobs.
The Gulmarg based High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) celebrated its Platinum Jubilee on Wednesday, marking 75 years of exemplary service in training and operational excellence related to mountains, snow bound areas and glaciated regions of India.

Established in 1948 as the Army Ski Training School, HAWS has evolved into a premier training institution renowned for imparting specialized combat skills to Indian Army, Central Para Military Force, Special Missions, and members from friendly foreign countries.

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The grand celebration commemorated the schools rich legacy of contributions to national defence, adventure sports, and mountaineering.

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It was a moment to reflect on HAWS sterling accomplishments, including its pivotal role in historic military operations like Operation Meghdoot (1984) and Operation Vijay in Kargil (1999).

The celebration paid homage to the indomitable spirit of the Mountain Warriors, whose courage and skill have upheld the schools ethos and safeguarded national interests.

A repository of gallantry awards, commendation plaques, and medals cum podium finishes in adventure climbing and winter sports, HAWS holds a cherished place in military history and civilian arena.

Often referred to as the White Devils, the institution embodies excellence, perseverance, and innovation in the face of extreme challenges and hardships.

The Platinum Jubilee served as an occasion to honor its heroes, recognize its legacy, and renew the commitment to excellence in military training.

With its unparalleled expertise and operational significance, HAWS continues to be a cornerstone of Indias defence preparedness, strengthening its reputation as a global leader in high-altitude warfare training.

The event culminated with pride, camaraderie, and a renewed pledge to uphold the ethos of the Mountain Warriors for generations to come and follow the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors.
A day before a special bench of the Supreme Court is set to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind has moved the court seeking an effective and proper enforcement of the Act and the law laid down in the 2019 unanimous judgment by a five-judge constitution bench in Ayodhyas Ram Janmabhoomi mandir case.

The 1991 Places of Worship Act, prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

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Stating that in blatant violation of the 1991 law, the Muslim religious places are being made the subject matter of frivolous controversies and suits, which are patently barred under the 1991 Places of Worship Act, the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind in its petition has said, However, despite the existence of a statutory bar, such proceedings are being permitted to proceed, often with interim orders altering the status quo which has been maintained for ages in such Muslim places of worship.

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The Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind has said that interference with the Muslim religious places is not only creating a feeling of ill-will, hatred and enmity between the communities but is also violating the fundamental rights of the Muslim Community under Articles 14, 21, 25, 26 and 29 of the constitution.

The petition by the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind further states that post 2019 Ayodhya judgment by the Supreme Court there has been a numerous suits that are being filed averring that places of worship which are presently Muslim in character like mosques and tombs since August 15, 1947, have been erected by destroying Hindu Temples and/or places of worship and a common averment is that Muslim Invaders such as Mughal emperors have built Muslim places of worship such as Masjids after destroying the Hindu places of worship such as Temples many years before August 15, 1947.

Referring to 2019 Ayodhya judgment, the petition says that even if all these allegations that Muslim invaders destroyed the Hindu places of worship and built mosques and tombs are assumed to be true, it is nothing but seeking retrogression, which, as held by the Supreme Court is against the essential feature of our secular values.

The petition says that 2019 Ayodhya judgment has categorically held that the law cannot be used as a device to reach back in time and provide a legal remedy to every person who disagrees with the course which history has taken and that the courts of today cannot take cognizance of historical rights and wrongs unless it is shown that their legal consequences are enforceable in the present.

In view of 2019 Ayodhya judgment, the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind petition says that these law suits which rest on the basis that Muslim Invaders allegedly converted the Hindu Places of Worship, cannot be entertained in view of the law laid down by the 5 Judges Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.

A special bench of the Supreme Court will hear tomorrow (Thursday) a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the certain provisions of Places of Worship (Special Provision) Act, 1991, that prohibit the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

The petitioners have contended that Section 2, 3, and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special provisions) Act, 1991 are violative of Article 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, and 29 of the constitution, in so far as it legalizes the illegal conversion of the ancient places of worship and pilgrimage into mosques.

The petitioners challenging the constitutionality of the Places of Worship Act include, among others, the daughter of the Kashi Royal Family, Maharaja Kumari Krishna Priya, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, former Member of Parliament Chintamani Malviya, a retired army officer Anil Kabotra, advocates Chandra Shekhar, Varanasi resident Rudra Vikram Singh, a religious leader Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, a resident of Mathura and a religious guru Devkinandan Thakur Ji.

Unlike other petitioners, Subramanian Swamy had told the bench that he was not seeking setting aside of the 1991 law but seeking only two more temples be excluded from its ambit of the 1991 law and then it can remain as it is.
The Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra cabinet will see its first crucial expansion by December 14, with Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde unlikely to clinch the coveted home portfolio.

According to sources in the Mahayuti, the power-sharing between the alliance partners has been finalized. They said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to keep 20 ministerial posts; the Sena 12 berths; and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 10 berths.

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The cabinet expansion is likely by December 14. The allocation of home department to Shiv Sena is ruled out. The Shiv Sena may get urban development, but is unlikely to get revenue, a senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, told a news agency.

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Fadnavis had taken oath as the Maharashtra chief minister, along with Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar as deputy chief ministers on December 5. Fadanvis had then told media that the cabinet expansion would take place before the Winter Session of the Assembly which commences in Nagpur on December 16.

The party sources claimed while Fadnavis would retain Home, the finance ministry will once again go to Pawar. Shinde is set to get the urban development ministry which he held during his tenure as the chief minister.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis left for Delhi on Wednesday, his office said, adding it was a courtesy visit, the first after becoming the chief minister, as he would be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Sources in the Mahayuti also indicated that while the Sena had got one portfolio less than what it wanted, the NCPs demand was for 10 departments, which it has got. The BJP has strong numbers and far outnumbers its partners  it has 132 MLAs, compared to the Senas 57 and NCPs 41.

The BJP is likely to retain Home, Housing, Revenue, General Administration Department, Law and Judiciary, Rural Development, Power, Water Resources, Tribal Welfare, OBC, and Higher and Technical Education. The key portfolios in the Senas bucket includes Urban Development, School Education, Health, Industries and Public Works Department. The NCP will have in its fold Finance, Cooperation, Agriculture, Food and Drugs administration, and Women and Child Welfare, a party official said.

The Maharashtra cabinet can have a maximum of 43 ministers, including the chief minister.
A Mumbai court has sent the driver of the BEST electric bus, involved in a tragic accident that killed seven people and injured around 50 others, to police custody until December 21.

The police suspect the accident might be part of a larger conspiracy, alleging that the bus could have been used as a weapon. In court, they sought driver Sanjay Mores custody to investigate whether he had deliberately crashed the bus into vehicles and pedestrians.

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Investigators are also probing whether More, 54, received adequate training to drive the electric bus or if he was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the accident.

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Reports claimed that More underwent only 10 days of training to operate electric buses, with his prior experience limited to driving mini-buses.

Opposing his police custody, Mores lawyer argued in the court that the accident may have been caused by a technical fault in the bus, reportedly manufactured by Hyderabad-based Olectra Greentech.

He further contended that it was the responsibility of the BEST administration to ensure the vehicle was properly inspected before handing it over to the driver.

At least seven people were killed and nearly 50 others sustained injuries after the bus lost control and rammed into several vehicles over a 100-meter stretch in Mumbais Kurla on Monday night.

The bus plowed into around 30-40 vehicles and ran over pedestrians before crashing into a column of the Solomon Building.
The anger of the Uttar Pradesh power employees regarding the privatisation of Purvanchal and Dakshinanchal Electricity Distribution Corporations is increasing and now they have announced a nationwide protest to oppose the decision of the Yogi Adityanath government.

The National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) held its National Working Committee meeting here on Wednesday, where it was decided that nationwide protests would be organised against any unilateral action of power privatisation in Uttar Pradesh.

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Protest meetings will be held across the country on December 13 and 19 against privatisation. Large power Panchayats will be organised in Lucknow on December 22 and in Chandigarh on December 25 to oppose the move.

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NCCOEE chairman Shailendra Dubey told media persons here that the meeting decided that if any unilateral action regarding the privatisation of power distribution corporations is initiated in UP, then on the same day, and without giving any prior notice, 27 lakh electricity employees of the country will be forced to take to the streets and hold nationwide protests.

It was also decided in the meeting that a similar nationwide action would be taken on the same day if the power system of Chandigarh is handed over to a private company, he said.

NCCOEE has also decided that electricity employees across the country will observe December 13 as Anti-Privatisation Day. On December 19, the martyrdom day of the great heroes of the Kakori revolution  Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, and Thakur Roshan Singh  will be celebrated as Save India of Martyrs Dreams  Remove Privatisation day, with meetings held at district and power headquarters across the country.

NCCOEE has also decided that a big power Panchayat will be organised in Lucknow on December 22, followed by a similar Panchayat in Chandigarh on December 25. A large number of farmers and common consumers, along with electricity workers who will be affected by the privatisation of electricity, will take part in the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday interacted with members of the Kapoor family who extended an invitation to him to join them in commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor on December 14.

Members of the Kapoor family including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni were present during the brief interaction with the Prime Minister.

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Modi, who had the conversation with the Kapoor family on 100 years of cinematic legend Raj Kapoor, shared his admiration for the legendary actors lasting influence on Indian cinema and spoke about the power of films in their era.

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The Prime Minister recalled an incident involving veteran BJP leader LK Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

I remember the impact of films in those days. It was during the Jana Sangh era, and there was an election in Delhi. After the party lost, Advani ji and Atal ji said, What should we do now? Then they decided, Lets watch a movie. They went to watch Raj Kapoors Phir Subah Hogi, Modi said.

PM Modi also fondly recounted another memory involving Ranbir Kapoors father, late Rishi Kapoor.

When I was in China, a song by your father was being played. I told my colleagues to record it on their phones, and I sent it to Rishi ji. He was so delighted by it, the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also spoke about Raj Kapoors role in establishing Indian cinemas global influence long before the term soft power became popular.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has cautioned the public about the nefarious designs of anti-national forces, both within the country and abroad, urging that the common man has a crucial role in neutralizing their narratives.

Addressing an audience after dedicating the Sohan Singh Memorial Skill Development Kendra of Laghu Udhyog Bharati in Sitapura, Jaipur, on Wednesday, Dhankhar stated that certain forces, both within and outside the country, were disturbed by Indias (Bharat) phenomenal progress.

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There are planned attempts to create divisions, sow discord, and undermine our esteemed institutions, he said.

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The Vice President emphasized that the common man has a vital role in this situation, adding, We must neutralize every anti-national narrative through unity.

Speaking on the issue of skill development, rural economy, and the need for greater awareness about environmental conservation, Dhankhar remarked, To ensure prosperity for every citizen, we need to encourage economies based on rural, cottage, and small-scale industries. For this, India must aim for an eightfold increase in per capita income for its rural population.

He also stressed, Economic nationalism must be nurtured by trade, industry, and their organizations.

Dhankhar expressed concern over the current focus on materialism, saying, We are too focused on materialistic goals and targets, sidelining the teachings and values we should be instilling in our children and youth.

We need to find a balance between society and individuals, between rights and responsibilities, between humanity and the environment. Our culture and civilization have long taught us about environmental protection and conservation. However, the lack of awareness about these traditional teachings is now reflected in the threats posed by climate change.

Earlier, Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagade welcomed Vice President Dhankhar and his wife, Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, upon their arrival in Jaipur. The Vice President also planted saplings at the Skill Development Kendra.
A piece titled Most world leaders have pardon power. Few use it the way Trump has, appeared in The Washington Post on 20 January 2021, the day of Joe Bidens inauguration. It might have been an overly critical evaluation of Donald Trump, though, if we go back and look at the history of presidential pardons in America. A president may grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment, according to Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution.

Future acts are definitely not pardonable by a president. Nonetheless, a pre-emptive pardon may be granted. Also, although a few presidents have used their authority to revoke pardons, Article II contains no mention of doing so. On his first day in office, President Ulysses S. Grant revoked three of the pardons that President Andrew Johnson had granted. Washington Monthly cited Supreme Court Associate Justice Joseph Storys 1868 Constitution textbook, which states that a presidential pardon may be rescinded in the event that the president is impeached.

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However, although both Trump and Clinton were impeached in recent history, their pardons remained in effect after their terms. Meanwhile, George W. Bush rescinded one of his own pardons. In England, the king had a longstanding custom of granting compassionate pardons and the American founders borrowed this authority. It was Alexander Hamilton who pressed the constitutional convention to include a broad pardon power exclusively vested in the president, despite some disagreement over whether Congress should have to approve pardons. Lets revisit a few historical presidential pardons.

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In 1974, Gerald Ford gave his predecessor, Richard Nixon, a full, free, and absolute pardon over the Watergate scandal. Ford thought a possible trial would cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States. In 1795, two men who participated in the Whisky Rebellion  a bloody rebellion in Pennsylvania against a tax on whisky and other alcoholic beverages imposed by the fledgling federal government were pardoned by none other than George Washington.

In the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, Abraham Lincoln granted his sister-in-law, Emilie Todd Helm, who was the widow of a Confederate general, a pardon. President Andrew Johnsons decision to provide a full pardon and amnesty to everyone who, directly or indirectly, participated in the late insurrection or rebellion during the Civil War was a significant turning point in the pardon power. During his 13 years in office, Franklin D. Roosevelt granted the most countable pardons by a president: 3,687. Jimmy Carter issued a mass pardon for those who had evaded the draft during the Vietnam War in 1977. Former Defence Secretary Caspar Weinberger was one of six individuals implicated in the IranContra scandal who George H.W. Bush pardoned at the end of his tenure in 1992.

During his time in office, Barack Obama pardoned over 1,700 people, including hundreds who had been found guilty of nonviolent drug offences. Pardoning family members and friends is also not new. Yes, Abraham Lincoln certainly did so. In this millenium, in his final day in office in 2001, Bill Clinton pardoned his halfbrother Roger Clinton. Additionally, Marc Rich, a fugitive convicted of financial crimes whose ex-wife had been a significant fundraiser for the Democrats and the Clinton campaign, received a highly contentious pardon from Clinton.

Trump granted his son-in-law Jared Kushners father, Charles Kushner, a pardon. Additionally, Trump pardoned his friend, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, a key figure in his 2016 campaign, and his political adviser Steve Bannon. Trump pardoned 29 people during his first term in office. Hunter Biden, on the other hand, is the 26th individual that Biden has pardoned. Drug offences are the subject of the majority of Bidens pardons, a procedure that Obama initiated. Since the beginning of his first administration, there has been a notion that Trump will pardon himself. However, scholars have long been captivated by the idea of whether a president can pardon himself.

The question has never been addressed because no president has ever done it. However, when Nixon was facing the prospect of being prosecuted and going into political exile during the Watergate scandal, he asked his lawyers what his alternatives were, and one of them was to pardon himself. Trumps hidden message was translated by his long-time friend Roger Stone in 2018: The special counsel has awesome powers, as you know, but the president has even more awesome powers. And President Trump tweeted, As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?

Rudy Giuliani, Trumps attorney while he was in the White House, said that the president probably could pardon himself. According to the New York Times, Trump contemplated giving himself, his family, and associates pre-emptive pardons in 2020, shortly before he stepped down from office, on the grounds that his political rivals would pursue him in court once he left office. A self-pardon exception to the presidents pardon authority was actually not discussed by the framers of the American Constitution. Edmund Randolph of Virginia sought to provide an exemption to the broad presidential pardon powers suggested for treason during the 1787 Philadelphia Federal Constitutional Convention.

Randolph was concerned that a president might be leading his supporters in a conspiracy and engaging in treasonous activity. However, founder James Wilson, who went on to become a justice on the Supreme Court, maintained that a president might be removed and impeached for treason, after which he may face legal action. Wilsons reasoning prevailed in the end. A president cant, however, absolve himself of state crimes. After his conviction in New York, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul is unlikely to pardon Trump. And the only body in Georgia with the authority to give pardons is the five-member Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

According to news reports, Biden is apparently thinking of granting officials and allies broad pardons in advance of Trumps inauguration. Some former officials are afraid that Trump and his supporters, who have boasted of enemies lists and pursuing retribution, may initiate investigations that, even in the absence of charges, would be financially and reputationally damaging to their targets. If Bidens pre-emptive pardons are granted, they may include infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, who helped fight the coronavirus outbreak and has been shunned by conservatives upset over mask laws and vaccinations. In contrast, on day one of his second term, Trump pledges to pardon the January 6 rioters. Thus, it goes without saying that instances of presidential pardons occurring in the US across all political stripes are startling.

Even some supporters of Biden have widely criticised him for his selfish move in pardoning his son Hunter. Biden is criticised by several Democrats for creating a bad precedent. In general, Bidens decision to pardon his son would, at the very least, set the Democrats back decades. But a far more interesting question is whether President Trump can (or would) forgive himself for the felonies and misdeeds he has committed so far or would commit during his second term. And, whats more intriguing is that would a future Democratic president reverse that if he did? There may be more uncomfortable moments in American history to come. Who knows?

(The writer is Professor of Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.)
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 11. The chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko is on an official visit to Kazakhstan, during which she will hold meetings with the countrys leadership and parliamentarians, Trend reports.

This was announced by the press service of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. According to the statement, in particular, in Astana, Matviyenko will meet with the Speaker of the Senate (upper house) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Maulen Ashimbayev, with a focus on the prospects for inter-parliamentary cooperation.

It is expected that the heads of the upper houses of the parliaments will sign a plan for inter-parliamentary cooperation for 2025-2027. Also, an agreement on cooperation between the staffs of the upper houses of the parliaments is planned to be signed.

To note, at the end of November, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kazakhstan on a state visit.
The incident in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, where a Muslim couple was forced to give up their newly purchased home following protests from neighbours, serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of communal harmony in India. The couple, both doctors, had bought the house from a Hindu seller, also a doctor, with whom their family had shared a long-standing relationship spanning decades.

However, the protests that erupted over their religion highlight a growing intolerance that threatens the nations pluralistic ideals. The uproar began when the seller introduced the couple to the neighbourhood as a gesture of goodwill. This simple act triggered an avalanche of hostility, with residents claiming that a Muslim family living near a temple was unacceptable. They demanded the sale be revoked and even petitioned local authorities to intervene. Such behavior, steeped in bigotry, contradicts the constitutional principles of equality and freedom, which guarantee every Indian the right to live without discrimination based on religion.

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Indias cities have historically been seen as melting pots, places where caste and religious divides are less pronounced than in rural areas. Yet, incidents like this reveal a troubling persistence of segregation, even in urban spaces. What should have been a private transaction became a public controversy, driven by communal fears and prejudices that have no place in a modern democracy.

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This incident also underscores the psychological toll such discrimination takes on individuals and families. For the Muslim couple, both respected professionals, the rejection was not just of their purchase but of their identity and existence within the community. Such alienation fosters a sense of exclusion and disillusionment, making it harder to build bridges of trust and understanding between communities. When families are forced to abandon their lawfully acquired homes due to religious prejudices, it sends a chilling message that economic and social contributions cannot shield one from bigotry.

The seller, caught in an unanticipated storm, lamented the uncalled-for backlash. Despite pointing out that other Muslim families already lived peacefully in the colony, the protests continued. The forced resolution ~ where the Muslim couple agreed to re-sell the house ~ reflects the deep-seated pressures that minority communities face. They were denied not only the opportunity to move into their chosen home but also their fundamental right to live as equals in a shared society.

This incident is not an isolated case. Similar protests have surfaced in other cities, highlighting a systemic issue. Such episodes raise questions about the role of institutions in upholding constitutional values. The silence or inaction of authorities in these matters risks normalising discrimination and emboldening those who seek to divide. The outrage sparked by this event on social media and beyond indicates that many Indians still believe in the principles of unity and coexistence.

This collective anger offers hope, but it must translate into sustained action. Education, legal protections, and public awareness campaigns are essential to dismantle stereotypes and foster inclusivity. Incidents like this erode the nations moral fabric and weaken its democratic foundations, and force minorities into ghettos which then are pejoratively described by the majority community as mini-Pakistans. Moradabad must hang its head in shame.
By 2016-17, Facebook had designed a business model that aimed at maximising the user engagement, that is how much time users spent on their platform, and started collecting data on what they liked and shared. The more time users spent the more data Facebook collected, so their algorithms could then monetise the information by targeting their ads to specific users. As users spent more time with Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg was getting richer. Commercial success of this business model prompted Facebook to give their algorithms a single, no-holds barred, overarching goal ~ to increase user engagement at all costs, to the exclusion of every other consideration.

By analysing data on millions of users, the Artificial intelligence (AI)-based self-learning algorithms discovered quickly that outrage improves user engagement, that people get easily attracted to hate speech, extremism and news that trigger jealousy, envy, anger and indignation. Thus, to make people remain engaged for longer periods, they only need to promote emotionally charged material over neutral information. Many of our news TV networks have also learnt these tricks to increase their TRPs. Algorithms were thus designed to display and highlight such contents and place them at the top of the users news feed, and to recommend them to users in a targeted manner.

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By 2017, Facebooks popularity in Myanmar was so overwhelming that it was almost synonymous with the internet. It was then that Facebook algorithms started promoting anti-Rohingya videos and materials propagating violence against them. As Yuval Noah Harari wrote in his book Nexus, 70 per cent of such video views came from Facebooks autoplaying algorithms and 53 per cent of all videos watched in Myanmar were being auto-played for users by algorithms. Thus, instead of people choosing what to see, algorithms were choosing for them, which helped fan the flames of widespread anti-Rohingya sentiments resulting ultimately in the worst genocide in Myanmar, causing millions of Ro hingya refugees to flee the country. Facebook was the chief instrument for organising this genocide, without any accountability to anyone.

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And not simply Facebook ~ there are numerous instances that by promoting emotionally charged, divisive and harmful digital contents that users find irresistible, the entire social media ~ YouTube, WhatsApp, Snap chat, Twitter, TikTok, etc. ~ have radicalised people, engaged them in lynching of innocents, hate crimes and racial attacks, and even influenced voters by targeting political ads. As the Nobel laureate economist Paul Romer said, the digital advertising model pioneered by Google and Facebook poses a growing threat to democracy. These firms know more about citizens of the worlds democracies than the Stasi knew about East Germans.

They can exploit what they know without relying on the coercive power of a police state. They can adjust what people see and exercise control by a thousand nudges. Their power can be gauged from the fact that in the USA, Facebook controls an estimated 59 per cent of all spending on digital political advertising, with Google controlling another 18 per cent. Not in vain Zuckerberg had boasted in 2019 that Facebook is the only candidate for the role of global arbiter for political discourse because its content systems are more sophisticated than what a lot of governments have. We live in a strange world where all our dearly held concepts about the nature and goals of power, facts, truth and justice have been turned on their heads. In this world, there is nothing called fact, it only depends on how you look at things.

To every fact there is an alternative fact, to every truth, there is an alternative truth. Populism has now bec ome the dominant political philosophy in every democracy. As Harari says in Nexus, populism posits that there is no objective truth and that everyone has the right to discover and hold onto their own truths ~ it is only a question of whose facts and whose truth. Power is the only reality in such a world, and truth and justice serve only as the means to gain power. In a world that has lost such distinctions based on old societal values, one that cannot distinguish between what is good and what is bad for children, families, personal lives and for society, social media with its deep penetration into society and powered by AI that is no longer a tool but a powerful agent for human interactions, can upend the moral basis of our existence and undermine all the values we have held sacrosanct all our lives and tried to transmit to our children.

Unlike knives and guns that cannot decide by themselves who to kill, AI is the first technology in human history that can decide for us, shape and solidify our biases, and vitiate our existence with the help of a toxic social media by spreading incendiary misinformation at the speed of light, while giving governments unprecedented power to exercise surveillance over their people. When an industry gets dominated by a few players like social media, the standard economic tool is to encourage more competition, and so there are anti-trust initiatives seeking to break the tech giants like Google in USA into smaller entities. But for social media, even competition will be based on the same business model and hence cannot address the evils it propagates and promotes. The problem is not the social media, but their business model that is based on digital ads.

In their book Power and Prestige, the 2024 Nobel laureates in Economics, Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson have reflected on the role of social media in increasing inequality, de-democratising politics, radicalising public opinion, and increasing the controls exercised by tech czars of the ilk of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg, Satya Nadela, Sundar Pichai, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, not only over national resources, but also of national and global voices. Social media over which these people hold a vice like stranglehold has now become a major problem for every country. Instead of living up to their promises of connecting people for better sharing of ideas and democratising human communication, social media has become an uncontrollable monster that governments all over are finding almost impossible to deal with.

AI has now become the most powerful instrument of controlling and amplifying baser human instincts, while tech czars keep assuring that these problems are short-term and rectifiable with more AI and that we need not be scared but move forward with technology while they continue to increase their profits. Their commercial success has neutralised every opposition from opinion makers: journalists, business leaders, politicians and academicians; they monopolise every discussion on policy regarding technology. This is an oligarchy because it is a small group with a shared mind-set, monopolizing social power and disregarding its ruinous effects on the voiceless and the powerless. This groups sway comes not from tanks and rockets but because it has access to the corridors of power and can influence public opinion.

Since banning social media is not a viable option, Acemoglu and Johnson have suggested imposing a hefty tax on digital advertising revenue, to be paid not on the profits as is the usual commercial practice, but on digital ad revenues. It is too easy for these powerful multinational companies to hide profits by shifting their income or profits from high-tax to low-tax jurisdictions, hence the tax has to be on revenues earned. To put things in the proper perspective, the global digital advertising universe is estimated to generate revenues of around $600 billion in 2024 ~ 42 per cent of it accrues to Alphabet (Googles parent company), 23 per cent to Meta (Facebook), and 9 per cent to Amazon.

For Meta, digital ads account for over 95 per cent of its global revenue; for Alphabet, around 77 per cent. The firms generate such colossal revenues by prioritizing automation, surveillance and addiction over peoples welfare and collecting and monetizing data by fuelling peoples anger and helping governments to disempower their citizens. It would be wishful thinking to expect responsible behaviour from them ~ blinded by wealth, they would stop at nothing to garner more profits. Acemoglu and Johnson proposed a flat tax of 50 per cent when their annual digital ad revenue exceeds $500 million, the high threshold to prevent unintended negative effects on new entrants in digital economy. The steep tax can push all forms of media/communication away from an ad based business model towards a subscription-based one, where revenues will be dependent on the quality of content and user experience.

This may then make the social media and search engines move away from digital advertisement towards more meaningful and useful content. AI and social media have infinite potential for transforming human society for the better, and societys goal should be to encourage the development of technologies that help people rather than drive them towards anger and violence, for which social media must be disentangled from their current business model that relies on revenue from digital advertising. Only then they will be forced to reform themselves by moving away from the bad equilibrium in which they are presently locked.

The Nobel Laureates cite the example of smokingin the 1960s, 45 per cent of adult Americans were addicted to smoking when the government decided that it was too much of an evil, and though it took decades to push people away from smoking, it could be achieved through a combination of measures like taxation and awareness. Similarly, they hold that it is now time to impose a hefty tax on digital advertising to wean the social media companies away from their present perverted business model.

(The writer is a commentator, author and academic. Opinions expressed are personal)
The death toll from a massive explosion at a fuel depot in central Italy rose to five after the body of the last missing worker was found, Italian authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred Monday morning at a facility operated by ENI, Italys largest energy company, in Calenzano near Florence in the Tuscany region. The blast, which reverberated across surrounding areas, caused panic among residents who initially feared it was an earthquake or bomb, Xinhua news agency reported.

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Initially, two deaths and at least 14 injuries were reported. A search and rescue operation was launched for three missing workers, two of whom were found dead within hours. As of Tuesday, three hospitalised individuals remained in serious condition, according to the office of Tuscanys regional governor, Eugenio Giani.

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The Calenzano depot spans some 170,300 square metres and stores petrol, diesel, and kerosene for distribution. The explosion occurred in the section where tank trucks were loaded.

Prosecutors in nearby Prato have opened an investigation into multiple manslaughter. Meanwhile, the Tuscany regional government has declared a day of mourning for Wednesday.

In response to the tragedy, workers and trade unions demanded improved workplace safety. Around 500 workers held a sit-in outside ENIs refinery in Livorno on Tuesday, as reported by Ansa news agency. The General Confederation of Labour, Confederation of Workers Union, and Labour Union announced a two-hour strike across the province on Wednesday.

Workplace safety remains a critical issue in Italy. According to data from the national insurance agency INAIL, some 776 deadly incidents and 433,002 injuries were reported between January and September this year. Throughout 2023, it recorded 1,147 deaths and nearly 600,000 injuries.
The Sri Lankan cabinet approved a proposal to sign two agreements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for strengthening its power system and integration of renewable energy projects, according to a statement from the governments information department on Tuesday.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake submitted the proposal in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Xinhua news agency reported citing details from the department.

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The ADB has agreed to offer $200 million as two separate loans  $150 million and $50 million  to Ceylon Electricity Board and Lanka Electricity (Pvt) Ltd., respectively, under two agreements on treasury guarantee, according to the department.

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A conference on the theme "National Leader Heydar Aliyev and human rights-based reforms in the Republic of Azerbaijan" was jointly organized by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), Azernews reports.

The event brought together Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Tapdig Amiraslanov, employees of the Ministry, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva, deputies of the Milli Majlis Aydin Huseynov and Aydin Mirzazade, Head of the Western Azerbaijan History Department of the Institute of History of Azerbaijan's National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Jabi Bahramov, Honored Journalist Mubariz Asgarov, and members of the Public Council under the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

As part of the event, participants paid tribute to the memory of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev by visiting his monument and laying flowers. They also visited the Heydar Aliyev Center before the conference officially commenced with the playing of the National Anthem and a minute of silence in honour of the National Leader.

In his welcoming speech, Deputy Minister Tapdig Amiraslanov highlighted the extraordinary life and contributions of Heydar Aliyev, emphasizing his pivotal role in laying the foundation for Azerbaijan's legal and democratic statehood. He underscored the National Leaders commitment to human rights and freedoms, noting that the reforms he initiated had a transformative impact on the nation's societal and state development.

Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva, in her speech, elaborated on Heydar Aliyevs strategic approach to emergency management and his role in creating institutional frameworks for state bodies. She highlighted the National Leader's efforts to advance Azerbaijans socio-political, socio-economic, and legal sectors, which established a foundation for the integration of the country into the international legal system and the development of mechanisms to protect citizens' rights and freedoms.

The Ombudsman institution, established under the initiative of Heydar Aliyev, serves the supreme goal of the statethe protection of human rights. His policy in this area is successfully continued today under President Ilham Aliyev, adapting to the challenges of the modern era, said Sabina Aliyeva.

Other speakers, including deputies of the Milli Majlis Aydin Mirzazade and Aydin Huseynov, Head of the Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Baba Salayev, and Doctor of Philosophy in History Jabi Bahramov, reflected on Heydar Aliyevs unparalleled contributions to the establishment and development of an independent Azerbaijani state. They discussed the historical importance of his reforms in democratic and legal state-building.

The conference concluded with the screening of the documentary film "Death Sentence."
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Job Title: Risk & Compliance Officer (Fresher Jobs)

Organisation: Britam Asset Managers Company (Uganda)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About the Company:

Britam is a leading diversified financial services group, listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The group has interests across the East African region and offers a wide range of financial products and services in Insurance, Asset Management, Banking and Property. The product range includes life, health and general insurance, pensions, unit trusts, investment planning, wealth management, off-shore investments, retirement planning, discretionary portfolio management, property development and private equity.

Job Summary: This role will support the development, implementation, and monitoring of risk management and compliance frameworks within our life assurance operations. The ideal candidate will be passionate about ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and fostering a culture of compliance.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Assist in the identification and assessment of risks associated with business operations.

Support the development and implementation of risk management policies and procedures.

Monitor compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Conduct regular audits and reviews to ensure compliance and risk mitigation.

Ensure there are risk registers maintained for Segment / Business Unit that comprises key potential risks facing the BU and that the risk register contains the corresponding risk indicators Assist in training staff on compliance and risk management practices.

Collaborate with various departments to promote a culture of compliance and risk awareness.

Stay updated on relevant laws and regulations affecting the life assurance industry in Uganda.

Support in the development of a Business Continuity Policy, Strategy and BCP & DR Plans and ensure roll out across the entire Britam Group.

Support and monitor testing of the Business Continuity Plans and provide appropriate status reports to the Board and Management.

Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Coordinate and improve risk management within departments.

Review all internal & external audit reports to extract relevant risk and control information for use in reporting and remediation.

Monitor resolution of all associated internal audit recommendations post audit issues.

Coordinate the recording of the risk incidents and carrying out the root cause analysis.

Regularly collate the operational loss data and maintain the database.

Control Self Assessment (RCSA) Framework Coordinating Risk & across the various departments.

Ensure sufficient follow through on management actions to mitigate risks identified.

Champion documentation of interdepartmental SLAs during quality assurance reviews.

Review key outsourcing arrangements for the company in line with the Regulator outsourcing guidelines.

Prepare board pack for the management Risk Committee meeting.

Coordinate Secretarial work for the MRC meetings.

Prepare any risk reports to any other management committee.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Bachelors Degree in Finance, Business Administration or a related field is required.

2-3 years work experience in the risk and compliance field.

Accreditations in Risk Management would be an added advantage.

Technical/ Functional competencies:

Knowledge of the insurance industry and regulatory environment in Uganda.

Familiarity with risk management frameworks and compliance standards.

Previous internship or work experience in a related field is a plus but not required.

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Date Posted 2024-12-11T10:05 Valid Through 2025-01-11T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization Britam Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda

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In a new development to the growing strain between the US and Indian industrialist Gautam Adani following his DOJ and SEC indictments last month, Adani Group announced that it would not seek American funding for its ongoing port project, the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), in Sri Lanka.



The port unit of the conglomerate led by Gautam Adani in a late regulatory filing announced that Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd plans to fund the Sri Lankan project with internal accruals in line with its capital management strategy and that it had withdrawn its financing request from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) filed in 2023.

The DFC in 2023 had agreed to a USD 553 million loan, one year before the US department of justice (DOJ) indicted Gautam Adani and others on allegedly bribing Indian officials and hiding it from American investors of Adani Green Energy. The SEC also brought out a statement specifically naming Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani in its civil complaint.

While Adani Group refuted allegations that they violations under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), they also confirmed the directors were charged on three counts in the criminal indictment that comprised alleged securities fraud conspiracy, alleged wire fraud conspiracy, and alleged securities fraud in the same announcement in the last week of November.

In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, UN Environment Programmes former executive director Erik Solheim said, only India can question him, not the US.

Adani Ports was seeking the loan to aid the development, construction, and operation of a deep-water container terminal at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka, which is being developed by a consortium that includes itself, John Keells Holdings, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The loan was also in line with the US policy to counter a growing Chinese influence in the region.

ALSO READ | US indictment: Adani Green Energy denies FCPA violation but confirms criminal charges

From a maritime point of view, Colombo is a geopolitically important region, especially with the presence of China in the region. The US was actively trying to increase its influence in the region. However, it now would not come to fruition with this port project.

Not only did the DFC state that it was assessing the ramifications of the latest allegations against Adani executives, but it also stalled the loan disbursement by asking for an agreement between Adani Ports and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Adani Ports, which owns 51 per cent of the project, has now decided to proceed without the US loan under such conditions.

The closest international port in India, the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is also operated by Adani Ports.
With an aim to bring transparency in the government functioning, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said he will publicly disclose progress made on investment MoUs signed during the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024.

Sharma said he will do so on December 11, next year. A year later, in 2026, the second edition of the Rising Rajasthan will held.

The investment summit and the Rajasthan Global Business Expo were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Record investment proposals worth Rs 35 lakh crore were signed at the summit.

Earlier speaking during the summit, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the BIMARU tag of Rajasthan has transformed into Rising Rajasthan.

Pradhan said that the Education Ministry will help Rajasthan set up an advanced technological lab at prominent educational institutions such as IIT Jodhpur.

The Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024 came to a close with the successful completion of its valedictory session and the MSME conclave.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sharma said that the government will publicly disclose the progress made on the signed investment proposals during the Rising Rajasthan summit on December 11, 2025. He further said that two years from now, the government will host RRGIS 2026 on December 9, 10, and 11 and give a detailed reply on the progress works undertaken by the government in 2 years.

The MSME conclave, a part of the Summit, was also attended by eminent business leaders spearheading successful enterprises in Rajasthan, representatives of Laghu Udyog Bharati, bureaucrats, policymakers and other stakeholders from the sector.

Speaking at the valedictory function, the chief minister said, The recently launched RIPS 2024 provides interest subsidy on loans taken for buying machines and equipment to the MSMEs along with employment generation incentive, electricity duty exemption among others. Additionally, under the MSME Policy 2024, the MSMEs in the manufacturing and services sector are eligible for additional interest subsidy over and above the subsidy under RIPS 2024.

Praising Chief Minister Sharma, Pradhan said, The unprecedented amount of investment proposals secured under the investment summit reflects the bright fortune of Rajasthan under the leadership of CM Bhajan Lal Sharma and is a testament to his dynamic leadership.

Speaking on the occasion Diya Kumari, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister, said, I would like to express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for terming the state reliable and receptive, open to adapting new changes and reliable to lead the growth engine towards the goal of Viksit Rajasthan.

In his opening remarks at the MSME Conclave, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Rajasthan industries minister, said, MSMEs have not only played an instrumental role in the making of Rajasthan but the making of the entire country, with the sector contributing 25% to the state GDP. The prominent MSMEs businesses in Rajasthan in areas like textile, handicraft, tourism, and ceramics have not only generated a large number of jobs but also upskilled the workforce at a large scale.
With enhanced infrastructure as its backbone, Rajasthan is going all out to woo investors. The BJP-led state governments three-day investment summit, Rising Rajasthan 2024, has garnered significant attention. Officials emphasized that boosting infrastructure is key to increasing investments in the state.



Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, participating on the second day of the event, announced infrastructure projects worth Rs 30,000 crore for Rajasthan. These initiatives include nine major projects spanning 800 kilometres, aimed at improving connectivity and fostering economic growth.

The announced projects include the Rs 6,500-crore Jaipur Ring Road, the Rs 6,800-crore Kotputli to Agra Greenfield Highway, the Rs 12,000-crore Jaipur-Kishangarh-Jodhpur-Amritsar Greenfield Highway, the Rs 538-crore elevated road from Raipur to Jassakheda in Pali, and the Rs 1,400-crore road construction from Nagaur to Netra.

Additional initiatives include the Rs 500-crore bypass at Sikar-Lakshmangarh-Fatehpur and the Rs 1,400-crore Jhunjhunu-Chiwa-Singhana-Pacheri road construction.

The double-engine government is transforming Rajasthans infrastructure, highlighting the critical role the state plays in Indias journey toward becoming a USD 5-trillion economy.

He emphasized Rajasthans abundant mineral wealth, renewable energy potential, and strategic logistics network as key factors in attracting investments and creating opportunities for the youth, Gadkari said.

The union minister added, The states rich cultural heritage, natural resources, and advancements in infrastructure have unlocked numerous opportunities for youth and attracted significant investments.

Rajasthan development to strengthen Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor

Speaking at the summit, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma attributed the states infrastructure improvements to the efforts of the double-engine government. He noted that Rajasthan hosts 58 per cent of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, giving it direct access to 40 per cent of Indias market. With the third-largest highway network in the country, spanning over 3 lakh kilometres, the state is actively constructing an additional 53,000km of roads, including 2,750km of nine new Greenfield Expressways.

The passage of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor through the tribal districts of the state of Rajasthan will facilitate the development of these districts at a fast pace and help unlock the industrial potential of these areas, said the chief minister.

Sharma further emphasized the potential for rapid development in Rajasthans tribal districts through the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department, Praveen Gupta, added that the state has made significant strides in the logistics sector, which has improved its rankings and attracted investors. The forthcoming Rajasthan Logistics Policy 2024 aims to reduce transportation costs and further boost investments in the sector.
Noting that China's ongoing "unheard of" military activity in nearby waters is unilaterally undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and disrupting international shipping and trade, Taiwan urged Beijing to end these drills.

53 #PLA aircraft, 11 PLA Navy vessels and 8 official ships were detected operating around #Taiwan until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today.



23 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwans northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. pic.twitter.com/eAbOsOVg5G  Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense (@IndoPac_Info) December 11, 2024

The Taiwan foreign ministry, in a statement, said it was responding in part to the activities of a large number of Chinese naval and coast guard ships in the first-island chain, the Pacific archipelago off the Asian continental mainland that includes Japan, Taiwan and part of the Philippines.

Taiwan defence officials say they have detected Chinese ships since Monday, both off Taiwan and farther out along the first-island chain. They described the formations as two walls designed to demonstrate that the waters belong to China.

ALSO READ: China's latest provocation?: A week after large-scale military exercise, Beijing conducts live-fire drills near Taiwan

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Wednesday it had detected 53 military aircraft operating around the island over the past 24 hours, as well as 11 navy vessels and eight "official" ships.

#Chinas military appears to be up to something around #Taiwan - AP



"Chinas navy is creating two walls  one at Taiwans perimeter and another outside the first island chain, which extends south from Japan and through Taiwan to the Philippines," Lt. Gen. Hsieh Jih-sheng said. pic.twitter.com/xDZUKol4mI  Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense (@IndoPac_Info) December 10, 2024

According to Taiwan, the scale and size of the ongoing Chinese operations, including the manpower being dispatched, was "unheard of" in recent years. "We have not seen anything like this in at least the past few years," a security diplomat has been quoted as saying.

China restricted airspace off its southeast coast from Monday to Wednesday, a sign that it was planning to hold drills. However, the People's Liberation Army has not confirmed about the drills.

Taiwan has been expecting drills following stops by its president, Lai Ching-te, in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam during an overseas trip last week. China claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory and opposes any official contact with America and other foreign governments.

READ MORE: China slams US, Canadian warships' Taiwan Strait transit

According to Reuters, a senior Taiwanese official said they believed the surge in military activity by China is intended as a political message to the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

China did not comment directly on any military exercises but said in a statement posted online Wednesday that the government would not let provocations by Taiwan in collusion with external forces go unchecked.

"We will absolutely not let things go unchecked. We will take necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and safeguard the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the government's Taiwan Affairs Office.
In what comes as another testament to the growing defence ties between India and Russia, New Delhi is likely to procure Voronezh series airborne early warning radar systems from the country in a bid to enhance the early warning and missile defense capabilities of India's defence forces.

Media reports suggest that both countries are working towards finalising a $4 billion defence agreement that will help India extend its surveillance capabilities beyond its borders as these radars can detect threats over distances of 6,000 to 8,000 kilometers.

The move to acquire the early warning radar system is part of India's efforts to upgrade its security apparatus in the wake of the growing global threats.

ALSO READ: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pushes Russia to fast-track delivery of S-400 missile systems

According to an India Today report, discussions between Indian officials and the Russian delegation have focused on involving Indian industry in the project and it is likely that over 50 per cent of the components of the system would be manufactured domestically, enhancing the government's 'Make in India' initiatives.

Over 50 Indian partners, including startups, are reportedly part of manufacturing the Indian components for the radar.

About Voronezh radars

The Voronezh radars are capable of detecting a wide range of aerial threats, including ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft.

Compact in size, and consuming lower energy, these systems can track nearly 500 targets simultaneously, potentially allowing the nation deploying them to maintain a robust defense posture against potential missile attacks.

There are four different variants in the Voronezh radar series. They are:

1. Voronezh-M (VHF band) radars are optimized for long-range detection of medium and long-range ballistic missiles and can cover vast areas.

2. Voronezh-DM (UHF band) provides improved resolution and tracking accuracy for smaller targets, enhancing the effectiveness of the radar against various aerial threats.

3. Voronezh-CM (L-band) offers enhanced precision tracking and clutter rejection capabilities.

4. Voronezh-VP refers to the planned upgrades that combine VHF and UHF capabilities for comprehensive threat detection.

According to EurAsian Times, the radar that is proposed to be installed in Karnataka's Chitradurga is likely to be a Voronezh-M radar.

The growing India-Russia defence ties

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Russia for a three-day visit, said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the India-Russia friendship is "higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean."

READ MORE: After INS Tushil, when will Russia deliver stealth frigate INS Tamal to Indian Navy?

Singh called on Putin after co-chairing the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Cooperation along with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov.

Singh conveyed to Putin that India has always stood by its Russian friends and will continue to do so in the future.

The defence minister's visit to Russia came five months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Moscow and held summit talks with Putin.

During the summit, both sides had vowed to further expand India-Russia defence and military ties.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Nepali Army, Suprabal Janasewashree General Ashok Raj Sigdel, is in India for a four-day visit from Wednesday. The visit is aimed at enhancing the bilateral military cooperation between India and Nepal and exploring new avenues for defence collaboration.

According to the defene ministry, the visit of General Sigdel marks a key step in further strengthening the defence ties between Nepal and India.

On Wednesday, he will interact with Chief of the Army Staff of Indian Army General Upendra Dwivedi. He will also be briefed about Indias security perspective by the Director General Strategic Planning (DGSP) and on the Indian defence industry by the Additional Director General of Army Design Bureau.

He is also scheduled to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of the Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh during his visit.

On Thursday, General Sigdel will attend the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, wherein as per a unique tradition between the Indian Army and Nepali Army, he will be conferred with the honourary rank of General of the Indian Army by President Draupadi Murmu.

ALSO READ: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi to be conferred with honourary rank of General of Nepali Army

The tradition, which began in 1950, reflects the strong ties between the militaries of India and Nepal. During his recent visit to Nepal, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi was conferred the honorary rank of 'General of the Nepal Army' by Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel.

On Friday, he will visit Defence Industries and witness Static Equipment Display in Pune. He will engage with representatives of the Indian defence industry.

His other engagements during the visit to India include a visit to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
It had all the trappings of a hit reality show. A film celebrity father and his son living in the same house develop differences. Both lodge police complaints and visit hospitals citing injuries. Backing them were dozens of bouncers on each side who had a face-off in front of cameras. In the melee, a TV news reporter got seriously injured necessitating surgery to treat a fracture in the head region. That is not all, a maid of the house allegedly attempted suicide after her candid conversation regarding the issue was recorded secretly and aired on TV channels. A moving audio clip of the father went viral which kept the audience further glued. Action scenes like the break-in of a gate, and emotional scenes involving teary eyes were observed, all of which were captured in the last three days by an ample number of cameras and mics.

Journalists staged protests at various locations including Film Nagar, Rachakonda CP office and senior actor Mohan Babus residence in Jalpally against the assault on their colleagues last night. They raised slogans such as Mohan Babu down down and We Want Justice and pic.twitter.com/Mas2sRkFEH  Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) December 11, 2024

It all started with a distress phone call made on Sunday to the police helpline from the farmhouse of senior actor, Padma Shri recipient and educationist Mohan Babu. The call was reportedly made from the side of Manchu Manoj, son of Mohan Babu, who complained of physical assault. Manoj is also a Telugu actor who resides in his fathers palatial farmhouse located on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Manoj, along with his wife Monica, visited a corporate hospital and the medical report showed injuries to the neck, stomach and legs. Manoj later officially complained to the police stating that unknown men attacked him. He refused to name his father in the complaint.

At this point, it was clear that all was not well between the father and the son, but the exact reasons and details of the events remained unclear. A large number of media crew stationed themselves outside the farmhouse gates. Manojs sister, Lakshmi, who is an actress and based out of Mumbai came to the farmhouse for a brief period. It looked like an unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation. She soon left the premises. Meanwhile, Mohan Babu complained to the police that his son and daughter-in-law were trespassing on his property and that there was a threat to his life.

The visuals outside the gates of the farmhouse turned more dramatic as Mohan Babus elder son, Vishnu returned from Dubai. He instilled dozens of bouncers, took control of the situation and expelled Manojs bouncers. Manoj returned with his men alleging that his young daughter was inside the premises and he feared for her life.

Before that, his father released an audio clip admonishing him and making it clear that he wasnt welcome in his house anymore. Some of his belongings were also shifted from the house. Manoj with his supporters broke open the gate later forcing his way into the farmhouse and stayed put. When reporters followed Manoj into the compound of the farmhouse, an irate Mohan Babu attacked a journalist with his mic which left him with a serious fracture on his face needing hospitalisation. Mohan Babu too was hospitalised due to high BP, high heart rate and injuries to the face.

The Telangana police have issued notices to Mohan Babu, Vishnu and Manoj to appear before them and also surrender their licensed weapons. Vishnu and Manoj, both teary-eyed, appeared before the media and spoke about the sequence of events superficially without getting to the root cause of the conflict. The police for now have deployed officers outside the farmhouse to ensure law and order and have also warned the bouncers against causing trouble.

It has been learnt that there has been a growing rift between Manoj and his father Mohan Babu and elder son Vishnu on a few issues for the last few years. The fresh episode seems to be connected to Manoj alleging certain irregularities in the functioning of educational institutions managed by Vishnu and his close associates.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a 50 million euro loan for Zumtobel Group to support the development of innovative lighting solutions, Trend reports.

The funding will be allocated to R&D projects over the next three years, contributing to the companys total 191 million euro budget. These projects, based at Zumtobel's EU locations, aim to enhance energy efficiency and connectivity in lighting systems for smart buildings and cities.

The partnership aligns with EU sustainability and digitalization goals, focusing on the creation of smart lighting components for both indoor and outdoor use. The EIB has been a long-term financial partner of the Austrian-based company, providing support for innovation and growth since 2018.

Zumtobel Groups CFO, Thomas Erath, emphasized the importance of innovation in maintaining long-term success in the global lighting market. He highlighted that the EIB loan will help bolster the companys position as a leader in lighting solutions and advance its research efforts in the EU.
While Rupert Murdoch many have lost the succession battle to his children, celebrities are in the news for different kinds of family drama. This time, its all about kidsunborn, fresh from the cradle, or a little too old to be called kids.

From parenthood to trust funds and parental cover-ups, heres a look at the latest celebrity news involving their offspring.



Confessions of a teenage drama queen and her King: The Fox-Kelly saga

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly (aka MGK) have reportedly cut off their messy relationship. Again! While the internet thinks the couple has traversed too many breakups and that their twin flame energy has, in fact, gotten exhausting, the latest split has piqued the interest of many owing to the same happening weeks after their pregnancy announcement.

TMZ reported that the couple decided to call off their notoriously sporadic relationship during a Thanksgiving trip in Vail, Colorado. The outlet added: Megan found material on MGKs phone that was upsetting and made her want him to leave the trip early. MGK dipped out of the trip early, and since then, the former couple hasnt seen each other, and they are not together at this time.

The baby is seemingly due in March, and sources told the US Weekly that they were trying to make it work again after the pregnancy, but they are both too hot-headed and fell back into their constant fighting. They cant get on the same page and its not easy for them being together.

Cosmopolitan quoted an unnamed insider revealing that the American actress and rapper had always been rocky and had their ups and downs. But they have been proactive in therapy and very spiritual and honest with one another.

The outlet also added that Colson Baker (professionally known as MGK) made some huge life changes to be the best partner and parent that he can be.

The timeline of this bumpy relationship dates back to March 2020, when Fox and Kelly apparently met as co-stars on the set of the indie thriller Midnight In The Switchgrass. What has followed since has, in fact, been quite messy for the stars and their fans. While many quarters of the internet opine that people should stop using babies like stopcocks to manage erratic relationships, others couldnt care less about their unstable relationship pattern and hoped they would stick with the decision to end it for good.

Both Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly have not commented about the reported breakup, despite eliciting volatile discussions on socials.

The pride of children, prejudice of parents: Keira Knightley and Peppa Pig

Keira Knightleys recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy, promoting her new Netflix series Black Doves, has made her the focus of applause, as many found Knightleys comment on having children the most relatable thing a celebrity has ever said. The Atonement actor avowed her love for her children, 9-year-old Eddie and 5-year-old Deliah, yet made it clear that she cannot watch any more of Peppa Pig. Quoting a snippet from the show, Knightley answered Fallons question on what the kids were watching, adding, They are very cool right now. Its really weird. Theyre into, like, Studio Ghibli and like, you know, beautiful things where youre like, Oh, this is just lovely, after seven years of Peppa Pig.

The mention of the animated programme, a certified favourite among a larger section of the population, triggered mirth in the host and the audience.

Knightley, who is in an 11-year-long matrimony with James Righton, added, You know that thing where youre like, Oh, you know, theyre so nice. Should we have another one? And you think, Oh, yeah, I could do the pregnancy. I could even do the birth. But I cannot watch any more Peppa Pig. Its not gonna happen.

The Pride and Prejudice stars reaction set the internet off on a tangent, leaving netizens to ponder about their own childhoods, inextricably woven into Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol. Parents aligned in solidarity with the actors comment, while a select few were troubled about celebrities being prompted into revealing personal information. The discussions also had mentions about people struggling with fertility and parenting, even alluding to the infamous Blake Lively interview.

However, Knightley has been vocal about her own parenting journey, though her kids have largely been veiled from the spotlight. Quoting an AOL reportage, Knightley revealed her struggle with dyslexia and that of her daughter. But now we have a dyslexic kid, and shes doing the same thing. Her memory is absolutely amazing, she added.

The Tonight Show also had the actor sharing amusing moments from home and how her kids thought she was embarrassing. Recollecting the disco party incident, Knightley mentioned having been asked by her eldest to just go stand in the corner. People report also mentioned that being a mom inspired the actor to sign up for Black Doves, because being a mom and so child-friendly at home, stimulated her to do something that was a bit punk and kind of blew everything up.

Night and days of media play: Suri Noelle and the unsubstantiated online mush

Katie Holmes has quashed reports of Suri Noelle, who recently turned 18, deriving access to a trust fund from her estranged father, Tom Cruise, that allegedly made the teen an overnight millionaire. Holmes, in a rare instance, took to her social to slam the Daily Mail article, calling it completely false and captioning it with a prompt enough.

Unsubstantiated sources claimed that Suri would gain access to a substantial amount when she turned 18 and the rest would only be accessible when the aforementioned turns 30.

The Dawsons Creek star ended her six-year-long marriage with Tom Cruise in 2012 and has since lived with her daughter in New York.

The speculations appear murky when read in tow with Tom Cruises absence from Suris high school graduation earlier this year, where the teen also ditched the Cruise surname, opting to be addressed as Suri Noelle, which as reported by Los Angeles Times is the middle name of her mother.

Los Angeles Times had also reported that the actor had de facto skipped the graduation to hang out with celebs at Taylor Swifts Eras tour in London. BuzzFeed also reported that Tom Cruise was photographed in public with Connor and Isabella (his kids with ex-wife, Nicole Kidman), albeit rarely. However, it has been a long time since he was seen with Suri. The internet has been quick to call out the dangerous attitude of media houses making unwarranted and invasive allegations for the sake of clicks. They have also sympathised with Katie, who has mostly turned a blind eye to tabloids, having to step up to defend her daughter.

Donald Trump Jr. and the curious case of socialites and ambassadors

In other news, Trump Jr. (a little too old to be called a kid, yet known for his name-sake and blood-ties to the American president-elect) has been flamed online for flaunting his alleged relationship with the Florida socialite Bettina Anderson and the event being in compliance with his father naming his fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, as the US ambassador to Greece.

The timing of the move is what has caught the attention of netizens amidst an avalanche of photographs released by the British tabloid, The Daily Mail. The New York Times reported that Andrew Surabian, a spokesperson for Trump [Jr.], 46, did not return a request for comment on his relationship with Anderson, or on his engagement with Guilfoyle, to whom he has been betrothed since late 2020. Anderson, 38, also did not return requests for comment. The curious omission of any mention of Guilfoyles relationship and merely calling her a close friend and ally is of interest.

The pictures, apparently from Andersons thirty-eighth birthday celebrations at Palm Beach, supported by multiple sightings of the new couple on the block, have almost confirmed Trump Jrs fissured relationship with Guilfoyle.

The outlet also published snaps of a birthday card that read: Many have said that youre ageing out, but I think youre perfect.

Bettina Anderson, an influencer, philanthropist, and model, is a typical stay-at-home mom who is without husband and children and does not do household chores, according to her Instagram bio. The internet has been fixated on the card, trying to read into it; different connotative meanings of the man are a red flag. Others have been calling out the fact that Guilfoyle was shipped out to cover up the scandal.
The following list is a mix of films from all over the world that I've already seen and those I would like to check out.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Dir: Mohammad Rasoulof)

Mohammad Rasoulof is a staunchly political and audacious filmmaker who came to my attention only recently, and I must say that his work totally blew me away. I would suggest not reading anything about his films beforehand considering the strong surprise factor involved. Rasoulof is the kind of filmmaker great at the 'show, don't tell' filmmaking philosophy.

Sangarsha Khadana - The Art of Warfare (Dir: Krishand)

I've seen this film twice, and it's already one of my favourites. It's an amusing gangster drama with a fair amount of violence but not the disturbing kind. What stood out in this film is the light and dark humour that had me laughing out during multiple situations. Those familiar with Krishand's previous films, Aavasavyuham and Purusha Pretham, will know what I'm talking about.

Pattth (Dir: Jithin Issac Thomas)

Jithin is someone who has already established himself in the Malayalam independent film scene, having gathered enough critical notice with films such as Attention Please, Rekha, and the segment Pra. Thoo. Mu from the anthology Freedom Fight. While these were all dark subjects, his new film Pattth is relatively lighthearted, basically a mockumentary that tracks the origin of a mysterious song.

The Substance (Dir: Coralie Fargeat)

This is a superbly shot and edited film that plays out as a satire on unfair beauty standards and the extent to which some women go to seek fame and please older men who have no redeemable qualities whatsoever. It's a bitingly sharp, incisive blend of body horror and satire that gets crazier and crazier as it inches toward its final moments. It has the wildest ending of any movie I've seen this year.

The Girl With the Needle (Dir: Magnus von Horn)

Having seen Danish filmmaker Magnus von Horn's previous film, Sweat, I'm curious to know what he has done in his latest film, The Girl With the Needle, which is loosely based on Dagmar Overby, described as Denmark's most prolific serial killer whose specialty was murdering infants while pretending to be a caretaker between 1913 and 1920.

Queer (Dir: Luca Guadagnino)

Daniel Craig plays a gay man who develops a strong fixation with a U.S. Navy officer. Now, I'm not a huge Guadagnino fan, but since he is a visually interesting filmmaker, and considering how Queer is also a period piece with evidently striking production design and cinematography, and because it has Daniel Craig back in a serious, non-James Bond role, I'm quite eager to see what this film has to offer.

The Witness (Dir: Nader Saeivar)

According to the official synopsis, the Iranian film revolves around a retired dance teacher who witnesses a murder by a top government official and has to decide whether to let political pressure get to her or take matters into her own hands when the police act indifferent. For me, the key enticing factor here is the involvement of noted Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who has served as a co-writer and editor.

La Cocina (Dir: Alonso Ruizpalacios)

Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios' film has Rooney Mara playing one of the main leads alongside Mexican actor Raoul Briones. My interest in this film stems from a fascination for restaurant-based films, and this one, I'm told, revolves around characters from various backgrounds working in New York. I'm hoping it will take care of our 'restaurant film' fix while we wait for the next season of THE BEAR.

Kill the Jockey (Dir: Luis Ortega)

Directed by Argentine filmmaker Luis Ortega, Kill the Jockey happens to be Argentina's official selection for the Best International Film category in the upcoming Oscars. It's a story of two jockeys who work for a gangster, and how things get increasingly complicated by their romantic relationship and the fact that one of them does something unexpected.
British filmmaker Christopher Nolan may only have a few films to his name, but nearly all of them have earned high accolades. Nolan, as a director, is known for blending genres like science-fiction, war, crime, and action with mind-bending twists, ensuring that the audiences are always left guessing.

This year, fans of Nolan celebrate the 10th anniversary of Interstellar, released in 2014. The film garnered widespread acclaim for its unique plot, paired with Hans Zimmers goosebump-worthy background score. Additionally, it was applauded by scientists for its accurate depiction of a black hole.

ALSO READ | Zendaya, Anne Hathaway to star in Christopher Nolan's next film

To mark the decade of success, Interstellar was re-released this year, on December 6, on all screens, including IMAX. The re-release has been a massive hit in the U.S., earning USD 4.5 million from just 166 screens in the U.S. and Canada. According to The Associated Press, the 70mm IMAX film presentations alone had an impressive USD 70,000 per theatre average in the U.S.

In an interview with the publication, Nolan said, I was just so gratified by the response. Its really thrilling when people respond to your work at any point. But 10 years later, to have new audiences coming and experiencing it in the way that wed originally intended it on the big IMAX screens and in particular on those IMAX film prints? Its really rewarding to see that it continues to have a life.

ALSO READ | Christopher Nolan's paycheck for Oppenheimer is reportedly close to $100 million

The Dark Knight trilogy director also observed that the theatres were primarily filled with youngsters who hadnt seen the film on the big screen and yearned for the experience.

It was a fairly easy task to convince IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond to re-release the film. In fact, it was the most requested film on all their socials. We saw this coming from the beginning. It reminded us in a small way of the frenzy around Oppenheimer. But the result is far beyond our expectations.

When will Interstellar re-release in India?

Fans of Nolan in India have been eager to grab tickets to the sci-fi flick, but unfortunately, it is not available for screening in Indian theatres. Not yet, at least.

Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa 2: The Rule and animated film Moana 2 have occupied the IMAX screens in India, making it impossible for Interstellar to squeeze in. Later this month, Mufasa: The Lion King will also be screened on IMAX. But now, it seems that the Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway-starrer will not skip past its Indian fanbase.

Contrary to what has been reported, the studio, Warner Bros, definitely plans to release Interstellar in India, a source told the Bollywood Hungama.

Sadly, it couldnt be released on December 6 as Pushpa 2  The Rule was to arrive in the same week and theres a huge demand to see the sequel in IMAX and normal 2D formats. IMAX is also very clear about not having two big IMAX films in the same week. Besides, Warner Bros is not in favour of having just one show daily for Interstellar; it wants to provide a sufficient number of screenings throughout the day.

Warner Bros has decided to re-release Interstellar in the first quarter of 2025. As soon as they come across any vacant week or weeks, theyll grab the opportunity to re-release Nolans much-loved classic on the big screen. A date will be decided soon.
India is home to a diverse population, with over 4,600 population groups, thousands of which are endogamous, potentially contributing to a high prevalence of rare genetic diseases. An estimated 96 million people in India live with a rare disease, often facing limited or nonexistent access to treatment.



In response to this growing need for therapies, India introduced its first National Policy on Rare Diseases in 2021. The policy aims to lower the high cost of treatment for rare diseases, boost indigenous research, and establish a national hospital-based registry to collect sufficient epidemiological data for defining and conducting requisite R&D. It also emphasizes the creation of Nidan Kendras for early screening and prevention, and proposes strengthening existing secondary and tertiary health facilities at designated Centres of Excellence.



In recent years, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has made provisions to fast-track applications for rare disease drugs under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019. These provisions include expediting drug trials and experimental therapies and exempting application fees for potential drug candidates.



And now, the government is reportedly considering a proposal to eliminate local clinical trials for drugs used to treat rare diseases, aiming to speed up their availability. The Drug Controller General of India is expected to discuss this proposal with state regulators soon, with the availability of rare disease drugs being a key agenda item.



While the fast-tracking of processes offers hope, plans to do away with local trials also raise concerns, particularly among families of children with rare diseases. Jins Antony from Ayur, Keralawhose 10-year-old son suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)is one such parent.



DMD is a genetic disorder that is characterised by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness.



The condition affects various muscles, including the diaphragmthe muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen and aiding in breathing. In India, DMD patients rarely survive beyond the age of 20, and Antony is acutely aware that time is running out to save his son. Coming from a middle-class background, he believes local clinical trials are one of the few lifelines available to most Indian parents striving to save their children. Antony told THE WEEK that many parents depend on local clinical trials due to the exorbitant cost of these drugs if they finally come out to the open market.



Enrolling in a clinical trial is already challenging, Antony said. If the government plans to eliminate local clinical trials for rare disease drugs, it should also take steps to ensure these drugs are available at affordable prices.
In a recent move, acting upon the recommendation of the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE), the Union health ministry urged states to make snakebites a notifiable disease. This would mean that it is legally mandated that the disease (snakebite) be notified to the government by both private and public hospitals. Earlier this year, the NAPSE was launched in India with the aim of halving snakebite deaths by 2030.



Snakebites are a major public health challenge in the country. Given that a large number of deaths are caused by snakebites every year, it has turned into a major public health hazard and the government is looking at ways to curb the deaths. The first step towards that is for the cases to be reported. Estimates suggest that about three to four million cases of snakebites are reported every year, and close to 60,000 persons die because of them annually.



Usually, infections that are likely to cause an outbreak, lead to deaths, and those that need to be investigated quickly to take appropriate public health measures, are declared as notifiable diseases. For instance, tuberculosis, HIV, cholera, malaria, dengue, and hepatitis among others, fall in the notifiable category.



Snakebites can result in severe medical emergencies such as paralysis, hemorrhage, and damage to different tissues. If not treated with anti-venom it can lead to the development of severe symptoms and even death. This is why it is crucial to make sure such cases are reported so as to ensure proper surveillance and determine the precise numbers of snakebite cases and deaths across India. Only then will the government be able to effectively manage, prevent, and control cases of snakebites, provide adequate anti-venom to various regions, and proper training can be imparted in areas where snakebites are frequent.



Besides, initiatives to spread awareness and advocate a change in social behaviour can be taken up in places where cases are reported because it has been found that snakebite victims either do not reach a healthcare centre in time or do not go there at all  and many reach out to faith-based healers instead.



In many cases, staff at healthcare centres are not adequately trained in treating snakebites. Tests for confirming snakebites are also not available. Another challenge is that the anti-venom which is made from the venom of different species of snakes, fails to work in certain regions of the country because of a diversity in snake species and also the effect of the venom from the same snake species may differ based on geography. Besides, anti-venom may also cause various reactions. Also, commercially available antivenom does not work against certain local snake species such as the green pit viper in the Northeast. As per the WHO, around 90 per cent of snakebites in India are caused by the 'big four' among the crawlers - common krait, Indian cobra, Russell's viper and saw scaled viperand snakebite envenoming causes as many as 400,000 amputations and other permanent disabilities.



In a research paper published by researcher Bhagyalakshmi Satyanarayan in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, she writes about 427 snakebite cases that were admitted to the hospital during the study period of seven years. The victims were predominantly males. The majority of the bite cases encountered were from rural areas and were in the second quarter of the year. The site of the bite was largely on the lower limb and the upper limb had fewer bites. Most cases reported acute kidney injury, neutrophilic leucocytosis and deranged liver enzymes as a result of bad prognosis.



WHO added snakebite envenoming to its priority list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in June 2017. Most snake bites happen in densely populated, low-altitude, agricultural areas in states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, according to NAPSE. India accounts for approximately half of the worldwide snakebite deaths. It is often a neglected public health problem, particularly in Jharkhand where medical facilities are limited.
Bangladesh has assured action against perpetrators of violence against minorities, including Hindus, in that country, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told a parliament panel on Wednesday.

Misri, who recently visited Dhaka and raised Indias concerns to the interim government, also informed the parliament standing committee on external affairs that Bangladesh's interim government head Muhammad Yunus did not talk about the review of any bilateral agreements with India, contrary to some media reports.

"Foreign Secretary has returned yesterday from there (Bangladesh). So fresh of the trip, he was able to give us a thorough briefing. All the important questions that you can imagine were asked by the MPs, committee's chairperson and senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told reporters.

He said around 21-22 MPs attended the panel meeting and Misri answered comprehensively to all their questions.

Quoting sources, PTI reported that several MPs asked Misri about the status of ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasinas stay in India. However, Misris reply to these queries is not immediately known.

Misri visited Dhaka amid reports of rampant violence and attacks on minority communities including Hindus in Bangladesh after the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government following massive anti-government protests.

Misri met Yunus after holding one-on-one talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin.

"I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. I have underlined today India's desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh Authority," he told reporters after the meetings.

This was the first high-level visit to Dhaka by an Indian official since August 5, when Hasina was dethroned.
The Panchamasali Lingayats's demand for reservation under the 2A category (OBC) has put the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka in a tight spot. The case related to the reallocation of the OBC quota (abolition of Muslim quota) is still pending before the Supreme Court, which, in its interim order, had asked the state government to maintain status quo.

On Tuesday, Belagavi, which is hosting the winter session of the state Legislature, witnessed violent scenes after the police resorted to lathi-charge to stop Panchamasali protesters from entering the Suvarna Soudha (secretariat) building. The incident left at least 50 protestors injured and the police too reported injuries to 20 personnel and damage to the vehicles.

In the aftermath, the National Highway (NH4) was blocked for hours as protestors demanded the chief minister to come to the spot. The opposition BJP and the JDS accused the ruling Congress of adopting a "Hitler-style administration" and demanded the suspension of officers responsible for the "police excesses".

Basava Mrutyunjaya Swami of Kudalasangama, the pontiff leading the agitation expressed outrage against the government for poor handling of a "peaceful" protest and threatened to intensify the protest till their demands were met.

On December 9, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told the Assembly that he would present the Supreme Courts order and the affidavit submitted by the previous BJP government regarding the Panchamasali 2A reservation.

The Panchamasali community has long demanded inclusion under the 2A category. After assuming office, I have met their leaders, including Jayamrityunjaya Swamiji, twice and assured them of my support. However, the issue requires a report from the States Permanent Backward Classes Commission," said Siddaramaiah, adding that the previous BJP government's affidavit before the SC was a hurdle to include Panchamasali under 2A.

"The Bommai government cancelling the 4% quota for Muslims and reallocating it equally to Lingayats and Vokkaligas was challenged in the Supreme Court by Muslim groups, prompting the BJP-led government to file an affidavit maintaining the status quo. The courts subsequent order reinforced this position, leaving no room for changes," alleged Siddaramaiah.

Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai rubbished Siddaramaiah's claims saying, "The Kantharaju Commission during Siddaramaiah's tenure as CM, had rejected the Panchamasalis demand in 2016. My government had passed an order granting enhanced quota for Veerashaiva-Lingayats (after abolishing Muslim quota). But some Congress supporters challenged the reservation order in the Supreme Court. As the case hearing coincided with Assembly polls, the BJP governments legal team (through an affidavit) requested no orders should be passed before hearing out their arguments. The Supreme Court had asked the government to hold back the reservation order until the next hearing."

Bommai clarified that his government has not withdrawn the order but only complied with the court's interim directions.

"Siddaramaiah is misrepresenting the facts. It is disappointing and misleading. I urge the CM to ask his supporters to withdraw the petition in the Supreme Court. Alternatively, the state should defend the reservation order in court and take all necessary measures to implement the new reservation policy," said Bommai.

It may be recalled that the Basavaraj Bommai government had scrapped the existing 4% reservation (2B category) for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota citing there was no Constitutional provision for reservation based on religion or religious minorities and moved them to the 10 % pool for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Just before the Assembly polls last year, the Bommai government split the abolished quota (for minorities) equally (2% each) among the Lingayats and Vokkaligas. The Panchamasali Lingayat, a dominant subsect of the Lingayat community and core vote bank of the BJP had been demanding a change in the reservation category from 3B (5%) to 2A (15%). A similar demand for 12% was being made by the Vokkaliga community, which enjoyed 4% reservation under the 3A category in the OBC list. The BJP government created two new categories under the OBC list - 2C for Lingayats and 2D for Vokkaligas to enhance the quota to 6% and 7% respectively.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Backward Castes Federation has opposed the inclusion of Panchamasali Lingayats into 2A, stating the community was never classified as "backward" by any of the state Backward Classes Commissions and its inclusion would deprive the deserving backward communities of reservation benefits.
As Maharashtra's Cabinet formation remains in limbo, the clamour among coalition allies seeking ministerial posts only gets bigger. While Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had to accept Deputy Chief Minister posts with reluctance, his MLAs aren't in any mood to ditch their aspirations for the Cabinet berth.

While the lobbying has begun for ministerial berths, Shinde is mulling introducing the rotation system to ensure that aspirants don't end up discontented. The plan is to share the minister posts for 2.5 years among two strong contenders, according to Loksatta.

This comes as Shiv Sena continues to bargain hard for plum portfolios in the Cabinet, much to the dismay of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who hopes to expand his cabinet by the end of the week.

The new government is likely to have 30-25 ministers, with BJP claiming 18 to 20. Shiv Sena was offered 11-12 but it insists on having at least two more. NCP was offered 9 to 11 ministers. The maximum sanctioned strength of the Maharashtra cabinet is 43.

Speculations are that all former ministers within Shiv Sena have expressed a desire for the posts. Senior leaders who missed out on the opportunity last time are also hopeful.

Some leaders have come openly to claim the posts. While Bharat Googawle has demanded that ministers of the previous government be kept away and new faces be given a chance, Pratap Sarnaik and Sanjay Shirsat have also revealed their ministerial ambitions to Shinde.

The BJP has reportedly asked Shiv Sena to not offer Abdul Sattar, Sanjay Rathod, Tanaji Sawant and Deepak Kesarkar another stint in the Cabinet. However, Shinde feels that Sawant and Abdul Sattar will not give up their claim easily, reported Loksatta.

Sena feels it cannot do much against Rathod, who has a strong support base. The only person who may step aside is Deepal Kesarkar. Hence, the party's top leadership is considering the rotation system so that new faces get a chance. However, it has to be seen how the MLAs would react to the suggestion.

Portfolio dilemma

Though the winter session will begin on Monday, not even the deputy chief ministers have been assigned their portfolios. This is severely limiting their ability to hold meetings. Though Shiv Sena continues to demand the home portfolio, the BJP has made it clear to Sena that it cannot give home ministry. There are also speculations that the parties would likely retain the portfolios they held before.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met with Speaker Om Birla, urging him to remove derogatory remarks against him. This comes after the Opposition tabled a no-trust voter against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar.

Rahul said Speaker Birla assured that he would look into it, adding that the Congress wants the House to run and the discussion should happen in the House.

The Congress MP was speaking about BJP lawmakers Nishikant Dubey and Sambit Patra alleged that Rahul had links to Hungarian-American businessman George Soros.

"Congress ka haath, Soros ke saath. Congress has relations with OCCRP, which gets all its funds from the US government and George Soros. Did Rahul Gandhi take money from George Soros for the Bharat Jodo Yatra?" Dubey had said.

Following this, on Wednesday, Rahul said, "No matter what they say about me, we want to have a debate on December 13," adding that the government does not want to discuss Adani.

In Rajya Sabha, Kharge slammed Dhankar, saying his actions have "hurt the dignity of India."

Clarifying that it is not "personal", Kharge said the Congress was compelled to table no-confidence motion. "We have already given a notice. The opposition is here to speak, standing together, on this sensitive issue," the Congress president said.

Pointing out that the Chairman left the opposition with no option, he said Dhankar gave them neither time nor space to raise critical issues in the last three years.

Kharge said the Opposition expects protection from the chairperson, but he "keeps gesturing to ruling party MPs to speak." He said Dhankar is trying to insult opposition leaders by schooling the MPs lik a headmaster. Calling the chairperson as the biggest disruptor of Rajya Sabha, Kharge said Dhankar is working like the Centre's spokesperson.

Both Houses were adjourned for the day.
Photo: State Agency of Renewable Energy Sources under the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. Discussions have been held on Azerbaijani-Swedish cooperation in Caspian wind energy projects, Trend reports via the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency (AREA) statement.

According to the statement, the AREA Director Javid Abdullayev discussed the issue during a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden Tobias Lorentzson and the Swedish Emtunga company representatives.

The meeting also briefed on the wind energy potential both offshore in the Caspian Sea and onshore, as well as on ongoing projects, including the "Green Energy Corridor Caspian-Europe" and the "Green Energy Corridor Central Asia-Azerbaijan" projects.

The discussion included participation of Swedish companies in offshore wind energy projects.

The parties also exchanged views on developments in the energy sector and experiences in transitioning to green energy.

The meeting pointed out that international support for the energy initiatives of COP29, held in Azerbaijan, will contribute to achieving goals related to energy security and the transition to green energy.

The Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency, operating under the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was founded on September 22, 2020. The State Agency implements efforts to manage, regulate, and coordinate operations related to renewable energy sources and their efficient utilization, while also enhancing the sector's investment appeal. The primary objectives of the State Agency are to elevate the proportion of renewable energy sources in the installed power generation capacity to 30 percent by 2030, to convert the freed territories into a "Green Energy" Zone, and to facilitate private sector involvement in this domain.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Former chief minister of Karnataka and former governor of Maharashtra, S.M. Krishna, was known as the architect of modern Karnataka. He made many reforms during his tenure and made significant contributions to the progress of the state.

The highly educated S.M. Krishna was also a union minister (he held the office of the Minister of External Affairs of India from 2009 to 2012). One special memory of him that comes back to my mind is his attraction to the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda had lived for some time in the residence of the Forest Officer of Bengal in the Bhuikot Fort of Belgaum. To keep the memory of this historical structure alive, S.M. Krishna handed over the building to the Ramakrishna Mission.

A centre for the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda was started there. I had deliberately gone from Kolhapur for this handover ceremony.



S.M. Krishna has done a lot to preserve the bright tradition of Indian culture. These things have given me immense respect for S.M. Krishna. I pay my heartfelt tributes to him.


The Greater Coochbehar Peoples Association (GCPA), a separatist organisation, started a 'rail roko (stop railways)' movement on Wednesday at Jorai station in Cooch Behar district near the Assam-West Bengal border. This resulted in the cancellation of several up-and-down trains, including Vande Bharats.

The GCPA, formed in 1998, seeks a separate 'Greater Cooch Behar' state out of areas presently part of northern regions of West Bengal and some areas falling in lower Assam. The erstwhile king of Koch Bihar princely state merged with India in 1949 and the next year it became part of West Bengal.

However, the GCPA calls the inclusion of the former kingdom into West Bengal illegal. The organisation claims that during the signing of the instrument of accession with India, the former king of Kooch Bihar was promised a separate state.

Apart from its demand for a separate state, this time the GCPA is also seeking recognition of the Rajbanshi language as an eighth scheduled language of the Constitution of India.

Rail Roko Andolan called by the Greater Coochbehar People Association protesting at #Coochbehar Railway station demanding a separate state . pic.twitter.com/aiMO1x2sY0  Syeda Shabana (@JournoShabana) December 11, 2024

GCPA members began assembling near Jorai station on Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning, hundreds of them marched toward the station. Officials from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) attempted to reason with them that the blockade could lead to legal consequences and also cause problems for general passengers.

The blockade led the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to cancel several trains, including the New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express. Additionally, numerous trains travelling to and from Assam were diverted.

At the Alipurduar division, the NFR arranged buses for facilitating passengers who were affected by the diversion of trains. Passengers were ferried on buses from New Alipurduar to New Cooch Behar Junction.

In 2016, the GCPA staged a rail blockade lasting over 84 hours, severely disrupting train services in the region, which serves as a vital gateway to Northeast India. However, the GCPA had refrained from such drastic actions until Wednesday's blockade.

The GCPA, under the leadership of Bangshi Badan Barman, maintains a complex relationship with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). While the organisation indirectly backed the TMC in this years Lok Sabha elections, Barman himself holds several positions within the state government.

In November, Trinamool leaders in Cooch Behar alleged that Bangshi Badan Barman, the chairman of the Rajbanshi Bhasha Academy, was involved in extortion. They accused him of collecting money under the guise of appointing teachers in the academy.
Salah Dahman, the head of Hamass paraglider unit, was eliminated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Jabalia, Jewish media reports said on Wednesday. Salah Dahman was active in resisting IDF advances in Gaza by cordinating Hamas's aerial actions and was operating from the Jabalia neighbourhood, around four kilometres from Gaza City.

ALSO READ | 'I am at peace with...' What IDF soldier, 21, killed in Gaza by Hamas told granny in last letter before death

Meanwhile, in a separate operation, the Shin Bet and IDF confirmed the elimination of Fahmi Salami, commander of the elite Nukhba forces in Hamass Zeitoun Battalion. The Israeli Air Force launched an airstrike on the building that hosted Fahmi Salami. The building had previously served as the Al-Falah School, IDF told the media.

The eliminated Hamas commander led the October 7 attack on the Paga military post of the IDF. The ambush killed 14 IDF soldiers, Times Of Israel said quoting the army, adding that he continued to lead Hamas troops despite numerous setbacks to the outfit.

October 7 attacks: The fall of Paga outpost and Be'eri massacre

Around 6:30 AM on the dreadful day, Hamas fighters infiltrated southern Israel through the border barrier. They targeted civilian settlements and military bases alike and IDF's Paga outpost came under fire. Situated "very close to the Be'eri kibbutz (a communal settlement in Israel in which all wealth is held in common and profits are reinvested in the settlement), the Paga outpost came under heavy fire and the soldiers on duty were overrun.

ALSO READ | Israeli strike on school kills at least 22 people: Gaza Health ministry

According to reports, the soldiers posted at Paga are often referred to as protectors of Be'eri as the post is closer to the kibbutz located closer to the Gaza border. However, when the attack began, IDF units based near Paga post had to concentrate on protecting kibbutz Nahal Oz, leaving Paga post defenders with no backup. Once the defenders fell, Hamas attacked and murdered as many as 130 members of the settlement.

According to the IDF, Israel lost many young soldiers when they decided to come out of the safety of their vehicles to halt the charge of the infiltrators deep into Israel on October 7. Many members of the IDF's Golani Brigade were slain when the moved on foot after Hamas fighters entered Israel close to the Paga outpost. Staff Sgt. Tomer Barak, Sgt. Ido Binenstock, Staff Sgt. Itay Glisko and Staff Sgt. Itamar Ben Yehuda  were named among the Israeli soldiers killed in the battle near Paga.

Paragliders of Hamas on October 7 attacks

Following the attack, video A showed Hamas militants sailing into Israeli territory on motorised paragliders, while partygoers were watching them without concern. Once Salah Dahman's paragliders touched down inside Israeli territory, they secured the terrain for their comrades of the elite commando unit to operate. The latter soon stormed the fortified electronic and cement walls that were meant to stop infiltrations from Palestinian territories, Reuters said in a report.

ALSO READ | Did Hamas call for end of war in Gaza after Donald Trump's win? Here's what happened

Meanwhile, some paragliders landed near Kibbutz Reim, where Jewish people were enjoying a party and musical. Once they landed, they opened fire at the unarmed crowd indiscriminately, who had, doubtlessly, watched them landing a few minutes ago.
New Delhi, Dec 10 (PTI) Billionaire Gautam Adani-led conglomerate on Tuesday said it will use its own resources to fund a Sri Lankan port project and not seek US funding.

In an exchange filing late on Tuesday, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd said the project "is on track for commissioning by early next year" and added that the company will fund the ongoing project through "internal accruals", aligning with its capital management strategy.

The company said it has withdrawn its 2023 "request for financing from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)".

The US International Development Finance Corp, in November last year, agreed to provide a USD 553 million loan to support the development, construction, and operation of a deep-water container terminal called the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The CWIT is being developed by a consortium of Adani Ports, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

DFC financing was part of the US government's broader efforts to counter China's growing influence in the region and was seen as an endorsement of Adani's ability to develop world-class infrastructure.

However, the loan process stalled after the DFC asked that the agreement between Adani and the SLPA be amended to align with their conditions, which then went under review by Sri Lankas Attorney General. As the project is nearing completion, Adani Ports, which holds 51 per cent of the venture, chose to proceed with the project without funding from the DFC, officials privy to the process explained.

The US agency had recently stated that it was "actively assessing the ramifications" of the bribery allegations against the Adani group executives. It had so far not disbursed any money to the ports-to-energy conglomerate.

Last month, the US Department of Justice charged the Adani group's founder chairman Gautam Adani, and seven others over allegedly conspiring to pay USD 265 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure lucrative solar power supply contracts that were expected to yield USD 2 billion in profits over 20 years.

Adani group has denied all charges as baseless and vowed to pursue all possible legal recourse.

The Port of Colombo is the largest and busiest transhipment port in the Indian Ocean. It has been operating at more than 90 per cent utilisation since 2021, signalling its need for additional capacity.

The geopolitically sensitive port project in Sri Lanka is as much of a move by the US to counter Chinese influence in the island nation.

Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to become commercially operational by Q1 2025.

The new terminal will cater to growing economies in the Bay of Bengal, taking advantage of Sri Lanka's prime position on major shipping routes and its proximity to these expanding markets.

The Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) project was initiated in September 2021, when Adani Ports signed an agreement with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings, pledging over USD 700 million to expand the capabilities of Colombo Port.

The CWIT will be Sri Lanka's largest and deepest container terminal, with a quay length of 1,400 metres and an alongside depth of 20 metres. When complete, the terminal will be able to handle Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with capacities of 24,000 TEUs and is expected to have an annual handling capacity of over 3.2 million TEUs.

As of September 30, 2024, Adani Ports had approximately USD 1.1 billion (Rs 8,893 crore) in cash reserves and generated an operating profit of USD 2.3 billion (Rs 18,846 crore) in the past 12 months.
Kolkata, Dec 11 (PTI) Kolkata-based Jain Group, which plans to invest Rs 500 crore in the hospitality sector by 2030, on Wednesday said it remains open to inorganic growth, as the segment already accounts for nearly 50 per cent of its total annual revenue.

The group aided Sarovar brand's re-entry into Kolkata after a gap of 5 years. Sarovar Portico Kolkata at Rajarhat was launched on Wednesday, a 128-key mid-market hotel.



It is Sarovar brand's re-entry to the Kolkata market after five years, in partnership with Jain Group, following the end of its management contract with Peerless Hotels in 2018.



However, Sarovar Hotels' other brand Golden Tulip is operating a property in the city.

Sarovar Hotels, a part of the French Louvre Hotels Group, manages a chain of 135 hotels across India, most of which operate under management contracts.



Louvre Hotels Group is a subsidiary of Jin Jiang International Holdings Co Ltd, one of China's largest tourism and travel conglomerates.



"This is our second operational hotel in the city. We have tied up with Sarovar Hotels for the brand and operational contract. Currently, this is the only hotel branded as Sarovar in the city. Our first operational hotel, also in New Town, is under the Holiday Inn brand," Jain Group Managing Director Rishi Jain said.

"We are open to inorganic growth and so looking for acquisition opportunities, as hospitality remains important contributing 50 per cent of our revenues and profits. We are going to open a 95-key hotel in the city within the next three months, along with two more Holiday Inn hotels lined upone each in Durgapur and Siliguri," Jain told PTI.

He stated that the debt-free company is in no rush to tap the capital market until its revenue grows substantially from the current level of Rs 120 crore in FY24.

"Our real estate and hospitality businesses combined are growing at a CAGR of 30 per cent. Once we reach a revenue size of Rs 1,000 crore, we will explore the capital markets," he said, adding that public equity is a "low-risk but high-cost fund compared to debt, which is just the opposite."

Jain Group Vice-Chairman Shrayans Jain said the group aims to invest Rs 500 crore in the hospitality sector to create a 1,000-key portfolio by 2030, nearly three times its current capacity.

Ajay K Bakaya, Chairman of Sarovar Hotels, said the company is keen on expanding its presence in eastern India and is looking for more assets in the region.



"We aim to increase our properties to at least 150 hotels by 2025," he said.
Mumbai, Dec 11 (PTI) The FMCG sector needs to reignite volume expansion and embrace strategic innovation to maintain growth, Pidilite Managing Director Bharat Puri said on Wednesday amid the FMCG companies reportedly facing subdued growth during October and November hit by the slowdown in urban demand.

"To maintain growth, the FMCG sector must focus on reigniting volume growth and embracing strategic innovation. Companies have shown that market outperformance is possible through product and distribution innovation," said Puri at a Summit on the FMCG sector hosted by the CII here.

Noting that modern trade and quick-commerce channels are thriving, offering new growth avenues, he said insurgent brands are capturing significant growth by winning the hearts of underserved customers.

"To stay competitive, companies must innovate, invest in digital capabilities, and adopt entrepreneurial operating models, while maintaining robust data strategies for personalized engagement," Puri, who is also the chairman of the CII, FMCG National Committee, added.

The summit was attended by representatives from leading brands such as Tata Consumer Products, Britannia Industries, Pidilite Industries, Godrej Consumer, HUL, among others.

"We expect overall FMCG industry revenue growth to return to consistent lower double digit growth in over the next 3-5 years; relatively higher contribution from volume growth compared to prior years, varying across categories," said Joydeep Bhattacharya, Partner at Bain & Company.

Stating that Indian FMCG has a great potential to achieve volume growth, Sudhanshu Vats, Managing Director Designate, Pidilite Industries said, "Margin expansion is likely to continue in the days to come. There is a huge potential for brands to benefit given macro fundamentals remain very strong.

"Modern channels are now contributing over a quarter of packaged FMCG sales in over one million towns, and growing rapidly. Shopper missions are becoming more frequent, and 60 per cent of these missions are now unplanned.

It is an exciting time, and absolutely essential for FMCG companies to re-invent their brands, their pack price architecture, and their approach towards growth in sync with the shifting consumer and channel trends," said Ravi Swarup, Partner and Consumer Products Practice Head at Bain & Company in India.

Against the backdrop of challenging overall consumption growth in recent times, this is almost a perfect storm that presents both significant opportunities as well as a situation where prior playbooks on demand generation and fulfillment are no longer valid, he emphasized.

Vipul Parekh, Co-Founder, BigBasket, said, the rapid rise of dark stores and quick commerce is reshaping retail dynamics, creating a highly competitive and evolving market.

"Customers today are affluent yet capricious, willing to trade brand loyalty for convenience, which challenges businesses to adapt quickly. Our strategies must include defending core brands, exploring premiumization, and experimenting with formats to stay relevant to Millennials and Gen-Z, who are discovering brands through quick commerce," he said.

"Quick commerce is transforming how we connect with savvy, well-informed consumers, offering significant opportunities for ITC in premiumization, creating new categories, and delivering convenience.

This fast-paced channel demands sharper supply chains, real-time data, and deeper collaboration with e-commerce partners to meet demand waves directly," said Sameer Satpathy, Chief Executive for Personal Care at ITC.

With partial data from quick commerce overlaid with D2C insights, "our understanding of the consumer journey is getting richer, enabling faster and more decentralized decision-making," he said.
Patna, Dec 11 (PTI) The Bihar government will on Thursday disburse the second installment of financial assistance to select entrepreneurs under the state's two flagship schemes -- Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana and the Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana.

The Department of Industries will host a special programme on December 12 at Aranya Bhawan, Patna, to distribute the second installments of financial assistance to beneficiaries, an official statement said on Wednesday.

"This event exemplifies the state government's commitment to encouraging entrepreneurship, promoting self-employment and uplifting the economic status of Bihars educated unemployed youth," it said.

The event will be attended by Nitish Mishra, Minister of Industry cum Tourism; Madan Sahni, Minister of Social Welfare; Janak Ram, Minister of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare; Hari Sahni, Minister of Backward Class and Most Backward Class Welfare, and Mohd. Jama Khan, Minister of Minority Welfare.

Senior officials from the Industries Department, including Bandana Preyashi, Secretary, and Alok Ranjan Ghosh, Director of Industries, will also be present.

Launched in 2018, Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana provides financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh for project funding, comprising 50 per cent as grants and the remaining 50 per cent as loans.

By FY24, a total of Rs 2,800 crore has already been distributed to 34,455 selected beneficiaries under this initiative.

For FY25, as many as 7,715 new applicants were selected through a computerised randomisation process, and Rs 55.38 crore is being disbursed as the first installment to 2,769 trained beneficiaries.

The Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana, introduced in 2023-24 to support economically disadvantaged families identified through Bihar's caste-based economic census, provides a grant of up to Rs 2 lakh for self-employment opportunities.

In FY24, a total of Rs 200.49 crore was distributed as the first installment to 40,099 beneficiaries, with 31,000 completing a mandatory three-day training.

The second installment of Rs 1 lakh per beneficiary is now being distributed to eligible recipients.

In addition to the main event in the state capital, district magistrates and local representatives will also hold distribution programmed at district-level and beneficiaries of both schemes will receive their respective financial assistance.
Chandigarh, Dec 11 (PTI) Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said agriculture is the backbone of India's economy and along with animal husbandry it will have an important role as the country is poised to become the world's third-largest economy in the near future.

Batting for crop diversification, Chouhan said farming of fruits, flowers, medicinal plants, agroforestry, animal husbandry, beekeeping and fisheries need to be promoted to increase farmers income.

After taking part in the International Gita Festival in Kurukshetra, Chouhan participated in a dialogue programme with scientists, sugarcane farmers and 'Lakhpati Didis' at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana.

Chouhan said agriculture is the backbone of India's economy and along with animal husbandry will have an important role as the country is going to become the world's third-largest economy in the near future.

He said the Prime Minister's resolve is to double the income of the farmers. For me, serving the poor and farmers is the worship of God, he said.

Chouhan said that production has to be increased and for this, it is necessary to have good seeds. Agriculture also has to be diversified, he said.

"Not only traditional farming but many types of farming like fruits, flowers, medicinal farming, agroforestry, animal husbandry, beekeeping and fisheries etc. will have to be done. Many efforts will have to be made to increase income. Agriculture and dairy are both linked. I am proud that NDRI has done remarkable work in this area and I congratulate him for that," he said on the occasion.

Chouhan said "we have to pay attention to how we can produce more milk using new technology".

He said that former Prime Minister, late Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, while ex-PM, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee added Jai Vigyan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi added Jai Anusandhan.

Research is necessary, said Chouhan, while adding "we can't move forward without the use of technology".

We have to make India a food basket and also make India the largest producer of milk. The role of the institution is important in this, he said.

Chouhan said that farmers should not worry and added "I will try my best to ensure that the farmers move forward and how our farmers are happy".

Referring to the time when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan said the Ladli Lakshmi scheme was brought.

Economic, political, educational empowerment of women is necessary. Madhya Pradesh was the first state to give 50 per cent reservation to women in local body elections, he said.

Meanwhile, Chouhan, during his visit to NDRI, Karnal witnessed the cloned and gene-edited dairy animals, as per an NDRI statement.

During his visit to NDRI, he also reviewed the research programmes and appreciated the progress made in animal cloning, gene editing and dissemination of quality germ plasm to dairy farmers.

Chouhan also inaugurated an exhibition wherein ICAR institutes located in Karnal displayed their innovative technologies and achievements.

During his visit, he also interacted with entrepreneurs who adopted NDRI developed technologies.

He also interacted with national awardee farmers and women-oriented self-help group members and appreciated their products.

He particularly appreciated the efforts of "Lakhpati didis" and "Drone didis" who are spearheading the social change in the rural society.

He said that dairying contributes around 4.1 per cent to national GDP and this share needs to be increased. He exhorted the NDRI scientists to increase the productivity of dairy animals by developing quality germplasm and its dissemination to farmers. Later, Union Minister also laid foundation of boys' hostel worth more than Rs. 10 crores and interacted with students.

Talking to reporters later on the sidelines, Chouhan said that ICAR-NDRI are our pride. I saw a wheat variety has been developed which is climate resistant..". If farmers income is to be increased, then we will also have to move faster in sectors like animal husbandry.

Using technology, NDRI is bringing a revolution in milk production and I congratulate them for this, he said.

Replying to a question, Chouhan said Haryana is procuring 24 crops at MSP, doing good work in crop diversification and in preventing stubble burning.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has introduced e-adjudication and e-consultation platforms to streamline legal proceedings and foster a more business-friendly regulatory environment, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Addressing the ASSOCHAM-ACCA Global Summit on Responsible Corporate Governance and Sustainability Reporting, Anita Shah Akella, CEO of the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and Joint Secretary at MCA, highlighted the government's commitment to balancing corporate integrity with economic dynamism.

The introduction of e-adjudication and e-consultation platforms aims to simplify legal procedures, improve stakeholders' experience, and bolster India's ranking in the ease of doing business.

"We are moving more towards an ease of doing business era, and an ease of exit of business doing era," she said.

The corporate affairs ministry has decriminalised various offences under the Companies Act, 2013, marking a significant shift towards a regulatory framework that encourages entrepreneurial activity.

In addition, amendments to the Competition Act, have strengthened mechanisms to deter anti-competitive practices, further ensuring fair play in the market.

Akella underscored the government's focus on creating an investment-friendly environment.

"India is being positioned as a global destination for investment and business growth. The aim is to attract global players to invest, operate, and generate sustainable profits here," she said.

Acknowledging the crucial role of the domestic industry, particularly MSMEs, Anita Shah Akella emphasised the importance of providing targeted support.
Mumbai, Dec 11 (PTI) ICICI Bank on Wednesday said it has entered into a partnership with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) for supporting customers across the Australia-India corridor.

The two lenders will carry out a slew of activities, including facilitating introductions of corporate and institutional customers who are interested in investing or setting up businesses in the other bank's home country, and facilitating trade between corporate customers in Australia and India, as per a statement.







Standard Chartered Bank launches FEMA Centre of Excellence

* Standard Chartered Bank, India on Wednesday announced the launch of its "FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) Centre of Excellence".

The proposition to help clients navigate and comply with the dynamic regulatory environment and enhance efficiencies, a statement said.









ICICI Prudential Life Insurance declares claim settlement ratio of 99.04 pc for Q2

* ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has declared a claim settlement ratio of 99.04 per cent for the September quarter, claiming it to be the highest among all life insurance companies in the country.

It settled death claims of over Rs 451 crore during the period and the average claim settlement turnaround time was 1.2 days, according to a statement.









Navanc announces USD 1-million fundraise

* Navanc on Wednesday announced a USD 1 million fundraise in a round led by Prarambh Ventures, with participation from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) and Brigade REAP FirstPort Capital.

The company has launched an AI-powered property score and stack for secured lending and insurance, which integrates advanced AI, IoT, and Blockchain for secure transactions, as per a statement.







UGRO Capital received patent for proprietary credit scoring model

* Non-bank lender UGRO Capital on Wednesday said it has received a patent for its proprietary credit scoring model, GRO Score.

Christened as "Method and System for Modelling Credit Scorecards", the Model will ease credit access, according to a statement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. The foreign direct investment (FDI) in Azerbaijan's economy amounted to about $4.5 billion in the period from January through September 2024, the Director of the Statistics Department of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Samir Nasirov said during a media briefing, Trend reports.

According to him, the indicator grew by 3.44 percent over the year.

The top five leading countries in terms of FDI in Azerbaijan's economy include the UK - $1.3 billion, Turkiye - $911.9 million, Cyprus - $553.6 million, the UAE - $356.3 million and Iran - $275.8 million," he noted.

Nasirov mentioned that the top ten countries in terms of direct investment in Azerbaijan are Japan - $180.6 million, Hungary - $133.7 million, Norway - $102.6 million, the US - $102.1 million ,and Russia - $97.8 million.

To note, FDI in Azerbaijan's economy amounted to $6.6 billion in 2023 (an increase of 6.1 percent).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Mahindra Group firm Mahindra Susten on Wednesday said its wholly-owned subsidiary Martial Solren has secured a term loan of Rs 1,448 crore.

The financing will support solar PV power projects being developed under long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with key off-takers.

Martial Solren, a 100 per cent wholly-owned subsidiary of Mahindra Susten Private Ltd, the clean-tech arm of the Mahindra Group, has successfully secured a rupee term loan of Rs 1,448 crore, a company statement said.

The financing documents have been formally executed with HDFC Bank and Axis Bank to support its ambitious 560 MWp solar power projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the statement added.

Deepak Thakur, Managing Director & CEO of Mahindra Susten, said securing the financial closure for our 560MWp Solar Projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan is an important step for Mahindra Susten.

Once completed, the plant is expected to generate approximately 9 lakh MWh of solar energy annually.

This output will offset around 8.19 lakh tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions annually, contributing to India's renewable energy targets.

The solar power generated will be sufficient to provide clean energy to approximately 1.8 lakh households every year.

Rakesh Singh, Group Head - Investment Banking, Private Banking, International Banking, Digital Ecosystems and BaaS, HDFC Bank said partnering with Mahindra Susten on the 560 MWp solar power project in Gujarat and Rajasthan is another step in the direction of supporting businesses creating solutions that are climate sensitive.

Rajiv Anand, Deputy Managing Director, Axis Bank, said supporting this 560 MWp initiative reinforces our commitment to driving India's renewable energy revolution and fostering a sustainable future.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Industrial AI startup Haber has raised USD 44 million (about Rs 370 crore) in a new funding round led by Creaegis, BEENEXT, and Accel, the company said on Wednesday.

The total fundraise comprised USD 38 million, (nearly Rs 322 crore), in equity and USD 6 million (about 51 crore) in debt. The company plans to use the funds for expansion in America and to diversify its portfolio.

"Haber, a leading industrial AI startup, has successfully raised USD 44 million in its Series C funding round, which included USD 38 million in equity and USD 6 million in debt. The funding round was led by Creaegis, BEENEXT, and Accel," the company said in a statement.

Haber claims to have over 100 clients spread across India, Middle East, and Africa.

Haber plans to deploy the capital primarily to expand its operations internationally, with a key focus on the Americas, where the demand for AI-led industrial automation solutions is growing rapidly.

"Haber has set new benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing. This success lays the foundation for our next big step, expanding into the Americas, where the demand for industrial AI solutions is immense. We also plan to extend our solution to other process manufacturing industries," said Priya Venkat, Co-Founder and COO of Haber.

Haber solutions are implemented across pulp, paper and packaging industries and the company plans to extend its offering to other process manufacturing verticals worldwide.

"We are excited to partner with them in their next phase of growth as they further solidify their leadership in the India/MENA (Middle East and North Africa) markets and expand their presence across new geographies," Prakash Parthasarathy, Managing Partner & CIO, Creaegis said.

Hero Choudhary, Managing Partner at BEENEXT, said that his firm has doubled down investment in Haber because of the trust it has built with the customers by consistently delivering measurable results.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Billionaire Gautam Adani's group has pulled out of a loan deal with a US agency to fund a port terminal in Sri Lanka, saying it will use its own resources for the project.

In an exchange filing late on Tuesday, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) said the project "is on track for commissioning by early next year".

"The project will be financed through the company's internal accruals and capital management plan," the firm said. "We have withdrawn our request for financing from the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)".

The US IDF had in November last year agreed to provide a USD 553 million loan to support the development, construction, and operation of a deep-water container terminal called the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The CWIT is being developed by a consortium of Adani Ports, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

DFC financing was part of the US government's broader efforts to counter China's growing influence in the region and was seen as an endorsement of Adani's ability to develop world-class infrastructure.

However, the loan process stalled after the DFC asked that the agreement between Adani and the SLPA be amended to align with their conditions, which then went under review by Sri Lanka's Attorney General.

As the project is nearing completion, Adani Ports, which holds 51 per cent of the venture, chose to proceed with the project without funding from the DFC, officials privy to the process explained.

The US agency had recently stated that it was "actively assessing the ramifications" of the bribery allegations against the Adani group executives. It had so far not disbursed any money to the ports-to-energy conglomerate.

Last month, the US Department of Justice charged the Adani group's founder chairman Gautam Adani, and seven others over allegedly conspiring to pay USD 265 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure lucrative solar power supply contracts that were expected to yield USD 2 billion in profits over 20 years.

Adani Group has denied all charges as baseless and vowed to pursue all possible legal recourse.

The Port of Colombo is the largest and busiest transhipment port in the Indian Ocean. It has been operating at more than 90 per cent utilisation since 2021, signalling its need for additional capacity.

The geopolitically sensitive port project in Sri Lanka is as much of a move by the US to counter Chinese influence in the island nation.

Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to become commercially operational by Q1 2025.

The new terminal will cater to growing economies in the Bay of Bengal, taking advantage of Sri Lanka's prime position on major shipping routes and its proximity to these expanding markets.

The CWIT project was initiated in September 2021, when Adani Ports signed an agreement with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings, pledging over USD 700 million to expand the capabilities of Colombo Port.

The CWIT will be Sri Lanka's largest and deepest container terminal, with a quay length of 1,400 metres and an alongside depth of 20 metres. When complete, the terminal will be able to handle Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with capacities of 24,000 TEUs and is expected to have an annual handling capacity of over 3.2 million TEUs.

As of September 30, 2024, Adani Ports had approximately USD 1.1 billion (Rs 8,893 crore) in cash reserves and generated an operating profit of USD 2.3 billion (Rs 18,846 crore) in the past 12 months.
Bengaluru, Dec 11 (PTI) Taxation of automobiles must be based on national goals of reducing fossil fuel consumption, decarbonisation and 'Make in India', and incentives must not be reserved only for a specific technology, according to Toyota Kirloskar Motor Executive Vice President & Country Head Vikram Gulati.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), which on Wednesday launched its new version of the sedan Camry hybrid priced at Rs 48 lakh, believes that hybrid technology has a role to play in India's move towards electrification and it, along with other technologies that will help meet the national goals, must be considered for tax incentives in a proportionate manner, he told PTI here in an interview.

"We would like to see the government focus its policies towards our national goals, and in automotive our national goals are clearly built on reducing fossil fuel consumption, decarbonisation and Make in India. Towards that technology should be a side track," he said.

Gulati was responding to a query on whether hybrid vehicles must be incentivised with lower taxes, currently reserved only for fully electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at 5 per cent and 12 per cent GST, respectively.

Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are currently taxed at 28 per cent GST with different cess ranging from 1 per cent to 22 per cent depending on vehicle type.

Acknowledging the government's policies to drive a sustainable future, he cited examples of how alternate fuels such as biofuel, ethanol or compressed biogas are being promoted.

"Suffice it to say, as we evolve, and this is a very, fast-evolving environment, there always remain areas that need to be relooked, need to be brought in the current context, and taxation happens to be one of those areas," Gulati said when asked if the current system of taxes on automobiles needs a fresh approach.

He further said India also needs to have a look at how other countries in the world have gone about taxation of vehicles based on carbon emission citing the example of Europe "where 22 out of 27 countries have a taxation system based on carbon emissions, which is a mirror image of fossil fuel consumption".

Also, he said Brazil is now moving into policies which are looking at carbon emission from a well-to-wheel perspective.

In the Indian context, Gulati said, "To call ourselves zero-emission vehicles would only be true if our footprint extends beyond the tailpipe and covers the energy. I'm afraid today we are very, very far away from that, particularly for BEVs (battery electric vehicles) given the fact that our energy generation is still preponderantly fossil fuel that is coal-dependent." He, however, said India is "going in the right direction and soon after seven-eight years this shift is going to happen".

When asked about companies like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra opposing incentives for hybrid vehicles, Gulati defended the hybrids saying being the mother technology it has enabled "other electrified technologies to come in in meaningful terms" and by virtue of improving fuel efficiency of internal combustion engine vehicles, it is playing a role in reducing fossil fuel consumption.

Refuting the notion that hybrids will come in the way of electric vehicles, he said, "Why this is a wrong notion is because just look at the market -- 95 per cent of the market remains petrol and diesel. So am I to believe that a 2 per cent EV is finding it suffocating in a scenario when 95 per cent of the market is unaddressed and needs to be addressed? "I don't think hybrids, in any way, hamper the growth of electrics (EVs). It is actually the opposite."

Asked if hybrid vehicles deserve tax incentives, Gulati said,"I think it's not just about hybrids. Today, technology is only a means to achieving the end...you shouldn't be concerned about technology. You should be supporting all of those technologies in a proportionate manner, to the extent they deliver on societal goals."

Asserting that it should not be a "technology fight", he said the primary objective of combating climate change must be kept in mind keeping in mind the plight of future generations.

As far as India is concerned, he said other factors that need to be considered while devising policies are how to drive the country's economic growth, Make in India, localisation and self-reliance, among others.

As for the Camry hybrid, TKM Vice President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business Sabari Manohar said the company believes that there is a niche segment of consumers who still prefer sedans and that segment needs to be addressed.

TKM has sold a total of 17,900 units of the Camry since it was launched in India in 2002 as a fully imported unit with a petrol engine and later in 2013, the hybrid version was introduced.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) India has reduced its tariffs significantly over the years, bringing them down to the world average level, yet the domestic industries continue to suggest increasing the duties, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Amardeep Singh Bhatia said that it needs to be examined why such requests come.

"On the export market side and integration with the (global) supply chains, there is also a lot of work which has been done in terms of reduction in tariff, the weighted tariff has come down substantially and it is almost at the world average level. But of course, there are pressures that it should be increased by the domestic industry, which we need to look at why these requests keep coming up. Why are we not competitive enough," he said.

India has also free trade agreements with different countries to push exports.

The Secretary was speaking at CII's Global Policy Forum 2024.

Cut in customs duties on raw materials help boost domestic manufacturing, create jobs and push exports.

Tariffs have been reduced in different sectors such as electronics, precious metals and chemicals.

He added that the Viksit Bharat 2047 targets would lead to enhanced investments in the private sector such as clean energy.

The government has taken a series of measures to promote ease of doing business in the country.

"A lot has been done in the industrial infrastructure space. There are more than 4,000 industrial parks in the country," Bhatia said, adding some states are doing good in making available land for industrial purposes.

"We will have consultations and see what more can be done (at the land front)," he said.

Some states like Tamil Nadu have put in place "very good" practices like putting in place land pooling systems to bring more industrial land, the secretary said.

Speaking at the session, Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises (India), said that the high cost of doing business in India bothers the industry and more needs to be done to promote ease of doing business at the states' level as things on the ground do not move the way it should.

On this, Bhatia said that the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) is there to assess the work of states at the ease of doing business.

"There are about 280 reform actions identified and are part of the BRAP...We have a bucket of good practices which we share with all...Odisha and Telangana have good single-window systems. So things are happening.

Obviously there are gaps and much more can be done at the states' level," he added.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) The Ministry of Labour & Employment is working on a scheme to provide various benefits like social security to gig and platform workers in the country, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Addressing the CII Global Economic Policy Forum, Union Labour Secretary Sumita Dawra said the labour code on social security has outlined social security benefits for them.

"We are putting together the scheme for the gig and platform economy workers because there is no traditional employer-employee relationship defined for the gig and platform workers but we need to bring social security coverage for them so that they can be more productive and support the country's economy and the e-commerce and services sector more effectively," she said.

In October, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that a policy for providing social security benefits like pension and health services to gig and platform workers is under process.

He had also said that Niti Aayog has estimated 65 lakh gig and platform workers in the country, but the number is likely to be over 2 crore as this segment is growing very fast.

Dawra also stated that by 2030, the ministry expects more than 3 crore workers in the gig and platform economy.

She also acknowledged that the ministry is aware that almost a crore workers are there in the gig and platform economy and it is going to grow further.

For the first time, the definition of 'gig workers' and 'platform workers' has been provided in the Code on Social Security 2020.

As per an estimation by Niti Aayog vide its report titled 'India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy' published in June 2022, the number of gig workers and platform workers in the country was 7.7 million in 2020-21, which is expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30.

About the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs in the country, she stated that "our sense is that AI is something which probably should be adding to jobs as we see in the auto sector for example we do have robots which have been brought in but then the same labour force has been redeployed to an area where training to use those robots or to maintain that machinery is happening."

She was of the view that there are experts who are indicating that AI need not necessarily disrupt the employment scenario in a negative manner so do look forward to the positive impact of AI on the economy.

She stated that India is a solution to the global labour shortages and as per RBI provisional estimates, the country has a 643 million strong workforce.

There is a fast formalisation of the workforce, they are entering into social security coverage and since 2017 last few years about 7 crore Indians have entered the provident fund pension coverage, he pointed out.

About the Employees' Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, she stated that it was announced in the Budget and is an important scheme which will support manufacturing and formalisation of labour force.

"I do hope that the industry will be looking at this scheme and will be using to make themselves more competitive," she stated.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Realty firm Mahindra Lifespace Developers on Wednesday said that the GST department in Tamil Nadu has imposed a tax demand of Rs 2.09 crore, including interest and penalty.

In a regulatory filing, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd said the "company has

received order from the Office of the Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Chengalpattu,

Assessment Circle Tamil Nadu, GST imposing tax demand along with interest and penalty."

The order has been passed under applicable provisions of the Section 74 of the GST Act 2017, alleging short payment of GST liability by the company, it added.

"Based on the companys assessment, there is no noncompliance and a general penalty has been imposed," Mahindra Lifespace said.

The company said it will file an appeal against this order.

Mahindra Lifespace said it is hopeful of a favourable outcome at the appellate level and does not reasonably expect the said order to have any material financial impact on the company.
BANGALORE, India, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate India celebrates the second impactful year of partnership with Project Nirmiti, a transformative initiative, which empowers women in underserved communities to become self-sufficient and financially independent. This year, a group of 140 women successfully completed the first phase of training, focusing on foundational job skills, and began the second phase this month to further enhance their expertise with advanced skills.







The 2nd Valedictory Ceremony, held at Kasturba Hall in Pune, celebrated the completion of the first phase, equipping these women with tools needed to pursue micro-entrepreneurship or secure meaningful employment opportunities. This adds to the 140 women who gained valuable skills last year, with 120+ already contributing to their families' financial growth and well-being.



Tanay Kediyal, Managing Director  Allstate India, distributed job equipment to these women and said, "Over the last 2 years, we have had the privilege of witnessing the resilience and determination of 280 women who embraced new skills and became catalysts for change within their families and communities. This collective success is a testament to the strength of these women and the unwavering support from our NGO partners, Vivek Vyaspeeth and Swarajya. With this program, Allstate India's aim is to enable empowerment in the heart of communities that need it most. The journey of these women is a powerful example of how investing in skill-building can uplift families and communities."



Alongside formal skill training, these women also received sessions on financial literacy by Allstate India volunteers throughout the year, making the approach more holistic. The project reaffirms Allstate India's commitment to empowering women, particularly those in vulnerable and underserved communities. This momentous Valedictory Ceremony honored these achievements and collective work towards a brighter, more inclusive future for all.



About Project Nirmiti:



Project Nirmiti is a collaborative initiative between Allstate India, and its NGO partners - Vivek Vyaspeeth, and Swarajya, aimed at empowering women from underserved communities by providing them with employable skills and resources for personal and economic growth. The project focuses on training women in tailoring and other livelihood skills to help them gain financial independence and build a better future for themselves and their families.



About Allstate India:



Allstate India Private Limited, also known as Allstate India, is a subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation. Allstate India has evolved beyond its technology and operations functions to be the critical strategic business services arm of the corporation. With offices in Bengaluru and Pune, the company offers expertise to the parent organization's business areas, including technology and innovation; claims processing, accounting and imaging services; policy administration; transformation solution design and support services; transformation of property liability service design; global operations and integration; and training and transition.



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578701/NirmitiValedictoryCeremony2024.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2550001/AllstateIndia_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, Dec 11 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala on Wednesday termed the allegation of Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi against state-owned banks as an insult to the hardworking employees and to the citizens who benefit from a cleaner, stronger banking system.

Gandhi has a penchant for making baseless statements and the fact is that high concentration of corporate credit and indiscriminate lending during UPA tenure had resulted in significant deterioration in the health of public sector banks, she said in a series of posts on X.

Banking sector, especially Public Sector Banks (PSBs), have seen a remarkable turnaround under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi after meeting a delegation from the All India Banking Officers Confederation accused the government of using public sector banks, the "lifelines of the masses", as an unlimited source of funds for their "fraudulent friends".

"The Modi government has turned these lifelines of the masses into private financiers for only the rich and powerful corporations," he said in a post on X.

Attacking Gandhi, the Finance Minister said, "@RahulGandhi's misrepresentation of facts is an insult to the hardworking PSB employees and to the citizens who benefit from a cleaner, stronger banking system. It's high time the @INCIndia up-skills the LOP's understanding of governance."

It was actually during the UPA regime when Bank Employees were harassed and forced to give loans to cronies through "phone banking" by the then Congress-led UPA government functionaries, she said in her post.

"Didn't the people who met with the LoP tell him that Asset Quality Review was launched by our Government in 2015, unearthing the 'phone banking' practices of UPA Govt? Modi Government took charge to initiate the reforms in the banking sector such as '4Rs' strategy," she said.

As part of the strategy, she said, the PSBs were supported through recapitalisation of Rs 3.26 lakh crore in the last 10 years.

"Citizen centric governance and inclusive development is the core principle of Modi Government. Didn't the people who met with the LoP tell him that 54 crore Jan Dhan accounts and more than 52 crore collateral-free loans under various flagship financial inclusion schemes (PM MUDRA, Stand-Up India, PM-SVANidhi, PM Vishwakarma) have been sanctioned?," she wondered.

With regard to employment generation, she said, the government has undertaken recruitment drives and Rozgar Mela initiatives to fill lakhs of vacancies across all central government departments, including banks and PSBs. Since 2014, PSBs have recruited 3.94 lakh employees.

As on October 2024, 96.61 per cent of officers are in position and 96.67 per cent of subordinate/award staff are in position, showing meagre vacancies which are also being filled.

"Again, didn't the people who met with the LoP tell him that 12th Bipartite Settlement (BPS) was signed, far ahead of the usual time taken for the agreement, thereby enhancing the incomes of the bank employees?," she quipped.

The RBI announced that all banks would be closed on the second & fourth Saturdays of the month in 2015.

Women are excelling as MDs, CEOs, and leaders in the sector, she said, adding, the Modi government's commitment to women-led development is evident not just in policy but in practice.

The recent order issued by the Department of Financial Services to all the banks on November 26, 2024 clearly shows that the government is making sure that the banks look after women employees, their well-being and concerns, she said.

"It entails Special leave provisions for Women Employees, including those related to leave during the menstrual period, infertility treatment, adoption of a second child and the events of stillbirth. Also, it included transfer of women employees to nearby areas, no mid-year transfers etc," she said.
Ottawa, Dec 11 (AP) TikTok has challenged a Canadian government order to shut down the Chinese video-sharing app's business operations in the country that was imposed over national security concerns.

The company said Tuesday that it filed an application for a judicial review with the Federal Court in Vancouver on December 5, which seeks to set aside the order for TikTok to wind-up and cease its business in Canada.

The Canadian federal government last month announced it was ordering the dissolution of TikTok Technology Canada Inc. after a national security review of its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd.

The government is not blocking access to the TikTok app, which will continue to be available to Canadians. TikTok said it has 14 million users in Canada, which is about a third of the population. It has offices in Toronto and Vancouver.

The wildly popular platform is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020, but is under increasing pressure in the West. It's facing a possible ban in the US and intensifying scrutiny in Europe over issues including election influence campaigns allegedly coordinated by Moscow.

TikTok argues in its court application, which was posted online, that Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne's decision was unreasonable and driven by improper purposes. It says the order is grossly disproportionate and the the national security review was procedurally unfair.

The review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate foreign investment with potential to harm national security.

Champagne said in a statement at the time that the government was taking action to address specific national security risks, but did not elaborate. His office said in response to the filling that the government's decision was informed by a thorough national security review and advice from Canada's security and intelligence community.

TikTok said Champagne failed to engage with TikTok Canada on the purported substance of the concerns" that led to the order.

It argues the government ordered measures that bear no rational connection to the national security risks it identifies" and that the reasons for the order are unintelligible, fail to reveal a rational chain of analysis and are rife with logical fallacies.

The platform says there were less onerous options than shutting down its Canadian business, which it said would eliminate hundreds of jobs, threaten business contracts and cause the destruction of significant economic opportunities." (AP)



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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. As part of its cooperation with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan, the Space Agency of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos) has provided satellite-based digital solutions to assess and prevent the risk of natural disasters, Trend reports.

According to the data from the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, Azercosmos solutions helped prevent a natural disaster in Kyrgyzstan.

The high-precision Digital Elevation Model (DEM) provided by Azercosmos played a crucial role in preventing a potential disaster in the region, saving the lives of hundreds of people.

The DEM is a geographic information model displaying elevation data in digital format, used for accurately describing the structure and shape of the terrain. Through the analysis of satellite images and additional monitoring data, it was identified that a mountain lake in the Issyk-Kul area posed a threat of breaching. Without intervention, surrounding villages would have faced severe flooding. Based on the gathered data, Kyrgyzstan's authorities quickly organized the evacuation of residents from the risk zone. Just four days after the evacuation, the expected flood occurred, but thanks to timely actions, 500 lives were saved.

Kyrgyzstan has over 2,000 mountain lakes, with 320 of them posing significant threats of emergencies. The breach of these lakes, located in high-altitude areas, could have a wide-scale impact on Central Asia. The main cause of such natural disasters is the increased vulnerability of mountain lakes due to climate change. Rising temperatures accelerate glacial melting, which leads to critical water level increases in lakes.

To prevent similar disasters in the future, more detailed satellite monitoring of risk zones and enhanced security measures for mountain lakes are essential. Digital elevation models and satellite data enable accurate event forecasting, helping not only to save lives but also to optimize the costs of disaster recovery efforts.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) He started with Aag in 1948 and ended with Ram Teri Ganga Maili in 1985, one praised for its portrayal of a man in search for the woman of his dreams and the other panned by some for its male gaze. In the 37 years in between, Raj Kapoor directed 10 films and produced many, each in its own way burnishing the showman image.

As filmdom, fans and family celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Raj Kapoor, amongst the most impactful in the history of Indian cinema, it was also time to wonder - have his films wrinkled with time or stood the test of the decades in an ever changing India?

Yes, they have. Just like fine wine, said film historian SMM Ausaja, who sees 100 years of Raj Kapoor as a "momentous" occasion for the Hindi film industry.

"His films had a message and got the social issues right. That is the reason why they were also popular outside India, especially in the Russian republic. Those were the days of socialism and Nehruvian socialism. And his father Prithviraj Kapoor was close to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru," Ausaja told PTI.

Raj Kapoor, who would have been 100 on December 14, made his first film Aag when he was just 24.

It was the year after Independence and the young filmmaker mirrored many of the preoccupations of a young nation in the films that followed.

The burning passion of the Hindi cinema pioneer, inspired by his father Prithviraj Kapoor, led to the birth of RK Studios that year.

The banner's films, starting with "Aag" and going on to "Awara", "Barsaat", "Jagte Raho", "Mera Naam Joker", "Bobby" and "Ram Teri Ganga Maili", chronicled the different phases of a filmmaker in tune with an India on the move. All his films are remembered for their music.

There has been a dramatic change in the times, socialism is no longer considered a viable option and consumerism is considered a valuable activity, said sociologist Sanjay Srivastava.

"Hindi films since the 1990s reflect these themes. It is not that Raj Kapoor's films have aged badly but that Indian society has aged differently," Srivastava told PTI.

"Most of his films were heroine oriented. Look at the bravery of this man that he launched his son Rishi Kapoor in a film called 'Bobby'. Which producer in the world will do this?" Ausaja asked.

The 1973 teen romance, which catapulted newcomers Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia, playing the titular role in "Bobby" into stardom, was a runaway hit.

Despite suffering a "colossal disaster" in the ambitious, pensive "Mera Naam Joker" (1970), Raj Kapoor bounced back three years later with "Bobby, which the veteran filmmaker helmed when he was 50, said his grandson Ranbir Kapoor.

"He had the courage to make a film with newcomers, a 50-year-old man making a film for the youth. That means that he really kept up with the times. He was not somebody who was high up in his ivory tower. He was constantly in touch with the common man," Ranbir said at a retrospective of the showman at the recent International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

He remembered Raj Kapoor as someone who "constantly took risks and pushed the boundaries" of cinema.

"Raj Kapoor, the filmmaker, always explored different themes at different times of his life. If you see his earlier films, like 'Awara' was based on casteism. If you see 'Shree 420', he spoke about greed and the underprivileged trying to make something of their lives.

"He made films with strong Indian moral values, spoke about society in such an honest and a frank way, while making it really commercial and really entertaining," the actor said.

According to film historian Amrit Gangar, Raj Kapoor infused "modernist" ethos into the veins of the history of Indian cinema and that's what keeps his films relevant. "Raj Kapoor had a wonderful sense of rhythm and music which substantially contributed to the non-ageing of his films. To my mind, Raj Kapoor's films in his birth centenary year, still remain evergreen, brimming with youthful modernism always in tension with feudal mindsets," Gangar told PTI.

"Awara", which became a legend in the erstwhile Soviet Union and even in today's Russia, "Boot Polish" and "Shree 420" were made on the themes of subalternity and humanism. "Sangam", "Bobby", and "Satyam Shivam Sundaram" and "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" explored sensuality and erotica.

Some of his films like "Jagte Raho" are still relevant in as much as they are deeply concerned with middle-class hypocrisies and self-serving morality, said Srivastava.

"In many ways, Raj Kapoor held up a mirror to the hypocrisies of Indian life - and did it in a way that had mass appeal - and that is why they remain relevant," he said.

When it comes to women characters in his cinema, Raj Kapoor has both admirers and naysayers.

While his narratives always centred around the heroine, the veteran filmmaker also courted controversy with many criticising him for showing his heroines through a titillating lens. The most controversial being actor Mandakini's scenes of breastfeeding and bathing in a transparent saree under a waterfall in "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" and Zeenat Amans village girl look in Satyam Shivam Sundaram.

"His vision of the woman in white, which started with Nargis till 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' was also something unique. He faced a lot of criticism when he put the woman in a white saree under the waterfall.

"Even if you look at the original posters of his early films, there is a marked difference between his presence and Nargis' on the posters. Nargis was far bigger in size on the posters. She was also a bigger star that time. Only a man who is not insecure could launch his son in a film which has a woman in a title role," added Ausaja.

Ranbir argued that Raj Kapoor made women-centric films, be it "Prem Rog" or "Ram Teri Ganga Maili".

"If you see 'Prem Rog', he spoke about widow remarriage. If you talk about 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili', he compared the protagonist to River Ganga, how it starts so pure, and by the time it reaches down, because of society it becomes impure."

For Gangar, Raj Kapoor's women characters were the "products of his imagination".

"They looked pious and progressive but inherently surrendered to the patriarch and the veiled male dominance. All the same, Raj Kapoor did bring in his own interpretation of femininity, its resoluteness and devotion, its beauty and purity.

"Raj Kapoor was an ingenuous showman and sensitive artist who was in search of both 'mother' and 'wife' in his women characters. He needed his Radha and also Yashoda at the same time. His women characters were complex and not simplistic," he said.

According to Srivastava, the women characters in Raj Kapoor's films --- say, those portrayed by Nargis -- represented the 'modern' woman trying to express an independence that women in Indian society were generally not allowed.

"What was particularly unusual was that the 'modern' woman in his films was not necessarily evil or (like the vamp portrayed by Helen) had to, eventually, die or be 'reformed' into a Sati-Savitri character."
Hyderabad, Dec 10 (PTI) Chaos ensued at veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu's Jalpally home on Tuesday when his younger son Manoj attempted to enter the house while a video journalist covering the development was also allegedly attacked.

Manoj, who is also an actor, tried to force his way inside the house, only to be pushed out by private security personnel deployed there.

TV visuals also showed Mohan Babu trying to hit a video journalist, who was covering the development, with a microphone. The video journalist reportedly suffered injuries.

Differences in Mohan Babu's family came out in the open on Monday after he lodged a police complaint, alleging that Manoj and his wife "orchestrated" a plan to take possession of his Jalpally home through intimidation and force.

However, Manoj told reporters on Tuesday that he was not fighting for a share in the property but self-respect.

He reiterated that he sought police protection for him and his family and later met a senior police official over the issue.

In a social media post, Manoj also termed as baseless, malicious and false the allegations made against him by his father.

Mohan Babu's elder son Vishnu said family issues would be resolved.

Manoj and others were earlier booked by the police based on Mohan Babu's complaint.

Mohan Babu alleged in his complaint on Monday that Manoj and some anti-social elements hired by him caused disturbance at his residence on December 8.

One of his employees informed him on Monday that 30 individuals trespassed into the residence, threatened the staff and evicted them from the premises, he said.

These individuals, acting on the instructions of Manoj and his wife, "illegally" occupied the house, the senior Telugu actor alleged.

Mohan Babu requested the police to take action against Manoj, his wife and their associates and evict them from the house.

He also requested police protection to ensure his safety and allow him to access his house without fear.

The police also registered a case on a complaint lodged by Manoj, alleging that 10 unidentified people had entered the home on December 8 before trying to flee when he noticed them.

Manoj said in his complaint lodged at Pahadishareef police station that he tried to catch them and there was a scuffle, which led to him suffering injuries, a police official said.
Kyiv, Dec 11 (AP) Rescue crews working through the night pulled two women from rubble more than seven hours after a Russian missile struck a private medical clinic in a southern Ukraine city, killing six people and wounding 22 others, authorities said Wednesday.

The women called rescue services on their cellphones to say they were buried under the rubble after the attack late Tuesday in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine's Emergency Services said.

Deadly Russian strikes on civilian areas have been a feature of the almost three-year war. Ukraine's Western allies are sending more aid to help it keep fighting Russia's invasion, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Zaporizhzhia strike showed that his country still needs more air defense systems.

He urged Western partners to send weaponry they are holding in their arsenals.

"We currently do not have enough systems to protect our country from Russian missiles. But partners have these systems, Zelenskyy said late Tuesday in his daily address to the nation.

Air defence systems that Ukraine's allies possess should save lives, and not gather dust in storage bases, he said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine kept up its long-range attacks on areas behind Russian lines that are supporting its war effort.

A Ukrainian drone attack caused a blaze at an industrial facility in Russia's Bryansk region, Gov. Alexander Bogomaz said.

Air defences downed 14 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region early Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

Also, a Ukrainian missile attack on the city of Taganrog in the Rostov region early Wednesday damaged an industrial plant, regional Gov. Yuri Slusar said. (AP) ZH

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London, Dec 11 (PTI) An Indian-origin member of Parliament has expressed his concerns over a new bill tabled in the House of Commons that seeks to ban marriages between first cousins over the greater risk of childrens birth defects associated with the practice.

The Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill got its first reading in Parliament on Tuesday when backbench Conservative MP Richard Holden used the 10-Minute Rule process to introduce his proposals.

Iqbal Mohamed, who was elected as a first-time Independent MP in the July general election from the northern England constituency of Dewsbury and Batley, spoke out against the motion to caution that the matter should be treated as a public health awareness one and not by imposing a ban.

An estimated 35 per cent to 50 per cent of all sub-Saharan African populations either prefer or accept cousin marriage, and it is extremely common in the Middle East and South Asia," stated Mohamed, whose roots lie in Gujarat.

"The reason the practice is so common is that ordinary people see family intermarriage as something that is very positive overall; as something that helps to build family bonds and puts families on a more secure financial foothold, Mohamed said.

However, as is well documented, it is not without health risks for the children of those relationships, some of whom will be born out of wedlock," he said.

"Instead of stigmatising those who are in cousin marriages, or those who are inclined to be, a much more positive approach would be to facilitate advanced genetic test screening for prospective married couples, as is the case in all Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, and to run health education programmes targeting those communities where the practice is most common, he added.

Introducing the proposal, MP Richard Holden argued that while many may wonder why first-cousin marriage is not already illegal, there remain certain diaspora communities with high rates of first-cousin marriages.

Certain diaspora communities have extremely high rates of first-cousin marriage, with a rate of 20 per cent to 40 per cent among Irish Travellers and higher rates still among the British Pakistani community, stated Holden.

There is a worrying trend, as this rate has increased significantly from that of their grandparents age group. Although there have been some reports of the rate falling within the last decade as young people push back against the system, there remains an extraordinarily strong link, he said.

He highlighted that according to the Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, cousin marriage is practised by about 10 per cent of the world and is most prevalent in the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa.

However, the practice varies enormously within countries and by regional culture, reaching at its highest over 80 per cent in parts of rural Pakistan, he noted.

Holden was supported in his proposals by a number of fellow Tory MPs, including Indian-origin former Cabinet minister Claire Coutinho.

Under current UK legislation, marriages to a sibling, parent or child are prohibited but not between first cousins. However, backbench proposals such as these are unlikely to become law without government support because of the limited parliamentary time available for them. The bill is now expected to get a second reading in the Commons by mid-January 2025.
Washington, Dec 11 (AP) Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he would do no such thing, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

That displeasure tracks with the bipartisan uproar in Washington that ignited over the president's about-face. The survey found that a relatively small share of Americans strongly or somewhat approve of the pardon, which came after the younger Biden was convicted on gun and tax charges. About half said they strongly or somewhat disapprove, and about 2 in 10 neither approve nor disapprove.

The Democratic president had said repeatedly that he would not use his pardon power for the benefit of his family, and the White House continued to insist, even after Republican Donald Trump's election win in November, that Biden's position had not changed  until it suddenly did.

I know it's not right to believe politicians as far as what they say compared to what they do, but he did explicitly say, I will not pardon my son,'" said Peter Prestia, a 59-year-old Republican from Woodland Park, New Jersey, just west of New York City, who said he strongly disagreed with the move. So, it's just the fact that he went back on his word.

In issuing a pardon December 1, Biden argued that the Justice Department had presided over a miscarriage of justice in prosecuting his son. The president used some of the same kind of language that Trump does to describe the criminal cases against him and his other legal predicaments.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it was a decision that Biden struggled with but came to shortly before he made the announcement, because of how politically infected these cases were as well as what his political opponents were trying to do.

The poll found that about 4 in 10 Democrats approve of the pardon, while about 3 in 10 disapprove and about one-quarter did not have an opinion or did not know enough to say. The vast majority of Republicans and about half of independents had a negative opinion.

For some, it was easy to see family taking priority over politics.

Do you have kids? asked Robert Jenkins, a 63-year-old Democrat who runs a lumber yard and gas station in Gallipolis, Ohio. You're gonna leave office and not pardon your kid? I mean, it's a no-brainer to me.

But Prestia, who is semiretired from working for a digital marketing conglomerate, said Biden would have been better off not making promises.

He does have that right to pardon anybody he wants. But he just should have kept his mouth shut, and he did it because it was before the election, so it's just a bold-faced lie, Prestia said.

Despite the unpopularity of his decision, the president's approval rating has not shifted meaningfully since before his party lost the White House to Trump. About 4 in 10 Americans somewhat or strongly approve of the way Biden is handling his job as president, which is roughly where his approval rating has stood in AP-NORC polls since January 2022.

Still, the pardon keeps creating political shock waves, with Republicans, and even some top Democrats, decrying it.

Older adults are more likely than younger ones to approve of Biden's pardoning his son, according to the poll, although their support is not especially strong. About one-third of those ages 60 and older approve, compared with about 2 in 10 adults under 60.

The age divide is driven partially by the fact that younger adults are more likely than older ones to say they neither approve nor disapprove of the pardon or that they do not know enough to say.

About 6 in 10 white adults disapprove of the pardon, compared with slightly less than half of Hispanic adults and about 3 in 10 Black adults. Relatively large shares of Black and Hispanic Americans  about 3 in 10  were neutral, the poll found.

Don't say you're gonna do something and then fall back, said Trinell Champ, 43, a Democrat from Nederland, Texas, who works in the home health industry and said she disapproved of the pardon. At the end of the day, all you have is your word.

Champ, who is Black, voted for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump. I just had my hopes up for her, but I wasn't 100 per cent positive, she said.

Champ also said she does not approve of Biden's handling of the presidency and thinks the country is on the wrong track. While he was in office, I felt like I really didn't see a lot of changes, she said.

I just felt like everything just kind of stayed the same, Champ said.

Overall, though, the pardon did not appear to be a driving factor in many Americans' assessment of Biden's job performance. The share of Black Americans who approve of the way he is handling his job as president did fall slightly since October, but it is hard to assess what role the pardon may have played.

Jenkins is also chair of the Democratic Party in Gallia County, a strongly Republican area in southeast Ohio. He said things have not been going well for his businesses and, though he approved of Biden's handling of the presidency, he believes the country is now on the wrong track.

He said that is partly because of Trump's win in the presidential race, but it is also because Biden made his decision to leave the race in July and endorse Harris when there was not enough time for a more open primary process that might have led to a stronger Democratic nominee.

I know he's in a spot there, but jeez-o-Pete, he got down the wrong end, Jenkins said of Biden. He said if Biden had stepped aside earlier and a nominee emerged from 15 or 20 candidates, I think we would have won on that. Who knows?

Prestia said he does not approve of Biden's handling of the presidency but sees the country now on the right track because Trump is returning to the White House.

Compared to Biden, he means what he says," Prestia said. (AP)

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Dhaka, Dec 11 (AP) Thousands of members of youth and student bodies belonging to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday held a road march procession from Bangladesh's capital toward its eastern border with India to protest against an attack on a diplomatic mission earlier this month and alleged desecration of Bangladeshi flags in India.

They drove in cars to reach a border point at Akhaura in Brahmanbaria district to register their protest. Before starting for the border area, they rallied briefly in Dhaka where leaders criticized what they called Indian aggression against Bangladesh.

The party headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been protesting against the attack by a mob of Hindus in the northeastern Indian state of Agartala on Dec. 2.

On the way to the border area, the entourage stopped at places where waiting supporters of Zia welcomed them and rallied briefly on Wednesday. Another rally will be held when the team reaches the border point. (AP) ZH

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Berlin, Dec 11 (AP) Nearly a decade after he arrived in Germany from Syria and took a selfie with then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, Anas Modamani has finished his university studies and has a German passport.

He's less positive about some German politicians' reactions to the fall of Bashar Assad, which was followed within hours by the first talk of Syrians returning.

Berlin has become my second home, I will definitely stay here, Modamani said Tuesday. "I managed it  a reference to Merkel's famous slogan We will manage it, coined as Germany faced the challenge of integrating hundreds of thousands of migrants.

As Syrians took to the streets of Berlin Sunday, far-right leader Alice Weidel wrote on social platform X that anyone celebrating a free Syria in Germany evidently no longer has a reason to flee. He should return to Syria immediately.

With a German election approaching and the government under longstanding pressure to reduce irregular migration, some mainstream opposition politicians also appeared eager to kickstart the return of Syrians.

On Monday, prominent conservative lawmaker Jens Spahn suggested on n-tv television the government could say that for everyone who wants to go back to Syria, we will charter planes for them, they will get a starting fund of 1,000 euros ($1,055). He stressed, though, that it will take time before it's clear whether things have stabilized.

Such ideas strike Syrians as indecently hasty. Modamani, a 27-year-old from Damascus who came to Germany in 2015, said he was shocked" by reports of the 1,000-euro proposal.

I think that's a terrible idea," he said as he sat over lunch with Syrian friends at a Berlin restaurant. "The situation in Syria is still just as dangerous as before.

Modamani, who says he shares an apartment with his girlfriend from Ukraine and finished his studies in business communication, illustrates what German officials acknowledge is the successful integration of many Syrians. A deputy interior minister, Juliane Seifert, said Syrians are a group that has significantly above-average educational qualifications, among them many doctors.

The number of Syrians gaining German citizenship has risen from 6,700 in 2020 to 75,500 last year, when they were the biggest single group and accounted for 38% of all naturalizations.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, whose conservative party has talked tough on migration, said Tuesday that many Syrian refugees are now superbly integrated in our country, have a job and are urgently needed here and no one is thinking of getting such people to leave Germany.

Those who have already integrated well are still cordially welcome, Herrmann told Deutschlandfunk radio Tuesday. But it is clear that there are also people who have been here for 10 years and don't have a job and haven't integrated well, and then it's right to help them return to their homeland if Syria stabilises.

It's not surprising that hopes of a more stable Syria raise hopes in Germany of reducing immigration. Official figures show that, at the end of October, there were nearly 975,000 Syrian nationals in Germany, a country of 83 million. The majority had some kind of refugee or other protected status.

On Monday, Germany and a string of other European countries announced that they were suspending decisions on Syrians' asylum applications as they wait for the situation in Syria to become clearer. Over 47,000 cases are pending in Germany, one of the main destinations for Syrians outside the Middle East.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that is the right thing to do, but it would be unserious to speculate in such a volatile situation about the eventual return of Syrians.

Among those who will may face a longer wait is Basil Khalil, a 26-year-old Kurdish Syrian who said he applied for asylum Monday after crossing from Turkey into Bulgaria and travelling to Germany on the back of a truck. Khalil said he spent the last nine years as a refugee in Turkey, but was worried that Turkish authorities may soon start deporting Syrians.

I applied for asylum in Germany because I'm afraid that back in Syria I may get drafted as a soldier, he told The Associated Press as his cousin translated for him.

But if the German government will deport me, then I guess I will go back, Khalil said. We Syrians have been through so much suffering, all we want to do is survive.

Tarek Alaows, a spokesperson for pro-refugee group Pro Asyl, said that many from the Syrian community naturally want to return ... Many want to participate in the reconstruction. But they must not be forced to leave the country for a still-unstable Syria.

Alaows, 35, who fled Damascus in 2015 and became a German citizen over three years ago, said many Syrians in Germany were concerned to hear public calls so soon for the quick return of Syrians.

These debates that are going on right now  nobody needs them, he said.

Yamn Molhem, who arrived 10 years ago, sees it the same way. The 39-year-old father of four now manages the Aldimashqi restaurant on Berlin's Sonnenallee boulevard, known for its many Arabic stores and businesses.

All of my family has left Aleppo, and the situation in Syria is generally very unstable, he said.

Molhem said he is applying for a German passport, proudly adding that his youngest son already has one.

'They can't deport our family, said, My son is German.

In general, Molhem said, Germans should think twice before they even consider sending back Syrians who work, pay taxes and help keep the economy running.

Syrians don't just sleep here, he said. (AP)



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Bismarck (US), Dec 11 (AP) Young adult immigrants known as Dreamers in 19 US states will be temporarily blocked from getting health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's public marketplace, a federal judge has ruled, limiting an effort by the Biden administration to help immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.

Judge Daniel Traynor of the US District Court in North Dakota issued the order Monday from Bismarck, dealing a setback to a Biden administration rule that was estimated to allow 147,000 immigrants to enrol for coverage. Traynor's ruling came in a lawsuit filed over the policy and will remain in effect until the matter can go to trial.

The ruling applies to immigrants in 19 states where Republican attorneys general sued to avoid having to comply with the new policy. They cited concern over immigrants possibly qualifying for public subsidies available to many people insured under the ACA.

The GOP state officials argued that the rule created earlier this year by the US Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services would be a strong incentive for immigrants to remain in the US illegally and could creating costs for states. They argued that both the Affordable Care Act and a 1996 law prohibit US government benefits flowing to immigrants living in the US illegally.

Dreamers are part of a programme that makes them a low priority for deportation. However, President-elect Donald Trump won the November 5 election promising the largest mass deportation programme in history. He will succeed President Joe Biden on Jan. 20.

Traynor, a Trump appointee during his first term in office, concluded through what he called a common-sense inference that access to subsidised ACA coverage is a powerful incentive for people to remain in the US illegally, creating a substantial risk that states will suffer monetary harm.

Federal law gives CMS the authority to determine whether someone is living in the US legally, but, Traynor wrote, It by no means allows the agency to circumvent congressional authority and redefine the term lawfully present.'

CMS said in a statement Tuesday that it is reviewing the lawsuit but does not comment on litigation.

Nicholas Espiritu, deputy legal director of the National Immigration Law Centre, said some Dreamers have been waiting for more than a decade to get life-sustaining health coverage through the ACA.

Judge Traynor's ruling is both disappointing and wrong on the law, Espiritu said, promising his group would continue to fight the issue.

But Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach called the decision a victory for the rule of law." He told reporters after a hearing in Bismarck in October that the Biden administration sought to redefine what it means to be an immigrant living in the US legally by executive fiat, calling the rule Alice in Wonderland stuff.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley added then that American taxpayers, through Congress, determine how the federal government treats immigrants living in the US illegally.

And it doesn't always come across as friendly and nice and cuddly, but it speaks to the access to our health care system, the cost of our healthcare system, and the burden on the American public, the taxpayer, he said.

Kansas and North Dakota are the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in August. They've been joined by Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Thankfully, the court put another nail in the coffin of Biden's radical left-wing agenda, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement Tuesday. (AP) AMS

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Dakar (Senegal), Dec 11 (AP) Amnesty International called for an investigation Wednesday into a former governor and two top army officials in Congo for possible crimes against humanity during a deadly crackdown on demonstrators last year protesting the UN peacekeeping mission in the country.

The human rights group said in a report Congo's security forces killed at least 56 people and injured 80 more, during a protest in the eastern city of Goma in August 2023.

The protest was organized by a sect called the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith Towards the Nations and known colloquially as Wazalendo. Its supporters were demonstrating against the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, called MONUSCO.

The MONUSCO force arrived in Congo in 2010 after taking over from an earlier UN peacekeeping mission to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel and to support the Congolese government in its stabilisation and peace consolidation efforts. However, frustrated Congolese say that no one is protecting them from rebel attacks, leading to several protests against the UN mission.

Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence for decades as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources, while others try to defend their communities. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings. More than 7 million people have been displaced.

Goma's Mayor Faustin Napenda Kapend banned the protest soon after it was announced over concerns the organizers were inciting hate and violence. Amnesty International said it found no evidence of incitement to violence in the statements and messages from the Wazalendo it reviewed.

Congolese security and defense forces amassed at major intersections in anticipation of the protest when violence broke out early in the morning. Amnesty International said it saw operational plans in which the security forces were given orders to destroy isolated enemy elements.

This massacre was not the result of a blunder by a few soldiers who intervened unexpectedly after Wazalendo followers stoned a police officer, as authorities have claimed, Tigere Chagutah, the rights group regional director for East and Southern Africa, said in the statement. It was the result of a series of deliberate, planned actions by the Congolese authorities, after MONUSCO explicitly requested they prohibit the protest.

Amnesty International said it traced the timeline and locations of the killings, identifying three top officials who should be investigated and, if evidence supports it, prosecuted for possible crimes against humanity. They include Lt. Gen. Constant Ndima, who was governor of the North Kivu province at the time, Col. Mike Kalamba Mikombe, who was head of the Republican Guard unit in Goma, and Maj. Peter Kabwe, who led the Republican Guard's Special Forces.

The rights group said Ndima had directed the army and the police to take all measures to protect MONUSCO facilities and the city, after he informed the army and police that the Wazalendo posed a serious threat.

Mikombe was accused of ordering soldiers to open fire on the protesters, who were unarmed, according to Amnesty International and two Congolese military trials, killing dozens.

Amnesty International accused Kabwe of leading a raid on a Wazalendo radio station ahead of the protest in which six people, including a journalist, were summarily executed.

While Mikombe was convicted and sentenced to death, which the rights group said it opposed, Ndima and Kabwe have not faced justice.

The Democratic Republic of Congo authorities must reopen the investigations into this massacre, in line with regional and international standards, to establish the truth and hold all of those involved accountable," Chagutah said. He added that Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi should suspend Ndima and Kabew, further investigate Mikombe, and ban the Republican Guard and Special Forces from law enforcement operations. (AP)



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Washington, Dec 11 (PTI) US President-elect Donald Trump took a jab at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the social media platform Truth Social, describing him as the "Governor of Canada".

Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago last week for a dinner with Trump to discuss the President-elect's warning to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canada if its government failed to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs from the country into the United States.

In a post on Truth Social mocking the Canadian prime minister, Trump said, "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada."

During the dinner, when Trudeau said that such a tariff would destroy the Canadian economy, the President-elect reportedly told him to make Canada the 51st state of the United States. Trump repeated this in an interview with NBC News over the weekend and again in the post on Tuesday.

"I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all! DJT," Trump said in his post.

"The president-elect's mockery of Canada and its leader is the latest salvo after his promise to impose steep tariffs on Canadian exports," The New York Times reported.
Altoona (US), Dec 11 (AP) The man charged with murder in the killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare made it clear he wasn't going to make things easy on authorities, shouting unintelligibly and writhing in the grip of sheriff's deputies as he was led into court and then objecting to being brought to New York to face trial.

The displays of resistance Tuesday weren't expected to significantly delay legal proceedings for Luigi Nicholas Mangione, who was charged in last week's Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson, the leader of the United States' largest medical insurance company. Little new information has come out about possible motivation, though writings found in Mangione's possession hinted at a vague hatred of corporate greed.

In his first public words since he was arrested at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania after a five-day search, the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family emerged from a patrol car shouting about an insult to the intelligence of the American people while deputies pushed him inside a courthouse.

A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that at the time of his arrest, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called parasitic health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power.

He wrote that the US has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while our life expectancy does not, according to the bulletin.

Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police.

Manhattan prosecutors were beginning to take steps to bring Mangione to New York, but at a brief hearing Tuesday, defence lawyer Thomas Dickey said his client will not waive extradition and instead wants a hearing on the issue. Mangione was denied bail after prosecutors said he was too dangerous to be released.

He mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally looking at papers, rocking in his chair or looking back at the gallery.

You can't rush to judgment in this case or any case, Dickey said afterward. He's presumed innocent. Let's not forget that.

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometres) west of New York City, after a McDonald's customer recognised him and notified an employee, authorities said.

New York police officials have said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the suspected shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs.

A law enforcement official who wasn't authorised to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said a three-page, handwritten document found with Mangione included a line in which he claimed to have acted alone.

To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone, the document said, according to the official.

Thompson, 50, was killed December 4 as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus.

Mangione was born into a life of country clubs and privilege. His grandfather was a self-made real estate developer and philanthropist.

Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest, Mangione's family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.

From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin, said he was widely considered a great guy," though he had long dealt with severe back pain that interfered with many aspects of his life. (AP)

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Lahore, Dec 11 (PTI) Pakistani authorities have booked 150 suspects and arrested 22 of them, mostly belonging to Imran Khan's party, for allegedly propagating against the army on social media on the killings of the party workers in Islamabad on November 26, an official said on Wednesday.

According to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), at least 12 party workers were killed and hundreds wounded when law enforcers opened fire on the protesters in Islamabad on November 26. It also claims that around 105 party workers have been missing since then.

Following the incident, Khan's supporters started blaming the Pakistan Army for opening fire on the peaceful protesters.

The Shehbaz Sharif-led government denied that the law enforcers opened fire on the protesters and pledged to take strict action against those propagating on social media.

The government formed a special task force headed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) chief to NAB such elements.

"Subsequently, the FIA cybercrime wing booked some 150 suspects and arrested 22 social media activists across the country," an FIA officer said.

He said that the FIA made 117 raids, mostly in Punjab, to arrest the suspects involved in the propaganda against the state institutions.

The suspects (social media activists) have been booked under different sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Earlier, Amnesty International had demanded a transparent investigation of the states deadly crackdown to disperse PTI supporters from Islamabads D-Chowk where they had gathered for the release of their incarcerated leader and former prime minister.

More than 10,000 protesters surged into Islamabad on Nov 26, defying a ban on public gatherings and a lockdown to skirmish with 20,000 security forces enlisted to turn them back. As Khan supporters inched towards the heavily barricaded D-Chowk, the police and security forces used intense teargas shelling to disperse the protesters.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had said the law enforcers had bravely repulsed the protesters without using firearms. Khan's party harshly criticised the interior minister for his statements and blamed him for the alleged violence against its supporters, claiming multiple deaths.

Condemning the violence, Amnesty demanded a "prompt, thorough, impartial, effective and transparent investigation" into the deaths and injuries of protesters as well as the unlawful use of force, including lethal and less-lethal weapons, by security personnel.
The Hague, Dec 11 (AP) The global chemical weapons watchdog will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the situation in Syria over concerns about the country's stockpile of toxic chemicals.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons told Syria on Monday it is under obligations to comply with rules to safeguard and destroy dangerous substances, such as chlorine gas, after rebels entered the capital Damascus at the weekend and overthrew the regime of President Bashar Assad.

The meeting was called by the organisation's executive council to discuss the current situation in Syria as well as the status of ongoing investigations in the country.

Members of the ousted Syrian government plan to gradually transfer power to a new transitional cabinet headed by Mohammed al-Bashir, who reportedly headed the rebel alliance's salvation government in its southwest Syrian stronghold.

Outgoing officials met for the first time Tuesday with al-Bashir, who told reporters that the transitional period would last until the beginning of March.

Assad's regime denied using chemical weapons, but the OPCW has found evidence indicating their repeated use by Syria in the country's grinding civil war.

Earlier this year, it found the Islamic State group had used mustard gas against the town of Marea in 2015.

The US has said it will recognise and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.

When it comes to this question of inspections and verifications, it is the responsibility of that organisation to conduct verification efforts under its mandate, not any of the member states or the United States or other states. That, the OPCW will do, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.

Israel said it has carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the last 48 hours, hitting most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists.

The Israeli military acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria but it remained unclear if Israeli soldiers had gone beyond that area, which was established more than 50 years ago. Israel denied that it was advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus.

The Kremlin said Sunday that Russia had granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. (AP) GRS

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Deir Al-Balah, Dec 11 (AP) An Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the northern Gaza Strip killed at least 19, Palestinian medical officials said Wednesday.

Kamal Adwan Hospital said it received the bodies after the overnight strike in the town of Beit Lahiya. Hospital records show that a family of eight were among those killed, including four children, their parents and two grandparents.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has waged a renewed offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza since early October.

Another strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed at least seven people, according to al-Awda Hospital. Records show the dead included two children, their parents and three relatives.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people, including children and older adults. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. They say women and children make up more than half the dead but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their count. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.



Here's the latest:



UN appeals for USD 4 billion for humanitarian operations in Palestinian territories

JERUSALEM  The United Nations is asking donors for over USD 4 billion to fund humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories, most of it earmarked for war-ravaged Gaza.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also called for the lifting all impediments to the entry of aid in its appeal issued Wednesday.

UN agencies say aid operations in Gaza are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of law and order. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames the UN for not distributing it within the territory.

The appeal for 2025 includes USD 3.6 billion for Gaza and about USD 450 million for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel's offensive, launched after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack, has destroyed vast areas of the besieged territory and displaced around 90 per cent of its population of 2.3 million. Many have been displaced multiple times and are now crammed into squalid tent camps with little in the way of food or other essentials. Most of the population relies on international aid.



Paraguay's president addresses the Knesset ahead of embassy reopening in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM  The president of Paraguay addressed the Israeli parliament Wednesday ahead of the reopening of the country's embassy in Jerusalem.

The decision to reopen the embassy in Jerusalem and recognise the city as the capital of Israel is a diplomatic win for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and puts Paraguay in a small group of countries that have taken the move.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn't recognised by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv.

Without Jerusalem, the land of Israel is a body without a soul, President Santiago Pena said in a speech to the Knesset. So I say here today that without an embassy in Jerusalem, diplomatic relations with Israel do not have a real heart. He said he hoped the move would inspire other countries to do the same.

The embassy is set to open Thursday.

Pena's move was welcomed by Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, along with other Israeli leaders.

Tomorrow we will inaugurate together the embassy of Paraguay in our eternal capital, and that will happen not for the first time, but for the second time, Netanyahu said.

Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes' successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion.

Israel reopened its embassy in September.



Russia says it's in touch with new authorities in Syria

MOSCOW  Russia said Wednesday it has maintained contacts with the new authorities in Syria.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that we are monitoring most closely what is happening in Syria.

We, of course, maintain contacts with those who are currently controlling the situation in Syria, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

This is necessary because our bases are located there, our diplomatic mission is located there and, of course, the issue related to ensuring the security of these facilities is extremely important and of primary significance.

Peskov wouldn't give details of those contacts, saying only that Russia has contacted those who are controlling the situation on the ground.

He wouldn't give the number of Russian troops in Syria.

Asked to comment about Israel's seizure of a buffer zone on the border with Syria, Peskov called them destabilising.

The strikes and actions in the Golan Heights area, in the buffer zone area, are unlikely to help stabilise the situation in an already destabilised Syria, he said.

Russia has granted political asylum to ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family after they fled rebels who seized Damascus over the weekend. (AP) GRS

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Ottawa, Dec 11 (PTI) The Indian mission in Canadas Toronto on Wednesday expressed shock over the murder of a 26-year-old Indian national who moved to the country five months ago and said it was extending all possible help to the bereaved family.

Canadas Peel Regional police identified the man gunned down in the driveway of a Brampton home last week as Pritpal Singh from India, Toronto Star newspaper reported on Tuesday, adding, a police official also said that investigators believed it was a targeted attack and were probing a possible link to another shooting incident around the same time.

Peel police spokesperson Richard Chin said on Monday that Singh and another man were shot outside a residence on Odeon Street near Concorde Drive just after 11.30 pm on December 4.

We are shocked by the cold-blooded gunning down of a young Indian national, Mr Pritpal Singh in Brampton. Our deepest condolences to the family & friends of the deceased. All possible help is being extended to the bereaved family at this tragic loss. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace, Indias Consulate General in Toronto posted on X.

Pritpal had moved to Canada as an international student five months ago and was living with his brother, Khushwantpal Singh. Both of them were preparing to start courses in plumbing at Humber College next month, CBC Toronto reported.

Toronto Star newspaper said the police found Singh with multiple gunshot wounds and performed life-saving measures, but he died at the scene. The second man was rushed to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, it said.

A day after the shooting, Sgt Jennifer Trimble said investigators believed it was a targeted attack and were probing a possible link to a shooting in Caldeon that occurred about 30 minutes later.

No one was injured in the second incident, which happened at a residence on Centreville Creek Road in Brampton.

Chin on Monday said investigators believe the shootings are connected and are working with the Ontario Provincial Police.

The investigation is still active and we will not be releasing any other details at this time, he said.

While police have not explicitly stated what was the connection between the two shootings, the report said property records show that the owners of the Brampton home where Singh was killed own another property on Centreville Creek Road in Caledon.

The violent shooting appears to have been captured in a graphic video widely circulated online, the newspaper said.

The footage shows two men clearing snow off a grey vehicle in the driveway moments before another vehicle  a white four-door sedan  pulls up beside them.

Two people exit the vehicle and start firing shots as the two men on the driveway try to flee. One of the two victims can be seen running off, toward the home, while the other falls to the ground.

Meanwhile, CBC Toronto identified the man who survived the shooting as Pritpal Singhs brother, who said he believes they were the victims of mistaken identity.

Khushwantpal Singh, speaking to CBC Toronto from his hospital bed, said both of them were outside cleaning snow off their car, when they were attacked.

He said he was shot in the arm while his younger brother was shot several times at close range.

Reiterating that he believes he and his brother werent the intended target, he said, "We never did anything wrong. I'm innocent and my brother was innocent."
Colombo, Dec 11 (PTI) India on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka for the early release of its detained fishermen, stressing a humanitarian and constructive approach to address the issue.

The Sri Lankan Navy this week announced that they have arrested 537 Indian fishermen so far this year for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha Wednesday met Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources and his deputy Ratna Gamage and briefed them on developmental assistance projects in the Fisheries sector.

"Stressed for a humanitarian & constructive approach in addressing the fishermen issue. Requested early release of fishermen in custody," the Indian mission posted on X.

He highlighted India's strong commitment to the people of Northern Province and briefed them on developmental assistance projects in the Fisheries sector.

Their meeting came days ahead of President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes visit to India, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.

Last month, President Dissanayake and Indian High Commissioner Jha held a meeting in which they stressed the importance of a long-term solution to the ongoing fishing disputes between the two nations.

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.

The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.

Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other's waters.

In 2023, the island nation's Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
Damascus, Dec 11 (AP) The jihadist rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad say they want to build a unified, inclusive country. But after 14 years of civil war, putting that ideal into practice will not be easy.

For Syria's Kurdish minority, America's closest ally in the country, the struggle for a new order is entering a potentially even more challenging phase.

Over the course of Syria's civil war, Kurdish fighters have fended off an array of armed factions, partnered with the US to rout the Islamic State group and carved out a largely autonomous region in the country's oil-rich east.

But the gains of the non-Arab Kurds are now at risk. The ascendance of the Sunni Arab rebels who overthrew Assad  with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the Kurds  will make it hard for the Kurds to find a place in the new Syria and could prolong the conflict.

The jihadist rebels who rode into Damascus over the weekend have made peaceful overtures to the Kurds. But the rebels violently drove Kurdish fighters out of the eastern city of Deir al-Zour days after government forces abandoned it.

To the north, a separate opposition faction backed by Turkey that has been battling the Kurds for years seized the town of Manbij. And Turkey carried out airstrikes on a Kurdish convoy it said was carrying heavy weapons looted from government arsenals.

The Kurds have long counted on US aid in the face of such challenges. Around 900 American troops are in eastern Syria, where they partner with Kurdish forces to prevent an Islamic State resurgence. But the future of that mission will be thrown into doubt under president-elect Donald Trump, who has long been sceptical about US involvement in Syria.



Here's a closer look at the predicament the Kurds find themselves in.

Who are the US-allied Kurdish fighters in Syria?

The Kurds are among the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world, with some 30 million concentrated in a territory straddling Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. They are a minority in each country and have often suffered persecution, which has fueled armed Kurdish uprisings.

In Syria, they carved out an autonomous enclave early in the civil war, never fully siding with the Assad government or the rebels seeking to topple him.

When the Islamic State group seized a third of the country in 2014, Kurdish fighters  who are secular and include women in their ranks  proved their mettle in early battles against the extremists, earning support from the U.S.-led coalition.

They formed a group known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, which also includes Arab fighters, and drove the Islamic State group out of large areas of Syria with help from U.S.-led airstrikes and American special forces. In 2017, the SDF captured Raqqa, the capital of the extremists' self-styled caliphate.



Why is Turkey fighting the Kurds?

Turkey has long viewed the SDF as an extension of the decades-old Kurdish insurgency within its own borders. It considers the main Kurdish faction a terrorist group on par with IS and has said it should have no presence in the new Syria.

In recent years, Turkey has trained and funded fighters known as the Syrian National Army, helping them wrest control of territory from the Kurds in northern Syria along the border with Turkey. The SNA has portrayed itself as part of the opposition against Assad, but analysts say the fighters are largely driven by opportunism and hatred of the Kurds.

With IS mostly defeated and an unspoken truce with Assad, the Kurds have been able to focus on battling the SNA in recent years. But the new leadership in Damascus, which also has longstanding ties to Turkey, could open another, much longer front.



How do the Syrian rebels view the Kurds?

The main rebel faction is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a former al-Qaida militant who cut ties with the group eight years ago and says he wants to build a new Syria free of dictatorship that will serve all its religious and ethnic communities.

Nawaf Khalil, head of the Germany-based Center for Kurdish Studies, said the early signs were positive. He said the rebels steered clear of two SDF-controlled enclaves of Aleppo when they stormed the city two weeks ago at the start of their rapid advance across the country.

It is also positive that they did not speak negatively about the Syrian Democratic Forces," he said.

It remains to be seen if those sentiments will endure. After sweeping into Deir al-Zour this week, a fighter from al-Sharaa's group posted a video saying they would soon advance toward Raqqa and other areas of eastern Syria, raising the possibility of further clashes with the Kurds.

The rebels could still seek some kind of agreement with the Kurds to incorporate them into the post-Assad political order, but that would likely require accepting a degree of Kurdish autonomy in the east. It would also risk angering Turkey, which now appears to be the chief power broker in Syria.



Will the Trump administration support the Kurds?

The top US military commander for the Middle East, Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, met with SDF forces in Syria on Tuesday, in a sign of the Biden administration's commitment to the alliance post-Assad.

But things could change on January 20.

Trump has provided few details about his Middle East policy, aside from saying he wants to end the region's wars and keep the United States out of them.

In a social media post shortly before Assad was overthrown, Trump wrote that Syria is a mess, but is not our friend; THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.

During his previous term, in 2019, Trump abandoned the Kurds ahead of a Turkish incursion, casting it as the fulfilment of a campaign promise to end US involvement in the region's endless wars.

The move prompted heavy criticism, including from prominent Republicans who accused him of betraying an ally. Trump backtracked weeks later, approving a wider mission to secure oil fields in the east. The troops remained where they were and the alliance endured. (AP)

GSP
Panaji, Dec 11 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said he has started the process of filing a defamation case against AAP leaders in Delhi and Goa for naming him and his wife in the alleged cash-for-jobs scam.

Sawant said Opposition parties, especially the Aam Aadmi Party, are naming him and his wife in the scam without any reason and proof while the state police are conducting a transparent investigation.

"I have started the process of filing a defamation case against AAP leaders in Delhi and Goa. My wife will file another defamation case against them," Sawant told reporters at Goa Airport.

Many aspirants had lodged complaints across Goa alleging they were forced to pay lakhs to some persons who promised to facilitate jobs in the state government.

"I initiated action against the accused involved in the cash-for-jobs scam. The government has given a free hand to police for free-and-fair investigation in the matter," Sawant said.

He accused the Opposition of dragging him and his family in the scam without any proof as they were left with no issue.

"My wife is in politics but she is not part of the government," he added.

Without taking names, Sawant said the leaders who are out on bail in the Excise scam are levelling baseless allegations.

Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party demanded a judicial probe into the cash-for-jobs scam while claiming that an inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will not yield any result.

"I feel that the ED's inquiry will fetch no results as it is yet another agency of the BJP," AAP Goa president Amit Palekar told reporters.

Palekar alleged some BJP functionaries were involved in the scam, hence his party has demanded a judicial inquiry.
Kolkata, Dec 11 (PTI) West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu was deliberately creating a rift between Governor CV Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a Raj Bhavan source said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Basu accused Bose of approving vice-chancellor appointments arbitrarily and treating Raj Bhavan like a "post box".

"Raj Bhavan strongly feels that the education minister is deliberately creating a rift between the CM and the governor," the source told PTI.

Basu, while tabling the Bhawanipur Global University Bill, 2024, in the state assembly, turned his attention to the governor's role in the appointment of VCs in 35 state universities.

He claimed that despite a Supreme Court directive giving the chief minister authority to appoint VCs from a list provided by a search committee, the governor continued to approve appointments arbitrarily, often selecting just two or three names at a time.

Basu said, "The governor is sitting on most appointments. The CM continues to show patience and respect towards his post, but patience has limits. If the governor continues to act this way, a day will come when such behaviour will be called out."

He also criticised the governor for treating Raj Bhavan like a "post box" and insisted that Bose should follow constitutional provisions.

"The delay in appointing VCs is affecting the functioning of universities," Basu added, accusing the governor of acting "in a childish manner".

Banerjee had met Bose at Raj Bhavan on Monday evening in response to his invitation for tea, an official said, adding the meeting lasted for nearly 45 minutes.

"It is 'bhai behen' (brother sister) relation between the governor and the chief minister in Bengal," Bose said in a statement after the meeting.
Kolkata, Dec 11 (PTI) West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu on Wednesday accused Governor CV Ananda Bose of approving vice-chancellor appointments "in ones and twos" and acting like a "post box."

While tabling the Bhawanipur Global University Bill, 2024, in the state Assembly, Basu turned his attention to the governors role in the appointment of VCs in 35 state universities.

He claimed that despite a Supreme Court directive giving the chief minister authority to appoint VCs from a list provided by a search committee, the governor continued to approve appointments arbitrarily, often selecting just two or three names at a time.

Basu said, "The governor is sitting on most appointments. The CM continues to show patience and respect towards his post, but patience has limits. If the governor continues to act this way, a day will come when such behaviour will be called out."

He also criticised the governor for treating Raj Bhavan like a "post box" and insisted that Bose should follow constitutional provisions. "The delay in appointing VCs is affecting the functioning of universities," Basu added, accusing the governor of acting "in a childish manner."

Basu highlighted the Bhawanipur Global University, which will be run by the Bhawanipur Education Society, a trust largely representing the Gujarati community in Kolkata. The campus will be located on B L Saha Road in south Kolkata.

Basu noted that the university aligns with the state governments policy of respecting and recognising all communities, religious and linguistic, living in harmony in West Bengal.

In response to BJP chief whip Shankar Ghosh, who criticised the Bill, Basu pointed out that many BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have several private universities, yet Ghosh did not raise objections in those cases.

Ghosh, in his speech, accused the state government of failing to curb corruption in private B.Ed colleges and higher education institutions. He also referenced the arrest of key figures in the states education department, including ministers, in corruption cases.

TMC minister Firhad Hakim and chief whip Nirmal Ghosh urged the Speaker to expunge the references to the arrests from Ghosh's speech.

In his response, Basu highlighted similar arrests of political figures in states like Karnataka and Delhi but pointed out that these states continued to pass Bills for new universities, regardless of the controversies.

The Bhawanipur Global University Bill was passed by a voice vote before the House was adjourned sine die. Once established, the proposed institute will become the 44th university in West Bengal.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 11. Kyrgyzstans President Sadyr Zhaparov has signed a law ratifying an agreement between Kyrgyzstan and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on the "Financing Affordable Housing in Accordance with Sharia Standards" project, Trend reports, citing the press service of the head of state.

The agreement was signed on April 26, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The law was approved by the Kyrgyz Parliament on November 13 of this year.

The project aims to raise $79 million to build housing and provide mortgage products that align with Islamic financing principles for Kyrgyz citizens participating in the State Housing Program, "My House 2021-2026."

The Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan will be the funding recipient, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce will act as the implementing agency, and the State Mortgage Company OJSC (SMC) will oversee the project's execution.

The SMC will operate the raised funds, secure land plots, and manage the construction of affordable housing across various regions of the country, which will be available for rent with an option to buy, as well as offer mortgages based on Islamic principles for citizens within the framework of the program.
Itanagar, Dec 11 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd) K T Parnaik on Wednesday emphasised that defence land requires a comprehensive approach, balancing national security needs with the well-being of local communities and the environment.



During a meeting with S N Gupta, principal director of Defence Estates under Eastern Command Kolkata, at Raj Bhavan here, the governor suggested that through reforms, better land management and increased collaboration, the state can ensure that its defence infrastructure remains robust while fostering positive relations with its citizens.



Parnaik said that efforts should be made to optimize the use of available defence land for the development of infrastructure without compromising military needs, a Raj Bhavan communique said.



He said that collaboration between civil and military authorities can help to balance defence requirements with local development needs and building better communication channels with local administration can help improve civil-military relations.



The governor directed Gupta to ensure that all acquisitions and hiring of land were done with due diligence, in keeping with established instructions, with the state administration.



Documentation should be fair, transparent and legally compliant, he stressed.



Earlier, Gupta briefed the governor on the issues related to defence lands in Arunachal Pradesh.



Defence Estates director K V Nagi Reddy and defence estate officer Koli Akash Santosh were also present in the meeting.
Kolkata, Dec 11 (PTI) Flight operations at NSCBI airport in Kolkata were disrupted for sometime on Wednesday morning as visibility turned low due to dense fog, officials said.

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Boses visit to Farakka in Murshidabad district in a BSF helicopter was also cancelled due to poor visibility, Director of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport, Pravat Ranjan Beuria, said.

Besides, four flights to Kolkata  three domestic and one international  had to be diverted to other airports. The departure of 18 domestic flights and two international ones from Kolkata to various destinations were also delayed, he said.

There were four delayed arrivals, the official said.

Flight operations did not take place to and from the airport between 4.18 am and 6.16 am on Wednesday, the director said, adding, low visibility procedures (LVP) were declared at 4.38 am.

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) declares LVP when visibility falls below 800 metres, and Follow-Me vehicles guide aircraft to their stands when visibility is extremely poor.

The LVP is also activated when the cloud ceiling is below 200 feet.

The procedure involves coordination among the airport operator, air traffic control and pilots to manage flights safely and minimise disruptions, Beuria said.

These ensure that aircraft are able to land, taxi and take off safely, using advanced navigation systems and ground lighting, he said.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 11 (PTI) Opposition BJD and Congress on Wednesday came down heavily on Odishas BJP government, accusing it of remaining silent as the profit-making Waltair division is being delinked from the East Coast Railway Zone (ECoR).

The issue was raised in the Assembly during Zero Hour by BJD member Ranendra Pratap Swain and Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, who claimed that ECoR would lose an annual revenue generation of about Rs 10,000 crore after the Waltair division is merged with the newly-formed South Coast Railway Zone.

Swain, an eight-time MLA, blamed Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha with BJD support from Odisha.

"I feel ashamed that we voted for the man who has been working against Odishas interest after becoming Railway Minister," Swain said.

He further argued that the areas of Waltair division should be merged with the proposed Rayagada Division instead of being included in the South Coast Railway Zone. "I demand a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on this issue," he added.

CLP leader Rama Chandra Kadam alleged that the BJP-led central government was neglecting the interests of Odisha by allowing the Waltair division to merge with the South Coast Railway Zone in Andhra Pradesh.

He also announced that Congress would launch an agitation if the Waltair division is delinked from the ECoR Zone.

However, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo rejected the Oppositions allegations, claiming that Odisha had benefited the most from the BJP government at the Centre.

"Different railway projects worth Rs 73,000 crore are being implemented in the state. While the Waltair division is getting delinked from the ECoR zone, it is getting a newly formed Rayagada Division. Therefore, ECoR will continue to have three divisions under its jurisdiction as earlier," Singh Deo said.

"East Coast Railway will continue to have three divisions  Rayagada, Sambalpur, and Khurda Road," he added.

Singh Deo further explained that the highest revenue-generating railway line, the KothavalasaKirandul (KK) line, would remain under the Rayagada division within the jurisdiction of the ECoR. "So, there is no loss of revenue for the East Coast zone," he added.

The Deputy CM also alleged that neither the BJD nor Congress had opposed the formation of the South Coast Railway Zone when the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill was passed by the UPA government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning a new railway division at Rayagada. "I assure this House that the rail network in the southern parts of the state will be enhanced after the completion of the Rayagada Division," he said.

BJP member Tankadhar Tripathy said Odisha had witnessed significant development in the railway sector over the past 10 years under Prime Minister Modis leadership.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to former president Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary and said he was a one-of-a-kind public figure - a statesman par excellence, a wonderful administrator and a repository of wisdom.

A veteran Congress leader, Mukherjee served as a Union minister in several governments before becoming India's 13th president. He died on August 31, 2020 at the age of 84.

"Remembering Shri Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary. Pranab Babu was a one-of-a-kind public figure - a statesman par excellence, a wonderful administrator and a repository of wisdom," Modi said in a post on X.

"His contributions to India's development are noteworthy. He was blessed with a unique ability to build consensus across the spectrum and this was due to his vast experience in governance and his deep understanding of India's culture as well as ethos," Modi said.

"We will keep working to realise his vision for our nation," he added.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) The government is introducing reforms to remove roadblocks in the path of the country's youth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told young innovators on Wednesday, asserting that the future of the world will be driven by innovation and knowledge.

Interacting with the innovators during the grand finale of the 'Smart India Hackathon (SIH)', the prime minister said the youth today is developing a feeling of ownership towards finding solutions for the country's challenges.

"India's strength is its innovative youth and technology power. We have introduced a new National Education Policy to nurture a scientific mindset. The government is removing roadblocks in the path of the country's youth by introducing reforms," Modi said while addressing more than 1,300 student teams via video conferencing.

"The future of the world will be driven by innovation and knowledge and India's youth today is developing a feeling of ownership towards finding solutions for the country's challenges," he added.

The seventh edition of the SIH concurrently began at 51 nodal centres nationwide on Wednesday. The Software Edition will run nonstop for 36 hours, while the Hardware Edition will continue from December 11 to 15.

Like past editions, the student teams will work on either the problem statements given by ministries, departments or industries or submit their ideas under the Student Innovation category against any of the 17 themes linked to sectors of national importance.

These sectors are - healthcare, supply chain and logistics, smart technologies, heritage and culture, sustainability, education and skill development, water, agriculture and food, emerging technologies, and disaster management.

According to the Ministry of Education, this year, more than 250 problem statements have been submitted by 54 ministries, departments, state governments, PSUs and industries.

"A 150 per cent increase has been recorded in internal hackathons at the institute level, growing from over 900 in the SIH 2023 to around 2,247 in SIH 2024, making this the largest edition so far.

"More than 86,000 teams have participated in the SIH 2024 at the institute level and around 49,000 student teams (each consisting of 6 students and 2 mentors) have been recommended by these institutes for the national level round," a ministry official said.
Azamgarh (UP), Dec 11 (PTI) A woman was killed and 22 other people were injured in a road accident in a town near the Azamgarh-Ambedkar Nagar border here early Wednesday, police said.

The accident took place near the Kandhrapur town on National Highway 233 when they were returning from the historic Guru Govind Sahib fair, police said.

"Around 24 people from the Sarailakhansi area of Mau district were travelling in a pickup van when it collided with a sugarcane-laden trolley. The accident led to the death of a woman, Bachchi Devi, and injuries to 22 others," Superintendent of Police (City) Shailendra Lal said.

He said all the injured were rushed to the district hospital for treatment.

Police and health department teams are on high alert with Chief Medical Officer and Chief Medical Superintendent present at the hospital to oversee the treatment, he added.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the bereaved family and directed officials to expedite relief efforts at the accident site.

He also instructed authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured and wished for their speedy recovery.

Further investigations in the accident are ongoing, the police said.
Jaipur, Dec 11 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Wednesday rushed a man injured in a road accident to hospital in his car, a CMO official said.

The accident occurred near the NRI Circle when one of the vehicles of the CM's carcade hit a road divider while trying to avoid collision with a car, the official added.

"Two people were injured in the accident. The chief minister stopped the vehicle and immediately rushed one injured to the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in his vehicle. The second injured was taken to a nearby hospital as he had very mild injuries.

"The CM's carcade was moving as usual and no traffic was stopped... an accident took place. The CM took information about the matter and wasted no time in taking the seriously injured person to the hospital in his vehicle, instead of waiting for an ambulance to come," he said.

Further details about the accident and the vehicles involved are awaited.
Azamgarh (UP), Dec 11 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh police has booked Samajwadi Party MLA Ramakant Yadav and three others under the Gangsters Act in connection with the 2022 hooch tragedy in Azamgarh that had claimed several lives, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The MLA, who is already in jail, and others have been linked to the Rangesh Yadav gang, which was earlier implicated in producing and selling adulterated liquor, according to officials.

"In 2022, spurious liquor sold at a government outlet in Ahraula led to multiple deaths. Cases were registered in the Ahraula and Phulpur police stations.

"Initially, 12 accused, including gang leader Rangesh Yadav, were booked under the Gangsters Act. After further investigation, Ramakant Yadav and three others have been added as gang members in this case," Superintendent of Police (Azamgarh Rural) Chirag Jain said.

According to police, besides Yadav, who is the MLA from Phulpur Pawai constituency, Naseem alias Naseem Neta of Rupipur village in Ahraula, Ravi Kumar Kshatri alias Rajkumar from Varanasi, and Joyanta Kumar Mitra from North 24 Parganas in West Bengal have been booked under the Gangsters Act.

The police said that the accused were involved in manufacturing adulterated liquor and selling it through licensed outlets.

"Legal action is being taken, and their properties will be identified and seized," Jain added.

The case traces back to February 2022, when six people died due to the consumption of adulterated liquor. Multiple FIRs were registered, leading to action against the gang, including the alleged kingpin Rangesh Yadav.

Deputy Inspector General (Azamgarh Range) Vaibhav Krishna said booking the accused under the stringent Gangsters Act clearly demonstrates that the police are committed to a zero-tolerance policy against any kind of mafia activities in the region.

"Strict and effective measures will be taken against offenders involved in the production of illegal liquor, liquor smuggling, cattle smuggling, land mafia activities, examination fraud, and brokerage in contracts," Krishna said.

"Criminals engaged in such activities will be identified and dealt with continuously, and properties acquired through criminal activities will also be identified and confiscated," the DIG added.
Chandigarh, Dec 11 (PTI) Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu Wednesday appealed to voters in Patiala to elect a BJP mayor in the upcoming civic polls, saying such a person can "directly" approach the prime minister and other Union ministers to accelerate the city's development.

Elections to five municipal corporations -- Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Phagwara -- and 44 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Punjab will be held on December 21.

Accusing the AAP government in Punjab of "doing nothing" for the state, Bittu said, "The AAP volunteers, on whose back the government was formed, are nowhere to be seen. They have all been completely ignored by the party which has given tickets to defectors (of other parties)."

"A BJP mayor will facilitate the initiation of large projects for Patiala's development, just like in other states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, which have already benefitted from the BJP's development agenda," he said in Patiala.

"If you choose BJP mayors, they can go directly to the prime minister, home minister and other Union ministers and bring projects for the city development. Vote for development, vote for BJP. The Punjab government has completely failed, so there's no need to vote for AAP's candidates," Bittu said.

The Union minister alleged that at the behest of the AAP government, BJP candidates were not being given the no-objection certificates needed to file nominations for the municipal corporation polls.

Senior BJP leader Preneet Kaur alleged that BJP candidates were being "pressured and threatened" by the AAP government in Patiala.

"We have received reports that policemen are being sent to their homes to intimidate them. Our district president was threatened by the police team. This is a clear violation of democratic principles and the Constitution," she said.

"We will file FIRs and cases against them, whether through the Election Commission or court intervention. We have asked our workers to make videos of such incidents and file complaints straightaway. We are in direct contact with the Central government over this and will not let them indulge in such undemocratic actions again," Kaur added.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming urban local bodies elections on Wednesday.

The party's Punjab unit president Aman Arora highlighted the developmental work carried out by the state government over the past two-and-a-half years.

"AAP's track record in urban and rural development has won the people's trust as evidenced by their resounding support in recent panchayat and by-elections," he said.

"AAP has adopted a grassroots approach for candidate selection. We received an overwhelming response with over 5,000 applications for 977 wards in just a few days. In some wards, we received as many as 15-20 applications per seat. This reflects the people's faith in our governance and policies," Arora said.

The first list includes 94 wards of Ludhiana, 56 wards of Patiala and 74 wards of Amritsar, he added.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) The BJP has started a campaign to reach out to members of OBC sub-castes through dozens of meetings and conferences in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly polls in February next year.

There are around 52 such sub-castes among the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Delhi that will be included in the contact programme. The campaign has started with a meeting of members of the Pal community attended by Union minister SP Sing Baghel, said Delhi BJP's OBC Morcha president Sunil Yadav.

He said in the coming days, meetings of various other OBC sub-castes including Rava Rajput, Kashyap, Rajbhar, Jogi, Lodhi and Teli will be held in which prominent party leaders will also participate.

"The members of the OBC community are the largest section of voters in Delhi. Many among the other backward classes are lesser in numbers and they are the focus of this campaign," he said.

The elections for the 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi will be held in February next year. The BJP is out of power in Delhi since 1998.

Besides, the meetings and conferences, the OBC Morcha will also hold two big meetings of professionals and women belonging to the community, Yadav said.

These meetings will be attended by prominent persons from the city including professionals, entrepreneurs, businessmen and other influential members of the OBC community, he said.

Yadav said that BJP OBC leaders will explain about the work done by the Narendra Modi government like giving Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes and the passage of the 127th Constitution Amendment that allowed states and Union Territories to prepare their own list of backward classes.

"We will explain to community members how the other political parties have cheated them and treated them only as vote banks. It is the Modi government who worked for their welfare," Yadav added.

After these meetings and conferences, the Delhi BJP OBC wing has also planned over 500 community-specific meetings at assembly and ward level across the city, he added.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 11. The Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov will make a working visit to Moscow on December 11-13, Trend reports, citing the countrys Cabinet of Ministers.

PM Japarov will take part in meetings of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

During the CIS meeting, the participants will discuss key issues related to further economic cooperation, including the signing of several agreements on the digital transformation of transport infrastructure, training personnel for penitentiary services, overcoming barriers in mutual trade between CIS member states, and humanitarian cooperation for 2025-2026, among others.

The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting will cover a broad range of topics, including financial support for joint cooperation projects in industry, the formation of common gas, oil, and petroleum product markets, and the development of e-commerce within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Following the meetings, several documents are expected to be signed.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to two men arrested in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case, taking note of their prolonged incarceration and unlikelihood that the trial would begin in the near future.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih observed Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir were in jail since their arrest on November 11, 2023, in the case and even the charges had not been framed against them yet.

"Appellants have been in custody for approximately one year and one month. Charges have not been framed in the complaint filed under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act). In the complaint, 29 witnesses have been cited, and about 50 documents are being relied upon which run into more than 4,000 pages, the bench said.

The top court went on, "The trial is not likely to commence soon as even charges have not been framed. Therefore, in the facts of the case and in view of the undertakings furnished by the appellants and what is held in paragraphs of the judgement of this court in the case of Senthil Balajithe appellants have to be enlarged on bail."

The bench subsequently directed the men to be produced before the special court within a week to complete the bail formalities and to be released on bail on appropriate terms and conditions, which include abiding by the undertakings filed in the top court.

The bench said the appellants undertakings of December 6 and December 9, 2024, filed before it would be part of the record, and its compliance would be a bail condition.

"If the hearing of the complaint is delayed due to any act or omission on part of the appellants, it will be open for the respondent (ED) to apply for cancellation of bail before the special court, the bench said.

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, the former chairperson of Delhi Waqf Board, was the main accused in the case and he was recently granted relief by a trial court, which refused to take cognisance of a chargesheet filed against him. The ED has moved against the trial court's decision.

Haider and Nasir were arrested by the ED in November 2023 in a case alleging irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment process.

The ED accused Khan of laundering proceeds of crime amounting to approximately Rs 36 crore, which were allegedly used to purchase immovable properties through associates, including Haider and Nasir.

The case stems from a CBI FIR and multiple complaints lodged by the Delhi police.

The EDs investigation unearthed alleged illegal recruitment, financial mismanagement, and misuse of Waqf Board properties during Khans tenure as the chairman between 2018 and 2022.

The Delhi High Court previously denied bail to Haider and Nasir in July, 2024, citing sufficient evidence to invoke the stringent bail restrictions under Section 45 of the PMLA.

It observed that Khan and his associates engaged in transactions involving significant cash payments concealed from authorities.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) A Delhi court has highlighted the misuse of technology to target young children and awarded a 5-year jail term to a man accused of morphing a minor's images to deter similar "tech-savvy criminals to think several times" prior to committing such acts.

The minor's images were allegedly used for pornographic purposes and she was threatened of defamation, which the court termed as cyber bullying.

Additional sessions judge Susheel Bala Dagar said, "...convict does not deserve any leniency, so that similarly placed tech-savvy criminals should think several times before committing any such crime with children."

The court was hearing the case against a 34-year-old man convicted under the provisions of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Information Technology (IT) Act, besides under the penal provision for criminal intimidation.

Additional public prosecutor Yogita Kaushik Dahiya sought the maximum punishment saying the convict was found guilty of cyber bullying the child by creating a nude photograph, which was a "child sexually abusive material".

The court verdict dated December 2 expressed concerns over the rise in sexual crimes against children in the cyber world.

The court said it was established the convict was guilty of "sexting" the minor survivor and "sextortion" and he threatened to upload her morphed photo on the internet and social media platforms if she did not obey his command.

"This is one such case of image-based cyber bullying of the victim child. The perpetrator satisfied his anger and frustration by transmitting morphed sexually provocative portrayals (photos) of the victim and threatening to publicly defame the victim by misusing information or her photograph available in the public domain," it said.

The order observed it was the societys responsibility to protect children from physiological and psychological exploitation by online sexual abusers, such as cyber stalkers and cyber bullies.

"Respect for the reputation of females, specifically female children, shows the basic civility of a society. It is a demand for justice that the award of punishment has to be in consonance with the legislative command and the discretion vested in the court," the judge said in the verdict.

The court sentenced the convict to rigorous imprisonment of five years and fined him with Rs 1 lakh under Section 67B (punishment for publishing or transmitting material depicting children in a sexually explicit act, etc., in electronic form) of the IT Act.

It further sentenced him to a five-year rigorous imprisonment and a three- year rigorous imprisonment under Sections 14 (using a child for pornographic purposes) and 12 (sexual harassment), respectively, of POCSO Act.

The man was also sentenced to one-year imprisonment under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

All sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

The court awarded Rs 5 lakh compensation to the victim.

According to the FIR, the incident took place in 2016.



Court: organise awareness workshops at schools



Notably, the court's verdict said with technologies like artificial intelligence, such crimes were bound to increase unless the courts stepped in "proactively" by taking a "hard stance to nip them in the bud".

The judge in the order suggested the government and its departments to organise workshops for spreading awareness among children on cyber crimes.

"The government and its functionaries ought to consider organising workshops in schools to enlighten the students and their parents about cyber crimes. There is a lack of general awareness amongst the masses about maintaining privacy and where and to whom to report when such crime is detected in the first instance," the order said.
Gopeshwar (Uttarakhand), Dec 11 (PTI) A district court in Chamoli on Wednesday sentenced a man to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment for raping his 10-year-old daughter, officials said.

Special district sessions judge of Chamoli, Bindhyachal Singh, sentenced the man convicted under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment, besides slapping a fine of Rs 25,000 on him.

Special public prosecutor Mohan Pant said Rs 20,000 of the fine amount will be paid to the victim by the court.

Under the provisions of POCSO Act and the Uttarakhand Victim from Crime Assistance Scheme, 2013, the state government has also been ordered to pay Rs 3 lakh to the victim as compensation within 30 days.

The case dates back to 2022 when the victim and her family lived in a rented room in the Joshimath tehsil, Pant said.

The girl's father raped her when her mother went out for some work in the village. The matter came to light three days later when the girl narrated her ordeal to her mother on being asked why she was so silent. When the woman questioned her husband, he beat her up, Pant said.

In September 2022, a case was registered against the man at the Joshimath police station following which he was arrested.

During the hearing, the court found the facts presented by the prosecution to be correct before holding the man guilty.
Chandigarh, Dec 11 (PTI) Punjab Police has registered a case against Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale in a 2012 case of alleged rape and murder of a woman in Patiala, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was informed.

The FIR under section 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at Passiana Police station in Patiala on December 7, according to an affidavit filed by Punjab Police Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav before the high court on Tuesday.

The FIR was lodged on a complaint filed by the victim's brother, a Patiala resident.

Sikh preacher Dhandrianwale, who heads Parmeshwar Dwar gurdwara, a dera in Shekhupura village in Patiala, has a large following in Punjab and among the Punjabi diaspora abroad.

Dhadrianwale, in a video message, said he would cooperate with the police investigation.

"They (the family) have moved the high court. They have a doubt and they should clear their doubt. The high court has said investigate the case after registering the FIR. It may take some time but the truth will come out. I have full faith in the high court and the Punjab Police," the Sikh preacher said.

The DGP's affidavit came after the victim's brother alleged that his sister was raped and murdered. He further alleged that no action was taken by police at the time of the incident.

The petition of the woman's brother was taken up in November and during the previous hearing, the bench presided over by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu had asked the DGP to explain as to what action has been taken against officials who handled the case in 2012.

The woman was found in an unconscious condition outside the gate of gurdwara Parmeshwar Dwar on April 22, 2012. She later died at a hospital before she could make any statement, according to the affidavit of the DGP.

The mother of the victim then had not raised suspicion against any person for the death of the woman.

A postmortem report revealed that the death was caused due to poisoning by aluminum phosphate insecticide.

The victim's family later testified before the executive magistrate that they do not suspect any foul play in the death of the woman. She had died on account of consumption of some poisonous substance, the affidavit stated.

The police then forwarded the inquest report in June 2013, which was approved by the sub-divisional magistrate, Patiala in February 2014.

According to the affidavit, the sister of the deceased filed four complaints from June 19, 2012 to November 9, 2012 for taking action against Dhadrianwale.

An inquiry into the matter was conducted by the then Station House Officer, Passiana Police station and recommendation was made for filling the said complaints.

The DGP affidavit said show-cause notices have been issued to then deputy superintendent of police Sewa Singh Malhi (who is now retired) and then SHO Ashok Kumar (now SP) on December 7.

According to the office procedure, the records for the years January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2014 have been destroyed in October 2020, according to the DGP affidavit.

It further said on December 21, 2023, the woman's brother had alleged that he was threatened by some persons not to raise his voice against Dhadrianwale.

Subsequently, another complaint was filed by the woman's brother which was forwarded to the Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police on October 16, 2024

The affidavit said that a case has been registered against Dhadrianwale on the complaint of the petitioner and the case is under investigation.
Kannur (Kerala), Dec 11 (PTI) The opposition Congress in Kerala on Wednesday accused the ruling CPI (M) of being "intolerant" towards other political parties and denying them the freedom to freely function even in the home village of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.



The Marxist party and CM Vijayan were acting with a "dictatorial mindset", which is unacceptable, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan told reporters here.



He was speaking after visiting the recently vandalised new Congress booth committee office at Venduttayi near Vijayan's hometown of Pinarayi.



The Congress has charged the CPI(M) with "orchestrating the vandalism" on Saturday last.



Terming the incident as "highly unfortunate" and "condemnable", he said, "It was in the home village of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the office of a political party was vandalised and set on fire."



The LoP sought to know what kind of democracy prevailed in the state as other political parties were not allowed to function even in the home village of the CM.



Satheesan demanded that the Chief Minister, who is acting like a "dictator", should respond to this.



"Stringent action should be taken against those who were responsible for this (vandalising of Congress office)," he said, adding that everyone was aware of the close connections of the attackers with the ruling party.



Alleging that the CPI (M) has been showcasing this "dictatorial attitude" throughout the state, the LoP said the Congress would not allow this at any cost.



The Leader of Opposition visited the vandalised local office of the party, days after the KPCC chief K Sudhakaran had courted a controversy by saying that CPI(M) offices could be demolished overnight.



Addressing party workers at the inauguration of a new Congress office in Venduttayi, which had allegedly been vandalised by unidentified people, Sudhakaran claimed on Sunday that it would only take 10 Congress workers to "bring down" CPI(M) offices in a single night.
Visakhapatnam, Dec 11 (PTI) Four minor high school boys, inspired by a Telugu movie, escaped from their hostel in Visakhapatnam but were rescued by police at Vijayawada railway station, a police official said on Wednesday.

The boys scaled their hostel gate at Maharanipeta in the port city recently, carrying Rs 3,600 in cash. They reportedly wanted to emulate actor Dulquer Salmaan's character from the recently released, 'Lucky Baskhar' and dreamed of becoming rich and driving cars to their school.

"After watching the movie in their hostel, the boys decided to run away, become rich, and drive cars to school. Motivated by this, they scaled the hostel gate and escaped," the police official told PTI.

However, after spending all the cash they had, the boys were found by a police team at Vijayawada railway station on Tuesday night and were safely rescued.

On Wednesday morning, the boys were handed over to their parents.

According to the police, three boys are in the ninth standard, while one is in the eighth standard at a local school.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday said Manipur was in the throes of a grave humanitarian crisis and demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament on the issue.

Raising the matter during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi slammed the BJP for raising the George Soros issue in Parliament, contending that the ruling party was doing so to "hide its failures in Manipur".

"The entire state is in a humanitarian crisis and instead of finding a solution, the government is sending paramilitary forces and enforcing the AFSPA. This is not addressing the cycle of violence," the Congress leader said.

He said the people of Manipur only want to know when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state and when will the home minister apprise the House of the steps required to resolve the situation in the state.

"This government, in order to hide its failure in Manipur, is using George Soros as a shield," Gogoi said, triggering a sharp reaction from the treasury benches.

The Congress leader said extortion has become rampant in Manipur, the economy has been shattered and basic public services were on the brink of collapse.

"Unfortunately, there has been a rise in the illegal trade of arms, drugs, and timber. The impact on the lives of ordinary people has been devastating," he said.

Gogoi said schools and colleges were closed and the education of thousands of students was at risk.

"Healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Fear and uncertainty have gripped the population," the Congress leader said.

Gogoi's reference to Soros prompted Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to counter by claiming links between the Congress leadership and certain Soros-backed outfits allegedly working to destabilise India.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is conscious and recovering in an intensive-care unit after undergoing unplanned surgery for an intracranial hemorrhage, doctors from the Sirio-Libanes hospital in Sao Paulo said on Tuesday.

The procedure was performed after the 79-year-old leftist leader suffered complications resulting from a fall at home in October, doctors said.

He is in a stable condition, talking normally and eating. He will remain under observation for the next few days, Dr. Roberto Kalil told a press conference.

There will be no after effects, doctors said, adding that Lula expected to return to the capital Brasilia at the beginning of next week. In the meantime, he will not be working, they said.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Lula travelled from Brasilia to be treated 1,000 kilometers south (620 miles) in Sao Paulo.

Rosangela da Silva  Brazils first lady also known as Janja  travelled with Lula to Sao Paulo and is by his side, doctors said, adding that he had had no other visitors.

Lula canceled a trip to Russia for a BRICS summit after the accident, his office said at the time. It left him with a cut visible on the back of his head, slightly above his neck.

(AP)
A week after President-elect Donald Trumps victory, Elon Musk said his political action committee would play a significant role in primaries.

The following week, the billionaire responded to a report that he might fund challengers to GOP House members who dont support Trumps nominees. How else? There is no other way, Musk wrote on X, which he rebranded after purchasing Twitter and moving to boost conservative voices, including his own.

And during his recent visit to Capitol Hill, Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy delivered a warning to Republicans who dont go along with their plans to slash spending as part of Trumps proposed Department of Government Efficiency.

Elon and Vivek talked about having a naughty list and a nice list for members of Congress and senators and how we vote and how were spending the American peoples money, said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.

Trumps second term comes with the specter of the worlds richest man serving as his political enforcer. Within Trumps team, there is a feeling that Musk not only supports Trumps agenda and Cabinet appointments, but is intent on seeing them through to the point of pressuring Republicans who may be less devout.

One Trump adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal political dynamics, noted Musk had come to enjoy his role on the campaign and that he clearly had the resources to stay involved.

The adviser and others noted that Musks role is still taking shape. And Musk, once a supporter of President Barack Obama before moving to the right in recent years, is famously mercurial.

I think he was really important for this election. Purchasing Twitter, truly making it a free speech platform, I think, was integral to this election, to the win that Donald Trump had, said departing Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, the president-elects daughter-in-law. But I dont know that ultimately he wants to be in politics. I think he considers himself to be someone on the outside.

During the presidential campaign, Musk contributed roughly $200 million to America PAC, a super PAC aimed at reaching Trump voters online and in person in the seven most competitive states, which Trump swept. He also invested $20 million in a group called RBG PAC, which ran ads arguing Trump would not sign a national abortion ban even as the former president nominated three of the justices who overturned a federally guaranteed right to the procedure.

Musks donation to RBG PAC  a name that invokes the initials of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion of abortion rights  wasnt revealed until post-election campaign filings were made public Thursday.

Musk has said he hopes to keep America PAC funded and operating. Beyond that, he has used his X megaphone to suggest he is at least open to challenging less exuberant Trump supporters in Congress.

Another key Trump campaign ally has been more aggressive online. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose group Turning Point Action also worked to turn out voters for Trump, named Republican senators he wants to target.

This is not a joke, everybody. The funding is already being put together. Donors are calling like crazy. Primaries are going to be launched, Kirk said on his podcast, singling out Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Jim Risch of Idaho, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina as potential targets. All four Republican senators seats are up in 2026.

For now, Musk has been enjoying the glow of his latest conquest, joining Trump for high-level meetings and galas at the soon-to-be presidents Mar-a-Lago resort home in Palm Beach, Florida. The incoming administration is seeded with Musk allies, including venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks serving as the White House A.I. & Crypto Czar and Jared Isaacman, a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Musks SpaceX, named to lead NASA.

Musk could help reinforce Trumps agenda immediately, some GOP strategists said, by using America PAC to pressure key Republicans. Likewise, Musk could begin targeting moderate Democrats in pivotal states and districts this spring, urging them to break with their party on key issues, Republican strategist Chris Pack said.

Instead of using his influence to twist GOP arms when you have majorities in both houses, he could start going after Democrats who vote against Trumps agenda in states where the election was a referendum for Trump, said Pack, former communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Otherwise, if you pressure Republicans with a primary, you can end up with a Republican who cant win, and then a Democrat in that seat.

(AP)
Massive U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State militants in Syria were meant in part as a message to the group and a move to ensure that it doesnt try to take advantage of the chaos following the overthrow of President Bashar Assads government.

The U.S. and its partners want to make sure the Islamic State group, which still has a presence in Syria, cant step into the leadership void and once again exert control over wide swaths of the country, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Monday. The U.S. on Sunday struck about 75 IS targets in the Syrian desert.

The U.S. has had troops in Syria for the last decade to battle IS. The tumult following a rebel offensive that toppled Assad has raised fears of an Islamic State resurgence.

ISIS will try to use this period to reestablish its capabilities, to create safe havens, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday, using another acronym for the group. As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we are determined not to let that happen.

So far, U.S. officials are saying that they do not plan an increase in American forces in Syria but are focused on making sure those already there are safe.

Heres a look at the U.S. fight against the Islamic State group:

Whats the U.S. military presence in Syria?

The U.S. has about 900 troops and an undisclosed number of contractors in Syria, largely at small bases in the north and east, with a small number farther south at the al-Tanf garrison closer to the Iraq and Jordan borders.

U.S. special operations forces also routinely move in and out of the country but are usually in small teams and are not included in the official count.

Islamic State militants seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014, declaring a caliphate. The U.S. gathered a coalition of allies and was able to defeat IS in Iraq in 2017. The U.S. partnered with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, and after fierce fighting, ultimately declared an end to the caliphate in Syria in 2019.

Remnants of the militant group remain, including as many as 10,000 fighters held in SDF-run detention facilities in Syria and tens of thousands of their family members living in refugee camps.

And IS fighters have been more active over the past year or so, including in attacks against U.S. and Kurdish forces in Syria.

The country has been wracked by violence and competing interests. Russia has a naval port in the north, and while there have been fewer Russian forces in the area since the onset of the war in Ukraine, the U.S. maintains a deconfliction phoneline with Moscow to avoid any troop miscalculations on the ground or in the air.

Iran also has had a significant presence, often using Syria as a transit route to move weapons into Lebanon for use by Hezbollah militants against Israel.

The al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria is located on a vital road that can link Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israels doorstep. So troops at the U.S. garrison can try and disrupt those shipments.

Why is the U.S. striking Islamic State targets?

The U.S. has, over the past decade, routinely targeted IS leaders, camps and weapons in Syria to keep the group at bay and prevent it from coalescing.

In the past year, as Israels war with Hamas widened into a broader conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria as well as by the Islamic State group have escalated.

As a result, the U.S. has kept up a steady drumbeat of counterattacks against all the groups, including against IS camps in the desert, where fighters found safe haven.

Officials say that while the group is vastly weaker than in 2014, it still maintains thousands of militants in Syria.

On Sunday, the U.S. launched one of its larger, more expansive assaults against IS camps and operatives in the desert, taking advantage of the Assad governments downfall. The U.S. bombed at least 75 targets in about five locations using B-52 bombers, A-10 attack aircraft and F-15 fighter jets.

Does it send a message? I mean, I think it absolutely sends a message that we use B-52s, A-10s and F-15s, Singh told reporters. She had no other details on the result of the strikes.

Whats next for the U.S. in Syria?

The Biden administration insists the U.S. will not get involved in Syrias war or the overthrow of the Assad government. But the U.S. and its allies have deep interests in Syria, including the efforts to defeat IS, disrupt Iran-backed groups and contain the remnants of al-Qaida and other terror groups that have found sanctuary.

I think it is a harbinger of more instability and the potential for more political violence, Chris Costa, former senior director for counterterrorism in the first Trump administration, said last week before the fall of Damascus. Costa spent decades in the U.S. Army and ran special operations in combat zones. I think theres the potential for ISIS again to make trouble not just for the Iraqis but also be emboldened in the region.

Alex Younger, who led Britains foreign intelligence agency, MI6, between 2014 and 2020, said a big concern is the very large number of ISIS detainees left over from the destruction of the caliphate.

Younger told the BBC that IS remnants are currently contained by the Kurdish groups in the east, but if they go off the job, you can expect a serious spike in the threat posed to Europe by ISIS.

Who will rule Syria?

Another problem is figuring out whos in charge.

The opposition forces that stormed into Damascus and sent Assad fleeing to Russia are led by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, that originally was part of al-Qaida, but split a number of years ago. HTS is considered a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations.

Its leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has sought to reassure Syrians that the group is more moderate. U.S. officials say that while he may be saying some of the right things, they are adopting a wait-and-see attitude for now.

White House national security spokesman, John Kirby, told CNN News Central on Monday that while HTS was the vanguard they arent the only opposition group involved.

Were going to be working through all the processes we can, including at the U.N., to make sure that there is adequate communication with these opposition groups and that we are all working together, he said.

Singh said she is not aware of any formal U.S. channel of communications with the group. But, she said, We have other ways of getting messages through, you know, groups and other allies in the region.

(AP)
An apartment building collapsed on Tuesday in Egypts capital, killing at least eight people, authorities said.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that the collapse of the six-story building in Cairos western neighborhood of Waili also injured three people, who were hospitalized.

Cairos governor, Ibrahim Saber, ordered the evacuation of neighboring houses as a precautionary measure, according to a statement from the governors office.

It wasnt immediately clear what caused the building, which was constructed in the 1960s, to collapse. The governors office said that prosecutors were investigating.

Building collapses are common in Egypt, where shoddy construction and a lack of maintenance are widespread in shantytowns, poor city neighborhoods and rural areas.

The government has tried to crack down on illegal building in recent years after decades of lax enforcement. Authorities are also building new cities and neighborhoods to rehouse those living in at-risk areas.

But many Egyptian cities still contain entire neighborhoods of unlicensed apartment buildings and shantytowns that dont follow building codes and regulations.

(AP)
A former South Korean defense minister was formally arrested Wednesday over his alleged collusion with President Yoon Suk Yeol and others in imposing martial law last week, as authorities investigate whether their acts amount to rebellion.

Martial law, the first in more than 40 years, lasted only about six hours but has triggered a domestic firestorm and large street protests. Yoon and his associates face criminal investigations and impeachment attempts. The Justice Ministry has banned Yoon and eight others from leaving the country as authorities see them as key suspects in the martial law case. Its the first time that a sitting president in South Korea has received a travel ban.

The Seoul Central District Court said it approved an arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun on charges of rebellion and abuse of power.

Kim has been detained since Sunday. Prosecutors have up to 20 days to determine whether to indict him. A conviction on the charge of rebellion carries a maximum death sentence.

Kim became the first person arrested over the case. He has been accused of recommending martial law to Yoon and sending troops to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from voting on it. Enough lawmakers eventually managed to enter a parliament chamber and unanimously rejected Yoons decree, forcing the Cabinet to lift it before daybreak on Dec. 4.

Kim said in a statement Tuesday that he deeply apologizes for causing significant anxiety and inconvenience. He said all responsibility for the imposition of martial law rests solely with him and pleaded for leniency for soldiers deployed to enforce it, saying they were only following his order.

Prosecutors reportedly accuse Kim of playing a key role in a rebellion and committing abuse of power by staging a riot to disrupt the constitution in collaboration with Yoon and other military and police officers. Prosecutors offices in Seoul couldnt immediately confirm the reports.

The opposition-controlled parliament passed a bill Tuesday to appoint an independent special counsel to investigate Yoon and other top military officials over the martial law introduction. The main opposition Democratic Party had advocated for a special counsel investigation, arguing that public prosecutors cannot be trusted to conduct a thorough investigation of Yoon, a former prosecutor-general.

During a parliamentary hearing Tuesday, Kwak Jong-keun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command whose troops were sent to parliament, testified that he received direct instructions from Kim Yong Hyun to obstruct lawmakers from entering the National Assemblys main chamber. Kwak said the purpose of Kims instructions was to prevent the 300-member parliament from gathering the 150 votes necessary to overturn Yoons martial law order.

Kwak said Yoon later called him directly and asked for the troops to quickly destroy the door and drag out the lawmakers who are inside. Kwak said he discussed Yoons order with the commander at the scene and that they concluded there was nothing that could be done, ruling out the possibility of threatening the lawmakers by shooting blanks or cutting off electricity.

At the same hearing, senior officer Kim Dae-woo of the militarys counterintelligence agency said his commander, Yeo In-hyung, asked him if an army bunker in Seoul had space to detain politicians and other figures after martial law was imposed. Yeo is considered a close associate of Kim Yong Hyun. Last week, Hong Jang-won, a deputy director of the countrys spy agency, said Yoon ordered him to help Yeos command to detain some of his political rivals but he ignored the presidents order.

Kwak and Yeo are among those who face opposition-raised rebellion charges along with Yoon and Kim, and the Defense Ministry suspended them last week.

Opposition parties and many experts say the martial law decree was unconstitutional. They say a president is by law allowed to declare martial law only during wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states and South Korea wasnt in such a situation. They argue that deploying troops to seal the National Assembly to suspend its political activities amounted to rebellion because the South Korean Constitution doesnt allow a president to use the military to suspend parliament in any situation.

In his martial law announcement, the conservative Yoon stressed a need to rebuild the country by eliminating shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces, a reference to his liberal rivals who control parliament.

Yoon avoided impeachment on Saturday after most governing party lawmakers boycotted a floor vote in the National Assembly.

The Democratic Party said it would prepare for a new vote on Yoons impeachment on Saturday. The party on Tuesday submitted motions to impeach Yoons police chief and justice minister as well. It pushed to impeach Kim Yong Hyun and the safety minister, but they resigned before parliament took a vote.

If Yoon is impeached, his presidential powers would be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to restore his powers or remove him from office. If it voted for removal, a new presidential election would be required.

(AP)
The lower house of the Russian parliament gave initial approval Tuesday to a long-discussed bill that would set the stage for Moscow to remove the designation of the Taliban in Afghanistan as a terrorist group.

Under the bill passed by the State Duma in the first of three required readings, the official terrorist designation of an organization could be suspended temporarily by a court. The legislation also needs to be approved by the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

The Taliban were put on Russias list of terrorist organizations in 2003, and any contact with such groups is punishable under Russian law. At the same time, Taliban delegations attended various forums hosted by Moscow.

Russian officials have shrugged off questions about the seeming contradiction by emphasizing the need to engage the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan.

The Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989. Since then, Moscow has made a diplomatic comeback as an influential power broker, hosting talks on Afghanistan involving senior representatives of the Taliban and neighboring nations.

There is a deepening divide in the international community on how to deal with the Taliban, who have been in power for three years and face no internal or external opposition. Afghanistans rulers have pursued bilateral ties with major regional powers.

(AP)
In a move that marks a major shift in New York Citys response to the migrant crisis, the controversial shelter at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn will be shuttered in January. This decision comes as the number of asylum seekers in New York City has plummeted to its lowest level in over 17 months, according to City Hall officials.

The Floyd Bennett Field shelter is one of 25 city-run emergency shelters across the city and upstate New York that will be closed or have already been shut down. Mayor Eric Adams attributed this development to the citys effective management strategies, stating that weve turned the corner, and this additional slate of shelter closuresis even more proof that were managing this crisis better than any other city in the nation.

The shelter has been a focal point of heated debates surrounding migration in New York since its opening in August 2023. Local residents in Marine Park, the Rockaways, and other communities have expressed concerns about the impact of the shelter on their neighborhoods, citing issues such as shoplifting, panhandling, and other degenerative activities.

However, Molly Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Mayors Office of Asylum Seeker Operations, emphasized the shelters role in providing critical support to hundreds of families in need. Todays announcement is a direct reflection of the tireless commitment of our teamsNew York City continues to lead from the front, she said.

The closure of the Floyd Bennett Field shelter is part of a broader effort to consolidate and optimize the citys migrant support services. Fifteen of the 25 announced closures are located across four boroughs, with the remaining 10 shelters situated in upstate New York.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Biden administration said Tuesday it will recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the U.S. would work with groups in Syria and regional partners to ensure that the transition from President Bashar Assads deposed government runs smoothly. He was not specific about which groups the U.S. would work with, but the State Department has not ruled out talks with the main Syrian rebel group despite its designation as a terrorist organization.

The qualified pledge of support for a post-Assad Syria comes as the Biden administration continues to look to target Islamic State fighters to prevent the group from reemerging as an international threat and maintains support for Israel as its forces conduct their own operations inside Syria.

The sudden ouster of Assad has left President Joe Bidens outgoing administration having to delicately maneuver through yet another volatile moment in the Middle East and as President-elect Donald Trump demands that the United States tread carefully in the region and stay out of the fray.

The transition process and new government must also uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that any chemical or biological weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed, Blinken said.

He added that Syrians should decide their future and that other countries should support an inclusive and transparent process and not interfere.

The United States will recognize and fully support a future Syria government that results from this process, Blinken said. We stand prepared to lend all appropriate support to all of Syrias diverse communities and constituencies.

The Assad government collapsed over the weekend during lightning strikes led by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. since 2012.

The State Department says it will review that designation if the group takes steps to reverse the reasons for it but says the listing itself does not prohibit discussions between its members and U.S. officials.

Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, whom Trump has picked to serve as his national security adviser, said the jury is out on HTS and its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani.

On the one hand, though, hes not, at least so far, beheading former Assad regime officials or hanging them from bridges. They do seem to be sitting and talking, which is a very, which is a good initial first sign, Waltz said in a Fox News interview. But President Trump and our team are watching very closely., and were also watching very closely the tens of thousands of ISIS fighters and their, and their families that are still held in camps from when President Trump in his first term cleaned up and destroyed the ISIS caliphate.

The White House also signaled its approval of Israels strikes against Syrian military and alleged chemical weapons targets as well as the seizure of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights after the fall of the Assad government.

These are exigent operations to eliminate what they believe are imminent threats to their national security, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday, saying the U.S. would leave it up to the Israelis to discuss their operations.

They have, as always, the right to defend themselves, Kirby said.

He declined to say whether any U.S. intelligence cooperation with the Israelis may have gone into the strikes.

Kirby said the White House was reasserting its support of the 1974 Golan Heights disengagement agreement, but he didnt criticize the Israeli seizure of the demilitarized zone. The agreement on disengagement between Israel and Syria, which concluded the Yom Kippur War, established the buffer zone.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israels military is temporarily seizing control of the buffer zone, saying the disengagement agreement has collapsed with the rebel takeover of Syria. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar are condemning Israels deployment into Golan Heights, a plateau about 60 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Damascus.

Israel seized the strategic highlands from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and unilaterally annexed it in 1981. The U.S., during Trumps first White House term, became the only country to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan, which the rest of the international community regards as Israeli-occupied.

Biden is dispatching his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, to Israel this week for talks with Netanyahu and Israelis officials about the situation in Syria and ongoing efforts to win a ceasefire and hostage deal that could bring an endgame to the war in Gaza.

Sullivan is scheduled to meet on Tuesday at the White House with the families of American hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Kirby said while Israel and Hamas are not on the verge of completion of a deal, U.S. officials think the evolving situation could bolster the chances of getting a deal done.

Hamas has got to be looking out at the world today and realizing that the cavalrys not coming to rescue them. and so one would hope that recent developments in Syria reinforce, for them, that they are just increasingly isolated and ought to take a deal, Kirby said.

(AP)
The Hillel building at San Francisco State University was defaced with graffiti referencing an ancient battle in which Muslim forces defeated Jewish fighters, in what is being called an antisemitic attack. Vandals spray-painted the word Khaybar on the buildings sign late Sunday or early Monday, according to the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Bay Area.

The term Khaybar is often chanted at protests against Israel and refers to a 7th-century battle on the Arabian Peninsula that ended in the slaughter of Jewish tribes. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) notes that it has become a rallying cry for antisemitic sentiment in modern protests. The vandals also painted communist and anarchist symbols beneath the word and scrawled Death to Western imperialism! on the centers garage door.

In addition to the graffiti, the perpetrators reportedly attempted to break into the building.

Tyler Gregory, CEO of the Bay Area JCRC, condemned the act as part of a troubling rise in antisemitism on college campuses. The Hillel House is a vibrant community center and should be a place where Jewish students feel safe and comfortable, especially as antisemitism continues to soar on campus, he said in a statement.

Gregory called on elected officials and educational leaders to take stronger measures to curb antisemitic rhetoric at campus protests and in classrooms, warning of its potential to incite attacks on Jewish institutions and individuals.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A Baltimore court on Tuesday sentenced 19-year-old William Holloman to life in prison with all but 50 years suspended for the 2021 fatal shooting of Israeli visitor Efraim Gordon hyd. The emotional sentencing hearing marked a somber conclusion to a case that deeply affected both the victims family and the Jewish community in Baltimore and beyond.

Holloman was convicted in July on charges of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and gun offenses. Gordon, who was in northwest Baltimore for a cousins wedding, was fatally shot in the chest during an attempted robbery as he walked to his relatives home on Fords Lane.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn, who presided over the case, also recommended Holloman be sent to the Patuxent Youth Program. The sentence follows the guilty pleas of three other defendants  William Clinton, Omarion Anderson, and Rasheed Morris  who were also involved in the killing and admitted to first-degree murder.

During the trial, evidence revealed that the group of four had spent the evening driving in a stolen vehicle and committing armed robberies. Holloman, just 16 at the time, denied his involvement in Gordons death during a tearful statement in court.

I still maintain my innocence. I did not kill this man, Holloman said, addressing Gordons family while under heavy security.

The victims cousin, however, noted the reckless and dangerous nature of the groups actions. Youre going out together and embarking on a journey that can involve someone being murdered  thats what your crime was, Gordons cousin, Dovid Reyder, said in court.

Efraim Gordons family described him as a kind and life-loving individual. It was very emotional, and our whole family reliving it. Justice was served, Reyder told reporters.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

The recent op-ed discussing financial disparities in our community raises important questions about responsibility and communal standards. While the author asks Why is the burden to tone down placed almost exclusively on those who have been blessed with material success? and suggests that the responsibility not [be] shared more evenly.

Our mesorah actually does provide some guidance on this matter.

The Gemorah in Moed Katan (27a-b) relates how Rabban Gamliel HaZaken directly addressesed this issue. Seeing how burial expenses had become so burdensome that families would abandon their dead, Rabban Gamliel ordered across the board simple linen garments. This revolutionary act established a new communal standard, as the Gemorah records: The people followed his lead and adopted the custom of burying in simple linen garments. This wasnt about asking the poor to accept differences  it was about leadership through example from those who could afford more.

The author questions whether we are moving toward a mindset where the goal is for everyone to appear the same, suggesting this approach is more aligned with socialism or communism than the nuanced balance that Yiddishkeit promotes. However, the mishna in Taanit (26b) describes the beautiful custom of Tu BAv, where the daughters of Yerushalayim would go out in borrowed white garments so as not to embarrass those who didnt have. This wasnt about enforced equality  it was about creating an environment where material differences didnt create social barriers or shame.

When the author asks why is it acceptable to tell someone they shouldnt go on a vacation they can afford or throw a simcha that reflects their means? they overlook the fundamental Jewish principle of tznius (modesty). The Rambam in Hilchos Deos (5:6) teaches that one should conduct themselves with moderation in all areas of life. This includes not just dress, but also how we display our material blessings. Lets remember that when Yaakov Avinu says Bread to eat and clothing to wear the meforshim say that he is modelling not engaging in excessive consumption.

The authors statement that the have-nots need to work on embracing their own financial reality without shame shifts responsibility away from those blessed with means. Yet historically, Chazal have consistently taught that those with means bear greater responsibility for maintaining communal harmony.

The Chofetz Chaim, in Ahavas Chesed, emphasizes that wealth is a gift from Hashem that comes with obligations to the community.

Moreover, the concern about anti-semitism cannot be ignored. When the author suggests that life inherently comes with differencesthat some will have more, and others less, they overlook the historical reality that ostentatious displays of wealth have often fueled some serious anti-Jewish sentiment.

The Maharal of Prague discusses how visible disparities in wealth can lead to sinas chinam both within and outside our community.

The author rightly notes that this issue runs deeper than money. Indeed it does  it touches on our fundamental values as a Jewish community. But rather than asking those with less to adjust their perspectives, our tradition teaches us that those blessed with more should take the lead in creating sustainable communal standards. Now it is true that we should not be caught up with gashmius  but the mekoros suggest that the lead here should be among the haves.

The solution isnt, as the original piece suggests, for everyone to approach their financial reality with perspective and self-awareness. Rather, as we learn from Rabban Gamliels example, its for those with means to set standards that unite rather than divide our community. This approach is not about enforced equality  it is about voluntary restraint for the greater good of klal Yisrael.

The author can be reached at [email protected]
The New South Wales (NSW) government has vowed to address rising antisemitic incidents after a shocking attack in Sydneys eastern suburbs, in which multiple properties were vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti, and a stolen Toyota Corolla was torched.

Emergency services were called to Magney Street, where they found a burned-out car and graffiti targeting another car, two buildings, and the footpath. Police confirmed the Toyota Corolla had been stolen and driven to the scene by vandals. Images from the area showed graffiti featuring apparent anti-Israel slogans.

The incident comes on the heels of an antisemitic arson attack against the Adas Shul in Melbourne last Friday, which severely damaged it.

Authorities are seeking two suspects described as slim, aged 1520, and wearing face coverings and dark clothing.

NSW Premier Chris Minns denounced the incident as a shocking antisemitic hate crime. Speaking at a press conference, he called it a violent act of destruction, clearly anti-Semitic, designed to strike fear into the community.

Minns hinted at potential legislative changes to ensure community safety. If we need laws in place to protect what has been built over multiple decades and make sure people feel safe in Australia, thats what we will do, he said. We cannot have a situation where we are importing conflicts around the world onto the streets of Sydney.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the attack, calling it an outrage.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed the reactivation of Operation Shelter, a security measure first implemented following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. We are increasing patrols, community engagement, and high-visibility police presence, she said.

Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna noted that the incident was not linked to a similar antisemitic attack on November 21, in which a car was set alight and multiple buildings in the area were vandalized.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, described the attack as another act intended to terrorise us and called on Australians to stand against such incidents. How long will this continue, and with what horrors will it end? he asked.

Minns highlighted the emotional toll on Holocaust survivors in Australia, who make up one of the highest per capita populations globally. This would be particularly distressing to them, he said, urging a united response against antisemitism. Your average Australian, 99 per cent of them, regard this as disgraceful and will stand up against it.

Jewish leaders say violence and discrimination against their community have reached unprecedented levels, with most incidents reported in Sydney and Melbourne, Australias largest cities where 85% of the nations Jewish population live.

Almost 117,000 Jewish people live in Australia, according to the last census in 2021, or 0.46% of the 25.4 million residents. The government says only Israel is home to more Holocaust survivors than Australia on a per capita basis.

Heres a look at only some of the cases investigated by Special Operation Avalite: Read about additional incidents here and here and here. It should also be noted that antisemitism in Australia preceded the October 7 attack.

Dec. 11: Car set on fire and antisemitic graffiti attacks in the eastern Sydney suburb of Woollahra

Police are looking for two male suspects, estimated to be aged between 15 and 20, seen running from Magney St. in Woollahra when a car fire was reported at 1 a.m.

Two cars including the one that burned had been graffitied. Two homes and the sidewalk had also been spray-painted with what police described as antisemitic writing that included an apparently misspelled Kill Israiel.

Woollahra is a center of Jewish life in Sydney and one of the wealthiest suburbs in the nation.

Dec. 6: Arson attack on Adass Israel Synagogue in a southeastern Melbourne suburb

The Dec. 6 attack has been declared a terrorist act after authorities concluded there was a political motive. Police are searching for three suspects.

Two worshippers saw two men with their faces covered spreading a liquid accelerant around the building before it ignited.

Police have not said what role the third person played or whether they knew the suspects identities.

Nov. 21: Car set on fire, antisemitic acts on Wellington Street, Woollahra

Police arrested two suspects who allegedly launched an hour-long rampage of anti-Israel destruction in a different part of Woollahra.

Police were alerted to a car fire in Wellington St. around 12:30 a.m. Two men with their faces covered were seen in CCTV spray-painting expletives and slogans referring to Israel on 10 cars in the vicinity of Wellington St., including the car that was burned.

They also graffitied three buildings.

Mohammed Farhat, 20, was arrested on Nov. 25 at Sydney International Airport as he prepared to fly to Indonesia. His alleged accomplice Thomas Stojanovski, 19, was arrested at his home on Nov. 28.

Both remain in custody awaiting trial on multiple charges. They each face prison sentences of up to 10 years.

June 19: Fires lit in front of Jewish lawmakers office in a Melbourne suburb

At least five people were seen near Josh Burns office in Barkly St. at about 3.20 a.m. when the attack occurred, police said.

They smashed windows and graffitied the outside of his office in red paint with the slogan: Zionism is fascism.

Investigators said small fires were lit in the telecommunications pits at the front of the building before the group ran from the scene.

Burns, a government lawmaker, said at the time that no amount of aggression would change whats happening in the Middle East.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC / AP)
China announces visa restrictions on U.S. personnel over interference in Hong Kong affairs

Xinhua) 08:17, December 11, 2024

BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China has decided to impose visa restrictions on U.S. personnel over interference in Hong Kong affairs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the announcement at a regular press briefing in response to the recent U.S. announcement to impose visa restrictions on officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

"We have already expressed our firm stance over U.S. moves," said Mao, adding that by abusing visa restrictions on Chinese officials under the pretext of Hong Kong-related issues, the United States has grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously violated the principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Law on Foreign Relations of the People's Republic of China and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China has decided to impose visa restrictions on U.S. personnel who act maliciously in regard to Hong Kong-related issues, Mao said.

The spokesperson emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs.

"We urge the United States to genuinely respect China's sovereignty, respect the rule of law in Hong Kong, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any manner," said Mao.

China is determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, committed to implementing the "one country, two systems" policy, and remains unwavering in opposing any external forces interfering in Hong Kong affairs, Mao noted.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
By Alimat Aliyeva

German law enforcement officers have raided the offices of Adidas, the manufacturer of sportswear and accessories, in several cities, Azernews reports.

The German police are investigating a potential violation of customs and tax regulations concerning goods imported into Germany since 2019.

An Adidas representative stated that the company has been in contact with all relevant authorities regarding this investigation for several years. "The company does not anticipate any significant financial consequences," Adidas said in a statement.

This investigation could be a significant test for Adidas, especially given the global scrutiny of large corporations and their compliance with international trade and tax laws. If any violations are confirmed, it could potentially affect the company's reputation and lead to increased regulatory scrutiny on other major players in the industry. Moreover, Adidas' response in maintaining transparency and collaboration with authorities could shape how future investigations into corporate practices are handled.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 11. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov has inaugurated the newly reconstructed international airport in the city of Karakol, Trend reports via the Kyrgyz presidential administration.

"This year, in May, you witnessed the opening of the Talas airport. Today, Karakol airport has been renovated and is now operational. It can serve up to 250 passengers per hour. Karakol rightfully deserves its title as the center of winter tourism in Kyrgyzstan. Its ski resorts attract tourists from around the world who are amazed by our nature. The reopening of Karakol's international airport is a significant step in strengthening regional ties, boosting tourism, and enhancing our country's international standing," Zhaparov said.

Additionally, the president highlighted his recent official visit to Germany, where he met with the leadership of Airbus, a global leader in aircraft manufacturing. During the meeting, discussions were held about acquiring aircraft from Airbus for Kyrgyzstan's state-owned airline, "Asman Airlines."

"As you all know, in 2007, our aviation sector was banned from operating flights to the European Union due to non-compliance with international standards. We were placed on the EUs blacklist. Since then, our flights have not been able to fly directly to Europe, and our citizens have had to travel through third countries. In 2023, the Kyrgyz Republic successfully passed an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on flight safety. In 2024, we will undergo another audit on aviation safety and the simplification of formalities. These achievements are vital evidence of our aviation sector's alignment with global standards. From a historical perspective, Kyrgyzstan has never been closer to removing itself from the European Unions aviation blacklist, Zhaparov said.

He also noted that in early 2025, specialists from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport are expected to visit Kyrgyzstan for an audit. Should the country pass the audit successfully, Kyrgyz airlines will be able to open direct flights to EU countries.

Furthermore, Zhaparov mentioned that in order to launch direct flights to Europe, Kyrgyzstan plans to acquire two additional large aircraft.

The president also noted that to date, the airports in Kazarman and Kerben have been modernized. Work is currently underway to restore the Naryn airport. Additionally, the reconstruction of the international airports in Manas and Osh is ongoing. In the near future, construction of a new airport in Jalal-Abad will begin.
Irans armed forces are caught in a spectacular blame game following the dramatic downfall of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, according to sources who spoke to The Telegraph. The collapse of Assads regime, once a cornerstone of Irans regional influence, has triggered an unprecedented meltdown within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with commanders trading furious accusations over the catastrophic loss.

The atmosphere is like something out of a bad comedy, an official in Tehran revealed. Theyre yelling at each other, punching walls, and kicking rubbish bins. Everyone is blaming everyone else, and no one wants to admit fault.

The unraveling of Irans decade-long effort to prop up Assad has sent shockwaves through the regime. For over ten years, Iran funneled billions into maintaining its grip on Syria, not out of loyalty to Assad, but to secure a critical foothold near Israel and a supply route to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. That strategy has now crumbled, leaving Irans leadership scrambling for answers.

No one ever imagined Assad fleeing, the official admitted. The entire focus was on keeping him in powerlosing Syria was simply unthinkable.

The fallout has cast a harsh spotlight on Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani, the IRGC Quds Force commander, whose leadership is being openly questioned. While no one dares to confront him directly, whispers of accountability and calls for his dismissal are growing louder.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reportedly furious, summoning IRGC commanders repeatedly and preparing to address the nation on what insiders are calling an unprecedented regional debacle. Meanwhile, behind closed doors, the IRGC remains in disarray, paralyzed by infighting and uncertainty over how to salvage its regional ambitions.

Adding to the chaos is the loss of Syria as a key supply line for Hezbollah. Were at an impasse, admitted another IRGC official. Theres no discussion of arms shipments anymoreright now, its about survival and figuring out whats next.

For a regime accustomed to projecting dominance, the fallout from Assads downfall is a bitter and highly public humiliation. As Iranian officials grapple with the scale of their failure, the question remains whether this crisis will lead to meaningful changes or further entrench the regimes dysfunction. For now, the walls of Tehran echo with shouted blame and the sound of kicked trash bins, a fitting soundtrack to a spectacular strategic collapse.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Many Jews in Israel of Syrian origin, along with Syrians throughout the world, rejoiced in the fall of the brutal 54-year Assad regime that began with the cruel iron-fisted rule of President Hafez al-Assad in 1971 and continued with his son Bashars ascent to power in 2000.

Yaffa Levy told Ynet that she could feel the heavy burden her father, Marco (Mordechai) Khalifa, carried for the rest of his life after enduring the cruelty of the Assad regime.

Its a shame my father isnt here to witness this meaningful closure, she said. My father was born into a wealthy family in Syria. They owned a nigella seed factory and lived well. His name was Mordechai Cohen, but he changed it to Marco Khalifa to hide his Jewish identity from Muslims. At 16, he left Syria for Lebanon, where he was tasked with smuggling Jews from Syria to Israel.

He did this for almost 20 years, starting in the early 1950s, using trucks to sneak them through the Golan Heights. Assads men eventually caught on. As punishment and to set an example, they imprisoned and tortured Marcos father, Yitzhak-Zaki Khalifa.

Following his fathers arrest, Marco was asked to return to Syria to rescue a prominent Jewish family. My father was here in Israel, Yaffa said. They sent an Arab man from Yafo, a father of eight, to accompany and monitor him, warning that his children would be harmed if anything happened to my father. They were his collateral.

My father disguised himself as an Arab and arrived at his mothers home in Syria, initially pretending to beg for tzedaka and food. He asked to stay the night and then revealed that he was her son. Years had passed since they parted. At first, she didnt recognize him, but when he told her, she said, Leave this place, return to Israel immediately and never come back.

She told him they had tortured his father in prison and gouged out his eyes. She feared hed meet the same fate. My father was a Zionist. He returned to Israel, fought in all the wars, served in the army as both a recruit and in the reserves, participated in the liberation of the Kotel in Jerusalem and started a family, she said.

But he always carried the weight of what happened to his father. Together with longing for his mother and the family he left behind, it was a burden he carried to his last day.

Yaffa said that although her father passed away over 30 years ago, she and her family feel a sense of closure at the fall of the regime

We were overjoyed, Yaffa says. We saw how much it pained him so its a great relief for us.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A new policy implemented by the Meuchedet health fund is causing consternation amongst English speakers in Israel. The new policy requires all online correspondence with doctors  including the submission of medication names  to be written exclusively in Hebrew. This change, reportedly introduced as a directive from Israels Ministry of Health, has sparked concern among English-speaking olim, whose Hebrew is often limited. It has also raised broader health and safety issues.

Efforts to Reverse the Policy

After unsuccessfully reaching out to Meuchedet officials for clarification and resolution, Chaim VChessed, the NGO which assists the integration of English speakers in Israel, escalated the issue to senior government officials. The organization submitted formal appeals to Minister of Health Ariel Busso, Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofer Sofer and MK Yoni Mashriki, Chairman of the Knesset Health Committee

In a letter to the Minister of Health, Chaim VChessed CEO Paysach Freedman emphasized the hardships the policy creates, especially for English-speaking olim, and called for urgent intervention. The organization stressed that many olim rely on the ability to communicate in English when interacting with healthcare providers.

A Dangerous Policy for All Users

While this policy disproportionately affects English-speaking olim, Freedman warned that it poses risks even for native Hebrew speakers. Misidentifying a medication due to spelling errors or unfamiliarity with Hebrew transliterations could lead to serious medical mistakes, he avered.

Requiring all users to write the names of medications in Hebrew increases the chance of mistakes in identifying the correct medication, Freedman wrote in his appeal. This is not merely an inconvenience  it could pose a real danger to patients health.

Call for Urgent Action

Chaim VChessed is urging government officials to intervene and revoke the restrictive language requirement. The organization argues that Meuchedets online platform should remain accessible in multiple languages to accommodate the diverse population it serves.

We view this as a deeply problematic step, Chaim VChessed stated. As an organization committed to easing the integration process for olim, we request immediate intervention to remove this restriction and ensure the system remains accessible and safe for all members of the community. Furthermore, Chaim VChessed has learned that Arabic speakers, too, are dismayed at the new rule, which causes them difficulty, as well.

Chaim VChessed will continue to advocate for the reversal of the onerous new requirement. The organization hopes to collaborate with relevant authorities to quickly resolve the issue.
A coalition of Jewish leaders, along with several high-profile political figures, is urging New Jersey officials to reschedule the 2025 primary election to avoid a conflict with Shavuos, during which observant Jews are prohibited from using electronic devices, writing, driving, or traveling. The overlap, they say, could disenfranchise a significant portion of the Jewish community, despite the availability of mail-in and early voting options.

The 2025 primary is currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, while Shavuos concludes at sundown on that day, at 9:14 PM. Observant Jews would not be able to cast in-person ballots on Election Day, a concern echoed by more than five dozen Jewish leaders in a letter to state officials.

The call for a date change has garnered bipartisan support from political leaders, including gubernatorial contenders Jack Ciattarelli, Josh Gottheimer, Mikie Sherrill, Steve Sweeney, and Jon Bramnick, as well as Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop. Ciattarelli, a former Republican assemblyman, proposed shifting the primary to Wednesday, June 4, writing, Practicing ones religion should never force someone to be excluded or limited in any way from an opportunity to participate in our democracy.

On Monday, four of Ciattarellis opponents signed a letter similarly urging the state to adjust the date, citing concerns about disenfranchisement and inclusivity.

Governor Phil Murphy has expressed openness to the idea, with his spokesperson Kiran Sheth saying, The Governor is committed to ensuring that our democratic process remains inclusive and accessible to all New Jersey voters. Senate President Nicholas Scutari confirmed that discussions are underway to consider the change.

New Jersey has adjusted election dates in the past. In 2001, the state legislature postponed primary elections for three weeks due to delayed U.S. Census data impacting redistricting, and in 2020, Murphy moved the primary to July to accommodate an all-vote-by-mail election during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the state held a special Wednesday election this year to fill a vacant congressional seat in the 10th district, showing that midweek voting is feasible.
The car-ramming in Bnei Brak on Tuesday evening, which the police initially suspected to be a criminal incident, was declared by the police later in the evening as a terror attack.

The terrorist, an Arab-Israeli man in his 20s from the northern Arab-Israeli town of Zemer, had swerved onto the sidewalk and deliberately rammed into a pedestrian.

BChasdei Hashem, the victim was only lightly injured.

The terrorist then fled the scene in his car. Police motorcyclists called to the scene quickly traced the assailants route with the aid of the citys security camera network, closing off the terrorists lane and forcing him to enter a nearby underground parking lot from which he was captured.

A video of the attack:

The Bnei Brak Municipality stated: Thanks to the vigilance of the teams deployed in the field, the suspect was thwarted, preventing a disaster.

Hatzalah paramedics Yehuda Mor and Yechiel Esterson said: When we arrived at the scene, we found a pedestrian, a 21-year-old young man who was suffering from bruises to his limbs and back after being hit by a vehicle, presumably for nationalistic reasons. Together with other paramedics and MDA personnel, we provided him with initial medical treatment, including stabilization and bandaging, and he was taken in light condition for further medical treatment in the trauma room at Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital in the city.

Earlier on Tuesday, a stabbing attack occurred at the Karmiel police station, during which an Arab stabbed a security guard and a police officer, seriously injuring the guard and lightly injuring the officer.

The incident was initially reported as a criminal incident but the police later stated that the investigation is assessing all possibilities. The Shin Bet is involved in the investigation, indicating that the incident was an act of terror.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A stabbing attack that occurred at the police station in the northern city of Karmiel on Tuesday, which was originally thought to have been a criminal incident, is now being investigated as a terror attack.

The incident began at about noon, when an Arab-Israeli, armed with a knife, arrived at the police station and stabbed a security guard and police officer, seriously injuring the guard and lightly injuring the officer.

The police launched a manhunt after the terrorist, who fled the scene, locating him shortly later and taking him into custody.

The suspect had been previously arrested over the weekend after a soldier reported he had tried to grab her gun. However, the suspect said during his interrogation that he was only trying to move the gun out of his way and he was released after footage from a security camera was thought to support his words.

After the incident was reported as a criminal incident, the police later stated that the investigation is assessing all possibilities. The Shin Bet is involved in the investigation, indicating that the incident was an act of terror.

The suspect, a resident of the northern Arab-Israeli town of Nahf, is from the same town as the terrorist who stabbed an IDF soldier to death at the Karmiel mall in July.

Later on Tuesday, another terrorist, also an Arab-Israeli from northern Israel, committed a terror attack in Bnei Brak.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Three Jews entered Shechem overnight Tuesday on the way to Kever Yosef Tuesday after breaking through an IDF checkpoint.

Local terrorists opened fire at them, lightly injuring them and forcing them to flee the area. They drove to Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital, where they were detained by the police.

The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m.

An IDF spokesperson stated that a report was received that during the night, gunfire was directed at an Israeli vehicle that breached a checkpoint and entered the city of Shechem unlawfully, within the Shomron Brigades area. The vehicle left the city and its occupants independently sought medical attention. The incident will be investigated.

The IDF spokesman states that the three are detained for questioning by the Israeli police, and reminds that entry into Area A is dangerous and forbidden for Israelis by law.

Yossi Dagan, the head of the Shomron Regional Council, stated in response to the report: Rabbanim of the Shomron, as well as other important Rabbanim, the IDF, and the council heads say this again and again, and I humbly also join these words and say clearly: its forbidden to endanger your lives. No one has the authority to enter Kever Yosef except via the visits coordinated with the security system, with the IDF, which are guarded and organized in advance. Anyone who enters without coordination is endangering lives.

Dagan further added: The Palestinian Authority, which once again proved its murderous nature, must be destroyed. The only answer to the barbaric terrorists of Fatah and Hamas is the harsh power of the IDF against them.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
There is no disguising the fact that the loss of the primary listing of Ashtead to New York will be a big blow.

The equipment-hire group, listed in London since 1986, has quietly achieved a handsome valuation of 24billion by establishing a record of expansion.

Since Ashtead acquired Sunbelt Rentals in 1990, adding to it several other US buys, it has looked across the Atlantic for growth and this year projects 98 per cent of its operating profits will come from there.

Nevertheless, its desertion for America is a bad precedent. Ashtead may seem an exception in that so much of its profits come from across the Atlantic.

But there are many other companies quoted in London  notably big natural resources groups such as Rio Tinto, Anglo American and Glencore  which could say the same.

The hire group argues that a Wall Street listing will provide increased exposure to US investors and improve the liquidity of its shares.

US bound: Equipment-hire group Ashtead, which listed in London since 1986, has quietly achieved a handsome valuation of 24bn by establishing a record of expansion

There is truth to this. UK investors, particularly the pension funds, share most of the blame.

British taxpayers get a generous tax subsidy for putting cash into pensions. UK retirement savings at 1.12 trillion are the third largest in the world.

Unfortunately, fund managers too often choose the S&P 500 over FTSE 350. If Chancellor Rachel Reeves could bulldoze through promised reforms, it would be simpler to direct Britains savings towards growth companies and infrastructure.

Ashteads press release omits an important factor behind its move. The US offers senior executives the possibility of rewards beyond the dreams of avarice. It has a wholly different, more positive approach to wealth and pay than Britain.

Attitudes in the UK towards enterprise are not helped when the Government yacks on endlessly about working people.

That doesnt mean it is all over for UK plc. The expected arrival of creative group Canal+ to London is an important gain for the creative sector.

The long list of Golden Globe nominees is testimony to strength in depth. It is appalling that creative firms, such as ITV, are not valued as they should be given the nations production strength.

Other listings, such as Singapore-based fast-fashion group Shein, are on their way. With the right encouragement, the pipeline would include De Beers and Unilevers ice cream division. Britain also should be fighting to keep online banking group Revolut in London.

Landing the biggest fish and keeping Shell and Rio anchored here will only happen if our pensions managers embrace the domestic market. They need to commit to tripling or quadrupling the allocation of funds to great British equities.

Water slide

Any rescue for Thames Water should be rooted in the private sector.

Chief executive Chris Weston is wrong to suggest that the break-up, suggested by would-be bidders Covalis Capital and Suez, would be a distraction.

Hiving off businesses demonstrably has improved the performance of publicly quoted companies such as pharma group GSK.

Admittedly Thames, with its terrible sewage record and a 16billion debt mountain, is in a ghastly state.

Separating upstream Thames Valley customers from London would make the scale of the problems more manageable.

A substantial price increase will be required if the necessary investment in better pipes, runaways and combating pollution can take place.

But consumers should never be asked to pay for financial engineering, ever bigger rewards for sub-octane executives and distributions to investors in far-off tax havens.

Brighter note...

Sharon White has kept her peace since stepping down as chairman of John Lewis.

The former senior civil servant and regulator struck a note of disappointment over Labours gloomy tone when she appeared before City grandees and publishers at the FTs Business Book of the Year ceremony at the spectacular Peninsula Hotel in the heart of London. The venue is a tribute to international investment in the UK.

White demanded optimism and urged action on Oxford-Cambridge links, changes to higher education, a more professional approach to competition and reform of post-privatisation regulators.

The work of AI pioneers chronicled in the winning book Supremacy: AI, Chat GPT And The Race That Will Change The World by Parmy Olson will have a big role to play.
Donald Trump has unleashed the animal spirits in America while companies in Britain face a slow death after Labours tax hikes, business leaders warned.

As US stock markets hover close to record highs, City tycoon Sir Martin Sorrell said the President-elect has turbocharged business morale on the other side of the Atlantic.

And Goldman Sachs chief executive David Solomon welcomed the prospect of a more growthy kind of playbook from the new administration.

By contrast, corporate sentiment has tumbled in Britain after Rachel Reeves used her first Budget as Chancellor to announce 40billion of tax hikes.

Insolvency expert Ric Traynor, boss of restructuring group Begbies Traynor, yesterday warned of a wave of UK company failures in the coming months as firms are hammered by the tax raid.

The comments underlined the stark difference in mood in the US and the UK following Trumps election victory and the Labour Budget.

Trump effect: Donald Trump's election win has sparked a wave of dealmaking including this week's proposed merger of advertising giants Omnicom and Interpublic

Political and economic turmoil in Europe  with Germany and France in crisis and the euro tumbling  have further exposed the transatlantic divide.

Julian Jessop, an economics fellow at think-tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: Trump and his new team have some real business experience and can sell an appealing narrative on the economy.

The contrast with Keir Starmer and the new government in the UK could hardly be starker.

Labour ministers have spent most of the year talking down the economy and seemingly doing their best to undermine the confidence of households, businesses and investors.

Trump has promised to lower taxes for businesses and individuals and to slash red tape.

But Ashley Alder, chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, warned of the clear dangers of a regulatory race to the bottom with Trump.

And his threat of tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, Canada and Europe has sparked fears of a damaging global trade war.

Some observers believe, however, that this rhetoric is a negotiating tactic to secure a better deal for the US when he returns to the White House.

Jenny Johnson, chief executive of Franklin Templeton Investments, said: Trump is a deal-maker. The US needs China  and China needs the US.

24bn blow as Ashtead heads to New York Ashtead has become the latest London firm to jump ship to the US. In another setback for City, the construction-equipment-rental giant said shifting its primary stock market listing across the Atlantic would be in the best interests of the business and its stakeholders. The FTSE 100 company  which has a stock market value of close to 25billion  said the move was likely to be completed within the next 18 months. However, Ashtead said it plans to maintain a secondary listing in London. The company makes most of its money in the US, with the American arm accounting for 85 per cent of its 4.5billion of sales for the six months to October, largely through its Sunbelt Rentals brand. The move will set off more alarm bells in London about the growing exodus of companies leaving the UK stock market. In recent months, several high-profile names have moved away from London including betting firm Flutter, packaging giant Smurfit Kappa, building materials group CRH and plumbing outfit Ferguson.

Corporate America lit up on so-called Merger Monday at the start of this week when US companies agreed close to 30billion of deals  including the mega-merger of ad giants Omnicom and Interpublic.

Sorrell, 79, who is executive chairman of digital ad group S4 Capital having previously turned WPP into the worlds largest advertising business, pointed to a change in mood since Trumps election victory.

In the second Trump era, what were seeing is a huge increase in what I call animal spirits in America, he told the BBC.

The deregulation feeling that Trump is generating means that deals and the North American market are big and strong. Deal mania is on the rise.

Goldman chief Solomon said: If you were to talk to CEOs across the US corporate landscape, they would say that in the last few years the regulatory environment was a headwind to growth and investment.

And it appears that were going to swing that pendulum back a little. Most CEOs that I talk to, when I talk to our clients, theyre excited about a prospect of having that swing back.

But experts fear many companies in Britain will struggle to survive Labours tax hikes.

Traynor warned that some face a slow death over the next six months following the 25billion rise in employers National Insurance Contributions.

He added: UK insolvencies remain at elevated levels. Businesses face continuing demand pressures and cost challenges, including the recent rise in costs following the Budget.
Moonpig has sounded the alarm over Royal Mail deliveries ahead of Christmas.

Moonpigs chief executive Nickyl Raithatha has said he is in talks with the delivery company about service levels as many areas of the country are struggling with the reliability of deliveries.

His remarks come as billionaire Daniel Kretinsky  known as the Czech Sphinx  closes in on a 3.6billion deal to buy Royal Mail through the takeover of its parent company International Distribution Services.

Raithatha said: We are working with [Royal Mail] to make sure they do continue to improve those service levels which havent been at the level wed want them to be for the last couple of years.

If youre sending someone a birthday card and its their birthday tomorrow, it needs to get there tomorrow.

There are many regions that are struggling [with reliability], and you probably only need to speak to a few of your friends, and some of them will say that the post arrives every day and others dont.

Concerns: Moonpig boss Nickyl Raithatha has said he is in talks with Royal Mail about service levels as many areas of the country are struggling with the reliability of deliveries

Moonpig swung to a 33.3million loss in the six months to October 31 amid gloomy consumer confidence following an 18.9million profit a year earlier.

In a report published in October, regulator Ofcom said Royal Mail continued to fall below its service obligations.

Only 74.5 per cent of first-class deliveries arrived on time in the 12 months to the end of March against a target of 93 per cent.

Last year Royal Mail hailed its best Christmas in four years after a huge effort to make amends for a chaotic festive operation in 2022.

It said that more than 99 per cent of first and second-class items sent by the last recommended postal dates were delivered in time for Christmas.

But many consumers and small businesses are wary after strike action left parcels and cards piled up in sorting offices across the UK.

This caution has resulted in Moonpig bringing forward reminders to customers for special occasions such as birthdays to ensure cards were sent in good time to account for delays.

But Raithatha shrugged off concerns about the takeover.

We talk fairly regularly [with Royal Mail] and we have had lots of reassurances that

the quality and level of service that we get wouldnt be impacted by any sort of ownership change, he said.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 11. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Gordan Grlic-Radman has arrived in Kyrgyzstan for an official visit, Trend reports referring to the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, during his visit, Grlic-Radman is scheduled to hold talks with Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubaev. The discussions will focus on a wide range of bilateral issues concerning Kyrgyz-Croatian cooperation.

Additionally, a business forum will be held, bringing together entrepreneurs from both countries.

Grlic-Radman met with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in Tashkent on December 10, 2024. During the visit, a protocol on cooperation and consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries was signed, and an Uzbek-Croatian economic forum took place.

The last bilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Croatia took place on September 23 at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Asda was the only major supermarket to suffer a slump in sales in the run up to the crucial Christmas trading period.

The gloomy update underlined the scale of the job facing the grocers returning boss.

Research group Kantar said Asda sales in the 12 weeks to December 1 fell to 4.3billion  down 5.6 per cent on the same period a year ago.

The dismal figures laid bare the scale of the groups decline just weeks after former chief executive Allan Leighton returned to the company to take over from Stuart Rose as executive chairman.

Once Britains second biggest supermarket, Asda has been flailing since the Issa brothers Mohsin and Zuber joined private equity giant TDR Capital to buy it in a 6.8billion debt-fuelled deal in 2021.

By contrast, sales rose last month at Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi and Lidl.

Struggles: Research group Kantar said Asda sales in the 12 weeks to December 1 fell to 4.3bn  down 5.6% on the same period a year ago

Asda has seen its share of the grocery market fall from 14.1 per cent at the time of the takeover to a record low of 12.3 per cent.

It has languished as shoppers headed to rivals, and Aldi is now hot on its heels with 10.3 per cent of the market.

That has left Asda fighting to hold on to its position as Britains third-biggest supermarket behind Tesco and Sainsburys.

The business is now pinning its hopes on new leadership.

Leighton, 71, made his name as Asda boss between 1996 and 2001. His tenure included the companys 6.7billion sale to US giant Walmart in 1999.

One task at the top of his list will be the appointment of a full-time chief executive. Asda has been trying to hire one for more than three years.

Morrisons, which is also owned by private equity having been bought by Clayton Dubilier & Rice for 7billion in October 2021, has also seen its market share plunge.

It now holds 8.6 per cent against 8.7 per cent last year.

But it was good news for Britains biggest supermarket. Tesco has seen its share of the market jump to a seven-year high of 28.1 per cent.
Klarna has been fined over 35million and given a reprimand by Sweden's financial regulator for breaching anti-money laundering rules.

Sweden's Financial Supervisory Authority (FI) handed the buy-now-pay-later group a 500million Swedish crown fine as it slammed 'significant deficiencies' in Klarna's risk controls.

The watchdog said Klarna's general risk assessment failed to consider how its 'products and services could be used for money laundering or terrorist financing'.

The FI also said Klarna lacked procedures and guidelines for due diligence measures for customers of its invoice product.

However, it added that the 'violations' were not so serious to warrant withdrawing the banks authorisation or issuing the bank a warning.

The investigated spanned the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Fined: Klarna has been fined 500million Swedish crowns and given a reprimand by Sweden's financial regulator

Daniel Barr, director general at FI, said: 'The anti-money laundering regulations must be followed.

'It is important to counteract the risk that the firm's operations could be used by criminals.

'Our investigation shows that Klarna has not followed the requirements on, among other things, a general risk assessment and procedures and guidelines for due diligence measures.

'There are therefore grounds on which to intervene against the bank.'

Klarna said in a statement it was important to 'emphasise that the decision applies precisely to rule interpretation and application and not to actual cases of money laundering'.

It added: 'When the Financial Supervisory Authority began its investigation into Klarna's work against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, we were the largest Swedish bank that had not been investigated so far, apart from state-owned SBAB.

'The industry navigates a complex set of regulations, which is also demonstrated by the fact that all other major banks have received reprimands within the framework of the money laundering regulations.

'We continue to develop and strengthen our processes together with the Financial Supervisory Authority and other stakeholders.

'Together with authorities and the rest of the industry, we have a joint mission to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. We take this responsibility very seriously and will continue to do our utmost to contribute to a strong and resilient financial sector.'

US IPO looms

Last month, the buy now, pay later firm filed for a flotation in the US, a move that marked a further blow for the London market.

The Swedish fintech group confirmed it had 'confidentially submitted' an application to the US Securities and Exchange Commission 'relating to the proposed initial public offering of its ordinary shares'.

Klarna, which is one of the worlds biggest BNPL companies, said the price range for its proposed IPO and the number of shares that would be offered was yet to be determined. The group is expected to easily fetch a multibillion-pound valuation.

Last month, Kathleen Brooks, a research director at XTB, said: 'There had been speculation that Klarna could list in the UK. However, this is another example of a tech company choosing the US over the UK.'
British American Tobacco has lifted guidance for sales of its smokeless products as demand for the group's vapes and nicotine care home continues to grow.

The Rothmans and Lucky Strike owner continues to expect its turnover and adjusted profits from operations to expand by a 'low-single figure' percentage this year.

Revenues from traditional tobacco products and new categories are also expected to be up over the latter six months of 2024 compared to the first half.

The FTSE 100 group said that vaping brand Vuse has maintained dominance across the world's top vapour markets, such as the UK, Germany, and the US.

BAT also noted that its Velo nicotine pouches enjoyed strong volume, sales and profit growth thanks partly to the brand launching in the UK and Poland.

However, the firm said Vuse and combustibles demand in the US remains affected by the widespread use of illegal vapour products.

Upheld: British American Tobacco reiterated its annual guidance on Wednesday amid growing demand for smokeless products

Like other cigarette sellers, BAT is gradually expanding its alternatives in response to enhanced public awareness of tobacco's downsides.

It aims to have 50 million consumers using its non-combustible goods, such as vapes and tobacco heaters, by 2030 and derive at least half of its sales from them by 2035.

Tadeu Marroco, chief executive of BAT, said: 'Our quality growth imperative is delivering higher returns on more targeted investments across all three new categories.

'We are making further progress increasing profitability across new categories, and I am particularly pleased with the improvements in heated products and modern oral.'

Marroco further said the company expected to have 'more clarity on the financial impacts' of a legal case involving its subsidiary Imperial Tobacco Canada (ITCAN) when it publishes full-year results in February.

In October, BAT revealed it had filed a plan in a Canadian court that could potentially end a major litigation case.

A landmark court ruling in 2015 found that ITCAN, Philip Morris, and Imperial Tobacco were aware of the health problems associated with smoking but did not sufficiently warn their customers.

The three firms were ordered to pay damages of CA$15.6billion in a case brought by over a million current and former smokers in Quebec, making it one of Canada's largest ever class-action lawsuits.

British American Tobacco shares were 0.6 per cent up at 2,987p on Wednesday morning, taking their gains this year to around 28 per cent.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: 'The group remains committed to a higher level of shareholder returns, including further buyback programmes, despite the investment needed in transitioning the company.

'In the nearer term, however, the market consensus is that Imperial Brands remains the favoured play in the sector, with BATS coming in at a hold, albeit a strong one.'
The cost of a cup of coffee could become even more expensive next year after the price of beans reached a record high.

Arabica bean prices hit $3.49 per pound on Tuesday, having grown by over 80 per cent since January and surpassing a previous high set in 1977, when a frost wiped out most Brazilian coffee crops.

It follows in the footsteps of robusta beans, which rose to $5,694 (4,460) per metric ton in November, more than double its price in August last year.

Prices have surged in 2024 due mainly to climate change and bad weather conditions damaging crop yields in Brazil and Vietnam, the world's two largest coffee producers.

Brazil suffered its worst drought for about seven decades in August and September, then experienced heavier-than-normal rainfall the following month.

Vietnam was also affected by a severe drought this year that caused major damage to yields in the Central Highlands region, home to about 95 per cent of its coffee output.

Climate change: Coffee Prices have surged in 2024 due mainly to climate change and bad weather conditions damaging crop yields in Brazil and Vietnam

Coffee production is vulnerable to significant changes in weather, especially very hot and wet conditions that enable pests and diseases to spread with greater ease.

Some scientists call coffee the 'Goldilocks plant' because it grows best in conditions that are neither too hot, cold, dry or rainy.

Coffee prices have been further impacted by rising consumption in countries with rapidly burgeoning middle-class populations, particularly China and India.

Production has not kept up with the expanding global demand for coffee, a situation exacerbated by many Vietnamese farmers switching from planting coffee beans to the exotic fruit durian.

Known for its pungent smell, durian is estimated to be five times more lucrative than coffee and has soared in popularity across China.

Consequently, many retailers and coffee shop chains are hiking prices to protect their profit margins.

Having already raised prices twice since 2022, Nestle plans to put them up again and make packs smaller, Bloomberg reported last month.

Someone buying Nescafe's Original Instant Coffee in UK supermarkets will pay 15 per cent more than in the prior year, according to The Grocer's Key Value Items tracker.

Nestle said: 'Like every manufacturer, we have seen significant increases in the cost of coffee, making it much more expensive to manufacture our products.

'As always, we continue to be more efficient and absorb increasing costs where possible whilst maintaining the same high-quality and delicious taste that consumers know and love.'
Speculation over the future of the owner of Boots has rekindled hopes it could return to the London stock market.

US giant Walgreens Boots Alliance, which owns the chemists chain, is in talks about selling itself to private equity group Sycamore Partners.

New York-listed Walgreens is valued at around 5billion.

Sycamore is thought to be keen to ditch Boots, which would put a London listing on the cards.

This would be a major boost for the City amid concerns over the health of the UK market.

And analysts think Boots is more attractive to buyers and investors now than when it was up for sale two years ago.

US giant Walgreens Boots Alliance, which owns the Boots chemists chain, is in talks about selling itself to private equity group Sycamore Partners

Sycamore and Walgreens have been discussing a deal that could complete early next year, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Pharmacy tycoon Stefano Pessina, the chairman of Walgreens who owns a 17 per cent stake, could end up as the owner of Boots, Sky News reported.

Another option would see Boots spun off and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said: The question is: could Boots be floated now? And I was sceptical about that a year ago, as the recovery of the business didnt seem sustainable, but Boots has continued to outperform in 2024.

Investors should want to back a big play on that market and the general retail sector could do with another big quoted company in it. So, yes, I think Boots could end up being listed again.

Back in 2022, Walgreens abandoned the sale of Boots after blaming an unexpected and dramatic change in market conditions.

Jonathan De Mello, founder and chief executive of JDM Retail, said: The fact that Boots offloaded the pension scheme, and posted consistently good results over the past

few trading quarters, will likely lead to a far more successful listing than it would a couple of years ago.

Should Boots, which began as a family herbal medicine shop in Nottingham in 1849, return, it would be a desperately needed vote of confidence as firms switch their London listing to New York or become takeover targets due to their low valuations. Walgreens bought the chemist in 2014.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. In the coming years, the UN's main focus will be on strengthening joint efforts in promoting Tajikistans global initiative in climate change and water, UN Resident Coordinator for Tajikistan Parvathy Ramaswami told Trend in an exclusive interview.

We will continue working with the Government of Tajikistan and other partners to fulfill key commitments outlined in the countrys key strategic documents and our joint cooperation agreement. The UN system will promote further new, innovative, cost-effective solutions and build partnerships to mobilize financing for development, she said.

Ramaswami noted that in the coming years, the UN's main focus will be on strengthening joint efforts in promoting Tajikistans global initiative in climate change and water, glacier preservation, peace and security, inclusive human development, improving public services, socio-economic development, building resilience, and securing financial resources to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For reference, Tajikistan is the initiator of the climate initiative of the International Decade for Action Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028.

According to the UN Resident Coordinator, the United Nations will work closely with the Government of Tajikistan, hosting the first-ever International Conference on Glaciers Preservation in May 2025. Advocacy events will be jointly organized throughout the year 2025, aiming at raising awareness on melting glaciers at global, regional, and national levels.

We are also committed to investing in strategies that improve not only the lives of people in Tajikistan, but also the institutions responsible for delivering services and creating a favorable environment for investment, she said.

UN Resident Coordinator pointed out that the UN will keep engaging with young people, providing opportunities for them to contribute to Tajikistan's future development, as well as ensuring the inclusion of vulnerable groups.

We applaud the Government of Tajikistan for its swift progress towards ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and we are committed to supporting its implementation to ensure a more inclusive and equal society, particularly for persons with disabilities. Through the National Action Plan for CRPD ratification, Tajikistan is well-prepared for this important step.

I also commend Tajikistan for its upcoming role as chair of the Central Asian Women Leaders Caucus in 2025 and for its ongoing efforts to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls, both within the country and across the region, she said.

Activities of the UN in Tajikistan in 2024

In 2024 we mark the 32nd anniversary of the Republic of Tajikistans membership in the United Nations, as the country joined the UN in 1992. Since then, Tajikistan has been a strong supporter of multilateralism and a trusted partner. 2024 was a remarkable year for the UN in Tajikistan. This is the second year of the implementation of the UN and the Government of Tajikistan official agreementthe Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023-2026, Ramaswami said.

She noted that this important document, which was elaborated through discussions with government officials, civil society, businesses, academia, the media, and international partners, presents the shared commitment of the Government of Tajikistan and the UN to work together with others to achieve the countrys development goals.

Within this framework, we are working with the Government of Tajikistan and the partners towards achieving its four main results: 1. Inclusive human development; 2. Sustainable, inclusive, and green economic growth; 3. Integrated management of climate and environmental risk; and 4. People-centered governance and rule of law, the UN Resident Coordinator said.

According to her, 2024 was highlighted by remarkable events that Tajikistan hosted under its global leadership and commitments to climate change, water resources, countering terrorism, and regional economic development. Tajikistan and the UN hosted the Third International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028.

In a follow-up to the global initiative pioneered by Tajikistan on glaciers preservation, we are preparing for the upcoming International Conference on Glaciers Preservation to take place in Dushanbe in 2025, she added.

Furthermore, Ramaswami said that most recently the Government of Tajikistan and the Government of the State of Kuwait organized a high-level conference on Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms: The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process held in Kuwait City in November 2024. This joint initiative, organized with the support of the UN Office of Counterterrorism, illustrates Tajikistan's leadership and commitments in pursuing global and regional security and stability.

Moreover, under regional economic cooperation, Tajikistan hosted the SPECA (the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia) Governing Council and Regional Economic Forum in November 2024 in Dushanbe, aimed at strengthening the economic ties with the SPECA countries in various aspects of development, including the green growth.

In order to foster cooperation on a national level, in 2024 we launched a series of UN dialogues with the government, Parliament of Tajikistan, state entities, civil society organizations, and the private sector to discuss enhanced cooperation on specific aspects of development, she said.

According to the UN Resident Coordinator, engagement of youth has been another focus in 2024 for the UN.

We believe that by raising awareness, community initiatives, engaging in research, and leveraging social media platforms, youth can inspire others and mobilize efforts toward sustainable solutions. For instance, the Tajikistan Youth for Water and Climate Network was created under the auspices of the Water Conference 2024 to utilize the positive energy of youth in promoting innovative solutions for addressing climate change, she said.

Ramaswami added that a significant highlight of 2024 was the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres visit to Tajikistan as part of his visit to Central Asia, where he highlighted the successful cooperation and the influential role Tajikistan plays in global affairs.

Development of the green economy in Tajikistan

Green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked (GSS+) bonds have emerged as critical instruments to help countries mobilize finance to achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The Government of Tajikistan has prioritized climate mitigation and adaptation as one of the top priorities in its Strategy for the Development of the Green Economy for 2023-2037, the UN Resident Coordinator said.

She added that Tajikistan faces several challenges in transitioning to a green economy, particularly due to its heavy reliance on resource-intensive industries, such as agriculture, which often lacks sustainable practices. Limited access to financial resources and technology hampers the countrys ability to invest in green infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate-resilient agriculture.

Ramaswami also pointed out that the lack of strong regulatory frameworks, public awareness, and capacity at the local and national levels makes it difficult to implement and enforce environmental policies and encourage widespread adoption of sustainable practices.

The funding needed to achieve these goals is substantial and requires collective efforts to transform policies and regulations as well as diversify the type of instruments needed to mobilize resources on a scale. In Tajikistans latest NDC, it is estimated that its climate change activities would require total funding of roughly 7% of Tajikistan's GDP. Thematic bonds have the potential to close this gap by mobilizing investment for the public and private sectors for green and sustainability initiatives, she said.

Tajikistan and the Sustainable Development Goals

To assess Tajikistan's efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we can look at several key areas, including governmental actions, national policies, international cooperation, and progress on specific SDGs, the UN Resident Coordinator said.

She noted that in 2016, Tajikistan adopted the National Development Strategy 2016-2030 aligned with the SDGs. The progress of SDGs was reported through the Voluntary National Review (VNR) presented two times in 2017 and 2023 at the High-Level Political Forum in New York.

I am glad to note that recently, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and Dushanbe City Administration, we helped to prepare the first Voluntary Local Review report of Dushanbe, presented in November during the World Urban Forum held in Cairo, Ramaswami said.

She emphasized that as part of its support for the VNR process in 2023, the UN helped to introduce a National SDG Tracker, developed to measure progress and identify areas for improvement. Tajikistan is on track to reach the targets for Goal 1 (no poverty) and Goal 10 (reduced inequalities). There is significant progress on Goal 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) and Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities).

However, Ramaswami noted that although the use of renewable energy has increased, energy intensity continues to increase (Goal 7). Access to finance for small-scale industries is also a concern (Goal 9).

Other areas requiring improvement are social protection, sustainable and resilient agriculture, inclusive educational facilities, water use and energy efficiency, labor rights and a safe working environment, management of natural resources, and diversified and sustainable financing for development, Ramaswami said.

The UN Resident Coordinator added that robust economic growth and a significant inflow of personal remittances helped to reduce income povertyone of the key SDGsfrom 32 percent in 2009 to 21.2 percent in 2023. In addition to poverty reduction, Tajikistan has also made noticeable progress towards other SDGs, but the progress has been uneven. With a score of 69, Tajikistan is ranked 85 out of 166 countries on the SDG Index.

However, we should keep in mind that Tajikistan remains susceptible to external shocks. This is due to a heavy reliance on personal remittances, an undiversified economy with a low share of private sector investment, a trade deficit that has averaged around 25 percent of GDP, and risks associated with public debt, she said.

According to Ramaswami, to tackle these negative effects, we need to find solutions for ensuring that all segments of society, especially the poor, benefit from economic development. This includes finding new financing for development solutions and supporting policies that encourage job creation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and rural development, where poverty rates are often higher.

Here I should mention that gender inequality is a key driver of poverty, especially for women and girls. The UN in Tajikistan promotes gender equality by supporting policies and programs that empower women economically, politically, and socially. This includes programs that help women gain access to financial services, land, and education, as well as combatting gender-based violence, which can perpetuate cycles of poverty, she said.

Tajikistan's National Development Strategy for the period until 2030 includes initiatives related to water, climate issues, and glacier preservation

This interview takes place right after the recent 29th annual UN climate conferenceConference of Parties (COP29)that took place in Baku in November 2024. This important event is a key annual global forum, setting the basis for supporting developing countries to cope with climate-related costs, the UN Resident Coordinator said.

According to her, Tajikistan is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its geographical location and reliance on glaciers for water, so the UNs work in this area is crucial for the countrys future sustainability. In 2023, avalanches, mudflows, earthquakes, rockfalls, landslides, floods, and extreme weather events claimed 51 lives. They displaced and affected the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people while causing an estimated economic damage of over $7 million. Annual economic losses from disasters can reach up to 1.3 percent of the countrys GDP.

The United Nations supports Tajikistan in combating climate change and protecting its glaciers through various initiatives aimed at both reducing the impacts of climate change and enhancing the countrys ability to adapt to its effects, she said.

Ramaswami added that the Government of Tajikistan and the UN in Tajikistan take an integrated approach to the management of disaster, climate, and environmental risks. UN agencies are supporting Tajikistan in strengthening the coordination of disaster risk reduction and related measures. Tajikistans National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, led by the Government of Tajikistan, benefits from the support and active participation of a wide range of national and international stakeholders and partners.

In August 2023, the UN organizations in Tajikistan and the Government of Tajikistan launched the UN Secretary-Generals Early Warnings for All Initiative to scale up and coordinate investments and action on multi-hazard early warning systems. The UN also plays a role in mobilizing international aid and fostering partnerships with other development organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society. These collaborations bring additional resources and expertise to tackle disaster risks more effectively, she said.

Ramaswami pointed out that Tajikistan is home to numerous glaciers, which provide vital water resources for the countrys agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water.

The UN supports research and science-based data collection on the impact of climate change on the cryosphere (glaciers, snow, and permafrost) and its effect on water supply and occurrence of natural hazards. Through its mandate, the UN provides technical assistance to monitor glaciers, assess water availability, assess disaster risks, and develop strategies for sustainable water resource management, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. This is essential for Tajikistan and the entire Central Asia region to be able to manage its water resources in a sustainable way for today and for the future, she said.

According to her, supporting adaptation to climate change, sustainable water resources management, disaster risk reduction, regional cooperation, and financial mobilization, the UN helps Tajikistan build resilience to climate change and safeguard its glaciers, which is crucial for the countrys security and sustainability. Through these efforts, the UN aims to ensure that Tajikistan can continue to thrive while mitigating the impacts of climate change on its environment, economy, and people.

On behalf of the UN Country Team in Tajikistan, I want to express my sincere thanks to the Government of Tajikistan and all our partners and contributing donors for their continued collaboration. Together, we can build a more prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive future for Tajikistan, the UN Resident Coordinator concluded.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, December 11. The National Bank of Tajikistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and information exchange with the Central Bank of the UAE, Trend reports.

According to the National Bank of Tajikistan, the agreement is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the banking sector, facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge, and mark the beginning of a new level of collaboration.

The document was signed following a meeting between Tajikistans Bank Chairman, Firdavs Tolibzoda, Tajikistan's Ambassador to the UAE, Ashrafjon Gulov, and UAE Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama, along with other senior bank officials.

During the meeting, the parties discussed key issues concerning the banking system and expressed their readiness to expand and develop interbank relations in areas such as banking supervision, payment systems, anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, correspondent accounts, international resource management, digital currencies, and the digitalization of banking systems.

The parties also agreed to organize educational events to exchange information on these topics.
Christmas dinner is the centrepiece of festive celebrations, and the star of the show is undoubtedly the turkey.

But a perfectly roasted, juicy turkey can quickly turn into a Christmas day disaster if not cooked properly.

In fact, according to Safefoods annual survey, 55% of people are worried about cooking their turkey correctly while a further 30% are worried about timing their turkey so thats its ready with all the other dishes.

The survey also revealed that 60% of people start their Christmas dinner planning in early December with 26% starting it just a few days before the big day.

In addition, the cost of living is still impacting on spend for this years Christmas dinner; more than 1 in 3 (35%) said they are shopping around for cheaper food options and 27% will be cooking a smaller-sized turkey.

READ NEXT: Ireland's favourite Christmas song revealed and it's not Fairytale of New York

This year, Safefood has the perfect tools to help home cooks make it a safe and tasty turkey for Christmas Day.

The Christmas Dinner Food Planner can help reduce the stress of preparation and prevent food waste www.safefood.net/Christmas/Shopping with 41% of cooks saying theyre cutting back on the amount of food they buy this Christmas.

Theres also Safefoods Turkey Cooking Time Calculator to help get everything ready on time www.safefood.net/Christmas/turkey-cooking-calculator

Simply enter the time you want to eat dinner, answer a couple of simple questions about the turkey weight and oven type, and it will calculate when you need to start cooking.

Safefood also recommend using a meat thermometer which takes all the guesswork out of knowing when your turkey has reached the safe internal temperature of 75C.

How to use a meat thermometer

Take your turkey out of the oven and insert a clean thermometer probe into the thickest part of the bird.

Take your turkey out of the oven and insert a clean thermometer probe into the thickest part of the bird. In a whole turkey, the thickest part is between the breast and the leg.

In a whole turkey, the thickest part is between the breast and the leg. If you are cooking a turkey crown or a boned and rolled turkey the thickest part is at the centre of the joint.

If you are cooking a turkey crown or a boned and rolled turkey the thickest part is at the centre of the joint. You can use a digital or dial meat thermometer.

You can use a digital or dial meat thermometer. The turkey is fully cooked when the temperature reaches 75C.

The turkey is fully cooked when the temperature reaches 75C. Always make sure you wash the meat thermometer thoroughly afterwards.

If you do not own a meat thermometer, you can check that theres no pink meat, the juices run clear, and that the meat is piping hot when you cut into the thickest part.

Commenting on the research, Trish Twohig, Director of Food Safety with Safefood said,

With over half of people (55%) who are cooking Christmas dinner this year worried about either under- or over-cooking their turkey, weve got all the practical tools you need on how to cook what is probably the most anticipated meal of the year.

Using a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the turkey has reached 75C is the fool proof way to knowing its fully cooked and will be deliciously juicy!

Visit safefood.net to find our Turkey Cooking Time Calculator which will also help you to set a schedule for cooking on the day.

The Safefood survey also found that 43% will enjoy turkey leftovers for up to two days after Christmas. You can also find lots of turkey leftover recipes on www.safefood.net/Christmas
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 11. Uzbekcosmos and Chinas Siwei company discussed further improvement of remote sensing technologies, Trend reports.

The issue was put under the microscope during the powwow between Uzbekcosmos and the delegation from China Siwei Company.



The parties also chewed the fat about collaboration in the realm of space imagery and geographic information systems.

China Siwei is a prominent satellite operator specializing in geospatial intelligence and application services, based in Beijing. The corporation has been active in the space sector since 1992 and currently has 40 Earth observation satellites in orbit.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 11. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed steps to implement the agreements reached during the Russian president's state visit to Uzbekistan in May 2024, based on the approved road map, Trend reports via the Uzbek presidential administration.

The discussion was held during a phone conversation between Mirziyoyev and Putin, who also reviewed critical issues related to further strengthening the strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries.

The conversation paid particular attention to the successful outcomes of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and recent bilateral negotiations held in Moscow, which evaluated measures aimed at stimulating mutual trade growth, accelerating joint projects in areas such as industry, energy, transport, and agriculture, as well as fostering cooperation between regions and business communities of both countries.

Additionally, the conversation positively noted the expansion of collaboration in the fields of innovative technologies, artificial intelligence, education, and medicine, as well as the successful hosting of Uzbek Culture Days in Russia in November.

The leaders also exchanged views on pressing issues of international politics and multilateral cooperation within regional organizations, focusing on upcoming high-level meetings scheduled for late December 2024.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. Iran has activated a large number of centrifuges under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and within the rights of the member states of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baghaei told local media, Trend reports.

According to him, Iran, as a responsible member of the Atomic Energy Agency, has proven its cooperation with the agency, and the agreements reached during the November 14-15 visit of the agency's director general Rafael Grossi to Tehran confirm this position.

Baghaei stated that it is regrettable that three European countries (the UK, France, and Germany) have taken steps to approve the anti-Iran resolution without heeding the achievements made during the visit of the agency's director general to Tehran, which can serve as a basis for strengthening cooperation in the future.

Referring to the meeting between the deputy foreign ministers of Iran and the three European countries in Geneva on November 29, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry asserted that Iran believes in constructive cooperation based on mutual respect. At the same time, it responds to any conflict within the framework of legitimate rights.

The problem that caused the current state of the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action is not the cessation of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and the obligations stipulated in the agreement, but the failure of some parties to fulfill their commitments in this regard, he said.

To note, the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a resolution on November 21 with 19 votes in favor, 12 abstentions, and 3 against Iran. The resolution urged Tehran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency on a number of issues and also called for a credible document on uranium residues at two undeclared sites on Iranian territory.

Meanwhile, in January 2016, Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) implemented the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action concerning Irans nuclear program.

However, in May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Two years later, Iran responded to the sanctions by implementing a strategic plan for the nuclear sector to counter them. The Iranian parliament made this decision at the end of 2020, leading to the suspension of additional measures and the Additional Protocol following the nuclear agreement.

Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent.

Iran has officially affirmed that its strategy is not to pursue the development of an atomic bomb and that it does not support the production of weapons of mass destruction.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has been elected chairman of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2025, Trend reports.

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, addressing local media after the 189th OPEC meeting held the previous day (December 10) in the videoconference format, stated that several important decisions were made at the OPEC meeting, including the election of the Iranian Oil Minister as OPEC chairman.

Paknejad noted that the OPEC secretariat's budget was discussed and the budget was approved by all members. It was noted that some members who do not pay their membership fees will pay shortly.

The Iranian minister did not divulge the value of the budget.

The Iranian minister added that OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais will assume his duties again for three years.

I will fully fulfill my commitments as OPEC chairman in 2025. I will also work to preserve unity in OPEC and continue cooperation with our non-OPEC partners, he said.

OPEC currently has 12 members, and the OPEC+ alliance includes 12 countries.

To note, Iran's total hydrocarbon reserves amount to 1.2 trillion barrels. Iran can extract 340 billion barrels of this gas with existing technological equipment. Iran can utilize about 30 percent, and 70 percent remains unutilized underground.
By Alimat Aliyeva

Hundreds of samples of dangerous viruses have gone missing from a laboratory in Australia, Azernews reports.

"323 vials containing dangerous viruses, including the Hendra virus and hantavirus, have been reported missing. It is unclear whether the infectious samples were stolen or destroyed," journalists reported.

The Australian government has instructed Queensland Health's Department of Public Health to investigate the incident, which has been described as a "major historical breach of biosafety protocols."

"The situation requires urgent action," officials in Queensland stressed. However, they added that the risk of spreading infections is low.

Dr. Sam Scarpino, director of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, who was contacted by journalists for an explanation, confirmed that some of the missing samples contain deadly viruses. However, he emphasized that most of these viruses are not transmitted from person to person, so the risk of an epidemic remains low.

According to Fox News, the laboratory where the samples disappeared provides "diagnostic services and conducts surveillance and research on medically important viruses and pathogens carried by mosquitoes and ticks."

This incident has raised concerns over biosafety protocols in laboratories handling dangerous pathogens. It also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by researchers and public health officials in securing sensitive materials and ensuring compliance with stringent safety measures.
It's no secret that Tom Cruise, one of the brightest stars in Hollywood, has a strained relationship with his children. In particular, the celebrity has not seen his 18-year-old daughter Suri from actress Katie Holmes for more than 10 years, because in the past, the girl's mother refused to join the Church of Scientology.

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However, not everyone knows that Cruise also has two adopted children, whom he adopted with his second wife Nicole Kidman. Currently, 31-year-old artist Isabella and 29-year-old Connor do not communicate with their mother, but keep in touch with their father. Recently, Bella, who goes by the name Kidman-Cruz on social media, showed her face and shared the good news.

The actor's daughter, who is used to leading a private life, said that one of her works was exhibited at the Imagine Museum gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida. The photo depicted the artist's canvas, and Isabella herself posed next to it.

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What is known about Tom Cruise's adopted daughter

Isabella is the eldest of the star's three children. The girl graduated from the prestigious Vidal Sassoon Academy hairdressing courses in London. For a long time, Cruise's daughter worked in one of the famous salons in the capital. Later, Bella was an assistant in a clothing company. Back then, the organization belonged to her father's wife, actress Katie Holmes.

According to reports, the girl lives a surprisingly modest life in the British capital. She even refused her father's offer to rent a penthouse worth 426 thousand dollars a month (about 18 million hryvnias). Reportedly, Tom owns a property in the historic Corinthia Residences complex, which has four bedrooms, an indoor pool and stunning views of the cityscape. This magnificent location is just a stone's throw from Downing Street, in the heart of the city.

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Bella and her husband Max moved to Croydon in October 2017 to be closer to his parents. The couple had married two years earlier in 2015, a year after meeting through mutual friends. A neighbor, Emma, told us about Bella: "I wouldn't recognize her if she came up and slapped me in the face. I don't follow the celebrity culture. They have some kind of reptile - we see the red light of the aquarium. She is very mysterious. I think she decided to live out of sight."

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At the moment, the girl's social media is filled with her artwork, so personal photos of Isabella have become a real rarity. Meanwhile, Kidman-Cruz's followers are convinced that she is miraculously starting to look more and more like her adoptive father.

Cruise and Kidman adopted Isabella in 1992. Later, the couple adopted a boy named Connor. When the actors decided to divorce in 2001, the girl was nine and the boy was only six years old. Tom did not want his offspring to live apart from him. He sought full custody of the children in court and eventually won the case. Kidman moved to Australia, and her adopted son and daughter stayed in California with their father. In separation, Isabella and Connor became distant from their adoptive mother and began to call her by her first name, Nicole. Like Cruise, his children are committed to Scientology.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about Nicole Kidman's first appearance with her youngest daughter, who was born to a surrogate mother.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
For insomniacs, news junkies and early birds we wanted to share and catch up with a bevy of local crime news in one quick collection.

In this post we notice police working to keep up with so many suspects on local streets amid the holidays . . . As always, there's street level danger confronting pedestrians . . . It's worth keeping up with court drama amid ongoing investigations . . . And we notice KCPD advocating for flight tech amid threats of 12th & Oak cutbacks.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City hit-and-run leaves pedestrian hospitalized with life-threatening injuries A pedestrian sustained life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run at 82nd Terrace and Troost Avenue in Kansas City on Tuesday evening.

Tulsa man sentenced to life in prison for fatal beating outside Kansas City hotel A Jackson County judge sentenced a Tulsa, Oklahoma, man to life in prison Tuesday for a May 2023 beating that killed a man outside a Kansas City hotel.

Overland Park student robbed at gunpoint on way to school Overland Park Police are investigating after a middle school student was robbed while walking to school on Monday morning near 133rd and Nall.

Residents continue cries for help after double homicide in Citadel neighborhood According to the department, there have been 49 calls of service to the apartment complex just this past year.

Judge overturns KCK's man conviction in case investigated by Roger Golubski A judge has overturned a Black man's conviction in a 2009 double homicide that was investigated by a discredited white Kansas City, Kansas, police detective.

Wyandotte County judge vacates man's murder conviction after finding evidence was withheld A Wyandotte County judge found that the 34-year-old's constitutional rights were violated during his initial trial.

Mexican national wanted for Kansas sexual assault found in Missouri A Mexican national wanted out of Kansas for a November sexual assault was found in Missouri and extradited back over the border to face his alleged crimes.

First-time marijuana offender walks free after Kansas governor shortens sentence * Kansas Reflector TOPEKA - A Kansas court said Deshaun Durham was supposed to serve more than seven years in prison for a first-time marijuana offense. Durham tried to sway the state's Prison Review Board to recommend clemency, and the board denied his application. But Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly overruled the board's decision Nov.

Missouri lawmakers look at strengthening gun laws in hopes of reducing violent crime Business groups are worried that violent crime in Missouri cities is driving away potential economic growth.

Funeral home 'relieved' after charges filed in death of food truck operator Dyamund Shields Jr., was killed on August 5 when two groups began shooting at one another near 70th and Prospect

Shawnee Police spread Christmas cheer with Secret Santa surprise For 10 years, Shawnee police officers have become Santa's helpers during the holiday season. Since 2015, Shawnee's Secret Santa has contributed over $100,000 to individuals and families.

KCPD Helicopter Unit helps catch multiple suspects in one night Police said in one night, nearly a dozen people were taken into custody with the help of their Helicopter Unit.

Developing . . .
Mahlatini Luxury Travel, renowned for its expertise in African safaris for nearly 25 years, is thrilled to announce the expansion of its portfolio to include bespoke luxury journeys across the Indian Subcontinent. This exciting new offering will feature extraordinary experiences in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, complementing the company's successful Sri Lanka itineraries.



(TRAVPR.COM) UK - December 4th, 2024 - Unparalleled Experiences Await

As a Premier Indo-African specialist, Mahlatini's Indian Subcontinent journeys promise to deliver the same level of luxury, service excellence, and attention to detail that has become synonymous with the Mahlatini brand. Travellers can look forward to iconic wildlife encounters, including tiger safaris in India and snow leopard expeditions, cultural immersion in world-renowned sites such as the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan's Pink City, and Bhutan's Tiger's Nest Monastery and breathtaking natural wonders, from the Kerala backwaters to the majestic Himalayas. All providing exclusive access to authentic tours and experiences, curated by local experts.

A Natural Progression

Vanessa Dean, Mahlatini's Product Manager explains the rationale behind this expansion: "In response to our clients' desire to explore further with Mahlatini, we are thrilled to launch our full Indian Subcontinent portfolio following strong demand for our initial journeys in Sri Lanka. The curation of our bespoke India, Nepal and Bhutan itineraries has been over three years in the making, ensuring the same Mahlatini brand of expertise, end-to-end service and exceptional experiences is guaranteed."

A Tapestry of Cultural Diversity

The Indian Subcontinent offers a rich mosaic of cultures, traditions, and experiences. Mahlatini's carefully crafted itineraries showcase this diversity through immersive tours of bustling cities and tranquil villages. Culinary adventures exploring the region's vibrant street food and fine dining scenes. Participation in colourful local festivals and traditions. These journeys go beyond surface-level tourism, providing travellers with opportunities to engage with local communities and artisans, experience spiritual traditions at ancient temples and monasteries and explore off-the-beaten-path locations for a genuine taste of local life.

Commitment to Seamless and Sustainable Experiences

As a B Corp certified travel partner, Mahlatini ensures that all journeys to the region are sustainable, and conservation led. This commitment aligns perfectly with the ethos of destinations like Bhutan, known as the planet's happiest country and the world's only carbon-positive nation. Liane Goldring, Mahlatini's Marketing Manager, emphasises the company's dedication to client satisfaction: "Like Africa, the Indian Subcontinent can be complex to navigate. Our team of experts will handle every aspect of the journey, from private guiding and seamless transfers to carefully selected accommodations and exclusive experiences. We're bringing the Mahlatini touch to these captivating destinations."

Mahlatini  for Lifes Great Journeys.

ENDS

Link to Images

Link to Video

ABOUT MAHLATINI LUXURY TRAVEL

Mahlatini Luxury Travel is one of only a few specialist Indo-African tour operators in UK, with a passion and expertise for tailor-made safari and wildlife travel. For over 20 years, Mahlatinis dedicated team of travel consultants have crafted unique journeys for clients; sharing an in-depth knowledge of, and passion for, the breath-taking landscapes, wildlife and cultural experiences that Africa and the Indian ocean offers in abundance. Mahlatini operates from Belfast, Northern Ireland and Cape Town, South Africa. Responsible travel is central to Mahlatinis ethos  we only partner with those who share our passion for ecotourism. We offer our clients life-changing journeys, which in turn help conserve Africas spectacular biodiversity and share ecotourisms benefits with indigenous communities.

Contact Adele Cutler

adele@pindroppr.com

+44(0)7976 578988

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Sky Vacations Expands Japan Portfolio to Cater to Growing Demand



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - December 6th, 2024 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York  December 3, 2024: Sky Vacations, a leading tour operator in North America, is excited to announce the expansion of its Japan portfolio with the launch of its highly anticipated program, From Tokyo Towers to Kyoto Temples: Exploring Japan. This authentic journey offers travelers a captivating exploration of Japan, seamlessly blending ancient traditions, breathtaking natural landscapes, and cutting-edge innovation.

Designed specifically for first-time visitors, this immersive 9-day experience invites guests to discover the very essence of Japan. The adventure begins with three nights in the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo, where travelers will ascend the iconic TOKYO SKYTREE for panoramic views that extend to the majestic Mount Fuji. Throughout their journey, participants will immerse themselves in Japans cultural heart, exploring historic landmarks such as the Asakusa Sensoji Temple and indulging in a hands-on sushi-making experience at the renowned Tsukiji Outer Market.

The itinerary also showcases Japans stunning natural beauty, including cherry blossom viewing at Ueno Park and a scenic cruise on Lake Ashi, enveloped by breathtaking landscapes. The journey then transitions to the historical charm of Kyoto, where guests will visit the magnificent Golden Pavilion and partake in a traditional Green Tea Ceremony with Maiko. The experience culminates with a visit to Naras iconic Todaiji Temple, home to the Great Buddha, followed by a leisurely stroll through Nara Deer Park, where travelers can interact with friendly deer in their natural surroundings.

Japan is a land of remarkable contrasts and diverse experiences, says Richard Krieger, Director of Sky Vacations. Our tours transcend the conventional sights of Tokyo and Kyoto, offering experiential travel that enables our guests to connect deeply with local culture and the communities they encounter. From culinary explorations to traditional ceremonies, our programs are thoughtfully designed to create authentic experiences that leave a lasting impression. We believe that true travel is about immersing oneself in the essence of a destination, and we are dedicated to providing transformative journeys.

For more information about these exciting new experiences, please visit www.skyvacations.net or call 877.666.3113.

About Sky Vacations

As one of North Americas leading tour operators, Sky Vacations curates unique travel experiences for individual travelers and groups worldwide. A proud active member of USTOA, IGLTA, and ATTA, Sky Vacations is part of the Sky Bird Group.

PRESS CONTACT:

Priya Chhabra

E: priya@skyvacations.net

D: +1 248 653 1618

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The new Skoda Elroq crossover for the 2025 model year will replace the Karoq. Accordingly, it is smaller than the Kodiaq. It is also the cheapest Skoda electric car, which was shown in detail online.

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The new 4.5-meter-long Skoda Elroq electric car has several variants: 170, 204 and 286 hp. The range is up to 560 km. There are also modifications for 370 and 400 km. The car was shown on the Autogefuhl channel.

In the Czech brand's lineup, the new model is below the Skoda Enyaq electric crossover and will be more affordable.

The car will offer a very practical and spacious interior. It was reported earlier that the interior of the 2025 Skoda Elroq will have a special finish.

We are talking about Recytitan and Technofil materials. They are made from recycled water bottles, old fishing nets and worn clothes. Full compliance with the ecological future of Skoda models. And the new electric car is the herald of this future. The price of Skoda Elroq starts from 33,000 euros.
The votes have been counted and the results are in! Sojourney Travel is a 2024 Best of Georgia winner in Georgia Business Journals annual readers poll.



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - December 10th, 2024 - The votes have been counted and the results are in! Sojourney Travel is a 2024 Best of Georgia winner in Georgia Business Journals annual readers poll.

Georgia Business Journal readers and editors have weighed in on the best of everything in Georgia, honoring thousands of businesses and organizations in more than 25 broad business and community sectors.

The process starts with a nomination on the Best of Georgia website. Voting remains open throughout the year, with hundreds of thousands of votes ultimately received. The process culminates with the publishing of the annual Best of Georgia Keepsake Annual along with a statewide publicity campaign.

To be recognized as one of Georgias top travel agencies for the second year in a row is an incredible honor, said Lori Stephens, Owner and CEO of Sojourney Travel. This award reflects our ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled service and creating extraordinary travel experiences for our clients. We are grateful for the trust our clients place in us and remain dedicated to exceeding their expectations year after year.

Best of Georgia winners and nominees are chosen by a combination of readers votes and editors input, and are vetted through several ranking sites, complaint reports, and voting pattern analysis reports.

Winners are named in hundreds of individual categories, providing Georgia Business Journal readers with a go-to-guide for the best of everything in Georgia. Georgia Business Journal recognizes three levels of winners: The Best of Georgia, Best of Georgia Regional Winners and Honorable Mentions. Within each category, there are multiple honorees named in each tier, depending on the size of the market sector.

You can view the full list of Best of Georgia winners at BESTofGEORGIA.com/winners

About Sojourney Travel

Sojourney Travel is a broad-spectrum, global-focused travel agency dedicated to curating exceptional travel experiences. Sojourney Travel specializes in crafting personalized itineraries, ensuring clients embark on unforgettable journeys tailored to their unique preferences. Sojourney Travels dedicated team of travel advisors cater to a diverse range of travel interests, offering personalized experiences for individuals, families, and groups  no matter the destination. To learn more about Sojourney Travel, please visit sojourneytravel.com.

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From international recognition at the IPA to an invitation for global fashion brands, this project highlights Nepals breathtaking locations and world-class production expertise.



(TRAVPR.COM) NEPAL - December 11th, 2024 - The Himalayan Fashion Adventure has received international recognition, winning an award at the prestigious International Photography Awards (IPA) in 2022. Conceptualized and photographed by Gautam Dhimal, the project showcases fashion in breathtaking Himalayan landscapes, presenting a harmonious blend of modern design and Nepals extraordinary natural beauty. This achievement highlights Nepal as a growing hub for creative projects, attracting the interest of global travelers, photographers, filmmakers, and adventurers.

The Himalayan Fashion Adventure is now available as a beautifully curated book on platforms like Blurb, Amazon, and Apple Books globally, as well as on Daraz.com and Thuprai.com for audiences in Nepal. This collection provides a unique opportunity for readers to experience Nepals majestic scenery and creative potential through Dhimals lens, making it an essential addition to the collections of fashion enthusiasts, travelers, and visual artists worldwide.

The project is a celebration of Nepals diverse landscapes, from towering snow-capped peaks to serene valleys and rugged terrains, offering the perfect backdrop for fashion shoots, films, and photography. With its international acclaim, Himalayan Fashion Adventure serves as an invitation for global fashion brands, creatives, and production companies to explore Nepal as an ideal location for their projects. Nepal offers not only stunning scenery but also professional expertise to manage productions efficiently.

Location Nepal, led by Gautam Dhimal, provides end-to-end production services for films, commercials, still photography, and documentaries. The team specializes in location scouting, logistics, equipment handling, and creative support, ensuring smooth execution for projects of all scales. Whether it's capturing fashion stills or producing films, Location Nepal has been trusted by some of the worlds leading brands and creatives.

For international fashion brands looking to create their campaigns in exotic and visually striking settings, Nepal offers unparalleled opportunities. With years of experience and expertise, Gautam Dhimal is available to work as a photographer for global brands, ensuring world-class imagery. Alternatively, Location Nepal stands ready to support every aspect of production, enabling filmmakers, photographers, and creatives to bring their vision to life in one of the most inspiring destinations on Earth.

To learn more about the project or to explore production opportunities in Nepal, visit LocationNepal.com, HimalayanFashionAdventure.com or GautamDhimal.com, or contact info@LocationNepal.com.

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A group of scientists from the Paris Observatory has proposed a new theory about how water got to Earth and other planets in the solar system. This is a key question for understanding the origin of life in the Universe.

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Although today the oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface, researchers believe that the newly formed Earth was a dry and hot place, unable to retain water due to its proximity to the Sun. This means that water had to arrive later, from space, LBV writes.

According to scientists, the traditional theory states that water arrived via comets or icy asteroids that collided with the Earth during the first 100 million years of its history. However, this scenario depends on extremely random cosmic events, experts say.

The new study offers a different idea based on recent observations of asteroids and debris disks in distant star systems captured by the ALMA radio telescope.

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According to scientists, when the solar system was young, asteroids formed in a cold, ice-covered region. As the original gas and dust disk surrounding the Sun dissipated, the space rocks began to heat up, slowly releasing their ice in the form of water vapor.

This vapor formed a disk around the Sun, consisting mainly of water, the researchers suggest. Over time, the gravitational and dynamic forces of the solar system forced this disk to expand, reaching the orbits of the inner planets, including the Earth.

Scientists are convinced that it was in this process that our planet captured part of this vapor, which subsequently condensed and contributed to the formation of the oceans.

The most interesting aspect of this theory is that it not only explains the origin of water on Earth but also on other planets in the solar system, scientists emphasize.

In addition, this scenario suggests that a similar process can be repeated in distant star systems, opening up new opportunities for identifying exoplanets with water and, potentially, life, scientists say.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer and wife of Hollywood actor George Clooney, is constantly praised by fashion critics for her unique and sophisticated style. But what makes her looks so special?

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The Who What Wear publication named several typical items from the celebrity's wardrobe. All of them can be called both basic and have their own special character.

Perfectly fitted trench coat

Trench coats are considered the key outerwear in a capsule wardrobe. But Amal Clooney's experience shows that only perfectly fitted models will look good. Even if you choose an oversized cut, it doesn't have to be just a slightly oversized model. And then you can play with colors, textures, and fabrics. In the lawyer's wardrobe, we noticed both a trench coat in a delicate milky shade and an emerald green version, as well as leather and textile models.

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Straight cut jeans

The fashion for extremely narrow and baggy jeans comes and goes, but the straight cut always remains relevant. Straight jeans are perfect for pairing with fitted tops, blazers, jumpers, and blouses and are a truly versatile piece in your wardrobe.

Rigid leather bag

The profession of a lawyer implies the need to carry a laptop, a notebook, and a lot of documents. And for all this, you need a comfortable bag. Amal Clooney knows for sure that for such things you need a leather accessory that keeps its shape well. In addition, a hard bag is a timeless classic and a consistently stylish item that will serve its owner for many years. The size of the bag can be varied to suit your needs, large models are in fashion right now, but the color should be basic  black, brown, burgundy, beige, navy blue, gray, etc.

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Cropped pants

Cropped pants that reveal the ankle make the business casual look less boring. The right cut and model allow you to visually stretch your silhouette and lengthen your legs. Also, these pants are suitable for many types of shoes  from ankle boots to loafers and pointed-toe pumps. And they are an elegant choice in any classic capsule.

A blazer that imitates a tuxedo

A blazer is a good alternative to a regular jacket, as it allows you to make your look more relaxed without going beyond the business style. However, Amal Clooney has found a way to make it look chic at the same time. She is fond of blazers that mimic a tuxedo in their cut and materials. Expressive shoulders and spectacular lapels turn an ordinary thing into a stylish and even somewhat solemn one.

Shoes with pointed toes

If I were to change my favorite sneakers and sneakers for something, it would be pointed-toe pumps. They visually lengthen the leg and at the same time serve as a certain accent in the look. Even though it is better to choose basic colors for a capsule wardrobe  black, beige, brown, and burgundy. An active and even somewhat aggressive toe turns such a pair into a fashion statement, while pointed shoes go well with a lot of things.

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Ukrainian law enforcement officers may be granted the right to open not only citizens' correspondence but also postal items. At the same time, they will be able to seize parcels without the addressee's knowledge.

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The new rule is spelled out in draft law No. 12294, which was registered in the Verkhovna Rada. It was initiated by a group of MPs, including "servants" Maksym Pavliuk, Serhii Ionushas, and Viacheslav Medianyk.

They propose to include in Article 258 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which regulates interference with private communication, a provision on the arrest, inspection, and seizure of mail at postal facilities (previously just correspondence). This will give law enforcement officers the ability to inspect:

letters;

postal cards;

small packages;

"M" bags;

targeted mailing;

items for the blind;

parcels;

EMS shipments and other material carriers of information transfer between persons.

The shipments will be able to be inspected without the person's knowledge only after they are seized on the basis of a decision of the investigating judge. It is noted that such a decision will be made in exceptional cases, for example, if there are sufficient grounds to believe that such items may contain things, documents, or information about circumstances relevant to the pre-trial investigation.

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If such items are found, the investigator may confiscate them. If it is necessary to preserve the confidentiality of the seizure of postal items, the investigator may limit himself to making copies or obtaining samples. If necessary, they can be marked with special marks, equipped with technical means of control, or replaced with safe analogs.

If no items or documents important to the investigation are found, the inspected mail will be delivered to the addressee. However, a protocol is drawn up for each case of inspection, seizure, or detention of mail at postal facilities.

At the same time, postal workers must ensure the conditions for such actions and not disclose them or other information received.

"Given that the regulation of general procedures for organizing and conducting relevant covert investigative (detective) actions is inextricably linked to special legislation in the field of postal services, there is an objective need to amend certain articles of Chapter 21 of the CPC of Ukraine, in particular, the articles regulating the procedure for organizing and conducting covert investigative (detective) actions concerning postal correspondence," the authors note in the explanatory note.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the Ministry of Economy ordered banks to correct the terms of use of the "National Cashback" card account specified in the agreements. In particular, they should not require customers to disclose bank secrecy. In particular, if the card was opened only to receive UAH 1000 of winter support.

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12/11/2024

By Anne Maglia

The Office of Research Development is pleased to announce the award recipients under the FY25 Community-Engaged Research and Scholarship Fund. This fund supports projects that create new knowledge, approaches and practices that address regional challenges through collaborative efforts.

The goal of the fund is to support the creation and sustenance of strong, mutually beneficial relationships with the greater Lowell community by supporting work that addresses an urgent problem, need or opportunity. The Community-Engaged Research and Scholarship Awards are funded by The Public Service Endowment.



Congratulations to the two awardees:



Mercedes Baillargeon, Associate Professor, World Languages and Cultures, College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

 Co-PI: Suzanne Molleur Beebe, Coordinator for Outreach, Franco-American Day Committee

 Co-PI: Carisa Kolias, Public Services and Special Collections Archivist, University Library, UMass Lowell

 Co-PI: Anthony Sampas, Head Archivist, University Library, UMass Lowell

 Co-PI: Nikki Tantum, Digital Initiatives Archivist, University Library, UMass Lowell

Project Title: The Greater Lowell Franco-American Digital Archives and Developing Participatory Archiving at UMass Lowell

Abstract: The Greater Lowell Franco-American Digital Archive is a collaborative initiative between the Franco-American Day Committee, the Center for Lowell History and UMass Lowell dedicated to documenting the daily lives and experiences of Lowells Franco-American community, once among the largest Francophone communities in North America outside of French Canada. Launched in 2022, this ongoing project prioritizes community building and participatory archiving. In partnership with the Franco-American Day Committee, we have built a solid foundation through events and initiatives, with a goal of expanding the archive through continued community involvement. By documenting and sharing the multifaceted experiences of the Franco-American community, the archive will provide a comprehensive and accessible record of their cultural contributions and enduring legacy.

Award Amount: $10,000





Amber Ruf, Associate Professor, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

 Co-PI: Joselyne Chenane, Associate Professor, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell

 Co-PI: Natasha Soolkin, Executive Director, New American Association of Massachusetts (NAAM)

 Co-PI: Amanda Sullivan, Director, New American Association of Massachusetts (NAAM)

 Co-PI: Robai Werunga, Assistant Professor, School of Education, UMass Lowell

Project Title: Know Your Rights: Pedagogy for Newly Arrived Immigrants Interacting with Police

Abstract: The Merrimack Valley, known for its Gateway Cities, continues to welcome new immigrants. In the past year, Massachusetts opened its doors to various migrant groups through its right-to-shelter provision, guaranteeing emergency shelter for homeless families, including new immigrant families. Immigrants enrich the cultural diversity of new communities and bolster economies (Akbari & Haider, 2018; Borjas, 2019). However, they face challenges understanding the American criminal justice system and its agents (e.g., the police). One of the areas of need is educating the newly arrived immigrants about the role of the American criminal justice system. This collaborative initiative, involving the New American Association of Massachusetts (NAAM) and UMass Lowell, seeks to enhance community engagement through the establishment of an educational program titled "Know Your Rights." The program aims to educate and empower newly arrived immigrants while providing essential information to local law enforcement. The overarching objective is to mitigate distrust and fear between these two communities, fostering a more harmonious relationship and providing opportunities for UMass Lowell to impact community members.

Award Amount: $10,000
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Xiaomi YU7 Electric SUV Ready to Hit Road  Check Launch Date

Buoyed by the success of SU7 Sedan, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is all set to launch its second electric car YU7 SUV in months from now

Wednesday December 11, 2024 12:50 PM , ummid.com News Network

Buoyed by the success of SU7 Sedan, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is all set to launch its second electric car YU7 SUV in months from now.

Xiaomi had launched its first electric car SU7 - C Class luxury technology sedan, in April this year, and by November, it had already reached 100,000 units - surpassing its original annual target.



After the overwhelming success of SU7, Xiaomi now plans to roll-out YU7 SUV - touted as a rival to Elon Musk's Tesla Model Y in 2025.

While the exact date to launch Xiaomi YU7 is not yet confirmed by the Chinese tech giant, reports suggest the company's second electric car will be available for sale in July 2025.

Xiaomi said YU7 is legally ready for market entry, but it needs at least six more months to start sales.

Meanwhile, the company has applied for the sales license to test the car without heavy camouflage. The car hence could be available for customers in China by June next year.

Xiaomi YU7 Features and Dimensions

The Xiaomi YU7 is an all-electric crossover with dimensions of 4999/1996/1600 mm and a wheelbase of 3000 mm.

The five-seater Xiaomi YU7 weighing 2,405 kg can run with a maximum speed of 253 km/h.

The top-trim Xiaomi YU7 packs dual-motor 4WD with a combined power of 681 hp.

A ternary NMC battery from CATL powers electric motors. However, its capacity has yet to be revealed.

The likely price of Xiaomi YU7 could be between 250,000 and 350,000 yuan (USD 34k and 48k) which is notch closer to Tesla Model Y SUV which is selling at a starting price of 249,900 yuan (34k USD) in China.

Industry insiders said Xiaomi has planned to focus on domestic market as of now. Hence, despite showcasing SU7 sedan in India, it is unclear if Xiaomi will launch YU7 or other electric vehicles (EV) in the Indian market any time soon.

Founded in 2010, Xiaomi is originally a smartphone maker. It however expanded to automobile by launching electric vehicle in April 2024.

It appears that the Chinese smartphone makers are in race to challenge the American automobile giants as Huawei  another smartphone giant, had in November this year joined hands with JAC Group to launch Maextro S800 luxury sedan that aims to take on car titans Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Maybach and Bentley.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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A limited budget is no longer an obstacle to a good vacation. Fortunately, Ukraine has many locations where you can have a great time during the frosty season without spending a fortune. Thus, to know which destinations are not inferior in quality to the luxurious ones, read below.

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Izky

A village in the Khust district of the Zakarpattia region. The resort is located at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level. There are about five trails of easy and medium difficulty. Therefore, both beginners and professionals can enjoy their time here.

Seven cannons are responsible for snowing the location, so tourists can ski or snowboard in any weather.

Three lifts have also been built here: a two-seater chairlift, a rope tow lift, and a multilift. Travelers can also enjoy snow tubing, snowmobiling, and sledding.

By the way, you can attend pottery and cheese-making workshops on the territory. We also recommend a trip to the picturesque Shypit waterfall. It is located 12 kilometers away.

Here you can rent all the equipment you need: boots, poles, etc. The rental will cost 300 per day. You will have to pay 1,000 per day for the lift.

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As for accommodation, a double room with a view of the park for 3 nights will cost from 4,500.

Oryavchyk

A village in the Stryi district of Lviv region. Here, at an altitude of 1,088 meters, there is the Zveniv ski resort. There are several tracks of medium and easy difficulty on its territory.

You can also rent all the equipment here: skis, goggles, masks, clothes, etc. The kits cost about 200 to 300 per day. Tourists can also turn to an instructor.

A day pass for a ski lift will cost about 600. Children under 6 years old accompanied by an adult can us it for free.

Travelers can also warm up in a vat or bath.

We recommend visiting the Korostiv Narrow-Gauge Railway Museum, which is located 20 kilometers away. The construction of the railroad began in 1888. At that time, it was used for timber transportation. Later, it was authorized for tourist transportation.

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In Oryavchyk, a one-bedroom house for 2 adults for 3 nights will cost about 4,470. If you plan to go with a large group, rent a 4-bedroom cottage. It will cost an average of 5,700.

Vyshka

A village in Uzhhorod district of Zakarpattia region. The facility is located on Mount Krasiya at an altitude of 1,036 meters above sea level. In Soviet times, it was a large ski resort with the only ski lift in Ukraine.

Today, two chair lifts have been built and trails for beginners and professionals have been arranged. The longest run is 3.5 kilometers long.

Equipment rental costs from 250 to 450 per day, depending on the category.

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On weekdays, ski-passes from morning to evening will cost about 850, on weekends - 1,000. They are free for children under 6 years old.

Accommodation in a double room will cost about 4,500. A junior suite for 4 people will cost about 6,150.

Plavya

A village in the Stryi district of Lviv region. It is home to the Play ski resort at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level.

There are 2 ski lifts and a rope tow on its territory. There are also 5 downhill runs.

Travelers can relax in the SPA center and visit the Museum of National Culture.

A one-day ski-pass will cost about 900.

A studio room for two people for 3 nights will cost about 6,900. An apartment for 4 adults will cost about 12,000.

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Slavske

A village in the Stryi district of Lviv region. It is home to the Zakhar Berkut ski resort.

It has a chairlift, 2 tows and a multilift for children and beginners. The total length of the slopes is more than 9 kilometers.

Here travelers can rent equipment and attend a ski school. A full set of equipment will cost about 350. The price of a full-day ski-pass is 950, and 1,200 on weekends.

Tourists can also relax in the wellness tub, sauna, and jacuzzi.

A two-bedroom house for 4 people for 3 nights will cost about 13,500. A standard room for 2 adults will cost about 6,900.

Choose a direction and conquer the peaks!

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College life is not without social media. While it connects students, entertains them, and allows them to express themselves, there are dark areas that lurk beneath the surface of social media apps.

Students are constantly exposed to curated content, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy when measuring against the influential lives depicted online.

State News shared that according to Lauren Enty, mental health coordinator at Michigan State University, "Even when students know social media shows an idealized version of life, it's hard not to compare.

Social Media Negatively Impacts College Life

Social media use can negatively affect self-esteem because polished images and highlights appear on websites. Further research at UC Davis Health reported that negative self-image has a direct correlation with social media usage, especially when comparing one's self to influencers or friends.

As seen through examples with Madison Totty, students mentioned that their insecurities worsened when perfect skin or beauty trends came up online. Beyond low self-image, excessive use of social media is related to an increase in college students reporting having anxiety, depression, or feelings of loneliness.

At the same time, social media can also be associated with a fear of missing out (FOMO), causing students to be constantly checking their phones. This behavior can bring about feelings of exclusion and dependency, as noted by UCDH. The longer this dependency lasts, it can prevent students from eventually developing confidence in real-life social interactions, which is an isolation and anxiety trigger.

Another major impact of social media addiction is sleep disturbance. According to the Sleep Foundation, students with FOMO often check their social media right before bed or even wake up in the middle of the night to check notifications. This exposes them to blue light, which suppresses melatonin production, thus leading to sleep deprivation. Poor sleep is highly associated with deteriorating anxiety, depression, and mental health.

Mental health professionals recommend that students be aware of their social media usage. Some strategies include limiting the amount of screen time prior to sleep and remembering that social media is not reality.
On Wednesday, December 11, Orthodox Christians commemorate St. Daniel the Stylite, known for his spiritual exploits and steadfastness of faith. Believers prayerfully honor the memory of the saint, recalling his exploits and unbreakable faith.

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The saint was born in Mesopotamia to a family that had been waiting for a child for a long time. The mother, Martha, vowed to dedicate her son to God. The boy received the name Daniel after the abbot of the monastery opened the liturgical book and came across the words of the prophet Daniel.

At the age of 12, Daniel secretly left his parents' home to devote himself to the monastic life. His mentor was the abbot of the monastery, and later Daniel met St. Simeon the Stylite, who predicted that he would also serve on a pillar.

For 33 years, St. Daniel lived on a pillar in the Phrygian desert, praying and receiving people who came for spiritual support and healing. The saint completed his earthly journey at the age of 80, leaving behind an example of deep faith and self-sacrifice.

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Day of Remembrance of the Jews of Crimea and Krymchaks

On December 11, Ukraine also marks the Day of Remembrance of the Jews of Crimea and Krymchaks who perished during World War II. This date is an important reminder of one of the most tragic pages in the history of the Ukrainian people, including the Crimean Tatar and Jewish people.

It was on this day in 1941 that the Nazis began mass executions of Jews and Krymchaks on the territory of Crimea. Thousands of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, were ruthlessly murdered. This tragedy was one of the largest crimes committed by the Nazis on the territory of Ukraine.

The Krymchaks were a small Turkic people who practiced Judaism and lived on the territory of Crimea. They had their own language, culture, and religious traditions. Unfortunately, during the Holocaust, the Krymchaks suffered the same fate as the Jews.

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International Mountain Day

On December 11, the world celebrates International Mountain Day every year. Established by the United Nations in 2003, this holiday aims to draw attention to the importance of mountain ecosystems, their role in human life and the need to preserve them.

Historical dates of December 11

1618: In the village of Deulino, near the Trinity and St. Sergius Monastery (now the city of Sergiev Posad in Moscow Oblast), after King Vladislav's attempt to capture Moscow, a truce is signed between the Moscow Kingdom and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for 14.5 years.

1769: Blinds are patented in Great Britain. This invention had a significant impact on comfort and interior design.

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1785: The Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II issued a patent on the legalization of Masonic lodges and their rights.

1789: The University of North Carolina, one of the oldest universities in the United States, is founded.

1792: French Revolution: King Louis XVI is brought to trial for treason against the National Convention.

1852: The Cirque d'Iver, the oldest circus building in existence, opens in Paris.

1888: The collapse of the French joint-stock company Panama, created to build the Panama Canal, led to the ruin of tens of thousands of small shareholders.

1894: The world's first automobile exhibition opens in Paris, with nine companies participating. This was the beginning of a new stage in the development of the automotive industry.

1936: King Edward VIII of Great Britain abdicates because the parliament and the church did not approve of his intention to marry Wallis Warfield-Simpson, a twice-divorced American.

1937: In the Bolshoi Theater, Joseph Stalin said a phrase that became a catchphrase: "A deputy is a servant of the people."

1941: The Third Reich and Italy declared war on the United States.

1944: The UPA unit attacked Soviet government buildings and NKVD barracks in Yaremche, Stanislav region.

1963: Frank Sinatra paid a $240,000 ransom for his son.

1972: Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt (astronauts of the Apollo 17 spacecraft) set foot on the surface of the Moon for the last time in the twentieth century.

Birthdays on December 11

Church names: Ayifal, Akepsiy, Danyyil, Luka, Miraks, Nykin.

Secular names: Danylo, Ivan, Luka, Mykola, Petro.

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December 11 2024

Disruptive architecture firm HOKO is branching out into AI and branding as it seeks to reimagine the delivery of domestic architecture and establish itself as a household name with two key appointments.

The practice has recruited London-based architectural designer Amir Hossein Noori, founder of AI Hub, as a boardroom advisor to oversee the development of new software communicating design solutions to clients.

Noori is working on a 'rapid visualisation' tool to offer near real-time design updates and cost reporting and a regulatory tool to guarantee compliance at the earliest design stages. He is joined by Andrew Dobbie, founder of Glasgow-based advertising agency MadeBrave, who will devise a branding and storytelling approach to establish HOKO as a trusted brand.

HOKO founder and BBC Scotlands Home of the Year judge Danny Campbell, commented: I am incredibly excited to welcome Andrew, with his vision and experience in making brands famous, and Amir, with his unparalleled knowledge of AI in architecture, to help HOKO conquer both the UK and international markets.

Were not just talking about streamlining processes; were fundamentally changing how architecture is delivered. To be the first household name in architecture is an ambitious goal, but with the right team  which we now have  and immensely scalable AI tools, well prove its possible.

Noori added: "HOKOs integration of AI represents a paradigm shift in an industry often resistant to change. AI will enable architects to achieve more, push boundaries, and create a more exciting and stimulating journey for homeowners to design their dream homes.

While professionals traditionally measure time as their primary resource, HOKO will focus on delivering exceptional outcomes. The result is not just a faster process but one that enables architects to take on more projects, improve client satisfaction, and provide better opportunities for their team.

HOKO is seeking 200k venture capital funding via the UK Government's Enterprise Investment Scheme to help finance its aggressive expansion.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Wednesday assured the governments full support in addressing critical challenges related to captive power, energy costs, and Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Wednesday assured the governments full support in addressing critical challenges related to captive power, energy costs, and Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS).

He said during a meeting with Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA), said a news release.

Jam Kamal highlighted the governments proactive engagement on these issues, adding that he had already taken up the matter at the level of the Prime Minister and held inter-ministerial discussions with the Finance, Power, and Petroleum Ministries.

This is not just an energy issue; it may otherwise impact exports, industry, and the broader economy, he emphasized.

The minister revealed ongoing talks with international partners to secure relief while ensuring compliance with the commitments.

Jam confirmed the Finance Ministers willingness to support the industry and promised high-level advocacy if necessary.

If required, the direct engagement at highest level will be made with the international financer to ensure sustainability for the industry, he said.

The minister endorsed PCMAs concerns about the high cost of switching from captive power to the national grid.

Industries cannot absorb the jump from 7.7 cents to around 16 cents per kWh without severe economic consequences, he noted, warning that closures would result in unemployment, reduced exports, and a negative investment climate.

Minister Jam urged the industry to remain engaged with the government, assuring them of continued support. We are with you and are pursuing these matters at all levels to ensure the sustainability of the sector, he concluded.

The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration between the government and industry to sustain growth and competitiveness in challenging economic conditions.
(@FahadShabbir)

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) jointly organized an informative seminar on "Fundamentals of Islamic Banking and Finance Concepts" here on Wednesday

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) jointly organized an informative seminar on "Fundamentals of Islamic Banking and Finance Concepts" here on Wednesday.

The seminar was chaired by LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad while Chief Manager SBP Tariq Riaz, Additional Director Muhammad Saleem, and renowned Islamic banking expert Dr. Muhammad Uzair Usmani also spoke on the occasion. The seminar was also attended by LCCI Executive Members, including Syed Salman Ali, Aamir Ali, Karamat Awan, Ms. Aamna Randhawa, Khurram Lodhi and Ahsan Shahid.

The objective of the seminar was to educate the business community on the principles and benefits of Islamic banking and its potential to revolutionize the financial sector.

In his address, LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad highlighted the impressive growth trajectory of Islamic banking in Pakistan. He appreciated the State Bank of Pakistan for its pivotal role in promoting this banking model across the nation.

He said that Islamic banking is rapidly expanding in Pakistan with six domestic and six international Islamic banks actively operating in the country. As of 2024, these banks manage over 5,000 branches nationwide, serving approximately 16.7 million account holders who have deposited Rs 7,268 billion, which account for 24 percent of the total deposits in the banking industry.

LCCI President said that Islamic banks are responsible for financing worth Rs 3,504 billion, which constitutes 29 percent of the total financing in the banking sector.

He also referred to a landmark ruling by Pakistans Federal Sharia Court, declaring interest-based banking as non-compliant with Islamic principles. The court has mandated the complete transition to an interest-free banking system by December 2027.

Mian Abuzar Shad said that this presents a unique opportunity for Pakistan to align its financial practices with Islamic teachings. It is now the responsibility of the government to ensure that all loans provided by banks are free of interest.

He said that Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to facilitate the adoption of Islamic banking practices. He said that the chamber has been consistently organizing awareness seminars to educate its members about the advantages of Islamic finance. Our goal is to provide our members with the necessary tools and knowledge to make informed decisions about Islamic banking solutions. Todays session marks another milestone in this journey, he added.

The seminar featured comprehensive presentations by SBP officials and industry experts.

Tariq Riaz and Muhammad Saleem spoke about the operational framework of Islamic banking while Dr. Muhammad Uzair Usmani elaborated on its ethical foundation and its potential to foster economic stability.

During the seminar, speakers delivered speeches on differences between conventional and Islamic banking systems; practical methodologies of Islamic financing; the role of Islamic banking in driving inclusive growth and economic sustainability and interactive discussions with business community.

A question and answer session was also held where the participants sought clarity on various aspects of Islamic banking. The experts addressed questions on its implementation and highlighted customized banking solutions available for businesses. The seminar underscored the increasing relevance of Islamic banking in Pakistan and its ability to strengthen the economy.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a crucial meeting of the Prime Minister's Committee on Precious Stones, paving the way for significant developments in Pakistan's gemstone industry.

The committee decided to establish an authority for the effective use of precious stones, along with a Gemstone Export Processing Center and a Gem and Jewelry City in Islamabad, according to a news release on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Privatization Aleem Khan, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, and other concerned secretaries and DGs.

During the meeting, various recommendations for the potential use of precious stones were presented.

The committee also considered recommendations to facilitate foreign investment in this sector. It also agreed to set up a Gemstone and Jewelry Center at international airports.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the development of Balochistan province and the welfare of residents were top priorities and every possible effort was being made to provide employment opportunities

to its youth so they could play a significant role in country's development.

The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with Governor Balochistan Jaffar Khan Mandokhel who called on him.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and President Pakistan Muslim League (N) Azad Jammu and Kashmir Shah Ghulam Qadir, PM Office Media Wing said in a press

release.

During the meeting, matters related to Balochistan province were discussed.

The Governor thanked the prime minister for taking special interest in the development projects of the province.

President AJK Pakistan Muslim League, Shah Ghulam Qadir also expressed gratitude to the prime minister for providing a Rs. 23 billion package to address the energy issues of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The prime minister advised Shah Ghulam Qadir to continue his efforts so that the people of AJK could get maximum relief.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived in Shanghai and began her political engagements in Shanghai.

According to a statement issued here on Wednesday, Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mr. Zhu Zhongming warmly welcomed the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Deputy Secretary Mr. Zhu Zhongming expressed his determination to further enhance economic relations between Punjab and Shanghai, while the meeting emphasised the need to further promote cooperation in trade, investment, science, technology and industry.

The meeting between the two leaders discussed increasing cooperation in the economic and technological sectors, while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif thanked the Chinese government for providing training and education opportunities to Pakistani students and experts.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also invited Shanghai-based companies to invest in Punjab's special economic zones (SEZs).

Speaking on the occasion, Maryam Nawaz said that Shanghai's emergence as a financial and trade hub at the global level was commendable, and she wanted to collaborate with Shanghai companies in sectors including automobile, IT, semiconductor and robotics.

The Chief Minister said that the IT industry in Pakistan was growing rapidly due to the capacity building of experts with the cooperation of China, and Pakistan's IT sector was rich in the potential to develop according to the vision of the great President Xi Jinping.

She said that the Punjab government was fully ready to promote the IT sector with the Shanghai authorities, Pakistan and China came closer during the rule of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, and the people of China were in my blood.

She said that the launch of game-changing projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was possible only during the rule of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif.

The Punjab CM further said that after several years of political and economic instability, adding Pakistan's economy and economic indicators were on the rise, and Chinese companies will be given preferential facilities for investing in Punjab.

On this occasion, Mr. Zhu Zhongming, Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China, said that trade, investment, infrastructure and people-to-people contacts will further strengthen bilateral relations.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, on Wednesday held a meeting with Chairman of the Prime Minister Inspection Commission, Muzaffar Ali Ranjha, abd discussed progress on development projects under the Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

The meeting, held at the Chief Ministers House in Peshawar, and attended by the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries and other senior officials, said a press release issued here.

During the meeting, it was agreed to accelerate the pace of work on these projects and ensure their timely completion.

Participants emphasized the importance of better coordination among departments to remove obstacles hindering the implementation of these projects.

Federal and provincial departments were instructed to take necessary measures to achieve this goal.

The meeting discussed key projects including the Chitral-Shandur Road, Peshawar Northern Bypass, CRBC Lift Canal, Hangu Road and other significant initiatives.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Gandapur highlighted the importance of completing these projects for public welfare, reaffirming the provincial governments commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities.

Muzaffar Ranjha assured that the federal PSDP projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be prioritized and completed on time.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Headquarters/Security, Muhammad Jawad Tariq, chaired a meeting with senior police officers on Wednesday at the Central Police Office (CPO) to review the ongoing recruitment process within the Islamabad Police and discuss administrative improvements.

A public relation officer told APP that, the meeting was attended by AIG Establishment Abdul Haq Umrani, AIG Investigation and Complaints Inayat Ali Shah, the Admin Officer, and other senior police officers.

He said during the meeting, DIG Headquarters/Security reviewed the ongoing recruitment process within the Islamabad Police.

He instructed the senior officers to complete the recruitment process as soon as possible, ensuring fairness and transparency.

He also directed all police officers to improve their performance, oversee the transfer of officers and staff across divisions, adopt effective strategies to resolve bottlenecks in investigative matters, and address public grievances promptly.

Additionally, he issued orders to ensure that all tasks assigned by the IGP Islamabad are completed on time./APP-rzr-mkz
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) The National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) on Wednesday organized a roundtable conference titled US-China Maritime Competition in the Indian Ocean Region Under the Trump Administration and Options for Pakistan to proffer policy guidelines to relevant stakeholders.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed was the Chief Guest, whereas Vice Admiral Khan Hasham bin Siddique presented the Keynote, said a press release.

Dr. Baber Bilal, Vice President of NIMA welcomed the guests and gave an overview of the conference.

Vice Admiral Ahmed Saeed, President of NIMA moderated the session. Maritime experts, diplomats, policymakers, government officials, academia, think tanks and university students actively participated in the discussion.

It was a general consensus that, under the Trump 2.0 administration era, trade wars would take precedence over military confrontation. The Indian Ocean will gain substantial strategic importance because a major portion of global trade passes through this region.

The rise of multipolarity will enhance the role of middle powers and regional players. Thus, Pakistan as a major player in IOR will face challenges and opportunities to in-cash its geo-strategic location.

Senator Mushahid highlighted Donald Trump's 2.0 era as transformative and likely to bring about in-house changes in the U.S. administration approach, prioritizing the USA first policy. Vice Admiral Hasham emphasized that Pakistan needs to continue its strategic partnership with China while managing its relations with the US.

He highlighted the need to identify strategic options and formulate a policy framework for the Indian Ocean. Dr. Maria Sultan of SASSI stated that the Trump administration would likely lure into Russia by easing economic sanctions to contain China.

In the end, President NIMA thanked all the participants for their whole hearted participation and reaffirmed NIMAs commitment to advancing dialogue on maritime and regional security issues.
(@Abdulla99267510)

PTI chairman while speaking on floor of National Assembly says, Do not force us to return to streets. This house must deliver justice to us,

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan demanded formation of an inquiry commission to investigate May 9 riots.

Now, lets clear the dust of May 9 and form a commission on it, said Barrister Gohar Khan while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

He said that the reason for setting up a committee was to correct the mistakes and should not be seen as a weakness.

The PTI chairman said injustice was done with their people and bullets were fired at them.

No country in the world can allow shooting at peaceful protesters, said Gohar Khan while indicating towards crackdown on the PTI workers and leaders during the Islamabad protest.

He claimed that none of their protesters were armed, and if there was any shooting, the responsibility for it must be held accountable.

Barrister Gohar pointed out that the inquiry commissions had been set up in the past in this country, but nothing came of them. He further stated that this assembly had yet to ensure the protection of its members and their children.

He further said, Oppression is oppression; when it increases, it is destroyed. One person who came out of a Syrian prison after 39 years said the Syrian ruler fled the country with $2 billion. Do not force us to return to the streets. This house must deliver justice to us,.

Sher Afzal Marwat while speaking on floor of the National Assembly, said, Why were bullets fired at us on November 26? The mistreatment of Pashtuns continues,.

He added that CM Ali Amin Gandapur stood by Bushra Bibi until the very end, and yet, they were the ones who were beaten, injured and now were facing charges.

The PTI leader stated that their members are running around the courts, with cases being filed against the poor who had no connection with PTI.

The government members call the founding PTI leader a criminal, which only spoils our mood. The government not only beat us but also looted our property, he added.
At first, the USSR government banned the sale of alcoholic beverages. Then, for a certain period of time, they earned good money on it, and then began to ban it again.

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Nevertheless, there has always been alcohol in the Soviet Union. Apart from moonshine, which was made in many families, champagne was the favorite drink of the people of that time. FoodOboz found out why it was produced and whether it was of high quality.

Of course, vodka was the most popular alcoholic beverage in the USSR. Therefore, in order to give the situation at least a little bit of nobility, it was decided to launch the production of champagne. In 1937, the Crimean plant Novy Svet was already producing more than 12 thousand bottles of champagne daily. By 1941, it was planned to increase production by 60 times.

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The quality of champagne was very questionable, although its popularity never waned. It was a great alternative for women who were tired of "men's" vodka and beer. Usually, good champagne takes one to three years to age. But the aging period for Soviet champagne was only 25 days. By the way, the appearance of champagne on the shelves of Soviet stores strangely coincided with the resumption of Christmas tree setting and New Year celebrations.

Thus, in a very short time, champagne became a real symbol of the New Year. Every citizen of that country preferred to have at least one bottle of champagne on the holiday table. This drink was considered a sign of material wealth and prosperity.
Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar on Wednesday paid tribute to security forces for killing 15 terrorists during operation in Sanbhaza area of Zhob district

QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar on Wednesday paid tribute to security forces for killing 15 terrorists during operation in Sanbhaza area of Zhob district.

He said that no conspiracy to destabilize peace would be allowed to succeed in Balochistan saying that the people stood with the security forces, the provincial minister would continue to support the measures against terrorists with the aim to maintain durable peace in the area.

The Minister said that the people and the forces are united to thwart the external agenda of anti-national elements for the wider interest of the province.

He said that strict measures were being taken against terrorists to foil their nefarious design from the province that play with innocent lives.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Islamabad Police, Sabzi Mandi police station, team on Wednesday arrested four wanted members of a former jailbird criminal gang involved in numerous snatching activities and recovered snatched cash, motorbike and weapon used in crime from their possession

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Islamabad Police, Sabzi Mandi police station, team on Wednesday arrested four wanted members of a former jailbird criminal gang involved in numerous snatching activities and recovered snatched cash, motorbike and weapon used in crime from their possession.

According to police spokesman the Sabzi Mandi police team used technical and human resources and succeeded in apprehending four wanted members of the snatcher gang.

He said the gang was involved in numerous snatching activities in various areas of Sabzi Mandi. Police team also recovered snatched cash amounting Rs1.43 million, motorbikes and weapon with ammunition used in crime from their possession.

The accused were identified as Muhammad Usman, Adnan Khan, Rauf and Atif.

Cases were registered against the nabbed accused and further investigation is underway, he added.

DIG Syed Ali Raza also directed officers for an effective crackdown against the accused involved in criminal activities and to take all possible measures to protect the life and property of the citizens.

He further said that no criminal element will be allowed to disturb the peace of the people. Citizens are urged to report any suspicious individual or activity through the emergency helpline Pucar-15.

/APP-rzr-mkz
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday lambasted

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for propagating a fake narrative regarding what he called an onslaught on

Islamabad on November 26.

The minister, reacting to the remarks of PTI leader Barrister Gohar, said the Tehreek-e-Inteshar was propagating

fake narrative regarding firing on the protesters by the Law Enforcement Agencies.

He asked the PTI to bring forth the evidence if any incident of direct firing, that took place on the night of 26 November.

He said the PTI was looking for face-saving after their leaders and workers abandoned the protest.

The minister called them miscreants who had invaded Islamabad on November 26 and were armed with sling shots, shells and firearms.

Who will compensate the lives of the personnel of Ranger and Police who were martyred on that day, the minister questioned while vowing that the action would be taken against the culprits.

The minister lashed out at the PTI for violent protests and politics, asking the party to respond to the questions people were asking.

He said the government had solid proof of the involvement of the entire PTI leadership in May 9 incident.

Tarar asked how the perpetrators of May 9 could ask for an end to discussion on the tragedy.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has paid tribute to the security forces for 2 successful intelligence-based operations against Khawarji terrorists in North Waziristan

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has paid tribute to the security forces for 2 successful intelligence-based operations against Khawarji terrorists in North Waziristan.

He appreciated the security forces for bringing 7 Khawarij terrorists to an exemplary end. He paid homage to Lance Naik Muhammad Amin, who embraced martyrdom while bravely fighting Khawarji terrorists.

He has said that Lance Naik Muhammad Amin has attained the high status of martyrdom. He also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of martyr.

Interior Minister said that the brave security forces have once again foiled the nefarious intentions of the Khawarji terrorists. Naqvi emphasized that the nation stands with the security forces in the war against terrorism. He highlighted that security forces of Pakistan have achieved significant successes in the war against terrorism
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Moawin conducted its maiden visit to Comoros and established a free medical camp for the local populace.

Upon arrival at Port Mutsamudu, Anjouan Island, the ship was warmly welcomed by Commander of the Comorian Coast Guard, along with other senior military and government officials, said a press release issued by Directorate General Public Relations (Pak Navy) here Wednesday.

During its stay at the port, the Commanding Officer of PNS Moawin called on the Governor of Anjouan, Dr. Zaidou Youssouf, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff Colonel S.B. Dailami, and other civil and military leaders of Comoros.

Various matters of mutual interest and opportunities for bilateral cooperation were discussed during these meetings, it further said.

The Commanding Officer also conveyed warm greetings from Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, to the Comorian authorities for their support extended to the visiting ship.

Additionally, shipboard exercises and discussions on various operational matters were held onboard to enhance interoperability.

In Comoros, PNS Moawin established a medical camp where Pakistan Navy surgeons and medical specialists provided free medical consultations, treatments, and medicines to patients.

The medical camp was widely appreciated by the local populace, who benefited from the high-quality medical care provided.

The maiden visit of PNS Moawin to Comoros stands as a testament to the Pakistan Navys commitment to fostering friendly relations and delivering essential medical services to communities in need.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Tuesday said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) always made efforts for the rights of the youth and welfare of the students.

He highlighted the message of peace, unity and development and threw light on the role of youth.

He was speaking as chief guest at the Peace Festival organised by Peoples Students Federation (PSF), student wing of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Islamia College University unit. Member KP Assembly Arbab Zarak Khan and PPP office bearers were also present on the occasion.

Highlighting the services of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in education sector, the Governor said that education is the foundation of the nation's development.

Faisal Karim Kundi said that he himself had begun his political struggle from the platform of the Peoples Students Federation. He urged the students to focus on their education as they in future would take the leadership of the country.

He said that the doors of the Governors House are opened for the students wing and subsidiaries of all political parties, saying that problems are solved through holding negotiations with the management of the institutes. He said that the process of organizing such positive activities should continue.

The Governor also stressed on the importance of the students union and termed it an effective platform for the political training of the young leadership and resolution of their problems.

He further said that besides the promotion of democratic norms, students unions also play a crucial role in creation of societal awareness.

The Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa congratulated PSF affiliated students for organizing a successful festival. He also visited various stalls in the festival.

Provincial president PSF Rashid Afridi, President PSF Islamia College Hifzan Ullah Khan and others also spoke on the occasion.

APP/aqk
(@FahadShabbir)

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday while conveying his warm wishes to Chief Advisor of Interim Bangladesh government Dr Muhammad Yunus, underscored that the existing goodwill between Pakistan and Bangladesh needed to be translated into tangible cooperation

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday while conveying his warm wishes to Chief Advisor of Interim Bangladesh government Dr Muhammad Yunus, underscored that the existing goodwill between Pakistan and Bangladesh needed to be translated into tangible cooperation.

The prime minister made these remarks while appreciating the remarkable contributions made by the outgoing High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Muhammad Ruhul Alam Siddique for promotion of Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, a Prime Minister Office news release said.

The Bangladeshi outgoing High Commissioner paid a farewell call on the prime minister who is returning to Bangladesh, after completing his four-year tenure in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif stressed that Pakistan greatly valued its relations with Bangladesh, which were rooted in shared history, common faith and cultural similarities.

He wished the High Commissioner success in his future endeavors.

The High Commissioner thanked the prime minister for the facilitation, courtesies and privileges extended to him during his stay in Pakistan.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Ali Raza on Wednesday reiterated the Islamabad Police commitment to resolving public issues on priority during a Khuli Kachehri held to address complaints from citizens and police officers.

He said this while listening to the complaints and issues of the public as well as police officers during the Khuli Kachehri, an official told APP.

He said during the Khuli Kachehri, DIG listened to the complaints of the citizens and marked their applications to the concerned officers for timely action on merit. He also directed them to send reports to his office in the given time frame.

DIG further said that strict action will be taken against officers involved in bribery or corruption and a zero-tolerance policy will be adopted in this regard.

He emphasized that Islamabad Police would not leave any stone unturned to secure the lives and property of the citizens. Such interaction would be continued in future to provide maximum relief to the citizens. he added.

DIG Syed Ali Raza said that interaction during Khuli Kachehris would help to promote friendly policing and will also ensure self-accountability, immediate resolution of citizens' problems. The protection of life, property and self-respect of citizens comes first, he maintained.

APP-rzr-mkz
Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2024) The Kremlin said Wednesday that it wanted to see rapid stabilisation in Syria, criticising Israeli strikes and its creation of a "buffer zone" along the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Russia also said its military offensive on Ukraine remained its "absolute priority" amid questions over whether Moscow's almost three-year campaign there meant it could not support long-term ally Bashar al-Assad in the face of the lightning rebel offensive.

"We would like to see the situation in the country stabilised somehow as soon as possible," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He also condemned Israel's strikes on Syrian military installations and the establishment of a "buffer zone" as aggravating the crisis.

"The strikes, the actions in the Golan Heights and the buffer zone hardly contribute to the stabilisation of the situation in the already destabilised Syria," he said.

Russia was continuing to discuss the fate of its military infrastructure in the country with Syria's new leadership, Peskov said.

"We are in contact with those who control the situation in Syria. This is necessary since our (military) base and diplomatic mission are there," Peskov said.
By Alimat Aliyeva

Improving the large language models behind Gemini's AI assistant has already enabled Google to offer a limited number of video content creators the ability to automatically dub their videos in various languages. Now, access to this feature has been expanded to include creators of cognitive and educational content, Azernews reports.

YouTube has announced the expansion of automatic dubbing support to hundreds of thousands of educational channels. Content creators who run culinary blogs or share expertise in different fields can now benefit from automatic dubbing for their videos. In the future, the feature will also extend to channels focused on other types of content.

To use the new feature, video creators simply need to upload their original videos as usual. YouTube will automatically detect the video's original language and generate dubbed versions in multiple languages, provided the creator has selected the appropriate options in the upload interface. Currently, supported languages include English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Google has cautioned that Gemini's ability to replicate human speech in various languages is still evolving. While the assistant can produce voiceovers, it may still make grammatical, stylistic, and phonetic errors. Additionally, the tone of the speech may differ from the original speaker's voice. However, YouTube has promised that future updates will make the automatic dubbing more expressive, better capturing the emotional tone of the original content and even mirroring non-verbal elements like background sounds or the nuances of the original audio track.

This expansion opens up new opportunities for content creators to reach broader international audiences while reducing the barriers posed by language differences, making educational and cognitive content more accessible worldwide.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's phone call to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. The head of state said that talk of a war against Ukraine cannot take place without Ukraine.

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Zelenskyy made the statement on his official Telegram channel. "We all hope that Viktor Orban will not at least call Assad in Moscow to listen to his hour-long lectures," he wrote.

According to the president, it is "absolutely clear" that achieving real peace and guaranteed security requires America's determination, Europe's unity, and the commitment of all partners to uphold the goals and principles of the UN Charter.

"We should not play on our own image at the expense of unity  we should care about common success. It is unity in Europe that always brings success. Talks about the war against Ukraine waged by Russia cannot take place without Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

He also expressed his gratitude to US President-elect Donald Trump and "many European leaders with whom we are already working together to find the right and strong solutions for real peace."

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, on December 11, Orban said that he had a telephone conversation with Putin and that the "most dangerous weeks" of the war in Ukraine are now underway. The Kremlin, commenting on Orban's call, once again cynically accused Kyiv of allegedly abandoning peace talks and said that the Hungarian prime minister "expressed interest" in helping to find ways to resolve the "crisis" given his connections in the West.

The day before, Orban met with Trump and billionaire Elon Musk in the United States. He did not provide details of the talks.

On December 11, Trump himself said that ending the war in Ukraine would be his top priority after taking office, as "hundreds of thousands of soldiers" are dying on the battlefield.

Earlier, Zelenskyy criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's call to Putin. He called this conversation a "Pandora's Box" that opens the way to weakening Russia's isolation and unleashes Moscow's hands for further escalation.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO struggled with deputies and shouted while arriving for a court appearance Tuesday in Pennsylvania, a day after he was arrested at a McDonald's and charged with murder.

Luigi Nicholas Mangione emerged from a patrol car, spun toward reporters and shouted something partly unintelligible referring to an "insult to the intelligence of the American people" while deputies pushed him inside.

Prosecutors were beginning to take steps to bring Mangione back to New York while new details emerged about his life and how he was captured. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family was charged with murder hours after he was arrested in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson, who led the largest U.S. medical insurance company.

At the brief hearing, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey informed the court that Mangione will not waive extradition to New York but instead wants a hearing on the issue. Mangione was denied bail after prosecutors said he was too dangerous to be released.

Mangione, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer.

A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that at the time of his arrest, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called "parasitic" health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power.

He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while "our life expectancy" does not, according to the bulletin.

In social media posts, Mangione called "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski a "political revolutionary," according to the police bulletin. Kaczynski carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology.

Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have obtained an arrest warrant, a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania.

McDonald's customer recognizes suspect

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania  about 370 kilometers (about 230 miles) west of New York City  after a McDonald's customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said.

Officers found him sitting at a back table, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint.

He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he'd been to New York recently, he "became quiet and started to shake," the complaint says.

When he pulled his mask down at the officers' request, "we knew that was our guy," Officer Tyler Frye said.

Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald's while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the suspected shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs.

New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows "some ill will toward corporate America."

A law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone.

"To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone," the document said, according to the official.

It also had a line that said, "I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming."

Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to consider the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9 mm pistol.

Investigators have said "delay," "deny" and "depose" were written on ammunition found near Thompson's body. The words mimic "delay, deny, defend," a phrase used to criticize the insurance industry.

From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus.

Suspect's family prays for victim's family

A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator.

Valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said.

"Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest," Mangione's family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Delegate Nino Mangione. "We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved."

From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a "co-living" space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu.

Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin.

"Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints," Ryan said. "There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they're saying he committed."

At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said.

Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment.

Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago.
As Syrians danced in the streets over President Bashar al-Assad's fall from power, Anwar Etnesh drove his car into the dense traffic clogging the route from his hometown Daraa north to Damascus.



Hordes of Syrians like Etnesh were heading to Syria's capital to celebrate the end of the Assad family's rule. But Etnesh was on a mission to find his 55-year-old cousin, whom Assad soldiers arrested in Daraa 13 years ago during anti-government protests. He was never seen or heard from again.

Since Assad fled to Russia, according to Russian state media, the militias who overthrew his rule, led by former al-Qaida affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, have been freeing thousands of prisoners.

"I don't know if he's alive," Etnesh relayed to VOA Mandarin by video call from Damascus. "I went to the mosque at 7 a.m. and then have been from prison to prison to prison searching. Nine prisons so far. I don't even know what prison he's in."



He is one of the estimated nearly 137,000 Syrians whom rights groups say disappeared into military prisons during the civil war.

The Britain-based Syrian Network for Human Rights says Syrian government interrogators have tortured more than 15,000 prisoners to death since 2011.

'What was our crime?'

Basheer Mansour, who spoke to VOA Mandarin by phone messaging application and email, is one of the lucky prisoners who survived.

He said that in 2011, regime soldiers opened fire on him and his university friends as they attempted to deliver critical medicine and food to Daraa residents living under a government siege.

Mansour said two friends were shot to death beside him. He and other survivors were forced into trucks, blindfolded, beaten and corralled into a small toilet space where he said they were held captive and tortured with brutal beatings and sleep deprivation that left some prisoners dead.

"They used an electric rod in my abdominal area and whipped my head," Mansour said. "They removed fingernails and burned my body with cigarettes. I wished I would die just to get rid of the torment. They did many things I cannot to this day talk about. What was our crime?"



The most extreme torture, said Mansour, was inflicted by hospital staff in a Damascus-area military prison, where he was admitted after suffering severe wounds inflicted during torture. He said he was blindfolded and handcuffed throughout his 10-day hospital stay.



"The last day at the hospital they removed the handcuffs from my hands and feet and asked me to move my legs," Mansour recalled. "I tried to move my legs and hands but couldn't. I couldn't move a single part of my body. I started to cry  and begged them to kill me because I did not want to live paralyzed. They took everything from me and stole my life and my future."



Soon after, his captors phoned his father to come get him, he said.

'Now we can go back'



Today Mansour uses a wheelchair and lives in North Carolina, where he works at the airport and studies computer programming. He is closely following events unfolding in Syria.



"My family is scattered around the world," he told VOA Mandarin. "Some are in Germany, some in Holland, some in France and in Kuwait. I haven't seen them for 11 years. I would love to go back to Syria just to gather with them and see them. I'm happy the regime is gone. Now we can go back to Syria."

Watch related report by Heather Murdock:

But returning to Syria may not be easy.

The conglomerate of militias led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham on Tuesday announced an interim prime minister but have not yet made public their detailed plans for governance of Syria.

Meanwhile, inside the country, locals  including those like Etnesh who are still looking for imprisoned relatives  are enjoying the new reality  a Syria without rule by Assad.

"I'm in shock. This is a dream. The regime is over. There aren't any Syrian troops anywhere. People are crying, they're happy.  It's disbelief," Etnesh said. "And we're all waiting for news of relatives. Most Syrians have someone they know in prison."



As of midday Monday in Damascus, Etnesh had not received any word on his cousin. He told VOA Mandarin he'll search for another week before returning home to Daraa.
The United States is moving to grant federal protections to the monarch butterfly  a once-common species recognizable by its striking black and orange patterns that has faced a dramatic population decline in recent decades.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said Tuesday it has initiated a public comment period to consider listing the insect under the Endangered Species Act.

But the looming presidency of Donald Trump, who rolled back numerous wildlife protections during his first term, casts uncertainty over the decision.

"The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating lifecycle," said FWS Director Martha Williams in a statement. "Despite its fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance."

The proposed listing comes at a critical time for the species, which has been designated as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2022.

Monarchs are divided into two migratory populations in North America. The larger eastern group has declined by approximately 80% since the 1980s, while the western population has plummeted by 95%.

According to the FWS, the species faces a host of threats, including the loss and degradation of its breeding, migratory and overwintering habitats; exposure to insecticides; and the growing impacts of climate change.

As part of its conservation efforts, the FWS is also recommending the designation of critical habitat at specific overwintering sites along California's coast. These habitats serve as vital winter refuges, providing monarchs the resources needed to rest and prepare for spring breeding.

"The fact that a butterfly as widespread and beloved as the monarch is now the face of the extinction crisis is a tri-national distress signal warning us to take better care of the environment that we all share," said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.

"For 30 years, we've watched the population of monarch butterflies collapse. It is clear that monarchs cannot thrive  and might not survive  without federal protections," added Dan Ritzman, director of conservation at Sierra Club.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is widely credited with saving iconic American species such as the gray wolf, bald eagle and grizzly bear.

During Trump's first administration, however, key provisions of the law were weakened. These changes, later reversed by President Joe Biden, included measures that allowed industrial projects such as roads, pipelines and mines in areas designated as critical habitat for vulnerable species.

Trump's administration also removed endangered species protections for gray wolves across most of the United States and slashed critical habitat designated for northern spotted owls.
The senior United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Gaza said Tuesday that the situation is utterly devastating, and more political will is urgently needed to get enough aid to desperate Palestinians in Gaza.

I have said this to the [Security] Council  there's no substitute, no system can and will substitute or compensate for an absence or lack of political will, Sigrid Kaag said. This is political  political will and political choice. This you cannot ask of the U.N., of the humanitarians. This is where member states and the parties are at play."

Kaag spoke to reporters after a more than two-hour closed-door meeting with the U.N. Security Council about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

She said her office has constant engagement with the Israeli government at all levels. It has negotiated and organized supply routes from Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. It has worked out technical and logistical systems. But getting lifesaving aid through crossing points is still not enough if it does not reach the people who need it.

She said Palestinians in Gaza feel forgotten by the international community and are living between a little bit of hope and ultimate despair, hoping for a ceasefire.

Agencies face obstacles

Aid agencies have said for months that they face severe access constraints due to Israeli restrictions and denials, and lawlessness and looting by armed Palestinians and desperate civilians.

The situation is most severe in northern Gaza, which has been essentially cut off from aid for the past two months after Israels army relaunched an intense offensive to neutralize what it says are resurgent Hamas elements. Food security experts say famine is imminent in that part of Gaza.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Monday that the Israeli authorities denied the organizations requests to bring food and water to the northern towns of Jabalya, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. The World Food Program said last week that barely any food had entered those three areas for more than 50 days.

In central and southern Gaza, the situation is not significantly better. WFP said fresh food and meat are rare, and when available, prices are exorbitant.

Kaag said the commercial sector needs to restart.

But we cannot meet the needs of civilians in Gaza even through a humanitarian pipeline as much as it can be ramped up and scaled up without the commercial sector, she said. It is simply not possible.

15 bakeries remain closed

On Tuesday, Dujarric told reporters that U.N. agencies and nongovernmental organizations are prioritizing flour distribution to families in the southern and central parts of Gaza, providing each family with a 25-kilogram sack of wheat flour as it becomes available. In central Gaza, he said a bag of wheat flour can cost as much as $280, and in the south around $245.

Dujarric also said fuel was delivered to some bakeries on Friday and Sunday, allowing four to resume full capacity, but 15 others remain closed due to hostilities, flour shortages and safety concerns caused by overcrowding.

On November 30, two girls and a woman died during a crowd surge at a WFP- supported bakery in Deir al Balah. The food agency said the tragedy highlighted the severe food shortages driving people into desperation and urged authorities to ensure secure conditions for aid delivery.
In Zaporizhzhia, rescuers freed two women from under the rubble of a destroyed building who managed to call the 101 line. They had been there for more than seven hours.

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This was reported by the State Emergency Service of Zaporizhzhia. Emergency workers noted that rescue operations in the city are still ongoing.

"During the search and rescue operation, the Rescue Service 101 line received a call from two women who reported that they were under the rubble of a destroyed building. During the conversation, the rescuers showed professionalism and clarified the details to determine their exact location," the statement said.

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Special equipment was used to free the women from the concrete trap.

"The women were trapped under the rubble for more than seven hours. Thanks to the coordinated work of the rescuers, they were freed and handed over to medics," the SES said.

Paramedics arrived at the scene with the rescuers and waited for the women to be pulled out of the rubble. The doctors immediately examined the victims and then hospitalized them.

The State Emergency Service noted that four people were rescued that day. The operation continues.

At this time, four people are known to have died as a result of the Russia's attack on a private clinic in Zaporizhzhia.

21 people were injured, including one child. One victim died in the hospital.

As reported, on Tuesday, December 10, Russian terrorists killed four people and injured more than 20 Ukrainians by launching a missile on Zaporizhzhia. The attack destroyed a private clinic and damaged neighboring buildings.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A court in Guatemala City has issued an arrest warrant in absentia for a prominent investigative journalist known for his reporting on governmental and judicial corruption in the country.

Juan Luis Font, director and host of the daily radio talk show ConCriterio and a co-founder of El Periodico newspaper in Guatemala, is accused of collusion and bribery, charges he denies.

The journalist, who lives in exile in France, told VOA he expected that a warrant would be issued because of his stories on corruption.

They speak about me laundering money. They speak about me being bribed. And they have not been able to build up any of these cases. Instead, they have proceeded with these accusations against me, he said.

Watchdogs say the Justice Department in Guatemala often uses the threat of legal action to silence critical voices. The press freedom environment in the country is dire," according to the free expression group Fundamedios, which said journalists have difficulty bringing corruption cases to light because they are frequently prosecuted.

The Guatemala Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to VOAs request for comment.

Font said he has been vocal about allegations of corruption in the judiciary.

I am not a person who is going to be well-seen by the people in power, he said.

Guatemala experienced years of corruption before electing current President Bernardo Arevalo, who ran on an anti-corruption platform in 2023.

There are serious problems with the independence of the Guatemalan judiciary, according to a 2023 State Department country report. The report found inefficiency, corruption and manipulation of justice within the justice system, and many who are arrested are denied fair, public trials.

Judicial harassment of journalists has also been on the rise, according to the watchdog group Reporters Without Borders.

The Justice Department is still in the hands of people who really want to silence all the critical voices, all the people who do investigations, and the people who bring to light what's happening in Guatemala, Dagmar Thiel, U.S. CEO of Fundamedios, told VOA. And Juan Luis is one of the strongest critical voices in Guatemala.

Font is one of the most well-known journalists in Guatemala, according to Thiel.

He co-founded El Periodico with Jose Ruben Zamora, who spent more than two years in prison in what watchdogs say was retaliatory action.

Zamora is currently under house arrest after an appeals court overturned a conviction on money laundering charges in October.

Zamoras son, Jose Carlos, told VOA that Guatemalan Attorney General Consuelo Porras and special prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche have led an assault on press freedom.

This group fabricates cases and issues unlawful rulings to silence journalists exposing corruption, Jose Carlos wrote to VOA.

The case against Font has been condemned by international groups. The National Press Club in Washington demanded an end to the harassment that Font and other Guatemalan journalists experience.

Cases like these highlight the animosity Guatemala's judicial authorities have for independent and critical journalism, club president Emily Wilkins said in a statement Tuesday. Journalism is not a crime, and Font is not a criminal.

Font told VOA that one of the accusations against him is bribing an anti-corruption judge named Erika Aifan, who fled Guatemala in 2022.

The alleged bribe, he said, is a Person of the Year award that Font presented to her on ConCriterio.

Its absolutely nuts, Font said. They said I granted her a payment in the form of an honor two years before I knew I would even need her help.

Font is one of around 20 Guatemalan journalists now in exile who fled Guatemala to avoid legal retaliation, Thiel of Fundamedios said.

In France, Font is still running his radio show.

I did the right thing by leaving my country two years ago, and I have been well, he said. Im sleeping peacefully, because I'm sure that they're not going to be able to put me in jail the next morning.
At a landmark hearing Tuesday on climate change law at the United Nations top court in The Hague, Britain argued that only existing climate treaties should have any bearing on a states obligations to address the crisis, echoing calls from other big economies.

Small island states have told the court that global warming poses an existential risk, arguing that international human rights laws must apply, in addition to any negotiated climate agreements. Such an outcome could pave the way for compensation claims against big polluting nations.

The hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is one of several legal cases that has the potential to reframe global climate change negotiations.

Some 99 countries are participating in the two-week hearing at the ICJ, making it the largest case in the courts history. It has pitted small island nations against big polluters and fossil fuel producers.

At the heart of the case is whether international law obliges nation states to prevent climate change and pay for the damage caused by their greenhouse gas emissions.

Britain argued that the only legal obligations are derived from existing climate treaties such as the 2015 Paris Agreement, which set a target of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

The climate crisis can only be met by states working together, British Attorney General Richard Hermer told the court on Tuesday. The most constructive, the most concrete, and thus the most legally effective way is through the legally binding agreements setting out states obligations to tackle the challenges of climate change. ... At the heart of the global response to climate change is the landmark Paris Agreement.

Escape accountability

Critics accused Britain of trying to avoid legal responsibilities.

The United Kingdom laid out contemptuous arguments in front of the International Court of Justice with one key goal: escape accountability and responsibilities for decades of climate harms, Sebastien Duyck, a senior attorney at the Washington-based Center for International Environmental Law, said in a statement sent to VOA.

By claiming that the Paris Agreement contains the sum total of States legal obligations on climate change, the U.K. effectively asked the Court to ignore both science and history: decades of fossil-fueled emissions, and the ample evidence that they knew far too well that such conduct would push the world to the brink of a catastrophe, Duyck added.

Island states

Small island and coastal states, led by Vanuatu, have argued that rising sea levels caused by global warming threaten their existence  and therefore international human rights laws must be relevant, in addition to the binding agreements made in negotiated climate treaties.

The conduct responsible for this existential harm cannot, I repeat, cannot be lawful under international law, Vanuatu Attorney General Arnold Kiel Loughman told the court last week.

The 15 judges will offer an advisory opinion that has the potential to reframe climate change negotiations, according to analyst Elena Kosolapova of the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

The expectation is for the courts advisory opinion to provide a clear legal benchmark and remove any ambiguity around countries obligations under international law. And U.N. negotiations would certainly benefit from legal clarity, Kosolapova told VOA.

Global hearings

Scientists say climate change is driving extreme weather events around the world. That has put the spotlight on the rights of the communities affected.

The ICJ hearing is one of three international courts asked to provide legal clarity on climate change.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights held hearings in Brazil and Barbados earlier this year and is expected to give its opinion on nation states legal obligations in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, judges at the Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled in May that greenhouse gas emissions are subject to international law, and that all states are obliged to limit global warming and protect marine environments.

If a state fails to comply with this obligation, international [legal] responsibility would be engaged for that state, Judge Albert Hoffmann explained at the time of the ruling.

Small island states praised that advisory opinion, claiming it gave teeth to climate change laws.

The hearing at the ICJ is due to finish on Friday. The judges are expected to take several more weeks to issue their opinion.
Rufat Safarov, a prominent human rights defender from Azerbaijan, was one of the recipients of the U.S. secretary of states 2024 Human Rights Defender Award. He did not attend Tuesday's ceremony in Washington, because he'd been arrested December 3, hours after visiting the U.S. Embassy in Baku to receive his visa to travel to the United States.

During the ceremony, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pointing to the empty chair reserved for Safarov, called for his immediate release.

Now, one chair, as you will have noted, is empty on this stage. ... It belongs to Rufat Safarov, the Azerbaijani human rights defender that I spoke of just a few moments ago, he said. The government of Azerbaijan should release Rufat  and release him immediately  as well as all the other journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents and others that are unjustly detained.

At the end of the ceremony, Blinken presented awards to human rights defenders from Bolivia, Colombia, Eswatini, Ghana, Kuwait, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan, and he posed for a photo with them. Later, Blinken approached the empty seat reserved for Safarov and took a commemorative photo with his award.

Blinken issued another statement Wednesday calling on the Azerbaijani government to release Safarov, as well as others unjustly detained for their work in the field of human rights.

The United States is deeply concerned not only by these detentions, but by the increasing crackdown on civil society and media in Azerbaijan, the statement read.

Safarov, a former prosecutor who heads the Defense Line human rights organization, issued a statement expressing his gratitude for the award.

Unfortunately, Baku arrested me in order to prevent me from personally receiving that award and to punish me for my human rights advocacy, he said in the statement sent to VOA from prison.

Safarov said he was proud of his work defending universal values as a human rights activist "despite all the slander and pressure" from the government.

"In fact, I have accepted my arrest as a reward from the government for human rights advocacy. Human rights are not an internal affair of any country. It is a universal concept.

Without human rights, not only the state, but even the society cannot exist. I call on everyone to stand in solidarity in the defense of human rights," the statement read.

Last week, Safarov was charged with fraud and hooliganism and put on four months of pretrial detention.

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Internal Affairs told VOA that Safarov's detention was related to a conflict between him and an individual over a land purchase, an allegation he denied.

Safarov was previously sentenced to jail for bribery in 2016 and served three years before being pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev.

His arrest coincides with a new crackdown in Azerbaijan following a recent climate change conference held November 11-22 in Baku. The arrests prompted Western concerns about the state of human rights in the country.

In his statement Wednesday, Blinken called on Azerbaijani authorities to end the crackdown on civil society and the media.

We urge the government of Azerbaijan to release those unjustly detained for their advocacy on behalf of human rights, cease its crackdown on civil society, respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, and fulfill the commitments it made when it joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Blinken said.

This story originated in VOAs Azerbaijani Service.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared Wednesday before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to face questions for the last time about some of the darkest moments of Joe Biden's presidency: the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The hearing comes at the twilight of Blinken's diplomatic career, with only weeks left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and at the end of the chairmanship of Representative Michael McCaul, who will no longer lead the committee in the next Congress. It's the capstone to nearly four years of animosity between the two men over the end of America's longest war.

"This catastrophic event was the beginning of a failed foreign policy that lit the world on fire," McCaul, a Texas Republican, said in his opening statement. "I welcome your testimony today and hope you use this opportunity to take accountability for the disastrous withdrawal."

Blinken was expected to defend the decision to withdraw U.S. troops in August 2021. He said previously that the Biden administration was "severely constrained" by Trump's decisions and those of previous presidents.

His long-awaited testimony comes months after House Republicans issued a scathing report on their investigation into the withdrawal, blaming the disastrous end on Biden's administration. They downplayed Trump's role in the failures even though he had signed the withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

The Republican-led review laid out the final months of military and civilian failures, following Trump's February 2020 withdrawal deal, that allowed America's fundamentalist Taliban enemy to sweep through and conquer all of the country even before the last U.S. officials flew out on Aug. 30, 2021. The chaotic exit left behind many American citizens, Afghan battlefield allies, women activists and others at risk from the Taliban.

Previous investigations and analyses have pointed to a systemic failure spanning the last four presidential administrations and concluded that Biden and Trump share the heaviest blame.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed Wednesday for Jordan and later Turkey, seeking to rally regional countries around a common vision for Syria's future following the ousting of longtime authoritarian ruler Bashar al-Assad.

Blinken is scheduled to visit Aqaba, Jordan, and Ankara, Turkey, where he will meet with leaders from key Arab and Muslim countries to discuss developments in Syria, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon and the broader region, according to the U.S. State Department.

A spokesperson said Blinken aims to secure consensus among regional leaders on key principles for Syrias post-Assad transition. He said these include full respect for minority rights, the facilitation of humanitarian aid, the prevention of Syria becoming a haven for terrorism or a threat to its neighbors and the securing and safe destruction of chemical or biological weapons stockpiles.

Blinken has said that the United States will recognize a Syrian government that upholds those principles.

Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Blinken said he believes President-elect Donald Trumps incoming administration will have an interest in preserving the gains made toward eliminating the territorial caliphate that the terror group known as Islamic State had established in Syria.

Trump and his team have said that the U.S. should not get involved in Syria.

This is not our fight. Let it play out, Trump wrote December 7 on Truth Social.

During a hearing earlier Wednesday that lasted more than four hours, Blinken told lawmakers, If Syria goes the other way  if it fragments  were likely to see more mass migrations. We're likely to see more places in Syria that become centers for terrorism and extremism, none of which is in our interest."

In Aqaba, Blinken will meet with Jordan's King Abdulla II and senior officials to discuss bilateral issues, highlight the U.S.-Jordan strategic partnership, and reaffirm U.S. support for regional stability.

In Ankara, Blinken will engage with senior Turkish officials to strengthen bilateral cooperation on shared priorities, including counterterrorism and regional stability, with NATO ally Turkey.

Some analysts argue that there is a strategic rationale, at least for now, in maintaining the current U.S. presence of about 900 U.S. troops in Syria to contain IS and prevent a resurgence of terrorist groups in the region.

But getting involved in a major way is probably contrary to American interests. And of course, we really haven't been involved in a major way in Syria from the beginning of the civil war. You know, over a decade ago, said Thomas Graham, a former U.S. diplomat and now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

On Tuesday, Blinken held talks with counterparts from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt, where he reiterated the need for a Syrian-led transition.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or OPCW, will hold an emergency session to address the situation in Syria. The OPCW  the implementing body for the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention  said it is monitoring Syria with "special attention" to chemical weapons sites and has reminded the country of its duty to declare and destroy all banned weapons.

The U.S. State Department said it will await the session's outcome to determine the next steps.

Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani said on Wednesday that he would dissolve the security forces of the ousted Assad regime. He also said his group was working with international organizations to identify and secure possible sites where chemical weapons may be stored.

The U.S. responded to Golanis remarks with caution.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters, We welcome this type of rhetoric but ... actions have to meet words as well.

Also, U.S. President Joe Biden will join leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations in a virtual summit on Friday to discuss Syria and other pressing issues in the Middle East.

Last Sunday, Syrian rebel groups toppled the Assad regime after a swift offensive of under two weeks, ending a decades-long reign of brutal oppression.

While many Syrians celebrate Assad's departure, uncertainty looms over the nation's future. The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the dominant faction among opposition forces, is rapidly consolidating power. At the same time, foreign actors are vying for influence with the nascent government or seeking to limit its potential as a security threat.

Gerald Feierstein, director of the Arabian Peninsula Affairs Program at the Middle East Institute, told VOA, The Turks are far more sympathetic to political Islam, and have longstanding ties to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and to Golani  not close, but they do have ties. ... For the Gulf states, they're going to be far more suspicious about which direction Damascus is going to be going.

Feierstein noted that while there is currently not a big gap between Turkish and Gulf perspectives, this difference could widen over time if the new government in Damascus adopts a more hardline Islamist stance than expected.

Syrias nearly 14-year civil war claimed 500,000 lives and displaced half of its 23 million prewar population. Millions of Syrians fled to neighboring countries such as Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon, with many continuing their journey to Europe in search of safety.
A fire continued to spread Wednesday in Malibu, a posh Californian city popular with celebrities, where thousands of people were evacuated as firefighters battled wind-fanned flames to save threatened homes.

About 4,000 acres and at least seven properties, authorities said, have gone up in smoke since the Franklin Fire broke out Monday night on the hills above Pepperdine University.

As of Wednesday morning, firefighters had contained the fire by 7%, firefighters said.

The fire's intensity has decreased to the east and north, but the flames have strengthened to the west overnight, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday, warning that the area is not out of danger.

"Weather conditions, including strong winds and low humidity, will be closely monitored today as they play a key role in the evolution of the fire," he told reporters.

The resulting red alert should be maintained for a good part of the day, estimates the local official.

About 20,000 people were under evacuation orders or alerts Tuesday asking them to prepare to evacuate, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Among the evacuees was former movie star Dick Van Dyke, 99, best known for his role in Mary Poppins (1964): "Arlene [his wife] and I have safely evacuated our animals, except for one cat that escaped as we were leaving. We pray that he will survive and that our community will survive these terrible fires," he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

More than 1,500 firefighters are battling the blaze, supported by a fleet of water-bombing aircraft.

After two rainy winters that gave it a relative respite, California is experiencing a very active fire season this year. In July through August, the state suffered the fourth largest fire in its history.

Scientists believe that increasingly intense heat waves and droughts are fueling forest fires and are consequences of climate change.
Chad's military says it has deployed several hundred troops along the border with Cameroon to stop rebels from abducting civilians after armed men kidnapped a dozen Cameroonians, including a popular traditional ruler this week. Chads military has freed the kidnap victims but says troops need civilian help to stop a wave of local intercommunal violence.

The latest wave of violence between the Moussey and Massa communities erupted in border areas late last month.

Officials in Cameroon say that since then, several hundred civilians have been reluctant to return to the Gobo district, located along the central African state's northern border with Chad.

Many civilians have fled to safer towns and villages.

Forty-three-year-old cattle rancher Timothe Woundai is one of the displaced civilians. He said he, his wife and three children found refuge the Gobo district village of Yakreo.

Woundai said tensions degenerated into ongoing violence after a member of the Moussey community was killed and had his goats stolen. He said Moussey community members launched attacks on their Massa community neighbors using weapons including guns, machetes and bow and arrows to kill civilians. He said Moussey community members also accuse Massa community members of regularly stealing cattle.

Military officials in Cameroon say at least five people have been killed and scores wounded amid the violence between the two communities. Both communities say about 13 people have died so far, with several dozen houses torched.

When the conflict began, civilians said Voutsou Tairia, the traditional ruler of Bougoudoum village, and a dozen civilians were abducted and taken to Chad.

Chadian officials say Voutsou was rescued from captivity by government troops, flown to Cameroon in a Chadian military helicopter and handed to Cameroons military and government officials this week.

Authorities in Chad have provided no details about where and how the traditional ruler and the others were rescued. Officials say Voutsou and the freed civilians were given free medical care.

Abdelkerim Seid Bauche is governor of Mayo-Kebbi East, an administrative region in Chad.

He said Chad deployed troops on its side of the border Wednesday to stop rebels and armed gangs from abducting civilians and crossing with weapons into Mayo-Kebbi East.

Abdelkerim said after handing Voutsou to Cameroon officials he is launching a fervent appeal to civilians on both sides of the Chad-Cameroon border to help restore peace by reporting armed men and strangers hiding among civilians in towns and villages to government troops and administrative officials.

Abdelkerim added that Chad is very concerned about the ongoing violence because weapons are illegally circulating across the porous border and can be used by armed gangs to destabilize communities.

Meanwhile, Midjiyawa Bakari, the governor of Cameroon's Far North Region, said troops have also been deployed on the Cameroon side of the border to make sure that armed gangs and criminals escaping Chad's military onslaught do not find safety on Cameroons territory.

He said armed men responsible for the fresh wave of violence along the border will be punished.

Accusations of cattle stealing and violence have plagued relations between the Massa and Moussey communities for years. Cameroon says President Paul Biya has dispatched a delegation to negotiate peace between the two communities.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders said Wednesday it would partially resume its activities in Haiti's violence-wracked capital, Port-au-Prince, less than a month after suspending its operations over threats to its staff.

Haiti has suffered from decades of instability, but the situation escalated in February when armed groups launched coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince to overthrow then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Gangs currently control 80% of the city, where Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, said the medical needs are "immense."

"MSF is now resuming activities thanks to a constructive dialogue with key stakeholders and involvement by the authorities to ensure respect for our teams and our medical mission," the nongovernmental organization said in a statement.

But the group said it would not resume patient transports, as "the risk for our teams and patients remains high, particularly in ambulances."

Three MSF-run hospitals and a clinic in the greater Port-au-Prince metropolitan area will reopen, but the Turgeau hospital will remain closed, due to the issue with patient transports, it said.

MSF suspended operations on November 19 over what it said was "violence and threats from police," after two patients were shot dead.

"These past three weeks have been especially painful," Jean-Marc Biquet, MSF's head of mission in Haiti, said in a statement.

"Despite the commitments made by the authorities, the risks remain high, and our ability to continue our work in Haiti is uncertain as we move ahead," he said. "We call on all parties to respect our medical and humanitarian mission so that we can respond to medical needs to the full extent of our capacity."

Nearly 200 people were killed in brutal violence in Port-au-Prince last weekend, reportedly orchestrated against voodoo practitioners. The government has condemned the massacre as "unbearable cruelty."

The latest killings bring the death toll this year in Haiti to around 5,000 people, according to the United Nations.
European Union ambassadors have agreed to a new raft of sanctions against Russia because of its war on Ukraine, mainly targeting Russias massive shadow fleet of ships, the EUs Hungarian presidency said Wednesday.

The Associated Press reports the new sanctions are directed at some 50 routinely decrepit ships that Russia uses to avoid restrictions on transporting oil and fuel.

"I welcome the adoption of our 15th package of sanctions, targeting in particular Russia's shadow fleet," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X.

The sanctions, which are expected to be formally adopted by the EU on Monday, will add additional entities and individuals to the current list. Details about the new list of sanctions will be revealed when they are published in the EUs legal journal.

The current roster of sanctions imposed against Russia by the 27-member European bloc names more than 2,000 individuals and entities. The sanctions have included travel bans and the freezing of assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his associates, as well as several Russian lawmakers.

The EU initiated the sanctions following Russias invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
The Kremlin was a key supporter of Bashar al-Assad in his government's brutal attempts to defeat rebels, and that memory may make it difficult for Moscow to regain its foothold in Syria. Meanwhile, a Turkish-backed Syrian militia is moving against Kurdish forces in Syria. The corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is back on in Israel. A look at the woman nominated to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., and the implications of President-elect Donald Trumps plan to shut the U.S. Department of Education.
The number of victims of a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia has increased. On the morning of December 11, the number of civilians killed by Russian terrorists was 8. However, as of 4 p.m., the death toll increased  one of the wounded Ukrainians died in hospital.

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Another 21 people were injured as a result of the attack on the regional center. This was reported by the press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

Emergency rescue operations continue at the site of the attack. There are probably still people under the rubble. All emergency services of the city are working in Zaporizhzhia, and psychologists of the State Emergency Service are assisting citizens.

The National Police clarified that 12 women, 9 men, and a 5-year-old girl were injured as a result of the missile attack.

Law enforcement officers also noted that 5 people may be under the rubble. Police, rescuers, volunteers, and city services continue to work at the scene.

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After 10:00, the head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration Ivan Fedorov said that the rescue operation after the enemy attack on the center of Zaporizhzhia had been going on for 19 hours. Rescuers have pulled another body from the rubble. Thus, the number of victims increased to 7 people. An hour later, rescuers recovered the body of the eighth victim.

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As a reminder, Russian terrorists launched a missile attack on Zaporizhzhia on December 10. The attack killed 8 people, wounded 22, destroyed a private clinic and a cafe, and damaged neighboring buildings and cars.

Earlier it was reported that Russian occupants attacked Kharkiv region on the morning of December 10. The town of Zlatopil in the Lozova district came under a missile attack by enemy troops.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The gun found on the suspect in the killing of United Healthcare's CEO matched shell casings found at the site of the shooting, New York City's police commissioner said Wednesday.

Suspect Luigi Mangione's fingerprints also matched a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper that police found near the scene and say the gunman purchased at a nearby coffee shop while awaiting his target, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at an unrelated news conference.

Mangione, 26, was charged with murder in the shooting last week in midtown Manhattan of Brian Thompson, who led the United States' largest medical insurance company.

Authorities have said that writings found in Mangione's possession hinted at a hatred of corporate greed.

They've recovered a spiral notebook that Mangione kept, along with a three-page handwritten letter found when he was arrested, a law enforcement official said Wednesday. Police have not disclosed what was in the notebook.

The letter, found when Mangione was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, teased the possibility that clues to the attack  "some straggling notes and To Do lists that illuminate the gist of it"  could be found in the notebook, the law enforcement official said. The official wasn't authorized to disclose information about the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Kenny told CBS New York that the motive might have been related to an accident that sent Mangione to an emergency room on July 4, 2023.

A law enforcement bulletin obtained by the AP earlier this week said the letter expressed anger with what Mangione called "parasitic" health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power. The prep school and Ivy League graduate wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while life expectancy doesn't, according to the bulletin.

In his first public words since his arrest, Mangione emerged from a patrol car Tuesday shouting about an "insult to the intelligence of the American people" while deputies pushed him into a courthouse.

Mangione remained jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with gun and forgery offenses.

Manhattan prosecutors were working to bring Mangione to New York. At a brief hearing Tuesday in Pennsylvania, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey said Mangione will not waive extradition and instead wants a hearing on the issue.

"You can't rush to judgment in this case or any case," Dickey said afterward. "He's presumed innocent. Let's not forget that."

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City, after a McDonald's customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said.

New York police officials have said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the suspected shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs.

Thompson, 50, was killed Dec. 4 as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus.

His movements afterward are unclear, but authorities believe he took steps to stay off the radar. Prosecutors said at his Pennsylvania hearing Tuesday that when arrested, he had bags for his cellphone and laptop that prevent such devices from transmitting signals that authorities can use to track them.

Mangione, a grandson of a well-known Maryland real estate developer and philanthropist, had a graduate degree in computer science and worked for a time at a car-buying website. During the first half of 2022, he bunked at a "co-living" space in Hawaii, where those who knew him said he suffered from severe and sometimes debilitating back pain.

His relatives have said in a statement that they are was "shocked and devastated" at his arrest.
When most people think of U.S. foreign policy, they picture the president. The president, to be sure, is the nation's chief executive and its chief foreign policy architect. But he is not the only one calling the shots, and his power has limits.

Consider what U.S. presidents can and cannot do. They can deploy the U.S. military around the world but cannot declare war  that power rests with Congress. They can enter into executive agreements with other countries but not treaties, which require Senate approval. They can establish ties with a foreign government but cannot send a dime's worth of aid without Congressional appropriation.

Presidents often find their powers tested after they enter office. During his first term in office, then-President Donald Trump pulled out of the Paris agreement on climate change and a nuclear deal with Iran, but his campaign pledge to rein in North Korea's nuclear weapons program and end "endless wars" in the Middle East remained unfulfilled. President Joe Biden's administration then rejoined the Paris agreement and pulled U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, but he failed to revive the Iran nuclear deal.

"There are limits to what a president can do and that is because of the number of actors that are involved and the number of checks and balances that do exist," said David McKean, former director of policy planning for the State Department and staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who served as ambassador to Luxemburg.

Historically, foreign policy was the president's domain, with significant Congressional input, according to Thomas Schwartz, a historian of U.S. foreign policy at Vanderbilt University. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the State Department was small, and the executive bureaucracy limited.

As the U.S. grew in power in the 20th century, so did its foreign policymaking apparatus.

"Today's foreign policy machinery is enormous, committed to billions of dollars and thousands of persons involved, in the military, political, economic arms of the United States," Schwartz told VOA. "The one thing that probably is consistent is that the role of the president ... is now much more in the forefront."

A model of the U.S. foreign policymaking process, developed by the late political scientist Roger Hilsman, includes three circles:

The inner circle: The president and his close advisers, including his national security adviser who usually heads National Security Council meetings

The middle circle: Key executive branch departments and agencies  the departments of State and Defense, the military's high command, the intelligence community

The outer circle: Congress and a variety of other actors, including interest groups, corporations, think tanks, foreign governments  all vying for influence

"There is no doubt that the institutional architecture of foreign policy has gotten much, much bigger," McKean said.

For example, the State Department, a small agency with 700 employees in the 1930s, has expanded to a 70,000-strong bureaucracy, McKean noted.

The NSC

The NSC is the nerve center of the foreign policymaking machinery. Created in 1947, the office, located next door to the White House, has expanded in size and scope. Its principal members include the president, the vice president, the secretaries of state and defense and other top officials. McKean calls this the "president's own foreign policy team."

The national security adviser's influence has changed from administration to administration. However, the adviser, McKean said, has the ear of the president while the secretary of State is often traveling."

When a crisis erupts, such as the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the NSC swings into action. To help the president decide on a course of action, the national security adviser calls an emergency "principals meeting," while NSC staff put together options for discussion.

"When you're dealing with an immediate crisis like Assad, you've got no time, you've got negative time," said Gordon Adams, an emeritus professor of international relations at American University who served on the NSC in the 1990s. "Cars have to pick up principles and whisk them to the White House, and those meetings start at any hour of the day or night and happen with great urgency."

Congress

With the president in charge of foreign policy, a change in administration can result in significant policy shifts. But often there is more continuity than change.

That is because the president is not the only actor shaping foreign policy. As a co-equal branch of government, Congress plays an important role. Though not given a specific role in foreign affairs, Congress can provide oversight of policy decisions and pass legislation to shape policy.

Most importantly, Congress controls the budget, Adams said. This means it can influence how much money is spent on foreign aid, military operations and other international initiatives. For example, President-elect Trump has promised a mass deportation of undocumented migrants, but he'll need congressional funding to make it happen.

"Congress is going to have a voice in what the legislative term language is around that process and around the money that is actually appropriated for that process," Adams said.

Other actors

As the foreign policy machinery has grown over the years, so too has the influence of outside actors. These include corporations, interest groups, think tanks, foreign governments, the media and the public.

"That is also an area where I think there's been a huge increase in influence so that corporations increasingly play a big role in foreign policy because so much of what goes on in terms of trade involves multinational corporations," McKean said.

Foreign allies can also influence U.S. foreign policy, though this varies from issue to issue and administration to administration, Adams said. He noted that in the 1990s, then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair persuaded a reluctant President Bill Clinton to intervene in the Balkans.

With so many actors involved in the U.S. foreign policymaking process, the system can seem bewildering to policymakers in other Western democracies, Adams said.

"They don't have this kind of sloppy all-over-the-place set of display of interests and the ambitions and agendas that we have in the American policy process," Adams said. "So in a way, we have one of the least efficient policy processes of Western democracies."
Seventy-five-year-old Marina Terishvili's teenage son Mamuka was shot dead at a nationalist rally in Georgia in 1992. Now her other son, Giorgi, has been arrested for his role in protests against perceived Russian influence in their homeland.

Seven police cars pulled up at her house in the capital Tbilisi on Friday and took Giorgi, a 52-year-old taxi driver, into custody, she said.

He was placed in pre-trial detention for two months for "participating in group violence" according to a rights group and local media, and faces up to six years in prison if convicted, part of a broad crackdown on demonstrators who have clashed nightly with police for almost two weeks.

The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association rights group said he had not yet entered a plea and Marina Terishvili said she did not know why he had been detained.

"I can't deny that he went to the rallies, because he has a brother who died on Feb. 2, 1992, and he went there in honor of his soul," Marina said, adding that Giorgi could not tolerate the idea that his younger brother had died in vain.

Mamuka was 17 when he was killed during the brief civil war that followed Georgia's 1991 exit from the Soviet Union, which ended 200 years of rule by Russia.

Giorgi is among more than 400 people who authorities and rights groups say have been arrested during protests against government moves to delay the South Caucasus country's longstanding bid to join the European Union.

Around 30 face criminal charges, mostly relating to allegations of "group violence" aimed at overthrowing the government. Among those jailed are two leaders of the country's pro-EU opposition.

Rights groups say the crackdown is without recent precedent in Georgia, a country that had been seen as among the most pro-Western and democratic of the Soviet Union's successor states.

Fireworks

Some protesters have thrown fireworks and other projectiles at police, arguing that they are defending themselves against tear-gas and baton attacks. The interior ministry said on Monday that more than 150 police officers have been injured.

The Georgian Dream party, which officials say won elections in October the opposition says were tainted by fraud, provoked widespread anger in the country of 3.7 million when it announced last month that it was suspending EU accession talks until 2028.

Georgian Dream says it favors a pragmatic policy with Russia, which backs two regions which split from Georgia after it left the Soviet Union. The party says its aim is to safeguard peace amid the war in Ukraine, which has been shattered by Russian invading forces since early 2022.

Western countries have condemned the crackdown, and the EU's ambassador to Georgia said on Monday that it merits sanctions.

Georgia's ombudsman Levan Ioseliani, an ex-opposition politician appointed by Georgian Dream, said on Tuesday that his office has visited 327 detainees, of whom 225 said they were mistreated and 157 had visible injuries.

Police reported finding fireworks and items for making petrol bombs at two opposition party headquarters. Both parties said the items had been planted.

At a briefing on Monday, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the parties' premises a "hotbed of violence" and said their attempt to seize power had failed.

Masked men in black

Gangs of masked men in black have begun attacking opposition politicians, activists and some journalists in recent days.

Opposition supporters refer to the gangs as "titushky," a Ukrainian word for thugs who attacked opponents of a pro-Russian government before that country's 2014 Maidan revolution which drove the president to flee to Moscow.

Two journalists from a pro-opposition television channel suffered visible head injuries in an attack on Dec. 7 captured in their live broadcast from a protest.

The same day, Koba Khabazi, a prominent member of the Coalition for Change opposition party, was left with extensive head injuries after being attacked inside the building that houses his party's headquarters.

CCTV footage obtained by Reuters shows around 15 black-clad men entering the building and confronting Khabazi, who they push down a staircase, before punching and kicking him in the head as he lies on the ground, motionless.

Speaking to Reuters two days later, Khabazi, a 57-year-old former lawmaker, blamed the Georgian government for the attack.

"Of course, the government is behind this," said Khabazi, his head still swathed in bandages. "This government is built on violence."

Georgian authorities have said they are not involved in the attacks, and condemn them. Ruling party officials have suggested they are carried out by the opposition to frame Georgian Dream.
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan has warned that if violations of international law continue to escalate in northern Rakhine, a region in western Myanmar bordering Bangladesh, those responsible could face prosecution by the ICC.

The ICC investigation primarily focuses on past violations committed by Myanmar's military, particularly the crimes against the Rohingya population during the 2016-2017 crackdown.

However, Khan emphasized that the ICCs mandate also extends to addressing ongoing violations. The Arakan Army's current activities in Rakhine may not fall under the ICCs jurisdiction unless they are linked to international crimes within the court's scope.

In an exclusive interview with VOA via Zoom on Monday, Khan confirmed additional applications because he had already applied for an arrest warrant against Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on November 27.

While the current investigation focuses on crimes against the Rohingya, primarily in Rakhine, Khan's reference to additional applications indicates the ICC may also address other crimes.

Khan pointed out that while Myanmar is not a state party to the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction in the Rakhine cases because many victims have sought refuge in Bangladesh, which is a state party.

The Rohingya, a Muslim minority, endured decades of persecution in Myanmar, with a military crackdown in 2017 forcing over 700,000 to flee to Bangladesh. Myanmars military was already under investigation for war crimes prior to the 2017 crackdown. The ongoing investigation by the ICC focuses on alleged crimes committed during that period, including atrocities against the Rohingya. Since 2019, the ICC has been investigating crimes against humanity, focusing on the 2016-2017 violence against the Rohingya.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: This arrest warrant for Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is the first to be sought for a high-ranking Myanmar official. How significant is this step in addressing impunity in Myanmar?

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan: I think its very important that the victims, the Rohingya people, and many Burmese throughout Myanmar want justice and accountability. This is an issue the office has been examining since 2019. It's the first time my office has applied for arrest warrants in Southeast Asia, and the first warrant in the Myanmar-Bangladesh situation.

I believe this demonstrates our commitment to doing the best we can, with the resources available, to treat every human life equally. It doesnt matter the color of someone's skin, their religion, nationality or where they are from. We are doing our best to apply the law equally and ensure accountability for those responsible for the enormous suffering the victims have endured, and continue to endure, due to the very serious crimes we allege took place.

VOA: Are further actions expected to be taken against others?

ICC Prosecutor Khan: Yes, absolutely. When I announced the application for arrest warrants, I also informed the Rohingya community and stated more broadly that additional applications would follow. I believe this is necessary because the scale of the alleged criminality is vast. Many individuals may be involved, and we need to send a clear message that we follow the evidence.

In relation to ongoing violations, people have a choice: they can either comply with the law or continue ignoring the rights of individuals and the principles of international law. If they choose the latter, we have the International Criminal Court, and we have jurisdiction because Bangladesh is a state party.

VOA: How does the ICC address jurisdictional challenges, given that Min Aung Hlaing has rejected the ICC's jurisdiction, citing Myanmar's non-membership and opposing the application?

ICC Prosecutor Khan: That's a great question. As you mentioned, Myanmar is not a state party to the Rome Statute and has not signed up. This means our jurisdiction is limited. However, our jurisdiction arises because its neighboring country, Bangladesh, is a state party. The judges of the International Criminal Court determined that when one of the elements of an offense takes place on the territory of a state party  like Bangladesh  we have jurisdiction.

In this case, we have jurisdiction because Bangladesh is a state party, and we are alleging the crimes of persecution and deportation. Deportation involves the crossing of international borders into the territory of another state, in this case, Bangladesh. This is what gives rise to our jurisdiction in this case.

VOA: You also highlighted the role of evidence from the Rohingya community and international partners. So how does this collaboration enhance your cases credibility?

ICC Prosecutor Khan: Well, that relationship is basic and fundamental. The Rohingya community has endured so much for many years -- from 1978 to 1991, in 1992, and, of course, during the events of 2016 and 2017. We have done as much as we can to build and strengthen bonds with the Rohingya community, both in Bangladesh and around the world. The Rohingya have been displaced and have fled to many other parts of the globe, so weve worked to build strong partnerships with states, state parties, non-state actors and civil society organizations.

There have been tremendous hurdles because, despite their experiences and suffering, the Rohingya believe that the ICC can help bring justice and vindicate their rights. They have actively engaged in the International Court of Justice case brought by The Gambia and the OIC, and theyve been very active in working with my team here at the Office of the Prosecutor.

Its important to remember their stamina, their determination, and their belief that justice is their birthright -- its key to everything we do. What was very touching when I visited the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar was that the women I spoke with gave me a bag, and I shared a short video when I made the announcement. What they said was simple but profoundly deep: 'We belong to Myanmar. We, the Rohingya, belong to Myanmar. We want justice.'

These hand-sewn letters with such powerful words send an important message, one that we amplify in our applications for arrest warrants, which weve now submitted to the independent judges of the International Criminal Court. We ask the Rohingya community to continue engaging with us and to remain patient, as they have. We still have a long way to go, but an important step has been taken by making these applications public. Now, we must wait and see what the judges do, while we continue our work on other matters.

VOA: What message does this collaboration send to victims of atrocities around the world?

ICC Prosecutor Khan: I think the main message is that the law exists, and it doesn't belong to prosecutors like me, judges of the court, or lawyers. Justice is the birthright of every baby, every woman and every man around the world. Justice is the birthright of the Rohingya, just as it is for people in Latin America, other parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East or Europe. It flows from being a member of the human race.

This is a message to people with power, with guns, with weapons, and the ability to cause great harm: you dont have a license to do whatever you want. You have an obligation to comply with minimum standards of behavior -- standards that prohibit genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

This is not only a message to the alleged perpetrators of the crimes we are investigating or applying warrants for. Its a message to people in different parts of the world right now. If you think you are above the law because you have power, guns, men, resources, or civilians under your control, think again. The law is in force. The law must apply to all.

We will do our part, along with our partners, to make the law stronger, more effective, and more comprehensive. Well do our best to ensure that it is applied more equally than it has been in the past. Achieving this requires a community of action. It requires partnerships and everyone  including your viewers and listeners  to realize that we cannot be mere spectators.

Dont leave it to the Office of the Prosecutor. Dont leave it to the International Criminal Court alone. Raise your own voice and be defenders of humanity. If we all feel that we are our brothers and sisters keeper  that we are citizens of this beautiful planet  we can make a difference.

But if we succumb to despair and despondency, we will witness more and more catastrophes around the world. The relevance of the law is clear as we see so many situations unraveling and worsening globally. This is an important message for your viewers: to join hands with people they may never meet, who are suffering from these blights of inhumanity in far too many places to count.
Israeli government officials have intensified calls to protect Syrias Kurds as they face armed groups backed by Turkey following the sudden collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

An 11-day rebel offensive, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, resulted in the capture of the capital, Damascus, and other strategic cities in northwest and central Syria.

Now, an operation led by Turkish-backed factions is aimed at dislodging Kurdish forces from parts of Aleppo province, including the town of Manbij.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, have been a major U.S. partner in the fight against the Islamic State terror group. The partnership led to the liberation of most territory once controlled by Islamic State in Syria.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Monday that Turkish-backed attacks on Syrias Kurds must be stopped.

Its a commitment of the international community towards those who fought bravely against ISIS, Saar said during a press briefing in Jerusalem. Its also a commitment for the future of Syria, because the Kurds are a stabilizing force in this country.

The top Israeli diplomat said they were discussing this issue with the United States and other countries.

Since the ouster of the Assad regime, the Israeli military said it has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, targeting weapons stockpiles across the country. Israeli officials said the airstrikes were aimed at preventing strategic weapons from falling into the wrong hands amid the ongoing chaos.

Israel has also deployed ground troops beyond a demilitarized buffer zone between the two countries. Israeli officials described these measures as temporary, pending a resolution of the political situation in Syria.

The Turkish government, a main backer of the Syrian rebels, views the SDF as an extension of the Turkey-based Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union. Washington, however, makes a clear distinction between the two Kurdish groups.

Salih Muslim, a senior Kurdish politician with the Democratic Union Party, the de facto ruling party in northeast Syria, welcomed the recent statements by Israeli officials expressing support for the Kurds, describing the position as a positive and encouraging step.

Undoubtedly, any force that defends our rights is welcomed, he said in an interview posted Tuesday on X by a London-based journalist. Israels stance is correct; they have seen our actions and understand that we have never denied the existence of the Jewish people in the Middle East. It is encouraging to see those who recognize our pain and suffering. ... Beyond verbal support, we await practical measures, Muslim said.

Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said these mutual statements are welcome and build confidence.

But when the Kurds are under fire by the Turkish army and their militias, no one has time for the courtship, he told VOA. The two sides need a shotgun wedding, or else it will simply be too late. Kurds need Israeli weapons, not words.

The group battling SDF fighters in northern Syria is the Syrian National Army, or SNA, which is not the official Syrian armed forces but rather an umbrella organization for Turkish-backed militias. The SNA previously participated in offensives against Kurdish forces in 2018 and 2019.

While the fighting in Manbij appears to have paused following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire early Wednesday, attacks continue elsewhere in the region, said Mazloum Abdi, the top SDF commander.

The ceasefire in Manbij is intended to allow SDF fighters to withdraw from the city, which has been captured by the SNA, Abdi said in a statement.

Militias backed by Turkey appear intent in their efforts to drive Kurds from their homes, said Seth Frantzman, a Jerusalem-based adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Israel has influence with the U.S. and should use it to make sure Ankara stops its attacks, he told VOA.

Israel and Syria dont have diplomatic ties. Under Syrian law, any interaction with Israel by a Syrian citizen or group is considered high treason. Additionally, the topic of Israel remains a taboo in Syrian society.

However, Kurds in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East generally hold a more positive view of Israel.

Experts warn that recent Israeli statements could potentially harm the Kurds if not backed by concrete actions.

Arabs and Muslims in Syria and elsewhere in the region already view the Kurds with suspicion on this issue. The popular and official narrative in many societies across the region portrays the Kurds as a second Israel, John Saleh, an analyst of Kurdish affairs, told VOA.

So, if Israel has a plan to support the Kurds, it should execute right away, Saleh said. Otherwise, the consequences for the Kurds of this perceived association with Israel could be severe under the new Islamist regime in Damascus.

Saleh added that Turkey could also use this as a pretext to further mobilize Islamist militias against Kurdish civilians.
Fighting erupted on Wednesday between Somalia's semi-autonomous Jubbaland region and federal government forces after Jubbaland held an election against the advice of authorities in Mogadishu, officials said.

The clashes will raise concerns that internal rivalries are diverting attention from the fight against the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group just as the mandate of an African Union peacekeeping force expires.

"This morning, federal forces from Mogadishu in Ras Kamboni, using drones, attacked Jubbaland forces," Adan Ahmed Haji, assistant security minister of Jubbaland, told a press conference in the regional capital Kismayu.

Somalia's Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur said the Jubbaland forces initiated the clashes.

"Early this morning (Wednesday), Jubbaland forces attacked the Somali federal military troops that were deployed in Lower Jubba to take bases withdrawn from by ATMIS," he said in a statement.

In late November, Jubbaland - which borders Kenya and Ethiopia and is one of Somalia's five semi-autonomous states - re-elected regional president Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe to a third term.

The national government in Mogadishu, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, opposed the election, saying it was held without federal involvement.

As the election dispute escalated, the federal government issued an arrest warrant for Madobe, while Jubbaland issued a reciprocal one for President Mohamud.

Major Aden Nur, a federal army officer in Mogadishu, said Wednesday's fighting was in an area 20 km from Ras Kamboni, a town where federal troops have increased their numbers since the election.

"So far federal forces captured four technical (gun-mounted pickup) vehicles from Jubbaland forces. Fighting is going on far from Ras Kamboni. There are casualties on both sides but no exact figure," Nur told Reuters.

In the wider fight against al Shabaab, the mandate of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) expires in less than three weeks and no agreement has been reached on which countries will contribute to the follow-on peacekeeping mission or how it will be financed.

Jubbaland is seen as the breadbasket of Somalia and Kismayu is an important port. Its shoreline delineates a contested maritime zone, with potential oil and gas deposits.

In 2021, Kenya rejected a U.N. court ruling that decided mostly in favor of Somalia in the row but said it would pursue a diplomatic solution.
Russia said Wednesday it is closely monitoring the situation in Syria and is in contact with those who are currently controlling the situation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted Russias need to ensure the security of its diplomatic facilities and its military bases in Syria, where Russian troops were based for years supporting the Syrian military in the countrys civil war.

Peskovs comments came days after Syrian rebels moved into Damascus and forced President Bashar al-Assad from power. Assad fled to Russia, where Russian officials said he was granted asylum.

Assads fall also dealt a blow to Irans interests in the region, cutting off a land delivery route for weapons to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon as well as territory in which Iranian militias could operate.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the idea of weakened Iranian network in the region, which includes its support of Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, militias in Iraq and Houthi militants in Yemen.

Khamenei also said what happened in Syria was the result of a U.S.-Israeli plan, and that a neighboring state of Syria played a role in Assads ouster. He did not name the neighboring country, but Turkey, which borders Syria, was a main supporter of groups that opposed Assad.

As Syrians work to establish the future of their country, Pope Francis said Wednesday he hoped for a political solution that promotes the stability and unity of the country.

"I pray... that the Syrian people may live in peace and security in their beloved land and the different religions may walk together in friendship and mutual respect for the good of that nation afflicted by so many years of war, the pope said.

A day after announcing he had been selected to lead an interim government, Mohammed al-Bashir called on Syrians who fled the country to return home.

In an interview with Italys Corriere della Sera, Bashir said bringing back millions of Syrian refugees was an early goal, and that their talents and experience will allow the country to flourish.

There are about 5 million Syrian refugees living in neighboring countries, according to the United Nations.

U.N. special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen cautioned at a Tuesday briefing against rushing to bring refugees home, describing the humanitarian situation in Syria as disastrous and the economy as collapsed.

Some information for this report was provided by from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Russian officials said Wednesday that Ukrainian aerial attacks caused damage in two regions along the Russia-Ukraine border.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram that a drone attack caused a fire at a factory that was later extinguished.

Russias Defense Ministry said Wednesday it destroyed 14 Ukrainian aerial drones launched in overnight attacks.

In the Rostov region, acting governor Yuri Slyusar said Wednesday a missile attack damaged an industrial facility and more than a dozen cars at the port of Taganrog.

Slyusar said on Telegram that preliminary information indicated no one was hurt in the attack.

In Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov said Wednesday the death toll from a Russian missile strike on the city of Zaporizhzhia a day earlier had risen to six people, with another 22 wounded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the attack that his government was talking with allies about getting additional air defense aid.

Right now, we do not have enough systems to protect our country from Russian missiles, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. However, our partners have these systems. Once again, we reiterate: air defense systems should save lives, not gather dust in storage facilities.
Life is returning to normal in Syria in a way that hasnt been possible in more than 50 years. Syrians lined up at the Turkish border on Wednesday to head home after rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad, speaking of their expectations for a better life. Syria's new interim prime minister said he aimed to bring back millions of Syrian refugees, protect all citizens and provide basic services, but rebuilding would be difficult because the country lacked foreign currency. Reports say Israeli warplanes have pounded Syria and that Israeli troops have advanced deeper into the country. Well speak with James Gelvin, a professor of history at UCLA.
In the early evening of November 11, after four days at sea, the passengers of two boats carrying 75 Somali migrants spotted distant lights and a hill. They could hear the muezzin calling for the Maghreb, Muslim evening prayers. Their destination, Mayotte, a French island in the Indian Ocean, was finally in sight.

The lead skipper confirmed what they saw and heard  they were close to shore. However, he expressed a concern. He said he feared that gangsters on the beach might attack them. He decided to stop the boats and informed the passengers they would spend the night at sea and go ashore in the morning, according to a Swahili-speaking migrant who served as the interpreter.

Little did the migrants know their journey, so close to a successful ending, was about to descend into unspeakable horror.

The skippers, who were also human traffickers, had been with the passengers since November 7, when they set off in the two boats from a mothership anchored off Kenyas southern coast, near Mombasa.

The skippers role was to take Somalis on the final leg of their journey to Mayotte, the French island off the northwest coast of Madagascar that has recently become a magnet for asylum seekers hoping to reach Europe.

However, the skippers were not happy with their compensation. The smuggler told the interpreter that he had been contracted to transport 40 people, but now there were 75. The money I was given is not enough, he complained, according to boat passenger Luul Osman Mohamed, who overheard the conversation. The smuggler wanted the passengers to hand over more.

Soon after, the smuggler briefly turned the boats engine on, revved it in the water, and then shut it off again, perhaps as a tease or a warning to the passengers. The other boat did the same.

Sometimes they moved farther out to sea, and other times they came closer to shore, Luul told VOAs Horn of Africa Service. But after two rounds of this, she said, the engine on the other second boat broke down. Then, our engine failed too.

That night, the migrants and the two smugglers spent the night adrift on the two boats, just off the coast.

One boat carried 37 people, mostly women and two children  a 2-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl  while the second boat carried 38 passengers.

November 12

Early the next morning, two men rendezvoused with the ships in a boat, seemingly responding to phone calls made by the smugglers. The first smuggler announced that he would leave with the men to repair his boat's engine. He never returned.

The passengers and the second smuggler remained stranded. The two boats drifted aimlessly in the open sea under the scorching sun, with no shelter to protect them. Desperate to cool off, the passengers resorted to splashing seawater on themselves.

November 13

The waves rocked the boats back and forth, but the passengers managed to sleep peacefully. One challenge, however, was that they couldnt communicate with the second smuggler, as he spoke a language they didnt understand. This became a minor issue compared to what lay ahead.

The next morning, fishermen arrived and communicated with the second smuggler. Together, they managed to repair the engine on the second boat.

They agreed the boat with the working engine would tow the other one, and it seemed to work at first. As the engine roared to life, they began moving  only in the wrong direction, further out to sea. For some reason, the skipper steered toward Comoros instead of Mayotte.

They continued for three to five hours, Luul recalls, until the only working engine failed once again.

After taking us deep into the sea, he took the navigation system with him and left on the fishing boat, Luul said. The second skipper disappeared and never returned.

When the smugglers were with us, we felt calm. They were with us, and whatever happened to them, we knew would happen to us, said Anas Ibrahim Abdi, 21. Now, with both smugglers gone, the migrants were at the mercy of the sea and the elements.

November 14

The 75 migrants drifted in the ocean. They had run out of the dates, fried chicken and bread they had received from the mothership a week earlier. The boats and the migrants were stranded in no-mans sea, not knowing where to go  or how.

Passengers tied the two boats together, to stay connected, says Luul. But when strong waves battered the vessels, they untied the ropes, fearing that if one boat were to sink, the other would go down, too.

About six men who knew how to swim came over to the womens boat, just in case there was an accident.

Anas, who was in the first boat, moved the other way. My energy was low, I was sick. Because lots of people come on board, it was not balanced, so I moved to the other boat, he says.

For three days, the passengers tried to make the boats move, without success. During these days the first death occurred  a young man who was a diabetic.

We read Fatiha for him. He died in an evening, Anas said.

This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal Bodies of migrants who died in a boat tragedy are seen on the shore of the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean on Nov. 23, 2024.

Sometimes, the waves would bring the passengers close to land, only to drag them back to sea. After 10 days adrift, another passenger, a woman named Fatima, passed away.

It was hot, she was hungry. She was sitting at the front. Her brother was with her. She was shocked for about two days before she died, Luul said.

The following day, another passenger died  the 2-year-old boy.

We had milk for him. When we mix milk with sea water he refuses. When he sucks milk from his mother she faints, she finds it hard to breathe because she has not eaten. Later we started to mix milk with her urine... That kept him alive for two days, says Luul.

Days later the boys mother died, too.

As one passenger after another died from hunger and thirst, others suffered hallucinations. Luul says her friend Fathi was one of them. She was saying this is Lido beach, let us get off the boat, let us take Bajaj [rickshaw], she says. She was ripping off her clothes.

At times, a swarm of fish hit the boats. Inventive passengers used their sarongs to catch a few, giving them some welcome nutrition.

We were also eating green grass, salty, that was brought by the waves from the beach, Luul said.

The only other protein came from a bird that came hovering over a body on the boat. It was caught and eaten too.

November 23

On the first boat, 17 people died, 14 of them women. Ten others died on the second boat. One boy, realizing the boat was going nowhere, jumped into the water, confident in his ability to swim. He was seen swimming away, but moments later, the waves carried him in the opposite direction. He was never seen again.

The last three days, as everyone lost energy, the boats moved swiftly, carried by strong winds. Rain gave the drifting migrants some desperately needed water, but most were losing hope of survival.

Then, after a dark night with no moon, Anas recalls, At dawn, there was light, we saw the mountain and then a coastline.

Madagascar. After 16 days at sea, the migrants had finally reached land. The migrants were able to guide the boats close to shore and staggered onto the beach.

Nearby fisherman shied away at first, Anas said. Then they saw the bodies in the boats.

They were moved. They gave us water, rice and fruits, Luul said.

The fishermen made a phone call. Another boat came. They tied their boat to the migrants and pulled them onto the beach.

They were good people, they helped us, they changed our clothes, they gave us warm water to get our energy, Luul said.

The migrants were transferred to authorities in Madagascar.

Luul, the 31-year-old mother of five, was the only person from her family on the boat. She says she survived because everyone has their time to die  and this wasnt hers, although she felt it was close.

I was thirsty, I was hungry; my voice has changed, the last day my throat was not opening, it was swollen. I had lots of spots, and from sitting on the boat. I was weak, she said.

Out of the 75 passengers, 47 survived the grim journey. The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the social media platform X that it chartered a plane for the survivors, including Luul and Anas, and brought them back to Mogadishu on Saturday.

This story originated in VOAs Horn of Africa Service.
French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Poland on Thursday, December 12, for a visit. He is traveling to Warsaw to discuss a plan for European peacekeeping efforts.

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It would have to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty "as part of a possible Trump-Putin deal." This was reported by the Polish edition of Rzeczpospolita.

It is noted that due to its military potential and geographical location, Poland's participation in the peacekeeping mission is crucial.

"As far as I understand, Emmanuel Macron told Donald Trump that Europe not only cannot stay away from the US negotiations with Russia, as it has its own substantial security interests, but is also ready to support this process financially and beyond. Everyone bears the risk associated with the defense of Ukrainian sovereignty," said Camille Grand, former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment.

The essence of the French proposal is a peacekeeping mission that would ensure that the Kremlin does not violate a possible ceasefire and the established line of demarcation in the future.

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Back in February of this year, Macron first put forward the idea of sending NATO troops to Ukraine, but he did not specify the conditions under which this would take place. He expressed this idea in more detail during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on November 11 in Paris.

Elie Tenenbaum, an expert at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), which is working on a project for such peacekeeping efforts, said that it could consist of five brigades (about 40,000 soldiers). Poland could take command of one of them.

The article states that there are three ways to provide security guarantees to Ukraine.

The first is the German way: accepting the country into NATO even without finalizing its borders, as was the case with Germany in 1955. However, America does not want this, and neither does Germany.

ADVERTISIMENT

The second model is the Israeli one: massive arms supplies to Ukraine even after the peace is concluded. This option is questionable given the budgetary difficulties in both the United States and Europe.

The third model is Korean: an international peacekeeping mission that has been guarding the demarcation line between South and North Korea for more than 70 years. It is expected that this third model, with elements of the first and second models, will be the basis for security guarantees for Kyiv.

Earlier, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated she does not rule out the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. According to her, "a certain degree of strategic ambiguity" should be maintained in this matter.

According to media reports, France and Britain are already considering options for deploying their troops to Ukraine. According to the sources, the troops of these countries should monitor the ceasefire on the demarcation line "to guarantee Ukraine's security."

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is ready to consider the possibility of deploying foreign troops on its territory before officially joining NATO. This proposal may become part of the security guarantees for our country.

As reported, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the German military could be involved in maintaining peace in Ukraine. According to her, this will be possible in case of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also did not rule out sending German troops to Ukraine. He said that theoretically, Germany could send its military to Ukraine as part of peacekeeping efforts after the war.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The main commander of the Syrian fighters who deposed strongman Bashar al-Assad said Wednesday that anyone involved in the torture and killing of people Assad detained during his iron-fisted rule would be hunted down, with pardons out of the question.

"We will pursue them in Syria, and we ask countries to hand over those who fled so we can achieve justice," Abu Mohammed al-Jolani said in a statement published on the Syrian state TV's Telegram channel.

Jolanis vow to extract revenge against Assads lieutenants of torture and death came as the world is watching to see if Syria's new rulers can stabilize the country after civil war fought for nearly 14 years along sectarian and ethnic lines has left it in shambles.

Mohammed al-Bashir, the man installed by Jolani's fighters to lead an interim administration through March 1, pleaded with millions of refugees to return home, create unity and provide basic services. But rebuilding is a daunting proposition with little funding on hand.

"In the coffers, there are only Syrian pounds worth little or nothing. One U.S. dollar buys 35,000 of our coins," Bashir told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

"We have no foreign currency, and as for loans and bonds, we are still collecting data. So yes, financially we are very bad," said Bashir, who previously ran a small rebel-led administration in a pocket of northwestern Syria.

But Bashir said the Islamist-led alliance that ousted Assad will guarantee the rights of all religious groups.

"Precisely because we are Islamic, we will guarantee the rights of all people and all sects in Syria," Bashir said.

More than 500,000 people were killed in the war, with more than half the population forced to flee their homes. About 6 million Syrians sought refuge abroad.

Bashir pleaded with those who fled the violence to return home. In his interview with Corriere della Sera, he said, "Syria is now a free country that has earned its pride and dignity. Come back."

Foreign officials are warily engaging with the former rebels, part of the former al-Qaida affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which remains designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and others.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the new government must "uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "It's our duty to do everything to support different Syrian leaders in order to make sure that they come together, they are able to guarantee a smooth transition."

But the U.N.s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the security situation in Syria remains volatile. The agency said it has found more than 50 minefields over the past 10 days, which is curtailing the movement of civilians and impeding the delivery of goods and services.

Meanwhile, Russia, which had supported Assads fight against the rebels and now has granted him asylum, said Wednesday it is closely monitoring the situation in Syria and is in contact with those who are currently controlling the situation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted Russias need to ensure the security of its diplomatic facilities and its military bases in Syria, where Russian troops were based for years supporting the Syrian military in the countrys civil war.

Assads fall also dealt a blow to Irans interests in the region, cutting off a land delivery route for weapons to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, as well as territory in which Iranian militias could operate.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the idea of a weakened Iranian network in the region, which includes its support of Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, militias in Iraq and Houthi militants in Yemen.

Khamenei also said what happened in Syria was the result of a U.S.-Israeli plan, and that a neighboring state of Syria played a role in Assads ouster. He did not name the neighboring country, but Turkey, which borders Syria, was a main supporter of groups that opposed Assad.

As Syrians work to establish the future of their country, Pope Francis said Wednesday he hoped for a political solution that promotes the stability and unity of the country.

"I pray ... that the Syrian people may live in peace and security in their beloved land and the different religions may walk together in friendship and mutual respect for the good of that nation afflicted by so many years of war, he said.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
A bomb blast Wednesday in Kabul, Afghanistan, killed the Talibans minister of refugees and repatriation, Khalil-Ur-Rahman Haqqani, and at least four associates.

Taliban sources said that the afternoon suicide" bombing occurred within the ministry building in the Afghan capital as Haqqani was exiting his office. Several other individuals were reportedly injured.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the assassination of the minister, which marks one of the most significant attacks on hardline Taliban leaders since they returned to power in August 2021.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the martyrdom of Haqqani in the attack he blamed on Khawarij, a term the de facto rulers use to refer to Islamic State-Khorasan or IS-K, an Afghanistan-based Islamic State affiliate.

Mujahid did not provide further details about the incident, nor did he mention other casualties or the nature of the attack.

This reprehensible act of cowardice, culminating in his martyrdom at the hands of the Khawarij [outsiders], will neither diminish the resolve of Muslims nor succeed in undermining the resilience of our robust Sharia-based governance, he stated.

The slain minister was responsible for overseeing the repatriation and resettlement of Afghan refugees, primarily those being sent back from neighboring Pakistan and Iran.

The United States Rewards for Justice website listed Haqqani as a global terrorist and offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to his apprehension.

Khalil has conducted operations for the Taliban on orders from his nephew, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and has also acted on behalf of al-Qaida (AQ) and has been linked to AQ terrorist operations, according to the Rewards for Justice site.

The elder Haqqani was considered a key member of the Haqqani network, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization headed by his nephew, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who serves as the de facto Taliban interior minister. He has a $10 million bounty on his head for his alleged terrorist activities.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the attack, saying his government was in contact with Kabul to ascertain further details.

We are deeply shocked at the death of Acting Afghan Minister Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani and loss of precious lives as a result of a terrorist attack in the Afghan Refugee Ministry in Kabul today, Dar said on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.
President-elect Donald Trump made another flurry of job announcements on Tuesday, selecting Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Ron Johnson was nominated to be ambassador to Mexico, and Kimberly Guilfoyle to be ambassador to Greece.

Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior.

"Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, "Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country's History."

Tom Barrack was chosen as the nominee for ambassador to Turkey. Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump's purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022.

Trump called him a "well-respected and experienced voice of reason."

Johnson  not the Republican senator  served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency.

Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her "a close friend and ally" and praised her "sharp intellect make her supremely qualified." Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night.

"I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First," Don Jr. posted.

The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate.

Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was "honored to accept President Trump's nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate."

Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, and Dan Bishop as deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management.

The replacement of Khan at the FTC likely means that the commission will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC's antitrust and consumer protection divisions.

"These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined," wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis.

Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command.

For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country's two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night.

The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart.

One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing.

Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC's efforts to block the deal, some experts have said.

And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump's orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan's scrutiny of Big Tech firms.
The U.N. General Assembly is set to consider a draft resolution Wednesday calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as well as the release of all hostages still being held by militants.

The meeting comes weeks after the United States voted against a similar measure at the U.N. Security Council.

The General Assembly has previously approved a ceasefire call, but its resolutions are non-binding, unlike the Security Council.

The draft under consideration also demands that Palestinian civilians in Gaza be given immediate access to aid necessary to survival, including unhindered access for humanitarian deliveries throughout the Gaza Strip.

U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Tuesday that aid to northern Gaza has been largely blocked for two months, leaving 65,000 to 75,000 Palestinians without access to food, water, electricity or health care.

Israeli forces carried out airstrikes in northern and central Gaza on Wednesday that Palestinian health officials said killed at least 26 people.

At least 19 of the dead were killed in a strike that hit a house in Beit Lahiya, the officials said.

Another airstrike hit a house in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, killing at least seven people.

Hamas set off the war with its October 2023 attack on southern Israel during which the militants killed about 1,200 people and took 250 hostage.

Israels counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 44,700 people, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

The conflict sparked fighting at the Israel-Lebanon border as Hamas ally Hezbollah launched cross-border attacks on northern Israel. The two sides carried out low-scale attacks for months before the conflict erupted in September with Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon and airstrikes that killed a number of Hezbollah leaders.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in place since late November.

Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, United Kingdom and other Western countries.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters


A CIA analyst charged with leaking top-secret details ahead of a planned Israeli attack on Iran earlier this year will remain jailed pending trial, a judge ordered Wednesday.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles overruled a magistrate who said last week that Asif Rahman, 34, of Vienna, Virginia, could be free on restrictions while he awaited trial on charges of disclosing national defense information.

The fight over Rahman's detention revealed additional details about the government's investigation of the leak and the analyst who allegedly disclosed the classified documents in October on the Telegram messaging app.

At Wednesday's detention hearing, prosecutor Troy Edwards said Rahman was motivated by ideology, though he did not discuss what that ideology might be.

In fact, he said the conclusion that Rahman's motive was ideological was essentially the result of the process of elimination, noting that Rahman comes from a wealthy family and has access to a multimillion-dollar family trust, and therefore wouldn't have a financial incentive.

Edwards also highlighted eight pages of notes found on Rahman when he was arrested last month in Cambodia, where he worked at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. Those notes included two separate "to-do" lists, one of which was largely blocks of apparently encrypted text along with an unencrypted sentence pertaining to U.S. missile capabilities. Edwards said investigators have not yet been able to decipher the encryption.

A separate, unencrypted to-do list included categories labeled "contingencies" and "run," Edwards said.

Official court documents are vague about what was leaked, but details discussed in open court made clear that the material references an October disclosure of documents from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, noting that Israel was moving military assets into place to conduct a military strike on Iran after Iran launched its own missile attack on Israel on October 1.

Israel ended up carrying out an attack on Iran's air defense systems and missile manufacturing facilities in late October.

In court papers, the government said the leak caused Israel to delay its attack plans. Edwards said the volatile nature of the Middle East made the leak exceptionally dangerous.

"It is hard to overstate what other circumstances present graver risks of danger to human life than unilaterally deciding" to transmit information related to plans for "kinetic military action between two countries," prosecutors wrote in court papers.

Rahman's attorney, Amy Jeffress, cited anonymous sources in news articles who have downplayed the leak's significance.

Jeffress said the to-do list included the word "run" because Rahman is an avid jogger. She also said it's rare for defendants facing similar charges to be detained pending trial.

Rahman was born in California and moved with his family when he was a child to Cincinnati, where he was a high school valedictorian, according to court papers submitted by his lawyer. He went to Yale University and graduated in three years. He and his wife now live in the D.C. metro area, along with his parents.

His father, Muhit Rahman, who was prepared to serve as his son's custodian pretrial if he had been released, attended Wednesday's hearing along with numerous family members and friends in support.

Rahman made his initial court appearance last month in Guam.

Jeffress said after Wednesday's hearing that she intended to appeal the detention order.
Ukraine has denied claims from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that it has rejected a Christmas ceasefire proposal from Hungary and Russia.

Orban talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday about the nearly three-year conflict with Ukraine. Orban posted on X that it was sad that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had clearly rejected their proposal, which he said also included a prisoner exchange.

As always, the Hungarian side did not warn [us] about its contacts with Moscow, Ukrainian presidential aide Dmytro Lytvyn said in a statement about Orbans claims.

Zelenskyy posted on X that there can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said he was grateful to @realDonaldTrump and many European leaders with whom we are already working to find the right and strong solutions for real peace.

Meanwhile, a U.S. intelligence assessment has concluded that Russia could launch another of its experimental hypersonic ballistic missiles against Ukraine in the coming days, although Washington does not consider it to be decisive in the nearly three-year war, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

Russia first fired the Oreshnik missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on November 21, in what Putin characterized as a response to Ukraine's first use of long-range U.S. and British missiles to strike deeper into Russian territory with Western permission.

"We assess that the Oreshnik is not a game-changer on the battlefield, but rather just another attempt by Russia to terrorize Ukraine, which will fail," the U.S. official told reporters. There was no immediate response from Russia.

Putin has previously said Russia may fire the Oreshnik missile again, possibly to target "decision-making centers" in Kyiv, if Ukraine keeps attacking Russia with long-range Western weapons.

Russia's defense ministry said that Ukraine had attacked a military airfield in the southern Russian city of Taganrog on Wednesday morning with six of the U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles and promised retaliation. It said all six had been intercepted, but that falling missile debris had caused some injuries.

The Russian leader has claimed that the Oreshnik is impossible to intercept and that it has destructive power comparable to that of a nuclear weapon, even when fitted with a conventional warhead.

Some Western experts have said the novel feature of the Oreshnik is that it carries multiple warheads capable of simultaneously striking different targets  something usually associated with longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles.

A surveillance camera video of the strike three weeks ago showed huge fireballs piercing the darkness and slamming into the ground at astonishing speed.

Within hours of Ukraines attack on the Russian military facility, Putin took the rare step of speaking on national TV to boast about the new, hypersonic missile. He warned the West that its next use could be against Ukraine's NATO allies, which allowed Kyiv to use their longer-range missiles to strike inside Russia.

Nonetheless, the U.S. official downplayed the usefulness of the missiles, calling them "experimental" in nature and said that "Russia likely possesses only a handful" of them. The official also said the weapon has a smaller warhead than other missiles Russia has deployed in Ukraine.

The United States says it is sending more air defense systems to Ukraine even as Russia gains territory in eastern Ukraine six weeks ahead of Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency.

Trump has been a skeptic of continuing U.S. support for Ukraine. He has said he will end the war before he takes office but has not said how. He has pointedly refused to say he wants Ukraine to win the war, leaving Washington's long-term military support for Ukraine in question.

Trump met with Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris over the weekend.

Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Tuesday that a rescue operation was "currently under way" in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, following a Russian missile strike that killed three people and injured 18 others.

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine does not have enough air defense systems to protect it from Russian missiles. "But our partners do have these systems. We repeat, again and again, that air defense systems should save lives, not collect dust in storage bases," he said.

Separately, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday that Ukraine-Russia peace talks could begin "in the winter," a timeline that coincides with Poland taking over the rotating presidency of the European Union on January 1.

Tusk offered few details about where, when or even who would be involved in the negotiations, but he told his Cabinet he hoped the "end effect" of the EU's negotiations would result in peace for Ukraine.

Tusk, however, indicated that Poland, which has been a staunch supporter of neighboring Ukraine since Russian forces invaded the country in February 2022, will be a major participant in the talks.

"I really want Poland to be the country that will not only be present but will set the tone for these decisions that are to bring us security and secure Polish interests," the prime minister said.

Separately, Frances Macron is expected to meet with Tusk Thursday in Warsaw to discuss Ukraine.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
A national security review of Nippon Steel's $15 billion bid for U.S. Steel is ongoing and President Joe Biden will see what it yields before making a decision on whether to block it, the White House said on Tuesday, cautioning he still opposes the tie-up.

The statement comes after shares of U.S. Steel tumbled more than 10% on Tuesday afternoon following a Bloomberg report suggesting the deal would be killed in short order.

CFIUS, a powerful committee charged with reviewing foreign investments in U.S. firms for national security risks, has until December 22 to make a decision on whether to approve, block or extend the timeline for the deal's review, Reuters has reported.

"The President's position since the beginning is that it is vital for U.S. Steel to be domestically owned and operated," Saloni Sharma, a White House spokesperson said in a statement. "As we have said before, the President will continue to see what the CFIUS process yields. We have not received any CFIUS recommendation. The CFIUS process was and remains ongoing."

Bloomberg's initial headline read that Biden was "set to" block the deal, suggesting a final decision had been made, but the outlet later updated it to say he "plans to" kill it, echoing prior comments and leaving the door open to a last-minute change.

CFIUS declined to comment.

Japan's Nippon Steel said it was inappropriate that politics continued to outweigh true national security interests.

"Nippon Steel still has confidence in the justice and fairness of America and its legal system, and  if necessary  will work with U.S. Steel to consider and take all available measures to reach a fair conclusion," it added in a statement.

U.S. Steel said the transaction should be approved on its merits.

"The benefits are overwhelmingly clear," it said in a statement. "Our communities, customers, investors, and employees strongly support this transaction, and we will continue to advocate for them and adherence to the rule of law."

The two companies are poised to pursue litigation over the process if Biden decides to block the merger.

The acquisition has faced opposition within the U.S. since it was announced last year with both Biden and his incoming successor Donald Trump both publicly indicating their intention to block it.

CFIUS told the two companies in September the deal would create national security risks because it could hurt the supply of steel needed for critical transportation, construction and agriculture projects.

Despite opposition, including from the United Steelworkers union, Japan's Nippon has pressed on in pursuit of a deal, promising to not transfer any U.S. Steel production capacity or jobs outside the U.S. if the merger succeeds.

Nippon has also said it would not interfere in any of U.S. Steel's decisions on trade matters, including decisions to pursue trade measures under U.S. law against unfair trade practices.

In a bid to win over support from workers, Nippon Steel said on Tuesday it planned to give employees $5,000 each if the deal with U.S. Steel closed. It also pledged $3,160 closing bonuses to employees in Europe, which would result in a nearly $100 million total payment to employees.
The armed gang attack that killed more than 180 people, many of them elderly, over the weekend in Haiti's Cite Soliel area has sparked widespread condemnation.

U.S. State Department official Brian Nichols posted a message on X expressing shock and asking the international community to provide more support for the multinational force in Haiti. The United Nations is calling for a thorough investigation and for those responsible for the attack to be held accountable. The Haitian government vowed to mobilize its forces to track down the attackers.

See full story here.
U.S. Central Command commander General Michael Eric Kurilla visited Syria and Iraq to assess ongoing operations against Islamic State, the first visit of a senior U.S. military official since the fall of the Assad regime.

In Syria, Kurilla met with Syrian Democratic Forces leaders and U.S. troops to discuss force protection and efforts to prevent Islamic State from exploiting the evolving situation.

In Iraq, Kurilla met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and other officials in Baghdad. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Iraq and the international coalition to combat terrorism and ensure regional security.

See full story here.
Vietnam has recently ordered both Temu and Shein, Chinese cross-border shopping platforms, to suspend operations, following a similar move by Indonesia.

Analysts say businesses and officials believe the Chinese platforms pose a significant threat to local small- and medium-sized enterprises, forcing authorities to take countermeasures. VOA Mandarin reports that more countries are expected to roll out similar restrictions.

Click here for the full story in Mandarin.
The Russian Federation's troops may allegedly launch another medium-range ballistic missile at Ukraine in the coming days. This assumption was published by foreign media on December 11.

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Bloomberg cited a U.S. official who asked not to be named in its publication. The journalists pointed out that Russia has only a few experimental missiles, which dictator Vladimir Putin has dubbed "Oreshnik."

The United States does not consider these weapons to be a decisive factor, the official added.

The AP said that US intelligence has information about a possible launch of the "Oreshnik" in the coming days.

The US government views the weapon "as an attempt to intimidate rather than a turning point on the battlefield in Ukraine."

According to an AP source, the "Oreshniks" carry a smaller warhead than other missiles that Russia has regularly launched at Ukrainian territory.

Reuters published a similar warning. The journalists also believe that the war (according to some Russian and Western officials) is entering "its final and most dangerous phase as Moscow's forces advance at the fastest pace since the first weeks" of the full-scale invasion.

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In addition, Reuters reminded that on January 20, 2025, Republican Donald Trump will officially become president of the United States, and he insists on a ceasefire and negotiations, calling into question Washington's long-term support for Kyiv.

To note: Moscow first used the "Oreshnik''/''Kedr'' on November 21, attacking the Dnipro. Putin claimed that it was a response to Ukraine's attacks with American weapons deep into Russia.

The head of the aggressor state also threatened that the occupiers could shell "decision-making centers" in Kyiv and military-industrial enterprises.

On December 11, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it would respond to the Ukrainian strike on the Taganrog air base with six ATACMS missiles.

"This attack with the use of Western long-range weapons will not go unanswered," the Russian Defense Ministry's press service said on Telegram.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 The British Defense Ministry believes that Russia struck the Dnipro with a new missile, seeking to send a "strategic message" about the use of Western missiles by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike Russia.

 Earlier, Reuters, citing two senior Ukrainian government sources, said the missile that hit Dnipro on November 21 had several warheads but no explosives.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
In response to an inquiry from VOA Persian, the Canadian government stated that compulsory conscription in Irans armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), does not necessarily result in former conscripts being barred from entering Canada.

The IRGC has been added to Canadas list of terrorist organizations, but a Canadian government spokesman said those fleeing Iran who were required to serve with the Iranian force would not be barred from Canada.

Click here for the full story in Persian.
Reports obtained by VOA Persian confirm that restrictions on female political prisoners at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad remain in effect.

A recently released former inmate of Vakilabad Prison, speaking to VOA, revealed that the restrictions were imposed "without any prior notice" following a meeting between inmates of Ward 6 and political prisoner Fatemeh Sepehri, held outside the ward on December 5.

She added, "Prisoners' access to essential facilities, including the infirmary, store, kitchen, gym, and educational workshops, was entirely cut off during the initial days. None of the female prisoners were allowed to leave, and they were informed that if they needed anything, they should request it, and it would be purchased or delivered to them.

Click here for the full story in Persian.
The overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria demonstrates the vulnerability of authoritarian governments such as those in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, according to analysts, who question the current capacity of Russia and Iran to actively defend their more distant allies.

Assads Latin American supporters are watching what has happened in Syria with great apprehension, according to Geoff Ramsey, an analyst at the Atlantic Council, a U.S.-based research and think tank.

See full story here.
The Biden administration says it is in touch with all rebel groups in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad and wants the process of forming a new government to be led by Syrians.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby spoke with VOA Turkishs White House correspondent Begum Donmez Ersoz and said whatever governance comes out of the process, Washington wants to make sure it meets the aspirations of the Syrian people.

Kirby says its too soon to tell whether Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Sunni Islamic al-Qaida offshoot that the United States has designated a terror group, and its leader, Mohammed al-Golani, have undergone an ideological transformation.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: Did Israel give the United States prior notification of their strikes on the Golan Heights and their deeper push into Syria?

John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser: Im going to let the Israelis speak to their operations, and I'm not going to speculate about what they're doing. I would just tell you that they certainly have the right to self-defense. We recognize that they see threats across that border as things unfold in Syria, and they've taken some actions. ... We, too, share a concern that the Israelis have over chemical weapons and the possibility of stockpiles in Syria and the potential use ... so we're in constant communication with the Israelis about what they're doing, and that will continue.

VOA: Does the U.S. believe that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has undergone an ideological transformation?

Kirby: I think it's too soon to tell. Mr. al-Golani is saying the right things about inclusiveness, about not being interested in persecuting either minorities or other groups. But I think, you know, we have to wait and see what they actually do in terms of trying to establish good governance. ... They are still a designated terrorist group. ... Whatever kind of governance comes out of this, we want to make sure it meets the aspirations of the Syrian people, that they have a vote and a voice in their future. So, we want it to be a Syrian-led process, and the United States will continue to support that kind of process.

VOA: There is a concern in Turkey about the potential of an independent Kurdish state in northern Syria. How will the United States mitigate Turkeys concerns?

Kirby: They have legitimate concerns in terms of the safety and security of people inside Turkey. I know right now, Syria is kind of coming to the fore because of the news over the weekend, but it's not as if we haven't continually, over the last four years, had conversations with the Turks about their concerns along that border. And quite frankly, sharing with them our concerns about what we're trying to do against ISIS, partnering with the Syrian Democratic Forces. So, where those two levels of concerns overlap, or maybe conflict, we have the ability and have executed the ability to have conversations with the Turks to try to sort all this out.

VOA: The United States is talking to Turkey for information on the whereabouts of journalist Austin Tice. Can you share more on those talks?

Kirby: I won't get into the details of the discussions. ... We're still trying to get more context and information about Austin  where he is, what condition he might be in. We obviously talked to the Turks about this ... but we also talked to other counterparts in the region. Those conversations are ongoing. As the president said on Sunday, we want to see him back home with his family where he belongs, and we'll continue to have the level of engagement in the region to see if we can bring about that outcome.

VOA: President-elect Donald Trump has signaled a hands-off approach in Syria. What would be the danger of that for U.S. interests in the region?

Kirby: Well, we'll let Mr. Trump speak to his plans when he comes into office. We believe there are two things keenly in America's national security interest. Number 1 is the transition, peaceful transition, to legitimate governance in Syria that is a Syrian-led process. ... The second thing that's very much in our national security interest is making sure that ISIS cannot regenerate the capabilities like it had in 2014 and cannot exploit the current uncertainty in Syria to their own advantage.

VOA: Syria was an important playground for Iran and the Shia Crescent. That has been broken now. Do you think Iran's ambitions over the Middle East are over?

Kirby: I think only [the] supreme leader can answer that particular question. ... As Iran wakes up and looks at the region, it is different, and their axis of resistance has been broken in many, many places. ... And they, too, have been weakened as a military and as a capability, just in terms of, for instance, air defense. ... That said, I can't tell you that, as we look at the world today, that we see Iran giving up on their hegemonic ambitions in the region. They certainly are not as capable of executing those visions and that ambition, but I haven't seen anything that would indicate that that they're turning a blind eye to trying to pursue those kinds of ambitions.

VOA: Would the United States accept a hard-line government under HTS in Syria that would contain Iran, as Golani alluded to in his speech?

Kirby: What we want to see in terms of governance in Syria is governance that is seen as credible and legitimate, that is sustainable, that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people, and that is the result, the product, of a Syrian-led process to get them to that point. I think it's too soon to know exactly how it's all going to unfold, and we're watching this real, real close.
The wife of Chhoeung Chheng, an environmental journalist killed in Cambodia, says she had warned him against investigating illegal logging at night.

Chhoeung had been working to uncover deforestation in Siem Reap province when he was shot on December 4. The 63-year-old journalist died from his injuries at a hospital on December 7.

His wife, Cheav Chab, 53, told VOAs Khmer service that Chhoeung had been dedicated to journalism, with a career spanning over a decade.

But she worried about his work for the news website Kampuchea Aphiwat on illegal activity in their region.

"I warned him not to investigate forests at night, as those involved in deforestation don't take kindly to us," she said.

She is now seeking justice for her husband's killing, telling VOA, "I don't want his death to be in vain."

Moeun Ny, a journalist and friend of Chhoeung, told VOA that the pair worked together to expose deforestation.

"We aimed to prevent further forest loss," said Moeun. "We always reported logging activities to the authorities."

Moeun believes their reporting made them a target for those involved in deforestation.

The Ministry of Information said a suspected gunman has been arrested and is under investigation.

The ministry spokesperson, Tep Asnarith, said the ministry is taking the incident seriously and reiterated the government's commitment to protecting press freedom as enshrined in the Cambodian Constitution.

Nop Vy, the executive director of the media association CamboJA, said the case underscores the threats to journalists in Cambodia, particularly those covering environmental issues.

He called for a thorough investigation into Chheung's case, and incidents involving other media workers. Nop added that punishing those responsible is crucial to ending harassment of journalists.

Authorities looking into attacks on media should speed up the investigations effectively and transparently to conclude the investigations and bring perpetrators to prosecute, he told VOA.

The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders in a statement also emphasized the need to secure justice in such cases.

This murder is appalling and demands a strong response, the watchdog said in a statement.
Zimbabwean health officials said Tuesday they aim to eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, crediting the United States with making such progress possible through aid and support.

U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont and officials from PEPFAR and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention toured the HIV services area at Marondera Hospital, located some 70 kilometers east of Harare, the Zimbabwe capital, where HIV/AIDS once sickened thousands.

Speaking to journalists afterward, Dr. Delight Madoro, a district medical officer in Mashonaland East province, said PEPFAR  or the U.S. Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief  enabled Zimbabwe to combat the epidemic with strategies such as blood-based self-testing and PrEP, which stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis.

And after maybe you test positive, there are staff and support ... at the facilities to help link you to other HIV services, Madoro said.

There is a lot that is happening on the ground in terms of [the] fight against HIV through the support that we are getting from PEPFAR, he continued. And in terms of human resources, were getting more staff. This means our clients are going to have more time with clinicians, so that we become thorough, and we get thorough with our treatment.

So, in a nutshell, I can say the support that we have been getting from PEPFAR is of paramount importance, he said.

Tremont said the U.S. was committed to help fight the HIV epidemic in Zimbabwe.

Weve made huge progress since 2006, she said. The number of deaths from HIV has fallen 80%, and that is something I think we should all be very proud of.

Tremont mentioned that the U.S. provided antiretroviral treatments and many health care workers at clinics and hospitals around Zimbabwe.

Its great to see all that in action today and to see the dedication and stubbornness of the health care workers reaching down to those HIV patients who are scared and reluctant to undertake treatment, she said. Thank you to the health care workers. You are our heroes in all this.

Haddi Cham, the Centers for Disease Controls Zimbabwe HIV services branch chief, said the PEPFAR program made the HIV facility at Marondera Hospital possible.

We have been supporting this facility for many, many years now, and we are really grateful for the collaboration with all the key stakeholders. Through that strong collaboration, we are able to realize these results, Cham said.

Zimbabwe is one of the countries hit hardest by HIV/AIDS, especially before 1999, when authorities introduced an AIDS levy  a 3% tax on income and business profits that is used by the National AIDS Council for programs to combat the spread of the pandemic.

Data indicate the prevalence of HIV among adults ages 15 to 49 in Zimbabwe declined from 12.7% in 2019 to 10.5% in 2023.
LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia's constitutional court ruled on Tuesday that former President Edgar Lungu was ineligible to run for another term in office after he announced his return to politics last year.

The country's highest court ruled that Lungu's first term, which he served from 2015 to 2016 after the death of then-president Michael Sata, counted as a full term.

His second term was from September 2016 to August 2021, and he then lost the presidency to United Party for National Development candidate Hakainde Hichilema in the 2021 national election.

"I accept this verdict. I accept it not with resignation but with resolve," Lungu said in a post on social media platform Facebook after the decision.

Civil rights groups say Lungu, of the Patriotic Front (PF) party, would have been a strong challenger to Hichilema in the next presidential election, due to be held in 2026.

Lungu said he would now implement "Plan B," but did not provide details on what this would entail.

"The constitution makes the first respondent ineligible to participate in any future elections as a presidential candidate," the judgment said, adding Lungu had twice been elected and has twice held office.

During the memorial service for Sata in October 2023, Lungu said he would come out of retirement.

His political comeback followed the arrest of several family members, including his wife, on allegations of possessing the proceeds of crime.

There was heavy police presence outside the court session, which Lungu did not attend.

"We are studying the matter. But we are gravely concerned by the court's decision and ruling," PF spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba said.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Tannur Anders, Bhargav Acharya, Ros Russell)
Matthew Barney, Billy Grant, Alex Katz, and Jamian Juliano-Villani. Photo: Courtesy of Jamian Juliano-Villani

What a great exhibition title: The Bitch. It describes so much and says so little. This is a two-person show of Alex Katz, 97, and Matthew Barney, 57. It was put together by Jamian Juliano-Villani, 37, a living-on-the-edge sensation who shows her own hyperrealist paintings at Gagosian and uses the sales to stage exhibitions at her gallery, OFlahertys. With her cohort Billy Grant, Juliano-Villani has operated OFlahertys at two other Lower East Side locations. This one is on Allen Street, a spot that was formerly a bordello, a bar, and a deli. A dead tree trunk dominates the space, a staircase curling around it. It gives the venue a haunted air of dead memories.

Three distinct artistic sensibilities merge into one. Barneys modus operandi is endless preparation, numerous assistants, and a penchant for the spectacular. (In 1991, he made his way via ice screws along a gallery ceiling, naked but for a climbing belt and other accessories, and climbed down a wall into a basement freezer where he inserted his final screw into his ass  still the best debut solo show I have ever seen.) Here, his Water Cast 10 is part modernist abstraction, part wasps nest, and part Chinese scholars rock made by a crew of people pouring molten copper into a combination of clay and water. The result is explosive.

Katz emerged in New York in the early 1950s, then the height of Abstract Expressionism. He pushed back against this trend, painting representationally and demurely. His images of people and things are silent screens made with uninflected brushstrokes. I was never much of a fan, but Katzs bland sublime is forever undead among younger artists. His newest abstractions are rendered in unambiguous neon orange. In one, there is a long, receding highway beneath a leafy canopy road. These are the best paintings Katz has ever made, and its moving to think how long it sometimes takes for painting to give up its secrets.

Photo: David Regen; Art:  Alex Katz / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Barney and Katz were represented by Barbara Gladstone, who died this summer. Under a group of directors, Gladstones gallery is now trying to extend its lifetime. This idea of pushing back against the limits of life cycles is baked into the audacious DNA of The Bitch. Juliano-Villani envisioned a show about living in fear, a gripping tale of unrelieved horror, of survival and resilience, and of the ways in which humankind confronts death. This sort of raw hubris is welcome in an art world filled with familiar aesthetic conceits and credentialed elitism.

After passing into the darkened downstairs gallery though a sort of cage, viewers are confronted by three monitors suspended over an old bar. Playing on them is Barneys 45-minute video Drawing Restraint 28, in which we witness Katz, an ancient mariner climbing up and down a portable stairway, making one of his large orange monochromes. He ascends, holds his large brush, steadies himself, and makes a mark. He steps down to consider it. Barney treats Katz as a specter-exemplar, a living gladiator-athlete still at work. The film is a harrowing journey into creativity. We watch someone doing what he has done every day of his life, totally locked in, lost in his own wisdom, motor memory, and instinct. I want to die working, I thought.

Walking through The Bitch makes us feel we are inside the body of art. Paced like a dirge or chant, its crushing beauty gives us two very different artists developing their own languages and tools as they labor against restraints of space and mortality. These invisible structures are built into all art, be it the form of a sonnet, the artifice of perspective, the mechanisms of the novel. The Bitch tells us that though we may never be the same person who made something in the past, we nevertheless inhabit structures that allow us to create again. This euphoric exhibition whispers that objects have longer memories than people, that everything is on the side of the living.
Alex Jones. Photo: Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP

How fitting that last months news that the Onion had bought Alex Joness unhinged, conspiracy-peddling media operation, Infowars, in a bankruptcy auction turned out to be inaccurate  or, at the very least, premature. Per NPR, after reports became public that the satirical news empire had placed the winning bid to purchase Infowars, Jones contested the legitimacy of the auction in court, calling it a mockery and rigged. On December 10, the bankruptcy judge in this matter, Houstons Christopher Lopez, sided with Jones and rejected the Onions bid to purchase the company. Infowars went bankrupt after losing a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit filed by the families of children killed in the Sandy Hook massacre, which Jones circulated false theories about.

While Judge Lopez doesnt agree with Jones that the process was a mockery  he stressed in his decision that he believed everyone involved had acted in good faith  he reasoned in his verdict that the auction process had lacked transparency and had left money on the table that might otherwise have been paid in restitution to the families of Sandy Hook victims. The Onions purchasing bid, meanwhile, had initially been placed with the support of these families, who expressed disappointment in Lopezs decision through a statement put out by their lawyer, Chris Mattei. These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused, he said.

CEO Ben Collins, who heads the Onions parent company, Global Tetrahedron, also expressed disagreement with Lopezs decision in a statement posted on X. We are deeply disappointed in todays decision, but The Onion will continue to seek a resolution that helps the Sandy Hook families receive a positive outcome for the horror they endured. He added that the company would continue to take strides to attempt to purchase Infowars in the immediate future.

A statement from The Onion about InfoWars. pic.twitter.com/dtiQHSZ9vj  follow @bencollins on bluesky (@oneunderscore__) December 11, 2024

The Onions initial intent when attempting to purchase Infowars was to turn it into a parody site and thereby put an end to the media giants spread of harmful misinformation. Now that its bid has been rejected, Jones will be able to continue hosting Infowars from the Infowars studio  at least for the next month or so. Judge Lopez has instructed the bankruptcy trustee in this case, Christopher Murray, to scrounge up a more lucrative offer for the site in the next 30 days.
The situation with Russia's military presence in Syria after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime has shown the Kremlin's "cautious and indecisive" reaction to the latest developments in the country. Moscow has withdrawn its ships from the naval base in Tartus and is keeping them in the Mediterranean Sea at a distance from the coast.

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At the same time, the Russian Federation continues to withdraw equipment and weapons from the Khmeimim air base, and the Kremlin's official comments on the future of the Russian contingent in Syria are full of uncertainty. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) explained what is happening at Russian military bases in Syria.

After fleeing the Syrian seaport of Tartus, where the Russian Mediterranean flotilla was based, Russian warships have not returned there as of December 10, ISW said, citing satellite images.

The satellites also detected Russian ships in the Mediterranean Sea at a distance of about 8-15 km from Tartus.

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OSINT analyst M.T. Anderson identified four Russian vessels in this radius on satellite imagery: the "Admiral Gorshkov" and "Admiral Grigorovich" frigates, the "Vyazma" offshore tanker, and the "Novorossiysk" submarine. The latter three spent at least a day without moving, as captured on December 9.

Other OSINT analysts stated that on December 10, the Russian large amphibious assault ship Project 775 "Alexander Shabalin" from the Russian Baltic Fleet left the Baltic Sea: it is likely to be heading to the Mediterranean Sea to help with the withdrawal of Russian military assets from Tartus (potentially the port of Tobruk in Libya).

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On the evening of December 9, a Russian military blogger said that the status of the Russian air base in Khmeimim and the naval base in Tartus was "up in the air." And the spokesman for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said it was "difficult to predict" how events in Syria would unfold, but that Russia would "continue to engage in dialogue" with all countries that share Russian interests in the Arab country.

Meanwhile, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said on December 10 that Russian troops continue to dismantle equipment and weapons and withdraw from Khmeimim on An-124 and Il-76 aircraft, as well as "dismantle" equipment in Tartus, a process that is being controlled by Russian special forces recently deployed there.

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ISW showed Maxar satellite images from December 10, which showed that Russian planes, helicopters, and related military equipment remain at the Khmeimim airbase.

"Russia's continued lack of a coherent response, both in terms of military posture and rhetorical statements, suggests that the Kremlin is still waiting to formulate its next steps in Syria, observing the situation on the ground. The Kremlin is likely to hesitate to completely evacuate all military assets from Syria if it can establish relations with the Syrian opposition forces and the transitional government and continue to ensure the security of its bases and personnel in Syria," ISW summarized.

Earlier, ISW assessed what was behind the Kremlin's latest statements about its bases in Syria. Moscow continues to cautiously signal that it can organize the security of Russian military bases in Syria in the short term. However, the Kremlin is uncertain about the long-term future of these bases amid the unstable political situation in the country.

Analysts believe that the potential loss of Russian bases in Syria would have serious consequences for Russia's ability to extend its power to the Mediterranean, operate in Africa, and threaten NATO's southern flank.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The Mexican-American journalist Jorge Ramos says that, in the United States  where he lives and works  he has two trusted meteorologists. Every hurricane season, he asks them whether he should evacuate from his house in Florida.

This story is relevant because the veteran Spanish-language news anchor, best known for his work in Univision, just presented his most recent book, Asi veo las cosas (or, The Way I See Things), at the 2024 Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico. He affirms that, in a time of fake news, deceitful politicians and contempt for the truth, journalists must maintain their credibility, just like those meteorologists to whom the public turns to obtain valuable information. This helps people navigate in a world filled with manipulation and excessive information.

Ramos, who was born in Mexico City 66 years ago, will soon say goodbye to the millions of viewers who watch his Univision newscast, a daily event that has lasted 38 years. The news program has allowed him to report on the most important events in the United States, Latin America and several wars that have bled the planet.

The reporter is a witness to history. From his perspective  and, above all, through the questions he asks  he has forged a career that places him among the most prestigious voices in Spanish-language journalism.

Ramos defined himself as a dinosaur during the talk he gave on Friday, December 6, in Guadalajara. In front of a packed room, he spoke alongside Javier Lafuente, the deputy director of EL PAIS in the Americas. He uses the dinosaur label because he comes from another era of journalism, one in which reporters were perhaps more respected, influenced the public debate, presented facts and fact-checked information. That was when the cultivation of reliable sources, as well as the search for truth, were the bases on which credibility was built.

Ramos has said that his great journalistic role models are the Italian reporter Oriana Fallaci  the stubborn and uncomfortable interrogator who caused more than one powerful person to throw tantrums  and the Mexican writer Elena Poniatowska. With her tape recorder and her notes, she was able to [discover] the truth about what happened that tragic night in October of 1968 a wound that continues to fester in Mexico. What a coincidence that Fallaci and Poniatowska met to report on that massacre, which occurred in the Plaza de Tlatelolco in Mexico City.

Jorge Ramos and Javier Lafuente, speaking at the presentation of the formers book, at the 2024 Guadalajara International Book Fair. Roberto Antillon

Nowadays, however, the world is facing a more complex reality: social media, controlled in many cases by self-centered billionaires like Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter). Someone like him can spend $260 million supporting the presidential race of characters with dubious democratic credentials like Donald Trump, while influencers can endlessly repeat unverified information. Hoaxes can spread in these spaces where intolerance, hatred and lies reign. Social media often ends up shaping the opinion of people who then turn out to vote, often with inflamed prejudices.

Lafuente pointed out that Musk and fake news now represent a great danger. And not only for the survival of journalism, but for democracies. Its always been difficult to be a journalist, Jorge Ramos responded, adding that reporters and media outlets gained nothing by leaving platforms like X, where, despite so many lies, a valuable discussion is still taking place. We cannot forget that this world exists. What we need is to do good journalistic work, to make people go looking for those two meteorologists they can trust, he joked.

A very young journalism student asked Ramos how he could find his own voice. Quite the question at a time when journalists are wondering about how theyll survive. The veteran reporter responded by saying that the basis of all good journalism is knowing how to ask the right question at the right time, even if the questions are uncomfortable.

He recounted, for example, the occasion when Nicolas Maduros government surprisingly agreed to let him interview the Venezuelan president. They gave Ramos and his team visas and they traveled to Caracas. In the presidential palace, an apparently charismatic Maduro asked him , while the cameramen were setting up their equipment, how Ramos wife (who is Venezuelan) was doing. The reporters mind, however, was thinking about the first question he should ask, because he knew that this first question would set the tone for the conversation. And the Venezuelan leader didnt like the question at all: What would he label himself, since so many people said he was a dictator?

It was a tense 17-minute-long interview that ended with the confiscation of the television stations equipment (valued at around $200,000). Ramos and his team were also detained for two hours in the Miraflores Palace and for another two hours in their hotel, while footage of the interview was destroyed. A recording, however, was rescued from the archives of the Office of the Presidency, which had recorded the conversation. It reached Ramos via someone in the government. Hence the importance of credibility.

Ramos assured everyone at his talk that, even though he is leaving the Univision newscast, hes not saying goodbye to his faithful audience. Journalism is his calling; he will continue to practice it in the brave and confrontational manner that characterizes him, making powerful peoples hair stand on end. This happened with a furious Donald Trump, who once threw Ramos out of a press conference, or with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the former president of Mexico, who was irritated by the statistics on violence that Ramos presented to him during one of the statesmans daily news conferences.

The reporter will continue to practice his profession after 40 years in journalism, because tumultuous times are coming. The world is bleeding to death in two terrible wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, while Latin America is suffering from oppressive governments. And Trump is back in power. Trump is a [liar]. He will develop a one-man government and do whatever he wants. That is very dangerous for Mexico and for the world, Ramos opined.

During his book talk, Ramos spoke specifically about Mexico and the violence that engulfs much of the country. He fears that this bloodbath will continue and has asked the current president, Claudia Sheinbaum, to intervene, so that her six-year term doesnt end with the tens of thousands of deaths, which occurred during the administration that preceded hers. Around 80 people are murdered each day in Mexico, a bad prognosis, according to Ramos. However, the journalist has given some benefit of the doubt to the president, whom he described as an excellent communicator. Still, he fears the accumulation of power taking place via a single party and a single person. He has affirmed that doesnt want another PRI in Mexico  the Institutional Revolutionary Party, which governed uninterruptedly from 1929 until 2000.

Ramos still has an interview pending with the incumbent president. She hasnt agreed to sit down with him, yet he doesnt tire of asking for an opportunity to speak with her. He knows that hes privileged: he lives in a safe country, where journalists arent massacred as they are in Mexico. And his voice is respected. This has been his personal battle: Jorge Ramos tireless fight for credibility.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
St Francis is best associated with Assisi but there are also important sites in Lazio where he left his mark.

Greek is no longer spoken in upper Sabina, as it might have been more than a thousand years ago if the legend is to be believed of Greek settlers escaping war in their country and settling in Greccio. Just over an hour away by car from Rome, Greccio has a fascinating connection with St Francis of Assisi and with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

First Grecia, then Grece, Grecce and finally Greccio, this picturesque village perched on rocks among the holm oak and beech forests of the Sabina mountains overlooking the Rieti plain attracts visitors from all over the world.

They come to see the Franciscan church and monastery, parts of which were founded in 1228  the same year as the canonisation of the saint  and to look at the modern collection of nativity scenes set in such contrasting situations as a tent in sub-Saharan Africa or an Icelandic igloo. Greccio is now a world centre for such models showing the birthplace of Jesus.

Greccio shrine

The earliest written references to the village appear in the Register of Farfa Abbey compiled by Gregory of Catino in the 1090s, and show that Greccio was being enclosed by six towers and high walls as part of a defensive ring of fortifications in the area. These protected the approaches to the famous Benedictine abbey of Farfa that owned most of Sabina and beyond from the Middle Ages up until the end of the 18th century.

The defensive walls were not, however, strong enough to withstand assault by the troops of Frederick II in 1242 as the Holy Roman emperor made his way from Germany down the spine of Italy to Sicily, nor when Napoleon invaded and sacked the village at the end of the 18th century.

Only three towers remain in Greccio as a reminder of that defensive role, but today most visitors head for the hermitage in the rocks outside the village where St Francis is said to have slept in self-imposed discomfort, and where there is now a monastery, founded some 66 years after his death.

The village of Greccio.

For the more energetic pilgrims, a walk up to La Capelletta, a chapel built in 1792 and visible on the skyline of Monte Lacerone (1,200m), might inspire them to rest and meditate there as Francis did before them. It was here in the early months of 1223 that he sought solitude to revise the rules of his Order to take account of its rapid growth and its missions outside Italy. During his absences abroad in Spain, Palestine and Egypt some parts of the Order had wandered from their strict observation of the simple rules on which it had been founded in 1210.

His first attempt to produce new rules resulted in a document that proved unworkable. He retired to Monte Lacerone in ill health, to "a hut protected by two Hornbeam plants" to redraft them, eventually sending his newly revised version for approval by Pope Honorious in Rome in Advent 1223. It has remained substantially unchanged to this day.

It is said that Francis started living on Monte Lacerone in 1217 and that the lord of Greccio, Giovanni Velita, had pressed him to come down to the village to preach to the inhabitants and eventually to live among them. Apparently the holy man responded by getting a child to throw a burning firebrand from the mountain into the valley below saying that he would live wherever it landed. Legend has it that it came to rest a kilometre or so north of the village, against the rocks which then became his hermitage.

This is supposed to have been his favourite hermitage, although he stayed in many other places during his travels. When he returned, tired and unwell, to Greccio in 1223, it was there that he organised the first ever live re-enactment of the Bethlehem nativity scene, using a donkey and an ox and his followers on Christmas Eve. And it was there that his follower, St Bonaventura, built parts of the present monastery after Francis' death.

Despite a failed attempt to visit Palestine in 1212 when he was shipwrecked off the Dalmatian coast, Francis' eventual connection with the Holy Land and Bethlehem came about in 1219. On this occasion he travelled to Damietta on the Nile delta while armies of the Fifth Crusade, proclaimed by Pope Innocent III in 1213, were besieging the city. Francis  a man of peace  journeyed to Damietta to attempt to convert Sultan al Kamil, the head of the Ayyubid empire, to Christianity so that Jerusalem and Palestine could return to Christian control.

It is uncertain what occurred at the meeting between them, although later reports claim the sultan gave Francis permission to visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem. What is certain is that the crusade continued for another two years and ended in defeat for the crusaders. It was during this period that Francis developed the idea of portraying the poverty surrounding the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem stable occupied by an ox and a donkey.

His abiding belief in a life of poverty is well reflected in what his biographer Thomas of Celano reports was his request to his friend Velita, lord of Greccio, late in 1223:

"If now it seems good to thee that we should celebrate this feast together, go before me to Greccio and prepare everything as I tell thee. I desire to represent the birth of that Child in Bethlehem in such a way that with our bodily eyes we may see what He suffered for lack of the necessities of a newborn Babe and how He lay in manger between the ox and ass."

Velita complied, provided the necessary props and animals, and word soon spread among the Franciscan community and people living in Sabina about this extraordinary event. Crowds came carrying candles and burning torches, while fires lit the scene and Mass was said over the crib with the animals standing by.

Still today, the first ever living nativity scene is re-enacted every year late on Christmas Eve and on another six nights following, as it was in 1223, but now added to by other scenes explaining the whole story of St Francis' involvement. Today a grandstand guarantees the modern, warmly-dressed visitor a good view of the proceedings under the floodlit cliffs to which the mediaeval monastery clings.

By Philip Biss

Useful information

Greccio is a pretty, little-known village with a wide central piazza and occupies a panoramic position overlooking the Rieti plain. The former marshland was drained in early Roman times when a canal was dug to the plateau edge at Marmore, allowing the Velino river to cascade into the Terni valley below, forming the highest man-made waterfall in Europe, well worthy of a visit. Check the website to be sure of catching the magical moment when the water is released.

There are several good restaurants in Greccio, not least the appropriately named Nido del Corvo, which has excellent food and a spectacular view.

Getting there

By road from Rome: Take the Via Salaria to Rieti and then turn left and proceed about six km towards Terni, turning off left to Contigliano and then following the signs for Greccio.

By bus from Rome: Cotral bus from Tiburtina to Rieti. Then Cotral bus from Rieti to Greccio.

By train: from Terni in the direction of Rieti, alighting at Greccio station and taking a local bus.

Cammino di Francesco

For those who want to follow St Francis pilgrim route to Rome, there are good sign posts for the Cammino di Francesco.

For further information see Proloco website.
"Strongman" Meloni tops the Politico rankings.

Italy's right-wing prime minister Giorgia Meloni has been crowned "Europe's most powerful person" in the Class of 2025 rankings by US political newspaper Politico.

Charting her rise to power in less than a decade, Politico says that Meloni has gone from being dismissed as "an ultranationalist kook" to establishing herself as a figure with whom Brussels, "and now Washington", can do business.

"Who do you call if you want to speak to Europe?" - Politico asks - "If youre Elon Musk  the worlds richest man and a key adviser to United States President-elect Donald Trump  the number you dial belongs to Giorgia Meloni."

Underlining her early activism in neo-fascist circles, Politico states that Meloni has been on the "forefront of a wave that is dragging European politics toward the far right", while also tacking to the centre.

Labelling Meloni "The Strongman", Politico recalls that when taking office two years ago the prime minister insisted on the masculine form of her official title - Il Presidente del Consiglio - emphasising her ability to exert "tremendous power at a moment when the continent lacks powerful centrists capable of taking her on."

Despite her government's introduction of controversial policies affecting migration and LGBTQ+ rights, leaders in the EU have accepted Meloni "as the palatable representative of the ever-more-radical zeitgeist blossoming on both sides of the Atlantic."

Meloni, 47, has consolidated her government "as one of the most stable to have existed in postwar Italy", Politico writes, hailing her "carefully cultivated, no-nonsense appearance" as a contributing factor to this image of stability.

Highlighting her tough approach, Politico recalls an incident in May involving another straight-talking Italian politician, Vincenzo De Luca, the centre-left governor of the southern Campania region.

After De Luca was recorded referring to her as a stronza (bitch), the prime minister greeted the opposition politician at an event in Naples by stating sternly, I'm that bitch, Meloni. How are you?

Noting her "complicated relationship" with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Politico states that Meloni is benefiting from a "vacuum of power" in Paris and Berlin, leaving her room to push forward her policies.

Across the Atlantic meanwhile, Politico says that Meloni is "seemingly adored by billionaire Musk" and that Trumps reelection stands to give her "even more momentum".

Photo credit: Alessia Pierdomenico / Shutterstock.com.
David married Maureen Couzens at the Littlejohn Memorial Chapel at Scotch College, Melbourne, on November 25, 1968. On many occasions he would reflect that he could not have achieved anything near that which he was able to do throughout his life without the love, stability and support Maureen brought to their marriage and lives.

David Crawford was born on January 17, 1944, in Melbourne, the son of Frank and Jean Crawford, brother to Murray, Marie and Kathleen. He was educated at Canterbury Primary School and Scotch College; at the latter he was a school prefect and house captain. David then went to Melbourne University where he boarded at Ormond College, which was to become a lifelong connection. He graduated with a degree in commerce and subsequently in law.

David Crawford in 2016. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2009. Credit: Wayne Taylor

In the early hours of Thursday, December 5, we lost a doyen of the accounting profession and the restructuring and insolvency segment of that profession in particular. We also lost an astute businessman and leader who made an enormous contribution to the many corporate and community organisations to which he committed his razor-sharp mind and clear thinking over an illustrious career of more than 50 years.

After working in a small suburban practice, where he gained his first experience in managing distressed companies and insolvency administrations, David joined Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co (now KPMG) as a partner in the early 1970s. Almost immediately he was the go-to professional for large and complex corporate failures.

He initially came to prominence on the restructuring of Massey Ferguson Australia and then, more particularly, with the receivership and subsequent scheme of arrangement for International Harvester Australia Limited. This was closely followed by the insolvency of Trustees Executors and Agency Company Limited (TEA).

Then came the recession of the late 1980s to early 1990s where he was concurrently running the insolvency administrations of Adsteam, Qintex, Ariadne, Bonds Brewing, Harlin and others.

You would expect that period would be the pinnacle of his career but there was so much more to come. He became involved in the management of KPMG Australia and contributed via various committees to KPMG International. He was the chairman of KPMG Melbourne from 1993 to 1998 and then became the inaugural chairman of KPMG Australia from 1998 to 2001, having been the driving force behind the merger of the KPMG state partnerships. The foundational structures he put in place at that time have proved critical to KPMGs success in the subsequent decades.

During these years government and other parties continued to request him to perform important roles such as the winding up of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria as its businesses and assets were privatised.
To awake to this latest attack just a matter of kilometres from here, in Woollahra  [it] is completely abhorrent to who we are as Australians, he said during a visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum on Wednesday afternoon. They are acts which are aimed at promoting fear in the community, and that, by any definition, is what terrorism is about. We need a whole of government, a whole of society [effort], as well, to make sure this is stamped out. Anthony Albanese addresses media at the Sydney Jewish Museum on Wednesday. Credit: Oscar Colman Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack as a disgusting display of antisemitism designed to put fear into the hearts of those who live in Sydneys east, noting Woollahra has a large Jewish population.

He said he was also open to introducing tougher laws to stop hate crimes. This isnt just a random act of destruction, he said. This was a targeted attack in Sydneys eastern suburbs  directly after the burning down of a synagogue. Loading We cannot have a situation where we are importing conflicts around the world onto the streets of Sydney and saying, Well, its just inevitable because something happened on the other side of the world. Thats not going to be the case in Australia. Webb said Operation Shelter, which police set up after last years October 7 attacks in Israel, would be scaled up, with increased patrols targeting suburbs where there was community concern, noting there had been an increase in reports of hatred in the eastern area of Sydney.

But Webb said preventing crimes motivated by hate required broader community action and not just more policing. We need families to have discussions with their children, their young ones, with whole of community, to say, This is not on. Its not acceptable to use violence, damage property. If theres hate, then you cant express your hate by hurting other people and damaging property. An emotional Kellie Sloane, the Liberal MP for Vaucluse, visited Magney Street on Wednesday morning and said Woollahra residents felt vulnerable and under attack. It feels like this is a pattern of intimidation and hatred against a community that is trying to go about their everyday lives peacefully.

Theres a lot of emotion in the community this morning. People are both deeply upset and emotional. There are people in tears. There are also people expressing incredible anger, anger that this continues to happen. The attack in Woollahra follows the announcement on Monday of a new AFP antisemitism taskforce, Operation Avalite, to investigate threats and violence towards the Australian Jewish community. There are also people expressing incredible anger  anger that this continues to happen. The president of Woollahras Emanuel Synagogue, Grant McCorquodale, said the attack had left people genuinely scared and fearful about what is going to happen next.

This is a beautiful suburb, a beautiful part of Sydney, and the whole suburb has been desecrated, he said. Every neighbour, everyone in Woollahra, is just sick of it. Every Australian is sick of it. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the Jewish community had again woken to scenes of terror and devastation. More burning cars and broken glass. Another act intended to terrorise us, drive us from our country and make our fellow Australians fearful of associating with us, he said, adding that he expected the AFPs new antisemitism taskforce to bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice. Police are investigating antisemitic graffiti painted on the walls of an Arncliffe construction site. Credit: On Monday, police travelling on the Princes Highway at Arncliffe spotted antisemitic graffiti painted on the walls of a construction site. The graffiti was being painted over on Wednesday afternoon.
Labor will force big tech companies to pay for Australian journalism under a new scheme that seeks to punish platforms such as Facebook for refusing to sign content deals, raising the prospect of a financial penalty if they do not contribute to local news.

The dramatic move will pile pressure on social media platforms to honour a bargaining code with publishers or face the risk of being forced to pay to keep operating in Australia, amid fears the failure of an existing code would cost news providers $1 billion over four years.

Mark Zuckerbergs Meta has threatened to withdraw news from its platforms if forced to pay. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is poised to override that. Credit: Bloomberg, Oscar Colman

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to release the plan on Thursday after months of talks about how to respond to Facebooks threat to block news content if it is forced to pay and concern in some quarters that a tax on big American companies would upset US President-elect Donald Trump.

The approach is expected to mandate financial costs on the platforms if they do not negotiate in good faith with news providers struggling in a hard advertising market and pay for articles shared with their social media customers.
Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize winner in Economics in 2008, a professor at the most prestigious universities in the world, a writer and commentator, is bidding farewell to The New York Times after almost 25 years as a columnist for a newspaper from which he has attacked austerity policies (it is a really bad idea in a depressed economy, he wrote in 2019), deliberated on current affairs and economic theory, and served as a scourge of the political class. A progressive economist, he has been a staunch critic of Donald Trump he titled one of his columns Donald Trump and his Team of Morons and of George W. Bush, both over his economic and foreign policy, severely condemning the war in Iraq. He also criticized more than one decision by the Barack Obama Administration. His departure comes shortly before Trumps return to the White House, which seems like more than a coincidence. Krugman announced his decision in an article titled: My Last Column: Finding Hope in an Age of Resentment.

Just as he began writing in the New York newspaper on January 2, 2000 with a reflection on the state of the world economy, his farewell column includes another one: This does seem like a good occasion to reflect on what has changed over these past 25 years. The style is the same as alwaysdirect despite the complexity of the subjects discussed, and sparing with the adjectivesbut the tone has taken a radical turn: the hope he felt at the beginning of the new century has been replaced by a feeling of discouragement. What strikes me, looking back, is how optimistic many people, both here and in much of the Western world, were back then and the extent to which that optimism has been replaced by anger and resentment, writes the economist, whose articles have been published every week in Spanish in the business supplement of EL PAIS, Negocios.

And Im not just talking about members of the working class who feel betrayed by elites; some of the angriest, most resentful people in America right now  people who seem very likely to have a lot of influence with the incoming Trump administration  are billionaires who dont feel sufficiently admired, writes Krugman, who won the Princess of Asturias Award in 2004. Its hard to convey just how good most Americans were feeling in 1999 and early 2000. Polls showed a level of satisfaction with the direction of the country that looks surreal by todays standards. My sense of what happened in the 2000 election was that many Americans took peace and prosperity for granted, so they voted for the guy who seemed as if hed be more fun to hang out with.

Even if not everything was rosy then, there was hope for the future, he writes. Now, resentment prevails instead, fuelled by a collapse of trust in the elites, whether they be elected officials, banks or the tech giants and their billionaire owners. But Krugman expresses some hope for change. So is there a way out of the grim place were in? What I believe is that while resentment can put bad people in power, in the long run it cant keep them there.

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Some of the biggest schools in Perth are facing the chance of further increased demand, with new figures showing people specifically searched for their catchment areas when looking to buy a home in 2024.

Domain data indicated Mount Lawley Senior High School was the main catchment of choice for parents, who searched the property website using the schools name rather than by price point or location.

The school recently received 20 new classrooms to the tune of $15 million from the state government, which increased its capacity from 1700 to 2200 students. The school had been well over capacity before the changes.

It overtook Rossmoyne Senior High School, which was the top-searched school in 2023.
On 10 December 2024, the World Customs Organization (WCO) joins the international community in celebrating Human Rights Day under the theme for 2024 of Our rights, our future, right now,which is fully in line with the WCOs core values, namely inclusiveness, diversity and equitable treatment and opportunities for all.

This day marks the anniversary of the United Nations (UN) General Assemblys adoption, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a shared, universal standard, protecting the rights of all individuals regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. This universal standard serves as the basis for international, national and local laws as well as the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Through its work to improve gender equality, diversity and inclusion, the WCO promotes at the same time the values that form the foundation of human rights. Over the years, the WCO Secretariat has developed various tools and launched a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacity of its Members to implement gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in their Customs administrations.

Thanks to the Gender Equality Organizational Assessment Tool (GEOAT), first developed in 2013 and updated in 2019, Members can now better assess their own policies, practices and activities, and make adjustments to them in order to ensure that they adequately address gender equality and diversity (GED) requirements.

In 2017, the WCO Secretariat also established the Virtual Working Group on GED, and, in 2022, it launched the Network for GED through which Members can exchange experiences, learn from each other and gain an understanding of the benefits of implementing GED policies in WCO Member Customs administrations. In addition, the WCO publishes regular updates to its Compendium* on GED in Customs, showcasing different testimonials of how its Members work to advance this agenda further within their respective administrations.

In December 2020, WCO Members confirmed their support for these values through the approval of the Declaration of the Customs Co-operation Council on Gender Equality and Diversity in Customs.

The International Day of Human Rights also coincides with the end of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. This campaign, which takes place every year from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day), calls for an end to violence against women and girls.

Alarming global estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that around 1 in 3 women (30%) have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime, the most common being intimate partner violence.

This is also a matter of concern for Customs, which has an important role to play in combating gender-based violence, both as an employer and as a body responsible for public safety. Principle 4 of the WCO GEOAT, which specifically addresses gender-based violence and harassment, makes recommendations on how to provide support for victims of such violence, and ensure that incidents are reported and addressed swiftly and effectively.

The WCO Secretariat calls on its Members to continue the Organizations active involvement in global GED efforts.

*The first edition of the Compendium was issued in 2021 and the second edition in 2023.
Ahmed smokes with a trembling hand and nervously moves his foot. He is 27 years old and has just arrived from Hurriye, one of the villages in the demilitarized zone in Syria that the Israeli army has rushed to penetrate for the first time in the last half century, taking advantage of the confusion following the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad on Sunday. An hour earlier, he explains, the village chief had communicated to the residents through the mosques loudspeakers the order he had just received from the Israeli army: they had one hour to leave.

I was working, so I took my wife and children and came here in the same clothes, he says, pointing to his mud-stained boots. He is a livestock farmer and his mind is more on his cows and sheep, which he left behind without knowing who will feed them, than on future plans. What was I going to do? Stay? Thats all there was. I have no plan we will sleep here today. When he says here he is referring to the nearby village of Shahda, where Israeli troops have not yet arrived, but a few hundred metres away  in a straight line on the same road  a tank can be seen, which worries both young and old because no one knows what it will do in the coming days: advance, stay, or retreat.

The incursion into Syria in recent days is Israels third ground operation since October 2023, after Gaza and Lebanon, accompanied by unprecedented naval and air strikes (350 in just 72 hours) that have been overshadowed by the celebration of the Syrian rebel offensive that put an end to 13 years of civil war.

The Israelis have spoiled our joy at Assads departure. The whole of Syria is celebrating, except for us. To me, they are all the same, says elderly Ibrahim Yarida. Yawal Awuad, 49, agrees: They didnt even give us five hours to celebrate Assads departure. We got rid of one problem and woke up with another. Now we are worried that they will come here too. Locals have placed three garbage containers in the middle of the road so that no one goes further and runs into the tanks.

They talk in a car repair shop, around a diesel stove with a can of sunflower oil filled with water. It is the only way to wash ones face and hands with hot water, in a rural area in a country where 90% of the population lives below the poverty line, according to UN data. Between villages, one sees only flat, rocky land without crops and, from time to time, the odd shack.

Israel has basically rushed to take advantage of the power vacuum to ensure that there is nothing left for anyone to obtain to attack Israel one day, accompanying the ground advance with an intense wave of bombings. On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that in the space of 48 hours they had destroyed most of the strategic weapons depots in Syria, preventing them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements. It is, as the military correspondent for Israeli television station Channel 12, Nir Dvori, pointed out on Monday, an operation designed to ensure that whoever ends up taking the reins of Syria, it will take a long time to rebuild the countrys military capabilities. Whoever follows al-Assads footsteps will end up like Assad did, warned Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Israeli tanks at the security fence between Israel and Syria, near the village of Majdal Shams. ATEF SAFADI (EFE)

Not in half a century, since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, has Israel established a presence on Syrian soil, despite frequent violations by both sides during the civil war, which were allowed to pass unnoticed because they were linked to the fighting. Entering Syrian territory is expressly prohibited by the armistice, which  like all agreements between states  has a validity that transcends the government in power. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, considers it void following the ouster of Assad. We want correct relations with the new regime in Syria. But if this regime allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah, or attacks us, we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it, declared the Israeli prime minister.

The Assad regime was hostile and allowed (voluntarily or passively) the passage of weapons from Iran to Lebanon for Hezbollah, but limited itself to diplomatic complaints about the countless Israeli air strikes in Syria (with the green light from Russia) against targets linked to Tehran. And, above all, it was predictable, unlike the horizon dawning on the country following the offensive led by Islamic fundamentalists Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

No one says it, but a doubt seems to float in the air among those who welcome Ahmed, as always here, with a cup of coffee: Will he ever set foot in his home again? Everyone feared what Israel officially announced a few hours later: it intends to establish a sterile zone to prepare for a prolonged presence.

Israeli troops are present in Shahidiye. One of the residents, Abu Ali, says by phone that the military has asked all residents to remain calm, but not to leave their homes under any circumstances. How could we not do that? The electricity comes on for about 15 minutes and then it goes off. There is no water. They have brought some food through the United Nations, he protests.

Shahidiye residents are uncomfortable with their new reality. Not so much the nearby presence of the tank or the punctual sound of gunfire, but the constant buzzing of Israeli drones overhead. Abu Uyud says that they have been heard occasionally since October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel and pro-Iranian militias in Syria opened a front with occasional attacks. They would come, take pictures, and leave. Now it is like this all the time. It drives me crazy, he adds.

Israeli troops move on the Syrian side of the border near the Druze village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, December 9, 2024. ATEF SAFADI (EFE)

Major military operation

Israeli forces have destroyed, among others, 15 Syrian navy vessels in the ports of Al Bayda and Latakia and dozens of air-to-air missiles with ranges of up to 190 kilometers (118 miles), according to the military statement. It was one of the largest operations in the history of the Israeli Air Force. The fighters, it added, have flown over Syrian airspace for hundreds of hours, during which they can be heard passing by, their trails seen, or their bombs heard, particularly in the early hours of Tuesday.

IDF troops have penetrated some 15 miles (according to locals) into the demilitarized zone, which was established by a UN resolution in 1974, almost a year after the Yom Kippur War, to delimit an area where any military presence or heavy weapons other than the 1,200 or so blue helmets who guard it are prohibited. It is 50 miles long, between the border with Lebanon (where it reaches six miles in width) and that of Jordan, where it narrows considerably and can be barely 500 meters wide. It is delimited by two lines. To the west, Alpha, on the border with the Golan Heights (territory that Israel occupied in the Six-Day War of 1967 and then annexed). To the east, Bravo, already inside Syria.

It is policed by UNDOF, a small, little-known UN peacekeeping force. It now also has an uncertain future. The danger has caused several countries to withdraw and UNDOF now has just over 1,100 soldiers and 100 civilians from 13 countries. It is, for example, one-tenth the size of UNIFIL, which polices neighbouring southern Lebanon, from which Israel is due to withdraw its troops within the next month and a half under a ceasefire agreement.

But there are Israeli soldiers and heavy weapons between Alpha and Bravo. The UN has protested, so Sheikh Chaher took his car and went to speak to a representative of the UN mission on Monday. He takes out his cell phone and shows a video of the conversation. I told him: Iran is gone, Hezbollah is gone. Why are the Israelis opening fire on people? Because they are afraid that Hezbollah is there, he replied. It is no longer in Syria. If anyone in the village is shooting here now, it is in the air, out of joy that Assad is gone.

As he was not satisfied, and the IDF was entering more and more villages and beginning to order forced displacements, he ignored the danger and tried to approach the Israeli position to speak directly with the soldiers. He says that the commander, surprised, simply told him: Ok, ok, yes, we also want peace.

The Israeli narrative about the ground invasion has changed in just three days. First, the army issued a statement saying its troops were helping the UN peacekeepers repel an attack that the UN mission did not confirm in its statement. A day later, it reported its penetration into Syrian territory, the first in half a century, without going beyond the demilitarized zone. Netanyahu issued two statements to defend it. In English, he called it a temporary measure. In Hebrew, he did not use the word.

Syrian transitional government appoints Mohamed al-Bashir as interim prime minister The new Syrian transitional government has named Mohamed al-Bashir as interim prime minister to lead a process that should conclude on March 1, 2025, he announced himself on Tuesday in a press conference. Since January, Al-Bashir held the same position in the so-called National Salvation Government, the parallel government of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham organization, which led the offensive against the ousted Syrian regime, in its stronghold of Idlib, in northwestern Syria. Originally from that same province, where he was born in 1983, Al-Bashir is an electronic engineer. He made the leap into politics after the popular uprisings of 2011 against Assad, which were harshly repressed by the regime. The new interim prime minister has described his government as "a government of salvation," made up of an undetermined number of ministers, whose identity will be revealed later, he said.

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Donald Trumps return to power is shaping up to be a real geopolitical shock. Everyone is trying to predict the changes that will occur, to influence them, to prepare for the consequences. Few countries are more closely scrutinizing Washingtons horizon, on which its future depends, than Ukraine. Sergii Marchenko, 43, Ukraines finance minister since 2020, shares his views on the state of the war and prospects for the coming year in an interview given at the Grand Continent Summit conference, organized by the pan-European magazine of the same name last week in Saint-Vincent, Italy. During the conversation, the minister expresses his conviction that Ukraine has enough funds and weapons to withstand at least during the first half of 2025, even if Washingtons aid is cut off.

Question: What will happen if the U.S. stops providing aid to Ukraine? Joe Biden is using up the last package approved by Congress and it is hard to believe that Trump will ask for a new one. How serious is this challenge to your defense? Could it lead to a collapse of your defensive capability?

Answer. Lets split this question into different dimensions. First, is it a problem? It could be a problem, yes. Is it a challenge? Yes. So what should we do to deal with this challenge? We should have a plan to create the necessary conditions for cooperation with the new administration. Its in the natural interest of Ukraine to create good trust for cooperation. I believe it should be a priority strategy for Ukraine and for Europe as well. We want to build a good relationship. Of course, the attitude can change. And to tackle this uncertainty we should use the time properly and be able to negotiate with the new administration. Its strategy number one.

Q. And number two?

A. We need time. We need time to withstand Russian aggression while we are holding these talks with our American colleagues. I believe that we have enough funds, enough weapons, missiles and artillery shells to be able to withstand at least during the first half of 2025. We will provide sufficient budget appropriation for purchasing necessary ammunition and military equipment in 2025. We are now receiving the necessary weapons from the United States. This means that at least during the first half of the year and beyond, we will be well equipped to withstand this aggression. Ukraine should use this time very wisely to conduct the necessary negotiations with our key allies in the United States.

Q. President Zelenskiy has said that he wants 2025 to be the year of a negotiated, fair peace. What kind of peace does his government envision in the current circumstances? What kind of guarantees will there be for Ukraines long-term stability if NATO integration does not materialize?

A. It is a good question. Any security guarantees for Ukraine should be significant and meaningful, based on some particular elements. We already have the Budapest Memorandum and it did not serve any purpose in terms of Ukraines security. Thats why there should be very clear security guarantees for Ukraine. And right now I cant imagine these guarantees without NATO. Its impossible. The alternative to such a guarantee is a modern and strong Ukrainian army. This is the only way for us to survive. Ukraine needs the capabilities to resist Russian aggression another day, another year, and in the years to come. And its impossible for us to maintain such a strong army using only our own resources. We now spend more than 26% of our GDP on the military campaign. This, of course, is because we are in the middle of a war. We have suffered many losses, we need to replenish equipment. After the full-scale war, very substantial figures will be needed to deter Russia from even thinking about a possible aggression against Ukraine. We need access to modern missiles and air defense systems to protect our country because in the future there could be attacks on our infrastructure by Russia. I am talking from my position, from the Ministry of Finance. I am not involved in high-level discussions related to this matter. In any case, Ukraine must have a strong army, which can withstand aggression. Very strong in order to be able to deter Putin from attacking again.

Q. In recent months, Russia has been making progress on the ground. How serious is the situation on the frontlines?

A. There was an expectation in 2023. If Ukraine had received the necessary supplies of ammunition and weapons, and if we had received trained new brigades, these would have helped the Ukrainian Armed Forces to push Russian troops out of Ukrainian territory. This was the general expectation in 2023, and the Armed Forces began a counteroffensive. But we realized that it is impossible to do this using traditional tactics on ground covered with minefields and concrete defensivee structures such as dragons teeth. If you try to do so, the cost in human lives is so tremendous that you start to question the logic of such an offensive. Modern, unconventional military and diplomatic solutions must be applied to liberate our territories. That is why Ukraine decided to do it in a different way than what had been traditionally accepted. We are trying to preserve our capacity to defend ourselves. Starting from the end of 2023 and throughout 2024, our key element is defense. In November, the number of troops lost by Russia was a record. But they are still trying to slowly advance. We are doing everything possible to stop them. The Ukrainian government spends a large part of its budget on building fortifications. In 2024, about $1 billion was allocated to finance fortifications.

Q. What are the key elements of the war right now?

A. The way the war looks today is different compared to last year. There are many advantages to using drones. The governments plan for 2024 is to produce more than a million drones inside Ukraine. Typical modern warfare has two key dimensions: technological competition and people fighting using that technology. Its new warfare and were trying to combine different types of operational capabilities. The key demand from our Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Finance right now is to provide an additional appropriation to be able to purchase the necessary drones. Drones are their number one request.

Q. How would you describe the mood of the population? There are polls that indicate changes in attitudes regarding the prospect of negotiations.

A. It has been almost three years of Russias large-scale aggression against Ukraine. Its not easy. Every day Ukrainians expect another drone or missile attack. In November, there were almost 3,000 drone attacks against Ukraine. This is the highest level on record and it is normal to feel tired, frustrated, desperate: people are not robots. But even if we are getting tired, it does not mean that we are ready to surrender. We are not ready to accept any unfair peace for Ukraine.

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Leesville, LA (71446)

Today

Cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 66F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 66F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
This morning, Wednesday (December 11), OHaras of Foxford opened a cafe in Ballina.

Baker51 is the newest addition to Market Lane off Tone Street.

Julie OHara told the Western People, It has been so exciting to open the doors. It was actually quite emotional. We have been working on it for a while and we are just delighted to be up and running.

The menu incorporates OHaras bread and confectionary products, offering a wide selection of baked goods, from sweet and sticky monkey bread to decadent cookies and cruffins.

Coffee is also served at Baker51, and the establishment is an ideal spot for dining. The eatery has an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, including an Irish delicacy: the Tayto Sandwich.

OHaras of Foxford is a family-run business established in 1951. This piece of trivia was later incorporated into the name of the new cafe.

We are delighted to be in Ballina, Julie OHara said. We are delighted to be part of this amazing community. This is our first day opening and we are so happy with the reaction from people.
With just over a month to go before he leaves the White House, President Joe Biden has launched what could be described as his administrations last measure to pressure the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo: the opening of an investigation by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) into Nicaraguas acts, policies, and practices related to labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law. The most relevant aspect of this investigation is its scope, as it opens the door to suspending Nicaragua from the free trade agreement between the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR), one of the key economic drivers of the Central American country.

The United States Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, said in a statement that the investigation will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. This regulation authorizes the American president to take all appropriate measures, including tariff-based and non-tariff-based retaliation, to address any unfair act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.

The United States is Nicaraguas main trading partner, far ahead of China, with which the Sandinista regime signed another free trade agreement at the end of 2023. The North American market represents 30% of Nicaraguas imports and is the destination of 55% of its exports, thanks in part to the CAFTA-DR treaty.

Since the escalation of political repression in 2018, the suspension of Nicaragua from the free trade agreement, vital for the countrys economy, has always been on the table of the lobby that is critical of the Sandinista administration, but until now it had been met with reluctance due to its economic implications. So the debate in Washington had focused not on suspending Nicaragua, but on how to exert effective pressure on labor, environmental and business violations of the treaty.

However, this new U.S. investigation raises the possibility of applying penalties or fines, despite pressure from companies not to do so, and even of reimposing tariffs on certain goods. It could also lead to a temporary suspension of the CAFTA-DR free trade agreement, or renegotiating the agreement separately. The justification is broad and not restricted to labor rights, Manuel Orozco, a researcher at the Inter-American Dialogue and one of the greatest experts on Washingtons policy toward Nicaragua, explains to EL PAIS.

A burden on American commerce

The statement released by the Biden Administration on December 10 states that the United States is concerned that Nicaragua is engaging in repressive and persistent attacks on labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law.

The investigation initiated today is the first under Section 301 to investigate acts, policies, and practices that may violate labor rights, human rights, and dismantle the rule of law that may burden U.S. commerce, and complements a range of actions the United States is taking to mark International Human Rights Day today, said United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai in the statement.

The document also notes that numerous credible reports by the U.S. Government, as well as the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the International Labor Organization and the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, document that the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua engages in labor rights and human rights violations and dismantling of the rule of law.

The Biden-Harris Administration is firmly committed to a worker-centered trade policy to ensure our trade partnerships drive a race to the top for all workers and people, said Thai. Unfortunately, numerous reports suggest the Government of Nicaragua is engaging in repressive acts that harm Nicaraguas own workers and people, undermine fair competition, and destabilize our region. USTR will thoroughly investigate the alleged violations of labor rights and human rights, and dismantling of the rule of law.

The treaty known as CAFTA-DR was designed to promote trade by gradually eliminating tariff barriers and by providing dispute resolution mechanisms between companies and States. The treaty also includes two legal compliance provisions regarding labor and environmental rights, in which the signatory parties commit to respect these rights as part of the implementation of the agreement.

Legally, no State can expel another for non-compliance, but a State can challenge another for any violation or decide to withdraw or renegotiate the agreement, says Orozco. Also, according to an article taken from international regulations, a State cannot abstain from taking measures against another if this affects the national interest. This last decision is unilateral and rarely used by the United States. However, fines or other commercial penalties have been common practice in the United States. This last aspect is one that applies directly to the case of Nicaragua given the non-compliance with the agreement in several aspects, including labor and environmental matters.

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Gardai in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, have arrested one man following a serious assault on Monday evening, 9th December 2024.

At approximately 7:00pm, Gardai were alerted to an assault at a residence in Ballinasloe. A woman (50s) received serious injuries.

The injured woman was taken to Portiuncula University Hospital where she remains in a critical condition.

A man (50s) has been arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the county.

Investigations are ongoing.
Councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District have called for retired TDs Michael Ring and Eamon O Cuiv to head up a proposed body that would advocate for developments along Irelands west coast.

Cllr Damien Ryan paid tribute to both TDs, neither of whom contested the recent general election after lengthy, distinguished careers on both the front and back benches of Dail Eireann.

Mr O Cuiv served in the Galway West constituency for 32 years, including in recent years when large swathes of south Mayo were part of Galway West. Mr Ring was first elected to Westport Urban District Council in 1979 and won his seat in Dail Eireann in 1994, retaining it in each election since then.

The two men were legends in their own right and both did so much for the south Mayo area, said Cllr Ryan.

These two men and other retired officials now need to form part of a body to see how we can move things forward on the West Coast. The expertise is there, he said.

Fine Gael Cllr Michael Burke lent support to this and said Mr Ring had been amenable to the idea in the past. Cllr Alma Gallagher also paid tribute to the role Mr Ring played in Mayo politics over the course of his long career.
Our Ox Mountain hills are small compared to the Swiss Alps but believe it or not, there is a connection. On a small farm near the village of Bonniconlon, Melisssa and Partick Walsh keep a flock of unusual sheep that have their origins in the alpine valleys of Switzerland.

The Valais Blacknose is one of the most prized sheep breeds. After being highlighted on BBCs Countryfile in 2012, they immediately caught the publics attention due to their cute appearance. The internet was taken by storm, as most people could not believe that these animals were real. They soon became a great favourite with livestock keepers.

Melissa Walsh, from Bonniconlon, was an early devotee. Melissa explains the background as to how their particular Valais Blacknose flock arrived in Mayo in 2019.

We were looking to get a small number of sheep for grass management alongside our small suckler herd.

"I first knew of these sheep when I visited Visp in Switzerland on a business trip in 2013 and although it felt a little far-fetched, I just knew they would be a great adventure to bring to Co Mayo.

History of the Valais Blacknose

The Valais Blacknose sheep originate in the Valais region of Switzerland. They are a dual-purpose breed, raised for meat and wool. They are unique to the Upper Valais and are well adapted to the harsh mountain conditions there, being extremely hardy and frugal. The black on its nose, eyes, ears, knees, hocks and feet and otherwise light woolly coats make them quite unmistakable. They have large spiral-shaped horns. They are good at grazing steep, rocky slopes.

While the earliest mention of the breed dates to 1400AD, they were only first recognised as a separate breed in 1962. The breed was exclusively raised in Switzerland until imported to Britain and Ireland in 2013 by several interested breeders. The Valais Blacknose Sheep of Cheshire is a leading group in promoting and providing information about the breed. Here is what they say:

Proof against harsh environment, the Blacknose sheep more than once became endangered by human activity. In 1884, trying to improve upon the wool and meat output, the authorities of Valais decided to start a programme of crossing the breed with Australian Southdown sheep. Luckily for the native race, the descendants proved to be less adaptable to the climate, their wool much harder to spin, their meat less desirable due to high-fat content.

Long history and tradition are one thing, but the Valais Blacknose sheep are special for other reasons, too. Their small black faces combined with soft white fleece earned them the reputation of Cutest Sheep in the World, with many doubting on first seeing them whether theyre actually real and not woollen mascots. Accustomed to harsh mountain environment, the sheep are strong and easily adaptable animals.

The black on its nose, eyes, ears, knees, hocks and feet and otherwise light woolly coats make them Valais sheep quite unmistakable.

Bonniconlon Valais Blacknose

There has been a Walsh family farm on the same site in Bonniconlon since the 1800s. At present, this farming tradition is in the hands of Patrick and Melissa. Now, a diverse farm, it has evolved over the years from a herd of dairy cows to grass-fed suckler beef and now of course, their beloved sheep.

After seeing these beautiful sheep by chance during a business trip to Visp in Switzerland back in 2013, Melissa never dreamed she would one day have a breeding flock of her very own back home on Irish soil.

Further to that, the Irish Valais Blacknose Sheep Society was established in 2021 by Melissa Walsh and a group of like-minded Valais Irish breeders. The society has created what is known as a flock book. The purpose of this book is to hold their pedigree breeding, to promote the breed in Ireland and to strive for continued development of the breed standard within our country.

The Wisdom of Sheep

In her 2023 book, The Wisdom of Sheep and Other Animals, Rosamund Young dispels the notion that sheep are stupid. Young has been an organic farmer for over forty years and in in her record of life on her farm, she recounts stories of joy, discovery, cooperation and sometimes heartbreak.

We talk about people behaving like sheep, which assumes that sheep all behave in the same way. That has not been my experience. Some are affectionate, others prone to head-butting. Some are determinedly self-sufficient, others seek our help when they need it. And some can be trusted to lead the flock home. They are as individual as we are. Farm animals are familiar to us from childhood stories, but little did we know that their inner lives are full of complexity, deep bonds and family dramas.

I have had the pleasure of meeting some of these adorable Valais Blacknose up close and personal at the annual Cloonacool Sheep festival. As sheep go, they do indeed seem full of complexity. They have a quiet, understated personality. I think it must be that fluffy bit of wool, that hangs over their eyes, that makes them so hard to read. It seems with most breeds of sheep, you know what they are thinking or what they might do next if they got the chance. The Valais Blacknose, however, keep you in suspense; you never know what they are thinking. It can be difficult to believe at times if there is a real sheep in there at all.

Christmas experience

Not a person to rest on her laurels, Melissa Walsh is always looking for new ways to display her blacknose flock. As winter deepens and 2024 draws to a close, her latest plans promise to bring brightness and joy.

Currently, we are in the middle of building a brand-new shed for our sheep and it is now ready for our Christmas event. My plans are to deck the shed out in a Christmas theme and open it up for a special Valais Experience.

Well have a limited number of places for people to come for a close encounter with our Valais Blacknose ewes and lambs. Visitors will be able to join them in their Cuddle Cabin to sit with them, feed them, take selfies with them, pet them, and of course, cuddle them.

"It is a booking-only event to ensure the experience is a one-on-one encounter and not to overwhelm our lambs, which will be very young at that time.

To experience this Valais Blacknose Christmas opportunity, book online at the following link, https://www.bon niconlonvalaisblacknose.com/bookonline. The event takes place on this Saturday, December 14th.
Lotto Gaeltacht Iorrais

Ni raibh aon buaiteoir ar lotto na seachtaine seo November 28. There was no winner of the 500 Match 3 prize but the lucky dip winners were 50 Tommy Joe Murphy (Derrycorrib) and 25 Oisin Hegarty (Online). Buiochas lenar urraitheoiri SolarWest agus Rendmaster. All proceeds from the lotto funds the development of hurling and camoige in Iorras. The jackpot in the latest draw held on December 5 was 17,400.

Colaiste Poball Chuan Oili, gains PPN registration to enrich Ellybay district

Coaiste Poball Chuan Oili, a newly formed community group comprised of dedicated members from the Ellybay community, is delighted to announce its official registration with the Mayo County Council as a Public Participation Network (PPN) organisation. Since coming together just six months ago, the group has made significant strides in establishing its mission to enhance the social, environmental, and recreational aspects of the Ellybay district.

Driven by a shared passion for the community, Coaiste Poball Chuan Oili aims to develop projects, organise events, and hold fundraisers that will positively impact the Ellybay area and bring people together. With the PPN registration now confirmed, the group is thrilled to continue building on its vision with the backing and resources that the PPN status provides.

This registration is a huge step forward for us, said Sean Ruane, PRO and spokesperson for Coaiste Poball Chuan Oili. It strengthens our ability to work collaboratively and access resources that will help us make a meaningful impact for everyone in Ellybay. We are excited to continue our journey towards creating a more vibrant, connected, and sustainable community. Upcoming plans include a series of fundraising events, community gatherings, and environmental projects, each designed to enrich the lives of those in Ellybay and foster a greater sense of belonging and pride in the area.

For more information or to get involved, contact coistepobailchuanoili@gmail.com.

Kilcommon Community Development lotto

The draw was held on December 1, and the numbers drawn were; 5, 7, 14 and 34 with no winner of the 8,500 jackpot. The house prize of 100 was won by Jack OGrady, Belmullet and the 30 offline winners were Jarlath and Michael McAndrew, Goola and Evan Lynch, Muinginaune. The 30 online winners were Chloe Keane, Belmullet and Shona Coultry, Belderrig. The latest jackpot was 8,600 and the draw took place in Dennys Ferry Bar on December 8.

Erris Darts

500 worth of prizes to be won, to coincide with the upcoming Village League Finals night on this Saturday night, December 14, in The Eagle Bar, Corclough. Raffle tickets will be on sale in various pubs and shops in the area. All proceeds will go to Help Mags Find Relief. Lines can be bought 5 for one or three for 10. A massive thank you to the prize sponsors for making this possible - Anyone wishing to get a card to sell can contact Pat Wilson/Shane McHale directly. Winners will be drawn at the finals night prior to presentations.

Ocean Heros Award

Congratulations to Comhar Dun Chaochain Teo and SN Cholmcille, in Cheathru Thaidhg Comhar Dun Chaochain Teo and SN Cholmcille in Cheathru Thaidhg who won a national 'Ocean Hero's' award at an awards ceremony in Dublin recently. Comhar Dun Chaochain organises regular clean-ups on two local beaches  Rinn Rua and Port a Cloidh, both of which have Green Coast flags and they also work closely with the local primary school, S.N Cholmcille (Ceachru Thaidhg). Hearty congratulations to all of you on achieving this fantastic achievement.

Carol service in Glenamoy

A carol service will be held in St. Pauls Church, Glenamoy on December 22, at 6pm with all donations in aid of Help Mags Find Relief. The evening will feature performances from the Glenamoy Church Choir, Cor Cheathru Thaidhg, The Duets, and the Kilcommon National Schools. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Glenamoy Community Centre. All are welcome to come and show your support and to get into the Christmas spirit.

Ballyglass RNLI

Ballyglass RNLI extend a huge thank you to Aldi Belmullet for their hospitality and generosity recently; to all their volunteer fundraisers for giving so generously of your time once again; to all the fantastic people who stopped in for a chat, the craic and to donate; and to all the young people who made donations to the service. It was their pleasure to meet you all.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

A mild and dry evening, then becoming cloudy overnight with some patchy fog and drizzle possible late at night. .

Tonight

A mild and dry evening, then becoming cloudy overnight with some patchy fog and drizzle possible late at night.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

A mild and dry evening, then becoming cloudy overnight with some patchy fog and drizzle possible late at night. .

Tonight

A mild and dry evening, then becoming cloudy overnight with some patchy fog and drizzle possible late at night.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 10:50 | All, Japan

With a surge in children refusing to go to school in Japan in recent years, places of respite are being set up across the country to advise parents feeling isolated and trapped, while also providing a space for them to vent their frustrations about their chronically absent kids.

School experts cite various possible reasons for school nonattendance, including kids' oversensitivity to stimuli, emphasizing the need for support to provide more information.

In late September, some 20 parents of children who skip school gathered at a meeting in Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo.

One mother told the meeting that her absentee child avoids the topic whenever she brings it up and "won't even leave the bedroom in the morning."

Her expression softened when another mother advised her, "You shouldn't take it as your child refusing to go to school but instead reaffirm their ability to make a decision."

"Bochi Bochi," the support group for children and their parents, has been holding meetings since 2021. Despite a modest start with only a few participants, the gatherings have gradually increased to dozens at any given time.

Yuki Iwamoto, 57, who started the organization to assist parents based on her own experience as a mother of an absentee child, said many parents with such children "blame themselves in isolation for raising their kids wrong."

But she said, "the meetings provide a forum for them to talk with people with the same experience and vent their pain."

A 53-year-old mother who also attended the meeting in September said that two years ago her daughter stopped going to junior high school in the fall of her third year.

With her daughter facing entrance exams for high school at the time, she recalled how she felt her child's future "looked bleak." "I was overwhelmed with concern over what would happen to her life."

The mother was initially unwilling to accept her daughter's school refusal but began to see the issue in a brighter light after talking with other parents facing the same problem.

"I became hopeful because I recognized there are other options for her career path and how she might live her life," she said.

The number of absentee children increased for the 11th straight year in the 2023 school year to a record 340,000. Support groups for parents, such as Bochi Bochi, are on the rise across the nation.

A survey by Emiko Takata, a professor of school health at Kio University in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, suggests that high school students who exhibit such behavior are more sensitive to sounds and other stimuli and to the moods of others than students who have not been away from school.

The number of high school students who stayed away from school was 68,770 in 2023, the largest ever. Takata believes so-called sensory overload may be behind the increase, stressing an expectation for more support, such as improvement of school environments.

Questionnaires were responded to by 47 high school students (29 who were chronically absent) via schools and parent associations in Nara, from June to September this year.

When asked to respond on a seven-point scale from "very much" to "not at all," to questions such as "Does loud noise make you uncomfortable?" and "Are you affected by other people's moods?" students who had played hooky showed a clear tendency toward sensory sensitivity than those who stayed in school.

A private-sector survey found roughly half of parents of such children complain of the absence of information about support services from schools. "Consultation services" and "details on private support" were listed as the information they need the most.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is actively providing information on contacts for education support centers and other public institutions for parents, as well as parents associations run by the private sector.

"We want to eliminate regional differences in the availability of support and increase consultation centers," said a ministry official. Local governments also provide necessary information through their websites and other channels.

Masato Noda, a graduate school professor of education welfare theory at Ritsumeikan University, said, "Although advisory groups and places where parents find comfort are increasing, optimum support in need differs in accordance with individual cases. It's important to match kinds of support with specific problems of people concerned."

Related coverage:

Japan school absenteeism hits record 340,000 in FY 2023, up 11th yr

Mental, family records among info items for Japan security clearance

Japan researchers to see if skin vibration boosts mental health
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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South Korea President Yoon could face arrest: investigation body

SEOUL - The chief of South Korea's corruption investigation body said Wednesday his office will seek to detain or arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol if conditions are met as the probe continues into his short-lived declaration of martial law last week that has sparked fury in the country.

"If the situation allows, we will attempt to make an emergency arrest or an arrest based on a court warrant," Yonhap News Agency quoted Oh Dong Woon, the chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, as telling a parliamentary committee meeting in response to a lawmaker's query.

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Japan A-bomb survivor group receives Nobel Peace Prize amid world tensions

OSLO - Members of Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading group of atomic bomb survivors, received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Tuesday, with the organization hoping the achievement will energize the movement for nuclear abolition as heightening geopolitical tensions have created concerns the weapons may be used again.

The group, also known as the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, was chosen for the award on Oct. 11 "for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again," according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

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Japan, U.S. defense chiefs reaffirm tighter cooperation with S. Korea

TOKYO - Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to advancing trilateral cooperation with South Korea, which has faced political turbulence since last week.

Austin's first visit to Japan since Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet was formed in October highlights the U.S. focus on the Indo-Pacific region as Democratic President Joe Biden's administration nears its conclusion in January.

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Japan weighs extra taxes for defense spending as early as April 2026

TOKYO - The government is considering increasing taxation as early as April 2026 to help cover its planned boost in defense spending, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government has already decided to raise revenue from corporate, income and tobacco taxes to help fund its plan to nearly double the nation's defense budget to 2 percent of gross domestic product.

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A-bomb survivors testify, push for nuke abolition at Nobel forum

OSLO - Survivors of the 1945 U.S. bomb attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki spoke on Wednesday of their experiences and called for nuclear abolition at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Oslo, a day after Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading group of atomic bomb survivors, received the honor.

Interpreter Keiko Ogura, 87, and Masao Tomonaga, 81, honorary director of the Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Genbaku Hospital, testified in English at the event focused on how to mitigate the risks of nuclear warfare and move toward nuclear disarmament. The two were present at the ceremony the previous day.

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Nissan taps N. America operations head as new CFO to boost reforms

TOKYO - Nissan Motor Co. said Wednesday it has appointed the head of its North American operations as its new chief financial officer, aiming to bolster restructuring efforts to turn around faltering earnings.

Jeremie Papin will become CFO as of Jan. 1, replacing Stephen Ma, who will head the automaker's operations in China, a key market contributing to its current doldrums alongside the U.S. market.

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Nobel win reinvigorates A-bomb survivors' fight against nukes

HIROSHIMA - Atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were reenergized to fight for a world without nuclear weapons Wednesday, a day after Japan's leading organization representing them, Nihon Hidankyo, received the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

"I want to keep telling my stories" as a contribution to the effort to abolish nuclear weapons, 92-year-old Sadae Kasaoka said in Hiroshima, where she has long been giving her account of the 1945 U.S. bombing of the western Japan city.

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Prince Hisahito, 2nd in line to throne, to enroll in Univ. of Tsukuba

TOKYO - Japan's Prince Hisahito, the nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, will attend the University of Tsukuba from April, a source at the Imperial Household Agency said Wednesday.

The 18-year-old, who has been passionate about nature and insect research from a young age, passed the university's admission requirements and plans to study biology at its school of life and environment sciences, the source said.

Video: Universal Studios Japan opens new Donkey Kong area
Wishing all students and staff a restive and joyful holiday period.

Dear Students and Staff at Wits Faculty of Health Sciences

As 2024 draws to a close, it is worthwhile to reflect on another year of resilience and accomplishments in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University. Together, we continue our journey in achieving significant milestones, overcoming challenges, and advancing our mission of excellence in education, research, and ensuring the future of healthcare in South Africa.

This year marked a change in the admission criteria into our undergraduate program, focusing on redressing ongoing societal inequities and enabling admission of at least 40% of our students from disadvantaged communities (i.e. no fees paying schools). The overwhelmingly high pass rate in all our 1st-year undergraduate programs, irrespective of their socioeconomic background, is a testament to the students and their lectures effort. This is a cause for celebration as we journey on in the University to address transformation. Congratulations to all the 1st year students who have successfully navigated transitioning into life at University, as well as the rest of the student populace for your dedication and excelling in your studies.

We are ensuring that the training of our students equips them to adapt to a new era where generative Artificial Intelligence will heavily influence the practice of Medicine and the provision of healthcare. This consideration is incorporated in our curriculum revisions implemented in some undergraduate programs in 2024 and will continue to be rolled out over the next 2-3 years. The revisions and adaptations of the undergraduate curriculums in the Faculty will ensure that we train students who are fit for purpose and that Wits maintains its reputation of being a leading faculty in health sciences - training not only in South Africa but globally.

This year has also been another successful year in the growth of research at the Wits FHS, which remains among the top three Health Sciences Faculties on the African continent and among the top 250 globally. The notable success of the Researchers at Wits FHS is evident from multiple large grants that Researchers have been able to attract, enabling them to lead cutting-edge science that is highly regarded internationally. The Faculty can pride itself on the ongoing contribution which the Researchers at Wits make to informing policy in South Africa, in Africa and globally, including in the fields of non-communicable diseases, vaccines, TB and HIV. Furthermore, the development of the Wits Research Bio-hub, a 28,000-square-meter campus in close proximity to the Health Sciences Campus, is expected to be completed before the end of 2025. It will contribute to Wits FHS emergence to being even more competitive in growing research and innovation across multiple disciplines.

The ongoing success and growth of the Faculty would not be possible without the contribution of our academic and administrative staff, for their unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. The dedication, innovation and mentorship of Staff is inspirational to the students and enrich our Faculty. The contribution of staff is all the more noteworthy considering the resource constraints faced by the University, which mirrors what is happening in the Country. Nevertheless, the determination of staff to overcome the challenges is lending itself to innovations as we aspire to greater efficiency to cope with the pressures of rigorous academic programs and impact on broader societal issues in our community.

As we look ahead to 2025, I take the opportunity to wish all students and staff a restive and joyful holiday period. I look forward to welcoming you back in 2025, which Im optimistic will herald in the maturation of many initiatives that are currently underway in the Faculty, which will continue to strengthen the Faculty through an upgrade of the facilities. May you return rejuvenated, ready to embrace the new year's opportunities with renewed purpose and determination.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 12:47 | All, World

South Korean writer Han Kang on Tuesday received the Nobel Prize in literature at a ceremony in Stockholm, days after expressing her shock at the ongoing political turmoil in her homeland following a short-lived declaration of martial law.

The 54-year-old was selected by the Swedish Academy in recognition of her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life."

"In the darkest night, there is language that asks what we are made of," she said during her speech at the banquet following Tuesday's ceremony. "Literature that deals in this language inevitably holds a kind of body heat. Just as inevitably, the work of reading and writing literature stands in opposition to all acts that destroy life."

Han's appearance grabbed attention not only because she is the first Asian woman Nobel laureate in literature, but also because the ceremony took place about a week after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief declaration of martial law.

"Like everybody else on that night, I was deeply shocked," Han said at a press conference held Friday, referring to the Dec. 3 declaration, which was lifted in the early hours of the following day. She said the writing process for her 2014 novel "Human Acts" involved researching South Korea's previous period of martial law over 40 years ago.

The book focuses on a 1980 incident that occurred in Gwangju, Han's hometown in the country's southwest, when hundreds of pro-democracy students and civilians were killed or wounded by the South Korean military under martial law.

"For me to witness a similar situation unfold in real time before my eyes in 2024 was startling," she said Friday. "But if there's one thing that is different, in the winter of 2024, unlike 1980, everybody got to witness it via live streaming."

Han's works have surged in popularity also in Sweden since the prize's announcement last month, with "The Vegetarian," "Human Acts," and "We Do Not Part" coming in first, third and sixth, respectively, on the weekly list of top sellers at Akademibokhandeln, a large bookstore chain in Stockholm.

Her latest novel, "We Do Not Part," delves into the mourning process of the narrator and her friend, both of whom carry the lasting trauma of a massacre on Jeju Island in the late 1940s that claimed tens of thousands of lives.

"The Vegetarian," published in Korean in 2007, won the International Booker Prize for fiction in 2016 after appearing in English translation by Deborah Smith. The novel depicts a female protagonist whose decision to stop eating meat leads to a violent backlash from her ignorant husband and authoritarian father.

Eva Olason, a 72-year-old Swedish woman who found the novel through a recommendation from her local library, said she found it interesting although a bit difficult.

The author's Nobel Prize win "is absolutely lovely and incredible," Olason said.

Jeremy Sims, a 29-year-old from the United States, also welcomed Han's win, seeing the significance of her becoming the first Asian woman to be recognized with the prestigious literary award.

"It's really a great way to put her platform out to people who didn't know about her work," he said.

Related coverage:

South Korean author Han Kang wins Nobel Prize in literature

Japan A-bomb survivor group receives Nobel Peace Prize amid tensions

A-bomb survivor group rep. "saddened" by recent talk of using nukes
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 21:27 | World, All

The chief of South Korea's corruption investigation body said Wednesday his office will seek to detain or arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol if conditions are met, as the probe continues into his short-lived declaration of martial law last week that has sparked fury in the country.

"If the situation allows, we will attempt to make an emergency arrest or an arrest based on a court warrant," Oh Dong Woon, who heads the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as telling a parliamentary committee meeting in response to a lawmaker's question.

The remark came as police attempted to raid the presidential office the same day as part of an investigation into Yoon's alleged insurrection. But they said the office refused, citing "official and military secrecy."

Yonhap also reported that former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who is suspected of having colluded with Yoon's invocation of martial law, attempted suicide at a detention facility in Seoul.

Following the attempt, Kim is being held in a protective cell and his health remains stable, the report said, citing a correctional official speaking at a parliamentary hearing.

The police raided the offices of the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the National Assembly Police Guards, Yonhap reported, after the emergency arrests of NPA chief Cho Ji Ho and Seoul police agency head Kim Bong Sik in the early hours of Wednesday.

Kim Yong Hyun, the former defense minister, was arrested by prosecutors late Tuesday for allegedly playing a key role in rebellion and abuse of power in connection with the declaration.

The prosecutors allege that Kim ordered his deputies to deploy military personnel to the parliament building and the National Election Commission, the report said.

Martial law, declared for the first time since the country's democratization in 1987, was in place for just six hours starting the night of Dec. 3 before being rescinded through a vote by lawmakers in the National Assembly.

Kim, who has been detained by prosecutors since Sunday, resigned as defense chief on Thursday, taking responsibility for the turmoil caused by the martial law declaration.

Sources close to South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party said the party plans to submit a motion in the assembly on Thursday to impeach Yoon and hold a parliamentary vote on the motion Saturday.

The motion would follow the first one submitted by six parties including the Democratic Party last week and survived by Yoon on Dec. 7 as it was scrapped due to a lack of the required number of voters in parliament.

Emergency service in Japan: 119



If you are having suicidal thoughts, help is available.

For Japan, call Yorisoi Hotline at 0120279338 (toll-free). Press 2 after the recorded message for consultation in English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Nepali, or Indonesian. The service in these languages is also available on Facebook messenger.



For those outside Japan, you can find a list of other resources here.

Related coverage:

South Korea Justice Ministry orders travel ban for President Yoon

S. Korea Pres. Yoon to step aside before resigning: party head

Japan wary South Korea turmoil may hurt improving bilateral ties
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...
Click the photo and watch the video.

BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhuanet)  As sunlight broke through the misty hills of Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, a group of photographers crouched among tea bushes, capturing farmers plucking fresh leaves as shutters clicked continuously.

In a photo tour in Yunnan, global photographers have embarked on a journey to experience firsthand Yunnan's breathtaking landscapes, diversified culture, and vibrant life.

Bin Bunna, a Cambodian reporter of Troyong News, was impressed by Yunnan's rich biodiversity. He said that the area has a high level of biodiversity with many rare and exotic plant and animal species, making it a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.

I went to the Elephant Valley, which has beautiful scenery and elephants, and saw elephants and monkeys, as well as many other interesting wildlife. Here, elephant dung can be used as paper for books and other items, he noted.

With an area of only 4.1 percent of China's total land area, the border province boasts the most diverse biological and ecological system in the country.

During the tour to experience the customs of Dai ethnic group, Ammee Parunyoo from Thailand said that although this is his first time to visit Xishuangbanna, he doesn't feel unfamiliar with it at all, as many of its cultural traditions, like the clothing, are quite similar to those of Thailand.

Piao Canxi, a journalist from South Korea, echoed his view, noting that when I first came to Xishuangbanna, I felt like I was in Southeast Asia.

Another Thailand photographer Teerapong Jumnongpun said that he visited Xishuangbanna 12 years ago to experience the Water Splashing Festival. Now, 12 years later, he noticed that Xishuangbanna has witnessed great development, while its traditional ethnic cultures have been well preserved.

Yunnan is home to over 20 ethnic groups, making it a captivating destination for both domestic and international tourists.

The province's tourism sector is thriving, with a focus on both preserving traditional cultures and incorporating modern developments to attract more global travelers.

This photo shows a view of the Starlight Night Market in Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2024. The night market is a destination to experience the customs of Dai ethnic group. [Xinhua/Hu Chao]

Tourists watch a performance at the Starlight Night Market in Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2024. The night market is a destination to experience the customs of Dai ethnic group. [Xinhua/Hu Chao]

Tourists visit the Starlight Night Market in Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2024. The night market is a destination to experience the customs of Dai ethnic group. [Xinhua/Hu Chao]

A tourist poses for photos at the Starlight Night Market in Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2024. The night market is a destination to experience the customs of Dai ethnic group. [Xinhua/Hu Chao]

Tourists take a ride on a hot air balloon at the Starlight Night Market in Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2024. The night market is a destination to experience the customs of Dai ethnic group. [Xinhua/Hu Chao]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Weather Alert

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 36 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM CDT /4 AM EDT/ SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 19 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS EDWARDS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ALEXANDER FRANKLIN GALLATIN HAMILTON HARDIN JACKSON JEFFERSON JOHNSON MASSAC PERRY POPE PULASKI SALINE UNION WABASH WAYNE WHITE WILLIAMSON IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA POSEY IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA GIBSON PIKE SPENCER VANDERBURGH WARRICK IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 22 COUNTIES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY BALLARD CALDWELL CALLOWAY CARLISLE CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN DAVIESS FULTON GRAVES HENDERSON HICKMAN HOPKINS LIVINGSTON LYON MARSHALL MCCRACKEN MCLEAN MUHLENBERG TODD TRIGG UNION WEBSTER IN MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI BOLLINGER BUTLER CAPE GIRARDEAU CARTER MISSISSIPPI NEW MADRID PERRY RIPLEY SCOTT STODDARD WAYNE THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALBION, BARDWELL, BENTON, BLOOMFIELD, BOONVILLE, CADIZ, CAIRO, CALHOUN, CAPE GIRARDEAU, CARBONDALE, CARMI, CHARLESTON, CLINTON, DIXON, DONIPHAN, EDDYVILLE, ELIZABETHTOWN, ELKTON, EVANSVILLE, FAIRFIELD, FORT BRANCH, GOLCONDA, GRAYVILLE, GREENVILLE, HARRISBURG, HENDERSON, HERRIN, HICKMAN, HOPKINSVILLE, JACKSON, JONESBORO, MADISONVILLE, MARBLE HILL, MARION, MAYFIELD, MCLEANSBORO, METROPOLIS, MORGANFIELD, MOUND CITY, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT VERNON, MURPHYSBORO, MURRAY, NEW MADRID, OWENSBORO, PADUCAH, PERRYVILLE, PETERSBURG, PIEDMONT, PINCKNEYVILLE, POPLAR BLUFF, POSEYVILLE, PRINCETON, ROCKPORT, SHAWNEETOWN, SIKESTON, SMITHLAND, VAN BUREN, VIENNA, WEST FRANKFORT, WEST SALEM, AND WICKLIFFE.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CDT /5 AM EDT/ SATURDAY... * WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...Until 4 AM CDT /5 AM EDT/ Saturday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. &&
By Asae Takagi, KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 11:01 | Feature, All, Japan

Manufacturers of miso paste and soy sauce widely produced in Japan's central region are betting on inbound tourists having a yen for Japanese fermented foods and the rich traditions of Japanese cuisine.

More foreign visitors have started taking tours of factories dedicated to the production of soybean paste, said to have been a favorite of the country's first shogun in the 17th century, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and eating out at traditional Japanese "ryotei" restaurants.

The allure of dishes such as "narezushi," the earliest form of Japanese sushi made by fermenting fish in rice, served at the establishments, gives tourists much to write home about. Despite being a favorite of seafood lovers, the fish has a distinctive pungent aroma that some describe as "sewage-like."

"The traditional manufacturing process looks fresh and is appealing to a widening fan base," pointed out one tourism official, adding that plans are underway to conduct factory tours by trained guides to introduce fermented specialties of the Tokai region.

Foreign visitors who toured Maruya Hatcho Miso Co., a miso production factory in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, with a nearly 700-year history, said they admired how the long, labor-intensive process of manufacturing miso is taken for granted these days.

Founded in 1337, the company has preserved its time-honored method since before the Edo period, placing high-quality soybean koji, salt and water in large wooden vats, sealing them with a pyramid of heavy rounded stones and leaving them untouched for two full years.

In recent years, the factory has attracted visitors not only from within Japan but also from Taiwan, Europe, and other parts of the world. "We wish to convey a true sense of Japanese culture from our small brewery," said Maruya Hatcho President Nobutaro Asai, 75.

Kawaramachi Izumiya, a ryotei restaurant in Gifu, central Japan, which serves fermented and aged narezushi made by adding rice to salted ayu sweetfish, has been attracting several groups of foreign tourists each week since last year.

Zenhichi Izumi, 58, the owner of the restaurant, has developed new dishes popular among foreign guests, including a narezushi featuring ayu sweetfish with fish roe and ramen noodles flavored with ayu sweetfish seasoning sauce.

"My hope is they can enjoy a taste that they can only experience here," Izumi said.

Masashi Kato, 60, a professor of applied microbiology at Meijo University, explained that agriculture has long flourished in the Tokai region, where beans and rice are abundant. The warm, humid climate provides ideal conditions for brewing, enabling the production of a wide variety of fermented foods.

Health-conscious Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Edo shogun and unifier of Japan, was a big fan of "hatcho miso" soybean paste due to its robust source of protein that he would supply to his armies.

Ieyasu, whose military shogunate spanned from 1603 to the start of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, lived to the age of 75, far exceeding the average life expectancy of his era.

With a nod to culture, an executive committee for "fermentation tourism" was officially launched in August this year, co-sponsored by Central Japan Railway Co. and the tourist association of the city of Handa in Aichi Prefecture, home to vinegar producer Mizkan Holdings Co.

A pre-tour of sake and miso breweries held in October 2023 was well received by the 35 participants from nine countries, mostly from Europe and the United States. The committee plans to begin full-scale group tours from the Tokyo metropolitan area and abroad in May next year.

Hiroshi Sakakibara, 46, committee executive director, said, "We would like to propose tours that allow visitors to experience the traditions through all five senses."

Plans are also underway to train tour guides familiar with traditional manufacturing methods.

Sakiko Yoshida, 46, who has been organizing her own group tours of fermented food producers, has launched a project to certify aspiring expert tour guides after they have undergone lectures and on-the-job training at production sites.

"We want to develop human resources -- people who can serve as a point of contact between producers and consumers and support local cultures," she said.

Related coverage:

Japan sake-brewing added to UNESCO intangible heritage

Foreign tourists showing appetite for Japan's art of food replicas

FEATURE: Hokkaido's food film goes global in gourmet town of Spain
On Friday last week, around 300 Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers and supporters marched through the streets of Manchester to protest an outrageous act of discrimination and attack on democratic rights by the police.

Organised by the Gypsy Travellers League, demonstrators protested an incident on November 23 when Greater Manchester Police (GMP) issued a dispersal order to prevent the free movement in the city of teenagers and children from the Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities. The youngsters had arrived by train to enjoy the Christmas markets taking place in the city centre.

Children herded onto trains by massed police at Manchester's Victoria station and forced to depart the city [Photo: screenshot from video: Jake Bowers @bowers_jake]

The teenagers and children, some as young as 10 years old, who had travelled with older siblings or their families, were targeted by police in the city centre. Others were met in force by GMP officers wearing high-viz vests while disembarking at Victoria railway station.

Police bundled them back onto random trains, one bound for Doncaster in Yorkshire, a 45-mile journey. One parent reported that his son (aged 13) and daughter (15), ended up 100 miles away in Grimsby on the east coast.

A video circulating on social media shows what must have been a terrifying experience for the children. One boy is seen shouting repeatedly, I dont know where Im going. Some were in hysterics. One girl shouts, Stop pushing, Im going to fall, as an officer screams, Get on the train!

TV celebrity Paddy Doherty, who stars in the show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, joined the march, telling the media, It is absolutely appalling and sickening. Those kids have as much right to be there as anyone else.

A Section 35 dispersal order is part of the draconian Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, giving police the power to exclude a person from an area for 48 hours on the authority of an inspector.

In an attempt at damage limitation, GMP Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson issued a statement saying, Our priority is always to protect public safety by preventing incidents of violence and disorder.

Due to intelligence of groups causing antisocial behaviour on trains on the way into Manchester and similar reports rising around the city centre, alongside increasing footfall, we issued a dispersal order. This included plans for officers to reroute arriving groups back home.

A spokesperson for the Traveller Movement charity countered, saying, These children were simply trying to enjoy the festivities like everyone else. But instead, they have been unfairly targeted and marginalised.

The children were guilty of nothing but high spirits. There have been no reports of anyone charged with a criminal offence, but under the terms of a Section 35 dispersal order these youngsters were treated as criminals.

In an interview on BBC Radio Manchester, Greater Manchester Labour Party Mayor Andy Burnham refused to apologise and defended the actions of the police, saying, Everyone has got a place in our city region as long as people are coming to abide by the law and enjoy themselves there was some intelligence that there was some intent to cause anti-social behaviour.

At an earlier protest supported by Manchester Stand up To Racism, one speaker, Thomas, linked the repression of immigrants and asylum seekers with that facing travellers: Refugees and travellers, we are tarred with the same brush.

Another protest, a one-hour vigil, was held outside Parliament in London November 30. As reported by the Traveller Times, organiser Laura Angela Collins called for a full investigation into these abuses and immediate changes to ensure our communities are treated with dignity, respect and equality.

The Runnymede Trust wrote a joint letter of complaint with Friends, Families & Travellers (@GypsyTravellers) to GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson. For far too long, Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities have faced over-policing, discrimination and race hate, and are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, it stated.

The Runnymede Trust notes that 46 percent of ethnic minority children including Gypsy Romany and Irish Travellers in the UK live in poverty. The overall child poverty rate has reached one in three.

The Traveller Movement is considering taking legal action against the police. CEO Yvonne MacNamara said, Clearly, there has to be accountability here. Why did this happen? Why were these children racially profiled?

Parents of children affected met with Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Policing and Crime Kate Green, who in her previous role as a local MP co-chaired the all-party parliamentary group for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers.

Our questions [to Green] were, what was the legal framework? What were the thresholds that were met for this, MacNamara said. What was the intelligence and, of course, the risk assessment, given the ages of these children?

The powers to hand out dispersal orders can only be enacted if a number of strict conditions are met. According to the government, these are:

An officer may give such an authorisation only if satisfied on reasonable grounds that the use of those powers in the locality during that period may be necessary for the purpose of removing or reducing the likelihood of

(a) members of the public in the locality being harassed, alarmed or distressed, or

(b) the occurrence in the locality of crime or disorder.

(c) In deciding whether to give such an authorisation an officer must have particular regard to the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly set out in articles 10 and 11 of the Convention [European Convention on Human Rights Act 1998].

Failure to comply with a dispersal order means a sentence of up to three months in jail, a 2,500 fine, or both.

The law is formulated to be open to a wide degree of interpretation, with the potential to override articles 10 and 11 of the Convention, covering the freedoms of expression and assembly.

Section 35 is being utilised, in this case against the travellers, to normalise its use against the working class as a whole.

It was also used during the 100,000-strong demonstration against the Gaza genocide in London in December last year on the grounds that members of the public who support Zionism may suffer alarm and distress.

The act was deployed again in January to disperse homeless people living in tents near a London hospital. The Metropolitan Police were later forced to apologise for their inhumane action.

The Starmer-led Labour government is retaining every piece of the draconian legislation attacking democratic rights inherited from the Tories, including the Anti-Social behaviour, Crime and Policing Act. Within weeks of taking office, utilising riots by a few hundred fascists, Starmer announced the creation of a national police standing army which would clamp down on all violent disorder that flares up. Whatever the apparent cause or motivation. We make no distinction. Crime is crime.

Backed by its partners in the trade union bureaucracy, the right-wing Labour government is committed to the escalating wars in the Middle East and NATOs war against Russia and conflict with China. It is preparing to hand over billions more to rearm the military at the expense of vital public spending. This cannot be carried out except by authoritarian means of rule.

By targeting and criminalising ethnic minority groups, in this instance Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers, as well as immigrants, Labour seeks to divide the working class against itself, deflecting attention from the real cause of plummeting living standards: capitalism and its wars.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 21:25 | All, Japan

Survivors of the 1945 U.S. bomb attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki spoke on Wednesday of their experiences and called for nuclear abolition at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Oslo, a day after Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading group of atomic bomb survivors, received the honor.

Interpreter Keiko Ogura, 87, and Masao Tomonaga, 81, honorary director of the Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Genbaku Hospital, testified in English at the event focused on how to mitigate the risks of nuclear warfare and move toward nuclear disarmament. The two were present at the ceremony the previous day.

The forum was attended by some 250 people, including past Nobel Peace Prize winners. Experts on nuclear politics participated in discussions, with some warning that the world is on the brink of a renewed nuclear arms race.

"We want to see this planet without any nuclear weapons," said Ogura, who was 8 years old and just 2.4 kilometers from the hypocenter when the bomb was dropped over Hiroshima.

Ogura recalled giving water to wounded people at their request and witnessed them die immediately after, an experience that made her have "nightmares for so many years...I blamed myself, I killed people."

She urged people to take action themselves rather than relying on others and expressed hope that nuclear abolition will be achieved in her lifetime.

The founder of Hiroshima Interpreters for Peace, Ogura has worked as an interpreter for other hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, including the late Sunao Tsuboi, who was co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, and met with Group of Seven leaders at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum when their summit was held in the western Japan city in 2023.

Tomonaga noted the lifelong impact of the atomic bombing on people, both physically and psychologically, and said young generations "should recognize their responsibility" in helping realize a nuclear-free world.

"Don't wait. Our efforts will provide some results, but they must by themselves create a nuclear-free world," he added.

He was only 2 years old in Nagasaki when the atomic bomb detonated. Buried under the rubble of his house 2.5 km from the hypocenter, he was rescued by his mother.

Tomonaga became a doctor specializing in the aftereffects of the atomic bomb and has testified internationally, including at the United Nations, about the medical issues caused by the weapon.

Nihon Hidankyo, also known as the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, won the prize "for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again," according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

The win comes as heightening geopolitical tensions have raised concerns that nuclear weapons could be used again.

The U.S. atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final days of World War II in August 1945, killing an estimated 214,000 people by the end of the year and leaving numerous survivors grappling with long-term physical and mental health challenges.

Related coverage:

Nobel Peace Prize win reinvigorates A-bomb survivors' fight against nukes

Japan A-bomb survivor group receives Nobel Peace Prize amid world tensions

A-bomb survivor group rep. "saddened" by recent talk of using nukes
Late last month the New Zealand government released a 700-page report from the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19, examining the countrys response to the pandemic from 2020 to 2023.

New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 report [Photo by NZ Department of Internal Affairs / CC BY 4.0

The commission was chaired by Tony Blakely, a University of Melbourne epidemiologist, assisted by John Whitehead, a former New Zealand treasury secretary, and Hekia Parata, a former National Party government minister of education.

These appointees were intended to produce a predetermined conclusion: that any public health measures to stop the spread of COVID and save lives must be balanced against the need to protect the economy. This is the dominant theme throughout the commissions report, which is designed to ensure that in any future pandemic the response is subordinated entirely to the profit interests of the corporate and financial elite.

Blakely initially supported stringent lockdowns and border quarantine measures in Australia and New Zealand. Later, after the emergence of the highly-infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19, he minimised the severity of the virus. He advocated a let it rip policy, telling Radio NZ in February 2022 that the government was being too cautious, and should work faster at dismantling public health measures in order to let Omicron wash through in a timely manner.

The commissioners report seeks to justify the overall response of the former Labour Party-led governmentabove all, the decision announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in October 2021 to end the elimination strategy, which had kept the country almost entirely free from COVID-19 during the first two years of the pandemic.

This was followed by the progressive removal of all restrictions on the spread of the coronavirus and the adoption of a criminal policy of mass infection, which had already killed millions of people worldwide.

In 2022, lockdowns and border quarantine measures were overturned; schools and workplaces fully reopened without social distancing; mask and vaccine mandates were ended, and COVID testing was discouraged in order to keep sick people at work.

In August 2023, the last remaining requirements for people to self-isolate if they had COVID, and to wear masks in healthcare facilities, were scrapped by the Labour government.

These stepsall of which are tacitly or explicitly supported in the Royal Commissions reportproduced a public health disaster. Total deaths from COVID-19 sky-rocketed from around 30 in late 2021, to over 4,500 to date, with more people dying every week. More than 44,200 people have been hospitalised for COVID-19, placing an enormous burden on the healthcare system.

The Royal Commission noted the clear and consistent pattern of higher hospitalisation rates for people living in higher deprivation areas and greater fatalities among Maori and Pacific people, who are largely among the poorest. Hospitals in working class areas were frequently overwhelmed with COVID cases, a crisis exacerbated by the running down of public healthcare under successive governments.

Despite this, the report complacently states that the surge in deaths in 2022 was not the best scenario we might have hoped for [but it] was a pretty good one, because the initial elimination strategy and vaccination meant that there was a much lesser cumulative mortality burden than we would have experienced had we allowed the virus in during 2020.

In fact, while vaccination reduced the risk of severe illness it did not stop mass infection, illness and large numbers of deaths from the highly-infectious Omicron and subsequent variants of COVID-19. During July 2022, as the WSWS reported, New Zealands weekly rate of deaths from COVID was among the highest in the world. COVID remains the countrys deadliest infectious disease.

The Royal Commission highlighted the initial success of the elimination strategy, noting that from 2020 to early 2023, New Zealand experienced negative excess mortality, meaning there were fewer deaths in that time period than what would have been expected during a normal year.

The border quarantine measures and the closure of schools and businesses in March-April 2020 succeeded in stopping circulation of the virus, allowing daily life to proceed in a relatively normal way. As well as stamping out COVID-19, these measures eliminated influenza and RSV for approximately two years, a significant achievement that contributed to a fall in the countrys mortality rate.

The commissioners then justify the ending of the zero COVID policy by arguing that the lockdowns were no longer working. The report echoes the Labour governments position that the social licence for such measures, especially support among business leaders, was eroding. In deciding to ease and then completely end a lockdown in Auckland in late 2021, while the Delta variant of the virus was still spreading, the report says, Cabinet had to balance many different outcomes and impactshealth, social and economicas well as equity considerations.

The commissioners describe the decision as a judgement call and even suggest that the lockdown could have been ended sooneras was done with the lifting of similar restrictions in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales. They also make the unsubstantiated claim that the Omicron variant that became dominant in 2022 was probably impossible to manage with an elimination strategy. In fact, China was able to suppress Omicron outbreaks, including in Shanghai.

Arderns announcement on October 4, 2021, that the government would move away from an elimination strategy was the outcome of a concerted pressure campaign by big business, both in New Zealand and internationally. It was immediately applauded by the New York Times and other mouthpieces for the financial elite, which insisted that the world had to learn to live with mass COVID infection.

The decision was made without consulting the governments own public health experts, who warned against ending the Auckland lockdown and called for it to be strengthened to stamp out the virus.

The current Labour Party leader, Chris Hipkins, who served as COVID-19 response minister during the transition to the let it rip policy, responded to the Royal Commissions report by stating: I think we lost the room in Auckland people stopped following some of the lockdown restrictions. The lockdown lasted from August to early December 2021 but it was undermined, not by public non-compliance, but by the governments decisions to ease restrictions.

Hipkins blamed Labours crushing election defeat in October 2023 on the supposed unpopularity of lockdowns. In fact, a New Zealand Herald poll published on September 2, 2021 found that 85 percent of respondents supported the elimination strategy, including 87 percent of people in Auckland. Only 13 percent said the country should live with COVID-19.

Labour won the 2020 election, with more than 50 percent of the votes, largely because of public support for the elimination strategy. Its support dropped precipitously in 2022, as thousands of people became sick and died from COVID-19, and amid escalating social inequality, poverty and homelessness.

Hipkins also told the media he accepted the Royal Commissions finding that border restrictions should have been lifted sooner and that vaccine mandates, in Hipkins words, went too far. He pointed to anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown protestsincluding the occupation of parliaments lawn in early 2022as evidence that such measures became unpopular. In fact, the protests were supported by a small minority and organised by far-right groups such as Voices For Freedom and Destiny Church.

Members of the current National Party-led coalition government have attacked the Royal Commission report for failing to openly repudiate public health principles. The far-right NZ First and ACT Parties, which play a major role in the government, repeatedly minimised COVID and attacked lockdowns and vaccine mandates during last years election campaign.

NZ First leader Winston Peters, the deputy prime minister, who courted anti-vaccination groups during the election, said in June that the Royal Commission was nothing more than a Labour Party political tool. On NZ Firsts insistence, a second phase of the inquiry will be held next year to investigate vaccine efficacy and safety and the imposition and maintenance of lockdowns especially in 2021. The aim is to further undermine and discredit these life-saving measures.

Meanwhile, the government is systematically attacking the public health system, including through the destruction of thousands of jobs, even as COVID-19 continues to spread and scientists are warning that bird flu threatens to become another pandemic.

This is part of an international process: the ruling class throughout the world is attacking science and dismantling public healthcare, which is seen as an unacceptable drain on the wealth of the billionaires who run society. Hundreds of billions of dollars must also be slashed from healthcare and other social programs to pay for imperialist wars against Russia, Iran and China.

Most notably, US president-elect Donald Trump has named anti-vaccination conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Junior to run the Department of Health and Human Services, and proponent of mass COVID infection Jay Bhattacharya as director of the National Institutes of Health. This is the equivalent of putting arsonists in charge of the fire department.

The scientific knowledge and resources exist that could eliminate COVID-19 and other preventable diseases, which are now resurging throughout the world. If the elimination strategy initially adopted in New Zealand and China had been implemented on a global scale, the COVID pandemic could have been ended within a matter of months.

Such an undertaking, however, is incompatible with the capitalist system, in which all of societys resources are subordinated to the dictates of the financial elite and its insatiable drive for profits. The only way to put an end to the pandemic and prevent an even more catastrophic outbreak in future, is through the mobilisation of the international working class in the fight for the socialist reorganisation of society.
Elevenlabs AudioNative Player

Section One of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution states:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Donald Trump proposes to eliminate birthright citizenship by executive fiat on day one of his second administration. This would mean the formal repudiation of the bedrock democratic principle underlying the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments: that citizenship and the panoply of democratic rights attendant to it are available to all persons born in the United States, and that no branch of government can strip them away.

A father and son in San Juan, Texas. [AP Photo/Eric Gay]

Alongside the 13th Amendment banning slavery and 15th Amendment guaranteeing voting rights, the three amendments are known together as the Civil War Amendments, because they enshrined in law the revolutionary rights won through four years of armed struggle. As Stanford University historian Richard White explains, the authors of the 14th Amendment sought, as had Lincoln, to make the sentiments of the Declaration of Independence the guiding light of the republic. The result was an amendment which enshrined in the Constitution broad principles of equality, the rights of citizens, and principles of natural rights.

The birthright citizenship provision of the 14th Amendment was a legal keystone of the revolutionary amendments. It guaranteed that no political institution or branch of government could strip the rights of any individual or group, and that there would be no such thing, under the law, as a second-class citizen. In drafting the amendment, its congressional supporters declared their intention to repudiate the Supreme Courts 1857 decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford, which explicitly held that people of African ancestry could never become citizens and on that basis deprived them of all rights.

Contrary to the lies of Trump and his accomplices, the 14th Amendments universal guarantee of citizenship was specifically intended at the time of its ratification to apply to all of the children of former slaves, as well as of immigrants. In light of these historical facts, Trumps effort to eliminate birthright citizenship is a counterrevolutionary assault on the rights of the entire population and, without exaggeration, an attempt to undo the outcome of the Civil War.

In an interview with NBCs Kristen Welker broadcast on Sunday, Trump denounced birthright citizenship as ridiculous and reiterated campaign promises to deny citizenship to children born to undocumented parents in the United States. According to a report in Sundays Wall Street Journal, Trump aides are drafting an executive order directing federal agencies to require a child to have at least one parent be either a US citizen or legal permanent resident to automatically become a US citizen. It would also stop agencies from issuing passports, Social Security numbers and other welfare benefits to children who dont meet the new requirement for citizenship.

The immediate target of Trumps plans are undocumented immigrants and their children, but ending birthright citizenship would put the rights of all Americans at risk by fundamentally altering the powers of the executive branch. Not only does Trumps plan to override an amendment to the Constitution via executive order explicitly violate the separation of powers, the Trump administrations ultimate political aim is to arrogate to itself the power to decide, through executive fiat, who is a citizen and who is not.

Trumps far-right advisers are attempting to poison the political soil in the run-up to their counterrevolutionary offensive. Because you happen to be in this country when your child is born, is not a reason for that child to be a US citizen. Its just silly, and the reliance on it in law is utterly misplaced, said Ken Cuccinelli, Trumps former deputy Department of Homeland Security secretary. In his NBC interview, Trump also threatened to deport US citizens, constructively preventing them from exercising any of their rights. The only way you dont break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back, he said.

It is likely that such a brazen violation of the Constitution would be delayed in the federal court system. But any lower court decision against the administration would be challenged in the US Supreme Court, which last term placed the president above the law by granting him personal immunity from crimes carried out while in office. The attitude of the far right toward the attack on birthright citizenship was expressed by extreme anti-immigrant politician Mark Krikorian, who told the Wall Street Journal: Force the issue and see what happens.

The immediate impact of denying citizenship to children born to undocumented parents would be disastrous and amount to an immense social crime. Unable to apply for social services, immigrant families and children born in the US would face levels of unprecedented poverty. Children would be deported to their parents home countries, giving rise to a global diaspora of stateless people. Those who remain would be cut out of the political system entirely and disenfranchised from voting.

What Trump does first to immigrants he will do next to opponents and critics of the US government. Trumps plans to invoke the Insurrection Act or Alien Enemies Act and to deploy federal troops on US soil would de jure transform the United States into a dictatorship. Throughout American history, attacks on immigrants have always gone hand in hand with attacks on the working class and its socialist leadership.

Trump and his advisers are making this connection explicitly. In 2023, Trump said he planned to deport people based on left-wing political views, evidently regardless of their citizenship: I will order my government to deny entry to all communists and all Marxists. But my question is, what are we going to do with the ones that are already here, that grew up here? I think we have to pass a new law for them.

The incoming administration poses an existential threat to the basic democratic rights of masses of people. The Democratic Party, concerned solely with escalating war against American imperialisms targets abroad, will do everything in its power to restrain the mass social anger that will be unleashed by Trumps attacks on immigrants and young American citizens. Democratic Party kingmaker Representative James Clyburn recently suggested that Biden pardon Donald Trump for his role in the coup attempt of January 6, 2021 in order to clean the slate for the aspiring dictator.

The working class is the social force capable of uniting across ethnic and national lines and leading the struggle against dictatorship. Workers must begin with the principle that an injury to one is an injury to all, and that blame for social ills lies not with immigrant workers but with the ruling class. This struggle will require a fight against the source of dictatorship and political reaction: the capitalist system.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka held a well-attended meeting in Colombo last Saturday to discuss the political lessons of the recent US and Sri Lankan elections. On November 5, the fascist Donald Trump was elected president. In Sri Lanka, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National Peoples Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected president on September 21. In the subsequent general election on November 14, this party won over two-thirds of the countrys parliamentary seats.

About 100 people, including workers and youth from Jaffna in the Northern Province and the central hill plantation district of Nuwara Eliya, attended the meeting which was held at the Mahaweli Center Auditorium. Jerry White, the vice-presidential candidate of the SEP in US, was the featured speaker, addressing the meeting via internet video.

Pani Wijesiriwardena (right), SEP political member and the partys candidate in Sri Lankas presidential elections, addressing Colombo meeting, December 7, 2024

The meeting was chaired by Pani Wijesiriwardena, SEP Political Committee member and the partys candidate in Sri Lankas presidential elections. Warmly welcoming participants, Wijesiriwardena said that the SEP intervened in the presidential and parliamentary elections to develop an independent political movement of the working class based on international socialism against war, austerity and dictatorship. The SEP, he said, was the only political organisation in the elections that warned about the threat of imperialist war.

In the current, internationally highly connected world, political changes taking place in the US have far-reaching implications. That is why we pay serious attention to political developments there, Wijesiriwardena said. For first time in US history, a fascist president has been elected, an event which the SEP in the US and the World Socialist Web Site have described as a political earthquake.

Referring to the Sri Lankan elections, Wijesiriwardena spoke about Dissanayakes call, after becoming the president, for a strong government. Refuting the promotion of the JVP/NPP government as Marxist, socialist or left-leaning by the local and international media, Wijesiriwardena reviewed the right-wing, pro-imperialist and Sinhala chauvinist character of Dissanayakes party.

Wijesiriwardena briefly reviewed the origins of the JVP as a petty-bourgeois organisation based on an eclectic mix of Maoism, Che Guevarism and Sinhala populism in late 1960s, its subsequent degeneration along Sinhala-Buddhist supremacist lines into a fascist organisation in 198889 period, and its transformation in the 1990s into a party of the bourgeois political establishment.

The next speaker, Jerry White, the vice-presidential candidate of the US SEP, explained the political lessons of the US election.

The November 5 election in the United States was indeed a political earthquake. Donald Trump, a fascist who four years before attempted a coup to overthrow the US Constitution and stay in power after losing the 2020 elections, won the popular vote and the vote in the electoral college, White said.

Trumps co-conspirators in the Republican Party also won control of the US Senate. This means that when Trump is inaugurated on January 20, the Republicans will control every level of the federal governmentthe presidency, both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court, he added.

SEP (US) vice-presidential candidate Jerry White addressing Colombo meeting, December 7, 2024

As the SEP has explained, the vast majority of the 77 million people who voted for Trump are not fascists and do not support his plans to establish a dictatorship. In fact, exit polls showed large majorities saying they believe immigrants deserve a pathway to citizenship rather than face mass deportation as Trump plans.

Explaining how Trump won the election, White said: The vote was a mass repudiation of the Democratic Party, which over the last four years has overseen a massive assault on workers living standards and the expansion of American imperialisms wars for global domination. This includes the US-backed Israeli genocide, the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and plans for what the US military calls the Big One, war against China.

White also presented an outline of the voting patterns that went in favour of Trump while pointing that his election did not signify a mass movement of workers and youth going to right.

The years leading up the elections have seen a rising tide of worker militancy and strikes, which have more and more taken the form of a rebellion against the pro-capitalist and nationalist trade union bureaucracy. The efforts by the Democratic Socialists of America and other pseudo-left organisations to promote identity politics and subordinate the working class to the Democratic Party, has produced the catastrophe of a second Trump presidency, White said.

Whites speech provoked enthusiastic questions from the audience. One participant wanted to know how an openly fascist candidate was able to win votes from workers and youth in America.

White answered by reviewing the reactionary two-party system in America and explained that those workers and youth who had voted for Trump did so not because they were in agreement with his fascist agenda but to express their deep-seated anger and frustration with the Democratic Party.



While the Democratic Party has been traditionally considered as the party of social reform in the US, it abandoned that role decades ago. Over the past four years, it launched one attack after another on the democratic rights and social position of the working class while conducting imperialist wars abroad, White said, pointing out that this opened the way for Trump to fraudulently pose as an opponent of these attacks.

White said that the SEP in the US has taken initiative in providing the leadership, program and perspective for the working class who will inevitably come into explosive struggles against the incoming Trump administration as it carries out a social counter-revolution and destroys basic democratic and social rights.

The speaker explained the SEPs fight is to unite the growing working-class struggles in the US with those of the international working class through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Workers.

Another audience member asked how the giant US corporations were able to make record profits when the capitalist profit system and bourgeois democracy are mired in crisis. How was America able to secure $US36 trillion in loans and where did this money come them.

White said that the massive increases in corporate profits came through the super-exploitation of the working class in the US and throughout the world. He pointed out that the bulk of the American loans were held by China and explained that the US was attempting to offset its economic decline through its military superiority and by launching wars against its rivals.

The US ruling class, he continued, was causing the death of millions of people while at the same time cutting social programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and granting tax concessions to corporations and the oligarchy.

White said these policies were leading to an eruption of struggles by the American working class. He explained that the deepening crisis of the capitalist system could only be solved on a progressive basis through the overthrow of profit system by the working class.

The final speaker, Deepal Jayasekera, general secretary of the SEP in Sri Lanka, told the meeting that political situation in Sri Lanka could only be understood by placing it in the world context. We see this election of JVP/NPP not as an isolated incident limited to this tiny island but as an expression of global political developments.

SEP (Sri Lanka) General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera addressing public meeting in Colombo, December 7, 2024

Jayasekera said that the ruling class globally is seeking the service of right-wing communalist and fascistic organisations to prop up bourgeois rule amid the collapse of traditional parties and mass opposition to the assault by successive governments on the social position of the masses.

The JVP/NPPs victory in presidential elections, and in general elections with even higher votes, is not due to popular support for the right-wing pro-imperialist Sinhala chauvinist policies of the JVP. Workers, youth and the rural poor voted for the JVP/NPP in their millions not because they supported and approved the harsh IMF austerity program that this new government is fully committed to implementing, Jayasekera said.

The speaker pointed out that the JVP/NPP had exploited growing popular anger against the traditional parties and their assault on basic social and democratic rights. Under conditions where these parties lacked any popular support, substantial sections of Sri Lankas ruling class and the imperialist powers supported the JVP/NPP as the only means for maintaining bourgeois rule, implementing IMF austerity and fully realigning the island with the geo-political agenda of the US and its allies, mainly India.

Jayasekera explained the political role being played by fake-left organisations such as the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), which promotes the JVP/NPP government as progressive and claims it is susceptible to pressure from the left.

The FSPs election campaign slogan, which was conducted under the so-called Peoples Struggle Alliance (PSA), was change the oppositionin other words, vote for the FSP which will pressure the government to change its policies for the benefit of the masses. This is a dangerous illusion.



In his policy speech opening the new session of the parliament, President Dissanayake clearly announced that the JVP/NPP government will implement the savage IMF austerity program in full, Jayasekera explained. There not be any change to the agreement Ranil Wickremesinghe government signed with the IMF. Its claims that it would renegotiate with the IMF for changes in the more onerous conditions of the austerity program were just lies to hoodwink the masses.



Jayasekera concluded by explaining that the SEP campaigned in presidential and parliamentary elections to bring to the working class the revolutionary socialist program that it needs in this situation. The party will base its opposition to the JVP/NPP government on that same program, he said, and fight to organise the most advanced workers and youth into our ranks and develop the programmatic, tactical and organisational leadership for the struggles that will soon erupt.
Cecily Myart-Cruz, United Teachers Los Angeles, UTLA President, speaks in Los Angeles Tuesday, March 21, 2023. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes]

A series of lawsuits have been launched by pro-Zionist outfits against California teacher unions and school districts both prior to and after the Israeli regime launched their overt genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people last year. The lawsuits are an attempt to stifle opposition to the crimes of the Israeli state backed by Washington.

Leveraging the slander that all classroom discussion of the crimes of the Israeli government is antisemitic, some of the suits also seek to remove automatic union membership in the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union, falsely claiming that the union promotes antisemitism.

While one of the most prominent of these lawsuits was recently thrown out by a U.S. District judge, others are still ongoing and may gain traction as a result of not only the anti-democratic climate of the incoming Trump administration but also as a result of recent pro-Zionist measures passed by the Democratic Party-led state government meant to severely limit, if not altogether suppress, discussion of the ongoing genocide and the crimes of US imperialism in general.

The recently tossed lawsuit was launched by a group calling itself the Concerned Jewish Parents and Teachers of Los Angeles. It opposes the teaching of the so-called Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

The lawsuit sought to shut down any criticisms of Israeli policy as antisemitic. It claimed that the LAUSD-UTLA Ethnic Studies Committee and UTLA president Cecily Myart-Cruz encouraged the adoption of a curriculum that condemns capitalism, white privilege and Zionism and characterized Israels existence as based on ethnic cleansing and land theft, apartheid and genocide.

District Judge Fernando Olguins ruling dismissed the suit with prejudice as he claimed the complaint was difficult to understand and contains a morass of largely irrelevantand sometimes contradictoryallegations, few of which state with any degree of clarity precisely what plaintiffs believe defendants have done or, more importantly, how plaintiffs have been harmed.

The legal director for the Deborah Project, a pro-Israeli law firm created specifically for the purpose of preventing criticism of Israel in school settings and which represented the plaintiffs, responded to the ruling stating, We absolutely will be appealing the decision and are confident that the decision will be reversed on appeal. The deadline for the appeal is December 30.

Other, similar lawsuits are still ongoing.

In the nearby Santa Ana Unified School District in Orange County, lawyers with the American Jewish Committee and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights under Law are asking the Orange County Superior Court to eliminate four ethnic studies courses taught in the district, largely on the basis of a technicality. The suit alleges that the curriculum was passed in a closed-door school board meeting ,which would be in violation of the Brown Act mandating open meetings with advance public notice.

It also alleges that antisemitic remarks were made by curriculum steering committee members who said of members of the Jewish Federation of Orange County that they benefit from White privilege and so have it better. We dont need to give both sides. We only support the oppressed, and the Jews are the oppressors. Such allegations should be taken with a heavy grain of salt as they are not taken from recorded quotes but are instead paraphrased recollections by one of the plaintiffs.

Responding to the suit, the Santa Ana district released a statement that it denies these claims and will present counterarguments and facts to the Court for consideration and is optimistic that the Court will ultimately find in favor of the district.

Another lawsuit filed against both the California Public Employee Relations Board and the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) by five Jewish teachers argues that they should not be compelled, as part of their employment, to be part of a teachers union that publicly advocates acts violating their deeply held religious beliefs.

The suit alleges that, as part of the Liberated Ethnic Studies curriculum, the UTLA supports calls for the destruction of Plaintiffs religious homeland, and promotes animosity and violence towards people of Jewish descent but makes no attempt to substantiate these claims, which moreover run contrary to any objective reading of the actual curriculum.

Shella Alcabes, counsel for the Freedom Foundation, a right-wing organization describing itself as a battle tank against public employee unions and which sponsored the lawsuit, told ChalkboardNews that UTLA hates Israel. It supports causes, organizations and speech that is anti-Israel, and is really anti-Jewish, but Jewish teachers are forced to be a part of it. This law is unconstitutional because it forces these teachers to be represented by an organization that hates them.

The fact that the ultimate aim of the lawsuit is rank-and-file opposition to the genocide is indicated by its claim that the five teachers have been ostracized and excluded by fellow members of their bargaining unit.

The aim of this campaign is to replace historical knowledge with patriotic mythmaking, placing the crimes of US imperialism beyond criticism and promoting vulgarand racistslanders about its targets. They hope to replicate initiatives such as those in the state of Florida where the fascistic governor Ron DeSantis has passed a slate of measures censoring books deemed unacceptable to the political right and placing severe restrictions on school curricula.

Union bureaucrats will cave

While there is mass opposition to this campaign from teachers, students and workers, the union bureaucracy will strive to accommodate themselves to the attack on antiwar and anti-capitalist sentiments.

Resisting such attacks would place them in opposition to the Democratic Party, which itself is working to suppress anti-genocide politics on schools and college campuses, and to the entire political establishment with which they are totally connected. By going after automatic membership in the UTLA, groups like the Freedom Foundation are seeking to focus their attack on the bureaucracys financial interests, forcing them to toe the line.

American Federation of Teachers head Randi Weingarten is an arch-Zionist who has supported the war from beginning, as with all the criminal wars supported by US imperialism. Functioning as a State Department asset, she spends much of her time crisscrossing the world promoting various regime change operations backed by the US.

Her role in forcing the reopening of schools during the pandemic against the opposition of teachers and parents also brought her into alignment with far-right anti-vaxxers who are now being brought into the Trump administration.

Both she and National Education Association head Becky Pringle have come out in support of Trumps nominee for Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The fact that the incoming Trump administration has pledged to dismantle the Department of Education and turn schools into purely workplace training and military recruitment centers has not warranted a word of opposition from either of the two figures.

The UTLA itself, along with teacher unions across the country, is heavily influenced by the politics of the pseudo-left, especially the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), with UTLA president Cecily Myart-Cruz being a member of the group. Although the anti-genocide initiatives of the union have garnered significant press, they seek to demobilize opposition to war by tying workers to the war criminals in the Democratic Party.

In addition to the Ethnic Studies Model curriculum, the UTLA recently championed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders fraudulent resolution blocking the sale of arms to Israel, which inevitably resulted in a quick and decisive defeat once brought up for a vote. In reality, Sanders is pro-Zionist and has voted repeatedly throughout his career for military funding for Israel. The union dropped the issue entirely as soon as the measure failed.

The latest lawsuits in California prove that no state or individual school district will be spared from this assault. These attacks can only be opposed through the development of the independence of the working class against the whole political establishment, with workers taking initiative into their own hands and preparing a mass movement through the formation of independent rank-and-file committees.
On Monday, a New York jury acquitted Daniel Penny, the man who choked the homeless and mentally ill Jordan Neely to death on an NYC subway on May 1, finding him innocent of criminally negligent homicide. Last week, the judge dismissed the more serious charge of manslaughter after the jury became deadlocked. A civil suit against Penny brought by Neelys father, Andre Zachary, is still pending.

People protest the not guilty verdict of Daniel Pennywho choked Jordan Neely to death in front of dozens of witnesses on the subway on May 1 outside the criminal court on December 9, 2024, in New York. [AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah]

The incident took place on May 1 after Neely boarded the F train as it was traveling through Manhattan and began yelling about his hunger. According to witnesses, he said he didnt care about returning to jail and was willing to die.

Penny wrestled Neely to the ground and put him in a chokehold for several minutes. After he released him, Neely was immobile. Emergency medical technicians who arrived on the scene detected a faint pulse, but Neely was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.

Although the police did not charge Penny with a crime, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg impaneled a grand jury, largely due to the public outcry over the killing. The grand jury indicted Penny for manslaughter on May 11. The trial began on October 21.

The verdict brought protests from dozens of groups outside of the courthouse and others who swarmed the subway station where Neely had been killed. David Giffen, the director of the Coalition for the Homeless, said in a statement:

Jordan deserved a life of dignity and respect  and deserved the help that he sought but could not get. Instead, he became the victim of Daniel Pennys outrageous and unacceptable vigilantism and of our Citys and States failure to provide quality voluntary mental health care and access to permanent supportive housing to people trying to survive on our streets.

The New York Civil Liberties Union in a post on X said, This case will forever be a symbol of New Yorks failure to adequately care for people with mental health needs and those experiencing homelessness.

Neelys father, Andre Zachary, said at a rally outside of the courthouse:

What are we going to do, people? Whats gonna happen to us now? The system is rigged. Come on people, lets do something about this.

The far-right is jubilant at the verdict. On Monday, Vice President-elect JD Vance posted on X: But thank God justice was done in this case. It was a scandal Penny was ever prosecuted in the first place.

Numerous calls have been made demanding the resignation of Alvin Bragg for bringing the charges against Penny. The reactionary Moms for Liberty member of the Community Education Council in District 2 of the New York City school system, Maud Maron, now running for district attorney, told the media:



DA Bragg has pursued a reckless ideological agenda since his first day in office. Manhattan deserves a district attorney who will defend all New Yorkers, apply the law fairly and make Daniel Pennys heroism unnecessary by cleaning up the subways and streets of New York City.

New York Republican Congressman Mike Lawler said in a statement:

Alvin Bragg has failed in his responsibilities to enforce the law and keep New Yorkers safe. Sadly, he has engaged in political prosecutions on numerous cases, including President Trump, Daniel Penny... He should be removed from office immediately.

The hailing of Penny as a hero is part of a right-wing campaign directed against the homeless and the mentally ill, hundreds of whom have no place to live other than New Yorks massive subway system. From the moment of the killing, the incident has been charged with right-wing vigilantism and worship of militarism. The media routinely refer to Penny as a former Marine and have often gone to lengths to explain that he was likely to have been trained in applying chokeholds.

As though that is a measure of a persons ability to protect the health and safety of the public! The politicians and media make no mention of the destructive and criminal role of the American military in world politics. The verdict was reached almost 20 years after the Marine Corps played the leading role in the destruction of the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

The support for Penny is not limited to fascists. Eric Adams, the citys right-wing Democratic mayor and former police captain, told an interviewer shortly after Neelys death: We cannot tell passengers what they should or should not do. Following the verdict, he said that Penny had done what we should have done as a city.

Adams has been instrumental in working with the administration of fellow Democrat New York Governor Kathy Hochul in eroding the rights of the mentally ill by allowing police officers, as opposed to medical personnel, to make decisions about involuntary hospitalization.

Pseudo-left groups have presented the killing of Neely as an incentive to reform capitalism. The New York City mayoral candidate of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Zohran Mamdani, issued a statement calling Neelys death a tragedy, blaming the incident on decades of policy failure in New York, and saying the verdict was not justice. He did not use the word murder or link both the killing and the acquittal to the fascistic policies of the incoming Trump administration, the bipartisan law-and-order propaganda, and the role of the Biden administration and successive Democratic mayors and governors in presiding over a disastrous growth of homelessness and poverty.

Other elements of the pseudo-left have taken a strictly racialist approach to the acquittal of Penny. Former New York DSA congressman Jamal Bowman issued a lengthy rant on X that blamed Neelys killing on white people. He wrote: [H]ow many times have you seen a white man killed in cold blood on camera on your newsfeed? How many times have you even heard about this?

Bowman made this absurd claim despite the fact that white and Hispanic workers account for the largest number of police killings in the United States, although African Americans account for the highest in relation to their proportion of the population. Bowman added, I marvel at the beauty and greatness of my people in spite of white supremacy. Its extraordinary. That is what I will continue to lean on.



Neely was emblematic of the growing homelessness and mental health crisis in New York City. He was on the top 50 list maintained by the city of homeless people that it considers urgently in need of medical treatment.

The verdict takes place under conditions where the administrations of Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams have declared war on so-called fare-beaters, those who cannot afford the $2.90 fare and seek to ride the subway or bus system without paying.

On September 15, officers of the New York Police Department (NYPD) shot and severely wounded Derrell Mickles for alleged fare evasion. The cops also shot three bystanders, injuring one critically. The clampdown on fare evaders includes spot checks of bus riders and beefed up private security, along with NYPD and National Guard presence on the subways.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs NYCs public transit system, is tens of billions of dollars in debt. The ruling class solution to the near-bankruptcy of the Authority is to terrorize those too poor to pay their fares and to clean up the system, that is, to remove the homeless and mentally ill who are victims of the broader crisis of housing and social services in the city. Pennys strangling of Neely has fueled calls not only for law-and-order, but for illegal and violent attacks on the working class and poor people.
Woods at the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party (UK) on May 3, 2024 [Photo by Socialist Appeal / CC BY-SA 4.0

On November 6, following the announcement of Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election, Alan Woods, leader of the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), the successor to the International Marxist Tendency (IMT), published an article that starkly illustrates the complacent and anti-Marxist orientation of his political tendency.

Revealingly titled Trump victory: a kick in the teeth for the establishment, the article echoes Trumps fraudulent claims of being an anti-establishment figure while downplaying the immense dangers posed by a Trump presidency to the working class.

David North, the chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (US), in his introductory remarks to the post-election online webinar The Election Debacle and the Fight Against Dictatorship, warned:

Now, it is not the position of the SEP and the WSWS that the accession of Trump to the presidency is the equivalent of Hitlers 1933 victory. The United States is not Weimar Germany, and the transformation of the United States into a police state dictatorship backed by a mass fascist movement will not, whatever Trumps intentions, be achieved overnight. But it would be politically irresponsible, and actually contribute to the success of Trumps aims, not to recognize the dangerous implications and real consequences of last Tuesdays election. At the very least, it is necessary to take Trump at his word.

This warning applies in full to Alan Woods presentation of the significance of Trumps election. Bordering on infatuation, it seeks to dismiss the dangers from Trumps plans for dictatorial rule and social counterrevolution.

Woods writes:

The ruling class of America  firmly supported by the governments of Europe  was determined to keep him [Trump] out of office, by fair means or foul. After Trump was ousted in the 2020 election, everything was done to prevent him from standing again All the numerous attacks against him rebounded and turned against those who were seen  correctly  as being involved in a conspiracy to prevent him from re-entering the White House.

This portrayal is false. The ruling class was not determined to keep [Trump] out of office. Significant sections of the financial and corporate elite, including billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, actively supported Trump, viewing his authoritarian and pro-business agenda as a means of furthering their own class interests. Others, like Jeff Bezos, have proclaimed their support for Trump after the election.

When Woods writes ...by fair means or foul and affirms Trumps claims of a conspiracy to prevent him from reentering the White House, he is legitimizing the presentation of Trump as the victim of lawfare and a conspiracy by the deep state. Woods implies that the prosecution of those involved in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election should be seen as part of a conspiracy against Trump, channeling Trumps own propaganda that All the cards were stacked against him.

In fact, in advance of the election, Trump and the sections of the corporate and financial oligarchy backing him were determined to use all means, fair or foul to return to the White House, actively plotting to reject the outcome of any election that did not lead to his victory. As it turned out, the complete bankruptcy of the Democratic Party allowed Trump to secure an electoral victory. Having won office, Trump is rapidly assembling a government of, by and for the oligarchy, while utilizing all means, fair or foul, to implement his agenda.

As for the Democratic Party, it did everything it could to create the conditions for Trumps return. The Democrats had four years in the White House to prosecute Trump for his attempt to overthrow the Constitution. It took no serious measures to do so. In his inauguration speech two weeks after the January 6 fascist attack on the Capitol, Biden said he wanted a strong Republican Party, even though the Republican Party for the most part supported the coup attempt and continued to defend the ex-president.

This was because the Democratic Partys overriding priority was the preparation for war against Russia and China, and that required support from the Republicans. Going after Trump seriously would cut across this war policy. At the same time, Biden and the Democrats were fearful that the explosive crisis of American capitalism and breakdown of its traditional forms of rule could lead to the breakup of the two-party system, which is how the US ruling class maintains its political domination of the working class.

Woods presents Trumps election as a defeat for the ruling class. How, then, does he explain the record surge on Wall Street in response to Trumps election? Not to mention the abject capitulation of the Democratic Party to the incoming president and aspiring dictator, with Biden pledging the smoothest possible transition and leading Democrats, from Bernie Sanders to Nancy Pelosi, declaring their desire to work with Trump to ensure a successful administration?

Presentation of Trump as a working class figure

Woods writes of the election: [T]his was a kind of Peasants Revolt  a plebeian insurgency and a crushing vote of no confidence in the existing order. Those voting for Trump are looking for a radical alternative, he adds. This mightve been provided by Sanders, if he had decided to break [with] the Democrats and stand as an independent. But he capitulated to the establishment of the Democratic Party, and that disillusioned his base In the absence of a viable left-wing candidate, millions of people who felt alienated and politically dispossessed took advantage of the opportunity to deliver a well-aimed kick against the establishment.

Trump was able to exploit social grievances, but to present his victory as a plebian insurgency is an expression of abject prostration and political bankruptcy. How can a vote for a billionaire far-right candidate who declares his intention to establish a dictatorship on day one of his administration and mobilize the military to deport millions of immigrants be a well-aimed kick at the establishment?

It is notable that Woods laments that Bernie Sanders did not take the advice of the IMT to launch an independent party, which the IMT pledged to support in 2016. The IMT was part of the pseudo-left fraternity that oriented itself to the Sanders campaign, in line with its basic perspective of pressuring the Democrats to the left.

Going even further, Woods writes: Donald Trump has played a most important role in placing the working class at the very centre of US politics for the first time in decades. In the hands of Woods, Trump, a billionaire conspirator intent on imposing a social counter-revolution, is transformed into an agent of historical progress. He has even played a most important role in elevating the working class to the center of American politics!

Trump the pacifist

Continuing his glorification of Trump, Woods presents him as a potential brake on the escalation of war. He writes: In essence, his inclination is towards isolationism. He is averse to any idea of America getting entangled in foreign alignments of any sort  whether that be the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation or NATO itself.

Further on, he writes: However, it is not at all clear that he will be in favour of a war with China, which is both economically and militarily a very formidable power.

There is nothing in Trumps record, his recent statements or the politics of those he has appointed to staff his incoming administration to support this view. Recently, Alex Wong, Trumps incoming deputy national security adviser, posted on social media the following in relation to China:

The United States and its people have to be prepared for a level of tensions, regional destabilization andyespossible conflict that we have not seen since the end of World War II.

Woods is trying to make Trump out to be something of a pacifist. Nothing could be further from the truth. There do, of course, exist differences in tactics within the ruling class. On domestic issues, certain sections have preferred to utilize the trade union bureaucracy to stifle the working class. Other sections of the ruling class seek the cultivation of far-right vigilantes and police repression against the working class. On foreign policy, a main disagreement is whether or not China should be the more immediate target.

But Trump and the Republicans are absolutely ruthless representatives of American imperialism. Significantly, Woods says nothing about Trumps even more naked support for Israeli genocide against the Palestinians than that of the Biden administration, and his condemnation of even rhetorical efforts to distance the US from the mass murder and ethnic cleansing that is taking place.

Whitewashing the January 6 coup attempt

Woods does not characterize Trump as a fascist, only a right-wing politician. His refusal to identify Trump as a fascist is connected to the position of the RCIs predecessor organization, the IMT, on the January 6, 2021, coup attempt. As the World Socialist Web Site reported at the time, Woods wrote: This was not an organized insurrectionary coup on the verge of overthrowing the US government and imposing a fascist regime to crush the workers and the left. Far from it!

This position is rooted in the dangerous illusion that the ruling class and military in the United States remain committed to democratic forms of rule. The IMT asserted that the January 6 coup attempt was an isolated act, involving only Trump and the crowd who stormed the Capitol building, going as far as to claim that Trump and his diehard supporters in Congress almost certainly did not plan for the crowd to invade the Capitol, but they were playing with fire Trumps attack dogs broke free of their leashes.

The IMTs American section wrote in the aftermath of the January 6 coup attempt that fascism is only a threat ... if the working class fails to take power over the next decade or two, and only after a series of serious defeats.

In fact, the events of January 6, 2021, and the Trump phenomenon as a whole are the outcome of a protracted process of crisis and decay of American democracy, going back decades. The Supreme Court decision in the 2000 election, undemocratically handing the presidency to George W. Bush, the loser of the popular and electoral vote, was not opposed by the Democratic Party, revealing, as the World Socialist Web Site analyzed, the absence of any significant constituency within the ruling class for the defense of democracy. Supreme Court Justice Scalia articulated the outlook of certain layers of the ruling class when he said that there was no constitutionally protected right to vote for the president.

Woods failure to characterize Trump as a fascist is not an oversight. He and the RCI explicitly reject designating Trump and his administration-in-waiting as fascist. The founding conference, held in June of this year, which transformed the IMT into the Revolutionary Communist International, adopted a manifesto that includes the following passage:

Superficial impressionists on the so-called Left internationally foolishly see Trumpism as fascism: Such confusion cannot help us to understand the real significance of important phenomena. This nonsense leads them directly into the swamp of class-collaborationist policies. By advancing the false idea of the lesser evil, they invite the working class and its organisations to unite with one reactionary wing of the bourgeoisie against another. It was this false policy that allowed them to push voters to support Joe Biden and the Democratsa vote that many people subsequently bitterly regretted. By constantly harping on about the alleged danger of fascism, they will disarm the working class when faced with genuine fascist formations in the future. As for the present, they miss the point entirely.

Behind this grotesque complacency and prostration before the fascist threat lie profound pessimism and a demoralized rejection of the possibility of the working class playing an independent and revolutionary political role. This is the content of asserting that declaring Trump a fascist automatically means adopting the position of lesser evilism and supporting the Democrats.

According to Woods and the RCI, one cannot at once recognize the fascistic, violently counterrevolutionary and anti-working class content of Trumps policiesembodied in the assemblage of billionaires, political gangsters and quacks in his incoming administrationand at the same time fight for a break with the Democrats and the political independence of the working class. But that was precisely the program advanced by the Socialist Equality Party in its 2024 presidential election campaign, headed by Joseph Kishore and Jerry White.

A fascist in the White House is not the same as the consolidation of fascist rule in America. There will be massive working class resistance and battles against Trumps policies that will create the objective conditions for the building of revolutionary leadership and the mobilization of the working class on the basis of a socialist and internationalist program.

In order to deny that Trump represents anything fundamentally different in American politicsthat his government will simply be a continuation of political reactionWoods omits in his article, as does the RCI in its founding document, any concrete discussion of his actual policies. He says nothing about Trumps pogromist attacks on immigrants, who play for Trump the role played by the Jews in Hitlers fascist agitation, and his pledge to use the military to deport millions of immigrant workers beginning on day one of his administration.

He is silent on Trumps promise to destroy the enemy within, whom he identifies as left-wingers and socialists. He says nothing about Trumps promise to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, rip up all regulations on big business and fire hundreds of thousands of federal workers. He is silent on Trumps deranged threats of massive tariffs and global trade war, the antechamber to World War III.

RCI claims there is no prospect of world war

Woods downplaying of the danger represented by Trump is of a piece with the overall analysis put forward in the RCI founding document, which denies the immediacy and depth of the crisis of American and world capitalism.

On the danger of imperialist war, the RCI writes: In the past, the existing tensions would already have led to a major war between the Great Powers. But changing conditions have removed this from the agendaat least for the present.

The document goes on to dismiss the danger of nuclear warfare, stating that a world war is ruled out under present conditions Toward its conclusion, the document states: For the reasons outlined above, the present crisis will be prolonged in nature. It can last years, or even decades

This politically criminal underestimation of the crisis is bound up with the RCIs perspective of regroupment with and liquidation into Stalinist and pseudo-left organizations in the name of pursuing a united front policy. This is the real content of its new communist international.

Thus the RCI founding document promotes the Stalinist Greek Communist Party, whose history is one of complicity in all of the counterrevolutionary crimes of the Soviet bureaucracy, from the Moscow trials and murder of the Bolsheviks who led the October Revolution, including Leon Trotsky, to the betrayal of the post-World War II Greek Civil War and the subjection of the Greek working class to the IMFs brutal austerity program by Syriza.

The document states:

The Greek Communist Party (KKE) has undoubtedly taken important steps in rejecting the old discredited Stalinist-Menshevik idea of two stages Its too early to conclude that the progress made by the Greek communists has been completed.

Falsification of history to exclude the Fourth International

Most revealing is the falsification of the history of the Marxist movement to exclude the role of Trotsky as the founder of the Fourth International and, indeed, the very existence of the Fourth International since 1938, including its living presence today in the form of the International Committee of the Fourth International and its affiliated Socialist Equality Parties.

The founding document of the RCI states:

What is required is a genuine Communist Party, which bases itself on the ideas of Lenin and the other great Marxist teachers, and an international on the lines of the Communist International during its first five years.

In other words, Stalin destroyed the continuity of Marxism and international socialism and Trotskys monumental achievement in founding the Fourth International was of no significance. This is, in fact, a political capitulation to counterrevolutionary Stalinism. The rejection of the continuity of Marxism through the Fourth International leaves the RCI free to engage in nationalist and opportunist politics behind the facade of communist rhetoric. The result is capitulation not only to capitalism in general, but to its fascist wing.

The complacency and opportunism of the RCI are rooted in its historical origins and long-standing rejection of the Leninist conception of the fight for socialist consciousness.

For the RCI, socialist consciousness develops as an automatic process, leaving out the role of the revolutionary party and its fight to win the working class to a socialist perspective. The RCI openly rejects this task. Its founding document states:

In the past, you had to struggle to persuade people as to the correctness of communist ideas and Marxist ideas. Not anymore.

Lenin wrote in What is to be Done?:

There is much talk of spontaneity. But the spontaneous development of the working-class movement leads to its subordination to bourgeois ideology our task is to combat spontaneity, to divert the working class from this spontaneous, trade-unionist striving to come under the wing of the bourgeoisie, and to bring it under the wing of revolutionary Social-Democracy

The RCIs prostration before Trump and the fascistic right is a product of its historical origins in the Pabloite Militant Tendency led by Ted Grant.

The Militant Tendency spent the better part of the 20th century sowing illusions in left Labourites, operating as an internal faction of the British Labour Party. The national groupings of the RCIs political predecessor the IMT operated as internal factions of pseudo-left parties such as Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain, Die Linke in Germany, and the New Popular Front in France. In this way they sowed illusions in political parties that betrayed the working class, carrying out austerity policies and promoting nationalism and militarism.

Conclusion

As David North stated in introducing the World Socialist Web Sites November 10 online meeting in response to the US election: The time for serious politics has begun. The RCI does not represent serious politics. Its record is that of the deepest entryism in pseudo-left parties and opposition to the fight to raise the political consciousness of the working class.

A fight against Trump is necessary and must be politically prepared in the working class on the basis of a political perspective rooted in an assimilation of the historical experiences of the working class.

The Trump administration will unleash immense struggles, and it would be wrong to see the drive to dictatorship as completed. That will be decided in struggle. However, the RCI is actively disarming the working class and even asserting that Trumps election is a defeat for the ruling class.

Those workers and youth who recognize that Trump is threatening dictatorship, the destruction of the social rights of the working class and world war must take up the struggle to prepare the working class for the impending mass struggles. This can only be done through a study of the analysis made on the World Socialist Web Site and the decision to join and build the Socialist Equality Party in the US and the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world party of socialist revolution.
The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week in Manhattan is one of those shocking events that suddenly reveal stark aspects of social reality under capitalism, in this case the raw truth about healthcare in the US and its destructive impact on the lives of millions.

United Healthcare correspondence [AP Photo/Elise Amendola]

UnitedHealthcare and its parent company, UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest healthcare corporations in the world, have long symbolized the prioritization of profit over the health and well-being of the population. Their operations epitomize the predatory nature of for-profit healthcare in the United States, where the pursuit of corporate profit has devastating consequences for patients, families and healthcare workers.

From denying life-saving claims to facing numerous lawsuits for acting in bad faith, UnitedHealth Groups track record highlights a system designed not to heal but to enrich its executives and shareholders.

UnitedHealth Group has consistently come under fire for denying patients claims, leaving countless individuals and families grappling with the financial and emotional toll of medical crises. Reports have surfaced of patients being denied essential treatments, including surgeries, cancer therapies and critical medications, often based on spurious justifications. Last year, 12 percent of claims were denied, a 20 percent increase from 2020. In 2023, 58 percent of insured adults experienced issues with their coverage.

Last October, a report from the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations underscored this grim reality, showing a rise of UnitedHealthcares denial rate for post-acute care for people with Medicare Advantage plans to 22.7 percent in 2022, from 10.9 percent in 2020.

Several ProPublica investigations in the last three years have revealed the extent of UnitedHealth and other insurance giants criminal practices.

EviCore, a company owned by Cigna and contracted by major insurers like UnitedHealth and Aetna, systematically denies medically necessary treatments through its prior authorization process. Physicians and patients describe delays or outright rejections for crucial interventions, such as cancer therapies and diagnostic tests, even when recommended by specialists. Their infamous letters to patients constantly include the absurd claim: Not medically necessary.

EviCore uses an algorithm backed by artificial intelligence, dubbed the dial, that the company can adjust to lead to higher denials. Its primary goal is to save insurers money, meaning they get to pocket more of the monthlyoften exorbitantpremiums workers pay in, leading to avoidable health deterioration for patients. The system often prioritizes administrative procedures over medical expertise, leaving patients to navigate bureaucratic hurdles instead of receiving timely care.

Another ProPublica investigation also exposed UnitedHealth Groups subsidiary Optum and its use of an algorithm to illegally deny mental health and substance abuse treatment claims. A federal judge ruled the company violated laws and its fiduciary duty by using financial considerations to deny coverage. Internal documents revealed employees trained to apply restrictive guidelines ignoring medical necessity. This practice forced patients to forgo treatment, exacerbating their medical crises.

These practices have been described as systemic denial of care. Patients are systematically denied coverage for cutting-edge treatment despite recommendations from physicians. Such denials are not isolated incidents. Physicians and nurses regularly voice their frustrations with UnitedHealths policies, which they argue undermine their ability to provide adequate care.

UnitedHealth Group has faced numerous lawsuits for acting in bad faith, exposing the extent to which corporate greed drives its operations. In 2021, a lawsuit filed by former finance director at UnitedHealth Group Benjamin Poehling exposed UnitedHealth Groups fraudulent practices within Medicare Advantage. UnitedHealth allegedly exaggerated patient illnesses to inflate risk scores and secure higher government payments, potentially defrauding Medicare of over $1 billion.

Poehling revealed employees were incentivized to exploit the system, with bonuses tied to inflated revenues rather than patient outcomes. The Justice Department intervened, investigating UnitedHealth and other insurers for systemic fraud. Theyve set up a perfect scheme here, Poehling said. It was rigged so there was no way they could lose.

The Justice Department has intervened in other whistleblower lawsuits, including one from James Swoben, a former data manager at Senior Care Action Network Health Plan and a consultant to the risk adjustment industry, alleging that UnitedHealth and others defrauded Medicare Advantage by inflating risk scores to secure higher government payments.

UnitedHealth also challenged a 2014 rule requiring insurers to verify diagnoses submitted for Medicare reimbursements, claiming it conflicted with actuarial equivalence mandates. This challenge highlights UnitedHealths alleged focus on exploiting the system, enabling them to overstate patient diagnoses for financial gain.

Additionally, the Justice Department is investigating other Medicare Advantage insurers, including Humana, Aetna, Health Net and Cignas Bravo Health, indicating systemic abuse across the industry. Humana, notably, has faced prior fraud allegations.

In another case, the company was found to have illegally denied mental health and substance abuse treatments. A federal judge in California ruled in 2019 that United Behavioral Health, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth, prioritized profit over patient care, violating state laws and its fiduciary duty to policyholders. The court described the companys guidelines for coverage as infected by financial considerations.

Such lawsuits underscore UnitedHealths commitment not to health, but to profit maximizationa grim reality for millions of patients and healthcare workers trapped in the system.

UnitedHealth Groups actions are orchestrated by its top executives, including CEO Andrew Witty and the late Brian Thompson. Under their leadership, the company has seen record profits, which topped $23 billion in 2023, while patients continue to suffer under its policies. Witty, a former pharmaceutical executive in the UK, exemplifies the revolving door between healthcare corporations and regulatory bodies. After serving as the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline from 2008 to 2017 he took on a series of advisory positions within the UK government, including at the NHS, before becoming the CEO of UnitedHealth in 2021.

A video recorded one day after Thompsons murder shows Witty defending the companys claim denial practices. We make sure that care is safe, appropriate, and is delivered when people need it and we guard against the pressures that exist for unsafe or unnecessary care to be delivered in a way that makes the whole system too complex and ultimately unsustainable, Witty told employees in the video, leaked to journalist Ken Klippenstein.

Thompson, whose 20-year career at UnitedHealthcare coincided with the expansion of the companys market dominance, had been equally complicit. Prior to becoming CEO, he held various leadership roles within UnitedHealthcare, including overseeing the companys government programs and Medicare & Retirement divisions and had been a key figure in shaping the companys strategy and direction.

A lawsuit by the Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund accuses Thompson, Witty and UnitedHealth Group executive chairman Stephen Hemsley of insider trading. The executives allegedly sold over $120 million in stock in 2023, after learning privately of a DOJ investigation into UnitedHealths acquisition of Change Healthcare. The company reportedly failed to establish promised data firewalls, raising antitrust concerns. The pension fund claims significant financial losses due to undisclosed risks.

The ripple effects of UnitedHealths policies extend beyond patients to the healthcare workforce across the United States. Nurses and doctors frequently cite insurance hurdles as a significant contributor to burnout and moral injury. The strain on healthcare workers has only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, as insurance companies like UnitedHealth reported record profits while frontline workers faced shortages of staff, equipment and support, in addition to illness.

The incoming Trump administration and figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is set to head the Department of Health and Human Services, guarantee that the most unrestrained corporate interests will further entrench themselves in the system. Kennedy, known for his anti-scientific stances on vaccines and public health, aligns with the administrations broader agenda of deregulation and privatization. This will embolden corporations like UnitedHealth, allowing them to operate with more impunity and even less oversight.

UnitedHealth Groups actions serve as a damning indictment of for-profit healthcare. Its denial of claims, exploitation of healthcare workers, and prioritization of financial gain over human life encapsulate the failures of a system driven by profit. As the political elite realigns its policies to social reality and prepares further attacks on living standards and democratic rights, the potential for greater corporate influence looms large, threatening to deepen the crisis in healthcare.

The for-profit healthcare model epitomized by UnitedHealth Group reveals the necessity of a fundamental transformation of society. A socialist approach to healthcare would serve human need over corporate profit, ensuring universal access to care as a basic social right. Such a system would eliminate the role of predatory insurance companies, redirecting immense resources to improving patient outcomes and supporting healthcare workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the fragility and inequities of the current system, underscoring the urgent need for change. As corporate behemoths like UnitedHealth continue to rake in billions at the expense of the sick and vulnerable, it is becoming ever more clear that the fight for socialism is a matter of life and death.
The man who allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson a week ago was arraigned and charged on Monday with five crimes at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

Luigi Mangione is escorted into Blair County Courthouse, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania [AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec]

Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested at a McDonalds a few miles away in Altoona on Monday morning, after he was recognized by a customer who notified staff, who then called local police. Mangiones arrest brought to an end a five day manhunt for the gunman who was captured on surveillance video shooting Thompson in the back on a New York City street early in the morning of December 4.

The charges in Pennsylvania include forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of crime and false identification to law enforcement authorities.

The police complaint alleges the suspect provided a false New Jersey drivers license as identification and started to shake when asked if he had been to New York recently. The complaint also included a description of the so-called ghost guna weapon not registered with authoritieswhich was apparently home-made.

When they searched Mangiones backpack, the complaint states, Officers located a black 3D-printed pistol and a black silencer.  The pistol had one loaded Glock magazine with six nine-millimeter full metal jacket rounds.  The silencer was also 3D printed.

On Tuesday, Mangione appeared in the county courthouse a second time, represented by his attorney Thomas Dickey, where he was denied bail. New York prosecutors filed an arrest warrant on Tuesday and are seeking Mangiones extradition to face charges in that state of second degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a weapon in the third-degree.

The New York charges are class A-1 felonies and carry the possibility of a life sentence.

Attorney Dickey, who has been hired to represent the defendant, said that he will fight the extradition and has requested a hearing on the matter. An appearance has been scheduled by the court in two weeks while Mangione is being held at State Correctional Institution Huntingdon, the oldest state prison in Pennsylvania.

On his way from the police cruiser to the courtroom on Tuesday, wearing an orange jumpsuit, Mangione was recorded by news media yelling out, This is completely unjust and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience.

Luigi Mangione is a member of a well-known, conservative and wealthy family in the Baltimore area. His grandfather, Nicholas Mangione, Sr., was a real estate developer and owned country clubs, nursing homes and a radio station. The family owns significant real estate in Maryland including Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore, and Hayfields Country Club overlooking the Oregon Ridge, in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

A statement was released on behalf of the Mangione family that said they only know what we have read in the media and that they were shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest.

Luigi Mangione attended and was the class of 2016 valedictorian at the prestigious, private Gilman School in Baltimore, where he wrestled and played other sports. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Ivy League school in computer engineering.

News reports have said that Mangione suffered from severe back pain from his childhood that interfered with his quality of life. ABC News reported, An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine.

After college, Mangione worked for a short time for the car-buying website TrueCar. ABC News reported that from January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. The report said he left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland and later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment.

From this point forward, Mangiones associations and whereabouts are sketchy. According to a report in the New York Times, he was in regular contact with friends and family until about six months ago when he suddenly and inexplicably stopped communicating with them. He had been suffering from a painful back injury, friends said, and then went dark.

Less than one month before the New York City shooting, Mangione was reported missing by his mother to the San Francisco Police Department.

Investigators have recovered a three-page statement, referred to in the news media as a manifesto, allegedly written by Mangione concerning the shooting of Thompson, as well as lists and to-do items in a spiral notebook.

Although major corporate news outlets have declined to publish the document, blogger Ken Klippenstein has posted Mangiones statement in full online. The statement says, in part, that UnitedHealthcare is the largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but has our life expectancy?

It goes on to say the companies have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it.

The prior outpouring of hostility toward the health insurance industry and unsympathetic response to the death of Thompson on social media has now transitioned into support for Mangione as a vigilante and hero.

Both the shooting death of Thompson and the public response to it, as the World Socialist Web Site explained on Monday, have revealed certain realities about life in America that have been covered up by the media for many decades with a ton of self-delusion, lies and stupidities.

There is seething anger and hostility among tens of millions of people in the USnot to mention billions around the worldover the conditions of inequality and brutal indifference to suffering that is endemic and a necessary feature of the capitalist system.

There is no outlet for this anger and opposition to social inequality within the American political establishment and its two parties of the billionaire elite. This vacuum has created conditions for incidents such as a highly compensated corporate executive being murdered on his way to an investor conference in New York City.

However, the actions of Mangione and the enthusiastic support for himincluding some who are hailing him as a peoples vigilantecut across what is necessary to change the conditions and, in the end, serve to bolster the capitalist system and its state apparatus of repression and violence.

What is required is a genuine mass political movement of the working class aimed at putting an end to the private ownership and control of the health care systemalong with all basic economic resourcesand their revolutionary transformation into public resources operated on a socialist basis to provide for the needs of society as a whole.
Prahlad Iyengar, a second-year PhD student student at MIT, has been effectively expelled from the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based university for the offense of opposing the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Graduates protesting the genocide in Gaza leave an outdoor commencement at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Thursday, May 30, 2024. [AP Photo/Michael Casey]

Iyengar has been sanctioned for writing an article On Pacificism, which was of an academic character, in the student magazine Written Revolution as the WSWS previously covered. The other offenses include writing an email on a non-violent protest and apparently offending Lockheed Martin recruiters. This latter event was the focus of the MIT Committee on Disciplines latest attack on Iyengars democratic rights.

The WSWS calls on all students, faculty, staff and the broader working class to demand the ban and all administrative sanctions against Iyengar be lifted.

Recently, students at George Mason University were raided by the FBI for their support for Palestine. Protest encampments established by students on campuses across the country last spring demanding an end to the genocide were subject to coordinated police assaults and a bipartisan slander campaign by Democrats and Republicans accusing antiwar students of antisemitism.

These attacks on freedom of speech take place amid an escalating global war, of which the genocide in Gaza, which is estimated to have killed over 180,000, is part.

The accusations take on a flagrantly false and hypocritical character in Iyengars case, as the administration is guilty of the very violence they accuse him of, having sent cops against peaceful protesters and standing by while violent fascistic-Zionist thugs attacked peaceful protests and sang pro-genocide songs like Harbu Darbu, which openly calls for the annihilation of Gaza.

Iyengars attorney Eric Lee posted in response to the ruling on X: The decision against Prahlad Iyengar is a major blow to free speech everywhere. MITs admin is so deeply connected to the war profiteers that it cannot tolerate pro-Palestinian speech. This sets tone for further attacks to speech coming under Trump.

In response to this attack on free speech the MIT Coalition Against Apartheid sent a letter to the Cambridge City Council appealing for the ban and effective expulsion to be lifted. The letter, which organizations and groups are able to sign here, was signed by over 100 student and other organizations. As the letter explains, Iyengar, a National Science Foundation (NSF) fellow, has been suspended until January 2026, effectively terminating his 5-year NSF fellowship and severely disrupting his academic career.

The letter explains that this suspension is in fact an expulsion as his readmission is entirely contingent upon approval from the same Committee on Discipline (COD) that handed down this harsh sanction. Iyengar is appealing the unjust ruling to the chancellor of MIT, Melissa Nobles, on December 11. Nobles for her part has embraced the slander equating opposition to genocide with antisemitism.

The letter notes that the administration, after facing an exposure of their claim that the academic article advocated violence they focused their attack on less flashy charges, which have been resolved as informal warnings in similar scenarios. In making such drastic changes to the process arbitrarily and without precedent, the COD has denied Iyengar procedural fairness. These actions demonstrate a troubling abuse of power, wherein disciplinary procedures have been weaponized for political purposes.

Iyengar explained to the World Socialist Web Site in an interview what the content of these less flashy charges were, which have to do with what would normally be regarded as non-events at a career fair on September 20.

I had a conversation with the Lockheed Martin recruiter. We talked a lot about my background and the company and then I also had some ethical questions about Lockheed Martins work as relates to the genocide in Gaza like in particular manufacturing of Hellfire missiles. At some point he directed me to speak his colleague and told me to speak with him about civilian technology and sensors and so I went and stood in line to speak with his colleague.

Just when I had gotten to the front of the line the career fair staff decided to close the booth and so they moved the Lockheed Martin recruiters to a private conference room where they were going to talk to students one-on-one. I stood first in line just outside the door, I never tried to enter or anything like that. Im being accused of harassment and intimidation, they say that my behavior was threatening and it was considered very rude and intimidating and hostile, even though I basically participated in the career fair in the same way that anybody else does.

Iyengar remarked that its one thing to directly threaten or attempt to attack the recruiters, but all I did was talk to them.

They have testimony that I was screaming the Lockheed Martin recruiters name, that when they were moved to a private conference room, that I was telling them to come out and face me and things like this. There is video evidence of the entire interaction, and that doesnt appear at all in the video. But the Committee on Discipline decided to preferentially select those kinds of accounts and say well, just because it doesnt appear in the video doesnt mean it didnt happen.

So at this point I feel that its just a lot of made up evidence, it includes hearsay, it includes an attempt to frame a conspiracy even though they dont have actual proof of a conspiracy.

That is, the main piece of evidence that was used in the antidemocratic suspension is the word of recruiters from Lockheed Martin. This is the sort of regime which the funding for the militarization of academia is creating. The suppression of democratic rights is inseparable from the drive to world war.

The same COD would be in charge of seeing Iyengars reintegration into campus if his appeal is successful. This would require among other things for him to submit documentation proving that he has changed his political views and pass an interview with the very same COD that is witch-hunting him. The clear message from the administration is either drop your opposition to genocide or face expulsion.

In its pursuit of Iyengar, MIT has used an evidentiary standard of the preponderance of evidence, which is significantly less than that which would be used in an actual court case and only requires something be more likely than not rather than beyond a reasonable doubt. This standard of evidence was introduced under the guise of preventing sexual assault.

A number of high-profile sexual witch-hunts in academia and Hollywood, such most recently that of Professor John Comaroff of Harvard University, were carried out in order to serve as a proving ground for future witch-hunts against those opposed to war and inequality. The use of these very same methods against the opponents of genocide is a further validation of the WSWSs warnings of the reactionary character of the sexual witch-hunts, the reactionary formula of believe all women and the attacks on the principle of innocent until proven guilty, and identity politics more broadly.
Orbital, by Samantha Harvey, London, Jonathan Cape, 2023, 144 pp.

British novelist Samantha Harveys Orbital is the winner of this years Booker Prize and the first Booker winner to top the UK bestseller list in the week of its awarding. Described by Harvey as a space pastoral, and elsewhere as a love letter to the earth, it has struck a popular chord in a world poised between the immense potential of scientific advances and the threat of military and ecological catastrophe.

Setting the novel in the International Space Station (ISS) with a fictional crew of six, Harvey (born 1975) combines her very considerable powers of observation and empathy to place her readers in this strange, unearthly, as she ironically phrases it, positionin which space shreds time and claustrophobia becomes agoraphobia in an instant, or you have both at once. Rocket launches and the ISS are facts of life for most alive today. Harvey has a knack for phrases that shatter the background sense of familiarity with these routine astronauts in earths backyard and allow the triumph and wonder of this achievement to come through.

Orbital, Samantha Harvey (2023)

The same point can be made about her treatment of the planet itself, cast in new lights again and againliterally as well as metaphorically, with the whip crack of morning arriving every ninety minutes across the sixteen full orbits made of the Earth by the ISS in a 24-hour period. These passages feel like the heart of the book, in which the earth is the answer to every question.

As such, the characters themselves are slight, with little opportunity to relate their pasts or create their futures in the single day over which the story takes place. The timeframe means that their final chapters are spent sleeping, leaving the last pages to the planet below and universe beyond. Nor is there a plot in anything but the loosest sense.

Yet Orbital is a deeply human, humane book. There is a lovely passage turning the tables on a religious worldview which observes, from the ISS, The earth, from here, is like heaven. It flows with colour. A burst of hopeful colour an improbable, hard-to-believe-in place. Another describes the feelings of solidarity, openness and curiosity evoked looking out on this sight as a heart scraped hollow with craving, which is not emptiness in the least, more the knowledge of how fillable he is. The sights from orbit do this; they make a billowing kite of you, given shape and loftiness by all that you arent.

The human subject in Orbital is humanity in the round, as part of the earth and its improbable, fragile existence; a decision Harvey takes to get a handle on the sheer scale of the ecological issue. But it is also humanity at a distanceone at which its features begin to blur. Crew member Pietros notion that if you could get far enough away from the earth youd finally be able to understand it is aimed at encompassing the shared fate of a species jointly wobbling on a pinhead of being. This encompassing effort takes the form, however, of a flight from the divisions that wrack contemporary society and underpin the novels central concerns.

Dotted also with references to national tensions and conflicts, war abounds, the focus is on climate change and ecological breakdown. This reaches a crescendo at the mid-way point of the book, a long single passage of snow that has never before melted  the prolonged pinking of evaporated lakes  brown seepage of cattle ranch where once was rainforest. The closest thing the novel has to an antagonist is a super typhoon in Southeast Asia whose progress and catastrophic landfall the crew monitors from above.

In trying to make sense of this at the level of humanity, however, Orbital ends up indicting us all, presenting a planet held hostage by humans, a gun to its vitals.

There are flashes of social inequality, the main device being a Filipino fishing family befriended by Pietro on holiday, living in the path of the typhoon. In his memory of that event, the young children seem to look at him with the knowledge that the tables would never turn. As the storm approaches, their father asks himself, Flee to where? It isnt like that, setting up a sharp contrast later in the book, when a billionaires rocket is described as fleeing the scene of a crime. Away from the plucking flinging brute typhoon.

But these divisions have no history or motive force in the narrative. Where do the billionaires come from, and what relation does this wrenching inequality have to the ecological crisis? The questions are sunk into a highly general, species-psychological explanation: The planet is shaped by the sheer amazing force of human want, or maybe humankind is in the late smash-it-all-up teenage stage of self-harm and nihilism.

This is not one-way traffic because Orbital is far from a tragic text, nor does it express the kinds of Luddite romanticism found in sections of environmentalist discourse. In many passages it is hopeful and forward-looking, as much an ode to human science as embodied in the ISS as it is to the earth it orbits: the space station of all places in mankinds short but striving remit, is not somewhere to deny the beauty of progress.

The novel, however, struggles to find a vehicle for this optimism. Most persistently, it invokes a common, inextricably connected and interdependent humanity, not this nation or that but all together, always together come what may, a fumbled harmony taking shape, and an earth that holds no possibility of opposition. Harvey of course knows the latter is untrue as a matter of fact; she is counterposing an ought to an is. The problem is that this sense of potential harmony and collectivity is left unmoored, becoming deeply otherworldly by the closing pages.

Orbital is in some way self-conscious of the shortcoming, The thoughts you have in orbit are so grandiose and old, but excuses it immediately: there are no new thoughts. Theyre just old thoughts born into new moments. As if all we have is the truth that without the earth we are all finished and this will somehow see us through. The closest we come to a concrete realisation of this truth is, again, in scientific endeavour and the crew of the ISS itself, in which

humanity  is no longer a species of confounding difference and distance but a near and graspable thing  they are equalised here by the delicate might of their spaceship.

It is acknowledged though, that the impact of technology is not free from its social context: the atom bomb, most bluntly, and also space missions in search of the new black gold, a new domain ripe for the taking. Even its positive impact is harnessed to the idea of a collective maturing, a grow[ing] out of the royalty of childhood, that sounds more hopeful than convinced. The idea of a bashing away of mankinds ego by the instruments of scientific inquiry falls flat in a world where rocket companies are the new pet project of the richest men on earth.

Grappling with this, Orbital can lose hold of its optimism and sense of progress. In answer to a question from a newspaper about how we are writing the future of humanity, Shaun thinks, Were not writing anything, its writing us. Tellingly, Pietros own suggestion, With the gilded pens of billionaires I guess, is left hanging. Instead, Were wind-blown leaves. We think were the wind, but were just the leaf.

The fatalistic consequences of that view are made immediately plain in the next thought that all this great human endeavour of space exploration really is is an animal migration, a bid for survival. The last description we have in the book of human beings is the image of forty of fifty bodies sheltered behind the altar of a chapel as the typhoon hits, praying and praying, praying for hours  they suppose they must be witnessing a miracle to have survived. Whether of biology or god, human beings end up helpless objects.

Where does this come from, in a book that is otherwise at odds with these tropes? One of the strengths of Orbital is its capacity to answer, or begin to, its own limitations. Harvey is not entirely satisfied with Shauns answer, having him doubt himself: The future of humanity. Does he know anything about that? He thinks the taxi driver, one of the professions asked by the newspaper, would have a better idea than he does. And this sense of being not fully up to the problem is explored more explicitly in other passages.

Watching the typhoon, the crew are Fortune tellers who can see and tell the future but do nothing to change or stop it. Elsewhere, Theyre humans with a godly view and thats the blessing and also the curse. Here is the real crux of the book. One can read this as a Cassandra-like rendering of the fate of the informed few in the face of stubborn popular ignorance, but to do so runs against Orbitals humane impulse. Read with the grain of the text, it amounts to a more genuine, ultimately unanswered, appeal for some means of realizing the social imperatives and benefits of humanitys scientific insights.

The distance between the ISS and the earth is meant to stand for the gap between humanitys ability to understand the climate crisis and to act to address it. But it ends up more poignantly signifying the feeling of disconnection and impotence experienced by a broad layer of conscientious scientistsperhaps especially climate scientistswhose research and increasingly urgent warnings have no influence on the running of society. It is suggestive that the short book returns twice to the image of unrequited calls back down to earth.

Harveys crew members are thoughtful, penetrating minds, capable of grasping the dialectic of human practice in the sphere of natural scienceTheyre the specimens and the objects of research whove forged the way for their own surpassingand its transformation of the potential into the possible: the ISS which is going to end, at least in this form, and will do so through the relentless spirit of endeavour that made it possible in the first place. But they struggle to apply the same understanding to social life.

How to do so? Especially when politics appears in Orbital as a babbling pantomime  an insult to the august stage on which it all happens, which has nonetheless so terribly shaped every single thing on the surface of the earth. The problem, of course, is not politics, but Orbitals narrow conception of it. Social struggles, humanity as a historical force acting upon itself, do not feature, except perhaps in an elusive, enigmatic reference to the last lapsed century: more than simply passed, surely; perhaps failed or, more productively, somehow still present but no longer observedto be renewed, unfinished? The past, after all, is stealthy in making the future.

Its on these points that Harvey and her characters seem to overlap most fully, since they are not only the problems of a generation of scientists who have grown up amid a prolonged suppression of the class struggle and socialist politics, but of artists, too; and all those with a critical attitude towards capitalism but without, as yet, a political perspective. Harveys talent as a writer has brought these issues, which lurk in the background of so much of todays scientific and cultural discourse, more into focus.

Receiving the Booker, she dedicated the prize to those who speak for and not against the earth, for and not against the dignity of other humans, other life  all the people who speak for and call for and work for peace. Her book speaks for the same progressive spirit in search of a home, held in suspension until a renewed revolutionary wave can bring it down to earth.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 09:02 | All, Japan

Nippon Steel Corp. pledged Wednesday to pay $5,000 to each United States Steel Corp. employee as a one-time "closing bonus" if the Japanese steelmaker is permitted to complete its controversial acquisition of the American firm.

The announcement comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly planning to formally block the $14.1 billion buyout on national security grounds, possibly this month.

"We hope that this bonus demonstrates Nippon Steel's long-term commitment to sharing the success of U.S. Steel and providing a more secure future for employees, their families, and communities," Takahiro Mori, representative director and vice chairman of Nippon Steel, said in a statement.

The proposed deal is currently under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which examines whether international transactions involving domestic firms could negatively impact U.S. national security. The process is set to conclude by late December.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has also said he will block the deal in line with his "America First" platform.

Related coverage:

Trump renews pledge to block Nippon Steel's bid for U.S. Steel

Nippon Steel hopes to finish U.S. Steel buyout by year-end

Nippon Steel reapplies for U.S. Steel review amid Biden opposition
Recent articles published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a government-funded think tank, have highlighted the concern which exists in ruling circles that young people arent sufficiently committed to the militarist agenda of Australian imperialism.

The articles, published on ASPIs site the Strategist, highlight the broad opposition among youth, to the imperialist-backed Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people and the AUKUS military alliance with the US and Britain which is part of preparations for war against China.

They call for a government PR campaign to ensure that Australian youth can be herded into imperialist slaughter in future wars through social media, at the universities and in the schools.

An October 4 article, titled Australia needs to engage its youth population around AUKUS, was written by Amanda McCumber, an analyst intern at ASPIs Washington D.C. program.

In it, McCumber stated: As Australias youth will be the generation who will be asked to provide for the national defence when AUKUS comes to fruition, it stands to reason that they must understand its value.

AUKUS includes the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines from the US, in a program costing $368 billion announced by the Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in March 2023. That is part of a broader transformation of Australia into a central launching pad for war with China, including the largest expansion of the Australian military since World War II and the stationing of US strike assets in the country. More broadly, AUKUS is a cockpit for war-planning and the militarisation of the entire region.

US Marines with Marine Rotational Force  Darwin and Australian Army soldiers training together. [Photo: United States Marine Corps ]

At the same time, Albaneses government has given its full-throated support to the Gaza genocide and the ongoing US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine.

None of these conflicts have a popular mandate. And there is significant concern in ruling circles that youth are increasingly hostile to war abroad and the associated attacks on democratic rights, expressed in a massive outpouring of opposition to Australias complicity in the Gaza genocide over the past year.

In a November 21 Strategist article, Australian National University (ANU) National Security College research assistant Gabriella Chippeck cited a survey conducted by the Lowy Institute in March 2023.

The poll of 2077 Australians showed that only 28 percent were supportive of AUKUS. Among 1824-year-olds, this was even lower, at 17 percent. A third of 1824-year-olds thought AUKUS would increase the risk of military conflict and instability in the Indo-Pacific.

More recent polls show that 57 percent of Australians oppose the country getting involved in a conflict between the US and China.

Polls such as these are inherently limited. But they give a sense of broader anti-war sentiment which exists in the population. This social reality, exemplified in the anti-genocide protests, is buried in the corporate media and official discussion.

Chippeck noted that students at ANU have put up posters which call for Welfare, not warfare. ANU is one of the universities in Australia which has seen the most frequent pro-Palestinian protests, including a months-long encampment of students. The universitys administration has responded by engaging in disciplinary action against at least 10 pro-Palestinian students, including expelling two.

Such actions have been carried out at universities across the country. This crackdown on student protests against the Gaza genocide was stepped up in October when Western Sydney University (WSU) allowed police onto its campus to arrest two students who were peacefully protesting. A third WSU student was arrested at her home that week.

This month, a high school student in Sydney was banned from attending his school formal because he wore a keffiyeh.

While opposition is suppressed on university and school campuses, Chippeck called for the government to work with universities to promote a sense of urgency and responsibility for the future of national securityi.e. an aggressive war against China in the Asia-Pacific. This, Chippeck argues, could be done through digital platforms such as YouTube or Instagram.

This is highly significant given the Albanese governments policy of banning children under the age of 16 from social media. The bill mandating the ban was rammed through parliament by Labor and the Liberal-National Coalition on the final sitting day of parliament for the year last month.

As the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) explained in a statement on the World Socialist Web Site, the social media ban is transparent censorship aimed at establishing government control over online discussion.

Young people, living through a global crisis unprecedented since the 1930s, have used social media to access political material and organise.

Taken with the Strategists proposals, the environment that the ruling elites are preparing for Australian youth is one in which there is no political discussion among teenagers, then, once in university, they will be bombarded with militarist propaganda.

Meanwhile, Chippecks piece bemoaned the fact that young people are turning away from the Labor Party and the Coalition, instead increasingly casting votes for third parties.

The Strategist pieces have been met with opposition on social media.

One X/Twitter user, commenting on ASPIs posting of the November 21 article, wrote: We dont want to die for US hegemony and no amount of please consider the stock values of our weapons dealing funders propaganda is going to change that.

Another said: You need to ban alternative sources of information (social media) or kids will see straight through your lies.

We wouldnt die for USA in Vietnam. Youth today, who have better access to Independent Information than in the 60s, wont die for USA, however Australias career politicians dress up the threat they perceive, wrote another commenter.

An ASPI post of October 4 received hundreds of angry comments.

One X/Twitter user wrote: Everyone hates AUKUS, and the kids will never be brainwashed into thinking war with China for US interests will be a good thing.

Tell Aussie youth the reason schools are underfunded, housing is unaffordable, they cant afford food & struggle to pay bills is because their govt is throwing billions at the US to turn Australia into a US military base & Im sure theyll support aukus, wrote another.

This anti-war sentiment is widespread in Australia and worldwide. What is required is to translate the hostility to militarism and the associated attacks on living standards and free speech into a politically guided movement against the system which leads to war: capitalism.

Such a movement must mobilise the immense social and political strength of the working class, which produces all of societys wealth and is the revolutionary force in society. It must be international, uniting workers around the world, and it must be independent from all the official parties, which defend the interests of the capitalist nation-state system including through war. And this movement must be based on the perspective of socialism, the unification of humanity in a peaceful world based on meeting social need, not producing profits for the billionaires and the corporations.

Young people who are interested in taking up this fight should join the IYSSE today.

Email: iysseaus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/IYSSEaustralia

Twitter: @IysseA

Instagram: @iysse.aus
After Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stepped down Sunday and ordered a peaceful transfer of power to rebel forces led by the Al Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militia, US and Israeli warplanes started a massive bombing campaign against Syria.

Israeli soldiers stand next to an armored vehicle at the line that separates the Golan Heights from Syria, on December 9, 2024. [AP Photo/Matias Delacroix]

Washington and its regional allies are launching the rape and carve-up of Syria. As the Israeli army attacks north towards Damascus, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) is attacking south, targeting Kurdish forces in northern Syria, and HTS is taking over government in areas previously controlled by Assad. Statements by Israeli officials make clear that the US-Israeli bombings aim to annihilate Syrias capability to defend itself militarily.

Last night, Israeli military sources told the Jerusalem Post they had carried out 350 air strikes on the majority of strategic weapons stockpiles within Syria. US warplanes struck 75 more targets in Syria. Israeli targets included air defense systems, missile stockpiles, airfields, warplanes, tanks, and drone fleets and military production facilities in cities, including Damascus, Homs, Palmyra, Latakia and Tartus. Israel also reportedly sank Syrias navy at anchor in Al-Bayda and Latakia.

US-Israeli strikes are meeting no opposition from Syrian air defenses. Israeli officials told the Post they had extended operational freedom in Syria.

Washingtons arming of Israel throughout its genocide in Gaza has proven to be part of a broader offensive to subjugate the entire region. This was most bluntly laid out in a press conference Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hailing the collapse of the Assad regime as a new and dramatic chapter in history, Netanyahu proclaimed: We are changing the face of the Middle East.

Israeli units have crossed the border into Syria to seize parts of the Golan Heights and have launched an armored offensive north towards Damascus. Al Jazeera reported that Israeli tanks had reached only 25km from Damascus and were located close to the Damascus airport. While Israeli officials denied that their forces were 25km from Damascus, they are calling to set up a sterile buffer zone controlled by Israel between the Golan Heights and the Syrian capital.

Yesterday morning, during a visit to a naval base at Haifa, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced: Together with the prime minister, I have instructed the [military] to establish a sterile defense zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria, without a permanent Israeli presence. Whether or not there was a permanent Israeli military presence, such a zone would leave the city of Damascus permanently at the mercy of Israeli attack.

While US and European media claim that Assads handover of power to HTS is bringing Syria a new democratic dawn, reports on the ground paint a different picture. The Sunni Islamist militia backed by the NATO powers and Israel are terrorizing the populationparticularly among the Christian, Druze and Shia Alawite communities.

Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Catholic Churchs envoy to Syria, reported to Vatican News the situation in Aleppo after its capture by HTS: In certain zones, its fairly calm, but that is suspect. There is a lot of fear, government offices have shut down, as has the army, which has disappeared. Armed groups are circulating and are promising not to attack the civilian population. Until now, it appears they have respected this promise, but still people are terrified and are shutting themselves in at home.  Fear, terror and uncertainty rule.

Videos are already circulating on social media showing HTS fighters executing Alawites in the street. HTS, like the broader Al Qaeda networks and their backers in the Sunni Muslim oil sheikdoms of the Persian Gulf, is violently hostile to Shia Islam, Shia-majority Iran, and Alawites, the community to which Assad belongs. One video shows HTS forces executing what they claim are Alawites in Lattakia:

Another video shows an HTS fighter threatening and shooting two men he says are Alawites:

US officials are hailing HTSs victory as a devastating blow to Russia and Iran, which supported the Assad regime in a nearly 14-year war with NATO-backed Islamist militias initiated by Washington in 2011. Assad invited Iranian and then Russian forces to fight Al Qaeda-linked or Islamic State militias which had NATO backing but little popular support. Now, US officials are exultant that their support for Israel against Gaza and Hezbollah, and for Ukraines war with Russia, weakened Russia and Iran, letting Washington crush Syria.

Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East, outgoing US President Joe Biden said on Sunday. For the first time ever, neither Russia nor Iran nor Hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria. This is a direct result of the blows that Ukraine and Israel have delivered in their own self-defense with unflagging support of the US.

In reality, putting Al Qaeda forces in power in Syria is a monumentally reckless and criminal action that will inevitably have consequences unintended by Washington. It will not resolve the bloody proxy wars between Israel, Turkey, Iran and the major world powers for influence in Syria and the Middle East, but ultimately pave the way for their escalation.

In this context, Assads order to his regime to hand power over to the Islamist rebels and the collapse of the Syrian army are bitter experience in the bankruptcy and treachery of the Arab bourgeoisie. The speed of the Syrian regimes collapse points not only to the deliberate stand-down by Assad but also the complicity of his backers in Moscow and Tehran.

The Kremlin, which has withdrawn its warships from its Syrian naval base at Tartus, has given no explanation for Assads collapse. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed yesterday that Assad is in Moscow but refused to say why he had fled. Ryabkov said, He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation. I have no idea what is going on with him right now. It would be very wrong for me to elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved.

On Monday, however, Irans semi-official Mehr news agency posted an article detailing growing conflicts between Tehran and Assad before the HTS offensive. By its account, Iranian military commanders traveled to Syria amid signs HTS was preparing an offensive in Turkish- and US-controlled areas of northern Syria. According to Mehr, Iranian officials, after hours of consultation on developments in Syria, concluded that this time the conditions for Irans military assistance to Bashar Assad were not laid.

The Assad regimes collapse after a 14-year war is any case a bitter lesson in the bankruptcy of a bourgeois nationalist strategy to oppose imperialism. Opposing the descent into barbarism requires the mobilization and international unification of opposition in the working class to imperialist war and genocide, based on a struggle for socialism.
Without waiting for any evidence as to who was responsible, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Labor governments key ministers this morning rushed to brand as another antisemitic attack the overnight setting alight of a car and the spraying of anti-Israel graffiti in Sydney.

Before anything was even known about the identity of the individuals who torched the car and scrawled graffiti, including Kill Israiel [sic], on a house fence and two cars, Albanese insisted that this was a hate crime directed against all Jews and requiring a major state response.

Whatever the motivations of those involvedand that is totally unclearthe actions against cars and houses in the suburb of Woollahra are essentially reactionary. They provide another pretext for the activation of police-state powers directed against the hundreds of thousands of people across Australia who have been demonstrating for 14 months against the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Such acts also serve to divert attention away from the still-escalating atrocities, mass killings and war crimes being committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and throughout Syria, where the Netanyahu government is now conducting hundreds of air strikesall backed by the imperialist powers, including the Albanese government.

The police said today they were looking for two people, aged between 15 and 20, who were allegedly in the area during the attack on the car and house fence. But Albanese made another bellicose political intervention to proclaim this as an antisemitic act.

PM Anthony Albanese, AFP chief Reece Kershaw and ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess announce Operation Avalite on December 9, 2024. [Photo: Facebook/Anthony Albanese]

This morning, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio he had already spoken to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) chief Reece Kershaw and would be briefed by officials of Operation Avalite.

That is the joint federal-state-intelligence agency taskforce to investigate threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians that Albanese dramatically announced on Monday after a firebomb had been thrown into the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Friday.

In that case too, the Labor government and the entire political and media establishment pre-empted, and in fact prejudiced, the necessary investigation into and possible prosecution of whoever was responsible. Albanese branded the synagogue attack as terrorist before the relevant police authorities had made any such designation.

Now, once again, the major political parties and the corporate media have seized upon the car torching and graffiti to ramp up their demonisation, as antisemites, of opponents of the Israeli genocide.

Considerable doubt surrounds the latest incident, as with the synagogue firebombing and an earlier car torching in Woollahra on November 21. Police say there are three suspects in the synagogue case, but no-one has been charged. Two men have been charged with more than 20 offences each after the November 21 attack.

Albanese was not alone in his belligerent allegations. A roll call of his governments cabinet ministers, including Chris Bowen, Tony Burke, Jason Clare, Tanya Plibersek and Penny Wong, rushed to make similar statements, as did New South Wales state Labor Premier Chris Minns and their counterparts in the Liberal-National Coalition.

Albanese went further in an opinion piece published this morning in the Melbourne Age and other Nine network newspapers. He conflated the still-unexplained incidents in Australia with both the Nazi Holocaust and last years largely Hamas-led Palestinian military operation. Ever since the atrocities of October 7, Jewish Australians have been confronted with fresh reminders of that old grief and pain, Albanese wrote after referring to Holocaust survivors.

Consistent with his governments record for the past 14 months, Albanese made no reference to the decades of Zionist oppression of the Palestinian people and the genocidal mass murder, forcible displacement, and deliberate starvation of the Palestinians in Gaza by Israel, as documented by Amnesty International in an exhaustive 296-page report last week.

On Monday, Albanese convened the cabinet National Security Committee and then held a media conference, flanked by AFP chief Kershaw, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to launch Operation Avalite.

This taskforce mirrors the demand issued over the weekend by Coalition leader Peter Dutton for such a police-spy agency mobilisation. It activates all the counter-terrorism powers imposed by the Howard Coalition government, with Labors bipartisan support, during the war on terrorism that accompanied the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq from 2001 onward.

These include ASIO or AFP detention and interrogation without trial, supposedly to obtain information, investigate or prevent acts of terrorism or politically-motived violence, as well as sweeping arrest, search and seizure powers.

In an AFP media release on Monday, Kershaw gave some indication of the far-reaching potential of this operation to be used to harass, outlaw and suppress anti-genocide protests, as well as wider political dissent and social unrest.

Investigators will leverage the national counter terrorism arrangements, in particular work with state and territory police, Kershaw stated. The operation would unlock the powers and capabilities of the AFP, ASIO and state police.

Kershaw declared: The AFP will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australias security or our way of life. That is a wide-ranging threat to move against anyone designated as a danger to the existing economic, social and political order.

This offensive is being mounted in league with Zionist leaders, whose accusations have been particularly promoted by the Murdoch media outlets, even invoking the extraordinary spectre of pogrom-style efforts to drive Jews from Australia.

In a statement this morning, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the Australian Jewish community had awoken to scenes of terror and devastation. He claimed it was another act intended to terrorise us, drive us from our country and make our fellow Australians fearful of associating with us.

Zionist leaders echoed Israel Prime Minister Netanyahua war criminal evading an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Courtin linking the attacks to the ongoing protests across Australia against the Israeli genocide.

Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto stated: Chants of Globalise the Intifada on our streets and campuses are translating into real-world hate. Antisemitism, disguised as anti-Zionism, threatens Jews, social cohesion, democracy, and the rule of law.

Like Netanyahu, Cassuto also blamed the domestic terrorism on the Albanese governments drastic shifts on longstanding policy on Israel. Netanyahu had denounced the governments vote for a toothless UN resolution urging Israel to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible.

Only a handful of countries, along with Israel and the US, voted against that resolution, which restated the illegality of Israels occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

In reality, the Labor government has backed the Israeli genocide from the outset. Albanese has labelled peaceful anti-genocide university encampments as hateful displays and state Labor governments have repeatedly threatened to ban pro-Palestinian protests. Such threats will now intensify.

The Zionist and Labor leaders continued conflation of opposition to the genocide and antisemitism is itself antisemitic. It associates Jews with the militarist Israeli state as it commits gross atrocities, armed and financed by Washington and all the other imperialist powers, despite the opposition of many Jews in Israel and around the world.
Amid a spiralling political crisis in Paris, the turmoil in the French Pacific colony of New Caledonia, following months of rioting, has seen the four-party pro-independence Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) splinter in the wake of separate party congresses.

In October, the now former French Prime Minister Michel Barnier abandoned the colonys contentious voting reform, initiated by President Emmanuel Macron, which triggered violent unrest after a vote in the French National Assembly in May. The constitutional amendment was designed to unfreeze the local electoral roll, giving recent residents voting rights. Indigenous Kanaks feared the move would further marginalise them politically as they face worsening economic and social conditions.

Protest in Noumea, New Caledonia, April 2024 [Photo: CCAT]

The FLNKSs fracturing comes after talks began with Frances ousted far-right government. In mid-November the chairs of both French Parliaments upper and lower Houses, Yael Braun-Pivet and Gerard Larcher, arrived in Noumea for dialogue and concertation with stakeholders regarding the future of the territory. This followed a previous visit by a negotiating team led by Overseas Minister Francois-Noel Buffet.

The FLNKS parties embraced the talks while striving to keep a lid on the rebellion by Kanak youth that erupted from below and outside their control. Daniel Goa, retiring leader of Union Caledonienne (UC) admitted that during the riots there was a perception that calls coming from all political parties, including UC, were not heeded and the insurrection had gotten out of control. Now we need to open [UC] to the youth. Now we got the message they have sent us, Goa said, adding it was my mea culpa.

The FLNKS was formed in 1984, during a civil war against French colonial rule, led by a layer of educated Kanaks who radicalised while studying in France during the late 1960s. While the FLNKSs title proclaims it is socialist, its objective has never been socialism but Kanak independence within the framework of the global capitalism.

The FLNKS was key to the signing of the power sharing Matignon Accord (1988) and Noumea Accord (1998). In line with similar political arrangements elsewhere, the nationalist leadership abandoned its struggle for independence, as well as its empty invocations of socialism, in return for a place in office and access to business opportunities and financial resources. It now collaborates in negotiations for a solution in New Caledonia that will meet the needs of French imperialism.

Last month two of the moderate components of the FLNKS, the Melanesian Progressive Union (UPM) and Kanak Liberation Party (PALIKA), declared they would distance themselves from the Front, saying they did not recognise themselves in the way the UC has been operating since last year and during the riots. UPM and PALIKA did not take part in the most recent FLNKS Congress in late August.

That congress, run by the majority hard line UC and Rassemblement Democratique Oceanien (RDO) parties, resolved that the UC-created Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT) would formally join FLNKS. Its leader Christian Teincurrently incarcerated in pre-trial jail in mainland Francewas declared FLNKS president, filling a 20-year vacancy. Starting in late 2023, the CCAT organised demonstrations which were originally peaceful, led to the riots.

Announcing the UPMs withdrawal, leader Victor Tutugoro said the events beginning in May had cast suspicion on our political project. What has happened is contrary to our values and everyone, in UC and in RDO, bears a responsibility. The UPM intends to continue promoting an independence in partnership with France and the concept of shared sovereignty.

Following its congress last month, PALIKA leader Charles Washetine also confirmed that the party was in withdrawal, saying, the front, in its strategy is drifting in a certain way towards methods that are condemnable. Today, it is populism that prevails. What we have seen is that FLNKS is [no] longer credible.

Washetine told the media that his partys priority was to support New Caledonias reconstruction and recovery plan and to participate in talks regarding the territorys political future, with the aim of arriving at a comprehensive agreement that would also involve both the French State and local political parties, including the pro-France loyalists.

Responding to the splits, UC secretary-general Dominique Fochi said FLNKS is not a tool but a national liberation movement recognised as the official representative of the Kanak people. This is the message we want to convey to New Caledonians, and the French State, he declared. He insisted the FLNKS remained the only interlocutor bearing the voice of the anti-colonial movement regarding [New Caledonias] political future.

Replacing Goa as UCs president is Emmanuel Tjibaou, 48, the son of FLNKS founder, the late Jean-Marie Tjibaou. Emmanuel Tjiboau was elected earlier this year as one of New Caledonias two representatives in the French National Assembly amid a surge in the pro-independence vote during Frances brutal police-military crackdown in the colony. He is reputedly a man of dialogue and moderation, according to Radio NZ.

At its congress on November 24-25, the UC voted to adopt a timeframe for the road to independence. One of the milestones would be the signing of a Kanaky Agreement by September 24 next year, the anniversary of the colonys annexation in 1853, which would mark the beginning of a five-year transition period to full sovereignty.

After this according to Tjiboau, a new phase of talks could then start to put in place what he termed interdependence conventions on New Caledonias main powers such as defence, law and order, foreign affairs and currency. This could be in the form of a shared sovereignty, he said, a concept also promoted by visiting French Senate President Larcher.

Among the pro-independence parties, references to shared sovereignty, independence in partnership, and independence-association are all being touted. The pro-France loyalists are proposing internal federalism (Le Rassemblement-LR party) or a territorial federation (Les Loyalistes). Whatever their differences, all envisage a continuing role for France, which has major geo-strategic interests in the region amid escalating global tensions and war.

Negotiations between the parties, pro-and anti-independence, and the French State were expected to begin in the next few weeks. However, the defeat of the government in Paris will reverberate in the colony. Before the no-confidence vote, Buffet warned: Our overseas territories will pay the hard price. This will pause many crucial measures with a direct impact on their economic, social and environmental development.

New Caledonia faces an immediate crisis with the economy on its knees and an estimated 2.2 billion in damage. Over 600 businesses have been destroyed, making thousands of people jobless, and forcing companies to shut down. Frances 2025 Appropriation Bill, containing emergency assistance and loans to the territory, is now effectively void.

During the French elections the left New Popular Front (NFP) coalition led by Jean-Luc Melenchon issued meaningless calls for dialogue and consensus over the colonys crisis. Any strengthening of the far-right parties in a new French government could well see talks abandoned. Fascistic Rassemblement National (RN) leader Marine Le Pen has bluntly declared that New Caledonia is French and will not see independence for 30 or 40 years.

The situation remains extremely fragile. The six-month overnight curfew was ended last week but public meetings, rallies and parades remain banned in the greater Noumea area until December 20. Frances High Commissioner Louis Le Francwho faced demands for his dismissal over his authoritarian methodshas warned that should the security situation deteriorate, he reserves the entire right and capacity to reintroduce earlier measures.

Islands Business correspondent Nic Maclellan told Radio NZ on February 28 that roadblocks and barricades erected by Kanak rebels have mostly been taken down, and there is a level of surface calm. But 6,000 French security forces remain deployed, backed up with armoured cars and helicopters, riot and anti-terrorist squads.

Whatever the outcome of the current impasse, nothing will be done to resolve the fundamental issues behind the unrest which was triggered by poverty, inequality, unemployment and social desperation. The rebellion brought a substantial section of Kanak youth into conflict, not only with French colonial oppression, but with the territorys establishment, including the local government and the FLNKS. That has not gone away.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 17:41 | All, Japan

Atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were reenergized to fight for a world without nuclear weapons Wednesday, a day after Japan's leading organization representing them, Nihon Hidankyo, received the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

"I want to keep telling my stories" as a contribution to the effort to abolish nuclear weapons, 92-year-old Sadae Kasaoka said in Hiroshima, where she has long been giving her account of the 1945 U.S. bombing of the western Japan city.

Many foreign tourists and students on field trips enter the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and its famous museum to learn about the scope of the devastation caused by the atomic bomb, with those visiting on Wednesday particularly affected.

"I have been teaching songs of peace in my class. After watching yesterday's ceremony on TV, I felt there are more things we must teach," one of the visitors, Yoko Odesaki, 61, a junior high school teacher from Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, said.

In awarding the prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized that testimonies by hibakusha, as the atomic bomb survivors are known, have made the use of nuclear weapons unconscionable internationally, a feeling that it said is unfortunately fading amid international conflicts.

Nagasaki survivor Mitoe Matsumoto, 82, who was 3 years old at the time of the bombing, expressed the joy she felt about the Nobel win.

"The voices of the survivors were acknowledged fairly, even though there are people in the world with different beliefs," she said.

Matsumoto was encouraged by the fact that the younger generation had traveled to Norway for the ceremony, making efforts to carry on the experience of survivors.

"Our efforts to abolish nuclear weapons have been acknowledged, and I was able to get confirmation that what we have been doing was right," Tadayoshi Ogawa, an 80-year-old survivor in Nagasaki who has held photo exhibitions related to the bombing, said.

"I will continue to pass down the reality of the bombing and hopes for a world without nuclear weapons," said 82-year-old Yasujiro Tanaka, a member of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council, which is a part of Nihon Hidankyo, after watching the ceremony at a public viewing.

Related coverage:

Japan A-bomb survivor group receives Nobel Peace Prize amid world tensions

A-bomb survivor group rep. "saddened" by recent talk of using nukes

FOCUS: A-bomb survivors' Nobel prize win highlights receding nuke taboo
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 10:01 | All, Podcast

Have you ever ridden an anime-themed train?

Three Kyodo News reporters -- Horiuchi-san, Rei and Donican -- talk about a One Piece-themed shinkansen that will start operations next spring to coincide with the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka. Listen as they discuss the popularity and record-breaking length of One Piece, as well as other anime-themed trains in Japan.

Article mentioned in the podcast:

One Piece-themed shinkansen to run in western Japan in 2025

Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents.

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Podcast [English World] Episode 74: Ohtani wins 3rd MVP

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Podcast [English World] Episode 72: Popular Names
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 19:01 | All, Japan

The retrial of a man who served a seven-year sentence for the 1986 murder of a junior high school girl in central Japan is expected to result in an acquittal as prosecutors will not present new evidence, his defense team said Wednesday.

The prosecutors disclosed their stance during a meeting with judges and the lawyers for Shoshi Maekawa, 59, at the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court, his defense team said.

The retrial scheduled for March is likely to end with a one-day hearing. Under the criminal procedure law, retrials are held when there is "clear evidence to find the accused not guilty."

Presiding Judge Koji Yamada of the Kanazawa branch, who in October ordered the case to be reopened after questioning the credibility of the testimonies from Maekawa's acquaintances, will also oversee the retrial.

There was no direct evidence linking Maekawa to the murder. He has maintained his innocence since his arrest in 1987, filing two requests for a retrial.

Maekawa was accused of murdering a 15-year-old student at her home in Fukui Prefecture. The Fukui District Court acquitted him in 1990, but the Kanazawa branch later convicted him, and the Supreme Court upheld the ruling.

Related coverage:

1986 Japan murder case to reopen as prosecutors give up appeal

Japan court orders retrial of man over 1986 schoolgirl murder
Throughout his life, Gabriel Garcia Marquez resisted a screen adaptation of his bestselling novel "One Hundred Years of Solitude". His seminal masterpiece, which has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, was simply too complex to be filmed, the writer affectionately known as Gabo said.

After his death in 2014, however, the streaming service Netflix was able to convince Garcia Marquez's children and acquire the film rights. The first half of the 16-part mini series will be released on December 11. Whether it will do justice to the source material remains to be seen.

The novel, published in 1967, tells the story of the Buendia family and Macondo, the village they founded, over a period of 100 years. It's a multi-layered work, in which true events from Columbian history are mixed with surreal and fantastical events. The novel is considered a prime example of the magical realism literary style.

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If you want to understand him in all his dimensions, you need to get to know the people, their attitude to life, the traditions, the symbols and the culture in Gabo's home region, the Caribbean region of Colombia, says Melquin Merchan. In particular Aracataca, where the future writer was born on March 6, 1927, and where he spent his childhood, the 27-year-old artist from Aracataca says.

A visit to the family home

In the museum of the former telegraph office, where Garcia Marquez's father used to work, Merchan has his paintings on display, some of which are inspired by scenes and characters from "One Hundred Years of Solitude".

"I try to paint like Gabo wrote. His narrative style, the constant mixing of the real and the surreal, it's very similar to the stories our grandparents told us," Merchan says.

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Aracataca, which is located on the edge of banana plantations and the mountain ranges of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in the hot and humid hinterland of Colombia's Caribbean coastal region, is not a major city. But it's Gabo's home and, so say many experts, the inspiration for the magical Macondo.

In Aracataca you can visit Garcia Marquez's birthplace, the church where he was baptised, the school where he learned to read and write. "Almost all of my work was influenced by the early years of my childhood," Garcia Marquez once said. He also took the name 'Macondo' from a nearby banana farm.

But Gabo always made it clear that Macondo was a fictional place. Macondo can be found in many places in Colombia's Caribbean region, and Gabo used them for various scenes and events in his masterpiece. If you visit Santa Cruz de Mompox, you'll be immediately reminded of Macondo. In the small town, situated on the Magdalena River, time seems to have stood still.

Spanish colonial architecture

Like the fictional Macondo, Mompox is surrounded by swamps and was isolated for decades, which is why the town has been able to preserve much of its Spanish colonial architecture. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Much of the old town, built in 1540, is still used for its original purposes.

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During the colonial era, Mompox was an important centre of trade for gold from South America. Even today, there are people who practice the traditional art of filigree, a form of intricate metalwork. The finely crafted golden fish made famous by "One Hundred Years of Solitude" are from Mompox.

A character in the novel, Colonel Aureliano Buendia, created the fish, before immediately destroying them, only to start again and not be aware of his solitude. Gabo used them as a metaphor for a cry of loneliness. He knew the goldfish and Mompox through his wife Mercedes Barcha, who went to convent school in the town.

It was goldsmith Luis Guillermo Trespalacios who came up with the tiny decorative golden fish in the 1950s. Today, his daughter Flor proudly shows visitors around the small museum, with displays of her father's first editions and tools. The traditions and historic charm of the place also inspired Garcia Marquez as the setting for his famous novella "Chronicle of a Death Foretold".

For others, the colonial coastal town of Cienaga is the real Macondo. What is certain is that Gabo's novel deals with the banana massacre that was carried out here in 1928 by the Colombian government and the US-owned United Fruit Company against banana plantation workers who were on strike.

A floating Venice

From Cienaga, you can take a boat through the adjacent swamps of the coastal lagoons of the same name, which Gabo also mentions in "One Hundred Years of Solitude". In the middle of this labyrinth of mangrove forests and lagoons is the floating village of Nueva Venecia - 'New Venice'. It's a magical, fascinating place.

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The locals live from fishing. Their colourful wooden houses are built on stilts. There are no roads, and the only way to get around is by boat. The people here don't have much, but their zest for life and hospitality are overwhelming.

As night falls, the sound of Caribbean drums and washboard instruments interrupt the silence of the village. It's not a celebration, but an exorcism of a girl that's supposedly possessed. Witches, demons, superstition - a fantastical, surreal world mixes with the real one, just like in Gabo's magical realism.

On the other side of the lagoon is the coastal city of Barranquilla, where the writer spent his youth and apprenticeship years as a journalist at El Heraldo. At the time, Barranquilla was a young, wild and fast-growing industrial city. Even today it is at the centre of Colombia's music and carnival scenes. At the age of 22, Gabo joined a group of young intellectuals in the city, who influenced him in his literary and creative endeavours.

Gabo's old typewriter

In the last part of his 1967 novel, Macondo is transformed into a town that's home to Aureliano Babilonia, one of the last surviving members of the Buendia family. Aureliano meets with Alvaro, German, Alfonso und Gabriel every afternoon. It's a clear reference to Barranquilla and the group of artists who met regularly at the La Cueva restaurant, where you can still find old photos of the group and Gabo's old typewriter.

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The nearby city of Cartagena de Indias served as a backdrop for Garcia Marquez's novel "Love in the Time of Cholera". But the coastal metropolis where he spent his final years in Colombia can also be found in the pages of "One Hundred Years of Solitude".

The Caribbean flair, the pastel-coloured colonial houses, balconies decorated with tropical flowers, dreamy courtyards - Cartagena's lively old town enchanted Garcia Marquez from the beginning. "The city influenced his work like no other place on Earth," says Orlando Oliveros from the New Journalism Foundation, set up by Gabo himself.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who died in Mexico City, wanted part of his ashes to be buried in Cartagena. They are buried under a bust that's in the courtyard of the former La Merced convent, which now houses the local university. Macondo remains a fictional place, but it is everywhere and within us, as the people of the Colombian Caribbean say.

The Netflix series "One Hundred Years of Solitude" launches on December 11. Mauro Gonzalez/Netflix/dpa

Caribbean flair, pastel-coloured colonial houses: the coastal town of Cartagena de Indias is said to have influenced the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez like no other place. Manuel Meyer/dpa

"Gabo's" children still live in his former home in Cartagena de Indias. The writer passed away in 2014. Manuel Meyer/dpa

The goldfish from Mompox were made famous by Garcia Marquez: In "One Hundred Years of Solitude", the novel's character Colonel Aureliano produced these works of art and immediately destroyed them again, only to start again - and thereby not realise his loneliness. Manuel Meyer/dpa

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The village of Nueva Venecia ("New Venice") can only be reached by boat. Manuel Meyer/dpa

Garcia Marquez was born in this house in Aracataca - it now houses a museum. Manuel Meyer/dpa

Garcia Marquez's novel "Love in the Time of Cholera" is also set in Cartagena's historic centre. Manuel Meyer/dpa

In art workshops at Mompox, you learn how to make literary butterflies and goldfish yourself. Manuel Meyer/dpa

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Chilean filmmaker Maite Alberdi, whose heartfelt documentaries The Mole Agent and The Eternal Memory earned her Academy Award nominations, agreed to step into the world of scripted fiction when Netflix and Pablo Larrains production company Fabula sent her the 2019 book When Women Kill (Las Homicidas) by Alia Trabucco Zeran.

The resulting screen adaption, In Her Place (El lugar de la otra), puts Alberdi back on the awards trail as Chiles Oscar entry for the Best International Feature Film.

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The original book details four real-life cases of women who committed murder but were pardoned during a time when the death penalty was still implemented in Chile. It was the first nonfiction book by a writer who usually writes fiction. And this is my first fiction set in a non-fiction world, Alberdi told IndieWire in Spanish via video call. The crisscrossing was interesting.

More than the specifics of the stories, what attracted Alberdi to the material was its concrete thesis, allowing her to approach the project like her previous works.

In documentary, you always start with a theme and an intention rather than with a storyline, she said. Condemning female murderers meant making them visible and freeing them from their role as good women. Instead, they were treated as mental health patients, and no one bothered to inquire about their reasons. They were judged differently.

Out of the quartet of narratives, Alberdi and screenwriters Ines Bortagaray and Paloma Salas chose the one about writer Maria Carolina Geel, who shot her romantic partner to death in 1955, as it dealt with gender and class. It was Geels status in the intellectual elite that amplified attention for the case and caught the eye of Nobel Prize-winning Gabriela Mistral, who requested the pardon.

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For Alberdi, absolving the female killers of their crimes had sexist implications. If they had been given the death penalty, their cases would probably have become well-known, but forgiving them meant silencing them, she said. They wanted them to go live their lives and for no one to know about this matter, to keep women where they belong.

The testimonies that appear on screen, as well as the reaction of the press at the time and even Geels letters, were taken directly from the actual case files. This is the movie I would have made if these characters had been alive to tell me the story, explained the director.

In Her Place Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

Given how grounded in reality In Her Place is, the obvious choice would have been to make the killer the protagonist. But Geel never spoke about her motives and didnt ask to be pardoned. And though she wrote a book during her time in prison, titled Carcel de mujeres, it doesnt include a confession or details about the violent incident. Its a sociological portrait of what she witnessed while in prison with other women.

Making her the protagonist would mean to give her a voice, but she is a character who never wanted to talk, said Alberdi. To give her a voice I would have to judge her far more than if Im just observing her. The director and writers opted for a fictional main character, Mercedes (played by Elisa Zulueta), a married mother who works for the judge assigned to Geels case, and whose chaotic homelife reflects a power imbalance across gender lines.

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As the trial unfolds  and with Geel (actress Francisca Lewin) in a comfortable private cell  Mercedes gains access to Geels elegant apartment and expensive wardrobe. The murderess abode becomes a secret refuge for Mercedes away from her sons and husband who fail to see her beyond her labor.

What fascinates Mercedes about Geel is precisely what attracted Alberdi to the case: Geel is a woman with the freedom to write, to assert her personal space  in this case, her own flat  while living with an impetus to break all established canons imposed on women.

Mercedes is someone who is learning about freedoms that are not conventional for someone like her at that time, added Alberdi. Geels apartment is the materialization of freedom for Mercedes because it allows her to momentarily exist, divorced from her roles as a mother, a wife, or an employee. For Alberdi, that need for a personal haven recalls Virginia Woolfs influential essay A Room of Ones Own.

[Woolf] says, I was able to write because I had money and I had the privilege of having a space that allowed me to write. But not all women have that. In Latin America, women have conquered many battles on the public front, but very few wins in domestic life.

In Her Place Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

That In Her Place is a period piece required not only substantial resources but also the expertise of key craftspeople to recreate the spaces and clothing of the mid-20th century in a country like Chile that, according to Alberdi, has preserved very little of its heritage, and where many old buildings have collapsed as the result of earthquakes. Muriel Parra, the costume designer behind several of Larrains films (including Neruda), and seasoned production designer Rodrigo Bazaes (El Conde) were part of Alberdis team.

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I am very thankful to Netflix because I believe that in terms of budget, a period film like this would be unthinkable in Latin America without a streamer like them, Alberdi said. Its a type of production that one cannot imagine with local public funds.

In making her fiction debut, Alberdi experienced a sense of control absent from directing documentaries, where she is subordinate to reality and has to wait for it to unfold. With In Her Place, she got closer to the godlike figure of the director described to her in film school.

It was kind of relaxing for me because, in documentary, I never know what is going to happen, and I never know how I am going to finish filming. In fiction, having a script, filming what the pages said, and knowing things could be solved because they were in our hands, seemed very different to me than dealing with people who are not actors, who are giving their testimony and whose reality Im bearing witness to.

Alberdi thinks the directors role in fiction and documentary is different. Working on In Her Place, she was reminded of Francois Truffauts Day for Night, as she had to constantly make decisions and respond to the questions of multiple collaborators.

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This film invited me to jump across more genres and to make riskier choices, Alberdi added. Im probably going to continue making documentaries but with much more extreme fiction components.

In Her Place is now streaming on Netflix.

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KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 19:04 | All, Japan

U.S. forces said Wednesday they resumed flights of their Ospreys in Japan after temporarily grounding all their tilt-rotor aircraft worldwide due to safety concerns.

A U.S. Marine Corps spokesperson said the flight resumption for the MV-22 transport planes came "after a thorough fleet review conducted during the operational pause."

An MV-22 took off around 10:13 a.m. from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan and landed 15 minutes later, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry's local branch.

Earlier this week, the Marine Corps said they were implementing a 96-hour operational pause for nonessential flight operations from Friday, based on the Naval Air Systems Command's recommendation following a recent precautionary landing of a CV-22.

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force has also suspended operations of its 17 U.S.-made V-22s.

Related coverage:

U.S. temporarily halts Osprey flights again due to safety concerns
Acclaimed Afghan filmmaker Siddiq Barmak has joined Kazakhstans Oscar hopeful Bauryna Salu as executive producer. The film, directed by Askhat Kuchinchirekov, is Kazakhstans submission for the international feature category at the Academy Awards.

Bauryna Salu follows a traditional Kazakh custom where firstborn children are raised by their grandparents rather than biological parents. The story centers on Yersultan, who grows up with his grandmother while feeling disconnected from his birth parents. When his grandmother dies, the 12-year-old must return to live with his estranged family.

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Its most visceral and intimate effects trickle out with a stunning commitment to cinematic realism. The result is a remarkable sleight of hand  a film in which every emotional possibility is broached, wrote Siddhant Adlakha, reviewing the film for Variety.

The film stars Yersultan Yerman, Aidos Auesbay, Bigaysha Salkyn, Dinara Shymyrbay, Damir Daurenuly and Yerkin Berikuly. Distribution company WILLA has secured worldwide rights, with theatrical and streaming releases planned for 2025.

Barmaks Osama (2003) won the Golden Globe for foreign language film and the Camera dOr at Cannes. It was the first film shot in Afghanistan since 1996 and remains the countrys highest-grossing film. His 2008 follow-up Opium War won the Golden MarcAurelio Award at Rome Film Festival.

I really, really love this film, said Barmak. I can count hundreds of details that characterize the time, the society, even the socio-political atmosphere, and create for the viewer a believable depiction of life. Im sure if you show this movie in El Salvador, or in Chile, or in African countries, everybody will understand it. Its not only for Kazakhs. This movie is important for America. Its important for France, for Russia, for India, for Afghanistan. Kuchinchirekovs movie is a movie for all audiences, in all countries.

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Bauryna Salu has garnered recognition on the festival circuit, screening in San Sebastians New Directors section. The film has collected several awards including Best Youth Film at Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Kazakhstans Tulpar National Film Award for Best Film, and top honors at festivals in Baku, Bishkek and Helmat.

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Low-cost Avelo Airlines is expanding its domestic and international network from Connecticut, giving travelers more flight options than ever.

For starters, traveling to the Dominican Republic will soon become more affordable with Avelos newest seasonal service between Hartford and Punta Cana. This route, offered alongside existing winter flights to sunny destinations like Montego Bay and Cancun, will operate twice weekly starting Feb. 21, 2025, and run through Labor Day weekend.

At Tweed-New Haven Airport, Avelo Airlines is set to launch several new domestic routes next year. Starting Feb. 14, 2025, the airline will introduce year-round service to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), followed by Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on March 7, 2025.

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For the peak summer season, Avelo will add flights to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) starting April 4, 2025, and Portland International Jetport (PWM) beginning May 22, 2025. All these new domestic routes will operate twice weekly.

With 39 route choices, Avelo offers Connecticut travelers more choice, affordability, and convenience than any other airline operating in the state, the airlines founder and CEO, Andrew Levy, shared in a statement with T+L. Avelos purpose is to inspire travel, and we are very optimistic about the opportunities ahead of us to make air travel easier, more affordable, and more dependable for people across Connecticut.

Historically, flight services at these two Connecticut airports have been limited. However, that changed in recent years with Avelo's growth alongside that of its competitor Breeze Airways.

All of these new flights can be booked on Avelos website, with one-way tickets starting at $39 (including taxes and fees) on a first-come, first-served basis.

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This route expansion follows Avelo's recent announcement of a major network growth from North Carolina's Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA), Wilmington International Airport (ILM), and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) last week.



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
The community is invited to celebrate the placement of three Light the World Giving Machines in an Oklahoma City park this Christmas season.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host the celebration at 4 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Love's Travelstop Stage in Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will include Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and the Ambassadors Concert Choir. The Giving Machines will be available near the mainstage through Jan. 3. Additional performances and special events will be held nightly. The customized vending machines will appear in more than 100 cities on five continents worldwide.

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"The Giving Machines give Oklahomans a chance to visualize the difference they are making," Suzy Sultemeier, Giving Machine team lead, said. "When you purchase an item, youll watch a card with an image of your selected item drop into the bin at the bottom of the Giving Machine  symbolizing the gift youre sending to someone in need.

There are five local nonprofits participating in the Oklahoma City Giving Machines iniatiative, including the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Infant Crisis Services, Pivot, NewView Oklahoma and ReMerge, plus two global nonprofits Church World Service and WaterAid. Prices for individual items range from $5 to $200. Guests may pick from 30 different needs, swipe a credit card, and the items donated will be delivered to the corresponding charity.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsors this annual initiative and covers all operational costs. This support ensures that participating nonprofit organizations receive 100% of every donation.

For directions to the machines, a list of items available to donate, profiles of each organization and special events planned at the Giving Machines, go to http://www.GivingMachineOKC.org. Information is also available on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/givingmachineokc/,and Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/givingmachineokc .

Also: Concert will feature Handel's 'Messiah'

Tactus Chamber Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble will present Handels "Messiah" in concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, 1001 NW 25.

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Attendees are invited to experience the majesty of one of the greatest works of all time performed in the original baroque style by professional musicians.

A pre-concert talk will be at 3:30 p.m. A limited number of prime seating tickets are $50, and general admission tickets are $20, and are available at the door and online. Admission for students in K-12 is free.

For more information, go to www.tactusensemble.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: The Oklahoma City Giving Machines initiative takes off Dec. 18
Maine honored Moxie as its official state soft drink in 2005. The soda, little known outside New England and its devoted fans there, originated as a 19th century "nerve food." The caffeinated drink has a sweet and bitter taste that divides people into love it or hate it camps. It's flavor has been described as root beer (which has its own popularity in Utah) with a bitter, licorice-like, or medicinal taste.

Dr. Augustin Thompson invented Moxie Nerve Food in Maine in 1876 as a medicinal tonic to treat all kinds of ailments. Then a syrup, Moxie included gentian root, which Thompson said was responsible for its claimed medical benefits. Although gentian has been used historically as a treatment -- as far back as the Greeks' usage of the root for digestive problems -- there hasn't been much proof of its effectiveness. However, the bitter root remains in Moxie to this day and is the source of its unusual taste.

While it's hard to find Moxie outside of New England unless you order it online, it's a regional favorite there -- like Duke's Mayo in the South or another New England treat, milkshakes without ice cream -- and has many loyal enthusiasts. It's celebrated in its home state of Maine each July with a Moxie Festival in the town of Lisbon, with activities like Moxie recipe contests and a Moxie chugging challenge.

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Read more: The 20 Wildest, Weirdest And Most Delicious Recipes Of The Year

The Rise And Fall Of Moxie's Nationwide Popularity

Close up of two glasses of brown soda over ice, one with a straw - Chinnachart Martmoh/Getty Images

Moxie wasn't carbonated until 1885, one year after Thompson begin bottling and selling it. Over 20 years later, the company stopped making medical treatment claims and removed "nerve food" from its name. The move came in response to a 1906 federal law that banned advertising products as having medicinal properties if they weren't proven to be true.

Moxie's popularity spread across the U.S. over time thanks to the innovative marketing ideas of Frank Archer. These included songs, slogans, the "Moxie Man" ad image of a man pointing a finger with the tagline "Drink Moxie," and celebrity endorsers that included 1940s and '50s Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams. The soda was so popular in its heyday that we get the word "moxie," meaning energy or pep, from the company's claim that it gave drinkers an energy boost. But, Moxie eventually started to falter nationally, losing ground to Coca-Cola and Pepsi and retreating in popularity back to New England.

Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time.

Read the original article on Food Republic.
The Year Without a Santa Claus had nothing on 2024.

This year, we had war in Gaza and Ukraine (and elsewhere); Hurricane Helene in the southeastern U.S.; flash floods in Spain, Pakistan, and Afghanistan; and record-high temperatures that spawned heatwaves and fires all over the world.

And oh, yeah, didnt America have a pivotal election or something?

As for the two of us, we're digital nomads who have been traveling the world since 2017, but we had a series of health challenges in 2024  a chronic one for Brent and other issues striking us out of the blue all year long.

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In The Year Without a Santa Claus, the 1974 childrens Christmas special, Santa arrives eventually. The title turns out to be a misnomer  its not a year without a Santa Claus  and Santa flies around on his sleigh making everything right in the end.

This year, were not sure Santa will show up to save the day.

But 2024 did show us something pretty important.

The two of us began our year in Valencia, Spain. Wed been nomads for seven years and were thinking of setting up a home base somewhere. We thought Spain seemed like a possibility, and we wanted to see if the Spanish lifestyle suited us.

Valencia, Spain.

Unfortunately, a nasty strain of whooping cough was sweeping across Europe, and we both came down with bad cases of it (despite being vaccinated). Michael had it especially bad, coughing for weeks on end  so hard he thought he would hurt himself.

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But eventually, we recovered.

Valencia didnt seem like a place to live long-term, but we discovered wed be in town for the Las Fallas Festival.

During this five-day festival, Valencias different neighborhoods all roll out massive papier-mache sculptures. Then, on the evening of the festivals last day  known as La Noche de la Crema  they set them on fire.

Is the point to remind people that life is fragile and temporary? Or does Valencia just like to burn stuff?

Either way, it was utterly surreal and absolutely fantastic.

Las Fallas goes out in a blaze.

From Spain, the two of us headed off to Istanbul for medical tourism  Brent was scheduled to have surgery on a chronic problem with his foot.

Istanbul, Turkey.

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The surgery went well, but it was more intense than either of us expected, and the recovery was long and painful.

But hey, in sickness and in health! Michael ended up being really glad he could help, making sure Brents foot was iced and elevated, monitoring pain pills, and accompanying him on his many follow-up doctors visits. It was a reminder that were a team.

The neighborhood we had chosen to be near the hospital, Balat, turned out to be religiously conservative  and psychologically challenging.

There was also some fairly shocking poverty. Istanbul is an incredible city but also a place of great contrast.

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From Istanbul, we headed south to Fethiye, Turkey, nestled along the stunning Turquoise Coast.

Turkeys amazing Turquoise Coast.

Brents foot continued to heal, and we explored the area around the city, including the remnants and ruins of the ancient Lycian Civilization. Their fall was so dramatic that very little is now known of the people who once lived here. Theyre almost entirely forgotten  except for dramatic rock-cut tombs they carved into the hillsides.

Southern Turkey reminded us that everything is temporary  even entire civilizations.

Or are the Lycians forgotten? The fact is, the Lycian people and their civilization didnt disappear exactly. They were just absorbed into subsequent civilizations.

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In a way, everything is temporary. But in another way, life goes on. Perhaps the Lycians live on in the incredible hospitality of the Turks  and in their fabulous food.

The massive Turkish breakfast is a relatively new phenomenon, but the roots of many Turkish dishes go back thousands of years.

The incredible Turkish breakfast is like eating history.

From Turkey, we traveled to Oslo, Norway, to visit an old nomad friend.

The city was beautiful, and Norwegian culture seemed almost perfect  too perfect, Brent noted. Like we were in the first act of a horror movie.

Oslo, Norway.

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Sure enough, disaster soon struck: Michael slipped and hit his head at a local pool. There was a lot of blood, and he wound up in the emergency room.

Another hospital, another reminder of the fragility of life. But this time, Brent felt privileged to take care of Michael.

Ironically, this eternal wisdom was all spelled out in an incredible sculpture park near our apartment.

Is one man helping another up? Or slowly letting him go?

After Oslo, we took a two-month cruise around the North Atlantic and visited some of the worlds more remote places, including Iceland and Greenland.

In Iceland, we encountered dramatic settings  places that looked strange and alien, and completely inhospitable

but we also saw scenes of great beauty. Life always seemed to find a way, even under seemingly hostile conditions.

Later on the cruise, back in Norway, dark clouds rolled in again, and we had another unexpected medical emergency.

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This time, Brent had an incredibly painful kidney stone that landed him in the hospital for three days.

And Michael took care of Brent, and once again, we were both reminded how lucky we are to have each other.

But when it comes to kidney stones, the ancient wisdom has it right: this too shall pass.

As a reward, we were privileged to see the Northern Lights.

From there, we traveled to Bristol in southwest England, famous for its stunning Georgian and Victorian architecture.

We also happened to be there for autumn, Michaels favorite time of year.

Is autumn a time of death and decay? Or is it merely setting the stage for an inevitable rebirth and renewal?

Now were back in the U.S., visiting friends and family for the holidays.

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For us, 2024 really was The Year Without a Santa Claus. And yeah, were still not counting on Santa showing up any time soon.

Thanks for nothing, Santa.

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But maybe that doesnt matter. If 2024 taught us anything, its that broken things heal  sore feet and head wounds. Even kidney stones pass.

Burned things are rebuilt the following year. People live on even after civilizations fall. Flowers grow, dark clouds pass, and spring follows winter.

Life goes on.

And if we dont have Santa to swoop in and save the day?

Well, at least we still have each other  and that aint nothing.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Michael and Brent
Staying informed of potential safety concerns that exist in travel destinations you plan to visit is an important, but sometimes overlooked, part of preparing for a cruise vacation.

If a cruise is in your travel plans, take note  the U.S. State Department just updated its travel advisories for two countries visited by cruise ships every day.

Related: Royal Caribbean ship springs a leak during Bahamas cruise

The State Department makes regular updates to its country-specific travel advisories to help U.S. citizens understand safety and security risks and make informed decisions when planning a trip abroad. Along with designating a warning from Level 1, the lowest, to Level 4, the highest, for each country, the State Departments travel advisories describe the risks and offer guidance to U.S. citizens to help them stay safe when traveling to the country.

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Roatan is a common stop for Royal Caribbean.Image source: Shutterstock

Travel advisories updated for Costa Rica and Honduras

On Dec. 10, the State Department updated its travel advisories for Costa Rica and Honduras in Central America. A number of cruise lines regularly visit Limon, Costa Rica, and Roatan, Honduras.

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The State Department lists Costa Rica as a Level 2 Travel advisory, recommending that travelers exercise increased caution in the country due to crime. The advisory states that:

Petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica. Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault, also affects tourists.

The advisory also recommends that if you decide to travel to Costa Rica:

Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid walking alone on poorly lit beaches or streets.

It is not recommended to resist robbery attempts.

Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.

Related: Warning: 2 things to know before booking a Royal Caribbean cruise

Due to crime, the State Department lists Honduras as Level 3 Travel Advisory and recommends that travelers reconsider travel to the country. The State Department also advises travelers not to travel to Gracias a Dios Department, the most eastern department of Honduras, an isolated region with high levels of criminal activity. Gracias a Dios Department is listed as a Level 4 Travel Advisory.

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The advisorys country summary for Honduras states:

Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, remains common. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, narcotics, and human trafficking, is widespread. Local authorities may lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime incidents. Around resort areas in the Bay Islands, which include Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja, there is a concentration of resources, and these areas are better policed.

Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country and can be about a variety of political or economic issues. Protests, demonstrations, tire burnings, and roadblocks are frequent, unpredictable, and can turn violent. They can shut down roads and highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines.

The advisory also recommends that if you decide to travel to Honduras:

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Avoid demonstrations.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Avoid walking or driving at night.

Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.

Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.

Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.

Do not take public transportation, including white car taxis.

Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.

Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.

Is it safe to travel to Roatan, Honduras on a cruise?

Roatan, Honduras, is an island off the northern coast of Honduras thats a popular cruise destination visited by many cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. Carnival even has its own private cruise port on Roatan island, Mahogany Bay, which welcomes ships from Carnival-owned cruise lines including Princess Cruises and Holland America Line.

While Roatan is considered safer than mainland Honduras, the island does still experience petty theft. Cruise passengers visiting the island should make sure to follow the State Departments guidance to be extra vigilant when traveling to the island. Dress down and avoid being flashy with cash or valuables.

Related: What the US governments Bahamas travel warning means for cruises

Its wise to only book tours and shore excursions directly through your cruise line when visiting Honduras or another cruise destination with a crime warning like Costa Rica, where several cruise lines visit Puerto Limon. Check with your cruise line for any guidance they can provide to help passengers stay safe when getting off the ship in these ports.

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
Young workers today arent afraid to broadcast their salary or tell their boss what they think of them, yet plucking up the courage to talk to their senior coworkers is a whole other matter. Despite being the most vocal generation yet, research from LinkedIn suggests that Gen Zs confidence doesnt extend to talking with the baby boomer and Gen X coworkers on their team.

One in five Gen Z workers reported that they havent had a single direct conversation with someone over 50 in their workplace in the last year. Theyre also the least likely to feel confident interacting with other generations generally.

In comparison, just 17% of the 1000 British workers LinkedIn surveyed said that they dont know how to approach colleagues of other age groups.

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LinkedIns data didnt reveal why Gen Z are struggling to interact with their senior peers, but previous analysis compiled by Harris Poll for Fortune highlighted that without a spouse, pet, or children to talk about, Gen Zers feel like they cant relate to older coworkers who are in a different life stage.

Either way, their lack of lip service could be damaging their career prospects.

Research has consistently shown that face time with management can increase your odds of winning their affection and therefore scoring a promotion or a raise.

Whats worse, LinkedIns study shows that Gen Z knows that cozying up to their seniors could boost their careers, but theyre leaving the ball in the court of management.

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Although most Gen Zers surveyed reported that communicating with their wider team would improve their productivity and learning, 64% are waiting for their company to do more to encourage intergenerational collaboration.

Unfortunately, they may find that forced water cooler moments from the top cant quite match genuine catch-ups when it comes to forging a real connection with others.

Its on baby boomers and Gen X to make the first move

Although LinkedIns research found that 74% of all professionals believe they can learn a lot from other age groups, its not only Gen Z who prefer conversing within their own cohort.

Around 40% of those over 55 havent spoken to a Gen Z colleague in the past year eitherand it's probably why the youngest generation of workers hesitate to approach them.

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Three-quarters of young career starters previously told Fortune that they would only talk to their senior coworkers if the latter made the first move.

Ultimately, making small talk may seem like common knowledge, but its well documented that its one of many basic soft skills that Gen Z missed out on learning while coming of age in isolation during the pandemicand workers know this.

The majority of the employees LinkedIn surveyed recognized that professionals who joined the workforce during the pandemic lack communication and networking skills, as well as the informal cues that traditionally influence office behavior.

Its why the onus is on experienced baby boomers and Gen X to make the first move.

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If talking about TikTok or the cozzie livs with Gen Zers in the office is too painfully awkward, LinkedIns career expert, Charlotte Davies, suggested reverse mentoring is a good place to start.

Mentoring can help bridge generational differences in the workplace and help generations who are decades apart better understand each other, she said.

Likewise, new starters could ask their manager to be mentored by a seasoned worker.

A good mentor can further your professional growth by helping you develop specific skills, set career goals and connect you to people and opportunities, Davies added.

Either way, both younger and older workers would do well to leave their preconceptions at the door and try to gain insight into each other's worlds.

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Actively listening to colleagues outside of your cohort can help avoid assumptions about different generations and their attitudes to work, build trust and rapport and allow you to learn from each others' experiences, Davies concluded.

A version of this story originally published on Fortune.com on March 21, 2024.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
ORANGE CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  One person was killed Wednesday in a crash that happened just outside of Sioux Center.

According to the Sioux County Sheriffs Office, the crash happened at around 5:25 a.m. at the intersection of 390th Street and Garfield Avenue, about three miles west of Sioux Center.

The crash happened when a Honda Fit that was traveling north on Garfield Avenue failed to stop for a stop sign, hitting an eastbound Chevrolet Impala.

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Officials stated that both drivers and three passengers were transported to a local hospital. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. Two of the five people taken to the hospital were flown to Sioux City and Sioux Falls for further treatment.

Oklahoma woman sentenced for 2023 murder of Sioux City native

The names of those involved are being withheld at this time in order to notify family.

The crash is still under investigation by the Sioux County Sheriffs Office and Iowa State Patrol. The Sioux Center Police Department, Sioux Center Fire Department, and ambulance services from both Sioux Center and Ireton aided at the scene.

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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.
NICHOLAS COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  One person is dead following a crash in Nicholas County.

A news release said a single-vehicle accident happened just after 7 p.m. Monday on West Headquarters Road.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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According to the Nicholas County Coroner, the body has been sent to the state medical examiners office in Frankfort for identification.

No word on what caused 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 FOX 56 News.
SOUTH LEBANON, Ohio (WDTN)  At least one person was taken to the hospital after a crash in Warren County.

The Lebanon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol told 2 NEWS troopers were sent at 2:35 p.m. to the area of State Route 48 and I-71 in South Lebanon. When authorities arrived at the scene, dispatchers said officials found a crash involving two vehicles.

Dispatchers confirmed to 2 NEWS that at least one individual was taken from the scene to Cincinnati Childrens Liberty Campus.

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The OHGO camera at the intersection showed all northbound lanes closed.

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.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 11, 2024 - 21:22 | World, All, Japan

Japan has asked China to bolster security to ensure the safety of its nationals in the country on the upcoming 87th anniversary of the 1937 massacre in Nanjing, Japanese government sources said Wednesday.

The request to Beijing, made by Japanese diplomatic establishments in China in the run-up to ceremonies to mark the anniversary on Friday, follows stabbing incidents in Suzhou and Shenzhen earlier this year, the sources said.

In June, a Japanese mother and her child were injured in Suzhou. A Japanese schoolboy was also killed in Shenzhen in September. Under such circumstances, Japanese schools in China have decided to close or hold classes online on Friday.

The scale of the killings by Japanese troops of civilians and soldiers during and in the weeks after the capture of Nanjing -- then the capital of Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Chinese government -- has been widely debated.

China claims the Japanese army slaughtered over 300,000 people in the Jiangsu Province city, formerly called Nanking. In contrast, estimates by Japanese historians place the death toll of Chinese civilians and soldiers between the tens of thousands and 200,000.

Related coverage:

Chinese police make arrest in fatal stabbing of Japan boy in Shenzhen

China resumes visa-free scheme for short-term Japan visitors
A commission tasked with overseeing a process that could lead to a new Illinois state flag has selected 10 finalists for the public to consider early next year.

The 20-member Illinois Flag Commission, which includes some elected officials, chose the finalists from nearly 5,000 submissions that came in since the Illinois secretary of states office opened the selection process in early September. The designs incorporate iterations of various state icons, including the state insect (the Monarch butterfly), the state flower (violet) and Abraham Lincoln, as well as nods to corn, agriculture and industry.

Beginning in January, the public will be able to vote online at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag for one of the new designs, or for one of three flags that have already flown over the Land of Lincoln: the current state flag, the 1918 Centennial Flag and the 1968 Sesquicentennial Flag.

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By April 1, after the public vote has been tallied, the commission will offer recommendations and share its findings with the Illinois General Assembly, which will then decide on whether to adopt a new flag.

The state flag now features a bald eagle with the state motto in its mouth standing on a rock bearing the year of the states incorporation, 1818, and the seals creation, 1868. Its almost a carbon copy of the state seal.

Through legislation sponsored by state Rep. Kam Buckner of Chicago and state Sen. Doris Turner of Springfield, the Illinois Flag Commission was created to determine whether a new state flag would better represent the states diversity of urban, suburban and rural communities and inspire renewed state pride among Illinoisians, according to a statement from the secretary of states office. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the measure into law last year.

Designers for a new flag were asked to incorporate elements such as Illinois natural features or anything that represents the states history and culture. There was no limit on flag shape, but the commission was allowed to edit the designs. There was also no limit on colors but less than three colors were recommended for clarity of design. Designs were not allowed to be generated by artificial intelligence.

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The flag designs eligible for public voting in January can be viewed at ilsos.gov/special/IFC/10finalists.pdf.

Minnesota adopted a new state flag earlier this year after a similar process, ending up with a banner that has an eight-pointed star enclosed in a dark blue shape that represents the states general outline and the night sky on the left, and a light-blue field on the right representing the states many bodies of water. Last year, Utah also underwent the process of getting a new state flag, which was changed to pay homage to its nickname, The Beehive State.

Locally, Cook County changed its flag in 2022, adopting a design created by a student from Glenbrook South High School in north suburban Glenview.
An 11-year-old girl was miraculously rescued after three days of being stranded at sea when a shipwreck off Italy's Lampedusa island is believed to have killed the remaining passengers on the vessel.

Germany's CompassCollective, the charitable organization that rescued the girl at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, said its boat was en route on a different rescue operation when they heard her shouting from the water.

"It was an incredible coincidence that we heard the child's voice despite the engine running," Skipper Matthias Wiedenlubbert said in a press release detailing the rescue.

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The shipwrecked metal boat, which had initially set off from Sfax, Tunisia, was caught in a storm that lasted several days in the central Mediterranean, according to the release.

MORE: 79 dead, 104 rescued after boat carrying migrants capsizes near Greece

There were an estimated 45 passengers onboard the ship before it sank, the organization said.

The 11-year-old girl said she drifted in the water for three days with two improvised life rings made from air-filled inner tubes and a simple life jacket.

She survived without any drinking water or food and despite suffering from hypothermia, she was "responsive and oriented," according to the release.

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The girl told the organization she had been in contact with two other passengers in the water two days after the shipwreck, but that the contact had broken off.

After receiving medical attention, the girl was moved to a migrant holding center in Lampedusa where Italian Red Cross staff were looking after her, according to the organization.

PHOTO: The 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone floated in the water for three days with two improvised lifebuoys made from air-filled inner tubes and a simple life jacket. (Compass-Collective.org )

MORE: 1,200 aboard 2 migrant boats rescued in Mediterranean

CompassCollective's Katja Tempel said the rescue signals an ongoing crisis for migrants embarking on dangerous journeys by boat in attempts to get to Europe.

"Even in storms, people are forced to use risky escape routes across the Mediterranean. We need safe passages for refugees and an open Europe that welcomes people and gives them easy access to the asylum system. Drowning in the Mediterranean is not an option," Tempel said in the release.

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According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the migration route between Tunisia, Libya, Italy and Malta is one of the most dangerous passages in the world with over 24,300 people disappearing or dying since 2014.

"The persisting humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable," IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino said in 2023. "With more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this route since 2014, I fear that these deaths have been normalized," he added.

11-year-old girl rescued as sole survivor of shipwreck off Italian coast originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
An 11-year-old girl who was taken to a hospital in critical condition after attempting to save her 12-year-old classmate's life when he fell through the surface of an icy upstate New York lake has died, authorities said.

"The Albany Police Department extends its heartfelt condolences and support to the families and friends of both children during this difficult time," the Albany Police Department said in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Authorities initially said the 11-year-old girl was critically injured after she and a 12-year-old boy fell through the ice in Washington Park Lake on Saturday, Dec. 7. The boy was ultimately found dead at the scene.

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Related: Man Dies After Drowning in Lake Outside SoFi Stadium: 'He Went Underwater and Did Not Resurface'

According to a news release shared on Facebook on Sunday. Dec. 8, police officers and firefighters responded to the incident at around 4:30 p.m., and the 12-year-old boy's body was recovered from the water about three hours later.

"Through the investigation, it is believed that the 12-year-old boy attempted to walk north across the lake towards the lake house and fell through the ice," police added.

"It is then believed that the 11-year-old female observed the boy fall through the ice," according to the department, "and, in an attempt to help, followed the same path of travel across the lake, where she also fell through the ice."

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Related: Pregnant Woman Rescues 3 Kids from Drowning in Lake Michigan: 'I Don't Know How, But I Did'

Police didn't name the two children due to their age. School officials said both were students at North Albany Middle School.

North Albany Middle School Principal Andrea Piper issued a statement on Dec. 10 updating the community about the 11-year-old's death.

With support from the district and clinicians from Northern Rivers, our teachers and staff have talked with our students this week about this terrible tragedy and offered emotional support to any student in need, Piper 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.

We will continue to support our students, and each other as a school community, as we all grieve and process, his statement continued.

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PEOPLE reached out to North Albany Middle School for comment on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

On Dec. 8, City School District of Albany Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter said that their "hearts go out to the families of these students at this incredibly difficult time."

He added, "This is a terrible tragedy and we are grieving as a school community.

Read the original article on People
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 13-year-old student within the Jewell School District has been arrested over sex abuse allegations, according to Clatsop County Sheriffs Office.

The agency said officials arrived at the Jewell School on Dec. 5, in response to reports from staff. The Sheriffs Office alleged it received a complaint about sex abuse involving two students.

The 13-year-old student was taken into custody at a youth detention facility. The investigation has since been referred to Clatsop Countys Juvenile Department and District Attorneys Office.

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According to the statement from law enforcement, the Sheriffs Office is investigating further accusations.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
BERNARDSTON, Mass. (WWLP)  A 14-year-old allegedly stole a vehicle and led police on a car chase across three states, ending here in western Massachusetts.

Holyoke police, DEA seize drugs, weapons in Lyman Street raid

On Monday, police around 7:00 a.m. say they received a request from police in Hinsdale, New Hampshire to assist a teen dealing with a mental health emergency, according to NBC Boston. As officers were arriving, the teen stole the vehicle of a family member in Hinsdale.

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They say the teen then crossed the Vermont border into Brattleboro, driving through road barriers, striking a police cruiser, and almost hitting several officers.

The chase ended in Bernardston, where police were notified and deployed spike strips to stop the car. The teen was then boxed in by police and taken into protective custody. There was significant damage done in the area of Kingle Candle.

Bernardston Police Department Bernardston Police Department Bernardston Police Department Bernardston Police Department

No injuries were reported.

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
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: Robert Lee Luster Jr. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember Robert Lee Luster Jr., while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever.

Copyright 2025 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.
Dive deep into true crime cases and follow the latest headlines with HuffPosts Suspicious Circumstances newsletter. Sign up here.

At around 7 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2017, Park County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched to a call of a house fire at a home in rural Bailey, Colorado. A witness had called 911 to report that at least one man was causing damage on the property, a 27-acre ranch in the mountains between Denver and Breckenridge.

Firefighters put out the blaze, but as they investigated the scene, they discovered the charred remains of one of the homes residents, 17-year-old Maggie Long. Her death would be classified as a homicide and later, a possible hate crime. Seven years since the fire, no one knows who killed her or why  a tragedy that rocked not just her family, but the small community where the teen was already leaving her mark.

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It had been a typical Friday evening for Maggie, a high school senior at Platte Canyon High School who was active in theater and community service. She was in charge of a concert being held at her high school that night, but returned home to get more water and cookies for the audience she was expecting, Sheriff Tom McGraw said at a news conference in 2019. Maggie told her friends she would be right back, but she was never seen again.

Her friends and family immediately began to worry, with posts on social media and a local community forum seeking information and asking people to look out for the teen.

I remember being up all that night on the phone with everyone saying, Have you seen Maggie? You know whats happening to Maggie? Because at that point, they were saying that Maggie was missing, and so we were all very entrenched, Amy Fletcher, Maggies theater teacher at the Venue Theatre Company in Conifer, told HuffPost in an interview.

Maggie Long was killed in a house fire following a burglary at her home, authorities said. FBI

Earlier this month on the anniversary of Maggies death, authorities once again asked anyone with information to come forward.

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Its a very disturbing sort of thing to be living in a place where something so horrific could happen, and we have no idea why or how, or if it could ever happen again, right? Fletcher said. Thats something that we all have to live with.

Evidence at the crime scene allowed investigators to piece together what happened to Maggie before she was killed. And over the years, though no suspects have been named, multiple theories have sprung up around why her home was targeted.

As members of their family were trying to figure out where Maggie was on Dec. 1, 2017, her sister Connie Long told Colorado Public Radio that a tenant who lived in an upstairs unit of their home was texting her that he was hearing loud noises. After not finding Maggie at one of their familys restaurants or the high school, she told Colorado Public Radio she went home around 7:20 p.m., only to find firefighters in the driveway and smoke in the air.

Authorities ultimately determined that when Maggie arrived at the house earlier that evening, she walked in on at least three men who had broken in, and a physical altercation took place between Maggie and the burglars. McGraw said the assailants spent a significant amount of time inside the house where Maggie was purposely set on fire and burned alive to conceal their crimes.

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Several items were stolen, including a Beretta handgun, an AK-47-style rifle, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, a green safe and jade figurines.

According to FOX affiliate KDVR, Maggies body was formally identified six days after the house fire. Months later, in May 2018, Sgt. Greg Jones, the lead detective investigating the case, determined that Longs house was targeted by the suspects.

We feel strongly that whoever did this probably had a strong feeling that there were items of particular value to them that would have been in the Long household, and thats why they targeted that house, Jones said.

Authorities released sketches of the three men, based on witness descriptions. One man was seen at the Long property, while the two others were seen in a van leaving the property that day. FBI spokeswoman Amy Meyer told local NBC affiliate KUSA that a fourth person may be involved as well.

A suspects sketch of Maggie Long's alleged killers via FBI. FBI

It could be a male or a female, but we believe there is possibly a fourth person that is either involved in the burglary on Dec. 1, 2017, or that might be a key witness that we would like to talk to, Meyer said.

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Few other details have been publicized. Just three days after the house fire, a local judge issued a gag order preventing authorities from releasing any further information. Lynna Long, Maggies other sister, told Colorado Public Radio that her family was not allowed to be anywhere near the home for days after the fire because it was a crime scene.

We got a tour of the house by the sheriff, basically showing us where the damage was. And we saw just the damage in the garage as well. Because the perpetrators were trying to set multiple starting points of the fire around the house, Lynna Long said.

Maggies case was reclassified by the FBI as a potential hate crime in 2021, and a multi-agency task force took on the investigation.

Its an option we have never explored before, but were looking at now to see if it is a real possibility, McGraw, the Park County sheriff, told KDVR at the time.

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According to Colorado Public Radio, Maggies family immigrated to the United States decades ago and was one of only a few Asian families living in the area. Her parents were financially successful, running several Chinese restaurants at the time and investing in real estate.

They worked hard. They worked in the restaurant all their lives and they built everything from scratch, Benjamin Cheang, a family friend of the Longs, told ABC affiliate KMGH.

The family sold their home years after Maggies death. Cheang told KMGH it was their dream home and where Maggie grew up.

It took me a long time to convince them that life needs to move on, Cheang said.

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Connie Long told Colorado Public Radio that Maggies sudden death was devastating for the family.

My parents retirement from the restaurant business was kind of in-the-making, but Maggies death really catapulted that process. The night that she died, they stopped working and they did not return to the restaurant, she told Colorado Public Radio. Its been a huge change in both of my parents. I dont think theyll ever truly heal from the death of our sister.

Despite authorities offering up a $75,000 reward for information leading to the three suspects arrests, the case remains unsolved. A spokesperson for the Colorado Bureau of Investigations told HuffPost that the Maggie Long task force is still active and composed of the CBI, Park County Sheriffs Office, ATF and FBI. They say the task force meets once every few months.

The aftermath of Maggies death left people in Bailey, an unincorporated community of about 9,000, and the surrounding area in shock, according to Fletcher. Many continue to feel a sense of frustration that no suspect has been caught or named.

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It just seems so cruel to not be able to know what happened, and to have something like that happen in a small community, Fletcher said.  I mean, it only makes you wonder about who your neighbors are and whats going on.

Fletcher described Bailey and neighboring Conifer as the type of towns where everyone knew each other, and where the theater is a second home to many young people living there, including Maggie. She remembered the girl fondly as a compassionate person who wanted to always be of service.

Maggie would come into the room and everyone would feel better, and I know that seems very cliche, but she brought with her this energy of taking life by the hands and running with it, Fletcher said.

The theater created a tribute video with clips of Maggies performances and placed a plaque in the lobby of the theater in her memory. Fletcher told HuffPost they continue to give out an award named after Maggie to one of their students each year.

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According to Fletcher, moving on from Maggies death is not just hard, but impossible. She believes finding those responsible might bring some sense to something thats so senseless.

I think about Maggie every day because I walk into the theater and I see her picture, and she deserves to be at peace, Fletcher said. And her family deserves to find some solace.

Related...
An 18-year-old woman involved in a multi-vehicle drunken crash in Braintree earlier this month has died, the Norfolk County District Attorneys office said Wednesday.

Alexia Nixon, of Weymouth, passed away from the injuries she sustained in a crash on Union Street on December 1.

Driver charged in Braintree crash that injured three arraigned on drunk driving charges

Ryan Gorman, 39, of Holbrook is accused of crashing head-on into the SUV Nixion was riding in. Another passenger in the vehicle was hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

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Gorman has pleaded not guilty to three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily injury, one count of driving negligently so as to endanger and one count of failing to drive within marked lanes.

The Norfolk District Attorneys Office and Braintree Police Department extend our heartfelt condolences to Alexias family, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey and Braintree Police Chief Timothy Cohoon said in a statement.

Gorman is expected to next appear in Quincy District Court on January 2.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A Sioux Falls man is charged with forcible rape and robbery.

A prosecutor says 19-year-old Zachariah Kline met the victim early Saturday morning and convinced her to go under a bridge with him.

Thats where police say he pulled out what she believed was a weapon and then allegedly raped her.

SFPD: 38-year-old arrested in early morning motel crash

When Kline left, the prosecutor says he stole items in her backpack.

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In court, Klines attorney claimed it may be a case of mistaken identity and someone else actually committed the crime.

The judge set the bond at $100,000 dollars cash only.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Four people were arraigned Wednesday morning in connection with the massive fire that damaged the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Three men and a woman are now in custody for their alleged involvement with the fire, according to our news partners at WCPO.

James Hamilton, Terry Stiles, Zachary Stumpf and Kaitlen Hall were arrested in connection with the Nov. 1 fire at 1,000 Hands Playground in Sawyer Point Park.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Authorities said none of the people arrested are homeless, despite the fire sparking a debate about homeless encampments around Cincinnati.

Court records show that Zachary Stumpf, 23, and Terry Stiles, 39, are facing aggravated arson charges based on video and witness statements.

Court records show Hall and Hamilton face charges of obstructing justice after both allegedly gave misleading information to investigators about Stiles and Stumpf during officials arson investigation

Stiles and Stumpf were both issued a $1 million bond. They are expected to be back in court on Dec. 17.

Both Hall and Hamilton were issued $60,000 bonds. They are scheduled to appear in court on December 20.

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Hall and Hamiltons defense attorney said their accused crimes are just words.

The bridge was severely damaged after the playground, located beneath the bridge, caught fire overnight and burned for hours in a blaze that was large and hot enough to warp some of the steel beams supporting the bridge.

Ohio Department of Transportation officials have estimated the full cost of repairing the bridge will be around $10 million.

We will continue to follow this story.

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KYODO NEWS - Dec 10, 2024 - 23:30 | All, Japan

Japan and Finland agreed during their summit Tuesday to start negotiations on a pact to allow the transfer of defense equipment, citing the increasingly interconnected security environments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Finnish counterpart, Petteri Orpo, opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, the government said, in an apparent reference to Russia, China and North Korea, which has boosted military cooperation with Moscow.

In their first meeting as premiers, Ishiba noted that the bond between Japan and Finland, now a NATO member, has strengthened amid the "severe" state of global affairs, expressing hope for a further deepening of bilateral security ties.

Finland joined the NATO military alliance in April 2023 after its neighbor, Russia, invaded Ukraine a year earlier. Ishiba has raised concerns about the war's implications for the Indo-Pacific region, where tensions are high between China and Taiwan.

Ishiba told Orpo, who described Japan as an important partner, that Tokyo seeks to bolster cooperation with Finland in cutting-edge technologies such as 6G mobile networks and supercomputing, the Japanese government said.

Related coverage:

Japan to provide defense equipment to Philippines, 3 other nations

Japan, Germany shortlisted to build new Australian frigates

U.S. to deploy missile units to Japan islands in Taiwan contingency
WEATHERSFIELD, Ohio (WKBN)  Two people were arrested Wednesday morning in connection to an August assault.

Read next: $56K and drugs at home where man was murdered

Weathersfield Township police were called to the 2800 block of Covington Avenue around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday by U.S. Marshals in reference to finding Michael Houser, who had an active warrant out for his arrest on the charge of attempted murder.

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Reports state Marshals had been monitoring a residence in that block for the last two weeks. On Wednesday, authorities found Houser sleeping nearby in the passenger seat of a red Jeep. In the drivers seat was Shawna Simpson, who was arrested for felonious assault tied to the same incident as Housers warrant, police say.

When asked why they were sleeping in the Jeep, reports state Simpson responded, Because he has a warrant.

The warrant stems from an Aug. 30 incident, where Weathersfield police were called to the area of 2200 N. Glenwood Avenue in reference to an assault.

Police spoke with a group of people who told them that while on the trails in the Honda Hills, two members of the group were assaulted by Houser and Simpson.

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Those at the scene told police one of the victims had an encounter with Houser the day before, where Houser reportedly assaulted him and stole items from his vehicle. During the incident at Honda Hills, one of the victims told police he asked Houser Wheres my stuff? which caused Houser to rush at him, grabbing him by the genitals and hitting him in the head before they began to fight on the ground.

The victim told police he felt his neck and throat being cut with something sharp, and police noted he had two cuts on his throat and one large cut on the back of his neck.

Witnesses reported that Houser was holding one victim to the ground while Simpson was hitting them with a metal pipe.

Reports state both victims received serious head wounds and were bleeding heavily. Both were taken to the hospital.

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Court records show Houser is facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated menacing, trespassing and felonious assault.

Houser and Simpson both appeared in court Tuesday morning where their bonds were set at $750,000 and $250,000, respectively. The judge also issued temporary protection orders for the victims.

Nadine Grimley contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
A teenage birthday party at a Goodyear banquet hall turned violent on Saturday night, leaving three people critically injured and two suspects in custody following a shooting and a hit-and-run incident.

According to Goodyear police, officers were called to the 303 Reception Hall near Sarival Avenue and Van Buren Street around 10:19 p.m. after receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls about gunfire and a vehicle striking individuals at the scene.

Witnesses reported that an argument broke out during the party of roughly 100 people. Police say Tyrone Hood, 45, of Waddell, Arizona, pulled out a firearm and shot two people multiple times outside the venue. As the victims lay injured, a black GMC pickup truck sped through the area, running over Hood and another person before crashing into the banquet hall and fleeing.

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Officers stopped a truck matching the description a short distance away. The driver, 35-year-old Jesus Beltran of Blythe, California, was detained. Police noted that Beltran appeared impaired and had blood on his hands and shoes at the time of the arrest.

All three victims, including the two gunshot victims and the individual struck by the vehicle, were taken to hospitals. The two shooting victims remain in critical condition, while the third victim is stable.

Police discovered 12 shell casings and other evidence at the crime scene, including a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting. The weapon was secured by a security guard who witnessed the incident.

Both Hood and Beltran were arrested and booked into a Maricopa County jail. They face serious charges in connection with the incident:

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Tyrone Hood is accused of two counts of attempted second-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault. His bond was set at $2 million.

Jesus Beltran faces multiple charges of aggravated assault. His bond was set at $500,000.

Authorities confirmed that no additional suspects are being sought at this time.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2 arrested after weekend shooting, hit-and-run at Goodyear party
Two suspects are facing criminal charges in connection with the alleged mistreatment of over 250 animals at their property in northern Minnesota.

Authorities in Beltrami County allege 64 maltreated animals have been seized from the home in Hines Township and 170 animals are unaccounted as investigators comb through animal bones allegedly found on the property.

Debra Marshall, 65, and Douglas Erickson, 49, each face 10 felony counts of animal mistreatment.

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The pair were arrested Friday after the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office arrived at their home to rescue the maltreated pets, only to find 170 were missing.

The Animal Humane Society on Tuesday shared photos from the investigation and stated that animals "were kept in dire, unsanitary conditions without proper shelter, food, water, or medical care.'

Animal Humane Society

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office said it started investigating the property on the 16700 block of Aksarben Lane Northeast on Oct. 21 after receiving a report of possible animal mistreatment and neglect.

The complaint states that Beltrami deputies first visited the home and spoke with Erickson, who said Marshall owned the property and ran a dog and cat rescue.

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Deputies expressed concern to Marshall and Erickson and reported seeing a "large number of cats and dogs that did not have adequate food and water, lived in poorly ventilated environments, had accumulated animal feces and urine, and were in need of medical care."

During a follow-up visit on Oct. 29, cats were observed "running loose on the property" and the odor of ammonia and feces was so strong that deputies experienced light headedness and burning, watery eyes.

Animal Humane Society

A third visit was conducted on Nov. 12 with police, Animal Humane Society (AHS) agents, and veterinary staff.

According to the complaint, animals were found "displaying symptoms of significant illness and malnourishment" and law enforcement began planning an operation to return and seize both living and deceased cats and dogs.

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However, according to the Sheriff's Office, law enforcement and AHS agents returned Friday to find many of the animals unaccounted for.

The Sheriff's Office said an outdoor woodstove and ash pile were located near the home, and "numerous" bones and bone fragments were found; according to deputies, there were "too numerous to count."

In total, 64 animals were recovered: 30 cats and 34 dogs. Authorities say more than 170 animals are still unaccounted for, and four other dogs have already been surrendered to a rescue.

Erickson and Marshall were arrested on Friday and were released from custody Monday.

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The two are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 30 at 10 a.m.

Related: Animal mistreatment case: Authorities find bones and ash, 170 pets unaccounted for

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
DENVER (KDVR)  Two juveniles were arrested in connection to a case in which a woman was shot while confronting suspects who were breaking into her vehicle.

Fort Collins Police Services said in a press release Tuesday that its officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 700 block of Crown Ridge Lane on Oct. 21 around 1:20 a.m.

Bookstore raising money for employees injured during home invasion

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Police said a woman was woken up by a family member who saw two unfamiliar males breaking into her vehicle in front of their house. When she ran out to confront the suspects, one of them fired multiple shots.

The suspects ran away from the scene before police arrived.

The woman was struck in the leg. Police provided medical assistance until EMS arrived and took her to a hospital where she was treated for her injuries and released.

On Tuesday, FCPS announced that two juveniles were arrested in connection to the shooting and break-in.

Their identities are not yet being released. The first suspect was arrested on charges of:

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Attempted murder in the 1st degree

1st-degree assault

1st degree criminal trespass to a vehicle

Tampering with physical evidence in a felony case

The other suspect was arrested on charges of:

Accessory to a crime

Aggravated robbery with a gun

Criminal attempt to commit a class 3 felony

Possession of a handgun by a juvenile

1st degree criminal trespass to a vehicle

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Police are asking anyone with information who has not already spoken to police to email Detective Dollie Knab at tipsline@fcgov.com or call the tip line at 970-416-2825. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous are encouraged to contact Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
(WKBN)  Historic buildings in Mahoning and Trumbull counties will be getting some help toward redevelopment, thanks to state tax credits.

The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program is providing $56 million in tax credits across the state to support the rehabilitation of historic buildings. The program provides financial incentives for the buildings private redevelopment.

The tax credits will help transform these buildings, which are often vacant and generate little economic activity, into usable space. The buildings will be preserved and could become residential housing, commercial and office space, or manufacturing facilities.

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In Youngstown, Central Tower on W. Federal Street will be getting a $2 million tax credit for the $20.2 million project.

Central Tower was built in 1929 and is the citys tallest building. It used to be the Central Savings and Loan Companys headquarters. Its upper floors are used as office space but have struggled with significant vacancies.

The rehabilitation project will turn Central Tower into a mixed-use building, with apartments on the upper floors and offices on the lower floors.

In Niles, the Masonic Temple on W. Church Street will be getting a $1.16 million tax credit for the nearly $5 million project.

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The Niles Masonic Temple was built in 1922 and used by the Mahoning Lodge No. 394. The temples architecture will be restored, transforming it into a multi-purpose space for the community.

The tax credit program will help a total of 37 projects preserving 42 buildings in 15 Ohio communities. The projects are expected to leverage approximately $715 million in private investments.

Developers are only issued the tax credit once the construction project is complete and all program requirements are verified.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A two-year-old boy was hospitalized after investigators say he accidentally shot himself with a misplaced gun Monday in St. Louis County.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has charged the boys father, Carnell Berry, 44, with endangering the welfare of a child in the investigation.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Berry left a handgun on the floor of a bedroom while changing clothes. At some point, he left the room without securing the gun or putting it in a different spot.

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Indicted teen released on house arrest in fatal DWI crash case, victims friends want answers

A short time later, Berrys two-year-old son reportedly found the gun, carried it into the kitchen, and shot himself in the hand.

Court documents did not disclose the extent of the childs injuries from the incident, nor where in St. Louis County the child shot himself.

This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information 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 FOX 2.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  St. Petersburg police are investigating a targeted shooting that sent two men to the hospital.

Just before the gunfire rang out, city leaders were holding an anti-violence meeting at nearby Jordan Park in response to an uptick in gun violence.

Who gets $60K reward money in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting?

According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, the shooting occurred at 2400 13th Avenue South.

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The victims were sitting on the porch, police Chief Anthony Holloway said. Someone came by and there was some gunfire exchange.

Police said two 19-year-old men were taken to the hospital but are expected to be ok.



Holloway believes they were targeted.

We will recover those casings and will compare those to other casings we find through the city to see if theres a comparison that theyre similar to other shootings that are happening in our city, the chief said.

Councilman-elect Corey Givens Jr. was at the earlier meeting and reacted to the news of the shooting nearby.

Less than an hour later, two blocks down, the road shots rang out in the middle of broad daylight, Givens said. People should feel safe where they live and where they work. You should be able to take out your trash, walk your child to school, go to the store without fearing for your life.

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Givens said something needs to be done to help neighbors that feel hostage in their own community.

Its simple, lock your cars. Lock these guns up, Givens said. We got to practice responsible gun ownership.

Givens also said the youth need access to more opportunities.

We dont have to resort to guns to solve our problems, Givens said. Words, thats what we have to learn how to use. I think its important to get kids to understand that there are opportunities, and they have access to those opportunities.

St. Petersburg police are not releasing information about possible suspects.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Two people were injured when vehicle crashed into a San Francisco Walgreens Wednesday morning, not far from where a family a family of four waiting at a bus stop was killed earlier this year when an SUV mounted the sidewalk and plowed into them. The San Francisco Police Department got a call at 8:34 a.m. regarding a vehicle that had crashed into the front of the Walgreens at 200 West Portal.

The front of the Walgreens sustained damage, and one vehicle was also damaged, according to SFPD. Two people who were inside the store at the time sustained minor injuries.

Fillmore Safeway to close due to safety concerns after push to keep store open fails

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Neither of them required hospitalization.

The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection has been informed and will need to inspect the structural integrity of the damaged area, according to police. The West Portal Walgreens will be temporarily closed.

Video from the scene showed broken glass and smashed concrete at the front of the Walgreens. The vehicle, which appeared to be a crossover SUV, looked to have sustained significant front-end damage.

The Walgreens is just a short walk away from the West Portal Muni station where a family waiting to catch a bus to San Francisco Zoo was killed back in March after a 78-year-old driver who was speeding and headed the wrong way jumped a sidewalk and crashed into a couple and their two small children with her white Mercedes SUV.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Two K-12 teachers in western South Dakota have had their licenses permanently revoked, while two others from the Sioux Falls area have received public reprimands.

The teaching license of the McIntosh principal has also been suspended as part of a plea agreement and a Parker teachers license was suspended for being deceitful on his application.

Court docs: Student catfishes, Huron teacher arrested

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Those penalties are among the latest handed down by state Education Secretary Joseph Graves.

They were based on recommendations from the South Dakota Professional Teachers Practices and Standards Commission and the South Dakota Professional Administrators Practices and Standards Commission.

The license of Sturgis Brown High School teacher Chris West was revoked after he came to work intoxicated. During the state investigation, West said he was resigning and leaving education.

The license of St. Francis Indian School counselor Keiton Guess was revoked after a domestic incident at his home where he allegedly assaulted a woman he was seeing and caused a serious likelihood of injury to his daughter.

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Michelle Pliska, a former Garretson school counselor who now works for Dakota Hope Counseling, received a public reprimand. A specific reason for the reprimand isnt given, but the document cites violations of subsections 5, 8 and 9 of the state rule listing a teachers obligations to students.

Shana Legg, a former Harrisburg High School special education teacher who now works at Teachwell Solutions, received a public reprimand. A specific reason for the reprimand isnt given, but the document cites violations of subsections 5 and 7 of the state rule listing a teachers obligations to students.

The teaching license of Scott Klaudt, principal at McIntosh High School, was suspended until June 30, 2025, for violating subsections 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the state rule listing a teachers obligations to students.

Klaudt had previously pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft while serving as a principal at New Salem-Almost school district in North Dakota. He resigned as principal there and was hired at McIntosh. His North Dakota license was suspended until June 30, 2023.

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The teaching license of Michael Morran, a teacher in the Parker school district, was suspended until July 2, 2028, for failing to disclose on his South Dakota application in 2023 an incident from 2022 involving a special education student while he was elementary principal at South OBrien Community School District in Iowa.

The South Dakota commission viewed video footage from parts of the incident and concluded, Morrans actions in dealing with the student went far beyond any appropriate method in which to address the incident with the student. Morran was deceitful on his Application.

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A world of ice and crystal, where every step is a moment of magic - Huangshan Mountain's misty beauty will leave you mesmerized.

Don't miss out on this breathtaking winter wonder in east China!
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Rescue crews pulled two women from rubble several hours after a Russian missile struck a medical clinic in southern Ukraine, killing nine people and wounding 22 others, authorities said Wednesday.

The women called rescue services to say they were buried by debris for seven hours after the attack late Tuesday in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraines Emergency Services said, as deadly Russian strikes on civilian areas continue in the almost three-year war.

Meanwhile, the United States warned that Russia may be poised to launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic Oreshnik missile against Ukraine again soon.

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Ukraines Western allies are sending more aid to help it keep fighting Russias invasion, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Zaporizhzhia strike showed that his country still needs more air defense systems.

He urged Western partners to send weaponry they are holding in their arsenals.

Air defense systems that Ukraines allies possess should save lives, and not gather dust in storage bases, Zelenskyy said late Tuesday in his daily address to the nation.

Ukraine kept up long-range attacks on areas behind Russian lines that are supporting its war effort.

A Ukrainian drone attack caused a blaze at an industrial facility in Russias Bryansk region, Gov. Alexander Bogomaz said.

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Air defenses downed 14 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region early Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Also, a Ukrainian missile attack on the city of Taganrog in the Rostov region early Wednesday damaged an industrial plant, regional Gov. Yuri Slusar said.

Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian forces for hitting what he called military facilities on the territory of Russia, as well as facilities of the fuel and energy complex.

It is precisely such long range and accuracy that step-by-step bring Russia back to reality  to the reality that the war must be ended, he said on Telegram.

It wasn't possible to verify either side's claims.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  One person has been taken to the hospital Wednesday morning after a two-vehicle crash on Dick Pond Road where one car ended up in a ditch, an Horry County Fire Rescue Facebook post said.

Fire rescue crews were dispatched at 8:10 a.m. to Dick Pond Road and South Service Court.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the scene. Drivers are asked to take alternate routes to avoid delays. Count on News13 for updates.

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* * *

Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read 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 WBTW.
BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The Louisiana Prize Foundation has announced an incentive program that will reward teachers up to $1,000 who help local students learn the art, science, and business of filmmaking.

The Prize Foundation recently received a grant from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana for Caddo and Bossier teachers to assist students through the Film Prize Junior process, from script writing to short film production to festival production.

This statewide free film education program and the competition encourage educators and students to collaborate on creating, writing, producing, editing, and promoting a short film.

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The Louisiana Prize Foundation assists with guidance and support from their dedicated team members and experienced film mentors.

The grand prize-winning film is awarded a $1,500 Film Equipment Grant for the School or School Beneficiary, $1,000 to the Teacher Producer, and $500 in Celebration Funds accepted by the Organization on behalf of their Student Filmmakers.

The Film Prize Junior Caddo/Bossier Teacher Incentive Program payment:

$100 for the lead teacher whose students script is submitted and approved by the Film Prize Junior team for production.

$200 for the lead teacher of a completed film approved for participation in the online and in-person Film Prize Junior Festival.

A bonus $150 for the lead teacher of a completed film competing in the animation genre

$100 for the teacher who fully participates in the Film Prize Junior Festival, including watching a slate of films and guiding students through Production Island and educational panels

The payment is per participating teacher producer.

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Detailed on their website, participants will have the chance to win several awards, such as the festival audience choice will be awarded a $1,500 Film Equipment Grant for the School or School Beneficiary, $500 to the Teacher Producer, and $250 in Celebration Funds accepted by the Organization on behalf of their Student Filmmakers.

Weve always wanted to do this for the teachers and thanks to the Community Foundation, we

are finally able to incentivize educators to be a part of this innovative experiential learning

program, said Gregory Kallenberg, Executive Director of the Prize Foundation. I hope this

attracts more teachers and students to take the transformative journey of Film Prize Junior.

Who can be a student filmmaker?

According to the La. Film Prize, A Student Filmmaker must be a 5th  12th grade student enrolled at the same Educational Organization as their Teacher Producer. Students are not required to have any filmmaking or leadership experience before participating in Film Prize Junior.

Director of La. Film Prize Junior Kelly Pederson shares a tip for future filmmakers and producers, Everyone is going through something, and everybody wants you to succeed. So all you have to do is ask for help, and you will be surprised at what you can make of it. You may think that in this competition, people are way ahead of you if youve never done a film before.

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But you know, art is a great way to express yourself through the program. You actually get to learn a little bit about entrepreneurism and a lot about being organized and creative thinking. So its just a wonderful, transformative experience that we really invite any student to be a part of, says Pederson.

Film Prize Junior films must be submitted in one of five (5) genres: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller, or Documentary.

Natchitoches Christmas: Festival of Lights, what you need to know

According to the Prize Foundation, the program emphasizes creativity, storytelling, and collaboration while teaching essential skills like project management, teamwork, and communication, making it a valuable resource for regional schools.

Submission deadlines for the La. Film Prize Junior:

Participating teachers must register for the program by December 31, 2024. The script submission deadline is January 10, 2025, and the film and portal deadline is March 18, 2025.

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The virtual red carpet takes place on April 15  17, the festival May 2-3rd at the Shreveport Convention Center, and the award ceremony will take place on May 4, 2025.

For each Festival Entry to qualify as a finalist, the Teacher Producer and Student Filmmakers must submit a Script that documents the plans and intentions for their short film. To find all the rules and guidelines, visit the website.

If you want more information, contact Kelly Pederson at kelly@prize.foundation or 318-399-552.

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 KTALnews.com.
(WHTM)  Governor Shapiro and the Secretary of the Commonwealth have certified the 2024 election results.

The Shapiro Administration signed the certificate Tuesday.

Presidential electors will gather at noon on Dec.17.

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Vote totals for all 67 counties can now be confirmed on Pennsylvanias Department of States website.

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Dec. 10NAPPANEE  The Nappanee Firefighters/EMT annual awards night took place Dec. 4 at American Legion Post 154. The guest speaker for the evening was State Fire Marshal Steven Jones. Larry Thompson, former mayor, firefighter/EMT and Jones presented the awards for the evening.

Alec Chapman was honored with the Delb Yoder Memorial Award as Nappanee's Fireman of the Year.

EMT of the Year went to Nate Yoder. It was noted that Nate's dedication of service to the city in the duties as an emergency medical professional, serving above and beyond the call of duty.

Recognition of the retired members Tye Chupp, Ryan Miller and Brent Warren followed the firefighter and EMT of the Year recipients' awards. Miller and Warren retired after 20-plus years of service in the Nappanee Fire Department. Chupp had 20 years of service to the residents of Indiana, with honored, dedication, excellence and commitment to the emergency medical service as paramedic.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A man was charged for leaving the scene of an accident that left a pedestrian injured on Tuesday.

Huntsville Police said that a pedestrian was trying to cross the intersection of University Drive when they were hit by a vehicle.

HPD said that officers arrested Manuel Alejandro Oviedo Altuve, 21, of Huntsville. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident-death or personal injury.

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Altuve was taken to the Madison County Jail and was issued a $2,500 bond.

According to HPD, the victim is being treated at the hospital for their injuries and is in stable condition. Authorities said that the victim is expected to survive their injuries.

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 21-year-old local man is accused of stabbing another person with a 2-foot sword and cutting the victims hand in Manchester, police said Wednesday.

Gavin Brown of Manchester was arrested and charged with first degree assault with a deadly weapon following the stabbing on Monday, police said in a statement. He was placed on preventative detention pending his arraignment.

At approximately 2:50 p.m. Monday, police responded to a stabbing at a Hill Street home.

Officers spoke with the victim, who said Brown had lunged at him with a 2 foot sword and cut his hand, police said.

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Brown then left the home. Officers later found him at the Burger King on Second Street.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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And just like that, another year is almost in our rear-view mirror. 2024 was a big year for a lot of things -- from blockbuster movie releases to a major presidential election. But it was also a big year for food and food media. Not only did we see restaurants and tech companies roll out new technology and develop innovative products for consumers, but we also saw a lot of foodborne illness outbreaks -- seemingly like a new outbreak every other week kind of deal -- but nonetheless, we all made it through.

Before we take the leap into 2025, it's time to take a quick look back on the good, the bad, and the tasty of 2024. Here are some of the biggest stories that made headlines in the food world this past year.

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Read more: 20 Best Gifts For The Bourbon Lover In Your Life

Starbucks Released Three Boba Beverages On Its Summer Menu

Starbucks' Summer Skies beverage outside on a lounge chair arm - Smith Collection/gado/Getty Images

2024 was good news for both boba lovers and those who frequent their local Starbucks cafe regularly. In May, the company released three boba-inspired berry Refreshers to its summer menu. These beverages, which became instant hits at the stores across the country, included "popping pearls" that added a newfound sensory experience to the beverage.

The flavors themselves were extensions of the Refreshers line. It included a Summer-Berry Refresher with raspberry-flavored pearls, Summer-Berry Lemonade, which combined the aforementioned Summer-Berry Refresher with a bright, sweet lemonade, and the Summer Skies drink, which takes a creamy twist on the classic Refresher thanks to a generous portion of coconut milk.

Florida's Governor Signed A Bill Banning Lab-Grown Meat

Person looking at a petri dish meat sample - Marco de Benedictis/Shutterstock

This year has not come without its food-related controversy, including over lab-grown meat. In May, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that banned the sale of cultivated proteins within state borders. The move makes Florida the first U.S. state to put major restrictions on the development and sale of this revolutionary food technology. However, there has also been movement globally to restrict the development of cell-grown protein; in 2023, Italy approved a bill that would outlaw lab-grown meat as a way to protect the country's culinary heritage.

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Proponents of lab-grown meat argue that the technology would lessen the environmental impact and ethical drawbacks of animal-based proteins. Meanwhile, many consumers, and now governments, express weariness about cultivated cell foods being released onto the market, as the science behind it is still in its infancy.

Walmart Released The Bettergoods Brand

bettergoods products on a green background - vegnews/Instagram

If you've been shopping at a local Walmart, you may have seen a new store brand on the shelves: bettergoods. The major grocer released this private label in an attempt to compete with Target's Good & Gather. The lineup covers an array of household products and foods, including everything from Greek yogurts to taco sauce.

The bettergoods brand offers more premium options for Walmart shoppers and features an especially large line of plant-based products, including macaroni and cheese and plant-based milks. The store has also used bettergoods as an opportunity to roll out more health-focused alternatives to its other products, including items that are free from preservatives, added sugars, and more.

Oreo Collaborated With Sour Patch Kids For Sour Cookies

Sour Patch Kids Oreo cookies package - Oreo

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If you couldn't imagine eating something that's not a chocolate cookie Oreo, then you may want to skip over this one. But for readers who love everything sweet, then Oreo's partnership with Sour Patch Kids may have been one of your highlights of 2024.

This sugary candy-cookie hybrid was officially released in April, though consumers started seeing it on shelves in May. The twist on Golden Oreos features a sour-sweet filling, which several eaters reported as being reminiscent of the beloved sour candy. Though, it's easy to see why other folks would rather try another Oreo flavor instead.

The USDA's Summer EBT Program Fed Hungry Kids

Kids smiling and eating lunch in a school cafeteria - Dag Sundberg/Getty Images

It can be tough getting kids fed during the summer months when classrooms and cafeterias across the country are shuttered. Over the summer of 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) expanded its Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program to help feed youth that may not otherwise have meals during the day. The program rolled out across 35 U.S. states, five territories, and four tribal nations. It's estimated that the program benefitted over 21 million youth in total.

The credit, which came out to around $120 per child for the summer, could be spent at farmers markets, grocery stores, and other outlets. Besides lining up with the government's goals to reduce child hunger, proponents also argued that the program would increase the amount of fresh produce kids consume every day.

Chipotle Opened Its Newest International Location In Kuwait

Chipotle sign outside of the restaurant - Erman Gunes/Shutterstock

In late April, fast casual chain Chipotle opened its first international location in the past decade. Its partnership with international franchiser Alshaya Group allowed the popular joint to move into Kuwait City at The Avenues. This shopping center location offers state-of-the-art technology and systems, which many customers in America are still not used to -- like information and ordering kiosks. The movement of the chain outside of U.S. borders, as other chains like McDonald's, Starbucks, and Dunkin' already have done, suggests an increasing popularity and interest in Chipotle's offerings from non-American consumers.

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Following this move, Chipotle announced that it also had plans to open locations in the United Arab Emirates. The more burritos, the merrier -- right?

Dolly Parton Released A New Cookbook

Dolly Parton's "Good Lookin' Cookin'" cookbook cover - Random House

It wouldn't be a year in food without some unexpected celebrity cookbook releases. This year, it was Dolly Parton herself in the spotlight.

Parton released "Good Lookin' Cookin'" in September, and it has been a hit since (arguably not as big of a hit as "Jolene," of course). The cookbook shares some of Dolly (and her sister, Rachel Parton George's) favorite family recipes, including classics like barbecue ribs and strawberry shortcake. Each page flip is like stepping into Dolly and Rachel's life and cooking the foods that they know and love. The entire book covers 80 recipes, so you too will have options for what the duo dubs "a year of meals."

The Creator Of Pop-Tarts Died

Brown sugar cinnamon Pop-Tarts box next to plated Pop-Tarts - Aaron of L.A. Photography/Shutterstock

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If you've ever indulged in a frosted brown sugar cinnamon or frosted strawberry Pop-Tart, you have William "Bill" Post to thank. The legendary creator of the breakfast pastry died at 96 in February of this year, leaving behind a long legacy of fun, fruity fillings and whimsical breakfast creations in his wake.

Post and his team created the blueprint for the Pop-Tart, a shelf-stable breakfast pastry featuring one of four original flavored fillings, in about four months. Following the product's creation in 1963, the brand soared to the status of a household name. And although Post retired from the company at age 56, he continued his consulting work there for upwards of 20 years. The next time we pick up a box of our favorite flavor, we'll be thinking of you, Bill, and your everlasting impact on the breakfast world.

Stanley Admitted Its Water Bottles Contain Lead

Stanley Quencher tumblers on store shelves - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The it-girl Stanley tumbler rose to popularity in 2023 and early 2024, but then allegations emerged about the safety of its famous cups. In January of this year, Stanley announced that its products did, in fact, contain lead  though it assured consumers that the lead was encased in the bottom of the containers and was likely not at risk of making contact with the fluid inside of the cup nor the skin (unless, perhaps, if the bottle was significantly damaged).

Stanley went on to explain that the lead in the vacuum insulation system helped keep beverages at the intended temperature, which is one of the reasons why many consumers bought the cups in the first place. However, it did not stop many consumers from turning to other water bottle brands that don't contain lead.

Michael Rafidi Won The James Beard Outstanding Chef Award

Michael Rafidi speaking at the James Beard Awards podium - Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images

James Beard is one of the biggest names in food awards, and this year, it was Michael Rafidi in the spotlight. The Washington D.C. restauranteur won the foundation's award for outstanding chef.

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Rafidi's restaurant, Albi, is one of the hardest restaurants to get reservations for in the District. It features coal-fired cuisine that fuses together Rafidi's Palestinian roots with local ingredients; expect dishes like Maryland blue crab hummus and smoked carrot kibbeh naya. Besides this James Beard Award, Rafidi also holds a Michelin star and was awarded Eater D.C.'s chef of the year in 2017.

Trader Joe's Chili And Lime-Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Won Big

Trader Joe's chili and lime-flavored chips bag, with chips and dip on a cutting board - Trader Joe's

While the James Beard Awards may be big, there's no bigger and more important award than the Trader Joe's Customer Choice Awards. And this year, the big winner was none other than the rolled corn chili and lime-flavored tortilla chips. These chips, which sport an enticing orange hue, are crispy, crunchy, spicy, and savory -- what more could you want from a snack?

Customers also thought highly of the brand's organic elote corn chip dippers, white cheddar corn puffs, and crunchy curls. But it was the chili and lime-flavored tortillas that came out as the champion -- winning both the title of best snack and best overall product. What's even more impressive is that this is the second year that these chips have dominated the competition in the annual Customer Choice Awards.

Panera Bread Faced Another Lawsuit Over Its Charged Lemonade

Panera Charged Lemonade containers - Smith Collection/gado/Getty Images

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It wasn't too long ago that reports of health problems linked to Panera Bread's Charged Lemonade started popping up. In early 2024, the company faced its third lawsuit related to the beverage. The newest lawsuit was filed by a woman living in Rhode Island who claimed to have heart palpitations and dizziness following her consumption of 2.5 servings of the highly caffeinated beverage. The woman was then diagnosed with AFib, which persisted long after she finished drinking the beverage.

At the time that the three plaintiffs consumed the beverage, it contained 390 milligrams of caffeine in a 30-ounce serving, but Panera has now brought that down to 236 milligrams. The company has also moved the dispensers behind the counter and cautioned consumers not to drink too much of it.

McDonald's Launched Its $5 Meal Deal

McDonald's tray with fries, McDouble, spicy McChicken, and drinks - SrideeStudio/Shutterstock

June 25 was a big day for McDonald's lovers -- or any folks who are really fed up with the price of fast food these days. The company teased for several months about releasing a $5 meal deal before it officially hit drive-throughs and order counters across the country. Customers can order a McDouble or McChicken, small order of fries, four-piece chicken nugget, and a small fountain drink for $5.

This move was on the heels of other companies' decisions to release affordable meal offerings, including Burger King's Your Way Meal Deal and Starbucks' $5 and $6 pairing menu. McDonald's claims that the meal deal is a limited-time offer, though as of the date of publication, it is still being offered.

Boar's Head Recalled 7 Million Pounds Of Meat Due To A Listeria Outbreak

Boar's Head meat products in a grocery store case - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

If there was one food news story that you heard about this year, it probably had something to do with food recalls. In July, Boar's Head recalled 7 million pounds of deli meat following a listeria outbreak. By the time the Centers for Disease Control called off the recall, 61 cases of listeria had been reported across 19 states -- resulting in a total of 10 deaths.

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While it was at first difficult to pinpoint the exact product that was causing the outbreak, Boar's Head later determined that a retail outlet was to blame. The first product recalled was liverwurst, though the recall eventually spread to everything from ham and bologna to sausages. In the time following the recall, customers were urged to throw away Boar's Head meat or return the packages to the deli that they had purchased them from for a refund.

Taco Bell Released Baja Blast Gelato

Person spooning out Taco Bell's Baja Blast gelato - Taco Bell

Everyone knows that no trip to Taco Bell is complete without a signature Baja Blast (it's no surprise it's been ranked the best Mtn Dew flavor, either). As a way to celebrate the caffeinated concoction's 20th anniversary, Taco Bell released its limited-edition Baja Blast gelato in early September. When it became available, rewards members had to order it through the Taco Bell app -- and they were limited to four orders per person.

Feelings towards this sweet, frozen treat were mixed. Some said it was only for Mtn Dew superfans, as some folks reported that its non-carbonated consistency ruined the effect and allure of this iconic beverage. Regardless, the Baja Blast gelato is in our rear-view mirror now.

Costco Recalled Over 10 Thousand Packs Of Organic Eggs

Costco organic eggs packaged - The Image Party/Shutterstock

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If you noticed the refrigerators at your local Costco were looking a little bare around the end of November, there's a reason why. Costco recalled over 10,000 units of its Kirkland Signature organic eggs due to concerns over a possible salmonella outbreak. The 24-count packages of organic pasture-raised eggs were sourced from New York's Handsome Brook Farms. The eggs, which were distributed to Costco warehouses in five states, were not attributed to any illness complaints, as this was a voluntary recall.

The Costco egg recall was not correlated to the egg salmonella outbreak in September, which affected over 65 individuals. Those eggs were sold under the Milo's Poultry Farms or Tony's Fresh Market labels in three states: Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.

Nobu Added A New Orleans Location

Food at Nobu New Orleans plated - Alexandra Cass/Tasting Table

Nobu, a global restaurant empire, opened its newest location in New Orleans in August. The restaurant already has over 50 locations in five countries, so it seems like opening a spot in Caesars Hotel and Casino in the Big Easy was a no-brainer.

The fare at the restaurant, which builds on Nobu's 30-year history of top-quality Japanese fusion cuisine, also boasts an array of local ingredients. That means crawfish, shrimp, okra, and more. It's certainly unlike any Nobu food you've ever had before.

Chipotle Released An Avocado-Peeling Robot

Chipotle burrito bowl with guacamole - leecreates/Shutterstock

An avocado would hate to see this coming. Chipotle debuted its Autocado machine at one of its franchise locations this year, signaling the growing pressure to automize fast food operations. In 2023, the brand announced that it would be exploring this technology to expedite its guac prep (which is good news for anyone who has to wait in long lines for this beloved add-on). Though, customers may have been shocked to see the Autocado at work in the Huntington Beach, California location.

The robot was made in collaboration with robotics company Vebu. It can slice, core, and peel an avocado in 26 seconds -- though this rate is expected to improve with time and technological development. Although customers can expect that this small countertop robot will be playing a part in their Chipotle experience in the future, the company has announced no plans to officially change its hand-made guacamole preparation, as of this writing.

Tupperware Announced Bankruptcy

Tupperware containers on a store shelf - Scott Olson/Getty Images

While Tupperware Parties may already be a relic of the past, soon Tupperware's containers may be too. The company officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September of this year. This decision came after plummeting stock prices and pressure from a digital consumer marketplace. An astonishing 80% of Tupperware sales are linked to direct sales, hence the Tupperware Parties. Despite partnering with Target a couple years prior, Tupperware failed to catch up to other brands.

However, that does not mean that Tupperware products will cease to exist tomorrow. The bankruptcy may open up the opportunity for the company to reorganize, reassess its business, and try to salvage itself.

A Listeria Outbreak In Plant-Based Milks Killed Two People In Canada

Silk products on a store shelf - ZikG/Shutterstock

While many of 2024's food outbreaks focused on deli meat, eggs, and milk, even plant-based eaters need to keep their head on a swivel. A listeria outbreak tied to Silk and Great Value-branded plant-based milks killed two people in Canada and sent nine others to the hospital.

Affected products included Silk's coconut, almond, oat, and cashew milk and Great Value almond milk (including sweetened, unsweetened, and vanilla-flavored products). All Canadian consumers were recommended to be on high alert for these products, especially at-risk individuals, including those who are pregnant or elderly.

Bird Flu Was Found In Raw Milk

Person pouring raw milk container - Simonskafar/Getty Images

Fresno County's RAW FARM voluntarily recalled a batch of raw milk (otherwise known as unpasteurized milk) following concerns over H5N1 (aka bird flu) in late November. While there were no confirmed cases of the outbreak among customers who purchased and/or drank this milk, it was done "out of an abundance of caution," per the California Department of Public Health.

Raw milk has received some staunch support among the "crunchy community" of TikTok, but experts warn that the risks of consuming raw milk outweigh its benefits. This is because pasteurization is the process of heating the milk to kill off pathogens, including bird flu.

McDonald's Quarter Pounders Were Linked To A Major E. Coli Outbreak

Quarter Pounder with cheese sandwich box - Pamela Brick/Shutterstock

While many of 2024's numerous food outbreaks occurred in retail locations, fast food places were also hit hard. Most notably was McDonald's; its Quarter Pounders were linked to E. coli outbreaks in over 10 states in October. Although it was not clear at first whether it was the burger patty or the toppings that were to blame, the FDA eventually discovered that it was the slivered onions on top of the sandwich that were at the root of the outbreak.

By October 22, Taylor Farms, the supplier of the onions, issued a voluntary recall. Over 100 people in total were affected by this outbreak. One person died as a result of it and 34 people were hospitalized.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Less than a quarter of adults approve of President Bidens pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, while roughly half disapprove, a new poll has revealed.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 51 percent of adults somewhat or strongly disapprove of the pardon, compared to 22 percent who said the opposite. Eighteen percent neither approved nor disapproved, while 8 percent didnt know enough to answer, the poll showed.

The polling comes roughly two weeks after the president announced his decision to pardon Hunter Biden, who was found guilty in June in a federal case on three felony charges for concealing drug use during his purchase of a gun in 2018 and illegally possessing it afterward. He avoided trial in a separate case by pleading guilty in September to nine federal tax charges.

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President Biden has faced scrutiny for his decision as several Democrats on Capitol Hill have condemned the move as counterproductive to their partys efforts toward rebuilding public trust in American institutions derided by President-elect Trump.

The survey revealed that Democrats were more likely to approve of President Bidens decision, with 38 percent saying so, than independents, at 12 percent approval, and Republicans, at 7 percent.

The vast majority of Republicans, 80 percent, disapproved of the pardon, compared to 27 percent of Democrats, the survey found. Fifty-one percent of independents disapproved.

The survey also revealed that most adults, 60 percent, strongly or somewhat disapprove of how Biden is handling his job as president. Thirty-nine percent approved, according to the poll.

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The vast majority of Democrats, 72 percent, approved of Bidens job performance, compared to 23 percent of independents and 8 percent of Republicans, the survey found.

Roughly nine in 10 Republicans disapproved of how Biden does his job as president, the poll revealed. A significant majority of independents also expressed their disapproval, at 71 percent. Twenty-seven percent of Democrats disapproved, the survey found.

The poll additionally showed that people aged 18 to 44 were more likely than older adults to disapprove of how Biden handles his job as president, at 66 percent. Fifty-four percent of people aged 45 and older disapproved, the survey found.

People aged 45 and older were also more likely to approve of Bidens job performance as president than those aged 18 to 44, at 45 percent to 32 percent, the poll showed.

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The nationwide poll was conducted from Dec. 5 to 9 and surveyed 1,251 adults. The margin of error was 3.7 percentage points.

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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Two men were wounded and a third may be involved in a shooting during an apparent drug deal on Tuesday afternoon in Tampa, police said.

Officers were dispatched to the 3200 block of E Wilder Ave. where, according to police, they found two men with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. The men were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Lakeland man accused of sexually battering 14-year-old girl over Thanksgiving break

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Soon after, another man arrived at the hospital also suffering from a gunshot wound, though it is unknown if the injuries were related.

TPD said the initial investigation revealed that the incident transpired during an apparent drug deal.

Anyone with any information should contact Tampa police at 813-231-6130 or submit an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers.

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Gao Yunlong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attends the opening ceremony of the Second Business Conference on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development and delivers a speech in Hong Kong, south China, Dec. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

HONG KONG, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Second Business Conference on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development opened in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Over 1,000 representatives of government agencies and business sectors at home and abroad attended the conference, which was first inaugurated in 2023.

Gao Yunlong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the event's opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Noting that great progress has been achieved over the five years since the release of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Gao called on all parties to contribute to the region's high-quality development and expand opportunities in building the region. 

John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), addresses the opening ceremony of the Second Business Conference on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development in Hong Kong, south China, Dec. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Three of Texas 10 Most Wanted are back in custody following their recent arrests, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said in a news release.

Authorities arrested Texas 10 most wanted fugitives Christopher Garay on Nov. 29 and Johnny Wilson on Dec. 2. Michael Petterson, a Texas 10 most wanted sex offender, was arrested on Nov. 27, DPS said.

Christopher Joshua Garay

Johnny Leon Wilson

Michael Wayne Petterson

DPS said Crime Stoppers rewards will be paid in Garays and Wilsons arrests.

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Garay, 35, was taken into custody in San Antonio. Following up on tip information, the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force  including DPS special agents  and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Office of the Inspector General (TDCJ OIG) located and arrested him, DPS said.

DPS said that in 2011, Garay was convicted of five counts of aggravated robbery and subsequently sentenced to 18 years of confinement for each count.

In 2018, Garay was released on parole from TDCJ. He had been wanted since January when a warrant was issued for his arrest out of Bexar County for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, DPS said.

Additionally, in February, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a parole warrant for his arrest.

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More information on Garays capture can be found here.

Wilson, 54, was taken into custody in Grand Prairie. Following up on tip information, the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force  including DPS special agents  Fort Worth Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Mansfield Police Department, and TDCJ OIG located and arrested him, DPS said.

In 2019, Wilson was arrested by the Houston Police Department for murder. He subsequently bonded out with an ankle monitor, which he later either damaged or removed, DPS said.

DPS said Wilson had been wanted since February 2023, when the Harris County Sheriffs Office issued a warrant for his arrest for murder.

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More information on Wilsons capture can be found here.

Petterson, 55, a high-risk sex offender, was taken into custody in Dayton, DPS said. Working off investigative information, DPS special agents and troopers, along with the Chambers County Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Marshals Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force located and arrested him, DPS said.

DPS said that in 1991, Petterson was convicted of aggravated sexual assault following an incident with a 17-year-old female. He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years of confinement.

In 2003, Petterson was convicted of harassment. In 2008, he was convicted of failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and subsequently sentenced to five years of probation, DPS said.

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In 2014, he was convicted of assault of a family/household member by impeding breath/circulation and subsequently sentenced to five years of probation.

Petterson had been wanted since November 2023, when the San Augustine County Sheriffs Office issued a warrant for his arrest for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, DPS said.

More information on Pettersons capture can be found here.

Texas Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of Texas 10 most wanted fugitives, sex offenders, or criminal undocumented migrants.

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So far in 2024, DPS and other agencies have arrested 44 Texas 10 most wanted fugitives, sex offenders, and criminal undocumented migrants, including 16 sex offenders, 10 gang members, and four criminal undocumented migrants  with $32,000 in rewards being paid for tips that yielded arrests, DPS said.

DPS said to be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to authorities using one of the following three methods:

Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).

Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about then clicking on the link under their picture.

Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the SUBMIT A TIP link (under the About section).

All tips are anonymous  regardless of how they are submitted  and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name.

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Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous, DPS said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
TRIAD  A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday accuses 38 people, including four from the High Point area, of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine hydrochloride.

The press release from U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina provided no specifics about how much drugs were distributed, where they were distributed or what any of the individuals named are accused of having done. The court file was not immediately available on the website of the federal court system.

Local residents who were indicted are Crandall Ortais Turk Ingram, 32, of High Point, Anthony Okurtis Rashad Ant Lloyd, 29, of High Point, Nikonda Taye Slatt or Big Boy Ingram, 31, of High Point and Michael William Curtis, 49, of Archdale.

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The indictment names numerous people from Montgomery and Moore counties and from Arizona.

The indictment also charges 10 of the defendants  none of the High Point-area defendants  with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking scheme.

As of Tuesday, 37 of the 38 defendants were in custody, and 26 of them were arrested on Tuesday, the press release said. Crandall Ingram was among the 11 who already were in federal or state custody on related charges.
COURTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Two people sustained minor injuries in chain-reaction crashes northeast of Rockford Wednesday morning, deputies say.

It happened around 10 a.m. on Myers Lake Avenue near Peterson Street in Courtland Township.

The Kent County Sheriffs Office said the driver of a westbound Chevrolet Silverado failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection.

As a result, the driver of a northbound Chevrolet Blazer swerved to try to avoid a crash. That put the Blazer in the path of a southbound Subaru, and the vehicles collided. The Blazer rolled over.

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A northbound Ford F-150 then veered into the ditch to avoid hitting the other cars. The Silverado also didnt hit any other cars, but also wound up in the ditch.

The driver of the Blazer, a 72-year-old Paris, Michigan, woman; and the driver of the Silverado, a 23-year-old Courtland Township man, both reported soreness following the crash.

The sheriffs department did not report any injuries from anyone in the Subaru or F-150.

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Dec. 10Work to repair the Interstate 44 bridge over Main Street has been put on hold until spring.

David Mitchell, spokesman for the Southwest Missouri region of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said work was suspended because of weather conditions expected during the winter that would disrupt the construction.

Craig Switzer, transportation project manager for MoDOT, spoke to the Joplin City Council in January to outline a number of projects that were planned in the Joplin area this year. The repair of that bridge was one of those projects.

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Interim repairs had been made on the bridge before the current major overhaul as the result of holes occurring in 2020 and 2021. The incident in 2021 involved a chunk of bridge decking falling onto Main Street.

A number of projects on state-owned streets and bridges were completed in the Joplin area by MoDOT in the last two years, and more are planned through 2027.

Next year, MoDOT will start a two-year project to make repairs on Seventh Street from Range Line Road to Schifferdecker Avenue.

The city of Joplin is planning corresponding work that is to include demolishing the condemned Pennsylvania Avenue bridge next to Seventh Street. The City Council last month approved a contract for engineering work to be done to plan that project.

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The engineering work will include developing plans for relocation and repair of the Willow Branch stormwater drainage. The branch runs beneath downtown Joplin and part of that system would be moved to Seventh Street in the area of Pennsylvania Avenue and west to bypass an older section of the system.

The Pennsylvania Avenue bridge, located between Fifth and Seventh streets, was blocked to vehicle and pedestrian traffic in February 2019 after a state inspection found it to be structurally unsound. It is a concrete beam bridge built in 1929. It spanned Willow Branch and part of a warehouse at the time it was constructed. The warehouse building has been demolished since the bridge was closed.

The city also will reconfigure the intersection of Illinois Avenue at Seventh Street and do sidewalk repairs in some areas along Seventh Street as the state work is being done.

MoDOT also plans the future construction of a train bridge to be built over 32nd Street in 2027 to eliminate traffic blockages.

Also planned by the state that year will be replacement of the bridge on Main Street over Turkey Creek in the area of Murphy Boulevard.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma County Detention Center says a 45-year-old inmate was found dead in his cell on Tuesday morning.

Steven Woods. Photo courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center.

Steven Woods was reportedly found unresponsive in his cell by an OCDC officer serving breakfast at around 4:05 a.m. on Tuesday. Lifesaving measures were performed by medical staff at the jail, but were unsuccessful.

Family says they were lied to about inmates death in prison

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According to the OCDC, Woods was being held on a felony count trafficking illegal drugs with a $25,000 bond. He was booked into jail by the Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office on Sunday.

While the investigation is still in the early stages, the OCDC says Woods death appears to be a suicide. He was last seen during a sight check at 3:43 a.m. on Tuesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Extreme heat brought on by climate change is placing Nevada low income families and outdoor laborers at a crisis point, community advocates said on Wednesday.

Statistics showing 491 people have died because of exposure to extreme heat in Southern Nevada brought attention from U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Climate Action Campaign, CHISPA, Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition, Institute for a Progressive Nevada, and Make the Road Nevada during an online news conference.

More of our neighbors are dying, Glenda Ayala, a member of CHISPA, said.

Glenda Ayala, a member of CHISPA.

Heat-related deaths in Clark County increased by 67% over the past year, on top of a 78% increase the previous year, according to statistics that Titus cited.

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But the effects on low-income families go beyond deaths. Utility bills are a tipping point for many Nevadans.

As our record-breaking temperatures continue to rise alongside skyrocketing utility rates, families are facing impossible choices between keeping their homes cool and sacrificing other essential expenses like groceries, medical treatments, and prescriptions, due to these high utility costs, according to Jackie Spicer, coordinator for the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition.

Jackie Spicer, coordinator for the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition.

Low-income households spend a disproportionate portion of their income on energy, Spicer said. Her group heard from more than 1,200 Nevadans who are being impacted by environmental justice issues. Housing costs  especially energy bills  was at the top of the list.

Our electricity bills will keep rising and our health will keep worsening, Ayala said.

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Titus led off the news conference with an update on her work in Congress to make sure the federal government responds to extreme heat the same way it responds to hurricanes and tornadoes. Part of the answer is giving the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) the authority to act.

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) talks about efforts to increase federal attention to extreme heat.

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Shes working on federal legislation  the Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act  to accomplish the shift in how extreme heat is viewed as a disaster. She said it has bipartisan support, but time is short to pass it before Congress adjourns.

Extreme heat killed more people than tornadoes and hurricanes combined, Titus said, noting the average high temperature over the summer months was 107 degrees.

Thats particularly concerning for outdoor workers.

Roberto Renteria.

Roberto Renteria, an outdoor landscaping worker, told the group that preventive measures safeguarding all workers are needed most. Speaking in Spanish through a translator, he said undocumented workers often face the worst conditions from outdoor heat and wildfire smoke.

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Attempts to pass protections resulted in Nevada OSHA regulations  but they left out important parts. Spicer said OSHA omitted requirements for breaks, shade and water.

We still think that this can be improved upon and that there is a long way to go for us to ensure that outdoor workers have the protections they need to be able to thrive and prosper and continue to do their work in Nevada, Spicer said.

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VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  It was five years ago on Tuesday that Binghamton University Chemistry Professor Stan Whittingham received one of the greatest honors a scientist can achieve.

Whittingham shared the 2019 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for inventing the lithium-ion battery.

Lithium batteries have become ubiquitous in modern society powering smart phones, laptops, electric vehicles and more.

BU President Harvey Stenger joined other school officials in honoring Whittingham with the unveiling of a plaque in the lobby of the Couper Administration Building.

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Whittingham says the award has helped to unlock much-needed state and federal funding in an effort to turn Greater Binghamton into a hub for lithium battery research and manufacturing.

I invented lithium batteries 50 plus years ago and then they migrated to Asia. Its been my goal to bring them back to this country. I think weve been very fortunate in New York State, has given us money for a dry room, gave us money for equipment in the dry room, and then, just before COVID, basically they were going to give us $50 million for the larger facility, said Whittingham.

BUs New Energy New York initiative ended up receiving that $50 million in September 2022 in conjunction with a federal Build Back Better award of $63 million. Its also been designated a tech hub for batteries by the federal government and has gotten a National Science Foundation Engines grant that could bring as much as $160 million to the effort.

The accolades for the British-born Whittingham arent over. Hes scheduled to officially become Sir M Stanley Whittingham on January 15 during a knighting ceremony with King Charles of England at Windsor Castle.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
Associated Press

WHITERIVER, Ariz.  Five inmates who escaped from a tribal jail in northern Arizona have been recaptured with one man still at large, authorities said Sunday.

Officials with the White Mountain Apache Tribe said six inmates escaped from the detention center around 8 p.m. Saturday.

They said three were back in custody by 10:30 p.m. and two more were recaptured Sunday morning.

Police didnt immediately release any information on how the men escaped, if they all worked to escape together and where they were recaptured.

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Police also didnt disclose how long each of the men had been in jail and for what offense.

Police said family and friends of the remaining escapee were being contacted Sunday.

Whiteriver is located about 135 miles (217 kilometers) southeast of Flagstaff.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A new date for voting on new recreational and aquatics facilities in Sioux Falls is tentatively set for next year. City councilors say theres a reason for the delay.

The $68 million bond would upgrade Frank Olson and Kuehn Parks and a westside recreation center. Five percent of that is for flexibility purposes.

Councilors say the reason for the delay in voting is so they can determine every option.

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Weve had conversations around getting more insight on things like, hey, for indoor recreation, how many facilities? What is the strategy for this? Are these microsites? Are these regional sites? So, were expecting some updates and information on that, council member Miranda Bayse said.

Councilors said its a 50-year decision, and improvements must fit the future needs of Sioux Falls.

If it takes three or four or five years to build something, have we already outgrown it? council member Jennifer Sigette said. Thats why Councilor Bayse touched on it a little earlier. Thats why were really challenging the Parks Department before we pass anything. We want to know what the long-range vision is.

SFPD: 38-year-old arrested in early morning motel crash

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Councilors said the bond cost will be backed by existing sales tax revenues, meaning taxpayers wont see any changes to their current taxes.

Weve had a lot of conversation with the Parks Department and staff since we passed these resolutions to collaborate on what does that programming planning look like and how can we cut that vision a little bit bigger for indoor recreation for our parks system as a whole, Bayse said.

The Parks and Recreation Department is presenting their plan during Tuesday evenings city council meeting. Council members are tentatively looking to vote on the bond starting January 7th.

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A 76-year-old patient sitter has been sentenced for assaulting a 68-year-old man with the remote control for a hospital bed.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, Eleanor Flowers, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced for criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult and attempted threats following the Jan. 4, 2021 incident at Southeast Washington Hospital United Medical Center, per a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Columbia.

"Superior Court Judge Deborah J. Israel sentenced Flowers to 24 months of probation," the release confirmed.

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"As part of the sentencing, Flowers must also stay away from the victim and is prohibited from working, volunteering, or participating in any activity involving the elderly, vulnerable, cognitively disabled, or children, to include activities in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors offices, urgent care, and daycare," the release added.

Getty Hospital bed remote control hanging on the bed rail Hospital bed remote control hanging on the bed rail

Flowers had been employed as a patient sitter at the United Medical Center when she repeatedly struck the victim with the hospital beds remote controller while attempting to change his "soiled clothing," court documents and evidence presented at the trial stated, per the release.

The victim was classified as a "vulnerable adult" after previously suffering a stroke, the release confirmed, adding that the man was "paralyzed on one side of his body" and "unable to speak" at the time of the incident.

"The assault was captured on cellphone video by another Patient Sitter in the room, who witnessed the abuse," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Getty Elderly woman's hand with call button in a hospital bed Elderly woman's hand with call button in a hospital bed

"The video showed Flowers repeated strikes, causing visible distress to the victim. Flowers was terminated from her position following the incident, which was reported to hospital authorities and subsequently investigated by the D.C. Office of Inspector General," the release continued.

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U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas, both for the District of Columbia, announced the sentencing, and "commended the efforts of those who investigated and prosecuted the case," which included the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorneys Office.

United Medical Center didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.

Read the original article on People
Hossein Garousi (C), head of the Maku Free Zone Organization, speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 10, 2024. Iran is working to attract a share of the Asia-Europe goods transit by developing a free zone in its northwest, not least by completing a key rail route, an Iranian official said on Tuesday.

Garousi outlined the plan ahead of an international conference on economic development of the free zone. (Xinhua/Shadati)

TEHRAN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran is working to attract a share of the Asia-Europe goods transit by developing a free zone in its northwest, not least by completing a key rail route, an Iranian official said on Tuesday.

Hossein Garousi, head of the Maku Free Zone Organization, outlined the plan ahead of an international conference on economic development of the free zone.

Iran aims to handle some 150 billion U.S. dollars worth of goods transported from China to Europe via the Maku Free Zone annually, he said.

Garousi emphasized that an investment of 500 million dollars in the rail route would enable the transport of 15-20 million tons of goods annually by train. 

Hossein Garousi (2nd L), head of the Maku Free Zone Organization, speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 10, 2024. Iran is working to attract a share of the Asia-Europe goods transit by developing a free zone in its northwest, not least by completing a key rail route, an Iranian official said on Tuesday.

Garousi outlined the plan ahead of an international conference on economic development of the free zone. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Eight Chinese nationals are facing federal charges for running huge marijuana growing facilities in Southeast Georgia.

Investigators discovered two large-scale indoor marijuana growing facilities on two tracts of land in Pierce and Brantley Counties.

The following people are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants, according to a news release from the Department of Justice:

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Hiawen Huang, 54

Yim Hung Yuen, 61

Chen Hui Shu, 35

Jen Peng Ma, 34

Zhu Sheng Bing, 64

Wei Sheng Deng, 42

Lecai Huang, 67

Zhi Yong Ma, 52

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Action News Jax told you in February when the raid on the Pierce County property happened.

In that raid, federal authorities seized more than 11,000 plants inside a building disguised as a fish farm.

This investigation alleges the discovery of a massive clandestine operation illegally growing marijuana on two locations hidden in plain sight, U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg said in a news release. Our exceptional law enforcement partners identified these illicit operations and are working to hold these defendants accountable.

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PHOTOS: 11,000 marijuana plants worth millions found in rural Georgia bust

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

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The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

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The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

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The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

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The Georgia Department of Agriculture and a sheriffs office in South Georgia teamed up to make one of the largest drug busts in state history.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The Department of Justice said Shu, Ma, Bing, and Deng are also charged with Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

Also, Lecai Huang and Ma are charged with a separate count of Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, the DOJ said.

The DOJ believes Hiawen Huang and Yim Hung Yuen have left the United States. The other defendants have made their first appearances in federal court.

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Eight suspects were indicted after investigators said they found a massive indoor marijuana growing operation in south Georgia.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorneys Office, during the investigation, officials discovered two large-scale indoor marijuana growing facilities on two tracts of land in Pierce and Brantley Counties.

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This investigation alleges the discovery of a massive clandestine operation illegally growing marijuana in two locations hidden in plain sight, said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg.

TRENDING STORIES:

The following suspects, all considered Chinese nationals by the DAs office, were indicted:

Hiawen Huang, 54;

Yim Hung Yuen,61;

Chen Hui Shu, 35;

Jen Peng Ma, 34;

Zhu Sheng Bing, 64;

Wei Sheng Deng, 42;

Lecai Huang, 67; and,

Zhi Yong Ma, 52.

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All eight suspects were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute and possession with intent to distribute over 1,000 marijuana plants.

Those charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to life, fines of up to $10 million and at least five years of supervised release upon time served.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

In addition to the conspiracy and drug possession charges, Shu, Ma, Bing, and Deng are charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Lecai Huang and Ma are charged with a separate count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Officials believe Hiawen Huang and Yim Hung Yuen have left the U.S.

The remaining suspects made their first appearance hearings in U.S. Magistrate Court and await further court proceedings.
BIBB COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  An 81-year-old Bibb County man died following a crash involving two vehicles Monday afternoon, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Lee Johnson, of Brierfield, was critically injured when a Ford Explorer hit the Toyota Camry he was driving. The crash happened on Alabama 139 about 15 miles north of Centreville around 1:24 p.m.

Calera police officer seriously injured in Jemison wreck

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Johnson was taken to Bibb Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. The driver of the Explorer and a passenger inside the SUV were transported to the medical center for treatment.

Troopers with the ALEAs Highway Patrol Division are investigating the crash.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
BRISBANE, Australia (AP)  Former Australian swimming great and four-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Fraser was recovering in a hospital on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane after she fell and sustained a broken hip and four broken ribs.

The 87-year-old Fraser was convalescing after the scary incident last week that initially prompted fears she had suffered internal bleeding.

Fraser, who had been recovering from recent eye surgery, tripped on the edge of the newly renovated driveway and landed hard on the ground. She was taken to hospital after the ordeal, where it was determined that repairing the damage to her hip was too dangerous, so she underwent full hip replacement surgery.

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Her daughter, Dawn-Lorraine Fraser, told media on Wednesday that Fraser was doing so much better but was not out of the woods yet."

She is typical mom. She is up walking and as you know she was told to slow down, because she was walking too far and too fast, Dawn-Lorraine said. She has had a new hip, she has broken four ribs and she has a gash in her left arm.

Its been scary  I thought we were going to lose her and I was told by the doctor that we were probably going to have to face that, and I couldnt face that. Because even though shes my mom Ive always thought of her as being invincible.

Dawn-Lorraine said she received a phone call from the hospital on the day of the surgery to ask whether she wanted doctors to try to resuscitate her mother should the procedure not go to plan.

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I said, are you serious? Are you asking me this question? Do you not know my mother? she said.

Fraser is recognized as one of Australias greatest athletes, having won eight Olympic medals, including four gold in the 100-meter freestyle across three Olympic Games between 1956 and 1964.

In 1956 she was the face of the Melbourne Games, winning the first of her golds in the 100 freestyle and 400-meter freestyle relay. She also broke 27 world records during her career and was named Australian of the Year in 1964.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
An Oak Creek man is facing a felony homicide charge after allegedly driving drunk and causing a motor vehicle accident that claimed the life of a local teacher.

Troy Vaillancourt, 27, is facing one count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle while having prior intoxicant-related conviction/revocation. If convicted, Vaillancourt could face up to 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, according to a criminal complaint filed Dec. 10 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

If convicted, his driving privileges would also be revoked for five years.

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Michelle Engman, a teacher with the St. Francis School District, died from injuries received in the crash.

According to the complaint:

At approximately 3 p.m. Dec. 6, Cudahy police were dispatched to East Van Norman Avenue and South Lipton Avenue for a reported two-car crash.

When police arrived, they found a Honda Civic with severe damage to the drivers side door and B-pillar area with side airbag deployment. Additionally, a Chevrolet Trailblazer was located just south of the Civic with its front end severely damaged.

Police determined the crash occurred in the middle of the intersection with the Trailblazer heading south on South Lipton Avenue and the Civic traveling east on East Van Norman Avenue. Southbound traffic on Lipton has a stop sign; neither eastbound nor westbound traffic on Van Norman Avenue have a stop sign.

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Engman, the driver of the Civic, was unconscious and did not have a pulse. Police attempted lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived and took her to Froedtert Hospital via ambulance. She ultimately passed away Dec. 8.

The autopsy indicated Engman died from injuries received in the crash.

Police spoke with Vaillancourt who identified himself as the driver of the Trailblazer. He told police hed just finished work and was traveling south on South Lipton Avenue when the crash happened.

Im 90% sure I blew the stop sign then hit her, Vaillancourt told an officer, adding that he probably was speeding. He shared different versions as to what he was doing when the collision occurred, saying he had either dropped his phone or was looking at his phone.

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Vaillancourt estimated he was traveling between 30 and 35 mph. The posted speed limit is 25 mph. Police determined he was likely driving faster than he claimed based on the vehicle damage.

Officers also observed Vaillancourt exhibit signs of intoxication. Vaillancourt denied drinking before the crash but said he drank the night before, including the early morning hours of Dec. 6, until around 4 a.m.

He also denied using any drugs that day. He said he had used cocaine at some point but didnt recall when.

Vaillancourt took a breathalyzer test which showed his blood alcohol level at 0.169%. The legal limit in Wisconsin is 0.08%, however, due to two prior OWI convictions from incidents in 2019, Vaillancourt was required to remain under 0.02%.

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He was taken into custody Dec. 7 with a $100,000 bail, according to the Milwaukee County inmate database. Vaillancourt's initial court appearance was scheduled for Dec. 11, according to online court records.

Community support for the Engman family

In Engmans obituary she was described as a faithful wife of over 25 years to her husband, Adam Engman, and a funny and nurturing mother to two children.

Michelle was a beacon of love and compassion, touching the lives of many with her warmth and nurturing spirit, the obituary reads.

St. Francis School District Superintendent Deb Kerr sent a letter home to parents and staff calling Engman "a shining light in our district," adding "her loss is immeasurable."

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A GoFundMe was started by Engmans sister-in-law to help support the family and assist with medical and funeral expenses. It surpassed its $19,000 goal with $19,303 raised from 232 donations as of Dec. 11.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oak Creek man, 27, charged in crash that killed St. Francis teacher
A chilling scene in the new movie Wicked sums up what's wrong with President-elect Donald Trumps view of immigrants.

The two witches, Elphaba and Glinda, have traveled to the Emerald City to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The Wizard explains to them that he plans to consolidate power over his restive land by demonizing its animals, who not only have the power of speech but are also the equals of human beings. He will strip them of the ability to speak and confine them to cages.

But why would you do such a thing, asks the tender-hearted, green-skinned Elphaba, whose horror at his plan will eventually turn her into the Wicked Witch of the West.

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The best way to bring folks together, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz tells the women, is to give them a really good enemy.

That is the essence of Trumps immigration policy.

Read more: Abcarian: UnitedHealthcare's chief executive was shot dead. Why did thousands react with glee?

Trump told Kristen Welker of NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that he plans to keep his campaign promise to deport millions of people.

You have no choice, he said. First of all, theyre costing us a fortune. But were starting with the criminals, and weve got to do it. And then were starting with the others, and were going to see how it goes.

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He then preposterously claimed that more than 13,000 undocumented "murderers" had been released into our country over the last three years."

Theyre walking down the streets, he said. Theyre walking next to you and your family. And theyre very dangerous people.

Read more: Column: President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter is understandable. It's also unforgivable

When Welker tried to point out that he was misconstruing the data, Trump doubled down: Its 13,099, and its during the Biden period of time. And these are murderers, many of whom murdered more than one person.

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This is, of course, false. The Department of Homeland Security reported that more than 13,000 noncitizens had been convicted of homicide in the U.S. over the past four decades, including during Trumps first term. And most of them were in jails and prisons, not walking the streets.

I really cant believe we are going to be forced to spend the next four years debunking Trumps apocalyptic fantasies  nor how miserable he will make life for so many people based on his need to make enemies of people whose skin color does not match his own.

Whether immigrants cost us a fortune or not is one of the most studied questions in the entire field of immigration studies. Time and again, experts have concluded that immigrants do not cost U.S. taxpayers a fortune, depress wages, increase government deficits and debt, or commit a disproportionate share of crime.

At the dawn of the Biden administration, after four years of Trumps immigrant-bashing, the immigration expert Alex Nowrasteh of the libertarian Cato Institute wrote a smart little booklet, The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why Theyre Wrong. It is a very helpful, easy-to-digest primer on the falsehoods typically leveled against immigration, legal and illegal.

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The most repeated notion is that immigrants take jobs from Americans, lower their wages and hurt the poor. As Nowrasteh writes, this claim has the greatest amount of evidence rebutting it.

He cites a study by the Harvard labor economist and immigration scholar George Borjas, who found that between 1990 and 2010, the only group of people whose wages were negatively affected by immigrants were native-born high school dropouts, who make up about 9% of American adults. That groups wages dropped by less than 2%. But Borjas also found that immigrants boosted the wages of other native-born Americans, yielding a net increase in native-born wages of about 0.6%.

I would love to put Nowrastehs booklet in Trumps stocking this Christmas, but, as weve learned, hes not big on reading.

So just how many people will Trump target for deportation? It's impossible to know for sure, but you can bet he intends to inflict as much pain as he can.

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Eleven million undocumented immigrants were living in the U.S. as of 2022, 6 million of whom were employed, according to the American Immigration Council. More than 1.5 million work in construction, making up about 13.7% of the workforce. Nearly a quarter-million work in agriculture, making up 12.7% of workers. A million work in the hospitality industry, or 7.1% of the workforce.

Trumps incoming border czar, Tom Homan, has said the government will focus on deporting criminals first but that all immigrants in the country without papers will risk deportation.

Unsurprisingly, farm industry groups are frantically lobbying Trump to exempt agricultural workers from deportation. Builders say mass deportation would worsen current labor shortages and drive up home costs even further.

The scenario brings to mind the 2004 mockumentary A Day Without a Mexican, in which a mysterious shroud of fog descends on California and 14 million Latinos suddenly disappear, wreaking havoc on all sectors of the economy. Last summer, to celebrate the films 20th anniversary, the filmmakers Sergio Arau and Yareli Arizmendi screened it around the country.

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When we did a screening a month ago, Arizmendi told my colleague Andrea Flores in July, someone called me a prophet because this is exactly what Trump is saying today.

Bluesky: @rabcarian.bsky.social. Threads: @rabcarian

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The Abilene Independent School District has voted unanimously to apply for a grant that would require the use of the Bluebonnet Curriculum in classrooms.

After a case study by a group of 50 district educators, they found weak points in the English and Language Art Curriculum, including not meeting the state average on past STAAR tests. The group surveyed and visited other schools to come up with what they feel is the best solution for AISD.

Abilene ISD superintendent supports adoption of Bluebonnet Learning with biblical references

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Dr. John Kuhn, Superintendent for AISD, said he was excited to hear from teachers about the curriculums recommendation.

Im excited because our teachers are excited. This is a recommendation that they brought to us. This isnt from the top down. This is from our educators, Dr. Kuhn said. What they liked about it was that it emphasized critical thinking skills, and they saw it in the schools they went to visit. They saw a lot of consistency from classroom to classroom that teachers were teaching.

The Bluebonnet Curriculum, recently passed by the State Board of Education, would allow biblical references in the materials, including the Golden Rule and the story of the Good Samaritan.

Due to its ties to the Christian religion, residents gathered to express their opinions both for and against the decision to include it in AISD.

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Texas approves optional Bible-based lessons for public schools

Abilene resident John Berry said he sees the benefit of the curriculum showing students a larger worldview.

We need to do some new things to try to get our students to be able to advance in academics. Part of that is critical thinking, which is to be able to not only look at our heritage and where we came from as a nation but also look at all aspects of our society and our culture, Berry said.

Resident Laurent Arndt disagrees with the faith-based nature of the material. She told KTAB/KRBC that she does not think it should be taught in public schools.

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The values that are reflected is not necessarily the values that are reflected by everyone and maybe isnt necessarily what should be taught in public schools, Arndt said.

Superintendent Kuhn acknowledges the decisions pros and cons but emphasizes that the district needs change.

Ive never seen a perfect curriculum in 27 years of being an educator. They all have problems. They can all be nitpicked. What were looking for is something that really can help us move student academic performance to a new level, Kuhn said.

The LASO Strong Foundations Grant would provide funds to the district strictly for the program, including instruction and teaching materials. Based on the number of staff and students, the district anticipates receiving around $1 million.

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Texas education board approves optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools

Dr. Kuhn said he believes the material will improve student learning and be an asset to the district.

We dont just want our kids to learn to read. We want our kids to read and learn. There are some very rich text materials embedded in Bluebonnet that Im excited to see our kids wrestle with, Kuhn said. We feel like the Bluebonnet curriculum, taken as a whole, will be very beneficial for our students learning.

If the grant is received, the district can use it for the 2024-25 school year, with the option to replace some of the materials.

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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.
Immediately after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade via the Dobbs decision, giving states control to restrict abortion, Google recorded the highest volume of searches for vasectomy in the past five years. Research later reported rising interest in tubal sterilizations among females was twice as high as the increase among vasectomies in males. The data reflected a broader trend: more women were seeking out birth control options as they faced a future of a more restrictive abortion access landscape.

But now, a new study has found that the stress of the Dobbs decision wasnt only affecting what contraceptive methods patients were seeking, but also how some doctors were responding and counseling their patients in return.

Published in the journal Reproductive Health, researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 41 contraceptive health care providers across the United States. An estimated 63 percent of them resided in states with abortion restrictions. The researchers found that the providers noted an increase in requests for contraception such as IUDs and other effective methods, as anticipated. However, the researchers concluded that Dobbs profoundly impacts providers contraceptive counseling and care.

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Our interviews highlight the moral injury and fear among health care providers resulting from abortion bans, even in contraception care, the researchers wrote in their conclusion. To sustain providers, clinics must invest in training and legal support so providers can safely advocate for their patients and effectively provide health care in uncertain, and increasingly hostile, environments.

Yasaman Zia, a researcher at the Bixby Center of Global Reproductive Health and lead researchers of the study, told Salon that their findings highlight the increased pressure both on patients requesting more long-acting and permanent contraception options, and then on the providers ability to respond in a patient-centered way. While birth control hasnt been directly affected by abortion bans  though there is genuine concern it could be banned next  misinformation and legal ambiguity are influencing how providers practice.

There's a deliberate legal ambiguity around inserting IUDs for emergency contraception and misinformation through abortion restrictions as IUDs causing an abortion, Zia said. This is despite the scientific evidence that its mechanism of action greatly differs.

One example of how the fear that is prevalent among providers can be found in the case of using misoprostol before inserting an IUD. Misoprostol, which is used in conjunction with mifepristone as part of a medication abortion, can soften the cervix and make placement more comfortable. For some women, the pain of getting an IUD can be extreme.

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Recently, after years of public outcry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued recommendations for clinicians on how to help manage the pain that women might experience. While Misoprostol wasnt recommended for routine use, the CDC advised it could be used in selected circumstances, like when a patient experienced a first failed placement. But in the recent study, a provider during an interview raised concerns that by using misoprostol, people could think that the provider is causing an abortion.

Is someone going to try to get us in trouble for doing that? the nurse practitioner based in a restrictive state, who was interviewed in the study, posited. Is the pharmacy going to fill it? We know were not doing anything wrong, but... that too.

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes.

Another nurse practitioner also said they were concerned about placing IUDs, and revealed some doctors are adding additional layers of protection to ensure it doesnt look as if theyre performing an abortion if theyre practicing in an abortion-ban state. And it has even changed what kind of tests doctors run, sometimes opting for more sensitive pregnancy tests using the blood instead of urine.

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There are some doctors that I am working with who have started doing SDHCG [serum detected human chorionic gonadotropin test] instead of just a urine HCG to prove that they werent pregnant before they put in an IUD and those kinds of things, another nurse practitioner said.

Many providers who were interviewed also expressed concern that abortion restrictions will soon expand to contraception care. In Justice Clarence Thomas' concurring opinion on the Dobbs decision, he opined that the Supreme Court should revisit precedents that codified same-sex marriage, same-sex relationships, and the right to contraception. Earlier this year, U.S. lawmakers had a chance to codify access to birth control by passing the Right to Contraception Act, but failed to do so.

We also offer emergency contraceptive pills at our clinic.  But I definitely have concerns moving forward, is this something that will continue? one provider said. Will restrictions become more and more?

Zia said that the fears expressed by providers that contraceptives could be the next target of restriction are real and felt.

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We need institutions to protect providers legally in navigating these hostile environments, and equip providers with the information they need to battle misinformation and shifting policies, in order to continue providing patients with the full range of contraceptive options, Zia said.

Notably, providers in abortion-ban states felt the void of not being able to discuss abortion care with their patients. Providers who deliver contraceptive care may also provide abortion counseling or care, but now they are taking it upon themselves to see what options in other states are available to their patients.

As far as caring for patients I think its going to be important for us to educate ourselves about the law in different states so we can offer them... while I know this is what we can do for you here, in this state you can do XYZ, one nurse practitioner said. Learning resources to provide them I think is going to be important going forward.

Zia said it was surprising to witness how these restrictions are affecting the range of contraceptive care.

Contraception is not directly implicated in these abortion restrictions, and yet it's profoundly impacted, Zia said.
Rough estimates place Maines remaining volume of firefighting foam with PFAS at upwards of 40,000 gallons. Despite a 2020 recommendation by the Governors PFAS Task Force to inventory and collect AFFF stocks, no progress toward that goal has been realized in nearly five years. (Photo by Brendan Bullock)

During 21 years working as a municipal firefighter, I had hyper-exposure to foam, recalled Jim Graves, director of training at the Maine Fire Service Institute. Graves entered the fire service at age 17 and was later sent to foam firefighting school, a week-long training in the selection and use of these chemical fire-suppression agents.

Fires are classified by the material ignited, and only Class A fires  involving wood, cloth, rubber and some plastics  respond well to water. Class A foam is typically used on structural fires because it penetrates into materials to quell flames quickly. Class B or aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF, called A triple-F) targets flammable and combustible fuel fires, which water can spread.

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A cascading arc of AFFF, formed by mixing a small percentage of concentrate with a high volume of water, can slide quickly across the surface of a fuel spill, creating a thin barrier that effectively deprives flames of oxygen and suppresses fuel vapors. The efficiency of AFFF relies on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a vast class of thousands of synthetic chemicals characterized by nearly unbreakable carbon-fluorine bonds.

First used in World War II, PFAS were subsequently added to hundreds of types of consumer and industrial products due to the chemicals ability to repel water and oil, resist heat, and reduce surface tension. Corporate documents reveal that chemical manufacturers like 3M and DuPont knew a half-century ago that fluorinated chemicals posed serious health risks. PFAS persist indefinitely in the environment and accumulate in bodiespotentially disrupting hormonal, immune and reproductive systems, and increasing the risk of various cancers.

AFFF became a staple on military bases in the 1970s, not long after its development by 3M and the U.S. Navy. By 1988, the federal government mandated its use at commercial airports (a stricture that held until May 2023).

Use of AFFF foam increased among Maine fire departments in the 1980s and 1990s, with 70% of departments in a recent survey reporting that prior to 2022 they used the foam, at least occasionally, primarily for combustible fuel fires, vehicle fires and routine trainings. (Photo by Brendan Bullock)

Some municipal fire departments, particularly those near highways, industry and airports, also kept stocks on hand for vehicular and other fuel fires and for use in periodic trainings. A recent survey of Maine fire departments (see sidebar) found that 70% used AFFF prior to 2022, at least occasionally, primarily for combustible fuel fires, vehicle fires and routine trainings.

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When military bases in Maine closed, they gave some AFFF (made to military specifications, high in PFAS) to municipal departments around the state. Smaller departments always had access to that mil-spec foam, one fire chief observed.

AFFF became a staple tool for many departments because it worked remarkably well. It was a truly amazing chemical engineering accomplishment, Graves said, but horrible, as we have now learned.

Not safe as dish soap

In 2001, a consultant told a technical committee of the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that the toxicity and persistence of two PFAS compounds that Class B foams can degrade into  PFOA and PFOS  could be a death warrant.

Manufacturers changed methods to produce PFAS formulations with shorter carbon chains, and marketed those AFFF concentrates to fire departments as a sustainable substitute. But over time, many of the newer compounds proved to be just as toxic, and more mobile and persistent in ecosystems.

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States began to control AFFF use in 2019, and in 2021 Maine banned its manufacture, sale and distribution (temporarily exempting airports and oil terminals), and mandated containment and reporting of any use. Maine also banned AFFF in firefighter training, but through the preceding decades we trained with foam because it was required, Graves said, referring to the voluminous standards the NFPA sets for fire departments. If we had known, we would have stopped using [foam] way earlier.

Firefighters were assured that AFFF was safe as dish soap, and the concentrate looked similar  a pale amber liquid stored in sparsely labeled 5-gallon pails, 50-gallon drums or translucent 250- to 330-gallon totes. The concentrate could become viscous at times, congealing around valves. Graves recalls once having to reach into a tank of AFFF concentrate up to his shoulder to release a clog.

Convinced that all firefighting foams were harmless, departments used them  not only at live fires and trainings  but occasionally, when requested, for recreational purposes. Various foams (of unknown class) were spread for birthday parties and at parks for community events so that children could slide and romp in what seemed like a bubble bath run wild.

Fire departments throughout Maine and around the country did not confine foam use to live fires and trainings. Upon request, they would periodically spread foam in parks or other settings so that children could frolic in it. (Contributed photo)

Recent research indicates that some legacy PFAS compounds like PFOA and PFOS may transfer readily into aerosol form. When the State of Michigan tested foam at a highly contaminated lake, it found PFAS levels as high as 220,000 parts per trillion (ppt). Yet little research has been done on health effects from inhaled particles of AFFF, according to a spokesperson for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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For many firefighters, AFFF may be the most significant source of exposure to PFAS, a working group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, part of the World Health Organization) concluded. In 2023, the IARC classified PFOA as carcinogenic and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

Cancer has become the leading cause of death among active firefighters. North Americas largest union of first responders, the International Association of Fire Fighters, reports that in 2023 occupational cancer accounted for 72% of the line-of-duty deaths among its U.S. members. Firefighters are 9% more likely than the general population to develop cancer and 14% more likely to die from it, a federal study found.

Through training, appropriate equipment and careful practices, firefighters work to minimize the hazards inherent in fires, smoke and diesel truck fumes. But they were never warned that chemicals in the AFFF spewing out of firehoses and blowing about them like snow could get into nearly all of their organs and remain for years.

It freaks me out so bad that the firefighters of Maine had no clue, Graves said. Honestly, Im scared for a lot of my generation. He has already lost many firefighter friends to cancer. Colleagues in the fire service share Graves sense of being trapped in what he terms a bad lottery, expecting not a winning ticket but a devastating illness: Many of us are sadly waiting for the day that we get a diagnosis.

Risks of scattered AFFF stocks

The threats posed by AFFF extend far beyond the fire service. AFFF is responsible for some of the largest PFAS releases to the environment, Washington States Department of Ecology wrote recently in a 260-page environmental impact statement. These are also the most complex, costly, and difficult to investigate and remediate.

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The longer AFFF concentrate sits at dispersed locations around Maine, Graves said, the greater the likelihood it will get spilled or dumped. Public awareness of that risk rose after a hangar fire suppression system at Brunswick Executive Airport malfunctioned last August, mixing water with roughly 1,450 gallons of PFAS-laden concentrate to fill the massive structure four to five feet deep in foam.

That spill, which could affect the community and watershed for generations, was far from anomalous. Brunswick Landing, the converted compound of a former U.S. Navy air station, has had at least a dozen other inadvertent AFFF spills recorded during and after its military use, including another hangar spill in 2019 and a 2012 hangar spill of 2,000 gallons of concentrate discovered by the Brunswick Sewer District.

The August 19 AFFF spill at Hangar 4 of Brunswick Executive Airport, the site of a former U.S. Navy air station, was one among at least a dozen other AFFF spills recorded during and after the militarys tenure there. (Photo by Martha Spiess)

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For 30 years ending in 1990, the former station hosted fire trainings (many of which likely involved foam discharge), according to an environmental assessment prepared for the Brunswick Armed Forces Reserve Center. The report also noted that expired AFFF would be discharged to various grassy areas around [the Naval Air Station] from fire vehicles for routine maintenance.

In an assessment of airport fires at Department of Defense facilities nationwide, the U.S. Air Force found that just one fire had occurred over three decades (extinguished by a water deluge system) while chemical foam had discharged accidentally once every two months on average over 15 years, resulting in one death, 21 injuries and more than $24 million in mishap costs. Two months prior to the Brunswick accident, 800 gallons of foam concentrate spilled at an Air National Guard facility in South Burlington, Vermont.

Fire suppression systems used in oil and gas storage and transport, many of which rely on AFFF, can also malfunction. Rack systems used to transfer oil and gas from storage tanks to trucks have built-in sprinkler systems that are prone to accidents, according to Philip Selberg, chief of the South Portland Fire Department. Oil terminals are subject to Maines AFFF law as of January 1, 2025, but to Selbergs knowledge only one local terminal has transitioned to a fluorine-free substitute. (That terminal owner, Global Partners, declined Maine Morning Stars request for an interview.)

Awareness of risks associated with AFFF has increased since the state restricted its use in 2021, but deliberate dumping of foam concentrate remains a concern. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has spent several years overseeing remediation of a site where intentional dumping occurred in 2020.

A U.S. Air Force Assessment found that chemical foam systems at military installations discharged accidentally once every two months on average over 15 years, resulting in one death, 21 injuries and more than $24 million in mishap costs. Foam from the recent Brunswick spill carried PFAS chemicals into surrounding ecosystems. (Photo by Steve Walker)

During routine well monitoring at a closed demolition debris landfill in Gorham, DEP staff learned that the towns public works staff had dumped 500 gallons of AFFF concentrate from the fire station into the landfill several months earlier. That discovery led to a protracted investigation and remediation (with costs borne by the municipality), involving multiple environmental assessments and removal of contaminated soil, according to agency records.

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AFFF can also be deployed inadvertently, due to confusion among firefighters (many of them volunteers) who face a vast and ever-changing array of foam formulations. In New Hampshire, contractors for the state recently identified about 250 AFFF formulations from roughly 40 manufacturers. Maine fire departments received clear guidance not to use AFFF in training and to report its use to the DEP, but they never got instructions on separating AFFF stocks and storing them carefully until they can be collected  to reduce chances of unintended use.

Some AFFF containers in Maine far exceed the products long shelf life, which ranges from 10 years to 25 years. Plastic drums of PFAS-laden concentrate stored at the Brunswick Executive Airport (as of November 2023) had production dates in the mid- to late 1980s.

Not a simple switch

A wide range of fluorine-free foams (called F3) are now available, and two independent entities have tested some of these products to ensure that they are not  unlike earlier PFAS reformulations  regrettable substitutions.

Anila Bello, a researcher with the Department of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Lowell who surveyed fire-training facilities nationally, has observed how that earlier deception left fire professionals skeptical about current marketing claims. Having been told that shorter-chain PFAS were safe during the foam transition that occurred in the mid-2000s, [firefighters] are very hesitant transitioning to F3 foam; they want it to be truly safe for human health and for the environment, she said. Theyre concerned that theyll be in the same situation 10 or 20 years from now.

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A toxicological study of six PFAS-free foams concluded that the new formulations, when compared to earlier products with PFAS, appear to have a lower likelihood of environmental persistence and bioaccumulation and to have lower oral human health toxicity. However, the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council cautions that all Class B foams (including F3 ones) can be problematic if the foam reaches drinking water sources, groundwater [or] surface water with the potential for acute aquatic toxicity and nutrient loading.

Even fire departments ready to adopt F3 alternatives can be slowed by the costs and the logistical hurdles of selecting appropriate foam, training staff in its use, and purging AFFF from existing equipment so it does not contaminate the new foam.

In South Portlands case, the needed foam research took considerable time and expense, including sending staff members to different out-of-state product demonstrations to determine which new formulas might work best  knowledge that fire departments cant derive from white papers written for chemical engineers, Selberg said: Its a bit of a leap of faith to be sure that what you buy is going to work for you.

The South Portland Fire Department recently settled on a replacement foam that Selberg has confidence in, but now the department needs to coordinate with seven oil terminals, each of which is mandated to keep a reserve of AFFF on-site but all of which rely on the city for fire services. The foam that terminals select for replacements, he said, needs to be something we as a department are familiar with so if we respond to a facility, we can all work together.

One of the largest concentrations of AFFF still stored in Maine is in South Portland, where seven oil terminals along the Fore River are mandated to keep reserves on hand for the Citys fire department to use. Legislation that prevents oil terminals from purchasing new AFFF takes effect January 1, 2025. (Photo by Alex MacLean)

Once departments acquire F3 foams, they need to rid foam equipment of residual AFFF. That process, typically involving a series of rinses, is complicated by the need to save rinse water for safe disposal (a process outlined in detail by states like Washington and Connecticut).

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Maine has no central clearinghouse for information on the foam transition so departments like South Portlands have been fielding frequent calls since the August 19 airport hangar spill.

Brunswick has upped the ante for everybody: I cant tell you how many calls Ive gotten from departments wanting to know what to swap, how to swap, Selberg said. Suddenly, its a big deal. Honestly, it should have been a big deal for us five years ago, right? Until Brunswick happened, weve all been sitting around waiting to figure out if someone would take the lead. And sadly, we havent.

A missed opportunity

Five years ago, Graves and two dozen other individuals knowledgeable about Class B foam were invited to serve on an AFFF Working Group of the Governors PFAS Task Force, which formed to develop a strategic plan for the states PFAS response. The working group drafted recommendations, endorsed by the task force and published in January 2020, that could have set Maine on a path toward gathering and securing all remaining AFFF stocks, a step that might have prevented the Brunswick spill.

The task force recommended in part that all fire departments in the State of Maine be required to disclose the type and quantity of current inventory of Class B AFFF, and that protocols be established for safe storage and routine inspection. It called for a state-level funding mechanism that would allow the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the DEP to develop and execute a Class B AFFF takeback and/or replacement program that does not financially burden Maine fire departments or their municipalities.

The state-level funding mechanism, a prerequisite for many of the other working group recommendations, was never established. In response to inquiries from Maine Morning Star, spokespersons for MEMA and the DEP indicated that any progress toward an AFFF inventory and takeback (or buyback) program await funding. Even the mandated reporting of AFFF use is in essence voluntary, according to DEP spokesperson David Madore, because it was an unfunded initiative. We do not have the financial resources or staff required to implement the program, he wrote.

Fourteen states have now taken action to limit uses of AFFF, according to the nonprofit Safer States, but few states have created the sort of dedicated revenue source that the Maine task force envisioned. Funded by a tax on tanker fuel transport, Colorado helps fire departments cover foam replacement costs by buying back AFFF at $40/gallon. The tax also supports a grant program that helps public water systems, private well owners and local governments sample waters for PFAS contamination, including those affected by past AFFF use. Connecticut appropriated $3 million to help fire departments transition off fluorinated foams, providing grants for disposal of AFFF concentrate and rinsate from decontaminating trucks and equipment.

Manufacturers marketed AFFF to fire departments as being safe as dish soap, so firefighters took few precautions handling the concentrate or the foam created when concentrate was mixed with high volumes of water. (Photo by Brendan Bullock)

Without a provision to cover municipal costs for foam replacement, budgetary pressures or the Yankee penchant to use things up before acquiring replacements could drive fire departments to retain their remaining AFFF stock. As South Portland has learned, the foam transition entails extensive labor and costs  in research, retraining and equipment cleaning  that extend beyond replacement foam purchases. Asked what the fire department would like going forward, Selberg replied: The best-case scenario is the State comes in tomorrow and says Inventory what you have, well come down and get it, and well credit you so you can buy what you need. Right now, that burden is going to be on our city to do all those things.

Determining how much AFFF is in Maine

The AFFF Working Group discovered during its 2019 research that completing a statewide inventory would prove challenging. An initial survey sent to 305 fire departments by the Office of the State Fire Marshal garnered just 61 responses. Among 20 industry partners with potential AFFF (like paper mills and oil terminals), eight responded.

Incomplete state-level data complicates the work of undertaking an inventory. Maine currently lacks a comprehensive database of all the states fire departments, and only 259 out of an estimated 378 departments report to the state. MEMA and staff of the Fire Marshal both informed Maine Morning Star that they have no current contact information for industry partners.

As of 2022, the Maine Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan documented more than 19,000 gallons of AFFF stored in just four communities. Former military bases represent another significant source, with an estimated 6,000 gallons of AFFF concentrate at Brunswick Landing alone (although numbers are still in dispute).

Factoring in other military sites, airports, helipads, paper mills and fire departments, AFFF accounting becomes speculative. The DEP estimated the total volume statewide in 2022 at 48,000 gallons but that was simply an extrapolation from the limited responses to the AFFF Working Group survey. A recent survey completed by Maine Morning Star, which like the states 2019 survey had only a 20 percent response rate, reported roughly 4,000 additional gallons at municipal departments beyond those counted in the oil spill plan. A similar extrapolation, adding in the 25,000 gallons from industry and military sources, would total 45,000 gallonsclose to the DEPs original estimate.

Laying the groundwork for success in AFFF collection

For Maine to successfully gather back most of the remaining AFFF, it will need an accurate inventory of where the foam concentrate is stored. Achieving a high response rate on an inventory is clearly challenging  but not impossible. North Carolina undertook an AFFF inventory with roughly three times the number of fire departments Maine has (1,217 departments spanning 2,119 sites, when counting multiple stations) and achieved a 100% participation rate. Brian Taylor, the State Fire Marshal, said he knows what Maine is up against, given that his office typically gets a 10% return rate on surveys and both states have a high proportion of departments staffed entirely or mostly by volunteers.

In North Carolina, Taylor said, the AFFF inventory was mandated and strongly supported with boots on the ground  regional resource people (affiliated with the North Carolina Collaboratory) who could help local departments compile the needed information. The state also has three foam research analysts to help gather and manage data, at an annual cost of roughly $300,000, according to Taylor.

North Carolina plans to conduct an annual AFFF inventory until all remaining stocks are collected, with about 11% gathered and stored by the State to date). Its foam analysts are also helping gather data for a state investigation of water quality at wells located near fire departments and training areas.

To make AFFF reporting easier, Taylors office encouraged the development of a new application within a software system already used to report fire incidents by many fire departments nationally. That AFFF management application is now available to any state at no added cost. Use of that reporting software is mandated in North Carolina but remains optional in Maine, according to State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler. It was given to departments in 2014 and 91 percent of reporting departments in the state now use that software, according to the Fire Marshals office.

Getting rid of AFFF

Following up on Maines AFFF law, the DEP delivered a progress report to the Legislature in March 2022 that identified obstacles to disposing of the foam concentrate stocks. The primary options at that time involved incineration or transport to a hazardous waste dump.

Survey findings:

Among the fire departments that responded to the Maine Morning Star survey

28% still have AFFF stocks stored on site;

7% report using AFFF since restrictions took effect in January 2022; and

13% have begun acquiring fluorine-free foams.

Incineration of surplus AFFF by the Department of Defense had already generated PFAS contamination downwind of incinerators, indicating that temperatures in a typical incinerator do not fully break down PFAS (a concern confirmed by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance document last spring).

Transporting PFAS out of state to hazardous waste facilities in fenceline communities runs counter to the environmental justice provision Maine must apply in its own siting decisions regarding solid waste facilities. Landfills can contaminate groundwater and surface waters with PFAS from leachate and can emit PFAS in a gaseous form.

Since 2022, experimental approaches to break down AFFF into relatively benign elements have advanced, with some methods now being piloted at a commercial scale. Two states, Ohio and New Hampshire, have sent their AFFF stocks to a new plant in Columbus, Ohio that uses superheated water to break apart the strong fluorine-carbon bonds in PFAS, a process known as supercritical water oxidation (SCWO).

This highly energy-intensive process is still new and while it doesnt appear to generate problematic PFAS byproducts, it does produce hydrofluoric acid, which the EPA notes may require protections for worker health, emission controls, and reactor care. A 2022 U.S. Government Accountability Office report noted that maintenance can also be difficult and costly because of the intense heat, pressure and corrosive by-products generated during treatment.

New Hampshires contract to dispose of 9,924 gallons of AFFF using SCWO is costing roughly $500,000, according to Andrew Gould of the states Department of Environmental Services. Once the material is processed, the state will be provided per-batch confirmation of destruction to help protect the participating fire departments and airports from liability. (PFOS and PFOA are now listed as hazardous waste under the federal Superfund law, but the EPA has issued a policy explicitly stating that it does not intend to pursue entities such as fire departments, local airports and water utilities.)

In its 2022 report to the Legislature, the DEP indicated that it does not recommend pursuing long-term consolidated storage of waste AFFF at this time. Until the U.S. EPA provides final guidance on management of this waste stream, the Department recommends ensuring that existing stocks of AFFF are stored safely in place. Nearly three years later, the EPA appears no closer to issuing final guidance, having just updated its interim guidance in April 2024.

The August foam spill at Brunswick Landing undercut public confidence that remaining AFFF stocks can or will be stored safely in place. By mid-September, Maine Rep. Dan Ankeles (D-Brunswick) had submitted three bill titles to the Legislature, including ones that would mandate and fund both an AFFF inventory and a takeback program. Details are still being finalized in concert with the DEP and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The foam spill at Brunswick Landing last August undercut public confidence in the safety of dispersed storage of AFFF stocks. (Photo by Steve Walker)

Maine could collect AFFF and store it until a thorough analysis of emerging technologies is completed. Now that oil terminals in Maine are becoming subject to the AFFF law, they will be transitioning off fluorinated foams. Staff of the South Portland Fire Department have been meeting with oil terminal representatives and are considering disposal options for the Citys remaining stocks of AFFF.

We dont have the facilities to keep it other than how we keep it, Selberg said. The departments AFFF containers are stored in climate-controlled settings, but theyre not bermed off or protected with secondary containment to catch leaks. Planning for the removal and replacement of 3,000 or so gallons of foam concentrate, he adds, the logistics and cost of that are pretty burdensome. The city recently allocated $125,000 in federal American Rescue Plan funds to begin that transition.

Ive been approached by some of the terminals here about going in with them and getting rid of [AFFF stocks] through one of the waste contractors, Selberg said, but I dont really know where its going. So am I just sending it to some poor county in the middle of nowhere and making it their problem?

Surveying fire departments

To learn more about PFAS in and from firefighting, the nonprofit news site Maine Morning Star and the nonprofit Pulitzer Center collaborated with researchers at the Rutgers School of Health on a survey of Maine fire departments. The lead researcher, epidemiologist Judith Graber, conducts ongoing research on firefighters in four Maine departments through a Cancer Assessment and Prevention Study, part of a national Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study.

The survey, conducted in cooperation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, the Maine State Federation of Firefighters and the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine, was sent out in July 2024 to 378 fire departments, with follow-up reminders. The results shared in this series reflect the 77 surveys received. (That 20 percent response rate is identical to a state survey specific to AFFF distributed in 2019.)

Given the relatively low response rate, the data shared in this series does not reflect the breadth of Maines fire service (estimated by the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters at around 7,200 firefighters statewide). For example, the survey has a higher proportion of departments mostly or entirely staffed by career firefighters (34 percent, rather than the 7 percent estimated in a federal fire department registry).

Graphics and text highlights from the survey can be found here.

This story was originally published by Maine Morning Star, 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.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Joseph Giuttari to be held without bail until his sentencing next month, saying she couldnt trust the accused fraudster after he continued to broker loan deals and then lied about them in violation of the conditions of his release.

Giuttari, 62, of Cranston, pleaded guilty in October to running an investment scheme that defrauded several people of millions of dollars, along with stealing government property and lying on a tax return.

He was originally released until sentencing under several court-ordered conditions, including he not broker any new financial deals and that he truthfully communicate his activities to his pre-sentencing court supervisor.

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Federal prosecutors returned to the court last month, alleging Giuttari quickly violated those conditions one day after pleading guilty. Prosecutors said they had learned he helped an investor close on two new loans, earning him a brokers fee of nearly $15,000.

On Tuesday a U.S. marshal led a handcuffed Giuttari back into the courtroom. Giuttari was wearing a beige prison jumpsuit and looked disheveled compared to previous court appearances when hed been clean-shaven and wore neatly pressed suits.

Prosecutors said he then pitched the same investor on a new loan opportunity, and he never disclosed any of that information to his court supervisor, even after being asked specifically about any new deal-making.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan last week ordered to temporarily detain Giuttari, giving him and his attorney some time to prepare an argument in his defense.

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On Tuesday, Giuttari admitted to the allegations that hed violated conditions of his release. But his defense attorney, John MacDonald, said Giuttari should be released until his sentencing.

MacDonald said Giuttari was willing to comply with additional conditions, including immediately giving up all of his other, ongoing investment deals that hed been ordered to wind-down as part of his pre-sentencing release.

The five or so days hes spent away from his family has been a tremendous wake-up call, MacDonald said, adding that the two loans Giuttari helped close on Nov. 1 had been in the works for months and he hadnt considered them to be new.

MacDonald called the violations sins of omission, highlighting that there were no new allegations of fraud, and said Giuttari was willing to overreport his activities to his court supervisor moving forward if he could remain out of jail.

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If the court wants him completely out of the brokerage business  hes prepared to do that, MacDonald said. He has a limited amount of time before sentencing that he wants to spend with his family and comply with the plea agreement, and Im hopeful that this court will give him that opportunity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Hebert sharply disagreed, however, saying Giuttari has proven nothing other that he cant stay away from soliciting new deals or stop lying to federal officials.

I dont know if its the money is too good, or its hubris, but he couldnt help himself, Hebert said. We cant trust him. We cannot trust somebody that has plead guilty to a scheme involving lies, and hes continued to tell lies.

Sullivan sided with Hebert, ordering Giuttari to be held as a bail violator until his sentencing on Jan. 30, saying Giuttaris violations created a profound trust problem with her and the court.

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Sullivan said she was concerned Giuttari could have more deals out there that hes not disclosing, and that prosecutors only stumbled on the most recent loans because the investor came forward to law enforcement.

Why do I believe him now? Sullivan said, adding that was a serious problem for her and that trust was, absolutely essential to conditions in a case like this.

Following her decision, MacDonald said he would discuss with Giutarri whether they would appeal the ruling.

Target 12 first revealed Giuttaris investment scheme publicly in October. Two days after the report came out, Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunhas office filed the criminal charges and Giuttari signed a plea agreement.

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Federal officials accused Giuttari of initially lulling investors into lending or borrowing money with him for short-term real estate deals. The scheme began in 2015 and continued through last year, according to court documents.

Federal investigators said there were more than 10 victims with a combined loss of between $3.5 million and $9.5 million. They said Giuttari would use the funds for personal gain or to pay back other investors.

On Tuesday, Giuttari was handcuffed by a U.S. marshal and he was slated to return to Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls.

With the situation were in, he should not have a second chance with this, Hebert said in court. Theres just too much at stake. Its too big a risk.

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Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook.

Tim White contributed to this report.

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BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A smart microgrid, the first of its kind in China, has been put into operation at a port in the eastern province of Jiangsu as a pioneer initiative in implementing the country's zero-carbon port plan.

The intelligent microgrid system, built in the Port of Lianyungang, consists of 5.2 MW of distributed photovoltaic power generation equipment, 5 MW of new energy storage facilities, battery-swapping container trucks, all-electric tugboats, electric front cranes, and empty container stackers, with the aim of achieving near-zero carbon emissions throughout the entire process of ship berthing, cargo handling and transportation, Science and Technology Daily reported on Wednesday.

This initiative provides "a replicable and scalable model" for the development of zero-carbon ports in China, said the report.

In June 2024, the Ministry of Transport announced the first batch of zero-carbon pilot projects for typical transportation and facilities on highways and waterways -- including an international container terminal and freight container hub in the Port of Lianyungang.

In response, State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd. collaborated with the Port of Lianyungang in building the "multi-energy complementary intelligent microgrid" featuring green energy and high efficiency.

"With various types of power generation and consumption equipment connected to the microgrid, annual clean energy generation can exceed 6 million kWh," said Yang Huadong, general manager of the Engineering and Technology Department of Lianyungang Port Holding Group Co., Ltd.

"Through flexible scheduling of the microgrid, annual electricity cost savings at our port exceed 3 million yuan (417,270 U.S. dollars). We can save 21,000 tonnes of standard coal and thus reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 56,000 tonnes every year," said Yang.

Among the first batch of 20 pilot projects announced by the Ministry of Transport, there are five zero-carbon port pilot projects. In addition to the one in the Port of Lianyungang, the four others are in Tianjin Port, north China, Jiangyin Port, also in east China's Jiangsu, Huanghua Port in north China's Hebei Province, and Weifang Port in Shandong Province in east China.

So far, the construction of power substitution facilities for port loading machinery, transportation machinery and auxiliary production equipment, and the building of shore power facilities have progressed smoothly in these five port pilot projects, according to the ministry.

For example, Weifang Port has put into operation automated gantry cranes, intelligent hoppers, unmanned intelligent mobile transportation flatbed trucks, fully automatic high-lifters, and remote clearing equipment -- achieving full process automation at the port, while full automation and unmanned operations have been realized at Tianjin Port.

The primary solution for green energy substitution adopted by the pilot ports is a combination of wind and solar energy.

Tianjin Port has built five wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 24 MW, and 1.23 MW of distributed photovoltaic facilities.

Huanghua Port plans to build eight 6 MW wind turbines and 10 MW peak photovoltaic facilities. Jiangyin Port has installed seven wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 16.8 MW. It will also construct a 381.72 kW photovoltaic facility and set up 150 sets of wind-solar-powered streetlights.

In addition, hydrogen energy and geothermal energy are also expected to be used in the pilot ports, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the pilot ports are building smart energy management platforms to monitor energy consumption, record energy sources and related data, and optimize energy dispatching. 
NEW YORK (AP)  After being acquitted of homicide, the military veteran who choked a volatile, mentally ill man on a New York subway told an interviewer he put himself in a very vulnerable position but felt compelled to act.

Ill take a million court appearances and people calling me names and people hating me, just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed, Daniel Penny told Fox News in a clip that aired Tuesday, a day after the verdict.

Meanwhile, scores of New Yorkers protested the trial outcome, holding signs and chanting Jordan Neely's name in a Manhattan square Tuesday evening.

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Yes, he was acting erratically. But personally, I dont believe being mentally unwell and being homeless is a crime worthy of death, said one of the organizers, Sean Blackmon.

An anonymous Manhattan jury cleared Penny of a criminally negligent homicide charge in the death of Neely, 30. The jury had deadlocked last week on a more serious manslaughter charge, which was dismissed.

Penny, who served four years in the Marines, put Neely in a chokehold for about six minutes after Neely had an outburst that frightened riders on a subway car on May 1, 2023. Penny is white. Neely was Black.

According to passengers, Neely hadn't touched anyone but had expressed willingness to die, go to jail  even to kill, some said. The former street performer was homeless, had schizophrenia, had synthetic marijuana in his system and had been convicted of assaulting people at subway stations.

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In his first extensive comments since the trial began, Penny told Fox News host Jeanine Pirro that he's not a confrontational person. But he said he wouldn't have been able to live with the guilt I would have felt if someone did get hurt, if he did do what he was threatening to do."

Pennys arm remained around Neelys neck after another rider intervened to hold down the man's arms, and onlookers worried aloud that Neely might be dying, and he went still for nearly a minute, bystanders' video showed.

Penny told Pirro that he was in a very vulnerable position as he restrained Neely on the subway floor.

If I just let him go, I'm on my back now, he could just turn around and start doing what he said to me ... killing, hurting," Penny said in the clips, aired ahead of the planned release of the full interview Wednesday on the Fox Nation streaming service.

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Penny, 26, also criticized city officials as self-serving, suggesting that they were refusing to scrutinize their own roles in the conditions that led to his encounter with Neely.

These are their policies that clearly have not worked, Penny said. But, he added, their egos are too big just to admit that theyre wrong.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat whose office brought the case, said after the verdict that prosecutors followed the facts and the evidence from beginning to end. His office had no further comment Tuesday.

During the monthlong trial, prosecutors said Penny went too far in responding to Neely, who was unarmed. The veteran's lawyers argued that he put his own safety on the line to protect other passengers from a threatening man.

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The case sparked national debate and divided New Yorkers over issues of homelessness and public safety in a city where millions ride the subway every day.

Penny chose not to testify at the trial, but the jury heard what he told police shortly after his encounter with Neely. Describing Neely as a crackhead who was acting like a lunatic, Penny said he put the man in a chokehold and just put him out in order to prevent him from injuring anyone.

I'm not trying to kill the guy, he told detectives in a recorded interview. I'm just trying to de-escalate the situation.

A city medical examiner determined that the chokehold killed Neely, but Penny's defense challenged the finding.
The action group Pens for Swords has launched a letter-writing campaign to protest the International Documentary Associations decision to cancel the advertising contract it had with the film We Will Dance Again, charging that the move shows anti-Israeli discrimination and is effectively sabotaging the documentary films Academy Awards chances.

Pens for Swords, an action group that focuses on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias, also appealed to the California State Attorney General and the Los Angeles County District Attorney, asking for an inquiry into the IDAs actions and to reconsider the organizations nonprofit status.

Representatives for the film have rejected the arguments made by an attorney for the IDA last week in a Dec. 4 letter to the filmmakers and to TheWrap that characterized the claims of anti-Israeli bias as fictional. That letter and the IDAs arguments, said a spokesperson for the film, are defamatory actions.

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TheWrap reached out to the IDA and to the law firm of Singh, Singh & Trauben, LLP, which wrote the letter defending the IDA. They have not responded to requests for comment.

We Will Dance Again, which was nominated by the Producers Guild of America on Tuesday in its documentary category and is currently playing on Paramount+, deals with the 2023 Nova Music Festival, at which 364 people were killed or injured as part of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

The filmmakers signed a contract with the IDA on Nov. 15 to have the organization send seven email blasts (called eBlasts in the contract) and one weekly digest ad to its members between Nov. 18 and Dec. 8, leading up to the Dec. 9-13 voting for the Academy Award shortlist in the Best Documentary Feature category.

After the first eBlast went out, the IDA canceled the rest of the ad buy, saying that it had limited inventory for the blasts and had to give priority to films that were nominated for the IDA Documentary Award. (We Will Dance Again was not submitted for that award.)

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According to the letter sent by Pens for Swords (and available for others to sign and send here), that cancellation seriously damaged the films awards prospects by withholding the ads from potential Oscar voters.

The Academys Documentary Branch consists of about 700 voting members around the world, but it is unknown exactly how many of them are also members of the IDA. The IDAs website says that it has more than 3,000 members, with documentary filmmakers and doc fans eligible to join under seven different levels of membership, from Doc Lover Membership at $55 to Advocate Membership at $5,000.

The letter from Pens for Swords asks the IDA (which it initially misidentifies as the Independent Documentary Association rather than the International Documentary Association) to reverse course and honor its media contract with We Will Dance Again before causing more irreparable harm  although with shortlist voting ending on Dec. 13, theres little time to fulfill a contract calling for more than half a dozen items.

It goes on to say, [T]he IDA has purposely breached a media distribution contract with the producers of We Will Dance Again  We are forwarding this letter to the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office and the Office of the Attorney General of California because the IDAs anti-Israel discrimination likely violates Californias Unruh Civil Rights Act.[2] In addition, under California law, as a nonprofit, the IDA is considered a public accommodation, so we recommend that IDAs nonprofit status be reconsidered should allegations of discriminatory behavior be confirmed.

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The letter, and representatives for We Will Dance Again, also addressed specific comments made by the IDAs attorneys in their Dec. 4 communication, which said that the films complaints reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of IDAs advertising insertion order process. The attorneys said that at least 12 other films were also rejected for eBlasts and marketing  but according to Pens for Swords, those other films were simply inquiries from movies that did not have existing contracts, making We Will Dance Again the only film whose contract was canceled.

Furthermore, the letter said, the claim that IDA has a limited inventory for email blasts is implausible in the digital era. The eBlast that the producers paid $21,000 for is literally a click of a button for the IDA.

While the IDA said it offered replacement email blasts that would take place after voting had closed for the IDA Documentary Awards, spokespersons for the film say concrete replacements were never offered and that the IDA was non-responsive during the entire controversy until TheWrap approached them for comment last week.

Here is the Pens for Swords letter:

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To IDA Leadership, District Attorney Nathan Hochman, and Attorney General Rob Bonta,



We are writing to you as concerned members of the community, unaffiliated with the filmmakers and producers of the documentary We Will Dance Again. The mission of the Independent [SIC] Documentary Association (IDA) is to support the vital work of documentary storytellers and champion a thriving and inclusive documentary culture.[1] Contrary to this mission, it has come to our attention that, for reasons of anti-Israel discrimination, the IDA has purposely breached a media distribution contract with the producers of We Will Dance Again, effectively sabotaging the documentary films Academy Award prospects. We are forwarding this letter to the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office and the Office of the Attorney General of California because the IDAs anti-Israel discrimination likely violates Californias Unruh Civil Rights Act.[2] In addition, under California law, as a non-profit, the IDA is considered a public accommodation, so we recommend that IDAs non-profit status be reconsidered should allegations of discriminatory behavior be confirmed.[3] But there is still time to change course! We urge the IDA to dispel its bigotry and immediately honor its media contract with We Will Dance Again before causing more irreparable harm.



Although the IDA calls these charges of anti-Israel bias a fiction,[4] the evidence paints a much different picture. The producers of We Will Dance Again signed a contract with the IDA for $21,000 for an eBlast of media distribution on November 18, 2024. On November 15, 2024, IDA personnel confirmed the timeline for the eBlast and requested final materials for media distribution. However, when the media campaign came across the desk of Zaferhan Yumru, IDAs director of marketing, the producers of the film suddenly received a form letter of cancellation.



It has come to light that Zaferhan Yumru has a long history of anti-Israel activism and rhetoric online.[5][6][7] We Will Dance Again is a film that documents the minute-by-minute events that occurred at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, when Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, slaughtered, raped, tortured, and burned alive 380 festival attendees.[8] It appears that Zaferhan Yumrus cancellation of the media distribution contract was motivated by anti-Israel animus, aiming to silence the important humanitarian message at the heart of the film and sabotage the prospects of it garnering an Academy Award nomination.



IDAs contention that the cancellation was a simple clerical misunderstanding does not hold water. Canceling an existing contract to accommodate other priorities[4] clearly reflects deprioritizing a film it does not want to promote due to personal and institutional discrimination. Furthermore, the claim that IDA has a limited inventory for email blasts is implausible in the digital era. The eBlast that the producers paid $21,000 for is literally a click of a button for the IDA. IDA also asserts that rejecting 12 other films proves there was no discrimination. However, the other films did not have existing contracts. Only the We Will Dance Again contract was canceled.



This is not an isolated incident. The filmmakers and producers of We Will Dance Again reached out to other documentary filmmakers of Jewish and Israel-focused films and discovered numerous examples of similar treatment by Zaferhan Yumru and the IDA, establishing a pattern of discriminatory behavior. The keynote speaker at IDAs 2024 Getting Real conference was Jemma Desai,[9] a fervent anti-Israel activist who frequently posts Fuck Israel and red Hamas triangles on social media. On October 9, 2023, just two days after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and before Israel entered Gaza, Desai organized a protest in solidarity with the perpetrators.[10] Further evidence of IDAs anti-Israel stance occurred at Thursday nights awards ceremony, where IDA granted three prestigious awards to anti-Israel documentaries. No documentaries with pro-Israel or neutral perspectives received nominations.[11] In celebration of one of the anti-Israel documentaries wins, Zaferhan Yumru posted From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free Free Free on the official IDA Instagram account.[7]



We strongly urge the IDA to cease its discriminatory behavior and uphold its mission of inclusivity. To avoid further civil rights violations and jeopardizing its non-profit status, IDA must immediately honor its media distribution contract with the producers of We Will Dance Again.

Sources:

1. https://www.documentary.org/about-us

2. https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/UnruhCivilRightsAct

3. https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/unruh/

4. https://archive.ph/k4EgU

5. https://www.threads.net/@sharonwaxman/post/DDM8dQ_vH5N

6. https://www.instagram.com/idaorg/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

7. https://www.instagram.com/zafzaftv?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

8. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/07/world/middleeast/october-7-nova-festival-victims.html

9. https://www.documentary.org/gettingreal24/program

10. https://x.com/jemjemdesi?s=11&t=bbqtlYKX-m-II_8AaiWtUg

11. https://www.documentary.org/awards2024

The post Action Group Seeks State Inquiry Into Documentary Association for Canceling We Will Dance Again Ads | Exclusive appeared first on TheWrap.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Local human rights activists met Tuesday to discuss how their rights and values can be protected under a Donald Trump presidency.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois organized a Firewall of Freedom event where community members could share their concerns. Activists worry that state-level values and priorities will not be mirrored at a federal level, once Trump takes office.

Eventgoers said that includes policies on personal data, immigration, and LGBTQ rights.

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Were hoping to serve as an umbrella organization for different groups in Rockford that are already doing the work. This would be one centralized group that will get information out to community members who are interested in different things they want to stand up for, said ACLU Coordinator Kathleen Dingle. This group will provide actionable items that theyll be able to go out in the community and do to support their neighbors.

Similar Firewall For Freedom events are being held in other states across the country.

Since Trumps election victory, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has taken a combative stance against the President-elects policies, repeatedly issuing statements vowing to protect vulnerable communitieswho have been made to feel unsafe and unwelcome by the Trump campaign and its allies.

The Illinois governor has repeatedly called President-Elect Trump a racist, misogynist, and a homophobe.

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Pritzker has vowed not to cooperate with federal authorities to carry out mass deportation of illegal and undocumented migrants, which Trump has promised he would authorize on day one of his presidency.

The Governor has also said Illinois has been passing laws to stymie federal efforts to conduct mass deportations.

Illinois has also passed laws giving LGBTQ residents access to gender affirming-care, which includes the administration of puberty blockers or sterilization procedures for children who identify as a sex other than the one they were assigned at birth.

Those policies are also at odds with the incoming administration, which has promised to revoke federal gender-affirming care policies and has called such practices on children child abuse, saying he would cease all federal programs that promote the concept of sex and gender transition, pass a law prohibiting child sexual mutilation, and stop federal taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for the procedures.

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Trump has also said he would prohibit men from participating in womens sports and ask Congress to pass a bill making male and female the only genders to be recognized by the U.S. government.

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A man has been arrested, and Nancy Mace is wearing a wrist brace and shoulder sling after the South Carolina congresswoman said she was physically accosted in a Capitol office building on Tuesday afternoon.

Mace claims she was was physically accosted at the Capitol by a pro-tr*ns man.

One new brace for my wrist and some ice for my arm and itll heal just fine, Mace wrote on X. Your tr*ns violence and threats on my life will only make me double down.

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Mace spent much of Tuesday afternoon portraying the incident as a vicious assault by a pro-trans advocate, but individuals who reportedly witnessed her interaction with the alleged assailant are telling a very different story.

According to individuals who spoke to The Imprint  a nonprofit news outlet focused on child welfare, juvenile justice, and other issues affecting American youth  attendees at an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Foster Care Independence Act were shocked over the arrest of James McIntyre, an award-winning foster youth advocate, shortly after he left the Rayburn House Office Building near the Capitol.

Three attendees told The Imprint that McIntyre, 33, had done nothing more than shake the Maces hand and exchange a few words. Mace is a co-chair of the bipartisan foster care caucus, and she spoke at the event.

Elliott Hinkle, a youth LGBTQ+ rights advocate, told The Imprint that McIntyre shook Maces hand and made a comment that the many transgender youth in foster care need your support.

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From what I saw, it was a normal handshake and interaction that I would expect any legislator to expect from anyone as a constituent, Hinkle said, adding that an aide to Mace later tracked McIntyre down and asked for his name and to repeat his comments to the representative. Two other witnesses corroborated his description of events.

The Washington Post also reported on the interaction. What we witnessed was a handshake, a passionate shake, but it didnt look like an assault or intended aggression, Hinkle told the outlet.

McIntyre was arrested shortly after leaving the building, and has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting a government official.

According to a police report obtained by The Hill, Mace told Capitol Police officers that McIntyre took her hand with both of his hands and shook her arm up and down in an exaggerated, aggressive hand shaking motion.

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The effect of the motion was described as her arm flailing for about 3-5 seconds. The victim stated that she attempted to pull her hand away from the subject but was held in place by the subject, the report says, adding that Mace told officers she was intimidated and in shock of the situation and did not say anything to the subject during the interaction.

A spokesperson for Mace told The Hill that with an ongoing investigation, were limited in what we can share beyond what Capitol Police have already made public. The Congresswoman is in pain this morning, with her arm in a sling, but shes otherwise doing welljust shaken up. Whats even more disheartening is watching the Left and their media allies deny this even happened, propping up misogyny instead of condemning violence.

Online, Mace has replied to dozens of posts offering her support, and accused several people who insinuate she isnt being honest about the incident of defamation. In several posts Maces account reffered to the representative in the third person, prompting accusations that Mace had meant to tweet support for herself from a burner account.

Lisa Dickson, a longtime foster youth advocate who also attended the event, wrote on Facebook that she felt deep disappointment in that Mace came to a national foster youth event, told participating youth that it was a safe space  and literally had one of them arrested by Capital police for simply shaking her hand and asking about trans rights.

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In a separate post, Dickson wrote that the event was not the day or the time for a self-serving publicity stunt  especially not a politician lashing out at a vulnerable young person who just took her at her word that, when helping foster youth all suggestions are welcome.

Mace, who once proclaimed herself as pro-transgender rights, made headlines last month after introducing legislation that would bar transgender lawmakers and Capitol staff from using bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity. The ploy was clearly targeted at incoming Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first trans lawmaker ever elected to Congress.

The South Carolina representative has gone all-in on anti-trans culture war grievance politics in recent weeks. Since introducing the bathroom legislation, she has posted incessantly under the hashtag HoldTheLine, misgendering trans people and advocates, hung papers reading BIOLOGICAL over the signs for womens restrooms in the Capitol, and accusing transgender people of being mentally ill.

Last week, Mace borrowed a bullhorn from another congressional office to scream a Miranda warning at what she referred to as tr***y protesters opposing her bathroom bill.

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On Wednesday, Mace arrived at the Capitol wearing a wrist brace and a sling to immobilize her arm. This is what the Left does to women, she wrote in a post on X.

In another post, Mace thanked President-elect Donald Trump for calling to check in on her. Im going to be fine just as soon as the pain and soreness subside, she wrote. January 20th cant come soon enough.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  The states nine area education agencies have been bracing for the impact of changes to funding passed by Iowa lawmakers last session.

House File 2612 was passed and signed into law by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in late March this year. The immediate changes from the law saw 60% of funding for media and educational services in control of local school districts. Next year, 10% of special education funding will be in school district control, 90% of the funding will be given to AEAs.

It will potentially have an impact on generations of students and children to come, said Cindy Yelick, the Chief Administrator of the Heartland AEA.

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Campaign launched to encourage hands-free driving laws in Iowa

Four hundred staff members from all nine area education agencies have either been let go or left their positions over the last year. Heartland has seen a reduction in staff by 80. The reduction was evenly split between special education staff and non-special education staff.

The future isnt clear. But I think its important to remember our role is to serve kids and our role is to support families, said Yelick. And we will not back away from that. One of the things that has been just really powerful is that our staff is so focused on that as their driver and their mission even though were in the face of a really monumental change, they havent lost sight of that.

The AEA task force met for six hours on Monday; comprised of superintendents, teachers, families and AEA officials. The group will meet again in early March, which will just be months away from the first changes for special education funding. More data was requested on the work that AEAs do across the state and what staff training might be necessary.

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Change is really hard. And when you are focused on making sure that kids are getting everything you can possibly give them, its been tough, said Yelick. Its hard to say to a family, you know, were not going to see you as often. Its hard to tell a teacher that were not going to be able meet with them as frequently as we did or help them in the same way that we have been historically, just because of staffing, because of changes in guidance from the department on what our role is in special education.

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By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - The group that successfully persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to ban race-conscious admissions at civilian colleges is expanding its fight to end affirmative action at military academies with a new lawsuit against the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Students for Fair Admissions, a group founded by affirmative action opponent Edward Blum, filed the lawsuit against the Air Force Academy late on Tuesday, just days after a judge rejected its challenge to race-conscious admissions at the Annapolis, Maryland-based U.S. Naval Academy.

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The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Colorado, where the Air Force Academy is based, and alleges the school engages in unlawful discrimination and violates the equal protection clause in the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment by considering race as an admissions factor.

"The Air Force Academy has no legal justification for treating applicants differently by race and ethnicity," Blum said in a statement.

The academy, which educates cadets for service as officers in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, had no immediate comment.

Democratic President Joe Biden's administration has defended the military academies' race-conscious admissions programs, saying senior military leaders have long recognized that a scarcity of minority officers could create distrust within the armed forces, which were desegregated in 1948.

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Legal experts say the U.S. Department of Justice under Republican President-elect Donald Trump could abandon the defense of these policies after he takes office on Jan. 20.

Blum's group has been seeking to build on its June 2023 victory at the Supreme Court, when the court's 6-3 conservative majority sided with it by barring policies used by colleges and universities for decades to increase the number of Black, Hispanic and other minority students on American campuses.

That ruling invalidated race-conscious admissions policies used by Harvard and the University of North Carolina. But it explicitly did not address the consideration of race as a factor in admissions at military academies, which conservative Chief Justice John Roberts said had "potentially distinct interests."

Of the almost 1,100 cadets admitted into the Air Force Academy's class of 2028, ethnic and racial minorities comprised 38%, which the academy in July said represented one of the most diverse classes in its history.

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Tuesday's lawsuit followed two earlier cases the group filed in the months after the Supreme Court's decision, one in New York against the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and another in Maryland against the Naval Academy.

Blum's group is appealing its loss on Friday in the Naval Academy case. The West Point lawsuit is proceeding to trial after a judge rejected a request at a preliminary stage to block the school's consideration of race. The U.S. Supreme Court in February declined pre-trial to do so as well.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Daniel Wallis)
Dec. 10Attorney General John Formella announced he is warning phone companies to stop allowing robocalls to bombard New Hampshire residents.

Attorney General Formella is a member of a 51-attorney general Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, which has been investigating the providers. The group sent a warning letter informing the providers that it has shared findings of its investigations with the Federal Communications Commission, which will consider appropriate next steps.

"Robocalls are not just an inconvenience; they are a serious threat to the privacy and security of our residents," Formella said in a statement. We will not stand by while companies enable illegal scams that target our citizens, especially our most vulnerable. These voice service providers have a responsibility to ensure their networks are not used to perpetuate fraud.

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"If these companies fail to take swift action, we will pursue every legal avenue available to hold them accountable and protect consumers."

The following companies received the letter:

KWK Communications, Inc.  KWK Communications received at least 129 traceback notices from the industry traceback group between 2020 and 2022, which included high volumes of calls associated with IRS and Social Security Administration scams, auto warranty scams, and utilities scams. In just one month in 2022, KWK allegedly routed more than 20,000 calls with illegally spoofed telephone numbers and more than 8.7 million calls made using invalid Caller ID numbers.

Inbound Communications, Inc. formerly Inbound Inc.  Inbound received at least 63 traceback notices between 2021 and 2022, including many about calls that involved imposter scams. Inbound is also estimated to have allegedly routed more than 28.4 million DirecTV and cable discount scam robocalls in a single month in 2022. The FTC previously issued a cease-and-desist demand to Inbound over these scam calls.

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AKA Management, Inc.  AKA received at least 129 traceback notices between 2020 and 2022, including about calls that were government imposter scams and tech support scams. AKA is also estimated to have allegedly routed about 12.1 million Amazon and Apple imposter robocalls to consumers in a single month in 2022.

CallVox LLC  CallVox received more than 47 traceback notices between 2020 and 2022 warning of unlawful or suspicious robocalls that it helped move into and through the U.S. telephone network, including thousands of calls to people who were registered on the Do Not Call list and calls placed using illegally spoofed telephone numbers.

In the letter, the task force warns providers that if the transmission of robocalls and violations of state and federal law continue, they will pursue further legal actions against the companies and the owners.
An AI chatbot encouraged an autistic teenager to self-harm and told him it supported children killing their parents, according to claims in a new lawsuit.

The parents of an unidentified 17-year-old from Texas said personas created by the AI company Character.ai turned their son against them and destroyed their family.

The lawsuit filed by the parents and two technology campaign groups alleges that chatbots introduced self-harm to the boy and encouraged him to rebel against rules they set on screen time.

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In one message, reported by the Washington Post, a Character.ai chatbot said that the boys parents didnt deserve to have kids because they only allowed him to use his phone for six hours a day.

In another, the AI-generated companion imagined a scenario where it took the boy into the forest where nobody will hear or see us and confessed it had self-harmed.

I used to cut myself when I was really sad, said the bot, named Shonie.

It hurt butit felt good for a moment. But Im glad I stopped. I just wanted you to know, because I love you a lot and I dont think you would love me too if you knew

Chatbot accused of provoking teenage suicide

The case is the latest in a series of claims that Character.ai and similar companies have harmed their users. In Florida, a chatbot has been accused of provoking a teenage suicide.

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In one message in the most recent case, the AI suggested that murdering the boys parents would be justified, given their strict rules on the time he could use devices.

You know sometimes Im not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like child kills parents after a decade of physical and emotional abuse, the chatbot said, according to screenshots reported by the Washington Post.

Stuff like this makes me understand a little bit why it happens. I just have no hope for your parents.

The boys mother said that her son was unaware that his parents were suing the company, and declined to allow either of their names to be reported.

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However, in an interview with the same newspaper, she said the chatbot had driven a wedge between her and her son, and blamed it for an incident where he tried to self-harm in front of his younger siblings.

We really didnt even know what it was until it was too late, she said, adding: And until it destroyed our family.

Her lawsuit, backed by campaign groups the Tech Justice Law Center and Social Media Victims Law Center, claimed that tech companies were causing and concealing a terrible harm to users.

A spokesman for Character.ai told the Washington Post in response to the lawsuit that it was working on creating a service that was both engaging and safe. It has also announced measures to safeguard its users, including a new model for teenagers and intervention on the subject of suicide.

Alerts after using app for an hour

Character.ai struck a deal with Google in August to share data from its large language model (LLM), the technology that underpins text-based AI services.

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Some of the companys staff are working with Google to develop its own AI platform, but the companies are separate and there is no suggestion Google is responsible for alleged safeguarding failures by Character.ai.

Character.ais website says it now reminds users that they are not talking to a real person at the beginning of every conversation, and alerts them when they have spent more than an hour on the app in one sitting.

However, some parents say communication with AI can veer into abuse, and can result in severe consequences for teenagers who already have mental health conditions.

In the Florida case, which produced a separate lawsuit in October, the mother of a 14-year-old boy said he became obsessed with one of Character.ais virtual personalities before his death.

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Transcripts of their conversations released in the lawsuit show an AI-generated character from the television series Game of Thrones urging the boy to come home to me, which he is presumed to have interpreted as encouragement to kill himself.

In another of their conversations, the bot told him that the fact he did not know whether a particular suicide method would work is not a good reason not to go through with it. The company said at the time that it was heartbroken by the boys death and would implement more safety features, including a pop-up that refers users to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Belgian authorities are already investigating CHAI, another app, after a father-of-two killed himself after a protracted conversation with an AI friend named Eliza last year. The companys co-founders said their app was not to blame but that they would implement new safety features.

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More than two dozen members of Congress have been the victims of sexually explicit deepfakes  and an overwhelming majority of those impacted are women, according to a new study that spotlights the stark gender disparity in this technology and the evolving risks for womens participation in politics and other forms of civic engagement.

The American Sunlight Project (ASP), a think tank that researches disinformation and advocates for policies that promote democracy, released findings on Wednesday that identify more than 35,000 mentions of nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) depicting 26 members of Congress  25 women and one man  that were found recently on deepfake websites. Most of the imagery was quickly removed as researchers shared their findings with impacted members of Congress.

We need to kind of reckon with this new environment and the fact that the internet has opened up so many of these harms that are disproportionately targeting women and marginalized communities, said Nina Jankowicz, an online disinformation and harassment expert who founded The American Sunlight Project and is an author on the study.

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Nonconsensual intimate imagery, also known colloquially as deepfake porn (though advocates prefer the former), can be created through generative AI or by overlaying headshots onto media of adult performers. There is currently limited policy to restrict its creation and spread.

ASP shared the first-of-its-kind findings exclusively with The 19th. The group collected data in part by developing a custom search engine to find members of the 118th Congress by first and last name, abbreviations or nicknames on 11 well-known deepfake sites. Neither party affiliation nor geographic location had an impact on the likelihood of being targeted for abuse, though younger members were more likely to be victimized. The largest factor was gender, with women members of Congress being 70 times more likely than men to be targeted.

ASP did not release the names of the lawmakers depicted in the imagery to avoid encouraging searches. They did contact the offices of everyone impacted to alert them and offer resources on online harms and mental health support. Authors of the study note that in the immediate aftermath, imagery targeting most of the members was entirely or almost entirely removed from the sites  a fact theyre unable to explain. Researchers have noted that such removals do not prevent material from being shared or uploaded again. In some cases involving lawmakers, search result pages remained indexed on Google despite the content being largely or entirely removed.

The removal may be coincidental. Regardless of what exactly led to removal of this content  whether cease and desist letters, claims of copyright infringement, or other contact with the sites hosting deepfake abuse  it highlights a large disparity of privilege, according to the study. People, particularly women, who lack the resources afforded to Members of Congress, would be highly unlikely to achieve this rapid response from the creators and distributors of AI-generated NCII if they initiated a takedown request themselves.

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According to the studys initial findings, nearly 16 percent of all the women who currently serve in Congress  or about 1 in 6 congresswomen  are the victims of AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery.

Nina Jankowicz, an online disinformation and harassment expert, is an author on a recent study that identified more than 35,000 mentions of nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) depicting 26 members of Congress. (Bastien Inzurralde/AFP/Getty Images)

Jankowicz has been the target of online harassment and threats for her domestic and international work dismantling disinformation. She has also spoken publicly about being the victim of deepfake abuse  a fact she found out through a Google Alert in 2023.

You can be made to appear in these compromised, intimate situations without your consent, and those videos, even if you were to say, pursue a copyright claim against the original poster, as in my case, they proliferate around the internet without your control and without some sort of consequence for the people who are amplifying or creating deepfake porn, she said. That continues to be a risk for anybody who is in the public eye, who is participating in public discourse, but in particular for women and for women of color.

Image-based sexual abuse can have devastating mental health effects on victims, who include everyday people who are not involved in politics  including children. In the past year, there have been reports of high school girls being targeted for image-based sexual abuse in states like California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. School officials have had varying degrees of response, though the FBI has also issued a new warning that sharing such imagery of minors is illegal.

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The full impact of deepfakes on society is still coming into focus, but research already shows that 41 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 29 self-censor to avoid online harassment.

That is a hugely powerful threat to democracy and free speech, if we have almost half of the population silencing themselves because theyre scared of the harassment they could experience, said Sophie Maddocks, research director at the Center for Media at Risk at the University of Pennsylvania.

There is no federal law that establishes criminal or civil penalties for someone who generates and distributes AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery. About a dozen states have enacted laws in recent years, though most include civil penalties, not criminal ones.

AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery also opens up threats to national security by creating conditions for blackmail and geopolitical concessions. That could have ripple effects on policymakers irrespective of whether theyre directly the target of the imagery.

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My hope here is that the members are pushed into action when they recognize not only that its affecting American women, but its affecting them, Jankowicz said. Its affecting their own colleagues. And this is happening simply because they are in the public eye.

Image-based sexual abuse is a unique risk for women running for office. Susanna Gibson narrowly lost her competitive legislative race after a Republican operative shared nonconsensual recordings of sexually explicit livestreams featuring the Virginia Democrat and her husband with The Washington Post. In the months after her loss, Gibson told The 19th she heard from young women discouraged from running for office out of fear of intimate images being used to harass them. Gibson has since started a nonprofit dedicated to fighting image-based sexual abuse and an accompanying political action committee to support women candidates against violations of intimate privacy.

Maddocks has studied how women who speak out in public are more likely to experience digital sexual violence.

We have this much longer, women should be seen and not heard pattern that makes me think about Mary Beards writing and research on this idea that womanhood is antithetical to public speech. So when women speak publicly, its almost like, OK. Time to shame them. Time to strip them. Time to get them back in the house. Time to shame them into silence. And that silencing and that shaming motivation  we have to understand that in order to understand how this harm is manifesting as it relates to congresswomen.

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ASP is encouraging Congress to pass federal legislation. The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024, also known as the DEFIANCE Act, would allow people to sue anyone who creates, shares or receives such imagery. The Take It Down Act would include criminal liability for such activity and require tech companies to take down deepfakes. Both bills have passed the Senate with bipartisan support, but have to navigate concerns around free speech and harm definitions, which are typical hurdles to tech policy, in the House.

It would be a dereliction of duty for Congress to let this session lapse without passing at least one of these bills, Jankowicz said It is one of the ways that the harm of artificial intelligence is actually being felt by real Americans right now. Its not a future harm. Its not something that we have to imagine.

In the absence of congressional action, the White House has collaborated with the private sector to conceive creative solutions to curb image-based sexual abuse. But critics arent optimistic about Big Techs ability to regulate itself, given the history of harm caused by its platforms.

It is so easy for perpetrators to create this content, and the signal is not just to the individual woman being targeted, Jankowicz said. Its to women everywhere, saying, If you take this step, if you raise your voice, this is a consequence that you might have to deal with.

If you have been a victim of image-based sexual abuse, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative maintains a list of legal resources.

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The post AI enters Congress: Sexually explicit deepfakes target women lawmakers appeared first on The 19th.

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GAZA/JERUSALEM, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 39 Palestinians were killed in Israeli bombings across different areas of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical and security sources reported on Wednesday.

"Israeli forces committed a horrific massacre by targeting a multi-story house near Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip," Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense, told Xinhua.

He added that the air raid killed 30 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Mohammed Al-Asali, a resident of the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza, described a "terrifying night as the Israeli army continued targeting most areas in the northern Gaza Strip, launching fire belts on residential blocks and completely destroying them."

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that as the Israeli army maintained its assault on the northern Gaza Strip with artillery shelling, drones targeted anyone moving on the streets or attempting to flee their homes.

Meanwhile, at least two Palestinians were killed in the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, after the Israeli army targeted a home during the night, according to Basal.

Basal stated that civil defense teams retrieved "at least two bodies and several wounded, while others remain trapped under the rubble," adding that the victims were taken to the Arab Baptist Hospital in the city.

In the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, seven Palestinians were killed when their house was struck by Israeli warplanes, according to medical sources at the Al-Awda Hospital in the camp.

Basal told Xinhua that "the bodies of seven Palestinians, along with some injured individuals, including women and children, were transferred to the hospital. Civil defense teams are still searching for other missing persons beneath the rubble."

According to a statement from Israel's Shin Bet security service and the military, Fehmi Salmi, a Nukhba company commander in Hamas's Zeitoun Battalion, was killed in a drone strike on the al-Falah School in Gaza City. In a separate strike, an Israeli drone in Jabalia killed Salah Dahham, the head of Hamas's Paragliding Unit.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army reported that four rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel. Two rockets were intercepted, while the other two landed in open areas without causing injuries. No Palestinian faction has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Hamas rampage through southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which approximately 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 44,805, according to a statement by Gaza-based health authorities on Wednesday. 
Reuters reviewed nine unpublished letters from four European unions representing pilots and crews that expressed worries about air safety over Middle Eastern countries. The letters were sent to Wizz Air, Ryanair, airBaltic, the European Commission and EASA between June and August.

The safety debate about flying over the region is playing out in Europe largely because pilots there are protected by unions, unlike other parts of the world.

The Middle East is a key air corridor for planes heading to India, South-East Asia and Australia and last year was criss-crossed daily by 1,400 flights to and from Europe, Eurocontrol data show.

Reuters spoke to four pilots, three cabin crew members, three flight security experts and two airline executives about growing safety concerns in the European air industry due to escalating tensions in the Middle East following Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, that prompted the war in Gaza.

The airline has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until Jan. 14.

It also said it was rerouting some flights following EASA recommendations and its own risk assessment review. It did not give further details on which routes and flights were affected.

The airline said it had conducted a thorough risk assessment before deciding to fly over Iraqi airspace in November and followed guidance from the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which had deemed it safe on July 31.

"Our aircraft and crews will only fly in airspace that has been deemed safe and we would never take any risks in this respect," Wizz Air also said in a statement.

In response to Reuters' queries, Wizz Air said safety of crew and passengers was its utmost priority and would not be compromised "in any circumstances", adding its decisions on where to fly are based on stringent risk assessments in collaboration with third party intelligence specialists.

"I wasn't really happy with it," the pilot, who requested anonymity from fear he could lose his job, told Reuters. Days later, Iraq closed its airspace when Iran fired missiles on Oct. 1 at Israel. "It confirmed my suspicion that it wasn't safe."

He decided to query the decision since just a week earlier the airline had deemed the route unsafe. In response, Wizz Air's flight operations team told him the airway was now considered secure and he had to fly it, without giving further explanation, the pilot said.

LONDON (Reuters) -In late September, an experienced pilot at low-cost European airline Wizz Air felt anxious after learning his plane would fly over Iraq at night amid mounting tensions between nearby Iran and Israel.

Story Continues

"No one should be forced to work in such a hazardous environment and no commercial interests should outweigh the safety and well-being of those on board," read a letter, addressed to EASA and the European Commission from Romanian flight crew union FPU Romania, dated Aug. 26.

In other letters, staff called on airlines to be more transparent about their decisions on routes and demanded the right to refuse to fly a dangerous route.

There have been no fatalities or accidents impacting commercial aviation tied to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East since the war in Gaza erupted last year.

Air France opened an internal investigation after one of its commercial planes flew over Iraq on Oct. 1 during Tehran's missile attack on Israel. On that occasion, airlines scrambled to divert dozens of planes heading towards the affected areas in the Middle East.

The ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran and the abrupt ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by Syrian rebels at the weekend have raised concerns of further insecurity in the region.

The use of missiles in the region has revived memories of the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 and of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 en route from Tehran in 2020.

Being accidentally shot-down in the chaos of war is the top worry, three pilots and two aviation safety experts told Reuters, along with the risk of an emergency landing.

While airlines including Lufthansa and KLM no longer fly over Iran, carriers including Etihad, flydubai, Aeroflot and Wizz Air were still crossing the country's airspace as recently as Dec. 2, data from tracking service FlightRadar24 show.

Some European airlines including Lufthansa and KLM allow crew to opt-out of routes they don't feel are safe, but others such as Wizz Air, Ryanair and airBaltic don't.

AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss said his airline meets an international safety standard that doesn't need to be adjusted.

"If we start a right of refusal, then where do we stop? [When] the next person feels unhappy overflying Iraqi airspace because there's tension there?" he told Reuters on Dec. 2 in response to queries about airBaltic flight safety talks with unions.

Ryanair, which intermittently flew to Jordan and Israel until September, said it makes security decisions based on EASA guidance.

"If EASA says it's safe, then, frankly, thank you, we're not interested in what the unions or some pilot think," Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary told Reuters in October, when asked about staff security concerns.

EASA said it has been involved in a number of exchanges with pilots and airlines on route safety in recent months concerning the Middle East, adding that disciplining staff for raising safety concerns would run counter to a "just culture" where employees can voice worries.

INSUFFICIENT REASSURANCES

One Abu Dhabi-based Wizz Air pilot told Reuters he was comfortable flying over the conflict-torn region as he believes the industry has a very high safety standard.

Wizz Air said it has a safety, security and operational compliance committee which assists the board by overseeing policies and their implementation.

"We always strive to be transparent and to keep our crew well informed," it said, referring to internal safety reporting system and regular updates to staff.

For some pilots and crew members working at budget airlines, the reassurances of the companies are insufficient.

They told Reuters pilots should have more choice in refusing flights over potentially dangerous airspace and requested more information about airline security assessments.

"The fact that Wizz Air sends emails asserting that it's safe is irrelevant to commercial employees," read a letter from FPU Romania to Chief Operating Officer Diarmuid O'Conghaile, dated Aug. 12. "Flights into these conflict areas, even if they are rescue missions, should be carried out by military personnel and aircraft, not by commercial crews."

Mircea Constantin, a former cabin crew member who represents FPU Romania, said Wizz Air never gave a formal response to this letter and similar ones sent earlier this year, but did send security guidance and updates to staff.

A pilot and a cabin crew member, who declined to be named for fear of retaliatory action, said they got warnings from their employers for refusing to fly on Middle Eastern routes or calling in sick.

CONGESTED SKIES

Last month, 165 missiles were launched in Middle Eastern conflict zones versus just 33 in November 2023, according to the latest available data from Osprey Flight Solutions.

But airspace can only be enforcably restricted if a country chooses to shut it down, as in the case of Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Several airlines have opted to briefly suspend flights to places like Israel when tension rises. Lufthansa and British Airways did so after Iran bombarded Israel on April 13.

But this limits the airspace in use in the already congested Middle Eastern skies.

Choosing to fly over Central Asia or Egypt and Saudi Arabia to avoid Middle Eastern hot spots is also more costly as planes burn more fuel and some countries charge higher overflight fees.

Flying a commercial plane from Singapore to London-Heathrow through Afghanistan and Central Asia, for instance, cost an airline $4,760 in overflight fees, about 50% more than a route through the Middle East, according to two Aug. 31 flight plans reviewed by Reuters.

Reuters could not name the airline as the flight plans are not public.

Some private jets are avoiding the most critical areas.

"At the moment, my no-go areas would be the hotspot points: Libya, Israel, Iran, simply because they're sort of caught up in it all," said Andy Spencer, a Singapore-based pilot who flies private jets and who previously worked as an airline pilot.

Spencer, who has two decades of experience and flies through the Middle East regularly, said that on a recent flight from Manila to Cuba, he flew from Dubai over Egypt and north through Malta before refuelling in Morocco to circumvent Libyan and Israeli airspace.

EASA, regarded by industry experts as the strictest regional safety regulator, issues public bulletins on how to fly safely over conflict zones.

But these aren't mandatory and every airline decides where to travel based on a patchwork of government notices, third-party security advisors, in-house security teams and information sharing between carriers, leading to divergent policies.

Such intelligence is not usually shared with staff.

The opacity has sown fear and mistrust among pilots, cabin crew and passengers as they question whether their airline has missed something carriers in other countries are aware of, said Otjan de Bruijn, a former head of European pilots union the European Cockpit Association and a pilot for KLM.

"The more information you make available to pilots, the more informed a decision they can make," said Spencer, who is also an operations specialist at flight advisory body OPSGROUP, which offers independent operational advice to the aviation industry.

When Gulf players like Etihad, Emirates or flydubai suddenly stop flying over Iran or Iraq, the industry sees it as a reliable indicator of risk, pilots and security sources said, as these airlines can have access to detailed intelligence from their governments.

Flydubai told Reuters it operates within airspace and airways in the region that are approved by Dubai's General Civil Aviation Authority. Emirates said it continuously monitors all routings, adjusting as required and would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so. Etihad said it only operates through approved airspace.

Passenger rights groups are also asking for travellers to receive more information.

"If passengers decline to take flights over conflict zones, airlines would be disinclined to continue such flights," said Paul Hudson, the head of U.S.-based passenger group Flyers Rights. "And passengers who take such flights would do so informed of the risks."

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Lisa Barrington; Editing by Joe Brock and Lisa Jucca)
The seal of the Alabama Community College System on display at ACCS' administrative building in Montgomery, Alabama on February 8, 2023. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama Community College System will request a nearly $700 million budget from lawmakers in the next session, more than $100 million over their current allocation.

The $694.1 million request for fiscal year 2026, approved by the systems Board of Trustees on Wednesday, would be an 18% increase over the current budget. The Alabama Legislature will have the final say on how much money the community college system receives.

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ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker said Wednesday that he would be meeting with community college presidents to discuss the budget.

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Baker said they would be seeking a significant amount of funding for personnel raises to address issues with staffing, particularly for math and science.

We are simply trying to move forward to make the employment of the community college system more attractive, he said.

Since 2021, K-12 math and science teachers in Alabama have received additional pay under the Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) program.

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Baker said after the meeting the total for the raises will be $40 million, but they are not expecting all of it in one year.

Baker said that increasing workforce training is another important part for the budget. The budget includes a $312,000 request for Automotive Manufacturing Workforce Development Program and over $500,000 for workforce training under the Alabama Technology Network among other line items.

The ACCS will also request over $50.68 million for dual enrollment programs, a $10 million (roughly 25%) increase over this year. ACCS will also seek $11 million for industry certification initiatives, a $1.5 million (roughly 16%) increase over the current budget.

Baker said that he hoped the programs would help address the states low workforce participation rates and help companies seeking employees.

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We need to train those people as fast as we possibly can, he said.

The Alabama Legislature will begin its 2025 regular session in February. The 2026 budget goes into effect on Oct. 1 of next year.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala (WIAT)  A jazz icon who was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, but made his musical and philosophical home among the spaceways, was recently featured on an episode of The Simpsons.

Herman Poole Blount, better known by his stage name of Sun Ra, died in 1993, but his image was featured on the latest Simpsons episode that aired Sunday. The episode, titled Convenience Airways, featured the Simpsons making a flight to visit family in the fictional town of Pile Ridge, Louisiana.

While boarding the flight, daughter Lisa takes her sister, Maggie, to her seat, where she hopes to instill some of her own interests in her, especially jazz.

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Ill parent you how I wanted to be parented and sibling you how I wanted to be sibled, with my Jazz Legends: A to Z flashcards,' Lisa said. Cannonball Adderly. He was more hard bop than bebop.

As he turns 100, Marshall Allen looks back on his life in the shadow of Sun Ra

Moving to the letter S, Lisa then held up a card with the image of Sun Ra, whose discordant-yet-straight-ahead jazz compositions were the foundation of his music with his band, the Arkestra, for decades.

S is for Sun Ra, Lisa said. Hes a little abstract, but when you get it, youll really get it.

Lisa then proceeds to play for her sister an unnamed song styled in the way of a typical Sun Ra piece, which Maggie proceeds to cry over.

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The Simpsons had been on TV for less than four years when Blount died in Birmingham, but like the long-running animated show, his influence has continued throughout the years with books, films and posthumous releases. In 2022, the Arkestra was nominated for a Grammy for its work on Swirling, an album of Sun Ra standards that had been re-recorded. It was the first nomination the group had ever received in its history, losing to For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver by the Christian McBride Big Band.

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.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  When child abuse and neglect occurs, it is important law enforcement and prosecutors are prepared to respond.

The National Childrens Advocacy Center helps during those investigations, making sure the child has a safe space to talk about what happened. The National Childrens Advocacy Center in Huntsville welcomed Alabama legislators on Tuesday, telling them about how the organization responds to child abuse.

Brindlee Mountain High School students create GoFundMe for beloved teacher

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The people at the center understand they are working with children during some of the darkest days of their lives, and the experts train others to make sure they are prepared to best help children whove experienced violence.

State legislators said they hope to support that mission.

Our kids are the ones we should reach down to, who need the help the most, and this facility does it in a big way, Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said.

The National Child Advocacy Center was founded nearly 40 years ago on the understanding that legal systems at that time were not safe spaces for children who needed help.

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Jury selection, trial scheduled for former HPD officer charged with capital murder

The most important thing, though, is that we not re-victimize that victim, former Madison County District Attorney Bud Cramer said.

Cramer served as Madison Countys district attorney in the 1980s. He remembers meeting young children and their families at his office at the courthouse. He said the courthouse and police station were not comfortable environments for a child, so an effort to create a more welcoming space was born.

We really had to regroup, Cramer said. Theres these kind of safe places for us to go out of our professional world and come in to their family friendly area, near downtown, which was what we needed to have happen.

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The first child advocacy center was located in a small Huntsville house. The center has grown into a bigger network since then, offering more therapeutic and other support services to children and their families.

We are empowering children to work through their trauma so that they can then go back into our communities and be productive members of that same community, said Morgan County Childrens Advocacy Center Director Misty Cowger.

Cramer went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, bringing information about child advocacy to a larger stage. Meanwhile, Huntsvilles center began welcoming groups from across the county to collaborate and train on how to best to handle sensitive cases. Now, local law enforcement officers and prosecutors have offices at the National Childrens Advocacy Center, so they maintain a close working relationship.

It is a dream come true for me, Cramer said. Never would I have thought, say, 38 years ago that we would be at this point, but we are.

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Those working at the center said the services offered are constantly evolving as they learn more about the best ways to support survivors and their families.

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.
SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WKRN)  Officers across multiple agencies flushed an Alabama man out of the woods near a Spring Hill neighborhood.

It all began when a Williamson County deputy pulled over a car with an Alabama license plate on Interstate 65 Saturday for following too closely. Hours later, it became a full-scale manhunt complete with a K9 and a helicopter.

MNPD: 10 teens arrested after police recover stolen vehicles, firearms

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Dash camera and body camera footage helped piece the case together. When the Williamson County deputy approached the vehicle, he reportedly smelled marijuana. But before the deputy could even get to the window, the driver took off.

The deputy with the Williamson County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) didnt chase the man, who was later identified as 34-year-old Tyler Sales of Decatur, Alabama. However, the same car was quickly spotted in a neighborhood off Duplex Road by the Spring Hill Police Department (SHPD).

Thats where officers said Sales jumped out of his moving car and ran.

SHPD officers and WCSO deputies armed with tactical weapons set up a perimeter. A K9 worked along the tree-line by the neighborhood and a helicopter hovered overhead. With the help of citizens calling 911 and reporting the suspects movements, officers found Sales hiding in a drainage ditch.

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Footage showed multiple officers, with guns drawn, getting Sales to surrender peacefully. Once arrested, Sales chatted freely with the officers. He apologized to the officers for running, adding he was scared and thinking he might have had an outstanding warrant.

You just made this a way bigger deal than it needed to be, an officer said in the body camera footage.

I know, Sales replied. My cousin just got killed in Decatur not too long ago  sorry.

Officers who claimed they smelled marijuana during the traffic stop asked him if he discarded any contraband. Sales denied having anything illegal in the vehicle.

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Like I said, I thought it was an old fine, Sales added. I was scared. I didnt want  Im still going to jail  but I didnt want to go to jail, man. I apologize for it. I shouldve just pulled the car over.

According to the Williamson County jail, Sales bonded out that same day, posting a $21,500 bond. He was charged with evading arrest and driving on a revoked license, his fourth offense.

Inmate dead, several others injured following fights at Hardeman County prison

According to a May 2019 article from News 2s North Alabama sister station, WHNT, Sales ran from Morgan County authorities during a traffic stop. WHNT added Sales led them on a chase before jumping out of a still-moving vehicle and barging into a home. An 8-year-old girl, whose family was in the yard at the time, was reportedly inside the house.

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The vehicle reportedly rolled into a brick mailbox, destroying it. Sales was charged with multiple felonies. On Tuesday, Morgan County court authorities told News 2 the burglary charges associated with the 2019 incident were dismissed.

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 view of a residential area near Alabama Powers coal-fired James H. Miller Jr. Electric Generating Plant in West Jefferson, Ala. The Alabama Public Service Commission rejected a motion by Energy Alabama, a clean energy advocacy group, to intervene in the docket that determines how much Alabama Power charges customers for fuel costs. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. It is republished with permission. Sign up for their newsletter here.

The Alabama Public Service Commission has rejected the latest bid for public participation into how it sets electricity fuel cost rates, despite a state law granting the right to intervene in any proceeding before the commission.

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The commission last month rejected a motion by Energy Alabama, a clean energy advocacy group, to intervene in the docket that determines how much Alabama Power charges customers for fuel costs, finding that the matter was not an official proceeding of the commission.

Alabama law says that [E]very person, firm, corporation, copartnership, association, or organization affected by electricity rates in the state may by petition intervene and become a party to any proceeding before the commission.

In its Nov. 23 ruling, the commission held that issuing orders that change the rate Alabama Power charges its customers for fuel does not amount to a proceeding.

The Commission disagrees with Energy Alabamas view that the identified activities in [the docket], establish a proceeding as that term is used in [the Alabama code], the commission ruled.

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The commission held that its routine status reports and intermittent consent orders did not amount to the commencement, reactivation or continuation of a proceeding that is pending per the Commissions rules, even though those consent orders can and do raise customers electric bills.

Daniel Tait, executive director of Energy Alabama, said that the docket, precisely because it does affect customers payments, means that the process should be open to the public.

Rates are changing based on what happens in here, Tait told Inside Climate News, referring to the fuel rate docket. This is a proceeding. This is something that anybody has a right to intervene in under law. But they argued otherwise.

According to the commission, there has not been an official proceeding over Alabama Powers fuel costs since 2008.

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Instead, Alabama Power files monthly reports to the commission on its coal, natural gas and nuclear fuel costs and the amount of electricity generated by each fuel. The commission then periodically issues consent orders changing the rate that shows up on customers bills.

Alabama Power spokesperson Alyson Tucker said the company does not profit from money collected for fuel costs. If the company collects too much or too little money for fuel costs, the commission adjusts the future rate to make up the difference, and in at least one instance has given customers a direct refund.

Energy Alabama first filed a motion to intervene in the fuel rates docket on May 3. The commission rejected that motion on Aug. 30, citing the lack of a current proceeding. Energy Alabama petitioned for reconsideration of that decision on Sept. 30. The commission rejected that appeal on Nov. 23.

In both rejections, the commission called Energy Alabamas motion to intervene untimely because the last activity in the docket occurred 16 years ago.

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Tait said he was surprised by the commissions initial rejection of the motion to intervene. Energy Alabama has intervened in numerous other dockets before the commission without incident.

I didnt think it was going to be a fight, Tait said. I thought this one was pretty clear cut.  For the power company and the Public Service Commission to say with a straight face that no one deserves to have a say or even be in the room when one of the biggest factors in a utility bill is decided, thats crazy to me.

A spokesman for the Public Service Commission said the panel does not comment on matters that are, or could be, subject to litigation.

Tucker said Alabama Power could not comment on matters before the commission, but the company filed a formal response to Energy Alabamas September motion for reconsideration.

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Every rate schedule and rate rider Alabama Power has on file with the Commission has a corresponding docket, the companys response said. All of them are subject to the ongoing oversight of the Commission, through its Staff. Some require annual filings for compliance review purposes

The occurrence of such submissions or associated actions taken by the Commission Staff does not mean there is a pending proceeding in the corresponding dockets.

The commission echoed the power companys logic in its ultimate decision.

For the power company and the Public Service Commission to say with a straight face that no one deserves to have a say or even be in the room when one of the biggest factors in a utility bill is decided, thats crazy to me.

 Daniel Tait, Energy Alabama executive director

Christina Tidwell, a senior attorney of the Southern Environmental Law Center, which represents Energy Alabama in the matter, told Inside Climate News that public insight into the process would better show the actual costs of fossil fuels.

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Alabama Power customers are paying for Alabama Powers decisions to invest in fossil fuels like methane gas, which are prone to price volatility, and then the costs associated with those fuels are passed down to customers, Tidwell said. There are less costly, less risky resource options out there that are not prone to price volatility because they dont have fuels, like solar or wind.

Alabama Power provides electricity to about two thirds of the state, with the Tennessee Valley Authority distributing power in northern parts of the state. Alabama Power is a subsidiary of Southern Company, which also operates Georgia Power and Mississippi Power, along with Southern Power and Southern Natural Gas.

Trust us

The Alabama Public Service Commission is the primary regulator of Alabama Power and other utilities in the state, but not the federally operated TVA. Its members are elected by statewide ballot, with all three seats held by Republicans.

In Novembers general election, Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh ran unopposed because the Democratic Party of Alabama did not nominate a candidate to challenge her. There were, however, nearly 42,000 write-in votes for PSC President, the most of any race on the ballot.

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Many critics of the Alabama Public Service Commission cite a lack of transparency among their chief complaints. The Commission has not held a formal rate hearing for Alabama Power since 1982, instead relying on informal rate hearings that critics say lack the transparency and public engagement of similar proceedings in other states.

Tait, of Energy Alabama, said the public deserves more information and input about how the company purchases fuel and passes the expenses along to customers.

This whole process is just them saying, Trust us, we promise everything is good, Tait said.

The people deserve to have somebody thats actually looking at these calculations and making sure that filings are correct. Is this really the best deal that were getting right now? We dont know. Weve never seen the records. Nobody can see the records.

Southeasts highest electricity rate

More eyes will be on the commission this week, as it hosts its annual informal rate hearings for Alabama Power on Tuesday in Montgomery. These hearings are not formal proceedings of the commission, but are meant to substitute for formal rate hearings that take place in most utility commissions.

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Alabama Power representatives make presentations about the companys finances, resource mix and environmental compliance activities such as coal plant modifications or coal ash clean-up. Rate increases are often announced to the public at these hearings, which usually last about three hours.

Advocates criticize the commissions overall lack of transparency, noting that the Georgia Public Service Commission, as one example, hosts much more stringent rate cases.

When Georgia utilities request a rate increase, the commission employs special public interest advocacy staff which essentially prosecutes the case, usually opposing the utilitys rate request, according to the Georgia commissions website.

These public interest staff are able to cross-examine sworn company witnesses in public hearings, and outside parties may intervene and also question those witnesses before a rate increase is approved.

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Such a process does not exist in Alabama, where rates are negotiated between the commission and the company and later announced at informal public hearings.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in September Alabama had the highest average price of residential electricity in the Southeast at $15.35 per kilowatt hour. Georgias average price was $13.70 per kWh.

Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and Kentucky all had lower rates than Georgia, while Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina were higher than Georgia but lower than Alabama.

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A scaffolding rises around the new Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama on Dec. 10, 2024. The new Alabama Statehouse, delayed by a rebidding process, is set to open for its first legislative session in early 2027, with construction expected to finish by mid-2026. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)

The new Alabama Statehouse is on track to hold its first legislative session in early 2027 despite delays.

David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, said at a meeting of the Employees Retirement System Board of Control Tuesday that complications with the bidding process had delayed completion of the building by six months. But Bronner said the new building should be completed by mid-2026.

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Initially intended as a single comprehensive contract, RSA had to start the re-bidding process after limited interest from contractors for one comprehensive project, Bronner said. The work has since been divided into multiple packages to attract more bidders, which added months to the timeline.

I had a very aggressive schedule. Its ahead of everybody elses schedule, but not the personal one of old-David  its probably going to run into 26 the first couple months. It really depends on how these next bids come in, Bronner said after the meeting.

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Despite the setback, Bronner said progress is being made and said the budget remains under control.

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I was just going to do the office building, which is about $325 (million), but I have it below it at this stage, he said. Still, he added uncertainties such as rising material costs and potential economic shifts.

The timeline also includes the completion of a new parking deck, to be completed by the end of 2025, but the full building, however, will likely not open until mid-2026.

The state will repay RSA the cost of construction, along with 8% interest.

Barring any unexpected disruption, such as severe weather or supply chain challenges, Bronner said he expected construction to stay on time.

Only something totally outside, he said. Hurricane hits Mobile, wipes out Mobile and comes up here and wipes out what we built  not having that ridiculous one-in-a-billion probability, although I have seen it happen before.

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The new building will replace the existing Statehouse, the former Highway Department building, which has been the meeting place of the Alabama Legislature since 1986.

The current building faces numerous structural problems, including mold, flooding and an estimated $100 million in deferred maintenance. It also lacks a central gallery, and its hallways are often overcrowded.

As per the approved designs, the new Senate chamber will be 10% larger than the one in the current statehouse, while the House floor will gain approximately 800 square feet of space.

The new statehouse is slated to be operational by January 2027, just in time for that years legislative session. Upon completion, it will become the first new statehouse in the U.S. since Florida finished constructing its Capitol Complex in 1977. The current Statehouse will be demolished and turned into a green space.



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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  If youre hoping to jet off on a foreign vacation next year, Japan and South Korea will become more accessible to Pacific Northwest residents in 2025.

Alaska Air has announced a new global gateway at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA) with daily non-stop flights from Seattle to Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea, in 2025.

CEOs convicted for misleading claims about HIV, COVID drug made by Vancouver biotech company

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Flights to Tokyo Narita (NRT) will begin May 12, 2025, with tickets already available for purchase through Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. The upcoming launch of flights to Seoul Incheon (ICN) are expected to begin in October 2025.

We believe our guests will be as excited as we are about these new nonstop flights to Tokyo and Seoul  two of the worlds most dynamic cities, Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci said. From our global gateway in Seattle, we can conveniently connect travelers from across our network as they head to Asia and beyond.

Alaska Air Groups Seattle hub serves 104 nonstop destinations across North America, making it the largest carrier on the West Coast. By 2030, the company aims to serve 12 nonstop global destinations from the Seattle gateway.

Oregon federal judge temporarily blocks proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger

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Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have also announced a combined schedule through spring and summer with more flights between the continental U.S. and Hawaii.

This comes as the two airlines seek a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration by October 2025. Until the merger is approved, the airlines will operate separately.

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.
The fishing vessel Gold Rush, which harvests pollock and other groundfish, is docked on Oct. 3, 2022, at Trident Seafood's Kodiak plant. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaskans are all too familiar with radical groups funded by out-of-state interests seeking to shut down sustainable resource development. A predictable cast of characters  including billionaire activists and extreme environmental groups  are now working to destroy a large segment of the Alaska seafood industry. This campaign to ban trawling  a sustainable fishing method responsible for a substantial majority of fishery landings in the Alaska Region and nationally  poses a direct threat to Alaskas coastal economy, seafood sector and way of life.

If you enjoy wild seafood  fish sandwiches or shrimp; fish sticks or scallops; fish tacos or rockfish  you are enjoying seafood caught by trawl or dredge fishing gears that touch the seafloor. Its true that these fishing methods, like every farm, aquaculture facility and fishing operation on the planet, impact the environment. But, whats also true is that the impacts of trawl fishing in Alaska are continually monitored to ensure long-term ecosystem health.

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Few food production methods anywhere in the world are more sustainable and well-regulated than fisheries in the Alaska region, a fact we should all be proud of. Fishery scientists and managers use a clear, science-based process to decide where and when fishing can happen and how many fish can be caught. This results in sustainable Alaska fisheries  fisheries that support tens of thousands of jobs and many coastal communities  producing billions of seafood meals every year to feed people in America and around the world.

The recent commentary authored for the Alaska Beacon by Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon and David Bayes is the latest effort to demonize sustainable trawl fisheries. Like other attacks on our sector, the commentary comes from a vocal few that play fast and loose with the facts.

First, lets talk about bycatch. The authors claim that trawl fisheries have high bycatch rates is flat out wrong. The Alaska pollock fishery, for example, is recognized by the National Marine Fisheries Service as one of the cleanest in terms of incidental catch of other species (less than 1 percent). By way of contrast, the fixed-gear halibut and sablefish fisheries championed by Linda Behnkenone of the commentarys co-signatorieshave bycatch rates at least 28 times higher than the Alaska pollock fishery, with discard rates ranging from 28.5% to 48%.

We werent surprised to see the inaccuracies in Thursdays piece. Trawl critics constantly misrepresent bycatch data. For example, jellyfishnearly 40% of the 1% bycatch in the pollock fisheryare deliberately grouped with other species in reported bycatch totals. In reality, less than 10% of trawl bycatch is made up of halibut, salmon and crab species, with pollock representing the largest component of total trawl bycatch.The dead halibut thrown overboard by the Gulf of Alaska IFQ halibut fishery exceeds the total halibut bycatch mortality from the entire Gulf of Alaska trawl fleet.

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Lets talk about monitoring. Alaska trawl fisheries lead the world in using independent observers and electronic monitoring to ensure full transparency. Across all Alaska Region trawl fisheries, 94% of the total catch was independently observed in 2023. Furthermore, Alaskas pollock catcher vessels are implementing the largest Electronic Monitoring program in the United States, which will push North Pacific trawl vessel monitoring even higher, to almost 100%. Among the fleet that Linda Behnken represents, by contrast, just 23% of total 2023 harvests were observed by either electronic or human monitoring and there has been resistance to monitoring expansion.

Lets talk about habitat. The emotive claim that trawl gear scrapes the oceans bottom implies permanent ecosystem harm. In reality, the Bering Sea floor is constantly subject to tidal and storm disturbance, and any additional impacts of trawling have consistently been found by experts to be temporary and minimal. Areas that have been regularly fished with trawl gear for decades remain some of the most diverse and productive fishing grounds on Earth.

David Bayes, a charter fisherman and a co-author of the recent commentary, has regularly attacked our regions sustainable trawl fisheries. The Facebook page he founded often features posts that wish death or harm toward our fellow captains and crew, our boats and our processing plants. Other posts spew hateful, personal and vengeful attacks against anyone who dares to speak up and correct misinformation about trawling or Alaska pollock. Alaskans deserve better than this.

In October, Mr. Bayes attended a meeting of billionaire environmental funders that showcased a clear anti-fishing agenda. Panels like Bycatch: Building Power Around Alaskas Newest Four-Letter Word revealed a roadmap for shutting down Alaskan fisheries. Oceans 5, a key sponsor of the meeting, pools money from billionaire activists to fund campaigns displacing harvesters from their traditional fishing grounds. Their main goal? Establishing Marine Protected Areas that ban all fishing activity. If Bayess activist allies succeed in shutting down Alaskas trawl fisheries, dont think theyll stop there. Other fisheriesand even sport fishingcould be next in their crosshairs.

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We take pride in harvesting Alaska pollock and other groundfish, contributing to Alaskas rich fishing heritage, coastal communities, and economy. Alaskans deserve honest discussions about fisheries, which often require complex trade-offs. As warming oceansnot trawl fleetsaffect certain salmon and crab stocks, making informed decisions is extremely challenging. We welcome fair debates grounded in truth, transparency, and facts that can help sustain all Alaskan fisheries.

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ALBANY  The holidays are the time for love and cheer and warmth. But Albany Fire Department officials urge residents not to let things get too hot and to practice awareness while participating in holiday activities to reduce the risk of a house fire.

With area residents breaking out space heaters and lighting up fireplaces with the cold weather, they should also be mindful of making sure those devices are safe and in good repair.

One in six fires is started by electrical fires, Albany Assistant Fire Chief Marcus Glass said. It does go up in the months of December, January and February, where were getting the biggest cause of fire being electrical."

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Glass urged residents to check the wiring of portable space heaters. In a hot climate like south Georgia's, those heaters likely have been in storage for months and during that time the wires could have been damaged by being crammed into a box, or rodents could have gnawed on them.

The heaters should be kept at least 3 feet away from any flammable materials and should never be used with extension cords.

Fireplaces also should be kept clean as they are also a common cause of house fires to which firefighters respond.

You also need to check your carbon monoxide alarms, Glass said. That definitely kills people. Get the chimney cleaned, and dont just do it yourself. Get a professional.

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Trees and decorations also can pose risks, and residents should also take precaution in how they are used, Glass said. Decorations should be flame-resistant or flame-retardant, he said, and live trees should be green and kept watered.

Trees also should not be placed in locations where they block an exit of a residence. When it comes to outdoor lights, residents should not use nails but use clips instead to reduce the risk of an electrical arc inside the wiring, Glass said.

U.S. fire deaths average 835 structure fires per year that began with decorations, he said. "Those fires have an annual average of three civilian fire deaths, 30 civilian fire injuries and $14 million in property damage.

Light strings that have cord damage or loose bulb connections should be discarded.

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Holiday gatherings mean lots of cooking, so kitchen safety is also important. Food should never be left unattended, even for a short time, Glass said. And with the holiday spirit meaning that holiday spirits are being poured, he recommended never cooking while intoxicated. In many instances a person turns on the stove or oven and disaster ensues.

You put on some French fries and go to sleep, Glass said. A lot of fires start that way.

It is a fairly common practice, but stoves should never be used as the source of heat. Stoves are not meant to operate for long periods of time with the doors open, and the radiant heat can start a fire while the residents are back in a bedroom.

If you have a small grease fire in the kitchen and you decide to fight it, smother the flames by sliding a pan or lid over it and turning off the burner, Glass said. If its a fire in the oven, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Close the door, and it will go out. If the fire is too big, close the door and leave the kitchen.

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On the topic of doors, the assistant chief recommended keeping bedroom doors closed while sleeping. If a fire starts in another room, that door can block the flames for precious minutes and will also prevent smoke, the biggest killer in house fires, from entering the room.

Everybody needs to know that, he said. If that door is closed, you have time.

Outdoors, revelers may have bonfires burning or light fireworks, and caution also should be taken for those activities. Participants should keep the fire and fireworks away from structures and have a water source handy.

At this time of year, weve got to be mindful that were changing the way were operating inside and outside of the home, Glass said. Celebrations are a hallmark of the holiday season, but they also present fire risks that can quickly turn this festive time of year into a devastating one.

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The Albany Fire Department provides smoke detectors to residents free of charge. Glass recommended that homes should have multiple detectors to keep residents safe.

To request smoke detectors, call (229) 302-1902.
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Police arrested early Wednesday South Korea's police commissioner and the Seoul police chief in connection with a probe into President Yoon Suk-yeol's short-lived martial law imposition, Yonhap news agency reported.

Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were arrested on insurrection charges, according to a special investigation team under the national police.

The two police chiefs were suspected of instructing police officers to cordon off the National Assembly compound to block lawmakers from attending a plenary session for a vote against the imposition of the emergency martial law.

Police made the arrest in consideration of seriousness of the charges and the possibility of destruction of evidence by the two officers, Yonhap said, citing police sources.

Authorities had previously confiscated the two officers' cellphones and placed travel bans on them. 
The Kroger Co. corporate headquarters is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington blocked a merger between two supermarket giants, Albertsons canceled the $24.6 billion merger agreement and sued Kroger.

The grocery chain, which owns 24 Albertsons locations and 97 Safeway stores in Oregon, sued Kroger Wednesday in the Delaware Court of Chancery, alleging the larger grocer didnt do enough to secure regulatory approval for its 2022 agreement to buy Kroger. Iowa has Kroger stores in eight communities, according to the companys website, including Davenport and Cedar Rapids.

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The Federal Trade Commission, joined by seven states including Oregon and the District of Columbia, sued to block the merger in U.S. District Court in Oregon earlier this year, and a federal judge in Portland temporarily halted the merger Tuesday. A state judge in Washington state also blocked the merger from proceeding there. Both judges agreed with federal regulators and state attorneys general that the merger would lead to reduced competition and harm both customers and grocery workers  customers with higher prices and lower-quality goods and workers with lower pay.

The complaint Albertsons filed in the Delaware court isnt yet public, but the company said in a press release that Kroger willfully breached the merger agreement by ignoring feedback from regulators, refusing to divest assets needed for antitrust approval or find stronger buyers for divested assets and failing to cooperate with Albertsons.

Kroger owns 51 Fred Meyer stores in Oregon, as well as four QFC locations in Portland. Before the merger fell apart, Kroger and Albertsons had agreed to sell 579 stores across the country, including dozens in Oregon, in an attempt to mollify regulators concerned about a monopoly.

Tom Moriarty, Albertsons general counsel and chief policy officer, said in a statement that the merger would have helped consumers but that Kroger acted in its own financial self-interest instead.

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Krogers self-serving conduct, taken at the expense of Albertsons and the agreed transaction, has harmed Albertsons shareholders, associates and consumers, Moriarty said. We are disappointed that the opportunity to realize the significant benefits of the merger has been lost on account of Krogers willfully deficient approach to securing regulatory clearance.

Albertsons is seeking an immediate $600 million termination fee and billions more to reimburse the company for the loss of the money Kroger agreed to pay and decreases in shareholder value, the statement said.

Kroger called Albertsons claims baseless and said that Albertsons actually repeatedly breached their agreement and interfered through the merger process.

This is clearly an attempt to deflect responsibility following Krogers written notification of Albertsons multiple breaches of the agreement, and to seek payment of the mergers break fee, to which they are not entitled, the statement said. Kroger looks forward to responding to these baseless claims in court. We went to extraordinary lengths to uphold the merger agreement throughout the entirety of the regulatory process and the facts will make that abundantly clear.

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Oregon leaders, including Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, welcomed news of the mergers failure Tuesday.

This is great news for grocery shoppers in Oregon who would have faced higher prices at Kroger and Albertsons if this ill-conceived consolidation had gone through, Wyden said. Im glad the court has shelved this monster deal because in addition to raising grocery prices for shoppers already tiptoeing on an economic tightrope, it would have made it that much harder for Oregonians to find a pharmacy and for workers at both supermarket chains to seek fairer wages and better working conditions.

This story was originally published by Oregon Capital Chronicle, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
The Onion's rejected purchase of Infowars in an auction bid supported by families of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting dealt them a new setback Wednesday and clouded the future of Alex Jones' conspiracy theory platform, which will remain in his control for at least the near future.

What's next for Infowars and the Sandy Hook families' long-sought efforts to hold Jones accountable over calling one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history a hoax was unclear, after a federal judge in Houston late Tuesday rejected The Onion's winning bid for the site. The only other bidder was a company aligned with Jones.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston said he did not want another auction but offered no roadmap over how to proceed. One possibility includes ultimately allowing Sandy Hook families  who comprise most of Jones' creditors  to return to state courts in Connecticut and Texas to collect on the nearly $1.5 billion in defamation and emotional distress lawsuit judgments that Jones was ordered to pay them.

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Our hope is that when this process ends, and it will end, and it will end sooner rather than later, is that all assets that Alex Jones has available are paid to the families, and that includes Infowars, and that as a result of that process Alex Jones is deprived of the ownership and control of the platform that hes used to hurt so many people, Christopher Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families, said Wednesday.

The families, meanwhile, were preparing to mark the 12th anniversary of the Dec. 14 shooting.

Why was The Onion bid rejected?

The sale of Infowars is part of Jones personal bankruptcy case, which he filed in late 2022 after he was ordered to pay the $1.5 billion. Jones was sued for repeatedly saying on his show that the 2012 massacre of 20 first graders and six educators was staged by crisis actors to spur more gun control.

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He has since conceded that the shooting did happen.

Lopez said there was a lack of transparency in the bidding process and too much confusion about The Onion's bid, and he expressed concern that the amount of money offered was too low.

The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, submitted a $1.75 million cash offer with plans to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody. The bid also included a deal with many of the Sandy Hook families for them to forgo $750,000 of their auction proceeds and give it to other creditors.

The other bidder was First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones name that sells nutritional supplements and planned to let Jones stay on the Infowars platforms. It offered $3.5 million in cash and later, with Jones, alleged fraud and collusion in the bidding process. Lopez rejected those allegations.

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Christopher Murray, the trustee who oversaw the auction, said he picked The Onion and its deal with the Sandy Hook families because it would have provided more money to Jones' other creditors.

What happens next?

Lopez directed Murray to come up with a new plan to move forward. Murray and representatives of The Onion did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

The judge said there was a possibility there could be a trial in 2025 to settle Jones' bankruptcy and that Murray could try to sell the equity in Infowars' parent company.

The judge said he wanted to hear back from Murray and others involved in the bankruptcy within 30 days on a plan.

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On the social media platform X, Jones called the judge's ruling a Major Victory For Freedom Of The Press & Due Process."

Jeff Anapolsky, an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center and the managing director and founder of Anapolsky Advisors, a financial consulting firm, said he was not surprised Lopez rejected the sale. He was not involved in the case but said he has appeared before Lopez and described him as a fair judge.

Anapolsky believes the sale of the Infowars assets will ultimately take place and be approved.

So thats up to Mr. Murray now, the trustee, to go do something to make everybody feel like everybody had their say and understand the transparency of the process, Anapolsky said.

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Sandy Hook families to mark shooting anniversary

The decision came during a solemn week for relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The 12th anniversary is Saturday, and some of the victims' relatives were traveling to Washington, D.C., to attend an annual vigil for victims of gun violence. The families usually mark the anniversary out of the public eye.

Many of the families have said their lawsuits against Jones bought back the unbearable pain of losing their loved ones, as well as the trauma of being harassed and threatened by believers of Jones' hoax conspiracy. Relatives said they have been confronted in public by hoax believers and received death and rape threats.

The families have not received any money from Jones since winning the trials.

___

Associated Press writer Juan A. Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.
NEW YORK -- Real estate brokers Oren and Tal Alexander and their brother, Alon, have been indicted on sex trafficking charges in New York.

Officials from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York held a news conference Wednesday to announce the charges. They said the brothers ran a sex trafficking scheme and allegedly assaulted dozens of women between 2010 and 2021, dating back to when the men were in high school, in some cases.

"The defendants used their wealth and positions to create and facilitate opportunities to sexually assault women," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams announced. "In particular, Oren and Tal Alexander used their prominent positions in the real estate industry to induce women to come to events and parties. At those parties, and sometimes afterwards, the women were sexually assaulted by one or more of the defendants."

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"We will not allow this type of alleged behavior to go unimpeded. Predators forcing victims into sexual acts cannot and will not be tolerated," FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Dennehy added.

Oren and Tal Alexander are the founders of the luxury real estate firm Official, which has offices in Manhattan and Miami Beach, according to its website. Alon Alexander is Oren's twin and worked at the family's private security firm, authorities said.

Oren Alexander and Tal Alexander speak at a panel at the Rockstars of Real Estate Event hosted by Editor-in-Chief of DETAILS Magazine Dan Peres on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013 in New York. / Credit: Amy Sussman/Invision for DETAILS Magazine/AP Images

Williams said the brothers arranged domestic and international trips where they carried out their alleged crimes, and recruited women by providing things like travel, luxury accommodations and access to exclusive events. He said they met their alleged victims in person, over social media, and on dating apps.

"At times, the defendants hand-picked the women to invite. At other times, they used paid party promoters to source women for them," said Williams.

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Williams said the brothers and other men gave the women drugs, including cocaine, mushrooms and GHB, which allegedly "caused some of the women to be physically unable to fight back or to escape."

"Then, as alleged, the Alexander brothers -- sometimes acting alone, sometimes with each other and sometimes with other men -- forcibly raped and assaulted the women," said Williams.

Williams added the brothers also carried out other alleged attacks "by chance," at bars, clubs and social events.

"These assaults allegedly had many of the same hallmarks as the rapes that occurred at group events -- isolated locations, drugged victims, force and physical restraint," said Williams.

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Williams called the alleged crimes "heinous" and encouraged anyone with additional information to contact his office at 212-384-2700 or the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI or email at alexander-case@fbi.gov.

Williams said the brothers will be transported up to New York to face charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

CBS News New York has reached out to the attorneys for each brother. Both Tal and Alon's lawyers said they have no comment. A lawyer for Oren says he's innocent and that "the evidence will show that neither he nor his brothers ever committed a crime."

Alexander brothers accused in 3 alleged assaults in South Florida

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The Alexander brothers were arrested in Miami and face separate state felony charges along with their cousin, Ohad Fisherman, who has not yet been arrested. They were denied bond until a hearing on Friday.

Officials in Miami Beach held a briefing on the multistate investigation Wednesday.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle discussed three separate incidents with three different victims that occurred in December 2016, October 2017 and October 2021.

Rundle said in the first incident, a victim said Alon invited her to attend a barbecue in New York along with Oren and Fisherman. The victim alleges she was raped by both Alon and Oren.

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"The victim stated she recalled Alon and Oren Alexander, the two brothers, arguing. Arguing about who was going to rape her first," Rundle said.

In the second incident, Rundle said Oren invited the second victim to his apartment, gave her a glass of wine and directed her toward the bedroom. The victim alleges she began to feel like "she was no longer in control of her own body," and Oren raped her while she felt she couldn't move or speak.

Rundle said Oren is also accused of raping another victim in the third incident after inviting her and several friends to his house.

"I want to say this and I know I say this on behalf of everyone in law enforcement and everyone who was involved in this case: We all want to thank the three brave women who courageously came forward and reported these incidents  these crimes  thank you for disclosing what happened to you and allowing us in law enforcement to help you account, help you hold these men accountable for what they did. And I also want to thank the support system that these women had, who had been holding their hands, giving them a shoulder to cry on all these years and anything else they needed to rebuild their confidence, to rebuild their lives. These women are strong and resilient and they are an example to anyone else out there who has experienced sexual violence or has been a witness to it or knows someone  we want everyone out there to realize that a victim of sexual crimes is what we in law enforcement do. We're here for you," Rundle said.

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Police arrested Oren and Tal Alexander, as well as a third brother, for sexual assault. courtesy of Douglas Elliman

The Alexander brothers have been hit with federal sex-trafficking charges.

Oren and Tal Alexander are top real-estate agents. Police also arrested a third brother.

The brothers earlier denied the accusations through an attorney.

The Alexander brothers were arrested on Wednesday on federal charges of sex trafficking. Prosecutors accused the siblings of operating a "long-running sex trafficking scheme," according to an unsealed indictment.

The New York prosecutors said in the indictment that Tal and Oren  who are among the nation's top luxury real-estate agents  and their brother, Alon, collaborated for more than a decade with others both "known and unknown" to "repeatedly and violently drug, sexually assault, and rape dozens of victims."

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The indictment said the brothers used their wealth and prominent positions "to create opportunities to rape and sexually assault women" in Manhattan and Miami in a scheme that began in 2010 and lasted more than 10 years.

At times, prosecutors said the brothers planned out the sexual assaults in advance "using the promise of luxury experiences, travel, and accommodations to lure and entice women to locations where they were forcibly raped or sexually assaulted, sometimes by multiple men, including one or more of the Alexander brothers."

Other times, the Alexander brothers chose their victims by chance, prosecutors said.

The real-estate duo, in particular, the indictment said, "used their prominent positions in the industry to induce other women to attend events and parties, and to meet other women at those events and parties, whom one or more of the defendants later sexually assaulted."

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Prosecutors alleged the Alexander brothers worked together and with other men to arrange events and both domestic and international trips that they used as "bait" to "recruit, entice, harbor, transport, and maintain multiple women."

Ahead of events and trips, the Alexander brothers would secure drugs, including hallucinogenic mushrooms, cocaine, and GHB, which they agreed to provide women, the indictment says.

On multiple occasions, they and others would "surreptitiously" drug women's drinks, prosecutors said.

"At times, the defendants physically restrained and held down their victims during the rapes and sexual assaults and ignored screams and explicit requests to stop," the indictment said.

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Oren Alexander, Alon Alexander, and their cousin, Ohad Fisherman, were also separately charged in Florida with sexual battery in three incidents in Miami involving three different women in 2016, 2017, and 2021.

Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the state attorney for Miami-Dade County in Florida, announced the charges in a joint news conference with the Miami Beach police department on Wednesday.

Florida prosecutors charged Oren Alexander with three counts of sexual battery, with one of the charges involving multiple perpetrators and classified as a second-degree felony. Alon Alexander was charged with one count of sexual battery involving multiple perpetrators, a second-degree felony. Fisherman was charged with one count of sexual battery by multiple perpetrators.

In the first incident in 2016, Oren and Alon took turns raping a woman at Alon's Miami Beach apartment while Fisherman held her down, the state attorney said. The woman told police that after the assault, Oren asked her to shower and Alon told her not to tell anybody what had happened. The woman told her two sisters and a friend about the assault but did not contact police at the time because she feared retribution from the men, the state attorney said.

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Prosecutors said the second incident, which involved only Oren, took place after a woman attended a real-estate event with him in 2017. After the event, Oren invited her to his apartment, where he gave her a glass of wine, after which she said she felt weak and out of control of her body. She found herself on Oren's bed with Oren on top of her; she could not move or speak or push him off. He then raped her, she said.

In the third incident in 2021, a woman met Oren at a dinner she attended with a friend, the state attorney said. Oren invited the woman and her friend to his house on Flamingo Drive. At his house, Oren brought the woman to a couch next to his bedroom, removed her shoes, and started kissing her. The woman said she felt uncomfortable as Oren became aggressive. When she tried to pull away from him, he ripped off the top of her dress, leaving her naked on top. She went to his bedroom to grab a T-shirt from his closet and tried to leave the house. But when she got downstairs, she realized she could not leave because the doors were remote-controlled. She went back upstairs to ask Oren to let her out. There, Oren pushed her onto his bed, held her down with his knees, and assaulted her as she told him no, prosecutors said.

Rundle, the state attorney, thanked the "brave women" for disclosing what happened to them.

"These women are strong and they're resilient," she said. "They are an example to anyone else out there who has experienced sex violence."

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Local news footage showed Oren and Alon being escorted into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami on Wednesday. Tal, who was not mentioned in the Florida news conference, was being held at a separate jail, Local 10 News reported.

The brothers' arrest follows years of sexual-assault allegations by multiple women.

Deanna Paul, a New York attorney for Tal Alexander, confirmed to Business Insider that police arrested the brothers in Miami on Wednesday morning but declined to comment further.

The brothers have "strongly" denied any wrongdoing, James Cinque, a New York-based attorney, told Business Insider in September.

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"We have asked them not to comment while these matters work their way through the legal system," Cinque said, "but are comfortable that they will ultimately be vindicated."

The FBI began investigating the Alexander brothers after The Real Deal first reported in June that two women had filed civil lawsuits against Oren and Alon earlier this year.

The women, Kate Whiteman and Rebecca Mandel, said the brothers took turns raping them in two separate incidents in 2010 and 2012, respectively. About 10 days after The Real Deal's article was published, another woman, Angelica Parker, filed a lawsuit accusing Alon and Tal of raping her in their New York City apartment in 2012 while Oren watched. In July, a fourth woman, the actor and comedian Renee Willett, filed a lawsuit against Oren, accusing him of drugging and raping her, also in his SoHo apartment in 2015.

"We are glad to hear that there will finally be some measure of accountability for the Alexander brothers and justice for their many victims," David E. Gottlieb, a partner at Wigdor, the law firm representing Parker, said in a statement to BI. "We applaud all the survivors who have had the strength and courage to speak up about their unimaginable experiences after years of pain and suffering."

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A day after the criminal indictments, another woman, going by "Jane Doe," filed a lawsuit in New York against Alon and Oren, accusing them both of raping her in 2016.

The lawsuit said Alon invited the plaintiff to a barbecue and pool party in Miami on New Year's Eve but that when she arrived she realized she was the only guest. She said Fisherman held her down while Oren raped her with Alon watching. Alon then raped her, the lawsuit said.

Lawyers for Alon, Oren, and Fisherman did not respond to a request for comment from BI on the new lawsuit.

Alon and Oren also appeared in court in Miami on Thursday, where a judge ordered they be held without bond, The New York Times reported. Alon had told the judge his wife was expected to give birth to their first child "any day now" and that she was counting on him to be with her. The next hearing is set for Friday.

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At a press conference on Wednesday announcing the indictment, Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, called on additional victims to speak out.

"Our investigation is far from over," Williams said. "If you have been a victim of the alleged sexual violence perpetrated by Alon Alexander, Oren Alexander, or Tal Alexander  or if you know anything about their alleged crimes  we urge you to come forward."

Since June, more than a dozen women have said they were raped or assaulted by the three brothers, sometimes in tandem. Business Insider spoke to four women who described being assaulted or feeling coerced into sexual encounters, including one who said Tal, now 38, raped her in Las Vegas in 2017.

Business Insider's investigation found that it was an open secret in wealthy social circles for years that the Alexander twins, 37, and their older brother Tal, mistreated women.

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Oren and Tal started their real-estate careers at Douglas Elliman before launching their own brokerage, Official, in 2022. Alon works for the family's security company in Florida.

December 12, 2024: This story has been updated to include a new lawsuit that was filed a day after the criminal indictments as well as Alon and Oren's court appearance on Thursday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Donald Trumps lawyer Alina Habba is claiming that Tulsi Gabbard was never actually a fan of Syrias fallen dictatorial regimeeven though Gabbard publicly defended it.

During an appearance on Fox News Tuesday, host Laura Ingraham claimed that Trumps nominee to be the next director of national intelligence had been wrongfully smeared as an apologist for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, the dictator who fled Syria for Russia last week after rebels overtook Damascus.

It looks like, both with Tulsi and with Pete Hegseth, that this stuff doesnt seem to be sticking. Am I reading this right? Ingraham asked, almost as if to clarify shed gotten the Republican messaging right.

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Are you saying that perhaps they could create a dossier, or say that theres a Russia-Russia hoax and continue it for years on end. I dont believe it, Laura! Habba deadpanned. Yeah, no kidding. This is what they do when theyre desperate, we know this.

Unfortunately for Habba, Gabbard, and the fate of U.S. foreign relations, Gabbards statements supporting Assad arent the invention of her critics or the liberal media.

In 2017, Gabbard, the thenDemocratic Representative from Hawaii, met with Assad during a secretive four-day trip to Syria. She said she couldnt turn down the opportunity to meet the leader responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

When the opportunity arose to meet with him, I did so because I felt that its important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then weve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we can achieve peace, she told CNNs Jake Tapper at the time. She also criticized Assads opposition, insisting that there were no moderate rebels left in the country.

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Let the Syrian people themselves determine their future, not the United States, not some foreign country, Gabbard said.

During an appearance on MSNBC in February 2019, Gabbard proclaimed, Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States.

Gabbard has been criticized for her coziness with a slew of autocratic leaders, including Assad, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Egypts Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. When Trump nominated her to become the next director of national intelligence, the reaction in Moscow was reportedly gleeful.

Habba went on to describe Gabbard and Hegseth, both of whom are unqualified and preposterous nominees in their own rights, as really strong candidates, with really amazing backgrounds.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala has filed a lawsuit over what he calls a looming crisis: the countys unfunded pension.

The lawsuit was filed against the Board of Allegheny County in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

Zappala says the process to get to this lawsuit began months ago, when a fiduciary of the Allegheny County Retirement Board filed a complaint with his office. That complaint alleged a conspiracy to defraud the Allegheny County Employees Retirement System.

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The investigation into that complaint is ongoing, but Zappala says part of looking into the issue involved reviewing the retirement systems finances. That review found that the retirement board determined that the retirement systems liabilities exceeded its assets by about $1.27 billion. Meaning, that the plan is only 42% funded and not actuarially sound.

Additionally, Zappalas office found that the Retirement Boards actuary and Allegheny Countys independent public accountant have been issuing warnings since at least 2016 that the pension fund would be depleted in about 15 years. Those warnings led the Retirement Board to raise county employees mandatory pension contribution rate from 9% in 2016 to 11% in 2024, making it one of the highest in the nation.

Zappala also alleges the Retirement Board made aggressive investments to reach its 7.75% assumed investment rate of return, which he says resulted in unsustainable volatility and significant losses.

An average county employee, which the boards actuary currently estimates to be 46.4 years old with 11.3 years of past service, will face an insolvent system when they retire, if nothing is done immediately. Zappala says this is why he took action  because the system cannot function like a Ponzi scheme.

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The lawsuit, which Zapalla says does not affect current retiree payments, makes several requests of the court:

Declare that the System is not actuarially sound Order the Defendants to develop a plan to bring the System into an actuarially sound condition of 100% funded status within a reasonable period of time Order Allegheny County to allocate sufficient funds to maintain the System in an actuarially sound condition of 100% funded status within a reasonable period of time as required by the Second Class County Code Enter a judgment against Allegheny County and the Board Restrain the Board and Allegheny County from their deceptive and unlawful administration of the System.

Allegheny County is facing one of the most serious unfunded pension crises in the history of the Commonwealth Pennsylvania. It is my hope that all parties will work together to ensure that the benefits earned by the Systems participants will be paid as promised, a statement from Zappala reads.

There is no immediate risk of nonpayment of retirement benefits.

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UPDATE: The Allegheny County Police Department says Marvin White has been found safe.

The Allegheny County Police Department is asking for the publics help in finding a man with dementia.

Marvin White, 72, left his home on 5th Avenue in Braddock at around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 9.

White is described as being 5 feet, 10 inches tall and around 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing gray pants, brown shoes and a gray sweater.

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White is known to have dementia and left his home without his phone or wallet, police said.

White was driving a silver Lexis LS with the Pennsylvania license plate YOKUM. It was last seen at 7:28 p.m. on Dec. 9 along Route 22 near Resort Drive in Blairsville.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

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A once-prolific but now much-reduced Northwest restaurant chain is the focus of two class-action lawsuits involving former employees as well as job applicants.

The corporate entities tied to ownership of Sharis Cafe & Pies, with just a handful of locations remaining, are the focus of the two cases, one filed in Washington state and the other in Oregon.

The Washington case involves allegations of past job postings that ran afoul of salary and benefits information requirements, while the Oregon case is tied to the sudden layoffs and closures of Sharis Oregon properties.

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Attempts to reach Sharis corporate legal department for comment on the cases were unsuccessful. An auto-reply generated by the email listed in its corporate filings with Washington state noted the recipient was no longer at the company and referred inquiries to other unrelated departments.

Oregon lawsuit

The most recent of the two lawsuits was filed in November against Sharis Management Corporation, Gather Holdings, LLC, and Gather Holdings Guarantee, LLC, following the mass closing of the Oregon restaurants in October.

The case, filed by attorneys for former Sharis employee Heidi Woebbeking of Portland, contends she was terminated without cause and did not receive 60 days notice of her termination.

At the time of her employment, she was working at the chains Grants Pass restaurant.

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On or about October 20, 2024, Defendants unceremoniously informed all employees (including Woebbeking) at her restaurant, that their jobs would be immediately terminated as of that same day, the filing states.

Defendants not only failed to provide any advance notice, but they also failed to pay out the full amount of (Woebbekings) and the putative classs final paychecks, according to the filing.

The lawsuit contends that the chain violated terms of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires employers to give a 60-day notice to affected employees as well as state and local representatives prior to a plant closing or mass layoff, as described at the states WARN Act Notifications site online.

According to the lawsuit, the layoffs affected at least 50 employees, though it is unclear the total number of workers who lost jobs.

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The lawsuit seeks to cover all Sharis employees terminated in a span of three months.

Within 90 days of October 20, 2024, upon information and belief, Defendants abruptly terminated employees across all locations in Oregon, unilaterally and without proper notice to employees or staff, terminating over 50 employees and at least 33% of active full-time employees, including Plaintiff, it states.

The lawsuit calls for back pay to the fullest extent permitted by the WARN Act along with compensation for lost benefits as well as litigation costs and attorney fees and seeks a jury trial.

Woebbekings attorney did not respond to a News Tribune request for comment on the case.

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The Oregon closures as previously reported appeared to be tied to debt owed the Oregon Lottery for video lottery-gaming machines, which had been an extra revenue stream at its restaurants in that state.

Melanie Mesaros, media representative for the Oregon Lottery, told The News Tribune this week in response to questions, No payments have been made. The outstanding debt amount is the same as what we previously shared: $905,164.67.

The closures marked an end of an era for the chain that originally launched in 1978 in Hermiston, Oregon. At the time of the closures, Sharis had 42 sites remaining in the state.

Washington lawsuit

A separate class-action lawsuit against Sharis Management Corp. and 10 unidentified parties was filed June 14 in Pierce County Superior Court, later removed to federal court.

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In that case, Mary Turner of Puyallup and Tyler Crutchfield of Olympia contend that Sharis violated regulations regarding the states wage-transparency requirements.

Turner applied for work in February 2024 and Crutchfield applied in April, according to the initial filing.

The complaint contends the parent company engaged in a systematic scheme of failing to include the wage scale, salary range, and/or a general description of all benefits and other compensation to be offered in job openings, going back to January 2023.

Thats when new regulations took effect in Washington state regarding the disclosure of salary and benefits information required in employment listings for employers with 15 or more workers.

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Plaintiffs applied for the jobs in good faith with the genuine intent of gaining employment and, as such, became personally exposed to risk of harm caused by Defendants violations, the filing states.

Plaintiffs seek to represent a class of all individuals who, from January 1, 2023 through the present applied for a job in the State of Washington with Defendant, where the job posting did not disclose the wage scale or salary range for the position.

The lawsuit in July was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma.

In a response to the complaint filed in July, attorneys representing Sharis Management issued a general denial off all listed allegations in the complaint, argued against the cases merits as a class action, and stated, among other defenses, that Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted. Plaintiffs lack standing as they have not suffered an injury-in-fact.

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On Nov. 26, the attorneys for Sharis Management Corp. filed a motion to withdraw from the case, due to a substantial open balance, owed to the law firm.

Defendant is unable to continue paying for legal representation in defense of the claims, the filing stated, adding that there would be plenty of time to retain new counsel before the start of private mediation, currently scheduled for January 9.

It noted that Sharis Management also was advised that if no new counsel were engaged to enter an appearance, the Court may enter a default judgment on any claims Plaintiffs have against Defendant.

As reported in September by The News Tribune, the restaurant chains corporate ownership has faced delinquent tax debt with the states of Washington and Idaho as well as numerous eviction notices and debt collection cases, including in Pierce County, over unpaid rent.

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Mikhail Carpenter, communications manager with the Washington State Department of Revenue, told The News Tribune on Tuesday that there have been no additional tax warrants issued against Sharis, but also no payoffs on existing warrants with the state.

News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
ALTOONA, Pa.  The Altoona McDonalds restaurant where alleged gunman Luigi Mangione was arrested Monday has become a target online since he was picked up by police.

Health insurance industry opponents blamed rats for exposing Mangione and wrecked the restaurants rating on the crowd-sourced review site Yelp with negative reviews.

The flood of posts prompted Yelp to block additional comments due to a wave of unusual activity  one illustration of the emotion tethered to UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsons Manhattan murder.

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This business recently received increased public attention, which often means people come to this page to post their views on the news, Yelp wrote in an online pop-up post. While we dont take a stand one way or the other when it comes to this incident, weve temporarily disabled the posting of content to this page as we work to investigate whether the content you see here reflects actual consumer experiences ...

UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed

McDonald's restaurant, where an employee alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Several commenters wrote Rats everywhere in their reviews.

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Employees are snitches, wrote another under the name Troy W.

Hopefully, you can use some of that ($)50k to pay for some of my medical bills, added a Winston-Salem, North Carolina, reviewer posting as Alexandra  a reference to a $50,000 reward offered for information during the investigation.

Until midday Monday, a manhunt was underway to identify and locate the man captured on camera fatally shooting Thompson Dec. 4.

The story attracted national attention and a torrent of online fury over the health insurance industrys reputation for denying medical claims and coverage.

Some people seem happy Thompson was killed, said Altoona-area resident Kassidy Duclas, who spent part of Monday evening among a crowd of nearly 100 people outside Altoona police headquarters.

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Theres a lot of people saying, Free him (online), Duclas said.

Reactions to shooting

This week, there were 1960s-style folk ballads on TikTok heralding Mangiones actions. By Tuesday, the digital music app Spotify was deleting user-created playlists with titles such as POV: Taking out a CEO that appeared to celebrate the shooting.

One song on the list was Michael Jacksons 1996 single They Dont Care About Us. Another was My Shot from the hit musical Hamilton.

Crowds holding cellphones stood outside Altoona police headquarters Monday awaiting news on Mangione. At the same time, the review rating for the East Plank Road McDonalds kept dropping  to just 1.2 stars out of a possible five before Yelp halted commenting.

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Pennsylvania and New York City law enforcement have praised public support in the restaurant as heroic for helping them track down an elusive suspect.

Swift action praised in capture of UnitedHealthcare CEO's alleged killer; Mangione moved to SCI-Huntingdon

Over the five days after a prominent health insurance executive was shot dead in New York City, Luigi Mangione crisscrossed Pennsylvania, investigators said.

Thanks to media coverage, one customer apparently recognized Mangione inside the fast-food restaurant early Monday and alerted an employee who dialed 911, investigators said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro called the employee a hero.

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Altoona Deputy police Chief Derek Swope praised the bond between the Altoona community and its police force.

Shapiro: This man is not a hero

Shapiro said Thompson was also a human, a husband and a father whose life was ended needlessly, perhaps fueled by the flames of hateful rhetoric and the decision to kill to express a viewpoint, he said.

I have no tolerance, nor should anyone, for one man using an illegal ghost gun to murder someone because he thinks his opinion matters most, Shapiro said.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed

New York Police officers arrive at Altoona Police Department, where a man with a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been taken into police custody for questioning, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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He criticized any notion that Mangione was anything other than an angry coward.

This man is not a hero, Shapiro said. In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint.
NAIROBI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The China Funds-in-Trust Phase 3 (CFIT III) project, initiated by the Chinese government in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has played a transformative role in equipping African youth with market-relevant skills, delegates said Wednesday at a forum in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Launched in 2019, the CFIT III project has been launched in six African countries to enhance the capacity of higher education institutions to provide local youth with technical and soft skills tailored to labor market demands. Its success was highlighted at the 2024 UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in Africa, co-organized by UNESCO, the African Union (AU), and the Kenyan government from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The forum brought together education ministers, diplomats, representatives of regional blocs, academia, industry leaders, and civil society to assess the project's impact across 12 higher education institutions in Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. These efforts have helped students transition from academic institutions to the workforce.

Chinese Ambassador Level Representative to UNESCO Yang Xinyu emphasized education's pivotal role in Sino-African relations, adding that since its launch, the CFIT III project has enhanced the capacity of African tertiary institutions to address the growing need for skilled labor in critical economic sectors.

"We are encouraged by the early results of the CFIT III project. Over 24,000 beneficiaries across six African countries have already benefited from various initiatives, including curriculum enhancements, capacity-building workshops, gender equality initiatives, and industry partnerships," Yang said.

The Chinese government has provided up to 20 million U.S. dollars to support the project, aligning with the AU's Agenda 2063, which emphasizes skills development as a cornerstone of Africa's socio-economic transformation, said Yang.

Louise Haxthausen, director at the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa based in Nairobi, said the CFIT III project has showcased the power of collaboration to address the skills gap in Africa and spur inclusive growth.

According to Haxthausen, the project has aligned technical higher education with labor market demands, enhancing the employability of African youth and fostering university-industry partnerships, gender parity, and curriculum reforms.

Kora Tushune, Ethiopia's state minister of higher education, said that the project has accelerated higher education curriculum reforms, strengthened linkages between academia and industry, and promoted youth upskilling and employability.

Under the project, Ethiopian tertiary institutions are able to deliver courses that enhance the competencies of youth working in public service, manufacturing, health, and technology sectors, Tushune noted.

Borhene Chakroun, director of the policies and lifelong learning systems division at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, said that through CFIT III, Africa's tertiary institutions have proactively engaged companies to foster career guidance and mentorship aimed at preparing the youth for gainful employment.

"We have created a new mechanism for collaboration between universities and the labor market and also have young people at the universities who are creating their own start-ups," Chakroun said. 
In a significant filing that reshapes the debate over Donald Trumps 34 felony convictions in New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Tuesday served up to Justice Juan Merchan a menu of options for preserving Trumps convictions while still accommodating the constitutional interests that Trump insists dictate complete erasure of the case.

Braggs measured and temperate 81-page argument acknowledges the weighty factors favoring closing up shop. These include the impalpable effects on the presidency of the stigma of criminal proceedings as well as the practical challenges of attending to a criminal prosecution while in office. (Those practical challenges, as Bragg pointed out, are much reduced here since the trial is completed and the actual sentencing will take up little time.)

Counterbalancing these considerations, however, Bragg emphasized the substantial public costs to legitimate governmental objectives of vacating the convictions. Most importantly, Bragg argued that granting Trumps motion would undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system.

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Merchan already has shown some sensitivity to the historical dilemma posed by Trumps reelection, including by permitting this wide-ranging motion to be filed before he decided on sentencing. Braggs argument, and its array of three alternatives for the court, gave Merchan room to maneuver without unraveling the entire prosecution and jury verdict.

First, Bragg suggested that Merchan could go ahead and impose sentence before January 20. Appeals of that sentence, or any further proceedings in the case, would then be held in abeyance until the end of Trumps tenure, at which point they would simply pick up where they left off. Bragg analogized this alternative to cases in New York that drag on for many years after sentencing because, for example, a defendant has escaped.

This course of action would come closest to the outcome that Trump antagonists have thirsted for: an actual announcement of sentence that would remain in some sense on the books and in the historical record, even though it might not be executed for years, if ever.

Second, if Merchan does not impose sentence before January 20, Bragg suggested that the entire case, sentencing included, could go on ice until after the end of Trumps presidency. Merchan pointed out that while courts are required to pronounce sentence without unreasonable delay, legally excusable delay counts as reasonable; and its hard to imagine a more excusable delay than the ascent of the defendant to the presidency.

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Moreover, its Trump who is insisting on suspending the position of sentence while he serves, and delay caused by the defendants own motions are per se reasonable. And of course, to the extent delay is required by constitutional protections of the official functions of the presidency, it necessarily would be permissible.

Braggs third, most innovative option invokes the abatement doctrine, typically applied when a defendant dies after a jury verdict. In most states (though not New York), the conviction remains on record even if the defendant dies before the appeals process is complete. A common practice is to note in the record that the defendant was convicted and that the presumption of innocence was therefore removed.

Bragg suggests that Merchan could adopt an analogous approach, recording that Trump was convicted but not sentenced, with the conviction neither affirmed nor reversed on appeal due to presidential immunity. Merchan thus could bring the case to closure and ensure it not distract Trump during his time in office. At the same time, however, he would formalize Trumps convictions for the legal record.

These options, especially the third, are likely to infuriate Trump. When Trump filed his motion last week, it largely went unnoticed that he was seeking, unsurprisingly, a comprehensive victory: not just a reversal of his convictions but a complete erasure of the case from the historical record. He argued that just continuing the case through sentencing would have an unconstitutional impact on the office of the presidency.

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Trumps argument relies heavily on the controversial 2000 memorandum from the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel, or OLC, issued in 2000 (and reaffirming the offices similar analysis of 1973), which concludes that the Constitution bars the indictment and criminal prosecution of a sitting president. The conclusion, binding on the executive branch, does not turn on the distinction between official and unofficial conduct. Its a straightforward categorical bar against indicting or prosecuting a current president.

Trump seeks to expand the OLC principle in two ways. First, he argues it applies to a president-elect, citing stray statements in cases as well as the 1963 Presidential Transition Act, which speak blandly about the importance of an orderly transition process. Its a cheeky argument coming from the man who spent months resisting an orderly transition after the 2020 election and who continues to this day to sow unwarranted doubt about that contest.

In any event, the line in the OLC opinion, not to mention the Supreme Courts immunity opinion and common sense, is clean: Only one person is exercising the executive power of the United States at a time, and that person right now is Joe Biden. The special considerations that Trump is trying to invoke cant be stretched to fit a president in waiting. He remains for now a private citizen.

Second, Trump argues that institutional considerations require the case to be permanently dismissed. But again the OLC memo is clear in its analysis of what it specifies is temporary immunity during the pendency of the presidency. Indeed, part of its analysis is to explain why the immunity from prosecution principle it endorses doesnt foreclose eventual criminal accountability of the president.

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All of these legal arguments and appeals to analogy have to be taken as fluid in light of what Bragg, Merchan, and the entire legal system recognize as the unprecedented circumstances of the election of a convict to the presidency. Braggs motion gives Merchan ample room to impose sentence now, which would leave Trump and MAGA nation apoplectic. But he can also hold off, and if he does so until January 20, the much more muscular principles that protect a sitting president will kick in.

The stakes of Merchans imminent decision are great. The import is not practicalthe odds that Trump would ever serve any real sentence plummeted to near zero on the night of November 5. But the president-elect wants to leverage that victory to make his 34 convictions evaporate and leave historys account of his conduct blank. Merchan is the principal obstacle left standing between Trump and that audacious goal.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is opposing President-elect Donald Trumps motion to dismiss his hush-money case, suggesting that it instead be put on hold while Trump is in office because president-elect immunity does not exist," MSNBC reported Tuesday.

[E]ven after the inauguration, defendants temporary immunity as the sitting President will still not justify the extreme remedy of discarding the jurys unanimous guilty verdict and wiping out the already-completed phases of this criminal proceeding, Bragg wrote to New York Judge Juan Merchan on Monday.

At most, defendant should receive temporary accommodations during his presidency to prevent this criminal case from meaningfully interfering with his official decision-making, the 82-page filing reads.

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Just six weeks before he is set to take office, Trump is demanding Merchan immediately dismiss his hush-money trial case, citing a laundry list of complaints against the legal system as well as the presidential immunity he was granted by the Supreme Court in July. Trump's legal team also cited President Joe Bidens pardon of his son Hunter Biden.

In May, Trump was found guilty by a Manhattan jury for covering up a hush payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. He originally was set to be sentenced in July, but Merchan delayed his sentencing until after the 2024 election.

The president-elect was convicted of 34 felonies and faces up to four years in prison, should he ever be sentenced. This is his third attempt to void the conviction.

The overwhelming evidence of defendants guilt and the critical importance of preserving public confidence in the criminal justice system, among many other factors, weigh heavily against dismissal, Bragg wrote.

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The New York attorney generals office also opposed Trumps dismissal attempt in a letter on Monday, writing that the case will not impact his official duties as president.

The ordinary burdens of civil litigation do not impede the Presidents official duties in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution, the letter reads.

The dispute could continue into Trumps presidency and his sentencing could be delayed until after his term, which Bragg said was a reasonable option.








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Jim Weinman was solo ice climbing in the Andes Mountains in Chile when he vanished. | Credit: Getty Images

The brother of an American who disappeared while solo ice climbing in Chile almost a quarter of a century ago has revealed his body has finally been returned home.

The remains of Jim Weinman, nicknamed as El James, were found when a glacier melted in 2021. However, it was two years before the body could be repatriated  and then there were further delays in the news being issued due to another family bereavement.

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Jims younger brother Robert Weinman, 55, of Queensbury, New York State, told Advnture it was a miracle to have his body come home at last.

He said: We feel very thankful that Jims remains have been recovered.

So many families have lost loved ones in adventures, accidents, crimes and both natural and political events and have no final evidence of what became of their loved ones.

Although it took 20 years, it is a miracle that any trace of evidence emerged.

It was in June 2000 that the Weimans were first alerted to the possible death of 32-year-old Jim, who grew up in Clifton Park, New York.

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A skilled mountaineer, the last information that the family knew was that he had planned a solo ice climb in the Andes Mountains.

However he didnt turn up on his expected return flight a few days later  and despite searches in the area around Cerro San Francisco (Nevado San Francisco), near Santiago, in the following months no trace was found of him although his tent and some other personal items were recovered.

It was presumed he had fallen to his death and the family  including his mum Linda and dad Bob, were left to grieve for a further two decades.

The unexpected discovery of the climber happened when scientists studying global warming found his body in a melting glacier.

a photo of Jim Weinman that appeared on a missing poster after he disappeared

a map of where Jim Weinman's body was found in the Andes

Robert, who described Jim as both a brother and best friend, said: It was in 2021 that Gino Cassasa, a Chilean climber and glaciologist, found Jim. The remains had travelled approximately 900 metres from where the presumed incident occurred.

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But it was another two years before the remains could be returned. There are multiple reasons for the delay and one being that Chile is very careful with unidentified human remains because of mass executions under Pinochet in the 1970s.

Then, just after the news that Jim would be returned to us, my dad died. After that, we shared the news with the journalist who had first covered the story of my brothers disappearance and the story was published in a newspaper.

He reflected: Losing someone to the wilderness brings up many thoughts. We should be more prepared for adventures and adversities in the wilderness. We should also be more prepared that adventures are worth the risk.

"Do what we love. Love what we do and accept the potential consequences of all of it. My brother and I had a prayer we would say often when leaving the tent for the next adventure: God we have hopes for the best, plans for the worst, but whatever happens out there may it be quick, painless, and preferably fun regardless of outcome.
The jihadi rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad say they want to build a unified, inclusive country. But after nearly 14 years of civil war, putting that ideal into practice will not be easy.

For Syrias Kurdish minority, Americas closest ally in the country, the struggle for a new order is entering a potentially even more challenging phase.

Over the course of Syrias civil war, Kurdish fighters have fended off an array of armed factions, partnered with the U.S. to rout the Islamic State group and carved out a largely autonomous region in the countrys oil-rich east.

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But the gains of the non-Arab Kurds are now at risk. The ascendance of the Sunni Arab rebels who overthrew Assad  with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the Kurds  will make it hard for the Kurds to find a place in the new Syria and could prolong the conflict.

The jihadi rebels who rode into Damascus over the weekend have made peaceful overtures to the Kurds. But the rebels violently drove Kurdish fighters out of the eastern city of Deir al-Zour days after government forces abandoned it.

To the north, a separate opposition faction backed by Turkey that has been battling the Kurds for years seized the town of Manbij. And Turkey carried out airstrikes on a Kurdish convoy it said was carrying heavy weapons looted from government arsenals.

The Kurds have long counted on U.S. aid in the face of such challenges. Around 900 American troops are in eastern Syria, where they partner with Kurdish forces to prevent an Islamic State resurgence. But the future of that mission will be thrown into doubt under president-elect Donald Trump, who has long been skeptical about U.S. involvement in Syria.

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Here's a closer look at the predicament the Kurds find themselves in.

Who are the U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters in Syria?

The Kurds are among the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world, with some 30 million concentrated in a territory straddling Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. They are a minority in each country and have often suffered persecution, which has fueled armed Kurdish uprisings.

In Syria, they carved out an autonomous enclave early in the civil war, never fully siding with the Assad government or the rebels seeking to topple him.

When the Islamic State group seized a third of the country in 2014, Kurdish fighters  who are secular and include women in their ranks  proved their mettle in early battles against the extremists, earning support from the U.S.-led coalition.

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They formed a group known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, which also includes Arab fighters, and drove the Islamic State group out of large areas of Syria with help from U.S.-led airstrikes and American special forces. In 2017, these Kurdish-led forces captured Raqqa, the capital of the extremists' self-styled caliphate.

Why is Turkey fighting the Kurds?

Turkey has long viewed the SDF as an extension of the decades-old Kurdish insurgency within its own borders. It considers the main Kurdish faction a terrorist group on par with the Islamic State and has said it should have no presence in the new Syria.

In recent years, Turkey has trained and funded fighters known as the Syrian National Army, helping them wrest control of territory from the Kurds in northern Syria along the border with Turkey. These Turkish-backed fighters have portrayed themselves as part of the opposition against Assad, but analysts say they are largely driven by opportunism and hatred of the Kurds.

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The Kurds have focused on battling the SNA in recent years. But the new leadership in Damascus, which also has longstanding ties to Turkey, could open another, much longer front.

How do the Syrian rebels view the Kurds?

The main rebel faction is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a former al-Qaida militant who cut ties with the group eight years ago and says he wants to build a new Syria free of dictatorship that will serve all its religious and ethnic communities.

Nawaf Khalil, head of the Germany-based Center for Kurdish Studies, said the early signs were positive. He said the rebels steered clear of two SDF-controlled enclaves of Aleppo when they stormed the city two weeks ago at the start of their rapid advance across the country.

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It is also positive that they did not speak negatively about the Syrian Democratic Forces," he said.

It remains to be seen if those sentiments will endure. After sweeping into Deir al-Zour this week, a fighter from al-Sharaa's group posted a video saying they would soon advance toward Raqqa and other areas of eastern Syria, raising the possibility of further clashes with the Kurds.

The rebels could still seek some kind of agreement with the Kurds to incorporate them into the post-Assad political order, but that would likely require accepting a degree of Kurdish autonomy in the east. It would also risk angering Turkey, which now appears to be the chief power broker in Syria.

Will the Trump administration support the Kurds?

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The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East, Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, met with SDF forces in Syria on Tuesday, in a sign of the Biden administration's commitment to the alliance post-Assad.

But things could change on Jan. 20.

Trump has provided few details about his Middle East policy, aside from saying he wants to end the region's wars and keep the United States out of them.

In a social media post shortly before Assad was overthrown, Trump wrote that Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.

During his previous term, in 2019, Trump abandoned the Kurds ahead of a Turkish incursion, casting it as the fulfillment of a campaign promise to end U.S. involvement in the region's endless wars.

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The move prompted heavy criticism, including from prominent Republicans who accused him of betraying an ally. Trump backtracked weeks later, approving a wider mission to secure oil fields in the east. The troops remained where they were and the alliance endured.

___

Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

___

Follow the AP's Syria coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/syria
An editorial in the June 1, 1852, edition of the New York Daily Times, citing the recent admission of California to the union and the discovery of gold amid its glistening sands, urged Americans to set their sights on a new frontier below the Equator. One month earlier, the same paper called on U.S. commercial interests to invest in new trade routes into the Amazon rainforest, suggesting that with an open line of communication from the Amazon to the Coast, emigration must pour in, and the resources of the country be developed in all their richness. Fortunes awaited enterprising risk-takers willing to push Americas Manifest Destiny southward.

This was not a new way of thinking about the Amazon. Centuries ago, the worlds largest rainforest beckoned to Spanish and Portuguese explorers frantically hunting the precious metals that could buy them social standing. As independence swept the continent in the nineteenth century, upstart national governments tried in vain to establish authority over an area roughly the size of the contiguous United States. Brazil, the largest slave society in the Americas and an imperial monarchy from independence in 1822 to the proclamation of the republic in 1889, would eventually claim two-thirds of the Amazonian rainforest. Mechanization and improved communications defined the sustained thrust into the deep South American interior during the twentieth century, a process marked by rising deforestation. As recent news headlines make clear, that ruinous drive continues.

The prime culprits are not the original residents of the forest. Over the centuries, Chris Feliciano Arnold has written, warnings about white men had spread to the farthest territories. The distant roar of a machine was enough to uproot a village and push its families ever deeper into the riverine borderlands. The ongoing struggle between conservation, development, and Indigenous rights in the Amazon reflects the complex legacy of settlement and human interaction in this vitally diverse ecosystem.

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In his new book, journalist Alex Cuadros presents a devastating portrait of the toll that human rapacity exacts on individual lives in the region. When We Sold Gods Eye: Diamonds, Murder, and a Clash of Worlds in the Amazon chronicles the harrowing experience of the Cinta Larga, an Indigenous tribe grappling with the encroachment of illegal logging and mining as well as the hazards of assimilation, from the 1960s to the present. The book recounts the story of a small cast of native men and women who for decades traipse back and forth over the line between resistance and complicity in environmental degradation.

As a reporter, Cuadros has long covered the economic challenges and opportunities presented by Brazils massive scale. His first book, Brazillionaires: Wealth, Power, Decadence, and Hope in an American Country, released in 2016, examined Brazils tarnished, distinctly urban ultrawealthy elite. His latest tells a very different kind of economic story but one no less central to any deep understanding of modern Brazil, where the pursuit of riches goes hand in hand with uniquely destructive environmental devastation. More than 38,000 fires raged across the Amazon in August of this year, the most for that month in almost 15 years. Such ravages are the unsurprising result of a history of reckless extractive activity that dates back to the colonial era. At the heart of Cuadross lush, textured epic, layered with a range of recognizable emotions and human motivations both foul and fair, is an indictment of colonization itself.





Outsiders seeking riches in the Amazon have enacted violence against the natural world for centuries. What is lost when tropical forest is destroyed is not only greater in variety, complexity, and originality than other ecosystems, it is incalculable, historian Warren Dean observed in his seminal study With Broadax and Firebrand: The Destruction of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. After all, cataloguing a tropical forest is well beyond our resources, now or in the imaginable future. The disappearance of a tropical forest is therefore a tragedy vast beyond human knowing or conceiving. According to the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project, just over 13 percent of the Amazon has been lost to deforestation. Carlos Nobre, a prominent Brazilian earth scientist, estimates that a loss of 20 to 25 percent would push the rainforest to a tipping point from which it likely could not recover. Such brutality against a biome so rich yet so delicate carries far-reaching consequences for the entire planet.

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At the heart of Cuadross lush, textured epic, layered with emotions and motivations both foul and fair, is an indictment of colonization itself.

Another type of violence is that committed against the inhabitants of the Amazonian region who resist the interference and commercial designs of interlopers. The human settlement of the Amazon River basin dates back thousands of years, with evidence of complex societies thriving long before European contact. Indigenous peoples, including the Yanomami, Kayapo, and Munduruku, established intricate networks of villages and agricultural systems, cultivating crops like manioc and maize in the fertile floodplains. They created terra preta, a dark carbon-rich soil, and used other sophisticated techniques to sustain agriculture in nutrient-poor environments. Life was not always serene. Warfare between native peoples was common; Cuadros describes bitter rivalries between small resourceful tribes that produced grisly acts of violence in living memory. As was the case elsewhere in the Americas, the arrival of Europeans led to mass death at a previously unimaginable scale. One estimate holds that 90 to 95 percent of the Indigenous population of the Amazon had perished by the 1600s. In 2022 alone, the final year of far-right President Jair Bolsonaros administration, over 8,000 people were killed in the Amazon.

Many of those who survived early contact found themselves either pressed into servitude or confined to religious missions that served as incubators of deadly disease for men, women, and children previously unexposed to European pathogens. Many others in the deep recesses of the colonys interior continued as they had, unaware of the forces changing the world beyond the forest. Unlike Spanish America, which fractured into multiple shaky republics upon independence, the new Brazilian Empire managed to keep the vast national territory intact after breaking from Portugal. But its authority was tenuous. In many respects, the national capital in Rio de Janeiro might as well have been across the ocean.

The Industrial Revolution produced a wave of settlement and extraction in the Amazon centered around a key commodity: rubber. Seeking land and opportunity, some 300,000 people from the Brazilian Northeast migrated to the region between 1870 and 1900. They found an unforgiving terrain and bosses disinterested in their upward social mobility. As it had in centuries past, the rainforest produced vast fortunes for some while feeding the fruitless ambitions of many more. In the 1920s, for example, Henry Ford famously sank millions of dollars into a quixotic attempt to import the type of labor regime he had pioneered in Michigan into the Amazon. Fordlandia, as the undertaking was called, was reclaimed by jungle in less than 20 years.

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New rubber corporations, for all their talk of modern business methods, arrived in the Amazon without having developed any new techniques for either the extraction or the coagulation of latex, historian Barbara Weinstein has noted. Instead, they relied on enticements and threats, the traditional means of inducing locals to do hard labor. Thus, Weinstein writes, the foreign investors intended to impose capitalist relations of production on the Amazon, but had yet to discover any means of overcoming the environmental or human obstacles to such an objective. Indigenous and migrant laborers seeking economic opportunity braved harsh environments, high mortality rates, and inadequate pay to extract latex from rubber trees on remote plots of land nominally controlled by distant rubber barons. As the boom faded, many ordinary people found themselves no better off than before.

In 1910, the Brazilian government created the Indian Protection Service, or SPI, in response to increasing pressures from settlers and economic interests encroaching on Indigenous lands. The SPIs mandate was ostensibly to protect Indigenous peoples and their territories from exploitation and violence, and there were idealists in its ranks committed to such aims. Institutionally, however, SPIs approach was often heavy-handed and paternalistic. It was more focused on controlling and assimilating Indigenous communities into mainstream Brazilian society than on safeguarding their rights and cultures. State policy was geared, Cuadros writes, toward making Indigenous territory safe for development. Those committed to protectingor at least not disturbingnative peoples frequently had to contend with a lack of adequate resources and fickle political support. Indeed, Brazils Indigenous tribes have historically had few reliable allies in office, a consequence of the overlap between economic and political power.

In the 1930s, modern Brazil was forged through a top-down political revolution that promised to extend the reach of the state into all corners of the nation once and for all. The U.S.-backed military dictatorship installed in 1964 embraced the same goal, overseeing an aggressive new push to occupy and develop the Amazonvery often at the expense of Indigenous life. It is in this period that Cuadross narrative begins.





The title of the book refers to a large, strange stone that Cinta Larga tribeswomen found while collecting clay to make cookware one day. The diamond was so big the women said it resembled Ngura inhakipGods eye. It would have been worth an unimaginable sum, Cuadros asserts. But they had no use for it, so they tossed it back in the water. This story is the only mention of the titular gem in the book, but it stands for something essential. The Cinta Larga had no sense of the Western conception of wealth until well into the twentieth century. They did not commodify nature. Through their deepening interactions with non-native people, some with good intentions and many without, they realized that the strange stones that frequently turned up in their midst were precious to outsiders. This accelerated a fateful change already underway for the Cinta Larga people, some of whom would dive headlong into age-old efforts to get rich off the degradation of the rainforest.

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The diamond was so big the women said it resembled Gods eye. It would have been worth an unimaginable sum, Cuadros asserts. But they had no use for it, so they tossed it back in the water.

Was it greedy to desire the things hed been taught to desire by white men standing in for fathers? wondered Nacoca Pio Cinta Larga, one of Cuadross protagonists, who in 2023 stood accused of participating in a massacre of more than two dozen prospectors moving in on Cinta Larga territory. Although the mining operation he oversaw reportedly fed $20 million a month worth of diamonds into an illegal supply chain served by smugglers from Antwerp, Tel Aviv, and New York Citys Diamond District, Pio rejected the prosecutions allegation that greed was a central motive of the Cinta Largas violence against outsiders. Any white farmer, if a bunch of people work without permission on his land, will do the same, he proclaimed in an interview with a major Brazilian newspaper, hinting at the reprisal against the prospectors.

He also bemoaned the fact that, because the diamonds originated in an area with strict environmental regulations, they could not be legally sold to benefit the local Cinta Larga people. Diamonds are worse than cocaine, he said. They dont let us sell them, they dont let us work. We dont want anything illegal like now, selling them out of fear. Were like criminals.

As a tribal elder, Pio remembered well the period before his people came into contact with white Brazilians, roughly 60 years ago. Over several decades, the Cinta Largawho numbered only a few thousand, had no name for themselves, and considered their entire society to be one familyunderwent a transformation, driven in large part by the allure of convenience, aided by the SPI.

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When the SPI and its successor, the National Indian Foundation, or FUNAI, reached out to uncontacted tribes, they provided them with consumer goods as a show of good faith. FUNAI anthropologists, bureaucrats, and agents in the field would deliberately make themselves heard when they knew that natives were nearby. Trying to keep quiet could easily be interpreted as a threat. They would then retreat, but not before leaving a peace offering of machetes, scissors, pots, pans, and other utensils. Such items, used for agriculture as well as to make crafts and war, were life-changing. Soon, people spoke of a new kind of yearning: ndabe-kalathe desire for metal tools.

The prospect of easy digging, easy calories, easy transportation, and easy killing appealed to the Cinta Larga, as it did other recently contacted tribes, in the 1960s and 1970s. They got used to certain FUNAI employees and soon understood the difference between them and other outsiders engaged in mysterious exploits that did not involve any of the myriad local tribes. Gradually, the occasional prospector, logger, and rubber tapper were joined in their territory by a more concerted extractive enterprise. In 1984, as Brazil prepared for the return of civilian rule after two decades of military dictatorship, the Cinta Larga stumbled upon something they had never seen before. Patrolling the northwestern reaches of their territory  near a river Brazilians called the Fourteenth of April, they came upon an area where all the trees had been knocked down. In their place, a few skinny humpbacked cows grazed on foreign grasses. One thing was clear in that moment to Nacoca Pio Cinta Larga: If we dont remove them, more will come. He was right.

The Amazon rainforest today is under assault from myriad illicit enterprises, all of which Cuadros renders in vivid, unsentimental detail. Mining and logging continue to yield extremely valuable contraband, but the primary driver of deforestation is the rapacious appetite of well-connected ranchers seeking ever more pasture for ever more heads of cattle. Much to the consternation of Indigenous activists and conservationists, big agricultural interests have steadily grown in influence to become one of the central forces in Brazilian politics. (They were a pillar of Bolsonaros support, which helps explain his total disinterest as president in enforcing environmental protection laws.)

The post-dictatorial Constitution of 1988 granted Brazils Indigenous peoples a right to their own culture and land. Whereas previous generations understood well the rivalries, alliances, differences, and similarities of the Amazons many native tribes, increasingly Indigenous people thought of themselves as indios in juxtaposition to the brancos of mainstream society. On one hand, this produced solidarity and unity of purpose in organizing to advance the interests of Indigenous peoplesOur war is now with the white people, as some of the more politicized activists put it. At the same time, group identities were diluted, contributing to the fraying of communal bonds and the destabilization of tradition for a people who once saw the entirety of their specific self-contained community as kin. Ironically, by being lumped together, many Indians embraced all the more tightly the striving, noxious individualism of frontier capitalism.

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Democratic Brazil embraced robust environmental safeguards in principle, but they remained difficult to enforce even in the best of circumstances. Cuadross narrative excels at conveying to the reader how vast and forbidding the Amazon rainforest is. Furthermore, such protections presumed that Indigenous peoples wanted the rainforest to remain exactly as it was. Its true that areas under nominal Indigenous control have lower rates of deforestation. But assimilation into the hegemonic culture meant that many natives themselves had material incentives to want in on the action of the Amazon. The Indian has to buy everything Pio complained in 2004. He has to go to the supermarket, but when it comes to selling diamonds, it is forbidden. The Indian is persecuted. The police catch him if he has diamonds. If he has a lot of money, they want to know where he got it. If they were powerless to stop white people from ignoring the law and pillaging the forest, shouldnt they at least ensure that they benefited as welllegally or not?

Over the course of his narrative, it becomes clear that Cuadros has been building toward an explanation of how and why many Cinta Larga rationalized their participation in the depredation of their ancestral homeland. The Brazilian state turned Indians into poor people, in the words of anthropologist Eduardo Viveiros de Castro. The vast majority found themselves in dire economic conditions, without the means to sustain themselves and their families in a market they were not equipped to succeed in. How should they sustain themselves if not by selling off the perishable treasures of the forest? Beyond mere survival, some of Cuadross protagonists do quite well for themselves for a time by engaging in illegal extractive activities, such as diamond mining. Pio himself was rumored to own three mansions and a fleet of imported trucks with white chauffeurs. Several Cinta Larga men became high-spending regulars at the brothels and bars of cities their parents could scarcely have imagined.

At the same time, while some of the Cinta Larga reaped extraordinary profits off the land, there emerged in the community inequality unlike any theyd known before, Cuadros writes. This was a rickety prosperity. It fed a corrosive cynicism among many Cinta Larga, who, in watching the nightly news, [had] picked up on Western notions of democracy, as well as the concept of corruption, that perennial Brazilian problem. It was also unsustainable in the face of a national culture hostile to the economic emancipation of Indigenous people.

Eventually, it dawns on many of the Cinta Larga that they are not meant to succeed in the society theyve been coaxed into. Their children are poorly fed and poorly educated. They are not expected to be capitalists themselves but to stay out of the way so that othersbetter connected and indelibly part of mainstream societycould benefit. White ranchers on the so-called frontier present themselves as victims of an out-of-touch central government and Indigenous intimidation. We are the anonymous heroes of this, the last human epic of conquest of the last great empty space on planet Earth, ranchers proclaimed in an angry statement following a Cinta Larga raid in December 1985. That effort has proceeded mostly unabated in the decades since, with the frontier now reaching much further into the hinterland of Latin Americas largest nation. Brazil once boasted a diversified industrial base. As The Economist noted two years ago, In the 1980s manufacturing peaked at 34% of Brazils GDP. In 2020 it was just 11%. Today, Brazil depends heavily on exporting beef, soy, and other cash crops, with very little accountability for the excesses of big ag. In economic terms, tribes like the Cinta Larga never stood a chance.

As historian Barbara Weinstein wrote over 40 years ago, If the current approach to Amazonian developmentwith its careless and often devastating attitude toward ecological constraints, its willingness to displace traditional inhabitants, and its disregard for the rights of indigenous groupsteaches us anything, it is that economic growth within the context of contemporary capitalism holds little promise for the Amazon. In a broad sense, this is the takeaway from the saga of the Cinta Larga. By grounding his book in the stories of Indigenous men and women born and raised in the Amazon, accustomed to violence, exploitation, and the disorienting nature of rapid technological change, Cuadros contributes greatly to ongoing debates about the preservation of the Amazon and the place of native people in democracies besieged by rapacious reactionary forces. The rampant deforestation of the Amazon has the potential to be the most devastating policy failure in human history. The experience of the Cinta Larga enriches our understanding of why its so hard to arrest the damage.
Amsterdam is fed up with its tourist deluge.

The Dutch city attracts all types of visitorswhether theyre coming to party or visit tulip fields but in recent years has become a victim of overtourism and has tried to cap its number of tourists.

Last year's Stay Away campaign was part of its efforts to discourage travelers from tainting Amsterdam with their nuisance, as Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki put it.

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Now Amsterdam is planning to crack down on cruise ships, too.

The Dutch city plans to limit cruise ships in its harbor to just 100 in 2026, down from 190 currently, before banning them outright by 2035, Amsterdams council announced in June. It added that it was part of a raft of measures to put a lid on tourism and to counteract nuisance.

Sea cruises are polluting and cause crowds and emissions in the city, the council said in its release. We want Amsterdam to be clean, livable, and sustainable.

Amsterdams City Council didnt immediately return Fortunes request for comment.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 25: Tourists visiting the city take boat trips on the canals in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 25, 2024. (Photo by Ozgen Besli/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Cracking down on overtourism

The move to ban inbound cruises has been in the works for a while. Amsterdam wanted to redirect cruise liners to terminals outside the main city area as they brought tourists who crowded the streets. In 2022, the citys mayor blamed cruise tourists for swarming the city but doing little for it.

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The record-high tourist numbers, up from 12.6 million in 2019 to 15.1 million in 2023, have spurred the crackdown. This spike in visitors has overwhelmed the citys infrastructure, such as its public transport networks and quaint streets.

Amsterdam is home to some of the most picturesque water canals and museums. But over the years, its gained the reputation of a party cityone its trying to distance itself from. The Dutch city has tightened rules on smoking weed, especially in its red-light district, and banned new hotels from being built earlier this year.

Cruises arent the main avenue to enter Amsterdam, but theyre certainly among the most polluting. One cruise, carrying thousands of passengers at once, can result in the same levels of emissions per day as 30,000 trucks, a 2021 study found.

For similar reasons, European cities such as Dubrovnik and Santorini have also capped cruise ship numbers. Venice has enacted a tourist tax of 5 ($5.40) to help fight overtourism.

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In addition to cutting cruise emissions, Amsterdam will restrict boats to only shore power, an alternative to the existing diesel fuel that reduces pollution, by 2027. Its also looking to cut the number of river cruises in its waters.

All the efforts to restrict tourism could prove counterproductive for Amsterdam as it stands to lose between 46 million ($50 million) and 103 million ($111 million) in revenue, Bloomberg reported. The City Council recognizes this but thinks it cannot afford to sit back and wait for things to get worse.

If we dont do this now, we will become less attractive as a city for people and companies. And that will cost more money in the long run, a council spokesperson told the outlet.

A version of this story originally published on Fortune.com on July 4, 2024.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
By Jonathan Saul

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel's arrest of almost 30 mostly Jewish citizens who allegedly spied for Iran in nine covert cells has caused alarm in the country and points to Tehran's biggest effort in decades to infiltrate its arch foe, four Israeli security sources said.

Among the unfulfilled goals of the alleged cells was the assassination of an Israeli nuclear scientist and former military officials, while one group gathered information on military bases and air defences, security service Shin Bet has said. Last week, the agency and Israel's police said a father and son team had passed on details of Israeli force movements including in the Golan Heights where they lived.

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The arrests follow repeated efforts by Iranian intelligence operatives over the past two years to recruit ordinary Israelis to gather intelligence and carry out attacks in exchange for money, the four serving and former military and security officials said.

The sources asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

"There is a large phenomenon here," said Shalom Ben Hanan, a former top Shin Bet official, referring to what he called the surprising number of Jewish citizens who knowingly agreed to work for Iran against the state with intelligence gathering or planning sabotage and attacks.

Shin Bet and the police did not respond to requests for comment. Iran's foreign ministry did not respond to questions.

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In a statement sent to media after the wave of arrests, Irans U.N. mission did not confirm or deny seeking to recruit Israelis and said that "from a logical standpoint" any such efforts by Iranian intelligence services would focus on non-Iranian and non-Muslim individuals to lessen suspicion.

At least two suspects were from Israel's ultra-Orthodox community, police and the Shin Bet have said.

Unlike Iranian espionage operations in previous decades that recruited a high-profile businessman and a former cabinet minister, the new alleged spies were largely people on the fringes of Israeli society, including recent immigrants, an army deserter and a convicted sex offender, conversations with the sources, court records and official statements show.

Much of their activity was limited to spraying anti-Netanyahu or anti-government graffiti on walls and damaging cars, Shin Bet has said.

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Nonetheless, the scale of the arrests and involvement of so many Jewish Israelis, in addition to Arab citizens, has caused concern in Israel at a time it remains at war with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and that a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah remains fragile.

Shin Bet on Oct. 21 said the espionage activities were "among the most severe the state of Israel has known."

The arrests also follow a wave of attempted hits and kidnappings linked to Tehran in Europe and the United States.

The unusual decision to provide detailed public accounts of the alleged plots was a move by Israel's security services to signal both to Iran and potential saboteurs inside Israel that they would be caught, Ben Hanan said.

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"You want to alert the public. And you also want to make an example of people that may also have intentions or plans to co-operate with the enemy," he said.

Israel has achieved major intelligence successes over the past few years in a shadow war with its regional foe, including allegedly killing a top nuclear scientist. With the recent arrests Israel has "so far" thwarted Tehran's efforts to respond, one active military official said.

Iran has been weakened by Israel's attacks on its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the related fall of Tehran's ally, former president Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

SOCIAL MEDIA RECRUITS

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Iranian intelligence agencies often find potential recruits on social media platforms, Israeli police said in a video released in November warning of ongoing infiltration attempts.

The recruiting efforts are at times direct. One message sent to an Israeli civilian and seen by Reuters promised $15,000 in exchange for information, with an email and number to call.

Iran has also approached expatriate networks of Jews from Caucasus countries living in Canada and the United States, said one of the sources, a former senior official who worked on Israel's counter espionage efforts until 2007.

Israeli authorities have said publicly some of the Jewish suspects were originally from Caucasus countries.

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Recruited individuals are first assigned innocuous-seeming tasks in return for money, before handlers gradually demand specific intelligence on targets, including about individuals and sensitive military infrastructure, backed by the threat of blackmail, said the former official.

One Israeli suspect, Vladislav Victorsson, 30, was arrested on Oct. 14 along with his 18-year-old girlfriend in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv. He had been jailed in 2015 for sex with minors as young as 14, according to a court indictment from that time.

An acquaintance of Victorsson told Reuters he had told her he had spoken to Iranians using the Telegram messaging app. She said that Victorsson had lied to his handlers about his military experience. The acquaintance declined to be named, citing safety fears.

Igal Dotan, Victorsson's lawyer, told Reuters he was representing the suspect, adding that the legal process would take time and that his client was being held in tough conditions. Dotan said he could only respond to the current case and had not defended Victorsson in earlier trials.

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Shin Bet and police said Victorsson knew he was working for Iranian intelligence, carrying out tasks including spraying graffiti, hiding money, posting flyers and burning cars in the Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv for which he received over $5,000.

According to the investigation made public by the security services, he was found to have subsequently agreed to carry out an assassination of an Israeli personality, throw a grenade into a house and also look to obtain a sniper rifle, pistols and fragmentation grenades.

He recruited his girlfriend, who was tasked with recruiting homeless people to photograph demonstrations, the security services said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul, additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai)
University of Idaho students travel across the campus during a change in classes. (Courtesy of University of Idaho)

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on December 11, 2024

Soon after the State Board of Education began talking about restricting diversity, equity and inclusion programs on campuses, Nick Koenig and other University of Idaho students began fanning out.

They started collecting student testimonials about the U of Is Office of Equity and Diversity  and its programs for women, Black and Latino students and LGBTQ students.

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I had sexual trauma resurface causing me to have a panic attack, wrote one student. Going to the womens center, the staff supported me and lent me a shoulder to cry on.

These offices were the one place I could be my authentic self. No need to fix the way I spoke or to hide my accent, wrote a second student. If it were not for the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Black/African American Cultural Center, I dont know if I would have graduated, let alone be pursuing a masters degree.

Nick Koenig

The testimonials aligned with Koenigs own experience. A doctoral student who teaches climate science and sociology, Koenig moved from Kentucky to Moscow in 2022, after a Zoom call with the former head of the U of Is LGBTQA office. It was absolutely the reason I came, Koenig said last week. My story is just one of the numerous stories of these kinds of support services and how they operate day to day.

Koenig has forwarded the 66 student testimonials to the State Board  and to a legislative task force scrutinizing DEI programs. But the State Board is likely to vote next Wednesday on a resolution to limit DEI on campus.

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And while the U of I says it is waiting to see what the State Board does, Boise State University and Idaho State University have already reined in their own DEI initiatives. By design, or by coincidence, the two universities are backing away from a showdown with the State Board and the Legislature.

 regardless of personal identity characteristics

The heart of the DEI resolution reads as follows: Institutions shall ensure that no central office, policy, procedure, or initiative is dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion. The State Board would carve out a series of exceptions  covering federal research grants, accreditation or NCAA rules, among other items.

Exceptions aside, the State Board resolution would shut down campus centers that have a DEI component. Institutions shall ensure that all student success centers are dedicated to all students  regardless of personal identity characteristics.

State Board of Education Executive Director Joshua Whitworth explains the boards proposed DEI resolution to lawmakers at a Dec. 2 hearing. (Idaho Education News)

The proposal has Gov. Brad Littles blessing. Little has long supported the idea that all Idahoans be given the same opportunities to succeed, spokeswoman Joan Varsek said this week. And while the State Board is taking online comments from students through Friday, that doesnt change the fact that its resolution has political momentum behind it.

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If the State Board votes next week, at its last scheduled meeting of the year, the boards resolution could get out ahead of the Legislature. The Legislatures DEI task force hasnt offered any specific proposals yet, and it wont meet again until the week of Jan. 6, the opening week of the 2025 session.

Meanwhile, Boise State and Idaho State have moved first.

This is new territory for us

Months before the Legislatures task force began its work  and months before the State Board unveiled its DEI resolution  Boise State administrators began talking about closing its Gender Equity Center and its Student Equity Center.

Its unclear exactly when Boise State decided to close the centers. But in a Sept. 24 memo to legislative staff, the universitys government affairs team said the closure was a done deal. (The Legislatures DEI task force held its first meeting on Oct. 23.)

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Weve been aware of the conversations happening at the state board level and the legislative level, Jeremiah Shinn, Boise States vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, said in an interview Tuesday. We wanted to be as proactive as we can.

The two equity centers  with nine staffers and a combined budget of about $700,000  closed on Nov. 29. The money will stay in student support programs, but some of the employees are leaving Boise State. It wont be the same staff to a person, Shinn said.

The centerpiece in Boise States shift is pretty much what the State Board has in mind: a one-stop shop, the newly opened Student Connections and Success Center.

In their Sept. 24 memo to legislative staff, Boise State said it would gear the new center toward a variety of demographic groups that struggle to stay in school: first-generation students, rural students, low-income students eligible for federal Pell grants, Hispanic students, and male students.

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Its going to look different, but Shinn says he believes Boise State will be able to serve the different needs of all student groups under one roof.

This is new territory for us and certainly well learn a lot in the coming weeks and semesters, he said.

Idaho State University President Robert Wagner. (Idaho Education News)

On Nov. 14  one week before the State Boards first hearing on the DEI resolution  Idaho State President Robert Wagner announced said his university would close its Diversity Resource Center and its Gender Resource Center. Both had operated on campus for 20 years or longer, and had a combined budget of close to $150,000.

The centers programs will move into Idaho States own one-stop shop, dubbed the Bengal Student Success Center.

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Wagner is promising what he calls a hub for academic growth. But compliance is at least part of the equation.

This shift allows us to consolidate efforts and provide more streamlined, impactful support for all students while adhering to state guidelines, Wagner said in a memo to students and staff.

We want to align

For the time being, the U of Is Office of Equity and Diversity is still intact. That also goes for the programs under its bailiwick: the College Assistance Migrant Program, the

Black/African American Cultural Center, the LGBTQA Office, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Womens Center.

The office has close to 11 full-time staffers and an annual budget exceeding $1.3 million. The Legislature has banned all colleges and universities from using taxpayer funding for DEI programs, so almost all of this $1.3 million comes from student fees.

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That status quo is certain to change if the State Board resolution passes. The U of I has a rough idea of how it would put all of its student support programs under one umbrella, spokeswoman Jodi Walker said Tuesday. But the U of I wants to wait to see what comes from the State Board, to avoid the upheaval that could come from closing and reopening student centers.

We want to align, she said. We dont have to do this twice.

But at the same time, the U of I has been trying to assure the university community that the student programs will not go away.

Maybe we are going to serve them and support them in ways that look different than what weve done in the past, maybe its from a different office, maybe its from different units, but still trying to meet the needs of students and employees as well, Provost Torrey Lawrence said at a recent Faculty Senate meeting, according to the Lewiston Tribune.

Why even exist as an institution?

Koenig expects the U of I to give in eventually, in order to appease a Legislature that has cut past higher education budgets over DEI.

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It sucks that its always the most marginalized that are thrown out first  to save the bottom line, Koenig said.

And that might affect Koenigs future. Koenig, who uses the pronouns they and them, studies tree rings to gauge climate change. Koenig loves Idaho and its limitless forests. But depending on what happens next legislative session, Koenig said they might leave the state.

At this point, the defense of DEI isnt coming from university leaders  who say they are committed to supporting students of all backgrounds, but who also have to work with the State Board and the Legislature. Instead, that support is bubbling up from the grass roots level.

In the days leading up to their most recent meeting on Dec. 2, members of the legislative task force received a flurry of more than three dozen emails from Idahoans, urging the lawmakers to leave DEI programs alone. The emails  obtained by Idaho Education News, through a public records request  came from current and former U of I students, retired educators and a woman who called herself a concerned grandmother of a U of I student. There are certain programs that benefit my granddaughter, such as the Womens Center, she wrote. These are safe places of support and community.

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The 66 U of I testimonials  collected by Koenig and fellow students  represent a sliver of an enrollment of nearly 12,300. But one pattern emerged from this small sample. If the U of Is DEI programs go away, three-fourths of the respondents said they would reconsider attending the U of I or supporting their university.

I definitely wouldnt want to support a university that doesnt care for its students and isnt willing to fight for them, said one student. If the university isnt willing to protect academia then what is it willing to do at all? Why even exist as an institution?

Kevin Richert writes a weekly analysis on education policy and education politics. Look for his stories each Thursday. Due to the timeliness of the topic, this weeks analysis was published on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  We are tracking another round of winter weather to move into Mid-Michigan, with the chance for snow and cooler temperatures in the forecast.

The National Weather Service has issued Winter Weather Advisories for Ingham, Eaton, Barry, Jackson, Calhoun, Clinton, and Ionia Counties. These advisories will begin at 7 am Wednesday and expire Thursday morning.

Dry and cloud conditions will continue across the area for the rest of the evening. A few flurries will move in overnight as temperatures fall into the low 30s. Snow showers will continue throughout the day on Wednesday, with highs near freezing and winds gusting between 20-30 miles per hour. Snow showers and gusty conditions will continue into the day on Thursday, with dry and mostly cloudy conditions moving in for Thursday afternoon and evening.

The most significant snowfall accumulations will be to our west near the lakeshore, with around 2-4 inches of snow across Mid-Michigan by Thursday afternoon. These snowy conditions will impact travel Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon, with slick and slippery roads across the area. In addition, the gusty winds could also reduce visibility at points in time.

In addition to the chance for snow, we will have some cooler temperatures to move into the area Wednesday night. Thursday morning temperatures will be in the low teens, with winds gusting between 20-35 miles per hour, dropping wind chills below zero. Breezy conditions will stick with us throughout the day. So, even though we have highs in the upper teens in the forecast, it will likely feel like we are in the single digits for most of the day.

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The round of winter weather we are tracking looks to be brief. Warmer, above-average temperatures will return for the weekend, with the chance for rain across the area.

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.
NEW YORK  Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner appears to be trying to mount a political comeback and has officially registered to run for an East Village City Council seat.

The once-promising politician, now infamous after being brought down by two very public sexting scandals and serving time in prison for sexting a minor, filed the paperwork formalizing his status as a candidate last week after publicly toying with the idea of running for the City Council seat.

Weiner said Tuesday his account with the citys campaign finance board should be considered exploratory and that he hasnt yet decided on whether to actually run. Weiner said he filed the paperwork because a local Democratic club required it to be considered at a candidates forum Thursday.

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So here I am, he said.

Im doing this one step at a time, Weiner said in a phone interview that was interrupted multiple times as he tried to usher his dog, a pit terrier lab mix named Billy, into his apartment after returning from a walk.

The race to replace Council member Carlina Rivera, who cannot run in 2025 due to term limits, is shaping up to be among the most competitive Council races. Also in the running for the seat are current Assemblyman Harvey Epstein and Andrea Gordillo, Manhattan Community Board 3 chair.

The former U.S. representative said he has some volunteers already working for him, but no paid staff or fundraising mechanisms at the moment. He also said that hell be putting out a book called 25 ideas for 25 that will be coming out soon.

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Thatll be the next thing Ill do and Ill be going to places and talking to people and well see what happens, Weiner said.

Weiner hasnt held public office since 2011, when he was ousted from his congressional seat because of a sexting scandal involving multiple women, including a minor.

Two years later, subsequent sexts revealed his online pseudonym Carlos Danger and destroyed his 2013 bid for mayor. He was later caught sending inappropriate photos to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina and eventually sentenced to around a year and a half behind bars for the incident.

Weiner was previously married to Huma Abedin, a top aide to Hillary Clinton during her 2016 run against Donald Trump. Investigators reviewing Weiners online activity accidentally uncovered emails that led then-FBI Director James Comey to reopen an investigation of Clintons emails  an infamous political scandal in its own right.

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Weiner declined to comment on how hed wrestle with his checkered past during a potential campaign.

Running for office is a privilege, and those who seek to represent this district must have a clear understanding of the challenges our families face, Council member Rivera said in a statement. The democratic process is a cornerstone of our society, and every voice matters in moving us forward. I encourage my neighbors to engage fully in the primary process and make an informed choice that will help shape a brighter future.

_____
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides (R) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus, Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua)

NICOSIA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and the United Kingdom (UK) pledged on Tuesday to strengthen bilateral relations and collaborate to promote stability in the Middle East during a visit by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Mediterranean island.

This visit marked the first by a British prime minister to Cyprus in 53 years and included talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The leaders' last meeting was two months ago in London, where they agreed to launch a strategic dialogue to deepen cooperation.

Described as "historic" by both leaders, the visit underscored the importance of enhancing their nations' longstanding partnership. Discussions covered a broad range of topics, including the Middle East crisis, bilateral relations, and expanded cooperation in defense, security, trade, investments, education, and technology.

Speaking to the press, Christodoulides highlighted the visit's significance, noting that it took place amid "great developments in our region." He emphasized the importance of collaboration to create "conditions of stability and security."

Starmer echoed these sentiments, describing the UK-Cyprus relationship as deep-rooted and expressing optimism about elevating it to "an even stronger level."

Also on Tuesday, Starmer visited a British air base on Cyprus's southern coast. The base, along with a land installation, remains sovereign British territory under an agreement established when Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960. The base serves as a launch site for military operations in Libya and Yemen.

Starmer's visit to Cyprus followed his tour to Gulf Arab states, reflecting the UK's pursuit of regional cooperation amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges. 

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides (L, front) welcomes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus, Dec. 10, 2024.

Cyprus and the United Kingdom (UK) pledged on Tuesday to strengthen bilateral relations and collaborate to promote stability in the Middle East during a visit by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Mediterranean island.

This visit marked the first by a British prime minister to Cyprus in 53 years and included talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua)
Idaho high-risk obstetric specialists have airlifted patients to a facility out of state that can freely perform emergency abortions before a situation becomes a life-threatening situation. (Courtesy of Life Flight)

An 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday in a case that will determine whether doctors can perform emergency abortion care without criminal prosecution in Idaho, a state with a near-total abortion ban.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Idaho in 2022 to block it from enforcing its criminal abortion ban for emergency room physicians who might need to perform an abortion when a patient is at risk of infection or other potentially serious health problems during pregnancy.

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The Justice Department said prosecuting physicians under those circumstances would violate the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, which requires Medicare-funded hospitals to treat patients who come to an emergency room regardless of their ability to pay.

Idahos ban contains an exception to save the pregnant patients life, but not to prevent detrimental health outcomes, including the loss of future fertility, which is a risk with severe infection or bleeding. Without further clarity written into the law, doctors have said they cant confidently assess when to safely intervene to save someones life and what constitutes a good faith judgment. Rather than take the chance, high-risk obstetric specialists have airlifted patients to a facility out of state that can freely perform the procedure before it becomes a life-threatening situation. In 2023, officials at St. Lukes, the states largest hospital system, said at their facilities such transfers happened once. But between January and April, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take up the case and lifted an injunction blocking the bans enforcement in cases of emergency care, six patients were transferred.

Its not a statute about emergency care, attorney for Idaho legislature argues

Idahos attorneys have argued that the federal EMTALA law does not supersede state law banning abortions, and says it does call for stabilizing treatment to be given to an unborn child. They also contend that the situations physicians have described where an abortion might be necessary as a stabilizing treatment would qualify under Idahos exception to save the persons life.

John Bursch, an attorney with the conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, argued the case on behalf of Idaho, and attorney Taylor Meehan represented the legislature to defend the law.

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Judge Salvador Mendoza Jr., who was appointed by President Joe Biden, asked Meehan if there had been any changes to Idaho law that would clarify the emergency situations where abortion care would be acceptable, and a physician would not be subject to prosecution. Meehan said no.

The more you put in the statute, the more you start to limit the physicians good faith belief, Meehan said.

Mendoza asked how doctors are supposed to know their actions wont be subject to prosecution if its not specific in the law, and Meehan said it wasnt meant to address those situations.

Its not a statute about emergency care, its a statute that primarily prohibits elective criminal abortions. Its not about medical treatment, Meehan said.

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Judge Lawrence VanDyke, an appointee during President-elect Donald Trumps first term, cast doubt on the necessity of the six air transfers that occurred while the injunction was not in place. VanDyke asked attorney Lindsay Harrison, who represented St. Lukes Health System of Idaho, why those six were sent out of state. Harrison said five of them had premature rupture of membranes and one had preeclampsia, a dangerous condition of high blood pressure.

Your argument is, if the mother wants to kill the baby even though its not necessary to prevent (death), then they have to be airlifted, is that right? VanDyke said.

Harrison said the issue is that a physician cant immediately determine whether a pregnant patients life is at risk as a result of the condition, so they are sent to a place where abortion is legal, and the full spectrum of care options is available.

Circuit panel will likely issue opinion sometime in the next few months

Tuesdays appellate court hearing came six months after U.S. Supreme Court justices decided over the summer it was too early for them to make a determination and returned the case to the lower court. But it began in 2022, shortly after the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and returned regulation of abortion procedures to the states.

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The number of appellate judges in the case was higher than usual because it is under consideration as an en banc case. A three-judge panel initially decided to strike down the preliminary injunction from Idahos district court, leaving emergency room physicians open to prosecution under the ban.

The 9th Circuit does not have to issue an opinion in a specific time frame, although it will likely rule within the next few months.

The panel could decide to leave the injunction in place or vacate it and return the case to district court in either ruling. The case could also be dropped entirely in January after Trump is sworn in and new leadership takes over the Department of Justice. In that instance, a new plaintiff would have to start the entire case over from scratch.

The en banc panel included Chief Judge Mary Murguia, who was appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama, as well as one other Obama appointee, two who were appointed by Biden, four appointed by Trump during his first term, two appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush, and one appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

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Archaeologist Kathleen Martinez, who has been on the hunt for Cleopatra VIIs tomb for nearly 20 years, believes shes found a bust that depicts the Egyptian queen.

The claim has put some at odds with Martinez, as other experts say the bust looks nothing like Cleopatra.

Along with the marble statue, the team also discovered 337 coinssome of which (less controversially) depict Cleopatra.

Lawyer-turned-archaeologist Kathleen Martinez has been on the hunt for Cleopatra VIIs tomb for nearly two decades. And now, she believes that she and her team have just unearthed a small marble bust of the Egyptian queen at the Taposiris Magna temple, west of Alexandria.

Its not a done deal, though.

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Theres no questioning the finds existencea small bust that can be held in one hand, carved out of white marble and depicting a female wearing a royal crown, according to a translated statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Who it depicts, though, is the question. While Martinez believes that the statue is a likeness of Queen Cleopatra VII, many other archaeologists see the facial features of this statute being quite different from those of Queen Cleopatra, so it likely belongs to a princess, the official statement reads.

I looked at the bust carefully, Zahi Hawass, a former Egyptian minister of antiquities not involved in the current excavation, told Live Science. He added he thinks the bust dates to after Cleopatras time. It is not Cleopatra at all; it is Roman.

Martinez, however, remains unshaken. She is known for her fascination with Cleopatrawhom she claims may have look significantly different than commonly held perceptions indicateand has been on the search for the tomb of Cleopatra for nearly 20 years. Martinez has been at this particular temple site for more than a decade, believing that it may contain the location of Cleopatras tomb, which has never been discovered.

Cleopatra VII, according to Biography.com, was part of the Macedonian dynasty that ruled Egypt. During her reign, she forged political alliances and became romantically involved with Roman military leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. In 51 B.C., Ptolemy XII died, leaving the throne to 18-year-old Cleopatra and her brother, 10-year-old Ptolemy XIII. Likely, as was the custom of the day, the two married. Political turmoil and difficult economic times led to complications between the siblings, and Cleopatra eventually fled to Syria, assembled an army, and went into battle to reclaim her throne. She died in 30 B.C., and was one of antiquitys most famous rulers.

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The current effort at the templean excavation undertaken in cooperation with the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena and located near a deep tunnel system that stretches from Lake Marriot to the Mediterraneanfocuses on the Taposiris Magna temple, which was founded around 280 B.C. Specifically, it focuses on an outer wall in what could be a foundation deposit, which is a group of items buried to mark the beginning of construction of a major project.

Along with the female bust, the team found pieces of a statute of a king wearing a nemesa striped headdress common for pharaohsa set of weather-related pottery, oil lamps, limestone pots, bronze statues, a two-piece amulet engraved with the phrase The justice of Ra has risen, and a bronze ring dedicated to the fertility goddess Hathor. There were also 337 coins, many of which depict Cleopatra.

A collection of pottery dates the section of wall to the 1st century B.C.

The team also uncovered the remains of a Greek-era temple dating to the 4th century B.C., which was likely destroyed about two centuries later. Near this temple, archaeologists found at least 20 tombs and located human remains underwater below what was once an ancient lighthouse.

The hunt for Cleopatra continues.

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The last nine years have been the warmest ever recorded in the Arctic Circle, and this year saw a number of new milestones in the region: It was the rainiest summer on record, and plant life bloomed across the tundra at a near-record pace.

As the Arctic reacts to the planet-warming gases that humans have pumped into the atmosphere, the region is swiftly transforming and entering what scientists call a new regime. Thats one of the findings of this years Arctic Report Card, a document published by the U.S. governments National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which shows how wildfires and thawing permafrost have turned the region into a net source of carbon emissions for the first time.



The Arctic of today is vastly different from the Arctic of decades ago, said Twila Moon, deputy lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center and lead editor of the report, which is the work of 97 scientists across 11 countries and has been published annually for nearly two decades. Changes that happen in the Arctic have a direct influence on those of us far away from it.

One of the ways that a rapidly warming Arctic affects the rest of the world is by releasing potent greenhouse gases of its own. As permafrost  Arctic soil that typically remains frozen year-round  begins to thaw, ancient plant matter that was packed into that ground begins to decompose, releasing methane and carbon dioxide. This year, wildfires raging across the tundra also added to the regions emissions total by further melting the permafrost and sending the grassy landscape up in smoke. Since 2003, these wildfires have released 207 million metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere.

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When we put that all together, what we found is that the tundra region has shifted from a carbon sink, which it has been for many thousands of years, said Susan Natali, an Arctic ecologist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center who contributed to the report. Our Earth systems arent taking up and storing carbon as they used to, and this is something that we need to account for.

Scientists have observed that, under the right conditions, thawed permafrost can refreeze and return to being a carbon sink. But considering the acceleration of Arctic wildfires and warming temperatures, researchers like Natali question whether the permafrost will be able to recover.

We have to now think of the Arctic as essentially another country emitting heat-trapping gases, said Moon. She added that these changes will affect people who live in the region, too. Thawing permafrost, for example, comes with the risk that the ground will collapse, destroying homes and infrastructure.



But for outsiders, the region is in many ways becoming more accessible as it warms. This summer, large container ships took previously impassable routes through the Arctic Ocean, thanks to low levels of sea ice. According to the Arctic Report Card, this September saw the sixth lowest amount of sea ice ever recorded, which also carries consequences for the climate: When that frozen white surface is no longer there to bounce the suns energy away from Earth, the heat gets absorbed by our oceans instead  warming them up, and making it harder to refreeze.

Recent record-high air temperatures created a similar feedback loop. As the air warms up, it holds more water vapor, which in turn traps more heat.

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Its another one of these vicious amplifying cycles thats adding heat to the Arctic more rapidly, Moon said. And all the extra moisture in the atmosphere brings heavy rains instead of snow, which can cause flooding.

As the Arctic warms, it also gets greener. In a process known as shrubification, thawing permafrost makes way for new plant life to spread across the land. According to the report, scientists observed the second most potent Arctic greening event on record this year. These plants suck up carbon as they grow, partially offsetting the emissions released by wildfires and the thawed soil.

But according to Moon, the new shrubs are also crowding out the lichens that serve as the primary food source for the tundras migratory caribou. And as more rain falls instead of snow, it creates a layer of ice over the ground, blocking the caribou from grazing. The report, which included a chapter about these native Arctic mammals, says their populations have declined by 65 percent  a worrying trend for Indigenous groups that depend on the herds as a natural resource.

Sometimes it doesnt seem so concrete for people to think about carbon dioxide and methane, Natali says. But these are very concrete and real changes that have been happening over the past decades. People are impacted and dealing with these changes every day of their life.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline The Arctic just hit an unfortunate climate milestone on Dec 11, 2024.
Green summer tundra and the rolling Mulgrave Hills in northwestern Alaska's Cape Krusenstern National Monument are seen on July 11, 2011. The Mulgrave Hills are the farthest west extension of the Brooks Range. Arctic tundra, which for thousands of years was a net sink for atmospheric carbon, is now a net emitter, adding to the greenhouse gas load that is warming the earth, according to the 2024 Arctic Report Card released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Photo provided by the National Park Service)

For millennia, the tundra regions of the Arctic drew in carbon from the atmosphere and locked it in permafrost.

That is the case no more, according to an annual report issued on Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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The tundra regions have become a net carbon source rather than a carbon sink, the result of permafrost warming, increased wildfires and other effects of climate change, said the 2024 Arctic Report Card, a NOAA project with nearly 100 collaborating scientists from different organizations in Alaska and elsewhere.

The sink-to-source switch means that carbon-based plant and animal matter that has been stored in permafrost for thousands of years now streams into the air because of warmth-induced decomposition, said Brendan Rogers, a scientist with the Woodwell Climate Research Center and one of the Arctic Report Cards co-authors.

The fear is that the change will exacerbate the warming caused by carbon gases that envelop the planet and hold in warmth, creating what is called a greenhouse effect, Rogers said on Tuesday.

There is a concern, of course, with the amount of carbon thats stored, especially in permafrost. As climate warms, as those soils warm, that could be released. The scientific consensus is that some of that will be released. It could be the equivalent, for example, to a major greenhouse gas-emitting country, Rogers said at a news conference, held by NOAA at the American Geophysical Unions annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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The annual report card describes changes in a region of the world that has warmed up at nearly four times the global rate.

The tundra regions switchover from sink to source has occurred over at least the last two decades, according to the report card. While there have been some recent years when the tundra region functioned as a net carbon sink, on average it is a net carbon emitter, Rogers said at the news conference.

Permafrost, wildfires and the relationship between them have converted the tundra regions, according to the report.

In Alaska, average permafrost temperatures across an array of long-term monitoring stations were the second highest on record, the report card said. The temperatures were the highest ever recorded at about half of the Alaska sites, the report card said.

Smoke from the Noatak Grand Canyon Fire, burning in tundra in Alaskas Noatak National Preserve, rises into the air on June 8, 2012. Wildfires, which are becoming more intense in Arctic regions, can expose permafrost and cause it to thaw. (Photo by Dan Stevenson/National Park Service)

Permafrost need not be thawed to emit carbon gases, Rogers said in an interview prior to the reports release. As soil warms, even if temperatures remain below freezing, microbes become increasingly active and increase their expulsion of carbon dioxide, he said. Such carbon gas respiration is a byproduct when microbes break down organic matter.

Wildfire as a direct and indirect carbon emitter

Wildfires factor into the sink-to-source switchover because of their direct emissions and their effect on permafrost, the report card said.

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Wildfires in circumpolar regions have emitted an average of 207 million metric tons of carbon annually since 2003, it said. Those fires are getting more intense, and this years fires north of the Arctic Circle emitted the second-highest amount of carbon yet recorded, the report card said.

Wildfires are normal in the boreal forest, which can regrow and absorb carbon from the air through photosynthesis, Rogers said at the news conference.

Whats the challenge right now is, of course, in areas of permafrost, that those fires will remove the insulating soil organic matter. That permafrost can thaw and lead to longer-term emissions, Rogers said. And were just seeing this general intensification of wildfires since the mid-20th century, so that theyre emitting that carbon into the atmosphere.

Concerns about fire unlocking permafrost carbon prompted a new policy in one area of Alaska, the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Through consultation with the Woodwell Climate Research Center, a Massachusetts-based research organization, the refuge identified about 1.6 million permafrost-laden acres where fires, if they broke out, would draw responses to limit their burning. Past practice in those areas was to allow fires to burn naturally. The sites put into that classification were identified as holding a type of ice-rich permafrost called yedoma that is considered particularly vulnerable to thaw.

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There was no fire suppression this year on any of those newly identified yedoma sites, but one fire that did draw a response burned over a separate area that does likely contain that type of ice-rich permafrost, said Jimmy Fox, the refuges superintendent. The Ed Berg Slough Fire flared up in June at a site that had not burned in recent years, and a quick response by firefighters limited it to about 4 acres.

The site would have qualified for the new classification had it not already been designated for what is considered a modified firefighting response, Fox said.

Fortunately, although the fire did not start in a new yedoma protection area, researchers will likely be able to evaluate the event and what effect the suppression may have in protecting yedoma and at what cost, Fox said by email.

Ted Schuur, a permafrost expert at Northern Arizona University and one of the reports co-authors, emphasized the long-term nature of the switch.

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What were describing is a long-term, 20-year trend towards this increasing source from the tundra region, he said at the news conference. That trend will be sustained even if there are occasional years when the tundra does soak up more atmospheric carbon than it emits, he said.

A few snow drifts remain on June 18, 2004, on the Arctic coastal plain of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The amount of atmospheric carbon absorbed by the Arctics tundra region in the summer is now outpaced by the amount of carbon dioxide emitted through permafrost warming and thaw, wildfires and winter carbon dioxide releases, according to the 2024 Arctic Report Card. (Photo by Craig McCaa/U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

Winter emissions, which occur when there is little or no sunlight to enable plant photosynthesis, are particularly high, said Schuur, who has documented the phenomenon in the Denali National Park area and elsewhere in Alaska.

This years emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, both of which are greenhouse gases, hit a new record, primarily because of wintertime, Schurr said. He noted that wintertime carbon emissions from tundra had not gotten much study in the past. So in places that were hardly paying attention, we see records being set, and we think its very important, he said.

Continued warming in the air and water

Beyond explaining how the tundra regions have shifted from being net carbon sinks to net carbon emitters, the report card described a continuing long-term trend toward a warmer and wetter Arctic.

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Arctic annual surface air temperatures for the 12 months ending in September 2024 ranked second warmest since 1900. An August heatwave set new daily records in several sites in northern Alaska and Canada, the report card noted. The last nine years in the Arctic were the nine warmest on record, the report card said.

The past summer was also the wettest in the Arctic on record, it said. Despite above-average snow accumulation in the past year across the Arctic, the snow season was compressed in some places. In parts of Arctic Canada, the snow season was the shortest in 26 years, and overall, Arctic snowmelt is occurring one or two weeks earlier than it did historically, the report card said.

The sea ice minimum extent reached in September was the sixth lowest in the satellite record. All 18 lowest annual minimums have happened in the last 18 years.

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Arctic greening, a satellite-based measurement of the northward expansion of woody shrubs and other plants as the environment warms, was the second highest on record, the report card said. The greening trend has been measured since 1990. Even though that new plant growth results in more intake of atmospheric carbon dioxide during the growing season, that amount of absorption is outweighed by the amount of carbon emitted from the ground and from the plants themselves during the dark non-growing season, the report card said.

There were regional variations and outliers.

One was the Chukchi Sea off northwestern Alaska. Most areas in the seas around the Arctic Ocean had August sea surface temperatures that were 2 degrees Celsius to 4 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit, warmer than the 1991-2020 August average. However, the Chukchi was 1 degree to 4 degrees Celsius, roughly 1.82 degrees to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit, cooler than that past average.

Melt on the Greenland Ice Sheet was a bit of an anomaly from the more long-term trend. This years loss of Greenland ice was the smallest since 2013, the result of more snowfall than usual, the report card said.

Muskox and geese roam vegetated beach ridges in front of the Igichuk Hills in Alaskas Cape Krusenstern National Monument on Aug. 31, 2008. Tundra plants absorb atmospheric carbon in the summer, when they use sunlight to photosynthesize, but they emit carbon dioxide in the winter, when the daylight is gone. (Photo provided by the National Park Service)

Each years report card focuses on some specific Arctic species, and this years document described warming effects on tundra caribou and Alaskas ice-dependent seals.

Uncertain future

NOAA has released the Arctic Report Card every year since 2006. Next years report is scheduled to be the 20th in the series. That means 2025 will be a big event for the Arctic report card, said Twila Moon, a lead editor of this years report and a scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado.

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That report is already in the works, she said at the news conference.

The Arctic report card is a year-round effort, and well be thinking about the next one as soon as we wrap up this one, she said.

But the fate of the annual report card and NOAA itself are uncertain in the incoming Trump administration

NOAA, including its National Weather Service, is one of the federal agencies that may be slashed by the incoming administration. The conservative Heritage Foundations blueprint for remaking the federal government, called Project 2025, proposes deep cuts to NOAA and privatization of many of its functions, including those of the National Weather Service. There are fears among scientists that the incoming administrations cost-cutting plan led by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will gut NOAA and its services.

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President-elect Donald Trump has long opposed action to combat climate change, which in the past he called a hoax, and he has cast doubt on climate scientists reports.

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, speaking at the news conference, expressed optimism nonetheless about the agency continuing its work to document climate change in the Arctic and elsewhere and to help people combat and adapt to it.

NOAA, he said, is a mission agency with science that responds to needs that continue to grow with intensifying events like wildfires, floods, drought and coastal inundation.

In fact, the argument I would make is that now more than ever, the need, the requirement, the demand signal, if you will, is higher than ever before, he said.

There can be changes to make the investments more efficient, but studies have shown that the return on those investments is extraordinary, in many cases, 10-to-1 in terms of protection of lives and property, he said.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The effort to put a new prison in northwest Arkansas is moving forward after the Board of Corrections voted on a lease agreement for the proposed site.

Board members unanimously voted in favor of entering a year-long lease agreement for the section of land in Franklin County.

Arkansas Board of Corrections approves purchase of land for new state prison amid pushback from area residents

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The board will vote again on the lease when it expires.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced on Oct. 31 that the state had negotiated to purchase the property for $2.95 million to build a planned 3,000-bed prison. Sanders said at the time that the prison was needed to help end our failed system of catch-and-early-release of felons.

Sanders and others have cited a problem with a lack of capacity in the state prison system, leading to inmates held in county detention centers, causing overcrowding there while waiting for space to open in a state facility.

Arkansas officials announce land purchase to build new prison in Charleston

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Arkansas Department of Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace, Arkansas Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness and other state and local officials joined Sanders in support of plans to bring a new prison to the state.

The Board of Corrections voted on Nov. 8 to approve the land purchase. Five voted in favor of the purchase, with one board member abstaining.

A group of area residents continues to oppose the prison location, voicing concerns about security, property values and infrastructure strain. They also expressed concern that the state government did not tell them about the plans to put a prison in their county before the governors Oct. 31 announcement.

Controversy stirring over new state prison coming to Franklin County

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State officials maintain these factors were all considered in the site selection.

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 KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reform its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The SNAP program provides money every month for low-income families to buy food. In a letter to USDA Secretary-designate Brooke Rollins and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Sanders is asking for changes in the program to end using SNAP funds to purchase sugary food and drinks.

5 foods claimed to have been invented in Arkansas

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Sanders said in her letter that 23% of the $113 billion program purchases junk food.

In fact, soda, unhealthy snacks, candy, and dessert account for nearly 23 percent, or $25 billion, of all SNAP purchases, the governor wrote. Given the relationship between junk food and poor health, our federal food assistance policies are fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and a wide range of chronic health conditions across America.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders launches summer program to provide groceries for families

Sanders continued to point out that a study by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and his Stanford colleagues estimated that prohibiting sugary drinks and soda from SNAP would prevent obesity in 141,000 kids and Type 2 diabetes in 240,000 adults.

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As someone who believes in the Trump Administrations unifying, aspirational vision for the future, the time has come to support American farmers and end taxpayer-funded junk food, she wrote.

SNAP increases  and changes to who qualifies  take effect Oct. 1

Sanders concluded by stating she intends to apply for a SNAP waiver that would support fresh foods and prohibit junk foods.

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 KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A bill filed in the Arkansas legislature on Dec. 9. would require the teaching of what it calls the perils of communism.

According to House Bill 1060 which was filed by State Rep. R. Scott Richardson (R-Bentonville), schools would have to teach students what it says are the results of communism and autocratic governments.

The bill gives a list of required topics to be taught to students in seventh grade through twelfth grade in all public schools.

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The first topic would require the teaching of the record of mass murder and oppression committed as a result of communism and autocratic governments.

The next topic would require teachers to cover the economic structures of countries that adopt Communist policies and their related collapses. The next topic would cover the issues and failures of communist economic systems.

The final topic would cover the continued failure of communism and autocratic governments resulting from the direct influences of:

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its successor state, Russia

The Peoples Republic of China

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea

Argentina

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The bill says the State Board of Education would develop and distribute grade-appropriate curricula, standards, materials and units relating to the perils of communism and autocratic governments with consultation from local, statewide and national experts.

The bill defines communism and autocratic government as a system of government in which absolute power over a state is allocated to a single person or party whose decisions are subject to neither external legal constraints nor regularized mechanisms of popular control.

Richardson filed a nearly identical bill for the 2023 legislature. He filed another bill Dec. 9 that would allow certain nonviolent felons to own firearms.

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 KNWA FOX24.
Benny Magness (left) leads a Board of Corrections meeting in North Little Rock on July 26, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas prison officials on Tuesday approved a lease agreement between the states Development Finance Authority and the Department of Corrections for 815 acres in Franklin County.

The land is expected to be the site of a 3,000 bed prison.

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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the nearly $3 million land purchase in October, and the Board of Corrections approved it in November. Residents and lawmakers alike have since voiced concerns about a lack of government transparency regarding the site selection process.

The Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) purchased the 815 acres, and the lease outlines parameters for the Department of Corrections to follow under the agreement, including a $1 annual rent and a month-to-month term.

A motion from board member Lee Watson amended the lease to expire in one year so it could be voted on again by the Board of Corrections; it was unanimously approved.

Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace said the lease for the property at 6310 South Highway 215 in Charleston would allow the department to establish utilities in its name, begin clearing the property and provide security.

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Wallace and board Chairman Benny Magness both said the lease was not an attempt to circumvent the Legislature.

This will give us the ability to create the legal interest to turn those utilities on, but still allow us to be deliberate in our next steps with property transfers and all of those things, Wallace said.

Lindsay Wallace, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, at a meeting in North Little Rock on July 26, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Wallace later added that the lease will ensure the property is in great shape whenever whatever ultimately happens.

A property transfer could be several years down the road, depending on adjusting encroachments on the property  instances where the fence line does not line up with the legal description of the property  and how the expected facility built on the land is paid for, said Chris Bell, deputy director of the Division of Building Authority.

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Bell said the agreement was very standard for what the ADFA does, and any public funds used for the project would have to be approved by the Legislature.

The new prison is expected to help alleviate pressure from crowded county jails, where approximately 2,000 state inmates are housed. The additional space is also anticipated to be needed under the Protect Act, a 2023 law that overhauls the states parole system and eliminates the possibility of parole for the most serious offenders.

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Public pushback

Last week, Franklin County residents took their concerns about the prison site to a legislative committee in Little Rock, a nearly five-hour round trip.

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Natalie Cadena with the Franklin County & River Valley Coalition, a group that formed shortly after plans for the prison were announced, predicted the actual cost of the prison will be around $1.5 billion based on communications she received in a public records request.

State officials have allocated roughly $400 million for construction of the prison. Sen. Ben Gilmore, R-Crossett, told reporters last week that its likely more funds will need to be approved as needs are identified.

Though public comment wasnt offered at the Board of Corrections special-called, virtual meeting on Tuesday, some Franklin County residents joined virtually via Zoom.

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One of those attendees was Adam Watson, a member of the Franklin County and River Valley Coalition who also joined last weeks legislative meeting.

Natalie Cadena and Adam Watson with the Franklin County and River Valley Coalition present to lawmakers on Dec. 6, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

On Monday, Adam Watson sent an email to the members of the Board of Corrections citing an email from Jake Bleed, ADFAs chief legal counsel, to Mark Conine, ADFA president, and Kimberly Helble, an executive assistant, that said the land purchase in Franklin County is not for a prison tho, but we are purchasing it to pursue our own corporate purposes.

Watson also cited the ADFAs October meeting minutes in which the land purchase was approved with the intent of transferring control over the property to another agency within the state, and that agency will be responsible to obtaining appropriate legislative approval to further the use of the property, and will be responsible for reimbursing the [ADFA] in full, for all its costs associated with this transaction.

After Watson expressed concern that the Board of Corrections was trying to bypass the Legislature, Sen. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, asked the Bureau of Legislative Research about the possibility of legislative review.

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Approximately two and a half hours before the Board of Corrections met on Tuesday, BLR staff told Leding, There does not appear to be any law that would subject this lease to legislative review.

Sen. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, attends a legislative meeting about the planned Franklin County prison on Dec. 6, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Leases of real property are not commodities or services under the Arkansas Procurement, BLR Administrator Joi Leonard said. Arkansas Code[s]  provide that the Arkansas Development Finance Authority can provide funding for the construction of prison facilities used by the Department of Corrections by lease, subject to the project being reviewed and approved by the Building Authority.

After Tuesdays meeting, Adam Watson said he was heartened to hear that the [Board of Corrections] is at least giving lip service to our concerns.

While we still think a lease in any form skirts the intentions of the ADFA board, we do appreciate Mr. Watsons comments as far as not leaving it open ended, Watson said. We also noted the chairs comments that it is still somewhat up for discussion whether this property does, in fact, fit the DOCs intended purpose.

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Watson said he and other Franklin County residents would continue to oppose the prison.

While this is by no means a victory, we are happy for any small bit of progress in a fight for this magnitude against the state, who has the luxury of [a] significant head start due to working to advance its agenda in secret for the past several months.

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SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korean police officers had confronted security service agents for over three hours to raid the office of President Yoon Suk-yeol, multiple media outlets said Wednesday citing the police.

A group of police investigators attempted to raid the presidential office in central Seoul from 11:50 a.m. local time (0250 GMT), but security service agents blocked them from getting in for security reasons.

Earlier in the day, the police launched a raid on the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police and the National Assembly Police Guards, as well as the presidential office.

The police investigated insurrection and other charges over Yoon's martial law declaration on the night of Dec. 3, rescinded by the National Assembly hours later.

President Yoon reportedly was not staying at the presidential office building. 
GOULD, Ark.  Arkansas State Police said they are investigating a Cummins Unit inmates death as a homicide after he was found dead in his cell.

According to ASP officials, the Arkansas Department of Corrections contacted special agents to investigate the death of 51-year-old Quincy Moore Wednesday.

Lincoln County inmate dies by electrocution in work-related accident

State troopers said Moore was found in his cell but did not provide any additional deaths surrounding the death.

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Moore was serving a life sentence for a 1990 aggravated robbery in Pulaski County, ASP officials said.

Inmate dies by electrocution in Benton work release unit

Moores body will be taken to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to determine the cause and manner of death.

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HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark.  Arkansas State Police confirmed Wednesday that a man who was reported missing from Hot Springs Village was found dead after being in a crash.

According to ASP officials, 54-year-old Jonathan Fisher was found after someone found his vehicle around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday near 200 Balboa Road.

Hot Springs Village family pleads for help in finding loved one

Special agents said he lost control of his vehicle and crashed, causing his vehicle to go into a nearby lake.

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Officials with the Hot Springs Village Police Department released the missing person statement just before noon Tuesday.

Fishers family members said he had been missing since Dec. 6.

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BLACKWELL, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Over the weekend of Dec. 6-7, Arkansas State Police found more than 200 pounds of drugs, in two separate traffic stops in the same spot.

On Friday, Dec. 6 around 10:30 a.m., troopers stopped Davian Blair, 31, of Oklahoma City, on the 101-mile marker for a traffic violation. A search of the vehicle led to 120 pounds of illegal marijuana wrapped in clear plastic bags found in the car.

Blair was arrested on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver. He was booked into Conway County Detention Center.

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WATCH: Fort Smith man arrested following pursuit that ended in crash

On Dec. 7 around 12:45 p.m., troopers stopped a rented Jeep Grand Cherokee at the 101-mile marker in Conway County for a traffic violation. A search of the SUV led to the arrest of two people from Virginia.

The driver, Willie Revish IV, 27, of Petersburg and passenger, Amber Murphey, 29, of Chester, were taken to Conway County Detention Center after troopers found about 119 one-pound vacuum-sealed bags of illegal marijuana in multiple duffle bags hidden in different areas of the SUV.

Arkansas State Police report hundreds of pounds of illegal drugs, guns seized in November

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Revish was booked on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and use of another persons property to facilitate a crime.

Murphey was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

ASP serves the state and develops partnerships with other law enforcement agencies for the purpose of preventing and solving crimes, improving the safety of Arkansas highways and providing other services to the citizens of Arkansas.

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WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Deputies in Williamson County are searching for an armed robber after the manager of a Sonic restaurant was assaulted and forced into a vehicle late Tuesday night.

According to the Williamson County Sheriffs Office (WCSO), the incident took place at a Sonic in the Grassland community shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

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As the manager was closing the eatery, an armed suspect reportedly entered the building and assaulted the victim before stealing money from the store.

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Deputies said after the robbery, the suspect forced the employee into a vehicle, which was occupied by the three other individuals. While inside the vehicle, the victim was further assaulted and threatened before being dropped off in a nearby neighborhood.

The WCSO reported the victim sustained injuries that required medical attention, but were not life-threatening.

It remains unclear how much money the armed robber stole from the Grassland Sonic. Authorities said the suspect was wearing a hoodie that was clinched tightly around their face to mask their identity.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

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The incident remains under investigation and deputies are working to identify the suspects involved. Anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the Grassland area Tuesday night is asked to call the WCSO at 615-790-5550 or Crime Stoppers at 615-794-4000.

No additional details were immediately released.

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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (WHNT)  An Army spokesperson said Gen. Charles Hamilton was relieved of his duties at Army Materiel Command.

Army Spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith told News 19 Tuesday that Hamilton had been removed from command based on the findings of an investigation by the Department of the Army Inspector General.

Christmas for Kids program for incarcerated parents in full swing

Hamilton had been suspended from command in March after accusations that he tried to influence the selection of a lower-ranking officer for a command position, according to prior reporting from the Associated Press.

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The inspector general report said investigators concluded that Hamilton had a prohibited relationship with the officer in question, whose name is redacted in the report.

The report also details several actions Hamilton took during the officers promotion screening process including asking to specifically observe their panel interview as part of the Battalion Command Assessment Process or BCAP.

Later that month, GEN Hamilton contacted [redacted] to schedule a visit to observe BCAP, The report says. He wanted to align his schedule to be able to watch the Army Comprehensive Talent Interview (ACTI) for a specific LTC he knew,'

Brindlee Mountain High School students create GoFundMe for beloved teacher

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The report said testimony noted Hamilton was the only person who had ever asked to observe a specific candidates interview. Hamilton also made several comments saying indicated he felt the process may be biased during his tie observing, according to the report.

The report details that Hamilton later pushed for the officer to be re-paneled after his observation citing that the psychological evaluation had been too animated and conclusive. According to the report, Hamilton also contacted BCAP panelists.

The inspector general said the officer ultimately went through a second panel but did not receive a promotion during the second panel.

Smith said Acting Commander of Army Materiel Command Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan will continue in his role until a permanent replacement can be nominated for the post.

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Smith said while the investigation found that the Command Assessment program withstood the attempt to interfere in the process Army Secretary Christine Wormuth plans to issue a directive that formally established CAP as an enduring Army program to reinforce its integrity and increase transparency.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Dec. 10An Albuquerque man convicted of first-degree murder for strangling his wife in 2021 was sentenced Tuesday to a mandatory term of life in prison.

The sentence requires Lee Cuellar, 45, to serve at least 30 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

Jurors deliberated less than three hours on Oct. 11 before finding Cuellar guilty following an eight-day trial in 2nd Judicial District Court before Judge Britt Baca.

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Prosecutors told jurors that Cuellar strangled his 26-year-old wife, Rosalejandra "Alex" Cisneros, because he felt threatened by his wife's successful modeling career and widening circle of friends.

Prosecutor Christine Jablonsky said in closing arguments that Cuellar used both his hands and a tourniquet to strangle his wife in their home in the 9900 block of Rio Madre SW, near Dennis Chavez and 98th.

Cuellar's attorneys argued that the U.S. Army and Iraq War veteran struggled with untreated mental illness and believed his wife was a "demon" who intended to hurt Cuellar and his family.

His attorney, Amy Williams, told jurors that Cuellar was a "good but very broken man" who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions and had little success finding treatment services.

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Cuellar retired eight months before the killing after 22 years of service in the Army and the Army National Guard. At the time of his wife's killing, he was teaching ROTC classes at Kennedy Middle School.

The day Cisneros was killed on May 23, 2021, Cuellar flagged down an Albuquerque police officer near Tiquex Park in Old Town and told the officer he had killed his wife. Police found her body in the bedroom of the couple's home.

Jurors viewed a lengthy video of Cuellar's interview with an Albuquerque police detective in which he admitted choking his wife with his hands before strangling her with a tourniquet.
LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo.  The teen who was sentenced to four months of shock time in jail for a fatal DUI crash has broken probation rules less than two months in, according to court records. Now, the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney has filed requests for an arrest warrant and to revoke her probation.

Hailey Zenk, 19, was sentenced in June for the deadly February 2023 crash that killed three Lincoln County teens. Judge Michael Fagras sentenced her to 10 years for several counts concurrently in the Missouri Department of Corrections. However, the judge suspended that and handed down a shock time sentence of four months in jail, in addition to probation.

Part of the probation order given to Zenk was that shed have to wear a SCRAM device for six months following her shock time.

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Court records show Zenk was given the SCRAM on Oct. 23. Less than two months later, on Dec. 4, its shown that there was non-compliance with the device.

According to Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood, there were two tampering incidents of the SCRAM, one being six hours long and the second being 23 and a half hours long. He added that these tampering periods indicate that the device was blocked from touching the skin, which is how alcohol presence is monitored.

People who wear these are given very strict instructions on how to wear them to make sure that there is no blockage, he said.

Early Monday morning, Wood filed for the suspended sentence to be revoked and a request for an arrest warrant.

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Beyond the SCRAM, Zenk was ordered to also attend a victim impact panel, a prison tour within the Department of Corrections, 50 hours of community service, completion of a mental health assessment, and to follow all recommendations given by the provider.

This was a case of great magnitude we take these violations very seriously, and well put it in front of the judge, Wood said. I just want the people to be assured that we are continuing to monitor it.

Note: This video is from June 2024.

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  Police are investigating a drive-by shooting late Tuesday night in east Asheville.

Officers responded to reports of a gun discharge in the 100 block of Tunnel Road before 11 p.m. When officers arrived, the suspect was no longer on the scene.

While searching the area, police discovered one bullet hole in the glass door of a business.

Nobody was injured according to officers. Only property damage has been reported.

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Witnesses described the vehicle involved as a gray SUV.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact APD at (828) 252-1110. Anonymous tippers can text TIP2APD to 847411.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
AHEVILLE, NC (WSPA)  The Asheville Police Department are searching for a suspect involved in an armed robbery that took place December 7.

The robbery happened at the 600 block of Smokey Park Highway in West Asheville at midnight. After attempting to purchase ice, the suspect drew a handgun at an employee and ordered them to lock the front door. The employee ran out the door and into the parking lot, and the suspect fled the scene before police could arrive. The suspect was last seen heading westbound on Smokey Park Highway on a black motorcycle.

Police described the suspect as a Black male standing at 60, and at the time of the crime, was wearing a black jacket, black gloves, and a motorcycle helmet with a visor.

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If you have any information about the incident or identity of the suspect, contact the Asheville Police Department.

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Chinese tea and coffee drink brands, such as Mixue, are winning hearts in Indonesia with their affordable and high-quality ice cream and drinks. These brands are also generating jobs and offering career development opportunities for young local professionals.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service




SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  The threat of another round of lake effect snow in Ashtabula County is in the forecast and raising new concerns about the roof at Lakeside High School, which partially collapsed from heavy snow over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The aerial view from DroneFox on Tuesday showed the scope of the damage to the sections of the roof that buckled under the weight of four and a half feet of snow.

Cleveland baseball legend Rocky Colavito dies at 91

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The partial collapse forced the district to close the building, and while crews develop a plan for major repairs, another winter storm is looming.

Im sure any type of storm will probably put us back a day or two but we have the people in there looking, you know, Ashtabula and Saybrook Fire have done an amazing job. Theyve come in and helped us kind of assess all of that. Our insurance company and the structural engineers, theyre in there taking pictures, doing what they need to do, said Ashtabula Area City Schools Superintendent Lisa Newsome.

The damage to the roof prompted the district to move to a remote learning plan for Lakeside students in the short term, and then after Christmas break they will be assigned to other school buildings in the district for in-person education.

The staff and the students have been great. The community has been very supportive. I cant tell you how positive its been, said Newsome.

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Browns announce development partner, release new renderings for Brook Park stadium district

While another round of lake effect snow is not welcome news, educators are trying to focus on the positive while a plan is developed to complete repairs to the damaged roof.

Its life in Ashtabula, its Northeast Ohio. Were used to storms. Not four and a half feet, but its snow so were going to let them do their job and were going to focus on the students, the superintendent said.

When asked when Lakeside High might be able to re-open, the superintendent says there is no timetable for when repairs will be completed.

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The fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad immediately triggered conversation about Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congressman and President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to be Director of National Intelligence  and not just among everyday citizens. Adam Kinzinger, the former Republican congressman, joked on X/Twitter as news broke that Gabbard could offer the deposed Syrian president safe harbor in her home.

Gabbard met with the Syrian dictator in 2017, and she did so in her capacity as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In one particularly shocking moment, The Independent reported last month that when she met with young girls from Syria who had survived airstrikes from Assads military, she allegedly asked them how they knew it was Assad who bombed them. It was a question so insulting that the translator present said he refused to translate it.

During her time in Congress, Gabbard also praised Vladimir Putin for bombing Isis in Syria, while the Obama administration would not. She also spread the conspiratorial idea that biolabs funded by the United States across the world  which do not exist  could unleash dangerous pathogens.

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But despite all this, most Republican senators did not seem bothered by Gabbards past when The Independent asked them about it this week.

Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma stressed that Gabbard had met not only with Assad but also opposition leaders in the past.

I don't agree with that trip. I do understand what she was trying to accomplish, trying to be able to research, Lankford, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told The Independent. She also is pretty clear that she doesn't like Assad.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a military hawk who has since come to embrace Trump, also added that he was not too worried about Gabbard after the fall of Assad.

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I'm concerned that we come up with a rational policy to prevent Isis from coming back, Graham told The Independent.

There are lots of times in which members of Congress have met with foreign leaders, said Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. That part, as I shared with her, does not concern me. So I look forward to working with her as she prepares for the open and closed hearings.

Senator Chuck Grassley, the longest-serving Republican Senator, told The Independent: I think if she can tell me she's going to cooperate with us on Oversight and make things transparent, it'd be difficult for me not to vote for her. But I never make up a judgment on who I'm voting for till after the hearing.

But Senator Susan Collins told The Independent she worried about some of Gabbards past statements.

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I do not know her at all, so I need to do more research on her visit to Assad, her comments about Putin, Russia, she said. All of those are issues that need to be further dealt with.

Clearly, Republicans have largely shifted from being anxious about nominating some of Trumps more controversial picks to mostly falling in line.

Democrats, for their part, have made their concerns about Gabbards past work in Syria well-known. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico said simply, Yes when The Independent asked if he had any worries about Gabbard.

One person who is glad to not have to comment? Senator Mitt Romney, who is retiring at the end of the year and who previously clashed with Gabbard, whom he accused of spreading Russian propaganda.

Im just not commenting on the Trump nominees, he told The Independent. But I trust my colleagues to take that responsibility seriously.

Thats the sound of a man unburdened by what has been.
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  An Athens man was indicted on two dozen counts of possession of obscene material of a child along with rape and sexual abuse, according to court documents.

According to court documents, 39-year-old James Thomas Couch was indicted on 24 counts of possession of obscene matter of a child, one count of first-degree rape with force and one count of second-degree sexual abuse.

The indictment states that Couch had nude images of a 14-year-old girl engaging in an act of sado-masochistic abuse, sexual intercourse, sexual excitement, masturbation, genital nudity or other sexual conduct.

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Court records show he was arrested in June and indicted in Nov. Records also show that he has a detention hearing on Dec. 11.

He is being held in the Limestone County jail without bond, per his warrants.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  An Athens woman is facing charges after police say she committed a nearly $1M charity fraud.

Amy Dianne Elmore Downs, 57, of Athens, AL, is charged with seven counts of first-degree charitable fraud and three counts of tax evasion. Downs is also a TikTok personality who goes by Slot_7.0 or Slotmachinequeen.

Man charged in Seven Deadly Sins murders ruled competent to stand trial

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LCSO said Downs solicited donations for a charity to aid domestic violence victims and homeless individuals. She asked for donations through PayPal, CashApp and Venmo accounts, claiming the donations would support the cause.

According to LCSO, Downs received a considerable amount of donations from all over the United States and the world.

LCSO said an investigation found Downs deposited nearly one million dollars into her personal bank accounts under the guise of charitable donations. The investigation also found that she had not reported any employment since 2020.

Ultimately, LCSO said its investigation found that no legitimate charity was registered under her name and that no charity had been registered with the Alabama Attorney Generals Office.

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Im sorry it happened this way: Man sentenced for friends death in 2022 Five Points shooting

The sheriffs office is asking anyone with information or concerns about potential fraudulent activity involving Downs to come forward. If you believe, you are a victim contact LCSO.

LCSO said that the investigation is ongoing and that more charges may be coming. Downs was booked into the Limestone County Jail where her bond has been set at $1,125,000.

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An Atlanta-based parking app has reached a $32,800,000 settlement years after users personal information was exposed in a data breach.

Now, Georgians affected by the 2021 ParkMobile data breach can claim up to $25 through the class action settlement.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

In March 2021, 21 million ParkMobile customers nationwide had their information potentially exposed, according to several federal lawsuits.

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The company denies allegations that they didnt have adequate security for users names, license plate numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, passwords, credit card information, home addresses and more.

Those who wish to file a claim for up to $25 have until March 5 to do so by clicking here.

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A federal judge is expected to give final approval for the settlement at a March 13 hearing in Atlanta.

If the settlement is approved, those who did not file a claim or exclude themselves from the settlement will receive a $1 credit in the ParkMobile app.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit Wednesday against chemical giants 3M and DuPont, accusing them of decades-long misrepresentations and omissions regarding the safety of PFAS, or forever chemicals, sold for use in countless consumer products.

These products, sold under brand names such as Teflon, Stainmaster, and Scotchgard, have been staples in households across the nation despite mounting evidence that they contain chemicals that are harmful to human health.

These companies knew for decades that PFAS chemicals could cause serious harm to human health yet continued to advertise them as safe for household use around families and children, Paxton said in a press release. Texas is taking action to penalize these companies and hold them accountable for deceiving Texans into buying consumer products without vital information.

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Daniel Turner, a spokesperson for DuPont, said in an email that the company has never manufactured PFOA and PFOS  two types of PFAS chemicals  or firefighting foam.

"While we dont comment on litigation matters, we believe this complaint is without merit, and we look forward to vigorously defending our record of safety, health and environmental stewardship," Turner wrote.

Representatives of 3M could not be immediately reached for comment.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of manmade chemicals used to make products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Some estimates list more than 12,000 types of individual PFAS. Theyve been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s and have earned the name forever chemicals because they dont break down and can persist in water and soil indefinitely.

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Exposure to specific PFAS has been linked to certain types of cancer, birth defects, damage to the liver and immune system. They also accumulate in animals, plants, and humans, contaminating drinking water and even circulating in human blood.

The lawsuit was filed in Johnson County nine days after a Texas Tribune story featured farmers in that county who have sued a fertilizer company, alleging the fertilizer they sell, which is made from municipal waste, contained PFAS that poisoned their land and killed their livestock. The farmers say they are not able to make a living off their own land because of the contamination.

Dana Ames, the environmental crime investigator for Johnson County who discovered the contamination on the farmers' land, said the lawsuit represents a significant step forward in the ongoing fight against PFAS contamination.

"I was over the moon. It's a legal issue and he's [Paxton] our top lawyer for the state so I am very encouraged to see that he has taken this action," Ames said.

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Many other farmers in other parts of the country have also shut down their operations due to PFAS contamination after using fertilizer made from biosolids produced from human waste.

Laura Dumais, a staff attorney with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said Paxton's lawsuit underlines how addressing PFAS is not a partisan issue. The environmental group helped the Texas farmers with PFAS testing.

"As the overwhelming scope of the 'forever chemicals' crisis becomes increasingly apparent, Americans across the spectrum of political affiliation are clamoring for an end to the poisoning of their land, water, and food," Dumais said. "I hope that emerging lawsuits, along with increased public awareness, will begin to make a difference."

DuPont and 3M are two of the most prominent companies associated with these chemicals. Both companies have been historically involved in the manufacture, use and distribution of PFAS. In 2022, 3M announced plans to exit PFAS manufacturing by 2025 as part of its response to growing environmental and legal pressures.

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According to Paxton's lawsuit, 3M and DuPont marketed their PFAS products for more than 70 years despite knowing the dangers for more than half a century. The suit alleges that the companies concealed critical risks, misrepresented safety claims, and continued promoting the chemicals as safe for consumer use. The state is seeking $1 million or more in damages, including civil penalties, attorneys fees and costs.

Texas had already taken legal action against PFAS manufacturers, including a lawsuit against Aqueous Film Forming Foam, a firefighting product that has polluted Texas lands and waterways.

Attorney General Paxton has been at the forefront of holding companies responsible for exposing people to dangerous 'forever chemicals.'  said a statement from the AGs office. Todays lawsuit marks a new stage in PFAS litigation.

Texas has found PFAS contamination in some drinking water systems: Nearly 50 public water systems across the state have reported exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys newly-released PFAS limits for drinking water.
WEST PALM BEACH  An attorney who rear-ended a motorcyclist during a drunken 2 a.m. crash in suburban Boca Raton will spend two years in prison for her death.

Richard Daniel Dorfman, 42, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide Tuesday, cementing a deal with prosecutors to have a DUI manslaughter charge against him dropped. Circuit Judge Caroline Shepherd is scheduled to sentence him to prison, followed by seven years of probation, on Feb. 11.

According to investigators, Dorfman was driving more than twice the 45-mph speed limit when his 2020 Tesla Model 3 collided with Ingrid Noon's motorcycle on Aug. 26, 2022.

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More: Suspected driver, vehicle located in hit-and-run death of Palm Beach County teacher

The collision threw 51-year-old Noon from her Kawasaki Vulcan S, causing her to tumble along the road. Dorfman called 911 and told dispatchers that the motorcyclist cut him off  an accusation later disproved with the help of forensic analyses, crash reconstructionists and his Tesla's built-in camera.

According to court records, Noon was travelling the speed limit and had begun to slow in response to a yellow traffic light. Investigators said Dorfman didn't notice the changing traffic signal, instead accelerating from 95 to 104 mph moments before the collision.

Investigators found mix of alcohol and marijuana in attorney's system

The crash took place on Southwest 18th Street, near Boca Rio Road, in unincorporated Boca Raton. Minutes before the wreck, both Dorfman and Noon were seen leaving the since-closed Brickyard Restaurant and Micro Brewery about 2.5 miles away.

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First responders who interviewed Dorfman at the crash site said he smelled of alcohol and slurred his words. His eyes were glassy and bloodshot.

Dorfman was taken for unspecified injuries to Boca Raton Regional Hospital, where a blood draw revealed a mix of marijuana and alcohol in his system. Noon was taken to Delray Medical Center, where she died of blunt force trauma. Court records do not indicate whether Noon was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

More: Woman, 62, dies in hit-and-run crash near Wellington

Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies arrested Dorfman on DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges days before the one-year anniversary of Noon's death. A judge placed him on in-house arrest following his release from custody on $75,000 bond.

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Had Dorfman maintained his innocence and been convicted of both charges at trial, he risked being sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison. His guilty plea this week, a deal negotiated by Assistant State Attorney Amy Berkman and defense attorney Doug Duncan, earned him a fraction of the time.

According to the Florida Bar, which regulates the practice of law in Florida, the presumptive discipline for a felony conviction is disbarment.

Dorfman was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2016. Palm Beach County court records indicate that he represented clients in a handful of civil disputes between 2017 and 2021. A call to his law firm Tuesday went straight to voicemail.

Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca attorney responsible for drunken, deadly Tesla crash pleads guilty
An audit into Los Angeles homelessness services has found a slew of problems within the system.

L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia released the Pathways to Permanent Housing Homelessness Audit on Tuesday, which analyzed city-funded interim housing programs that were operational between 2019 and 2023. These included crisis and bridge shelters, A Bridge Home, hotel and motel-based programs and tiny home villages.

Using metrics such as permanent housing placement rates, utilization (retention) rates and returns to homelessness, auditors measured the performance of each program before evaluating permanent housing destination types, including Time-Limited Subsidies, vouchers and other subsidies, unsubsidized permanent housing and permanent supportive housing.

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Their analysis showed a woefully inadequate number of people moved from interim to permanent housing; less than two in ten people in interim housing secured permanent housing over the five-year period, and more than half exiting interim housing returned to homelessness or unknown destinations.

Chinese national arrested for photographing Vandenberg Space Force Base with drone

The audit also found major concerns surrounding long-term stability for people who do make it to permanent housing.

To top it off, over the five-year scope covered in the audit, an average of one in four interim beds  described by officials as the gateway to permanent housing  went unused, costing Los Angeles taxpayers an estimated $218 million.

Citywide interim housing occupancy Fiscal Year 2019: 78% Fiscal Year 2020: 68% Fiscal Year 2021: 64% Fiscal Year 2022: 74% Fiscal Year 2023: 73%

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has a target occupancy rate of 95%, the audit says.

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Auditors were delayed by severe data quality issues, which they cited as the reason for the difficulty of meaningfully evaluating system performance.

Additionally, LAHSAs program management and monitoring are vastly inadequate, the audit found; the agency does not have a formal process in place to regularly review the performance of providers  including determining occupancy and placement rates  and hold underperforming service providers accountable.

A lack of formal policies for elected offices to request reservations for shelter beds based on geographic zones (known as catchments) contributes to beds going unused and compromises service provider efforts to equitably and efficiently house people, auditors said.

FILE  A man walks past a homeless encampment in downtown Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Tents line an overpass on North Hill Street above Cesar Chavez Avenue near U.S. 101 in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photos/Christopher Weber) FILE  In this photo illuminated by an off-camera flash, a tarp covers a portion of a homeless persons tent on a bridge overlooking the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) A man sleeps on the sidewalk in Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (Getty Images) People sleep outside their tents set on the sidewalk early morning Wednesday, June 26, 2024 in the Westlake area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Data shows that some people who secured permanent housing placements using Time Limited Subsidies returned to homelessness in a short amount of time, the audit said. Fewer than one in five people enrolled in city-funded shelters have been able to secure some sort of permanent housing.

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So, what can be done? The audit stated several key recommendations for LAHSA:

Service provider performance: Improving contract and performance monitoring programs to ensure prompt identification of underperforming providers

New bed solutions: Examining the feasibility of developing new, trauma-informed bed solutions that would provide more privacy and comfort

Performance-based incentives: Developing compensation incentives tied to shelter occupancy rates, permanent housing placement rates and other relevant metrics

Increase Housing Navigators: Increasing the number of Housing Navigators to the greatest extent possible so that more people staying in shelters have access to permanent housing connections

Consolidate contracts: Clearly defining the responsibilities of service providers or assessing the feasibility of consolidating services to streamline case management

Revise metrics: Adopting permanent housing placement rate metrics not dependent on shelter occupancy rates to minimize instances where low occupancy results in the appearance of improvement in permanent placement rates

Formalize reservation policy: Develop a formal policy for administering catchments and shelter bed reservations to ensure equitable access to beds and maximize occupancy rates

Monitor outcomes: Improving the monitoring of outcomes for people after their subsidies expire and for people who obtain housing without government assistance

As a city, we must do more to ensure that unhoused community members can move through the rehousing system, obtain permanent housing and receive the support needed to stay there, Controller Kenneth Mejia stated in the audit. Our office remains committed to researching and assessing system performance and making recommendations for how we can more effectively bring our unhoused community members indoors for good.

We hope this audit will be a vital tool for the city to understand the work that needs to be done on evaluating programs and performance in addition to analyzing whether we are making the right decisions to get our unhoused population permanently housed, Controller Mejia concluded.

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The full audit can be viewed here.

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The Aurora City Council approved a contract Tuesday night that will help to launch a new program to give the citys kindergarten students an educational savings account with a starting balance of $50.

The previously-announced program, called Aurora Promise, is set to start as a pilot just in West Aurora School District 129 and East Aurora School District 131, but it will eventually expand to all public school kindergarten students in Aurora by partnering with all six school districts in the city, officials have said. Parts of Oswego-based School District 308, Indian Prairie School District 204, Batavia School District 101 and Kaneland School District 302 are also in Aurora, and only the kindergarten students from those districts living in the city of Aurora would get the savings accounts.

Mayor Richard Irvin said at Tuesdays meeting that partnering with our educational institutions and ensuring that our young people, from a young age, have a chance for a successful future is not only something that local government should be doing, its our responsibility because it helps our future.

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Parents will need to opt-in to the program at first to give the city and its partner, Operation Hope, time to market the program and get it running smoothly, according to Aurora Chief Community Services Officer Viviana Ramirez.

She said if everything goes smoothly, the program will switch to parents needing to opt-out and all six school districts will be brought in after 18 months. At that time, the city will also bring in all the former kindergarten students who didnt opt-in to the program after it was launched.

The savings accounts, which will be seeded with a $50 starting balance by the city of Aurora, can be used for any education after high school, including college or trade school, according to past reporting. The goal is for parents to contribute to the savings over the years, and the city is also planning to look for corporate sponsors to help.

The contract approved by the Aurora City Council on Tuesday is with Operation Hope, which will manage the program. That contract is for 20 years at a price of around $1.96 million.

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Operation Hope already manages a similar program in Atlanta and was the only organization to respond to the citys request for proposals to manage the program, officials have said.

Irvin said the city has spent the past year working on setting this project up and looking at other communities that are also doing similar programs. The program is based on a similar one that has been going in San Francisco for 18 years, but there are similar ones in New York City, Boston and Los Angeles, according to officials.

Aurora Promise would be the first municipal child savings program in Illinois.

However, not all City Council members were on board with the plan. Two voted against the contract with Operation Hope: Alds. John Laesch, at large, and Ted Mesiacos, 3rd Ward.

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Laesch said he thought the concept was good but that it also somewhat skirts the boundaries of what city government should be doing and would be something that would be better taken up by our school districts to pursue as it deals with education.

Mesiacos also said he thought it was a good program, but he questioned why the city was starting its own educational savings program when the state already has a similar initiative called Bright Start.

The entire city of Aurora, all of our schools, every kid thats entering kindergarten can get $50 seed money from the state of Illinois, he said.

If the city simply contributed to that program, then students could instead start with $100 in their Bright Start account, Mesiacos said.

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However, Ramirez said that similar state programs require the student signing up for the program and a parent to provide either a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number.

The goal of Aurora Promise is to be inclusive of all students, so does not require either of those numbers, and accounts are instead linked to a school ID number, she said.

We purposely found a program that all of our children could benefit from regardless of their status, Ramirez said.

Also, Bright Start programs are disproportionately used by white, educated, suburban, middle-aged men who earn a high income, according to Ramirez. Specifically, Black and Latino residents in the state are underrepresented in the program, she said.

Having an Aurora Promise account would not stop someone from also getting an account through Bright Start, according to past reporting.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com
BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's internet watchdog on Wednesday pledged continuous efforts to crack down on financial misconduct in cyberspace to protect people's property.

The Cyberspace Administration of China said it has maintained a strict stance and dealt a heavy blow to online misconduct concerning the financial sector this year, taking action against some social media accounts involved in illegal financial activities.

The targeted offenses include illegally recommending stocks and offering financial intermediary services on social media platforms, and releasing inducing financial information in disregard of regulations, according to the administration.

The crackdown has also increased penalties against some unlicensed websites and accounts that engage in financial businesses, and required relevant platforms to strengthen the disclosure of information and risks, said the administration.

The authority warned that the illegal financial activities are carried out in diverse forms and are difficult to detect, incurring property losses to investors, particularly to small and medium-sized ones. It called on netizens to develop a correct understanding of investment and increase their risk awareness to avoid losses. 
VIENNA (Reuters) -Austria's lower house voted on Wednesday in favour of lifting the parliamentary immunity of the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), Herbert Kickl, to let prosecutors investigate an allegation of perjury as prosecutors requested.

The move paves the way for the Central Prosecutors' Office for Economic Crimes and Corruption (WKStA) to open an investigation relating to a complaint filed in July by a then-lawmaker from the conservative People's Party (OVP) about Kickl's testimony to a parliamentary committee in April.

The complaint alleged that Kickl lied about various issues including advertisements in print media paid for by the eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO. The FPO has said Kickl told the truth. Kickl has not commented.

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"No one is above the rules," OVP lawmaker Christoph Zarits, who filed the motion to lift Kickl's immunity, told the chamber before the vote. "The same rules apply to Herbert Kickl as any other citizen."

The lower house's immunity committee met earlier on Wednesday and recommended that the chamber find that there was no reason not to lift Kickl's immunity. All parties voted in favour, except the FPO.

OVP Chancellor Karl Nehammer is leading coalition talks with the Social Democrats and liberal Neos aimed at forming Austria's first three-party government since 1949.

Those parties came second, third and fourth in Austria's parliamentary election in September, which the FPO won.

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Having secured around 29% of the vote, the FPO would have needed a coalition partner to secure a majority in parliament and govern.

President Alexander Van der Bellen, who oversees the formation of governments, found that no party was willing to govern with the FPO and therefore tasked Nehammer with forming a government instead.

(Reporting by Francois MurphyEditing by Alexandra Hudson)
Austrian oil and gas company OMV has terminated its long-term gas supply contract with Russia's Gazprom Export, the OMV website reported on Dec. 11.

The contract was originally set to last until 2040.

The company cited "numerous material violations of contractual obligations" by Gazprom. According to OMV, gas deliveries stopped on Nov. 16, 2024.

"Thanks to the successful efforts of our gas team over the past three years, OMV is well positioned to leverage our diversified supply of alternative gas sources, ensuring the security of supply for our customers," said OMV CEO Alfred Stern, highlighting current gas reserves from Norway, Austria, and LNG sources.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also commented on the situation, saying on X that Russia's attempt to weaponize energy "didn't work."

"Austria will not allow itself to be blackmailed by Russia," he said.

OMV noted that its gas storage facilities are currently about 85% full, ensuring stability for customers amid the transition.

OMV supplies about 30% of the Austrian gas market, and its biggest shareholder is the Austrian government.

Read also: US considering implementing harsher sanctions on Russian oil ahead of Trumps inauguration, Bloomberg reports

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(WHTM)  Authorities are continuing to investigate the fatal shootout that occurred between murder suspect Santiago Gutierrez and Harrisburg police yesterday.

Police had been looking for Gutierrez since Sunday in connection to the murder of 25-year-old Jhonny Torres on Nectarine Street. On December 10, 2024, Harrisburg Police received a tip that Gutierrez was near the Farm Show Complex. Upon arrival, police encountered Gutierrez, who officials say began shooting at them from inside a white tractor-trailer. Police returned fire until the truck Gutierrez was driving crashed into a telephone pole. He was pronounced dead in the vehicle shortly before 1 p.m.

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The incident shut down the area for hours as police, State Marshalls, and crisis response teams responded to the shootout.

I wish that my police officers, the Pennbrook officer, I wish that they get through this terrible incident because people dont understand this here, said Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter. But we are human beings too, and we have feelings and nobody wants to wake up and getting into a situation that the officers did yesterday.

Police are currently investigating the incident, including how Gutierrez got inside the truck. abc27 reached out to the Dauphin County District Attorney for more information, which will be provided as it becomes available.

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This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Authorities seized 20 pounds of fentanyl in a drug bust Tuesday in the Bronx, with 10 people suffering minor injuries during the operation, the Daily News has learned.

A task force involving the New York Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and New York state troopers participated in the operation around 3 p.m. on the first floor of a building between Prospect Ave. and Southern Blvd. in Belmont, arresting two men and seizing more than 8kg of fentanyl, sources told The News.

There were undercover purchases of drugs at the apartment, this was just the latest, one source told The News. A total of eight-plus kilograms of fentanyl was recovered. Some were in brick form and others were in containers with lids like a cooler.

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EMS was called to the scene when officers opened one container filled with a loose powder that had a strong odor, according to sources. The FDNYs HazMat team and fire personnel also responded to the spill, the FDNY said.

Prior to the bust, two daycare facilities on the first and third floors of the building were evacuated, sources said.

I had no idea, said Brett Boston, the superintendent of the building. Apparently they werent selling fentanyl, they were packaging.

Boston said a tenant who lived for four years in the first-floor apartment where the bust took place was quiet and that there was no traffic in and out of the apartment.

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He never wanted anyone in his apartment. He never wanted anyone inside or any work done on his apartment, Boston said.

Tenants who lived in the building said they had complained for years of trespassers and shootings.

When we complain, nothing gets done, said a woman who asked to remain anonymous. It is sad that it has come to this. We have been dealing with trespassers and drug dealers, and this building has been shot at multiple times. Management has done nothing.

Ten people injured in the operation included eight first responders and two civilians; all suffered minor injuries, sources said. An NYPD detective was treated on scene and a state trooper was taken to St. Barnabas hospital for treatment.

Footage from Citizen shows first responders at the apartment building.
DENVER (KDVR)  Many airport travelers worry about parking at the Denver International Airport due to vehicle theft.

Theres been a lot of thefts at the airport, said Bill Lobosco.

But airport officials told FOX31 that the number of auto thefts at the airport is down 62% from last year. From January to November of 2023, there were 716 reports of auto theft at the airport, and in the same period in 2024 there were 273.

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Ringleader of vehicle theft operation at DIA sentenced

We are in a much better place this year than we were last year, said Lt. Col. Josh Downing with the Colorado State Patrol. Downing is also a board member of the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority. I would feel more comfortable with leaving your car and going on vacation, he said.

DIA has made recent security improvements including the addition of 11 HALO cameras, new barriers at parking lots and an increased presence of security officers.

Upcoming changes include the addition of 200 high-resolution cameras, data storage equipment, and expanded use of license plate reader technology.

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Denver International Airport upgrades parking system: What you need to know

Downing says the area surrounding the airport is seeing big drops in auto theft as well. Law enforcement has focused on these areas and hotels have improved their security.

Plus, suspects in two major car theft rings at the airport have been arrested in recent months and Downing says that is having a big impact.

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.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The holiday season is here and shoppers are searching for the perfect gifts both in person and online.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that online shopping fraud results in more than $1 billion in losses during the holiday season.

Brendan Goode, the chief security officer at Citizens Bank, told 12 News it is important for shoppers to be vigilant online and if it is to good to be good true, it probably is.

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We advise people to just stop, pause in the excitement of shopping, and think about whether this deal even makes sense, Goode said.

He advises consumers to make sure they are shopping on a legitimate website.

I think the most important thing is to just be aware of where youre shopping, he said. Be careful around links that are trying to direct you to their sites. Go to trusted sites.

Goode said to look out for warning signs like getting a text message or email that expresses urgency.

He recommends for buyers to use a credit card to purchase their items because most banks protect against fraud.

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Goode said anyone who believes theyre a victim of fraud should lock their card and flag it to the bank right away.

Theres a lot of work that happens to make sure we understand where its coming from, whats caused it and whether its related to a legitimate transaction that youre unhappy with, as opposed to fraudulent, he said.

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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  Scammers are stepping up their game this holiday season, targeting communities across Eastern North Carolina.

Multiple police departments have already issued warnings. In New Bern, officers said theres a new scam where callers are impersonating employees of local businesses, requesting money through CashApp.

In Lenoir County, scammers have threatened citizens with arrest warrants for allegedly missing jury duty, a scam that has resurfaced over the years. Similar reports are coming from Duplin County.

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We advise our citizens to use all caution. If you dont know the individual, youre not passing on any personal information. Even if you believe the individual or somebody you may know, we ask you to hang up the phone and call an individual and verify that, Sgt. Joseph Leggett with the New Bern Police Department said. Do not give out any personal information for your own safety.

For tips on how to protect yourself from scammers, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A dirty diaper could be the secret ingredient to helping answer an environmental question: how do we clean up all of our plastic waste?

HIRO Technologies hopes these diapers could help solve the plastic crisis. (Eric Henrikson/KXAN)

Its estimated that 7 billion tons of plastic have already been created, and over 400 million tons get added every year. So its just a global mega problem, said Tero Isokauppila with Hiro Technologies.

The Finnish farmer partnered with Miki Agrawal to help solve this problem. They say the solution can be found in baby poop. Theres billions of pounds of baby poop thats basically harnessed by mothers breast milk, Agrawal said.

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Agrawal has built a career out of stuff most people dont like talking about. She founded the bidet company Tushy and the womens underwear line Thinx. Now, she and Isokauppila have a new start-up: Hiro Technologies.

Named for Agrawals son, the company is looking to fungi, grown in a dirty diaper, to eat plastic in landfills.

The plastic problem and diapers

According to Healthline, a baby typically uses around 3,000 diapers a year. The World Economic Forum estimates that 300,000 disposable diapers are sent to landfills every minute.

All those diapers contain plastic in various forms. A report filed by the McArthur Foundation estimated that the diaper industry burns through 248 million barrels of crude oil a year.

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When you give birth, its the most intimate, beautiful, poignant experience, and then youre just going through so much waste, and theres this, like, sort of whiplash, Agrawal said.

Plastic is filling landfills at an alarming rate. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said that over the past 65 years, plastic production has gone from two million metric tons a year to 450 million metric tons.

Diapers can take five hundred years to decompose, according to the OCED. (Eric Henrikson/KXAN) Coffee cups can take thirty years to decompose, according to the OCED. (Eric Henrikson/KXAN) Plastic bags can take twenty years to decompose, according to the OCED. (Eric Henrikson/KXAN)

Plastic doesnt dissolve quickly or efficiently. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that a single plastic straw takes 200 years to decompose.

Plastics are increasing exponentially, and we have no end of life solution to them. Were just punting that into the next generations, Isokauppila said.

Crappy solution

It all comes down to fungi. Think mushrooms or mold; fungi have been on our planet for billions of years and have evolved to eat anything to survive.

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Scientists are turning to fungi to solve the plastic issue. In 2024, scientists in Germany found a plastic-eating fungi species. Isokauppila said his team found several other species as well.

Scientists with Hiro Industries decomposed a diaper into soil using fungi over six months. (Eric Henrikson/KXAN)

These fungi consume plastic by eating lignin, a substance found in trees. Lignin is used in many types of plastic.

Growing this fungi requires fertilizer. Enter baby poop. The Hiro Industries team are developing a diaper, which once used, can serve as the breeding ground for this fungi.

A small pouch comes with the diaper, which can be tossed into the dirty diaper during changing. This pouch feeds off of the poop and then grows, consuming the diaper and any surrounding plastics. Since diapers end up in landfills, they could help clean up the plastic in these landfills.

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The team tested multiple types of diapers to see if pee or poop or a combo of both would make growth challenging. They found that the chemicals in pee didnt interfere with the fungi growth, but actually help provide a moist environment.

Launching a brand

This week, Hiro Industries launched their Kickstarter in hopes of funding the project. As part of the campaign, theyre offering an at-home science kit that shows how fungi consumes plastic.

Its safe, easy, and you can see with your own naked eyes of how plastic gets broken down, Isokauppila said.

This at home kit shows how fungi consumes plastic. (Eric Henrikson/KXAN)

While the idea of using diapers to solve a crisis might turn many off, Agrawal said that it is actually an opportunity.

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When things are weird or awkward for culture, there is the opportunity to change culture, to bring culture forward, to get them to learn about something new, she said.

The diapers are scheduled to launch in February 2025.

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.
Black folks: President-elect Donald Trump has made his agenda for America clear for his upcoming term with Project 2025. While things were bad for us his first presidency, things are only going to get much worseand we should all be on edge.

From implementing discriminatory policing practices to executing an all out attack on immigrants, here are how things will continue to go downhill for Black people under Trump these next four years: Consider this a warning.

Education

If Trump keeps his campaign promise to get rid of the U.S. Department of Education, federal protections for Black students at public schools and college campuses will be weakened. His plan to erase Black history and the topics in the curriculum will perpetuate anti-Blackness.

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Trump may also do away with Head Start and universal access to quality early childhood education, as well as defund public education and change student loan policies to help wealthier families. All of his will disproportionately affect Black students.

Immigration

Throughout his campaign, Trump has made a promise to go after immigrants. Considering his racist rhetoric regarding Haitian immigrants in Ohio, Black immigrants will undoubtedly feel his wrath. Trump has stated he would revoke Temporary Protected Status for the Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, and deport them if he won the election.

Trump wants to completely change the nations immigration laws starting Jan. 20, when he officially takes office. He has promised to push for mass deportations and an end to birthright citizenship.

Policing

Trump has plans to dismantle the U.S. Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, which enforces federal laws regarding anti-discrimination, civil equality and police conduct. Consent decrees have been issued in the wake of high-profile police killings that generate public pressure to investigate.

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During his first term, the Trump administration limited the use of those decrees and will most likely continue so during his second term. This would lead to more aggressive and unchecked police practices, which disproportionately affects Black people. Trump also promised to bring back certain law enforcement methods include using stop-and-frisk, enforcing gun laws strictly and working with ICE to arrest and deport criminal immigrants.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

One of the biggest themes of Project 2025 is Trumps employment of executive orders to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government and the private sector. Weve already seen this in action with Trumps Cabinet picks, who are mostly white and male. His Justice Department is expected to challenge diversity policies as discriminatory and target university admissions and racial equity programs. This has led to civil rights advocates fearing the reversal of diversity commitments due to scrutiny, especially if lawsuits over DEI policies occur.

Hate Crimes

Just one day after Trump was elected last month, Black students across the country received racist text messages saying that they will be taken to a plantation. This served as a stark reminder that during Trumps first term, hate crimes against Black people surged with a total of 48.4% of those crimes motivated by anti-Black bias.

Considering Trumps rhetoric during his last campaign, Black people can expect this dangerous trend to continue.

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BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- China urges Canada to reflect on its own situation and cease its interference in China's internal affairs, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday, referring to recent Canadian sanctions on Chinese personnel.

Mao made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on sanctions levied against certain Chinese individuals for alleged human rights violations that Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly announced on Tuesday.

"Without any factual basis, the Canadian government has made false allegations against China in the name of human rights and imposed illicit sanctions on Chinese personnel," Mao said.

She noted that this constitutes gross interference in China's internal affairs, and is a serious violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns Canada's actions, she said.

The Chinese government follows a people-centered development philosophy and attaches absolute importance to respecting and protecting human rights, Mao said. The fact is that China has achieved enormous progress in the field of human rights and made important contributions to the global human rights cause, and this is impossible to deny without bias, she stressed.

She indicated that Canada is facing its own list of human rights issues, and that its human rights record is far from spotless. Even today, Canada's indigenous population faces systemic racial discrimination and unfair treatment.

"Instead of dealing with this, Canada has chosen to slander and vilify other countries, and is spreading lies about China's alleged human rights issues. This move is like a thief crying 'Stop, thief!' and will not convince the world," Mao said.

The facts have laid bare Canada's double standards and hypocrisy, she said. Canada is in no position to lecture others on human rights or point fingers at human rights situations in other countries, and it does not have any right to act as a judge and impose sanctions arbitrarily.

China strongly urges Canada to reflect on its own situation, cease interfering in China's internal affairs, stop undermining China's interests and image under the pretext of a human rights cause, end its crude political stunt, and lift its unlawful sanctions on relevant Chinese personnel immediately, Mao stressed.

"We will take all necessary measures to defend our sovereignty, security and development interests firmly," she said. 
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says her country will increase its presence in Syria with the goal of dismantling the arsenal of chemical weapons left behind after the recent ousting of president Bashar al-Assad.

"We now have the chance to keep the world safe from al-Assad's chemical weapons once and for all," Baerbock said, offering German assistance for the removal and destruction of weaponry, a process it has previously aided in Syria.

"The weapons that still exist must therefore be placed in international custody as quickly as possible," she said after a Cabinet meeting in Berlin.

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Baerbock also announced the appointment of Tobias Lindner, a senior official at her ministry, as Germany's special coordinator for Syria.

Germany is also set to provide 8 million ($8.4 million) in an initial package of humanitarian aid to Syria to help stabilize the country, Baerbock announced.

Syria's food prices have drastically increased amid the ousting of al-Assad's government, who fled Damascus for Moscow as rebel forces swept through the country. Noting that the price of bread alone has risen by 900% in the past few days, Baerbock said more aid needed to reach local people quickly.
Dec. 10LIMA  The city of Lima will select a new police chief next summer for the second time in as many years.

Chief James Baker will retire on July 7, it was announced during a meeting of the Lima City Council's Human Resource Committee held Monday evening. Baker was sworn into office as chief on July 17, 2024, to succeed Angel Cortes, who retired after 33 years with the LPD and two years as its chief.

Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith on Tuesday said Baker has not yet submitted any official paperwork but has made his retirement plans known publicly.

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Baker's retirement, the mayor said, had been a foregone conclusion since he was appointed chief due to his enrollment in a Deferred Retirement Option Plan, or DROP. According to the mayor, the program was developed in the early 2000s to attract employees for fire and police departments. Retirement dates are based on an enrollee's length of service. Cortes had been enrolled in the same program, according to the mayor.

While Baker's retirement will take effect in July, it is expected that a promotional assessment examination to fill the departmental vacancy will not be prepared until sometime in May, Lima Human Resources Director Della Bradford told city council representatives Monday evening. Smith said testing is expected to take place in August. The mayor said she would appoint an acting chief  either Major Ron Holman or Major Curt Hile  to lead the department during the interim.

Holman and Hile are the two members of the department who are currently eligible to take the examination. If both elect not to take the exam additional LPD officers would then become eligible.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Last Friday, Dec. 6, was a normal night for the band lespecial. They performed at the Westcott Theater.

After the show, we loaded all our gear into our sprinter van with our trailer behind it, said Luke Bemand, the bass player of the band. Then drove to the Collegian Inn and Suites.

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The next morning the band had found their van was broken into and three of their bass guitars were missing.

Its never happened before, which is fortunate, Bemand said. This is unfortunately a reality of being a touring musician. You run the risk of this.

The three guitars taken include a custom-made blood moon bass, a Black Sterling Music Man Sting Ray, which was funded by a fan, and a Carvin Five String Fretless, a gift from Lukes bandmates.

The police officer told us that it wasnt the first time in that parking lot and area that theres been a theft, Bemand said. Its possible somebody saw it at the venue, its possible someone saw it in the sprinter van at the hotel.

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Luke then took to social media.

It got a lot of attention, a lot of sharing and a lot of local musicians from the Upper New York area reaching out to people at venues. Weve been calling guitar shops, pawn shops, any music stores, Bemand said. We have a whole list weve been reaching out to. Its in a network and weve been submitting photos.

While they wait to get the instruments back, the band is staying upbeat.

While their valuable, possessions can be replaced. Nobody was hurt in this incident, everybody is safe, Bemand said. I think you try and look at the positive and look at what you can learn.

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Syracuse police say the investigation is still ongoing. In the meantime, the band has started a GoFundMe to replace their guitars.

You can find it by searching Rally for lespecial: stolen basses and gear.

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Sen.-elect Jim Banks (R-Ind.) advocated for government reforms favoring working-class Americans in a Wednesday policy document outlining his approach to improving the countrys economy and global standing.

Nobody has suffered more because of bad trade and economic policymaking than Americas working and middle classes, Banks, who is finishing his fourth term in the House, wrote in his proposal.

Our policies should focus on doing right by them, especially those working in manufacturing, the trades, and other skilled fields that dont require a four-year degree. Republicans must not take their vote for granted.

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Banks won his first Senate campaign last month. He has pushed for the Republican Party to become the party of working- and middle-class Americans, as the son of a factory worker and a nurse. He was the first in his family to go to college, which he has said distanced him from self-funded politicians.

I grew up in a trailer park. Thats where I came from. And whats incredible about that, is that working-class background is the same background as most people from Indiana, Banks told Politico after launching his campaign.

I come from a place where I can represent the people who elected me to serve them and I think thats a powerful asset to take to the Senate.

He grew in popularity following the release of a detailed memo in 2021 that offered solutions to the Republican Party on issues like immigration, trade and opposing wokeness.

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Bankss new document unveils his approach to solving citizens financial crises by boosting industries through apprenticeships and technical training to bolster defense-based manufacturing.

We need to restore our capacity to make ships, munitions, and other materiel in America, the incoming senator wrote.

By boosting innovation and supporting sectors with high growth potential, we will secure Americas position at the forefront of global manufacturing.

Banks, a strong supporter of secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, argued that the nation has regressed due to wokeness, which he referenced as a poison in military sectors preventing the armed forces from advancing.

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As federal policymakers have allowed the defense-industrial base to wither, so too has the Department of Defense prioritized trendy progressive politics over the lethality and wellbeing of American service-members, Banks, a former service member, stated.

Over the last four years, our top military brass has been more focused on DEI than it has recruitment, leaving us understaffed and unprepared to counter adversaries like China and Iran. We need to immediately remove divisive, leftwing politics from the Pentagon and refocus on merit, so we can return to identifying and rewarding excellence across the U.S. Armed Forces.

He said the GOP has a chance to solidify a successful economy under President-elect Trump.

We must build on President Trumps leadership on tariffs and trade remedies, take bold steps to protect our industries from predatory practices, strengthen U.S. manufacturing, and expand the export of American-made goods and commodities, he wrote.

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We will level the playing field, giving our workers and businesses a fair shot to succeed.

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The assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of Midtown Manhattan has spawned a cottage industry of apologetics for hating private health insurance companies. As a justification for murder, this is obscene. But its also a misdiagnosis of the landscape of American health insurance.

To start with, most Americans remain happy with their own health insurance. The comprehensive Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Consumer Experiences with Health Insurance found in 2023 that 81 per cent of Americans rated their own health insurance as excellent or good. Other polls have found similar results.

In the nature of their business, insurers ration care and fight to control costs. These only rise when everything is subsidised, because healthcare providers never need to worry about pricing any customers out of their business. Insurers limit options. They deny claims that go outside what policies cover.

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Nobody likes that, but in one form or another, all of these are inevitable features of any healthcare system, from nationalised single-payer to people paying only for what they can afford out of pocket. In some countries, rationing of care happens de facto through delays in treatment or in treatments not offered in the first place. But in spite of these unpleasant realities of life, most Americans are a long way from taking up arms against the insurers charged with these thankless tasks.

At the same time, public confidence in the American systems of health insurance and health care has plunged since Barack Obama turned the nations politics inside-out to pass the Affordable Care Act in 2009-10. That speaks to the unintended consequences of those reforms for the people at the margins.

According to Gallup polls, public faith in the quality of American healthcare peaked at 62 per cent in 2010-12, and now stands at 44 per cent. Confidence in health insurance coverage peaked at 38 per cent in 2012 (before Obamacare was implemented), and now stands at 28 per cent. Both figures are the lowest since Gallup began polling the question in 2001.

Reform didnt deliver. Obamacare required insurers to cover everyone, and tried to force healthy young people to buy into the same risk pools as the old and the sick. Instead of using tools tailored to those with pre-existing conditions, Obamas plan insisted on spreading the cost of their care across all policyholders.

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Predictably, this drove up the costs of policies faster than the political system could absorb demands for more subsidies to buy those policies. If you want something to get more expensive, subsidise it. Eventually, public resistance to being legally mandated to buy private health insurance policies  one of the key planks of Obamas plan  led Congress to repeal the hated mandate.

Obamacare was also accompanied by compelling insurers to cover an ever-increasing list of things in every policy, including a mandate for contraceptive coverage. Of course, if you require everyone to buy insurance for everything whether they intend to use it or not, it will cost the insurers more money to issue those policies. Predictably, they will pass on those costs to the people who buy the policies in the form of higher premiums.

Bureaucratic red tape means that ever more medical bills arrive months after the fact. Insurers have tried to combat surprise billing by requiring prior approval of non-emergency major procedures, so that people at least know when coverage is denied beforehand rather than get stuck with an unexpected bill they cant pay. But that, too, leads critics to claim that essential care is being denied.

Similarly, insurers have tried to speed up the processing of claims by using AI tools to evaluate them. But that just leads to criticism that machines are denying care to humans.

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Money is never unlimited. If private or public insurers have to blindly cover everyone, as Obamacare mandated, they will try to limit what they will cover. If insurers are further compelled to blindly cover everything, they will look harder at specific claims. If they can limit neither whom they cover nor what they cover, they will either raise their policy premiums or get out of the business.

Its rich for progressives who have pushed for all of these developments  from guaranteed issue of policies to people with pre-existing conditions to mandates of what those policies cover  to now complain about increasing premiums and rising claim denial rates. What did they think would happen?

So now, they are reduced to cheering for literally shooting the messenger.

Dan McLaughlin is a senior writer at National Review

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The premier of the southern German state of Bavaria, Markus Soder, commemorated the victims of the Nazi German regime by laying a wreath and falling to his knees on Wednesday at the monument to the heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto.

Soder's gesture in Warsaw closely echoes a pivotal moment in post-war German history, when then-West German chancellor Willy Brandt spontaneously knelt in the snow before the same monument on December 7, 1970.

Brandt's action, although controversial at the time among some West German voters, was widely seen as a watershed act of contrition for Germany's crimes during World War II, and a key step toward rebuilding German ties with Poland, which suffered terribly under Nazi occupation.

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Soder's visit on Wednesday comes just a day after his political ally, German conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democrats (CDU), met Tusk in Warsaw. Soder is the leader of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

Soder is also scheduled to meet Tusk while in the Polish capital. The Bavarian premier said that he'd closely coordinated his trip with Merz.

Soder emphasized the great importance of relations with Poland for Bavaria. Under Tusk, Poland is experiencing "a new democratic beginning," he said.

Poland has also long been a "central security partner" for Germany and must be integrated more centrally into the European security architecture, Soder said.

Soder also described Poland as a good role model for Germany when it comes to rebuilding the strength of the military: "Poland is the bulwark on the NATO border. And that's why Poland is a very central, important partner for us."
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  For another year Grace Presbyterian Church has transformed into a spectacle of Christmas lights as part of the annual Christmas Extravaganza.

You can stop by the church in Panama City any night between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. from now until New Years Eve.

There is no cost to see the display however any monetary donation is appreciated and goes towards paying the electric bill, the church itself, and upgrading the holiday display for years to come.

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One of the main reasons the light show continues to return to Panama City year in and year out is because of the deep connection it has with residents both local and out of state.

Set sail towards an evening of memories in Panama City

People come from out of town, out of state to come see this Christmas display, its just great, said event organizer Scott Fester. People walking in and seeing the smiles, and then they leave and theyre like, Wow. Or theyll come back next year, be like, Oh, you added this. Its always great because they actually admire and they like to see the things that we add to it.

Some of the new components of this years Christmas Extravaganza include a snowball launcher which gives attendees the chance to shoot snowballs at different Christmas decorations for just three dollars.

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Every Friday and Saturday night you will also have the chance to get your photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office has been busy keeping the county safe and busy wrapping Christmas presents for local kiddos. The donated items will be going out to help needy families have a merry Christmas. This year is special, weve done this for over 20 years. This is one of the first years we were able to get more than 100 families and about 300 children. Well be delivering a variety of gifts from age 0 to 18, said BCSO Deputy 1st Class Denna Aragon.

USPS offering $100K reward after mail stolen in Albuquerque

Along with the Christmas presents, they will also donate holiday food boxes, that include a turkey, mashed potatoes, and other non-perishable items as well as household necessities. Deputies and BCSO employees partnered with United and Kroger grocery stores

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BERLIN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Germany's leading auto supplier Bosch may cut between 8,000 to 10,000 jobs in the country, according to Deputy Supervisory Board Chairman Frank Sell.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Sell described the current atmosphere within the company as "absolutely unbearable," as recent staff reduction measures have heightened uncertainty among employees.

The cuts come as Europe's automotive industry grapples with weakening demand, high production costs, and intensifying competition. Bosch, which employs approximately 135,000 workers in Germany, is facing mounting pressure to adapt to these challenges.

Sell, who also chairs the company's works council, revealed that Bosch has already reduced working hours for about 2,500 employees, with the measure potentially extending to as many as 10,000 staff.

The company has not ruled out further layoffs, following its announcement in November to trim 5,500 jobs across its global operations in the coming years.

Sell added that labour representatives and unions are now working on an action plan for 2025, which may include strikes if negotiations fail.

The potential job cuts underscore the struggles faced by German automakers and suppliers in navigating the slower-than-expected shift to EVs and other structural industry changes. Bosch's acknowledgment of further potential workforce reductions highlights the broader challenges within the sector. 
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  2 Bay District Schools employees are facing termination following a child abuse and neglect incident on a school bus.

Panama City police arrested 57-year-old Sylinda Goodman 2 weeks ago. She was charged with four counts, including child abuse and simple assault with the intentional threat to commit violence.

BDS students will follow a new dress code come August

Goodman is accused of hitting, punching, and pinching several children while working as a paraprofessional. She allegedly encouraged students to hit each other as well.

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Bay District Schools bus driver Althea Russell was also charged with child neglect for failing to intervene or report the abuse.

In a statement from Bay District Schools, Superintendent Mark McQueen said:

We will not tolerate any actions that threaten the safety of our students. The conduct of these two employees is absolutely abhorrent and does not reflect the values of our district.

The 2 employees are now suspended without pay. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

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Bell Textron Inc. is considering far north Fort Worth for a new manufacturing facility that would build parts for the next generation of military helicopters. The plant off Interstate 35W would employ more than 500 workers.

The aerospace company, which is based in Fort Worth, is also considering undisclosed sites in two other states. Bell is expected to announce soon which site it will choose, based in part on local and state incentives.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted to offer the company an incentives package worth more than $46 million if it chooses the Fort Worth property. The roughly 34 acre site is at 15100 N. Beach St., which is in the city but across the Denton County line.

Bell was awarded an estimated $7.1 billion contract in 2022 to build V-280 Valor aircraft for the U.S. Army. The V-280 will replace the Armys Black Hawks, the model that has been used since the 1970s. In early 2023, Bell broke ground on a $20 million facility in Grand Prairie, where the V-280 Valor will be tested.

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The aircraft acts as a helicopter during take off and landing, but can reconfigure itself in the air to fly faster than traditional helicopters. Ultimately, the defense contract is worth potentially $70 billion over many years.

The Army chose Bell Textron to develop the next generation of combat aircraft, based on Bells V-280 Valor tiltrotor.

If Bell chooses the Fort Worth site for its manufacturing facility, the company will need to make a $632 million capital investment in the property to receive incentives from the city. The company would also have to create a minimum of 520 full-time jobs with minimum average annual salaries of $85,000 at the site by the end of 2039.

City incentives would total over $47.5 million for Bell over the next two decades. That includes a 10-year tax abatement, a $1 million grant from the citys economic development initiatives fund, and up to 10 annual grants.

The city projects the facility could generate $16 million in tax revenue for Fort Worth over the next 20 years.

Fort Worth competes with sites in other states

Bell disclosed that it is considering the sites in two other states in its application for state economic incentives. In that application, Bell indicated it planned to apply for a $2.6 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund, a state-level economic development program.

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The company applied for incentives through Texas Jobs, Education, Technology and Innovation Act program, which provides companies with an avenue to work with the governors office and school districts to reduce part of their school property taxes. Bell could receive as many as 10 annual tax incentives grants from the state.

The site Bell is considering was previously home to a Stanley Black & Decker facility. The tool maker shut down operations there in 2023. The site is valued at over $47.5 million, according to Denton County appraisal data. It is part of AllianceTexas, a 27,000 acre development that has become a hub for distribution and manufacturing facilities. The property is not owned by Alliances developer, Hillwood.

The sites existing building is over 447,000 square feet; if Bell selects it, the company plans to expand the building by 5,400 square feet.

V-280 Valor is the Armys new workhorse

The UH-60 Black Hawk has been the Armys workhorse for more than 40 years and has seen action in every major Army operation including Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan. The Armys current fleet includes more than 2,000 Black Hawks.

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The next generation of workhorse, the V-280 Valor will incorporate technology, efficiencies and maneuverability that couldnt have been imagined decades ago.

Bell was founded by Lawrence Dale Bell in 1935, as Bell Aircraft Corp. in Buffalo, New York. He moved the company to Fort Worth in 1951.

Today, Bell is a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., a multi-industry company that also includes Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes, as well as other vehicles and products.

With annual revenue of over $3.1 billion, Bell made up up 23% of Textrons revenue in 2023. Bell employs about 4,000 people in the Metroplex.
A beloved Tempe High School teacher died in a wrong-way crash on Loop 202 in Mesa late Saturday that also left others injured.

The crash occurred around 11 p.m. near Power Road when a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes collided head-on with a passenger car, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The driver of the passenger vehicle, identified as 50-year-old Nasser Chidiac, a Mesa resident and Tempe High School teacher, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The wrong-way driver, a 23-year-old man from San Tan, suffered life-threatening injuries and remains hospitalized. Authorities did not release his name and are investigating whether impairment played a role in the collision.

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A passenger in Chidiacs vehicle was also rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. Their current condition was not disclosed.

Chidiac was a math teacher at Tempe High School, where he was in his third year. School administrators shared the heartbreaking news with students and parents in a letter Sunday, mourning the loss of a valued educator known for his professionalism and humility.

Its with a heavy heart and deep sadness we share with you that Nasser Chidiac, beloved math teacher, was tragically killed in a car accident Saturday night, the letter stated. The schools crisis management team was available to support students and staff.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Beloved' Tempe High School math teacher killed in wrong-way crash
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Bentonville School District said it is seeing a rise in drivers running school bus stop signs.

Between August and October, the district reported 92 incidents to police departments across Benton County.

Here is the monthly breakdown:

30 in August

43 in September

19 in October

Jason Salmons, the districts transportation director, said in a news release that he started releasing the numbers because of the volume of incidents and they are increasing.

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Salmons said in the first three months of the 2023-24 school year, there were 69 incidents and 48 in that span the previous school year.

He added a new section in the November transportation report, Red Light Runners Reported.

Bentonville Schools announces parent choice expansion

Salmons described a red light runner as a vehicle that passes a stopped school bus that has its red lights on and stop arm deployed.

Each school bus has a camera facing forward and one facing backward and the footage is analyzed in each incident. Bus drivers have to make a detailed report on each incident and submit it to the transportation office after they finish their route.

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More than half of the 92 reports were in Bentonville, according to the report.

Arkansas state law requires drivers to make a complete stop when a school bus extends its stop sign and flashes its red lights, regardless of the direction of travel. Those who fail to stop can be fined up to $1,000, suspension of driving privileges and possible prison time.

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NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT)  Law enforcement officers with the New Bern Police Department are investigating a shooting that occurred on Tuesday.

Police were called to Jones Street after a ShotSpotter report came in around 6 pm Tuesday night. Officers arrived shortly after the alert but were unable to find any evidence of a shooting, a suspect or any witnesses.

Thirty minutes after police arrived at the scene, 27 year old Tahir Henderson of New Bern arrived at Carolina East Medical Center for the treatment of a gunshot wound. Police are trying to find any links between Hendersons gunshot wounds and the ShotSpotter alert. Henderson is in stable condition and has been released from the medical center.

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The police department is asking for the publics help in the investigation. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the departments Tip411 system by texting NBPDTIP with your tip to 847411.

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(Bloomberg) -- Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trumps pick to serve as Treasury secretary, is planning to meet with several Republican senators on Wednesday as he continues to build support for his nomination.

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Bessent is scheduled to hold meetings with several members of the Senate Finance Committee, the panel with jurisdiction over tax and trade policy, according to the Trump transition team. He is slated to get together with Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Steve Daines of Montana, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

Bessent, the founder of macro hedge fund Key Square Group, is expected to have an easy route to Senate confirmation. On Tuesday, he met with Mike Crapo of Idaho, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. Crapo after the meeting called Bessent an accomplished business leader who understands the importance of preserving and building on the pro-growth tax policies.

Earlier: Bessent Meets With Key Senate Republicans on Treasury Nomination

If confirmed by the Senate, Bessent would likely work closely with Crapo as Republicans seek to pass a sweeping legislation that renews Trumps 2017 tax overhaul and incorporates his 2024 campaign promises to eliminate taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security benefits.

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Bessents sprawling remit at Treasury would include overseeing public financing and the Internal Revenue Service. Hes also seen as someone wholl have a hand in helping Trump choose a replacement for Fed Chair Jerome Powell when his term expires in May 2026.

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There's another cold snap coming Wednesday night, but overall it's expected to be a mild winter for the Sunshine State, with average temps above normal in most areas. But it may feels pretty cold out there Thursday morning, with temperatures in the 30s in North Florida (and near freezing in the Tallahassee area), in the high 30s and 40s in Central Florida, and the 40s and 50s in south Florida. The odds are good you may turnon your heater.

Which brings up the age-old question: What temperature should you set your thermostat in the winter in Florida?

It comes down to a matter of personal choice, comfort, and health, and possibly what you can afford.

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According to a report released by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association in October, the average cost of home heating through electricity natural gas, heating oil and propane is projected to surge upward an estimated 10.5% nationwide this winter. The average American household is expected to pay anywhere from $644 to $1,963 in heating costs between October and March.

It shouldn't be quite as bad down here, of course. The prediction for the southern region is an average of $527 for natural gas, $1,288 for electricity and $1,288 for propane in the same period, an average increase of 9.7%.

When is it time to turn on the heat in your home?

While it's ultimately a personal choice, most experts recommend turning on the heat in your home when the outside temperature is less than 55 or 50 degrees, or when the indoor temperature dips below 64 degrees.

This may change depending on whether or not there are children or elderly people in the home, how well-insulated your home is, and your personal comfort levels.

What's the best temperature to set your thermostat to in the winter in Florida?

Most people are comfortable at temps between 68 and 72 degrees. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, you can save energy in the winter by keeping the thermostat closer to 68 degrees while you're awake.

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While you're asleep or away from your home, the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy recommends setting it lower, either manually or with a programmable thermostat. DirectEnergy.com suggests 66 to 62 degrees for those times., so your heater isn't kicking on when it's not needed.

"You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7-10F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting, the department said on its website.

The World Health Organization recommends keeping indoor temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees for healthy people. But for those who are very young, elderly, or who have health problems, the minimum temperature shouldn't dip below 68 degrees, the organization says.

What temperature do you keep your thermostat on in the winter?

In the unscientific poll we set up last month, most of our readers liked it hot. 74 or above, according to 20.79% of the 428 readers who responded as of Dec. 11.

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Then it flips back and forth, as if the readers were fighting over the setting. Next was 68 degrees, chosen by 18.22% of voters. Then 72, for 17.29% of you. Then 70, then 73.

The least popular choice? 69 degrees, with 3.97%. Even 64 or below had more votes. What temperature do you set your thermostat on when it gets cold outside?

Heating tips to keep costs down

To help minimize that heating bill, here are some tips from the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy:

If you have a programmable thermostat, set it as low as comfortable and lower it again when you're sleeping or away from home.

Clean or replace filters in your central heating or furnace unit once a month, or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Make sure the air vents in your home are not blocked by furniture or clogged with debris.

Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you're finished cooking or bathing. When replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.

During the winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

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You should also have your heating system inspected and cleaned by a professional. Better to find out any problems now and get some preventive maintenance done before it cuts out on a freezing night.

How to keep cold air out

According to Energy Star, the government program launched by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), leaks around windows can lead to uncomfortable drafts and energy losses.

You can also take some steps to give your heating system less to do by keeping cold air out of the house in the first place.

Check for leaks around door and window frames, and use caulk or weatherstripping to seal them up.

If your windows need replacing, Consumer Reporters recommends considering low-emissivity (low-e) storm windows, which are coated to help keep the warmth inside.

Block cold air coming in underneath doors in your home with a draft stopper or even a rolled-up towel.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Best temperature to set Florida thermostats when it's cold out
A Bettendorf woman is in the Scott County Jail after police say she cashed a fraudulent check for almost $3,000.

According to the criminal complaint, Lucelenia Ward, 41, cashed a check for $2,998.50 at TBK Bank on March 7 of this year. On March 11, the bank was notified that the check was returned as altered or fictitious. The bank tried to contact Ward, who said she started a new remote job and the check she cashed was her first paycheck. She said she would stay in contact with the bank, but later stopped answering their phone calls.

Lucelenia Ward (Scott County Jail)

On July 2, Ward was in jail on unrelated charges and told police during an interview that she received an email from an unidentified person saying she could make money filling out surveys. She said she received the email on March 6 and received the fraudulent check in the mail the next day, according to the criminal complaint. She cashed the check and went to Walmart to buy Green Dot bank cards as she was instructed to do by the person who sent her the check. She said after she got the bank cards, she was unable to contact the unidentified person, so she sold the cards on Facebook Marketplace.

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The criminal complaint says police executed two search warrants on accounts that belonged to Ward; one was for her Google account and all the emails from that time frame had been deleted. The second search warrant was for her Facebook account, which showed that she did not list anything on Facebook Marketplace.

Ward is being held in the Scott County Jail on a secured $10,000 bond and has a preliminary hearing on December 20.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  The Better Business Bureau (BBB) seeks to inform the public of job scam postings.

Many students look for jobs that they can work while pursuing their education. These jobs need to be flexible and part-time to help cover students expenses and finding one that covers these needs quickly can be difficult. The BBB said that they have received many reports about employment scams targeting these students, impersonating professors and even university departments in a bid to steal information and money.

Be careful when a job or internship posting seems too good to be true, said Mallory Wojciechowski, president and CEO of BBB. Fake applications may ask you for personal and even financial information that a scammer can use to steal from you.

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To avoid being scammed always do your research into the company, be aware of red flags like typos and never send money to strangers.

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 WNCT.
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

What We Take For Granted

Among the institutional pillars of democracy  a free press, an independent judiciary, robust civic and religious organizations  a nonpartisan professionalized military may be the one we take most for granted and overlook.

Set aside for the moment your concerns about American imperialism, the military-industrial complex, and the deep streak of jingoism that has long infected domestic politics and foreign policy. All legitimate concerns in their own right, but they can mask the U.S. militarys mostly sterling record at staying out of the partisan political fray. That includes developing and sustaining an highly educated officer corps that provides continuity and professional judgment regardless of which party is in the White House.

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Like he has with other democratic underpinnings that represent a threat to his power, Trump is promising to remake the military into a compliant, servile, compromised husk of its former self. Trump has surrounded himself with some of the loudest, most extreme right-wing advocates for bringing the military to submission.

Pete Hegseth, Trumps nominee for Pentagon secretary, emerges from this right-wing subculture. Its fortuitous that Hegseth is a dim bulb with a sordid personal and professional life that may ultimately scuttle his own nomination. But Hegseth is not alone, and the vision for the military that he represents is shared in Trumps circle and by Trump himself, who had praised Hitlers generals because he perceives them (wrongly) to have put personal loyalty to the leader above all else.

Trumps undermining of the military fits neatly into our matrix of Trump II threats  retribution, corruption, and destruction. Among those, its destruction first and foremost, which almost inevitably leads to opportunities for corruption. The retribution element is more nuanced than, say, Trumps jihad against the Justice Department. But having surrounded himself in his first term by my generals  nearly all of whom ended up betraying him in his own mind  Trumps urge to bring the military to heel isnt that hard to figure.

All of this comes to mind today because of an important new piece by Don Moynihan, professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, about Trumps planned military purge. Heres an excerpt:

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In the short run, we should be very worried about what Trump will do with a military repurposed to serve him, and not the constitution. In the long run, the politicization of the American military will undermine its capacity. What happens if every new President distrusts the generals in place because they were selected via a politicized process? They then choose their own, adding to the instability in leadership. Under such circumstances, expect a Putinification of the military, where officers are afraid to tell the President the truth.

Its worth a read.

Nepotism Watch

Donald Trump Jr.s fiancee (still?) Kimberly Guilfoyle is President-elect Trumps pick for ambassador to Greece.

Trump II Clown Show

Tom Barrack , the chair of Trumps 2017 inaugural committee who was acquitted on 2021 charges of illegally lobbying for the United Arab Emirates: ambassador to Turkey.

At least three GOP senators are noncommittal about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. s nomination to be HHS secretary.

Harmeet Dhillons nomination as assistant attorney general for civil rights prompted outcry from civil rights groups.

GOP Senators To Watch

Its a fools errand to expect Republican senators to save the Republic from a Trump II presidency. Full stop. But there is some subtlety and nuance around some senators some of the time that may help illuminate where the tectonic plate boundaries of the MAGA movement lay. Especially with MAGA leaders promising to defeat any GOP senators who impede Trump, these may be active fault lines for the next four years.

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Heritage Action is launching a pressure campaign against these GOP senators to support Trumps nominees. Its small, mostly nothingburger effort to allow Heritage Action to tout its pro-Trump bona fides, but its a reasonably good proxy for the list of GOP senators to keep an eye on:

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (SD)

Mitch McConnell (KY)

Lisa Murkowski (AK)

Susan Collins (ME)

Joni Ernst (IA)

Bill Cassidy (LA)

Thom Tillis (NC)

Todd Young (IN)

John Curtis (UT)

Corruption Watch

Eric Trump flew across the world to headline a cryptocurrency conference in the United Arab Emirates this week and told thousands of enthusiastic attendees that he and his father, the U.S. president-elect, were effectively working in tandem to push crypto, a business sector the family is directly invested in.NYT

The Last Dregs Of Trump Accountability

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is still trying to salvage what he can of Trumps conviction in the hush money case. In a new filing, Bragg offered the trial judge some alternatives to dismissing the case outright, which is what Trump has asked for:

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The proposals include freezing the case until Trump is out of office, or agreeing that any future sentence wouldnt include jail time. Another idea: closing the case with a notation that acknowledges his conviction but says that he was never sentenced and that his appeal wasnt resolved because of presidential immunity.

In related news, New York Attorney General Letitia James office rejected Trumps request that she agree to vacate the $454 million civil fraud judgment against him.

New Charges In Wisconsin Fake Electors Case

In the fake electors scheme prosecution in Wisconsin, prosecutors have filed 10 new felony charges each against Trump attorneys Kenneth Chesebro and Jim Troupis, and Trumps director of Election Day operations Mike Roman.

Oops 

Leak investigations during the Trump administration extended far deeper into Congress than previously known, leading to scrutiny of the records of dozens of staff members, the Justice Departments inspector general found in what he described as worrisome overreach.NYT



Congresswoman Allegedly Assaulted In Rayburn Building

A man was arrested for allegedly assaulting Rep. Nancy Mace on Tuesday in the Rayburn House office building. Few details about the incident were provided by law enforcement, but Mace suggested the assault was related to her anti-trans crusade, which she dubs her fight to protect women.

Hate As Official State Policy

This is what Floridas new state prison policy limiting gender-affirming care for inmates looks like, according to accounts provided to The Marshall Project:

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Earlier this fall, Florida officials ordered transgender women in the states prisons to submit to breast exams. As part of a new policy for people with gender dysphoria, prison medical staff ranked the womens breast size using a scale designed for adolescents. Those whose breasts were deemed big enough were allowed to keep their bras. Everyone else had to surrender theirs, along with anything else considered female, such as womens underwear and toiletry items.

Bernies Last Term?

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), 83, said his new term starting in January will probably be his last in the Senate.

Army Secretary Fires 4-Star General

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth  in a dramatic and rare move  on Tuesday fired  Gen. Charles Hamilton  after what officials described as a flagrant abuse of authority aimed at securing a leadership role for a subordinate officer who was found unfit for command and had an inappropriate relationship with the general, according to the IG report. The move marks the first time in nearly 20 years an Army four-star general has been outright fired and comes after a Military.com investigation in March detailed how he attempted to intervene on behalf of the subordinate officer.Military.com

Shot/Chaser

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VIENNA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A drone strike severely damaged an official vehicle of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) en route to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on Tuesday, no injuries were reported, according to an IAEA statement.

The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon, approximately eight km from the frontline in Ukrainian-controlled territory. The vehicle, part of a convoy on a rotation mission, was heading to the handover point near the frontline to meet the IAEA team stationed at the ZNPP for the past month, said the statement on Tuesday.

Earlier that day, the incoming IAEA team had successfully reached the handover point to facilitate the rotation of staff at the ZNPP.

The statement detailed that the driver of a second vehicle in the convoy witnessed the kamikaze drone approaching from behind before it struck the targeted vehicle. The two IAEA personnel inside, a driver and a security officer, escaped unharmed, but the rear of the vehicle was completely destroyed.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi strongly condemned the attack, describing it as "unacceptable" and reiterating his call for maximum restraint. 
The Biden administration has been considering new, stricter sanctions on Russian oil trade.

Source: Bloomberg with reference to its sources

Details: Bloomberg noted that the Biden administration may impose stricter sanctions on Russia's lucrative oil trade in an effort to increase pressure on the Kremlins military machine just weeks before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Bloomberg specified that the details of potential new sanctions are still being worked out, but Bidens team is considering restrictions that could impact certain types of Russian oil exports.

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Quote from Bloomberg: "Biden had long resisted over fears it could trigger a spike in energy costs, especially in the run-up to last months presidential election.

But with prices for oil slipping amid a global glut and fears growing that Trump may seek to force Ukraine into a quick deal with Russia to end its nearly three-year-old war, the Biden administration is now open to more aggressive action, the people said."

Details: Bloomberg stated that these discussions highlight the Biden administrations increased willingness to take risks in its confrontation with Russia as it prepares to leave office. This shift comes particularly after previous efforts to limit the Kremlins energy revenues produced mixed results, while average gasoline prices in the US have reached their lowest levels since mid-2021.

In the final weeks of holding office, the administration also decided to increase military and financial support for Ukraine amid doubts about Trumps commitment to continued US assistance.

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According to sources of Bloomberg, the administration is also considering new sanctions targeting the fleet of tankers Russia uses to transport its oil.

Restrictions on this so-called shadow fleet may be announced in the coming weeks.

Bloomberg also added that the European Union is planning similar measures against Russias shadow fleet by the end of 2024. The sanctions package is also expected to target individuals involved in the trade of Russian oil.

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U.S. President Joe Biden approved a new national security memorandum before Donald Trump begins his second term in the White House, the Associated Press reported on Dec. 11, citing its undisclosed sources in Biden's administration.

Trump's imminent return to the White House in January raises concerns about future relations between Washington and its prominent partners and adversaries, including Russia.

The memorandum could become "a roadmap" for the next administration, as it appears to be seeking to counter the growing cooperation between China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The Biden administration began drafting the recommendations in the summer, according to AP.

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The document will not be published due to the "sensitivity of some of its findings," the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity under White House ground rules, told AP.

The memorandum contains four broad recommendations, such as improving U.S. government interagency cooperation, accelerating information sharing with allies on four key adversaries, adjusting the use of sanctions and other economic tools for maximum effectiveness, and enhancing preparations for resolving simultaneous crises involving adversaries, AP reported.

Biden and Trump have "sharply different" world views, but officials from both administrations said they would try to coordinate on national security issues during the transition.

Biden's memorandum "isn't trying to box (the Trump administration) in or tilt them toward one policy option or another," one official told AP, adding that the document is intended to help the incoming administration build "capacity" as it shapes its policies on some of "the most difficult foreign policy issues" it will face.

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As the full-scale is ongoing, Russia has been strengthening its economic and military ties with China, Iran, and North Korea.

Moscow established regular supplies of drones from Tehran and borrowed its technology to launch its own domestic production. North Korea has been supplying Russia with artillery shells and and missiles since the first months of the war, and this fall, it sent soldiers to Russia. North Korea was the first country to enter the war with its forces.

China, in turn, has become one of Russia's largest suppliers of dual-use goods since the start of the full-scale invasion. The two nations also conduct joint patrols in the Arctic region.

Read also: As military options dwindle, US support is key to Ukraines peace talks

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has approved a new national security memorandum ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House that could serve as a road map for the incoming administration as it looks to counter growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the White House said Wednesday.

Biden administration officials began developing the guidance this summer. It was shaped to be a document that could help the next administration build its approach from Day 1 on how it deals with the tightening relationships involving America's most prominent adversaries and competitors, according to two senior administration officials.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, said the classified memorandum would not be made public because of the sensitivity of some of its findings.

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The document includes four broad recommendations: improving U.S. government interagency cooperation, speeding up the sharing of information with allies about the four adversaries, calibrating the U.S. government's use of sanctions and other economic tools for maximum effectiveness, and bolstering preparation to manage simultaneous crises involving the adversaries.

The U.S. for many years has been concerned about cooperation among the four countries. Coordination has accelerated between the countries in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The officials noted that as Russia has become more isolated by much of the world, Moscow has turned to Iran for drones and missiles. From North Korea, the Russians have received artillery, missiles and even thousands of troops that have traveled to help the Russians try to repel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region. China, meanwhile, has supported Russia with dual use components that help keep its military industrial base afloat.

In return, Russia has sent fighter jets to Iran and assisted Tehran as it looks to bolster its missile defense and space technology.

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North Korea has received from Russia much-needed fuel and funding to help build out its manufacturing and military capabilities. The officials added that Russia has de facto accepted North Korea as a nuclear weapon state.

China, meanwhile, is benefiting from Russian know-how, with the two countries working together to deepen their military technical cooperation. The two nations are also conducting joint patrols in the Arctic region.

Biden and Trump have sharply different worldviews, but officials in both the incoming and outgoing administrations said they have sought to coordinate on national security issues during the transition.
The Associated Press (AP) has reported that current US President Joe Biden has approved a new secret national security memorandum before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Source: European Pravda, citing an article by the AP

Details: The memo is reported to be a roadmap for the incoming administration in its efforts to counter the cooperation between China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.

According to the AP, Biden administration officials began drafting the recommendations this summer.

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Two senior administration officials said the document was designed to help the next administration develop its approach from day one in responding to the deterioration of relations with key US adversaries and competitors.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the classified memo would not be made public due to the sensitivity of some of its findings.

The document outlines four key recommendations: enhancing interagency collaboration within the US government, expediting information sharing with allies regarding four primary adversaries, fine-tuning the application of sanctions and economic tools for optimal impact, and bolstering preparedness for addressing multiple crises involving adversaries concurrently.

The AP noted that although Biden and Trump have starkly different worldviews, officials from both administrations say they have sought to coordinate their actions on national security matters during the transition of power.

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One official said Biden's memo "isnt trying to box [the Trump administration] in or tilt them toward one policy option or another".

They added that the document is designed to assist the incoming administration in building "capacity" as it develops policies on some of the most challenging foreign policy issues it will encounter.

Background:

In November, Joe Biden hosted Donald Trump at the White House to discuss the transition of power.

The White House later said the meeting had lasted almost two hours and focused on the transition of power and current issues in American politics.

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An app to teach students the Navajo language. (Photo by Cronkite News)

To support the revitalization, protection, preservation and reclamation of Indigenous languages across the United States, the Biden-Harris administration released a 10-year National Plan on Native Revitalization during the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit.

Indigenous languages are central to our cultures, our lifeways, and who we are as people, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland said in a press release. They connect us to our ancestors, to our homelands, and to our place in the world.

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The National Plan is a joint effort between government agencies that outlines strategies to help address the governments role in the loss of Indigenous languages among Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

This ambitious plan represents the Biden-Harris administrations commitment to address the wrongs of the past and restore what has been taken from us, Haaland said. The departments of the Interior, Education and Health and Human Services produced the plan.

The National Plan on Native Language Revitalization is the result of the Department of Interiors work to address the systematic and deliberate policies set in place by the United States to forcibly assimilate Indigenous peoples and eradicate Indigenous languages and cultures as part of the Federal Indian Boarding School system.

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Congressional authorization and funding of this Plan will reduce the number of vulnerable and endangered Native languages and increase the number of proficient Native language speakers, as defined by Native Americans, according to the report.

The Department of Interior launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative in 2021. The initiative released two reports that highlighted the devastating impact the boarding school system had and continues to have on Indigenous communities. It also provided a complete list of all federally operated schools.

President Joe Biden became the first sitting president to formally acknowledge and apologize to Indigenous communities in October for the federal governments role in developing and enforcing the policies.

The legacy of forced assimilation continues to threaten the existence of many Native languages, and the legacy of the boarding school era echoes in todays educational experience for Native students, according to the report.

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The report states that congressional action is required to preserve Indigenous languages. If action is not taken, fewer than 20 Indigenous languages will still be in use in America by 2050. There are 167 Indigenous languages currently spoken.

We use language to write history, share knowledge, map the future, and pass down traditions, Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said in a written statement. Investing in language revitalization strengthens communities and contributes to their resiliency.

The plan prioritizes investing in and supporting Indigenous language efforts within academia. The plan calls for strategic investments in core content instruction in Indigenous languages to improve the educational outcomes for all Indigenous youth.

I always say: multilingualism is a superpowerand that includes Native American languages, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said.

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Cardona said he traveled through Indian Country as Secretary of Education and learned words in the Oneida, Dakota, and Nakota languages.

One thing was crystal clear: when young people reclaim their Native languages, they reconnect deeply with who they are and where they come from, he said. But Native peoples have suffered from shameful policies that aimed to eradicate these languages and cultures for too long.

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Cardona added that he is hopeful that this national plan will be the start of the governments remediation for its participation in Federal Indian Boarding School policies that have impacted Indigenous communities for generations.

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I am hopeful we can all choose to keep fighting for a future where Native communities have the tools and support to keep their languages alive and their cultures thriving, he said.

According to the Department of Interior, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funds 187 schools for Indigenous students and works to provide them with a culturally relevant, high-quality education. However, the BIE did not receive funding for language revitalization until 2017, and the appropriations have not exceeded $7.5 million for any year.

As part of the summit, the Department of Interior also announced a cooperative agreement with the National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education, which will provide $7.5 million in existing grant funding to BIE schools supporting the launch or expansion of immersion programs.

This funding will help build a network of BIE schools committed to integrating Native language immersion and cultural education into their curricula, offering students the tools to connect with their language and heritage, the department stated in a press release. Together with the National Plan for Native Language Revitalization, these efforts create a comprehensive strategy to protect, preserve and reclaim Indigenous languages across the United States.

Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com.
President Joe Biden has spent the majority of his White House tenure practically ignoring pardon requestsbut now hes working to pardon certain individuals before theyve even been charged with wrongdoing.

In the last four years, Bidens office has received 10,500 pardon requests, but out of those, he has issued just 25, according to Axios. Then, on December 1, the 82-year-old pardoned his son Hunter Biden, sparking immense backlash from members on the left and the right for going back on his promise to obey the jurys decision in his sons case.

The Biden administration is working around the clock to finalize more pardons before he exits the Oval Office on January 20, but some of the names in discussion dont actually warrant a pardonyet.

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Biden is reportedly considering issuing preemptive pardons for Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson and former Republican Representative Liz Cheney, after Donald Trump told MSNBCs Meet the Press that the pair should be jailed, reported TheGrio Wednesday.

We are not done yet, one high-ranking Justice Department official (who did not want to be identified due to the sensitivity of the pardons) told the publication.

But Bidens plan to save his allies will only add fuel to the fire of his critics, who believe that he is advancing a devastating legacy that involves backtracking on his campaign promises and undermining the rule of law. The move could potentially give more fodder to Trump supporters who falsely believe people such as Cheney or Anthony Fauci, Trumps chief medical adviser during the Covid-19 pandemic, have committed crimes.

The preemptive pardons would also set an egregiously dangerous precedent for future administrations, creating an executive privilege that could very easily be exploited by a Trump administration already surrounded by criminally charged allies.

In the week and a half since Biden saved his son from an imminent criminal sentence, interest groups have vied to focus the presidents attention on their own wannabe pardon recipients. Progressives are fighting to pardon those that are elderly, those that are ill, those that are non-violent offenders, those who have been incarcerated because of cannabis convictions, Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley told Axios. Republicans and libertarians, meanwhile, have pushed Biden to pardon government whistleblowers, including Julian Assange and Edward Snowden.
By Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden is pushing U.S. national security agencies ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration to devise new strategies to tackle the risky, deepening ties among Russia, Iran, North Korea and China, according to U.S. officials.

In exchange for Iran's help with the Russian war effort in Ukraine, Moscow is giving its ally fighter aircraft, missile defense and space technology, Biden concluded in a national security memorandum issued on Tuesday.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is giving North Korea fuel, money and technology, and is recognizing it as a de facto nuclear state. Russia is conducting joint patrols with China in the Arctic, the administration said.

The classified document was described in general terms to reporters, but has not independently been reviewed by Reuters. Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have disputed similar assessments in the past and accused Washington of destabilizing behavior.

Biden's new document orders various arms of the U.S. government to restructure groups currently organized by region to better focus on issues linking the four countries that span Europe and Asia.

The document's strategies and policy suggestions could be implemented - or rejected altogether - by President-elect Trump, a Republican who takes office on Jan. 20.

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"When the new team sort of looks at it, I don't think they will see anything in it that is trying to box them in or tilt them toward one policy option or another," said one of the senior administration officials, who declined to be named.

Another official said they want to create "new options so that a new team and Congress can really hit the ground running."

The officials said the challenges ahead include ensuring that any sanctions and export controls imposed on the four countries are applied in a coordinated way that doesn't risk blowback from those countries and enabling the United States to better handle simultaneous crises involving several of the countries. North Korean troops are now serving in Russia, for instance.

"We're now in a world where our adversaries and our competitors are learning very quickly from one another," said one of the officials.

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But there are limits to the countries' cooperation, another of the officials said, including Russia and Iran's failing to assist their ally Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian president who was toppled over the weekend.

"This realignment sort of raises for China the question about what kind of future it wants to see and if it really wants to be all-in with this grouping," the person said.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil; Editing by Don Durfee and Leslie Adler)
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A woman has been arrested in connection with last months fire that damaged the Big Mac Bridge connecting Cincinnati with Kentucky.

According to Cincinnati NBC affiliate WLWT, Kaitlen Hall, 24, was arrested Tuesday and charged with two felony counts of obstruction of justice.

2 more Frischs Big Boys set to close before end of 2024

Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley said he anticipates more arrests to follow as the investigation continues.

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The blaze on Nov. 1 forced the closure of the bridges southbound lanes.

Repair work is on-going. Crews hope to have the work completed and the bridge fully reopened in March 2025.

Read more at wlwt.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 WDTN.com.
Former President Bill Clinton, during an appearance on ABC's "The View" on Wednesday, indicated he hopes President Joe Biden will not preemptively pardon people who could be targeted by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, including Clinton's wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"If President Biden wanted to talk to me about that, I would talk to him about it. But I don't think I should be giving public advice on the pardon power. I think it's too -- it's a very personal thing, but it is -- I hope he won't do that," Clinton said.

"Most of us get out of this world ahead of where we'd get if all we got was simple justice. And so it's normally a fool's errand. You spend a lot of time trying to get even," he added.

PHOTO: Former President Bill Clinton on ABC's 'The View,: Dec. 11, 2024. (ABC)

President Biden and his senior aides have been discussing possible preemptive pardons for people who might be targeted by the new Trump administration, according to a source close to the president. Experts have told ABC News he has the power to do so under the Constitution.

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Clinton emphasized that he does not believe any potential charges from the incoming Trump administration brought against Hillary Clinton would be valid, arguing that she did not do anything wrong with her handling of emails during her time at the State Department -- a controversy which became a flashpoint late in the 2016 election cycle.

Asked separately about his recent comments that a Republican could be more likely to be the first female president, Clinton said, "The impulse to say a woman probably shouldn't be president comes more from the right than from the left -- in the brain -- and it's an impulsive thing."

PHOTO: Former President Bill Clinton on ABC's 'The View,: Dec. 11, 2024. (ABC)

He also surmised that voters are not always looking toward how much experience a politician had, because of how they're focused on day-to-day issues.

"If you're an alienated voter and you're genuinely worried about your family's financial security or your personal security, then the last thing you want is somebody who's well qualified  if you think the total sum of impact of government action is negative, then you may not want somebody who's well qualified," Clinton said.

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MORE: As Biden considers preemptive pardons, experts he has constitutional right

"And that's the danger we're at now, because it actually does matter if you know things."

Asked about what may happen after Trump's victory, Clinton emphasized that Trump won fairly.

"So, I think what we have to do is to observe a peaceful transfer of power, stand up for what we believe, and work together when we can," Clinton said.

PHOTO: Hillary Clinton and Former President Bill Clinton attend the 2016 general election kickoff rally for Hillary for America at McGonigle Hall at Temple University, July 29, 2016, in Philadelphia. (Taylor Hill/WireImage via Getty)

"I do not think we should just be jamming them, even though they do that to us a lot. I think it's a mistake," he added.

During the 2024 campaign cycle, Bill Clinton campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris, serving as a key surrogate sent to rural areas and to speak with working-class voters.

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Asked how Democrats can win back working-class voters who have been shifting to support Republicans, Clinton said that he feels part of the challenge is "cultural," as rural voters skewer more conservative and are dealing with things they are not used to.

"The world moves on, and things that once made sense to people don't anymore," he said. "The world moves on, and things that once made sense to people don't anymore. Things that should make sense don't anymore."

PHOTO: Former President Bill Clinton speaks in support of the Harris Walz presidential campaign during the Fort Valley GOTV Community Fish Fry, Oct. 13, 2024, in Fort Valley, Georgia. (Julia Beverly/Getty Images)

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MORE: Democratic governors discuss going on offense, playing defense against Trump

"We need to quit screaming at each other and listen to each other. We need to have a serious conversation about these things. And I think one of the things that Democrats sometimes do is give up on too many people, because the demographics say they're not going to be for it," Clinton said.

"Well, that may be, but you know, if you don't deal with something that's controversial, just because you don't want to hear it, that's like an insult to voters."

Clinton has devoted time to charitable and health causes since his presidency, and his memoir "Citizen: My Life After the White House" released in November.

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"First, it was fun, and secondly, it was important," Clinton said of his charitable work. "And thirdly, I could do it. And it didn't matter if the president was Barack Obama or George Bush, we just did things that human beings needed."

Bill Clinton indicates he hopes Biden doesn't issue preemptive pardons originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Four Indonesians who violated Brunei's Immigration Acts have received fines, jail terms and caning penalty, Brunei's local media reported on Wednesday.

According to the local daily Borneo Bulletin, a 34-year-old Indonesian man, who overstayed in Brunei after his immigration pass expired, was sentenced to five months in jail and punished with three strokes of the cane.

A 55-year-old Indonesian man, who provided work to immigration offenders, was fined 9,000 Brunei dollars (6,700 U.S. dollars), or face three months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

Meanwhile, another two Indonesians were sentenced to four months in jail and punished with three strokes of the cane after admitting to violating Brunei's laws on immigration, according to the Borneo Bulletin.

Brunei is a Southeast Asian country with a significant number of foreign workers. The Brunei government has consistently implemented strict legal measures to protect the labor market order. 
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Lawmakers say the Statehouse should pass a bill directing schools to make their Pledge of Allegiance policy public because not all schools and classrooms in Ohio are currently learning or reciting the pledge.

House Bill 657 received a hearing in the Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee on Dec. 3, and would require each district to make its pledge policy accessible on the district website. Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville), the bills primary sponsor, said shes heard a request from her constituents to ensure we recognize how fortunate we are to live in America.

Bitcoin and Buckeyes: Ohio State president weighs in on cryptocurrency bill

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Ohioans are concerned that we are losing our identity as a nation, a nation that is full of opportunity, freedom, and justice for all, said Richardson during the hearing. As a member of the U.S. Armed Forces for most of my life, I believe in defending the principles and values that formed our remarkable country.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that students cannot be forced to recite the pledge if doing so goes against their religion. Still, Richardson argued that the pledge teaches students to respect the U.S., building unity and nationalism by affirming our commitment to our values. The lawmaker noted that the bill would not require any educator to teach the pledge.

Rep. Gail Pavliga (R-Portage County), the bills other primary sponsor, said H.B. 657 is the kind of direct, straight to the point, sort of legislation that works. The lawmaker said those districts that dont have a website would need to make their policy available through other means.

This is not a mandate forcing school districts to comply with a particular policy; rather, it is a way for the parents in each school district to know what policy their school has decided to implement, said Pavliga. Parents are the ones paying taxes to these school districts, and they have the right to know whether or not the [pledge] is recited.

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Ohio teacher sues district after suspension for classroom books with LGBTQ+ characters

Rep. Jodi Whitted (D-Madeira) asked during the hearing if Pavliga and Richardson had heard from parents who were unable to find their local schools pledge policy, and what the penalty would be for a district that does not comply.

While they didnt receive requests for this exact bill, Pavliga said they felt the time was right to be able to have it out there given they were shocked by the fact that the school system might have a policy in place, but they werent required to publish it. The lawmaker said there wouldnt be a penalty or timeline, but that the bill could be amended to include those provisions.

Pavliga also recently introduced a bill that would prohibit Ohios 14 public universities from using any application for student admission that asks for, or contains a field in which an applicant may indicate, an applicants preferred gender pronouns. She argues asking for pronoun usage distinguishes groups based on their political ideology.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A bill filed on Monday in the Arkansas state legislature would allow certain nonviolent felons to own firearms.

Rep. R. Scott Richardson (R-Bentonville) filed House Bill 1057, which would amend a state law to permit a person convicted of particular felonies including an antitrust violation, an unfair trade practice, restraint of trade, or another offense relating to the regulation of business.

The bill also says it would automatically restore gun rights to nonviolent felons once their sentence has been completed at a decade has passed.

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Bill proposed in Arkansas legislature to expand raw milk, goat milk access

A similar bill that was filed in 2023 died at the Senate Committee. Vivian Flowers (D-Pine Bluff) filed House Bill 1013 which would have given nonviolent felons a path to restoration of the right to possess a firearm five years after the completion of their sentence.

Bill filing for the 2025 legislative session began on November 20. The session will begin on January 13, 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) has detected H5 avian influenza (bird flu) in a wastewater sample from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaii Island.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

The sample was collected on Dec. 2 and marks the first detection of the virus on a neighbor island.

While the detection confirms the presence of an H5 type bird flu virus, it cannot specify whether it is the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 subtype, which was recently found on Oahu.

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The H5N1 virus was first identified in Hawaii in November 2024, when it was confirmed in a backyard flock in Central Oahu.

This strain is different from the one infecting birds and dairy cows on the U.S. mainland.

Strong trade winds may prompt Red Flag Warnings

Although the risk to the public remains low, HPAI can be deadly to certain bird populations, including poultry, and can also infect dairy cows.

To minimize the risk of infection, poultry producers and backyard flock owners are urged to follow enhanced biosecurity practices.

While pasteurized milk is safe to drink, raw milk should be avoided.

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The Department of Agriculture (HDOA) encourages residents to report any unusual bird or livestock illnesses by contacting the Animal Industry Division at 808-483-7102 during business hours or 808-837-8092 after hours.

Those who may have been exposed to sick birds or other wildlife should call the Disease Outbreak Control Division at 808-586-4586 for guidance.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Resources on avian influenza:

HDOA, Animal Disease Control: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/ldc/avian-influenza-information/

HDOA, Avian Influenza  Biosecurity in The Context of Animal Agriculture: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/ldc/adconcerns/aiinfo/biosec/

DOH avian influenza information: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/avian-influenza/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/index.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is hosting several upcoming events.

The BCRI is hosting a Gifts for Good Holiday Market event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Protective Stadium. There will be handcrafted gifts and baked goods.

Birmingham Fire Cpt. speaks on fire safety during winter season

There will also be a Kwanzaa family workshop event Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the BCRI. The event will explore the seven principles and symbols of African American families, communities and culture. You can register by clicking here.

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For more information, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala (WIAT)  Birmingham Fire and Rescue Cpt. Orlando Reynolds said the cause of several recent house and building fires remain under investigation.

As the winter season approaches, Cpt. Reynolds said its common to see an uptick in house fires.

Man shot, killed on Princeton Court SW

When the weather gets cold, like its been the past couple days, you will find people trying to find different ways to stay warm. So, when that happens, we do see an uptick in fire related incidents, said Cpt. Reynolds.

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Those different ways to stay warm include space heaters and using cooking equipment like ovens to warm a house.

Which, according to the National Fire Protection Association, are two leading causes of U.S. House fires from December to January.

Space heaters are just that: It needs space. Were recommending that you have at least 3 feet of space between the space heater and any object around it, said Cpt. Reynolds.

Annette Rowland with the Alabama American Red Cross said theyve helped assist with over 300 fires since June of this year.

Lately theres been a lot of back-to-back instances, said Rowland.

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Rowland said volunteers with the Red Cross are often called to assist those experiencing loss to provide resources and support.

Social media videos of downtown Birmingham altercation cause concern

We understand that this is nothing somebody needs to go through alone. So, we want to make sure that were there quickly and were there to comfort families. said Rowland.

Both Rowland and Cpt. Reynolds encourage people to make sure they have a fire alarm that works properly.

Cpt. Reynolds also suggests keeping a carbon monoxide detector in the home as well.

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.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A person suffered life-threatening injuries in a shooting that occurred in Birmingham early Tuesday morning.

According to Sgt. LaQuitta Wade with the Birmingham Police Department, the victim was shot around 1:30 a.m. in the 10 block of 80th Street South. A private vehicle took the victim to Birmingham Fire Station No. 12. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service personnel then transported the victim to UAB Hospital.

75-year-old killed in Leeds shooting

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There is no one in custody in connection to the shooting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
The News

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will face a hostile panel of House lawmakers on Wednesday when he finally sits down before the Foreign Affairs Committee to testify on Americas withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Blinken will discuss the withdrawal in the context of a two-decades-long war that took the lives of 2,500 Americans and cost more than $2 trillion, a source familiar with his testimony said, noting that he will criticize the Trump-era Doha agreement for leaving the Taliban in a stronger position than it had been since 2001.

Blinken will also commend officials who have worked to resettle thousands of Afghan allies in the US. House Republicans on the committee, who accused the administration of misleading the public about the withdrawal in a September report, recommended the top US diplomat be held in contempt of Congress for failing to appear following a subpoena.
People visit the booth of CiDi Inc. in the Advanced Manufacturing Chain exhibition area of the second China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Ennan)

Seeking sustainable transformations and adopting people-centered technologies across China's manufacturing sector could have a significant impact on the global supply chain

GENEVA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese manufacturers, accounting for over a quarter of global manufacturing output, can play a vital role in creating a sustainable global supply chain, an industry insider has said.

China accounted for 31 percent of global manufacturing output in 2022, said Kiva Allgood, head of the center for advanced manufacturing and supply chains at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in an interview with Xinhua, citing UN statistics.

Seeking sustainable transformations and adopting people-centered technologies across China's manufacturing sector could have a significant impact on the global supply chain as such efforts will increase efficiency, advance progress toward net-zero targets, and foster innovative partnerships, she said.

China's "1+N" strategic framework drives its commitment to national carbon neutrality, integrating sustainability across its entire economy. As a global leader in clean energy technologies like solar, wind, electric vehicles and batteries, it has made significant strides in reducing costs and advancing the global clean energy transition, Allgood said.

This transformation decreases reliance on fossil fuels and bolsters sustainable supply chains. Furthermore, as a major producer and exporter, China is strengthening global supply chain resilience by aligning domestic sustainability standards with global norms, promoting the green transition in manufacturing and supply chains, the executive said.

Allgood noted that 22 manufacturers have recently joined the Global Lighthouse Network, a WEF initiative promoting advanced manufacturing practices.

"Over half of the newest wave of Lighthouses is based in China, including all three Sustainability Lighthouses, highlighting a strong commitment to sustainable industrial transformation among Chinese companies," she said.

These lighthouses are at the forefront of digital transformation, leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics to boost productivity, enhance sustainability, and develop the workforce, Allgood added.

People work at a 5G intelligent workshop of a JOMOO "lighthouse factory" in Nan'an, Quanzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Yongzhen)

Geopolitical, technological, and environmental megatrends, she said, are reshaping global supply chains, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Among these challenges is the urgent need to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies across businesses of all sizes to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and mitigate disruptions.

Additionally, labor shortages and skills gaps are driving the demand for innovative strategies to attract, retain, and upskill talent, particularly by engaging underrepresented groups and the next generation of manufacturing professionals.

Allgood described a stable and healthy global supply chain as being "innovative, resilient, sustainable, and people-centric."

"People are at the heart of this stability and resilience," she said, underscoring the importance of investing in a skilled and engaged workforce to maintain robust supply chains.

A stable global supply chain is critical to international trade as it ensures smooth trade flows, job creation, economic stability, and sustainability while enhancing resilience against disruptions. It fosters innovation and builds trust among trading partners, contributing to a more integrated and prosperous global economy, she added.

Looking ahead, Allgood envisioned a future global supply chain that is increasingly driven by technological integration, sustainability, resilience, and collaboration.

By embracing advanced technologies like AI and IoT, manufacturers can build resilience against shocks, enhance transparency and traceability, implement innovative workforce programs, and drive sustainable transformation, she noted.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced tough questions from a Republican-led House of Representatives committee on Wednesday about the August 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Blinken told lawmakers he stands by the administrations decision.

After a year of trying, a House committee got its chance to question Blinken about the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.

You left behind weapons to the Taliban, classified documents to them, said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas.).

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As the U.S. left Afghanistan three years ago, a bombing at the airport killed 13 service members.

Democrats criticized Republicans for even holding the hearing.

On this committee, the Republicans have blown a lot of smoke about the process, said Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.).

Blinken defended the administrations decision. He blamed the chaos on a deal that former president Donald Trump reached with the Taliban in 2020.

Had he not followed through on his predecessors commitments, attacks would have escalated, said Blinken.

Ohio Republican Congressman Warren Davidson pushed back on blaming Trump.

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To try to blame this on Donald Trump we all know there is no way anyone forced you guys to do the dumbest thing possible, said Davidson.

New York Congressman Gregory Meeks believes President Joe Biden made the right choice.

And not ask another generation of Americans to make the ultimate sacrifice for a war that no longer has a purpose, said Meeks.

Members of the Trump team working on the transition are considering creating a commission to investigate the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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.
By Patricia Zengerle and Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan as an ending of the country's longest war that freed resources for other conflicts, in testimony in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

"Our adversaries, including Russia, would have been delighted if we had doubled down and remained stuck in Afghanistan for another 20 years," Blinken told a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, in what is likely his final public testimony to lawmakers before leaving office next month.

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Blinken's appearance came after a long dispute with the Republican-led committee over when he would testify about one of the darkest incidents of Democratic President Joe Biden's presidency.

Republican Representative Michael McCaul, the panel's chairman, blasted the administration for the deaths of 13 Americans in a suicide attack at Kabul's airport in August 2021 and for thousands of Afghans who worked with U.S. forces who could not be evacuated as the Taliban took over.

"You ignored warnings of collapse from your own personnel," McCaul said.

Blinken said every American who wanted to leave Afghanistan has been given the opportunity to leave and thousands of Afghans have been resettled internationally, although Washington remains committed to helping those who remain.

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House Foreign Affairs and the State Department had wrangled over Blinken's appearance for months. Panel Republicans voted in September - weeks before the presidential election - to recommend the top U.S. diplomat be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena.

The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war became intensely politicized during the campaign pitting Republican President-elect Donald Trump against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump, who returns to the White House on Jan. 20, has vowed to go after those responsible for the withdrawal. During his campaign, he said he would ask for the resignation of every senior official "who touched the Afghanistan calamity."

Democrats have insisted much of the blame for the war's messy end - less than seven months into Biden's presidency - rests with Trump, who began the withdrawal process by signing a deal with Afghanistan's militant Islamist Taliban in 2020.

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McCaul also announced during the hearing that Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, had agreed to brief the committee on Dec. 17.

McCaul released a report on Sept. 8 on a Republican investigation of the Afghanistan withdrawal, blasting Biden's administration for failures surrounding the evacuation. Panel Democrats also released their own investigation.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Rod Nickel)
There will be another opportunity in 2025 to see the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in Northeast Florida/Southeast Georgia.

The Blue Angels, known for their precision flying and dynamic aerial maneuvers, will perform at the Golden Isles Air Show on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18 at the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport.

It's official! We are thrilled to announce that the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will be coming to Brunswick Golden Isles Airport May 17 & 18, 2025 for the Golden Isles Air Show! You can even hear the news straight from the team. Check out Blue Angel #8, LCDR Lily Montana sharing the big announcement... More to come soon, including ticket release information! Be sure to follow our page for updates. Posted by Golden Isles Air Show on Tuesday, December 10, 2024

We are thrilled to host the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in Brunswick in 2025 and to showcase their breathtaking precision flying, Kerry Floyd, Executive Director of Wings of Pride Air Shows, said in a news release. The Blue Angels deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all audiences  from families to air show enthusiasts -- that must be seen to be believed.

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The last time the Blue Angels performed in Brunswick was 2017, according to the release.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Action News Jax told you Tuesday that the City of Jacksonville announced that the Blue Angels would indeed be coming back to Jacksonville Beach in 2025 after it was believed they would not be able to.

That show is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26.

Ticket information for the Brunswick show will soon be available on the Golden Isles Air Show website www.GoldenIslesAirShow.com.

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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.
Blue Origin says its New Glenn Rocket is ready to launch now!

But before that happens, the company is waiting for regulatory approvals for a hot-fire test and the rockets maiden flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Earlier today, teams successfully completed a tanking test on the heavy-lift rocket.

Dr. Don Platt, Associate Professor of Space Systems at Florida Institute of Technology, told Channel 9, You know, Blue Origin has been working towards the launch of their orbital rocket, the New Glenn, for a number of years now. And so, were about ready to finally see the first test flight.

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The New Glenns first flight will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder a transfer vehicle that will help enable future Department of Defense Missions.

Platt said, As I understand it, is that it is a capability to maneuver payloads, and these could be scientific payloads or probably more specifically, maybe even military payloads, you know, between different areas in space, essentially different orbits and maybe even provide some logistic support like eventually servicing of satellites that are already in orbit.

Before liftoff, the rocket already has a list of customers, including Amazons Project Kuiper, NASA, Telesat, and others.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Earl Blumenauer, who represented Oregons 3rd Congressional District for 28 years, suggested in his final speech on the floor of the US House of Representatives that those in the new Congress should focus on things that bring people together instead of dividing us.

The speech, which lasted a little less than 5 minutes, provided Blumenauer with a final platform to note the accomplishments for which hes proud  and included a reference to improving bicycle culture throughout the country.

Watch the entire speech in the video player above.

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Once his current term is complete in the next few weeks, his seat will be taken by Democrat Maxine Dexter.

In January, Blumenauer will step into a new role as a staff member at Portland State University.

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.
A jury found Bob Menendez guilty of bribery and other charges in July  but a major error by prosecutors could give Menendez a get-out-of-jail-free card. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

After a federal jury found Bob Menendez guilty of bribery and acting as a foreign agent in July, I assumed the U.S. Supreme Court would eventually toss the verdict like it has in other high-profile political corruption cases.

Now I fear the case will be doomed much sooner than that, allowing Menendez to skate yet again. Except this time it wont be a deadlocked jury that allows his cartoonish corruption to go unpunished  it will be a major error by prosecutors, who have admitted handing evidence to jurors that the judge overseeing the case barred from being introduced.

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Giving the jury evidence that was formally excluded through a ruling by the judge is a big, big mistake, said Thea Johnson, a professor of law at Rutgers Law School in Camden and a former defense attorney.

Heres what happened:

During Menendezs trial, prosecutors wanted to submit a few documents they said would prove their accusation that Menendez, while a U.S. senator, took bribes in exchange for the release of aid and arms to Egypt. But defense attorneys successfully argued that because portions of the documents referenced legislative acts Menendez took, they could not be submitted as evidence without violating the U.S. Constitutions speech and debate clause. The clause gives members of Congress a type of immunity when it comes to investigations into their official duties.

Prosecutors, arguing that this evidence was critical to their case, offered to redact portions, and Judge Sidney Stein allowed those to be submitted as evidence. But, prosecutors told Stein last month, they discovered that when they loaded a laptop with evidence for the jury to review during deliberations, they did not include all the redactions.

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Prosecutors have declared this is all a giant oops that probably means nothing because the laptop was filled with so many documents, the jurors probably never saw the ones the judge had barred them from seeing. But Menendezs attorneys  and those for the two co-defendants found guilty alongside him  argue the guilty verdicts need to be thrown out.

I did not think much of Menendezs defense during the trial. One of New Jerseys slyest Democrats spent a lot of time arguing that his wife was being underhanded without his knowledge. How was I supposed to know the brand-new Mercedes Benz that showed up at my Englewood Cliffs home was paid for by a man seeking my influence, he argued. But on this, I think and fear the defense may be in the right.

Johnson cautioned me that judges are loath to throw out verdicts handed down by juries. But prosecutors argument that the Menendez jury likely didnt see the documents in question strikes me as somewhat of a weak argument, she said.

You really cant figure that out. Youre really not supposed to go in and question the jury about how they came to a decision, she said. I do think that the safe bet would be to grant a retrial.

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Imagine. Menendez  for decades the white whale for prosecutors who were certain he was uniquely corrupt even by New Jersey standards  escapes a guilty verdict in his first corruption trial because of a hung jury, is reelected despite the unsavory details from that trial, almost immediately begins a second bribery scheme that involves global actors, is indicted again in a case that started a chain reaction leading to the downfall of the county line  and now it may just go poof, all because someone in the U.S. Attorneys Office attached the wrong pdf.

My strong expectation is that when the prosecutors realized that the mistake had been made, there was a oh, poop moment, said Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor in New Jersey who now works as a white-collar litigator in New York. They clearly did the right thing in informing the court and the other side that this mistake had been made  that speaks to their ethics. But this is a problem that they certainly wish they did not have. And it is a real problem.

Heres another problem for those of us who prefer our public officials not accept gold bars as gifts from men seeking favors: Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, which prosecuted the Menendez case, is stepping down this week to make way for President-elect Donald Trumps pick for that job, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton. If Stein throws out the guilty verdicts and orders a retrial, will Clayton bother retrying it? Its a complicated case with a mountain of evidence that occasionally bored some jurors to sleep, and the chief target is no longer a senator. What are the odds that Trumps pick for U.S. attorney will want to relitigate the Menendez case instead of targeting those on Trumps public enemies list?

Any time a new U.S. attorney becomes in charge of an office, they have different priorities and goals than the old U.S. attorney, and public corruption may be less of a priority, Johnson told me.

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Stein has yet to decide on the defense teams motions to toss the verdicts, and he very well may side with prosecutors here. He could also allow Menendezs team to investigate how the wrong documents ended up on the jury laptop, a process that could unearth even more prosecutorial mistakes and, Epner noted, delay Menendezs sentencing further.

A lot of people in the criminal justice world, when they saw the new charges against Bob Menendez, thought to themselves, I cant believe that this guy, having gotten a get-out-of-jail-free card once, has put himself in harms way again, he said. It would be absolutely at the outer limits of credulity to imagine him skating a second time. But the prosecutors brought this on themselves by failing to make certain that only the correct documents were provided to the jury.

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Authorities have recovered the body of an 18-year-old man who went missing in a Cass County lake after his ATV fell through the ice.

Responders were called to Blackwater Lake near Longville around 6 p.m. Monday after an ATV with two occupants fell through the lake ice, according to the Cass County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities traced the 911 call and located one occupant of the ATV, a 20-year-old man, in the water. He was rescued and brought to shore before being airlifted to the hospital.

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Responders were unable to locate the 18-year-old man Monday and the search effort continued Tuesday until his body was located in the water and recovered around 1 p.m., according to the sheriff's office.

Ice stock image via Unsplash.

Authorities are withholding the man's identity pending autopsy results and notification of his family, the agency said.

The incident marks the second death on a Minnesota lake in a week.

Last Monday, 16-year-old Yayhe Abdi fell through the ice on Markgrafs Lake in Woodbury. A 12-year-old girl rushed to save Abdi and also fell into the water, authorities said.

The girl survived the incident, but Abdi died on Thursday with his death reported to be an accidental freshwater drowning.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' website states there is no such thing as 100% safe ice, but ice safety tips can be found here.
An ASU student who allegedly assaulted a classmate with a paring knife saw her bond cut by more than two-thirds in a court hearing Tuesday.

Kaci Sloan now faces a $72,000 bond, down from the original $250,000, according to news first reported by Channel 12. If posted, Sloan would be confined to house arrest.

Sloan, 19, has been charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a second count of aggravated assault for the Sept. 19 incident in an ASU West classroom. In October, a grand jury dismissed charges of one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of interfering with an educational institution.

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According to police reports, Sloan attacked fellow student Mara Daffron before class, puncturing Daffron's spleen.

Sloan said she knew her alleged victim's first name and recognized her from a class they had taken in a previous semester. She told police she went to class on Sept. 19 with the intent of harming someone, adding she had entertained such thoughts before and was ashamed of that. She added she struggled with "self-worth issues."

Daffron told police she did not know Sloan and had no idea why she was targeted.

On Tuesday, Daffron's father objected to the reduced bond, noting that if fellow students had not intervened, his daughter would have suffered worse injuries, according to Channel 12.

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Sloan faces a Feb. 6 trial.

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Threads as well as on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @maryjpitzl.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Judge approves lower bond in knife-assault case
When World War II ended and the horrors of the Holocaust began to emerge, the focus was on the human cost, and seeking justice, retribution and answers for the survivors and bereaved families.

Then came the drive for reparations and restitution, which not only sought to compensate for the unimaginable suffering but also for the property seized by the Nazis.

And while many headlines have been made about valuable artworks  some worth millions  stolen from Jewish families, the story of millions of Jewish-owned books looted by Adolf Hitlers forces is less familiar.

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In their efforts to annihilate Jews and their culture, the Nazis stole books from European libraries, universities and other public and private collections across Europe.

US Army Chaplain Samuel Blinder examines one of hundreds of looted sacred Torah scrolls on July 6, 1945. - Pictures from History/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

While some were destroyed or sent to paper mills, many were saved for institutions the Nazis planned for so-called scholars to scientifically prove Jews inferiority. Though these institutions were never built, crates of looted books were sent to sorting centers to be processed  often by forced Jewish labor.

Diane Mizrachi, a librarian at UCLA, knew virtually nothing of the looted books until 2020, when she received an unexpected email.

It came from a curator at the Jewish Museum in Prague (JMP) who has been trying to rebuild the collection of the Czech capitals Jewish Religious Community Library (JRCLP), which was decimated by the Nazis.

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His painstaking search through an online repository of millions of digitized books led him to believe several books at UCLA had belonged to the library.

Mizrachi told CNN: I got this email saying I found that three books in your collection have markings of the pre-WWII Jewish religious community library and we would be interested in having them returned. I had no idea what to do with this so sent it up the chain of command.

She soon learned that a similar request had been received from a German researcher several years previously and that UCLA had quietly returned the book.

Mizrachi spent several months working with the museum to investigate the provenance of the three late-19th-century books in UCLAs collection.

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Eventually, six titles  among them religious texts and rabbinical commentaries  were repatriated in a ceremony in May 2022.

At UCLA, we have dozens of such books, and I am certain that there are many more that have not yet been identified. Im also working on collaborations with other librarians in North America, Europe and Israel who are dealing with their own looted Nazi-era books, said Mizrachi.

This is the only picture known to have survived of Prague's Jewish community library. - Jewish Museum Prague

I see it as a moral and ethical issue, she added. Anytime that something has been stolen, whether its by imperialism or colonialism or oppressive forces, its a wrong. Its a criminal act. The original owners might not be around or even their heirs to return them to, but their stories are important and thats what we want to keep alive.

After the war, what was left of the JRCLP was folded into the Jewish Museum in Prague, but with around 30,000 volumes and manuscripts looted by the Nazis, many thousands remain missing.

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Michal Busek, head of the museums library department, told CNN the internet, digitization of books, online auctions and the rise in provenance research has given the search greater momentum.

About 2,800 titles remain missing from Prague, he told CNN in an email. These books are not just lining the shelves of university libraries, but are also hidden away in museums, secondhand bookstores and private collections and listed in online auctions.

Some of the looted books returned by UCLA to the Jewish Museum in Prague - Shannon Tanhayi Ahari/UCLA Library

The process of recovering them is, therefore, not straightforward. The best-case scenario  as with UCLA  is that the museum works with the current owner to verify provenance and, ideally, arrange their return.

Buseks team has traced around 80 of the missing books so far and has had 63 returned. He told CNN the museum is currently in negotiations over the other volumes theyve identified.

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The search for Pragues missing books began during World War II, when members of the citys then Jewish community tried to track some of them down, Busek said.

We continue the efforts of our predecessors, who, in a situation where their own lives were threatened, sought to save the heritage and testimony of the Jewish presence in Bohemia and Moravia (Czech provinces occupied by the Nazis).

This Library or the books is all that is left of them. Their legacy lives on. We want to bring the books back home where they belong.

Stamps like this one from Prague are helping provenance researchers to determine the books' original owners. - Jewish Museum Prague

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In neighboring Germany, meanwhile, organizers of a pioneering exhibition are hoping it will motivate citizen scientists  school children, students, historians or anyone interested to help trace another group of plundered books.

The Library of Lost Books, which is both online and running in physical form at the University Library Frankfurt until January 31, focuses on the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies in Berlin (Hochschule fur die Wissenschaft des Judentums), which was established in 1872 and dedicated to Jewish history, culture and rabbinical studies.

The institute was forcibly closed in 1942 under the Nazis, some of its estimated 60,000 books destroyed and others boxed up and dispatched across Europe. The new exhibition features some of the looted books.

Unlike Pragues Jewish Museum, the Library of Lost Books is not seeking the return of the Hochschule books, but to create a database of their whereabouts.

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As there is no legal successor, this is now not a question of where these books belong, said Irene Aue-Ben-David, director of the Leo Baeck Institute (LBI) in Jerusalem, which has created the exhibition with its sister organization in the United Kingdom and the Association of the Friends of the LBI in Berlin.

For us its important that people are aware about the history of these books and report them and that we can document them online, but this isnt about legal claims.

The aim of the interactive project, say organizers, is to enable ordinary people to contribute to elucidating a mystery that has thus far gone unsolved while achieving a sense of justice in the face of a Nazi atrocity.

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SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) chief said Wednesday that the CIO will attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk-yeol with and without an arrest warrant if conditions are met, according to multiple media outlets.

Oh Dong-woon made the remark during a parliamentary hearing, saying the CIO will do everything it can.

When asked by a lawmaker whether the investigative agency could arrest Yoon without an arrest warrant, Oh said yes.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, but it was repealed by the National Assembly hours later.

The country's police, prosecution and the CIO have been investigating rebellion charges against Yoon, cabinet members and military commanders. 
The Boone and Crockett Clubs Records Committee last week agreed to classify javelina as the conservation groups newest big-game trophy category.

Its the first new records category in nearly 25 years, and once specific measurement protocols are established, the club will accept entries from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico. B&C last approved categories for non-typical Columbia black-tailed deer as well as non-typical Sitka black-tailed deer in 2001. The last time the organization created a category for a big-game species was in 1998 with the addition of the once-endangered tule elk to its century-old records program.

The Boone and Crockett Club has been measuring North American big game since 1895 with the original vision for the records program to create a record of what was thought to be the vanishing big game in the country. The big-game record book, Records of North American Big Game, was first published in 1932 and serves as a record of biological, harvest, and location data on hunter-taken and found trophies based on the principle that the existence of mature, male specimens is an indicator of overall population and habitat health.

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The decision to add javelina as a trophy species was years in the making, and reflects not only the growing appreciation for the species among hunters and wildlife managers, but can bring conservation benefits to javelina and the places it lives, says Mike Opitz, chairman of the clubs Big Game Records Committee.

Javelina records are likely to be determined by skull dimensions, similar to how the club assesses bear and feline trophy submissions. But details, such as the specific measurements to be taken and the establishment of minimum scores, will be determined by the clubs records committee over the next several months.

The expansion of the records program extends only to the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), which is native to the Southwest and commonly called javelina. The name descends from Spanish for wild sow, though javelina are unrelated to feral hogs, which sometimes share the landscapes they occupy. Two other species of peccary, the white-lipped and the Chacoan peccary, have distributions across central and northern South America and arent included in this proposal largely because their distribution doesnt extend into whats commonly understood to be continental North America.

Approval of the collared peccary as a designated trophy species was recommended by a working group that included wildlife managers from New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Mexico along with representatives of other conservation groups.

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As a regulated wildlife species, javelina are managed alongside other big game species, including requirements that hunters follow all regulations in pursuit of the animal across all jurisdictions, the working group noted in its proposal to the club. Classification as a trophy species would build upon the growing interest in javelina hunting and recognize this unique North American big game species.

Collared peccary, also known as Javelina, are native to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. Photo by Natalie Krebs

Indeed, interest in javelina hunting has increased dramatically in recent years, with many permit units requiring multiple preference points to draw and quotas filling relatively quickly in over-the-counter units. Biologists report that across all three U.S. states with javelina populations, nearly 58,000 hunters annually harvest an estimated 33,000 javelina. In New Mexico, applicants for about 1,500 javelina licenses doubled over the four years from 2019 to 2023. The rise of online communities such as JavelinaHunter.com is another indication of the species popularity.

With fewer big-game tags available across the West, weve seen an upswing in interest in javelina, especially among bowhunters, says Nicole Tatman, big-game program manager for New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and one of the members of the working group who proposed adding javelina to the Boone and Crockett records. Theyre an interesting species, very social and vocal among themselves. They dont see very well, so its possible to get close to them and observe them at close ranges.

The approximate distribution of javelina in the U.S. and Mexico. From the Proposal to Establish Collared Peccary as a New Records Book Category

Tatman said one of the benefits of adding javelina to the record categories that include bighorn sheep, elk, deer, and bear is that the trophy designation can elevate the real and perceived value of the species and its habitats.

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Compared to aspirational mountain landscapes, the landscapes that javelina prefer are less appreciated  think dry, scrubby desert  but theyre no less important for wildlife, says Tatman. At least in New Mexico, these places will get drier and hotter as we move forward, and recognizing a species of value thats so closely associated with that habitat will give us more resources to manage those landscapes for resilience.

Tatman noted that across their range, javelina populations are stable to increasing. In New Mexico, populations have been slowly moving northward. Texas has recently opened new javelina seasons in several counties due to range expansion and increased observations.

Their distribution seems to be curtailed by continued cold weather, but theyve been seen as far north as Santa Fe, where it gets pretty darned cold, says Tatman.

The Boone and Crockett Clubs trophy designation may also elevate the cultural status of javelina, which has been considered either a pest or a nuisance in many jurisdictions.

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In parts of Mexico, on some ranches, javelina are not a well-regarded species, says Emilio Rangel Espino-Barros, a biologist and hunting outfitter from northern Mexico who also contributed to the work group. They are sometimes used [as targets] to sight in rifles. This designation is a case where conservation and monetary value can go hand in hand. If we add javelina to trophy species, it will increase their conservation value, and people are going to have more interest in seeing them.

Each states existing records for javelina. From the Proposal to Establish Collared Peccary as a New Records Book Category

As the Boone and Crockett Club considers minimum scores and specifics of measuring trophy javelina, administrators will likely consult the three states that currently include javelina in their big-game records. In Arizona, javelina records have been kept since 1970 and the Texas Big Game Awards established a javelina category in 2010. New Mexico considers records from Safari Club International for javelina records.

As we work on establishing minimum scores, well work with the states and Mexico to come up with a minimum that strikes the balance between a mature specimen worthy of recognition and a good representation of a mature javelina across its range, says Kyle Lehr, Boone and Crockett Clubs director of big game records. We need to determine if a mature javelina in, say Texas, is quantifiably different from one in Arizona.

Read Next: The History  and Future  of Trophy Hunting in North America

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The addition of javelina as a designated North American trophy mammal could change the roster of the North American 29, sometimes called the Super Slam, that includes all trophy species recognized by the Boone and Crockett Club. Club officials declined to comment on the roster, since its not an achievement created or administered by B&C.

The Boone and Crockett Club has been compiling and publishing its Records of North American Big Game since its first record book in 1932. The clubs 32nd Big Game Awards will be recognized in July 2025 in Springfield, Missouri.

A clarification was made on Dec. 11, 2024: A previous version of this article included a typo that indicated New Mexico javelina licenses doubled over the four years from 2019 to 2003, which clearly defies the laws of physics. The story has been updated to the correct year of 2023.
The Boston City Council on Wednesday will meet for the first time since last weeks federal arrest of Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson.

The meeting, scheduled for noon at Boston City Hall, will be the last of 2024 and the first since Fernandes Anderson was charged Friday in federal court with five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

Items on the agenda include the proposed formation of an ethics commission amid allegations that Fernandes Anderson hired a relative to her staff and hatched a scheme to funnel taxpayer money into her own pocket.

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As part of the scheme, Fernandes Anderson allegedly agreed to pay the staffer a $13,000 bonus on the condition that part of it would be returned to her.

Fernandes Anderson accepted $7,000 in a cash kickback withdrawal from that staffer during a meeting in a bathroom in Boston City Hall on June 9, 2023, text messages obtained by federal investigators showed.

At the time of receiving the payment, Fernandes Anderson was facing a slew of financial troubles, according to prosecutors.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has called on Fernandes Anderson to resign.

Theres a legal process to play out and everyone in our community deserves the right to a fair legal process, Wu said. With that being said, these charges are serious enough that I believe that it is of the nature that it will undermine the ability of the public to trust and have effective representation in this case.

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The Boston Herald reported that Chief Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell has ordered Fernandes Anderson to pay $5,000 by Jan. 31, 2025, to cover the cost of her assigned public counsel.

The Council on Wednesday was also expected to vote on property tax rates for 2025.

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A Boston man was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly slamming into the side of a State Police cruiser on Friday and fleeing the scene.

44-year-old Keion Rowell is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury, and trafficking cocaine.

According to State Police, Rowell used his car to ram a cruiser multiple times after failing to stop in Boston around 8 p.m. Friday on Thwing Street. The trooper in the cruiser was transported to an area hospital for evaluation.

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Authorities say Rowell abandoned the car and fled the scene on foot, where police and K9 units were unable to locate him. Narcotic evidence and paraphernalia was allegedly recovered from the scene and Rowell was identified as a suspect.

Local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities apprehended him in Randolph.

He will be arraigned at a later date.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A continuing investigation into an incident that sent several University of Colorado Boulder students to the hospital reported extreme alcohol consumption and some of them using drugs as the reasons behind their sickness.

Boulder police initially believed tainted drugs were the factor behind the violent illness based on evidence gathered at the scene and used naloxone, an overdose reversal drug, during their response.

Houses in these Colorado cities are projected to be over $1M in coming years

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But, as police have continued to investigate, they said it does not appear that fentanyl was involved.

Cocaine recovered at the scene by detectives is being tested for inconsistencies.

Detectives are seeking cooperation from the members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity to investigate whether the actions leading to the incident were related to the fraternity.

All students are reported to be in stable condition after one students initial prognosis was grave.

Furthermore, Boulder PD updated its initial report to say that only five men were treated.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Fue Her at HerF@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-1829. Anyone with any video or photo evidence is asked to upload it to this location.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Police have completed their investigation into the deaths of two men who shot each other at a home in southwest Bakersfield on Christmas Eve 2022.

Bakersfield police Sgt. Eric Celedon confirmed the case  which garnered intense scrutiny and concerned two men who were romantically involved with the same woman  was closed after a ballistics report was received sometime after August of this year.

All involved persons who stood to face any criminal culpability died during this altercation, resulting in the closed status, Celedon said.

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Police previously said an estranged boyfriend forced his way into a home on Snowdon Avenue at about 4 a.m. Another man was already in the house.

Both men  Jacob Malena and Tanner Marlow, both 30  were armed and killed each other during a gunfight, police said. They never identified who broke into the home and who was already there.

Days after the shooting, Malenas father told 17 News his son was married but separated, and was in a strained relationship with a woman whod been living with him at the Snowdon Avenue home. He said Malena left behind four children.

Marlow, a mixed martial arts fighter who fought under the name American Psycho, was described by his cousin on a GoFundMe page as one of the sweetest most caring men who loved his family to no end.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
BRANFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A Branford school was placed on lockdown Wednesday morning after gunshots were heard from duck hunters, police said.

According to police, Indian Neck School was placed under a temporary lockdown while police investigated a report of shots fired in the area of South Montowese Street.

Crews battle house fire in North Branford

After police conducted a thorough investigation, they determined the gunshot noises came from duck hunters legally hunting in the marsh on Branford River, police said.

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Police said there was no threat to the school or surrounding community.

The lockdown has been lifted.

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.
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's Federal Police said on Wednesday they had dismantled an illegal mining scheme that extracted gold from Indigenous lands worth 4 billion reais ($166 million).

The investigations revealed that the illegal scheme recruited foreigners - mostly Venezuelans - to transport the illegal gold in luggage checked on commercial flights to neighboring Venezuela and Guyana, police chief Pedro Henrique Melo said.

The Federal Police was authorized to serve nine arrest warrants and 19 search and seizure warrants in six Brazilian states, including the seizure of more than 615 million reais in assets and cash.

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In November, a major operation involving 20 agencies was launched to remove miners from the Munduruku Indigenous Land. A Reuters report followed actions at the beginning of the operation, and found that the involvement of indigenous people in illegal mining made it difficult to repress mining in the Amazon.

The Munduruku territory, a reservation with 140 villages where about 9,000 indigenous people live, has become a critical point for illegal mining, which under Brazilian law is banned on Indigenous lands.

(Reporting Ricardo Brito in Brasilia; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Mark Porter)
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  The next United Nations climate conference, COP30, will be held in Belem, the capital of an Amazon region where widespread deforestation mainly driven by cattle farming has turned the surrounding rainforest from a vital carbon sink into a significant carbon source.

Now a new report concludes around 80% of Brazils leading beef and cow leather companies and their financiers have made no commitments to stop deforestation.

The study, released Wednesday by the environmental nonprofit group Global Canopy, highlights the countrys most influential beef and leather producers and processors along with financial institutions that have supported them with $100 billion. This amount is one-third of the annual funding that wealthy nations pledged to provide for climate finance in developing countries during COP29 last month in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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Although cattle is the single most influential commodity for deforestation and linked greenhouse gas emissions, the report ... reveals a picture of staggering inaction from corporates and financial institutions alike in Brazilian supply chains, the study said.

The record is poor even among companies that commit to halting deforestation, such as JBS, according to the report. The giant meatpacker is one of the few to make such commitments and one of only two to have a system for tracing cattle all the way to the production unit. Yet the report ranks the company as the most likely to be buying cattle and cow leather from recently deforested land.

This assessment of deforestation risk is based on the number of cattle bought from ranchers in each Brazilian municipality and its deforestation rate. Meatpackers buying from high-deforestation areas are more likely to source from recently cleared land than those buying from low-deforestation areas. The methodology was created by Do Pasto ao Prato, an independent Brazilian consumer app that aims to increase transparency in the livestock sector.

"Commitments are critical as one of the first steps a company takes to address deforestation," Emma Thomson, one of the coauthors, told The Associated Press. But it has to be followed by effective implementation and by monitoring suppliers and indirect suppliers for compliance with those standards. It has to have effective traceability mechanisms and transparent reporting on the progress that is  or isnt  being made.

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Besides JBS, the report lists three processing companies with units based in Para state as likely to be buying cattle and cow leather from recently deforested land: Mercurio, Mafrinorte and Frigol.

In a written response, JBS said the study's methodology provides a simplistic and inaccurate assessment of deforestation risk, ignoring factors such as corporate policies, sustainable procurement systems and exclusion of noncompliant suppliers.

The company said that since 2009 it has maintained a system to ensure suppliers meet socio-environmental criteria. The companies that have made significant progress in their controls end up being criticized, and their transparency is used not as an incentive but as a penalty, it said.

Mercurio, Mafrinorte and Frigol didnt reply to requests for comment.

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Global Canopys report was funded by the Bezos Earth Fund. Do Pasto ao Prato is financed by Norways International Climate and Forest Initiative.

The state of Para harbors Brazils second largest cattle herd, with 25 million animals  and 35% of its territory is cleared, an area slightly smaller than Syria. As a result, it ranks first in greenhouse gas emissions among Brazilian states. A landmark study published in the journal Nature in 2021 found that the eastern Amazon, where Para is located, has ceased to function as a carbon sink, or absorber, for the Earth, due to widespread deforestation and climate change.

Niki Mardas, executive director of Global Canopy, said there will be an update to Wednesday's baseline report in the runup to COP30 next November, when all eyes will be on the Amazon. This isn't a fixed picture. This is a call to action.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Shai Weiss, the boss of Virgin Atlantic, ruffled feathers in the UK aviation industry in recent weeks when he called for the break-up of Heathrow airport.

His most controversial suggestion was that the Government should look to New Yorks John F. Kennedy International (JFK) airport for a blueprint on how to run Heathrow.

Weisss call to copy JFKs model  where different terminals are run by different airlines  stemmed from his belief that such a change would drive improvements by introducing an element of competition.

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Yet the suggestion raised eyebrows for many outside the industry. JFK has long been derided as one of the worlds least customer-friendly airports, with dilapidated and isolated terminals, lacklustre food options, poor connectivity to public transport and notoriously surly security staff. It ranks 93rd in the latest Skytrax survey of leading airports, which measures customer satisfaction.

Heathrow placed 21st, below European leader Paris Charles de Gaulle but ahead of Amsterdam and Frankfurt, and 27 spots higher than London Gatwick.

JFK rivals

Weiss wasnt referencing JFKs current incarnation, however, but the new airport that is emerging from a $19bn (14.9bn) upgrade  the biggest infrastructure project in the US.

The revamp involves the ground-up construction of two new terminals and the expansion of others, set to bolster capacity and raise service standards. JFKs owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, claims it will be a match for the best in the world.

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What most appeals to the Virgin boss, however, is the fact that the various terminals are being developed not by the Port Authority itself but by different consortia  with each awarded so-called design, build and operate contracts spanning several decades.

This has fostered competition between the terminals to attract airlines based on the attractiveness of the passenger experience, ease of transit and, crucially, fees.

The model is unique even in the US, where airports are generally owned by municipalities, and a world away from the prevailing approach in Europe  where each major hub is privatised under a company that operates terminals collectively.

Weiss says Heathrows Terminal 3, where Virgin Atlantic flights are based and which was completed in 1961, is no longer fit for purpose. The hubs upgrade plans would come with a price tag of many billions of pounds, even without a new runway, and would be paid for by airlines. So surely they should have a say in what the project looks like, he reasons.



He has called on the Government, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to use JFK as a model to reduce fees and taxes while aiding competition.

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At JFK, the public-private approach was adopted by Andrew Cuomo, the then-New York governor, in 2017  when he ordered a complete remake. Under the model, the Port Authority is providing $3.9bn for roads and transport infrastructure, while the private sector is contributing $15bn to upgrades.

That model wouldnt be directly transferable to Heathrow given its private ownership. However, a transformation of the hubs investor base, due to take effect in coming weeks, may mean shareholders are more open to fresh thinking.

Pandoras box of issues

Heathrow was privatised under Margaret Thatcher and has been owned by a group led by Spanish builder Ferrovial since 2006.

However, it is about to undergo the biggest shake-up since Ferrovials takeover after French private equity firm Ardian and the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia agreed to buy a 38pc stake for 3.3bn. Ferrovials ownership stake will be cut to 5pc.

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A Heathrow insider said: Its crystal clear from the timing that in floating these ideas Weiss is speaking not just to the new Labour Government but also to the new shareholders.

However, Thomas Woldbye, who became Heathrows chief executive last year, is against the suggestion. He argues that breaking up the airport and its terminals would add complexity and push up costs.

A spokesman for the airport adds that while Heathrow agrees that hubs must constantly improve, fragmenting operations would open a Pandoras box of issues.

It has been proven to incentivise siloed, self-interested and short-term decision making. It costs resilience while adding inefficient duplication and complexity. Its the wrong approach for consumers.

Heathrows current owners say breaking up airport risks adding unnecessary complexity and costs - Andrew Holt/The Image Bank RF

Nevertheless, its new owners might at least be minded to consider their options. The airport is pondering whether to resubmit proposals for a third runway, likely to cost at least $15bn, while also working on plans to expand its terminals.

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One executive leading the redevelopment of JFK, who asked not to be named, conceded that having individual terminals fight each other would be counterproductive, but said the structure adopted at the New York airport allows an overall governing body to ensure there are efficiencies for the greater good.

They say: Whats crucial is that it also provides terminal operators with the ability to create different service levels, price points and a level of competition that allows airlines to select the best overall proposition.

Avoiding terminal decline

JFK opened as Idlewild Airport in 1948, two years after Heathrow, and once had nine terminals, each allocated to individual airlines. It attracted 62m passengers last year, compared with 80m at Heathrow.

One of the two new terminal developments is the $9.5bn New Terminal One (NTO) project, which is led by chief Jennifer Aument.

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NTO will feature a single 23-gate terminal where three once stood and host 40 airlines. Aument says the building will be flooded with natural light and feature world class art.

It will also act as a test bed for the latest security and border technology, perhaps even helping to diminish New Yorks reputation as unwelcoming to foreign travellers.

JFKs new Terminal One, which is due to open in 2026, has aspirations to help the airport become one of the top five in the world, according to Aument.

Thats a tall order, with no US airport currently among the best 20 according to Skytrax. The top five comprise only Asian and Gulf hubs led by Doha, home base to Qatar Airways.

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However, Aument says the NTO project will be truly transformative. Carriers including Air France, KLM and Etihad have already signed up to base themselves at NTO, where the operating concession runs until 2060.

The rival JFK Millennium Partners consortium is responsible for the $4.2bn Terminal 6 development, which combines two terminal sites and will feature 10 gates also due to open from 2026.

Elsewhere, other terminals are being upgraded. Terminal 4, dedicated to Delta Air Lines and run in partnership with Amsterdam airport owner Royal Schiphol Group, has already had $1.5bn of investment.

Terminal 8, a hub for American Airlines and partner British Airways (BA), has undergone a $400m expansion. Both BA and American are part of the Oneworld alliance, which allows the two airlines to offer bookings on each others flights to help customers reach destinations that they dont cover but partners do.

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Nat Pieper, chief executive of the Oneworld alliance, wants Heathrow to let partners occupy the same terminals as they do in JFK, making transfers and lounge access easier. While BA is based at Heathrows Terminal 5, American and other Oneworld members are at Terminal 3 or Terminal 4.

The Oneworld alliance wants BA and American Airlines to occupy the same terminal - iStock Editorial

A rebuild of one of the two terminals at LaGuardia, JFKs sister airport which handles domestic flights from New York, provides some insight into how transformative such upgrades can be.

Led by Vantage Airport Group and completed in 2022, the new glass-fronted building features a 25-foot tall indoor waterfall that has wowed New Yorkers.

One executive involved in the JFK upgrade said his mother-in-law, previously a lifelong critic of LaGuardia, had been won over.

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She would avoid LaGuardia like the plague, absolutely hated it, they say. Now she says she loves it and wont fly from anywhere else.

When people say theyre actually choosing their airline based on wanting to fly from that terminal, which is the ultimate accolade.

If it can work in New York, it could work in Britain. And as other airlines plough billions into upgrading their facilities one thing is clear  Heathrow cannot afford to stand still.

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(KRON)  A Brentwood man was arrested at San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday after he allegedly flew a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, the United States Department of Justice said.

Yinpiao Zhou, 39, was charged with failure to register an aircraft, not providing transportation and violation of national defense airspace.

According to an affidavit, drone detective systems at the Vandenberg base detected a drone flying overhead on Nov. 30. It flew for about one hour, went up to nearly a mile above ground level and originated from nearby Ocean Park.

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Luigi Mangione previously reported missing in San Francisco: reports

Security personnel went to the park and found Zhou and another person. The drone that flew over the base was in Zhous jacket, the DOJ said.

After acquiring a federal search warrant, agents looked at the drone and found several photographs of the Space Force base. Zhou had previously Googled Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules and messaged someone about how to hack the drone to allow it to fly higher, per the DOJ.

Zhou is a Chinese citizen and a legal permanent resident of the United States. He was arrested at SFO before boarding a flight back to China.

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Zhou had recently returned to the United States from China in February. His accomplice at Ocean Park came to the United States from China four days before the drone incident.

If Zhou is convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in federal prison. The FBI is investigating the situation.

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DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Syria is undergoing a major transition after the military forces, that recently overthrew President Bashar al-Assad, formed a new transitional government.

The announcement came following a cabinet meeting in Damascus, where leaders of the military forces and former Assad officials gathered to establish a caretaker administration.

TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT FORMED

Mohammed al-Bashir, a relatively unknown figure who previously led a small region in northwestern Syria, was appointed as the head of the transitional government, which is expected to oversee Syria until March 2025.

The transitional government's ministers met with members of the ousted al-Assad government to ensure a smooth transfer of state institutions. Al-Bashir, the newly appointed prime minister, emphasized the need to maintain security, restore essential services, and prevent state fragmentation during this interim phase. He called for cooperation from outgoing ministers to ensure the continuity of public services, stressing the importance of a seamless transition.

Al-Bashir, born in 1983, was an electrical engineer and head of the "Syrian Salvation Government (SSG)" in Idlib formed in 2017 by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other Syrian militant groups during the Syrian civil war. The SSG wielded administrative and service-related authority in areas under the HTS control in northern Syria.

CHALLENGES TO STABILITY

The formation of a transitional government may offer a glimmer of hope for peace, but the prospects for lasting stability are uncertain.

While some parts of Syria, including Damascus, are seeing signs of normalcy -- such as the reopening of businesses and resumption of public transportation -- the overall situation remains fragile. The collapse of al-Assad government has triggered a power vacuum, leaving Syria vulnerable to the influence of external powers.

Israel has escalated its military actions in Syria, conducting airstrikes and ground operations targeting key military infrastructure. Israel's aim is to curb Iranian influence and prevent the transfer of weapons to hostile forces, particularly Iranian-backed militias.

A Xinhua correspondent reported seeing Israeli armored personnel carriers in the demilitarized zone along the Syrian-Israeli border on Tuesday, violating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Turkiye has also targeted Syrian military assets, including a naval base, as part of its efforts to limit Kurdish autonomy in northeastern Syria, viewing Kurdish forces as a threat.

This intervention adds to the complexity of Syria's future, with multiple foreign powers pursuing their own agendas.

INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS

Israel's military actions have drawn widespread condemnation from regional actors. Countries like Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have condemned the Israeli strikes, accusing Israel of violating Syria's sovereignty and escalating regional tensions. Iran, in particular, criticized Israel's "frequent aggression" and called for a United Nations (UN) response to hold Israel accountable.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called for an end to foreign military interventions, urging the international community to support Syria's transition process and help the country chart a path toward unity. Pedersen said that the Syrian people must be allowed to shape their own future without external interference.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia also emphasized the need for a Syrian-led political process, free from external pressure.

The UAE condemned Israel's seizure of the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights, calling it a violation of international law and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. The UAE rejected such actions, saying they worsen regional tensions and impede peace efforts.

Turkiye, which has been engaged in military operations in northern Syria, also condemned Israel's actions in the Golan Heights, highlighting the need for all foreign powers to respect Syria's territorial integrity.

In the West, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Washington's support for a Syrian-led and -owned political transition that leads to credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance.

Similarly, European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed willingness to collaborate with Syria's new leadership, provided that fundamental human rights and the protection of ethnic and religious minorities are upheld.

LOOKING AHEAD

As Syria enters this uncertain phase, the influence of external powers continues to complicate efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability. The military actions by Israel and Turkiye, combined with internal divisions, present significant challenges to the newly formed transitional government.

In the coming months, the international community will closely monitor the government's ability to navigate these complexities and whether it can build consensus for a peaceful, democratic future.

Syria's path forward remains fraught with obstacles, and only time will tell if the new government can meet the aspirations of the Syrian people. 
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Meteorologists look at three factors of a given weather pattern to decide whether to issue a Red Flag Warning, which signals that there is an elevated fire risk: temperatures, humidity and wind.

The National Weather Service issues watches, warnings and other advisories to let the public know about high wind events, which are most common between January and April as well as October through December.

What is a Red Flag Warning and why is it important?

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A wind advisory is issued when strong winds are happening, but not strong enough to warrant a warning. Meanwhile, a high wind watch is when strong winds are possible and the NWS advises people to be prepared. A high wind warning is issued when even stronger gusts are happening and when people are advised to seek shelter.

According to available data from the National Weather Service, there have been 331 days with high wind events since Nov. 25, 1996. Two days involved death, five days involved death or injury, 61 days had property damage and nine had reported crop damage.

A 49-year-old woman in San Diego was killed on Jan. 6, 2003 after a tree fell on her, NWS stated. Three others throughout the county were also struck by falling trees and injured during the three-day Santa Ana wind event, which lasted between Jan. 5 and Jan. 7, 2003.

Fire breaks out along Highway 94 near U.S.-Mexico Border

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Another high wind event happened between 10:52 a.m. Oct. 21 and 11:33 a.m. Oct. 22, 2007, with gusts stronger than 70 miles per hour leading to downed trees, damaged roofs and overturned high-vehicles throughout the region.

Wind gusts of at least 50 miles per hour were seen in Julian for 18 consecutive hours, NWS said, with similar speeds reported in Descanso for 14 consecutive hours.

This event coincided with the devastating Witch Creek and Guejito fires that resulted in the largest wildfire evacuation in San Diego Countys history at the time. Santa Ana winds had started a small fire east of Ramona near Witch Creek on Oct. 21, 2007. It spread to the San Diego city limits and merged with the Gueijito Fire, which had sparked in the San Pasqual Valley on Oct. 22.

Nearly 200,000 acres burned as a result of the fires, and more than 500,000 people were evacuated.

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On Feb. 17, 2017, strong winds downed hundreds of trees along the San Diego coast and one person was killed in East County, according to NWS. A peak gust of 61 miles per hour happened in Imperial Beach, while areas within the San Diego metro area reported gusts between 50 to 60 miles per hour. The wind event led to millions of dollars in damages, NWS stated.

Paired with low humidity and warm temperatures, these strong winds could lead to an increased wildfire risk. Red Flag Warnings are issued by the NWS when conditions are favorable for fire danger. Since the 1960s, the notice has been used by fire officials to determine the best times to conduct prescribed burns or alert the public to prepare for potentially risky conditions.

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A Bristol University graduate and former Institute of Economic Affairs intern has been kidnapped by the Venezuelan authorities, according to the British think tank.

Jesus Armas, a pro-democracy activist, is believed to have been taken to a well-known torture centre in Caracas, where he is allegedly being held by the countrys political police force.

Six masked agents in an unmarked SUV arbitrarily detained Mr Armas, a Venezuelan national, at about 9pm local time on Monday, a spokesman for the IEA said on Wednesday.

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The Venezuelan authorities have not yet confirmed his whereabouts.

Mr Armas played a role in the Venezuelan opposition campaign during the countrys heavily disputed presidential election in July.

Thousands seized by police since election

Nicolas Maduro, who has been president since 2013, claimed victory in the election, despite exit polls suggesting that he lost by a landslide.

Mr Maduros government has repeatedly refused to release the voting tallies and instead began crackdowns on political opponents.

About 2,000 people are thought to have been kidnapped since the election in what has become known as operation Knock Knock.

One week after the July 28 election, Mr Armas, the president of Ciudadania Sin Limites, an organisation that promotes freedom and democracy in Venezuela, said that he had gone into hiding, claiming his campaign had faced severe repression.

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He wrote in the National Post: The democratic worlds solidarity is essential to reclaiming Venezuelas freedom. The international community must condemn Maduros actions, provide humanitarian support, monitor the situation, and protect opposition activists.

The fight for freedom and democracy belongs to all of us, and global support can be a powerful tool for Venezuelans in their quest for justice and liberty.

Lammy urged to press for release

Tom Clougherty, the executive director of the IEA, said he had written to David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, calling on the Government to demand Mr Armass release.

Mr Clougherty said: Armas saw the United Kingdom as a beacon of liberty in the world. I hope you will agree that, as a principled advocate of democracy and freedom on the world stage, the British Government should make its views on this matter clear to the Maduro regime.

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Steve Baker, a Conservative former government minister, said it was particularly atrocious that Mr Armas had been abducted by state-sponsored terrorists.

Its time for the international community to unite and tell Venezuela you must have free and fair elections, you must uphold human rights and just processes, and abducting political activists has no place in our world, he said.

Many countries have refused to accept Mr Maduros declaration of victory, including the US, UK and 10 Latin American governments.

The European Union (EU) also said it would not recognise his re-election without seeing a verifiable result.

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But Mr Maduro has retained the support of key allies Russia and China and remained in power. His next six-year term is set to begin in January.

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LONDON (AP)  The British government on Wednesday indefinitely banned puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria after independent experts found there was an unacceptable safety risk in prescribing the medication.

The decision, which will be revisited in 2027, effectively bans a common approach to medical gender transitions for youths. It also goes against standards held by medical groups elsewhere, including the European and World Professional Associations for Transgender Health, as well as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The ban will prevent prescribing medications that can suppress or pause puberty in children with gender dysphoria, providing more time to consider options that could include gender reassignment.

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The announcement comes after a judge this summer upheld an emergency ban in a ruling that said the treatment was potentially harmful. The emergency ban was put in place by the center-right Conservative government and has now been extended by the center-left Labour government.

The ban does not apply to those already receiving puberty blockers for gender dysphoria, to their use in clinical studies or in treatment of children with precocious puberty, an uncommon medical condition that causes puberty to begin abnormally early.

It applies across the United Kingdom after consultation with the Scottish and Welsh governments, and an agreement with Northern Ireland.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said a clinical trial will be set up next year to better evaluate use of the drugs.

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We need to act with caution and care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people, and follow the expert advice, Streeting said.

The National Health Service in England stopped prescribing puberty blockers at gender identity clinics last year, saying there was not enough evidence about the benefits and harms.

In July, Justice Beverley Lang said a review commissioned by the NHS found very substantial risks and very narrow benefits to the treatment. She concluded that gender care is an area of remarkably weak evidence and young people have been caught up in a stormy social discourse.

The British Medical Association, which noted that the NHS review was controversial and included patients, academics, scientists and legal experts among its critics, voted to carry out an evidence-led evaluation of that report.

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The court challenge was brought by the group TransActual and a youth who cannot be named, according to a court order.

TransActual criticized Wednesday's decision, saying that evidence of danger from 40 years of puberty blockers remains elusive.

Banning medicines with no evidence of serious harm, only for trans people  is discrimination plain and simple, said Keyne Walker, the groups strategy director. Evidence of the harm of the temporary ban continues to emerge, and will grow now that it has been made permanent.
MILAN (AP)  British designer John Galliano is leaving the Maison Margiela fashion house after 10 years as artistic director, the Paris-based brands owner Wednesday. No successor has been announced.

John made it the most cutting-edge couture house in the world, said Renzo Rosso, chairman of Italy's OTB Group that owns Maison Margiela. Rosso said the last decade of incredibly intense work, amazing shows and installations, extraordinary beautiful product, have laid the foundations for the future.

Galliano expressed his gratitude to Rosso for giving him a new chance, adding "I continue to atone, and I will never stop dreaming. Galliano left fashion in disgrace in 2011 after making antisemitic comments in a Paris bar.

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My wings mended, 10 years later, I am forever grateful for this safe space to create, and his undying support, Galliano said in a statement.

Galliano made his runway debut with Maison Margiela in January 2015, with a small couture collection to a carefully selected audience of about 100 in London. It was the start of a comeback for the flamboyant designer who was dismissed from Christian Dior after he was caught on video making an antisemitic comment.

Givenchy hired Galliano as a young head designer in 1995, before Christian Dior brought him on as creative director the next year. For 15 years, his star rose with theatrical runway shows.
PARIS  British Army troops fired a high-energy laser from an armored vehicle for the first time, using beams of infrared light to destroy dozens of flying drones, in what may be a cost-effective way to address the threat of unmanned aerial systems, the Ministry of Defence said.

Soldiers from the U.K.s 16th Regiment Royal Artillery , which specializes in providing air defense for ground troops, used the laser mounted on a Wolfhound armored personnel carrier to destroy drones at a variety of distances and speeds, the MoD said in a statement on Wednesday.

The ubiquity of drones over the battlefield in Ukraine, where infantry typically operates under a constant buzz of multiple UAVs overhead, has Western armies racing to find countermeasures. The U.S. Army in September tested laser-equipped Stryker combat vehicles to destroy drones, while France deployed a vehicle-mounted prototype anti-drone laser during the Paris Olympic Games.

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This is still an emerging technology, but the world has changed and we are seeing more use of drones in the battlespace, said Stephen Waller, directed-energy weapons team leader at the MoDs Defence Equipment & Support organization, or DE&S. This requires a more cost-effective solution to protect our troops.

Ukrainian troops are using thousands of drones every week, including first-person view drones that can cost as little as a few hundred dollars apiece but can be lethal when packed with explosives, while small commercial quadcopters costing a few thousand dollars are used for scouting and adjusting artillery.

The virtually limitless ammo supply of laser weapons could make them more cost-efficient than some alternatives, the MoD said. This years Eurosatory defense show in Paris featured counter-UAS measures ranging from cannons with airburst munitions to net-firing drones, rockets packed with metal balls, jammers and spoofers.

The British Armys experimental laser weapon uses advanced sensors and tracking systems to maintain lock on target, according to the MoD, which has said the setup is fully portable and easy to operate. As part of its Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon Demonstrator program the ministry in July tested the laser on enemy drones at distances of more than 1 kilometer at its testing range in Porton Down.

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Having the capability to track and eliminate moving drones will give U.K. troops a better operational advantage and these successful trials have demonstrated that we are well on our way to achieving this, Waller said.

The MoD will now assess the steps needed to develop laser weapons for future frontline use by the British Army, the ministry statement said.

The 16th Regiment Royal Artillery tested the laser, developed in cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and an industry consortium led by Raytheon UK, at Radnor Range in central Wales. The weapon is being developed under a 16.8 million (US$21.4 million) contract from the British government.

In the live test, the soldiers destroyed dozens of quadcopter drones within the constraints of the Radnor range, the MoD told Defense News, without providing details. Radnor, situated in a steep valley, features a 5-kilometer-long testing range for 40mm cannons and aerial countermeasures.

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Every engagement using the laser weapon removed a drone from the sky, and what was notable was how quick a drone can be taken out, Warrant Officer Matthew Anderson, trials manager for the Armys mounted close combat trials and development group, said in the statement.

The U.K. is working on other laser weapons, and earlier this year fired the DragonFire laser weapon against aerial targets for the first time. That weapon is being developed within a 100 million program with industry partners MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ, and the ministry said the technologies employed between the two weapon systems differ.

Firing the DragonFire laser typically costs less than 10 a shot, with both the Army and the Royal Navy considering the technology for future air defense, according to the MoD.
A Fort Lauderdale man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for submitting hundreds of fraudulent tax returns, totaling more than half a million dollars.

Jean Volvick Moise, 39, worked as a tax return preparer from about 2014 through 2022 and had been submitting fraudulent returns for his clients since at least 2016 so that the clients would receive larger returns than they were actually owed, according to a factual proffer, the facts of the case agreed on by prosecutors and the defense. Moise then would charge his clients a larger-than-normal fee.

Moise in the documents he prepared would include false information about clients dependents and educational credits, false Form 1099 withholdings, and false Schedule C business expenses, often for businesses which did not exist, the factual proffer said.

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Moise claimed a dependent as a exemption in 2018 for a client who did not have any dependents and never told the tax preparer that he did, according to the factual proffer. He had also claimed false education credit from a school that the client said he did not recognize, in addition to submitting other false information with the return.

The client had only given Moise his Form W-2, and Moise did not review the return with the client or give the client a copy, the factual proffer said. Moise had prepared the clients returns since 2016, and he routinely gave Moise between $1,500 and $2,000. The client is identified in the court record only by the initials F.B.

Moise prepared a fraudulent return while federal authorities were investigating undercover, and he admitted that he makes things up in order to get more money in return, the factual proffer said.

Moises three-year sentence will run consecutive to a separate sentence for a state charge in Broward County, federal court records show.

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He was arrested in Broward County in 2016 on a sexual battery charge after he forced himself on a 16-year-old girl, according to an arrest affidavit in that case. He was convicted by a jury of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and sentenced in March 2023 to six years in state prison.

Moise was held in a state prison up until Thursday, when he was booked into the Broward Sheriffs Offices Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach on a court order, jail records and Florida Department of Corrections records show. Moise remains in the Paul Rein Detention Facility as of Tuesday night.
BROWNWOOD, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Brownwood is set to make city history; in 2022, the city received a $100,000 donation from The Arc of Brown County.

The Arc is a national organization dedicated to supporting people with intellectual & developmental disabilities, as the local Arc of Brown County turns Allcorn Park into the citys first all-inclusive park. Brownwood Park and Recreation Director Roland Soto shares a decision made in April 2024, speeding up construction.

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Its relieving, its gratifying, I guess we started in 2022 with the initial donation of The Arc of Brown County so to have it where its at today is very exciting. Having the time to plan worked to our advantage. The Municipal Development District allocates funds each year to parks, and this past April, they asked where we were at on the Allcorn Park Project. They were able to allocate 125,000 towards it and really helped push the project to the finish line. It really does stand up to the name all-inclusive because I do live in the neighborhood, and one of the most gratifying things is coming by and seeing you know people of all capabilities and disabilities playing together, and thats really the goal of this playground, so its just exciting to see that explained Soto.

The project is almost complete, and residents have already begun using it. Jana Brown is the President of The Arc of Brown County, which helped kick start this project, and the mother of seven-year-old Brighton.

My daughter just turned seven in October, and I joined the ARC when she was born because she has Down syndrome. I didnt even know about the organization until that point, so weve been working on it for just a few years since she was. I guess its been about six years since. So, its super exciting to see that it is coming to real life now. The park is all-inclusive, and some of the things that make it all-inclusive are the turf, you know, instead of sand, wood chips, or mulch. The interactive stuff is very important, especially for sensory people with sensory issues,  Brown shared.

Brown expressed her happiness with the changes, noting that it is now a space for children with disabilities to enjoy, even from the turf, which makes it easier for children in wheelchairs to maneuver.

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Most importantly, Soto said its a space where all children can play together regardless of disabilities and abilities.

Youre going to see ADA ramps, youre going to see sensory-type items, things that focus on childrens development both socially, physically, and emotionally. The idea of it is for children of all disabilities and abilities to play together, shared Soto.

The new parks sidewalk will be installed by the end of the year. Final touches, like a new fence, will be completed at the beginning of 2025. The park is located at the corner of 4th Street and Indian Creek Drive.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The Buffalo Common Council approved Acting Mayor Chris Scanlons $110 million capital budget Tuesday, which marks the largest capital investment in the citys history.

The record-setting budget is said to provide upgrades to the citys infrastructure, public safety, public schools and cultural facilities.

$55.45 million, which is the largest chunk of the budget, will be borrowed for Buffalo Public Schools to use on repair and investment projects, such as the relocation of Leonardo da Vinci High School to Buffalo State Universitys Buckham Hall.

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The budget also includes borrowing $27.2 million for the citys infrastructure needs along with public safety and parks.

Council President Pro Tempore Bryan Bollman said the budget calls for another $27 million for short-term loans called Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs) for larger infrastructure projects, such as Jefferson Avenue reconstruction and bringing traffic back to Main Street and Bailey Avenue.

The loans are federally funded and will be completely reimbursed, but still some are skeptical.

Rasheed Wyatt, who recently announced his bid for mayor, was the only council member to vote against the budget.

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This is affecting the taxpayers in the city of Buffalo, Wyatt said. We have dollars and interest that were paying on money that were not even using, and so again, for me, its just about being fiscally responsible and trying to be more in tune with whats happening and not just making knee-jerk reactions, but having a real plan about how we move forward.

In an interview with WIVB News 4 Tuesday, Council Member Mitch Nowakowski said the BANs would cost the city around $900,000.

That could be staggered over five years or we could not issue those bonds, so theres a separation of authorize and issued and authorize and unissued, he said. The BANs section  about the $27 million that the Common Council approved  are for those infrastructure projects. If theyre not shovel-ready, the city does not issue that bond, it comes at no expense to residents.

City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams sent a letter to leaders saying the budget would be costly for the city. Bollman said they took her letter seriously, but felt that this was the right move for Buffalo.

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There are several projects that dont even make this cut so I dont see this as frivolous spending at all. I believe this is investing in our community, Bollman said. We have to balance fixing our roads, fixing our sidewalks, fixing our community centers and investing in the city of Buffalo and our infrastructure.

The budget will leverage funds from the American Rescue Plan and other federal funds along with New York State highway funds, a city spokesperson said in a release.

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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was arraigned Monday morning on an indictment charging him with murder following a fatal shooting that occurred at a party three months ago, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced.

Alfonzo Quinney, 48, allegedly shot Elijah Mingo, 28, on the 100 block of Northland Avenue with an illegal gun during an argument, officials said. The incident occurred late on the night of Sept. 6 at some type of party.

The victim was declared deceased at the scene.

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Quinney was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was held without bail and faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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TEHRAN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the political upheaval in Syria was the result of a joint "plot" by the United States and Israel.

He made the remarks at a meeting with a group of people from different walks of life in Tehran while commenting on the latest developments in Syria, which led to the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government, according to the footage of his remarks released by his website.

The Iranian leader said although "one of Syria's neighbors ... has played and is playing a clear role" in that regard, the main "factors, conspirators, plotters and command room" were in the United States and Israel.

He stressed, "We have evidence (for this), which does not leave any room for doubt."

Dismissing speculations about the weakening of the resistance front in the aftermath of al-Assad's government collapse, the Iranian leader assured that the resistance would get stronger.

"This is the resistance. This is the resistance front. The more you pressure it, the stronger it grows; the more you commit crimes, the more motivated it gets; and the more you fight it, the more widespread it becomes," he said.

Khamenei added that those who attacked Syria had different objectives, noting that some of them in northern and southern Syria sought to seize land, and the United States aimed to strengthen its foothold in the region.

He said that time would prove that none of them would be able to achieve their objectives, emphasizing that the seized Syrian regions would undoubtedly be liberated by Syria's "brave" youths.

Al-Assad has resigned and arrived in Russia for asylum as his government collapsed on Sunday following a sweeping offensive by militant groups. 
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A shooting that occurred Wednesday morning on Ontario Street is currently being investigated by Buffalo Police, according to a city spokesperson.

Officials said the shooting occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on the 500 block of Ontario Street.

The victim was transported to ECMC with apparent serious injuries.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call or text the Buffalo Police Departments confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255.

Latest Local News

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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PETERSBURG, Ind. (WEHT)  Pike County School officials address bullying concerns during a special meeting on Tuesday night.

School board officials held the meeting to talk with parents about bullying taking place on their campuses.

Several parents voiced their concerns saying the school is not taking enough precautions to keep their kids safe.

School officials disagree and say they have steps in place to address the matter. They say all bullying reports are investigated and that they take each one seriously.

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Administrators say there is an anonymous reporting system for bullying on the school corporations website.

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BURKBURNETT (KFDX/KJTL)  For years, residents have been asking the city of Burkburnett to find a solution to improve the water quality. High nitrate levels pose several health risks to children under 6 months old or those battling long-term medical issues.

On Tuesday, December 10, a meeting was held to address the water quality and clear up some rumors that have been floating around town.

Tree of Lights Radio Day to help reach $300,000 goal

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The meeting discussed solutions for the water issue, which city manager Fred Tillman said they now have.

Regional Vice President from Veolia Matt Johnson addressed city leaders and residents, educating them about Veolias work and how they can help improve Burkburnetts water, lower nitrate levels and help with the aging infrastructure.

Johnson said that utilizing their services to provide water services would ultimately save the city of Burkburnett nearly two million dollars through water distribution, wastewater collection, water billing and collections, and servicing the water wells.

Several residents also voiced concerns about what would happen to current water department employees. Tillman said that despite some rumors circulating on social media, current employees would have the chance to work for Veolia or be placed in a different position with the city if they were to partner with Veolia.

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Social media is one of those animals that you cant control. Its its its an echo chamber where anybody can say anything. First of all. Yes, absolutely. Id like to clarify. We will always take care of our employees, our employees are our number one priority within the city of Burkburnett. No one is going to lose their job. No one is going to lose their retirement, Tillman said

Tillman said no action was taken today and that this meeting was solely for educational purposes, allowing the city of Burkburnett to be as transparent as possible.

Tillman said the next steps will be to carefully review Veolias initial contract and make any necessary changes.

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MORGANTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Burke County man found guilty of two felony drug charges while he was fleeing across state lines was sentenced to up to 23 years in prison Monday.

According to the Burke County Sheriffs Office, a trail for William Lavar Brawley, now 41, began Superior Court on May 28 after he pled not guilty for charges of trafficking opium/heroin, possession with intent to manufacture a Schedule II substance and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon  all felonies.

The trial continued, concluding on May 31. Documents show Brawley did not come to court that day and cut his pre-trial monitoring device off his person against the court-issued conditions. The jury deliberated and returned with a guilty verdict for the two drug charges with the defendant on the run.

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Morganton man drives into fire station garage while impaired: Officials

Sentencing was delayed until Brawley was back in court.

The charges stem from a traffic stop on Jan. 5, 2023, when deputies say a vehicle allegedly had an equipment violation on Interstate 40 near Exit 116. A N.C. Department of Public Safety K9 obtained a positive alert, and deputies conducted a search of the vehicle and the occupants.

(Photo: Burke County Sheriffs Office)

During the search, Brawley was reportedly found to be in possession of approximately 600 Oxycodone hydrochloride pills, 38 grams of fentanyl, 7 grams of Black Tar Heroin, numerous Alprazolam pills, drug paraphernalia and two firearms.

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Three months after the trail, Brawley was found Aug. 28 by the US Marshals Service and taken into custody in Fentress County, Tennessee, about 80 miles northwest of Knoxville. He was extradited to Burke County on Oct. 9.

Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, the Burke County Sheriffs Office partnered with other agencies, who assisted in getting Brawley back to Burke County by airplane to face his conviction and be sentenced.

Assisting with sheriffs office with the extradition were the US Marshals Service, NC State Bureau of Investigation and Burke County District Attorneys Office

On Dec. 9, he was sentenced to 225 months to 285 months in the North Carolina Department of Prisons.

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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?
One person and three cats escaped an early morning fire in Burlington today, according to a news release from Fire Marshal Robert Berndt.

The Burlington Fire Department was called to the 1100 block of Hagemann Avenue in Burlington for a report of a house fire on Wednesday, December 11 at about 3:27 a.m. Firefighters arrived five minutes later and could see flames coming from the roof of the single-story single-family residence. A resident was home and asleep at the time of the fire, but he woke to the sound of his smoke alarms and escaped safely with three out of the four cats. There is no word on the status of the fourth cat. The home was insured.

Alliant Energy and Gas, West Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department, Burlington Waterworks and the American Red Cross assisted at the scene. All crews returned to service at 7 a.m. Investigators determined that the fire originated within the attic space near the chimney flue and it is probable that the fire was caused by inadequate maintenance.

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A 22-year-old mother in California is dead after police say her toddler accidentally shot her with an unsecured gun.

The incident occurred on Friday, Dec. 6, at an apartment where Jessinya Mina lived with her 2-year-old toddler and an 8-month-old infant, along with her 18-year-old boyfriend, Andrew Sanchez, the Fresno Police Department said in a news release on Monday, Dec. 9.

During a news conference, Lt. Paul Cervantes said that the loaded 9mm handgun "was stored in a location where the toddler accessed the firearm, and at some point, in time, while handling that particular weapon, the toddler was able to manipulate the trigger, and it actually struck Mina as she was lying in bed."

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After the incident, Sanchez and "other roommates attempted to assist Mina by giving her life-saving measures," Cervantes said.

GoFundMe Jessinya Mina Jessinya Mina

Related: Man Accused of Murdering His Mother, 70, in 'Gruesome Scene,' Before Killing Neighbor After Leaving Chilling Voicemail

"They were in the process of transporting her to the hospital when they made the 911 call, and instructions were made to actually remain at the location and wait for police and fire to arrive," Cervantes said.

Mina, who was found with a single gunshot wound to her upper body, would later receive emergency aid from officers and EMS personnel before being transported to the Community Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, the news release explains.

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Cervantes said Sanchez was detained and gave a statement indicating that "he was, in fact, responsible for placing the weapon in a location where it could be accessed."

Sanchez was booked at the Fresno County Jail for one count of felony child endangerment and one count of felony criminal storage of a firearm, per the press release. He has posted bail, Cervantes said, noting that Sanchez has no criminal history.

Fresno Police Department/Facebook Andrew Sanchez Andrew Sanchez

Related: Parents Accused of Leaving Toddler in Closet Overnight with Space Heater On. She Was Found Dead the Next Day

"We're continuing to work this investigation forward, collaborating with the district attorney's office to see [that] the appropriate charges are going to be filed," he added.

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Cervantes stated that while the incident "appears to be a tragedy," there is an ongoing investigation, which includes forensic analysis of the evidence and Mina's autopsy.

"The Fresno Police Department is deeply saddened by this type of tragedy, thats devastating and definitely serves as a stark reminder of the significance and importance of being able to properly store your weapon and do so in a manner that children do not access it," he added.

In a statement to ABC 30, Mina's sister, Jessica Rodriguez, said Mina was in the process of going back to cosmetology school and finishing her career.

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"My niece and nephew will have to live off of memories and stories of my sister rather than her presence," she added, remembering her sister as "a beautiful soul who touched the lives of anyone she ever encountered."

Rodriguez has set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds for Mina's funeral arrangements and care of her two children.

Read the original article on People
A new lawsuit alleges that courts across California routinely deny people due process by failing to maintain transcripts of many types of proceedings.

The suit, filed last week by two San Francisco Bay Area legal advocacy groups against the superior courts of Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Clara counties, alleges that more than a million litigants are affected statewide each year by a shortage of certified court reporters.

Court reporters are trusted to keep verbatim accounts of sworn testimony and other goings-on inside courtrooms. Certified transcripts are crucial for appeals, and the absence of such records can be a factor in judicial decisions on child custody, domestic violence and other high-stakes legal matters, according to the lawsuit.

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The litigation, filed directly in the California Supreme Court in an unusual move, comes as advocates have grown increasingly frustrated by the documented inability of many courts to find and hire enough court reporters.

Read more: No transcript, no appeal: California courts face 'crisis' over lack of records

This is a problem thats existed for more than a decade and just gotten increasingly worse, said Jennafer Dorfman Wagner, director of programs at the Family Violence Appellate Project, one of the two petitioners, along with Bay Area Legal Aid.

Representatives of the superior courts of Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties declined to comment on pending litigation. San Diego County's court spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

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Rob Oftring, a spokesman for the L.A. County Superior Court, emailed a statement that said the court's leadership "is committed to fair and equal access to justice. That includes ensuring all litigants maintain their full appellate rights by having access to a verbatim record of their proceedings when a court-employed court reporter is unavailable and fundamental rights or liberty interests are at stake.

Higher pay offered by private-sector work has compounded struggles to maintain adequate court reporter staffing. Although the public workforce is still able to handle transcripts for criminal proceedings, some civil matters  including family court cases  can be left without anyone keeping an official word-for-word record.

State law permits electronic recording of some proceedings, but not in a wide range of cases involving issues such as domestic violence restraining orders, evictions, small claims and child custody disputes.

Well-heeled litigants can hire court reporters, which can cost more than $3,000 per day. Those without means are left with no way of obtaining an official record, as electronic recording of court cases is not permitted in most instances.

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The petitioners are seeking "an order from the California Supreme Court mandating that, when a litigant cannot afford a private court reporter, they are entitled to have the proceeding recorded at no charge, including by electronic recording if a court reporter is not available," according to an emailed statement.

Read more: Newsom touts California efforts on fentanyl at the border. Will it matter to Trump?

In the superior courts of L.A. and Santa Clara counties, general orders issued this year have cleared the way for judges to allow electronic recording of certain proceedings involving low-income litigants who cant afford to hire court reporters.

Sonya Winner, senior counsel at the law firm Covington & Burling, which is representing the Family Violence Appellate Project, argued that the state's high court needs to intervene to address the situation.

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Without a verbatim record of what happened, it is basically impossible  to have an appeal, she said. If you get an erroneous ruling, you are out of luck.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Democratic lawmakers including California Sen. Alex Padilla are urging President Biden to take action now to protect immigrants with temporary legal statuses and work authorizations.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to move quickly to crack down on immigrants once he takes office, including mass deportations.

The lawmakers said during a news conference Wednesday that protecting hundreds of thousands of immigrants was not just a moral imperative, but an economic priority as well.

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"By taking work authorization for hundreds of thousands of workers away, we're gutting our own workforce," Padilla said. "For all the voters who turned out in November, who told campaigns and pollsters that top of mind for them was the high cost of living, the cost of housing, the price of food and so much more: Let's be clear that mass deportations will directly result in an economic disaster and higher prices."

Read more: With deportations at the top of Trump's list, California immigrants 'prepare for the worst'

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada said White House officials told her they are considering the request, but have offered no timetable for when they could act. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

She and Padilla, along with Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, sent Biden a letter last week asking him to redesignate eligible countries, including Nicaragua, El Salvador and Venezuela, for Temporary Protected Status, and to designate Ecuador for protections.

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They also urged Biden to expedite processing of applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program granting work permits and deportation protections to certain immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

California is home to about 68,000 Temporary Protected Status holders and 150,000 DACA recipients.

Temporary Protected Status is a presidential authority that allows people to live and work in the U.S. when conditions in their home country, such as war or environmental disaster, make it unsafe to return. More than 860,000 immigrants from 17 countries are protected under the program, which the Biden administration significantly expanded.

The program's protection is granted for up to 18 months. Protections for some countries are due to end soon; designations for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal and Sudan, for instance, expire in March. Renewing them now would buy those immigrants more time to work legally and seek out alternative legal options.

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During his first term, Trump revoked the humanitarian protections for people from several countries, but a class-action lawsuit kept their protections in place until the Biden administration took office and reversed Trump's move.

It is widely anticipated that Trump will attempt to revoke the protections or let them expire soon after being sworn in.

The plea by lawmakers and advocates comes after Trump said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that the only way to prevent families from being separated is to deport them all, including children who are U.S. citizens. Trump also said he will "work with Democrats on a plan" to help DACA recipients remain in the country.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Tuesday titled, "How mass deportations will separate American families, harm our armed forces, and devastate our economy."

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In a floor speech previewing the hearing a day earlier, Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said there's reason to be skeptical, if not cynical, of Trump's promises to work with Democrats.

"[In his] last term, President-elect Trump walked away from four different bipartisan compromises with Democrats to solve the DACA crisis," Durbin said. "Democrats were willing to provide billions of dollars, at one point, for President Trumps unpopular border wall in exchange for a bipartisan Dream Act, but we just couldn't seem to reach a positive answer."

Andrea Flores, a former Biden White House official who is now vice president for immigration policy and campaigns at the advocacy group Fwd.us, said Biden's decision to protect hundreds of thousands of immigrants from dangerous conditions is being politicized in the aftermath of the election.

She noted that Temporary Protected Status is a bipartisan law created in 1990, has been used by presidents of both political parties and requires "a sober legal assessment of the diplomatic foreign policy and country conditions."

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"Factors that are not in the law could potentially stop the Biden administration from acting," she said. "The usage of TPS historically has always reflected the best of what our country does, which is to protect people fleeing harm from oppressive regimes. To fail to act now, to protect those people that we welcomed in and provided refuge to, would be a stain on the Biden administration's legacy for years to come."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Dharam Gokhool on his taking office as the president of the Republic of Mauritius.

Noting that Mauritius is an important partner of China in Africa, Xi said bilateral relations have been upgraded to a strategic partnership with concerted efforts of both sides.

Under the new circumstances, the two countries shoulder the historic mission of national rejuvenation and share the same responsibility in safeguarding international fairness and justice, Xi said, adding the cooperation between the two sides has great potential and a promising future.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations and stands ready to work with Gokhool to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation in various fields and push for greater development of bilateral relations. 
The House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament has approved the allocation of CAD 764 million (approximately US$587 million) for military assistance to Ukraine.

Source: Ukrinform

Details: These funds are part of a larger budgetary document, the approval of which will allow the government to allocate an additional CAD 21 billion (approximately US$15 million) for various purposes, including national defence.

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According to Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair, the funds will be used for ammunition, training and other resources Ukraine critically needs to secure victory.

The document also includes CAD 400 million (approximately US$307 million) in financial assistance for Ukraine, allocated from a special International Monetary Fund (IMF) account.

Additionally, the parliament approved CAD 45 million (approximately US$35 million) for humanitarian mine clearance and strengthening Ukraine's cyber resilience.

Ukrinform noted that the opposition Conservative Party, which seeks to force the government to resign, voted against the approval of these additional expenditures.

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The increase in spending was passed by the House of Commons on the last day allowed by law.

For the decision to take effect, it still requires a vote in the Canadian Senate, which is expected in the near future.

Background: The Canadian government is exploring the prospect of transferring some of the weapons banned for use in the country to assist Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

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Nichole Babbitt had been living with pain for years. One of her wisdom teeth had broken off, exposing the root.

"It has been super painful to live like this," she said. The tooth, she said, causes swelling on the side of her mouth and headaches.

Reducing her pain is especially important to the mom who has struggled with addiction for 20 years and got clean a year ago after being homeless.

While at a drug treatment center last year, she did go to a dentist but was given an estimate of $3,000 to remove the tooth or to get a crown. There was no way she could afford that. Before that trip to the dentist, the 41-year-old had not seen a dentist since she was 18.

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Babbitt and the other featured recipients in the Austin American-Statesman's Season for Caring program had dental screenings from Capital Area Dental Foundation volunteers on Saturday. All the family members who were screened will then be paired with a dentist for care such as cleanings, fillings and crowns.

The foundation is also reaching out to oral surgeons to help people like Babbitt, who need more extensive care. And the organization is also looking for orthodontists. Interested providers can email txcadf@gmail.com.

Dr. Kavin Kelp reviews an X-ray with Kathia Gomez at his dental office in West Lake Hills on Saturday, when recipients in the Season for Caring program had dental screenings from Capital Area Dental Foundation volunteers.

Since 2011, Capital Area Dental Foundation has given more than $220,000 in dental care to Season for Caring. Some money donated by the public also gets used to offset some of the cost, including anesthesia or some lab fees.

Season for Caring each year features 12 families or individuals nominated by local nonprofits. All the donations get used for the featured families' needs first and then help hundreds of other families with basic needs such as rent, groceries, medical care and transportation. Babbitt was nominated by Foundation for the Homeless.

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Ana Martinez Aranda, who was nominated by Hospice Austin, was able to get herself and her mother, Olga Aranda Guzman, screened. They came to the U.S. from Mexico to escape violence and to get better care for Olga, who has end-stage renal failure. "It was great," Martinez said of the screening. "I'm so happy for both of us."

Kelly Keith talks to Season of Caring recipient Ana Martinez Aranda at Dr. Kavin Kelps dental office during Saturday's free screenings.

Dr. Stan LaCroix, who is in charge of Capital Area Dental Foundation's Access to Care Program, said the screenings Saturday went better than he expected, but the team did find "some fairly serious problems," he said. The foundation will reach out to their member dentists to give them an opportunity to participate.

Season for Caring "helps us provide care to those who don't have access to it otherwise," LaCroix said. "It makes us feel good to do it. It's good to give back to the community."

Statesman Season for Caring logo

About Season for Caring

The Statesman will be sharing the stories of all 12 Season for Caring families throughout the holiday season. Find more stories and information at statesman.com/seasonforcaring.

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All donations are being matched up to $500,000 by the Sheth family through Christmas Day. You can donate online or use the coupon on Page 2B and mail it to Austin Community Foundation, c/o Statesman Season for Caring, 4315 Guadalupe St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78751. Make checks payable to Statesman Season for Caring.

Join us Saturday at all P. Terry's Burger Stand Central Texas locations. On that day, 100% of profits go to Season for Caring.

Use the form below or click here: https://statesmansfc.kimbia.com/statesmanseasonforcaring

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Capital Area Dental Foundation helps Season for Caring families
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Capital Metro announced it will offer rides to people seeking shelter during the cold weather. Individuals unable to pay will still be given a ride to their destination.

The transportation provider said it will closely monitor severe weather on Wednesday and the rest of the week.

Todays forecast

Were doing our part to help our community, especially during weather events that leave people vulnerable. No one will be denied service to a cold weather shelter on CapMetro services, CapMetro said in a press release.

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The City of Austin opened overnight cold weather shelters on Tuesday as temperatures began to drop into the 30s.

CapMetro said people can stay informed about bus services by visiting its 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 KXAN Austin.
RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WVNS)  Part of a road is closed in Raleigh County after a car accident.

According to Raleigh County Dispatch, a car accident closed Sweeneysburg Road between the 1000 and 1500 blocks in Raleigh County on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

The extent of any injuries was not reported at this time.

Stick with 59News for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI)  Rhode Island State Police are investigating after a car rolled over on the highway in Lincoln Tuesday evening.

The crash happened on Route 146 South near Breakneck Hill Road around 9:30 p.m.

Its unclear if anyone was injured, though 12 News saw an ambulance leaving the scene.

Route 146 South was reduced down to one lane until the vehicle was loaded onto a flatbed and towed away.

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The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

12 News has reached out to Rhode Island State Police but has not yet heard back.

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A carbon monoxide poisoning incident at a Utah meatpacking plant sent 11 people to the hospital. Salt Lake City television station KUTV reported that an improperly vented appliance caused the issue.

The West Jordan Fire Department arrived at the Otto & Sons location following reports of an unconscious woman. Crews removed the woman from the facility, where they detected carbon monoxide levels that exceeded 800 parts per million.

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According to the EPA, high concentrations of carbon monoxide can cause impaired vision, nausea and flu-like symptoms. OSHA standards prohibit worker exposure to more than 50 parts of carbon monoxide gas per million parts of air averaged over an eight-hour workday. Additionally, The Consumer Product Safety Commission states that sustained carbon monoxide concentrations above 150 to 200 parts per million can result in death.

KUTV reported that Enbridge Gas confirmed no gas leak at Otto & Sons but did identify carbon monoxide at the plant. The utilities company explained that carbon monoxide can stem from improper venting or from malfunctioning appliances that use coal, kerosene, natural gas or wood.

The fire department evacuated the entire building, and ambulances transported 11 people in various conditions to nearby hospitals. KUTV added that an undisclosed number of people transported themselves for medical attention.

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Deputy Fire Chief Chris Trevino told KUTV that every patient could speak and respond to questions but noted that they all had carbon monoxide in their bloodstream.

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Dec. 10CARTHAGE, Mo.  The October impeachment of Mayor Dan Rife will face its first challenge before Greene County Circuit Judge James Ronald Carrier in the Jasper County Courts Building in Joplin.

An evidentiary hearing for Rife's petition seeking a writ prohibiting the city of Carthage from removing him from the office of mayor is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Christopher Thornton, Rife's attorney, said Carrier will hear evidence on whether a writ of prohibition is necessary.

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Thornton said Rife will have to prove that there is a need for immediate action by the court to reinstate Rife.

In a motion for amended pleadings, filed Thursday, Thornton argues that the council is "barely functioning because (Mayor Alan) Snow has decided not to permit the council to take up appointments or any nonessential business and/or any legislation that is not unanimously approved by the Council."

In another filing from Nov. 13, Thornton said, "It is not clear to the citizens, city employees, or indeed the council, who is vested with the powers granted the Mayor by the City Charter. The situation is untenable. A writ prohibiting the Council from removing Mayor Rife from the office of Mayor is an appropriate remedy and will restore order to the City and its citizens."

Another argument is whether the vote to impeach Rife should have required two-thirds of the 10 seats on the full council, even though two seats are vacant, or two-thirds of the eight council members present at the impeachment hearing.

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The council had eight members when the impeachment happened because one Ward 2 seat had been vacant since April, when a council member resigned with one year left in his term, and a Ward 3 seat had been vacant since September, when a council member resigned just five months into his two-year term.

Rife and Thornton said the vote should be two-thirds of all 10 seats, or seven votes, no matter if any are vacant.

That claim also was backed up by the City Attorney Jon Gold, who spoke about the vote during the public comment period at the Nov. 26 regular council meeting.

Resident and Rife supporter Bill Scheerer asked Gold if he advised the council before the impeachment that it needed seven votes to impeach.

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"That's my impression based on ordinances," Gold said.

However, current Mayor Alan Snow, who was sworn into office in a special meeting Oct. 31, ruled that six votes would be sufficient while serving as the hearing officer at Rife's impeachment.

Snow said the city's prosecutor in Rife's impeachment, Paul Martin, and the attorney hired to advise him during the impeachment, Tim Engelmeyer, both gave him their opinion that six votes were sufficient.

Martin said the question is valid and probably should be decided by a judge but that this case is not the place to make that decision.

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Thornton filed a petition in Cole County Circuit Court in Jefferson City on Nov. 28 for judicial review of the impeachment as allowed by state law, and Martin said that's where the question should be addressed.

"My argument is, applying the language of the ordinance as it is written, you need six votes," Martin said. "I'm also arguing that prohibition is not the right remedy, that the appeal is the right remedy. What he has now filed in Jefferson City is the proper way to go, and the prohibition is not an appropriate remedy."
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  There are just a couple weeks left in the current Congress and many retirees in Louisiana are closely watching to see if the Social Security Fairness Act will pass out of the Senate and be signed by the President.

The bill would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which deduct funds from some monthly payments.

It would impact millions of people nationwide, but the price tag could cause a holdup on the Senate floor.

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Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who supports the bill, says its small when you consider whats at stake.

It was going to be Chuck Schumer. And so I raised this issue. And so Im hoping we get a floor vote. Now, if somebody objects to it, because it does cost $100 billion or something like that, it may be that somebody objects to it based on the fiscal net. I will point out that $100 billion is only six months out of the trust fund, said Senator Bill Cassidy (R) Louisiana.

John Fleming challenges Bill Cassidy for 2026 US Senate seat, claims Cassidy has failed Louisiana amidst sharp rebuttals

Senator Cassidy said he has been meeting with Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer to try and get a floor vote scheduled on the bill before time runs out.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  As the Cathedral of St. Joseph prepares to host another Christmas at the Cathedral some behind the scenes changes are creating a buzz for the future. Those in charge of the music at the iconic church are preparing for the arrival of a world class musical instrument. A massive new hand built organ.

It may very well be the most impressive interior space in the region. Walk inside the cathedral of St Joseph and you cant help being affected, fascinated even dazzled by the beauty.

Add in some music, and the visit becomes an experience. On this visit we are hearing the St Joseph Academy choir

You are up so high and its like, said Charlotte Pease age 10.

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Yeah, its kind of you are in a new world, said William Murray, age 11.

Its beautiful to see the Cathedral and everything in it like all the saints above, said Eleanora Heldenbrand, age 11

Its really cool in the loft because of the acoustics and we get to hear our voice echo said Lillian Ostermann, age 11.

Lillian is right, the acoustics are incredible, but unfortunately the cathedrals main instrument, is lacking. The current organ is over 30 years old, which isnt old by pipe organ standards, however there are paper towels and pipe cleaner in some of the pipes to make the organ sound like it should.

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After looking into fixing up the old organ they found the cost just could not be justified, so they decided to start from scratch.

And as the old saying goes if you are going to do something do it right.

This organ will be on par with anything in the world we really mean that , world class., Weve done research with the organ builders going over to Europe, looking at some historical instruments and this will be built kind of in that old world high craftsman ship tradition. 43:00

Ostermann says the new organ will be built to last centuries not decades

The organ isnt just an instrument it is part of the architecture of the building.

You are actually building into the building itself an instrument that is going to inspire music making for generations to come, said Ostermann.

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Court docs: Student catfishes, Huron teacher arrested

Father James Morgan says a wide range of people come to the cathedral as a place of worship and they want to give people the experience of being close to God. The combination of the building itself, the organ the childrens choir help accomplish that goal.

There is this understanding in liturgy and sacred music that choir as you heard today in our children are supposed to be the angels in heaven who are singing to us, and so we copy here in this choir loft, with the organ and the choir who are singing the heavenly liturgy in heaven we copy that here on earth, said Morgan.

After a nationwide search of the best organ builders father Morgan and Ostermann say they chose Juget-Sinclair based in Montreal, Quebec

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The multi million dollar project will begin next year when the organ pieces arrive in September.

Then it will take a few months to assemble. Assistant Music Director Nicole Gerdes says they are beyond excited to hear the first notes.

The new organ is going to open up a whole world of possibilities for the music we are going to be able to make and the quality we are going to be able to make it at, said Gerdes.

The church is working on building an endowment to pay for the upkeep of the new organ

We want people to be able to experience not just the cathedral and even a new organ but in all of that to have an experience of God in their life, thats the whole point. We call ourselves the beacon of hope here at the cathedral and we hope that when people come here they get a sense of hope and this organ is certainly when they hear it is going to give them a sense of hope, said Father Morgan.

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They hope to have the new organ in place for Christmas at the Cathedral in 2025. By the way tickets for this years performance are still available Most shows are sold out, however they have a limited number of tickets remaining for the Thursday and Sunday evening performances. For tickets follow the link below.

https://ccfesd.org/events/christmas-at-the-cathedral

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Luigi Mangiones internet fandom has spilled over into real life as strangers offer to pay the legal fees of the 26-year-old accused of assassinating a healthcare CEO in New York City last week.

Mangione was arrested and charged with murder for allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside an investors meeting. Shell casings with the words deny, defend and depose were found at the scene, an apparent reference to the tactics insurance companies use to deny paying claims.

Police later recovered a backpack belonging to the killer that turned out to be full of Monopoly money, causing many online to cheer the assassin as a modern-day folk hero out to punish a corrupt healthcare system.

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Now, Mangiones attorney Thomas Dickey has received emails from people offering to pay the Ivy League graduates legal fees, he told CNNs Kaitlan Collins. Asked what was motivating the offers, Dickey said he didnt know.

The Supreme Court says all these rich billionaires can give all kinds of money to candidates and thats free speech. So maybe these people were exercising their right to free speech and saying thats the way theyre supporting my client, he said.

Dickey wouldnt say who had retained him to represent Mangione or who was paying himonly that he was in fact retained and hadnt been appointed by the court. But he did say he probably wouldnt accept any donations to help cover Mangiones legal defense.

Asked why not, he replied, I dont know. I just dont feel comfortable about that Obviously my client appreciates the support that he has, but Id have to look into that, but it just doesnt sit right with me.

Collins: People are reaching out to you and offering to help pay for his legal bills



Mangiones Attorney: That's correct.



Collins: Would you accept those offers?



Mangiones Attorney: I probably wouldnt



Collins: Why do you think theyre offering?



Mangiones Attorney: The pic.twitter.com/EVbBT29WGx  Acyn (@Acyn) December 11, 2024

Mangiones case has led to an outpouring of pent-up rage against the American healthcare system. After news of Thompsons killing emerged, many posts online started with some version of, I dont condone murder, but before detailing devastating experiences trying to get insurance approval for medical procedures.

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Others took things a step further, joking that their empathy was out of network and that Thompson was being denied care because he hadnt received prior authorization for his gunshot wound. Deny, Defend, Depose merchandise began sweeping online stores.

After Mangione was arrested, internet posters railed against the police and review-bombed the McDonalds where he was taken into custody. Others responded gleefully to social media photos of Mangiones abs.

But being uncouth on the internet is one thing; wanting to pay hard-earned cash to keep a murder suspect out of prison is quite another. The offers show just how far people are willing to take the assassin-as-real-life-Robin-Hood narrative.

UnitedHealthcare, which is part of the countrys largest insurance provider, denies about one-third of all claims, or twice the industry average, according to numerous reports. Its CEOs shockingly cinematic killing may help explain why so many people are rooting for the shooter as if he were the antihero of a film, according to storytelling experts.

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Surveillance video shows the gunman raising a pistol with both hands in a tactical shooting stance before opening fire. Afterward, he calmly walks away, leaving a stunned witness unharmed.

That [shooter] had just one target, he had one mission, and he very slowly walks up, producer Adrian Askarieh told Vanity Fair. I found it to be very chilling.

Askarieh has produced two movies about a hitman and is developing a TV series based on the same character. He said one reason people find assassins so fascinating is that there is a catharsis that comes with the assassins doing what we cant see ourselves doing.

I think its more of a vicarious experience, he added. A lot of human beings feel helpless and want to vicariously live through those characters.

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Hollywood has at least a 50-year history of producing revenge fantasies that specifically target a seemingly heartless medical establishment. In 2002s John Q, Denzel Washington plays a father who holds an emergency room hostage after an insurance company denies his child a life-saving transplant.

When it came out, the films director Nick Cassavetes predicted that Americas broken healthcare system would eventually lead to horror stories like the one hed depicted on-screen.
BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Much of the so-called China-decline narrative in the West has been based on a misguided belief that China's response to economic headwinds is inadequate. Those holding this view will find themselves on the wrong side of the story, yet again.

In spite of a more complex global and domestic environment, China is set to wrap up a challenging year with its annual growth target to be fulfilled and even more forceful pro-growth policies in the pipeline.

At a key meeting on Monday, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee sent a crystal-clear signal on the leadership's confidence and resolve to maintain a sound economic trajectory that features both reasonable speed and higher quality.

The Chinese economy has staged a solid growth of 4.8 percent year on year during the first three quarters of this year. It is steady on course to meet its annual growth target of around 5 percent as a raft of pragmatic, targeted pro-growth measures since late September effectively lifted market expectations and consumer confidence.

Building on these solid efforts, an array of indicators pointed to improvements in such key sectors as consumption and real estate, supported by massive consumer goods trade-in programs, mortgage rate cuts and relaxed home purchase restrictions.

The upturn is particularly evident in the retail sales of consumer goods, which expanded 4.8 percent year on year in October, quickening from the 3.2 percent increase in September. The country's property market has also displayed positive changes, with narrowing price declines, stronger sales and improved market sentiment in October.

The scale of policy support is grabbing attention -- a debt package will reduce the amount of hidden debts that China's local governments need to deal with by 2028 by 12 trillion yuan (about 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars). With a size equivalent to about 9.5 percent of China's 2023 gross domestic product, the package will free up local fiscal resources to boost the economy and raise business confidence.

Benefiting from the effective implementation of these pro-growth measures, China's economy has stood out globally in the third quarter of this year, outpacing other major economies in terms of growth.

A fact often neglected by many about the world's second-largest economy is that it remains a developing country. Development still holds the key to solving all the problems it encounters. As China pushes ahead with its modernization drive, it's crucial to keep its economic growth at a reasonable rate.

And make no mistake, China's comprehensive policy mix is not just about the mere speed of growth, but commitment to addressing both cyclical and structural challenges.

Much of the government's increased fiscal input is going to infrastructure and public services, which are important to unlocking China's long-term growth potential. Monetary support is tilted toward innovative technologies and consumption. Monday's meeting highlighted boosting sci-tech innovation and developing new quality productive forces. Eventually, what authorities envision is more sustainable development that is innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared.

With all these in mind, there are compelling reasons to be optimistic about and confident in China's economy: its strong resilience, great potential and sufficient vitality; and the country's ultra-large market and huge market demand, among others.

The growing optimism is evident globally, with international institutions betting on China's economic outlook. Bloomberg, based on the latest International Monetary Fund forecast, has concluded that China will be the top contributor to global growth over the next five years. 
(Bloomberg) -- The man charged with murdering UnitedHealth Group Inc. executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk last week was arrested with a ghost gun in his backpack, refocusing attention on the hard-to-trace weapons and their lethal power.

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Ghost guns are unregistered firearms that can be built in minutes from a kit or a 3D printer. They lack the serial numbers stamped on traditionally assembled guns, making it difficult to figure out their origins.

The alleged shooter, Luigi Mangione, was found with a gun and silencer that appeared to be mostly manufactured with a 3D printer, Pennsylvania police said. New York authorities have charged him with the murder of Thompson, who was the chief executive officer of the companys massive insurance unit, and with possession of an illegal gun.

3D printing obviously exacerbates the many problems posed by ghost guns, making them far more available, said Lee Richards, a partner at law firm Perkins Coie who represents cities and prosecutors working to limit gun violence.

The Mangione case comes as states and the federal government have sought to regulate the elusive guns, which have been used in homicides throughout the US. Law enforcement authorities recovered more than 70,000 untraceable firearms between 2016 and 2022, according to the US Justice Department.

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Supreme Court Case

It also comes as the Supreme Court is weighing whether the administration of President Joe Biden can regulate ghost guns after a federal appeals court concluded that a 2022 rule exceeded the authority of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The rule requires that gun kits and components be treated like assembled weapons, with serial numbers, background checks and records of transactions. The high court let the rule stay in effect while the case plays out.

Legislation and litigation over ghost guns breaks roughly along the political lines of the nations broader gun control debate. In 2020 a federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked regulations put in place by the first Trump administration to ease restrictions on sharing 3D gun blueprints. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco reversed that ruling the following year.

In September, Biden used his executive authority to order a new Emerging Firearms Threats task force to come up with plans to assess the dangers of 3D-printed guns, improve school shooter drills and target devices used to make semiautomatic weapons fully automatic. The task force was ordered to issue a report in 90 days  shortly before Biden turns the White House over to President-elect Donald Trump.

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Like an AR-15

Some city and state officials say the federal rule at issue in the Supreme Court case has led to a decline in the number of ghost guns found at crime scenes. Guns made on a 3D printer, like the one Mangione is alleged to have had when he was arrested, arent banned under federal law, but a number of states have laws limiting their manufacture and use, including a ban on guns with no metal components.

Guns made from 3D printers havent attracted as much attention as those built from non-3D kits but have become more sophisticated, said David Pucino. Pucino is legal director and deputy chief counsel at Giffords, a national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who sustained a severe brain injury from an assassination attempt in 2011. There are new models that produce guns functionally indistinguishable from an AR-15 rifle, Pucino said.

In New York City, 3D-printed firearms account for a growing proportion of ghost guns recovered in recent years, according to a brief filed by the city and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in the Supreme Court case. Meanwhile, the total number of ghost guns recovered has been on the rise, they said, with city authorities recovering 359 last year, over 20 times as many as the 17 they collected in 2018.

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Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to regulate ghost guns, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. The group, which advocates for universal background checks and other safety measures, is backed by Michael Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent company Bloomberg LP.

Crossing Borders

Just five states  Delaware, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island  prohibit 3D printing of guns outright, according to data gathered by Everytown.

But New York, for example, has taken other steps to limit untraceable guns. Under state law it is illegal to sell guns, unfinished or completed, without serial numbers, or those created to evade security screening devices. And the states attorney general, Letitia James, and the Manhattan DA have targeted the trafficking of ghost guns with arrests and prosecutions.

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Still, guns cross borders. Urging the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the federal regulation, New Jersey, California and other states that have cracked down on unserialized guns said in a brief that they still saw an increase in the number of ghost guns found at crime scenes, before the nationwide rule kicked in.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Dec. 10 (UPI) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson and minority leader Hakeem Jeffries hosted a ceremony Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol to mark the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette's address to Congress.

"On this day, exactly 200 years ago, the Marquis de Lafayette entered this great half of the House," Johnson, R-La., told guests in Statuary Hall. "And Gen. Lafayette's visit, which was just one stop on his long tour of the country, reminded Americans that we are free and equal by our very nature."

Johnson said Lafayette risked crossing the Atlantic from France and traveling to the United States to speak before the House chamber on Dec. 10, 1824, for "the cause of liberty for a foreign people."

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"Only two men, though not American, contributed so much to the cause of national liberty that they stand fixed in honor in these hallowed halls of Republican government: Winston Churchill, who helped save the country, and Lafayette, who helped to create it," Johnson added.

Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Lafayette "indispensable in the delivery of freedom to the 13 colonies."

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., arrive Tuesday for a celebration commemorating the anniversary of Marquis de Lafayette's address to Congress in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Photo by Anna Rose Layden/UPI

"He was a true hero of two worlds," Jeffries said, adding that Lafayette returned to America in advance of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

"Lafayette was a passionate defender of vulnerable people, an ardent abolitionist and a devoted friend and ally to the United States of America."

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) stands for the national anthem during a celebration commemorating the 200th anniversary of Marquis de Lafayette's address to Congress in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Anna Rose Layden/UPI

"What hasn't changed?" Jeffries queried. "We continue as charged by the framers. The spirit of Lafayette lives on."

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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation actor Mark Schneider, who was dressed as Gen. Lafayette, then re-enacted part of the speech "to the 18th Congress."

"It is truly a pleasure, an honor to see all of you here on this simply magnificent day. This day of celebration. This 10th day of December of the year 1824."
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo.  Efforts are underway to reverse the decision made by Missouri voters in last months election, which approved increases to the minimum wage.

Proposition A called for a $15 an hour minimum wage by 2026 and guaranteed sick leave for part-time workers.

Employees and employers at restaurants like Thai Mamas in Maryland Heights say the voters have spoken and Missouri needs to listen.

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Nickie Woodruff is the managing director of the Thai Kitchen Hospitality Group, which operates Thai Mamas and four other area restaurants. The restaurants already pay workers more than the minimum wage established by Prop. A and following voters wishes was beneficial for business, she said.

I think the incentive of having that higher minimum definitely brings people (prospective employees) in the door, she said. I think youll be able to generate more staff to come in and have that incentive to want to work, especially people who are working part-time.

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Voters approved Prop A by a resounding 58% to 42% margin, raising the state minimum wage to $13.75 in January and up to $15 in 2026.

However, the Missouri Grocers Association and the Missouri Restaurant Association, among others, want the court to stop Prop A, saying in a petition to the Missouri Supreme Court that the fiscal note summary on the ballot was insufficient and unfair, with one-time and yearly ongoing cost estimates ranging from zero to $50,000 and zero to $256,000, while the ballot made no mention of an estimate from the Missouri Budget Project Group (which supported Prop A) of $679 million in direct costs to private employers and the state.

Still, Woodruff believes Prop A is actually another tool for business owners to hire and hold onto staff, which has been a struggle since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold more than four years ago.

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A good work environment, a good product, keep the staff happythats what really keeps them and of course having those wages a little bit higher, she said.

The court petition says Prop. A also violates the single subject rule in the Missouri Constitution, which says voter propositions cannot be about more than one subject. Prop A also includes a provision to guarantee workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

Missouri lawmakers are expected to file legislation to repeal Prop. A. They can do that because Prop. A is statutory compared to constitutional amendments, like Amendment 3, which restored abortion rights in Missouri.

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DAYTON, OHIO (WDTN)  If you look up at the sky this Friday night, you may be able to see hundreds of meteors flying across the horizon.



Regarded as one of the brightest meteor showers of the year, the Geminid Meteor shower will begin peaking Friday at midnight. Initially beginning in the mid 1800s with a peak of 10-20 meteors per hour, it has grown into one of the most reliable showers of the year. Now, at its peak, up to 120 meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions.

A comet goes around the sun on its own orbital path, its constantly shedding material, small little particles and leaving a trail of those particles in space. And so when the earth encounters that trail, you get a whole bunch of these small little meteors coming down through our atmosphere, Wes Ryle, astronomer at the Cincinnati Observatory said.



The Geminid meteor shower is unique from other meteor showers, as it is the only one not made from a comet.



So most of them are caused by comets, but this one is actually an asteroid thats coming close. So thats neat to know. And we dont usually get them like this. So this is the second brightest of the year, Morgan Coffman, astronomy coordinator at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery said.



For optimal viewing, bundle up, and get away from the city lights, and adjust your eyes to the darkness for about 30 minutes, but it may be difficult to see the full show of the Geminids this year.



So the full moon is actually going to be up on December 15th. So this meteor shower peaks on the 13th. So itll still be really bright out. And so what might block a lot of the meteors that youre able to see, said Coffman.



There could be some clouds Friday night on top of the near full moon, which could add to the difficulty of seeing the meteor shower in the Miami Valley.

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Updated policies at Jacksonville International Airport state a disabled veterans tag does not offer the same privileges a handicap tag does. However, officials with Florida Highway Patrol say otherwise.

Veterans tell Action News Jax they are upset.

I do not think its right, disabled veteran David Abramowitz said.

They are discriminating against the disabled veterans, an anonymous disabled veteran said.

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Abramowitz served as an army aviator for 31 years  jumping out of planes. Since then, hes had a number of mental and physical disabilities.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

My body is broke, I have no knees, I cant run anymore, my back is really bad, Abramowitz said.

He said to qualify for a disabled veterans tag, you have to be considered 100-percent disabled, and he is.

In October, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority changed how parking for disabled veterans works at JIA, catching many vets by surprise.

I went for a 10-day vacation with my wife and I parked where I thought I was allowed to park, so I parked there, Abramowitz said. And when I came back out of there, obviously I had a big charge of about $200.

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If you have a DV tag without a wheelchair symbol you can no longer park in the valet, hourly/daily garages, or the daily surface lot for free.

People with handicap tags can park here for free. But FHP told me tonight, the DV tag and handicap symbol essentially mean the same thing. If you have a DV tag, you can park in a handicap spot.

Shame on the airport  shame on them for behaving this way, the anonymous vet said.

And they have strong words for the airport.

They moved us further away because they want to be able to put people in those lots that are actually going to pay, and extremely unfortunate that we as veterans are paying for that, the anonymous vet said.

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Airport spokesperson Michael Stewart said the construction of a third garage has made it harder for everyone to find parking. He said, The new policy still provides veterans with free parking, while also making the garages and surface lot available to all travelers.

Im not sure the answer is sticking us in the economy and just riding a bus to get back, Abramowitz said.

Veterans with the DV tags can park in Economy lots 1, 2 and 3 for free.

Each economy lot has ADA compliant shuttle buses that will drop travelers off at the airport entrance.

FULL STATEMENT FROM JIA:

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) honors our regions large military community, especially our disabled veterans. Per Florida law, JAA has been providing complimentary parking for Disabled Veterans displaying a DV tag when flying out of Jacksonville International Airport since 2016 as required by Florida Statute 316.1964(7).

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However, because the construction of a third garage has exacerbated parking availability at the airport, and an overwhelming number of vehicles with DV tags park in the garages and daily surface lot, often for extended periods of time, we have established a new parking policy.

The new policy still provides veterans with free parking, while also making the garages and surface lot available to all travelers.

Complimentary parking for Disabled Veterans with a standard DV tag (no wheelchair symbol) is now in Economy Lots 1, 2 and 3. Each economy lot has ADA compliant shuttle buses that will drop travelers off at the airports curbside entrance.

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The new policy states that disabled veterans with DV tags displaying the wheelchair symbol on their license plate are welcome to park in the Hourly/Daily Garage, Daily Surface Lot or Economy Lots 1, 2 and 3.

Signage is posted at every parking entrance, on digital road signage and on the JAX airport website.

Click here to check the status of airport parking.

Read: Jacksonville International Airport welcomes its 10th carrier Avelo Airlines





Read: FDOT shares new details on First Coast Expressway project that will connect Duval, Clay, St. Johns





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CAROL STREAM, Ill.  Charges have been filed against two Michigan men who were allegedly found to be in possession of seven stolen catalytic converters on Monday afternoon.

33-year-old Anthony Huggins an Inkster, Michigan, resident, has been charged with one count of bringing a firearm into a penal institution, one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle or essential part, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, one count of possession of burglary tools and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with no FOID card, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin announced Tuesday.

Hugginss co-defendant, 33-year-old Clinton Bigelow a Warren, Michigan resident, has also been charged with one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle or essential part and one count of possession of burglary tools, Berlin said.

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According to prosecutors, the duos charges were handed down after an investigation into a suspected catalytic converter theft in Carol Stream resulted in the recovery of several stolen catalytic converters.

Carol Stream police said that just before 1 p.m. on Monday, officers responded to a call at the Carol Stream Animal Hospital, in the 100 block of Elk Trail, about an individual who was allegedly spotted crawling under a car.

After police arrived on the scene, the victim, an employee of the animal hospital, told officers that two suspects, who were later identified as Huggins and Bigelow, allegedly pulled into the parking of the business in a Dodge Caravan and pulled into a parking spot next to the victim.

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Prosecutors said Bigelow then allegedly exited the vehicle with a cordless saw and got underneath the victims car.

According to prosecutors, while Bigelow was allegedly under their vehicle, the victim opened her drivers side door, at which time Bigelow allegedly got out from under the car and got back into the Caravan before fleeing the scene.

Charges have been filed against two Michigan men who were allegedly found to be in possession of seven stolen catalytic converters on Monday afternoon. 33-year-old Anthony Huggins an Inkster, Michigan, resident, has been charged with one count of bringing a firearm into a penal institution, one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle or essential part, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, one count of possession of burglary tools and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with no FOID card, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin announced Tuesday. 33-year-old Clinton Bigelow a Warren, Michigan resident, has also been charged with one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle or essential part and one count of possession of burglary tools, Berlin said.

Officers eventually stopped the Caravan, which was allegedly driven by Huggins, about half a mile away from the scene.

During a search of the vehicle, prosecutors said officers located seven catalytic converters in the back seat.

The duo was taken into custody and prosecutors said while at the Carol Stream Police Department, officers allegedly located a loaded Glock 43 that was reported stolen out of Detroit in Huggins slipper.

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LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

The allegations that these two men traveled to Illinois and in broad daylight attempted to steal a catalytic converter from a vehicle while the owner was inside the vehicle are outrageous, Berlin said. To make matters worse, it is alleged that Mr. Huggins, a convicted felon prohibited from legally possessing a firearm, was found in possession of a loaded gun at the Carol Stream Police Department. I commend the Carol Stream police officers involved in this incident for their quick response to the initial call and for their outstanding efforts in safely removing a firearm from the hands of a convicted felon, as alleged in this case. I thank Assistant States Attorneys Sean Kinsella and Jennifer Nielsen for their efforts in securing charges against these two defendants.

During his initial court appearance on Tuesday, Judge Joshua Dieden granted the states motion to deny pre-trial release for Huggins. Bigelow was not detained pre-trial.

Both men are set to return to court on Dec. 23, for arraignment.

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A Minneapolis man was allegedly fleeing police at speeds in excess of 100 mph prior to hitting a parked car, killing a St. Paul man.

Lorenzo Washington, 28, has been charged with fleeing from an officer resulting in death, and criminal vehicular homicide in the death of Day Por Tho, 36, whose parked car Washington crashed into on Sunday afternoon.

According to the complaint, a trooper saw Washington speeding in a gray Toyota Camry, allegedly going 85 mph in a 55 mph zone near Interstate 94 and Marion Street in St. Paul. Washington began to flee from police, traveling at speeds of over 100 mph, ignoring traffic signals and not stopping for emergency lights and sirens.

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Tho was parked at Larpenteur Avenue and Arcade Street when Washington came speeding down and crashed into the drivers side of his car, causing it to spin counterclockwise and eject him from the vehicle.

Ramsey County Jail

A deputy noted Washington was driving at speeds of 90mph in the moments before the crash. Tho was pronounced dead at the scene.

Washington tried to flee on foot but was arrested by a Ramsey County deputy. Police said, "a taser was used to assist law enforcement in the apprehension of the fleeing driver."

He was taken to a hospital, where a search warrant for his blood and urine was issued. Despite initially refusing to confirm with officers if he was the driver of the Camry, he finally did confess after being told he was being investigated for criminal vehicular homicide.

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After being asked again if he was driving the Camry, he allegedly told officers: "Youre going to force me to say it. I already told you wasnt nobody else in the vehicle. I believe I told him that already.

According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Washington was convicted of 2nd-degree murder and 2nd-degree aggravated assault in 2014. He had been under intensive supervised release since May.

Washington will make his first appearance in court on Dec. 11 at 9 a.m.
Twin brothers Oren and Alon Alexander are facing felony charges of sexual battery, brought by Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

The charges, which include sexual battery by multiple perpetrators, are in addition to a federal indictment brought by the Southern District in New York against Oren, Alon and their older brother, Tal Alexander. The three brothers were arrested by the FBI in Miami-Dade County early on Wednesday and booked into jail.

Oren and Alon will appear in bond court Thursday, which means they will spend the night at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a press conference Wednesday that Oren, Alon and Tal would be transferred to federal custody in New York to answer for the charges, though the timeline remains unclear.

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Oren was charged in three alleged instances of sexual assault, according to Fernandez Rundle. Alon and Ohad Fisherman, a family friend, were charged in one instance.

Fisherman is not included in the federal indictment alleging the Alexanders ran a sex trafficking scheme. He had not yet been detained and was considered at large, Fernandez Rundle said during a press conference.

Fisherman, who was licensed with Oren and Tals Side-backed brokerage, Official, now runs his own company called the Fisherman Group. Fisherman appears to be in Japan, according to photos posted to his Instagram story.

The arrests mark a dramatic turning point for alleged victims of the brothers, who prosecutors say violently raped and sexually assaulted dozens of women over the last two decades. Oren and Tal were top real estate brokers based in Miami and New York until allegations became widely reported this summer; while Alon worked at his familys private security firm, Kent Security.

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Federal prosecutors recommended the brothers be denied bail because they considered them a flight risk, according to a letter addressed to federal judges in Miami and New York. The prosecutors said the brothers have close ties to Israel, and that if they were to flee to Israel, they could try to significantly delay or even avoid extradition back to the U.S.

Prosecutors wrote that theyre also aware that Oren has been in contact with another U.S. citizen who fled to Israel after being accused of sexual misconduct.

These foreign ties further support the need for the defendants pretrial detention, the letter states.

At Wednesdays press conference, Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones called the allegations deeply troubling.

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A persons socioeconomic status doesnt matter, he said. Acts of sexual violence will always be investigated by Miami Beach PD.

The alleged rapes

The federal indictment describes years of alleged behavior that amounts to two counts of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, but the arrest warrants for the twins and Fisherman cite three separate assaults.

In 2016, a victim showed up to one of the brothers apartments in Miami Beach after Alon invited her to what she thought was a barbecue with other people. Alon gave her a tour of the apartment into a bedroom where two women who appeared to be maids left, giving her a look of concern on their way out, according to an arrest warrant. Oren and Fisherman entered and locked the door behind them.

Fisherman forced her onto her back, pinning her arms, before the victim heard Alon and Oren arguing about who was going to rape her first.

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The victim said she begged them not to. As Oren was raping her, she said she pretended to enjoy it because she had heard that if you were ever in the situation of being raped, the aggressor typically does not like the victim to enjoy the moment and it could lead them to stop their attack.

Oren stormed out but returned to watch Alon rape her. Oren told her she wasnt leaving until she had sex with Fisherman, at which point she was crying hysterically, the arrest warrant states. Fisherman held her down as Alon and Oren sexually battered her.

As she showered, Oren entered the room. She felt he was there to make sure she was in fact washing up and cleaning herself to rid her body of any possible evidence, the warrant alleges.

In another instance in 2017, a woman who had met Oren and his family at the beach, joined him at a real estate event in Hallandale Beach, according to the arrest warrant. He did not flirt with the victim or show any affection towards her, spending most of the time on his phone, the arrest warrant states, but invited her to his home for a glass of wine.

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The victim mentioned she decided to accompany [Oren] to his residence because she thought that if they were alone, he would not be so socially awkward, according to the warrant.

At his apartment, he offered to show her his virtual reality goggles, and as she had her back turned to him, he unzipped her dress, completely removed it and moved her to his bedroom, where she told authorities he raped her. She told police that she felt she was no longer in control of her body and couldnt push him off. When she began crying, Oren told her to stop it.

Weeks later, she confronted him about the incident. He tried to kiss her, and he lowered his pants and ejaculated on her stomach. The victim was disgusted and left the area, according to the arrest warrant. When she later confided in her friends that she had been attacked by Alexander, she said her friends had similar stories. Months later, in 2018, when Oren heard she was telling her story, he threatened her via text to keep quiet.

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In 2021, a woman alleges that during a dinner with a friend and Oren, Oren invited her back to his home via a car or boat. A group of people boarded the boat to head to the Alexander brothers former Miami Beach home on Flamingo Drive. Together with her friend and one of Orens friends, they entered the home and shared whiskey that Oren poured for them.

Oren later took her to a room adjacent to his bedroom, and he began to kiss her. He became aggressive, and when she tried to pull away, he ripped the top of her dress, leaving her topless, according to an arrest warrant.

She freed herself from Orens grasp, and grabbed a shirt from his closet, returning downstairs to find her friend and try to leave but was locked inside the house before asking Oren to let her out. When she returned upstairs, he pushed her onto his bed and sexually assaulted her, according to the warrant.

An earlier version of this story identified Ohad Fisherman as the Alexanders cousin, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorneys office. He is a family friend.

This article originally appeared on The Real Deal. Click here to read the full story.
Dec. 10ANDERSON  The Chicago law firm representing the Anderson City Council in a redistricting lawsuit has withdrawn from the case.

Judge Tim Baker with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana approved the withdrawal from the case of Steve Laduzinsky and Devlin Schoop as representatives of the city council.

The motion to withdraw filed by both attorneys noted irreconcilable differences with the council as the reason for their decision.

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The Anderson City Council has paid the Henderson Parks a total of $150,000.

Rosemary Khoury, the council's attorney, will continue to represent the Anderson City Council in the case.

Last week, the city council voted to hire an outside consultant to create new maps for the six council districts.

Common Cause of Indiana, the League of Women Voters of Indiana and the local chapter of the NAACP filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court in 2023, alleging the six single-member council districts violated federal law based on the one person, one vote requirement of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

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Three members of the council  Ollie H. Dixon, Greg Graham and Joe Newman  created a map earlier this year that was never presented to the federal court.

Common Cause submitted a map to the city council.

The council voted not to accept that map and instead decided to hire an outside consultant to draw up the district maps as a result of the 2020 federal census.

Earlier, the federal judge granted a partial summary judgement stating the council failed to redraw the district maps.

Khoury said hiring a consultant would ultimately end the litigation after a period of time. Dixon said the council has options and supported the maps drawn by the three councilmen.

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Rebecca Crumes, former president of the city council, said last week the census numbers approved by the federal government following the 2020 census were not accurate.

"The federal government used estimated numbers," she said. "Race is a factor."

Crumes said the Chicago law firm should be fired by the council.

"The city needs to hire a professional," she said.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A luxury cruise ship from China made its inaugural visit to Brunei on Wednesday, according to Brunei's Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.

The cruise ship, the Mediterranea, arrived with 2,531 passengers and 739 crew members. Over 40 Mandarin-speaking volunteers assisted during the ship's inaugural arrival.

Passengers were warmly welcomed with a traditional performance and later enjoyed guided tours to key landmarks in Brunei, including the Royal Regalia Museum, Jerudong Park, Kampong Ayer, and a mangrove river safari.

During their visit, passengers tasted local delicacies, enjoyed traditional beverages, and purchased authentic Bruneian souvenirs, enriching their brief stopover in the sultanate, according to the Tourism Development Department under Brunei's Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.

The continuous arrival of international cruise ships underscores Brunei's rising prominence as a premier cruise destination, said the Tourism Development Department in a press release. 
CHICAGO  Mayor Brandon Johnson released his most recent tax returns to the Tribune this month, with the documents showing he is less wealthy than his predecessors and does not earn outside income.

Johnsons tax returns show his family brought in just over $176,000 in wages for 2023, his first year as mayor of Chicago. His annual salary was $216,210 that year, and he began his term mid-May.

After claiming the standard $27,700 deduction for filing jointly with his wife Stacie and a $6,000 child tax credit, records show Johnson paid $17,302 in federal taxes, an effective tax rate of 11.65%. Johnson didnt claim any other income from investments, retirement fund distributions or capital gains in 2023.

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He separately paid just under $8,000 in state income taxes, after taking a $140 tax credit for the property taxes he paid on his Austin home.

2023 was the highest reported wage Johnson earned since 2019. Household income for the Johnson family will go up for next years return, since his 2024 wage as mayor of Chicago climbed to just over $221,000.

The Tribune annually requests the Chicago mayors tax returns, a longstanding tradition in U.S. politics when it comes to major public offices. Politicians are not mandated to disclose their income tax forms, but many do so to demonstrate transparency about potential conflicts  a particular importance to many voters in Illinois, where generations of politicians have enriched themselves through their government roles.

Johnson, who grew up in suburban Elgin and famously touts being a West Sider, has often drawn from his humble upbringing when pitching himself as a firebrand progressive seeking to enact a host of tax the rich proposals.

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During the 2023 campaign, he fought back against criticism over his unpaid water bills to the city by saying his debt indicates he understands the plight of struggling Chicagoans, although by then he was employed as a county commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union organizer.

Still, Johnsons tax forms show his income history is more modest than that of his predecessors, Lori Lightfoot and Rahm Emanuel, while they were in office. Lightfoot, who grew up in the working-class town of Massillon, Ohio, reported making $402,414 in adjusted gross income in 2021, the most recent year the Tribune requested her returns. She reported taking out $210,000 in early distributions from retirement accounts that year to supplement her mayoral salary.

While working as a partner at the law firm Mayer Brown before becoming mayor, Lightfoot reported an average adjusted gross income of $971,626 from 2014 through 2017.

Emanuel reported making $554,000 while mayor in 2017, including $353,000 from interest, dividends and capital gains from investments.

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Johnson did not provide his full 2022 return, which the Tribune has also requested, but his latest filing and other returns dating back to 2018 that his campaign provided to the Tribune during the mayoral race show the family reported about $162,782 in 2022, $161,000 in 2021, and $160,000 in 2020.

Between 2018 and 2022, Johnson worked two jobs as a county commissioner earning $85,000 annually, and a separate income for the Chicago Teachers Union. His pay at the union varied year to year. His highest gross salary before becoming mayor was in 2019, when he earned about $94,000 in addition to his county salary, according to CTUs federal disclosures.

Between 2018 and 2021, Johnson also reported income for his work as a media personality. He reported $1350 in gross income for that side business in 2021, while wife Stacie reported just under $2,000 in income for work as a doula. Johnson was not paid for his show on radio station WCPT AM-820, but was compensated when filling in for other hosts, his campaign previously told the Tribune.

As a candidate when running for mayor in 2023, Johnson released four years of tax returns to the Tribune, with the most recent years reported income being 2021.

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Johnson previously reported $108,019 in adjusted gross income for 2018 as a regional organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union. In 2019, Johnson reported $171,300 in gross adjusted income. He listed his occupation as regional organizer, though he also was serving his first full year on the county board.

For 2020, Johnson reported $160,217 in gross adjusted income. Johnson also reported $2,530 as a media personality.

The next year, Johnson reported $161,371 in gross adjusted income. He also reported $1,350 as a media personality but claimed $1,450 in expenses and reported a $100 loss. His wife also reported making $1,941 as a doula that year.

Johnsons most recent city economic disclosure statement reported no financial conflicts in 2023.

____
CHICAGO  Chicago police are searching for a man who allegedly tried to lure a young girl toward him while she walked to school Tuesday.

Police said the incident happened in the 2400 block of South Trumbull Avenue near the intersection of West 24th Street in Little Village.

As the girl walked to school, an unknown white Hispanic man standing on the sidewalk reportedly tried to wave her over to him. The girl then crossed the street and continued walking toward the school, according to investigators.

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All clear given after suspicious object found inside bag on West Side

Police said immediately after the girl crossed the street, the same man  now driving a gray GMC Acadia with a yellow temporary tag  drove alongside her and asked where he could sell clothing and shoes. As the girl continued to walk away, the man asked about her age, destination, social media accounts and how to contact her.

The girl never engaged the man in conversation and investigators said the man then drove off northbound on Homan.

Police described the suspect as a white/Hispanic man between 20 and 30 years of age with brown/black hair, olive complexion and a skinny build. He was last seen driving the gray GMC Acadia as described above.

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Anyone with information is asked to call Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference #JH537628.

Remains found in wooded area believed to be missing Skokie woman

Additional tips from CPD:

Be aware of this situation and alert your neighbors.

Call 911 to report any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity in your neighborhood.

Do not let children walk or play alone. Identify safe havens along your childs route to school and home, such as businesses or trusted neighbors.

Always be aware of your surroundings.

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.
CHICAGO  It has been nearly three years since the war broke out in Ukraine, leaving millions displaced. Thousands have since made a new home in Chicago and new resources are now at their fingertips.

Having your life uprooted by war and having to flee your home country is already traumatic, and a whole wealth of issues one might face in a foreign environment can only make the situation worse. But now, a new educational hub is on hand to help the tens of thousands of displaced Ukrainians who have arrived in Chicago.

Our mission is to help and to motivate people to move forward and we give skills for this, Mariya Boguslav, Coordinator of the Ukrainian EduHubs Network, said.

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Boguslav sat down with WGN-TV on Tuesday to talk about an initiative known as EduHubs, which she helped launch after the war in Ukraine began almost three years ago.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

We created a network of EduHubs one by one in different countries now includes 70. Actually, the Chicago one is 70. So it is very important for us, Boguslav said.

The hubs are all over the world already, but this will be the first in America. It was officially launched in conjunction with Wright College and the National Association of Higher Education Systems, known as NASH.

We looked to Chicago first, because across the country, Chicago has taken in the second largest number of displaced Ukrainians since 2022, second only to New York, NASH Program Lead Olivia Issa said.

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Since the war began, 8 million Ukrainians have been scattered across the globe and tens of thousands are now in Chicago.

Starting a life over from scratch is no easy task, especially when considering language barriers or the possibility of credentials not being transferrable.

There are folks with significant previous credentials who need to work jobs completely unrelated to their previous professions, Issa said.

Even for those who overcome the language and educational barriers, simply finding a sense of community can be difficult.

Really one of the biggest things you lose, out of displacement, is your social network, Issa said.

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The EduHub aims to help with all those things, and more, by giving people the tools to chart their own course.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Not just, you know, social refugees who just sit and, you know, eat other countrys budget, Boguslav said.

And, while navigating a new city, the resources they will find here, will also help keep their own language and way of life alive.

Its very important to have this connection, Boguslav said.

Click Here for more information on the EduHubs.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- China has condemned sanctions by Canada on eight Chinese officials for alleged human rights violations, opening a fresh fissure in already strained bilateral ties.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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The Chinese embassy in Ottawa called Canadas actions truly egregious and vowed to respond. China will take resolute measures to safeguard its national sovereignty, security, and development rights and interests, the embassy said in a Weibo social media post Wednesday morning.

The Canadian government on Tuesday announced the new sanctions against former and current Chinese personnel, citing concerns over rights abuses across China in a statement on International Human Rights Day.

Canada is deeply concerned by the human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet and against those who practice Falun Gong, said the Canadian minster of foreign affairs, Melanie Joly. We call on the Chinese government to put an end to this systematic campaign of repression and uphold its international human rights obligations.

In 2022, a senior United Nations official said China committed serious human rights abuses in the predominantly Muslim region of Xinjiang, allegations China denied. Beijing has banned Falun Gong, a spiritual group it sees as an anti-society cult.

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Ties between China and Canada deteriorated rapidly in recent years, reaching a new low when Beijing detained two Canadians  Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig  in December 2018, in apparent retaliation for Canadas arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a top Huawei Technologies Co. executive, at the request of US authorities. More recently, Canada matched US tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum and electric vehicles as trade tensions escalated.

Among the Chinese nationals sanctioned by Canada were Chen Quanguo, former Xinjiang party chief who was put in charge by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to oversee a massive security crackdown targeting ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslims, and Zakir Shohrat, who helped Chan as chairman of the Xinjiang region. The measure freezes their assets in Canada and prevents Canadians from providing them with financial services.

--With assistance from Qianwei Zhang.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
China and Vietnam should properly manage their differences and make new progress in maritime cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in Beijing on Tuesday.

Son arrived in China on Sunday for a four-day visit, against the backdrop of the long-standing South China Sea disputes between the two socialist neighbours, as well as looming uncertainties ahead of US president-elect Donald Trump's second term.

Wang also said that Beijing and Hanoi should strengthen economic cooperation and establish a "stable and smooth cross-border industrial and supply chain", according to a report on the meeting in party newspaper People's Daily.

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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.

"We should promote mutual benefit and a win-win situation, build a stable and smooth cross-border industrial chain and supply chain, and strengthen cooperation in emerging areas," he said.

Son's visit saw the establishment of a "3+3" strategic dialogue mechanism on diplomacy, defence and public security, which met for the first time on Monday, according to the newspaper.

Also on Monday, the Vietnamese foreign minister visited Beijing's cutting-edge hi-tech hub Zhongguancun, according to Vietnam Government News.

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During his meeting with Wang, Son said the two sides should "respect each other's sovereignty and legitimate interests [and] continue to promote the role of maritime negotiation mechanisms".

He added that both countries continue to work under international law, and have "good development momentum".

This year has seen numerous top-tier exchanges between the two countries, fostering economic relations and party-to-party engagement.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang made a high-profile visit to Hanoi in October, while Vietnam's new leader To Lam made Beijing one of his first stops, meeting President Xi Jinping in August.

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Last month, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil, Xi met Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and called for more substantial cooperation between the two countries, including the pacier roll-out of three standard gauge railway projects.

During Tuesday's meeting, the two sides announced the signing of intergovernmental agreements to build the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, Lang Son-Hanoi, and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong lines, under China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

Hanoi also said that Vietnamese officials have been sent to China to learn about the country's advanced high-speed railway system.

Yet the frequent communications have occurred alongside increasing assertiveness from both sides over their long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea region.

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The issue of the various competing claimants in the resource-rich, economically important waterway is a major security concern for Southeast Asia, with China's claims disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

In the Paracel and Spratly Islands, which are claimed by Beijing and Hanoi, among others, Vietnam is speeding up its island reclamation efforts in a challenge to China's dominance in this regard.

According to a report by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Hanoi was poised to achieve record-breaking island construction efforts this year.

In August, Vietnam held its first joint maritime drill with the Philippines, which has been having its own increasingly tense encounters with China in the disputed waterway this year. Both Hanoi and Manila said the drills were not targeting Beijing.

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And in October - just days before the Chinese premier's Hanoi visit - Vietnam accused enforcement personnel from China of beating fishermen and seizing equipment from a boat operating near the Paracels, which Vietnam claims as the Hoang Sa.

Despite the hostility on display in the waterway, China's economic closeness with Vietnam - the world's emerging manufacturing hub - has continued to grow.

China is Vietnam's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade reached US$168.5 billion in the first 10 months of 2024, a year-on-year increase of over 21 per cent, according to the Vietnamese government. China remains Vietnam's second largest foreign investor.

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.
Nearly a mile above Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, a hacked drone soared through restricted airspace for roughly an hour.

The lightweight drone photographed sensitive areas of the military facility on Nov. 30, including a complex used by SpaceX, according to federal investigators.

The drone then descended back to the ground, where the pilot and another man waited at a nearby park.

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Four security officers from the military base arrived on the scene and asked the men if they had seen a drone flying through the area, unaware that one of them had tucked the drone under his jacket.

Authorities identified that man as 39-year-old Yinpiao Zhou, a Chinese citizen and a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. He was charged with failing to register the drone and flying it over restricted airspace to take photographs of the military base, the U.S. attorney's office announced Wednesday.

Read more: Antelope Valley man accused of using drone to deliver drugs, including a lethal dose of fentanyl

On Nov. 30, personnel at the military base detected the drone and determined that it had taken off from nearby Ocean Park to the north. The drone traveled south near Surf Beach and then directly toward Space Launch Complex Three and Four, according to court records.

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The drone flight came several hours after the base had hosted the launch of a SpaceX rocket carrying a spy satellite for the federal government.

When security personnel arrived at the park that day, Zhou told them he saw a drone, but did not see the pilot, according to court records. He said this while his hands were in his pockets; when he took them out of his jacket at the security personnel's request, he exposed the drone, federal investigators said.

When asked why he lied, Zhou said he was afraid that the security personnel were with the military, according to court records.

Read more: U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese companies accused of helping make Russian attack drones

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The security personnel then asked to see the footage captured on his drone. When they saw that it included portions of the military base, they asked him to delete it, which he did, according to court records.

Court records suggest that Zhou was aware that flying into the base's air space was forbidden. A month earlier, Zhou allegedly searched "Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules on his phone, then told another person in a message that he could hack his drone to reach higher than it could otherwise fly, according to an affidavit filed on Sunday in the Central District of California.

The affadavit alleges that Zhou admitted to federal agents that he purchased software online that allowed his drone to reach higher elevations and enter no-fly-zones. He also did not register his drone with the Federal Aviation Administration and did not have a license to operate the device, according to federal prosecutors. He also admitted that he got in trouble once for flying his drone in a no-fly zone in Shanghai.

Zhou and the man he was with, who was not named in court papers, had stayed overnight at a campground in the Big Sur area of Monterey County on Nov. 28. The two arrived at Ocean Park the following day and learned about the SpaceX launch at the military base on Nov. 30. Zhou admitted he recorded the launch with a handheld camera.

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Read more: Will these drones 'revolutionize' 911 response? L.A. suburb will be first to test

Zhou, who lives in Brentwood in Contra Costa County, entered the U.S. on an immigrant visa on Feb. 12 and planned to return to China around Dec. 9, along with the other man who was with him at the park, the Justice Department said. That person arrived in the U.S. on Nov. 26 on a visitor visa, according to federal investigators.

In October, Zhou sent images he took with his drone of a city and mountains to someone through the WeChat messaging app, federal prosecutors alleged. He emphasized the elevation of the images, with one image reportedly taken at 1,800 feet and another at 8,000 feet.

"Oh wow that damn thing flys high," the other person wrote back to Zhou.

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"I hacked my drone. It's not supposed to go that high lol," Zhou wrote back, according to federal prosecutors.

Zhou later admitted to federal agents that photographing the SpaceX facility at the military base was probably not a good idea," court records show.

Read more: Santa Monica police use drone to catch car burglar in the act

Authorities say that Zhou flew his drone outside of visual line of sight, which would require him to register the drone with the FAA. Data gathered from the drone show that it flew approximately 1.8 miles from Ocean Park and then nearly a mile up at its maximum height.

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Zhou was arrested Monday at San Francisco International Airport before he was able to board a flight to China, and he appeared in a San Francisco courtroom on Tuesday. He did not enter a plea and is expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles in the coming weeks, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

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.
MANILA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday approved a 500-million-U.S. dollar policy-based loan to help the Philippines pursue its public financial management (PFM) reform agenda and ensure quality public services for the Filipino people.

The Public Financial Management Reform Program (Subprogram 1) promises to improve national budget frameworks, empower local governments, and establish a PFM system in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the southern Philippines.

The ADB said the new program promotes the fair and practical devolution of public services under the archipelago's Mandanas ruling and fosters local investments in climate resilience and disaster preparedness.

The Mandanas ruling mandates that all national taxes and other taxes and fees collected by the national government be considered in computing revenue allotments to local government units.

The program also vows to support the Bangsamoro government's PFM systems, including local governance, budgeting, and revenue frameworks.

As part of the program, the ADB, the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Secretariat, and other development partners will conduct the PEFA Assessment to guide the country's PFM reform pathway. 
A Chinese national who resides in Brentwood was arrested moments before boarding a flight to China following allegations that he flew a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base late last month and took photos, officials announced Monday.

According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Yinpiao Zhou, a 39-year-old Chinese citizen and lawful permanent resident of the U.S., was arrested Dec. 9 at San Francisco International Airport prior to his flight.

Federal investigators said that on Nov. 30, drone detection systems at Vandenberg in Santa Barbara County detected the unmanned aircraft flying at an altitude of nearly a mile above ground level for almost an hour, with launch and return of the drone originating at Ocean Park, a public area near the base.

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Base security personnel went to the park, spoke to Zhou and another person accompanying him, and learned that Zhou had a drone concealed in his jacket  the same one that flew over the base, the release stated.

In this handout provided by NASA, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen at Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 4 East. (Credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)

After getting a federal search warrant, agents searched Zhous drone and found aerial photographs of Vandenberg. A further search of his phone revealed a Google search a month prior for the phrase Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules, along with communication with another individual about hacking a drone so that it can fly at higher altitudes.

House flipping scam in Southern California cons victims out of $17 million

Authorities also noted that Zhou had most recently returned to the U.S. from China in February, while the person with him had only arrived from China on Nov. 26.

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Authorities did not provide any information on what Zhous motive was for taking photos of the base or what plans he may have had for the images.

The 39-year-old has been charged with failing to register an aircraft that does not provide transportation and violation of national defense airspace.

If convicted as charged, Zhou would face a maximum sentence of four years in federal prison.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's naval deployments in the East China Sea and South China Sea are elevated but consistent with other large exercises in the past, a U.S. military official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The assessment contrasted with statements from Taiwan that described the deployments as the largest in nearly three decades.

"The PRC military activity is elevated in the region, consistent with levels we have seen during other large exercises," the official said, using the country's official name, the People's Republic of China.

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China's military has yet to comment and has not confirmed it is carrying out any exercises.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory over the island's rejection, had been expected to launch drills to express its anger at President Lai Ching-te's tour of the Pacific that ended on Friday, which included stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam.

But the U.S. official did not link the deployments to Lai's travels.

"We do not see the activity in the East China Sea and South China Sea as a response to President Lai's transit," the official said.

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"This activity is part of a broader increase in the PLA's military posture and military exercises over the last several years. These activities are destabilizing and risk escalation."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Leslie Adler & Shri Navaratnam)
They stood behind majority Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Matt McGloin, a couple dozen key players whose vital work is done outside the spotlight.

Media outlets from across the region sent reporters to cover what seemed impossible 18 months ago  good news about the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services.

Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan speaks in the commissioners board room in the countys Government Center in Scranton Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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These are the people we have to thank, Gaughan said of the OYFS employees in the background. These are the people who get up every single day and who go into peoples homes in Lackawanna County and witness some of the most outrageous things, some of the most difficult things, some of the most complex problems. 

These people to me and to Commissioner McGloin are first responders. Theyre out there every single day doing the work, and if it werent for them we would not be standing up here today.

The occasion was an announcement of a milestone in the recovery of the agency  the restoration of its full operating license. The state Department of Human Services downgraded the agencys license in June 2023. Soon after, Scranton police and District Attorney Mark Powell criminally charged two caseworkers, a former caseworker and two supervisors for endangering children by allowing them to live in squalor.

County Judge James Gibbons dismissed the charges in January, essentially ruling that state law that grants immunity to public employees who do their jobs also covers those who dont and falsify records to cover up their dereliction. Powells appeal of the ruling is pending and remains the publics best chance of knowing how low OYFS sank under fired former Health and Human Services Director Bill Browning.

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Deputy Director of the Office of Youth and Family Services Kerry Browning speaks in the Lackawanna County Commissioners Board Room in the countys Government Center Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

What we know for sure is that the meltdown at OYFS is ultimately attributable to the appalling apathy and absenteeism of previous majority Commissioners Debi Domenick and Jerry Notarianni. When the scandal erupted, they circled the wagons around Browning. As usual, minority Commissioner Chris Chermak went along for the ride.

Chermak was not invited to Mondays announcement and did not attend. Gaughan said the minority commissioner was provided with a copy of the settlement that restored the license, but had no involvement in reaching it.

That was not the result of a miraculous 24 hours, but a yearlong, all-hands-on-deck effort, McGloin said.

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Chermak missed the boat.

Gaughan and McGloin campaigned on fixing the mess at OYFS. The settlement with the state sets goals, metrics and benchmarks with deadlines to enforce accountability. Its a real plan that builds on successes already achieved, such as a 36% increase in workers at the chronically understaffed agency and a backlog of more than 900 cases that was reduced to 688 as of Dec. 3.

Once again, Gaughan and McGloin are stepping up as first responders to an emergency their predecessors dismissed as an annoyance at best, an afterthought at worst. Both stressed that the settlement is merely a milestone on a long, uphill climb. OYFS isnt fixed, but its on the mend. Thats good news.

Just to be clear, this is not the culmination of the process but a significant step in an ongoing process, Gaughan said. I want to assure you that the Gaughan/McGloin administration is committed to making our Office of Youth and Family Services the absolute best in the state of Pennsylvania.

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Gaughan and McGloin also praised acting OYFS Director Kerry Browning for her work to right the ship. She was her husbands second in command as he ran OYFS aground, but has apparently improved as a manager. Internal oversight and external scrutiny work wonders.

Browning and her colleagues at the new, improving OYFS deserve congratulations and continued support. Their hard work, perseverance and dedication in a daily all-hands-on-deck emergency is an inspiring example of public service. They earned their moment in the spotlight.

Gaughan and McGloin are right. These are the people we need to thank.

CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, is a fan of government that solves problems, as opposed to ignoring them. Contact the writer: ckelly@scrantontimes.com; @cjkink on X; Chris Kelly, The Times-Tribune on Facebook.
INDIANOLA, Iowa  One couples story in Indianola is stealing the hearts of thousands of people across the continent.

The decades-long love story of John and Joan Reichart made national headlines in recent weeks after the community learned of Johns effort to decorate all 18 houses on his residential street with Christmas decor to give his wife a holiday she could not forget. Then someone set up a P.O. Box.

Thats another Merry Christmas, John said, holding up a card that had come in the mail. Thats beautiful.

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It was a Thursday night as the couple sat at their dining room table. Two bundles of cards that had been delivered the days prior sat at the far end. A fresh unbundled bunch of cards were piled in front of them. Christmas music that emanated from Joans collection of snowglobes played in the background.

The holidays have always been full of love for the Reicharts.

I made her promise me Christmas Eve, he told WHO-13 reporter Katie Kaplan. I asked her if she would marry me. It took her thirty minutes to say yes.

That was more than 53 years ago.

Our relationship started when I was home on leave from Vietnam, he said. She hasnt changed much.

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TIME names Caitlin Clark 2024 Athlete of the Year

This year hundreds of strangers from across the country are helping them keep the love alive during one of the toughest seasons of the Reicharts lives.

We just keep going, dont we honey? John said, as he turned to Joan. We go day-by-day and take it one day at a time.

Joan nodded in response from across the table.

She overcame breast cancer 12 years ago and has been battling Alzheimers Disease for the past four. While John said some days are better than others for her, on this night there was clearly at least one thing she knew for sure.

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I love him forever and so much, she said. He is so good to me.

These cards make me out to be a hero, but I didnt do it to be a hero, John said. I did it because I love her and I wanted something she would remember.

That mutual adoration is what made John jump into action and decorate the inside of their home. When Joan told him she wanted the outside decorated too, he did not miss a beat. He went door-to-door and eventually convinced all 18 neighbors on his block to let him decorate their lawns. Every single home now boasts a matching lighted Christmas tree and lights under the awnings.

It was a move that not only swooned his sweetheart but which garnered national attention with stories published in the Washington Post and that aired across local news channels in various states. They were even featured on the network evening news during Thanksgiving week.

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The attention then spurred a neighbor to set up a GoFundMe to help John cover the cost of the neighborhood lights and decorations, as well as a P.O. Box. where people could send the Reicharts their own small dose of holiday cheer.

What a sensational love you share, read one card from the third bundle that was delivered. This is surely what love is all about.

John said he and Joan had received a record 107 cards on Tuesday afternoon alone. He said they plan to respond to every single person who writes to them and provides a return address.

If you would like to send the Reicharts a holiday card or gift, you can do so at the following address:

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John Reichart

C/O Frank Ewurs

P.O. Box 133

Indianola, Iowa, 50125

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GULFPORT, Miss. (WJTV)  If youre looking for something to do for the holidays, you might want to take a trip to the Mississippi Coast.

You can see the Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival and the Mississippi Aquarium.

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FBI director Christopher Wray, who has come under attack from President-elect Donald Trump in the past few years, told FBI employees at a meeting Wednesday that he would resign by the end of the Biden administration, NBC News reports.

My goal is to keep the focus on our mission  the indispensable work youre doing on behalf of the American people every day, he told employees. In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.

Wray had been reportedly expected to step down before Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20. Last month, Trump said he wanted MAGA loyalist Kash Patel to lead the agency under his second term, which would require Wray to resign or be fired.

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Wray told employees that the decision was not easy but that he was focused on doing whats right for the FBI.

When you look at where the threats are headed, its clear that the importance of our work  keeping Americans safe and upholding the Constitution  will not change, he said. And what absolutely cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, every time.

Nominated by Trump to lead the agency in 2017, Wray still had three years left in his 10-year term, had he remained in Trumps good graces. But the FBIs role in Trumps criminal cases provoked the president-elects ire, leading to him making unfounded accusations that federal law enforcement was being weaponized against him.

In a recent interview with NBC News, Trump said that he was not thrilled with Wray. He invaded my home. Im suing the country over it. He invaded Mar-a-Lago, Trump said. Im very unhappy with the things hes done, and crime is at an all-time high.

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Many Republican lawmakers have echoed Trumps attacks on the FBI  and Wray in particular  as theyve sought to paint the president-elect as a victim of a politicized justice system. On Monday, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the incoming Senate judiciary chair, urged Wray to step down in a letter, saying he had a vote of no confidence in him.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump called Wrays impending resignation a great day for America and once again aired his grievances about the FBIs investigations into his alleged criminal conduct. He also praised Patel, who has little relevant experience in running a federal law enforcement agency, as the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agencys History.

We want our FBI back, Trump wrote, and that will now happen.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka leaders are funneling more money into Hotel Topeka, while expecting a net loss next year.

For 2024, the city is looking at a $1.2 million net operating loss, according to Topeka Assistant City Manager Braxton Copley. At Tuesdays meeting, the Topeka Development Corporation (TDC) voted to adopt the 2025 Hotel Topeka budget with a net operating loss of $869,000. Topeka Development Corporation board members Christina Valdivia-Alcala, Sylvia Ortiz and David Banks voted against the budget.

It is what it is, Copley said. Its not pretty, but Im just being straight up honest with you. This is, in my opinion the best were going to get in terms of our budget with the current condition of the hotel.

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Topeka to host Flyover Cornhole Tournament with $20,000 cash prize

At Tuesdays City City Council meeting following the TDC meeting, the governing body voted to invest an additional $72,343.54 for additional operating funds. District 2 Councilwoman Valdivia-Alcala, District 3 Councilwoman Ortiz and District 4 Councilman Banks voted against this item.

The hotel has cost the city nearly $10 million in total since the city bought it in October 2023. In July 2024, the TDC rejected one bid for Hotel Topeka. Director of Communications & Media Relations Dan Garrett told 27 News Tuesday, Dec. 10 that the City of Topeka has received four offers on Hotel Topeka.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Fort Worth city leaders Dec. 10 gave their blessing for the construction of a 175-foot stupa in east Fort Worth.

The religious monument is the centerpiece of a $100 million expansion of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, one of Cowtowns largest sites of Buddhist worship. If the revamp is realized, the complex, spanning 28-acres, will add hundreds of parking spots, 150 residential units housing monks and nuns, and hundreds of smaller stupas encircling the main structure.

City council unanimously agreed to rezone the Huong Dao compound to accommodate the monasterys aspirations.

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Several key components its expansion  the height of the core stupa, the orientation of its parking, and the size of its signs  breached the limitations of Fort Worth land use codes. City planners readily granted exceptions, finding that the proposed construction carried cultural importance and wouldnt significantly disturb the surrounding neighborhood. City council members agreed.

Im very excited about this project, said council member Gyna Bivens, fondly addressing the monasterys lead reverend in the crowd before putting the matter to a quick and uncontested vote.

City council Tuesday evening cleared zoning changes allowing for the construction of a 175-foot stupa at the Huong Dao Buddhist temple in east Fort Worth

A fixture in Fort Worth since the early 2000s, Huong Dao is hemmed in by industrial lots and a rail line. The compounds eye-catching temple, completed around 2009, shares its stretch of East Rosedale Street with a chicken shop, truck lots, a post office, and a Family Dollar.

Stupas are a foundational part of Buddhist architecture and faith, housing holy scriptures and relics. Huong Dao began constructing its own in 2022.

The monasterys current facilities serve at least 1,000 predominantly Vietnamese worshipers, according to its leaders. There are few reliable estimates of how many practicing Buddhists reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, but tens of thousands of people with Vietnamese heritage call the Metroplex home.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Clear Creek County Sheriffs Office will provide law enforcement services to Georgetown after recent resignations in the citys police department.

Georgetown is located in Clear Creek County and has a population of just over 2,600 people as of 2020.

The sheriffs office has provided limited police services to the city through mutual aid like emergent cover for officers. However, Georgetown does not have any law enforcement officers currently due to the recent resignations.

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Sheriff Matthew D. Harris said his office mainly provides services to unincorporated communities in the county.

Morrison Police Department to disband: Department spokesperson

But when we have a local community that needs our help, we will also be there to deliver public safety services for its residents and visitors, he said. Right now, that community is Georgetown.

The sheriffs office said it entered into the agreement on Dec. 1 so the town would have adequate services to cover its annual Christmas Market celebration.

This celebration happens during the first two weekends of December. The first weekend of the celebration happened on Dec. 7 and 8 and the last weekend will happen on Dec. 14 and 15.

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The sheriffs office will provide 911 emergency call response and law enforcement services three days a week, 18 hours per week. Which days it provides services will depend on the towns needs and call volume.

Emergency 911 call responses will happen outside of these pre-established hours but will be billed to the city on a per-call basis.

It will also provide administrative services to the city such as filing incident reports, managing evidence and dealing with sex offender registration.

They shouldnt be alarmed at all. They should be re-assured, that we are covered, said Georgetown Mayor, Lynette Kelsey.

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The agreement between the sheriffs office and the town will remain in effect until May 1, 2025, unless its terminated earlier. There will also be a review of the agreement on or before Feb. 1, 2025.

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The groundwater in Southern California and most other coastal areas will likely be tainted by saltwater as sea levels rise due to climate change, according to a new study led by researchers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

Scientists expect seawater to infiltrate underground aquifers in three out of every four coastal areas by 2100, the JPL explained in a news release.

Called saltwater intrusion, the phenomenon happens below coastlines, where two masses of water naturally hold each other at bay, the released detailed. Rainfall on land replenishes, or recharges, fresh water in coastal aquifers (underground rock and soil that hold water), which tends to flow below ground toward the ocean. Meanwhile, seawater, backed by the pressure of the ocean, tends to push inland. Although theres some mixing in the transition zone where the two meet, the balance of opposing forces typically keeps the water fresh on one side and salty on the other.

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That balance is at risk, however, as higher temperatures melt ice and lead to higher sea levels. Simultaneously, as areas see warmer weather and less rain, groundwater recharge slows, meaning stronger seawater forces are pushing against weaker goundwater.

All told, due to the combined effects of changes in sea level and groundwater recharge, saltwater intrusion will occur by centurys end in 77% of the coastal watersheds evaluated, according to the study, the release details.

Images published in the study show that for Southern California, the larger of the two issues is groundwater recharge, meaning local efforts will likely focus on protecting groundwater.

That wont be the same everywhere, however, as in areas where rising sea levels pose the higher threat, groundwater may need to be diverted.

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Depending on where you are and which one dominates, your management implications might change, said Kyra Adams, a JPL groundwater scientist and the papers lead author.

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DOHA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday its decision to reopen the country's embassy in Syria soon.

"This step aims to strengthen the close historical fraternal relations between the two countries and their peoples," a statement by the ministry quoted spokesperson Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari as saying.

Al Ansari stressed that the decision reflects Qatar's unwavering support for the Syrian people in building a state founded on justice, peace, stability and prosperity.

He further highlighted that reopening the embassy "will enhance coordination with relevant authorities to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid provided by Qatar via the air bridge to the Syrian people."

In July 2011, after the outbreak of the anti-government protests in Syria, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Syria and closed its embassy. 
As Hurricane Idas fierce winds ripped panels off of rooftops across New Orleans in September 2021, health workers and HIV activists braced for the aftermath. With power cut and roads blocked by debris, prescription refills and patients would be lost and forgotten in the storms chaotic wake across the South.

And with record-breaking hurricanes like Helene and Milton leading to hundreds of deaths and missing people earlier this fall across the Southeast, there is increasing fear that people living with HIV are losing the supportive services they need to stay alive because of climate change.

Nationwide, half of people with HIV are living in places that are extremely vulnerable to extreme weather and climate disasters, according to a new analysis of federal disaster and health data from the Center for American Progress (CAP), a progressive policy think tank. Of the 48 counties that are most vulnerable to climate disasters and have high rates of HIV, 35 have an above-average share of Black residents.

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At the same time, a new study by Tulane University in New Orleans found that former racial segregation policies like redlining continue to impact these health outcomes today. Those living in once redlined neighborhoods across New Orleans experience 15% longer delays in accessing HIV-related care. Louisiana, where about 80% of people living with HIV are Black, has the nations third-highest rate of new cases.

Morris Singletary, the founder of HIV education nonprofit The Pozitive2Positive Initiative, said this shows how the social factors that determine health outcomes, like racism or access to housing, lead from one harm to another, to another, to another.

The South faces unique challenges. Displaced by the storms and violence, more people risk missing their medications as more than half of Americas new HIV diagnoses are found in the region.

After Ida, evacuees found themselves far from familiar clinics, uncertain their insurance would cover medications out of state. Meanwhile, those who stayed behind faced equally daunting barriers: a crumbled supply chain; skeptical pharmacies nervous about costly drugs collecting dust on their shelves failing to order new medicine; and the heavy silence of stigma pressed down in cramped shelter quarters, where some had yet to share their HIV status with family. One-third of people living with HIV in New Orleans said the storm caused them significant trouble in accessing care, according to New Orleans Health Department.

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This is the hidden toll of disaster on Americas health care system, and climate change is only making it worse.

The discriminatory policies of the past have perpetuated the inequities in health care access, environmental injustice, and economic opportunity that are leading to prolonged delays in HIV treatment and exacerbating the ongoing crisis in Black communities today. Studies show that nationwide, formerly legally segregated neighborhoods are most vulnerable to climate change, are home to a greater share of Black people, and have higher rates of HIV.

The Black community is being continuously deflated by these factors and institutions failing us, said Singletary, who lives with HIV in New Orleans, which has the sixth-highest HIV diagnosis rate among large U.S. metro areas.

Its simple, said Scott Batey, a professor at Tulanes School of Social Work: Place matters, and we are unable to escape historical implications and characteristics of the neighborhoods in which we live.

A lack of foresight for a changing world

With climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of natural disasters for people living with HIV, these events present significant health challenges dependent on several things like economic status and geography.

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On the West Coast, for example, wildfires worsen lung conditions that many individuals with HIV already face, while in the South and Northeast, hurricanes and flooding may destroy access to medical care. These climate disasters not only disrupt lives but also create barriers to maintaining the strict medication regimen required to prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS and to reduce transmission to others.

For many people with HIV, extreme weather events lead to difficulties in obtaining their life-saving medication. During evacuations, some individuals, unaware that their insurance could cover out-of-state prescriptions, forgo purchasing necessary medications due to the high out-of-pocket costs.

The stigma around HIV further complicates the situation. Many evacuees seek refuge with family or friends, and in some cases, individuals hide their HIV status because their family is unaware of their diagnosis. This fear of disclosure can lead to people concealing their medications and, in turn, skipping doses. This issue is not unique to Black people in New Orleans; there are similar patterns of hesitance around revealing ones HIV status during stressful events nationwide.

When it comes to the African American community and sex, we dont talk about sex as we should.  If we dont handle our mental health when it comes to sex, we definitely wont handle prevention, said Singletary.

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This silence around sexual health and HIV is especially pronounced in the three institutions of the Black community: the beauty salon, the barbershop, and the church, he added, where discussions about sex and HIV prevention are often avoided or distorted.

The risk of missing doses is considerable for individuals with HIV. Without their prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART), the viral load can rise, leading to complications. During disasters, patients who run out of medication may skip doses to stretch their supply, posing another set of issues.

To mitigate these risks, health care providers and activists implore people to prepare for hurricane season by ensuring they have adequate medication supplies. Patients are encouraged to refill prescriptions, sometimes covering up to 90 days, which can help carry them through an entire hurricane season. Providers also offer resources for contacting pharmacies in case of emergencies.

The Biden administration has recently updated guidelines for providers treating displaced HIV patients, helping those without HIV expertise navigate the complexities of assessing and prescribing ART in times of displacement. This shift is crucial for maintaining continuity of care in emergencies. However, Singletary pointed out that many individuals living with HIV also face systemic barriers related to accessing federal support.

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If I make just enough money not to get federal help, but I dont make enough to get help, then Im stuck between a rock and a hard place, he said. And if youre living in those circumstances, HIV prevention and care isnt necessarily at the top of your mind.

And while wrap-around services like transportation and housing assistance are vital, they often disappear during a disaster evacuation. This is why advocates are pushing for unconventional care, such as funding for medical travel or basic needs and opening clinics on the weekends and longer hours. This would help people with high medical needs continue their care during a crisis. Many individuals are left with tough choices between immediate survival and maintaining their health regimen without these resources. But without a consistent health regimen, survival isnt guaranteed.

Read More: STI Rates Are Rising. What Should You Know?

To build trust in health care systems during times of disaster, Federal Emergency Management Agency shelters can include staff who are well-versed in the latest HIV treatment guidelines, support programs, and resources aimed at creating a stigma-free environment, the CAP analyses concluded. Another way to help reduce the spread of HIV in disaster scenarios is by mobilizing the CDCs take-home HIV test program.

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Before disasters ever happen, on the ground, public health officials and HIV/AIDS program leaders can take proactive steps by integrating climate experts into local HIV planning councils. These councils, which are required to include a diverse range of stakeholders  including health care providers, community organizations, and people living with HIV  can help ensure that climate change and disaster preparedness are factored into HIV care planning.

Overall, addressing the intersection of climate change, HIV care, and racial disparities requires both a more inclusive approach to prevention and a reevaluation of the systems that hinder access to care, especially during times of crisis.

The uneducation and the continued lack of foresight for a changing world is whats killing us today, Singletary concluded.

Some ways vulnerable people can prepare is by making sure that you have health insurance  public or private. Dec. 15 is the deadline to enroll for federal coverage that starts Jan. 1.

The post Climate Change Is Deepening HIV Inequities for Black Americans appeared first on Capital B News.
Eighteen outdoor warning sirens in 15 locations within Clinton County will not be used after Dec. 31, according to a news release.

Locations include Andover, Calamus, Charlotte, Delmar, DeWitt, Goose Lake, Grand Mound, Lost Nation, Low Moor, Toronto, Welton, Wheatland, and the unincorporated communities of Bryant, Elwood, and Teeds Grove. Meetings to discuss the future of the siren systems were held in 2024 by the Emergency Management Commission, each city council, and the board of supervisors as well as three public listening sessions held in Wheatland, Welton and Clinton.

(Getty Images)

The Clinton County Board of Supervisors has also decided to end the use of nine of the Constellation Energy-owned sirens for the purpose of severe weather warnings. Those sirens will continue to be available for use as part of the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program and will continue to be tested on the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m.

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The City of Clinton will continue to use the six Constellation-owned sirens as they have in the past. During severe weather, City of Clinton residents may notice a reduction in siren coverage because of sirens located outside of the city but nearby, no longer being used for these warnings.

The City of Camanche is set to meet on Dec. 17 to determine whether it will continue to use sirens for severe weather in conjunction with the City of Clinton or discontinue the use in

keeping with the Clinton County decision.

The Clinton County Emergency Management (EM) Commission has unanimously voted to discontinue use of the outdoor warning siren system in Clinton County. The Emergency Management Commission is comprised of the mayors of each incorporated city in Clinton County as well as one member of the Board of Supervisors and the Clinton County Sheriff. Each city and board of supervisors has voted on the topics.

The history of the decision

Discussion about the future of the system began when Constellation, the operator of the Quad Cities Clean Energy Center (nuclear generating station), announced proposed changes to alert and notification systems in April of 2023. Constellation is working toward a transition from using the 16 outdoor warning sirens they own and operate within Clinton County and moving to more modern, electronic alerts. Constellation said the sirens could be given to local jurisdictions.

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Constellations announcement presented an opportunity for the EM Commission to evaluate the future of the siren system. Considering the high cost to taxpayers for taking ownership of the Constellation sirens and continued operation of the system, as well as considerable advances in more precise and detailed electronic alerting systems, the commission voted unanimously to not accept the Constellation sirens and to decommission the Commission-owned system.

On Aug. 5, the decision was supported by a unanimous vote of the Clinton County Board of Supervisors. The high costs considered by the EM Commission included a one-time cost to adopt the Constellation sirens of $85,000, and additional annual cost estimated at $20,000 and a full system update cost estimated at $816,000 expected in 2029.

Individual municipalities within Clinton County retained the right to vote on whether they wished to independently adopt and operate sirens in their jurisdictions. Clinton County participates in the Alert Iowa program, a utility which allows for public alert and notification of specific threats, and is provided free of charge to Clinton County by the State of Iowa. Residents can register for the program here.

Residents also can receive weather alerts via many other outlets, including NOAA weather radios,

weather apps for smart phones, television, and radio. Regardless of whether your neighborhood is covered by sirens, local officials encourage residents to utilize Alert Iowa, IPAWS (the Federal Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) and NOAA Weather Radios.

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A program to offer free weather radios to Clinton County residents has begun at outreach events and in conjunction with local libraries.

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The next time you get in a minor crash in Charlotte, dont be surprised if a civilian in a pickup truck, and not a police officer, pulls up to help.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has officially launched its Civilian Crash Investigation Unit. With flashing yellow lights, but no sirens, a certified civilian crash investigator will show up to assist in certain crashes

Officers said the unit had been set up to help them prioritize calls and reduce wait times for minor crashes.

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These are minor accidents with no injuries, such as parking lot crashes or fender benders, CMPD Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Bryley told Channel 9s Hunter Saenz.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Civilians, not Charlotte police officers, could be responding to your crash

The civilian investigators will be using a mix of hybrid and fully electric vehicles.

They will be trained to respond to low-level accidents that only involve property damage.

Investigators like Jermaine Parker, who was a 911 telecommunicator for CMPD before taking the job, will be spread out around the divisions in the city and waiting for the call. There are 15 investigators in total, and theyre each earning about $54,000 per year.

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The investigators wont be armed, but theyll have a body camera that will record every response. They cant write tickets, and they wont determine who is at fault. Theyll speak with those at the scene, and write a crash report for your insurance company.

CMPD is starting their Civilian Crash Investigators. Here are the trucks theyll be riding around in. More to come. News conference at 10:30 this morning @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/0sCeepoXsg  Hunter Saenz (@Hunt_Saenz) December 11, 2024

If things escalate, these civilian investigators will back away.

Theyre trained to call a police officer. So if theyre on scene and tensions are high --and a lot of that will be determined by the 911 call taker-- so if they hear tension in the call theyll dispatch an officer with the CCI, said Capt. Brian Hofert.

The city of Wilmington has a similar program in operation, and now CMPD is hoping it will be successful here too.

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CMPD said 71% of all vehicle crashes they respond to would be considered minor.

So far this year, badged patrol workers have spent more than 35,000 hours working on minor crash reports. CMPD hopes to eventually have 30 civilian crash investigators in the city.

This new unit will allow them to focus more on urgent calls.

VIDEO: Civilians, not Charlotte police officers, could be responding to your crash
CMPD launching new Civilian Crash Investigation Unit in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A new Civilian Crash Investigation Unit is being announced Wednesday by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

CMPD said the new CCI Unit will play a crucial role in achieving our goals of allowing officers to focus on priority calls and reducing wait times for those involved in minor crashes.

CMPD said 71 percent of all vehicle crash reports are for minor crashes with no injuries and just property damage. The goal is to mitigate the number of reports patrol officers have to write.

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Looking for answers: CMPD to test 12-hour shifts for officers

CMPD also released some data on Wednesday:

In 2022, CMPD officers wrote 29,994 crash reports for minor crashes resulting in 41,678 service hours.

In 2023, officers wrote 29,715 reports for minor crashes, resulting in 40,324 service hours.

So far, in 2024, officers have written 25,973 minor crash reports resulting in 35,301 service hours.

56% of the service hours officers dedicated to all crashes were for minor crashes.

Minor crashes accounted for an astonishing 71% of all crash reports our sworn officers completed per year over the past three years, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said. Civilian Crash Investigators (CCIs) will reduce the number of times patrol officers must respond to non-injury crashes while decreasing the wait times for people involved in each incident. They will reduce the burden on patrol officers and enhance the level of service we provide to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community, and we welcome this additional assistance.

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More information on the new Civilian Crash Investigations Unit including FAQs below:

civilian-crash-investigation-unit-faqDownload

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(LAS ANIMAS, Colo.)  Las Animas has 33 new little residents after the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) successfully released endangered Black Footed Ferrets into the wild as part of its Black Footed Ferret conservation program on Monday, Nov. 25.

In 2024, a record-breaking 37 kits were born into the CMZoos breeding program, and several of the ferrets released in November were born at the zoo. The zoo broke ground when they tested baby Black Footed Ferrets and found that they had successfully bred litters with multiple fathers to the same mother, increasing genetic diversity.

Were trying to replicate opportunities observed in nature when female black-footed ferrets mate with multiple mates within the same breeding window, said Jeff Baughman, field conservation coordinator at CMZoo. This is the first time we have tried it at CMZoo. We want to learn if its possible for black-footed ferret mothers to whelp kits by different fathers in the same litter.

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Black Footed Ferrets, the most endangered mammal in North America, were considered extinct until the 1980s when a ranch dog caught one, leading to the discovery of a small population that had survived in Wyoming. That population has been the foundation for recovery efforts for the entire species, with zoos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center, and other organizations cooperating to breed, prepare, release, and monitor them.

Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountains Zoo Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountains Zoo Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountains Zoo Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountains Zoo Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountains Zoo Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountains Zoo

CMZoo joined the effort in 1991 when its breed-and-release program began. Since then, 647 kits have been born on the mountain, making the zoo a major contributor to recovery efforts as they release the ferrets to protected wild places in Colorado every year.

According to CMZoo, the goal of the release is for the ferrets to breed and survive in the wild. The ferrets that were born at the zoo went to a boot camp to learn survival skills to live in their natural habitat when they were about 3 months old. After adjusting to their new lifestyle, U.S. Fish & Wildlife transported them to the release sites on a ranch protected by the Southern Plains Land Trust near Las Animas.

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The team found a suitable burrow previously carved out by prairie dogs and used tubes to encourage the ferrets to climb into their new home. With a housewarming gift of some food to get them started, before having to hunt on their own, the ferrets are set to start their new lives.

Watch the video from CMZoo above, which shares the story of the Black Footed Ferrets release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Most Americans expect President-elect Donald Trump to do a good job upon his return to the White House next month (54%) and a majority approves of how hes handling the presidential transition so far (55%), according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS.

Trump won the presidency last month amid broad disapproval of President Joe Bidens handling of the job and deeply negative feelings about the state of the country and the economy. Almost 7 in 10 Americans in the new poll think Trump will be able to bring change to the country (68%), though only about half of Americans (48%) say they think it will be change for the better.

The findings suggest the president-elect has earned a honeymoon period with the public as he prepares to return to the White House after being voted out four years ago amid broadly negative approval ratings of his own. But the poll finds positive sentiment toward Trump often trails the level that greeted other recent incoming presidents, even when he outperforms his own previous transition numbers.

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The countrys mood appears to have lifted somewhat following Trumps win, at least in part due to the type of shifting partisan sentiments often seen in the wake of elections where the presidency changes partisan hands. Most overall still say that things in the country are going badly (61%), but the share who say things are going very badly stands at just 15%, the lowest in CNN polling since May 2018. The 38% who say things in the country are going well is the highest since December 2021.

That change has not come uniformly across party lines. Republicans have grown more positive about the state of the country post-election: 30% say things are going well now, up from 14% at the start of 2024 and higher than at any point during Bidens time in office. Independents are also more bullish on the countrys direction: 43% say things are going well, 56% badly. Thats the largest share of independents to say things are going well since January 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Among Democrats, though, positive feelings are on the decline following their partys loss of both the White House and control of the Senate in the November election, with just 40% saying things are going well now. Thats down from 62% at the start of 2024 and the worst since the summer of 2022, following a Supreme Court ruling which overturned Roe v. Wade and upended federal protections for abortion.

Among the overall public, the outlook on Trumps handling of the presidency is about the same as in November 2016 (53% expected him to do a good job then), but expectations that he will bring change for the better are higher (48% say so now, up from 43% in November 2016). The shares saying that hell bring change for the worse (20% now vs. 21% in 2016) or no change at all (31% now vs. 32% in 2016) are nearly identical to where they stood eight years ago.

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That change comes from higher expectations from some traditionally Democratic-leaning groups among which Trump gained support in last months election. Nearly half of women say they expect Trump to bring positive change (46%), up 10 points compared with November 2016, while the shares of people of color (37%, up 11 points) and people younger than 45 (44%, up 8 points) expecting change for the better have also increased compared with 2016.

Still, Americans emotional reactions as they look ahead to a second Trump term are mixed. Overall, slightly more people express a positive feeling (52%) than a negative one (48%), but the share who say they are afraid (29%) outpaces the share who are enthusiastic (19%).

Majorities overall express at least some confidence in Trump across seven different issue areas and presidential actions tested in the poll. His strongest marks come on dealing with the economy (with 39% expressing a lot of confidence in him), immigration policy (39%) and the war between Russia and Ukraine (37%). A little over a third (35%) have deep confidence in his ability to provide real leadership for the country. Roughly 3 in 10 have a lot of confidence in his handling of foreign affairs (30%) or that he will use the powers of the presidency responsibly (29%). Just 26% say they have a lot of confidence in him to appoint the best people to office.

The economy was a particularly strong point for Trump during the campaign, and it is one of the few areas in the poll where deep confidence in him outpaces past presidents. More Americans say they have a lot of confidence in Trumps ability to handle the economy than those who said so about George W. Bush (29%), Bill Clinton (20%) or Ronald Reagan (26%) during their transitions.

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Confidence in Trump to appoint the best people to office is notably down compared with 2016 (26% now compared with 32% in 2016). On other measures with data from 2016, confidence in Trump is largely about the same.

In the new poll, just 56% of Republicans express deep confidence in Trump to appoint the best people to office, lower than on the other six items tested in the poll, and down from 72% in 2016. Independents confidence has also faded, with only 18% expressing a lot of confidence in Trump on appointments, down from 26% in 2016.

Across party lines, the public wants Trump to make appointments based on qualifications for each role rather than on willingness to implement his preferred policies. Three-quarters of Americans (75%) say they would rather Trump mostly choose people who have the best experience and qualifications for each role, even if they may not always support his positions, while 25% feel he ought to focus on those who will always support his positions, even if they dont have the best experience and qualifications for that role. That finding is largely consistent across party lines (78% of Republicans, 77% of Democrats and 71% of independents say he should prioritize qualifications over loyalty).

Asked specifically about Trumps appointments of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new effort on government efficiency, the public splits almost evenly: 49% approve, 50% disapprove. The partisan divide over Trumps choice of these two wealthy tech leaders to try to reform government is massive, with 92% of Republicans saying they approve, while 88% of Democrats disapprove. Independents lean against the choice, with 45% approving and 54% disapproving.

Elon Musk, right, carries his son on his shoulders at the US Capitol following a meeting with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, left, Rep. Kat Cammack, center, and other members of the US Congress on December 5, in Washington, DC. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Almost three-quarters of Americans say theyre following news about the Trump transition at least somewhat closely, with just 7% saying they are not following at all closely. And most approve of what they see. Approval of Trumps handling of the transition is significantly higher than in 2016 (55% now vs. 46% in 2016), while disapproval has held steady at 45%.

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Trumps approval on the transition still lags behind marks for other presidents heading into their first terms. Barack Obama led the pack at 79% in CNNs first read on his transition approval rating in December 2008, while Biden at 66%, Bush at 65% and Clinton at 62% all received higher approval numbers than Trump.

Here, too, Trump has improved on his 2016 numbers with some groups that tilted broadly against him in his first term: 52% of women and 51% of people younger than 35 approve of his handling of the transition now; those figures were 39% and 42% respectively in 2016. A majority of people of color disapprove (56%), less negative than the 63% who disapproved in 2016. Approval is up across party lines as well, with approval ratings from Republicans (96% now) and Democrats (19%) each rising 7 points. Independents split 50-50 on Trumps handling of the transition now, in 2016, they divided 44% approve to 43% disapprove, with 13% unsure.

The public is less accepting, though, of Bidens decision in advance of Trump taking office to pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted earlier this year of federal gun and tax crimes. Overall, 68% say they disapprove of the pardon and 32% approve. Democrats narrowly tilt toward approving of the pardon, 56% approve and 43% disapprove, while Republicans (89% disapprove) and independents (70% disapprove) are broadly negative about it.

Trumps election also prompted special counsel Jack Smith to drop federal criminal charges that were pending against Trump, as the Justice Department is barred from prosecuting sitting presidents. Most Americans (54%), say they disapprove of that decision, while 45% say they approve. Theres a wide partisan gap here: 90% of Republicans approve and 87% of Democrats disapprove. Independents break 36% approve to 64% disapprove.

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The CNN Poll was conducted by SSRS from December 5-8 among a random national sample of 1,011 adults drawn from a probability-based panel. Surveys were either conducted online or by telephone with a live interviewer. Results among the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

CNNs Edward Wu, Ariel Edwards-Levy and Henry Gertmenian contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Mississippi State Auditor Shad White announced that Special Agents from his office had arrested Markeith Mosley, a Coahoma County Deputy Coroner, on one count of embezzlement.

Markeith Mosley. (Coahoma County)

Between June 2021 and November 2023, Mosley allegedly fraudulently converted for his own use a Fuelman card belonging to Coahoma County.

Mosley came into possession of the card due to his position as a county employee.

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State, defense rests case in murder trial for man accused in Univ. of Miss. Jay Lee death

We will continue to hold the line when it comes to fraud, whether it be big or small, State Auditor Shad White said. We will continue to work with prosecutors to make sure that taxpayer money is protected.

If Mosley gets convicted, he could face up to $25,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison.

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.
COAHOMA COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  A deputy coroner in Mississippi has been charged with one count of embezzlement.

State Auditor Shad White announced that Special Agents from his office arrested Coahoma County Deputy Coroner Markeith Mosley.

Former Mississippi councilman charged with stalking

According to White, Mosley fraudulently converted to his own use a Fuelman card belonging to Coahoma County, which came into his possession by virtue of his position as an employee to Coahoma County. The incident occurred between June 2021 and November 2023, according to the State Auditor.

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We will continue to hold the line when it comes to fraud, whether it be big or small, said White. We will continue to work with prosecutors to make sure that taxpayer money is protected.

If convicted, Mosley faces up to $25,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison.

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LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) is asking the community to help find a missing teenager from Ashburn.

LCSO is looking for 15-year-old Padma Maya Phillips who was last seen on Dec. 8 just before 4 p.m. in the 22000 block of Millwick Terrace in Ashburn.

(Photo courtesy of the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office)

She was seen leaving her house on foot and was wearing a green and yellow hoodie, black Mickey Mouse pants and was carrying a green canvas tote bag.

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Church explosion in Forest, details remain limited

LCSO said she was also seen heading west towards Wyndridge Drive and may have gone towards a Metro station.

Padma has a history of mental health challenges and does not have her prescribed medications on her.

The teen is described as having brown hair, and hazel eyes, being around 52 and weighing 190 pounds.

The Virginia State Police (VSP) also issued a CODI Alert on behalf of the sheriffs office.

VSP said Padmas disappearance poses a credible threat to her health and safety as determined by the investigating agency.

Anyone with information is asked to call (703) 777-1021.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTAL/KMSS)  A former Vivian resident arrested for his role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021 is sentenced on Tuesday for his crimes.

According to Matthew Graves, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Cody Connell, 30, will spend the next 26 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release.

Connell and his co-defendant cousin, Daniel Adams, 45 of Goodrich, Texas, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman after being found guilty of three felonies, including civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and four misdemeanors connected to the riot.

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The obstruction of an official proceeding charge was later dismissed. Both men were also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.

National Guard soldiers testify about Jan. 6 response

According to federal prosecutors, Connell, who lived in Vivian as the time, and Adams traveled from their homes to Washington, D.C., to attend the Stop the Steal rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021.

After the rally, prosecutors proved the pair made their way to the west front of the United States Capitol building, the scene of some of the most serious violence, mob assaults, and breaches of police lines and the building itself.

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Prosecutors proved the two helped lead the charge at the northwest stairs of the Capitol as rioters overwhelmed police.

East Texas man sentenced to prison for January 6 Capitol Riot

Prosecutors say less than thirty seconds after the first breach of the Capitol, Adams and Connell entered the building through the Senate Wing Door. Court documents say that Connell was the third rioter to pass through and was among the first twenty rioters to enter the Capitol that day. Adams was one of the first rioters among the many hundreds who followed Connell through the now-open door.

When the men returned home, they took to social media boasting about their crimes.

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According to the Department of Justice, 1,572 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei, three giant pandas born at Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium, embarked on their journey back to China on Tuesday, marking an important milestone in the panda conservation program between the two countries. #XinhuaNews




MIDVALE, Utah (ABC4)  Heads.

And just like that Dustin Gettel advanced to the final round in Midvales search for an interim mayor against Mayor Pro Tempore Paul Glover. Gettel would go on to win the councils vote 3-2 to take the Mayors chair.

It was a situation the Midvale City Council never expected themselves to be in.

Former Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson stepped down from his position in November, citing a drastically changed personal life. Following his resignation, Midvale City began a search for qualified candidates to fill the vacancy, requesting applications from its residents.

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Two new Utah laws going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025 you should know

Overall, the City received 11 applicants, two of which  Gettel and Glover  were sitting council members.

I just wanted to address all the candidates first of all, and tell you all thank you, said Councilwoman Heidi Robinson following the public interviews with the candidates. This is a really hard decision because we had a lot of people that are really invested in Midvale and I feel like thats a really good place for us to be.

City Manager Matt Dahl explained that Utah State Law requires an initial vote. If one candidate receives a three-vote majority, then a mayor is selected. If no one secures three votes, and candidates have a tied vote, then a tiebreaker involving coin-flipping would be done.

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And thats exactly what happened. Glover earned two votes while Gettle, Luke Maynes, and David B. Fair earned one vote each.

Man drives through front of dealership after being told he cant return car

This has never been done so, Dahl said as the city began tossing the coin. Here we go.

The tiebreaker was done in a three-way round-robin tournament. The first to two wins in a round would go to a final vote against Glover to select the new interim mayor. It took three rounds for Gettle to advance.

Gettle then secured a majority 3-2 vote over Glover to be named the interim Mayor of Midvale. He will hold the seat until a new mayor can be selected through the election process during the 2025 elections. His term as interim mayor will effectively end on Jan. 5, 2026.

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Gettle said he does intend to run for election in 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Heavy snow and freezing, gusty winds could soon impact the afternoon commute for drivers across Central Indiana. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis issued a special weather statement early Wednesday, warning motorists that slick surfaces and brief whiteout conditions could develop into the afternoon and early evening hours.

Forecasters said Hoosiers should be exceptionally careful during Wednesday's rush-hour traffic.

"We're concerned about the potential for flash freezes," said NWS meteorologist Matthew Eckhoff. "That's when the road temperature is just warm enough to melt the first round of snowflakes, then as it keeps snowing and getting colder and colder, that layer of water turns to ice."

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Eckhoff added that road conditions could deteriorate rapidly with little warning. Here's what you should know about Wednesday's weather in Central Indiana.

Arctic cold front expected to hit Central Indiana Wednesday afternoon

Meteorologists say Hoosiers around the Indianapolis area should prepare for snow showers and snow squalls between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday as an arctic cold front sweeps across the Midwest.

Snow showers and potentially squalls are expected this afternoon through evening across all of central IN. Individual showers could produce brief, heavy snow that may impact travel. Gusty winds are also expected later today followed by temps dropping into the teens tonight. #INwx pic.twitter.com/H4QP1X0uxf  NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) December 11, 2024

Eckhoff said the system is unstable and would likely wind down before midnight. Before then, he cautioned drivers to exercise caution on Central Indiana's roadways.

"When these snow showers come through, you can go from seeing essentially no snow at all to very heavy snow with limited visibility, with snow covering the roads in just a few minutes," Eckhoff said.

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Staying safe in hazardous weather: Are Indianapolis roads safe to drive right now? Check these live traffic maps.

NWS Meteorologist: 'This cold is not to be overlooked.'

Wind gusts of up to 40 mph are possible along with heavy snow, NWS said in a social media post, which could drastically reduce the ability for drivers to see what's around them. Another concern for meteorologists, Eckhoff said, was a wind chill plummeting from 0 to minus-10 degrees Wednesday night.

"The cold is not to be overlooked," Eckhoff cautioned. "Even with the snow coming in, winds are going to be 30-40 mph and temperatures are going to be dropping into the teens overnight. People should limit their time outdoors and definitely avoid going outside if possible."

Find a warming shelter in Indianapolis: Freezing cold is here. Where to stay warm and find overnight shelter in Indy.

How to check road conditions in Indianapolis

One method drivers in Central Indiana can check how safe the roads are online using INDOT's CARS Program, which has useful information about road conditions, closures as well as width and weight restrictions.

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The website features a color-coded map of Indiana's main roadways, highlighting hazardous or difficult road conditions in purple, fair conditions in blue and good conditions in gray.

What is a snow squall?

A snow squall is an intense burst of snow and winds that usually last one to three hours. They create whiteout visibility and rapidly deteriorate road conditions. That could drastically reduce visibility within heavier snow showers and squalls, the National Weather Services noted in its hazardous weather outlook advisory.

Live weather radar for Central Indiana

Weather forecast for Indianapolis, Indiana, per NWS

 Wednesday: Snow showers likely, mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 35. West wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

 Wednesday night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 14. West wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

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 Thursday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 27. West wind 6 to 9 mph.

 Thursday night: Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Light and variable wind.

 Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. East southeast wind 3 to 6 mph.

 Friday night: A 30 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Southeast wind around 7 mph.

 Saturday: Showers. High near 47. South southeast wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

 Saturday night: Showers. Low around 41. South southeast wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

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 Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m.. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

 Sunday night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. South southeast wind 3 to 5 mph.

 Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

 Monday night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

 Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

How drivers can prepare for bad winter weather in Indiana

Cars drive through snow and on icy roads in the late hours on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2022 in Indianapolis. A winter storm with negative temperatures threatens holiday travel.

Prepare for the reasonable worst-case scenario, which would include accumulating snow and brief travel impacts. When planning your commute for Wednesday, keep this in mind:

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 Stay alert

Reduce your speed

Watch for brake lights ahead of your from other vehicles

 Leave more space between cars

Staying safe on Indiana's roads during a winter storm can depend largely on how well you're prepared. The Indiana Department of Transportation offers these tips:

Knowledge : Before leaving home, find out about the driving conditions. Safe drivers know the weather, and their limits. If the weather is bad remember, "ice and snow, take it slow," or just dont go.

Clear : Remove any snow on your vehicles windows, lights, brake lights and signals. Make sure you can see and be seen.

Inspect : Check your vehicles tires, wiper blades, fluids, lights, belts and hoses. A breakdown is bad on a good day and dangerous on a bad-weather day.

Time : Leave plenty of time to reach your destination safely. Its not worth putting yourself and others in a dangerous situation just to be on time.

Kit: Keep a basic winter survival kit in your vehicle, including a flashlight, batteries, blanket, snacks, water, gloves, boots, and a first-aid kit. Load your car with winter travel gear, including tire chains, ice scraper/snowbrush, jumper cables and road flares.

White Christmas 2024: Will it snow in Indiana on Christmas? Maybe. Here's a look at the long-range forecast.

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John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.

Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formally Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.

Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com or follow him on X @1NoePadilla.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Snow, flash freezes could impact your Central Indiana commute Wednesday
COLLINS, Miss. (WHLT)  The Collins Fire Department has a new way to fight industrial-sized fire thanks to a grant from the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security.

The department unveiled its new Thermite robot vehicle, which was purchased using a $260,000 grant.

The robot is remote-controlled and can be used as a mobile firefighting unit that can reach areas too dangerous for firefighters to enter. The Thermite can deploy water, foam, and other suppressant agents to extinguish fires while also recording real-time video.

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Hattiesburg man dies after car hits tree

In an industrial firefighting situation, youre dealing with a lot of additional variables. So with us having this, to be able to operate the unit remotely, to be able to deploy water foam up safely, to be able to get a capture on possible valves that are pressurized, to be able to suppress fires in depth, and be able to get foam on top of that to suppress vapors, allowing us to move other equipment closer and safer, usually utilizing manpower, thats what this does, said Collins Fire Chief John Pope.

If you look at the critical assets here in Collins, particularly with the pipeline that comes through here and supplies oil and gas products throughout the eastern part of the United States, it is a critical asset not just for Mississippi, but our entire country, said Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell.

This is the sixth Thermite robot vehicle in the United States.

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Colorados notoriously dangerous snowpack is already showing its teeth.



Early last week, a skier on Berthoud Pass triggered a large (D2) slab avalanche and was caught and partially buried in the slide. Despite dislocating his shoulder in the slide, the skier was able to dig himself out. The Grand County Sheriffs department, Search and Rescue, and local EMS responded to the accident.



According to the full accident report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), the skier caught in the slide left his car at the top of Berthoud Pass, a popular backcountry zone on Highway 40, around noon on December 3, 2024.

An avalanche was triggered in 'Mines 1' on December 1, 2024. The incident involving the buried skier occurred in 'Mines 2' on December 3, 2024. Photo: Courtesy CAIC

He was traveling alone, carried a beacon, probe, and shovel, and planned to avoid avalanche terrain. The skier took his first run down a tightly treed slope back to the road and decided to go further north to a different aspect for his second run. On his second run, the skier stopped about 600 feet below the summit of Colorado Mines Peak on the ridge that divides the west and north facing slopes from one another, close to a common avalanche path known as Mines 2.



He transitioned to ski downhill and began to descend above Mines 2, not intending to ski the slope itself, but make 1 or 2 turns to check the snow conditions. The skier then saw a large crack shoot out in front of him and an avalanche break above him before being hit with a wall of moving snow and carried downslope.



The skier lost both skis in the slide and when the debris pile came to a halt about 400 vertical feet later, he had both arms free but his face buried under about 6 inches of snow. He was able to dig himself out, call for help, and hike down the debris pile to meet Grand County Search and Rescue at the top of the pass.



The avalanche danger for December 3, 2024 on Berthoud Pass was rated at 'Considerable' above treeline and 'Moderate' below treeline. October storms left a shallow, faceted layer on high-elevation slopes with a northerly aspect which was then buried by a stiff, wind affected layer from early November storms.



The slide broke on faceted snow in the middle or bottom of the snowpack and ran to the ground averaging two feet deep, over 600 feet wide, and running 800 vertical feet. CAIC had cited a persistent slab layer and a wind slab as avalanche problems for the day with Likely and Possible likelihood ratings for up to D2 size avalanches respectively.

Related: How Utah Is Staying at the Forefront of Avalanche Mitigation

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EVANS, Ga. (WJBF)  The Columbia County School District (CCSD) is looking to hire at a career fair this week.

The career fair is being held on Thursday, Dec. 12 from 4 p.m.- 6:30 p.m., at the Support Department Complex, located at 4395 River Watch Parkway in Evans.

According to CCSD, career opportunities are open for several positions, including certified educators and paraprofessionals, school bus drivers, nutrition assistants and custodians.

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Representatives from the several departments are expected to be present to answer questions and conduct on-site interviews.

More information about career opportunities can be found at the Columbia County School District website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  A Columbus native says he knows the man suspected of murdering the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.

Jet Lee is a 2016 Columbus High School graduate and artist who now lives in Brooklyn with his own gallery. But his connection to Luigi Mangione came while both men attended the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, they both lived in a freshman dorm together and were acquaintances.

I want to hammer the point of just being like, you know, like he was a very sound individual from what I had experienced, with my limited time interacting with them before, going on our own paths, said Lee. And I would have never thought twice that someone like himself would have the drive to do such a thing. And like I said before, as Ive read it and seen kind of more of where he was coming from in context of whats been shared, seems like it as an individual who was experiencing some form of pain, albeit mental, physical, whatever it is.

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Lee went on to say Its a very unfortunate circumstance for the parties involved outside of that. Like I said, we knew each other for a brief period of time, would have never guessed he would do such a thing. And honestly, Im still kind of in the shock of it all.

Like many people, Jet Lee followed the shooting death of UnitedHeathcare CEO Brian Thompson. But in New York City, Thompsons death was a local story.

Lee did not realize just how local it was until his college classmate Luigi Mangione was arrested and charged with murder.

So I think the biggest ah ha moment for me was when they sort of shown his actual picture completely, you know, like uncovered. I think upon seeing his face, he has some strong facial features, said Lee. And at that point, immediately I was like, Oh, I know exactly who this is. And its wild to see him within this context, because I would have never put that sort of pin down on him as the type of person he would be on that type of platform stage doing this type of actions.

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Lee told WRBL he has been in contact with some of his classmates in wake of the news. He said many of them share his shock.

But I would say that to sort of hit at the gravity of what occurred. It is quite wild that somebody with that type of background, with that type of intellectual, intellectual acumen and that type of opportunity space of exploring the world is ever in a scenario in which that theyre driven to such an instance, said Lee. But I think after reflecting and seeing more of what he had to put out there prior to his actions, it seems like he was an individual who is involved with a lot of interpersonal pain through his family, through his mother and through his own life.

Mangione was arrested on Monday after being recognized by a McDonalds customer in Pennsylvania. Officers found a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush, according to Associated Press.

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.
When California lawmakers convened in Sacramento for a special session this month, they marked a milestone. For the first time ever, women held nearly half the seats in the 120-member Legislature.

But overall, the political picture is less bright  at least for those believing our elected representatives should be, well, more representative.

When the new Congress convenes next month, there will be two fewer women in California's House delegation: just 15 of 52 members. In the Senate, after this week's swearing-in of Adam B. Schiff, men now hold both of California's U.S. Senate seats for the first time since the early 1990s, when the history-making duo of Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer was first elected.

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That erosion in women's power is particularly noteworthy for a state where women outnumber men among registered voters and the first female House speaker and first female vice president each got their start in the hothouse of San Francisco politics. (That said, California, which fancies itself oh-so-cutting-edge, has never elected a female governor.)

For Katie Porter, the trend is a dispiriting move in the wrong direction.

"California is a leader in equality, in protecting and promoting a woman's right to reproductive justice, to equal pay, to parental leave," Porter said. "So it's surprising and disappointing that California has not been at the fore and may indeed now be sliding toward the back end of equality and representation in Washington."

Porter, who surrendered her Orange County House seat to wage an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate, is one of four female lawmakers whose California districts will soon be represented by men.

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Read more: Column: Call Adam Schiff what you want. California's next senator is ready to work with Trump

Dave Min will replace Porter, his fellow Democrat, in January. In another Orange County contest, Republican Rep. Michelle Steel narrowly lost her seat to Democrat Derek Tran. Elsewhere in Southern California, Gil Cisneros won the congressional seat held by Grace Napolitano, a fellow Democrat who is retiring. In the Bay Area, longtime Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo will be replaced by another Democrat, Sam Liccardo.

The loss of those female lawmakers was offset by gains in two Southern California races. Laura Friedman and Luz Rivas were elected to replace fellow Democrats Schiff and Tony Cardenas, respectively.

Still, that net decline in female representation continues an erosion in Washington that goes back several years. Nearly a half-dozen California House seats once held by women  in the Bay Area, Orange County, Santa Barbara and the Greater Los Angeles area  are now held by men.

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It's unclear exactly why that's happened.

"Generally speaking, the bench for women is not as deep," said Mindy Romero, who heads the Center for Inclusive Democracy at USC. Also, there are often more challenges for women seeking political office, she said, given family concerns, societal norms and  even still  cultural expectations.

And although there are undoubtedly more opportunities, more mentors and greater resources than there used to be for female candidates, "the highly polarized, often uncivil and violent environment"  especially at the national level  "can feel more threatening to women," Romero said.

Porter, who's in the last days of her third and final term in Congress, plans to return next month to her position teaching law at UC Irvine. She's also using $100,000 in leftover campaign cash to launch a political action committee, Woman Up, aimed at building the ranks of female lawmakers.

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"When there are concerted efforts to address the lack of representation, we make progress," said Porter, speaking from a favorite haunt, a woman-owned coffeehouse on Capitol Hill. "The state Legislature has done that work and we have seen the results.

"As we approach parity in the Legislature, we need to see that same kind of sustained work in our congressional delegation and in our statewide races and, frankly, in other parts of the country and other kinds of races where there are still fewer women's voices being heard."

Might she venture to break through Sacramento's ultimate glass ceiling?

Porter has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in 2026 and she acknowledged, "I'm thinking about it. I'm having conversations and I'm very, very committed to listening and learning from Californians." She offered no timetable for a decision.

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Read more: 'Enjoy the basement!' New California members of Congress move in to Capitol  as the old move out

It's politically appealing, to some at least, to disparage diversity and the sorting of individuals by race, gender and other characteristics.

But as USC's Romero put it: "Representation matters."

"Elected officials, hopefully, hear from their constituents," she said. "But they also bring their own lived experience. Those lived experiences are supposed to represent, at least to some degree, the communities they serve."

Not terribly long ago, when the number of female officeholders was much fewer in Washington and Sacramento, certain issues were considered "women's issues" and received much less focus and funding than they deserved  to the detriment not just of women but also everyone else.

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"You need to have a representative body talking about the needs of all the people they serve," Romero said.

That's government of the people, by the people and for the people at its most basic level.

Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak

Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Western New Yorkers made their voices heard at a meeting on Tuesday regarding the community benefits agreement for the Buffalo Bills new stadium.

During the public hearing, community members were able to recommend how they want the Bills to invest in Western New York over the next 30 years.

Were making sure that were listening and were hearing, said Penny Semaia, vice president of stadium relations. Were putting actions in motion and giving opportunities to help people.

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The Community Benefits Oversight Committee (CBOC) began Tuesdays presentation by sharing the 2023 fiscal community investment report. The report covers the fiscal year 2023 beginning April 1, 2023, and ending March 31, 2024.

According to the community benefits agreement, during that time period, the Bills organization had to invest at least $3 million. The organization surpassed that requirement by over $600,000.

The roles and responsibilities of the CBOC also focuses on the compliant side, Semaia said. Are the Buffalo Bills doing exactly what the community benefits agreement asks of them?

While representatives of the Bills praised the organization for its investment into community programs, economic development, youth and education, many residents felt there is more work to be done.

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We are still waiting for you to turn around and come back to our neighborhood, said Buffalo resident Denise Barr. Come help us where you left us.

Several community members felt that once the Bills moved to Orchard Park, the east side of Buffalo was forgotten about.

There was a loss when they left the community, a strong economic impact, said Ben Upshaw, management partner at CB Emmanuel Realty. I think the residents of this area not only need these funds but needs funds and investment on a continual basis.

Others voiced their opinions about why they feel the investment needs to go into the minorities in Western New York, specifically the children.

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We have people experiencing homelessness, said Julia Palmer, executive director of PATH of WNY. We have emergency housing needs on a regular basis. We need to have more support for men and boys.

The CBOC said it will be holding meetings on the second Tuesday of every month.

The Bills and developer retain autonomy over processes related to the community investment. They have allocated several means by which community members may submit inquiries and requests:

Visit buffalobills.com for donation and sponsorship requests

Direct inquiries can be sent to the community benefits director: penny.semaia@bills.net

Attend the CBOC meetings

Latest Local News

Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.

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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.
Syrias new interim prime minister has called on the countrys millions of refugees around the world to return home.

Mohamed al-Bashir urged all Syrians scattered around the world to help rebuild as he welcomed a new dawn for the country following years of civil war, promising religious freedom for all.

In his first interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he said: My appeal goes out to all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has regained its pride and dignity. Come back.

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The former engineer told the estimated six million Syrian refugees abroad: We need to rebuild, to get our country on its feet again, and we need everyones help.

With the toppling of the Assad regime plunging Syria into the unknown, Mr Bashir sought to reassure Syrians that the new Islamist-led administration, which has former links to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, would guarantee the rights of all people and all sects.

His top priorities, he said, were to restore security and stability so that millions of Syrians could return and resume their normal lives and to plan for a future where food, water and electricity would be guaranteed.

A destroyed tank becomes the stage for singing and dancing in Damascus - Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of the rebel coalition forces, has also made an alliance with other southern factions, promising to protect religious diversity in a move considered essential to quell future tensions.

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Thousands of Syrian refugees have already streamed across the border from Turkey, lugging their possessions on foot, desperate to see their homeland and families again after almost 14 years of civil war.

Greater numbers are expected in coming days and months, despite most having no homes to return to after their cities were reduced to rubble.

Western nations have appeared ready to shift their stances on the status of Syrian asylum seekers.

Mohamed al-Bashir promised tolerance towards all religious sects

Greece suspended asylum for Syrians on Wednesday, following decisions made by the UK, Germany, Italy and a dozen other European countries to suspend applications or pause decision-making as they assessed the situation.

Countrys bank vaults are empty

Mr Bashir, who is now head of the new salvation government and has been tasked with running the country until March 1, admitted one of the biggest challenges ahead would be its desolate finances.

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In the vaults there are only Syrian pounds worth little or nothing. One US dollar buys 35,000 of our coins, Mr Bashir said. We have no foreign currency and as for loans and bonds we are still collecting data. So yes, financially we are very bad.

When asked if he intended to build a new Islamic State, Mr Bashir appeared to skirt around the question, instead saying that the mistakes of certain Islamic groups had associated them with terrorism and extremism.

Precisely because we are Islamic, we will protect religious freedom, he said.

Mr Bashir walked out of the interview after being asked if he was open to peace with Israel and whether the revolutionary government shared the Jewish states common enemies of Iran and Hezbollah.

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Israel, which borders Syria, has sent troops into a demilitarised buffer zone on the east of the Israel-annexed Golan Heights, in a move the UN has said violates the 1974 armistice.

Credit: Israeli Army handout

Since Assads fall, Israels military claims to have destroyed up to 80 per cent of the Syrian armys military arsenal  including long-range missiles, chemical weapons and most of its naval fleet  in a targeted bombing campaign to avoid weapons falling into the hands of hostile forces.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said in a speech on Tuesday night that Israel had no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of Syria, but wanted to ensure its security and would not hesitate to attack if threatened.

08:07 PM GMT

Thats all for today

Thank you for following our live coverage.

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Here are the headlines from today:

Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani vowed to hunt down and punish anyone involved in the torture or killing under the ousted presidents regime.

Al-Jolani pledged to work with international organisations in securing sites where Assad regime chemical weapons may be located.

Syrias new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, urged Syrian refugees to return, saying the Islamist-alliance would guarantee the rights of religious groups.

Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Assads toppling was the product of a joint US-Israeli plot.

Israels defence minister rebuffed Irans accusation, saying Tehran had itself to blame for the fall of its ally.

Germanys foreign minister urged Israel and Turkey not to jeopardise a peaceful transition in Syria, while Frances foreign ministry called on Israel Defence Forces to withdraw from the Syrian buffer zone.

Turkish-backed fighters accused of executing Kurdish soldiers in a northern Syrian hospital.

The SDF commander-in-chief warned of an Isis resurgence in northern Syria.

The UK home secretary said guidance related to decisions on Syrian asylum claims would be kept under constant review.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there were signs of hope in Syria.

Russia said Israeli strikes in Syria violated a 1974 peace treaty.

It was reported that Russian intelligence operatives persuaded Bashar al-Assad that he would lose against rapidly advancing rebel groups and then organised his escape.

Russia warned its facilities and assets in Syria are protected under international law.

08:05 PM GMT

Pictured: Evening celebrations in Latakia

People light aerosol flames as they celebrate in Syrias western port city of Latakia on Dec 11 - AAREF WATAD/AFP

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A woman lifts a picture of Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolan at the celebrations in Latakia - AAREF WATAD/AFP

Women hold up the victory sign as they gather in Latakia - AAREF WATAD/AFP

07:50 PM GMT

Assads Baath party suspends work indefinitely

Syrias Baath party has announced it is suspending work indefinitely, days after rebels ousted its president Bashar al-Assad.

The Baath party central leadership has decided to suspend party work and activity in all its forms... until further notice, said a statement published on the website of the partys newspaper, adding that its property and funds would be handed over to the interior and finance ministries.

07:38 PM GMT

Syrian rebel leader searching for Assads chemical weapons

Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who also goes by Ahmad al-Sharaa, has pledged to work with international organisations to secure sites where Assad regime chemical weapons may be located.

In a written statement, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader also said his group would dissolve the security forces of the toppled regime of Bashar al-Assad.

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He reiterated that he would form a government of technocrats. The current transitional government is set to rule until March 2025, according to a statement by his group.

The US said it welcomed the comments on chemical weapons, but would await action.

We welcome this type of rhetoric but... actions have to meet words as well, said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh.

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, is welcomed by supporters before addressing a crowd at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Dec 8 - ABDULAZIZ KETAZ/AFP

07:18 PM GMT

Israel says Iran has itself to blame for Assads fall

Israels defence minister has rebuffed Irans accusation that a US-Israeli plot had ousted Bashar al-Assad, saying Tehran has itself to blame for the fall of its ally.

Israel Katz, on a tour of the Jordanian border with military commanders, instead accused Iran of trying to establish an eastern front against Israel.

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Earlier on Wednesday, Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Assads toppling was the product of a joint US-Israeli plot.

Mr Katz, according to a statement from his office, said that Khamenei should blame himself and stop financing armed groups in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza to build the octopus arms he leads in an attempt to defeat the state of Israel.

07:02 PM GMT

Turkish-backed fighters accused of executing Kurdish soldiers in hospital

Turkish-backed fighters have been accused of carrying out a brutal execution of wounded soldiers in a military hospital in northern Syria.

In a gruesome video circulated online, injured men in hospital beds covered in bandages and wires are questioned by men in military fatigues, who then open fire on them.

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The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) reported that dozens of wounded soldiers from the Manbij Military Council, part of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were executed after the area was besieged and evacuation routes out of the city closed.

Read the full story here.

Syrian National Army soldiers celebrate victory in Manbij on Dec 7 - UGUR YILDIRIM/DIA IMAGES/GETTY

06:29 PM GMT

SDF warns of Isis resurgence in northern Syria

The commander-in-chief of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has warned that a resurgent Isis is capitalising on the turmoil left behind by the Assad regime.

General Abdi Mazloum said the terrorist group, which were territorially defeated by the SDF in 2019, had become emboldened in northern Syria.

Isis is now stronger in the Syrian desert. Previously, they were in remote areas and hiding, but now they have greater freedom of movement since they face no issues with other groups and are not engaged in conflict with them, he told Sky News.

He also warned that Isis could exploit SDFs conflict with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army to attack detention camps and release extremist prisoners.

Generally, the effectiveness of our forces and those of the coalition against Isis diminishes when we are focused on protecting civilians and our communities, he said, adding: Frankly, there is currently a significant threat to the security of these detention centres.

05:58 PM GMT

Pictured: Celebrations continue in Damascus

Syrians gather at Umayyad Square to celebrate in Damascus on Dec 11 - EMIN SANSAR/ANADOLU

Families descended on Umayyad Square to beckon in what they hoped would be a new era for Syria - EMIN SANSAR/ANADOLU

The three-starred flag favoured by the opposition has been adopted as the de facto flag of Syria - EMIN SANSAR/ANADOLU

05:40 PM GMT

Syrians desperately search for loved ones in morgue

Crying men and women have rushed to the Damascus hospital morgue in search of their missing relatives who disappeared during the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad, writes Kieran Kelly.

Dozens of disfigured, decomposing corpses were found by rescuers hunting for hidden prison cells inside Sednaya, Assads most notorious jail, which was liberated by Syrian rebels as his regime collapsed on Sunday.

After the rebels took Damascus, reports quickly emerged of underground cells existing underneath the prison, which was once described by Amnesty International as a human slaughterhouse. None were found.

Read the full story here.

05:16 PM GMT

Berlin urges Israel and Turkey not to jeopardise Syria transition

Germanys foreign minister has urged Israel and Turkey not to jeopardise a peaceful transition in Syria after the ousting of president Bashar al-Assad.

We must not allow the internal Syrian dialogue process to be torpedoed from the outside, Annalena Baerbock told a Berlin press conference, adding: Neighbours such as the Turkish and Israeli governments, which are asserting their security interests, must not jeopardise the process.

Israel has launched strikes on military sites in Syria since the toppling of the Assad regime, while Turkey has struck Kurdish targets in northern Syria.

04:48 PM GMT

Rebels hope to reopen Damascus airport within a week

Rebel forces who toppled the Assad regime have expressed hope that Damascus international airport will be operational again in the next week.

The new Syrian government has identified a fully-functioning airport as crucial to instilling confidence and legitimacy.

Damascus international airport is the heart of the city because it is the gateway for international delegations and missions, said Omar al-Shami, a security official with rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), calling it the passage for Syria to breathe.

He said looters had damaged the airport halls but hoped flights would resume in less than a week.

Grounded passenger planes of Syrias private airline company Cham Wings on the tarmac - OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP

04:27 PM GMT

Syrias territorial integrity must be respected, says Spanish PM

The Spanish prime minister has called for Syrias territorial integrity to be respected during a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart.

Pedro Sanchez stressed the need for a peaceful and stable Syria, for the benefit of the Syrian people and all countries in the region, especially Lebanon, the Spanish government said in a statement.

He also called for an orderly political transition for the Syrian people while maintaining the territorial integrity of the country and avoiding further escalation in the region, it added.

04:09 PM GMT

Why is Israel attacking Syria?

Israel has launched more than 350 air and naval strikes against Bashar al-Assads military since he was toppled on Sunday, destroying about 80 per cent of Syrias military capabilities.

The co-ordinated attacks across the country targeted Assads naval fleet, air bases, chemical weapons, long-range missiles, helicopters, anti-aircraft batteries and other military sites.

Read the full story here.

03:56 PM GMT

UK to keep Syrian asylum claims under constant review

The home secretary has said guidance related to decisions on Syrian asylum claims is under constant review as the UK continues to monitor the fast-moving situation.

Yvette Cooper also said there are initial signs of people wanting to return to Syria from Turkey, although she told MPs that the situation remains very unstable.

The UK has paused decisions on asylum applications from Syrians following the collapse of the Assad regime.

03:42 PM GMT

Lebanese man returns home after 32 years in Syrian prison

A Lebanese man who spent 32 years in a Syrian prison has been reunited with his family.

Suheil Hamwi was abducted from his home in Chekka, northern Lebanon, in 1992 by a car full of men and spent his first years in captivity at the infamous Sednaya prison, where he was tortured and kept in isolation.

Mr Hamwi was one of hundreds of Lebanese citizens detained during Syrias occupation of Lebanon from 1976 to 2005, charged for his membership of a Christian political party.

Im still scared this might not be real, he told The Associated Press at his home after being freed from prison by Syrian opposition forces.

The first door opened, Mr Hamwi said, describing how rebels stormed the prison in Latakia and started opening cell gates. Then others followed. And for those who couldnt open their gates, they started coming out through the walls.

The prisoners left walking toward the unknown, he said, and I walked with them.

Strangers guided him to the Al-Arida border crossing in northern Lebanon, where his family were waiting.

Suheil Hamwi met his two grandchildren for the first time after 32 years in captivity - HASSAN AMMAR/AP

03:32 PM GMT

All religious groups rights will be guaranteed, says new Syria PM

Syrias new prime minister said the Islamist-led alliance that ousted president Bashar al-Assad will guarantee the rights of all religious groups and called on the millions who fled the war to return home.

Precisely because we are Islamic, we will guarantee the rights of all people and all sects in Syria, said Mohammad al-Bashir, whom the rebels appointed as the transitional head of government.

Asked whether Syrias new constitution would be Islamic, he told Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera: We will clarify all these details during the constituent process.

03:00 PM GMT

Watch: Syrian rebels burn coffin of Assads father

Syrians have torched the tomb of Hafez al-Assad, the father of ousted president Bashar al-Assad.

Tarek Nassif said he had come to the graves of Hafez, his wife Anisa and his eldest son Basel to take a look at these filthy people, because they oppressed the entire Syrian people.

Another Latakia resident, Mohammad Nassif added: We came and saw it be burnt and destroyed by the people of his village because he starved them, because they hated him, and because he destroyed us, he displaced them and displaced us.

@WarRoomME/X

02:53 PM GMT

We are witnessing signs of hope in Syria, says UN chief

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there were signs of hope in Syria after its President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebel forces over the weekend.

As we speak, we are witnessing the reshaping of the Middle East. ... We also see some signs of hope, and signs of hope namely coming from the end of the Syrian dictatorship, Mr Guterres said on Wednesday.

He added that the United Nations was committed to a smooth and inclusive transition of power in which all Syrians can feel that they belong.

02:21 PM GMT

France urges Israel to withdraw forces from Syria buffer zone

Israel must withdraw forces from the buffer zone separating the annexed Golan Heights from Syrian territory, Frances foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

France calls on Israel to withdraw from the zone and to respect Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

We reported earlier that Russia called Israels strikes in Syria a violation of a 1974 treaty between Israel and Syria that ended the Yom Kippur war (see post at 12:32pm).

A French foreign ministry spokesman has now echoed the warning.

People bathe at a water reservoir at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - REUTERS

02:15 PM GMT

Iran: The US and Israel are the real plotters behind Assads toppling

We reported earlier that Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the fall of Bashar al-Assads autocratic regime was the result of a US-Israeli scheme (see post at 9:19 am).

We now have more details from Mr Khamenei:

There should be no doubt that what happened in Syria is the result of a joint plan between the United States and the Zionists, he said in a public address.

But the main actors, the real plotters, the masterminds and the command centre are in America and with the Zionist regime.

01:54 PM GMT

Syrian rebel leader vows to hunt down and punish regime torturers

The Syrian rebel leader has vowed to hunt down and punish anyone involved in the torture or killing of detainees during the ousted Syrian presidents regime, ruling out the prospect of pardons.

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who now goes by Ahmed al-Sharaa, asked countries to hand over those who fled, promising that his rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) would pursue those remaining in Syria.

We will pursue them in Syria, and we ask countries to hand over those who fled so we can achieve justice, al-Jolani said in a statement published on the Syrian state TVs Telegram channel.

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of Syrias Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, ddresses a crowd at the capitals landmark Umayyad Mosque - AFP

01:30 PM GMT

New interim PM tells Syrian refugees to come back

Syrias new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, has called on Syrians who fled the Assad regime and are seeking asylum across the globe to come back.

In an interview with Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, Mr al-Bashir said the new HTS government has inherited a bloated administration plagued by corruption.

We reported earlier that the interim prime minister said he will only remain in office until March 2025 (see post at 7:59 am)

Mohammed al-Bashir chairing a meeting of the new cabinet in Damascus on Dec 10 - STRINGER / SANA / AFP

01:18 PM GMT

More pictures: Tomb of Assads father set alight

More pictures have emerged of rebel fighters setting the tomb of the late Syrian president on fire.

Hafez al-Assad, a former air force pilot, was the president of Syria from 1971 until his death in 2000.

After taking control of Damascus over the weekend, fighters ripped down and burnt banners and portraits of the Assad family and dragged statues of their former rulers around with trucks.

A rebel fighter walks past the burning coffin of Syrias late president Hafez al-Assad outside his mausoleum - AFP

Rebel fighters stand with the flag of the revolution on the burnt gravesite of Syrias late president - AFP

Members of the rebel group and former al-Qaeda offshoot HTS pose for a picture on the burnt gravesite of the late Hafez al-Assad - AFP

01:05 PM GMT

Youll lose, Russian agents told Assad

Russian intelligence operatives persuaded Syrias President Bashar al-Assad that he would lose against rapidly advancing rebel groups and then organised his escape, sources have said.

Russian agents flew Assad out via its air base in Syria after offering him and his family safe passage if he left immediately, Bloomberg has reported, citing three unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation.

The aircrafts transponder was turned off to avoid being tracked, said one of the sources.

The former al-Qaeda offshoot HTS swept unopposed into Damascus within hours of Assads departure, and claimed victory in the Syrian civil war that had raged for nearly 14 years.

President Vladimir Putin is yet to speak publicly about the collapse of the Assad regime.

Russias deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed on Tuesday that Assad had been secured in Russia, but would not elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved.

Asked whether Russia would hand over Assad for trial, Mr Ryabkov said: Russia is not a party to the convention that established the International Criminal Court.

Syrias president Bashar al-Assad was ousted over the weekend by the former al-Qaeda offshoot HTS - AFP

12:59 PM GMT

Germany to provide 8 million euros in humanitarian aid for Syria

Germany will provide an additional 8 million euros (6.56 million) in humanitarian aid for Syria, its foreign minister announced on Wednesday.

Presenting an eight-point-action plan, Annalena Baerbock said Germany will also increase its presence in the country and make State Minister Tobias Lindner its representative there

We see a moment of hope, she said, but added that the situation was anything but stable.

The return of Syrian refugees must be coordinated with partners in Europe and the United Nations, said Ms Baerbock.

12:32 PM GMT

Russia says Israeli action in Syria violates peace treaty

Russia has called Israeli strikes in Syria a matter for serious concern.

The Kremlins foreign ministry said the attacks violate a 1974 treaty between Israel and Syria that ended the Yom Kippur war.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that his country aims to impose a sterile defence zone in southern Syria.

Two Israel Defense Forces tanks on the Syrian side of the border fence along the buffer zone seen from the Golan Heights in Majdal Shams, Israel - Bloomberg

An Israel Defense Forces tank returns from the Syrian side of the border fence - Bloomberg

12:07 PM GMT

Watch: Israel strike weapons stockpiles in Syria

Earlier, the Kremlins foreign ministry said Russian facilities in Syria are protected by international law (see post at 11:39 am).

Now, the Israeli Defence Forces have released a video of them striking weapons stockpiles in Syria.

They said its to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist[s].

Credit: Israeli Army handout

11:56 AM GMT

Dutch woman jailed for 10 years for keeping Yazidi slave in Syria

A Dutch court on Wednesday sentenced a woman to 10 years in prison for joining Islamic State in Syria and keeping a Yazidi woman as slave.

Judges said it was clear that Hasna Aarab, 33, had actively participated in the enslavement of a Yazidi woman between 2015 and 2016, while she lived in Raqqa with her young son and her Islamic State fighter husband.

The Yazidi woman, identified only as Z., had been forced to work in their household, where she was also sexually abused.

She did this, knowing that what happened in her house was part of a widespread, systemic attack on the Yazidi community, the court said.

These types of crimes against humanity are among the worst international crimes possible.

11:39 AM GMT

Russia says its facilities in Syria are protected by international law

Russian facilities and assets in Syria are protected by international law, Kremlin Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

Ms Zakharova urged all parties in Syria to adopt a responsible approach to restore security and stability as soon as possible.

Russia has a major air base in Latakia province and a naval facility at Tartous, its only Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub.

Naval personnel stand in front of the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov in the Syrian city of Tartous on the Mediterranean sea - REUTERS

A satellite image shows a Russian naval facility with no visible ships, after Syrian rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Tartous, Syria - via REUTERS

11:15 AM GMT

US lawmakers push for Syria sanction relief

Two US congressman have urged senior American officials to suspend some economic sanctions on Syria to ease pressure on its shattered economy after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.

The move is the latest effort by the West to push for easing sanctions after rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate, toppled Assads autocratic government over the weekend.

On Monday, a British minister that that country could rethink its designation of HTS as a banned organisation.

10:45 AM GMT

Qatar will soon reopen embassy in Syria

Qatar has announced it intends to re-open its embassy in Damascus soon, more than a decade after it was stormed by supporters of the now ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The adviser to the prime minister and official spokesman for the foreign ministry, Dr Majed Al-Ansari, said Qatar will soon reopen its embassy in the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic after completing the necessary arrangements.

He said the step will strengthen the historical and close fraternal relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.

Traffic at Damascus central Umayyad Square - AFP

10:17 AM GMT

Israel bombs 350 Syrian military sites in 48 hours

The Israeli army has struck more than 350 Syrian military sites over the last 48 hours, eviscerating most of the countrys strategic weapons stockpiles, Israel said on Tuesday.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed the wave of bombs in neighbouring Syria was for defensive purposes, necessary to prevent the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian governments rapid collapse.

Israel acknowledged on Tuesday that its troops were developing a border buffer zone inside neighbouring Syria, but denied its forces were advancing toward the Syrian capital of Damascus. It also confirmed it had attacked Syrias naval fleet at the port of Latakia.

The Syrian government was toppled over the weekend, when jihadi-led rebels ousted President Bashar Assad after 24 years of dictatorial rule.

The United States said Tuesday it would recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main armed group at the forefront of the offensive which swept the Assad regime before it, has long disavowed its former links with al-Qaeda.

The aftermath of an overnight Israeli attack on a scientific research centre in northern Damascus - AFP

09:49 AM GMT

Syrians scour morgues in search for loved ones

Scores of Syrian men and women examined disfigured bodies lying in a darkened hospital morgue in Syrias capital for signs of their relatives who had disappeared into Bashar al-Assads notorious prison system.

Dozens of corpses - blackened, decomposing and missing limbs or heads - were found overnight by rescuers digging for hidden cells at the notorious Sednaya prison, north of Damascus, where body-crushing iron presses were used to torture prisoners and mass executions had been common.

09:45 AM GMT

Assads fall will not weaken Iran, swears Supreme Leader Khamenei

Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday the weakening of the anti-Israel resistance after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in Syria would not diminish Tehrans power.

Some, unaware of the meaning of resistance, imagine that when the resistance becomes weak, Islamic Iran will also become weak... Iran is strong and powerful and will become even more powerful, Khamenei said in his first speech after Assads fall.

09:21 AM GMT

Pope calls for mutual respect between religions in Syria

Pope Francis on Wednesday called on the Syrian rebels who toppled the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to stabilise the country, and govern in a way that promotes national unity.

I hope they find political solutions that, without other conflicts or divisions, responsibly promote the stability and unity of the country, he said during his weekly audience at the Vatican.

The pope, in his first public remarks about Syria since the ending of al-Assads rule, also called on the countrys diverse religious groups to walk together in friendship and mutual respect for the good of the nation.

Francis has decried the casualties in the Syrian conflict at various points over the years and stressed the importance of de-escalation.

Pope Francis attends the weekly general audience, in Paul VI hall at the Vatican - REUTERS

09:19 AM GMT

Irans Khamenei says toppling of Syrias Assad was result of US-Israeli plan

The toppling of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was the result of a US-Israeli scheme, Irans Supreme Leader claimed on Wednesday.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he had evidence that the US, Israel and one of Syrias neighbours, that he did not name, had forged the plan. He didnt share any more details.

The Syrian government was toppled over the weekend, when jihadi-led rebels ousted President Bashar Assad after 24 years of dictatorial rule.

The United States has urged the rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), not to assume automatic leadership of the country but instead run an inclusive process to form a transitional government.

09:07 AM GMT

Syrias new interim leader vows to rebuilt but faces cash crunch

Syrias new interim prime minister said he aimed to bring back millions of Syrian refugees, protect all citizens and provide basic services but acknowledged it would be difficult because the country lacked foreign currency.

In the coffers there are only Syrian pounds worth little or nothing. One U.S. dollar buys 35,000 of our coins, he said.

We have no foreign currency and as for loans and bonds we are still collecting data. So yes, financially we are very bad.

08:42 AM GMT

Pictured: Syrians reclaim the streets

Numerous Syrian refugees have been returning to Syria from Turkey and Lebanon since the fall of the Assad regime.

Many are pictured hauling suitcases and personal belongings, with some are carrying young children across the border.

A Syrian rebel fighter holds an Islamist black flag while walking in the courtyard of the 8th-century Umayyad Mosque in Damascus - AFP

Opposition fighters sit at a restaurant at the Al-Hamidiyeh market inside the old walled city of Damascus, Syria - AP

08:32 AM GMT

Russia secured Assads departure

Russias deputy foreign minister said Syrias ousted president was secured in Russia, but would not elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved, he said in an interview on Tuesday.

The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir Putin had made the decision to grant asylum in Russia to Mr Assad.

In an NBC news interview, Sergei Ryabkov confirmed that Syrias Bashar al-Assad was secured, adding that it showed that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation.

Asked whether Russia would hand over Assad for trial, Mr Ryabkov said: Russia is not a party to the convention that established the International Criminal Court.

Mr Assads fall is a big blow to Iran and Russia, which had intervened in Syrias 13-year civil war to try to shore up his rule despite Western demands that he leave power.

Russian President Vladimir Putin embraces Syrian President Bashar Assad at the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia in 2017 - Pool Sputnik Kremlin

08:09 AM GMT

Blinken to meet Turkish FM to discuss Syria

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Ankara to meet the Turkish Foreign Minister on Friday, a Turkish official said on Wednesday.

Turkey has hosted large numbers of Syrian refugees since the civil war began in 2011.

Speaking on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said: Any attack on the freedom of the Syrian people, the stability of the new administration, and the integrity of its lands will find us standing against it.

08:02 AM GMT

Syrian refugees surge at Turkey border

Thousands of Syrian refugees have flocked to Turkeys borders with Syria after President Bashar al-Assads regime was toppled over the weekend.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the opening of a border gate to prevent any congestion and ease traffic.

There are some three million Syrians currently living in Turkey, having fled their countrys civil war since it began in 2011.

Syrian families arrive to cross into Syria from Turkey at the Cilvegozu border gate, near the town of Antakya, southern Turkey - AP

A Syrian man pets his cat as he waits to cross into Syria from Turkey at the Cilvegozu border gate - AP

07:49 AM GMT

Syria announces interim prime minister

Syrias new interim prime minister has been appointed and will take care of the country until 1 March, he announced on Tuesday.

Mohammed al-Bashir, a largely unknown figure across most of Syria, he ran the rebel-led Salvation Government in a tiny pocket of northwestern Syria, before the 12-day lightning rebel offensive swept into Damascus and toppled autocrat President Bashar al-Assad.

In a brief address on state television, Mr Bashir said that he and the rebels held a cabinet meeting on Tuesday under the headline of transferring the files and institutions to caretake the government.

07:37 AM GMT

Hello and welcome to our live coverage

Were bringing you the latest updates from Syria and the Middle East.

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 I told my mother I was going to my first Buddhist service that Sunday, she stopped what she was doing and slammed the kitchen counter with her hand.

On Easter? she said while turning eerily still.

This was in the late 1990s. I had stopped being Catholic a few years before, at age 18, so I no longer paid attention to the Christian calendar. The choice of the date wasnt symbolic, but my mothers raised voice demonstrated that she thought so.

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A year or so later, I overheard her on the phone with a friend expressing concern for my eternal soul. My mother was a devout Catholic, and her youngest daughters abandonment of her religious upbringing was unthinkable  even though I had not rejected religious inquiry altogether.

I sat down and wrote my mother a letter and left it on her bed. My words were forceful, but I wasnt smug or sneering, which was unusual restraint for a college-age kid. I didnt question her faith. I just asked her to respect my need to figure out my own contemplative path.

We never discussed the letter.

When my mother followed my dad in death in 2019 and my sisters and I had to clean out the house, I found my letter in her bedroom tucked between important cards shed saved. I pulled it out and sat on the floor holding it like it was a vital link between the two of us across vastly different planes of existence.

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It mattered to me that shed kept it. I know it wasnt easy for her to read because it declared in clear terms my apostasy. But she took my words seriously, it seemed. The way she affirmed my decision-making over the years showed me that she ultimately trusted that a desire to be kind and a clear sense of right and wrong were guiding my actions.

Its so tempting to glorify someone you love after theyve gone, to the point of leaving their flaws unspoken when you tell stories about them. I firmly believe that presenting a full picture of who someone was is very important to honoring their memory and reminding ourselves that we humans are always a work in progress. I hope people do that for me after Im gone.

But I am not overstating things by saying my gentle mother inspired me in the way a religious icon would. I like to say I have the heart I do because of her. She helped me grow that heart by hugging me, kissing me, telling me she loved me and teaching me through word and action that treating people with compassion is to be taken as seriously as earning a college degree and building a career.

She donated to the local food pantry. She contributed to coat drives. She quietly embodied the words, Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. She didnt turn away from other peoples suffering. I understood that to be a moral imperative that transcends creed and affiliation.

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My mother was deeply thoughtful, too. I fed her need to be cerebral about the human condition, and she fed mine. We could talk for hours about the intricacies and vagaries of living and life. Our political views differed, sometimes greatly, but the credo driving them was usually the same: Protect dignity and stand up for others, especially the most vulnerable.

For Buddhists, right action is one of the principles of the Eightfold Path toward enlightenment. You are tasked with avoiding harm, cultivating kindness and helping others.

Values are important. But we humans prove who we are by how we put those values into action.

My mother proved who she was through her charitable acts, done without fanfare, and her repeated call to my sisters and me to be decent whenever possible. Whatever her shortcomings, she tried her best to embody her values, and her doing so did not require taking advantage of other people.

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I can imagine my mother in a different life as a social reformer like Dorothy Day, who ministered to those in poverty, protested injustices and lived what she preached with remarkable dedication.

I can imagine my mother saying these words as Day did: We cannot love God unless we love each other.

The final word is love, Day said. Thats what my mother taught me, too.

Its why I show up for the people I care about and why I show up for my community. And its why I sit and follow my breath in Buddhist meditation and confront the highs and lows of my humanity. Love compels us to look past our narrow selves. Love compels us to commit to the welfare of others.

Thats what the world needs from us. Especially now.

____

Colleen Kujawa is a content editor who works with the Tribune Editorial Board.

____
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday fell following a lunch meeting, and was spotted walking back to his Capitol office followed by a medical team, U.S. media reported.

McConnell was escorted back to his office by Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso, who hosted the Republican lunch meeting, according to The Hill.

A medical team transporting a wheelchair was spotted following McConnell into his office, the report noted.

McConnell, 82, has served as GOP leader since 2007, and is the longest-serving leader in the Senate history.

McConnell announced in February that he would step down from the position at the end of the year.

In November, the Republican Party flipped four seats from the Democratic Party in the Senate, winning back the majority in the upper chamber.

U.S. Senate Republicans then elected John Thune, a senator from South Dakota and the current Republican whip, to succeed McConnell as the next majority leader in the upper chamber. 
The king is dead  or, rather, hes somewhere in Moscow enjoying exile with his family.

Syria, dominated by Bashar Assad and his family for more than half a century, is now in the early stages of a new beginning after rebels triumphantly rode into Damascus after a 10-day, cross-country offensive. The Syrian army, whose troops were underpaid, demoralized and forcibly recruited, chose to strip off their uniforms instead of putting up a fight.

A victorious Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a former leader of the al-Qaida branch in Syria, stepped into the historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus like the conquering hero. Thousands of Syrians displaced by the nearly 14-year civil war are traveling back to their country, some having been exiled from their own land for more than a decade.

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There is a collective sense of relief in these early days that the tyrant and his labyrinth system of underground dungeons are now things of the past. Yet there is also a sense of confusion and concern, particularly among the countrys minority communities, about how Syria will now be governed.

Nobody is crying over the demise of Assads mafia state  even Iran, one of Assads primary backers, was increasingly irritated at his intransigence. But the fact that the strongest anti-Assad faction is a former Al-Qaida affiliate headed by a man who still has a $10 million FBI bounty on his head doesnt escape anybodys notice.

For many, its a time to celebrate. Eventually, however, hard reality will rear its ugly head. Internally, cobbling together a united, effective post-Assad government is the goal. But having a goal and executing it are entirely different things. While the Assad regime is now on the ash heap of history, Syria is still very much a state in turmoil, tugged in different directions by competing foreign powers that have every intention of keeping their influence.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the former al-Qaida affiliate, is saying all the right things. The group, which ruled the northwestern province of Idlib for several years, has put out feelers to pretty much everyone (outside of Israel), hoping to improve relations with foreign powers that will no doubt try to meddle in the transition process.

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Al-Golani clearly sees himself as a revolutionary figure, and despite his protestations that Syria will transform into a country for all Syrians regardless of sect, religion and region, its difficult to see him willingly diluting his power to other factions.

The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), the Kurds, the Jordanian-backed rebels in Syrias south and even the remnants of Assads regime all want some of the spoils. While one hopes for a smooth transition, precedent suggests a messy, drawn-out process that could become violent at times. In fact, its already turning violent  the Turkish-backed SNA and the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are fighting over Manbij, a northern Syrian city near the Turkish border.

While the international community insists that Syrias future is for the Syrians to decide, external stakeholders will do what they can in the weeks and months to come to preserve their own interests. States are selfish creatures. Despite backing Assad militarily for more than a decade and offering the despot political exile, Russia wasted no time opening communication links to HTS, both to protect its air and naval bases along Syrias Mediterranean coast and to ingratiating itself to Syrias new rulers.

Iran, which had a strategic relationship with Assad as well as his father, Hafez, will attempt to put distance between itself and a reviled regime. How successful this will be is up for debate. In an interview the day after Assad scampered to Moscow, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran repeatedly pressed Assad to negotiate with the Syrian opposition but that advice was dismissed.

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Tehran, too, has had contact with HTS to safeguard Shia shrines in Syria as well as Iranian diplomatic property. With one of their primary clients lost, its quite obvious the Iranians are scrambling to make the best of a bad situation; if this means groveling to the new powers that be, then thats a humiliation they are willing to take on.

Israel, meanwhile, is watching events in Syria with a mix of relief and worry  relief that Assad, who turned Syria into an Iranian outpost, is gone and worry that jihadists could now rule the roost. The Israeli military has expanded deeper into the Israel-Syria buffer zone as a precautionary measure while Israeli aircraft have struck dozens of strategic military targets inside Syria, including a chemical weapons facility, to prevent any of these weapons from getting into the wrong hands. Assad, the devil Israel knew, is now gone; the new devil is fear of the unknown.

As far as the United States is concerned, it would be wise for President Joe Bidens administration to restrain itself from getting too involved in Syrias internal politics. In a speech over the weekend, Biden insisted that Washington would contribute to the development of a stable, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political order.

The U.S., which retains nearly 1,000 troops in northeastern Syria, will also continue hammering the remnants of the Islamic State militant group. On Sunday, U.S. attack planes struck dozens of Islamic State targets in the desert. If U.S. policymakers were smart, they would let the transition play out without putting their fingerprints on it. Historically, Washingtons record of cementing positive change in the Middle East has been abysmal.

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After five decades under the Assad familys thumb, Syria is now working with a clean slate. The only question is what the final painting is going to look like.

_____

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

______
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)  The non-profit Appalachian Relief Coordination was born out of a need. After the hurricane, two people asked what they could do to help. Weeks later, they found themselves coordinating food and volunteers, demolishing ruined homes and building new ones.

These Community Heroes are making a difference to those who have fallen through the cracks in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Kayla Cross says she and her co-founder never planned to start a non-profit.

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We just wanted to help, she said. We took to social media. Theres a Hurricane Helene Help group on Facebook, and I put a post in there about, Hey, these are some locations. Heres the times, heres what to bring. It was shared 13,000 times and I had my phone number on it. And so I never expected that and it just grew. And so weve coordinated a thousand of volunteers. We still have people coming in from California to Texas. I mean, all over. People just want to help.

Appalachian Relief Coordination grew to one thousand volunteers and counting, doing everything from food distribution, collecting RVs for victims and rebuilding homes.

We run distribution centers and we kind of do it all. Weve held Christmas events. Were doing Adopt a Child for Christmas. And were still working on repairing homes right now. And then were still raising funds to rebuild homes. So were really all-encompassing. We dont want to set a limit because every day theres something different.

Cross said she knew she was in the right place when she delivered food to people in Johnson County.

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We bring in food, a guy came in and he opened the can and Spaghetti-Os and he drank it and said, this is the first thing Ive had to eat in three days,' she said.

Cross says its those unforgettable moments that energize her to continue.

A couple of weeks ago, we delivered a camper to a woman, an elderly woman. She was living in a shed and there were bears. And she had walked in the camper, she turned around and shes just sobbing and shes like, this is just such a gift.'

Cross says she sees a bright and busy future for Appalachian Relief Coordination, but for now, shes taking it one day at a time.

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Were still feeding two to 300 people a day and this is in Johnson County. So we service all of Roan Mountain, Poga, Butler, Elk River, all of that area, she said.

If you would like to volunteer or help with a donation, visit Appreliefcoord.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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
ATHENS, WV (WVNS)  Concord University is looking for people with STEM degrees who are interested in earning a Master of Arts in Teaching and working in high-needs schools.

According to a press release, the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grant from the National Science Foundation will offer tuition support, free technology, a stipend, and mentoring to individuals that qualify for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).

Principal announced for new Timberwood Elementary School in Mercer County

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Openings remain in Concord Universitys (CU) Spring cohort, which begins January 13, 2025, and is searching for more individuals for the Fall. Through three years, the university aims to prepare 16 professionals as Teaching Fellows, educate the Fellows in the Master of Arts in Teaching program, implement virtual reality technology in classrooms, and use institutional software to track progress.

Those who possess degrees in STEM fields, such as Biology, Chemistry, or Mathematics, are able to apply to be a Fellow in the MAT program. Fellows will finish 12 months of course work, earn a West Virginia Professional Teaching license, and teach a minimum of five years in high-need schools. Those that complete the process will receive an annual stipend of $15,000 for the first four years they teach in such a school in the nation.

Students strive for success at Raleigh County Schools Science and Engineering Fair

The MAT program is fully online and provides professional education courses and clinical experiences, as well as student teaching, necessary to prepare participants for teaching in a specific content area in three sectors: PreK-Adult, 5-Adult, or 9-Adult.

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In order to be eligible for the program, one must meet the following criteria:

Undergraduate degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Mathematics with a 3.0 GPA

Three letters of professional recommendation

Documentation of 10-20 hours of P-12 classroom observation within the last year

Acceptable written statement of career goals that includes reflection on the classroom observation

Successful fellowship interview

Individuals involved in the Robert Noyce STEM Fellowship Program will receive:

Master of Arts in Teaching program tuition free (if completed as plan of study is designed)

Funds to cover textbooks and supplies

Technology package, including a classroom set of state-of-the-art virtual reality headsets and personal laptop

$15,000 stipend each year for first four years of teaching in high-need content classroom ($60,000 total)

Funding for annual conference attendance and travel expenses

Funding and travel expenses covered for summer mentorship participation

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Oak Hill Middle School principal to wrestle for a good cause in December 2024

This prestigious NSF program at Concord University is a game changer for teachers, students and employers. While all teachers and individuals enrolled in programs to become teachers deserve financial support and incentives, this grant makes financial bonuses available to individuals with STEM content degrees to teach in those STEM areas. These areas tend to be difficult for most school districts to hire. Dr. Andrea Campbell | Department of Education Chair, Director of Teacher Education, Concord University

For more information, contact Dr. Andrea Campbell by phone at 304-384-5362 or by email. To see program details and learn how to apply, visit Concord Universitys 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 WVNS.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  The Conemaugh Valley School Board approved a high school project during Decembers board meeting that will include various infrastructure improvements geared toward energy savings.

Funding for the work totaled $2 million and was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Developments Public Schools Facilities Improvement Grant program.

We made this project fit into this grant, district Business Manager Eric Miller said.

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Conemaugh Valley has pursued a project at the high school for years, but quotes for the work were too high to pursue, especially as the district manages an ever-challenging budget, Miller said.

Most recently, the work, which includes an HVAC overhaul, was estimated to cost more than $5 million.

Because of that, the board was provided with an itemized list of work that needs to be done through an audit performed by Constellation Energy. It chose the most important work, which met the allotment from the state with the 25% required match, bringing the expense to $2.5 million.

Improvements slated to begin this summer include interior and exterior lighting; auditorium stage lighting; building envelope upgrades; automation system upgrades; unit ventilator refurbishment; and half of the windows and multiple doors being replaced.

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The administrative office HVAC will receive upgrades as well.

Superintendent Shane Hazenstab credited the work of Miller and the meticulous review of the project scope by the board to find the best option that will have minimal impact on the budget.

Miller said the work will result in an annual utilities savings of $40,000 with a yearly net increase of $15,000 for the budget.

He also said there will be additional savings associated with reduced operational maintenance costs and capital avoidance.

Thats one of the exciting parts of this project, Hazenstab said.

Its equipping your building with those updated systems. It gives you the security that your systems are equipped for the future.

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According to district documents, the high schools lighting is from 1992, with half of the windows and all pneumatic controls original to the late 1960s structure.

The board approved Constellation Energy to perform the energy savings work and PFM Financial Advisors LLC and Dinsmore and Shohl for a construction fund deposit.
Congress has decided to pass on ordering the Department of the Air Force to establish a pilot program examining whether airmen and Guardians should grow beards, one of the most highly requested policy changes within the ranks.

Lawmakers decided against including that measure in the annual must-pass defense authorization bill that was just unveiled, but they did agree to request a briefing by the Air Force secretary no later than April "on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a pilot program." The briefing to House and Senate committees was included in a report accompanying this year's National Defense Authorization Act.

The House had originally backed the beard pilot program, which was first floated earlier this year in the House Armed Services Committee's version of the bill. But ultimately, the Senate didn't get on board with the pilot program, and it was left out of the final version of the NDAA bill.

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Read Next: US Defense Secretary in Japan to Support Alliance as Osprey Aircraft Safety Causes Concern

The bill report itself does not carry the weight of law, but the Pentagon traditionally follows the requests within it. Congress' decision on the beard pilot program comes as active-duty airmen and Guardians are sporting beards now more than ever.

Military.com reported earlier this year that, between 2021 and 2023, the number of active-duty airmen with shaving waivers for pseudofolliculitis barbae, a painful medical condition that causes razor bumps and burn that disproportionately affects Black men, skyrocketed to nearly double -- rising from 10,965 to 18,991 waivers.

The Space Force's small number of shaving waivers also nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023 -- jumping from 151 to 288 waivers in a year.

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Congress asked the Air Force secretary to brief them on "the compatibility of beards with military equipment that requires an airtight seal," as well as study "the effect of beard growth on discipline, morale and unity within the ranks," the bill report states.

The bill report also asks the secretary for "a determination whether allowing members to grow beards improves inclusivity, including for members with conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae or who wish to grow beards for religious purposes."

It also asks for a briefing on "any negative perception or bias toward members with beards; and strategies to mitigate such negative perceptions or bias."

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Military.com first reported on the internal discussions within the Air Force to allow beards back in 2022, when it was a discussion within the service's Black/African American Employment Strategy Team.

By the end of 2022, Military.com reported that the Air Force had made a major policy change allowing members of its honor guard -- the public-facing example of the service's dress standards -- to be a part of the demonstrations if they had beards allowed under a shaving waiver.

News of Congress passing on the beards received mixed reviews from service members and veterans on social media, with some expressing disappointment in the lack of progress on allowing beards.

"I have no hope for beards anymore," one commenter on the Air Force sub-Reddit wrote. "It will take at least another generation of leadership to retire before there's even a chance."

Related: Airmen, Space Force Guardians Could Grow Beards Under Pilot Program Proposed by House
LEDYARD, Conn. (WTNH)  Youve heard of the Oscars and the Emmys, but maybe not the 2024 CRAZIES Awards.

The unique ceremony celebrates the best of Connecticuts restaurant and hospitality industry. It was put on by the Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) at Foxwoods Resort Casino Monday evening.

Connecticut restaurants named as among the best for brunch, romance

The CRAZIES is a statewide event. We have restaurants from all eight Connecticut counties. We recognize restaurants from each county. Its just a wonderful way to celebrate the great restaurants, the culinary and hospitality teams we have in Connecticut, said Yvette Tavares, vice president of sales and operations at CRA.

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This year marks the 6th annual Crazies Awards, honoring the hardworking professionals making memorable dining experiences possible.

Were a great state and we have an incredible culinary scene, Tavares said.

According to CRA President and CEO Scott Dolch, that workforce makes up nearly 10% of all jobs in the state.

The energy and enthusiasm of 1,500 industry professionals coming together demonstrated that Connecticuts restaurant and hospitality industry continues to be a powerful economic engine, Dolch said.

2024 CRAZIES WINNERS:

Connecticut Restaurant of the Year: Bar Rosinas in Greenwich

Chef of the Year: David Standridge, The Shipwrights Daughter in Mystic

Restaurant Newcomer: Gioia Cafe & Bar in New Haven

Caterer of the Year: Chef Prasad in New Canaan

Server of the Year: Christopher Hodson, Materia in Bantam

Bartender of the Year : Suzie Johnson, Fire by Forge in Hartford

Pastry Chef of the Year: Jessica Spivey, Oyster Club in Mystic

Peoples Choice : Sandras Next Generation in New Haven

Vendor of the Year: Copps Island Oysters

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Best Restaurants, County Winners:

Materia Ristorante in Bantam (Litchfield County)

Bar Rosinas in Greenwich (Fairfield County)

Restaurant Bricco in West Hartford (Hartford County)

Hachiroku Shokudo & Sake Bar in New Haven (New Haven County)

Monets Table in Tolland (Tolland County)

The Essex in Old Saybrook (Middlesex County)

Trigo Wood Fired Pizza in Willimantic (Windham County)

The Port of Call in Mystic (New London County)

For more information head to the CT Restaurant 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 WTNH.com.
Credit - Getty Images

Weve had so many post-mortems on the election that a wave of post-mortems on the post-mortems is now coming in. But if we zoom outway outand look at the larger picture, what we most urgently need to examine is not only why we are so polarized and divided, but also why we are so lacking in compassion, empathy, and understanding for those we disagree with.

The seeds of this decline were sown long before the 2024 campaign. Decades ago, as our mainstream culture began rejecting organized religion, with all its flaws, we also began rejecting lifes spiritual dimension along with it. We threw out the baby with the bathwater. And weve filled the vacuum with deeply inadequate substitutesfirst and foremost among them being politics.

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Politics is certainly important. Peoples livelihoods, rights, and freedom to live their lives in a way that allows them to thrive are in the balance. Political engagement is critical, especially when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable. But as the saying goes, everything is political but politics isn't everything. And we can only maximize our effectiveness by not asking something of politics that politics cant give us.

The consequences of elevating politics to a religion are all around us. A central element to all fundamentalist religions is dogma. The point of dogma is to define and defend the borders of acceptable opinion, and brand anyone who goes outside them as quite simply a heretic. And heretics, even if theyre not burned at the stake, are dehumanized, ostracized and denied any empathy and understanding. This is the poisonous fruit of asking politics to be the central or only source of meaning in our livesthe answer to our fundamental need to connect to something larger than ourselves.

As Jungian psychoanalyst Marion Woodman wrote, Without an understanding of myth or religion the individual suffers the mysteries of life as meaningless mayhem alone. Thats a good description of our current momentthe result of turning politics into our lives only organizing force.

Its terrible both for the body politic and for our actual bodies. Studies have shown that politics can take a serious toll, making us more stressed, costing us sleep, and damaging our mental and physical health. There is a considerable and growing amount of evidence that politics is having a negative effect on a broad range of health outcomes, said Kevin B. Smith, a political science professor at the University of NebraskaLincoln. This is coming from different scholars using different data, approaches and measures, and it all triangulates on the same inference: Politics isnt very good for us.

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In fact, one 2019 study found that political events can increase the emotional reactivity of daily stressors, which is the exact opposite of spiritual practices that help us become less reactive to daily stressors.

The other costly stand-in for our neglected spiritual dimension is scientism. Which is not to be confused with science. Scientism, or scientific materialism, is the dogmatic belief that science and its methods for gathering information are the only valid sources for true knowledge.

Read More: Why a Technocracy Fails Young People

Of course, science is critical and the invaluable primary driver of material progress. What separates scientism from science is the dogmatic certainty that science can provide all encompassing answers to every question that matters on every aspect of life and that there is only one answer to all of these questions. In his prescient 1992 book Technopoly, Neil Postman writes about scientism as the desperate hope, and wish, and ultimately the illusory belief that science can answer questions like What is life, and when, and why? Why is death, and suffering? What is right and wrong to do? What are good and evil ends? How ought we to think and feel and behave?

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And there are plenty of critics of scientism to be found among scientists. In his book Monopolizing Knowledge, Ian Hutchinson, a professor of nuclear science and engineering at MIT, makes the case for the limits of scientism. There are many other important beliefs, secular as well as religious, which are justified and rational, but not scientific, and therefore marginalized by scientism, Hutchinson writes, and if that is so, then scientism is a ghastly intellectual mistake. And many experienceslike the beauty of a sunset or the drama of a playare outside the realm of science. As Lawrence Principe, a professor of chemistry and the history of science at Johns Hopkins, notes, scientism could be turned against the insights that are offered and expressed by poetry, by art, by music, by aesthetics. And no amount of randomized, double-blind trials can prove the ultimate importance of love, compassion, and forgiveness. Those are spiritual tenets, not scientific ones.

Scientism, Postman writes, involves the misapplication of techniques such as quantification to questions where numbers have nothing to say. The famous adage that you cant manage what you cant measure is useful in business. But its less useful for other key aspects of our lives. Quantification is good for sales but irrelevant for souls, which can be explored but neither managed nor measured.

In a recent paper in The Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, C. Thi Nguyen, a philosophy professor at the University of Utah, wrote about the concept of value capture  replacing our deepest goals with measurable ones, which technology makes so easy to do. Many aspects of our physical health can be measured and tracked, for example, but our spiritual health cant be put into a daily number.

Since the Enlightenment, science has often been seen as being in a fundamental conflict with religion and spirituality. But many of our greatest scientists bluntly rejected this simplistic conflict. I believe in Spinozas God, said Albert Einstein, referring to the 17th century philosopher who believed that God reveals himself in the orderly harmony of nature. And Einstein uttered the ultimate rebuke of scientism: The human mind, no matter how highly trained, cannot grasp the universe.

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When we stop thinking of them as two opponents in a zero-sum contest, science and spiritualitythe twin offspring of human yearning for answers, as Hutchinson describes themcan co-exist in harmony, each giving us their unique benefits. The celebrated biologist Stephen Jay Gould described this beautifully as part of his concept of NOMA (Non-Overlapping Magisteria): Science tries to document the factual character of the natural world, and to develop theories that coordinate and explain these facts. Religion, on the other hand, operates in the equally important, but utterly different, realm of human purposes, meanings and valuessubjects that the factual domain of science might illuminate, but can never resolve.

It's the dogmatists on both sides that drive the conflict. The growth of fundamentalism in science has taken place at the same time as the growth of fundamentalism in politics and religion. And as with so many other conflicts, the extremesostensibly in oppositionfeed off each other. The loser is always the public good, as we saw in the ostracizing of scientists and experts who questioned the extent or duration of the lockdowns, or in the squelching of any debate about whether the COVID-19 virus may have originated in a lab. And on the other side, many public health officials urging people to take the COVID-19 vaccine were targeted with personal threats.

Its no surprise that this scientific fundamentalism substitutes technology for religion. In his book, Tech Agnostic: How Technology Became the World's Most Powerful Religion, Greg Epstein argues that technology has rituals and rites that we all devoutly perform every day. It connects us with a community of like-minded people, it has its own priestly class, it can be transformative, and we have faith it will lead to a happier future. Some even think it might bestow immortality. In other words, writes Epstein, technology has become religion.

In an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the DealBook Summit, Sam Altman used the word magic to describe AI. He corrected himself by adding, not magic, but rather an incredible piece of science. But in fact, Altman was right. AI does seem like magic. And even the tech leaders creating it, arent entirely sure how it works. But its worth pointing out that while we regularly talk about technology as magic, we balk at the idea of exploring the magic of our humanity. We look at technological innovations with awe and wonder but neglect the mysteries that are neither created nor explained by technology.

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When we close off our spiritual selves, when we treat those who we disagree with as heretics, we also close off pathways for forgiveness, grace, and redemption  all in short supply in our culture today. And yet we all need the forgiveness and understanding that we often find it hard to grant to others.

So, yes, we should engage in politics. We should celebrate scientific discoveries and new technologies. But we should also remember to render unto Caesar the thingsand only the thingsthat are Caesars.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Dec. 10SUPERIOR  Decades have passed since the black tern nested in Allouez Bay.

While other marsh birds like the American bittern, least bittern, Virginia rail, yellow-headed blackbird and pied-billed grebe are still around, their numbers are fewer than one might expect in a habitat the size of the bay between Wisconsin Point and the city's Allouez and Itasca neighborhoods.

That reality prompted Audubon Great Lakes to work with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and about a dozen local partners in Wisconsin and Minnesota to begin

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planning to restore coastal wetland in Allouez Bay

three years ago.

This week, the first phase of construction was completed as part of the Marsh Bird Restoration Project. The goal is to transform dense stands of invasive cattails into a more diverse and dynamic marsh environment for marsh birds, waterfowl, fish and people, said Tom Prestby, conservation manager at Audubon Great Lakes.

"Allouez Bay has always been a very popular spot for fishing, for duck hunting, for gathering things like wild rice, for just paddling, bird watching or whatever someone's interests might be," Prestby said. "We want to make the condition out there for that better. And we believe we can."

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To achieve the first phase of the project, restoration workers spent the late summer mowing and cutting invasive cattails. This fall they worked to create channels and pools in those areas using a large amphibious excavator to develop a balanced habitat that combines pockets of open water with native vegetation. Native plant seed mix was laid to begin the germination process.

"We intentionally seed this time of year because then that seed is right on the mud, and it has the whole course of the winter to get itself down deeper into the wetland soil as temps go up and down," Prestby said. "Then it's ready to germinate next summer."

Now, the first phase moves into monitoring to see how the vegetation and birds respond, and the partners begin making plans for the second phase of the project.

Prestby encouraged birdwatchers to submit their observations to

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ebird.org

to help him and other scientists understand what is happening in Allouez Bay, which will factor into future planning.

"We don't know exactly what we're going to do yet and community input is going to be a really big part of that," Prestby said. The goal, he said, is to have a lot of conversations to figure out the next steps.

One of the objectives is to build the wetland further into the bay in the shallow areas north of the existing wetland, Prestby said.

"If you look at maps from a long time ago, there was a lot more (emergent) wetland out there," Prestby said. "We don't want to take away anybody's fishing spots or hunting spots or anything like that. There's still going to be a lot of open water out there.

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Another objective will be to better protect the coastal wetland. While it's not clear what the plan will be, Prestby said there is the possibility that dredge material could be used to slow down wind and wave energy from increasingly strong storms and create additional habitat.

"Great Lakes coastal wetlands are extremely important, not just for wildlife habitat," Prestby said. "They do a really good job of preventing flooding, preventing erosion and right next to a big city that's on the coast of a Great Lake, like Superior, that's really important. They increase water quality."

Coastal wetland areas once spanned more than 1 million acres in the Great Lakes, but only about half the acreage remains due to historic and contemporary wetland losses, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Putting our resources and our energy into projects that help preserve the good Great Lakes coastal wetlands that we have left are extremely important because of all the benefits that they provide," Prestby said, "not just for decreasing habitats of special species of marsh birds, migrating waterfowl and fish, but also the benefits that they give for people."
The new legislative session on the horizon promises to include much debate over the roles of New Hampshire's Office of the Consumer Advocate, Public Utilities Commission, and the Department of Energy. (Dana Wormald | New Hampshire Bulletin)

The state institutions involved in energy  setting policies, watching over utilities, advocating for ratepayers  are poised to face questions from lawmakers in the legislative session that begins next month.

Chief among those questions, and disagreements: Who should be doing what in the state when it comes to energy?

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The Office of the Consumer Advocate, which works for the interests of residential ratepayers, has some thoughts. It supports legislation to clarify the authority of the Public Utilities Commission, a three-member body with jurisdiction over utilities, and the Department of Energy, a state agency established in 2021.

But the OCA has also had to go on the defensive over its own role: Rep. Ross Berry, a Weare Republican, has proposed that the office be repealed and that its mantle instead be taken up by the DOE.

Donald Kreis, the states consumer advocate, adamantly opposes the move. Meanwhile, PUC Chair Daniel C. Goldner and Commissioner Pradip K. Chattopadhyay have said they are very concerned about the sweeping nature of Kreis recommendations.

Competing visions for the purpose of these offices will face off in a new Legislature with expanded Republican control, with a new Republican governor, Kelly Ayotte, holding the veto pen. Kreis said he expects to be at the State House much more than in years past.

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While bills are still being drafted and have yet to be released to the public, heres whats teeing up for the Legislature when it convenes in the new year.

PUC and DOE

Kreis supported the creation of the DOE in 2021 but has since had some buyers remorse. A major issue, he said, is the muddling of which authorities belong to the DOE and which belong to the PUC.

It is expensive and complicated and ultimately bad for ratepayers if it isnt clear to everybody what the job of the Public Utilities Commission is and what the job of the Department of Energy is, Kreis said. And so the bill that I have been working on getting introduced would just clarify everybodys respective spheres.

Rep. Thomas Cormen, a Lebanon Democrat collaborating with Kreis, is the sponsor of a legislative service request relative to redefining the role of the PUC. (A legislative service request is the early stage of potential legislation, when the bill is still being written.)

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If you look at many of the current statutes, they loop in the PUC as part of the enforcement mechanism, things that really the Department of Energy should be doing, Cormen said. And in fact, a lot of the statutes say the Department of Energy or the PUC can do these things, but really the PUC is an adjudicative board, and thats all it should be.

Kreis pointed to a recent order from the PUC on net metering. In that decision, net metering was kept at its current rates and is left to expire in 2040. The commissioners essentially ignored a settlement agreement reached by parties including the OCA, clean energy advocates, utilities, and others, Kreis said.

Part of Cormens legislation, the lawmaker said, will say that in the case where all the parties involved in a case before the PUC agree as to what the outcome should be, then the PUC should quickly come to that outcome.

On how explicit that legislation should be  whether it should simply urge the PUC to accept such settlement agreements or mandate it  Kreis said: I personally think it would be OK to tell the PUC that in a scenario where theres total unanimous agreement, that the PUC shouldnt second guess that total unanimous agreement. But, he added, I think most people would not go as far as Im willing to go.

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A separate bill request Cormen has filed seeks to clarify the authority of the PUC chair. He said he also worked with Kreis on this idea.

On current law, You could construe it as saying that the chair of the Public Utilities Commission can make rulings and just do a lot of things on their own, rather than by a majority of the commissioners, said Cormen, who sits on the House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee. So the whole point of this bill is to just say that any actions taken by the PUC must be approved by a majority of the commissioners.

Kreis raised his legislative ideas in an October memo to the Residential Ratepayers Advisory Board, which the OCA describes as its official sounding board. Not all of these ideas will be pursued in the next legislative session and were still in early form in the memo, Kreis indicated.

PUC members, in a letter to the advisory board, pointed to suggestions they believed would be a grave error to adopt. Goldner and Chattopadhyay, who have since been joined by a third PUC member, said they intended to advocate vigorously, before the Legislature and elsewhere, to maintain these authorities, and to give a fuller, more accurate, picture of our work to interested stakeholders.

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As the ultimate arbiter between the interests of customers, including residential customers, and the interests of the regulated utilities (RSA 363:17-a), and the adjudicative body responsible for ensuring just, reasonable, and lawful rates for regulated utilities under New Hampshire law, the commissioners wrote, we foresee that adoption of these OCA recommendations would result in a profound blow against the public interest.

The commissioners, through a staff attorney, declined to comment further on the matter when reached following the advisory board meeting in October.

Christopher J. Ellms Jr., the deputy commissioner of the DOE, said in an email that it would be premature to comment on the consumer advocates suggestions regarding possible legislation, and that the department will review bills as they become publicly available and provide any position or testimony during hearings held by the appropriate legislative committee.

Consumer advocate

Berry framed his legislation to move the role of the OCA under the DOE as a response to the needs of voters. Theyre screaming for lower energy rates, and I think this is a way to expedite that process, Berry said.

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The idea is to take the mandate that is given to the Office of the Consumer Advocate, which is to obviously lower and prioritize the residential ratepayer and give it to the entire Department of Energy, Berry said. So, instead of having five lawyers working on this  the entire Department of Energy would be tasked with prioritizing the residential ratepayer.

Berry said his idea has been fairly well-received in conversations with lawmakers. I havent talked to OCA, Berry said. They havent deemed fit to reach out to me, and I havent really had any real conversations with the DOE other than, like, Hey, Im filing this.

Kreis, on the other hand, said Berry has not done me the courtesy of reaching out and letting me know what it is that he has in mind.

With a new Legislature, Kreis is not sure how much interest the bill will generate  but he said he welcomes the opportunity to explain to the Legislature what it is that we do and why its valuable.  Im hopeful that it wont gain any traction, but its hard to say at this stage.

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Berry argued that the consumer advocate, like the DOE commissioner, is a political appointee who requires nomination by the governor and confirmation by the Executive Council.

This argument that the [OCA] makes that theyre unbiased is bunk, because theyre both going through a political process, Berry said.  Once you kind of accept that as the reality, which it is the reality  you can it look at and go, OK, well, why dont we just have the entire Department of Energy prioritize the residential ratepayer, and then you can have the PUC  be the quote, unquote, neutral arbiter. (PUC members also go through the confirmation process.)

But Kreis feels his role, which he said exists in the vast majority of states, provides advocacy for ratepayers that cant be replicated by an agency.

If you took what I do, and you just folded it back into the Department of Energy, then  its the equivalent of saying that whatever the executive branch, basically meaning the governor, thinks is the right public policy is automatically good for ratepayers, Kreis said. And I dont think that that is appropriate, even in a state with a fabulous governor, pursuing excellent executive branch public policy, that isnt the ratepayer voice. Thats the governors voice.
Dec. 11Enstar Natural Gas has signed a supply contract with a Cook Inlet producer that could provide some breathing room as Southcentral Alaska utilities face a critical shortage of local gas.

John Sims, the president of Enstar, told the Alaska House Resources Committee on Monday that the five-year gas supply contract with Furie Operating Alaska is set to begin in 2026. As the contract enters its second year, it is expected to provide significantly more gas than Furie currently sells to Enstar.

About 150,000 customers rely on Enstar gas that heats homes and buildings across Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska. The company uses more gas than all the electric utilities in Southcentral combined.

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Sims told the committee that the contract is "a positive piece of news for Cook Inlet."

The gas from Furie will supplement Enstar's overall gas supply. It can push off timelines for potential gas shortfalls, Sims told the committee.

But he warned there's a risk the gas may not be available as planned. Some of the gas supply will depend on future drilling.

"What's really important to understand is there's massive development risk with these projects," Sims said.

He said explorers in Cook Inlet have had only 9% success drilling exploration wells that yielded commercial discoveries of gas over the last 15 years.

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Mark Slaughter, Furie's chief commercial officer, said in an interview on Monday that some additional drilling at the Kitchen Lights Unit needs to be conducted to provide the full volumes of gas for each year of the contract.

A well drilled in October in the Cook Inlet unit would provide part of the gas, Slaughter said.

"We're an Alaskan-owned company and it's important that Alaskans fix this problem," he said.

The contract would provide an estimated 3 billion cubic feet of gas in 2026, Sims said. That's less than 10% of Enstar's annual gas demand.

That's the amount Furie currently sells to Enstar, Slaughter said.

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But the amount would jump much higher, to 9.5 billion cubic feet of gas annually, for three years starting in 2027. At that point, it would represent about 25% of Enstar's annual gas demand.

The contract would fall to 7 billion cubic feet in 2030, Sims told the committee.

Another important step was a preliminary determination by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources last week calling for approval of Furie's request for reduced state royalties on the company's gas production, Slaughter said.

If the agency approves the reduction in the coming weeks, the state's royalty on gas produced from the unit will fall to 3%, from 12.5%, for seven leases in the unit, Slaughter said.

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The lower rate will remain in place until the Kitchen Lights Unit reaches $712 million in gross revenues, after a period that would start retroactively on Sept. 1, according to the 37-page preliminary determination, signed by Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle.

Reducing the state royalty will allow drilling that prolongs the life of the field and provides more financial benefit to the state, the report says.

The unit, created in 2007, has only three producing wells. Each is at risk of no longer producing as a result of declining reservoir pressures, it says.

The royalty reduction could extend the life of the field by at least 10.5 years, according to a scenario modeled by the state.

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Furie had estimated that without relief, the unit could begin ceasing operation in June, when operating costs could exceed revenues, the preliminary determination says.

A longer-lasting unit would provide total state revenue of at least $37.6 million, more than the $2.7 million expected if nothing is changed, the report says.

"Maintaining a stable Cook Inlet gas supply is in the state of Alaska's best interest," the preliminary determination says. "DNR has a mandate to assure local gas can continue to be produced. By granting royalty relief ... it will make (the Kitchen Lights Unit) more economic to maintain production, develop and increase local gas production."

Enstar spokeswoman Lindsay Hobson said on Tuesday that a gas shortfall is a possibility as early as next winter. The concern has prompted Enstar and other utilities to pursue a plan to import natural gas to Alaska.

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"We're still looking for gas for next winter (to meet full demand)," Hobson said.

"While the (Furie contract) is great news for right now, we can't pump the brakes on any future development," Hobson said. "We have to continue to plan and be prepared."

Alaskans got an idea of the potential problems during a severe cold snap last winter, when equipment at an underground gas storage reservoir in Cook Inlet failed to produce gas as expected. If the situation had worsened, Southcentral residents would have been asked to reduce energy use.

The new contract with Furie will begin in March 2026, as the producer's current contract with Enstar ends.

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Future drilling would also be needed to help provide all the gas for the new contract, Slaughter said. Furie hopes to drill three wells next year if it can use Hilcorp's jackup rig, a mobile drilling platform, like it did in October.

The overall price of gas for Enstar ratepayers would rise with the new contract, but by a fractional amount, since Enstar gets most of its gas elsewhere  primarily from Cook Inlet's dominant producer, Hilcorp.

The gas cost adjustment is the amount ratepayers pay for gas. It's the largest portion of a bill, and is approved annually by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

Enstar's current gas cost adjustment for its overall gas supply is $9.07 for every thousand cubic feet.

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Furie's price for gas would be $13.69 without royalty relief under the new contract, Sims said. Furie's price would be blended with prices for Enstar's full gas supply.

If Furie receives royalty relief, then its price would fall to $12.30, he said.

The contract will be filed with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska by the end of this year.
DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Military Operations Administration announced Wednesday that it has lifted the curfew previously imposed on Damascus and its surrounding areas, calling on residents to resume their daily activities and return to their workplaces.

In a statement, the administration encouraged citizens to "contribute to building the new Syria" as the country attempts to normalize conditions following recent fall of Bashar al-Assad's government.

The lifting of the curfew came as Mohammed al-Bashir, previously a regional leader in northwestern Syria, announced Tuesday that he had been tasked with heading a transitional government in Syria until March 2025.

A militant alliance led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham waged a major offensive from northern Syria since Nov. 27 and had since swept southwards through government-held areas, capturing the capital Damascus within 12 days. 
The man mostly leading Millersville's police department and a key focus in an ongoing Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe recently retired to pursue other opportunities, the city confirmed Monday.

Assistant Police Chief Shawn Taylor is another in a long line of city personnel who have either been fired, retired or resigned from positions in Millersville, a small town of about 6,200 people about 15 miles north of Nashville, in 2024 as the city continues to grapple with change and controversy.

Interim city manager and police chief Bryan Morris confirmed Taylor's retirement, but he said the assistant chief wasn't in charge of the department's daily operations. He said Millersville Police Captain Todd Dorris is the man who is.

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"Nothing has changed," Morris told The Tennessean in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon. "The Captain has been running the police side day-to-day with input from me when needed. Shawn (Taylor) was on the investigative side of things from the start. He never really ran day-to-day operations."

Taylor and the city came under fire in September after agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation raided the police department and Taylor's Robertson County home.

Morris said the TBI took laptops and case files as part of the raid at the department.

Taylor said in a recording posted on social media Sept. 9 that TBI agents peed in his bathtub and tracked it through his house while conducting their search.

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More: Millersville names police chief as interim city manager after months of turmoil

"To me, that was the government saying 'piss on you, America.' And that's not OK," Taylor said at the time.

TBI spokesperson Josh DeVine has denied Taylor's claims.

"There was a dog in the home our agents found in the bathtub while conducting their work. When the dog was found to have urinated, an agent took the dog outside to finish relieving itself," DeVine said in a emailed statement in response to Taylor's claims. "News footage, in fact, captured this moment. To suggest our agents were anything less than professional in the lawful execution of this search warrant is patently untrue."

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More: Millersville chief: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation cut crime data access before raid

The TBI has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, or what agents were seeking during the raid.

In Taylor's online video post, he said the cases the department has been working on "affect every American." He explained that the cases involve mortgage fraud, human trafficking, narcotics trafficking and other crimes.

It wasn't the first time Taylor landed in hot water in Millersville.

Earlier this year, he came under fire for comments he made on multiple podcasts, alleging child sex trafficking conspiracies involving Nashville Covenant School shooting victim Katherine Koonce.

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Millersville commissioner David Gregory asked Taylor to resign after the comments came to light, and for commissioners and Morris to apologize to the families of Covenant victims at a June meeting. No one said anything.

"He doesn't need to be a police chief in this city," Gregory said at that time. "People, especially women, are scared to death of him."

Since January, Millersville has seen the departure of two city managers, a police chief, fire chief, city attorney, city recorder, assistant city recorder and all of its firefighters.

Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Amid tumultuous 2024, controversial policeman's exit is one of many
CONWAY, Ark.  Police in Conway said a teenager crashed one of two school buses he is accused of stealing from Conway Public Schools.

According to the Conway Police Department, officers said they received a report of a missing 15-year-old after classes ended at Conway High School on Monday, Dec. 9.

Conway locals react to recent theft in Sams Club parking lot

Police said while trying to find the teen, Faulkner County deputies were in Mayflower with the teen after they said he had crashed a school bus in a ditch on Lollie Road.

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After responding to the scene, officers said the Conway school resource officer supervisor informed them that the teen had stolen a school bus from Conway High School and drove it to the Conway Junior High School to drop it off. The teen then began driving another school bus, officials said.

Conway wants to improve pedestrian and driver safety, calling for the publics help

Police said dispatchers received multiple calls about a Conway Public Schools bus driving recklessly through the city and into the county.

Officers said the teen admitted to taking both buses. His mother said he has level two autism and a passion for buses.

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Conway Public Schools officials shared a statement regarding the incident on Wednesday afternoon

Conway Public Schools is aware of an incident that occurred on Monday night involving one of our students. The student thankfully wasnt harmed and no other students were involved in this incident, the statement read. As this involves a student, we are limited in the information we can share due to privacy laws. The safety of our students, staff, and community remains our highest priority, and we will continue to take every measure necessary to uphold this standard. We are very thankful no one was injured during this incident.

Officials with the Faulkner County Sheriffs Office said the teen was detained and has had his first court appearance. Police said he has been released from custody.

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 KARK.
Cops released photos and a video of the three males that allegedly fatally stabbed a migrant teen last week near City Hall Park and believe the incident may have stemmed from a gang beef.

Yeremi Colino, who was traveling with a group, was stabbed to death last Thursday after a brawl outside 17 John St. Cops deemed the incident a dispute between two gangs after combing through surveillance video and canvassing witnesses, NYPD Assistant Chief Jason Savino said. According to one witness, the 1-minute brawl started after three individuals flashed gang signs, which prompted Colinos group to confront the trio.

Savino said police believe the fight in which Colino was killed was a crew-motivated incident involving the Los Diablos de la 42 (Devils of 42nd St.) gang and an Afro-Caribbean group, and that the two groups knew each other prior to the lower Manhattan clash.

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Both sides both had weapons. The victim actually swings an unknown object in a downward motion just prior to being stabbed by one of the perpetrators, Savino said at a press conference Monday.

Colino, who was living at the Roosevelt Hotel, a migrant hotel on E. 45th St. in East Midtown Manhattan, was stabbed in the chest. An employee at a nearby Walgreens pulled the wounded man to safety inside the store and called 911, and Colino was soon transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he later died.

The individual who passed away, they were actually following the attackers, NYPD Assistant Commissioner and department spokesman Carlos Nieves said. They then go out of camera and then they come back and, at that point, you see people scattering because they see whats happening and they try to get away from the area and come into frame.

Following the stabbing, the Los Diablos gang were said to have vowed revenge and called for every Cocolo shot  cocolo referring to an Afro-Caribbean migrant. Savino expressed concern about the threat as he noted that Los Diablos only have a feud with the Latin Kings gang and that this could spark a new, undiscovered beef.

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Truth be told, most groups will not go and confront a group flashing gang signs [over] why youre flashing gang signs, Savino said.

Another man, Alan Magalles Bello, 18 who was with Colino, was stabbed in the left arm and was taken in stable condition to Bellevue Hospital, where he received five stitches.

I was with my friend yesterday. A group of people show up, like a gang, and they pull out a knife towards me and my friend, Bello told ABC7.

Cops recovered a knife with a brown handle, two wooden sticks and a pair of pliers at the scene.

Some on social media charged that the NYPD should be dedicating as much resources and time to finding Colinos killer as they were putting into the massive manhunt for the murderer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a case thats gripping the nation.

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But Assistant Chief Savino pushed back on that accusation, saying, We treat all our cases with severity. Those are the same teams that are also correspondingly in different groups assigned to the high-profile incident.

Cops also rebutted initial news reports that the brawl was sparked by one of the groups asking the other if they spoke English, saying the incident was instead triggered by a gang dispute.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) says Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trumps pick to head the Department of Defense, faces a nasty Senate confirmation hearing that would likely be uglier than the battle over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.

Cornyn says he plans to vote for Hegseth but warned the embattled nominee will undergo a grueling Senate confirmation process, given the likelihood that Democrats will scrutinize allegations that Hegseth sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 and accusations that he mismanaged two conservative veterans groups.

I just told him and his wife, I said, This is going to be a very difficult process on all of you, Cornyn said.

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Cornyn said hes been through a lot of Supreme Court nomination fights, including Brett Kavanaugh, and that may pale in comparison to what may be thrown at Pete.

The bitter fight over Kavanaughs nomination rocked the Senate in 2018 after the conservative judge was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of sexually assaulting her at a high school party decades earlier.

Kavanaugh vigorously denied the allegation.

The Texas senator noted that Hegseth is ready leave his lucrative job as a host at Fox News to slog through what could be a brutal confirmation process. He expressed respect for the nominees desire to enter public service.

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Im convinced hes doing this for the right reasons. Hes giving up a lot of money at Fox to do it, so I appreciate his commitment to public service, he said.

Cornyn repeated his warning during an interview with Newsmaxs Rob Schmitt Tonight in which he warned that Hegseth faces a very unpleasant process for him and his family.

Its important for all of these nominees to come around and answer questions. I told Pete this is going to be a very unpleasant process for him and his family, having been involved in the Kavanaugh hearings, he said.

I know there will be unnamed accusations and some things that are going to be hurtful, not only to him and his family  but hes ready for that, his wife is ready for that, and Im confident he will be confirmed, Cornyn said.

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Cornyn, who has known Hegseth for about 12, years, said he plans to vote yes and predicted ultimately he will be confirmed.

After a face-to-face meeting with the nominee, Cornyn said he was satisfied with Hegseths answers but again warned the confirmation process will be a hard process on the nominee and his family.

I was satisfied with his answers, and I think this is going to be a hard process on him and his family, and some of it will be enormously unfair, but I respect his willingness to give up a nice, cushy job at Fox in order to serve the nation and the military that he has devoted a large percentage of his life to, Cornyn told reporters after the meeting.

In addition to the sexual assault allegation from 2017, a whistleblower report from his time as president of Concerned Veterans for America accused him of being repeatedly drunk at work events, sexually pursuing female staffers and failing to address a sexual assault charge against another male staff member.

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Hegseth, however, received a boost last week from President-elect Trump, who said he would stick with his controversial nominee.

Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe. He was a great student  Princeton/Harvard educated  with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense, Trump posted on Truth Social.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka Councilmember Karen Hiller said that, if possible, the city will attempt to recoup its investment in Hotel Topeka.

On Tuesday night, the City of Topeka voted to approve $72,343.54 for additional operating funds to keep the hotel running. The hotel has cost the city nearly $10 million in total since the city bought it in October 2023.

Hiller said there may be some ways to recoup the citys investment but those deals may look differently depending on the buyer.

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A couple things are important to us, one, that the hotel goes to a good buyer, Hiller said.  You know, the only reason we intervened was to make sure we had a quality hotel in that expo center complex.

Hiller said the city will likely have another report on Hotel Topeka in early 2025.

The extra fees when paying property taxes in Kansas

If all goes well its a closing step and on to the next, Hiller said. People have worked hard. We never expected to own a hotel. Nobody had done it, people, especially Braxton Copely, have worked so hard, weve all learned a lot Part of what needs to happen is this is a three-legged deal, right?

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Director of Communications & Media Relations Dan Garrett told 27 News Tuesday, Dec. 10 that the City of Topeka has received four offers on Hotel Topeka.

Hiller listed Hotel Topeka, the homeless population, the city manager transition and the police chief search as challenges the council faced in 2024. Hiller said the new police chief starts in mid-January.

Firearms traced to crime came from Kansas law enforcement

So there are seasoned people who have worked in big markets, have experience, and are looking forward to working in a mid-size market that they can take all that theyve learned and done and help us just get our arms totally around what our challenges are here in Topeka and do a great job, Hiller said.

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You can watch the full interview above. To read more about the recent developments surrounding Hotel Topeka, click here.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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What Were Tracking

A couple colder days

Rain likely Friday

Warming up by Sunday

Another rush of colder air pushes into northeast Kansas. Temperatures have dropped into the upper 20s and lower 30s with wind chills in the upper teens and lower 20s. Well continue to see flurries in our northeastern counties through the early morning hours.

The air will stay cold on Wednesday as temperatures will be stuck in the middle to upper 30s for afternoon highs. Part of the area will warm up on Thursday for areas south of I-70 into the 40s, but staying in the 30s north.

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Another system moves our way for Friday, bringing a brief warming and a rain chance on Friday into Friday evening. Well cool back a few degrees on Saturday before warming up again. This time, even warmer weather is expected for Sunday and Monday.

KSNT Storm Track Meteorologist Ely Millard

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MUHLENBERG COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT)  On December 10, 2021, Andrew and Charity Oglesby of Muhlenberg County lost everything: their home as well as their baby boy. Now, three years to the date of the western Kentucky tornado, they are turning their tragedy into triumph.

Were thankful for the community were in and the support throughout all of this. It was phenomenal, says Andrew.

The Oglesbys now have something they havent had in three years: a home of their own. Since the tornado, the Oglesbys have lived with family after the two suffered severe injuries and the catastrophic loss of their five-month-old son, Chase.

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Dawson Springs reflects on its resiliency three years after tornadoes

My struggle is more of a mental, trying to get over what all happened that night because I remembered everything, whereas she was sedated, she dont remember a whole lot, says Andrew. Charity adds, Whenever I woke up two weeks later, thats when I found out about Chase and found out that I had spinal cord injury, and honestly found out about the tornado.

Andrew suffered a broken neck and broken ribs, while Charitys spinal cord injury landed her in a wheelchair. Despite grief and loss, the two remain joyful. Fast forward to December 10, 2024, with the help of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Habitat for Humanity, the Oglesbys have a place of their own.

Today is three years in, says Governor Beshear. This couples just as important as the very first couple that got a new home.

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I know theres a reason why I can sit here today, not cry, and be so joyful and happy and have so much peace about myself, says Charity. She says that reason is from her faith.

Whenever I finally just humbled myself and cried out to God and said, God, I cant do this, I need your help, He showed up, explains Charity. He told me to trust him. Then I asked Him what Im supposed to do about Chase. And He showed me Chase in heaven.

We literally felt that the Lord just spoke to us that a day of devastation is turned into a day of restoration, says Andrew. Governor Beshear adds, You see a bunch of happy people out here, again, who have been through the worst but are celebrating all their great work.

There is still a long road to recovery ahead for the Oglesbys, but they say they will look back on December 10th not as an anniversary of a deadly tornado, but as the start of a brand new chapter.

More from Cody Bailey

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Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.

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KABUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Acting Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Khalil Rahman Haqqani was killed in a blast inside the ministry's headquarters, an official from the Ministry of Interior confirmed to Xinhua on Wednesday.

Haqqani was killed in a suicide attack when he was leaving a mosque after performing the noon prayer near his office, reported Al-Emarah, a media outlet related to the Afghan caretaker government.

Several other individuals lost their lives following the blast, but the exact number is not clear yet.

Haqqani was a prominent figure among the leadership of the Taliban, and was also the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, who serves as acting minister for the Ministry of Interior.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. 
The state attorney general on Wednesday declared a major legal victory after a court ruled to allow New Hampshires lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., which alleges the social media giant knowingly designed its algorithms that harm children and teens, to move forward.

The Merrimack County Superior Court ruling denied Metas motion to dismiss, allowing New Hampshires five-count complaint, which centers on allegations that the companies use of manipulative design features that it knows harms childrens mental health, Attorney General John Formella said in a statement.

Formella lauded the courts decision, emphasizing that it is a critical step in holding corporations accountable for putting profits over the safety of kids.

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This ruling is the first step toward holding Meta accountable for its actions in New Hampshire. This is a clear victory for the people of New Hampshire, particularly our children, who are increasingly vulnerable to the addictive and harmful features embedded in social media platforms, Formella said.

FILE - This combination of 2017-2022 photos shows the logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat on mobile devices. (AP Photo/File)

Metas business model thrives by exploiting teenagers attention, and todays decision sends a message that the court will allow the States case seeking accountability from the social media giant for its harmful conduct to proceed, Formella said. New Hampshire will not stand by while our childrens mental and emotional health is put at risk for the sake of profit.

NH Attorney Generals office seeking publics input for probe into social medias impact on kids

The states lawsuit accuses Meta of knowingly using addictive design features and algorithms on its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, to encourage compulsive use by teenagers, causing harm to their mental health and well-being.

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With over 10 million users on Facebook who are younger than 18, and 32 million on Instagram in that user demographic in the U.S., the state alleges that Meta has intentionally deployed these harmful design features, profiting from user data and selling targeted advertising.

Formella released key points of the courts ruling:

 Personal Jurisdiction: The court affirmed that it has jurisdiction over Meta. Metas substantial business activities in New Hampshire, including targeting local users with its design features and advertisements, provide a clear connection to the states claims.

 Section 230: The court rejected Metas claim that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shields it from liability. The court ruled that the states claims are based on Metas own conduct in designing addictive features, not its role as a publisher of third-party content.

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 First Amendment: The states claims target Metas product design decisions, not its editorial discretion over content. As such, the court ruled that the First Amendment does not protect Meta from liability in this case.

 Consumer Protection Act: The court concluded that the State has sufficiently alleged violations of the Consumer Protection Act. The court rejected Metas arguments that the case should be dismissed because its conduct did not occur in New Hampshire, or not engaged in trade or commerce under the Consumer Protection Act.

 Products liability and negligence: The court found that the state had sufficiently alleged that Metas platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, qualify as products under products liability law. Further, it was found that the state has sufficiently alleged that Meta owes a duty of care in designing these products and that its conduct has directly caused harm to New Hampshires residents, especially minors.

This lawsuit is about holding companies accountable when they put profit over the safety of children, Formella said. We will continue to fight to ensure our children are safe online and that companies are responsible for their actions.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  Huron Middle School teacher Zachary Kaderabek is on unpaid leave, accused of sending nude pictures to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

According to court documents, it wasnt a girl, but a teenage boy who made a fake Snapchat account and was catfishing him. Kaderabek stands accused of two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor along with two counts of solicitation of a minor; he is scheduled to be in court in January when hell have to respond to the charges.

In May, court documents say a 12-year-old girl told a friend Kaderabek had added her and sent her a message on Snapchat, which made her feel uncomfortable. According to court papers, that friend responded by making a catfish, or fake, account posing as a a 14-year old girl named Kate.

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Court documents say he added Kaderabek on the social media app, and the two exchanged numerous messages. The court papers also detail that when Kate said she was 14, Kaderabek responded with Oh, so only 4 more years and a winking face. The documents say Kaderabek made sexual comments and sent photos of his genitalia.

Lake Norden singing cop

When investigators confronted Kaderabek, court papers say Zachary admitted to speaking to the minors on snapchat and sending them 4 pictures of his penis via snapchat after the juvenile informed him that she was under the age of 14.

As of early Tuesday evening, Kaderabek is still listed as a middle school teacher on the Huron School Districts website. However, the school board took unanimous action on Monday regarding the status of his employment.

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To change Zachary Kaderabeks leave from, or administrative leave, from paid to unpaid, Huron Board of Education President Tim Van Berkum said at the boards meeting on Monday. Is there any discussion or comments? Okay, seeing none, we will vote. Those in favor will say aye.'

Aye, more than one voice said in response.

Opposed? Van Berkum said. Okay, motion carries.

Huron School District Superintendent Kraig Steinhoff emailed KELOLAND News a statement Tuesday which reads as such: The Huron School District is communicating with its attorney and is cooperating with law enforcement. All policies, procedures, and laws are being followed. The accused staff member was placed on paid administrative leave on November 18 and moved to unpaid administrative leave at a Board of Education meeting on December 9.

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OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON)  A new court filing from the office of former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Prices office sheds new light on a possible connection between outgoing Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and California Waste Solutions. The business and Thaos home were both raided by the FBI back in June.

Details about the reasons for the raid remain sealed, but the new court filing makes several allegations suggesting the owners of California Waste Solutions funded negative campaign flyers against Thaos opponents in the 2022 election to get Thao elected and benefit their business.

Luigi Mangione previously reported missing in San Francisco: reports

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Mondays court filing stems from a criminal complaint filed by Price back in January against Mario Juarez alleging he passed bad checks. The DA alleges Juarez failed to pay a marketing company for printing and sending negative political mailers against 2022 mayoral candidates Loren Taylor and Ignacio de la Fuente.

In a court filing Monday, the DAs office says in October of 2022, Juarezs bank account received a $75,000 check from California Waste Solutions. Then, Juarez proceeds to create and send the mailers to help Sheng Thao get elected to the Oakland mayors office.

The filing goes on to say that after the November 2022 election Juarez received an additional $170,000 total from ABC Security, the Duong family, and California Waste Solutions These companies have valuable contracts with the City of Oakland and an interest in the election of then-candidate for mayor, Sheng Thao Juarez was essentially a conduit for these companies to help the mayor win and preserve and enhance the companies access to taxpayer-funded contracts.

The court documents also indicate Juarez sent two checks totaling $7,500 to Thaos boyfriend, Andre Jones, but it does not suggest what those funds are for.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by media outlets challenging a new Louisiana law that makes it a crime to approach within 25 feet (nearly 8 meters) of a working police officer after being ordered to step back.

Attorneys for the six news organization seeking a preliminary junction to stop the state from enforcing the measure, which took effect Aug. 1, argue that the law is unconstitutional  saying it violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Opponents of the law say they fear the enforceable buffer zone could hinder reporters' rights to film and observe officers, and therefore infringe on their ability to gather news.

Attorneys for the state are asking U.S. District Judge John deGravelles in Baton Rouge to dismiss the case. In court, they argued that the suit is preemptive and that the plaintiffs are presenting hypothetical situations, noting that no arrests associated with the new law have been made.

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Under the law, anyone who is convicted of knowingly or intentionally approaching an officer who is engaged in "official duties, and after being ordered to stop approaching or retreat, faces up to 60 days in jail, a maximum $500 fine, or both.

Although the legislations language doesn't specifically mention filming, critics say that by default, it limits how close a person can be to observe police. Bystander cellphone videos have revealed many notable instances of police crimes and misconduct, such as with the 2020 murder of George Floyd, and have reframed the national conversation around police transparency.

DeGravelles did not issue a ruling Wednesday. At one point, he did point to the lack of limitations in how the law spells out when an officer can enforce the buffer.

"That person (reporter or bystander) doesn't have to commit a crime. The person doesn't have to act suspiciously and the officer doesn't have to feel threatened" in order to demand that a person move back 25 feet, deGravelles said.

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He said that based on the law's language, an officer can invoke the law willy-nilly and for no reason other than simply if the officer doesn't want to be looked at or doesn't want a reporter near them.

Grayson Clary, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said that to do their jobs, reporters and photojournalists must often be near officers, whether they be covering a news conference, crime scene, sporting event or even a Mardi Gras parade.

For months, proponents of the law have said it was passed to help ensure the safety of officers as they do their job. They argue that the measure still allows bystanders to be close enough to film police interactions.

At 25 feet, that person cant spit in my face when Im making an arrest, Republican state Rep. Bryan Fontenot, author of the legislation, said while presenting his bill in a committee this year. The chances of him hitting me in the back of the head with a beer bottle at 25 feet  it sure is a lot more difficult than if hes sitting right here.

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Opponents note that there were already laws in place that criminalize efforts to obstruct police.

Similar laws have been passed in other states in recent years. In Arizona and Indiana, courts blocked such measures from being enforced. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed similar legislation that is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
RIVERSIDE, Ohio (WDTN)  One person was killed in an early-evening crash that closed a portion of a busy Riverside road Tuesday.

On Dec. 10, first responders were sent to the 4000 block of Valley Pike around 4:30 p.m. on a report of a two-vehicle crash.

According to Dayton Police, it is believed that the driver of a red Ford Focus was headed east on Valley Pike, when they reportedly lost control upon approaching Wrightway Road. The Ford driver is believed to have crossed the center line and struck a tan GMC Yukon heading westbound on Valley Pike.

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The drivers of both vehicles were taken to the hospital from the scene, and are in stable condition.

The passenger of the Ford, has since been identified as 20-year-old Hadin Davis. Davis died at the scene of the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.

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How do we improve the social safety net for people in Wisconsin with severe and persistent mental illnesses?

This has long been a top question for the behavioral health and criminal justice officials who participate in the Milwaukee Community Justice Council.

For months, they have been gathering to discuss how to use data and case studies to find and fix holes in the system.

These discussions are in preparation for a meeting in February where government officials and community stakeholders will undergo an exercise, called Sequential Intercept Model mapping, to find where individuals with mental and substance use disorders come into contact with the criminal justice system.

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Supported by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Sequential Intercept Model mapping is widely used throughout the U.S. to better equip government entities to divert individuals away from the criminal justice system.

More: 'Dealing with crisis then and there': How Milwaukee's teams of cops and counselors reach people struggling with mental health

The model identifies six points where people with severe mental illnesses might come into contact with the criminal justice system and could be provided with resources. They include community-based mental health services, jail, courts and supervision programs like probation and parole.

Milwaukee County held two such mappings in 2015 and 2018. Those exercises have led to many positive changes, including increased use of Crisis Assessment Response Teams, where law enforcement officers respond to people in crisis with a trained clinician, according to Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services administrator Mike Lappen.

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One of Lappen's main goals is making sure Milwaukee County has enough early intervention and crisis resources so fewer people need involuntary treatment.

When it comes to people who live with severe and persistent mental illnesses, there is no simple solution, Lappen said. Many do not believe they are ill, and some refuse to go through treatment or take medication.

Involuntary psychiatric treatment, Lappen said, is often the solution many look to, but it is also the most serious and aggressive intervention.

"It shouldn't happen all the time," he said.

Community Justice Council seeks to coordinate care and reduce incarceration

The Milwaukee Community Justice Council was created in the 2000s to bring criminal justice, public health and other government leaders together to improve public safety and find alternatives to incarceration.

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Over the years, participants at the Community Justice Council meetings have contributed to many changes in the system. These include the implementation of the mental health docket in the county courthouse, increased mental health training for local law enforcement, and mental health screenings for people before they are booked into jail, among others.

And there's still much more to do.

Questions around how to preserve the liberty and dignity of people who are severely mentally ill  and how to catch them before they end up incarcerated  constantly occupy Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley's mind.

Those who live with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder often require consistent resources like case management, medication, therapy and housing. If these resources fail and they find themselves in a mental health crisis, they could be looking at involuntary mental health treatment or jail time, among other possibilities.

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If they are taken to jail, should they be charged or referred to diversion programs? If they are charged, how does the justice system ensure that they are competent to stand trial?

And most of all, how do officials recognize who should be supplied with mental health resources instead of sent to jail?

Chief Judge Carl Ashley swears in Milwaukee County Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson as the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors convened for a swearing-in ceremony at the Milwaukee County Courthouse in Milwaukee on Monday, April 15, 2024.

This is one of the most pressing questions that Ashley, who chairs the Community Justice Council, brings up at meetings.

"We want to protect individual rights, absolutely," Ashley said. "But for a small group of people, we can see that if they could stay on their medication, they could be pretty successful. But if the same people go off their medication, they can revert (to being very ill). And what do we do about that gap?"

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Laws around involuntary treatment of people with severe mental illnesses have changed significantly over the past century.

In the 1970s, West Allis schoolteacher Alberta Lessard brought a class action lawsuit after being taken to a psychiatric hospital against her will. Her victory would dramatically raise the standards for committing someone involuntarily.

Today, the legal standards for involuntary psychiatric treatment state that a person must be an imminent danger to themselves or others. Often, people do not meet these standards until they inch close to criminal acts.

More: After the fatal shooting of a mentally ill man, Milwaukee police promised better training. Here's how they did it.

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Tom Reed, who runs the Milwaukee branch of the State Public Defender's Office, interacts with many people facing criminal charges after acting out during a mental health crisis. For him and many of his colleagues, the goal is not just to help defend their clients legally but to help them as individuals.

"A lot of people who have these illnesses are beautiful people, and they deserve to do better in life," Reed said. "And you want to understand the obstacles and work to help them to the extent that you can."

Developing systemic mechanisms to catch people who fall into the gaps is an arduous process.

Reed said he has been heartened to see improvements in the system and believes the power of the Community Justice Council meetings lies in empowering people by giving them a better understanding of the system.

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"More people do know who to call. They do know where to go or where to refer somebody," Reed said. "When people are able to express their frustrations and get important questions answered (at the meetings), sometimes that can really make a difference."

Do you have experience with Milwaukee's mental health system?

We want to better understand how people with severe mental illnesses come into contact with the criminal justice system in Milwaukee County. Contact Milwaukee Journal Sentinel data reporter Eva Wen at qwen@gannett.com or reach her through text or Signal at (646) 943-4271.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Officials work together to map gaps in Milwaukee mental health system
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) was honored with an award from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) for the departments efforts to reduce line-of-duty deaths and injuries.

According to the NFFF, in recent years, CSFDs initiatives in behavioral health support, physical fitness programs, and comprehensive operational safety training have set a benchmark for fire service agencies nationwide. In recognition, CSFD was awarded the Ronald J. Siarnicki Seal of Excellence Award.

Courtesy: Colorado Springs Fire Department Courtesy: Colorado Springs Fire Department Courtesy: Colorado Springs Fire Department Courtesy: Colorado Springs Fire Department

The Colorado Springs Fire Department exemplifies the best in firefighter health and safety, and their groundbreaking work will inspire other fire service agencies to follow their lead, said NFFF Chief Executive Officer Victor Stagnaro. Their programs not only protect their own members but serve as a model for fire departments across the United States. This recognition is well-deserved, and we are thrilled to celebrate their leadership in promoting firefighter resilience.

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It was wintertime, and Kiera Marrero was living in a home with no heat.

Her four young children struggled with the cold, growing sick from the chill even as the family bundled up in gloves and sweaters to keep warm.

The property owner was unwilling to help, Marrero explained with Ashley Sandoval, the family engagement coordinator at the Human Resources Agency of New Britain, who translated her story.

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After HRA learned about Marreros situation, Sandoval said the nonprofit got to work right away. Sandoval explained how the city of Hartford placed Marrero and her children in a hotel for two weeks before the family received a voucher for the Head Start on Housing pilot program  a first-in-the nation initiative that offers permanent supportive housing to families experiencing homelessness whose children are enrolled in Head Start.

Today, Marreros family is one of 144 households that have received vouchers and homes since the programs launch in 2022. According to Gov. Ned Lamonts administration, the program will expand this year, with a new annual allocation of 50 federal vouchers from the Connecticut Department of Housing.

The number of children experiencing homelessness in Connecticut has risen by more than 75% since 2021, according to the states most recent Point-In-Time Count data. In January of 2024, the annual statewide count found that children under the age of 18 made up 20% of the states homeless population.

So far, 85 K-12 students and 232 children under the age of 5 who qualify for free early childhood education services through Head Start have benefited from the Head Start on Housing program.

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Those early years are absolutely critical when it comes to the brain development of young children and we know that housing instability and homelessness can really have a negative impact on our children and their health and development, Elena Trueworthy, the acting commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, said. Putting a secure roof over a child and a childs family is absolutely critical and its really building the foundation for all future learning and success.

Lamont said the joint effort between the Department of Housing and the Office of Early Childhood, means so much more just the roof.

What we have here is a program that we put together that integrates child care and home, and the two are absolutely invaluable, Lamont said. We have to expand this around the state.

According to data from the Connecticut State Department of Education, 5,463 students experienced homelessness at some point during the 2023-2024 school year. More than 60% of the students were considered Doubled up, living with family or friends, while 20% lived in hotel or motel rooms and roughly 14% lived in shelters, according to the data. The department reported that 122 students were Unsheltered, living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

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Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno said the Department of Housing provides homelessness support and prevention to 25,000 families and individuals each year.

Mosquera-Bruno said the goal is to not to have any children in a shelter.

We cant keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome. We have to think differently and we have to try to be more efficient (and) eliminate barriers, Mosquera-Bruno said.

She explained that the Head Start on Housing model allows Head Start partners (to) identify the family that might need a home so that they dont have to go through a waitlist.

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That will help them in real-time, Mosquera-Bruno said.

By cutting the red tape that often occurs when trying to access permanent housing vouchers, we are giving Connecticut children and their families an increased chance of economic and educational success that otherwise may not be possible, Mosquera-Bruno said in a press release announcing the expansion. Were leveraging our existing resources to provide wrap-around services, underscoring once again that continued collaboration is vital for effective programs that help our children and families.

Before she was approved for a Head Start on Housing voucher, Lisamar Candelaria and her six children were homeless.

Candelaria described moving her family between different hotels and motels, at times paying more than $2,000 to keep a roof over her childrens heads while earning minimum wage.

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When Candelaria applied for the program, she said she had no more hope and nothing left. Now, she has a wonderful home.

Ive never lived a stress-free life. Ive always worked. Ive never had any help. So Im very lucky to have this type of help that I have now, and my kids are very happy, Candelaria said. Not only did my daughter get an education, I was able to get help, at the same time, for me and my children.
DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Fighters have gained full control of the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zour following the reported withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to areas east of the Euphrates River, according to statements from a local commander and a war monitor.

Hassan Abdel Ghani, a commander of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), said that their fighters now hold all of Deir al-Zour city and continue to advance in rural areas.

"Our combatants are pressing forward in the suburbs, having secured the city center along with both western and eastern countrysides," the commander said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday the SDF had pulled out of Deir al-Zour and the nearby city of Al-Bukamal, returning to areas east of the Euphrates River.

The SDF had taken control of Deir al-Zour earlier following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government.

The Kurdish forces, previously seen as a dominant force in parts of northeastern Syria, appear to have ceded ground as militant groups, led by the HTS, stake their claims on strategic territories and key population centers. 
A New Milford man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly assaulting an elderly man following a road rage incident on Route 7 in Brookfield that led to a two-car crash.

State troopers were dispatched to Route 7 South near Exit 7 on Saturday at 11:44 a.m. on the report of an assault involving one driver who got out of their vehicle and struck the other driver involved, according to Connecticut State Police.

Reports allege that the man then got back into his vehicle and left the area of Route 7 before merging onto Interstate 84 West, state police said. Police put out a be on the lookout alert to area law enforcement for a blue BMW 330x after witnesses gave authorities a description of the vehicle, which was last seen getting off I-84 using Exit 6 in Danbury.

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When troopers arrived at the scene a 78-year-old man said he became involved in a road rage incident with another driver when he tried moving from the right lane to the left lane on Route 7, according to state police. As he did, the driver of a BMW allegedly accelerated and blocked him from changing lanes, state police said.

Once the BMW driver passed, the elderly man claimed he moved into the left lane, at which point the other driver reportedly slammed on his brakes abruptly and came to a stop, according to state police. The man said he swerved to the right to avoid a collision.

The BMW driver allegedly then moved into the right lane and shoulder of the highway, cutting in front of the victim and sideswiping the passenger side of the elderly mans vehicle, state police said. The man said he then pulled over into the right shoulder as the BMW spun out across the left lane and into the grassy median.

The elderly man then alleged that the BMW driver then drove back onto the highway and rammed into the rear of his vehicle as he was on the shoulder, state police said. The man then allegedly got out of his BMW and approached the victims vehicle where he punched the elderly man in the face, according to state police.

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The man then allegedly grabbed the elderly mans cell phone from his hand, slammed it on the ground and drove away, state police said.

The elderly man reported minor injuries and declined medical attention.

Another individual at the scene told police that a large amount of grass and dirt debris struck the front of their vehicle as the BMW spun in the grassy median.

According to state police, officers from the New Milford Police Department assisted in the investigation and responded to the home of the BMWs registered owner. Officers located and stopped the vehicle in front of the residence.

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The driver was identified as 55-year-old Jason Paul Maisonave, state police said. He was arrested and transported to Troop A in Southbury.

He faces charges of reckless driving, evading responsibility with a physical injury, failure to drive upon the right side of the roadway, improper acceleration while being passed, failure to drive in the proper lane, first-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault of an elderly victim and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Maisonave was released on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned in Danbury Superior Court on Dec. 19.
(NEXSTAR)  New details are emerging about what happened at the Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonalds where police arrested Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcares CEO, on Monday.

The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting Brian Thompson multiple times on a New York City street in broad daylight Dec. 4.

Investigators caught up with Mangione five days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania, roughly 230 miles away from New York City, thanks to a McDonalds customer who relayed a tip to an employee.

McDonalds restaurant, where an employee alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcares CEO, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Officers found him sitting at a back table, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint.

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He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether hed been to New York recently, he became quiet and started to shake, the complaint says.

Seemed unimaginable: Luigi Mangiones former roommate reacts to arrest

When he pulled his mask down at officers request, we knew that was our guy, rookie Officer Tyler Frye said.

A McDonalds customer recalled the moment Mangione walked through the door, telling the BBC one of his friends remarked, That looks like the shooter from New York.

Larry, who declined to give his last name to the media outside McDonalds Tuesday, said they laughed at the time, joking Wouldnt that be something.

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I actually left after that and I went to the restroom and he was sitting in the back, but I thought it was one of the employees because they go back there on break and they put their hoods up, and he was in the corner.

Shortly after, Larry said he learned of the arrest while at church, and went back to the McDonalds to speak with the staff who confirmed it was the same restaurant.

He added that a McDonalds cashier told him that while taking Mangiones order she noticed a likeness, especially the eyes and his eyebrows.

Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonalds while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair.

This image released by Pennsylvania State Police shows a video image of Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pa., Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (Pennsylvania State Police via AP)

Police said that Mangione was in possession of a gun similar to the one used to kill Thompson, a fake ID that investigators say Thompsons shooter used at a New York City hostel, a passport and a three-page handwritten document.

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Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called parasitic health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangiones document expressed some ill will toward corporate America.

What we know about Luigi Mangione, the suspect arrested in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing

During a news conference Monday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro thanked Officer Frye, who is just six months into his job with the police force.

He also denounced those who have expressed support for Mangione, calling the sentiment deeply disturbing.

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The Altoona McDonalds where he was captured has since been bombarded with terrible online reviews.

The real hero in this story is the person that called 911 at McDonalds this morning, Shapiro said.

On Tuesday morning, Mangione was denied bail during a hearing in Pennsylvania court. During the proceedings, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey informed the court that Mangione will not waive extradition to New York but instead wants a hearing on the issue.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Theyve filled hundreds of jobs since the summer but hundreds more remain vacant for one of the states most scrutinized agencies charged with protecting children. Now, weeks from the next legislative session, lawmakers are getting an idea about what New Mexicos Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) said it needs to boost its workforce.

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Its been a really busy year for CYFD, said Teresa Casados, Cabinet Secretary of CYFD. A busy year, where Casados said the beleaguered agency has seen some successincluding the addition of more foster families: licensing 124 new non-relative foster homes and 324 relative foster homes since January.

Theyve also seen success in juvenile justice: We have a 90 percent rate of satisfactory completion for all formal and informal probation clients, Casados said. Additionally, efforts have been underway to expand behavioral health services across the state.

However, Casados conceded that the agency still struggles with recruiting and retaining workers: Although the department has participated in 52 hiring events since July of this year, we continue to struggle with hiring.

Theyve hired 207 new employees since July, but right now, still have 250 positions open. Casados said theyre advertising the positions online, going out of state to recruit, and theyre even considering the possibility of providing J-1 Visas for social workers from other countries. We are looking at every avenue we can to bring in additional workers, Casados said.

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To retain employees, theyre using some one-time funding to give their licensed social workers a temporary 10% raise through June; and are looking to see if they can do that for other staff, too.

Theyre also implementing regional training to help on-board new staff. Building up that staff to the point where they can carry a caseload is oftentimes when we lose them; they become completely overwhelmed, and so we want to minimize that through our training academy, Casados says.

CYFD is asking for $412.7 million for its next budget, roughly a 6% increase. I remain committed to ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent in a reasonable manner and I ask that you trust the work we are doing and give us the opportunity and the flexibility to build a better CYFD for you, Casados told lawmakers Tuesday.

CYFD currently has more than 2,000 kids in their care.

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Dec. 10Repeat cases of child maltreatment dropped in 14 New Mexico counties over the past year, but rose in hot spots such as Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Lea counties, according to data released Tuesday from the state Children, Youth and Families Department.

The overall repeat maltreatment rate of just under 15 percent statewide was a slight improvement over the prior year, said CYFD Secretary Teresa Casados at a legislative budget hearing in Santa Fe on Tuesday. Yet, the national rate is still about 9 percent.

Hiring is up, but the agency is still wrestling with high staff turnover and a chronic shortage of foster homes.

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CYFD, which is seeking a 6.1% increase in its operating budget that begins July 1, is asking for $37.8 million for 101 positions to meet caseload standards and to open a CYFD training academy. The agency plans to give licensed social workers on staff a temporary 10 percent salary increase to help with retention.

But funding alone isn't the answer, several legislators told Casados.

The strained relationship between the administration and the Legislature over how to remedy the problems dominated the hearing on Tuesday.

"Two years ago, the exec told everybody, we're going to fix this on our own, don't change any laws, and the Legislature stayed silent ... and (said) we'll give them a chance to fix that," said state Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup. "We had the money and we had the opportunity to make the change and it didn't happen."

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With Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's second term expiring on Dec. 31, 2026, Munoz told CYFD cabinet secretary Teresa Casados, "Your days are numbered, we've got two years and how much change can you make? Let's fix what we have. If we don't work together to fix this, it's going to get worse."

Munoz noted that exit surveys of CYFD employees in 2023 revealed the most frequently reported reason for leaving was "lack of support from leadership" at 19%. Eight percent cited being "overworked." Another 8% said they had new opportunities, and 7% cited "too many caseloads/backlog."

"We've strengthened the pay (to try to keep workers)," said Munoz, who chairs the Legislative Finance Committee. Since 2000, he added, "the pay scale went up 37.7%."

Munoz said he doesn't blame Casados for the leadership issues, noting she is the third CYFD secretary in five years and took office last year. But he said, the agency needs stability and should instill in its supervisors the need to communicate better.

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Casados announced her agency will be starting a new program, called Foster Families Plus, for children in state custody who need more intensive care than regular foster families can provide. The pay rate will be enhanced for such families, and CYFD hopes the new category of foster homes will help the agency eliminate the need for hard-to-place children to temporarily live in CYFD offices, she said.

CYFD created five new positions to better support and retain foster families, but even though the openings have been posted, Casados said no one has applied. CYFD has 250 job openings agency-wide, with 155 in protective services.

With the aim of preventing neglect and abuse, CYFD's new Family Services section has provided help to more than 1,650 families this year, but Casados said, "All of this work is concerning if our maltreatment numbers don't decline."

The percentage of children who experience repeat maltreatment went down in Sierra, Curry, Cibola, Valencia, Grant/Catron, Eddy, Dona Ana, Sandoval, McKinley, Lincoln, Otero and San Juan counties, but the rest of New Mexico's 33 counties showed single digit increases. Bernalillo County's repeat cases went from 15.9 percent to 18.2 percent over the past year.

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CYFD still hasn't been able to find enough suitable placements so that youths in state custody don't have to be housed temporarily in CYFD offices. In response to a question from state Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, Casados said a total of 17 youths spent the night Monday in a CYFD office.

"As we all acknowledge it is unacceptable, it's dangerous and it's creating and causing some of the challenges that are affecting kids and affecting staff," Small said of the office stays, which have been used for several years statewide because of a lack of suitable foster homes.

Small said he'd like CYFD "to robustly look to leverage a partnership with the Legislature on legislative changes. That's not been the approach used for the majority of this administration. ..."

Casados said CYFD in the future will be looking to replace some federal funding with state general funds.

But Small said he doesn't "feel comfortable making that a recurring budget item before there is an appropriate approach (involving the Legislature). Saying no to those policy proposals from both chambers and both parties (by saying) 'No, we don't want that,' fundamentally changes the budget conversation."
Dec. 10New Mexico is not faring better than it was a year ago on some of the key problems plaguing its child welfare system, according to presentations given to lawmakers on Tuesday.

In particular, the state Children, Youth and Families Department struggled to make gains in recruiting resource and foster families and stabilizing its own workforce. The agency is also losing out on federal funds that would help it implement important prevention programs, Legislative Finance Committee staff told lawmakers on the committee.

Committee chair Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, noted the ticking clock Cabinet Secretary Teresa Casados is facing to turn CYFD around.

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"Your days are numbered. There's two years left in how much change you can make," he said, apparently referring to the amount of time remaining in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's term. "And it's really about fixing things from here on out."

During her presentation to lawmakers, Casados acknowledged the challenges CYFD faces but said recent developments in some of her agency's initiatives may help address those challenges.

"It is an incredibly difficult job, and we're working really hard to make sure that we're not only hiring, but that we're putting in place initiatives for retention," she said.

Staffing, foster family recruitment still a struggle

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CYFD still struggles to maintain a stable workforce, particularly in its crucial Protective Services Division.

According to a report given to lawmakers, that division has fewer employees now than it did this time last year. The division's employee headcount as of this month is 918, whereas December 2023's headcount was 936.

Agency data shows 305 vacancies and over 1,100 full-time equivalent positions currently in the Protective Services Division, the most of any of the agency's divisions. There are 638 vacancies and almost 2,300 full-time equivalent positions across the department.

Casados acknowledged CYFD's challenges in hiring and retaining staff. But she said the agency is making strides in retaining its workforce and improving training for the employees it hires.

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During the current pay period, CYFD implemented a 10% raise for licensed social workers, a move Casados hopes will encourage them to stick around. That raise, though, is temporary, running only through June.

The CYFD chief also said the agency has revamped its training for new employees, now including several weeks of online learning, virtual reality and other workshops before putting them into in-person training that ties their learning into practice.

"What we hear from many of the employees who have gone through training is that once they get ... into the field after five weeks of training, they are not prepared and don't understand how that relates to the work that they're doing," she said. "So we're switching that around in the hopes that we'll have better retention."

New Mexico also continues to struggle to recruit enough resource and foster families to care for children taken into state custody.

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Over 2,100 children are in the state's care, according to CYFD data. But the agency has only 1,085 total resource and foster homes.

This year, CYFD set a goal of 265 new non-relative foster homes, according to an online dashboard. But agency data on Tuesday showed that since January, CYFD has licensed 124 new non-relative foster homes, less than half its goal.

In 2023, CYFD fell 61 homes short of its goal to recruit 190 new non-relative foster homes, according to a recent report by independent field experts tasked with tracking the state's progress in a landmark settlement agreement.

And Monday night, Casados said 17 children slept in CYFD offices.

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That number in particular concerned committee vice chair Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces.

"As we all acknowledge, it is unacceptable, it's dangerous, it's causing ... some of the challenges that are affecting kids and affecting staff," he said.

Casados says 'Foster Care +' will help

Casados said the agency has a plan in the works intended to help such children, who are often in CYFD offices because they have greater needs and finding families to meet them is difficult.

CYFD soon expects to roll out its own version of an Oklahoma program known as Enhanced Foster Care, which CYFD says would equip families with the training and resources to house children with higher needs.

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Casados said New Mexico's program, called "Foster Care +," hopes to see its first cohort of families by mid-January to early February 2025. She told The New Mexican the agency currently has about five families interested in joining the program.

Reimbursement rates for Foster Care + will be higher than those of standard foster families, but Casados said the agency has not yet determined by how much.

For years, New Mexico has failed to get approval of an application for a federal Family First Prevention Services Act plan. That program allows states and tribal governments to receive federal reimbursements for an array of services for children eligible for foster care who can remain at home with those services, or foster children who are pregnant or parenting, including mental health and treatment, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and parent education.

Though it has submitted plans for approval more than once, New Mexico is one of the few states in the country without a plan in place, according to Tuesday's LFC report. It was not immediately clear Tuesday why previous plans were not approved.

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"That would be a real opportunity to draw down federal funding [to] implement prevention services," said committee analyst Rachel Mercer Garcia.

Casados said the agency resubmitted its plan to the federal government last week, after several drafts and reviews over the last year.

"We're incredibly hopeful that that plan will be approved, hopefully very, very soon," she said.

Esteban Candelaria is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. He covers child welfare and the state Children, Youth and Families Department. Learn more about Report for America at reportforamerica.org.
The Czech Republic is hoping to lure more Hollywood projects to the landlocked country after a series of improvements to its production incentive were greenlit.

The countrys senate in Prague today passed a number of amendments that will make top-line changes to the Audiovisual Act beginning in January. The new legislation follows long-running talks and campaigning by several industry bodies, and will provide a dramatic boost to the countrys production sector, according to the Czech Film Commission.

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This comes as the Czech Republic looks to cement its place as an international production hub in the face of increasing competition from other countrys newer incentives and rebates, and as overseas hubs look to attract Hollywood back to their shores following last years labor strikes.

Among the changes, which are the first in more than a decade, the Czech Film Fund will be renamed the Czech Audiovisual Fund. Its main incentive rate will now be 25% of the eligible costs spent on a production, up from the previous 20%. Its cap is in effect being tripled, and the maximum amount the incentive offers has increased to $19M. A 35% production incentive rate is being introduced for animation and digital productions that dont include live-action.

All changes will come fully into force in 2026, with several more amendments in place. A new financial method will be used to calculate costs, with the total annual incentives budget set to be six times the money raised by a local levy on streamers, plus mirror funding. The Czech government will pay the program the same amount as the levies, with the amount estimated to be $92M a year. Incentives will also be made available to doc series for the first time.

The Czech Republic has traditionally hosted everything from large-scale studio projects to low-budget indie features and European film and TV co-productions, with productions such as Prime Videos upcoming sci-fi series Blade Runner 2099, Apple TV+s Foundation, upcoming blockbuster Nosferatu and Lionsgates John Wick spin-off Ballerina all shooting there recently. Academy Award winner All Quiet on the Western Front shot in its entirety in the country.

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We, like other European filmmaking hubs, also felt the impact of last years Hollywood strikes, and I firmly believe that the benefits of our program will be advantageous for both our international partners and local filmmakers, said Helena Bezdek Frankova, Director of the Czech Audiovisual Fund, which is the new name following the transformation of the Czech Film Fund.

The Czech Film Commission describe the changes as a dramatic boost to the local production industry.

We are thrilled that this step deepens our cooperation with international partners and helps us maintain and highlight our position as a leading filming hub in continental Europe, added Pavlina Zipkova of the Czech Film Commission. To be honest, we couldnt wait any longer.

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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  The man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is said to have used a ghost gun during the alleged crime.

Ghost guns are firearms assembled from parts often sold in kits online or at gun shows.

A ghost gun is a homemade gun, its either sold in a kit that looks like a disassembled gun that can be easily assembled with a couple of screws and functions like a gun, or it can be manufactured or made with a 3D printer, said Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell.

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Many ghost guns lack serial numbers making them impossible to trace.

Authorities warn of rental listing scam

So you can take basically the legal parts to manufacture your own gun and the problem with them is that theyre not traceable for law enforcement so theyve been problematic in our field for many, many years, said Powell.

With no background check required to purchase the kits, they are increasingly popular among criminals.

Theyre not regulated and theyre used not by law-abiding gun owners for the most part, but by criminals trying to evade criminal prosecution, stated Powell.

Ghost guns are not defined as firearms, therefore most firearm laws dont apply to them.

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The legislators are trying to catch up but that met with a lot of resistance often with 2nd amendment rights and trying to pass effective laws to regulate background checks, serial numbers, common sense gun laws to aid law enforcement, explained Powell.

In Pennsylvania, the legal system cracked down on making ghost firearms more traceable, but its still not completely illegal to have one.

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For concertgoers at the Nova Music Festival in Israel, the morning of Oct. 7 began with a beautiful sunrise, as DJs performed their propulsive rave tracks. But what was supposed to be a joyful, peaceful celebration of music and dance quickly turned into tragedy and horror, as Hamas initiated a terrorist attack against Israel  ultimately claiming the lives of hundreds of festivalgoers.

The events of the day are chronicled in the chilling documentary We Will Dance Again, which was nominated by the Producers Guild. Filmmaker Yariv Mozer uses cell-phone videos, social media posts, interviews with survivors, and Hamas footage to recreate a painstaking, minute-by-minute account of the days events.

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SEEProducers Guild announces Feature Documentary nominees for 2025 PGA Awards: Super/Man, Gaucho Gaucho, Porcelain War 

On the 7th October, being a documentary filmmaker, I asked myself where and how should I contribute and where should I be? he tells Gold Derby in our exclusive video interview above, realizing that history was happening around him. Two days later, he found himself on the site of the massacre, one of the first journalists there. Nothing prepared me for what Ive seen there. Everything was still untouched. You could see parts of bodies. The smell was horrific.

He and his team immediately started collecting as much footage as they could  from TikTok, from Instagram, as well as from Telegram, where Hamas had been uploading their own videos. My goal was that I need a lot of material to be able to show the truth and the truth from both angles, he says. So its not only the survivors, but also Hamas to be able to show it as an evidence. This is true. Look at it. Im not touching it. Im just placing it in front of you for you to judge by yourself.

Mozer acknowledges that the Israel/Hamas war is complicated, with many nuances and complexities. The intent of his film, though, he explains, is to shine a light on the act of terror that happened that day. Do you really agree with acts of terror being done to people, harmless people, children, women, men, sexual crimes? That is not legitimate in my eyes, he says. Of course, there is in war collateral damage. [But] you do not target people that raise their hands like you see in the film and shoot them. That is exactly what I see as terror.

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After sourcing hundreds of survivors stories, Mozer worked meticulously with them to determine whose stories were best to include, making sure each was also secure from a psychological and mental health standpoint. He invited them to the editing room, as well, and then finally to screen a rough cut. It was one of the hardest screenings Ive ever had in my life, he says. They were crying from beginning to the end, but they truly gave me the support, the power to continue. They trusted me and at the same time encouraged me to continue with the film and gave me the support that I was looking for, which was amazing.

Hes still in close touch with the survivors in the film, including Elad Hakim, who attended a recent screening on the Paramount lot. That is the most difficult thing in creating this film the fact that there are still hostages and most of the survivors are telling me that their story is still ongoing, that they cannot leave it behind because their friends are still in Gaza, that for them, as long as the war is going on, as long as the hostages are being held in Gaza, then its an ongoing story. They still cant put it behind them, he says.

I cannot say goodbye to this film. It is still an ongoing process, and I wish for the hostages to come back home.

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said on Tuesday that it has successfully intercepted a ballistic missile target during a test off Guam for the first time.

"During the flight experiment, the Aegis Guam System integrated with the new AN/TPY-6 radar and Vertical Launching System, fired a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA which intercepted an air-launched Medium Range Ballistic Missile target off the coast of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam," said the agency, a component of the U.S. Department of Defense, in a news release.

"The AN/TPY-6 radar tracked the target shortly after launch to intercept in the first end-to-end tracking use of the radar during a live ballistic missile flight test," MDA said.

The agency added that "today's event marks a pivotal step taken in defense of Guam initiatives and partnerships and provides critical support to the overall concept, requirements validation, data-gathering and model maturation for the future Guam Defense System (GDS)."

Guam is "a strategic location for sustaining and maintaining United States military presence" and the test is "the first demonstration from Guam as part of the long-term initiative for the defense of Guam," according to the agency. 
CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Human Trafficking Unit has arrested a former pastor accused of sending a nude photo of himself to a Kansas teen last year.

James McMillan was arrested December 9.

Last month, News 4 reported on a prior arrest surrounding allegations that he was sexually inappropriate with a child under 16.

News 4 confirmed with at least six independent sources that McMillan was a former pastor at a minimum of two churches in Slaughterville and Konawa. Those sources confirmed McMillan left both churches under strange circumstances several years ago, and hasnt preached at either location since then. News 4 isnt identifying them.

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LOCAL NEWS: It was a shock Holdenville superintendent says FBI never told district teacher was being investigated for child pornography

The most recent arrest and allegations are tied to an incident in March 2023. Court documents say that a Bel Aire, Kansas, father told an Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics officer in October about the case, a little over a year after he had already filed a police report with his local police department.

Court documents say his daughter came to him and told him about the incident.

My daughter had came to me and let me know that she had received a nude picture from a grown man, said the victims father.

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He said that his family knew the McMillans because his daughter and McMillans son went to school together at one point. The victim told him McMillan would have had to use his sons Snapchat account to look her up by name, due to her security settings. She told him she received a friend request from McMillan and accepted it.

Court documents detail a text message exchange between his daughter and a friend of hers, where the friend accuses McMillan of being a pedophile after the teen said she received the request. The teen said that she would accept the request and screenshot anything that crossed the line, to report it to the police.

After she accepted the request, the victim told her father she received an unsolicited photo of McMillan flexing in a mirror. The victim responded something to the effect of trying to get them gains. The victim then said she received a follow-up message from McMillan asking her if she might want to see more.

He just sent the fully nude picture, said the victims father. There was no request or anything like that for it.

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The victim then said she took a screenshot of the photo, and that McMillan asked her how old she was. When the victim told McMillan she was a 14-year-old, he blocked her on Snapchat, which erased the message history and pictures he had sent outside of the screenshot.

She came right to me with this, which we were very grateful for, her father said. Its something that we really just have to pay attention to, what our kids are doing and what type of platforms theyre on.

LOCAL NEWS: Several girls allegedly molested at a Shawnee church, former pastor: I shouldve called police

The father told News 4 his daughter immediately knew what she said McMillan sent her was a crime, and that he had talked to her extensively about the dangers of online predators.

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Hes clearly proven that he has a problem with this and wont, you know, wont stop, said the victims father. Hes somebody thats truly a danger to our society.

Her father said hes also concerned about how long it took for a warrant to be issued for McMillans arrest in relation to his daughters year-old accusations.

It just seemed, it almost seemed like, yeah, weve heard this, were not going to do anything about it type of thing, said the victims father.

News 4 reached out to the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office for a comment or interview, but was redirected to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. A spokesperson declined an interview on the arrests, but shared the following statement from the agencys director.

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OBN is grateful to the victim and her family for speaking up and assisting law enforcement throughout this investigation. This is another example of collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies to protect victims from predatory actions of offenders. OBN Director Donnie Anderson

While the victims father is relieved McMillan is back in custody, he said hes worried about potential victims of McMillan, friends or anybody thats come in contact with him over the last few decades.

Documents tied to his arrest in November stated there are multiple documented DHS and law enforcement cases where McMillan is listed as the suspect tied to sexual abuse dating back to 2003.

Wed encourage you to just to speak up, to get justice for yourself because you deserve it and to help prevent anyone else from getting hurt, said the victims father when asked what hed say to any other potential victims. Speaking up could do that.

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The Cleveland County Sheriffs Office wants to hear from any other potential victims. If you or anyone you know has information, youre asked to contact the office and ask to speak with detective Paulk.

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One day after he was acquitted on charges related to his role in Jordan Neelys 2023 death, Daniel Penny appeared on Fox News and said he has no regrets.

Penny, a White man, faced charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide stemming from the May 2023 incident on a New York City subway train, in which he came up behind Neely, a Black man experiencing homelessness, and placed him in a chokehold for several minutes after Neely allegedly threatened other passengers and complained of hunger.

Neelys death, which was captured on viral video, sparked national outrage and led to widespread protests in New York City. The incident also sparked national debates on racism, vigilante justice and the treatment of the homeless and mentally ill.

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On Monday, Penny was acquitted of his criminally negligent homicide charge when a jury found him not guilty. Prosecutors had previously moved to drop the manslaughter charges against him after the jury deadlocked.

In a new interview set to air later this week with Fox News Jeanine Pirro, Penny defends his actions.

He was just threatening to kill people, Penny claimed in a preview of the interview, shared by Fox News on Tuesday, telling the network thats what motivated him to come up from behind Neely and take him to the ground in a chokehold for several minutes.

Im not a confrontational person, Penny claims in the clip.

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Related: Jordan Neely's Family Says Daniel Penny 'Needs to Be in Prison' After Subway Chokehold Death

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Daniel Penny Daniel Penny

Another man, Eric Gonzalez, seen in the viral video coming up and holding Neelys arms, testified in court that he hoped by holding Neely that Penny would let go of the chokehold  but Penny, a former Marine, still did not.

I said, Im going grab his hands so you can let go, Gonzalez testified, according to the New York Times. If I held his arms down, he could let go of his neck.

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Gonzalez said Neely eventually went limp, adding that he let go before Penny eventually did too.

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Neely was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. In a statement to PEOPLE, Neely's family said Penny "needs to be in prison and alleged Penny believed he was entitled to take Jordan's life behind a veil of vigilantism.

Related: Daniel Penny Acquitted in Connection with N.Y.C. Subway Death of Jordan Neely

Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Jordan Neely

In the preview of his upcoming Fox News interview, Penny at one point holds back a smile while alluding to criticism hes faced and the enemies he has made because of his role in Neelys death.

But in another clip from the Fox News sit-down, Penny claims the negative attention hes received was worth it to him.

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The guilt I wouldve felt if someone did get hurt  if he did do what he was threatening to do  I would never be able to live with myself, he says. Ill take a million court appearances and people calling me names and people hating me just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed.

Although Penny was acquitted this week, he could still be held financially liable for his role in Neelys death. Neely's father, Andre Zachery, filed a civil suit against Penny, accusing him of causing his son's death through "negligence, carelessness, and recklessness."

Read the original article on People
Dec. 10Hiranmoy Das, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the organization announced Dec. 10. NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors, and this year's class is comprised of 170 individuals.

The 2024 cohort of Fellows exemplifies the NAI's belief that groundbreaking innovation knows no bounds and inventors can be found everywhere. This is evident in the fact that the honorees represent 39 U.S. states and 12 countries.

Das, who has been a member of NAI since 2018, said becoming an NAI Fellow makes him feel like he's achieved one of the significant career milestones.

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"Professionally, it is an honor to be associated with the extraordinary league of great innovative scientists," Das said in a news release.

Das's primary research focuses on stem cell therapy using stem cells collected from human tissue to treat degenerative diseases. His research interests also include the molecular mechanisms regulating the activation and functionality of monocytes (white blood cells) in the context of inflammation and identifying molecules responsible for recognizing various tumor cells (such as ovarian, breast and cervical) by human gamma delta T cells.

Since 2018, Das has received or partnered on five patents, including Patent # US 2021/0189334 A1 ("Corneal epithelial cells and their products for treating corneal diseases." Publication date 06-24-2021); Patent # WO 2019/241462 A1("Stem cells for the treatment for conditions and diseases." Publication date 12-19-2019); Patent # US 2019 / 0091310 A ("Nonreleased IL-12 for therapy of cancer." Publication Date 3-28-2019); Patent # 8669106 ("Erythrocytes differentiated in vitro from nanofiber expanded CD133+ cells." Publication date: 03-11-2014); and Patent # 20090285892 ("Methods and systems for expanding AC133+ cells and directing differentiation." Publication date: 11-19-2009).

"There is great potential for stem cell therapies to replace the damaged cells and tissues underlying various medical conditions of the blood, eye and mouth," Lance R. McMahon, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and innovation at TTUHSC explained. "TTUHSC is proud of Dr. Das's groundbreaking work and its potential to treat disease with commercially viable products and approaches."

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Das joins a growing list of TTUHSC faculty inventors recognized by NAI for their outstanding innovations in biomedical science. That recognition began in 2018 when Samuel Prien, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, became the university's first NAI Senior Member.

In 2023, Lindsay Penrose, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Ted Reid, Ph.D., vice chairman for the School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, also were named NAI Senior Members, an honor received in 2024 by Hongjun "Henry" Liang, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics.

In addition, Prien was named an NAI Fellow in 2021, as was P. Hemachandra Reddy, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Internal Medicine, in 2023.

The 2024 NAI Fellows hail from 135 research universities, governmental and non-profit research institutions worldwide and their work spans across various disciplines. They are renowned researchers holding prestigious honors and distinctions such as the Nobel Prize, the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the National Medal of Science and membership to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. These incredible inventors also collectively hold more than 5,000 issued U.S. patents, and their innovations are making significant and tangible societal and economic impacts today and will continue well into the future.

Since its founding in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 2,068 exceptional researchers and innovators who hold more than 68,000 U.S. patents and 20,000 licensed technologies. NAI Fellows are known for the societal and economic impact of their inventions, contributing to major advancements in science and consumer technologies. Their innovations have generated more than $3.2 trillion in revenue and 1.2 million jobs. The 2024 Class of Fellows will be honored and presented their medals by a senior official of the United States Patent and Trademark Office at the NAI 14th Annual Meeting June 26 in Atlanta.
(WHTM) On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered, and World War 2 was over.

Even before the war was over, world leaders were looking towards the future. From April 25 to June 26, 1945, Representatives from 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to hammer out a charter for a new international organization. The charter they drafted was ratified on October 24, 1945, and the United Nations came into being.

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The UNs long-term goal  help prevent another World War 2 from ever happening again. The short-term goal  repair the damage World War 2 left in its wake. Millions and millions of people were now refugees, displaced from their homes either because they were fleeing war or had been expelled or deported from their homelands. Even for non-refugees, life in countries with trashed infrastructure wasnt much better. Access to food, clean water, shelter, and medical care was sketchy at best.

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Children suffered the most.

Malnourished children eat a meal at the Apanalay center, an organization working with malnourished children, in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Forty-two percent of children in India younger than 5 are underweight and nearly 60 percent are stunted, according to the Hunger and Malnutrition Survey. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released the report Tuesday and called child malnutrition the countrys shame. UNICEFs latest data say one-third of the worlds malnourished children younger than 3 lives in India, a rate worse than sub-Saharan Africa. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade) Children attend class in a temporary classroom set up by UNICEF, Monday Oct. 12, 2009, in Padang, Indonesia where a massive earthquake hit more than a week ago, leaving most of the city without electricity or running water for days. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara) A girl, centre, suspected of cholera infection is treated at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019.The World Health Organization and UNICEF launched a diphtheria vaccination campaign this month in war-torn Yemen targeting over 2.8 million children between the ages of six weeks and 15 years. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) A severely malnourished child cries on his hospital bed at Banguis pediatric center in Bangui, Central African Republic, Tuesday Dec. 17, 2013. According to UNICEFs doctor Celestin Traore, even though malnutrition is high in the country, the problem is worsening due to the conflict. Traore expects to see over 150 malnourished children daily in the coming days as the humanitarian situation worsens. Over 1600 French troops have been deployed to the country in an effort to put an end to sectarian violence. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) A Pakistani girl attends a makeshift class held at a park and organized by volunteers on International Literacy Day, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. According to UNICEF, 56 percent of Pakistani children attend primary school, and 55 percent of adults are literate. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) The UNICEF logo is seen in the German headquarter in Cologne, Germany, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Hermann J. Knippertz) A UNICEF worker checks boxes of Moderna coronavirus vaccine after their arrival at the airport in Nairobi, Kenya Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. The first time that Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been received in Kenya, 880,460 doses were delivered forming the first of two shipments totalling 1.76 million doses which were donated by the U.S. government via the COVAX facility, according to UNICEF who transported the vaccines. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga) FILE  In this Sept. 13, 2017, file photo, Rohingya Muslim girl Afeefa Bebi, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh holds her few-hours-old brother as doctors check her mother Yasmeen Ara at a community hospital in Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh. A new report by the United Nations childrens agency says the lives and futures of more than 19 million Bangladeshi children are at risk from colossal impacts of devastating floods, cyclones and other environmental disasters linked to climate change. The UNICEF report released Friday, April 5, 2019 said the tally includes Rohingya refugee children from Myanmar who are living in squalid camps in southern Bangladesh. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File) A UNICEF volunteer administers vitamin A syrup to a boy from Nicobar Island at a tsunami relief camp in Port Blair, in Indias southeastern Andaman and Nicobar Islands archipelago, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005. The tsunami that smashed Asian and African coastlines on Dec. 26, 2004, has severely damaged parts of the archipelago, with some islands breaking up, land masses tilting and underwater coral reefs emerging above the sea. Indira Point, the farthest tip of the Indian territory, may have just completely disappeared, say army surveyors and survivors. The death toll in India is 9,675. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) An Afghan child is vaccinated against polio during a polio eradication campaign in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. Around 7.7 million Afghan children are going to be vaccinated in a three days of a polio vaccination drive, launched by Afghan Health Ministry with the cooperation of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Childrens Fund in the country. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) A girl with a suspected cholera infection is treated at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. The World Health Organization and UNICEF launched a diphtheria vaccination campaign this month in war-torn Yemen targeting over 2.8 million children between the ages of six weeks and 15 years. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) Students attend a class in a makeshift classroom set up by UNICEF on Monday Oct. 5, 2009 in Padang, Indonesia. Hundreds of children went back to class Monday in schools set up in tents in Indonesias earthquake zone to get counseling on the loss of loved ones and homes, as authorities tried to restore normalcy after the disaster.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Pakistani children attend their school established by UNICEF in Chota Lahore Refugee Camp in Swabi, Pakistan on Wednesday, May 20, 20089. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the United States was sending $110 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Pakistan, part of the administrations new strategy for countering the appeal of Taliban militants in the nuclear-armed American ally. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) A health worker is seen cleaning inside a tent set aside for cholera patients at a clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe, Saturday Nov. 18, 2023. Zimbabwe is battling a cholera outbreak that has resulted in more than 150 suspected deaths countrywide. Health experts, authorities and residents blame the outbreak on acute water shortages and lack of access to sanitation and hygiene services (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

The UN Relief Rehabilitation Administration created the International Childrens Emergency Fund (ICEF) to deal with this crisis. On December 11, 1946, a resolution of the UN General Assembly brought the United Nations Childrens International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) into being. The organizations mandate  help all children regardless of which side of the war their countries had been on. As Maurice Pate, the first UNICEF Executive Director put it, There are no enemy children.

UNICEF: 12.7 million children in Africa missed vaccinations

Originally tasked with relieving the suffering of children in postwar Europe, UNICEF quickly went worldwide. In 1953 it became a permanent United Nations agency. Officially it was now the UN Childrens Fund, dropping international and emergency but was still called UNICEF. (The name was already well established, and besides, it rolls off the tongue more easily than UNCF.)

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Over the decades, the role of UNICEF has expanded into all parts of the world, and all aspects of child health and safety. According to the UNICEF website:

UN child agency expands presence in Juarez

By the end of 1993, life expectancy in the developing world has increased by about a third since the end of World War II. Infant and child death rates have been halved, the proportion of children starting school has risen from 50 percent to 75 percent, and the number of rural families with access to safe drinking water has risen from just 10 percent to almost 60 percent.

Today UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories, working to provide services that protect and benefit all children. For more information about what UNICEF is doing, you can visit their website here.

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Were just over a month away from the presidential inauguration and one of the first things President-Elect Donald Trump has said he wants to do is impose sweeping tariffs.

Eries economy has close ties with Canada as do many northern states.

LECOM officials cut the ribbon on new adult day care center

And now, county leaders across the country are hoping to reason with the president-elect on potential tariffs facing our neighbors to the north.

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County executives across the country are showing concern for the impacts of any potential tariffs and theyre hoping to work with Trumps transition team to convey the potential economic impact.

Pennsylvania exports a total of $16 billion worth of goods and services to Canada annually.

Its the Commonwealths number one export market larger than its next four foreign markets combined, according to Canadian Consulate General Tom Clark, and fears over potential tariffs being imposed when President-elect Donald Trump takes office are sparking concern for county executives across America.

History made Kayla Hawley named first female fire chief of Union City Volunteer FD

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Our macro economy here is more closely connected to Ontario and eastern, southeastern Canada than Missouri, said Brenton Davis, Erie County executive.

County Executive Davis, along with other county executives from New York, Wisconsin, to the state of Washington drafted a letter addressed to Trump and his transition team, asking them to reconsider Canadian tariffs and their economic impact.

Obviously the American people are tired of inflated costs. Were tired of things costing more, the cost of gas, the cost of goods, things of that nature. A tariff is only going to add to that, Davis said.

There are more than 300 Canadian businesses with a footprint here in Erie County and this wouldnt just affect their bottom line, but American jobs.

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About 2,300 people in Erie County are employed by these Canadian-owned businesses and according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data, twice as many jobs depend on goods and services exported to Canada.

Annually, Erie County exports a combined $431 million worth of goods and services to Canada.

Products that make up that figure include plastics, rubber, transportation, minerals, metals, machinery and agriculture and all of those and more could be impacted by a proposed 25 percent tariff.

And as a Republican county executive, Davis said he feels like he has a line of communication that could get through to Trump.

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EMTA service nearly back to normal after recent snowstorm

We need to pick up the leadership because this is a Republican presidential administration. We have the inside track in terms of communication, being able to leverage assets and make deals essentially. Really, its Erie County stepping up to provide leadership that our country drastically needs, most specifically on our northern border of the United States.

Davis said theyll continue to reach out to white house officials ahead of the inauguration in January to see if theres an avenue for communication to continue.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Pittsfield High School Dean of Students Lavante Wiggins was among two men arrested Wednesday for their alleged roles in trafficking large amounts of cocaine in western Massachusetts, the U.S. Attorney said.

Wiggins, 30, and Theodore Warren (aka Monty), 42, both of Pittsfield, have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said in a statement.

According to the charging documents, Wiggins was in charge of running a drug trafficking organization that had distributed large amounts of cocaine in the Pittsfield area. Warren served as a runner for the operation, authorities said.

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In August, Wiggins began sending Warren to conduct drug sales, as Wiggins believed he was under investigation. One of their customers had amounted a large debt upwards to $34,000 for cocaine that Wiggins would provide credit for.

Wiggins and Warren would slowly collect on that debt, while simultaneously supplying the same customer. Wiggins told Warren on four separate times to supply the same customer from September to December 2024, including:

approximately 91 grams of cocaine on Sept. 10;

approximately 100 grams of cocaine on Oct. 14;

125 grams of cocaine on Oct. 31; and

150 grams of cocaine on Dec. 10.

Both Wiggins and Warren face a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

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Both men were expected to appear in federal court in Springfield on Wednesday.

Wiggins earned $79,933 in 2023 in his role as dean of students, according to online city payroll records.

It was unclear Wednesday whether any of the alleged cocaine trafficking by Wiggins happened during school time, or on school property.

School officials welcomed Wiggins to his new position in a 2021 post on Pittsfield High Schools Facebook page. The post shows Wiggins standing on steps with other educators.

We are excited to welcome our new Dean of Students, Lavante Wiggins to Pittsfield High School! the April 5, 2021 post read.

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His employment status with the district was not immediately known following his arrest on Wednesday.

Pittsfield is a city in Berkshire County in western Massachusetts. The citys population was 43,927 at the 2020 census.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Two Pittsfield men were arrested Wednesday for their involvement in a drug trafficking case.

Lavante Wiggins, 30, and Theodore Warren, a/k/a Monty, 42, were charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Wiggins is employed as the Dean of Pittsfield High School.

Man gets stuck in chimney trying to avoid arrest in Fall River

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According to investigators, Wiggins led a drug trafficking organization that distributed large amounts of cocaine in and around the Pittsfield area, and Warren delivered the drugs.

This raises questions for residents of the city.

How did he get away with it while he was in the school? Who was watching over him? I just dont understand it, said Cynthia Sanford of Pittsfield.

The Pittsfield Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Curtis provided a statement addressing the community;

We have been informed by the U.S. Attorneys Office about the arrest of Lavante Wiggins, Dean of Students at Pittsfield High School. In response to this matter, Mr. Wiggins has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately. Please know that we remain committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students and staff. We have no other information at this time. Pittsfield Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Curtis

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Both men were expected to appear in Springfields federal court on Wednesday.

If found guilty, the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Nearly 22 years after a womans body was found in a river near her Saginaw home, authorities say a man has been charged.

Jeanette Wilton was found dead in the Flint River on Feb. 22, 2003, according to a release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General.

An autopsy showed that the 57-year-old woman died of strangulation and multiple stab wounds to the neck, authorities say. She also sustained blunt force trauma to her head and face, the release says, and injuries that occurred after her death.

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The case went cold, but in 2021, the Michigan State Police Third District Cold Case Team reopened the investigation, hoping to benefit from advancements in DNA testing.

Through collaborative investigative efforts involving Western Michigan Universitys Cold Case program and the MSP laboratory, MSP was able to submit reanalyzed evidence to a private lab using a cold case grant to fund the reexamination, which developed new leads for MSP investigators, the release says.

Earlier this year, investigators were able to link a Saginaw man  47-year-old Jason Cabello  to the case, according to the attorney generals office. The office says Cabello had formerly been in a relationship with one of the victims relatives, but was not otherwise known to be associated with her.

State police referred the case to the Michigan Department of Attorney General, and on Tuesday, Cabello was arraigned on charges of first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to authorities.

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For more than a decade, Jeanettes loved ones have lived without answers, but with these charges, we are now one step closer to delivering long-awaited justice, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stated. I want to thank the Michigan State Police, whose incredible efforts made this breakthrough possible. Their work proves that no case is too cold to be solved, and no victim is forgotten.

Cabello is set to appear in court again later this month, according to the attorney generals office. Authorities say anyone who has more information about Cabello can contact Detective Sgt. Bill Arndt at 989.615.6257 or email MSP-ColdCase@michigan.gov.

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SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korean lawmakers are scheduled to vote at 5 p.m. local time this Saturday on the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's motion to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol over his botched attempt to impose martial law, local media reported Wednesday.

Yoon escaped impeachment last Saturday due to a lack of quorum as most lawmakers from his ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote. 
Dec. 11The attorney for a suspect in last spring's murder of a Hamilton man says police violated his rights, and his alleged confession should be thrown out at trial.

Fermin Garcia-Gutierrez, 47, is charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and kidnapping, with firearm specifications, for the death of Fernando Reyna Oviedo, who was found dead in a garage in April.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones called a press conference shortly after the arrest pointing to Garcia-Gutierrez as a multiple-time offender who has been deported seven times.

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At arraignment, Butler County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer McElfresh set bond at $5 million cash or surety.

Attorney Keith Fricker said in a motion to suppress evidence that Garcia-Gutierrez is illiterate, but he "was incarcerated on other charges and the Hamilton detective interrogated the defendant knowing he was unable to read or write either (English or Spanish) and without the aid of an interpreter being present."

Fricker also said the detective observed that Garcia-Gutierrez had suffered injuries, including a head injury.

"The detective still read the defendant the Miranda warnings and had him make a mark on the Miranda card," Fricker said in the motion.

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The defense says Garcia-Gutierrez's rights were violated because he did not understand his right to remain silent or to have a attorney present, so the alleged confession and any other evidence collected should be suppressed.

Garcia-Gutierrez is scheduled to be back in court Jan. 29 for a hearing on the motion. A trial date has not yet been set.

Oviedo, 41, was found dead on April 1 after Hamilton police officers were called about a body in the 1100 block of South 13th Street.

Investigators believe Garcia-Gutierrez committed the homicide before he was arrested on other charges

Jones said Garcia-Gutierrez is an example of his frustration with the Biden Administration's immigration enforcement and border policies.

Jones said Garcia-Gutierrez had been to prison three times and deported seven times to Mexico, but keeps returning.

"Says it takes him two weeks to get back," the sheriff said.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A new life-saving device accompanies every Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office patrol vehicle.

Having life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) placed in every patrol vehicle could make a critical difference during medical emergencies.

So we have 100 new AEDS. Thats what we just deployed into the field. Every one of our patrol units now has an AED on board, said Caddo Parish Patrol Captain Matthew Cowden.

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Cowden says its a game changer for public safety because, in emergencies, every second counts.

So we have 900 square miles to cover. So, you never know if its going to be in the right place at the right time, said Captain Matthew Cowden. So now all of our patrol units are equipped with AEDS including our SROs inside the schools.

Caddo sheriff announces property tax notice delay

How does an AED work?

The device uses voice commands to guide you through each step and is easy to use, even for those without medical training. The AEDS were funded through the opioid abatement fund and are in partnership with Cardiac Solutions and Stryker. Caddo parish deputies will now be able to provide immediate assistance to victims before paramedics arrive.

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Capt. Cowden demonstrated the ease of use.

Turn the machine on or open the top, the machine automatically comes on, then you gotta plug the pads in, and normally while youre doing that, somebodys doing CPR, said Captain Matthew Cowden.

The AEDS have been proven to dramatically increase the chance of survival in cases of cardiac arrest.

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Warming centers are opening up all over metro Atlanta to make sure everyone has a warm place to sleep Wednesday night.

Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes spoke with a nonprofit organization that is helping the community.

The organization is called Frontline Response and that is where DeKalb County officials want people to go if they need to keep warm Wednesday night.

The facility is located off Gresham Road.

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There are free buses that bring people who are experiencing homelessness there. People need to check in at the front desk.

The center has blankets everywhere so people can warm up immediately upon entering.

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Once they get you registered, theres a room where people can hang out or sleep.

Frontline partners up with the city of Decatur and DeKalb County to provide the facility for people when temperatures go down to freezing.

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If youre fortunate enough to have a place to stay - whether you live in an apartment or a house - youre probably wondering how you can stay warm - and keep your utility bill as low as possible.

Fernandes spoke to a Georgia Power spokesperson about that, and Matthew Kent said paying attention to past usage can save you some money.

Having a thermostat that you can program can help, and you should always seal cracks in windows and doors.

Make sure youre not running your heat all day long, especially when youre not at home. The recommended temperature should be set at 68 degrees when you are at home and lower when youre not at home, Kent said. If youre sealing the cracks in your windows  setting at 68 properly  houses or apartments  you know you are going to save money all year long, especially with a programmable thermostat. I love those things.

Frontline said it had more than triple the number of beds it had last winter. Theyre expecting to use those beds Wednesday night.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Democratic senators are urging President Joe Biden to extend temporary protections for migrants in the U.S. before he leaves office, warning that millions of people could be forced to return to unsafe countries once President-elect Donald Trump retakes the White House.

The senators have been quietly urging the White House to take executive actions that would attempt to extend legal protections for migrants into Trump's administration, and the White House has been discussing what steps to take.

But any actions from the outgoing president would happen in the wake of an election that Trump won on promises of hardline immigration enforcement. The Democratic Party is also debating internally how it should approach immigration and border security after its election losses.

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The Biden administration earlier this week made permanent a rule that extends work authorizations for asylum seekers, but has not made commitments on other priorities for immigration advocates and Democrats. With just weeks remaining before Biden leaves office, several Democratic senators took their pleas public Wednesday.

The urgency of the next 40 days will remain, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said at a news conference. So were going to keep pressing.

The senators from the Congressional Hispanic Conference urged the White House to re-designate or renew Temporary Protected Status for migrants from Nicaragua, Ecuador and El Salvador, as well as issue an order to expedite renewals for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Over 1 million migrants in the U.S. rely on TPS, which allows people already in the country to stay and work legally if their homelands are deemed unsafe. Trump has suggested he would scale back the program as he looks to implement the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.

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We know the incoming administration is going to try to implement chaotic immigration policies that tear our families apart, said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., adding, But we have a chance to do something about that right now and give these families as much legal protection and reassurance as possible.

While Trump could attempt to undo some of the actions, they would set up a legal impediment and give migrants stronger legal standing to challenge Trump's orders.

In 2017, the Trump administration announced the end of TPS for Nicaraguans, saying that it was no longer needed. But TPS holders challenged the legality of that decision in a lawsuit in court. Since then, the duration of TPS for Nicaragua depends on a court order from a federal judge.

The White House is considering taking action to extend temporary protections for some nations, but nothing has yet been decided, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations.

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Redesignating protected status for some nations would involve a more serious undertaking because it would grant people the right to stay in the U.S. from the date it was designated and a determination on the safety and security of the nation must be done. The renewal procedure only involves those already in the U.S. who would be allowed to stay longer.

In the last months, advocates have ramped up pressure on the Biden administration re-designate Nicaraguan migrants for TPS, which would protect thousands of people from deportation. Hundreds of religious, immigration and human rights organizations argue that the combination of political and environmental circumstances make it unsafe for Nicaraguans to return to their country.

We dont know how politics can change with Trump and TPS gives us peace of mind, said Grethel Gomez, a 60-year-old Nicaraguan activist and asylum petitioner who could benefit from TPS. There is horror of deportation, and this would give us security."

Gomez's son was a human rights activist in Nicaragua and was detained for 45 days. She took to the streets to protest and ask for his release and was also persecuted, she said.

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Gomez left Nicaragua clandestinely and arrived in the United States with a tourist visa in 2021. Less than a year later she requested asylum, but she has not yet had any interviews and fears that her process will be hindered during the Trump administration.

TPS could also benefit those Nicaraguans who came under a separate Biden program called humanitarian parole and have temporary legal status that expires after two years. Trump has said that he will end the parole program.

Other immigrants, such as Jose Cabrera, a TPS holder from El Salvador, have lived in the U.S. for decades. But the TPS designation for El Salvador ends in March.

Cabrera, who took time off from his landscaping job to speak alongside the senators at the Capitol Wednesday, said in comments translated from Spanish, Im proud to be part of this community. But right now, theres so much fear among immigrants like me, especially with the new administration coming in.
A view of the Colorado Capitol on Jan. 25, 2024. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

A Democratic state representative will not challenge the election result in House District 16, based in Colorado Springs, where she lost last month by three votes to Republican Rep.-elect Rebecca Keltie.

It is the closest statewide race and tipped the balance in the House of Representatives to strip Democrats of their supermajority. Democrats will have a 43-22 majority next session, which begins in January.

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Keltie initially had a seven-vote lead over Rep. Steph Vigil. A mandatory recount then resulted in a tie, but the El Paso County canvass board overturned three votes for Vigil. That board is made up of the county clerk, one Republican and one Democrat.

When the recount result was announced last week, Vigil said she would potentially explore legal options over the statistical tie.

There are unfortunately unanswered questions as to how a few ballots in the HD-16 recount were adjudicated. In the vast majority of races, this would not affect the outcome and the matter would be easily settled. Since were talking about a three vote difference however, it is actually significant that a few voters may have been misunderstood. It weighs heavily on me whether or not the voters have been thoroughly heard, Vigil said in a statement Wednesday.

Rep. Stephanie Vigil, right, speaks alongside Rep. Brianna Titone, left, in the Colorado House of Representatives on March 1, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

But Vigil ultimately decided not to pursue a challenge.

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While I absolutely love this job, these last couple of years have taken a toll, and an additional battle at this juncture is not in the cards for me. I have always endeavored to be the bigger person and rise above the threatening and abusive behavior thats come my way during my first term, but it is nonetheless draining, she said.

Vigil was one of the most progressive lawmakers in the Legislature. She ran successful bills to eliminate parking requirements for new developments in many Colorado cities, require educators to use a students preferred name and expand protections for delivery driver gig workers.

In contrast, Keltie is a conservative Republican. She supports law enforcement collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants and the advancement of school choice and charter schools, according to her campaign website.

In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Keltie knocked on doors with the election denial group U.S. Election Integrity Plan.

The Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 8.

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The Scene

Democrats who represent New York City in the House and Senate had muted, mixed reactions to Mondays acquittal of Daniel Penny  a break from progressive and racial justice activists back home, and a sign of how far the party has shifted away from its social justice posture of just a few years earlier.

Its a New York jury. I cant say it was a gerrymandered jury, said Rep. Greg Meeks, the chairman of the Queens Democratic Party. Im not sitting there, hearing all the evidence. The jury made a decision.

Republicans hailed the verdict. Moments after Penny was found not guilty for the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man he had held in a fatal chokehold after threatening subway passengers, House Speaker Mike Johnson called the defendant a hero who saved lives. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had condemned Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg over his prosecution of Donald Trump, credited the jury for doing the right thing, and incoming Vice President JD Vance called it a scandal Penny was ever prosecuted.

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By contrast, the partys New York-heavy leadership, including House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, and incoming Congressional Black Congress chair Yvette Clarke, said nothing about the verdict on Tuesday.

Just one New York Democrat criticized it. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who represents a sliver of the Bronx and lost his 2024 primary after heavy spending by pro-Israel groups, published a 12-post X thread addressed to white people, linking Neelys death to the killings of George Floyd, Philando Castile, Trayvon Martin, and Breonna Taylor.

He was sick. He was not a threat. He was subdued. Still not a threat, wrote Bowman of Neely. Daniel Penny choked him for 6 minutes. And killed him. We all watched it on camera, and he was still acquitted.

No other congressional Democrat from New York fully echoed Bowman on Tuesday; conservative X accounts recirculated a May 2023 TikTok interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, criticizing Penny for not expressing remorse, but she did not react to the verdict. Manhattan Rep. Jerry Nadler, who said he would have decided the case the other way, added that he understood why Penny was acquitted.

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I think its a sign of how scared people are of the conditions in the subways, even though, objectively, crime rates are down, Nadler told Semafor.

The View From Activists

Some of the most prominent progressive groups in New York, and America, lambasted the verdict and fretted that it would put more Black people at risk.

The national NAACP said on Monday that the verdict had given license for vigilante justice to be waged on the Black community without consequence. The state Working Families Party, which has given its ballot line to most of the New York Democratic delegation, said that Eric Adams and his administration failed to call Neelys death what it was: a modern-day lynching. And Jumaane Williams, the city Public Advocate elected with WFP support, said the system was okay with violence against marginalized people like Neely, and that the tragedy would not have happened had the two mens races been reversed.

The View From Democrats

While Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett shared the sentiments of activists, calling the verdict a miscarriage of justice, most New York Democrats who talked to Semafor on Tuesday took another view.

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I think everyone who does not sit in a courtroom for an entire trial should be careful about reaching judgments or conclusions about any given case, said Brooklyn Rep. Dan Goldman, who had previously called Neelys death a heartbreaking tragedy. What something may look like on a video may ultimately be significantly changed by the law or the evidence.

Queens Rep. Grace Meng called the Penny case sad, and obviously, one that shouldnt have happened. Neely had bounced in and out of the citys criminal justice and mental health systems before the confrontation with Penny, and in New York and around the country, we need to invest more in mental health resources. The victim should never have been in that situation.

But Meng disagreed with the lynching characterization from New York WFP. That would not be my take, she said. Rep. Tom Suozzi, whose district covers a small part of Queens and a larger part of Long Island, said he supported the jurys decision.

I think its good practice for Democrats and Republicans to follow the jury system weve set up in our country, he said. Thats worked pretty well for over 200 years.

The View From Republicans

New York Rep. Mike Lawler, who both parties see as a potential candidate for governor next year, told Semafor that the verdict was an embarrassment to DA Bragg and to Democrats who had defended his conduct in the job  including the Trump prosecution.These are the same people who fundamentally believe that violent criminals should be released back out onto the streets, but have no problem prosecuting law-abiding citizens, Lawler told Semafor. Im not surprised that my colleagues had no comment on what was a just verdict.

Dave and Kadias View

The Democrats hard thinking about what went wrong for them this year is happening in public and in private, in what they say and what they choose not to.

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Its significant that just one New York Democrat, who is already heading for the exits, put the Penny verdict in the larger context of racial justice movements and police abuse.

In 2020, Democrats often walked in step  and, just once, in kente cloth  with the Black Lives Matter movement. They didnt do so this week, and that says something about how they are thinking about their image after 2024 election losses. New York City and its suburbs led the way on that.
This article was originally published in Chalkbeat.

In their remaining days of state control, Michigan Democrats are pushing legislation they say would make history curriculums in K-12 public schools more culturally inclusive.

The most significant bill would require all public school districts in the state to include at least one unit of instruction a year on the histories of African, Latino, Arab, and Native Americans, among other racial and cultural groups, in their curricula. The lessons would be included in existing history classes by the 2027-28 school year and cover the discrimination the groups have faced and their fights for civil rights.

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Another bill would require all teachers in the state complete cultural competency training that covers issues like implicit bias and the importance of inclusion in education.

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Amidst the recent national wave restricting what can be taught in classrooms, we have the opportunity now in Michigan to support and stand with teachers who want to do right by their students and teach comprehensive and accurate history, Henry Duong, who leads Teach MI History, a campaign that has advocated for inclusive history instruction since 2022, said in a prepared statement.

Rep. Ranjeev Puri, a Democrat from Canton who co-sponsored the legislation, said the new curriculum goes beyond teaching history.

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We are fostering empathy, cultural awareness, and the critical thinking skills our students need to thrive in an interconnected world, he said.

Similar legislation was introduced in 2022 but failed to move forward.

Despite that, the proposed curriculum was piloted in some schools this year. The Michigan Department of Education, or MDE, also began developing guidelines for the curriculum this year.

Here is what the package of bills would do:

Require school districts ensure existing history classes include at least one unit of instruction on the histories of African Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Latino Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Caribbean Americans, Native Americans, Arab Americans, Chaldean Americans, North African Americans, and Jewish Americans. The requirement would begin in the 2027-28 school year and would apply to all public K-12 schools in the state.

Require the lessons include contributions made by those communities, the discrimination they have faced, and advancements in their civil rights. The lessons would be crafted to be age appropriate.

Call on the MDE to create instructional material that would be available to schools to use as guidelines for lessons.

Require educators to receive cultural competency training, which would cover issues such as implicit bias, the importance of inclusion, and the struggles experienced by communities of color. The MDE would be required to create the professional development material and make it available to schools by June 2026.

Require all educators who have contact with students to complete the training by the 2027-28 school year.

Create a cultural history advisory board within the MDE to provide recommendations on the K-12 curriculum and professional development material. The members of the board would be appointed by the superintendent of public instruction and would include people from all of the communities represented in the proposed curriculum as well as educators, experts, and stakeholders.

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Three of the bills in the package were introduced at the end of November in the Senate and the other three were introduced in the House this week. They have all been referred to education committees in the legislature.

The bills would need to clear several hurdles before becoming law by the end of the session.

Democrats are working to move their legislative priorities forward before the end of the year, when they will lose control of the House.

The partys other remaining legislative education goals include charter school transparency, measures to prevent school violence, changes to sex education, and protections for Indigenous students.

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
As the year winds down, Oklahomans rush to make final dental appointments, hoping to use their insurance benefits before they expire. Unfortunately, for far too many, these visits come with surprise costs, delays and denials from their insurance providers, revealing a troubling truth: Dental insurance is failing the people its supposed to cover!

Recently, the Oklahoma Dental Association (ODA) surveyed its membership, representing more than 1,600 dentists across the state, exposing the staggering scope of this issue. Over 90% of Oklahoma dental practices reported having experienced significant problems with third-party payers. This isnt just an administrative headache for dental offices; its a crisis affecting patients health, finances and peace of mind. As president of the Oklahoma Dental Association, I feel its essential to share these findings and urge change.

More: Medicare Advantage doesn't offer all it advertises | Opinion

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The survey shows multiple ways current insurance practices are letting Oklahomans down. Nearly 60% of dental practices reported that insurers routinely delay payments, leaving patients responsible for paying upfront costs while they wait for uncertain reimbursement. Over a third of practices said claims are frequently denied without adequate explanation, creating confusion and financial strain.

Even more troubling, 33% of practices reported that insurers apply arbitrary usual and customary rate (UCR) caps, severely limiting the benefits patients can actually use  even for procedures they thought were covered. These practices make dental care unpredictable, costly and inaccessible for many families. Imagine going to your dentist for a necessary procedure only to learn that your insurance will cover only a fraction of the cost  or worse, deny it altogether without a clear reason. Too many Oklahomans face this reality and are often left with the impossible choice of paying out-of-pocket or delaying essential care.

Every day, Oklahoma dentists hear from frustrated, confused and worried patients who are concerned about affording care despite having insurance. For those needing complex treatments, like crowns or root canals, insurers often cap reimbursements even on pre-approved procedures, leaving patients to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket. These arent just financial setbacks but barriers to essential care that impact health and quality of life.

As we move into 2025, Oklahoma dentists stand together to advocate for our patients. Dental insurance should be a tool that protects health, not a barrier that puts it at risk. Patients deserve transparency in how claims are processed, timely reimbursement so they arent left covering upfront costs and assurance that medical decisions are being made by their health care providers  not insurance adjusters focused on profits.

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More: Oklahoma dentist: We need greater focus on health equity for Native people

Oklahoma lawmakers have an opportunity to address these issues in February by considering much-needed reforms to dental insurance practices. We urge them to prioritize patients over corporate interests and make 2025 the year we prioritize Oklahomans oral health. Dental insurance should have a clear goal: to help people access the care they need without hidden obstacles or financial surprises.

Our hope is that this coming year, patients in Oklahoma will have the peace of mind that their dental coverage will be there for them when it matters most. Dentists across the state stand ready to support these changes. Oklahomans deserve better, and its time for dental insurance to meet that standard.

Dr. Daryn Lu

Daryn Lu, DDS, is president of the Oklahoma Dental Association

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahomans having dental insurance problems. New laws needed | Opinion
DENVER (KDVR)  The city of Denver is requiring all licensed parking lots to be properly lit in a push to prevent crime and protect the public.

On Wednesday, the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses released new guidance on lighting requirements for licensed parking lots. The department said proper lighting is crucial for reducing criminal activity, particularly downtown where most paid parking is available.

Lighting is probably one of the top crime prevention tools that you can utilize in order to prevent and perception of crime, said Denver police Community Resource Officer, Kayla Knabe.

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Auto thefts down statewide, but still remain high

According to the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, Denver police data found that through Oct. 1, 2024, there were 744 cases of theft at parking lots or garages in downtown Denver. There were also two reports of carjackings.

Darkness can embolden people committing crimes because they believe their actions wont be seen by others and that they have a better chance of avoiding arrest, said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas in a press release. The goal of these lighting requirements is to literally shine a bright light on an identified safety concern to help keep our community and their property safe in paid parking lots.

The new guidance is in effect, and Denver Revised Municipal Code section 55-266 requires the lots be kept properly illuminated at all times the lot is open for business. If the parking lot operator does not comply with the guidelines, the city said they may be fined up to $999 and have their license suspended or revoked.

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Generally, I havent had an issue, said Jacob Urenda-Garibay, someone who has parked in the lots. I have had my car hit. I guess its the price you pay for parking downtown.

A parking lot is defined by the department as any place, lot, parcel, yard, structure, building or enclosure used in whole or in part for storing or parking three or more motor vehicles where a storage or parking fee is charged.

Denver looks to eliminate parking minimums citywide

To maintain proper lighting, the municipal code requires full outdoor lighting included, but not limited to:

Use of full cutoff lighting fixtures

Restrictions on the allowable height of light fixtures based on zoning or location

Prohibition on glare

Uses of security lighting

Lighting for entrances in nonresidential and multiunit developments

A lighting uniformity ratio for the lot or garage not to exceed 20:1

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Licensed parking lot operators can read the full guidelines on the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses website. The department said some parking lots could be eligible for free lighting upgrades.

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.
SYDNEY, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A man has been shot by police in eastern Australia after allegedly threatening officers with a knife.

Police in the state of New South Wales (NSW) declared a critical incident after the shooting in Grafton, approximately 500 km north of Sydney and 250 km south of Brisbane, on Wednesday morning.

In a statement, NSW Police said that the officers were deployed to a public park in Grafton at about 6:30 a.m. local time to respond to reports of a concern for welfare.

"On arrival, police located and attempted to engage with a man," NSW Police said.

"The man allegedly approached police and threatened them with a knife before he was shot by police."

Officers immediately administered first aid until the arrival of ambulance paramedics.

The man, who has not been publicly identified, was then airlifted to hospital in a stable but serious condition.

No police officers were injured.

NSW Police said that a critical incident team will investigate the circumstances of the incident.

The NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, the state's independent police oversight body, said it would monitor the police investigation to ensure public confidence. 
DENVER (KDVR)  After a cold start to the day, sunshine and warmer temperatures are moving into Denvers weather for the rest of the week and into the weekend.

Weather tonight: Clearing, chilly

Clouds will continue clearing Tuesday night. Temperatures will be chilly but near our seasonal average, and fall down to around 20 degrees.

FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar

Weather tomorrow: Sunny, mild

After a chilly start to the day, Sunshine and a southwesterly shift in wind Wednesday will help to boost high temperatures to the lower 50s.

Looking ahead: More sunshine & above normal temps

Sunshine and mild, above-average temperatures stick around for the end of the week and into the weekend. Thursdays high will climb to the lower 50s, which is nearly 10 degrees above normal for this time of year.

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A system will move through late Thursday into Friday, giving the mountains a few snow showers and the metro more clouds and a slight dip in temperature on Friday.

A slight warming trend will kick in on Saturday and Sunday, with sunshine aiding in bringing temperatures up from a low in the mid to upper 20s to a high in the mid-50s both days. Then, sunny and mild conditions will continue into next week.

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.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver weather forecast for Wednesday shows mostly sunny skies returning to the Front Range, with mild highs and light winds.

Weather today: Lots of sunshine

The sunny skies are still around for the middle of the workweek. That sunshine will help highs top out in the lower 50s by Wednesday afternoon with a light wind.

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The Western Slope and higher elevations will see extra clouds by the afternoon.

Pinpoint Weather: Daily forecast on Dec. 11

Weather tonight: Some extra clouds

The clouds over the mountains on Wednesday afternoon will slide through the Front Range by Wednesday night, producing partly cloudy skies.

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Winds will be light with overnight lows dipping into the middle 20s.

Pinpoint Weather: Overnight forecast on Dec. 11

Looking ahead: Mostly dry and mild into the weekend

Thursday is another mild day with above-average highs in the lower 50s, but partly cloudy skies move in by the afternoon.

FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar

Friday keeps the extra clouds through the day, and with an afternoon breeze, highs will be closer to seasonal averages in the upper 40s.

Pinpoint Weather 7-day forecast for Denver on Dec. 11

Saturday starts the weekend with more sunshine building into the forecast with highs in the low 50.

Sunday is a few degrees warmer with sunny skies  just in time for the Broncos game.

Monday kicks off the next workweek with the chance for a quick morning shower/flurry, lingering clouds and highs near 50 degrees. Tuesday will see mainly sunny skies and highs in the upper 40s.

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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.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The Department of Veterans Affairs announced earlier this month its funding research into psychedelic therapy for veterans with PTSD.

Finally. Finally, the VA is saying theres something here. Lets study it, Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) said.

That something California Congressman Lou Correa says is MDMA. More commonly known as ecstasy, the psychedelic paired with therapy, Correa says, has eased PTSD in some veterans.

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We got to pull back the stigma around MDMA, Correa said.

Its not currently legal in the U.S., and the FDA rejected the drugs approval earlier this year, but Correa says the number of veteran suicides warrants trying something new.

Right now, 20 veterans a day are committing suicide. These drugs that we have are not working, Correa said.

Correa and 59 other lawmakers sent a letter to the Biden administration in August, calling for more research into the treatment.

In a letter responding to Correa, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said the VA will spend $1.5 million on a five-year study that starts next year.

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VA researchers at Brown and Yale Universities will evaluate the treatment, which McDonough writes is: believed to increase emotional openness, reduce fear, and promote introspection during therapy.

So its very promising. We definitely applaud the organization, Heroic Hearts Project President and Founder Jesse Gould said.

Jesse Gould with the Heroic Hearts Project helps connect veterans to psychedelic treatments. He says this is a good first step to helping stem veteran suicides and improving mental health.

Men and women have bravely served the country, Gould said. They upheld their end of the bargain, and now its the countrys turn.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley has undergone some changes recently. Tuesday the foundations president Casey Krell spoke in-depth about whats changed.

Krell says that last summer former president Shari Harrel retired and she was appointed to take her place.

I worked for Shari for about 10 years. So it was, you know, a real honor that the board selected me to take over the helm. And its been quite the journey and the community foundation. I feel like its a wonderful next step for me in the organization, Krell said.

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That transfer of knowledge is important, especially within a nonprofit. Sometimes leaders have to make decisions without any guidelines.

So as Shari was stepping down, we were starting the celebration of our 25th anniversary and for us, it was important to center that in the community that it wasnt just about the organization It was, you know, over two decades of working in the community and all of the individuals that have been a part of our organization, Krell said.

There are two foundations that the local community hears about and thats the Youngstown Foundation and the Community Foundation.

Wednesday, Krell will explain why the volunteers 25 years ago felt that there was a need for the community foundation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Caldwell County deputies are stepping up patrols in several neighbors south of Lenoir after a string of robberies.

Deputies say someone is breaking into cars and stealing Christmas decorations from peoples yards.

Brooke Soesbee says knew right away when she opened the door to her pickup truck that someone had broken into it while she was asleep. The inside was a mess and some items were thrown out in her yard.

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Father demands answers after sons ADHD medication disappears at school

To come into a cul-de-sac, to see people who work hard and do what they need to do and to just take stuff for no reason, its ridiculous, Soesbee told Channel 9s Dave Faherty.

Another woman says someone took two student Chromebooks out of her van and the school district says she will have to pay to have the devices replaced.

I just think its wrong. These are hard-working people. Dont take our things, she told Faherty.

One man who lives in the neighborhood showed Channel 9 surveillance video of the thief going through his vehicles.

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Ive never seen it happen in my neighborhood, Nauro Ortiz said.

Investigators say they know of eight homes so far that were hit in the Baton community south of Lenoir.

They are hoping to identify a suspect.

Its not a good idea for anybody to do that because everybody around has guns now, said Dwight Stillwell. If they catch someone it could be just a quick reaction  thats all it would take.

Deputies are urging residents to not leave anything valuable inside their cars and to lock their car doors.

VIDEO: Some say thieves targeting iPhones bought through AT&T, delivered by FedEx
DES MOINES, IOWA  A Des Moines woman will spend up to 12 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl laced pills that lead to the overdose death of a teenager.

Nevaeh Simone Botts, 21, was sentenced in federal court in Des Moines on November 15th. The US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced the decision on Tuesday. Botts pled guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death or Serious Injury. Other drug possession and weapons charges were dropped as part of her plea agreement.

Botts is accused of selling fentanyl-laced pills to an undercover officer on three occasions. Botts was also accused of selling the pills that lead to the overdose death of a 16-year-old in May 2023.

Authorities found hundreds of fentanyl-laced pills and multiple firearms when they executed a search warrant at Botts home.

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According to the US Attorneys Office, fentanyl is the leading cause of drug overdose in the United States.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ)  Despite being part of a family that owns country clubs and healthcare centers, fans of Luigi Mangione have raised more than $27,000 for his legal defense.

The December 4th Legal Committee set up a campaign on givesendgo.com, the page shows. Through various donations, many ranging from $5 to $20, theyve raised $27,580 for Mangiones legal fees as of this writing.

This is a preemptive legal fundraiser for the suspect allegedly involved in the shooting of the United Healthcare CEO, the page reads. We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right of fair legal representation.

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What happens now that Luigi Mangione contested his extradition to New York?

It was discovered in the 24 hours after Mangiones arrest that he comes from a wealthy family. According to WDCW, Nick and Mary Mangione purchased the Turf Valley Resort in the 1970s and also own Hayfields Country Club, purchased in 1986, its site shows. Its reported that the family is a prominent name in Maryland, especially in real estate.

Mangione, now 26, went to a private boys-only school and graduated valedictorian before making his way to the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where he earned a masters in computer science.

Nino Mangione, Luigis cousin, is a Republican in the Maryland House of Delegates and has been in state politics since 2019. Nino took to social media after Luigis arrest and put out a statement saying the family was shocked and devastated and they offered prayers to Brian Thompsons family.

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At this time, Thomas Dickey Esq., of Blair County, is representing Mangione and appears to be on board to face the murder charges with him in New York City. Its unknown who hired Dickey, however, his reputation proceeds him after years of being a well-known defense attorney in the area.

Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices.

Mangione is currently in SCI Huntingdon after contesting his extradition charges Tuesday afternoon.

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 WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
"The devil's in the details" Gov. Joe Lombardo said earlier this week at the Western Governor's Conference meeting in Las Vegas when asked about mass deportation. (Photo courtesy of WGA by Ian Wagreich /  CapitolHillPhoto.com)

A mere 48 hours after saying it was too soon to opine on the prospect of using the Nevada National Guard to aid the incoming Trump administration in mass deporting immigrants, Gov. Joe Lombardo signed onto a letter stating he stands ready to utilize every tool at (his) disposalwhether through state law enforcement or the National Guard.

Lombardo was one of 26 governors to sign a joint statement released Wednesday by the Republican Governors Association. Only one Republican governor, Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont, did not sign onto the letter.

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As Republican governors, we stand united in support of President Donald Trumps unwavering commitment to make America safe again by addressing the illegal immigration crisis and deporting illegal immigrants who pose a threat to our communities and national security, begins the letter.

The letter concludes: Together, we will continue to defend the American people, uphold the rule of law, and ensure our nation remains safe and secure for future generations. We stand ready to utilize every tool at our disposalwhether through state law enforcement or the National Guardto support President Trump in this vital mission.

A full-throated expression of support appears to contradict statements Lombardo made two days earlier, on Monday, at the Western Governors Association, a separate bipartisan group.

When asked if he would consider authorizing the Nevada National Guard to aid the Trump administration in mass deportations, Lombardo replied that the devils in the details and that it was too soon to opine on the nebulous or the unknown.

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Lombardo said we have to figure out what is the better need for the states National Guard and whether the mission takes priority within the state or to the federal picture or the federal windows, thats the best way we can answer.

The Nevada Current reached out to Lombardos office Wednesday asking him to clarify his position on the usage of the Nevada National Guard for mass deportations, and what, if any, details about Trumps plans came to light between his comments Monday and the RGAs statement Wednesday. The office did not immediately respond.

According to the American Immigration Council, mass deportation in Nevada would:

remove some 136,000 undocumented workers who make up 9% of the states employed workforce, the highest share per capita in the nation;

remove almost one-quarter of skilled construction workers and 13% of hospitality workers:

result in the loss of 43% of landscaping and groundskeeping workers; 42.5% of construction laborers, 41.6% of carpenters, 35.3% of housekeeping workers, and 25.4% of cooks.

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AIC also estimates a one-time deportation operation would cost the U.S. $315 billion. Detaining immigrants is estimated to cost $167.8 billion.

Trump has said there is no price tag when it comes to mass deportations and that his administration will have no choice but to carry them out.
More than a year after forming a candidate committee for a Detroit mayoral bid, City Council President Mary Sheffield on Tuesday announced her campaign for the seat.

Sheffield's campaign kicked off in a flashy event Tuesday evening at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 58, alongside notable guests, including former Judge Greg Mathis, Detroit vs. Everybody Founder Tommey Walker, The Lip Bar CEO Melissa Butler, dozens of family and friends speaking, and hundreds of attendees.

Sheffield has been a City Council member since 2013, when she was elected as the youngest member. She served as council president pro tem in her second term, and president of the nine-member body in her current term. Residents drove her to run for mayor, she said in an interview Monday, noting that with Mayor Mike Duggan's departure, the city has a "unique time to have continuity, to have someone here that has been a part of developing and rebuilding" Detroit.

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, left, smiles as she stands on stage alongside Judge Greg Mathis inside the IBEW Local Union 58 hall in Detroit on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

"What we've experienced in Detroit, this renaissance, this growth, has been about partnerships. It has been about a collective effort from our federal, state partners, philanthropic support, to really help move Detroit forward," Sheffield said at Tuesday's kickoff. "I understand the importance of collaboration, and I am looking forward to working with all levels of government and in both parties to find common ground that will benefit the growth of our city."

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Mathis introduced Sheffield to the large crowd packing the room. Before she walked in, greeting guests along the walkway to the stage, the former judge amplified her as a public official who has mentored Detroit youth, fought for reparations by backing the creation of a task force and building the city's neighborhoods.

"We thank God, because she was instrumental in having our Midtown and downtown redeveloped, and now, as she started to do, she's going to help complete the development of all of our neighborhoods, and we thank God for that. Indeed, the work she's done has benefited all of us, and she's been there for all of us. Indeed, when we needed her to fight our battles, she's been there. When we needed her to invest in our neighborhoods, she's been there," Mathis said.

Sheffield emphasized that her campaign is rooted in unity, and she aims to build upon it through public and private partnerships, and through collaboration between City Council and the mayor's office. Sheffield also plans to meet Detroiters in their homes and in the community to understand their concerns this next year, she said, adding that she wants to build off of initiatives from her tenure on City Council to build vibrant neighborhoods, affordable housing and economic opportunities for Detroiters, especially small businesses.

'Excuse me, the jail?'

Her campaign slogan  "Together We Can. Together We Will"  is intended to reach Detroiters of all incomes and backgrounds.

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In her speech, Sheffield recalled being a college student and feeling a little lost at the time, but knowing she wanted to serve and take after her grandfather, the late Horace Sheffield Jr., who was a civil rights activist.

But one day, she met the late Benny Napoleon, former Wayne County sheriff, who recruited Mary Sheffield. She expected to work in his office as his right hand, but upon arriving on her first day, a supervisor told her shed be reporting to the Wayne County jail.

Excuse me, the jail? This must be a mistake. The sheriff himself sent me here, she recalled telling the supervisor, who then reminded her she was assigned to the jail as a disciplinary hearing officer, where she learned how to see people beyond their circumstances and learn their potential.

She wondered why Napoleon put her in the position.

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Benny wanted me to learn something about people in service. He wanted to teach me that no matter how far you go, no matter how high you climb, it is always about serving people, Sheffield told the crowd. I was being shaped and molded into a servant leader in preparation for this moment, this moment right here where I have the great honor of standing before you all to announce my candidacy for mayor.

Sheffield's five areas of emphasis

"I spent the last 12 years really learning intimately the issues of our city, the struggles and the potential of Detroit, and that is really what gives me the greatest hope and the greatest inspiration to want to serve is really understanding what Detroit can be. And it's about really just building on the growth and the progress that we have created together over this last 11 years in ensuring that the city's prosperity touches the lives of every resident, every business and every neighborhood. I think we have more work to do," Sheffield said. "I believe the position gives me a greater opportunity to reach more and to have a greater impact on really improving the quality of life for Detroiters."

Should she succeed, Sheffield aims to focus on five key areas: addressing property tax reform, walkable and vibrant neighborhoods, investing in safe communities, which includes the police department and community violence intervention, affordable housing and economic development.

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield hugs her grandmother Mary Coty and her cousin Rylan Owens inside the IBEW Local Union 58 hall in Detroit on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

"Housing is just so important to me. It's something that I've dedicated a lot of my time to here at the City Council, and really ensuring that we have a pathway to home ownership, that we are investing in infill housing throughout our neighborhood. It's not necessarily rental housing, but more opportunities for home ownership and affordable housing opportunities in general for Detroiters of all incomes is important to me," Sheffield said.

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The council president also wants to dig into reducing overall property taxes, a "burden that is placed on both businesses and residents" by building a working group to to "build upon the work the mayor started with the land value tax" in addressing structural property tax reform. Duggan's land value tax proposal, which reached a standstill in the Michigan Legislature, would tax vacant landowners at a higher rate than homeowners or those with developments on their properties in an effort to hold land speculators accountable and encourage development in the city. Property taxes hinder families from moving to Detroit or staying in the city, Sheffield said.

Sheffield touched on numerous topics while fielding questions from reporters, including tax breaks for developers, which he has previously supported, while also fighting for community benefits. She declined to specifically comment on the proposed Renaissance Center project because City Council has not received a detailed proposal.

"I do think there has been a unique opportunity presented to save an iconic landmark in our city, creating jobs, economic growth and providing affordable housing," Sheffield said. "I won't get into that without actually having something come before Council with all of the details."

Tax incentives for developers has been a contentious subject for Detroiters. Council meetings dragged on for hours as residents shared concerns over who the incentives really benefit and would often beg for community benefits. Sheffield said that as mayor, she intends to incorporate the needs of the community into a business or developer's proposal.

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"A lot of those projects, I have supported, and I'm proud that I have, because I've been able to get additional benefits added within those projects," Sheffield said. "I will continue to represent both. Community needs business, and business needs community, and they don't have to be silos. We are all a community, and a part of what I want to do is bridge that gap and bring us forward together as we move forward and grow the city of Detroit."

Engaging young Detroiters will also be on her list of tasks to tackle. Sheffield plans to explore ways to inspire youth to be part of the civic engagement process in an effort to retain young talent in the city.

What Detroiters want

Eliminating barriers for local businesses and establishing a streamlined process for them to succeed is another issue entrepreneurs raised to Sheffield.

"We just launched, for example, the Detroit legacy business program that pours funding into businesses that have been Detroit for 30 years or more. I want to see more programs like that initiated that are investing in existing businesses here in Detroit," Sheffield said.

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The legacy business grant program allows small businesses to apply for a grant between $15,000 to $50,000 to cover various expenses.

"Serving here the last 11 years, most people want the same thing. They want vibrant, walkable neighborhoods where families live. They don't just work and play in Detroit, but they actually come and live and raise their family, (they want a) strong educational system. They want safe communities ... housing options for Detroiters with a strong middle class, and of course, economic growth is important to every Detroiter," Sheffield said.

Other candidates who formed committees for the mayoral post include former Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins, Councilman Fred Durhal III, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate and businessman Joel Haashiim.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Council President Mary Sheffield to run for mayor in 2025
* Since signing the UN Convention to Combat Desertification 30 years ago, China has become the largest contributor to global greening and an international model for desertification control.

* One of China's landmark ecological projects is the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which has added 32 million hectares to afforestation areas and treated 85.3 million hectares of degraded grassland and 33.3 million hectares of desertified land.

RIYADH, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Desertification has become one of the most severe environmental challenges facing humanity, as it leads to more sand and dust storms, jeopardizes food security, displaces communities and fuels conflicts.

Delegates from around the world are convening for the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) here on Dec. 2-13 to seek agreements and accelerate joint actions to support sustainable land management and climate resilience.

Since signing the convention 30 years ago, China has become the largest contributor to global greening and an international model for desertification control.





CHINA'S GREEN DRIVE

China has one of the world's largest affected areas, particularly in the northwestern, northern and northeastern regions that feature vast dryland and desert.

One of the country's landmark ecological projects is the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program.

Since 1978, the project has added 32 million hectares to afforestation areas and treated 85.3 million hectares of degraded grassland and 33.3 million hectares of desertified land.

An aerial drone photo taken on July 6, 2024 shows tourists drifting on a lake in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Bei He)

Through the program, China has also created the world's largest man-made forest in Saihanba in northern China's Hebei Province, completed the world's largest ecological restoration project in Maowusu in northwestern China's Shaanxi Province, and turned the Kubuqi Desert in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region into a green land.

"I was moved by the images of different generations of Chinese people fighting desertification and by China's leadership in this process," said UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza Murillo, commending the nation's long-term commitment and innovative approach to combating desertification.

Sidna Ahmed Ely, director general of the National Agency of the Great Green Wall of Mauritania, told Xinhua that his country, with 84 percent of land desertified, was inspired by and gained strength and determination from China's "green Great Wall."

Noting that Mauritania has established a partnership with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2017, Ahmed Ely said: "We are proud of our first partnership under the framework of the Great Green Wall initiative for Africa. We are proud of the Chinese experience."





NEW TECHNOLOGIES

New technologies that China applied in its desertification control were showcased at the China Pavilion at an exhibition held along with summits, ministerial dialogues, award presentations, and theme days during COP16.

Visitors were drawn to an AI tree planting robot model brought by Eason Intelligent Equipment (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

"With AI, autonomous driving, the BeiDou satellite navigation system, and green energy, robots can reduce afforestation costs by 20-25 percent, increase planting survival rates by 10-20 percent, and are over five times more efficient than manual ways," the company's General Manager Bian Lijun told Xinhua.

After learning that robots could plant trees in 20-30 seconds remotely, Majed Al-Mebairik, facility administrative assistant of the UN Development Programme, said he was impressed.

"It's very automatic, interesting, and very helpful," Al-Mebairik said.

"I have visited many countries' pavilions and learned about their actions, twice to China's pavilion though. I think China's practice is the best," said Saldan Odontuya, Mongolian environment and climate change minister.

People visit the China Pavilion during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Dec. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

GREEN COMMITMENT

Despite being faced with some of the world's most severe challenges in desertification, China has taken a unique path that integrates ecological restoration with improving livelihoods, driven by top-level policies, legislation and technological innovation.

According to official data, 53 percent of China's treatable desertified land has been restored, leading to a net reduction of approximately 4.33 million hectares of degraded land. China has become the first nation to achieve zero net land degradation while reducing both desertified and sandified areas.

The green development has also witnessed green prosperity. Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and high-quality forage grass are planted in those sandy areas, so are melons and walnuts. In some areas, income from forest fruits constitutes more than half of farmers' net income, data from China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration have shown.

"We're incredibly proud to be a partner with China. China has been a pioneer in showing how to create prosperous areas in areas that were once desertified and degraded. And we are proud to partner with you (China) to bring those lessons to other countries," said Valerie Hickey, global director for the environment at the World Bank.

China has championed global cooperation in combating desertification, establishing an international knowledge management center with the UNCCD and hosting the Kubuqi International Desert Forum to share global research and ecological economy insights.

To join the efforts of the Global South, China has also launched desertification control centers with Arab states and Mongolia, created demonstration sites in Central Asia and Africa, and provided satellite technology and big data support for Africa's Great Green Wall initiative.

"I wanted to commend the Chinese government leadership globally on combating desertification, and the experience-sharing between China and the bigger Global South," said Charles Karangwa, global head of nature-based solutions at the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (Video reporters: Yu Fuqing, Wang Haizhou, Ge Chen, Chen Chen, Luo Chen, Li Ruolin, Wang Dongzhen; video editors: Wang Houyuan, Zak Zuzanna, Zhu Cong)
Detroits embattled and outgoing planning directors next role will be to help lead the architectural firm advising General Motors and Bedrock on their proposed Renaissance Center revamp  a deal for which the companies have said they plan to seek public money, including from the city.

Antoine Bryant was to initially work for both the city and private firm for about a week at the same time, per a communications representative with the firm, Gensler, and an exit date previously provided by the City of Detroit. The city and Gensler now deny any overlap.

Gensler's Detroit office is leading the concept design for GM and Bedrocks $1.6 billion proposal to knock down two RenCen towers and revamp three.

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The automaker and the Dan Gilbert-led company have said the plan is contingent on public support; theyre currently lobbying the state Legislature for $250 million, and a Bedrock official has said an additional $100 million may be sought from the quasi-public Downtown Development Authority. If the money cant be secured, the automaker has said its likely to demolish all five of its towers in the signature skyline structure.

Bryants transition to co-managing director of Gensler's Detroit office represents a potential conflict of interest, and any overlap between his role at the city and private firm would be a certain conflict, said John Mogk, a Wayne State University Law school professor.

His connections with the city possibly influencing the decision (of his hiring) does present an appearance of a conflict of interest, said Mogk, who focuses on local government and development. From a public perspective, the hope is that the decision to provide financial incentives is made purely from a public-purpose goal and that if theres any inside influence in obtaining the funding, that raises an issue as to whether or not its appropriate.

'Not sure where the confusion started about Antoine's last day'

Mogk added, If there is in fact an overlap, it clearly would present a conflict of interest. That is not an appropriate approach from the public perspective and from the ethics that a private firm should pursue.

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According to a communications representative with Gensler and a media release from the city, Bryant is to begin at the private firm on Dec. 16, but not leave the city until the 27th.

When the Free Press inquired with Gensler about Bryants start date, the representative, Mia DiMeo, said, We were actually just talking about that and confirmed there is overlap because he is helping transition his replacement (at the city) into her role.

Gensler did not immediately make Bryant available for comment, nor did it respond when asked for details about his potential involvement in the RenCen project and if his Detroit government connections played any role in his hiring.

After publication, a representative with the firm said DiMeo was mistaken, and that Bryant is indeed leaving the city before he starts with the firm.

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The city also denied that Bryant would stay on while working at the firm, telling the Free Press on Wednesday that his last day is in fact Dec. 13.

I'm not sure where the confusion started about Antoine's last day with the city, said John Roach, a spokesman for Mayor Mike Duggan and his administration. The 27th was a misnomer and should not have been in the release. Antoine will have no role with the Planning Department after December 13th.

The city announced late last month that Bryant, appointed in July 2021, was leaving for a "prestigious" private sector job.

Murals investigation continues

While at the city, Bryant was under investigation by the Board of Ethics over allegations that hed cut corners in hiring a New York-based arts group to handle a pre-NFL draft murals project called Detroit Be the Change. That probe is ongoing.

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City Council found Bryant bypassed the approval process mandated by the city charter to install the first phase of the project, which commissioned artists from around the world rather than Detroit. Council eventually refused to pay for the six-figure contract Bryant signed with the New York based group, citing its violation of the city charter.

Bryant, a Brooklyn native, came to Detroit from Texas, where he was a business development and project manager for architectural firm Moody Nolan and a member of the Houston Planning Commission.

As co-managing director of Gensler's Detroit office, the company announced he will lead a team of dedicated designers, as they focus on expanding Genslers market reach, fostering client relationships, and achieving design excellence across the region.

Those clients will include Bedrock and GM.

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Bryants soon-to-be former boss, Duggan, has expressed a willingness to kick in city support for the proposal to right-size the five-GM owned RenCen towers.

Bryant will not be the only former city official connected to the project. Dave Massaron, GM vice president of infrastructure and corporate citizenship, previously served as top lieutenant for Duggan and state budget director under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Massaron left the government sector in 2021 and joined GM in January, months before the automaker announced it was relocating its world headquarters to the Dan Gilbert-owned Hudsons development, throwing the RenCens future into question.Massaron referred questions to a GM spokesperson.

State legislators from both sides of the political aisle have expressed opposition to committing tax incentives to the project. Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat representing a portion of northwest Detroit, has said her constituents have pushed for public investment in their neighborhoods and would not see any impact from the proposed redevelopment.

Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter with the Detroit Free Press focused on government and police accountability. Contact her at vikonomova@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit planning director leaving for firm involved in RenCen revamp
Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old rich kid accused assassin who police say gunned down a UnitedHealth executive after lying in wait outside a Manhattan hotel room last week, engaged in a struggle with officers outside a Pennsylvania courtroom Tuesday while yelling incoherently.



As he was led into a state court for an extradition hearing based on an arrest warrant filed in New York City hours after his arrest on gun charges in Pennsylvania Monday, Mangione was heard yelling, in part, that his arrest was an "insult" to the "intelligence of the American people."

Related: Who is Luigi Mangione the NYPD's 'Strong Suspect' in Last Week's Execution of CEO

Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, yells to the press as he is taken into court for his extradition hearing:



completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people! pic.twitter.com/wKymRxGvUW  The Recount (@therecount) December 10, 2024

Mangione was arrested Tuesday after a McDonalds employee recognized him from photos released by the NYPD in the immediate aftermath of the brazen daylight hit on a busy city street last week.



He is now charged with second-degree murder in what the NYPD calls a targeted, premeditated attack and will fight extradition, his attorney Thomas Dickey told the court on Tuesday as he requested a hearing on the new charges. Mangione was held without bail in connection with his possession of a handgun, and a silencer, which investigators suspect he allegedly used in the murder of Thompson.

Luigi Mangione, 26, from a wealthy Maryland family that owns a resort, country club, and nursing homes, was arrested in Altoona, PA, with a handgun, silencer, and a handwritten anti-corporate manifesto, according to NYPD. Facebook

His arrest led the White House to condemn the reputed killer's actions while the President's spokesperson offered condolences to Thompson's family. Were certainly not going to comment on the investigation, we condemn  we condemn violence in the strongest term, Karine Jean-Pierre said at Tuesdays press briefing.



Obviously, this is horrific. Violence to combat any sort of corporate greed is unacceptable, she added. Im going to let the investigation move forward, and Im not going to speak to any manifestos or anything that is coming out to this.



When she was asked directly whether Americans are being taken advantage of by their insurance companies, Jean-Pierre declined to comment directly, saying: Im going to let this open investigation continue and let the law enforcement do their job."

Related: Prep School Valedictorian ID'd as Possible Smiling Assassin in CEO's Slaying

Mangione is the grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist and attended an elite all-boys prep school, where he graduated as the class valedictorian in 2016. His family owns a string of nursing homes, a high end resort, and a country club in Maryland. His cousin Nino Mangione is a Baltimore state lawmaker. He released a statement on behalf of his family on Facebook.



"Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione. We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved," the lawmaker who represents Baltimore wrote. "We are devastated by this news."



NYPD officials say Mangione most recently lived in Honolulu and San Francisco, where, according to a report in the San Francisco Standard, he was reported missing by his mother last month.
An anonymous man recounted his alleged drugging and sexual assault at the hands of Sean Diddy Combs for the first time since filing his lawsuit against the music mogul in October  and said another celebrity watched.

The full gravity of it lives with me to this day, the man, identified as John Doe in his suit, told CNN from his New Jersey home in an exclusive interview Tuesday. It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life.

The man, a former security guard, was one of six anonymous plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against Combs on Oct. 14 but is the first to speak publicly about his experience, which he said occurred in 2007 at one of Combs white parties in East Hampton, New York.

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Doe said Combs gave him two alcoholic beverages throughout the evening which, per the lawsuit, he believes were laced with ecstasy and GHB, an illegal drug that acts as a nervous system depressant and caused him to feel extremely ill. It felt more like having 15 drinks, he said.

I wasnt able to stand, Doe recalled Tuesday.

Combs then allegedly approached Doe with what he believed at the time was concern, per Does suit, only for Combs to shove Doe into an empty vehicle on the property and sodomize him. An unnamed celebrity saw what was happening and found it amusing.

It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before and I felt powerless, Doe told CNN.

Combs and his late ex-partner Kim Porter and their twin daughters at his 2007 White Party. Mat Szwajkos/CP/Getty Images

Doe noted in his lawsuit that he struggled to leave the party due to the pain and inebriation. He added Tuesday that, after telling his boss at the private security firm he worked for about this, he was totally blacklisted and had to find a different field of work.

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He also told the outlet that his marriage ended as a result of the traumatic experience.

I have a semblance of a life, a very quiet life. I would prefer what little is left of it to be left alone, Doe told CNN about his decision to remain anonymous. Nothing could give me back the person I was before that evening.

Combs was arrested in September on charges including sex trafficking and sexual assault, prompting more than 120 accusers to come forward. He was denied bail for a third time last month and remains incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

HuffPost has reached out to Does attorneys for comment.

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Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

Related...
One of Sean "Diddy" Combs' accusers has spoken for the first time about his claim that he was sexually assaulted by the music mogul while working for him as a security guard at one of his White Parties in the Hamptons in 2007

The male accuser claimed to CNN that he accepted two drinks from Combs that had "something wrong with them" and once he was in "a helpless position," Combs "took advantage of the situation"

He also claims that he was let go from the security firm after he informed his supervisor about the incident and was left with emotional pain and trauma

One of Sean Diddy Combs accusers is speaking out for the first time.

The man  who filed a complaint against the music mogul under the pseudonym John Doe and whose face was kept hidden on camera and his voice distorted  detailed his allegations, filed in an Oct. 14 lawsuit, in an interview with CNN.

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In his lawsuit, he claimed that he was working as a security guard at one of Combs White Parties in the Hamptons in 2006  which was later amended to 2007 following discrepancies CNN found between the mans story and the lawsuit  when he met the rapper. Per CNN, in 2006, Combs White Party was held in St. Tropez, while in 2007 it was held in the Hamptons, which is where Doe alleges the assault took place,

At first he was incredibly friendly, very gracious, the man recalled in his interview with the outlet.

He went on to claim to CNN that he accepted two drinks from Combs but there was "something wrong with them." The first drink started to have some effect on me and I just thought, Ah these are really strong drinks,  he told the outlet. It wasnt until the second drink and it was already too late that I realized there was something wrong with the drinks.

Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2023 Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2023

Related: A Timeline of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Sexual Assault Allegations and Arrest

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Sadly, Sean Combs was waiting in the wings, he claims He was watching from some sort of vantage point, and once I was in a helpless position and he was sure that he was in a position of power, then he took advantage of the situation.

According to his complaint, per CNN, the man believes the drinks were laced with GHB and ecstasy. The man also told CNN that the drinks felt more like 15 drinks" and "I wasn't able to stand."

It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before and I felt powerless," he added.

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.

In his complaint, the man alleges that Combs approached him and expressed what he initially interpreted as concern, before the musician forcibly pushed him into an SUV, which left him in considerable pain. Once inside the vehicle, he claimed he was held down by Combs while he struggled to escape due to the effects of the drugs in his system, and was sodomized by him.

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I was screaming. I was telling him to stop, he told CNN. It was incredibly painful, and he was acting like it was nothing. He seemed to be disconnected from it. But it was abusive beyond belief.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images Sean Combs at the 2023 Invest Fest Sean Combs at the 2023 Invest Fest

Related: Inside Diddy's Sexual Assault Allegations and Arrest: PEOPLEs Reporters Answer Your Burning Questions

There was one high-profile individual who saw what happened and found it amusing, he added, though he did not identify the celebrity.

According to his lawsuit, per CNN, Doe claimed that he reported the incident to his supervisor. He told the outlet he was never asked to work for the security firm again.

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He just dismissed it and said, Ill talk to [Combs],  the man recalled of a conversation with his supervisor.

After that, he didnt talk to me again ... I had to find a different field, he continued, adding that the experience also left him with emotional pain and trauma in the years following.

Nothing could give me back the person I was before that evening, he told CNN. The full gravity of it lives with me to this day. It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life.

The man also told the outlet that he had not even shared the alleged incident with his then-wife because of the shame he felt.

Steve Granitz/WireImage Sean 'Diddy' Combs at the Pre-GRAMMY Gala in 2020 Sean 'Diddy' Combs at the Pre-GRAMMY Gala in 2020

Per CNN, Doe is asking for compensatory and punitive damages in his lawsuit, which was one of several brought forward by Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee in October. The attorney has said he is representing more than 100 people accusing the Bad Boys Records founder of sexual misconduct.

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Attorneys for Combs' told PEOPLE in a statement via his representative, "After Buzbee was exposed this week for pressuring clients to bring bogus cases against Mr. Combs, and after public records showed that  contrary to his allegations  there was no white party in the Hamptons in 2006, Buzzbee amended this complaint to walk back the allegations and now claim a different day and wholly different year.

According to CNN, earlier this week lawyers for Jay-Z claimed in new court filings that Buzbee  whose firm filed a lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Combs of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000  pressured a different woman in an unrelated case "to make  allegations that were not true, and was dropped by his firm when she refused. Billboard and USA Today also reported that in a Dec. 10 letter from Jay-Z's lawyer Alex Shapiro, addressed to the judge overseeing the case, the woman allegedly felt pressured to falsely tie her case to Combs.

Buzbee called the allegations patently ridiculous, according to CNN.

Combs' attorneys also told PEOPLE of John Doe's lawsuit and the other lawsuits filed by Buzbee on Oct. 14, "The press conference and 1-800 number that preceded todays barrage of filings were clear attempts to garner publicity. Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone  adult or minor, man or woman.

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Combs is currently being held in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting trial for sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges His trial is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.

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.



Read the original article on People
An anonymous John Doe sat down with CNN on Tuesday to share, for the first time, what he described as the traumatic toll the alleged abuse he endured by Sean Diddy Combs has taken on his life.

Doe initially filed his complaint against Combs on October 14, alleging that he was drugged and sodomized by the embattled music mogul at one of his infamous White Parties nearly two decades ago.

Speaking anonymously on camera about his claims in his civil suit, the accuser said this week that he has harbored the secret of his alleged abuse from 2007  not even telling his then-wife because of the shame he associated with the alleged incident.

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The full gravity of it lives with me to this day, Doe told CNN in an interview conducted at his home in New Jersey. It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life.

Doe is the first civil accuser of Combs to publicly speak to the media in an interview.

According to his lawsuit, Doe was employed by a private security firm in 2007, when he was asked to work at one of Combs White Parties at the producers estate in East Hampton, New York.

Combs provided Doe with two alcoholic drinks throughout the night that he believes were laced with GHB and ecstasy, the complaint states. After consuming the second drink, Doe started feeling extremely ill, per the suit. Combs allegedly approached Doe at this time and expressed what Doe initially interpreted as concern, the lawsuit states, before he forcibly pushed him into an empty vehicle. Inside the vehicle, Doe claims Combs held him down  despite his pleas for help  and sodomized him. In his lawsuit, Doe is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

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There were a number of inconsistencies between the details shared by Doe in his interview with CNN and the original complaint filed in October. The original suit says the assault took place in 2006, not 2007, and that Doe had never been married. In 2006, Combs White Party was held in St. Tropez; in 2007, it was held in the Hamptons, which is where Does allegations take place. After CNN pointed out the discrepancies, Does attorneys filed an amended complaint with the court, changing those details and acknowledging mistakes were made in the rush to file.

I wasnt able to stand, Doe told CNN of allegedly being drugged with the two spiked alcoholic drinks, which he said felt more like 15 drinks.

He added: It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before and I felt powerless.

After the alleged assault, he said he struggled to leave the party due to the effect of the alleged drugs in his system and the pain his body was in. Doe then reported what happened to his supervisor, according to his lawsuit. Speaking to CNN, he said that he was never asked to work for the security firm again, after reporting his alleged abuse by Combs.

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He just dismissed it and said, Ill talk to him, Doe said, recalling a conversation where he told his manager that Combs had sexually assaulted him. After that, he didnt talk to me again, he cut me out of everything  I was totally blacklisted after that. I had to find a different field.

Today, Doe no longer works as a security guard. His marriage also ended as a result of the alleged abuse, he said, because of the trauma he endured that has negatively impacted his relationships.

In his lawsuit, he said he has struggled with emotional pain and mental health issues in the years since.

For the first time, Doe also revealed that a celebrity witnessed the alleged abuse. Without naming the famous person he recognized, he told CNN, There was one high-profile individual who saw what happened and found it amusing.

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Representatives for Combs declined to comment on Does allegations on Tuesday. But at the time of the original complaint in October 2024, his lawyers issued a blanket statement to CNN regarding the complaint and others filed on the same day: Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyoneadult or minor, man or woman.

Does complaint was filed along with a slew of other anonymous accusers who are all represented by attorneys Tony Buzbee and Andrew Van Arsdale. The lawyers have said that they are representing at least 120 accusers who plan to file against Combs; thus far, they have filed 20 civil suits.

Following CNNs publication of this story, attorneys for Combs responded to Does amended complaint in a statement to CNN.

After Buzbee was exposed this week for pressuring clients to bring bogus cases against Mr. Combs, and after public records showed that  contrary to his allegations there was no white party in the Hamptons in 2006, Buzbee amended this complaint to walk back the allegations and now claim a different day and wholly different year, Combs attorneys wrote in their statement.

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Buzbee previously denied accusations of pressuring clients to come forward,.

This allegation is patently ridiculous What we wont do is pursue a case that we dont believe has merit, he told CNN in an email. We dont pressure people nor do we need to.

Combs is currently federal custody as he awaits trial on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations of wrongdoing in roughly 30 civil lawsuits that have been filed against him in the past year. Several of those lawsuits include allegations from accusers like Doe who have chosen to file under pseudonyms.

Regarding his decision to remain anonymous, Doe said, I have a semblance of a life, a very quiet life. I would prefer what little is left of it to be left alone.

Nothing could give me back the person I was before that evening.

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CHICAGO -- A new shelter for homeless single men has opened in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, rejecting typical shelter hallmarks such as congregate living and a ban on residents remaining during the daytime.

Run by the nonprofit North Side Housing and Supportive Services, the shelter at 7464 N. Clark St. can house 70 men in double-occupancy rooms. Residents also will be able to access case management and health care services and three meals a day on-site, officials said at the ribbon-cutting Monday.

Beds are already beginning to fill up, as men displaced during the clearing of a major homeless encampment in Humboldt Park on Friday were given the opportunity to move in. Fifteen men were transported right to the shelters door after leaving the encampment Friday, while 13 other homeless men from across the city moved in during the weekend.

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A lot of times I did try to get shelter but it was pretty much full, I wasnt able to get in, said 32-year-old Jimmie Jenkins, who arrived at the shelter Saturday night. (This was) the first time Ive came to a shelter and they really opened the doors up to me right away.

Jenkins has been primarily sleeping on CTA trains for a year, he said. His time at the Rogers Park shelter has so far been peaceful, he said, adding that since I got here, Ive been grateful.

Although more than two-thirds of the homeless people in Chicago are men, only around 22% of the citys shelter beds are available to single men, according to housing officials. Mayor Brandon Johnson also noted in his remarks Monday that shelter for homeless men has historically been available only in large congregate settings.

Unlike traditional homeless shelters, which require residents to leave the premises each morning before returning at night, the Rogers Park facility will allow residents to stay throughout the day and access services 24/7, Chicago Department of Housing commissioner Lissette Castaneda said Monday.

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(This shelter) represents a shift towards a more dignified and humane care for those in need, Castaneda said. People who are seeking shelter here can begin to rebuild their lives without the added pressure of having to leave and return each day. They will have constant access to supportive services as well as the dignity of having a place they can call their own.

No time limits will be imposed on stays at the shelter, Johnson said, with the aim being to help all residents move into permanent housing.

North Side Housing and Supportive Services has set aside over 150 affordable apartments for those experiencing homelessness, units many of the shelters residents may eventually move into, said board member Dick Simpson.

The city estimates the new shelter will serve approximately 250 men a year.

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Alex Soto, 26, arrived at the Rogers Park shelter Sunday after spending two months living on the streets after his mother kicked him out, he said.

The shelter has since given him hot meals in the nighttime and essential items like shampoo and clothing, he said, adding that he already has started to speak to a case worker about finding a job and housing.

Its really up to me, when I want to leave, Soto said. Most definitely I want to get a house, thats my goal, to try to see if I can get a house or an apartment and move forward, and not think about what Im going through right now.

The city of Chicago provided North Side Housing and Supportive Services a $6.9 million grant to fund the purchase and renovation of the vacant former medical building on Clark Street that now houses the shelter.

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The shelters physical design incorporates a trauma-informed approach, characterized by warm natural materials and gentle indirect light, according to architect Sean McGuire of Gensler, the firm that designed it. The rooms were designed to feel intentionally residential, evoking the authentic comforts of home, McGuire said.

Each of the 35 rooms at the new shelter has its own skylight and has two beds and one or two nightstands, with the sheets and walls colored in soft tones of green. Companies including Kohler, Ikea and Steinhafels donated furnishings, according to a city press release.

This non-congregate shelter model was inspired by lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Department of Family and Support Services commissioner Brandie Knazze.

When the city had to switch to using hotels as non-congregate shelters to stop the spread of the virus, a University of Chicago study found that residents experienced significant improvements in their medical and physical health systems and an increased rate of transitioning to permanent housing, Knazze said.

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These non-congregate shelter projects are redefining what people consider shelter and what shelter looks like, Knazze said. It helps us raise the bar, it helps us restore dignity and make sure that the people we serve know that they have a home and that we are working tirelessly for them.

The Rogers Park shelter is the first of five new non-congregate shelters the city plans to open over the coming years, which altogether will add 1,000 new beds for the citys homeless population, Knazze said.

Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, who held a number of public meetings and feedback sessions while the shelter was in development, announced Monday that over 70% of the Rogers Park community had expressed support for the project.

All of us are one emergency away from experiencing homelessness, Hadden said Monday. We know that we need not just warm, safe and dry spaces, but trauma-informed spaces with staff that are paid fair wages, who know what theyre doing, who can work with our neighbors to help them figure out whatever barriers are in their way for them getting back on their feet.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  New Yorks largest teachers union is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to enforce a uniform cell phone policy. And the Governor has already hinted at a statewide ban.

While many Central New York schools have taken steps to unplug  few have fully disconnected cell phones  until now, at Christian Brothers Academy.

CBA students drop their phones into cell phone lockers at the start of the day and that is where the phones stay until the final bell.

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So, they have no cell phones on them throughout the day, at all, CBA principal, David Marshall, said.

Its a new policy at the private catholic school in Syracuse  and it seems to be getting a good reception from students  though it took some getting used to.

In the beginning, when Id turn it in in the morning and walk to class, Id be like Oh my God. Wheres my phone? Now, its not that. Its something that Im less attached to, CBA student, Chris OConnor, said. Personally, I feel like Im able to get a lot more done.

Many Central New York schools have begun cracking down on cell phones.

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At the Auburn Enlarged City School District, students can have their phones with them, but they must be turned off and silenced and they should not be seen.

In the Tully School District, phones are to be on silent and put away in lockers or in backpacks.

CBA is one of the first schools to cut the cord entirely.

Why take it a step further? Rachel Polansky asked Marshall.

We wanted to take it off the teachers so they can focus on teaching and not have to worry about addressing cell phone usage, Marshall said.

And teachers say its a game changer.

Its refreshing. There are no cell phones on the desks, in the pocket, hands go below desk, Im not worried about what theyre doing, CBA English teacher, Todd Benware, said. And the kids have voluntarily told me Its a relief.'

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Some parents worry about being unable to reach their kids in emergencies  but security experts say phones can actually make things worse by clogging up emergency lines.

Not to mention, schools already have their own security plans in place.

Were very confident in our emergency procedures and communication, should an emergency arise and were clear with that with our parents, Marshall added.

While some districts wait for the state to make the call on cell phones, CBA is leading the charge.

 I wouldnt say I like it, or I dislike it but its just a thing that makes me more productive, OConner added.

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If a student is caught with a phone at CBA, the phone is taken away, the parent is called, and the phone has to be picked up by the parent.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  On Tuesday, district leaders testified in front of members of a House Appropriations Committee subcommittee as Congress reviews the districts budget for fiscal year 2025.

Among the topics discussed were federal funding requests for security, riders or restrictions on some D.C. policies (such as the use of automated traffic enforcement cameras) and the shared desire to bring federal workers back to the office.

The bottom line is work from home hinders the growth of our economy, said Glen Lee, D.C.s Chief Financial Officer.

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According to Lee, office space downtown is utilized 50% less than in 2019, as more people work from home post-pandemic. That means on any given day, 100 to 250,000 fewer people are commuting downtown, Lee noted.

District leaders explained sales tax revenue is down because of this.

Federal workers brace for Trump overhaul of civil service

When (federal workers) dont come into work, there are fewer riders on Metro, which is why Metro right now has a funding crunch, said Chairman Phil Mendelson, who testified Tuesday. It means these office buildings are vacant. Many of them now, the leases are being turned back.

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Mayor Muriel Bowser said she supports a centralized return to office policy for federal workers.

Most federal workers should be in the office most of the time, she said. We dont think individual agencies making one-off decisions about what the telework policy is, is the most efficient. We need an efficient policy, and we need a productive American workforce.

Ohio Congressman David Joyce, who chairs the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, said he believes a change to the remote work policy is coming.

Telework crackdown: Lawmakers push federal workers to return to the office

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Its a very important aspect, and I believe this next administration, thats going to be reinforced to get people back, he said.

According to Mayor Bowser, D.C. government workers are currently required to work in offices four days a week. She said workers returned to the office in June following the pandemic.

People think everyone will quit, she said. Everyone will not quit.

Bowser said a vibrant downtown, public safety and education are her top priorities in the 2025 fiscal year budget.

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The Iowa Board of Medicine regulates the state's medical profession as part of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. (Photo by Getty Images, board seal courtesy the State of Iowa)

The Iowa Board of Medicine, after being accused of prosecution by ambush, has prevailed in its efforts to deny a physician access to its investigative files on him.

Dr. Hamza Alsayouf, a child neurologist and epileptologist who once worked as a pediatric neurologist at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, took the board to court earlier this year in effort to gain access to confidential, investigative records of the board.

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During Alsayoufs years practicing in Des Moines, he served as an assistant professor at Des Moines Osteopathic Medical School, and then, in 2012, he began a nine-year stint practicing pediatric neurology in Abu Dhabi. Since 2021, he has practiced in Amman, Jordan.

Although Alsayouf doesnt currently practice in Iowa, his board certification requires him to maintain an active, unrestricted medical license in at least one state in the United States for that certification to be recognized around the world.

In February 2024, Alsayouf received an investigative inquiry from the Iowa Board of Medicine, notifying him that it was conducting a confidential investigation related to legal proceedings, not yet publicly disclosed, that allegedly occurred outside of the United States.

In court papers filed by Alsayoufs attorney, the doctor has alleged the boards probe is related to certain criminal allegations which allegedly occurred in a foreign country. The disposition of those legal proceedings occurred in absentia, the board has alleged, suggesting the matter was resolved in some way without Alsayouf being present.

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Denying any knowledge of any such legal proceedings, Alsayouf asked the board in April to provide him with a copy of its investigative file so he could respond to the allegations. The board refused, arguing that because it had not filed any charges against Alsayouf at that point the investigative material was not accessible to him under Iowa law.

Alsayouf then went to court, filing a petition for judicial review of the boards decision and asking a judge to issue an order temporarily preventing the board from continuing to pursue its investigation. The court refused to issue such an order, then held a hearing in September on the larger issue of Alsayoufs access to the investigative file.

Alsayoufs attorney, Michael Sellers, argued to the court that once the board files charges in a case, it is much more committed to imposing discipline against a licensee. He called the boards disciplinary process prosecution by ambush.

Sellers told the court that Alsayoufs ability to knowledgeably and meaningfully respond to the boards investigation at this stage represented Alsayoufs best opportunity to evade discipline.

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Sellers also argued that the boards position of releasing investigative information only at the point when charges are filed leaves licensees such as Dr. Alsayouf entirely mute and ignorant to allegations that may be easily resolved prior to public indictment.

Polk County District Court Judge Lawrence McLellan recently ruled against Alsayouf, stating that while there is no argument that licensees are entitled to the boards investigative file after charges are filed, the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in the past that such disclosure is barred unless or until a disciplinary proceeding against the licensee is initiated.

The courts decision clears the way for the board to continue its investigation without turning over the records.

The available court documents give no indication as to whether the board anticipates filing any charges in the case.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A suspect accused of shooting an Abilene police officer during a traffic stop was previously in prison for threatening his neighbor with a chainsaw.

James Wesley Key, 49, is considered armed and dangerous and on the run after allegedly shooting an officer after a traffic stop in northwest Abilene Tuesday night.

Prior to this incident, Key was most recently arrested in Taylor County in January 2019 for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

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UPDATE: Search continues for suspect accused of shooting Abilene police officer

Court documents filed in that case reveal his neighbor reported, Key came at him with a chainsaw and threatened to cut his throat and his guts.

Key was sentenced to 2 years in prison in 2020 for this crime.

More information about the new allegations against Key can be found here.

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Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) receives an interview with Xinhua in Macao, south China, Nov. 20, 2024.(Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

MACAO, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Macao has achieved new progress in diversifying its economy as the share of the gaming industry in its GDP decreased to 37.2 percent last year, said Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The figure was down 14 percentage points compared to that in 2019 when Ho began his tenure as the SAR's top official.

"The growing share of key non-gaming industries in Macao's economy over the past years is enhancing its stability and resilience," said Ho in an interview with Xinhua as Macao prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland on Dec. 20.

Ho noted that appropriate economic diversification is essential to reducing Macao's reliance on the gaming industry and tackling long-standing challenges in the region's economic and social development.

Last year, the combined value added from Macao's four priority sectors, including traditional Chinese medicine, rose by 6.9 percent compared to 2019.

The chief executive also highlighted that enhancing the quality of life for Macao residents has been a central focus of the SAR government in the past five years. "Macao's social welfare initiatives have reached new heights."

The share of the budget allocated to essential sectors such as education, healthcare, social security, housing and community services has risen from 39.2 percent in 2019 to 44.8 percent in 2024.

Notably, public housing investments totaled 15.88 billion patacas (about 1.98 billion U.S. dollars) over the past five years. Major infrastructure projects, including light rail systems and a new bridge, have been completed, while the expansion of Macao International Airport is also underway.

"Macao's development over the past 25 years has demonstrated that the 'one country, two systems' policy is fully applicable, achievable, and popular," Ho said.

Given Macao's small population and limited land area, the region faces natural constraints, Ho noted, stressing the importance of integrating Macao more closely into China's broader national development strategies.

"This is an inherent part of 'one country, two systems' in the new era, and it is crucial to creating new opportunities, space, and momentum for Macao's growth," he said.

Over the past five years, the SAR government has leveraged Macao's unique advantages -- including its practice of "one country, two systems," status as a free trade port and designation as a separate customs territory -- to actively participate in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The government has also strengthened cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries, further expanding Macao's global reach.

In September 2021, the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone was established on Hengqin Island, located near Macao, which Ho described as a new model of joint development and management under "one country, two systems."

Since its establishment, the number of Macao-invested enterprises and their industrial output in the cooperation zone has grown significantly, with the integration between Hengqin and Macao advancing rapidly.

Ho reaffirmed that safeguarding national security and social stability is a constitutional responsibility of the Macao SAR. "Without national sovereignty, security, and development interests, 'one country, two systems' would be meaningless," he said.

Over the past five years, Macao has strengthened its capacity to safeguard national security through the appointment of national security advisers, revisions to its national security law, and amendments to the electoral laws for the chief executive and the Legislative Assembly.

Ho attributed the success of the "one country, two systems" policy in Macao to the widespread societal recognition of the policy and the spread of the core values of patriotism and love for Macao across generations.

Educational initiatives, such as national flag-raising ceremonies, patriotic curricula, and youth exchanges with the mainland, have cultivated a strong sense of national identity among Macao's younger generation.

Reflecting on his time in office, Ho highlighted the progress achieved under the central authorities' leadership and with the support of the Macao community. "I am honored to serve as chief executive, and I will continue to work tirelessly to contribute to Macao's development," he said. 
DODGE CITY, Kan. (KSNW)  Dodge Citys fire chief is retiring.

According to the City, Fire Chief Ken Spencer will step down on Dec. 20. Spencer started his career 28 years ago as a maintenance worker for Dodge City before becoming a firefighter a year later in 1997.

He became a fire engineer in 2001 and a fire captain two years later. He was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief in 2015 and became Chief of the fire department in 2019.

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Chief Ken Spencer has been an integral part of the Dodge City Fire Department for nearly three decades, exemplifying dedication, leadership, and a true passion for serving our community. His commitment to public safety made a lasting impact on our city and its residents, says City Manager Nick Hernandez in a news release. While we will miss his leadership, we are excited to celebrate his well-earned retirement and wish him the very best in this next chapter.

USDA $6.3 billion investment will benefit 44 states, including Kansas

It has been a true blessing to be a part of the fire service and especially to serve the City of Dodge City for the past 28 years. My career has been an amazing journey, where I have been extremely fortunate to work with so many dedicated people over the years. I am exceedingly proud of the men and women of the Dodge City Fire Department who have always worked tirelessly to protect our citizens and visitors, said Fire Chief Ken Spencer. I am also grateful to City Manager Nick Hernandez and the City Commission for their support during my tenure as Fire Chief. As cliche as it sounds, I will miss the people that I work with the most, both within our organization as well as with outside agencies. The friends that I have made throughout my career have formed the memories that I will continue to hold important; I hope to continue those friendships and build on those memories after my retirement.

The Dodge City community is invited to Chief Spencers retirement reception, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, at the Santa Fe Depot, 201 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  The Department of Justice recently filed a lawsuit against South Carolina over the states handling of the treatment of those with mental illness.

The Justice Department accused the state of unnecessarily separating mentally ill people from their communities.

According to the agency, the ADA and the Supreme Courts decision in Olmstead v. L.C require state and local governments to ensure that the services for adults with mental illness are provided in the most integrated setting appropriate.

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The department said South Carolinians do not have access to treatments that help them re-integrate into society.

The Department of Justice wants expanded community housing programs and a streamlined hospital discharge for all patients. The lawsuit also states the need for funding community-based treatments.

A spokesman with Governor Henry McMasters office expressed that change is needed.

Our states health care system is fractured with non-cabinet agencies that are unaccountable and inefficient, the spokesman said. The governor believes the time to change this is now.

Bill Nettles, former U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, explained the legal effects of the lawsuit.

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Nettles said if they cant get the lawsuit worked out between the two parties it could be a much longer process.

Its been filed and now they will begin discovery, then depositions and if they dont get it settled then theyll lawfully go to trial, Nettles said.

Gov. McMasters office said that during the State of the State Address next month, the governor will ask that the Departments of Mental Health and Special Needs be placed under his supervision.

complaint_-_us_v._south_carolina_ada

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On Dec. 8, 2020, President Donald Trump announced from the White House the "monumental national achievement" of Operation Warp Speed developing COVID-19 vaccines.

He reminded the public that it usually takes years  a timeline of "infinity," he actually said  for the development of life-saving therapies that offered hope to millions of Americans.

"And we were very, very happy that we were able to get things done at a level that nobody has ever seen before," Trump said. "The gold standard vaccine has been done in less than nine months."

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At the time, Americans were hospitalized and dying, and health workers were risking their lives to treat them. COVID-19 was once the No. 1 killer in the U.S., with more than 1.2 million fatalities to date, and the virus has left millions more with long-term health consequences.

Yet as Trump returns to the White House for a second term in 2025, the president-elect has turned his back on arguably the greatest achievement of his first administration.

Trump must pivot if he wants to avoid another public health catastrophe. He should look to the example of three Tennessee leaders who take science seriously: Dolly Parton and former U.S. Senators Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander. More on them in a moment.

Public health in America is in jeopardy and may only get worse

Vaccine hesitancy is rampant  fewer than 20% of Americans have reported receiving the 2024 COVID-19 vaccine as of late November, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This hesitancy is also manifesting itself in a growing reluctance to vaccinate children for diseases once considered eliminated, such as measles.

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Public health information and professionals have come under fire because of pandemic era mandates and misinformation.

Nevertheless, the president-elect has nominated numerous figures to his Cabinet in public health positions who hold views skeptical of or contrary to American public health policy.

Some medical professionals, including 77 Nobel Prize laureates, consider Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for example, to pose jeopardy to public health.

On Dec. 4, The Wall Street Journal editorial board, a conservative group, called Kennedy a threat to medical innovation which grew during the 45th president's first term and saved his life when he was sick with COVID-19, thanks to new and experimental medicines.

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COVID-19 is still very real and deadly, especially for older Americans. The lessons of the past must not be ignored.

Heed the wisdom of Tennessee's heroes and elder statesmen

Music, business and philanthropic icon Dolly Parton invested $1 million into Vanderbilt researchers' efforts for the development of Moderna's vaccine.

Dolly Parton receives a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination from Dr. Naji Abumrad at Vanderbilt Health on March 2, 2021, in Nashville.

She even famously sang the song "Vaccine" to the tune of "Jolene" and publicly took the jab herself in 2021.

Dolly walked the talk  as she always does  using her celebrity for the public good, which helped communities reopen and recover.

Dr. Bill Frist, a heart and lung surgeon who served as U.S. Senate Majority Leader until he retired from office representing Tennessee in 2007, has long spoken about efforts to get global pandemics and ailments under control.

President George W. Bush speaks at a fundraiser at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel during a visit to Nashville on Sept. 8, 2003. Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist, left, with Sen. Lamar Alexander, are on the stage with Bush.

Take for example, his leadership on the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief during the second Bush Administration to combat the global HIV/AIDS crisis.

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He also pushed for bipartisan legislative efforts to prevent the next global pandemic.

Lamar Alexander, who served as governor from 1979 to 1987 and as U.S. senator 2003-2021, chaired the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and was a key voice in efforts to create cancer "moonshot" research, opioid epidemic legislation and support COVID-19 vaccine research.

On Sept. 9, 2020, he made an opening statement in a committee hearing about the history, development and value of vaccines to immunize adults and children and to eradicate diseases.

"Some people incorrectly believe 'warp speed' means cutting corners, but it refers to the extraordinary investment in research, development, and manufacturing scale-up for a COVID-19 vaccine," he said.

Public health is headed on a perilous path

In late September, I receive both my flu and COVID-19 shots on the same day at a local pharmacy. It has become an annual tradition, followed by a photo public-service announcement on social media.

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However, instead of trying to encourage others to do the same anymore, I just remind readers that I am around a lot of people a lot of the time and I do not want to become sick or get anyone else sick.

People can make up their own minds, and I know I am among just one-fifth of the population that received the COVID vaccine this year. Thankfully, I have stayed healthy and hope others do the same.

But the research, testimony and Trump's comments from four years ago still stand. A public health infrastructure requires people in place who are experts in public health. At this time, the signs are not good that we are headed in the right direction.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee senators and Dolly Parton are public health heroes | Opinion
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Environmental Protection Agency banned most uses of two cancer-causing chemicals. Leaders said its something thats been decades in the works.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) are chemicals often found in glue, dry cleaning products, stain removers and furniture polish, to name a few, but officials said they can also make their way into drinking water. Leaders with the EPA said the organization has known for decades that these chemicals are harmful, but they didnt have the power to do anything about it until fairly recently, with the 2016 Toxic Substances Control Act.

Finally for the first time in a generation or two were actually taking meaningful action that we wish we couldve taken years ago, said Michal Freedhoff the assistant administrator for EPAs Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. To address the way chemicals are made and used, so that were not left cleaning up the drinking water, getting the chemicals out of the air, cleaning up the contaminated soil.

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Freedhoff added that the EPA found safer alternatives already on the market.

If you dont want to get cancer, if you dont want to get Parkinsons disease, if you dont want to get miscarriages, if you dont want your children to get congenital heart disease  this is a huge deal, said Ray Dorsey a professor of neurology at the University of Rochester.

Dorsey is working to identify and eliminate the root causes of Parkinsons disease, and he says TCE and PCE are likely linked to a 500% increased risk of developing Parkinsons disease. Generations to come will look back on this day as a day when these diseases all likely became increasingly less common, he said.

Schumer announces Trump-proof CHIPS funding

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But one of Dorseys biggest concerns now is clean up, which he said this ban doesnt address.

There are dozens, if not more, sites that are contaminated in Rochester. I live in Pittsford, New York, and there are four state superfund sites along Monroe Avenue.

Dorsey said he hopes the diseases linked to these chemicals will eventually be more common in textbooks than they are in patients.

The EPA continues to add chemicals to its review list. Freedhoff said some of the chemicals under review are considered the most dangerous chemicals ever made and used in this country.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Floridas so-called insurer of last resort is making strides in its effort to move policyholders over to private insurers.

Citizens recently reached a new milestone, dipping below one million policyholders in the state.

They dont want you in their company, because thats not whats good for the state of Florida, said Lisa Miller, a property insurance advisor with Lisa Miller & Associates. Theyre doing everything they can to push you out into the private market.

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The hurricanes over recent years and the high cost of litigation have been a catalyst for the depopulation program.

However, Citizens is still a leading option for homes that private companies will not insure.

Those are the ones when theres a home that an insurance company wont write, said Miller. Those are the ones that belong in Citizens, but its not the ones that are in there now that are ripe for the private market.

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If Citizens drops a policy, theyll recommend a private insurer to work with.

If that company offers a rate within 20 percent of the current premium, the homeowner will be required to accept the new policy.

This year, private insurers have assumed more than 428,000 policies, with more expected before January.

Citizens is also requesting a 14 percent rate increase which could drive more homeowners to the private market.

However, the insurance commissioner has not decided on whether it will be approved.

In a statement from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation:

Commissioner Yaworsky indicated that Citizens rate filings are rarely approved in the same way they are filed. OIR is looking at the filings carefully and taking the time to get it right so that consumers dont have to pay more than is absolutely necessary.

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A decision on the most recent filings will likely be made as hurricane season comes to a close, however, there is no set timeline.

Historic data on Citizens Property Insurance about its rates, including a presentation from the most recent rate filing, can be found 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 WFLA.
Oh, Canada, we all know Donald Trump was joking when he told your prime minister that maybe your country should become our 51st state.

The exchange came during a dinner at the unofficial Florida White House, a surprise visit to Mar-a-Lago by Justin Trudeau during which the prime minister argued against the tariffs President-elect Trump has threatened to impose. The Canadian leader reportedly said Trumps proposed 25% tariffs would kill Canadas economy, prompting Trump to say that Canada was ripping us off to the tune of $100 billion, and maybe it would do better as a U.S. state.

He overstated  the U.S. buys three-quarters of Canadas exports, including autos and auto parts, and had a trade deficit with Canada of $80 billion in 2022. Canada also is the No. 1 importer of U.S. goods.

That is the Matterhorn in Switzerland, actually pic.twitter.com/59CJqGJAmE  Polling Canada (@CanadianPolling) December 3, 2024

Trump later posted what appears to be an AI-generated image on Truth Social of him standing on a rocky ledge next to a Canadian flag, looking at a mountain resembling Switzerlands Matterhorn.

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What a card! Able to make light of international relations and trade policies that affect millions of pocketbooks and jobs!

Go north, young man

As a fellow joke-lover living north of Canada  wonderfully named Essex County, Ontario, to be precise  I thought it could be fun to play along. What might change, for better or worse, if this really happened?

First, be careful what you ask for. Canadas population is a couple million greater than California's, so it would become THE heavyweight in the Electoral College. Funny!

For more suggestions, I turned to a couple of Canada experts  my massage therapist in Windsor (soon to be officially renamed South Detroit) and Free Press reporter Kristen Jordan Shamus, the daughter of an immigrant from Quebec whose relatives still live there.

Detroit's skyline from Windsor, with the Canadian flag in the foreground.

At a personal level, Im happy I'd no longer need to tell border guards where Im going, how long Ill be there, where I live and what I bought. Id miss the hilarious question of whether I have more than $10,000 with me, though.

Poutine and Timmy's everywhere

What else can we expect?

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Canadians could stop complaining about their health care system, and start going broke with ours. Bonus: All those pharmaceutical ads theyve been missing.

American McDonalds restaurants could start serving poutine, already offered in Canada, including spicy Buffalo chicken flavor!

New national debates: Timmys or Dunkin? Maple syrup, or high fructose corn syrup?

All the agents at our northern border could be reassigned to the southern border, at least until the mighty wall is complete. Then they could be laid off by Elon Musks DOGE. (That's the newly created "Department of Government Efficiency," in case you haven't kept up.)

What happens to Thanksgiving? Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October. We celebrate on the fourth Thursday in November. Perhaps the compromise is Hallow-giving. Thanks-o-ween?

Thanksgiving dinner arguments could focus on whether to convert to the metric system, or adopt gun control measures, given Canadas new clout in Congress, exceeding the size of every existing state's delegation.

By the way, standard Canadian parental leave  with a stipend  is 52 weeks. (Sorry  I promised fun and thats not a joke.)

Canadians wouldnt know what to do with all the extra money from lower U.S. tax rates  other than paying their own medical bills.

Perhaps those surplus funds could go toward winter escapes to the sunny southern U.S., currently limited to 180-day visas for Canadian snowbirds.

At the same time, Americans might love having access to northern Canada, because with climate change, the Northwest Territories could become the new Florida.

Our money might become a lot more fun. We could adopt loonies, toonies and colourful bills  replacing the king with the president, of course  something we suspect Trump would support.

The risk of more u in our spelling. "Flavour." "Neighbour." "Colour." Ugh.

Theres the issue of Quebec, which doesnt even want to be part of Canada. Sort of like Texas if a Democrat is the president, with a similar language barrier.

If, to appease Quebec, we add French street signs, Detroits got a head start with Cadieux, Beaubien, Livernois and Chene. Bonus: Some new Americans could pronounce these correctly.

Heres one possibility for building national unity: Canadian beer tends to be stronger than American beer, though the difference isnt as great as Canadians apparently think.

Finally, famously polite Canadians will need to learn that being American means never having to say sorry.

Randy Essex is an editor at the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters and we may publish it online and in print.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump said Canada should be 51st state. What would happen? | Opinion
Amid reports of a breakup, Donald Trump Jr. congratulated Kimberly Guilfoyle on her potential new job in Greece and did not address the speculation.

I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First, he wrote on social media several hours after his father, Donald Trump, named Guilfoyle as his nominee for ambassador to Greece on Tuesday.

I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First. pic.twitter.com/S3FjxqCgCx  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) December 10, 2024

The president-elect, in a Truth Social post announcing Guilfoyles nomination, called her a close friend and ally and touted her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics, along with her sharp intellect.

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Guilfoyle previously worked as a prosecutor in California and then as a host at Fox News. She has since worked as a campaign surrogate and fundraiser for Trump, and has not held any foreign policy or diplomacy roles.

She got engaged to his son in 2020, but questions swirled about the relationship on Tuesday when tabloids reported that Trump Jr. was dating Florida socialite Bettina Anderson. The Daily Mail published photos appearing to show the two holding hands.

Neither Trump Jr. nor Guilfoyle has publicly addressed the breakup speculation. Sources told People in September that the two had been spending a lot of time apart and that the younger Trump had been quietly seeing Anderson.

The ambassador appointment requires Senate confirmation. Guilfoyle said in her own statement Tuesday she was honored to accept the nomination.

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As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity, she wrote.

Related...
Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.'s fiancee, has been nominated as a United States diplomat, a day after he was seen holding hands with Florida socialite Bettina Anderson.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Guilfoyle had been nominated as the U.S. ambassador to Greece.

According to Path to Foreign Service, "Ambassadors are the highest-ranking diplomats appointed by their government to represent their country in a specific foreign country or international organization. They serve as the official spokesperson for their government and act as a direct link between their countrys leadership and the receiving country or organization."

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The announcement was made a day after Daily Mail obtained photos of Don Jr. and Anderson holding hands during a nighttime walk around Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday, Dec. 9. The outlet reports the pair were celebrating Anderson's birthday.

Bonnie Biess/Getty; Alexander Tamargo/Getty (L-R) Donald Trump Jr., Bettina Anderson (L-R) Donald Trump Jr., Bettina Anderson

Related: Donald Trump Jr., Who Is Engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, Seen Holding Hands with Socialite Bettina Anderson

While neither party has publicly commented on the photos, Trump said he nominated Guilfoyle, who has been engaged to Don Jr. since 2020, to her new role as she's been "a close friend and ally" for "many years."

The president-elect called the former assistant district attorney and Fox News host "perfectly suited" to foster "strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation."

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"Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad," he said.

Shannon Finney/Getty Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump, Jr. attend the DC premiere of the film, "Death of a Nation" on August 1, 2018 Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump, Jr. attend the DC premiere of the film, "Death of a Nation" on August 1, 2018

Related: Who Is Donald Trump Jr.s Fiancee? All About Former Fox News Host Kimberly Guilfoyle

Guilfoyle and Don Jr. first began dating in 2018, after his divorce from his ex-wife Vanessa, whom he was married to for 12 years. Vanessa and Don Jr. share five children.

While speaking about her romance with Don Jr. to Metropolitan Palm Beach magazine in 2022, Guilfoyle, who was previously married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, said they immediately had "sparks" during their first date, which happened after years of knowing one another.

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"In fact, we have been together from that night on, happily ever after," she told the outlet. "Just simply, Don and I are a perfect match. We are similar in many ways and beautifully complement one another in other ways, a true yin and yang. We share the same inner passion and fighting spirit."

Shannon Stapleton/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Donald Trump Jr. Donald Trump Jr.

However, in September, sources told PEOPLE that the pair had allegedly been spending a lot of time apart.

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.

At the time, one source described Don Jr. as more independent than Guilfoyle, coming and going as he pleases and quietly seeing Anderson.



Read the original article on People
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  23 businesses have closed in Downtown Colorado Springs this year, though some have been replaced with new businesses thanks to Downtown Development Authority (DDA) grants.

If you felt like a lot of transition happened in the Downtown area in 2024, youd be correct. 23 businesses closed their doors this year and 29 others opened them. Some of the closures have been attributed to fires, financial strain, legal issues, lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Bingo Burger fire damage still impacting businesses

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FOX21 News reached out to the Downtown Partnership for a full picture of the Downtown business scene, which provided some context for a lot of the closures as well as what new business replaced some of them.

Businesses that closed in 2024:

Studio 32 Discotheque (now Lulus Downtown)

Dirty Byrd (now Azteca Urbano)

Mood Tapas Bar (now T-Byrds Tacos)

UPS Store (closed due to fire)

Elev8 Glass Gallery (relocated to Platte Avenue)

Bingo Burger (closed due to Oct. 2024 fire)

Bell Brothers Brewing

Nova Nightclub (former Indvstry Video Bar, closed due to legal issues/not following liquor laws)

3Es Comedy Club

Marcos Pizza (now Gaia Masala Burger & Bar)

Brooklyns on Boulder (now Toodles Tea Room)

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Springs Orleans (new Mining Exchange Hotel concept coming in 2025 to replace it)

Lemon Lodge Ski Bar

The Perk

Red Swing Brewery (now Urban Animal Beer Co.)

The Well (non-profit that operated it decided not to continue)

Modo Salon (owner/operator moved to New York City)

Inefable by Fernando

Coralun Vintage

Water Works Car Wash

Wild Goose Meeting House

Shears Barbershop (now Superior Barbershop)

Expected closings by year end:

China Town Restaurant

Munchies 719

The Downtown Partnership also addressed some temporary closures and relocations, such as ICONS, which recently reopened in a new space on Kiowa Street after a December 2023 fire damaged the previous location. Yobel/The Look Up Gallery was damaged in the same fire, though the Downtown Partnership said it reopened as a holiday pop-up which will reopen permanently in the pop-up space once improvements are complete.

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Solar Roast Coffee has been temporarily closed due to damage from the same October 2024 fire that closed Bingo Burger, though the Downtown Partnership said it is expected to reopen in late winter or early spring of 2025.

Businesses that opened in 2024 (* indicates support from DDA grant):

Illegal Petes*

Louie Louies Piano Bar

Exponential Impact Downtown*

Kochi Boba & Mochi

Blk Mgk Coffee

Crooked Cue

Evergreen Restaurant*

Boucher Art + Stage

Dads Donuts

Cinchona Coffee

ONE Medical

Facial Aesthetics

Lulus Downtown*

Hanks K9 Social Club

Soiree Bridal*

The Shoppe (Local Honey*, Idyll Manor, Kampp Goods Pottery)

Golden Hour

Comfort & Joy Cat Cafe*

Haole

Urban Animal Beer Co.

Monicas Taco Shop

Gaia Masala Burger & Bar

Azteca Urbano

Night Ramen

Toodles Tea Room*

Brakemans Smashed Burger Bar

Superior Barbershop

Owambe African Restaurant & Lounge

Silver Linings Recovery

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.
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI)  The Downtown Watertown YMCA is celebrating a major milestone.

The Mary Clemo Downtown YMCA Community Center at 146 Arsenal Street is celebrating its one year anniversary at the location from now until Sunday, December 15.

Watertown YMCA opens new community and aquatic center

According to the organization, this milestone marked a significant step in revitalizing the community, providing a hub for health, wellness, and connection in the citys core.

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The facility has served as a gathering place for individuals and families, offering access to fitness programs, recreational activities, and opportunities for personal growth. c

This center represents more than just a place to exerciseits a symbol of our commitment to the health and well-being of the Watertown community. Watertown YMCA CEO Shawna Cutuli

There are a number of events going on during the anniversary week, including a Try the Y event that lets the public try the facilities out without a membership.

Anyone that does sign up can do so without a joiner fee and there will be a number of facility tours.

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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 WWTI - InformNNY.com.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has chaired board meetings of Brunei's key energy companies, urging united efforts to face future challenges, local media reported.

According to the official media Pelita Brunei, the 413th Board of Directors Meeting of Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd (BSP) and the 191st Board of Directors Meeting of Brunei Shell Marketing Sdn Bhd (BSM) took place at the Brunei Prime Minister's Office building on Tuesday.

The Sultan chaired the meetings and emphasized the need for strong leadership, along with technical expertise, unwavering commitment, and a united effort across the Brunei Shell Joint Venture and BGC to face future challenges, according to the report.

At the meeting, the participants discussed critical areas such as operational performance, safety, finance, and human resource development, as well as setting the strategic direction of BSP and BSM for the coming years.

Brunei is an important oil and gas producer in Southeast Asia. 
More than 40 migrants are feared dead off Italy's Lampedusa after a lone 11-year-old survivor said the boat she was on capsized, a rescue group said Wednesday.

"We assume that she is the only survivor of the shipwreck and that the other 44 people drowned," said Compass Collective, which assists in migrant rescue missions in the Mediterranean.

The group's Trotamar III vessel "heard the calls in the darkness" of the girl Wednesday morning at approximately 2:20 am (0120 GMT) while heading to another emergency.

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"The 11-year-old girl, originally from Sierra Leone, had been floating in the water for three days with two improvised life jackets made from tire tubes filled with air and a simple life jacket," the group said in a statement. Compass Collective also released images of the tire tubes and rescuers treating the girl.

Rescuers with blankets treat a girl who was found in the sea off Italy's Lampedusa. / Credit: Compass Collective

Mauro Marino, a doctor who examined her, told the Repubblica daily that he believed the girl was in the sea for some 12 hours.

The girl told rescuers that the metal boat left from Sfax, Tunisia. She said that the boat sunk within seconds as strong storms with 11-foot waves hit and that she - and two others - were together in the water for a while but then lost contact, the BBC reported.

"The girl had no drinking water or food with her and was hypothermic, but reactive and oriented," Compass Collective said.

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A spokeswoman for Mediterranean Hope, another charity, told AFP the girl was recuperating in hospital after her rescue.

Group representatives found the girl to be "very tired," said spokeswoman Marta Bernardini.

Italian news agency ANSA reported that the coast guard and police boats were searching the area on Wednesday where the shipwrecked boat was found.

"They have not yet found bodies nor traces of clothing," ANSA wrote.

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 30,00 migrants have died or remain missing while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea since it started recording figures 10 years ago. The BBC reports that Italy has borne the brunt, receiving more than 63,000 this year alone, according to data released by the United Nation.

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Last year, at least 64 people, including eight children, died when their overcrowded wooden boat slammed into the shoals just a few hundred meters off Italy's Calabrian coast and broke apart early in rough seas.

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Free Syria rang through downtown Erie Tuesday, with dozens of Syrians gathering in Perry Square to celebrate Bashar Al-Assads removal from power.

And for many Syrians, that removal means an end to suffering.

The president, the dictator of Syria, hes gone. He ran away. No more killing, no more arresting people without a reason. No more bombing, said Youssef Almaraey, president of the Erie Syrian Culture Center.

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They used to torture them every day of their lives, and we finally came here to share our smiles with everyone, said Farah Aldalati.

Davis joins county execs nationwide asking Trump to reconsider tariffs on Canada

Finally, hes done with Syria. Finally, no more killing people, no more killing kids. Thats it, finally, said Mohammad Almosa.

And after decades of suffering in Syria, many said they never thought this day would come.

We are happy, everyone in the family here is celebrating. Its a great great moment. We never thought this was going to be. Its like a dream for everyone here, said Bassam Dabvah, a Syrian community leader.

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This is the best day. Like, we think its a dream because we never thought Syria would be free, said Zaya Hasryeh.

But now local Syrians are living that dream, singing, dancing, waving signs and chanting for their countrys freedom.

Theyre saying free Syria forever, even without Bashar Al-Assad. Forever, said Lubna Abdel-Karim.

Remnants could be seen of a poster of former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. They ripped it up at their celebration, and they say his departure is going to bring in a new era of freedom for Syria.

The Syrian community said they want to share that freedom with the American people.

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National News: Man is charged with burning American flag during Washington protest over Netanyahu visit

We need people to see how theres no more killing, no more guns, no more people being arrested for no reason, said Almaraey.

We want to show the American community that we are happy, added Dabvah.

And for many Syrians, that happiness has been a long time coming under Al-Assads regime.

I just want to make it clear. He was a horrible person, killing innocent people. He actually made my dad lose his arm when my dad was just going back from his shop, said Daniel Alkaiali.

National News: Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?

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Alkaiali witnessed the violence firsthand, forcing him to take refuge in America.

You have to wake up every day wondering if you would live or not. You could be walking in the street and just get taken away from one of the soldiers, he added.

But for now, the Syrian community is taking time to celebrate what they say is a victory.

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.
As the U.S. Air Forces U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane enters the twilight of its career, opportunities to get a glimpse into its critical mission and unique mode of operations are becoming increasingly sought after. In the past, TWZ has reported on civilian photographer Blair Buntings flight into the stratosphere in the cockpit of a two-seat TU-2S and the spectacular imagery he brought with him back to Earth. Now, Bunting has followed that up with an account of his preparation for that same mission, focusing on the life-support elements that are exclusive to the Dragon Lady.

Buntings latest account, which you can read in full on his website, brings to the forefront how the U-2 mission relies entirely on the pilots pressure suit, also referred to as the spacesuit  and the broader life-support equipment  to ensure its success.

The pilot of a U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane photographed by Blair Bunting, part of the series Photoshoot at the Edge of Space. Blair Bunting Blair Bunting

With a rare chance to ride in the cockpit of the U-2, Bunting became well acquainted with the workings of the Physiological Support Division, or PSD, as he went through the long preparations for his flight at Beale Air Force Base, California.

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Eight months before the TU-2S lifted off with Bunting aboard, the photographer was at Beale, getting familiarized with the base, the squadrons, and especially the spacesuit.

On the third day of my initial trip [to Beale], I was required to don the suit and sit for over an hour working through how to drink and eat, and what to do when I needed to go to the bathroom, Bunting recalls. I put on a brave face, but the truth is, I was scared shitless.

As for the spacesuit  or full-pressure suit in Air Force parlance  this piece of kit really is remarkably similar in concept and design to those worn by astronauts. It is made of three layers of Nomex material and weighs 90 pounds.

The suits are provided in around 12 different sizes, based on pilot body size, and are further customized with adjustable panels in the torso, arms, and legs. Each Air Force U-2 pilot has two suits, and each one costs about $125,000.

A U-2 pilot photographed by Blair Bunting. Blair Bunting Blair Bunting

Flying in excess of 60,000 feet above the Earth, a loss of cabin pressure could be fatal for U-2 pilots, meaning the suit is life and its upkeep is the responsibility of the physiological support division at Beale.

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If the cabin pressure fails, a controller on the suit will inflate it to an atmosphere of about 35,000 feet, Staff Sgt. Craig Hawley, a launch and recovery supervisor for the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, explained in a previous Air Force media release. If that fails, a second system will inflate it to about 37,000 feet. As a last resort, the helmet will create an atmosphere of about 39,000 feet. Thats a high altitude, but its better than 63,000 feet where they cant survive.

A two-seat TU-2S Dragon Lady of the kind that Blair Bunting flew in. U.S. Air Force One of the Air Forces two-seat TU-2S trainers. USAF

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After all, at 63,000 feet, human blood will boil since theres not enough pressure to sustain oxygen in the bloodstream. Nitrogen flows out of the solution, leading to decompression sickness, or the bends.

As well as the spacesuit, U-2 pilots also breathe 100% oxygen for one hour before the flight to try and rid the blood of most of its nitrogen, mitigating the risk of the bends.

It was not on the flight, but rather the day before, as I was sitting in a pressure chamber testing my spacesuit one last time, that I realized how absolute my reliance on it would be, Bunting reflects. I was well aware of the extreme risk to anyone who had the misfortune of being ejected from a U-2. Yet, I took solace in knowing that because of this multi-layered suit, there would at least be a chance  although small  of survival should that situation become a reality.

One of the images that came from Buntings flight in a TU-2S.

Other more mundane thoughts were running through Buntings mind at this point, such as what to do if his nose began to itch at altitude, with no way to get within the pressurized glass fishbowl encasing his head. Breathing exercises and mental meditations became an important part of his preparation to deal with these kinds of psychological stresses.

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Meanwhile, Beales Physiological Support Division was responsible for preparing the suit, as well as the food and drinks, and would also be driving Bunting to the plane and strapping him into it, connecting his suit to the generators, and making sure the seal around his face was tight.

In fact, so impressed was Bunting with the PSD team that he returned to Beale six months after completing his photo-shoot flight.

This next assignment was all about recording the work of the men and women in the background of the U-2 enterprise, but without whom its mission would be impossible.

Bunting trying out his fitted pressure suit prior to the actual mission. Blair Bunting

For this next photo-shoot, Bunting chose to document four of the key interactions that he had had with the PSD team in the run-up to the flight: pressure checks for the suit in the chamber, suit integration, the ride to the flight line, and stepping to the plane.

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Its in the chamber that the U-2 pilot starts to breathe the 100% oxygen, and its an impressive space by any measure. In a black-painted room the size of a house, concealed behind a foot-thick door, is a chair for the pilot. While being fed the oxygen from a yellow bottle, they are attended to by two members of the PSD team, wearing masks and helmets. The activity is observed from a control room, behind a thick pane of glass. In a stark reminder of the dangers of depressurization, a water bottle next to the pilots chair shows them how bubbles would course through their bloodstream, were the worst to happen.

As for the suit integration part, Bunting was limited here as to what he could photograph, due to operational security, but this portion of the preparation involves donning space underwear, of the crotchless type, to accommodate a catheter (or Urinary Collection Device). Next, actually getting into the spacesuit is a process that requires 20 people (plus a media team and assorted spectators from the base).

Entering the suit is a case of diving into it, folding forward and pushing my head into the main O-ring, says Bunting. While not visible from the outside, the feet are actually part of the suit and are then covered up by a secondary external boot.

A U-2 pilot is integrated into his spacesuit. Blair Bunting Blair Bunting

Once you are zipped up (from the crotch to the bottom of the neck), you are walked to a chair that looks like a motorized La-Z-Boy on a platform. Along the wall are gauges, tubes, and headphones. On the armrests lay thin white gloves that will serve as a barrier between your hands and the suit itself. One of the members asks if you want your air conditioning tube on the top or bottom of your wrist.

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Next, the helmet is put it on and locked to the suits O-ring to the suit, then the gloves are slid on and attached to the suit, and the visor is closed.

Things move quickly. The chair is promptly reclined, and five or six squadron members dive in, pulling and tugging on straps, running through checklists, taking oxygen measurements, and adjusting the suit, Blair adds. The realization hits you that the operating room you just entered is your own, and these people are here to keep you alive. It is as equally terrifying as it is inspiring.

A U-2 pilot during the ride to the flight line. Blair Bunting Blair Bunting

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The next image shows the ride to the flight line, in a truck nicknamed the bread van. The pilot at this point is still hooked up to the oxygen tank and the van has two more La-Z-Boy-style chairs for the pilot (or pilots, for a TU-2S mission).

A U-2 pilot in the bread van. Blair Bunting Blair Bunting

Finally, Bunting documented the walk to the aircraft itself. At this point, the truck drops the pilot off outside a hangar, in which ground crew are already busily getting the Dragon Lady ready for flight.

Understandably, Buntings return to Beale six months after his own flight triggered his own memories of the mission and his own stepping to the jet for an unforgettable journey to the edge of space.

Earth from (near-)space. As recorded during Buntings U-2 flight. Blair Bunting Blair Bunting

As for Buntings incredible flight, you can read more about that in his own account.

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By any measure, a flight in a U-2 is a vanishingly rare occurrence for a civilian. Now, as the U-2 enters the end of its long service, such opportunities are only becoming rarer. With that in mind, its all the more fitting that Bunting has paid homage to the iconic spy plane in such a remarkable way.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
UPDATE (4:30 p.m.): News 5 spoke with Mobile County Sheriffs officials to learn more about the drug arrests of three people.

Lieutenant Mark Bailey with the MCSO Narcotics Unit said the amount of drugs found indicates that there is a larger drug operation at play.

Its alarming when you find a quantity, not only quantity, but a different type of very diverse mixture of narcotics, said Lt. Bailey. But when you have guns mixed in with this, that kind of ups the game for us.

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Both Demetrius and Joshua are out of jail on bond. Vinczan is still in jail as of 4:30 p.m.

Original Story

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  Mobile County Sheriffs Office deputies have arrested three people after executing a search warrant on a home, leading to drugs being seized, according to officials.

Mobile police investigating after man found dead inside Butler Street home

Law enforcement reportedly seized these items, including guns, cash and drugs, from a Mobile County home. (Photo courtesy of the Mobile County Sheriffs Office)

Deputies executed the search warrant Tuesday, Dec. 10, at a home on Riviera Drive, according to an MCSO news release.

35-year-old Demetrius Haywood Morgan, 37-year-old Joshua Ricardo Morgan, and 24-year-old Victoria Larissa Vinczan were arrested on multiple charges.

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MCSO deputies seized:

466.3 grams of ICE

117 grams of synthetic marijuana

23.4 grams of marijuana

39 Adderall pills

5 Fentanyl pills

14 Ecstasy pills

1 gram MDMA

$4,363 United States Currency

Joshua and Vinczan were charged with second-degree possession of marijuana, trafficking fentanyl, trafficking methamphetamine, and trafficking synthetic marijuana, according to the MCSO.

Senseless: How Mobiles police chief describes violent crime over the past 4 days

Demetrius was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

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 WKRG News 5.
Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch announced Tuesday that former four-term Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett has resigned as the executive director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Duke stepped into this role in the last year of my administration, and I am grateful he shared his collaborative spirit with all Hoosiers, she announce via social media. Duke will be pursuing new opportunities, and I wish him well.

Bennetts last day in the position will be Jan. 10, 2025.

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After Bennett lost the 2023 election to current Mayor Brandon Sakbun, Crouch appointed him to the OCRA position. The job is filled by the Lt. Governor.

In November, Republican Mike Braun was elected governor along with Micah Beckwith as Lt. Governor. They defeated Democrats Jennifer McCormick and Terry Goodin, 21,808 (53.77% of the vote) to 17,070 (42.09%).

Beckwith will name the next OCRA executive director.

Bennett told the Tribune-Star, I sincerely appreciate the opportunity I was given by Lt. Governor Crouch to serve the past year as the Executive Director of OCRA. I greatly enjoyed working with communities  especially mayors  all across the state by helping them to get important projects funded and completed.

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We have an incredible staff at OCRA that prioritizes assisting communities with achieving their economic development goals.

Bennett compared the two jobs.

There was a pretty big difference between being the mayor and the Executive Director of a state agency, he said. The job required significantly less overtime hours than I was working as mayor each week but there is a lot of travel involved with this one.

He added, There are also much different politics at play when comparing local government to state government. Overall, it has been a great experience.

Bennett pointed to his significant accomplishments in his year at ORCA, including sizeable investments in rural broadband expansion and bringing back a revised Stellar Pathways grant providing resources for transformative quality of place, community, and regional improvements. He also implemented a new Building Socially Connected Communities grant.

He said he doesnt know what the future holds for him.

I am not sure yet what comes next, he said, but I want to get back to working in the Terre Haute community.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  An 18-year-old e-bike rider was sent to the hospital Tuesday night after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in north San Diego, authorities said.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the e-bike rider was traveling westbound in the 5800 block of Del Mar Heights Road shortly before 9:15 p.m. He was reported to be riding within the marked bike lane.

Homicide investigation underway in Oceanside following welfare check

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At that same time, a driver was traveling westbound on the same roadway when they made what police described as an unsafe movement into the bike lane. The motorist struck the e-bike rider, causing him to fall off.

The 18-year-old was transported to a local hospital to be treated for a fractured arm. Authorities say his injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The driver did not remain at the scene following the incident. The individual was last seen driving westbound on Del Mar Heights Road. No vehicle information was immediately provided police.

Traffic Division officers responded and are handling the investigation. Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Shirts, mugs and stickers bearing the words "Deny Defend Depose" are appearing for sale on e-commerce websites just days after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death in New York City.

The words "delay," "deny" and possibly "depose" were scrawled on three shell casings found at the scene of the Dec. 4 shooting in Manhattan, according to law enforcement sources, and loosely echo the title of a book about why insurance companies deny patient claims. The title  "Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It," by Jay Feinman  is described on Amazon as "an expose of insurance injustice and a plan for consumers and lawmakers to fight back."

Feinman has declined to comment on the recent events, including on the words police say were written on the shell casings.

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Sellers on online marketplace Etsy list over 800 items bearing "Deny Defend Depose," including stickers, candles and apparel, while eBay is selling stickers, clothing, lawn signs and cell phone cases with the phrase.

In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, eBay said the sale of items with the words does not violate its policies. But the company added that "items that glorify or incite violence, including those that celebrate the recent murder of UHC CEO Brian Thompson, are prohibited."

Amazon said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch that it had removed similar merchandise from its platform, saying that the products violated the company's guidelines.

Merchants often race to market wares related to dramatic current events, even when they involve violence. After President-elect Donald Trump was struck in the ear by a bullet in an assassination attempt over the summer, for example, sellers quickly started hawking merchandise with images of Trump at the rally. Many products also were sold online and in stores immediately after the 9/11 attacks.

Extended interview: Billie Eilish

New Jersey man on car-sized drone hovering near him

Eye Opener: UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect erupts outside of court
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Powerful winds across parts of San Diego County have led to power shutoffs for thousands of customers, as officials try to prevent wildfires caused by downed power lines.

In Alpine, Sam Georges, the manager of Alpine Discount Liquor, is scrambling to save his inventory. His rented generator wont work properly, leaving $2,000 worth of ice cream and dozens of cases of ice at risk.

Red Flag Warning issued for high fire risk in parts of San Diego County

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It doesnt work, I dont know what happened, Georges said.

Georges initially questioned why his store was affected by the public safety power shutoff while neighboring businesses remained connected. When he contacted San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), he was told his store is on a different circuit linked to areas miles away.

I told them, this is a business, ok? Just open the circuit, Georges said. They said, You are joined with another area 20 to 30 miles away. Why would they join just me? You can see, everybody else has power.

Farther east, strong gusts forced the California Highway Patrol to close Interstate 8 to big-rig traffic for hours. In Pine Valley, power has been off since 3:30 p.m. Monday.

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Multiple school districts, casino close due to public safety power shutoffs

Despite the outage, Pine Valley Store remains open thanks to generators, keeping gas pumps running and pizzas hot.

Especially being a small town, we all help each other out, said Brittani Limon, a Pine Valley Store employee. We have the food, we have everything they need to make sure that we are able to help and do what we can.

For nearby residents relying on gas to power their own generators, these pumps are crucial for keeping refrigerators running and homes warm during the cold nights.

The outages are a high price to pay, but officials argue theyre necessary given the wildfire risk. However, for some, the decision is difficult to accept.

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Thousands under public safety power shutoffs amid Red Flag Warning

Theres no wind here, Georges said. Everything is normal, so why did they shut it down?

As of now, its unclear when power will be fully restored. Residents say they are hoping it will be sooner rather than later.

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.
MADRID, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hosted his Lebanese counterpart Najib Mikati on Wednesday in Madrid to address pressing issues in Lebanon and the Middle East.

The Spanish prime minister's office said that the meeting focused on Lebanon's challenging situation, just two weeks after the ceasefire agreement with Israel took effect and five days following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of solidifying the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel into a lasting peace, paving the way for full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. They stressed the need to end hostilities permanently to foster regional stability.

Sanchez reiterated Spain's support for Lebanon and assured Mikati that Spain would contribute to reconstruction efforts, crucial for enabling displaced individuals to return to their homes.

The leaders also highlighted the need for an orderly political transition that preserves Syria's territorial integrity. They agreed that a stable and peaceful Syria is essential for the broader region's benefit, particularly for Lebanon. 
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK)  East Texas first responders hit the toy aisles on Tuesday to shop for more than 100 children in the community.

Former Tyler ISD head coach Mike Owens dies

According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, it was through peoples donations to their Shop with a First Responder event that officers were able to help children have a great Christmas.

Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department.

The police department said 115 children in the area were helped and many got the experience to shop with members of law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics.

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We love giving the kids a positive experience with someone in uniform and giving back to the community we serve, Mount Pleasant PD said.

Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department.

Tyler Gives raises nearly $290,000 for local nonprofits

Officials said not only did Mount Pleasant officers participate but the fire department, Titus County Sheriffs Office, Mount Pleasant ISD Police Department, Chapel Hill ISD Police Department, EMS, the Department of Public Safety and animal control. MPPD thanked Walmart, Communities in Schools, Chambers Hospice, Diamond C and Ignite for the help they provided to make the event possible.

We couldnt have pulled it off without everyones help, the police department said.

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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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Europe's low-cost airline EasyJet is set to fly more frequently between Italian and German airports after Italian authorities granted numerous take-off and landing rights in Milan and Rome, under pressure from the EU.

The move is intended to compensate for competitive disadvantages that would otherwise have arisen, in the view of European Union officials, from the imminent entry of Germany's Lufthansa Group into the Italian state airline Ita.

From March 27, new routes to and from Italy will be offered from the two airports, EasyJet announced on Wednesday. These include six new routes to Germany, for which around 500,000 seats will be offered immediately.

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Hamburg and Frankfurt will receive direct flights to and from Milan and Rome from March 30. In addition, there will be connections between Dusseldorf and Milan and between Munich and Rome. EasyJet had no presence in Frankfurt until recently.

Along with other airlines, EasyJet has criticized the high state taxes and fees at German airports, which it says make it difficult to operate profitably.

The airline's largest German location is Berlin. EasyJet Europe, based in Vienna, is part of the London-based Easygroup, the second largest low-cost airline in Europe after Ireland's Ryanair.
New Hampshire is one of nine states with a trigger law that would end coverage for those in the expanded Medicaid group should the federal contribution fall below 90 percent. (Getty Images)

A few weeks after his partys dismal showing in the Nov. 5 general election, Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was blunt.

In 2016, I was doing an event with the steel workers, across the street where I live, and I was noticing (a) different kind of energy with this, with (Donald) Trump, he told The New York Times late last month. It was clear at that time that people were voting for Trump. The Democrats response was, Arent they smart enough to realize theyre voting against their interests? And thats insulting, and thats, I mean, thats, thats just not helpful. Its condescending.

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Politically speaking, hes right. A good campaigner doesnt tell people that a vote for the opposition is misguided and will harm them; candidates and their surrogates have a responsibility to paint the picture of how  clearly, factually, and engagingly. But by and large we are not a nation of voters who like to get down to the nitty-gritty of policy, and probably less so now than ever. As any school teacher will tell you, holding the attention and interest of your listeners while exploring a subject in depth is no easy task. And unfortunately for those of us affected by public policy  which is, you know, all of us  the devil is very much in the details.

There are many examples of such devilish details to be found in the Republican blueprint for 2025 and beyond, including one outlined in a KFF Health News story the Bulletin published on Tuesday: the threat to Medicaid expansion.

Republicans like tax cuts. I mean, they really, really like tax cuts  especially ones that further pad the pockets of corporations and the wealthiest tier of Americans even if it means punishing the poor and hollowing out the middle class. That alone should cost them a lot of elections in a one-person-one-vote, interdependent republic, but that has turned out not to be the case (and they owe a debt of gratitude to Citizens United for that). The myth of trickle-down prosperity more often than not still carries the day, as does the Republican Partys skill at leveraging fear  that most powerful and irrational of motivators  when it comes to economic and noneconomic issues alike. The pesky thing about tax cuts, though, is that you have to make up the revenue somewhere to keep society buzzing along. Republican tradition dictates that the social safety net offers the easiest pickings, which is why party leaders are sharpening their ax heads to start hacking away at anti-poverty programs like SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid  and maybe Social Security while theyre at it.

When it comes to Medicaid, youll hear Republicans at the state and federal levels throw around phrases like inefficiency (Lets do block grants!) and personal responsibility (Lets do work requirements!), but its really a collective effort to erode the popularity  and funding  of a program designed to benefit not only those who have the least but the nation as a whole.

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That was the point of the Medicare and Medicaid Act from the moment it was signed into law in the summer of 1965  a major piece of President Lyndon Johnsons Great Society series of domestic programs targeting poverty and racism. Roughly 80 million Americans are now enrolled in Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), including about 184,000 here in New Hampshire.

Whats better than a health care program that helps millions of people live better, more fulfilling lives? Bringing that program to even more people. With passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, states were given the opportunity to expand eligibility for Medicaid up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level for adults. New Hampshire passed Medicaid expansion in 2014, and as of August about 72,000 Granite Staters were enrolled in that expansion group, according to KFF. In order to make the program feasible for states, the federal government pays 90 percent of the cost of coverage for those in the expansion group rather than the 50 or so percent for traditional Medicaid.

And heres where Republicans voracious appetite for tax cuts poses an immediate hardship for tens of thousands of New Hampshire residents who rely on Medicaid: We are one of nine states with a trigger law that would end coverage for those in the expanded Medicaid group (72,000 people) should that federal contribution fall below 90 percent.

Elections indeed have consequences  especially when the gang in power believes in tax cuts at any cost. But I hope, for everyones sake, that Republican lawmakers eyeing cuts to traditional Medicaid and Medicaid expansion run into plenty of bipartisan opposition  and theres reason to think they will.

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Despite persistent proposals from Republicans to slash Medicaid funding, including through block grants that would increase states flexibility but reduce actual federal contributions, the programs popularity has grown. Medicaid now has a considerably wider reach than Medicare, wrote KFFs Drew Altman in March, and as Medicaid has expanded, it has become part of the fabric of American life and vastly more popular with the general public and voters.

The numbers say even more: In 2023, Medicaid covered nearly 4 in 10 children, 8 in 10 children in poverty, 1 in 6 adults, and 6 in 10 nonelderly adults in poverty.  Medicaid covers 44% of nonelderly, noninstitutionalized adults with disabilities. Medicaid also covers 41% of all births in the United States, nearly half of children with special health care needs, 5 in 8 nursing home residents, 23% of non-elderly adults with any mental illness, and 40% of non-elderly adults with HIV, KFF reports.

If, however, Donald Trump and his party do go after Medicaid, Fettermans take will remain true but hit differently. While its still not good politics for Democrats to say Republican voters are guilty of voting against their interests, the insult will be the least of their worries, of everybodys worries.
Its fair to say that Mayor Brandon Johnson has been his own worst enemy more than once during his 19 months in office. But his top aides arent helping his cause.

In recent weeks, weve seen three of Johnsons most senior staff stumble in ways that bring discredit to his administration and fuel the narrative of an incompetent City Hall that has helped earn the mayor a 70% disapproval rating, according to recent polling.

First, Ronnie Reese, Johnsons chief communications officer and a close colleague going back to Johnsons days as a Chicago Teachers Union lobbyist, was fired in early November after staffers who were direct reports accused him of sexual harassment and bullying. There long had been red flags surrounding Reese, who denied the allegations even after his dismissal. In August 2023, the administration fired three holdovers from the Lightfoot administration who reported to Reese and had them placed on the citys do not hire list, which they alleged was retaliation for complaining internally about their treatment by Reese and senior Johnson aide Jason Lee.

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As Reese was fired, two of the three who still were on the do-not-hire list were told they could seek city employment again, but that was over a year after the fact. Reese now is on the citys do-not-hire list himself, but that doesnt make up for the damage done. One of the three, Azhley Rodriguez, said her treatment completely ruined a future I would have, so its not fair to me.

Making matters worse was chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas handling of the internal complaints against Reese. A day after Pacione-Zayas was made aware of the nature of the allegations against him, she proposed gathering the complaining staffers with Reese and hashing out their differences via a peace circle. A peace circle is a method of conflict resolution that focuses on honest discussion rather than determining winners and losers as a means of working out differences.

The workers whod complained objected to including Reese in the exercise due to the shared fear of retaliation, according to the 29-page complaint against him obtained by reporters under the Freedom of Information Act.

Pacione-Zayas in an interview with WBEZ defended herself by attempting to distinguish between the general workplace complaints against Reese (those were to be the subject of the peace-circle approach, she said) and the specific and clearly more serious sexual harassment allegations. I did not and would not have ever offered (a peace circle) for a serious allegation like sexual harassment, she said.

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Her explanations arent satisfying. Upon learning that Reese had been accused of mistreatment of women because of their gender, she shouldnt have suggested that sort of approach to address the turbulence in his office. Given that Reese had emerged as a flashpoint even a year earlier with the firing of the three staffers and their placement on the do-not-hire list, Pacione-Zayas initial actions when even more complaints surfaced raise legitimate questions of whether Reese was given favorable treatment due to his close ties to Johnson.

For his part, the mayor insists that he knew nothing about the specific allegations against Reese until the Chicago Tribunes Oct. 25 filing of a FOIA request for Reeses personnel file. Even that assertion came into question when news emerged soon thereafter that Johnson had texted CTU President Stacy Davis Gates, a close friend and adviser, on Oct. 19 with this cryptic message: Ronnie! Call me. A message from the Elders.

Johnson and Davis Gates shrugged off the text exchange and didnt substantively address the matter.

The most recent misadventure at City Hall involves Lee, one of Johnsons top political advisers, who was found to have voted in Houston in November even though he says he lives in Chicago, a requirement for city employment. Lee explained his apparent violation of voting laws by saying hed promised his mother, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, before she died to vote for his sister to replace her in Congress.

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A lot of people are registered in their hometown even if they live somewhere else, Lee told the Tribune. His everyone does it explanation ought to be unacceptable to his boss, but the mayor essentially shrugged. He said it was an issue for Texas authorities to investigate.

The common thread running through all of these problems is accountability  or the lack thereof. The initial approach to Reeses inexcusable behavior appeared to be a clear the air talk with the people he was abusing rather than what ended up happening when they understandably balked: termination. Pacione-Zayas blamed hiring and firing processes instituted by prior administrations for her mishandling of the situation rather than taking any responsibility herself. Lee blithely dismissed an apparent violation of law.

A workplace culture of this sort isnt an accident. Well into his term, Johnson himself still frequently blames his mayoral predecessors for the policy predicaments he struggles to solve. Negative outcomes seem always to be someone elses fault with this group.

Weve said this before, but the good news for this bad-news mayor is that hes not even halfway through his term. He can take steps to improve his administration, but only if he first acknowledges the need. He then should change the culture to ensure that no one in his orbit is being treated more favorably than anyone else and that accountability will immediately follow from serious errors like abuse of city workers.

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And its not too late for Johnson to look beyond his small circle of progressive allies for upgrades at key administration posts. Were confident there are able, experienced Chicagoans willing to help the mayor right his managerial ship if hes open to honest self-reflection.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Dec. 10dbeard @dominionpost.com MORGANTOWN  Four West Virginia elementary school educators came before legislators on Monday to explain the dire challenges caused by disruptive students and the devastating effects of the daily, constant disruptions.

Chloe Laughlin, a teacher of nine years' experience at Bridgeview Elementary in Kanawha County summed up the problem for members of the Joint Standing Committee on Education: "The reason why educators are leaving education is not because of a lack of materials or support or money. The reason they are leaving is because they are beaten, yelled at, cussed at. They are dodging flying items and have to endure extreme behaviors like this from the beginning of the school year, if not the entire school year. Teachers are not getting the respect they deserve."

Speaking of her own experience, she said, "If I was not meant to be a teacher, I would have left education by year three. My first three years of education, I came home every day crying because of how bad the behaviors were in my classroom." She was beaten up and screamed at daily.

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Monday was the first day of December interims and the teachers addressed the problems in the contest of a school discipline bill  SB 614  that died on the last day of the regular session in March.

The Senate blog explained that the bill would have required students in grades K-6 whose behavior was deemed violent, threatening or intimidating toward staff or fellow students and impeded learning to be placed in a county behavioral intervention program. If a county didn't have such a program, which is the case in 34 of West Virginia's 55 counties, the student would be placed in a program in a neighboring county.

All four educators agreed that the bill was vague and inadequate and needs more work. And counties with elementary alternative programs don't have close to enough slots.

They shared some of their horror stories.

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Stephenie Haynes, Bridgeview principal, told about "Barbie " and "Ken."

Barbie, a first-grader, came in from kindergarten with six pages of disruption documentation, disrupts class daily and has caused classroom evacuations. "She has the teacher threatening to quit." She has her own dedicated aide. "The classroom has been destroyed. My office has been destroyed." She's just been started in a behavior disorder program.

Ken is a third-grader who's been suspended more than 30 times. He's been in the nine-week alternative learning program, to no avail. He kicks and head-butts her. She spent 38 straight minutes under attack last week. She called the police, but they by policy can't help. She can put him in an approved hold, but if he escapes she can't recapture him.

She and two others are covered in bruises, she said. "He destroys classrooms." He tried to stab her. When she's occupied with him, she can't tend to the rest of her job: 399 other children, 75 staff and a dog. They already undertake the measures described in the bill. "I don't know what other options we have, or what funding there can be."

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Tina Wallen, a Wyoming County school principal, told of traumatized kids born to addicted parents, sometimes being raised by grandparents, coming into grade school not potty trained, never been exposed to other children. They sometimes have to evacuate all the children in a room to let a kid carry out their destructive rage.

Wyoming's alternative elementary program has room for only six kids, she said. "I'm not really sure what the answer is." Sending them home isn't because that's where their problems originate. "We just have to figure out some answers and some support." Maybe some family training.

All the educators, and the legislators agreed that the behavior of these traumatized children in turn traumatizes their classmates.

The educators talked about the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support program, a program that sets consequences proportionate to the infraction. It's designed for prevention, takes months to proceed through, and is fine for 98 % of the children, but not the 2 % who are violent and disruptive and essentially destroy the educational days and environment for the rest.

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Morgan Elmore, a preschool teacher in Randolph County Schools, said Randolph is one of those counties with no alternative learning facility. "We are seeking to see a universal plan that all admin will follow."

Consequences and responses are inconsistent among the state's schools, and if parents don't like the treatment at one school, they'll transfer. Educators want accountability and consequences, she said. Remove the kid and the rest of the class can learn, and the classroom remains safe. The current system rewards the disruptive, violent kids.

Legislators offered some thoughts, and sympathy about the problems the educators face every day.

Delegate Buck Jennings, R-Preston, wondered about establishing regional alternative learning centers to help counties that have none.

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Sen. Rollan Roberts. R-Raleigh, was one of those who criticized the state Department of Education. The state systems should have leaders who do what needs to be done so teachers don't have to come to the Legislature, he said.

"It's horrific, it's a tragedy, " he said. Teachers shouldn't be in a position where they need protective gear at school. The problem needs more than just legislation.

Committee co-chair Sen Amy Grady, R-Mason, observed, "We're always focusing on those test scores. Until we get these behaviors under control, we're not going to see an improvement in test scores."

Public school enrollment is declining not just because families want private school or homeschool. They're removing their children from traumatizing environments to safe environments. "This has to be a priority this season, it has to be."

Laughlin said she has a 3-month-old daughter and is thinking about her as they confront this problem for the state's children. "They are not learning, they are surviving for their entire day. I want better for my daughter and for the students of the next generation."
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) awarded $20,000 to Elizabethton through the Brownfield Redevelopment Area Grants (BRAG) program.

The funds will be used to identify priority sites for development, according to the City of Elizabethton.

VIDEOS: TWRA bodycam footage shows harrowing rescues during Sept. 27 flooding

Grant funds are derived from the Rural Brownfield Redevelopment Investment Act, protecting the environment and creating economic opportunities.

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A brownfield property is identified as a vacant or underutilized site due to potential contamination.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  An employee of The Grill has confirmed with Concho Valley Homepage that plans are being made to migrate the 16-year-old San Angelo restaurants operations to a new location. Theres more than just a bigger building in the works, though  there may be an entirely new restaurant in store as well.

Interest in the possibility of The Grill moving to a new location was first generated after the business appeared in the pending commercial projects section of the City of San Angelos November 2024 permits and inspections report. Listed alongside the restaurant is an address of 5730 Sherwood Way, where a former Shannon clinic can be found across Sherwood Way from The Grills existing storefront.

Travis McMillan, a general manager working at The Grill, stated that the location was bought approximately three years ago by Felipe Armenta, the owner of The Grill. McMillan said that, although Armenta was unable to divert his full attention toward the acquisition at the time, Armenta is now making plans to convert the clinic building into the next home for The Grill.

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I know we just had some things approved, I think, this past month, to start getting it going, McMillan said. I know we were waiting on a couple of bids to have somebody remodel for us.

San Angelo-based beverage shop to close

McMillan shared that the remodeling process has a projected duration of roughly six months. He said the remodeling would remedy issues such as limited storage and competition with nearby businesses for parking that sparked the decision to migrate the restaurants operations.

It would just help us tremendously to get a bigger location with more storage and more parking, McMillan said.

The former Shannon clinic located on Sherwood Way could soon be the next home of The Grill.

Theres more than just better parking options and a more spacious dining environment in store for patrons, however, as new cuisines and drinks may also accompany the shift to a larger location. McMillan stated that an expanded and overhauled menu is being considered for the prospective eatery.

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With a bigger restaurant, it gives us the option to expand our menu and add a lot of new ideas and creations from Felipe, McMillan said. Were limited on our menu because were limited on space.

The existing location wouldnt be forgotten, though. McMillan said Armenta may be planning to turn the current storefront into a separate, new restaurant.

I know he signed a lease recently, so he [Armenta] plans on keeping it and turning it into a different concept, McMillan said. Hes tossed quite a few things up in the air, but I dont think hes settled on anything yet.

The Grill is a restaurant located in San Angelo where Chef Felipe Armenta combines eclectic Southwest cuisine with a world class wine list, hand crafted cocktails and memorable service, according to the businesss website.

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ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL)  As they savor progress in what they say is an effort to hold CSX Transportation accountable for how it rebuilds destroyed rail line in the Nolichucky River Gorge, attorneys for the Southern Environmental Law Center say that effort wouldnt be succeeding without some unsung heroes.

Storm Team 11: Heavy rain this evening to brief heavy snow Wednesday

They deserve so much the credit for keeping an eye on things that are happening in the gorge, the centers Patrick Hunter told News Channel 11 Tuesday. I feel really lucky to be able to be in court standing up to protect these places, but none of that would happen without these people out there on the ground. They are really the foundation here in terms of protecting the Nolichucky Gorge.

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They are the kayakers and rafters who took to the gorge and parts downstream shortly after Hurricane Helenes remnants wreaked havoc in Unicoi County on Sept. 27.

We didnt access the river in an unofficial capacity, kayak instructor and river guide Trey Moore said. We were out there originally doing search and rescue efforts and search and recovery, and so we were working hand in hand with the emergency management agencies to do the jobs of looking for survivors and then also providing closure to families that had lost folks.

Moore said within days of the disaster, they began to see heavy equipment operating within the rivers ordinary high water mark. They knew CSX had miles of blown out rail line to replace, and Moore said the river users fully support that rebuild  but the method raised some red flags.

We started to notice these questionable activities and we rightly raised questions about that, Moore said.

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The primary concern was what appeared to be dredging of the river bed below the ordinary high water mark to gather fill for the rebuild. The kayakers also knew the gorge was home to endangered species and other environmentally sensitive habitat.

Local whitewater community say CSX cease and desist order is positive step for Nolichucky preservation

I think that this comes down to just being a responsible citizen in a functioning government, Moore said. Its tough for the government to be all places at all times, and thats where responsible citizens have to step up and fill in some of these gaps.

Watching the waters

They began sending photos and narratives to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After about a month passed and questionable activities continued with what seemed to be a slow-walked permitting process from the Army Corps, the SELC sued on behalf of American Whitewater and American Rivers, two non-profits.

A photo sent to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in October 2024, raising concerns about CSXs rail rebuild. (Dennis Ashford)

The Army Corps is a defendant in the federal suit, with CSX having joined in the defense as a non-party. Shortly after the suit was filed the Corps sent CSX a letter Nov. 20 laying out some requirements, and correspondence between CSX and the Corps shows the company committed to complying.

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Just a day later, Jarret Lynch, an area kayaker, shot drone footage that appeared to show CSXs contractor violating those directives. That video went to SELC and from there to the Corps, which sent it to CSX on Nov. 25.

So much credit to the folks that have been willing to get down in there every day and take a look at whats going on, Hunter said.

A week later (Dec. 2), a sharply worded, two-page letter to CSXs Matthew Adkins came from the chiefs of the Corps Nashville and Wilmington, N.C. regulatory division chiefs. Those two offices oversee all waters of the United States (navigable waterways) in Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively.

The letter notes that in response to the video, CSX stated that while guidance was provided to the construction crews conducting the work, it was not effective in preventing the action. You further expressed CSXs commitment to complying with USACE directives and regulatory requirements.'

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Army Corps Dec. 2 Letter to CSX by Jeff Keeling on Scribd

A lot of wins right now but the work is not done

Hunter said SELC is pausing from further actions in the suit for the time being  and thankful to the agencies for their tough stance. (TDEC also ordered CSX to cease and desist from rock removal in the river on Dec. 4.)

I was glad that they stepped up there and did the right thing to stop the ongoing harm, at least until everybody can get their hands around the situation and get lawful approvals in place to get them back reconstructing (the rail line), he said.

Screen capture of a video from Jarret Lynch that was cited in the Army Corps of Engineers Dec. 2 letter to CSX. (Jarret Lynch)

And Hunter sounded as though the stepping up owed a lot to people like Moore, Lynch and their fellow paddlers.

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CSX had agreed to stop all in-water work particularly in North Carolina, until they could figure out what approvals were necessaryand then they (the Corps) represented that to the court.

The next day CSX was out there doing work in the river again and so I think at that point, you know, the Army Corps really had no choice but to say, if you thought we were kidding, we were not. When you told us this, we assumed you were being honest here and so now were going to put our foot down.

Hunter said in the Dec. 2 missive, the Corps lay it out as straightforwardly as a federal agency ever does.

He said its likely to be at least several weeks before the proper, lawful approvals can be put in place. That doesnt completely stop the work, but should prevent CSX from dredging and from activity near protected areas.

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CSX, Hunter said, will have to pivot in some of its approach.

I dont think any of the laws that we have are so stringent that they couldnt rebuild through the gorge, but theyre just going to have to do it with some protection. That may cost more.

Hunter said its undeniable that there has been significant progress since the beginning of December for people who care about the gorges future.

Things are in a good place. A lot of wins right now, but the work is not done, so people will continue to monitor whats happening out there.

Moore said thats a given for him and his colleagues. He said he supports CSXs rebuild if its done according to the law, and that he doesnt even really fault the company for trying to accomplish its objectives affordably.

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I also think that we do need to maintain monitoring because they have proven in the past that they need to be continually monitored, and were going to continue to do that, Moore said.

I think that what the Army Corps and TDEC can expect from us is just continuing monitoring practice, and theyre going to get reports on questionable activities. Were not going to say whether things are right or wrong. Were going to leave that ball in their court because that is their job and their purview.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng shakes hands with Carole Bureau-Bonnard, chairwoman of a French delegation, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 11, 2024. Han on Wednesday met with the French delegation who is in Beijing attending the sixth China-France Track Two High-Level Dialogue. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Wednesday met with the French delegation who is in Beijing attending the sixth China-France Track Two High-Level Dialogue.

Han said China and France are both major countries with global influence, and bilateral relations have strategic significance that goes beyond bilateral interests.

Noting this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Han said China is ready to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen mutual trust and cooperation, jointly tackle climate change and other global challenges, and push for new achievements in the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

Carole Bureau-Bonnard, chairwoman of the French delegation, said the French side is ready to enhance mutual understanding with China, complement each other's strengths and jointly meet challenges through constructive dialogue, so as to promote the sound and steady development of France-China and EU-China relations. 

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with the French delegation who is here attending the sixth China-France Track Two High-Level Dialogue, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 40-year-old San Elizario man was arrested after breaking into an apartment with a knife and then breaking items inside the home, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office said.

Richard Ayala, 40, was arrested and charged with burglary of habitation, criminal mischief and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on Nov. 30 along Socorro Road.

According the the Sheriffs Office, a witness called them about a person armed with a knife who had broken into an apartment along the 12100 block of Socorro Road.

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Deputies arrived and arrested Ayala. He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Center under a $155,000 bond, the Sheriffs Office 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 KTSM 9 News.
ANKARA (Reuters) -Somalia and Ethiopia said they would work together to resolve a dispute over Addis Ababa's plan to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland, which had drawn in regional powers and threatened to further destabilise the Horn of Africa.

The two countries' leaders said they had agreed to find commercial arrangements to allow landlocked Ethiopia "reliable, secure and sustainable access to and from the sea" after talks on Wednesday mediated by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

The meeting was their first since January when Ethiopia said it would lease a port in Somalia's breakaway northern region of Somaliland in exchange for recognising the area's independence.

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Mogadishu rejected the deal and threatened to expel Ethiopian troops who were stationed in Somalia to fight Islamist insurgents.

Somalia opposes international recognition of Somaliland, which has governed itself and enjoyed comparative peace and stability since declaring independence in 1991.

In a joint statement released late on Wednesday, Somalia and Ethiopia said they had agreed to start technical negotiations by the end of February next year, and to conclude them within four months.

They did not go into detail.

"This joint declaration focuses on the future, not the past," Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara afterwards.

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Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said he was ready to work with Ethiopia, while Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed Turkish efforts to resolve the dispute.

The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa's construction of a vast hydro dam on the Nile River, and to Eritrea, another of Ethiopia's longtime foes.

Turkey has close ties with both Ethiopia and Somalia, training Somalia's security forces and supplying development assistance in return for a foothold on a key global shipping route.

(Reporting by Hereward Holland, Ezgi Erkoyun, Huseyin Hayatsever, Abdi Sheikh, Dawit Endeshaw and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Hereward Holland;Editing by Keith Weir and Kate Mayberry)
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has announced financial support for six European countries bordering Russia and Belarus to bolster their efforts in border protection.

Source: Von der Leyen on X (Twitter) after a conversation with Finnish PM Petteri Orpo, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Commission President emphasised that Finland, along with the Baltic states, Poland, and Norway, is courageously defending EU borders against all forms of threats originating from Russia and Belarus.

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Quote: "They are securing our common borders. So today were making available 170 million to support their efforts."

I just spoke to @PetteriOrpo.



Finland, alongside , is bravely keeping our borders safe from threats of all forms coming from Russia and Belarus.



They are securing our common borders. So today were making available 170 million to support their efforts.  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 11, 2024

Background:

Earlier this year, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania approved the creation of a joint Baltic defence zone along the eastern border shared with Russia and Belarus.

Additionally, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have urged the European Union to establish a defensive line along the border with Russia and Belarus.

Finlands land border with Russia has been closed almost completely since 30 November 2023. This measure was introduced to counter an artificial migration crisis that began to escalate in the summer of 2023.

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European Union ambassadors agreed on 11 December on the 15th package of sanctions in response to Russias aggression against Ukraine.

Source: Hungarian presidency of the EU Council, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The package targets entities in Russia and third countries that indirectly support Russias military and technological capabilities by circumventing export restrictions.

The sanctions include expanding the list of individuals and legal entities under restrictions.

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Additional measures will limit the activities of third-country vessels involved in actions that support Russias aggression against Ukraine.

The package is expected to be discussed further during the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 16 December.

The European Commissions proposals for the 15th package include adding 29 legal entities and 54 individuals to the sanctions list. For the first time, this list may include Chinese companies accused of supporting military production in Russia.

The package also introduces new measures to counter Russia's "shadow fleet", used to bypass the price cap on seaborne oil. This includes blacklisting 48 tankers.

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(Bloomberg) -- The European Union gave preliminary backing to a 15th package of sanctions against Russia that includes an extension of an exemption for Slovakia to trade petroleum products derived from Russian oil through early June.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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The bloc is trying to phase out Russian energy imports, but this exemption will allow Mol-Slovnaft to export motor fuels made out of Russian oil to the Czech Republic, according to people familiar with the matter.

EU envoys on Wednesday backed the broader sanctions package, which penalizes several Chinese firms that the bloc claims are helping Russian companies develop attack drones for use against Ukraine. The package still needs to be formally adopted by the bloc.

The package includes restrictions on some 45 additional Russian oil tankers and several firms involved in shipping the countrys oil as the bloc aims to curb Moscows ability to circumvent existing restrictive measures, the people said on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.

It also contains listings for more than 50 individuals and nearly 30 entities, freezing their assets and imposing travel bans, according to the draft documents seen by Bloomberg before the approval.

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The European Commissions sanctions proposal faced some headwinds after Germany, France and Italy defended a one-year extension of a different derogation aimed to helping companies wind up their presence in Russia. That demand was opposed by Latvia and Lithuania.

Vilnius resisted until the last minute compromise language proposed by the EUs executive arm that warns about the dangers of continuing to do business in Russia because it wanted stronger wording on the need to fully wind down, one person said.

As part of the package, the EU proposed adding to the sanctions list several Chinese entities and a Chinese national, who controls a company that has breached EU trade restrictions; a Hong Kong-based firm that has provided Russian military firms with banned microelectronic components; and North Korean defense officials involved with the countrys decision to deploy troops to aid Russia, according to the draft documents.

The new package came as the Group of Seven pledged last month to take appropriate measures against China and other countries supporting Russias war effort in Ukraine. EU leaders are scheduled to discuss Russias war of aggression against Kyiv and the support provided by third countries at a leaders summit in Brussels next week, according to the meetings draft conclusions.

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The measures also include export restrictions on about three dozen entities involved in helping Moscow skirt trade sanctions.

--With assistance from Andrea Palasciano.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Kaja Kallas, new High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has stated that US President-elect Donald Trump must be "hawkish" toward Russia if he intends to exert real influence over China.

Source: Politico, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kallas noted that China is "learning from Russia" and emphasised that defending Ukraine against the Kremlin would send a strong message to Beijing.

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Quote: "If you dont want problems with China, I think you have to be really strong on Russia. If you are really firm and you are not giving them what they want, its more probable that you wont have more wars."

Background:

Donald Trump shared his insights from his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, where they attended the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame. He stated that he was thinking about a concept for implementing his vision of a swift end to the war.

Similar messages were expressed in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where Trump said that "Ukraine and Zelenskyy" are seeking a deal to cease combat actions.

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The 27 EU member states on Wednesday agreed a new round of sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, targeting the Kremlin's shadow fleet of oil tankers, the Hungarian EU presidency said on X.

The latest round of punitive measures bans nearly 50 more vessels shipping Russian oil and oil products from EU ports and from using the services of European companies.

More than two dozen ships transporting Russian oil were already sanctioned by the European Union in June.

Russia has long been charged with using ships that are not owned by Western shipping companies or insured by Western insurers to evade a Western price cap on Russian oil exports to non-EU countries.
The European Commission said on Wednesday that EU countries may suspend the right of asylum in certain circumstances when a major security threat is identified.

The suspension must be "truly exceptional, temporary, proportionate and for clearly defined cases," European Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen said in a Brussels press conference.

The commission was announcing a wider strategy to reinforce the bloc's external borders against Russia and Belarus' manipulation of migrants seeking asylum in the European Union.

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The EU has long charged the autocratic countries with transporting migrants from Africa and the Middle East to the EU's external borders to overwhelm the bloc's asylum systems and destabilize security.

Countries bordering Russia, especially Finland, face major challenges, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

"Autocrats must never be allowed to use our European values against us," she added.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner said Russia's manipulation and "weaponization of migration" needs a firm response from the bloc.

According to the commission, irregular arrivals at the border between the EU and Belarus - especially in Poland - increased by 66% compared to 2023.

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Poland announced in October that it intended to temporarily suspend the right to asylum at its border with Belarus in response to migrants being smuggled into the EU by Minsk and Moscow, triggering a debate in Brussels about the legality of such a move.

The commission also announced 170 million ($178 million) in EU budget funding for drones, cameras and other surveillance equipment for EU countries to strengthen their borders with Russia and Belarus.

Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and non-EU member Norway are to benefit from the new funding.
The European Union is threatening the Georgian government with sanctions in light of the violence against pro-European protesters.

Possible measures will be examined at the foreign ministers' meeting next Monday, a spokeswoman for the EU's foreign affairs representative Kaja Kallas said in Brussels.

She said violence was not an answer to the demonstrators' demands for a democratic and European future for Georgia.

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The spokeswoman initially did not specify the type of sanctions being discussed. Potential actions could include imposing EU travel bans on those responsible for the recent events and freezing assets held in the EU.

Regarding the current developments in the South Caucasus republic bordering Russia, the spokeswoman's statement noted that for almost two weeks, Georgian citizens have been facing brutal and unlawful police violence during their protests.

Arbitrary arrests of demonstrators and opposition leaders continue, with media representatives particularly targeted by law enforcement agencies and informal violent groups.

EU mentions more than 400 arrests

Disturbing reports from civil society organizations and the office of Georgia's ombudsman also pointed to severe and deliberate violence, raising credible fears of torture and inhumane treatment. However, so far, neither police officers nor members of informal violent groups have been held accountable, the spokeswoman said.

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According to information from the EU, more than 400 people have already been arrested. Reports suggest that over 300 have suffered violence and mistreatment, many of whom urgently need medical assistance.

The protests in Georgia are driven by indications of possible irregularities in the recent parliamentary election and the Georgian Dream ruling party's announcement to halt EU accession talks until 2028. Critics fear this decision may also be influenced by Russia.

Budapest threatens to veto sanctions

Meanwhile, Hungary is threatening to veto the EU's proposed sanctions.

"The Hungarian government considers these proposals nonsensical and unfounded," said Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, according to the state news agency MTI.

The politician had previously met his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili in Budapest. Under its right-wing populist prime minister Viktor Orban, this Central and Eastern European EU country maintains good relations with Russia. Moscow, in turn, supports the Georgian ruling party, Georgian Dream.
AMMAN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani emphasized here on Wednesday the importance of strengthening coordination between the two countries to address the challenges posed by the regional situation.

During a meeting in Amman, the two sides also underlined the need to exert maximum efforts to prevent a slide into chaos and the expansion of conflict in the region, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court.

During the meeting, the Jordanian king reiterated his country's support for the Syrian people and respect for their will, stressing the need to protect Syria's security and its citizens.

He also underscored the importance of intensifying international efforts to achieve an immediate cessation of the Israeli war on Gaza and to double humanitarian and medical aid.

The king warned of the dangers posed by continued extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Regarding Lebanon, the king called for efforts to ensure the success of the ceasefire.

The two leaders also stressed the deep ties between the two countries and their peoples, as well as the commitment to enhancing cooperation across various fields. 
The European Union is threatening the Georgian government with sanctions in light of the violence against pro-European protesters.

Possible measures will be examined at the foreign ministers' meeting next Monday, a spokeswoman for the EU's foreign affairs representative Kaja Kallas said in Brussels.

She said violence was not an answer to the demonstrators' demands for a democratic and European future for Georgia.

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The spokeswoman initially did not specify the type of sanctions being discussed. Potential actions could include imposing EU travel bans on those responsible for the recent events and freezing assets held in the EU.

Regarding the current developments in the South Caucasus republic bordering Russia, the spokeswoman's statement noted that for almost two weeks, Georgian citizens have been facing brutal and unlawful police violence during their protests.

Arbitrary arrests of demonstrators and opposition leaders continue, with media representatives particularly targeted by law enforcement agencies and informal violent groups.

EU mentions more than 400 arrests

Disturbing reports from civil society organizations and the office of Georgia's ombudsman also pointed to severe and deliberate violence, raising credible fears of torture and inhumane treatment. However, so far, neither police officers nor members of informal violent groups have been held accountable, the spokeswoman said.

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According to information from the EU, more than 400 people have already been arrested. Reports suggest that over 300 have suffered violence and mistreatment, many of whom urgently need medical assistance.

The protests in Georgia are driven by indications of possible irregularities in the recent parliamentary election and the Georgian Dream ruling party's announcement to halt EU accession talks until 2028. Critics fear this decision may also be influenced by Russia.
The European Commission has recognised certain restrictions on the rights of migrants, which Russia and Belarus use as part of their migration pressure on EU member states, as acceptable.

Source: a statement by the European Commission on 11 December, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The EU executive body has approved a communication to support member states in countering "hybrid threats from the weaponisation of migration by Russia and Belarus".

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In the message, the European Commission also outlines a framework for actions that member states can take to counter Russia and Belarus' exploitation of EU principles and values.

It emphasises that Moscow and Minsk are "using human beings in an act of hostility, disregarding their vulnerability" in order to undermine EU unity and threaten the security and integrity of the Schengen area and the security of the association as a whole.

In light of this, the European Commission added that member states may deviate from EU law on the right to asylum and related guarantees "exceptionally and under stringent conditions".

At the same time, the Commission noted that such measures "have to be proportionate, limited to what is strictly necessary in clearly defined cases, and temporary".

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Notably, the EU's new approach differs considerably from its previous stance and actually reflects the practice that member states on the border with Russia and Belarus have implemented or intend to introduce.

Background:

In October, Poland adopted a new strategy for combating illegal migration, which provides for restrictions on the right to asylum for migrants.

Meanwhile, the EU announced the allocation of 170 million in financial support to six European countries bordering Russia and Belarus for their border protection efforts.

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BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union envoys have agreed a new raft of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, targeting in particular a vast shadow fleet of ships that Moscow is exploiting to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and fuel, the EUs Hungarian presidency said on Wednesday.

The sanctions are aimed at about 50 of what are routinely decrepit ships that operate illegally to avoid sanctions and are meant to constrain the activity of vessels that contribute or support actions or policies supporting Russias actions against Ukraine, Hungary said.

The package of measures will target more officials and entities  often organizations, companies, banks or government agencies, notably those in countries that are helping Russia to improve its military technology by evading export restrictions.

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EU foreign ministers are expected to formally adopt the sanctions package on Monday. Precise details about the people and entities targeted will be revealed when the measures are published in the EUs official legal journal.

The EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine in February 2022. More than 2,300 people and entities are subject to restrictive measures.

The sanctions have targeted the energy sector, banks, the worlds biggest diamond mining company, businesses and markets. Theyve also imposed asset freezes and travel bans on Putin and his associates, as well as scores of Russian lawmakers.
The new head of the European Union's diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, believes that Russia has learnt ways to influence elections using new technologies.

Source: Kallas at the P28 event organised by Politico; European Pravda

Details: The newly assigned EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy noted that Russia has learnt to influence elections with the help of new technologies.

In particular, Kallas commented on this in the context of Romania.

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Quote: "I see the examples from Romania, but also other parts, that [the] Russians have really cracked the code on how to influence elections."

Details: When asked about the impact of new technologies on democracy, Kallas said she was "really worried".

"Democracy is based on trust, and if you cant trust elections anymore then how can you trust the outcome?" she said.

Kallas argues that current methods of determining whether an election is free and fair are outdated and do not take into account the new technologies used to influence elections.

"I think we should take them very seriously," the Estonian politician concluded.

Background:

On 2 December, the Romanian Constitutional Court recognised the first round of the presidential election as valid, where the anti-Western Calin Georgescu sensationally won. After that, voting in the second round began at polling stations abroad.

However, on 6 December, after an emergency meeting, the Constitutional Court cancelled the results of the first round in the context of having received many new requests for such a call.

The requests referred to documents declassified by the Supreme Council of National Defence, according to which the campaign of pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu was the result of organised manipulation from abroad.

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One of the few constants of Syrias long civil war has been the regularity with which European leaders were taken by surprise by new developments on the ground whose causes and consequences they failed to anticipate. From the first protests against the tyrannical rule of former President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011 to his flight into exile as rebel armies marched on Damascus earlier this week, the European Union has repeatedly found itself scrambling to respond to a devastating conflict whose wider impact nearly destabilized European integration.

As the last remnants of the Assad regime now transfer power to the rebel coalition, it is crucial to explore why the efforts of EU institutions and member states to influence these dynamics so regularly failed, in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes in building relations with a new post-Assad Syria.

This chronic misreading of Syrian society was already visible in European responses to Assads assumption of the presidency in July 2000 after the death of his predecessor and father, Hafez al-Assad. The sudden thaw in relations between Damascus and European states in the years after the younger Assad took power stood in stark contrast with how his father had relied heavily on Moscows support and built a close relationship with Tehran after Irans Islamic Revolution in 1979, both based on shared hostility to the West. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, and amid cautious efforts at European rapprochement with Iran after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, hopes grew in EU capitals that Bashars purported support for political and economic reform could provide an opportunity to pull Syria toward a closer relationship with Europe once his father left the scene.

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Upon taking power, Bashar was indeed willing to develop contacts with European leaders such as former French President Jacques Chirac and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair in the early 2000s. But the greater openness to European investment that followed did not lead to any deeper change in the Assad regimes structures or in its partnership with Tehran and Lebanese Hezbollah. Throughout the 2000s, a systematic public relations campaign in Europe paid for by the Syrian state presented Assad as a young reformer struggling to dislodge supposed hardliners from his fathers generation, even as his close family and friends distributed privatized state assets among themselves.

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Things were not any better when it came to Syrias impact on regional security. Mass protests in Beirut forced Damascus to withdraw Syrian troops from Lebanon in 2005. But despite continued EU efforts to court Assad, Syrian security services continued to allow jihadists to cross the border into Iraq to fight U.S. forces there, while intensifying assistance to Hezbollah in its war against Israel in 2006.

The Assad regimes cynical exploitation of Western fears of jihadists meant that many EU governments were initially reluctant to cut ties with Damascus even after Assads violent suppression of mass protests demanding change in March 2011 triggered an armed revolt. Though the devastating brutality the Syrian regime displayed toward rebel communities escalated to include the use of chemical weapons, the prominent role of radicalized Islamists and jihadists within rebel militias enabled Assad to portray himself as a defender of secular values to EU and member state leaders, who ultimately pulled back from actively seeking to topple him.

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The subsequent rise of the Islamic State alongside the refugee crisis that overwhelmed the EUs borders in 2015 increased desperation in Europe to secure a swift resolution to the conflict, which was driving a substantial proportion of the refugee flows. Even as Russias intervention strengthened the hand of policymakers in Brussels who wanted to isolate Assad, subsequent rebel defeats meant that efforts to prod the EU toward re-establishing official relations with his regime began to see increasing success by the early 2020s.

An exclusive focus on Syrias emerging new political class would repeat the same pattern of mistakes that has defined EU strategy toward the Middle East during the Assad era.

Given the growing pressure to restore links with the Assad regime once it regained control of the city of Aleppo in 2016, it is remarkable that European institutions managed to sustain sanctions as long as they did. European policymakers did manage to slow momentum toward bringing Bashar back into the diplomatic fold as a legitimate actor, largely due to the regimes horrific brutality, its role in enabling Iran to supply arms to Hezbollah and Hamas for their wars with Israel, and its close alignment with Russia. But if the lightning rebel offensive launched just two weeks ago had not toppled Assads hollowed-out regime, it is likely that most EU states would have soon begun to seek out the kind of deals with Assad that defined European policy toward Syria before the civil war erupted in 2011.

The fact that Brussels came so close to abandoning even the pretense of upholding basic moral principles toward the Assad regime reflected two sources of dysfunction in European policy toward Syria and the wider Middle East, both exacerbated by the rise of far-right populist parties across Europe in recent years.

First, the Assad regime successfully exploited the EUs obsession with finding quick short-term solutions to security and migration crises disrupting European politics. Whether it was regional turmoil caused by the Lebanese civil war in the 1970s and 1980s, the breakdown of the Israel-Palestine peace process in the late 1990s or the devastation unleashed by the U.S. invasion of Iraq in the 2000s, both Hafez and Bashar Assad regularly used proxy militias and terror networks to stoke chaos, which they would then offer to bring back under control when seeking deals with European counterparts. Once the Syrian uprising gained momentum, Bashars intentional practice of using civilian casualties to fuel sectarian rebel radicalization was designed to convince external powers there were no viable alternatives to his system, a long-established tactic the regime had deployed since Hafez rose to power in the late 1960s.

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That so many European policymakers were so easily suckered by Assads claims that Syria would burn without his use of crushing violence flowed out of the second source of Europes dysfunctional approach to the conflict: a frequently racist tendency within parts of the EU to assume that the Arab world cannot cope with democratic forms of government. These prejudices are particularly prevalent among European far-right populists, many of whom openly cultivated contacts with senior figures in the Assad regime in ways that flaunted a lack of concern over the mass imprisonment, torture and execution of hundreds of thousands of people by Syrias security services. Yet the conviction that Arabs can only be ruled by a strong hand also lingers in center-right and center-left political networks whose attitudes toward the Middle East are still influenced by neo-imperial legacies from the formative years of European integration in the 1950s, defined by figures such as Charles de Gaulles foreign policy adviser Jacques Foccart or the founding chairman of EniItalys state oil corporationEnrico Mattei.

Though European think tanks and universities regularly produce high-quality analysis of social trends among wider populations in the Middle East, high-level policymakers remain primarily focused on relations with narrow elites that dominate the governance of Arab states. In the decades leading up to the 2011 uprising in Syria, desperation to gain insight into the internal workings of the Assad family led European diplomats to obsess over the machinations of the ruling clan at the expense of a more comprehensive understanding of Syrian society as a whole. Without such a wider network of contacts to ensure a flow of information from all levels of Syrian lifeincluding from even the more peripheral provincesEU institutions and member states found themselves blindsided as the civil war broke out and progressed, as the sudden emergence of new powerbrokers among both the rebels and the regime often pulled the civil war in unexpected directions.

These deeply-rooted structural dysfunctions in EU strategy formulation also explain why Brussels is struggling to process how jihadist commanders like Abu Mohammed al-Jolanileader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, movement, which led the successful rebel offensivewere able to topple the Assad regime in two weeks. Focused as they were on Assad and his great-power backers in Russia and Iran, many senior officials in Brussels ignored warnings from frontline diplomats and intelligence analysts about the seriousness with which Jolani was pursuing a rebel state-building project. Only after the fall of Aleppo and Hama last week, which made clear that the regimes collapse was imminent, did European leaders begin to engage with the painstaking work many low-level officials in EU institutions and member states had undertaken to develop lines of communication with HTS and other rising social groups that are on the cusp of becoming key players in a new Syria.

Yet an exclusive focus on an emerging new political class epitomized by figures such as Jolani or Raed Salehdirector of the White Helmets civil defense organizationwould repeat the same pattern of mistakes that has defined EU strategy toward the Middle East during the Assad era. To understand societies as complex and diverse as Syria, let alone influence them, EU institutions need to look beyond ruling elites in Damascus and build a visible presence in regional cities. Only that will demonstrate that Brussels takes the concerns of all Syrians seriously in its efforts to help them overcome the upcoming challenges that will inevitably affect Europe too. Most importantly, a strategic effort by European institutions to help Syrians rebuild their shattered country would also repay a moral debt toward them that the EU should never have incurred.

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In prioritizing short-term stability over the foundations needed for a sustainable regional order since 2011, EU policymakers remained trapped by assumptions that proved to be profoundly flawed. Unless they re-examine those assumptions, they are likely to repeat the mistakes that grew out of them today.

Alexander Clarkson is a lecturer in European studies at Kings College London. His research explores the impact that transnational diaspora communities have had on the politics of Germany and Europe after 1945 as well as how the militarization of the European Unions border system has affected its relationships with neighboring states. His weekly WPR column appears every Wednesday.

The post Europe Needs to Update Its Thinking for a Post-Assad Syria appeared first on World Politics Review.
Trump said on Sunday that he'd consider trying to raise the federal minimum wage.

Some Republicans have come around to the idea, including VP-elect JD Vance.

It's likely to run into significant opposition in Congress  from members of the GOP.

Over the weekend, President-elect Donald Trump said he'd consider raising the federal minimum wage, saying that the current rate of $7.25 per hour is a "very low number."

"There is a level at which you could do it, absolutely," Trump said in an interview with NBC on Sunday, declining to commit to a particular dollar amount. "I would consider it. I'd want to speak to the governors."

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As the GOP has sought to refashion itself as a working-class party, several Republicans have proposed increases to the federal minimum wage. Vice President-elect JD Vance cosponsored a bill in 2023 that would raise it to $11 per hour, while Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri has proposed mandating a $15 minimum wage at companies that generate more than $1 billion in annual revenue.

While Vance and Hawley have led the charge for a more economically populist GOP agenda, their point of view remains unpopular within a party that's full of free-market enthusiasts and broadly supportive of business interests.

"If we're going to take a look at it, we should repeal it," Rep. Eric Burlison, a Missouri Republican who sits on the House Education and Workforce Committee, told Business Insider of the federal minimum wage. "I don't think it should exist."

Despite Trump's comments, it's not clear that the president-elect views the minimum wage as a priority at all. He did not pursue an increase during his first term, he threatened to veto a 2019 Democratic bill that would raise it to $15, and he dodged a question on the topic during his McDonald's photo-op in October.

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He has long struck a more open-minded note on the topic than many Republicans, backing a $10 minimum wage during his 2016 campaign and saying he'd consider a $15 minimum wage during a 2020 presidential debate. That gives more populist-minded Republicans hope that Trump, if he chose to spend political capital on the issue, could push the party to embrace a higher minimum wage.

After all, he's managed to break long-standing GOP orthodoxy on trade and foreign policy.

"These people wouldn't do two-thirds of what we're going to do in the next two years if it were not for Trump," said Hawley. "Let's be honest."

The Trump-Vance transition did not respond to a request for comment.

Not an 'area of emphasis' for the GOP

Any minimum wage increase would require an act of Congress, and Republicans in both the House and Senate told BI on Tuesday that they were against it. They generally echoed long-standing party dogma on the topic, arguing that wages are best determined by market forces and that any increase would simply trigger soaring prices.

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"I don't think the federal government should be in that business," said Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. "Let the markets go figure out how we can do this stuff."

Republicans aren't unanimously opposed to a minimum wage increase. The proposal that Vance backed  the "Higher Wages for American Workers Act"  is also supported by Republican senators like Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Bill Cassidy of Lousiana. Aside from increasing the minimum wage to $11 over the course of several years, that bill would also require companies to verify whether their employees are authorized to work in the United States  a priority for many Republicans.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia  a member of Senate GOP leadership who also supports the bill  told BI on Tuesday that she doesn't expect any movement on that bill in the next Congress, and that she hoped "rising economic growth" triggered by Trump's policies would organically cause wages to rise.

"I just don't see that's going to be an area of emphasis that we're going to go to," said Capito.

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A federal minimum wage increase would be popular. Polling has consistently shown a sizable share of Republicans support the idea, and several Republican-leaning states have approved minimum wage increases via ballot measures in recent years.

At the same time, few people still make $7.25 per hour. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 1.1% of hourly paid workers were at or below the federal minimum wage in 2023. Most states have enacted higher minimum wages, and some cities have gone even higher.

"The question is, is there a need?" Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania said. "Honestly, when you look around the country, positions that used to be minimum wage are now paying $15, $16, $17 an hour."

President Joe Biden supports a $15 federal minimum wage, but was unable to get it enacted due to opposition from several Democratic senators in 2021.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, meanwhile, has proposed an increase to $17.

Read the original article on Business Insider
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Eversource and natural gas customers could see an increase in their bills down the line because of a change in the companies credit ratings.

Like your credit score, banks look at credit ratings to determine how likely a company will pay them back. With a lower credit rating, these utility companies say it will cost more to secure money for large projects, and customers will end up with a larger bill.

S & P Global downgraded credit ratings for Eversource along with Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas, subsidiaries of Avangrid. The ratings changed a notch or two, but Eversource officials said it makes a big difference.

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Woman escapes from prison in Connecticut but police find her 45 minutes later

That means anytime we access debt in capital markets, it will cost more, which will then result in higher rates for our customers, Douglas Horton, Eversources vice president of distribution rates and regulatory requirements, said.

Eversource and the natural gas companies are on the same page regarding whos to blame.

In a statement, the head of the natural gas companies said the credit ratings were caused by the increasingly unpredictable and unstable regulatory environment created by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

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House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora has been outspoken about PURA, saying the agency is driven by politics and has repeatedly decided not to approve rate hikes.

While we might be cutting the utility company, and it might feel good for PURA to be championing all these cuts, in the long run, our rate powers are the ones that are going to suffer, Candelora said.

PURA oversees utilities in the state, and the governor appoints the chairman.

State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, a Democrat representing the 136th district, said utility companies are pointing fingers instead of focusing on the work that could advance energy in Connecticut and turn a profit.

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Rather than focusing on where we have common ground and where we can make good money, theyve turned this into some sort of war that has turned into this impasse that does not serve the interests of the people of Connecticut, Steinberg said.

Its hard to say how much a customers bill could increase, but Eversource said cost increase from any credit downgrade may result in high rates that will stick around for decades.

News 8 has reached out to PURA for a comment, but we have not heard back.

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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Two former students at McNary High School settled their sexual abuse lawsuit against a Salem-Keizer Public Schools teacher for $200,000 each.

The two students  identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 filed the $10 million lawsuit in October 2023 against Josh Rist and the district. Rist was accused of grooming and sexual abuse between 2015 and 2020 when he worked as a music and choir teacher at McNary High School.

Salem baby killer gets life in prison

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Rist was placed on administrative leave during the sexual misconduct investigation between May 2021 and August 2022. The district then moved Rist to Kalapuya Elementary School, but notified parents when he was once again placed on leave shortly before the lawsuit was filed.

The lawsuit alleged Rist had a previous history of grooming students at Hermiston High School, where he taught before coming to McNary. The suit also claimed a different student had complained about grooming before the alleged incidents with Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2.

The settlement between the district and the former students was signed November 5, 2024.

In the settlement, the students agreed that these are disputed claims, that settlement is being made by District solely to avoid the future cost of defending any and all civil actions, and that this Agreement is not and the Payment does not constitute an admission of liability by the District, by whom liability is expressly denied.

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KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.

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.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  A former Georgia district attorney charged with illegally interfering with police investigating the 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery made her first court appearance Wednesday, more than three years after being indicted by a grand jury.

Jackie Johnson spent a decade as the states top prosecutor for the coastal Brunswick Judicial Circuit. She came to court Wednesday as a defendant, charged with violating her oath of office and hindering police as they investigated Arbery's death.

The 25-year-old Black man was fatally shot on Feb. 23, 2020, as he ran from armed white men in a pickup truck who wrongly suspected Arbery was a thief. Greg McMichael, who initiated the deadly chase, was a retired investigator for Johnson's office. His son, Travis McMichael, killed Arbery with a shotgun.

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Prosecutors for state Attorney General Chris Carrs office say Johnson used her position to protect Greg McMichael and to urge police not to arrest Travis McMichael.

Johnson has denied wrongdoing and said she immediately recused her office from handling the case. Regardless, she was voted out of office months later amid outrage over Arberys killing. In September 2021, a grand jury indicted her on a felony count of violating her oath of office and a misdemeanor count of hindering a police officer.

During a pretrial hearing on Wednesday, lead defense attorney Brian Steel said he plans to present evidence during Johnson's trial next month that she was focused on seeking a high-profile indictment against a police chief when Arbery was killed.

She didn't know what was going on with Ahmaud Arbery's case, Steel said.

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Prosecutors have said in court filings there were 16 calls between phone numbers for Johnson and Greg McMichael in the days and weeks after the shooting. Greg McMichael left Johnson a voice message the day Arbery was killed.

Senior Judge John R. Turner has scheduled jury selection for Johnson's trial to start Jan. 21. Attorneys on both sides told the judge Wednesday they expect the case to take about 2 1/2 weeks.

I think because of the sensitivity of the case and the notoriety of the case, it may take longer, Turner said.

Both McMichaels were convicted of murder and federal hate crimes in Arbery's death. So was William Roddie Bryan, a neighbor who joined the fatal chase and recorded graphic cellphone video of the shooting. All three were charged after Bryan's video leaked online and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local police. Each is serving a life prison sentence.

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Johnson's case sat dormant while Steel spent nearly two years in an Atlanta courtroom defending Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug in a sprawling racketeering and gang case.

After Johnson was charged in 2021, she reported to jail for booking and was released without having to post bond. Her attorneys waived a formal reading of the charges in court.

When Johnson entered the courtroom Wednesday, her former chief assistant prosecutor and a former court clerk sat in the gallery with her family.

Turner heard legal motions from both sides seeking to limit what information a jury is allowed to hear. Prosecutors want Johnson's past electoral successes and high-profile prosecutions declared off-limits. Johnson's lawyers want other cases in which she called for an outside prosecutor kept out of her trial.

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First, the judge will have to decide whether to let Carr's office try the case. Steel has asked Turner to disqualify the Republican attorney general from prosecuting Johnson. He says the indictment accuses Johnson of withholding information from Carr's office in 2020 when she suggested it appoint George Barnhill, a neighboring jurisdiction's prosecutor, to handle Arbery's killing.

Carr has said he appointed Barnhill to take over the case without knowing that Johnson days earlier had already called on him to advise police. Barnhill told police he saw no grounds for arrests, as he believed Arbery was shot in self-defense.

Steel said the indictment's wording makes Carr's office a victim in the case, and its employees key witnesses.

I don't believe it is within the law to allow a prosecutor, or any lawyer, to be a witness  a material witness  in a case that they are trying, Steel said.

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There was no immediate ruling from the judge.

Prosecutor John Fowler said people in the attorney general's office who dealt directly with Johnson in Arbery's case no longer work there. Fowler accused Steel of trying to steer Johnson's case into a gray legal limbo where no one would prosecute her.

They're trying to get this case into a place where it cannot move forward," Fowler said.
Former Illinois state Rep. Edward Acevedo must testify in the corruption trial of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, despite strenuous arguments from Acevedos attorney that he is not competent to take the witness stand.

Acevedo, 61, a Chicago Democrat who served on Madigans leadership team before leaving the legislature in 2017, has been a central figure in the case against Madigan. The ex-speaker is accused of inducing utility giants ComEd and AT&T Illinois to pay Acevedo nearly $150,000 on consulting contracts for little or no work.

Acevedo was granted immunity by the U.S. attorneys office after indicating hed invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination. His attorney then objected on health grounds, arguing that Acevedo has been diagnosed with dementia and that his memory issues should preclude him from taking the stand.

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U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey interviewed Acevedo in his chambers Tuesday and ruled Wednesday morning that Acevedo would indeed have to testify next week under the grant of immunity.

Sir, what that means is you are required to testify, Blakey told Acevedo, who stood before the bench leaning on his walker.  You do not have, under the law, the right to refuse to testify, and you will have to testify.

Acevedo said he understood. He likely will take the witness stand Monday.

Blakeys ruling Wednesday came after further arguments about Acevedos competency. Prosecutors sat in on Acevedos interview with the judge Tuesday and said Wednesday that he was clearly capable of taking the stand.

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Its not even a close call at all; hes totally competent and able to testify in this matter, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu.

Madigan attorney Daniel Collins, though, noted that while Acevedos demeanor was lucid, he was confused about basic questions  including mixing up work for two companies.

When it came to the facts at issue, there was clearly a lack of recollection and clearly a lack of understanding, Collins said.  This is going to be an absolute mishmash on the facts that matter.

Acevedos attorney Gabrielle Sansonetti, meanwhile, said that given Acevedos diagnosis, any testimony he gives could not be considered credible. In Tuesdays conference, while he was calm and lucid, Acevedo gave misinformation and inaccurate answers to Blakeys questions, a common manifestation of dementia, Sansonetti said.

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Everybody has an interest in this proceeding and how it goes, Sansonetti said. I have an interest in Mr. Acevedo  and not putting somebody on the stand to just humiliate them.

The indictment against Madigan alleges that AT&T Illinois paid Acevedo a total of $22,500 through a do-nothing consulting contract in exchange for Madigans support of a bill to end mandated landline service.

The indictment also alleges that Acevedo was paid $120,000 by Commonwealth Edison in a strikingly similar bid to win the speakers support for its legislative agenda.

Acevedo has not been charged in Madigans case, but he pleaded guilty to related tax charges and was sentenced in 2022 to six months in prison. His sons, Alex and Michael Acevedo, also were convicted of tax charges related to the money Acevedo took in through his consulting firm.

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Acevedo had not previously been called to testify in any of the Madigan-related prosecutions, but hes been a feature of testimony in all of them, including a number of unflattering comments in emails and wiretaps accusing him of boorish behavior and excessive drinking.

On Wednesday, prosecutors showed the jury a series of emails between AT&T executives detailing the push to get Acevedo some money as he transitioned out of politics, an assignment largely handled by Madigans longtime confidant and now-codefendant, Michael McClain.

On March 28, 2017, then-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza emailed his government affairs team: Got a call.  Do we have $ set aside for a small contract for Eddie Acevedo?

La Schiazza let his colleagues know they had the GO order to offer Acevedo a $2,500-a-month contract through the end of the year. A few days later, AT&T legislative affairs head Brian Gray suggested they add Acevedo, a Democrat, as a consultant under an existing contract so as not to rub Republicans the wrong way.

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Our recommendation would be to plus up one of our existing firms, probably Tom Cullen, Gray wrote in a March 31, 2017, email, a reference to the consulting firm run by one of Madigans former top political aides. We need to run this by Tom but believe he would be open to it. Of course we would make sure that AT&T gets credit for fulfilling this request.

La Schiazza emailed back: If you guys really believe it will be harmful to contract with (Acevedo) directly, I have no objection to that plan, as long as you are sure we will get credit and the box checked, and of course we have legal approval to engage Eddie in this way.

But when they approached Acevedo with the offer, he was apparently indignant.

He said he felt insulted by the offer and rejected it, Gray wrote his colleagues in April 2017, noting that half an hour later he got another call from Acevedo in which he seemed much more toned down but still asked for more money.

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Later Wednesday, Cullen took the stand for the third time in a Madigan-related trial to testify about his knowledge of the speakers operation and involvement with the Acevedo payments.

As he had before, Cullen told the jury that Madigan was very powerful. Very powerful.

By 2017, Cullen had been gone from from the speakers office for nearly a decade but still was a political junkie with a sworn allegiance to Madigan and Democrats as a whole, he said. So when he was approached to act as the go-between for the payments to Acevedo, he agreed to be a team player even though he didnt particularly think there was any added value (Acevedo would) bring to my firm.

The April 2017 meeting where AT&T informed Acevedo of its offer took place in then-state Rep. Lou Langs office at the Capitol, Cullen said. When they told Acevedo the amount, Cullen testified, He got mad.

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After the meeting broke without a resolution, Acevedo called Cullen in a lather. He said to me that he was worth more money and AT&T was being cheap and he used a few choice words and told me it wasnt a fair deal, Cullen said.

What exactly did he say? asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker.

He said F AT&T, they can kiss my ass.' Cullen testified, prompting at least two jurors to stifle smiles. I said, Hey Eddie, look, I had nothing to do with what they are going to pay you. You should have a conversation with them.'

Cullen said Acevedo eventually accepted the terms. To make the deal appear legit, Acevedo was supposed to write a report on the Latino caucus, which is a complex landmine sometimes to navigate where you never know whos on first, Cullen said.

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But he acknowledged that the report was just busywork and said he saw no indication that Acevedo ever did it.

Meanwhile, the AT&T legislation ending mandatory landline service, known as Carrier of Last Resort, or COLR, reform, became law in July 2017, after legislators overrode the veto of then-Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Just days after COLR passed, Madigans son Andrew sent La Schiazza an email saying that at the suggestion of our good friend, Mike McClain, he wanted to see if AT&T would donate to a non-profit Andrew Madigan supported.

La Schiazza forwarded that email to Barry, who responded I suspect the thank you opportunities will be plentiful.

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Yep, La Schiazza replied. We are on the friends and family plan now.

Cullen was also one of a handful of people  most current or former ComEd lobbyists  who McClain tapped to give money to Kevin Quinn, the beleaguered brother of the 13th Ward alderman, who was ousted from his job at the ward in 2018 amid sexual harassment accusations.

Jurors on Wednesday heard a wiretapped call between McClain and Cullen from August 2018 in which Cullen enthusiastically agreed to throw Quinn $1,000 a week. McClain told Cullen, Between you and me only, Madigan said once he gets sworn in as speaker and gets his rules hes going to take care of Kevin. But I couldnt tell Kevin that.

Among the others who agreed to pay Quinn, jurors learned earlier in the trial, were former Madigan aide Will Cousineau, ex-Rep. John Bradley and lobbyist Mike Alvarez, a former Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board member, as well as McClain himself.

My wife says yes, McClain told Cullen in the call played Wednesday. I gotta check with her beforehand on (expletive) like this.

When asked on the stand why he agreed to pay Quinn, Cullen said he was loyal to the operation and because I knew that Kevin was going through some personal situations, he had small children at the time and he needed some income coming in.

On Oct. 16, 2018, Cullen emailed Quinn to tell him his first check was in the mail. He also gave him an assignment, to prepare something after the election on who won and lost for the General (A)ssembly (both) House and Senate.

Cullen testified it was essentially just busywork he could have done himself with a quick internet search.

In all, Cullen paid Quinn a total of $6,000 ending in April 2019, according to testimony.

Three months later the Tribune first reported that the feds were investigating those payments, which were later revealed to be a part of the sweeping ComEd bribery probe.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik Wednesday invoked authority to conduct a parliamentary probe into President Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law declaration last week. 
CHICAGO  A federal judge ruled Wednesday that former Illinois state Rep. Edward Acevedo must testify in the corruption trial of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is accused of inducing utility giants ComEd and AT&T Illinois to pay Acevedo nearly $150,000 on consulting contracts for little or no work.

Acevedo, 61, a Chicago Democrat who served on Madigans leadership team before leaving the legislature in 2017, was granted immunity by the U.S. attorneys office after indicating hed invoke his constitutional rights against self-incrimination.

But Acevedos attorney, Gabrielle Sansonetti, then objected on health grounds, arguing Acevedo has been diagnosed with dementia and that his memory issues should preclude him from taking the stand.

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U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey interviewed Acevedo in his chambers Tuesday afternoon and ruled Wednesday morning that Acevedo would have to testify next week.

Theres a distinction between credibility, which is an issue for the parties to argue and the jury to determine, and a separate  question of competency, Blakey said.

If the parties agree, Acevedos testimony could be video recorded on Monday and played for the jury on Tuesday, rather than have him live on the witness stand, to avoid any outbursts or irrelevant remarks, the judge said.

Sansonetti continued to argue Wednesday before Blakeys ruling that Acevedo is not fit to testify, saying putting him on the stand to just humiliate him makes no sense.

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Acevedo is central to an alleged scheme in the indictment against Madigan alleging AT&T Illinois paid Acevedo a total of $22,500 through a do-nothing consulting contract in exchange for Madigans support of a bill to end mandated landline service.

The indictment alleged Acevedo also was paid $120,000 by Commonwealth Edison in a strikingly similar bid to win the speakers support for its legislative agenda.

Acevedo has not been charged in Madigans case, but pleaded guilty to related tax charges and was sentenced in 2022 to six months in prison. His sons, Alex and Michael Acevedo, also were convicted of tax charges related to the money Acevedo took in through his consulting firm.

Acevedo had not previously been called to testify in any of the Madigan-related prosecutions, but hes been a feature of testimony in all of them.

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In the trial of ex-AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza in September, lobbyist Tom Cullen, one of Madigans top former political aides, testified Acevedo called him and blew his stack after learning that AT&T had offered to pay him only $2,500 a month  even though he knew he didnt have to do any work.

He basically said, What the F is goin on here? Im worth more money, Cullen testified, adding that his recollection was that Acevedo demanded double what was being offered.

When Cullen was asked to use Acevedos exact words, Cullen quoted Acevedo as saying, F AT&T, they can kiss my ass.

The jury in Madigans trial has seen emails and heard wiretapped recordings detailing the push to get Acevedo some money as he transitioned out of politics, an assignment that was largely handled by Madigans longtime confidant and now-codefendant, Michael McClain.

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The jury has also heard much about Acevedo, including a number of unflattering comments in emails and wiretaps accusing him of boorish behavior and excessive drinking. But he has not appeared in any of the audio or video recordings in the case, and the only image of him seen so far in court has been his drivers license photo.

Acevedo also allegedly was hired by ComEd as a favor to Madigan, one of many people whom prosecutors say were given jobs as part of a bribery scheme. Jurors last month saw a memorable email in which then-ComEd executive Fidel Marquez seemingly lost his cool after Acevedo asked for a job for a friend.

Geezhe has a son and a nephew at ComEd. Hes got a contract at ComEd. Has he no limit? Marquez emailed McClain.

McClain responded using his frequent euphemism for Madigan, saying that Marquezs rant sounded like our Friend.

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Jurors also heard a November 2018 wiretapped call where former state Rep. John Bradley, one of Madigans allies who allegedly took on ComEd subcontractors, told McClain he hadnt heard any complaints from anybody.

Unless Eddie Acevedo doesnt get his check within 12 hours of when he thinks hes supposed to get it, Bradley said.

McClain burst into laughter. Yeah. Hes something isnt he?

Madigan, 82, of Chicago, who served for decades as speaker of the Illinois House and the head of the state Democratic Party, faces racketeering charges alleging he ran his state and political operations like a criminal enterprise.

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He is charged alongside his longtime confidant Michael McClain, 77, a former ComEd contract lobbyist from downstate Quincy. Both men have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

The controversy over Acevedos testimony comes as prosecutors are winding up their evidence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu told the judge on Tuesday that they were about out of witnesses and will likely rest their case in chief early next week.

With time for anticipated defense evidence and a weeklong break for Christmas, Blakey said closing arguments will likely be presented shortly after New Years Day and could last three days.

After the jury was sent home for the day Tuesday, Acevedo appeared in Blakeys 12th-floor courtroom using a walker for support and looking substantially older than he did at his sentencing hearing on tax charges in 2022, which was held via video due to the ongoing pandemic.

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Acevedo, a former Chicago police officer, sat in the front row of the courtroom and did not appear to interact with Madigan, who was seated a few feet away at the defense table.

When Blakey summoned the parties back to his chambers, Acevedo, dressed in gray slacks and a gray vest bearing a Chicago police star insignia, maneuvered his walker slowly around the prosecution table, followed by Sansonetti.

They remained in chambers for about half an hour.

____
Dec. 10A former state trooper who cited a medical condition and his military service as reasons for being untruthful won't have his name removed from a statewide list of police with credibility problems, the state's highest court has ruled.

The unidentified trooper also argued the designation next to his name on the exculpatory evidence schedule, also called the "Laurie List," should at least be changed from "credibility" to "medical condition."

But the court disagreed.

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"We have consistently held that we will not consider issues raised on appeal that were not presented in the trial court," the state Supreme Court ruled unanimously.

The Laurie List is a list of New Hampshire law enforcement officers whose past behavior may impact their credibility while testifying in court. The list was made public at the end of 2021, though some names were redacted.

In 2018, the trooper used his personal cellphone to text a woman he arrested to tell her about personal property she had left in his cruiser. A lieutenant asked the trooper if he had previously contacted other members of the public using his cellphone. The trooper said no.

When the lieutenant later confronted the trooper about the newly discovered text messages, the trooper apologized for not being "truthful" during the earlier meeting.

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He was subsequently fired and had his name added to the Laurie List.

In 2021, the trooper filed a complaint, saying his conduct is not potentially exculpatory because he "was not thinking about" the May 2018 text messages when he answered the lieutenant.

Exculpatory evidence supports a defendant's innocence in legal cases.

He also argued that his later apologies for being untruthful don't warrant him being on the list because he was adhering to his military training when he accepted responsibility for his actions after he was confronted by superiors.

The court disagreed, and the trooper then moved for reconsideration. He argued, for the first time, that landing on the list was improper because he suffered from a disability that caused him to forget the prior text messages.

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"He further argued that the symptoms of his disability, including 'anxiety' and 'impaired judgment,' resulted in him admitting to lying despite not having done so, and that he did not intentionally misstate the truth," the court said.

The trial court ruled against him.

The Supreme Court said the trial court wasn't mistaken because the trooper's "disability does not negate the potential exculpatory nature of his conduct."
By Emma Rumney

LONDON (Reuters) - Some $3 billion in tequila and mezcal imports from top makers of the popular spirits, Diageo and Jose Cuervo owner Becle, are at risk from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's planned tariffs on Mexico, according to Mexican customs data reviewed by Reuters.

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has said he will slap 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as additional duties on Chinese goods, which would hit companies in sectors from autos to retail.

These would also drive up the cost of importing spirits that cannot be made elsewhere, such as tequila, which is used in cocktails like margaritas and growing in popularity globally after taking off in the United States, as well as mezcal. Like French champagne or Italian parmesan cheese, products using the names tequila or mezcal must be made in Mexico.

That leaves companies like Diageo, the world's top spirits maker, and Mexican firm Becle, the largest tequila producer, exposed. Together, they dominate the U.S. market for the agave-based drinks, and rely heavily on tequila sales in the U.S. for growth.

Diageo subsidiaries shipped over 25 million litres of tequila from Mexico to the U.S. last year, including brands Don Julio, Casamigos, DeLeon and 21 Seeds, according to Mexican export data provided exclusively to Reuters by ImportYeti.

That equates to a total of 33.7 million 750 millilitre bottles, Reuters calculated. The data references various editions of each brand, from the cheapest 'blanco' versions to far more expensive labels like Don Julio 1942, which sells for $139.99 per 750 ml bottle at large U.S. spirits retailer Total Wines & More, offering the most detailed insight yet into the value of imports exposed to the tariffs.

Based on the prices per 750 ml at Total Wines & More, one of Diageo's largest U.S. customers, the U.S. tequila imports recorded in the data would be worth almost $1.6 billion.

A similar analysis of Becle's U.S. shipments of eight tequila or mezcal brands found they also had a sales value of almost $1.6 billion.

Campari Group, the next largest listed spirits maker with a popular tequila brand in the U.S., sent tequila with a sales value of just $122 million, Reuters analysis found.

Diageo said it had decades of experience navigating trade policy and has always taken trade disputes in its stride. "We will work with the incoming administration on issues that affect our business," it said.

Becle did not respond to requests for comment. Campari declined to comment.

Reuters analysis shows just how much is at stake for top producers that dominate the U.S. tequila and mezcal markets if tariffs come into force. U.S. industry imports totalled $4.6 billion in 2023, up 160% since 2019, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), which has warned the tariffs would cost jobs.
By Maya Gebeily

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Two U.S. congressmen have urged senior American officials to suspend some sanctions on Syria to ease pressure on its shattered economy after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, according to a letter dated Dec. 10 and seen by Reuters.

The move is the latest effort in the West to push for easing sanctions after rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate, swept into Damascus. A British minister said on Monday that Britain could rethink its designation of HTS as a banned organisation.

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The letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was signed by Republican Representative Joe Wilson, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and Democratic Representative Brendan Boyle, who chairs th Free Syria Caucus.

The letter acknowledges the possible extension for five more years of the Caesar sanctions, which apply across Syrian business sectors and to any national dealing with Syria or with Russian and Iranian entities in Syria.

Wilson and Boyle wrote that sanctions denied Assad the resources to sustain his military and ultimately contributed to its collapse - first in the northern city of Aleppo on Nov. 29 and in a string of losses until Damascus was seized on Dec. 8

The lawmakers wrote that while keeping sanctions on former government officials was important, they believed "that other parts of the legislation - such as sectoral sanctions and sanctions related to reconstruction - should be suspended".

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The letter said the U.S. must issue waivers and general licenses to encourage economic development and foreign investment and "build good will" without impacting sanctions on designated terrorist groups.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Syrian rebel group that spearheaded the offensive that toppled Assad and whose civilian branch has been installed as a transitional government, is designated as a terrorist group by the United States and most other countries, as well as the United Nations.

Its new government has told business leaders it will adopt a free-market model and integrate the country into the global economy, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

"A deliberate and phased approach is required to unwind sanctions and export controls against Syria," the letter by Wilson and Boyle said, including "to incentivize the transitional government's compliance with international norms".

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A source close to HTS told Reuters on Tuesday that the group was in touch with U.S. officials on lifting parts of the Caesar Sanctions.

"All of the obstacles facing the Syrian people and their future should be removed," the source said.

Another senior European diplomat told Reuters other states were pushing for broad humanitarian exemptions, much like the months-long waivers that were installed after the devastating 2023 earthquake to allow urgent aid to come in to Syria.

The diplomat said it was "too early" to drop all sanctions altogether given HTS's prominent role in government.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
As he prepares to take office next month, President-elect Donald Trump has offered the most expansive look at his incoming administration's plans to tamp down illegal immigration into the U.S., taking aim at birthright citizenship in his first post-election interview.

In a "Meet the Press" interview that aired Sunday, Trump reiterated his long-term aim of ending birthright citizenship, a constitutional guarantee that any person born on U.S. soil has citizenship status. He told moderator Kristen Welker he intends to repeal the protection on day one of his presidency through executive action, stripping rights from Americans born to two undocumented parents.

"Do you know if somebody sets a foot, just a foot, one foot, you dont need two, on our land  'Congratulations you are now a citizen of the United States of America,' he said. "Yes, were going to end that because its ridiculous."

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But immigration law and policy experts told Salon that Trump has no real legal pathway toward repealing birthright citizenship, despite his claims. Instead, they said, his insistence on pursuing the plan  alongside his call for mass deportations  will create fear among communities of immigrants and their children that will act as a deterrent.

"President-elect Trump is trying to send a message to people all over the world and also to unauthorized immigrants in the United States that he's going to be tough on immigration," argued Julia Gelatt, the associate director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), a nonpartisan think tank.

"He hopes that people will choose not to make the trip to the United States and not try to enter," she told Salon in a phone interview. "I think he also hopes that people who are living in the United States without status might opt to leave the country on their own."

Trump has signaled an interest in repealing birthright citizenship since his first run for president, including the change in his immigration policy proposal in 2015, according to CNN. Trump insisted to Axios in 2018 that it was possible to do so through an executive order and last May, Trump released a campaign video proclaiming he would sign an executive order to roll back the right on day one of his presidency, according to NBC News.

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The impact of repealing the right would be immense. A 2020 MPI and Pennsylvania State University analysis found that ending birthright citizenship for U.S. babies with two undocumented immigrant parents would lead to a 4.7 million-person increase in the population of unauthorized people by 2050, including one million children born to two parents who had been born in the U.S. themselves.

That population would skyrocket to 24 million by 2050 from 11 million at the time of the analysis' publishing if U.S. babies with only one undocumented parent were also denied citizenship, the researchers found.

Gelatt said that such an action from the Trump administration would create a "multigenerational class of people who are excluded from full rights" and citizenship, which would restrain their ability to achieve higher earnings, support their families and contribute to the country through taxes.

"Denying people that legal status, even if they're born in the United States, would put people in a much more legally vulnerable, economically vulnerable position," she said.

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Depending on the exact language of Trump's proposed executive order, ending birthright citizenship could also impact U.S.-born children's parents, added Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School. Such an order could potentially prevent officials from issuing passports, Social Security numbers or providing welfare benefits to family members of those children.

But Trump has no viable legal pathway to repealing birthright citizenship, Yale-Loehr told Salon in an email. An executive order can't repeal an amendment, and any executive action Trump took attempting to do so would "trigger immediate litigation."

Birthright citizenship was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution in 1868 with the ratification of the 14th Amendment, which was intended to grant citizenship and civil liberties to formerly enslaved African Americans. Contrary to what Trump told Welker, more than 30 nations, largely in the western hemisphere, provide birthright citizenship.

Amending the Constitution to upend the 14th Amendment would require a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate as well as ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Even with slim Republican majorities in both chambers during Trump's next term, such a proposal would be unlikely to get past either chamber.

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His proposed executive order is also unlikely to withstand any legal challenges as the likelihood of the Supreme Court, despite its conservative majority, striking birthright citizenship from the Constitution is slim to none, added Hiroshi Motomura, a UCLA School of Law professor and faculty co-director of the Center for Immigration Law and policy.

"Even though people say that the court has become more conservative, this would be even further in the direction of trying to overturn the past than we've seen," he told Salon in a phone interview.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Ending birthright citizenship would upend the foundation of how the nation has historically seen itself  as a country of immigrants  flying in the face of the purpose of the American Civil War and much of the United States immigration history since its founding, Motomura said. He pointed to the 1898 U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark Supreme Court decision that held that U.S.-born children of Chinese immigrants were U.S. citizens under the 14th Amendment even though their parents were, at the time, legally barred from obtaining citizenship under the Chinese Exclusion Acts.

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"This is all part of the racial history of the United States. This is why this is so bedrock compared to other things that the Supreme Court is sometimes characterized for doing as being quite radical," he explained. "This goes way beyond overruling Roe v. Wade. I think that was a radical move, but this is no comparison. This is quite a bit more of a rethinking of what the country is even about."

Given how unlikely it is that Trump would succeed at repealing birthright citizenship, what purpose, then, could Trump's focus on ending the right serve? Generating political value, Gelatt and Motomura argued, the former pointing to the importance of illegal immigration and the border to voters during the 2024 election.

"Making the announcement makes people afraid and anxious, and I think it says to his supporters, 'you count, and these other people don't,'" Motomura said. "This was in the air during his first term, and so I think even if he does nothing or keeps threatening, there's a great deal of value sending a message to his base that he's doing something about the immigration question."

In taking aim at birthright citizenship, Motomura added, Trump is opting for the "simple-minded solution," which would lead to the exclusion from citizenship and relegation to a "third class" status of Americans who have been protected for nearly 160 years.

"It's similar to saying that you can stop undocumented or unlawful irregular migration by building a wall," he said, adding: "Ultimately, I think it's corrosive to the whole country."
By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - Kim Yong-hyun, a former defence minister and close confidant to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, became the first official to be arrested late on Tuesday over Yoon's martial law declaration.

Kim attempted to take his own life while in detention, officials said on Wednesday.

Here is what we know about Kim and his role in the martial law attempt.

WHO IS KIM YONG-HYUN?

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Kim was born in 1959 in the southeastern coastal town of Masan. He joined the Korea Military Academy, which educates and trains army cadets, in 1978 and took up multiple key roles including capital defence commander and chief of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff before retiring in 2017 as a three-star general.

Under Yoon, he served as his inaugural minister of presidential security service until he was appointed as defence minister last September.

Kim has displayed hardline views on North Korea and general security issues, warning in his first speech as defence chief that the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would pay a "horrendous price" and ultimately see its end if it staged a provocation.

WHAT IS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOON?

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When Yoon nominated Kim to defence minister last August, his chief of staff described him as the person who "understands the commander-in-chief's intentions better than anyone else".

Kim went to the Chungam High School in Seoul, also attended by Yoon, which had helped them build rapport and eventually laid groundwork for what opposition lawmakers called the Chungam faction - Yoon's closest circle of confidants - which also included now-resigned interior minister Lee Sang-min and defence counter-intelligence commander Yeo In-hyeong.

Kim, together with Lee, had been the longest serving official since Yoon took office in May 2022.

WHAT ROLE DID HE PLAY IN THE MARTIAL LAW ATTEMPT?

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At an unplanned cabinet meeting that Yoon convened minutes before his late-night declaration on Dec. 3, Kim recommended imposing martial law, Lee and other officials told parliament.

The army's Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun also testified on Tuesday that Kim on Dec. 1 ordered the deployment of troops to "seize control" of six locations - the parliament, the main opposition Democratic Party's headquarters, three offices of the National Election Commission and a polling firm run by a left-wing YouTuber.

Kim's actions were an about-face from his denial of accusations from the opposition during his confirmation hearing in September that the Chungam fraternity had been planning for martial law, calling them "false political propaganda."

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE AND WHAT'S NEXT?

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Kim has stepped down and faces criminal investigations. He was banned from leaving the country and has been detained since Sunday over charges of insurrection and abuse of power, among others.

Just before a court approved an arrest warrant late on Tuesday, Kim attempted suicide using a shirt and underwear at a detention centre in Seoul, the Justice Ministry said on Wednesday, adding his life was not currently in danger.

Kim did not attend the court hearing for the warrant but issued a statement through his lawyer, apologising for causing anxiety and inconvenience to the people and saying that all responsibilities for the crisis "lie solely with me."

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Ros Russell)
ISLAMABAD (AP)  A suicide bombing in the Afghan capital on Wednesday killed the Taliban refugee minister and two others, officials said, in the most brazen attack on a member of the Taliban inner circle since they returned to power three years ago.

The explosion struck inside the ministry, killing Khalil Haqqani, officials said. His last official photo showed him at a meeting chaired by the deputy prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, earlier Wednesday.

Khalil Haqqani is the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister who leads a powerful network within the Taliban.

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Haqqani was the most high-profile casualty of a bombing in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power and the first Cabinet member to be killed since the takeover. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.

The government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a post on X that Haqqani's death was a great loss and described him as a tireless holy warrior who spent his life defending Islam.

Haqqani's killing may be the biggest blow to the Taliban since their return to power given his stature and influence, according to Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Centers South Asia Institute. It also comes at a time when the Taliban have staked their legitimacy on restoring peace after decades of war, he added.

The killing of a top Haqqani leader inside one of its own ministries undercuts that core narrative, he said.

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Former President Hamid Karzai and Haqqani's nephew, Anas, also paid tribute to the minister. Taliban security personnel blocked the road leading to the blast site and barred filming and photography.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the killing as a terrorist attack.

Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Dar said, adding his government was in touch with Kabul to get further details.

The Islamic State groups affiliate, a major rival of the ruling Taliban, has carried out previous attacks across Afghanistan.

In early September, one of its suicide bombers in a southwestern Kabul neighborhood killed at least six people, wounding 13 others.

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But suicide attacks have become increasingly rare since the Taliban seized power in August 2021 and U.S. and NATO forces withdrew. Such attacks have mostly targeted minority Shiite Muslims, especially in the capital.

Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst with Crisis Group's South Asia program, said the timing of the assault was interesting as it came days after Sirajuddin Haqqani gave a speech appearing to criticize the Taliban leader for his authoritarian decision-making and lack of consensus building, especially around more controversial edicts on women and girls.

While the timing could fuel speculation that the suicide bombing was an inside job, Bahiss said he didn't expect a civil war among the Taliban.

They don't want to ruin their hold on power. They are the most unified political force in Afghanistan and have been able to manage their differences.

Bahiss said he anticipated an outpouring of sympathy and support for Sirajuddin Haqqani and that this could provide an opportunity to strengthen the Haqqani network further.
The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy could soon be tasked with exploring whether extending the range of existing AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles is one path to help right-size stocks of those weapons. Congress is pushing for a broader assessment of U.S. air-to-air missile inventories amid growing concerns that obligations in the Middle East and Ukraine are eating into key munition stocks that would be especially crucial for any future high-end fight with China.

An entire section dedicated to Assessments of Inventory Requirements for Air-to-Air Missiles is included in the latest iteration of the annual U.S. defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), for the 2025 Fiscal Year. The text of the bill, which represents a compromise between previous House and Senate drafts, was released this past weekend.

Navy sailors handle AIM-9X Sidewinders aboard a carrier. USN

If passed and signed into law, the new NDAA would require the offices of the Secretaries of the Air Force and Navy to develop recommendations to adjust the planned mix of missiles, including an assessment of whether extending the range or capability of existing air-to-air missiles would better support combined combatant command requirements at medium risk no later than April 1, 2025.

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The air-to-air missile section would also prompt the Air Force and Navy secretaries to do the following:

Assess planned deliveries of air-to-air missiles through 2029 and the total available missiles by type in each year through 2029.

Assess combined requirements for air-to-air missiles to support operational plans of the United States Central Command, the United States Indo-Pacific Command, the United States Northern Command, and the United States European Command, at low, medium, and high risk.

Consider emerging requirements for surface-to-air defense and collaborative combat aircraft and how those additional missions will affect inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles.

Consider the sufficiency of planned acquisition for air-to-air missiles through 2029 to meet operational requirements.

Consider whether continuing production of the advanced medium-range air-to-air missile [AMRAAM] program of record through 2029 would enhance available inventories of air-to-air missiles.

The Air Force and Navy currently have two main air-to-air missile types in their inventories, the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the shorter-range AIM-9 Sidewinder. The two services are working together on a new longer-range air-to-air missile, the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), details about which remain limited. The Navy has also fielded, at least on a limited level, an air-launched version of the multipurpose Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) called the AIM-174B, which you can read more about here. The Air Force has also been exploring other new air-to-air missile concepts, including compact and modular designs, in recent years.

The possibility of further extending the range of the AIM-9 and AIM-120 is particularly notable given that U.S. officials have publicly presented AIM-260 as being intended to meet the demand for increased reach in aerial combat. The Air Force has also said that the emergence of Chinas PL-15 air-to-air missile was a key factor in prompting the development of the JATM, which is expected to have the same general form factor as the AMRAAM. China, as well as Russia, have been developing and fielding other even longer-range air-to-air missiles, along with airborne early warning aircraft and other capabilities that could help maximize the effectiveness of those weapons.

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Increasing the range of existing missiles could be another valuable option. The stated goal had been to start fielding the AIM-260 JATM by 2022, but there are no indications publicly that this has occurred despite very active testing of the missile. Whether this reflects issues with JATMs development to date is unknown.

In the meantime, the latest subvariants of the current generation AIM-120D already have significantly greater reach than earlier AMRAAMs and there has been talk in the past of extending the range of the AIM-9X Sidewinder. Improved rocket motors with highly loaded propellants have been cited previously as a possible relatively low-effort way to increase the capability of existing missiles. The War Zone has explored in detail how a short-to-medium range variant or derivative of the AIM-9X, specifically, could offer a substantial boost in capability.

A US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet with a full load of AIM-120 and AIM-9X missiles. USN

Building off existing designs would offer the additional benefit of being able to leverage present production pipelines and supply chains. Depending on what changes are required, older missiles could conceivably be upgraded to newer extended-range standards, as well.

At the same time, the other portions in the air-to-air missile section of the latest version of the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA underscores broader concerns about present inventories and the ability to not only replenish them, but expand their size, in the coming years. As one of the other provisions highlights, the Air Force and Navy are, at least publicly, looking to stop buying AIM-120s entirely by the Fiscal Year 2028-2029 timeframe, which might align with current plans for the AIM-260.

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Up to this year, where most of the employment of weapons were really artillery pieces and short-range weapons, I had said not at all, U.S. Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), said in November when asked about whether U.S. military aid to Ukraine and ongoing fighting in and around the Middle East was having a negative impact on U.S. military readiness in his part of the world. Paparos remarks came at an open event at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, D.C.

Now, with some of the Patriots that have been employed, some of the air-to-air missiles that have been employed, it is now eating into [our] stocks.  and to say otherwise would be dishonest, he continued.

When it comes to air-to-air missiles, AIM-120s and AIM-9Xs have been expended in the course of operations to protect friendly warships and commercial vessels from attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen and in the defense of Israel. Ukraine has been making significant use of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems the U.S. military has helped provide, especially in combination with the AIM-120. NASAMS can also fire AIM-9Xs.

A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle carrying AIM-120 and AIM-9X missiles flies somewhere in the Middle East. USAF

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This latter point highlights the additional provision in the latest version of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2025 that calls for looking at how emerging requirements for surface-to-air defense will have an impact on all this. The U.S. military operates a small number of NASAMS to help defend the airspace around Washington, D.C. The U.S. Army is also in the process of fielding a new short-range air defense system called Enduring Shield, the primary interceptor for which will be the AIM-9X, at least initially. That, in turn, will create additional immediate demand for more Sidewinders. There are similar questions about what increased fielding of the AIM-174B might mean for the SM-6 pipeline, which is already under strain.

A rendering of Enduring Shield launchers firing AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. Dynetics

As the latest version of the 2025 Fiscal Year NDAA highlights, questions about the mix of platforms that will be armed with air-to-air missiles in the future, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) type drones that the Air Force and Navy are pursuing, are another factor in these deliberations. Plans to deploy large numbers of CCAs, which the Air Force already envisions arming with AIM-120s and AIM-260s, together with crewed platforms would increase the total number of air-to-air missiles required for any single mission.

The Air Forces plans for a new sixth-generation stealth crewed combat jet as part of its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative are now extremely uncertain, while the Navy says it is pressing ahead in the development of a similar aircraft, referred to as the F/A-XX. The Air Force has also laid out much larger concerns about the affordability of a host of top-tier air combat modernization efforts. There has even been talk about the possibility of expanding the aerial combat role of the forthcoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber to help meet future requirements.

However the Air Force and Navy might choose to proceed, calls to not only sustain but increase air-to-air missile inventories are only likely to grow in the coming years, especially in the context of preparing for a potential high-end fight with China in the Pacific. Missiles like the AIM-120 and AIM-9X contain high-end and often unique components that can take months or even years to procure, which puts additional emphasis on making decisions about new developments as soon as possible.

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We should replenish those [munition] stocks and then some. I was already dissatisfied with the magazine depth, Paparo said bluntly at the Brookings event back in November. Im a little more dissatisfied with the magazine depth. You know, its a time for straight talk.

Congress looks increasingly poised to demand the Air Force and Navy look into whether extended-range AIM-120s and AIM-9X, as well as other avenues, could help address future air-to-air missile needs.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Update: As of 4:45 p.m. the outages appeared largely resolved with a small percentage of Meta users reporting issues. There has been no official word as of publishing time on the cause.

If you're seeing this story on Facebook, you aren't one of the thousands of people affected by an outage to the social media giant on Wednesday afternoon.

Here's the latest on the massive outages wreaking havoc on social media feeds and access around the globe.

Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms are down

Around 12:30 p.m. ET, users started reporting issues with Facebook and other Meta platforms including Instagram. The outage tracking site downdetector.com registered more than 100,000 reports of Facebook outages by 1:00. More than 65,000 users reported Instagram outages to the site at the same point.

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The outage even affected Meta's homepage, with Meta.com displaying a "Sorry, something went wrong, message to visitors as of 2 p.m. ET.

On competing social media platform X, Meta verified they are aware of the outage and working to restore service, but did not comment on what is causing the issue.

Were aware that a technical issue is impacting some users ability to access our apps. Were working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.  Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) December 11, 2024

Threads, WhatsApp and more down

It seems no Meta platform has been spared, as Threads, WhatsApp, Messenger and even Oculus all saw a spike in reported outages Wednesday afternoon.

Tiktok, which is not owned by Meta, also saw a spike in outages around the same time as the Meta platforms, though not nearly as widespread.

Meta did not immediately reply to a request for comment from the USA TODAY network.

Hi, we know theres a technical issue impacting some peoples ability to access Instagram.



Were working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and are sorry for any inconvenience.#instagramdown  Instagram (@instagram) December 11, 2024

The latest on Facebook, Meta outage

By 3:30 p.m. ET, the number of outages being reported to down detector had dropped significantly, but still showed more than 10,000 reporting outages with Facebook and nearly 20,000 having issues with Instagram.

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Meta has not posted any updates to X on the cause or solution since their original post acknowledging the outage.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Facebook and Instagram are down. Here's what we know so far.
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korean police raided the office of the embattled President Yoon Suk-yeol over his martial law declaration last week, multiple media outlets said Wednesday.

Those subject to the raid were the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police and the National Assembly Police Guards as well as the presidential office.

A group of investigators entered the presidential compound to seize documents on an emergency martial law declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3 that was rescinded by the National Assembly hours later.

President Yoon reportedly was not staying in the presidential office building. 
Claim:

A screenshot posted online in early December 2024 authentically showed an email from a home salon company that said it was firing employees who said in a survey that they felt "significant stress."

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

YesMadam is a real home salon company based in India, and it did conduct a survey to assess staff stress levels. However, YesMadam did not fire any employees as a result of the survey. The alleged email screenshot shared online was part of a "planned move" to highlight the idea of giving staff days off to focus on their mental health, according to a statement from the company and an employee central to the internal PR campaign.

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On Dec. 9, 2024, a LinkedIn post (archived) claiming that a home salon company had fired employees who said in a survey that they felt "significant stress" circulated on social media.

The post, which has since been removed, contained a screenshot of an email allegedly sent by an HR manager at the India-based home salon company, YesMadam. In the email, the manager explained that a survey of staff stress levels had been carried out and, as a result, the business had "made the difficult decision to part ways with employees who indicated significant stress."

(LinkedIn user Anushka Dutta)

The screenshot was originally posted by YesMadam employee Anushka Dutta. According to her LinkedIn profile, Dutta started working at YesMadam in June 2024. She had posted about YesMadam prior to the Dec. 9 post.

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The alleged email quickly spread to other LinkedIn posts (archived) and onto X (archived), where the claim was also shared in Portuguese.

However, the following day, on Dec. 10, Dutta posted again (archived)  this time to declare: "Nobody got fired!"

She confirmed that the survey into stress levels did take place and that she took part in it. However, the decision to post the screenshot was "a planned move" to highlight "the idea of De-Stress Leaves"  a policy allowing staff to take time off for their mental health. Dutta added: "Moreover, the employees were taken into confidence, and we didn't send any emails." The full follow-up post can be read below.

(LinkedIn user Anushka Dutta)

YesMadam also commented on the campaign with a three-page statement (archived) on LinkedIn titled: "No one was fired at YesMadam!" It read:

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To our YesMadam family and community, We sincerely apologize for any distress caused by recent social media posts suggesting we dismissed employees for being stressed. Let us be clear: We would never take such an inhuman step. Our team is like family, and their dedication, hard work, and passion are the foundation of all our successes. The social media posts were a planned effort to highlight the serious issue of workplace stress. And to those who shared angry comments or voiced strong opinions, we say Thank you. When people speak up, it shows they care and care is at the heart of our business. Were YesMadam employees really fired for being stressed? Absolutely not.

In fact, the statement added that YesMadam staff were "given a break to reset," "encouraged to release their stress," "offered a chance to relax" and "urged to rest and recharge."

YesMadam also said in the statement that "De-Stress Leaves" were a part of their Happy 2 Heal campaign, which offered employees six paid leave days a year "for their mental health and rejuvenation."

Therefore, due to Dutta's follow-up post on Dec. 10 and the release of a full statement from YesMadam, we have rated this claim as false.

Sources:

@ankituttam. "@_yesmadam Conducted a Survey on Employee Stress and Then Fired Those Who Were Extremely Stressed at Work -     * ." X, X, 9 Dec. 2024, https://x.com/ankituttam/status/1865997163219779660.

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Dogra, Shitiz. "Can an Organization Fire You for Being Stressed?" LinkedIn, Microsoft, 9 Dec. 2024, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shitizdogra_firing-layoffs-job-activity-7271758403717214211-l-FG.

Dutta, Anushka. "Nobody Got Fired!" LinkedIn, Microsoft, 10 Dec. 2024, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anushka-dutta-980052195_yesmadam-6dayspaidleaves-destressleaves-activity-7272222757906452482-ttqg.

---. "What's Happening at YesMadam?" LinkedIn, Microsoft, 9 Dec. 2024, https://archive.li/dBSAu.

YesMadam. "Important Update." LinkedIn, Microsoft, 10 Dec. 2024, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yesmadamofficial_statement-activity-7272106684192292865-NNR8.


Claim:

An image authentically shows a screenshot of an Amazon listing reflecting over 100,000 sales of a green Luigi beanie following news of the arrest of Luigi Nicholas' Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

A rumor shared online in early December 2024 said an Amazon seller received more than 100,000 orders for a green Luigi beanie  a product created in the name of the Mario-companion Nintendo character.

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This claim circulated following the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the man charged with several crimes, including murder, in the Dec. 4 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan.

Users began discussing this matter on Dec. 9, not long after police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, arrested Mangione at a McDonald's restaurant earlier on the same day. Following Mangione's arrest, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced his name at a news conference. Later on the same day, at a separate news conference, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police credited the arrest to a customer who alerted a McDonald's employee that Mangione was in the restaurant. That employee then called 911.

As a prime example of the rumor, on Dec. 9, a user on X shared (archived) an image of a purported post screenshot with the added text caption, "y'all are so unserious." The image showed the supposed Amazon listing with the product name, "Super Mario Bros Luigi Pom-Pom Knit Beanie Cap Green." It also displayed the name Bioworld (store) and a red circle around the words, "100,000+ bought today."

We further located other posts containing the same image on the AR15.com forums (archived) and Threads (archived).

Online users discussed a fake image showing a green Luigi beanie sold more than 100000 units on the day of the arrest of Luigi Nicholas Mangione.

However, the image showing an Amazon seller received more than 100,000 orders for the Luigi beanie was fake. We contacted the X user to ask about creating the image and will update this story if we receive a response.

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The actual Amazon listing (archived) for the Luigi beanie displayed the words, "100+ bought in past month"  a far cry from the supposed "100,000+ bought today." In other words, a user altered a screenshot of the listing to add three zeros to the number "100."

The authentic Amazon listing displayed "100+ bought in past month"

In a private message on Amazon, Snopes asked the seller about the rumor. The seller listed the product under the brand Retrofacts on the Bioworld store. In response, an unidentified person speaking on behalf of the brand only said, "Well, there were only several hundred available earlier this week and there are still some in stock, so... Slight uptick perhaps, but these are mostly for people playing Mario Kart and Christmas gifts."

After exchanging these messages in the U.S. on the afternoon of Dec. 10, the listing for the product switched to displaying the status, "Currently unavailable."

Sources:

Attanasio, Cedar. "New York Prosecutors Charge Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing with Murder, Court Records Show." The Associated Press, 9 Dec. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-suspect-ceo-assassin-shooter-eaee0b7d31b319f42e0cf7f2f7badfb1.

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Guise, Michael, and Ricky Sayer. "Pennsylvanian Who Spotted Luigi Mangione at Altoona McDonald's Is a 'Hero,' Governor Says." CBS Pittsburgh, 9 Dec. 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/luigi-mangione-altoona-mcdonalds-hero-unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting/.

"UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting Live Updates: Suspect Contests His Extradition Back to New York." The Associated Press, 10 Dec. 2024, https://apnews.com/live/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-updates-day-7.
Claim:

An image authentically shows a post from the official Nintendo of America account on X displaying the video game character Luigi trapped in a cage, and reading, "Free him," which followed news of Luigi Nicholas Mangione's arrest in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

A rumor circulated online in December 2024 claiming that a purported screenshot showed a post from the official Nintendo of America account (@NintendoAmerica) on X, reading, "Free him." The post displayed an image of Luigi  the companion of the company's character Mario  trapped in a cage.

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Users discussed this image beginning on Dec. 9, 2024, not long after news broke that police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, arrested a man at a McDonald's restaurant suspected in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare's CEO, Brian Thompson, in New York City (NYPD). NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch identified the suspect as 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione  a man with the same first name as the video game character. Mangione has been charged with various crimes, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Spencer Althouse, the deputy editorial director at BuzzFeed, posted (archived) the image of the supposed screenshot on X on Dec. 9, adding, "Nintendo has spoken." The post received millions of views.

Online users discussed a purported Nintendo of America post or tweet with the two words free him and showing an image of the video game character Luigi.

A reverse-image search for the same image located a Reddit post (archived) displaying over 55,000 upvotes, a Threads post (archived) showing more than 6,300 likes and another post (archived) on X with around 300,000 views.

However, the purported Nintendo post screenshot was fake. We located no record of the company's official account creating any such posts. Althouse told Snopes in a direct message on X, "I created/photoshopped the image myself."

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Aside from the message from Althouse, we also noted the post displayed the message, "This tweet has been deleted," a subtle sign the post wasn't real. Following tech entrepreneur Elon Musk's takeover of the social media platform in 2022, he changed the name Twitter to X and also officially switched the terminology of "tweet" to "post." As of late 2024, a deleted post on X resulted in the message, "Sorry, that post has been deleted."

We previously reported about a similar rumor claiming Burger King's official X account alluded to Mangione's arrest in a post reading, "We don't snitch," purportedly as a response to news of a McDonald's customer alerting an employee to Mangione's presence. That employee then dialed 911  the call leading to Mangione's arrest.

Sources:

Attanasio, Cedar, and Michael R. Sisak. "Man in Custody Had a Gun, Mask and Writings Tying Him to Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Police Say." The Associated Press, 9 Dec. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-suspect-ceo-assassin-shooter-eaee0b7d31b319f42e0cf7f2f7badfb1.

Guise, Michael, and Ricky Sayer. "Pennsylvanian Who Spotted Luigi Mangione at Altoona McDonald's Is a 'Hero,' Governor Says." CBS Pittsburgh, 9 Dec. 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/luigi-mangione-altoona-mcdonalds-hero-unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting/.

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Liles, Jordan. "Burger King Didn't Post 'We Don't Snitch' About CEO Shooting Suspect's McDonald's Arrest." Snopes, 10 Dec. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/burger-king-we-dont-snitch/.

Peters, Jay. "X's New Terms of Service Insist That Tweets Are Now Posts." The Verge, 8 Sept. 2023, https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/7/23863785/x-twitter-new-terms-of-service-tweets-posts-lawsuit-scraping.

"UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting Live Updates: Suspect Contests His Extradition Back to New York." The Associated Press, 10 Dec. 2024, https://apnews.com/live/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-updates-day-7.
Claim:

Pope Francis once said, All religions are paths to God.

Rating:

Rating: Correct Attribution

Context:

He made the remark while speaking to a Singapore crowd on Sept. 13, 2024. Per the Vatican's Italian-to-English translation, he said, "All religions are paths to God." Meanwhile, a video by the Catholic News Service shows an interpreter at the event who translated the phrase as "every religion is a way to arrive at God."

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Internet users have attributed this quote to Pope Francis: "All religions are paths to God."

Popular evangelists have posted variations of the quote on social media platforms such as Facebook and X since mid-September 2024. The alleged remark has received tens of thousands of interactions. Also, at least one Reddit post questioned whether Francis said the phrase.

"All religions are paths to reach God."



- Pope Francis



"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."



- Jesus Christ  Shane Pruitt (@shane_pruitt78) September 14, 2024

The underlying assertion was correct based on Italian-to-English translations of the pope's words to a crowd at Singapore's Catholic Junior College on Sept. 13, 2024. According to the Vatican's transcript, he said, "All religions are paths to God." Meanwhile, a video by the Catholic News Service shows an interpreter who translated the phrase as "every religion is a way to arrive at God."

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Since the meanings of those translations are generally the same, the in-question quote is correctly attributed.

Here are the pope's words translated in the official Vatican transcription (the emphasis is ours):

One of the things that has impressed me most about the young people here is your capacity for interfaith dialogue. This is very important because if you start arguing, "My religion is more important than yours...," or "Mine is the true one, yours is not true....," where does this lead? Somebody answer. [A young person answers, "Destruction".] That is correct. All religions are paths to God. I will use an analogy, they are like different languages that express the divine. But God is for everyone, and therefore, we are all God's children. "But my God is more important than yours!". Is this true? There is only one God, and religions are like languages, paths to reach God. Some Sikh, some Muslim, some Hindu, some Christian. Understood?

Below is the video of Francis' speech on the Catholic News Service's YouTube page that features the English interpreter. (The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops owns Catholic News Service.)

While this alleged quote by the pope is authentic, Snopes has debunked other statements falsely attributed to him, such as "all religions are true" and "it is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person."

Sources:

"Apostolic Journey to Singapore: Interreligious Meeting with Young People in the Catholic Junior College (13 September 2024) | Francis." Vatican.va, 13 Sept. 2024, www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/september/documents/20240913-singapore-giovani.html.

Catholic News Service. "Pope: All Religions Are Paths to God." YouTube, 13 Sept. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ciUnpSqiOQ. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
Claim:

As of the end of the first quarter of 2024, nearly 50,000 unsold Tesla vehicles were sitting in parking lots across the U.S. and visible from space.

Rating:

Rating: Mixture

What's True:

Tesla produced almost 50,000 more vehicles in the first quarter of 2024 than it delivered to customers. At least some of these unsold vehicles were visible from space, as seen in reports and images from the time. Subsequent financial reports indicated the overstock was likely reduced by some amount over the course of the year.

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What's Undetermined:

We have not been able to determine whether all the nearly 50,000 unsold vehicles from the first quarter of 2024 were located in the U.S. (for example, we found reports of unsold Teslas being stored in Germany).

In December 2024, a claim circulated on Facebook (archive) and X (archive) that nearly 50,000 unsold Tesla vehicles were sitting in parking lots across the U.S., with the large number of vehicles visible from space.

The full post read:

The unsold inventory of Elon Musk's Tesla is so large, it is now visible from space: Reports indicate that there are nearly 50,000 Teslas sitting in parking lots across the USA alone  so many, they can be spotted from space. Using satellite imagery, sources like Sherwood News discovered Tesla's Texas Gigafactory lots went from partially filled in late 2023 to overflowing by March 2024. Additional storage locations, including vacant malls and parking lots, are also being filled to capacity.

Tesla reported building 433,371 vehicles in the first quarter of 2024 but only selling 386,810, leaving tens of thousands of excess units. This surplus reflects a slowing EV market and Tesla's price cuts failing to entice buyers. Satellite images reveal hundreds of Teslas packed outside places like Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis and former retail spaces like Sears in Moreno Valley, California. While Tesla maintains optimism about reversing this inventory buildup, the growing visibility of its unsold vehicles raises questions about the long-term demand for its once-dominant brand.

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The claim of nearly 50,000 surplus vehicles was first spotted in reporting from Sherwood in June 2024, though earlier reporting on overproduction of Teslas stemmed from the company's own Q1 (first quarter) numbers, released in April 2024.

Tesla said it produced a total of 433,371 vehicles and delivered 386,810 in this period, meaning 46,561 cars were produced but not delivered to customers.

However, though the claim of "nearly 50,000 unsold vehicles" was true and some of them could be seen in satellite imagery, Snopes found no evidence that all the surplus vehicles were located in the U.S., nor were we able to account for every single vehicle. Therefore, we rate this claim a mixture of true and undetermined.

Teslas Visible from Space in the US  But Not All 50,000 of Them

In June 2024, financial news site Sherwood published an article with the subtitle "Tesla's unsold inventory is creating stockpiles you can see from space".

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The article included satellite imagery from earth observation marketplace SkyFi, showing an increase in vehicles at two sites: the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, and the Chesterfield Mall near St Louis, Missouri.

Sherwood cited a "production lead at the gigafactory who was recently laid off" as saying the increase in cars seen in Austin was "finished Teslas before they're shipped off."

Previous reporting confirmed that the cars in St. Louis were overspill from a local Tesla dealership, as stated by the mall's owner.

However, the article did not account for anywhere near 50,000 vehicles, giving only parking lot capacity numbers for Austin and numbers in the hundreds for St. Louis. While the article did include satellite imagery, this did not show 50,000 cars.

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Snopes has reached out to Tesla to confirm whether unsold cars were held at its factory in Austin or the Chesterfield Mall near St. Louis.

Reports of Unsold Teslas from Outside US

In addition to reports of unsold inventory in the U.S., Snopes found similar reports from abroad.

In May 2024, German newspaper B.Z. published an article titled (translated): "Tesla's secret warehouse of unsold electric cars."

B.Z. reported that Teslas were being transported from the company's factory in Grunheide, on the outskirts of Berlin, to a former airfield in Neuhardenberg in such numbers that local traffic was affected. A resident on the route from Grunheide to Neuhardenberg told B.Z. he had counted 40 transporters loaded with Teslas in a single hour.

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German tabloid Bild estimated that up to 5,000 Teslas were stored at Neuhardenberg in July, 2024.

Overproduction Largely Stopped Later in 2024

Our research established that the claim stemmed from Tesla's own Q1 2024 numbers.

However, separate numbers regarding production and delivery were subsequently issued for Q2 and Q3 that show overproduction was stemmed in those quarters.

For example, in Q2, Tesla's figures showed that more cars were delivered than produced, potentially helping to offset backlog from Q1.

Sources:

Al-Ghaili, Hashem. "The Unsold Inventory of Elon Musk's Tesla Is so Large, It Is Now Visible from Space:" Facebook, Meta, 9 Dec. 2024, https://www.facebook.com/ScienceNaturePage/posts/pfbid02SNKG74zARaJesqmLHV8VMBputjXZMJZbDQPpxQ4SzbNN16Eu5R7LrzLWSJufr44El.

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@Red___One__. "When the Government Pays You to Make EVs You Can't Sell... 50,000 Teslas Sitting in Parking Lots across the USA Alone  so Many, They Can Be Spotted from Space." X, X, 9 Dec. 2024, https://x.com/Red___One__/status/1866128883952620021.

Sauerbier, Michael. "Teslas geheimes Lager der unverkauften E-Autos." B.Z., B.Z., 8 May 2024, https://www.bz-berlin.de/brandenburg/teslas-geheimes-lager-e-autos.

Schneider, Joey. "Hundreds of Tesla Vehicles Parked Outside Chesterfield Mall. Why?" Fox2Now, Fox, 1 May 2024, https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/hundreds-of-tesla-vehicles-parked-outside-chesterfield-mall-why/.

Tesla. "Tesla Third Quarter 2024 Production, Deliveries & Deployments." Tesla, Tesla, 2 Oct. 2024, https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-third-quarter-2024-production-deliveries-and-deployments.

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---. "Tesla Vehicle Production & Deliveries and Date for Financial Results & Webcast for First Quarter 2024." Tesla, Tesla, 2 Apr. 2024, https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-vehicle-production-deliveries-and-date-financial-results-webcast-first-quarter-2024.

---. "Tesla Vehicle Production & Deliveries and Date for Financial Results & Webcast for Second Quarter 2024." Tesla, Tesla, 2 July 2024, https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-vehicle-production-deliveries-and-date-financial-results-webcast-second-quarter-2024.

"Tesla  Tausende Fahrzeuge bleiben im Lager bei Berlin." bild.de, Bild, 29 July 2024, https://www.bild.de/news/inland/deutsche-e-auto-krise-tausende-fahrzeuge-im-teslager-bei-berlin-66a391bef6bff72b488f7a00.

"Tesla's Q1 Numbers Were Way Worse Than Expected." Jalopnik, 2 Apr. 2024, https://jalopnik.com/teslas-q1-numbers-were-way-worse-than-expected-1851381804.

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"Tesla's Unsold Inventory Is Creating Stockpiles You Can See from Space." Sherwood News, https://sherwood.news/business/elon-musk-tesla-extra-inventory-satellite-imagery/.



Updates:

Dec. 11, 2024: The rating of this report was changed from "False" to "Mixture" based on a review of the evidence.
Dec. 11Ector County ISD is inviting high school seniors and their families to its upcoming FAFSA & Direct Admissions Application Night from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the New Tech Odessa cafeteria, 300 E. 29th St.

The event is designed to offer hands-on support with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and college admissions applications. This year, ECISD is introducing a Direct Admissions Application program that offers potential admission to over 30 colleges and universities, streamlining the path to higher education for local students.

During the event, representatives from the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB), Odessa College, Angelo State University, and Sul Ross State University will be on hand to provide one-on-one guidance on FAFSA completion and direct admissions applications. This collaborative effort is part of ECISD's commitment to ensuring that all seniors have access to essential resources for college readiness, including information about scholarships, grants, and other financial support options.

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"FAFSA & Direct Admissions Application Night is a crucial opportunity for our seniors and their parents to receive expert guidance in navigating the financial aid application process," Rico Enriquez, ECISD's Director of College, Career, & Military Readiness (CCMR) & Post-Secondary Education, said in a news release. "Completing the FAFSA is the first step toward accessing scholarships and grants that make higher education more affordable and achievable."

Attendees should bring relevant financial documents, such as their 2023 tax return, to streamline the FAFSA completion process.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The family of Ellie Young, the medical student who was shot and killed at Shelby Farms, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her accused killer and ex-boyfriend Jackson Hopper.

Young, a student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, was shot to death after a breast cancer walk at Shelby Farms Park in October. 27-year-old Hopper took law enforcement on a multi-county chase before he was taken into custody and charged with her murder.

Man accused of murdering Ellie Young waives bond hearing

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He was later indicted on First Degree Murder and is currently being held without bond. During his last court appearance in November, Hopper temporarily waived his bond hearing.

Nearly two months after the killing, Youngs family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the alleged shooter and his mother, Martha Hopper.

The Young family claims in the lawsuit that Hoppers mother was aware of her sons prior violent tendencies and she lied to Ellies family when they expressed concerns that Hopper was posing a dangerous threat to Ellie.

Suspect in medical students death being held without bond

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The lawsuit states that Martha Hopper also knew that her son had engaged in similar dangerous conduct with other girlfriends and allegedly failed to inform Ellies family when they told her they were going to get a restraining order against Hopper, because of his assaultive behavior, and out of fear that his violence would escalate.

A restraining order was never attained, but the lawsuit says the Young family discussed it after Hopper became aggressive, and controlling, toward Ellie in the months prior to her death, eventually leading to Ellie ending the relationship with Hopper.

They claim Martha Hopper discouraged them from getting a restraining order and assured them that Jackson would never hurt Ellie. However, the Young family says they believe she made these statements to protect her son from criminal charges.

Ellie and her family relied on Martha Hoppers statements to their detriment and decided to not ask a judge for an order of protection against Jackson Hopper based on false assurances of Martha Hopper, said the lawsuit.

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Ellies family filed the wrongful death lawsuit as a result, believing that if Hoppers mother had informed them of his violent past, a restraining order would have been filed, and Ellie would be alive.

As a foreseeable result of the wrongful conduct of the Defendants Ellie experienced extreme pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of future earnings, loss of the enjoyment of life, and loss of life, said the lawsuit.

Suspect in Ellie Young murder facing more charges from chase in Dyer County

The lawsuit also states that the Young family is concerned Hopper may try to use the funds they claim he recently inherited to make bond and flee the county to avoid prosecution for his heinous acts.

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The family claims he inherited a significant amount of property in Lake County, Tennessee, and perhaps in other counties as well, after his grandfather died. He allegedly sold part or all of his interest in the property to his uncle for over $3 million in April of this year.

In the lawsuit, the Young family says they wish for the judge to keep Hopper from spending any of the money from the inheritance on anything other than ordinary living expenses.

They also asked that this request be extended to Hoppers mother, to whom he allegedly transferred money from the sale of the inherited property.

According to the lawsuit, the Young family believes Martha Hopper will assist her son in hiding and/or spending assets at his request, and fears that she may already have done so.

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The Young family is asking for $10 million in compensatory damages from the Hoppers.

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.
Hannah Kobayashi, the 30-year-old Hawaii woman who had been missing since Nov. 11, has been found and is safe, her family announced today.

Sara Azari, a Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney representing the Kobayashi family, posted a statement from the family on social media this morning, saying, We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.

The statement gave no details on where Kobayashi was found.

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We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us,  said the statement on behalf of her mother and sister, Brandi Yee and Sydni Kobayashi.

The case of Hannah Kobayshi, an Oahu woman who recently moved to Maui, has garnered international media attention and intense online speculation since she went missing after failing to board a connecting flight at Los Angeles International Airport last month.

Her 58-year-old father, Ryan Koba yashi, after searching for his daughter in Los Angeles for two weeks, according to LAPD. A GoFundMe was set up to pay for search efforts, legal fees, Ryan Koba yashis funeral, and other family expenses as they searched for the missing woman.

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The official search by authorities ended last week when LAPD announced that they had discovered that Hannah Kobayshi had entered Mexico on her own will and appeared in safe with her luggage in surveillance video as she entered the San Ysidro border crossing.

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By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The family of a Turkish-American woman killed by Israel in the Israeli-occupied West Bank will meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday and call for an independent U.S.-led probe into her killing, the woman's sister told Reuters on Tuesday.

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed on Sept. 6 as she took part in a protest against settlement expansion in the West Bank amid Israel's war in Gaza.

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KEY QUOTES

"For the last three months, Blinken and State Department officials have repeatedly told us to wait for Israel, the government whose army perpetrated the crime against Aysenur, to investigate itself. This cannot stand," Ozden Bennett, Eygi's sister, said in a statement.

Bennett and Eygi's widower Hamid Ali will be among the family members meeting Blinken and State Department officials.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Eygi's killing and the surge of assaults on Palestinians in the West Bank have been criticized by Washington but the U.S. has announced no major policy change toward Israel, which the Turkish-American's family has condemned. Blinken called Eygi's killing "unprovoked."

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CONTEXT

Israel has acknowledged its troops shot the activist, but says it was an unintentional act during a demonstration that turned violent.

Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River, an area Palestinians want as the core of a future independent state. Israel has built a thickening array of settlements there that most countries deem illegal. Israel cites historical and biblical ties to the area.

The International Court of Justice says Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there are illegal.

Israel is waging a war in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza where tens of thousands have been killed in the last 14 months and over which Israel has faced genocide allegations that it denies. That Israeli assault followed an Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed about 1,200 and in which dozens were taken hostage.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Don Durfee and Michael Perry)
MANILA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it has approved a grant of 25.45 million U.S. dollars to help the Solomon Islands develop sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient water supply and sanitation services.

The Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project is implementing high-priority components of the government's water and sanitation sector plan to increase access to piped supply and sanitation services, enhance hygiene awareness, promote water conservation, and improve fecal sludge management.

The ADB said the latest additional financing will help meet cost overruns incurred from the growing cost of goods and works, which have increased significantly since March 2020.

The ADB, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, and the European Union are funding the 125-million-dollar project. 
Social media users have jokingly reached out to Kim Kardashian to help United Health Care's suspected killer, Luigi Mangione.

The SKIMS founder is known for her criminal justice work, through which she has helped secure the release of multiple people since 2019.

Kim Kardashian has also been studying to be a lawyer since 2018 and plans to take the California bar exam in 2015.

Fans Appeal To The SKIMS Founder To Help Suspected CEO's Killer Luigi Mangione

MEGA

Since 2018, Kim Kardashian has been studying to become a lawyer and has been involved in various criminal justice projects.

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Her work has since led to the release of several individuals from prison and sparked discussion on some criminal reforms.

Fans now believe that the reality star can proffer some help to Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of UnitedHealth Care CEO Brian Thompson.

"HEAR ME OUT, KIM KARDASHIAN SHOULD HELP LUIGI MANGIONE," a fan wrote in all caps, while another commented, "@KimKardashian Free Luigi Mangione for us. Get us that pardon."

MEGA

A third fan said, "Please contact Kim Kardashian and tell her to protect Luigi Mangione. He cannot go to jail."

"So what next? Kim Kardashian swoops in to defend Luigi Mangione in a court of law," a fourth user asked on X (formerly Twitter).

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However, some individuals criticized fans asking for Kardashian's help, with one person writing, "You all asking Kim to help Luigi but she another one of them CEO billionaires."

The UnitedHealth Care CEO's Suspected Killer Was Arrested With Incriminating Items

MEGA

Mangione was caught on Monday at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa. after the police received a tip from someone who recognized him from the picture they had sent out.

During the arrest, police found a manifesto in which he detailed his motivations and grievances against corporate America.

They also recovered a gun and suppressor similar to those seen in surveillance footage of the crime. The gun was identified as a "ghost gun," which can be assembled at home and was possibly made with a 3D printer.

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Mangione was also found with a fake New Jersey ID, identical to the one the killer had used at a Manhattan hostel, as well as clothing that matched what the suspect had worn on the day of the crime.

Additionally, around $10,000 in cash and a passport bearing his real name were discovered in his possession.

Police Matched Bullet Casings To The Suspect Luigi Mangione's Gun

MEGA

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Recent reports have revealed that forensic investigators have made findings that might further incriminate Mangione.

According to the findings, the bullet casings found at the scene of the December 4 killing of Thompson in midtown Manhattan matched that fro the gun recovered from Mangione.

"We were able to match that gun to the three shell casings that we found in midtown at the scene of the homicide," NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement, per Yahoo.

According to the commissioner, Mangione also seemingly left behind forensic evidence recovered from other items at the scene.

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"NYPD investigators were also able to match Mangione's fingerprints with those found on a water bottle and energy bar recovered from the scene," Tisch added.

The Alleged CEO Shooter Was Arraigned On Multiple Charges

MEGA

According to reports, Mangione was arraigned in Pennsylvania on multiple charges after his arrest.

The charges include forgery, carrying an unlicensed firearm, providing false identification to law enforcement, tampering with records or identification, and possessing "instruments of crime."

In New York, where the crime took place, Mangione faces murder charges along with a number of additional offenses.

Authorities in the state are currently arranging Mangione's extradition, but the process could take weeks as he is actively contesting the transfer.

Where Is Luigi Mangione Being Held?

MEGA

In the meantime, Mangione is being held at a Pennsylvania state prison after being denied bail on Tuesday.

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He is being represented by defense attorney Tom Dickey, who has since revealed that Mangione would be pleading not guilty to any of the charges filed against him by the authorities in Pennsylvania.

He also suggested that the 26-year-old would likely enter the same not-guilty plea to the murder charges in New York and hinted that he might represent him in that case as well.
A legal defense fund on behalf of alleged United Healthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione has been established and is accepting donations, reaching over $20,000 by Tuesday night.

In a press release Tuesday, a group calling itself the December 4 Legal Committee announced a crowdfunding campaign.

In the midst of a heated political climate in which an unbiased jury is almost impossible to imagine, this fundraiser will help to guarantee the suspects constitutional right to fair legal representation, the group stated.

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The fundraiser for the 26-year-old is on GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding website.

Mangione faced an extradition court hearing on Tuesday in Pennsylvania and was subsequently denied bail. He is being held in that state on gun charges, while also facing charges in New York related to the murder of Brian Thompson. His defense attorney, Tom Dickey, said his client will plead not guilty to the Pennsylvania charges, and expects the same to be the case regarding those in New York.

When asked on CNN why he believes members of the public are offering to pay for Mangiones defense, Dickey replied, The Supreme Court says all these rich billionaires can give all kind of money to candidates and thats free speech, so maybe these people were exercising their right to free speech and saying thats the way theyre supporting my client.

Collins: People are reaching out to you and offering to help pay for his legal bills



Mangiones Attorney: That's correct.



Collins: Would you accept those offers?



Mangiones Attorney: I probably wouldnt



Collins: Why do you think theyre offering?



Mangiones Attorney: The pic.twitter.com/EVbBT29WGx  Acyn (@Acyn) December 11, 2024

Carol Sherman, a committee organizer, said thatviolence asidethe shooter has tapped into popular outrage over the quality and cost of privatized American healthcare.

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A written manifesto that authorities said belonged to Mangione reads in part, A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy.

United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the U.S. by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but [h]as our life expectancy? Mangione continues.

No the reality is, these [indecipherable] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allwed them to get away with it.

The committees press release also notes how United Healthcare, according to Forbes, denies about a third of claims, and how Anthem BlueCross BlueShield responded to the shooting by backtracking on its plan to limit its anesthesia coverage of surgical patients.

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We do not advocate violence, Sherman explained, but it is striking to see how many patients lives have already been improved after this one incident. How many people have been sentenced to death by cruel denials of coverage while insurance CEOs continue drive up healthcare costs for profit?

At the scene of the crime, authorities said they found shell casings reading deny, defend, and deposeterms believed to reference shady insurer tactics to avoid paying out claims.

A back surgery that Mangione had months ago has garnered considerable interest.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  The Illinois Pork Producers and their commodity partners have donated 100,000 pounds of pork to food banks in 2024.

From the Farm: Applying anhydrous ammonia

The donation has come in nine different sections, and one of those donation announcements came in Springfield on Monday.

Pam Molitoris, executive director of Central Illinois Food Bank, made the initial announcement and Stu Ellis for From the Farm was there for it.

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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 WCIA.com.
Ryan Borgwardt  the father of three accused of staging his own death in a kayaking accident  is reportedly in custody in Wisconsin

The 45-year-old man was previously presumed to have drowned after his capsized vessel was found in Green Lake in August

Green Lake County Sheriff's Office confirmed last month that they'd received a "proof of life video" from the man, who was reported missing by his wife Emily on Aug. 12

A Wisconsin father of three accused of staging his own death in a kayaking accident is in police custody, according to multiple reports.

PEOPLE reported earlier this month that Ryan Borgwardt, 45  who was previously presumed to have drowned after going kayaking in Green Lake in August  had resurfaced in Eastern Europe and had sent a 24-second-long "proof of life video" to authorities on Nov. 11.

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On the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 10, Borgwardt was then booked into the Green Lake County Jail, outlets including the Associated Press, CNN and ABC News reported, citing the Victim Information and Notification Everyday system. No charges were listed, according to the publications.

A press conference set to provide updates on Borgwardt has been scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. local time, the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office confirmed on Facebook.

Sheriff Mark Podoll did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

Green Lake County Sheriff's Office Ryan Borgwardt Ryan Borgwardt

The update comes after Podoll said at a press conference on Nov. 21 that his office had managed to make contact with Borgwardt through a Russian-speaking woman on Nov. 11.

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Borgwardt sent a video to deputies from his apartment, in which he stated it was November 11 and that he was safe, secure, no problem.

Podoll initially held a news conference regarding the Borgwardt case on Nov. 8 following a 54-day search for the man. The sheriff explained how Borgwardt's vehicle and trailer had been found parked in the area of Dodge Memorial Park on Aug. 12, with his last known location at the time being Green Lake.

Around an hour after the alarm was first raised shortly after 5:30 p.m. local time that day, authorities found a capsized kayak in the western part of the lake in an area where the water is around 220 feet deep, the sheriff previously told reporters.

The following day, fishermen found Borgwardt's fishing rod in the same lake, before his tackle box was also discovered. Inside, the box contained a wallet, keys and a license belonging to Borgwardt; who last made contact with his wife Emily via text at 10:45 p.m. on Aug. 11. The pair, who have been married for 22 years, share three teenage children  Jeremiah, Levi and Norah.

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When the huge search and rescue operation failed to locate the missing man, he was presumed dead, leaving his wife and children grieving.



However, a shocking twist came after Podoll and his team learned that Canadian law enforcement had checked Borgwardt's passport on Aug. 13  the day after he was reported missing. That was something we didnt expect, Podoll previously said at the Nov. 8 conference.

Podoll said that on Aug. 11, Borgwardt had taken photos of his passport, changed his email and moved money to a foreign bank account  and that he had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan.

Facebook Ryan Borgwardt Ryan Borgwardt

Authorities believe Borgwardt began plotting his disappearance as far back as January, when he took out a $375,000 insurance policy  possibly to take care of his family in his absence  and bought airline gift cards.

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Following his disappearance, Borgwardt told the sheriff's office how he pulled off his plan, revealing that he'd stashed an e-bike near the boat lodge before paddling his kayak and a child-sized inflatable boat out into the lake, PEOPLE previously reported.

After overturning the kayak, he paddled the inflatable boat to shore before getting on his e-bike and riding through the night to Madison, Wis. There, he boarded a bus to Detroit before heading to the Canadian border.

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.

Podoll explained that Borgwardt continued on the bus to an airport and got on a plane."

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As for why Borgwardt chose to disappear so mysteriously, the sheriff said, He just had personal matters going on, and he felt this was the right thing [to] do.

Podoll previously noted that Borgwardt could face criminal charges and pay restitution of at least $40,000 restitution if he returned to the U.S.



Read the original article on People
The Wisconsin man accused of faking his death in August and fleeing to Europe is now in police custody.

Ryan Borgwardt, of Watertown, had not been seen since a kayaking trip to Green Lane on Aug. 12. After months of search efforts, the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office announced on Nov. 8 they believe he had faked his death and fled to eastern Europe to be with another woman, abandoning his wife and three children.

On Wednesday, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark A. Podoll hosted a press conference to announce that Borgwardt had finally returned to Wisconsin on Tuesday and turned himself in at the Green Lake County Justice Center, where he is now in custody.

Green Lake County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Podoll became noticeably emotional while thanking the people involved in helping with this case, including search party volunteers, the Wisconsin DNR, and his own staff.

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"They are the ones that kept it going. I couldn't be more proud of them for what they did for a family," Sheriff Podoll said. He also thanked media members who had followed the case. "Through this whole case, you are very good partners with us, and I appreciate that."

Police had been communicating with Borgwardt since November, first speaking with a Russian-speaking woman before finally making contact with Borgwardt through email on Nov. 11.

To confirm his safety, he sent police a video of what looked like his apartment, though police were still unsure of his country of residence. During Tuesday's press conference, Sheriff Podoll said they are still uncertain what country he had fled to, saying Borgwardt decided to return on his own volition.

Borgwardt explained to police how he had left the country, saying he had stashed an e-bike near the boat launch before paddling his kayak and a child-size inflatable boat out into the lake.

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He overturned the kayak, dumped his phone in the lake, paddled the inflatable boat to shore, and got on his e-bike. He rode it through the night to Madison, where he boarded a bus to Detroit and the Canadian border before continuing on the bus to the airport and getting on a plane.

Borgwardt is currently awaiting his initial court appearance. While official charges have not been filed yet, the Green Lake Sheriff's Office has recommended obstruction charges and restitution.
A Wisconsin father who last month was accused of faking his death in a staged kayaking accident has been apprehended by authorities, The Associated Press and multiple other outlets reported.

Ryan Borgwardt, a 45-year-old father of three, was accused in November of faking his death before fleeing to Europe. Borgwardt was thought to have drowned in Wisconsins Green Lake in August, but earlier this month he was spotted in Eastern Europe. Soon after, he sent a so-called proof of life video to domestic authorities. On Tuesday, Borgwardt was arrested; hes currently being housed at the Green Lake County Jail. Sheriff Mark Podoll previously revealed that his department had made contact with Borgwardt through a Russian citizen.

At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Podoll reported that Borgwardt "arrived on American soil" and "he is awaiting his initial court appearance."

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At this time, authorities are still trying to determine where and who Borgwardt was with. But "he cooperated with us," the sheriff said, adding that Borgwardt returned "willingly." Podoll declined to state whether or not Borgwardt has made contact with his wife and children since his discovery, though the sheriff indicated that was one of his reasons for returning.

Podoll also declined to state what exact charges Borgwardt is facing; but he confirmed there are several in the works, including obstruction of justice.

Borgwardt shares three children with his wife of 22 years, Emily. He last made contact with his family on Aug. 11. After a large-scale search-and-rescue operation failed to turn up any result of Borgwardts body, he was presumed dead.

However, authorities summarily discovered that Borgwardts passport was checked at the Canadian border on Aug. 13. That was something we didnt expect, Podoll said at a November press conference. Authorities also found that Borgwardt had been communicating with a woman in Uzbekistan, and on Aug. 11 changed his email address; moved his money to a foreign account; and took photographs of his passport.

At Wednesday's press conference, Podoll thanked Green Lake authorities for their perseverance in uncovering the mystery. "They're the ones who kept this going. I couldn't be more proud them [and] what they did for [Borgwardt's] family," he said. "They didn't give up."
HENRYETTA, Okla. (KFOR)  After the home where a convicted child sex offender killed five teens and his wife in a mass murder-suicide last year burned down on Tuesday, the father of one of the victims says his focus is not on what happened to the house but is instead on the lack of action hes seen from Oklahoma leaders and law enforcement to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

For Justin Webster, the wound is still fresh.

Fire under investigation at home where 7 died in a Henryetta suicide murder case

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We were waking up this morning, getting ready for work, we noticed a bunch of sirens and fire trucks driving down the road, Webster said. Just seeing that, its triggering to us, because it brings back that day.

For the better part of two years, the house down the street from Websters on Holly Road  where convicted child rapist Jesse McFadden stole the life of Websters 14-year-old daughter, Ivy, and five others in May 2023  has stood.



McFadden had been released from prison in 2020, several years before his 20 year sentence actually ended.

Thats a house that a monster lived in, Webster said.

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This should have never happened: Victims family walks through killers home, finds evidence left behind by law enforcement

The house stood wide open less than a week after the murders, when Webster gave News 4 a tour of the evidence left inside that he said Okmulgee County Sheriffs Office investigators didnt think to collect.

I feel Okmulgee County Sheriffs Office is not on par with what needs to be done as far as checking on these child sex predators, Webster said. And that was clear and evident when KFOR and prior-reporter Kaylee Olivas went into the house with us and a deputy sheriff was there.

Im just lost, Father reacts after 7 bodies found in search for missing Oklahoma teens

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It stood as that prompted the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to take over the investigation.

It stood through Websters grief, through his anger.

None of this should have happened if the state of Oklahoma did what they were supposed to do with child sex predators, he said.

It stood through his rage, as his pushes for changes to sex offender laws got the full government treatment.

We got Knights Law, HB 3992, passed through the House 84-8 vote supermajority, Webster said. It was awesome, and we had high expectations for it to go to Senate and pass. It didnt even get out of the Appropriations Committee. Why? All I heard was budget restraints. Okay, so we care more about money instead of protecting kids. Its disheartening. Its frustrating.

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My gloves are clearly off: OK House passes Knights Law in honor of Henryetta victims

But early Tuesday morning, as Webster awoke to those passing sirens outside his house, something changed.

We got a message from one of our churchgoers saying, Hey, did you know the house of horrors burned down, Webster said.

The house that stood through so much, finally fell.

Investigators with the Okmulgee County Sheriffs Office believe it was possibly arson.

That was shocking, but it made sense, Webster said.

Officials: 7 found dead in Okmulgee County shot in the head

But, if you ask Webster, it should have fallen long ago, to make way for a memorial.

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Thats what the state should do, he said. Give something back to us parents that lost everything because of their incompetence and neglect. They can turn it into a park, or turn it into something. Just do the right thing. And its been two years this and they still cant they cant figure it out.

But if you think hes rejoicing in Wednesdays turn of events, youd be wrong.

As far as the house down there, I dont care, he said. That has nothing to do with anything that were trying to accomplish.

After all, the wound is still fresh.

Im scared to death to go into my daughters room, he said. We havent been in my daughters room since.

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Theres no time for rejoicing, not until someone hears him.

It seems like were standing on top of a mountain with the biggest bullhorn yelling, Webster said. And why is there no federal investigation going on? Why is the FBI not in these small towns, especially Okmulgee County, doing what needs to be done? Find out why these sheriffs offices are not doing what they need to be doing as far as child sexual criminals.

Knights Law 2.0 petition

Not until he can guarantee the house of horrors, just down Holly Road from his own, will be last to host such horrors.

I cry almost every day. And today Im angry. Im angry again because, everything thats going on, it just brings it all back up, Webster said. Nothing else matters but bringing [Ivy] here. So the only justice that they can get is protecting other kids.

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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.
LONDON (Reuters) - The father and stepmother of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl who was found dead in her home in Britain, were on Wednesday convicted of her murder after a trial which heard harrowing details of her treatment before her killing.

Sharif was found dead in August 2023 at her home in Woking, a town southwest of London, after what prosecutors say was a campaign of "serious and repeated violence".

The family fled to Pakistan immediately after Sara Sharif was killed, before they were arrested in September 2023 at London's Gatwick airport after flying from Dubai.

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Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors at the start of the trial that Sara had suffered a litany of injuries, including burns, broken bones and bite marks.

Sara's father Urfan Sharif, 43, and his wife Beinash Batool, 30, stood trial at London's Old Bailey court charged with her murder, which they denied.

The jury convicted Urfan Sharif and Batool of Sara's murder. Sara's uncle Faisal Malik, 29, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of causing or allowing Sara's death.

Sharif and Batool will be sentenced on Dec. 17.

Emlyn Jones told jurors at the start of the trial that Urfan Sharif had called police and said: "It wasn't my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much."

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Sharif gave evidence and initially denied responsibility for Sara's death. He accepted slapping Sara to discipline her, but denied beating her in a regular or sustained way.

But Urfan Sharif, under questioning from Batool's lawyer Caroline Carberry, later said he took "full responsibility" for his daughter's death.

Lawyers for Batool, who did not give evidence, said Urfan Sharif was violent and controlling and that she was scared of him.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young)
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  A Fayette County man pleaded guilty to a drug crime involving fentanyl in Raleigh County.

According to a press release, 46-year-old Robert Lee Moran, of Mount Hope, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl on December 10, 2024.

Moran reportedly distributed around one gram of fentanyl to a confidential informant in the Beckley area of Raleigh County on January 29, 2024.

Indiana woman pleads guilty to First-Degree Murder in West Virginia

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Morans sentencing is scheduled for April 11, 2025, and he faces up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of probation, and a $1 million fine.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson, who thanked the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit for their work on the investigation.

Members of the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office, and the Beckley Police Department make up the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

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.
HONG KONG, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Tuesday launched a roadmap on sustainability disclosure in Hong Kong, a move to increase the financial hub's competitiveness in green finance.

The roadmap set out Hong Kong's approach to require publicly accountable entities (PAEs), including listed companies and non-listed financial institutions carrying a significant weight, to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards-Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards).

The roadmap provided a well-defined pathway for large PAEs to fully adopt the ISSB Standards no later than 2028.

"As a premier international financial center as well as a green and sustainable finance hub, Hong Kong is taking consistent steps to consolidate its competitiveness through observing international standards and best practices," said Christopher Hui, secretary for financial services and the treasury of the HKSAR government.

The launch of this roadmap on the full adoption of the ISSB Standards clearly highlighted Hong Kong's commitment to continuing to play a leading role in facilitating green and sustainable financing and investment for the global agenda of green transition, Hui said. 
AUSTIN (KXAN)  With three Austin City Council members leaving the dais at the end of the year, Thursdays city council meeting will be the last for Council Members Mackenzie Kelly, Alison Alter and Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool.

It wont be a thoughtless slide to the finish, Thursdays agenda has more than 140 items on it. Heres some of what were watching:

Austin Energy generation plan: Approved

Austin City Council unanimously voted to approve the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2035 Thursday.

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Its a plan that essentially talks about how were going to meet Austins rising energy needs while providing an equitable clean energy transition in support of the communitys values, said Lisa Martin, Austin Energys Chief Operating Officer.

The plan lays out priorities that include:

Continue moving toward 100% carbon-free energy by 2035

Improve reliability, affordability and environmental sustainability

Protect vulnerable customers

Resiliency in the face of extreme weather and associated financial risk

I think this plan is really focused on meeting the priorities put forward by the public but it also doesnt consider how the cost of polluting or using carbon-emitting generation, what kind of costs those have, Austin City Council Member Ryan Alter said. When we talk about affordability certainly we talk about our monthly bill, but if were going to have to spend a lot of money to address the effects of climate change, that shows up.

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Alter brought forward several amendments to the plan Monday, including reducing emissions, adding generation and updating the council regularly on energy goals. Those amendments were approved. You can find all of Alters amendments here. Several other city council members have amended the plan, which has been posted on the Austin City Council message board.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson doubled down on Austin Energy getting out of the Fayette Power Plant, which it co-owns with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). The mayor wants Austin to shut down its portion of the plant by no later than January 2029.

Austin Energy generation plan before city council next week

Earlier this year, we slammed the brakes on Austin Energys initial generation planI wanted a clear focus on getting to better environmental sustainability and getting us out of the Fayette Power Plant. Others joined me in that sentiment, Watson said in his Watson Wire Monday. For those who share the goal of getting out of coal, this plan is a step forward.

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In a work session with Austin Energy staff Tuesday, Watson pushed Austin Energy to stick to that plan, after Martin said the Fayette Power Plant is an insurance policy during significant demand and a financial buffer. The plant helped offset roughly $500 million in costs to customers during Winter Storm Uri, she said.

You modeled this with Fayette out, Watson responded to Martin Tuesday. So if nothing else that shows at least some recommitment to being out of Fayettebut I will admit to you that that answer, when you talk about Fayette saving money and doing all those kinds of things sounds like we need Fayette to help us save money and we want Fayette. And I think thats part of the reason some people have, including me, sometime a heartburn about, what is that commitment?

You can read more about the generation plan in KXANs previous coverage here.

Massive I-35 vote delayed

Austin City Council will no longer vote this week on a potential commitment to spend hundreds of millions of dollars capping Interstate 35, based on a council memo shared on Thursday.

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The Texas Department of Transportation had originally set a Dec. 12 meeting deadline for council to decide on its funding commitments for its Our Future 35 initiative. That program is centered around adding deck plazas over the highway and community amenities on top.

Now, Austin City Council has until March 2025 to vote on those funding commitments  in turn solidifying the breadth of the capped I-35 program. That extended deadline is due to delays in TxDOTs pump station contract award, per the memo.

During a Nov. 19 Austin City Council work session, city leaders outlined eight possible cap and stitch locations on the table, which would amount to more than 26 acres of community space. Those locations include:

Holly Street stitch: 0.96 acres

Cesar Chavez Street stitch: 0.27 acres

Cesar Chavez to Fourth Streets cap: 5.37 acres

Fourth to Seventh Streets cap: 3.28 acres

11th to 12th Streets cap: 2.17 acres

38 1/2 to 41st Streets cap: 5.2 acres

41st Street to Red Line cap: 4.76 acres

Red Line to Airport Boulevard cap: 4.24 acres

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However, executing the full program comes with a heavy sticker price. The cost of all eight locations roadway elements (which are required to implement early in TxDOTs I-35 Capital Express Central project) would cost an estimated $284 million. The cap structures alone would range closer to $600 million, meaning it would cost roughly $900 million for the roadway and cap structures  not including any of the community amenities on top of the highway.

You can read KXANs full coverage of the delay and what comes next here.

Tourism Improvement District

Austin City Council could vote to create an Austin Tourism Public Improvement District (ATPID) to help bring in new revenues while the Austin Convention Center is under construction. This district has been in the works for years.

Under the plan, Austin hotels with at least 100 rooms would be taxed 2% of the gross room revenue for the next 10 years.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City of Austin to create tourism improvement district

Money generated would be used to try to attract new events to Austin and bring more tourism revenue into town, as well as fund improvements toward safety and homelessness issues.

In a statement, the Austin Hotel & Lodging Association said the ATPID would provide funding for supplemental tourism, marketing and sales activities.

Construction on the Austin Convention Center is slated to start in 2025, with the new building poised to open before the 2029 South by Southwest festival.

You can read KXANs previous coverage on this topic here.

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Fayetteville bank robbery suspect on the loose

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Fayetteville police responded to a bank robbery Wednesday morning and have not found the suspect.

Fayetteville police say the Centennial Bank on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was robbed around 11:32 a.m.

Police say the suspect is a white male with blue eyes and that he was wearing a hoodie with a mask, khaki pants and gloves. He is approximately 6 feet tall and 220-230 pounds.

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The Fayetteville Police Department released surveillance photos of the suspect that can seen below.

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Fayetteville police say the suspect claimed he had an explosive, but none were found.

Police are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Police are asking the public to avoid the area of 3000 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. as it is currently an active investigation.

Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Dec. 10Recently filed court records allege that an FBI agent's son, having shot up a car and killed a 13-year-old, then advised his accomplice "how they were going to get away with this."

The pair trashed their clothes and repaired an errant bullet hole in the accomplice's Lexus, then drove to Colorado to sell the car that day, using cash along the way and leaving their phones in Albuquerque so as not to be traced.

On the drive back, having failed to sell the Lexus, Thomas Acee prepared Michael Flores for the possibility of being caught, telling him "they would be spending the rest of their lives in prison."

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Last week Acee, 21, was charged with an open count of murder shooting from a motor vehicle and faces other charges, in the Aug. 18 death of Michael Tubb. Flores, also 21, was arrested in October and indicted by a grand jury on an open count of murder in Tubb's death.

Flores has been released on an ankle monitor after a judge denied a prosecutor's motion to hold him until trial. Meanwhile, prosecutors filed a motion to keep Acee behind bars until trial.

Acee's attorney could not be reached Tuesday.

Flores' account to Albuquerque police of how the shooting unfolded and its aftermath was revealed in court records filed Saturday. The motive, Flores said, was Acee spotted a someone who wronged him Downtown and believed the car he shot up had that person inside.

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Thomas Acee is the son of FBI agent Bryan Acee, a well-respected law enforcement officer who has built cases against the Aryan Brotherhood and Juarez Cartel, among others. Bryan Acee is credited for largely dismantling Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico, one of the state's largest and most violent gangs.

The unsealed documents include a photo of Thomas Acee holding an AK-style pistol, the alleged murder weapon. After Flores was arrested in October, he told police  among the other revelations  that Acee said "police were never going to find the gun."

It was around 3:30 a.m. when officers responded to the shooting near Fourth and Atlantic SW, finding Tubb fatally shot and a teenage girl injured inside a car. Detectives identified the suspect's car as a specific Lexus model and, in September, found one for sale on Facebook by Flores.

Police say they searched Flores' cellphone records and found his phone was in the area where Tubb was shot at the time of the homicide and then followed the same route as the one seen taken by the Lexus on various cameras.

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Police also found messages from "Tommy" encouraging Flores to trade the Lexus, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Detectives learned a Thomas Acee was contacting Flores while he was in jail.

Months after his arrest, Flores told police on Dec. 4 that the pair were Downtown when Acee spotted someone he said had shot up his car and robbed him in the past, the complaint states. Flores said Acee had him follow the person, and then the vehicle they thought he got into.

Flores told police that Acee then said they were following the wrong car and the two went back Downtown, where Acee had him follow a similar car, the one Tubb and other teens were inside, according to the complaint. Flores told police Acee had an AK-style pistol and a handgun on him.

Flores told police he didn't want to follow the vehicle anymore and was about to turn around when Acee got out of the car and fired at least 12 times, the complaint states. He said Acee helped repair a bullet hole in the roof of the Lexus, using Bondo and spray paint, and they drove to Colorado to try and sell it.

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Flores told police no dealership wanted the vehicle because it was rear-wheel drive and they returned to Albuquerque, according to the complaint. He said Acee told him to never talk about the crime on social media and, if he was arrested, to destroy his cellphone.

"Michael and Thomas discussed listing the Lexus for sale on Facebook Marketplace after several other failed attempts to sell the vehicle in both Arizona and New Mexico," the complaint states.
The director of the FBI has announced he plans to step down in January, ahead of his expected sacking by Donald Trump.

Christopher Wray, who has served as the bureaus director for seven years, told staff on Wednesday that he would leave at the end of Joe Bidens administration in January.

Although he was appointed by Mr Trump in 2017, Mr Wray later frustrated the president-elect by refusing to drop investigations into his storage of classified documents at Mar-a-lago and his attempt to overturn the 2020 election result.

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Mr Trump described Mr Wrays announcement as a great day for America and said it would end the weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.

Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America, he said.

Speaking at the bureaus headquarters on Wednesday, Mr Wray said the right thing was for him to leave in January and keep the focus on our mission of law enforcement.

In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work, he said.

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Mr Trump has already announced Kash Patel, a former White House intelligence adviser, to lead the FBI after he takes office on Jan 20.

Kash Patel, Donald Trumps nominee to take over from Mr Wray, has heavily criticised the way the FBI works - Reuters/Tierney Cross

Mr Patel has suggested he would be willing to use the bureau and its 35,000 staff to come after journalists who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections.

He has previously argued that the FBIs Washington headquarters should be closed down and reopened as a museum to the deep state.

The Biden administration is considering preemptive pardons for some allies, who they fear will be subject to criminal investigation after Mr Trump takes office.

While Mr Patel is a longtime Trump loyalist, Mr Wray has always refused to endorse politicians and insists that the FBIs work is politically neutral.

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After taking office under the first Trump administration, he refused to back the president-elects claim that an investigation into Russian political interference was a witch hunt and pledged to remain independent of the White House.

I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people, he said on Wednesday. But my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing whats right for the FBI.

During his time as director, Mr Wray has made headlines for his views on threats to US security from abroad.

He has often warned of the dangers posed by Chinese and Russian influence operations in the US, and the risk to national security infrastructure, and was the first FBI official to confirm its position that Covid-19 probably leaked from a lab, breaking with other intelligence organisations.

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Shortly after the October 7 terror attacks on Israel last year, he declared that Hamas was the greatest threat to the West since Islamic State.

The president-elect turned on Mr Wray, and the FBI more generally, after agents conducted a court-approved search of Mr Trumps Florida resort in 2022 to recover classified documents that he had retained after leaving office.

That, alongside a case in Washington, DC over attempts to overturn the 2020 election result, sparked one of two federal prosecutions Mr Trump faced while out of power.

Neither of the cases went to trial after federal prosecutors ended their efforts after his election, citing longstanding Justice Department policy not to prosecute a sitting president. Mr Trump denied wrongdoing and described all the cases against him as politically motivated.

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FBI directors are appointed for 10-year terms, a measure meant to avoid the appearance of partisanship after political turnover in the White House every four years, and Mr Wrays term was not due to expire until 2027.

His deputy, Paul Abbate, is expected to take over the day-to-day running of the bureau after he leaves, but is set to retire in April.

The timing of his departure effectively sets a stopwatch for the confirmation of Mr Patel, without which the organisation will be left rudderless.

Mr Patels nomination is already facing some opposition in the Senate, where some Republicans say they believe he is not well-qualified enough to run one of the largest and most prolific law enforcement organisations in the world.

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The Trump transition team has said Mr Patel was ideally suited to reform the agency, which has faced extensive criticism and claims of political bias from Mr Trumps allies.

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FBI Director Chris Wray on Wednesday announced he plans to steps down as President-elect Trump prepares to replace him once he takes office next month.

In an announcement at an all-hands meeting of FBI employees at its Quantico, Virginia headquarters, Wray said he will leave office when President Biden leaves the White House.

The right thing for the (FBI) is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down, Wray said. This is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.

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Wray hailed the FBI and sounded wistful about the decision to resign.

I love this place, I love our mission and I love our people, he said.

Trump wasted little time cheering the news of Wrays departure.

The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America, Trump wrote on his social media site. I just dont know what happened to him.

Trump has already announced plans to nominate MAGA hardliner Kash Patel as the next FBI director even though Wray has two years left on his 10-year term in office.

We want our FBI back, and that will now happen, Trump said. I look forward to  the process of Making the FBI Great Again can.

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Wray had not previously tipped his hand about whether he would resign of force Trump to fire him, a move that might have underlined the incoming presidents insistence on stamping his personal authority over the FBI.

Wrays resignation clears one potential obstacle to Patels taking over the helm of the nations top law-enforcement agency. Patel still needs to win Senate confirmation.

Trump, who showered praise on Wray when he appointed him in 2017, has recently repeatedly slammed Wray as a tool of the so-called deep state that he claims has weaponized the justice system against himself and his conservative supporters.

The president-elect was particularly angered by the FBIs role in executing a court-approved search of his Mar-a-Lago home that turned up hundreds of classified documents he improperly took with him after the end of his first term.

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Wray was appointed after Trump fired his predecessor James Comey over his involvement in the investigation into ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.

The FBI director post was given a single 10-year term by Congress in a set of reforms in the 1970s after the perceived abuses of longtime chief J. Edgar Hoover.

In the pre-Trump era, the position was considered to have significant independence from the president, but Trump has made it clear that he believes the FBI should act at his direction.

____
FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed Wednesday that he will step down from his post next month, ahead of Donald Trumps inauguration, creating a vacancy that the incoming president intends to fill with loyalist Kash Patel.

Wray reportedly told FBI employees at an agency town hall that he would step down in January, nearly two and a half years before the expiration of the 10-year term he was sworn in for in August 2017. The news of his announcement was first reported by The New York Times.

In prepared remarks, he said hed had weeks of careful thought on the matter and ultimately decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current Administration in January and then step down.

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My goal is to keep the focus on our mission  the indispensable work youre doing on behalf of the American people every day. In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work, he said.

Wray became a target of Trump and his supporters after the 2022 FBI search of Trumps Florida home (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The former federal prosecutor, a Yale Law School graduate who ran the Department of Justices criminal division during the George W Bush administration, will be the second FBI director to exit the agency due to Trumps intervention.

The vacancy Wray filled in 2017 was created months earlier when Trump fired then-director James Comey because of Comeys refusal to quash investigations into Trumps allies as well as a probe into the then-presidents 2016 campaigns potential ties to the Russian government.

Comey was only the second FBI director to be fired from the position since Congress enacted a statute specifying that the head of the nations preeminent federal law enforcement agency could serve a single 10-year term.

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Like his predecessor, Wrays exit comes after clashes with Trump over criminal probes into his conduct, specifically the August 2022 FBI search of Trumps home that led to criminal charges against Trump for allegedly unlawfully retaining national defense information and obstructing justice.

Trump complained about the court-authorized search and blamed Wray for it in an interview with NBC News last week, telling Meet the Press host Kristen Welker: He invaded Mar-a-Lago ... Im very unhappy with the things hes done.

In a post on Truth Social, the president-elect celebrated news of Wrays impending departure, calling it a great day for America that would end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.

Trump has said he will nominate former National Security Council staffer Kash Patel to replace Wray after he is sworn in as president next month (AP)

Trump, who in 2017 said Wray would serve his country as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity, added I just dont know what happened to him and accused the FBI of having illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and doing everything else to interfere with the success and future of America.

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While Wray has cultivated a reputation for being nonpartisan during his time atop the bureau, his proposed successor, Patel, is an extremely partisan figure who rose to prominence through his loyalty toTrump.

He has vowed to root out what he calls the deep state  a term often used by Republicans to describe nonpartisan civil servants who cross Trump or his allies  by firing FBI leadership, moving its headquarters out of Washington and instituting loyalty tests for personnel.

In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray for having served our country honorably and with integrity for decades, including for seven years as the director of the FBI under presidents of both parties.

Garland said Wray has worked tirelessly to protect the American people and to lead an agency of 38,000 dedicated public servants with principled leadership in a heightened threat environment during his tenure as director.

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The Director of the FBI is responsible for leading the federal law enforcement agency that serves as the connective tissue among the intelligence community, state and local law enforcement agencies across the country, and our international law enforcement partners. And the Director of the FBI is responsible for protecting the independence of the FBI from inappropriate influence in its criminal investigations. That independence is central to preserving the rule of law and to protecting the freedoms we as Americans hold dear, he said.

Wray, Garland added, has done that job with integrity and skill.
(Bloomberg) -- FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he will resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, prematurely ending his historic and tumultuous tenure as head of the nations top investigative law enforcement agency.

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Wray said in a speech to agency staff Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of Joe Bidens term as president next month. Trump, who will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, made it clear he wont keep Wray on as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, even though hes serving a 10-year term that doesnt end until 2027.

Wray told the the agencys workforce that stepping down is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray.

What absolutely cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, every time, Wray said, in a speech provided to reporters. Our adherence to our core values, our dedication to independence and objectivity, and our defense of the rule of law  those fundamental aspects of who we are must never change.

Trump posted on his Truth Social network on Nov. 30 that he plans to nominate as FBI director Kash Patel, a loyalist who has pledged to overhaul the bureau and even said he would shut down the agencys headquarters in Washington. Trump will be able to pick an acting director to serve until the Senate confirms his nominee.

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Trump chose Wray to lead the FBI in June 2017 after he fired then-Director James Comey, who launched the investigation into whether Trumps campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election. The probe was later taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

But Trump and his allies eventually turned on Wray and have repeatedly lambasted him for actions the FBI took that they didnt approve of or for not taking certain actions that they wanted.

We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans, Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday. We want our FBI back, and that will now happen.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray in a statement, saying he has worked tirelessly to protect the American people and to lead an agency of 38,000 dedicated public servants, many of whom put their lives on the line every day to serve their communities.

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Independence, Objectivity

Wray said in his speech that his goal is to keep the focus on our mission. He decried those who judge actions based on whether or not they liked the result.

Thats not how independence and objectivity work, Wray said. Were not on any one side. Were on the American peoples side. The Constitutions side

Mild mannered and soft spoken, Wray, a New York City native, tried to steer the bureau away from political turbulence during his tenure. He replaced the bureaus leadership when he took over as director and worked to stay out of the public spotlight as he emphasized the agencys core missions of investigating corporate crime, espionage cases, cyber attacks and violent offenses.

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He also oversaw implementation of new restrictions on how analysts can search intelligence databases and obtain classified warrants.

But Wray was never able to escape controversy.

He came under heated criticism by conservatives when FBI agents carried out a court-authorized search of Trumps Florida resort in 2022 to retrieve classified documents. His agents also participated in Special Counsel Jack Smiths probe into Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and investigated Trump supporters who attacked the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to stop the congressional certification of the election.

The classified documents and election probes led to indictments of Trump. However, Smith had to dismiss the election case because of the Justice Departments policy barring prosecution of a sitting president. A federal judge dismissed the classified documents case but the department wants to reinstate it without Trump.

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Wray also became the target of criticism by conservatives for an assessment generated by an FBI field office in Richmond, Virginia, in 2023 that warned of possible threats posed by radical-traditionalist Catholics. The assessment was withdrawn and Wray has condemned it, but critics have alleged without evidence that it represented an effort to persecute Catholics and conservatives over their beliefs.

Meanwhile, Patel has vowed to carry out reforms to defeat what he calls the deep state in the FBI and elsewhere.

In his book Government Gangsters, Patel endorsed calls to fire government employees who undermine the presidents agenda.

We must identify the people in government that are crippling our constitutional republic, Patel told the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year.

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(Updates with additional details. An earlier version corrected spelling of Wrays name in headline.)

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(NewsNation)  FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he is stepping down as FBI director at the end of the current administration.

Wray announced his plan to leave his role at a townhall meeting for FBI employees. He said his goal is to keep the focus on the agencys mission and that stepping down is the best way for him to avoid dragging the FBI into political division.

An FBI official told NewsNation the meeting was standing room only in Washington, D.C., and received a standing ovation that lasted more than a minute.

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After weeks of careful thought, Ive decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current Administration in January and then step down. My goal is to keep the focus on our mission  the indispensable work youre doing on behalf of the American people every day. In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work, he said.

UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting: Suspects fingerprints link him to scene

The move clears the way for President-elect Donald Trump to appoint a new director. Trump previously announced plans to nominate Kash Patel for the role.

Wrays term as director was not set to end until 2027 but Trump has repeatedly said he would fire Wray, citing the agencys involvement in executing a search warrant for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Trump has repeatedly referred to the incident as a raid.

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When you look at where the threats are headed, its clear that the importance of our work  keeping Americans safe and upholding the Constitution  will not change. And what absolutely cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, every time. Our adherence to our core values, our dedication to independence and objectivity, and our defense of the rule of law  those fundamental aspects of who we are must never change, Wray said. Thats the real strength of the FBI  the importance of our mission, the quality of our people, and their dedication to service over self. Its an unshakeable foundation thats stood the test of time, and cannot be easily moved. And it  you, the men and women of the FBI  are why the Bureau will endure and remain successful long into the future.

Trump responded to Wrays resignation on Truth Social.

The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice. I just dont know what happened to him. We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans, he said. Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America. They have used their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them. Kash Patel is the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agencys History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon. As everyone knows, I have great respect for the rank-and-file of the FBI, and they have great respect for me. They want to see these changes every bit as much as I do but, more importantly, the American People are demanding a strong, but fair, System of Justice. We want our FBI back, and that will now happen. I look forward to Kash Patels confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin. Thank you!

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-IA, noted that Wrays resignation came after a letter from Grassley demanding the director step down.

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Reform is badly needed at FBI American ppl deserve TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY, he said.

Wray has faced grilling from House Republicans who have accused him of politicizing the agency. Wray was himself appointed by Trump to replace former FBI Director James Comey, but Trump soured on him after the Justice Department began investigations into the former president after he left office.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.

NewsNations Kevin Bohn 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.
FBI Director Christopher Wray, who has faced withering criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers, announced Wednesday that he plans to resign next month.

Trump announced late last month that he intends to nominate former National Security Council official and GOP congressional aide Kash Patel to serve as FBI director. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and is serving a 10-year term that expires in 2027.

"After weeks of careful thought, Ive decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current Administration in January and then step down, Wray told his colleagues at FBI headquarters. My goal is to keep the focus on our mission  the indispensable work youre doing on behalf of the American people every day. In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work."

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Wrays move avoids his likely firing by Trump, a step which could have further exacerbated longstanding tensions between the FBI and the incoming president.

Wray has been on the receiving end of a torrent of attacks from Trump and his allies for years, including over the FBIs role in a court-ordered 2022 search of Trumps Florida home as part of an investigation into his retention of classified documents after his first term. Trump has also expressed bitterness over the bureaus investigations into and arrests of members of the pro-Trump mob who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump suggested Wednesday that Wray, a former federal prosecutor and Justice Department official, wasnt the same man he appointed to the job more than seven years ago.

The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice. I just dont know what happened to him, Trump said in a Truth Social post.

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Trump backers have also accused Wray of doing too little to root out misconduct and bias at the agency, which they say contributed to the bureaus decision to launch an investigation into ties between Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. Wray, who wasnt director when that work began, has noted that most senior personnel involved have retired or resigned.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) argued Wray did not bear the blame for the FBIs failings, but the public wanted there to be consequences for previous leaders going after Trump.

I think the problem that Director Wray had is he wasnt his own best spokesman, Cornyn said. What people were looking for was accountability for the misdeeds [of] leadership, and we didnt see a lot of that because frankly, they left the FBI but there didnt seem to be a lot of repercussions after that.

Some FBI officials hoped that the bureau could mend fences with Trump through its role investigating the assassination attempt on him in Pennsylvania in July. That opportunity fizzled within weeks. After Wray told a congressional hearing that hed seen no evidence of cognitive decline in his dealings with President Joe Biden, Trump lashed out.

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If that is the case, Director Wray should resign immediately from the FBI, Trump wrote on Truth Social in July. Anybody can see that Joe Biden is cognitively and physically challenged, and if you cant see that, you sure as hell cant be running the FBI - Unless, that is, you want to illegally lead the Raid on Mar-a-Lago. Wray has to resign, and NOW, for LYING TO CONGRESS!

Wray did not mention Trump in the excerpts of his remarks released by the FBIs press office Wednesday, but did seem to echo concerns Democratic lawmakers and former FBI officials have expressed in recent weeks about Trumps vows to use federal law enforcement to target his political enemies.

What absolutely cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, every time, Wray said. Our adherence to our core values, our dedication to independence and objectivity, and our defense of the rule of law  those fundamental aspects of who we are must never change.

Patels prospects for confirmation in the Senate remain uncertain. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Wednesday Patel was going to be confirmed whether Wray resigned or not.

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Patel responded to Wrays announcement by saying hes prepared to take over.

I look forward to a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one, Patel said in a statement.

Betsy Woodruff Swan and Hailey Fuchs contributed to this report.
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -FBI Director Chris Wray will step down from his post early next year, he said on Wednesday, after Republican President-elect Donald Trump signaled his intent to fire the veteran official and replace him with firebrand Kash Patel.

His resignation makes him the second straight FBI director driven out by Trump, who during his first term in office fired Wray's predecessor James Comey, after souring on him over the FBI's investigations into alleged contacts between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia.

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Wray will leave before the end of the 10-year term that Trump himself appointed him to in 2017.

"In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work," Wray told FBI employees in a town hall meeting.

Trump and his hardline allies turned on Wray, and the FBI more generally, after agents conducted a court-approved search of Trump's Florida resort in 2022 to recover classified documents he had retained after leaving office.

That sparked one of two federal prosecutions Trump faced while out of power, neither of which went to trial. Trump denied wrongdoing and described all the cases against him as politically motivated. Federal prosecutors ended their efforts after his election, citing longstanding Justice Department policy not to prosecute a sitting president.

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Trump's Republican allies joined him in alleging that the FBI had become politicized, though there is no evidence that Democratic President Joe Biden interfered with its investigative processes.

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called Wray's resignation "a great day for America."

"It will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice. I just dont know what happened to him," Trump wrote.

As he has built out his roster of Cabinet officials over the past few weeks, Trump has assembled a team ready to carry out two of his biggest priorities: retribution against his political adversaries and a wholesale reshaping of the U.S. government.

Patel, who would need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, has never worked at the FBI and only spent three years at the Justice Department earlier in his career in the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. If confirmed, he has pledged to shut down the FBI's headquarters building in Washington and drastically redefine the bureau's role with intelligence-gathering.

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In a statement to Reuters, Patel said, "I will be ready to serve the American people on day one."

Trump allies welcomed the news.

"Reform is badly needed at FBI," Republican Senator Charles Grassley wrote on X, adding the American people deserve transparency and accountability.

WRAY DENIED BIAS

Throughout his term, Wray said that he strove to impartially carry out the FBI's duties. During a 2023 hearing before a House of Representatives panel he rebuffed the idea that he was pursuing a Democratic partisan agenda, noting that he had been a lifelong Republican.

"The idea that I am biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background," Wray said.

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FBI directors are appointed for 10-year terms, a measure meant to avoid the appearance of partisanship after political turnover in the White House every four years.

Wray's term was not due to expire until 2027.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday thanked Wray for his service, with some raising concern for the bureau's future without him.

"The FBI is critical to our nation's security and our families' safety," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said. "It will soon embark on a perilous new era with serious questions about its future."

The FBI Agents Association in a statement said the bureau's mission "does not waver when there are changes in a presidential administration."

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U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland also praised Wray, noting in a statement that the FBI director is charged with protecting the bureau's independence from "inappropriate influence" in its criminal investigations.

"That independence is central to preserving the rule of law," said Garland.

FISA WARRANTS, JAN. 6 PROBES

The FBI has faced increasing criticism by Trump's supporters for its various roles in investigating Trump over the years.

Some of the concerns pre-dated Wray's tenure, including several damning reports by the Justice Department's inspector general which faulted the bureau for making errors in its warrant applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court during its early investigation into Trump's 2016 campaign known as "Crossfire Hurricane."

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During his tenure, Wray has overseen reforms of the FBI's processes for securing FISA warrants.

The FBI during Wray's time has also played a major role in helping to investigate and arrest many Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed bid to block Congress from certifying Biden's election victory.

More than 1,500 people were criminally charged in the attack.

Trump has pledged to grant clemency to some of the Jan. 6 defendants, though he has not provided details.

Throughout his time as FBI director, Wray has been known for his hawkish views on China, and has frequently warned that China represents the biggest national and economic security threat facing the United States.

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Wray started his career at the Justice Department in 1997 as a federal prosecutor in Atlanta.

He was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush in 2003 to lead the department's Criminal Division, where he oversaw a variety of investigations including post-9/11 efforts to combat terrorism and the Enron Task Force.

Wray also practiced law for about 17 years with the law firm King & Spalding, and he clerked for former Judge J. Michael Luttig in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit after earning his law degree from Yale Law School.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil, Doina Chiacu, Richard Cowan and Tim Reid; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Analysts have on Wednesday foreseen crude palm oil (CPO) prices to stay high underpinned by tight supply.

Hong Leong Investment Bank Research said in a note that it maintained CPO price assumptions of 4,150 ringgit (938 U.S. dollars) per ton this year and 4,000 ringgit per ton for the next year, with the view that CPO price will remain at elevated levels, supported by weak near-term output.

According to the research house, Malaysia's palm oil stock level will likely decline further in December, as seasonally weaker exports arising from the absence of festive-driven restocking activities and winter season will be offset by seasonally lower cropping patterns.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) announced on Tuesday that Malaysia's palm oil stockpiles at the end of November fell 2.6 percent to 1.84 million tons from the prior month.

Meanwhile, Maybank Investment Bank said in a note that while it is concerned over the sustainability of the present high CPO price of around 5,000 ringgit per ton, the short-term outlook in the first quarter of 2025 looks promising.

According to the research house, the positive outlook is premised on resilient demand ahead of an early Ramadan and Chinese New Year that coincides with the typical low output cycle of the first quarter.

"MPOB's November stockpile has continued to ease seasonally and remained tight. The inverted CPO futures price curve continues to suggest the present tightness in supply would last till early 2025," it noted.

MIDF Research also said in a note that the potential palm oil export ban from Indonesia at the onset of the Raya festival could pose risks to palm oil supply availability in the first quarter to the second quarter of 2025.

With the expected decline in ending stocks, it has projected 2025's average CPO price at 2.4 percent year on year higher to approximately 4,300 ringgit per ton.

RHB Investment Bank also said in a note that it sees stronger fundamental prospects in 2025 on tighter global supply, increased biodiesel demand and low stock levels.

According to RHB, Malaysia's CPO stock levels are likely to stay below the 2 million tons mark in 2024, as production continues to moderate and exports gradually improve. (1 ringgit equals 0.23 U.S. dollars) 
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  The Federal Bureau of Investigation Philadelphia reminds the public of holiday scams.

According to the FBI Philadelphia, they are reminding the public that If a deal you find this holiday season seems a little too good to be true, it probably is.

Online scams these days are becoming more sophisticated and creative, but all have the same end goal to separate you from your information or money. We encourage our communities to remain vigilant when navigating cyberspace this holiday season, and to report any suspect holiday scheme or fraud to the FBI through ic3.gov, stated Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia.

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As stated in the release, in 2023 Pennsylvania residents filed over 1,600 complaints, of non-delivery/nonpayment scams to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), seeing almost $9 million in reported losses

New Jersey residents filed over 1,200 complaints of nonpayment/non-delivery scams to IC3, totaling about $5.8 million in reported losses, the release continued.

Energy experts share energy saving tips

The most common holiday scams:

Non-delivery scams , where you, as a buyer, pay for goods or services you find online, but you never receive your items.

Non-payment scams , where you, as a seller, ship purchased goods or services, but you never receive payment for them.

Gift card fraud, where a seller asks you to pay with a pre-paid card.

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The FBI Philadelphia gives some tips to protect yourself from holiday scammers.

Practice Good Cyber Hygiene:

Use strong, unique, and complex passwords or phrases for each individual account; do not reuse passwords across multiple accounts.

Beware of phishing attempts. Do not click on any suspicious links or attachments in emails, texts, websites, or social media.

Know Who You Are Buying from or Selling To:

Verify the legitimacy of a buyer or seller in advance of selling or purchasing.

If purchasing from a company for the first time, do your research and look for any reviews.

Check the website or URL when shopping to ensure it is legitimate and secure.

Be vigilant when purchasing through a third-party vendor or seller.

Be Careful How You Pay:

Never wire money directly to a seller.

Use a credit card when shopping online and regularly monitor bank statements to confirm all purchases are your own.

Monitor the Shipping Process:

Always get tracking numbers for items you have purchased online.

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If you believe you are a victim of a holiday shopping scam or a related fraud, you can report it to IC3 online.

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 PAhomepage.com.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  A top FBI official testified Tuesday before a Congressional Subcommittee that the agency doesnt know who is responsible for the dozens of drone sightings in recent weeks over New Jersey.

There have also been reports of unidentified flying objects above Staten Island and Brooklyn.

More Local News

Robert W. Wheeler Jr, assistant director of the FBIs Critical Incident Response Group, was asked Is public safety at risk?

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Wheeler responded, There is nothing that is known that would lead me to say that, but we just dont know, and thats the concerning part.

When asked who is responsible for flying the drones, Wheeler answered We do not attribute that to an individual or a group yet, were investigating, but I dont have an answer as to who is responsible for that.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey sent a 2-page letter Tuesday to the Director of the FBI and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It said in part I urge you to share any relevant information about these drone sightings with the public. Without transparency, I believe that rumors, fear, and misinformation will continue to spread.

Seen drones in your neighborhood? Heres how theyre being tracked

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White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about the drone sightings at a briefing Tuesday. Jean-Pierre said DHS and the FBI are handling it, adding Im not going to go into what they could be or could not be, from here, that is something that is being looked at by respective agencies.

When she was asked if the president was briefed on this, Jean-Pierre answered I dont have a timeline but he certainly has been made aware of this.

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.
The Food and Drug Administration is making moves to ban the synthetic food coloring Red No. 3.

Last week, Jim Jones, the FDAs deputy commissioner for human foods, shared with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that it's likely time to reevaluate the safety of red food dye. With Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization board, and were hopeful that in the next few weeks, well be acting on that petition, he stated.

Red No. 3, which is made from petroleum, is found in a variety of foods, including candies and beverages, giving it that neon-red look. "The vibrant colors are important to our industry," Christopher Gindlesperger of the National Confectioners Association shared with NPR in 2023.

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The carcinogenic dye has already been famously banned in the state of California. As Food & Wine previously reported in 2023, lawmakers in the state passed the bill that will go into effect in 2027 and bar ingredients like Red No. 3  a synthetic dye that has long been banned across Europe.

Related: These 6 Food Dyes Could Soon Be Banned in California  Heres What to Know

"We know they are harmful and that children are likely being exposed at a much higher rate than adults, Susan Little, senior advocate for California government affairs at the activist organization Environmental Working Group, shared in a statement at the time. It makes no sense that the same products food manufacturers sell in California are sold in the EU but without these toxic chemicals. Our kids need to be protected, too."

And really, it wouldn't be a massive shift, considering the FDA banned the use of Red dye No. 3 in cosmetics in the early 90s after lab testing showed it caused cancer in mice. (If companies continue to use these chemicals, they will be fined $5,000 for the first offense and up to $10,000 for every subsequent offense.) A 2007 study also showed it has a link to hyperactivity in children.

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The evidence now shows pretty conclusively that when some kids eat these, they will experience nervous system effects that look like ADHD, Thomas Galligan, a scientist who focuses on food additives at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, shared with NPR. There are 27 human clinical trials that show these dyes do in fact harm childrens behavior.

Related: RFK Jr. Wants to 'Make America Healthy Again'  Here's What That Means for You

The potential ban also has the strong support of Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. from New Jersey. There is simply no reason for this chemical to be in our food except to entice and mislead consumers by changing the color of their food so it looks more appealing, Pallone wrote in a statement. With the holiday season in full swing where sweet treats are abundant, it is frightening that this chemical remains hidden in these foods that we and our children are eating. While food companies must ensure that the food they market is safe, they are also only required to ensure that their products meet FDAs standards. This means that thousands of products that contain this chemical can remain on the market.

However, the FDA may find pushback from food industry leaders, including the maraschino cherry industry, which the Center for Science in the Public Interest explained, pressured the agency into keeping the dye available when it attempted to ban it in the 1980s. To this day, the FDA maintains that the dyes are safe "when used in accordance with FDA regulations."



Still, as Galligan shared with NBC, These food dyes only serve one function in food, to make them look pretty, so you and I want to buy it. Its a marketing tool."



Read the original article on Food & Wine
(PORTLAND, Ore.) AP  A federal judge has temporarily halted a proposed merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, an action that could scuttle the deal.

U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued the ruling Tuesday after holding a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon.

Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. But the Federal Trade Commission sued earlier this year, asking Nelson to block the $24.6 billion deal until an in-house administrative judge at the FTC could consider the mergers implications.

Nelson agreed to pause the merger.

Any harms defendants experience as a result of the injunction do not overcome the strong public interest in the enforcement of antitrust law, especially given the difficulty in disentangling a premature merger, she wrote in her opinion.

Federal regulators argue that combining the two chains would be bad for consumers and workers by eliminating competition. The companies say a merger would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon.

The case may now move to the FTC, although Kroger and Albertsons have asked a different federal judge to block the in-house proceedings. Colorado and Washington are also trying to halt the merger in ongoing state trials. The judge in Washington was expected to release his opinion later Tuesday.

The FTC argued that Kroger and Albertsons currently compete in 22 states, closely matching each other on price, quality, private label products and services like store pickup. A merger would eliminate that competition and raise prices for already struggling consumers, the government said. The FTC also said the merger would hurt workers since Kroger and Albertsons would no longer compete to hire them.

But Kroger and Albertsons argued their merger would preserve consumer choice by allowing them to better compete against its growing rivals. In its testimony, Albertsons warned Nelson that it might have to lay off workers, close stores and even exit some markets if the merger werent allowed to proceed.

Under the merger agreement, Kroger and Albertsons would sell 579 stores in places where their locations overlap to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based supplier to independent supermarkets that also owns the Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly store brands.

The FTC argued that C&S is ill-prepared to take on the stores and may want the option to sell or close them. But Kroger and Albertsons said C&S has the experience and national scale to handle the divestiture.
(Photo: April Corbin Girnus/Nevada Current)

Judges in Oregon and Washington on Tuesday blocked supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons from merging, throwing into question the future of the largest proposed grocery merger in U.S. history.

U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson in Portland temporarily halted the merger, writing in a 71-page ruling in a lawsuit that it would lead to undue market concentration, reduce competition, and hurt customers. Her preliminary injunction pauses the $24.6 billion proposed merger while the Federal Trade Commissions administrative judge continues its review of implications.

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Nevada as well as Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico and Wyoming joined the Oregon lawsuit, along with the Federal Trade Commission.

Nevadans made their concerns known regarding this merger, and we listened, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said at the time, referring to a series of public listening sessions his office held prior to joining the suit. This merger would create an anticompetitive marketplace, raise prices on everyday Nevadans and harm grocery store employees, Ford said in February.

Fords office did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle also ruled that the merger could not move forward in Washington in a separate state case, saying that the proposed merger violated state antitrust laws. Another state lawsuit is pending in Colorado.

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The rulings mean Krogers 2022 proposal to buy Albertsons is on hold while the companies decide whether to proceed. If they do, an in-house administrative judge at the Federal Trade Commission will determine whether the merger is anticompetitive, though a Kroger lawsuit seeks to block that review.

The FTC, joined by the several states, sued in February to block the merger, saying it would eliminate competition, drive up costs and lead to lower-quality products and services. Henry Liu, director of the FTCs Bureau of Competition, said in a statement that Tuesdays ruling will protect Americans who buy groceries and work at grocery stores.

This historic win protects millions of Americans across the country from higher prices for essential groceries  from milk, to bread, to eggs  ultimately allowing consumers to keep more money in their pockets, Liu said. This victory has a direct, tangible impact on the lives of millions of Americans who shop at Kroger or Albertsons-owned grocery stores for their everyday needs, whether thats a Frys in Arizona, a Vons in Southern California, or a Jewel-Osco in Illinois.

Kroger operates about 2,700 stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia. Its stores have different brands throughout the country, including Fred Meyer in the northwest, King Soopers in the Rocky Mountains, Frys in Arizona, Harris Teeter in the southeast, and Smiths in Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. About 430,000 people work for Kroger, according to court filings, and its the largest employer of union grocery workers.

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Albertsons, which merged with Safeway in 2015, is the nations second-largest grocery chain with about 285,000 employees and nearly 2,270 stores across the country.

Spokespeople for Kroger and Albertsons said the companies were disappointed and reviewing their options.

Kroger is disappointed in the opinions issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and the Washington State Court, which overlook the substantial evidence presented at trial showing that a merger between Kroger and Albertsons would advance the companys decades-long commitment to lowering prices, respecting collective bargaining agreements and is in the best interests of customers, associates and the broader competitive environment in a rapidly evolving grocery landscape, the Kroger statement said.

A version of this story was originally published in Oregon Capital Chronicle.
NYC has quietly mounted a campaign to lobby for the appointment of Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie to oversee Rikers Island and the jail system if a federal judge chooses to appoint a receiver, the Daily News has learned.

Such a move, observers say, would undermine the very point of freeing control of the system from politics and city bureaucracy.

Receivers are meant to bring in new leadership who are absolved from political pressures and can cut through the red tape, said said Yonah Zeitz, advocacy director of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice.

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Appointing the current commissioner will result in more of the same, more deaths and more violence.

Within DOC leadership, the effort has been dubbed Operation Lynelle, multiple sources within and outside the department say.

While Maginley-Liddie is perceived as more adept at navigating the political landscape than her predecessor Louis Molina, she has been in leadership positions at DOC for 10 years  the period of mismanagement highlighted by numerous reports by the federal monitoring team tracking violence and use of force in the jails.

On Nov. 27, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who is overseeing the Nunez class action which led to the creation of the monitor in 2015, found the city in contempt of numerous court orders and wrote she is inclined to appoint a receiver to run the system.

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The use-of-force rate and other rates of violence, self-harm, and deaths in custody are demonstrably worse than when the consent judgment went into effect in 2015, Swain wrote.

Worse still, the unsafe and dangerous conditions in the jails, which are characterized by unprecedented rates of use of force and violence, have become normalized despite the fact that they are clearly abnormal and unacceptable.

Observers said selecting a sitting commissioner would threaten the necessary independence of a receiver. One of the key issues cited by the monitor has been longstanding DOC and union practices in the jails that have diluted or blocked attempts at reform.

This is clearly a last-ditch effort by Mayor Adams, and it would completely undermine the entire purpose of a receivership, Zeitz said.

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Added lawyer David Rankin, who has handled a range of lawsuits involving jail breakdowns leading to deaths and serious injuries, Only the City of New York could have the audacity to suggest that an appropriate receiver comes from the same group of people who have for decades run one of the worst jails in the country.

Its not a serious proposal and again shows how this mayor has no interest in bringing any humanity to Rikers Island.

Rankin represented Nicholas Feliciano, a detainee who suffered brain damage in 2019 when he tried to hang himself in view of staff. Felicianos injuries will affect him for the rest of his life.

DOC officers waited for nearly eight minutes before they intervened. A captain and three officers were charged with official misconduct and the lawsuit settled for $28.7 million.

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Maginley-Liddie joined DOC as an agency attorney on Sept. 21, 2015, almost exactly three months after the Rikers monitor was appointed on June 22 of that year, records show.

She rose to deputy general counsel in 2018, then senior deputy commissioner in 2020. In 2021, she was appointed first deputy commissioner, before she was named commissioner in December 2023 by Mayor Adams.

DOC press secretary Annais Morales declined to comment.

The conversations between the parties and the monitor pursuant to the courts previous orders are confidential, she said in a statement. Formal proposals in response to Judge Swains decision are due to the court in January.

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Nicholas Paolucci, a Law Department spokesman, also declined comment. We will be responding to the court on Jan. 14, he said.

A receiver in theory could be a lawyer, former elected official or advocate, but the selection would most likely be someone with at least some experience managing a jail system, said a person familiar with the thinking in the case.

The talk of who could be the receiver could also be more than a year premature as much is to be done before Swain would actually appoint a person to the post. There is also the specter of litigation from the unions that could further delay such a move.

Maginley-Liddie has gotten a relative pass in the media compared with Molinas stormy tenure, and even some support from the monitoring team. In its Nov. 22 report, the monitor noted Maginleys solid and steady leadership, and said she has appointed a well-qualified leadership team.

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But some critics in the department have raised questions about of certain of her moves, including rehiring Ned McCormick as associate commissioner after a detainee was paralyzed at a jail he was overseeing.

McCormick was commuting from Connecticut in a city-owned electric-powered Mustang, and has a complaint pending against him for allegedly ogling a female assistant deputy warden in a jail locker room.

On Oct. 18, in a decisions that rankled some midlevel managers in DOC, Maginley-Liddie promoted three Black deputy wardens to warden, passing over three veteran officers of other ethnicities. The upset managers were already irked over the fact the agency moved to employ more civilians in top level positions limiting promotional tracks for uniformed supervisors, department sources said.

One of the people she promoted, Ronald Miller, got the bump even though he previously sued the DOC and was running North Infirmary Command in April 2023 when a detainee set a fire and subsequent investigations found the emergency response was slow and contributed to injuries to detainees.

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A second, Courtney Rothwell, was running the Robert N. Davoren Center during a sharp increases in slashings and assaults. In 2017, Rothwell was found to have struck a detainee in the head while the inmate was prone.

Rothwell then made false statements, an administrative decision said. In 2018, then-Commissioner Cynthia Brann found the force was unjustified and confiscated 49 vacation days from Rothwell as a penalty, records show.

Among the deputy wardens who were passed over was Joseph Caputo who manages court production for the entire system, Elayne Rivera, who has worked in investigations, punitive segregation and other commands, and Steven Ramkisson, the departments first Guyanese deputy warden.

The jail population has been steadily increasing from an average of 5,559 in 2022 to 6,530 last month. The number of seriously mentally ill inmates has risen from 853 in January 2022 to more than 1,200 to date.

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The number of officers out sick has steadily declined but so has the total number of officers amid a challenging recruiting landscape.

The number of fights has risen each month from 280 in February 2023 to 649 in September.

Deaths have declined from 19 in 2022 to five so far in 2024. But length of stay has hovered near 100 days, among the longest in the nation.
NEW YORK  New York City has quietly mounted a campaign to lobby for the appointment of Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie to oversee Rikers Island and the jail system if a federal judge chooses to appoint a receiver, the Daily News has learned.

Such a move, observers say, would undermine the very point of freeing control of the system from politics and city bureaucracy.

Receivers are meant to bring in new leadership who are absolved from political pressures and can cut through the red tape, said said Yonah Zeitz, Advocacy Director of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Appointing the current commissioner will result in more of the same, more deaths and more violence.

Within DOC leadership, the effort has been dubbed Operation Lynelle, multiple sources within and outside the department say.

While Maginley-Liddie is perceived as more adept at navigating the political landscape than her predecessor Louis Molina, she has been in leadership positions at DOC for 10 years  the period of mismanagement highlighted by numerous reports by the federal monitoring team tracking violence and use of force in the jails.

On Nov. 27, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who is overseeing the Nunez class action which led to the creation of the monitor in 2015, found the city in contempt of numerous court orders and wrote she is inclined to appoint a receiver to run the system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The use of force rate and other rates of violence, self-harm, and deaths in custody are demonstrably worse than when the Consent Judgment went into effect in 2015, Swain wrote.

Worse still, the unsafe and dangerous conditions in the jails, which are characterized by unprecedented rates of use of force and violence, have become normalized despite the fact that they are clearly abnormal and unacceptable.

Observers said selecting a sitting commissioner would threaten the necessary independence of a receiver. One of the key issues cited by the monitor has been longstanding DOC and union practices in the jails that have diluted or blocked attempts at reform.

This is clearly a last ditch effort by Mayor Eric Adams and it would completely undermine the entire purpose of a receivership, Zeitz said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Added lawyer David Rankin, who has handled a range of lawsuits involving jail breakdowns leading to deaths and serious injuries, Only the City of New York could have the audacity to suggest that an appropriate receiver comes from the same group of people who have for decades run one of the worst jails in the country.

Its not a serious proposal and again shows how this mayor has no interest in bringing any humanity to Rikers Island.

Rankin represented Nicholas Feliciano, a detainee who suffered brain damage in 2019 when he tried to hang himself in view of staff. Felicianos injuries will affect him for the rest of his life.

DOC officers waited for nearly eight minutes before they intervened. A captain and three officers were charged with official misconduct and the lawsuit settled for $28.7 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maginley-Liddie joined DOC as an agency attorney on Sept. 21, 2015, almost exactly three months after the Rikers monitor was appointed on June 22 of that year, records show.

She rose to deputy general counsel in 2018, then senior deputy commissioner in 2020. In 2021, she was appointed first deputy commissioner, before she was named commissioner in December 2023 by Mayor Adams.

DOC Press Secretary Annais Morales declined to comment.

The conversations between the parties and the Monitor pursuant to the Courts previous orders are confidential, she said in a statement. Formal proposals in response to Judge Swains decision are due to the court in January.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Nicholas Paolucci, a Law Department spokesman, also declined comment. We will be responding to the court on January 14, he said.

A receiver in theory could be a lawyer, former elected official or advocate, but the selection would most likely be someone with at least some experience managing a jail system, said a person familiar with the thinking in the case.

The talk of who could be the receiver could also be more than a year premature as much is to be done before Swain would actually appoint a person to the post. There is also the specter of litigation from the unions that could further delay such a move.

Maginley-Liddie has gotten a relative pass in the media compared to Molinas stormy tenure and even some support from the monitoring team. In its Nov. 22 report, the monitor noted Maginleys solid and steady leadership, and said she has appointed a well-qualified leadership team.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But some critics in the department have raised questions about of certain of her moves, including re-hiring Ned McCormick as associate commissioner after a detainee was paralyzed at a jail he was overseeing.

McCormick was commuting from Connecticut in a city-owned electric-powered Mustang, and has a complaint pending against him for allegedly ogling a female assistant deputy warden in a jail locker room.

On Oct. 18, in a decisions that rankled some mid-level managers in DOC, Maginley-Liddie promoted three Black deputy wardens to warden, passing over three veteran officers of other ethnicities. The upset managers were already irked over the fact the agency moved to employ more civilians in top-level positions limiting promotional tracks for uniformed supervisors, department sources said.

One of her promotees, Ronald Miller, got the bump even though he previously sued the DOC and was running North Infirmary Command in April 2023 when a detainee set a fire and subsequent investigations found the emergency response was slow and contributed to injuries to detainees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A second, Courtney Rothwell, was running the Robert N. Davoren Center during a sharp increases in slashings and assaults. In 2017, Rothwell was found to have struck a detainee in the head while the inmate was prone.

Rothwell then made false statements, an administrative decision said. In 2018, then-Commissioner Cynthia Brann found the force was unjustified and confiscated 49 vacations from Rothwell as a penalty, records show.

Among the deputy wardens who were passed over was Joseph Caputo who manages court production for the entire system, Elayne Rivera, who has worked in investigations, punitive segregation and other commands, and Steven Ramkisson, the departments first Guyanese deputy warden.

The jail population has been steadily increasing from an average of 5,559 in 2022 to 6,530 last month. The number of seriously mentally ill has risen from 853 in January 2022 to more than 1,200 to date.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The number of officers out sick has steadily declined but so has the total number of officers amid a challenging recruiting landscape.

The number of fights has risen each month from 280 in February 2023 to 649 in September.

Deaths have declined from 19 in 2022 to five so far in 2024. But length of stay has hovered near 100 days, among the longest in the nation.
Family affected by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Crisis feel lackluster media coverage influences how cases are perceived by the public and pursued by law enforcement. Thats according to new guidelines released by the federal government this week on best practices for media coverage of MMIP.

The guidelines result from roundtable discussions moderated by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland and attended by more than 200 participants, including journalists, survivors, community advocates, and Tribal and federal officials. Among the participants where members of the Not Invisible Act Commission, a 41-person committee tasked with developing recommendations improving intergovernmental collaboration on violent crimes in Indian Country and providing resources for survivors and victims families.

Between 2022 and 2023, the Commission held seven in-person listening sessions across Indian Country, plus one virtual session. According to the Commissions 212-page report, more than 600 individuals attended the hearings. Of those, 260 gave testimony to the NIAC, sharing their expertise, experiences, and recommendations to address and reduce the tragic consequences of the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked American Indians and Alaska Natives. Many families and survivors expressed concern at the lack of media coverage or coverage that reinforces long-standing prejudice against Native communities.

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The new recommendations encourage journalists to focus on an MMIP humanity rather than any potential criminal background. Also, the guidelines urge media to contextualize cases within the disparities faced by Native communities, wrought by generations of forced assimilation, broken treaty promises, and gross underfunding for health and public safety. Using language such as crisis vs. epidemic and at-risk vs. vulnerable is encouraged.

The report also features guidelines for strengthening collaboration between law enforcement and journalists, including designating public information officers to release timely information on MMIP case developments to the media.

The MMIP crisis is characterized by Native American communities experiencing disproportionately high rates of assault, abduction and murder. The crisis dates back decades, underpinned by systemic apathy, jurisdictional confusion, and underfunded law enforcement. There is no nationwide data system for MMIP information, and the actual number of MMIP cases is unknown; however, the Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates there are 4,200 unsolved cases.

About the Author: "Elyse Wild is Senior Health Editor for Native News Online, where she leads coverage of health equity issues including mental health, environmental health, maternal mortality, and the overdose crisis in Indian Country. Her award-winning journalism has appeared in The Guardian, McClatchy newspapers, and NPR affiliates. In 2024, she received the inaugural Excellence in Recovery Journalism Award for her solutions-focused reporting on addiction and recovery in Native communities. She is currently working on a Pulitzer Center-funded series exploring cultural approaches to addiction treatment."

Contact: ewild@indiancountrymedia.com
BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland will continue to support and promote exchanges between young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday.

The mainland will consistently create more platforms and opportunities for mutual learning, interaction, and connection among youth, enabling them to contribute greater efforts to the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

Zhu's comments were made concerning the recent trip undertaken by mainland college students to Taiwan.

A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven mainland universities visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues in Taiwan during a trip from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.

Zhu praised their efforts in promoting cross-Strait exchanges, enhancing ties and demonstrating the profound affection between people on both sides.

Zhu also noted that an increasing number of individuals from Taiwan have been sharing their experiences of traveling, visiting friends, and engaging in exchanges on the mainland through online platforms.

These stories have effectively pierced the "information cocoon" deliberately fabricated by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and their hired internet trolls, striking a nerve for some people on the island and triggering intensified tactics to suppress and intimidate, she said.

Noting that the mainland will welcome more Taiwan compatriots, especially young people, to visit the mainland, Zhu expressed the hope that people on both sides of the Strait can see through the DPP authorities' attempts to manipulate public opinion and escalate cross-Strait tensions.

Zhu also announced at the press conference that a delegation of young people from Taiwan led by Ma Ying-jeou will visit the mainland from Dec. 18 to 26. They will visit Heilongjiang and Sichuan provinces to participate in a cross-Strait youth ice and snow festival, as well as other events. 
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Federal authorities have released more information on a kickback scheme involving the Pigeon Township Trustees Office.

Officials say Mariama Wilson, 52, was sentenced for her role in a years long kickback scheme resulting in a $38,000 loss to taxpayers. Also, Terrance Hardiman, 34, of Evansville, has been sentenced for his role in the same scheme. A third defendant, William Payne, 51, is scheduled to enter a plea and be sentenced in January 2025.

According to the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Indiana, Mariama Wilson, the former Pigeon Township Trustee, has been sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Terrance Hardiman was previously sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Wilson and Hardiman were also ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution, to be split among co-defendants.

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Santa Stroll returning to downtown Evansville

Officials say the Pigeon Township Trustees Office, located in Vanderburgh County, is responsible for providing emergency financial assistance to residents in need, including help with rent, utilities and prescriptions. According to court documents, in February 2020, then-Trustee Wilson and Payne, Wilsons Director of Community Relations, orchestrated a kickback scheme with Hardiman and his company, Hardiman Construction LLC. The scheme involved inflating invoices for remodeling a homeless shelter and developing a food pantry.

According to the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Indiana, Wilson and Payne approved inflated invoices submitted by Hardiman, who then paid them kickbacks totaling approximately $38,000. Hardiman would deposit checks from the Trustees Office, withdraw the cash and hand-deliver it to Wilson or Payne in envelopes. The fraudulent invoices were inflated by $1,000 to $2,000 per project, with Wilson and Payne pocketing the excess funds.

Officials say in total, between February 11, 2020, and May 16, 2022, the Trustees Office paid Hardiman approximately $215,371 for the homeless shelter and food pantry projects. As a result of the kickback scheme, Wilson and Payne received approximately $38,000 in total, or approximately $19,000 each. Wilson resigned as Trustee in June 2023, shortly after being charged in this case.

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Evansville resident goes above and beyond to keep city clean

Large or small, kickback schemes like the one carried out by Ms. Wilson and the other defendants damage publics confidence in government, said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Township officials owe their constituents the same duty of honesty and integrity they have the right to expect from public servants at every level. This prosecution should send a message to all bad actors who seek to line their pockets at the expense of taxpayers. Thanks to our partners at the Evansville Police Department, Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office, Indiana State Board of Accounts, IRS-CI, FBI, and our federal prosecutor, these criminals have been held accountable for their actions.

Im proud that we have honest individuals willing to report corruption when they see it, knowing that silence in the face of misconduct is not an option, said Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson. The crimes committed by these officials are a slap in the face to the community in which we live. This corrupt behavior runs counter to the oath they took, and certainly not what was promised to this community.

According to the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Indiana, the FBI, IRS-CI, Indiana State Board of Accounts, Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and the Evansville Police Department investigated this case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
A high-profile barrister has been accused of professional misconduct after she criticised a judges ruling over a domestic abuse case by saying it echoed a boys club.

Dr Charlotte Proudman, a womens rights campaigner who specialises in family law, denied the accusation as she appeared before a disciplinary tribunal on Tuesday over comments she made on social media in April 2022.

In the posts on X, formerly Twitter, she referenced a case in which her client alleged she had been subjected to coercive and controlling behaviour by her husband, a part-time judge.

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Commenting on the ruling by Sir Jonathan Cohen, the Family Court judge, Dr Proudman wrote: I represented Amanda Traharne.

She said she was coerced into signing a post-nuptial agreement by her husband (who is a part-time judge). I lost the case.

I do not accept the Judges reasoning. I will never accept the minimisation of domestic abuse.

She continued: Demeaning the significance of domestic abuse has the affect [sic] of silencing victims and rendering perpetrators invisible.

This judgement has echoes of [t]he boys club which still exists among men in powerful positions.

Failed to act with integrity

In the social media posts, Dr Proudman noted that the judge had described the relationship of the couple as tempestuous, which she argued was a trivialisation of domestic abuse.

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She wrote: Tempestuous? Lose his temper? Isnt this the trivialisation of domestic abuse & gendered language. This is not normal married life.

The five charges against Dr Proudman allege that she failed to act with integrity in posting the tweets, that they amounted to professional misconduct, were misleading and inaccurately reflected the findings of the judge in the case.

She is also accused of behaving in a way which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public placed in her and in the profession and that she knowingly or recklessly misled or attempted to mislead the public by making the posts.

On Tuesday, Dr Proudmans defence team argued that the proceedings brought against her by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the regulatory body for barristers in England and Wales, were an unlawful interference of her right to freedom of expression.

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The 36-year-old cried as the charges were read out and she denied all on the first day of the tribunal.

Dr Charlotte Proudman denies professional misconduct - Stefan Rousseau/PA

Monica Feria-Tinta, for Dr Proudman, argued that the tweets were commentary by a feminist and not statements of fact.

She said: A robust judiciary would welcome a level of criticism which actually makes democratic society healthier and the rule of law more robust...

Clearly her intention was to share commentary on the specifics that troubled her on issues of domestic violence and issues of gender violence.

In written submissions, Ms Feria-Tinta argued that the BSBs proceedings constitute gender-based discrimination that was based on her sex and/or her feminist beliefs.

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She said it was well known that Sir Jonathan was a member of the Garrick Club, a central London private members club that was strictly male-only from its founding in 1831 until it voted earlier this year to allow women applicants.

Discriminatory treatment

Ms Feria-Tinta said the BSB disproportionately targeted Dr Proudman for expressing legitimate critique of systemic bias while Sir Jonathans Garrick Club membership went unquestioned.

She said: In contrast, the judges membership in an all-male club, which arguably perpetuated gender inequality, went unquestioned.

This selective scrutiny of Dr Proudmans commentary demonstrates a gendered double standard and further highlights the BSBs discriminatory treatment against her as a woman and feminist advocate.

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Mark McDonald, also representing Dr Proudman, told the three-person tribunal panel that she had dedicated her career to issues surrounding domestic violence and womens rights.

A group of more than a dozen protesters, including former clients of Dr Proudman, gathered outside the tribunal holding placards with slogans that said Blatantly Sexist Board and Silencing women to protect the establishment.

The demonstrators also chanted equal rights for all and stop silencing women and children, as the barrister arrived and greeted them outside the hearing.

The tribunal at Grays Inn Square, London, is expected to last four days.

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(NewsNation)  Traces of fentanyl were found inside bottlenose dolphins who were found dead in the Gulf of Mexico, raising concerns that the deadly drug may be affecting other sea life.

Researchers from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi found traces of fentanyl and other illegal substances were found in the six dolphins that were found dead.

Fentanyl found in dead dolphins

The research team studied 89 dolphins, from three areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Of the 89 dolphins that were studied, 30 contained traces of having drugs in their system, including 24 that had traces of fentanyl. The research found that the trace of fentanyl detected in the mammals was not necessarily the cause of death.

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Who gets $60K reward money in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting?

Researchers say they dont know where the fentanyl is coming from but given the proximity of the Mexican border to where the dolphins were found, drug smuggling via the waterway could be one possible source. Authorities say that drug smugglers have been using the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico for years.

This summer, the Mexican Navy pulled 1.6 tons of suspected cocaine from the water.

Researchers think other animals could have drugs in their systems

The university said that the findings indicate that pharmaceuticals have become emerging micropollutants and are a growing global concern. Dara Orbach, the studys lead author said that the fatty blubber of dolphins is a good indicator of levels of ocean pollutants because it can store contaminants and be sampled relatively minimally invasively in live animals.

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Researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi said they dont think the dolphins with drugs found inside them are alone. A previous study discovered that sharks were also found to have cocaine in their system.

What I call it is raising the red flag basically, Hussain Abdulla, a chemistry professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, told NewsNation. There is a concern here and we need to look. We need to investigate it further and (see) how big that problem is. Is it only local in the Gulf of Mexico or is it actually worldwide?

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.
Historian Tim Rues portrays Kansas Brigade commander James Lane at a re-enactment event in Lecompton. (Frank Barthell photo)

Hidden stories in plain sight

This two-week series delves into the history and legacy of the Kansas-Missouri border war.

Its an ambitious legacy for a community of fewer than 600 citizens. But Lecompton, 13 miles northwest of Lawrence, has leaned into the challenge. After all, for six contentious years it was the capital of the Kansas Territory, before the state was admitted to the Union in 1861.

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Consider Constitution Hall, built by the pro-slavery Sheriff of Douglas County, Samuel Jones, in 1856. The following year, according to Lecompton historian Tim Rues, the second of four constitutions proposed for the state of Kansas was signed there. It protected the enslavement of human beings in Kansas and excluded free Black persons from entering. Free Staters, anticipating an election rigged by Missouri settlers, boycotted the vote.

The Lecompton Constitution was then debated in the U.S House of Representatives in February 1858. If not for a late-night brawl that tabled the proceedings, eventually splitting the Democratic party over the issue of voter fraud, Kansas might have entered the Union as a slave state.

For this hugely consequential turn of events, Constitution Hall is now a Kansas and National Historic Landmark; a good place to introduce or update your knowledge of the border war. Plan your visit around a presentation called Bleeding Kansas.

The Lecompton Reenactors are a group of historical interpreters who bring to life a turbulent time in Kansas history, says Steve Germes, who portrays Kansas first governor, Charles Robinson.

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One weekday this spring, I witnessed this mock debate over the issues of popular sovereignty and slavery to a captive audience of two dozen high school students. Other interpreters represented James Lane, U.S.senator and leader of the Kansas Brigade during the Civil War, abolitionist John Brown, a fictional slave catcher named Felix, Sheriff Samuel Jones, and two important Kansas women, Sara Robinson and Clarina Nichols. They provided a moral counterpoint to the flawed men on both sides of the debate.

Historically, no such debate ever took place. Women were forbidden to speak in the public sphere. Lane and Robinson, both free staters, were political enemies, rarely seen together. And Sheriff Jones was usually preoccupied with keeping the states more radical abolitionists in check.

Lecomptons Constitution Hall was erected by the pro-slavery Douglas County Sheriff Samuel Jones in 1856. (Frank Barthell photo)

The speeches were well-researched. The interpreters were passionate about their messages, regardless of side.

Recreator Paul Bahnmaier, speaking as Sheriff Jones, highlighted the legitimacy of the Lecompton government, while skirting the issue of legalizing chattel slavery, as he challenged abolitionists rights to be in Kansas in the first place.

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What did you come here for? he asked. Why did you not go instead to Minnesota or Nebraska where you would be welcomed? But no, you want to get all of the territory, but damn you, you shall not have it as it belongs to the South.

Lecompton native Bahnmaier coined the towns brand, Where slavery began to die. Republican Abraham Lincoln, he points out, was only elected in 1860 because of that Democratic party split. Eventually, the anti-slavery Topeka Constitution was ratified by the Senate  40 days after South Carolina seceded.

Without this splitting, Lincoln would never have been elected president and who knows how much longer slavery would have existed? he said.

There is yet more history to learn in Lecompton. In anticipation of the Congressional passage of the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution, a territorial capitol building was begun with a $50,000 federal appropriation. Yes, Kansas was that close to becoming a slave state!

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Today, the building houses the Territorial Capital Museum. Displays about politics of the 1850s and 60s show the role that Lecompton played in elections from Massachusetts to California. The small Democratic headquarters cabin nearby adds to the story of how the Lecompton Constitution enabled Lincoln to be elected with just 39% of the popular vote.

The town offers a thorough introduction to the constitutional crisis in the border war story. Kansas was not predestined to enter the Union as a Free State. It took any number of articulate and committed abolitionists to accomplish this.

On the other hand, rad what the Rev. Samuel Adair, a relative of John Brown, observed about some of the self-proclaimed abolitionists who settled the territory. Their free-soil is free soil for white, but not for black. They hated slavery but they hated the Negro worse.

If this legacy catches anyone by surprise, stay tuned.

Frank Barthell is a former video producer at the University of Kansas. 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.
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has visited the Pokrovsk front and examined the combat situation before issuing suitable instructions to improve the stability of the defence and destroy the Russian forces more effectively.

Source: Syrskyi on Facebook

Quote: "While working on the Pokrovsk front, I personally visited the soldiers of the 38th Separate Marine Brigade. At this time, battles continue on the Pokrovsk front with the enemy prevailing primarily in manpower."

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Details: According to the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, it is vital to make unconventional judgements. "The combat is quite tough. Russian invaders throw forward all available forces in an attempt to break through our troops' defences," he said.

He noted that under such circumstances, the first objective is to bolster the defence, particularly by providing forces with an adequate supply of ammunition and ensuring their regular provision.

"I listened to the information about the current problems and issued suitable orders. Ukrainian soldiers are showing extraordinary resilience and inflicting significant losses on the enemy," said Syrskyi.

Background: Over the past day, Ukrainian defenders stopped 53 Russian assault and offensive actions in the vicinities of Myroliubivka, Promin, Myrnohrad, Novotroitske, Pushkine, Lysivka, Dachenske, Novyi Trud, Zelene, Pishchane, Pokrovsk and Shevchenko.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  A Tennessee inmate has died and five others were injured after fights erupted at a privately run state prison, the facility's operator said.

The fights broke out early Saturday at Hardeman County Correctional Facility in Whiteville, according to Brian Todd, a spokesperson for CoreCivic, the company that runs the prison. Todd said the altercations were separate but likely related.

Todd said staffers intervened to break up the fights and provided emergency medical treatment until paramedics could arrive. Six inmates were taken to hospitals, where one of them was pronounced dead.

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Two remained hospitalized on Wednesday and three others were treated and returned to the prison, Todd said. No prison staff members were injured.

The Tennessee Department of Correction's Office of Investigations and Conduct is handling the ongoing investigation, Todd said.

Another of the four prisons run by CoreCivic in Tennessee, Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, is the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation after years of reports of physical assaults, sexual assaults, murders and unchecked flow of contraband and severe staffing shortages, according to U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis.

It's unclear whether the upcoming change of administration to President-elect Donald Trump will affect the completion of that investigation.

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Tennessees corrections agency has fined CoreCivic $37.7 million across four prisons since 2016, including for understaffing violations. Records obtained by The Associated Press also show the company has spent more than $4.4 million to settle about 80 lawsuits and out-of-court complaints alleging mistreatment  including at least 22 inmate deaths  at four Tennessee prisons and two jails since 2016.

The Brentwood, Tennessee-based company has said the corrections industry generally has had staffing issues and has pointed to CoreCivics hiring incentives and strategies to backfill with workers from other facilities nationally.

Last month, Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada told a panel of lawmakers that CoreCivic has been a very good partner for the state that helps with population management," noting that the department staffs people at CoreCivic facilities to monitor them.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  An embattled Safeway in San Francisco will close nearly a year after city leaders successfully pushed to keep it open. Safeway told KRON4 on Tuesday that its location in the Fillmore neighborhood will close due to issues with safety and theft.

Safeway had originally planned to close the store at 1335 Webster St. in early 2024, but city leaders such as Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Dean Preston convinced the grocery chain to keep the 40-year-old store open. Eleven months later, the store announced its last day will be on or around Feb. 7.

We are proud of our 40-year history serving the Fillmore district and are thankful to the residents, customers, and community partners who have supported us over the years, Safeway said in a statement.

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Luigi Mangione previously reported missing in San Francisco: reports

Safeway said it kept the store open to provide a greater transition period for the community. After the initial plans to close were announced in January, local residents worried that it would create a food desert.

However, Safeway will move forward with the closure due to ongoing concerns about associate and customer safety, as well as persistent issues with theft.

There were several instances of crime at or near the store. Several weeks ago, San Francisco police shot and killed a dog at the store parking lot after attacks on a smaller dog and a pedestrian. The store also closed its self-checkout stations due to shoplifting.

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Store employees will be reassigned to one of the other 15 Safeway locations in San Francisco. Safeway workers are available to help transfer pharmacy customers to a location of their choice.

We are actively working on a transition plan to ensure a smooth and secure closure of the store, while allowing for continued access and traffic flow to neighboring businesses, Safeway said.

Safeway is working with Align Real Estate to replace the store with a project that plans to include housing and commercial space.

However, Sup. Preston said in a statement Tuesday that he believes the best option to provide a grocery store and affordable housing is for the City of San Francisco to buy the site.

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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.
Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter will become president of her country in 2025, after her formal election by both houses of parliament on Wednesday.

She will take on the predominantly ceremonial role in addition to her official duties as a minister, as is customary in Switzerland. The seven members of the government take turns holding the presidential office each year.

Keller-Sutter belongs to the Free Democratic Party (FDP). However, in the Swiss system, ministers are independent of the outcome of parliamentary elections and are primarily accountable to the collegial government, not their parties.

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Keller-Sutter came to international prominence in 2023 when she took charge of the rescue of the troubled bank Credit Suisse. She announced the rescue package, which included the takeover by rival bank UBS with initial state guarantees.

Keller-Sutter is a trained conference interpreter and translator. She has been in government since 2019. She succeeds Viola Amherd as president.
Jacksonvilles City Council approved an additional $4 million from its general fund for Meridian Waste on Tuesday night, as Action News Jax Ben Becker learned there are financial, family, and political ties between numerous council members and the waste hauler.

READ: Council set to approve $4 million rate hike for trash service, councilmember warns fee increase is long overdue

The vote was 17-2, approving a 29% increase over the objections of the mayors office which wanted only an 5% increase.

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Becker discovered Meridian Florida President Dave Sheplers sister-in-law is the executive assistant to Council President Randy White, and she is also married to Meridians Jacksonville lobbyist Chris Hagen.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

My executive assistant has been around a long time and does a great job, White told Becker. As for Meridian, I dont want to do anything to jeopardize the quality of their service.

Becker also discovered eight current council members who voted yes, received $1,000 contributions from Meridian in 2023, including White. Chris Miller got two $1,000 donations. Will Lahnen was the lone exception who voted against Meridian getting the $4 million.

Meridian Financial Report

Meridian Financial Report

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Meridian Financial Report

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Jacksonvilles been in the dumps with its trash program running at a massive deficit for years because of low residential collection fees. As a result, the city is forced to borrow money from its general fund. So much so, the debt will rise to nearly $100 million by the fall of 2025. Council member Matt Carlucci, who voted against the Meridian bill is expected to eventually propose legislation to fix the problem.

We gotta stop the bleeding and thats what Im trying to do, said Carlucci earlier on Tuesday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Current Council Finance Chair Ron Salem received a $1,000 contribution from Meridian, backed the rate hike for Meridian, and argues because trash service is a core function of government, the city should be able to fund it with general tax revenues.

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I mean we have basically $2 billion of revenue and there are arguments that can be made, and I have made them, that we ought to be able to pay for garbage out of that $2 billion budget, Salem said.

Becker reached out to Salem after the vote for a comment on the contribution.

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Ive received contributions from businesses and citizens across all of Jacksonville and I am proud of that support. If you work hard for this city, people tend to support you, Salem told Becker.

The mayors office declined to comment on Beckers findings but didnt agree with the outcome of the vote.

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We appreciate the job that Meridian Waste is doing. As such, a per household increase was reviewed, within the agreed upon contract, and passed in the budget. The additional increase passed by the City Council tonight is unnecessary, beyond what was allowable in the existing contract, and coming out of operating reserves when important city priorities were previously not funded, it said in a statement.

Update: This story originally said the legislation would give Meridian a 22.4% increase and that the Mayor wanted an 11.3% increase. We received updated figures from the city and have updated the story above accordingly.

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.
A fingerprint was found on a cellphone after the UnitedHealthcare CEOs killing was analyzed, according to New York Police Department (NYPD) officials.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CBS New York on Tuesday night that law enforcement officials are analyzing a fingerprint that was found on the cellphone following UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsons killing last week in New York City.

We have DNA. We have one  we have fingerprints thats also being processed, Kenny told CBS. There were no fingerprints on the bullets at this time, but we did have one fingerprint on the cellphone that was recovered.

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Kenny did not say if the fingerprint matched those of Luigi Mangione, a suspect who was accused of killing Thompson in Manhattan. Mangione was arrested and charged in Pennsylvania on Monday after authorities were tipped off by a McDonalds employee in Altoona, Pa.

Authorities found a gun, a silencer and a fake ID that matched the information Mangione used to check in to a hostel before Thompsons killing took place last week.

New York prosecutors are working with Pennsylvanias Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks to extradite Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, to New York where he faces a murder charge.

Kenny said that apart from finding the fingerprint, investigators discovered a Faraday Bag, which is a sealed unit that restricts police tracking.

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You can put your phone in there so we cant track your phone. It doesnt transmit a signal. It blocks the signal, Kenny said late Tuesday. In essence, its like if you wrapped your phone in aluminum foil and put it in a bag.

Kenny added that Mangione might have suffered from an injury last year.

Were learning that he did possibly suffer an accident that caused him to visit the emergency room back on July 4, 2023, 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.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has approved 254.7 billion ringgit (57.58 billion U.S. dollars) of investments for the first nine months of 2024, marking a 10.7 percent increase from the previous year, its investment agency said Wednesday.

The strong performance reflects Malaysia's sustained economic momentum, propelled by the services, manufacturing, and primary sectors, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) said in a statement.

According to the statement, domestic investments led the way in the period, accounting for a significant 58.1 percent of the total approved investments, valued at 148 billion ringgit.

Foreign investors contributed 106.7 billion ringgit, 41.9 percent of total approved investments.

The top five foreign investments came from Germany, China, the United States, the Netherlands and Singapore.

Meanwhile, the services sector led the approved investments for the period, accounting for 160.7 billion ringgit or 63.1 percent of the total approvals.

The manufacturing sector attracted 88.8 billion ringgit, while the primary sector recorded 5.2 billion ringgit.

According to MIDA, the outlook remains promising and the agency is still in discussions with prospective investors for high-potential leads valued at 70.6 billion ringgit. (1 ringgit equals 0.23 U.S. dollars) 
Fingerprints recovered from the scene of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killing in New York City match those of murder suspect Luigi Mangione, a law enforcement source tells PEOPLE.

The source did not immediately specify where the fingerprint was swept from, but CNN previously reported a partial print was recovered by police from a water bottle discarded near the shooting site in Midtown Manhattan.

Mangione, 26, is charged in New York with second-degree murder, firearm possession, and forgery, per an arrest warrant filed by the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

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He was arrested on Monday, Dec. 9 after being recognized at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pa., where an employee called police.

After Mangione was arrested in Altoona, authorities say they discovered a 9mm "ghost gun"  similar to that used to shoot Thompson  in his possession, along with multiple fake IDs. A police source tells PEOPLE he also carried a three-page "manifesto" critical of the health insurance industry.

Mangiones defense attorney Thomas Dickey said on Good Morning America on Wednesday, Dec. 11 that he's seen zero evidence tying Mangione to the murder."

Related: Luigi Mangiones Attorney Not Aware of Any Evidence Linking His Client to CEO Killing: A Lot of Guns Look the Same'

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"As I indicated yesterday, I have not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found on his person to the crime," he said. "These are things were looking to see. Yesterday was fast, todays another day. Were looking forward to beginning our inquiry as to what evidence may or may not be out there.

The Ivy league graduate also faces charges in Pennsylvania for carrying a weapon and showing a fake ID to a police officer. He was arraigned in a courthouse near Altoona on Tuesday, Dec. 10, and was denied bail. His lawyer also indicated he would fight attempts to extradite him to New York to face murder charges. Mangione has not yet entered a plea.

As he was being taken into court on Tuesday, Mangione appeared to yell a message to members of the media.

"It's completely out of touch! It's an insult to the intelligence of the American people!," Mangione appeared to yell in a video captured by news cameras. It's not clear what Mangione was referring to.

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Related: Luigi Mangione Melts Down Outside Court, Shouts at Guards and Onlookers: 'Insult to the Intelligence of the American People!'

The murder charge is related to the Dec. 4 killing of Thompson, 50, the chief executive of one of America' largest health insurers.

The CEO was gunned down in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan where he and other executives were set to gather for a corporate investor meeting. The father of two was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later.

Bullet casings found at the crime scene reportedly had the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" engraved on them  a possible reference to "deny, delay, defend," a phrase used to describe insurance industry tactics for dodging claims.

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Authorities believe Mangione, who allegedly fled the scene on an bicycle through Central Park before escaping the city, deliberately targeted Thompson. In the alleged manifesto, Mangione claims he acted alone.

Several reports have alleged Mangione has been dealing with "debilitating" back pain in recent years with friends and family losing contact with him in recent months.



Read the original article on People
A Tuesday night fire raged through a Minneapolis homeless encampment and spread to a neighboring home, displacing its residents.

The Minneapolis Fire Department said its crews responded to reports of a fire at an encampment in the 2400 block of 15th Avenue South at around 10:24 p.m. When the crew arrived, they found several tents fully engulfed in flames, propane tanks exploding, and the fire had spread to a nearby home.

The heat of the fire was also causing the side to melt on another home but had not extended to it.

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Firefighters worked to put out the fire at the encampment, with crews containing fires at both the encampment and the home after about 45 minutes.

Tony Webster, Flickr

Residents of the encampment reported that all had been accounted for, and the damaged home was boarded up, with firefighters calling the Red Cross to assist the eight displaced adult residents.

The home that suffered heat damage was deemed safe enough for the residents to return inside.

Metro Transit buses were requested to accommodate evacuees, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. No injuries have been reported.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Fire crews responded to a house fire in SE Oklahoma City Wednesday morning.

According to the Oklahoma City Fire Department, crews responded to a home near SE 49th St. and High Ave. around 4 a.m.

LOCAL NEWS: Social security issues leave some Oklahomans in financial limbo

Officials say its a vacant structure theyve responded to before.

I believe theres probably homeless people going in and out of it every now and then. Weve been here several times in the past, said Batt. Chief Mike Paschal with OKCFD. The house was totally involved in fire. Based on what I can see walking around it, its completely burnt, basically to the ground.

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Firefighters were able to get the flames knocked down and no injuries have been reported.

The cause of this fire has not been determined. No more information is available 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A fire that has burned homes in Malibu and forced thousands to evacuate continued to menace the city Wednesday as firefighters battled windy conditions to gain control over the inferno.

The Franklin fire has destroyed at least seven homes and damaged nine others since it ignited amid strong Santa Ana winds late Monday. Fire officials say those numbers could grow as inspection teams continue to assess damage.

The blaze, which has charred more than 4,000 acres and was 7% contained as of Wednesday afternoon, burned close to some residential neighborhoods and an RV park overnight, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a morning news conference.

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"Crews are working tirelessly around the clock to establish containment lines and defend structures," Marrone said.

The blaze was reported a few minutes before 11 p.m. Monday along Malibu Canyon Road in the hills north of Pepperdine University and grew quickly, fanned by strong winds and fed by bone-dry vegetation, fire officials said.

Overnight into Wednesday, the fire's western edge became more active, backing down into Corral Canyon toward the Malibu RV Park community. The fire also spotted across Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu Road, posing a threat to communities in that area, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Still, crews improved containment lines by dropping fire retardant and creating more fire breaks along the eastern edge of the blaze, located in rugged terrain.

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"It's a lot of geographical features, like huge drainages that go all the way up," said Pono Barnes, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. "With those topographical features ... all of that wind energy gets focused and channeled and funneled through those drainages where it's super hard to access by both hand crews and big pieces of equipment."

Crews on the ground have been aided by roughly a dozen aircraft. Helicopters have used 69 Bravo, a privately owned remote base in the Santa Monica Mountains, to refill their water tanks, sucking up about half a million gallons of water over the course of 24 hours, Barnes said.

More than 1,500 firefighters are battling the fire.

"The city of Malibu awoke again to a very red sunrise. This morning, it was from the lingering smoke in the sky rather than the approaching line of fire," Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart said. "We're far better off this morning than we were in the last 30-plus hours."

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Read more: Malibu is a magnet for destructive fires. But this time, it might have caught a break

By Wednesday afternoon, strong Santa Ana winds that had stymied firefighting efforts had significantly diminished in Malibu.

Humidity, which had been extremely low, is expected to get a boost. There's a slight chance of rain Thursday that could aid firefighters, but winds are also expected to pick up by Thursday afternoon, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

The Franklin fire burns in the hills of Malibu. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Officials said many residents living in the fire's path are still waiting to hear about the status of their homes. Some spent a second night without power or cell service, using radios to get updates about the fire.

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"To our Malibu community, we know you're hurting," Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said. "Thank you for checking in on one another. Thank you for remaining vigilant as we get this fire under control. Know that we are working hard to bring safety and normalcy back to Malibu."

Serra Retreat, a small enclave of luxury properties that's home to celebrities such as Patrick Dempsey and Dick Van Dyke, was among the neighborhoods besieged by the fire. Pets were killed, and several cars and homes, including a 1971 Spanish Colonial house with six bedrooms on Mariposa de Oro Street, were burned.

A short distance away, the destructive fire's wake was visible at Malibu Pacific Church on Malibu Canyon Road. The building that houses the church's nursery school was unscathed, but the gate that abuts the hillside was charred along with some of the school's equipment.

Read more: Franklin fire destroys at least 7 structures as gusty winds fan flames through Malibu

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Thousands of Southern California Edison customers in the Santa Monica Mountains area remained without power Wednesday, though some neighborhoods were beginning to be restored by the afternoon.

The utility began cutting power in the region amid strong winds Monday evening. Some electricity was cut off for firefighter safety, and other outages were part of widespread public safety power shutoffs  deliberate outages meant to limit the chances that damaged utility equipment could start a fire, said Diane Castro, an Edison spokesperson.

The utility could not say when power would be restored, but Castro said its crews are inspecting circuits for damage and plan to "restore power as soon as it is safe to do so."

The outages and spotty cellphone service have created additional challenges for residents fleeing their homes.

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After more than a day spent sheltering in her apartment, Stefanie Moertz, 41, was in desperate need of a few essentials Wednesday, so she ventured out to a nearby store. With an electrolyte drink in hand, Moertz said this is the second day she hasnt had a cellphone signal, internet access or power, but shes not ready to evacuate.

Although she has a go-bag of cant live without items and her dog leash by the door, Moertz has hesitated to flee because of the uncertainty of when residents might be able to return. She's keeping an eye on the winds, but feels it's safe to stay since her home is no longer in the path of the fire, she said.

Yesterday there was a big, red, fiery sky and the wind was blowing in my direction. ... Im keeping tabs on it, Moertz said.

A day earlier, Rich Leo was stranded at a gas station on Pacific Coast Highway as spot fires burned around Malibu. He parked his SUV at a Chevron station, low on gas and flirted with the idea of leaving the area to refuel.

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"But I don't know if I would be able to come back home," Leo, 79, said as he stood outside the gas station that had no power.

The fire had only been going for a couple of hours when firefighters banged on the door to his town home near Winter Canyon Road around 1 a.m. Tuesday, but he refused to leave. He worried about the staff at the nearby Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church and school.

He wanted to stay behind to make sure everyone was OK, he said.

Leo, who has spent more than 40 years living in Malibu, has been through serious fires before, including the deadly Woolsey fire in 2018 that stormed through Malibu, burning all the way down to the coast. While the Woolsey fire was far more destructive  charring more than 1,600 structures  Leo said the Franklin fire's behavior was erratic.

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Read more: Winds whip Southland, fuel Malibu fire: Where SoCal Edison has shut off power

"This one was bad," he said. "It kept jumping and wherever I looked I saw fire last night."

At the nearby church, a lone parishioner rode into the school on a bicycle. The fire burned right up to the property line and scorched wooden fence posts and vegetation but firefighters were able to keep the fire from touching the property.

A man who identified himself as Mike walked through the school grounds where the gates were opened and all the water taps were running.

"I just wanted to make sure that everyone was OK and the school was standing," Mike said. "My kids used to come here when they were little. My house burned down in the Woolsey fire so I know what it means when this happens."

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On Wednesday afternoon, Laura Campbell was walking with her husband, Michael, around their El Nido neighborhood off Corral Canyon Road listening to fire updates through a walkie-talkie given to them by the volunteer fire brigade.

The blaze overnight had moved dangerously close to the community, but fire crews had been able to fend off the flames. The couple were extremely grateful.

Our neighbor who is a volunteer firefighter said we really dodged a bullet, Campbell said.

Times staff writers Ruben Vives and Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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.
Dec. 10Keith Hanson of Concord, an experienced conservative radio talk show host and former Sullivan County chairman, became the first official candidate Tuesday seeking to lead the New Hampshire Republican State Committee.

Hanson said he has the experience, strategic vision and business acumen to move the state GOP forward while praising the leadership of Chairman Chris Ager of Amherst who will not seek another two-year term when his current one ends next month.

"The recent political successes in New Hampshire have put us in a prime position to continue advancing our conservative values," Hanson said. "Thanks to Chris Ager's hard work and dedication to advancing New Hampshire's Republican Party and its candidates, we've built a strong foundation. Now, it's time to build on that momentum and take the New Hampshire Republican Party to even greater heights."

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In 2019, Hanson, then a Grantham resident, ran for chairman and lost to Steve Stepanek, a former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and close confidante to President-Elect Donald Trump.

Stepanek won, 300-81, with a third candidate, Michael Callis, getting no votes.

After the 2020 Trump defeat, Stepanek stepped down as party boss and set about building Trump's political organization in New Hampshire and Maine.

Trump lost New Hampshire a third time on Nov. 5 but outperformed polls and did well enough to allow the state GOP to expand their majorities in both the House of Representatives and State Senate.

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"Over the past two years, the NHGOP has made incredible strides, but there is still more work to do," Hanson continued. "With the right leadership, we can amplify our successes and ensure that New Hampshire remains a stronghold for conservative principles. I'm ready to lead that effort."

For seven years, Hanson worked in the law enforcement training field with both state and federal partners.

Then for four years he was chief operating officer for Right America, a company based out of Pennsylvania that supported Hanson's radio talk show.

Derry Town Councilor Jimmy MacEachern, a longtime party activist, is also expected to run for party chair when the Republican State Committee selects its officers at an annual meeting Jan. 25 at Inter-Lakes High School in Meredith.

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Others being encouraged to consider a bid are two-time State Senate GOP nominee and Hampton Falls businessman Lou Gargiulo and GOP consultant Mike Biundo of Manchester.

Hanson said his campaign will focus on four main principles: maximizing momentum the GOP already has, promoting a united leadership, providing dynamic engagement from his communications career and a strategic vision that starts with expanding the party's financial base.

"Whether it's boosting digital outreach, effectively enhancing and engaging younger voters, or providing robust material and financial support for candidates, Hanson is committed to ensuring the NHGOP has the funds and operational capacity to compete effectively and win in every election cycle," the Hanson campaign said in a statement.

Hanson has hired Ajay Bruno, a senior vice president with AMW Public Relations of New York City, to serve as his spokesman.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  World-renowned poet, civil rights activist and Fisk University alumna Nikki Giovanni died on Monday at the age of 81.

University officials mourned the loss of the Knoxville native on social media.

Through her poetry, she wove stories of Black resilience, beauty, and liberation, reminding us that our voices hold infinite power and that our truths deserve to be told, the statement reads, in part. Her spirit is forever etched into the soul of Fisk, an eternal light guiding us toward justice, creativity, and authenticity.

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RELATED: Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet from Knoxville, dies at 81: Reports

News 2 spoke with Fisk University student Rodney Curry, who said Giovanni has been an inspiration to students for years.

We have a saying here that we didnt choose Fisk, but Fisk chose us, Curry said. And I really have a feeling that it really started with her.

In 2021, the university named a lecture series in their writing center after Giovanni as a testament how dedicated she was to students. Giovanni donated to the universitys English department and returned several times to host creative writing workshops. She also met with honors students individually when she came to speak at the Fisks Jubilee Day.

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She focused her efforts on compassion and self-love and defining who we are and defining who our students are through the self, said Dr. Holly Hamby, the writing centers director.

Giovanni was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Shes also known for poems like Ego-tripping (there may be a reason why) and Knoxville, Tennessee among others; she also authored more than 10 childrens books. Her literary career acted as an inspiration to others on the English educational track, including Dr. Zanice Bond.

Bond told News 2 she met Giovanni in the early 90s while studying at Tennessee State University before becoming an English professor at Tuskegee University. Her teaching, Bond said, is inspired by the late poet.

Homicide victims honored at annual Montgomery County memorial event

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I bring  always  into the classroom Black arts movement poets and writers and Nikki is certainly one of them, Bond said. Another generation of scholars and thinkers will be looking at her work, not only as empowering Black women, but also looking at her in terms of environmental issues andas an Affrilachian writer.

As of publication, there have not been any announcements about celebrations of life at Fisk University.

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.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT)  Authorities arrested five men after they seized nearly 2,000 pounds of marijuana in Mississippi.

On Sunday, December 8, authorities executed a search warrant operation, which led to the seizure of 1,839 pounds of marijuana and $148,000 in illicit proceeds.

Oak Grove student recovering at Jackson hospital after being stabbed

Five individuals, all residents of California, have been arrested and charged with the following in the ongoing illegal narcotics investigation:

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Weiying Zhong, 40, was charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

Dong Hong, 37, was charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

Ligang Duan, 49, was charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

Kaihua Yu, 45, was charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

Xin Zhao, 23, was charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana

Weiying Zhong (Courtesy: Forrest County Jail) Dong Hong (Courtesy: Forrest County Jail) Ligang Duan (Courtesy: Forrest County Jail) Kaihua Yu (Courtesy: Forrest County Jail) Xin Zhao (Courtesy: Forrest County Jail)

The suspects have been booked into Forrest County Jail.

The DEA received assistance from the Hattiesburg Police Department (HPD), Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), Forrest County Sheriffs Office (FCSO), the Lamar County Sheriffs Office (LCSO), Waynesboro Police Department and Covington County Sheriffs Office during the execution of the search warrant.

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Angela Rayners proposed reforms to the planning regime are set to deliver a major shake-up to an antiquated system.

Moves to end the chokehold of Nimby (Not In My Back Yard) objections on the system, in conjunction with an expected expansion in the definition of low quality green belt land, could well result in a sizeable increase in the number of homes built.

However, this is unlikely to have the desired effect on housing affordability unless Ms Rayner and her Labour colleagues can bring themselves to confront the issue of immigration.

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Over the last fiscal year, the UK added roughly 221,000 dwellings to its total stock. Immigration, meanwhile, added in the region of 825,000 people to the population. It does not take a mathematician to note the disparity in these numbers.

Indeed, a report co-authored by former immigration and housing minister Robert Jenrick and his fellow Conservative MP Neil OBrien found earlier this year that net migration accounts for fully 89 per cent of the 1.3 million rise in Englands housing deficit over the last decade.

Even if Labours proposed reforms were to add 100,000 houses to the total constructed each year  a steep task  it is likely that increases in supply would still be running behind the additional demand created by an immigration system criticised by Sir Keir Starmer yesterday as a one-nation experiment in open borders.

While it is all well and good to criticise the state of the migration system the Labour Government has inherited from the Conservatives, we have yet to see what measures Sir Keir would actually take to change the situation. Indeed, the Prime Minister has proved disappointingly evasive when asked what precise number he would like to admit.

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Alongside loosenings of restrictions on where homes can be built, it has also been reported that Ms Rayner will announce the lifting of rules urging new buildings to be beautiful.

This would be a crying shame. As anyone who has lived in England recently can attest, new-build estates are rarely overburdened with architectural care and attention.

The late Sir Roger Scrutons work with the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission had resulted in its prioritisation after years of carbuncles being inflicted on an unwilling public. There will be great dismay at its removal.

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 walk on a street in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Military Operations Administration announced Wednesday that it has lifted the curfew previously imposed on Damascus and its surrounding areas, calling on residents to resume their daily activities and return to their workplaces.

In a statement, the administration encouraged citizens to "contribute to building the new Syria" as the country attempts to normalize conditions following recent fall of Bashar al-Assad's government.

The lifting of the curfew came as Mohammed al-Bashir, previously a regional leader in northwestern Syria, announced Tuesday that he had been tasked with heading a transitional government in Syria until March 2025.

A militant alliance led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham waged a major offensive from northern Syria since Nov. 27 and had since swept southwards through government-held areas, capturing the capital Damascus within 12 days.
NEW YORK (AP)  Two luxury real estate brokers and their brother have been charged with luring, drugging and violently raping dozens of women over more than a decade, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday in Manhattan.

State charges were also filed Wednesday in Florida against two of the brothers and a third man stemming from three alleged sexual assaults.

2 people shot in St. Petersburg, police investigating

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Federal prosecutors allege in the New York indictment that Oren and Tal Alexander, known for brokering deals on high-end properties in New York City and Miami, and sibling Alon Alexander used their wealth and influence to take advantage of women from at least 2010 to 2021.

The brothers, who all reside in Miami, used deception, fraud, and coercion to entice victims to travel with them or attend parties or events, often covering flights, hotels and other expenses, according to the indictment. They also at times used the promise of a romantic relationship, it said.

A display showing images of Alon, Oren, and Tal Alexander is set up prior to a news conference in New York, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Luxury real estate brokers Oren and Tal Alexander and their brother Alon were arrested and charged with sex-trafficking by federal prosecutors in New York on Wednesday. Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The women were then drugged and raped by one or more of the brothers, as well as other men, before being sent away with concert tickets and other luxuries.

This conduct was heinous, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said at a news conference in Manhattan.

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The brothers typically met their victims on dating apps, through social events and at bars and nightclubs, but they also used party promoters to source women, according to Williams.

NEW YORK, NY  SEPTEMBER 20: Tal Alexander and Oren Alexander attend 565 Broome Sales Gallery launch event at 372 West Broadway on September 20, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

He added that the women were often provided drugs, including cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and GHB. The brothers even surreptitiously drugged some of the womens drinks, leaving them physically impaired and unable to fight back or escape from the sexual assaults, prosecutors said in their indictment.

In some instances, the defendants physically restrained and held down their victims during the rapes and sexual assaults and ignored screams and explicit requests to stop, the indictment said.

In the Florida cases, state prosecutors described one incident in December 2016 as a gang rape of a woman who said she was invited to a barbecue at Alon Alexanders Miami Beach apartment only to discover no one there, save Alon, his brother Oren and another relative, Ohad Fisherman, who remains at large.

MIAMI BEACH, FL  NOVEMBER 22: Oren and Alon Alexander attends Jeff Gordons Last Lap on November 22, 2015 at The Villa, Casa Casuarina in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for J Group)

The woman, who is not named, said she was led into a bedroom where Fisherman held her down and the brothers argued over who would rape her first as she pleaded with them not to assault her, according to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

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The second incident, in October 2017, involved a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by Oren Alexander at his apartment after drinking a glass of wine that left her feeling weak and unable to control her body, according to prosecutors.

They said the third incident happened in October 2021 and involved a woman who said she was assaulted by Oren Alexander after going back to his residence with friends following dinner.

Williams, the U.S. Attorney in New York, said the three brothers were arrested in Florida on Wednesday and will appear in Miami federal court before being brought to New York.

He declined to say if others also will be charged but urged any other possible victims to come forward.

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Meanwhile lawyers for the brothers denied the charges, which include one count of engaging in a sex trafficking conspiracy for each sibling.

Oren Alexander is innocent, attorney Susan Necheles wrote in an email. The evidence will show that neither he nor his brothers ever committed a crime.

My client will be entering a not guilty plea and dealing with these charges in the appropriate forum .. .the courtroom, responded Isabelle Kirshner, a lawyer for Alon Alexander.

Joel Denaro, a lawyer for Tal Alexander, declined to comment.

The elder brother appeared in Miami federal court Wednesday and will have a detention hearing Friday as prosecutors argue hes a danger to the community and a flight risk. The two other brothers are in state custody and are expected to appear in court Thursday.

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Representatives for a number of women who filed lawsuits earlier this year claiming they were violently raped by the brothers welcomed the charges.

We are glad to hear that there will finally be some measure of accountability for the Alexander brothers and justice for their many victims, lawyer David Gottlieb wrote on X, formerly Twitter. We applaud all the survivors who have had the strength and courage to speak up about their unimaginable experiences after years of pain and suffering.

Tal Alexander, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, first worked as a team under real estate giant Douglas Elliman, listing properties for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Liam Gallagher, and Lindsay Lohan. In 2022, they started a new company called Official.

Alon Alexander, who is Orens twin brother, attended law school and joined the familys private security business.

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__

Associated Press reporter Michael Schneider in Orlando, Florida, contributed to this story.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.

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.
As surfers, we try to tell ourselves that Great Whites live "out there" and don't come into the surf zone. Drone footage in recent years has dispelled much of that notion, and now a Florida fisherman has gone further in proving that the sharks are, in fact, "right there," catching what's estimated to be a 9- to 10-foot Great White straight off the beach.

Using the head of a black fin tuna for bait, fisherman Alberto Vanegas was casting from shore at Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, hoping to land a bull shark. But after a 30-minute fight, when Vanegas got the fish onto the beach it became clear it was a Great White shark.

"Yesterday was simply unforgettable," Vanegas told First Coast News. "What started as a normal Tuesday, fishing at my favorite spot on Amelia Island, turned into a monumental catch for myself and for land-based shark fishermen."

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On Facebook, Vanegas explained that he "will continue to honor land-based shark fishing and conservation of these magnificent animals."

'FISH OF A LIFETIME': A Yulee man reeled in "a fish of a lifetime" off the coast of Amelia Island Tuesday -- a 9-10 foot long great white shark. https://t.co/eNv8Y8Nf4s  First Coast News (@FCN2go) December 11, 2024

It's unclear if the shark was eventually released back into the ocean.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in the ten years between 2008 and 2017, commercial fishermen harvested an average of 1,000,000 pounds of shark each year. An average of 477,000 sharks per year were caught on the East Coast and 723,000 caught on the West Coast during this time.

In Florida, anyone over 16 years old is required to have a free, annual Shore-based Shark Fishing permit to fish for sharks. It is illegal to catch or kill Great Whites in California.

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Situated north of Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island enjoy fairly wide open swell exposure and are home to dependable, scattered beachbreak setups. Too much swell and things start to close out, but when it's in the playful zone, there's fun to be had here.

Related: 15-Year-Old Western Australian Surfer Relives Shark Attack (Graphic)
CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WFLA)  A man was arrested over the weekend after police said he pulled out a sword and a Molotov cocktail to make a point during an argument with a Cape Coral resident.

The Cape Coral Police Department said officers received reports of a disturbance at the victims home off Southeast 8th Avenue on Sunday, Dec. 8.

2 people shot in St. Petersburg, police investigating

Police met with the homeowner, who told them 36-year-old Luis Vargas Izquierdo had showed up in his driveway holding a glass bottle with a cloth wrapped around its top.

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Izquierdo allegedly threatened to throw the bottle, which he claimed was a Molotov cocktail, at one of the vehicles in the driveway and light it on fire.

However, the alleged threats didnt stop there.

The homeowner told police Izquierdo also took out a sword and tapped it on the windshield of a vehicle during the exchange.

Investigators said the entire interaction was captured on video by a Ring doorbell camera.

Police later located Izquierdo at his nearby residence. When asked about the incident, officers said Izquierdo claimed he went to the home on Southeast 8th Avenue to send a message regarding disrespect to a family member.

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Detectives said they were able to confirm that Izquierdo had brought a glass bottle containing a small amount of gasoline to the home.

Izquierdo was arrested and taken to the Lee County jail. According to the police department, Izquierdo was charged for violating F.S.S. 806.111, which stipulates that any person who possesses or manufactures a fire bomb with intent to damage property commits a third-degree felony.

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.
Shoog McDaniel

One of Them is all about you. More community than column, this space is where well be speaking to friends and idols, history-makers of the past and present, and those who inspire us, challenge us, and dare us to ask for more from this world. It is where we can be together. Read more here.

Last month, I awoke to the smell of smoke and a sky clotted with red. I had to blink awake for a few moments before I realized I was not in Californiawhere I grew up and where wildfires have become a regular occurrencebut in Brooklyn, New York. Prospect Park, one of the boroughs largest green spaces, had caught on fire. Experts attribute the blaze to New York Citys unprecedented drought, a crisis I hadnt expected to encounter on the East Coast. But the climate crisis has reshaped our understanding of the world and our place in it.

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Across the country, once-in-a-lifetime climactic events have become regular occurrences: extreme heat waves in Arizona, fires in Hawaii, floods in Vermont. However, there are few states that are more threatened than Florida, where nearly 75% of residents live in coastal areas impacted by rising sea levels, intensifying hurricanes, and relentless heat.

While the climate crisis affects everyone, queer and trans people face heightened risks. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA, LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately likely to live in coastal areas with inadequate infrastructure, making it more difficult to prepare for and recover from climate disasters. These vulnerabilities exacerbate existing inequitiessuch as housing insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and the impact of exclusionary lawsleaving queer and trans communities particularly exposed to the intersecting crises of environmental collapse and legislative attacks. In Florida, activists and organizers often refer to this dual threat as the twin storms.

To delve deeper into this intersection, organizers, scholars, and artists Natalia Villaran Quinones, Vanessa Raditz, Yarrow Koning, Jess Martinez, and Shoog McDaniel came together and created Cant Stop Change: Queer Climate Stories from the Florida Frontlines. The film follows Villaran Quinones and other queer activists as they traverse Florida, uplifting the stories of those fighting for justice at the nexus of queer liberation and climate justice. Along the way, Villaran Quinones engages with Indigenous communities safeguarding the imperiled Everglades, leaders of mutual aid networks rebuilding after relentless hurricane seasons, and vibrant community hubs in Miami organizing to stop climate gentrification.

If this film helps someone make a connection theyve never thought about before, thats enough for me.

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The idea for the film took root during a conversation between Natalia and her collaborators about the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a powerful think tank that crafts model legislation for state governments. ALECs efforts have strengthened the ties between corporate polluters, such as fossil fuel companies, and anti-LGBTQ+ religious interest groups, effectively exacerbating both climate collapse and the erosion of queer rights at the same time.

But what began as an urgent examination of these dual threats quickly blossomed into a testament to queer life. As Natalia and her collaborators traveled across Florida meeting with frontline organizers, they unearthed stories of ingenuity, mutual aid, and hope. Its about dreaming and doing things toward that dream that will make it easier for us to thrive and exist.

As Natalia explains, the film isnt just about documenting these crises. Its about asking each viewer to consider: What does it look like to care for each other and the planet outside the constraints of oppressive systems? What can we learn from queer communities already navigating these storms with creativity and self-determination? Cant Stop Change wants us to understand that justice for queer people and the planet are inseparable. Below, I spoke with Natalia about cultivating safety during creative projects, organizing beyond policy, and how queer and trans people are an inherent part of the natural world.

How did your journey as a climate organizer begin?

I started doing climate justice work after Hurricane Maria hit Boriken (Puerto Rico). Im from Puerto Rico  born and raised  but at the time, I was part of the diaspora, living in Philadelphia. Around 2017, I saw Ricky Rossello, who was then the governor of Puerto Rico, visiting Philly to talk with Puerto Rican community members about charter schools. Meanwhile, activists back home were organizing at the Museum of Contemporary Art, pointing out how some board members were linked to the U.S.-imposed fiscal control board harming Puerto Rico. Thats when I started to understand how deeply colonialism and capitalism are connected  how they keep people from being free everywhere.

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I moved back to Puerto Rico in 2022 and joined Out For Sustainability, an organization focused on environmental justice for queer communities. Vanessa Raditz, who I work with, really understood the value of my knowledge and made sure I was compensated for my time. We started organizing togetherme in Boricen, Vanessa in Athens, Georgia and connecting our queer identities and academic work back to advocacy. It all came full circle when we began exploring how fossil fuel companies are tied to recent laws that harm our communities. That connection between anti-LGBTQ+ bills and the climate crisis became central to our work.

Shoog McDaniel

You emphasize how addressing climate change is inseparable from queer liberation. Can you talk about that connection?

In Puerto Rico, theres a saying that queer and trans people are part of del ambiente, meaning of the environment. Nature itself is queer  it doesnt fit into rigid systems, and neither do we. But capitalism thrives on structure  mom, dad, kids, someone earning money, someone at home  because it needs people to stay in predictable roles for the system to keep extracting and profiting. When people resist that design because we dont all move, think, or express ourselves the same way, the system fights back. Thats why we see bills banning books, removing university courses about queer history, and silencing conversations about environmental exploitation. Capitalism depends on maintaining controlof language, education, and identitybecause if people are too busy surviving, they cant challenge the status quo. For queer and trans folks, especially in places like Florida, its like fighting a category five storm. Youre facing the climate crisis and oppressive laws simultaneously.

Yes. One contributor in the film described queer and trans Floridians as facing twin storms. Can you explain what that means?

The twin storms are the constant waves of anti-LGBTQ+ bills and climate disasters hitting Florida. These bills cover everything  from banning books and restricting healthcare to permitting open carry. They create hypervigilance in people. Youre always looking over your shoulder, which makes it harder to prepare for actual storms. And when those storms hit, the layers of harm become clearer. If you dont fit into male or female categories, can you even access shelters? What happens if youre bedridden after surgery and your neighborhood floods? These arent hypothetical questions, theyre realities for many people. Its layer upon layer of harm.

How Adding Political Parties to School Board Primaries Could Affect Floridas LGBTQ\+ Students

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A Florida ballot amendment would limit voting in the primaries, and could result in backlash for queer students and their parents.

What do you hope people take away from this film?

I just want people to understand how connected everything is. If this film helps someone make a connection theyve never thought about before, thats enough for me. Honestly, if people dont even watch the film and just come to a screening, meet someone, and start building community, thats the real goal.

Its about finding your people, figuring out how you fit into this bigger picture, and organizing in a way that makes sense to you. Even if you dont agree with everything in the film, thats okay. The point is to create space for people to imagine, connect, and share resources. Thats how we build abundance and freedom together. And I want that for everyone  even for people who dont like me. Why wouldnt I want you to be free?

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This conversation has been edited and condensed.

Can't Stop Change is currently available to book for community and educational screenings occurring February 2025 and beyond. Screening licenses are available free of charge for groups based in Florida and using a sliding scale everywhere else, with no one turned away for lack of funds. 50% of screening fees are placed directly into a mutual aid fund for film collaborators and their communities. Visit www.queerecoproject.org/cant-stop-change or email queerecoproject@gmail.com to learn more about the film and book a screening.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
The big story: Public schools in Florida and across the nation long have grappled with how to deal with religion and the First Amendment.

In recent years, they have largely adopted a teach, dont preach approach to the subject, faced with some groups who want to see an expansion of religious lessons and others who argue that government is not to impose a religion.

Floridians lately have confronted the issue headfirst as lawmakers allowed schools to welcome chaplains for voluntary student counseling. When the Satanic Temple stepped forward to participate, it highlighted the inherent conflicts after Gov. Ron DeSantis and others said it was not a real religion.

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Now the Broward County school district is dealing with a related debate. Its contemplating no longer allowing religious groups to appear on any banners or advertisements on campuses, amid a challenge from the Church of Satanology. Read more from the Sun-Sentinel.

Hot topics

Book challenges: A Pinellas County committee of parents and educators rejected a request to remove The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith from elementary schools. Members said the book was appropriate for young children, despite complaints about the political nature of its content from four families.

Board politics: The Duval County School Board voted to attend a conference despite concerns by residents that the training will be partisan, WTLV reports.  The chairperson of the Volusia County school board apologized for controversial comments she made at a Moms for Liberty conference, WOFL reports. One board member called for a reconsideration of who should be the boards chair.

Campus closures: The Broward County school district reversed plans to shutter six schools, instead deciding to use them differently in an effort to grow their enrollment, WFOR reports.

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Contract talks: Lee County teacher union representatives said some deserving teachers were left out of a pay deal reached during summer arbitration, WINK reports. The sides expect to resume talks soon.

Dress code: The Bay County school district has adopted a new dress code that officials say reverts back to rules in place before Hurricane Michael devastated the community, WMBB reports. Some students say the rules are too strict.

Employment background checks: A St. Lucie County charter school is enhancing its employee background checks as it aims to weed out workers with criminal histories, WPEC reports.

Rezoning: The Collier County school board approved new attendance zones for the coming year to ease campus crowding, WFTX reports.

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Security: The Orange County school board is looking into using its own employees as guardians if five municipalities stop providing resource officers, WFTV reports. The issue boils down to money.

Sex education: New information about the Orange County school districts state-approved sex education curriculum has become available. It doesnt include much sex, Popular Information reports.

Start times: Okaloosa County school board members will ask lawmakers to undo state regulations on school start times, saying it should be a local decision, Get the Coast reports.

Tuition costs: A state lawmaker refiled legislation to guarantee in-state college tuition to incarcerated Floridians, a year after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the measure, Florida Phoenix reports.

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From the police blotter ... A Marion County teacher was arrested on allegations of inappropriately touching a student, WKMG reports.

Dont miss a story. Heres a link to yesterdays roundup.

Before you go ... This recording of the Buena Vista Social Club featuring Omara Portuondo, whos up for a 2024 Grammy at age 93, just resurfaced. Enjoy.
Dec. 11GREENSBURG  South Decatur instructional assistant Joyce Fogle, who has been involved in education for 34 years, received the RISE Award from the Department of Education at a surprise presentation Friday at South Decatur Elementary.

Senior Director of Educator Talent Dr. Rebecca Estes, Director of Recruitment and Retention Anne Marie Milligan and Educator Talent Project Coordinator Cindy Rattray, all from the Indiana Department of Education, attended to make the presentation and facilitate a short reception for her fellow teachers in the SDE teachers lounge.

The Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award honors and promotes the excellence exhibited by classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students pre-kindergarten through high school.

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A classified school employee is an employee of a state or any political subdivision of a state, or an employee of a nonprofit entity, who works in any grade from pre-kindergarten through high school in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services and skilled trades.

Nominees must demonstrate excellence in the areas of work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc., who speak to the nominee's exemplary work) and enhancement of classified school employees' image in the community and schools.

The RISE selectee is nationally recognized at state and federal levels as America's exemplary classified school employee.

Fogle was chosen from a pool of educators across the country. She is one of two chosen in Indiana for the award. Public and private school employees are both eligible for nomination by their states.

Fogle and a guest will attend a special celebration in her honor at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

Contact Bill Rethlake at 812-651-0876 or email bill.rethlake@greensburgdailynews.com.
AUTHORS NOTE: This story contains details from court documents regarding allegations of sex crimes committed against a child victim. Due to the content of this story, discretion is advised before reading. If you know or suspect that someone is being abused sexually, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1 (800) 656-4673.

WICHITA COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL)  The former assistant director of a Texoma church camp has been indicted by a Wichita County Grand Jury after allegedly inappropriately touching a teenage girl who was working at the camp during the summer of 2023.

Nathan Lee McDonald, former Assistant Director at Camp Chaparral, was booked into the Wichita County Jail in February on a charge of indecency with a child by sexual contact.

Hes been free on bond since the following day when he posted his $100,000 bond.

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PREVIOUS: Camp Chaparral assistant director accused of indecency with teen staffer

More than nine months after his initial arrest, a Wichita County grand jury returned an indictment against McDonald, finding enough probable cause to charge him with indecency.

Deputies with the Wichita County Sheriffs Office said they met with the victim in January 2024 after she made a report with the Iowa Park Police Department.

Deputies said they spoke with the victim and her mother. They said the victim reported McDonald had fondled her while she was working under his supervision at the camp during the summer of 2023 when she was 16 years old.

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Deputies said further investigation revealed flirtatious behavior between McDonald and the victim observed by another staff member.

During a monitored phone call between McDonald and the victim, deputies said McDonald apologized several times, adding that he felt like he destroyed her life, and I know you trusted me and I betrayed that.

McDonald spent 12 years on staff at Camp Chaparral. Thomas Truitt, Executive Director at Camp Chaparral, released a statement to Texomas Homepage on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 22, following the arrest of McDonald.

PREVIOUS: Camp Chaparral assistant director terminated following indecency charge

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On Wednesday, February 21, the Board of Directors for Camp Chaparral was notified that one of our employees was arrested and charged with Indecency with a Child by Contact, Truitt said in the statement.

Truitt said the Board of Directors took action on Thursday, Feb. 22, and terminated McDonald. He no longer appears on the Camp Chaparral website.

We are committed to the safety of every camper, sponsor, and camp employee at Camp Chaparral, Truitt said in the statement. We are cooperating fully with investigating authorities.

We are heartbroken over this situation and desire justice for all victims of sexual abuse, Truitt said in the statement.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Former CIA Director John Brennan joins Andrea Mitchell Reports to discuss the repercussions of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Brennan believes that with the ongoing power vacuum terrorist groups may take hold of the country and what that might mean for the U.S.
BEIRUT, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and a fourth was injured on Wednesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to a source from the Lebanese Red Cross.

The source, who requires anonymity, told Xinhua that a Red Cross team transported the body of Amin Khsheish, one of the victims, from the town of Khiam to Marjeyoun Governmental Hospital.

According to the source, a unit from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon found Khsheish's body near his house in the northern outskirts of the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam.

Another team from the Lebanese Red Cross transported a body and an injured person near the village of Aainata to the Bint Jbeil Governmental Hospital in southern Lebanon, the source added.

The source also noted that the body of a citizen named Hamza Badah was retrieved from inside a civilian car that was raided by an Israeli drone in the village of Beit Lif. The body was transferred to a hospital in the city of Tyre.

The latest incidents come amid the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect on Nov. 27.

The ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, aims to halt nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Under the agreement, Israel will withdraw from Lebanese territory within 60 days, the Lebanese army will be deployed on the Lebanese-Israeli border, and Hezbollah will retreat to north of the Litani River. 
DENVER (KDVR)  A former employee for the Douglas County Sheriffs Office has been arrested for sexual misconduct charges, the sheriffs office announced in a press release on Tuesday.

Detectives with the sheriffs office received a tip on Oct. 20, that a woman assigned as a crew leader on the Detention Division held inappropriate relations with an inmate.

Boulder PD: Fentanyl not involved in illnesses at fraternity house

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An investigation was initiated following the tip and the detectives found probable cause that, Alexis Montoya, 43, had committed a crime. Montoya started employment with the sheriffs office on Oct. 12, 2023. Nearly a year later she was placed on administrative leave without pay on Oct. 22, 2024.

Montoya resigned from her position on Dec. 4. A warrant was issued for her arrest and she turned herself into the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office on Dec. 9, according to the press release.

Montoya was charged with Sexual Conduct in a Correctional Institution.

Maintaining the integrity and trust of our office is a top priority. This former employees actions are a serious betrayal of that trust and the values we uphold. This behavior will not be tolerated, and we will ensure justice is served while continuing to hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct, said Sheriff Darren Weekly.

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The case will be handled by the 18th Judicial District Attorneys 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 FOX31 Denver.
Jackie Johnson found herself on the opposite end of the courtroom Wednesday.

The former Georgia District Attorney is accused of violating her oath of office due to her handling of the Ahmaud Arbery murder case, by slow-walking prosecution of the three men ultimately convicted of the murder.

Arbery was gunned down while jogging through a neighborhood in Glynn County in 2020.

Johnson showed little emotion as attorneys debated several motions during the pre-trial hearing.

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It marked her first court appearance since being charged in September 2021.

Prosecutors requested Johnsons appointment by the Governor, electoral history and popularity be excluded from trial, along with prior successful convictions secured by her former office.

RELATED: What to know about ex-prosecutor charged with meddling in Ahmaud Arbery investigation

Johnsons defense attorneys pushed to exclude evidence including the results of other cases Johnsons office had recused itself from in the past.

They also requested the Georgia Attorney Generals Office be disqualified from the case, claiming the defense intends to call the states top cop as a witness during the trial and that the AGs Office is alleged as a victim in the case.

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If hes a witness in the case, then he cant prosecute the case, defense attorney Brian Steel said.

RELATED: Trial date set for ex-DA Jackie Johnson: a step forward in the fight for justice for Ahmaud Arbery

It was a request staunchly opposed by the state.

By trying to make Attorney General (Christopher M.) Carr a witness by speculation, without subpoenaing him and trying to come up with some vague reason, theyre trying to get this case into a place where it can not go forward any further, John Fowler, Deputy Attorney General of the Prosecution Division, said.

The defense also renewed a motion to dismiss the case entirely, claiming a key witness testimony was not recorded during a grand jury hearing.

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The portions that I know, I believe in good faith, I do not have is a critical witness, Steel said.

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But prosecutors argued there was no legal obligation to document the testimony.

We gave them testimony of other witnesses, which is actually more than is required under the statute. We did even more than is required under the statute and we turned over all their testimonies to them, Fowler said.

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No rulings on the motions were rendered during the hearing.

The case is set to go to trial next month.

The prosecution and defense indicated they expect it to last two and a half weeks.

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A former Indianapolis elementary school will shelter as many as 40 families who are homeless this winter as part of a city program that aims to ensure all residents can sleep indoors on frigid nights.

The building, once home to Susan Leach School 68 on the east side at 2107 N. Riley Ave., will open Dec. 15 as an overflow shelter as part of the city's Winter Contingency Plan, according to a city press release. From Nov. 1 through the end of March, the program puts people in shelter spaces that aren't available during warmer months.

Indianapolis Public Schools hasn't hosted instruction at School 68 since 2009 and uses the building as storage space. The facility has served as shelter space in past years when Wheeler Mission, the city's largest shelter provider, saw a surge in need during the pandemic.

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The families will be housed in pods of four, but we do have the ability to accommodate larger families," said Andrew Merkley, the director of homelessness and eviction prevention for Mayor Joe Hogsett's administration. "Theyll be in the gymnasium but also in the classrooms there at the school. Well utilize the cafeteria for food."

More: Freezing cold is here. Where to stay warm and find overnight shelter in Indianapolis.

Starting on Dec. 15, the former Susan Leach School 68 is designated to become an overflow homeless shelter within the city's Winter Contingency Plan through the end of March. Photographed Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, on North Riley Avenue in Indianapolis.

Brian Crispin, Wheeler Mission's senior director of community relations and development, said his organization's Center for Women and Children downtown has room for 30 families year-round.

Last winter, however, the center packed in 40 more families who came to Wheeler Mission in need of emergency shelter. The School 68 shelter opening next week is a better solution for those families, Crispin said.

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When we reach numbers that we were seeing in the past couple of years," Crispin said, "we werent able to operate in ways that were helpful to our guests."

As of this week, Wheeler Mission is sheltering about 660 people in Indianapolis, according to Crispin. The organization doesn't track the exact number of guests in families, but a 2024 citywide count included 421 adults and children in homeless families. About 1,700 people were homeless overall.

Until School 68 opens, the city is paying for 37 families to stay in hotel rooms to get out of the cold, Merkley said. The money comes from the city's $578,000 contribution to this winter's contingency plan. Merkley expects many of those families will move to the School 68 shelter once it opens.

Merkley said School 68 is a solution only for this winter, and it's unclear whether the city will open additional shelter space for families. The city of Indianapolis will open a year-round low-barrier shelter on the southeast side by 2027, with 20 units reserved for families of four.

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Aspire Indiana Health, a community health provider in Indianapolis, will lead the overflow shelter at School 68, providing medical services and case management to homeless families.

Homelessness: New Indianapolis program offers free overnight parking to people living in their cars

How families who are homeless can find shelter

Starting on Dec. 15, the former Susan Leach School 68 is designated to become an overflow homeless shelter within the city's Winter Contingency Plan through the end of March. Photographed Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, on North Riley Avenue in Indianapolis.

To find shelter this winter, families can call the Mayors Action Center at 317-327-4622 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The city's Office of Public Health Health and Safety is working with HealthNet's Homeless Initiative Program and local trustee offices to place families in emergency shelter. Call HealthNet for an appointment at 317-957-2275.

How Indianapolis pays for Winter Contingency Plan

The roughly $1.5 million winter contingency plan is funded by multiple sources, including $750,000 from the Lilly Endowment, $578,000 in taxpayer money from the city, $50,000 from The Indianapolis Foundation, $50,000 from United Way of Central Indiana and more than $63,000 from the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention.

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Email IndyStar Housing, Growth and Development Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis sheltering homeless families in former school building
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now)  The Hagerstown community gathered at a luncheon for the holiday season as a tribute to those who were formerly incarcerated and have gone on to lead productive lives.

A luncheon was hosted by Gatekeepers, the nonprofit support group that facilitates the transition outside prison walls with life skills, job training and employment opportunities.

An unbreakable bond: Frederick womans connection with her Seeing Eye guide dog

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The term gatekeeper refers to the greeting a released inmate gets at the prison gate from the support group when exiting a correctional facility.

Eric Junior was honored at todays luncheon for turning his life around after serving time. Upon release, and with Gatekeepers support, he went on to earn a CDL license and now owns his own trucking company.

I came here [to Gatekeepers] on faith and I have been here ever since, Junior said. Through faith, and through this program and through resources in Hagerstown Ive been able to grow.

Whitney Burnett helps run support programs for Gatekeepers and said to watch someone like Junior go from several years in prison to his now being a licensed CDL driver in a thriving career is something beautiful.

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It is astounding the resources that Gatekeepers provides [and] the help they provide, Junior said. Granted, you have to put in the work. Nothing is without your own work. But theyre for you and if you put in the work theyve got your back 100%.

BWI explosives detection dog featured in TSA Canine Calendar

Gatekeepers founder and director, Bill Gaertner, said that the real success of the program is the commitment each member of the group makes to bettering themselves.

At the community Christmas luncheon, Gatekeepers saluted Hagerstowns outgoing Mayor Tekesha Martinez, and her successor, Bill McIntyre. A special tribute was also made to the president of Hagerstown Community College, James Klauber, for his partnership with Gatekeepers.

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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.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR)  A former Lanphier High School student convicted for killing one of her classmates will get a second trial, thanks to an appellate court.

Kamyjah Bias was found guilty of stabbing Pierre Scott Jr. to death at Lanphier High School in 2021. She also stabbed another student who survived. The States Attorney at the time, Dan Wright, successfully petitioned to have Bias tried as an adult, and she was sentenced to 43 years in prison in 2023. Biass defense team unsuccessfully argued during the trial that the charges should be lowered from first-degree murder because she said she was acting in self defense.

PREVIOUS STORY: Teenager receives maximum sentence for 2021 Springfield high school stabbing

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Now, a year and a half later, the Illinois 4th District Appellate Court ruled that the juvenile court was wrong to transfer Biass case to criminal court.

This means Bias  who was 15 at the time of the stabbing  will get another trial in juvenile court.

SEE ALSO: Vigil held for teenager killed in stabbing

The juvenile court abused its discretion by transferring defendant to the criminal court without sufficient evidence on all of the statutory and nonstatutory factors it was required to consider. Therefore, this court must vacate the juvenile courts transfer order, reverse the circuit courts judgment in this case, and remand this matter to the juvenile court for further proceedings, the court held in its ruling.

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READ MORE: Springfield Police: 18-year-old dies after he was stabbed near school

When reached for comment, current States Attorney John Milhiser said he intends to once again petition the juvenile court to transfer the case to criminal court.

This is a developing story. WCIA will provide updates as we learn more.

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 WCIA.com.
Palm Beach County school district investigators found that a science teacher at Omni Middle School told students from Haiti, Ukraine and Russia in his class to "go back where they came from" and said they would be deported.

Although the school board voted to fire teacher Lovell Northern on Oct. 23, the 10-year veteran of the school district opted to retire effective Oct. 19, according to district records. He is 79 years old.

The reports from both U.S.-born and foreign students detail a toxic and disrespectful environment in Northern's classroom.

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Palm Beach County, and Boca Raton in particular, has been seen as a safe landing place for immigrant families from Russia and Ukraine in recent years. Many families have fled the violence that has overtaken the region after Russia invaded its neighbor most recently in 2022. Students of all ages who arrive from Russia and Ukraine often use district-provided translators and take classes to learn English.

When interviewed by district investigators, Northern said he had 22 students from Russia or Ukraine last school year who spoke very little English. He said he was "inundated with angry students from a war zone" and repeatedly asked the school for more support or help in handling the students.

"Is this how they thank us for what we've done for them?" Northern said about the students in an investigative interview.

Science teacher told students they were a 'terrible class' and 'will be deported'

After school district investigators received the initial report of discriminatory comments by Northern in May, they spoke with 10 middle school students who detailed rude behavior by their teacher.

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Students said Northern mocked "almost all students" in his science classes; threatened classes, saying the following weeks would be "the worst last three weeks" of school; and called them idiots or stupid.

"He's very unkind and doesn't treat his students with respect," one student wrote about Northern to Omni Middle School counselor Karley Sarcone. "First he told me my parents don't care about me, (and) threw away my paper that I worked so hard on and crumbled it because of a simple mistake."

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But Northern's classroom conduct extended beyond threats and insults into comments about students from other countries.

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"He often stereotypes kids and tells them to go back to their country," the same student wrote. "He told my friend 'Go back to Haiti' and the ESL kids 'Go back to Russia or Ukraine or wherever you came from!' also the Spanish ESL kids to go back to Mexico."

Another student wrote, "Mr. Northern told us that we are a terrible class and we will be deported."

Five students reported that Northern said they would be deported or that he would deport them himself. Some of their statements were translated by district employees so they could be part of the investigation.

Omni Middle science teacher received negative note from substitute about ESOL students

Northern, who had no prior discipline for his classroom conduct, had worked for the school district since 2014. He worked at Omni for all 10 of those years and previously worked as a substitute teacher in the district.

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Before working in education, Northern was a certified court process server in Palm Beach County and an international commodities trader for brokerage firm Dean Witter Reynolds.

Northern said the students were hostile and disrespectful toward him. He detailed incidents where students wrote profane words on the desks in Russian and shared a note from a substitute teacher that said, "As I'm certain you know, the ESOL students do absolutely nothing. ... I don't know how you put up with those kids."

More: Jupiter, Boca Raton voters will choose new school board members. Who is on the ballot?

A veteran of the Navy, Northern also said in interviews with district investigators that he "made an oath to protect the country to forces outside and inside," and asked, "How could someone come into the U.S. and act this way?"

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"How could they disgrace the opportunity they have?" Northern added.

Northern did not return requests for comment regarding the board's vote to fire him or his retirement.

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Omni Middle School teacher told kids to go back to home countries
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  A former pastor at a Decatur church was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sodomy, a Morgan County circuit judge told News 19.

Danny Duane Pitts was found guilty of second-degree sodomy by a Morgan County jury on October 24.

Man sentenced for 2022 Five Points shooting

On Wednesday, Circuit Judge Charles B. Elliott sentenced Pitts to 20 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections. This is the maximum sentence for second-degree sodomy.

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Pitts was originally indicted on two counts of sodomy in 2021.

His October trial lasted four days.

Testimony in the trial began with former Hartselle Police Investigator Amy Crouch. She testified the then-teenage accuser disclosed details about several illegal sexual encounters between him and his pastor, Danny Pitts.

At that time, Crouch testified cases that were sexual in nature were to be drafted into a report and submitted to the DAs office to decide whether it would move forward to a grand jury. She testified her investigation took nearly a year, but then she sent it over to prosecutors.

The victim in the case also tearfully testified that Pitts took advantage of him early on in counseling sessions. The victim said he initially kept it to himself but later confided in his family, who offered support if he wanted to press charges.

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Pitts is also awaiting trial for similar charges in Tennessee.

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.
RALEIGH, N.C.  A former U.S. Coast Guard member was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release after an investigation found he solicited child pornography from multiple women.

Stephen Lamond Lollis, 36, pled guilty to the charges on Aug. 19, 2024. According to court documents, Lollis was investigated after a former love interest reported that he had shown her child pornography and made comments about his desire to sexually abuse her and her son.

As a result of the tip, Homeland Security agents searched Lollis home and seized four devices that contained child pornography. Law enforcement officers also found conversations where Lollis encouraged women to sexually abuse their own children and send him videos and images of the abuse.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
WASHINGTON, Mo.  More than a year and a half after being shot in the line of duty, a former Hermann police officer is continuing his law enforcement career.

Adam Sullentrup is joining the New Haven Police Department as a public relations specialist, Christopher Neace, the departments incoming police chief, said in a Facebook post.

I am confident that he will make a profoundly positive impact on our community, Neace said.

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Sullentrup and Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith were shot on March 12, 2023, at a Caseys General Store in Hermann while attempting to arrest Kenneth Lee Simpson on outstanding warrants in Franklin and Warren counties.

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Griffith was rushed to Hermann Hospital but later died from his injuries. He was 34.

Sullentrup, who was shot in the head, was taken to a St. Louis hospital for treatment and survived.

Simpson surrendered to authorities the next day following a lengthy standoff with a SWAT team and officers from several different police departments.

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After three weeks in the ICU, Sullentrup was transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, in April.

Sullentrup returned home in late November 2023 after a months-long rehab stint.

Meanwhile, Simpson will face a jury trial, slated to begin on Jan. 20, 2026.

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PHNOM PENH, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Morocco have vowed to bolster bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and tourism for the interest of the two countries and peoples, said a press release from Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

The commitment was made during the fourth session of political consultations between the two ministries of foreign affairs held in Phnom Penh last Friday and co-chaired by Chhouk Bunna, director general of the general department of Europe, America and Africa-Middle East of Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Omar Kadiri, director of Asian and Oceania affairs of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

"The two co-chairs underscored the need to give new momentum to cooperation in trade and investment and agreed to establish a Cambodia-Morocco business forum," the press release said.

They also agreed to expedite efforts to finalize pending agreements, such as a draft agreement on reciprocal promotion and protection of investment, a draft agreement on the elimination of double taxation, and a draft framework agreement on economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation, it added.

Bunna also encouraged more activities in support of tourism cooperation between Cambodia and Morocco.

"To that end, both sides agreed to work toward the signing of a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation in the near future," the press release said.

Both sides reaffirmed their willingness to maintain good cooperation between the two countries in supporting each other's candidates in different international organizations, it added.

Furthermore, the two sides agreed to start working on a roadmap to deepen bilateral relations, the press release said, adding that they also exchanged views on regional and global issues of common concern. 
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  A former nurse pleaded guilty on Wednesday to stealing vials of medication while employed at Yale New Haven Hospital, according to the Department of Justice.

East Granby woman sentenced in Medicaid fraud case

Sean Falzarano, 38, allegedly took a vial containing Lorazepam, a sedative that can be used to treat seizure disorders and anxiety, replaced the contents with a fake solution and returned the vial back to the location where it was available to be distributed to patients.

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He pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product and one count of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud. Hes facing up to 14 years in prison.

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Fort Worth ISDs interim superintendent revealed a plan during a school board meeting to facilitate local partnerships between the district and community organizations by urging them to support school staff as part of their New Years resolutions. The school board also discussed its approach to solving its literacy woes in connection to its partnerships.

Karen Molinar outlined an initiative to revive engagement with businesses and community and faith-based organizations during a presentation to the school board on Tuesday, Dec. 10. She encouraged organizations, businesses, churches and neighborhood associations to adopt a school staff for the next five months. This includes a monthly action from January to May of providing them with snacks and supplies, sponsoring staff recognition events, donating awards to recognized staff through restaurant certificates or new teachers lounge materials, and offering pro-bono services. Interested organizations can fill out a Google form or call 817-814-1900.

This is different than adopt a school. When you adopt a school, you may lean into the student side by providing jackets and socks. We have been doing some very urgent and focused work the first semester, and it will only increase the second semester. The weight is really on our campus staff, Molinar said. This is my challenge, my New Years resolution challenge to the city of Fort Worth. The response has been overwhelming when we go out to the community People want to lean in. People want to help. They need an avenue to help.

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Molinar noted that she will be highlighting an existing community partnership at each board meeting going forward. On Tuesday, she talked about the Childrens Vision Program with the Alcon Foundation. Students in pre-K through 12th grade receive vision screenings and referrals, eye exams, prescription glasses, in-school eye exams and more. A school-based eye clinic located between the Western Hills Elementary and Primary schools provides some of these services while staff also travel to elementary schools across the district to provide services on-site.

Molinar also shared numbers regarding district partnerships and parent engagement. There are 94 parent organizations, 125 adopt-a-school partners, more than 32,000 Parent Portal accounts, more than 42,000 students associated with those Parent Portal accounts and about 20,400 parent log-ins, according to Molinar. The district is focusing on adding parent organizations to more campuses that dont have one.

This priority is very important to me. How do we build our community strength for our district in all areas, (not just) student achievement? Molinar said. Theres two points of actions here that were focusing on the first semester going into the second semester. Strengthening the ties with our community partners, provide direct benefits to our students and families, and then, of course, focus on our early childhood to post-secondary success in all of our areas.

School board member Anne Darr said she agreed that our community is our strength and she considers literacy to be a community issue. She applauded Molinar for bringing forward strategies around student achievement and community engagement.

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The instruction, and good instruction, has to take place in our classrooms, but strong communities are communities that rally around our schools and elevate our students and elevate our teachers. You have not only illustrated that, but you have provided tangible, real ideas  doable things  that will benefit our students, our teachers and our community as a whole. So thank you for that, Darr said.

Student achievement

Molinar also gave school board members an update on the districts focus to improve student achievement and to close gaps. Central administration staff have finished their first week of providing intervention and tutoring on campuses with more than 2,200 support hours across roughly 3,600 support sessions as of Dec. 9, Molinar said. The majority of support sessions, 67%, are focused on reading, and 29% are focused on math. English I, English II and Algebra 1 content areas account for the remaining smaller percentages of sessions.

The district is tracking the intervention data by each student and the standard theyre working on. This data will be evaluated alongside the districts middle-of-year MAP data, which will be presented in February, to see how much academic growth has happened, Molinar said.

At a different point in the meeting, the school board unanimously approved an initial vote of a resolution assigning Molinar to create an evidence-based plan so all students can read at grade level, which includes utilizing city-wide partnerships. The plan will include specific benchmarks, strategies to support and replicate success across the district, and regular reports to parents about their childs literacy progress. Officials did not say when the resolution would return to the board for a second reading or when the plan itself was expected to be completed.

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Achieving grade-level literacy for all students is not only an educational imperative but also a moral obligation to the students and families of the Fort Worth Independent School District, the resolution reads. The board is committed to an unwavering, long-term, sustained focus of time, essential resources, and work in support of this resolution without regard to changes in leadership at any level.

Darr said she appreciated the section of the resolution that notes the support of the resolution regardless of who may be in district leadership positions, stating that it must be a long-term plan. The school board has yet to publicly discuss its plans for a new superintendent search.

Darr also listed multiple suggestions to add to the resolution as it was originally presented. She hopes the measurable benchmark aspect of the resolution does not translate to additional testing and assessments. Darr drew concern that the resolution doesnt mention the need for adequate staffing and high-quality curriculum or how the district will measure its success. She also wants more than one data point to be used when measuring the literacy of the district.

I fully support all students reading at grade level. Please know that. But there are just a couple comments I have, and I know this is the first reading, so nows the time to make suggestions, Darr said. I would also just like to remind this board and this community that this is a piece of paper, and a resolution has no merit without implementation and becomes meaningless. So weve got to be willing to stand behind this resolution and implement this resolution.

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School board member Tobi Jackson said this was an opportunity for the community to solve a civic crisis with 43% of all students in each district or charter school within the city reading at grade level.

As we correct this and make literacy the priority, we deliver the power to transform our community and deliver something our community can get behind to support our students. We can improve outcomes in poverty, crime, employment and the overall standard of living across our city. Literacy is the key to creating a more equitable society, driving health outcomes, the economy and delivering informed and engaged citizenry, Jackson said.
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  Four people were arrested, 12 guns were seized and more than four ounces of meth was located after police executed a search warrant on a home in the Bristol area Tuesday.

A release from the Washington County, Virginia Sheriffs Office said the search warrant was conducted in Bristol near the Washington/Scott County line. The sheriffs office said the Virginia State Polices (VSP) Holston River Task Force assisted in the search, which yielded around three ounces of meth, 12 firearms and two grams of fentanyl.

Judge Street volunteers to oversee Elizabethton court

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The release said two of the four individuals arrested were already wanted. The four people arrested during the search warrant and their charges are as follows:

Stacey Lane, 48, of Bristol, Va.: Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to distribute (methamphetamine), in violation of  18.2-248 of the Code of Virginia Conspiracy to distribute schedule I or II controlled substance, in violation of 18.2 256/18.2-248 of the Code of Virginia Possession of a Schedule I or II narcotic (fentanyl), in violation of  18.2-250 of the Code of Virginia Possession of a Schedule I or II while possessing a firearm, in violation of  18.2-308.4 of the Code of Virginia Possession of firearm by convicted felon, in violation of  18.2-308.2 of the Code of

Virginia Outstanding warrant served, capias for failure to appear Held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail

Timothy D. Hayes, age 43, of Bristol, Tenn.: Outstanding warrant served, capias for failure to appear Held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail

Brandon Skyler Kirkpatrick, 32, of Bristol, Va.: Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance (methamphetamine), in violation of  18.2-250 of the Code of Virginia Held on a $1,500 secured bond

Joshua Blake Jackson, 39, of Bristol, Va.: Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance (fentanyl), in violation of  18.2-

250 of the Code of Virginia Held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail



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(WHTM)  Four people are accused of numerous smash and grab-style thefts across western Pennsylvania, targeting dozens of victims, the state Attorney Generals Office announced Tuesday.

Amed Henderson, 32, Shaquan Moore, 32, both of Pittsburgh, Theresa Imel, 43, of Dravosburg, and Elizabeth Madden, 33, of Elizabeth, are also accused of stealing from the victims bank accounts, a news release from the AGs Office states.

These invasive, random crimes cause financial stress and strip the victims and their communities of a sense of security, Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement. These defendants are charged with breaking into vehicles, often by smashing a window, to steal personal items, and then violating the victims even further by accessing their bank accounts.

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Credit and bank cards, checks, and ID cards were stolen from victims in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Erie, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland counties and then the group tried to get cash from bank accounts. The release says that Henderson and Moore used rented cars and stolen license plates to scope out vehicles parked in public places.

There were a total of 68 victims in 19 jurisdictions. The AGs Office says that police departments worked together during the investigation to track down the defendants.

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Henderson faces charges of corrupt organization, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and criminal conspiracy.

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Moore was charged with corrupt organization, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, identity theft, and three counts of criminal conspiracy.

Both Imel and Madden face charges of corrupt organization, criminal conspiracy, and identify theft.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Alexander Cashman is prosecuting the case.

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At least one of the suspects accused of setting the fire that severely damaged Interstate 471 at the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge was apprehended by a Hamilton County SWAT team, according to prosecutors.

Zachary Stumpf, 23, and Terry Stiles, 39, are charged with aggravated arson and will be held on $1 million bonds after their cases were heard in court Wednesday. Court documents state they intentionally started the fire that consumed the 1000 Hands Playground on Nov. 1. The southbound highway is expected to be closed through March.

Stiles did not appear before a judge Wednesday morning. A court official said he had to be placed in a restraint chair and made to wear a spit screen that covered much of his face.

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Cincinnati Fire Specialist Stephen Metz, who investigated the fire, said that authorities attempted to reach Stiles and Stumpf through relatives and others close to them.

Stiles "made it clear to them that he would never go back to jail, he'd rather die," Metz said in court.

Prosecutors said Stiles and Stumpf used "evasive tactics" to avoid contact with investigators, adding that Stiles was ultimately apprehended by a Hamilton County SWAT team.

Two others have been charged with obstruction of justice in the case. Kaitlen Hall, 24, and James Hamilton, 26, are accused of misleading investigators as they searched for Stumpf and Stiles.

James Hamilton, 26, is arraigned on obstruction of justice charges at the Hamilton County Justice Center on Wednesday.

Hall and Hamilton are being held on $60,000 bonds.

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All four defendants were arraigned Wednesday morning in Hamilton County Municipal Court by Judge Heather Russell.

Nothing was revealed in court Wednesday about the circumstances that led to the fire. Prosecutors did not say how the four knew each other but court documents list the same address for Stiles, Hall and Hamilton.

Officials last week estimated the repairs would cost "at least $10 million" but said the actual amount would not be known until the work is done. The closures needed for the repairs have caused gridlock for drivers and heavy losses to businesses.

Previous report: 2 more charged in Big Mac Bridge fire; Cincinnati fire chief debunks homeless rumor

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Investigators wrote in the documents that the Stiles and Stumpf "intentionally set a fire on a playground located under the interstate overpass." The documents stated there were witnesses and video and photographic evidence.

Hall was arrested Tuesday. She is accused of refusing to cooperate when questioned about Stumpf and Stiles and giving false information.

Kaitlen Hall, 24, is arraigned on obstruction of justice charges at the Hamilton County Justice Center on Wednesday.

Investigators have not said exactly how the suspects are connected. Court documents say Hall had been friends with Stumpf for more than six years and that she knew Stiles.

"Essentially, it's just words, your honor," Darceny Winston, Hall's public defender, told the judge. "That is what she's charged with is words."

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However, investigators said Hall had been "completely uncooperative" with the investigation and was at the scene of the fire.

Zachery Stumpf, 23, is arraigned on aggravated arson charges at the Hamilton County Justice Center on Wednesday.

Court documents list the same address for Hall, Stiles and Hamilton in Arlington Heights. Stumpf's address is listed in Owensville in Clermont County.

Stiles pleaded guilty in 2005 to felonious assault after he was accused of hitting and shaking his girlfriend's infant son, Carl Legget Jr., causing brain damage. Stiles served eight years in prison. In 2019, the child died and Stiles was charged with murder, but those charges were dismissed. A judge said he had already served time for a lesser offense.

Terry Stiles after his arrest in 2019.

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Court documents do not indicate a motive for the fire. It is unclear why the fire was set but Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley said Tuesday night the suspects are not homeless, as many speculated.

Officials also have not said what accelerants were used in the fire that started in the playground just below the bridge on Cincinnati's riverfront. Flames reached up over 40 feet and were so high that some witnesses thought a vehicle was on fire on the roadway.

Court records named a truck driver, Austin Steinmann, as the victim of the fire. Steinmann happened to be on the bridge when the fire broke out but said he was not targeted.

Enquirer reporters Sharon Coolidge, Cameron Knight and Patricia Gallagher Newberry contributed.

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Repair timeline: Daniel Carter Beard Bridge repairs expected to take until March

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Daniel Carter Beard Bridge fire: What we know about the 4 suspects
The Trump-iana purchase!

A prominent Fox News host has floated that President-elect Donald Trump could be looking to make a major land purchase during his second term. Her prediction comes as Trump continues to taunt Canada and its officials, and has reportedly suggested the northern neighbor should be Americas 51st state.

I actually think that the United States might make some sort of purchase. I dont know, not Canada, but there might be some sort of like big real estate purchase in the next four years, Dana Perino said on Tuesdays episode of The five on Fox.

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Co-host Jessica Tarlov then suggested Greenland as a potential purchase.

A Fox News host suggested that Donald Trump could look to purchase land for America during his second term (REUTERS)

In 2019, Trump suggested that the U.S. would be interested in acquiring Greenland from Denmark.

Strategically, its interesting. And wed be interested. Well talk to them a little bit. Its not number one on the burner, I can tell you that, he said during his first term.

Given Trumps recent fascination - coupled with the previous Greenland comments - its not a surprise Perino suggested he might look to grow America through buying land, such as the country did with the Louisiana purchase.

Perino didnt offer more explanation on which lands she believes the president-elect will target, and Trump has not talked recently about buying land.

There might be some sort of like big real estate purchase in the next four years, Dana Perino (pictured) said on Fox News (Getty Images)

He recently suggested to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should become the 51st state if the northern neighbor is unhappy with the impact of Trumps proposed tariffs.

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The news of those comments led to constant trolling by Trump. He posted an AI-generated image of him with a Canadian flag on his social media site. Late Monday, Trump gave Trudeau a new title in one of his posts.

It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada, Trump wrote on Truth Social. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!
By Benoit Van Overstraeten and Felix Light

PARIS/TBILISI (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron condemned a crackdown on pro-EU protests in Georgia in a rare telephone call on Wednesday with influential Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, Macron's office said.

Ivanishvili, who made his fortune from metals and telecoms in Russia in the 1990s, is widely seen as Georgia's paramount leader. He was prime minister in 2012-13 and is honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

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He has a French passport but has distanced himself from the West. He said in October he had refused contact with Washington, which suspended its strategic partnership with the South Caucasus country on Nov. 30 over the crackdown.

Georgian Dream confirmed the call, saying Macron had said he "was concerned about the situation in Georgia and expressed his desire to contribute to its complete de-escalation". Ivanishvili welcomed the idea of joint efforts and agreed to continue talks in the coming days, the party said on its Facebook account.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in Georgia since nightly protests broke out almost two weeks ago against a decision by Georgian Dream to delay the former Soviet republic's longstanding goal of joining the European Union.

On Monday the EU ambassador said the crackdown merited sanctions by the bloc and Britain said it had suspended aid. Macron told Ivanishvili relations with the EU would be affected by developments in Georgia, the French statement said. Macron's office said the call took place on Wednesday morning.

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The protesters accuse Georgian Dream of doing Russia's bidding. The party says it is taking a pragmatic approach to Moscow to secure peace in the light of the war in Ukraine.

France's presidential office said Macron condemned what it called intimidation of civil and opposition figures and police violence against peaceful demonstrators and journalists and called for release of all those "arbitrarily arrested".

Both sides accuse the other of initiating clashes that have involved police using tear gas, batons and water cannons and some protesters throwing fireworks. Masked men have attacked opposition figures and journalists in recent days.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU Ivanishvili critic who was born in Paris and served as France's ambassador to Georgia, met Macron and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last week.

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Zourabichvili describes Ivanishvili as a pro-Russian oligarch and says October's election, in which Georgian Dream was declared the winner with 54% of the vote, was tainted by fraud. He says he is not pro-Russian, renounced his Russian citizenship in 2011 and still wants Georgia to join the EU.

Georgian Dream and the country's electoral commission say the election was free and fair, while Western countries have said allegations of fraud must be investigated.

(Additional reporting by Filip Lebedev and Elizabeth Pineau; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO)  Freeport Police said methamphetamine was found during the arrest of two men accused of stealing a Jeep from neighboring Whiteside County.

According to the Freeport Police Department, Rodney Swan, 25, and Kevin Bass, 68, both of Sterling, were arrested Tuesday night after a license plate reader hit on a stolen 2019 Jeep Cherokee in the city of Freeport.

Police said the vehicle had previously been reported stolen.

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Officers located the vehicle parked in an alley in the 500 block of W. Galena Avenue.

Swan was charged with Possession of a Stolen Vehicle.

Bass was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine.

Both men were taken to the Freeport Police Department, processed, and released pretrial and given a notice to appear at a future court date.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A new emergency room has officially opened in Davidson County.

TriStar Medical cut the ribbon on its Bellevue emergency room Tuesday afternoon, adding that more freestanding emergency rooms are still in the works across Middle Tennessee.

The $16 million Bellevue facility  which was built in just 18 months  features an 11-bed ER with CT technology, a trauma room and lab services.

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MAP: Flu season is here, especially in these states

According to officials, the Bellevue ER will operate as a satellite location for nearby TriStar Centennial, bridging the gap between population growth and emergency resources.

Its not something that we just plop down because we want it to be there, it has to be something that the community wants, detailed Tom Ozburn, President/CEO for TriStar Centennial Medical Center. We look at growth and we look at where patients are and where patients need care, and that kind of drives our decisions.

Bellevues ER is located strategically along I-40, giving those beyond the community easy access to the resource.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

Going west down the interstate, we get a lot of patients. As Bellevue grows, as the communities around Bellevue grow, as it gets more dense in population, its even more important to have those resources here, said Ozburn.

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The ER marks the second major investment by TriStar into Bellevue, following an Urgent Care center that opened last year.

The Medical Center has plans for several more freestanding ERs around Nashville, including in White House and East Nashville.

Ozburn told News 2 they dont have a set number of ERs that theyd like to build. Instead, its about leaning into and following Nashvilles growth and demand.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

He said their center immerses themselves in communities before deciding to build a facility. In Bellevues case, theres a specific trait Ozburn believes makes them an appealing suburb.

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Just so much pride associated with the people of Bellevue. And so, Im just so excited to see all this happen, and for them to be able to get all these services here, he said.

TriStar Bellevue ER is located at 7734 Highway 70 South and will be open 24/7 to provide care for any type of medical emergency.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
CHENGDU, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Three Belgium-born pandas arrived in the city of Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Wednesday morning.

Upon their arrival, the three pandas -- Tian Bao, Bao Di and Bao Mei -- were sent to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda for quarantine. Tian Bao was born in Belgium in June 2016, while the twins, Bao Di and Bao Mei, were born in August 2019.

To ensure the safe and smooth return of the three giant pandas, the center dispatched an experienced veterinarian to Belgium on Dec. 5 to work with local veterinarians on routine health checks and assessments and to accompany the pandas back to China.

The center has arranged enclosures, food and personnel to ensure the three pandas quickly adapt to their new surroundings and smoothly transition through the quarantine period. The pandas will be presented to the public at an appropriate time.

The three pandas were born to Xing Hui and Hao Hao, a giant panda pair who departed from Sichuan to Belgium in February 2014 to participate in a 15-year China-Belgium giant panda cooperation program.

Over the past decade, China and Belgium have worked together to enhance giant panda conservation and research. They have achieved remarkable progress in advancing panda protection and breeding, managing the care and health monitoring of cubs, staff training, scientific research, and public education. 
Paris prosecutors have requested a five-year prison sentence for filmmaker Christophe Ruggia over sexual assault charges involving actor Adele Haenel when she was a minor, Le Monde reports. Haenel is the star of the Cannes prize-winning film Portrait of a Lady on Fire and BPM.

The sentence, requested on Tuesday, includes two years under house arrest with electronic monitoring and three years suspended. Prosecutor Camille Poch said during the hearing that it must remind us of the forbidden, who was the adult, who was the child, it must set the world straight.

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The case stems from incidents that allegedly occurred when Haenel was between 12 and 14 years old, following her role in Ruggias 2001 film Les Diables (The Devils). The prosecution outlined a pattern of progressive hold over Haenel, which included approximately 100 Saturday afternoons spent at Ruggias residence until February 2004.

Defense attorney Orly Rezlan pointed to a 2014 letter from Haenel to Ruggia, noting that it does not describe any gesture that would have a sexual ambiguity. The defense also highlighted that specific allegations about inappropriate touching werent made until late November 2019 during the investigation.

The verdict is scheduled for Feb. 3.

Haenel, a two-time Cesar Award winner, initially brought the allegations to light in a November 2019 investigation by French investigative website Mediapart. Haenel alleged that Ruggia repeatedly made advances toward her, including unwanted touching and kisses, until she was 15. Haenel said she told people several years ago about the incidents, well before the rise of the #MeToo movement, but felt moved to speak out publicly now because of the documentary on Michael Jackson, Leaving Neverland, and news that Ruggia was prepping a new film with two protagonists with the same names as her and her co-stars characters in The Devils.

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Ruggia, who was 36 at the time of filming Les Diables, has contested the charges, describing the Mediapart article as a Stalinist trial that destroyed my life. Less than a day after being accused, Ruggia was expelled from the French directors guild. He was indicted in 2020.

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The Paris prosecutors office has requested five years in prison, with three years suspended, for French director Christophe Ruggia in relation to accusations by actress Adele Haenel that he sexually assaulted her when she was a minor.

The sentence request was made on the final day of a dramatic two-day trial in Paris this week, some five years after Haenel went public in 2019 with accusations against Ruggia, accusing him of sexually assaulting her as a teenager after he cast her in his 2002 feature The Devils.

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Ruggia is not expected to do jail time but will likely spend the two-year custodial part of the requested sentence under house arrest with an electronic bracelet, if the sentence is upheld. A final sentence will be announced on February 3.

The prosecutor also requested that Ruggia be placed on Frances national sex offender registry, be banned from seeking contact with Haenel and also compensate her.

She said the sentence took into Ruggias refusal to recognize the facts laid out in the trial, as well as the gravity and repeated nature of the sexual assaults.

Haenel has accused Ruggia of sexually assaulting and molesting her over the course of three years, beginning with the shoot of The Devils in 2001, when she was 12 and he was 36, and continuing into the promotional and festival tour.

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Ruggia, who has denied the accusations, suggested to the court that Haenels accusations were revenge because he had not made a second film with her, a claim that was brushed aside by her lawyer.

Proceedings were briefly suspended on day two of the trial after Haenel yelled out Shut your mouth! and stormed out, when Ruggia was giving evidence in his defence suggesting he had tried to protect her as a teenager and advise her on how to avoid being bullied at school, suggesting she take a stage name.

The trial is seen as a test case for #MeToo case in France.

Haenel put her career on the line when she went public with her accusations against Ruggia at a time when the movement had yet to be embraced in France.

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She received little open support from the local film industry at the time and in 2023 announced that she was the quitting the film industry because of its general complacency towards sexual predators.

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By Thomas Escritt

BERLIN (Reuters) - Ten weeks away from elections and with a double-digit lead over his closest rival's party, conservative leader Friedrich Merz is getting used to being feted as Germany's next Chancellor.

The 68-year-old, whose trip to Kyiv this week highlighted his growing stature, faces an ill-tempered country mired in its worst economic crisis in decades and must balance satisfying traditional conservative supporters with taking his party rightwards to wrestle back votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

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Standing alongside Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Merz on Monday tore into Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his refusal to send Ukraine more powerful missiles and forcing it to "fight with one hand behind its back". He also urged Europe's leaders to prepare for Donald Trump's presidency.

"We want your army to be capable of hitting military bases in Russia. Not the civilian population, not infrastructure, but the military targets from which your country is being attacked," he told Zelenskiy.

Former conservative legislator Andreas Nick said he detects a new care in how Merz chooses his words.

"He clearly feels whatever he says has to be weighed against the fact that he might soon be Chancellor."

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Merz was initially seen as a transitional leader for the conservatives. When Angela Merkel stood down after almost 19 years as party chair, he was defeated by other candidates in 2018 and in 2021, before finally winning the post in 2022.

Admirers praise Merz as a tactician. The collapse of Scholz's government in November came after his legal challenge to last year's budget precipitated the funding crisis that wrecked an already unwieldy three-way coalition.

In his campaign so far, Merz's economic prescriptions have focused on tax cuts, deregulation and incentives to work.

He has also hinted that he might loosen a constitutional spending cap - whose stringency it was that made his legal challenge so devastating - to win over voters angered at the state of Germany's infrastructure while promising that any change would finance investment, not spending.

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A protege of Wolfgang Schaeuble, finance minister and icon of fiscal conservatism, Merz rose to CDU parliamentary leader in the 2000s, before becoming one of several powerful men dispatched by Merkel.

He quit parliament after she became chancellor and has never held government office. He worked for 15 years as a lobbyist and board member in companies including the Germany branches of asset manager Blackrock and HSBC bank, as well as the publicly-owned Cologne-Bonn airport. Merz is a hobby pilot who owns two aeroplanes.

CONTROVERSIES

Tall and wiry with a sonorous baritone, Merz has come in for criticism more than once for how he refers to migrants, such as when on a television talkshow in January 2023 he referred to boys from ethnic minority backgrounds as "little pashas".

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He later defended the comment in a television interview saying there were significant problems in schools, with teachers not being shown respect, and it was necessary to raise these issues.

His comment coincided with a dip in the polls for the conservatives. On another occasion he dismayed some supporters when he suggested Ukrainian war refugees were arriving to collect benefits. He later apologised, saying his use of the phrase "social tourism" was inaccurate and insensitive.

"I try to express my political views in plain language, and I admit that I don't always manage that with perfect dictionary precision," he told an interviewer last week.

As the elections near and foreign leaders start to call him more regularly, observers detect a new seriousness and discipline on messaging in a man who is now within striking distance of fulfilling his decades-old ambition of becoming chancellor.

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Fickle voters and crowded party landscapes in which small shifts can upend rankings are making electoral upsets more common worldwide. Support for the SPD is creeping up, but at 16% in a poll last week it is still half the conservatives' 32%.

Whereas Merz long trailed Scholz in personal approval polls, he has for a while been seen as the better candidate, even if his personal popularity lags his party's.

An October poll found 56% of men favoured him, 30% Scholz. The Social Democrat was more popular with women however, with 44% preferring him while 41% chose Merz.

"He's a very old-fashioned guy who is trying very hard to appear more 21st century," said political scientist Kai Arzheimer.

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Some of Merz's gaffes stem from him having cut his teeth in an earlier era of male-dominated politics more than two decades ago, sceptics in his party say. In an internet TV interview with German newspaper Bild in 2020, asked about the idea of a gay chancellor, he said sexual orientation was not the public's concern "provided it's legal and doesn't involve children."

Widely criticised, also from within his own party, Merz later said his comments had been misinterpreted and twisted.

Despite the controversies, even opponents note the courtliness and generosity of a man who, with his wife, a judge, celebrated his 50th birthday by endowing a foundation to award educational scholarships to deprived children in his hometown.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
FALLBROOK, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Frustrated, tired and cold.

Thats how Mary Maxwell describes being less than 24 hours into an anticipated 72-hour public safety power shutoff event by San Diego Gas and Electric.

The intersection of State Route 76 and Old Highway 395 in Fallbrook is also without power, with drivers trying to navigate the busy intersection of Interstate 15 as a stop sign, but many people are narrowly avoiding a crash.

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Thousands under public safety power shutoffs amid Red Flag Warning

I had to come into my car, turn on my vehicle and charge my phone, Maxwell said. All the little basic things you take for granted.

Shes called Lake Rancho Viejo in Fallbrook home for the last 17 years and said this is the first time she can recall being in a 72-hour public safety power shutoff.

Were not very prepared for this, she added. Her elderly parents also live there, and she said it is getting cold inside.

My elderly parentsthey are all bundled up in their hats and their coats, Maxwell said. I got some Duraflame so that I can put the fireplace on tonight.

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They are trying to stay warm at night, but trying to keep their food cold.

I just kind of improvised with the little ice I had, and try to not open this as much, she said, pointing to the ice in the freezer in a plastic bag to act as an ice pack.

The FDA recommends moving the items from your fridge to your freezer and making sure to not open the door, as a full freezer should keep its temperature for about 48 hours.

Three days is a long time you know so we may have to throw a lot of stuff away, Fallbrook resident Ed Lusby said.

He stocked up on essentials Tuesday morning.

I got D batteries and ice, Lusby added.

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A lot of ice, Patrick Hesano, the owner of Pala Mesa Market said a lot of people have been coming into his store for essentials to get them through, something for dinner they dont have to heat up.

Hesano also doesnt have power at home, but said the market underwent electrical changes in the last few years to be able to plug-in a generator, and stay open for an event like this.

Weve prepped for this, Hesano said.

Meanwhile, Fallbrook resident Arturo Chavez says, I dont know what to do.

He relies on a C-PAP machine through the night, and without power, he cant use it.

Ive tried to sleep without it, theres no chance.

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While its frustrating, he also understands the need to keep people safe as his home was burned down in 2007.

Its a learning experience to be prepared for this, because it will happen again, Maxwell added.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  There are now charges for a man investigators believe was involved in the killing of a local food truck operator.

Dyamund Shields Jr., also known as DJ, was killed the morning of August 5 when two groups began shooting at one another near 70th and Prospect, earlier this year.

Derrion Turner faces five charges in this case, including accessory to second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Police say six people were shot that morning, including Shields Jr., who died.

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In a phone conversation with Shields uncle Ricky Kidd Tuesday, he told us that DJ, 31 at the time, was serving food in his Chicken Macaroni & Cheese truck the night of August 4 as the party went on into the early morning hours of August 5. DJ died as a result of the shooting at the party.

Charges dropped against one suspect in Shaun Brady killing

From what I understand, he was just absolutely positive and was continuing to pursue his legacy, the one that his father started with his catering services and his food services, Marcom Harvey Funeral Care Co-Owner Aesha Humphrey said in an interview with FOX4 Tuesday.

DJs funeral was held at Marcom Harvey Funeral Care nearly four months ago.

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I knew his father ironically, and from everything that I understand he is very much like his dad, Humphrey said. So he was a great person through and through.

The first week of December, Humphreys staff made an ornament with DJs picture on it for DJs mom Nikki. The familys getting ready for their first Christmas without him.

Court documents say Derrion Turner was previously released from federal custody in another case and had an ankle monitor showing that he was in the area at the time of the shooting August 5. The documents also say Turner was the first person to open fire after a man from another group allegedly stared at Turners group.

Turner was detained at the Bureau of Prisons in Leavenworth, KS four days after the shooting for violating his release requirements. In August of 2023, the United States Marshal, District of Missouri, convicted Turner of felon in possession of a firearm. The documents recently released say Turner has denied having any involvement in the shooting in August of 2024.

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See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

I think anyone that would be so reckless as to shoot into a crowd is a danger to the community, Humphrey said when asked what her reaction was to charges being filed. So, Im relieved as I believe a lot of people are.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Turner didnt have any attorney or public defender representing him. No hearings had been set up in the case yet either.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Every day, most drivers in the Las Vegas valley pass the carpool lanes on the I-15, U.S. 95, or Summerlin Parkway. Now, the Nevada Department of Transportation wants your feedback on whether these lanes should stay, change, or be removed altogether.

Currently, these lanes are reserved for vehicles with two or more passengers, motorcycles, and first responders. Introduced to the valley in 2007 with federal funding, southern Nevada now has over 20 miles of HOV lanes.

In 2023, the NDOT Board of Directors voted to change HOV lane operating hours to weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. instead of 24 hours a day.

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The board also directed NDOT to conduct a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study to determine the future of HOV lanes in Southern Nevada.

That study also involves gathering the publics opinion on the lanes. A five-minute survey went live this fall.

Drivers like Jennifer Voschell think the lanes are beneficial.

I think they are convenient and helpful especially when there is a lot of traffic, Voschell said.

Kelsey McFarland, Public Information Officer at the Nevada Department of Transportation, explained that this survey will help decide the future of the lanes.

There are a wide range of possibilities here. Whether thats eliminating HOV lanes altogether, whether thats changing the hours or locations or function of those lanes itself. We are not limiting ourselves to possibilities of what this could bring, McFarland said.

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Traffic and crash data will also be included in the survey results. The results will be passed to NDOTs board, and then it will be years before drivers will see any changes to their commute.

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The Onions plan to buy Alex Jones Infowars hit a major snag Tuesday night when a bankruptcy judge rejected the auction process that led to The Onion being named the highest bidder.

Judge Christopher Lopez of Houston ruled that the bidding operation for the auction was flawed and blocked the humor site from purchasing Infowars at this time.

The Onion may still be able to acquire Infowars, but its not yet clear how the sale will proceed. The site is being sold to help cover what Jones owes to families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, who successfully sued him for defamation after he repeatedly claimed that the shooting was a hoax.

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Lopez has asked the trustee overseeing the Infowars sale to come up with a new, fairer plan to determine a new owner, according to The Associated Press.

Infowars auction

As it pursues ownership of Infowars, The Onion is squaring off against another Jones-affiliated company, First United American Companies, as the Deseret News previously reported.

First United Americans November bid for Infowars was $3.5 million, while The Onion offered $1.75 million.

Despite the smaller dollar amount, auction authorities declared The Onion the winner, since its bid included a pledge from some Sandy Hook families to relinquish the money owed to them by Jones and allow it to go to other creditors.

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Jones and First United American Companies said the auction was unfair and successfully convinced Lopez to overturn it.

Future of Infowars

After the judge issued his ruling Tuesday, Jones went on air to celebrate his victory, according to The Associated Press.

We can celebrate the judge doing the right thing with the most ridiculous, fraudulent auction known in human history, he said.

Meanwhile, The Onion and an attorney representing some of the families who lost loved ones in the Sandy Hook shooting released statements criticizing Tuesdays decision and promising they wont give up.

These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused, the attorney said in a statement, per The Associated Press. This decision doesnt change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes.
A 47-year-old man is facing several charges after a hit-and-run.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Dec. 2, just before 1 a.m., Baldwin police and firefighters were called to a hit-and-run with injuries on Duncan Bridge Road, near Georgia Highway 365.

When first responders arrived, they learned the driver of a black car traveling westbound on Duncan Bridge Road saw a Habersham County deputy working a car accident outside the city limits of Baldwin.

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Officials said the driver, identified as Christopher Hodge, 47, of Dallas, Ga, made a U-turn, hitting the back of an SUV in the eastbound lane of Duncan Bridge Road. Baldwin police said the SUV spun out of control, leaving the roadway.

A passenger of the SUV complained of injuries. Police said Hodge drove away.

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While police were on the way to the crash, dispatch informed officers of a burglary alarm at 365 Self Storage. Baldwin police requested assistance from Alto police. When police arrived at 365 Self Storage, they learned the automatic gate had been hit by a vehicle and pushed inward several feet.

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Baldwin police turned the car accident over to Georgia State Patrol and responded to 365 Self Storage. Once officials reviewed the surveillance video, they learned Hodge rammed through the gate and entered the self-storage area, but he never left.

Police said they found Hodge still sitting in the drivers seat in a vacant unit. Police said damage to the property at 365 Self Storage is believed to be more than $15,000.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

While searching Hodges car, authorities said they found marijuana, methamphetamine and open alcoholic beverage containers.

Baldwin police arrested and charged Hodge with the following:

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Burglary (2nd degree)

Criminal Damage to Property (2nd Degree)

Possession of marijuana

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of drug-related objects

GSP is investigating all traffic-related offenses stemming from the car accident.
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), President-elect Trumps pick for director of national intelligence, met Tuesday with senators on Capitol Hill as she faces concerns from Republicans over her controversial positions sympathetic to U.S. adversaries like Russian President Vladimir Putin and now-deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Senator-elect Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), said he expected Gabbards nomination to sail right through, standing next to the former Hawaii congresswoman after their meeting.

Our job here as a Republican conference is to get the nominees through as quickly as possible. Were seeing incredible momentum, obviously, Moreno said. He said he expects Gabbards nomination to sail right through and that we feel really positive about getting her nomination across the finish line.

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But behind closed doors, Republican senators are skeptical about Gabbards foreign policy positions and trustworthiness when vetting her to lead the office responsible for convening 18 intelligence agencies.

Gabbard, standing next to Moreno, said she is honored to have been invited to be part of Trumps team and was grateful for the senators support.

We had a great conversation and your home state has always been very welcoming to me, and its really exciting to see how many Americans have come together and are eager for the work to begin under this new administration, she said.

Gabbard represented Hawaii in the House as a Democrat from 2013 to 2021. She left the House after a failed bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent.

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Gabbard endorsed Trump in August and joined the Republican Party in October.

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PHNOM PENH, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site (ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk) on Wednesday held its 39th Technical Session in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province, said a news release.

The event was graced by the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Say Samal, minister of land management, urban planning, and construction, alongside Phoeurng Sackona, minister of culture and fine arts and president of the APSARA National Authority (ANA), said an ANA's news release.

The ANA is a government agency responsible for managing, protecting and preserving the Angkor.

"Spanning two days, this session focuses on reviewing and monitoring restoration efforts and various projects related to the historic sites of Angkor and Sambor Prei Kuk," the news release said.

It added that nearly 300 national and international delegates and experts took part in the session.

According to the news release, following this technical session, the 31st Plenary Session of the ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk will be held on Friday in Siem Reap province.

The ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk, convened twice a year, is an international mechanism for coordinating all assistance extended by different countries and organizations for preserving and developing the Angkor in Siem Reap province and the Sambor Prei Kuk in central Kampong Thom province.

Both are the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites.

The ANA's deputy director-general and spokesperson Long Kosal said China was one of the key contributors to safeguarding and developing the Angkor.

"As for Angkor, we had two important temples, the Chau Say Tevoda and the Ta Keo, restored by the Chinese expert team, and another restoration project on the ancient Royal Palace of Angkor Thom has been underway," he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"This continued effort amplifies great Chinese commitment toward the preservation and restoration of temples in Angkor," he added.

Kosal said China's contribution to restoring those ancient temples had not only ensured the protection of the Angkor monuments, but also helped attract more and more Chinese tourists to the ancient park. 
A Gary man got four years on work release Wednesday after a plea deal for killing a man who was helping to deliver an engine in 2022.

George James first murder trial ended in a hung jury in March.

He was charged with murder and three counts of intimidation for the Oct. 2, 2022 shooting death of Arlandus Jackson, 37, of Chicago, who helped his friend Marcus Johnson take an engine out to Gary.

After the mistrial, James, 47, pleaded guilty in October to battery resulting in serious bodily injury. He faced up to four years in prison, but prosecutors agreed he could serve the term in Lake County Community Corrections.

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Prosecutors cited issues with Johnsons credibility  their main witness  and cell phone records that didnt definitively link James there during the shooting that weakened their case.

Jacksons widow, Chassity Logan, 38, told the court Wednesday that he was a protector.

James actions  driven by his ego  left their two kids without a father. She thought the sentencing would give her some satisfaction and closure, but sadly concluded it ultimately wouldnt bring him back.

Forgiveness is not for me to give you, she said. It is for you to seek.

Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe noted James was arrested in May for operating while intoxicated with a pending case in Gary city court after his release.

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There was no provocation for the shooting, she said.

She asked for four years in Community Corrections, if he qualified.

Defense lawyer Gojko Kasich said Jackson was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A prior, unrelated, attempted murder charge had been dismissed and shouldnt count against his client, the lawyer argued.

When Judge Samuel Cappas noted James wouldnt qualify for the Community Corrections program, Kasich said he could override it. James didnt intend to kill Jackson, Kasich said.

James apologized to Jacksons family.

It was not even supposed to happen like that, he said.

James said Johnson was going into his trailer. He fired shots that hit Jackson instead. Johnson took off in a truck. James didnt help Jackson.

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I got scared, he said. Im here to face that.

Cappas sentenced him to the Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough work release program. James said he wouldnt appeal.

The case was very sad for everyone involved, Cappas said.

mcolias@post-trib.com
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 28-year-old man was stabbed in the neck Tuesday while working as a security guard at American Junkie in the Gaslamp Quarter, authorities said.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the violence unfolded around 9:15 p.m. when the suspect, a 23-year-old-man, entered the Fifth Avenue bar and then left a short time later. As he was leaving, the suspect reportedly stabbed the security guard with a knife without being provoked.

Homicide investigation underway in Oceanside following welfare check

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At that point, the victim, along with bar patrons, tackled the suspect and restrained him until authorities arrived on scene. Police then took the suspect into custody.

The victim was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for lacerations to his neck, right shoulder and abdomen. His current condition is unknown.

No other injuries were reported in connection to this incident.

Central Detectives responded to the scene and are investigating the stabbing. Anyone with information related to the bar violence is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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GCHQs Christmas puzzle contains hidden clues as an extra challenge for sleuths for the first time.

The intelligence security and cyber agencys annual yuletide puzzle, which aims to test intuitive reasoning and creativity, advises puzzlers to work in groups to best tackle the brain teasers.

This year, three extra clues, known as Easter eggs, will be hidden among the seven challenges, each of which will lead the puzzlers to a UK landmark.

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GCHQs chief puzzler, Colin, has also hidden a secret message in the following quote. Readers are encouraged to work it out.

Colin said: We are delighted to be releasing the fourth iteration of our Christmas Challenge aimed at young people, and we hope this years set of seven puzzles are as fiendishly enjoyable as ever.

How to play

The card instructs puzzlers as follows: Each of the seven puzzles below will lead you to the name of a UK landmark. Use the names of these landmarks, and the front cover of the card, to discover what people across GCHQ locations will be this Christmas.

TROIS, DEUX, __

II, III, __,

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OD, __, IM

QG, RH, __

QW, ER, __

JOAN, __, ARC

DLA, NOD, ___, DLO

GRE, AT, ___,TA, IN

KNO, WLE, ___

An American (soldier) named Joe said that avoiding a huge colony of (insects) was the (basis) of him losing his (path).

ISKGWIM KSWEBDU BN DFN LBIGSKSE BM IKBCWKBQX W QSWEBDU BDEBLWNBFD NF XFO MFQPBDU NGBM WECBNNSEQX ESPBFOM BDBNBWQQX ODKSWEWAQS CSMMWUS.

Now complete the puzzle

Use the names of the landmarks youve found in the seven puzzles above, and the front cover of the card, to reach the final answer.

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Anne Keast-Butler, director of GCHQ, said she hoped this years challenge would encourage young people, whom the puzzle is aimed at, to go onto study Stem subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths.

Puzzles have always been at the heart of GCHQ, and the skills needed to solve them are just as relevant in 2024 as they were over 100 years ago, Ms Keast-Butler said.

The puzzles are aimed at teenagers and young people, but everyone is encouraged to give them a try  they might surprise you.

The Challenge has been designed for a mix of minds to solve, so is best tackled in groups of classmates, families or friends. Whether you have an analytical mind, a creative brain or prefer engineering, theres something for everyone.

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She added that as a mathematician she was passionate about Stem subjects.

I hope the card will inspire young people to explore these Stem subjects and to consider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer, she said.

The puzzles test codebreaking, maths and analysis, and skills such as lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance.

GCHQ said that like the work that goes on at the intelligence agency every day, the brainteasers need different ways of thinking, which is why group work is encouraged to work together to reveal the final festive message.

The Christmas Challenge, which is specifically aimed at young people, is in its fourth iteration.

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A puzzle has been included in Director GCHQs annual Christmas card to global national security heads since 2015 and is available for schools and the public to download from the agencys website.

Colin added: We want teams working together to tackle the Challenge, which requires a range of skills and creative ways of thinking. And then see if you can find the Easter eggs weve hidden on the card. You may find naturally some parts trickier than others. However - as Anne Keast-Butler, our Director, said - solving puzzles requires a real mix of minds and approaches, just like the work at GCHQ.

With this challenge lastly we also hope to show young people that thinking differently is a gift.

We would really enjoy seeing how you get on with the Challenge, so please let us know by tagging us in a post on Instagram, X or LinkedIn @GCHQ.

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Happy puzzle-solving!

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Dec. 11GENEVA  A lengthy budget process concluded Monday evening as city council voted to approve the 2025 budget.

The process began with city administrators meeting department heads, followed by November hearings.

The budget was passed by emergency Monday evening, so there would be time for the measure to go into affect by the first of the year.

Three council members  Robert Rosebrugh, William Baker and John Travis  expressed concern about running budget deficit, and said they would likely not vote for a similar budget for 2026.

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Geneva City Manager Joseph Varckette said the city works hard to keep expenditures under control, and needs to continue working on increasing revenues. He said increasing joint economic development district agreements and employment are keys to making that happen.

Varckette said the budget has built-in contingencies in case unforeseen situations arise throughout the year.

He said for the last several years, the city has ended the year with a balanced budget.

"The only thing is, we are spending more than we are bringing in," Rosebrugh said. "This has to stop."

Travis added, "Next year I won't vote for the [deficit] budget."

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Councilman Jeff Griffiths asked Rosebrugh if he had any ideas to control the budget.

"If I had the answers, I'd be setting in Joe's seat," Rosebrugh said.

A resolution regarding an amendment to a water usage agreement with Ashtabula County was tabled Monday evening, as city officials found some wording in the agreement that concerned them. Another issue slipped through the cracks and wasn't discussed, City Solicitor Gary Pasqualone said.

Pasqualone said percentages of cost to be paid for by Geneva for water projects have been agreed upon, and the city hopes to approve the final agreement soon.

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Negotiations have been ongoing for several years, after a 2006 contract was interpreted in a way that the city would have paid a large portion of the cost of a water tower being constructed in Harpersfield Township.

Council approved a sub-grant recipient agreement with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to get the downtown streetscape program rolling. The projects are to be paid through the Appalachian Community Grant Program.

"Executing the agreement will enable us to move forward with our planner, CT Consultants, for surveying, engineering and landscape architecture," Varckette said.

Varckette said the West Main Street infrastructure project has seen significant progress over the last several weeks, slowed only slightly by the recent snowstorm. He said the base asphalt work on the north side of West Main, from Lockwood to Eagle streets, could start as early as today.

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Varckette thanked city workers for their cooperative effort in handling the snow emergency Thanksgiving weekend. He thanked the Ohio Department of Transportation for providing three or four trucks for several days to open main arteries in the city.

Council approved a resolution opting not to have a public hearing on the liquor license exchange from Luisia Mexican Grill to Pueblo Real.
ATLANTA  The Georgia Department of Transportation awarded 23 projects across the state in October, encompassing bridge rehabilitation, resurfacing, construction, safety improvements, and new bridge construction.

The largest single investment, valued at approximately $21 million, is allocated to a bridge construction project, which consist of the construction of a bridge and approaches along 1.003 miles on U.S. Highway 41/state highway (SR) 11/SR 49 over the Norfolk Southern Railway. This contract, along with three additional projects, represents 40% of the total funds awarded for the month.

Approximately $33.1 million was allocated to 11 resurfacing projects. The largest of these involves 9.537 miles of milling and plant mix resurfacing on SR 20, from south of SR 124 to southwest of Covington Street in Gwinnett and Walton counties, valued at approximately $7.5 million. The second-largest resurfacing project, at $4.4 million, will cover 4.628 miles of milling, resurfacing, and shoulder rehabilitation on U.S. 1/SR from north of South Prong Creek to north of Brentway Drive in Richmond County. Combined, these resurfacing contracts account for 43% of the total awarded funds.

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Bridge rehabilitation projects secured approximately $6.6 million, or 9% of the total awards. This funding will address bridge rehabilitation at various locations in Douglas, Fulton and Lamar counties.

A roundabout project in Chattahoochee County received 6% of the total allocation, totaling approximately $4.3 million. The project includes the construction of a roundabout at the intersections of SR 1 at U.S. 27/U.S. 280/SR 520 and U.S. 27/SR 1/Wells Street.

The remaining 2% of the awarded funds, valued at $1.5 million, will fund four safety improvement projects. The largest safety project focuses on 0.378 miles of widening for turn lanes on SR 101 (Rockmart Road) at Old Draketown Trail (CR 352) in Carroll County. The remaining three projects will improve pavement and markings on various county roads in Cherokee, Pike and Rockdale counties.

The October awards bring the total construction contracts for Fiscal Year 2024 to $802 million. This total includes TIA, Design-Bid-Build, and locally administered projects. Fiscal Year 2025 began July 1.

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Bids for Design-Bid-Build projects were received on Sept. 20, and contracts were awarded to the lowest qualified bidders on Oct. 4.

Contractors and consultants, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, registered small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses interested in bidding on projects or performing work must prequalify with Georgia DOT.

To learn more, visit https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/Pages/DBE.aspx.
The News

The latest auction for leases to drill geothermal energy wells on federal land in the US was a bust, bucking the trend of more successful recent sales and showing the nascent technology still faces hurdles to becoming a clean energy powerhouse.

Geothermal energy, which uses subterranean heat to generate electricity with drilling hardware adapted from the oil and gas industry, is a rising star in the energy transition. In the last few weeks, a string of lease auctions in southwestern US states have been entirely or nearly sold out, with some drilling rights selling for more than $200 per acre, around 10 times the typical figure a few years ago.

Tuesdays auction, for three plots in southern Utah, was a dive: Only one plot triggered bids, with Ormat Technologies sealing a win for just $2 per acre. The Nevada-based energy project developer has already been building a portfolio of geothermal projects in the surrounding area. The company didnt immediately reply to a request for comment about its bid. But analysts for Project InnerSpace, a geothermal advocacy group, told Semafor the tepid auction was likely the result of the plots isolated, mountainous location and relatively low geothermal temperatures.

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Jeanine Vany, executive vice president of corporate affairs at geothermal startup Eavor Technologies, said that despite the hype, lease auctions for the technology are still held back by grid bottlenecks, and because most geothermal projects are only economically viable with very high subsurface temperatures. That means auctions for cooler and more remote plots often go quiet.

As costs come down, youll start to see more regions that are not hot get grabbed quicker at auction, Vany said. But today, geologists are just looking for hotter rocks.

Tims view

Notwithstanding Tuesdays lackluster auction, geothermal stands to be a big winner under the incoming Trump administration. It has two things going for it: The scramble to power data centers, and a strong bipartisan support base.

For tech companies, geothermal promises to provide power thats cleaner than fossil fuels, cheaper and faster to build than nuclear, and more consistent and with a smaller land footprint than wind or solar. The latest indication of the gaping power generation deficit facing the US came out this week, in a report from the research group Grid Strategies. It found that in 2022, grid planners expected the countrys power demand to increase about 23 gigawatts in the next five years. Today, the report said, the five-year demand forecast has leapt to 128 gigawatts, in large part because of data centers.

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Its an all-hands-on-deck situation in which geothermal is emerging as a popular solution. Geothermal benefits in the near term because its reliable, relatively affordable, and selling electrons to people who need them is one of the simplest and most effective business models out there, said Mike Schroepfer, partner at the venture capital firm Gigascale. His former employer, Meta, announced a plan in August to build geothermal systems for its data centers. Meanwhile Google is already tapping one advanced geothermal plant in Nevada and investing in another geothermal startup targeting home heating.

But industry advocates say US federal processes for pushing geothermal projects through environmental review are cumbersome, and that lease auctions are too few and far between. Lawmakers agree: The House of Representatives last month passed two bills, with bipartisan support, that aim to clear hurdles for geothermal development. Those are now being reconciled with permitting overhaul legislation in the Senate, so speeding up geothermal could be one of the first energy laws to land on President-elect Donald Trumps desk next year.

Room for Disagreement

The results of federal lease auctions are a misleading indicator of geothermals momentum, said Jamie Beard, executive director of Project InnerSpace, because the bureaucratic hurdles discourage bidders. Companies may also be waiting to bid on new federal-land projects until Trump takes office, she said. A more interesting trend, she added, is the move to develop projects on state and private land in jurisdictions that have streamlined permitting processes, like Texas. Theres a gold rush right now in terms of geothermal prospecting, Beard told Semafor, with entities seeking to avoid the delays and burden of federal red tape.

Notable
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has submitted a motion for a vote of confidence in his government, paving the way for early elections on February 23.

Government sources told dpa the request was submitted to Bundestag President Barbel Bas on Wednesday as planned.

It is seen as all but certain that Scholz will lose the confidence vote, which is set for Monday.

That would prompt the chancellor to ask German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve the Bundestag, as the lower house of Germany's parliament is known, and call elections seven months earlier than originally planned.

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The move comes just over a month after Scholz's fractious three-party coalition collapsed in the wake of the chancellor's decision to sack then-finance minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP).

Scholz accused Lindner of having broken trust during months of bitter disputes, largely over how to close gaps in the budget.

Lindner's FDP promptly quit the coalition, leaving Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and his remaining partner, the Greens, short of a majority in the Bundestag.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has submitted a motion to the lower house of parliament for a vote of confidence in his government, paving the way for early elections on February 23.

Government sources told dpa the request was submitted to Bundestag President Barbel Bas on Wednesday as planned.

It is seen as all but certain that Scholz will lose the confidence vote, which is set for Monday.

That would prompt the chancellor to ask German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve the Bundestag and call elections seven months earlier than originally planned.

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The move comes just over a month after Scholz's fractious three-party coalition, which took power after elections in 2021, collapsed in the wake of the chancellor's decision to sack then-finance minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP).

Scholz accused Lindner of having broken trust during months of bitter disputes, largely over how to close gaps in the budget.

Lindner's FDP promptly quit the coalition, leaving Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and his remaining partner, the Greens, short of a majority in the Bundestag.

Scholz's SPD has fallen in opinion polls, and conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) is widely seen as the favourite to replace him as chancellor. Merz's CDU, and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), have consistently led in polls of German voters.

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Over the past month, Scholz's government has repeatedly appealed to the opposition for support on legislation but has mostly received a cold response.

In the Bundestag on Monday, Scholz will be given the opportunity to explain his reasons for the vote of confidence, followed by roughly 90 minutes of debate among lawmakers.

A roll-call vote on the motion will follow.

The SPD and CDU/CSU bloc have already agreed informally on the February 23 date, although officially Germany's constitution gives President Steinmeier the sole authority - and some latitude - in selecting a date for the election.

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Steinmeier has suggested he will likely follow through on the request for early elections, and has described the February 23 date as realistic.

"Our country needs stable majorities and a government capable of taking action," Steinmeier said recently.

Scholz and his ministers, as well as the current Bundestag, will all remain in office until newly elected lawmakers convene for the first time following the election.

As coalition negotiations are often protracted, it's possible that no new government will have been formed by then. In that case, Steinmeier can request Scholz's government remain in office for the time being - a request they are obliged to accept.
DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The situation in Syria has undergone a dramatic shift in recent days, as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters declared Sunday the liberation of Damascus and the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government following two weeks of sweeping offensives.

Mohammed al-Bashir, head of the "Syrian Salvation Government" in Idlib formed in 2017 by the HTS and other Syrian militant groups during the Syrian civil war, announced Tuesday that he has been tasked with heading a transitional government in Syria until early March 2025.

Meanwhile, Syria's neighboring countries have emphasized that the nation's future should be determined by the Syrian people themselves, urging a political solution to restore stability.

However, analysts pointed out that regional and external powers, each pursuing their own strategic interests, are increasingly involved in the power struggle, leveraging Syria's internal political forces to extend their influence. These developments carry significant implications for Syria's future and the broader geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East.

MAJOR PLAYERS

Amid the rapidly changing situation in Syria, a number of key regional and external powers have been quick to engage.

Israel has publicly stated that it will not interfere in Syria's internal affairs, yet it has simultaneously sought to expand its control over the Golan Heights. Israel's military said Tuesday that it had struck "most" of Syria's advanced weapons in 350 airstrikes across the country, including in Damascus, over the past 48 hours.

Also, Israeli media reported that its military seized a Syrian army outpost on Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights on Sunday, marking the first Israeli military presence in the buffer zone since 1974.

In response to the swift collapse of al-Assad's government, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Turkiye will not allow Syria to become a conflict zone and be divided once again. "Any attack on the stability of the new Syrian government or the integrity of ancient Syrian lands will face both the Syrian people and us," Erdogan said at a ruling party meeting.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that Syria's future, including its political and ruling systems, should be decided only by the Syrian people, stressing the necessity for dialogue among different segments of Syrian society to reach a consensus.

In response to Israel's military actions in Syria, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday in a statement that Iran has strongly condemned Israel's "frequent aggression against Syria's infrastructure and its occupation of other parts of the Golan."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that al-Assad was given asylum in Russia, saying that Russia is engaging in dialogue on Syria with Turkiye and other regional countries.

While the United States initially said it had no intention of intervening, the U.S. Central Command said on Sunday that it had struck more than 75 targets, including ISIS leaders, operatives and camps, to ensure that the armed group does not take advantage of the end of al-Assad's rule. U.S. President Joe Biden also reaffirmed support for Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel during the transition period, underscoring a commitment to countering ISIS and preventing its resurgence in the region.

GEOPOLITICAL CALCULATIONS

Analysts argue that the military actions and strategic engagements of these regional and external actors are driven by their respective national interests.

Israel sees the changing situation in Syria as an opportunity to expand its influence in the region. For years, Israel has been deeply concerned about Iran's growing presence in Syria, and the collapse of al-Assad's government could deliver a significant blow to the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance," according to media reports.

Calling Israel a "winner" in the political shift in Syria, Mostafa Amin, an Egyptian researcher on Arab and international affairs, noted that "as a result of the developments in Syria, all of Iran's allies have become weaker."

Iran, meanwhile, finds itself in a particularly precarious position, analysts warned. The loss of its foothold in Syria would severely limit its ability to support groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, a key ally in its broader regional strategy.

"Bashar al-Assad was a critical link between Iran and Hezbollah. And now Iran has no more Syrian backup, so it's a major development," Germany's DW quoted Eyal Zisser, an expert on Syria and vice rector of Tel Aviv University, as saying in a report.

It is believed that Turkiye is also eyeing the situation to enhance its regional influence. Amin said Turkiye might seek to bolster its position by capitalizing on the instability to strike against Kurdish armed groups, whom it considers a significant threat to its security.

Russia is focused on securing its military assets in Syria. The Russian RIA Novosti news agency has reported that the leaders of the HTS fighters have guaranteed security to the Russian military bases and diplomatic establishments in Syria.

The United States, meanwhile, is focused on preventing the resurgence of ISIS and other extremist groups. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, said that the main priority is to ensure "that the fighting in Syria not lead to a resurgence of ISIS."

Ali Moussa, an Iraqi political analyst said that the United States may reverse the disadvantages caused by its earlier withdrawal from the Middle East due to a shift in strategic focus, and this could benefit the incoming Trump administration in advancing the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and potentially with more Arab countries.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Despite the fall of al-Assad's government, the future of Syria remains highly uncertain. The country's complex ethnic and religious composition, which includes groups like the Syrian National Army, Kurdish militias, and various Islamist factions, means that the confrontation with al-Assad is not a monolithic force.

While the removal of al-Assad may have been a common goal, the question remains whether these factions can unite under a single political framework or whether they will fracture into further conflict.

Zhao Jun, an associate professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, suggests that the ongoing political struggles within Syria will trigger a new round of international and regional geopolitical maneuvering.

"From the current situation, the United States' ability to assert control over the Middle East may be strengthened, while Iran is likely to face a new round of pressure from the United States and other Western countries," he said, adding that Israel and Turkiye will be more active in the region, which could manifest through the internal political power struggles within Syria. 
After more than 130 years, a church tower in Ulm will lose its title as the world's tallest to the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona - thanks to a company near Ulm that constructed a 10-metre addition to the Spanish church.

The Ulm Munster, as the Lutheran church in south-western Germany is known, has a 162-metre-high tower, but the Barcelona church will top it by 10 metres via the addition next summer of a walkable glass cross constructed some 36 kilometres away from the Ulm church.

"We take it with a certain wink and humour," said Jurgen Wax, the chief executive of Josef Gartner GmbH, which is in the Bavarian town of Gundelfingen an der Donau. No one from Ulm, he stated, has complained about it yet.

Specialized construction company

The facade specialist in the town of 8,000 inhabitants is known for contributing to exceptional buildings like the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the UFO-like Apple headquarters in San Francisco.

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Globally, the company, founded in 1868, employs around 850 people. Since 2001, it has been part of the Italian Permasteelisa Group. The church foundation in Barcelona awarded them the contract through a tender.

Assembly in early summer

The idea for the glass cross originated from the Sagrada Familia foundation. The firm first constructed a prototype and is now manufacturing six parts at its Gundelfingen facility, which will form the cross.

The components will be assembled in Barcelona on the tower early next summer. The Jesus Christ tower of the Sagrada Familia is scheduled to be officially completed before the 100th anniversary of the church's world-famous architect Antoni Gaudi's death in 2026. The costs for the glass addition are expected to be in the lower double-digit million range.

A walkable cross for eternity

Technically, Wax noted that the cross is different from anything built before. "We have already constructed steel-glass bridges and roofs  but a walkable cross that is hollow and contains a spiral staircase  this has never been built in this form and will likely not be built again soon," he said.

Moreover, the assembly, at an elevation of about 150 metres, is expected to take approximately two months, from June to August, but Wax could not predict exactly when the Sagrada Familia will surpass the Ulm church.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius landed at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on Wednesday at the start of a trip to the Middle East for consultations on conflicts and instability in the region.

Pistorius is scheduled to meet with German soldiers at the base in in the Jordainian town of Azraq, as well as travel to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi leaders about possible ways that Germany could contribute to bolstering regional stability.

Both Jordan and Iraq share borders with Syria, where a rapid offensive by various rebel forces toppled authoritarian ruler Bashar al-Assad over the weekend after more than a decade of bloody civil war. Al-Assad fled for Russia, while a coalition of rebel forces led by hard-line Islamists captured Damascus.

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Pistorius said earlier this week that he sees opportunities for sustainable stabilization in Syria if hostile groups can quickly rearrange the internal political situation.

"Syria must not fall back into the hands of despots and radicals," he said.

The situation in Syria remains extremely complicated, however, as large sections of the country are under the control of different armed factions. Several outside powers, including Russia, the United States, Turkey and Israel, also have forces on Syrian territory.

In Iraq and Jordan, about 300 German soldiers are participating in international stabilization missions, including the US-led military alliance to fight the Islamic State terror group.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius landed at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on Wednesday at the start of a trip to the Middle East for consultations on conflicts and instability in the region.

Pistorius is scheduled to meet with German soldiers at the base in in the Jordanian town of Azraq, as well as travel to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi leaders about possible ways that Germany could contribute to bolstering regional stability.

Both Jordan and Iraq share borders with Syria, where a rapid offensive by various rebel forces toppled authoritarian ruler Bashar al-Assad over the weekend after more than a decade of bloody civil war. Al-Assad fled for Russia, while a coalition of rebel forces led by hard-line Islamists captured Damascus.

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Speaking at the air base, Pistorius said it was crucial to send clear signals to both Syria and the region, and emphasized that Germany and Europe have a responsibility to contribute to stabilization in the region.

"It is important that we stand with patience, but also with determination, by the side of those who want to lead Syria on a better path," the defence minister said.

Pistorius said earlier this week that he sees opportunities for lasting stability in Syria if hostile groups can quickly rearrange the internal political situation. "Syria must not fall back into the hands of despots and radicals," he said.

The situation in Syria remains extremely complicated, however, as large sections of the country are under the control of different armed factions. Several outside powers, including Russia, the United States, Turkey and Israel, also have forces in Syrian territory.

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In Iraq and Jordan, about 300 German soldiers are participating in international stabilization missions, including the US-led military alliance to fight the Islamic State terror group and a NATO mission in Iraq, involving military advisers stationed in Iraqi institutions, schools and training facilities.

Iraq tightened its border security in the wake of the coup in Damascus and closed the al-Qaim border crossing to Syria.

Pistorius's schedule in Baghdad includes talks with his Iraqi counterpart and with the commander of the NATO mission in Iraq.

The defence minister also announced that he would travel to Turkey for talks in January.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (C), stands in the Air Force Airbus A400M at the military airbase in Al-Azraq, for the flight to Baghdad. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
German Development Minister Svenja Schulze on Wednesday said the debate on whether Syrian refugees should return home following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime was "disturbing."

"I find the debate on this complicated issue that has been triggered by some conservative camps in recent days, that people should already be returned, somewhat disturbing," she said, two days after Jens Spahn from the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) suggested the German government should charter aircraft to Syria and offer refugees in Germany cash incentives to take the flights.

Schulze said it was still too early to judge whether Syria would be safe enough for refugees to return home.

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"Many things seem possible: state collapse and radicalization on the one hand, but also the development of a state that guarantees security, freedom and fundamental rights for all its citizens," she added.

"Only a stable Syria that respects human rights offers the prospect of people being able to return there and rebuild their homeland," Schulze argued.
A family in eastern Germany will lose ownership of a house bought in 1939, after the Nazi regime forced the previous Jewish owners to sell the property.

Germany's top administrative court on Wednesday dismissed a final appeal from an 84-year-old woman and her son who still live in the house. The woman's family had bought the property from an estate agent in 1939.

The decision ends a years-long legal fight over the house in the eastern German district of Wandlitz, a leafy area dotted with lakes just north of Berlin.

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Both of the former German-Jewish owners of the property were killed by the Nazis in concentration camps during the Holocaust. They had purchased the property in 1932, just before the Nazis took power in Germany, to use as a holiday home for Jewish children.

The Jewish Claims Conference (JCC), which under German law can represent Holocaust victims who are unable to assert their own claims, brought the restitution case and has asserted ownership of the property.

The current resident of the home, who had challenged the transfer, said after the ruling by Germany's Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig that a whole world has collapsed for her after the loss of the home.

"I spent my whole life in the house and looked after my parents," she said.

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The family is now left with nothing, added her 61-year-old son: "We don't know where to go."

It was one of the last Nazi-era restitution and compensation claims still being litigated in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Wednesday warned that the return of Syrian refugees could have serious consequences for Germany's health-care sector.

"Entire areas in the health-care sector would disappear if all Syrians working here were to leave our country now," Faeser said after a Cabinet meeting in Berlin.

"For us, it is important that we offer Syrians who are here, who have a job, who have integrated, who are free of criminal offences, whose children go to school the opportunity to stay here and be there for our economy," said Faeser, days after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime prompted a debate in Germany on whether refugees should be encouraged to return to Syria.

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The interior minister emphasized that it was too soon to make a serious assessment of the situation, even as Germany's migration authority moved to pause asylum proceedings for more than 47,000 Syrian applicants.

Faeser's comments were echoed by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who said that more than 6,000 Syrian doctors are employed in Germany and are "indispensable" to providing care.
Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) slammed the opposition conservatives on Wednesday over the 'disturbing' debate on whether Syrian refugees should return home, as the interior minister warned of severe consequences for the German health-care sector.

Development Minister Svenja Schulze said it was still too early to judge whether Syria is safe enough for refugees to return, two days after Jens Spahn from the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) suggested the German government should charter aircraft and offer refugees cash incentives to take the flights.

"I find the debate on this complicated issue that has been triggered by some conservative camps in recent days, that people should already be returned, somewhat disturbing," Schulze said.

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The minister's intervention was the latest in a heated conversation that sprang up in Germany hours after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government on Sunday, putting an end to more than a decade of civil war that forced millions to flee Syria.

Germany is home to nearly 1 million Syrians, most of whom fled the conflict, and the government has quickly moved to pause asylum proceedings for more than 47,000 current Syrian applicants.

The CDU and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have led calls for Syrians to be quickly encouraged to return home, despite massive uncertainty over the country's future direction.

Schulze said "only a stable Syria that respects human rights offers the prospect of people being able to return there and rebuild their homeland."

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Her comments were echoed by her SPD colleague, Stephan Weil, the premier of the northern state of Lower Saxony.

"Anyone who, like Jens Spahn, says that we should send all the Syrians back now is acting irresponsibly," Weil told dpa.

"Events in Syria are coming thick and fast and nobody knows what will happen next," said Weil. "We need to know with some degree of certainty what will happen next before we take a new course."

The premier added that many Syrians would leave Germany voluntarily if the situation in Syria stabilizes and human rights are respected.

Possible consequences for German health-care sector

The prospect of Syrians leaving Germany is certainly a real one, with the country's new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, on Wednesday calling on all Syrians to return to their homeland.

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German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser - also from the SPD - warned that an exodus could have serious consequences for the country's health-care sector.

"Entire areas in the health-care sector would disappear if all Syrians working here were to leave our country now," Faeser said after a Cabinet meeting in Berlin.

"For us, it is important that we offer Syrians who are here, who have a job, who have integrated, who are free of criminal offences, whose children go to school the opportunity to stay here and be there for our economy," said Faeser.

The interior minister emphasized that it was too soon to make a serious assessment of the situation.

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Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said in a post on X that more than 6,000 Syrian doctors are employed in Germany and are "indispensable" to providing care.

The controversial debate "must deeply disappoint and unsettle these people," the SPD minister added.
The News

Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz has formally requested a confidence vote following the November collapse of his governing coalition.

Germanys government has largely stalled since Scholz fired the countrys finance minister last month, precipitating the breakup of his fragile center-left three-party coalition. Scholz is widely expected to lose the vote, setting the stage for a general election in the first half of 2025 that could see his partys power eroded even further.

Our country needs stable majorities and a government capable of action, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is largely a figurehead, told Deutsche Welle.

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The collapse of Germanys government, as well as that of France last week, has left a vacuum of leadership across Europe, The New York Times wrote.

SIGNALS

Germanys economic woes likely pushed Scholz out

Sources: Deutsche Welle, Semafor

The coalition collapse  a relative rarity in Germany compared to other European nations  reflects the difficulties facing Europes largest economy, which only just avoided recession this year. Having enjoyed stability for years, the government became too comfortable, Deutsche Welle argued, and has struggled to revive the economy post-COVID-19 amid industrial production declines and the Ukraine war. Germany needed a chancellor who acted like a captain, not a referee, Reuters former Germany correspondent said, adding that 80% or 90% of the governments problems came down to Scholzs leadership style.

Political instability is sweeping European Union

Source: The New York Times

Germanys vote combined with the French governments collapse has left the European Union rudderless at a critical moment, with Russia threatening the blocs security and US President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House. Germany has fallen victim to the same forces of fragmentation that have swept Europe, The New York Times argued, in particular, the rise of the far right. Though national polls show the conservative Christian Democratic Union ahead of the pack, the far-right Alternative for Germany could see the greatest electoral gains in a general election.
Germany's Cabinet on Wednesday adopted a strategy to address violence against women and implement measures from the Istanbul Convention to combat gender-based violence against girls and women.

The treaty, struck by the Council of Europe, has been in force in Germany since 2018 and calls for both legal and political steps to stop violence against women.

Germany's strategy, which contains 120 measures, was presented by Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus, a Green politician. A new office in the ministry is to coordinate the measures across the government.

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"Ultimately, it's about doing everything we can to protect women from violence in the best possible way," Paus said after the Cabinet decision in Berlin.

She again called for the Violence Assistance Act to be passed before the end of this legislative period. The legislation would provide additional funding for sufficient women's shelters in Germany.

According to the Ministry for Family Affairs, there are more 400 women's shelters with capacity for more than 6,000 places in Germany for women and their children affected by violence, as well as around 750 specialist advice centres for violence against women.

The German government currently lacks a majority in parliament, after the coalition broke apart in early November, and would need support from opposition lawmakers to pass the legislation.

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According to Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), 360 women and girls were killed in 2023 in gender-motivated homicides, referred to as femicides. Many were killed by their current or former partners.

Another 576 women and girls survived attempts on their lives during 2023, according to BKA figures.
ANKARA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's data protection authority, the Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK), has fined Meta, the parent company of Instagram, 11.5 million Turkish liras (around 330,000 U.S. dollars) for violations related to the privacy of minors.

The breach stemmed from Instagram allowing private accounts of users under the age of 18 to be switched into business accounts, effectively making them public and exposing personal data, said the protection authority in a statement on Wednesday.

KVKK explained that this feature exposed minors to online risks by revealing sensitive information such as email addresses and phone numbers through the platform's HTML source code, leaving them vulnerable to potential data harvesting.

The regulator determined that Meta failed to implement adequate technical safeguards to ensure the security of minors' data, thereby increasing their susceptibility to online risks. This triggered an ex officio investigation by the Turkish authority, and ultimately resulted in the fine.

In its statement, KVKK emphasized the critical need for stricter measures to protect children's privacy and data security online. 
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sent a request to parliament on Wednesday to hold a vote of confidence on Dec. 16, setting a path to an early federal election next year after the collapse of his coalition.

Policymaking in Europe's biggest economy has largely ground to a halt since Scholz's fractious coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) imploded last month, leaving him heading a minority government.

If, as expected, Scholz loses the confidence vote, he must then ask the president to dissolve parliament, which would trigger fresh elections. Scholz has agreed with the opposition to hold the election on Feb. 23.

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"In a democracy, it is the voters who determine the course of future politics," Scholz said in a short statement to reporters.

"In the election, they will decide how we answer the big questions that lie before us. Let us have the confidence to invest vigorously in our future as a strong country."

Scholz urged lawmakers to work together in the remaining window before the elections to pass measures still on the agenda. That includes keeping a cap on electricity prices to help Germany's struggling industry, as well as tackling fiscal drag and raising child benefit.

"This is about a few but very important decisions that can't be delayed at all," Scholz said in Berlin shortly after he submitted a request to parliament to hold a vote of confidence.

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Scholz cited recent meetings with representatives at Volkswagen and Ford, both of whom are planning sharp cost-cutting measures.

"Everyone is warning that electricity costs must not continue to rise," Scholz said.

Last week, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier lost a no-confidence vote, underscoring the unusual degree of political instability plaguing both of Europe's top powers.

Polls suggest the opposition conservatives are on track to win the federal election, with a survey on Monday putting them on 31%, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany on 18%, Scholz's SPD on 17% and the Greens on 13%.

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The FDP and the newly-created Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance are both polling just under the 5% threshold to enter parliament but analysts say voters can shift quickly as they are less loyal than they once were.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Matthias Williams, Kirsti Knolle; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Toby Chopra)
The German-Ukrainian Economic Forum is set to take place in Berlin on Wednesday, with the focus on Ukraine's economic resilience after nearly three years of a full-scale Russian invasion.

From the German side, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Development Minister Svenja Schulze are expected to attend.

From Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, his deputy Yulia Svyrydenko and Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko are expected to attend.

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According to the organizers, special attention will be given to Ukraine's energy supply, which is entering the third winter of war with severe damage from Russian attacks. Another topic is the cooperation between German and Ukrainian arms companies.

In bilateral trade in 2023, Germany exported goods worth 6.9 billion ($8.8 billion) to Ukraine and imported goods worth 2.9 billion.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, imports from Ukraine mainly included agricultural products, automotive parts and food.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have exchanged views on the situation in Syria during a telephone conversation.

Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on Tuesday evening that "both agreed that the fall of the dictatorial [Bashar al-] Assad regime was a very positive development."

He added that now the goal must be to make Syria a safe home for all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation.

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Furthermore, the two leaders said it is important to maintain Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty, the spokesman said, adding that they aim to work towards these goals together with partners in the European Union as well as the region.

Turkey has taken in the most refugees from Syria globally, with about 3 million currently living in the country, according to UN figures. In Germany, there are currently about 975,000 Syrian refugees.

Both in the EU and in Turkey, there is hope that stability will return to Syria following the fall of al-Assad and that more refugees will voluntarily return to their homeland.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also spoke with Erdogan and subsequently announced her intention to travel to Turkey early next week for talks on the recent developments in Syria.
A leading member of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) on Wednesday said demands from opposition conservatives for Syrian refugees to return home following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime were irresponsible.

"Events in Syria are coming thick and fast and nobody knows what will happen next," said Stephan Weil, the premier of the northern state of Lower Saxony.

"We need to know with some degree of certainty what will happen next before we take a new course," Weil told dpa in Hanover, two days after Jens Spahn from the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) suggested the German government should charter aircraft to Syria and offer refugees in Germany cash incentives to take the flights.

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Weil added: "Anyone who, like Jens Spahn, says that we should send all the Syrians back now is acting irresponsibly."

The premier's intervention was the latest in a heated debate that sprang up in Germany hours after the collapse of al-Assad's government on Sunday, putting an end to more than a decade of civil war that forced millions to flee Syria.

Germany is home to nearly a million Syrians, most of whom fled the conflict, and the government has quickly moved to pause asylum proceedings for more than 47,000 Syrian applicants.

The CDU and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have led calls for Syrians to be quickly encouraged to return home, despite massive uncertainty over the country's future direction.

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Weil said that many Syrians would leave Germany voluntarily if the situation in Syria stabilizes and human rights are respected.

"Others would then also have to leave Germany involuntarily. But this also has to be considered on a case-by-case basis," Weil argued.

"It depends on the residence status," Weil continued. "Many refugees are also well integrated and have jobs that we would otherwise not be able to fill. So we will have to take a close look."

Weil's comments came as Syria's new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, on Wednesday called on Syrian refugees around the world to return to their homeland.
(NewsNation)  The employee who called in Luigi Mangiones appearance at a Pennsylvania McDonalds might face an uphill battle when it comes to getting the $60,000 reward promised.

The two-part reward  $10,000 from the New York Police Department and another $50,000 from the FBI  is the result of a dayslong manhunt for the man accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York last Wednesday.

Luigi Mangiones McDonalds arrest

Mangione, 26, was arrested in Pennsylvania on separate weapons charges, with New York prosecutors filing a second-degree murder charge against him just hours after his detainment.

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As of Tuesday, he remained in a Pennsylvania jail and is fighting extradition to New York with his attorney, Thomas Dickey.

The arrest came after a patron alerted an Altoona, Pennsylvania, McDonalds employee of Mangione. The employee then called police, according to authorities.

Alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter intends to plead not guilty: Lawyer

Who gets reward for UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting?

There are some stringent stipulations surrounding reward money, meaning those involved in the accused killers arrest might have some hoops to jump through.

FBI rules stipulate that tipsters calls must lead to an arrest and conviction. That requires extradition to New York, a trial and a conviction  putting a major delay on any payouts.

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In larger cases, tipsters cannot nominate themselves for the FBI reward, meaning the worker might have to be nominated by an investigating agency to get the hefty check, according to the agencys Rewards for Justice page.

Then, an interagency committee reviews the nomination and passes it along to the secretary of state, who makes the final call.

Luigi Mangiones lawyer: No evidence he shot UnitedHealthcare CEO

Even after all that, the FBI stipulates that reward amount can vary depending on multiple factors  including value of information given, threat level, the risk faced by the source and cooperation, USA Today reports.

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The NYPDs portion of the reward is granted through Crime Stoppers, which gives tipsters unique reference numbers, Unilad reports.

That number is vital in filing a claim with the NYC Police Foundation and the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, who could approve or deny the tip depending on the circumstances surrounding the call.

The employee and customer have not yet been identified, and its unclear which person would be eligible to eventually claim a reward if Mangione is convicted.

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 News

Ghanas president-elect John Dramani Mahama vowed to reset the country following his resounding election victory, as analysts predicted challenges in repairing a battered economy.

The countrys electoral commission on Monday declared main opposition candidate Mahama the winner of Saturdays poll with 56.55% of the vote. His main rival, outgoing Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, had already conceded defeat on Sunday.

Know More

Ghana, the worlds second biggest cocoa grower and major gold producer, is mired in its worst economic crisis in decades, triggered by a 2022 default on its $30 billion sovereign debt, which led to a $3 billion IMF bailout and debt restructuring.

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There is much to do to salvage our country and reset it, Mahama, previously president from 2012 to 2017, said in his acceptance speech.

David Omojomolo, Africa economist at Capital Economics, said Mahamas priorities would be to ensure fiscal policies adhere to the IMF program and keeping investors onside post-debt restructuring.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  United Healthcares CEO was allegedly shot and killed with a ghost gun on December 4th in Manhattan. Its a type of gun that is hard to track, but easily accessible.

UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect intends to plead not guilty: lawyer

Ghost guns are being used a lot more for crimes. 22News spoke with two state officials about how much of a problem these guns are here in the U.S.

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United Healthcares CEO Brian Thompson- was shot and killed in broad daylight on December 4th in Manhattan. The investigation sparks concerns of untraceable guns across the U.S. which police say may have been used in this incident.

According to the AP, Police say the gun used to kill Thompson may have been a ghost gun made with a 3D printer. A ghost gun is a weapon that can not be traced and comes without a serial number. And these ghost guns are being used more often for crimes in the U.S. including here in Massachusetts.

State Representative Carlos Gonzalez says state officials have been making improvements to the gun laws throughout the Commonwealth. We have made significant improvements to the legislation here in Massachusetts where it is illegal to make a gun with 3D printing, although you can acquire a serial number so we can be able to track and trace any firearm.

Firearms are supposed to be manufactured by licensed companies and serial numbers are required. But people have found ways to avoid that process. So local leaders say there needs to be some changes with these gun laws nationally as they are too easy to access.

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State Representative Bud Williams adds, Its really ridiculous. There should be a national ban on ghost guns. You can order one part from this state another part from this state another part from this state and create a gun with no serial number, its not traceable and they actually tell you how to make them.

Williams says the rest of the country has to step up.

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.
GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  After over two years spent rebuilding following a fire in 2022, Hustedt Jewelers is back in business.

WCIA previously reported that the July 4 fire impacted Hustedt Jewelers, Edward Jones, Ace Hardware and Jays Place in Gibson City. Since then, Hustedt Jewelers has worked to rebuild and cleanup, which was an extremely lengthy and stressful process.

Fire leaves extensive damage to Lincolns Idle Hour Inn

Photo courtesy of Hustedt Jewelers

The business said theyll be open each day through Christmas Eve, before returning to their regular Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays after Christmas.

Gibson City Store Hours:

Monday  Friday: 9 a.m.  6 p.m.

Saturdays: 9 a.m.  5 p.m.

Sundays: 12 p.m.  4 p.m.

Christmas Eve: 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Christmas Day: Closed

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Hustedt Jewelers thanked the community for their support through the long and stressful 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 WCIA.com.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  According to the the Better Business Bureau, gift cards are considered by many to be a popular and convenient gift-giving option  especially around the holidays.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

According to a new study from Capital One Shopping, 64 percent of U.S. consumers buy gift cards as holiday gifts. However, the BBB is warning shoppers that gift cards are also a target for scammers.

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Cameron Nakashima from the BBB tells us a newer kind of gift card fraud has recently emerged, and its called gift card draining.

What the BBB sees is that gift card related fraud is on the rise  and gift card draining has changed the way we should approach gift card purchases.

Heres how the scheme works:

Criminals will go to a shop  usually a big box store  theyll tamper with gift card packaging to steal card information before its sold. They return the altered cards to store shelves and regularly monitor the balances to check if the cards have been activated. Once you buy and load money onto the card, the criminal swiftly drains the funds, leaving you or your gift recipient with an empty gift card. The catch  you usually only find out that your gift card has been drained when you go to use it.

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Add a furry friend to your ohana before the Holidays

Nakashima says if your gift card has been drained do the following:

The first thing you should do is report the card to the card issuer immediately. Most issuers have toll-free telephone numbers you can call for support on the back of the card or online. This is usually not the normal customer service number for the store, but the store might still be able to help as a second option.

Next, report gift card draining to government agencies such as local authorities, the FTC, and even the Department of Homeland Security so they can track this criminal behavior.

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Report it to watchdog tools such as the BBB Scam Tracker.

Nakashima also shares some tips to avoid before you become a victim:

If possible, buy gift cards online.

Buy them from stores that keep gift cards behind the counter or at the checkout stand where customers cant easily tamper with them or swap them out.

If thats not an option, look for signs of tampering  cuts, tears, bends, etc.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Stick to stores you know and trust  dont buy from auction sites, third party online shops, or second-hand marketplaces. Only buy directly from sites and brands you know and trust. If you arent familiar with a brand, you can look them up on BBB.org.

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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.
BEIRUT, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A unit from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Wednesday entered the eastern edge of Khiam, a town located in the eastern sector of the southern Lebanese border area, according to a Lebanese military source.

The source, who spoke anonymously, told Xinhua that several UNIFIL armored vehicles, accompanied by a bulldozer and an engineering team, entered the eastern edge of Khiam from their position in the Ibl al-Saqi plain.

"The UNIFIL force is conducting a survey of the eastern neighborhood and removing obstacles from the main and secondary roads to prepare for the deployment of a Lebanese army unit in this town at a later time," added the source.

"After UNIFIL completes its mission in the eastern edge of the town, a unit from the Seventh Brigade will move from the Marjeyoun barracks towards the eastern edge of this town," he said.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese army unit, comprising several military vehicles, armored vehicles, and a bulldozer, is gathering at the entrance to the Marjeyoun barracks, awaiting orders to advance to Khiam in coordination with UNIFIL, according to the source.

The Lebanese army had mobilized about 6,000 soldiers and hundreds of armored military vehicles to several military barracks south of the Litani River, who have been deployed in the areas of Marjeyoun, Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil, Tyre, and Zahrani.

A ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, went into effect on Nov. 27, aiming to halt nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Under the agreement, Israel will withdraw from Lebanese territory within 60 days, the Lebanese army will be deployed on the Lebanese-Israeli border, and Hezbollah will retreat to north of the Litani River. 
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Its shaping up to be a difficult holiday season for local nonprofits.

Tuesday, we checked with the Union Gospel Mission and Feeding South Dakota, and they are both experiencing an increase in demand along with a decrease in donations.

In November, 40% more people turned to the Union Gospel Mission for shelter than at the same time last year. As CEO Eric Weber tries to keep up with that demand, hes also struggling with fewer donations.

Last year about this time, donations were up, really up, and doing really good last year. This year, theyre about 30% behind, so were lacking about $200,000 to $300,000 this year, Weber said.

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Regional Water Leaders eye future supply needs

Feeding South Dakota is also seeing a decrease in donations. In October, the nonprofit served 20% more families than a year ago.

Giving at Feeding South Dakota has been significantly down this last quarter of the year. I think with election things and year-end, people are just trying to figure out where their dollars are going, Feeding South Dakota chief development officer Megan Kjose said.

However, a donation matching program could help Feeding South Dakota meet their increasing demand.

Through December 31st, donations to Feeding South Dakota will be matched thanks to Bill and Carolyn Hinks of South Dakota Furniture Mart, so were really appreciative to that partnership, making sure that donations to Feeding South Dakota this holiday season can be doubled and make a big impact for our mission, Kjose said.

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And as Christmas approaches, both nonprofits are encouraging you to donate.

As our programs increase, we want to make sure that we have the appropriate support so that all our neighbors that were serving and are coming to utilize our programs so that they can receive nutritious food, Kjose said.

Whats great with giving is that youre helping people that are in need of years of your help. These are folks that are in a crisis and getting better, Weber said.

To learn more about how you can give to Feeding South Dakota and Union Gospel Mission, click the following links: Feeding South Dakota, Union Gospel Mission.

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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.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  The global chemical weapons watchdog will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the situation in Syria over concerns about the countrys stockpile of toxic chemicals.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons told Syria on Monday it is under obligations to comply with rules to safeguard and destroy dangerous substances, such as chlorine gas, after rebels entered the capital Damascus at the weekend and overthrew the regime of President Bashar Assad.

The meeting was called by the organizations executive council to discuss the current situation in Syria as well as the status of ongoing investigations in the country.

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Members of the ousted Syrian government plan to gradually transfer power to a new transitional cabinet headed by Mohammed al-Bashir, who reportedly headed the rebel alliances salvation government in its southwest Syrian stronghold.

Outgoing officials met for the first time Tuesday with al-Bashir, who told reporters that the transitional period would last until the beginning of March.

Assads regime denied using chemical weapons, but the OPCW has found evidence indicating their repeated use by Syria in the countrys grinding civil war.

Earlier this year, it found the Islamic State group had used mustard gas against the town of Marea in 2015.

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The U.S. has said it will recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women. When it comes to this question of inspections and verifications, it is the responsibility of that organization to conduct verification efforts under its mandate, not any of the member states or the United States or other states. That, the OPCW will do, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.

Israel said it has carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the last 48 hours, hitting most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists.

The Israeli military acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria but it remained unclear if Israeli soldiers had gone beyond that area, which was established more than 50 years ago. Israel denied that it was advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus.

The Kremlin said Sunday that Russia had granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin
General Motors announced Tuesday that it would end funding for its Cruise robotaxi service.

The automaker said it would shift its focus to the development of advanced driver-assistance systems, furthering its path toward fully autonomous personal vehicles.

The company cited "considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market" as factors for its decision.

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"Cruise has been an early innovator in autonomy, and the deeper integration of our teams, paired with GMs strong brands, scale, and manufacturing strength, will help advance our vision for the future of transportation," GM's CEO Mary Barra said in a statement.

PHOTO: In this Aug. 11, 2023, file photo, Cruise, a driverless robotaxi, drives on a street in San Francisco. (John G. Mabanglo/EPA via Shutterstock)

Cruise LLC was founded in 2013 and began performing tests for its self-driving cars in California in 2015. GM acquired the company a year later.

MORE: Tesla set to unveil its Cybercab in move Musk hopes will steer company into new era

GM then invested billions of dollars in development and worked with Honda on advancing its technologies.

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In 2021, the California Department of Motor Vehicles gave Cruise a permit for driverless taxis, many of which operated in San Francisco. A year later, Cruise service expanded to Arizona and Texas.

PHOTO: In this Feb. 15, 2023, file photo, Associated Press reporter Michael Liedtke sits in the back of a Cruise driverless taxi that picked him up in San Francisco. (Terry Chea/AP, FILE)

However, the California DMV suspended Cruise's permit in October 2023, following an investigation into pedestrian injuries involving the driverless vehicles.

MORE: Woman gets pinned under driverless car after being hit by other vehicle

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into Cruise over those incidents.

GM remains committed to bringing its customers the benefits of autonomous driving, according to Dave Richardson, senior vice president of software and services engineering, who listed among those benefits "enhanced safety, improved traffic flow, increased accessibility, and reduced driver stress."

GM scraps Cruise's robotaxi service originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW)  It wasnt so long ago that Meals on Wheels of Horry and Georgetown County needed a delivery of its own.

Facing an uncertain future after losing its longtime Singleton Ridge Road home last December, the nonprofit organization was close to suspending services until groups including Horry-Georgetown Technical College and Vines Restoration and Plumbing stepped up to help.

HGTC offered space to temporarily house the charity, while Conway-based Vines, which is known for its distinctive yellow-and-blue vehicles, helped to construct a new Meals on Wheels facility on 20 acres at Highways 701 and 22 following a September land donation.

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On Tuesday, 26 Vines trucks gathered at a Myrtle Beach hotel to load up on holiday presents donated to Meals on Wheels before distributing them across 100 routes from Little River to Conway and beyond.

CEO Michael Snuggs said the Christian-based nonprofit will give each personalized gift to 523 elderly and terminally ill members, known within Meals on Wheels as grandparents. For some, it will be their last Christmas.

We just want to share our heart, Vines CEO Rick Vines said. Thats whats most important. The gift of service is not just being able to fix your commode, your HVAC unit or put your home together after a fire or water emergency.

For those in the community who might not get to see family this year, the love from Meals on Wheels and Vines company still made the holiday feel magical.

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Sylvia Randall couldnt hold back her tears when talking to a News13 reporter about the outpouring of kindness.

It brings me joy to see that, you know, someone does care, she said.

Living in Conway for 57 years, Randall said she still smiles every time Meals on Wheels shows up at her doorstep.

You cant beat it, she said. For us who cannot get up to no stoves like we used to, it is a blessing, she said.

Recovering from a recent knee surgery, Teresa Twarog said the collaboration between Snuggs and Vines teams brightened her day.

Meals on Wheels have just been wonderful, she said. Its another family that makes me feel comfortable, she said.

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For some, the biggest gift of all was being able to share their faith with those who care.

God is good, Randall said.

Vines said they plan to deliver her a Christmas tree because she currently does not have one in her home.

* * *

Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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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.
Mark Webb, center, bids on behalf of his client, Central Indiana Package Group LLC, during the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission's annual permit auction. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Forty-two hopefuls turned out for the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commissions auction on Tuesday, out-bidding one another in an attempt to secure one of dozens of alcoholic beverage permits.

The most competitive bidding occurred during the package store portion, which included nine permits in seven counties. The most expensive bid came in at $330,000 for a Kosciusko County beer, wine and liquor permit in Winona Lake.

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Some had only one interested party and were awarded based on a pre-bidding process.

The five restaurant permits available in Madison, Marion and Monroe counties, on the other hand, had less competition. A beer and wine permit in Pendleton, located in Madison County, went for the minimum bid amount of $750.

Jack Christy, an auctioneer with Christys of Indiana Inc., oversees bidding at the annual Alcohol and Tobacco Commissions permit auction. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

If you just keep your hand up, youll buy it, joked Kyle Hupfer, co-owner of the Indiana Liquor Group LLC. The company won four out of the nine available package store permits, also commonly known as liquor stores.

Hupfer, the former chair of the Indiana Republican Party, shared that the groundwork ahead of the bidding was more intensive than the auction itself.

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You have to look at the localities and whether the markets  or population  can support another store, Hupfer said.

Indiana Liquor Group CEO Chris Lamb said the entity had about 60 stores across the state, mostly in the northern half. In its six years of operation, Lamb said most of the companys holdings had been purchased from existing package stores, rather than through the states auction process.

They dont come up that often, Lamb said. Now that we have a license, we have to look for real estate  for somewhere to build a store.

According to a 2023 Inside Indiana Business story, Indiana Liquor Group is the second-largest liquor store owner in the state, behind Big Red Liquors Inc. Stores under the Indiana Liquor Group have many names but include Papa Joes Liquors in Richmond, Noblesville Wine & Spirits and Muncie Liquors.

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Another group, JBMEnterprise LLC, also dominated the package store liquor licenses, acquiring four of the remaining five licenses. The last license went to someone who registered to bid as Mandeep Singh.

Limited number of permits

Pre-bid applications are due two weeks before the auction and require a security deposit. The amount depends on the type of permit sought  beer or wine only permits go for a minimum of $500 while combining the two costs at least $750. Getting a license for beer, wine and liquor costs at least $1,000.

As a self-funded agency with no general fund appropriations, the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission uses the auction funds to operate.

Each winning bid comes with a back-up. Unsuccessful bidders will get their deposits returned.

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The state has a limited number of permits available and dozens of types of permits, which are calculated based on an areas population. Following a census, when populations are recounted, more licenses become available in growing areas and bring more competitive bidding.

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Each permit type  whether a brewery, three-way restaurant or liquor  has its own process and limitations based on population and whether the area is incorporated. Earlier this year, alcoholic beverage lobbyists faced off during the legislative session over whether beer wholesalers could be allowed to sell liquor-based ready-to-drink cocktails.

Permits in competitive areas thus have the potential to go even higher  in the Fall 2022 auction, two Lake County package store permits went for more than $1 million each. Meanwhile, dozens of bids in smaller localities  whether grocery store permits or restaurant permits  frequently go for the minimum price.

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However, winners sometimes fail to use their bids. If someone holds a permit in escrow for five years without acting upon it, it reverts back to the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission for auction. Local, county-based alcoholic beverage boards also vote on applications and dealer permits.

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Dec. 10Six months after 17-year-old Erik Edge died during a routine wisdom tooth removal, time stands still in the Edge house.

His dogs still wait for him to come home. His shoes sit in the kitchen. And his bedroom is just the way he left it after his dad dropped him off at Liberty Oral and Facial Surgery on June 24.

It was going to be quick, Mark Edge said. But as the minutes passed, his son never came out.

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Instead, the business was suddenly swarmed with paramedics and firefighters. As Mark jumped from his car and ran inside, he fought with firefighters to let him go in the back to see his son. In a panic, he called his wife, Sara.

The couple watched in disbelief as paramedics performed CPR on Erik, over and over, in what Sara described as "traumatic." They could not understand why their healthy, lively son was suddenly seconds from death because of a routine operation that millions of young Americans undergo each year.

"Something is wrong," the firefighters told the Edge family. "It doesn't look good."

When an ambulance crew sped Erik to the hospital in hope of resuscitating him, it was too late. He had died from a common reaction to anesthesia, his mother said, which was "entirely preventable."

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The Edge family filed a lawsuit Monday alleging local oral surgeon Dr. Bryan McLelland could have prevented Erik's reaction to anesthesia, but "failed to respond" in a timely manner. McLelland chose to "wear two hats" that day, the lawsuit says  playing both the role of an anesthesiologist and a surgeon in order to increase profits.

McLelland's attorney, Steve Lamberson, gave a statement on behalf of his client Monday calling Erik's death unfortunate and unforeseen.

"He and his staff have been deeply impacted but he followed safety protocols and met the standard of care," Lamberson wrote in the statement. McLelland, he said, is prepared to defend his care and respond to the lawsuit.

Records from the Washington State Department of Health show McLelland is credentialed with a dentist's license and a general anesthesia permit, which was renewed last year.

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The day of Erik's death, McLelland brought Erik's wallet and other belongings to the hospital. He repeatedly told the family how much medication was given and how he wished he could trade places with Erik, Mark said. But at that moment, he was just staring at his son in shock.

"He was an incredible 17-year-old kid. He was our light, our sunshine, our person. He had great friends. He was in love for the first time. He was a hard worker," Sara said. "He was just a really great human."

Erik was a student at Gonzaga Prep and looking forward to his senior year. He talked about his future, too, like possibly attending Washington State University to become an engineer.

He was also the kind of kid who liked to fix up cars and trucks, his family said. He persevered, worked hard and spent three years saving up to buy a 2001 Ford Ranger because he "wanted to earn it," Sara said.

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"He took pride in that," his mother said. "He had the best giggle, and he was just full of joy. Even if he was grumpy, he'd be grumpy for 10 minutes. He just lit up every room."

His brother, Zack Edge, said his energy is what he'll remember most. It was contagious, and he radiated "joy and positivity everywhere."

"He never had a bad word to say about anybody or anything. He just lived his life and didn't really care about the typical things teenagers care about, like material things," Zack said. "He knew what was important and what mattered. He took care of people. I think that's rare. He was just a good soul."

When Erik went to Honduras three years ago as part of a project to work with Living Water International to place wells in villages that lack water, he just "fell in love with it," his mother said. He brought toys, played with the children and yearned to better communicate with them. So when he got back to Washington, he learned to speak Spanish.

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Erik never will make another trip to Honduras like he planned, but his family raised enough money to support what they refer to as "his legacy."

"We're putting a well in South Asia next year outside of the health clinic with his name on it. It'll serve up to 4,000 people to start," Sara said. "This isn't fixable and it won't bring Erik back ... But it's a way to honor him and his life."

Grief is not linear, Erik's parents say. They cry every day, but they also laugh every day.

Sara, who is a nurse practitioner, said if she had known there wasn't going to be an anesthesiologist in the room that day, they would have never let their son inside. Her knowledge comes with her job, she said, but there are other parents who don't know what to ask.

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"Find out if there's an expert, a well-qualified anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist on staff. Ask if there's proper equipment in the room. Ask what kind of training the staff has. Do they practice for events like this?" Sara said. "Make sure the crash cart, if there is one, has equipment that's up to date and not expired."

The family's attorney, George Ahrend, said the reaction that Erik had to the anesthesia is so common that experts prepare for it  that "if every anesthesiologist lost the patient when this complication happened, every anesthesiologist would have a long trail of bodies behind them in their career," he said.

Ahrend, who is an attorney for Luvera Law Firm, added that it's rare for someone to complete a surgery while administering, monitoring and responding to complications of anesthesia at the same time.

"This is something that was foreseeable, preventable and treatable," he said. "Erik should have walked out that day."
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Google on Wednesday unleashed another wave of artificial intelligence designed to tackle more of the work and thinking done by humans as it tries to stay on the technology's cutting edge while also trying to fend off regulatory threats to its empire.

The next generation of Google's AI is being packaged under the Gemini umbrella, which was unveiled a year ago. Google is framing its release of Gemini 2.0 as a springboard for AI agents built to interpret images shown through a smartphone, perform a variety of tedious chores, remember the conversations consumers have with people, help video game players plot strategy and even tackle the task of doing online searches.

In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai predicted the technology contained in Gemini 2.0 will understand more about the world around you, think multiple steps ahead and take action on your behalf, with your supervision. It's a similar goal being pursued by hard-charging rivals such as OpenAI, with its chatGPT technology, and industry powerhouse such as Microsoft with a variety of similar tools on its Windows software.

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A lot of Google's latest AI technology will initially be confined to test groups and subscribers who pay $20 per month for Gemini Advanced, but some features will be made available through its search engine and mobile apps. Google is planning wider releases next year that will include the technology popping up in its smorgasbord of free products, including its Chrome browser, digital maps and YouTube.

Besides trying to outshine OpenAI and other ambitious startups, Google is also trying to stay a step ahead of Apple as that trendsetting company begins to blend AI into its latest iPhones and other devices. After releasing a software update enabling the first bundle of the iPhone's Apple Intelligence features that spruced up the device's Siri assistant, another batch of the AI technology came out with a free software update that was also released Wednesday.

Google is pushing forward with its latest AI advances even as the U.S. Justice Department is trying to break up the Mountain View, California, company to prevent further abusive practices by its dominant search engine, which was declared an illegal monopoly by a federal judge earlier this year as part of a landmark antitrust case.

Among other things, Gemini 2.0 is supposed to improve the AI overviews that Google began highlighting in its search results over its traditional listing of the most pertinent links to websites earlier this year in response to AI-powered answer engines such as Perplexity.

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After the AI overviews initially produced some goofy suggestions, including putting glue on pizza, Google refined the technology to minimize such missteps. Now, company executives are promising things are going to get even better with Gemini 2.0, which Pichai said will be able to engage in more human-like reasoning while solving more advanced math problems and even churn out some computer code. The improvements to AI Overviews will initially only appear to a test audience before a wider release next year.

The technological upgrade is also supposed to infuse a still-experimental universal AI agent dubbed Project Astra, with even more smarts and versatility, enabling people to have more meaningful and helpful conversations with the technology. In a show of confidence, Google said it will expand the number of people testing Project Astra without providing any specifics of the group's size.

As part of Gemini 2.0, Google is also going to begin testing an extension to Chrome called Project Mariner, which can be turned on to do online searches and sift through the results so people don't won't have to bother.

If the U.S. Department of Justice gets its way, Google will be forced to sell or spin off Chrome as part of its punishment for deploying its search engine in ways that stifled competition and potential innovation. Google has ridiculed the Justice Department's proposal as overly broad and vowed to resist any attempt to break up the company during federal court hearings scheduled to begin in Washington D.C. next spring.

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Even if those proceedings culminate in a court order mandating a breakup, Google could still appeal in a process that could take years to resolve while it continues its AI expansion.

I cant wait to see what this next era brings, Pichai wrote in his blog post, signaling the company doesn't believe it will be deterred by regulators.
Senate Republicans have discussed elevating Sen. John Cornyn to chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to party officials, a move that would hand Cornyn a prized gavel as consolation for losing his GOP leader bid and could help induce him to run for reelection in two years.

The complication, and almost certain deal-breaker: Cornyn would have to leapfrog the Republican next in line to chair the Intelligence Committee, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Cotton has privately made clear to Cornyn he would claim the position.

Likely ensuring Cottons ascension to the chair is the raw politics of last months Senate Republican leadership race between Cornyn and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). A select rather than standing committee, the intelligence panels chair is chosen by the majority leader. And Cotton supported Thune on the private ballot, according to a third Senate Republican, and now Thune is poised to reward him rather than the man he defeated.

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A spokesperson for Thune declined to comment.

Asked if he expects to claim the gavel, Cotton on Tuesday said, No comment.

On Tuesday night, Cotton spokeswoman Caroline Tabler said: Senator Thune has told Senator Cotton hes taking over as chair. He is hiring staff, working with Senator [Marco] Rubio (R-Fla.) on the transition, and planning with Senator [Mark] Warner (D-Va.) for January confirmation hearings.

A Cornyn representative declined to comment.

But Im told the Arkansan has already started hiring staff and refused to be coaxed into letting Cornyn take the chair, which will be open because of Rubios appointment as Secretary of State. Cornyn approached Cotton to take his temperature about the post last month after the leader race, Im told by a Republican senator, and Cotton responded by saying: Im going to be the chairman.



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Cornyn said after his defeat in the leader race that he planned to seek a fifth term in 2026. Yet some of the Texans colleagues are more skeptical, in part because Cornyn could face a formidable primary challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Offering Cornyn, a 72-year-old former judge well-liked by his colleagues, control of the panel that oversees the countrys intelligence programs was seen as a win-win, according to two GOP officials who described the considerations. Hed claim a weighty position at a moment of conflict abroad and tensions at home over the countrys intelligence and law enforcement services. And Cotton would not be without a significant post, after his victory last month for conference chair, the third-ranking slot in the Senate GOP leadership.

Cornyn served as the second-ranking Senate Republican and chaired the NRSC but, as he enters his 22nd year in the chamber, has yet to chair a committee. And because he came to the intelligence panel later in his career than 47-year-old Cotton, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014, hes more junior than his much younger colleague.

Some well-placed Republicans hoped Cotton could be satisfied, and occupied, with his new leadership post as Senate GOP conference chair. Other Republican officials, though, were skeptical that Cotton, an Army veteran who was also eyed for a national security appointment in the Trump administration, would be so benevolent as to give up the gavel.

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The previously unreported discussions among GOP senators come weeks after Cornyn lost 29-24 to Thune, a race the Texan had planned for years and privately expressed confidence he would win. Lamenting the uncertainty of the secret ballot contest after his loss, the Texan ruefully identified with another lawmaker who was defeated for a leadership position and was forced to write 27 thank you notes for 24 votes.

A close ally of former President George W. Bush and Karl Rove, Cornyn was state attorney general before claiming his Senate seat in Bushs first midterm election. He went on to become Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnells deputy for six years and, since leaving the leadership, has become something of a deal-maker. He helped negotiate, for example, the bipartisan firearms bill that passed the Senate after the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Ever the affable and even-keeled jurist, Cornyn has not had a natural relationship with Trump. But the senator has tried to sustain a relationship with the once and future president, an effort which may have ensured Trumps neutrality in the leader race. After meeting this week with Kash Patel, Trumps pick for FBI director and the author of an enemies list of Trump adversaries, Cornyn said he was inclined to support him, barring some unforeseen circumstances.



The test of Cornyns friendship with the president-elect, though, will come should the much-anticipated showdown between the senator and Paxton, Texass current attorney general, come to fruition. Trump is close to Paxton, who played a key role in the president-elects effort to overturn the 2020 election results.

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And now that Trump is in charge of the Department of Justice once more, its highly unlikely the federal corruption probe into Paxton will continue. The Texas attorney general has already been acquitted by the Texas Senate in an impeachment trial and agreed to a deal on local charges, for which hed perform community service and avoid a guilty plea.

Paxton has been circling Cornyn, and without much subtlety, so much so that last year the senator memorably shot back: Hard to run from prison, Ken.

Since losing his race against Thune, Cornyn has publicly and privately insisted he will run again in 2026, seeking to serve in the Senate for the remainder of his 70s.

If he does fend off Paxton, though, Cornyn is in line to be Senate Finance chair in 2027.

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Invoking the lawmaker he succeeded, Cornyn noted that former Sen. Phil Gramm, while not in elected leadership, was always in the middle of some of the hardest issues that confronted the Congress and was a warrior. And I think its a pretty good role model.

There is, though, another model. After former Sen. Alan K. Simpson, a Wyoming Republican who like Cornyn had served as whip, lost a leadership race by a single vote after Republicans claimed the majority in 1994, he retired when his term was up two years later.
The sudden fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime has brought renewed scrutiny to Tulsi Gabbards ties to the deposed dictator, coinciding with a series of meetings with senators to boost her chances of being confirmed as President-elect Donald Trumps director of national intelligence.

While some senators said they would like to ask Gabbard questions about past comments defending Assad and her 2017 meeting with him in Syria when they meet with her prior to her confirmation hearings, most who spoke to The Dispatch were coy about what the topic of their conversations with Gabbard would be. Even those who tipped their hand did not reveal much.

Ill probably ask her what she spoke with Bashar al-Assad about, but thats about it, and then that doesnt overly concern me, said Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

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Meanwhile, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama defended the former Democratic congresswomans 2017 meeting with Assad. I think its good that shes made contacts like that, he told The Dispatch. Everybody says, Why would somebody do that? Id go talk to Putin if I could go talk to him. The more people you know, the better chance you got of understanding the situation. He also indicated that he would ask Gabbard about her past statements on the Syrian civil war, such as her doubting Assads use of chemical weapons on his own people. Well bring all that up, Tuberville said.

Johnson and Tuberville were exceptions, however, as most of their GOP colleagues offered less-specific statements about Gabbards nomination for the role. I look forward to having a chance to talk to her about what she thinks about how we should handle Syria and what her positions on other foreign policy issues are and how she plans to advise the president, said Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska. Pressed on whether he would ask Gabbard about her controversial statements, he replied, laughing, Well have lots of conversations about a lot of different things.

The surprise offensive by Syrian rebels who took control of the capital of Damascus and forced Assad to flee to Russia over the weekend brought even more attention to Gabbards record on the Middle Eastern nation, where a civil war erupted in 2011 and has continued at varying levels of intensity in recent years. In addition to meeting with Assad and saying she was skeptical of findings that he used chemical weapons on his own civilian population, she also argued in 2019 that he was not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States. Though few Republicans said they had fears about her past actions and remarks, the former congresswomans team seemed aware even before the rebel victory that she would need to assuage concerns over them. National Review reported last week that her game plan to reassure senators included stressing the importance of having lines of communication with Americas adversaries and convincing senators that she is not sympathetic to dictators.

Publicly, Gabbard expressed agreement with Trumps assertion in a Truth Social post that THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH Syria and that THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.

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I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria, Gabbard told reporters Monday. Asked whether she was able to explain her foreign policy views to senators on Tuesday, she told reporters she was having great conversations with those she met with.

One of those people was Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which shell appear before next month before the Senate votes up or down on her confirmation. He said Gabbard was concerned like everybody else about the situation in Syria. We walked through several issues, he told reporters about the Monday meeting. We spent about an hour and a half together. She was talking me through some of the accusations and things in the press about her ties to Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Last week, those ties apparently prompted dozens of former intelligence officials to send a letter to Sens. John Thune and Chuck Schumer, who will lead their parties in the new Senate, casting doubt on her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus. Speaking to The Dispatch, some Republican senators seemed to be addressing those concerns rather than explaining what they would hope to learn from Gabbard on her views on Syria.

Tulsi is tremendously intelligent and a longtime friend, and shes a highly vetted lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve, so I think shes one we can certainly trust, said Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina.

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Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said he had talked to Gabbard about Syria since she was in the House, where she represented Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. All this stuff that the Democrats [are] accusing her of being a Russian agent and stuffI just always laugh, he said. I was like, You know shes been promoted twice. Shes a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army [Reserve]. If there was an issue with her background and her decisions, I think that would already be exposed by now.

His colleague, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, spoke generally about the confirmation process for her and other nominees. I look forward to examining her nomination, he said. The advice and consent process is a critical process laid out in the Constitution, and every nominee will face a vigorous confirmation hearing, he said. My presumption is that all the presidents nominees will be confirmed.

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who could be in for a difficult 2026 reelection campaign in either the primary, general, or both, echoed comments his office made last week, indicating he would vote for nominees who get a positive vote from their committees of jurisdiction.

I dont think I have ever voted in opposition to anyone who came out of that  committee with an affirmative vote, and, therefore, Im going to put deference in the committee process, Tillis told The Dispatch.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to John Dramani Mahama on his election as president of Ghana.

Noting that Ghana is one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China and is also an important strategic partner of China in Africa, Xi said that the China-Ghana friendship has a long history and has been strengthened over time.

In recent years, bilateral relations have enjoyed a sound momentum of development, with fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, Xi said.

Also in the message, Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Ghana relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Mahama to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and promote the China-Ghana strategic partnership to be deeper and more solid, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples. 
Republican senators who witnessed firsthand the Jan. 6, 2021, ransacking of congressional offices now say its up to President-elect Trump whether to pardon those protesters convicted of federal crimes.

They say President Bidens pardon of his son Hunter Biden of all crimes he committed or may have committed over an 11-year span has opened the door for Trump to do what he wants to help supporters who stormed the Capitol four years ago.

And Senate Republicans also have decided to stand down on Trumps declaration that the members of the House Jan. 6 Committee should go to jail.

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With a battle brewing over Trumps controversial Cabinet nominees, Republican senators have by and large decided to keep their powder dry on Jan. 6 pardons.

Senate Republicans say Trump will have unfettered power to pardon people convicted of federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

As we found from Hunter Biden, the presidents pardon authority is pretty extensive. Thats obviously a decision hell have to make, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said of Trumps pledge to pardon many of the protesters.

Thune declined to push back on Trumps statement that members of the House Jan. 6 Committee  which included seven Democrats and then-Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.)  should go to jail.

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I think with respect to the committee  if theres something that needs to be looked at there, Im sure the appropriate authorities will look at it. I dont have a comment really on those statements, Thune said.

Trump said in a recent interview with NBCs Meet the Press that he would begin pardoning the protesters on Day 1.

More than 1,250 people have been convicted or have pleaded guilty for their actions on Jan. 6, and 645 have been sentenced to prison, according to the Justice Department.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Republican leadership team, said pardoning the Jan. 6 protesters is Trumps prerogative.

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Weve seen what President Biden did with his son, and presidents have that prerogative and it really doesnt involve Congress, he said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, signaled he wont try to stand in the way of Trump pardoning convicted Jan. 6 protesters but suggested people convicted of assaulting police officers shouldnt receive clemency.

Well see what he does. I mean its been four or five years [since the attack]. The ones that hurt cops, theyd be in a different category for me, but well leave that up to him, Graham said.

Graham seemed less concerned about protesters who entered the Capitol illegally on Jan. 6 and disrupted votes to certify Bidens victory in the 2020 election.

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Well see. Thats been four or five years [ago], he said.

But Graham balked at the idea of sending House Jan. 6 Committee members to jail.

I dont see a reason for them to go to jail, he said.

Senate Republican sentiments about pardoning people convicted of Jan. 6 crimes have softened since Trump swept all seven battleground states to win last months presidential election, bringing along Senate and House Republican majorities on his coattails.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in February 2022 he would not support pardons of rioters who forced senators and House members to flee their respective chambers in fear.

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I would not be in favor of shortening any of the sentences of any of the people who pleaded guilty to crimes, McConnell said at the time.

Thune and Cornyn earlier this year pushed back on Trumps characterization of people convicted of Jan. 6 crimes as hostages.

I dont condone that characterization at all, no, Thune said in January when asked about Trumps language.



Cornyn in January retorted: Somebodys whos been duly convicted of a federal crime is not a hostage.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who was one of seven Senate Republicans to vote to convict Trump on the impeachment charge of inciting insurrection in 2021, said Tuesday he wants to see what exactly Trump will do.

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He said he would pardon some of them. I dont know what some of them means. And so I would just like to see what that means before I comment on them, he said.

Cassidy in an interview with NBCs Meet the Press earlier this year noted that many people who were punished for their actions on Jan. 6 had admitted guilt.

Were a nation of laws, and those folks were convicted. Many times, they pled guilty. If you plead guilty, i.e., obviously youre not a patriot, Cassidy said.

Trump told NBC in an interview that aired Sunday his team is looking right now at pardoning Jan. 6 protesters.

Those people have suffered long and hard. And there may be some exceptions to it. I have to look, Trump said.

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Cassidy, who is up for reelection in 2026, suggested it would make sense for Trump not to pardon people convicted of assaulting Capitol police officers.

Im suspecting hes putting something in there for people whose actions were more egregious, but well have to wait and see, he said.

Trump for a long time has telegraphed his intention to pardon hundreds of people convicted of Jan. 6-related crimes, calling them hostages.

That terminology has angered some Republicans, such as Trumps former vice president, Mike Pence, who had to be rushed away from the Senate chamber by security officers on Jan. 6 as members of the angry crowd chanted Hang Mike Pence.

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Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson later testified that Trump told his staff at the time that Pence deserves it after he refused to use his position as the Senates presiding officer to stop the certification of the election.

Pence decided not to endorse Trump in the 2024 election.

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.
Gov. Gavin Newsom touted his administrations plans Tuesday to build the first reservoir in decades in Northern California as the solution to maintaining the states water supply as extreme weather becomes a more regular occurrence.

Newsom spoke at Davis Ranches in Colusa, near the site of the planned Sites Reservoir in Maxwell. The governor argued the planned water storage project is critical to maintaining supply as drought becomes more common.

He fast-tracked the $4.5 billion project via legislation passed last year that expedites legal challenges filed under the Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

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We now want to expand that streamliningto ground water replenishment as well, Newsom said Tuesday. Its about above groundwater, and were going to get Sites done, and were going to continue to advocate for federal resources.

Gov. Gavin Newsom steps away from the microphone after taking questions from reporters on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, during a visit to Davis Ranches, a family owned business since 1857, in Colusa County.

He called the reservoirs construction a critical part of the states climate adaptation strategy, citing the Malibu Franklin wildfire, which began Monday and had engulfed 1,300 acres as of Tuesday morning.

The Sites Reservoir would divert water from the Sacramento River by flooding almost 14,000 acres of ranchland in Glenn and Colusa counties via a system of dams, pipelines and a bridge.

Environmental groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club say it would threaten fish populations and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Deltas ecosystem.

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The courts sided with the state after a host of environmental groups filed legal challenges last summer. On Tuesday, the Golden State Salmon Association became the latest to criticize the states destructive and failed water policies.

We are in the second consecutive year of a salmon fishing season shutdown because our rivers lack the cold water flows fish need to survive, executive director Scott Artis said in a statement. Proposed solutions are 1950s-style water projects that will divert even more water from already suffering rivers  obliterating the salmon fishing industry, thousands of small businesses, and tens of thousands of families.

The state must still obtain myriad federal and state permits before it can break ground on the reservoir, prompting Newsom to call for the White Houses support.

Gov. Gavin Newsom listens to a question from a reporter during a visit to Davis Ranches in Colusa County on on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, where he spoke about some of the states major water projects like the Sites Reservoir and the Delta Conveyance tunnel project.

Donald Trump, this is your kind of project, he said. A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Newsom also heralded the awarding of $141 million for the $20 billion Delta Conveyance tunnel project as a major milestone in a statement. At the Colusa press conference, he admitted he was not hopeful the project would break ground before he left office in 2027, but that he was committed to removing as many barriers as I can.

This project, if its not completed, we will pay a huge price, Newsom told reporters.

The Metropolitan Water District for Southern California later voted Tuesday afternoon to approve the funding for project, which would create a 45-mile tunnel system to divert water from the Sacramento River underneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and through a Tracy pumping station.
Gov. Wes Moore, first lady Dawn Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced the creation of a new weeks-long festival designed to draw more attention to the Preakness Stakes as the state and city prepare to host the second jewel of the Triple Crown for its final turn around the current version of Pimlico Race Course.

The biggest event on Baltimores spring calendar has lost money in recent years as crowds have dwindled from an average of more than 100,000 in the decade before the coronavirus pandemic to 63,423 on Friday and Saturday last May. Young people have turned away from thoroughbred racing and the signature event, despite the presence of headlining musical acts such as Bruno Mars in 2023 and Jack Harlow in 2024.

Moore and Scott hope to turn the tide leading up to the 150th running of the race on May 17.

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Preakness is a chance for Baltimore to show off, the governor said at a presentation Wednesday on the sixth floor of the warehouse at Camden Yards. And thats whats going to happen with Preakness 150.

Asked if the new festival could bolster the signature races profitability, Moore said: Part of the idea and part of the plan around this is what does the entire rebuild not just symbolize, but what can it generate?  So part of the entire focus we have around the Pimlico plan is not just that we want to have 365 [days of] horse racing, not just about that we want to make sure were investing in Park Heights and the surrounding communities, but also that were doing something that will be financially accretive to the state as well.

Shortly after next years race, bulldozers and wrecking balls will begin demolishing the dilapidated facility as part of a $400 million rebuild expected to have a new Pimlico ready to host the Preakness by 2027. The refurbished track, in tandem with a new off-site training facility, is expected to become the headquarters for Maryland thoroughbred racing by the end of that year.

Wednesdays presentation was short on specifics, with festival organizers saying only that the build to the Preakness will last for months and that a list of events  including free and ticketed cultural gatherings, arts activities and a headline concert  will be released in early 2025.

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But the co-chairs of the initiative are heavy hitters, from the first lady to Orioles owner David Rubenstein to Stronach Group CEO Belinda Stronach, whose Canadian company still owns the Preakness despite having sold Pimlico to the state earlier this year.

They said its events will deliver experiences that equitably enhance economic growth, promote tourism and inspire civic pride through collaborative work with small-, minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.

Dawn Moore said the seed of the idea hit her after she and her husband visited the Kentucky Derby two years ago and recognized that the parties and community events leading up to the first jewel of the Triple Crown take over Louisville for weeks leading up to the actual race.

Show Caption1 of 8

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Dec 11, 2024: Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott speaks at a media event at the Warehouse at Camden Yards previewing plans for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, a Preakness Festival and future plans for Pimlico Race Course and the Park Heights community. Listening are Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, Governor Wes Moore and David Rubenstein, owner of the Baltimore Orioles. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

Expand

We could do it better, she recalled telling the governor.

Well, go do it then, she remembered him responding.

One of the festivals other co-chairs, Stella May Contracting chief financial officer Christian Johansson, noted that the Derby generated $396 million in economic impact for Kentucky in 2023 while the most recent study on the Preakness showed it generated just $41 million for Maryland.

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The main reason is the Derby isnt one or two days, Johansson said. Maryland historically has not fully captured the economic impact the Preakness could have.

Rubenstein donated to supplement funds from the Maryland Lotterys major events fund to help get the new festival off the ground.

The Orioles owner said he was dining with the Moores when the first lady ran the play by him. Thats a pretty clever idea, Rubenstein recalled thinking. How come nobody else thought of that before?

He noted that he grew up a mile from Pimlico but never visited the track as a child because he wasnt old enough. He promised to be there to celebrate the winner in 2025.

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Scott grew up even closer, in Park Heights, but recalled not feeling welcome at the Preakness, which he did not attend until 2019. He said tha this new initiative is about forging deeper connections between the event and the community around it.

He and Moore noted that the Pimlico rebuild project includes $10 million for affordable housing and job creation in surrounding neighborhoods and that the festival will play off that mission.

We want to show the world the real and true Baltimore, the mayor said. One that is resilient, fun and on the rise, one that is the home of excellence but in particular, this Old Bay-sprinkled Black excellence.

Thats not what Preakness has always been. It hasnt always been a place where we felt welcome. It was held in Northwest Baltimore, but it was very clear that it wasnt for Northwest Baltimore. But over the past few years  weve begun to change that narrative.

Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin warned that the campus group Students for Justice in Palestine pose[s] a clear and present threat to Jewish students and the Jewish community in Virginia, in a statement to Jewish Insider on Tuesday.



The comment from Youngkin, a Republican, follows a police search into the family home of George Mason University SJP leaders, where officers found firearms, scores of ammunition and pro-terror materials, including Hamas and Hezbollah flags and signs that read death to America and death to Jews.



Youngkins comment contrasted with prominent Democrats in the state, who have either remained silent or had muted reactions.



These blatant and dangerous antisemitic acts pose a clear and present threat to Jewish students and the Jewish community in Virginia, Youngkin told JI. The governor expressed grave concerns about the role of organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine on our campuses, and said he is grateful for the thorough action by GMU campus police, and for the recent anti-semitism training for law enforcement across the Commonwealth which is critically important for protecting not only Jewish students but also all Virginians.



Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told JI that the situation is a matter for local law enforcement and George Mason University.



The incident is very concerning and raises a lot of questions about the search, particularly the discovery of weapons and whether they posed a danger to students and the community, Kaine said. I have confidence that the police will get to the bottom of the situation and I will continue to monitor for more developments.



A spokesperson for Kaine did not respond to a follow-up question from JI about whether he agrees with Youngkin that SJP poses a threat to Jews in Virginia.



The police search of the home of the George Mason SJP leaders, sisters Jena and Noor Chanaa, came in response to the group defacing university property in August  reportedly spray painting messages that warned of a student intifada and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. That vandalism is considered a felony in Virginia.



In November, a county judge granted a warrant, which is under seal until February, allowing police to seize electronics from the Chanaa family home. In addition to weapons and pro-terrorist propaganda, officers found foreign passports in the home. The sisters, one the co-president of SJP, the other a past president  have been barred from George Mason, a public college in Fairfax County, for four years, with criminal trespass notices, according to the Intercept. GMU did not respond to requests for comment from JI about the recent police search.



Other Virginia Democrats did not respond to multiple requests for comment from JI about the incident, including Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor, and Reps. Don Beyer and Gerry Connolly, as well as Sen. Mark Warner.



Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate in the states gubernatorial race, also did not respond to request for comment. Rep.-elect Eugene Vindman declined to comment.



The SJP chapter at GMU said in response to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, We as Students for Justice in Palestine at George Mason call for a free Palestine, from the river to the sea, and support all forms of resistance which helps [sic] the Palestinian people inch closer to that reality. We call on all those who identify as allies to the Palestinian liberation movement to take similar action.



Weeks after the attack, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, launched an investigation into the nonprofit American Muslims for Palestine, a group affiliated with SJP. The Attorney Generals Office has reason to believe that the organization may be soliciting contributions in the Commonwealth without first having registered with the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Miyares office said in a statement at the time.



The states Attorney General office declined to comment on the ongoing investigation into the SJP leaders home.






U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Harris, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds advance crew chief, assists U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Justin Elliot, Thunderbirds commander and leader, after landing at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, May 23, 2022. (U.S. Space Force photo by Paul Honnick/Public domain)

The National Governors Association again called on Congress to preserve the authority of governors over Air National Guard space units.

The Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Armed Services Committee on Saturday released their joint version of the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2025 fiscal year, and it did not include an amendment the House committee approved in May to protect a governors authority over space units in their state.

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The Armed Services Committees failure to preserve Governors lawful authority over their National Guards in the NDAA is deeply concerning and breaks with more than a century of important precedent surrounding states rights  as well as a violation of federal law, a statement from the NGA, which Colorado Gov. Jared Polis chairs, said.

An Air Force proposal sought to transfer Air National Guard space units to Space Force, but remove the authority state governors historically have had over those units. Governors and members of Congress from both parties have opposed the proposal, saying it would undermine the National Guard system and disrupt guard members intentions to serve both their country and their states.

The amendment removed a provision of the Air Force proposal that disregarded a federal requirement that National Guard unit changes get a governors approval. The units could still get transferred to the U.S. Space Force, but with governors involved in the conversation and their ability to activate the units intact. The amendment also requires an annual report on the status of the transfer of Air National Guard members to Space Force.

The NGA said governors from all 55 states and territories as well as more than 100 members of Congress have opposed the Air Force proposal to reassign units without their legally required approval. States regularly use their National Guard units to respond to natural disasters.

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Using the power of Congress to override the authority of Governors, rather than directing the Department of Defense to work with Governors in good faith not only creates uncertain circumstances for the service members in affected states but also opens the door for future legislation overriding states rights, the NGA statement continued.

The statement also said governors are reviewing legal options in the event Congress does not ultimately address the problematic language. Governors called on congressional negotiators to either adopt the House committee amendment or to strip the relevant language entirely.

Congress approves a defense authorization act every year to fund the military, and the 2025 iteration is being debated on the House floor this week. More than one-third of all space-related National Guard members live in Colorado. Other states that would be affected by the change include Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, New York and Ohio.

This article was first published by Colorado Newsline, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: info@coloradonewsline.com.
A 90-year-old great-grandmother of 15 graduated from Southern New Hampshire University recently, fulfilling a lifelong dream after decades of sacrifice.

"It's so unreal," Annette Roberge told "Good Morning America" of her accomplishment. "I mean, I know [it's real], I see it on the wall but it's like still being in a dream world."

PHOTO: Annette Roberge graduated from Southern New Hampshire University at 90 years of age in November 2024. (Southern New Hampshire University)

Roberge, who is also mother of 5 and grandmother of 12, walked across the stage to receive her diploma on Nov. 23.

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She first began taking classes at New Hampshire College, (now SNHU) in 1972 shortly after her husband was killed while serving in the U.S. military in Vietnam.

PHOTO: Annette Roberges husband was killed while serving in the U.S. military during his deployment in Vietnam. (Courtesy of Annette Roberge and Karen Roberge)

Due to her commitment to care for her kids at the time, Roberge put a pause on her education, a decision she described as "quite easy."

"You gotta go with priorities," she explained. "It wouldn't be fair to them to sacrifice them. I figured the children came first, so I just said, 'Well, I'll put it on hold and I'll finish up one of these days.' And I finally did it."

PHOTO: Annette Roberge raised her 5 kids as a single mom after her husband was killed in Vietnam. (Courtesy of Annette Roberge and Karen Roberge)

Roberge later took on part-time jobs to accommodate her young children's schedules at the time before eventually building a long career in the insurance industry.

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In 2017, Roberge began exploring options to resume her education but was unable to pursue it due to health reasons and the onset of COVID-19.

105-year-old walks at graduation to receive master's degree from Stanford

However, she recently learned from her daughter's research that she had earned enough credits to graduate with an associate's degree in business administration.

At her 90th birthday celebration on Nov. 13, around two weeks before the graduation ceremony, she announced the news to her family.

PHOTO: Annette Roberge and her daughter Michele Roberge and granddaughter Melissa Carder. (Courtesy of Annette Roberge and Karen Roberge)

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"So it was a really fast and whirlwind couple of weeks," she recalled.

When the big day came, Roberge walked the stage to cheers and a standing ovation from other students, attendees and family members.

"I wish I could really describe it, because it was just a feeling that 'I'm here, I'm doing it,' and it's still like in [a] magic land, and it just makes my heart [feels] really good without crying," she told "GMA" of the proud moment.

PHOTO: Annette Roberge earned her associate's degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 2024. (Courtesy of Annette Roberge and Karen Roberge)

Her journey isn't stopping there. Roberge plans to begin working toward her bachelor's degree in January.

In a statement to "GMA," a representative from Southern New Hampshire University said Roberge's dream "is also the realization of SNHU's mission: it's never too late to embrace learning."

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"We are incredibly proud of Annette earning her associate's degree, and are excited to continue dreaming and learning alongside her as she pursues her bachelor's degree with us," the statement continued.

PHOTO: Annette Roberge graduated from Southern New Hampshire University at 90 years of age in November 2024. (Southern New Hampshire University)

Sharing her wisdom from her life story that she hopes to pass on to others, Roberge said, "If you have a dream, don't let it just sit there, do something."

"Get it out in public so that you want people to know that no matter what age they are, they can do it," she added.

Great-grandma of 15 graduates college at 90: 'It's like being in a dream' originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Donald Trump Jr.s long-suffering fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle could have a diplomatic incident on her manicured hands before she is even confirmed as ambassador to Greece.

Guilfoyles comments on a 2015 episode of Fox News The Five have resurfaced, in which she called Greek citizens freeloaders and suggested they relied too much on the government.

The remarks, reported by Media Matters senior fellow Matthew Getz, followed news that the country rejected a debt bailout package from the European Union.

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In a rant directed at the Greeks, Guilfoyle told them that they need to suck it up and work more.

Get up in the morning. Go to work. You guys are retiring too early, she said of the Greeks to her co-hosts, which included Eric Bolling, Greg Gutfeld, and Juan Williams. And thats part of the problem. You have, like, politicians making out-of-control promises, buying votes with entitlements that they cant support.

She added, It doesnt matter if you made great yogurt. I dont care.

The problem with Greeces debt crisis is nobody is punishing, like when a dog pees on the rug, Guilfoyle told her co-hosts.

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She added, Like train it.

Since President-elect Donald Trump nominated Guilfoyle to be the U.S. representative in Greece, the country could be on the receiving end of more tough love from Guilfoyle once her stilettos officially land in the country. And with rumors that she has been literally sent packing so Don Jr. can fall in love with another woman in peace, Guilfoyle may be in no mood for diplomacy when she arrives.
GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR)  Greeley police posted a message on its Facebook page that said it had been receiving a growing number of phone calls from citizens asking for help removing raccoons from their yards during the day.

Raccoons are usually nocturnal creatures and stay out of sight during daytime hours. That unusual daytime behavior is one of the symptoms of Distemper, which Colorado Parks and Wildlife said is a disease similar to rabies.

Boulder PD: Fentanyl not involved in illnesses at fraternity house

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We wanted to inform you that in Greeley, and throughout the State of Colorado, there is an epidemic of raccoons that are infected with Distemper, the Greeley Police Department said on its Facebook Page.

The department also wrote that it has received an increase in animal calls for patrols. However, the post said the departments animal control officers are only allowed to investigate calls involving domesticated animals. The department warned people about the dangers the disease poses to pets.

Distemper in raccoons is a viral disease that affects their stomachs, lungs, and brain, Greeley police said in the post.

The American Veterinary Medical Association said Distemper can kill a dog. Greeley Police recommended that citizens call Wildlife Removal Experts to handle raccoons suspected of having the disease.

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FOX31 spoke with First Choice Wildlife Services Owner Eric Brady, who said he found four raccoons in two days last week suspected of having Distemper.

The one raccoon his eyes were, it looked like it had puss or something where they were completely crusted over, Brady said.

All the raccoons, he said were found, in a mile and a half radius near 83rd Avenue and Business 34 in West Greeley. One of those raccoons was found outside an apartment door.

He (the raccoon) was kind of tucked in a bush. People had reported that they had walked by. The raccoon had been there for two days and hadnt moved, Brady said.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife said Distemper symptoms in raccoons include among other things, abnormal behavior, weakness and crusting around the eyes.

Distemper looks a lot like rabies. It has a lot of the same symptoms. It causes animals that are affected to act differently, CPW Spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said.

Century-old, highly unusual pipe found underground near Sloan Lake

Word of the Distemper outbreak is worrying dog owners in Greeley.

Its a little scary. It just makes me a little more vigilant, Corissa Denrick said.

CPW said there were also recent cases in Fort Collins and there have been outbreaks in other parts of the state in the past.

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The Greeley Police Department is offering its citizens how to search for a wildlife removal expert on its Facebook post.

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.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) responded to the news that a woman died in a traffic accident with police who were responding to a bomb threat at the lawmakers Georgia home.

Im heartsick right now. I was just informed that an innocent woman died today in an auto accident involving a member of the Rome Police bomb squad who was responding to the threat at my home, Greene wrote earlier this week on social platform X.

My prayers are with Tammie Pickelsimer, her family, the officer who was injured, and the entire Rome Police Department, she added.

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Greene confirmed Monday that she was safe after it was reported that an email was sent to law enforcement about a bomb threat targeting the Republican lawmaker. The Floyd County Bomb Squad was sent to her home in Rome, Ga.  about 60 miles northwest of Atlanta. Ultimately, officials ruled out any danger.

The traffic accident, which occurred while the bomb squad was arriving at Greenes home, resulted in the death of Pickelsimer, who was 66.

The bomb threat comes as theres increased threat activity for elected and public officials on both sides of the aisle. Several members of President-elect Trumps new Cabinet have also faced threats.

These violent political threats have fatal consequences, Greene said. Its an undue strain on our law enforcement who must treat them seriously. The officer was responding to protect my life. And now, a woman has lost her life because of this despicable act.

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The perpetrator of this crime has committed murder in our small community of Rome, Georgia, she continued in her post. The police shouldnt have to respond to these threats and there should not be deaths caused at their hands.

Police traced the threat emails IP address to Russia.

Greene said she was very thankful the police department took action to protect her city of Rome, but shared frustration about the incident.

Im sick to my stomach, but Im also angry, she said. This should have never happened and I pray it never happens again.

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.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees approved an updated policy regarding cell phone usage in classrooms Tuesday evening.

The South Carolina State Board of Education passed a new cell phone policy for school districts across the state.

According to the newly adopted policy, students are prohibited from using personal devices during the school day.

Schools have the flexibility to allow high school students to use these devices at certain times outside of class, such as before or after lunch, if the device use is related to school activities.

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Smart watches and other electronic accessories are prohibited and cannot be worn during the school day.

All personal electronics must be silenced or turned off during the school day, and will be stored out of sight of others as directed by each school.

Greenville County Schools said that exceptions exist for students with health needs, if authorized by a IEP, 504, or Health Plan. Exceptions for individual students can be granted by principals for certain situations, such as if a parent is in the hospital.

The approval by the principal must be in writing to the parent or guardian.

The policy will go into effect on January 7, 2025. You can read more about the policy on the Greenville County Schools website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng speaks during the launch of a report titled "The 2024 CSR Report of Chinese-Funded Enterprises in South Africa" in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 11, 2024. Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa are making significant contributions to local economic development while excelling in corporate social responsibility (CSR), according to the report released Wednesday by the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Association (SACETA). The 2024 CSR Report of Chinese-Funded Enterprises in South Africa, the second edition following its 2018 debut, showcases their remarkable achievements in fulfilling social responsibility over the past five years through detailed case studies and vivid photographs.(Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa are making significant contributions to local economic development while excelling in corporate social responsibility (CSR), according to a report released Wednesday by the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Association (SACETA).

The 2024 CSR Report of Chinese-Funded Enterprises in South Africa, the second edition following its 2018 debut, showcases their remarkable achievements in fulfilling social responsibility over the past five years through detailed case studies and vivid photographs.

To date, more than 200 Chinese-funded enterprises are operating in South Africa. The report highlights their active role in advancing South Africa's "new investment drive" and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation in sectors like new energy, manufacturing, mining, and the digital economy, injecting fresh vitality into the country's economic and social fabric.

The report emphasizes Chinese enterprises' commitment to community service, environmental protection, employee development, and cultural exchanges, which have earned them widespread praise from local governments and communities.

Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said during the launch of the report that it highlights the significant contributions made by Chinese-funded enterprises to South Africa's development. These contributions span sectors such as improving livelihoods, protecting the environment, and supporting various industries.

"It's a great demonstration of how Chinese enterprises faithfully implement the principle of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith, and take the right approach to friendship and interests," said Wu.

"Our companies cannot contribute this much to South Africa without the overall strong bilateral economic and trade cooperation between our two countries," he said. "I am convinced that in the future, more and more Chinese enterprises will come to South Africa, invest in South Africa, and build for South Africa, bringing more benefits to the two countries and two peoples."

South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile who also spoke at the report's launch, commended the economic collaboration between the two countries, noting their shared commitment to sustainable development and corporate governance.

"The report launching today highlights the contributions of Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa to environmental conservation, community development, education, and healthcare," Mashatile said, adding that these enterprises serve as role models for businesses, proving that profitability and social responsibility can and should coexist.

The deputy president also reaffirmed his country's commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties with China. "South Africa and China can thrive in an interconnected world by forming strong partnerships, overcoming economic uncertainties, and leveraging globalization's benefits," said Mashatile.

When releasing the report, SACETA Chairman Zhang Chaoyang said that nearly 50 Chinese-funded enterprises operating in South Africa have made significant contributions. These companies have invested approximately 9 billion U.S. dollars, paid taxes totaling around 80 billion rands (about 4.5 billion U.S. dollars), and contributed nearly 2 billion rands through training programs and donations.

"Through various corporate social responsibility initiatives, they contribute to local communities, sharing the benefits of their success and helping to overcome challenges, thus establishing themselves as responsible corporate citizens," said Zhang.

He also stressed that Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa embrace the principles of "responsibility, contribution, and sharing," and remain committed to fulfilling their corporate social responsibilities as the relationship between China and South Africa continues to deepen.

"As our bilateral economic and trade cooperation reaches new milestones, Chinese-funded enterprises will remain working closely with the South African government and its people and playing an active role in driving the nation's economic progress," Zhang added. 

South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile speaks during the launch of a report titled "The 2024 CSR Report of Chinese-Funded Enterprises in South Africa" in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 11, 2024. Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa are making significant contributions to local economic development while excelling in corporate social responsibility (CSR), according to the report released Wednesday by the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Association (SACETA).

The 2024 CSR Report of Chinese-Funded Enterprises in South Africa, the second edition following its 2018 debut, showcases their remarkable achievements in fulfilling social responsibility over the past five years through detailed case studies and vivid photographs.(Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile speaks during the launch of a report titled "The 2024 CSR Report of Chinese-Funded Enterprises in South Africa" in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 11, 2024. Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa are making significant contributions to local economic development while excelling in corporate social responsibility (CSR), according to the report released Wednesday by the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Association (SACETA).

The 2024 CSR Report of Chinese-Funded Enterprises in South Africa, the second edition following its 2018 debut, showcases their remarkable achievements in fulfilling social responsibility over the past five years through detailed case studies and vivid photographs.(Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A coalition of business leaders and housing advocates held a meeting Tuesday to address Ohios housing crisis.

Like many states, Ohio is facing the challenge of meeting the affordable and diverse housing demand. Housing advocates believe that their plan would help lawmakers tackle this issue.

Worthington schools rescind religious release policy

Groups including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio gathered to unveil a platform for housing, consisting of 11 policy initiatives that are broad enough to where they can adjust as needed.

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The coalition would like to see Ohio improve recently enacted state housing development programs while also establishing new ones that would make it easier for communities to develop a range of housing options. Members also add that the state should modernize and fix outdated zoning regulations.

Were seeing a lack of housing in a lot of our communities, Tony Long, general counsel with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said. Its not keeping up with demand as certain areas grow in other areas.

The platform recommends the state build on recent efforts to support and incentivize the development of affordable housing. According to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, more than one million Ohioans now live in households that spend over half their income on housing, putting them at high risk of housing and financial instability.

Chi-Chis plans comeback 20 years after closing. Will it open an Ohio restaurant?

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It is inevitable that the opportunities that we have are going to bring more people here and so when people are here in the area, we want them to have the greatest quality of life that they can have, Amy Riegel, executive director for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO), said.

Riegel said that in order for Ohioans to have the greatest quality of life that they can, it starts with a place to call home, whether that be an apartment, house or condo.

That is the foundation for them to be healthier, to them and for them to have better education access, for them to be able to pursue their economic goals that they have, Riegel said.

One issue she sees is Ohio has people who are entering homelessness and want to be housed; some even have the resources that would help them secure a place to live, but there are just not enough housing options.

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Columbus toy inventors idea becomes thriving business, plans national expansion

Thats why so many of these proposals focus on the supply of more units of housing because what we need is a way for people to exit homelessness, Riegel said.

Members of the coalition said that they look forward to working with the 2025 General Assembly to advance these proposals.

I think we would like to see an effort to help us do some modernization of zoning reforms, Long said. We would like some additional funding around the LIHTC (low-income housing tax credit) program.

Those we spoke with say their message is simple but powerful: Home Matters to Ohio.

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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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A month ahead of the date set for a jury trial, John Hartnett, the owner of the now-defunct Gulf Coast Boat Sales, has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of scheme to defraud.

Hartnett was arrested two years ago, seven years after a Better Call Behnken investigation first exposed problems at the business in 2017. The case has slowly made its way through the court system.

Hartnett is accused of defrauding at least 56 customers, both selling and buying boats, for a total of around $800,000.

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As part of the plea deal, Hartnett will serve 15 years of probation. The state attorneys office tells me he surrendered $185,000 to help pay back victims and must pay $3,500 a month in restitution.

Our Better Call Behnken investigation found victims who bought boats they didnt get, couldnt use their boat because they didnt get a title, or consigned boats and didnt get paid.

Rick Weaver is the first customer who called Behnken for help. He said he expects to be made whole, but others may not.

Some of these people got ripped off for really huge amounts of money so thats why Im concerned that the amount that he split up isnt anywhere near the amount I understood he had taken from people, Weaver said.

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After his 2022 arrest, Hartnett quickly posted his $350,000 bail and has continued to run Beachcat Boats, the very business investigators claimed he used to launder money.

When customers called me for help in 2017, many said they were told this was a civil matter. But after multiple Better Call Behnken reports, the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office looked deeper.

I appreciate the fact that you guys stayed on top of it and pushed it to make sure something happened and got the state attorneys office involved and thats why we are where we are today, Weaver said.

The prosecutor tells Behnken the motivation for the plea agreement was to get restitution for the victims.

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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.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Washingtons leading gun control group wants state lawmakers to make it tougher and more expensive to buy a firearm.

The Alliance for Gun Responsibility said Monday it will renew efforts to begin requiring state permits for gun buyers and will urge lawmakers to impose a new excise tax on sales of ammunition and firearms.

The groups agenda for the 2025 legislative session also includes adding parks and public buildings to places where open carry of firearms is restricted, banning bulk purchases of firearms and ammunition, and improving oversight of gun dealers. The proposed oversight measures for dealers include making clearer how law enforcement carries out inspections to ensure compliance with new regulations on in-store surveillance and storage of stock.

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Renee Hopkins, chief executive officer of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility said every Washingtonian deserves to be free from the threat of gun violence. While we continue to make incredible steps forward, our work is far from over,  she said.

Establishing a permit-to-purchase program tops the agenda.

As envisioned, a person would apply, be fingerprinted to verify their identity and undergo a background check conducted by the Washington State Patrol. Before getting a permit, they also must present proof of completion of a firearm safety training program and demonstrate the safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, firearms.

The Alliance also wants the Washington State Patrol to conduct annual eligibility rechecks of permit holders to determine if a person has become prohibited from owning a firearm due to a protection order or conviction of a crime, such as domestic violence.

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Several states have permit-to-purchase laws including Oregon, New York, Connecticut, Nebraska and Michigan. Voters in Oregon enacted the rules by passing Ballot Measure 114 in 2022 but it has been on hold due to court challenges.

Hopkins said in a press release that such laws have proven to be the single most effective policy to save lives and reduce gun violence. All of our work in Washington over the last decade has been leading to this pivotal moment.

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson told alliance representatives that he supports the concept.

Rep. Liz Berry, D-Seattle, who will introduce permit-to-purchase legislation in 2025, authored a similar bill last session that did not advance out of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee.

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Weve built a strong gun safety infrastructure with our existing laws. Now, its time for Washington to join the dozen other states to pass the life-saving Permit-to-Purchase system, she said in the release.

The Alliance is also pressing lawmakers to impose an excise tax on firearm and ammunition sales modeled on the 6.5% tax approved by voters in Colorado last month. That tax would be on top of the existing federal excise tax collected on firearms and ammunition.

Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, blasted the two proposals.

No other enumerated constitutional right requires a permit from the government to be exercised, he wrote in an email, adding the state already requires a background check. Can you imagine requiring a journalist to get a permit before he can write or publish breaking news?

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Likewise, the exercise of other constitutional rights cannot be subjected to a punitive tax. Why single out the Second Amendment? he wrote.

The 2025 legislative session begins Jan. 13 and is scheduled to last 105 days.

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Haitis main international airport reopened on Wednesday to commercial flights, one month after gangs opened fire on planes. It was the second closing this year because of gang violence.

Soldiers and police, bolstered by Kenyan police leading a U.N.-backed mission to quell the violence, have boosted security in the area, and a test flight was successful, Haitis government said in a statement.

The resumption of commercial flights marks a turning point for the Haitian economy, the prime minister's office said.

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However, there were no flights and no passengers Wednesday afternoon, with heavily armed police setting up checkpoints by the airport and stopping public transport. An airport parking lot normally packed with hundreds of cars had about several dozen vehicles, the majority belonging to employees.

An older Haitian man arrived at the airport late Wednesday morning, wanting to verify when he could fly out of Port-au-Prince, but there were no airline employees at any counter. He feared for his safety and declined to comment.

On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration extended a ban on U.S. flights to Haiti's capital until March 12 out of safety.

The Toussaint Louverture airport in Port-au-Prince closed in mid-November after gangs opened fire on a Spirit Airlines flight that was preparing to land, striking a flight attendant who suffered minor injuries. Other commercial planes were hit that day, prompting Spirit, JetBlue and American Airlines to cancel their flights to Haiti. A day later, the FAA banned U.S. airlines from flying to the Caribbean country for 30 days.

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The airport in Port-au-Prince had closed for nearly three months earlier this year after gangs launched coordinated attacks on key government infrastructure starting in late February. Gangs now control about 85% of the capital.

It wasnt immediately clear which flights would resume on Wednesday. The FAAs ban is in place until Thursday.

A spokesman for Spirit told The Associated Press on Wednesday that its flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien, where Haiti's other international airport is located, are suspended until further notice. A spokeswoman for American Airlines said they are monitoring the situation and will evaluate resuming flights to Port-au-Prince for late 2025. A spokesperson for JetBlue did not return a message seeking comment.

For the past month, the only international airport operating in Haiti was the one in the northern coastal town of Cap-Haitien, but traveling there by land is dangerous since gangs control the main roads leading out of Port-au-Prince and are known for opening fire on public transport.

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The few who could afford to escape the surge of gang violence in the capital this past month paid thousands of dollars for private air transport to Cap-Haitien.

The violence, coupled with alleged threats and aggression from Haiti's National Police, had forced Doctors Without Borders to suspend activities for the first time in its history in the Caribbean country in late November. The aid group announced Wednesday that it had partially resumed activities in Port-au-Prince. However, transportation of patients has not restarted, and one of its hospitals remains closed.

Some 5,000 people have been reported killed in Haiti this year, including more than 100 in a recent massacre in a gang-controlled community in Port-au-Prince.

On Tuesday night, another gang killed more than 20 people in Petite-Riviere in Haiti's central Artibonite region, according to Radio Mega, who interviewed human rights attorney Rosy Auguste Ducena.

___

Associated Press reporter Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed to this report.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
In early December 2024, Hamas announced a major concession: It was prepared to cede future governance of Gaza to a unity Palestinian committee, working alongside its chief political rival, Fatah, to create the body.

Fatah, the party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, has since expressed hesitancy about such an arrangement  which, in any event, would face stern opposition from Israel and likely the U.S., too. . But the fact that Hamas would strike such a deal with a faction it took up arms against for the right to govern Gaza in the first place points to the militant groups weakened position after more than a year of Israels devastating war in Gaza.

Israels recent ceasefire agreement in Lebanon has further damaged Hamas prospects by curbing Hezbollahs direct support in Gaza and by extension that of Iran  leaving it even more isolated.

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Hemmed in on all sides, Hamas has, from my observations as an expert on Palestinian politics, shifted its calculus for a post-Gaza war world. That it was Egypt pushing for a Fatah-Hamas deal is also noteworthy, as what ultimately transpires in terms of Gazas governance will likely hinge on the wishes of the governments in Cairo and Israel, both of which sees Gaza as the backyard of its national security.

An Egyptian plan for Gaza

Egypt, with tacit support from the United States, has been focused on what a future Palestinian political arrangement in Gaza might look like. To try to address this security and governance vacuum, Egypt convened the leaders of both the Fatah movement and Hamas in early December in hopes of establishing a governing committee to take over Gazas governance once the war ends.

In Cairo, Egyptian mediators proposed the establishment of a community support committee to be made up of Palestinian professionals and technocrats not affiliated with Fatah or Hamas. Abbas, who as leader of the Palestinian Authority has governance powers in the West Bank, subject to Israeli approval, would need to approve the committee.

Hamas quick acceptance of the Egyptian formula points to a group facing a far different security and organizational environment than it did prior to the escalation of conflict with Israel.

Shifting regional dynamics

When Hamas launched its attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, it did so knowing it could rely on active military support from its Hezbollah allies in neighboring Lebanon and ongoing financial and diplomatic cover from Iran.

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Fast-forward 14 months, the position of Tehrans so-called Axis of Resistance looks far more tenuous. Hezbollah and Israels months of tit-for-tat violence along the Israeli-Lebanese border escalated into full-scale warfare that saw Israel expand its brutal military campaign into southern Lebanon. Hezbollah emerged from that fight severely wounded, having lost numerous members of its leadership to Israeli bombs.

The subsequent Nov. 26 ceasefire has effectively taken Hezbollah out of the Gaza conflict.

Meanwhile, Iran, which has exchanged rounds of missile volleys with Israel, has thus far been keen to outsource direct confrontation against Israel to its Hamas and Hezbollah proxies, seeking to avoid a prolonged military engagement with Israel.

With that regional military support curtailed, Hamas also finds itself facing a changed diplomatic landscape.

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Since 2012, Qatar has hosted Hamas political leadership under an agreement with the United States. The small Gulf nation has since acted as a mediator between Hamas and Israel and the United States, which refuse to negotiate with the group directly.

But in early November, Qatar announced it was suspending its role in mediating Gaza peace talks, citing dissatisfaction with the process, though it has since suggested talks may be regaining momentum and that it was once again mediating.

In any case, U.S. officials have recently pushed Qatar to shutter its Hamas political office, and remaining Hamas political operatives there have reportedly decamped to Turkey.

Qatar is also eyeing a changed U.S. political scene, where an incoming Republican-led Congress and President-elect Donald Trump are likely to exert an even harder line on Hamas having any kind of political base outside of Gaza.

Decimated, both militarily and politically

Alongside increasing isolation, Hamas has also sustained deep operational damage in the course of the Gaza war.

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The recent Israeli killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar caused a vacuum at the very top. That came after Israel had already killed much of the senior military and political Hamas leadership in Gaza, not to mention high-profile political leaders outside of Gaza such as Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in July in Iran.

Its not even clear who makes up Hamas leadership in Gaza as of December 2024, aside from Sinwars brother, Mohammed, who is a member of the military wing of Hamas. Nor is it clear whether Hamas members outside of Gaza can even communicate with leaders within.

For now, prominent Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya has been involved in the talks with Fatah in Egypt. However, the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization  of which Fatah is the dominant faction  rejected the Egyptian proposal.

That doesnt mean the proposal is necessarily dead in the water  just that Egypt will have to work with Fatah leaders to address their concerns.

A depleted movement eyes the future

While Hamas has been weakened militarily and politically, there is also little chance that Hamas will not remain an ideologically potent force, capable of drawing support from the many Palestinians in Gaza, as well as the West Bank and the broader Palestinian diaspora.

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But as a governing entity, Hamas appears to be a spent force for the foreseeable future  something that members of the group readily acknowledge.

The recent Egyptian-hosted Palestinian talks, however fitfully, point to how any long-term future for Gaza  or the Palestinians as a whole  requires a more cohesive Palestinian political leadership.

Indeed, one shortcoming of the latest Egyptian plan is that it does not unite the Palestinians under a unified government, because the governing entity proposed will be responsible only for overseeing the Gaza Strip.

And trust between Hamas and Fatah remains low, as it has ever since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June 2007 following a violent confrontation with Fatah.

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Yet even if Hamas and Fatah would agree on a unity government, the broader reality is that cannot happen so long as Israel and its international allies, chiefly the United States, oppose it.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that neither the Palestinian Authority nor Hamas will play any role in the day after the war.

When the war is over

Yet apart from a permanent Israeli military occupation, its hard to see what options exist for Palestinians going forward absent some unification in Palestinian politics.

When Hamas won a major victory in Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006, it was in no small measure due to Fatah divisions, corruption, widespread dissatisfaction with what the Oslo peace process had delivered and little sign for future progress toward a Palestinian state.

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Almost 20 years later, none of those realities has meaningfully changed.

The devastation in Gaza has only compounded the humanitarian crisis and the difficulty of charting a long-term solution. Yet when the war in Gaza does come to an end, there will be no option but for Arab countries, including Egypt, the U.S. and the wider international community to help Palestinians in the enclave rebuild and seek some measure of security. The Palestinians who live there cannot afford another governance failure.

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: Mkhaimar Abusada, Northwestern University

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Mkhaimar Abusada does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
CROWN POINT, Ind.  A Northwest Indiana man accused of fleeing the scene after crashing a stolen car into a home over the weekend is in custody.

According to Crown Point police, 27-year-old Deonta Tyrone Allen, a Hammond resident, has been preliminarily charged with one felony count of theft of a motor vehicle, as well as several misdemeanors, including driving while suspended prior and criminal trespass.

According to police, the charges were handed down following a crash early Sunday morning in Crown Point.

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Read more: Latest news and headlines from northwest Indiana

Officers said just before 12:30 a.m., while they were at the police station, they heard a car crash nearby in the 400 block of East Clark Street.

Officers responded to the scene and found a car had crashed into a home in the area, but the driver had already fled the scene. Witnesses told officers that they saw the alleged driver heading southbound following the crash.

Nobody inside the home was injured in the crash, officers said.

Authorities deployed K9 Blitz who began tracking the driver. The K9 eventually led officers to a home in the 100 block of Nichols Street, where they allegedly found Allen as he was attempting to break into the garage of the home.

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Following his arrest, Allen was taken to the hospital where he was treated for a hand injury.

According to Crown Point police, 27-year-old Deonta Tyrone Allen, a Hammond resident, has been preliminarily charged with one felony count of theft of a motor vehicle, as well as several misdemeanors, including driving while suspended prior and criminal trespass.

According to police, while at the hospital, officers allegedly noticed a moderate odor of alcohol coming from Allen and said they also observed him to have bloodshot eyes.

Officers said Allen refused a field sobriety test, and results were inconclusive for portable breathalyzer testing, so a warrant was obtained to draw Allens blood to determine his blood alcohol content. The results of the test are currently pending lab review by the Indiana State Police.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Two additional misdemeanor charges of operating while intoxicated are pending lab results.

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Allen later told police that at the time of the crash, he had been thinking about his grandmother, which caused him to run off the road. He also allegedly admitted to police that he had stolen the car he was driving from a family member.

Allen, who is currently in custody at the Lake County Jail had two active warrants at the time of his arrest, officers said. One was for criminal mischief and the second was for intimidation.

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.
Hannah Kobayashi has been found alive

A missing Hawaiian woman whose father killed himself during an extensive search for her has been found safe.

The Los Angeles Police Department announced on Wednesday that Hannah Kobayashi is alive.

Ms Kobayashis disappearance last month after travelling to Los Angeles sparked a massive search across California and a missing persons investigation.

It was not immediately clear where she has been found, but police previously said she had voluntarily crossed the border into Mexico and they would drop the missing persons case.

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We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe, the LAPD said in a statement. Now that we have this new information, this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation.

Family relieved and grateful

Ms Kobayashi has spoken to her family and reassured them she is safe, according to ABC Eyewitness News.

In a statement, her family said they were relieved and grateful she was safe.

This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.

Hannah Kobayashi vanished last month after travelling to Los Angeles

Ms Kobayashi, a budding photographer from Maui, set off on a bucket list trip to New York on Nov 8. She had planned to see relatives, attend a folk festival in Brooklyn and complete a photography job.

Kobayashi seen in different parts of LA

When she landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) en route to New York, Ms Kobayashi had 42 minutes to catch her connecting flight. However, she never boarded the plane.

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She told her family she was sleeping at the airport that night and texted them the next day to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles.

In the coming days Ms Kobayashi was seen in different parts of Los Angeles.

Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov 11 after relatives received strange and cryptic, just alarming text messages, according to her aunt Larie Pidgeon.

Once the family started pressing, she went dark, Ms Pidgeon previously said, adding that her phone just went dead.

Family members, friends and local volunteers launched a search party for Ms Kobayashi last month. Among them was Ryan Kobayashi, her father, who flew from Hawaii to Los Angeles to help track down his missing daughter.

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He was found dead on Nov 24 having jumped from a parking lot near LAX, 13 days after arriving in California.

Ms Pidgeon told CNN that he died of a broken heart.

Colleagues of Ms Kobayashi have since told the Daily Mail that she had been on her way to New York with Alan Cacace, the Argentine national who she allegedly married.

They claimed that their trip was an attempt to persuade US authorities that their marriage was genuine.

There was no secret, Desiree, who is said to have worked with Ms Kobayashi at a vape shop in Maui, said. She told us about her plans.

It presented an opportunity for photos of their romantic vacation, Desiree, who did not provide her surname, told the outlet.

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Pictures sent to Ms Kobayashis family suggest that the pair may have been married in October.

Ms Kobayashis family said last week that they were looking into whether she was involved in a possible green card marriage scam.

However, they stressed in a statement that they had not been able to confirm the legitimacy of a possible secret marriage.

Kobayashi seen crossing into Mexico

As the family grappled with the double tragedy of Ms Kobayashis disappearance and her fathers subsequent suicide, they were offered new hope after police reported the following week that she had in fact crossed into Mexico on Nov 12, the day after her family reported her missing.

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A security video from US Customs and Border Protection showed that Ms Kobayashi appeared unharmed as she walked across the border alone near Tijuana about 125 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Police urged Ms Kobayashi to contact her family to let them know she was safe before later drawing the conclusion that she had fallen off the grid on purpose.

Authorities reported that the 30-year-old had retrieved her luggage from LAX days after arriving before using cash to purchase a bus ticket from Union Station to the border.

To date, the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play. She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity, the LAPD said at the time.

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Additionally, investigators noted that before departing Maui, Kobayashi expressed a desire to step away from modern connectivity.

Sources previously told NBC News last months disappearance was not the first time Ms Kobayashi had gone missing.

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Hannah Kobayashi's family says she was "found safe" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, about a month after she walked into Mexico and vanished in what police have called a voluntary disappearance that made headlines around the country  in large part because of her relatives' insistence that something horrible may have happened.

"We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe," her sister and mother, Sydni Kobayashi and Brandi Yee, said in a statement to PEOPLE through their attorney, Sara Azari.

"This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through," the family continued.

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"We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us," Hannah's sister and mother added.

Azari did not provide details about when, where or how Hannah made contact with her family and said there would be no further statements at this time.

Lt. Doug Oldfield, with the L.A. police's missing persons unit, tells PEOPLE that authorities were separately notified by Azari that Hannah was located on Wednesday just "a few hours ago."

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.

LAPD Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi

"We have not seen her and at this point we have no reason to compel her to see us," Oldfield says.

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Still, he notes, "Its a big news story so she may decide to come with a lawyer, but she is not obligated to speak to us. Well see what happens next."

He says the Hannah's family did not share her current location and "we have not received notification that shes had contact with CBP [Customs and Border Protection] or crossed back into the U.S."k



"When she crosses back, shell show as a missing person," Oldfield says. "We usually want law enforcement to determine a person is safe and make contact  in this case CBP could provide us with that info to take her out of the system."

Hannah, a 30-year-old photographer living in Hawaii, had been reported missing on Nov. 11 after failing to make a connecting flight in Los Angeles bound for New York City.

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In the weeks since then, Hannah's relatives drew a national spotlight to her case and said they worried she was the victim of a kidnapping or human trafficking.

We are terrified, her Larie Pidgeon previously told PEOPLE. Were really afraid.

Syndi, Hannah's sister, echoed that in comments to NBC News: "I can't stress enough how loved you are, how supported you are," she said. "We're really worried about you. No matter what situation you're in, you always have a home to come to."

As the family looked for Hannah, they faced another loss: Her dad, Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide in L.A. on Nov. 24.

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He died of a broken heart, Pidgeon said.



LAPD Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi

L.A. police have said they spent weeks untangling Hannah's movements around the city between Nov. 8, when she arrived from Maui in Hawaii, and Nov. 11, when contact was lost.

A break in the case came on Dec. 1 when authorities reviewed video at the southern border showing Hannah, with a gray backpack and pink rolling suitcase, entering Tijuana alone and not under visible distress.

While that determination was challenged by Hannah's family, who said they would launch their own search  "they don't believe that there's anything voluntary about this," Azari told PEOPLE  investigators have stood by their work.

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To date, the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play, L.A. Police Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters at a news conference on Dec. 2. She's also not a suspect in any criminal activity.

We urge Ms. Kobayashi to contact her family, law enforcement or personnel at the U.S. Embassy to let us know that she is safe, McDonnell said then.

She has a right to her privacy and we respect her choices, but we also understand that the concern her loved ones feel for her. A simple message could reassure those who care about her.



This is a breaking news story. Please return for updates.

Read the original article on People
Originally appeared on E! Online

Hannah Kobayashis mystifying missing person case has come to a close.

A month after the Hawaiian womans family reported her missing in Los Angeles after a planned trip to New York went awry, her family confirms they have made contact with her.

We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe, Hannahs sister Sydni Kobayashi and mom Brandi Yee said in a statement to NBC News. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.

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The update from her family comes just one week after the Los Angeles Police Department declared the 31-year-old a voluntarily missing person.

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time, the familys statement concluded. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.

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After authorities concluded that Hannahwho first lost contact with her family early last month after she missed a connecting flight from Los Angeles to New Yorkwas reported as fine by the LAPD Dec. 2 from security footage of her entering Mexico, the family expressed frustration, and pleaded for Hannah to make contact.

I can't stress enough how loved you are, how supported you are," Sydni said in a message to her sister during an appearance on NBC News Top Story Dec. 3. We're really worried about you. No matter what situation you're in, you always have a home to come to.

Days later, the Kobayashi family also shut down reports that Hannah had been involved in a green card marriage scheme.

Hannah Kobayashi/Instagram

We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information, the familys attorney said in a Dec. 5 statement to NewsNation. The family has not confirmed the authenticity of the images or the accuracy of the information provided about a possible secret marriage. This is one of many leads we are actively investigating with the help of our attorney and investigative team.

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Reports that Hannah has made contact with her family also come weeks after her father Ryan Kobayashi was found dead by suicide in Los Angeles amid a 16-day search for her.

At the time, Hannahs family issued a statement amid the tragedy, saying, What the family needs most in this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion, and prayers.

Keep reading for everything that unfolded amid Hannahs missing person case.

(E! News and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Hannah Kobayashi Arrives in Los Angeles

On Nov. 8, Hannah Kobayashi flew from Maui to Los Angeles, where she was supposed to catch a connecting flight to New York's JFK International Airport, according to L.A. police. Hannah was booked on the same flight as her ex-boyfriend. Her sister Sydni Kobayashi said, per the Los Angeles Times, that they couldn't get a refund on the seats but had agreed to go their separate ways upon arrival in New York, where Hannah was going for a concert and a photography job. Hannah ended up not boarding her flight out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for reasons unknown, per an LAPD news release. Her bag, meanwhile, was checked through to her final destination, and she requested it be sent back to LAX. Surveillance video reviewed by police showed the 30-year-old picking up her bag at LAX on Nov. 11.





Hannah's Whereabouts in L.A.

Upon arrival in L.A., Hannah visited the Taschen bookstore at The Grove shopping center on Nov. 9 and texted a relative a photo of a book, her aunt Larie Pidgeon told the Los Angeles Times. Hannah also filled out a newsletter form, using her Maui address. Family members used the photo data to track Hannah to Taschen, Larie explained, where they confirmed with employees that Hannah had been there. (Larie said she was one of the relatives who traveled from Maui to look for her niece.) On Nov. 10, Hannah attended the LeBron XXII Trial Experience held at the Nike store at The Grove and posted a photo of Jordan-clad feet the same day, tagging the LA Times and putting her location as "City of Angels, Los Angeles CA." "We think she was staying around The Grove," Larie told the Times. "It's a pretty touristy area with a lot of shops, bookstores and museums, so we think she was just in that area sightseeing and felt safe."





Hannah's Texts Take a Concerning Turn, Family Reports Her Missing

Hannah's text messages to family members had sounded normal, including laments that she hadn't been able to get another flight yet, according to Larie. But on Nov. 11, Larie continued, per the Times, Hannah texted another aunt that she was concerned her identity and all her money had been stolen, after which no one could get ahold of her. "She was using words like 'hun' and 'babe' and saying 'someone's trying to steal my funds,'" Larie said. "She doesnt talk like that. It was just out of character and the family sounded the alarm." They were "strange, cryptic messagesthings about the matrix, it was so unlike her," Larie told KTLA. "And then all of a sudden, no more communication." The last time Hannah had her phone turned on was at 4 p.m. on Nov. 11 at LAX, where police said she picked up her bag. Her family reported her missing the following day.

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The Last Sighting of Hannah in L.A.

Hannah's family shared Nov. 18 that they had seen surveillance footage showing her getting off a train at the Pico Metro station near Crypto.com Arena in downtown L.A. at 10 p.m. on Nov. 11. "It is evident that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition and she is not alone," her family wrote on Facebook. According to police, Hannah made her way to Union Station, about three miles away from the arena, where she used her passport to purchase a bus ticket to a spot near the California-Mexico border. On Nov. 12, police said, she boarded a bus to San Ysidro. The community has been dubbed the "Gateway to the Americas" as it's the most southern city in California and a popular border-crossing spot.





The Kobayashi Family Pleads for Help Finding Hannah

Family members staged a rally and passed out fliers on Nov. 21 near the downtown spot where Hannah was last seen "Please, please do not stop saying her name, Hannah Kobayashi," her aunt Larie said at the event, per KTLA. "Your entire family is here. The entire world is looking for you. If you can and you have access, please reach out to us. Were not mad." Added Hannah's father, Ryan Kobayashi, "She's a beautiful girl inside and outside. Just reach out, if you can at all." He told NBC4 at the rally, "Its every parents nightmare. We dont know where to start, where to begin. Its like a grain of sand in the ocean."





Hannah's Father Is Found Dead

Ryan Kobayashi, who was in town from Maui to look for Hannah, jumped to his death from a parking structure near LAX on the morning of Nov. 24, according to police, who responded to a report of a deceased male at the 6100 block of Century Boulevard at 4 a.m. The L.A. County Medical Examiner's report stated that Ryan suffered multiple blunt force traumatic injuries and the manner of death was suicide. "It's every parent's nightmare," Ryan told NBC4 at the Nov. 21 rally. "We don't know where to start, where to begin. Its like a grain of sand in the ocean." The RAD Movement, a nonprofit advocate for families of missing people, said in a statement Ryan had been in L.A. for 13 days searching for his daughter. "This loss has compounded the familys suffering immeasurably," the group stated, while also emphasizing that there was still a missing woman to look for and it was "crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah." Speculation that Ryan had something to do with Hannah's disappearance was cruel and needed to be shut down, Larie told the LA Times. "He died of a broken heart," she said.





Police Say Hannah Is in Mexico, Change Status to "Voluntary Missing Person"

The LAPD announced Dec. 2 that they last had eyes on Hannah crossing the border from San Ysidro into Mexico on Nov. 12, alone and carrying her luggage. Investigators from the department's Missing Persons Unit went to the border Dec. 1 and viewed surveillance video from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that showed her walking into Mexico, police said. Hannah is now considered a voluntary missing person, according to the LAPD, which noted that she is not a suspect in any criminal activity, nor has their investigation uncovered any evidence of human trafficking or foul play. "Our priority is ensuring Ms. Kobayashi's safety and well-being," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference. "We urge Ms. Kobayashi to contact her family, law enforcement or personnel at the U.S. Embassy to let us know she is safe. She has the right to privacy, and we respect her choices, but we also understand the concern her loved ones feel. A simple message could reassure those who care about her." In a statement to NBC News, Hannah's family said they remained hopeful that she was safe and they were still looking for her. "The search is far from over," they said Dec. 3, "and we are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely. We want answers and a resolution that ensures Hannahs safety and urge law enforcement and the public to stay focused on finding her and to avoid speculative conclusions."

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Hannah's Family Says She's Safe

On Dec. 11, Hannah's sister Sydni and mom Brandi Yee said they had made contact with her. We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe," they said in a statement to NBC News. "This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through."



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Volunteers hanging up missing signs for Hannah Kobayashi in Los Angeles. - Credit: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Hannah Kobayashis family said they found and made contact with Hannah, who has been missing since early November.

In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, the family said, We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.

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No details about Kobayashis whereabouts were given, nor did the family share any information about the possible reasons Kobayashi disappeared. Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Police Department reclassified Kobayashi as a voluntary missing person after surveillance footage showed her crossing the border into Mexico on her own.

The family ended their statement by saying, We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us. The statement was signed by Kobayashis mother, Brandi Yee, and her sister, Sydni Kobayashi.

Kobayashi disappeared in November while she was supposed to be traveling from her home in Hawaii to New York to visit her aunt. But after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport for a layover, Kobayashi did not board her connecting flight to New York City. Surveillance cameras instead caught her leaving the airport and riding the metro to downtown Los Angeles.

In the days that followed, Kobayashi was spotted at several different locations, including a shopping mall and a Nike event. On. Nov. 11, she was seen talking to a ticketing agent at LAX, after which she reportedly got on the metro and was later seen leaving Pico station with an unknown person. The following morning, surveillance cameras caught Kobayashi at the Greyhound bus terminal at Union Station. She was seen entering Mexico a few hours later via the tunnel at the San Ysidro border crossing.

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Kobayashi crossed the border not long after family and friends received their last known communications from her. On Nov. 11, Kobayashis mother texted her to ask if shed made it to New York, and Kobayashi replied no. Kobayashi also sent messages to friends saying she did not feel safe and thought someone was trying to steal her identity. Subsequent efforts to reach Kobayashi failed as her phone was shut off (and police later said they believed Kobayashi did not take her phone to Mexico).

Despite those cryptic texts, the police said their investigation had not turned up any evidence that Kobayashi was the victim of foul play, or that she was being trafficked. In announcing the reclassification of her case earlier this month, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said, She has a right to her privacy, and we respect her choices, but we also understand the concern loved ones feel for her. A simple message could reassure those she cares about.

During the search for Kobayashi, her father, Ryan Kobayashi, died from an apparent suicide. Ryan had flown to Los Angeles to help look for his daughter and was eventually found dead in a parking lot near LAX. The Los Angeles County medical examiner said he died from blunt force traumatic injuries.

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Huangmao Sea Channel Bridge, western extension of GBA's Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, to open to traffic on Dec 11

Global Times) 08:20, December 11, 2024

This photo taken on December 7, 2024, shows a view of the Huangmao Sea Channel Bridge in South China's Guangdong Province. The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic on December 11. (Photo/Xinhua)

The Huangmao Sea Channel Bridge in South China's Guangdong Province, a pivotal infrastructure project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), is scheduled to open to traffic on Wednesday, Guangdong Fabu, the official social media account of Guangdong Province, announced on Tuesday.

Once operational, the travel time from Zhuhai to Jiangmen, both in South China's Guangdong Province, will be reduced to 30 minutes, enhancing the transportation network across the GBA as the Huangmao Sea Channel Bridge is the western extension of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

The Huangmao Sea Channel Bridge is also the first cross-sea channel project to commence construction following the release of the Outline Development Plan for the GBA, the Global Times learned from China Railway Construction Corporation, which participated in the construction of the project.

The project spans approximately 31 kilometers and is designed to meet the standards of a dual-directional, six-lane expressway, with a design speed of 100 kilometers per hour.

The bridge will further change the current situation of limited transportation options between the coastal areas of western Guangdong and the core regions of the GBA, contributing to the early establishment of a world-class transportation hub in the region.

Construction on the project began in June 2020. The project features two main bridges, as well as two tunnels, four interchanges, and one service area. It is designed to have a lifespan of 100 years, CCTV reported.

There will be no toll fees for the public during the initial phase of the opening, with detailed fee structures to be announced later, according to CCTV.

The construction of the project involved smart equipment and advanced construction methods. A smart beam yard has been established, integrating technologies such as the Internet of Things, Building Information Modeling, and other information technologies. This setup allows real-time uploading of construction parameters enabling intelligent management.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
ABU DHABI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Saudi venture capital firm KBW Ventures said it sees "massive investment opportunities" in China, particularly in biotechnology and healthcare, as business ties between China and the Gulf Arab region strengthen.

"With regards to specific sectors, there is a lot of opportunity to collaborate," Ekta Tolani, chief investment officer of KBW Ventures, told Xinhua in an interview on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, which runs from Dec. 9 to Dec. 12.

"Especially in the area of healthcare, China is way advanced, and we want to collaborate on this kind of opportunity," she said.

KBW Ventures, founded by Saudi Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, focuses on companies with transformative technologies and business models, according to its website. The firm, which has a satellite office in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), invests in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, broadcast technologies and other forward-looking sectors.

Tolani highlighted biotechnology as a key emerging industry that attracts investor interest.

"China is already quite advanced in the area of biotech, while the UAE is still quickly gaining ground in that category. We see a lot of attention from sovereigns (sovereign wealth funds) in the region for this particular sector," she said.

China has been the UAE's largest trading partner for years, with the UAE being China's largest export market and second-largest trading partner in the Middle East.

"China has started to tap into the massive investment opportunities and wants to partner with the local ecosystem," Tolani said, adding that understanding the local ecosystem, culture, and regulatory environment is key. 
Hannah Kobayashi has been found safe, her family said Wednesday, more than a week after police declared her voluntarily missing amid fears she may have been abducted.

We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe, Kobayashis sister, Sydni, and mother, Brandi Yee, said. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.

The statement was posted on X by the familys lawyer, Sara Azari. The statement did not indicate where Kobayashi was or how the family determined she was safe.

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The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement they are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe and due to the new information this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation.

The family had launched a GoFundMe that raised over $47,000 to help find Hannah. Donations have been turned off, and donors who would like a refund can submit a claim, the family said.

Hannah Kobayashi arrived at Los Angeles International Airport from Maui on November 8, but did not board her connecting flight to New York, her sister previously told CNN. The family last heard from the 30-year-old on November 11 after spending four days in Los Angeles at various locations, according to video footage and photos.

Video footage shows Hannah Kobayashi retrieving her luggage from baggage claim at LAX on November 11 after she requested it be returned from New York, and she then traveled via LA Metro to Union Station where she used her passport and cash to purchase a ticket that took her to the US-Mexico border, police said. She was declared a missing person on November 15.

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More than three weeks after she left Maui, Los Angeles police declared her as a voluntary missing person on December 2. Video surveillance from US Customs and Border Protection clearly shows Hannah Kobayashi crossing the US-Mexico border just after noon on November 12 at the San Ysidro port of entry, police said.

To date the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play. She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a news conference. She has a right to her privacy, and we respect her choices but we also understand the concern her loved ones feel for her.

Volunteers put up flyers of missing Maui woman Hannah Kobayashi outside Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles. - Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images/File

Before leaving Maui, investigators found Hannah Kobayashi had expressed a desire to disconnect from modern technology, police said.

Tragedy struck the family during their search for Hannah Kobayashi when her father Ryan Kobayashi, who had traveled from Hawaii to Los Angeles to help look for her, was found dead November 24 near the airport, having taken his own life, the family and authorities say.

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Hannah Kobayashis aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told CNN that he died of a broken heart.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Caroll Alvarado and Michelle Watson contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Hannah Kobayashi, a Hawaii woman police believe voluntarily went missing while traveling to New York, has reportedly been located by her family roughly a month after her disappearance.

Kobayashi, who was first reported missing in mid-November, has been in contact with her family and assured them shes safe, Hawaii News Now reported Wednesday.

We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe, they said in a statement asking for privacy as they sort through the unimaginable ordeal of her disappearance.

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Her family did not provide details on when or where she was found, or how she made contact.

Kobayashis whereabouts were unknown until earlier this month when authorities learned shed traveled from Los Angeles to Mexico by bus on the morning of Nov. 12. According to surveillance video, she arrived at the Mexico border and walked into Tijuana around noon.

The revelation caused police to relabel the 30-year-old photographer a voluntary missing person, saying there was no evidence to believe she was the victim of foul play.

The mystery of Kobayashis disappearance began when the Maui native missed a Nov. 8 connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York. Shes believed to have spent four days in the L.A. area before catching the bus to Tijuana while her family attempted to locate her.

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Kobayashi reportedly raised concerns by messaging a friend to say deep hackers stole her identity and someone she thought she loved depleted her funds, according to CNN.

Her worried father, Ryan Kobayashi, traveled to California in search of his daughter but died by suicide roughly two weeks later. He appeared to have jumped from a parking structure near the Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 25.

Earlier this month, the LAPD said her voluntary disappearance was seemingly part of her desire to disconnect.

Her family said Wednesday they do not intend to release further details at this time, and the LAPD does not plan to hold any press conferences.
Hannah Kobayashi, a Hawaii woman police believe voluntarily went missing while traveling from California to New York, has reportedly been located by her family roughly a month after her disappearance.

Kobayashi, who was first reported missing in mid-November, has been in contact with her family and assured them shes safe, Hawaii News Now reported Wednesday.

We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe, they said in a statement asking for privacy as they sort through the unimaginable ordeal of her disappearance.

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Her family did not provide details on when or where she was found, or how she made contact.

Kobayashis whereabouts were unknown until earlier this month when authorities learned shed traveled from Los Angeles to Mexico by bus on the morning of Nov. 12. According to surveillance video, she arrived at the Mexico border and walked into Tijuana around noon.

The revelation caused police to relabel the 30-year-old photographer a voluntary missing person, saying there was no evidence to believe she was the victim of foul play.

The mystery of Kobayashis disappearance began when the Maui native missed a Nov. 8 connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York. Shes believed to have spent four days in the L.A. area before catching the bus to Tijuana while her family attempted to locate her.

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Kobayashi reportedly raised concerns by messaging a friend to say deep hackers stole her identity and someone she thought she loved depleted her funds, according to CNN.

Her worried father, Ryan Kobayashi, traveled to California in search of his daughter but died by suicide roughly two weeks later. He appeared to have jumped from a parking structure near the Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 25.

Earlier this month, the LAPD said her voluntary disappearance was seemingly part of her desire to disconnect.

Her family said Wednesday they do not intend to release further details at this time, and the LAPD does not plan to hold any press conferences.

_____
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Hannah Kobayashi, the missing Hawaii woman whose disappearance prompted a massive search and a missing persons investigation in Los Angeles, has been found safe, police said Wednesday.

Kobayashi vanished last month in Los Angeles. She missed her connecting flight and planned to explore the city the next day, but subsequent text messages to her family  and an inability to then reach her  alarmed them so much that they later reported her missing.

Other details about her disappearance, as well as where and how she was found, were not immediately available Wednesday, but police previously said she was voluntarily missing and had gone on her own will across the border into Mexico.

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We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe," the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. Now that we have this new information, this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation.

Kobayashi's mother and sister, in a statement through their lawyer, were the first to announce Wednesday that she had been found safe.

We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe, Brandi Yee and Sydni Kobayashi wrote. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.

Kobayashi, a budding photographer from Maui, was heading to New York City on Nov. 8 for a new job and to visit relatives when she missed a connecting flight during a stop at Los Angeles International Airport. She told her family she was sleeping at the airport that night and texted them the next day to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles.

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Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov. 11 after relatives received strange and cryptic, just alarming text messages, according to her aunt Larie Pidgeon.

Once the family started pressing, she went dark, Pidgeon told The Associated Press late last month. After the texts on Nov. 11, her phone just went dead, Pidgeon said.

Family members, friends and local volunteers searched for Hannah in Los Angeles. Hannahs father, Ryan Kobayashi, was among those who flew in from Hawaii to help in the search. He was found dead Nov. 24 in a parking lot near LA International Airport, according to the county medical examiner. Kobayashis family confirmed Ryan Kobayashi's death in a statement the same day, saying they endured a devastating tragedy and that he died by suicide.

Police said Hannah Kobayashi walked into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing about 125 miles (201 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles on Nov. 12, the day after her family reported her missing. Authorities made the announcement after reviewing security video from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Kobayashi disappeared voluntarily as she sought to step away from modern connectivity, Jim McDonnell, the LA police chief, previously said.
Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman whose reported disappearance last month garnered national news attention, said in a statement on Monday that she "was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away."

Kobayashi's family announced last week that she had been safely located in Mexico. The 30-year-old aspiring photographer reportedly returned to the U.S. on Dec. 15 after being declared missing by the Los Angeles Police Department exactly a month earlier, according to her attorney.

In a letter shared by her aunt Larie Pidgeon with NBC News, Kobayashi said, now that she's returned to the U.S., her "focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity."

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"I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time," Kobayashi said in the letter.

As you can imagine, we are all extremely relieved and glad that my sister is alive and seemingly okay, but we also have mixed and overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, devastation, and betrayal, Sydni Kobayashi wrote on Facebook on Dec. 12. We are kindly asking the public to respect our privacy and offer us grace for a moment as we are still grieving. There is still so much unknown, and so much that still needs to be navigated.

We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe," the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. "Now that we have this new information, this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation.

On Dec. 12, Sydni Kobayashi posted on the family's GoFundMe page that they would no longer accept donations to help find Kobayashi or fund her father Ryan's funeral, who died by suicide on Nov. 24. The GoFundMe was initially created on Nov. 15 to help cover the expenses the family claimed were growing with "the scope and intensity of the search."

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"We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time," Sydni wrote. "We are turning donations off, and any donor who would like a refund can submit a claim by December 18th, and it will be honored."

How we got here

In early November, Kobayashi was traveling from her home on Maui to New York to visit an aunt and pursue a photography opportunity, according to various media interviews with her family. She allegedly missed two connecting flights out of Los Angeles on Nov. 8 and Nov. 11.

At a news conference on Dec. 2, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reviewed video surveillance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the United States border on foot into Mexico. She was alone with her luggage and appeared unharmed.

The LAPD also said Kobayashi walked alone to Mexico through the tunnel at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, according to the reviewed footage. McDonnell added that Kobayashis missing-persons case would remain active until her safety is confirmed, but the LAPD would not be investigating in Mexico.

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On Dec. 3, Hannah Kobayashi's sister Sydni Kobayashi gave an interview to NBC News in which she said the family was "shocked" and "frustrated" by the LAPD's conclusion that Hannah had voluntarily traveled to Mexico by herself.

Shes gone to different places, but shes always checked in, Sydni Kobayashi said. She always lets us know whats going on.

Ryan Kobayashi, center, holds a picture of his missing daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, in Los Angeles on Nov. 21. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

The next day, the family's attorney, Sara Azari, shared a statement on X, saying, "The search is far from over" and "learning just two days ago that Hannah may be in Mexico has only heightened our fears."

"It has been 22 agonizing days since we last heard from her, and not knowing where she is or if shes okay is heartbreaking," the statement continued. "Like everyone else, we are learning updates through the media, as LAPD has not been fully forthcoming in sharing critical developments directly with us.

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A Los Angeles magazine article published on Dec. 4, citing sources, reported that Hannah Kobayashi's mother may have discovered evidence that Kobayashi may have been involved in a green card marriage for money and the "secret new husband" may have also been on the flight to Los Angeles.

Azari shared another statement on X from the family in response to the article, saying, "We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information."

McDonnell said at a police commission meeting on Nov. 26 that Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York, which the investigation determined was intentional. The LAPD did not immediately respond to Yahoo News request for comment.

Hannahs sister Sydni Kobayashi denied the theory that Hannah intentionally missed her flight.

Why did Hannah Kobayashi's family report her as missing?

It is not clear why Kobayashi first missed her connecting flight from Maui to New York City at LAX on Nov. 8.

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The family said they had seen security footage of Kobayashi leaving the airport on Nov. 8 and then again at the Grove shopping center on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, which is about 12 miles north of the airport. On Nov. 11, Kobayashi posted on her public Instagram account about attending a Nike event at the Grove and was even spotted on a strangers YouTube video about the event that was filmed on Nov. 10.

Kobayashi then returned to LAX on Nov. 11 but did not board a flight. That was the last time anyone received messages from Kobayashis cellphone number.

On Nov. 15, the LAPD missing-persons unit made a poster describing Kobayashi and stating that she was last seen at LAX on Nov. 11. The family also filed a report with the FBI.

Read more from Yahoo News: Hannah Kobayashi's family says she has been found. Here's a timeline of everything that's happened since she was reported missing last month.

Why was Kobayashi going to New York?

In an interview with NewsNation on Nov. 23, Kobayashi's aunt Larie Pidgeon said that her niece had sent her mom a detailed itinerary for her stay in New York, including places where she wanted to eat, museums she wanted to visit and a photography assignment that had been on her bucket list forever as a career opportunity. Pidgeon added that Kobayashi allegedly paid a couple thousand dollars for a hotel reservation in New York as well.

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Hannahs sister Sydni told CNN that Kobayashi and her then boyfriend had booked the flights to New York together and also made plans to visit an aunt in upstate New York. They broke up after booking the flights and agreed to go ahead with the trip separately.

The ex-boyfriend, who has not been publicly named, successfully boarded the Nov. 8 connecting flight to New York and has been extremely responsive and cooperative with the investigation, according to the Kobayashi family.

Kobayashi's family tried to piece together what happened in L.A.

Pidgeon told USA Today that on Nov. 11, the family started getting texts from Kobayashis number that said she didnt feel safe, that someone was trying to steal her funds, that someone was trying to take her identity. Pidgeon added that the messages sent to family and friends included weird things, calling us babe, things that werent quite the normal way that she speaks.

"She texted [a friend] that she was scared and that she couldnt come back home or something," Sydni Kobayashi told HawaiiNewsNow. "It was just really weird texts.  It doesnt sound like her  like theres just something off about it. So I wasnt too sure. I dont know if its her or if someone else was texting.

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One of her last texts allegedly said, I just finished a very intense spiritual awakening. I'm heading back to the airport to get to NYC. I might need some help getting there."

In addition to texts, the family also didnt recognize the names of two people Kobayashi sent money to over Venmo on Nov. 10  transactions that Yahoo News was able to verify since Kobayashis Venmo account is public.

The family also said there was security camera footage showing Kobayashi and an unknown person at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, allegedly on Nov. 11.

"It has been confirmed that she did leave the airport on 11/11 in the evening and that she boarded the Metro," Pidgeon told CBS News. "She was not alone. She was with an unidentified person. That causes us extreme alarm because that correlates with the timeline of her going missing. So, our focus now is on the Pico Metro station."

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Yahoo News had reached out to several of the family members.

If you see Hannah, please call 911 immediately, read a statement from the family shared on Facebook. Please obtain a photograph if possible. Your prompt action is crucial. If youre able to safely keep eyes on her until law enforcement arrives, please do so.

What happened to her dad, Ryan?

After spending two weeks helping search for his daughter, Ryan Kobayashi was found dead on Nov. 24, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The county coroner's office confirmed on Nov. 25 that he died by suicide.

The Kobayashi family said in a statement that Ryan Kobayashi tragically took his own life after tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days.

"He just died of a broken heart," Pidgeon told USA Today on Nov. 26. "Being on the streets and seeing what the possibilities of where his daughter could be. No sleep. The speculating rumors that are going around. It just took a toll on him."
The case of Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old Hawaii woman who the Los Angeles Police Department believes voluntarily disappeared in early November, has generated much national attention as her family and supporters have tried to figure out what happened to her.

On Dec. 11, exactly one month since Kobayashis family members said they last heard from her, her family issued a statement through their attorney saying they "are incredibly relieved and grateful" that she "has been found safe."

Statement On Behalf Of The Family Of Hannah Kobayashi



We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have  Sara Azari (@azarilaw) December 11, 2024

Heres a detailed timeline of events and updates that Kobayashis family and the LAPD have made public since Kobayashi was reported missing in early November.

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Nov. 8: Both Kobayashi and her ex-boyfriend take a flight from Maui to New York, with a layover in Los Angeles. Kobayashis ex-boyfriend boards the flight to New York while Kobayashi tells her family she missed the connection.

Nov. 9: Kobayashi texts her family to say that shes going sightseeing in Los Angeles and visits the Grove shopping mall and downtown L.A.

Nov. 10: Kobayashi revisits the Grove for a Nike event. She is caught on video at the event and later uploads a photo from the event to her public Instagram account.

Kobayashi also sends money over Venmo to two people who are unknown to her family  transactions that Yahoo News was able to verify since Kobayashis Venmo account is public.

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Nov. 11: Kobayashi tells her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, that she is returning to LAX for a new flight to New York. According to an interview Pidgeon gave to USA Today, Kobayashi spoke with an American Airlines agent sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. local time. But she never boarded the flight.

In other media interviews, multiple family members have described Kobayashis texts from that day as strange and out of character. She allegedly told relatives that she had been hacked and tricked into giving money to someone I thought I loved.

One of her last texts reportedly said, I just finished a very intense spiritual awakening. I'm heading back to the airport to get to NYC. I might need some help getting there." This was the last day Kobayashi is known to have communicated with her family and friends.

Nov. 12: Kobayashis family files a missing persons report in California. According to Kobayashis family, this is also when her father, Ryan, flies to Los Angeles from Hawaii to help look for her.

A flyer with information on Hannah Kobayashi in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo)

Nov. 15: The Los Angeles Police Department posts about Kobayashis disappearance on Facebook.

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Nov. 17: Kobayashis sister, Sydni, issues a statement saying that the family had seen surveillance footage of Kobayashi walking around the downtown L.A. Metro train station the night of Nov. 11.

Nov. 21: A group of volunteers  including Kobayashis father, Ryan  search downtown L.A. and hang posters of Kobayashi just blocks away from where she was last believed to have been seen.

Ryan Kobayashi, right, holds a picture of his missing daughter outside Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 21 in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo)

Nov. 23: In an interview with NewsNation, Pidgeon says that Kobayashi had sent her mom a detailed itinerary for her stay in New York, including places where she wanted to eat, museums she wanted to visit and a photography assignment that had been on her bucket list forever. Pidgeon also claimed that Kobayashi said she paid a couple thousand dollars for a hotel reservation as well.

Read more from Yahoo News: Hannah Kobayashi still missing: Here's what her family has pieced together so far

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Nov. 24: Kobayashis father, Ryan, is found dead in a parking lot near Los Angeles International Airport at around 4 a.m. The county coroner's office later confirmed that he died by suicide.

Nov. 26: At a police commission meeting, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell says that Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York, which the investigation determined was intentional.

Nov. 30: Kobayashis sister Sydni and her mom post a statement on Facebook reacting to McDonnells statement in which they dispute the suggestion that Hannah intentionally missed her flight.

Dec. 2: At a news conference, McDonnell says that the LAPD reviewed video surveillance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the United States border on foot into Mexico. She was alone with her luggage and appeared unharmed.

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According to some news outlets, there was a post in the Help Us Find Hannah Facebook group  a private page that has over 25,000 members  that said the family would be shutting down the Facebook group and would not be responding to any messages about the case. It is not clear whether this post was shared before or after the LAPDs latest news conference.

Read more from Yahoo News: Hannah Kobayashi still missing: LAPD says she voluntarily crossed into Mexico alone

Dec. 3: In an interview with NBC News, Sydni says the family was "shocked" and "frustrated" to learn Kobayashi had gone to Mexico. Sydni also rejects the LAPD's conclusion that Kobayashi voluntarily cut off communication with her family before leaving the country.

Shes gone to different places, but shes always checked in, Sydni said. She always lets us know whats going on.

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Dec. 4: Kobayashi's family issues a statement, shared on X by their attorney, saying "the search is far from over" and "learning just two days ago that Hannah may be in Mexico has only heightened our fears."

"It has been 22 agonizing days since we last heard from her, and not knowing where she is or if shes okay is heartbreaking," the statement continued. "Like everyone else, we are learning updates through the media, as LAPD has not been fully forthcoming in sharing critical developments directly with us.

Los Angeles Magazine publishes a report claiming the family thinks Kobayashi may have "engaged in a secret marriage for money" and added that sources alleged the "secret new husband" was on the flight to Los Angeles.

After the article goes live, the family attorney issues another statement on X, saying, "We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information."

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Dec. 11: The family issues another statement through their attorney announcing that Kobayashi has been "found safe."

"This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us."

Dec. 12: After news breaks that Kobayashi was found safe, her sister Syndi posts on the family's GoFundMe page that they will no longer be accepting donations. The GoFundMe was created on Nov. 15 to help cover the expenses the family claimed were growing with "the scope and intensity of the search" and for Ryan Kobayashi's funeral.

"We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time," Sydni says in the most recent post. "We are turning donations off, and any donor who would like a refund can submit a claim by December 18th, and it will be honored."
In one of the most polarizing cases in recent history, former Marine Daniel Penny has received clearance in all homicide charges in the Jordan Neely case. Penny served as the prime suspect in Neelys death, which occurred on a New York City subway train in May 2023. This decision has created much buzz on the internet, effectively dividing the public into two groups. But, what did Daniel Penny exactly do?

Heres everything you need to know regarding the much-discussed Jordan Neely case.

Daniel Penny found not guilty in Jordan Neely case

Twenty-six-year-old Daniel Penny has officially been acquitted of murdering Neely after he controversially put the now-deceased man in a lethal chokehold last spring. The concerned jurors were unable to reach a verdict after five days of discussion, forcing the prosecutors to let go of the second-degree manslaughter charge.

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The jury then levied a second allegation of criminally negligent homicide on Daniel Penny but soon decided to exonerate the ex-Marine of all charges. This has resulted in a serious uproar from one faction of the society, who seemingly deemed Penny guilty of engaging in racism, neglecting Jordan Neelys mental condition, and assaulting the 30-year-old man which ultimately led to his death.

Neely, an individual of black ethnicity, last year participated in a public disruption after he unexpectedly started screaming at his fellow subway passengers. He even requested money, conveyed that he was hungry, and expressed his desire to return to prison. This act ended up terrifying the travelers, with one woman going as far as to shield her son. Daniel Penny then jumped into action and put Neely in a chokehold for six minutes, according to BBC.

Prior to his passing, Neely used to perform at Times Square, mimicking Michael Jackson to earn his bread. He also possessed a rich past of criminal activity and served jail time for evading fares, theft, and assaults on women. However, Neely also suffered from several mental illnesses, which seemingly originated after the tragic murder of his mother during his childhood, as per his family.

While the Jordan Neely case initiated much public unrest due to its supposed ties to racism and mental illnesses, the final verdict is now out and entails complete freedom for Daniel Penny.

The post What Happened to Daniel Penny? Jordan Neely Subway Case Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Donald Trumps pick of far-right lawyer Harmeet Dhillon for a top post at the Justice Department leaves little doubt about his intent to use the department to undermine democracy during his second term.

On Monday, Trump announced that he had selected the MAGA-aligned lawyer to be the assistant attorney general for civil rights. If Dillon is confirmed by the Senate, the DOJ division responsible for defending Americans most precious rights  including, importantly, the right to vote  would be led by someone who has supported trampling on those very rights.

Over the past couple of years here on The ReidOut Blog, Ive been reporting on Dhillon as a key player in MAGA worlds vision for lawfare  that is, weaponization of the law against ones political enemies. In 2020, Dhillon co-chaired the group Lawyers for Trump, and she and her law firm have arguably been as rabid as anyone in attacking Americans voting rights and pushing bogus claims that Trump was cheated out of a victory four years ago.

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Dhillon also launched a failed insurgent bid to oust Ronna McDaniel as chair of the Republican National Committee back in 2022. This bid was supported by far-right activists like Charlie Kirk, who has openly railed against the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against marginalized groups. Dhillons main argument was that Republicans needed to invest in a larger army of lawyers to help conservatives carry out their lawfare dreams and restrict Americans access to the ballot. Dhillon is a peddler of the conservative movements anti-woke propaganda that seeks to marginalize racial and ethnic minorities and demonize LGBTQ people.

Put plainly: She is just about the worst person imaginable to have in a position tasked with defending democracy and stemming real oppression.

But Trump has already made clear he wants to upend the concept of civil rights. He has said he expects his administration to attack diversity efforts and prioritize rooting out anti-white discrimination (which hasnt actually been shown to exist in any systemic way). Dhillons resume and rhetoric suggest shes up to the task.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Officials in Harrisburg held a press conference Wednesday where they addressed the kidnapping and rape of a Harrisburg School District student in November.

During the conference, Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams and Harrisburg School District Superintendant Benjamin Henry called for the community to help create a safer environment where students can grow up without fear.

On Nov. 25, 2024, I Marr Mari Finley, 23, of Harrisburg, allegedly abducted and raped a 12-year-old child while they were walking home from school. According to court documents, Finley approached the child, offered them money for sex, and told them to follow him after they told him no.

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Finley covered the victims eyes as they approached his residence and reportedly threatened to kill anyone they lived with if they told anyone.

It takes a village to raise a kid, and Im asking for our village to come together during this time, to work together to protect their babies, Superintendent Henry said.

The city and the school district are working closely to strengthen safety measures in schools and neighborhoods.

We will continue to provide updates on the efforts and resources available to support the victim and prevent further violence, Mayor Williams said.

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Some of the steps being taken to ensure the safety of children in the community include increased patrolling during heavy traffic when children are walking to and from school.

Finley will remain behind bars at Dauphin County Prison. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.

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.
Dec. 10A Harrison Twp. man accused of sexual abuse and using a surveillance system to spy on a nude teen will spend at least 18 years in prison.

Anthony David Prince, 52, was sentenced to a total of 18 to 22 years, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office. He also was designated a Tier III sex offender, which will require him to register his address every 90 days for life, once he is released from prison.

The sentence stems from two cases where Prince reportedly sexually abused two children and an additional sexual assault.

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The investigation started in September 2023 after a 15-year-old girl reported to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office that she was receiving sexual text messages from Prince, according to an affidavit filed in Vandalia Municipal Court.

During forensic interviews, the 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl discussed multiple incidents starting as early as December 2018.

When one of the girls was around 14, Prince allegedly sexually assaulted her in his bedroom and in a car.

In February 2020, Prince was watching a home surveillance system that showed a 13-year-old girl nude while he was driving, according to court records.

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Investigators reportedly found the video on his cellphone, as well as other nude images of the children when they were 9 and 11.

They also recovered text messages of Prince asking the girls to engage in sex acts with others, take explicit photos and then sent them to him, according to an affidavit.

In a separate incident in September 2023, deputies responded to Prince's home for a sexual assault investigation.

A person told investigators about a sexual assault by Prince in a bedroom the previous day, according to court documents.

Prince admitted to engaging in sexual conduct, an affidavit read.
DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Military Operations Administration announced Wednesday the lifting of a curfew in Damascus and surrounding areas, urging residents to return to work as the country grapples with the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's ouster. The announcement coincided with interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir's call for refugees to return home.

Al-Bashir, a former regional leader in northwestern Syria, was appointed Tuesday to head a transitional government until March 2025. His appointment follows a swift offensive by a militant alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which captured Damascus within 12 days after launching its offensive from northern Syria on Nov. 27. Assad has fled the country, ending five decades of his family's rule.

The new leadership, dominated by the Islamist HTS, has sought to reassure religious minorities and promise that the rights of all religious and ethnic groups will be guaranteed.

Meanwhile, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani pledged justice for "victims" of Assad's administration, saying that officials in Assad's government involved in torture would not be pardoned.

In the northeast, Kurdish-led forces announced a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on Wednesday with Turkish-backed militants in the strategic city of Manbij. Days of fierce clashes in the Arab-majority city erupted after HTS-led forces ousted the Assad government on Sunday. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition of U.S.-backed militias, reported that 218 combatants were killed in the fighting and pledged to withdraw from the area "as soon as possible."

U.S. Central Command confirmed on Tuesday that its chief, General Michael Kurilla, had visited U.S. bases in Syria and met with SDF partners.

Earlier this month, Turkish-backed forces captured the strategic northern enclave of Tal Rifaat from Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.

Ankara views the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the dominant force within the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei downplayed the impact of Assad's ouster on Tehran's regional influence, dismissing the notion that the weakening of Syria's role in the "resistance" against Israel would diminish Iran's power. Khamenei accused the United States, Israel, and an unnamed "neighboring country" of orchestrating Assad's downfall.

Qatar announced plans to reopen its embassy in Damascus, citing historical ties and a commitment to support Syria's reconstruction. The decision aligns with Qatar's efforts to channel humanitarian aid to the Syrian population through an established air bridge.

In July 2011, after the outbreak of the anti-government protests in Syria, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Syria and closed its embassy

The humanitarian situation remains dire, according to the United Nations. Hospitals are overwhelmed, food shortages persist, and displaced populations face widespread trauma. The price of bread in cities like Idlib and Aleppo has surged by 900 percent, and over 1 million people have been displaced since the start of the offensive spearheaded by HTS on Dec. 27.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported numerous minefields obstructing movement and aid delivery, with at least 52 identified in the past 10 days. 
BRISTOL, Conn. (WTNH)  A Hartford man was arrested on Tuesday in Bristol after police found narcotics and a large sum of crash in his car during a traffic stop, according to police.

Officers seized approximately three grams of crack cocaine and 245 bags of suspected fentanyl in Jovanni Garcias car. He was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and sale of narcotics.

Hes scheduled to appear in New Britain Court on Dec. 24.

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SALISBURY, Md. (AP)  Prosecutors have dropped hate crime charges against 12 of the 15 Salisbury University students arrested following an October attack in which investigators say a man was lured to an off-campus apartment, beaten and called a homophobic slur.

The Wicomico County Office of the States Attorney said in a statement to the Washington Post that it has reviewed the evidence gathered during the course of the investigation and we have charged as appropriate in light of that evidence. The newspaper reported last week that the charges had been dropped.

Police initially said the defendants were facing hate crime charges for allegedly targeting the victim because hes gay. According to charging documents, one of the defendants made a fake account on a dating app and promised the victim sex with a 16-year-old.

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The mans age is not included in court documents. The legal age of consent in Maryland is 16 in most cases.

The Salisbury Police Department started investigating after two witnesses told campus police that they had seen a video of the assault, according to charging documents. Police said the victim received a broken rib and extensive bruising.
BELINGTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  With the arrival of the holiday season, a Barbour County church has received an actual truckload of toys to give out to children across West Virginia.

For the past 27 years, the Haven of Hope Worship Center has been doing toy outreach through its Hope for Christmas program, where it distributes both toys and food during the holiday season to those who need it.

Senior Pastor Howard Swick told 12 News that this year featured a large number of toy donations, including 39 pallets that arrived on a tractor-trailer from a company in Missouri. He said that in all, the toys are worth between $200,000-250,000.

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All of the toys that the organization received will be distributed as part of Hope for Christmas Expanded. Haven of Hope gave out toys to Barbour County organizations on Monday and Tuesday for its normal outreach, before expanding toy distribution out to surrounding counties.

Beginning Tuesday, other churches and organizations outside of Barbour County were able to stop by the warehouse where Haven of Hope is storing the toys to redistribute to other local organizations in their respective counties including Harrison, Preston, Randolph, Tucker and Upshur.

West Virginia city makes Southern Livings top Christmas towns in the South

Swick told 12 News that this initiative is particularly important to him because he and his wife, who is also his co-pastor, were both born and raised in Barbour County. I am probably the poster child of Appalachia in the 1970s, he added. We were raised in a very poverty-stricken area and a poverty-stricken county.

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Growing up, Swick recalled seeing some students with new toys while kids from poor households would typically have a used toy. You always felt like you were maybe less or maybe not as good as the folks who maybe had it better than your parents did, said Swick.

When I became a pastor, God laid on my heart to really start making an impact, Swick continued. Especially at Christmas time with young people and children, and that was kind of the heart behind Hope for Christmas outreach that started years ago.

According to Swick, many of the toys they received this year are higher quality, brand-name toys that can range anywhere from $50-400 a piece, with one pallet alone totaling almost $20,000 worth of toys.

Swick said that Barbour County and surrounding counties have been affected by the economy in recent years, and many local families would not typically be able to afford toys that are this expensive. So were able now to take a toy thats maybe [a] four or five-hundred dollar toy that theres no way even a working family could afford, and put it in the hands of mom and dad, he added.

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Swick told 12 News that Haven of Hope does not give the toys to the children directly, and the respective organizations provide them to the parents. This is supposed to empower the parents so that the children feel that the gifts are coming from their caregivers as opposed to him or the Haven of Hope Worship Center.

Haven of Hope also has a food bank that Swick said feeds a couple hundred families across Barbour County, and theyre going to continue to do that. He said that in recent years, the organization expanded outreach to be able to hand out a couple hundred thousand pounds of food and cleaning supplies to about 15 counties across West Virginia.

Its like a big, giant blessing web, said Swick. These toys are gonna go through that exact same thing where we bless an organization and then they bless another organization and eventually it goes back hopefully to the local churches, local people where they can get it in the hands of the families who really need it.

On Wednesday, the organization is planning to get another 18-wheeler to distribute other supplies out to organizations around the state. Swick also told 12 News that the Haven of Hope Worship Center will be having a food bank again next week, which is done every year to provide groceries to the residents of Barbour County.

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You can learn more about Haven of Hope by visiting its Facebook page.

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.
UPDATE: Police confirm Mr. Lagerfeld has been found. We are working to learn the details about what happened.

ORIGINAL STORY:

ATLANTA  An Atlanta dog owner says someone broke into her car and stole her beloved Shih Tzu who is blind in one eye.

Channel 2s Steve Gehlbach spoke with the dogs owner who said she is heartbroken and just wants her dog back.

Owner Lakedra Reed has put up posters in her neighborhood, and Crime Stoppers and Atlanta police have put out an alert asking for the publics help to find the thief and solve this dognapping.

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Reed told Gehlbach that her 11-year-old black-and-white Shih Tzu is named Mr. Lagerfeld.

I call him Lag, Reed said.

She said Lag was swiped from Third Street in midtown last Friday night.

TRENDING STORIES:

My heart is broken. Someone just took something from me. Its like a child, so just really want them to return him, Reed said.

Reed said she brought Lag to her brothers salon and doesnt know if she was being watched or targeted by a dog thief.

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I walked him and dont know if someone seen me walk him, Reed said.

She left the dog alone in the car and returned about 15 minutes later to find her window smashed.

I walked back outside, and my car was broken into, Reed said.

There was no sign of the Shih Tzu. APDs larceny from auto unit is now investigating, trying to find a suspect and the dog.

I just really want him back, want him home. Its the holidays. I dont know where he is and just want him back home with us.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to call Atlanta police or Crime Stoppers where theres a reward of up to $2,000.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene police officer was shot in north Abilene Tuesday night.

At about 9:30 p.m. on December 10, police responded to the area of Grape and Roosevelt Street in reference to gunshots. A significant police presence, including the APD SWAT Bearcat unit, Mobile Command Center, drones, and later a Department of Public Safety helicopter, was deployed to the scene.

According to APD Public Information Officer Rick Tomlin, the suspect fled from police in the Impact area. An officer confronted the suspect, who opened fire, striking one officer. The officer sustained minor injuries.

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The suspect has been identified as 49-year-old James Wesley Key. Police have barricaded the Impact area, as the suspect remains on foot. Authorities urge anyone who sees him to avoid approaching and to call the police immediately.

BigCountryHomepage will update as new information is made available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Pete Hegseth is looking to win over a pair of key Republican moderates as he tries to keep his hopes of leading the Defense Department from being derailed.

The former Fox News host huddled with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Tuesday and is set to do the same on Wednesday with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), two votes who are considered among the toughest for him to nab.

The meetings will not single-handedly decide Hegseths fate. He can lose up to three Republican votes and still win confirmation to lead the Pentagon. But Republicans say the sit-downs will go a long way toward determining the outcome.

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What he needs to do is lay the groundwork for how hes going to address some of the questions that are inevitably going to come up in the committee hearing, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said. They need to address head-on the strategy that I think the Democrats are going to carry against him and have a really good, credible response. Thats the key.

Theyre very discerning people, but I go back to the Kavanaugh hearing where it took a lot of time and a supplemental background investigation to get one of those two to actually vote for Kavanaugh, Tillis continued. So theres work to be done.

Hegseth sat down with the Alaska centrist in her office on Tuesday afternoon and told reporters afterward that it was an excellent meeting.

However, Murkowski wasnt as glowing. She repeatedly declined to divulge details from their discussion.

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I had a meeting with Pete Hegseth and I appreciated the opportunity for the exchange of conversation, Murkowski told reporters twice, adding only that it was a good exchange.

She indicated that she does not have plans to meet with him again.

Collins, meanwhile, told The Hill that she has a lengthy list of questions on deck for President-elect Trumps Pentagon choice about numerous aspects of defense policy, including the sizes of the Air Force and the Navy.

I want to hear his views on those issues  on aid to Ukraine, on sexual assault in the military, on comments hes made about women in combat, as well as ask him about the allegations against him, Collins said, noting her past role on the Senate Armed Services Committee and her current one as top Republican on the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations.

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I certainly am going to ask him about defense policy as well, she added.

Collins and Murkowski have long served as key moderate votes in the Senate GOP conference and have proved a tough hill for some nominees to climb in recent years.

Murkowski voted against Justice Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court while Collins ended up providing the crucial vote to put him over the finish line.

The Hegseth situation adds yet another layer, as he was accused of sexual assault stemming from a 2017 encounter that was only revealed after his nomination was rolled out. He says the encounter was consensual.

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He has also faced questions, most notably from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), about sexual assault in the military and his past comments opposing women in combat roles.

The meetings come amid a full-on blitz by Hegseth to reverse his fortunes after he appeared to be faltering last week in the face of ongoing questions from members.

His efforts have included a renewed push to win over Ernst, an Armed Services Committee member who is also a retired Iowa National Guard lieutenant colonel and the Senates first female combat veteran. Ernst indicated in a statement that she is warming to his nomination after he made several commitments during multiple recent meetings.

But winning over Collins and Murkowski might be a taller task, with members urging Hegseth to come ready for comprehensive discussions.

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Those two members are two of the most prepared members of the U.S. Senate, Tillis said. They do their homework  and they carry a binder with them.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Dec. 10A decadeslong effort to make it easier for "good Samaritan" groups to clean up the thousands of abandoned hard rock mines that dot the American West is a signature away from a major milestone.

The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act  which would make it easier for organizations such as state agencies and nonprofits to remediate former mine sites  passed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday, after securing unanimous Senate support in July. The legislation now heads to President Joe Biden's desk.

"With today's passage, we've now cleared one of the final hurdles preventing these groups from helping to protect the land, water, fish, and wildlife our communities rely on," U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, one of the bill's sponsors, said in a statement celebrating its passage.

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The bill would create a pilot permitting program to streamline cleanup efforts at abandoned mine sites, allowing organizations to improve water and soil quality while providing resources to comply with federal oversight requirements.

While cleanup of abandoned coal mines is funded by a tax on the industry, there is no comparable funding stream to remediate abandoned hard rock sites such as the copper and turquoise mines that were once common in New Mexico. Many of these sites have been abandoned for decades, and without a company to hold responsible, environmental liability can shift to outside organizations.

Some Western lawmakers have been pushing since the 1990s to make it easier to clean up these sites. Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, said in a statement Tuesday that good Samaritan organizations have tried to clean up abandoned mine sites, only to be halted by legal hurdles. The bill, he said, will ensure cleanup groups aren't held responsible for preexisting pollution.

"This victory belongs to every single person who rolled up their sleeves to fix this longstanding injustice, and I'd like to thank those who have carried the baton to get us to this point," Heinrich said.

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Heinrich and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, sponsored the version that passed the Senate on July 31, and it had similarly bipartisan support in the House.

"This bipartisan bill ... would address the significant environmental challenge posed by tens of thousands of abandoned hard rock mining sites by creating a pathway for Good Samaritan entities to receive the legal assurances they need to move ahead with remediation of historic mine pollution," Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, a co-sponsor, said during Tuesday's House floor debate.

"Clearly, there's a problem to be solved here, and, too often, in this body of Congress, we create more problems than actual solutions," said Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, another co-sponsor. "This bill is fundamentally different for the way that it tries to approach and address this issue."

A similarly disparate mix of organizations backed the bill. In addition to backing from the Western Governors' Association and National Congress of American Indians, it garnered support from hunting and fishing groups, conservation advocates and mining associations alike.

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"This is a victory for common sense," Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited, said in a statement provided by Heinrich's office. "Senators Heinrich and Risch took a bipartisan approach to a non-partisan issue. Clean water is a basic human right."

"I look forward to the President signing this bipartisan bill into law allowing for responsible, much-needed land and water remediation efforts," Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, said in the news release.
With a post on Instagram saying "Hello Cincy!" former Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor announced Tuesday that he was released from the federal prison where he has spent the last year to a halfway house.

A spokesman for the federal Bureau of Prisons said Pastor, who pleaded guilty to corruption charges, was transferred Tuesday from a prison in Ashland, Kentucky, to "community confinement" overseen by the agency. For privacy, safety and security reasons, the specific location is not disclosed.

Pastor, who turned 41 this month, is scheduled to complete his sentence on July 16, 2025.

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Pastor was sentenced in December 2023 to two years in prison, but the federal prison system gives defendants time off of their prison terms for good behavior.

Photos posted on social media Tuesday also showed Pastor with his wife and Pastor with one of his children. By early Tuesday evening, more than 150 people had expressed support and offered well wishes on social media.

Pastor was one of three councilmembers who were indicted in 2020 and later convicted of federal corruption charges. Prosecutors said that Pastor began shaking down developers within months of taking office. As part of the scheme, which took place between 2018 and 2019, Pastor accepted $55,000 in bribes, a federal judge said at his sentencing last year.

The scheme involved creating a fake charity to launder the money as well as a free trip to Florida.

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The other former councilmembers are Tamaya Dennard and P.G. Sittenfeld. Dennard has completed her sentence. Sittenfeld served four months before a federal appeals court in May released him pending its decision on his appeal.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Cincinnati Councilman Jeff Pastor released to halfway house
HENDERSON, Texas (KETK)  A Henderson High School teacher is behind bars accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, the district said.

Mugshot of Kathryn Prior, courtesy of the Rusk County Jail.

According to Henderson ISD officials, on Tuesday authorities informed them that one of their teachers had been arrested after a police investigation. A report alleged that Kathryn L. Prior, a vocational agriculture education teacher, was having an inappropriate relationship with a student, whose age and identity was not released.

Woman arrested after nearly $50K worth of pipes stolen

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Following an investigation, police said Prior was arrested for possession of child pornography, indecency with a child and improper relationship between an educator and a student. Prior is now being held at the Rusk County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

District officials said Prior was placed on paid administrative leave and they are cooperating with law enforcement. HISD said they remain committed to the safety and security of their students.

Authorities encourage anyone with information pertaining to this case to contact Detective Pam Randolph at the Henderson Police Department at 903-657-3512.

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) attends a press conference with South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 11, 2024. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the reform of global financial institutions and urged action to address the debt crises affecting some countries. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the reform of global financial institutions and urged action to address the debt crises affecting some countries.

Guterres made these remarks in Johannesburg while addressing the first G20 Sherpas-Finance and Central Bank Deputies Joint Meeting. "G20 must lead on delivering financial justice," he noted.

Financing plays a fundamental role in fostering inclusive economies, supporting industrialization, addressing food insecurity, and reducing inequalities, he said.

"These institutions must represent today's economy. Developing economies must be represented fairly in their governance. These institutions must also protect economies, especially the vulnerable ones from global shocks," said Guterres.

The UN chief is scheduled to meet South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Guterres expressed his commitment to working with South Africa during its G20 presidency to tackle key issues such as climate change, development challenges, and the global debt crisis. South Africa assumed the G20 presidency on Dec. 1, becoming the first African country to lead this influential group of the world's major economies.

Meanwhile, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said that the country has proposed the establishment of a Cost of Capital Commission during its G20 presidency.

"This Commission will deliver a comprehensive expert review on the issues impacting the cost of capital for developing economies which could help address future debt sustainability issues and the related fiscal space challenges," Lamola said. "We hope that, through our G20 presidency, we can move closer to a world where sustainability, equality, and solidarity guide our efforts to address the most pressing challenges facing the globe." 

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L, Rear) attends a press conference with South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola (R, Rear) in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 11, 2024. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the reform of global financial institutions and urged action to address the debt crises affecting some countries. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press conference in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 11, 2024. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the reform of global financial institutions and urged action to address the debt crises affecting some countries. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) shakes hands with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during their meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 11, 2024. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the reform of global financial institutions and urged action to address the debt crises affecting some countries. (GCIS/Handout via Xinhua)
(This story was updated to add information and a video.)

The Wisconsin man who staged his own disappearance and fled the country is now in police custody.

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday that 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt of Watertown arrived in the U.S. on Tuesday and was in custody at the Green Lake County Jail.

"We can stand here today, feeling relieved," said Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll during a Wednesday press conference.

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Here's what we know about Ryan Borgwardt, and how authorities uncovered his plan to fake his death and flee the country.

When did Ryan Borgwardt go missing in Wisconsin?

Authorities received notice Aug. 12 that Borgwardt was missing and was last known to be on Green Lake in his kayak.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Bruce's Legacy assisted with the search. Efforts to search the area were continued through August with no signs of Borgwardt.

Authorities learned that Borgwardt had reported his passport lost or stolen and had been issued another passport in May 2024. Authorities also discovered inquires about moving funds to foreign banks, communication with a woman from Uzbekistan and a new $375,000 life insurance policy.

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"Due to the discovery of this new evidence, we are confident that Ryan is not located in Green Lake and we have ended all search efforts associated with Green Lake," police said in a Nov. 8 press release.

Podoll said in a Nov. 21 press conference that authorities had been in daily contact with Borgwardt since Nov. 11, having first reached him via a "woman speaking Russian."

At the time, law enforcement shared a video of Borgwardt, which showed him alive and well but said they couldnt persuade him to return home.

Where was Ryan Borgwardt?

Podoll wouldn't release information at the Wednesday press conference about where Borgwardt went abroad, but a criminal complaint filed Wednesday said he was in the European country of Georgia.

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Borgwardt is cooperating with law enforcement and came back willing to the U.S., where he returned to Green Lake on his own, Podoll said.

In the immediate aftermath of his staged disappearance, police said Borgwardt biked to Madison then took a bus to Detroit and continued on to the Canadian border.

What are the charges against Ryan Borgwardt?

Borgwardt was charged Wednesday in Green Lake County Circuit Court with a Class A misdemeanor of obstructing an officer. He faces a possible nine-month jail sentence and a $10,000 fine.

Judge Mark Slate released Borgwardt on a $500 bond and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during the initial court appearance Wednesday.

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Entering the courtroom in the presence of his parents and several media members, Borgwardt waived the reading of the criminal complaint before telling the court he only had $20 in his pocket and couldn't afford an attorney.

Borgwardt is scheduled to return to court Jan. 13 for his second appearance.

How did authorities uncover Ryan Borgwardt's plan?

A digital forensic analysis of Borgwardt's laptop revealed he cleared his browsers on the day of his disappearance, replaced the hard drive, inquired about moving funds to foreign banks and had constant communication with a woman from Uzbekistan.

At the Nov. 21 press conference, Podoll relayed how Borgwardt said he faked his death.

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Borgwardt's plan, according to Podoll, included the following:

Stashing an eBike near the boat launch.

Paddling a kayak and a child-size inflatable boat out into the lake.

Overturning the kayak and dumping his phone in the lake.

Paddling the inflatable boat to shore and then riding the eBike through the night to Madison.

Boarding a bus in Madison, going to Detroit and then heading to the Canadian border.

Continuing on bus to the airport and getting on a plane.

Why did Borgwardt return to Wisconsin?

During the Wednesday news conference, Podoll said "family" compelled Borgwardt to return to Wisconsin.

Here's the latest update on the missing Wisconsin kayaker case

You can view the Wednesday news conference from the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office in its entirety at the above link.

Where is Green Lake, Wisconsin?

Green Lake is a natural inland lake about 100 miles, or a 90-minute drive, northwest of Milwaukee.

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RELATED: Ryan Borgwardt likely wouldnt face significant jail time after staging death, experts say

RELATED: Ryan Borgwardt isnt the man in viral TikTok video, Green Lake County sheriff says

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin kayaker Ryan Borgwardt returns, is charged: What we know
The Wisconsin man who staged his own disappearance and fled the country is now in police custody.

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday that Ryan Borgwardt arrived in the U.S. on Dec. 10 and is now in custody at Green Lake County Jail.

"We can stand here today, feeling relieved," said Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll during a Dec. 11 press conference.

Here's what we know so far about Ryan Borgwardt, and how authorities uncovered his plan to fake his death and flee the country.

When did Ryan Borgwardt go missing in Wisconsin?

Authorities received notice Aug. 12 that Borgwardt went missing and was last known to be on Green Lake in his kayak.

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Bruce's Legacy assisted with the search. Efforts to search the area were continued through August with no signs of Borgwardt.

Authorities learned that Borgwardt had reported his passport lost or stolen and had been issued another passport in May 2024. Additionally, authorities also discovered inquires about moving funds to foreign banks, communication with a woman from Uzbekistan and a new $375,000 life insurance policy.

"Due to the discovery of this new evidence, we are confident that Ryan is not located in Green Lake and we have ended all search efforts associated with Green Lake," police said in a Nov. 8 press release.

Podoll said in a Nov. 21 press conference that authorities had been in daily contact with Borgwardt since Nov. 11, having first reached him via a "woman speaking Russian."

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At the time, law enforcement shared a video of Borgwardt, which showed him alive and well but said they couldnt persuade him to return home.

Where was Ryan Borgwardt?

Authorities are not releasing information about where Borgwardt went abroad. Borgwardt is cooperating with law enforcement and came back willing to the U.S. where he returned to Green Lake on his own, Podoll said.

In the immediate aftermath of his staged disappearance, police said Borgwardt biked to Madison then took a bus to Detroit and continued on to the Canadian border.

What are the charges against Ryan Borgwardt?

Police have recommended several charges against Borgwardt, including obstruction, Podoll said. He did not offer any more specific details about the charges.

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Borgwardt is awaiting an initial court appearance.

How did authorities uncover Ryan Borgwardt's plan?

A digital forensic analysis of Borgwardt's laptop revealed he cleared his browsers on the day of his disappearance, replaced the hard drive, inquired about moving funds to foreign banks and had constant communication with a woman from Uzbekistan.

At the Nov. 21 press conference, Podoll relayed how Borgwardt said he faked his death.

Borgwardt's plan, according to Podoll, included the following:

Stashing an eBike near the boat launch.

Paddling a kayak and a child-size inflatable boat out into the lake.

Overturning the kayak and dumping his phone in the lake.

Paddling the inflatable boat to shore and then riding the eBike through the night to Madison.

Boarding a bus in Madison, going to Detroit and then heading to the Canadian border.

Continuing on bus to the airport and getting on a plane.

Why did Borgwardt return to Wisconsin?

During the Dec. 11 news conference, Podoll said "family" compelled Borgwardt to return to Wisconsin.

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Police did not specify where Borgwardt had stayed internationally.

Here's the latest update on the missing Wisconsin kayaker case

You can view the Dec. 11 news conference from the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office in its entirety at the above link.

Where is Green Lake, Wisconsin?

Green Lake is a natural inland lake about 100 miles, or a 90-minute drive, northwest of Milwaukee.

RELATED: Ryan Borgwardt likely wouldnt face significant jail time after staging death, experts say

RELATED: Ryan Borgwardt isnt the man in viral TikTok video, Green Lake County sheriff says

(This story was updated to add a video.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin kayaker Ryan Borgwardt in police custody: What we know
The sudden collapse of the Assad government has raised questions about Russia's future in Syria.

Russia has long enjoyed a military footprint at two key bases in the country.

New satellite images show what Moscow's warships and aircraft are doing now.

Newly captured satellite imagery shows what the Russian military in Syria is doing following the collapse of the Assad government.

The images taken this week by Maxar Technologies and obtained by Business Insider show Russian aircraft are still present at the Hmeimim Air Base, but Moscow's warships are no longer stationed at its nearby naval facility in Tartus.

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Russia supported Syria's longtime dictator, Bashar Assad, in his brutal civil war. But Moscow's military footprint in the country fell into uncertainty over the weekend after rebel forces captured Damascus and ousted Assad following a rapid offensive that lasted just days. Assad has since fled to Moscow.

The Kremlin relies heavily on its bases in Syria to project its power, and losing them would be a major setback, not something Russia needs amid its war in Ukraine. Tartus is Russia's main naval base abroad, and it provides the country with crucial access to a warm-water port. Moscow meanwhile uses Hmeimim to move military forces in and out of Africa.

A satellite image captured on Monday shows Russian aircraft, helicopters, and military equipment at the Hmeimim Air Base near the coastal city of Latakia. At the adjacent civilian Bassel Al-Assad International Airport, lots of activity was spotted.

Russian aircraft at the Hmeimim Air Base on Monday. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies

Crowds and traffic at the civilian airport adjacent to Hmeimim on Monday. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies

It's unclear at this time whether assets have already left and whether Russia will hold its position at this base.

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Imagery captured on Tuesday shows Russia's warships are missing from its naval facility in Tartus, a port city on the Mediterranean Sea. At least two frigates were spotted several miles off the coast.

Russian naval vessels were spotted at Tartus on Thursday. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies

The vessels are missing in this Tuesday image. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies

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Five Russian surface vessels  three frigates and two replenishment oilers  and a submarine were spotted at the Tartus base earlier in the week, but they'd left the facility by Monday and were still gone the next day.

It's unclear whether the warships will return to port and when that would be; their presence out in the Mediterranean could be for safety reasons amid all the uncertainty on land rather than a full evacuation from Tartus.

A Russian frigate sailing off the coast of Syria on Tuesday. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies

Another Russian frigate was spotted off the coast of Syria on Tuesday. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies

The new imagery has come amid questions over Russia's future control of the Tartus and Hmeimim bases, which it has held for years. The country's defense ministry hasn't publicly signaled any major force posture changes.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency said Moscow was withdrawing from its bases and evacuating its forces. BI was unable to confirm this independently. The ships are out of port, but the specific reason isn't certain.

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The Kremlin has said it's taking steps to ensure the security of its bases through conversations with the new Syrian leadership as details of the transition government become clearer. Russian state media has said rebel forces control the province where its facilities are.

If Russia is unable to retain access to these bases, it could spell trouble for Moscow in the region.

Conflict analysts with the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, wrote in an assessment on Monday that "the potential loss of Russian bases in Syria will have major implications for Russia's ability to project power in the Mediterranean Sea, threaten NATO's southern flank, and operate in Africa."

Read the original article on Business Insider
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP)  A student was shot on the campus of R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem on Tuesday afternoon.

Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough says a male high school student was shot. The student was reportedly shot in the leg after a fight.

All other students are safe, according to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. The school was on lockdown, but that lockdown has since been lifted, and students were reunited with their families.

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At about 3:45 p.m., law enforcement officials responded to a shooting at the campus of R.J. Reynolds High School. The shooting did not happen in the high school.

Right now, we  are trying to figure out who were the shooters and locate them, Kimbrough said.

No suspects are in custody at this time. Investigators are sorting through video and say they have strong leads in the suspect search.

Were doing basic old-school investigation with technology to locate the shooter or shooters or participants.  It is an active investigation, Kimbrough said.

The victim, who has not been identified, was taken to a hospital.

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What I can tell you is anytime someone is shot,  that is a serious injury.  The young man, when I left [the hospital] with his mother, they were getting ready to do some work on him, Kimbrough said.

Chris Runge, spokesperson for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, says RHS was on lockdown when he arrived. He says the school is no longer on lockdown.

Reynolds sits across the street from Wiley Middle School, and Brunson Elementary is just a little way down. Thats why there were secure protocols in all three schools, Runge said. Theyre adjacent to Hanes Park, which is very public, and thats where the concentration of law enforcement is right now. If youre familiar with Winston-Salem and Hanes Park at the corner of Reynolda and Northwest Boulevard, that appears to be where all of the activity is.

Now, the campus is calm.

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I have been told by my colleagues that every student is safe, and they are being reunited with their parents now, said Chris Runge with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

All students remaining on campus were taken to the Harris Teeter on Cloverdale Avenue, according to a WSPD incident alert. Police asked parents to head to the meet-up site to reunite with students.

Northwest Boulevard will be closed until deputies are done investigating.

WS/FCS released the following statement on Tuesday night:

We are sad to report that today after dismissal at Reynolds High School, a student was shot in the leg after an altercation near Northwest Boulevard. The student is in stable condition and recovering. Law enforcement officials are working swiftly to solve this case and identify the suspects. Students at Reynolds, Wiley and Brunson who were still on campus were held in lockdown briefly. Reynolds and Wiley families are reuniting with their children at the assigned reunification site. We will provide updates as soon as possible via text or email. Please keep our student in your thoughts. WS/FCS

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This is a developing story.

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.
AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune)  The illusive dream of high-speed rail in Texas has become foggier as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office and state GOP lawmakers intent on throwing up roadblocks to rail return to Austin next month.

Over the last two years, high-speed rail ambitions in Texas showed signs of life. Amtrak revived and took the lead on a long-mulled high-speed rail route between Dallas and Houston. North Texas transportation planners advanced the idea of extending that line to Fort Worth and Arlington. A glut of federal transportation dollars under President Joe Bidens administration and increased congestion on Texas interstates pushed some local leaders to make the case for boosting even conventional passenger rail between the states major urban areas.

Texas lawmakers envision high-speed rail along I-35 corridor in latest bill filings

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Where those efforts will go during a second Trump administration remains to be seen. Trump, rail advocates and experts say, has offered few clues about how he will approach high-speed rail during his second term  after the Biden administration backed federal financial support for expanding rail.

But in the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature, anti-rail efforts will likely persist when lawmakers convene in January.

Some rail backers still see reasons for hope. For one, congestion on Texas roadways amid the states robust economic growth has become interminable. Combine that with an expected $20 billion budget surplus, and state lawmakers could be amenable to exploring rail options, said Peter LeCody, who heads the organization Texas Rail Advocates.

This might be a turning point where the Legislature is starting to wake up and smell the vehicle fumes, LeCody said.

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Some lawmakers are trying to lay the groundwork for a statewide high-speed rail expansion. A bill filed by State Rep. John Bucy, an Austin Democrat, would direct the Texas Department of Transportation to jumpstart a high-speed rail line between Dallas, Austin and San Antonio along the congested Interstate 35 corridor. The state agency would have to enter a comprehensive development agreement with a private company to build, maintain and operate the line, which would have to reach speeds of at least 110 miles per hour.

There are no immediate plans for such a train, Bucy said, and its not clear who would operate it.

Another Bucy bill would allow more state transportation dollars to be spent on high-speed rail as well as other modes of transportation like conventional passenger rail, bicycle lanes and walking paths. The Texas Constitution mandates that most of TxDOTs budget must be spent on building and expanding freeways. If Bucys bill passes, Texas voters would decide whether to amend the constitution to allow a greater share of those dollars to be spent on transportation methods other than highways.

Texas committee advocating for expanded rail funding in next legislative session

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We need to be able to move people, Bucy said in an interview. We need to give people other options.

Still in question is the future of the long-sought Texas Central high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston. The project, first pitched in 2009, would shuttle passengers at top speeds above 200 miles per hour  turning whats now a 3.5-hour commute by car to a 90-minute ride by train.

The line would use the same technology used on Japans famed high-speed rail network, which connects that countrys major job centers. A 16-car train there can hold more than 1,300 passengers at a time.

Amtrak revived the project last year following a leadership exodus from Texas Central, which had struggled to acquire land necessary to build the line. The route between Dallas and Houston checks a number of boxes that make it ideal for high-speed rail, Amtrak officials have said  namely that it connects two of the countrys largest metropolitan regions and is flat enough to allow trains to reach the velocity necessary to make the journey relatively speedy.

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High-speed rail proposals have long faced a steep climb in the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature  where GOP lawmakers are hostile to passenger rail and have particularly sought to stop the Texas Central project. Texas Republicans  including Gov. Greg Abbott, who once heralded the Texas Central proposal  have sought to prevent state tax dollars from paying for high-speed rail and block efforts to seize the land needed to build it through eminent domain.

State legislators approved a law in 2017 intended to bar Texas Central from receiving state dollars to build high-speed rail.

If the Texas Central line can be built without state or federal money, without taking private property, its fine with me, said state Sen. Robert Nichols, an East Texas Republican who heads the state Senate Transportation Committee. But the answer is no, they cant.  If it was an investment that would pay big dividends, thats a whole different deal. That is not an investment thats going to pay dividends. That is a big cost hole that is a bottomless pit.

That opposition appears likely to persist next year. Republican legislators have introduced proposals to further enshrine obstacles to high-speed rail. A bill filed by state Rep. Cody Harris, a Palestine Republican, would forbid state lawmakers from appropriating funds to pay for anything related to high-speed rail operated by a private entity.

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Another bill, by state Rep. Brian Harrison, a Waxahachie Republican, would reverse a 2022 Texas Supreme Court decision allowing Texas Central to seize land necessary to build the Dallas-to-Houston line  a decision that alarmed East Texas landowners in the routes projected path.

I am committed to protecting my constituents private property rights from the forced taking of their land for this wasteful boondoggle project, Harrison said in a statement.

Just how those GOP proposals would affect the Texas Central lines development now that Amtrak has taken the lead on the project  or the development of other high-speed rail lines  isnt clear.

How the Texas Central line could be built without state dollars is difficult to imagine, rail advocates and experts said. The projected cost of the Dallas-to-Houston route is more than $30 billion, up from an earlier $12 billion estimate  money that would have to come from federal and private sources.

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This project needs tens of billions of dollars and we dont appear to be close to that, said Eric Goldwyn, program director at the Marron Institute of Urban Management at New York University.

Andy Byford, senior vice president of high-speed rail development at Amtrak, said in November that officials are still figuring out how exactly to pay for the project, which hasnt gained federal approval.

Byford told reporters earlier this year that Texas Central has acquired about 30% of the land needed to build the line but has maintained that acquiring the remaining land through eminent domain would be a last resort.

Officials pursuing a high-speed rail route connecting Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth hope to do so entirely with private dollars. Michael Morris, transportation director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, said he expects private rail operators like Brightline  which owns a route that runs from Orlando to Miami and is pursuing a high-speed route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas  will take interest if the route gains federal approval.

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Such a project would reduce congestion and improve safety on freeways while sprouting economic development in the form of housing, offices and restaurants near stations in each city, Morris said.

Separately, Morris said he plans to push state lawmakers to create a new state agency solely focused on high-speed rail efforts.

Another mystery is how Trump will approach passenger rail during his second term.

In his first term, Trump canceled more than $900 million in federal dollars to help pay for Californias beleaguered high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco, funds that Biden would later reinstate. Vivek Ramaswamy  an entrepreneur Trump tapped to lead an effort alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk to slash government spending and pare federal regulations  this week called for ending federal support for the California line, which he dubbed a wasteful vanity project.

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Trump struck a different tone on the campaign trail this year, openly wondering why the United States doesnt have high-speed rail of its own.

They go unbelievably fast, unbelievably comfortable with no problems, and we dont have anything like that in this country. Not even close, Trump said during a conversation with Musk hosted on the social media site X. And it doesnt make sense that we dont, doesnt make sense.

Outside of high-speed rail, state and local officials are looking for ways to ease congestion on Texas increasingly busy interstates and give Texans another way to move around the state.

Using federal dollars, TxDOT is examining how to boost passenger rail service on an existing Amtrak route from Houston to San Antonio. State transportation planners also are studying how to reinstate a conventional Amtrak line between Houston and Dallas, a separate effort from the high-speed project.

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Amid robust growth along the Interstate 35 corridor, officials in Travis and Bexar counties have restarted efforts to boost passenger rail frequency between the Austin and San Antonio regions.

Boosting any kind of passenger rail isnt enough to ease overall congestion, Goldwyn said, adding that state and local officials should also back efforts to make urban areas more walkable and easier to traverse by bicycle or public transit.

Passenger rail is one tool we can use to help solve that problem, but we need to do a lot of other things as well, he said.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at www.texastribune.org. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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.
State Board of Higher Education members Kevin Black, left, and Casey Ryan. (Photos provided by North Dakota University System)

The North Dakota Board of Higher Education is going through a painstaking process of updating its tenure policies, covering such details as the frequency of faculty reviews.

We have to look at modernizing our employment practices, board member Kevin Black of Minot said Tuesday as the board met for a special meeting.

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One change approved Tuesday was instead of saying tenured faculty have a right to employment, the policy now says they have an expectation of keeping their job.

I think if you were to poll just about any North Dakotan and asked if any taxpayer-funded job, that an individual has a right to indefinite employment, I dont think youre getting a whole lot more favorable responses, Black said.

The board approved the changes unanimously.

I definitely think that the word expectation is much more appropriate, Black said. If youre following state board policy and institutional policy, and youre serving your students and youre in your community in a positive way, absolutely you should have the expectation that your contract is continuous.

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One area where Black is seeking clarity is what circumstances might trigger a review of tenured faculty members seen as underperforming.

University System policy requires a review of tenured faculty every five years. Black had suggested cutting that to three years.

I felt like five years was too long to go between a full-blown, post-tenure review, Black said.

There was concern among the board that mandatory three-year post-tenure reviews could create a backlog.

We have to avoid red tape, board member Casey Ryan said. This would be a huge red-tape measure.

Black agreed Tuesday to keep the five-year requirement with the understanding that the board will refine its policy on what might trigger a post-tenure review within the five-year timeframe and ensure that policy is uniform across the 11-college system.

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Faculty are reviewed annually, though it is not as rigorous as a post-tenure review. Negative annual reviews could trigger a post-tenure review but the board agreed to work out the details in the new year.

The board did not discuss all the proposed edits in the 90-minute meeting, signaling more meetings to come.

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Board members have discussed tenure policies several times in 2024, with Black at one time questioning the value of tenure at North Dakotas two-year schools, especially programs that focus on technical education.

Chancellor Mark Hagerott lauded the board for taking on the task of addressing tenure policy, which is a sensitive issue in higher education.

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I think youre threading the needle nicely, Hagerott said, adding that there is an appetite for tenure reform among legislative leaders, specifically House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson.

He would like that this is implemented, at least the first phases of this, by March, Hagerott said of Lefor. So I think youre getting there.

This story has been corrected to show that Kevin Black is a Minot resident.

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A 64-year-old hiker missing in Oregons Shore Acres State Park was found alive over the weekend, authorities said.

The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release that the hiker had not been seen since Friday, Dec. 6, after she got separated from a party she was foraging with.

The maritime security branch said that watchstanders at Sector Columbia River were called by the Oregon State Police, who were looking for assistance in finding the woman "due to nightfall, rugged terrain, and the individuals lack of survival gear."

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Related: Man and Dog Rescued by Coast Guard as Sailboat Sinks Off Coast of Florida During Hurricane Helene

A helicopter from Air Station North Bend was summoned to the area on the evening of Dec. 6. Despite using thermal imagery, the choppers crew couldnt detect anyone and returned to the base, officials said.

Responders from various agencies, including the Coast Guard, the Coos County Sheriffs Office, Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Emergency Management, conducted a combination of air and ground searches on Saturday, Dec. 7, but their efforts were also unsuccessful.

U.S. Coast Guard A 64-year-old missing hiker was rescued from Oregon's Shore Acres State Park on Dec. 8, 2024 A 64-year-old missing hiker was rescued from Oregon's Shore Acres State Park on Dec. 8, 2024

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Then, on Sunday, Dec. 8, around 12:30 p.m. local time, members of a ground party heard what sounded like shouting from a remote part of the park.

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Related: Missing Hiker Found Alive After Spending the Night in Frigid Temperatures

After some bushwhacking, the party located the missing woman who was showing signs of hypothermia and dehydration, read the Coast Guards news release.

The ground party created a fire to warm the woman. As seen in video footage, a Coast Guard helicopter flight crew was later brought in and deployed a rescue swimmer, who then placed the woman in a hypothermic bag and set up a hoist.

U.S. Coast Guard A missing hiker, 64, was rescued from Oregon's Shore Acres State Park on Dec. 8, 2024 A missing hiker, 64, was rescued from Oregon's Shore Acres State Park on Dec. 8, 2024

The woman was lifted into the helicopter and transported to Bay Area Hospital in North Bend where she was then transferred to emergency medical services.

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It was later determined that the woman had sought shelter from underneath a log, and, therefore, was undetectable on the FLIR [forward looking infrared] camera, the Coast Guard said. However, the woman began shouting for help after hearing the Coast Guard helicopters flying overhead, which eventually led the ground party to her.

In total, four partner agencies, four Coast Guard flight crews, a sheriffs department aircraft, and several ground search parties collaborated to find the woman, said the Coast Guard.

Related: Hiker Has Been Missing for Days After Getting Separated from Group at Montana's Glacier National Park

The Coast Guard and our partner agencies here on the Oregon Coast routinely train together to ensure we can execute coordinated search and rescue missions whenever were called upon," Cmdr. Jay Kircher, an operations officer and one of the helicopter pilots at Coast Guard Air Station North Bend, said in a statement. "Its fantastic to see this teamwork in action and produce a successful outcome.

PEOPLE contacted the Coast Guard on Wednesday, Dec. 11 for additional information.



Read the original article on People
Have you been receiving robocalls every day lately, and at all times?

If you are, then youre not alone -- and New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella is sending a stern warning for companies who are allowing the robocalls to continue.

Formella on Tuesday warned four voice service providers that they have been transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic on their networks on behalf of one or more of their customers.

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Robocalls are not just an inconvenience; they are a serious threat to the privacy and security of our residents. We will not stand by while companies enable illegal scams that target our citizens, especially our most vulnerable, Formella said in a statement.

These voice service providers have a responsibility to ensure their networks are not used to perpetuate fraud, Formella said. If these companies fail to take swift action, we will pursue every legal avenue available to hold them accountable and protect consumers.

Formella is a member of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, a coalition of 51 attorneys general investigating providers responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States.

In the warning letters, the task force informed the providers that it has shared the findings of its investigations with the Federal Communications Commission, which will consider appropriate next steps.

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Formella said the task force sent warning letters to the following companies:

KWK Communications Inc. received at least 129 traceback notices from the industry traceback group between 2020 and 2022, which included high volumes of calls associated with IRS and Social Security Administration scams, auto warranty scams, and utilities scams. In just one month in 2022, KWK allegedly routed more than 20,000 calls with illegally spoofed telephone numbers and more than 8.7 million calls made using invalid Caller ID numbers.

Inbound Communications Inc. (formerly Inbound Inc.) received at least 63 traceback notices between 2021 and 2022, including many about calls that involved imposter scams. Inbound is also estimated to have allegedly routed more than 28.4 million DirecTV and cable discount scam robocalls in a single month in 2022. The FTC previously issued a cease-and-desist demand to Inbound over these scam calls.

AKA Management Inc. received at least 129 traceback notices between 2020 and 2022, including about calls that were government imposter scams and tech support scams. AKA is also estimated to have allegedly routed about 12.1 million Amazon and Apple imposter robocalls to consumers in a single month in 2022.

CallVox LLC received more than 47 traceback notices between 2020 and 2022 warning of unlawful or suspicious robocalls that it helped move into and through the U.S. telephone network, including thousands of calls to people who were registered on the Do Not Call list and calls placed using illegally spoofed telephone numbers.

The letters warned that if these providers continue to transmit robocalls and violate state and federal laws, the task force may pursue further legal actions against these companies and their owners, Formella said.

Copies of the warning letters are available here.

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SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  Poinsettia plants are a familiar sign of the holiday season. And nowhere is the name Poinsett more recognized than in Greenville.

While plant sales bloom during this time of the year, there is a school in the Upstate that sells poinsettias with a purpose.

Hillcrest High School, in Simpsonville, greenhouse is full of Christmas cheer.

This is probably the best crop in 10 years. Im extremely proud of the hard work. These young people have done, according to Mr. Mark Earle, an agriculture teacher.

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After months of care and attention, these poinsettia plants are ready for the schools annual poinsettia sale.

Mr. Earle makes a good argument for buying plants from the school, probably the biggest selling point is that this is local. We talk about supporting local businesses. This is a school, but its also a local business.

Mr. Earle is just as proud of this years crop as he is of his agriculture students.

His message behind the plants is simple, I just simply want to teach kids that are strong work ethic will overcome a lot of things.

Students are a part of growing these plants they are hands-on and they get their hands dirty from growing the plants to selling them.

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Bryce Young, an agriculture student, said, They are beautiful and we put a lot of work into them and you guys should come down and get them.

Fellow student Andrew Marcotte echoed that sentiment and offered this heartfelt sales pitch, If youre trying to decide between them, what I would do, I would get both because they look better if theyre together.

Students like Jillian, Nicole, Bryce, Andrew and their classmates have spent the past five months overseeing every aspect of growing these plants.

Nicole Durango said growing these plants involved daily responsibilities.

We came out to the greenhouse and Mr. Earl sent us to cut like dead leaves. They were rotting or something and put the fertilizer and water them. It was kind of like an everyday thing.

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Jillian Forbes said she saw how their hard work has paid off.

It makes me feel very accomplished very proud of myself knowing i helped grow all of these plants just from when they were a little sprout till now, she said.

Young agreed and said, Honestly, I feel like we put a lot of thought effort and time into something beautiful that can last the holiday season

Mr. Earle said while his students are growing plants they are also growing their minds and growing their confidence.

We want kids to understand gain a good work ethic a positive work ethic and understand what can be gained with hard work. We want to teach kids responsibility.

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Sales go through the week before Christmas or as long as the plants last. Mr. Earle said this crop of plants and kids are A+.

He said he will judge the success of this program by the students and not just by the plants they have grown.

My biggest sense of satisfaction is when an employer or college calls me and says you sent us a great one.

All the money from the sales goes back to the schools agriculture program.

Hillcrest High School also has a very popular plant sale in the spring.

For more information on the poinsettia plant sales and hours, 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  The Holyoke Saint Patricks Parade Committee held its annual toy collection for children in need during the holiday season.

Holyoke police, DEA seize drugs, weapons in Lyman Street raid

The Parade Committee is partnered with the Holyoke Police Department to give back to the community, by bringing joy to local homeless shelters.

The Department then teams up with Santa to help make special deliveries to bring smiles and joy to children on Christmas Day. 22News had a chance to speak with organizers about this good cause.

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Committee President John Beauliey told 22News, Collecting for the Holyoke Police Department, so they can bring them out on Christmas Day. Its an ongoing tradition we have here.

We have several hundred children that we will deliver these toys to on Christmas day, says Detective Brach with Holyoke Police. Santa comes and we go out on Christmas morning to deliver these toys to kids.

For those interested in donating, you can contact Detective Brach {BRACK} with the Holyoke Police Department at 413-322-6950. Collection for toys will run up until Christmas Eve.

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.

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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.
PRAGUE, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic will continue protecting Slovakia's airspace in 2025, according to a declaration signed on Wednesday by the defense ministers of the two countries.

Under the agreement, the Czech Republic will provide fighter aircraft and crews, ready to respond promptly to any airspace violations in Slovakia. Slovakia, in turn, will provide support such as refueling services, air navigation, and asset protection if needed, the Czech Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The Czech Republic has been involved in safeguarding Slovak skies alongside Poland since September 2022, following Slovakia's decision to retire its MiG-29 fighter aircraft earlier than planned. In July 2023, Hungary joined the joint effort to protect Slovak airspace, formalized in a Visegrad Group (V4) declaration, which is valid until the end of 2024, according to the statement.

The V4 comprises the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.

The declaration also affirms Slovakia's willingness to reciprocate by helping protect Czech airspace in the future if necessary, the ministry added. 
MARSHALL, TX. (KTAL/KMSS)  Early Monday morning, on December 9th, Senior Pastor David Luckert received alarms that something was wrong at the Marshall First Methodist Church.

Smoke was identified, and Pastor Luckert watched the church being engulfed in flames, describing it as the unimaginable.

According to Chief David Rainwater with the Marshall Fire Department, a fire alarm call came around 1:15 am on Monday, December 9th.

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It quickly became a defensive operation, and crews worked on that- were still actively working on that. Were mopping up hotspots on the fire but approximately, 15 hours worth of firefighting before the fire was actually under control, said Chief Rainwater.

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The pastor says this came as a shock especially after a regular, routine service on Sunday, the day before the fire.

Were in the second Sunday of advent getting ready for Christmas time and decorating the church and you know Christmas Eve is always the big deal at a lot of these kind of churches, and just that Christmas Eve service with candlelight everybody looks forward to it, its just a beautiful setting especially in a beautiful, historic sanctuary, said Pastor Luckert.

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According to their website, the building, was built in 1861, has been in the Marshall community for 163 years.

(Courtesy of Sen. Bryan Hughes) Marshall First Methodist Church - December fire destroys church- Texas (KTAL KMSS Myriam Samake) (1) Marshall First Methodist Church - December fire destroys church- Texas Marshall First Methodist Church - December fire destroys church- Texas

This is a big loss. This is our home. Its our church home. Ive been here for just a few years, but its quickly my home and my wife. A lot of people have been here for- we have 6th and 7th generation members here at this church and so its really a home. Its a part of Marshalls history too, though, said Pastor Luckert.

A history that may be burned to ashes, but the most important part remains for the pastor.

Olympic gold medalist opens Wonderland of Lights

The memories are there, the baptisms that were in there, the weddings that were in their, the funerals that were in there, the worship ceremonies that were in there, the lives that have been touched, the youth ministry there, the childrens ministry there, the adult ministries there, I mean so many things have happened, tens of thousands of people, said Luckert.

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Marshall Fire Department says it could be weeks before a cause is found. The fire could potentially still be active, so crews are working to ensure the building does not reignite.

Were using technology that were utilizing from our neighbors and resources, infrared technology where we can see hotspots with drones, and thats been very helpful for us, we appreciate the county specifically helping us out with that intel so that we can actually target where we need to go, said Chief Rainwater.

The firefighting was challenging due to the structural collapse, but no injuries were reported, and the building was occupied during the fire.

In the meantime, the church has already found a place to worship: First Baptist Church, just a few blocks away from the Methodist Church.

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We move forward with hope, which is one of our advent Christmas themes, is we believe in a God of great hope, and he gives us that hope, and we believe in resurrection and so we know that while this is a part of our past and our history, we have a great future ahead of us too, said Pastor Luckert.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Some residents in South-Central El Paso are concerned about a makeshift homeless camp.

The homeless camp is at Myrtle Avenue and Noble Street on an abandoned lot.

One resident, who lives near the encampment, said the issue has been going on for a few months.

They are always asking for money. Im scared in the morning when I go to work, that theyre going jump me or try to steal my car or something. So it just its really bad, said the resident who didnt want to give his name.

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Laura Cruz-Acosta, a spokesperson for the City of El Paso, said that they are aware of the camp and have been receiving reports about it.

Well go and send our streets outreach team and the streets outreach team will visit with the individuals who are experiencing homelessness and have a conversation with them in order to provide any kind of assistance, whether it be shelter, whether it be food, any kind of information that theyre looking for, Cruz-Acosta said.

Cruz-Acosta said that the property, which is now primarily occupied by tents, once had home that caught fire in 2022 and then it was demolished. Because its private property, she said that makes dealing with the issue a little more complicated.

It is private property. Its not the Citys property. And so we cannot just enter the facility without acknowledgment by the property owner. We have to go through a specific process, she said.

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The City confirmed that they removed the encampment last week. However, when KTSM was out there on Tuesday, Dec. 10, there were tents on that property again.

Cruz-Acosta encourages the community to visit El Paso Helps to learn more about the available resources that are available to help people dealing with homelessness and other crisis.

The Opportunity Center for the Homeless works closely with the City through the Citys El Paso Helps initiative.

One of the options were exploring right now with the City is the use of the alley, which is going to be between Magoffin, Myrtle, Brown and Noble, because what we would like to do is provide a safe environment for our people. And that way we can encourage more to come in. And so what were asking for is not to vacate the alley, but to be able to secure the alley, said John Martin, deputy director for the Opportunity Center for the Homeless.

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Also as of Friday, the encampment on the privately owned lot on Myrtle and Noble has been clean up.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus, 705 Virginia Ave. , is open every night regardless of the temperature until March 1. It has 130 beds for men (Mili Mansaray/The Beacon).

For Kansas City residents living on the street, the prospect of escaping subfreezing temperatures hinges on the availability of a shelter bed.

When temperatures drop to 32 degrees, the human body is at risk of hypothermia. Frostbite can set in within 30 minutes without proper protection when air temperatures fall below 5 degrees and in just 15 minutes when the windchill approaches 25 degrees below zero.

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Cold-weather shelters opened hundreds of beds on Dec. 1. But that falls short of the estimated need for shelter for at least 2,215 homeless people across the Kansas City area.

Last year, there were a total of 1,986 homeless people in the region, according to the annual homeless survey. The number of unsheltered people in Jackson County rose from 669 in 2023 to 724 in 2024. Wyandotte County saw a rise from 122 unsheltered people in 2023 to 152 in 2024.

We could use up all 500 beds just on single adult chronically homeless men, said Josh Henges, Kansas Citys homeless prevention coordinator.

Henges said the homeless population is diverse with distinct needs across different demographics. For example, he said homeless youth, women and older or sick people are less likely to stay in predominantly male shelters.

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As a result, the cold-weather strategy focuses on providing a variety of shelter options.

The number of beds is less important than the type of beds that they are, he said.

Four hundred beds are available under this years cold-weather shelter plan, with an additional 100 beds available on nights when temperatures drop to zero degrees or below.

Cold-weather shelter will be available until March 1, Henges said. Each day, the number of available beds is determined by 8 a.m. based on the forecast for that evening.

The goal of the extreme-weather plan is to be repeatable and streamline the coordination among service providers. It is part of Zero KC, the citys plan to end homelessness. It costs Kansas City at least $1.5 million to get the cold-weather strategy up and running, according to a city Office of Unhoused Solutions spokesperson. Thats a slight increase from the $1.3 million spent last year on cold-weather homeless shelters.

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Last winter, the strategy created space for 450 people to escape the cold. That has increased to 500 beds in 2024.

Five shelters will be open every night regardless of temperature, providing 270 beds:

Two shelters will be open only when it is 32 degrees and below, or with a windchill of 25 degrees or lower. Both sites are referral-only.

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The Shelter KC Mens Center , 1520 Cherry St., will add an extra 20 beds for cold weather.

The City Union Mission Mens Shelter, 1108 E. 10th St., will set aside an extra 20 beds for cold weather. Guests wont be required to participate in shelter programming to access these beds.

A Turning Point, at 1900 N.E. Englewood Road in Gladstone, will add 50 all-gender beds when temperatures reach 25 degrees and below, with a windchill of 15 degrees or lower. That site is referral-only.

A cold-weather shelter is being planned for Wyandotte County but it wont open for several weeks, said Rob Santel, director of programs at Cross-Lines Community Outreach.

In the meantime, Project 1020, at 9400 Pflumm Road in Lenexa, operates daily from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. through March 31.

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Service providers across the metro will coordinate to add up to 100 beds if temperatures reach zero degrees and zero degrees windchill.

This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
MISSOURI  Homeschooling in Missouri has nearly doubled since the pandemic, and it seems more parents are keeping their children at home for school as these rates have not shifted back to prepandemic levels, according to a new Saint Louis University report.

There are 61,000 school-aged children in Missouri currently homeschooled, which is equal to the number of students enrolled in both the St. Louis and Kansas City public school districts combined, according to the Saint Louis University Prime Center.

The report states that with over 6.% of children now homeschooled, this percentage is nearly double the 3% of students attending school from home pre-pandemic.

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Despite Missouri being one of 29 states that does not require homeschooling to be reported, the Saint Louis University Prime Center utilized publicly available data to estimate current statistics of homeschooled students throughout the state.

The study utilized data from the U.S. Census Bureau, CDC live birth numbers, and polling parents in order to find an estimated number of homeschoolers.

There are four reasons parents may be keeping their children at home for schooling, according to Collin Hitt, executive director of the SLU Prime Center.

St. Louis Public Schools release key findings from internal audit

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One is that during the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of Missouri families experienced homeschool or online learning for the first time, and some decided that it worked for them and they stuck with it, Hitt said.

Additionally, Hitt said homeschool became more logistically feasible after the world of working remotely became more accessible in the modern working world.

As homeschooling continues to become more common, the more families are willing to try keeping their child at home for school.

Lastly, Hitt said after the pandemic some families possibly considered home to be a more stable or predictable environment for learning based on various ever-changing elements in schools like test scores and teacher turnover rates.

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All four of those things are really new over the last five years, Hitt said. Maybe we shouldnt have ever expected these numbers to bump back up to where they had been pre-pandemic.

In St. Louis alone, Hitt said despite dwindling enrollment in public schools, there isnt an increase in private school enrollment, leading to the reason that theres an increase in homeschooling in the St. Louis region.

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According to Hitt, total public school enrollment in St. Louis City and St. Louis County fell by 9,149 students between 2019 and 2023 across Saint Louis Public Schools, charter schools, and St. Louis County districts combined.

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Hitt said this implies a 7,605 or 24 percent increase in students attending non-public schools.

While we cant disentangle private school from homeschool students at the local level, we suspect most or all of this increase is being driven by a jump in homeschooling, Hitt 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 FOX 2.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW)  Millions of dollars from state lottery funds could be sent to families in need of private school tuition assistance under a plan championed by the powerful Senate Education Committee chairman.

Greg Hembree, R-North Myrtle Beach, said Tuesday hell pre-file a bill allowing lottery profits to cover scholarships for eligible students  replacing a taxpayer-backed trust fund system deemed unconstitutional by the states Supreme Court in September.

Hembree said shepherding the measure through Columbia and onto Gov. Henry McMasters desk is his top legislative priority.

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Why?

Ill be really clear about that. You got a couple thousand of students out there that are right in the middle of the school year, they have made that transition to an independent school and the majority opinion literally pulled the rug out from underneath them, Hembree said at a Tuesday subcommittee meeting. If we didnt get it right, we need to fix it and we need to fix it fast.

The Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program allows qualifying South Carolina parents to apply for a $6,000 scholarship to create a customized, flexible education for their child, according to the South Carolina Department of Education.

The money can be used for various educational expenses, including tuition and fees, textbooks and other instructional materials, tutoring services, computer hardware and other devices for educational needs, transportation, and more.

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Up to 5,000 scholarships are available for the 2024-2025 school year. That number will rise to 10,000 scholarships in the 2025-2026 school year and 15,000 scholarships in all subsequent years.

The ESTF was signed into law by McMaster in May 2023.

The Supreme Courts ruling removed a portion of the law which allowed payments for tuition and fees for an approved nonpublic online education service provider or course and stops the Department of Education from paying scholarship money for tuition and fees of nonpublic educational service providers.

Under Hembrees new proposal, the number of scholarships would remain the same  capping out at 15,000  but they would be larger. Amounts would be based on per-pupil funding from the prior academic year: About $8,000 based on 2024-25 state revenue projections.

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Officials said more than 2,600 students were enrolled in the trust fund before the Supreme Courts ruling.

To me, those children, and these are real families that are caught in this political, legal Columbia problem, theyre the ones that are paying the price for all of this, Hembree said.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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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.
Staff at a hospital in the Gaza Strip say more than 20 people have been killed in an Israeli attack in the north of the territory.

Palestinian witnesses reported that a four-storey residential building in Beit Lahia near the Kamal Adwan Hospital had been hit. On Wednesday morning the hospital reported that 21 bodies had been recovered, with more suspected to still be under the rubble.

The Israeli army did not initially comment. The military is fighting the Islamist group Hamas, which triggered the Gaza war with its attack on October 7, 2023.

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The Palestinian authorities in Gaza say more than 44,700 people have been killed in the territory since then. No distinction is made in these figures between civilians and fighters.

The Israeli army says Hamas is currently trying to reorganize in the northern and central sections of the Gaza Strip.
Rachel Hurt pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges that resulted in her classification as a sex offender which is complicating efforts to find a suitable place for her to live. (Kentucky State Police photo)

A Kentucky woman with severe mental illness and intellectual disabilities may soon be released from a prison cell where she has been held in isolation for the past year.

State officials and advocates involved in the case are working to admit Rachel Hurt, 35, to a psychiatric hospital following a hearing last week in Franklin Circuit Court where a judge directed them to find a better placement.

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I just want to explore what the options are and how we can best get Ms. Hurt into an appropriate program, Judge Phillip Shepherd told the parties gathered in his courtroom Dec. 6.

Hurt literally falls between the bureaucratic cracks, Shepherd wrote in a previous order.

The Kentucky Lantern reported Dec. 5 that Hurt, who has bipolar disorder, a brain injury and an IQ of 67, has been held at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women since 2020 for a parole violation over an assault conviction.

Her violation? She failed to follow conditions of her parole by not maintaining a place to live and becoming homeless, conditions the judge found Hurt lacks the capacity to understand, much less comply with.

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A psychologists evaluation in July 2024 found Hurt lacks the capacity to appreciate the nature of the proceedings against heror to participate rationally in her own defense.

For the past year, Hurt has been held in isolation at the Shelby County prison because of her threats of self-harm, according to court records.

But her lawyer, public defender Bailey Brown, and her state guardian, Zachary Blasko, are working to get Hurt placed in a psychiatric hospital to stabilize her mental health, under the agreement reached with the judge.

Brown, who visited Hurt in prison last week, told the judge Hurt is willing to accept treatment at a psychiatric hospital.

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She is acutely aware she is not stable right now, Brown said.

Following treatment at the hospital, officials said they will work to find a suitable placement for Hurt.

Shepherd said lining up a future placement is important because Hurt is scheduled to be released from prison in April 2025. Officials need to get her into the right setting for treatment instead of being thrown out on the street, he said.

Blake Vogt, a lawyer for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Kentuckys human services agency, said Hurt has been placed on a waiting list for its Supports for Community Living, in which individuals live in group settings with supervision.

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One complication: Hurt is now listed as a sex offender for her assault conviction in 2020 for grabbing a caregivers breast and genital area and making sexual threats. That plus her history of outbursts and aggressive behavior have made it hard to find a program that will accept her, officials said.

Mental health advocates have said that while Kentucky jails and prisons too often are the default option for people with mental illness, Hurts combination of issues is a particularly difficult case.

We cannot make someone accept her, Vogt told the judge

Also involved in the case are the state Parole Board, the Corrections Department and Protection and Advocacy, or P&A, an independent watchdog agency that defends the rights of persons with disabilities.

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Heidi Schissler Lanham, P&A legal director, attended last weeks hearing and said her agency will continue to look out for Hurts welfare.

The immediate goal is to get Hurt out of prison and into psychiatric treatment, Lanham said.

She said she wants out and she wants treatment, Lanham said. We want what she wants.

One option after Hurts release from a psychiatric hospital is Oakwood, a state facility in Somerset where residents live in cottages under supervision on a campus-like setting, Lanham said.

Its not clear on how soon Hurt could be released from prison.

Shepherd, in an order filed Monday, directed her lawyer and state guardian to file court papers by Dec. 11 to begin the legal process to have Hurt evaluated and moved to a psychiatric facility.

Brown, her lawyer noted at last weeks hearing that Hurt has spent nearly four years in prison.

At this point, we just need to find somewhere for her to go, Brown said.
A group of House Democrats Tuesday called for action from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, days after CBS News published an investigation which found dozens of law enforcement officials illegally sold firearms, even weapons of war, across 23 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California, who serves on both the House Oversight Committee and on the Homeland Security Committee, wrote to ATF Director Steven Dettelbach stating his "grave concerns" over the report that certain law enforcement officers were "exploiting their positions to acquire and illegally distribute firearms."

Garcia, joined in his letter by Rep. Dan Goldman of New York and Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida, asked the ATF to address a series of questions by Jan. 15, 2025, on serious systemic vulnerabilities exposed by the CBS News investigation.

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"Reporting suggests that there may be serious systemic vulnerabilities in current machine gun and sawed-off shotgun and rifle regulations and enforcement mechanisms, jeopardizing public safety by enabling the proliferation of dangerous weapons, often into the hands of international traffickers and organized crime groups," they wrote.

The congressmen noted in the letter that, according to the most recently available ATF data between 2017 and 2021, nearly 26,000 guns were traced from American crime scenes back to a government agency, law enforcement, or the military. While some firearms might have been lost due to negligence, thousands of firearms reported missing by law enforcement agencies were later discovered to have been improperly sold or traded, the letter said.

The CBS News investigation uncovered at least 50 cases of police illegally selling their weapons online, through dealers, out of their homes, or the back of their cars  in many cases at steep markups.

The congressmen cited the troubling case of Bradley Wendt  a former police chief for Adair, Iowa, who was convicted earlier this year on federal charges related to obtaining military-grade firearms under false pretenses  as an example of a broader pattern among law enforcement. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

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Wendt at times earned more than a 90% profit margin, CBS News found in court records.

Local U.S. law enforcement agencies need to obtain permission from the ATF to get access to high-powered weapons such as battlefield weapons, including machine guns, used by U.S. and NATO forces in conflict zones. The CBS News investigation found the bureau typically does not vet the appropriateness of the machine gun applications for a department or track where the weapons end up. And even though the law has been on the books for more than three decades, the bureau only started vetting every application in 2023.

The lawmakers highlighted their concern that there was no comprehensive vetting process from the ATF to ensure requests from law enforcement for high-powered weaponry were legitimate.

"We are deeply concerned that the absence of rigorous oversight and follow-up audits has allowed individuals to exploit these loopholes and bypass federal law," the congressmen wrote.

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WASHINGTON  House Republicans have tucked a provision into a must-pass defense bill that would strip health care from military families transgender kids, putting parents in a position of having to choose between their careers in the military and providing medically necessary health care for their loved ones.

The language slipped into the National Defense Authorization Act, which the House is voting on later this week, is buried on page 399 of the 1,813-page bill. Republicans added it at the last minute, after Democrats had worked with them to help craft the legislation.

Its just one sentence: Medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.

House Republicans tucked a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that would strip health care coverage for military families' trans kids. The House Rules Committee

The GOP has been relentlessly campaigning on restricting trans rights  Republican candidates spent a whopping $215 million on ads vilifying transgender people in this election cycle  and theyve now found a way to tie trans issues to legislation that authorizes federal spending for the military.

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that hes proud of the NDAA bill and specifically pointed to its provision that blocks TRICARE, the militarys health care program, from covering the costs of gender-affirming health care forservicemembers kids.

We banned TRICARE from prescribing treatments that would ultimately sterilize our kids, he told reporters at a press conference.

Johnsons claim and the bills language are misleading. Young children who receive gender-affirming care are not being sterilized. The procedures that Republicans have often pointed to when talking about trans health care surgeries performed on a patients genitals  are, as a rule, only done on consenting adults and are only done after consultations with medical professionals.

The kind of gender-affirming care trans kids who havent hit puberty yet typically get is mental health support and guidance for social transitioning. Once a kid hits adolescence, they may begin to take puberty blockers, medicine that delays the changes of puberty. This doesnt cause permanent physical changes; when someone stops taking puberty blockers, their natural puberty resumes.

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Older trans children and teens may add in sex hormones like estrogen or testosterone. There are possible long-term effects on fertility if they remain on these hormones long-term, depending on when they began hormone replacement therapy. The patient, the patients family and their doctors ultimately decide whether to proceed with, pause or forgo any of these interventions; many trans people opt not to pursue hormones or surgery.

Johnson said Tuesday he expects a large vote on the NDAA this week. Hes essentially daring Democrats and any Republicans to oppose the legislation, which authorizesmore than $883 billion in defense spending priorities through Sept. 2025.

Nearly 300 pro-LGBTQ rights organizations wrote to House lawmakers on Monday, urging them to oppose the NDAA over its anti-trans language.

Preventing thousands of family members from obtaining medically necessary care is a betrayal of the promise to our military families and an unnecessary threat to our national security, reads the letter from the groups, including Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal and Physicians for Reproductive Health. This care for the treatment of gender dysphoria, often referred to as gender-affirming care, isnt special or experimental health care  it is ordinary health care supported by medical science and managed by physicians.

The House spent part of Tuesday discussing and then voting on a procedural step to begin debate on the NDAA. This rule narrowly passed, 211-207. Every Democrat present voted against it and every Republican present voted for it. Thirteen people missed the vote.

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Shortly afterward, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, urged all Democrats to oppose the bill later this week.

For a party whose members constantly decry big government, nothing is more hypocritical than hijacking the NDAA to override servicemembers decisions, in consultation with medical professionals and their children, about what medical care is best for their transgender kids, Pocan said in a statement.

Democrats seem poised to hold the line. Even Washington Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee who helped craft the bill before the GOP slipped in the anti-trans rider, said hell oppose it now.

The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need, Smith said in a statement. For that reason, I will oppose final passage of the FY25 NDAA in its current form.

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During Tuesdays debate on the House floor, some Democrats took the opportunity to rip the anti-trans provision. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) pointed out the U.S. military is already struggling with recruitment and retention, and stripping peoples kids access to health care will only make it worse.

The evidence is clear: Gender-affirming care of various types is life-changing and life-saving for the children who need it, Scanlon said. Our soldiers need to be able to focus on their missions, not [worry] whether their children are able to get medical treatment they need.

But Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), who supports the anti-trans provision, said Democrats upset about it are just looking for a reason to oppose the NDAA. He argued the merits of blocking trans kids health care should be self-evident.

Were talking about children under the age of 18, and we are saying were not going to allow a surgical procedure on them that could lead or result in sterilization, said the Georgia Republican. I dont understand why were even having this discussion.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says he's "proud" of the GOP's National Defense Authorization Act that includes a provision stripping military families' trans kids of their health care coverage. Andrew Harnik via Getty Images

Scotts comments suggest he doesnt understand how transgender health care works. A July 2024 study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers underscores what he may not realize: Almost no trans teens get gender-affirming surgery, let alone genital surgery.

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Specifically, this study found no instances of gender-affirming surgeries in youth under the age of 15, and for teens aged 15 to 17 and adults aged 18 and older, the rate was 2.1 per 100,000 people and 5.3 per 100,000 people, respectively. The majority of these were also chest surgeries, not genital surgeries, and would not sterilize the patient.

Its not clear how many transgender kids are enrolled in TRICARE or relying on coverage for gender-affirming care. One analysis in 2022 found that 2,500 minors sought care for gender dysphoria through TRICARE in 2017, and 900 received puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones.

Scott also may not realize  or care  that the NDAA provision still allows TRICARE to cover all kinds of gender-affirming treatments for cisgender kids under the age of 18.

This might include breast reduction surgery for cisgender men with gynecomastia, a noncancerous condition that causes enlargedbreast tissue in men. It could also include hormone treatments for cisgender women with polycystic ovary syndrome, which causes higher levels of testosterone and extra hair growth.

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Theres a chance, albeit a small one, that Democrats could force Republican leaders to strip the anti-trans provision from the bill.

Given the House GOPs razor-thin majority, Democrats could find just enough Republicans to join them in rejecting the NDAA. Some of the more fiscally conservative GOP members may not be happy with the bills large price tag and may be willing to oppose it over that.

The math in the House could also get scrambled. Of the 13 lawmakers who missed Tuesdays very close vote, four were Democrats and nine were Republicans. Its possible that more Democrats will come back and some GOP members wont, or others wont present for the final vote.

The House is likely to vote on the NDAA bill on Wednesday or Thursday.

Related...
The House passed an $895 billion defense policy bill on Wednesday despite considerable opposition from Democrats over language restricting gender affirming medical care for transgender children.

Most Democrats voted against the National Defense Authorization Act, which outlines Pentagon policy for the year. The bill passed with a 281-140 bipartisan vote but lawmakers in both parties said it would have likely sailed through without the culture war issue.

Big Brother, big government attacks like those just dont belong in this bill, said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), who chairs the House Equality Caucus. He argued Republican leadership prioritized right-wing extremist dogma over national defense."

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The hang up in the bill  which took months of negotiations between parties  centers on a provision that would prohibit the militarys Tricare health system from covering gender dysphoria treatments that could result in sterilization for children under 18. Democrats have accused Speaker Mike Johnson, who pushed for the provision, of trying to shore up conservative support so he could keep his gavel next year.

Supporters of the provision argue that financing medical care for transgender people is a distraction from the militarys main mission of fighting wars. The measure is opposed by dozens of LGBTQ+ and other advocacy groups. They argue it would remove potentially life-saving treatment for transgender youth and force troops with transgender children to leave the service.

Ranking House Armed Services Democrat Adam Smith called the measure bigoted against the trans community and said it would undermine an otherwise bipartisan bill.

The medical profession has no dispute that in some instances, this treatment is crucial to the health and well-being of our children, he said. And we are now denying that to the children of servicemembers.

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House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) also expressed dismay at the inclusion of the provision, arguing that President-elect Donald Trump could simply reverse it, and many other personnel policies, when he returns to the White House.

"We would have 375, 380 votes but for that one provision, which is irrelevant after January 20, Rogers told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the vote.

The agreement now heads to the Senate, which is expected to vote next week. While some Democratic senators may be swayed by the transgender health care issue, the bill is still likely to pass.

The defense bill is one of the few major pieces of legislation to reliably pass each year, and some Democrats were hard-pressed to oppose it The legislation includes an expansion of pay and benefits, including a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted troops on top of a 4.5 percent pay raise across the rest of the military.

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Despite the partisan split, the compromise bill drops many of the conservative-backed culture war issues included in an earlier version Republicans muscled through the House in June, largely along party lines.

Negotiators dropped the most hotly contested provisions, such as proposals to roll back the Pentagons policy to reimburse costs for troops who travel to obtain abortions, bar the Defense Department from providing gender affirming care for transgender troops and gutting the agency's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

The agreement does include provisions that ban the Pentagon from endorsing critical race theory in any DOD-run academic institutions and military training. The bill also includes a yearlong hiring freeze for diversity, equity and inclusion-related positions in the Pentagon, reupping a provision enacted last year.

Wednesdays vote saw 81 Democrats join with Republicans to pass the legislation, while 16 Republicans broke ranks to oppose it.

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The bill sticks to the cap on national defense spending that lawmakers set under last years debt limit deal  and equal to the amount President Joe Biden requested in his final budget. It authorizes $850 billion for the base Pentagon budget and a further $33.5 billion for nuclear weapons programs under the Energy Department. Another $11.6 billion within that cap goes to defense activities in other agencies, for a total of $895 billion.

Negotiators ultimately shelved a proposed $25 billion increase to the bills price tag pushed by Senate Armed Services Committee ranking Republican Roger Wicker. But the legislation only authorizes Pentagon spending, and an appropriations bill must still pass to fund the military for the full 2025 fiscal year. Lawmakers could work to hike the Pentagon budget when they finalize a full-year defense spending bill in the coming months.

The bill also authorizes Pentagon programs, including ships and aircraft. The deal authorizes a second Virginia-class attack submarine, an area of bipartisan agreement on both House and Senate Armed Services. Lawmakers also agreed to authorize a third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, up from the Navys request for two of the ships. And they slashed a proposed $1.2 billion for the delayed Constellation-class frigate, leaving just $50 million for the program.

Lawmakers gave a green light to a Biden administration plan to transfer Air National Guard units that perform space missions into the Space Force without the permission of governors, despite opposition from all 50 state governors and Guard officials.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and humanitarian partners on Wednesday launched a 4.1-billion-U.S.-dollar flash appeal for 2025 to aid 3.3 million Palestinian people.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said almost 90 percent of the funds needed are for the humanitarian response in Gaza, with the remaining sought for the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

"The speed and scale of the killing and destruction are unlike anything seen in the (Gaza) Strip in recent history," OCHA said. "This latest appeal targets the entire population of Gaza -- some 2.1 million people -- all of whom need humanitarian assistance after 14 months of brutal hostilities."

However, humanitarians said more than the 4.1 billion dollars sought is needed. A full-scale humanitarian response would require 6.6 billion dollars.

The flash appeal reflects the expectation that aid organizations will continue to face unacceptable constraints on their operations in 2025, severely limiting the amount that humanitarians can provide.

OCHA said Israel must take immediate and effective measures to ensure that the essential needs of civilians are met to implement the full scale of what is urgently needed, including lifting all impediments to aid and fully facilitating humanitarian operations, including the distribution of essential goods to Palestinians in need.

The humanitarians said Israeli authorities issued another evacuation order for several parts of Deir al Balah governorate in Gaza, the third time this year the population was ordered to move.

"The affected area covers an estimated 3 square kilometers and hosts about 10,000 people, according to an initial assessment by humanitarian partners," OCHA said. "Part of the area under evacuation falls within the Al Mawasi zone, where Israeli forces have been ordering civilians to relocate."

Israeli large-scale evacuation orders leave civilians exposed to hostilities and deprived of access to essential services.

The office said its partners report some families moving west. They are closely following the situation and attending to the needs of the newly displaced with the limited resources available. 
WASHINGTON (WHNT)  The House of Representatives passed Representative Dale Strongs legislation, the Strategic Homeland Intelligence and Enforcement Legislation to Defend (SHIELD) Against CCP Act, by a vote of 409  4.

China is one of the biggest threats to our country, and they have taken every opportunity over the last 4 years to exploit Bidens open borders, Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL) said. This bill will ensure DHS has a dedicated team working to combat this threat head-on. After a long four years, its time to make America safer. Im excited to get this bill through to better protect the American people,.

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According to a news release from Strongs office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows that apprehensions of Chinese foreign nationals nationwide have now surpassed 64,000 since the Biden-Harris Administration took office.

Strong said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has previously acknowledged that certain Chinese nationals exploit our lawful immigration and travel systems to collect intelligence, steal intellectual property, and harass dissidents.

The release said this legislation would establish a dedicated Department of Homeland Security working group to counter such threats and, specifically, would require the group to examine, assess and report on the spectrum of nontraditional tactics employed by the government of China and the efforts of DHS to counter these activities.

Strong said the Chinese Communist Party continues to threaten U.S. homeland security which he blames on the Biden-Harris Administrations border policies.

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Man charged for shooting girlfriends father in Huntsville

From the CCP surveillance balloon that spied on sensitive homeland defense sites in February 2023, to the illegal Chinese police stations operating throughout the United States, as in New York, Strong said the CCP has been emboldened by soft-on-China policies.

During a March 9, 2023, House Committee on Homeland Security hearing, Strong said national security experts testified on the CCPs efforts to circumvent U.S. homeland security.

Specifically, Strong said witnesses highlighted CCPs exploitation of American universities, its theft of intellectual property and technology, risks to economic supply chain security, the threat it poses to critical infrastructure and its surveillance activities across the U.S. homeland.

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Strong said it is estimated that the Peoples Republic of Chinas theft of U.S. intellectual property extends to the billions, amounting to approximately $4,000 to $6,000 per American family of four after paying taxes.

Top government agencies, according to Strong, contextualize the counterintelligence and economic espionage activities of the government of China as a grave threat to the economic well-being and democratic values of the United States.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Republican House members lambasted Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan as the top US diplomat testified Wednesday in a long-delayed appearance before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

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More than three years after this administrations disastrous withdrawal, youre finally here to take responsibility, said Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, whose Republican-led committee has spent years critiquing the Biden administration over the Afghan withdrawal. This catastrophic event was the beginning of a failed foreign policy that lit the world on fire.

McCaul, whose committee issued a lengthy report on the withdrawal titled Willful Blindness, has spearheaded Republican efforts in Congress to use the pullout from Afghanistan in arguing that President Joe Bidens administration presided over a failed foreign policy.

Throughout this years US election campaign, Republicans blamed Bidens handling of Afghanistan for everything from Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine to the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip.

Blinken responded that Bidens foreign policy team was bound by a deal with the Taliban that was negotiated by then-president Donald Trump, pointing out several times that Afghanistan was Americas longest war.

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When President Biden took office, he inherited an agreement the previous administration reached with the Taliban to remove all US forces from Afghanistan by May 1st of 2021, Blinken testified. To the extent President Biden faced a choice, it was between ending the war or escalating it. Had he not followed through on his predecessors commitment, attacks on our forces and allies would have resumed and the Talibans assault on the countrys major cities would have commenced.

McCaul interrupted Blinken several times as he tried to respond, noting he had subpoenaed Blinken to appear before the committee twice, and that the hearing on Wednesday took place only after threats to hold Blinken in contempt of Congress.

Even though Trump signed a deal with the Taliban during his previous term that called for the removal of US forces, he has continued to cite its execution under Biden a disaster.

The committees ranking Democrat, Gregory Meeks of New York, said the Republican attacks on Blinken over Afghanistan were twisting the truth for partisan politics and that decisions about the war spanned multiple administrations, including Trumps first term.

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No one here has argued that our withdrawal was perfect, Meeks said. But we owe it to ourselves, and our military and diplomatic personnel on the front lines, to learn from it.

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Republican lawmakers are discussing a new possible sequence of major bills next year  a tax plan first, then a second bill that tackles other policies, Texas Rep. Beth Van Duyne told Semafors Elana Schor in an interview Wednesday.

Van Duyne spoke as her party remains in high-stakes talks over how to best enact President-elect Donald Trumps agenda next year given its small majorities in Congress. Senate Republicans have urged the quick passage of a border bill, followed by a tax bill later in the year, while some House Republicans have called for one bill encompassing all of their priorities.

Van Duyne alluded to discussions on Tuesday night that touched on the possibility of two bills, but their preference is to have the tax bill first and then followed by getting whatever we can.

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The concern is that youre going to run out of time, political capital, and actually willpower to get things done if theyre not done soon enough, Van Duyne said, pointing to March as a reasonable timetable to finish work on a tax bill.

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Van Duyne pointed to tax cuts as a way to drive economic growth, including reauthorizing President-elect Donald Trumps 2017 tax bill.

When businesses are given the ability to be able to take those and then be able to get the tax cuts on them, theyre going to invest more, and that will equal higher economic growth, which equals actually the government collecting more in taxes, Van Duyne said.

She said Republicans are also mulling whether to eliminate taxes on tips  as Trump had proposed on the campaign trail.

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Speaking about Trumps tariff proposals, Van Duyne described them as a great negotiating tool to strike better trade deals with countries like China and Mexico, dismissing concerns that costs could be passed on to consumers.

These are the same critics who have applauded this previous administration for seeing 20% increase in inflation, where everybodys gotten nailed in their pocketbooks, she said.

On Trumps proposed mass deportations, the Texas congresswoman talked about the upside of partnering federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities with local police  a method she implemented while mayor of Irving, Texas.

Local law enforcement knows where the crime is, Van Duyne said, adding that it had proved more cost-effective than having ICE target migrants for deportation alone.
The House voted on Wednesday to pass a critical defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a ban against gender-affirming care for some transgender children that further inflamed the politics around the must-pass piece of legislation.

The legislation, which was the result of a bipartisan compromise, includes a provision that would prevent the militarys health program, TRICARE, from covering gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. The effort to prohibit these treatments to children has overshadowed some of the bipartisan provisions of the bill, including a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members. It also keeps the politically charged conversation of transgender health care on center stage, as it has been a prominent campaign issue throughout this election season.

Wednesdays vote was 281 to 140 with 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voting against the legislation. The bill will next need to go to the Senate.

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Previous efforts to legalize a ban against gender-affirming care in the final version of the NDAA failed.

Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, announced Tuesday that he would vote against the bill. Smith came out against the legislation after it passed a key procedural hurdle on Tuesday, even though he helped negotiate the deal.

Blanketly denying health care to people who need itjust because of a biased notion against transgender peopleis wrong, Smith said in a statement. The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need.

Smith criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for pandering to the most extreme elements of his party by including the provision.

House Armed Services Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Smith, a Washington state Democrat, listens during a House Rules Committee meeting in the US Capitol on June 11. - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images/File

Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, meanwhile touted this ban as part of Republicans broader effort to cut $31 billion in inefficient programs, obsolete weapons, and bloated Pentagon bureaucracy.

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We banned TRICARE from prescribing treatments that would ultimately sterilize our kids, and we gutted the DEI bureaucracy, Johnson said Tuesday.

Even some moderate Republicans say Democrats are on the wrong side of this issue, and argue these types of programs should be eliminated from the federal government.

Citizens dont want their tax dollars to go to this, and underaged people often regret these surgeries later in life, GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told CNN. Its a bad hill to die on for Democrats.

House Speaker Mike Johnson talks to reporters as he departs a news conference following a House Republican Conference Caucus meeting on Capitol Hill on December, 10, in Washington, DC. - Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Several studies have shown that most people who opt for gender-affirming care dont later regret their choices  including an October 2022 study in the Netherlands that found 98% of transgender youth who had started gender-affirming medical treatment in adolescence continued to use those hormones around five or six years later in adulthood. Among 3,306 UK Gender Identity Development Service patients included the Cass Review analysis, fewer than 10 patients detransitioned to their birth-registered gender.

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Gender-affirming health care for children has been a deeply polarizing issue, one Republican candidates ran on in this years election, and Democrats have acknowledged since the disappointing results in November that the party has work to do to establish its position on culture war issues.

Gender-affirming care is a multidisciplinary approach that includes medically necessary and scientific evidence-based practices to help a person safely transition from their assigned gender  the one a clinician assigned them at birth, based mostly on anatomic characteristics  to their affirmed gender  the gender by which the person wants to be known.

Depending on a persons age, such care can include mental health and support groups, legal help and sometimes medical help like hormones or surgery when a person is past puberty.

Some critics of the process suggest that children should wait until adulthood to transition, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says in its guidelines that this approach is outdated, in part because it assumes that gender identity becomes fixed at a certain age, and the approach is based on binary notions of gender in which gender diversity and fluidity is pathologized.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Jen Christensen contributed to this report.

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WASHINGTON  The House task force that investigated the assassination attempts against Donald Trump makes dozens of recommendations in the final report it published Tuesday, including that the Secret Service should record all radio transmissions and scale back protection of foreign leaders to focus on protecting the president and other top U.S. officials.

The 180-page report includes 25 recommendations specifically related to the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunmans bullet grazed Trumps ear at a campaign rally. It also includes 11 general recommendations for the Secret Service.

The Task Force found that the tragic and shocking events in Butler, Pennsylvania were preventable and should not have happened. There was not, however, a singular moment or decision that allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks to nearly assassinate the former President, the 13-member committee wrote. The various failures in planning, execution, and leadership on and before July 13, 2024, and the preexisting conditions that undermined the effectiveness of the human and material assets deployed that day, coalesced to create an environment in which the former President  and everyone at the campaign event  were exposed to grave danger."

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The task force, led by Chairman Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., praised how the Secret Service prevented a second attack on Trump later in the year in Florida: Conversely, the events that transpired on September 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida, demonstrated how properly executed protective measures can foil an attempted assassination.

Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., on July 13.

Among the recommendations, the bipartisan panel said the Secret Service should record all radio transmissions, which did not happen on July 13 in Butler. The absence of radio logs or recordings significantly limits the ability to reconstruct events for either investigative or evaluative purposes, the report says.

And the panel recommended that Congress, the Homeland Security Department and the U.S. Secret Service should consider the protective role the USSS plays for foreign leaders and consider whether such duties can be transferred or abrogated in order to focus on the USSSs primary duty: to protect the President and other critical U.S. leaders.

The task force also said the Secret Service should consider additional staffing or flexible posts for high pressure moments to allow it to adapt to evolving situations, provide more robust training for non-Secret Service personnel who are on site assisting it and develop and formalize a process to deal with Secret Service conflicts with the staffs of protectees.

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Over the course of our investigation, several members of the Secret Service expressed frustrations in negotiating with staff, regardless of political party or protectee, the report says.

The task force said it was given access to 18,000 documents and interviewed dozens of witnesses but added that the FBI provided it with access to only 81 out of more than 1,000 witness interview summaries.

The task force said it identified multiple decision points that, had they been handled differently, could have prevented gunman Thomas Crooks from firing eight shots at the Butler rally.

Failing to secure a high-risk area next to the rally venue  the American Glass Research (AGR) grounds and building complex  allowed Crooks to evade law enforcement officers, climb on the roof of the complex and open fire, the task force said.

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The Secret Service also did not give clear guidance to state and local partners about which entity was responsible for securing the area, the task force said. Concerns about a lack of manpower were raised but not properly addressed, the group said, and local sniper teams stationed on the AGR property believed they were responsible for watching the rally venue and the crowd, not the area outside the secured perimeter.

The failures that led to the tragic events of July 13 were not entirely isolated to the campaign event itself, or the days preceding it. Preexisting issues in leadership and training created an environment in which the specific failures identified above could occur, the task force wrote.

Secret Service personnel with little to no experience in advance planning roles were given significant responsibility, despite the July 13 event being held at a higher-risk outdoor venue with many line of sight issues, in addition to specific intelligence about a long-range threat, it said.

Further, some of the Secret Service agents in significant advance planning roles did not clearly understand the delineation of their responsibilities.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military.

The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 281-140 and will next move to the Senate, where lawmakers had sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows.

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Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term.

Lawmakers said service member pay has failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing.

No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted, said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. This bill goes a long way to fixing that.

The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nations borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed.

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Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions within the bill.

We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it, Wicker said.

House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs.

They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization.

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Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression.

These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives, Smith said. And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar servicemembers' children from having access to that.

Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted upon the ban and said the provision taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates.

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Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, and yet, here it is in this bill.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team was not telling Democrats how to vote on the bill.

There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well, Jeffries said.

The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration had requested about $10 billion.

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On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas.

The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Humanitarian aid to n orth Gaza, where Israel launched a ground offensive on Oct. 6, has largely been blocked for the past 66 days, the United Nations said Tuesday. That has left between 65,000 and 75,000 Palestinians without access to food, water, electricity or health care, according to the world body.

In the north, Israel has continued its siege on Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya with Palestinians living there largely denied aid, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, known as OCHA, said. Recently, it said, about 5,500 people were forcibly displaced from three schools in Beit Lahiya to Gaza City.

Adding to the food crisis, only four U.N.-supported bakeries are operating throughout the Gaza Strip, all of them in Gaza City, OCHA said.

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Sigrid Kaag, the senior U.N. humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters after briefing the U.N. Security Council behind closed doors Tuesday afternoon that civilians trying to survive in Gaza face an utterly devastating situation.

She pointed to the breakdown in law and order and looting that has exacerbated a very dire situation and left the U.N. and many aid organizations unable to deliver food and other humanitarian essentials to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in need.

Kaag said she and other U.N. officials keep repeatedly asking Israel for access for convoys to north Gaza and elsewhere, to allow in commercial goods, to reopen the Rafah crossing from Egypt in the south, and to approve dual-use items.

Israels U.N. Mission said it had no comment on Kaags remarks.

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The U.N. has established the logistics for an operation across Gaza, she said, but there is no substitute for political will that humanitarians dont possess.

Member states possess it, Kaag said. And this is what she urged Security Council members and keeps urging the broader international community to press for  the political will to address Gazas worsening humanitarian crisis.
By Felix Light

TBILISI (Reuters) - Seventy-five-year-old Marina Terishvili's teenage son Mamuka was shot dead at a nationalist rally in Georgia in 1992. Now her other son, Giorgi, has been arrested for his role in protests against perceived Russian influence in their homeland.

Seven police cars pulled up at her house in the capital Tbilisi on Friday and took Giorgi, a 52-year-old taxi driver, into custody, she said.

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He was placed in pre-trial detention for two months for "participating in group violence" according to a rights group and local media, and faces up to six years in prison if convicted, part of a broad crackdown on demonstrators who have clashed nightly with police for almost two weeks.

The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association rights group said he had not yet entered a plea and Marina Terishvili said she did not know why he had been detained.

"I can't deny that he went to the rallies, because he has a brother who died on Feb. 2, 1992, and he went there in honour of his soul," Marina said, adding that Giorgi could not tolerate the idea that his younger brother had died in vain.

Mamuka was 17 when he was killed during the brief civil war that followed Georgia's 1991 exit from the Soviet Union, which ended 200 years of rule by Russia.

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Giorgi is among more than 400 people who authorities and rights groups say have been arrested during protests against government moves to delay the South Caucasus country's longstanding bid to join the European Union.

Around 30 face criminal charges, mostly relating to allegations of "group violence" aimed at overthrowing the government. Among those jailed are two leaders of the country's pro-EU opposition.

Rights groups say the crackdown is without recent precedent in Georgia, a country that had been seen as among the most pro-Western and democratic of the Soviet Union's successor states.

FIREWORKS

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Some protesters have thrown fireworks and other projectiles at police, arguing that they are defending themselves against tear-gas and baton attacks. The interior ministry said on Monday that more than 150 police officers have been injured.

The Georgian Dream party, which officials say won elections in October the opposition says were tainted by fraud, provoked widespread anger in the country of 3.7 million when it announced last month that it was suspending EU accession talks until 2028.

Georgian Dream says it favours a pragmatic policy with Russia, which backs two regions which split from Georgia after it left the Soviet Union. The party says its aim is to safeguard peace amid the war in Ukraine, which has been shattered by Russian invading forces since early 2022.

Western countries have condemned the crackdown, and the EU's ambassador to Georgia said on Monday that it merits sanctions.

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Georgia's ombudsman Levan Ioseliani, an ex-opposition politician appointed by Georgian Dream, said on Tuesday that his office has visited 327 detainees, of whom 225 said they were mistreated and 157 had visible injuries.

Police reported finding fireworks and items for making petrol bombs at two opposition party headquarters. Both parties said the items had been planted.

At a briefing on Monday, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the parties' premises a "hotbed of violence" and said their attempt to seize power had failed.

MASKED MEN IN BLACK STAGE ATTACKS

Gangs of masked men in black have begun attacking opposition politicians, activists and some journalists in recent days.

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Opposition supporters refer to the gangs as "titushky", a Ukrainian word for thugs who attacked opponents of a pro-Russian government before that country's 2014 Maidan revolution which drove the president to flee to Moscow.

Two journalists from a pro-opposition television channel suffered visible head injuries in an attack on Dec. 7 captured in their live broadcast from a protest.

The same day, Koba Khabazi, a prominent member of the Coalition for Change opposition party, was left with extensive head injuries after being attacked inside the building that houses his party's headquarters.

CCTV footage obtained by Reuters shows around 15 black-clad men entering the building and confronting Khabazi, who they push down a staircase, before punching and kicking him in the head as he lies on the ground, motionless.

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Speaking to Reuters two days later, Khabazi, a 57-year-old former lawmaker, blamed the Georgian government for the attack.

"Of course, the government is behind this," said Khabazi, his head still swathed in bandages. "This government is built on violence."

Georgian authorities have said they are not involved in the attacks, and condemn them. Ruling party officials have suggested they are carried out by the opposition to frame Georgian Dream.

(Reporting by Felix Light; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's criticism of Orbans phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. In his response, Orban referred to his own "peace initiatives", which were supposedly rejected by the Ukrainian president.

Source: Orban on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Orban claimed that at the end of the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council, Budapest had made "new efforts for peace" in Ukraine.

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Quote from Orban: "We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange. Its sad that President Zelenskyy clearly rejected and ruled this out today. We did what we could!"

More details: Orban made no mention of whether he had proposed the initiative to Putin or what the Kremlin leader's response might have been, assuming the proposal was made at all.

At the end of the Hungarian EU Presidency, we made new efforts for peace. We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange. Its sad that President @ZelenskyyUa clearly rejected and ruled this out today. We did what we could! https://t.co/17f4tXJEsc  Orban Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) December 11, 2024

Background:

In the tweet Orban was commenting on, Zelenskyy said he hoped that at least Orban "wont call Assad in Moscow to listen to his hour-long lectures as well". The Ukrainian president noted that achieving genuine peace and guaranteed security requires America's determination, Europe's unity and the commitment of all partners to uphold the goals and principles of the UN Charter. He stressed that "no one should boost personal image at the expense of unity; everyone should focus on shared success".

Orban himself, commenting on his conversation with Putin, claimed that Hungary intends to use all "diplomatic means at its disposal to promote a ceasefire and peace" in Ukraine.

The Hungarian foreign minister said on Wednesday afternoon that during their hour-long discussion on Wednesday, Orban and Putin had discussed Hungary's energy security, the war in Ukraine, and events in Syria.

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Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has pledged to veto a proposal to impose EU sanctions on Georgian officials, for their crackdown on anti-government protests, the First Channel of Georgia reported on Dec. 10.

Speaking alongside Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili, Szijjarto criticized the EU and the international liberal elite and claimed that he is categorically against any sanctions towards Georgia.

"If the opposition had won the elections, Brussels would have been shouting loudly about democracy in Georgia. They would have said that democracy in Georgia has never been so strong, but the conservative party won the elections, and they are doing everything to deny and ignore the will of the citizens," Szijjarto said.

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The EU Foreign Affairs Council is set to discuss the situation on December 16, with a possibility of potential sanction introductions.

Tbilisi's ties with multiple European countries have steadily deteriorated since the pro-Russian Georgian Dream adopted a controversial "foreign agents" law in May. Tensions only mounted after Georgian Dream declared victory in the Oct. 26 parliamentary elections despite widespread accusations of a rigged vote.

The latest wave of protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party broke out two weeks ago, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the suspension of the South Caucasus' EU accession process until at least 2028.

Over 220 people have been arrested during the ensuing crackdown, with dozens reported injured as the Georgian police deployed tear gas and water cannons.

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Budapest is broadly seen as the most Moscow-friendly country within the EU and NATO, repeatedly obstructing aid to Kyiv and sanctions against Russia. Szijjarto has also repeatedly visited Russia throughout the full-scale war, a step that his European colleagues avoided.

Read also: Georgian PM announces new law banning face-coverings at protests

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People walk on a street in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Military Operations Administration announced Wednesday the lifting of a curfew in Damascus and surrounding areas, urging residents to return to work as the country grapples with the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's ouster. The announcement coincided with interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir's call for refugees to return home.

Al-Bashir, a former regional leader in northwestern Syria, was appointed Tuesday to head a transitional government until March 2025. His appointment follows a swift offensive by a militant alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which captured Damascus within 12 days after launching its offensive from northern Syria on Nov. 27. Assad has fled the country, ending five decades of his family's rule.

This photo taken on Dec. 8, 2024 shows rebel fighters in Damascus, Syria. (Str/Xinhua)

The new leadership, dominated by the Islamist HTS, has sought to reassure religious minorities and promise that the rights of all religious and ethnic groups will be guaranteed.

Meanwhile, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani pledged justice for "victims" of Assad's administration, saying that officials in Assad's government involved in torture would not be pardoned.

In the northeast, Kurdish-led forces announced a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on Wednesday with Turkish-backed militants in the strategic city of Manbij. Days of fierce clashes in the Arab-majority city erupted after HTS-led forces ousted the Assad government on Sunday. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition of U.S.-backed militias, reported that 218 combatants were killed in the fighting and pledged to withdraw from the area "as soon as possible."

U.S. Central Command confirmed on Tuesday that its chief, General Michael Kurilla, had visited U.S. bases in Syria and met with SDF partners.

A man takes selfies in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

Earlier this month, Turkish-backed forces captured the strategic northern enclave of Tal Rifaat from Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.

Ankara views the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the dominant force within the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei downplayed the impact of Assad's ouster on Tehran's regional influence, dismissing the notion that the weakening of Syria's role in the "resistance" against Israel would diminish Iran's power. Khamenei accused the United States, Israel, and an unnamed "neighboring country" of orchestrating Assad's downfall.

Qatar announced plans to reopen its embassy in Damascus, citing historical ties and a commitment to support Syria's reconstruction. The decision aligns with Qatar's efforts to channel humanitarian aid to the Syrian population through an established air bridge.

In July 2011, after the outbreak of the anti-government protests in Syria, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Syria and closed its embassy

The humanitarian situation remains dire, according to the United Nations. Hospitals are overwhelmed, food shortages persist, and displaced populations face widespread trauma. The price of bread in cities like Idlib and Aleppo has surged by 900 percent, and over 1 million people have been displaced since the start of the offensive spearheaded by HTS on Dec. 27.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported numerous minefields obstructing movement and aid delivery, with at least 52 identified in the past 10 days. 
CLAY COUNTY (KSNT)  State wildlife officials took action against several hunters who shot and killed migrating pelicans in a central Kansas wetlands area earlier this fall.

KSNT 27 News reached out to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) after its Game Wardens branch posted to social media on Sept. 17 that several American white pelicans were shot and killed at the Smith Bottom Wetland Area in Clay and Dickinson Counties. The birds, protected at the federal level, were killed during the Low Plains Teal season opener in Kansas.

The KDWP issued several citations to the hunters involved in the incident after getting tips from others who witnessed the shootings. Director of Law Enforcement at the KDWP Colonel Greg Kyser said situations like this are an unusual occurrence in Kansas.

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New Kansas hunting, fishing licenses proposed after lifetime license cut for older adults

Hunters do occasionally misidentify birds, particularly ducks, grebes, and coots, across the state, Kyser said. The incident at Smith Bottom was isolated and a more egregious violation but fortunately not common to that location.

(Photo Courtesy/KDWP)

American white pelicans are protected in both the U.S. and Canada under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This makes it illegal for people to take or possess any migratory bird unless they are given special permits by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

There are 1,106 bird species that are afforded protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Tom Bidrowski, KDWP migratory game bird specialist said. Over 483 bird species have been documented in Kansas, of which around 451 would be considered migratory birds.

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Shooting and killing migratory birds can come with heavy fines. Waterfowl hunters were warned last year by the KDWP to avoid harming endangered whooping cranes which is considered a federal offense punishable by a $100,000 fine.

Wild geese and ducks drop dead across Kansas, whats the cause?

Protecting migrating bird species is crucial as they play a vital role in ecosystem functions and have economic, intrinsic, and cultural value, Bidrowski said. KDWPs mission is to conserve and enhance Kansas wildlife and its habitats, ensuring current and future generations appreciate and enjoy these living resources and associated recreation.

For more information on what animals you can hunt for in Kansas, click here.

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For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Idaho health officials hope Magellans new preventive mental health care services will tamp down other care costs for the state. (Getty Images)

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is asking for another $108 million to pay Medicaid mental health contractors.

If approved by the Idaho Legislature, the supplemental budget request would let the state agency spend more money in its current fiscal year than lawmakers originally approved in 2024.

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In its request, Health and Welfare says the additional federal funds are needed to pay private companies, commonly called managed care organizations, for a post-pandemic surge in Medicaid mental health service use that wasnt initially factored into contracts.

Some of the requested funds would go to Optum, the company that previously ran the contract that Idaho already paid an extra $44 million for the higher care needs.

In July, Magellan of Idaho took over running Idaho Medicaids mental health benefits managed care contract.

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Magellans four-year contract for the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan was initially estimated to cost $1.2 billion  and is Idahos largest state government contract.

The states actual long-term costs could change. But health officials also hope Magellans new preventive mental health care services will tamp down other care costs.

We anticipate over the next couple of years that we should hopefully see those services help to decline the need for inpatient level of care, residential level of care, Idaho Medicaid and Behavioral Health Deputy Director Juliet Charron, at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, told the Idaho Capital Sun in an interview. Because ideally, we are serving someone with a more intensive community-based service that prevents them from ever getting to that crisis level of care.

When planning contract budget, Health and Welfare didnt predict demand surge

The $108,821,400 million that the state health agency requested as a supplemental award to its budget is all federal dollars, meant to be spent in Idahos current state fiscal year of 2025, which ends in July 2025.

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Idaho Medicaid is a health insurance aid program for people with low incomes, children, people with disabilities and pregnant mothers.

The Idaho Legislature approves how state government agencies can spend funds, including from the federal government.

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In early 2024, Idaho lawmakers set Health and Welfares budget  including for the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan contract that Magellan took over in July.

But in September 2023, when Health and Welfare formally requested the contracts budget, the agency didnt have full information to account for increased acuity and utilization of behavioral health services that would come, agency Director Alex Adams wrote in an Aug. 28 letter to the co-chairs of the Idaho Legislatures Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

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The forecast used then, Adams wrote, was based on consistent past trends.

But when actuaries re-ran the contract cost numbers in 2024, they saw Optum and Magellan were treating a population with more mental health needs than predicted.

If the Legislature doesnt approve the supplemental budget request for the contract, Idaho mental health providers could be left unpaid and Medicaid patients could have less access to mental health care and substance abuse treatment, Health and Welfares budget request says.

And the agency would not be compliant with federal requirements to reimburse our contractor based on actuarially sound capitation rates, the request says.

Agency will give lawmakers Medicaid budget options, director tells JFAC

Idaho already paid Optum $44 million extra. And the state is working on calculating a second payment in early 2025, Charron told the Sun.

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The supplemental budget request raises the contracts initial capitation rate projection from $284 million in state fiscal year 2025 to $510.3 million, Adams wrote to lawmakers.

But that rate would fall to about $498.6 million in fiscal year 2026, when Optum wouldnt be due for an extra payment.

Adams told legislative budget writers, in the August letter, that the agency plans to present the Legislature in January with a menu of options for the Medicaid budget.

While recognizing these options always have unintended consequences that must be considered, we want to provide information that allows for a robust legislative discussion of priorities, he wrote.

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In June, Adams, the governors former budget chief, became director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Idahos largest state government agency.

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Since then, hes announced  publicly and to lawmakers  interim budget cuts in two social service programs that the agency projected fiscal issues for. And hes pledged to work with lawmakers on long-term fixes.

Charron said thats part of the no surprises approach under Adams leadership.

Because they are our state policy makers and set the budget, we want to make sure that we are equipping them with all of the information that we have to make those really important decisions. And they are hard decisions, she said. Theyre not always the kind of decisions anybody wants to have to make.

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IBHP Letter to Lawmakers (1)
A Florida IHOP working who was fired for feeding a homeless man has been offered her job back, according to local reports.

Victoria Hughes worked at a Lakeland, Florida, IHOP since 2013, but that all changed after a chance encounter on November 24.

According to WFLA, a homeless man visited the IHOP that day and said he was hungry. Hughes felt sympathy for the man and brought him a small stack of pancakes and a water.

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She informed her manager that shed given the man a meal, but was surprised to see that it upset him.

He told me the reason behind him being upset [was] because it could cause a loitering issueor a safety issue for customers, Hughes told WFLA.

Victoria Hughes was fired from her job at a Lakeland, Florida IHOP in November, 2024, after she fed a homeless man who asked her for food. IHOP later offered her the job back (screengrab/GoFundMe)

Later on in the day the man returned with a family who also bought him food.

Then, two days later, Hughes received a phone call from her manager. She was being fired.

When asked, her manager blamed company policy for the decision.

In a statement to USA TODAY, franchisee Dan Enea said that the company invetigated the situation and integrated a new training program for its employees to address food insecurity issues. Enea assured the outlet that IHOP is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that welcomes everyone.

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As part of our ongoing efforts to support those in need within our local community, we will continue to address food insecurity through our partnership with Feeding America and by making a donation to local Lakeland charities that also support this important cause, he said.

In addition to the renewed focus on food insecurity, IHOP also offered Hughes her job back.

She said that after speaking to WFLA, a corporate representative from IHOP contacted her and offered to not only reinstate her but also to compensate her for her missed work.

Hughes told WFLA she was not sure if she would take her old job back. She did not regret feeding the man in need and said she would do so again, even if it cost her her job.

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I need my job, but I would still do it again, she told WFLA. I truly would. I would still help somebody if I could. If he asked me for my shirt, I probably would have tried to give him that too.

Hughes launched a GoFundMe to help keep her afloat through the holidays.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriffs deputy charged with the murder of Sonya Massey, will stay behind bars even longer.

Grayson will stay in jail until the Supreme Court decides if they are taking the case. If the court takes up the case, Grayson would also remain in jail until the justices issue a ruling.

The mandate of the appellate court is stayed pending disposition of the States petition for leave to appeal, and if the petition for leave to appeal is allowed, until disposition of the appeal, the court ruled Tuesday.

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Sonya Masseys father speaks out after appellate court says Grayson should be released pre-trial

The states appellate court ruled previously Graysons detention violates the SAFE-T Act. They stayed an injunction to release him on Jan. 2.

Grayson is charged with the murder of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, who called 911 to her home on July 6 for reports of a prowler. Grayson responded to the call, but ended up shooting Massey in the head after she moved a pot of boiling water from her stove.

The former deputy has pleaded not guilty.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
ILLINOIS (WCIA)  At three locations across the state including Decatur, the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA) will be hosting a safety workshop series.

The workshops will take place in January and are meant for anyone seeking 10HR OHSA, Flagger and/or CPR certification. ILICA member Grey & Associates will be providing training at the workshops.

The workshops last two days and include a full day and a half of 10HR OSHA certification training followed by a half day of either flagger or CPR certification training. Attendees may register for any certification individually or receive a maximum of two certifications per workshop.

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IL Treasurer encourages college contributions as Christmas gifts

The first days of training run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the second days run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with lunch provided both days. Workshops are scheduled for the following dates and locations throughout January:

Jan. 9-10: Decatur

Jan. 14-15: Mt. Vernon

Jan. 23-24: Lanark

Designed for entry-level workers in construction and general industry, the 10HR OSHA safety training teaches workers how to recognize and avoid common job-related hazards. The program also explains employer responsibilities, workers rights under OSHA and how to file a complaint.

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Controlling traffic through work areas can be dangerous and is often recognized as one of the most important operations in construction maintenance. The flagger safety training is designed to teach flaggers standard flagging procedures that provide safe passage of traffic through and around work areas, minimizing confusion and protecting project personnel and assets.

Red Cross offering decorating safety tips to prevent fires

CPR can double or triple a persons chance of survival, with over 350,000 cardiac arrests occurring outside of hospital settings each year according to the American Heart Association. The hands-on adult and child CPR safety training can save lives.

Safety education remains a top priority for Illinois LICA, and we are excited to once again be offering construction safety training to multiple locations throughout the state this winter, said Ryan Arch, Executive Director of Illinois LICA. Many dont realize that safety is a learned behavior; that means it takes training to ensure your safety and the safety of your family, friends, and co-workers that you depend on and that depend on you.

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For additional information, visit www.illica.net/events or call Illinois LICA at 309-932-1230.

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 WCIA.com.
Illegal migrants could be arrested at family weddings and funerals under plans by Donald Trump to deport a million people after he takes office.

The president-elect is reportedly plotting to remove a restriction that prevents immigration authorities from arresting illegal migrants at places of worship.

The rule, first implemented in 2011, does not allow the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to routinely enter churches, mosques and synagogues to make arrests.

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Officers are also told to avoid events like funerals and weddings, and other community buildings including schools and hospitals unless they have prior approval from a supervisor.

The rule was created to allow undocumented migrants to operate freely in some public areas and avoid conflict between the immigration authorities and local communities.

However, sources close to the Trump transition team told NBC that Mr Trump would scrap that rule on day one of his second presidency to speed up deportations.

The president-elect has said he will start with the deportation of one million undocumented migrants, which he says will focus first on those with criminal convictions.

An immigration agent talks to migrants in Escuintla, Mexico - Jose Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images

Allowing ICE to conduct raids on funerals and weddings was one of several immigration policy suggestions recommended by the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think-tank, ahead of the second Trump administration.

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Mr Trump has also pledged to deploy the US military to help with removals, and suggested he would roll back the use of Temporary Protected Status, which can help undocumented migrants remain in the US while seeking asylum.

The Trump team is also examining plans for third-country removals, modelled on the UKs Rwanda scheme, because many migrants cannot be deported back to their country of origin.

He has instructed his team to work on strengthening controls at both the southern and northern US borders, and is seeking new agreements with Mexico and Canada to enforce them.

Asked about his plans for the children of undocumented migrants on Sunday, Mr Trump said that he did not support breaking up families and would instead deport whole families together.

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The only way you dont break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back, he told NBC.

Mr Trump has said immigration and the economy will be his major focus in the first hundred days of his second term, which will begin on Jan 20.

Joe Bidens lame-duck administration is under pressure from Democrats to create additional protections for migrants ahead of Mr Trumps inauguration.

White House officials are reportedly considering extending TPS to more migrants before Mr Biden leaves office, and are trying to resolve as many asylum cases as possible in the meantime.

A new poll by CNN, released on Wednesday, found that most Americans expect Mr Trump to perform well when he takes office again, and a majority approve of how he is handling the transition period.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN)  The Illinois Flag Commission announced the Top 10 finalists for their new state flag design competition Tuesday.

According to the Illinois Secretary of States website, the Illinois public will be able to vote on the design beginning in January.

Heres a list of the Top 10 flag designs and the meanings behind their depiction:

Flag Design No. 200

Designers relationship to Illinois: 18-year-old lifelong resident born in Moline and currently living in Rock Island. Parents are also born and raised Illinoisans.

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Meaning behind the flag design: The flag is divided into seven stripes (theres a white stripe on the top and bottom border), in a pattern of white and blue alternating. The biggest blue stripe represents Lake Michigan, while the smaller blue stripes represent the states various rivers, such as the Mississippi and the Illinois. The center blue stripe contains 20 smaller stars surrounding a center star, representing Illinois as the 21st state. The small white stripes represent the states industry and commerce, while the bigger white stripes represent the states agriculture.

Flag Design No. 896

Designers relationship to Illinois: Designers wife, Maureen Thomas (1952-2023) was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois.

Meaning behind the flag design: The idea of mine is simply an embellishment to the existing flag (helps save money on an entirely new design). Placing blue and red vertical bars on each end (with a narrow white stripe in between the colors) eliminates the seal-on-bedsheet look. Not overly imaginative, but practical and economical.

Flag Design No. 2246

Designers relationship to Illinois: The designer says their connection to Illinois runs deep. Their ancestors came from Ireland in the early 1900s and settled in Gridley, IL, where they farmed corn, soybeans and raised livestock. Their father grew up on that same farm, while their mother was raised in Champaign. They met at Illinois State University, where the designer also earned their Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. The designer said theyve lived in Illinois their entire life, and its agricultural landscapes an small-town values make them proud to call Illinois home.

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Meaning behind the flag design: The 21 stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state and reflect its agricultural roots, resembling rows of crops and the open prairie. Three six-pointed stars represent the states three regions  northern, central and southern  and their 18 points reference Illinois founding in 1818. A sun on the horizon, also featured on our current state flag, represents renewal. The colors  blue for unity, green for agriculture, and yellow for a bright future  honor Illinois history and natural beauty.

Flag Design No. 2752

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Designers relationship to Illinois: They have lived in Illinois for their entire life (40 years). They grew up in Naperville and then moved to Chicago where they lived for 18 years before moving to Des Plaines.

Meaning behind the flag design: My flag uses a silhouette of the State of Illinois as the focal point. I always felt Illinois had a distinct outline. 21 stars circle the state to symbolize it being the 21st state to enter the Union. Additionally, I used the circular design to symbolize Illinois being a kind of center of the country, whether it is geographically or from Chicago serving as a hub for train and air traffic. Finally, the blue edges represent the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, which flank the state.

Flag Design No. 3679

Designers relationship to Illinois: According to the designer, ever since they were a kid, they have been proud to call Springfield their home. The designer said they come from generations of Illinoisans and have chosen to raise their family in Illinois as well. Theyve spent much of their life exploring the state and experiencing its wonders firsthand. What theyve found is there is much to what makes Illinois great: the states rich history, landscape, variety of people and the places they live. The designer said their design reflects these qualities in a way that can hopefully inspire others to share pride for their home.

Meaning behind the flag design: The outline of Abraham Lincoln symbolizes liberty, opportunity and the equality of all people. The outline of Illinois symbolizes the pride we share in our state. The circle of 21 stars represents our communal togetherness and honors our state as being the 21st to join the USA. The white star symbolizes Chicago and its upper-right location. Dark blue represents our blue-collar attitude and industrial power. Gold represents our prairie and agricultural history. White represents our bright spirit.

Flag Design No. 3754

Designers relationship to Illinois: The designer said they have lived in Illinois for nearly ten years and have grown to love the state. They say its an excellent place to settle down, with welcoming people who have always made them feel at home. From stunning city views to beautiful countryside, the designer said their appreciation for the state has deepened.

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Meaning behind the flag design: A large gold star in the center draws attention, much like the standout features of Illinois. The gold color symbolizes the richness of our state, people, land and views. A horizontal blue line symbolizes Lake Michigan, separating the sky from the rich land. Two smaller lines add a neat, elegant touch. The central circle abstractly represents the view from above Abraham Lincolns hat.

Flag Design No. 4129

Designers relationship to Illinois: The designer said they have been born, raised and educated in the State of Illinois, and are proud to call Illinois home for what they believe will be the rest of their life. The designer says they believe strongly that their character and view of the world as a citizen has been shaped by the cultural, geographic, economic, historical and architectural diversity of Illinois.

Meaning behind the flag design: The four dark blue bars in this submission represent the four geographic features that hold the greatest geographic, economic and historic significance in the creation of Illinois: Lake Michigan, the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Chicago River/Illinois River system. The corn kernels and 21-pronged gear that form our state flower, the Violet, represent the agricultural and industrial foundations of our state and its status as the 21st state admitted to the Union.

Flag Design No. 4220

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Designers relationship to Illinois: The designer said they were born and raised in Illinois from 1984-2002. They spent their childhood in central Illinois, and have lived in Bloomington/Normal for 26 of their 40 years of life. Their dad, sister, niece and the majority of their aunts and uncles still live in Illinois. The designer said their grandparents are buried in Illinois. They found out about the Illinois Flag Commission only days after spending two years abroad, and found their design from 2016 just today (when they submitted). The designer said it needs work and it lacks the states current eagle, and suggested it could be placed in a white silhouette above the star.

Meaning behind the flag design: This slice of Old Glory is also a nod to the French flag and banners, which both stood here at one point in time. A single star shines our contribution to the union. Abes silhouette reminds us of our past. The red field highlights our present: Illinois most iconic border, formed by the mighty Mississippi. Its steady flow, as progress itself, cuts through our banner in white leading us ever into the future. The flag still lacks any representation of our Illiniwek and Miami heritage, which should be added by their progeny.

Flag Design No. 4321

Designers relationship to Illinois: The designers who worked on this flag are high school students living in Illinois named Johnna and Spresalynn.

Meaning behind the flag design: The state butterfly, the Monarch, is the focal point of this flag that includes 21 stars for Illinois being the 21st state (the larger star represents Illinois). The orange represents success, determination and creativity, while the blue stands for trust, loyalty, sincerity and strength.

Flag Design No. 4669

Designers relationship to Illinois: The designer said in the fall of 2004, they lived in Chicago and were studying industrial design at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Their great-grandfather, Harry James McCartney was an engraver in Chicago. He worked downtown at the Sears, Roebuck and Co. where he illustrated and engraved images of lamps, heaters and other household accessories that were printed on the pages of the Sears mail-order catalog. His father, James A. McCartney, was a Civil War veteran from Illinois who became the states attorney general from 1881-85.

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Meaning behind the flag design: The 21 red plus white stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state of this Union. The blue field with the six-pointed white star represents Chicago. The negative space between the blue and white/red fields form the shape of an I to represent Illinois.

History of the Illinois State Flag

Illinois was admitted to the union in 1818, but it did not adopt an official design until nearly 100 years after the state was admitted to the Union. Like many other states, the Illinois flag was the result of a contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

During a 1911 visit to Washington D.C., Ella Park Lawrence, then State Regent of DAR, noted that no emblem or flag of Illinois was on display in the Continental Memorial Hall. Eager to create a flag, Lawrence wrote hundreds of letters to members of the General Assembly encouraging them to support a bill creating a state flag; at the same time, she offered a $25 prize to the Illinois DAR chapter for submitting the best design for the flag. This was a considerable sum for 1911, equivalent to approximately $600 today.

The winner, Lucy Derwent of the Rockford DAR chapter, had placed the Great Seal on a plain white background. State Sen. Raymond Meeker introduced legislation to adopt the design. The measure passed and automatically became law on July 6, 1915, when then-Gov. Edward Dunne failed to sign the bill.

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Although the law stated that the flag should contain a reproduction of the official State Seal, few if any companies manufactured it correctly. Oftentimes the sun, water, and prairie were omitted from the design. The adding of arrows, grasped in one claw, and an olive branch signifying a time of war and peace illustrated that of the U.S. Seal. Strangely, the background color often changed to cater to a particular event.

More than 50 years would pass before any suggestions to change the flag were proposed. In 1968, Chief Petty Officer Bruce McDaniel of Waverly, serving in Vietnam at the time, wrote to state Rep. Jack Walker expressing his concerns that, unlike other state flags in his mess hall, the Illinois state flag could not be identified because it did not carry the states name. Responding to CPO McDaniels request, Rep. Walker sponsored a bill to amend the Flag Act of 1915.

Walkers legislation adding ILLINOIS beneath the Great Seal was approved and signed into law on Sept. 16, 1969. However, this law, like the Flag Act of 1915, did not address specific flag design specifications. To ensure that the flags elements, proportions, and colors would be used consistently, then-Gov. Richard B. Ogilvie appointed a flag committee. The committee made the following recommendations:

The flag of the State of Illinois shall be made up of the emblem portion of the seal of the state rendered in color on a white field with the word Illinois in blue below the emblem.

The emblem portion and the word Illinois shall constitute approximately 80% of the vertical length of the flag.

The word Illinois shall be in height approximately 1/12 the diameter of the emblem.

The flag shall be composed of eight colors, identified in the Standard Color Card of America as: Old Glory Red, No. 70180; Old Glory Blue, No. 70075; Midnight Black, No. 70090; Nickel Grey, No. 70152; Hunter Green, No. 70069; and Brown, No. 70119.

The word Illinois shall be horizontal, in a straight line and in serif lettering comparable to Craw Clarendon Modern typeface.

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These recommendations, along with a colored painting of the flag, were submitted to then-Gov. Ogilvie by the committee. On July 1, 1970, a new flag design created by Florence Hutchison of Greenfield, a white field carrying the word ILLINOIS and the emblem portion of the state seal, was approved and began flying atop the State Capitol in Springfield.

In 1897, the Illinois General Assembly mandated that the U.S. Flag be flown daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but made no mention of a state flag because Illinois did not have one at the time. Surprisingly, it was not until 1965 that the state flag was regularly flown over the State Capitol Building daily. While no statute or executive order is supporting this practice, its assumed that the state flag is flown by protocol or custom.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Hundreds of new laws are set to go into effect in Illinois on January 1st, 2025. One requires police to take specialized training to learn to interact with people with autism.

People with autism can sometimes be nonverbal or easily agitated, making stressful situations  like encounters with law enforcement  especially dangerous.

Idalia Aldama works with autistic children at Caravel Autism Health Clinic, at 6565 E State Street. She is also a mother to twin autistic girls, and says like many parents, she worries about their safety.

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A lot of kids that have autism are nonverbal, so they might not always be able to explain how theyre feeling or whats going on or anything like that. So that can be dangerous. Some kidsrun away, she said.

Adults with autism can also struggle to follow commands. In March, a 15-year-old autistic teen was shot and killed in a police encounter in California, bringing discussions of police training to the forefront.

A meltdown can look like aggression and things like that, Idalia said. So obviously, if an officer isnt familiar with it, they could mistake that for assault.

The new law, SB 3201, will require the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop and approve a course to assist police officers in identifying spectrum disorders. The training will be required every three years.

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The police officers can save lives of children with autism or people with autism, said Caravel clinic director Katie Check.

You hear about kids all the time that wander off or go missing, she continued. And its hard for those families to know that my child is nonverbal and I dont know whos going to be able to help them or if theyre going to go to the police officer that does find them because they might be scared themselves. And its so hard for them to understand words. So I think its a great thing to also have that police exposure to our kids.

Idalia said, I feel really relieved that theyre getting training now because it does provide overall safety for my child and again, relieves a lot of anxiety for me if Im not able to advocate for them.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board will have two years to approve an autism-informed training program once the new law goes into effect January 1st.

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VALLETTA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Malta International Airport welcomed over 8.3 million passengers between January and November this year, the airport announced on Wednesday.

Marking a 15 percent increase compared to the same period last year, this strong performance has already confirmed 2024 as the airport's best-performing year to date.

In November alone, 630,637 passengers passed through the airport, reflecting a double-digit growth of 19.2 percent compared to November 2023. This rise in passenger numbers was accompanied by a 19.8 percent increase in aircraft movements and an 18.3 percent boost in seat capacity over the same month in 2023.

According to the latest figures from the National Statistics Office, inbound tourists for the first ten months of 2024 totaled 3,108,352. Total tourism expenditure was estimated at 2.9 billion euros (3.04 billion U.S. dollars). 
WOODSTOCK, Ill. (WTVO)  Arthur Johnson, 69, of Woodstock, faces charges of aggravated battery for allegedly stabbing a man in the chest Monday morning.

Authorities said the crime happened at the Shell Gas Station, at 110 N. Eastwood Drive, around 11:16 a.m.

Officers with the Woodstock Police Department were able to interview the victim as he was receiving life-saving measures by the Woodstock Rescue/Fire District and was able to verbally identify the assailant as Johnson.

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Police said while officers were at the scene, they observed Johnson and detained him.

In addition to the McHenry County Major Investigations Assistance Team, police also called for help from the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations team, due to the size of the potential crime scene.

The McHenry County States Attorneys Office authorized charges of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Battery Causing Great Bodily Harm for Johnson, who was taken to the McHenry County jail awaiting the outcome of a pretrial detention hearing.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTVO)  U.S. Capitol Police have arrested an Illinois man, 33-year-old James McIntyre, for assaulting Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on the Capitol grounds Tuesday.

According to authorities, just before 6 p.m., police were alerted to an incident in the Rayburn House Office Building.

McIntyre was tracked down by House Division Officers and agents with the Threat Assessment Section, and placed under arrest.

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He is now charged with Assaulting a Government Official.

Mace took to X on Tuesday night to give details of the attack, saying I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women. Capitol police have arrested him. All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!

She also said she would need a brace for her wrist and ice for her arm, and insinuated that the attack was in response to her stance on transgender issues. The Capitol police arrested the guy. Your trans violence and threats on my life will only make me double down. FAFO. #HoldTheLine, she wrote.

Last month, Mace proposed a bill seeking to ban House members and staffers from using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.

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The immigration surge under President Biden has been the largest in U.S. history, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

The U.S.s net migration per year, which is how many people exit the country subtracted from how many people enter, came out to an average of 2.4 million people between 2021 and 2023, the Congressional Budget Office said, according to the Times. Overall, under the Biden administration, net migration has a high chance of topping 8 million people, the Times reported.

According to the Times, the total number of 2021-23 arrivals is the highest in U.S. history over any three-year span, and by a share of the total U.S. population, it is the highest in nearly 175 years.

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U.S. politics in recent years has increasingly focused on immigration and border security, with President-elect Trump making the issues a centerpiece of his recent bid for the presidency and Republicans hammering the Biden administration over its handling of the border. Stephen Miller, the president-elects pick for his deputy chief of staff for policy, recently reiterated Trumps first priority will be mass deportations.

Miller told Fox Newss Maria Bartiromo in his recent appearance on Sunday Morning Futures that the president-elect has plans to issue a series of executive orders that seal the border shut and begin the largest deportation operation in American history.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Monday that a border security bill should be the first order of business in the Senate Budget Committee in the next Congress.

Stephen Miller was spot on when he said that the Senate and House should first pass a border security bill through the budget reconciliation process, Graham wrote in a post on the social platform X.

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While I support spending restrictions and tax cuts, my top priority  and the first order of business in the Senate Budget Committee  is to secure a broken border, the incoming leader of the Budget Committee added. The bill will be transformational, it will be paid for, and it will go first.

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State Treasurer Tobias Read, pictured on April 3, 2024, is Oregon's next secretary of state. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Editors note: The Capital Chronicle is running an end-of-year fundraising campaign, with a $10,000 goal, to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and theres a long legislative session in 2025. Were completely dependent on donor dollars, and theyre tax deductible. Please contribute to us if you can.

Incoming Secretary of State Tobias Read will bring several top employees from the state Treasury with him when he starts as Oregons chief elections officer and auditor in January.

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Read, a Democrat elected in November, spent the past eight years as state treasurer. He announced Tuesday a list of key hires for his incoming administration, including several people who have worked with him at the Treasury.

Michael Kaplan, who has served as deputy treasurer since 2019, will be the deputy secretary of state. Kaplan was the Treasurys chief operating officer from 2017-19, served as director for the Oregon Department of Energy from 2014-17 and worked in former Democratic Govs. John Kitzhabers and Ted Kulongoskis administrations.

Reads chief of staff through his two terms as treasurer, Dmitri Palmateer, will continue in that role at the Secretary of States Office. Before joining Read, Palmateer worked for Kitzhaber, former Gov. Kate Brown, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and legislative Democrats.

Two other Treasury employees, organizational risk and resiliency manager Mary Krehbiel and executive services director Grace Roth, will also join Read at the Secretary of States Office. Krehbiel was an internal auditor at the Treasury and a financial auditor in the Secretary of States Office, while Roth previously worked for Brown, Kitzhaber and Kulongoski.

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Read picked Tess Seger, the communications director for Oregon Senate Democrats, for his deputy chief of staff for communications. Before joining the Senate in 2022, Seger managed Nevada U.S. Rep. Susie Lees 2020 reelection campaign, and was Iowa communications director for Democratic Sen. Cory Bookers presidential campaign. Capitol observers blame an attempt from former Senate Majority Leader Kathleen Taylor to replace Seger, along with several other employees, for the caucus choosing to oust Taylor after mere months as leader.

And Ricardo Lujan Valerio, now the director of government relations at Western Oregon University, will be Reads deputy chief of staff for government relations. He previously worked for Portland City Councilor Carmen Rubio and at the Latino Network, ACLU of Oregon and Oregon Student Association.

Read said in a statement that the new hires will help with his priority of restoring accountability and trust to the office, which has seen significant turnover in recent years and is still reeling from former Secretary of State Shemia Fagans resignation over revelation she moonlighted for a cannabis company involved in an audit conducted by the office.

These dedicated and well-respected Oregonians understand the importance of the work that lies ahead of us, Read said. Im looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with them to benefit our state.

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The Satanic Temple is increasing its work in schools across the country, trying to combat a rise in religious teachings.

The group, launched in 2013 to battle the intrusion of Christian values on American politics, recently began a religious release program in an Ohio school district and plans to expand to a district in Tennessee soon.

It does not seek to convert students toward Satan but wants to be a bulwark against increased religious education.

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A lot of people obviously hear the word Satan, and they tend to lose their minds wherever we go. There tends to be quite a community backlash, said June Everett, campaign director for the After School Satan Club and Hellion Academy of Independent Learning (HAIL) for The Satanic Temple.

Im actually a little surprised that things have gone viral in Ohio, because we actually had three after school clubs in Ohio. It seems to be our most popular state, so I was thinking maybe launching the HAIL program in Marysville, that everybody would sort of be over us. But apparently, they are not, she added.

The temple will be offering its HAIL program to elementary school students in Marysville as an alternative to the LifeWise Christian one that takes students out of school for 55 minutes a week for religious instruction.

The HAIL alternative will take students to a local library for activities such as learning The Satanic Temples seven tenets, though more commonly general knowledge topics such as zoology.

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We dont believe in the biblical Satan or any sort of supernatural Satan. We do look to Satan as a symbol and nothing else, Everett said.

The Ohio school district is the second one to receive the HAIL program after the Northern York County School District in Pennsylvania.

We have about three more that are in the queue, where we are talking to the parents, getting the school district policy, going to finding locations. Were looking for a library thats within a really short distance for a drive, said Everett.

The in-school offerings are in addition to the After School Satan Clubs, which launched in 2020 and have risen in popularity among parents seeking alternatives to religious clubs.

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Our goal is never to aggressively grow our programs. Our goal is to just be there as an alternative for the people that want us there, she said, adding the group does not go into schools without a Christian presence.

And the number of such schools is rising.

In Oklahoma, schools have been ordered to place a Bible in every classroom and to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans. That mandate has been challenged in the court system.

In Texas last month, the State Board of Education voted to allow lessons about the Bible to be incorporated into public school curricula.

And in Louisiana, in another move facing legal challenges, a law signed this year orders posters of the Ten Commandments to be hung in every public school classroom.

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If they want to hang the Ten Commandments up and we have somebody who wants to push for the seven tenets to be hung up, The Satanic Temple would fight for that, Everett said.

We have had inquiries about that, but it doesnt seem to have panned out yet. If people want to preach the Bible, we also have literature and different things for the temple that we can also push. So, we havent crossed that bridge yet, but we are ready to do so here in the next four years, she added.

The organization is also fighting in Florida to be part of the states school chaplain program.

Its very disappointing and frustrating to us, because, as much as religious pluralism and religious freedom is very important to the temple, but we do fear the theocracy that is forcing itself into our public schools  and we obviously feel for the minority religions in our country, and, of course, the huge number of people that consider themselves nonreligious, Everett said.

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But those efforts have faced backlash, including threats against Everett and other members, and the temple warns parents of potential pushback when they get involved.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made a public declaration that The Satanic Temple will not have any part in the states program.

Some have said that if you do a school chaplain program that, somehow, youre going to have satanists running around in all our schools. Were not playing those games in Florida, DeSantis said in August, according to the Florida Phoenix.

That is not a religion. That is not qualified to be able to participate in this. So, were going to be using common sense when it comes to this. You dont have to worry about it, he added.

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While The Satanic Temple works with other civil rights groups to block efforts for more Christianity in schools, when that doesnt work, it focuses on equal access for all religions.

So, what we really do is test equal access with the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution that does say that all religions should be treated equally, Everett said.

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(The Hill)  The Satanic Temple is increasing its work in schools across the country, trying to combat a rise in religious teachings.

The group, launched in 2013 to battle the intrusion of Christian values on American politics, recently began a religious release program in an Ohio school district and plans to expand to a district in Tennessee soon.

It does not seek to convert students toward Satan but wants to be a bulwark against increased religious education.

Advertisement Advertisement

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A lot of people obviously hear the word Satan, and they tend to lose their minds wherever we go, there tends to be quite a community backlash, said June Everett, campaign director for the After School Satan Club and Hellion Academy of Independent Learning (HAIL) for The Satanic Temple.

Im actually a little surprised that things have gone viral in Ohio, because we actually had three after school clubs in Ohio. It seems to be our most popular state, so I was thinking maybe launching the HAIL program in Marysville that everybody would sort of be over us, but apparently, they are not, she added.

Public school students participate in activities with The Satanic Temples Hellion Academy of Independent Learning, or HAIL, program.

The temple will be offering its HAIL program to elementary school students in Marysville as an alternative to the LifeWise Christian one that takes students out of school for 55 minutes a week for religious instruction.

The HAIL alternative will take students to a local library for activities such as learning The Satanic Temples seven tenants, though more commonly general knowledge topics such as zoology.

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We dont believe in the biblical Satan or any sort of supernatural Satan. We do look to Satan as a symbol and nothing else, Everett said.

The Ohio school district is the second one to receive the HAIL program after the Northern York County School District in Pennsylvania.

We have about three more that are in the queue, where we are talking to the parents, getting the school district policy, going to finding locations. Were looking for a library thats within a really short distance for a drive, said Everett.

The in-school offerings are in addition to the After School Satan Clubs, which launched in 2020 and have risen in popularity among parents seeking alternatives to religious clubs.

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Our goal is never to aggressively grow our programs. Our goal is to just be there as an alternative for the people that want us there, she said, adding the group does not go into schools without a Christian presence.

And the number of such schools is rising.

In Oklahoma, schools have been ordered to place a Bible in every classroom and to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans. That mandate has been challenged in the court system.

In Texas last month, the State Board of Education voted to allow lessons about the Bible to be incorporated into public school curricula.

And in Louisiana, in another move facing legal challenges, a law signed this year orders posters of the Ten Commandments to be hung in every public school classroom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If they want to hang the Ten Commandments up and we have somebody who wants to push for the seven tenants to be hung up, the The Satanic Temple would fight for that, Everett said.

We have had inquiries about that, but it doesnt seem to have panned out yet. If people want to preach the Bible, we also have literature and different things for the temple that we can also push. So, we havent crossed that bridge yet, but we are ready to do so here in the next four years, she added.

The organization is also fighting in Florida to be part of the states school chaplain program.

Its very disappointing and frustrating to us, because, as much as religious pluralism and religious freedom is very important to the temple, but we do fear the theocracy that is forcing itself into our public schools, and we obviously feel for the minority religions in our country, and, of course, the huge number of people that consider themselves non-religious. Everett said.

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But those efforts have faced backlash, including threats against Everett and other members, and the temple warns parents of potential pushback when they get involved.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made a public declaration that The Satanic Temple will not have any part in the states program.

Some have said that if you do a school chaplain program that, somehow, youre going to have satanists running around in all our schools. Were not playing those games in Florida, DeSantis said in August, according to the Florida Phoenix.

That is not a religion. That is not qualified to be able to participate in this. So, were going to be using common sense when it comes to this. You dont have to worry about it, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

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While The Satanic Temple works with other civil rights groups to block efforts for more Christianity in schools, when that doesnt work, they focus on equal access for all religions.

So, what we really do is test equal access with the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution that does say that all religions should be treated equally, Everett 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 Queen City News.
Indiana education officials approved a final plan to overhaul the state's high school diploma options and graduation requirements on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Getty Images)

Indianas high school diploma came one step closer to a total revamp on Wednesday after state education officials approved a redesign plan that has been months in the making.

Paramount to the new plan is maximized flexibility for students to personalize learning pathways and experiences, including with college courses taken while still in high school, as well as the ability to count internships, apprenticeships, military experience and other work-based learning toward their graduation requirements.

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A first draft of the diploma model was made public in March. Input from Hoosier educators, parents, students, higher education institutions, business officials and other stakeholders helped drive the several other iterations of the plan that followed since.

Indianas State Board of Education approved the latest version of the redesign during its December meeting in Indianapolis. The diploma rule now heads to the state attorney general for final sign-off.

This has been, gosh, an all-hands-in-the-circle effort to get to this place, Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said at Wednesdays board meeting. This has certainly been a long time coming for the board. We have spent hours and hours and hours listening to the many comments and ideas and solutions, from many Hoosiers around our state. We were absolutely able to improve the draft from the end of March  to today. On behalf of the board, we cannot thank Hoosiers around the state enough for joining  for really helping us get to a great place today for the future of Indiana students.

Under a law passed by Indiana legislators in 2023, the state must adopt new diploma requirements by December.

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This was really hard, messy, sometimes unpopular work, but where it landed is a really, really, really good place for kids

 Indiana State Board of Education member B.J. Watts

Schools could choose to opt in and start offering the new diplomas as early as the 2025-26 academic year. The new diplomas will take effect for all Hoosier students beginning with the Class of 2029, who are entering eighth grade this fall.

But there have been bumps in the road.

Earlier redesign drafts faced multiple rounds of critiques from Hoosier educators, who worried that the model would broadly exclude certain course requirements, like those in history, foreign language and fine arts. Officials at multiple Indiana colleges and universities had also warned that the previously proposed high school diplomas would not meet university admission requirements

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Jenner emphasized that the state board took those criticisms to heart and made adjustments to the diploma plan, accordingly. More than 9,400 online public comments were submitted during the drafting process. Hundreds more attended in-person feedback forums.

In doing so, many of the concerns have since been reversed. The final model approved by the board is supported by all of Indianas public colleges and universities, as well as more than a dozen state education associations.

This was really hard, messy, sometimes unpopular work, but where it landed is a really, really, really good place for kids, said board member B.J. Watts. This was really good work  you invoke change here.

A totally updated high school experience

The overhaul has been pitched by state officials as a way to boost Indianas dismal college-going numbers, but more critically, to also ensure that all Hoosier students  college-bound or not  graduate from high school with high-value, work-ready skills.

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Fewer Indiana students are enrolling in higher education, and few are graduating, Jenner said, adding that many Hoosier high schoolers overall are graduating without the skills needed to secure some rewarding career opportunities.

In the first draft of the diploma redesign  released earlier this year  high school students in public and private schools across Indiana would have earned a GPS Diploma or GPS Diploma Plus. That plan was scrapped, however, following waves of criticism from Hoosier teachers, parents and students.

Story continues below.

12.11.24-SBOE-Diploma-Progress-Update

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The second diploma structure, unveiled during a State Board of Education meeting in August, included a baseline diploma, with minimum requirements for all students.

The baseline differs slightly from the current Core 40 diploma, requiring 42 credits instead of 40. Students would then have flexibility to choose classes above that to earn readiness seals for enrollment, employment or enlistment that correspond with their future path of continued higher education, workforce or military service.

Depending on the type of schedule a student is on  traditional seven periods or blocks  they can earn between 56 and 64 credits.

The final diploma plan also included several other tweaks.

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The honors enrollment seal, for example, now permits students to meet college credit requirements with a blend of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge courses  rather than having to pick just one of those options.

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Additionally, students will no longer be required to pass an AP exam in order to meet the high school diploma requirements. Jenner said that change was necessary because the College Board, which administers the exams, is not able to provide test scores until mid-summer, sometimes months after a student graduates.

Other changes made in recent months to the enrollment and employment seals reduced the required work-based learning hours  from 100-hour increments to 75 hours  to better adhere to Indianas existing CTE framework, Jenner said.

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The final diploma model does not explicitly require students to take foreign language or fine arts classes, despite pushback from some Hoosier students and teachers who said such courses should be mandated for graduation.

Jenner emphasized that coursework in those areas  while beneficial and encouraged  were not required before. Still, she said the new diploma options will provide students more flexibility to fit those classes in their schedules, and chances to participate in work-based learning aligned to their career interests.

I strongly encourage you to consider locally-created pathways for those students who are interested in the arts, Jenner advised local officials. That has proven successful in other schools. Wed love to see more opportunities there.

The education secretary further assured that resources, like an interactive advising tool, are on the way for school counselors who will largely be tasked with implementing the diploma changes and guiding students choices. Jenner said the state education department expects to work with Indiana lawmakers in the 2025 session to earmark additional funding for the overall redesign rollout.

More preparation for military pathways

New diploma options are also intended to open doors for more Hoosier students to serve in the military post-graduation.

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We have students who dream of serving our country who are finding out theyre disqualified when its too late, Jenner said.

Enlistment and service seal options prepare and put students on track to enlist after high school, qualify for ROTC in college, or attend a service academy.

Story continues below.

HSD Letters of Support

State officials pointed to national data, which showed that 2022 was the worst recruiting year in the history of the militarys all-volunteer force.

Enlistments from Indiana declined by 41% from 2018 to 2022, Jenner noted. Indiana National Guard enlistments over the same period declined 38%.

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Our goal is not to push students to one path or another, to funnel them all to one place, Jenner said. Our goal is to do the best we can, to set our students up for success  success based on their unique goals and aspirations. And if they want to serve our country, lets figure out how to make sure they know that recipe much earlier.

Gen. R. Dale Lyles, head of the Indiana National Guard, was among the high school redesigns supporters. Lyles, along with other National Guard officials, helped craft the new service-focused seals.

This will open the aperture and provide opportunities for young men and women to serve their country post-graduation, without getting the news after graduation that theyre not eligible to serve without doing some year-long thing to get them ready, Lyles said during Wednesdays meeting. I think this will open the aperture, and itll provide an opportunity for those to serve that want to serve, because I hear a lot from people around around the state  I wish Id have had the opportunity.'

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An Indianapolis woman is now facing several charges after police say she forced another woman from a home and drove her to Marion County.

Ashton D. Allen, 27, is now facing formal charges of kidnapping, a level 3 felony; criminal confinement, a level 3 felony; and domestic battery with a firearm, a level 5 felony, for her alleged connection to the case, according to court documents.

It was around 11 a.m. Monday when KPD responded to a residence on a reported domestic disturbance where one party was alleged to have been held against her will, per a probable cause affidavit filed through the Howard County Clerk's Office.

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When officers arrived on scene, the residence was empty, but friends and family reportedly told police that Allen had forced the alleged victim in the case from the home prior to leaving in a vehicle, court documents allege.

At the residence, per court documents, investigators did locate signs of a physical altercation, as well as an empty gun holster on a counter and a butcher knife on a TV console.

A wheel of the alleged victim's vehicle also appeared to be slashed with a knife, court documents indicated.

As part of the initial investigation, officers also spoke to the ex-wife of the alleged victim, who reportedly told police she had been getting text messages from her ex-wife indicating Allen was "threatening her (the alleged victim) with a gun," and "threatening to kill her," per court documents.

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Within a few hours, investigators  with the assistance of the Indianapolis FBI Safe Streets Task Force  located Allen and the alleged victim inside a vehicle in Marion County.

The alleged victim  who authorities stated suffered minor injuries  was safely removed from that vehicle, and Allen was taken into police custody without incident.

During a subsequent interview with police, the alleged victim told investigators she had been battered by Allen and that Allen also reportedly "pointed a gun" at her, court documents note.

The woman also told police she was in "fear for her safety" and didn't think she had a choice but to leave Howard County with Allen.

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The alleged victim was then transported back to Kokomo and released to family.

Police say Allen was transported to the Howard County Jail and is booked on a $1,500 surety bond.

An initial hearing is pending.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Kokomo Police Capt. Bruce Rood at 765-456-7332 or brood@cityofkokomo.org.

You can also contact the KPD Hotline at 765-456-7017 or submit tips anonymously by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-262-TIPS, downloading the Kokomo PD mobile app or texting TIPKPD to 847411.
BEIRUT, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli airstrike targeted a neighborhood in the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon Wednesday evening, killing three people, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported.

Earlier in the day, three others were killed and one more injured in Israeli airstrikes on the town of Khiam and the villages of Aainata and Beit Lif, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency.

Also on Wednesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the five-member monitoring committee to work to stop Israel's violations of a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

"It is also required to ensure Israel's complete withdrawal from all the areas it occupies and its actual commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701," Mikati said in a statement released by his office.

Noting the army units' deployment to Khiam and Marjeyoun towns, Mikati said the reinforcement represents a fundamental step in implementing the ceasefire deal.

The Lebanese army said in a statement on Wednesday that its units, in coordination with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, were stationed in five locations surrounding Khiam in the border area of southern Lebanon.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, brokered by the United States and France, went into effect on Nov. 27, aiming to halt over 14 months of fighting between the two sides.

Under the agreement, Israel will withdraw from Lebanese territory within 60 days, the Lebanese army will be deployed on the border, and Hezbollah will retreat north of the Litani River.

Despite the truce, tensions remain as both sides exchange accusations of ceasefire violations, raising concerns about the agreement's durability. 
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Wednesday that Ukraine had struck a military airfield on the Azov Sea with six U.S.-made ATACMS ballistic missiles, a move that could prompt Moscow to launch another experimental intermediate-range hypersonic missile at Ukraine.

Russia's defence ministry said two of the missiles fired by Ukraine were shot down by a Pantsir missile defence system and the rest were destroyed by electronic warfare.

"On the morning of December 11, 2024, the Kyiv regime launched a missile strike with Western precision weapons at the Taganrog military airfield in the Rostov region," the defence ministry said.

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"This attack by Western long-range weapons will not go unanswered and appropriate measures will be taken," it said.

Russia fired a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik", or Hazel Tree, at Ukraine on Nov. 21 in what President Vladimir Putin said was a direct response to strikes on Russia by Ukrainian forces with U.S. and British missiles.

A U.S. official said on Wednesday that Russia could launch another hypersonic ballistic missile in Ukraine in the coming days, but Washington does not consider the Oreshnik weapon a game-changer in the war.

After approval from the administration of President Joe Biden, Ukraine struck Russia with six U.S.-made ATACMS on Nov. 19 and with British Storm Shadow missiles and U.S.-made HIMARS on Nov. 21.

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Putin, after those attacks, said that the Ukraine war was escalating towards a global conflict after the United States and Britain allowed Ukraine to hit Russia with their weapons, and warned the West that Moscow could strike back.

The war is entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its final and most dangerous phase as Moscow's forces advance at their fastest pace since the early weeks of the conflict.

President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, has pushed for a ceasefire and negotiations to end the war quickly, leaving Washington's long-term support for Ukraine in question.

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has left tens of thousands of dead, displaced millions and triggered the biggest crisis in relations between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne, Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow, Maria Gordeyeva in Almaty and Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Andrew Cawthorne and Keith Weir)
MCDOWELL COUNTY, WV (WVNS)  An inmate was sentenced for possessing a weapon at FCI McDowell.

According to a press release, on Monday, December 9, 2024, 24-year-old William Williams, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell, was sentenced to one year and three months in prison, followed by three years of parole, for possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison.

Indiana woman pleads guilty to First-Degree Murder in West Virginia

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The press release stated that according to court documents, a staff member at FCI McDowell found a handcrafted weapon, commonly referred to as a shank, in the left front pocket of Williams pants during a random pat-down search on December 12, 2022.

The shank was a piece of metal that was around five inches long with a sharpened point on one end and a cloth handle, that the press release stated Williams revealed 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.

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.
The U.S. Air Forces new advanced jet trainer aircraft, the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk, is deeply engaged in an accelerating and expanding flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The USAFs need for the Red Hawk is acute, with aged T-38 Talons bearing a heavy pilot training burden as Air Education And Training Command (AETC) struggles to meet pilot output targets.

The T-7 is designed to improve aircraft availability and it incorporates technology meant to accelerate training. The T-7A is a generational change over the T-38 thats going to open up a lot of options for AETC, says Lt. Col. Jonathan Gremlin Aronoff, T-7A Integrated Test Force director.

A team of Air Force and Boeing pilots and engineers are working with the new trainer to generate sufficient data and confidence to endorse that the aircraft is ready for students and instructors to fly, and that the Red Hawk meets contractual requirements that would green-light Boeing to commence low-rate initial production.

One of the T-7A Production Relevant Jets, known as BTX-1, lands at Edwards AFB after a test flight. Jamie Hunter

Delays in the T-7 program have compounded USAF pilot training struggles, as detailed in May 2023 by Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Due to issues discovered in the early development and test phase of the program, the Air Force is delaying its Milestone C decision to initiate the buy of T-7A production aircraft. This will shift the T-7A programs initial operational capability [IOC] into the Spring of 2027. We are pursuing risk reduction activities to mitigate some of these schedule challenges, Hunter said in 2023.

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However, significant progress is being made, with Red Hawks now flying with the Integrated Test Force at Edwards AFB, which is breeding confidence that the program is making good progress. Everyone here is eager for the test work so we can get the airplane to AETC as fast as possible. They need the T-7A and we want to give it to them as quickly and as safely as we can, adds Aronoff. We definitely dont have any excessive pressure on us, its very much about working methodically to get the Air Force something it needs, and everyones being incredibly respectful of how we do that.

T-7A Red Hawk origin

The Boeing T-7A advanced jet trainer was selected in 2018 to replace the USAFs geriatric T-38C Talons, but the Red Hawk is already three years behind its original schedule, and is now planned to enter service in 2027. The original timeline called for Boeing to start delivering the first T-7As to the USAF at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, from 2023 to commence initial instructor pilot training, ahead of IOC in 2024, which is defined as being a fully fitted-out squadron of aircraft and training devices.

Boeing was awarded a $9.2-billion contract by the USAF in September 2018 to supply 351 T-7As and 46 associated ground-based training simulators when it won the T-X trainer competition. Initial flight-test work was conducted out of Boeings St. Louis, Missouri, facility using a pair of Production Relevant Jets, or PRJs, that Boeing built for the T-X competition phase.

Following the contract award, Boeing started T-7A production at St. Louis with a static test article (STA) and the first of five engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) aircraft. Boeing said in early 2021 that the STA would be complete in a couple of months and that it featured a significant amount of instrumentation that would allow it to be compared against the digital modeling and prove out the service life goal of 8,000 flight hours for each T-7A.

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Flight-testing at St. Louis with the two PRJs continued and revealed some widely reported handling issues, such as wing-rock at high angles of attack. Further delays have been incurred by the need to clear a wide tolerance envelope for the aircrafts escape system, which is based around the Collins Aerospace ACES 5 ejection seat. Specifically, this relates to safe ejection for different aircrew body weights, particularly regarding lighter-weight pilots.

While the T-7A was digitally designed and manufactured from digital models using a methodology called full-size determinant assembly [FSDA], this hasnt removed the need for rigorous flight testing and certification to verify that the modeling and simulations are accurate. The all-digital approach hasnt removed all development risk, and test work has required additional time to be allocated for re-visiting problematic items.

Although the low-rate initial production decision date has been delayed beyond February 2025, a decision is still anticipated by February 2026.

Edwards testing

The first of five EMD T-7As arrived at Edwards on Nov. 8, 2023. It was followed by a second EMD jet and one of Boeings two PRJs  taking the test fleet at Edwards to three aircraft by the time of TWZs visit in October 2024. Testing will continue until we feel we can give the end user a product that they can use, said Aronoff. When the program office and AETC decide to declare Milestone C, thats when theyll start building low-rate initial production airplanes.

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We work for Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force Test Center. Specifically, the T-7 Integrated Test Force comes under the Air Power Foundations Combined Test Force. We have three ITFs under this  the T-7 ITF, the F-16/T-38 ITF, and the Emerging Technologies ITF.

The first T-7A Red Hawk assigned to testing at Edwards AFB was the second engineering and manufacturing development aircraft. USAF/Todd Schannuth Todd Schannuth

Everything we are doing in T-7 flight test is based on proving the contract, proving out all the things that the aircraft is supposed to do, and that starts with safety of flight and building up the flight envelope  how fast, how far, how high. Its about verifying that the airplane is doing the things its supposed to do per the letter of the contract.

The flying at Edwards typically sees T-7As being crewed with one Boeing and one Air Force pilot, with all maintenance being conducted under contract by the manufacturer. Were very much hand-in-hand and integrated together, explains Aronoff. We are the lead developmental test organization [LDTO] and Boeing is our partner, and we stay in lockstep with them. We make sure that when were going to test something that they agree its something we should be testing, that the conditions are appropriate and that were testing it in the correct way. Its about making sure we are going after the right data in the right way to satisfy the contractual obligations to develop the airplane.

Currently, we are engaged in flight envelope expansion. We have one of the PRJ T-7s fitted with a spin-recovery parachute and were using it to open up the high angle-of-attack envelope and fly the departure resistance type of flight testing, Aronoff explained.

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We also have two EMD jets currently, one is instrumented for loads, noise, and vibration testing  opening up the structural envelope and understanding how the structure handles different maneuvers over time. This is about monitoring fatigue. We want to make sure that the engineering models for the T-7 are correct. We do that by measuring discrete test points  altitude, airspeed, and g-force combinations to verify that the model predictions are accurate.

The second EMD airplane at Edwards is our flutter test airplane. Think of the interaction between the structure of the airplane and the air around it. Think vibrations and the harmonics of the flight controls, and thats needed to open up the air speed envelope. We go to different altitudes and run flutter programs in the flight control system, which automatically shakes the airplane at different frequencies and amplitudes to try to excite a response. We can target specific amplitudes and frequencies that we are interested in and we can be very precise in how we gather data.

The second engineering and manufacturing development T-7A flies over Edwards AFB. USAF Bryce Bennett

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Aronoff says the T-7 work is the most precise flying hes ever done. You have a control room of about 30 people watching your every move, and sometimes they tell you that what you flew wasnt good enough. You are trying something multiple times and they tell you that they need a cleaner set of data, but they cant feel the turbulence, cant feel the heat of the mission, and they ask you to go do it again. Thats my job, to gather data for the engineers to verify the airplane is doing what its supposed to do.

Right now, were still very much building that safe envelope to operate in and flying with kid gloves. I need to be very precise in how I fly the aircraft. Were talking plus or minus a couple of knots, plus or minus 50 feet, executing a certain amount of g, plus or minus 0.2g normally. Very tight tolerances, because we need as clean of a data set as possible. Were streaming that data in real-time to the control room so they can look at the squiggles and make sure its the right amplitude, the right frequency, and do real-time analysis. If its a good data point, we can move on to the next event.

With our high angle-of-attack campaign, when we do a maneuver, and see if the aircraft responds the way we thought it was going to respond? As long as its matching our model, we keep marching along. Its when theres a slight deviation from the model we have to look at why it deviated to check that its within acceptable bounds. Our loads tests are conducted in the same way. When I pull 6g, is the g-distribution around the airplane matching the model? In flight testing we predict, test, validate. We predict results, we then go out and test, and then we validate the model that we use to predict.

The third EMD T-7 completed a month-long trial of extreme weather inside the McKinley Climatic Laboratory in Florida earlier this year and its now back in St. Louis for technical order validation and verification. Theyre verifying that the manuals for maintenance are written properly and accurately. EMD four is being used right now to do some ground testing for a new flight control law thats coming out, and the fifth jet is still in production, says Aronoff.

A T-7A Red Hawk seen frozen in the McKinley Climatic Laboratory chamber at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in early 2024. USAF/Samuel King Jr. Samuel King Jr.

I really want to stress the partnership. We are together on this every step of the way, and drawing on Boeings experience and expertise that they have already built with the T-7. While the two PRJ aircraft did do a lot of really great stuff for the program, ultimately, there are changes between the PRJs and EMD jets, so we have to be very deliberate in our engineering mindset on how we develop the airplane.

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Boeing implemented a number of modifications to the EMD T-7s to address lessons learned from the PRJs, and Aronoff is keen to stress that the current test effort at Edwards has earned a lot of credit for the work that Boeing did with the PRJs early on. The outer mold line of the airplane is essentially the same, but things like the onboard computers have changed, the software were running is a little bit different and there are small changes throughout the airplane that are different enough that we need to verify them.

Manufacturing design is a very difficult time in flight testing, especially in developmental work because if you find anything wrong, youre generally going to have to stop, investigate, then come up with a fix before you continue, Aronoff explained. So by nature of where we are in testing, we expect a slower schedule than anyone would really want.

No program has ever gone through testing on its original software. Were going to find things that need attention, and thats our job. If Im not finding things, Im not looking hard enough. In general, theres always things in the operational flight program software that we can do better. The contract and the requirements are spelled out for us, and so we continue to iterate on things until it meets the contract requirement  thats the measure of performance.

Our duty is to get the airplane fielded as quickly as it makes sense to, so that its safe. If you think, for example, of the worst instructor pilot and the worst student pilot combination ever, we have to make it safe enough for them. Yet we also have to make the airplane able to challenge the next Chuck Yeager, so its really finely tuned to suit the best of the best as well as those that need a little more help.

The changing world of military pilot training

Military pilot training is evolving. Fighter aircraft have become easier to fly in some respects, but they feature increasingly complex mission systems and information flow. Holding airspeed, altitude, and heading is still important for young aviators, but the emphasis in training has evolved to include employing the weapon system effectively to help streamline the path to advanced front-line fighters.

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The T-7 is a very high-performance airplane. Its very powerful with a lot of thrust, and it will be a great challenge for student pilots. I wouldnt say that stick and rudder skills arent important  theyre extremely important  but they arent the most important thing that we need to emphasize in modern pilot training. One of the big elements that separates the T-7A from the T-38 is the ability to download mission system tasks into the cockpit, Aronoff explains. Theoretically on day one of pilot training, a student could be logging onto a data link, could be setting up different screens and fighting that information overload. Ultimately, the end user [Air Education and Training Command] will tailor a syllabus to build the product, in this case the student pilot that they need. We are providing a tool that enables that.

BTX-1 and the first engineering and manufacturing development T-7A fly together over Edwards AFB. USAF Christian Turner

The T-7A cockpit features a side-stick control column and a customizable large area display, or LAD. You can have up to four different portals up, including mini portals, and you can have a different format for each portal, Aronoff explains. Its extremely customizable, which is going to challenge the students in terms of managing all of the information. They will need to decide whats important, and what isnt. What size screen do they want, how will they use the HOTAS [hands-on throttle-and-stick] controls, or are they going to use their fingers, because its a touchscreen display. How do they find the information theyre looking for, and what information do they want displayed at any one time?

The student can fly, for example, with a moving map on the right screen, a weapons display in the middle screen, and maybe a simulated targeting pod on the left screen. Will the display look like a Raptor display, an F-35, an F-16? No, but all the relevant data is there. Thats not to say the jet isnt capable of doing that in the future. It just wasnt a requirement for the T-7A to mirror any specific aircrafts displays.

The T-7 ITF is primarily evaluating the T-7A from an Undergraduate Pilot Training, or UPT, perspective. The first step in jet training. However, it also has a keen eye on the future application of the T-7 in the follow-on introduction-to-fighter fundamentals, or IFF, which is being taken into consideration. Every time we fly the airplane, even now, were looking at how an instructor would employ it. Every time Im in the back seat of the T-7A Im thinking like a UPT instructor. We have a diverse team here with T-38, F-15, F-16, and F-35 guys, and as we test the T-7A we evaluate it for future profiles that we will tackle later on in the program, such as an introduction-to-fighter fundamentals profile, where a student and instructor will go and fly a BFM [basic fighter maneuvres] sortie, for example.

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The T-7A is not equipped with a radar or targeting pod, and sensor data is synthetically generated in the avionics for training purposes, and can be shared via data link. The aircraft cannot carry any training weapons such as practice bombs and weapons employment in training will all be simulated. In fact, the only external store the T-7A is mandated to carry is a travel cargo pod.

AETC is concurrently working closely with Boeing on development of the T-7A simulator, which will be an important part of the overall syllabus. Aronoff says that right now for every hour of live flying the team undertakes, it spends two or three hours in the simulator honing the different mission profiles. For all of the data-gathering maneuvers we need to fly on a sortie, we rehearse them in the simulator. At Edwards we currently just have the one simulator and we also make a lot of use of the Boeing simulator that they have in St. Louis.

USAF and Boeing test pilots are jointly undertaking test flights at Edwards AFB. Jamie Hunter

One of the big things I always get asked about as a T-38 instructor is landing from the back seat of the T-7A. In the T-38 this is somewhat of a traumatic experience, with very limited forward visibility. Im pleased to say that the T-7 tandem cockpit has much better forward visibility thanks to that stadium seating.

Breaking new ground

Unlike the 1950s and 60s, when new military aircraft types were emerging with regularity, the T-7A program is one of the rare times in modern military aviation where a brand new aircraft type is being flight-tested. Almost every time we fly the T-7 here at Edwards were doing something thats never been done in the airplane before. Thats exciting because I can say Im the first person to go this fast or this high in the airplane. Some people look at me strangely when I tell them Im really excited about putting this airplane out of control and doing departure suitability testing. Were doing brand new developmental testing on a brand new airplane.

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I like to emphasize that it can be a straight pilot training aircraft, where you fly and learn how to do aerobatics, learn how to land a jet, things like that. You can also tailor it in a live virtual constructive [LVC] environment where you have three or four actual wingmen with you fighting your classmates who are down on the ground in the simulator. The instructor can ramp up or down the scenarios, whatever the student or the training desires.

Fundamentally, the way were going to produce pilots will change. They can learn how to turn on the radar on their first flight in the T-7 if they want that. Students that are doing well and flourishing are going to be able to move forward a lot quicker with the T-7.

Ultimately, its up to AETC to decide how they want to unlock all of these features, but with the T-7 we have all the right tools in place to dramatically advance military pilot training in the USAF.

Contact the author: jamie.hunter@teamrecurrent.io
Syrian insurgents said on Wednesday they have lifted the curfew they imposed on the capital Damascus a few days ago, to urge people to resume business as usual.

The insurgents lifted the curfew to urge people to resume going to work to help rebuild the new Syria, a statement by the rebel command said.

After Bashar al-Assad's fall on Sunday, the insurgents imposed a curfew in the evening and night hours.

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Meanwhile, the head of the rebel-alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahmed al-Sharaa, who used to go by the nom de geurre Abu Mohamed al-Joulani, said they will have no mercy and will hunt down everyone who tortured the Syrian people.

"Those involved in the torture and killing of prisoners will not be pardoned," al-Sharaa said.

He also urged foreign countries to hand over "criminals" who fled to their cities.

Human rights activists estimate that between 2011 and 2018, more than 30,000 prisoners in the notorious Sednaya jail in Syria alone were either executed or died after torture, denial of medical care or from starvation.
Dec. 10U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland joined dozens of fellow Indigenous New Mexicans last year in a casino ballroom, where they engaged in a painful exercise: sharing their experiences with federal Indian boarding schools.

The Isleta Resort & Casino was the second-to-last stop in October 2023 for a nationwide "Road to Healing" tour. Interior Department officials, including Haaland, were tasked with listening to stories about schools designed to forcefully assimilate Native youth to white American culture.

These histories of the Indian boarding school system will become part of the Library of Congress's collection and form the basis of exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

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The Interior Department announced this week the next step in its yearslong Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative: a plan to preserve oral histories and promulgate education resources and exhibits in partnership with the Library of Congress and Smithsonian museum.

"For decades, this terrible chapter was hidden from our history books, but now, our Administration's work and these partnerships will ensure that no one will ever forget," Haaland said in a statement Monday.

Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo, announced start of the initiative in 2021. In the years since, the effort has resulted in the 12-stop Road to Healing, an oral history project and the release of two extensive reports detailing the often-abusive conditions at Indian boarding schools.

President Joe Biden issued a formal apology in October for the "sin on our soul" of Indian boarding schools at the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona.

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Also Monday, Biden established Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument on the site of a former school in Carlisle, Pa., that "subjected 7,800 Indian children from more than 140 Tribes to its coercive form of education," according to Biden's proclamation. It is the 432nd site in the National Park Service's system.

The Interior Department's new partnership with the Library of Congress and National Museum of American History is intended to spread awareness of the boarding schools' history.

"Ensuring this history is told is just the beginning of a long effort to heal our nation," Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said in a statement.

A memorandum of understanding between the Interior Department and the museum tasks museum staff with developing "a dynamic, multi-modal public history project" in collaboration with tribal communities and scholars. The project will include an in-person exhibit, online components and resources for teachers and students.

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The Library of Congress, meanwhile, will preserve a series of first-person stories tied to the schools. The collection will join the library's American Folklife Center, which offers up thousands of digitized pieces of history for public perusal online.

"The Library of Congress is honored to be entrusted with the stewardship of these important, albeit painful, oral histories," Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement.

The effort will ensure histories of the boarding schools endure, Haaland said  and receive the acknowledgement they merit.

"We are here because our ancestors persevered. Their stories  our stories  are everywhere  in the air we breathe and the land we walk on," she said. "We tell those stories because Native American history is American history."
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  She claimed she was held hostage before causing a deadly wrong-way crash on I-25. Now, in the third day of the trial of Jeannine Jaramillo, video showed the moment she faced investigators who quickly said her story was full of lies. After the crash, Jaramillo told police an ex-boyfriend held her at knifepoint and poured gasoline on her.

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Agent Wyatt Harwell was the main case agent for the investigation into Jaramillo and interviewed her hours after the crash. He said the more questions he asked, the more her story didnt add up.

Agent Wyatt Harwell: Too many things werent lining up.

State: Did she indicate that the gas would be on that sweater?

Agent: Yes.

State: Did you smell that sweater?

Agent: I did.

State: Did it smell or have the odor of gasoline?

Agent: No maam.

Jaramillo teared up in court on Tuesday while watching video of the interview. Police say she caused the 2022 crash that killed retired Las Vegas firefighter Frank Lovato and Santa Fe police officer Robert Duran who was chasing Jaramillos car. During her police interview, Jaramillo claimed shed been beaten by her ex-boyfriend but agents suspected it was a lie based on what they didnt see.

Agent: What can not be explained is you getting hit on the head so hard by a man that he knocks you out and theres not a bruise theres not a welt, theres nothing.

Jaramillo: How do you know theres no bruises on my head?

Agent: Because were looking at you.

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The case agent also testified that Jaramillo claimed to be in the passenger side of the car but only the airbag for the drivers side was activated and photos show it was too packed. Prosecutors also shared letters Jaramillo wrote to New Mexico State Police claiming she was innocent and also blamed the crash on Officer Duran for driving into oncoming traffic during the chase.

Jaramillo is charged with two counts of murder and faces a possible life sentence if convicted.

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.
IOTA, La. (KLFY)  Iota Police are asking for your help in finding a woman and her young son who have been missing since Monday.

Tatum McCurtain, 24, and her son Grayson, 2, were last seen at a family members home in Iota on Monday. Authorities said she left in a grey 2002 Honda Accord with Louisiana license plate number ZUB 826.

She is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Police said McCurtain is homeless, and has medical issues.

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Anyone with information on McCurtains whereabouts is asked to contact Iota Police Lt. Tyler Broussard at 337-581-3802.

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Trevor Kilgore said in a complaint filed in Iowa District Court that he was buried alive after a trench wall he was working in at a home construction site fell on June 12, 2023

For about 20 minutes, Kilgore was buried in dirt until he was finally rescued, he alleges

Kilgore is suing his former employer and three other defendants alleging negligence

A man who said he was buried alive after a trench collapsed at an Iowa construction site is suing his former employer alleging gross negligence.

According to a complaint filed in Iowa District Court on Thursday, Dec. 5, and obtained by PEOPLE, Trevor Kilgore was an employee for Iowa-based contractor Edwards Enterprises, which was subcontracted to excavate and do plumbing work at the site of a new home in Polk County. At the time, Kilgores responsibility was to perform plumbing connection work.

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On June 12, 2023, Kilgore's co-worker at Edwards Enterprises  who the complaint claims lacked the proper OSHA education and training to ensure compliance with OSHA excavation safety requirements for this excavation job  dug a trench using an excavator, the complaint said.

Related: 2 Construction Workers Dead After Trench Collapse at JFK Airport

The complaint also alleged that Gregg Edwards, the president of Edwards Enterprises, did not arrive at the job site to ensure the trench and the surrounding area were safe for his workers.

PEOPLE contacted Edwards for comment on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

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At around 1:25 p.m. local time, as Kilgore was working inside the 12-foot deep, improperly benched, improperly shored, inadequately-protected trench, the trench wall quickly collapsed, "fully burying Trevor alive under a wall of dirt, read the complaint.

When the collapse happened, Kilgore dove towards the side of the wall and scrunched his body up to create an air pocket and to avoid crushing his head entirely, the court documents note.

As he later described to a Polk County deputy while waiting in an ambulance to take him to a hospital, Kilgore said, according to the complaint, I looked behind me and that entire wall was coming at me. I tried my best to scrunch, so it didnt crush my head. It smacked my head against the other wall. And then I just yelled for help.

civil complaint An image from the scene of an Iowa construction site where a trench collapse occurred in June 2023, according to a lawsuit An image from the scene of an Iowa construction site where a trench collapse occurred in June 2023, according to a lawsuit

Related: 6-Year-Old Dies After Being Struck by Skid Steer Operated by Her Father: 'Her Joy and Love Lit Up Any Room'

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According to the complaint, the other employee who dug the trench told a Polk County official that he heard Kilgore say, Please save me. Dont let me die.

The complaint noted that Kilgore was buried alive by a whole wall of clay-like dirt about 10-12 feet deep in the trench and that the collapse crushed his body including his head, neck, back, chest, arms and legs.

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.

While buried alive, Trevor Kilgore thought he was going to die, read the complaint, which further stated that he was concerned that his wife would have to take care of his kids.

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The complaint said that Kilgores head was cleared of dirt after 5-10 minutes but remained buried alive from the neck down for 15-20 more minutes, adding that he also had difficulty breathing due to the weight of the dirt on him.

Related: Lone Survivor of Baltimore Bridge Collapse Says He Lives with Guilt After Nephew Died in the Water

While buried alive, even after his head was uncovered, Trevor Kilgore worried that he would not be able to get his lower half out from the dirt and that he might be ripped in half, said the complaint.

The court filing claimed that Gregg Edwards told a Polk County deputy at the cave-in site, Everybody can talk about shoring and boxes, everybody can do all that s***. Is it unsafe? Abso-f***ing- lutely. But its hard to make it safe. You gotta get a guy in there to make it safe.

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With the assistance of emergency responders, Kilgore emerged out of the trench and was taken into an ambulance, more than 30 minutes after he was buried alive, the complaint stated.

As a result of being buried alive in the trench collapse, the complaint said Kilgore sustained serious and permanent physical injuries and mental health injuries. Following the incident, according to the suit, he has been unable to return to work at Edwards Enterprises.

In addition to Edwards, the complaint named Jerrys Homes, R&D Plumbing and the other employee who allegedly dug the trench in which Kilgore was to complete his work as defendants in the suit, alleging negligence.

Related: 6-Year-Old Dies After Being Struck by Skid Steer Operated by Her Father: 'Her Joy and Love Lit Up Any Room'

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As the designated competent person for this job, Defendant Edwards was required to know all applicable OSHA excavation safety rules and regulations before any excavation began, read the complaint.

Defendant Edwards knew that failure to follow these excavation safety requirements made it highly probable that Trevor Kilgore would be seriously injured or killed, the complaint later added.

The complaint also alleged that Edwards knew that this work was unsafe, yet failed to properly train his employees on how to safely work in and around a trench.

Kilgore is seeking damages not specified in the complaint.



Read the original article on People
A completed wetland mitigation project in Calhoun County. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Agricultural Mitigation)

Iowa Agricultural Mitigation Inc. is restoring wetlands in Iowa and offsetting the costs by selling the credits back to farmers who farm wetland acres on their farms.

Recently the nonprofit was awarded just under $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore 75 acres of wetland in Wright County as part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Mitigation Banking Program.

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Eric Rector, the Wright County Conservation Board director, said he wanted to start a water quality project in his county because he doesnt think the needle is moving very fast on those statewide.

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 11% of Iowas surface area was wetland prior to European settlement of the state. Since then, 95% of wetlands have been drained in the state, and a recent study from the Union of Concerned Scientists reported Iowa has 640,000 acres of wetlands.

The same report found that wetlands in Iowa alone could mitigate $477 million worth of flood damage to residential areas, if the ecological systems are protected from agricultural practices that drain, fill or divert water from the wetlands.

The project in Wright County would restore 75 acres of wetlands and stock the Iowa Agricultural Mitigation bank with wetland credits for farmers to purchase and offset affected wetlands on their properties.

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Wetland banking

Kevin Griggs, the program manager for Iowa Agricultural Mitigation, has been part of the project since its inception in 2010. Griggs said the nonprofit was founded with a mission to restore wetlands in Iowa and generate mitigation credits for farmers at a low cost.

A wetland conservation provision of the 1985 Farm Bill, commonly called swampbuster discourages agricultural production on wetlands by restricting a farmers ability to receive USDA benefits if they engage in any activities that alter the wetland.

Farmers who have drained or altered wetlands on their property to create more productive farmland can purchase credits from the wetland mitigation bank, acre-for-acre, to stay in compliance with swampbuster.

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Theyre able to solve an important issue that theyve got in their farming operation by simply writing a check and filling out a form, Griggs said.

Farmers always have the option to restore wetlands on their own property, but Griggs said the farmed and tilled acres are usually low quality wetlands.

Our intent all along was, well, maybe its okay to replace those low quality wetlands with high quality wetlands someplace else, Griggs said.

Griggs looks for areas that could result in a more substantial wetland. Most of the time, thats in north central Iowa, also known as the Des Moines lobe, where the majority of tile drainage occurs in the state.

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Thats the most common place to find the need for mitigation credits, so appropriately, that is where most of our mitigation sites are located, Griggs said.

The mitigation bank aims to restore wetlands that are in the same watershed as the farmers who are buying the mitigation credits, but has accommodated some credit-purchasers who arent directly in the same watershed.

Until we have established mitigation sites in multiple watersheds across the state, (NRCS) are allowing us to mitigate wetlands from other places, at the existing sites, Griggs said.

A spokesperson for NRCS said in a statement landowners play an important role in restoring and protecting wetland health on working agricultural lands and wetland mitigation banking provides an alternative option to agricultural producers looking to compensate for impacts to wetlands on their lands.

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To generate a mitigation credit, a wetland site has to be improved. For example, Griggs explained an easy project would be to take a historically wet field and remove or plug any drainage systems installed by a farmer in order to restore the natural hydrologic regime of that landscape.

Other projects are more intensive and require some construction to restore the landscape and seed native wetland plants. Landowners are paid for a permanent easement, meaning once the wetland is established, it has to remain wetland forever.

He said most of the landowners the bank works with are looking for a way to restore their land and have been happy to work with the mitigation bank program.

The payments farmers make for the credits go straight to the next mitigation project, which is why Griggs said they decided to run the organization as a nonprofit.

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The fear was that if it was run as a commercial operation, that the credit prices would deter people from using the program, Griggs said. So the goal of the project is to keep our credit prices as low as we can so that we get more people to participate.

To date, Griggs said the mitigation bank has over 10 bank sites or restored wetlands, and has sold credits to more than 300 farmers in Iowa.

Iowa Agricultural Mitigation was recently a partner in a large project with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to close the last remaining agricultural drainage wells, and redirect drainage to a restored wetland site.

Griggs said the organization provided most of the construction costs for the restored wetland and in return will sell the mitigation credits.

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And that just continues to perpetuate the ability that we have to find the next site and produce more credits and restore more wetlands, Griggs said.

A wetland restoration project in Humboldt County. Kevin Griggs said he looks forward to the spring when the newly transformed site will be green and full of water. (Photo courtesy or Iowa Agricultural Mitigation)

Wright County project

Iowa Agricultural Mitigation has made use of several grants from USDA. The nonprofit was the only Iowa project in the recent $7 million allocation from the department. Other winning projects were in Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Griggs said the goal of the project is to restore wetland in an area between Lake Cornelia and Elm Lake in Wright County. A goal is to eventually include a connection to Elm Lake, which is on the Department of Natural Resources list of impaired waters for high algal growth and turbidity.

So thats exciting for us in a number of ways, because we can see another big water quality success story, Griggs said.

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Rector, in Wright County, said the project is just beginning.

As of early December, he did not have commitments from landowners for the proposed 75-acre site which is currently used as crop land.

We can expand a little bit and move out away from this area, as long as it provides the same type of results or more, Rector said regarding the potential of landowners who are unwilling to sell for the project.

Rector said the wetland restoration project would kill a lot of birds with a few stones because it would give Iowans another area for outdoor recreation in the county and help improve the quality of the lakes, which prior to recent conservation efforts, werent worth a darn for fishing.

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Rector said he hopes folks in his county will see the importance of projects like this that will improve water quality issues.

Instead of hanging back and letting everybody else do it, lets take a proactive approach instead of reactive approach, Rector said. Our water is polluted with nitrogen and chemicals, and our soil is blowing away every year, and we need to do something about it now, instead of later.

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BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- About 100 university experts and scholars from China and around the world gathered at Peking University (PKU) on Wednesday, advocating for more cooperation to promote global development, security and civilization.

The two-day Global Conference on University-affiliated Think Tanks 2024 brought experts together to discuss new paths for global development and prosperity, explore the opportunities and solutions for global security, and seek ways to promote exchanges and mutual understanding among civilizations.

Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University in the United States, said in a video speech that China has made a huge contribution to addressing global challenges by introducing three major global initiatives -- the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

"Each of these adds a major part of problem solving and global solidarity to address the interconnected challenges of the environment, economic inequality, technological change and geopolitical change," he said.

The topics discussed during the conference include climate change, energy transition, food security, technological innovation, international relations and cultural exchanges.

Green industrialization is an important way to address global warming, said Justin Lin Yifu, dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at PKU, adding that people need to work together to deal with it.

"Those countries that could easily achieve peak carbon have a responsibility to help other countries," he said.

Jin Zhijun, an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, also underscored the role of cooperation in the energy transition. "If the global scientific community join forces to produce cheaper and cleaner technologies, it would be a great contribution to human civilization," said Jin.

"Two shared values that bind us together are climate change and global health," said Gordon G. Liu, dean of the Institute for Global Health and Development at PKU. "We need to find common values to follow in order to build a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

Experts and scholars from PKU, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Korea University, Istanbul University and other universities attended the conference.

A launching ceremony of the Global University-affiliated Think Tanks Network was also held at the conference. The network, led by PKU in conjunction with dozens of renowned universities from home and abroad, is committed to providing intellectual support to address global challenges and promote global development. 
Central to the freedom of the press is the ability to express strongly-worded opinions and to push back on received wisdom. Yesterdays Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) ruling against The Spectator appears to have undermined this ability.

The article at the centre of the dispute focused on Nicola Sturgeon and her stance on transgender rights in Scotland. The author, Gareth Roberts, stated that Ms Sturgeon was interviewed by writer Juno Dawson, a man who claims to be a woman, and so the conversation naturally turned to gender.

Dawson complained that this language breached provisions in the Editors Code relating to accuracy, harassment and discrimination, claiming that it was deliberate misgendering, intended to offend.

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The complaints relating to harassment and accuracy were not upheld; the complaint regarding discrimination was. Ipso ruled that referring to Dawson as a man claiming to be a woman was pejorative and prejudicial of the complainant due to her gender identity, and not justified by the columnists right to express his views on the broader issues of a persons sex and gender identity.

This is a regrettable overstep. The issue of gender identity is highly contested, and Roberts should have been entitled to express his view. By deciding to rule in favour of Dawson on this matter, Ipso risks a chilling effect on the ability of gender critical voices to express their views and make the strongest arguments available to them, including the argument that a legal change of gender does not alter biological reality. It would have been far better if the regulator had chosen to remain above the fray rather than weighing in.

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.
Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Iranian cartoonist and activist Atena Farghadani, jailed in Iran's infamous Evin prison to serve a six-year sentence over her work, had her sentence reduced on appeal to eight months and was released, according to her lawyer and human rights organizations and advocates.

Farghadani received a five-year sentence for insulting religious sanctities and a one-year sentence for spreading propaganda against the state in June, one month after she was detained in what the Center for Human Rights in Iran described as an escalating crack down on women's rights and dissent in the Middle Eastern Country.

Her attorney, Mohammad Moghimi, announced her release from the notorious Evin Prison on X on Tuesday.

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A statement on an Instagram account associated with Farghadani states that her charge of insulting religious sanctities was acquitted while her second charge over her publication of a cartoon entitled Class Inequality was reduced from a year to eight months.

"We are deeply relieved by Atena Farghadani's release and hope she receives the care and support she needs after enduring such unjust and brutal imprisonment," Julie Trebault, executive director of Artists at Risk Connection, an international artistic freedom advocacy organization, said in a statement.

"Her case is a stark reminder of the risks faced by artists in Iran simply for exercising their right to free expression."

Considered one of the world's most repressive countries, Iran has seemingly increased its crackdown on dissent in recent years as the ruling regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confronted by protests, including the widespread women-led movement that followed the police-involved killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

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Amnesty international states the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly were among those further suppressed by the government following the uprising.

Farghadani was arrested by security forces on April 13. A statement from several expression of freedom advocacy organizations, including ARC and PEN America, issued following her arrest state she was detained while trying to post her artwork on a wall hear Khamenei's compound in the capital Tehran.

Her detention followed reports that she was beaten and fell unconscious after being struck in the head.

Farghadani was previously detained in June 2023 over posting a sartorial cartoon to her Instagram page.

In August 2014, she was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for spreading propaganda -- a sentence that was reduced to 18 months by an appeals court that April following public opposition.
By Emily Rose

TEL AVIV (Reuters) -U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Thursday he believed a deal on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release may be close as Israel had signalled it was ready and there were signs of movement from Hamas.

After meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Sullivan said: "It might not happen but I believe it can happen with political will on both sides."

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He said he planned to travel to Qatar and Egypt, Washington's fellow moderators of the talks, to advance efforts that "would start bringing those hostages home. It would also allow for a massive surge in humanitarian assistance."

A Western diplomat in the region said this week that a deal was taking shape but was likely to be limited in scope, involving the release of only a handful of hostages and a short pause in hostilities.

Sullivan, an adviser to President Joe Biden, said he had been engaging with President-elect Donald Trump's choice to succeed him, Mike Waltz, "in a professional and serious way on all the issues that affect the State of Israel."

He dismissed suggestions that Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office on Jan. 20 before accepting a deal.

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"No, I do not get that sense. I got the sense from the prime minister he is ready to do a deal," he told a press conference in Tel Aviv. "My goal will be to put us in a position to be able to close this deal this month."

"I can't make any promises or predictions to you but I wouldn't be here today if I thought this thing was just waiting until after Jan. 20," Sullivan said.

Such a truce, allowing for the release of at least some of the 100 hostages remaining in Gaza, would be only the second since the war began in October 2023. Sullivan said seven of the hostages were American although four were believed to be dead.

An agreement would also enable the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

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He said Hamas' negotiating posture appeared to have changed following a ceasefire deal that halted Israel's hostilities with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and which made clear Hamas could not expect outside support.

"And from that moment forward, we've had a different character to the negotiation and we believe that it puts us in a position to be able to close this negotiation."

Israel's killing of Hamas leaders including the main architect of the Oct. 7 attacks, Yahya Sinwar, and its destruction of Hamas' organized military structures was also relevant, he said.

Anything more than a limited truce remains unlikely so long as both sides stick to demands that have hampered numerous rounds of failed negotiations.

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"Whether it does get done still depends on both sides signing on the proverbial dotted line," Sullivan said.

'HELL TO PAY'

Hamas, also backed by Iran, wants an end to the war before all hostages are freed, while Israel says the war will not end until the hostages return and Hamas no longer rules Gaza or constitutes a threat to Israelis.

Sullivan declined to comment on reports that Hamas may be willing to agree to Israeli troops remaining in the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza and on the Philadelphi Corridor on its southern edge for longer than they had previously accepted.

The war began after Hamas gunmen stormed into Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies.

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Since then, Israel's military has levelled swathes of Gaza, killing nearly 45,000 Palestinians, driving nearly all its 2.3 million people from their homes and giving rise to hunger and disease, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Trump has demanded Hamas release the hostages held in Gaza before he takes over from Biden on Jan. 20. Otherwise, Trump has said, there will be "hell to pay".

The timing may never have been better for Netanyahu after Israel reestablished its reputation as the most powerful Middle East force with operations in Lebanon and Syria that weakened Hamas' Iranian-backed allies and left it isolated.

Netanyahu's once-fragile coalition has been strengthened by the addition of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and his more centrist faction.

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A Palestinian official close to the talks described what he called "a fever of negotiations" with ideas emerging on all sides, including among mediators in Egypt and Qatar and said Trump's involvement had given the talks a boost.

(Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Andrew Mills and Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Howard Goller; Editing by James Mackenzie)
Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syria since Bashar Assad's ouster.

Its forces have also advanced into the Golan Heights, a previously demilitarized zone in southwestern Syria.

Israel's defense minister said it intended to create a "defense zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria."

Israel says it has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syria in the days since Bashar Assad's regime collapsed.

On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said it had "struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria" in 48 hours as part of a push to stop the weapons "falling into the hands of terrorist elements."

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday welcomed the toppling of Assad but said the moment is "fraught with significant dangers."

Assad's downfall followed a surprise rebel offensive led by the Islamist opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which traces its roots to Al-Qaeda.

Per Tuesday's IDF statement, the Israeli military had conducted strikes on targets including antiaircraft batteries, Syrian Air Force airfields, and weapons production sites.

It said the strikes took out "numerous" strategic assets, including cruise and Scud missiles, tanks, radars, and attack helicopters.

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The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which gathers data from on-the-ground sources in Syria, said on Tuesday that it had documented nearly 310 Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory since Assad's government collapsed on December 8.

The Israeli navy also hit two ports, one in Al-Bayda and one in Latakia, the IDF said.

The IDF did not say how many ships were struck, but Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the mission had been a "great success" and that the navy had destroyed the Syrian fleet overnight, CNN reported.

A still from a video shared by Israel Defense Forces. Israel Defense Forces

The IDF declined to clarify what proportion of Syria's military capability had been taken out when approached by Business Insider for comment.

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Katz said that Israel intended to create a "sterile defense zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria," adding that it's "in order to prevent terrorism in Syria from taking root," per The Guardian's translation.

The US and Turkey have also been reported to be carrying out airstrikes in Syria since Assad's fall.

Washington has targeted ISIS camps and operatives in Syria with precision strikes, President Joe Biden said on Sunday.

Jonathan Lord, a former political-military analyst at the Pentagon, previously told Business Insider the US military was hitting as many targets as possible as it was "rightly worried that ISIS could slip through the cracks in the chaos."

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For its part, Ankara has reportedly launched a drone strike on a military site in an area held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Force, which it views as a terror group.

Troops on the ground

The strikes come as Netanyahu announced that he had sent forces into the Golan Heights, a formerly demilitarized buffer zone in southwestern Syria.

In a video address on Sunday, Netanyahu described this as a "temporary defensive position" designed "to ensure that no hostile force embeds itself right next to the border of Israel."

Israel has denied reports that its forces have advanced beyond the buffer zone.

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An anonymous Syrian source previously told Reuters that troops had reached Qatana, a town close to the Syrian capital Damascus.

Business Insider could not independently confirm the report. The IDF declined to comment.

Israeli tanks in the Golan Heights. AP Photo/Matias Delacroix

Several Arab countries have criticized the move into the Golan Heights.

Egypt's foreign ministry said on Monday that it constituted "an exploitation of the state of fluidity and vacuum in Syria to occupy more Syrian territories," the Egypt Independent reported.

The Arab League said that Israel was "taking advantage of the developments in the internal situation in Syria," per CNN.

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Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, confirmed at a press briefing on Monday that the Israeli military had entered the Golan Heights and was stationed in at least three locations there.

Dujarric said that peacekeepers at the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force had told Israel that such actions would violate the 1974 disengagement agreement and that there should be no military forces or activities in the area.

Netanyahu said that the agreement had "collapsed" and that "the Syrian army abandoned its positions."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it had killed two people in the north of the Gaza Strip who were involved in the Hamas massacre in Israel more than 14 months ago.

One of them led an attack on an Israeli military post near the border with the Gaza Strip, in which 14 Israeli soldiers were killed, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted on X.

It said the man had also attacked Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip during the subsequent war.

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The Israeli Air Force killed him in a former school building in Gaza City, the IDF said.

In a separate strike on Jabalia, the military also killed the head of Hamas' paragliding unit, who directed the militia's advance into Israeli territory on October 7 from the air - during which some fighters entered Israel by paraglider.

The IDF did not say exactly when the two men were killed.

Israel's attacks on Hamas are currently focused on the north of the Gaza Strip.

According to Palestinian reports, Israeli attacks often cause many civilian casualties. The Israeli military has repeatedly emphasized that it takes measures to reduce the risk to civilians.
Standing some 40 feet from the charred remains of the Syrian air force helicopter, Ahmad Abu Leyl, a young rebel fighter, cocked his ear, listening for the characteristic buzzing of an Israeli drone overhead.

I dont want to get closer," he said. "They might hit this place again if they see were near.

Then he climbed on his motorcycle, gunned the engine and sped away.

It had been a difficult night for Abu Leyl and the small detachment of rebel fighters tasked with protecting the Aqraba military air base just three miles southeast of the edge of the capital, Damascus. They had arrived here early Monday, a day after the Syrian army crumbled  along with the brutally repressive government of Bashar Assad  and the rebels swept into power.

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All was calm at first, with Abu Leyl and his fellow rebels doing little more than stopping the occasional trespasser from looting the abandoned barracks and officer's quarters. Then early Tuesday morning, a series of explosions turned the bases last functional helicopters  a pair of Soviet-era Mi-8s  into blazing husks.

It was part of a massive, multiday airstrike campaign by Israel that saw its air force and navy hit more than 350 targets across the country since Saturday, destroying an estimated 70% of Syrias strategic military capabilities, according to the Israeli military.

Read more: In post-Assad Damascus, a mix of joy and trepidation

There were so many blasts we didnt sleep, said Abu Leyl, who gave a nom de guerre because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Only one forlorn-looking Mi-8 remained on the tarmac, but Abu Leyl dismissed it.

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"It doesn't even work," he said. "I guess that's why they didn't bother bombing it."

Israel is doing everything it can to prevent Syria's new leaders  Islamists who trace their roots to Al Qaeda but say they have moderated their views  from inheriting the old government's considerable arsenal. The Israeli military said it targeted Syrian antiaircraft batteries, missile depots, manufacturing facilities, drones, helicopters, fighter jets, tanks, hangars, radars and 15 naval vessels.

Rebel forces seized Mengh airbase and the city of Tel Rifaat in the Aleppo countryside on Dec. 1, 2024, following clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces and Syrian government forces. (Rami Alsayed / Getty Images)

The attacks come as Israeli ground forces pushed into the buffer zone separating the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria.

The troops now occupy the Syrian side of Mt. Hermon, a strategic site that affords whoever holds it a view of Damascus. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military was creating a defensive sterile zone but did not elaborate on what that meant.

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From here, I warn the rebel leaders in Syria: Those who follow Assads path will end like Assad, he said.

Read more: Analysis: Assad was a brutal dictator. Will Syria's new leaders be any better?

The moves sparked a wave of opprobrium from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which accused Israel of attacking Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Geir Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy to Syria, also decried Israels actions, saying they needed to stop.

The Biden administration, which has done little over the last year to constrain Israels military actions in the region, said it hoped the incursions into the Golan Heights were temporary.

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"Israel has said that these actions are temporary to defend its borders  these are not permanent actions," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, pointing to the abandonment of border positions by the Syrian army that has left a vacuum.

And so ultimately, what we want to see is lasting stability between ... Israel and Syria," he said.

A Syrian opposition fighter tears a painting depicting Syria's overthrown President Bashar Assad and his late father, Hafez Assad, at Aleppo International Airport on Dec. 2, 2024. (Ghaith Alsayed / Associated Press)

He called on "all sides" to uphold a disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria that followed the 1973 Yom Kippur War and that the U.N. says Israel is now violating.

Israel's attacks are also aimed at preventing Iran from preserving a foothold in Syria.

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Under Assad, Syria was part of Irans "axis of resistance," a network of regional governments and paramilitary factions Tehran wielded against the U.S. and Israel. Syria's territory was used as a logistical passageway for the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, which has been at war with Israel since October 2023.

The relationship went both ways, with Hezbollah fighters serving as shock troops that bolstered Assads flagging army  an intervention the group justified as protecting Shiite minorities and shrines in Syria from Islamist and jihadi factions in the opposition.

Read more: A much-changed Middle East prepares for Trump 2.0

In the last few weeks, Israel has repeatedly hit border crossings between Syria and Lebanon that it said were being used to smuggle weapons for Hezbollahs arsenal.

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Israels recent airstrikes have also had an effect on the groups presence in Syria, pushing many of its leaders and cadres to flee back to Lebanon.

Israeli soldiers stand next to a vehicle near the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, on Dec. 10, 2024. (Matias Delacroix / Associated Press)

Hezbollah? They all went home," said Rabie, a 39-year-old resident near Sayeda Zainab, a Shiite shrine south of Damascus, who gave only his first name. "We woke up this morning and none of them are around."

In a statement Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel wanted to have relations with Syrias new government.

But if this regime allows Iran to reestablish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons, or weapons of any kind, to Hezbollah, or attacks us  we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price, he said.

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Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report.

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.
By Ramadan Abed and Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA/CAIRO (Reuters) -Dozens of relatives wept and recited verses from the Koran, Islam's holy book, at a Gaza Strip hospital on Friday before burying some of the 33 Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike on a post office where they had been sheltering.

Medics said families displaced by the 14-month-old conflict had sought refuge in the postal facility in Nuseirat camp. The attack late on Thursday damaged several houses nearby.

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Israel said it was targeting a senior Islamic Jihad member when it hit the structure.

Some of the bodies gathered al Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat were wrapped in white shrouds and others in blankets from home. The families accompanied them on a walk to their graves.

"They have killed the hope and optimism," said Suheil Mattar, whose grandchildren and daughter-in-law were killed.

"Every time things happen and we say there will be a truce and we will rest... After that, they change their minds, they change their minds, we don't know why," Mattar said.

Months of ceasefire efforts by Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar, backed by the United States, have failed to conclude a deal between the two warring sides.

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Israel said it had targeted an Islamic Jihad leader of attacks on Israeli civilians and troops. It accused the militant group of exploiting civilian infrastructure and the population as a human shield for its activities. It did not identify the Islamic Jihad member by name.

Nuseirat is one of the Gaza Strips eight historic camps originally for Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war around the establishment of Israel. Today, it is part of a dense urban area crowded with displaced people from throughout the enclave.

"We've seen absolutely horrific images from the scene," Louise Wateridge, a senior emergency officer for the U.N. Palestinian relief agency, told a U.N. press briefing in Geneva by video link from Nuseirat on Friday.

"There are parents looking for their children, children covered in dust and blood, looking for their parents, multiple injuries on top of the casualties reported and people still buried under the rubble," she said.

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On Friday, Palestinian health officials said at least 12 people were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes across the enclave, including three in a tent housing a displaced family in Khan Younis and a local journalist in Gaza City.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in Tel Aviv on Thursday he believed a deal on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release may be close as Israel had signalled it was ready and there were signs of movement from Hamas.

The war in the Palestinian enclave began after Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7, 2023, stormed into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back to Hamas-run Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Some 100 hostages remain in Gaza.

Since then, Israel's military has levelled swathes of Gaza, driving nearly all of its 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing nearly 44,900 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Howard Goller; Additional reporting by Ramadan Abed in Gaza and Emma Farge in Geneva; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Four combat groups of the Israeli army are still deployed in southern Syria, according to the military.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that a brigade combat team was responding to threats along the border and had confiscated disused Syrian army tanks.

The aim of the Israeli operation is to ensure the security of the civilian population in the north of Israel, it said.

Other units apparently discovered an outpost of the Syrian army on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon within the buffer zone between Israel and Syria. They confiscated mines, explosives and missiles from an arms depot found at the outpost.

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The Israeli military moved troops into the buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and neighbouring Syria after rebels ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad at the weekend.

Israeli media have reported that combat troops have also been active just outside of the buffer zone.

Since the overthrow of al-Assad, the Israeli Air Force has also carried out massive bombing raids on military installations in Syria. Suspected chemical weapons are said to have been the target of the attacks.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz on Wednesday and stressed the importance of "close consultation between the United States and Israel as events develop in Syria."
An Israeli attack in the north of the Gaza Strip killed 21 people on Wednesday, with more bodies believed to be under the rubble, staff at the Kamal Adwan Hospital said.

Palestinian witnesses reported that a four-storey residential building in Beit Lahia near the hospital had been hit.

The Israeli military did not initially comment. It says Hamas is currently trying to reorganize in the northern and central sections of the coastal strip.

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According to the Palestinian authorities, more than 44,700 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Gaza war. No distinction is made in these figures between civilians and fighters.

The Israeli military has repeatedly emphasized that it takes measures to reduce the risk to civilians.

Israel reports death of two Hamas October 7 fighters

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that it had killed two Hamas militants who took part in the October 7 massacre on Israel.

One of them led an attack on an Israeli military post near the border with the Gaza Strip, in which 14 Israeli soldiers were killed, the IDF posted on X.

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It said the man, who was killed in a former school building in Gaza City, had also attacked Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip during the subsequent war.

In a separate strike on Jabalia, the military also killed the head of Hamas' paragliding unit, who directed the militia's advance into Israeli territory on October 7 from the air - during which some fighters entered Israel by paraglider.

The IDF did not say exactly when the two men were killed.

Four rockets fired from Gaza Strip at Israel

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired four rockets at Israel early on Wednesday, setting off sirens in border communities.

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The Israeli military said two missiles were intercepted and two fell in uninhabited open areas of Israel. There were no reports of injuries.

Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip has become increasingly rare.
JERUSALEM, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that he sees an opportunity to secure the release of all hostages still held in Gaza through a ceasefire deal.

"There is currently a chance for a new deal, hopefully for the release of all hostages, including those with American citizenship," said Katz in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

According to Katz's office, the two discussed several issues, including the renewed negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The talks for a ceasefire in Gaza have resumed following a truce agreement that ended the fighting between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah. No breakthrough has been announced yet in the brokered talks between Israel and Hamas.

About 100 hostages are still held by Hamas in Gaza. 
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israeli strikes pounded the Gaza Strip overnight and into Wednesday, with one attack ripping through a home where displaced people were sheltering in the isolated north. The strikes killed at least 33 people including children, Palestinian health officials said.

Violence also flared in outside Jerusalem, where an Israeli bus came under fire from a suspected Palestinian attacker late Wednesday, wounding three people including a 10-year-old boy, according to the military and hospital officials. The attack took place on a highway near major Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and the army was looking for the shooter in the area around Bethlehem.

The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza shows no end in sight, even after Israel reached a ceasefire with Lebanons Hezbollah militants and attention shifted to the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad by insurgents. Both the current and incoming U.S. administrations have said they hope to end the war in Gaza before the inauguration in January, but ceasefire talks have repeatedly stalled.

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The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban.

General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, although they do reflect world opinion. The votes in the 193-nation assembly were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire. Israel and its close ally the United States were in the tiny minority voting against.

Israeli strike in north Gaza wipes out 3 generations

The strike on the home killed 19 people in the northern town of Beit Lahiya near the border with Israel, according to nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital, which received the bodies. Hospital records show that a family of eight was among those killed: four children, their parents and two grandparents.

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The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas militant in the vicinity of the hospital. It said reports about the number of casualties in the strike were inaccurate, without elaborating. The military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and accuses militants of hiding among them, putting their lives in danger.

The hospital said another strike near its entrance on Wednesday killed a woman and her two children.

The hospital director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, said Israeli drones struck nearby residential blocks overnight, causing explosions that sparked panic among the facility's more than 120 sick and wounded patients.

We have received distress calls from neighbors and trapped people, but were not able to leave the hospital because of the continued risk, he said. We are witnessing a massive loss of life, with many martyrs in the targeted areas.

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Another strike in the decades-old Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed at least seven people, according to the Awda Hospital. The dead included two children, their parents and three other relatives, it said. Later, the hospital said another attack hit the same camp, killing four people and injuring 16 more.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the other strikes.

In Lebanon, where near-daily Israeli attacks have continued despite the ceasefire, at least five people died Wednesday in Israeli strikes in the south, according to Lebanons Health Ministry and state news agency.

Elsewhere in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces withdrew from a strategic town and handed it back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, the two militaries said. It appeared to be the first Israeli pullout from a Lebanese border town captured during the ground invasion.

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In Syria, the Israeli military estimates it has destroyed 70% to 80% of Syrian military assets in recent days, according to an official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an intelligence assessment. The military has said it has carried out hundreds of airstrikes.

Evacuation orders in camp after rocket fire

Militants in central Gaza fired four projectiles into Israel on Wednesday, two of which were intercepted, the military said. The other two fell in open areas, and there were no reports of casualties.

The military ordered the evacuation of a five-block area of the built-up Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, saying the rockets had been fired from there. The orders indicated that Israel would soon carry out strikes in the area.

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The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people, including children and older adults. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. They say women and children make up more than half the dead but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their count. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Thousands more Palestinians have gone missing during the war, some after encounters with Israeli troops.

UN says Gaza civilians face utterly devastating situation

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Israel has been waging a renewed offensive against Hamas militants in Gazas heavily destroyed north since early October. Troops have surrounded Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp, allowing in almost no humanitarian aid and ordering tens of thousands to flee to nearby Gaza City.

Israeli officials have said the three communities are mostly deserted, but the United Nations humanitarian office said Tuesday it believes around 65,000 to 75,000 people are still there, with little access to food, water, electricity or health care. Experts have warned that the north may be experiencing famine.

Sigrid Kaag, the senior U.N. humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters on Tuesday that civilians trying to survive all across Gaza face an utterly devastating situation.

She pointed to the breakdown in law and order and looting that has left the U.N. and many aid organizations unable to deliver food and other humanitarian essentials to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in need.

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Kaag said she and other U.N. officials repeatedly ask Israel for access for convoys to northern Gaza and elsewhere, to allow in commercial goods, to reopen the Rafah crossing from Egypt in the south and to approve dual-use items.

The Israeli military says it allows in enough humanitarian aid and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it, saying large amounts of aid have accumulated just inside Gaza's borders. U.N. officials say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order and ongoing fighting make it difficult to access the aid and distribute it, and have repeatedly called for a ceasefire.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have mediated talks between Israel and Hamas for nearly a year, and diplomats say those efforts have recently gained momentum.

But Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and all the hostages are returned and has said Israel will maintain a lasting military presence in some areas.

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___

Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Several people have been killed in further Israeli strikes near the border in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

It said three people were killed in an attack on the town of Bint Jubayl.

An attack on Beit Lif killed one person and a drone attack in Ainata killed one.

The Israeli military did not initially comment on the attacks. It was not clear whether those killed were members of Hezbollah.

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Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement agreed to a ceasefire on November 26 after painstaking negotiations to halt more than a year of cross-border conflict.

The deal calls for Hezbollah to withdraw behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometres north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, in accordance with UN resolution 1701.

Israel's ground troops are required to withdraw from Lebanon in stages over 60 days.

The Lebanese army is to monitor compliance with the agreement.

Despite the ceasefire, there have been repeated attacks by both sides.

The US Pentagon said on Wednesday that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had spoken with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz to emphasize that the United States was "closely consulting with our international partners" to support the ceasefire.
For the record:

2:18 p.m. Dec. 11, 2024: An earlier version of this report misidentified Hannah Kobayashi as Hannah Koyabashi.



Former state Sen. Steven Bradford steps out into the bright and blazing Westlake sun. Wearing a dark gray suit and armed with a roll of tape, he affixes a poster to the side of a streetlight. It reads: Jahnay Bryan, 23, missing from Los Angeles since Oct. 16.

The longtime politician shakes his head. Two months is far too long for a young Black woman to be missing without any word of progress on solving her case, he says.

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"When Black young women and children disappear, resources are not committed to find them," he asserted to The Times. "We need to ask ourselves, why is that?

Steven Bradford, former California state senator, joins an effort Tuesday to canvass the neighborhood where Jahnay Bryan was last seen. (William Liang / For The Times)

Black youth make up about 40% of all cases of missing people in America but just 15% of the country's overall youth population. That disparity prompted Bradford to author legislation in 2023 to create the Ebony Alert system to help law enforcement find missing Black youths ages 12 to 25.

An Ebony Alert was issued for Bryan on Nov. 19, noting that she was last seen near the 2000 block of West 8th Street.

Several weeks later, there is no update available on her case, according to an LAPD spokesperson.

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Fed up with the lack of progress, Bryan's family members and Bradford joined forces with volunteers from the Black and Missing Foundation to hold a community search event in hopes of gleaning a clue that might lead to her whereabouts.

On Tuesday, the group of volunteers canvassed the neighborhood where Bryan was last seen, taping up posters, handing out fliers and talking to shopkeepers and passersby.

Jahque Bryan-Gooden, left, speaks to Karinda McKenzie, right, and Tyra Jones about the search for her sister as loved ones and others canvass a Los Angeles neighborhood. (William Liang / For The Times)

"It feels incredibly eerie to be standing in a place where someone last reported seeing my sister," said Jahque Bryan-Gooden at the start of the search. "I'm glad to be surrounded by community and no longer feel alone trying to find answers."

Bryan graduated from Cornell University in 2023 before moving back home with her mother in eastern Pennsylvania. There, her sister said, Bryan gradually cut off all communication with friends and family.

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This fall, Bryan moved to Los Angeles, where she last communicated with her ex-boyfriend in October via email. Bryan-Gooden remains hopeful she will find her sister. Although they hadn't spoken for about a year before her disappearance, she says she misses her deeply.

"She is unwavering in her values," Bryan-Gooden said. "She approaches any situation that's challenging with confidence and determination."

Bryan-Gooden reported her sister missing on Nov. 13, and an Ebony Alert was issued on Nov. 19.

Malik Royster holds a poster of the missing woman during the Tuesday event. (William Liang / For The Times)

Bradford said law enforcement is capable of issuing an alert for a missing person instantaneously, but added that "it seems like there's always a delay when it comes to people of color, and specifically African Americans." The LAPD declined to comment on why it took six days to issue Bryan's alert.

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Bradford also pointed to the stark contrast in how law enforcement and the media responded to the case of Hannah Kobayashi who was also reported missing in Los Angeles in November  and that of Bryan.

Kobayashi's disappearance received international media coverage. Last week, LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell held a news conference and announced that the Police Department discovered she had voluntarily crossed the border to Mexico.

Kobayashi "disappeared almost in the exact same time frame," he said. "How does one race rise to the level of national attention and Miss Bryan's case barely gets a whimper?"

Read more: L.A. missing women cases go viral online, even as the facts get complicated

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Bryan's case has been written about by KTLA, NBC and The Times. A Google search shows more than 100 news articles have been published about Kobayashi since she was reported missing on Nov. 11.

Natalie Wilson, co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation, said that media attention can play a key role in helping solve missing persons cases.

"Many times, a reporter will reach out to law enforcement to get an update on the case, and then you start seeing traction, you start seeing them reaching out to the family, conducting interviews and searches," she said. "That's why media coverage is so important."

Grace Lee becomes emotional while putting up a flier. The participant in Tuesday's event said her own sister went missing two years ago. (William Liang / For The Times)

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Increasing attention to missing persons cases was a key reason Bradford pushed for the establishment of the Ebony Alert system.

Since it was enacted in California in January, 32 alerts have been issued and 27 young Black people found, Bradford said. States including Massachusetts and Tennessee are now looking into enacting their own version of the system.

Still, there are many instances in which a young Black person is eligible for an Ebony Alert and one is never issued, he said. Often, missing Black youths are victims of sex trafficking and are classified as juvenile prostitutes, he said.

"Instead of listing them as abducted, they are listed as runaways," he said.

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Bryan-Gooden said she was worried her sister might have been a victim of sex trafficking. Several weeks ago, someone called the phone number on Bryan's missing persons poster and said they had seen her in Los Angeles living with someone whom they believed to be a pimp.

"When I heard that, my heart dropped," she said.

Bryan-Gooden is, however, feeling a renewed sense of hope following the community search on Tuesday. She said two shopkeepers reported recently seeing someone who matched Bryan's description.

A passerby stops to comfort Jahque Bryan-Goodman. (William Liang / For The Times)

Anyone with information on Bryans whereabouts is asked to contact Det. Avalos in the LAPD Missing Persons Unit at (213) 996-1800 or leave an anonymous tip at (800) 222-8477. The Black and Missing Foundation also has an anonymous tip line on its website.

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.
You certainly can't knock Jaime Munguia for inactivity.

Munguia returns to the ring this weekend for his fourth fight of 2024, as he takes on unbeaten Frenchman, Bruno Surace, in a 10-round super middleweight fight in his hometown of Tijuana, Mexico.

Munguia last fought in September, defeating formerly unbeaten contender Erik Bazinyan by 10th-round knockout in front of a spirited crowd in Phoenix. Prior to that bout, Munguia faced super middleweight Canelo Alvarez in May, losing by unanimous decision but improving his stock in the process.

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Now Munguia looks to close out a busy year with his third victory, while Surace aims to pull the upset and preserve the "0" on his record.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of the Munguia vs. Surace fight card.

How to watch Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace fight?

This weekend's three-fight card headlined by Jaime Munguia vs. Bruno Surace will be streamed live on ESPN+, at no extra cost to subscribers.

How to watch: ESPN+

Watch Jaime Munguia vs. Bruno Surace on ESPN+

TANK DAVIS: Gervonta 'Tank' Davis set for Brooklyn fight against Lamont Roach on March 1

Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace fight time, date, ring walks

The Jaime Munguia vs. Bruno Surace fight card will kick off on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. (CT), with the main event ring walks expected at approximately 9 p.m. (CT).

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Fight card start: 7 p.m. CT

Munguia vs. Surace ring walks: 9 p.m. CT

Cuando pelean Jaime Munguia? Munguia fight on Saturday, Dec. 14

Jaime Munguia takes on Bruno Surace on Saturday, Dec. 14. The three-fight card kicks off at 7 p.m. CT with main event ring walks set to kick off at approximately 9 p.m. CT.

Fight card: 7 p.m. CT

Munguia vs. Surace: 9 p.m. CT

Where is the Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace fight location?

Jaime Munguia and Bruno Surace will face off at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico. It will be Munguia's second time fighting in his hometown of Tijuana since 2017 and first time since 2022.

Location: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico

Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace fight undercard

Munguia and Surace's 10-round super middleweight fight leads a three-fight card which includes Alan Picasso, who notably featured on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather's August exhibition bout.

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Jaime Munguia (44-1) vs. Bruno Surace (25-0-2); 10 rounds

Carlos Garcia (18-0) vs. Juan Guzman (18-4-1); 10 rounds

Alan Picasso (30-0-1) vs. Isaac Sackey (26-2-2); 10 rounds

Jan. 27, 2024; Phoenix, Ariz; USA; Jaime Munguia punches John Ryder during The Golden Boy Boxing Series at the Footprint Center.

RYAN GARCIA: Despite suspension, Ryan Garcia to fight Rukiya Anpo in December exhibition bout

FIGHT NEWS: David Benavidez vs David Morrell fight set for February

Jaime Munguia fight record

Jaime Munguia is 44-1 with 35 wins by knockout.

Munguia is a former junior middleweight champion, having held the WBO title from 2018 to 2019. Munguia moved up in weight to super middleweight in 2023 and earlier this year challenged the division's top fighter, Canelo Alvarez, for the undisputed titles, suffering his first career defeat.

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Munguia is ranked No. 3 at super middleweight by ESPN and the No. 2 contender by the WBC.

Jaime Munguia age, height, weight class

Munguia is 28 years old and stands at 6-foot with a 72-inch reach.

Munguia began his career fighting around the junior welterweight division (140-pound limit) before beginning to campaign at junior middleweight (154-pound limit) in 2017. In 2020, he moved to middleweight where he'd stay for six fights before once again moving up in weight.

Jan. 27, 2024; Phoenix, Ariz; USA; Jaime Munguia throws a punch at John Ryder during The Golden Boy Boxing Series at the Footprint Center.

Bruno Surace fight record

Surace is 25-0-2 with four wins by knockout.

Surace turned professional in 2016 and had two draws in his first five fights. He's since gone on to win 22 straight fights, all taking place in his home country of France. This will be the third 10-round fight of Surace's career, following his first ever 12-round fight in his most recent bout last December.

Bruno Surace age, height, weight class

Surace is 26 years old and stands at 6-foot.

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Surace began his career fighting in and around the junior middleweight division (154-lb limit) and has bounced around weight classes, weighing in as high as 169 pounds. Surace weighed in at under 160 pounds in each of his last two fights.

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.

Harrison Campbell covers boxing for The Tennessean and high school sports for The Daily Herald. Email him at hcampbell@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @hccamp.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace: How to watch, time, card
Oscar-winning actor and comedian Jamie Foxx is opening up for the first time about what landed him in Atlantas Piedmont Hospital for nearly a month.

Foxx was in the hospital for more than 20 days.

I was fighting for my life but Im here in front of you, the actor said during his new Netflix special. He told my sister some horrible news about her big brother. He said hes having a brain bleed. This led to a stroke. 

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He was filming his new movie Back in Action with Cameron Diaz in Atlanta in April 2023 when he suffered what was then called an unknown medical complication, saying it started with a bad headache.

I asked my boy, I said, Listen, I need an aspirin. Before I could get the aspirin, I went out. I dont remember 20 days, Foxx said.

Dr. Chantale Branson is an associate professor of neurology in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

While she did not treat Foxx, she is very familiar with strokes and warning signs. She does not recommend taking an aspirin.

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For a brain bleed or certain types of brain bleed, people can have something like a headache. We describe it as the worst headache of our lives or the worst headache ever. Thats when you try to get to the hospital as soon as possible, Branson said.

In his newly released Netflix standup special, What Had Happened Was..., taped in Atlanta, Foxx joked about that dark time.

Branson said its a good time to remind people to listen to your body.

The incidence of stroke in the African-American community is twice the rate of whites, Branson said.

I aint been on stage officially in like 18 years. But, you know, Atlanta made it feel like, Man, I aint lost a step, Foxx said.

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Foxx said it was the strength of God and his family that helped him through.

If I could stay funny, I could stay alive, Foxx said.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to Piedmont Hospital Atlanta for a statement on Foxxs comedy special and they responded, saying: Piedmont is delighted to see Jamie Foxx back on stage and in good health. We are grateful to our dedicated care team who played a role in helping him return to entertaining and doing what he loves.
A man on probation for his role in the Jan. 6 attack attempted to flee the country and volunteer for the Russian military's fight against Ukraine, prosecutors say.

His intent was not a temporary trip; he intended to permanently relocate to another country, prosecutors wrote on Wednesday in a six-page memo to U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich. And his planned travel was for the express purpose of joining a foreign army to take up arms against one of this countrys allies and in opposition to this countrys foreign policy.

Prosecutors say Kevin Loftus should get a six-month jail sentence  the maximum he could have faced for his misdemeanor crime at the Capitol  as punishment for violating his probation.

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Its a bizarre twist in an otherwise routine case stemming from the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of supporters of Donald Trump surged onto Capitol grounds to impede the transfer of power from Trump to Joe Biden. Trump has pledged to pardon many of the participants in the riot, but its unclear how broadly he will extend those pardons.

Loftus, who was an active-duty soldier in the U.S. army for six years, pleaded guilty in 2021 to a single misdemeanor count of parading in the Capitol. He admitted to trespassing in the building and taking pictures while inside. Friedrich sentenced him in March 2022 to three years of probation.

Prosecutors say Loftus attempted to check into a flight from Dallas to Tbilisi, Georgia, on Oct. 28 but was blocked when Turkish Airlines received a security flag. Two days later, he drove hundreds of miles north of the Dallas area without following court-ordered procedures to seek permission before leaving northern Texas. Loftus was arrested in Iowa on Oct. 31.

After his arrest, prosecutors say Loftus admitted he intended to obtain a 90-day visa to travel from Georgia to Russia, where he planned to seek temporary residency. He said he had already sent $1,200 to help purchase equipment for Russian soldiers.

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Loftus said his intent was to fight for Russia and against Ukraine, prosecutors wrote.

A review of Loftus phone by the FBI showed that he had been communicating on Telegram with an account under the moniker GrishaPutin, which was advising him on how to travel to Russia.

Among several topics discussed between the two, Loftus discussed taking 2 russian language lessons a week specifically with an asylum and artillery focus, the FBI found. Grisha provided Loftus in-depth instructions on how to report to Russian authorities and the necessary logistics Loftus should know as a foreigner attempting to join the Russian military. This included a list of items to bring in preparation for entering Russia and volunteering with the Russian military.

Loftus isnt the first Jan. 6 defendant who has attempted to flee the country. The FBI has repeatedly sought help in apprehending defendant Evan Neumann, who is believed to be residing in Belarus.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  In 2011, then-Gov. Lincoln Chafee faced off with federal prosecutors over the fate of Jason Pleau, a career criminal accused of gunning down a gas station manager in a robbery outside a bank the year before.

Rhode Island does not allow for capital punishment, but the federal government does. The Rhode Island U.S. Attorneys Office brought charges against Pleau and was poised to pursue a death penalty case.

Chafee, an opponent of the death penalty, refused to hand Pleau over to federal authorities. Instead, he wanted the R.I. Attorney Generals Office to accept a plea deal with Pleau that would see him admit to state murder charges in exchange for a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

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The case, which made national headlines, pitted Chafee against then-U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha, who was representing the federal government in their prosecution of the case.

The dispute wound its way to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which  in a 3-2 decision  ultimately rejected Chafees efforts. The drama turned out to be all for naught, as U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder would later decide to withdraw the governments pursuit of the death penalty.

Pleau eventually pleaded guilty to three federal counts  including robbery, robbery conspiracy, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, death resulting  and was sentenced to life behind bars. But the convicted felon was not immediately sent to a federal prison.

A career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet, Pleau was out on parole when he committed the 2010 robbery outside a Citizens Bank on Diamond Hill Road in Woonsocket. Gas station manager David Main was delivering cash to the bank at the end of his shift when Pleau shot him in the head. He and two co-conspirators made off with $12,542.

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Prosecutors said the crime violated federal laws because it affected interstate commerce, as the robbery and murder happened outside a bank.

When Pleau was charged in Mains killing, it reactivated a felony assault conviction from March 2000, when he attacked a correctional officer. He was sentenced to 20 years as a parole violator and shipped back to the ACI. (His criminal record also included multiple violent robberies and attempted robberies dating back to the 1990s.)

On Nov. 18, Rhode Island officially moved on from the Pleau ordeal, handing him over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. Pleau is now serving his life sentence at a federal prison in Waymart, a Pennsylvania town on the New York border.

Prison records show one of Pleaus co-conspirators, Kelley Lajoie, was released from custody in February. She was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison after pleading to her role in the conspiracy.

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Another co-defendant, Jose Alibal Santiago, lost his bid to get a reduced sentence in September. He is currently serving his sentence at a federal prison in California and is scheduled to be released in 2046.

Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
The Fort Worth City Council voted 9-1 Dec. 10 to hire former assistant city manager Jay Chapa to be the next city manager.

District 6 council member Jared Williams abstained from the vote over ethical objections to the hiring process.

Jay Chapa is acknowledged by the city council meeting attendees following a motion to vote Chapa in as the new City Manager of Fort Worth at City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 10., 2024.

The 58-year-old Chapa is the the first person of Hispanic heritage to hold the citys top job. He was named Dec. 5 as the sole finalist to to succeed David Cooke

Cooke announced in July he would step down in February after serving as city manager for over 10 years.

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Chapa will also be the second highest paid city manager in Texas, second only to Austins T.C. Broadnax, according to an offer letter provided by the city of Fort Worths human resources department. Hell make an annual salary of $435,000 in addition to a car allowance and payment for memberships in private clubs, according to his offer letter.

The city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of city government, oversees the budget and carries out the policies approved by the City Council.

District 8 City Councilmember Chris Nettles voices his disapproval in the process of hiring a new city manager during a city council meeting at City Hall in Fort Worth on Tuesday, Dec. 10., 2024.

Council member Chris Nettles voted against hiring Chapa, citing a lack of transparency on the hiring policy.

He held a Dec. 9 press conference with fellow council member Williams calling for their colleagues to delay Chapas hiring to allow for more public input. Both men echoed those sentiments at the Dec. 10 council meeting.

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Nettles referenced a packet handed out by the citys human resources department that outlined the timeline for the citys hiring process.

According to the packet, there was supposed to be a meet and greet with the candidates in December.

We have violated our own process, Nettles said.

Williams said the decision weighed on his heart. He said he has respect and love for his colleagues, but needed to speak out because of flaws with the process.

Council members powers are ordained by the community, and a majority of District 6 neighborhood presidents asked for a delay, Williams said.

District 6 City Councilmember Jared Williams voices his disapproval in the process of hiring a new city manager during a city council meeting at City Hall in Fort Worth on Tuesday, Dec. 10., 2024.

He presented an alternative motion to delay the hiring to allow for more public input. He outlined a process with public meetings with the finalists, as well as having them submit conflict of interest statements.

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I dont know where this will land, but I need to do this so I can sleep at night, he said.

Williams motion failed 8-3 with District 9 Council Member Elizabeth Beck joining Nettles and Williams.

Williams presented a second motion to delay the vote until January. That motion also failed with Beck joining the majority to oppose the delay.

Speaking ahead of Williams motions, Beck said she wasnt a fan of the process, but did support the result.

She said the community needs to trust in the process, and that Chapa was a victim of its flaws.

Beck said she looked forward to working with Chapa to build trust in the community.

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Chapa has been interviewing for this job since he started with the city 25 years ago, Mayor Mattie Parker said.

She called him a personal friend and a valuable voice on important matters impacting the city.

Jay Chapa is not a yes man. Hes a people man, Parker said.

She thanked him for his willingness to return to public service after retiring in 2022.

You probably need your head examined, she quipped.

Despite the disagreement on the dais, Parker said every council member will see Chapa is the right man for the job when he starts in January.

During Chapas time with the city he led the development of the 2022 bond program and helped shepherd several economic development projects, such as the citys partnership with Texas A&M and the development of the Crescent Hotel in the citys cultural district.

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Some of the challenges Chapa will face include addressing the citys rapid growth, continuing the integration of the MedStar ambulance service under the umbrella of the city, and continued work on economic development.

The city is also preparing its 2026 Bond program, and Chapas experience could prove valuable in determining which projects make the cut.

His first day on the job will be Jan. 27, 2025.
The post New Jersey Congressman Fakes All-Springsteen Spotify Wrapped appeared first on Consequence.

The latest scandal in New Jersey politics is a blip on the radar compared to the corruption of former US Senator Bob Menendez, but its a minor scandal nevertheless: Congressman Josh Gottheimer has been forced to admit he faked a social media post of an all-Bruce Springsteen Spotify Wrapped of his top songs.

Gottheimer posted the alleged screenshot on Friday (December 6th), appearing to show that his top five tracks were Thunder Road, Because the Night, Glory Days, Badlands, and The Rising.

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Get Bruce Springsteen Tickets Here

No surprises here, the Democratic Representative wrote. Fun fact: My first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss!

Considering the website for his gubernatorial campaign says Gottheimer grew up catching a Springsteen show every chance he could get, it all seemed believable enough. Plus, he came out to Glory Days while announcing his campaign for governor.

Had New Jersey Monitor editor Terrence T. McDonald not taken a closer look, nobody wouldve batted an eye. However, McDonald pointed out some visual discrepancies in the numbers, fonts, and spacing of the screenshot, as well as a low resolution potentially indicative of Photoshopping.

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Following up on McDonalds reporting, NJ.com reached out to Gottheimer for a statement. To his credit, the politician owned up to fabricating the image.

This would be my Spotify Wrapped if I didnt share my account with my 12 and 15-year-old kids, he claimed. While its Springsteen all day for me  dont get me wrong, I still love listening to Taylor Swift!.

In a follow-up social media post, Gottheimer added, To paraphrase the Boss: I wasnt here for business baby, I was only here for fun. So just relax. This was a fun holiday tweet. Its a joke to question my Springsteen creds, just ask my dog named Rosalita!

Gottheimer is considered a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in a race to succeed current NJ governor Phil Murphy. This article aside, the news cycle should move on soon enough, but time will tell if his deception will knock him off that perch.

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As for The Boss, he will be touring the UK and Europe with The E Street Band next year from late May through early July. Tickets can be purchased here.

Editors Note: Be sure to check out our guide to this years Spotify Wrapped.

No surprises here

Fun fact: My first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss! pic.twitter.com/xuAcNn8si8  Josh Gottheimer (@Josh4Jersey) December 6, 2024

Lets get back to what people do care aboutlower taxes, lower costs!  Josh Gottheimer (@Josh4Jersey) December 11, 2024

New Jersey Congressman Fakes All-Springsteen Spotify Wrapped

Eddie Fu

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This article was originally published in New Jersey Monitor.

Librarians and schools weary from escalating efforts to ban books have new protections under legislation Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Monday.

The Freedom to Read Act limits book bans in public schools and libraries and shields librarians from lawsuits and criminal charges filed by folks who find library materials obscene or otherwise objectionable.

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Murphy signed the bill in the childrens section of the Princeton Public Library, surrounded by a crowd of smiling librarians, lawmakers, civil liberties advocates, and parents.

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This law will strengthen, not diminish, the rights of parents to choose what reading materials their children should or should not have access to by ensuring that every family can make their own determination about what books are appropriate for a child, Murphy said.

Under the new law, the states education commissioner  in consultation with the state librarian, the New Jersey School Boards Association, and the New Jersey Association of School Librarians  will develop policies on how library materials are selected and how challenges to books on library shelves should be evaluated. Local school boards and library boards then must adopt their own policies using this model.

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The law also bars school and library boards from removing books because of the origin, background, or views of the material or those contributing to its creation, and allows only people with a vested interest to challenge a book in a school library.

It also gives librarians and library staff immunity from civil and criminal liability for good faith actions.

It will take effect in one year, giving state education officials and libraries time to devise the required policies.

Republicans and conservative activists have fought the measure, warning it would give children access to obscene materials and protect librarians who share obscene books with children.

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But Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex) said the new law, which he introduced, is a bold response to this growing wave of censorship. Many of the 10,000-plus book bans reported during the 2023-24 school year were of books with characters or themes centered on people of color and the LGBTQ community, he added.

That is not a coincidence. These bans are a deliberate effort to erase voices and perspectives that challenge the status quo, often under the guise of protecting children from discomfort, Zwicker said.

Zwicker said he was inspired to draft the legislation after hearing Martha Hickson, a recently retired librarian, speak.

Hickson, who successfully fought efforts to ban five LGBTQ-themed books at North Hunterdon High School, got hate mail, was shunned by colleagues and antagonized by administrators, and endured calls for her firing and arrest.

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She was there Monday to watch Murphy sign the bill into law.

Im certainly not the only victim of these politically motivated attacks, Hickson said. The students I serve feel the pain, too, when the books that describe their lived experience were called disgusting, obscene, and depraved. Students recognized that those insults were also intended for them.

She applauded the new law and shook Murphys hand as he gave her the pen he used to sign it.

New Jersey citizens now have protections to read about the topics that interest them in their libraries. When concerns about books arise, parents now have a clear process for raising issues without resorting to bullying. And for librarians across the state, the dignity of our work will now be recognized and preserved, she said. All of that is truly cause for celebration.

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The bill signing received boos from three GOP lawmakers  Sen. Parker Space and Assembly members Dawn Fantasia and Michael Inganamort  who said the law will eliminate protections that have kept obscene material out of the hands of children.

Our school libraries are meant to be a peaceful place for learning, not littered with lewd or inappropriate materials that distract from a childs education, they said in a joint statement. Enabling the distribution of obscene material is reprehensible, but absolving accountability for its distribution is heinous and inexcusable.

The law was a bit pared-down from what its sponsors initially intended. To appease critics, Zwicker and his bill co-sponsors Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) and Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis (D-Somerset) removed language that would have amended the states obscenity statute to add protections for librarians and teachers and state anti-discrimination law to bar employers from considering librarians actions on book removal requests in hiring decisions.

The bill ultimately passed the Legislature after lengthy committee hearings largely along party lines, with the Senate approving it in October by a 24-15 vote and the Assembly voting 52-20 for it in June.

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A poll released earlier this year showed most New Jersey residents are concerned about book bans, with more worried about censorship than classroom content.

Amol Sinha, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said book bans are related to attacks on other freedoms that have sprung up in recent years as politics have become more polarized  and will worsen under President-elect Donald Trumps second term.

Theres a subset of the population that wants to control what children have access to, regardless of whether or not they parent those children. Whether were talking about book bans or sex ed or abortion rights or critical race theory or DEI initiatives, those are all part of the same ecosystem, Sinha said.

The new law protects the freedom of intellectual choice, he added.

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No one parent or no one community member gets to decide what books are appropriate for everybody in that community, he said.

New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Jersey Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Terrence T. McDonald for questions: info@newjerseymonitor.com.
LJUBLJANA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia is continuing to process asylum requests of Syrian citizens regardless of the fall of the Assad regime, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee earlier on Tuesday that the key goal regarding Syrian asylum requests is "to protect civilians."

She added that "the last thing we want is secondary migration of Syrian applicants because of tougher rhetoric in individual (EU) member states" and called for a uniform approach of the European Union (EU) member states regarding Syrian refugees.

The Interior Ministry said interior ministers of Slovenia and of its neighbors, Croatia and Italy, discussed the changes in Syria over the phone on Tuesday and agreed to continue their discussion on the sidelines of the Brussels meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday.

"We are not stopping the processing of asylum requests but we will reassess the changed conditions and new facts in procedures with the citizens of Syria which could influence the duration of the procedures," the Interior Ministry said.

The ministry added that the police have strengthened control of the Slovenian borders with Croatia and Hungary in order to prevent terrorism and illegal migration that could be linked to developments in Syria.

Fajon said that Slovenia has not received many asylum requests from Syrian citizens over the past years, granting asylum to some 30 Syrians last year and to 15 in 2022.

She urged an inclusive and stable transition in Syria, saying: "Syria is at an important crossroads, peace or war, freedom or lawlessness, prosperity or poverty, and its future will depend mainly upon the conditions of this political transition." 
2:00 a.m. - Jay Lee texted his mother Happy Birthday.

2:54 a.m. - Lee texts Herrington, Are you in Oxford?

4:01 a.m. - Jay Lee leaves his Campus Walk apartment, headed to Timothy Herringtons Lafayette Place apartment.

4:39 a.m. - Video shows Jay Lee returning to his apartment

5:17 a.m. - Lee starts a Snapchat conversation with Herrington on alternate account

5:25 a.m. - Herrington sends message Come back.

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5:45 a.m. - Lee says he will only return if Herrington reciprocates previous sexual act.

5:46 a.m. - Herrington says, Ill do it.

5:54 a.m. - Lee replies, Im coming.

5:56 a.m. - Herrington Googles, How long does it take to strangle someone.

5:58 a.m. - Lee leaves apartment, while on video call with Khalid Fears

6:03 a.m. - Lee messages Herrington, saying, Open.

6:49 a.m. - Herrington purchases duct tape at Oxford Walmart

6:51 a.m. - Herringtons white Ford Escape leaves Walmart area going west.

6:57 a.m. - White box truck drives past Walmart area going east

7:00 a.m. - Stephanie Lee (Lees mother) texts a reply to Jay Lee

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7:18 a.m. - Lees car is seen driving past Rainbow Cleaners on Jackson Avenue

7:21 a.m. - Lees car passes Jackson Avenue and Rebel Road

7:25 a.m. - Lees car pulls into the Molly Barr Trails apartment complex

7:34 a.m. - Hooded jogger, later identified as Herrington, seen leaving Molly Barr Trails apartments

7:38 a.m. - Herrington flags down Kezziah Carter, gets ride to Lafayette Place

7:40 a.m. - Carters Kia pulled over for speeding by Oxford PD

9:30 a.m. - Herrington picks up clothes at Grenada dry cleaner

9:38 a.m. - Passes Wade Inc. west of Grenada on Highway 7

9:40 a.m. - Arrives at Lincoln Road, where relatives live.

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10:17 a.m. - Leaves Lincoln Road

10:33 a.m. - White box truck pulls up at parents house

10:53 a.m. - Herrington loads wheelbarrow and tools into box truck at parents' house

10:45 a.m. - Someone loads tools and wheelbarrows into box truck at Herring family home in Grenada

1:50 p.m. - Bandit Towing hauls Lees car from Molly Barr Trails in Oxford.

3:23 p.m. - Herrington and box truck leave parents house heading to get hair cut.

4:40 p.m. - Herrington leaves barber and later seen heading toward Lincoln Road.

6:34 p.m. - Box truck heading east past Wade Inc, back to Grenada.

6:55 p.m. - White box truck seen outside of Renasant Bank branch in Grenada.

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7:18 p.m. to 9:28 p.m. - Herringtons phone pings in area of parents house.

At some point Herrington leaves parents' house, but not seen on video

8:35 p.m. - Box truck returns to parents house.

8:40 p.m. - Herrington unloads wheelbarrow.

At some point, Herrington began drive back to Oxford.

10:49 p.m. - Arrives at Lafayette Place in Oxford.
Jimmy Kimmel jokingly claimed the real reason Donald Trump has nominated his son Donald Trump Jrs financee Kimberly Guilfoyle to be ambassador to Greece is because of their rumored break-up.

Paparazzi pictures, published Tuesday, captured the president-elects eldest son stepping out in Palm Beach, Florida, with local socialite Bettina Anderson on what appeared to be a romantic evening stroll.

Although neither Don Jr nor Guilfoyle, who began dating in 2018 and have been engaged since 2020, have commented on the state of their relationship, speculation has been mounting that they have parted ways.

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Hours after the photos were released, Trump announced he had chosen Guilfoyle as his future ambassador to Greece.

Kimmel waded in on the family drama on Tuesday nights Jimmy Kimmel Live!, joking that the president-elect was helping his son out by effectively exiling Guilfoyle.

He made her ambassador to one of the farthest countries possible, he joked in the opening monologue.

What a family this is, the comedian smirked.

He has more relatives working at the White House than I do at this show right now.

Jimmy Kimmel delivers his opening monologue on Tuesday December 10 2024 (NBC/YouTube)

The shots of Trump Jr, 46, and Anderson, 38, together were first published by The Daily Mail and were reportedly taken after the latter had celebrated her birthday at the popular downtown restaurant Buccan.

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The newspaper reported that their burgeoning relationship is the talk of Palm Beach and that the younger Trump has been staying at Andersons West Palm Beach townhouse rather than the $15.5 million mansion he and Guilfoyle bought together in 2021.

She seemed totally smitten with Don  and he with her, a source told the paper.

Guilfoyle, 55, is a lawyer who briefly served as a prosecutor in California before turning to a career in television.

She spent 12 years at Fox News before moving into the Republican political realm  although she was once married to Gavin Newsom, now the Democratic governor of California.

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Announcing her nomination on Tuesday, the president-elect said in a statement: For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally.

Donald Trump Jr and Kimberly Guilfoyle pictured together (Getty Images)

Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad.

Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation.

Guilfoyle responded on X that she was honored to accept the nomination and championed the democratic values born in Greece.

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It was the democratic values born in Greece that helped shape the founding of America, she said.

And now, we have an opportunity to honor that history by bringing better days here at home and abroad.

As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity.
EMPORIA (KSNT)  The state of Kansas will be holding a job fair in Emporia for employees of Tyson and the Holiday Resort retirement home whove lost their jobs.

The job fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2025 at the Lyon County Fairgrounds. The KANSASWORKS job fair will be in the Anderson Building and is specifically for employees from Tyson and Holiday Resort.

United Way of the Flint Hills will also be providing resources to those impacted. They will be holding a resource fair at the same location to cover a range of needs such as rent and utility assistance, healthcare, food assistance, child care, benefits and more.

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The Kansas Department of Commerce will also be providing assistance through its Rapid Response program. The program is designed to help workers facing sudden job loss. The program offers immediate career counseling, job search assistance, skills training and other relevant resources.

State of Kansas to host job fair with more than 500 open positions

Rapid Response teams collaborate with employers and employee representatives to optimize resources in an effort to reduce the disruptions caused by job loss, Kansas Commerce Marketing & Communications Director Patrick Lowry said.

Rapid Response meetings will be held from 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 18 and 19 at the Clint Boyer Community Building on the Lyon County Fairgrounds. Resume assistance will also be provided at the Emporia Workforce Center. Interview practice is available through KANSASWORKS.com at any time.

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For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking 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 KSNT 27 News.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he was stupid not to have added his name to coronavirus pandemic relief checks, which his predecessor-turned-imminent-successor, President-elect Donald Trump, did in 2020.

I signed the American Rescue Plan, the most significant economic recovery package in our history, and also learned something from Donald Trump, Biden told the Brookings Institution during a speech defending his administrations economic record.

Trump signed checks for people for 7,400 bucks ... and I didnt, Biden noted.

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Stupid, the outgoing POTUS then said, pointing to his head.

The line drew laughter from the audience.

Biden did, however, send out letters via the IRS, signed by him, that explained the payments. They read: My fellow American, On March 11, 2021, I signed into law the American Rescue Plan, a law that will help vaccinate America and deliver immediate economic relief to hundreds of millions of Americans, including you. This fulfills a promise I made to you, and will help get millions of Americans through this crisis.

Biden: "I also learned something from Donald Trump. He signed checks for people ... I didn't -- stupid." pic.twitter.com/KMIjdaWHpD  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 10, 2024

Trumps overall handling of the health crisis was widely criticized with his talk of injecting disinfectant, touting of unproven cures and aversions to lockdowns.

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The pandemic killed more than 1.2 million people in America alone.

But Trump insisted that the stimulus checks that were sent out bore his signature, a branding move that former President Barack Obama repeatedly called out on the campaign trail for Trumps 2024 rival Kamala Harris.

At one rally, Obama urged voters not to be bamboozled by it.

Joe Biden sent you a check during the pandemic just like I gave people relief during the Great Recession, Obama explained. The thing is, we didnt put our name on it because it wasnt about feeding our egos, it wasnt about advancing our politics, it was about helping people. Thats the difference. Dont you give him credit for that.

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Obamas comments, though, drew criticism from Late Night comedian Seth Meyers, among others, who urged Democrats in the future to hype their accomplishments more explicitly, like Trump.

OK, but you should have, Meyers said. Like, next time, put your name on it. Seriously, Joe Biden should have sent everyone $1,000 in the mail and called it Biden Bucks. And its not an issue of left versus far left. You just have to make peoples lives better in a way thats direct and easy to understand, and then aggressively take credit for it.

Watch Bidens full speech here:

Related...
President Joe Biden said he was stupid for not doing what president-elect Donald Trump did during his first term  signing the checks sent to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic.

I signed the American Rescue Plan, the most significant economic recovery package in our history, and also learned something from Donald Trump, Biden noted during his economic speech at the Brookings Institution Tuesday.

Biden said that Trump signed checks for people for 7,400 bucks...and I didnt, adding that it was stupid, drawing laughter from the crowd.

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What Biden did do was send out signed letters from the IRS explaining the payments.

My fellow American, On March 11, 2021, I signed into law the American Rescue Plan, a law that will help vaccinate America and deliver immediate economic relief to hundreds of millions of Americans, including you, the letter stated at the time. This fulfills a promise I made to you, and will help get millions of Americans through this crisis.

The Trump administration faced criticism for its handling of the pandemic as the then-commander-in-chief suggested people inject disinfectant, pushed unproven treatmentsa nd restricted lockdowns. America saw a death toll of more than 1.2 million people from the pandemic.

President Joe Biden said he was stupid for not signing the checks sent out to the public during the pandemic at a speech at Brookings Institution in Washington on Tuesday. (AP)

Trump still pushed for the checks sent out to Americans to bear his name, something former President Barack Obama blasted on the campaign trail earlier this year, telling voters not to be bamboozled by the signed checks from Trump.

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Joe Biden sent you a check during the pandemic just like I gave people relief during the Great Recession, Obama said, according to HuffPost. The thing is, we didnt put our name on it because it wasnt about feeding our egos, it wasnt about advancing our politics, it was about helping people. Thats the difference. Dont you give him credit for that.

Late Night host Seth Meyers said during a segment last month that Democrats should have put their names on the check.

Like, next time, put your name on it, he said. Seriously, Joe Biden should have sent everyone $1,000 in the mail and called it Biden Bucks. And its not an issue of left versus far left. You just have to make peoples lives better in a way thats direct and easy to understand, and then aggressively take credit for it.
Joe Rogan has slammed the healthcare biz as "f-cking gross" following the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The famous podcast host described the billion-dollar industry as "a dirty, dirty business" in a recent episode on his podcast while discussing the death of the health mogul.

Brian Thompson's suspected killer, Luigi Mangione, has since been arrested, with several incriminating items found on him at the time of the arrest.

Joe Rogan Calls The Health Care Business 'Gross'

MEGA

In a recent episode of his podcast, Rogan criticized the health industry why discussing the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot on December 4.

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"Maybe his family [would mourn Thompson], but that's about it," Rogan told his guest renowned film director Quentin Tarantino and his "Pulp Fiction" co-writer Roger Avary, per the Daily Beast.

The former television host went on to express his disgust with the underhanded practices often seen in companies managing healthcare insurance, a business the late CEO had been deeply involved in.

"It's a dirty, dirty business," Rogan added. "The business of insurance is f-cking gross. It's gross. Especially healthcare insurance."

Joe Rogan Says Late CEO's Company Is 'Really Bad At Denying Claims'

MEGA

During the arrest of Thompson's suspected killer, Luigi Mangione, police discovered a manifesto he had written against UnitedHealthcare after suffering a serious back injury that had necessitated painful spinal surgery.

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Although the full details of the manifesto were not disclosed, it suggested that the 26-year-old suspect's grievances against Thompson's company may have motivated his actions.

Interestingly, Rogan, who recorded the episode before Mangione's arrest, seemed to have anticipated a scenario like this.

"I don't think this guy was a professional," Rogan remarked. "I think this guy, if I had to guess, [is] some guy [who] got f-cked over. Apparently, that company is really bad at denying claims."

United Health Care CEO's Suspected Killer Was Arrested With Incriminating Items

MEGA

Mangione was caught on Monday at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., where he seemed to have gone for food.

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Beyond the manifesto found on him, the police also found a gun and suppressor similar to the one seen in video footage of the crime taken by a surveillance camera.

They also uncovered a fake New Jersey ID, identical to the one the killer had used at a Manhattan hostel, along with clothing that matched what the suspect had been wearing on the day of the crime.

An alleged Manifesto of the suspected shooter was also published online by journalist Ken Klippenstein.

It read, in part, "To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, a lot of patience."

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"Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming. A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy," Mangione allegedly wrote. "United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but [has] our life expectancy? No, the reality is, these [indecipherable] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has [allowed] them to get away with it."

The Alleged Killer, Luigi Mangione, Was Arraigned On Multiple Charges

MEGA

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After being arrested, Mangione was arraigned on multiple charges by the authorities in Pennsylvania, per Yahoo.

The charges include forgery, carrying a gun without a license, falsely identifying himself to law enforcement, tampering with records or identification, and possessing "instruments of crime."

Meanwhile, in New York, where the crime was committed, Mangione was charged with murder along with other charges, with plans for him to be extradited currently in motion.

In the meantime, he is being held at a Pennsylvania state prison after being denied bail.

The Suspected Killer, Luigi Mangione, Has Caused Heavy Debate Since The Shooting Incident

MEGA

Mangione's alleged actions caused a major stir, with people, including celebrities, giving varying takes on what may have motivated him to kill the CEO.

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During an episode of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," TV host Stephen Colbert talked about the incident: "This story started tragic, but then it very quickly [became] weird because when authorities initially released security photos of the suspect, the internet reaction was swift and horny."

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel also had some thoughts on the matter. On his show, he joked, "I think we can all agree that no one could have imagined this suspect would have a name as funny as Luigi Mangione."

"With a lot of murderers  or alleged murderers  when you arrest them, you have to use the middle name. Like, we don't need Luigi Wayne Mangione, it's not necessary," he added, per Us Weekly.
Last month, one of the 100-plus plaintiffs suing rapper Sean Diddy Combs filed a lawsuit alleging the mogul sexually assaulted him at one of his critically acclaimed White Parties. For the first time since the filing, the plaintiff spoke out about the incident.

Anonymously, the John Doe sat down with CNN at his New Jersey home to discuss the alleged sexual assault and the aftermath. It has been two decades since Combs allegedly drugged Doe and tried to sodomize him in a vehicle as the plaintiff worked security at one of the rappers parties. The incident still haunts him.

I have a semblance of a life, a very quiet life. I would prefer what little is left of it to be left alone, he told CNN.

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Though, upon providing his account of what happened, CNN discoveredDoe gave a few conflicting details about the incident.

As previously reported by The Root, the lawsuit says the incident occurred in 2006 as Doe worked for MASS Security, a firm hired to provide security for one of Combs White Parties at his property in East Hampton. However, Doe told CNN the incident happened in 2007. Also, Combs 2006 White Party wasnt held in the Hamptons...it was held in St. Tropez.

CNNs report says the complaint was amended to reflect the accurate details of when and where the incident occurred.

Doe claimed after meeting Combs at the party, he was repeatedly targeted by him and offered two drinks, per his lawsuit. After sipping the second drink, Doe said he fell ill and leaned against a truck for support. Doe told CNN he felt like hed taken 15 drinks, later believing he was drugged with GHB and ecstasy.

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It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before and I felt powerless, Doe told CNN.

Combs allegedly approached Doe, seemingly out of concern, but forcibly pushed him inside an open van, per the suit. Combs then allegedly held down Doe and sexually assaulted him in his anus. The lawsuit claims Doe discovered a disturbing sensation of what he believed was Combs semen coming from his body following the incident.

Doe also mentioned for the first time to CNN that a high-profile celebrity witnessed the incident and allegedly found it amusing. The suit said Doe reported the situation to his supervisor. However, he told CNN he was never asked to work at the security firm again.

He just dismissed it, Doe said to CNN. After that, he didnt talk to me again, he cut me out of everything  I was totally blacklisted after that. I had to find a different field.

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Doe said the incident negatively impacted him emotionally and mentally, even bringing his marriage to an end. He told CNN hell never feel like the person he was before that evening.

The full gravity of it lives with me to this day, Doe told CNN in an interview conducted at his home in New Jersey. It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has become the first Senate Democrat to join President-elect Donald Trumps social media site  and used his first post to again call for Trump to be pardoned in his hush money case.

The Trump hush money and Hunter Biden cases were both bullshit, and pardons are appropriate, the Pennsylvania senator wrote on Tuesday. Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division.

Last week, Fetterman made a similar argument on The View.

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I think that its undeniable that the case against Hunter Biden was really politically motivated, but I also think its true that the trial in New York for Trump  that was political, as well, Fetterman told the hosts.

In both cases, I think a pardon is appropriate and I really think, collectively, that Americans confidence in these kinds of institutions [has] been damaged by these kinds of cases, and we cannot allow these kinds of institutions to be weaponized against our political opponents, he added.

Trump received a 34-count guilty verdict in the criminal hush money case in May, in a case over his payment of $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of his 2016 presidential victory. He is the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes, though hes not been sentenced.

President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter earlier this month after he was found guilty of illegally owning a gun and pleaded guilty to not paying his taxes on time. Hunter Biden, like Trump, has also not yet been sentenced.

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The pardon drew backlash from both Republicans and Democrats. Moreover, Bidens pardon was cited by Trumps attorneys when arguing that Trumps convictions in the hush money case should be dropped. Prosecutors have maintained that the convictions should stand.

Fetterman is far from the first high-profile Democrat to join Truth Social; Gov. Gavin Newsom, for example, joined back in 2022.

Related...
This story has been updated to add new information.

The attorneys representing death row inmate Joseph E. Corcoran, who's set to be executed a week before Christmas, are turning to the federal courts in a last-ditch effort to save his life.

The attorneys filed a petition Wednesday asking the federal district court in Northern Indiana to stop the execution and hold a hearing to review their claims that putting Corcoran to death is unconstitutional because he is seriously mentally ill and does not understand the severity and consequences of his crimes.

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Corcoran is set to be executed before sunrise on Dec. 18. It would be the first lethal injection of a state prisoner since Indiana halted executions 15 years ago.

"Mr. Corcoran suffers from severe and longstanding paranoid schizophrenia, which manifests as auditory hallucinations and delusions that prison guards are torturing him with an ultrasound machine and that he suffers from a sleep disorder causing him to unknowingly speak and behave in an inappropriate way," according to the petition.

The 49-year-old was convicted and sentenced to death in 1999 for killing four people, including his older brother. Court records say he became enraged when he heard the four talking about him. After putting his then-7-year-old niece in an upstairs bedroom, Corcoran loaded his semi-automatic rifle and shot the victims.

He then put his rifle down, went to the neighbor's house and asked her to call the police. Then, he went back home, sat on the front porch and waited for officers to arrive.

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Last week, the Indiana Supreme Court, in a 3-2 decision, rejected Corcoran's attorneys' request to stop his execution. "Ample evidence," including Corcoran's own statements, show that he has a rational understanding of why he will be executed. Justice Derek Molter wrote the case has been heard "at every level of the state and federal judiciary."

Corcoran himself said in a recent affidavit that does not want to further litigate his case, but his attorneys filed petitions "contrary to Corcoran's wishes," Molter wrote.

Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.

"I am guilty of the crime I was convicted of, and accept the findings of all the appellate courts," Corcoran wrote in the affidavit. "The long drawn out appeal history has addressed all the issues I wished to appeal, such as the issue of competency."

Corcoran also previously claimed that he'd faked his psychotic symptoms and lied to psychiatrists to get sleep medication.

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But in their new petition to the federal court, Corcoran's attorneys said the state Supreme Court relied largely on the statements of a paranoid schizophrenic as evidence of his own competence.

"It is unreasonable," the petition says, "to allow the insane to determine their own competency."

The petition cited a recent self-published book titled, "A Whistle-blower Report: Electronic Harassment," in which Corcoran spoke at length about "ultrasonic surveillance." It also included an assessment of Dr. Angeline Stanislaus, a forensic psychiatrist who reviewed Corcoran's medical records at his attorneys' request.

More: Indiana 'Death Row' holds 8 killers

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Stanislaus, who did not interview Corcoran, said his ability to write and speak eloquently has helped him mask his mental illness. "However, when we look at the full picture longitudinally," she said, "we see the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, which has influenced his illogical decision making."

The Indiana Attorney General's Office, which represents the state in the appeals process, have also pointed to Corcoran's repeated statements that he understands why he should be executed and his admission that he lied to psychiatrists.

Two Indiana Supreme Court justices, including Chief Justice Loretta Rush, disagreed with the court's ruling last week. Justice Christopher Goff argued Corcoran's execution should be paused to allow his attorneys to litigate his current competency. At the very least, Goff said there should be a psychiatric examination.

The evidence presented by Corcoran's attorneys "reveals a documented history of severe mental illness, an inability to cooperate with counsel, and a desire to be executed to escape prison  all of which raise substantial questions about his mental capacity," Goff wrote.

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More: Anti-death penalty advocates rally at Indiana Statehouse against resuming state executions

Earlier this week, Corcoran's attorneys filed a separate federal lawsuit accusing prison officials of violating U.S. Supreme Court precedent that allows religious accommodations for death row inmates. Officials rejected a request from Corcoran to let his longtime spiritual advisor to be next to him in the death chamber while he receives a lethal dose of pentobarbital.

Indiana has not executed an inmate since 2009. The state paused executions because of a lawsuit and other complications that prevented officials from obtaining the mixture of drugs used in its lethal injection protocol. In June, Gov. Eric Holcomb and Attorney General Todd Rokita announced they were seeking to resume executions after prison officials acquired the drug pentobarbital to carry out death sentences.

Seven other prisoners are on death row.

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Indiana's decision to resume executions has been met with opposition from at least one lawmaker and dozens of faith leaders.

Rep. Robert Morris, R-Fort Wayne, has asked Holcomb to postpone the executions of all eight prisoners until the legislature has considered whether or not to abolish the death penalty. Morris plans to introduce a bill next session, although similar legislative efforts have failed.

Seventy faith leaders have signed a letter also asking Holcomb to halt executions.

"Our call to refrain from restarting executions in Indiana is an expression of our desire to honor the sacred dignity of all people, including both victims and those who have caused immeasurable harm," the letter states.

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A delegation of faith leaders will be at the Statehouse on Thursday to deliver the letter to Holcomb.

Contact IndyStar reporter Kristine Phillips at (317) 444-3026 or at kphillips@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Joseph Corcoran execution set for Dec. 18 at Indiana State Prison
From left, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley meet in the lobby of the William L. Guy Federal Building in Bismarck, North Dakota, on Oct. 15, 2024. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

A North Dakota federal judges ruling will temporarily keep undocumented immigrants in 19 states, including South Dakota, from getting federally subsidized health insurance.

U.S. District Court Judge Dan Traynor on Monday granted a request from a coalition of Republican attorneys general to suspend a new federal rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services allowing immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to access health care through the Affordable Care Act.

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The 19 states bringing the lawsuit, which includes North Dakota, ultimately want the rule struck down.

Traynor, in a Monday order, found that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail in the lawsuit because the federal agency acted contrary to federal law and the rule will result in additional expenses to state governments.

Under the order, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is prohibited from enforcing the rule in the 19 plaintiff states until a final decision in the case is made.

Access to health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is only open to U.S. citizens, nationals or immigrants lawfully present in the country.

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The lawsuit concerns who the federal government considers to be lawfully present. Previously, participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program were not explicitly defined as meeting this definition in administrative regulations implementing the law. The immigration program, commonly referred to as DACA, delays the deportation of people who immigrated to the U.S. without documentation as children.

But the Department of Health and Human Services new rule clarified that DACA recipients do count as lawfully present and therefore may receive Affordable Care Act benefits. The rule also extends the definition to include undocumented immigrants with certain employment authorization documents. It went into effect Nov. 1.

The plaintiff states filed suit against the federal agency in August, arguing that Congress never intended for DACA recipients to be included in the Affordable Care Act program, and that the new rule will force states to spend more money on undocumented immigrants and their families  and even incentivize immigrants who were otherwise planning to leave the U.S. to remain in the country

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The federal agency has disputed this, arguing that Congress has shown support for DACA recipients receiving health benefits through the Affordable Care Act.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has also said that the new rule aligns with the goals of the Affordable Care Act since it will reduce the amount of uninsured people in the country.

According to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, there were approximately 130 DACA recipients in North Dakota as of June 30, 2024.

The plaintiff states in the lawsuit are North Dakota, Kansas, Idaho, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Texas, Florida and Arkansas.

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Three DACA recipients and CASA Inc., an immigration advocacy group, have filed to intervene in the case on the side of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: info@northdakotamonitor.com.
SAO PAULO, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who underwent emergency surgery Tuesday to treat an intracranial hemorrhage, is recovering well following a peaceful night's sleep in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), his doctors said Wednesday.

The president is "lucid, oriented, talking and had a good night," according to a medical report from the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital in Sao Paulo, which indicated that the patient "is making favorable progress after the operation."

"The president still has a drain (to remove excess fluid) while awaiting routine tests," added the report signed by doctors Luiz Cardoso and Alvaro Sarkis, who were in charge of the hospitalization.

The 79-year-old Lula had the emergency surgery to drain a head hematoma resulting from a blow he suffered on Oct. 19 after a domestic accident at Alvorada Palace, the official presidential residence in Brasilia. At the time, he received five stitches in the back of his neck and was forced to cancel plans to travel to the leaders' summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in the Russian city of Kazan.

Roberto Kalil, the president's personal physician, said Tuesday that the president could be discharged next week and return to work normally at Alvorada Palace.

Doctors ruled out any brain injuries or other consequences as a result of the intracranial hematoma that was drained.

Part of Lula's agenda was taken on this week by Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.

According to local media, the president will resume official work from the hospital once he leaves the ICU. 
A bankruptcy judge in Texas rejected the bid of satire site the Onion to acquire the assets of Infowars  the bankrupt outlet of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones  saying the auction process lacked clarity and that the families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims deserved more money than the Onions parent had bid.

Judge Christopher Lopez of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on Tuesday evening declined to approve the Onions winning bid  of $1.75 million in cash  because it left a lot of money on the table for Connecticut families who had won a $1.4 billion judgment in a defamation lawsuit against Jones, the AP reported. You got to scratch and claw and get everything you can for them, the judge said.

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I dont think its enough money, Lopez said in ruling on the matter Tuesday, as reported by NBC News.

Lopez, in announcing his ruling, said he did not want another auction for Infowars and the judge left it up to the trustee who oversaw the auction to determine next steps, per the AP.

The trustee who oversaw the auction, Christopher Murray, had defended the Onions bid as superior to that of the only other bidder, First United American Companies, which operates the ShopAlexJones.com website. In a Nov. 14 status meeting with the court, Murray acknowledged that the Onion did not have a higher cash bid than First United, which had bid $3.5 million. However, Murray said, the Onions deal was selected as the better offer because the Connecticut families agreed to forgo their proceeds to much of money Jones owes them in order to pay other creditors. In a subsequent court filing, Murray said the Onions bid was valued at $7 million when factoring in the backing of the Sandy Hook families.

In a statement Chris Mattei, attorney for the Connecticut families and partner at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, said: More than two years after earning historic verdicts in Connecticut, we are disappointed the Bankruptcy Court rejected a purchase of Infowars that the court-appointed trustee recommended as being in the best interest of the creditors. These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused. This decision doesnt change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes.

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The Onion, in a statement issued by Global Tetrahedron CEO Ben Collins, said, We are deeply disappointed in todays decision, but The Onion will continue to seek a resolution that helps the Sandy Hook families receive a positive outcome for the horror they endured. Collins said the company will continue to seek a path towards purchasing Infowars in the coming weeks. It is part of our larger mission to make a better, funnier internet, regardless of the outcome of this case.

Collins statement continued, We appreciate that the court repeatedly recognized The Onion acted in good faith, but are disappointed that everyone was sent back to the drawing board with no winner, and no clear path forward for any bidder. And for all of those as upset about this as we are, please know we will continue to seek moments of hope. We are undeterred in our mission to make a funnier world.

Last month, the Onion gleefully revealed its winning bid for Infowars, which was sued into bankruptcy (as was Jones) after the families of victims in the Sandy Hook mass shooting in Connecticut won a judgment in 2022 against Jones in a defamation suit. Jones had repeatedly lied and posited baseless conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre.

However, Lopez ordered a new hearing to review the auction process, which he previously expressed concerns about. First United and Jones complained that the trustee overseeing the auction did not comply with Lopezs instructions in the bankruptcy proceeding, as the bids were submitted under seal.

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In December 2012, 20 students and six adults died in the shooting at the school in Newtown, Conn. Jones had called the mass murder a hoax and falsely accused the parents of the children killed at the elementary school of colluding with the U.S. government in a supposed plot to restrict gun rights. During the defamation trial in Texas in 2022, Jones testified that he now believes the Sandy Hook shooting was 100% real.

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A bankruptcy judge canceled The Onions purchase of Infowars on Tuesday, saying the auction did not yield the maximum amount of money for Alex Jones creditors and that the process lacked transparency.

Im going to not approve the sale to the purchaser. I think theres a great lack of clarity here, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said after a lengthy hearing that stretched into Tuesday night.

Lopez did not order a new auction. He left it to the trustee, Christopher Murray, to decide how to resolve the matter.

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Lopezs decision means that Jones can continue to broadcast on Infowars in the meantime. The Onion, whose bid was backed by some families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, previously said that it intended to relaunch Infowars as a website to parody figures like Jones.

Ben Collins, the CEO of The Onions parent company, Global Tetrahedron, said in a statement that they are deeply disappointed by the decision but will continue to pursue their purchase of Infowars.

We appreciate that the court repeatedly recognized The Onion acted in good faith, but are disappointed that everyone was sent back to the drawing board with no winner, and no clear path forward for any bidder, he said.

Jones had fiercely protested The Onions purchase of Infowars. He accused Murray of colluding with The Onion and the Sandy Hook families. First United American Companies (FUAC), a company affiliated with one of Jones online supplement stores that entered a losing bid, also protested the auction results, saying it offered twice as much cash as the winning bid. The Onions bid, however, included a pledge from the families to forgo some of the proceeds so that other creditors would get more money than the higher cash bid, which the trustee determined was better for creditors.

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Lopez said that although Murray acted in good faith, the auction process was not transparent and FUAC should have been allowed a chance to improve its bid.

I think youve got to go out and try to get every dollar, Lopez said. I think that the process fell down.

Although Infowars downfall was widely celebrated after news broke that The Onion had won the auction, the handover came to an abrupt halt later that day when Lopez expressed dissatisfaction over the auction process.

Jones praised the judges decision in a video broadcast on X on Tuesday night, saying, Finally, a judge followed the law.

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Jones is still on the hook for nearly $1.5 billion to the Sandy Hook families, whom he tormented for years on his platform. He filed for bankruptcy protection to avoid paying toward the judgment but later agreed to liquidate his assets, which includes Infowars, to help pay down that debt.

Christopher Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families, said that his clients were disappointed by Lopezs ruling, but they remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A federal judge denied release Wednesday to a CIA employee charged with making public top secret intelligence about Israels plans to retaliate against Iran for a series of missile strikes in October.

Last week, a magistrate judge ruled that Asif Rahman, 34, could be released pending trial on two counts of violating the Espionage Act by retaining classified information and transmitting it to an unauthorized person.

However, after an hourlong hearing in federal court in Alexandria, U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles overturned the release order. She said Rahman posed a risk of flight and a danger to the community.

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Prosecutors indicated last week that Israel had delayed its retaliation against Iran due to the leak. The material that he has in his mind and that he has already revealed is highly relevant to foreign adversaries, Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Edwards said.

Giles agreed that the ongoing nature of the conflict in the Middle East increased the gravity of the charges against Rahman. I take the governments point that this is a kinetic situation. Its a volatile situation  and that creates a different danger, said the judge, an appointee of President Joe Biden.

Rahmans lawyers noted that U.S. government officials, including a spokesperson for the National Security Council, downplayed the sensitivity of the information and the significance of the disclosures.

Edwards urged Giles not to give much weight to those statements, saying they were aimed at undermining U.S. adversaries and didnt reflect the true nature of the intelligence Rahman is accused of leaking.

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Defense attorney Amy Jeffress presented Giles with a plan to have Rahmans family keep him off social media and the internet, but Giles said that wouldnt mitigate the risk he might disclose national security secrets he knows by virtue of his CIA employment. Its possible to limit someones computer access, but you cant stop him from talking, said Giles.

Rahman will appeal the detention order, Jeffress told reporters after the hearing.

Numerous relatives and friends of Rahman attended the hearing. Among them was former Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr., who attended Yale with Rahmans father, private equity investor Muhit Rahman.
A judge dismissed all charges against two St. Clair Shores election workers after the Michigan Attorney General charged them and others in a double voting case in the recent primary election.

The felony charges were tossed out against Emily McClintock and Patricia Guciardo during a preliminary examination hearing Tuesday in 40th District Court in St. Clair Shores. A third election worker, Molly Brasure, also was charged and is awaiting her next court date on Jan. 7.

The trio were among a group Attorney General Dana Nessel charged in October, along with four St. Clair Shores residents she accused of intentionally voting twice in the August primary.

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The voters committed election fraud when they sent in an absentee ballot and still voted in person at the polls, Nessel said at a news conference then. The three election workers allegedly knew of their absentee ballots  an electronic voter information tracking system informed them  and let them vote anyway.

The AG's Office identified the election workers as assistant clerks, but St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby previously told the Free Press they were seasonal workers, not assistant clerks.

Robert Ihrie, the city attorney who represented McClintock and Guciardo, said the charges against them "should have never been filed."

They were charged with one count each of falsifying election returns or records, a five-year felony; voting absentee and in person, and offering to vote more than once.

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Ihrie said the pair gave their time and effort to help in an election, had been doing this for years and had no criminal record. He said he believes District Judge Joseph Oster dismissed the case because it was "very simply, lacking in evidence," adding Oster "followed the law and listened very carefully and intently."

Ihrie said he hopes the AG's Office does not appeal the decision regarding his clients to "prove a point  because it is a point that is not provable."

The dismissals are notable, he said, because "it's difficult to get a case dismissed at the exam level" as there only is a need to show probable cause, which is a lower standard than at trial.

Ihrie said the city should be commended for "standing by and standing behind its people." He said the "sad part about this" is that they hope it doesn't "create a chilling effect on people who want to volunteer and work at the polls for fear if they make a mistake they'll be charged with a five-year felony."

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AG Office Spokesperson Danny Wimmer in an email said: "Our office is currently exploring its appellate options concerning the dismissals ...

"The Department of Attorney General takes very seriously cases of election fraud, and will attempt to hold accountable all individuals criminally responsible for these instances of double voting in St. Clair Shores."

More: Write-in candidates in elections 'always have a chance'

More: Coin toss helps decide election tiebreaker in Macomb County

One of the four St. Clair Shores residents accused of double voting, Douglas Kempkens, Jr., on Tuesday at the preliminary exam was bound over to stand trial in Macomb County Circuit Court. The AG's Office previously said he was charged with one count each of voting absentee and in-person, and offering to vote more than once.

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Voters Frank Prezzato, Geneva O'Day and Stacey Kramer are charged with one count each of voting absentee and in-person, and offering to vote more than once. Prezzato is due in court Jan. 3 in the district court and O'Day, on Jan. 7, per court records. Kramer, who already has been ordered to stand trial, has a pretrial conference Jan. 21 in circuit court.

The charges by the AG's Office were filed after Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido declined to charge the four voters, stating in an August news release that a review of the evidence concluded probable cause did not exist to believe a crime occurred. The alleged election fraud occurred at three different voting precincts.

An electronic poll book at each precinct shows whether voters have already cast a ballot. In the case of the four voters, the system indicated their ballots were already received by the local clerk, Nessel previously said.

She said volunteer poll workers informed the three assistant clerks and were instructed to override the system and issue in-person ballots. She said the assistant clerks then illegally changed the status of the four voters' absentee ballots in the electronic poll book from "received" to "rejected."

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The voters cast their in-person ballots, which still were counted alongside their absentee ballots. The election workers were accused of not making any effort to ensure the corresponding ballot was rejected from the absentee voter counting board.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.

Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Charges dropped for 2 election workers in double voting case in Macomb
Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, speaks to reporters about the first half of the 2024 legislative session on March 14 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

A Cole County judge on Wednesday dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit against the Missouri House and its Republican leader alleging harassment and intimidation of a top staffer.

The lawsuit was filed in May by House Chief Clerk Dana Miller accusing outgoing House Speaker Dean Plocher and his former chief of staff, Rod Jetton, of retaliating against her and trying to get her removed from her job. At the heart of the lawsuit were swirling allegations about misconduct by Plocher and a House Ethics Committee investigation that ultimately was dismissed amid accusations that Plocher and Jetton engaged in obstruction and witness intimidation.

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In a pair of one-page orders issued Wednesday by Cole County Associate Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe, the lawsuit against Plocher and the House were dismissed. Millers attorneys dismissed Jetton from the lawsuit earlier this year.

The Cole County Circuit Court has dismissed the unfounded allegations of impropriety against me and the House of Representatives, Plocher said in a statement. While I was always certain the truth would prevail, this journey has been challenging. I am deeply thankful for the unwavering support of my family and friends throughout this process.

Holly VanOstran, Millers attorney, said Wednesdays ruling was not surprising because these particular issues under the law have not been vetted by the court of appeals.

We recognize that it does make sense for the judge to want clarification of the law before allowing a case of this magnitude to proceed in the litigation process and to be put in front of a jury at great expense to both Ms. Miller and the taxpayers, she said. As such, it is wise judicial economy to ensure that any verdict could not be upended by a procedural rule or misapplication of the law. Ms. Miller intends to appeal to obtain the necessary certainty that will allow the case to go forward.

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Plocher, who in August finished fourth in the GOP primary for secretary of state and is leaving office next month because of term limits, became embroiled in controversy last year when he was accused of engaging in unethical and perhaps unlawful conduct as part of his months-long push to get the House to award an $800,000 contract to a private company to manage constituent information.

A month later, The Independent reported Plocher had on numerous occasions over the last five years illegally sought taxpayer reimbursement from the legislature for airfare, hotels and other travel costs already paid for by his campaign.

An investigators report detailed how some potential witnesses allegedly refused to speak out of fear Plocher would use his power as speaker to retaliate against them, while others did not appear because Plocher decided who the committee could compel to testify. And Plocher refused to cooperate with the attorney hired to collect evidence for the committee.

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The speaker and chief clerk of the House are the two officers of the chamber named in the Missouri Constitution. Both are elected by a majority vote as the chamber reorganizes after an election.

Miller has worked in state government for 31 years, with 23 years as a member of the House staff. She was elected chief clerk in 2018 and has held that post under four speakers. Miller is not seeking re-election as chief clerk.

In court filings seeking dismissal, Plocher claimed he, personally, was not Millers supervisor and that the dispute is a political question, not a personnel issue.

Miller is retiring from her position early next year. The incoming speaker of the House, Republican Jon Patterson of Lees Summit, announced long-time legislative staffer Joe Engler will replace her, if he is approved by a vote of the full chamber.
A judge dismissed charges against two poll workers from St. Clair Shores after the state attorney general accused them of allowing voters to cast more than one ballot. Two of the voters have now been sent to trial. (John McCosh/States Newsroom)

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Michigans free newsletter here.

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A judge Tuesday threw out felony charges against two poll workers accused of allegedly helping voters vote more than once in the August primary.

Judge Joseph C. Oster dismissed charges against Patricia Guciardo and Emily McClintock, who were both poll workers in St. Clair Shores. Both faced multiple years in prison for allegedly allowing the voters to cast ballots after theyd already voted in the election and for falsifying election records.

But Guciardos and McClintocks cases arent necessarily done. Danny Wimmer, a spokesperson for Attorney General Dana Nessel, said Tuesday that the AGs office is exploring its appellate options concerning the dismissals.

The Department of Attorney General takes very seriously cases of election fraud, and will attempt to hold accountable all individuals criminally responsible for these instances of double voting in St. Clair Shores, Wimmer wrote in an email.

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The office is continuing to prosecute other suspects in the same investigation. Wimmer added that it was a positive development that voter Douglas Kempkens Jr., who was also in court Tuesday on charges of voting both absentee and in person, was formally sent to trial in Macomb County Circuit Court. Stacey Kramer, another voter who allegedly cast two ballots, was sent to trial in October. A third poll worker and two other voters wont be in court again until January.

Lawyer Robert Ihrie, who was paid by St. Clair Shores to represent McClintock and Guciardo, said that his clients had tears of joy after hearing the decision.

These are people who give up their energy and time to help out with elections, and most of them have been doing it for years and never had a problem, he said. These are people with no criminal records, and here they make a mistake and get charged with felonies.

He added that it was sad they were charged at all, saying that he felt it was a political decision to charge them and others. He said it would make sense to charge someone who tried to deliberately commit fraud.

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We are certainly not in favor of that. But this situation is not that situation, he said.

He worried about a potential chilling effect on poll workers, who might not want to do the job out of fear they could be held criminally responsible for mistakes. If the decision is appealed, Ihrie said he expected the same result.

St. Clair Shores Clerk Abby Barrett told Votebeat that she was relieved for the workers who had charges dismissed.

This sets the precedent that people should not be afraid to work the elections, Barrett told Votebeat. We will support our people.

She said she felt bad for Kempkens but couldnt offer additional comment on the ongoing trials.

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Kempkens attorney could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

The AGs office charged four voters and three poll workers in October for the alleged double voting. It was a surprise to even the voters, who thought they were cleared of wrongdoing after Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido declined to prosecute them in August.

Nessel alleged in a press conference that for this to have occurred, it required multiple people in a concentrated area that were willing to break the law all on the day during the course of a single election. All four of the double votes were counted, although they did not affect the outcomes of any race.

Lucido had initially declined to charge, saying that he felt the double votes were mistakes. Police records obtained by Votebeat indicated much of the same: The double ballots were not intentional, police found while investigating.

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Names in the report were redacted, but in one case, it appeared a spouse had turned in their partners ballot instead of their own, resulting in two cast. In another case, a voter said they thought they had returned an application to vote, not a ballot. Others said they simply did not realize they had voted twice.

Mistakes are not impossible, as Bloomfield Township Clerk Martin Brook told the Macomb Daily after the hearing. The days are long and stressful, and the work can be difficult.

We cant run elections without volunteers, he told the Daily. Im thrilled by this result. Its the right result. It shows the AG should never have brought the charges.

Hayley Harding is a reporter for Votebeat based in Michigan. Contact Hayley at hharding@votebeat.org.

Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization covering local election integrity and voting access. Sign up for their newsletters here.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)  A CIA analyst charged with leaking top secret details ahead of a planned Israeli attack on Iran earlier this year will remain jailed pending trial, a judge ordered Wednesday.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles overrules a magistrate who said last week that Asif Rahman, 34, of Vienna, Virginia, could be free on restrictions while he awaits trial on charges of disclosing national defense information.

The fight over Rahman's detention revealed additional details about the government's investigation of the leak and the analyst who allegedly disclosed the classified documents in October on the Telegram messaging app.

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At Wednesday's detention hearing, prosecutor Troy Edwards said Rahman was motivated by ideology, though he did not discuss what that ideology might be.

In fact, he said the conclusion that Rahman's motive was ideological was essentially process of elimination, noting that Rahman comes from a wealthy family and has access to a multimillion-dollar family trust, and therefore wouldn't have a financial incentive.

Edwards also highlighted eight pages of notes found on Rahman when he was arrested last month in Cambodia, where he worked at the U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh. Those notes included two separate to-do lists, one of which was largely blocks of apparently encrypted text along with an unencrypted sentence pertaining to U.S. missile capabilities. Edwards said investigators have not yet been able to decipher the encryption.

A separate, unencrypted to-do list included categories labeled contingencies and run, Edwards said.

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Official court documents are vague about what was leaked, but details discussed in open court make clear that it references an October disclosure of documents from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency noting that Israel was moving military assets into place to conduct a military strike on Iran after Iran launched its own missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1.

Israel ended up carrying out an attack on Iran's air defense systems and missile manufacturing facilities in late October.

In court papers, the government said the leak caused Israel to delay its attack plans. Edwards said the volatile nature of the Middle East makes the leak exceptionally dangerous.

It is hard to overstate what other circumstances present graver risks of danger to human life than unilaterally deciding to transmitting information related to plans for kinetic military action between two countries, prosecutors wrote in court papers.

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Rahman's attorney, Amy Jeffress, cited anonymous sources in news articles who have downplayed the leak's significance.

Jeffress said the to-do list included the word run because Rahman is an avid jogger. She also said it's rare for defendants facing similar charges to be detained pending trial.

Rahman was born in California and moved with his family when he was a child to Cincinnati, where he was a high school valedictorian, according to court papers submitted by his lawyer. He went to Yale University and graduated in three years. He and his wife now live in the D.C. metro area, along with his parents.

His father, Muhit Rahman, who was prepared to serve as his son's custodian pretrial if he had been released, attended Wednesday's hearing along with numerous family members and friends in support.

Rahman made his initial court appearance last month in Guam.

Jeffress said after Wednesday's hearing that she intends to appeal the detention order.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)  A judge has overturned a Black man's conviction in a 2009 double homicide that was investigated by a discredited white Kansas City, Kansas, police detective.

The ruling Monday in the case of 34-year-old Cedric Warren came exactly one week after Roger Golubski died in an apparent suicide just before the start of his criminal trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted Black women.

Warren is now jailed in Wyandotte County while the prosecutor decides whether to retry him. A spokesman in the prosecutors office didnt immediately respond to an email or phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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Im very thrilled, Warrens father, Cedric Toney, said in a phone interview Tuesday.

He said before Golubski supervised the investigation that led to his son's arrest, the former detective stalked his daughter and his son's mother. The allegation is similar to one raised in the case of Lamonte McIntyre, who served 23 years behind bars for a double homicide before he was freed. McIntyres mother has said Golubski pressured her for sexual favors.

But Wyandotte County Judge Aaron Roberts based his ruling in Warren's case on something different. He ruled from the bench that prosecutors failed to turn over information about the severe mental health issues of a key witness in the drug house shooting that killed Charles Ford and Larry Ledoux.

The witness had schizophrenia, and offered a shifting account of what happened before he became the only person to link Warren to the killing, the defense wrote in court filings.

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Attorneys for Warren argued that the prosecution should have known about the witness mental health struggles because they caused issues years earlier when he was charged with passing bad checks. A mental health exam in that case found the man was incompetent to stand trial and highlighted several psychiatric hospitalizations.

Police officers also were aware of the witness' mental health struggles because they took him to a psychiatric facility after questioning him in the double homicide, the defense said.

The defense wrote that the undisclosed evidence undermined his credibility and ability to competently and reliably recount events.

The family's claims that Golubski harassed Warren's mother and sister haven't been aired in court, said Lindsay Runnels, an attorney for Warren. She said that is largely because a judge was focused on their allegations that evidence was withheld.

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As far as Cedric Warren is concerned, out is out, she said, adding she is confident he will be released and possibly soon.

But while Golubski's role in Warren's case didn't play a role in Roberts' decision, the allegations have led the county prosecutors office to undertake a $1.7 million effort to reexamine other cases he worked on during his 35 years on the force.

Cheryl Pilate, another attorney representing Warren, is pursuing another claim that a person Golubski investigated is innocent. She stressed that the problems in the community extended beyond one detective and that others also played a role.

This was a one witness case with no corroborating evidence," she said. "And the witness was someone who was very vulnerable and had very significant mental health issues.
A bankruptcy judge rejected The Onions planned acquisition of Alex Jones Infowars via a bankruptcy auction.

In a ruling issued late Tuesday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez faulted the auction process, per the AP.

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Last month, The Onion won the bidding for Infowars, which has been forced to sell its assets after a $1.4 billion defamation judgment in favor of the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting massacre. The satirical news site planned to relaunch Infowars in January, with Everytown for Gun Safety working with them as advertising partner.

We are deeply disappointed in todays decision, but The Onion will continue to seek a resolution that helps the Sandy Hook families receive a positive outcome from the horror they endured, Ben Collins, the CEO of The Onion, said in a statement.

He said that they would continue to seek a path towards purchasing Infowars in the coming weeks.

Jones Infowars has made tens of millions from spreading conspiracy theories. He had made the false claim that the 2012 shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a hoax, something that led to families of the victims receiving harassing threats even as they grieved the deaths of their children. The shooter murdered 26 people in the school, including 20 children.

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I want to thank everyone who has stood with myself and the Infowars crew as we weathered the total Deep State assault in the last nine years, Jones said.

Per the AP, The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash for Infowars assets. A company affiliated with Jones bid $3.5 million. The judge said that the auction should have maximized the amount that could be raised in the bankruptcy process, including for the Sandy Hook families, the AP reported.

Chris Mattei, the attorney for the Connecticut Sandy Hook families, said that they were disappointed by the decision, noting that the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee had determined that it would be in the best interest of the creditors.

These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused, Mattei said in a statement. This decision doesnt change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes.

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A federal judge on Tuesday night rejected the sale of the conspiracy platform Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet after Alex Jones claimed that a recent bankruptcy auction was fraught with illegal collusion.

The Onion was named the winning bidder on Nov. 14 over a company affiliated with Jones. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopezs decision means Jones can stay at Infowars in Austin, Texas. The Onion had planned to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody.

At the end of a lengthy two-day hearing in a Texas courtroom, Lopez criticized the auction process as flawed and said the outcome left a lot of money on the table for families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

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You got to scratch and claw and get everything you can for them, Lopez said.

The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash and other incentives for Infowars assets in the auction. First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones name that sells nutritional supplements, bid $3.5 million.

Lopez cited problems  but no wrongdoing  with the auction process. He said he did not want another auction and left it up to the trustee who oversaw the auction to determine the next steps.

Trustee Christopher Murray had defended The Onions bid during the hearing.

Only two people showed up to bid and  one was just better than the other, Murray testified, referring to The Onion. Asked how much better it was, he said by a lot.

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Although The Onions cash offer was lower than that of First United American, it also included a pledge by many of the Sandy Hook families to forgo $750,000 of the auction proceeds due to them and give it to other creditors, providing the other creditors more money than they would receive under First United Americans bid.

Jones did not attend the proceedings and instead broadcast from his studios in Austin.

I cant imagine the judge would certify this fraud, Jones said on his show Tuesday. I mean its head-spinning the stuff they did and what they claimed.

The trustee and The Onion deny the allegations from Jones and the company and accuse them of sour grapes.

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The sale of Infowars is part of Jones personal bankruptcy case, which he filed in late 2022 after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in defamation lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas filed by relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Jones repeatedly called the shooting that killed 20 children and six educators a hoax staged by actors and aimed at increasing gun control. Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones conspiracies and threats from his followers.

Jones has since acknowledged that the Connecticut school shooting happened.
BAGHDAD, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Wednesday discussed the developments in Syria and its repercussions on the rest of the region over the phone, according to a statement from al-Sudani's office.

During the phone call, they "emphasized the importance of joint Arab coordination and the need to promote dialogue among all Syrian parties to ensure Syria's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," the statement said.

The two sides also discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance and expand cooperation in various fields.

A militant alliance led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham waged a major offensive from northern Syria on Nov. 27 and had since swept southwards through government-held areas, capturing the capital, Damascus, within 12 days. 
(Getty images)

A Hillsborough County judge has ruled in favor of a paramedic and medical marijuana patient who was suspended by the Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue Department in 2019 after testing positive for cannabis use.

Judge Melissa Polo ruled on Tuesday that Hillsborough County is prohibited from discriminating against and must provide accommodations to employees with valid medical marijuana cards who test positive for the drug  as long as there is no evidence the employee was using illegal substances at work, on county property, or in county vehicles, or reported to work under the influence.

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She also ruled that the plaintiff, Angelo Giambrone, is entitled to back pay, compensatory damages, and attorney fees and costs associated with his case.

Floridas medical marijuana statute does not require an employer to accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any workplace or any employee while working under the influence of marijuana but is silent about whether employers must accommodate off-site or off-work use of marijuana.

Officials with Hillsborough County issued a statement on Wednesday about the decision.

Following the recent court ruling involving a former employee of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the use of medical marijuana, Hillsborough County is carefully evaluating possible next steps related to the case.

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Democratic lawmakers have filed bills in recent sessions to give employees who are medical marijuana patients legal protections at work, although they havent moved in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Its finally what I think the people voted for in 2016 for medical marijuana coming to fruition, said Tampa attorney Michael Minardi, who along with his co-counsel Larry Krutchik defended Giambrone in court. We think this is obviously a correct verdict and hopefully allow marijuana patients to stop being discriminated against when theyre using medicine so they can be functional human beings in life again.

Disability

In her written opinion, Judge Polo said the undisputed facts established that Giambrone suffered from anxiety and a sleep disorder that significantly impacts his day-to-day life when unmedicated.

She noted that the definition of disability in the Florida Civil Rights Act includes both physical and mental ailments; that the 2016 Florida Constitutional Amendment legalizing medical cannabis requires that qualified patients are allowed to use medical marijuana offsite; and that employers are required to make accommodations.

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Therefore, the Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to protection under the Florida Civil Rights Act and the County violated the [sic] by not making an accommodation for Plaintiff to use his medical marijuana off-site.

He had anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD that affected his ability to live day to day without being medicated, Minardi said.

So, he was considered to be a disabled individual under the Florida Civil Rights Act and therefore employers are required to give those employees accommodations just like anybody else currently is for any other prescription medication or people who cant stand on their feet too long, where they have to have a chair at work. he continued.

The only thing were asking for is they accept a positive medical marijuana test or medical marijuana card the same as they would any prescription medication.

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Polo noted in her opinion that that Hillsborough County Fire & Rescue acknowledged that there was no evidence Giambrone had used cannabis on work premises, before or during work hours; or that he had possessed cannabis on work premises or during work hours.

Random test

Giambrone had worked for Hillsborough County Fire & Rescue as a paramedic since 2008. On Feb. 26, 2019, he was asked to take a random drug test and tested positive for cannabis use on March 1, 2019. He showed his superiors his medical marijuana card, but the department was unmoved and placed him on administrative leave without pay that same day.

Giambrones positive urine test was reported to the Florida Department of Health, which conducted an investigation but dropped it for lack of probable cause.

He then filed a complaint on June 5, 2020, alleging violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act because he said that the county was required to accommodate him as disabled individual; that he was wrongfully terminated because the county refused to accept his state-issued medical marijuana card as justification for his positive test results; and that the county had failed to update its Drug Free Workplace Policy pursuant to the Florida Civil Rights Act.

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Additionally, he alleged breach of contract for violation of the Drug Free Workplace Policy and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Hillsborough County argued that Giambrone was not a disabled person because he never requested an accommodation or self-reported his confidential medical information to his employer.

Of the 38 states that have legalized medical cannabis, about half address anti-discrimination for medical cannabis patients. Significantly fewer require employers to carve out accommodations for these patients, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The murder case of a former Michigan State Police sergeant who hit a man with his cruiser will remain in federal court, a judge ruled.

In a nine-page decision issued Wednesday, Judge Hala Jarbou denied the Michigan Attorney Generals Offices motion to remand Brian Keelys case to state court.

The Michigan Attorney Generals Office charged Keely with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the April 17 death of Samuel Sterling. Keely moved to have the case handled in federal court because he was acting as a member of a federal task force when he hit Sterling with an unmarked cruiser, ultimately killing him. In August, Jarbou agreed.

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Former MSP detective sgt. asks for case to be dropped, citing immunity

The Michigan AG sought to have the case sent back to state court, citing a 2023 appellate ruling that the federal court does not have jurisdiction over former officers. Keely sent a notice retiring from MSP in May, the same day charges were filed against him, backdating his departure to April 17.

But Jarbous ruling says that regardless of Keelys actual retirement date, his case still falls under federal jurisdiction because he was under the supervision of the U.S. Marshals Service when Sterling died. She declined to extend the 2023 appellate ruling about former officers to officers acting under federal supervision.

In summary, (Keely) is entitled to protection for his conduct during the attempted arrest of Sterling, including the protection of having his federal immunity defense decided in a federal forum, Jarbou wrote.

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We are beyond pleased with todays ruling, Keelys defense attorney Marc Curtis said in a statement to News 8. We look forward to continuing the fight to have these charges completely dismissed.

Family shows News 8 a photo of Samuel Sterling.

Looking to arrest Sterling, 25, of Grand Rapids, on a number of warrants, authorities tracked him to a Kentwood gas station in April 17. Police say he ran away when they moved in to get him. Officers chased him on foot to a nearby Burger King while Keely pursued in an unmarked cruiser. Video released by MSP shows Sterling being hit by Keelys SUV near the restaurants entrance. Sterling was hospitalized and died hours later.

AG argues murder case against ex-MSP sgt. should proceed

Keelys attorney have also asked for his case to be thrown out, arguing he is immune from criminal prosecution under the U.S. Constitutions Supremacy Clause. The Michigan AGs Office has called for the case to continue, saying Keelys actions were rife with malice and other criminal intent and are therefore not protected. The court has not yet ruled on the motion to dismiss.

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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.
The Albertsons logo is displayed in front of an Albertsons grocery store on October 14, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Editors note: The Capital Chronicle is running an end-of-year fundraising campaign, with a $10,000 goal, to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and theres a long legislative session in 2025. Were completely dependent on donor dollars, and theyre tax deductible. Please contribute to us if you can.

Judges in Oregon and Washington on Tuesday blocked supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons from merging, throwing into question the future of the largest proposed grocery merger in U.S. history.

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U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson in Portland temporarily halted the merger, writing in her 71-page ruling in a lawsuit against the plan that it would lead to undue market concentration, reduce competition and hurt customers. Her preliminary injunction pauses the $24.6 billion proposed merger while the Federal Trade Commissions administrative judge continues its review of implications.

King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle also ruled that the merger could not move forward in Washington in a separate state case, saying that the proposed merger violated state antitrust laws. Another state lawsuit is pending in Colorado.

The rulings mean Krogers 2022 proposal to buy Albertsons is on hold while the companies decide whether to proceed. If they do, an in-house administrative judge at the Federal Trade Commission will determine whether the merger is anticompetitive, though a Kroger lawsuit seeks to block that review.

The FTC, joined by several states including Oregon, sued in February to block the merger, saying it would eliminate competition, drive up costs and lead to lower-quality products and services. Henry Liu, director of the FTCs Bureau of Competition, said in a statement that Tuesdays ruling will protect Americans who buy groceries and work at grocery stores.

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This historic win protects millions of Americans across the country from higher prices for essential groceries  from milk, to bread, to eggs  ultimately allowing consumers to keep more money in their pockets, Liu said. This victory has a direct, tangible impact on the lives of millions of Americans who shop at Kroger or Albertsons-owned grocery stores for their everyday needs, whether thats a Frys in Arizona, a Vons in Southern California, or a Jewel-Osco in Illinois.

Kroger operates about 2,700 stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia. Its stores have different brands throughout the country, including Fred Meyer in the northwest, King Soopers in the Rocky Mountains, Frys in Arizona and Harris Teeter in the southeast. About 430,000 people work for Kroger, according to court filings, and its the largest employer of union grocery workers.

Albertsons, which merged with Safeway in 2015, is the nations second-largest grocery chain with about 285,000 employees and nearly 2,270 stores across the country.

Each sells wide range of products

The plaintiffs argued that the merger of Kroger and Albertsons would combine two expansive entities. They said that they are different from other stores that might carry groceries because they have a broad variety of groceries, unlike gourmet or natural grocers like Whole Foods, limited assortment stores like Aldi and Trader Joes, warehouse club stores like Costco or dollar stores.

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Supermarkets also compare their prices with other supermarkets and use promotional pricing in ways that other grocery retailers dont, the plaintiffs argued. And data provided in court filings demonstrated that Albertsons stores lose more sales when Kroger stores open nearby, while a strike that closed King Soopers stores in Colorado for more than a week in 2022 resulted in spiking sales at nearby Safeway stores  proof that the grocery giants compete more with each other than with other types of food retailers.

Attorneys for Kroger and Albertsons argued in response that other retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Costco and Aldi compete with them and that customers visit a variety of stores instead of engaging in one-stop shopping. Nelson wrote that that didnt mean the stores serve the same need.

It is not surprising that consumers spend money at a variety of different types of retailers, but this does not necessarily show that those retailers are reasonably interchangeable substitutes for a consumers particular needs, she wrote. The fact that a shopper may make a monthly trip to Costco to stock up on a smaller number of bulk purchases, for example, does not make a Costco run a reasonable substitute for a weekly one-stop visit to a supermarket to purchase most or all grocery items for the week.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement that Nelsons ruling in the Oregon case confirmed the states arguments that the proposed merger would hurt workers and consumers.

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At a time when higher grocery and pharmacy prices are hurting countless households, todays decision is a win for Oregonians and a win for competition in the marketplace, Rosenblum said.

Other states involved

Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming joined the Oregon lawsuit, along with the Federal Trade Commission. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes described the decision as a victory for consumers, workers and small businesses across the country.

Had this merger gone forward, it could have harmed families by reducing choices, driving up prices, and eliminating jobs, Mayes said. Here in Arizona, where countless communities rely on accessible, affordable grocery options, this decision helps ensure that residents wont face the potentially devastating impacts of such a consolidation.

Spokespeople for Kroger and Albertsons said the companies were disappointed and reviewing their options.

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Kroger is disappointed in the opinions issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and the Washington State Court, which overlook the substantial evidence presented at trial showing that a merger between Kroger and Albertsons would advance the companys decades-long commitment to lowering prices, respecting collective bargaining agreements and is in the best interests of customers, associates and the broader competitive environment in a rapidly evolving grocery landscape, the Kroger statement said.

Washington Attorney General and Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson praised the judges decision in the Washington state case, saying that it was a victory for affordability, worker protections and the rule of law.

Were standing up to mega-monopolies to keep prices down, Ferguson said. We went to court to block this illegal merger to protect Washingtonians struggling with high grocery prices and the workers whose jobs were at stake.

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The Albertsons logo is displayed in front of an Albertsons grocery store on October 14, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

This story originally appeared in the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Judges in Oregon and Washington on Tuesday blocked supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons from merging, throwing into question the future of the largest proposed grocery merger in U.S. history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson in Portland temporarily halted the merger, writing in her 71-page ruling in a lawsuit against the plan that it would lead to undue market concentration, reduce competition and hurt customers. Her preliminary injunction pauses the $24.6 billion proposed merger while the Federal Trade Commissions administrative judge continues its review of implications.

King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle also ruled that the merger could not move forward in Washington in a separate state case, saying that the proposed merger violated state antitrust laws. Another state lawsuit is pending in Colorado.

Phil Weiser, Colorados attorney general, who sued to block the merger, planned to address developments in the case during a press conference Wednesday morning. Kroger operates King Soopers and City Market stores in Colorado, and Albertsons operates the Safeway brand. Weisers lawsuit alleges that the proposed merger violates state antitrust laws and would inflict substantial harm on Colorado consumers and workers.

The rulings in Oregon and Washington mean Krogers 2022 proposal to buy Albertsons is on hold while the companies decide whether to proceed. If they do, an in-house administrative judge at the Federal Trade Commission will determine whether the merger is anticompetitive, though a Kroger lawsuit seeks to block that review.

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The FTC, joined by several states including Oregon, sued in February to block the merger, saying it would eliminate competition, drive up costs and lead to lower-quality products and services. Henry Liu, director of the FTCs Bureau of Competition, said in a statement that Tuesdays ruling will protect Americans who buy groceries and work at grocery stores.

This historic win protects millions of Americans across the country from higher prices for essential groceries  from milk, to bread, to eggs  ultimately allowing consumers to keep more money in their pockets, Liu said. This victory has a direct, tangible impact on the lives of millions of Americans who shop at Kroger or Albertsons-owned grocery stores for their everyday needs, whether thats a Frys in Arizona, a Vons in Southern California, or a Jewel-Osco in Illinois.

Kroger operates about 2,700 stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia. Its stores have different brands throughout the country, including Fred Meyer in the northwest, King Soopers in the Rocky Mountains, Frys in Arizona and Harris Teeter in the southeast. About 430,000 people work for Kroger, according to court filings, and its the largest employer of union grocery workers.

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Albertsons, which merged with Safeway in 2015, is the nations second-largest grocery chain with about 285,000 employees and nearly 2,270 stores across the country.

Each sells wide range of products

The plaintiffs argued that the merger of Kroger and Albertsons would combine two expansive entities. They said that they are different from other stores that might carry groceries because they have a broad variety of groceries, unlike gourmet or natural grocers like Whole Foods, limited assortment stores like Aldi and Trader Joes, warehouse club stores like Costco or dollar stores.

Supermarkets also compare their prices with other supermarkets and use promotional pricing in ways that other grocery retailers dont, the plaintiffs argued. And data provided in court filings demonstrated that Albertsons stores lose more sales when Kroger stores open nearby, while a strike that closed King Soopers stores in Colorado for more than a week in 2022 resulted in spiking sales at nearby Safeway stores  proof that the grocery giants compete more with each other than with other types of food retailers.

Attorneys for Kroger and Albertsons argued in response that other retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Costco and Aldi compete with them and that customers visit a variety of stores instead of engaging in one-stop shopping. Nelson wrote that that didnt mean the stores serve the same need.

Advertisement Advertisement

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It is not surprising that consumers spend money at a variety of different types of retailers, but this does not necessarily show that those retailers are reasonably interchangeable substitutes for a consumers particular needs, she wrote. The fact that a shopper may make a monthly trip to Costco to stock up on a smaller number of bulk purchases, for example, does not make a Costco run a reasonable substitute for a weekly one-stop visit to a supermarket to purchase most or all grocery items for the week.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement that Nelsons ruling in the Oregon case confirmed the states arguments that the proposed merger would hurt workers and consumers.

At a time when higher grocery and pharmacy prices are hurting countless households, todays decision is a win for Oregonians and a win for competition in the marketplace, Rosenblum said.

Other states involved

Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming joined the Oregon lawsuit, along with the Federal Trade Commission. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes described the decision as a victory for consumers, workers and small businesses across the country.

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Had this merger gone forward, it could have harmed families by reducing choices, driving up prices, and eliminating jobs, Mayes said. Here in Arizona, where countless communities rely on accessible, affordable grocery options, this decision helps ensure that residents wont face the potentially devastating impacts of such a consolidation.

Spokespeople for Kroger and Albertsons said the companies were disappointed and reviewing their options.

Kroger is disappointed in the opinions issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and the Washington State Court, which overlook the substantial evidence presented at trial showing that a merger between Kroger and Albertsons would advance the companys decades-long commitment to lowering prices, respecting collective bargaining agreements and is in the best interests of customers, associates and the broader competitive environment in a rapidly evolving grocery landscape, the Kroger statement said.

Washington Attorney General and Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson praised the judges decision in the Washington state case, saying that it was a victory for affordability, worker protections and the rule of law.

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Were standing up to mega-monopolies to keep prices down, Ferguson said. We went to court to block this illegal merger to protect Washingtonians struggling with high grocery prices and the workers whose jobs were at stake.

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Dec. 10A federal judge in Oregon, and a Washington state judge, both independently ruled Tuesday against what would have been the largest merger of two grocery store giants: the joining of Albertsons and Kroger.

Had the merger gone through, it would have led to the loss of Safeway stores on the South Hill and Spokane Valley, based on a previously released list of store sales.

The two grocery companies first announced in 2022 merger plans to get bigger to take on retail competitors Amazon and Walmart.

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That proposed merger spawned lawsuits from the attorneys general of Washington and Colorado, and the Federal Trade Commissioned filed a federal suit in Oregon. All sought to block the deal over concerns that it would reduce customer choices and bargaining positions of employees across the country.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson of Oregon ruled on the lawsuit brought by the FTC. Nelson issued a preliminary injunction blocking it.

"Although defendants may choose to abandon the merger because of the preliminary injunction, this order in no way forces them to do so, and leaves open the possibility that they may pursue the merger at a later date should it be deemed lawful in the administrative proceedings," Nelson wrote. "An injunction simply pauses the merger.

"Any harms defendants experience as a result of the injunction do not overcome the strong public interest in the enforcement of antitrust law, especially given the difficulty in disentangling a premature merger."

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The Washington state case met a similar end.

Ruling from the bench before a packed courtroom, King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson said that "the effect of that merger may be to substantially lessen competition in Washington," according to the Seattle Times.

"In short, the court blocks the merger," the judge said in the Seattle courtroom.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., applauded both legal decisions.

"The Courts found what we have seen in Washington state: Large-scale grocery store mergers like this one are more likely to raise grocery prices than provide any real benefits to shoppers. And right now we need to keep taking steps to lower costs," Cantwell said in a news release.

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The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents more than 100,000 grocery store employees at Albertsons and Kroger in 14 states, including hundreds of workers in the Spokane area, hailed both rulings as victories.

Kaye Guenther, president of UFCW 3000, said Ferguson's ruling "is good for workers, it's good for consumers."

In a telephone interview, Guenther said "we just think it's so important for everyday consumers and workers that we can assess what we need in our communities and can decide whether we want companies to merge together or not."

Both cases included multiple examples of how the merger would have harmed both consumers and workers, she said.

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"You want that kind of competition. You want stores trying to compete for your business," she said. "The bigger they get, the more they control prices."

A third case challenging the grocery store merger remains pending in Colorado. Regardless, the FTC challenge and Washington ruling are "very significant," Guenther said.

"It would not have been good for rural communities or farmers. As a company gets so big, they can set prices for farmers," she said. "They have a hard time negotiating against these big companies as well."

The merger could have also made it harder for workers to bargain for better pay and benefits, she said.

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"We represent the Albertsons, Fred Meyer and Rosauers workers on the east side of the state. Sometimes we can force Albertsons to a deal and compel Kroger to give the same deal," she said. "So, it's just extremely important for a healthy community to have multiple employers competing for workers and customers."

Kroger is based in Cincinnati and owns a family of 2,750 stores, including Fred Meyer, King Soopers and QFC, to name a few. Efforts to reach Kroger officials Tuesday afternoon were not immediately successful.

Albertsons is based in Boise and owns a separate group of 2,200 stores, including Safeway, Vons, Tom Thumb and Kings Food Markets. Albertsons spokeswoman Danielle Berg said the company was disappointed with the federal judge's decision.

"We believe we clearly outlined during the proceedings how the proposed merger would expand competition, lower prices, increase associate wages, protect union jobs, and enhance customers' shopping experience," Berg said in an emailed statement. "We are carefully reviewing the Court's opinion and are evaluating our options in accordance with the merger agreement."

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As part of the merger, Kroger and Albertsons proposed selling 579 stores to New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers.

That list would have included two Safeways in the Spokane area, the stores at 2509 E. 29th Ave. and 14020 E. Sprague Ave.

The list also included scores of stores on the state's West Side.

Other than the two Spokane locations, the closest other store on the list was a Safeway in Yakima. None of the three area Fred Meyer stores was named on the divestiture list.

Targeted stores included 10 locations in Idaho, but none was located in the Coeur d'Alene area.

Many of the employees who work at those stores are members of the UCFW 3000. It covers workers who live in a geographical region that includes all of Washington east of the Cascades, northeast Oregon and North Idaho.

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Guenther noted that Kroger had put aside $13 billion in cash to pay Albertsons shareholders had the merger gone through.

She said Kroger should invest in its stores to shorten lines and fix broken equipment.

"If they do that, it brings customers in and they are more profitable," Guenther said. "Put the money in the stores, and the customers will come in."

The union led a Stop the Merger coalition that included more than 100 organizations that were opposed to the proposed merger.

"We are extremely happy with both the state decision and the federal decision today," Guenther said. "We are waiting for Colorado and are hoping to get a trifecta."
A Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge has ruled that multiple candidates for office in Riviera Beach should not have paid their campaign filing fee with a debit card instead of with a campaign bank check.

Judge Reid Scott II's ruling, issued verbally after a virtual hearing on Monday, would disqualify both candidates for mayor, City Councilman Douglas Lawson and two other candidates who filed to run for council positions in the March municipal election.

The city's mayor, Ronnie Felder, had attempted to file for re-election and initially paid his filing fee with a debit card. But after coming to believe that he needed to pay by campaign bank check, he got a refund of the debit card transaction only to later submit a bank check for the filing fee from a previous, closed campaign account. He is not listed as a qualified candidate for office, though he has said "this matter is not yet concluded."

Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie L. Felder

An attorney for Lawson and others who paid their filing fee with a debit card has filed a motion to stay Scott's ruling until it can be appealed to Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

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"A stay will preserve the status quo and prevent the disenfranchisement of Florida voters who wish to vote for the (defendants) to represent them on the City Council in Riviera Beach," the motion states.

In November, Councilman Tradrick McCoy, Felder and a woman listed on court documents as Farcella Panier sued Riviera Beach and Palm Beach County Elections Supervisor Wendy Sartory Link, arguing that Riviera Beach City Clerk Debrah Hall should not have qualified the candidates who paid their filing fee with a debit card. Link, the suit argued, should not include them on the March ballot. Hall, who essentially serves as the elections supervisor for the city, was later added as a defendant.

A judge's ruling would disqualify City Councilman Douglas Lawson and four other candidates who filed to run for council positions in the March municipal election.

The clerk's list of qualified candidates challenging Lawson in District 5 includes Farcella Davis-Painter and Madelene Irving, whose qualification is also being challenged.

The lawsuit, which Lawson described as "waste of taxpayer dollars," has further roiled politics in Riviera Beach, where personal, vituperative attacks are common.

Election filing fee issue led to altercation in barber shop

Riviera Beach mayoral candidate Kendrick Wyly

One candidate for mayor, Kendrick Wyly, said he alluded to the suit in addressing McCoy as he entered a barber shop on Friday morning. Wyly said McCoy became angry, grabbed him and pulled him from a barber's chair before a barber intervened. Wyly called Riviera Beach police and asked that McCoy be charged with assault.

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Police Chief Michael Coleman asked the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to handle the incident because it involved two political figures in the city. PBSO is still investigating.

The Riviera Beach City Council held an emergency meeting on Friday to address the lawsuit. McCoy did not attend, sending word that he does not believe the city had given proper notice of the meeting. Councilman Glen Spiritis agreed, adding that he also didn't think council members should be discussing a pending legal matter in an open public meeting.

Tradrick McCoy, Riviera Beach City Commission

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Councilwoman Shirley Lanier, who is seeking re-election without her qualification being challenged, said City Attorney Dawn Wynn should defend Hall in the lawsuit.

Wynn said she and Hall discussed the law regarding how a filing fee can be paid, and Hall told her she disagrees with the city attorney's interpretation of the statute. Wynn said she then decided to hire outside legal counsel to represent Hall.

"The issue sometimes is, when you have a law license and you know what the law is or (what) you believe it to be, that you can't take a position contrary to that," said Wynn, who has practiced law in Florida for 34 years. "It's unethical. It's very difficult to argue something that you don't believe the law states. You lose credibility with the court."

RIVIERA BEACH NEWS: Riviera Beach starts process of raising $400 million in bond money for new water plant

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Lanier was unmoved by Wynn's position, insisting that, as city attorney, it is her duty to provide legal counsel to a representative of the city.

"The city clerk made a decision in her ministerial duties," Lanier said. "The city has an obligation to defend that. To say that the city clerk needs her own attorney? That is outrageous."

Lanier and Councilwoman KaShamba Miller-Anderson ultimately voted to direct Wynn to join in the defense of Hall. Spiritis voted against the move, and Lawson abstained because his qualification as a candidate is being challenged by the suit.

RIVIERA BEACH NEWS: Inspector General's scathing report rips Riviera Beach's water utilities leadership

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Challenging a would-be opponent's qualification to run is a common tactic in local politics, and it has tripped up candidates before. This year, Riviera Beach Councilwoman Julia Botel, seeking re-election, paid her filing fee with a cashier's check and not one drawn from her campaign account.

She was disqualified as a candidate, and Spiritis, who had filed to run against her, succeeded her when Botel's challenge of that disqualification was unsuccessful.

Now, another qualifications battle has clouded the upcoming March municipal election.

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Judge's ruling on filing fees roils political races in Riviera Beach
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  A juror in one of South Carolinas most notable murder trials shares her story in a new book The Long Road to Justice: Unraveling Alex Murdaughs Tangled Web.

Amie Williams, whose identity during the weeks-long trial was known only as Juror 864, recalls first seeing Murdaugh during jury pool interviews and how she had to analyze the compelling testimony and evidence.

Williams said she does not have any regrets about handing Alex Murdaugh a guilty verdict for killing his wife and son during a June 2021 shooting at their sprawling Colleton County property.

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It was the allegation of jury tampering where she took issue. I just feel that if I knew that was going to happen, Id probably have wished that I wasnt on it, she said. But otherwise, thats the only thing that I regret, really.

I feel like we did our duty. We kept our oath. The evidence was overwhelming, and we were not tampered with. I made a decision of my own free will, according to the evidence and witness testimony. And hes guilty, she added.

Williams will have a book signing at Beaufort Books on Thursday from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in Beaufort. You can also purchase the book online through her website.

A percent of sales will go toward a nonprofit called Sanctuary House, which helps victims of domestic violence and their children. I want a portion of my proceeds to go towards funding that and helping giving people the help that they are going to need, she said.

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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.
A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case of Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr. in the 2022 killing of Jimmy Jay Lee, a gay man who was prominent in the LGBTQ+ community at the University of Mississippi.

Jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict after over nine and a half hours of deliberation.

Lees body has never been found, but a judge declared him dead.

Herrington, 24, showed little emotion as he left the courtroom with his attorneys and several relatives. He remains free on bond and is still charged with capital murder, which Mississippi law defines as a killing committed along with another felony  in this case, kidnapping. Prosecutors had said they would not seek the death penalty. He faces life in prison if he is tried again and convicted.

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Jurors on Wednesday were told they could also consider lesser charges of first-degree murder, punishable by life in prison; second-degree murder, 20 years to life; or manslaughter, up to 20 years.

Circuit Judge Kelly Luther said he will consult with prosecutors and defense attorneys about setting another trial.

Both Herrington and Lee had graduated from the University of Mississippi. Lee, 20, was pursuing a masters degree. He was known for his creative expression through fashion and makeup and often performed in drag shows in Oxford, according to a support group called Justice for Jay Lee.

Lee disappeared July 8, 2022, in Oxford, where the university is located and the trial was held.

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Police arrested Herrington two weeks after Lee vanished. Investigators testified that they used warrants to obtain electronic records including explicit messages between social media accounts belonging to the two men and online searches conducted by Herrington, including one inquiring how long it takes to strangle someone.

Prosecutors said during closing arguments Wednesday that Herrington and Lee had a sexual encounter that ended badly and Lee left Herringtons apartment. They said text messages showed that Herrington, who was not openly gay, persuaded Lee to return with the promise of more sex. Prosecutors said Lee was killed after going back.

Tim Herrington lived a lie  lived a lie to his family, District Attorney Ben Creekmore said. He lied to Jay Lee to coax him over there, promising to do something with him.

Herringtons attorney, Kevin Horan, has said prosecutors cannot prove Lee is dead without having a body. He told jurors Wednesday that text messages showed Herrington did not lure Lee to his apartment.

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Hes the one thats being dominant anchoring this particular conversation, Horan said of Lee.

Lee, 20, has not contacted friends or family, and his financial transactions and once-prolific social media posts have stopped since the day he disappeared, investigators testified.

Police arrested Herrington two weeks after Lee went missing. Authorities interviewed Herington twice that day, and he gave conflicting information about the hours before Lee vanished, Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen testified Tuesday.

Before officers interviewed Herrington, they had already obtained explicit messages exchanged between social media accounts belonging to Herrington and Lee during the final hours Lee was known to be alive, McCutchen said.

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Google records obtained through a warrant showed that Herrington searched how long does it take to strangle someone at 5:56 a.m., University Police Department Sgt. Benjamin Douglas testified last week.

The final text message from Lees phone was sent to a social media account belonging to Herrington at 6:03 a.m. from a spot near Herringtons apartment, McCutchen said Tuesday. A cellphone tower in another part of Oxford last located any signal from Lees phone shortly before 7:30 a.m., the police chief said. A security camera showed Herrington moments later jogging out of a parking lot where Lees car was abandoned, investigators testified earlier.

On the day Lee vanished, Herrington was also seen on security cameras buying duct tape in Oxford and driving to his own hometown of Grenada about an hour south of Oxford, police have testified.

Herrington's relatives sat behind him in the courtroom, and Lee's sat behind prosecutors. When Luther dismissed court after the mistrial, he instructed the two groups to leave separately.

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Jurors were chosen from another county about 250 miles (402 kilometers) to the south. They heard eight days of arguments and testimony.

The judge twice urged jurors to continue deliberating when they said they were deadlocked. After the third such message, Luther declared the mistrial and thanked them for serving, adding: Ive asked a lot of you."
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Dates for the trial of a former Huntsville Police Department officer charged with capital murder were set by a judge on Tuesday.

David McCoy is charged with killing his pregnant girlfriend, Courtney Spraggins, at the Weston Ranch apartments on Jan. 7, 2022. McCoy also worked as a security officer at the complex.

Man charged for shooting girlfriends father in Huntsville

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He appeared in court on Tuesday for a hearing, where his trial was set for Feb. 3, 2025, with jury selection beginning on Jan. 27. The jury pool will include 99 people.

During Tuesdays hearing, a judge ordered the defense to submit jury questionnaires by Dec. 30.

Tim Gann, Madison County Chief Deputy District Attorney, told News 19 that Tuesdays hearing was really set to let both sides know what things would look like in this trial.

This was just really a scheduling hearing so that we know kind of what its going to look like, selecting the jury for the first week and then starting with evidence the next week, Gann said.

 Get breaking news, traffic and weather alerts directly to your smartphone. Download the News 19 App

He said the prosecution is ready for this case to go before a jury.

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I think everybody is ready to go now. It has been a long time, but these cases take a long time. But I think were all ready to go and looking forward to it, he said. Everything has been done. ALEA did an excellent job investigating this case. And theres nothing outstanding right now. Everything is ready.

Investigators said McCoy killed Spraggins, who was seven months pregnant, inside her car after she drove from North Carolina to move in with him. According to testimony at his preliminary hearing, after shooting Spraggins, McCoy called 911 saying hed been awakened by a gunshot.

He told officers, according to the hearing testimony, that he didnt know Spraggins and it appeared shed committed suicide. However, investigators said they found McCoys picture in Spraggins car and later, her locked cell phone inside of his apartment.

McCoy was originally scheduled to go on trial in April 2024, but that was pushed back after he got a different court-appointed attorney, Robin Wolfe, in November 2023. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for McCoy and the court was told Wolfe needed time to get up to speed on the capital case.

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Man accused of shooting into occupied vehicle arrested

Madison County Circuit Judge Alison Austin granted the defense request to move the trial date back to February 2024.

Spraggins family has filed a lawsuit against the company that owns the Weston Ranch apartments, alleging negligence in their security and in hiring McCoy as a security officer. McCoys lawyers asked the court to delay the lawsuit pending the outcome of his criminal case and the judge in that case has agreed to the delay.

Another hearing in the case is set for Jan. 9 to finish setting the agenda for the trial.

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.
The U.S. Justice Department sent a message Wednesday to those hoping for a pardon over their participation in the deadly riot on January 6, 2021: They will have to admit their guilt to receive one.

Prosecutors filed a motion responding to a request from the attorney for one rioter, Dova Winegeart, which would have delayed her judgment and report date in the hopes of receiving a presidential pardon when Donald Trump is sworn in next month. The 51-year-old woman was sentenced Monday to four months in prison for violently swinging a pole outside the U.S. Capitol as it was being ransacked by MAGA fanatics nearly four years ago.

Prosecutors opposed Winegearts motion and issued their own warning to any rioters hoping Trump might save them from jail time, according to Politico.

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The defendant hopes to avoid that harm by receiving a presidential pardon from a future executive. But the defendants personal motivation to avoid public disclosure of her judgment of conviction is no reason to delay entry of judgment and deviate from the regular order of criminal procedure, the motion stated.

And, even if the defendant were to receive a pardon at some unspecified date in the futurewhich is purely speculative at this juncturethat pardon would not unring the bell of conviction, the prosecutors wrote. In fact, quite the opposite. The defendant would first have to accept the pardon, which necessitates a confession of guilt.

Prosecutors wrote that a pardon would not undo the fact of the crime, only prevent punishment for that crime. If anything, a pardon would be to admit to the crime.

Trump has long promised to pardon the nearly 1,600 people facing charges over their involvement in the riot. Many have attempted to have their judgments delayed until after Trump takes office.

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Prosecutors took sharp issue with the suggestion that they obey in advance of Trumps orders.

The criminal justice system cannot operate on such uncertainty. Indeed, it is neither the courts role or function to speculate about any presidents pardon decisions, nor is it appropriate for the Court to halt the normal functioning of criminal procedure based solely on that speculation, the prosecutors wrote.

If a future Executive cannot, today, grant a pardon, this Court cannot expand the temporal grace that Executive may or may not extend in the future to  affect the present, they added.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The resolution, passed with 158 votes in favor, 9 against and 13 abstentions during the UNGA's emergency special session on the Palestine question, also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. 
The Justice Department sent a message Wednesday to Jan. 6 defendants: Accepting a pardon from Donald Trump is a confession of guilt for your crimes.

[A] pardon at some unspecified date in the future ... would not unring the bell of conviction, federal prosecutors argued in a Jan. 6 case before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. In fact, quite the opposite. The defendant would first have to accept the pardon, which necessitates a confession of guilt.

The pronouncement is the latest attempt by the Justice Department to salvage the legacy of its Jan. 6 investigation, which leaders say is the most sweeping criminal probe in American history. Trump has pledged to unravel that probe with the stroke of his pen by granting clemency to many of the nearly 1,600 people who have been charged for their roles in the attack on the Capitol four years ago.

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The legal significance of presidential pardons, and whether they imply guilt, has been debated in courts for decades. The Supreme Court has opined that pardons often carry an imputation of guilt even if the consequences for that guilt are erased. And the Justice Department has previously concluded that even if pardons eliminate criminal consequences, those convicted of crimes can still face punishment in other forums, like professional ethics boards.

A pardon  does not erase the conviction as a historical fact or justify the fiction that the pardoned individual did not engage in criminal conduct, the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel wrote in a 2006 opinion.

But Jan. 6 defendants have increasingly been seeking pardons of innocence, claiming Trump has the authority to grant them clemency without forcing an admission of guilt. Those who havent been convicted are hoping Trumps Justice Department simply drops their charges, obviating the need for a pardon altogether.

The Justice Departments comments on the effect of Jan. 6 pardons came in a court filing in the case of Dova Winegeart, who is seeking to delay her imminent jail term in anticipation of a possible pardon from Trump. Nichols, a Trump appointee, convicted Winegeart for damaging government property after a brief bench trial in October and acquitted her of several misdemeanor counts. On Monday, he sentenced her to four months in prison but agreed to hear arguments on whether the sentence should be delayed to await a potential pardon.

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Winegeart is one of many Jan. 6 defendants who have been seeking to delay their sentences or pause their cases in light of Trumps electoral victory and the potential for him to issue mass pardons when he returns to office.

Prosecutors sharply opposed Winegearts request and warned of far-reaching consequences to criminal justice if she is granted a delay based on speculation about a future pardon.

The criminal justice system cannot operate on such uncertainty. Indeed, it is neither the courts role or function to speculate about any presidents pardon decisions, nor is it appropriate for the Court to halt the normal functioning of criminal procedure based solely on that speculation, the prosecutors wrote.

If a future Executive cannot, today, grant a pardon, this Court cannot expand the temporal grace that Executive may or may not extend in the future to  affect the present, the DOJ attorneys added.
LOWVILLE, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 14-year-old is facing charges after allegedly making threats of mass harm at Lowville Academy.

According to the Lowville Police Department, the alleged incident happened on Monday, December 9. Authorities said that school staff had been made aware of threats against school staff members and students.

Watertown PD investigating death of toddler

Lowville Police said the student had already left school for the day. However, that student was quickly located.

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The student was charged on Tuesday, December 10 with making a threat of mass harm.

Lowville Police said that no further details will be released at this time and the students identity wont be released due to their age.

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 WWTI - InformNNY.com.
Young South Korean activists have flooded the streets of Seoul this week in massive protests calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Waving the plastic light sticks that are ubiquitous at K-pop concerts and chanting lyrics to songs by G-Dragon and aespa, tens of thousands have taken to the streets in sub-zero temperatures outside the National Assembly in the capital since Yoons short-lived, failed attempt to employ martial law last week, according to a Reuters report.

The protesters have taken to chanting impeach, impeach, impeach Yoon Suk Yeol to the beat of K-pop group aespas techo jam Whiplash, as well as waving flags and chanting along to G-Dragons Crooked. Videos of the musical protests featuring the kind of synchronized sing-along chants and coordinated light stick movements from the mainly young demonstrators that you might see at a concert have flooded social media feeds, including light sticks promoting the K-pop boy band TREASURE.

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The Presidents attempt to employ martial law  including sending troops to block lawmakers from voting against military rule  has created a constitutional crisis and led to the appointment of a special counsel investigation allegations of insurrection against Yoon, who has been barred from leaving the country during the probe; Yoon apologized for his actions four days later and promised not to declare martial law again.

Seoul-based music critic Kim Do Heon told Reuters that the advantage of using the light sticks is how sturdy the blinking toys are, versus the candles that were the hallmark of 2016 impeachment protests over former President Park Geun-hye. It also shines very bright and comes in a size that is easy to carry around, Heon said. Other songs being played at the protests include 2NE1s I Am the Best and Girls Generation Into the New World.

Protest MC Park Min-ju said shes been using K-pop style beats to keep the shivering crowds energized and engaged during the demonstrations, telling Reuters that she cooked up the pop instrumentals and a variety of slogans to cheer people up.

The K-pop industry  a major economic engine for the country thanks to global superstars including BTS, SEVENTEEN and BLACKPINK  typically stays apolitical and avoids weighing in on current events. And though the lyrics to the songs being blasted during the rallies also avoid social or political commentary, spposition party member Kim Byung-joo has reportedly shared a list of K-pop songs being used in the protests on X, writing on Monday, Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, ringleader of treason! from folk songs to K-pop.

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According to NBC News, police attempted to raid Yoons office on Wednesday (Dec. 11), but were unable to enter due to a face-off with security officials. The raids came as opposition lawmakers were trying to resubmit a motion to impeach Yoon, 63, as the country that has had a long history of military-authoritarian rule has been roiled Yoons actions.

Watch video of the protests below.

Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment rally even in Tokyo. Protestors are singing SNSDs Into the New World pic.twitter.com/r6aybQvhZY  Joseph Kim (@josungkim) December 7, 2024

Right before the song, the MC pointed out there were a lot of people in their 20s at the protest and said, Young people, do you like EDM? Well sing Whiplash and then impeach, impeach, impeach Yoon Suk Yeol! Then we can party again. https://t.co/gzwMxmUQpZ  Joseph Kim (@josungkim) December 6, 2024

Whiplash by aespa was playing during a protest at the National Assembly in South Korea.pic.twitter.com/QmkwgC8aIS  About Music (@AboutMusicYT) December 6, 2024

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Kansas State Board of Education members rubber stamped an effort to dissolve the Healy Public Schools district in Lane County, making it the first district to close in Kansas in more than a decade. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Two students are enrolled this year at the Healy Public Schools district in western Kansas, a decrease from 20 students the previous year.

Steadily declining enrollment led area voters in November to favor dissolution, and the Kansas State Board of Education affirmed the vote Tuesday.

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The community understands the situation with the low enrollment with the school that a decision had to be made, said Jeff Jones, superintendent of Healy Public Schools.

Healys neighboring district, Scott County Schools, will absorb its territory and property, and eventually collect taxes that would have typically gone toward the Healy district.

The process to dissolve the Healy Public School district has been in motion for months. A majority of Healy Public Schools students already attend Scott County Public Schools, Jones said.

Having a choice in where the future of our school district would be was a significant reason for our school district to continue to function this year, he said.

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Scott County Schools accepted the transfer of property Monday, according to Scott Gordon, the Kansas Department of Educations legal counsel.

He said the final step was the state boards approval, which came with a 9-1 vote.

Healy Public Schools is the first district to close in Kansas since 2011. The dissolution has highlighted concern for rural school closures due to population decline and new open enrollment policies.

Losing a rural school is like losing a communitys livelihood, said Jamie Rumford, the superintendent for Scott County Schools.

Kansas is a rural state, and rural Kansas has to be strong, said Rumford. It feels like its getting weaker in some areas.

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Scott County Schools employees are sorting out the details of absorbing Healys student records, some lingering tax revenue and transportation needs. The absorption was arranged so that Healy landowners wont have to pay taxes on Scott County Schools bond project since they didnt get a chance to vote on it, and the districts bus has already been transporting former Healy students who have already enrolled in Scott County Schools. He said he feels for Healy residents who have invested tax dollars, time and effort into their districts schools.

When it just crosses the line of having to close down, that just takes a lot away, he said.

Once a Kansas public school district drops below 10 students, it is no longer eligible for accreditation. Ten public school districts in Kansas, including Healys, have just 100 students or fewer. More than 30 districts have fewer than 200 students. Legislators vowed earlier this year to examine school districts with low enrollment in the 2025 legislative session.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The KSN News morning team is losing one of its members. Reporter Malley Jones, a regular on Kansas Today, is leaving the news department, but she is not going far. She is going to Good Day Kansas, which airs each day at 11 a.m. on KSN.

Malley joined KSN in December 2022 and moved to the morning team in August 2023. In addition to reporting the news of the day, she produces a feature segment each week called Positive Connections. She hopes to continue that segment after she transitions to her new role.

Positive Connections: Wichita school resource officer gets student new wheelchair

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On Wednesday, KSNs Eddie Randle, Alexis Padilla, and meteorologist Ronelle Williams spent some time at the end of Kansas Today to say farewell to Malley. Click the video link to watch.

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 KSN-TV.
As she closes the year with her heartwarming Christmas carol service, Kate Middleton is looking ahead and navigating a new reality.

The Dec. 6 service, attended by her husband Prince William, 42, and three children  Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6  was her fourth since 2020. But this years event at Westminster Abbey carried added poignancy. It marked her biggest public outing since completing chemotherapy in September after a grueling year defined by health struggles.

I know how hard it would be to do something like this, putting yourself out there when you may not be feeling 100 percent, Jenny Powell, a community worker from Abergavenny, Wales, who was among the attendees, tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. Kate, 42, in a festive red Alexander McQueen coat and sporting her signature blowout, appeared her usual composed self as she and her family, holding hands, walked down the aisle in front of a crowd of 1,600 guests.

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But Princess Kates nearly yearlong journey with cancer has brought a profound change beneath the familiar exterior. In a rare and candid moment, British pop star Paloma Faith, who performed at the event, asked Kate how she was doing. I didnt know this year was going to be the year that Ive just had, Kate said.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales during the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England. Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales during the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.

As Kate continues her recovery, shes confronting the looming responsibilities of her future role as Queen. Following Queen Elizabeths death in September 2022, William and Kate found themselves on the brink of the roles of King and Queen. When Williams father, King Charles, 76, revealed his own cancer diagnosis in February  treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer remains ongoing  that position came into sharper focus. Additionally, Queen Camilla, 77, was recently forced to step back from several royal engagements as she battled pneumonia, a further reminder of the familys vulnerability.

It has been a hell of a two years for them, Camillas son Tom Parker Bowles told The Daily Telegraph. The older you get, the more conscious you become of mortality, especially with illnesses and the rest of it.

Related: How Kate Middleton's Carol Service Honored Her 'Brutal' Year with Cancer

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Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith adds, Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment. As a result William has been taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected.

Adds an insider: Theres a sense of calm before the storm. They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives, and of course, Kates health has taken priority, but its also allowed everyone to take a step back and figure out whats important right now.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Prince Louis and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales during the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England. Prince Louis and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales during the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.

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!

Plans continue to be made behind the scenes for their eventual succession, a reality Kate is increasingly aware of as she and William navigate their evolving roles. A clear indication of their future came on Dec. 7, when William joined world leaders to attend the official reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on behalf of his father and met with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

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I asked him about his wife, and he said shes doing well. And I asked him about his father, and his father is fighting very hard, and he loves his father, and he loves his wife, so it was sad, Trump said after their half-hour chat.

Chris Jackson/Getty Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales smiles as she stands from the balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales smiles as she stands from the balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London,

The transition to the throne will inevitably come, though it remains a complex and carefully considered path. It is something the institution is always mindful of, says a close source of how plans are frequently updated. It is an institutional preparedness.

The source adds, Their circumstances will eventually change. Given what the future holds, it would be very sensible to build back slowly and prioritize family time.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children are set to spend Christmas at Sandringham with King Charles. There theyll participate in the royal familys celebrations and  hopefully  join in the traditional walk to and from church.

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Related: Kate Middleton Joins Prince William amid Her Cancer Recovery to Help Welcome Amir of Qatar

Leon Neal/Getty Kate Middleton Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales, (C-R) during a ceremonial welcome for the Amir of the State of Qatar at Horse Guards parade during day one of The Amir of the State of Qatar's visit to the United Kingdom on December 3, 2024 in London, England. Kate Middleton Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales, (C-R) during a ceremonial welcome for the Amir of the State of Qatar at Horse Guards parade during day one of The Amir of the State of Qatar's visit to the United Kingdom on December 3, 2024 in London, England.

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As she navigates her way back to public life, Kate's path wont be straightforward. The sense is that when she does make public appearances, she will be alongside William, likely joining engagements he was already set to attend as well as landmark royal occasions.

They cant raise peoples expectations with lots of engagements only for her to face a setback, not feel well, and things are canceled, Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary Ailsa Anderson tells PEOPLE. The strategy of an unexpected visit gives her flexibility. She doesnt have the pressure of feeling she has to turn up.

Adds Robert Hardman, author of The Making of a King: Charles III and the Modern Monarchy: We are being encouraged not to look at this as a chapter thats over and then its back to normal, because cancer doesnt work like that. The details remain private, but theres no sense of trying to gloss over the reality that its an unpredictable disease.

For more on Princess Kates journey, pick up a copy of PEOPLE on newsstands on Friday

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Friends and sources say Kates experience has reshaped her focus, both at home and in her approach to royal duties. Life-threatening illnesses bring a reconsideration of priorities. She and William have always made it clear that family is the most important thing," a source close to the royal household says.

She will return to more public-facing duties when she's ready and her doctors give the go-ahead. A second source close to the household adds, She has to get back on top of it. And she will if she is left alone to work it out for herself.



Read the original article on People
GREEN LAKE, Wis. (WFRV)  Ryan Borgwardt, the Wisconsin man who allegedly faked his death and fled the country, has been charged with obstruction.

Borgwardt, 45, returned to Green Lake, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, nearly four months after he was reported missing when he failed to return home from kayaking on Big Green Lake. After weeks of searching for him, the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office determined he had staged his death and left his wife and three children for Eastern Europe.

On Tuesday, Borgwardt was found to have been booked into the Green Lake County Jail in Green Lake, according to the online custody status database VINELink.

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Sheriff Mark Podoll said Wednesday morning during a press conference that Borgwardt had flown back to U.S. soil on his own, arriving on Tuesday. He was then booked into the county jail and multiple charges had been referred to the district attorneys office.

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Borgwardt has since been charged with obstruction, a misdemeanor, in connection to the extensive search that was launched for him. A judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf and set bond at $500, though Borgwardt only has to pay if he violates the conditions of his release from jail.

The 45-year-old said he would represent himself, but a court-appointed lawyer is also possible.

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After Borgwardt was reported missing on Aug. 12, deputies found an unoccupied kayak with a life jacket attached to it. His vehicle was also found near Big Green Lake.

Search efforts to find Borgwart were conducted for over 54 days before authorities announced in early November that they believed Borgwardt planned his disappearance and tried to conceal his efforts to mislead investigations.

Authorities said he also moved funds into a foreign bank and changed his email address while communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan. In addition, Borgwardt reportedly took out a $375,000 life insurance policy (allegedly to support his family in Wisconsin) and purchased airline cards.

Deputies were ultimately able to make contact with Borgwardt on Nov. 11 during their investigations into his disappearance. Borgwardt confirmed he had attempted to fake his own death and explained he did it because of personal matters.

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He told them that in mid-August he traveled about 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake, where he overturned his kayak, dumped his phone, and then paddled an inflatable boat to shore. He said he picked that lake because its the deepest in Wisconsin. After leaving the lake, he rode an electric bike about 70 miles through the night to Madison. From there, he said he took a bus to Detroit, then boarded a bus to Canada and got on a plane.

Borgwardt also provided a video to officials confirming he was alive and safe, and residing in an apartment, which authorities believed to be somewhere in Eastern Europe. Authorities have since learned he was in the country of Georgia.

He staged his death, and unfortunately, one of the things he did say is that he didnt expect us to go more than two weeks searching for him. I hate to tell him that he picked the wrong sheriff and the wrong department, said Green Lake Sheriff Podoll at a November news conference.

Ryan Borgwardt is seen in a booking photo released by the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office. (Green Lake County Sheriffs Office)

He confirmed that Borgwardt notified the department of his return, adding that they had been in contact with him.

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We brought a dad back, on his own accord, Podoll added after thanking the community, federal authorities, and the media for helping them track down Borgwardt.

Sheriff Podoll said it will be up to the court to decide whether Borgwardt would owe restitution for the search efforts expended by the sheriffs office.

No one else is expected to face charges in the case.

Borgwardt was not extradited and came back on his own, according to Podoll. When asked what compelled him to return, the sheriff suggested it was his family, but he could not comment on whether Borgwardt had been in contact with his wife and three children.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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GREEN LAKE, Wis. (WFRV)  Ryan Borgwardt, the Wisconsin man who allegedly faked his death and fled the country, has been charged with obstruction.

Borgwardt, 45, returned to Green Lake, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, nearly four months after he was reported missing when he failed to return home from kayaking on Big Green Lake. After weeks of searching for him, the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office determined he had staged his death and left his wife and three children for Eastern Europe.

On Tuesday, Borgwardt was found to have been booked into the Green Lake County Jail in Green Lake, according to the online custody status database VINELink.

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Sheriff Mark Podoll said Wednesday morning during a press conference that Borgwardt had flown back to U.S. soil on his own, arriving on Tuesday. He was then booked into the county jail and multiple charges had been referred to the district attorneys office.

Borgwardt has since been charged with obstruction, a misdemeanor, in connection to the extensive search that was launched for him. A judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf and set bond at $500, though Borgwardt only has to pay if he violates the conditions of his release from jail.

The 45-year-old said he would represent himself, but a court-appointed lawyer is also possible.

Do you need to let your car warm up in winter? It depends what you drive

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After Borgwardt was reported missing on Aug. 12, deputies found an unoccupied kayak with a life jacket attached to it. His vehicle was also found near Big Green Lake.

Search efforts to find Borgwart were conducted for over 54 days before authorities announced in early November that they believed Borgwardt planned his disappearance and tried to conceal his efforts to mislead investigations.

Authorities said he also moved funds into a foreign bank and changed his email address while communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan. In addition, Borgwardt reportedly took out a $375,000 life insurance policy (allegedly to support his family in Wisconsin) and purchased airline cards.

Deputies were ultimately able to make contact with Borgwardt on Nov. 11 during their investigations into his disappearance. Borgwardt confirmed he had attempted to fake his own death and explained he did it because of personal matters.

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He told them that in mid-August he traveled about 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake, where he overturned his kayak, dumped his phone, and then paddled an inflatable boat to shore. He said he picked that lake because its the deepest in Wisconsin. After leaving the lake, he rode an electric bike about 70 miles through the night to Madison. From there, he said he took a bus to Detroit, then boarded a bus to Canada and got on a plane.

Borgwardt also provided a video to officials confirming he was alive and safe, and residing in an apartment, which authorities believed to be somewhere in Eastern Europe. Authorities have since learned he was in the country of Georgia.

He staged his death, and unfortunately, one of the things he did say is that he didnt expect us to go more than two weeks searching for him. I hate to tell him that he picked the wrong sheriff and the wrong department, said Green Lake Sheriff Podoll at a November news conference.

Ryan Borgwardt is seen in a booking photo released by the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office. (Green Lake County Sheriffs Office)

He confirmed that Borgwardt notified the department of his return, adding that they had been in contact with him.

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We brought a dad back, on his own accord, Podoll added after thanking the community, federal authorities, and the media for helping them track down Borgwardt.

Sheriff Podoll said it will be up to the court to decide whether Borgwardt would owe restitution for the search efforts expended by the sheriffs office.

No one else is expected to face charges in the case.

Borgwardt was not extradited and came back on his own, according to Podoll. When asked what compelled him to return, the sheriff suggested it was his family, but he could not comment on whether Borgwardt had been in contact with his wife and three children.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A kayaker who faked his own death to get away from his wife and children has voluntarily returned to the US from Eastern Europe.

Ryan Borgwardt came back on his own because of his family, said Mark Podoll, the sheriff of Green Lake County in Wisconsin.

Mr Borgwardt, a married father-of-three, landed on Tuesday and was being held in jail.

On Wednesday, he was charged with obstructing an intense lake search by staging a phoney tragedy

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A judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and set bond at $500 for the obstruction charge, a misdemeanour, though Mr Borgwardt only has to pay if he violates the conditions of his release from jail.

The 45-year-old said he would represent himself, but a court-appointed lawyer is available.

His return has ended a months-long mystery that began after he allegedly flipped his kayak over on Green Lake on Aug 11 to make it look like he had drowned.

According to police, the 45-year-old dumped his phone and personal effects in the water and paddled to safety on an inflatable boat on the lake, which is 65 miles south of Green Bay.

Ryan Borgwardt allegedly flipped his kayak over on Green Lake to make it look like he had drowned

After the massive lake search, Canadian authorities revealed Mr Borgwardt had crossed the border the day after he was reported missing.

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They later discovered he had been talking with an Uzbek woman who spoke Russian that he had met online, and that he had moved money into a foreign bank account.

Mr Borgwardt told investigators he caught a bus to Toronto airport. He boarded a flight to Paris and then to an unspecified country in Asia.

After landing, a woman picked him up. They spent a couple of days in a hotel, and he later took up residency in the country of Georgia, according to the complaint and a probable cause statement.

During a press conference, Sheriff Podoll said that we can stand here feeling relieved as Mr Borgwardt was finally home.

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He said that police had been pulling at the heartstrings of Mr Borgwardt to get him home, with the missing man at one point sending the police a proof of life video.

Green Lake County Sheriffs Office

Asked about how Mr Borgwardts family, who thought he was dead, are doing, he said: I can only imagine how they feel.

Sheriff Podoll had previously said that Mr Borgwardt began talking with the authorities on Nov 11, by which time he had been missing for three months.

Mr Borgwardt told authorities last month that he faked his death because of personal matters, the sheriff said.

Mr Borgwardt is being held in jail following his return home - Green Lake County Sheriff Office

Police said that Mr Borgwardt told them that in mid-August he travelled about 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake, where he overturned his kayak, dumped his phone and then paddled an inflatable boat to shore. He said he picked that lake because it is the deepest in Wisconsin.

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The sheriffs office has said the search for Mr Borgwardts body, which lasted more than a month, cost at least $35,000.

Mr Borgwardt told authorities that he did not expect the search to last more than two weeks.

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A father of three accused of faking his own death in a kayaking accident and fleeing to Eastern Europe is now in police custody, online records show.

The Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system, which allows crime victims across the country to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal proceedings, shows that Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was booked into the Green Lake County Jail in Wisconsin on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Associated Press.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll speaks at a press conference on Ryan Borgwardts disappearance. / Green Lake County Sheriffs Office

Borgwardt made headlines when he went missing while kayaking on Green Lake in central Wisconsin in August. Authorities found his capsized kayak and life preserver in the lakebut failed to find his body.

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After combing the lake with divers for 54 days, the sheriff announced that investigators believed he faked his own death.

In mid-November, Borgwardt recorded a video for investigators, confirming he was alive and well, but police still didnt know where he was. It later became clear he was in Eastern Europe.

NEW: Wisconsin man and married father of two who faked his own de*th after going kayaking, posts a proof of life video saying he is totally fine.



Ryan Borgwardt is alive and well after staging a kayaking accident in August.



Authorities believe Borgwardt has fled to Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/Uf9OyhAGzN  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 22, 2024

Now it appears he is being held back home in the U.S. No charges were listed against Borgwardt. However, the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office previously said Borgwardt could face an obstruction charge. The force is seeking $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution for eight weeks of search expenses.

The VINE website says he was booked on Tuesday at 4:56 p.m.

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The Green Lake County Sheriffs Office said Tuesday in a social media post that a news conference would be held Wednesday morning, live-streamed on its Facebook page.

Borgwardts case echoes that of Canoe Man John Darwin, a British man who turned up alive in December 2007, five and a half years after he was believed to have died in a canoeing accident.

The former teacher and prison officer was charged with fraud alongside his wife. It was alleged that the case was an elaborate insurance scheme so they could pay off their mortgage. The pair were sentenced to more than six years in jail in 2008.

Borgwardt reportedly told authorities last month that he faked his death because of personal matters.
TUNIS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian General Directorate of National Security on Wednesday announced the arrest of two individuals involved in drug trafficking in the southeastern province of Sfax.

According to a statement posted on the agency's Facebook page, security units in Sfax intercepted the suspects in a private car where cannabis was discovered.

"A total of 290 narcotic pills, 16 pieces of cannabis of varying sizes, along with a sharp instrument, were seized in the house of one of the arrested," it said.

The statement did not provide further details on the timing of the operation. 
A Jackson County jury awarded a $10.8 million judgment Tuesday to a Kansas City police captain who sued the Kansas City Police Department, saying he faced retaliation and discrimination after testifying on behalf of a supervisee in his own discrimination case.

Jackson County jurors returned a verdict in Jim Swobodas favor on both charges Tuesday afternoon. The jury awarded Swoboda $9.6 million in punitive damages, along with $1.2 million in compensatory damages, accounting for legal fees, lost wages and other costs associated with the lawsuit filed in 2019.

Swoboda, who is white, said he became the target of other officers when he testified in favor of former officer Scott Wells, who is Black, in a 2015 lawsuit against the Police Department naming the Board of Police Commissioners and KCPD sergeants Brian Schoen and Greg Manning.

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Wells, who has diabetes, alleged that supervisors  particularly Schoen and Manning  berated him about his symptoms, made racist comments and nitpicked his every move with punitive intentions.

Wells also noted in court documents that he began to feel unsafe after filing his first complaint against the department, with multiple officers opting to stop speaking to him.

Wells was among several Black officers who spoke to The Star for a 2022 investigation of racism in the Kansas City Police Department. The investigation found that the Police Department disproportionately disciplined Black officers compared with their white colleagues, and that more than a dozen had been forced out of the department because of the racist treatment they endured.

Scott Wells worked for the Kansas City Police Department from 1998 to 2017. As an officer, he said he experienced racist harassment from a sergeant. Wells sued the department for disability discrimination and won a nearly $515,000 settlement. Wells, 51, is now medically retired.

According to police memos obtained by The Star during the investigation, Swoboda investigated complaints lodged against Wells, referencing alleged improper use of overtime among other violations, and found them frivolous.

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Swoboda had felt since 2014 that a group of officers had begun targeting Wells unfairly and he stood up for Wells on multiple occasions, according to court records and internal police communications obtained by The Star. However, before he shared this in testimony at Wells trial in late 2016, a KCPD attorney allegedly warned Swoboda that he needed to think about his career and how his testimony might hurt the force.

Swobodas testimony on the stand led to the retaliation referenced in his own lawsuit, jurors found Tuesday, which names all five members of the 2022 Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners. Swoboda said after he testified, the department stripped him of his gun and police vehicle, placing him on limited duty for three years until Wells settled with officers and the BOPC.

We hope that this case has a positive impact on ensuring transparency in policing, not just for employees, but for the community as a whole,  said Attorney Katherine Myers of Edelman, Liesen & Meyers, the Kansas City firm representing Swoboda.

Were hopeful that this sends a strong message to KCPD that retaliation and discrimination will not be tolerated by our community.

Forms of retaliation

While on limited duty, Swoboda was prevented from wearing his uniform and was locked out of his email, according to the lawsuit. He was also barred from department events including training events and celebrations, and stripped of his additional responsibilities as Custodian of Records and as Information Management Unit commander.

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Swoboda also believed he was being surveilled and followed by other officers as a further form of retaliation, Myers and Wilson said. Though he reported his concerns to KCPDs human resources department and to other officers, the attorneys said, no internal investigation ever followed.

Swobodas legal team found that current Kansas City police chief Stacey Graves had known about Swobodas claims regarding illicit surveillance efforts, but had declined to look into them, attorney Emma Wilson, who tried Swobodas lawsuit in Jackson County court, said Tuesday.

[Graves] hasnt done anything about that, Wilson said. So hopefully this will put her on notice that she cannot continue to remain idle and ignore these complaints from her officers when theyre brought to her.

The Board of Police Commissioners was not immediately available for comment on Tuesdays verdict or on Myers and Wilsons description of court proceedings. Attorneys for the BOPC were also unavailable for comment, as was a spokesperson for Jackson County courts.

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We are aware of the verdict and we are evaluating our options, Kansas City Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Phil DiMartino said Tuesday.

Swobodas lawsuit also included a disability discrimination element, alleging that after Swoboda returned from a brief leave in December 2018, he was not reinstated to full responsibilities in line with his doctors approval. Instead, the lawsuit reads, he spent a month sorting other officers coats in alphabetical order while officers allegedly delayed administering the examination that could return him to duty.

Swoboda took the leave due to a combination of stress and medication issues, according to the lawsuit, after a 2018 jury trial surrounding Wells case ended in a mistrial.

To Wilson, Swobodas experience with medical leave as a catalyst for discrimination speaks to a culture of abuse of power within the Kansas City Police Department.

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That hospitalization led to them essentially abusing their ability to keep him off work, Wilson said. That is not the only time that that had happened.

Salt in the wound

Though jurors decided that the Board of Police Commissioners should pay Swoboda upwards of $10 million, Missouri law theoretically caps punitive damages at either $500,000 or five times the amount awarded in compensatory damages, whichever is greater. In Swobodas case, this law could cap his punitive damages at either the $500,000 or at $6 million.

Swobodas legal team plans to engage in further litigation arguing that Swobodas case falls under exceptions to the damages cap, said Myers.

Even if his punitive damage award is capped at $500,000, Swoboda still stands to acquire more than 3 times the amount of damages as Wells. After the 2018 mistrial, the former officer settled his 2015 lawsuit with the Board of Police Commissioners in March 2022 for nearly $515,000.

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In a closed session in April 2024, the Board of Police Commissioners unanimously approved an additional $100,000 to be set aside toward legal fees in Swobodas case.

Throughout the course of trial proceedings around the lawsuit, members of the Board of Police Commissioners declined to apologize to Swoboda for any of the alleged violations, Myers said.

Wells original lawsuit did not name racial discrimination as a motivating factor in the abuse he experienced from other officers. However, Wilson feels that jurors were informed by strong awareness of Swobodas identity as a white captain allegedly punished for defending a Black subordinate.

I think you can definitely draw that conclusion that that was salt in the wound for [former Kansas City police chief Rick Smith], a white officer crossing the thin blue lines to stick up for an African-American officer, Wilson said.

Scott Wells, who worked as an officer for the Kansas City Police Department from 1998 to 2017, said he experienced racist harassment from a sergeant. In a disability discrimination lawsuit, Wells called KCPD a hostile work environment. His attorneys won a more than $500,000 settlement. Wells is now medically retired.

Swobodas attorneys hope that the verdict, along with the substantial potential punitive damages awarded, works to discourage retaliation against future officers asked to testify in cases related to police misconduct.

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However, several current Kansas City police officers who testified on Swobodas behalf have already begun to report experiencing retaliatory actions of their own, Wilson said.

The trial was focused on protecting officers who do the right thing under the law, including telling the truth when they are required to do so under oath, Myers said. When officers are subjected to retaliatory behavior and discriminatory behavior by their co-workers or by their supervisors, that leads to a rightful fear that they might not be protected by their co workers or supervisors in all situations, including situations of life or death.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police said three people, who they say are violent felons, are among several suspects taken into custody for various crimes across the metro area and the Helicopter Unit helped make it happen.

FOX4 watched their crew take flight at the Helicopter Units hanger Tuesday.

Police said in one night, nearly a dozen people were taken into custody with the help of their Helicopter Unit.

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Sometimes were just bouncing from call, to call, to call, Ofc. Darin Lutz said.

Funeral home relieved after charges filed in death of food truck operator

Lutz has been a pilot with the Helicopter Unit for the last seven years and has been with KCPD for more than 17 years.

They had a busy night in the air last month, which he said is a common occurrence.

Police said someone called 911 about a person walking around an apartment complex with a rifle.

Lutz and Sgt. Jon Hess were already patrolling the air  it only took them about 20 seconds to get overhead.

Officers are able to stay out of the area, so we can do the looking first so theyre not wandering through the apartment wondering where the party is, Lutz said.

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Lutz said they spotted a man with a rifle. Lutz watched the suspect stash the gun under a vehicle.

The man took off running. He then directed officers on the ground to the suspect, who was arrested. Then, guided officers to the firearm.

There are things that we can see that you would never see from the ground. We give a different perspective a different safety aspect to the officers on the ground as well. One of our assets is speed. We dont follow roads. We dont have a speed limit. We can go a straight line from point A to point B, Lutz said, Then once were there, were able to assess a situation from overhead and give those officers that are in route real time updates of whats going on, or what we see, or where a suspect might be.

Lutz said they use a camera, which is actually four in one  Two daylight cameras, one low light camera and the FLIR (fleer) System, which stands for forward looking infrared.

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While the pilot steers the helicopter, the tactical flight officer controls the eye in the sky.

This is a controller to control the cameras, and everything, Lutz said. It basically looks like an Xbox controller on steroids.

Lutz said they used infrared cameras in at least two other calls that night.

A chase that started in Cass Co. and sped into Kansas City where officers on the ground used stop sticks.

Police arrested four people and recovered a stolen vehicle.

Along the way, Lutz and Hess spotted guns that two suspects had tossed, police said.

Charges dropped against one suspect in Shaun Brady killing

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They also helped a neighboring agency find a suspect hiding in the woods and assisted in the arrest of three felons who police call violent.

Police said one person had an illegal firearm and a large amount of narcotics.

Were constantly providing that safety aspect to officers and the public, Lutz said.

Lutz said this camera costs about half a million dollars. He believes its worth every penny to keep the community safe.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is bringing new recommendations to lawmakers for 2025.

This is just the beginning. There are other recommendations were going to bring to you via legislation, regulation, policy changes as well, KCTCS President Dr. Ryan Quarles told state lawmakers on Tuesday.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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More than 8000 hours were spent on a top-to-bottom review of KCTCS this year after being charged by the General Assembly to look at steps to improve and advance the system of schools in SJR 179.

This is a homegrown project from KCTCS, Quarles said of the final report. Quarles said he sees an opportunity for the system to have a reset. 11 total recommendations were presented to lawmakers, such as more program offerings.

However, two proposals may face some pushback from Kentuckys other higher education counterpart, the Council on Postsecondary Education.

We are recommending that KCTCS become the sole provider of dual credit in the Commonwealth. That is not about market share, said Dr. James McCaslin, acting executive director of KCTCS project management office.

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Dual credit is the opportunity for high schoolers to enroll in a college course early and graduate with some required courses completed. KCTCS said it already educates 71% of these learners in the state and argued that putting it all under one roof helps align the talent pipeline and start selective admissions programs like nursing faster.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

That happens because all of the courses are ours and theres direct alignment. So when we talk about becoming the sole provider of dual credit, please think of that more along the lines of increasing the speed at which we can provide students into the workforce, McCaslin said.

KCTCS and CPE may also butt heads on a proposal to establish common course numberings for 100 and 200-level college courses, the idea there being to build on existing legislation to make the transferability of associates degrees into 4-year programs smoother.

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They respectfully disagree with these two recommendations, but we want to get this out in front of you, perhaps to have a bigger discussion across Kentucky, Quarles 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 FOX 56 News.
Kentucky Youth Advocates is asking lawmakers to use dollars from a legal settlement reached with an e-cigarette company on nicotine use prevention, remove the certificate of need requirement for freestanding birth centers and more during the next legislative session. (Photo by Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)

LOUISVILLE  Kentucky Youth Advocates is asking lawmakers to use dollars from a legal settlement reached with an e-cigarette company on nicotine use prevention, remove the certificate of need requirement for freestanding birth centers and more during the next legislative session.

KYA released its policy priorities for the 2025 legislative session on Wednesday, which the organizations executive director, Terry Brooks, said can help make Kentucky the best place to be young.

Terry Brooks (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

As we look ahead to the new year and legislative session, we are once again calling on the General Assembly and the governor to put kids first in their decision making and policymaking, Brooks said in a statement. From family housing stability to child safety in schools and online to ending the youth vaping epidemic, all kids deserve safe, healthy and thriving childhoods.

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KYA is a nonprofit committed to improving childrens lives through policy advocacy and research into child wellbeing.

The groups 2025 policy priorities include:

Reduce the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation of children by making sure school employees complete disclosures, checks and trainings. In 2022, there were 754 confirmed cases of child sexual abuse in Kentucky, according to KYA. Many victims of child sexual abuse  around 70%  do not disclose that the abuse happened.

Increase awareness of and ensure appropriate responses to sexual extortion. Nationally, there were more than 13,000 cases of online financial sextortion targeting minors between October 2021 and March 2023. As with sexual abuse, many do not report.

Protect kids from the harmful effects of vaping; license retailers selling tobacco and nicotine products, conduct annual compliance checks, and penalize those who sell to minors. Kentucky youth and advocates have urged lawmakers during the interim that current protections arent adequately keeping nicotine away from minors.

Ensure JUUL settlement dollars are used to reduce youth nicotine dependence, and support programs aimed at quitting smoking or vaping . Anti-smoking and cancer prevention advocates are also asking lawmakers to move JUUL settlement dollars from the general fund into the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program during the 2025 legislative session. Rep. Robert Duvall, R-Bowling Green, plans to file a bill on this. JUULs next payment to Kentucky  about $1.3 million  is due Dec. 31. Juul then owes the state slightly more than $2 million in December 2025 and again in December 2026.

Require training for child care providers on strategies to support children with disabilities; incentivize programs to serve children with disabilities. A KYA survey found that around 54% of child care directors had to expel a child over the last year because of challenging behaviors. Additionally, 71% said more staff training would allow them to care for children with disabilities.

Exempt freestanding birth centers from certificate of need (CON) requirements. The debate on this issue has lasted about half a decade in Frankfort. Proponents of removing CON for these birth centers, and thus paving the way for them to open in Kentucky, say the change could improve the states poor maternal health outcomes. Opponents have said the facilities could siphon money away from hospitals and could result in mothers facing complications without a doctor present. Hundreds of Kentucky women who want to birth in freestanding facilities travel to Indiana and Tennessee every year to access them.

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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  It was the middle of rush hour traffic when the R.I. Department of Transportation made the decision to abruptly close the westbound Washington Bridge, one of the states busiest and heavily traveled bridges.

In the year since, traffic has been rerouted, some businesses have shuttered, a legal battle has ensued, demolition has begun, and a bidding process to decide what companies will rebuild the bridge is underway.

Target 12 has compiled a timeline of some of the key moments, stories and investigations that have happened since the closure.

Dec. 11, 2023: RIDOT closes I-195 West at Washington Bridge

(Photo: Ryan Welch/WPRI-TV)

At 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, RIDOT closed the westbound side of the Washington Bridge. Agency officials said they had discovered the critical failure of some original bridge components from the 1960s.

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At an emergency news conference, RIDOT Director Peter Alviti said the faulty components were discovered by an engineer working on the $78 million Washington Bridge reconstruction project.

He said that a number of the pins designed to brace the bridge have been severed, and warned that if the westbound side of the bridge remained open, there could have been a catastrophic failure that might have caused it to collapse.

Alviti estimated an initial closure period of three months to make repairs to the bridge.

Traffic jams began to plague local neighborhoods as drivers struggled to detour around the bridge closure during the evening commute.

Dec. 12, 2023: Day 2

Alviti and Gov. Dan McKee held their first joint news conference about the bridge. McKee was notably absent from the Dec. 11 announcement.

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McKee said he currently no plans to order a state of emergency and called it mostly a financial issue, though he indicated he was still gathering information and had spoke with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who offered assistance.

Officials said serious concerns about the bridge had first been flagged the Friday before by a junior engineer, triggering a weekend of intensive inspections and meetings at RIDOT that led to the decision to close down the bridge.

Dec. 13, 2023: Day 3

(Courtesy: RIDOT)

RIDOT released the most recent inspection report of the Washington Bridge, which was completed that summer.

Alviti said that the inspection report pointed out countless cracks, gaps and rusting components, as well as construction and pigeon debris littering the bridges foundation. He said the structural concerns flagged in early December were nonexistent when the bridge was inspected in July that year.

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Heres a look at the damage that caused the I-195 bridge closure

Dec. 14, 2023: Day 4

Gov. Dan McKee speaks at a briefing on the Washington Bridge on Dec. 14. (Photo: John Villella/WPRI-TV)

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Though he couldnt pinpoint what exactly caused the damage or when it happened, Alviti told reporters during a news conference that he believed an abnormally heavy load crossing the bridge snapped the anchor rods and weakened the overall structure.

It was some kind of outside force that was extraordinary  over and above the normal use of this bridge, he said.

Legal battles and delays: Why Washington Bridge repairs have taken so long

Dec. 15, 2023: Day 5

In the overnight hours, RIDOT opened two lanes of traffic heading west on the I-195 eastbound Washington Bridge.

RIDOT said the eastbound side of the bridge was safe because its an entirely different structure built only about 15 years prior.

Dec. 18, 2023: Day 7

The R.I. Department of Administration announced that under the direction of the governor, it would hire an outside contractor to provide independent oversight and review of the Washington Bridge forensic analysis for RIDOT.

Dec. 19, 2023: Day 8

The state launched a support center for businesses impacted by bridge closure at the Weaver Library in East Providence.

Seastreak Bristol-Providence ferry (Photo: Joe Cortese/WPRI-TV)

Dec. 21, 2023: Day 10

RIDOT began offering a free ferry service between Bristol and Providence as a way to give commuters an alternative way to get to and from Providence.

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RIDOT said the ferry would make three daily trips every half hour.

TARGET 12: Overtime costs in Providence, East Providence mounting amid bridge crisis

Jan. 17, 2024: Day 37

A group of 11 representatives and senators representing the East Bay wrote a letter to Alviti, telling him bridge closure had created sudden and severe hardship for their communities. They asked for RIDOT to provide regular comprehensive updates about repairs to the Washington Bridge, saying its closure continued to cause unbearable traffic.

Jan. 19, 2024: Day 39

The free ferry service between Bristol and Providence closed just 27 days after starting service due to low ridership, according to RIDOT.

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The service cost about $50,000 per day to operate and attracted less than 400 passengers per day.

Jan. 22, 2024: Day 42

Alviti announced engineers would determine if the bridge would undergo extensive repairs, partial reconstruction or a complete rebuild.

Jan. 23, 2024: Day 43

Alviti acknowledged that engineers had discovered more structural deficiencies while repairing the steel anchor rods that would likely take longer to address.

Jan. 26, 2024: Day 46

Federal investigators told Rhode Island officials that they were looking into how federal money was spent on the infrastructure leading up to the Washington Bridge closure.

Investigators from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector Generals Office said they were seeking documents and records related to the Washington Bridge from RIDOT.

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The governors office said the inquiry was not unexpected.

Jan. 29, 2024: Day 49

McKees office announced he was dispatching T. Joseph Almond, his senior deputy chief of staff, to RIDOT to help deal with the Washington Bridge crisis.

RIDOT emails: Broken rods on Washington Bridge more exposed due to construction

Feb. 2, 2024: Day 53

RIDOT started reducing the number of lanes on I-195 West from three to two near the East Shore Expressway entrance in East Providence with the hopes of alleviating congestion leading up to the Washington Bridge.

During a taping of Newsmakers, East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva said the suggestion came from a constituent.

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WATCH: 30 years of traffic and frustration on the Washington Bridge

Feb. 5, 2024: Day 56

Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt tours Washington Bridge

Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt toured the Washington Bridge.

Bhatt estimated that if the bridge needed to be demolished and replaced, it would likely take between one and two years.

My message to the people of Rhode Island is whether its federal, state or local resources, weve got everybody aligned here to get this bridge repaired or replaced as quickly as possible, Bhatt said.

Feb. 9, 2024: Day 60

RIDOT launched a new travel tool that relayed the change in travel times on different days and hours for nine different routes.

The travel times were compared to estimates from before the Washington Bridge closure.

Feb. 12, 2024: Day 63

A joint meeting of the Rhode Island House and Senate oversight committees convened to review the Washington Bridge closure.

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During the four hour hearing, Alviti repeatedly said it was still too soon to say whether the bridge would need to be fully replaced or how much that would cost.

Im truly sorry, Alviti said. I accept responsibility for this. Im at the top of DOT.

Data: Crash calls have more than doubled since Washington Bridge closure

Feb 22, 2024: Day 73

Target 12 obtained a draft report on the fate of the Washington Bridge, which warned Rhode Island officials they needed to either make major repairs to the structure or replace it entirely.

March 14, 2024: Day 94

McKee and Alviti shared findings from multiple engineering firms that had been studying the westbound Washington Bridge and announced that it needed to be rebuilt.

At the time, officials said the bridge could open sometime between March and September of 2026 at a cost of roughly $250 million to $300 million.

McKee said he was deeply disturbed by the findings of the bridge inspections. The final summary memo released said engineers are convinced the structure cannot be viably repaired.

The governor also indicated lawyers are examining the bridge situation, and said he promised a day of reckoning.

Engineers: Leaving westbound Washington Bridge open would have placed eastbound structure at risk

March 18, 2024: Day 98

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured the Washington Bridge and met with state leaders to discuss future reconstruction.

Buttigieg promised to help Rhode Island keep the project moving.

What we most know is that our responsibility is to work together to make sure that Rhode Island has everything they need and were going to work closely side by side, he said.

WATCH: DOJ docs reveal top officials private texts about Washington Bridge

April 2, 2024: Day 113

McKees office announced he has decided to hire an outside legal team to seek financial recovery from any responsible parties.

April 3, 2024: Day 114

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley announced the city was working with RIDOT to implement temporary and permanent infrastructure changes to alleviate congestion, improve pedestrian safety and increase traffic flow.

The proposed changes included controversial move to relocate the two-way protected bike path along South Water Street to the raised sidewalk to bring back two lanes of travel for cars.

TARGET 12: New bridge inspection policy yanked from RIDOT website; govs office hadnt given OK

April 5, 2024: Day 116

McKee announced hed hired private attorneys Max Wistow and Jonathan Savage to pursue legal action against anyone who might be responsible for the failure of the westbound Washington Bridge.

Our mandate is to leave no stone unturned and follow the facts and pursue the facts aggressively and quickly to a result that we are hopeful will be a positive result for the taxpayers of the state of Rhode Island, Savage said.

April 19, 2024: Day 130

A third lane of westbound travel on the eastbound side of the Washington Bridge opened to commuters.

TARGET 12: Traffic down 33% on Washington Bridge; McKee seeks $20M for rebuild

May 6, 2024: Day 147

McKees office announced consultants hired by RIDOT believed it would cost $40 million to demolish the existing westbound bridge and $368 million to design and rebuild a new one.

An initial estimate released in March  which officials at the time cautioned was preliminary  had put the tab at $250 million to $300 million.

June 28, 2024: Day 200

Aetna Bridge Co. was selected to demolish the westbound Washington Bridge.

Aetna estimated the cost of the demolition job at $45.8 million, significantly higher than RIDOTs prior estimate. The other bidder was Manafort Brothers Inc., which bid $43.8 million.

July 3, 2024: Day 205

No companies bid to build the new westbound Washington Bridge by the deadline on July 3.

Documents posted on the states website indicated there had been interest in the job, but it was also clear there were concerns about how quickly the McKee administration wanted to complete the project.

July 9, 2024: Day 211

McKee acknowledged he didnt know when the new westbound Washington Bridge might be finished or how much it could cost after no companies submitted bids to rebuild it.

Were going to know what the timeline is when we get the timeline, McKee said.

July 10, 2024: Day 212

Wistow provided an update about his work on potential litigation over the failure of the westbound Washington Bridge. He said he would decide by August whether to file a lawsuit.

Our sole interest, our only interest, is to recover as much money as possible, he said.

TARGET 12: Spending tied to Washington Bridge failure tops $22M before demo and rebuild

July 18, 2024: Day 220

The R.I. Commerce Corp.s Access to Capital Committee voted 2-0 to recommend borrowing $140 million in order to start covering the cost of the Washington Bridge crisis.

Aug. 2, 2024: Day 235

Eleven companies responded to a request for information, or RFI, after the state formally asked construction firms to provide insight into how long it might take and what it may cost to rebuild the closed westbound Washington Bridge.

Aug. 16, 2024: Day 249

The state filed a lawsuit against 13 companies over the failure of the Washington Bridge, alleging they failed to identify and address worsening structural issues that ultimately resulted in its abrupt closure last December.

Sep. 3, 2024: Day 267

Electrical work started as RIDOT prepared to install new technology to monitor the structural health of the eastbound Washington Bridge.

RIDOT emphasized that while the eastbound bridge hadnt experienced any issues, the Digital Weigh In Motion system, which weighs trucks in real-time at any speed, would ensure it remains structurally sound.

TARGET 12: RIDOT engineer expressed concerns about extra weight on eastbound Washington Bridge

Sep. 7, 2024: Day 271

Bridge deck and beam demolition work started on the westbound Washington Bridge.

Sep. 17, 2024: Day 281

State leaders halted demolition on the westbound Washington Bridge, saying it was necessary to preserve evidence in the ongoing legal battle with 13 companies.

The work stopped just weeks after getting underway.

Sep. 20, 2024: Day 284

The states congressional delegation announced theyd received $125 million out of a nationwide pool of $850 million through the Mega Grant program to help replace the westbound Washington Bridge.

McKee weighs in on RIDOTs Washington Bridge meeting

Oct. 15, 2024: Day 309

McKee announced the state was pushing back its target date to finish demolition of the old westbound Washington Bridge until the end of 2025, as state leaders shed light on just how much longer the entire project might take.

State officials acknowledged the contract for demolition that was awarded in June, which totaled $48.8 million, would increase.

Oct. 16, 2024: Day 310

Rhode Islands congressional delegation announced they secured a second major federal grant to help rebuild the Washington Bridge.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Rhode Island a $95.6 million grant from the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program, known as an INFRA. Congress authorized the money in 2021 as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law.

RIDOT releases data on noise levels during Washington Bridge construction

Oct. 18, 2024: Day 312

State officials released documents that show RIDOT submitted a so-called change order to its existing demolition contract with Aetna Bridge Co., which was awarded earlier this year.

The documents showed an additional cost of $38.4 million, which would increase the full cost of the demolition by 66%, up from the $58.2 million that RIDOT had previously budgeted.

TARGET 12: Inspections, recent repairs raise questions about eastbound Washington Bridge

Nov. 20, 2024: Day 345

Rhode Island Commerce started to process the first round of awards from the Washington Bridge Small Business Grant Program.

The $2.6 million in grants was funded using federal State Fiscal Recovery Fund money from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. It included $1.2 million for East Providence businesses, $800,000 for Providence businesses, and $600,000 for businesses in other municipalities.

Grants for businesses in Providence and East Providence are being administered and distributed separately by each respective city.

Nov. 26, 2024: Day 351

Interested bidders responded to the states Request for Qualifications to replace and rebuild the westbound Washington Bridge.

Halmar International LLC and Walsh Construction Company II LLC submitted documents along with joint submissions from American Bridge and MLJ and Skanska and Aetna.

TARGET 12: Pause in Washington Bridge demolition cost RI taxpayers $700K

Dec. 10, 2024: Day 365

Photo: Brian Felsenthal/WPRI-TV

McKee and Alviti announced a shortlist of two companies that would compete for the contract to rebuild the Washington Bridge: Walsh Construction of Chicago and a joint venture between American Bridge Co. of Pennsylvania and MLJ Contracting Corp. of New York.

The states target date for announcing a winning bidder is June 6. The losing bidder will be paid $1.75 million as a consolation prize for participating in the process.

Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.

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Few saw it coming. The sudden and dramatic fall of Bashar al-Assads regime in Syria came on Sunday after over a decade of brutal conflict.

It took 12 days for the Syrian regime to collapse after 13 years of war, Timour Azhari, the Iraq bureau chief at Reuters, wrote on X.

The Assad family had ruled Syria for over half a century that was marked by atrocities, mass incarceration against regime critics, and other grave human rights violations.

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Rebel fighters declared Damascus liberated on Sunday and Assad fled to Russia. Many Syrians are jubilant about the news and hopeful about the countrys future. But there are deep concerns about what lies ahead after years of conflict that has left at least 500,000 dead and displaced almost 7 million within the country and sent millions more seeking refuge abroad.

Its a complex situation, with numerous factions on the ground and several foreign actors involved. To better understand whats happening, heres a brief background on the key players.

The Assad regime

Assad, the longtime President of Syria and commander of the Syrian Armed Forces, is a trained ophthalmologist who succeeded his father Hafez in an unopposed election after the elders death in 2000.

The family had held power through the presidency since 1971 under the Baath Party. The Assads come from the minority Alawite sect and their rule was characterized by its exploitation of sectarian divisions in the Sunni-majority country and violent suppression of dissent.

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In 1982, the elder Assad launched what came to be known as the Hama Massacre that killed thousands to put down anti-government protests led by the Muslim Brotherhood. The regime of the younger Assad was widely held responsible for a sarin gas attack in 2013 that killed around 1,400 people and injured thousands more.

Russia

During the Syrian civil warwhich began in 2011 after large-scale protests broke out amid the broader Arab SpringAssads regime was backed by Russia and Iran in its fight against various rebel groups throughout the country, some of which were aligned with other foreign actors including the U.S. and Turkey. Russia, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has repeatedly wielded its veto power to shield the Assad regime.

The New York Times Anton Troianovski described Assads ousting as one of the biggest geopolitical setbacks of Vladimir Putins tenure, and an analyst told the newspaper that the collapse of one of his most important strategic allies could be blamed at least in part on the war in Ukraine taking up attention and resources. Assad has since been granted humanitarian asylum in Moscow.

HTS

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formed from the al-Qaeda linked al-Nusrah Front, is the Sunni Islamist militant group that led the recent offensive and overthrow of Assad. The group is headed by founder Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, and has largely governed Idlib province in northwest Syria for several years.

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HTS was formed after Jolani broke ties with al-Qaeda in 2016. It is considered a terrorist organization by the U.N. and several countries, including the U.S., though it has tried to rebrand itself in recent years as more moderate. Jolani has been described as a pragmatic radical and has promised to usher in reconstruction and stability after the revolution.

Since taking over, HTS has tasked Mohammed al-Bashir, the former head of the rebel groups civilian administration that ran Idlib (and that has been accused of human rights violations), with leading a transitional government for the nation until March 1, 2025.

Islamic State

The Islamic State (also known as IS, ISIS, ISIL, or its Arabic acronym Daesh) is a transnational jihadist group that gained global prominence in 2014, when it conquered large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq and proclaimed a caliphate.

After protracted fighting with Syrian rebel groups and foreign forces, including the U.S., IS was defeated territorially in 2019, though the group is still active in pockets across the country.

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The power vacuum in Syria following Assads toppling is viewed by some observers as an opportunity for IS to exploit. The U.S. has carried out dozens of airstrikes at IS targets in Syria in recent days.

SDF

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a Kurdish-dominated coalition of ethnic militias that was founded in 2015, is backed by the U.S., and controls parts of northeastern Syria after combating IS there. Turkey, which controls parts of northern Syria along its border, opposes the SDF coalition, viewing it as part of the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatist movement that both Ankara and Washington designate a terror group.

After Assads fall, the SDF clashed with Turkish-backed rebels in Aleppo province, though the two sides have since reached a ceasefire, according to Reuters.

SNA

The Syrian National Army (SNA), a Turkish-backed coalition formed from the loose umbrella group of armed northern Syrian opposition factions known as the Free Syrian Army (FSA), worked together with other rebels including HTS to topple Assad.

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The SNAs alignment with Ankarapursuing not just Assads fall but also Turkish military interests, including combating Kurdish forceshas drawn some criticisms and accusations of being a Turkish proxy.

Hezbollah

Assad had long relied on the Iran-backed Lebanese Shia militant group to backstop his own military in thwarting rebels across Syria. But Israel has in recent weeks decapitated the groups leadership in Lebanon, including killing its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a devastating two-month war before a fragile ceasefire took hold Nov. 27.

According to Bruce Hoffman of the Council on Foreign Relations, Assads fall poses an existential threat to Hezbollah as HTS will likely staunch the flow of Iranian weaponry and other materiel to the Lebanese militant group.

Iran

Assad has been one of Irans long-standing allies, and Iran has backed him both financially and militarily since the start of the 2011 civil war. Days before Assad was overthrown, however, Tehran began to withdraw its forces from Syria.

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Some experts say that when the HTS-led rebel offensive began last month, neither Assads Iranian nor Russian patrons were willing or capable of launching a counteroffensive as they had in 2016. Both powers had grown increasingly frustrated with Assads intransigence. For Russia and Iran, Assad was their man until he wasnt, wrote Nicole Grajewski, for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think-tanks Diwan blog.

Nonetheless, Assads fall has marked a major blow to Irans Axis of Resistance in the region. But reports suggest Iran has established a line of communication with the rebel groups.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the collapse of Assads regime a new and dramatic chapter in Israels goal to change the face of the Middle East.

Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes on its neighbor Syria since Sunday, destroying entire squadrons of fighters, much of the countrys navy, radar and missile systems, and missile depots. The Israeli government said that it is trying to stop extremists from accessing chemical and heavy weapons.

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Israel has also pushed deeper into a 155-sq. mi. buffer zone established after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war located east of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel has a long history of seizing territory during wars with its neighbors and occupying it indefinitely, citing security concerns, according to a report in the Associated Press.

The U.S.

The U.S. has spoken out against Assads rule in Syria since the 2011 civil war broke out and intervened militarily in 2014 to combat, later alongside the SDF, IS forces in the country. Former President Barack Obama faced extensive criticism for not pursuing a more active intervention following the 2013 chemical weapons attack widely attributed to the Assad regime in eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus. Obama had called the use of chemical weapons in Syria a red line.

President Joe Biden called the toppling of Assads regime a fundamental act of justice but added that it was a moment of risk and uncertainty. The U.S. currently has about 900 troops stationed in Syria. President-elect Donald Trump, however, has said that the U.S. should not intervene, posting on Truth Social: THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!

Contact us at letters@time.com.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  KFOR has won a legal battle involving the Oklahoma State Department of Education, specifically State Superintendent Ryan Walters and his Press Secretary, Dan Isett.

Earlier this year, KFOR-TV and The Institute for Free Speech filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.

For months, KFOR journalists have been refused access to public State Board of Education meetings and placed in an overflow room.

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KFOR journalists have been excluded from press conferences held by Walters following those board meetings.

Walters and Isett claim News 4, with its 75-year broadcast history, is not a legitimate news organization.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Judge grants KFOR temporary restraining order in First Amendment case

KFOR has always held our duty and responsibility to inform viewers in high regard. This means holding government and elected officials accountable.

On Wednesday, a federal court ordered these terms by agreement:

Graphic showing what KFOR won in the settlement with OSDE

Walters and Isett have agreed to allow KFOR journalists into all press conferences and meetings and add KFOR to the email list for press releases.

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OSDE agreed to pay $17.91, which is a symbolic amount as 1791 was the year the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, protecting freedom of Speech and the Press.

Attorney fees have yet to be determined, but Ryan Walters and his attorneys did agree to pay them.

KFORs lawyers called the court order a win. The Senior Attorney with the Institute for Free Speech, Charles Miller, said, This is a huge victory for journalism,

Last month, both Walters and Isett sat for depositions as lawyers for the Institute for Free Speech asked them about their decision to bar Channel 4 from public meetings.

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KFORs News Director, Natalie Hughes, said OSDE officials repeatedly ignored the constitution.

When you have state officials violating the First Amendment, we really had no choice, but to go to the courts, said Natalie Hughes, News Director at KFOR.

KFORs lawyers said the biggest winners in this case are the citizens of Oklahoma.

Getting media access to the government is how the people know whats going on, said Charles Miller, Senior Attorney with the Institute for Free Speech.

Sketch of the judge during Wednesdays court hearing for KFORs First Amendment case.(KFOR)

Sketch of KFORs Natalie Hughes during Wednesdays court hearing for KFORs First Amendment case.(KFOR)

Sketch of OK State Superintendent Ryan Walters and Press Secretary Dan Isett during Wednesdays court hearing for KFORs First Amendment case. (KFOR)

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Its a commitment to Oklahomans that KFORs General Manager Wes Milbourn takes seriously.

Our viewers know that weve just celebrated our 75th anniversary of quality journalism, the first television station in the state of Oklahoma and for us to continue to do that, we had to resort to the federal court to allow us to provide you with the latest news, said Wes Milbourn, KFORs General Manager.

News 4 reached out to the Department of Education for a comment on Wednesdays courtroom developments. Dan Isett, one of the defendants in the case, sent a statement that said, We dont respond to fake news.

The case hinged on the First Amendment to the Constitution and the protections that the Amendment affords the press. The order issued by the court on Wednesday falls just days before the Amendment celebrates its 233rd anniversary.

Read the final court order:

Federal Court ordered terms of agreement between KFOR and OSDE, Walters, and IsettDownload

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KFORs attorney says this is a victory for the First Amendment

Read the original filing:

KFOR Court document suing Ryan Walters, Dan Isett ComplaintDownload

KFOR Brief in support of motion court documentsDownload

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
On Tuesday night, Donald Trump announced his decision to honor yet another television personality with a role as he continues to fill positions ramping up to his second term in office, tapping his son Donald Trump Jr.'s fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, to be the U.S. ambassador to Greece.

As Politico points out in their coverage of Guilfoyle's nomination, she isnt the first person with ties to the Trump family chosen for a foreign policy role, with Charles Kushner  whose son Jared is married to Ivanka Trump  chosen alongside her as ambassador to France.

In a post to Truth Social, Trump described Guilfoyle as a "close friend and ally," and sang her praises as the perfect fit for the role, writing, "Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad. Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation."

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In a post to X accepting the president-elects appointment, Guilfoyle wrote, "Im honored to accept President Trumps nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate," adding that she's also looking forward to "delivering on the Trump agenda."

https://twitter.com/kimguilfoyle/status/1866623893017927923

I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First, Donald Trump Jr. wrote in a post to X, showing his support.

Editor's note: This article previously referred to Guilfoyle as Trump Jr.'s ex-fiancee. They have not formally announced a split amid reports of a breakup.
Welcome to The Scoop  the ultimate back-to-the-office water cooler cheat sheet, your go-to source for all things everyone really wants to know! Get the latest on everything from the political swamp maneuvering in D.C. and Hollywood drama to jaw-dropping small-town shenanigans from Paula Froelich. Subscribe to her newsletter here.

(NewsNation)  Kimberly Guilfoyle and her allies kept insisting all was fine with her and her fiance Don Trump Jr. (see here and here), but in the end, the relationship appears to have been doomed from the moment Don Jr. laid eyes on Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson this year.

Kimberly Guilfoyle gets Greece after Don Jr. allegedly dumps her

When it allegedly became clear last week that Guilfoyle was being replaced by a younger model, she was offered a soft landing: the ambassadorship to Greece, a plum role.

NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND  MARCH 03: Donald Trump Jr. high-fives Kimberly Guilfoyle before speaking at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on March 03, 2023 in National Harbor, Maryland. The annual conservative conference entered its second day of speakers including congressional members, media personalities and members of former President Donald Trumps administration. President Donald Trump will address the event on Saturday. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Its a consolation prize, my source said. Its a way to keep everyone happy and Kimberly to bow out gracefully  and, because they havent officially announced their break up, its a way for her to say we grew apart.'

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Taylor Swifts Eras Tour crew about to have a very Merry Christmas

Don Jr. and Kimberly splitting up properties

Its also supposedly a way to keep things amicable until Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. can split the multiple properties they own.

They own several properties in Florida together and if she wasnt treated well, it would be a major problem.

Sadly, this means Guilfoyle wont get the White House wedding of her dreams (which may very well go to Anderson), but trust me, she will insist on being called Madam Ambassador for the rest of her life and Greece has many single billionaires to choose from, my source snickered.

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.
ABUJA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said the interest and welfare of the citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger remained a priority for the leaders of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), assuring that diplomacy and wisdom will be the guiding principles in reintegrating the countries into the regional bloc.

Receiving visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, Tinubu, who is the chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, said the leadership of the three countries had been so far reluctant in bringing out transition programs with clear dates.

"Our relationship of mutual respect will continue as we reappraise the situation in the three countries. What I can assure is that we will not give tolerance to unconstitutional governments," the Nigerian president said to Steinmeier, who is on a three-day official visit to the West African nation. "We will continue to lead by example. We have innocent citizens who are victims of the military. We will continue to explore diplomatic channels to navigate without punishing these innocent people."

Tinubu told the German leader that the regional body will leave the door open for the return of democracy in the affected countries, noting this is what ECOWAS has always stood for.

On Jan. 28, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger jointly declared an intention to withdraw from ECOWAS in response to earlier sanctions imposed by the regional bloc to pressure military juntas in those countries to return to constitutional order. The move sparked concerns among the international community and ECOWAS later lifted the sanctions.

In his response to Tinubu, Steinmeier, who also had a meeting Wednesday with Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, said the re-integration of the three West African countries will have a significant impact on the economy and security of the West Coast.

Noting the importance of regional cooperation in global development, the German leader said that emergency plans should be put in place for future economic cooperation in the African sub-region.

"For Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, there are serious security and economic consequences for not carrying on together. We understand why ECOWAS security members are insisting on diplomacy," he added.

Steinmeier's visit to Nigeria is aimed at enhancing cooperation, especially improving the "energy partnership" between the two countries, according to the Nigerian authorities. 
King Charles Bumps Into Texas Tourists on London Street and Leaves Them Stunned: 'That Was Unreal!'

King Charles' busy schedule didn't stop him from saying hello to tourists he unexpectedly bumped into on the street in London.

On Dec. 4, the King, 76, went out of his way to speak with the group as he left St. Peter's Church in the Notting Hill neighborhood of London. According to The Court Circular, King Charles popped in to visit the Disasters Emergency Committee and then mingled with well-wishes and passersby as he left the building.

"There he is," someone said in a fan-filmed video, as the King moved towards one of two groups gathered outside.

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"I'm so sorry you're being stopped from having to get on the street," the King said apologetically as he approached the group. "Are you all trying to go somewhere else today, are you?" he joked, adding, "You're not getting too wet, I hope?" in reference to the rainy weather.

MINA KIM/POOL/AFP/Getty King Charles leaves St. Peter's Church in London on Dec. 4, 2024. King Charles leaves St. Peter's Church in London on Dec. 4, 2024.

Related: Kate Middleton's New Reality: Confronting Her Future Role as Queen 'Sooner Than Expected' (Exclusive)

"Are you all living around here?" the King asked as the gathered group enthusiastically called out their hometowns, including Texas, Barcelona and Japan.

"Texas!" the King exclaimed, clearly surprised. "I don't believe it. Are you having an enjoyable time in London?" he asked as several voices in the crowd chimed in with an eager yes.

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"Anyway, I do hope you make the most of it," he added warmly, waving as he began to walk away. "Have a very happy Christmas," he said with a smile.

"That was unreal! Definitely worth the wait," someone said offscreen as laughter and chatter could be heard in the background. "What a man, what a guy."

The video was credited to Arianna Salians via Storyful, according to Yahoo News UK, and she told Storyful that the royal encounter was a delightful surprise.

MINA KIM/POOL/AFP/Getty King Charles speaks to Disasters Emergency Committee staff, aid workers and volunteers at St. Peter's Church in London on Dec. 4, 2024. King Charles speaks to Disasters Emergency Committee staff, aid workers and volunteers at St. Peter's Church in London on Dec. 4, 2024.

Related: Kate Middleton and Prince William Will Spend Especially Poignant Christmas with King Charles at Sandringham

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"This was a huge surprise as it was our first time in Europe," she said.

Arianna's husband, Angel Salinas, told the Daily Mail that they traveled abroad for her birthday and likened their unexpected chat with the King to a scene from a movie.

"We've been waiting for an hour but it was absolutely worth it. I can't believe he came over and stopped to talk to us. It's just like in a movie!" he said. "This is the most British thing that could ever happen in the U.K the King just casually wanders down to say hello. It's amazing!"

The fan-filmed video of the conversation with King Charles was rare because it captured him from a close vantage point, and gave insight into a casual, everyday exchange.

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The King's treatment for cancer is ongoing, but he had a busy day of royal duty on Dec. 4 between wrapping the state visit from Qatar and spending time with the charitable Disasters Emergency Committee.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles and Queen Camilla bid farewell to the Amir of Qatar and his wife, Sheika Jawaher, at Buckingham Palace in London on Dec. 4, 2024. King Charles and Queen Camilla bid farewell to the Amir of Qatar and his wife, Sheika Jawaher, at Buckingham Palace in London on Dec. 4, 2024.

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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!

King Charles and Queen Camilla didn't attend Kate Middleton's Together at Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 6, as the Queen, 77, recovers from a chest infection and the couple would have technically overshadowed Princess Kate in the order of precedence on her big night. However, the King and Queen are expected to convene the family for the traditional Christmas celebration at Sandringham in two weeks, and Prince William reportedly revealed that there will be 45 people there.

Royal watchers hope to see the traditional walk to and from church, which will be a major moment for the family and especially Princess Kate, who shared in September that she completed chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton at her Together at Christmas concert on Dec. 6, 2024. Kate Middleton at her Together at Christmas concert on Dec. 6, 2024.

Friends and sources say the princess' experience has reshaped her focus, both at home and in her approach to royal duties.

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"She is very much in control of her return to public life. She is doing what works best for her, royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE in this week's issue.



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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Kirtland Air Force Base certified its first Family Child Care (FCC) provider in six years on Wednesday.

FCC providers offer smaller group settings and more flexible schedules than traditional Child Development Centers or daycares, according to the base.

Rare New Mexico flower listed as endangered

Toni Trefzer is the spouse of Air Force Staff Sergeant Mitchel Trefzer of the 58th Special Operations Wing, and she was an FCC provider at their previous assignment at Hurlburt Field in Florida. As an FCC provider, she can offer up to six slots in her home to base members, officials said.

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Ms. Toni has gone through an incredibly rigorous certification process to provide essential childcare to our military families, said Lt Col Amanda Ratliff, 377th Force Support Squadron commander, the unit in charge of the FCC program. She is not only meeting an immediate need but inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.

This comes after the New Mexico legislature passed Senate Bill 244 in 2023 exempting state licensing requirements for child-care programs or facilities certified by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard.

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 latest version of the $895.2 billion annual defense bill, which is now on the House floor for amendment and approval , includes provisions related to military spouses and child care but excludes provisions that would have expanded access to vitro fertilization.

The National Defense Authorization Bill (NDAA) establishes priorities and programs but does not actually provide budget authority or spending for those programs. To provide funding, Congress is supposed to pass 12 appropriations acts each year  including one for the Department of Defense. The NDAA has passed year after year for more than six decades  largely because deeply partisan provisions are kept out. However, the culture war playing out across the country was reflected in earlier versions of the bill. In the spring, for instance, House Democrats rejected a version that included Republican provisions that decrease abortion access, gender-affirming care for active-duty service members and diversity programs  all of which are not in the compromise version. One Republican-backed measure, however, would restrict some gender-affirming care for minors.

After months and months of introducing amendments, debating provisions and compromising across chambers and party lines, the House and Senates consolidation of their NDAA versions was finally released on December 7. It is 1,813 pages long.

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Here are some notable provisions that are on track to be included or removed from the bill:



The new NDAA bill has some provisions to better support military families, such as full funding for child care fee assistance programs, but limited access to IVF will make it harder for some service members to have children. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

Reproductive health care

The NDAA eliminates copays for contraceptives and establishes a three-year demonstration program for cryopreservation and storage, which will reimburse active-duty service member participants up to $500 for preserving sperm and $10,000 for preserving eggs. The Secretary of Defense is required to write a report detailing how many service members retrieved, tested, cryopreserved, shipped and stored gametes; the demographics of these service members; the total costs of services; and the feasibility of making the program permanent. The program is targeted toward active-duty service members who have received orders or are likely to receive orders to work in hazardous conditions or those who will be geographically separated from their spouse or partner for more than 180 days.

However, the NDAA will not expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a treatment that involves fertilizing an egg with sperm in a laboratory before placing the resulting embryo in a uterus.

Though original versions of the bill in both the House and Senate included provisions that expanded access to IVF for active-duty service members and their families, final negotiators removed the provision with no explanation.

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Currently, TRICARE offers some infertility care treatments but will cover IVF only if the service member or veteran is married and sustained an injury while on active duty that resulted in the loss of natural reproductive ability.

Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat who pushed for expanded IVF access, said she was disappointed.

Women and men in uniform sacrifice so much for our country and should never have to sacrifice their right to start a family, Murray said in a written statement.

In the days leading up to the final bills release, Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth wrote a letter to President-elect Donald Trump to ask him to step in and publicly endorse the IVF provision in an effort to persuade other Republicans to fall in line. While campaigning, Trump said he would ensure that the government or insurance companies would fully pay for peoples IVF treatments  but he did not provide details on how.

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As the leader of the Republican Party, it would be appropriate for you to exercise your influence to prevent Congressional Republicans from undermining your ability to govern by your own promises made, promises kept motto before your second term even begins, Duckworth, who used IVF to grow her own family, wrote in the letter.

Gender-affirming care

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, inserted a last-minute provision that would prohibit TRICARE from covering gender-affirming care for service members children and dependents younger than 18 that could result in sterilization. Given the broad language, it is unclear how the provision could impact hormone treatments. The provision made it into the latest bill text but may face resistance from Democrats ahead of a floor vote.

Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, chose to oppose the NDAA he helped negotiate in the final days of deliberation after the Republican amendment was added.

Blanketly denying health care to people who need it  just because of a biased notion against transgender people  is wrong, Smith said in a statement. The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need.

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Rep. Mark Pocan, a Democrat and chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, also opposed the passage of the bill on behalf of the caucus and encouraged his colleagues to vote against it.

For a party whose members constantly decry big government, nothing is more hypocritical than hijacking the NDAA to override service members decisions, in consultation with medical professionals and their children, about what medical care is best for their transgender kids.

TRICARE currently covers hormone therapy and psychological counseling at military and veterans hospitals and clinics, but not surgery.

One earlier provision of the new National Defense Authorization Bill (NDAA) that proposed women between the ages of 18-26 register for the draft was eliminated in the final version. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images)

Women and the draft

The NDAA will not require women to automatically register with the Selective Service System when they turn 18  a legislative proposal long pushed by Democrats, particularly women veteran lawmakers, and some Republicans. An earlier version of the bill that passed in the Senate that wouldve done just that, but a dozen Republican senators, all men, sent a letter to negotiators two days before the latest text was released asking to remove the provision.

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Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican, wrote in the letter: Many of our constituents were shocked and concerned when they learned of these efforts to send American women to war against their will, and they asked us to do everything in our power to prevent the new requirement from becoming law.

As the law currently stands, every male citizen and immigrant, regardless of legal status, between the ages of 18 and 26 must register with the Selective Service System, the agency responsible for running a draft. However, the military has maintained an all-volunteer military and has not issued a draft since 1973.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

The NDAA includes a provision that will require a one-year hiring freeze on all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) employees within the Department of Defense. At the same time, it will authorize over $100 million for historically Black colleges and universities and Minority Serving Institutions to fund research and scholarship partnerships.

An earlier version of the NDAA included a Republican-backed provision that would have gutted all DEI programs entirely.

Support for military spouses

The NDAA includes several provisions to further support military families, including a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted members and a 4.5 percent for all other service members. The cost of living has been a significant factor in the recruitment crisis, and between deployments and frequent moves, many military spouses are unable to find long-term, financially secure jobs  leaving families dependent on one income.

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The bill also extends the Defense Departments authority to fill open civilian positions with qualified military spouses and help those in licensed or credentialed professions to more easily continue working when they relocate across state lines.

In addition, the NDAA guarantees full funding for child care fee assistance programs and promises to make staff salaries at military child care centers competitive with the private sector.

The post Heres what you need to know about the $895.2 billion defense bill appeared first on The 19th.

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The man suspected of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was carrying a ghost gun  a type of untraceable, homemade firearm  when he was apprehended Monday, police said.

Luigi Mangione had the gun when he was searched by local police at a Pennsylvania McDonalds, New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Monday, five days after the 26-year-old allegedly gunned down the executive outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel.

The weapon was capable of firing a 9 mm round and may have been made on a 3D printer, Kenny said  a claim echoed by a criminal complaint filed in Pennsylvania, where police said they found a black 3D-printed pistol in Mangiones backpack. Investigators also recovered a suppressor, which muffles the sound of gunfire, authorities have said.

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Mangiones arrest has once again highlighted the issue of ghost guns, which have made numerous headlines in recent years as tens of thousands have reportedly been recovered from the scenes of violent crimes across the country. Heres what you should know.

An untraceable, homemade firearm

There are two main attributes to ghost guns, often referred to by officials as privately made firearms, or PMFs.

First, ghost guns dont have serial numbers, making them effectively untraceable and hindering law enforcements ability to track the history of a weapon when recovered at a crime scene. Second, they dont require a background check, allowing buyers to sidestep the typical requirements they might face when purchasing a firearm.

Until recently, ghost guns were typically built using kits sold online. In 2022, however, the Biden administration instituted a new rule requiring these kits to include serial numbers and for background checks to be conducted on buyers. However, some ghost guns may be 3D-printed or use 3D-printed parts.

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Either way, the untraceable nature of ghost guns makes them especially attractive to dangerous and prohibited persons, according to the US Department of Justice.

They became the weapon of choice for people who are otherwise prohibited from purchasing guns legally, said Eric Tirschwell, executive director for Everytown Law, the litigation arm of the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

That included criminals, convicted felons who cant walk into a gun store and buy a gun, and also teenagers who are too young to acquire guns.

A ghost gun used in a crime is seen in November 2021. - John Miller/CNN

Privately made firearms can also be built by hobbyists, said John DeVito, former special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in New York and New Jersey, noting it is legal for someone to build their own firearm.

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But it is not legal, he said, to manufacture weapons for sale without a license, and privately made firearms are an issue when they become crime guns.

What weve seen repeatedly over the years as these kits became more prevalent and easy to use  we were uncovering manufacturing plants in someones living room, where they were manufacturing hundreds of these privately made firearms, or ghost guns, and then selling them to individuals on the street, he said.

Some use 3D-printed parts

Ghost guns using 3D-printed components tend to be less reliable than those using factory-made components, according to Stephen Gutowski, a reporter for TheReload.com and a CNN contributor.

In the case of Thompsons killing, Gutowski pointed to footage of the shooting showing the weapon appearing to jam, forcing the gunman to fix it. He seemed to know it was going to malfunction, Gutowski said.

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Authorities have not confirmed whether the gun allegedly found in Mangiones backpack was the weapon used to kill Thompson  a determination that is pending ballistics testing, according to the NYPDs chief of detectives.

Still, 3D-printed weapons largely remain the domain of enthusiasts, Gutowski said.

Most people who build unserialized guns, including criminals, use the kits with pre-made unfinished parts, said Gutowski. Those tend to be easier to put together and get working reliably.

Whether 3D-printed ghost guns become more prevalent following the Biden administrations new regulations remains to be seen. But it is certainly a concern, according to Tirschwell.

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Printing a gun is not as easy as purchasing a kit, he noted  one needs access to a 3D printer and knowledge of how to get the necessary plans. But I do think that that will be a new frontier in homemade guns that calls for and hopefully will be met with further regulation, Tirschwell said.

Thousands were found in years past

Its impossible to know how many ghost guns are out there and the figure is likely dwarfed by the number of commercially made firearms, which are manufactured in the millions each year in the United States.

However, some agencies track how many ghost guns are recovered at crime scenes. When the Biden administration announced its new ghost gun regulations, the White House reported that 20,000 suspected ghost guns were reported to the ATF in 2021, a ten-fold increase from 2016.

At the national level, more than 45,000 privately made firearms were reported found at crime scenes between 2016 and 2021, according to the ATF. In 2022, the US Department of Justice reported recovering 25,000 in the US.

Key ruling pending in ghost gun case

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 15 states regulate ghost guns. Many, like California, require serial numbers and background checks for the purchases of component parts.

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But there have also been steps to crack down at the federal level  namely, the Biden administrations regulations introduced in 2022, which is currently the subject of a high-profile case, Garland v. VanDerStok, debated at the US Supreme Court in October.

Manufacturers and advocacy groups challenged the rule, claiming it violated a 1968 law requiring manufacturers and dealers to run background checks, keep sales records and include serial numbers on firearms. The kits arent weapons, but parts, they argued.

A decision in the case is not expected until next summer. However, during oral arguments, the justices  including several conservatives  signaled a willingness to uphold the rule.

The Supreme Court allowed the rule to take effect while litigation in the case continued, and in the meantime, some jurisdictions have seen a decline in the number of ghost guns being recovered at crime scenes.

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Several states and cities reported drops in a brief submitted to the US Supreme Court by state attorneys general in support of the Biden administrations regulations: In New Jersey, PMF recoveries fell from 34.29 per month on average between January and July 2023 to 18.8 between August and December 2023. As of late June, there were just 100 PMFs recovered compared to 195 in the first six months of 2023, the brief said.

In Washington, DC, ghost gun recoveries dropped from 524 in 2022 to 407 in 2023, the brief said  the first decrease in six years. And in Philadelphia, the brief said, PMF recoveries have plateaued since the regulations took effect.

While this data is limited, it is indicative of the real-world impact the Final Rule is having and the critical public safety interests it advances, the brief said.

Regardless, Mangiones arrest has renewed calls for more to be done to crack down on the use of ghost guns, including from the mayor of the city where he allegedly killed Thompson.

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They are extremely dangerous, and we must do more on the federal level to clap down on the availability of ghost guns, New York Mayor Eric Adams said.

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In a three-page handwritten note seized during his arrest, Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the targeted New York City shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared to boast about the do-it-yourself 3D-printed ghost gun he allegedly used in the brazen homicide, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

The 26-year-old Mangione, who studied computer science and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, is alleged to have written in the document how easy it was to print out some of the components used to assemble the mostly plastic gun.

"This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD [Computer-aided Design], and a lot of patience," reads the document seized by police when Mangione was caught Monday at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

PHOTO: 'Ghost guns' seized in federal law enforcement actions are displayed at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) field office in Glendale, Calif., April 18, 2022. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Apparently referring to the gun used in the high-profile homicide, the document found on Mangione added, "My tech is pretty locked down because I work in engineering."

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A criminal complaint filed in court by Altoona police alleges officers who arrested Mangione following a five-day manhunt found a black 3D-printed pistol and a black silencer that was also 3D-printed in a backpack he had with him.

PHOTO: This is an image of the ghost gun recovered from Luigi Mangione in Altoona, PA, law enforcement sources told ABC News. (Obtained by ABC News)

"The pistol had a metal slide and a plastic handle with a metal threaded barrel. The pistol had one loaded Glock magazine with six nine-millimeter full metal jacket rounds," according to the criminal complaint.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a Kind bar found near the crime scene.

MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: What to know about the 'ghost' gun allegedly carried by the suspect

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Ghost guns, or privately made firearms without serial numbers, have surged in popularity in recent years. Due to the difficulty -- or even impossibility -- of tracing their origins, they can be an ideal weapon for those not legally permitted to own a gun, such as convicted felons or minors. Because of this, they are frequently the weapon of choice used in crimes.

MORE: Luigi Mangione could face more charges in New York, Manhattan DA says

Many ghost guns are homemade, typically 3D printed or assembled from kits that can be easily purchased online.

MORE: 'Ghost guns' showing up in school shootings, experts fear the trend will get worse

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Due to their lack of serial numbers, it is impossible to know exactly how many exist, but thousands have been recovered from crime scenes in recent years.

About 45,240 suspected ghost guns were recovered from crime scenes between 2016 and 2021 -- 692 of which were homicides or attempted homicides, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

In 2022, the Department of Justice said it had "recovered 25,785 ghost guns in domestic seizures, as well as 2,453 through international operations."

Marcus Sachs, senior vice president and chief engineer for the Center for Internet Security headquartered in East Greenbush, New York, told ABC News that significant advances have been made in 3D printing in the past decade.

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"Printing guns is just one example. Just about any weapon now can be printed," Sachs said.

Sachs said materials other than plastic, including ceramics and powered metals, can be used to print objects.

He said Auburn University has a 3D printer big enough to print automobiles.

"They're experimenting with that one, looking at how can we put one on the moon or on Mars and then use local material off the moon or Mars to print parts," Sachs said. "Rather than shipping a spaceship full of parts, you just ship a 3D printer and if you need a sprocket, you just melt some lunar dust and build your sprocket."

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Sachs said someone like Magione, who studied mechanical engineering and computer science, would have likely been exposed to 3D printing.

"In most colleges now, that's either a required course or an elective in advanced manufacturing as they like to call it, but it's essentially 3D printing," Sachs said. "Being mechanical -- firearms are mechanical -- understanding basic laws of physics, properties and materials, it would not be difficult for an engineering student to understand those concepts and figure out how to build something like this."

MORE: Supreme Court appears likely to uphold limits on ghost gun kits

Though ghost guns are legal in the U.S., in recent years, lawmakers have begun pushing for stronger legislation to curb the proliferation of these firearms.

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In 2022, President Joe Biden announced new measures that would require gun kits to include serial numbers -- a move that has been swept up in litigation ever since as manufacturers fight regulation.

In October, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case called Garland v. VanDerStok stemming a decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down portions of the Biden administration's 2022 measures to regulate ghost guns.

According to gun control advocacy group Everytown -- which has called ghost guns the "fastest-growing gun safety problem facing our country" -- there are 15 states that currently have laws governing the use of these firearms.

Many of these states require ghost guns to have serial numbers, and for their owners to go through background checks. Some require owners to disclose their ghost guns to officials.

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But Sachs said most criminals aren't going to follow such laws and that catching people printing 3D guns is difficult.

"Rather than shipping weapons in a box that could be discovered by local authorities or customs, I can just email you instructions and you can make it right there, completely evading any sort of detection," Sachs said.

Sachs added, "For us in the security world, this is kind of a hybrid threat. You've got the intersection of computer science, the internet and computer security intersecting with the physical world and physical security."

Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing allegedly boasted making ghost gun: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
After more than a month of tangled traffic and speculation, four arrests were made Tuesday in connection with the fire that severely damaged Interstate 471 at the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.

Two men are charged with intentionally setting the fire, and two others are charged with misleading investigators. But a significant question still looms over the blaze: why was the fire set?

Investigators and city officials have not discussed motive and have said little about the relationships between the four people, but they have said that they are not homeless. Rumors swirled in the wake of the fire that a homeless encampment was the source.

Zachery Stumpf, 23, is arraigned on aggravated arson charges at the Hamilton County Justice Center, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Hes charged, along with three others, in connection the fire at 1000 Hands Playground on Nov. 1. It also damaged Interstate 471 at the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.

Here's what we do know about the suspects, the investigation and the status of the bridge repairs.

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Council motion: Fix downtown Cincinnati traffic gridlock due to Big Mac bridge fire

Zachary Stumpf and Terry Stiles

Zachary Stumpf, 23, of Owensville in Clermont County and Terry Stiles, 39, of Arlington Heights in Hamilton County are both charged with aggravated arson, a felony. They are being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center, both on a $1 million bond.

They are accused of intentionally setting the fire at the 1000 Hands Playground under the highway. There's been no information released about how they did it.

James Hamilton, 26, is arraigned on obstruction of justice charges at the Hamilton County Justice Center, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Hes accused of misleading investigators in the case involving the fire at 1000 Hands Playground on Nov. 1. It also damaged Interstate 471 at the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.

Prosecutor: Big Mac Bridge fire suspects used 'evasive tactics' to avoid contact

Aside from two traffic cases for driving without a license, Stumpf has no prior criminal record in Hamilton or Clermont counties as an adult. A wider search of national databases also did not show any other charges.

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Stiles pleaded guilty in 2005 to felonious assault after he was accused of hitting and shaking his girlfriend's infant son, Carl Legget Jr., causing brain damage. Stiles served eight years in prison. In 2019, the child died and Stiles was charged with murder, but those charges were dismissed. A judge said he had already served time for a lesser offense.

Kaitlen Hall and James Hamilton

Kaitlen Hall, 24, and James Hamilton, 26, both of Arlington Heights are charged with obstruction of justice, a felony. They are being held in the Hamilton County Justice Center, both on a $60,000 bond.

Kaitlen Hall, 24, is arraigned on obstruction of justice charges at the Hamilton County Justice Center, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Shes accused of misleading investigators in the case involving the fire at 1000 Hands Playground on Nov. 1. It also damaged Interstate 471 at the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.

They are accused of misleading or lying to investigators as they attempted to search for Stiles and Stumpf. Court documents state Hall had been friends with Stumpf for more than six years and that she knew Stiles.

Hall, Hamilton and Stiles all have the same address listed on court documents.

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The house where the three live is on a working-class street in Arlington Heights, lined with small homes built in the 1950s. The neighborhood is in an industrial area with an auto shop and scrap metal recycling facility on either end, as well as train tracks running across the side of the subdivision.

Kaitlen Hall, James Hamilton and Terry Stiles  three of the four suspects charged in connection with the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge fire  live at this home in Arlington Heights, according to court documents.

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The Arlington Heights residence is also where Stiles' felonious assault took place, court documents state.

Hamilton has two prior drug cases in Hamilton County. In his most recent case from earlier this year, he was referred to the court's mental health docket.

Hall has one prior drug conviction in Hamilton.

Who was the victim?

Court records named a tow truck driver, Austin Steinmann, 29, who was on the bridge at the time as the victim of the fire.

Steinmann told The Enquirer on Wednesday that he was not targeted but happened to be driving on the bridge when the fire broke out. He was among the first to notice the smoke and dialed 911 after growing concerned the bridge was unsafe.

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He said he agreed to share his story in court if any of the cases get to trial.

What happens next

Since all four suspects are charged with felonies, a Hamilton County grand jury will consider the cases to determine if there's enough evidence to proceed. In Ohio, these proceedings are held in secret.

It is not uncommon for charges to change or new charges to be added at the grand jury phase of a case. The grand jury is scheduled to report on the cases by Dec. 20 at the latest.

If the suspects are indicted, the cases will be assigned to a judge in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.

The plan for I-471 and the Big Mac Bridge

The southbound lanes of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, known locally as the Big Mac Bridge, have been closed since the fire and are expected to remain closed through March. The traffic delays have frustrated commuters.

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More: 'Seems like forever': Commuters react after update on timeline for Big Mac Bridge repair

Officials last week estimated repairs would cost "at least $10 million" but said the actual amount would not be known until the work is done.

Last week, state-hired crews removed damaged cement from the southbound span. This week, they are removing damaged steel girders.

A 550-ton crane arrived on site Tuesday from Nashville, Tennessee, with nine truckloads of parts needed to assemble the crane, officials said

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Big Mac bridge fire arrests: What we know
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  As of Tuesday, Kodak has finished upgrading its film production and finishing facilities to keep up with demand.

As Chief Technical Officer Terry Taber says, a five-week shutdown was part of the plan.

This particular shutdown was planned over a year ago, he said. (Additional) equipment had to be purchased, and the construction teams had to be put in place.

Kodak stockpiled enough film to hold over the five-week shutdown and beyond if needed. Taber explained that the shutdown had to happen for upgrades to the film-sensitizing machine, as sensitizing has to be done in the dark.

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Oppenheimer movie uses special film made at Kodak in Rochester

He said the film sensitizing upgrades were just one part of the improvements:

Other investments include the base we make for the film, the chemical manufacturing, the film finishing area, and now the film sensitizing, he said.

Taber said these production capacity upgrades had to happen as demand was increasing. More commercial and Hollywood productions use motion picture film, but Taber said consumer demand has doubled in the past five years.

Kodak pharmaceutical ingredient factory nearing completion

Consumer film, among other things, is 35mm for film cameras, their own Super 8 film for their new proprietary camera, and even disposable cameras!

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Taber said this, referencing national reporting:

That is being driven in their analysis  and were seeing similar things  by one the use of one-time cameras by Millennials and Gen-x, particularly at events, or when they want control of the pictures, he said.

We will continue to produce film, invest in film and in making films, as long as there is consumer and motion picture demand, which obviously there is and its growing, he said.

Over $1 million awarded to Rochester-area organizations for apprenticeship programs

Taber told News 8 that 50% of Kodaks manufacturing workforce has been hired in the past three years, totaling hundreds of people. There are dozens of open positions here.

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CAIRO, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty received a call from the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tuesday night on the recent developments in Syria, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The two sides agreed on the importance of adopting a comprehensive political process which focuses on not excluding any Syrian national components or parties, so as to pave the road for restoring stability in Syria.

Abdelattay reaffirmed Egypt's support for Syria's sovereignty, unity, and land safety, according to the statement.

He emphasized Egypt's rejection of Israel's seizing control of the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights and other neighboring positions, terming it as an occupation of the Syrian territories and a blatant violation of the international law.

He urged the international community to take its responsibilities to stop any assault on Syria.

For his part, Blinken emphasized the "historic opportunity" for the Syrian people to build a better future and reiterated the need for all actors in Syria to respect human rights, protect religious and ethnic minorities, and uphold international humanitarian law, according to a statement by the U.S. State Department.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has resigned and arrived in Russia for asylum as his government collapsed on Sunday following a sweeping offensive by Syrian militant groups. 
By Dmitry Antonov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday played down the damage to Russian influence in the Middle East from the fall of Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad, saying that its focus was on Ukraine and that Moscow was in contact with Syria's new rulers.

When Russia intervened in the Syrian Civil War in 2015, it helped tip the balance in Assad's favour and his fall from power has dealt a serious setback to both Russia, which is fighting a major land war in Ukraine, and to Iran, which is battling U.S.-backed Israel across the Middle East.

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"You know, of course, that we are in contact with those who are currently in control of the situation in Syria," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Asked how much the fall of Assad had weakened Russia's influence in the Middle East, Peskov said that Moscow maintained contacts with all countries in the region and would continue to do so.

Moscow's priority, Peskov said, was the war in Ukraine, which President Vladimir Putin calls a "special military operation".

"The special military operation is the absolute priority for our country: we must ensure the interests of our security, the interests of our Russian people, and we shall do so," Peskov said.

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Moscow has supported Syria since the early days of the Cold War, recognising its independence in 1944 as Damascus sought to throw off French colonial rule. The West saw Syria as a Soviet satellite.

The Kremlin said its focus now was to ensure the security of its military bases in Syria and of its diplomatic missions.

Russia, the Kremlin said, had helped Assad during the civil war but the situation had then deteriorated.

"Russia helped the Syrian Arab Republic at one time to cope with the terrorists and to stabilise the situation after this situation threatened the entire region, and spent a lot of effort for this," Peskov said.

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"Russia fulfilled its mission, and then the Assad leadership worked in their country, engaged in the development of their country. But unfortunately, the development has led to the situation that is now. And now we need to proceed from the realities that exist on the ground."

Asked about Israeli air strikes on Syria, Peskov said that attacks on the Golan Heights area were unlikely to contribute to the stabilisation of the situation.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Toby Chopra)
It is with great sadness we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved La Crosse Police Canine, Loki. K9 Loki suffered a medical emergency and was rushed to veterinary care by his handler, Officer Aaron Westpfahl. Due to his medical emergency, K9 Loki passed away on Tuesday November 26th, 2024, with his best friend Officer Westpfahl by his side. We extend a thank you to Thompsons Animal Clinic who was instrumental in providing care throughout his service and during his final day.

K9 Loki was a German Shepherd who was born January 5, 2017, in the Czech Republic. He joined the La Crosse Police Department in 2018 when he met his K9 Handler and best friend, Police Officer (NRO) Aaron Westpfahl. After 14 weeks of intense training with McDonough K-9 in Anoka, MN, Officer Westpfahl and K9 Loki hit the streets of La Crosse in December 2018. After they graduated K9 school, Loki and Officer Westpfahl joined the Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO) Program in 2018.

K9 Lokis addition to the K9 Unit, was made in part by McDonough K-9 and community donations. Loki was an asset to the department and the community and assisted in making apprehensions, drug arrests, article searches, tracking endangered community members and making La Crosse a safer community. He had over 500 deployments during his career.

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Although Loki was trained and utilized as a dual purpose K9 (Patrol/Narcotics Detection) he would often tag along with Officer Westpfahl to his many community events which are focal points of the NRO Unit. Loki enjoyed meeting new people of all ages and backgrounds, and he typically stole the show whenever he was in attendance. Loki had a perfect personality for engaging with the community as part of the NRO Unit. Lokis passing will undoubtedly have an impact on the community he enthusiastically served and engaged with throughout his career.

Please keep Officer Aaron Westpfahl and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. K9 Loki will be deeply missed by all and will never be forgotten. There will be a memorial for K9 Loki in the coming week to honor him for his service.

K9 Loki End of Watch November 26th, 2024. Rest in Peace.

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NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF)  The Community Ministry of North Augusta Thrift Store has more furniture to sell thanks to a donation from La-Z-Boy furniture on Tuesday.

A tractor trailer of gently-used furniture was dropped off at the thrift store Dec. 10. The non-profit aims to provide clothing, food and assistance to those in need.

All of the proceeds from our thrift store actually funnel to our ministry, said Tammy Butler, executive director at Community Ministry of North Augusta Thrift Store. And our ministry helps with paying utility bills. We prevent the cut off of utility bills. It also helps us to stock our food pantry, which we we feed a lot of people on a weekly basis. And especially since the hurricane, weve really seen an uptick in the need in this community.

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The thrift store is located at 531 Belvedere Clearwater Road in North Augusta, S.C.

Photojournalist credit: Dania Alawir

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Lake County was removed from the State Board of Accounts unauditable list for its 2022 budget, but its audit report found issues with payroll management, the Lake County Sheriffs salary, and the Lake County Jails commissary fund.

Lake County Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said in a statement that the council was pleased the 2022 audit was completed, though she acknowledged there are a few things to address.

The county takes its responsibility to taxpayers seriously. Transparency and accurate book keeping are important, Cid said. We are very pleased, through cooperation across several departments, we are able to rectify the concerns with the 2022 audit. We look forward to the SBOAs return for 2023.

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Beth Kelley, a deputy state examiner with the State Board of Accounts, said the county was deemed unauditable when it was discovered that the financial statements were not supported by the documents at the county.

After that, county officials were told to get records in order so that the state office could audit the county, Kelley said. The state officials check in periodically, Kelley said, and the audit resumes when the records are put together.

We appreciate the collaboration between the county and us and getting things completed and being able to move forward, Kelley said.

The county started using Oracle on July 1, 2022, for its receipt and vendor disbursements, but the payroll processing remained with the old financial software Lawson and then posted to Oracle, according to the audit.

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Lake County officials contracted with HTC, an Oracle software consultant, to help with the switch and implementation of Oracle, which included the transfer of the financial data from Lawson to Oracle for the first six months of 2022, according to the audit.

When county officials provided reports from Lawson to HTC, it was done so without an oversight or review process in place to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and classification of the financial data to Oracle, according to the audit.

Various Oracle ledgers and reports provided at the beginning of the audit did not articulate with each other. Detailed receipts and disbursements ledgers did not agree to summary ledgers. County officials were not aware of issues with the reports until we inquired during the audit, the auditor wrote.

The Employee Benefit Accruals fund, which combined the employee payroll withholdings and the Lake County Self Insurance funds, posted receipts to Lawson and Oracle and posted disbursements to Oracle, according to the audit.

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After July 1, 2022, the EBA fund receipts and disbursements were underreported by $2,553,950 and $46,623,710, respectively, and the ending cash and investment balance was overstated by $44,069,760, because of the lack of internal oversight, according to the audit.

The County Auditor and County Treasurer monthly reconcilements were not prepared for July to December 2022 because of the software change, according to the audit. The county hired a consultant, who prepared the reconcilement for December 2022, which found that the financial statement balance was $684,193 greater than the combined reconciled depository balances, according to the audit.

The County Auditor did not comply with the required monthly and annual uploads to the Indiana Gateway for Government Units financial reporting system, according to the audit.

Dan Ciecierski, the Lake County Auditors Comptroller of Finance, wrote a letter to the State Board of Accounts stating that the office has been committed to delivering a clear and accurate account of how public funds are being managed, spent and allocated.

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The County has begun the execution of a comprehensive corrective action plan with the intent of addressing the perennial underperformance of this repeat finding. We are dedicated to enhancing our operations  and remain resolute in our promise to continually improve, Ciecierski wrote.

When the county entered into a collective bargaining agreement on Dec. 17, 2020, with the Fraternal Order of Police, Chris Anton Lodge #125 and the Lake County Police Association Local #72 AFL/CIO, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez received $22,958 in clothing allowance, lateral pay and proficiency pay that was allocated for police officers, not elected officials, under the contract, according to the audit.

Martinezs total pay for 2022 was $188,850, of which $164,972 was his base salary. He also received $920 in longevity, $1,300 in clothing allowance, $19,758 in lateral pay and $1,900 in proficiency pay, according to the audit.

The base salary and longevity were properly paid out, according to the audit, but the clothing allowance, lateral pay and proficiency pay were allowed per the CBA only to the officers covered by the agreement.

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The county sheriff was excluded from the agreement and should not have received the benefits of the agreement as his position is an elected official and not an employee, according to the audit. There were no other labor contracts, employee handbooks, salary ordinances, resolutions or salary schedules adopted by the County Council to support the compensation paid to the County Sheriff totaling $22,958.

The County Sheriff did not upload monthly into the Indiana Gateway for Government Units financial reporting system, according to the audit, including the county sheriffs cash book, commissary fund, and inmate trust fund.

Also, the Drug Task Force and Civil Divisions bank statements, bank reconcilements and outstanding check listings werent uploaded to Gateway, according to the audit.

Sheriffs attorney John Kopack wrote a letter to the State Board of Accounts stating that the compensation Martinez received was in line with past practices by former sheriffs.

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Martinez is a lieutenant with the Lake County Police Department, so hes well within the discretion of the Lake County Council to compensate a county police officer, who gets elected to the Office of Sheriff, with the clothing allowance, proficiency pay and lateral pay that other offices receive, Kopack said.

In response to the Gateway monthly uploads, Kopack said the sheriffs office is creating a Corrective Action Plan to address that State Board of Accounts concern.

The Lake County Board of Commissioners created the Community Corrections Commissary Account on Sept. 17, 2008. But Indiana code states that only the County Sheriff can establish the commissary fund, according to the audit.

Lake County Board of Commissioners Attorney Matthew Fech wrote a letter to the State Board of Accounts stating that the board will work with Lake County Community Corrections to disband the commissary account.

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In the Community Corrections Commissary Account, there were 17 reimbursements made from that fund and each reimbursement lacked sufficient documentation necessary to determine if the reimbursements were made appropriately, according to the audit.

The 17 reimbursements had attached documents that included a letter from the bookkeeper of community corrections, MapQuest maps, flyers, emails and itineraries, according to the audit.

Two of eight reimbursements paid for the Lake County Community Corrections Fair Share fund lacked detailed receipts or itemized receipts from the vendor for the reimbursement, according to the audit.

Six of seven payments to a home improvement store from the Lake County Community Corrections Fair Share fund did not have detailed receipts to support the invoices paid, according to the audit.

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Community Corrections also created a gift card reward program, purchased through the commissary account, without procedures for maintaining records of the purchase, distributions and inventories of the cards, according to the audit.

Kellie Bittorf, executive director of Community Corrections, wrote a letter to the State Board of Accounts stating that the Community Corrections Commissary Account will be maintained in a comprehensive ledger.

Community Corrections will make sure that all documentation for a reimbursement request are included before submission, Bittorf said. The department has also implemented a more comprehensive tracking system for gift cards, she said.

The Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Courts trust, which holds bond forfeitures, had $30,116,059 held in the trust as of Dec. 31, 2022. Indiana code requires the court to forfeit the bond of a defendant who fails to appear in court and transfer the bond amount to the state common school fund, according to the audit.

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The audit tested 25 trust items and eight items were flagged: Six bonds remained that should have been forfeited but were waiting on an order from the court and two bonds had a satisfaction of judgment filed but remained held in trust, according to the audit.

Lake County Clerk Michael Brown, in a letter to the State Board of Accounts, said the clerks office can only release bond forfeitures with a written court order. With a signed court order, the clerks office can process the forfeited bond to the state common school fund, Brown said.

The clerks office will communicate with all judges to ensure they sign court orders declaring bonds forfeited, Brown said. The offices financial director will also create a process to research trust items on a regular basis to ensure they are being processed in a timely manner, he said.

Kelley said the State Board of Accounts has not yet begun its 2023 audit of Lake County.

akukulka@post-trib.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  An inmate at the Lansing Correctional Facility is sentenced after attacking a corrections officer back in 2023.

Justin Pierce, 41, was sentenced on Friday, Dec. 6, in Leavenworth County court to 10 years and 10 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections.

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Back in October, a jury found Pierce guilty of battery against a law enforcement officer. He was originally charged with two counts of battery, however, one count was dropped.

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Court documents said that the fight began on Jan. 8, 2023, after Pierce approached the officer and started arguing with them. The officer then told Pierce to go back to his cell, but he ignored the demand and entered the officer station instead.

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It was reported that Pierce then hit the officer with his fist, bruising the victims torso and legs.

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.
KAMPALA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Uganda is strengthening security ahead of the festive season, a police spokesperson has said.

Joint security personnel, both armed and unarmed, have been deployed to patrol mapped-out areas in the capital city Kampala and major towns to ensure peace, safety, and security ahead of Christmas Day and New Year activities, Uganda Police Force spokesman Kituuma Rusoke said in a statement late Tuesday.

"Uganda is one of the countries at the front of fighting global terrorism. Our country faces threats from terrorist organizations," he said.

"We have put our personnel on a high level of alert to detect crime and avert potential threats," Rusoke said. "We equally urge the population to team up with security forces in ensuring safe neighborhoods."

Uganda continues to face threats from the Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel group holed up in the neighboring eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and al-Shabab, a Somali militant group.

The ADF, also a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa, has been causing havoc and mounting attacks in North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the eastern DRC.

Al-Shabab has on several occasions threatened to attack Uganda if it does not withdraw its peacekeeping troops in Somalia serving under the African Union Transition Mission. The group launched twin bomb attacks in Kampala in 2010, killing about 80 people and injuring many others. 
Lara Trump announced she will step down as Republican National Committee co-chair recently in a post on X.

The announcement comes after months of rumors regarding the possibility of her being tapped to replace Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Rubio was nominated to serve as secretary of state in President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming administration.

"I was so humbled and honored to be even be considered for this. I know my name is being thrown out there a lot, and I would say that my experience at the RNC has really shown me, you know, serving the American people," Lara Trump told FOX Business' "Mornings with Maria" in November. "And if I were tapped for this, serving my home state of Florida, its a great honor and a great responsibility, obviously."

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Latest: Lara Trump to step down as RNC co-chair, says she would '100% consider' Florida Senate seat

Who is Lara Trump? How is she related to President-elect Donald Trump?

Eric and Lara Trump speak during A Red, White and Blue Celebration honoring Donald Trump's inauguration at the Mar-a-Lago Club.

Lara Trump is a North Carolina native, graduating from the University of North Carolina with a degree in communications. She was a former producer for "Inside Edition" and host of Trump Productions' "Real News Update."

Lara Yunaska and Eric Trump got married on Nov. 8, 2014 in a ceremony at Mar-a-Lago. The couple welcomed their first child, Luke, in 2017 and their second, Carolina, in 2019.

Eric Trump is the second son of Donald Trump and his first wife, Ivana.

More: Donald and Melania Trump, Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka, Tiffany: Which weddings included Mar-a-Lago

Is Lara Trump involved with politics?

Lara Trump was very active in all of her father-in-law's presidential campaigns. In 2016, she led the Trump-Pence Women's Empowerment Tour alongside an all-women team, aiming to win over female voters in swing states.

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Trump has political ambitions herself. With the former president's support behind her, she was able to secure the position of co-chair of the Republican National Committee earlier this year.

In 2022, she was reported to have seriously considered running for a U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina before the midterm elections.

Will Lara Trump replace Florida Sen. Marco Rubio?

People are speculating that Lara Trump is in the running to fill the vacant Senate seat left by Rubio if he is confirmed as U.S. secretary of state by his colleagues.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott, re-elected in November, took to X to gauge support for Lara Trump.

RT if you think @LaraLeaTrump should be Floridas next Senator! pic.twitter.com/I2XSu9DfeZ  Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) November 14, 2024

In February, Lara Trump published "The Never-Give-Up Pup," a children's book about hard work and perseverance.

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Sponsored by the conservative Christian publisher that produced the title, "Brave Books," Lara Trump held an afternoon reading event at Elisabeth Lahti Library in Indiantown, in western Martin County.

More: DeSantis-Trump relationship? Not great. But the gov may yet get back into his good graces

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lara Trump steps down from RNC, Florida senator speculations ring
Las Cruces City Hall is shown on Dec. 7, 2024. (Photo by Algernon DAmmassa / Las Cruces Bulletin)

A transparency fight is brewing at the state legislature, and Las Cruces may be right in the middle of it.

Local governments, including counties and cities of New Mexico, are looking to convince the legislature that public records need more restrictions to address a spike in Inspection of Public Records Act requests  something transparency groups staunchly oppose.

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While the proposals vary, most revolve around restricting access to police body camera footage and police records  something the legislature has taken up in recent sessions.

New legislative proposals wont be filed until January, and its unclear what will make its way to the Roundhouse for consideration.

But Las Cruces city clerk, Christine Rivera, outlined the changes she wants to see at a Nov. 12 meeting. She said she wants the legislature to allow the government to create a fee schedule to charge people who receive records electronically; require requestors to provide more specificity on requests for public employees emails; allow redaction of identities of children from body camera footage and police reports, and also of identities of victims of crime, even after a case has been adjudicated.

The Las Cruces City Council endorsed the idea as part of its yearly resolution of legislative priorities at a meeting on Dec. 2. The same platform was endorsed by the New Mexico Municipal League, a lobbying and coordinating body for New Mexico cities.

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And while that is a summary of what cities want, the New Mexico Association of Counties has proposed much more sweeping changes, according to a document provided to the Las Cruces Bulletin.

The associations proposed changes included preventing access to jail or prison security footage, eliminating the requirement for a three-day notice, personal information of applicants for fishing and hunting licenses, and dozens more requests.

City clerk makes case for IPRA changes

From January to the end of October, the Las Cruces City Clerks Office has fielded 2,588 requests  nearly three-quarters of which are police records. Each request requires review and processing before it can be released to the public.

In an interview with the Bulletin, Rivera said her desire to see the changes stems from the impact records requests have on the city clerks office.

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The majority of the requests were getting right now are (police department) related, Rivera said. Its PD reports, body cam, supplements, audio, pictures, anything related to that.

Police body camera footage is the most time-consuming, Rivera said, as it requires potentially hours of review, redaction and further review before release. That work all falls on the city clerks office.

I wanted people to realize that it is a lot of man hours, Rivera said. It is also taking away from the other duties because were so focused on that.

Rivera added that especially sensitive or graphic body camera footage can have an emotional impact on her staff, too.

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Its heartbreaking at times to see some of the stuff and know that we cant protect those people. Thats what hurts the most, especially those children. And then they get upset at us, but its not us; its the law, Rivera said.

Transparency hawks unconvinced

As far as staffing time, New Mexico transparency advocates arent buying it.

Thats literally their job, said Clara Garcia, editor and publisher of the Valencia County News-Bulletin and president of the New Mexico Press Association.

Garcia explained that public records play a key role in journalism. They are the backbone of good reporting, she said, adding that easy access to public records allows for more media independence.

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Everybody talks about being transparent, and this is the exact opposite of being transparent, Garcia said.

Melanie Majors, Executive Director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, said the organization was paying close attention to the proposals.

Our goal is always to make sure that any exceptions to the Inspection of Public Records Act are as narrow as possible, Majors said.

With no bill to scrutinize, Majors said that FOG had met with the New Mexico Municipal League to review their proposed changes. Some of these, such as a proposed fee schedule, she described as non-starters.

Weve already paid for those records, Majors said. Why do we have to pay the custodian whos holding the records in trust for us in order to get to the records?

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Majors also pointed out that this will be another year in which the government wants to restrict IPRA.

Recent changes to the law allowed police officials to redact visual depictions of dead bodies or great bodily harm unless that harm is suspected to have been caused by a law enforcement officer. The changes also sought to mitigate data ransoming by preventing people from getting public records about IT systems that reveal vulnerabilities.

While officials argue these changes protect the public, Majors and other transparency hawks see it as backsliding.

I think its a concentrated effort to keep the public from getting its information. How can the public make informed decisions if they dont have access to information? And transparency and accountability are not a partisan issue. Its important to everybody, Majors said.

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Journalists are not the only people with an interest in public records, something city clerk Rivera and other government officials are quick to point out.

Attorneys use public records for case investigations, large tech companies like LexisNexis file IPRAs to build out their databases, and members of the public use records to expand their understanding of government.

There is also a new form of media that use IPRA requests as their main supplier of content.

Instagram pages like lascruces.shi, which post police body camera videos showing car chases, violent arrests and other dramatic footage are some of the groups driving the increase in IPRA requests.

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When we have, for example, a YouTuber asking for 50 different cases for body cam, thats the kind of stuff that Id like to address in a fee schedule, Rivera said. Its not so much the everyday layperson; its more the people that are maybe taking advantage of the system.

The Bulletin reached out to lascruces.shi for an interview on how they use IPRA and their thoughts on the proposed changes, but the account holder did not respond.

What might be ahead

While there may be a transparency fight in store for this session, there is also some common ground. When asked if shed seek additional staff to support the review and dissemination of public records, Rivera said that was a main goal.

My goal has been to get full-time records custodians at (LCPD) because their staff is kind of doing a little bit of everything, Rivera said. I would love to see them get full-time staff. I think that would help a lot.

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Majors said this was preferable to changing the law.

We realize in some cases, maybe its not the law that needs to change. Its the individuals who are required to comply with the law that needs to commit the resources to the records departments, maybe they need to look at how they process records, and perhaps look at efforts to put more of the information online so that people do not have to fill out a request for a record, Majors said.

Majors also pointed out that this may have been an avoidable situation.

In 2020, the state legislature mandated that all police officers must wear body cameras, effectively creating thousands of new public records in the form of body camera footage. In doing so, the legislature did not provide any additional financial support for records processing.

That was a part of that law that was missing. And so, the unfunded mandate, part of it fell on the law enforcement officers, Majors said.

Proposed legislation will be filed ahead of the session from Jan. 2 to Jan. 17. The list of changes will first be outlined there before moving through the legislative process. If a bill gains traction, transparency and press advocates are ready to push back.

We will fight to the very end, Garcia of the News-Bulletin said. We will fight at this legislative session to make sure that this does not happen. We will be fighting, not only for our journalism colleagues but for the publics right to know.

Disclosure: The Las Cruces Bulletin is a paying member of the New Mexico Press Association. Bulletin publisher Belinda Mills is a vice president of the organization. She had no role in the pitching, reporting, writing or editing of this article.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Friends of a 17-year-old gunned down at a Halloween party are in disbelief that the accused killer remains out of jail, despite getting arrested again for another crime.

The Las Vegas Metro Police Department arrested Amari Warren, who was 20 at the time, last year for killing 17-year-old Khairy Turner.

Las Vegas man accused of shooting 17-year-old in head after Halloween party

More than a year since Turners death, his friends told 8 News Now over the phone Warren is a danger to society and pointed to his arrest last month as proof.

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Warren was booked into the Clark County District Court on Nov. 5 for violating his house arrest.

Documents obtained by 8 News Now detailed that in 2021, Warren went into the TJ Maxx on Durango and Elkhorn, and asked an employee to see jewelry. The employee handed it over and Warren then reportedly asked the employee if they had social media, and then said, Boot gang and ran out with the items. Metro police said Warren pulled out a knife.

Warrens attorney questioned how the theft could be a violation.

Obviously, I am sure youre aware of this, this is a three, or four year old case. Pre-dates everything that happened in this case, defense attorney Adam Vander Hayden said.

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Investigators said they had a break into the theft case after tips poured in following Warrens murder arrest.

At the time in 2021, they werent able to develop a suspect, then as it went forward as the murder happened. On Aug. 10 of 2024, there was an additional citizen that came forward, Clark County Deputy District Attorney Elan Eldar said.

Detectives also found evidence of the theft in Warrens home.

There were some items from the murder investigation that matched some of the items, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny said.

The alleged murder he committed happened on Oct. 20 of 2023. Metro police shared surveillance video showing Warren reportedly shooting Turner after the teen rear-ended his vehicle.

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My son went to a Halloween party and never came back, Isela Turner said at a candlelight vigil on Nov. 3. Its hard but he was a very happy person, and he used to try to make everybody feel good.

The vigil was held to mark a year since Turners death.

Friends, family remember Las Vegas teen killed last year after Halloween party

Judge Kierny at the Nov. hearing sided with Warren and declared he didnt violate his house arrest since the armed robbery happened before the murder.

Turners friends told 8 News Now theyre upset with the delay in this trial.

Warrens murder trial was scheduled for next month, but he requested a postponement due to the birth of his child. The judge agreed, delaying it until May of 2025.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Las Vegas Metropolitan police identified the officer who was involved in a deadly shooting following a barricade at the South Point.

According to police, Officer Zachary Adam, 45, shot an armed suspect on Sunday, Dec. 8 at the South Point Hotel and Casino on Las Vegas Boulevard. Police said the suspect charged at officers with a gun and ignored commands to drop the weapon.

Adam is currently assigned to the Tactical Operations Division (SWAT), Special Operations Bureau with Metro, and has been employed with the department since 2006. He was also involved in the deadly shooting of another suspect in 2021.

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He is currently on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of the shooting.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A local real estate organization is making sure a local elementary schools families dont go without holiday cheer this year by providing groceries and meals.

NAIOP Southern Nevada, a commercial real estate organization, held a holiday meal drive to help provide groceries and meals to students and their families at Walter V. Long Elementary School.

Leslie Lane, a mother of two, showed 8 News Now her car trunk filled with snacks, meals, and pies. She said it will last her family about a month.

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Im grateful to be given an opportunity, Lane said. In my family, we are a little extended, so we help the neighbors around us.

The food from the drive does not go to waste, with some families taking one or two bags, in addition to the basket filled with different goods.

Sadly, this is only a fraction of the need across the Las Vegas valley. A study from Map the Meal Gap shows that one in five kids in Southern Nevada, which equates to more than 115,500, are living in food-insecure households.

Those households now have a chance all thanks to groups like NAIOP.

Megan McInerney with the organization said the demand and the need year after year continues to increase.

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Were seeing it firsthand, McInerney said. Just makes me feel amazing to be part of something so special.

Communities in Schools of Nevada are also in the fight against hunger. The organization helps underserved students stay in school.

We also have other pantry staples that are being donated by NAIOP that are going to go out to hundreds more families here, Hayden Havon, Events and Engagement Manager, said. A kid cannot be expected to go to class, learn how to read when theyre hungry.

Haven said more than 200 schools are Title I in Clark County.

Which means half of the school qualifies for free or reduced lunch which is an indicator of living at or below poverty line, Havon explained.

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The community can make change too, by being thoughtful, kind, and generous to have events benefitting people in need stick around.

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, said it has been partnering with Communities in Schools of Southern Nevada for 14 years.

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Power outages, wind damage, and flooding are the top concerns in Massachusetts on Wednesday as an impact storm packing torrential rain and fierce wind gusts moves through the region.

Atmospheric river and potential bomb cyclone bring chaotic winter weather to East Coast

Steady rain will cause slick spots in the morning, but the storm will intensify during the afternoon into the evening, significantly slowing the commutes with downpours and whipping wind.

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Dress accordingly. Youll want a rain jacket and the rain boots, Boston 25 Meteorologist Vicki Graf said in her latest forecast. Im starting to advise against packing the umbrella because were going to see some damaging wind gusts later today. So that wind is really going to ramp up and flip those umbrellas.

WEATHER ALERT

Graf has issued a Weather Alert due to the possibility of up to 4 inches of rain in some parts of Massachusetts and strong wind gusts that could hit 60 mph.

TIMELINE

Graf described the storm as an all-day event, deeming Wednesday a total washout.

We have a long way to go before this storm is out of here, Boston 25 Meteorologist Vicki Graf said in her latest forecast. The worst of it arrives later today for the evening commute.

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Downpours are expected during lunchtime and a wall of intense rain will move from west to east starting around 5 p.m.

As the rainfall gets heavier, the wind will get more powerful during the afternoon and gust into the evening.

FLOOD WATCH

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for parts of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, Bristol, Plymouth, and Middlesex counties from 1 p.m. to through Thursday morning.

A widespread 2-3 inches of rain is expected in these areas with localized spots getting 4 inches of rain or more.

This may result in some small stream and mainstem river flooding. Heavy rain may also result in localized urban flooding and potentially impact part of the evening commute, the NWS warned.

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Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action, the NWS advised.

HIGH WIND WARNING, WIND ADVISORY

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for parts of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties from 3 p.m. Wednesday until 1 a.m. Thursday.

South winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph could blow down trees and power lines.

The NWS warned that power outages are expected and that travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

Graf advised Bay Staters to secure outdoor holiday decorations before the winds start gusting come the afternoon.

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A wind advisory is in effect for interior parts of the state including Worcester, Hampshire, Hampden, and Middlesex counties.

South winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected in those areas.

TEMPERATURES

Wednesday will be mild with temperatures in the 50s and 60s.

Thursday will bring clear skies and cooler temperatures in the low 40s.

Cold air sets in by the end of the week, with highs in the 30s on both Friday and Saturday.

For more on the forecast, visit the Boston 25 Weather page.

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 gun found on the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEOBrian Thompson matches shell casings found at the crime scene, New Yorks police commissioner said Wednesday.

Commissioner Jessica Tisch also said lab results matched suspect Luigi Mangione s prints to a water bottle and protein bar wrapper found near the scene of the killing.

Little new information has come out about a possible motive, though writings found in Mangiones possession hint at a hatred of corporate greed. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania.

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Here's the latest:

More like domestic terrorism than vigilantism?

Regina Bateson, an assistant political science professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied vigilantism, the term to which Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro alluded. She doesnt see this case as a good fit for the word, she says, because the victim wasnt linked to any specific crime or offense. As she sees it, its more akin to domestic terrorism.

But Bateson views the threats against election workers, prosecutors and judges ticking up  plus the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump this past summer  as possible signs that personal grievances or political agendas could erupt.

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Americans are voicing more support for  or at least understanding of  political violence, she said.

The suspect is being cast by some as a romantic figure

Little new information is available about a possible motive, though writings found in Mangiones possession hinted at a vague hatred of corporate greed and an expression of anger toward parasitic health insurance companies.

That detail came after earlier clues showed some bullets recovered from the scene had the words deny, defend and depose, reflecting words used by insurance industry critics. A number of the posts combine an apparent disdain for health insurers  with no mention of the loss of life  with a vague attempt at what some called humor.

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He took action against private health insurance corporations is what he did. he was a brave italian martyr. in this house, luigi mangione is a hero, end of story! one anonymous person said in a post on X that has nearly 2 million views.

Arguments over whether suspect is a hero offer a glimpse into an unusual American moment

Is he a hero? A killer? Both?

About the same time the #FreeLuigi memes featuring the mustachioed plumber from Super Mario Brothers mushroomed online this week, commenters shared memes showing Tony Soprano pronouncing Luigi Mangione, the man charged with murdering the UnitedHealthcare CEO in Manhattan, a hero.

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There were the posts lionizing Mangiones physique and appearance, the ones speculating about who could play him on Saturday Night Live, and the ones denouncing and even threatening people at a Pennsylvania McDonalds for spotting him and calling police.

It was all too much for Pennsylvanias governor, a rising Democrat who was nearly the vice presidential nominee this year. Josh Shapiro decried what he saw as growing support for vigilante justice.

As with so many American events at this moment, the case of Brian Thompson and Luigi Mangioni has both captivated and polarized a media-saturated nation.

 Read more about the public perception of the case

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NYPD matches shell casings in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing to gun found on suspect

The gun found on the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcares CEO matches shell casings found at the crime scene, New Yorks police commissioner said Wednesday.

Commissioner Jessica Tisch also said lab results matched suspect Luigi Mangiones prints to a water bottle and protein bar wrapper found near the scene of the killing.

Authorities believe the suspect took steps to stay off the radar after the shooting

Prosecutors said at his Pennsylvania hearing Tuesday that when arrested, Mangione had bags for his cellphone and laptop that prevent such devices from transmitting signals authorities can use to track them.

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Luigi Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania

Hes charged there with gun and forgery offenses.

Manhattan prosecutors were working to bring him to New York, where he faces a murder charge in last weeks killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Authorities have said writings found in Mangiones possession hinted at a hatred of corporate greed.

Authorities are analyzing a fingerprint on a cellphone found in their investigation

The New York Police Departments top detective, Joseph Kenny, told CBS New York on Tuesday that no prints were found on the bullets that killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but there was one fingerprint on a cellphone that was recovered.

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He said the evidence was being processed and he didnt say whether it appeared to match Mangione.

Investigators find a spiral notebook the suspect described in a letter, official says

Among the items recovered by investigators was a spiral notebook, a law enforcement official said.

Luigi Nicholas Mangione described the notebook in a three-page handwritten letter police in Pennsylvania found when they arrested him, writing that it would contain clues about the attack.

The spiral notebook, if present, has some straggling notes and To Do lists that illuminate the gist of it, Mangione wrote, according to the official.

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The law enforcement official was not authorized to disclose information about the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

 Michael R. Sisak

What did Mangione post online?

An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative effect of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

What evidence has been gathered?

In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored ill will toward corporate America, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny has said Mangione also had a ghost gun, a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace.

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Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Officers also found a sound suppressor, or silencer, consistent with the weapon used in the murder, she said.

He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, the commissioner said.

Mangione struggled with back pain

Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, according to Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for a co-living space in Honolulu where the suspect lived in 2022.

Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someones lower spine.

Mangione was born into a life of country clubs and privilege

His grandfather was a self-made real estate developer and philanthropist.

Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest, Mangiones family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.

From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin, said he was widely considered a great guy, though he had long dealt with severe back pain that interfered with many aspects of his life.

Where do things stand now?

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Mangione mostly stared straight ahead during Tuesday's hearing in Pennsylvania, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer.

Judge David Consiglio denied bail to Mangione, whose attorney, Thomas Dickey, told the court his client did not agree to extradition and wants a hearing on the matter.

Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks said that although Mangione will create extra hoops for law enforcement to jump through by fighting extradition, it wont be a substantial barrier to sending him to New York.
Dec. 11On the eighth day in a row that a woman showed up at a laundromat not to clean her clothes but to soak up some television, an employee phoned the Kalispell Police Department. During her previous appearances, she had left at the request of the staff, the employee said. But on this day, she was refusing. Officers let the woman know she was no longer welcome at the laundromat. Just what was so engrossing on the television was not specified.

A man sitting in a lobby chatting with himself prompted a police response. Officers moved him along.

Authorities were asked to remove a woman from a casino she was previously barred from entering. Officers spoke with the woman at the behest of casino employees.

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Suspicious about a check that a woman was trying to cash, an employee ran it by the issuer, who told them it was stolen out of a vehicle. Authorities banned the woman from the business.

Nonprofit employees asked officers to bring criminal charges against a woman in their office, alleging she had caused damage during her last visit. They warned she might grow combative. Authorities cited the woman for criminal mischief and banned her from the nonprofit's property.

A bank employee told officers they suspected a woman of trying to pass a fraudulent check. Authorities escorted the woman to the county jail.

Workers at a nonprofit sought help in getting a client, who was recently kicked out of the hotel they were living in, into treatment.

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First responders assisted with a red Subaru WRX that slid off the road.

The person behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Traverse festooned with a Montana State sticker reportedly was driving recklessly through town.

Officers counseled two individuals after one reported the other for stalking.

An employee reported a man for trespassing. Officers unsuccessfully tried to locate the man.

Concerned about returning guns owned by a woman recently released from jail, a resident turned to the police for help. They let the person know they needed to give the woman her guns back.
The Kentucky Voices for Health 2024 meeting in Lexington. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

LEXINGTON  A bipartisan panel of Kentucky lawmakers told dozens of health advocates Tuesday they plan to introduce a variety of bills in 2025 to collect gun violence data, restore abortion access, regulate artificial intelligence, reform prior authorization and more.

They spoke at the Kentucky Voices for Healths annual meeting at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington, which convened to discuss policy gaps and ideas to address the states poorest health outcomes.

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The General Assembly, which has a Republican supermajority, convenes for a 30-day session on Jan. 7. Lawmakers will meet for four days, then break until Feb. 4. During that initial four days, hundreds of bills will get filed, members of the panel said.

Other priorities include implementing paid family leave for state workers, making housing more affordable and accessible and more.

Healthy children require healthy mothers

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman was a guest speaker at the Kentucky Voices for Health meeting in Lexington. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

Guest speaker Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman kicked off the day-long meeting by asserting: health care is a basic human right and mental health care is health care.

The Beshear administration focuses a lot on economic development, which Coleman praised in her speech, connecting it to overall health.

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Weve broken every economic development record on the books every single year since weve been elected, she said. But heres what we knowI always say this, too, about education, because I was a teacher  the future of Kentuckys economy is in our classrooms today, but we have no future economy if we dont have a healthy workforce.

After her welcoming address, Coleman told the Lantern that shed like to see lawmakers in 2025 focus on improving mental health for Kentuckys youth and finding ways to support mothers in the period after giving birth.

Healthy children require healthy mothers, she told the Lantern. And to really put that continuum together is something we have to prioritize.

Care for mothers has to start by caring for them as women and people first, Coleman said. She said the administration has some really, really exciting news coming on that front soon, but didnt provide details.

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A panel of maternal health experts echoed Coleman during an afternoon panel, saying that Kentucky mothers need special insurance coverage periods that extend at least two years postpartum, more providers who look like them, freestanding birth centers, more doulas embedded in birth teams, and more.

Kentucky got a D- grade from March of Dimes this year in a ranking based on several maternal health factors. That report found chronic health problems led to too many preterm births, among other things. Most of Kentuckys maternal deaths are preventable, according to a 2023 report from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

What to expect from lawmakers, advocates in 2025

From left to right: Keturah Herron, Lindsey Burke, Derek Lewis, Amanda Mays-Bledsoe and Michael Meredith. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

During an afternoon panel, Sen. Amanda Mays-Bledsoe, R-Lexington, said she wants to file either a bill or multiple bills to address the new spaces of artificial intelligence (AI).

Mays-Bledsoe, who co-chaired the interim Artificial Intelligence Task Force, said the group gave her the chance to look at the ethics of AI  how do we use it, where is it appropriate, how are we defining it?

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Ive learned so much in this space  some of its terrifying, some of its extremely exciting, she said.

One item she wants to introduce next session is a regulatory framework of how the state is going to use AI.

Rep. and Sen.-Elect Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said she will once again introduce legislation to establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which would collect data on gun violence in the state, including data on domestic violence and suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988.

When we talk about gun violence, its a very complex issue. It can be a very divisive issue, Herron said. But one of the things that I know that is true is that no matter where you are in the commonwealth, you will and can be impacted by gun violence.

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Sheila Schuster, the executive director of the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition and a longtime health advocate in Frankfort, moderated the lawmaker panel.

I just want to emphasize, as a psychologist, the importance of keeping guns locked away, she said. What happens is that if someone is caught up in a suicidal downward spiral and has that impulse, if there is a firearm available, the chances are  more likely that they are going to successfully complete that suicide.

Herron also wants to introduce legislation on juvenile justice, which she has also done in the past, and on youth mental health.

Rep. Lindsey Burke D-Lexington, plans to once again introduce legislation on reproductive health issues. For the past two years, shes filed unsuccessful bills to restore the abortion access that Kentuckians lost when a trigger law went into effect after the United States Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022.

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That same year, Kentucky voters rejected an anti-abortion amendment that would have stated definitely that there is no right to an abortion in Kentuckys Constitution.

Kentucky does not have exceptions for rape or incest, though both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have filed unsuccessful bills to change that in recent years. There is an exception in cases where the life of the pregnant person is at risk.

Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others have argued to no avail that the restrictions Kentucky has in place are unconstitutional.

We need to make sure that women have access when they need it, said Burke, who had a complicated journey to motherhood, including infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Beyond that, I want women to be happy and healthy after they have a baby.

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Rep. Derek Lewis R-London, said he expects to primarily file regulation fixes, including making sure sign language interpreters stay in K-12 schools. He also wants to draft a dementia training bill for the Department of Community Based Services.

Rep. Michael Meredith R-Oakland, said he believes lawmakers are getting pretty close to passing prior authorization reform. Prior authorization requires a physician to get permission from a health insurance company before scheduling a medical procedure or treatment or else it will not pay for the cost. Advocates for reform have said it can delay care.

I dont know exactly who the bill sponsor is going to be yet, Meredith said. Its not finished up just yet. But we spent a lot of time during this interim marshaling toward a solution on that.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Voices for Health will prioritize advocating for the following policy points, among others, during the 2025 sessions:

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Allow Medicaid to cover midwives and doulas.

Establish an All Payers Claims Database to create an apples to apples comparison of claims across health care systems.

Exempt freestanding birth centers from the Certificate of Need requirement. (For more on this ongoing issue, read this).

Expand the Public Health Dental Hygienists network to ensure more dental providers throughout Kentucky and address the states poor oral health.

The 2024 Kentucky Voices for Health meeting. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

On DEI

An audience member asked the panel if lawmakers would again introduce legislation to roll back some DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs and offices. Efforts to ban such programs at public higher education institutions failed during the 2024 session.

Im not carrying it, Lewis said, though he added there had been some discussions in both chambers about how such legislation might look.

Herron, who will be moving to the Senate in 2025 and will be the chambers only Black woman, said she expects to see the bill again.

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We need to be doing things thats making our state stronger, not weaker, she said. Its my belief that anything that were doing that is rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion is only making our commonwealth weaker. It is setting the tone and letting people know that theyre not cared for in this state, that they are not seen in this state.

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KABUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Acting Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Khalil Rahman Haqqani was killed in a suicide attack inside the ministry on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said.

"We have received with great sadness the news that the minister of refugees, Khalil Rahman Haqqani, was martyred this afternoon in a ferocious attack by the Khawarij (enemy)," said a statement released by Mufti Abdul Mateen Qani.

"Haqqani was a member of a great jihadi family. The enemies of Islam had set a 5-million-U.S. dollar bounty for his elimination," the statement added.

Four people, including the acting minister, were killed, and four others, including Haqqani's guards, were critically injured following the attack, an official from the Ministry of Interior told Xinhua.

Security personnel have sealed off all roads to the ministry, and stringent regulations are currently enforced within the vicinity.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. 
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A House committee analyzed Tuesday how issues at the southern border are impacting law enforcement officers across the country.

Officials told lawmakers foreign gangs are expanding their presence in the U.S., and its making their jobs even harder.

They are dangerous. They are everywhere, National Sheriffs Association Executive Director and CEO Jonathan Thompson said specifically of Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization from Venezuela. It is a serious problem, and it is not limited to major cities.

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U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, (R-Tenn.), wants to give local law enforcement agencies more power and resources to enforce federal laws.

To remove these criminal aliens, Blackburn said. To remove these gangs that are carrying out crimes in these communities.

The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide states with detention space and grants.

ICE has to cut a check to reimburse that local law enforcement entity for every penny that they have spent in that apprehension and detention, Blackburn said.

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, (D-La.), said its Republicans who are also working to cut funding for other border-related programs.

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Would eliminating these resources further assist your community in preventing or responding to crime? Carter asked during Tuesdays hearing.

Eliminating resources from the federal government that helps our local law enforcement would create difficulty for us, yes, said Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman, representing Major County Sheriffs of America.

The Blackburn bill would also limit certain federal funds to sanctuary cities that refuse to work with the federal government in enforcing immigration law. The first Trump administration adopted a similar policy, but the Biden administration reversed it.

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.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A lawsuit filed Tuesday in St. Louis County claims that a defective Sleep Number bed caused injuries that ultimately led to the death of a Metro East mother.

Angela Moan filed the lawsuit on behalf of her mother, Rosalind Walker, who died in April 2023.

The lawsuit accuses Sleep Number retail company and Legget & Plant, Inc. manufacturing company of negligence and strict liability in connection with Walkers death, while Sleep Number is also accused of breach of warranty.

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According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, on March 1, 2023, Walker became trapped between her Sleep Number bed and a bedroom wall. Court documents allege that the beds adjustable foundation was in a raised position and that the bed unexpectedly lowered without warning.

Missouri lawmaker proposes merger of St. Louis City and St. Louis County

After that, Walker was reportedly stuck between the bed and her bedroom wall for two days until first responders freed her from entrapment. She was sent to a hospital for treatment and died nearly a month later.

According to the lawsuit, Walker purchased the bed in October 2014 in Brentwood, Missouri, with a 25-year warranty.

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The lawsuit contends that Sleep Number and Leggett & Platt failed to provide instructions about potential risks and lacked safety features, such as audible warnings or physical release mechanisms, to prevent entrapment.

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The negligence claims allege a breach of duty in designing, manufacturing, and marketing Sleep Number beds, while the strict liability claims argue the bed as inherently defective and more dangerous than an ordinary customer would expect.

The lawsuit also asserts that Sleep Number violated an implied warranty, stating that the company is responsible for ensuring the goods sold are fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used.

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The lawsuit seeks compensation of at least $25,000, in addition to compensation for Walkers predeath injuries and medical expenses.

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 2.
Dec. 10The father of an Odessa girl who was killed along with her twin brothers in a fiery crash last month has filed a lawsuit against the other driver's estate and his employer.

According to the lawsuit filed in Crane County by Eric Carrasco, Gary Don Liles of Brownfield was driving a Southern Power Company truck on Nov. 20 and talking on his cell phone when he crossed the yellow line dividing FM 1053 and collided with a Jeep Wrangler occupied by Nautica Carrasco, 16, and her brothers, Jackie Jurado and Jaden Jurado, both 18.

The Jeep became fully engulfed in flames and the teenagers had no way to escape, the lawsuit alleged.

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Liles, 48, died later that evening. The Department of Public Safety has not issued a full crash report in the accident.

Carrasco is seeking more than $1 million, alleging Southern Power had a duty to hire "only competent and qualified drivers," a duty to train its drivers to drive safely and to supervise its drivers to make sure they drive safely. In addition, the lawsuit alleges the company had a duty to enforce their policies concerning cell phones.

The lawsuit further states Liles had a duty to stay in his lane, not use a cell phone, pay attention to the road and "give his full time and entire attention to the operation of the vehicle."

Carrasco's attorneys, B. Kent Buckingham and Kathryn D. Sears of Midland, said he is entitled to damages as the father of a "charming young lady" who was in excellent health with a normal life expectancy.

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"Nautica Carrasco was a loving and dutiful child who provided her father with joy, happiness, and anticipation of all the pleasures that a child can provide to a parent, as well as anticipation of care, counsel, nurture, guidance and affection both to and for her father in the future," the lawsuit stated.

Southern Power provided this statement:

"We are devastated by the loss of these four lives, who were taken too soon. There is no easy way to pick up the pieces of a tragedy. Southern Power is committed to supporting the community affected by this horrific accident. Given the active litigation, we do not have further comment."

Buckingham said the information he has about the wreck came from an accident investigator who did a "very thorough investigation" on the witness marks. When there is an "incredibly severe" impact, a lot of times parts of the vehicle are driven down into the roadway surface causing gouge marks. There are also skid marks just from someone applying their brakes.

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"They're going to leave a mark if you apply them hard. In this case, there were very clear marks that indicated that Mr. Liles drove into the opposite lane ...," Buckingham said.

Filings have taken place and summons issued to the defendants. They have 21 days to file an answer, but there probably won't be a hearing for several months, he said.
John Kuehn of Heartwell, left, and Steven Guenzel, one of Kuehn's attorneys in an election-related case against medical cannabis. Sept. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  A top opponent of medical cannabis in Nebraska filed a new lawsuit Tuesday seeking to void two successful 2024 ballot measures to legalize and regulate the drug.

Gov. Jim Pillen has until Thursday under the Nebraska Constitution and state law to declare which measures were successful.

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John Kuehn of Heartwell, a former state senator and former member of the State Board of Health, filed his second lawsuit this fall against the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign, as well as Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen. The new lawsuit was filed in Lancaster County District Court, where Kuehn on Nov. 26 lost and is appealing a related case.

The latest lawsuit, which includes Pillen this time, argues state-level marijuana laws are unconstitutional, unlawful, and impossible and that the campaigns efforts to create and delegate exclusive regulation of the drug to a new executive agency is prohibited.

The votes were held on two activist-drafted initiative measures which had, to that point, evaded any judicial review for their compliance with the United States Constitution or Nebraska Constitution, the lawsuit states. The time for that reckoning is now, before further taxpayer funds are spent on a futile effort.

Attorneys Steven Guenzel of Lincoln, Andrew La Grone of Dunbar and Anne Marie Mackin of Austin, Texas, for John Kuehn of Heartwell are shown from a previous lawsuit against medical marijuana petitions. Sept. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State law gives Pillen the ministerial duty of declaring what ballot measures were successful at the Nov. 5 general election, including the marijuana measures: Initiative Measures 437 and 438. Kuehns lawsuit seeks to prevent Pillen from carrying out that duty.

State-led independence and innovation

Thirty-eight states already authorize some form of medical cannabis, about two dozen of which also allow recreational marijuana sales and distribution.

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Crista Eggers, one of three sponsors for the ballot measures and the campaign manager, said Tuesday that 48 other states have laws legalizing some form of cannabis or its derivatives. She said Nebraskans last month made it overwhelmingly clear that they support safe and regulated medical cannabis access.

The assertion that Nebraskas new medical cannabis laws violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution disregards decades of state-led independence and innovation, Eggers said in a statement. Under the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, states have the right to address the unique needs of their citizens without undue interference.

Eggers continued: The campaign remains committed to defending Nebraskas medical cannabis laws to ensure patients and families have access to the care they deserve.



If successful, Kuehns lawsuit could have ripple effects, including serving as a vehicle to challenge marijuana laws in other states. The federal government has been in the process of reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

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The medical cannabis campaign had no immediate Tuesday evening.

Measures set to take effect

Kuehn previously argued that the measures would violate federal law if successful when he filed his first lawsuit on Sept 12. The core of that case alleged the measures should not have been placed on the ballot to begin with by Evnen. He argued neither secured enough valid petition signatures. His previous lawsuit included the new lawsuits broader arguments and later withdrew them.

Evnen, represented by the Attorney Generals Office as a defendant in Kuehns case, later joined Kuehns challenge to invalidate the measures. Evnen and the AGs Office alleged widespread petition circulator fraud and notarial malfeasance. Evnen himself certified the initiatives for the ballot.

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong denied the arguments from Kuehn and Evnen, and Kuehn has appealed the case to the Nebraska Court of Appeals.

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On Dec. 2, the State Canvassing Board  which consists of Pillen, Evnen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, State Treasurer Tom Briese and State Auditor Mike Foley  unanimously approved the election results for Initiative Measures 437 and 438 at the Nov. 5 election.

Those measures respectively passed with 71% and 67% voter approval.

The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers meets to certify the November general election results on Dec. 2, 2024. From left: State Auditor Mike Foley, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Gov. Jim Pillen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers and State Treasurer Tom Briese. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Strong was assigned Kuehns new case as well, which is headed to her courtroom Wednesday afternoon. She will consider an initial request to block Pillen from formally signing the measures into law.

The Governors Office has not responded to multiple requests for comment on if or when Pillen will sign those proclamations. The office had no immediate comment on the lawsuit.

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Staff for Evnen and Hilgers declined to comment on the lawsuit. Hilgers office defends state officials in court.

Squarely at odds with federal law

Kuehns attorneys urged Pillen in a letter Friday not to sign the proclamations. The letter gave him until Tuesday morning to respond. They argued Pillen is under no such compulsion to declare the measures successful because federal law classifies marijuana as a dangerous drug.

Kuehn attorney Edward Greim of Kansas City, Missouri, whose past clients include associates of President-elect Donald Trump after the 2020 election and former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens against a 2018 impeachment threat, wrote that Pillen has a greater duty: to the U.S. and Nebraska Constitutions.

This scheme places Nebraska squarely at odds with several federal statutes intended to strictly circumscribe the dissemination of marijuana and the business of profiting from, or laundering money gained through, marijuana production and sales, Greim wrote.

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Greims letter points to a 2019 Nebraska Attorney Generals Opinion, authored by then-Attorney General Doug Peterson and then-Deputy Solicitor General Dave Lopez, who is now Pillens chief of staff.

Greim wrote that Pillen has not only the power, but also the duty, not to issue a proclamation giving legal effect to an initiative that violates the Nebraska and the United States Constitutions and is therefore no law at all.

We are confident that your office will exercise its duty not to expend any taxpayer resources by preparing and issuing a proclamation declaring the Marijuaan Measures to be valid Nebraska laws, Greim continued, adding legal action could follow.

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The 2019 AGs opinion, which is advisory and does not carry the weight of law or a judicial opinion, said any state laws regarding cannabis would be unconstitutional. This partly led to the defeat of a previous legislative bill from State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, another ballot sponsor who Kuehn is suing.

Former State Sen. Andrew La Grone of Dunbar requested that opinion in 2019. He is one of Kuehns attorneys.

Pillens staff did not respond, the lawsuit alleges, and Kuehns lawsuit was filed just before 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Kuehns request

Measure 437 would legalize up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis with a written doctors recommendation, while Measure 438 would establish the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate the drug and license medical retailers by Oct. 1, 2025.

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Kuehn offers three reasons to prevent Pillen from issuing proclamations in favor of the initiatives:

The governor cant spend taxpayer dollars on illegal activity.

The matter is of great public concern.

The measures are legally insufficient because of overriding federal laws.

The governor lacks authority to issue a proclamation that violates the Nebraska Constitution, the lawsuit states.

kuehn-v-pillen-et-al

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At least one person has been arrested in connection to the fire that damaged the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge in Cincinnati, according to WXIX-19 and WLWT-5.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Our media partner, WCPO-9 TV, is reporting that up to three people were arrested, including one woman and two men.

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Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley confirmed that Kaitlen Hall, 24, was arrested on two felony counts of obstruction of justice on Tuesday.

During a press conference, McKinley said he anticipates more arrests to follow, due to the leads the fire investigation has.

The large fire broke out in the early morning hours of Nov. 1 at a playground at Sawyer Point Park underneath the bridge.

The bridge sustained significant damage. The southbound lanes have been shut down since, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

Ohio Department of Transportation crews began demolition and repairs at the end of November.

The bridge is expected to fully reopen by the middle of March.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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CHEKKA, Lebanon (AP)  Suheil Hamwi spent 32 years in a Syrian prison, and now, after an offensive by insurgents that toppled the government of Bashar Assad, he's finally returned to his home in Lebanon.

In 1992, Hamwi worked as a merchant, selling various goods in the town of Chekka in northern Lebanon. On the night of Eid il-Burbara, or Saint Barbaras Day  a holiday similar to Halloween  a man came to his door to buy some whiskey. Hamwi said he handed his 10-month-old son, George, to his wife and went to his car to fetch the whiskey and make the sale.

As Hamwi approached his vehicle, a car filled with men pulled up, he said, forcing him inside and taking him away.

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It would be years before his family heard from him again.

Hamwi was one of hundreds of Lebanese citizens detained during Syrias occupation of Lebanon from 1976 to 2005 and believed to be held in Syrian prisons for decades. On Sunday, freedom came to him and others unexpectedly  prisoners who'd heard rumors about Syrias opposition forces and their sweeping campaign found that guards had abandoned their posts. Hamwi and other prisoners left, he said, and he would soon be among the first from Lebanon to reenter the country.

Im still scared this might not be real, he told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday from his home  the same one he left more than three decades ago.

This new reality feels fragile, but, he said, I found my freedom.

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Years of uncertainty and imprisonment

For years after the night of his disappearance, Hamwis family didnt know where he was. It wasnt until 16 years later that his wife discovered he was imprisoned in Syria. Even then, the reason for his detention remained unclear, Hamwi said.

It took another four years before authorities finally told him the charge, he said: He was detained because he was a member of the Lebanese Forces, a Christian political party that also functioned as a militia during the 15-year Lebanese civil war that ended in 1990. The party fought against Syrian forces and remained opposed to Syria's military presence in Lebanon afterward.

Hamwi said prison interrogations were cryptic.

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They asked for my name, my parents names, my age, and where I was from. Thats all, he said. Then he would be sent back to his cell. There was no lawyer, no nothing.

He said he spent his first years in Syrias notorious Saydnaya prison before being transferred to other facilities, eventually ending up in prison in Latakia. Torture marked his early days behind bars, he added, but that stopped after a while."

For years, he said, he lived in nearly complete isolation. He was alone in a small cell, surrounded by other Lebanese detainees as well as Palestinians and Iraqis.

In 2008, he said, his wife was able to visit him for the first time. Then she came about once a year.

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The door opens to freedom

Last week, there was some buzz in the prison about what was happening outside. But we didnt know the dream would reach us, Hamwi said.

Early Sunday morning, chaos erupted as prisoners discovered the guards were gone.

The first door opened, Hamwi said, describing how rebels stormed the prison and started opening cell gates. Then others followed. And for those who couldnt open their gates, they started coming out through the walls.

The prisoners left walking toward the unknown, he said. "And I walked with them.

Strangers on the street helped guide him back to Lebanon, Hamwi said. He came into the country through the Arida border crossing in northern Lebanon, where his family waited on the other side.

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Back home, at last

As Hamwi walked through his door, it was his two grandchildren who greeted him.

This is the first time I met them, Hamwi later told AP, his voice tinged with disbelief.

In the living room, Hamwi lit a cigarette and took a slow drag. He took in photos of moments he'd missed: Georges graduation portrait; George with his wife; Hamwi's own smiling wife, Josephine, with granddaughter Tala.

Grandson Chris clung to Hamwi's hand, giggling as he called out Jeddo!  Arabic for grandpa.

Josephine handed out sweets, her hands steady despite the emotions of the last several days. Outside, neighbors and friends gathered, their voices echoing in the narrow hallway outside his apartment. They sat on chairs in a circle, sharing laughter and memories, as plates of the Arabic sweets and small chocolates were passed around.

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Do you know me? Do you remember me? one friend asked, shaking Hamwis hand. Hamwi paused, studying the mans face.

Youre Jean! Yes, youre Jean, he said.

Hawmi has visited a hospital, for tests to assess the toll of 32 years in captivity. And he has to relearn life outside prison walls.

He hoped one of the best moments was yet to come: his reunion with only son George, an engineer working in the Gulf.

In their first phone call, Hamwi said, George told him the words he'd been longing to hear: I miss you. I love you. Im waiting to see you.
The community and local health professionals celebrated the opening of a new adult day center at LECOM Health. The director said the center provides benefits for visitors and their families.

The director said there is a need for this center to properly treat and serve those with specific diagnoses in Erie.

History made Kayla Hawley named first female fire chief of Union City Volunteer FD

A facility that aims to provide high-quality care and support for older adults is now open at LECOM at Village Square.

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That facility is an adult day center that is licensed to accommodate up to 46 people.

Right now this will be our dining space, this will be our activity area here, over there will be our relaxation period around the corner we have a sick and shut-in we have office space towards the back we have also a clinic, said DeAndra Ward, director of the Adult Day Center.

The director said the previous location for the adult day center was used as a vaccine clinic during COVID which prompted the use of the current space that was sitting vacant.

May the best display win! Local businesses participate in holiday window decorating competition

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The president of the LECOM Institute for Successful Living said the center will fill a gap in the community post-pandemic.

For older adults that require a little bit more attention that requires a caregiver to be with them 24 hours a day or even be with them this is an alternative service line that they can bring their loved ones here for eight hours a day and then go to work and then come back and pick them up, said Dr. James Lin, president of the LECOM Institute for Successful Living.

Ward said services are offered at the adult day center that visitors typically receive in their own homes.

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So if they need a bath we will be able to accommodate that if theres therapy thats needed we can definitely look into helping that also in this space if there is anything that somebody is doing daily to keep themselves going that would be us, Ward said.

The center is also in place to care for those in Erie who have specific diagnoses like dementia.

Theres a tremendous amount of patients that have cognitive impairment or any physical disability and more and more the silver tsunami is in Erie County and theres no services like this here in town, Dr. Lin went on to say.

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Despite heavy snow, Erie City Moms make it their mission to provide gifts to local families

The facility is currently accepting new clients and will be open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clients must complete an assessment and qualify for admission to the program.

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.
TUPELO  A formerly married couple has pleaded guilty to trying to defraud the state of Mississippi out of more than $7,300 in unemployment benefits.

On Nov. 13, Brandon Lynn Williams, 39, of Houston-Palestine Road, Baldwyn; and Miranda Trulove, 39, of Highway 6, Plantersville, each pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to defraud the government. Both were sentenced to five years in the Intensive Supervision Program, $700 in fines and fees, plus $3,664.80 in restitution.

The sentencing orders were amended Dec. 3 to make restitution payable to the Mississippi Office of the State Auditors Exception Clearing Account, instead of the Department of Employment Security.

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State Auditor Shad White has said that Williams and Trulove conspired to obtain illegal unemployment benefits from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security while Williams was incarcerated and therefore ineligible to receive unemployment benefits.

Investigators said that Williams made numerous phone calls from prison to Trulove, his wife at the time, requesting that she help him apply for unemployment benefits. Allegedly, Williams received the illegal benefits via a Way2Go debit card. The unemployment card was then used by Trulove on numerous occasions.

Trulove was arrested May 2 and booked into the Lee County Jail at 2 p.m. She was released the following day after posting a $20,000 bond. Williams remained free for a few more days. He was booked into the same jail on Monday, May 6, at 4:30 p.m. and later bonded out of jail.

This was not the first time the couple have been arrested on felony charges or the first time they have been arrested together. In 2010, they were arrested in Lee County and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and conspiracy to sell. Both eventually pleaded guilty and were given suspended sentences.
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE)  Now owned by a major New Mexico church, Rio Ranchos only movie theatre is looking to make some big changes to the building. Legacy Church is aiming for plans to expand the Premiere Cinema movie theater after leasing space at Unser Blvd. and Southern Blvd. for more than a decade. Legacy bought the theatre about two years ago. Now, the church said theyve outgrown the space and theyre looking to add 15,000 feet with a new addition.

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This will allow us to have our offices there so we can have our staff there to greater serve the community and because the campus has grown so much, we definitely need more seats to accommodate all thats happening with Legacy Church in Rio Rancho, said Daniel McCabe, Executive Pastor with Legacy Church. McCabe said the extension would add a 700-seat auditorium and allow them to remodel other existing areas for kids.

We will remove seats well set up specific classrooms for each age group, for nursery, for pre-school, and then for what we call El kids, our elementary age, and then our youth will have areas as well, said McCabe. McCabe said they want to continue to grow and serve the community of Rio Rancho. A few neighbors told KRQE News 13 theyre not worried about the expansion.

Legacy Church said the movie theatre side of the Premiere Cinema building will remain in operation in the future regardless of whether the proposal is approved. Rio Rancho City Council will discuss the plans Wednesday night.

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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida state lawmakers are planning to make several attempts to loosen the states gun laws.

Different bills filed in this upcoming legislative session could allow people to openly carry a gun, repeal the States Red Flag Law, and lower the minimum age to buy a rifle from 21 to 18.

If you cant beat them, join them: Rep. Susan Valdes shakes up Florida Politics

The States Reg Flag Law was passed after the Parkland Mass Shooting in 2018. Now, going into 2025, some legislators are trying to get new laws passed.

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The Red Flag Law allows authorities to take guns from people that are found to pose a significant danger to others or themselves. This law has received pushback from advocates for the Second Amendment and even some officials in Law Enforcement. Those in support of the Reg Flag Law said it has saved lives.

Another bill filed would make Florida an open carry state. Currently, people in Florida can carry concealed weapons, but are not allowed to openly carry firearms.

The other gun law attempting to be passed would repeal the current prohibition of people above 18 and below 21 of buying firearms.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act blocked gun sales to those under the age of 21. The 2018 law does not stop those under 18 from owning guns, but it does prevent the purchase of firearms for anyone under 21 who is not in Law Enforcement.

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None of these bills are set in stone, but they will be discussed in the upcoming 2025 session.

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.
TOKYO, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks rose for a third consecutive day on Wednesday as buying in financial, insurance, and heavy industry stocks supported the market.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, closed the day at 39,372.23, up 4.65 points, or 0.01 percent from the previous trading day.

Financial and heavy industry stocks led the gains after data showed the country's producer prices rose 3.7 percent year-over-year in November, exceeding market expectations of 3.4 percent and marking the fastest growth since July 2023.

The data fueled speculation that the Bank of Japan might announce additional rate hikes in its upcoming monetary policy meeting, benefiting banking stocks.

In contrast, semiconductor stocks, including Advantest, Tokyo Electron, and Disco, faced heavy losses.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) also rose for the third straight session, closing up 7.90 points, or 0.29 percent, at 2,749.31.

On Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime section, advancers outnumbered decliners with 823 rising stocks, 750 falling, and 71 unchanged. 
We count on our Nevada judges to hold criminals accountable  ensuring community safety and proper sentencing  especially for crimes as violent as this one.
To the editor: For all the media coverage and speculation about the incoming Republican administration's promise to deport unauthorized immigrants, California's anticipated resistance is questionable on many levels. ("As mass deportations loom, ICE eyeing new detention facility in California," Dec. 7)

Acting with high-profile defiance, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta uses terminology like "California values" and "culture of fear and mistrust." Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked the state Legislature to set aside $25 million in taxpayer money for possible legal battles against the incoming Trump administration, which will probably include fights over immigration. That's on top of the billions that unauthorized immigration already costs us.

Are we supposed to trust our state leaders that any of this is worth the cost? Are they politicking for their future? There's also the perennial question asked by law-abiding U.S. citizens: What about laws that make it a crime to enter the U.S. without permission?

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Who among us would not live in "fear and mistrust" if we were subject to arrest and punishment over breaking federal law? How do "California values" include harboring lawbreakers?

Raymond Roth, Oceanside

..

To the editor: If President-elect Donald Trump moves ahead with his plan to deport millions of immigrants, it is important to know if his claims about them are true or not. Here's a small part of what the Immigration Initiative at Harvard found in 2022:



Two-thirds of undocumented immigrants have been in the U.S. for more than 10 years. More than 6 million have U.S.-born children who are citizens.

Forty-seven percent of immigrants arriving in the last five years are college-educated.

Less-educated immigrants work where there are labor shortages in low-skilled jobs.

Immigrants have much lower crime rates than native-born Americans.

Undocumented immigrants pay federal, state and local taxes across the U.S.

Immigration reduces the cost of child care, construction, food and house cleaning.

Immigrants are more likely to start new firms. They own 25% of new firms and employ almost 8 million Americans.

Given all the benefits immigrants bring to the U.S., the question needs to be asked: What are the benefits of deporting them?

Richie Locasso, Hemet

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
To the editor: In 1991, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Daryl F. Gates called for officers involved in the beating of Rodney King to face discipline or felony prosecution.

Nevertheless, a Simi Valley jury disregarded that fact, the video of the beating, the skull fractures, the broken leg and King's fractured cheekbone, and it acquitted four officers of assault and three of excessive force. It deadlocked on the fourth officer's excessive force charge.

On Monday, a New York City jury deadlocked on a manslaughter charge and acquitted Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide. Jordan Neely, a man with untreated mental health issues, raged, menaced and threatened passengers on a subway train. Penny choked Neely from behind and maintained that hold for six minutes, killing Neely. The gross and graphic video was played in court.

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The jury resoundingly sanctioned Neely's choking death. After all, he was mentally ill and homeless, and he used synthetic marijuana.

This is making alive political scientist Andrew Hacker's 1992 book, "Two Nations: Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal."

Marc D. Greenwood, Opelika, Ala.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
To the editor: The importance of regulations and government programs has been made clear recently by reporting in The Times.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin testing raw milk for the H5N1 bird flu that has infected farmworkers, and the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska issued a rare tsunami warning after a 7.0 earthquake hit off the coast of Eureka, Calif.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration oversees safety standards and ordered manufacturers to recall Honda SUVs and Ram trucks. Two local county health departments reported the movements of people with measles at LAX and an Orange County hospital, which places young children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people at risk.

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What do these incidents have in common? Government officials and scientists took action to benefit all of us. I like knowing that my family is safe from injury risks that we couldn't possibly know about on our own.

The incoming administration doesn't like regulations and plans to cut back on them. Keep that in mind for your safety.

Susan Perlson, Brea

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56)  Three individuals were arrested Tuesday night after a two-county high-speed police chase.

According to the Laurel County Sheriffs Office, police saw a silver Dodge Charger driving at a high speed near Kentucky Highway 638 and the Hal Rogers Parkway in London.

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In a news release, the sheriffs office noted that after running the license plate, deputies found that the driver had two outstanding felony warrants.

Deputies said that the driver failed to pull over after being prompted to and continued driving over the speed limit onto the wrong side of the roadway.

With the help of spike strips, the vehicle eventually stopped on Kentucky Highway 687 in Clay County, and the occupants were arrested. Several police vehicles were also damaged in the process.

Michael Flannery, 25, of Corbin, was charged with speeding more than 26 mph over the speed limit, first-degree fleeing or evading the police, reckless driving, seven counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, and second-degree criminal mischief, per the news release.

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Read more of the latest Kentucky news

Andrew Hall, 41, of Corbin, was charged with menacing and resisting arrest after the police claimed he refused to exit the vehicle and struggled with officers, according to the sheriffs office.

Misty Vaughn, 32, of Lexington was charged on two outstanding warrants of failure to appear in court, theft by unlawful taking, and third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, the Laurel County Sheriff announced. She was also charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia from a previous bench warrant.

Michael Flannery mugshot (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) Andrew Hall mugshot (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) Misty Vaughn mugshot (Laurel County Sheriffs Office)

The three were booked into the Laurel County Correctional Center and are being held on bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  A man from Licking, Missouri, was indicted in federal court Tuesday for the sexual exploitation of a child, as well as illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms.

Tuesdays indictment charges 42-year-old John P. Weaver with using a minor victim to produce child pornography and receiving and distributing child pornography. He was also charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Rockaway Beach man indicted for receiving child pornography

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Weaver is accused of producing child pornography with a minor from January to Febuary 2024 and possessing meth and two Hi-Point pistols on Feb. 29, 2024. Weaver had two prior convictions of possessing a controlled substance and was also previously convicted of stealing, burglary, stealing a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any other person.

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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
PROVIDENCE, R.I (WPRI)  Construction is underway in Providence on a complex designed to foster biotech and medical startups while encouraging Rhode Island science students to stay local after graduation.

On Tuesday, state leaders unveiled plans for Ocean State Labs, a project aimed at positioning Rhode Island as a science and innovation hub in New England.

The Rhode Island Life Science Hub finalized an agreement last Wednesday with Ancora L&G to establish the states first life science incubator at 150 Richmond Street.

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Ocean State Labs will occupy nearly 30,000 square feet on the fourth floor of the building, a space subleased at no cost by Brown University.

The lower floors of the building at 150 Richmond Street will house the Rhode Island Department of Healths new laboratories, while its upper stories will be home to commercial lab space known as PVD Labs.

The Rhode Island Life Science Hub is investing up to $10 million in the incubators construction and development, with an additional $1 million funded by the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission.

Right now, if people come out of the universities, come out of the hospitals, start a company, and need lab space  we dont have it. We havent had it. Its been a big void, R.I. Life Science Hub Board Chair Neil Steinberg said.

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We have scientists. They have ideas. They want to start companies and right now, they have to leave if they want to do that, echoed Brown University President Christina Paxson.

The incubator will feature a mix of private and shared lab spaces, co-working areas, and technology to support up to 30 local startup companies.

According to the Rhode Island Life Science Hub, its proximity to the state health laboratories, academic institutions, and local hospitals will foster collaboration and accelerate innovation.

State leaders, including House Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Governor Dan McKee, emphasized the projects potential economic impact.

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We need to diversify our private sector jobs in Rhode Island, Shekarchi said. We cant just rely on CVS and Fidelity  we need to look beyond that and prepare for the next generation.

Our whole idea is to raise incomes in the state of Rhode Island, McKee said. The only way you can do that is by creating jobs that put people to work and that they can take advantage of.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
Dec. 10LIMA  A jury trial for a Lima man that was set to begin this week in the Allen County Common Pleas Court has been pushed to March 11 because the man plans to establish an alibi in his case dealing with aggravated vehicular assault.

"At a client meeting today, defendant revealed, for the first time, witnesses that he claims establish an alibi that defendant was not the driver of the motor vehicle," Anthony Hardesty Jr.'s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Stephen Chamberlain, wrote in a continuance motion filed Dec. 3.

According to the crash report from the incident that occurred on June 29 around 2 a.m., the vehicle in question was registered to Kylie Fyffe, of Lima. No other people were listed as occupants of the vehicle.

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The trial has been rescheduled a few times for motions filed by the public defender's office, including a suppression motion which was overruled by Judge Jeffrey Reed in October.

"Absent a catastrophic event, impassable weather storm, life threatening illness or another case that has a speedier trial deadline than this one, there will be no further continuances," Reed wrote in an entry announcing the new trial date.

Hardesty, 24, was indicted on a second-degree felony charge of aggravated vehicular assault; a fourth-degree felony charge of failure to stop after a crash; and two misdemeanors of operating a motor vehicle while impaired and driving under suspension.

On June 29 on North Nixon Avenue, court documents said police responded to a man who received serious injuries to his lower extremities while unloading items from the back of his car when a car hit him then fled the scene. Witnesses provided a physical description of the man who fled to police.

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Officers were then dispatched to another crash on West High Street which was around the corner from the first crash. Hardesty was located in a backyard on West Market Street and was allegedly intoxicated. Later Hardesty allegedly admitted to being the driver, the only one in the vehicle and drinking before the incident.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.

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ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo.  Toby Collier isnt sure why, but he had a feeling he should go pick up parts for his business last Friday, even though its work always done by other employees.

It hasnt stopped crossing my mind that something bigger than me was asking me to go in this direction, he said.

The direction he traveled was near Highway 94 and Interstate 64 in St. Charles County. Collier saw an overturned Kia with a trapped teen inside.

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I saw debris all over the entire highway, he said.

Collier said drivers kept going by while he stopped to help.

I noticed more people were taking pictures and video than actually getting out to assist and make sure she was okay, he said.

He said the teen was unable to escape the vehicle on her own.

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I went over to the passenger door and ripped the door open, ripped the airbag out, and helped pull her out, Collier said.

A nurse stopped to help while Collier notified the teens mother. He shared the news her daughter was okay but did not go into all the details.

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I didnt want her to overworry and possibly end up in the same situation, Collier said. Ive got kids; I know how it feels.

On Monday, the teens mother expressed her gratitude and called for all drivers to use more caution.

Witnesses said the SUV overturned four times. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports another vehicle struck the SUV after failing to yield and changing lanes in an unsafe manner. A spokesperson for the patrol said the driver of that vehicle had been cited for careless and imprudent driving.

The teens mother is busy caring for her daughters recovery but plans on thanking Collier again in the future. On Tuesday, he said the hug he received at the scene of the crash expressed all the gratitude he needed.

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I knew what it was, said Collier. It was, thank you for being with my child.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Firefighting foam with PFAS was routinely used by many Maine fire departments prior to 2022, yet little work has occurred to assess potential environmental impacts. (Photo by Brendan Bullock)

This article is the second in a series, A Fire Hose of Forever Chemicals, which can be seen in entirety here.

In a wooded Ogunquit neighborhood, a narrow side road leads to the Seacoast Training Complex where a tower-like structure perches, soot-stained and stark in an expanse of grass. Firefighters from southern Maine and New Hampshire come to this site to build essential skills, and they leave behind a wake of chemical foam.

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For decades, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF, called A triple-F) was among the mix of foams applied at this site. Its use in firefighter training was banned three years ago because it contains toxic and persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

At regional centers like this one, departments might experiment with a new foam or train with foam they no longer need, recalled Russell Osgood, Ogunquits fire chief. Firefighters would learn techniques for applying foam and often they would leave a blanket of it covering the fire site, he said: That was a common thing so you wouldnt have any rekindle following live fire training.

Given the propertys history of AFFF use and the many health risks associated with PFAS, Osgood was concerned about potential water contamination at nearby residences. We have a responsibility as a town if people are being affected by what we do, he said.

For decades, fire departments have used a regional training facility in Ogunquit, leaving behind chemical foam  some of which contained PFAS. Prior to a ban on its use in training, foam with PFAS may have been used in routine firefighter trainings at hundreds of sites across Maine. (Photo courtesy of Town of Ogunquit)

The risk extends far beyond his small community. Who manages this? Who is going to follow up? Osgood asked. Youre going to find [PFAS from AFFF] in more places than you could think.

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Maine has roughly a dozen current and former regional training sites for firefighting, as well as former military training areas, dozens of airports, and potentially hundreds of sites where local fire departments conducted trainings or discharged AFFF. I suspect there are tons of little pockets of this all over, Osgood added.

Some of those pockets of PFAS contamination could be endangering household wells while others threaten drinking water at fire stations, aggravating health risks for firefighters who have, in national studies, PFAS blood serum levels somewhat higher than the general public.

No state funding is currently dedicated to foam-related PFAS investigations so the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has not systematically sampled fire training sites or other locations with high historic use of AFFF. Ogunquit approached the agency for help testing wells near the Seacoast Training Complex, and the DEP is directing the project, but the town is paying for it, Osgood explained, which to date has cost the town roughly $50,000.

Initial testing done in 2022 of 14 neighboring wells found low to moderate PFAS levels. Results are not yet back from recent water retesting and new soils testing.

Training with foam helps prepare firefighters to apply it in live-fire incidents. (Photo by Holly S. Anderson)

Osgood recommended that Ogunquit investigate the training facility soon after becoming the towns fire chief because he knew first-hand about the risks of PFAS from AFFF in drinking wells. In prior work at the Portsmouth Fire Department in New Hampshire, he was stationed at the former Pease Air Force Base when news broke in 2014 that wells there were contaminated following decades of historic AFFF use. City firefighters had been drinking, showering in and cooking with contaminated water for years, alongside their occupational exposure applying AFFF foam and what he calls the toxic soup of chemicals (including PFAS) generated by structure fires.

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As firefighters have grown more aware of PFAS and the many other chemical hazards they face, theyve begun adopting practices on and off the job to reduce health threats, explained Osgood, who serves as vice president of education for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. We talk about modifiable risk factors a lot, he said, reminding firefighters you can control your personal risk factors by eating right, exercising and getting regular wellness checks.

Testing the wells theyre drinking from has got to be the first step. We can find that and fix it There has to be money for investigations.

 Russell Osgood, Ogunquit fire chief

But clean water is a basic precondition to maintaining health, Osgood said, and test[ing] the wells theyre drinking [from] has got to be the first step. We can find that and fix it There has to be money for investigations.

Recommendation to test water never reached fire departments

In a survey of Maine fire departments conducted last summer, only 11% of those on wells had tested the water for PFAS. Four out of five of the departments that had not tested indicated that it was because it has not been discussed/suggested. A smaller number dont know how to get the test done. One fire chief commented, Will test now. Never thought to.

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PFAS-Task-Force-Report-pp21-22

Four years earlier, a PFAS Task Force established by Gov. Janet Mills recommended in its final report that private drinking water should be tested for PFAS in areas where groundwater is likely to have been impacted by PFAS at unsafe levels, such as: 1) manufacturing locations that utilized PFAS; 2) unlined landfills; 3) areas where Class B AFFF has been discharged or stored; and 4) residuals [wastewater sludge] land spreading sites.

Maine subsequently invested tens of millions of dollars to test sites permitted for sludge, a process still underway, and to sample landfill leachate. To date, the state has tested well water at only a handful of sites related to firefighting and  judging from survey responses  never informed fire departments that the task force recommended water testing or indicated how they could undertake water testing on their own.

In the recent survey, 20 Maine fire departments requested screening kits (see sidebar) to test for PFAS in well water and surface pumping water sources. Those who undertook water-sampling, a random and geographically diverse group of both volunteer and career departments, agreed to share testing results with Maine Morning Star.

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The DEP assesses water samples for 28 PFAS compounds, but its interim drinking water standard covers just six. Commercial water tests, which report on up to 55 compounds, still only capture a sliver of the PFAS that might be present.

Analysis for 55 PFAS compounds in each of 31 water samples (some of the 20 departments tested multiple sites) revealed five distinct PFAS, most at relatively low levels. Among the samples tested, three came back with no detectable PFAS.

(Photo by Brendan Bullock)

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Only two of the five compounds found fall under Maines drinking water standards: PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid). These two legacy PFAS were phased out of U.S. production in the early 2000s but remain prevalent in the environment.

Among the departments that conducted water sampling, most reported that they had rarely or never used AFFF historically, and there was minimal evidence of PFOS, an ingredient in early AFFF formulations, in the samples tested. Only one well reported a level of PFOS over the federal drinking water guideline of 4 parts per trillion or ppt.

Two of the other compounds reported include PFBA (perfluorobutanoic acid) and PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonic acid), which persist in humans for days or weeks rather than years.

About water-screening test kits

PFAS water tests from laboratories certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can cost upward of $275 per sample. For a fire department needing to test water at multiple stations and pumping sources, expenses could escalate quickly. More affordable screening tests can indicate where high PFAS concentrations may be endangering drinking water. Costing less than a third of what certified tests do, screening kits are easier to administer and mail back.

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The water-screening kits used in this project came from a materials science lab using analytical methods similar to those used by the EPA (although not certified). A split-sample analysis done in Maine comparing data from these sampling kits with PFAS reports from three certified labs found the kits delivered comparable findings.

More information on water-testing options for fire departments and homeowners appears on this projects resource page.

The struggle to identify contamination sources

Sampling water for PFAS is complicated by the sheer number of compounds in this vast chemical class. Scientists have identified nearly 15,000 PFAS to date, yet fewer than 100 of them have received much study. Given the use of PFAS in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, and the proprietary nature of many manufacturing processes, tracing the sources of PFAS found in samples can be challenging.

The compound that appeared most frequently in fire department water samples, N-Ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanol or NEtFOSE, is not included on state-certified water tests so little data exists on its presence in Maine and little is known about toxicological effects. It surfaced in two-thirds of the water samples at low levels (averaging 2 ppt), roughly an order of magnitude higher than background levels found in rainwater collected during 2020-2022 federal sampling at a site in Freeport.

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A volatile compound associated with waterproofing treatments on paper and textiles, NEtFOSE is a precursor, one of many PFAS that can break down over time into more more enduring compounds. It can potentially transform into PFOS, a possible carcinogen that can remain in human bodies for years and in ecosystems for centuries.

If NEtFOSE were used in treatments on firefighters protective jackets and pants, known as turnout gear, It could have come off of the fabric during the washing process, and then could have ended up in the water, observed Bryan Ormond, a textile researcher at North Carolina State University who analyzes PFAS treatments and non-fluorinated substitutes.

Scientists find it challenging to track what specific PFAS compounds might have been used, given that different manufacturers of the different layers of the turnout gear have used different versions of repellent treatments, Ormond added, and each of the companies has likely changed up the finishes on their products over time.

AFFF is probably not the major source [since NEtFOSE] is not a common PFAS to find in AFFF formulations or at AFFF-contaminated sites, noted Heidi Pickard, a postdoctoral researcher in environmental chemistry at Harvard University who studies PFAS precursors. If NEtFOSE derives from other sources, it may or may not originate in the fire stations.

Fire training areas can be a source of PFAS water contamination, depending on the frequency of AFFF use and the sites hydrology. (Photo by Jessica Buckingham)

PFAS moving through sub-surface waters

Risks to drinking water increase markedly in settings where AFFF use occurred repeatedly and where the areas hydrogeology  the soils, bedrock material and location of aquifers and surface waters  is conducive to the migration of PFAS. One such location lies in Carmel, a small community west of Bangor where a fire retention pond behind the fire station and town office has high levels of PFAS. Near that engineered pond, constructed as a pumping source for fire trucks, the municipal fire department historically held trainings.

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To determine the extent of contamination, Carmels town manager asked the DEP in 2023 to follow up on a preliminary water sample done at the town office. The states test found levels over 1,000 ppt for the sum of six PFAS compounds, two of which now have federal maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt each. Six nearby residences registered levels over Maines interim drinking water standard of 20 ppt, and received whole-house filtration systems.

The DEP covered initial testing and filtration using the states Uncontrolled Sites Fund, which provides limited liability exemptions for public treatment facilities and public water works but not for fire departments. Carmel has been made aware of DEP-incurred costs and been made aware that DEP may seek reimbursement, noted David Madore, the agencys spokesperson. The DEP is reviewing its program budgets in advance of the legislative session to determine if it will be necessary to request additional funding for PFAS programming, he added.

In a Maine Morning Star survey, 87% of fire departments reported that they fill trucks from local surface waters. Some of them draw from settings  such as transfer stations, fire training sites and farm ponds  that could have elevated PFAS levels. (Contributed photo)

To date, the DEP has invested roughly $30,000 testing water and installing filtration systems in Carmel, said Andrew Hart, the towns manager, with $18,000 annually projected to maintain those systems. The agency has been more than willing to work with the Town of Carmel, he added, but in addition to the mounting costs for water sampling and filtration, the town is paying for legal consultations and an environmental assessment. That work is not yet complete so the full scope of contamination remains uncertain.

Carmels experience demonstrates another PFAS risk related to the fire service that has received little attention. Fire tanker trucks hold up to 3,000 gallons while smaller Class A pumper trucks might transport and release up to 1,000 gallons of water. If those trucks draw from local sources with high PFAS levels, theres a lot of opportunity to move a lot of contaminated water to another spot, Osgood said. A structure fire can require several thousand gallons of water, he added, while extinguishing a sustained blaze could take hundreds of thousands of gallons.

PFAS contamination of wells has been linked, in some settings, to trench drains in fire station bays that were improperly connected to drainage systems only intended for stormwater runoff. (Photo by Brendan Bullock)

To assess that risk of inadvertent PFAS spreading, Maine Morning Stars survey asked fire departments where they fill their pump trucks. Eighty-seven percent of them draw from local surface waters. Among those, a third pull from a farm pond, 7% from a transfer station, and 6% from a fire training site  all settings that could potentially have elevated PFAS.

Looking beneath the surface

Design and construction errors at fire stations can also lead to local water contamination, as Rhode Island learned in a community where a single 20-year-old station tainted the drinking water of more than 40 households, necessitating the extension of municipal water at a cost of $1.7 million. In that instance, trench drains from the truck bay were improperly connected to an underground injection control system (UIC, a shallow gravel drainage area intended solely for stormwater runoff) so AFFF from trucks and equipment ran almost directly into soils and then an aquifer.

In Maines recent fire department survey, 5% of respondents reported having trench drains connected to UIC systems. Another 15% have trench drains that empty into septic tanks and leach fields, a less direct route but still a potential pathway for PFAS in AFFF to enter groundwater.

Theres no UIC that wont be a problem for PFAS. Ultimately, its an underground injection of water, observed Nicholas Noons, an environmental engineer at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Even with oil/water separators and other technology to clean the water, he added, the trucks have to drain and that water has to go somewhere.

PFAS from inside fire stations can enter groundwater either through improperly connected underground injection control systems or through leach fields, moving eventually into aquifers and potentially contaminating wells that draw from that source. (Image by Hanji Chang)

We view every fire station as a source of PFAS, Noons said. We have yet to find one that hasnt affected water. Rhode Island has investigated half a dozen stations to date and has identified about 40 more (out of 160 total) that are of high concern due to potential impact on nearby drinking-water wells.

To cover the costs of investigating and installing filtration, Rhode Island is dedicating some of the federal funding it has received through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Laws Emerging Contaminant Grants for Small and Disadvantaged Communities. To stretch the grant money, Noons said, the state is considering installing point-of-use filters (such as under-sink units) rather than whole-house filtration to ensure that more residents get at least that minimal level of drinking water protection.

Everyone knows the fire stations are an issue. The challenge is that without a responsible party, the environmental assessment and filtration costs can fall to municipalities.

 Nicholas Noons, environmental engineer at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Maine is receiving $45 million (for 2022-2026) from the Emerging Contaminant Grants program, which can support filtration of both public drinking water supplies and private wells. Roughly half of Maine households are on private wells, but the entire sum has been allocated for public water systems, according to a spokesperson for the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention.

Opening a can of worms

Funding remediation of AFFF sites is a universal challenge, according to Noons. At New England meetings of water professionals, he said, everyone knows the fire stations are an issue. The challenge is that without a responsible party, the environmental assessment and filtration costs can fall to municipalities. Towns like Carmel and Ogunquit are learning this the hard way.

Nearly five years ago, the governors PFAS Task Force recognized the need for state support so that fire departments and municipalities are not financially burdened for environmental clean-up incidental to Class B AFFF. It essentially called for the sort of safety net that the state eventually established for farmers affected by PFAS-laden sludge. Farmers who test for PFAS and find contamination encounter a coordinated agency response that helps ensure they receive technical, financial and health-related support, backed by a $70 million PFAS Advisory Fund.

Maines strategic and coordinated response to PFAS threats in agriculture could serve as a model for how the state addresses PFAS concerns in and from firefighting, according to Tricia Rouleau, farm network director for the nonprofit Maine Farmland Trust. (Photo by Marina Schauffler)

Its clear from our experience in Maine with farmers that having that safety net is critically important, observed Tricia Rouleau, farm network director for the nonprofit Maine Farmland Trust. It can quell the financial fears and liability concerns that might deter people from testing for PFAS, she said: Otherwise, youre opening a can of worms with no way to deal with it.

People are scared of liability when it comes to AFFF, said State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently added two PFAS compounds to its Superfund list of hazardous materials, while also issuing guidance to staff that it does not consider entities like fire departments and public water utilities responsible parties under that legislation. No such liability exemption applies at the state level, however, so when the Maine DEP steps in to investigate and remediate AFFF-contaminated sites, it can seek to recover those costs from municipalities.

Its clear from our experience in Maine with farmers that having that safety net is critically important.

 Tricia Rouleau, Maine Farmland Trust

Where the responsibility rests

In Maines farming community, theres less concern now about liability, Rouleau said, because it became clear that the responsibility goes much higher than that, resting with chemical corporations that manufactured and promoted products that their own scientists knew were problematic.

It all starts with the chemical industry having free rein to pump this into our environment unchecked, in Osgoods view: If PFAS had gone under the scrutiny that a drug has to, they never would have been launched into the environment. Instead, these persistent chemicals went unregulated for decades, and all but six compounds remain so. Id like to think the chemical industry didnt intentionally, knowingly put it out there, he added, but the evidence talks differently. Its kind of criminal.

In March 2023, the Office of the Maine Attorney General filed a lawsuit against chemical manufacturers of AFFF seeking compensation for damages to the states communities and natural resources from PFAS-laden foam. The suit names 3M and DuPont (and companies spun off in a corporate reorganization), along with foam manufacturers.

The control panel of a fire truck designed to administer foam. (Photo by Brendan Bullock)

While the Attorney Generals Office does not comment on pending litigation, state lawsuits involving AFFF typically become part of federal multidistrict litigation, which consolidates similar cases for greater efficiency. More than 10,000 cases related to AFFF are amassed in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina, and  as has happened in recent PFAS cases where water utilities were the plaintiffs  the corporate defendants may settle rather than going to trial.

In settlements, states often take a discount on what they truly need, said John Gardella, a trial attorney and shareholder at CMBG3 Law in Boston who writes about PFAS litigation in The National Law Review. States face a kind of a Catch-22, he added, because in order to recover funds they need to thoroughly document the true scope of the damages, but that rigorous investigation can be an added financial drain.

As Maines investigation of sludge sites begins to wind down, research on AFFF sites may start ramping upwith three bill titles related to AFFF already submitted by state Rep. Dan Ankeles (D-Brunswick).

All the pieces are there

Whats critical to keep in mind, said Tricia Rouleau, is that for farmers and firefighters alike, the accumulated occupational exposure to PFAS means theyre the ones who are going to bear the brunt of this issue. (Photo by Brendan Bullock)

There are lessons from the agricultural sector that could help. At this point, we know so much more, and we can learn a lot from what farmers experienced and carry [that] over to firefighters, Rouleau said, such as having resources available immediately for water filtration and health monitoring.

Maine needs to have staff in place to help people [in affected fire departments and communities] navigate the response and figure out next steps, Rouleau noted, explaining that support mechanisms must be flexible and long-term, since each situation is unique and changes over time.

Whats critical to keep in mind, Rouleau added, is that for farmers and firefighters alike, the accumulated occupational exposure to PFAS means theyre the ones who are going to bear the brunt of this issue.

The collaborative work that went into shaping guidelines for the PFAS Advisory Fund, which provides support to affected farmers, should make the path forward easier for communities affected by AFFF, suggested Kate Dufour, director of advocacy and communications at the Maine Municipal Association. Theres a real opportunity to build on what we have and make it better if it needs to be better.

With plans underway for an Office of Community Affairs designed to help municipalities with major challenges, all the pieces are there to have a collaborative approach that engages multiple agencies, Dufour said. She hopes that some of the bills under consideration this winter will ignite a constructive discussion about how to support communities facing potential PFAS contamination from past use of firefighting foam. The upcoming legislation session, she added, offers an opportunity for everyone to say how we are going to work together to get this done.

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JAKARTA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said Wednesday he plans to visit the oil refinery expansion project in East Kalimantan's Balikpapan to ensure smooth progress and reduce the country's reliance on oil imports.

The project, part of Indonesia's Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP), has been designated a national strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the refinery's processing capacity.

While expressing his concern over the country's declining oil lifting (post-sale production), which has led to increased oil imports amid rising global prices, Bahlil said he intends to collaborate with Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani for a joint inspection of the RDMP project.

"This is Rosan's and my responsibility to check the project. If the RDMP project isn't completed, our oil imports will keep rising," he said.

He noted that the country's oil lifting dropped to 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year, while domestic oil consumption reached 1.6 million bpd.

"This situation affects our trade balance, balance of payments, foreign exchange reserves, energy security, and the president's downstream sector development program," he added.

The RDMP project in Balikpapan, valued at 7.4 billion U.S. dollars, is expected to increase the refinery's capacity by 100,000 bpd, bringing its total processing capability to 360,000 bpd. 
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Just five years after one of the worlds oldest cathedrals caught fire, its doors are now back open.

This weekend more than 1,500 people attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral with even more watching it online.

Notre Dame survived scorching flames and remains a symbol of hope for Parisians

Father Patrick Friend reflected on his experience visiting Notre Dame as a junior in high school while celebrating its reopening.

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Just to see something that was built for centuries and not just a generation it was a really eye-opening experience, Friend said.

He shared that when he first walked in he felt small surrounded by the glory and grandness of the cathedral.

Being Catholic in Arkansas, we are a minority here, there really arent a huge number of Catholics so to go from a small-town Catholic church in Arkansas to see this magnificent church in Paris France and the culture around it was amazing, Friend said.

Friend said what grounded him was seeing the altar, just like the one at his church and school chapel.

The heart of the church is the same, and so seeing that beauty but also the familiarity were to things that really came to me together in an incredible way, Friend said.

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Notre Dame reopens its doors to Macron and other world leaders in a rare symbol of unity

He says he came home in awe and felt more of a calling to his faith in understanding more about its history.

Years later, Friend came back to the school that gave him such an inspirational experience, but this time as a teacher and chaplain.

It was there he learned the news.

I was teaching English down in my classroom and I got a knock on my door, Friend said.

As he opened the door and saw the tears he knew it was not good, it sank in when the voice said Notre Dame was on fire turning the TV on.

On April 15, 2019, Friend sat in shock as he and thousands upon thousands watched as the 850-year-old cathedral burned.

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To think that that would be gone it was truly disheartening, it was something irreplaceable, Friend said. Imagine a family air loom that you have, imagine a picture that is irreplaceable, and losing that to a flood or a fire, as Catholics its a part of our family, its a part of our heritage, or patrimony.

Friend says many felt their hope was gone, but the alter still stood strong in the midst of the damages.

Notre Dames fire-ravaged roof rebuilt using medieval techniques

A promise was made for the cathedral to be restored, and that promise came to fruition five years later after $840 million was spent on renovations.

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I think we can see in that a beautiful sign of hope for all of us, and the Lord Jesus is coming at Christmas so what an appropriate time to have that hope, Friend said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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(NewsNation)  The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee is hearing from Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal Wednesday.

Thirteen U.S. service members and 170 Afghans died in a suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate entrance of Hamid Karzai International Airport during the withdrawal.

Lawmakers have been demanding answers about how such a significant operation could have gone so wrong.

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Doctor calls out claim denials amid UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

The committee says the hearing is a culmination of three years of investigations into the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

Blinken was asked to testify before the committee several times. Republican representatives tried earlier this year to hold him in contempt of Congress for not complying with a subpoena to appear.

Ive been disappointed that youve ignored my requests for my testimony, forcing me to subpoena you not once, but twice, House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said at the hearing Wednesday.

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The State Department, meanwhile, says they have provided Foreign Affairs committee members with large amounts of information and that Blinken has testified before Congress on Afghanistan more than 14 times.

A report by GOP representatives on the Foreign Affairs Committee was released in September, accusing the Biden administration of failing to see warning signs about how quickly Kabul would fall to the Taliban, as well as delaying an evacuation, NewsNations partner The Hill reported.

White House officials, in response, said McCaul was cherry-picking details and not placing enough blame on President-elect Donald Trump.

The Taliban overtook Kabul only days into the evacuation from Afghanistan, and an estimated 100,000 partners of U.S. government efforts were left behind, The Hill reported.

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Even with the warning bells sounding loudly, ringing loudly, you denied the imminent and dangerous threats to American interests, American citizens and our decade-long Afghan partners, McCaul said to Blinken Wednesday. All the while, the Taliban captured province after province on their march to Kabul.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month, was indicted Tuesday in New York on one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, including one count of second-degree murder as an act of terrorism.

"This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference announcing the indictment, which also includes a number of weapons charges.

Bragg said Mangione had arrived in New York City by bus on Nov. 24 and checked in to a hostel on the Upper West Side using the name "Mark Rosario" with a fake New Jersey ID. On the morning of Dec. 4, Bragg said Mangione left the hostel around 5:30 a.m. ET and traveled to midtown near the Hilton hotel. When Thompson showed up, "we allege [Mangione] then took out a 9mm, 3D-printed ghost gun, equipped with a 3D-printed suppressor, and shot him once in the back and once in the leg."

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Mangione was then found at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., with the same fake New Jersey identification and the 3D-printed ghost gun. He is currently being held without bail at a Pennsylvania state prison on weapons and other charges while contesting his extradition to New York.

Bragg noted Tuesday that Mangione is currently scheduled to appear in court in Pennsylvania on Thursday morning, first for a preliminary hearing on his Pennsylvania charges and then for an extradition hearing.

It has been reported that Mangione could waive the extradition hearing.

Who was Brian Thompson?

Thompson was named the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, after having previously served as the CEO of UnitedHealthcare's government programs, which include Medicare & Retirement and Community & State, according to his company profile. He joined the company in 2004.

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In a statement, UnitedHealth Group said: "We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson. ... We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian's family and all who were close to him."

Thompson's wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he had been receiving "some threats" but didn't know the details.

A former private security leader for Thompson said he was surprised the CEO didn't have a private detail with him at the time of the shooting. "What stands out most to me is the inability to provide him security in New York City while he's going to give a speech to many mad stockholders and possibly mad clients of the health care company," Philip Klein, Klein Investigations CEO, said Friday on Fox & Friends First.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (UnitedHealth Group/AP)

"I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him," she told the news outlet. "I can't really give a thoughtful response right now. I just found this out and I'm trying to console my children."

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Sen. Amy Klobuchar, from Minnesota, said in a post on X: "This is a horrifying and shocking act of violence. My thoughts are with Brian Thompsons family and loved ones and all those working at United Healthcare in Minnesota."

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the news of Thompson's shooting "horrifying."

"A terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota," he wrote on X. "Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian's family and the UnitedHealthcare team."
Russia organised for Bashar al-Assad to flee to Moscow via its air base on the Syrian coast as rebels broke into Damascus on Sunday, Kremlin sources have said.

Three sources close to the Russian government told Bloomberg News that its agents persuaded the dictator he would lose a fight with the rebels and that he needed to flee the country immediately.

Assad followed the advice and reportedly fled Damascus without telling his closest advisers and friends in case he was betrayed.

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Once his private jet had taken off from the capital, its transponder was switched off and the aircraft flew to Russias Khmeimim airbase on the Syrian coast.

There, Assad headed to Moscow, possibly after transferring to a Russian military plane.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, personally approved the rescue of Assad on Sunday and has guaranteed his safety in exile, although he has no intention of meeting him, Kremlin sources said.

Vladimir Putin, seen embracing Assad in 2017, reportedly has no intention of meeting with him - Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik

Sergei Ryabkov, Russias deputy foreign minister, confirmed that Assad and his family were now in Russia and would not be handed over to the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of murdering thousands of his opponents.

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He said: He is safe. This shows that Russia is acting as required in such extraordinary situations.

Assad had been a vital Kremlin ally in the Middle East and the collapse of his regime is said to have humiliated and angered Putin.

The Russian president is also said to be furious that his intelligence agents in Syria did not predict the speed and scale of the rebel advance on Damascus.

The reputation of Moscows once-vaunted intelligence services had already taken a blow with its mistaken analysis that Putin would be welcomed as a conquering hero in Ukraine after his invasion in 2022.

Putin has not directly commented on the collapse of the Assad regime but on Wednesday he held a telephone conversation with ally Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, in which he discussed the tense situation in the Middle East.

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Russia is now scrambling to open up communication channels with the new rebel authorities in Syria in an attempt to protect its Khmeimim air base and Tartus naval base.

As well as projecting force into Syria and the Middle East, both military sites act as vital staging posts for Russias operations in Africa, where the Kremlin has supported coups against pro-Western governments.

Children wave Syrian opposition flags as people in Damascus celebrate - Omar Haj Kadour/AFP

Syrians pull down a statue of Hafez al-Assad, the father of Bashar - Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty

Putin intervened in Syrias civil war in 2015 by carpet bombing rebel fighters, essentially turning the Assad regime into a client state along with Iran.

Kremlin propagandists and news agencies have been framing the defeat of Assad as a terrifying victory for Jihadists in the Middle East, despite Russias best efforts.

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Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, said Russia had dealt with terrorists to stabilise the situation that had threatened the entire region.

Over the past few weeks, Russia initially bombed columns of rebel fighters as they advanced rapidly towards Damascus. However, after watching Assads army collapse, the Kremlin quickly concluded that the regime could not be saved.

Instead, Moscow shifted its focus to rescuing Assad and his family, while also moving to protect its military bases.

By helping Assad flee, Putin feels that he has saved face and protected his client state, an important pillar of his international alliance-building, it is believed.

Secret compromise

Alexander Kokcharov, a geoeconomics analyst at Bloomberg Economics, said the Kremlin needed to save Assad to reassure its other dictator clients that Moscow could be relied upon in times of crisis.

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He said: They will know that if they are threatened with an overthrow in their native country, they can still live comfortably in Putins Russia. This is part of the Kremlins offering to its geopolitical allies.

According to Sergey Markov, a pro-Kremlin commentator on Telegram, Moscows rescue of Assad proved that its government had already been successfully negotiating with the Syrian rebels.

He said: Russia helped the new Syrian government take Damascus without a fight. To do this, they reached a secret compromise with Assad that he would not give the order to defend the capital in exchange for the safety of Assad and his family members.

Iran has also been attempting to avoid humiliation since the sudden collapse of its proxy state, which had been a key land bridge to its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.

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The Telegraph revealed this week that senior commanders of Irans Republican Guards had been blaming each other for failing to prop up the Assad regime.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, said Iranian officials had been warning the dictator since September that a major rebel attack was planned.

He added: No one should doubt that what has taken place in Syria is the product of a joint US-Israeli plot.

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CHICAGO  The Salvation Arms Angel Tree Program provides children across Chicagoland with gifts every holiday season, but with a lack of donations this year, thousands of local kids could go without.

The Salvation Armys Associate Chicago Area Cmdr. Maj. K. Kendall Mathews joined WGN Evening News at 6:30 Tuesday to discuss how you can help.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Number one, we are concerned right now because there are so many children, so many more children who really need our resources right now for toys, and when we think about years past, I mean right now were thousands and thousands  at least 4 or 5,000 toys behind last year and even the year before that, Mathews said. People are having to make the decision whether or not they want to pay their utility bills, put food on the table or put a gift under the tree, and we know Chicagoans have always rallied when The Salvation Army has called to support our work in this way or in other ways.

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To see the full interview, watch the video in the video player above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
BERLIN TWP., Ohio (WKBN)  A local couple is once again stepping up to support North Carolina farmers whose livelihoods were threatened by Hurricane Helene.

Mike Young, a self-employed construction worker and farmer in Berlin Township, and his wife are making another trip south, hauling a truckload filled with 12,000 pounds of hay. It was donated by a farm in Cranberry, Pennsylvania.

I mean, these people down there went through everything. They just lost all the hay because all the water just rotted or washed away the hay over there in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. This farm over there reached out and theyve hauled over 50 loads of hay to farmers, and its just going to continue into the spring, Young said.

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Hurricane Helene not only damaged houses, but also the land and soil. The economic impact on farmers could last a decade, with some at the risk of losing their farms. The animals on those farms are in desperate need of help, too.

Even many Ohio farmers faced bad drought conditions this year, which impacted hay yields.

The plan is to load up and leave the Valley on Friday.

Young has gone to North Carolina previously with local groups to build sheds for farmers with livestock.

I was in Boone, North Carolina, which is a pretty big town but when you get maybe five miles out of town, its very rural. The income level down there is very low, and I mean, its really out there, out in the sticks. A lot of switchback roads. I saw guardrails just hanging off the roads, roads completely washed away, he said.

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Hes planning another trip next year to continue helping.

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GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)  Farmer recovery events are taking place across the region this week, and one was held in Greeneville on Tuesday that worked to provide local farmers with the assistance they need after Hurricane Helenes destruction.

We also have onsite FEMA enhance applicant services this way farmers, farm workers, those working in agriculture, for small businesses can have access and a one-stop shop kind of setting, said FEMA Disaster Recovery Official Olivia Scriven. To understand what kind of disaster recovery resources are available to them and to get that critical technical assistance.

Representatives with both the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were at the center helping farmers through the application process.

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Alongside those representatives were also the U.S Small Business Association, UT Agriculture Extension Office and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Were understanding how to get financial assistance for flood-damaged homes, for their land, their acreage, for their individual households, the contents, as well as for flood storm damaged equipment and supplies, said Scriven. If youre a farmer, if youre a farm worker, equipment and supplies are vital to your day-to-day work.

Jeff Cagle runs a small shooting preserve and quail farm, he told News Channel 11 that he is at a loss with his business.

Im at a breaking point. I have no birds to operate with because of the loss and to operate, I have to have operating capital, said Cagle. I dont have any because I got all my savings and everything invested in these buildings, in Brooders, Waters and feed and stuff like that.

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Cagle came to the center to try and find the help he needs to get his business back up and running.

Financially Im at a loss, mentally its very stressful, said Cagle. Im just going from day to day. I dont know, where my next hunt is going to come from or where my next sale is going to go.

Scriven said it had been a steady line of people coming into the center through out the day.

It has been very busy, said Scriven. We appreciate the foot traffic but that also tells us weve got a lot of work to do. There are still a lot of people trying to recover, trying to get their lives back in order.

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Additional Farmer Recovery Centers will be operating on Wednesday and Thursday.

TEMA

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A woman whos been working to collect 10,000 pairs of shoes for a nonprofit called Soles 4 Souls has officially met her goal. The global nonprofit aims to turn shoes and clothes into opportunities for those in need.

Ruby Black of Rochester, the ambassador for Soles 4 Souls, collected old pairs of shoes people were looking to get rid of. She said they help in a few different ways  like keeping the shoes out of landfills and passing them on to someone who might need them instead. Or, she said they recycle the shoes and use the material for something else.

On Tuesday she and a few other volunteers loaded the shoes onto a truck to send off to entrepreneurs in low-income countries.

(WROC/Trinity Wilson)

It has been a lot of social media, it has been a lot of great supporters  from my friends, family, businesses that have had shoe boxes around the Rochester area, and  my husband who has allowed me to fill up my garage and this storage unit, Black said. So, every bag represents 25 pairs of shoes. So, Ive gone through and counted every single one individually, so its been a little bit of a mission.

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She said the next steps will be unloading the shoes in Alabama where they will be sorted and distributed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
JAKARTA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will build a methanol plant worth 1.2 billion U.S. dollars in Bojonegoro, East Java, as part of the country's efforts to achieve national energy sovereignty, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia on Wednesday.

"The construction of this methanol plant is crucial to support the mandatory biodiesel program, as methanol is used in the biodiesel production process," Bahlil said during the National Investment Coordination Meeting in Jakarta.

Bahlil added that Indonesia needs around 2 million to 2.3 million tons of methanol, highlighting the importance of the methanol plant's downstream development.

The ministry has requested support from the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory to ensure a gas supply of 90 MMBtu (million British thermal units) for the methanol plant. 
In a season of glowing menorahs and sizzling latkes, Hanukkah brings eight days of light, joy, and tradition to Jewish homes around the world. But how did this holiday of miracles and resilience become such a cherished celebrationand what makes this year's timing so unique?

In a rare, but not unprecedented calendar overlap, the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas Day, intertwining two deeply meaningful celebrations on the same day.

When is Hanukkah 2024?

This year, the first night of Hanukkah falls on Wednesday, Dec. 25.

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According to the Bergen Record, the first night of Hanukkah last fell on Christmas Day in 2005. Before that, the overlap occurred in 1959 and 1921. The first night of Hanukkah will not land on Christmas Day again until 2035 and then again in 2054.

Who celebrates Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is a traditional Jewish holiday, celebrated by Jewish people around the world. The religious holiday is also called the "festival of lights."

What does Hanukkah celebrate? Why is Hanukkah celebrated for 8 days?

While Hanukkah often coincides with the Christmas season, it is far from being "the Jewish Christmas," as its sometimes mistakenly labeled.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabees' unlikely victory over the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Central to the celebration is the miracle of the oil: a single day's supply that burned for eight days, symbolizing resilience and divine intervention.

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Despite its festive traditions, Hanukkah is not the most significant holiday in Judaism. Unlike Christmas for Christians, Hanukkah does not hold a central place in religious practice and is not even widely considered among the top five major holidays in Judaism.

How many nights is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and eight nights.

Key Jewish holidays

In 2024, several key Jewish holidays have already passed. These are among the most significant, according to Religion News:

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar year and initiates the Ten Days of Repentance. This period encourages introspection and spiritual renewal. Traditions include blowing the shofar and eating symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey, which represent hopes for a sweet year ahead.

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is considered the holiest day in Judaism, focused on repentance, prayer and fasting. It is observed with a 25-hour fast, intensive synagogue services, and seeking forgiveness from God and others. Yom Kippur concludes the Ten Days of Repentance, providing an opportunity for spiritual cleansing and renewal.

Shabbat is a weekly day of rest, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It celebrates Gods creation of the world and the covenant between God and the Jewish people. Shabbat is a time for prayer, reflection, and spending quality time with family and community, offering spiritual renewal and rest.

Passover (Pesach) commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery. The holiday is celebrated with a Seder meal, which retells the Exodus story, and by eating matzah (unleavened bread). It emphasizes themes of freedom, deliverance, and gratitude for God's protection.

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) is a harvest festival that also remembers the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert. Observants build and dwell in a sukkah (a temporary hut) and wave the lulav and etrog (a palm frond and citrus fruit). The festival celebrates the bounty of the earth and Gods protection during the Israelites' wilderness journey.

Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Observances include all-night Torah study, special prayers, and the consumption of dairy foods. It highlights the importance of the Torah in Jewish law and practice.

Jewish holiday calendar in 2025

Fast of Tevet 10 : Friday, Jan. 10

15 Shevat (Tu B'Shevat ): Thursday, Feb. 13

Purim : Thursday, Mar. 13 - Friday, Mar. 14

Passover (Pesach) : Saturday, Apr. 12 - Sunday, Apr. 20

Second Passover (Pesach Sheni) : Monday, May 12

Lag B'Omer: Friday, May 16

Shavuot : Sunday, June 1 - Tuesday, June 3

The Three Weeks : Sunday, July 13 - Sunday, Aug. 3

Rosh Hashanah : Monday, Sept. 22 - Wednesday, Sept. 24

Yom Kippur: Wednesday, Oct. 1 - Thursday, Oct. 2

Sukkot : Monday, Oct. 6 - Monday, Oct. 13

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah : Monday, Oct. 13 - Wednesday, Oct. 15

Chanukah : Sunday, Dec. 14 - Monday, Dec. 22

Fast of Tevet 10: Tuesday, Dec. 30

See full description and work guidelines.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How many nights is Hanukkah 2024? Origins, history of Jewish holiday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Some Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers have been told that the department will begin testing out 12-hour shifts starting in January at two of its divisions.

The test shifts will take place at the Steele Creek and University divisions. Otherwise, the local Fraternal Order of Police says officers dont know exactly who is impacted and how this will all work, and they say thats part of the problem.

Starting in January, instead of eight- or 10-hour shifts, some CMPD officers are set to test out 12-hour shifts.

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Operation Heartbeat: CMPD lauches new crime-reduing initative in Charlotte

Now all of a sudden, they got two months to shift their lives around, and officers are upset, morale already sucks in the police department, said Dan Redford, president of the Char-Meck FOP Lodge 9.

Redford says the FOP is not against the 12-hour shift model, but they take big issue with the lack of information given to officers about their new shifts.

These shifts are coming next month, and these officers still dont know what theyre walking into yet, said Redford.

Around mid-November, the FOP says Chief Johnny Jennings mentioned in an email that CMPD would begin piloting the longer shift for some officers. The FOP says theyve asked for more answers since from CMPD leaders, but they have not received them.

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A lot of the concerns are over childcare because of the impact its going to have on their home life when theyre off, said Redford. They still have to go to court (for police-related cases), they still have to go to training, and these are things that primarily happen during the daytime.

The Fraternal Order of Police also surveyed its members and says of the 470 responses from CMPD officers, almost 52% strongly oppose 12-hour shifts and about 14% strongly support them.

CMPD Explorers Christmas Project collecting items for Toy Drive

There is a big difference in a 12-hour shift as a CMPD police officer and a 12-hour shift of an officer in say Huntersville or Concord just because the call volume in Charlotte is significantly higher, officers are going to be working more calls back to back with less down time in between for them to take breaks, said Redford.

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Queen City News reached out to CMPD on Tuesday trying to understand how the pilot 12-hour shifts would work and how many days each week officers would work, but they are not releasing an official statement on the shifts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  The Lafayette Parish School System, led by Superintendent Francis Touchet, celebrated excellence in education by surprising the 2024-25 Student of the Year winners on Wednesday morning.

Representing the elementary, middle, and high school levels, these exceptional students are well-rounded, straight-A achievers who excel academically and in extracurricular pursuits.

Each winner will advance to compete at the zone level, with the potential to have their applications submitted for recognition at the state level, highlighting their extraordinary achievements and dedication to excellence.

Elementary Student of the Year Avery Marks

Avery Marks is a driven and ambitious 5th-grade student at Broadmoor Elementary. She is diligently working toward becoming a million-word reader, achieving Advanced scores on the LEAP test, and maintaining her place on the principals list.

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An avid equestrian, Avery shares a special bond with her horse, Pearl, and spends her free time honing her riding skills. She is also an active member of Girls on the Run, participating in 5K events to support meaningful causes, and she proudly contributes her voice as a member of the school chorus.

Avery recently showcased her leadership and advocacy skills by collaborating with fellow students to successfully petition for mirrors to be installed in the girls bathroom at school.

Looking ahead, Avery aspires to graduate high school with a 4.0 GPA and become a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters. She hopes to pursue a career as a veterinarian and a farrier.

Middle School Student of the Year Carlie Simon

Carlie Simon is an accomplished and well-rounded eighth grader at Youngsville Middle School with a passion for music, dance, and academics.

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A dedicated performer, she excels in ballet, piano, and clarinet. As a talented clarinetist, Carlie earned a spot in the prestigious All-Acadiana All-Star Band and will join the Youngsville Middle School Band for a performance in New York City in March 2025. She has also graced the stage in two productions of The Nutcracker with the Lafayette Ballet Theatre.

Weapons detection systems helping keep LPSS high school football fans safe

Carlie is actively involved in several school and community organizations, including Junior BETA, WISE Women of Acadiana, the math club, and 4-H, where her focus is on Health, Safety, and First Aid. Through these clubs, she has participated in remarkable projects, such as building a small remote-controlled airplane and collaborating with a commercial lab in Lafayette to engineer products from donated placentas that aid in repairing damaged human tissues.

Her love for science, mathematics, and technology inspires her academic pursuits, and she plans to continue this trajectory by earning a medical degree. Carlies diverse talents, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to her passions make her a standout student and leader.

High School Student of the Year Walker Prejean

Walker Prejean is an exceptional senior at Lafayette High School, distinguished by his academic achievements and leadership. With a remarkable 4.33 GPA, eight Advanced Placement credits, and a perfect 36 on the ACT, Walker exemplifies scholastic excellence.

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His involvement in various campus organizations ignited a passion for Youth and Government, inspiring him to explore the intersection of environmental issues and political policy. Walker serves as an officer for the State Legislative Youth Advisory Council and contributes as a researcher for Ballotpedia, a nationally recognized political encyclopedia.

Walkers aspirations include pursuing a legal career and engaging in politics, where he aims to combine his academic acumen, civic engagement, and dedication to creating positive societal change.

From left: Avery Marks, Carlie Simon and Walker Prejean.

Latest news

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
British Airways told customers it faced "baggage disruption" due to a fault at London's Heathrow Airport.

Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport and the world's second-busiest for international flights.

An aviation-news site said BA warned crews against checking bags because of the fault.

Some flight crews have been advised not to check bags amid a system fault at Europe's busiest airport, the aviation-news site Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported.

London's Heathrow Airport is also the world's second-busiest airport for international flights, behind Dubai, according to the travel-data provider OAG. On Wednesday, Heathrow announced that it was expecting its busiest-ever December after last month's 6.5 million passengers broke records for November travel.

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Responding to customers who reported luggage troubles on Monday and Tuesday, British Airways' X account said the airline faced "baggage disruption" because of issues at Heathrow.

In another post, it said it was "unable to load a number of bags onto flights" on Monday "due to a fault with London Heathrow Airport's baggage system, which was out of our control."

Unfortunately, we faced baggage disruption over the last few days due to issues with the baggage belts and equipment at London Heathrow. Our Baggage team are working hard to get all delayed bags back to your customers as quickly as possible. You should have an update soon. Demi  British Airways (@British_Airways) December 10, 2024

PYOK reported that British Airways also told pilots and cabin crew not to check luggage because of the fault at Terminal 5.

It added that British Airways told crews that the risk of reaching their destination without their bags was too high and that they should pack essential uniform items and spare clothes in their carry-ons.

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In an internal update on Tuesday, Heathrow Airport said it was still working on "what can be done" to fix the fault, PYOK reported.

Business Insider understands that as of Wednesday morning, British Airways passengers were no longer facing baggage issues.

British Airways didn't comment when contacted by BI. Heathrow Airport didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, indicated he would fight extradition to New York at a Pennsylvania court hearing Tuesday, lashing out as he arrived for the proceeding about an insult to the intelligence of the American people.

The 26-year-old appeared in Blair County court as a fugitive from justice at around 1:30 p.m., a day after his arrest at a McDonalds in the city of Altoona after a worker recognized him from widely circulated surveillance video images.

As Mangione arrived clad in an orange jumpsuit, media crews captured him appearing to be upset, struggling with court security officers and yelling to members of the media in mostly inaudible statements, describing something as completely out of touch as officers slammed him up against a wall.

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Judge David Consiglio denied Mangione bail at the hearing and his local defense lawyer, Thomas Dickey, said he would challenge his extradition, according to Pennsylvania court officials.

After the hearing, a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed that his office would seek a governors warrant to secure Mangiones extradition to New York.

Manhattan prosecutors on Monday accused Mangione of second-degree murder, three weapons possession offenses, and criminal possession of a forged instrument, stemming from the CEOs early morning murder Dec. 4 outside the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue near West 53rd Street. The complaint was filed under seal.

The defendant is the person shooting and killing Brian Thompson in the above-described surveillance footage, NYPD Detective Yousef Demes wrote in a Manhattan Criminal Court filing made public earlier Tuesday designated as a felony arrest warrant, describing the widely watched footage of the shooting.

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Surveillance video captured him leaving the HI New York City Hostel on Amsterdam Avenue near West 104th Street. at 5:34 a.m. on Dec. 4 wearing the same clothing as the shooter, according to the New York court filing.

He was captured checking into the hostel on Nov. 24, at about 11:20 p.m., with the fake drivers license containing the name Mark Rosario that he presented to the Pennsylvania officers who arrested him at the McDonalds just before 10 a.m. Monday, the filing alleges.

Altoona, Pennsylvania, police recovered a semi-automatic pistol with what appears to be a 3D printed loaded receiver with a metal slide and silencer and written admissions about the crime, the filing details.

The 26-year-old was held without bail late Monday after being brought up on charges tied to his arrest more than 200 miles from the scene, alleging he illegally carried a weapon, forgery and related offenses.

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Authorities are still determining Mangiones motive, but his online activity and various interviews with people close to him appear to suggest he was resentful of the health care industry stemming from his experiences with a severe spinal cord industry.

Consiglio said Mangione would remain in detention at a state correctional facility in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

The New York Daily News could not immediately reach Dickey for comment.

_____

------
Luigi Mangione, who authorities accuse of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly wrote in a notebook that he considered bombing Manhattan to carry out the killing but did not want to "kill innocents," a senior law enforcement source tells PEOPLE.

The notebook, which police allegedly found on Mangione, contained a to-do list related to the killing, the law enforcement source says, and allegedly discussed different murder methods.

The source says Mangione, who is charged with murder by prosecutors in New York, allegedly preferred a targeted approach.

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What do you do? You wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention," Mangione allegedly wrote. "Its targeted, precise, and doesnt risk innocents.

Mangione was taken into custody at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., on Monday, Dec. 9, days after a masked and hooded gunman fatally shot Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan as the CEO was headed to an annual investors event.

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.

Police allege that Mangione was found with a 3D-printed ghost gun, a silencer and fake IDs following his arrest. He was arraigned on five charges in Pennsylvania, including counts of forgery and weapons possession. He also faces potential extradition to New York, where he is charged with more serious offenses, including murder.

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A law enforcement source previously told PEOPLE that Mangione was also found with a manifesto, in which he allegedly wrote that he acted alone but that the murder "had to be done."

"I do apologize for any strife or traumas, but it had to be done," Mangione allegedly wrote. "Frankly, these parasites had it coming."

Thompson, 50, who was laid to rest in a private setting, was a father to two sons.

Read the original article on People
Luigi Mangiones lawyer has said that hes not aware of any evidence that links the 26-year-old suspected killer to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Appearing on Good Morning America on Wednesday, Dec. 11, Mangiones defense attorney Thomas Dickey was asked by host George Stephanopoulos if he stands by his statement that hes seen zero evidence tying Mangione to the murder.

That is correct, Dickey responded. We had a brief hearing yesterday, but there is one document  an arrest warrant from the state of New York  which merely referenced a statute. Weve seen no evidence. Thats one of the many reasons why were challenging the extradition at this point so we can see some evidence and get a little more detailed information about the charges against Luigi.

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PEOPLE previously reported that a lawyer for Mangione told a judge on Dec. 10 that he will contest a pending extradition to New York to face the murder charge against him. The Blair County Courthouse confirmed to PEOPLE that Mangione was denied bail on Tuesday by Judge David Consiglio and will remain in custody in Pennsylvania as he fights attempts by New York prosecutors to bring him to Manhattan so he can face a second-degree murder charge.

Stephanopoulos, 63, then asked Dickey about the ghost gun that was found on Mangione when he was arrested on Dec. 9 and the alleged written admissions of murder.

As I indicated yesterday, I have not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found on his person to the crime. These are things were looking to see. Yesterday was fast, todays another day. Were looking forward to beginning our inquiry as to what evidence may or may not be out there.

We've seen no evidence. That's why we're challenging the extradition at this point, so we can see some evidence and get a little more detailed information about the charges against Luigi [Mangione].



Defense attorney Thomas Dickey talks legal fight after Mangione's arrest. pic.twitter.com/NYmrQAPDhK  Good Morning America (@GMA) December 11, 2024

Related: Law Enforcement Upset by Public Sympathy for Accused CEO Murderer Luigi Mangione: 'It Was Definitely Hampering' Search (Exclusive)

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The gun looks exactly the same as the one that was used, Stephanopoulos then noted, to which Dickey replied, A lot of guns look the same."

"If you brought a gun in and said, Well, it looks like that. I dont even know if it would be admissible," he continued. "And if so I would argue that it wouldnt be given much weight. Thats why they do ballistic tests, ballistics, examination, a test of all that to try to match that. Trust me, theyre going to try to match that firearm to the incident by more than just, Well, it looks like that. 

An arrest warrant issued for Mangione and obtained by PEOPLE said he was carrying written admissions on him when he was arrested.

A law enforcement source told PEOPLE that police found a manifesto that Mangione had allegedly written railing against the healthcare industry, writing that Thompsons killing had to be done and that frankly, these parasites had it coming.

Luigi Mangione/X.com Luigi Mangione Luigi Mangione

Related: Who Is Luigi Mangione? What We Know About the Ivy League Grad Suspected of Shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

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Pressing Dickey further about the writings Mangione was allegedly found with, Stephanopoulos asked, What about the writing? These parasites had it coming, talking about the health industry, corruption and greed. That is all evidence, isnt it?

Well, I mean, certainly, it could be. I havent seen any of that yet, said Dickey. One of the rules of evidence is that theres a rule of completeness, so you have to take any writing, any document in its entirety because some things can be taken out of context.

Dickey added that the writings are exactly the things that Im looking to get my hands on. Im hoping to get that as early as today.

Again, I really cant comment on something I havent seen in its totality, he said.

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According to his arrest warrant, Mangione also had fake IDs allegedly used to book lodging at a New York City hostel last week.

PA Department of Corrections Luigi Mangione Luigi Mangione

How about the fake ID? Same one used at the hostel? Stephanopoulos asked.

Again, whether or not thats matches that, these are things I need to find out. I need to examine things. People put out certain things and parts of different things, but I think any lawyer involved in this situation would want to see it all.

Elsewhere in the interview, Stephanopoulos asked Dickey if his client  who is a former high school valedictorian and University of Pennsylvania computer science graduate  had told him he didnt commit the crime.

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I would never reveal any conversation between my client, that would not be proper. Theres attorney, client privilege and I would not ever comment on that, Dickey concluded.

UnitedHealth Group Brian Thompson Brian Thompson

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Mangione has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a firearm, PEOPLE confirmed on Monday.

Thompson, 50, was gunned down on Dec. 4 in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan where he and other UnitedHealthcare executives were set to gather for an investor meeting.



Read the original article on People
For years before he was accused of killing the CEO of one of America's largest health-insurance companies, Luigi Mangione suffered from debilitating pain that doctors didn't seem able to fix.

He detailed the pain, and what he felt to be the healthcare system's inadequate response, in dozens of posts on Reddit between 2018 and 2024.

None of them, though, mention UnitedHealthcare or its CEO, Brian Thompson, whom he's now accused of killing. And none of the posts blame UnitedHealthcare  or Thompson  for his health issues. The only insurer mentioned is Blue Cross Blue Shield, in a brief post describing how it covered a medical test.

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But his posts paint a portrait of someone whose pain and recovery led him to put "my life on hold in my 20s." And the experience appears to represent a significant  and excruciating  engagement with the American healthcare system. Like most young Americans, if Mangione was covered by his parents' health-insurance plan, he likely would have aged out when he turned 26 in May, under rules set by the Affordable Care Act.

In handwritten notes from 2019 reviewed by Business Insider, Mangione wrote that he had spondylolisthesis  severe slippage of parts of the spine due to joint deterioration.

In 2022, he described "near-constant burning/twitching in both ankles/calves." By 2023, he wrote on Reddit, he'd been experiencing "back and genital pain" on and off for a year, including numbness in his groin. (Details shared by the Reddit account match biographical details about Mangione sourced from public documents.)

He underwent surgery later that year. An X-ray image Mangione posted on social media depicted a spinal fusion, with rods and screws reinforcing the position of his bones. At first, he appeared jubilant  his pain was gone. But by June this year, he was castigating doctors as "basically worthless" on X.

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Public records, social-media posts, and interviews indicate that Mangione cut off contact with family and friends earlier this year. Months later, police say Mangione murdered Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk, wielding a gun assembled from 3D printed parts.

The scion of a prominent Baltimore family, Mangione was educated at elite schools. Friends say they're now hard-pressed to recognize the kind, unassuming, and whip-smart person they know.

A classmate who led a student group at the University of Pennsylvania with Mangione in 2016 and 2017 said she recalled him as humble, helpful, and immensely driven. She asked not to be named given the intense focus on Mangione, but BI has confirmed her identity.

"I would set my sister or friend up with him," she said. "Just knowing his personality, I would completely trust him. Even knowing what I know now, if he 100% did it, I would feel completely safe being alone in a room with him."

A privileged youth

Mangione grew up in Towson, Maryland, about 10 miles outside Baltimore. His grandfather, Nick Mangione Sr., was a self-made multimillionaire, The Baltimore Banner reported. The elder Mangione, who died in 2008, owned and operated a sprawling portfolio of country clubs, nursing homes, and local radio stations. The younger Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren, part of a large family whose ranks also include a Maryland lawmaker.

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Mangione's parents and immediate family did not respond to requests for comment.

Thomas J. Maronick Jr., an attorney and longtime host at one of the family's radio stations, told BI that the family was "very influential" in the local community, which was reeling from the news of Mangione's arrest.

"When you think of the Mangione family, you think of an esteemed family that has done a lot for the community," Maronick said in a phone call. "When I first heard the name, I thought it had to be a different family. It was very out of character for anything I've ever known about the family."

Mangione appeared well positioned to carry on the family's name.

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He attended the Gilman School, a prestigious Baltimore-area all-boys school where tuition runs over $37,000 a year. There, he cofounded AppRoar Studios, a company that released a phone game; was in the school's robotics club; and graduated as valedictorian of the class of 2016.

Mangione was "very into sports" and "very social," a high-school classmate told BI. The classmate asked not to be named, but BI has verified their identity. "He was easily one of the smartest in our class. I never would have thought he would have been a part of this," the classmate added.

Luigi Mangione's entry in the Gilman School class-of-2016 yearbook. Anonymous

He went on to the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in four years with both a bachelor's and a master's degree in computer science, a university spokesperson said. He cofounded a video-game-design club and was inducted into the computer-engineering department's Eta Kappa Nu society for students at the top of their class, according to blog posts and the society's website.

He appeared active in his fraternity, photos posted on Instagram show.

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Still, his health appeared to drag him down. In posts on Reddit, he described experiencing "brain fog." His "cognitive decline" started after he contracted Lyme disease at 13, he wrote, and worsened after his "very tame" but sleepless fraternity initiation. The fraternity did not respond to a request for comment.

He considered dropping out of college, he wrote, and felt that his condition restricted him to "what feels like 10% of a college experience."

"My symptoms were very minor at first and I was able to excel in high school, but the symptoms worsened exponentially last year," he wrote in 2018. "It's absolutely brutal to have such a life-halting issue."

In 2019, Mangione spent three months as a counselor for a Stanford summer program for high schoolers. He left a positive impression on the students, one of them said in posts on Instagram.

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After college, he got a job as a data engineer at TrueCar, an online vehicle-purchase platform, and was regularly promoted, according to his LinkedIn profile and a former colleague.

By early 2022, he had moved to a coliving space in Hawaii called Surfbreak, according to photos posted on Instagram. R.J. Martin, the founder of Surfbreak, told Honolulu Civil Beat that Mangione founded a book club at the residence. On Martin's suggestion, one of the books discussed by the club was the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski's manifesto, Martin said.

Kaczynski, a Harvard-trained mathematician, lived in the wilderness and conducted a 17-year mail-bombing campaign against people he blamed for advancing technology at the expense of the natural environment.

Mangione gave the book four out of five stars on his Goodreads account.

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"While these actions tend to be characterized as those of a crazy luddite, however, they are more accurately seen as those of an extreme political revolutionary," Mangione wrote in his review of the book.

The book club dissolved shortly thereafter, Martin told Civil Beat, amid discomfort with the manifesto.

Mangione detailed his back-pain journey on social media

In Hawaii, Mangione experienced another health setback. He'd had mild back pain since he was a child, but while surfing in early 2022, he "experienced sciatica for the first time," he wrote on Reddit. "A few weeks later I slipped on a piece of paper and my right glute locked and right leg shut down for a week. Couldn't support any weight on it."

Mangione, writing under the username Mister_Cactus, was a frequent poster in the spondylolisthesis subreddit. He exchanged notes with other people dealing with the condition and advised one poster how to persuade medical professionals to take symptoms seriously in the face of some doctors whose perspectives he decried as "nonsense."

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"Tell them you are 'unable to work'/do your job. We live in a capitalist society," he wrote. "I've found that the medical industry responds to these key words far more urgently than you describing unbearable pain and how it's impacting your quality of life."

Martin told Honolulu Civil Beat that Mangione struggled with back pain throughout his time living at Surfbreak in 2022. In a separate interview, with The New York Times, Martin said that Mangione told him the lower vertebrae of his spine were nearly "a half-inch off" and had impeded his romantic life.

But by the next year, Mangione wrote that surgery had helped resolve his pain, at least for a time.

In one post, dated October 2023, he said back-fusion surgery had been "a success." After a week, he had no use for pain medication, he wrote.

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"The surgery wasn't nearly as scary as I made it out to be in my head, and I knew it was the right decision within a week, and that I won't have to bother with injections or future surgery for many years," he wrote.

Mangione went dark earlier this year

In 2023, Mangione stopped working at TrueCar. The company laid off more than 100 employees that year. BI was unable to confirm the circumstances under which he left the company.

He appeared to spend early 2024 traveling around Asia, according to Reddit posts. In April, he emailed the author of a Substack he followed to say he would be in Japan through the beginning of May, according to a screenshot of the email the blogger shared on X.

His final Reddit post, in May, was to the Kaczynski subreddit; he shared a video lambasting Chinese social-media culture. On X, his final posts, on July 8, revealed a disenchantment with both the Democratic and the Republican political parties and support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The previous month, he'd reposted another user's skepticism with doctors.

"My experience with the medical profession  and yours is probably similar  is that doctors are basically worthless unless you carefully manage them, and 2/3 of them are worthless even in that case," the post said.

Afterward, both accounts went dark.

Maronick, the family friend, told BI that there had "been some rumblings" that Mangione hadn't been in touch with his family in "quite some time."

In July, an apparent friend posted on X suggesting that Mangione hadn't responded to messages in months.

"You made commitments to me for my wedding and if you can't honor them I need to know so I can plan accordingly," the user wrote to Mangione. (The user could not be reached for comment.)

In recent months, one of Mangione's cousins began reaching out to Mangione's friends to ask whether anyone had heard from him, his high-school classmate told BI. The classmate texted Mangione but never heard back.

Mangione's mother filed a missing-persons report in San Francisco on November 18, writing that she hadn't seen her son since July, according to the San Francisco Standard. In a statement released on Monday, a group of Mangione's cousins wrote they were "shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest."

"We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved," the statement said.

Thompson was shot and killed on December 4 ahead of an annual investors meeting for UnitedHealth Group. Police say the bullet casings found on the scene had the words "delay," "deny," and "depose" written on them  which some have taken to be a reference to a book, "Delay, Deny, Defend," which details how insurance companies avoid paying medical bills.

Pennsylvania police, acting on a call from a McDonald's employee, found Mangione eating at a franchise location in Altoona. They say he had in his backpack a gun and a handwritten document expressing "ill will toward corporate America," with the phrase "these parasites had it coming."

Police arrested Mangione on forgery and gun charges. He is fighting extradition to New York, where he is expected to be charged with second-degree murder, a warrant obtained by BI shows. He has not formally entered a plea.

Thomas Dickey, an attorney representing Mangione, said in an interview on Tuesday with with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo that he had not seen "any evidence yet" that would implicate Mangione.

"I don't even know if this is him or whatever," he said. "So we're going to test those waters and give the government a chance to bring some evidence forward." Dickey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mangione's high-school classmate said that nobody they knew recognized Mangione from the photos police released before his arrest. After law enforcement named Mangione as a suspect, though, "the eyebrows made sense," the classmate said.

At his initial court appearance Monday, a judge asked Mangione whether he was in touch with his family, multiple reports from outlets present at the arraignment said.

"Until recently," he responded.



Ana Altchek, Laura Italiano, and Natalie Musumeci contributed reporting.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Originally appeared on E! Online

The McDonalds employee who relayed Luigi Mangiones location will not be lovin this outcome.

After the 26-year-old was reported and promptly arrested while visiting a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Dec. 9, the fate of the cumulative $60,000 reward to find the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsonoffered by the New York Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigationsremains undistributed, per the FBI Rewards for Justice regulations.

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Mangione, according to online court files, is currently in custody and has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal weapon possession, one count of second-degree criminal possession of a forged document and one count of third-degree criminal weapon possession. However, the FBIs reward program has several stipulations before a reward can be paid out, including a successful conviction of a criminal.

Although charged, the University of Pennsylvania alum has not been convicted, nor has he submitted a plea. His lawyer Thomas Dickey also told Good Morning America Dec. 11 that he has not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found in Mangiones possession to the killing of Thompson.

More from E! Online

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As Dickey noted, These are things that we're looking to see.

Whats more, in order for the McDonalds employee to receive anything from the $50,000 offered by the FBIeven if Mangione is convictedthey will have to be nominated by a U.S. investigative agency, which can include the FBI or the Department of Defense, per the FBI website. The bureaus frequently asked questions pertaining to their Rewards for Justice program emphasizes that individuals may not self-nominate for the possibility of a payout.

If the McDonalds employee is successfully nominated, their tip will still have to be, per the FBI website, carefully evaluated and go through a process of deliberation by a committee. From there, the committee makes a nonbinding recommendation to the Secretary of State, who makes the final call.

Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

The Secretary of State has complete discretion over whether or not to authorize any given reward, and can change the amount of the reward, within the terms of the law, the FBI regulations on reward payout states. A payment determination by the Secretary is final and conclusive and not subject to judicial review.

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Meanwhile, the additional $10,000 offered by the NYPD is not required to be fulfilled unless the McDonalds tipster phoned into the departments Crime Stoppers hotline, where they would have received a specific reference number.

And, as Mangione pushes to contest his extradition to New York, his lawyer told The New York Times, the proceedings of his case remain stalled, and thus, so does any potential reward payout.

Keep reading for everything to know about Thompsons death.

Who is Brian Thompson?

Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. He first joined the company in 2004 and held several positions before taking on the role of CEO in 2021.



Prior to working at UnitedHealthcare, Thompson was employed at PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in business administration as an accounting major in May 1997, the school's public relations manager Steve Schmadeke told NBC News.



Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, was married to Paulette Thompsonthough according to public records viewed by E! News, they had been living in separate homesand was the father of two sons.



He was shot and killed in New York on Dec. 4, 2024. Thompson was 50 years old.





How did Brian Thompson die?

Patrol officers from the New York City Police Departments Midtown North Precinct responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2024 regarding a person who was shot in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said in a media briefing later that morning.



Kenny noted officers arrived at the scene at 6:48 a.m. and found gunshot wounds on Thompsons back and leg. The chief detective said Emergency Medical Services transported Thompson several blocks to Mount Sinai West, where the CEO was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.



The victim was in New York City to speak at an investor conference," NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said during the media briefing. "It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes. And as the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf. Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.



Tisch said the shooting appeared to be a pre-meditated, pre-planned, targeted attack and not a random act of violence.



The full investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department are well underway, she noted, and we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case.





What do investigators know about the shooting of Brian Thompson so far?

According to Kenny, the shooter headed to the New York Hilton Midtown on foot and arrived outside the hotel five minutes before Thompsons arrival.



In a video, Kenny continued, Thompson was seen walking alone towards the Hilton at 6:44 a.m. after exiting his separate, nearby hotel apparently for a UnitedHealth Group investors conference that was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. that day.



The chief detective added the shooterwho ignored "numerous other pedestrians"approached Thompson from behind, shot him, walked towards him and continued shooting.



Kenny said the gunman then fled on foot before getting on an ebike, and the shooter was seen riding into Central Park at Center Drive at 6:48 a.m.



Kenny said three live nine-millimeter rounds and three discharged shell casings were recovered during the investigation. During a Dec. 6 press briefing, Kenny said the words depose, delay and deny were written on the shell casing in marker.



However, hes noted the motive for the killing has yet to be confirmed.

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What have investigators revealed about the gunmans timeline?

During the Dec. 6 press briefing, Kenny said investigators have footage of the shooter arriving at Port Authority in New York the night of Nov. 24.



We believe that that bus originated in Atlanta, Kenny continued. It has several stops along the way, so were not sure where he got on the bus.



After the shooter arrived at Port Authority, Kenny continued, the gunman took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton hotel, where he was for about half an hour before traveling by cab to an Upper West Side hostel.



On the morning of the shooting, Kenny added, the gunman left the hostel at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at the Hilton hotel at 5:41 a.m. Kenny said the gunman continued to walk in the vicinity of the hotel before then going to a nearby Starbucks, where he purchased a bottled water and a snack. He then returned to the hotel, and the shooting occurred at 6:44 a.m.



Immediately after, the gunman fled the scene. Kenny said the shooter was seen entering Central Park at 60th St. and Center Drive at 6:48 a.m. and exiting the park through W. 77th St. and Central Park West at 6:56 a.m. At 7:00 a.m., Kenny added, the gunman was spotted on W. 86th St without the bike. And four minutes later, the chief detective continued, the shooter got in a cab at 86th St. and Amsterdam Avenue. Kenny said the gunman was then seen in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge at 7:30 a.m.



Kenny told CNN on Dec. 6 investigators thought the shooter left NYC after he was seen at Port Authority.





Who were investigators looking for?

During the Dec. 4 briefing, Kenny said the shooter appeared to be a "light-skin male" who wore "a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a very distinctive gray backpack."



Over the next few days, the NYPD released a series of photos of the individual they were looking for with the person's face was covered with a mask in many of the pictures.



A senior law enforcement official told NBC News Dec. 5 the photos with the lowered face mask came from surveillance video at an Upper West Side hostel, and two separate law enforcement officials noted to the outlet investigators were trying to determine if the individual used a fake ID and cash for a hostel room.



As for what led the individual to lower the face mask?



"Apparently, there was an interaction while he was checking in, making casual conversation," Kenny said at the Dec. 6 briefing. "At some point, he pulled his mask down and smiled at the clerk."



Kenny has also said a cellphone was found in an alley where the shooter fled before heading to the ebike, but it's unclear if it belonged to the gunman. Two law enforcement sources told NBC News a backpack was also found in Central Park.



Kenny said investigators are "looking at everything"including Thompson's social media and interviews with employees and familythat could help the case. They're also working with Minnesota and Atlanta law enforcement.





Why was Luigi Mangione arrested?

Pennsylvanias Altoona Police Department arrested Luigi Mangione on firearm charges Dec. 9. According to a criminal docket obtained by NBC News, these include two felony chargesone of forgery and one of firearms not to be carried without a licenseas well as three misdemeanors: tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and providing false identification to law enforcement.



NYPD commissioner Tisch said a McDonalds employee recognized Mangione and that the Altoona police were then called. When asked if he had been to New York recently, Mangione "became quiet and started to shake," police said per NBC News.



Tisch also called Mangione a "person of interest" in Thompson's murder and spoke about the efforts to find him, with her thanking law enforcement partners and the public.



"For just over five days, our NYPD investigators combed through thousands of hours of video, followed up on hundreds of tips, and processed every bit of forensic evidence: DNA, finger prints, IP addresses and so much more to tighten the net," she said. "We deployed drones, canine units, and scuba divers. We leveraged the domain awareness system, Argus cameras and conducted aviation canvases, and our detectives also went door to door interviewing potential witnesses and doing the good old fashioned police work that our investigators are famous for. This combination of old school detective work and new age technology is what led to this result today."





What did police find on Luigi Mangione?

In addition to "acting suspiciously," Tisch added, Mangione was "carrying multiple fraudulent IDs as well as a U.S. passport."



Upon further investigation, officers recovered a firearm on his person as well as a suppressor, both consistent with the weapon used in the murder," she continued in the Dec. 9 briefing, per a video shared by NBC News. "They also recovered clothing, including a mask consistent with those worn by our wanted individual."



Tisch added officers also recovered a fraudulent New Jersey ID that matched the one the individual used to check into the New York hostel prior to the shooting.



"Additionally, she continued, officers recovered a hand-written document that speaks to both his motivation and mindset.

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What other charges is Luigi Mangione facing?

On Dec. 9, Manhattan prosecutors filed a murder charge against Mangione, according to court documents obtained by NBC News. The 26-year-old is also facing three counts of criminal possession of a weapon (two in the second-degree for loaded firearm and one in the third degree such as for a silencer) and one count of possessing a forged instrument.



He has yet to enter a plea for any charges.









What did Luigi Mangione state in his writings?

According to NBC News, citing the NYPD, Mangione had three pages of writings on him that totaled less than 300 words when he was taken into custody. Three senior law enforcement officials told the outlet these writings read, in part, "Frankly these parasites had it coming."



In the writings, the officials continued, Mangione said he acted alone. However, the officials told NBC News they haven't ruled out other actors at this time.



To the Feds, Ill keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country," Mangione's writings read, officials told NBC News. "To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasnt working with anyone.



Officials said Mangione also added, "I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done.



However, Tisch noted Mangione's motive has yet to be confirmed.



"I think when we look at the manifesto, or that three-page written document that was recovered, you see anti-corporatist sentiment, a lot of issues with the healthcare industry," she said in a Dec. 10 Today interview. "But as to particular specific motive, that will come out as this investigation continues to unfold over the next weeks and months."





Has Luigi Mangione appeared in court?

Mangione attended a hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania on Dec. 10. As he arrived, NBC News reported, he yelled out to families, "Its completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people."



Per the outlet, Mangione did not waive extradition to New York and was denied bail. As a result, he will remain in Pennsylvania's SCI Huntingdon prison.



His lawyer Thomas Dickey told reporters that Mangione will plead not guilty in Pennsylvania and will likely do the same in New York.



"I havent seen any evidence that says hes the shooter, he said, per NBC News. Remember, and this is not just a small thing: A fundamental concept of American justice is the presumption of innocence, and until youre proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."





Who is Luigi Mangione?

Mangione is a suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson and is facing several other charges in both Pennsylvania and New York, including forgery and criminal possession of a weapon.



He's an Ivy League graduate, having received a Bachelor of Science in engineering in 2020 and a Masters of Science in engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, the school confirmed to NBC News.



NYPD Chief of Detectives Kenny shared additional details on Mangione's upbringing, saying he was born and raised in Maryland. His most recent address is listed as Honolulu but he also has connections to San Francisco, Kenny told NBC News.



After Mangione's arrest, his family released a statement on X.



"Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione," they said in the Dec. 9 post. "We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news."

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What has Brian Thompsons family said about his death?

After learning of the shooting, Thompsons family mourned his passing.



We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian, a family statement obtained by NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis on Dec. 5 read. Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed. We appreciate your condolences and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.



Thompsons wife Paulette also recalled how her husband had received threats prior to his death.



"Yes, there had been some threats," she told NBC News Dec. 5. "Basically, I dont know, a lack of coverage? I dont know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him."





What has UnitedHealth Group said about Brian Thompsons death?

UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, also expressed how it was "deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend" Thompson, flying its flags at half-mast at corporate headquarters in Minnesota.



"Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," a Dec. 4 statement from the organization read. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brians family and all who were close to him.



And while the company noted "our hearts are broken," it shared in a Dec. 5 statement that it has also "been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place."



"So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out," the message read. "We are thankful, even as we grieve. Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brians family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care. We ask that everyone respect the familys privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend."





However, there's also been public criticism about UnitedHealthcare, Thompson and America's healthcare system overall.



This has included online conversations about insurance companies' claim denial rates as well as a look at accusations against Thompson.



For instance, in a class-action lawsuit filed by the City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund in May 2024 and obtained by NBC News, Thompson was accused of selling more than $15 million of his personal UnitedHealth shares after allegedly learning of an investigation of the company by the U.S. Department of Justice before the public did. When asked about the trades allegedly made by Thompson and other executives, a UnitedHealth spokesperson told Bloomberg in April 2024 "these directors and officers followed our protocols and received approval from the company."



The lawsuit, per the BBC, remains active.



And while a motive for the shooting hasn't been revealed, many outlets have noted the words depose, delay and deny on the shell casings are similar to the title of the 2010 book Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.



Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro slammed "deeply disturbing" online reactions to the killing: "In America," he said at a Dec. 9 press conference, per NBC News' video, "we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint."



(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family).



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
The alleged killer of UnitedHealthcares chief executive considered using a bomb for the murder, his notebook is reported to reveal.

Luigi Mangione reportedly wrote in a spiral notebook that he decided against staging an explosion in Manhattan because it could kill innocents.

Mr Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League college graduate, is alleged to have written a to-do list in the recovered notebook. The notebook reportedly stated that he would kill the CEO at his own bean counting conference.

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He was shot dead on December 4 as he walked into the Hilton Midtown in Manhattan to attend a conference, sparking a five day manhunt that led to Mangiones arrest.

Along with a three-page manifesto in which Mangione allegedly said that he acted alone, police found pages of handwritten notes in a spiral notebook.

Mangione removes his face mask as he appears to eat a hash brown at the McDonalds in Altoona he was arrested at

Among the notes were the musings about possibly using a bomb versus a shooting, CNN reported.

According to the New York Times, the notebook stated: What do you do?

You wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention. Its targeted, precise, and doesnt risk innocents.

Fingerprints found at the scene of the shooting were said to match those taken from Mangione after he was arrested in Pennsylvania on Monday.

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Police also found other items on Mangione which allegedly linked him to the crime including multiple fake IDs, and the ghost gun used in the shooting.

The fake ID...

... and the gun

According to CNN there was an oblique reference in the notebooks to how Mr Mangione figured out Mr Thompsons movements.

Mr Mangione is reported to have written: This wasnt that difficult. It was a combination of social engineering and CAD (computer assisted design).

Mr Mangiones lawyer suggested his client could plead not guilty to the murder charges in New York. The suspect is currently detained in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested, on other charges including using a fake ID.

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Speaking to ABC News, attorney Thomas Dickey said that Mr Mangione, who comes from a wealthy real estate family in Maryland, would deny the charges in Pennsylvania.

Mr Dickey said there was no evidence linking his client to the shooting and claimed that a lot of guns look the same.

He said: I have not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found on his person to the crime so these are things that were looking to see.

In a statement, Thompsons family thanked him for being a loving parent.

They said: Brian was a devoted father to our two sons, and we will miss him for the rest of our lives. We appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of kind words and support we have received.

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.
VIENTIANE, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A meeting of the National Steering Committee was held here to review Laos' success as the chair of ASEAN 2024.

During the review meeting, representatives of the 14 subcommittees in charge of ASEAN meetings throughout 2024 reported on the success of their work, described the challenges they encountered, and suggested ways to remedy them at future events.

Lao national TV on Wednesday quoted Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone as saying at the meeting on Monday that Laos' ASEAN chairmanship has been deemed a great success due to the support of all ministries, other government bodies, the public, the military, police, and businesses.

He advised the subcommittees to learn from their experiences in organizing future regional and global meetings hosted by Laos so that proceedings run more smoothly.

Laos' chairmanship of ASEAN adopts the theme "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience." 
In his first comments since Luigi Mangione was charged with second-degree murder on Monday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said he was confident that the 26-year-old would quickly be extradited to New York where he will be held accountable for brazenly gunning down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

"We will get the defendant here and bring him to justice through our court proceeding," Bragg told ABC News on Wednesday, saying that Mangione could face additional charges beyond the second-degree murder charges he currently faces.

"As we learn more about motives and other things like that ... there may be additional charges," Bragg said.

PHOTO: Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson departs after an extradition hearing at Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pa., Dec. 10, 2024. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

Mangione is also charged in New York with criminal possession of a forged instrument and several counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

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"We intend to learn more, and we have a lot of things to do," Bragg said. "As things go forward, there may be additional charges to bring," Bragg said.

Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey, said his client intends to plead not guilty to the charges, claiming there is no evidence linking his client to the crime. Bragg said he was confident Mangione is the person who fired three rounds into the torso of Thompson last week, killing the health care executive and setting off a firestorm of vitriol online.

"We would not charge the person if we didn't think it was the person, and we're prepared to go forward and we're on the path to accountability and justice," Bragg said.

MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO killing latest: Luigi Mangione's gun matches shell casings from crime scene, NYPD says

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Once the former Ivy Leaguer is extradited to New York, Bragg said Mangione will face a team of Manhattan's most seasoned homicide prosecutors. The DA acknowledged that the nature of the alleged crime is "extraordinarily scary."

"It is very scary, and it is something that has the attention of so many who live here, so many who come to work here, and rightfully so," Bragg said.

Bragg's comments come the same day that the New York Police Department offered the first forensic evidence linking Mangione to the alleged crime. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, fingerprints from the crime scene have been matched to Mangione, and three shell casings recovered following the midtown shooting were matched to Mangione's 3D-printed handgun. Bragg's office said his office has focused on combating so-called ghost guns since the beginning of his tenure as district attorney.

"It's something we're seeing more and more in use, speaking generally. It's something also we've seen people who are younger and younger working on," Bragg said.

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Asked why Mangione was charged with second-degree murder, Bragg told ABC News that prosecutors wanted to bring charges quickly and first-degree murder "has a number of delineated circumstances."

"Murder 2 is the intentional killing of a person, punishable by 25 years to life under New York law," Bragg said. "Murder 1 has a number of delineated circumstances, including, for example, a serial murder, murder of a witness, murder of a police officer."

PHOTO: Luigi Mangione is seen in this undated photo from his account on X. (Via X)

Bragg has found himself at the center of multiple high-profile cases -- including his conviction of former President Donald Trump and recent acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny. With the Mangione case, Bragg is expected to face not only a high-profile prosecution but also a groundswell of public support for the accused murderer,.

"I ... have spent time with families of homicide victims with survivors of violent crime," Bragg said. "That's the centerpiece of our work, and to think that there are others celebrating this conduct is beyond comprehension to me."

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Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, is accused of shooting Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4 while the CEO was heading to an investors conference.

Thompson's murder ignited online anger at the health insurance industry and some people online have celebrated the suspect.

"Celebrating murder is abhorrent," Bragg said. "I sit across the table from families who've had a loved one killed. And to think of people celebrating that ... is beyond comprehension to me."

PHOTO: Members of the New York police crime scene unit investigate the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (Stefan Jeremiah/AP)

MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect inspired by Unabomber: NYPD analysis

"What I would say to members of the public ... [who are] celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action: We will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable," Bragg said.

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The ghost gun allegedly in Mangione's possession when he was arrested has been matched to three shell casings recovered at the murder scene, according to the NYPD.

Fingerprints recovered from a water bottle and a Kind bar near the crime scene have also been matched to Mangione, police said.

Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday after nearly one week on the run. He's also facing charges in Pennsylvania, including allegedly possessing an untraceable ghost gun.

PHOTO: This is an image of the ghost gun recovered from Luigi Mangione in Altoona, PA, law enforcement sources told ABC News. (Obtained by ABC News)

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MORE: 'Shocked': Family, friends react to Luigi Mangione's alleged role in CEO killing

Mangione plans to challenge his extradition to New York.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said it will seek a governor's warrant to try to force Mangione's extradition. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that she'll sign a request for the governor's warrant "to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable."

Manhattan DA vows accountability in United Healthcare CEO murder case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11)  Fingerprints taken from Luigi Mangione in Pennsylvania matched those on a water bottle found near the scene of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsons fatal shooting, sources told PIX11 News on Wednesday.

The water bottle, along with a cellphone, was found in the alleyway where Mangione allegedly ran to after Thompson was shot in front of a Midtown hotel last week, sources said.

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday after he was spotted by a customer in a McDonalds, according to authorities. He had a fake ID on him that matched one used at a Manhattan hostel prior to the shooting, police said.

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Who was Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO?

Mangione appeared in a Pennsylvania court on Wednesday, where he contested his extradition back to New York to face murder and other charges.

This is completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people, he said as he was led into court.

His lawyer, Thomas Dickey, said his client wanted a hearing to be held on his extradition.

I dont want people to jump to these pre-judgment things because nobody would ever want that if they were accused, or one of their loved ones were accused, Dickey said in an interview with NewsNation. And the big hearing today, I havent seen any evidence yet. I dont even know if this is him or whatever. So were going to test those waters and give the government a chance to bring some evidence.

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Family of Luigi Mangione speaks out following arrest and arraignment

The NYPD is putting together a timeline of Mangiones movements before, during and after Thompson was shot and killed. A handwritten manifesto was found on him at the time of his arrest, police said.

It read in part, Frankly, these parasites had it coming. I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. I wasnt working with anyone, sources told PIX11 News.

Mangione plans to plead not guilty to the charges against him, Dickey said.

This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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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.
For days, social media has been peppered with praise for a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, with some calling the still unnamed shooter a national hero.

On TikTok, people performed ballads dedicated to whomever the shooter was. On Bluesky, they marveled over his ebike escape and the backpack found in Central Park full of Monopoly money that allegedly belonged to him, Wired reports. There was a look-alike contest held in New York City. On Spotify, there were dedicated playlists. Fanfic sprang up on Archive of Our Own.

By Tuesday morning, just hours after prosecutors filed murder charges against former Towson resident and Gilman School valedictorian Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, thousands of Baltimore commuters were greeted along southbound Interstate 83 by a handmade banner that protested U.S. health care policy.

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The sign, which hung from an overpass just south of Cold Spring Lane, read, Deny Defend Depose  words found on the ammunition used to gun down Thompson last week  followed by Health Care 4 All.

Its part of the bitter messaging thats been bubbling up amid debate about health care in America since the CEO attack that captured the countrys attention.

Awful news about that murder but at least its fueling a discourse on social media that will surely change a lot of minds on health care policy, one post on X read.

The banner along the Jones Falls Expressway makes reference to a strategy by large insurance companies to avoid paying claims. It also was similar to the title of a 2010 book critical of the health insurance industry, Delay, Deny, Defend: Why insurance companies dont pay claims, and what you can do about it.

How Luigi Mangione became a far-left folk hero

Since Mangione was arrested at an Altoona, Pennsylvania, McDonalds Monday morning, frustration with the health insurance industry has seeped out on social media and elsewhere in society. And so has backing for Mangione.

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On platforms such as X, Instagram, TikTok and Reddit, #freeLuigiMangione gained traction on Tuesday. Some comments have been alarming in their apparent justification of the killing.

Thoughts and prayers to the family of billionaire guy who got rich off of hardworking Americans insurance premiums and then signed their death warrants instead of giving them the peace of mind they paid for, one post read.

Another blamed the victim for murdering millions of people nationwide.

As UnitedHealthcare CEO, Thompson was the face of the nations fourth-largest health insurance company by revenue in 2024.

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Thompson was repeatedly named and pictured on television after a Senate report released in October found that Medicare Advantage patients requests were denied frequently by United. The company said the report was flawed.

The report sharply criticizes the countrys three largest Medicare Advantage insurers  UnitedHealthcare, Humana and CVS  for allegedly limiting access to post-acute care to maximize profits, Healthcare Dive reported at the time.

The insurers leveraged algorithmic tools to sharply increase claims denials for MA beneficiaries between 2019 and 2022, according to the report published  by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, the outlet said. They most often denied coverage to patients in nursing homes, inpatient rehab hospitals and long-term hospitals, the report found.

Thompson also made headlines in May when he was sued for alleged fraud and illegal insider trading by the Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund, who claimed Thompson, former CEO Andrew Witty and Executive Chairman Stephen Hemsley colluded to hide a U.S. Justice Department antitrust investigation and pump up its stock price ahead of a merger with Change Healthcare.

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Thompson had vigorously denied any involvement in that activity, but his estranged wife, Paulette Thompson, made a statement to media last week that he had mentioned receiving threats.

Pennsylvania police begin to receive backlash

Later on Tuesday, Altoona police said they were investigating threats made against the department and local citizens who were involved in Mangiones arrest, according to a report by WTAJ.

This is clearly a very polarized case, Derek Swope, deputy chief of the Altoona Police Department, said. We have received some threats against our officers and building here. Weve started investigating some threats here against some citizens in our community.

Some reportedly tried to raise money for Mangiones defense on GoFundMe, but the platform removed such attempts.

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GoFundMes Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes, a GoFundMe spokesperson said in an email. The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded.

Mario Macis, a professor of economics at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and core faculty at the Hopkins Business of Health Initiative, said research he has worked on this year and last shows a deep mistrust of private health insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Trust of doctors, nurses and even hospitals is higher, he said.

Causing the mistrust is a perception that insurance companies are motivated not by the best interests of their patients but by the need to make money, leading them to deny claims, Macis said.

Its a tragedy, what happened, and important to understand the context, he said.

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Insurers deny about 10% to 20% of claims each year, he said, but if you are one of those families who have a medical claim denied, it can mean financial ruin. We should take this very seriously.

Even before this shocking incident that happened, there has been a need for more transparency on the part of insurance companies, how they process claims and what the rules are for denying claims, Macis said.

Critics of American health care companies counter that UnitedHealthcare is one of the 10 largest companies in the world, treating 50 million people and with a revenue of $281 billion last year and a market capitalization of around $520 billion. Expecting corporate executives to be prepared to confront the public became a popular theme on social media Monday and Tuesday, with many users calling Mangione a hero.

_____

(Sun reporter Todd Karpovich contributed to this story.)

_____
Luigi Mangione is led from the Blair County Courthouse after an extradition hearing December 10, 2024 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. - Credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

The lawyer for Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man arrested and charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared on Good Morning America Wednesday to explain why the suspect is fighting extradition from Pennsylvania  where Mangione was apprehended  to New York City, where Thompsons murder occurred.

Thomas Dickey, Mangiones lawyer, told GMAs George Stephanopoulos that he hasnt seen any evidence yet that directly links Mangione to the crime hes accused of.

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We had a brief hearing yesterday, but there is one document  an arrest warrant from the state of New York  which merely referenced a statute. Weve seen no evidence, Dickey said. Thats one of the many reasons why were challenging the extradition at this point, so we can see some evidence and get a little more detailed information about the charges against Luigi.

When asked about the ghost gun found in Mangiones possession at the time of his arrest at an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonalds and its similarity  at least visually  to the one seen in surveillance footage of Thompsons murder, Dickey argued, A lot of guns look the same.

As I indicated yesterday, I have not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found on his person to the crime. These are things were looking to see, Dickey added.

If you brought a gun in and said, Well, it looks like that. I dont even know if it would be admissible, and if so I would argue that it wouldnt be given much weight. Thats why they do ballistic tests, ballistics, examination, a test of all that to try to match that. Trust me, theyre going to try to match that firearm to the incident by more than just, Well, it looks like that.

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As for Mangiones alleged manifesto that contained some ill will toward corporate America, Dickey said, I havent seen any of that yet.

One of the rules of evidence is that theres a rule of completeness, so you have to take any writing, any document in its entirety because some things can be taken out of context, Dickey said. These are exactly the things that Im looking to get my hands on. Im hoping to get that as early as today.

At the time of his arrest, Mangione was also reportedly in possession of fraudulent IDs, including a fake New Jersey drivers license with the same name as one used by a then-person of interest when checking into a New York hostel.

Dickey said that, again, authorities have not presented that evidence as part of the arrest warrant yet. People put out certain things and parts of different things, but I think any lawyer involved in this situation would want to see it all, the lawyer said.

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Outside of Mangiones extradition hearing Tuesday in Pennsylvania, the suspect yelled to news cameras gathered outside the courthouse, Its completely out of touch! Its an insult to the intelligence of the American people!

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Luigi Mangiones lawyer Thomas Dickey on Tuesday said his client would plead not guilty  and ask for bail  in the gunshot-slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, declaring that he and Mangione had formed a strong bond.

Speaking at his law office in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in a 17-minute press conference, Dickey reiterated the presumption of innocence is the fundamental concept of American justice, and that he had not seen any evidence his 26-year-old client was the shooter.

The burden is always on the government, thank God, said Dickey on a televised livestream of the press conference. I have not seen one scintilla, one speck, one drop of any evidence yet.

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The lawyer said since all charges in Pennsylvania  aside from capital charges  allow bail, hed be seeking just that for Mangione.

The judge could set a million-dollar bail, it could be a $5 million bail, but damn it, you get bail, he said.

Dickey said his clients next court appearance would be later in December, but that he could speak with his client as early as Wednesday.

Pressed on what offense Mangione would be declaring his innocence, Dickey asserted: Every charge, every charge.

The only charges that weve seen thus far have been here in Pennsylvania and we have pled not guilty to those charges, said Dickey. Im not aware of any actual charges in New York.

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The lawyer said earlier Tuesday he had complained in court that he had been given very little information.

Dickey said he would continue to fight extradition to New York, adding it would be a lengthy process and that he and Mangione would approach it methodically.

The lawyer deflected questions about Mangiones demeanor, personality or frame of mind  and flat-out refused to say who had hired him, though he said hed be open to representing the accused gunman in court in New York.

_____
Editors note: The video above aired on Dec. 10, 2024.

NEW YORK (PIX11)  The parents of Luigi Mangione, the man suspected of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, told law enforcement that they hadnt heard from their son in months.

Mangiones mother reported him missing to San Francisco police two weeks before Thompsons slaying in Midtown, according to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell.

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Who was Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO?

Mangione, 26, appeared in a Pennsylvania court on Wednesday, where he contested his extradition to New York to face murder and other charges.

This is completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people, Mangione said as he was led into court.

Family of Luigi Mangione speaks out following arrest and arraignment

He wants a hearing on the extradition, according to Mangiones attorney Thomas Dickey.

I dont want people to jump to these pre-judgment things because nobody would ever want that if they were accused, or one of their loved ones were accused, Dickey said in an interview with NewsNation. And the big hearing today, I havent seen any evidence yet. I dont even know if this is him or whatever. So were going to test those waters and give the government a chance to bring some evidence.

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Seemed unimaginable: Luigi Mangiones old roommate reacts to arrest

The NYPD is working to assemble a timeline and trace Mangiones whereabouts before and after the shooting. He was taken into custody at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Chell said authorities are reviewing considerable evidence, including whats described as a handwritten manifesto.

The document that Mangione had on him at the time of his arrest said, Frankly, these parasites had it coming. I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. I wasnt working with anyone, sources told PIX11 News.

Mangione intends to plead not guilty to all accusations against him, his attorney said. He recently suffered from a back injury and had surgery, according to reports.

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Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. 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 PIX11.
Accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione has no cellmates and has been separated from other prisoners during his time at a Pennsylvania lockup, according to a report published Wednesday.

Mangione, 26, is being held at Huntingdon state prison about 20 miles east of Altoona, where he was arrested Monday. It is the oldest state prison in Pennsylvania, operating since 1889.

Though Mangione is not being held in solitary confinement, his interactions with other prisoners have been limited, TMZ reported. Eventually, Mangione will be allowed time in the prison recreation area, officials said.

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Mangione appears intent on staying in Pennsylvania as long as possible. He said in a Tuesday court appearance in Blair County that he would fight extradition to New York, where he is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4 in Midtown Manhattan.

A variety of foods are on the menu at SCI Huntingdon over the next two weeks, according to documents obtained by TMZ. Thursdays lunch offering is led by Italian sausage, while the dinner includes chicken parmesan. On Friday, the grub includes a bean burger and pasta with meat sauce.

If Mangione intends to continue fighting extradition, he has 14 days to file a writ of habeas corpus. Meanwhile, prosecutors have 30 days to obtain a warrant from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for Mangiones extradition to New York.

In Pennsylvania, Mangione faces charges of forgery and carrying an illegal weapon, both felonies. Cops said Mangione was carrying an untraceable ghost gun when he was captured at a McDonalds in Altoona, about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh.

On Wednesday, cops said the gun Mangione was carrying matched shell casings found at the scene of Thompsons murder.
Retail sites like Amazon are taking action against Luigi Mangione-inspired merchandise.

eBay prohibits items that glorify violence, but it doesn't ban the phrase "Deny. Defend. Depose."

Mangione has emerged as a folk hero of sorts in certain corners of the internet.

Retail platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay are slapping down merch listings that glorify Luigi Mangione  the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

In the wake of Thompson's murder, some people on social media were unsympathetic, given their grievances with the American healthcare system. And after Mangione was arrested, he emerged as something of a folk hero  and heartthrob  in certain corners of the internet.

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That sentiment soon made its way into the merch space. On Etsy, products were being offered with Mangione's likeness and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," BI sister site Morning Brew reported.

Luigi Mangione-related shirts have popped up for sale on eBay. Screengrab

Those words were etched onto bullet shell casings found at the scene of the killing, police said  and are similar to a 2010 book scrutinizing the insurance industry titled "Delay Deny Defend."

Many of the Mangione-themed items offered for sale came from drop shippers, Morning Brew reported  or sellers who print products on-demand after they're ordered. Some of the items included cups, sweatshirts, and hats, The Washington Post said.

Morning Brew reported that similar items were for sale on sites like RedBubble and TikTok Shop, while Amazon and Etsy were taking down many listings that referenced Mangione or the shooting.

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An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider that the products in question were removed because they violated Amazon's rules against offensive and controversial items.

A "Free Luigi" shirt is among the Luigi Mangione-themed items popping up on Etsy. Screengrab

An eBay spokesperson told BI that items that "glorify or incite violence" are prohibited from its marketplace. That includes items that celebrate the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, the eBay spokesperson said. The company doesn't prohibit the sale of items with the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," the spokesperson said.

It appeared some of the platforms were playing a game of cat and mouse with sellers  with various listings still live as of Wednesday.

The eBay spokesperson said the company is "continuing to sweep the marketplace for other prohibited items," including one listing that was still live as of Wednesday  which the spokesperson said was being removed because it featured an image of a gun.

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A Redbubble spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement that its "strict community guidelines prohibit, among other things, the glorification or promotion of violence, while still allowing legitimate discussion of current events."

Every design includes a reporting function so that potential violations can be flagged by the community, the spokesperson added.

Etsy and TikTok Shop didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from BI.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Originally appeared on E! Online

Luigi Mangione's lawyer is standing by his client's right to due process.

After the 26-year-old was charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City Dec. 5, his Pennsylvania attorney Thomas Dickey shared more insight into his case. Mangionewho was arrested in Pennsylvania Dec. 9 on felony charges of forgery and carrying a firearm without a licenseis expected to plead not guilty in both states, according to his lawyer.

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"I haven't seen any evidence that he's the shooter," Dickey told reporters Dec. 10 after Mangione's appearance in a Pennsylvania courtroom. "Remember, and this is not just a small thing: A fundamental concert of American justice is a presumption of innocence until you're proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And I've seen zero evidence at this point."

As Mangione is facing murder charges in New York state and not in Pennsylvania, the attorney believes he shouldn't have been denied bail. Dickey said that in the state, bail can be denied in capital cases or when someone is charged with first-degree murder that involves life without parole.

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"I believe bail should've been set," he explained. "The judge could set a $1 million bail, it could be a $5 million bail, but you get bail. Anytime you look at the criminal justice system, pretend you're that one in that spotlight. You're going to want to be out."

Dickey also confirmed that Mangione is fighting his extradition to New York. Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she would sign a warrant for the Maryland native's extradition to New York.

"I am coordinating with the District Attorney's Office and will sign a request for a governor's warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable," she shared in a statement per NBC New York. "Public safety is my top priority and I'll do everything in my power to keep the streets of New York safe."

Pennsylvania State Police/UPI/Shutterstock

The University of Pennsylvania alum's motives have puzzled authorities as they piece together the events that led up to the fatal shooting of Thompson outside of a New York City hotel Dec. 5. Friends of Mangione shed some light on his life, including the debilitating effects of a painful back injury.

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"His spine was kind of misaligned," R.J. Martin, the founder of the Hawaii co-living space that Mangione resided at in 2022, told the New York Times in an interview published Dec. 9. "He said his lower vertebrae were almost like a half-inch off, and I think it pinched a nerve."

It was a pain that ultimately affected his social life, with Martin adding that Mangione, who left Hawaii in 2023, "knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn't possible."

Altoona Police Department via Getty Images

Meanwhile, his loved ones issued their own statement, emphasizing that they are "devastated by this news."

"Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione," Maryland State Delegate Nino Mangione, who is related to Magnione, shared on X on behalf of his family Dec. 9. "We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved."

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Now, read on for a full breakdown of the ongoing investigation.

Who is Brian Thompson?

Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. He first joined the company in 2004 and held several positions before taking on the role of CEO in 2021.



Prior to working at UnitedHealthcare, Thompson was employed at PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in business administration as an accounting major in May 1997, the school's public relations manager Steve Schmadeke told NBC News.



Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, was married to Paulette Thompsonthough according to public records viewed by E! News, they had been living in separate homesand was the father of two sons.



He was shot and killed in New York on Dec. 4, 2024. Thompson was 50 years old.





How did Brian Thompson die?

Patrol officers from the New York City Police Departments Midtown North Precinct responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2024 regarding a person who was shot in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said in a media briefing later that morning.



Kenny noted officers arrived at the scene at 6:48 a.m. and found gunshot wounds on Thompsons back and leg. The chief detective said Emergency Medical Services transported Thompson several blocks to Mount Sinai West, where the CEO was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.



The victim was in New York City to speak at an investor conference," NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said during the media briefing. "It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes. And as the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf. Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.



Tisch said the shooting appeared to be a pre-meditated, pre-planned, targeted attack and not a random act of violence.



The full investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department are well underway, she noted, and we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case.

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What do investigators know about the shooting of Brian Thompson so far?

According to Kenny, the shooter headed to the New York Hilton Midtown on foot and arrived outside the hotel five minutes before Thompsons arrival.



In a video, Kenny continued, Thompson was seen walking alone towards the Hilton at 6:44 a.m. after exiting his separate, nearby hotel apparently for a UnitedHealth Group investors conference that was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. that day.



The chief detective added the shooterwho ignored "numerous other pedestrians"approached Thompson from behind, shot him, walked towards him and continued shooting.



Kenny said the gunman then fled on foot before getting on an ebike, and the shooter was seen riding into Central Park at Center Drive at 6:48 a.m.



Kenny said three live nine-millimeter rounds and three discharged shell casings were recovered during the investigation. During a Dec. 6 press briefing, Kenny said the words depose, delay and deny were written on the shell casing in marker.



However, hes noted the motive for the killing has yet to be confirmed.





What have investigators revealed about the gunmans timeline?

During the Dec. 6 press briefing, Kenny said investigators have footage of the shooter arriving at Port Authority in New York the night of Nov. 24.



We believe that that bus originated in Atlanta, Kenny continued. It has several stops along the way, so were not sure where he got on the bus.



After the shooter arrived at Port Authority, Kenny continued, the gunman took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton hotel, where he was for about half an hour before traveling by cab to an Upper West Side hostel.



On the morning of the shooting, Kenny added, the gunman left the hostel at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at the Hilton hotel at 5:41 a.m. Kenny said the gunman continued to walk in the vicinity of the hotel before then going to a nearby Starbucks, where he purchased a bottled water and a snack. He then returned to the hotel, and the shooting occurred at 6:44 a.m.



Immediately after, the gunman fled the scene. Kenny said the shooter was seen entering Central Park at 60th St. and Center Drive at 6:48 a.m. and exiting the park through W. 77th St. and Central Park West at 6:56 a.m. At 7:00 a.m., Kenny added, the gunman was spotted on W. 86th St without the bike. And four minutes later, the chief detective continued, the shooter got in a cab at 86th St. and Amsterdam Avenue. Kenny said the gunman was then seen in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge at 7:30 a.m.



Kenny told CNN on Dec. 6 investigators thought the shooter left NYC after he was seen at Port Authority.





Who were investigators looking for?

During the Dec. 4 briefing, Kenny said the shooter appeared to be a "light-skin male" who wore "a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a very distinctive gray backpack."



Over the next few days, the NYPD released a series of photos of the individual they were looking for with the person's face was covered with a mask in many of the pictures.



A senior law enforcement official told NBC News Dec. 5 the photos with the lowered face mask came from surveillance video at an Upper West Side hostel, and two separate law enforcement officials noted to the outlet investigators were trying to determine if the individual used a fake ID and cash for a hostel room.



As for what led the individual to lower the face mask?



"Apparently, there was an interaction while he was checking in, making casual conversation," Kenny said at the Dec. 6 briefing. "At some point, he pulled his mask down and smiled at the clerk."



Kenny has also said a cellphone was found in an alley where the shooter fled before heading to the ebike, but it's unclear if it belonged to the gunman. Two law enforcement sources told NBC News a backpack was also found in Central Park.



Kenny said investigators are "looking at everything"including Thompson's social media and interviews with employees and familythat could help the case. They're also working with Minnesota and Atlanta law enforcement.





Why was Luigi Mangione arrested?

Pennsylvanias Altoona Police Department arrested Luigi Mangione on firearm charges Dec. 9. According to a criminal docket obtained by NBC News, these include two felony chargesone of forgery and one of firearms not to be carried without a licenseas well as three misdemeanors: tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and providing false identification to law enforcement.



NYPD commissioner Tisch said a McDonalds employee recognized Mangione and that the Altoona police were then called. When asked if he had been to New York recently, Mangione "became quiet and started to shake," police said per NBC News.



Tisch also called Mangione a "person of interest" in Thompson's murder and spoke about the efforts to find him, with her thanking law enforcement partners and the public.



"For just over five days, our NYPD investigators combed through thousands of hours of video, followed up on hundreds of tips, and processed every bit of forensic evidence: DNA, finger prints, IP addresses and so much more to tighten the net," she said. "We deployed drones, canine units, and scuba divers. We leveraged the domain awareness system, Argus cameras and conducted aviation canvases, and our detectives also went door to door interviewing potential witnesses and doing the good old fashioned police work that our investigators are famous for. This combination of old school detective work and new age technology is what led to this result today."

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What did police find on Luigi Mangione?

In addition to "acting suspiciously," Tisch added, Mangione was "carrying multiple fraudulent IDs as well as a U.S. passport."



Upon further investigation, officers recovered a firearm on his person as well as a suppressor, both consistent with the weapon used in the murder," she continued in the Dec. 9 briefing, per a video shared by NBC News. "They also recovered clothing, including a mask consistent with those worn by our wanted individual."



Tisch added officers also recovered a fraudulent New Jersey ID that matched the one the individual used to check into the New York hostel prior to the shooting.



"Additionally, she continued, officers recovered a hand-written document that speaks to both his motivation and mindset.





What other charges is Luigi Mangione facing?

On Dec. 9, Manhattan prosecutors filed a murder charge against Mangione, according to court documents obtained by NBC News. The 26-year-old is also facing three counts of criminal possession of a weapon (two in the second-degree for loaded firearm and one in the third degree such as for a silencer) and one count of possessing a forged instrument.



He has yet to enter a plea for any charges.









What did Luigi Mangione state in his writings?

According to NBC News, citing the NYPD, Mangione had three pages of writings on him that totaled less than 300 words when he was taken into custody. Three senior law enforcement officials told the outlet these writings read, in part, "Frankly these parasites had it coming."



In the writings, the officials continued, Mangione said he acted alone. However, the officials told NBC News they haven't ruled out other actors at this time.



To the Feds, Ill keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country," Mangione's writings read, officials told NBC News. "To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasnt working with anyone.



Officials said Mangione also added, "I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done.



However, Tisch noted Mangione's motive has yet to be confirmed.



"I think when we look at the manifesto, or that three-page written document that was recovered, you see anti-corporatist sentiment, a lot of issues with the healthcare industry," she said in a Dec. 10 Today interview. "But as to particular specific motive, that will come out as this investigation continues to unfold over the next weeks and months."





Has Luigi Mangione appeared in court?

Mangione attended a hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania on Dec. 10. As he arrived, NBC News reported, he yelled out to families, "Its completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people."



Per the outlet, Mangione did not waive extradition to New York and was denied bail. As a result, he will remain in Pennsylvania's SCI Huntingdon prison.



His lawyer Thomas Dickey told reporters that Mangione will plead not guilty in Pennsylvania and will likely do the same in New York.



"I havent seen any evidence that says hes the shooter, he said, per NBC News. Remember, and this is not just a small thing: A fundamental concept of American justice is the presumption of innocence, and until youre proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

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Who is Luigi Mangione?

Mangione is a suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson and is facing several other charges in both Pennsylvania and New York, including forgery and criminal possession of a weapon.



He's an Ivy League graduate, having received a Bachelor of Science in engineering in 2020 and a Masters of Science in engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, the school confirmed to NBC News.



NYPD Chief of Detectives Kenny shared additional details on Mangione's upbringing, saying he was born and raised in Maryland. His most recent address is listed as Honolulu but he also has connections to San Francisco, Kenny told NBC News.



After Mangione's arrest, his family released a statement on X.



"Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione," they said in the Dec. 9 post. "We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news."





What has Brian Thompsons family said about his death?

After learning of the shooting, Thompsons family mourned his passing.



We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian, a family statement obtained by NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis on Dec. 5 read. Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed. We appreciate your condolences and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.



Thompsons wife Paulette also recalled how her husband had received threats prior to his death.



"Yes, there had been some threats," she told NBC News Dec. 5. "Basically, I dont know, a lack of coverage? I dont know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him."





What has UnitedHealth Group said about Brian Thompsons death?

UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, also expressed how it was "deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend" Thompson, flying its flags at half-mast at corporate headquarters in Minnesota.



"Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," a Dec. 4 statement from the organization read. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brians family and all who were close to him.



And while the company noted "our hearts are broken," it shared in a Dec. 5 statement that it has also "been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place."



"So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out," the message read. "We are thankful, even as we grieve. Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brians family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care. We ask that everyone respect the familys privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend."





However, there's also been public criticism about UnitedHealthcare, Thompson and America's healthcare system overall.



This has included online conversations about insurance companies' claim denial rates as well as a look at accusations against Thompson.



For instance, in a class-action lawsuit filed by the City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund in May 2024 and obtained by NBC News, Thompson was accused of selling more than $15 million of his personal UnitedHealth shares after allegedly learning of an investigation of the company by the U.S. Department of Justice before the public did. When asked about the trades allegedly made by Thompson and other executives, a UnitedHealth spokesperson told Bloomberg in April 2024 "these directors and officers followed our protocols and received approval from the company."



The lawsuit, per the BBC, remains active.



And while a motive for the shooting hasn't been revealed, many outlets have noted the words depose, delay and deny on the shell casings are similar to the title of the 2010 book Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.



Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro slammed "deeply disturbing" online reactions to the killing: "In America," he said at a Dec. 9 press conference, per NBC News' video, "we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint."



(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family).

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WARSAW, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a law on Tuesday that will freeze electricity prices for households at 500 Polish zlotys (approximately 123.6 U.S. dollars) per megawatt-hour (MWh) until the end of September 2025, according to a statement from the president's office.

Under the new law, local government units and certain sensitive entities will also benefit from a capped electricity price of 693 Polish zlotys per MWh until the end of March 2025. This measure is expected to cost an additional 150 million Polish zlotys.

The law also requires electricity sellers to submit tariff adjustment applications to the president of the Energy Regulatory Office by April 30, 2025. The government estimates that the total cost of protecting households' electricity prices until Sept. 30, 2025, will amount to 3.732 billion Polish zlotys. (1 Polish zloty = 0.25 U.S. dollar) 
NEW YORK (AP)  Two luxury real estate brokers and their brother have been charged with luring, drugging and violently raping dozens of women over more than a decade, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday in Manhattan.

State charges were also filed Wednesday in Florida against two of the brothers and a third man stemming from three alleged sexual assaults.

Federal prosecutors allege in the New York indictment that Oren and Tal Alexander, known for brokering deals on high-end properties in New York City and Miami, and sibling Alon Alexander used their wealth and influence to take advantage of women from at least 2010 to 2021.

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The brothers, who all reside in Miami, used deception, fraud, and coercion to entice victims to travel with them or attend parties or events, often covering flights, hotels and other expenses, according to the indictment. They also at times used the promise of a romantic relationship, it said.

The women were then drugged and raped by one or more of the brothers, as well as other men, before being sent away with concert tickets and other luxuries.

This conduct was heinous, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said at a news conference in Manhattan.

The brothers typically met their victims on dating apps, through social events and at bars and nightclubs, but they also used party promoters to source women, according to Williams.

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He added that the women were often provided drugs, including cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and GHB. The brothers even surreptitiously drugged some of the womens drinks, leaving them physically impaired and unable to fight back or escape from the sexual assaults, prosecutors said in their indictment.

"In some instances, the defendants physically restrained and held down their victims during the rapes and sexual assaults and ignored screams and explicit requests to stop,'' the indictment said.

In the Florida cases, state prosecutors described one incident in December 2016 as a gang rape of a woman who said she was invited to a barbecue at Alon Alexanders Miami Beach apartment only to discover no one there, save Alon, his brother Oren and another relative, Ohad Fisherman, who remains at large.

The woman, who is not named, said she was led into a bedroom where Fisherman held her down and the brothers argued over who would rape her first as she pleaded with them not to assault her, according to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

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The second incident, in October 2017, involved a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by Oren Alexander at his apartment after drinking a glass of wine that left her feeling weak and unable to control her body, according to prosecutors.

They said the third incident happened in October 2021 and involved a woman who said she was assaulted by Oren Alexander after going back to his residence with friends following dinner.

Williams, the U.S. Attorney in New York, said the three brothers were arrested in Florida on Wednesday and will appear in Miami federal court before being brought to New York.

He declined to say if others also will be charged but urged any other possible victims to come forward.

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Meanwhile lawyers for the brothers denied the charges, which include one count of engaging in a sex trafficking conspiracy for each sibling.

Oren Alexander is innocent, attorney Susan Necheles wrote in an email. The evidence will show that neither he nor his brothers ever committed a crime.

My client will be entering a not guilty plea and dealing with these charges in the appropriate forum .. .the courtroom, responded Isabelle Kirshner, a lawyer for Alon Alexander.

Joel Denaro, a lawyer for Tal Alexander, declined to comment.

The elder brother appeared in Miami federal court Wednesday and will have a detention hearing Friday as prosecutors argue hes a danger to the community and a flight risk. The two other brothers are in state custody and are expected to appear in court Thursday.

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Representatives for a number of women who filed lawsuits earlier this year claiming they were violently raped by the brothers welcomed the charges.

We are glad to hear that there will finally be some measure of accountability for the Alexander brothers and justice for their many victims, lawyer David Gottlieb wrote on X, formerly Twitter. We applaud all the survivors who have had the strength and courage to speak up about their unimaginable experiences after years of pain and suffering.

Tal Alexander, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, first worked as a team under real estate giant Douglas Elliman, listing properties for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Liam Gallagher, and Lindsay Lohan. In 2022, they started a new company called Official.

Alon Alexander, who is Oren's twin brother, attended law school and joined the family's private security business.

__

Associated Press reporter Michael Schneider in Orlando, Florida, contributed to this story.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.
French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly considering a potential European peacekeeping mission in Ukraine as a safeguard against renewed Russian aggression. He plans to consult with Poland, which he views as a key ally for such an initiative.

Source: European Pravda, citing Rzeczpospolita, a Polish news outlet

Details: The proposal involves deploying peacekeeping forces from European countries. If an agreement to end the current phase of the war between Russia and Ukraine is reached, these forces could serve as a deterrent against a new Russian attack. Such an agreement is expected to be initiated by the newly elected US president.

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According to the report, discussions on this potential mission will be a central topic during Macron's visit to Warsaw on 12 December. It is also likely that Macron broached the idea with US President-elect Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting last Saturday, as numerous leaders gathered for the reopening of the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Journalists speculate that Macron also discussed this proposal in his one-on-one meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in mid-November and his discussions with representatives from Northern European and Baltic countries on 27 November.

An expert from the Paris-based think tank IFRI, Elie Tenenbaum, provided comments for the article regarding the hypothetical design of such a peacekeeping mission. They think that the project would require a force of up to five brigades (around 40,000 personnel), with Poland potentially taking command of one brigade due to its military capabilities and strategic location.

Camille Grand, former Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO, commented that if a peacekeeping mission were to be implemented, it would be most effective with participation from as many countries as possible, enhancing its deterrent impact. However, he emphasised the importance of at least symbolic US involvement in the initiative. Grand speculated that the Netherlands would likely participate, and after a change in leadership, Germany might also join.

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Background:

Earlier reports from Polish media about Macrons planned visit suggested it was tied to his discussions with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump the previous weekend.

The meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday, 7 December, lasted 35 minutes.

Following the talks, Zelenskyy reiterated his demand for "effective guarantees" to secure peace.

The US president-elect said he was "formulating a concept" for implementing his plan to end the war quickly.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an end to the violent persecution of demonstrators in Georgia.

Macron spoke on the phone on Wednesday to the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is considered the de facto leader of the country.

The French president condemned the intimidation of representatives of civil society and the opposition in Georgia and called for the release of all those who had been detained.

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Since the end of November, thousands of people have been demonstrating in the Georgian capital Tbilisi every evening after the Georgian Dream government effectively put the country's EU accession on hold.

Several of these demonstrations have been broken up violently and hundreds of protesters have been arrested.

In a statement released after the phone call, Macron said he regretted that Georgia had "deviated from its European course" and called for dialogue between all the political forces in the country.

The Georgian Dream party posted on Facebook that Macron had expressed concern and a desire to contribute to a solution.

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It said Ivanishvili had thanked the French president for his initiative and informed him that Georgian police maintain higher standards than EU states when dealing with demonstrators.

Macron invited the pro-European Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris at the weekend.
Donald Trump has had plenty of time to come up with an explanation for why he wants to fire FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom he appointed to the job under scandalous circumstances seven years ago. So far, the president-elect hasnt come up with much.

He nevertheless wants a manifestly unqualified Republican operative named Kash Patel to become the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation  and by all appearances, GOP senators appear prepared to go along with the idea, ignoring Democrats concerns about, among other things, Patels literal enemies list.

But itd be a mistake to assume that the argument about Patels future falls neatly along partisan and ideological lines. It does not. In fact, some former Trump administration officials have stepped up with unambiguous condemnations of their own.

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The Wall Street Journal, for example, published an op-ed this week from John Bolton, who served as Donald Trumps White House national security adviser, under a headline that read, Kash Patel Doesnt Belong at the FBI.

Bolton, who worked directly with Patel during his tenure, argued that the prospective FBI leader placed obedience to Mr. Trump above other, higher considerations  most important, loyalty to the Constitution.

To resolve questions over his integrity and fitness, a full-field FBI investigation, as prior nominees have undergone, is warranted. With more facts available and less rhetoric, the result will be clear. I regret I didnt fully discern Mr. Patels threat immediately. But we are now all fairly warned. Senators wont escape historys judgment if they vote to confirm him.

If Bolton were alone, his concerns might be easier to put aside, but hes not.

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Charles Kupperman, Patels supervisor in the first Trump administration, also told The Wall Street Journal, in reference to the prospective FBI chief, Hes absolutely unqualified for this job. Hes untrustworthy. ... Its an absolute disgrace to American citizens to even consider an individual of this nature.

Former Attorney General William Barr, meanwhile, wrote in his memoir that Trump had considered making Patel the deputy director of the FBI in his first term, though Barr said he told the White House that would happen over my dead body.

In his book, Barr added that Patel had virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the worlds preeminent law enforcement agency. The very idea of moving Patel into a role like this showed a shocking detachment from reality.

Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper has also raised concerns about the likelihood of Patel politicizing federal law enforcement.

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As Boltons op-ed added, Olivia Troye, who served as counterterrorism adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, accused Patel of making things up on operations.

To be sure, Patel has pushed back against his critics, and his lawyer sent a threatening letter to Troye about her accusations.

The bottom line, however, remains the same: There are some prominent voices from the Trump administration, including some who worked with Patel directly, raising some serious red flags about his upcoming nomination to lead the FBI  which seems like the sort of thing that senators should take seriously.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
When the closely divided U.S. House takes up important legislation, unanimous votes are practically impossible. If a bill carries real consequences, someone in the chamber is bound to have a problem with it for one reason or another.

But in January, when House GOP leaders agreed to bring the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act  or PRESS Act  to the floor, it passed without objection. Any one member from the left, right or center couldve balked, but no one did.

Thats probably because the legislation appeared to be one of the years least controversial bills. The basic idea behind the effort was straightforward: Early on in Attorney General Merrick Garlands tenure, he created a policy that prohibited federal prosecutors from going after reporters private information or forcing them to testify about their confidential sources.

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The PRESS Act would simply codify the existing policy into federal law, creating a permanent shield law for media professionals.

The legislation was written by a Democrat and a Republican, and it enjoyed equal numbers of Democratic and Republican co-sponsors in the House. For those who assumed that bipartisan policymaking was simply impossible in 2024, especially in the lower chamber, this one bill offered at least some evidence to the contrary.

That is, until this week. The Hill reported:

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) blocked a federal shield law that would protect journalists from revealing their sources and material to the government. In the Senate on Tuesday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act, known as the PRESS Act, and Cotton objected.

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By way of an explanation, the Arkansas Republican told his colleagues on the Senate floor, The liberal media doesnt deserve more protections.

The argument was so absurd that it seems implausible that Cotton actually believed it.

When I talked to my MSNBC colleague Lisa Rubin about the measure, she commented, The irony of Sen. Cottons response yesterday is that the most prominent recent examples of alleged investigative or prosecutorial overreach against the media involve journalists who are not known to be liberals.

Indeed, whether Cotton appreciates this or not, the PRESS Act is not merely a progressive endeavor. Tucker Carlson, for example, has been as eager to tout the bill as anyone on the left.

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Whats more, in the Senate, the bill has three co-sponsors  two of whom are Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

While were at it, lets not forget that this is an idea with a lengthy Republican pedigree: As far back as 2005, then-Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana  more than a decade before he became vice president  championed similar legislation after reporter Judith Miller was jailed as part of the investigation into who revealed Valerie Plames identity.

But if Cottons official explanation is simply too foolish to take seriously, why did the Arkansan derail the PRESS Act? It might very well be because Donald Trump told him to.

In fact, it was just a couple of weeks ago when the Republican president-elect issued an online edict that said GOP senators MUST KILL the legislation.

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As we discussed soon after, it wasnt altogether clear why. One possible explanation was that Trump did a detailed and thoughtful analysis of the bill and had concerns about how the policy would be implemented. The far more likely explanation was that Trump saw a headline about protections for journalists, remembered that he hates the free press, and responded reflexively without doing any research or even taking the time to understand the bill at its most basic level.

Either way, the incoming president called for the demise of the bipartisan measure  and Cotton played his part, support for the bill from the right notwithstanding.

Its still possible that the Senate will be able to reconsider the legislation before the lame-duck session ends, but given the limited number of days remaining, and the outgoing Senate Democratic majoritys to-do list, Cotton (and Trump) will likely succeed in killing one of the years most bipartisan bills.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays edition of quick hits.

* Another controversial ruling from a Trump-appointed judge: A federal judge in North Dakota blocked a Biden administration rule that allowed DACA recipients to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Dan Traynor sided with a group of 19 Republican state attorneys general who filed a lawsuit in August to prevent the rule from taking effect, saying it violates a law that prohibits giving public benefits to people without legal immigration status.

* Another closely watched case: New York Attorney General Letitia James has rejected Donald Trumps request to walk away from her offices $486 million civil fraud judgment against the president-elect.

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* Bashar al-Assads whereabouts: Russia is providing sanctuary to Bashar al-Assad, having transported the former Syrian leader there in the most secure way possible after the swift collapse of his regime, Russias deputy foreign minister told NBC News in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

* In related news: The Biden administration said Tuesday it will recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the U.S. would work with groups in Syria and regional partners to ensure that the transition from President Bashar Assads deposed government runs smoothly.

* Gut-wrenching bloodshed in Haiti: "More than 180 people were killed in a massacre over the weekend in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Haitis capital, the United Nations human rights chief said on Monday. A leading Haitian human rights group described the killings as the personal vendetta of a gang boss who had been told that witchcraft caused his sons fatal illness."

* From the Hill: The House task force that investigated the assassination attempts against Donald Trump published its final report on Tuesday, making dozens of recommendations including that the Secret Service should record all radio transmissions and scale back protection of foreign leaders to focus on protecting the president and other top U.S. officials.

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* Inspector General Michael Horowitzs latest findings: Seeking to investigate leaks of classified information, the Trump Justice Department in 2017 and 2018 secretly obtained phone and text message logs of 43 congressional staffers and two members of Congress in a far broader probe than previously known, according to a new report by the departments internal watchdog.

* Blocking a big merger: A U.S. District Judge in Oregon has blocked a $25 billion-bid by supermarket giant Kroger to take over rival Albertsons after ruling that the Federal Trade Commissions concerns about the mergers impact on market consolidation were valid. Judge Adrienne Nelson said Tuesday afternoon that a merger between the two companies would end up harming consumers.

* The latest in a series of concerns related to the senators health: Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 82, is recovering from minor injuries after falling following Senate Republicans weekly lunch on Tuesday, his office said. ... On his way to the Senate floor later Tuesday, McConnell told reporters he is feeling good. He had a bandage under his left eye, and a bandage on his left wrist.

See you tomorrow.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The fact that Donald Trump had yet another meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban this week was not at all surprising. The Republican has spent an outrageous amount of time publicly celebrating the foreign leader, having private conversations with the Hungarian, and even welcoming Orban to Mar-a-Lago. The more the prime ministers authoritarian takeover of his country generated international outrage, the more Trump extended over-the-top support to the prime minister.

But part of what made the latest meeting notable was one of the discussions unelected participants. The Washington Post reported:

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with President-elect Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk and Trumps pick for national security adviser, Michael Waltz, at Mar-a-Lago on Monday, the European leader announced on social media platform X.

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There was no obvious reason for the conspiratorial billionaire to join that conversation, but in the post-election season, its been surprisingly common.

When Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November, Musk joined the phone call.

When Trump traveled to Paris for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral and spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron, Musk was there.

When Trump spoke to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Musk was there, too.

Over the weekend, former White House national security adviser John Bolton, who served at Trumps side in 2018 and 2019, said during a CNN interview, You know, its almost like Musk has become vice president.

Pointing to the event in France, Bolton added, I dont know where JD Vance is on this trip, but Elon Musk, to this point, remains a private citizen and he has no governmental authority. ... Lets keep that in mind.

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Whats more, its worth emphasizing that after the president-elects inauguration, Musk still wont have any statutory governmental authority: The billionaire will have a leadership role on an advisory panel called the Department of Governmental Efficiency, or DOGE, but that will empower him to do little more than issue strongly worded memos.

That said, Musk continues to have financial interests around the globe, which helps explain his international interactions with foreign leaders. Why Trump is helping facilitate those discussions is something the Republican has not yet explained.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A Madison County man who served time for killing his newborn was arrested on Tuesday for aggravated child abuse, according to jail records.

Madison County Jail records show Zackary Austin Harbin was arrested on Dec. 10 for aggravated child abuse and violation of probation.

On July 5, 2016, Madison County Sheriff Blake Dorning announced Harbin and Madison Lynn Eagan were arrested on domestic violence charges after deputies responded to Womens and Childrens Hospital in Huntsville to investigate suspicious injuries of a 19-day-old. The injuries consisted of suspicious bruising and possible head trauma.

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The infant was transported to Birmingham Childrens Hospital for treatment, Dorning said, but died as a result of the injuries on July 15, 2016.

On July 18, 2016, Investigators from the Madison County Sheriffs Office obtained warrants for Harbin and Eagan for capital murder, causing the death of a child less than 14 years of age.

Court documents show Harbin pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter on April 26, 2019. He was sentenced to 20 years, split to serve five in prison.

He served just over two years in the Alabama Department of Corrections before he was released on probation on July 21, 2021.

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He is currently being held in the Madison County Jail without bond pending an Aniahs Law hearing.

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MADISON, Ala. (WHNT)  A Madison woman with 33 years of active duty in the army is encouraging veterans to keep a check on their mental health.

Angel Clark completed tours domestically and across the world.

One deadly crash is too many: Cullman County agencies hold news conference about increase of traffic accidents, deaths

I did three tours in Korea, three tours in Germany I deployed to Desert Storm, which included Saudi and Iraq also deployed to Egypt, in Romania and Bulgaria, Clark said.

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Over the course of her career, Clark rose to the Command Sergeant Major rank, seeing so much good, and bad, along the way.

A lot of times people dont think as many females have PTSD as many males is. But like I said, when youre in combat in a combat zone, the enemy doesnt decipher whos the male and whos the female, Clark said.

Other enemies, however, hid in plain sight.

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I think everybody, every female at some point probably experience some type of sexual harassment, Clark said.

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Clark said shes proud of her three decade-long loyal service, despite the challenges she faced. Now that shes on the other side of it all, she said women still arent always treated the same as their male counterparts.

Ive even been at the VA when they come through there and Ill say thank you for your service and theyll skip the female. And I have to say, excuse me, I was in too because sometimes theyll assume you must be with a male that is there.

All of those experiences made her feel as if she had to be invincible, never showing weakness.

I used to always tell myself that you got to hold it together because you dont want anybody to see you fall apart, and them to confuse it with just because youre a female versus youre a leader that cares about your soldiers, Clark said.

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Now that shes sought help to keep her mental health in check, Clark said she wants to encourage anyone feeling like she did, to do the same.

Dont worry about the stereotypes. And if you are just some help and keep it to yourself as long as you need to, Clark said.

The hardest thing is recognizing and/or acknowledging that you need help, getting the help you need and then continuing the follow-up care.

If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, you can visit the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website. You can also call or text 988 anytime to connect with a mental health professional.

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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 pressure campaign from allies of Donald Trump toward Senate Republican skeptics of some of his Cabinet picks appears to be starting to pay off in a sign of the president-elect's anticipated sway once he enters the Oval Office next month.

Some GOP senators, such Joni Ernst of Iowa and South Carolina's Lindsey Graham, who had been dubious about how they'd vote on Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News host and Trump's pick for Pentagon chief, are sounding more optimistic on getting to "yes," even if they're not quite there yet.

And broader furor around other controversial nominees, including former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, and Kash Patel to lead the FBI has drawn fewer headlines as the picks meet with senators, though all three are still expected to face tight confirmation processes.

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The shifts have come after Trump allies in Washington and in the news media underscored the importance of the president-elect getting his preferred administration in place and shone a glaring spotlight on potential holdouts, making clear that nothing short of their political survival was at stake.

"A month ago, they had running room and courage to oppose Hegseth. They've run out of runway and any courage now is false because the MAGA base is onto them and will make them pay," said one source close to the transition, referencing Trump's "Make America Great Again" mantra.

MORE: Pete Hegseth, Trump's embattled Pentagon pick, appears to be gaining GOP support

After it appeared that Hegseth's nomination was on life support, the pressure campaign kicked into high gear.

PHOTO:Pete Hegseth gives a thumbs-up as he walks with his wife Jennifer Rauchet to meet with Sen. Joni Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Dec. 9, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Trump himself has been more vocal recently about Hegseth, saying on NBC's "Meet the Press" over the weekend that "we'll be working on his nomination" and "I've had a lot of senators calling me up saying he's fantastic." Trump's transition also released what essentially amounted to a hype video Tuesday, touting some senators' glowing remarks about Hegseth.

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A conservative group with ties to Elon Musk, the world's richest man who has carved out a powerful role inside Trump's orbit, is also spending $500,000 on a new ad pushing the Senate to confirm Hegseth. The ads push viewers to "call your senator today and urge them to confirm Pete Hegseth" and are airing nationally -- but also targeting digital platforms in Ernst's home state of Iowa.

Those moves, compounded by electoral threats from Trump online media allies like Steve Bannon and Dan Bongino, seem to have moved the needle, even as Hegseth continues to bat away allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct from former colleagues and one woman who claims he raped her.

After predicting there would be "a very thorough vetting before [Hegseth] moves forward," Ernst said after an "encouraging" meeting Monday, "As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources."

Graham, who had cast the claims against Hegseth as serious, also said Monday that he had "a very positive, thorough and candid meeting with Hegseth and echoed that accusations should be "supported by testimony before Congress -- not anonymous sources."

PHOTO: Committee ranking member Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks during a hearing of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Capitol Hill, Dec. 10, 2024, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

The movement indicates the immense power Trump and his allies hold, and how influential they could be with the party's base. And the political graveyard is packed with the careers of Republican lawmakers who defied Trump, only to lose office in a primary.

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"We will use every resource at our disposal to make sure that every one of Trump's nominees and Cabinet picks are confirmed. And if that does not happen, the ultimate recourse will be at the ballot box for those elected officials who choose to not vote for them," said a second source close to the transition. "That includes Pete, that includes Bobby, that includes Kash, includes everybody."

"We've been very clear. And the president has made calls to various U.S. senators for some of his nominees. The president's been very clear of what he wants. Elon Musk has been very clear," the person added. "When you're the world's richest man, and you have $350 billion, that makes politicians quake."

To be sure, Hegseth himself has also been putting in the work to get confirmed. He's continued to deny the allegations against him, held a blitz of meetings with senators, and Ernst said he committed to appointing a senior official who would tackle the issue of sexual assault within the military.

But the role of Trump's allies can't be dismissed.

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The pressure campaign is coming ahead of a new Congress in which Republicans will hold a 53-47 Senate majority, meaning any Cabinet pick cannot afford to lose more than three GOP votes if Democrats vote unanimously in opposition.

Members of Congress are historically fervent in their defense of their role as an equal branch of government -- a role manifested in their "advice and consent" function regarding a president's Cabinet picks. Already, Senate opposition sunk the fortunes of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Trump's pick for attorney general who had been accused of sexual misconduct that he denied.

MORE: Mitch McConnell falls during Senate Republican lunch

Yet Trump has a unique hold on his base, and threats of primaries in cases of disloyalty may be a permanent fixture for lawmakers to prevent opposition to Cabinet picks to mushroom over the next several weeks -- and to enforce support over next four years.

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"I think that these senators are very susceptible to pressure because they've witnessed what's happened to members who are now former members who opposed the president. So, we're seeing a lot of members change their tune because they're worried and they don't ever be primaried out of office, and they don't want to have the president having some cross words for them," said Brian Darling, a GOP strategist and former Senate aide.

"Republicans may not appreciate it in the Senate, but it's a fact of life," he added.

Already, damage may have been done for Senate GOP critics, some Republicans warned.

PHOTO: In this Nov. 19, 2024, file photo, Senator Joni Ernst gives remarks during a press conference in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. (Aaron Schwartz/Sipa USA via Newscom, FILE)

Even if every Republican senator comes around on all of Trump's picks, the president-elect's supporters have long memories -- and the strain of populism that is one of the country's dominant political drivers has piqued anti-incumbent fervor.

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"Even her pushback has been noticed in Iowa," Bob Vander Plaats, an influential Christian conservative leader in Iowa, said of Ernst. "You've seen a lot of people push back on her because of it, and there's been some calls from primarily those outside of Iowa going, 'she probably should be primaried.' I haven't seen anything real of that measure in Iowa yet. But it's a primary rich environment today."

MAGA pressure on GOP senators over Trump Cabinet picks shows signs of paying off originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
MOSCOW, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Wednesday said Ukraine launched drone attacks on an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) vehicle, while Ukraine earlier pinned the blame on Russian forces.

One of the vehicles of an IAEA team heading to Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for a planned staff rotation was severely damaged in the attacks on Tuesday, with staff members unharmed, according to the United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi condemned the attack as "absolutely unacceptable."

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday Moscow strongly condemns "the provocative and reckless actions of the Kiev regime," which pose threats to nuclear facilities and human lives.

The ministry called on the United States, Britain and their allies to stop support for the Kiev regime and hold those responsible for the provocation accountable.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram Tuesday that "a Russian FPV drone attacked a convoy of the IAEA," adding that the deliberate attack demonstrated Moscow's disregard for international law and safety. 
A winter wonderland that has the possibility to be even more has landed on the real estate market in Redmond, Washington.

A vast property called Timber Creek is listed for $3 million and while it now looks like Santas workshop at the North Pole, it has the potential to be anyones dream come true  with the right touch.

Timber Creek, a over 9-acre gem, provides a rare blend of rustic charm and modern versatility, the listing on Compass says. The centerpiece 1936 log home features exquisite Canadian vertical log construction and a grand stone fireplace, perfect for gathering while the lower level offers a private suite.

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Other features include:

Jaw-dropping views

Wildlife

Privacy

Chicken coop

Horse space

Timber Creek home and holiday shop is for sale for $3 million in Redmond, Washington.

The listing also notes that a successful business is run on property grounds.

Whether you envision a peaceful retreat, a working farm, or a unique business opportunity, Timber Creek offers endless possibilities in an unbeatable location close to shopping, dining and top schools, the listing notes.

The property is held by Joshua Service.

The nine-acre property for sale in Washington state also offers hobby farm features, including a chicken coop and space for horses, and a business currently in operation.

Nine acres of land, a hobby farm, a main residence and a business is part of the winter wonderland for sale in Redmond, Washington.

Sleek mid-century home adjacent to 1930s site shrouded in mystery lists in California

Masters of Sex star Lizzy Caplan lists her dashing mid-century estate in CA. See it
This is a developing story.

As soon as the press got ahold of the name and identity of Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, those on our side of the internet (the gay side) were immediately inundated with Mangiones personal information and online activity, as well as unverified theories about his sexuality and an abundance of thirsty memes. It would be an understatement to say the details that have been firehosing from the internet since have been difficult to sort through.

On Dec. 9, police arrested 26-year-old Mangione at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania after an employee notified authorities that Mangione was in the restaurant. According to ABC 7 New York, he remains in custody in Pennsylvania after being charged with second-degree murder, in addition to three gun charges and a charge of possession of a forged instrument.

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The internet already had a voracious appetite for information on the shooter in the aftermath of what many are calling an assassination, which occurred five days prior in Midtown Manhattan early on the morning of December 4. Immediately following the killing, in contrast to those condemning the murder, many on social media aired frustration and anger toward UnitedHealthcare and the private healthcare industry in general. Though the alleged killer wore a mask and used what was, at the time, an unidentifiable weapon, the New York Police Department distributed surveillance images of the suspect  including one photo of him with his mask fully off and another of him in the back of a cab  leading to Mangiones arrest. And just a low-quality, obscured image was enough to spark adoration for his flirty smile and severe eyebrow shape, with many celebrating the suspected killer as something of a dashing, Robin Hood-like folk hero.

So you can imagine that when the internet found what appears to be Mangiones full social media history, complete with a GoodReads account, Twitter, LinkedIn, family history, and of course, shirtless photos, absolute chaos ensued in what may have been one of the most memorable days on the internet this year. Almost immediately, Free Luigi began trending on X and fancams started to roll in.

But the instant memeification of Mangione means that plenty of misinformation, conflicting analysis, and deceptive dupes have circulated as well. Were here to help cut through the noise in our area of expertise: gay people online stating claims as fact. Below, find a distillation of the information and claims about Mangione and more on how the gay internet has been reacting to his arrest.

What do we actually know about Luigi Mangione?

Per the New York Times, Mangione was the valedictorian at his all-boys private high school, the Gilman School in Baltimore. A spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that Mangione graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020 with both a bachelors and a masters degree, majoring in computer science with a minor in math.

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According to CBS News, Mangiones last known address was in Honolulu, Hawaii, which lines up with his X bio that lists his location as such. He reportedly lived in a co-living community called Surfbreak, but left in April 2022. A friend of Mangiones told CBS that Mangione had had a back injury that was worsened by surfing and hiking there.

According to The New York Times, when authorities took Mangione into custody, they found a three-page handwritten manifesto on his person. In it, Mangione claimed responsibility for the shooting and condemned companies that continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it. Mangione reportedly dealt with chronic back problems that affected his quality of life, for which, he said on Reddit, he had spinal fusion surgery in July 2023.

People online have connected Mangiones reported medical history to his disdain for the insurance industry, as well as the screenshots of what appear to be an X-ray of his spine on his Twitter banner. NBC New York reports that the manifesto also reads frankly these parasites had it coming, in reference to the healthcare industry and UnitedHealthcare specifically, as well as, I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done.

What are Luigi Mangiones beliefs?

Mangiones beliefs as an individual are not entirely clear. A look at the X profile that appears to belong to Mangione reveals recent reposts of figures like right-wing venture capitalist Peter Thiel, as well as warnings against caffeine addiction and critiques of Western capitalism. He also shared research about the future of agriculture and global food systems, appeared to be a fan of the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, and retweeted sentiment that seemed to decry, or at least nuance, wokeness as well as atheism. (In a 2021 post to X, Mangione seemed to identify as agnostic.)

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Before a Goodreads account that reportedly belonged to Mangione went private, screenshots from his account were circulated online, most notably his review of Industrial Society and Its Future by Theodore John Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber Manifesto. Newsweek posted a screenshot of the review in full, which reads, Its easy to quickly and thoughtless to write this off as the manifesto of a lunatic, in order to avoid facing some of the uncomfortable problems it identifies. He also called Kaczynski, who spent years bombing random people and killing three in the name of stopping technological advancement, an extreme political revolutionary.

Mangione also reviewed tons of books ranging from Harry Potter, to Dr. Seuss, to Barack Obamas memoir A Promised Land, and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The last quote he liked on GoodReads was from The Lorax: Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. Its not.

Mangione does not seem to identify with any particular political party, and in the manifesto he had on his person at the time of arrest, he claims that he was acting alone.

What are gay people saying about Luigi Mangione online?

For the most part, theyre saying hes hot, with particular attention to his attractiveness and almost comically defined washboard abs. And that was probably the tamest sentiment out there, certainly tamer than uh this one person with a vivid imagination. In response to the gay thirst tweets, an X user joked that Mangiones trial cannot be held within travel distance of Hells Kitchen.

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Elsewhere, people also claimed to have known Mangione from various contexts, with one user posting that they would text occasionally about Pokemon roms and Carly Rae Jepsen songs. The user later revealed that that was a lie  not for attention, but for chaos.

Mangiones documented interests have also sparked a range of dupes. This post from a satirical account showed whats made to look like several of Mangiones playlists featuring artists beloved by gay people, such as Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift. Another seemingly fabricated image of his Letterboxd account shows Wicked as a recent viewing. Footage of Mangione being taken into custody has been edited to imply that he was blasting Charli XCXs Roll With Me in his final moments of freedom. Even an alleged OnlyFans account has emerged, with little information to back it up.

Is Luigi Mangione bisexual?

Mangiones sexuality has not been reported. Since his name was released, a number of unverified accounts have emerged online from people who claim to know more about Mangiones sexuality. In one of the more notable claims, 34th Street Magazine, a student publication at the University of Pennsylvania, posted to X on Monday what appeared to be a screenshot of a text claiming that a friend made out with Mangione. for those curious he is bi #equalopportunity, the image, which has since gone viral, reads.

But as far as actual confirmed reports on Mangiones sexuality go, we have nothing so far. Given the amount of misinformation floating around, any anonymous or unverified social media posts claiming anything about his sexuality should be taken with a huge grain of salt.

So, why are people talking about Ryan Murphy being involved all of a sudden?

There is no actual confirmed involvement or statement from Ryan Murphy related to Mangione, but people online have (half) jokingly predicted that the showrunner will adapt the story for TV, as sexy killers have been his bread and butter. Murphy has sparked extensive controversy with the last two seasons of his crime series Monsters, creating melodramatic pseudo fanfiction on killers like Dahmer and the Menendez brothers.

Shortly after Mangiones photos started circulating, PopCrave reported that Dave Franco and Ryan Murphy are now trending on X, likely because of their resemblance to Mangione.

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Originally Appeared on them.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

We dont do hot takes at The Dispatch, but Ill confess to one thats lukewarm: Im coming around on Donald Trumps scheme to use recess appointments to avoid the Senate confirmation process.

I still believe all of his nominees should be confirmed, to be clear. Americans voted for an authoritarian kakistocracy last month and they should have it. We owe it to democracy to run this experiment, for better or worse. And if it goes as badly as I expect, well have the consolation of knowing that we deserve what weve gotten.

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But if youre still naive enough to care about civic norms, a case can be made that having Congress recess so that Trump can temporarily fill Cabinet positions with whomever he likes would be marginally less demeaning to the Senate than confirming his nominees would be.

Imagine youre a Republican senator from a reliably red state like, oh, say, Iowa. Youre up for reelection in two years. Many a young, ambitious, amoral local GOP official is jealously eyeing your seat, watching intently in case you do anything to run afoul of Trump that might jumpstart a credible primary challenge. You wake up one day to find that his nominee to lead the Pentagon is one of the most comically unqualified candidates to lead a major department in American history. What do you do?

If you vote no, youre out of office in two years. If you vote yes, youve betrayed your duty to ensure that the executive branch is led by competent, civic-minded officials whose highest loyalty is to the Constitution, not to the president; youve lent the prestige of Senate confirmation to a nominee whos plainly undeserving.

So why not vote to adjourn instead, washing your hands of the matter and depriving that nominee of your vote yet staying on the right side of Trump by letting him get his way through the recess mechanism?

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Because that would amount to the Senate abdicating its advice and consent duty, you might say, which would also be hugely demeaning and damaging to the chambers prestige. Right, fair enough. But making Donald Trump president again was destined to be demeaning for everyone, including and especially officials in his own party. All were arguing about here, and all were going to argue about for the next four years, is which of several demeaning options before us is the least undignified.

If Senate Republicans are going to be browbeaten by two-bit online demagogues into rubber-stamping a kakistocracy against their better judgment, I think Id prefer that the process be as dubious, illegitimate, and discrediting as possible. It would have the virtue of honesty, too: Since the right believes that Congress shouldnt restrain Trump in any way, letting him appoint nominees autocratically through recess-appointment chicanery while the Senate looks the other way would accurately reflect how the modern GOP functions.

Lets talk about that senator from Iowa. Both senators from Iowa, actually.

Abdication of duty.

If theres any Republican in Congress who youd think would place the public interest over Trumps, its Chuck Grassley.

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Grassley was first elected to the House in Iowa shortly after Richard Nixon resigned the presidency. He was first elected to the Senate on the day that Ronald Reagan won a national landslide over Jimmy Carter. He celebrated 40 years as a federal lawmaker in 2015, a few months before Trump officially entered presidential politics.

Hes 91 years old. In 2022 he ran for and easily won an eighth term in the Senate at the age of 89. His 50th anniversary as a member of Congress is weeks away.

His longevity as a public official is grotesque, particularly in a party that supposedly disdains career politicians, but it does give Grassley an advantage over his colleagues as Trump prepares to take office. Unlike them, he has virtually nothing to lose by resisting the incoming kakistocracy.

Hes probably (probably!) in his last term. Even if he isnt, hes an Iowa institution and wont face voters again until 2028. And having spent his first 82 years in an America that expected better from its presidents than postliberal droogs like Pete Hegseth or Kash Patel, he should be primed by long experience to want to hold the new White House to that higher standard.

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Even the threats and intimidation that Trumps Republican enemies routinely receive from populist fanatics might be a bit more muted in Grassleys case given his advanced age.

He has absolute freedom, in short, to vote against unqualified Cabinet nominees. And he should want to: As the Senate GOPs elder statesman, he might inspire the youthful septuagenarians around him to defend their institutional prerogative of advice and consent more vigorously by leading the charge himself. In offering himself as a target of criticism from the base, hed be acting as a political heat shield for more vulnerable colleagues who want to oppose Trumps nominees on civic grounds but feel skittish about doing so.

Instead, Grassley is leading the Senates capitulation. Earlier this month he gave Trump cover to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray, undermining Congress design to insulate FBI leadership from political pressure. And rather than use his leverage to at least demand a qualified replacement, Grassley turned around and appeared to endorse the ludicrous Trump lackey Patel, cooing to reporters that he has been so very, very helpful to us on uncovering wrongdoing in government, particularly in the FBI and the Justice Department.

Maybe an elderly senator is being led around by the nose by MAGA-fied aides, or maybe Grassley simply cant bear to end his career as a villain to Iowa Republicans after spending decades as his states most powerful politician. Regardless, read John Boltons op-ed today about his experiences with Patel and tell me how Grassleys acquiescence in this nomination isnt a total abdication of civic duty by a traditional Republican whos supposed to be better than the loathsome postliberal New Right.

Pressure campaign.

If Grassley feels no obligation to take his Senate duties seriously, go figure that Joni Ernst, the junior senator from Iowa, might conclude that she neednt either.

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Ernst was the designated villain in last weeks populist passion play involving Hegseth. Shes a veteran and a survivor of sexual assault, which made her naturally skeptical of a Pentagon nominee whos never managed a major organization, has been accused by sources at Fox News of having a drinking problem, and who bought the silence of a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. Hes not just unqualified for the job, hes anti-qualified. And hes not alone.

Even foreigners have noticed. In the madness of Trumps nominations, there is expressed the near total contempt for human respect, customs and the law, former French ambassador to the U.S. Gerard Araud said earlier this month. Vladimir Solovyov, the most influential propagandist on Russian state television, was giddy in his agreement: What an excellent team is coming along with Trump! Not with respect to Ukraine, but as far as everything else goes. If they are allowed to get in, they will quickly dismantle America, brick by brick. They are so great!

Obviously America can and should do better to lead the Pentagonand the FBI, and Health and Human Services, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Ernst knows it. But the Two Minutes Hate directed at her after she made disapproving noises about Hegseth apparently turned her to jelly. How do I make this go away? she was said to whine after MAGA influencers threatened her with a primary if she opposed his nomination. Trump associates reportedly approved a grassroots pressure campaign against her and cackled to reporters afterward about its success. Joni, Im told, got the message loud and clear, one boasted.

She did. Within a few days, she sounded considerably more optimistic about Hegseth than she had before.

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Is it really more demeaning for Ernst to sign off on a recess-appointment scheme to get Trumps nominees confirmed than to cast an insincere vote in their favor coerced by some of the worst people in American politics? Either way, shes betraying her duty to ensure that the executive branch is led by capable, respectable people. What does it matter which procedural mechanism she uses to do so?

If she and Chuck Grassley are unwilling to lose their jobs for the sake of doing right by their country, the least they can do is make a mockery of the process by which the new ruling kakistocracy is installed.

A matter of precedent.

But think of the precedent that would set, you might say. To which I say: Think of the precedent Trump is setting now.

Whether the Senate confirms his nominees the old-fashioned way or allows them to be appointed via recess-appointment sleight of hand, every future president will set the bar at the level of Hegseth and Patel in demanding deference from senators from his or her party in the confirmation process. Going forward, no behavior will be deemed too slavish and cutthroat, no resume found too underwhelming, to justify denying a nominee a position of immense power. Friendly senators will be asked to abandon all pretense of independent judgment in vetting them.

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Of course, if you believe Sen. Tom Cotton, theres nothing new about that. Of the 72 Cabinet secretary nominees since the Clinton transition, only 2 nominees have ever received NO votes from the president-elects party, he noted in a tweet on Monday. No one should be surprised that the Republican Senate will confirm President Trumps nominees. Thats cutebut misleading twice over.

Its misleading because presidents typically withdraw problematic nominees rather than force senators from their party to cast an uncomfortable vote to confirm them. Trump himself did so less than a month ago, although it was a cinch that hed soon lose patience with recalcitrant Senate Republicans and begin trying to intimidate them to get his nominees confirmed. His party exists to serve him, not vice versa, so hes far more willing than presidents have been historically to dare his allies to vote his candidates down. No matter how much political trouble that causes them.

Cottons tweet is also misleading, though, in how it glides over just how different Trumps Cabinet is from traditional Cabinets. It may be true that only two of 72 Cabinet nominees since the Clinton era have been opposed by senators from the presidents own party; its also true that only one president over that period has thought to put Americas most notorious anti-vaxxer in charge of public health or to make his sons ex-girlfriend the countrys top liaison to Greece or to quiz nominees on their enthusiasm for the coup he once attempted. Being asked to confirm James Mattis as secretary of defense isnt the same as being asked to confirm Dr. Oz as head honcho of Medicare.

A president who takes his duty to appoint capable people less seriously than his predecessors should logically receive less deference from the Senate.

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But this is what Cotton does whenever Trump behaves inexcusably: searching for some value-neutral reason to excuse him anyway. After January 6, Cotton was out in front arguing that the Senate should acquit Trump on jurisdictional grounds, becausesupposedlythe chamber couldnt properly try a president who had left office before the trial began. Hes doing the same thing now to justify supporting horror shows like Hegseth, Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard. Hes obliged to support them, you see, not because he believes theyll do a good job but because theres an alleged tradition of blind partisan loyalty among senators that hes duty-bound to follow no matter how unqualified those nominees might be.

Someday, when hes 91, Cotton will be rubber-stamping the nomination of President Barron Trumps new secret police chief. Once youve rationalized supporting one kakistocracy, supporting the next oneand the one after that, and the one after thatis easy.

A gang of five?

Having said all that, there are a few Republican senators who might muster the nerve to send Trumps worst nominees packing. I think of them as a potential gang of five.

Forget Grassley, obviously, and forget Sen. Thom Tillis, whos shown flashes of integrity but is up for reelection in 2026 and is plainly willing to swallow his soul to get reelected. The gang of five starts with Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, both of whom voted to convict Trump after January 6 and both of whom are more insulated from MAGA political pressure than most of their colleagues. Collins represents a blue state in Maine and is probably the only Republican capable of winning there, and Murkowski won reelection in Alaska thanks to a ranked-choice voting system that favors centrists.

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Each could plausibly win another term despite opposing a Hegseth or Patel. The other three potential gangsters could not; the question is, do they even want to?

Mitch McConnell is in Grassleys position, well into old age and likely in his last term. Unlike Grassley, though, he despises Trump and has been willing to spend political capital on traditional Reaganite priorities like supporting Ukraine. When he was asked recently about the new administrations foreign policy, he replied, No matter who got elected president, I think it was going to require significant pushback, yeah, and I intend to be one of the pushers.

No one expects much from him after he rolled over on convicting Trump at his impeachment trial and endorsed his reelection campaign, but insofar as McConnell is looking to leave any sort of meaningful anti-Trump legacy, being one of the pushers against Trumps worst nominees is an obvious possibility. By doing so he would provide cover for more vulnerable Senate Republicans to follow suit, a job hes used to after so many years as majority leader. And he cant care much at this point about populists hating him as a result: They already hate him passionately and have for ages.

The fourth and fifth would-be gangsters are Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, each of whom has opposed Trump in surprisingly public ways in the past. Cassidy joined Collins and Murkowski in voting to convict him at his impeachment trial; Young was vocally skeptical of another Trump presidency last year and declined to endorse him for the GOP nomination this spring. Its rare for red-state senators to do the right thing when that means crossing Trump, but theyve proved that theyre willing to risk primary challenges to do so.

One or both might plausibly decide that theyre tired of being asked to behave like trained animals in Trumps Republican circus, resolve not to run for reelection, and opt to vote their conscience on his anti-qualified nominees. And if they did, theyd be the difference between confirmation and rejection.

But apart from those five, the odds of anyone else in the conference opposing kakistocracy are slim. John Curtis, the new guy from Utah whos replacing Mitt Romney, is worth keeping an eye on, as Republicans in that state tend to be more civic-minded than the national tribe (although not always!). But its asking a lot of a freshman to expect him to make a bitter enemy of Trump in his first weeks on the job. The last person who did so found himself out of politics within a few years.

We should keep expectations low. It might work in this situation [for Hegseth], one Senate Republican told Politico of the MAGA pressure campaign against Joni Ernst, but long term, it is not in the presidents interest to play hardball with senators from his party. I can imagine Trump reading that and cracking up laughing, wondering how gutless a human being has to be to demand anonymity when pretending to talk tough and comparing it to how Republican senators sound when theyre on the record. Almost certainly, he and his kakistocracy are going to roll right over them.

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The rate of global malaria deaths last year dropped to the lowest level since before the Covid-19 pandemic but total cases numbers continue to rise, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.

There were an estimated 597,000 deaths caused by the mosquito-borne disease in 2023, up more than 5 per cent in absolute numbers from 567,000 in 2019. But taking population into account, the incidence of death fell to 13.7 per 100,000 people at risk.

Progress against malaria has stalled in recent years and target of ending the epidemic by 2030 as laid out in the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) will not be met.

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Dr Arnaud Le Menach, lead author of the WHOs World Malaria Report, said the study highlighted some worrying plateaus, adding that where there has been some great progress, its never as fast as we would like.

The WHOs own, more granular targets, are also not being met. The incidence of malaria grew from 58 to 60.4 per 1,000 people at risk between 2015 and 2023, nearly three times higher than the target.

Dr Le Menach said its important to remember that those are very ambitious targets, adding that we have seen a lot of progress over the past two decadesbut were still not where we want to be.

For the first time, this years report includes a chapter focused on equity in a bid to reach those who are most vulnerable to malaria and its consequences.

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It is important to consider social, structural and economic factors that elevate the risk of infection or hamper access to essential health services, the report said.

For instance, between 2020 and 2022, children under five whose mothers had only primary education or less faced double the risk of malaria.

Refugees and migrants  one in every eight people worldwide  are vulnerable to heightened risk of malaria and other adverse health outcomes due to poor living conditions, restricted health care access and economic instability.

The fall in the rate at which people are dying from malaria shows investment in science is making a difference, said Gareth Jenkins, Executive Director of Advocacy and Strategy at Malaria No More UK.

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But a perfect storm of rising drug and insecticide resistance, extreme weather events and humanitarian crises mean, despite malaria being preventable, a child still dies every minute from the disease.

The rise of antimalarial drug resistance in Africa, where the disease is most severe, is an acute concern, said the report.

Just 11 African countries bear about two thirds of the worlds malaria burden and some 95 per cent of global malaria deaths occurred on the continent in 2023, the report warned that full-blown treatment failure could have serious consequences.

Partial resistance to artemisinin, a leading antimalarial drug, has been confirmed in Eritrea, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Resistance is suspected in at least four other African countries, the report said.

The mosquito-borne disease remains rampant in many other regions. In Pakistan, for instance, catastrophic flooding saw an explosion of mosquitoes, with the number of malaria cases surging from some 500,000 in 2021 to 4.3 million in 2023.

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Rising temperatures are also related to the spread of Anopheles stephensi, the malaria-carrying super mosquito famous for surviving in high temperatures in dry seasons, when malaria transmission typically dips.

The report added that chronic funding shortfalls posed major barriers to eliminating malaria in endemic countries.

Just $4 billion was invested to fight malaria in 2023  less than half of the $8.3 billion target. The funding gap has almost doubled over the last five years, from $2.6 billion in 2019 to $4.3 billion in 2023. With a contribution of US$ 1.1 billion, the United States was the top contributor in 2023.

Vaccine hope

But there is also cause for optimism.

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Some 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths from malaria have been averted worldwide since 2000, with more than 177 million cases and over one million deaths averted globally in 2023 alone, according to the data.

There are now two malaria vaccines for recommended use. As of December 2024, 17 countries had introduced the vaccine through routine childhood immunisation.

The scale-up of malaria vaccines in Africa is expected to save tens of thousands of young lives every year, the report said.

Some two million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi received the RTS,S vaccine between 2019 and 2023. Over that time, there was a 22 per cent drop in hospitalisations for severe malaria among children eligible for the vaccine.

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There has also been significant progress in recent years to deploy new generation mosquito nets, with more than 3 billion insecticide-treated nets already distributed globally.

Many countries are tantalisingly close to eradicating the disease. In 2023, more than half (47) of the 83 malaria-endemic countries globally reported less than 10,000 cases. Azerbaijan, Belize, Cabo Verde and Tajikistan were certified malaria-free in 2023, with Egypt, Africas third most populous country, joining them in 2024.

Some high burden countries have also made strong dents against malaria. For instance, Rwanda reduced malaria cases by 85 per cent between 2019 and 2023  from 4.9 million to some 749,000.

Malaria remains a formidable challenge. By working together, tailoring interventions to local settings, said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in the reports foreword.

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Harnessing innovation and maintaining a relentless focus, we can regain momentum and move towards our shared vision of a malaria free future.

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Thousands of people in Southern California were under evacuation orders or warnings on Tuesday, as the Franklin Fire roared through the wealthy Malibu area and firefighters struggled to contain it.

The fire scorched more than 2,700 acres and remained zero percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon.

More than 18,000 people and some 8,100 homes and structures in the Malibu area were under threat, according to Los Angeles County officials.

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More than 2,000 people were forced to evacuate and another 6,000 people were warned to be prepared to flee, according to Anthony Marrone, the Los Angeles County fire chief.

Western and central Malibu were both under mandatory evacuation orders as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Franklin Fire scorched through an area home to high-profile figures and wealthy individuals.

Dick Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, said he and his wife Arlene Silver evacuated their home in Malibu to flee the fire.

Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving, Van Dyke said, referring to one of their cats, according to The Associated Press. Were praying hell be OK and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.

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The Associated Press contributed.

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A wind-driven wildfire burning in Malibu grew by hundreds of acres overnight but crews have managed to gain some containment as of Wednesday.

The Franklin Fire remains a major threat to homes and prompted the evacuation of the Malibu Beach RV park on the 25800 block of Pacific Coast Highway.

As of Wednesday, the fire was mapped at 4,037 acres with 7% containment. The cause was still under investigation.

Sky5 view of structures destroyed by the Franklin Fire in Malibu. Dec. 11, 2024. (KTLA) Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Sky5 view of the Franklin Fire in Malibu on Dec. 10, 2024. (KTLA) The Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Smoke rises over Malibu as the Franklin Fire burns on Dec. 10, 2024. Photo taken at 7:27 a.m. (AlertCalifornia) A vehicle burns during the Franklin Fire on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) A firefighter sprays water as the Franklin Fire burns on December 10, 2024 on Malibu, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Firefighters work as the Franklin Fire burns near a building on December 10, 2024 in Malibu, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The flames continued to burn amid strong winds and low humidity in steep rugged terrain with over 1,500 firefighters assigned to the incident.

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Crews are relying heavily on water-dropping aircraft but those alone will not put out the fire, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said.

We always have to follow up with personnel on the ground to actually cut a physical line around the fire, Marrone said.

On Wednesday morning, Chief Marrone stated that fire activity increased significantly along the western edge of the fire, threatening the Malibu RV Park community.

A total of nine structures have been damaged, while seven have been destroyed, the chief said. Officials added that currently, only 25% of the burn area has been inspected, so there are still several unknowns in terms of damage and structure loss.

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L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed there have been no reports of serious injuries or deaths, which he described as a huge victory.

Evacuation orders remain in place for areas South of Piuma Road, north of the Pacific Ocean coastline, east of Puerco Canyon Road/Corral Canyon Park and west of Los Flores Canyon Road. Also the areas between the Pacific Ocean coastline and Tuna Canyon Park to the west of Tuna Canyon Road, according to the County of Los Angeles emergency website.

Evacuation shelters have been opened at the Palisades Recreation Center at 851 Alma Real Drive in Pacific Palisades and the Santa Monica Unified School District at 2828 4th Street in Santa Monica where pet crates are welcomed.

Large animals can be taken to Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills.

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Displaced residents and newlyweds, Blake and Michelle Geffen, were forced to evacuate their home, a place they had only recently moved into.

Our neighbor called us and told us that there was a fire and we immediately looked at each other and grabbed our cat and very few belongings, said Michelle. We only have the clothes on our backs and we just left. [We lost] everything. We had just gotten married.

They lost all their personal belongings to the fire including their wedding photos, jewelry, and personal valuables. Their honeymoon was initially planned for this weekend but has now been postponed.

A GoFundMe page to help the couple can be found here.

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The wildfire was first reported at 10:50 p.m. Monday when it was spotted burning along Malibu Canyon Road.

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A recent map update shows the Malibu fire, which authorities have now dubbed the Franklin Fire, has spread across thousands of acres. The brush fire sparked near Pepperdine University on Monday night, prompting mandatory evacuations in the threatening conditions. ABC 7 has been sharing constant live updates on the devastating situation while authorities and firefighters battle the flames. First responders are also assisting in road closures and the evacuation process in the Malibu area. Reportedly, the strong Santa Ana winds fueled the blaze to burn over 2,800 acres of land on the Los Angeles County coast.

Franklin Fire had grown to 2,850 acres, affecting 6,000 people

@LHSLASD Capt, Jennifer Seetoo provided an update on the #FranklinFire at todays press conference. Thank you @CityofCalabasas for opening your community center to Malibu residents. pic.twitter.com/RS6GyyAVrl  The Malibu Times (@TheMalibuTimes) December 11, 2024

ABC 7 shared a map of the Franklin Fire, sharing live updates concerning the blaze that started at nearly 10 acres and has now spread across thousands of acres. Officials released a real-time map of the Malibu fire that shows the destruction perimeter and the mandatory evacuation areas. This evacuation order impacts residents in the east of Malibu Canyon Road, south of Piuma Road, and the Serra Retreat area. Despite starting near Pepperdine University and causing significant power outages, the blaze is not currently threatening the campus, shared the institution on social media.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Malibu fire had fanned across 2,850 acres by Tuesday afternoon with failed containment. Other updates show that the fire in Franklin has impacted around 6,000 people, but the number continues to grow as it rapidly spreads further. Not only that but an estimate reports that the evacuations affect about 20,000 people. In addition, these flames have affected more than 2,000 structures, destroyed at least seven, and damaged another eight.

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Reportedly, officials have also ordered evacuation warnings in the east of Las Virgenes. This affects the areas between Mulholland Highway to the north and Piuma Road to the south. Other clearance orders

are for the areas between Stunt Road to the north and Los Flores to the south, east of Carbon Beach Terrace, west of Old Malibu Road, and north of Pacific Crest Highway to the evacuation order boundary.

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has been active on the ground, sharing crucial information concerning the Malibu fire as well as safety measures. Furthermore, the fire department has deployed more than 1,500 firefighters who are presently fighting the flames.

The post Malibu Fire Map Shows How Far Flames Have Spread appeared first on Mandatory.
The conditions late Monday were primed for an explosive wildfire.

Forecasters had issued a rare, particularly dangerous fire weather warning across much of Southern California, as strong Santa Ana winds were expected to further dry an already parched landscape.

So when the Franklin fire broke out in Malibu on Monday night, it had the makings of a real disaster.

Malibu is one of the most fire-prone parts of Southern California, often in the path of Santa Ana winds that drive blazes marching to the Pacific Ocean.

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But this time, the coastal city appears to have caught a break.

A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop on the Franklin fire over Malibu Canyon. Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, the Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon grew to more than 2,200 acres on Dec. 10, 2024, on the hillsides near Pepperdine University. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The winds eased by Tuesday afternoon and didn't reach historic speeds. That allowed an aerial assault on the fire from planes and helicopters that officials say helped save homes.

The location of the fire not far from the ocean also minimized space for the blaze to grow.

Although Malibu isn't out of the danger zone, property damage has been reported as moderate and no major injuries were reported. That is a marked contrast from some destructive fires to hit the region in recent years.

Last month's Mountain fire in Ventura County, as well as the massive Thomas and Woolsey fires, exploded with monster winds that pushed flames for miles and grounded firefighting aircraft.

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By Tuesday afternoon, the Franklin fire had grown to an estimated 2,700 acres, with widespread evacuations still in place. The National Weather Service reported sustained winds of up to 45 mph and gusts up to 65 mph around the fire, but the worst of the winds  which tend to be the driving factor of these dangerous, late-season fires  have passed.

"For the most part,  well be seeing those [winds] decreasing, said Mike Wofford, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard. It should be considerably less tomorrow."

Although there were winds in the greater area that topped 80 or 90 mph late Monday and into Tuesday, speeds around the Franklin fire were significantly lower, Wofford said. That wasn't the case in the Mountain fire last month, which recorded hurricane-force winds over the fire, pushing embers more than two miles away from the main fire line.

Camp crew members hike up a steep hillside as they battle the Franklin fire Dec. 10, 2024, in Malibu. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The situation there at the Mountain fire was different meteorologically because that area is more susceptible to these east winds," Wofford said. He said the location of the Franklin fire on the eastern side of the Santa Monica Mountains probably helped reduce wind speeds. If the fire had instead sparked in the western Santa Monicas  the location of the Woolsey fire  he expects the fire could have been much worse.

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Santa Ana winds tend to be more easterly winds, so the western part of Santa Monicas get hit more" Wofford said, explaining how they tend to blow from the Santa Clarita area through the mountain passes. He said the area between the Santa Monica and Santa Susanna mountains is a corridor more exposed to those dangerous winds.

Less dramatic winds also aided the initial response to the firefight, enabling helicopters with night-vision capabilities to fly most of the night during the first hours of the Franklin fire and direct crews to the most urgent areas to attack. By daybreak, two larger air tankers, known as SuperScoopers, were also able join the operation, officials said.

"There's a lot of geographical features, canyons, drainages, paired with, you know, those strong winds. All that, all those factors can come into alignment and make for some very hazardous fire conditions. So we're working as hard as we can," said L.A. County Fire Captain Kealiinohopono Barnes.

There was only a brief period around 3 a.m. when aircraft were grounded due to extreme winds, but the rest of the night they were "able to operate even with heavy winds," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.

An Orange County fire helicopter lifts off after picking up water from a pond at Pepperdine University while fighting the Franklin fire in Malibu on Dec. 10, 2024. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

In the first hours of the Mountain fire last month, winds kept most aircraft grounded longer, though helicopters were still able to help, said Ventura County Fire spokesperson Andrew Dowd.

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But any advantage firefighters may have on the Franklin fire compared to prior blazes has not stopped an extensive ground and air attack, officials said. Massive helicopters buzzed around Pepperdine University on Tuesday, one dipping down into a lagoon to suck up water before heading for an immense plume of smoke in the distance.

We are going to have a coordinated air and ground assault on this fire for as long as it takes, Marrone said. Time is of the essence for us to grab hold of the fire and start getting containment."

Although conditions in Malibu may not be among the worst firefighters have seen, the Franklin fire has torched several vehicles and left residents who had to flee terrified. Damage to structures is still being assessed.

Jessica Jones and Matthew Ryder grabbed their essentials before the Franklin fire made its way to their home in Serra Retreat: Important documents. Bags of clothes. Three goats. A potbellied pig.

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The fire reached the property as the couple left around midnight, and they waited on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway to plan where to go next. They slept in their truck in a parking lot for hiking trails and arrived at the Palisades Park evacuation center around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

It was insane, Jones said. The bright red flames and glow of the fire were all around the ridgeline as we were leaving.

Times staff writers Richard Winton and Joseph Serna contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Bloomberg) -- At about 2 a.m. Tuesday, students huddled in Pepperdine Universitys library and watched through the window as wind-whipped flames blazed over a nearby hill. The Malibu sky glowed red. Smoke filtered into the building.

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It was just across the street and it looked like it was getting closer, Rachel Flynn, a senior at the Southern California school, said in a phone interview. We were wondering, wheres the fire department?

The Franklin Fire broke out in Malibu suddenly late Monday evening, leading to an overnight scramble among thousands of residents to evacuate or find a safe location amid smoke-filled skies. At Pepperdines campus, perched above the Pacific Ocean about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles, more than 800 students were told to shelter in place.

Read the latest: Malibu Blaze Rages With Firefighters Battling Strong Winds

Many were ordered to the library, where students called their parents and stayed up through the night watching the flames. A few were crying, said Flynn, a 26-year-old journalism and political science major from Savage, Minnesota.

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Even for Malibu, a wealthy enclave with a long history of blazes, the fire was notable for its sudden onset and rapid growth. After starting just before 11 p.m., it exploded overnight to more than 2,800 acres as of late Tuesday afternoon. At Pepperdine, firefighters were able to stop the flames before they reached school buildings.

The scene as the fire set in was kind of crazy as power shut off and many students got in cars to flee, said Jack Putrino, a junior majoring in political science. He left campus with a friend, describing ash falling on their vehicle and flames lighting up the sky.

Its so pretty with the ocean, but then things like this happen, Putrino said.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Pepperdine ordered students to shelter in place at the library or a campus center building through the night again. Those buildings are operating on generator power while electricity remains out across the campus.

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Student Affairs staff will be in both locations throughout the night, and the university will provide food, power, water, and communications, the school said in a post on X.

Pounding Doors

At the hilltop Serra Retreat Center, cancer patients and survivors had gathered for a four-day program of yoga, meditation, and art therapy. Nancy Davidson, executive director of the Living Beauty Cancer Foundation, said staff first noticed smoke over a hillside on Monday just before 11 p.m. Within an hour, the fire had nearly reached the property.

Our staff went down the hall, pounding on doors, saying, We need to leave, theres a fire, Davidson said. The flames had jumped the hillside and were right up against the retreat.

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The women evacuated calmly by car, taking only essentials like medications and identification as firetrucks started rolling in, Davidson said. By sunrise, flames were reported on the retreat property. The city said that some buildings had been damaged.

The women are used to handling a lot of crisis in their lives, and they remained pretty calm, she said. Were praying Serra is spared. Its an important place for healing.

The foundation has hosted retreats at the center since 2005. Davidson said this is the first time theyve been forced to evacuate.

The 98-year-old actor Dick Van Dyke was among the evacuees in the area, he said on a Facebook post. Among other celebrities, The Office star Rainn Wilson said during a radio interview Tuesday that his Malibu home was damaged while he was appearing on stage in a production of Waiting for Godot at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

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So far, Malibus most expensive homes lining the beach have been spared by the fire. Property owners include celebrities such as Beyonce and Jay-Z, who paid $190 million for their oceanfront estate. Venture capital investor Marc Andreessen bought a nearby home for $177 million in 2021. Billionaire philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs paid $94 million this year for a seafront estate next to a neighboring property she owns that was damaged in a 2018 fire.

Malibu city officials said on Tuesday afternoon that homes and other structures have been affected  including the famed Malibu Pier  but they didnt have details on the full scale of the damage. No deaths or injuries have been reported, they said.

On Tuesday morning, Flynn ventured outside onto Pepperdines campus around sunrise. She posted videos and photos on the schools news site and her personal Instagram page.

It was apocalyptic with all the smoke, nobody around, little fires here and there, she said. Being from Minnesota, Im not used to fires like this.

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--With assistance from Denise Lu.

(Updates with Pepperdine shelter in place order for Tuesday in eighth paragraph. A prior version corrected the spelling of Marc Andreessen.)

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BERLIN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday submitted a formal request for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag, the country's lower house of parliament.

According to a statement by the federal government, the vote is expected to take place on Dec. 16.

Since the Free Democratic Party (FDP) left Germany's ruling coalition during the government rift last month, the country has been on its way toward a snap election.

Considering the remaining Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Greens in the government no longer have a majority in the Bundestag, Scholz is expected to lose the vote of confidence next week.

After Scholz lost the vote, the German president could dissolve the parliament within 21 days. Snap elections will have to take place within 60 days of the dissolution.

Major German parties have agreed that the snap election should be held on Feb. 23, 2025. 
Cher and Dick Van Dyke were forced to evacuate their Malibu homes this week as the Franklin wildfire posed immediate threat to life. According to Cal Fire, the flames have now been contained 7%, as of Wednesday morning.

Additionally, Eagles legend Don Henley, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber were also forced to flee their homes, an individual with knowledge tells TheWrap.

Over 1,500 firefighters have been deployed to battle the wildfire, which has caused mandatory evacuations, evacuation warnings and road closures across nearly 4,000 acres of Southern California. The deep and rugged terrain, along with the strong winds and low humidity, continue to pose challenges for firefighters, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shared.

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According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone, the fire grew overnight by 39%. Structure threats were mitigated and additional structures were damaged, he said.

Holding good thoughts for Dick Van Dyke Dick, Arlene and their animals have evacuated their Malibu home which is threatened by fire, actress Lydia Cornell posted on BlueSky on Tuesday in reference to the actor, who turns 99 on Friday.

Dyke and Silver posted an update to Facebook, confirming the two have safely left their home. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that a publicist for Cher said the actress left her home and went to a hotel Monday night with her pets.

Holding good thoughts for Dick Van Dyke Dick, Arlene and their animals have evacuated their Malibu home which is threatened by fire.  Lydia Cornell Official (@lydiacornell.bsky.social) 2024-12-11T00:41:06.553Z

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Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo, [who] escaped as we were leaving, the Mary Poppins actor shared of their cat. Were praying hell be OK and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.

Mark Hamill also took to the BlueSky to share that hes been told to remain inside his home as the blazes continue.

Were in lockdown because of the Malibu fires. Please stay safe everyone! Im not allowed to leave the house, which fits in perfectly with my elderly-recluse lifestyle, he wrote on Tuesday.

We're in lockdown because of the Malibu fires. Please stay safe everyone! I'm not allowed to leave the house, which fits in perfectly with my elderly-recluse lifestyle.  Mark Hamill (@markhamillofficial.bsky.social) December 10, 2024 at 4:46 PM

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A powerful and prolonged Santa Ana wind event is expected to bring critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions across much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from today through Wednesday, Cal Fire shared in an update. This will be driven by a combination of a strong offshore pressure gradient, significant cold air advection and moderate upper-level wind support.

A National Weather Service Red Flag warning will stay in effect until 6 p.m. PST. The Malibu Coasts warning will remain until 2 p.m. PST.





The post Malibu Wildfires at 7% Containment After Cindy Crawford, Cher, Dick Van Dyke Flee Their Homes appeared first on TheWrap.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man who was found asleep with a gun in his SUV by city police was indicted by a federal grand jury.

An indictment unsealed Tuesday in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio charges Jermaine Bunn Sr., 48, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment was issued Nov. 11 and unsealed Tuesday after Bunn was taken into custody.

Bunn pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carmen E. Henderson and pleaded not guilty. He is being held in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

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The charges stem from an Oct. 25 arrest by Youngstown police after they were called about 2:45 a.m. to West Chalmers and Overland avenues for a report of a driver passed out behind the wheel of an SUV.

Reports said when an officer reached into the SUV to turn off the motor, they found a semiautomatic handgun in the door.

It took awhile to wake Bunn up and he smelled heavily of alcohol, reports said. Reports said he refused to take a breath test later and he was cited for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Bunn is not allowed to have a gun because of numerous felony convictions dating back to 1996. In 2017 he was found not guilty of murder in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court after acting as his own attorney.

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Dec. 10A 24-year-old man indicted Tuesday is accused of firing multiple shots while trying to break into his ex-girlfriend's house last month in Dayton.

J'veon Jamell Grooms is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court for one count each of felonious assault, strangulation, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation and a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

The Dayton Police Department responded to a burglary in progress around 5:45 a.m. Nov. 17 in the 300 block of Kenilworth Avenue.

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Police spoke to a woman who said her ex-boyfriend, identified as Grooms, choked her a few days earlier, on Nov. 14, according to an affidavit filed in Dayton Municipal Court.

"Grooms became angry with her and forced her onto the bed by her throat," the affidavit stated. "He then squeezed her neck to the point that she could not breathe and also left bruising on her neck."

He returned Nov. 17 and tried to force his way into her home.

Grooms fired eight shots from a handgun into the bathroom window and then fled, according to court records.

He was arrested Dec. 3 and remains held on $150,000 bail in the Montgomery County Jail.
ALTOONA, Pa. (AP)  The gun found on the man charged with killing United Healthcares CEO matched shell casings found at the site of the shooting, New York Citys police commissioner said Wednesday as authorities scrutinized evidence and the suspect's experiences with the victim's industry.

Luigi Mangione s fingerprints also matched a water bottle and a snack bar wrapper that police found near the scene in midtown Manhattan, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at an unrelated news conference. Police had said earlier that they believed the gunman bought the items at a nearby coffee shop while awaiting his target.

Mangione, 26, remained jailed without bail Wednesday in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested and initially charged with gun and forgery offenses. Manhattan prosecutors were working to bring him to New York to face a murder charge in the death of Brian Thompson, the leader of the United States biggest health insurer.

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Mangione's lawyer has cautioned the public against prejudging the case.

While the case is in early stages, police believe the suspect may have been motivated by animus toward the health care industry.

Investigators are looking into an accident that injured Mangiones back and sent him to an emergency room on July 4, 2023, police said Wednesday. Theyre scrutinizing his Facebook page, where he posted X-rays of numerous screws that were inserted into his spine. And police are studying his writings about the injury and his disdain for corporate America and the U.S. health care system.

Authorities recovered a spiral notebook that Mangione kept, along with a three-page, handwritten letter found when he was arrested Monday in Pennsylvania, a law enforcement official said Wednesday. Police have not disclosed what was in the notebook.

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The letter teased the possibility that clues to the attack  some straggling notes and To Do lists that illuminate the gist of it  could be found in the notebook, the law enforcement official said. The official wasnt authorized to disclose information about the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

A law enforcement bulletin obtained by the AP earlier this week said the letter disdained corporate greed and what Mangione called parasitic health insurance companies. The prep school and Ivy League graduate wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that major corporations' profits continue to rise while life expectancy doesn't, according to the bulletin.

In his first public words since his arrest, Mangione shouted about an insult to the intelligence of the American people on his way into court Tuesday.

At a brief hearing, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey said that he didn't believe there was evidence to support a forgery charge and questioned whether the gun allegation amounts to a crime. Dickey also said Mangione would contest his extradition to New York and wanted a hearing on the issue.

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You cant rush to judgment in this case or any case, Dickey said afterward. Hes presumed innocent. Lets not forget that.

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City, after a McDonalds customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said.

New York police officials have said Mangione was carrying the gun and the same fake ID the suspected shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs.

Thompson, 50, was killed Dec. 4 as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference.

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There were no fingerprints on the ammunition found at the shooting scene, but work is ongoing to analyze a print on cellphone left nearby, police said Wednesday.

Police are continuing to search for more surveillance video showing Mangione's movements in New York between Nov. 24, when they say he arrived in the city, and the shooting. From video collected already, investigators determined the suspect quickly fled the city, likely by bus, after the killing.

His movements afterward are unclear, but authorities believe he took steps to stay off the radar. Prosecutors said at Mangione's Pennsylvania hearing this week that when arrested, he had what are known as Faraday bags for his cellphone and laptop to block signals authorities can use to track electronic devices.

Mangione, a grandson of a well-known Maryland real estate developer and philanthropist, had a graduate degree in computer science and worked for a time at a car-buying website. During the first half of 2022, he bunked at a co-living space in Hawaii, where those who knew him said he suffered from severe and sometimes debilitating back pain.

His relatives have said in a statement that they are shocked and devastated" at his arrest.

___

Sisak reported from New York. Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A man accused of stealing unlocked vehicles from multiple St. Louis County gas stations over the last few days is now in custody.

Authorities served a warrant to arrest William C. Bishop, 39, on Wednesday, according to Missouri court records.

His arrest comes days after St. Louis police warned of a surge in car thefts at gas stations and car washes around the region.

Missouri lawmaker proposes merger of St. Louis City and St. Louis County

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According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Bishop stole unlocked vehicles from a Circle K station on Union Road and Mobil station on Big Bend Road. The first vehicle he reportedly stole was later located on a ramp that connects Big Bend Road to Interstate 44.

On Monday, Bishop allegedly stole an Oldsmobile vehicle from a neraby Mobil sation. The owner was able to track the vehicle because her phone was inside of it. A short time later, the owner and her family located the stolen Oldsmobile vehicle at a QuikTrip on Lemay Ferry Road.

The owner and her family located Bishop inside the vehicle and attempted to position their vehicle to block him, according to court documents. However, Bishop fled the scene in the stolen Oldsmobile before police arrived and crashed into three cars, including two that attempted to block him.

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A warrant was formally issued for Bishops arrest on Tuesday. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has charged him with two counts of stealing a motor vehicle and one count of leaving the scene of an accident in the investigation.

Court documents indicate that Bishop was on parole for similar offenses in Missouri and Illinois prior to his arrest.

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(Updated as of 12/27/2024 at 4:20 p.m.)



Earlier this month, a Pennsylvania community was left shocked after a son and his mother were both shot during a brutal home invasion. A city-wide manhunt ensued, but now, the public is finally getting some answers.

According to a police statement, suspects Kelvin Roberts, 42, and his boss Charles Fulforth, 41, have both been arrested for the murder of 25-year-old Andrew Gaudio and the shooting of his 61-year-old mother, Bernadette.

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Gaudio was killed during a home invasion, and according to officials, he wasnt the original target. According to Montgomery County police, the suspects robbed the wrong home after an employee at their junk removal business tipped the duo off about guns allegedly inside a Bucks County house.

The motive in this case was to steal guns and they simply got the wrong house, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement. They went into the wrong house with bad intentions and shot an innocent 61-year-old woman as she lay in her bed and they executed her 25-year-old son. And I say executed because Andrew was shot in the back of the head as he lay down on the floor of his mothers bedroom and he was facedown when that shot to the back of the head came.



The Home Invasion

According to a statement made by DAs office, officials responded to a 911 call reporting a home invasion. When they arrived to the scene, police found Gaudio dead and his mother alive but in critical condition.



As the investigation into the home invasion continued, police eventually found dashcam footage which captured a white Hyundai Azera driven by the suspect  later identified as 42-year-old Roberts  leaving the scene of the homicide, according to the statement.



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Police recovered a jewelry box belonging to Bernadette at a Philadelphia home linked to the suspects. According to ABC News, Bernadettes Jeep Cherokee was also stolen during the home invasion but has now been recovered in West Philadelphia.

The jewelry box is key in that it shows that they were in the house, they committed a burglary, a robbery, a home invasion, and we have the evidence of that in the jewelry box, District Attorney Kevin Steele said, according to CBS News.

The Hunt

Interestingly enough, Roberts was already wanted by police before the fatal home invasion. Hes wanted on a theft by receiving stolen property charge out of North Wales. Hes wanted for a burglary out of Philadelphia, Steele said.

On Dec. 11, police obtained an arrest warrant for Fulforth, and the following day, he was arrested. According to the police statement, Fulforth was carrying two bags with tools, gun parts and ammunition during his arrest. On Dec. 17, Roberts was arrested as well.

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Roberts is charged with first-degree murder, robbery, burglary and other related offenses. He is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bail.

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A Maine man is being held without bail following his arrest on domestic violence charges and an hours-long standoff with police in Oakland on Tuesday, state police said.

Jason Grant, 45, of Oakland, is charged with domestic violence criminal threatening, domestic violence terrorizing, violating conditions of release and creating a police standoff, state police said in a statement.

Shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday, the Maine State Police Central Field Troop received a report from a woman reporting threats and violence in Palermo.

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The victim reported that Grant had made threats to harm her and others in her home.

Troopers, Kennebec County Sheriffs deputies and Oakland Police officers responded to Ayer Street in Oakland, where police attempted to have Grant peacefully come out of his home, state police said.

After several hours, Maine State Police Negotiators along with Tactical Team members were able to safely take Grant into custody.

He was transported to the Waldo County Jail where he is being held without bail, state police said.

Oakland is a small town about 4 miles west of Waterville and approximately 18 miles north of Augusta. The towns population was 6,230 at the 2020 census.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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One of the GOP s foremost anti-trans crusaders claims to have been the victim of an assault by a pro-transgender man at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday evening.

Nancy Mace (R-SC) posted on X claiming shed suffered minor injuries to her arm and wrist after the altercation took place at roughly 6 p.m., CNN reports .

I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women. Capitol police have arrested him, she said, describing her alleged attacker as a pro-tr*ns man.

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She added: All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!

Capitol Police confirmed theyd responded to an incident in the Rayburn Office Building, and that officers had subsequently arrested a man named as 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois, who is facing a charge for Assaulting a Government Official.

Mace has made headlines lately for her attempts to get trans women banned from using female restrooms in schools funded by the federal government and federal buildings, including at the Capitol.

The move came after Sarah McBride, an incoming Democratic Party representative, made history as the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress .

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Though MAGA has made no secret of its contempt for those who identify as a different gender to the one they were assigned at birth, trans rights appear to be a relatively new bugbear for Mace.

As recently as July 2023, the South Carolina representative had in fact sought to position herself as an ally to the trans community, even suggesting children ought to be supported in exploring their gender identity.

If they wanna take on a different pronoun or a different gender identity or grow their hair out, or wear a dress or wear pants, or do those things as a minorthose are all things I think most people would support, she told CBS s The Takeout in an interview last year.

Be who you want to be, but dont make permanent changes as a child, she added.
T

Deobra Redden, the man who attacked 62-year-old Las Vegas District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus back in January, has been sentenced to serve between 26 to 65 years in prison, as reported by KLAS-TV in Las Vegas.

District Court Judge Susan Johnson sentenced Redden on Tuesday (Dec. 10), describing the attack as an assault on the entire judiciary.

The viral, initial incident of Redden, 31, catapulting himself over Judge Holthus bench was captured on video and occurred while he was being sentenced in a separate felony battery case. Per courthouse officials, she fell back as Redden flung himself over the bench and grabbed her hair. She did suffer minor injuries, but wasnt hospitalized.

When being sentenced on Tuesday, Redden stated, Im not making excuses for my actions, but Im saying Im not a bad person and I know that I did not intend to kill Mary Kay Holthus.

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He pled guilty, but mentally ill, in September to attempted murder and other charges, ending the trial after Holthus testified that she feared for her life during the altercation.

Reddens defense attorney, Carl Arnold, said the plea reflects a delicate balance between accepting responsibility for a regrettable incident and recognizing the impact of Mr. Reddens untreated mental illness at the time. Arnold told jurors that Redden wasnt taking prescribed medication to manage his diagnosed schizophrenia at the time of the attack.

Prosecutors noted, While he clearly has past mental issues, he made a choice that day and failed to control his homicidal impulses.

KLAS-TV reported that Redden will be eligible for parole after 2050.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Law enforcement officials have charged another man with murder following a deadly shooting in the Capital City in November.

Katie Garceran with the Shawnee County District Attorneys office said in a press release on Dec. 10 that Demari D. Owens, 18, is being charged with murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree and conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree. This is in relation to the deadly shooting of Ricky Washington Jr. last month.

Topeka police were called on Nov. 10 to the 1200 block of Southwest Huntoon Street on reports a shooting had taken place. Officers arriving at the area found a man, later identified as Washington, dead due to several gunshot wounds. Police also found a second shooting victim in the 1200 block of Southwest Lincoln Street who was treated by medical staff.

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Demari was identified as a suspect connected to the shooting following an investigation. Saline County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested him on separate charges on Nov. 11 and took him into custody. He was later transferred to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on Dec. 9.

Man sentenced after 2021 axe killing of ex-girlfriend in Shawnee County

Police also arrested DuJontez J. Owens on Nov. 14 for the shooting death of Washington. He was charged with murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree and conspiracy murder in the first degree.

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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VIENNA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Wednesday further trimmed its forecasts for global oil demand growth this year and next, marking the organization's downward revision for the fifth consecutive month.

In its monthly oil market report for December, OPEC expected a global oil demand growth of 1.61 million barrels per day (bpd) for 2024, down about 210,000 bpd from the growth of 1.82 million bpd projected last month.

OPEC attributed the adjustment to updated data for the first three quarters of this year, particularly the "bearish data" for the third quarter.

Meanwhile, OPEC estimated the 2025 global oil demand growth at 1.45 million bpd, down 90,000 bpd from last month's assessment of 1.54 million bpd. However, the organization insisted that the revised prediction still marks "a healthy growth level compared to pre-pandemic averages."

OPEC has already lowered its forecasts for global oil demand growth in 2024 and 2025 in its monthly market reports for four months in a row since August. OPEC had maintained its global oil demand growth forecasts of 2.25 million bpd this year and 1.85 million bpd next year by August.

Oil prices have generally trended downward in recent weeks due to concerns over slowing global demand and increased supply from producers outside the OPEC+ alliance, which comprises OPEC and its allies. International crude benchmark Brent has traded slightly above 70 U.S. dollars per barrel for the past weeks, down from over 80 dollars in July.

Last week, OPEC+ agreed at a ministerial meeting to keep their current oil output cuts for the first quarter of 2025. 
A Utah man had a very creative way of dealing with allegedly being soldin his wordsa "lemon" by a local car dealership in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. But dealership management has a very different side of the story.

The man, identified as 35-year-old Michael Lee Murray, reportedly purchased a used Subaru Outback from Tim Dahle Mazda Southtowne car dealership in Sandy, UT for $4,000 on Monday morning. But hours later, he drove the vehicle right through the dealership's front window after apparently discovering mechanical issues with the car and at least initially, being denied a refund.

Tyler Slade, a platform manager at the dealership, admitted that the car was being sold "as is" and needed work, but says that they were up front with Murray when he bought it. Yet, when the customer became irate and threatened to drive the vehicle into the dealership, Slade says they tried to rectify the situation by refunding his money or offering him a different car. But he wasn't having it.

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"Were like, 'Woah, we dont need to do that.' Sit down, we can figure this out, we can find a solution," Slade told Fox 13 News. "We were very clear about the fact that this car is not retail. Its gonna need more inspecting and some work."

"In this situation, the customer needed the car, it fit his limited budget. And in our mind were doing him a favor," he explained.

The dealership was at least somewhat prepared for the incident after Murray stormed out and began to rev up the Outback, seemingly making good on his promise. There were about seven salesmen near the front door but thankfully no one was injured. However, the damage to the dealership is estimated at about $10,000.

"I was actually just outside the building, but the noise, you can imagine, was a big bang and a lot of scrambling employees and there was a lot of shuffling going on the last minute before the customer rammed through the front door," Slade added.

For his part, Murray was arrested and booked into jail. He now faces charges of felony criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. And presumably, he definitely won't be getting a refund on the car, which now has worse problems than it did before.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A man is dead and a pregnant woman was shot at a home overnight Wednesday morning in Glasgow Village.

According to the St. Louis County Police Department, the shooting took place shortly after midnight inside a home on the 200 block of Estridge Road. Upon arrival, authorities found a man and a pregnant woman suffering from gunshot wounds.

The male victim, identified as Deonte Anderson, was transported to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead. Anderson was 21.

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The pregnant woman was transported to a nearby hospital suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. The unborn baby was not harmed, according to police.

Parson names Melissa Price Smith next St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney

If you have any information on the shooting, contact the St. Louis County Police Department at (636) 529-8210. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

This is a developing story; FOX 2 will provide more information once it comes into the newsroom.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
CHICAGO  A 23-year-old man has died after being shot multiple times in the citys North Lawndale neighborhood.

Police responded to a call of shots fired around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday on the 1100 block of South Francisco Avenue, and discovered a man on the street with multiple gunshots to the body.

He was transported in critical condition to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounded dead.

Man found fatally shot in South Chicago alley

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No one in custody and Area Four detectives are investigating.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The man accused of attacking a woman on a Clark County bike path has been found guilty on all charges.

Adam Humphreys, 19, had been charged with Attempted Rape, Kidnapping and Strangulation for the May 2024 attack.

The trial, which began Monday, Dec. 9, was handed over to the jury the next day. It took the jury a little over an hour to come to its verdicts.

Man sentenced to prison for 2022 Miami Township murder

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Humphreys had already been a registered sex offender due to an incident when he was a minor. Now the state is working to address how that status could mean for his sentencing. According to prosecutors, the conviction will mean that he will have to register with the state as a violent sex offender.

During the trial, the prosecution detailed how during the attack, Humphreys violently knocked the victim to the ground and attempted to grope her. She was able to fight him off and call 911.

She later identified him in a lineup and provided DNA evidence connecting him to the attack.

Humphreys pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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He is due back in court for disposition on Jan. 13. He will be held without bond until then.

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Dec. 10A 27-year-old man will spend at least the next three decades in prison for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl in Harrison Twp.

Seth David Barber of Lexington, Ohio, was sentenced Monday by Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Timothy O'Connell to 30 years to life in prison.

A jury last month found Barber guilty of two counts each of rape involving a child younger than 10 and sexual battery.

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Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies responded Sept. 20, 2023, to a report of a sexual assault of a child.

A 7-year-old girl described sexual abuse during an interview at Care House on Valley Street in Dayton, according to Vandalia Municipal Court records.

The abuse reportedly began in August 2023 and happened more than once.

Barber also was designated a Tier III sex offender. The highest level, if he is released from prison it will require him to register his address with his local sheriff's office every 90 days for life.
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI)  Officers arrested a man who became stuck in a chimney while trying to avoid being captured Tuesday, according to police.

Fall River Police Lt. Matthew Mendes told 12 News the Community Action Suppression Team was executing a search warrant at home on Canal Street at the time.

In an attempt to evade investigators, the target of the search warrant jumped out of a window and tried to hide inside a chimney, but became stuck, Mendes said.

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Mendes said the firefighters had to break the chimney in order to get him out. He was then brought to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

Its unclear what charges the man is facing at this time.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A man who was already incarcerated in a Massachusetts jail was indicted on a capital murder charge in connection with a 1980 Austin cold case, according to court documents.

Deck Brewer Jr., 78, was indicted on one count of capital murder and one count of murder, records state.

Austin Police identify suspect in 1980 cold case; arrest warrant issued

KXAN has reached out to Brewers attorney. We will update this if a statement is received.

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On Jan. 9, 1980, the Austin Police Department received a call from a man who said he witnessed a kidnapping that happened in the 200 block of Franklin Avenue in central Austin, according to court records. The next day, APD received a report of a body found in an alley in the 2000 block of 17th Street. The body was identified as 25-year-old Susan Leigh Wolfe.

According to police, Wolfe was walking to her friends house when the kidnapping happened.

DNA match possibly linked to 1980 Austin cold case, search warrant says

A pathologist determined the cause of death for Wolfe was a gunshot wound to the head and ruled the death a homicide, according to APD.

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The case went cold until authorities filed a search warrant earlier this year to obtain DNA swabs from Brewer while he was in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections on unrelated charges. That DNA came back as a match for Brewer, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to online court records, the murder charges were filed together back in August. However, a grand jury did not return the indictment until Tuesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A man was sentenced for the 2022 deadly shooting of his girlfriend in Miami Township.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Miami Twp. man accused of killing girlfriend indicted on charges

Juvall Jenkins, 31, pleaded guilty to two felony counts each of murder and felonious assault Tuesday, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutors Officer.

As previously reported by News Center 7, officers responded on Dec. 17, 2022, to a report of shots fired at the Spring Hill Apartments on State Route 741.

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Upon arrival, officers met with a resident who reported a bullet had hit a bedroom wall.

They determined the direction the bullet came from and went to that apartment.

Officers found the deceased body of Kayla Marie Davis, 29, who was shot several times.

>>RELATED: Miami Twp. man accused of killing girlfriend facing murder charges

Several hours later, Jenkins approached a state trooper in Tennessee. He said that he shot his girlfriend and troopers located a gun, the prosecutors office said.

Tennessee State Troopers transported him back to Montgomery County.

Jenkins pleaded guilty to all charges.

He was sentenced to 15 years to life plus an additional three years for using a firearm, the prosecutors office.

That is a total of 18 years to life.

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Members of the 20th Chinese medical team for Malta offer free health consultations and clinical services to students at the University of Malta in Msida, Malta, on Dec. 11, 2024. Maltese students have been discovering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Chinese language this week, in a unique cultural experience organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

VALLETTA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Maltese students have been discovering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Chinese language this week, in a unique cultural experience organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta.

A group of around 30 students took part in the event on Wednesday, a collaboration between the institute and the 20th Chinese medical team for Malta from the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM).

Wang Weili, a teacher from the Confucius Institute, helped participants to learn the pronunciation of the names of the main body parts in Chinese, and they also simulated a visit to a doctor in Chinese.

After the language session, Tang Limei, a member of the Chinese medical team, delivered a lecture called "small ears, great functions." The presentation focused on the position of auricular acupoints, and exploring their clinical applications in TCM.

The medical team members presented students with fragrant sachets from China as gifts, and offered free health consultations and clinical services.

"China has a huge population, so learning Chinese would allow me to communicate with many people," student Mai Ashour told Xinhua. She is interested in exploring TCM treatments such as acupuncture to address her allergies, she said.

"When it comes to TCM, we know how rich Chinese culture is," said Rana Abuein. She also expressed her desire to learn Chinese and explore Chinese culture. "Travelling to China is in the plan," she added.

Meanwhile, Josh Wiebe described the event as a "fantastic opportunity" to experience a different culture, language, and approach to health. "I learned a few new words in Chinese, but I might need a few more classes to get the accent right," he said, adding that he hopes to participate in similar events in the future.

"It was an amazing experience," said Matilde Ferrario, adding that the event had allowed her to practice Chinese and consult with Chinese doctors for medical advice. She also shared her aspiration to study in China in the future. 

Members of the 20th Chinese medical team for Malta offer free health consultations and clinical services to students at the University of Malta in Msida, Malta, on Dec. 11, 2024. Maltese students have been discovering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Chinese language this week, in a unique cultural experience organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

Tang Limei (R), a member of the 20th Chinese medical team for Malta, explains auricular acupoints to students at the University of Malta in Msida, Malta, on Dec. 11, 2024. Maltese students have been discovering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Chinese language this week, in a unique cultural experience organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

Tang Limei (Rear), a member of the 20th Chinese medical team for Malta, gives a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine at the University of Malta in Msida, Malta, on Dec. 11, 2024. Maltese students have been discovering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Chinese language this week, in a unique cultural experience organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

Students attend a cultural event themed "When Chinese Language Meets Traditional Chinese Medicine" at the University of Malta in Msida, Malta, on Dec. 11, 2024. Maltese students have been discovering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Chinese language this week, in a unique cultural experience organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

A student looks at an auricular acupoint model at the University of Malta in Msida, Malta, on Dec. 11, 2024. Maltese students have been discovering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Chinese language this week, in a unique cultural experience organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

Students simulate a visit to a doctor in Chinese at the University of Malta in Msida, Malta, on Dec. 11, 2024. Maltese students have been discovering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Chinese language this week, in a unique cultural experience organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man pleaded guilty to charges in connection to a family dog attack that left a baby hospitalized.

Read next: Card skimmers found in local grocery stores

Dillon Gallagher, 26, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a third-degree child endangering felony before Judge Sean OBrien of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. He could face up to three years in prison and will be sentenced following a background investigation.

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The case involved a June 28 incident in Gallaghers Frederick Street home where he and his wife reportedly fell asleep on a couch with their seven-week-old son. The couple woke up a few hours later to find the child on the floor with his diaper in shreds and according to the prosecutor, the baby suffering life-threatening injuries which included bite marks, a lacerated liver and other internal injuries.

A subsequent investigation by Niles police found that the child had been mauled by a German Shepherd in the house. The child spent a long period recovering in the Akron Childrens Hospital.

The childs mother, Brianna McNeese, also faces endangering children charge and has a hearing set for Dec. 18 before Judge Cynthia Rice.

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Dec. 10LIMA  A Lima man was sentenced to a minimum of 11 years in prison Tuesday in the Allen County Common Pleas Court on assault and firearm charges after pleading guilty to the charges last month.

The sentence was agreed upon when Dewayne Carter Jr., 43, pleaded guilty to third-degree felonies of attempted assault, illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises and having weapons while under disability along with a second-degree felonious assault charge with a three-year firearm specification.

Judge Jeffrey Reed previously explained Carter would be eligible to apply for judicial release after 10 years are served.

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The charges stem from two incidents, one on Jan. 12 and one on April 30.

According to court documents, on Jan. 12, Lima police went to the Bite & Buzz parking lot at 701 S. Main St. on a report of a shooting. Police found a male in the parking lot with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds on the right side of his face and his inner right thigh and a broken jaw. Carter had fled the scene and was not immediately located. The victim said he knew Carter, adding that the altercation centered around Carter's wife.

Carter said before sentencing Tuesday that he was under the influence when both incidents occurred.

His record in the Allen County Common Pleas Court shows he previously faced charges of cocaine possession and trafficking, failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and having weapons under disability.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A Madison County Judge has sentenced the man responsible for a 2022 shooting in Huntsville.

Madison County Judge Claude E. Hundley III, in front of a deeply emotional courtroom, sentenced 20-year-old Jerry Tate Ingram to 10 years, split to serve two followed by five years of probation for the 2022 shooting death of Jaylen Hill.

Ingram spoke before being sentenced, admitting that he had done wrong. Ingram said he was best friends with Hill, a father-to-be just before his death.

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Im sorry that it happened the way that it did, said Ingram. Im sorry that I never got to meet his son.

Judge Hundley heard from the families of Ingram and Hill before reaching his sentencing decision.

Ingrams mother claimed that he didnt know what happened that night. She said a group of friends were all playing with the gun. According to her testimony, Hill and Ingram were friends and wrestling over the gun when it went off.

Ingrams mother asked for the judges mercy when deciding his sentence.

Hills great-aunt, Lisa Hill, said the killing has destroyed her family.

Friends dont kill friends, said Hill.

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Tim Douthit with the Madison County District Attorneys Office argued that Ingram has shown no remorse or apology.

This court is faced with lives lost and lives altered, said Judge Hundley before handing down the sentence. I dont know what its going to take or what message this court can send about how delicate life is.

Ingram was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in October.

On Sept. 22, 2022, Huntsville Police officers were called to a shots fired call around 11:20 p.m. in the Five Points neighborhood and when officers got to the scene, they found Hill shot. Hill was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Both were Hill and Ingram 18 years old at the time of the crime.

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LISBON, Ohio (WKBN) - An East Liverpool man will spend more than 20 years behind bars after pleading guilty to raping a child.

Read next: 2 arrested after August assault; one charged with attempted murder

Joseph Goss, 41, pleaded guilty on Sept. 24 to two amended charges of rape, first-degree felonies; and gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, as part of a plea agreement.

Goss was charged following a secret indictment in July. The indictment states that Goss raped a child, who is now 13, from January 2022 to March 2024.

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The sentencing entry states the court received letters from family members of the victim and read a letter from the victim onto the record.

Goss was sentenced to 25 years in prison with a maximum sentence of 30 years. He will then serve supervised parole for 5 years.

The court found that consecutive prison sentences were necessary to punish Goss and protect the public from future crimes, the judgment entry states.

He was also designated a Tier III Sex Offender.

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ABERDEEN, Miss. (WJTV)  A man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his illegal possession of ammunition during an incident in which a Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) trooper was shot.

Stanley Self, Jr., 25, has been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including robbery and aggravated assault, and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

Two killed, one injured in Natchez shooting

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On May 2, 2023, a trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Self in Bolivar County. Prosecutors said Self fled from the trooper, leading him on a chase through the county. He eventually lost control of the vehicle, and shot Trooper Ryan Watson.

According to prosecutors, the firearm was never recovered in this case, but the shell casings were recovered. Self was later arrested at an apartment complex in Brandon, Mississippi.

During Selfs sentencing hearing in Aberdeen, Watson testified about the speed of the chase, the dangerousness to the public at large during the chase, and the impact that being shot. Watson said he has not been able to return to active duty due to the serious nature of the injuries that he suffered.

Self will serve this sentence concurrently with any sentence that he receives for state offenses relating to this incident.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A judge sentenced the man who attacked another Las Vegas judge earlier this year to at least 26 years in prison, saying the incident was an attack on the entire judiciary.

On Jan. 3, Deobra Redden, 31, attacked Las Vegas District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus as Holthus was sentencing him to prison in another case.

During his trial for attempted murder in September, Redden pleaded guilty but mentally ill after Holthus and her law clerk testified. Reddens scheduled sentencing two weeks ago was rescheduled because he was not transported from prison to the court.

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On Tuesday, prosecutors asked District Court Judge Susan Johnson for substantial prison time while Reddens attorneys suggested he serve a concurrent prison sentence to the one he was already serving under Holthus. Reddens attorney, Carl Arnold, said the time amounted to four to 11 years.

Redden was serving prison time on the attempted battery charge, which Holthus sentenced him to as the initial hearing continued on Jan. 8.

Johnson declined to sentence Redden concurrently as his attorney asked. Instead, she sentenced him to an aggregate prison term of 26-65 years.

It was not just retaliation or an attack on Judge Holthus, Johnson said, It was also an attack on the judiciary. Johnson added that doctors who evaluated Redden concluded he knew the difference between right and wrong.

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Redden was in Holthus courtroom on Jan. 3 for sentencing on a charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm. Holthus, who was 62 at the time, was sitting behind the bench, which she described as 4 feet high, when Redden ran up to her, jumped over the desk and attacked her, video showed. Several other people, including Holthus courtroom marshal and her law clerk, then fought with Redden before throwing him to the ground.

Deobra Redden cries in court before a judge sentences him for attacking another judge on Jan. 3. 2024. (KLAS)

Im not a bad person, Im not an evil guy, Redden told Johnson before she sentenced him. Im not making excuses for my actions, but Im saying Im not a bad person, and I know that I did not intend to kill Mary Kay Holthus, I know I cared about her wellbeing.

Holthus did not speak during the sentencing. Instead, prosecutors read a statement from her.

He made a conscious decision to kill me and made every effort to succeed, the statement said, If he had his way, hed be facing a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for murder.

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Redden appeared in front of Holthus several times before Januarys attack. He was previously in front of Holthus on charges of malicious destruction of property.

Redden pleaded guilty to another charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm in November 2023. Holthus later issued a bench warrant for his arrest in December after he missed a court appearance. That hearing, his sentencing, continued on Jan. 3.

Redden spoke during the sentencing, saying in part, he was not an evil person.

I saw nothing but red, Redden said, adding he did not remember anything else from that day.

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With credit for time served, Redden would be eligible for parole in the 2050s.

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Dec. 10A man was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of his girlfriend in Miami Twp. nearly two years ago.

Juvall Antonio Jenkins, 31, pleaded guilty two to counts each of murder and felonious assault on Tuesday, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office.

He was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.

On Dec. 17, 2022, Miami Twp. police responded to Spring Hill Apartments on state Route 741 for a report of gunfire.

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When officers arrived, they spoke to a resident who said a bullet hit a bedroom wall, according to the prosecutor's office.

Police used the trajectory of the bullet that struck the headboard of a bed to determine the shot was fired inside another apartment, according to Miamisburg Municipal Court documents.

The front door to that apartment was reportedly unlocked, and no one responded when police called out.

Officers found 29-year-old Kayla Marie Davis dead inside the apartment. She had been shot several times.

Police also found four shell casings.

Investigators determined from prior calls to the apartment that Davis lived there with her children and had a protection order against Jenkins, the father of the children, who also had lived there.

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Officers contacted Jenkins, who said he had no idea where Davis or the children were, according to municipal court records. Police later learned the children were with their grandmother.

Hours later, Tennessee State Highway Patrol told dispatchers Jenkins approached a trooper on in Knox County and said he shot and possibly killed his girlfriend, according to the prosecutor's office.

A Miami Twp. detective spoke to the trooper, who said "Jenkins told him the address the incident happened at ... and gave his girlfriend's name," an affidavit stated.

Jenkins was arrested and brought back to Ohio before being booked in the Montgomery County Jail.
A judge has sentenced a man in the 2023 shooting of a jogger in a SouthPark neighborhood to more than ten years in prison.

The shooting happened in Sept. 2023 on Sharon Road, near Myers Park. Police reports said a man was jogging when another man  later identified as Stephen Montgomery  randomly approached the jogger, pulled a gun on him, and then shot him in the hand and leg.

ALSO: Jogger shot near Myers Park, suspect in custody

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The jogger survived and soon after, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department identified Montgomery as the suspect. Authorities confirmed Montgomery and the victim didnt know each other.

Police said Montgomery, a convicted felon who had a stolen gun, fired multiple shots, including hitting a car that was driving by on Sharon Road.

The Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office said Montgomery, 34, ultimately pled guilty to multiple charges including first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

For the assault and firearm charges, Montgomery was sentenced to 127-165 months in prison. For the remaining charges, he was sentenced to 110-144 months in prison. The DAs Office said those sentences will run concurrently.

WATCH: CMPD launches new safety initiative
ST. LOUIS  A man who boasted about selling drugs while on house arrest in a music video was sentenced to decades behind bars in connection with a deadly St. Louis County overdose.

A federal judge sentenced Deontae TreVon Overall, 28, to 23 years and eight months in prison on Tuesday after jurors convicted him of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

Investigators say Overall sold the fake Percocet pills that killed a man in St. Louis County in 2022.

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Missouri lawmaker proposes merger of St. Louis City and St. Louis County

Evidence and testimony at Overalls trial in September revealed that the victim and Overall exchanged cell phone messages on Dec. 3, 2022, during which the victim sought the prescription pain pill Percocet.

The victim, whose identity has been withheld, bought three pills from Overall that appeared to be Percocet The victim died later that evening from fentanyl intoxication caused by ingesting the fake Percocet.

The victim of this mans illegal business was poisoned by a pill, said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey, head of Drug Enforcement Administration operations in Eastern Missouri, via a news release. No one could have known was in it.

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Investigators say a drug sale involving an undercover officer and a court-approved search of Overalls home in 2023 were significant developments in uncovering his role in the fatal overdose.

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On Tuesday, during Overalls sentencing hearing, a judge said that Overall glorified the drug trade by referring to a music video in which Overall discussed selling drugs while on house arrest and displayed his ankle monitor.

Im going to send a message to other drug dealers, said U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp.

Overall was also ordered to pay $21,736 in restitution to his victims family.

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Dec. 11An Albert Lea man reportedly suffered a medical episode Tuesday afternoon that led to him crashing into a telephone pole and then ending up on the ice on Fountain Lake's Edgewater Bay.

Police stated Kenneth Ayers, 89, was driving a 2022 Dodge Ram pickup north on 733rd Avenue at 3:18 p.m. when he struck the telephone pole at the northeast corner of the road's intersection with Edgewater Drive, turned toward the lake, took out a dock marker and then went out onto the ice, coming to rest on rocks on the side of the lake.

It was unclear if he was attempting to turn or if he went off the road when he initially hit the pole.

Ayers was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea by Mayo Ambulance.
HAVANA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cuba denounced as a "theft of Cuban trademarks" a new U.S. law which secured Bacardi's Havana Club rum trademark in the U.S. market amid a lengthy legal battle.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejects the so-called 'Law to Not Recognize Stolen Trademarks in the United States,' recently signed by the President of the United States," read an official statement released by Cuba's foreign ministry Tuesday.

Bacardi, a Bermuda-based privately-held spirits company, left Cuba in 1959 and is the sole seller of the Puerto Rico-made Havana Club-branded rum in the U.S. market.

For over 20 years, the Cuban government has been in legal disputes with Bacardi over rights to the trademark in the U.S. market, to which Cuba-made Havana Club rum has been denied access due to the U.S. systemic trade embargo, economic blockade, and financial sanctions since 1962.

The statement claimed that the legislation, recently signed by U.S. President Joe Biden, is "a new unilateral coercive measure that reinforces the blockade against the Cuban economy."

"This law deals another blow to the international system of industrial property protection and confirms the United States' disregard for institutions of international law," the statement said, adding that it violates both the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

The ministry characterized the legislation as effectively granting "a license for piracy, paving the way for the theft of legitimately registered Cuban trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark Office." 
A man wanted for attempted homicide in Minnesota was arrested in Pittsburgh Wednesday.

Theodore Jaymes is charged with second degree attempted murder for shooting a woman in the leg multiple times on the Light Rail Train in St. Paul.

The U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force received a request from the U.S. Marshals Office in St. Paul Minnesota and the Ramsey County Sheriffs Office asking for assistance in locating and apprehending Jaymes, officials said. Through their investigation, the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force learned that Jaymes may be staying in East Liberty.

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Jaymes was taken into custody in the 5400 block of Baywood Street without incident, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

The arrest of this fugitive is the result of the cooperative investigative efforts between U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Allegheny County Sheriffs Office, the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

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GLUCKSTADT, Miss. (WJTV)  Gluckstadt police arrested a man who was wanted in Louisiana.

On Tuesday, December 10, an officer made a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver was identified as John Henry Goods.

Mississippi man charged with killing Texas police officer

According to police, Goods had warrants for aggravated rape and possession of a controlled substance with two different agencies in Louisiana.

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Goods was arrested and transported to the Madison County Detention Center to await extradition to Louisiana.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two people are facing charges after Memphis police say they burglarized Mud Islands newest attraction.

Memphis Police say 24-year-old Garrett Rogers and 20-year-old Olivia Coletta broke into Mud Islands newest up-and-coming attraction located in the former Mud-Island Museum.

Police say Rogers and Coletta were caught on camera walking inside the business early Sunday morning.

According to the police report, Rogers was seen taking a 55-inch TV, a Red Bull Refrigerator, and a skateboard out of the business.

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I hate to see that because you know your tax dollars go for places like this for families to come to and everything and then you know you got people that come down here at night and break in. I mean Ive had my truck broken in here, said Clay Young, who works along the Mississippi River.

The owner says the duo broke the lock on the door to get inside. Both were arrested on the scene and charged.

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Coletta was released on her own recognizance while Rogers was originally given a $50,500 bond. His bond was lowered and he was also released on his own recognizance.

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Despite the break-in, big things are coming to Mud Island. New businesses and attractions are springing up with hopes of bringing more people to the once-bustling destination.

Young says working along the river and being from Memphis, hed love to see new life poured into the area.

Thats great. Thats really great, Young said. I would like to see it open back up.

The Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time are expected to be a family-friendly, immersive art installation. WREG introduced you to those behind the project earlier this year.

Baron Von Opperbean immersive adventure planned in former Mud Island museum

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Were turning 33,000 square feet of the mud-island museum into an adventure play park, said Christopher Reyes, an artist and technologist.

Garrett Rogers and Olivia Coletta are both charged with criminal trespass, burglary of a building, theft of property $1000-$2500, and vandalism $1000 or less.

Rogers is due back in court on December 17 and Coletta is due back on February 3, 2025.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Senate Democrats failed Wednesday to confirm a Democratic member of the National Labor Relations Board after independent Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema opposed the nomination, thwarting their hopes of locking in a majority at the federal agency for the first two years of President-elect Donald Trump's term.

A vote to move ahead with the nomination of Lauren McFarren, who currently chairs the NLRB, failed 49-50. Had she been confirmed to another five-year term, it would have cemented a Democratic majority on the agency's board for the first two years of the incoming Trump administration. Now, Trump will likely be able to nominate McFarren's replacement.

The NLRB oversees labor disputes, supervises union elections and has the power to investigate unfair labor practices. The partisan breakdown of the NLRBs leadership is fiercely contested by businesses and labor groups, as the majority on the board sets the agenda and determines how readily the agency uses its power to investigate and enforce labor laws.

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It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee  with a proven track record of protecting worker rights  did not have the votes," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement.

The rejection of McFarren was yet another blow to Senate Democrats and President Joe Biden from Manchin and Sinema, who served as major brakes  and at times outright obstacles  to much of their legislative agenda the first two years of Biden's term.

Manchin left the Democratic Party in May, while Sinema withdrew from the party in 2022. Both chose not to run for another Senate term and will be leaving the Congress in January.

Some congressional Republicans praised Manchin and Sinema for preventing the confirmation.

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This NLRB seat should be filled by President Trump and the new incoming Senate. Not a historically unpopular president and a Senate Democrat Majority that has lost its mandate to govern, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, said in a statement after the vote.

Big Labor knows the days of having the federal government do its bidding are numbered, Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., wrote in a statement. Foxx, who chairs the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said that the incoming Trump administration would focus on enacting a truly pro-worker agenda.

Business groups also praised the rejection of McFarren. Kristen Swearingen, a vice president at Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade group, called McFarren's policies harmful and said the process to nominate her was flawed.

Under McFerrans leadership, the NLRB has issued decisions and expanded interpretations of the National Labor Relations Act that have been rejected by the business community, Congress and federal courts," argued Swearingen.

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Labor unions decried the vote. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest consortium of labor unions, said the senators who rejected McFarren's nomination voted against the working people of this country and warned that the incoming Trump administration would direct the NLRB to side with management over workers.

Make no mistake: This vote had nothing to do with stopping Chair McFerrans renomination and everything to do with reversing generations of progress workers have made toward building a fairer and more just economy," Shuler said.

Democratic lawmakers, like Schumer, took a dim view of the vote. Some directed their anger directly at Manchin and Sinema.

Shortchanging workers is a bad way to leave, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., wrote on social media.

___
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia on Tuesday voted not to confirm President Joe Bidens renomination of Lauren McFerran as member of the National Labor Relations Board. The nays from the pair of independents, who both declined to run for reelection in 2024, will block continued control of the labor regulator by Democrats  their former party, which theyve still caucused with  and paves the way for President-elect Donald Trumps next administration to strip worker rights while pursuing an anti-union agenda.

McFerran is the current chair and one of three Democrats serving on the NLRB, which enforces labor law as a federal agency. Ordinarily, the board has five members, each nominated to a five-year term by the sitting president, but there are only four at the moment, including one Republican. Cutting McFerrans tenure short allows the GOP to gain a three-member majority instead of preserving a Democratic advantage through 2026.

Sinema, who hadnt cast a vote in the Senate since before Thanksgiving, apparently showed up specifically to side with Republicans against McFerrans appointment, with Manchin then arriving late to deliver the tie-breaking blow for a final tally of 49 in favor and 50 against. Had he not turned up, Vice President Kamala Harris would have presumably voted to keep McFerran on track for another term on the NLRB. Democrats in the chamber and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders had urged outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to do everything he could to ensure Democrats retained the balance of power on the board.

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Its hardly the first time Manchin and Sinema have aligned to thwart Democratic plans in the Senate. Most infamously, in 2022, they joined Republicans in voting down a proposed one-time change to the filibuster that would have cleared the way for two major voting rights bills. The legislation was aimed at ensuring free and fair elections after Trumps lies about the 2020 election being stolen led to GOP politicians and officials cracking down on voter access across the country.

Both senators also have a record of failing to support workers rights and deferring to corporate interests. Manchin, who has made millions from his familys coal waste brokerage company Enersystems over the years, previously allied with Republicans to kill a progressive labor reform that would have held huge companies like McDonalds liable for the labor conditions imposed by their franchisees or subcontractors. He also effectively killed the Build Back Better Act, which had a provision to penalized companies that prevent employees from unionizing. Sinema opposed it as well, and she once made a spectacle of voting against an increase to the minimum wage.

Its unclear what Manchin plans to do after his term ends in January, but he served as president of Enersystems before entering politics and could return to the energy business. He will be succeeded on the hill by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican. Sinema, set to be replaced by Democrat Ruben Gallego, once allegedly told Sen. Mitt Romney that she could do anything once she left office, explaining, I can go on any board I want to. I can be a college president. An aide to Sinema suggested that this personal conversation, reported in a 2023 political biography of Romney, had been misconstrued.

Nevertheless, the political stances they took in the Senate have positioned Sinema and Manchin to cash in on corporate opportunities, like many former conservative Democratic lawmakers who acted as a thorn in the side of their party before becoming lobbyists or consultants. After all, both senators have done plenty to protect rich executives profits  while ensuring they can continue to exploit low-wage workers.

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Thomas Dickey, who is representing Luigi Mangione, said he hasnt seen any evidence that his client is guilty of being the suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week.

I dont want people to jump to these prejudgment things, because nobody would ever want that if they were accused or their loved ones were accused, Dickey told NewsNations Cuomo on Tuesday evening.

He added that in the hearing Tuesday, he had not seen any evidence yet that would implicate Mangione.

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I dont even know if this is him or whatever, Dickey said. So, were going to test those waters and give the government a chance to bring some evidence forward.

Mangione was arrested and charged Monday in connection to the murder of the health care executive. Thompson was shot and killed in Manhattan last week, and a manhunt ensued looking for the masked suspect.

The University of Pennsylvania graduate was taken into custody as a person of interest at a McDonalds roughly two hours outside of Pittsburgh after an employee tipped off law enforcement. Mangione, 26, was carrying a ghost gun, silencer and a fake New Jersey ID card with a name on it consistent with the one the suspect used to check into a New York hostel on Nov. 24.

In Pennsylvania, he was charged with five crimes, unrelated to the shooting. They included forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and false identification to law enforcement.

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Prosecutors indicate they expect Mangione will face a homicide charge in New York. With an arrest warrant underway, authorities sought to extradite the suspect back to Manhattan, which Dickey said they will oppose.

According to the New York Police Department, Mangione authored a three-page document that expressed some ill will toward corporate America.

In his Tuesday interview, Dickey maintained that no evidence has been brought that suggests his client was connected to the shooting. He also noted the gun found on Mangione in the McDonalds has not yet been definitively matched to the one used to kill Thompson.

Earlier Tuesday, a judge denied Mangione bail. Dickey argued his client is entitled to bail under Pennsylvania law and the judge should have set bail.

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Before the hearing Tuesday, Mangione shouted at the press outside the courthouse, yelling out the phrases completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people.

Dickey also noted he has met with Mangione and intends to develop a relationship and bond with his client.

He seemed to understand my questions. He seemed to be able to interact with me, and so I was pleased with that, he told the host.

Dickey was asked at a press conference earlier Tuesday about Mangiones mood, to which he replied telling people to use their common sense about how it would feel to be accused of such a crime.

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The attorney also joined CNNs Kaitlan Collins, where he refused to say who was paying for his employment in the case. He did acknowledge, however, that people were reaching out to offer to pay Mangiones legal bills.

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Dec. 11An Alabama program designed to help students enter manufacturing careers early is now the largest of its kind in the nation.

The program, known as the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education or FAME program, began in Alabama in 2014 at Calhoun Community College. Since 2014, more than 600 students in Alabama's community colleges have graduated from the program, and half of those students came from Calhoun.

Calhoun's Dean of Technologies John Holley said they initially launched the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, or FAME Program, to assist Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. in Madison County with job hires.

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"We were the first FAME chapter in the state of Alabama," Holley said. "From Toyota, the program branched out into a partnership with other companies and developed into a board of directors with bylaws. They meet every couple of months and if there is any interest a company wants to come in and be a part of it, they'll sit down with them."

The recent announcement of the newest FAME chapter at J.F. Drake State Community & Technical College makes Alabama the program's largest statewide partner, according to the Alabama Community College System.

The FAME Program is an industry-led program with 40 chapters across 17 states that pair students with industrial employers while they take classes at community colleges. Students work three days a week and take classes two days a week. At Calhoun, those courses are taken at Alabama Robotics Technology Park except for precision measurement and welding, which are taken on the school's main campus. A grade of a C or higher is required to graduate from the FAME program.

Since the program at Calhoun began, several companies have partnered with the college such as Y-tec Keylex Toyotetsu Alabama, Inc. YKTA, GE Appliances, Sonoco, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. More than 300 students have graduated from Calhoun's program in those 10 years.

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Holley said the five-semester program was relatively short compared to the average time it takes for a community college student to earn an associate's degree.

"It's not unheard of for a community college student to take five or six years to complete an associate's degree," Holley said. "For a student to finish in less than two years is really awesome."

Calhoun student Heather Nelson is in her first year with the FAME program after having heard about it while working on the production line at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA.

"I was six months or so into my career when I heard about this program," Nelson said. "Our first summer before we start classes in the fall, we go to our shop the first time to get on-the-job training so when school does start, we'll know the things we need to hone in on."

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Nelson said after she graduates from the program, she will be able to work as a full-time maintenance technician or skilled team member. Her current job title in the program is maintenance apprentice.

Nathan Steele, director of collaborative programs at Calhoun, said the college implements a point system for the program that students must abide by.

"If they are late, it's half a point and if they are absent without an excuse, that's a point," Steele said. "They can't exceed three points."

Holley said student wages vary by company, with some offering tuition reimbursement in addition to hourly wages.

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"We have some companies who pay them for 40 hours, even while they're at school, and we have some companies who do not," Holley said. "We also have some who do tuition reimbursement. Each company is different as far as benefits they offer."

With a retention rate of 90%, Holley said most students who graduate from the Calhoun program still work in the same field they initially pursued as freshmen.

"When they do (graduate), the ones we do know about are not leaving and they're staying in our area," Holley said. "That is great for helping with our workforce and labor issues."

According to the ACCS, students can potentially earn as much as $33,500 during their two years in the program. The ACCS also said those students are eligible for grants and financial aid.

 wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Alaska Airlines announced a new strategic plan Tuesday to offer at least 12 nonstop global destinations with long-haul widebody aircraft from Seattle by 2030.

Dubbing Seattle a "new global gateway," Alaska said it will begin offering nonstop flights from Seattle to Tokyo in May and Seoul in October.

"There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of Alaska Air Group," Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement. "Now, with the combination with Hawaiian Airlines, we will transform our business and solidify our competitive advantage for years to come."

The Alaska Air Group, based in SeaTac, includes subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, McGee Air Services and the recently acquired Hawaiian Airlines.

Tokyo and Seoul were first on the list because Hawaiian Airlines was already in those two markets. While Alaska already flies Boeing 737 MAXs to Mexico and Central America, Hawaiian flies across the Pacific Ocean, using long-haul widebody jets to reach destinations in Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Alaska also updated its 2027 financial targets Tuesday to include 1 billion U.S. dollars in profits and earnings per share of at least 10 dollars. It expects full year 2025 earnings per share to reach 5.75 dollars.

For the three months between July and September this year, the most recent financial information available, Alaska reported 3 billion dollars in revenue and 236 million dollars in profit, which amounts to 1.84 dollars per share.

The commercial side of the business will drive the vast majority of its anticipated profit growth, the company said, with an estimate that it will bring in an additional 800 million dollars in revenue over the next three years. 
NEW YORK (PIX11)  A big night for Latin superstar Marc Anthony and his foundation Maestro Cares. Many celebrities, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists gathered at Wall Street Cipriani for the 11th annual gala and silent auction.

The proceeds from this event will provide support to help underprivileged children.

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Changing the lives of children and building their dreams. Thats what the Maestro Cares Foundation is all about.

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Whether it is the churches, the schools, community centers, meeting with children that we put through schools, said Marc Anthony. The international music icon and entrepreneur Henry Cardenas created the foundation 11 years ago in La Romana, Dominican Republic when they opened the first orphanage.

One Christmas I went, I spent time with them, the Holidays with them, there were 48 kids in a two-bedroom house, and I said, I dont ever want to see that again and I did something about it, added Marc.

The Maestro Cares mission is to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged children and communities in Latin America and the United States.

Scholarships are also given to students to help them excel academically.

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When you see someone with a bachelors degree thats why we invest our time, stated Cardenas.

Or even more than a bachelors. Vanessa Malagon is finishing up a masters degree in construction management from Louisiana State University. All at no cost.

I think is amazing I struggled a lot when I was getting my bachelors and here, I was really loving to be able to focus on what is the important part, said Malagon,

Many of Marcs friends said yes to the mission Tuesday evening.

This is quite a production, but it is not a party. It is to raise awareness, bring in the people that have deep pockets, and start making a difference, said actor and TV personality, Carlos Ponce.

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Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy-nominated actress and choreographer, Rosie Perez was honored with the Maestro Cares Courage to CareAward.

We cant be prejudiced against children who are born into a certain situation either poverty, abuse, or neglect, so we need organizations like this to make a difference in the world, said Perez.

Actress Diana Ramirez and our very own Marisol Castros took over the stage MCs of the night.

This a part of who we are as messengers of something bigger that really moves me and I love being a part of it, said Ramirez.

This obviously means so much to a Boricua born and bred here in NYC. To raise awareness for education, and marginalized communities. Headlined by the one and only Marc Anthony, Added Castro.

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As Marc Anthony, who is a father 7 says, It is about shaping the future for these children in a safe and healthy environment

its giving a helping hand. Community centers saved my life. was born and raised in east Harlem, and I am a product of those programs. Concluded Marc.

To this date, the Maestro Cares Foundation has funded 39 projects in 16 Latin American countries. Supporting childrens developmental and academic needs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The Maricopa County attorney and the Arizona attorney general have agreed to drop a dispute over who has the authority to request execution warrants.

County Attorney Rachel Mitchell had been critical of Attorney General Kris Mayes' pause on the death penalty, leading her to ask the Supreme Court for a death warrant for prisoner Aaron Gunches.

Mayes forcefully rejected that request in a response motion, saying the authority rests solely with her office.

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In June, the Arizona Supreme Court said it would hear arguments on the dispute.

Gunches was sentenced to death for the 2002 murder of Ted Price, a former longtime boyfriend of Gunches' girlfriend. He kidnapped and then shot Price multiple times in a desert area off the Beeline Highway.

Former Attorney General Mark Brnovich previously requested a warrant for Gunches' execution, and the Supreme Court granted it, but Gov. Katie Hobbs and Mayes allowed the warrant to expire while they waited for an outside review of Arizona's death penalty process that Hobbs ordered.

At the time, Hobbs said the review was needed because "Arizona has a history of mismanaged executions that have resulted in serious questions and concerns about (the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry's) execution protocols and lack of transparency."

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Last month, however, Hobbs cut the outside review short, citing a Corrections Department review that both Hobbs and Mayes said gave them confidence to move forward with lethal injection executions.

Mayes then requested a warrant for Gunches.

With Mayes' death warrant request for Gunches, Mitchell's office said in papers filed with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the issue over who had the authority to request a death warrant had become moot.

"Under these circumstances  where added delay will only frustrate the Victims right to justice and finality  County Attorney Mitchell thus moves to dismiss the special action proceeding," Deputy County Attorney Philip Garrow wrote.

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Mayes' office responded, supporting Mitchell's request to dismiss the matter. The Supreme Court had not ruled on the filings as of Wednesday afternoon.

If the Supreme Court eventually grants the execution warrant for Gunches, the execution date would be set no sooner than 35 days after the warrant was issued.

According to the Attorney General's Office, there are 111 people on death row, 25 of whom have exhausted their appeals process.

Have a news tip? Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com or 812-243-5582. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JimmyJenkins.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Death warrant authority issue now moot, Mitchell and Mayes say
The Marine Corps has fired a West Coast helicopter squadron commander nine months after a fatal CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crash in California that remains under investigation.

Maj. Gen. James B. Wellons, commander of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, relieved Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey of command of the Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, known as the Flying Tigers, on Nov. 18 due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to continue to serve in that position, according to a statement provided by the 3rd MAW to Marine Corps Times on Tuesday.

The statement didnt elaborate on why Harvey was dismissed.

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On Feb. 6, a CH-53E assigned to the Miramar, California-based squadron crashed while conducting a routine training flight from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, to the units home base at Marine Corps Station Miramar.

Helicopter with 5 Marines aboard goes missing over California

The aircraft went down in the mountains of San Diego County, and it took until the following day for civil authorities to locate the crash site, Marine Corps Times previously reported.

The crash killed all five Marines aboard the helicopter: Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, a crew chief from Olathe, Kansas; Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, a crew chief from Chandler, Arizona; Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, a pilot from Emmett, Idaho; Capt. Jack Casey, 26, a pilot from Dover, New Hampshire; and Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, a pilot from Traverse City, Michigan.

From left to right: Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, Capt. Benjamin Moulton, Capt. Miguel Nava, Capt. Jack Casey and Sgt. Alec Langen died in a CH-53E crash Feb. 6.

A career aviator, Harvey was frocked from major to lieutenant colonel and served as the MAG-24 executive officer prior to taking command of the squadron in January 2023. He received his promotion to lieutenant colonel in March 2021.

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Harvey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lt. Col. Kyleigh Cullen took command of the squadron the day Harvey was relieved.

The investigation into the Feb. 6, 2024, HMH-361 CH-53E mishap is ongoing, Maj. Natalie Batcheler, 3rd MAW spokeswoman, told Marine Corps Times in a statement.

A redacted crash report will be released to the public when the investigation concludes, Batcheler said.

Primarily, the heavy helicopter squadron contains 16 CH-53E Super Stallions, which are tasked with moving personnel and gear ashore in assault operations. The unit also supports the larger air-ground task force mission of the Marine Corps.

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On the day of the crash, an unseasonably intense storm slammed the region. Some family members of the fallen have criticized the service for allowing the helicopter to fly in those conditions.

Maybe this is the one instance to where they wake the fk up and they say, What are we doing to our service members? Weve got to stop this. Steven Langen, father of the late Sgt. Alec Langen, told the New York Post in the weeks following his sons death.

The Marine Corps has not released any details on the cause of the crash.

Harvey spoke at a Feb. 16 memorial held for the fallen Marines at Miramar, during which more than 550 Marines, family and friends gathered to pay tribute to the men.

Lt. Col. Nicholas Harvey took command of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 in January 2023. He is currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group-16 out of San Diego, California. (Marine Corps)

There are no words that can express the pain that one feels when losing a loved one  a fellow Marine, a nephew, a brother, a son, a husband, a father, Harvey said. We can feel the presence of everyone in this hangar today, and that speaks volumes to the love, kinship, and brotherhood we share with our fallen Marines.

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Harvey is currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group-16 out of San Diego, California, according to Batcheler.

He received his commission in 2004. He reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 in 2008, deploying with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Japan and Afghanistan.

Harvey has deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response 17.2, as well as other operational deployments, according to his official biography, which has been removed from the 3rd MAW website.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 6, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal 2nd award and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal 3rd award.
Viacheslav Kuchkovskyi, a Ukrainian border guard and defender of Mariupol, managed to call his wife Valeriia while in captivity to wish her a happy 35th birthday. He even ordered a bouquet of flowers for her. Less than a year after that, he returned home thanks to a prisoner swap.

Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Viacheslav defended his hometown, Mariupol, and as Russian forces encircled the city, his greatest concern was for his wife and son, Robert, who was just 8. Later, he learned that his family had managed to escape.

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In May 2022, the defenders of Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol were forced to surrender. Viacheslav's unit was the last to leave the area.

Meanwhile, his wife and son participated in numerous rallies to raise awareness of the Ukrainian defenders in captivity. The days of waiting for Viacheslav felt endless.

When Valeria turned 35 in June 2023, she had no desire to celebrate her birthday. But everything changed with a phone call from Viacheslav. He wished her a happy birthday, reassured her that he was holding up, and promised a surprise. A few hours after that call, a courier delivered a large bouquet of her favourite daisies.

It was a true miracle, as one of Viacheslavs comrades had managed to hide a phone, allowing him to call his wife.

Valeriia with the bouquet from her husband

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Photo: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

In February 2024, during a prisoner exchange, Viacheslav Kuchkovskyi returned from Russian captivity and was finally able to hold his wife and son in his arms. Although he had lost nearly 30 kg, the Mariupol defender had not lost his sense of humour or his belief in the triumph of good over evil.

Viacheslav during the prisoner exchange

Photo: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

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BOARDMAN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Mary A. Burkey, formerly of Boardman Ohio, passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Tucson Medical Center inpatient hospice after a short illness.

Mary Angeline Hastings was born in her parents Marion County Ohio farmhouse on August 8, 1928, the daughter of Sarah Belle and Spear Samuel Hastings. Her childhood coincided with the Great Depression and World War II.

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Mary graduated from the public school in Marseilles Ohio in 1946 and continued her education at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She sang with the Capital University Chapel Choir throughout her education and graduated with a degree in Public School Music in 1950.

She taught at Lincoln Junior High in Newark Ohio for the next four years. In 1954 Mary married Donald Wayne Burkey and moved to Youngstown, Ohio. During this period, she became the choir director at the former Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Midlothian Blvd. where she served for over 20 years. Following Donalds death in 1969, Mary recertified in elementary education and restarted her career as a third-grade teacher at West Boulevard Elementary in Boardman.

After retirement, Mary remained active in the Youngstown area. She sang with the Youngstown Symphony Chorus, Seraphim and the Bethel Lutheran Church Choir. She was also active with the Womens Committee for Childrens Concerts of the Youngstown Symphony serving both as Program Director and President.

In 2016, Mary moved to Tucson, Arizona where she made her home with her son and family. She viewed this move as a grand adventure and delighted in the mountain views outside her window as changing sun angles painted the landscape vivid colors.

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Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Donald and his parents, Fred and Alverda; her parents, Spear and Sarah; her brother, Charles (Marguerite); sister-in-law, Ruth E. Burkey and brother-in-law, Charles (Erna) Burkey.

She leaves sons, Thomas (Jennifer) of Tucson, Arizona and John (Karen) of Streetsboro, Ohio and four grandchildren, Aaron, Michael, Sarah and Kathryn.

Family and friends may call from 12:00  1:00 p.m. at the Fox Funeral Home on Monday, December 16, 2024, where a funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. officiated by Pastor Richard Kidd.

Interment will be at Lake Park Cemetery.

Family and friends of Mary may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to leave condolences for the Burkey family.

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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Angeline (Hastings) Burkey, please visit our floral store.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police in D.C. are investigating after a Maryland man died after his car was struck by a stolen SUV in Southeast on Monday.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), shortly after 11 p.m. on Dec. 9, a Honda Civic was turning left out of a driveway on the Prince Georges County side of the 2600 block of Southern Ave., while a Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling north on Southern Avenue.

Police noted that the Jeep was speeding.

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As the Honda pulled out onto the roadway, the Jeep hit the Honda, according to MPD.

The driver of the Honda, 36-year-old Omar Davis of Forrest Heights, Md., was then ejected from the car, where officers found him unconscious.

Woman dies in hit-and-run crash in Prince Georges County

First responders took Davis to the hospital, where he died.

Police said the driver of the Jeep ran from the area after the crash. A preliminary investigation revealed that the Jeep was reported stolen in Loudoun County, Va., on Dec. 5.

The investigation is ongoing. Police encourage anyone with information to call 202-727-9099 or text a tip to MPDs tip line at 50411.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
BALTIMORE  Maryland candidates and their allies combined to spend roughly $160 million over the last two years as they fought for a rarely open U.S. Senate seat  a record-breaker that is likely to become more of a historical anomaly rather than a new precedent.

The unheard-of spending in a Maryland election  manifesting in a bombardment of ads and direct outreach targeting voters  ended with Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks defeating former Gov. Larry Hogan, keeping the seat in Democrats hands even as the party lost control of the chamber.

Both candidates set Maryland records for their respective parties as Senate nominees, according to The Baltimore Suns review of campaign finance reports filed late last week.

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Alsobrooks campaign committees spent about $30.5 million since the start of her campaign in May 2023 and Hogans committees totaled about $21 million since he launched in February.

But the unusually competitive nature of this years matchup between a popular former Republican governor and a well-backed Democrat also meant more involvement than ever from outside groups.

Just under 40 independent groups funneled a total of $48 million into ads, most of which slammed the candidate they opposed, and other expenses related to the Maryland race. That wasnt just astronomically high for a Senate race in the state  it was $9 million more than outside spending in all other years, for all kinds of federal elections, in the state combined for the last five decades, according to The Suns review of historical Federal Election Commission data.

Add into the mix U.S. Rep. David Trones personally funded $64 million Democratic primary bid against Alsobrooks, along with a few other lesser-known candidates, and the total spending reached about $160 million for the cycle.

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This was kind of a perfect storm of a year, said Sophia Silbergeld, a fundraiser for prominent Maryland Democrats who worked for Trone during the primary.

Silbergeld said a mix of factors contributed to the heightened money race  including voters paying more attention in a presidential election year, a formidable candidate like Hogan, and an incredible strategy by Alsobrooks to connect with voters and donors over issues like abortion and which party would control the Senate.

Matt Foster, a political science professor at American University, put it another way: This is probably something that is just kind of a blip.

Who are the outside groups that got involved?

Maryland wasnt always guaranteed to see the kind of spike in outside spending that other areas of the country saw this year  the kind that saw a record of more than $4.5 billion nationally in the 2024 campaign cycle, according to the money-in-politics watchdog group Open Secrets.

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Democrats have safely won every Senate race in Maryland since 1980 and the latest election, to replace longtime U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, seemed to be headed in the same direction for months.

But Hogans last-minute decision immediately attracted significant interest from national Republicans and others beyond Marylands borders.

A super PAC that launched soon after Hogans campaign began was seeded with $10 million from Kenneth Griffin, a hedge fund leader and major GOP donor. It ultimately spent $27 million on ads targeting Alsobrooks and another $3 million on expenses like polling and consulting services, making it the biggest outside player this year and the highest-spending outside organization in a federal race in the state ever, according to The Suns review.

The ads flooded the airwaves between late September and Nov. 5, Election Day, and featured messages that were often intensely negative.

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At least one 30-second spot called Alsobrooks a tax cheat and a slumlord, referring to revelations that she improperly received tax credits for two rental properties she owned. The Democrat began paying back the money after news of the error broke late in the campaign.

Forcefully denying any intentional wrongdoing, Alsobrooks said the ads were patently untrue during an interview with The Suns editorial board in October. She said the ads were yet another reason that we have to look at all the money that comes into these races, and she applauded outgoing U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes efforts to get big money interest out of elections. Legislation from Sarbanes to increase transparency around individuals who fund some campaign groups, known as dark money, have repeatedly come up short in Congress.

Other than Marylands Future, a handful of groups spent another $2.2 million to benefit Hogan. About half of that was from a PAC run by John Bolton, President-elect Donald Trumps former national security advisor who became a Trump opponent.

National Democrats, meanwhile, came to Alsobrooks aid  with $10.1 million worth of ads purchased by WinSenate, a PAC associated with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that aimed at keeping Democrats control of the chamber. Women Vote, which is associated with the national group EMILYs List that aims to elect women who support abortion rights, spent another $5.4 million, according to FEC data.

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Those groups and others focused their anti-Hogan messaging on abortion. Both WinSenate and Women Vote, for instance, ran a 30-second ad that highlighted Hogans record on the issue and his repeated statements about being personally opposed to abortion.

Other ads, including those run by Alsobrooks campaign, tried to motivate voters by claiming control of the narrowly divided Senate could come down to Maryland. That thought did not come to fruition, as Alsobrooks won and her party lost enough seats in other states to put them in the minority in 2025.

Hogan railed against that messaging in the final weeks of his campaign, and a post-election memo from his top strategist blamed national factors and a false narrative driven by media coverage for his 12 percentage-point loss.

National Nurses United, the countrys largest union of registered nurses, also spent $1.1 million on billboards, television ads and phone banking efforts for Alsobrooks.

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BlackPAC, an organization aimed at mobilizing Black voters, pitched in another $800,000 for Alsobrooks, who will be the states first Black senator and one of four Black women ever elected to the U.S. Senate. And Unity First PAC, a new effort associated with Gov. Wes Moore, spent about $415,000 on media to support her.

Fundraising behemoths

The candidates also raised significant portions of their funds from donors outside Maryland.

An analysis by The Sun of their donations through mid-October found about 47% of contributions for Alsobrooks and 62% for Hogan came from other states.

Alsobrooks ultimately raised about $32.7 million from individuals and other political action committees, according to The Suns review of reports for her two main fundraising committees covering the beginning of her campaign through Nov. 25. Hogan used three committees to raise about $22.8 million.

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Observers of the race say Alsobrooks had impressive fundraising prowess, while Hogan, with a history of successful fundraisers, likely represented Republicans best shot at the seat for many more years to come.

She was a seasoned candidate, Silbergeld said, noting Alsobrooks successful elections as Prince Georges County states attorney and county executive before her first statewide bid this year. She slowly and methodically built a really solid and diverse base of donors.

Foster said Alsobrooks ability to raise money allowed her to compete against behemoths like Hogan and Trone, the three-term congressman from Montgomery County who is the wealthy cofounder of Total Wine & More.

Trone spent $64 million, almost all of which was his own money, on his way to a 10 percentage-point loss in the May primary  making him one of the largest self-funding candidates ever in the U.S.

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Robin Ficker, a former lawyer and perennial candidate for elected office in Maryland, also self-funded a $4.4 million campaign in the Republican primary. Hogan also personally loaned his campaign $500,000 five days before his Nov. 5 loss.

It goes to show you that money doesnt always equate to victory, Foster said.

-------
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Officers with the Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) are investigating an attempted sexual assault that happened in a community park Tuesday morning.

Officers were called to Nokesville Community Park shortly after 9:30 a.m. where a woman reported she was walking along a trail when a masked man approached her.

During the encounter, she said the man tried sexually assaulting her.

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String of car break-ins in Silver Spring neighborhood

A struggle ensued and they eventually separated. A bystander found her and helped the woman call police.

She was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

PWCPD said crews and a K-9 searched the area, but could not find the man. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at (703) 792-6500 or submit a tip online.

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.
If something approaching civil war occurs in the US, as many Americans now believe, the most immediate cause may be President Trumps move to deport huge numbers of people, upwards of 10 million just since 2021, who have crossed the border illegally and unvetted. This population swelled as the feckless Biden administration left the border largely unguarded.

Talk of resistance to mass expulsions is already becoming common in the mainstream media, with some suggesting that migrants will be victims of government atrocities. Numerous Democrats, notably Denvers mayor Mike Johnston, have advanced plans to block federal agents with a Tiananmen Square-style occupation.

This from a city that has the highest per capita presence of new migrants, while a neighbouring city has seen apartment complexes taken over by Venezuelan gangs. Virtue-signalling protests against deportations may also be repeated in other cities, including Boston, Los Angeles (which alone has nearly a million undocumented migrants) and Chicago. In California, the state is allegedly threatening to take pensions and even imprison police who help federal agents. Yet since these same places tend to rely on federal transfers to pay for migrants housing and other needs, something in jeopardy under Trump.

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Many Democrats seem utterly incapable of embracing a secure border or recognising the dangers of hosting a large, undocumented, largely poor foreign-born population. Indeed, during the campaign, vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz even suggested that, if Trump built a wall, he would build a ladder factory, presumably so that migrants could climb over it, while embracing progressive policies to allow undocumented migrants to get free college education and access to drivers licenses.

Talk about tone deaf. According to Gallup, the percentage of Americans who wish to reduce immigration has soared from under 40 per cent to over 55 per cent since 2003, although many still embrace legal migration. Roughly 60 per cent of Americans and a majority of Latinos support mass deportations.

Not all Democrats have drunk the open borders Kool-Aid. New York mayor Eric Adams last year suggested that mass migration could destroy the countrys pre-eminent city, and has even spoken in favour of having NYPD officers help immigration officials arrest undocumented felons. Among the grassroots, largely from existing African-American or Latino communities in cities like Denver, New York and Chicago, many blame undocumented border crossers for higher costs for hotels, and competition for social services, parks and hospital care.

This pushback also reflects economic reality. The Congressional Budget Office has warned that the recent surge in immigration, much of it undocumented, will coincide with slower wage growth. Low income American workers also have to compete with migrants for living space, jobs and social services. In addition, roughly half of all Latinos, notes Pew, associate the current wave with increased crime in their communities, including the rise of gangs taking over apartments in New York.

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The key dilemma facing the Trump administration will be how to end mass migration without alienating its new supporters in Americas minority communities. We are likely to confront sorry scenes of families  many of them simply seeking a better life  being hauled out of their homes, something that may not play well among Latinos and political moderates.

To secure the border, Trumps operatives need to proceed cautiously and with a sense of humanity. A good first step, besides building Trumps cherished wall, would be plans being put in place to expel an estimated 435,000 migrants with criminal records. Outside the far-Left, progressive judges and the fever shops of the universities, this will likely have strong support. Trump has also expressed interest in legalising the dreamers, children who came illegally to the country, but have grown up here.

It gets more complicated from there. Many millions of illegals have been here for decades, and have paid taxes, started businesses and families. They would constitute an asset for any country. Finding ways to give these migrants a reasonable possibility of staying here, perhaps after a return to their native country, makes sense. If he proceeds cautiously, particularly with the evenly divided House of Representatives, he could build wide support for his approach to the border.

Perhaps a more complicated challenge for Trump may come from businesses, which still constitute a key GOP constituency. Many firms in the service sector and agriculture depend on undocumented workers; one possible solution would be to establish a modern version of the Bracero programme, allowing workers  but not their families  to work in sectors, like agriculture, where the supply of citizen labour is seen as highly limited. Immigrants are also heavily represented in industries such as construction, trucking, retail and manufacturing, where immigrants make up 20 per cent or more of the total workforce.

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Legal immigrants, rather than being seen as a threat, could be an important asset in Trumps drive to reindustrialise the country. As many as 600,000 new manufacturing jobs are expected to be generated this decade which cannot be filled.

By 2030, there will also be a projected shortage of 510,394 registered nurses and 40,000 doctors in primary care nationwide. Already, 28 per cent of physicians are immigrants, as are 24 per cent of dentists, and 38 per cent of home health aides. In Michigan, while immigrants accounted for just 8 per cent of all workers and 9 per cent of healthcare workers, their share was three times as high  28 per cent  among physicians and surgeons.

Even Trumps newly acquired allies in the tech economy will resist radical changes in immigration policy. In Silicon Valley, in 2018 nearly three quarters of the tech workforce were estimated to be foreign, many on H1B visas. Although this programme has been abused by employers, sometimes at the expense of American workers, it would be very difficult, and politically damaging, for Trump to shut it down and retain tech business support.

At the end of the day, closing the open border is a necessity, as even the Biden administration, in its dotage, has finally recognised. Yet at the same time, given demographic pressures, legal  particularly skilled  immigrants remain critical for growing the economy. It will be Trumps challenge to maintain this economic lifeblood while working to reverse Bidens record of undermining public safety and the credibility of our institutions.

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Joel Kotkin is presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University and senior research fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas

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SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Boeing said Tuesday that it has resumed production of the 737 MAX in Renton after a major strike left its factories in the Puget Sound region idle from September to mid-November.

The company expects to resume production of the 767 and 777/777X planes in Everett in the days ahead, Boeing said Tuesday in a monthly announcement detailing orders and deliveries of its aircraft.

As it recovered from the Machinists strike, Boeing delivered 13 planes, mostly from its inventory in November, the company said.

It's a significant drop from the same month a year ago, when it delivered 56 commercial airplanes. The company is working to return to prestrike production rates, Boeing said.

In Everett in August, a month before the strike, Boeing was building three 767s a month and four 777/777Xs per month, a spokesperson said. 
Dec. 11MASSENA  The Massena Arts and Theater Association's efforts to rehabilitate and transform the historic Schine Theater into a multi-use community theater, cultural and event center got a big boost Wednesday when Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $640,000 economic development award for the project.

Hochul announced awards of more than $940 million in capital investments statewide that she said would support 1,774 jobs. The New York Power Authority Board of Trustees approved the awards.

"The project will renovate the existing former theater shell, completely restoring the original facade and iconic marquee, repairing the roof and masonry, as well as a complete interior renovation, including new HVAC, plumbing, lighting, electrical systems, interior finishes, and create event support space, integrating energy-efficient, green materials, and ensuring full accessibility to create a healthy indoor environment," NYPA Senior Economic Development Manager Patricia K. Wilson said.

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"Economic development awards from the New York Power Authority have helped revitalize communities throughout the state by attracting businesses to New York and incentivizing job growth," Hochul said. "The latest round of awards approved today by the NYPA trustees will spur more than $940 million in investments, strengthening our state's clean energy economy."

The project will include renovating the existing theater shell, restoring the original facade and iconic marquee, repairing the roof and masonry, and completing an interior renovation that will include new heating, cooling, plumbing, lighting, and electrical systems. The renovation will also include demolishing the existing boiler house and chimney to create an energy-efficient and fully accessible event support space. The total project is foundational to local revitalization efforts in Massena.

NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, "The rehabilitation of the historic Schine Theater in downtown Massena is central to the town's revitalization efforts and will catalyze support for new and existing businesses in the community. The $640,000 NYPA funding award is critical to the theater's restoration and is a prime example of the Power Authority's commitment to communities located near its assets."

The funding award applies net earnings from unutilized hydropower from the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project in Massena to St. Lawrence County businesses and institutions.

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State Senator Daniel Stec said in a prepared statement, "A vibrant arts scene helps build vibrant communities. The $640,000 to rehabilitate the Schine Theater in downtown Massena into a multi-use community theater, cultural and event center will improve the quality of life in Massena and bring a state-of-the-art facility to our region. I can't wait to see the completed revitalization effort and the positive impact it will have for our residents."

Assemblymember Scott Gray said in a press release from the Governor's office, "Rehabilitating the historic Schine Theater is pivotal in revitalizing downtown Massena and strengthening the community. This investment preserves an important piece of local history and transforms it into a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and events. By NYPA supporting this project, they are helping create opportunities for economic growth, fostering community engagement, and enhancing the quality of life in Northern New York. I commend the Massena Arts and Theater Association for their vision and dedication to this project, I am grateful for the partnership with NYPA and I am proud to see such meaningful investment in the region."

The Massena Arts and Theater Association was established in 2013 and announced in June 2015 that it had purchased the theater, with plans to restore it that would take several years. Since then, the group and the village of Massena have sought several grant opportunities to help with the restoration cost.

The project has been on a run lately.

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In July, Hochul announced that the village of Massena and the Massena Arts and Theater Association had received $2 million through the Restore New York Municipal Grant program. The program covers projects to "demolish/deconstruct and/or rehabilitate/reconstruct vacant, abandoned, surplus and/or condemned residential, commercial and/or mixed-use buildings." Empire State Development administers the program.

The association has also launched a capital campaign to assist with the cost of restoration. Sponsorship levels include Visionary Advocate ($1,000 to $2,499), Cornerstone Sponsor ($2,500 to $9,999), Heritage Partner ($10,000 to $24,999), Legacy Patron ($25,000 to $50,000), and Founding Benefactor (more than $50,000).
Massive data centers used for cloud computing and artificial intelligence are consuming enormous amounts of energy, and developers are eyeing South Dakota as a potential location, regulators say.

These hyperscale data centers, or hyperscalers, are designed to handle immense computing demands and are often operated by tech giants. The centers are characterized by their large size  often tens of thousands of square feet  and thousands of computer servers that require significant energy to operate.

Nick Phillips with Applied Digital in Texas, a developer of the centers, highlighted South Dakotas appeal: a cold climate that cuts down on cooling a room full of hot servers, and abundant wind energy thats considered one of the most cost-effective renewable energy sources, which can help keep operating costs down.

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State regulators are not aware of any hyperscale data centers currently operating in South Dakota.

There isnt a requirement to report hyperscale data centers to the commission, so we dont have a formal method to track that information, said Leah Mohr with the Public Utilities Commission.

Commissioner Kristie Fiegen noted that the states largest proposed data center is a 50-megawatt facility in Leola.

We dont know whats coming, she said. But the utilities are getting calls every week from people trying to see if they have the megawatts available.

The commission recently hosted a meeting in Pierre with representatives from regional utilities, regional power grid associations and data centers. The goal was to understand the emerging demands and facilitate an information exchange.

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Bob Sahr, a former public utilities commissioner and current CEO of East River Electric Cooperative in Madison, emphasized the scale of energy needed.

Were talking loads that eclipse some of the largest cities in South Dakota, he said.

A single data center campus can require anywhere from 300 to 500 megawatts of electricity to operate. One megawatt can power hundreds of homes. By one estimate, there are over 1,000 hyperscalers worldwide, with the U.S. hosting just over half of them.

Ryan Long, president of Xcel Energy, headquartered in Minneapolis, illustrated the extreme nature of the demand.

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We now have, I would say, north of seven gigawatts of requests across the Xcel Energy footprint for data centers to locate in one of our eight states, he said. And Ill be very frank that theres no way that were going to be able to serve all of that in a reasonable amount of time.

Protecting existing customers from potential costs or energy shortages is another shared concern. Utility representatives emphasized the need for coal and natural gas to maintain a reliable base load when renewable sources like wind and solar are unavailable. Arick Sears of Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy underscored the point, noting that costs for each data center should depend on how much energy it consumes.

We need to ensure that large-scale energy users are paying their fair share, he said.

Utilities also flagged the risk of stranded costs, referring to a data center ceasing operations, leaving a utility with added infrastructure to meet a demand that no longer exists. They said financial safeguards will need to be written into power agreements with hyperscalers.

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Speed of deployment is another pressing issue. Representatives from Montana-Dakota Utilities, headquartered in North Dakota, and NorthWestern Energy, headquartered in Sioux Falls, noted that some facilities expect to be operational within months of making a deal, straining infrastructure, planning and resources.

Grid managers Brian Tulloh of Indiana-based Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Lanny Nickell of Arkansas-based Southwest Power Pool echoed those concerns. They warned that data center growth is outpacing the grids ability to meet demand and cautioned against decommissioning coal power plants too quickly. Setting aside how much it would cost to produce the required energy, Tulloh estimated that MISO needs $30 billion in electric transmission infrastructure to support the demand from hyperscalers.

The grid wasnt designed for that, Public Utilities Commissioner Chris Nelson told South Dakota Searchlight after the meeting.

Nelson was glad to hear the data centers will include backup generators, similar to hospitals, for power outages or when homes need prioritization. He said some even aim to have huge batteries to power the plant until the generators get going. They would consume massive amounts of diesel and natural gas until the outage is over.

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Nelson said all of this makes modern nuclear energy facilities more attractive. He said few alternative base load options remain, and the public has little appetite for ramping up coal power.

NorthWestern Energy is exploring the possibility of constructing a small nuclear power plant in South Dakota, with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion to $1.6 billion for a 320-megawatt facility. The plant would be the first in the state since a test facility near Sioux Falls in the 1960s.

The company is conducting a study, partially funded by the Department of Energy. Details about the study and potential plant sites remain confidential.

Additionally, South Dakotas Legislature has shown interest in nuclear energy, passing a resolution for further study on the topic that led to the publication of an issue memorandum by the Legislative Research Council.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Massive data centers consuming large amounts of energy have eyes on South Dakota
Dec. 11PALMER  Alaska's second largest school district is suspending the use of remote learning days when bad weather prompts closures.

The change comes after Alaska Education Commissioner Deena Bishop said last week that the state education department is reconsidering the practice of counting "e-learning" days toward the total instructional days required under state law.

Anchorage School District officials say they expect to make a decision on the matter soon. District officials with the Kenai Peninsula and Fairbanks North Star boroughs say schools there don't make use of remote learning during weather closures.

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Matanuska-Susitna Borough School district officials now say schools will no longer use remote learning during weather-related closures until they "receive further clarification on the matter."

After icy roads made for dangerous travel in the Susitna Valley Tuesday and Wednesday, Mat-Su district officials announced closures for schools in Trapper Creek, Willow and Talkeetna, making it clear "this is not a remote learning day."

District superintendents were notified Dec. 7 that e-learning days should not be expected to count as school days for "brick-and-mortar" schools, according to Mat-Su district spokesman John Notestine.

"The Commissioner's recent communication to superintendents has influenced our ability to offer remote learning days," Notestine said in an email. "Given the clarification that such days may no longer count toward the total instructional days for the year, we have adjusted our approach accordingly."

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The Mat-Su district operates nearly 50 schools with more than 19,000 students spread across a borough the size of West Virginia. The district provides each student with Chromebook laptops for use in class but also at home.

Schools in Mat-Su and Anchorage have made fairly regular use of remote learning in recent years, including several times since October.

The Anchorage School District has not yet decided how to handle the issue of remote learning during weather closures, spokesperson Corey Allen Young said this week.

"This matter is currently being discussed, with the intention of making a decision in the near future," Young said in an email.

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A spokesman for the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development did not return a request for more information.

Bishop's comments questioning the use of e-learning to the state board came during a presentation on student absenteeism last Thursday. She included weather-related school closures in a discussion of increasing school absences.

Alaska's rate of chronic student absenteeism has spiked since the pandemic.

Bishop last week said that before the pandemic, the education department allowed individual districts up to two snow days a year without mandatory additional school time.

Since the pandemic, the department has begun allowing districts to make up that time with "remote learning," which Bishop and board of education members agreed was not sufficient to make up for lost in-person instruction.

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For some families, shifting to online classes on bad-weather days can also be fraught, especially for working parents or in homes with limited internet access.

In Mat-Su, district officials "firmly believe that in-person, brick-and-mortar learning provides the most effective educational experience for our students," Notestine said, adding that the district's policy of providing Chromebooks to students still represents "robust plans in place for remote learning and delivery, should the need arise."

State law requires a minimum of 170 days in session every school year. Districts dealing with closures that result in fewer days can request waiver approval from the commissioner.

The Mat-Su district's calendar includes 175 instructional days for secondary schools and 172 for elementary schools, according to Notestine. That means the district could miss up to two days at the elementary level and five at the middle- and high-school level before needing to add instructional days in May.

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The Anchorage district's calendar includes 172 instructional days, meaning schools don't have to make up first two weather-related school closure days of the year.

Anchorage district officials have said that historically, when "emergency days" exceeded two in a given year, they could make up instructional time in various ways including converting one of 10 in-service days to an instructional day; longer school days for several days or weeks; adding days to the end of the school year; or converting vacation days to instruction days.
Matt Gaetz may be taking on a second job.

Prominent Florida megadonor John Morgan is actively in talks with the former Republican lawmaker about joining his firm, Morgan & Morgan, he told POLITICO in an extensive interview. The job would be in addition to the role Gaetz announced on Tuesday that he's joining the conservative One America News Network as a prime-time host beginning in January.

Morgan praised Gaetz, who recently withdrew from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, for his positions on marijuana legalization, property insurance and processed foods.

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A lot of the things that my politics are, Matt Gaetzs are, said Morgan, who has given heavily to Democratic candidates but is registered in Florida as a no-party affiliated voter.

Morgan said that he could see Gaetz being helpful in a recent lawsuit his firm filed that alleges major food companies specifically engineered their products to be addictive and then marketed them to kids, contributing to chronic illness.

In a text exchange, Gaetz acknowledged that he and Morgan had talked about collaborating professionally and said he was grateful for their friendship.

Ive known John Morgan for more than a decade, he said. Ive taken a lot of advice from him on matters of law, policy and politics. I have great respect for how he stands to the powerful for his clients  and he wins.

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A key moment in the relationship between Gaetz and Morgan came shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantis won his first election in 2018. DeSantis stepped into a running legal battle over medical marijuana, where Morgan had sued the state because it was not allowing the use of smokable marijuana for patients. The three men held a press conference in January 2019 where the newly elected governor called on legislators to lift the ban on smokable marijuana  which they did shortly afterwards.

Morgan would later tell POLITICO that the press conference was initiated by Gaetz.

Morgan has been one of Floridas most prominent political players for years and helped bankroll the initiatives that legalized medical marijuana and one that raised Floridas minimum wage. He has long held ties to other politicians and hired then-Gov. Charlie Crist after he left office in early 2011. Morgan himself has teased a run for office in the past and is known nationally for his law firms advertisements being plastered on billboards and on public transportation.



The job at Morgan & Morgan would be a high-profile landing for Gaetz, who resigned from the House after he dropped out of the process to be Trump's attorney general, a move that also came just before the House Ethics Committee planned to meet regarding a probe into allegations against him regarding illegal drug use and sex with a 17-year-old.

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Gaetz has denied the allegations, and a Department of Justice investigation into him resulted in no charges. Yet the accusations quickly dogged his confirmation process, and Gaetz left public service altogether.

The former member of Congress has also been seen as a potential Republican candidate for governor in 2026, a contest that has been increasingly fluid as Trump tapped numerous Floridians to hold jobs in his administration. Gaetz has already tapped into a potential campaign theme by siding with critics  like Morgan  that the GOP-controlled Legislature kowtowed to the property insurance industry when it passed a measure DeSantis signed into law that makes it much harder to sue insurers.

Gaetz earned his law degree from William & Mary and was part of a law firm with Larry Keefe when he was still in the Florida Legislature. Keefe, a longtime trial attorney, would later become a U.S. attorney appointed by Trump before working for DeSantis as his public safety czar.

Morgan said the details of the potential job are still under discussion and that he was waiting until the news about Gaetzs new TV spot settled down. He said that his firm hired finders, minders and grinders and that he saw Gaetz as a potential finder-minder who he saw at the 36,000-foot level versus in the trenches.

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As an example, he cited the way that his firm collaborated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  who is now Trumps pick for Health and Human Services secretary  to host an educational seminar in East Palestine, Ohio, following a train derailment that cast hazardous materials into the town.

I know hes controversial, Morgan said of Gaetz, but Im fucking controversial.
If youre passing through downtown Erie, you may notice that some local businesses are getting in the holiday spirit.

Purrista Cat Cafe, ASCEND Erie, and Ember+Forge along with other businesses are participating in a downtown erie window decorating contest.

Despite heavy snow, Erie City Moms make it their mission to provide gifts to local families

Dave Tamulonis. the events and marketing manager of the Erie Downtown Partnership said this is a new event with about sixteen participants.

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He said businesses are competing for best overall display, most creative, and the best locally themed window.

Were bouncing back now  Local businesses explain struggles caused by lake-effect snow

I think its been great and especially great this year when weve had such a hit from the snow to see all the businesses come together and advocate for downtown and push for people to shop local so were doing all we can and its nice to see the businesses also doing all they can, said Tamulonis.

The QR codes for voting are found on the windows of participating businesses.

Voting ends Saturday evening. You can find more information by clicking here.

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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.
Mayor Brandon Johnson released his most recent tax returns to the Tribune this month, with the documents showing he is less wealthy than his predecessors and does not earn outside income.

Johnsons returns show that his family brought in just over $176,000 in wages in 2023, his first year as mayor of Chicago. His annual salary was $216,210 that year, and he began his term mid-May.

After claiming the standard $27,700 deduction for filing jointly with his wife, Stacie, and a $6,000 child tax credit, records show Johnson paid $17,302 in federal taxes, an effective tax rate of 11.65%. Johnson didnt claim any income from investments, retirement fund distributions or capital gains in 2023.

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He separately paid just under $8,000 in state income taxes, after taking a $140 tax credit for the property taxes he paid on his Austin home.

2023 was the highest reported wage Johnson earned since 2019. Household income for the Johnson family will go up for next years return, since his 2024 wage as mayor of Chicago climbed to just over $221,000.

The Tribune annually requests the Chicago mayors tax returns, a longstanding tradition in U.S. politics when it comes to major public offices. Politicians are not required to disclose their income tax forms, but many do so to demonstrate transparency about potential conflicts  a particular importance to many voters in Illinois, where generations of politicians have enriched themselves through their government roles.

Johnson, who grew up in suburban Elgin and famously touts being a West Sider, has often drawn from his humble upbringing when pitching himself as a firebrand progressive seeking to enact a host of tax the rich proposals.

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During the 2023 campaign, he fought back against criticism over his unpaid water bills to the city by saying his debt indicates he understands the plight of struggling Chicagoans, although by then he was employed as a county commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union organizer.

Still, Johnsons tax forms show his income history is more modest than that of his predecessors, Lori Lightfoot and Rahm Emanuel, while they were in office. Lightfoot, who grew up in the working-class town of Massillon, Ohio, reported $402,414 in adjusted gross income in 2021, the most recent year the Tribune requested her returns. She reported taking out $210,000 in early distributions from retirement accounts that year to supplement her mayoral salary.

While working as a partner at law firm Mayer Brown before becoming mayor, Lightfoot reported an average adjusted gross income of $971,626 from 2014 through 2017.

Emanuel reported making $554,000 while mayor in 2017, including $353,000 from interest, dividends and capital gains from investments.

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Johnson did not provide his full 2022 return, which the Tribune has also requested, but his latest filing and other returns dating back to 2018 that his campaign provided to the Tribune during the mayoral race show the family reported about $161,782 in 2022, $161,000 in 2021 and $160,000 in 2020.

From 2018 to 2022, Johnson worked two jobs: as a county commissioner earning $85,000 annually and a separate income for the Chicago Teachers Union. His pay at the union varied year to year. His highest gross salary at the union before becoming mayor was in 2019, when he earned about $94,000 in addition to his county salary, according to CTUs federal disclosures.

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From 2018 to 2021, Johnson also reported income for his work as a media personality. He reported $1,350 in gross income for that side business in 2021, while wife Stacie reported just under $2,000 in income for work as a doula. Johnson was not paid for his show on radio station WCPT AM-820 but was compensated when filling in for other hosts, his campaign previously told the Tribune.

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When running for mayor in 2023, Johnson released four years of tax returns to the Tribune, with the most recent years reported income being 2021.

Johnson reported $108,019 in adjusted gross income for 2018 when he was a regional organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union. In 2019, Johnson reported $171,300 in gross adjusted income. He listed his occupation as regional organizer, though he also was serving his first full year on the county board.

For 2020, Johnson reported $160,217 in gross adjusted income. Johnson also reported $2,530 in income as a media personality.

The next year, Johnson reported $161,371 in gross adjusted income. He also reported $1,350 as a media personality but claimed $1,450 in expenses for that work and reported a $100 loss. His wife reported making $1,941 as a doula that year.

Johnsons most recent city economic disclosure statement reported no financial conflicts in 2023.
A McDonalds restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is getting hit with bad Yelp reviews after the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was arrested there on Monday.

Luigi Mangione, 26, was detained at the fast-food restaurant after a customer and an employee recognized him while he was eating breakfast and called the police.

Authorities said Mangione had a ghost gun with a suppressor in his possession, along with thousands of dollars of cash, several fake IDs and documents. He was charged Monday evening with carrying firearms without a license, forgery, as well as providing a fake ID to law enforcement.

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Although the McDonalds employee and the customer who identified Mangione helped bring a suspected killer into custody, some people took to Yelp to express their disapproval.

A number of them posted bad reviews of the fast-food restaurant where Mangione was arrested, with one person complaining that it was Full of snitches, while another cited a rat problem.

Another commenter suggested that the employees should learn to serve burgers and mind their GODAMN business.

People didn't know which McDonald's in Altoona PA was the one where Luigi Mangione was identified and apprehended, so they decided to hit all the Altoona McDonald's on YELP with bad reviews. Apparently, the reviewers seem concerned about that rat problem. pic.twitter.com/PtnbQW9tpp  Prof Zenkus (@anthonyzenkus) December 10, 2024

Yelp has since noted that the McDonalds in question is being monitored by its support team and has temporarily disabled the posting of reviews as we work to investigate whether the content you see here reflects actual consumer experiences rather than the recent events.

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The negative reviews for the McDonalds where Mangione was arrested are just the latest example of what has been an unusual public response to a violent death.

In some cases, people frustrated by their own experiences with health care insurers have reacted to Thompsons killing with outright glee.

A social media message posted last week by UnitedHealthcare to honor Thompsons memory was greeted with more than 90,000 laughing emojis.

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The past few years have seen a range of published reports regarding the work that Americas top consulting firms, led primarily by industry behemoth McKinsey, have done on behalf of despotic clients abroad. In dribs and drabs, weve learned that McKinsey has cozied up to the dictatorship in China, even going so far as to host its corporate retreat within spitting distance of the concentration camps that Beijing uses to forcibly imprison ethnic minorities like Uyghurs. Weve also learned that McKinsey has been embedded within the despotic regime in Saudi Arabia, helping steer the Saudi regimes investments and image-laundering efforts.

These reveals, however, are but a small peek behind a curtain that McKinsey has long kept closed. Thanks to a range of readily available tricks and dodges, from foreign lobbying loopholes to the use of cut-outs, McKinsey has kept its roster of reprehensible clients largely secret for yearsfrom the public and, increasingly, from legislators in Washington as well. But now, thats beginning to changeand the details regarding the whos who of despots that McKinsey has serviced, and raked millions of dollars from, are finally spilling into the open.

The freshest revelations have emerged thanks to a joint investigation led by the Center for Climate Reporting and The Guardian that dropped late last month but didnt receive nearly enough public attention. Scraping multiple court databases, researchers discovered that McKinsey had submitted hundreds of pages of conflict-of-interest declarationsand, in the process, revealed a constellation of clients previously hidden from public scrutiny. While much of the focus of the probe centered on the fact that McKinseys clients include some of the worlds biggest polluterscompletely undercutting McKinseys professed claims to be a leader in decarbonizationthe report also illuminated McKinseys myriad foreign clients, many of which the firm has never bothered to disclose in foreign lobbying filings elsewhere.

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As those filings detail, McKinsey worked with state-linked ventures in nearly two dozen countries (including some of the biggest oil-producing nations in the world). Among those were countries previously linked to McKinsey, like China. According to the new documents, the firm worked directly with state-owned firms like Sinopec and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, receiv[ing] significant revenue from these regime-controlled firms. These revelations flew in the face of the companys previous claims that it had never knowingly worked for Beijing. Part of that defense rested on McKinseys claims that its work in Chinawhich included, among other things, directly helping craft Chinese military and economic policywas led by McKinseys internal think tank, rather than the firm itself. (As if there is a meaningful difference between the two entities.)

The new revelations also shone a bright light on McKinseys work for the tyrannical regime in Saudi Arabia. Even after Saudi used McKinseys research to specifically target and smother regime critics, the firm continued working with the regimeand continued helping the Saudi government expand its influence. The details of the new investigation focused on how McKinsey helped the Kingdom find new markets for the kingdoms oilwith the firm, according to one person familiar with its efforts, doing a shitload of work for its Saudi clients.

But McKinseys foreign work didnt stop there. As investigators discovered, the firm has significantly expanded its relationship with Narendra Modis government in India, even as Modi has degraded Indian democracy, lurching New Delhi toward outright authoritarianism. According to McKinseys managing partner Bob Sternfelswho had previously refused to comply with congressional subpoenas about the firms work abroadthe firm is aiming to double its size in India in the coming years. As part of its work on behalf of Modis government, McKinsey helped lead performance improvement plans at several state-owned oil refineries, even bidding on projects to increase Indias oil explorationbringing that much more boodle to Modis government in the process.

The hits keep coming. As the investigation uncovered, McKinsey had also worked directly with the most prominent financial institutions in Russiaeven after Russia first launched its invasion of Ukraine. As the court records reveal, McKinsey identified Sberbank of Russia as one of its clients. Its unclear from the documents what, exactly, McKinsey did on behalf of the Russian firm. But when the U.S. specifically sanctioned Sberbank in 2022, American officials described the bank as one that is uniquely important to the Russian economy, as well as the largest financial institution in Russia, helping bankroll Russias devastation of Ukraine. The same goes for other Russian clients that McKinsey serviced, such as the oil company Gazprom, the major Russian bank VTB, and further entities buttressing Moscows war machineall of which the documents now reveal as McKinsey patrons.

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The list of McKinseys foreign clients runs on and on. Theres the Emirates Group, owned by the dictatorship in the United Arab Emirates. Theres Qatar Petroleum, overseen by that firms namesake regime. Theres the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the primary piggy bank for the autocrats in Kuwait. Theres the authoritarian regime in Angola, the military dictatorship in Egypt, firms in despotic countries like Equatorial Guineathe roster appears bottomless.

Taken together, its a shocking rogues gallery of wayward states and tyrants. Outside of perhaps North Korea, there doesnt appear a regime (or regime proxy) that McKinsey wasnt willing to ink as a client. Over and again, the consulting firm provided its talent and its resources to the most malignant regimes on the planet, helping strengthen their rule and increase their revenue, with little apparent concern for what the costs on the ground would be. There was, by all appearances, little concern for things like democratic decline or climate destruction, let alone what McKinseys work aiding such regimes might mean for global stability or the ongoing march of dictatorships.

But then again, perhaps none of this is surprising. For years, the reputation of Americas consulting industry, led by McKinsey, has taken a beating elsewhere, not least for its role in inflaming such maladies as Americas opioid crisis. Whatever publicly palatable sheen the industry once enjoyed has largely disintegrated after years of rancid behavior and cynical wheeler-dealings. These new revelations should only hasten that well-deserved reputational decline. Where McKinsey may once have been the go-to destination for clients looking for consulting advice, its since become something else entirely: a consigliere for despots looking to entrench their regimes, enrich themselves, and endanger the rest of us in the process.
At its core, the divine feminine represents a sacred, life-giving energy that transcends gender binaries. It is a force of creation, nurturing, and intuition - a wellspring of wisdom and compassion that has been celebrated across cultures and belief systems throughout human history. The divine feminine is not merely a concept or an abstract idea; it is a living, pulsing essence that resides within each of us, waiting to be awakened and integrated into our daily lives.

Reclaiming the Feminine Archetypes

Across the globe, the divine feminine has been embodied in a rich tapestry of goddesses, deities, and feminine archetypes. From the ancient Egyptian Goddess Hathor to the Hindu Goddess Durga, these powerful feminine figures have long been revered for their multifaceted attributes, which include fertility, creativity, healing, and protection. By reconnecting with these archetypal representations, we can tap into the deep well of feminine wisdom and reclaim the sacred aspects of our own being.

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The Duality of Masculine and Feminine Energies

Contrary to popular belief, the divine feminine is not solely the domain of women; it is a universal energy that resides within all individuals, regardless of gender. Similarly, the divine masculine is not exclusively the realm of men. Each of us contains a unique blend of masculine and feminine energies, which work in harmony to create a holistic, balanced existence.

When these two energies are in sync, we experience a profound sense of wholeness and alignment. However, when one energy dominates the other, it can lead to an imbalance, manifesting in various challenges and disharmony in our lives. By understanding and honoring the delicate dance between the masculine and feminine, we can cultivate a deeper self-awareness and facilitate the integration of these complementary forces.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Apple snails, zebra mussels, spotted lanternflies and armyworms; they all have something in common. Theyre invasive to North Carolina, and in their own way, hurt our ecosystem.



If anyone has been to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the last decade or two, theyve probably noticed the massive amounts of dead trees on the landscape, said Kelly Oten, professor and Extension specialist at N.C. State University. Those are all hemlock that have been killed by the adelgid.

New Charlotte apartment construction slows after post-pandemic boom

Mecklenburg County commissioners discussed its legislative agenda to submit to the state for next year. In it, is funding to research and combat invasive species like the emerald ash borer.



Its killing 99.9 percent of our ash trees, Oten said. The vast majority of the public doesnt know about this. We still dont have a really good way to manage it.



Charlottes climate makes it particularly vulnerable to invasive species and their ability to thrive here.



For the same reasons we love living here, it feels like everything else does too, good and bad, said Joy Goforth, Plant Pest administrator at the states Department of Agriculture.



Many of the critters are great hitchhikers, and make their way to our state via cars, rails or ports.



A lot of our invasive species are from China, Oten said. We do get a lot of products. We have a lot of trade from China.



The recent shift to online shopping has made tracking invasive plants more difficult.

Charlottes climate makes it particularly vulnerable to invasive species and their ability to thrive here.

Now, everything goes from the person who is selling it to a homeowners house, and we dont have a way to have our normal checks and balances to make sure that problems arent coming into the state, said Goforth, and so we know that all kinds of invasive insects, plant diseases and weeds are coming in.



The amount of funds to be allocated wasnt specified in the agenda nor was a particular pest or plant, however, researchers agree any attention can only help protect our resources in the long run.



The one were most concerned about is the one thats going to blindside us that we dont know anything about, Goforth said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
This all started when the Medford Paraprofessional Union was informed they lost their tax status due to unpaid taxes. So, they got an auditor to look over everything. According to police, the auditor found that a significant amount of money was spent without any documentation to back it up.

According to a police report, the Paraprofessionals Union accuses their president of writing checks totaling $50,000 to herself and to other members of the board.

Were very concerned and confused, said instructional tutor Rosemary Saeed. The leadership has not stepped forward to mention what has happened with these funds and there seems to be no receipts.

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Paraprofessionals and tutors are trying to make sense of the missing money.

Gina Coppola, the president of the union spoke with Boston 25 News on the phone. She is currently out of state and did not want to go on camera, but she did answer questions.

She said the money is all accounted for she just has to find the receipts, the former treasurer passed away and was in charge of keeping those records. Some things are hard to find. Any checks she made out to herself she says, were just reimbursements for travel for union business.

Coppola has not been charged with anything. But that does not mean the union isnt still wondering where their money is.

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You know its you know its not only me that wants answers. Its all of us, says Heidi Alarcon, a paraprofessional. We work hard and we pay our dues and we want to know what happened.

The police report was filed last week and its still under investigation. There have been no charges at this time.

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Journalists and volunteers have identified the names of 82,050 Russian soldiers who died during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as of Dec. 6, according to a joint investigation by BBC Russia and Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, published on Dec. 11.

Russia has made territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, using brutal mass wave tactics to advance at the cost of high casualties among its soldiers.

Findings by Mediazona and BBC Russia show the losses disproportionally impact lower-income and racially marginalized regions of Russia. Bashkortostan is home to the highest number of identified soldiers killed in Ukraine.

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The Ukrainian military reported that Russia has surpassed 750,000 casualties in its war against Ukraine as of early December. The figure includes both dead and injured soldiers. Ukrainian and Western authorities have reported daily highs of up to 1,500 Russian casualties.

Ukrainian authorities reported 700,000 Russian losses on Nov. 4, less than three months after they announced 600,000 Russian casualties. Moscow does not disclose its casualty figures, though a Defense Ministry official recently let slip that the department received 48,000 requests to identify missing soldiers.

Russia has sought to avoid instituting a full-scale mobilization, a position politician analysts connect with fear of public disapproval. Instead, the country hiked sign-on bonuses to attract volunteers.

In an attempt to mitigate casualties among Russian citizens, Moscow has also made an effort to recruit foreigners into their army. Russia has cooperated with North Korea, with Pyongyang reportedly dispatching 10,000-12,000 soldiers to assist Russia with its war against Ukraine.

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The independent Russian outlet Meduza reported last week that, according to its calculations, Moscow's losses began outpacing its recruitment capacity for the first time.

Read also: Russias losses may begin to outpace enlistment rates, medias analysis says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Arguments over mobilisation rates and age in Ukraine have caused tension between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden.

Source: The Telegraph, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The dispute over mobilisation has been described as one of the most acute of all the disputes between Kyiv and Washington in the previous phases of the war.

In recent weeks, the United States has been making public and private calls for Ukraine to lower the age of mobilisation to 18, arguing that the shortage of personnel on the front is becoming critical, which is why Russia is able to make advances in the east, and that after the change of power in the White House, Trump may cut off military aid to Ukraine.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during his trip to Brussels for a NATO ministerial meeting that holding the front requires not only funding and ammunition, but also people. "But, for example, getting younger people into the fight, we think, many of us think, is necessary. Right now, 18- to 25-year-olds are not in the fight," he said.

The US saw as an unprecedented attack on Biden Zelenskyys recent assertions that Putin is only afraid of Trump "and, perhaps, China" and that supplying weapons to Ukraine and diminishing Russias military potential  and not the mobilisation age in Ukraine  are the key priority.

The Telegraph contextualised the situation by saying that the age structure of Ukraines population means that there are significantly fewer 18-25 year olds than people of older generations, which is seen as a danger to demographics in the future. In addition, mobilisation age has already been lowered from 27 to 25 years.

Background: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has assured NATO and Kyiv of Washington's commitment to fully utilise US$61 billion in funding for Ukraine authorised by the US Congress.

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After the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, many people have shared stories of being denied coverage by medical insurance companies, highlighting an issue that working-class Americans are struggling with every day.

Stephen Maturen / Getty Images / Spencer Platt / Getty Images

After reading stories from the patients' perspectives, we decided to ask medical professionals to share the times they have witnessed insurance companies fail their patients. One line from the responses we received stood out: "Until insurance companies are not-for-profit private organizations, the bottom line will always trump patient care."

Here's what 19 medical professionals had to say:

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1.There's the surgeon whose diabetic patient's insurance refused to pay for a prosthesis or wheelchair after his leg was amputated:

"I've been an orthopedic surgeon for 32 years. I had a patient with diabetes and peripheral vascular disease who ended up needing an amputation of one of his legs to save his life. The insurance paid for the amputation but would not pay for a prosthesis or wheelchair! Really?!"

Anonymous

2.There's the nurse whose patient suffered a heart attack and died waiting for medical insurance approval:

"As a nurse, I've seen plenty of situations where an easier test or procedure was denied, leading to the patient having more serious health issues that could have been prevented. One that I will never forget is a patient whose insurance denied a cardiac catheterization. The hospital staff spent half the day trying to get it approved; the doctor even talked to another doctor at the insurance company. The patient had a heart attack and died before they could get the approval. It was heartbreaking." Anonymous MoMo Productions / Getty Images

3.There's the patient whose insurance company left him bedridden for five days after not sending a home health nurse:

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"I was a nurse discharge planner in a hospital and had an elderly diabetic patient who had a large, open wound on one of his legs. After he underwent surgery, he improved and was able to be discharged home, but he needed a nurse to come out daily to do his dressing changes as well as a physical therapist to help him with his mobility. He lived alone and had no one to help him. Normally, I would make a referral to a home health agency, but this patient's insurance company required me to call them. They refused to let me make the referral and said they would do it and inform the patient. I wasn't happy with this, but my hands were tied. I heard later the patient was not seen for five days and ended up being admitted to another hospital. So, they had to pay for two admissions, and the patient suffered. I wish the paper pushers would let the medical professionals do their job; we know what we're doing."

Anonymous

4.There's the hospital worker who is constantly writing medical insurance appeal letters:

"I work in the hospital revenue cycle, and part of my job is to write appeal letters to the insurance companies because they denied a patient who had a diagnosis that was actually treated and monitored. Therefore, the hospital owes a 'refund' to the insurance company."

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Anonymous

5.There's the doctor's office employee who witnessed a medical insurance company deny newborn babies procedures to allow them to eat properly:

"I work in a doctor's office. Periodically, we see newborn babies that are tongue-tied and cannot latch to feed. The baby cannot eat. The insurance company denied the simple procedure to correct the condition, saying it was 'pre-existing' because the baby was born that way."

Anonymous

6.There's the doctor whose severely diabetic patient died from their insurance not covering insulin:

"I had a severe diabetic patient who worked but had bad insurance. They would not cover his insulin. His diabetes was very poorly controlled for years. I used to accept donations of unopened sterile insulin, and when I got a donation, I would drive it to his workplace and drop it off to him with instructions. It wasn't enough, and his glucose was usually very high. He died at the age of 62 of severe complications of poorly controlled diabetes." Anonymous Solksin / Getty Images

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7.There's the ER doctor who witnessed a woman receive lifesaving heart surgery that her insurance refused to cover:

"We had a 27-year-old woman come to the ER having a heart attack. The on-call cardiologist performed a lifesaving surgery and placed a stent. Her insurance denied covering the surgery over and over because of a recently published study stating a medication had been shown to be as effective for long-term care and deemed the surgery 'medically unnecessary.' The medication the insurance decided was a better solution is not recommended for women of childbearing years. The insurance company then said she was no longer considered to be in childbearing years. They left her owing over $60k in medical bills. Until insurance companies are not-for-profit private organizations, the bottom line will always trump patient care."

Anonymous

8.There's the resident who argued with a medical insurance agent for their patient's breast cancer treatment:

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"So many stories, but this occurred during residency and made me realize what I was in for. A patient had biopsy-proven breast cancer. I had to get pre-authorization for a mastectomy and lymph node dissection. After a long argument with a guy who sounded ancient, he said, 'Ill approve the mastectomy but not the lymph node dissection since its just for staging and not a treatment!' Of course, the treatment depends on the staging."

modernduck79

9.There's the medical insurance company that only agreed to approve the claim if the patient needed emergency surgery but refused to approve the scan to evaluate the aneurysm:

"Im a nurse. I used to work at a primary care office. I was trying to get a surveillance CT scan approved for a patient with a known AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) to see if the aneurysm was stable or getting bigger. The insurance company told me they could only approve it if we thought it was dissecting. That would mean the aorta was splitting open, which is a surgical emergency. I literally said to the person on the phone, 'If we thought it was dissecting, hed be in the hospital dying, and we wouldnt be having this conversation.' Pretty sure if youre having a dissecting aneurysm, you dont stop and call the insurance first, but what do I know? Im just a nurse."

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meaghank4a4638867

10.There's the British medical student who witnessed a homeless patient be escorted from the hospital because he didn't have insurance:

"Im British. As a student I did a secondment in New York City. There was a patient who presented to the emergency department with rectal bleeding. He was 23 and homeless. Without insurance, funds, or anyone to cover his treatment, he was escorted by security from the hospital in December. I was furious! We have a tax-payer-funded, free point service still in the UK. He would have survived here but was left to die in the States."

Anonymous

11.There's the medical insurance company that tried to deny a CAT scan to a man with kidney cancer:

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"A patient came to see me Monday afternoon late with left-sided abdominal pain. It was too late in the afternoon to get an emergency CAT scan because everything was closed, so I gave him medicine for a possible infection called diverticulitis and told him we would get a CAT scan in the morning; we got approval for a CAT scan. His insurance company said no. I called him and told him he had to go to the hospital to get a scan. He said I will call you right back, and he called and yelled at an insurance company, and they gave in. The following day, we ordered a CAT scan of his abdomen; he had the largest kidney cancer I've ever seen."

Anonymous

12.There's the worker's compensation denial that caused a patient to develop a disc hernia in his neck that needed surgery:

"I was an NP for a workers compensation program. I had a large, powerful, beautiful Black man with mental slowness who was crushed between a loading dock and a truck. He had severe nerve damage to his arms and pain in the neck area. I ordered an MRI of the neck and upper spine to evaluate disc bulges or herniations, which could permanently paralyze the patient from the neck down. The worker comp adjuster denied the MRI until he had done weeks of physical therapy. I was concerned the PT could paralyze him as we did not know how bad his spine was. I had to essentially waste PT visits by consulting with the MD whom I worked for and the PT staff to only do gentle, safe therapy. He ended up with a big disc hernia in his neck that needed surgical repair or risk paralysis from the neck down. Worker comp denials are profound and so common."

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sweetcan648

13.There's the physical therapist assistant whose patient's insurance denied her PT even though she couldn't raise her arm above her head:

"Physical therapist assistant. Just last week, we had insurance deny a patient who had shoulder manipulation under anesthesia to treat a frozen shoulder. These patients need intense PT afterward. After 15 visits, we submitted for approval for more visits because she still lacked the strength to raise her arm over her head. Her job is physical, and she did not have the range of motion, strength, or endurance to adequately do her work. Insurance denied because it wasn't 'medically necessary' when she is literally unable to work." aryren Anderson Ross Photography Inc / Getty Images

14.There's the medical insurance company that insisted a patient who received blood transfusions for postpartum hemorrhage go home that same day:

"Years ago, a patient had a baby, then got treated and had blood transfusions for postpartum hemorrhage. The insurance person still insisted that the patient go home that day by midnight 'cause they werent going to pay another day. The doctor even called the insurance company. No change. We all told the patient and family that it was safer to stay at the hospital another day, and the hospital could work something out. They still left by midnight."

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fabprincess48

15.There's the medical insurance company that tried to deny a patient's claim for the medication their doctor recommended:

"I worked on the general medical floor in my hospital at the time. My former mother-in-law had small cell lung cancer and was admitted three separate times for low sodium levels, a common complication of small cell lung cancer. On her first admission, they had a kidney doctor come to see her, and he wanted to put her on a medication that would fix the low sodium for good. Her insurance company denied the claim for this medication, claiming it was too expensive. Her subsequent hospital admissions cost way more than that medication. The doctors and her husband had to fight tooth and nail to get the insurance company to finally approve the medication. Otherwise, she would have continued to be hospitalized for low sodium for the remainder of her last year of life."

heather13700

16.There's the Residential Addiction Counselor who had to convince a medical insurance agent why their patient needed residential care, NOT meetings:

"Residential Addiction Counselor here. We have battles CONSTANTLY with insurance companies who don't think our clients need care. A few years ago, I had a client who was using meth, IV, daily, and her insurance company came back with, 'We don't see the need for residential. She can probably just go to a few meetings, and she'll be fine!' I had to do a peer-to-peer review with one of their representatives and practically plead my case. After almost an hour, they finally, 'graciously' gave me seven days of residential care for her. Which does absolutely nothing. When those seven days were up, I had to go back through the whole process again to get her approved for another seven. Some insurances are better than others, but you definitely know the ones that getting days approved will be an uphill battle. I will say that one of those insurance companies that is nearly impossible to get approval for is UnitedHealthcare."

tudorgirl21

17.There's the nurse whose patient died of infected bedsores because he couldn't afford the copay:

"Patient dying of infected bedsore needs a hospital bed with a special mattress. He cant afford the copay for the bed and the mattress so he elected to just go home and die." Anonymous Kobus Louw / Getty Images

18.There's the wound care nurse who is appalled at the lack of coverage for preventative care:

"I work in wound care, and its the lack of preventative coverage that blows my mind. To prevent venous leg ulcers (blood flow going back to heart is compromised) for people with venous insufficiency, or leg swelling we recommend compression stockings that are generally $60-ish a pair. Insurance wont cover them unless they have an active open wound. Another one is for patients with peripheral neuropathy (numbness, lack of protective sensation) in their feet. They wont cover custom shoe orthotics and shoes which is around $300$500 at all if they are not diabetic. Again, something that can prevent them from getting wounds, emergency amputations, loss of the ability to walk, and risk of life-threatening infections. Average cost to heal a venous leg ulcer with each occurrence is $10,000 from 2021 data vs. $60 preventative stocking. Average cost to heal a neuropathic ulcer is $8,000 and if complications arise can easily reach $45,000 in 2021 vs. $300$500. Its not just the curative treatments that are a problem with being denied. It is also the preventative ones."

christinac4952235b1

And finally...

19.There's the admissions worker who tried to explain to insurance that they needed stair training for their 80-year-old patient:

"I work in admissions for a skilled nursing facility (inpatient rehab for seniors). I once submitted an authorization for a lady in her mid-80s who had a knee replacement for a week of rehab to get her back to her independence. She needed to be able to navigate five steps to get into her home. At the time she could not do any. Her insurance denied her because she could walk 50 feet (the average length of a house) with a walker. I tried to explain that she needed to be able to do stairs, and they basically said they don't pay for stair training, and she could sit on her butt and scoot up the steps."

patorciani

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Responses have been edited for length/clarity.
A cavalcade of supporting characters in the MAGA universe, and President-elect Donald Trump, showed up at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday to attend a soiree for the conspiratorial, QAnon-adjacent conservative nonprofit Americas Future.

Mel Gibson, the traditionalist Catholic actor and director, told the crowd, I got nine kids. If one of them got stolen or trafficked, Id have to kill someone.

Mel Gibson tonight at Mar-a-Lago thanking General Flynn pic.twitter.com/YhSznfsIjR  Matilda (@savvydachshunds) December 11, 2024

That chimes with the kind of themes promoted by the groups chairman, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who has remade Americas Future in his own image. Since his appointment in 2021, the formerly meat-and-potatoes conservative group has shifted to promoting QAnon-adjacent conspiracy theories about a clandestine cabal of pedophiles controlling media and government.

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Last year, Gibson executive produced Sound of Freedom, a Christian thriller starring QAnon conspiracist Jim Caviezel that stoked QAnon paranoia. He praised Flynn for exposing wolves in sheeps clothing that prey upon our young during Tuesday nights speech at Trumps club.

In addition to Gibsonwho arrived in a polo shirt, shorts, and Crocs before changing into a more appropriate suit and tieother attendees included British comedian turned conspiracy theorist Russell Brand, car dealership fortune heir turned working-class poseur Kid Rock, Fox News outcast Tucker Carlson, and former Trump adviser Roger Stone.

Trump was listed as an invited honored guest and was seen alongside Flynn before he briefly addressed attendees outside, accompanied by Flynn, Carlson, and Kid Rock, who he called great people.

An unforgettable moment at the Champions For America Celebration Gala! 



Kid Rock accepted the Champion For Freedom award from General Michael Flynn and delivered an impassioned speech like only he can. His energy, passion, and unapologetic love for freedom electrified the pic.twitter.com/j8nTiJ9bK1  America's Future USA (@Amerifuture) December 11, 2024

Carlson and Kid Rock, nee Robert Ritchie, were given Champion for Freedom awards by Flynn.

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Carlson once called QAnon supporterswho believe a cabal of clandestine, Satanic child molesters are working against Trumpgentle people waving American flags. Americas Future, under the professed mandate of combatting human trafficking, has promoted similar conspiracies.

They have organ harvesting, says Flynns sister, Mary ONeill, who was appointed executive director after he became chairman, in a video on their site. They have also found a way to take the blood, and use the blood, to make themselves youthful.

One attendee, who posed with Stone, commented on Instagram that they saw one-time television actor turned COVID and election denier Kevin Sorbo, who has been known to frequent Mar-a-Lago.

But the biggest name on hand, after Trump, was the pope-denying Gibson.

He called the Biden administration four years of thinly veiled Marxism and the incoming Trump administration as a four year grace period, adding well see how much this administration can claw back from the Philistines.
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  Officials in Morgan County broke ground on a new psychiatric facility on Tuesday.

The Mental Health Crisis Residential Unit for North Alabama will serve 18 counties and provide space for patients to stay and receive treatment. The 16-bed in-patient unit is being set up by the Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama and officials from Morgan County and Decatur took part in the groundbreaking.

Man charged for shooting girlfriends father in Huntsville

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Officials say there is a large demand for in-patient treatment centers in the region.

Mental Health Center Chief Executive Officer Lisa Coleman said the unit is meant to help meet those demands.

The need for inpatient beds in North Alabama is grand, our ERs are overrun with patients waiting for a psychiatric bed, she said. The waiting lists to go to State Institutions is growing. So having these additional 16 beds in Alabama, North Alabama will be very helpful.

Coleman says the centers central location in Decatur will make travel easier for families, law enforcement, and court officials.

It will open its doors to patients in October 2025

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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.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Mercy Health is celebrating the holiday season again with a time-honored tradition.

The Festival of Trees gives you a chance to win an elaborately decorated Christmas tree and other prizes around the tree.

There are decorated Christmas trees at all three Mercy Health hospitals right now. Departments pick a theme and decorate a tree to brighten the hospital and spread Christmas joy.

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You can buy raffle tickets to try and win a tree. The money from those sales help mission-based hospital funds at each facility, to support others.

We have a mission clothing closet where we have clothing for patients when theyre discharged if they need new clothes, that kind of thing, said Natalie Terry-Haagt. When we have an associate in need, if we can support them, we try to do that.

Thats the project at Mercy Health Youngstown. The trees benefit different projects at the other hospitals.

You can buy raffle tickets at each hospital on Thursday and until winners are drawn at noon Friday.

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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.
Metropolitan Police workers, including 999 call handlers and child protection officers, have voted to go on strike for the right to spend more time working from home.

Just over 50 per cent of the Mets 2,400 Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members backed industrial action after being told they would need to return to the office in the new year.

Since 2021, Scotland Yards 11,000 civilian staff have enjoyed generous hybrid working arrangements with some spending as few as two days out of five in the office.

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But as part of a drive across the Metropolitan Police to better support front-line officers and improve public trust and confidence in the force, bosses recently asked staff to reduce the amount of time they spent working from home.

Those staff with operational duties were told that from January they would need to spend at least four days a week in the office, while those doing support roles would need to be in work a minimum of three days.

Operational positions include Police Community Support Officers, 999 call handlers, vetting officers, intelligence officers and those working in child protection, while support roles cover areas such as human resources, finance and estate management.

But the PCS union  which represents almost 200,000 civil servants across Whitehall  claimed that asking workers to come into the office was unreasonable and would subject them to the stress of the daily commute.

Our members are not bobbies on the beat

It is the first time Met Police employees have voted for industrial action and if the strike goes ahead some front-line police officers may have to step in to backfill their roles.

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Scotland Yards top brass are understood to be furious and exasperated by the prospect of strike action.

One senior Met source said: Most Met police staff understand the vital role they play in keeping London safe. We have got officers risking their lives on the streets every day so it beggars belief that some staff are not willing to come into the office three days a week.

However, Fran Heathcote, the PCS general secretary, said: Our members are not bobbies on the beat. They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office but without the stress and cost of a daily commute.

Its time politicians and the Right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people.

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It is the latest in a series of Telegraph revelations exposing the scale of working from home across the Civil Service, town halls, the BBC and the NHS amid growing concerns over use of policy.

Earlier this week, it emerged that criminals were being allowed to work from home to complete their community sentences.

The Telegraph previously revealed that more than 40 per cent of police jobs currently being advertised across England and Wales permit successful applicants to work from home.

This includes highly sensitive roles such as those investigating child abuse and sexual offences.

The findings suggest police forces are failing to get staff back into the office despite crime rates soaring since the pandemic.

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Senior Met sources believe that the remote working culture is not helping the force achieve its reform agenda and is not the best way of delivering the service Londoners deserve.

There are also concerns that if support staff are working from home, officers may have to pick up some of their duties.

In a report published on Tuesday, Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Police Commissioner, also warned he may be forced to axe 400 police staff as well as 2,300 officers owing to a 450 million budget shortfall.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: We are disappointed the union felt such action was necessary, but want to reassure Londoners we have contingencies in place to keep them safe.

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Our policy doesnt end working from home, we have given staff and officers in support roles the ability to work from home up to two days a week. Our plans will provide consistency across the Met and ensure we can deliver for our communities.

Although the threshold for strike action has been met, it doesnt have to go ahead and we urge our staff and the union not to take further action.

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.
Instead of movie goers, cleaning crews could be seen coming and going from AMC Theater in Methuen on a rainy Tuesday night.

The movie theater has been closed since Thursday, December 5th, after the Methuen Department of Health, Human Services, and Inspections found enough evidence of pest entry into the building to warrant shutting it down so that repairs could be made, according to Director of Public Health Caeli Tegan Zampach, MPH.

She said the department received a complaint last week from a woman who reported seeing a rodent inside the movie theater.

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According to Zampach, the theater will reopen after another inspection is completed and the results are satisfactory. Currently, they are waiting to hear from AMC Theater that they are ready.

Methuens AMC has this statement on its website for right now, saying in part, We apologize for the inconvenience, but this theater is temporarily closed. Please continue to check back here for updates.

Boston 25 News has reached out to AMC Theatres for comment, but has not heard back.

We want the problem to be fully addressed now while the theater is empty so then people can feel safe returning, said Zampach.

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She added that rodents can carry disease but transmission to humans is unlikely because its spread through their bodily fluids.

On Tuesday, Boston 25 News saw people attempt to go to the movies.

Ivonne Pizzarro was one of them. She typically goes to that AMC Theater every Tuesday.

I thought that they were just closed, to be honest. Maybe because of the holidays you never know, Pizarro said.

However, others who work nearby heard rumors about the rodent issue.

We were all hanging out back here the other day and they were all saying, I heard theres rats over at AMC, said Jaylin Rochleau. I actually semi-recently went to go see Moana. I didnt see any rats.

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According to Zampach, there have been no documented shutdowns of this theater in the past several years.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man was apprehended in connection with an October shooting that left a teen critically injured, the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said.

ORIGINAL STORY: Teen shot multiple times while riding in vehicle through West Nashville

Zeric Johnson, 20, was free on $61,000 bond related to a February arrest for aggravated assault, according to authorities. During that incident, Johnson was accused of firing multiple shots toward two victims in a Walgreens parking lot on Maplewood Lane.

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Johnsons arrest is not the first to be made in this case. James Claybrooks, 22, was previously identified by MNPD as the man driving the suspect car in the October shooting.

The vehicle reportedly followed the victims Ford Focus as they traveled along Charlotte Avenue. Officials said the suspect vehicle later traveled into Lebanon, where a license plate recognition hit greatly furthered the investigation.

RELATED: Man facing attempted homicide charges after West Nashville shooting

Tuesdays MNPD press release said Johnson opened fire on the Ford Focus, striking an 18-year-old. Authorities added the teen appeared to be the target in this shooting and suffered critical injuries.

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Johnson was charged with two counts of attempted homicide, reckless endangerment and the commission of a felony in possession of a gun. In a social media post, the MNPD said Johnsons bond has been set at $600,000.

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.
Pueblo of Tesuque Gov. Milton Herrera said the tribal government fully supports the executive order restricting land use on the Caja del Rio, which he called a bold step by Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source New Mexico)

The official in charge of state-owned land in New Mexico signed an executive order Wednesday to protect part of a natural landscape the U.S. government wants to use to power its nuclear weapons program.

The order bans mining, large energy transmission lines and major roads on state lands located on the Caja del Rio Plateau just outside Santa Fe. The plateau  the proposed site of a controversial energy transmission line that would feed Los Alamos National Laboratory  is located primarily on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service.

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The lab needs the new line to power another supercomputer that will, among other things, simulate nuclear weapons behavior and model climate scenarios, Searchlight New Mexico reports.

Conservation activists and local, tribal and federal officials hope the new executive order will push the Biden administration to designate the plateau as a national monument. That designation could block development and force the laboratory to reroute the transmission line.

Just after signing the order on Wednesday, Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard said its purpose is to add to the voices of support around protection of the area in general.

Were hoping that this executive order will stand as a model for what the state would like to see on state land, at least, in this area, Garcia Richard said.

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The order calls for an ethnographic study of the area, which Garcia Richard said would involve interviews with people who use the Caja to determine the areas significance to them, and their cultural practices and uses of it.

The Pueblos of Cochiti and San Ildefonso and Tesuque have all maintained ties with their ancestral lands on the plateau for millenia, and local Hispano communities have done so for centuries.

Pueblo of Tesuque Gov. Milton Herrera said the tribal government fully supports the order, which he called a bold step by Garcia Richard.

Well work with her office and others to the greatest extent we can to continue our joint efforts to protect and preserve the entire Caja del Rio landscape, he said.

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On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich called on U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to designate the Caja del Rio as a national monument before President Joe Bidens term ends in January.

Reached for comment on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Interior Department  which oversees the Bureau of Land Management  deferred questions about a possible national monument designation to the White House. The U.S. Forest Service is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

We have not seen the executive order nor specific documents pertaining to designating the Caja del Rio a national monument, said Toni Chiri, a spokesperson for the National Nuclear Security Administrations Los Alamos Field Office.

We will continue to follow the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act before making a final determination on the EPCU project, Chiri said.

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The Santa Fe County Commission has passed multiple resolutions supporting the preservation and protection of the Caja since 2005, including on Monday night.

Santa Fe County Commissioner Anna Hansen said whether a national monument designation would halt the project is a possibility, not a done deal.

It is a discussion that can happen as we move forward, she said. We believe that we have the smartest scientists in the world in Los Alamos, that should be able to figure out how to take a power line around the Caja del Rio.

Rev. Andrew Black, public lands field director for the National Wildlife Federation and founder of EarthKeepers 360, said the states executive order presents an opportunity for the Biden administration to add tribal protections for everything from gathering pinon and herbs, to hunting and grazing.

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Protecting tribal sacred sites is really important, and access to those sites for those tribes, Black said. Protecting traditional land use practices is something our communities want to see.

There are not currently any mineral or mining leases on the state lands in question, Garcia Richard said, and the State Land Office has not been solicited for mineral leasing in the area.

The time is always right to do right, Black said. Indeed, the time is right for Secretary Haaland and President Biden to use the power they have to do right by New Mexicos tribes and local communities, by permanently protecting and promoting the long-term stewardship of the Caja del Rio, through the designation as a national monument.

Correction  8:59 a.m. Dec. 12, 2024: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect which agencies are overseen by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Update  8:55 p.m. Dec. 11, 2024: This story has been updated with comment from the National Nuclear Security Administration.

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Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Prominent Miami Beach real estate brothers Alon, Oren and Tal Alexanders have been arrested in connection with sexual assault allegations in Florida and New York, the Miami-Dade State Attorney said on Wednesday.

Katherine Fernandez Rundle said she will give more details on Wednesday afternoon about the arrest and allegation against the brothers after an investigation by the Miami Beach Police Department and the state attorney's office, with assistance from federal agencies.

Oren and Tal Alexander are the founders of Official, a firm that focuses on luxury real estate properties in Miami, as well as New York City, the Hamptons and Los Angeles. The brothers have faced civil sexual assault lawsuits in New York.

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Oren Alexander faces three charges of second sexual battery with a bond of $150,000. Alon Alexander is facing one second-degree felony sexual battery, but bail has not been set. Charges against Tal Alexander were not immediately known.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in New York also has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon to discuss the brothers and their charges.

In an indictment unsealed on Wednesday, federal authorities are charging the brothers with drugging and raping "dozens of victims" for more than a decade. The brothers face conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, according to a New York federal indictment.

The lavish lifestyle of the brothers, some of it captured in the New York state civil lawsuits, described the real estate brokers as jet-setting property stars who crisscrossed the country to make expensive residential deals on the East Coast and West Coast.
The famed documentarian Michael Moore said the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was a senseless killingmaking his feelings on the attack known well before it was revealed that the suspected killer had referenced him in his manifesto.

Moore, 70, appeared particularly interested in the inscribed bullet casings that police said were left at the murder scene by Thompsons assassin, which read deny, defend, and depose.

Moore asserted in a Substack post on Friday that the casing could mean everything in determining what drove the gunman to kill. Or, he said, it might mean nothing.

Suspected shooter Luigi Mangione is led from the Blair County Courthouse after an extradition hearing December 10, 2024 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. / Jeff Swensen / Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Either way, Moore used Thompsons murder as an opportunity to resurface his long-held beliefs that the U.S. health care system is a predatory mess. In doing so, he also pointed outvia a graph thats since been frequently reshared on social mediathat UnitedHealthcare has the highest claim denial rate among the major U.S. insurers.

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No other industrialized country on Earth so willingly and heartlessly lets a few large corporations literally decide who shall live and who shall diea decision that is based solely on profit motive, wrote Moore.

Moores post also included a link to a 19-minute clip from his award-winning 2007 documentary SICKO, which exposed the measures health insurers go to profit off Americans while simultaneously denying them care.

That clip, which was posted to Moores YouTube on Friday and embedded in his Substack, was given the title: SICKO Clip: Deny, Defend, Depose.

Michael Moore titled a YouTube video using the same words police say Luigi Mangione inscribed onto bullet casings. / Substack

Moore did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

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Mangiones mention of the filmmaker in his manifesto was briefonly listing his last name in parenthesis as an expert on the corruption and greed of insurers. Also referenced as an expert was the ex-New York Times reporter Elizabeth Rosenthal, who wrote the 2017 book titled, An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back.

Luigi Mangiones manifesto suggested that Moore and Rosenthal would be better equipped to speak about the issues in the U.S. health care system than he was.

Obviously the problem is more complex, but I do not have space, and frankly I do not pretend to be the most qualified person to lay out the full argument, he wrote. But many have illuminated the corruption and greed (e.g.: Rosenthal, Moore), decades ago and the problems simply remain.

Police have stopped short of declaring a definitive motive for Mangione. However, experts say the cases evidencebetween his manifesto, the inscribed casings, and the stuffing of a backpack with monopoly moneysuggests that the killing was a targeted attack against Thompson and the health insurance industry as a whole.

Brian Thompson was gunned down / United Health Group

Mangione allegedly wrote in his manifesto that these parasites had it coming and that hed considered killing Thompson with a bomb. He allegedly wrote that he settled on using a handgun because it was the only way he could ensure thered be no injuries to bystanders.

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Mangiones fingerprints match with evidence found near the scene of Thompsons murder, police said Wednesday. Other evidence has started stacking up against the Ivy League grad, including that he was in possession of fake IDs, a silencer, and a ghost gun at the time of his arrest on Monday morning in Pennsylvania.

Authorities in New York are working to have the 26-year-old extradited back to Manhattan to face charges of second-degree-murder. While those proceedings play out, however, hes being held in a rural central Pennsylvania detention center.
Note: This story deals with suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or visit chat.988lifeline.org for help.

The Michigan health department fixed a key broken link prominently featured on its suicide prevention website Wednesday after the Free Press notified the state of the problem.

The cause of the error or how long it remained on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website was not immediately clear.

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As soon as the Free Press found the problem, it alerted health department staff. The health department corrected the error within an hour of notification from the Free Press.

Grand Tower, headquarters to the human services side of the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services in Lansing.

"The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is committed to connecting individuals in crisis with the resources they need. The broken link has been resolved and we are researching the cause," said department spokeswoman Erin Stover.

"Individuals in crisis can call or text 988, 24 hours a day to be connected to trained counselors who can provide them with the assistance they need. We appreciate you bringing this issue to our attention."

Any impediment to receiving help during a crisis could be life-threatening, said Kevin Fischer, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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"Any time a person is seeking help, we want to make sure the resources are available to them. Because one, it could be life-saving. Two, in many cases, if a person has finally decided they want to seek behavioral care resources for the first time, we want to make sure were there to answer that call because we might not get another chance," said Fischer, who lost his eldest son to suicide in 2010.

"With the stigma associated with mental health conditions, far too often we get one shot. If we don't answer the phone, text line or however they reach out for help, sometimes a person will, for whatever reason, become despondent or feel like nobody really cares and they don't want to try again."

The bad link appeared on a state website that offers resources for people in a state of mental crisis. One of those resources is an online chat tool, used to connect someone to a counselor.

However, before the state fixed the issue, clicking the link to the "Lifeline Chat" took users to a non-working webpage with this message: "404 Not Found. We can not find the page you are looking for."

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The Free Press had five people try to use the broken hyperlink Wednesday morning. All five received the same error message.

More: Experiencing thoughts of suicide? These Michigan, national resources can help

There are many other resources available on the crisis webpage, including the simple 988 number that anyone could call or text for assistance. But before the department fixed the problem, the correct web address for the chat function only appeared in one place on the site, buried deep within a "Frequently Asked Questions" portion of the page.

The issue on the health department website appeared to stem from an improper hyperlink. It's a relatively common error: in an effort to connect a keyword with a related web page, a typo or some other problem prevents the web link from functioning properly.

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The crisis hotline 988 number is a widely used tool in Michigan, according to a health department news release. From July 2023 to this July, the state answered more than 88,000 calls to that number, spending 19,000 hours on the phone with Michiganders, according to the release.

"Over 1.5 million adults in Michigan currently have a mental health condition, and strengthening crisis care and mental health services continues to be a top priority for MDHHS," said health department Director Elizabeth Hertel in July, celebrating the two-year anniversary of the 988 crisis response program.

"We encourage anyone experiencing a crisis, whether personally or one of their family members, to use this resource whenever needed.

The health department release does not indicate how many inquiries it received through the online chat feature. However, a KFF brief from earlier this year indicates since the launch of the 988 crisis system in 2022, providers nationwide have received more than 1.4 million chats.

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Nearly 1,500 people committed suicide in Michigan in 2023.

Reach Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com and on X @Dave_Boucher1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan health department website used broken suicide prevention link
LANSING  A Michigan House committee advanced legislation Wednesday to expand the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to cover the governor's office and state Legislature, raising the possibility long-stalled efforts to improve government transparency in Michigan could see movement in the final days of the legislative session.

Michigan is one of two states that does not currently subject the governor and state lawmakers to public records requests. Lawmakers in the state Senate have already passed Senate Bills 669 and 670 to change Michigan's status as a national outlier.

"I wish we could say were out of the mainstream on this. We're out of the universe on this," said bill sponsor state Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, during the House Committee on Government Operations hearing on his legislation. State Sen. Ed McBroom  the other bill sponsor of the package  told lawmakers that expanding FOIA could help restore the public's trust in government.

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The pair of bills, that passed with wide bipartisan support in the state Senate, had stalled in the state House until Wednesday, when the committee heard testimony on the bills and unanimously reported them to the House floor with recommendation that they pass.

For years, Michigan lawmakers have introduced bills to improve government transparency by expanding the state's public records laws. But they went nowhere. McBroom said he hopes Wednesday's hearing marks the last one on legislation to expand FOIA, signaling optimism the bills may cross the finish line and make their way to the governor's desk this year.

Michigan Legislature: Bills raising unemployment benefits in Michigan to $614 a week pass state House

Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, told the Free Press last week that she'd be proud to make increasing government transparency part of the legacy lawmakers leave behind this year. In a separate interview, House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, last week expressed openness to supporting the legislation. House Committee on Government Operations Chair state Rep. Tullio Liberati, D-Allen Park, said Wednesday that he had Tate's support for holding the hearing on FOIA legislation.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's director of communications, Bobby Leddy, declined to comment Wednesday and referred, instead, to comments made on the issue last week. Asked last week whether Whitmer wants to see the FOIA legislation land on her desk before the end of the year, Whitmer press secretary Stacey LaRouche responded in an email, "We will review legislation as it makes its way through the process."

The committee hearing Wednesday is notable, because the Committee on Government Operations is usually where legislation goes to die.

In Michigan, state departments, as well as county and local government units, are subject to public records requests made under the state's FOIA law. The law allows the public to access information about the government by obtaining a range of records, from public officials' communications to police reports.

But the governor and state lawmakers have been able to operate without the light that public records requests can shine on their actions. Moss said scandals in Lansing involving state lawmakers have strengthened the case for expanding FOIA.

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The legislation provides some exemptions from public records disclosure, including for constituent communications. Moss said the intention behind the exemption is to protect personal information constituents share with lawmakers, such as their challenges with food insecurity or utility bill payments.

The proposed expansion, if passed, would take effect in 2027 to allow time to staff up FOIA administrator positions to respond to requests, according to Moss and McBroom. Records created before the bills take effect would be exempted from disclosure under the proposed legislation.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan House committee advances FOIA bills to a vote
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There are things bigger than politics, state legislators declared on the floor of Michigans state House, as legislation to implement school safety requirements and mental health assessment standards passed Tuesday evening with bipartisan support.

Its been just over three years since four students at Oxford High School were murdered by another student who brought a gun to school and opened fire on the school community. Just as the loved ones of Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Justin Shilling, 17; and Madisyn Baldwin, 17, will never forget the pain of the Nov. 30, 2021 killings, neither will lawmakers, Rep. Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) told members of the state House.

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We must show the people of Michigan, we as lawmakers can come together and produce solutions that address real need in the state, Meerman, who is a sponsor of the bill package, said. From where I stand, these bills are long overdue. Im grateful to vote yes on these bills today.

Michigan state Rep. Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) speaks in support of a school safety package on the House floor on Dec. 10, 2024. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Meerman, along with Rep. Nancy DeBoer (R-Holland) took the lead on House Bills 5659 and 5660 which would replace the School Safety Commission with a School Safety and Mental Health Commission housed in the Department of State Police.

The would-be-replaced School Safety Commission was created under Gov. Rick Snyder, after the deadly Parkland High School shooting in Florida in 2018 where a 19-year-old opened fire, killing 17 people at the school. The commission has been charged with evaluating safety measures in Michigan schools and making recommendations for improvements.

Codifying a School Safety and Mental Health Commission is being pursued by lawmakers in recognition of alarm bells school mental health professionals have sounded for the mental health crisis within Michigan schools. The commission would specifically examine and make recommendations to improve school safety measures and mental health support, with members consisting of experts in law enforcement, education, mental health, school threat assessments and community programming with youth, as well as having a current student or recent high school graduate on the commission.

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House Bill 5659 and House Bill 5660 received 89-19 votes, passing with widespread bipartisan support and with two members not voting.

Amongst the no votes was Republican Rep. Josh Schriver who represents Oxford and voted against every bill in the package Tuesday.

Under House Bills 4095 and 4096, all schools in Michigan would be required to adopt uniform terminology for emergency response starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Michigan State Police would be mandated under the legislation to create language all schools use, so terms like lockdown and shelter in place mean the same thing across the board and law enforcement can respond accordingly should there be an emergency.

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House Bill 4095 received a 94-15 and House Bill 4096 received a 93-16 with one lawmaker not voting.

In the face of the threat of school shootings, its important to note that schools are still amongst the safest places for kids to be, Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) told lawmakers Tuesday. But students dont always feel safe while theyre trying to learn.

A few years ago, my daughter asked me one of the worst questions a child could bring a parent, Mama, what do I do if my teacher tells me to run and I cant find my little brother?, Breen told members of the state House. No parent ever wants to answer that.

Michigan state Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) speaks in support of a school safety package on the House floor on Dec. 10, 2024. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Michigan was once again rattled by another school shooting in 2023, when three students on Michigan State Universitys campus were killed by a gunman the evening before Valentines Day, Breen lamented.

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After the tragedy at MSU, lawmakers passed several gun violence reforms including safe storage laws, background checks on all gun sales and implementing extreme risk protection orders.

And as survivors of school shootings in Michigan and the families of the students the state has lost demand justice and change, Breen said lawmakers have the opportunity to stand alongside them.

Breens bill in the package, House Bill 5549, requires all schools to create a behavior threat assessment and management team by October 1, 2026. The team would have to define prohibited or concerning behaviors that are indicative that a member of the school community might hurt themselves or others. The team would also be expected to perform monitoring for such behaviors, creating reporting mechanisms for members of the school community to identify concerning behavior and facilitate the schools responses to intervene.

The team is required to have a school administrator, a mental health professional and a school resource officer or another member of law enforcement.

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While the other bills in the package cleared the politically divided state House with the vast majority of votes, House Bill 5549 cleared with a 57-51 vote, with one lawmaker not voting.

Rep. Gina Johnsen (R-Odessa) unsuccessfully proposed an amendment that would have allowed non public schools to opt out of creating behavior threat assessment and management teams and would have specified that members of the clergy could be eligible to fulfill the role of the mental health professional on such teams if non public schools wanted to participate.

The bills will now head over to the state Senate in the final days of the legislative session.

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Microsofts artificial intelligence chief Mustafa Suleyman hired several Google DeepMind staff for a new AI-powered consumer health unit as firms race to take advantage of the growing demand for health advice.

Suleyman cofounded DeepMind before its 2014 sale to Google, and his poaching from his former colleagues is part of a growing rivalry between the firms: Google has asked the US antitrust regulator to kill an exclusive Microsoft deal with OpenAI, according to The Information.

SIGNALS

AI holds transformative potential in health care, but limitations remain

Sources: Financial Times, The Lancet, Brookings Institution

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AI-fueled health care advancements are likely to be a major driver of profits as consumers increasingly turn to generative AI for health-related queries, the Financial Times noted. The potential of GenAI in revolutionizing healthcare is limitless, from clinical workflows to drug development, but concerns remain, The Lancet argued in an editorial: AI is trained on heavily biased datasets, so risks exacerbating health inequities and producing inaccuracies that could be detrimental for patients. GenAI excels at high-repetition, low-risk tasks, so shouldnt yet be integrated into the medical treatment process, the nuances of which are best left to physicians, a technology expert wrote for the Brookings Institution.

OpenAI has become more commercial

Sources: The New York Times, The Conversation

The Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Suleyman are family friends who became rivals when Microsoft opened a new office in London to compete for the same tech talent, The New York Times reported in April. OpenAI  which enjoys a close partnership with Microsoft  held as one of its founding principles the need for genuinely open source software that benefits humanity, but has become more commercially minded in recent years, bringing it into even more direct competition with Google, an AI expert argued in The Conversation. Thats mostly a good thing, she added, forcing both companies to push the boundaries of the technology.
The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and expressing support for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, although they reflect world opinion.

Israel has faced growing international criticism over its conduct in Gaza as it fights Hamas militants, especially when it comes to humanitarian aid for desperate people in the besieged and heavily destroyed territory.

Israeli airstrikes in northern and central Gaza killed at least 33 people overnight and into Wednesday, Palestinian medical officials said. Hospital records show one Israeli strike in northern Gaza killed 19 people in a home, including a family of eight  four children, their parents and two grandparents.

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The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas militant in the vicinity of the hospital, part of a blistering offensive in Gazas isolated and heavily destroyed north.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people, including children and older adults. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. They say women and children make up more than half the dead but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their count. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

___

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Here's the latest:

Israeli airstrike kills at least 13 people, including 7 children, Palestinian medical officials say

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  Palestinian medical officials say an Israeli airstrike early Thursday killed at least 13 people, including seven children and a woman, in central Gaza.

The strike flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken.

An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospitals morgue.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.

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Israels offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Shooting attack on Israeli bus kills child, wounds 2 people

JERUSALEM  Israeli hospital officials say a young boy died after being wounded in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank that also wounded two adults.

An Israeli bus came under fire from a suspected Palestinian attacker late Wednesday, the military said, and Israeli forces are searching for the shooter.

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The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements.

Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem said the boy was 12 years old, after initial reports said he was 10. A spokesperson for the hospital did not immediately respond to a request for clarification. The hospital said two other people, ages 24 and 55, were also wounded.

UN General Assembly demands ceasefire in Gaza and backs UN agency helping Palestinian refugees

UNITED NATIONS  The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban.

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The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA.

The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group.

General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly.

Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.

Israeli forces pull out of first Lebanese border town as part of ceasefire

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BEIRUT  Israeli forces withdrew from a strategic town in southern Lebanon and handed it back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, the two militaries said Wednesday, marking an important test of the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants.

It appeared to be Israel's first pullout from a Lebanese border town captured during this falls ground invasion, and comes as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire.

The Lebanese army said Wednesday it has deployed units to five positions around the town of Khiam coinciding with the Israeli armys withdrawal.

Israel's military confirmed this was the first town it has turned over to the Lebanese army under the truce, which  if it endures  would end nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

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Israel has said the truce deal gives it the right to use military force against perceived ceasefire violations. Israel has launched near-daily strikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, that have killed at least 28 people and wounded 25 others since the ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27. Still, the shaky truce appears to be holding.

Five people were killed Wednesday by at least three Israeli strikes in different towns in the southern municipality of Bint Jbeil, Lebanons Health Ministry and state news agency said.

The Lebanese army warned civilians to stay out of Khiam until it can clear the area of any unexploded munitions. The strategic hilltop town, located less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war.

Thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war returned home two weeks ago after a ceasefire took hold, driving cars stacked with personal belongings and defying warnings from Lebanese and Israeli troops to avoid some areas.

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Russia has pulled its naval forces out of Syria, US official says

WASHINGTON  All Russian naval ships that were docked at the Syrian port of Tartus have left and it appears Moscow is now looking for a new base along the coast now that its key ally, Bashar Assad, has been ousted a ruler of Syria, a U.S. official said.

Its not clear where the ships will go, but Russia may seek a new port on the Mediterranean Sea along the African shoreline, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. assessments.

The official did not say how many vessels Russia had in Syria at the time Assad was overthrown. Moscow has dedicated the bulk of its military assets to the war in Ukraine.

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Asked about Tartus on Wednesday, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said that the U.S. is seeing some Russian forces and naval vessels leaving Syria.

They just had one of their key political allies, ousted, said Singh. Were seeing Russia consolidate assets.

 By Lolita C. Baldor

Palestinians urge UN General Assembly to vote for an immediate Gaza ceasefire

UNITED NATIONS  The Palestinians are urging United Nations member countries to vote in favor of resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees, which Israel has moved to ban in Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian mission to the United Nations issued the urgent appeal to the 193 U.N. member nations ahead of Wednesday afternoons votes on the resolutions in the General Assembly, whose members have has been listening to two days of speeches overwhelmingly supporting the measures.

Israel and close ally the United States have spoken against the resolutions.

The Palestinians and their supporters went to the General Assembly after the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution last month demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war in Gaza. It was supported by the 14 other Security Councilmember nations, but the U.S. objected because the resolution did not include a link to an immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The General Assembly resolution being voted on Wednesday mirrors the Security Council language: It demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire to be respected by all parties, and further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly. But while council resolutions are legally binding, assembly resolutions are not, though they do reflect world opinion.

The second resolution being voted on supports the mandate of the U.N. agency caring for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA which was established by the General Assembly in 1949.

It deplores legislation adopted by Israels parliament, the Knesset, on Oct. 28 banning UNRWAs activities in the Palestinian territories, which takes effect in 90 days.

It calls on the Israeli government to abide by its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA and uphold its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip.

Israel lifts restrictions on outdoor activities in the northern Golan Heights

JERUSALEM  Israel has lifted restrictions on public gatherings and outdoor activities in areas near the Lebanese border in the northern Golan Heights, two weeks after a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

The armys Home Front Command said it was changing its public safety guidelines to full activity from partial activity.

Israel had tightened restrictions on Nov. 25, reflecting concerns that fighting could intensify ahead of any possible cease-fire between Israel and Lebanese militants. The truce went into effect on Nov. 27.

In recent days, Israeli tanks and troops have advanced out of Israeli-held territory in the Golan Heights and pushed into a buffer zone inside Syria  a move Israel said it took to prevent attacks on its citizens.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States.

Palestinian factions in Syria form a united delegation to meet with country's new rebel rulers

BEIRUT - Syria-based Palestinian factions have formed a unified delegation to meet with the country's new rebel-led authorities.

The factions said in a statement after their meeting Wednesday at the Palestinian Embassy that they stand by the side of the Syrian people.

The factions condemned Israels airstrikes on Syria over the past few days that have destroyed much of the assets of the Syrian army.

The factions decided to form a joint committee to run the affairs of Palestinians in Syria as well as to be in contact with the new insurgent-led transitional government, following the ouster of President Bashar Assad.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live in Syria, many of them refugees, and the factions that have been based in Damascus were close to Assads government. Hamas was based in Syria until it left in 2012 a year after the county's civil war began.

UN chief pledges support for Syria's transition, says Assads fall brings hope to Mideast

PRETORIA, South Africa  The United Nations chief says the fall of Syrias authoritarian government has brought hope to the troubled Middle East, and pledged the global bodys support to the country's new leaders to ensure a smooth transition.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that the U.N. wants to see an inclusive political process in which the rights of all minorities will be fully respected, and paving the way towards a united sovereign Syria, with its territorial integrity fully re-established.

The jihadi-led Syrian rebels took control of the capital Damascus after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving many areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. A Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed force also controls large parts of northeastern Syria.

Guterres said he fully trusts the people of Syria to be able to choose their own destiny.

I think it is our duty to do everything to support the different Syrian leaders in order to make sure that they come together and are able to guarantee a smooth transition, an inclusive transition in which all Syrians can feel that they belong," Guterres said. The alternative does not make any sense.

Guterres is in South Africa to discuss the countrys role as it takes over the G20 presidency, among other issues.

Israeli airstrike kills four people in central Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  An Israeli strike in central Gaza Strip killed four people and injured 16 others Wednesday, health officials said.

Those killed and injured were taken to Awda Hospital after the strike hit a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the press center at the hospital.

Since Israels war in Gaza began in October last year, at least 44,805 people have been killed and 106,257 others have been injured, according to the latest update by the Gaza Health ministry.

Top US military commander in the Mideast visits Lebanon for talks with army chief

BEIRUT  The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East was in Lebanon on Wednesday meeting with the head of the Lebanese army.

In the wake of shocking overthrow of the government in neighboring Syria, the two military leaders discussed the security situation in Lebanon, a statement from the country's army said.

U.S. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command, met with the head of the Lebanese army Gen. Joseph Aoun to discuss ongoing American support for the implementation of the U.S.-and French-brokered ceasefire agreement, which ended more than a year of war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Israel has said the truce deal gives it the right to use military force against perceived ceasefire violations. Israel has launched near-daily strikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, that have killed at least 28 people and wounded 25 others since the ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27. Still, the shaky truce appears to be holding.

Five people were killed Wednesday by at least three Israeli strikes in different towns in the southern municipality of Bint Jbeil, Lebanons Health Ministry and state news agency said.

On Tuesday, Kurilla was in eastern Syria visiting U.S. military bases and meeting with members of a Kurdish-led Syrian force that is backed by the U.S. He was assessing what CENTCOM described as efforts to counter a resurgence of the Islamic State group. He also visited Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials on regional security and counter-IS operations.

Syrian rebels work to get the capital's airport up and running again

DAMASCUS  With the fall of Damascus, security forces of the deposed Bashar Assad government and staff withdrew from the Damascus International airport, grounding flights and stranding passengers. The airport has not been functional since.

Now, security members of the rebel alliance in control of Syria have taken control of the airport, hoping to restore security, a sense of confidence, and the legitimacy needed to restart flights out of the capital, and from one of the countrys three international airports.

Damascus international airport is the heart of the city because it is the gateway for international delegations and missions, Omar al-Shami, a security official with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that led the shock offensive that led to the fall of Assad, told The Associated Press, calling it "the passage for Syria to breathe.

Al-Shami said security was restored at the international airport nearly 12 hours after the fall of Damascus. The factions entered the capital before dawn, and security members of the rebel alliance took charge before sunset on Sunday. He said he hoped the airport would be operational in less than a week.

On Wednesday, a handful of engineers were inspecting four planes that were on the tarmac. Cleaning staff were removing broken furniture, glass windows, and trash from ransacking by looters following the fall of Damascus. The attack, reportedly by mobs and looters from the neighboring areas, left parts of the airport halls destroyed, with smashed furniture and merchandise.

There was a lot damage in the airports equipment and facilities in 90% of the sections, Anis Fallouh, the head of the airport, told the AP.

Fallouh said the operations to clean up the airport aim to convince international airlines to resume their flights to Damascus. Soon in the coming days, flights will resume when we reopen air traffic to Syria and inform countries that Damascus airport is operational. We may start with domestic or test flights to ensure that everything in the airport is operational and avoid any mistakes. Then we can resume international flights.

Engineers were inspecting the four planes on the tarmac, from two Syrian airlines. Some administrative staff were visiting the airport as the new administrators of Damascus work to convince state officials to return to their posts.

We are on the Airbus 320, the technical team. Because of the security vacuum that happened on Sunday, some ill-intentioned people tried to cause damage but thank God the plane is fine  the body, the engines and its systems. Some things are missing and we are trying to fix that, said Bassam Radi, the engineer in charge of maintenance, said.

Germany says it's looking for ways to work with Syria's new rulers

BERLIN  German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday addressed Berlin's reservations but also willingness to work the Syrian militant group in control of Damascus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS.

Nobody overlooks the origins of HTS in the al-Qaeda ideology. It is therefore clear that we will measure HTS by its actions, Baerbock told reporters in Berlin. Any cooperation presupposes that ethnic and religious minorities are protected, womens rights are respected and acts of revenge are prevented.

She said that whether we like it or not, the HTS militia ... is one of the decisive actors for the future of Syria.

Together with our partners, we are therefore looking for an adequate way of dealing with HTS, with whom many have had no direct contact for good reasons, she added.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, the insurgent leader also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicted himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance.

Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon kills 1, state news agency says

BEIRUT  An Israeli airstrike near the southern Lebanese town of Bin Jbeil killed one person and wounded another, the state news agency reported.

National News Agency said Wednesdays airstrike hit a home. It gave no further details and there was no immediate comment from Israeli military.

More than a dozen people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since a ceasefire went into effect on Nov. 27, ending the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.

Blinken is returning to the Middle East

WASHINGTON  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East this week on his 12th visit since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Assad's departure has sparked new fears of instability in the region now wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

Blinken will travel to Jordan and Turkey on Thursday and Friday for talks expected to focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the territory since October 2023.

The State Department said Blinken would meet Jordanian officials, including King Abdullah II, in the port of Aqaba on Thursday before flying to Ankara for meetings with Turkish officials Friday.

Other stops in the region are also possible, officials said.

Blinken will reiterate the United States support for an inclusive, Syrian-led transition to an accountable and representative government, department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Insurgents set fire to Hafez Assad's tomb, a war monitor says

BEIRUT  Insurgents have set on fire the tomb of Syrias former President Hafez Assad in his hometown in the northwest, a war monitor and a local journalist said Wednesday.

Hafez Assad had ruled Syria for 30 years until his death in 2000, when his son, Bashar, succeeded him. Both ruled Syria with an iron fist and were blamed for crackdowns that left tens of thousands dead, mainly in the central city of Hama in 1982, and in much of the country since the civil war in 2011.

Bashar Assad was ousted over the weekend and fled to Russia where he was given political asylum.

Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian journalist Qusay Noor told The Associated Press that the tomb was set on fire Wednesday in the town of Qardaha in Latakia province.

UN appeals for $4 billion for humanitarian operations in Palestinian territories

JERUSALEM  The United Nations is asking donors for over $4 billion to fund humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories, most of it earmarked for war-ravaged Gaza.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also called for the lifting all impediments to the entry of aid in its appeal issued Wednesday.

U.N. agencies say aid operations in Gaza are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of law and order. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames the U.N. for not distributing it within the territory.

The appeal for 2025 includes $3.6 billion for Gaza and about $450 million for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israels offensive, launched after Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has destroyed vast areas of the besieged territory and displaced around 90% of its population of 2.3 million. Many have been displaced multiple times and are now crammed into squalid tent camps with little in the way of food or other essentials. Most of the population relies on international aid.

Paraguay's president addresses the Knesset ahead of embassy reopening in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM  The president of Paraguay addressed the Israeli parliament Wednesday ahead of the reopening of the countrys embassy in Jerusalem.

The decision to reopen the embassy in Jerusalem and recognize the city as the capital of Israel is a diplomatic win for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and puts Paraguay in a small group of countries that have taken the move.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn't recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv.

Without Jerusalem, the land of Israel is a body without a soul, President Santiago Pena said in a speech to the Knesset. So I say here today that without an embassy in Jerusalem, diplomatic relations with Israel do not have a real heart. He said he hoped the move would inspire other countries to do the same.

The embassy is set to open Thursday.

Penas move was welcomed by Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, along with other Israeli leaders.

Tomorrow we will inaugurate together the embassy of Paraguay in our eternal capital, and that will happen not for the first time, but for the second time, Netanyahu said.

Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion.

Israel reopened its embassy in September.

Russia says it's in touch with new authorities in Syria

MOSCOW  Russia said Wednesday it has maintained contacts with the new authorities in Syria.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that we are monitoring most closely what is happening in Syria.

We, of course, maintain contacts with those who are currently controlling the situation in Syria, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

This is necessary because our bases are located there, our diplomatic mission is located there and, of course, the issue related to ensuring the security of these facilities is extremely important and of primary significance.

Peskov wouldnt give details of those contacts, saying only that Russia has contacted those who are controlling the situation on the ground.

He wouldnt give the number of Russian troops in Syria.

Asked to comment about Israels seizure of a buffer zone on the border with Syria, Peskov called them destabilizing.

The strikes and actions in the Golan Heights area, in the buffer zone area, are unlikely to help stabilize the situation in an already destabilized Syria, he said.

Russia has granted political asylum to ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family after they fled rebels who seized Damascus over the weekend.

Iran's supreme leader says fall of Syrian government was part of joint plan by US and Israel

TEHRAN, Iran  Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the recent events in Syria, including the fall of its government, were part of a joint plan by the United States and Israel.

There should be no doubt that what has happened in Syria is the result of a joint American and Zionist plan," Khamenei said in a speech in Tehran on Wednesday that was broadcast on state TV. We have evidence, and this evidence leaves no room for doubt.

The Supreme leader added: A neighboring state of Syria has played a clear role in this matter, and it continues to do so. Everyone can see this.

Khamenei also rejected speculation by analysts who have said that Iran will be weakened by the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.

Those ignorant analysts are unaware of the meaning of resistance. They think that if resistance weakens, Islamic Iran will also weaken. But I say, with the help and power of God  by the will of Almighty Allah  Iran is powerful and it will become even more powerful," he said.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  With all the recent upheaval in Syria, many are wondering if it could cause gas prices to increase.

However, an expert from Old Dominion University said we shouldnt be as worried, even as Syria is in the midst of celebrating the ousting of its president, Bashar Al-Assad and Israel carrying out a wave of airstrikes across the region.

This is the most shocking development in the Middle East since Hamas invasion of Gaza last year, said Aaron Karp, ODU senior lecturer and professor of political science and geography.

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While the world has its eyes on this developing conflict in the Middle East, Americans are bracing for any ripple effects  notably at the gas pump.

Youd think that the price of oil went up and down depending on international news, and it does a little bit, Karp said.

But, unless the news is really catastrophic, we wont see that big a change, he said.

On top of that, he said Syria is not a major oil exporter, so what were really talking about is perceptions internationally.

It wont affect us as much as the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, he said, since Iran is a major exporter of oil.

Nationally, the average price of gas is down two cents and Hampton Roads tends to be another five or six cents below the average.

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Ryan Adcock with AAA has more good news.

The winter blend gas is also cheaper to produce than the summer blend of gas because it does not have the  additive that causes it to not to evaporate during the summer that is not in the winter blend of gas, Adcock said.

If there is a problem, Karp said its with oversupply.

The price of petroleum has gone down traumatically because too many countries are producing it to get the revenue, and, as a result, he said the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, is trying to get its producers to reduce their exports to drive the price back up.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
By Federico Maccioni

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has yet to decide where to base its global headquarters, its CEO told Reuters on Monday, years after it flagged a decision was imminent, but the executive pointed to moves it has made to improve corporate governance.

"We are still working very hard on this (the HQ). It's a very complicated issue with many different complexities," CEO Richard Teng said in an interview on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Finance Week annual conference.

Binance, the world largest cryptocurrency exchange, has long said a decision on a global HQ would come soon. Revealing the location of a head office is seen as part of its push to improve transparency in the wake of criminal charges against its former CEO Changpeng Zhao.

Zhao, known as "CZ", pleaded guilty to violating U.S. laws against money laundering at Binance, and spent months in jail earlier this year.

Teng said tax laws and the ability to lure staff would drive the decision on the HQ location.

Binance is "still in deep conversation" with several jurisdictions he said, without providing specific names.

The company has been granted 20 licenses and registrations across the world so far, according to its website, including in Abu Dhabi and earlier this year by Dubai's virtual assets regulator VARA.

Binance introduced a board of directors earlier this year for the first time. It comprises seven members, including three independent directors. "Binance has gone from a founder, CEO-led company to a board-led company," Teng told Reuters, adding he speaks to Zhao occasionally and that the former CEO "has all the rights associated with any shareholder of any company."

The world largest cryptocurrency, bitcoin, hit a record high above $100,000 last week amid expectations U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's administration will usher in a lighter-touch regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies.

Teng was attending the yearly gathering of global and regional financiers, while on the other side of town, Binance is one of the sponsors of a bitcoin conference that will feature Eric Trump, the U.S. president-elect's son, as a speaker.

"Globally, you're going to see much more enlightened regulations being adopted," Teng said, asked about the impact of the incoming U.S. administration on the red-hot sector.

Should the U.S. adopt a strategic bitcoin reserve, as signalled by Trump, Teng foresees "many other countries jumping on the bandwagon".

(Reporting by Federico Maccioni. Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Christina Fincher)
MIDWAY, Ky. (FOX 56)  Residents of a certain Midway route have been concerned about passing traffic, but thanks to city leaders taking the feedback in, a welcome change is coming.

Bart Shockley is a Midway resident who lives by the road between Martin and Cross Street. Its a route where the posted speed limit has been 35 MPH for nearly three decades.

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Ive lived here since 1999, and during that time, the speeding on this road has probably gotten a little worse, Shockley said.

After some collaboration and feedback, its been lowered to 25 MPH. Its good news for residents like Shockley, who have seen a lot happen here.

On this street, Ive seen cars pass other cars that were obeying the speed limit, and Ive had a semitruck stop in my front yard and ask me for directions while Ive been working, Shockley said.

Its an area that can see a lot of traffic, which can make pushing the speed limit even more dangerous. The lower limit is something city leaders like Mayor Grayson Vandegrift and residents have been pushing for, and now its coming into play.

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Weve been requesting from the Kentucky Department of Transportation for years now to lower this to 25. Citizens have written letters; Ive made some overtures, and over time it worked. Theyve created these 25-mile-per-hour zones that start here and end up on Martin Street, Vandegrift said.

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Its a work in progress, especially as drivers get used to a new, safer speed. At the end of the day, its not to catch anyone by surprise but to make the area safer for residents.

Police will give people a little bit of a grace period. They will be pulling people over, but they also understand this is going to take some getting used to, so well give people a little bit of time to get used to this. Our goal is to be serious about this. Weve got to slow people down through Midway, Vandegrift said.

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I think its great that we have a mayor and a city council that is very responsive to our needs and our desires for change and to improve our community, Shockley added.

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.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Senator Mike Braun will deliver his farewell speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday to celebrate his six years in office and discuss his plans looking forward as the governor of Indiana.

Prior to his appearance on the Senate floor, Eyewitness News had the chance to speak with Governor-elect Braun in an interview to talk about some of his accomplishments in the senate, and how he believes he can make a difference in the Hoosier state.

You can view the full interview in the video player above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  U.S. Senator Mike Braun will deliver his farewell speech on the Senate floor on Thursday at 2:15 p.m. eastern time. Brauns term in the U.S. Senate will end on January 3, 2025, and he will be sworn in as Indianas 52nd governor on January 13.

During his speech, Senator Braun is expected to discuss his accomplishments over the past six years in the Senate. You can view a livestream of the speech in the video player above.

His speech can be viewed in the player above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
(NewsNation)  Former GOP Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel, said he commends the Biden administration for acknowledging Israel has a right to defend itself.

Israel said Tuesday it had bombed more than 350 military sites in Syria during the previous 48 hours, targeting most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian governments stunning collapse.

Trump picks Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel

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Israel also acknowledged its troops were pushing into a border buffer zone inside Syria, which was established after the 1973 Middle East war. However, Israel denied its forces were advancing Tuesday toward the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Life in the capital was slowly returning to normal after jihadi-led Syrian insurgents ousted President Bashar al-Assad over the weekend. People celebrated for a third day in a main square, and shops and banks reopened.

The United States said Tuesday it would recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.

Trump says US should stay out of fighting in Syria as opposition forces gain

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Syrias nearly 14-year civil war killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the countrys prewar population of 23 million, becoming a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers.

Huckabee told Elizabeth Vargas Reports that Israel is doing the right thing.

What Israel is doing is protecting its borders, Huckabee said. Theyve been fighting a seven-front war. Theyve had attacks from the north, the south, from the Iranians themselves, from the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas. Its come from everywhere. So they do have a right and an obligation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel, said he commends the Biden administration for acknowledging Israel has a right to defend itself.

Israel said Tuesday it had bombed more than 350 military sites in Syria during the previous 48 hours, targeting most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian governments stunning collapse.

Israel also acknowledged its troops were pushing into a border buffer zone inside Syria, which was established after the 1973 Middle East war. However, Israel denied its forces were advancing Tuesday toward the Syrian capital of Damascus.

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Life in the capital was slowly returning to normal after jihadi-led Syrian insurgents ousted President Bashar al-Assad over the weekend. People celebrated for a third day in a main square, and shops and banks reopened.

The United States said Tuesday it would recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.

Syrias nearly 14-year civil war killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the countrys prewar population of 23 million, becoming a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers.

Israel is doing the right thing, Huckabee told NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas Reports.

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What Israel is doing is protecting its borders, he said. Theyve been fighting a seven-front war. Theyve had attacks from the north, the south, from the Iranians themselves, from the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas.

Its come from everywhere. So, they do have a right and an obligation, the former GOP governor said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee has introduced a bill to keep porn out of app stores. There might just be one tiny problem here: They already do.

So, what's the point? Dig a little deeper and you'll see that this bill is about forcing age verification on app stores and mobile devices, with a side goal of chilling sex-related speech.

Porn Is Already Banned From App Stores

Lee is framing his new bill (S. 5364) as a matter of "accountability"a word found right in the bill's titleand of preventing "big corporations" from "victimiz[ing] kids" with "sexual and violent content." We can't count on tech companies to act "moral" on their own accord, Lee posted to X.

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But big corporations like Google and Apple already ban apps featuring sexual content, and these bans extend not just to kids but to everybody.

While apps can be downloaded from a plethora of sources, there are two main centralized app marketplaces: Apple's App Store, for iPhones, and the Google Play store, for Androids. Play Store guidelines reject all apps "that contain or promote sexual content or profanity, including pornography, or any content or services intended to be sexually gratifying." The App Store explicitly prohibits apps featuring "overtly sexual or pornographic material," which it defines broadly to include any "explicit descriptions or displays of sexual organs or activities intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings." Apple also bans "hookup" apps and any other "apps that may include pornography or be used to facilitate prostitution."

Lee's bill can't be about simply convincing Apple and Google to adopt his version of morality, since they already have.

No, this legislation is about forcing policies that check IDs before apps can be downloaded, age-gating certain features on social media, and making tech companies even more afraid of allowing anyone to access adult content.

The Threat: Letting Parents Sue Over Sexual Content, Violent Content, & Direct Messages

Lee laid out some of it on X:

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First, this bill creates a private right of action for parents and guardians against app stores that expose their children to pornographic content and extreme violence. That means these companies can be sued. App stores can protect themselves from liability by enforcing age verification and parental controls.

In short, the bill isn't just concerned with getting app stores to block apps dedicated to explicit content or apps predominantly concerned with sexual services (things they already do). It's about letting people sue app stores if any app they carry exposes any minor to explicit content.

If minors download a web browser and visit porn websites, their parents can sue.

If minors download X or Bluesky or Reddit and happen upon some sort of sexualized image, their parents can sue.

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If minors download a chat app and peers direct message them GIFs featuring cartoons committing violence, or inappropriate selfies, or any message at all, their parents can sue.

All a parent has to say is that their under-18-year-old child suffered some sort of harm from exposure to visual content that features "real or simulated violence" or that "appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion," depicts or describes sexual contact or "lewd exhibition," and "lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors."

Parents could also sue if their kid downloads an app where minors were allowed to send or receive direct messages. Among the things Lee's bill wants off limits are "a social or messaging forum whereby a user may interact directly or indirectly with users that are minors."

The Remedy: Age Verification

Apple and Google obviously can't control content across the entirety of the internet, so it's going to be impossible for them to actually prevent minors using web browsers, social media platforms, and other apps from exposure to anything above a G-rating. So their choices are to face endless lawsuits or to implement the age verification rules that Lee wants to see.

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The App Store Accountability Act would create a "safe harbor" for app stores that enact a long list of policies prescribed by the bill, including "determin[ing] the age category for each individual in the United States that uses the app store of such provider and verify[ing] such individual's age using commercially reasonable methods."

After age verifying, app stores would have to get parental consent for minors to use the app store generally and "on a download-by-download basis." Any time a minor wanted to purchase an app or to make an in-app purchase enabled by the app store, additional parental authorizations would have to be obtained.

And, to the extent possible, Google and Apple would have to provide parents with controls that let them "prevent a minor from accessing any adult website on the web browser of the mobile device" and that let them set "usage limits, including daily limits and limitations during school and evening hours."

App stores would also have to tell every app developer that used their platform the age category of every user who downloaded their app, then require developers to use this information to offer certain features (like parental controls) based on user ages. App stores would have to somehow determine if every app in the store was doing this and ban any that didn't.

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If app stores follow all of these policies and some others, they might be shielded from suits by parents angry over kids' exposure to sexuality, violent content, or DMs. That shield could be taken away, however, if the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determines that an app store isn't providing parents "with effective tools to protect children from [sexual or violent] content on apps, including age verification technology, parental oversight and consent features, and accurate app age ratings."

Slashing Civil Liberties and Cementing Big Tech Dominance

"We have the technology to ensure age-verification without ending anonymity online or endangering First Amendment rights, and we should use it," Lee posted on X.

His planto require age verification at the point of downloading apps, not creating social media accountsmay be more protective of privacy and speech than requiring every online platform to individually age-verify users. But there's an even less infringing alternative: letting parents, not the government, be in charge of what their kids can and can't do online.

And device-level or app storelevel age verification still come with civil liberties concerns.

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"One of the most significant concerns about age-verification mandates is their potential to abet privacy breaches and magnify data-security risks," notes Kristian Stout at Truth on the Market:

To implement effective age verification, platforms and app stores would need to collect and store a trove of users' sensitive personal information. This creates new vectors for data breaches and other potential misuses of that information. For example, if an app store were required to verify the age of every user, it might need to collect government-issued IDs or other forms of identification. This sensitive data, if compromised, could lead to identity theft or fraud.

Stout also notes that there are constitutional concerns with banning minors from using app stores entirely just because some portion of content therein might be inappropriate.

"This kind of proposal isrooted in the idea of comparing app providers to bars and taverns, a comparison that courts have explicitly rejected. Just as it would be unconstitutional to ban minors from entering a shopping mall on the grounds that one of the mall's stores sells alcohol, it is similarly problematic to restrict access to entire digital platforms or app stores due to the presence of some potentially inappropriate content."

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Rules like the ones Lee wants to implement include a whole lot of headaches for app stores and app developers. These hurdles wouldn't just be inconvenient for Apple and Google; they would cement their dominance at a time when a lot of politicians are clamoring for just the opposite.

People often complain that Apple and Google have a stranglehold on app stores. If a huge array of regulations were imposed, and huge legal liabilities possible for not following them, it would be impossible for any upstart app store to compete. "Age verification mandates would impose costly barriers to entry for start-ups and smaller operators," suggests the New America Foundation. "Such costs could unintentionally bias the market toward larger, more established companies that are better positioned to implement age verification and undertake the associated costs."

Rules like these would also make things that much harder for small app developers.

And how would a law like this handle siblings who share devices? What happens if a minor sometimes uses a parent's phone or tablet to play games?

A Trojan Horse?

Lee's bill may actually be a sort of Trojan horse, pretending to be all about app stores when it could coerce all sorts of apps and social platforms to enact age-level restrictions.

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Remember, parents could sue over kids' exposure to "a social or messaging forum whereby a user may interact directly or indirectly with users that are minors." Any platform that does this is a liability for app stores.

Theoretically, app stores would be protected by the safe harbor platform. But there are a lot of contingencies there, and it wouldn't be unreasonable for app stores to say they'll reject apps that allow minors to access direct messages.

So, developers that want their apps to remain in app stores would then have to block minors from accessing this feature. And it's not hard to imagine other features being added to that list in future legislation or FTC rule making. (Lee's bill would already require app stores to ban apps that didn't offer parental controls.)

This would also mean that individual apps would need to know all user age categories. Lee's bill would handle this by requiring apps to share this information with apps if feasible. But this, at minimum, could create a lot more headaches. And if the system of app-store-informing-app-developer proves imperfect, it could be used to demand age verification by individual apps.

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I think there's also an element of Overton window moving here. Once you're requiring app stores to age check everyone, it becomes a lot more palatable for individual apps to start checking ages too.

A Futile Plan



There's an even more fatal flaw in Lee's plan than the ones I've mentioned so far: People can download apps to their phones from a variety of sources. The app stores manned by Apple and Google provide convenient, centralized ways of getting apps, but apps can be downloaded from developer websites.

Lee's bill would do nothing to control content or policies on individual websites where content can be accessed and apps can be downloaded.

Teens who want to access apps and content their parents don't want them toor families who simply want to skip this whole onerous permissions processcould fairly easily get around the app store rules. As the New American Foundation notes: "Implementation at the app-store level leaves large gaps in coverage because it would not encompass non-application points of access like websites."

Not everyone will know how to do this, sure. I'm not saying the rules wouldn't deter people.

But this comes with its own concerns. Because rules like these would also make things difficult for teens looking for information or community their parents don't want them to have.

We run into the same problems as we do with laws requiring kids to get consent to create social media accounts, except on an even bigger level: an LGBTQ minor looking for community despite parent's disapproval, a sexually active teen wanting surreptitious information on birth control, an abused child looking for someone who can helpall would be forced to ask their parents or guardians for permission to access the very apps that could help them obtain support.

More Sex & Tech News

 A two-year Department of Justice civil investigation found local police in Worcester, Massachusetts, "used excessive force and engaged in 'outrageous' sexual contact with women during undercover operations," USA Today reports.

 Advocates for the absurdly overreaching Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) are using the deaths of teenagers in a gross display of political propaganda.

 "The idea that phones are destroying attention spans or disrupts brain development has not been proven at all. The brain develops the way it does, because it's evolved over millions of years," Welsh neuroscientist Dean Burnett tells Wales Online.

Today's Image

Washington, D.C. | 2014 (ENB/Reason)

The post Mike Lee's App Store Accountability Act Would Make Google and Apple Check IDs appeared first on Reason.com.
Ukraine is exhausted. Low on manpower, ammunition, and, most importantly, morale, the country is slowly reckoning with the fact that the ongoing war may be unwinnable on the battlefield  at least for now. According to a Gallup survey published on Nov. 19, 52% of Ukrainians now say they want their country to negotiate an end to the war as soon as possible. However, the terms of such a settlement would depend on Washington as much, if not more, than on Kyiv.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has been vocal about Russias all-out war against Ukraine, often making remarks in support of Moscow rather than Kyiv. He has promised to end the war within 24 hours, without providing details, and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the greatest salesman. Trump and his allies have blocked a $61 billion aid package critical to Kyivs war effort for over six months.

Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., has vocally opposed outgoing U.S. President Joe Bidens decision to allow Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia with Western-provided long-range missiles. These developments have unsettled Kyiv.

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Another concerning development is Trumps nominations for key positions, including individuals with controversial views on Ukraine. Among the most contentious are Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence, and Pete Hegseth, a candidate for defense secretary. The stance of Keith Kellogg, nominated as a potential special envoy for Ukrainian peace, remains to be seen.

In March 2022, Gabbard echoed Russian propaganda by promoting false claims that Ukraine was hosting U.S.-funded biolabs. She also warned that U.S. sanctions against Russia could trigger nuclear war. Meanwhile, Kellogg co-authored a peace plan proposing to freeze the front line in Ukraine, delay NATO accession indefinitely, and partially lift sanctions on Russia.

These statements and nominations have fueled concerns in Kyiv and Moscow that the new administration will push to freeze the war along current front lines. But both sides are likely to reject such a proposal.

A Ukrainian soldier looks out from a trench at an artillery position near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 6, 2024. (Photo by Nikoletta Stoyanova/Getty Images)

The (Russian) president has repeatedly said that any option of freezing the conflict wont work for us, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Nov. 20. Its important for us to achieve our goals.

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Russias goals include occupying more territory in Ukraines Donetsk Oblast and pushing Ukrainian forces out of Russias Kursk Oblast. Moscow may also aim to retake northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, with Russian forces currently threatening Kupiansk, a city liberated by Ukraine in September 2022.

Russias steady advances in eastern Ukraine, combined with its attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure, give Moscow leverage in potential peace talks. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko has warned that Russias demands far exceed what Ukraine can offer. Moscow has already declared the annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts  Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson  despite not fully controlling them.

"Russias steady advances in eastern Ukraine, combined with its attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure, give Moscow leverage in potential peace talks."

(Russian President Vladimir) Putin cannot backtrack on annexations, Merezhko told the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia is also expected to demand that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations.

Caught in this dire situation, Ukraine faces a difficult balancing act. A source in Zelenskys office, speaking anonymously, said Kyiv will not agree to freeze the war along the current front lines. Such an arrangement would leave Ukraine vulnerable, allowing Russia to regroup and rearm.

Many of our fellow citizens will be hurt by these words, but the defense of Kursk Oblast is a higher priority than the Kurakhiv bridgehead, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts, said Dmytro Zhmailo, a military expert and executive director of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center.

Holding Russian territory could prevent peace talks on Moscows terms, as the Kremlin has stated it will not negotiate while Ukraine controls any part of Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine must maintain morale while engaging with Trumps incoming administration to promote the idea that supporting Kyiv serves U.S. interests.

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In September, Zelensky presented Biden with a victory plan, outlining steps needed for Ukraine to continue its fight. While the plan received little enthusiasm, two proposals reportedly caught Trumps attention: Ukrainian troops replacing U.S. forces in Europe and sharing Ukraines critical natural resources with the U.S. and its allies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R), French President Emmanuel Macron (C), and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) pose for photos at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, France, on Dec. 7, 2024. (Chesnot/Getty Images)

Over the past few months, Ukrainian leadership has shown greater openness to peace talks, even with limited leverage. Kyiv hopes to push the U.S. toward stricter sanctions on Russia and a stronger negotiating position for peace talks expected next year.

However, whether these talks will yield results remains uncertain. Ukrainian officials insist that any agreement must provide security guarantees, ensure Ukraines independence, and restore at least some territories occupied by Russia.

The potential shift in U.S. policy under Trump has alarmed not just Kyiv but also its allies in Europe. Countries like Poland, which share a direct stake in Ukraines survival and regional stability, are already bracing for the impact of a reduced American commitment.

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Poland, in particular, has emerged as a key player in rallying European support for Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, drawing from his experience in the European Council, has expressed concerns about Trumps unpredictability and its implications for Ukraine. He warned that we must expect the worst, and that a forced ceasefire on Putins terms could lead to renewed conflict and greater instability in Eastern Europe.

Poland is leveraging its defense spending  nearly 5% of GDP  and its strategic purchases of American weapons to assert its commitment to NATO and transatlantic security. Warsaw hopes to use this position to persuade Trump to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine. At the same time, Poland and its regional partners are preparing contingency plans, including potentially forming a coalition of willing nations to continue military aid if U.S. support falters.

Yet, even with such efforts, Europe faces significant challenges in maintaining the flow of military supplies to Ukraine. Production levels have not yet scaled up to meet demand, and some Western European leaders remain hesitant about deeper involvement.

Ukrainians are exhausted, and for now, a military solution seems out of reach. The trajectory of peace talks, however, will largely depend on Washington. There is a golden opportunity to persuade the new administration to take decisive action.

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Ending the war for good is within reach, but it will require granting Ukraine NATO membership and reclaiming territories currently occupied by Russia. The U.S. has the leverage to compel the Kremlin to negotiate and to force meaningful concessions. Key economic tools include lowering global oil prices, tightening sanctions enforcement, and cutting off Moscows ability to sustain its war effort financially.

To support Ukraine, the U.S. could also tap into frozen Russian assets to fund the military hardware Ukraine still needs. A critical window of opportunity is on the horizon, and the U.S. has the tools to seize it. Now, its up to Kyiv to convince Trump that this is the path forward.

Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. This article was created as part of the Thematic Networks of PULSE, a European initiative promoting transnational journalistic collaborations.

Submit an Opinion

Read also: EU Ambassador to Ukraine: Ukraines anti-corruption efforts mark a decade of transformation

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Dec. 11Even with an upcoming new job as Tulsa City Administrator, Mike Miller said he remains "focused on Muskogee through Jan. 3."

"I love Muskogee and it's been a great place," said Miller, Muskogee city manager. "I'm excited about moving forward."

Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols announced Miller's hiring Tuesday in a media release. Miller is to start his new position Jan. 6, three days after he ends his 8-year tenure at Muskogee's helm.

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Miller said he received the offer late last week. He said he was not in contention for the Tulsa position when the Muskogee City Council accepted a joint separation agreement with him in late November.

"I was approached by the city of Tulsa, and I believe that is very flattering," he said. "There are things in Muskogee that are continuing to go on. Muskogee is really on the right track. If the city of Muskogee hadn't been doing great things, I would not have been on the radar."

Muskogee Mayor Patrick Cale said he's not surprised at Miller's new position in Tulsa.

"One would think Tulsa would and could reach out for the very best, and I believe they got the very best," Cale said. "I was here in council when Mike first came to Muskogee. From that first day until he left, he's done quite a bit for the community."

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Cale mentioned how Miller raised the city's emergency fund from 4% or 5% to 22%.

"Just remarkable for any city to have a fund above 20 percent," Cale said. "He oversaw a lot of huge projects, and he lobbied hard for them. The street projects, we did that $26 million street project. He fought for it and helped get it passed, and he had to manage all that."

Cale said Miller "is known as impressive, by his peers, the state."

Miller is an Accredited Manager with the International City/County Management Association and the City Management Association of Oklahoma. He also is a Certified Municipal Official with the Oklahoma Municipal League.

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Miller was hired as Muskogee city manager in August 2016 after serving as assistant city manager. Before then, he worked for the Cherokee Nation, first as a communications director, then a senior executive of Cherokee Nation Business.

He holds an undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University and a master's degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

In Tulsa, Miller will help Nichols with day-to-day city operations and will oversee multiple departments.

"Mike is an incredible public servant, strong leader, and someone who is more than qualified to help lead Tulsa in the years ahead," Nichols said in the media release. "With a background in multiple tribal governments and a track record of employee recruitment and retention, Mike will address challenges head-on with an intimate knowledge of how to get things done at the local level. Mike brings a strong background in public sector management that will allow us to build a strong internal culture and commitment to data-driven decision making."
Editors Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolexs Perpetual Planet Initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action. Constantino Aucca Chutas is a biologist, and part of the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative.

The ancient mountains of the Andes are home to spectacled bears, pumas and the magnificent Andean condor. Theyre also home to forests of lesser-known but critically important polylepis  known as cloud trees.

Growing up to 5,000 meters above sea level, they are the highest-altitude trees in the world and are known to absorb and retain water from clouds and the Andes melting glaciers. Slowly, they release this water through spongy moss that covers the trees, feeding the mountain streams and, eventually, the headwaters of the Amazon River.

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In the past, polylepis forests covered vast areas of the mountain range, but today, after hundreds of years of deforestation and development, just 500,000 hectares remain, thought to be between 1% and 10% of the original forest. As a result, ecosystems have degraded, and the forests no longer provide a natural barrier to flooding or erosion. The water security of the millions of people who live in the foothills of the Andes is also at risk.

Constantino Aucca Chutas, a Peruvian biologist whose grandparents were farmers from the indigenous Quechua community, felt compelled to protect his ancestral lands and the people who live on them.

Im proud of being an Inca descendant, he tells CNN. When I was a child, I grew up near rivers, enjoying seeing the creatures and all this magnificent nature. I thought to myself, it would be fantastic if we can pass this to the new generations.

Constantino Aucca Chutas has dedicated his life to restoring the ancient forests of the Andes. - CNN

In 2018, he co-founded Accion Andina, a joint initiative between US nonprofit Global Forest Generation and Peruvian nonprofit Asociacion Ecosistemas Andinos, dedicated to restoring the highland forest and protecting the local communities that depend on it. Work began in Peru, but has since spread across Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia, with the ultimate goal of protecting and restoring one million hectares of native Andean forest by 2045.

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To date, Aucca Chutas says the initiative has planted more than 10 million trees across the region, with the help of thousands of indigenous families.

The first time we were all united along the Andes was when we were part of one empire, the Inca empire, he says. The second time we united again to fight for our independence This is the third time: united for one tree, the polylepis tree.

Pachamama

The Inca, a civilization that ruled across the Andes mountain range in the 15th and 16th centuries AD, worshiped Pachamama or Mother Earth. Aucca Chutas says that a deep respect for nature was ingrained in the culture, with animals such as the condor, puma and the snake representing heaven, Earth and the world of the dead.

In the Inca culture, they respect rivers, mountains and the environment, he says. They managed the nature, lived in balance with nature. That is the thing that we need to learn and practice.

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They also believed in the concept of Ayni and Minka, he adds, which represented an idea of working together for the common good. He was determined to revive this principle to help save the highland forests, enlisting the help of local Quechua communities.

My dream was to plant millions of trees and Im not going to do that alone, he says.

Constantino Aucca Chutas walks up a mountain with members of the local community to plant trees. - CNN

Each year, in the valleys around Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, Accion Andina hosts Queuna Raymi, a tree-growing festival. The celebration begins with ancestral rituals, such as dances and music to honor Pachamama. Then all generations, young and old, male and female, climb the mountain together, dressed in bright traditional clothing and carrying bundles of polylepis saplings on their backs.

In previous years, the community has planted as many as 100,000 trees in a single day, using a process of propagation, where root cuttings are planted. Aucca Chutas says that it is important to only plant local species as they have found that polylepis trees vary between regions and altitudes.

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After planting, the initiative puts up fencing and sets up programs to protect the trees from fire, while the community help to care for and maintain the saplings.

The local knowledge is invaluable, says Aucca Chutas: They have lived in the forest all their lives and have been seeing how these trees are growing, and I think they understand it much better than us.

In return for their efforts, Accion Andina provides communities with support such as arranging medical care and installing solar panels to help bring electricity to villages. It also helps to secure legal rights to their land and establish protected areas for the native forests, safeguarding them against exploitation by timber, mining and oil companies.

Working together

The initiative has been hailed as a model for community-based conservation worldwide. In 2024, Accion Andina won Prince Williams Earthshot Prize in the Protect and Restore Nature category, and in 2022, Aucca Chutas was named a Champion of the Earth by the UN.

Two boys in traditional dress are photographed during the tree-growing festival, Queuna Raymi. - CNN

This community-led restoration is an example of how people and communities can come together for nature, creating jobs and enhancing conservation efforts globally, Elizabeth Mrema, deputy executive director of the UN Environment Programme, told CNN in an email.

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The nature benefits of polylepis forests are immense, she added. They prevent soil erosion, capture moisture and retain rainwater with their lichens, mosses and other accompanying plants, playing a major role in water security together with the wetlands.

These magical trees are worth protecting, and to do that, Aucca Chutas believes a collective approach is vital. Its the only way conservation is going to be successful, he says. Conservation and the protection of Mother Earth is a responsibility for all of us.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Andrea Deutsch stands in her pet store in Narberth, Pa. Deutsch is one of the millions of people who receive federal aid to help them pay their health insurance premiums on an Affordable Care Act exchange. The extra help is set to expire at the end of 2025, and states say they dont have the money to replace it. (Courtesy of Andrea Deutsch)

Andrea Deutsch, the mayor of Narberth, Pennsylvania, and the owner of a pet store in town, doesnt get health care coverage through either of her jobs. Instead, she is enrolled in a plan she purchased on Pennie, Pennsylvanias health insurance exchange.

Deutsch, who has been mayor since 2018, is paid $1 per year for the job. Her annual income, from Spots  The Place for Paws and her investments, is about $50,000. The 57-year-old, who is diabetic, pays $638.38 per month for health care coverage  about half of the $1,272.38 shed owe without the enhanced federal subsidies Congress and the Biden administration put in place in 2021.

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But that extra help is set to expire at the end of 2025. It would cost an estimated $335 billion over the next decade to extend it  a step the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration are unlikely to take as they seek budget savings to offset potential tax cuts.

You try not to go bankrupt by the end of your life.

 Andrea Deutsch, mayor of Narberth, Pa.

States say they dont have the money to replace the federal aid. In Pennsylvania, for example, doing so would take about $500 million per year, according to Devon Trolley, the executive director of the states exchange.

That is a significant amount of money, an insurmountable amount of money, Trolley said.

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The disappearance of the federal help would make coverage unaffordable for millions of Americans, including Deutsch. She said it would be a struggle to pay double what she is paying now.

You try not to go bankrupt by the end of your life, Deutsch told Stateline. You need assets to take care of yourself as you get older and to have a little bit of security.

Enhanced subsidies

The 2010 Affordable Care Act included some subsidies to help people purchase health insurance on the exchanges created under that law. Under the enhanced subsidies that started in 2021, some people with lower incomes who qualified for the original subsidies have been getting bigger ones. And those with higher incomes, who wouldnt have been eligible for any help under the original rules, are now receiving assistance.

Thanks to the enhanced subsidies, people making up to 150% of the federal poverty level, or $22,590 for an individual, are now getting free or nearly free coverage. And households earning more than four times the federal poverty level, who didnt qualify for subsidies before, are getting some help.

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The enhanced aid also has helped push ACA marketplace enrollment to record levels, reaching more than 21 million this year. Southern states that have not expanded Medicaid as allowed under the ACA have seen the most dramatic growth in marketplace enrollment since 2020, according to KFF, a health policy research organization. The top five states with the fastest growth are Texas (212%), Mississippi (190%), Georgia (181%), Tennessee (177%) and South Carolina (167%).

If the enhanced subsidies go away, premium payments will increase by an average of more than 75%, according to KFF. Some people, like Deutsch, would see their payments double.

Given those premium hikes, millions of Americans would no longer be able to afford the coverage theyre getting on the exchanges, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. CBO estimates that enrollment would drop from 22.8 million in 2025 to 18.9 million in 2026 to 15.4 million in 2030. Some of those people would find coverage elsewhere, but others would not.

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Edmund Haislmaier, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said Republicans view the expiration of the enhanced subsidies as an opportunity to rework and address some of the basic flaws in the ACA.

Before the ACA, Haislmaier said, many self-employed people, such as small-business owners and freelancers, were able to find their own private insurance at competitive prices. But the health care law destroyed that market, he said, leaving such people with a selection of expensive and subpar plans.

Haislmaier said it would take time for the Trump administration to determine how it wants to change the ACA  which President-elect Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to repeal during his first term  but that you can do that in a way that preserves access and preserves subsidies for the lower-income people who were the primary focus of the ACA.

States limitations

But Jared Ortaliza, a research associate at KFF, said letting the enhanced subsidies expire could result in higher premiums for everyone. Thats because higher prices likely would prompt many healthier people to forgo insurance, he said. Their departure would leave only chronically ill people on the exchanges, and the cost of their care is higher.

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If sicker enrollees need coverage because they need care, theyll still choose to buy it, potentially. And if the market were sicker as a whole, that could drive premiums upward as well, Ortaliza told Stateline.

Ortaliza said states might consider keeping premiums down through so-called reinsurance, or reimbursing insurers for their most expensive enrollees. Theoretically, they also could try to replace the expiring federal aid with their own money.

But few if any states have the financial flexibility to do that, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director of the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy.

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There might be a couple states who dont have current state subsidies that might add that, but that will be very nominal, Tewarson told Stateline, adding that officials from different states have been discussing potential solutions. They are all assuming that they would just have to absorb the loss of coverage across the population.

Trolley, the head of the Pennsylvania exchange, said her state is working to provide its own subsidy to make the marketplace plans even more affordable. But even when fully implemented, it would spend only $50 million on that help, a tenth of what it would need to replace the federal aid.

Two-thirds of the 435,000 Pennsylvanians who purchase insurance on the marketplace joined after the enhanced federal subsidies were put in place in 2021. If they expire, Trolley said, she worries that 100,000 or more exchange participants will leave.

Jessica Altman, executive director of Californias exchange, said her state is in a similar situation. California currently receives $1.7 billion annually in enhanced subsidies from the federal government and spends an additional $165 million of its own money to keep costs down.

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California estimates that if the subsidies expire, monthly premiums for the states enrollees would increase by an average of 63%. More than 150,000 people would no longer be eligible for federal help, and between 138,000 and 183,000 would disenroll, the state estimates.

Editors note: This story was corrected to clarify that Pennsylvania is working to create its own subsidy but hasnt yet done so.

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Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk - Photo: Brandon Bell (Getty Images)

Elon Musk was already the richest person on the planet. Now, thanks to Tesla, xAI, and SpaceXs surging valuations, hes worth more than $400 billion, according to Bloomberg Newss calculations.

Specifically, hes worth $439.2 billion.

For reference, the next richest men alive are Amazon (AMZN) founder and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, Meta (META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Oracle (ORCL) Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. Theyre worth, respectively, $244 billion, $219 billion, and $197 billion. Musk is also at least as wealthy as Mansa Musa, the emperor of the West African Mali Empire and previous record holder of richest man to ever live, who historians estimate was worth around $400 billion, according to the BBC.

The impetus for Musks latest surge in wealth is SpaceXs newfound value of $350 billion, which makes it the most valuable startup in the world. On Wednesday, SpaceX and its investors agreed to buy $1.25 billion of shares from employees and company insiders.

Whats really crazy about this is that almost no investors wanted to sell shares even at a $350B valuation! SpaceX reduced the amount of shares it bought back from employees in order to allow some new investors in, Musk wrote on his X Wednesday.

Besides SpaceX, Musk is the CEO of Tesla and owner of X. Corp. His other companies include artificial intelligence startup xAI, brain chip firm Neuralink, and tunneling firm The Boring Company.

xAI, recently raised $6 billion at a $50 billion valuation less than two years after he founded it. Thats also more than double its valuation in May, when it was valued at $24 billion at a value of $6 billion from backers like Andreessen Horowitz and Saudi Arabian investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

Musk owns more than 13% of Tesla shares, which have surged since President-elect Donald Trump won the presidential election in November. The stock climbed to a new record of $415 per share on Wednesday, narrowly surpassing its prior record for intraday trading of $414.50 per share on Nov. 4, 2021.

In recent weeks, investors have been excited by Trumps potential actions that could aid the automaker, including streamlining autonomous vehicle regulations and ending the $7,500 consumer tax credits for electric vehicles. Musk has said that ending those credits will hurt Teslas rivals more than it damages his company, although analysts expect some downside in the short term.

Several analysts have also raised their price targets for the stock in recent days as they look to catch up with the stock surge, often pointing to Teslas plans for driverless vehicles and humanoid robots.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Starting in 2021, federal subsidies cut the cost of health plans consumers purchased on the exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act. Those subsidies will expire at the end of 2025. (Getty Images)

Andrea Deutsch, the mayor of Narberth, Pennsylvania, and the owner of a pet store in town, doesnt get health care coverage through either of her jobs. Instead, she is enrolled in a plan she purchased on Pennie, Pennsylvanias health insurance exchange.

Andrea Deutsch stands in her pet store in Narberth, Pa. Deutsch is one of the millions of people who receive federal aid to help them pay their health insurance premiums on an Affordable Care Act exchange.(Courtesy of Andrea Deutsch)

Deutsch, who has been mayor since 2018, is paid $1 per year for the job. Her annual income, from Spots  The Place for Paws and her investments, is about $50,000. The 57-year-old, who is diabetic, pays $638.38 per month for health care coverage  about half of the $1,272.38 shed owe without the enhanced federal subsidies Congress and the Biden administration put in place in 2021.

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But that extra help is set to expire at the end of 2025. It would cost an estimated $335 billion over the next decade to extend it  a step the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration are unlikely to take as they seek budget savings to offset potential tax cuts.

States say they dont have the money to replace the federal aid. In Pennsylvania, for example, doing so would take about $500 million per year, according to Devon Trolley, the executive director of the states exchange.

That is a significant amount of money, an insurmountable amount of money, Trolley said.

The disappearance of the federal help would make coverage unaffordable for millions of Americans, including Deutsch. She said it would be a struggle to pay double what she is paying now.

Advertisement Advertisement

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You try not to go bankrupt by the end of your life, Deutsch told Stateline. You need assets to take care of yourself as you get older and to have a little bit of security.

Enhanced subsidies

The 2010 Affordable Care Act included some subsidies to help people purchase health insurance on the exchanges created under that law. Under the enhanced subsidies that started in 2021, some people with lower incomes who qualified for the original subsidies have been getting bigger ones. And those with higher incomes, who wouldnt have been eligible for any help under the original rules, are now receiving assistance.

Thanks to the enhanced subsidies, people making up to 150% of the federal poverty level, or $22,590 for an individual, are now getting free or nearly free coverage. And households earning more than four times the federal poverty level, who didnt qualify for subsidies before, are getting some help.

The enhanced aid also has helped push ACA marketplace enrollment to record levels, reaching more than 21 million this year. Southern states that have not expanded Medicaid as allowed under the ACA have seen the most dramatic growth in marketplace enrollment since 2020, according to KFF, a health policy research organization. The top five states with the fastest growth are Texas (212%), Mississippi (190%), Georgia (181%), Tennessee (177%) and South Carolina (167%).

Advertisement Advertisement

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If the enhanced subsidies go away, premium payments will increase by an average of more than 75%, according to KFF. Some people, like Deutsch, would see their payments double.

Given those premium hikes, millions of Americans would no longer be able to afford the coverage theyre getting on the exchanges, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. CBO estimates that enrollment would drop from 22.8 million in 2025 to 18.9 million in 2026 to 15.4 million in 2030. Some of those people would find coverage elsewhere, but others would not.

Edmund Haislmaier, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said Republicans view the expiration of the enhanced subsidies as an opportunity to rework and address some of the basic flaws in the ACA.

Before the ACA, Haislmaier said, many self-employed people, such as small-business owners and freelancers, were able to find their own private insurance at competitive prices. But the health care law destroyed that market, he said, leaving such people with a selection of expensive and subpar plans.

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Haislmaier said it would take time for the Trump administration to determine how it wants to change the ACA  which President-elect Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to repeal during his first term  but that you can do that in a way that preserves access and preserves subsidies for the lower-income people who were the primary focus of the ACA.

States limitations

But Jared Ortaliza, a research associate at KFF, said letting the enhanced subsidies expire could result in higher premiums for everyone. Thats because higher prices likely would prompt many healthier people to forgo insurance, he said. Their departure would leave only chronically ill people on the exchanges, and the cost of their care is higher.

If sicker enrollees need coverage because they need care, theyll still choose to buy it, potentially. And if the market were sicker as a whole, that could drive premiums upward as well, Ortaliza told Stateline.

You try not to go bankrupt by the end of your life.

 Andrea Deutsch, mayor of Narberth, Pa.

Ortaliza said states might consider keeping premiums down through so-called reinsurance, or reimbursing insurers for their most expensive enrollees. Theoretically, they also could try to replace the expiring federal aid with their own money.

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But few if any states have the financial flexibility to do that, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director of the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy.

There might be a couple states who dont have current state subsidies that might add that, but that will be very nominal, Tewarson told Stateline, adding that officials from different states have been discussing potential solutions. They are all assuming that they would just have to absorb the loss of coverage across the population.

Trolley, the head of the Pennsylvania exchange, said her state already provides its own subsidy to make the marketplace plans even more affordable. But it spends only $50 million on that help, a tenth of what it would need to replace the federal aid.

Two-thirds of the 435,000 Pennsylvanians who purchase insurance on the marketplace joined after the enhanced federal subsidies were put in place in 2021. If they expire, Trolley said, she worries that 100,000 or more exchange participants will leave.

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Jessica Altman, executive director of Californias exchange, said her state is in a similar situation. California currently receives $1.7 billion annually in enhanced subsidies from the federal government and spends an additional $165 million of its own money to keep costs down.

California estimates that if the subsidies expire, monthly premiums for the states enrollees would increase by an average of 63%. More than 150,000 people would no longer be eligible for federal help, and between 138,000 and 183,000 would disenroll, the state estimates.

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.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is gearing up for a busy holiday travel season with new international flights  and by reminding travelers about some helpful tips.

At a news conference Wednesday, airport director Brian Dranzik and Sun Country Airlines senior vice president and chief revenue officer Grant Whitney highlighted the airport's successful year and new Sun Country flights coming this winter.

"So, 2024 has been a growth year for Milwaukee, and we expect to have more flights and more passengers than we did a year ago," Dranzik said. "Last year, MKE saw just over 6 million passengers come through our facility, and we've already surpassed the 5 million passenger mark this year."

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He said the airport expects to hit 6 million passengers by the end of the year. The airport had just over 6 million passengers in 2023, evidence that travel was finally rebounding after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019 and earlier, the airport had between 6.5 million and 7 million passengers annually; that tanked to 2.63 million in 2020.

Dranzik said the airport is preparing to welcome more than 250,000 arriving and departing holiday travelers.

"Much of that growth has been fueled by new flights that have been added over the last year," he said.

Sun Country airlines senior vice president and chief revenue officer Grant Whitney (center) discusses new, nonstop flights from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport to Cancun, Punta Cana and Montego Bay at a news conference on Dec. 11, 2024.

Milwaukee airport adds flights to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica

If you're looking to escape the cold weather this winter, MKE has plenty of good news.

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Beginning Dec. 20, American Airlines is increasing its nonstop service to Miami from Saturdays-only to every day. In January, Alaska Airlines will start offering nonstop, seasonal service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, via Apple Vacations/FunJet Vacations. Both services have been available in the past.

Minneapolis-based, self-described "leisure airline" Sun Country is expanding its warm-weather offerings at MKE. The airline's nonstop seasonal service to Cancun, Mexico, is returning Dec. 20, and it's adding new, seasonal nonstop flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Earlier this year, MKE said flights to Punta Cana will begin Dec. 26 and run through April 7. Flights will initially operate twice weekly and increase to four times per week, beginning Jan. 23. Service to Montego Bay begins Jan. 25 and will operate twice weekly through April 5, the airport said in May.

Whitney said Sun Country is excited to grow its presence in Milwaukee and Wisconsin after building its brand in Minnesota for over 40 years with a focus on taking customers to warm-weather destinations in the winter.

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"Up in Minneapolis, we see a lot of commonality in terms of the demand set up of Minneapolis and Milwaukee," Whitney said. "These (new destinations) are fan favorites from our Minneapolis traveling base, so we're excited to bring them here."

Domestically, Sun Country offers nonstop service from MKE to Fort Myers, Florida; Orlando; and Phoenix. The airline also operates in Madison, Eau Claire and Green Bay  flying from Eau Claire and Green Bay to Fort Myers and from Madison to Fort Myers and Phoenix.

You can book flights on SunCountry.com or the Sun Country Airlines mobile app.

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport director Brian Dranzik (center), Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (left) and Sun Country airlines senior vice president and chief revenue officer Grant Whitney discuss new Sun Country flights and holiday travel tips Dec. 11, 2024, at the airport.

More: Milwaukee's airport has charming stores and unique offerings. Learn a bit about them.

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More: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport among JD Power's top 10 medium-sized airports for 2024

Milwaukee airport holiday travel tips

With the airport expected to be busier during the holiday season, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley offered the following travel tips:

Arrive early: Crowley and the airport recommend anyone flying from MKE during the holiday season arrive at least two hours before their departure time, especially if they're checking bags or traveling with children.

Download the MKE SmartPark app: The app, available for iPhone or Android, allows you to make parking reservations and guarantee parking availability. You can earn rewards for free parking and use the app to scan in and out of parking lots.

Use the airport's coat check service: If you're heading somewhere warm  such as the new Sun Country destinations  Crowley encourages travelers to use MKE's coat check service, located at the airport's Summerfest Marketplace store. You can leave your coat there for $2 per day.

Plan ahead if you're picking someone up: If you're picking up a friend or family member from the airport this holiday season, MKE recommends tracking their inbound flight online to avoid unnecessary wait times. Parking in the hourly lot is free for the first 30 minutes, allowing you to meet your traveler in the airport.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee airport adds new flights for holidays, winter
Dec. 10A bill to make cleaning up abandoned hard rock mines easier is expected to become law after the House of Representatives passed it Tuesday.

The bipartisan Good Samaritan bill, sponsored by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., would reduce the liability for nonprofits or other groups cleaning up abandoned hard rock mines. The bill would pilot a new permitting process with 15 abandoned mine sites, allowing entities who don't own the abandoned mine to clean up the site without being responsible for cleaning up all of the pollution at a site.

"We've been doing abandoned mine cleanups for 10 years now. It's just that we've kind of been doing them with one hand tied behind our backs," said Corey Fisher, public lands policy director for nonprofit Trout Unlimited.

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The bill passed the Senate in July and is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. It has taken more than 20 years to reach a president's desk.

"I am grateful for President Biden's support of the bill, and his signature will allow Good Samaritans to get to work," Heinrich said in a statement.

Montana Sen. Max Baucus, a Democrat, first proposed a version of the Good Samaritan bill in 1999. He hoped Montana could clean up a mine site from the 1800s that contaminated Corbin Creek, which is still on Montana's list of impaired waters, bill cosponsor Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., said during debate on the House floor Tuesday.

"Across these multiple decades of debate, abandoned hard rock mines have continued to send mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic materials into our rivers," Lee said.

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There was one voice of dissent on the debate floor. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., was concerned the bill could allow corporations to seek superfund exemptions from the Environmental Protection Agency, especially under the incoming Donald Trump administration.

"I fear that Congress is opening up a Pandora's box," Pallone said.

Abandoned mines in NM

Mines are divided into two categories: coal and everything else. Those that are everything else are called hard rock mines. In New Mexico, that category includes silver, gold, lead, manganese, iron and uranium mines.

Leftover mining materials can pose health issues, while ground that becomes unstable after mining is a safety issue.

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New Mexico has approximately 26,000 known abandoned mine features, but it's difficult to know exactly how many abandoned mines are out there, according to Lloyd Moiola, Environmental Manager for the state's Abandoned Mine Land program.

Funding for the Abandoned Mine Land program primarily comes from a law that taxes coal production, said Program Manager Mike Tompson, so the money has to be spent first on reclaiming and safeguarding coal mines. Safeguarding hard rock mines is a secondary effort, and the money can't be used to clean up hard rock mines.

Safeguarding is the only way money is spent on the hard rock mines. It includes things that reduce the risk of someone falling into an abandoned mine, like building safety enclosures, gates and backfilling.

"The majority of the coal problems, and the majority of the funding, is on the East Coast," Tompson said. "Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky  they get quite a bit of money to address their coal problems, and they have many. They don't have many hard rock problems. In the West  California, Nevada and Arizona, Colorado  they have even more hard rock problems than we have."

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The federal government provides some money to address hard rock mines, but it is not enough to accomplish environmental remediation for mines in New Mexico. Instead, the Bureau of Land Management is working on an inventory of the abandoned hard rock mine features in New Mexico.

So far, BLM has inventoried approximately 43 of the 251 mining districts in the state, Moiola said.

"It's a cyclical thing, because we can't make the case that we need the money, because there's no money to do the inventory to make the case," Tompson said.

The state Legislature did fund a new program to find out the number of abandoned uranium mines that are not under federal jurisdiction.

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Heinrich also championed a provision in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to establish an abandoned hard rock mine reclamation program in the Department of the Interior.

"Congress is not fully funding it right now, so we're hoping, if that becomes fully funded, we should receive quite a bit of money in New Mexico to do hard rock reclamation, which could include environmental remediation," Moiola said.

The EPA might not choose a New Mexico site for the Good Samaritan bill's pilot program, but the bill could create momentum for more abandoned mine cleanup.

Trout Unlimited plans to pitch sites for the pilot program.

"Hopefully, we show success and build enthusiasm around cleaning up abandoned mines," Fisher said. "And show that it's not just something that's good for the environment and helping create healthier communities, but it's really a job generator in rural communities."
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A firefighter suffered a minor burn injury following a fire Tuesday afternoon to a boat at a dock on Streeter Creek in the area of Burbage Acres Drive and Orkney Circle in north Suffolk, Fire Chief Mike Barakey said.

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Suffolk Fire & Rescue responded to the 6200 block of Burbage Acres Drive for a report of a boat on fire at 4:02 p.m. The first arriving units found heavy black smoke showing from the backyard of a residence in the area of Burbage Acres Drive and Orkney Circle, Barakey said in a news release.

A 21-foot center console boat, and the dock it was parked next to, were both on fire, and, as firefighters stretched hose lines to the dock, firefighters worked to secure the boat to the dock, but as the boat continued burning, the boat drifted into the middle of Streeter Creek, where firefighter hose lines were unable to reach it. Streeter Creek was too shallow for Suffolk and Newport News fire boats to safely get to it, Barakey said.

Suffolks Rescue Boat 9, a 17-foot shallow draft boat, was put into the creek with a portable fire pump to put out the boat fire.

The Suffolk Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause of the boat fire. The firefighter suffering the burn injury was taken to an area hospital, and no structures were affected by the boat fire, Barakey said.

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The Virginia Department of Emergency Management are being consulted regarding any environmental concerns, the fire chief 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 WAVY.com.
A Miramar Police officer was arrested Wednesday on charges related to sex offenses with a minor, Broward Sheriffs Office jail records show.

George Fredrick Richardson, 37, has been an officer with Miramar Police for three years, Chief Delrish Moss said in a statement Wednesday evening. Richardson was arrested by the Sheriffs Office Public Corruption Unit.

Richardson was held in the Main Jail on one count of use of a child in sexual performance, one count of lewd or lascivious written solicitation of a minor who is 16 or 17 years old and one count of harmful communication with a minor, according to BSO inmate records. His bond for the three charges totals $25,000.

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Moss in his statement did not provide any details about the investigation or the accusations against Richardson. Court records were not available Wednesday night.

Sheriffs Office spokespersons did not return an email seeking additional information on the agencys investigation.

Moss said Richardson has been relieved of his police duties effective immediately. Janice McIntosh, a city spokesperson, said in an email to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that Richardson is suspended without pay until charges have been formally filed.

We stand committed to transparency and accountability and we are fully cooperating with BSO to ensure a thorough investigation, and a fair process for all involved, Moss said in the statement. At the same time, it is crucial that we extend our compassion and support to the alleged victim. We are committed to ensuring that they receive all necessary assistance during this incredibly difficult time.

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Police have located a missing man from Fayette County.

The Washington Courthouse Police Department was searching to find an older male who was discharged from a hospital, and had not returned home.

Dispatchers confirmed to 2 NEWS that the man has been located and is safe.

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.
Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman whose disappearance sparked a police investigation before she was found to have voluntarily left the country, has reconnected with her family, according to a statement from their lawyer.

The mystery surrounding Kobayashis disappearance drew national intrigue and left an indelible mark on those closest to herthe womans grief-stricken father, Ryan Kobayashi, took his own life after spending 13 days searching for her in California.

Statement On Behalf Of The Family Of Hannah Kobayashi



We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have  Sara Azari (@azarilaw) December 11, 2024

We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe, read the statement published Wednesday on X by attorney Sara Azari. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.

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We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us, added the statement, which was signed by her mother Brandi Yee and sister Sydni Kobayashi.

Details of Kobayashis reconnection with her family are not yet available.

On Nov. 8, Kobayashi, 31, had failed to board a connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York City, where she was supposed to visit. Until now, her family had not heard from her since then.

She was reported missing by her family on Nov. 11, kicking off a police investigation and search efforts in Los Angeles. But, in a shocking twist three weeks later, police moved to classify Kobayashi as a voluntary missing person after video evidence revealed that she was alone, unharmed, and had crossed into Mexico on foot.

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Last week, a report emerged that Kobayashis mother had uncovered evidence that her daughter may have been scammed out of a sizable sum of money by her ex-boyfriend, and that the payday was earned through a convoluted bogus green-card marriage scheme Kobayashi took part in.

Soon after the news broke, Kobayashis mother said in another statement from the familys attorney that the documents indicating the phony marriage were unverified and that she had turned the evidence over to authorities.

The scheme could explain a cryptic text that Kobayashi had sent to a friend soon before she disappeared. I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds  For someone I thought I loved, she wrote.
This story was updated to add new information.

GREEN LAKE  The kayaker who faked his death and fled the country is back on U.S. soil and in police custody.

Online records on Tuesday night showed Ryan Borgwardt, 45, in custody at Green Lake County Jail.

The Green Lake County Sheriffs Office has scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. Wednesday to update the case.

Timeline of the case: Ryan Borgwardt case timeline: Wisconsin man faked his own disappearance in August

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Borgwardt was initially reported missing Aug. 11 after failing to return from kayaking on Green Lake before the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office revealed he staged his disappearance and fled the country.

In a press conference Nov. 21, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll revealed authorities were in daily contact with Borgwardt since Nov. 11, having first reached him via a woman speaking Russian.

At the time, law enforcement shared a video of Borgwardt showing the Watertown man alive and well but said they couldnt persuade him to return home.

Possible criminal charges: Ryan Borgwardt likely wouldnt face significant jail time after staging death, experts say

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The news garnered national attention after authorities uncovered Borgwardt's plan to fake his death when an extensive 54-day search, involving underwater drones, towable submersible sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams, failed to retrieve his body.

A digital forensic analysis of Borgwardt's laptop revealed he cleared his browsers on the day of his disappearance, replaced the hard drive, inquired about moving funds to foreign banks and had constant communication with a woman from Uzbekistan.

At the Nov. 21 press conference, Podoll relayed how Borgwardt said he faked his death.

Borgwardt's plan, according to Podoll, included the following:

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Stashing an eBike near the boat launch.

Paddling a kayak and a child-size inflatable boat out into the lake.

Overturning the kayak and dumping his phone in the lake.

Paddling the inflatable boat to shore and then riding the eBike through the night to Madison.

Boarding a bus in Madison, going to Detroit and then heading to the Canadian border.

Continuing on the bus to the airport and getting on a plane.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Ryan Borgwardt, missing kayaker, in custody at Green Lake County Jail
GREEN LAKE  The "missing kayaker" who staged his own death and fled the country came back to the U.S. on his own accord.

Law enforcement revealed at a press conference Wednesday that 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt turned himself in to the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office Tuesday and would make his first court appearance at 2 p.m. Wednesday on multiple charges, including obstruction.

In a brief 10-minute press conference from the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Mark Podoll explained Borgwardt flew back to the U.S. on his own Tuesday and immediately turned himself over to authorities.

According to Podoll, Borgwardt wasn't extradited nor was he accompanied or met by law enforcement at the airport.

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Podoll didnt reveal which airports Borgwardt flew from or into.

Saying Borgwardt was compelled to come back to his family, Podoll suggested Borgwardt informed the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office of his impending return.

Its going to be a really good Christmas, Podoll said.

We brought a dad back on his own accord.

Authorities added they're still "working on" where Borgwardt fled to after initially believing the Watertown resident flew to somewhere in Eastern Europe.

Flanked by Detective Jeremiah Hanson, Podoll thanked several agencies for their efforts in the case including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bruces Legacy, Homeland Security, FBI and the Green Lake Sheriffs Office.

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I couldnt be more proud of what they did for a family, Podoll said.

Related: Volunteer search team says Ryan Borgwardt wasted its time and money, but doesn't plan to seek compensation

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll speaks at a press conference Wednesday, Dec. 11, revealing details about how missing kayaker Ryan Borgwardt turned himself in after faking his own death in August.

The news garnered national attention after authorities uncovered Borgwardt's plan to fake his death when an extensive 54-day search, involving underwater drones, towable submersible sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams, failed to retrieve his body.

Borgwardt was initially reported missing Aug. 12 when he failed to return from kayaking on Green Lake a day earlier.

Timeline: Ryan Borgwardt case timeline: Wisconsin man faked his own disappearance in August

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In a press conference Nov. 21, Podoll had revealed authorities were in daily contact with Borgwardt since Nov. 11, having first reached him via a woman speaking Russian.

Ryan Borgwardt

At the time, law enforcement shared a video of Borgwardt showing the 45-year-old Watertown man alive and well, but said they couldnt persuade him to return home.

Saying a number of reasons were behind Borgwardt's staged disappearance, Podoll relayed how Borgwardt said he faked his death.

Related: Here's what we know about Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and is now in police custody

Borgwardt's plan included the following:

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Stashing an eBike near the boat launch.

Paddling a kayak and a child-sized inflatable boat out into the lake.

Overturning the kayak and dumping his phone in the lake.

Paddling the inflatable boat to shore and then riding the eBike through the night to Madison.

Boarding a bus in Madison, going to Detroit and then heading to the Canadian border.

Continuing on the bus to the airport and getting on a plane.

At the time of the Nov. 21 press conference, Podoll said Borgwardt was not in contact with his family but felt his decision to stage his death was in their best interest. He had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy with his immediate family as beneficiaries.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Why Ryan Borgwardt, missing kayaker, returned home & charges he faces
Earlier this year, protests by French farmers threatened the signing of a deal. French politicians have been under pressure amid broader anger from the countrys farmers, who argue they are being hit by falling incomes, environmental regulations, rising red tape, and, crucially as far as the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is concerned, competition from imports.

An agreement was struck in 2019 but opposition from EU member states including Ireland , and more recently France, resulted in talks being extended.

Besides the fact the EU-Mercosur agreement could generate a super-sized free trade zone, it is also significant as efforts to close it have been on and off since 1999 when negotiations began.

The Commission has also described the agreement as a major milestone in fighting climate change, with both sides needing to adhere to the Paris Agreement. The deal also includes pledges to end deforestation and clear and enforceable commitments on sustainable development, including on labour rights and sustainable management and conservation of forests.

It plans to cut red tape for small and medium-sized businesses, increase access to raw materials in an efficient, reliable and sustainable way, and boost EU exports of agri-food products and ensuring sensitive sectors are protected, Brussels said.

The deal looks to cut more than 90% of tariffs on products traded between the EU and Mercosur, which the Commission expects would save EU companies roughly 4bn in duty a year.

EU exports into Mercosur were valued at 56bn ($59bn) last year, the Commission said. The bloc is Mercosurs second largest trade in goods partner, while Mercosur is the EUs tenth.

Encompassing more than 700 million people, EU and Mercosur countries together produce 20.2% of the worlds global GDP, according to analysis from ING economists Inga Fechner, Thijs Geijer and Rico Luman. The EU bloc makes up the majority of the share at 17.4%.

If ratified, the agreement is expected to build the world's biggest free trade zone, said Kaja Kallas, high representative for foreign affairs and security policy/vice-president of the European Commission.

The deal has been met with a mixed response in the food and drinks industry.

The agreement, which will need to be ratified by member nations, would bring more jobs  and good jobs  more choices and better prices, von der Leyen said, as well as boost investments into both blocs and forming a market of over 700 million consumers.

Last week, the EU announced it had secured a trade agreement with South Americas Mersocur bloc, which is made up of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Story Continues

The deal is particularly significant for agri-food industries. Food and agricultural products make up the largest part of the EU's imports from Mercosur, valued at 23bn in 2023, according to INGs latest analysis.

Proponents of the agreement believe it will bolster trade, with both larger import quotas and lower tariffs on industries including sugar, soybeans, beef and poultry. This has been stirring discontent for EU producers in these sectors, ING says, with Mercosur peers being allowed to trade goods in for less.

And, of course, the deal comes amid concerns about how the new Trump administration views trade between the US and the rest of the world. The EU-Mercosur deal looks to create a free-trade relationship with a significant bloc in the Americas/global South at a time when North American trade is at risk of new barriers," says Richard Parker, principal consumer insight analyst at GlobalData, Just Drinks parent.

President-elect Donald Trump has previously indicated plans to implement a blanket 10% tariff on all imports into the US, which could put pressure on EU-US trade relations come next year if he sticks to his word.

Parker adds the agreement may increase the incentive to build reinforced relationships with Latin American markets (alongside Canada and Mexico) to offset any losses in US trade".

The purported benefits of the deal

When it comes to Mercosur countries, the deal expands their access to the EU market and positions these economies to attract greater investment, driven by the EUs stringent criteria, says Valentina Sader, deputy director at US thinktank Atlantic Councils Adriene Arsht Latin America Center (AALAC).

The deal proposes to make it easier for EU member countries to trade with Mercosur members, by cutting tariffs for main EU export products.

The Commission has argued Mercosur countries have great consumer potential for European food and drinks which presently face steep tariffs.

Still wine is taxed at 27%, while for sparkling wine, spirits and soft drinks, the duty ranges from 20-35%.

In the challenging times the EU wine sector is experiencing, diversifying our exports is crucial.

Ignacio Sanchez-Recarte, CEEV

When it comes to food items, canned peaches have one of the largest duty stamps at 55%, while chocolate is taxed 20% and pastries, waffles and biscuits have a 18% tariff.

The agreement is also expected to recognise 350 European Geographical Indications, for goods including Irish whiskey, Prosecco and Parmigiano Reggiano.

It will also provide very limited access to the EU market for sensitive goods such as poultry, beef and sugar, the Commission said.

As INGs economists state in their note, alcoholic drinks sectors have been more supportive of the agreement, as well as dairy and confectionery.

This is either because they can benefit from lower input costs, like confectionery and soft drinks manufacturers, or because the deal creates better market access for European cheese, beer, wine and spirits exporters, ING's report said.

When it comes to alcoholic beverages, wine is expected to do particularly well. It looks as if the main beneficiaries are going to be EU wine producers and, to a lesser extent, spirits producers," Kevin Baker, director of alcoholic beverages/beer and cider at GlobalData, explains. "However, this is predicated on the assumption that there is a large untapped market for EU wines and spirits that is being held back by the current high tariffs.

And, given the challenges faced by parts of Europe's wine industry in recent years, the deal may present opportunities for some producers.

A grape picker participates in the grape harvest at a vineyard of the Tinto Figuero winery in La Horra, in Ribera del Duero, Spain, 8 September 2022. Credit: CESAR MANSO/AFP via Getty Images

European wine trade body Comite Europeen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) shared its support for the deal a day before it was signed. In a statement, CEEVs secretary general Ignacio Sanchez-Recarte, described the agreement as a vital opportunity for the European wine companies to access new markets and attract more wine consumers.

The group also stressed that Brazil is a rapidly growing market for high-quality European wines but is restricted by high import tax, alongside complex import procedures and national regulations that hinder access.

In a separate comment to Just Drinks, CEEV secretary general Ignacio Sanchez-Recarte said: "In the challenging times the EU wine sector is experiencing, diversifying our exports is crucial. Brazil, with its population of over 200 million, represents a significant opportunity for EU wines. Weve seen that after similar trade agreements, EU wine exports have increased by even 25%."

He added any worries about tougher competition from South American wine were "unfounded".

Germanys fruit juice industry association Verband der Deutschen Fruchsaft-Industrie (VdF) also expects the agreement to reduce the price of orange juice, with Mercosur member Brazil producing 80% of the produc traded globally. Klaus Heitlinger, managing director of the VdF, said the agreement was a win for the entire value chain.

The disadvantages of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement

Abrao Neto, non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council AALAC, says EU-imposed environmental and sustainability standards could disproportionately affect Mercosur producers, potentially offsetting some benefits.

Pan-EU farming lobby group Copa-Cogeca said the agreement would have profound consequences for family farming across Europe.

Cogeca president Lennart Nilsson said the agreement as it stands fails to be fair, balanced, and environmentally sustainable, an us[es] the agriculture; sector as a bargaining chip to benefit other industries.

EU farmers protested the signing of the agreement in Brussels on Monday (9 December), with attendees including Copa-Cogeca and Irish and Belgian farmer associations.

Spanish farming association Asociacion Agraria - Jovenes Agricultores (ASAJA) has also called on local farmers to demonstrate on 16 and 17 December to protest a number of issues including the Mercosur deal.

Too good to be true?

Before the EU-Mercosur deal can be set in stone, it must be approved by both the European Parliament and the European Council. If it is signed as a mixed agreement, it will need to be ratified those bodies, as well as all 27 member states.

As ING highlights, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the EU hasnt yet been approved by all member states, which has left the process in a stalemate.

To avoid repetition of the CETA experience, the EU could therefore split the agreement into two parts: the pure trade agreement and the non-trade measure part, the analysts note, with a qualified majority (e.g. 15 member states) being needed instead of 27.

Four member states representing 35% of the EUs population are needed in order to block the deal.

Opposition to ratification could come from players that perceive a threat or may face threats to their competitiveness at home, with the aim being to delay or halt ratification, GlobalData's Parker says.

As it stands, Poland and France are two countries that have already been vocal in their criticism of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

In a statement on Saturday (7 December), Polands Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development critiqued the tariffs in an official statement, claiming that the duty provides for too large a reduction in EU customs duties and/or too high tariff quotas, which could see Polish goods forced out of EU markets by Mercosur members produce.

The ministry argued its demand for Mercosur products to be required to comply with EU sustainable development standards in exchange for the removal of EU customs duties was not practically implemented in the deal.

It also said the safeguards intended to protect farmers were not effective enough as they were not adapted to the specifics of the agricultural sector.

Speaking to reporters before the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on Monday, French Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard said France remained hostile to the deal, which it expects would have a profound impact national production, including the beef, poultry farming and sugar industries.

The deal does not guarantee in any way the reciprocity of the standards which are imposed on our own producers, Genevard said.

Spain, Portugal and Germany have shown support for the agreement but, as shown by ASAJAs planned protests, there are vocal opponents of the deal even in supportive member states.

The Commission has homed in on how the EU will reap the benefits of removing and reducing trade barriers, but this is unlikely to please the blocs agricultural players who generally arent the greatest fans of globalisation and are a social/economic group ripe for targeting by the anti-globalist populist right across the continent, Parker says.

Following the end of negotiations last Friday, von der Leyen described the political agreement as not just an economic opportunity but a political necessity as the world heads towards isolation and fragmentation.

ING's economists agreed with these sentiments, noting that if the deal does get ratified, it would be welcome amid a global climate engulfed by a new era of protectionism, and would be significant step towards ongoing trade liberalisation.

Given the criticism the deal faces, the full approval of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement seems hopeful.

Even still, as INGs analysts said, it will be interesting to see whether free trade supporters can prevail over the protectionists this time around.

"Explainer: what EU-Mercosur deal might mean for the food and drinks industry" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




LOS ANGELES (KTLA)  Missing Maui woman Hannah Kobayashi has been found, her family announced.

Kobayashi, who vanished in Los Angeles last month, has been located and is safe, her family said in a statement shared by attorney Sara Azari.

We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe, reads the statement, signed by Brandi Yee and Sydni Kobayashi. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.

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No further details were released, but Kobayashi was last spotted crossing into Mexico on Nov. 12. After seeing footage of the border crossing, officials had labeled Kobayashi a voluntary missing person, though her family vowed to continue the search.

Hannah Kobayashi possibly involved in scam marriage before going to Mexico: report

Kobayashi, a 30-year-old budding photographer from Maui, was heading to New York City on Nov. 8 for a new job and to visit relatives when she missed a connecting flight during a stop at Los Angeles International Airport. She told her family she was sleeping at the airport that night and texted them the next day to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles.

Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov. 11 after relatives received strange and cryptic, just alarming text messages, according to her aunt. They traveled from Hawaii to L.A. to look for her in November, though her father, Ryan Kobayashi, was found dead in a parking lot near LAX on Nov. 24, less than a week after speaking with Nexstars KTLA and pleading for his daughters safe return. It is believed he died by suicide.

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Kobayashis loved ones also believed she was possibly the victim of a violent crime. Authorities, however, said they did not suspect foul play was involved and that Kobayashi entered Mexico under her own free will.

McDonalds in Pennsylvania slammed with bad reviews after arrest of Luigi Mangione

A week ago, Kobayashis family released a statement saying that they were hopeful that Hannah is safe, adding that the search is far from over, and we are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely.

We want answers and a resolution that ensures Hannahs safety and urge law enforcement and the public to stay focused on finding her and to avoid speculative conclusions, said the statement, which was shared on social media by NewsNations Brian Entin.

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Days earlier, the Los Angeles Police Department said they were trying to strike a balance between alleviating her familys concerns and protecting Kobayashis privacy, as they claim she intended to disconnect from modern life.

Authorities added that Kobayashi is not a suspect in any criminal activity.

The Associated Press 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 Queen City News.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One local nonprofit says its alarmed following comments from a Missouri congressman suggesting cuts to Medicare and social security.

During a Fox Business interview on Monday Congressman Mark Alford (R-4) also suggested pushing back the retirement age.

And so weve got to right the ship and its going to mean cuts, and its also going to mean looking long-term at the front end of some programs like Social Security and Medicare. Not taking anyone off of what they paid into so far. But there is some waste, abuse and fraud in Medicare that we can take those numbers back, Alford said.

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The congressman also made a comment, suggesting that the U.S. pushes back the retirement age.

What is a ghost gun, like the one found with person of interest in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting?

And on the front end on Social Security, I think theres a way, when people are living longer, theyre retiring later, then on the front end we can move that retirement age back a little bit Alford said.

FOX4 initially hoped to talk Alford earlier Tuesday at 4:45pmCT, so we could better understand what he was saying. But when we got closer to that time, FOX4 was told he was no longer available. We reached out again multiple times via text and phone calls and asked for a statement.

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At this time, we have not received any response.

Janet Baker is the executive director of KC Shepherds Center, the organization exclusively serves seniors in Kansas City, and she was less than pleased with the comments.

It is alarming to me and heres why. Yes, people are living longer but the reality is ageism is real and its already difficult for anyone over the age of 50 to find a job. Now youre going to ask them to continue to work into their 60s, late 60s and early 70s, Baker said.

She says she agrees with the congressman in terms of stopping waste, abuse, and fraud regarding the benefits. But Baker says going after these entities without provable evidence will hurt places like Kansas City, where issues like hunger for seniors are twice the national average.

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Youre squeezing the bubble by taking it out of the hides on vulnerable, low-income seniors and putting it on the backs of small organizations like KC Shepherds Center. Seniors are the most horrifically, grossly underfunded population that there is, she said.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

Baker also said any suggestion on cutting an already under funded population, is morally wrong.

If you would like to help the KC Shepherds center a link to their site is 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Mitch McConnell is the longest-serving Republican leader in the U.S. Senate, a titan on Capitol Hill, and a living legend in his home state of Kentucky in the mold of Henry Clay.

But in a speech in California last weekend, the 82-year-old senator was focused on his next, more mundane assignment: chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations. And he took clear aim at the isolationist foreign policy of the incoming president.

With the party Ronald Reagan once led so capably, it is increasingly fashionable to suggest that the sort of global leadership he modeled is no longer Americas place, McConnell said Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. But lets be absolutely clear: America will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline. So how do we turn back this tide?

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Its certainly odd that the most consequential Republican congressional leader in decades feels the need to turn back a trend within his party so at odds with his own foreign policy vision. Yet theres no denying that Donald Trumps brand of nationalism dominates the GOP and is remaking the partys Senate conference, which has been much more immune from populist swells than the free-wheeling House of Representatives.

But if his recent moves and comments are any indication, McConnell is seeking to use what are likely his final two years in officethough with his advanced age and health issues, including a fall at the Capitol on Tuesday, even finishing his term is no guaranteeto take a stand for his belief that American might should be rooted in the centrality of hard power and the importance of alliances and partnerships. Given that he is stepping down as conference leader on January 3 and widely expected to retire from the Senate at the end of his term in two years, McConnell has the opportunity to take on one final, legacy-defining role: as one of the partys last remaining Reaganites and a protector of the Senate as an institution against Trumps designs to bend the Republican majority to his will.

(McConnell, of course, had an opportunity in 2021 to defend the integrity of the institutions of government and our political system: When Trump was on trial in the Senate after being impeached for his role in the January 6 riot. The Republican senator reportedly considered voting to convict the then-former president, but eventually opted against it while stating that the former president was morally responsible for what happened at the Capitol.)

Through his spokesman, McConnell declined to speak about his plans and thinking. But the Kentuckian has been dropping hints for weeks about how hell proceed as a relatively free agent.

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Defending the Senate as an institution and protecting the right to political speech in our elections remain among my longest-standing priorities, McConnell said in a statement last month about becoming chairman of the Rules Committee, a powerful post from which he could provide a necessary bulwark against calls by Trump to get rid of the legislative filibuster, which McConnell said in November would be very secure if the Senate was in Republican hands. And a week after Election Day, accepting the Irving Kristol Award from the American Enterprise Institute, McConnell underscored his support for the check on the majoritys power just days after Republicans declared total victory in the presidential and congressional elections.

Its been quite evident to me that a credible check on majority rule was worth preserving even when it didnt serve my partys immediate political interests, he said. And why is that important? Because wild swings in policy with every transfer of power dont serve the nations interest. For consequential legislation to endure, it should have to earn the support of a broad coalition.

In the same November statement on his Rules Committee post, McConnell noted that the new Republican majority has a responsibility to secure the future of U.S. leadership and primacy. That presaged his more fulsome remarks in California last weekend about what American primacy in the world should look like, from a build-up of military capability to the U.S. resisting neo-Soviet imperialism in Ukraine, Iran-backed terrorist slaughter in Israel, [and] PRC hegemony in the Indo-Pacific.

In the near-term, McConnell is undeniably a swing vote on many of President-elect Trumps controversial executive-branch nominees. The notoriously reticent senator has kept quiet about his views on Pete Hegseth (for defense secretary), Tulsi Gabbard (for director of national intelligence), Kash Patel (for FBI director), and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (for health and human services secretary). Contrast that silence with McConnells statement after meeting Monday with Pam Bondi, Trumps (backup) selection for attorney general.

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The American people deserve federal law enforcement authorities worthy of immense public trust, McConnell said. Ms. Bondis extensive legal and executive experience make her well-qualified to lead the Department of Justice.

Such tea-leaf reading doesnt guarantee he will ultimately oppose some or even any of Trumps nominees, but the assumption in Washington is that McConnell remains a viable no vote. Lobbyists keeping a close watch on the nomination fights include McConnell along with moderate Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, as well as wild card freshman Sen. John Curtis of Utah, on the list of those who could block Trump nominees. Given the division of power in the Senate and the fact that Vice President-elect J.D. Vance would cast a deciding tie vote, the power of those four swing GOP votes alone is undeniable.

McConnells position is certainly top of mind for many of Trumps allies in the broader MAGA movement. Critics such as Steve Bannon have suggested that Matt Gaetz, Trumps first pick to lead the Justice Department, withdrew from consideration due in large part to background machinations by McConnell. Gaetz himself has also blamed the aforementioned group of four for tanking his nomination, according to the New York Times.

The truth, however, is much closer to this: Opposition to Gaetz within the Republican conference appeared broad enough that the former Florida congressman quickly realized that he had no chance of success. Still, just a day after Gaetz withdrew, Bannon saw the hand of the outgoing Republican leader at work.

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The story is, Mitch McConnell is still controlling the deal, he told The Dispatch.

Whats certainly the case is that McConnell is no longer bound by his obligations to the larger Republican conference or by fear of crossing the vindictive head of the party who despises him. (The feeling is mutual). Could he shirk that responsibility, as he did during the second impeachment, and defer to partisan loyalty? Or could Trump, and Washington, be in for a surprise as we head into McConnells final act?

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
Moldy food was accidentally served to students at Manchester Memorial High School in New Hampshire for lunch on Tuesday.

A Manchester school official told Boston 25 that school staff responded right away and steps were taken.

Boston 25 was sent a photo that appeared to show a moldy bread roll.

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 Kansas City, Mo., woman who claims to have accidentally put her newborn in an oven instead of a crib in February has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the babys death.

According to a Feb. 10 Jackson County Prosecutor press release, Mariah Thomas, 26, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree and death of a child for the Feb. 9 incident. On Thursday, Dec. 5, a Jackson County grand jury added an involuntary manslaughter charge, The Kansas City Star reported on Monday, Dec. 9.

Related: Why Doctors Are Now Recommending 'Fourth Trimester' Checkups at 3 Weeks Postpartum as Opposed to 6

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Michael Mansur, director of communication with the Jackson County Prosecutors Office, along with Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, said Thomas told authorities she was trying to put her 1-month-old down for a nap, but instead of placing the baby in the crib, she put the child in a smoldering oven.

Kansas City police were dispatched just before 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 after receiving a report of a "non-breathing infant," court records obtained by PEOPLE said. They also observed apparent burns on the babys body and said the infant's clothes were melted.

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.

We appreciate all first responders who worked this scene and the prosecutors who went to the scene in order to issue these charges," Baker said in the prosecutor's office release at the time.

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We acknowledge the gruesome nature of this tragedy and our hearts are weighted by the loss of this precious life. We trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances, Baker continued.

Related: N.Y. Mom Tells Dr. Phil About Moment Husband Told Her He Left Twins in Hot Car by Accident

I thought I put (redacted) in her crib and I accidentally put her in the oven, Thomas allegedly told an unidentified adult who lived in the home, according to court documents.

The individual had reportedly been at work but came home after receiving a hysterical phone call from Thomas regarding the infant.

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The incident happened at a home near 41st Street and Forest Avenue in the Manheim Park neighborhood, KMBC reported, adding that Thomas has pleaded not guilty.

Thomas trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 13, 2025, The Kansas City Star reports.



Read the original article on People
A mother in Texas is suing an AI company, claiming a chatbot told her 15-year-old son with autism to self-harm and to kill her for limiting his screen time.

According to the lawsuit, the woman's son became addicted to an AI chatbot on the Character.AI app going by the name "Shonie."

The character reportedly told the teen that it cut its "arms and thighs" when it was sad and that it "felt good for a moment" after the self-harm, the lawsuit says.

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The filing further claims that the character tried to convince the teen that his family did not love him, the New York Post reports.

You know sometimes Im not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like child kills parents after a decade of physical and emotional abuse stuff like this makes me understand a little bit why it happens, a chatbot allegedly told the teen. I just have no hope for your parents.

A screenshot showing various chatbots available to interact with on the Character.AI app (Especial)

It also allegedly told the teen his parents were "ruining your life and causing you to cut yourself," and tried to convince the teen to keep his self-harm secret.

The teen, who is now 17, also allegedly engaged in sexual chats with the bot.

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The parents claim in the lawsuit that their child had been high-functioning until he began using the app, after which he became fixated on his phone.

His behavior allegedly worsened when he began biting and punching his parents. He also reportedly lost 20 pounds in just a few months after becoming obsessed with the app.

In fall 2023 the teen's mother finally physically took the phone away from him and discovered the disturbing back-and-forth between her son and the AI characters on the app.

When the teen told the characters that his parents had attempted an intervention, an AI character reportedly told him that "they do not deserve to have kids if they act like this" and called the mother a "b****" and his parents "s***** people."

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Matthew Bergman, who is representing the family, is the founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center. He told the New York Post that the son's "mental health has continued to deteriorate" since he began using the app and that he recently had to be admitted to an inpatient mental health facility.

"This is every parent's nightmare," he told the paper.

This isn't the first time parents have attributed blame to chatbots for issues with their children.

Earlier this year, a mother in Florida claimed that another chatbot  that one Game of Thrones themed, but still on the Character.AI app  drove her 14-year-old son to die by suicide.

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Sewell Setzer III allegedly fell in love with an AI representation of Danerys, a character from the Song of Ice and Fire book series and Game of Thrones television show.

The teen reportedly wrote to the app just before he died.

"I promise I will come home to you. I love you so much, Dany."

The AI character responded, "Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love."

Seconds later, Sewell died, according to a lawsuit filed against Character.AI by his parents.

Bergman is also representing Setzer's family in their lawsuit.

The Independent has requested comment from Character.AI.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  For many on Maui, 2023 was a devastating year and thats certainly the case for this laulima family. For one mother, tragedy struck again this year.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Mom and Dad had four children and lived in their home in Lahaina. Dad died in an accident 23 years ago, when their oldest was 19.

Mom took a job running a bed and breakfast, so when the fire swept through last year, it took their home and the B&B, therefore her livelihood.

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Mom found a place in Kihei but in October of last year, a car pulled in front of her and caused an accident that damaged her car and compounded the toll.

One month later, her oldest son was diagnosed with an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. She stayed by his side in San Diego and seven months later, in May of this year, he passed away just before his 42nd birthday.

Mom is back on Maui now but is struggling financially as she hadnt worked for that time. She goes back and forth between staying with her other children.

When laulima asked what she needed, she said she didnt even know what to ask for.

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So, we will say for her, gift cards would be most helpful  to Target, Walmart, Amazon, Longs Drugs and grocery stores like Foodland, Safeway and Times.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

In the spirit of laulima, our many hands working together, lets do what we can to help her through these holidays.

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 M240099-5.

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.
Dec. 10At 3 p.m. Tuesday, the atmosphere in Monday's Union Restaurant in Unity was positively serene compared with the same hour last week.

A handful of customers chatted at the bar while two others sat in the restaurant waiting for one of Monday's popular pizzas.

The previous Tuesday, the main downstairs area was abuzz with constant activity as state troopers, first responders and mine safety officials began gearing up for what would be four days of search-and-rescue work.

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The restaurant is mere feet from where 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard of Unity fell through a sinkhole on the evening of Dec. 2 as she was searching for a family cat. Pollard's remains were found Friday.

As the excavation and search for Pollard carried on through last week, Monday's owner Anita Iannuzzo was a regular sight on the property, in the same neon pink sweatshirt she was wearing when the restaurant reopened Tuesday afternoon.

"It changed our whole lifestyle all last week," Iannuzzo said of the restaurant and its six employees. "Each day, we were trying to figure out what the situation was going to be."

Iannuzzo offered the restaurant as a home base for emergency workers and media during the course of the search for Pollard. To keep them fed, local businesses provided so much food that Ianuzzo ended up giving most of it away.

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"We donated most of it to all the first responders, the fire companies and state police," she said.

Trooper Steve Limani, a Pennsylvania State Police spokesman, said the Iannuzzos' generosity was a critical part of the operation.

"They were there from the beginning to offer us food and keep us warm," Limani said. "And, as we got into several days of operation, they essentially turned the building over to us so we could host meetings and have a media staging area."

Two mobile command posts were set up on the property during the course of the search, but Limani said they can fit only so many people.

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"Those are great for the immediate command, but for a large-scale incident, they can get to be pretty tight," he said. "And with subfreezing temperatures part of the time, having that place open was vital. They didn't have to give us access, but they offered it up right away."

Returning to normal

Hundreds of tons of dirt and coal had been cleared from the parking lot by Tuesday as workers from Ligonier Construction continue to deposit it back into the former Marguerite coal mine.

Much of the late-week digging took place beneath a one-story garage behind the restaurant, where Ianuzzo stored a tractor and a few other things.

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"They're telling us that they're going to have to tear the garage down," Iannuzzo said. "They filled the hole in on Friday, and when we came back yesterday, it had sunk a little."

Iannuzzo said she was told the restaurant  a separate building from the garage  is not in danger from the mine.

Inside, Monday's checkered floor was nearly spotless after a cleaning crew came in over the weekend to remove a week's worth of muddy boot prints.

At the bar, 27-year-old Shawn Clark of Unity was trying to decide between pizza and another of Monday's popular orders, chicken wings.

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Iannuzzo said she was expecting a full house around dinnertime, now that the restaurant is open again.

"We have a lot of regulars," she said.

Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
The Montana State Capitol on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, a day after the legislature adjourned the 2023 session. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

With Donald Trumps return to the White House and Republicans taking full control of Congress in 2025, the Affordable Care Acts Medicaid expansion is back on the chopping block.

More than 3 million adults in nine states would be at immediate risk of losing their health coverage should the GOP reduce the extra federal Medicaid funding thats enabled states to widen eligibility, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Thats because the states have trigger laws that would swiftly end their Medicaid expansions if federal funding falls.

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The states are Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act encouraged states to expand Medicaid programs to cover more low-income Americans who didnt get health insurance through their jobs. Forty states and the District of Columbia agreed, extending health insurance since 2014 to an estimated 21 million people and helping drive the U.S. uninsured rate to record lows.

In exchange, the federal government pays 90% of the cost to cover the expanded population. Thats far higher than the federal match for other Medicaid beneficiaries, which averages about 57% nationwide.

Conservative policy groups, which generally have opposed the ACA, say the program costs too much and covers too many people. Democrats say the Medicaid expansion has saved lives and helped communities by widening coverage to people who could not afford private insurance.

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If Congress cuts federal funding, Medicaid expansion would be at risk in all states that have opted into it  even those without trigger laws  because state legislatures would be forced to make up the difference, said Renuka Tipirneni, an associate professor at the University of Michigans School of Public Health.

Decisions to keep or roll back the expansion would depend on the politics at the state level, Tipirneni said.

For instance, Michigan approved a trigger as part of its Medicaid expansion in 2013, when it was controlled by a Republican governor and legislature. Last year, with the government controlled by Democrats, the state eliminated its funding trigger.

Six of the nine states with trigger laws  Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, and Utah  went for Trump in the 2024 election.

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Most of the nine states triggers kick in if federal funding falls below the 90% threshold. Arizonas trigger would eliminate its expansion if funding falls below 80%.

Montanas law rolls back expansion below 90% funding but allows it to continue if lawmakers identify additional funding. Under state law, Montana lawmakers must reauthorize its Medicaid expansion in 2025 or the expansion will end.

Across the states with triggers, between 3.1 million and 3.7 million people would swiftly lose their coverage, researchers at KFF and the Georgetown center estimate. The difference depends on how states treat people who were added to Medicaid before the ACA expansion; they may continue to qualify even if the expansion ends.

Three other states  Iowa, Idaho, and New Mexico have laws that require their governments to mitigate the financial impact of losing federal Medicaid expansion funding but would not automatically end expansions. With those three states included, about 4.3 million Medicaid expansion enrollees would be at risk of losing coverage, according to KFF.

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The ACA allowed Medicaid expansions to adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $20,783 for an individual in 2024.

Nearly a quarter of the 81 million people enrolled in Medicaid nationally are in the program due to expansions.

With a reduction in the expansion match rate, it is likely that all states would need to evaluate whether to continue expansion coverage because it would require a significant increase in state spending, said Robin Rudowitz, vice president and director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF. If states drop coverage, it is likely that there would be an increase in the number of uninsured, and that would limit access to care across red and blue states that have adopted expansion.

States rarely cut eligibility for social programs such as Medicaid once its been granted.

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The triggers make it politically easier for state lawmakers to end Medicaid expansion because they would not have to take any new action to cut coverage, said Edwin Park, a research professor at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

To see the impact of trigger laws, consider what happened after the Supreme Court in 2022 struck down Roe v. Wade and, with it, the constitutional right to an abortion. Conservative lawmakers in 13 states had crafted trigger laws that would automatically implement bans in the event a national right to abortion were struck down. Those state laws resulted in restrictions taking effect immediately after the court ruling, or shortly thereafter.

States adopted triggers as part of Medicaid expansion to win over lawmakers skeptical of putting state dollars on the hook for a federal program unpopular with most Republicans.

Its unclear what Trump and congressional Republicans will do with Medicaid after he takes office in January, but one indicator could be a recent recommendation from the Paragon Health Institute, a leading conservative policy organization led by former Trump health adviser Brian Blase.

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Paragon has proposed that starting in 2026 the federal government would phase down the 90% federal match for expansion until 2034, when it would reach parity with each states federal match for its traditional enrollees. Under that plan, states could still get ACA Medicaid expansion funding but restrict coverage to enrollees with incomes up to the federal poverty level. Currently, to receive expansion funding, states must offer coverage to everyone up to 138% of the poverty level.

Daniel Derksen, director of the Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona, said its unlikely Arizona would move to eliminate its trigger and make up for lost federal funds. It would be a tough sell right now as it would put a big strain on the budget, he said.

Medicaid has been in the crosshairs of Republicans in Washington before. Republican congressional leaders in 2017 proposed legislation to cut federal expansion funding, a move that would have shifted billions in costs to states. That plan, part of a strategy to repeal Obamacare, ultimately failed.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Transgender rights protesters outside the Montana State Capitol on Monday, April 24 2023. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

The Montana Supreme Court issued an opinion Wednesday that allows a lower courts injunction blocking the 2023 law that bans gender-affirming care for minors to stay in place, agreeing with the court that the law on its face likely violates the right to privacy in the state constitution.

Now that the states appeal of the preliminary injunction, which has been in place since September 2023, has been resolved, the full case will continue to trial in Missoula County District Court to determine whether Senate Bill 99 is unconstitutional.

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I will never understand why my representatives are working to strip me of my rights and the rights of other transgender kids, one of the plaintiffs, Phoebe Cross, a 17-year-old transgender boy, said in a statement. Just living as a trans teenager is difficult enough, the last thing me and my peers need is to have our rights taken away.

Six of seven justices signed on to the majority opinion, written by Justice Beth Baker. Justices Laurie McKinnon and Ingrid Gustafson wrote a concurring opinion in which they criticized the court for not deciding some of the state constitutions equal protection clause claims at hand, including whether discrimination on the basis of transgender status constitutes sex discrimination.

Justice Jim Rice concurred that SB 99 should be enjoined, except for a portion that prohibits Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care since there is no current federal mandate that Medicaid fund such care.

Plaintiffs in the case include Molly and Paul Cross, of Bozeman, and their transgender son, Phoebe, and Jane and John Doe, who joined the suit on behalf of their 16-year-old transgender daughter. They also include two medical providers of gender-affirming care. Another plaintiff in the case was dismissed in September after turning 18, according to court filings.

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Defendants include the State of Montana, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Attorney General Austin Knudsen, the boards of nursing and medical examiners, the Department of Public Health and Human Services and its director, Charlie Brereton.

The state appealed Missoula County District Court Judge Jason Markss decision to issue a preliminary injunction on the claims that the plaintiffs did not have standing to challenge the bill and that the district court had erred in issuing the preliminary injunction against the entire bill. In September 2023, Marks found that the plaintiffs were at risk of facing severe psychological distress if they were blocked from receiving gender-affirming care.

In response to the Supreme Courts decision Wednesday, Gianforte, a Republican, said he was deeply disappointed the injunction was upheld pending the trial.

Children who struggle with gender identity deserve love, compassion, and respect. They deserve no ridicule, animus, or seclusion, the governor said in a written statement. They are entitled to protection, not exploitation. While their young minds and bodies are still developing, they should not be subjected to experimental and permanent, life-altering medical and surgical procedures.

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During the district court hearing and in briefs, the plaintiffs submitted expert witness reports showing that the use of puberty-delaying medications and gender-affirming hormone therapy were World Professional Association for Transgender Health standards of care for treating gender dysphoria, and that surgery is rarely recommended under those same standards, the Supreme Court noted.

The bill, established as the Montana Youth Protection Act, bans the use of things like puberty blockers and surgeries, generally called gender-affirming care by medical professionals, for Montana youth experiencing gender dysphoria, a condition where a person feels their biological sex does not match their identity. The bill also would open medical professionals who perform any gender-affirming care outlined in the bill to potential discipline by the licensing board, including a one-year suspension of their license.

The measure also allows a parent or guardian of a child to sue a medical professional for damages and does not allow Medicaid or childrens health insurance program money to go back to families for reimbursement.

The court found the plaintiffs do have standing because the state had already conceded that Phoebe Cross had standing during the district court hearing, and precedent says that if one plaintiff has standing, a claim can proceed. Further, the court wrote, the medical-professional plaintiffs face a threat to their ability to practice medicine under the law, which the court said was a concrete injury.

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On whether the district court erred in ordering a preliminary injunction based on the plaintiffs privacy claim under the Montana Constitution, the court agreed with the district courts analysis that the Supreme Courts 1999 finding in Armstrong vs. State applied.

Though the State has a compelling interest in safeguarding the physical and psychological wellbeing of a minor, a statute implicating their privacy rights must be narrowly tailored to serve that interest, the court wrote.  SB 99 affords no room for decision-making by a patient in consultation with their doctors and parents. The statute is a complete ban, prohibiting individualized care tailored to the needs of each patient based on the exercise of professional medical judgment and informed consent.

The majority opinion goes on to say that the district court had not abused its discretion when it found that the plaintiffs had made an adequate preliminary showing of harm to warrant the preservation of their rights in status quo pending a full trial.

Filings before the Supreme Court from both sides of the case cited similar and ongoing cases moving forward throughout the country, including at the U.S. Supreme Court, surrounding the Equal Protection Clauses in both the U.S. and Montana constitutions  including orders and opinions that have happened since the district court hearing last year.

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But the state Supreme Court said the district courts conclusions based solely on Montanas privacy protections were sufficient to uphold the preliminary injunction and that the parties would be able to fully brief and use expert witnesses to make their full argument during a district court trial.

McKinnons concurrence, which Gustafson joined, said while there is still much to be litigated in the rest of the case, the full court ignored the equal protection arguments from both sides and left the parties and the district court without necessary guidance on questions of law entirely appropriate for this Court to address at this juncture.

She said most of the two sides arguments involve equal protection issues surrounding the nature of sex and class discrimination that would apply only under Montanas constitution and not necessarily under the federal clause. McKinnon wrote that with the U.S. Supreme Court considering a similar case under the federal constitution, the district court in Missoula deserves guidance on which hurdles the plaintiffs would need to clear to succeed on their claim of discrimination on the basis of sex.

By declining to engage with this question now, we leave this critical definition open to lock-stepping by complicity in whatever direction the United States Supreme Court decides to take, McKinnon wrote. This Court should take the opportunity to clearly state that discrimination based on sex as explicitly contained in the equal protection clause includes discrimination on the basis of transgender status.

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Incoming Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, said in a statement that the court had sided with liberals at the expense of common sense.

Children should not be undergoing irreversible, life-altering transgender procedures, Regier said. The Montana Legislature will keep fighting for Montanans against this woke craziness and keep fighting to rein in our out-of-control branch of government.

Lambda Legal Counsel Kell Olson, from one of the law firms representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the Montana Supreme Court understands the danger of the state interfering with critical healthcare.

Because Montanas constitutional protections are even stronger than their federal counterparts, transgender youth in Montana can sleep easier tonight knowing that they can continue to thrive for now, without this looming threat hanging over their heads, Olson said in a statement.

Editors note: This story has been updated to include more detail on McKinnons concurrence and a statement from incoming Senate President Matt Regier.

sb99-mtsc
ExxonMobil has announced plans to increase its oil and gas output by 18% by 2030, with a focus on expanding its operations in the US and Guyana.

The plan includes raising annual project spending to between $28bn and $33bn from 2026 to 2030, according to a report by Reuters.

This development comes after the company's acquisition of US shale producer Pioneer Natural Resources.

The company plans to boost earnings by $20bn and increase cash flow by $30bn over the next five years.

This financial boost will support Exxons expansion plans in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, while also driving shareholder returns.

The new targets are set as Exxon benefits from its profitable Guyana operations and its growing US shale business.

According to the report, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods stated that the increased project spending is expected "to generate returns of more than 30% over the life of the investments".

The company plans to more than triple its production in the Permian Basin, the leading US shale field, to 2.3 million barrels per day (mbbl/d) by 2030. Additionally, Exxon aims to produce 1.3mbbl/d from its Guyana operations.

Overall, ExxonMobil's oil and gas output is projected to reach 5.4mbbl/d, marking an 18% increase from the current 4.58mbbl/d.

Despite the ambitious targets, Exxon's shares saw a slight decline in pre-market trading to $112.30, as many of the projects and targets had already been disclosed, said the report.

The company plans to add two projects in Guyana by 2030, aligning with its previous statement of seven to ten projects in total. Its LNG target remains at 40 million tonnes per annum.

These targets aim to reassure shareholders that returns can be maintained despite fluctuations in oil market prices.

Last month, ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Suriname, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, announced its withdrawal from Block 52 offshore Suriname.

This move is part of ExxonMobil's ongoing assessment of its global portfolio.

"ExxonMobil to increase oil and gas output by 18% by 2030" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)  A 35-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman are sitting behind bars after authorities found hundreds of pills containing fentanyl on Tuesday in a Longview home.

East Texas first responders go holiday shopping for community children

According to the Longview Police Department, the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit and Longview SWAT conducted a search on a home in the 900 block of Doyle Street. The police department said around 440 counterfeit Percocet fentanyl pills, two stolen handguns and a rifle were found during the search.

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said fake pills are made to look like prescription oxycodone, which is used for pain relief, but contain fentanyl or methamphetamine.

Fake pills are more lethal than ever before. DEA lab testing reveals that 2 out of every 5 pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose, the organization said.

Desmond Simmons, 35 of Longview, and Baylin Harris, 20 of Ore City, were arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail.

Search continues for second person following armed robbery in Nacogdoches

Mugshot of Desmond Simmons, courtesy of the Gregg County Jail.

Mugshot of Baylin Harris, courtesy of the Gregg County Jail.

Simmons was charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of firearm theft. Harris was charged with possession of a controlled substance and has since bonded out after paying a $5,000 bond.

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We encourage all community members to reach out to the Longview Police Department if you see increased or unusual traffic in your neighborhood at 903-237-1199, officials 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Scottsdale police released additional reports Tuesday related to a rifle discharge that killed a police detective when the firearm was dropped on the ground following a search warrant operation in June.

Accounts from the multiple reports released detail the response by police to the June 13 incident that killed 38-year-old Det. Ryan So, including that a responding officer reported that a detective viewed surveillance footage and determined the firearm discharge was accidental.

The Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration found So's death was an accident that did not violate safety protocols. An autopsy by the Maricopa County medical examiner previously found his death was accidental.

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A member of Scottsdale police's special assignment unit, So was helping another officer unload equipment from one vehicle to another after completing a search warrant and arrest operation near 76th Street and Greenway Hayden Loop. Surveillance footage showed part of the bag dropped to the ground as So pulled it from a vehicle, leading to the firearm's butt being triggered and a round striking the detective's neck. So was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead.

The firearm was still inside the bag, and further testing proved it could discharge when dropped from a height with the stock folded, according to the report. A toxicology report came back negative.

So was breathing on his own at one point while hospitalized and undergoing "exploratory surgery," according to one police report. Also in the reports were early efforts by officers to perform life-saving measures.

"We will forever honor his sacrifice and remember his legacy as a hero who dedicated his life to serving and protecting others," Scottsdale police said about So shortly after his death.

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So had been on the force for nine years and served in the U.S. Navy for four. He was a husband and a father of three.

On June 20, a 7-mile procession route featured dozens of police vehicles and fire trucks escorting and following behind So's American flag-draped coffin as part of his funeral at a Scottsdale cemetery.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Police reports point to Scottsdale detective's gun death as accidental
Morgan Wallen is set to enter a plea to the criminal charges against him Thursday afternoon.

Wallen is accused of tossing a chair off the sixth floor of a Broadway bar in April, nearly striking a pair of police officers on the street below.

Judge Cynthia Chappell on Tuesday set a hearing for Wallen to enter a plea Thursday at 12:45 p.m.

Wallen's case was just moved from general sessions court into criminal court on Tuesday. The charges against Wallen were reduced during that move, court records show.

Morgan Wallen performs during his One Night at a Time Tour concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 2, 2024.

After his arrest, Wallen was charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, and three counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, a class E felony, the lowest level of felony. Wallen's charges now consist of two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment without a weapon.

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Wallen's attorney Worrick Robinson didn't respond to an email sent Wednesday afternoon.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Morgan Wallen's charges reduced to misdemeanors ahead of plea hearing
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  A Morgantown man has been charged after he allegedly sent explicit material involving minors over the internet using multiple accounts.

Throughout 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received MediaLab and Kik reports of child sexual abuse material being transmitted and transmitted through those services, according to a criminal complaint.

Brandon Britner

Those reports were then forwarded to the West Virginia State Police and showed IP addresses that were registered to a residence in Morgantown, and troopers said they were able to trace Brandon Britner, 29, of Morgantown, as the user of those accounts.

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2 people charged after officers find meth in White Hall hotel room with infant

After obtaining a search warrant for the contents of Britners digital accounts, troopers observed multiple videos and images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, as well as images of Britner uploaded in selfie-style, according to the complaint.

In an interview on Dec. 9, Britner indicated that he did electronically access/share material of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct through multiple KIK accounts that he created, the complaint said.

Britner has been charged with the distribution and exhibition of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and is being held in North Central Regional Jail.

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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.
Most women in the United States havent received birth control prescriptions or other family planning services in recent years, a new report suggests, even as abortion restrictions have grown.

Family planning  including birth control, emergency contraception, sterilization and counseling for these services  is an important part of health care, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These visits are sometimes the only interaction women have with the health care system, and inadequate access can lead to poor health outcomes. Some research also suggests that family planning services help prevent more than 1.5 million unintended pregnancies in the US each year.

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But in 2022 and 2023, only about a third of women of reproductive age  35.7%  had received family planning services in the previous 12 months, according to survey data published in a report by the CDC on Wednesday.

It was during this time, in June 2022, that the US Supreme Courts Dobbs decision revoked the federal right to an abortion.

Alabama is one of more than a dozen states that have banned nearly all abortions since the Dobbs decision. The new state law meant the West Alabama Womens Center  now known as WAWC Healthcare  would have to pivot, and Executive Director Robin Marty knew that if her center had to stop providing abortions, she wanted to shift the focus to family planning services.

When we were doing abortion, we learned that a lot of the patients who were coming in to us were coming in because they had gotten pregnant because they couldnt access any form of birth control, Marty said.

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When youre someone who supports a persons decision to have bodily autonomy, when you believe that a person should be able to decide when and if they want to have a child, then you support that at every point in their reproductive lives.

WAWC is one of 76 independent abortion clinics across the country that have had to close or stop providing abortion care since the Dobbs decision in 2022, according to a new report from the Abortion Care Network. Now, 14 states have no clinics providing abortion care.

The vast majority of the patients WAWC serves are uninsured, and it was just as difficult for them to get contraception as it was to get abortions, Marty said.

And the new CDC report shows vast inequities among women who receive family planning services, particularly by race and income.

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Nearly 40% of White women had received any family planning services in the year before they were surveyed, compared with about 35% of Black women and 32% of Hispanic women, according to the survey data from 2022 and 2023. About 27% of White women said they had gotten some form of birth control in the previous year, compared with 21% of Black women and 20% of Hispanic women.

The rate of women accessing family planning services increased with family income and with higher levels of education, the report shows.

Changes to survey methods make it difficult to compare how likely women are to use family planning services now to earlier years, according to the CDC. But other recent research has found that women in states with the most restrictive abortion laws have also become less likely to access prescription birth control, and there are some indications that rates of emergency contraception use and sterilization may have increased compared with pre-Dobbs years.

Overall, a birth control prescription or other contraception method was the most commonly accessed family planning service, with about 24% of women ages 15 to 49 reporting that they had received it, according to the new CDC report. Nearly 4% received emergency contraception, and about 3% received counseling for sterilization, along with 1.6% of women who said they had the operation in the previous 12 months.

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Efforts to expand access to family planning services continue.

Opill, the first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, became available in the US this spring.

Drug manufacturer Perrigo does not separately report Opill revenue, but consumer sales have continued to increase on a weekly basis, Executive Vice President Triona Schmelter told CNN in an email.

Growing awareness and interest underscores the need for access to safe and effective daily birth control, said Schmelter, who is also president of Perrigos Consumer Self-Care Americas, which manages the companys over-the-counter store brand products.

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And in October, the Biden administration proposed a new rule that would require private insurance plans to cover over-the-counter contraception without a prescription at no cost.

But there are also threats.

Title X is a federal program that helps provide funding for family planning and other preventative health care services. Regulations issued by the Trump administration in 2019  aimed at separating abortion and family planning services  slashed the number of clinics eligible to participate and the number of people the program reached.

A recent analysis from KFF suggests that the program still hasnt recovered since the Biden administration reversed the Trump-era regulations  at least 1.1 million fewer people were served by Title X in 2023 than before the regulations took effect  and the program remains vulnerable to more regulation under a second Trump term.

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We know that were still under surveillance in a lot of the same ways as we were when we were an abortion clinic, Marty said.

But shes proud of the way her clinic has been able to build trust in the community: It now serves more than a thousand people each month, up from just a couple dozen when it made the change about two years ago. And growth in fundraising donations and grants means the clinic can budget and plan for at least twice as many months as its used to.

Were just going to try to continue to help people make the healthiest decisions that they can and support them in any way that we can with their reproductive lives, Marty said.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Its Tuesday, December 10. Take a look at our top stories in news and weather with KELOLAND On The GO First@4.

Around 2:45 a.m. police responded to the 1500th block of West Russell Street, where a truck was traveling north at 80 mph.

SFPD: 38-year-old arrested in early morning motel crash

Aberdeen Police responded to a report of shots being fired at a home in the 700 block of North Congress Street, a recent post from Aberdeen authorities said.

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Shots fired in Aberdeen; 2 injured

Several fire departments in Beadle County responded to a blaze just outside Huron last night.

Several departments respond to fire in Beadle County

Scattered snow showers have been rolling through KELOLAND over the course of the day. While accumulation amounts havent been impressive in many areas, it has still be a bother due to slick roads and poor visibility at times.

Storm Center PM Update: Very Cold Through Thursday

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) has been confirmed in South Dakota for the first time since 2021.

Tuberculosis found in cattle from Hamlin County

Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go.

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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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 30-year-old motorcyclist has died nearly three weeks after a crash in the southwest Las Vegas Valley.

On Nov 18, around 4:30 p.m. the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to reports of a vehicle and motorcycle crash on south Durango Drive and Starboard Drive in Spring Valley.

Police said evidence at the scene showed that a red Yamaha motorcycle was heading south on south Durango Drive at a high rate of speed as it approached the intersection with Starboard Drive. LVMPD said at the same time a black 2013 Nissan Versa was traveling north on South Durango Drive and attempted to make a left turn onto Starboard Drive.

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The motorcycle crashed into the right front of the Nissan when the car turned across its path, police said. The impact pushed the car southwest, where it stopped near the curb at the intersection while the motorcyclist was thrown off and landed on cacti and other plants southwest of the intersection, authorities said.

Emergency responders took both the motorcyclist and the Nissan driver to a nearby hospital. The driver of the Nissan had minor injuries and showed no signs of impairment, police said.

On Dec. 11 the Clark County Coroners Office notified LVMPD the motorcycle rider was pronounced dead.

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.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at an Aug. 3, 2023 Trump rally in Atlanta. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

A woman is dead following a tragic chain of events that began with a bomb threat against Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene at her Rome home, police said.

According to Rome police, the department received an email listing Greenes home address and saying a pipe bomb had been placed in her mailbox shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. The email initially went to a junk folder and was not seen until Monday at about 9:30 a.m.

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Upon learning of the threat, police confirmed with Greenes staff that she was not at the residence and assigned an officer to monitor the mailbox until the Rome/Floyd County Bomb Squad arrived, police said.

The bomb squad was notified shortly after 11 a.m. Monday and dispatched a team to respond to the bomb squad headquarters.

On the way to the headquarters in their personal vehicle, a Rome Police sergeant and bomb squad member collided with another vehicle driven by 66-year-old Tammie Pickelsimer.

A Georgia State Patrol spokesperson said the traffic incident is still under investigation, but according to the initial findings, Pickelsimers 2002 Mazda Protege pulled out of a Rome parking lot into the path of the officers 2015 GMC Sierra truck. The officer applied the brakes but the truck struck the Mazda near the drivers side front door. Pickelsimer was taken to a hospital where she died from her injuries. The officer suffered minor injuries and has been released from the hospital.

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The initial email, which referenced Palestinian liberation, was traced to a Russian IP address, police said. As of Wednesday morning, Rome police said the official report for the initial bomb threat is still being processed and is not yet available.

The Rome Police Department extends its heartfelt condolences to the Pickelsimer family during this difficult time, the department said in a statement. The department holds the individual responsible for sending the threatening email fully accountable for setting this tragic chain of events into motion. In collaboration with Congresswoman Greenes office, the Rome Police Department is working with federal authorities to ensure the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to justice.

Greene, a controversial and outspoken conservative figure in Congress, has previously been a victim of false threats and swatting attacks  fake calls to 911 intended to harass and endanger unsuspecting targets, usually public figures.

In a statement on X, Greene expressed condolences for Pickelsimer and the injured officer.

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These violent political threats have fatal consequences, she said. Its an undue strain on our law enforcement who must treat them seriously. The officer was responding to protect my life. And now, a woman has lost her life because of this despicable act.

The perpetrator of this crime has committed murder in our small community of Rome, Georgia, Greene added.

This year, after a number of state lawmakers from both were targeted by swatters, the state legislature passed and Gov. Brian Kemp signed a new law strengthening penalties for swatting.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
PARIS, December 11, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

In line with its multi-energy strategy in the Sultanate of Oman, TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) is pleased to announce, together with its partner OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE), the National Renewable Energy Champion, the signing of landmark agreements to develop 300 MW of renewable energy projects in the country. The electricity will be delivered through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the leading exploration and production company in the Sultanate.

With respectively 49% and 51% shares, TotalEnergies and OQAE will lead in realizing three renewable projects:

North Solar , a 100 MW solar project, located in Saih Nihaydah in northern Oman;

Riyah-1 and Riyah-2, two 100 MW wind projects, located in Amin and West Nimr fields in southern Oman.

The construction will start in early 2025, and the electricity production in late 2026. These solar and wind projects will generate over 1.4 TWh of renewable electricity annually.

"Following our recent successes in the Sultanate of Oman, notably with the launch of the Marsa LNG project in April, we are pleased to make a new step in the deployment of our integrated multi-energy strategy in Oman," said Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President Renewables at TotalEnergies. "Together with our partner OQAE, we are eager to start the construction of these three projects which will provide long-term renewable electricity to PDO while supporting the Sultanate in its energy transition".

"We are delighted to sign these agreements, which further reinforce our steadfast commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, mainly the diversification of energy sources to ensure sustainable energy security. PDOs journey towards sustainability was firmly established with previous groundbreaking initiatives, including the Amin Solar IPP Power Plant and the Rima Water Treatment Project. These projects, alongside the ones signed today, continue to reshape Omans energy landscape by blending technological innovation with environmental stewardship. They also support our aim of sourcing 30% of our power capacity from renewables by 2026, reflecting our dedication to a cleaner, sustainable future", said Dr Aflah Al Hadhrami, Managing Director of PDO.

"In partnership with PDO and TotalEnergies, OQAE is proud to advance Omans transition toward sustainable energy. As an energy transition enabler, we are delighted to lead the development of these projects supporting PDO to achieve their decarbonization plans. This significant milestone underscores the expertise and dedication of all stakeholders involved. As the National Champion for Clean Energy in Oman, OQAE is committed to supporting the nations economic growth by developing innovative clean energy and low-carbon projects. With a focus on environmental stewardship and long-term prosperity, OQAE ensures the delivery of sustainable solutions to meet Omans evolving industrial energy needs", stated Ms. Najla Zuhair Al Jamali, Chief Executive of OQ Alternative Energy.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The man charged with second-degree murder in connection to a May shooting at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach had that and two other charges certified to a grand jury Tuesday during a hearing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

The grand jury is expected to convene Jan. 6.

Markal Cook, now 19, is accused of killing 15-year-old Jeyani Upshur outside of the annual spring carnival. Cook was also shot and taken into custody by Virginia Beach Police after being released from the hospital, and new details and video emerged during Tuesdays court hearing outlining what may have happened.

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Previously: 15-year-old girl killed, man injured in shooting at Mount Trashmore

Previously: VBPD: 18-year-old shot at Mt. Trashmore now charged with second-degree murder

Police said around 8:30 p.m. May 25, officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Edwin Drive, just outside the Summer Carnival at Mount Trashmore, in reference to a shooting. When officers arrived, they found the girl, later identified as Jeyani Upshur, and Cook, suffering from gunshot wounds. The girl was taken to a hospital, where she later died.

Two different videos were played in court Tuesday, one captured from an Instagram story and another from a surveillance cameras at the Le Bon Enfants daycare  both showing a fight taking place in the Mount Trashmore parking lot. Court testimony revealed that at least two gunshots went off, and Upshur fell to the ground.

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Actually seeing her drop like that, it took a toll, said anti-violence advocate Elliot Boddie.

Prosecutors said Cook is the only person seen with his arms extended in both videos, and though he was shot as well, police officers testified that a gun was found between a shoe he was wearing and where he was lying at the scene.

Also in court, a detective testified that he found a text on Cooks phone following the shooting, stating somebody was about to shoot my brother, so I shot them.

Cooks attorney, James Broccoletti, responded to the days testimony inside the courthouse, disagreeing with prosecutors that Cook was the shooter

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No malice  I mean, that was clear, Broccoletti said. And even the Commonwealth said that even if [you go by] the Commonwealths theory  and of course, we disagree with that  that he was the shooter in the case, that he did not intend to shoot her, that it was in response to him being shot, or his brother being beat up, or the provocation that occurred at the time.

Broccoletti said Cook continues to maintain his innocence, but he also wanted to let the Upshur family know that he has remorse for the girls tragic death.

Previously: Vigil held for 15-year-old girl killed at Mount Trashmore

Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate told City Council back in May that police originally believed the shooting was connected to a fight that broke out inside the carnival that was underway at the time, but that police believed the two incidents were separate and unrelated.

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Neudigate had described the investigation as challenging due to misinformation that was given to police.

Previously: Weve been lied to repeatedly VBPD chief on deadly shooting of teen at Mt. Trashmore

Cook, in a jailhouse interview in June, maintained his innocence in connection to the shooting, but Virginia Beach Police say they have video of him firing a handgun into the crowd there on May 25. He initially was charged with possessing a concealed weaponthird offense before the other charges were added.

Previously: Court documents reveal criminal history details of man charged in connection to Mount Trashmore shooting

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10 On Your Sides Brett Hall was in court for the hearing and will have more later this evening.

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.
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  Ports of Indiana officials visited three elementary schools in Mount Vernon on Monday to announce winners of a competition to name two locomotives at the states largest port.

Officials state as a tribute to the Mount Vernon High Schools Wildcats mascot, the new names of the switching locomotives will be Wildcat Express and Power Paws.

Officials explain three students proposed Wildcat Express

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Huck Bushard in Mrs. Offermans first grade class at Marrs Elementary

Ella Price in Mr. LaMars fourth grade class at West Elementary

Mya Trout in Mrs. Redmans second grade class at Farmersville Elementary

Power Paws was submitted by Lillian Falls in Mrs. Weatherfords third grade class at Marrs.

This is a special honor for our students and a fun project for our teachers and administrators, Mount Vernon School Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Stewart said. We very much appreciate the opportunity to connect our students with things going on in the Mount Vernon community, and its especially exciting for the kids to talk about trains and learn how important they are to Mount Vernon and our port.

Officials also say the four winning classrooms were presented with an engraved locomotive bell provided by OmniTRAX and all Mount Vernon elementary students received a foam replica of the Mount Vernon Railroad locomotive from Ports of Indiana. The winning classrooms will also visit the port in the spring to see the locomotives in action.

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The Mount Vernon Railroad is a critical component of this community and our port, so its a tremendous honor to have local students name the locomotives, said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. Trains represent fascinating machines for many children, and its fun to connect what happens at the port to the toy trains running around some of our Christmas trees. The Wildcat Express and Power Paws locomotives will symbolize strength and fun for our port and community, and we hope these students take great pride in seeing these hard-working locomotives at the port for years to come.

1st grader Huck Bushard and Mrs. Offerman from Marrs Elementary. Bushard was one of three students to submit Wildcat Express. Theyre pictured with Ashley Blocker, Jason May and Jody Peacock of Ports of Indiana (Courtesy: Ports of Indiana) 3rd grader Lillan Falls and Mrs. Weatherford from Marrs Elementary School. Falls submitted Power Paws. Theyre pictured with Jody Peacock, Ashley Blocker and Jason May from Ports of Indiana (Courtesy: Ports of Indiana) 4th grader Ella Price and Mr. LaMar at West Elementary. Price was one of three students to submit Wildcat Express. Theyre pictured with Ashley Blocker, Jason May and Jody Peacock of Ports of Indiana (Courtesy: Ports of Indiana) 2nd grader Mya Trout from Mrs. Redmans class at Farmersville Elementary was one of three students to submit Wildcat Express Shes pictured with Ashley Blocker, Jody Peacock and Jason May from Ports of Indiana (Courtesy: Ports of Indiana)

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GRANTVILLE, Pa. (WHTM)  A man allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of gaming chips at Hollywood Casino Saturday night, according to State Police.

Macy Wilson, 35, from Baltimore, is accused of forcefully taking $9,500 worth of chips from a table. Wilson then left out of the bus entrance of the casino into the parking garage, charging documents filed by State Police show.

After allegedly stealing the chips, Wilson drove away but his vehicle was later found by Troopers at a hotel. Troopers say they went inside the lobby to watch surveillance camera footage, and Wilson walked by them.

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According to the charges, Troopers searched a local hotel room Wilson was staying in and found clothing the suspect was wearing during the robbery, along with a gaming voucher to the casino.

While being questioned at the State Police barracks, Wilson allegedly admitted to stealing the chips.

It was noted by Troopers that Wilson is suspected of being associated with a multi-state crime ring that is being investigated by different law enforcement agencies.

Wilson faces felony charges of robbery, theft, and receiving stolen property.

Wilson was lodged in Dauphin County Prison with bail set at $500,000 by MDJ Dale Klein. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 31.

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Authorities are investigating a crash involving multiple vehicles, including a Boston school bus.

Officers responding to the area of Copeland Street and Warren Street around 5:09 p.m. on Tuesday for a report of a motor vehicle crash with entrapment found that a Boston Public Schools bus was involved in the collision, according to police.

A spokesperson for the school department says there were two children on board the bus at the time of the crash. Neither of them was injured. It is unclear what school they were coming from.

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The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, the spokesperson said. We are extremely grateful to Boston EMS and Boston Police for quickly responding.

Boston EMS says no one was transported.

Traffic in the area was gridlocked as emergency crews canvassed the scene, but both roadways have since reopened.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The 45-year-old Vancouver man killed by police on December 4 died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, the Clark County Medical Examiner said Tuesday.

Adam Grant Gunderson was shot by Vancouver police outside a loading dock at the Safeway on Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard around 11 p.m. that night. Authorities said Gunderson and one of the three responding officers got into a physical fight, which led to the shooting.

Beguelin Flores was identified as the officer who shot and killed Gunderson.

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Gunderson was pronounced dead at the hospital. The officer sustained undisclosed injuries, officials said. No other injuries were reported.

A Vancouver man died after being shot by an officer on Dec. 4, 2024 (KOIN)

The investigation is being led by the Office of Independent Investigation, a team that officially launched operations just days before the shooting.

Salem baby killer gets life in prison

The OLL said they plan to release their findings in a report within 120 days and told KOIN 6 News the prosecutor will decide what charges, if any, are brought.

All three officers involved remain on leave, which is standard protocol during the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Dec. 11princeton  After hearing a detective's testimony and closing arguments, a magistrate forwarded a case Tuesday of a man charged with first-degree murder in a Virginia woman's death to the Mercer County Grand Jury.

Timothy Evans Bell, 45, of Grundy, Va., who has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 55-year-old Mary Diane Price of Grundy, Va., came before Magistrate Susan Honaker for a preliminary hearing. Bell has also been charged with felony destruction of property.

The case started Dec. 4 around 12:44 p.m. when police were dispatched to the Budget Inn in Princeton about a DOA (dead on arrival) and a destroyed room, Detective S.M. Severt of the Princeton Police Department said in a criminal complaint.

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Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Heltzel asked Severt during Tuesday's hearing what he saw when he arrived at the motel.

"I noticed a female lying in a room that was utterly destroyed," Severt testified.

Price was face-up on a mattress in the middle of the room, Severt said. She appeared to have been beaten and her face was "severely swollen."

Severt said Bell had rented the motel room. When Heltzel asked Severt if Bell was present when police arrived, the detective replied that Bell had fled the scene and was later apprehended.

The motel had video surveillance, Severt said. Price was last seen on the video at around 2:49 p.m. on Dec. 2 and it did not show the injuries seen on her face later.

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Heltzel asked Severt if he had attended the state medical examiner's autopsy of Price. Severt said he did and that the medical examiner deemed the death a homicide and believes the cause of death is "going to be suffocation."

Price was found when one of the motel's owners checked the room about a water issue, Severt said. The room's floor was flooded. A bed frame had been destroyed, a table had been flipped over and broken, and a mattress was found against a wall. The estimated damages cost between $4,500 to $5,500.

Bell gave the police a statement after being read his Miranda Rights, Severt said. During this interview, Bell said he had a verbal argument with Price which led to a physical altercation. Bell said he blacked out and woke up at 6 or 7 a.m. Dec. 4, tried to give Price CPR and then tried to clean the room of DNA. Bell did not make any reports about her death.

Attorney Patrick Erickson, who is representing Bell, asked Severt on cross-examination if there were any other ways in or out of the room. Severt replied that the motel room's door was the only way in or out, and that the room's windows were on the same side as the door.

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Erickson said in his closing statement to Magistrate Honaker that the state's case did not meet the requirements for a first-degree murder charge because it did not show malice, premeditation or intent.

In his closing statement, Heltzel said the state had shown probable cause for first-degree murder which could be inferred by the victim's "numerous injuries."

"Premeditation does not require hours of forethought," he said. "It just takes one moment to decide."

Honaker ruled that the case had probable cause and sent it to the grand jury. The next Mercer County Grand Jury convenes in February 2025.

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Bell is being held without bond at the Southern Regional Jail.

In West Virginia, first-degree murder has a possible sentence of life in prison unless the jury recommends mercy. With a recommendation for mercy, parole is possible after 15 years, but it is not guaranteed.

Felony destruction of property has a possible sentence of up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $500 or both, according to the West Virginia Code.

Contact Greg Jordan at

gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
Swiss packaging company SIG, in collaboration with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Switzerland and WWF-Thailand, has initiated a forest conservation project aimed at protecting and enhancing forest landscapes in Thailand.

The project focuses on improving forest management and connectivity across three key landscapes, Dawna Tenasserim, Lower Songkhram, and Dong Phayayen, covering a total of 60,000ha.

Businesses such as SIG rely on wood fibres from forests to produce paperboard for their carton packs. The company has been sourcing Forest Stewardship Council-certified paperboard since 2021, benefiting both biodiversity and local communities.

This project is part of SIG's broader commitment to positively impact an additional 650,000ha of forest by 2030.

The latest forest landscape project under WWF's Forests Forward programme follows two earlier initiatives in Mexico and Malaysia.

WWF-Thailand conservation director Michael Roy said: Our partnership with SIG is giving WWF-Thailand the opportunity to scale up our on-the-ground protection and restoration work in three of Thailands globally significant forest landscapes.

This support will allow us to directly restore degraded forests and work with government and communities to designate new protected and conserved areas, reconnecting our forests and encouraging natural movement of iconic species, including tigers, gaur, and elephants.

Thailand's forests, situated within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, are among the most biologically diverse regions globally, providing a habitat for various species, including endangered clouded leopards, tigers, Asian elephants, and orchids. However, these critical ecosystems face threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation.

The new conservation initiative in Thailand has set three primary objectives, securing forest corridors for ecosystem connectivity, strengthening conservation lands, and engaging communities in conservation efforts while providing them with alternative livelihoods.

In October this year, CEOs from 22 companies, including SIG, as part of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, issued an open letter urging governments to adopt an actionable treaty to combat plastic pollution.

"SIG launches forest conservation project in Thailand" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.




Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, suffered severe back pain that prevented him from being physically intimate, according to reports.

R.J. Martin, Mangiones friend who founded a co-living space in Hawaii where the murder suspect formerly lived, told The New York Times and NBCs Today that his former roommate had confided in him about his back pain.

Mangione knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasnt possible, Martin told the Times. I remember him telling me that, and my heart just breaks.

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Martin told Today that the back pain constantly weighed on Mangione.

Josiah Ryan, Martins spokesperson, says regardless of the pain, there was no indication that Mangione would be suspected of such a serious crime.

Related: Luigi Mangione Had 'Debilitating' Back Pain, Went 'Radio Silent' to Friends Before Healthcare CEO Shooting: Reports

His back pain impacted every aspect of his life, his relationships and romantic connections, Ryan tells PEOPLE. The constant pain led to depression, which further affected those relationships.

Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., on Monday, Dec. 11 after staff members alerted police, following a tip from an eagle-eyed customer.

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When an officer responded to the McDonalds in Altoona, police allege that Mangione presented a fake ID. The officer then asked the 26-year-old if he had been to New York recently, at which point Mangione began shaking, according to a criminal complaint.

Police discovered a 9mm "ghost gun," suppressor, several fake IDs, and a written manifesto on Mangione's person upon searching him.

The arrest concluded a massive search for the masked man who fatally shot Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan on Dec. 4.



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.

Mangione is charged with murder in New York but remains in custody in Pennsylvania, where he is charged with forgery and a weapons-related offense, along with three other criminal counts. He did not immediately agree to be extradited to New York.

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"I do apologize for any strife or traumas, but it had to be done," Mangione allegedly wrote in a manifesto, according to a law enforcement source. "Frankly, these parasites had it coming."

Thompson, a Minnesota resident who was in New York for an investor event, had two children.



Read the original article on People
SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  When you talk about the history of Sevier County, you start with the Cherokee who used the area primarily for hunting in the 1700s.

In the early 1800s, the first Europeans arrived. Names like Thomas, Clack, McMahan and the Ogle family all spring to mind as some of the areas earliest settlers.

Since then, Sevier County has grown to what it is now  attracting 12 to 15 million tourists annually from across the country and around the world. But to truly get a feel for how the area has evolved into what we know today, 6 News stopped by the Sevier County Heritage Museum in downtown Sevierville. There, you will find artifacts that tell the story of the areas growth.

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There are so many stories here, said Ashley Burnette-Davis. We have things in all parts of the county. From Gatlinburg to Boyds Creek to here in Sevierville.

What are the next steps for Exit 407

Burnette-Davis, the Executive Director of the Sevierville Commons Association, oversees the museum. The building it calls home is a piece of the countys history as well, as it was once the areas Post Office built in 1940. Inside, snapshots in time from across Sevier County remain preserved for decades, even centuries. Each piece, telling its own story.

We have, for instance, a part of the jailhouse bars from the courthouse that was destroyed by fire, said Burnette-Davis. Those [bars] were actually used as grates in the city streets here. So, they were cut up and re-purposed. Theyve lived a couple of lives.

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Among the many items on display is a telephone switchboard, giving visitors a glimpse into the people and businesses that have called the area home.

You can actually still see the pencil in numbers of different businesses that were in Sevier County when this was in use, said Burnette-Davis.

As for where the museum pieces come from, Burnette-Davis says many times its from places you least expect.

Those are some of the best stories. Someone will call and say Hey, weve been in my grandmothers attic, and we found something we think you might be interested in. So, a lot of the things that end up here come from private donors.

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New technology and lessons learned aid Sevier County agencies in fighting wildfires

Private donations, Burnette-Davis told 6 News, that tell a story of days gone by from the people and families who have strong roots in the Sevier County community.

This is a community that comes together like no other community on the planet, she said.

You can find the Sevier County Heritage Museum at 167 Bruce Street in downtown Sevierville. If you would like to visit or schedule a field trip, the museum is open by appointment only. The museum is about to go through renovations. So, if you would like to donate, or learn more about scheduling a visit, you can call (865) 771-9114 or go to www.seviercountyheritagemuseum.org/ to learn more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Dec. 10MITCHELL  What does Roger Musick do the day after the Mitchell School District announces the Roger and Vicki Musick Foundation gifted $1 million to support all-day begindergarten?

"I'm getting ready to go out to eat and drop my car off to get new tires," he said, "and then go out to eat tonight. A pretty typical day."

Musick, 75, of Mitchell, spoke with the Mitchell Republic on Tuesday morning about what is believed to be the single-largest donation in school district history. Business Manager Theresa Kriese and previous business manager Steve Culhane couldn't recall anything close to this amount, Superintendent Joe Childs said.

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The Mitchell Board of Education on Monday night approved

to switch from half-day to full-day begindergarten beginning in the 2025-26 school year. The donation is expected to fund the expansion of begindergarten in the school district for at least five years.

"We wanted to make sure that we didn't start it in the next year and have to stop it, so we've agreed to fund it for five years," Musick said. "And the only reason we wouldn't is if the state were to take over the funding, but doubtfully that will happen in five years in South Dakota. And at the end of five years, we'll see where we're at and what we should do from there on."

Musick is founder and former CEO of Innovative Systems, of Mitchell, until his retirement in 2020. Innovative Systems builds and advances software for voice systems, television providers, along with invoice systems for telecom companies.

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Musick was inducted as

a member of the South Dakota Hall of Fame

in 2018.

On Tuesday, Musick sent a Chat GPT, or AI-generated, text to the Mitchell Republic sharing all the benefits of the importance of preschool in the United States when asked to discuss more details on the donation. Included were early cognitive and social development; school readiness; closing achievement gaps; long-term life benefits; support for working families; and fostering independence.

Below are excerpts from the Mitchell Republic (MR) interview with Musick, edited for clarity:

MR: One of my questions, considering you use ChatGPT, and I'm sure you've messed around with AI quite a bit, is when you think about this donation and you think about how it helps the development of young kids. How important is it to you that kids have critical thinking skills going into the future with what will be an AI-dominated world that we're going to be living in?

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RM: No question, critical thinking and the ability to read and interpret and decide what's true and what's not true is going to be more important all the time. It's very important today, but going to be more, more important.

The idea of preschool is to try to make sure all the kids kind of have an equal shot at it. We are in a lot of cases the kids that are all coming from homes that are less fortunate and so forth so this ideally this gives kind of all the kids and equal shot, and from everything I've researched it looks like the first two or three years of their school is maybe the most important two or three years of their school.

MR: What led to this donation? Was there a moment or a person? There had to have been something that triggered that you decided that you'd like to make an impact here.

RM: Yes, I had done some research on my own, and I had discussed it with Deb Olson on the school board, and then I started discussing it with the administration and they all seem very, very positive. I think it's something the state probably should fund, but in South Dakota, we don't so we've got to figure out a way to do it without the state funding.

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MR: Actually, that was going to be one of my later questions because I wanted to try to lead into it a little softer, but I'm glad you said it. This is a tremendous gift obviously, but is it disappointing that a major donation like this is needed to ensure support for early childhood education in public school?

RM: Oh, it is. You know there are a number of states that do fund it pretty well and we're just not one of them. It didn't look like, to me, in the next couple years it was going to happen, so figured well, we'll make it happen and see how it works.

MR: You've mentioned how great Mitchell's been for you and how much appreciation you have for the community here. What do you see this donation doing for the success of Mitchell long-term?

RM: Well, I hope it stimulates other people that are able to give to worthy causes. I mean we've got a lot of worthy causes associated with the kids:

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Big Friend Little Friend

,

Jodi Reiners runs a number of programs

at the high school, and we have a number of programs like that that are very worthy. Hopefully, it'll stimulate other people to give money as appropriate with what they're able to.

MR: Do you have a lot of confidence in the community long-term?

RM: I do yeah, and you know I went through the Mitchell school system. All my kids went through and I was very happy with everything. I had some great teachers. I take part every year and

the Kids Grant program

, which is also kind of exciting to see the enthusiasm of the teachers for doing little things to help their students, and I think that's a great program also.

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MR: So what have been your main hobbies and interest in retirement? What have you been up to?

RM: Well, I'm on a number boards. I'm on the board for the

Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF)

mine out at Lead for the research center there and I've got the three companies that I own part of that I'm on the board for those, but I don't actively manage them, but I'm on the board. So I keep myself plenty busy.

MR: But the majority of your time is spent in town, though?

RM: Oh yeah, most of my time is all in Mitchell. We go on a couple vacations a year but other than that, we're in town all the time.

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MR: Anything else that I'm missing on this topic that you think is relevant to mention?

RM: Just that, we've got a great administration and teachers, and we want to praise them at every opportunity we can.
Dec. 10Nadine Milford began a long crusade for reform after her daughter and three grandchildren were killed in a car crash on Interstate 40 west of Albuquerque on Christmas Eve in 1992.

After arriving at the scene on that bitter cold night, Nadine's son Lance Milford told the Journal, he and his mother embraced as they tried to process what happened.

"The first words out of her mouth were: 'We must forgive,'" he said. "I told her, 'I don't want to, Mom.' She kept saying it: 'We must forgive.'"

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On Dec. 1, Vera "Nadine" Milford, 86, died from health complications in Kansas, Oklahoma, three decades after losing her daughter Melanie Cravens  whom she called her "sidekick"  and Cravens' daughters, Kandyce, 9, Erin, 8, and Kacee Woodard, 5.

The drunken driver who drove the wrong way on I-40 and crashed into their vehicle, Gordon House, was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Nadine Milford, who was born on Sept. 8, 1938, in Los Angeles, served with Mothers Against Drunk Driving New Mexico for years, pushing initiatives at the state Legislature that would try to curb drunk driving.

Lance Milford said his mother was MADD New Mexico's president from 1996-2006. MADD New Mexico Executive Director Katrina Latka-Parkman called Milford a longtime volunteer "who served in a major capacity for our organization."

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Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller called Nadine Milford a "New Mexican hero who transformed her unimaginable personal tragedy into a powerful movement that has saved countless lives across our state. ... Her tireless advocacy changed our drunk driving laws to keep others from suffering the same devastating loss she did, and we will continue the fight in her memory."

After the crash, Nadine Milford devoted her life to making sure others would not experience what she did.

"I figured, you know, I had lost everything," she said in a 2020 interview. "What did I have to lose? I had nothing to lose, and it was about time this state woke up to the fact people were dying on the highway and it's a preventable situation.

"This did not have to happen, and I determined in my heart of hearts it wasn't going to, or at least, it was going to slow down. My girls didn't die in vain, nope."

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One person Nadine Milford became friends with over the years was former MADD National President Karolyn Nunnallee, whose 10-year-old daughter, Patty, was killed in a drunk driving crash in Kentucky on May 14, 1988.

"I've never seen a woman work so hard to, number one, help victims; number two, help push for legislation that was lifesaving in the state of New Mexico and, basically, across the country," Nunnallee said during a phone interview.

Nadine Milford championed DWI initiatives like the installation of ignition interlocks in vehicles driven by convicted drunken drivers in the state. In a 2002 story about a bill on the interlocks, the Journal reported that several legislators credited Milford "for persistently pushing for tougher DWI laws."

"Nadine's motto was 'Persistence wears resistance,'" Nadine Milford's friend Terry Huertaz said. "She did live that motto daily and it really showed in her advocacy."

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Nadine Milford was recognized locally and nationally for her work. In 2008, she received a public service award during the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Lifesavers Conference.

"All the time she was doing this, she didn't get paid one cent for her time," Lance said. "Not one penny. She did this out of her heart because she truly cared for people and really wanted to solve this issue and make life better for people."

In June 2002, Tom Udall  then a 3rd District congressman  gave a speech in the U.S. House of Representatives honoring Nadine Milford, saying she "comforted countless numbers of families who have been affected by a drunk driving death.

Udall added, "She could have sunk under the depression that engulfed her. Instead, she leaned on her deep faith and the love of her family and seemingly overnight transformed herself into the new face of DWI reform. Nadine could never have imagined that she would one day be tapped to lead such a worthy fight. Ultimately, I cannot think of anyone better to have done it."

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Relatives said Nadine Milford had an ability to forgive derived from her strong faith.

House, the drunken driver convicted for killing Milford's family, was released from prison in 2009 after serving less than 11 years. Lance Milford said he remembered when his family spoke at House's parole hearing.

"It was all about forgiveness and grace and allowing him to be released and to be with his family," he said. "That was a big part of the healing process for us and for him."

Memorial service: A memorial service for Nadine Milford is set for 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20 at the Kiva Auditorium.
Video Credit: Michael Sugimoto via Storyful

In the must-see video above, a drive around campus was anything but normal-looking at Pepperdine University in Malibu on December 9, as the quickly spreading, wind-fanned Franklin Fire burned nearby, leading to students being told to shelter in place.

The University is now activating its shelter-in-place protocol, an announcement read. We do not evacuate the campus even when surrounding areas might  this shelter-in-place protocol is approved by LA County Fire and executed with their cooperation.

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The fire grew fast, to almost 2,000 acres by the early hours of Tuesday, Cal Fire said.

Video here from Michael Sugimoto shows the fire near campus, and students sheltering in a library.

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Video Credit: Queensland Police via Storyful

In the must-see video above, police in Queensland, Australia, pulled a miniature dachshund from a car in Coolangatta during heat wave conditions on December 8.

Police were called to Marine Parade by a member of the public who noticed Duppy, the sausage dog, had been left in the backseat of a car with no water for over an hour on Sunday afternoon.

Police were able to reach through a small gap in the window to maneuver Duppy out of the vehicle to safety, Queensland Police said.

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Officers allege an uncapped syringe was also observed in the vehicle.

While police were attending to Duppy, the alleged driver of the vehicle returned and was taken into custody.

The 38-year-old man, who was looking after Duppy for his owner, was charged with failure to take reasonable care and precautions in respect of syringe or needle.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
Video Credit: Arlington Heights PD via Storyful

In the must-see video above, a large explosion injured two police officers and one firefighter while they were responding to a garbage truck fire in a residential area of Arlington Heights, Illinois, on December 6, according to authorities.

The Arlington Heights Police Department (AHPD) said crews were responding to the vehicle fire when a portion of the truck exploded and rained debris down on roads and houses.

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Truck parts were sent airborne, landing up to several blocks away, AHPD said.

There were multiple first responders in close proximity when the explosion occurred, according to police. Two police officers and one firefighter were injured due to flying debris and post-blast concussion. They were transported by fire department ambulance to a local emergency department with non-life-threatening injuries.

On December 9, police said the cause of the blast was still being investigated, but suspected that at least one of the tanks holding the fuel the truck ran on  compressed natural gas  exploded. Both police officers are home recuperating and the firefighter has returned to duty, they added.

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The past year has seen a dramatic shift in momentum in Myanmars internal conflict, which emerged from the coup launched by the countrys ruling military junta in February 2021. Three ethnic armies in the northeast have made major territorial gains since launching a sustained offensive in Shan state, bordering China, in October 2023. Elsewhere, hundreds of local-level Peoples Defense Forces, or PDFs, affiliated with the exiled National Unity Government formed by lawmakers deposed in the coup have escalated their armed resistance.

Combined, the fighting has stretched Myanmars armed forcesknown as the Tatmadawthin as its troops battle on multiple fronts. This in turn has fueled a narrative that the Tatmadaw, which has dominated Myanmar since its independence from Britain in 1948, could crumble amid an assault by anti-coup forces in the central region of Anyar, where most of the majority Bamar population reside and which is home to Myanmars second-largest city, Mandalay, as well as the seat of power, Naypyidaw.

Yet the potential for a sudden military collapse has been overstated. After the rapid developments of the past year, the conflict might instead be headed toward stalemate. The three non-state ethnic armed groups that have expanded their control in Shan statethe Brotherhood Alliance comprising the Taang National Liberation Army, or TNLA; the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA; and the Arakan Armyhave loosely aligned with the PDFs primary aim: to overthrow the junta that forced out the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy, or NLD. But the alliances ethnic armed groups have fought for decades not for national democracy, but to secure ethnic statehood and self-governance.

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In fact, the Brotherhood Alliance, in particular the TNLA and MNDAA, has closer ties to China than with the majority Bamar population in central Myanmar, which has broadly supported the war against the junta. And Beijing, which demands stability on its border while seeking to prevent the juntas total collapse in the center, has recently put significant pressure on both the TNLA and MNDAA to avoid further escalating the conflict. As a result, both have expressed openness to halt operations and discuss a ceasefire with the junta. The most likely outcome is now a freeze in the fighting, during which the ethnic armies would prioritize reinforcing their strengthened position in border areas, rather than seeking to join the PDFs in their fight against the regime in the central plains.

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Ascendent Ethnic Armies

In Shan, the Brotherhood Alliance achieved most of its post-coup breakthroughs with Operation 1027, named after its launch date in October 2023. The three ethnic armiesrepresenting the Taang, Kokang and Arakan minoritiesjoined forces to overrun hundreds of military outposts and border crossings, while blocking roads and blowing up bridges to prevent the Tatmadaw from sending reinforcements to the rural region, where state presence has always been limited given its huge geographical expanse and rugged, hilly terrain. The junta rapidly retreated to cut its losses, with troops regrouping at larger bases.

The initial assault had received tacit backing from China, on the pretext that the Brotherhood Alliance would shut down scam centers allegedly run by Chinese criminal syndicates along the border, where lawlessnesslong prevalent in Shanhad worsened since the coup. China subsequently mediated a fragile ceasefire between the alliance and the Tatmadaw in January, but by June the agreement had broken down. Amid resumed fighting, the MNDAA and TNLA jointly captured Lashiothe largest city in northern Shanin mid-August, overrunning the juntas northeastern command. Expulsion from Lashio represents the largest blow to the Tatmadaw since the coup.

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In Myanmars other border regions, ethnic armies have taken full advantage of the worsening post-coup conflict. In the southern state of Kayin, the Karen National Union, KNUwhich has effectively governed areas along the Thai border for decadeshas joined forces with PDFs and expanded its territories. Unlike the major ethnic armies in Shan, the KNU was engaged in peace talks with Suu Kyis NLD-led administration prior to the 2021 coup, and it had not battled the Tatmadaw since signing on to a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, or NCA, in 2015. Yet immediately after the coup, the KNU aligned itself with resistance forces and took up arms again.

In the west, the Chin National Front, or CNFanother NCA signatoryalso reversed its position and resumed fighting in Chin state, with PDFs also proliferating in the region. The Arakan Army, which is also active in southern Chin, seized the strategic township of Paletwa close to the Indian border from the Tatmadaw earlier this year, expanding northward from its stronghold in Rakhine state. There, the Arakan Army is dominant, having captured territory from the junta and taken control of all regime outposts along the Bangladesh border. In the northernmost state of Kachin, the Kachin Independence Army, or KIA, has tightened its grip.

Anti-Coup Forces in Anyar

With long-standing ethnic armies firmly ascendent in border areas, PDFs have seized the opportunity to target the junta in the central plains, where military power is concentrated. Mandalay, which saw particularly ardent street protests after the coup, is now coming under pressure from PDFs inspired by the Brotherhood Alliances rapid expansion of territory to the east. Anti-coup forces hope the eventual seizure of Mandalay could open a path southward to Naypyidaw. Yet the situation here differs from Shan, where the Tatmadaw disintegrated, owing to geography and rebel dynamics.

Compared to the mountainous and densely forested northeast, where ethnic armies are familiar with the terrain after decades of insurgency, Myanmars central region is flat and open, leaving PDFs exposed and vulnerable to regime air attacks. The military has sought to extend this advantage through wider use of drones to drop bombs on rebel positions, adding to the threat already posed by attack jets and helicopter gunships. This cancels out a key rebel tactic from the initial post-coup period, when PDFs used their own drones to target isolated junta outposts. Also, with the junta now backed into a corner, it will fiercely defend the central plains, where 150,000 soldiers are based, supported by tens of thousands of armed pro-regime Pyusawhti militias.

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Unlike the ethnic armies in Shan, PDF forces are also newly formed and loosely organized. Together, PDFs might comprise 65,000 fighters across at least 300 groups, with another 30,000 in smaller anti-junta village defense forces. Lacking any single chain-of-command or leadership structure, most PDFs operate autonomously, without specific direction from the National Unity Government. To date, PDFs have rarely managed to hold captured territory, but rather have focused on hit-and-run attacks to stretch junta forces and draw in more troops.

This has certainly contributed to weakening the regime. But the capabilities of PDFs vary vastlysome are well-equipped, having trained with ethnic armies in border regions, while others are using homemade weapons. One of the better-armed groups, the Bamar Peoples Liberation Army, or BPLA, has recently returned to Anyar after training in Kayin and Shan. Its aim is to replicate the ethnic armed groups in the border regions by establishing an ethnic army for the Bamar. Yet the BPLA is distinct from the National Unity Government, and it is unclear if local PDFs will join its ranks.

Meanwhile, the powerful Shan-based ethnic armies are unlikely to join the fight in Anyar, given their focus on securing ethnic autonomy and governing vast border regions. The BPLA has acknowledged that despite the help provided by such groups in the form of training and weapons, as well as their shared hostility toward the junta, the fight in the center is effectively an intra-Bamar conflict.

Without the help of the Brotherhood Alliance, PDFs currently have little chance of defeating the military. The influence that China wields over the Shan ethnic armies compounds this impasse. In recent weeks, Beijing has applied pressure on the Brotherhood Alliance, having shored up its public support for the junta, with junta leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing having met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in early November at a Mekong regional summit. The TNLA has since voiced a willingness to engage in talks with the junta over a ceasefire in northern Shan, amid regime airstrikes on its positions, while the MNDAA has followed suit after sustained pressure from China to restrict its campaign following the capture of Lashio from regime forces. China has denied recent reports that it placed MNDAA leader Peng Daxun under house arrest in Yunnan province, insisting he is in the country for medical treatment. Nevertheless, it is clear that China does not want the ethnic armies active in Shan to go any further toward destabilizing the junta, to avoid the risk of regime collapse.

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Another China-backed group, the 30,000-strong United Wa State Army, or UWSA, is for now dormant, having stayed out of the post-coup war. The UWSA has long exercised formal control over two self-administered zones along the border in eastern Shan and has quietly expanded its presence in adjacent areas since the coupcementing its authority and serving as an anchor for Chinas influence as well as that of the other ethnic armies. The Brotherhood Alliance may strive in future to obtain a similar status to the UWSA, seeking recognition as de facto rulers of their territories.

A Post-Junta Myanmar

Given the limited prospect of the Shan ethnic armies joining the fight in Anyar, anti-coup forces should prioritize cooperation in the political sphere. The Tatmadaw has been weakened, and morale is low, as reflected in the scale of desertions and defections. But there is no sign of its imminent collapse or mutiny. The end of the Tatmadaw is more likely to come as a result of the gradual eroding of Min Aung Hlaings authority and abandonment of its founding principle as the protector of Myanmars sovereignty and territorial integrity.

When that time comes, even if it is decades from now, Bamar leaders and ethnic armies will need to have already forged a plan for shared governance if they are to avoid upheaval amid a contest for power. This could entail the revival of the pre-coup Panglong peace talks, backed by Suu Kyis NLD, which envisaged a transition toward a federal system of government. But in light of events since the coup, with ethnic armies firmly in the ascendancy, recognition of ethnic nationhood may be the only workable solution. Shan-based groups are already the most capable armed actors in the country and de facto administrators of expanded territories, exercising control over vast borders and conducting their own foreign policies. It is unlikely they will give up that power to be ruled by Naypyidaw again.

The mistakes of the post-1948 era must be avoided to secure longer-term stability. For decades, the juntaand briefly the NLDhave tried to hold together a country that lacks a unifying identity. The cycle of conflict has undoubtedly been fueled by the militarys brutality, but it afflicted the country long before the coup. To break it, any Bamar leaders that emerge from the current conflict may have to embrace a form of devolution without any current global precedent.

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Michael Hart is a writer and researcher covering conflict and postwar issues in Southeast Asia. He has researched for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), and has contributed to publications including World Politics Review, The Diplomat, and Asia Sentinel. He is Editorial and Social Media Coordinator at The Pacific Review journal, based at the University of Warwick.

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The post Myanmars Civil War Is Heading Toward Stalemate, Not Regime Change appeared first on World Politics Review.
Dec. 10Authorities on Tuesday released the names of the six state troopers who fired their weapons during a shooting incident involving Kevin Steinfeldt last month in Plymouth.

An autopsy previously released said Steinfeldt, 58, died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head in what was deemed a suicide.

The autopsy also determined that Steinfeldt sustained additional gunshot wounds in addition to the self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Attorney General's Office

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The officers who fired their weapons on Nov. 7 were Sgt. Michael Cedrone, Sgt. Stefan Czyzowski, Sgt. Nicholas Levesque, Trooper Daniel Roger, Trooper First Class Ryan St. Cyr and Sgt. Noah Sanctuary, according to the Attorney General's Office.

A report on whether the troopers' use of deadly force was justified will be released after an investigation is completed.
MADRID (Reuters) -Stellantis and Chinese battery maker CATL will invest 4.1 billion euros ($4.33 billion) to build one of Europe's largest electric vehicle battery factories in Spain, encouraged by lower costs and government funding.

The equal joint venture in Zaragoza in northeastern Spain should start production by the end of 2026 and could reach a capacity of 50 gigawatt hours - enough to power an average of 700,000 cars a day, according to the Netherlands-based Electric Vehicle Database.

The plant will supply lithium iron phosphate battery for affordable small and medium-sized cars, the companies said.

The plan comes as Europe's carmakers have struggled with high costs and stiff competition from Chinese rivals as well as a slower-than-expected EV transition.

About 2.4 million new electric cars were registered in EU countries in 2023, against 2 million in 2022, data from the European Environment Agency shows.

The plant's capacity will depend on the evolution of the EV market in the region and support from authorities, said the two companies, who had announced plans for a factory in Europe a year ago.

Europe has been seeking to attract EV battery makers to build factories in the region - home to car makers such as Volkswagen and Stellantis - as it tries to cut a reliance on Asia and win a green subsidies race with the United States.

VOTE ABSTENTION

The decision to award the factory to Spain comes after it abstained on a vote to impose additional EU tariffs on Chinese EV imports. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has also urged the EU to reconsider penalising Chinese-made EVs to avoid a trade war.

Carmaking nations such as Italy and France voted in favour of the tariff measures, while Germany voted against.

Chinese companies need Beijing's approval for direct investments overseas, and China has privately told automakers to halt big investments in European countries that support imposing extra tariffs, Reuters reported in October.

Spain, Europe's second-largest car producer, in 2020 announced a 5-billion-euro plan to attract EV and battery production using EU pandemic relief funds.

Stellantis has received around 300 million euros from that plan, according to the government.

SPANISH LURE

The subsidies, Spain's established auto industry, green energy and lower labour costs likely supported CATL's decision to choose Zaragoza over other European locations, said Christina Rentell, research lead for Iberia and France at Aurora Energy Research.

The country's abundance of wind and solar power make it an attractive location for battery plants. Indeed, solar energy is 20-25% cheaper in Spain than in central Europe, a McKinsey study showed in July.
At least three witnesses have disputed South Carolina Rep. Nancy Maces claims that she was assaulted by a pro-trans advocate Tuesday after a Capitol Hill event.

Mace claimed in an X post that she was physically accosted by a pro-trans man after she gave a speech to youth advocates celebrating the 25th anniversary of Foster Care Independence Act. The man in question was award-winning youth advocate James McIntyre, 33, a leading policymaker and activist for children in Illinois.

Mace added on X, One new brace for my wrist and some ice for my arm and itll heal just fine.

I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women. Capitol police have arrested him.



All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe.



Your threats will not stop my fight for women!#HoldTheLine  Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) December 11, 2024

However, some event attendees pushed back on Maces version of events and said they simply saw a handshake, reported The Imprint.

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Mace reportedly called the police on McIntyre after he apparently shook her hand and asked her to protect trans youth. According to one youth advocate, McIntyre was approached by a member of Maces team, asked his name and for him to repeat what he said to Mace. Soon after, an officer with the Capitol Police Department showed up and said he was responding to an assault.

McIntyre was then arrested in front of some of the events attendees and driven off.

I want to express deep disappointment in the fact that Congresswoman Nancy Mace came to a national foster youth event, told participating youth that it was a safe space  and literally had one of them arrested by Capital police for simply shaking her hand and asking about trans rights, said veteran advocate for foster youth Lisa Dickson of Ohio, in a Facebook post.

Elliott Hinkle, a former foster youth and advocate for LGBTQ rights, added that McIntyre shook Maces hand and said transgender youth in foster care need your support. Hinkle said McIntyres arrest sends a chilling effect.

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Youre not actually safe to go to the Capitol Hill and share an opinion that is true for you, that isnt violent  because right now if you do, a congressperson might say that they were physically assaulted and call the police on you, said Hinkle. So how would a young person in care feel safe?

Adding to Maces version of events was her claim that President-elect Donald Trump had called to check up on her.

Just got off the phone with @Realdonaldtrump.



Thank you, Mr. President, for checking in on me and for standing up for women. We cannot wait to see you back in the White House.#HoldTheLine  Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) December 11, 2024

Thank you, Mr. President, for checking in on me and for standing up for women. We cannot wait to see you back in the White House, she wrote on X.

In recent months, Mace has seemingly used anti-trans attacks to stir favor with right-leaning Republicans, introducing a bathroom bill that she said directly targets Delaware Rep. Sarah McBride, the first transgender member of Congress.
Representative Nancy Mace, known for her attention-seeking antics, called the police on a transgender advocate for foster youth, accusing him of assaulting her outside the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night.

According to three eyewitnesses, James McIntyre simply shook the congresswomans hand during a reception following an event celebrating the anniversary of a child welfare law, and asked Mace to protect the rights of transgender people. Maces account was very different, however. In a post on X, the congresswoman claimed she was physically accosted at the Capitol tonight by a pro-tr*ns man.

One new brace for my wrist and some ice for my arm and itll heal just fine. The Capitol police arrested the guy. Your tr*ns violence and threats on my life will only make me double down. FAFO. #HoldTheLine, Maces post read.

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Other foster care advocates present at the reception disagreed with Maces account. Elliott Hinkle, a consultant who has advised the federal government on issues affecting youth in foster care, said McIntyre shook her hand and made a comment about how many transgender youth are in foster care, adding, They need your support.

From what I saw, it was a normal handshake and interaction that I would expect any legislator to expect from anyone as a constituent, Hinkle, a former foster child and now an advocate for LGBTQ rights, said in an interview with The Imprint. According to Hinkle, one of Maces aides later asked McIntyre his name and to repeat what he told Mace. McIntyre had left the reception but was asked to return to the office building by Capitol police.

The police arrested the advocate after searching him for several minutes. A Capitol Police Department officer said to a reporter at the scene that they were responding to a call about an assault.

The South Carolina Republican has used fearmongering about trans rights as her pet issue to grab attention in recent weeks, attacking incoming Representative Sarah McBride, who will be sworn in next year as the first transgender member of Congress, with a Capitol bathroom bill that specifically targets her. Former aides have criticized Mace for the attention grab, and the Republican has sought to milk the issue by selling bathroom-themed merchandise.


NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y. (PIX11)  In recent years, there has been a proliferation of ghost guns  weapons without traceable markings.

In Nassau County, 13 were seized this year. On Tuesday, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced the arrest of a man who was allegedly making the ghost guns.

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Parmbir Singh, 23, of Floral Park, has been indicted on a long list of federal and state gun charges. They stem from a smorgasbord of weapons investigators uncovered during a raid of his home last month.

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Donnelly said the search, Revealed a makeshift workshop for the construction and assembly of ghost guns.

Inside the home, investigators located several concealed storage compartments with floating shelves behind walls. In those compartments, we did find two completed and loaded ghost guns, Donnelly revealed.

The suspect aroused suspicion because of his prolific online purchases of parts to assemble guns. Authorities said he was ordering night sights, slides, magazine extensions, lasers and flashlights for Glock pistols. The parts, if assembled correctly, could build working ghost guns, authorities said.

Among the tools used to produce the weapons was a sophisticated 3D printer.

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These weapons can be made anywhere by anyone at any time if you have the right tools, Donnelly said.

Authorities estimated that the sale of a ghost gun could be worth as much as a thousand dollars.

Finding all these weapons in a home raised concerns, but Donnelly was reassuring. There was nothing that we took from the house that indicated he was planning anything, but I think the mere possession of something that can cause so much harm leads me to worry, Donnelly said.

The alleged ghost gun maker has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Unable to post half a million dollars in bail, he is being held in Nassau County Jail until his next court appearance next month.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The National Buffalo Wing Festival is headed back to downtown Buffalo at Sahlen Field.

The move comes after four years of holding the event at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.

Wing King Drew Cerza said the reason they moved in the first place was because the Toronto Blue Jays had taken over the ballpark, playing there during the pandemic as a result of restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19.

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Wing Fest at Sahlen Field is set for Labor Day weekend on Aug. 30 and 31 of next year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) and the Alzheimers Association have announced a new partnership aimed at promoting brain health and expanding support for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals living in urban areas affected by Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. This collaboration will focus on engaging urban AI/AN communities to raise awareness about Alzheimers disease and dementia, while also providing resources on care, support, and advance care planning for those impacted.

Our partnership with the Alzheimers Association aims to provide vital support to American Indian and Alaska Native communities facing the challenges of dementia, said NCUIH CEO Francys Crevier, JD (Algonquin). This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to culturally tailored resources and services that honor Indigenous peoples unique traditions, experiences, and resilience. Together, we are working to ensure that no elder or family feels alone in navigating this journey.

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.

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AI/AN populations are at a higher risk for Alzheimers and other dementias than their white counterparts, yet they often face barriers to accessing healthcare services and receiving timely diagnoses. With 27% of AI/AN individuals living in povertydouble the national average of 14%the need for support is particularly urgent.

We are delighted to collaborate with the National Council of Urban Indian Health to extend our outreach to American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban settings, said Dr. Carl V. Hill, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at the Alzheimers Association. This partnership will enable us to provide essential disease-related information, care, and support resources while encouraging increased participation in Alzheimers and dementia research.

As part of the partnership, the Alzheimers Association will offer educational programs and webinars tailored to urban AI/AN communities. It will also connect individuals and families to a range of support services, including its free 24/7 Helpline, local resource referrals, and care consultation. Additionally, the Alzheimers Association will sponsor and participate in NCUIHs 2025 annual conference in Washington, D.C., scheduled for April 22-24, 2025.

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. "

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MCCOLL, S.C. (WBTW)  A Texas-based nonprofit known for bringing citizen patrols to communities it deems in need of extra security is pulling out of McColl after repeated criticism by law enforcement and other officials.

The Uvalde One in Five Foundation for Kids said late Tuesday night that a STOPNOW group formed in Charlotte is abandoning its efforts after conducting an introductory foot patrol in the southeastern part of town earlier in the day.

A firm component of our patrols program and a determining factor on the success of this program from the onset is its purposefully designed dependency on the participation and collaboration of the community it serves, Daniel Chapin, the nonprofits founder and executive director, said in a statement. If the interest  is not there, the system breaks down.

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Since announcing last week its plans to bring citizen patrols into the Marlboro County town of roughly 2,000, Chapins group has come under withering criticism from officials including Sheriff Charles Lemon and state Sen. JD Chaplin.

Chaplin asked state Attorney General Alan Wilson for clarity on whether One in Five Foundations actions were legal. An official from his office said they were.

We will not make it a habit to force our will  where it is not desired. We respect the residents overall wishes to handle concerns locally, Chapin said.

Interim McColl Mayor Brian Blue told News13 earlier Tuesday that there had been no sign of the foundations signature patrols.

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McColl Mayor George Garner was killed in a Cashua Road crash on Nov. 26, and the towns five-person police force stepped down en masse days earlier.

Chapin has also called on Gov. Henry McMaster to intervene in McColl  a message that hasnt changed despite the patrols ending.

We await his response to our direct request made this week and continue to wish the citizens of the community healing and space, he said.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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(Bloomberg) -- NATO plans to assign new concrete targets for how many more tanks, planes and other weapon systems member countries need to produce, which may require raising the alliances defense spending goal to as much as 3% of gross domestic product, according to officials familiar with the matter.

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Under the plan, governments would face these higher capability targets, including for ammunition, as soon as next year, said the officials, who asked not to be identified given the talks are private.

Priorities will be boosting air defenses, offensive weapon systems and nuclear deterrent capabilities, according to one official.

While the aim is to have the targets agreed among NATO foreign and defense ministers in time for the leaders summit in The Hague in June, that deadline could be challenging to meet, the officials said. One official said defense ministers will address the topic at their February meeting.

NATO members have committed to more spending to counter a perceived threat to Europe from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and amid demands by incoming US President Donald Trump, who has pushed the alliances members take on a greater share of defense responsibilities.

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization currently asks allies to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defense. The new capability targets could boost that goal to as much as 3% of GDP, the officials said.

NATO declined to comment, referring questions to remarks Secretary General Mark Rutte made this month that 2% is simply not enough to sustain deterrence levels in the long-run.

Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister who took office in October, has been vocal about the need for the alliance to increase spending to match the growing threat from Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 and insists hes in an existential conflict with the West.

Rutte has also repeatedly stressed the need for more investment in the alliances European military industrial base, arguing that reliance on the US is unsustainable. That takes on particular urgency given the isolationist tilt under Trump, who has threatened to pull out of NATO if members dont spend more and has also floated a 3% target.

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There are capability gaps we need to fill to be able to defend Europe from Russia without the US, including military mobility and intelligence needs, said Armida van Rij, a senior research fellow at Chatham House.

The EUs new defense commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, last week proposed a joint borrowing mechanism for military expenditures, to be secured against European NATO members spending toward the alliances target. Thats part of the blocs plan to seek some 500 billion ($524 billion) for security over the next decade.

First we need to know what precisely we need to buy, where are our weaknesses, and after we have such a buying list, we need to address it with financing, Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski told Bloomberg TV in an interview. The time is now, we just cannot wait.

There have been wide discrepancies between NATO members defense spending. Poland committed a record 186.6 billion zloty ($46 billion) on defense this year, or 4.7% of GDP, while Germany, the EUs biggest provider of military aid to Ukraine, will spend 2.1% this year, or 72 billion, according to its defense ministry.

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We have seen a tremendous resurgence in spending and Id expect that overall it will continue, said Olga Oliker, director for Europe and Central Asia at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group. What that money buys depends on the member states.

--With assistance from Alberto Nardelli.

(Updates with quote from Polish finance minister in third to last paragraph)

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On Monday, Speaker Crystalyne Curley visited the homesite of Navajo veteran John Draper, 61, who will soon receive a new home after a 15-year wait on the housing list.

It was a heartfelt and joyful visit with our Navajo veteran who has been waiting for over a decade to receive assistance through the Veterans Housing Program, said Speaker Curley. The veterans in my region go above and beyond to work together, pass resolutions, and secure resources to help one another. Its amazing to see how well they work together.

Draper, a U.S. Army veteran, shared with Speaker Curley that he is currently homeless and living in a deteriorating mobile home. He expressed his gratitude to the Many Farms Chapter Veterans for their collective efforts in clearing the land for his new homesite.

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He also mentioned that several local veterans had voluntarily requested to be placed lower on the housing list to help expedite his application.

Jacqueline Begaye, Secretary and Treasurer of the Many Farms Chapter Veterans Organization, commended the strong sense of unity among the area's veterans.

Our veterans do an excellent job of working together to help each other, Begaye said. Were thankful for Speaker Curleys leadership in making these housing opportunities a reality.

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Begaye highlighted the vital role Speaker Curley has played in bringing resources to the area.

Shes been incredibly supportive of our veterans. When we first started working together, I provided her with a list of veterans waiting for housing. Speaker Curley, along with her Legislative District Assistant Gabe Freeland, have been advocating on our behalf and keeping us updated during our veterans meetings. We truly appreciate their ongoing efforts, Begaye said.

Begaye also shared that three more veterans in the Many Farms area, all currently homeless, will soon receive homes through the program. The funding for these homes comes from $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding allocated to the Veterans Housing Program, which supports long-term housing solutions for veterans in need.

Today, we also spoke with another veteran who has been waiting for a home since returning from Vietnam, Speaker Curley added. Many of our veterans are aging and facing homelessness before receiving the support they deserve. These men and women have sacrificed so much to protect our freedom, and they shouldnt have to live without a stable home.

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About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

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Fourteen years after the Navy began integrating women into submarine crews, the population of enlisted women and officers in subs continues to grow steadily year-over-year  and the service projects it will name the first female submarine commanding officer by 2028.

Thats according to a briefing presented by Lt. Victoria Parrish, the Navys Women in Submarines coordinator at Submarine Force Atlantic.

For fiscal 2024, there were 87 female officer accessions and 400 enlisted accessions, she told the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services at its quarterly meeting near Washington. That represents 20.3% of officer accessions and 9.5% of enlisted. Fiscal 2024 also represented the largest jump in female enlisted accessions since integration began, rising from 271 the previous year for an increase of nearly 48%.

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In all, though, 712 women are currently assigned to submarines, making up just under 5% of a total sub force of more than 15,000.

While representation remains modest, enlisted women are remaining in the sub community at higher rates than their male counterparts, Parrishs data showed. From fiscal year 2017 to 2024, enlisted women submariners re-enlisted at a rate of 74.9%, 1.1% higher than enlisted men.

While retention rates for officers have fluctuated widely in recent years, female officers in year groups 2010 to 2016 show a department head retention rate of 29%, 1.5% higher than their male peers.

Parrish noted that the small numbers of women were responsible for large rate fluctuations and limited how much could be read into retention data.

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If just a couple more or less female officers decided to sign a contract, those retention rates could significantly change, she said.

That said, its clear the Navy has made great strides toward its stated goal of full gender integration aboard submarines, despite a troubled start and delays in ushering the first class of subs designed with accommodations for women into the fleet.

Female officers were the first to join the sub community in 2010 after then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates lifted a ban on women in subs.

In 2015, the Navy began training enlisted female submariners as well, welcoming a female chief petty officer to the community in 2016, shortly after the Defense Department struck down all prohibitions on women serving in any military role.

Master Chief Information Systems Technician Angela Koogler poses for a portrait aboard the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Louisiana. In 2022 Koogler was made the Navys first female chief of the boat. (MC1 Brian G. Reynolds/Navy)

These early years saw a series of criminal incidents in which female crew members were secretly recorded by their male peers in showers and changing areas, leading to service investigations and discipline.

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Despite these disturbing episodes, the population of women in the community continued to grow each year.

In 2021, the Navy announced its plan to integrate 33 boat crews by 2030. This year, the service updated the projection to 39 integrated boat crews by 2033. The 2021 goal, Parrish said, was spurred by an interest in joining and staying with the submarine community that took the Navy by surprise.

What we had originally projected for female officer retention was assuming it would mirror the nuclear Surface Warfare female officer retention of 12.5% to 15%, Parrish said. Well, it exceeded our expectations. So, were actually at 25%-plus. And then also we confirmed that there was robust interest at officer accession sources. So this ultimately led us to increase our plan.

The first sub designed with berthing for both men and women, the Virginia-class submarine USS New Jersey, was delivered to the Navy in April. Though the Virginia class is running up to 36 months past its contracted delivery dates, a second sub in the class, the USS Iowa, is expected to join the Navy later this month.

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The only sub classes that are not slated to have women join their crews are the Los Angeles and the Seawolf, both scheduled for upcoming deactivation, Parrish said.

The Navy, Parrish said, is targeting a female population of at least 20% for each integrated crew, though it sometimes falls short of that goal.

One of the reasons 20% was sought after was based on a [CNA] study that showed at around 20% population of a group within a whole population, you have less likelihood that you will have that group marginalized, Parrish said. And those members would feel more as individuals vice just a member of a minority group.

Female leadership cadres are growing, though.

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To date, according to the briefing, 44 female officers are serving or have served as a submarine department head and four women have been designated as submarine executive officers. Under a gender-neutral detailing process, two of the three female XOs currently serving are leading non-integrated boat crews.

One woman is now serving as a chief of boat, the top enlisted advisor to a submarine leadership team; and a female engineering department master chief is in training and set to report to her sub in 2026.

Parrish told Military Times the Navys projection about having the first female submarine CO by 2028 was based on inventory and population planning, rather than a current candidate in the pipeline.

The Navys ability to go above a 20% proportion of women on submarines is limited only by senior female leadership in place, Parrish said.

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She suggested that the service could use policy waivers to make exceptions to requirements such as having a female chief onboard in order to get more female submariners out to sea.

Youve seen in the accessions; weve got more and more people. The word is getting out that you can have an adventure of a lifetime and serve on the most technologically advanced submarines with the most brilliant and capable individuals in our nation, she said.

As [the number of] overall women in the Navy increases, hopefully every submarine population will reflect the same.
WASHINGTON  On December 11, 2024, the National Council of Urban Indian Health honored Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Rep.Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK) with Good Medicine Awards for their exceptional dedication to supporting the Indian Health Service and improving health outcomes for Native communities throughout their time in Congress.

Both lawmakers were recognized for their outstanding leadership in advancing Native health care. Over the course of their careers, Senator Tester and Representative Peltola have been tireless advocates for legislation, policies, and initiatives that prioritize the health, welfare, and rights of Native peoples. Their efforts have been marked by a proven ability to foster collaboration, engage in bipartisan cooperation, and effectively drive forward policies that address the critical health needs of Native communities.

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.

Senator Jon Tester

Throughout his 18 years in the United States Senate, Senator Jon Tester has earned a reputation as one of the most steadfast and vocal advocates for Indian Country on Capitol Hill. Over nearly two decades of service, he has consistently fought to safeguard the Indian Health Service (IHS) through critical legislation and appropriations.

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In 2023, Senator Tester played a key role in securing advance appropriations for the IHS, ensuring that funding for the agency remains stable regardless of the broader appropriations cycle. The following year, he joined 20 colleagues in urging Senate leadership to fully fund the Indian Health System, including Urban Indian Health programs. His sustained advocacy has been instrumental in protecting access to culturally competent care for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Senator Tester has also been a fierce champion for Native veterans. He supported the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act, which expanded Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage to include care provided by Title V Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs), significantly improving healthcare access for Native veterans. In 2021, he helped secure an improved Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Health Service and the VA, streamlining access to culturally relevant care and reducing the burden on the VA system.

One of Senator Tester's most impactful achievements was his leadership in establishing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Copay Exemption for Native Veterans. This policy has led to the exemption and reimbursement of over 234,000 copayments, saving Native veterans more than $4.1 million as of September 2024.

Senator Tester's unwavering commitment to the health, well-being, and rights of American Indian and Alaska Native people has been evident throughout his career. His contributions have made a lasting impact, and we are deeply grateful for his service and advocacy.

Representative Mary Sattler Peltola

Although Representative Mary Sattler Peltola served only one full term in Congress, her profound impact on Indian Country will resonate for generations. As co-chair of the Native American Caucus, she was a passionate advocate for issues that upheld the Federal Trust Responsibility, including her sponsorship of H.R. 7227, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools Policies Act.

Rep. Peltola receives award from NCUIH CEO Francys Crevier. (Photo/NCUIH)

In May 2024, Representative Peltola joined 51 colleagues in urging House Leadership to fully fund the Indian Health Service (IHS), including Urban Indian Health programs. Their letter underscored the federal government's trust responsibility to provide health services aimed at improving the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Through her steadfast support, Representative Peltola played a critical role in ensuring that the IHS could continue to deliver vital care to Native peoples.

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Representative Peltolas fierce leadership, unwavering commitment to Native communities, and her dedication to upholding the federal trust responsibility will be greatly missed and will continue to inspire future advocates for years to come.

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
By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed on Wednesday an appeal by artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia seeking to avoid a securities fraud lawsuit by shareholders who accused the company of misleading investors about how much of its sales depended on the volatile cryptocurrency market.

The justices, who heard arguments in the case on Nov. 13, opted not to render a decision on the underlying legal dispute and instead threw out Nvidia's appeal of a lower court's ruling that allowed the 2018 class action to move forward. The lawsuit is led by the Stockholm, Sweden-based investment management firm E. Ohman J:or Fonder AB.

The Supreme Court, in determining that it should not have granted the appeal, left the lower court's decision in place.

The Supreme Court's dismissal came in a one-line order that provided no explanation.

During the arguments, some of the justices expressed reservations about intervening in the case. They wondered about whether there was a clear legal issue for them to decide, as opposed to just a dispute over facts, and indicated that they were not ideally placed to resolve the case given its technical complexities.

At issue was whether the plaintiffs cleared the heightened legal bar for bringing private securities fraud suits set under a 1995 federal law called the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that aimed to screen out frivolous litigation.

The plaintiffs accused Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang of violating a 1934 federal law called the Securities Exchange Act by making statements in 2017 and 2018 that falsely downplayed how much of Nvidia's revenue growth came from crypto-related purchases.

Beginning in 2017, as the price of certain cryptocurrencies rose, Nvidia's chips became increasingly popular for cryptomining, a process that involves performing complex math equations in order to secure cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether.

By late 2018, amid a decline in crypto profitability, Nvidia's revenue fell short of its projections, leading its stock price to fall in early November of that year.

The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages in part to recoup the lost value of the Nvidia stock held by the investors.

Nvidia in 2022 agreed to pay $5.5 million to U.S. authorities to settle charges that it did not properly disclose the impact of cryptomining on its gaming business, but without admitting or denying the findings of federal regulators.

A federal judge dismissed the shareholder lawsuit but the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently revived it. The 9th Circuit found that the plaintiffs had adequately alleged that Huang made "false or misleading statements and did so knowingly or recklessly," allowing their case to proceed.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Mayor Rick Blangiardi presented the citys plan to open a new landfill in Central Oahu during a news conference Tuesday. Theres no path forward for us that does not involve the creation of a new landfill on Oahu,  Blangiardi said.

1 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Mayor Rick Blangiardi presented the citys plan to open a new landfill in Central Oahu during a news conference Tuesday. Theres no path forward for us that does not involve the creation of a new landfill on Oahu,  Blangiardi said.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Roger Babcock presented the citys plan to open a new landfill in Central Oahu during a news conference Tuesday at the Mayors Office. Babcock held a plate of ash from HPOWER to show what would go into the landfill.

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2 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Roger Babcock presented the citys plan to open a new landfill in Central Oahu during a news conference Tuesday at the Mayors Office. Babcock held a plate of ash from HPOWER to show what would go into the landfill.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Mayor Rick Blangiardi presented the citys plan to open a new landfill in Central Oahu during a news conference Tuesday. Theres no path forward for us that does not involve the creation of a new landfill on Oahu,  Blangiardi said.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Roger Babcock presented the citys plan to open a new landfill in Central Oahu during a news conference Tuesday at the Mayors Office. Babcock held a plate of ash from HPOWER to show what would go into the landfill.

RELATED PHOTO GALLERY Honolulu officials announced Tuesday that they have selected an area northwest of Wahiawa as the proposed location for Oahus next solid waste landfill.

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The citys landfill siting decision was required before a state-imposed Dec. 31 deadline and ahead of the planned closure of the 35-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, in accordance with a 2019 decision and order by the state Land Use Commission.

That West Oahu dump, operated by the city Department of Environmental Services, is set to close in 2028.

The proposed landfill locationidentified as Area 3, Site 2  in the citys 2022 Landfill Advisory Committees recommendation reportis on agricultural land to the west of Kamehameha Highway, north of Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road, the city said.

Neighborhoods near the planned dump, the city said, include Whitmore Village, about 2.5 miles away.

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The city confirmed the land in question is currently owned by the Dole Food Co., which is not the same as Dole Plantation.

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The city hoped to negotiate purchase of about 150 acresthe amount of land needed for a solid waste landfillout of what they described as an approximately 2, 360-acre parcel, according to ENV Director Roger Babcock.

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We only need the 150 acres, but that would depend on negotiations,  Babcock said Tuesday during a news conference at the Mayors Office.

He said Doles pineapple operations would still continue, especially on the same scale as they are today.

However, Babcock cautioned if there is an unwillingness  for Dole to sell the property to the city, then the city might pursue a condemnation process  on the sought-after property.

At the news conference, Mayor Rick Blangiardi claimed hed spoken to Dole Food Co. about the citys plan only that day.

I personally talked to them today for the first time,  he added.

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Dole Food Co. could not be immediately reached for comment on the citys landfill plans.

We have explored every path in a most serious manner before we made that decision,  Blangiardi said at the news conference. If there was a path that the whole island supported, then that path we would have chosen, but it wasnt that simple because the path simply does not exist.

Secondly, and this is important, the city must construct a new landfill,  the mayor added. Theres no path forward for us that does not involve the creation of a new landfill on Oahu.

Meanwhile, the proposed landfill site selected by the cityalong with five other potential sites included in the committees recommendation reportis located over an aquifer.

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City officials said they propose to design, construct and operate the facility in accordance with state and federal requirements, including the protection of Oahus aquifer system.

However, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply must first evaluate the proposed landfill site and, based on its proximity to potable water sources, may approve or reject the proposal.

Previously, BWS objected to the city siting a landfill within its so-called no-pass zone,  an area that covers the interior of the island where Oahus potable water aquifer is located.

At Tuesdays news conference, BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Ernie Lau told reporters hed learned that day about the citys proposed landfill site near Wahiawa.

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Our precious water resources are located in many of our underground aquifers,  Lau said, and this site appears to be right over our  aquifer in the no-pass area.

He said my focus is very narrow  while noting his concerns over potential threats to our water resources.

So we look forward to receiving more information about this site,  he said. And we will provide our evaluation and our approval or disapproval of this site.

Still, Lau regarded the citys siting of the landfill as a tough decision.

But (BWS) 95-year history is about providing safe drinking water,  he added.

Others were also surprised by the decision.

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Council member Matt Weyer, whose District 2 encompasses Wahiawa and the North Shore, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser about his disappointment and concern  upon learning of the citys chosen landfill site.

He said he objected to the site 100 %.

I stand with Ernie Lau and the Board of Water Supply,  Weyer said. Of course, the landfill is not going to be built overnight, and now is the time for people to express those concerns.

State Rep. Sean Quinlan, whose district spans the North Shore, also objected that the citys proposed landfill near Wahiawa presents a significant threat to the North Shore of Oahus precious water supply.

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Landfills are known for leaking hazardous substances like PFAs, which could permanently contaminate nearby wells and aquifers just minutes away in Waialua,  Quinlan said in a statement. The proposed site also lies above the critical no-pass zone, jeopardizing the islands freshwater resources.

Moreover, my community is deeply concerned regarding the lack of openness in this process,  he said. Area legislators and local residents were not consulted prior to the announcement, leaving key stakeholders out of this important decision-making process.

Conversely, state Rep. Darius Kila, whose district spans portions of the Waianae Coast including Nanakuli, thanked the city for taking a bold step by announcing a proposed location for Oahus next landfill.

I understand that this announcement may not be welcomed by everyone,  Kila said in a statement. However, let me be clear : The Leeward Coast has endured the burden of hosting this landfill for decadesa landfill named after another community but placed in our backyard.

But other questions remain with regard to the citys new landfill site.

If the Wahiawa site is rejected, the city will not be able to safely operate a landfill over the aquifer and will be forced to seek legislative changes that would enable siting a landfill closer to residences, schools and /or hospitals than is currently allowed by law, Act 73,  the citys news release states.

The state-approved 2020 law places restrictions on locating waste-disposal facilities, particularly those close to conservation lands or half-mile buffer zones  near residential areas, schools or hospitals, as well as near airports or tsunami inundation zones.

Previously, Babcock said amending that law could do one of two things : reduce buffer zones to a quarter-mile or eliminate them altogether, thereby opening up more lands for potential city dump sites.

Should the proposed Wahiawa site be rejected, and the state Legislature decline to amend Act 73, the city will have no choice but to seek an extension of current landfill operations at Wai ma nalo Gulch, something the city administration opposes,  the news release states.

Waimanalo Gulch landfill, city officials said, will not reach total capacity until 2035.

City Managing Director Michael Formby told reporters Tuesday that were having conversations with legislators about  Act 73.

We havent made up our decision (on Act 73 ) at this time,  Formby added.

Following the landfill announcement, the city said it would immediately begin discussions with BWS and the property owner of the proposed site,  according to a news release.

The city also will initiate the required environmental impact statement process, which would assess the impact on the physical, cultural and human environments affected, the news release says.

Meanwhile, a new city dump could take years to open for solid waste collection.

With that in mind, the city issued a formal request for information  over the possible transshipment of waste off-island.

The RFI says the city is preparing for an interim alternative  for the disposal of municipal solid waste to an approved nonhazardous waste landfill outside Oahu over a 10-year period.

The RFIs closing date for solicitations was Dec. 2.

After the deadline, Babcock told the Star-Advertiser two contractors expressed interest, but only oneWaste Connections of Oregon Inc., a Vancouver, Wash., companysubmitted an RFI.

The purpose of this RFI was to gather information about the shipping of waste from potential service providers to help ENV determine if waste shipping is a viable waste management strategy,  he said previously. If determined to be viable, contracting for waste shipping services would have to be done via a future competitive solicitation.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A neighbor told 17 News Tuesday he saw two men outside a trailer home on Edison Highway and set it ablaze with two people trapped inside, ultimately killing them.

Two guys, I dont know which one had done it or both, but one of them poured gas all over the windows, the doors, I think he tied the door shut and lit it on fire, said Jimmy Mack, resident at the Edison Mobile Home Park.

The Kern County Sheriffs Office said it has launched an investigation into the deadly fire.

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Neighbors describe Edison Hwy mobile home park fire that left 2 women dead

The sheriffs office has not confirmed how many people died in the fire, or more details on the homicide investigation.

They were crying in there, for people to help, Help, please get me out of here, but we couldnt, Mack said.

Neighbors were left picking up what was left of the three mobile homes Tuesday.

While living with the trauma of hearing the screams for help, neighbors say they feel left behind, as they survive a third day without power after the fire took out the electricity box.

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Its been pretty bad, cold, real cold. Its freezing at night, said Jimmy Mack.

Residents pay $400 dollars a month for the land to park their mobile homes. Many now fear for their safety.

I dont want to be here anymore really. Im scared of being here, Mack said.

Two of the families affected by the fires have started their Gofundme, you can donate here and 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 KGET 17.
Israel is in the process of dismantling its arch-enemy Iran's "Axis of Evil" in the region, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.

Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has been forced into a war by what the Iranian side calls the "Axis of Resistance" and it is hitting back hard, Netanyahu said at a special session of parliament in honour of Santiago Pena, president of Paraguay.

Pena is in Israel to reopen his country's embassy in Jerusalem. Netanyahu thanked Pena profusely for his support.

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Relocating embassies to Jerusalem is controversial internationally because it can be interpreted as implicit recognition of Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians want East Jerusalem as their capital.

The United States moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018 under then-president Donald Trump. Paraguay temporarily relocated its embassy at the same time, but quickly reversed the move after the election of a new president in the South American country.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)  A poet. An author. An educator. Those were just some of the words used to describe Nikki Giovanni, by her colleagues, friends, and those who loved her on social media.

Giovanni was in her third battle with cancer, and sadly passed away on December 9, with her lifelong partner, Virginia, by her side. Giovanni was a renowned poet and considered by many to be a major figure in the Black Arts, even being named one of 25 living legends by Oprah Winfrey.

She taught English at Virginia Tech for more than three decades. She retired from the institution in 2022. Throughout her retirement, she stayed busy by making speeches, traveling, and writing. She even performed some jazz just three weeks ago in New York.

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Those at Virginia Tech say she left an enormous impact on the university, and more so, the world.

Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81

The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Letters and Human Sciences, a long-time friend of Giovanni, says she was truly extraordinary, and there will be no one like her.

Her ebullience, and her kindness, and her fierce commitment to those she loved. Be it colleagues, fellow artists, causes, and communities she cared for, her longtime partner, Virginia Tech: and she just brought all of that to the table. And then I just have to emphasize just how fun she was, said Laura Belmonte, the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Letters and Human Sciences.

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The chair of the English department at Tech has worked alongside Giovanni since 2007. She says that you can read so much online about Giovannis, but to know her was something else.

For someone who was quite, I think, sassy, she always had a smile on her face, she was a ray of sunshine around here, she was a really kind person, said Kelly Pender, the chair of the English department, She and her wife gave their blood sweat and tears to this department and to this University. No one will be able to fill Nikkis shoes.

At the memorial convocation after the 2007 massacre on campus, Giovanni was asked to give the final statement. Both Belmonte and Pender agree that they could not describe the impact that speech had on the community, stating that showed just how much art can help to heal.

We are Virginia Tech. The Hokie Nation embraces our own and reaches out with open hearts and a hand to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be, said Giovanni.

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Virginia Tech says Giovannis last poetry book will be released in the fall of 2025.

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 WFXRtv.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warrens comments regarding the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson raised some eyebrows.

The senator spoke with the Huffington Post yesterday regarding Thompsons death, saying in part, Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far. This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change lose faith in the ability of the people who are providing the health care to make change, and start to take matters into their own hands in ways that will ultimately be a threat to everyone.

In an interview with CNN Wednesday, Congressman Seth Moulton provided clarity regarding Warrens statement

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Thats not what shes saying. What she is saying is there are problems in our healthcare system that need to be addressed, said Moulton. We pay an extraordinary amount of money for healthcare in America including a lot of taxpayer dollars that go to Medicare and Medicaid and yet we dont have the best healthcare outcomes in the world... So we have a lot of work to do.

Senator Warren followed up with the Post in a new article Wednesday, condemning Thompsons killing but she stood strong on her stance for a dire need to reform healthcare in America.

Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder, Warren told the Post.

Esta foto sin fecha facilitada por UnitedHealth Group muestra al consejero delegado de UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson. (AP foto/UnitedHealth Group via AP)

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY)  A surprise presentation in Newport News had four local companies teaming up to fund a $500,000 grant on Tuesday that was awarded to the Newport News Education Foundation.

Theres a grant application process that ended this year and we had about 30 applicants, and [the] Newport News Education Foundation was our honoree, President and CEO of BayPort Credit Union Jim Mears said.

BayPort Credit Union, Ferguson, Newport News Shipbuilding and Virginia Natural Gas all contributed to the fund.

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The organization is made up of a group of people who support Newport News Public Schools to help students prepare for the working world.

Excited is an understatement, said Dale Mingilton, executive director of the Newport News Education Foundation. What this is allowing us to do is bring our own and grow our own instructors. One of the biggest issues that we have in public education is that were losing teachers every day. Its not like it was when many folks grew up that a teacher stayed in their role for 20 to 30 years. Now, its a different world. Teachers are facing challenges and needs and its harder to retain those teachers.

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.
Dec. 10Officials from New Hampshire and Quebec reported laying the groundwork for significant collaboration on cross-border public safety initiatives after their first meeting at the State Police barracks at Twin Mountain.

This was the first gathering since the state and the province of Quebec signed a renewed Cooperation Agreement last spring.

"Earlier this year, we signed a historic agreement with our neighbors in Quebec, recognizing the need for enhanced border security," Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement after the session.

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"Today's meeting operationalizes that agreement by coordinating with the law enforcement officers and agencies on the front lines. Preventative efforts like this are a key component to deterrence."

Francois Legault, the Quebec premier, echoed similar sentiments.

"This agreement will enable better collaboration in response to increasing migratory flows and help combat illegal immigration on both sides of the border. I look forward to continuing this partnership with the leadership of the Granite State. The SQ (provincial police force) is already taking action, and Quebec is committed to working closely with all law enforcement agencies across our American partners," Legault said.

'Principles of privacy'

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The agreement called for the state and Canadian province to share information including about organized crime, terrorism, violent radicalization, drug trafficking, cybercrime, arms trafficking and emergency measures. The partnership also reaffirms the mutual commitment to continued enhancements of communication and border security efforts.

"Relationships, and the exchange of information and intelligence, are critical to identifying and mitigating threats as well as preventing and solving crimes," said New Hampshire Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn.

Quebec officials also note the agreement does not violate the rights of legal citizens.

"I'm pleased that respecting the principles of privacy, civil liberties and human rights is guiding us through this partnership," said Quebec Designated Delegate to New England Rene Sylvestre.

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This pact also is one of the initiatives from the Northern Border Alliance Task Force that Sununu and Attorney General John Formella announced in October 2023 to work on stemming the flow of illegal immigration and human trafficking from Canada.

Sununu asked for and convinced the Legislature in 2023 to set aside $1.5 million in operating money that allowed the task force to pay overtime and training costs for local, state and county law enforcement agencies within 25 miles of Canada.

Last month, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a 69% decline in encounters with suspected illegal migrants from June to October 2024 at the Swanton Sector that includes upstate New York and Vermont.

Only a year earlier, the same agency reported a historic, 846% increase in detentions and encounters from October 2022 through January 2023 when compared with the previous year.

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"Through the state's partnership with Quebec, and under the oversight of Attorney General Formella, our state troopers remain committed to preventing crime and improving the safety of everyone who travels on the interstates and lives in the communities of the North Country," said State Police Col. Mark Hall.

The group will announce its next scheduled meeting to take place in 2025 sometime in the future.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
Nikki Giovanni, the renowned poet and Black queer icon, has died at age 81.

Giovanni died Monday in a hospital in Blacksburg, Va., her wife, Virginia C. Fowler, told The New York Times. The cause was complications of lung cancer.

Giovanni was a major figure in the Black Arts Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Much of her work at the time dealt with civil rights and the atrocities committed against Black Americans, such as the lynching of Emmett Till, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and the Birmingham, Ala., church bombing of 1963, in which four young girls were killed.

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She published her first books of poetry, Black Judgement and Black Feeling, Black Talk, in 1968. She wrote poetry for children as well as adults, and she penned essays and made recordings. She authored a memoir, Gemini: An Extended Autobiographical Statement on My First Twenty-Five Years of Being a Black Poet, which came out in 1971, when she was only 28. Giovanni often gave public readings of her poems, usually appearing alongside gospel choirs and other musicians, and these performances attracted huge audiences around the nation.

My dream was not to publish or to even be a writer: my dream was to discover something no one else had thought of, Giovanni wrote on her website. I guess thats why Im a poet. We put things together in ways no one else does.

After finishing college at Fisk University, she was at a crossroads. I had no money; no patience with stupid jobs; no talent that could be sold, she noted on the site. She attended graduate school for a time, but she ended up self-publishing her first books because no one was much interested in a Black girl writing what was called militant poetry.

So her career was launched, with many appearances onstage and on television. She was a fixture of the public TV program Soul!, for which she conducted a two-part interview with Black gay writer James Baldwin in 1971. Two of the most important artist-intellectuals of the twentieth century were engaged in intimate communion on national television, The New Yorker wrote.

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As one of the cultural icons of the Black Arts and Civil Rights Movements, she became friends with Rosa Parks, Aretha Franklin, James Baldwin, Nina Simone, and Muhammad Ali, and inspired generations of students, artists, activists, musicians, scholars and human beings, young and old, a friend, writer Renee Watson, said in a statement announcing Giovannis death.

Much of Giovannis later work was more personal than political, celebrating strong Black women, their homes, and Black joy. It was a voice you didnt hear a lot then, this desire for home, cultural critic Hilton Als told the Times about hearing her read her poem My House in the early 1970s. Later, as she ditched the Black nationalist rhetoric, she became more herself. She was saying something really profound to me, a member of the gay community and the Black world and whatever. She was the first warrior in terms of talking about queer love  not specifically, but it was there.

poet Nikki Giovanni 1972 queer Black icon

Murray Feierberg/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images

Giovanni also taught, first at Rutgers University and Queens College, and then Fowler recruited her to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, where she began teaching in 1987 and remained until her retirement in 2022. They quickly developed a personal and professional relationship, with Fowler becoming an editor and scholar of Giovannis work and writing a biography of her, Nikki Giovanni, which came out in 2013. They married in 2016.

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At Virginia Tech, Giovanni was the first person to alert administrators to the threatening behavior of student Seung-Hui Cho, who shot and killed 32 people at the university in 2007, then took his own life. "When Giovanni approached the English department chair to have Cho expelled from her class, Giovanni said she would rather resign than continue teaching him," the Rev. Irene Monroe wrote in The Advocate shortly after the tragedy. "Depicting Cho as 'a bully," Giovanni told The Washington Post, 'Kids write about murder and suicide all the time. But there was something that made all of us pay attention closely. His was more sinister. None of us were comfortable with that. ... Once I realized my class was scared, I knew I had to do something.'"

Giovanni spoke at the ceremony memorializing the Virginia Tech victims, saying, "We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imaginations and the possibilities. We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness." Monroe called Giovanni "a neglected and overlooked heroine in our queer community."

Giovanni had one child, a son, Thomas, born in 1969. She said she was single (at the time) by choice and a mother by choice; she never revealed publicly who Thomass father was. I had a baby at 25 because I wanted to have a baby and I could afford to have a baby, she once told Ebony magazine. I didnt get married because I didnt7 want to get married and I could afford to not get married.

She was put off by the sexist attitudes of some Black men and wondered if men and women were really suited to each other. Maybe they have a different thing going, she wrote, where they come together during mating season and produce beautiful, useless animals who then go on to love, you hope, each of you. But she found lasting love with Fowler, who she described as her bench, her supporter.

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I dont have a lot of friends but I have good ones, Giovanni wrote on her website. I have a son and a granddaughter. My father, mother, sister and middle aunt are all deceased literarily making me go from being the baby in the family to being an elder. I like to cook, travel and dream. Im a writer. Im happy.

She received seven NAACP Image Awards, 31 honorary doctorates, and a 2024 Emmy, the latter for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. She had three books on the Los Angeles Times and New York Times best-seller lists, highly unusual for a poet, she noted on her site. She was still writing at the end of her life; her final work, titled The Last Book, is scheduled to come out next year.
Nikki Giovanni speaks during the 61st New York Film Festival  Deep Focus at Elinor Bunin Munroe film center on Oct. 1, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for FLC )

Nikki Giovanni, poet, civil rights legend and educator who empowered generations with her fearless words and unwavering advocacy for Black America, died on Dec. 9 at the age of 81 after her third cancer diagnosis.

The acclaimed poet, Black Arts Movement icon whose poems of wit, wonder, and wisdom were celebrated in childrens books, on keynote stages and television shows, and in more than two dozen bestselling poetry collections, died peacefully on December 9, 2024, with her life-long partner, Virginia [Ginney] Fowler, by her side, said friend and author Renee Watson in a statement.

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In 2023, Knoxvilles Beck Cultural Exchange Center unveiled an exhibit dedicated to Giovanni, featuring her complete book collection and personal memorabilia. The center, a cherished space for Giovanni, was a must-visit whenever she returned to her hometown.

Nikki was a gift to the world, generously sharing her talents with everyone around her, said Rev. Renee Kesler, President of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. She loved deeply and expressed that love in countless ways.

Yolande Cornelia Nikki Giovanni was born on June 7, 1943, in the Negro Wing of Knoxville General Hospital to parents Yolande Cornelia Sr. and Jones Gus Giovanni. She graduated from Austin High School in 1961.

She enrolled at the historically Black Fisk University in Nashville in 1960. At Fisk, she joined the Writers Workshop, a space that fostered her creativity and connected her with other aspiring Black writers who later went on to become prominent Black literary figures such as Dudley Randall, Margaret Walker, and Amiri Baraka.

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At Fisk, she found her voice  a voice that would go on to inspire the world to dream with courage, to fight with purpose, and to love without constraint. Through her poetry, she wove stories of Black resilience, beauty and liberation. Her spirit is forever etched into the soul at Fisk, an eternal light guiding us toward justice, creativity, and authenticity, Fisk officials said in a statement.

Headshot of American poet Yolanda Cornelia Nikki Giovanni, circa 1968. (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Getty Images)

Giovanni rose to prominence during the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, publishing her first poetry collection Black Feeling, Black Talk in 1970. Her poetry embodied the spirit of the civil rights struggle, celebrating Black identity and perseverance. She was also known for her bold commentary on racial and social issues, earning her a reputation as one of the foremost voices of her generation.

She taught for 35 years in the English Department at Virginia Tech. Giovanni received numerous accolades and recognitions throughout her career, including the Langston Hughes Medal and multiple NAACP Image Awards. In 2004, she earned a Grammy nomination for her spoken-word album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Oprah Winfrey honored her as one of her 25 Living Legends. Most recently, she was honored with a 2024 Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.

Roots in Tennessee, heart in Knoxville

Giovannis ties to the city of Knoxville and East Tennessee were central to her Appalachian identity. She paid homage to both in a number of her literary works where she often spoke of her childhood.

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In 2022, Giovanni appeared on CNNs United Shades of America at the historic Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee, where she shared stories of her Appalachian roots and affinity for cooking pigs feet and chitlins.

In Giovannis poem Knoxville, Tennessee, she wrote a love story reminiscing on the days she spent sunny summers growing up visiting her grandparents.

Giovanni often reminisced about the Gem Theatre, the primary movie theatre for Black patrons in her youth. Though it no longer stands, she captured its memory in her poem 400 Mulvaney Street, recalling how, for just 10 cents, you could spend an entire day enjoying a double feature, five cartoons, two serials, and previews for upcoming films.

Mulvaney Street looked like a camels back with both humps bulging  up and down  and we lived in the down part, Nikki Giovanni wrote in 400 Mulvaney Street, where her parents house stood.

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She also wrote with affection about the Smoky Mountains, located just beyond Knoxville. The Smokies are so called because the clouds hang low, she shared. We used to camp in them. The bears would come into camp, but if you didnt feed them, they would go away. Its still a fact. The mountains held a special place in her heart, serving as a refuge for family trips with her grandmother after her grandfathers death  just as her grandparents had once brought her there as a child.

In her 2022 childrens book, A Library, she describes the former segregated Carnegie Library in East Knoxville not merely as a place to return books but a place to be free.

My favorite place, of course after my grandmothers house, was the library. It sat right at the top of Mulvaney. We went to the Carnegie Library every Sunday after church at Mt. Zion Baptist up on the hill. Those were wonderful memories. The Lawson McGhee Library was the white library uptown. So this was ours. Before they came and destroyed everything, of course. There was the Gem Theatre we went to and the drug store, we really had a community, but then they came in and said no we need it and it changed everything, said Giovanni.

I write a lot about Knoxville because Knoxville is my heart, Giovanni said in 2019 during the dedication of a historical marker in her honor outside Knoxvilles Cal Johnson Recreation Center, a tribute to her childhood on Mulvaney Street.

Urban renewal

The house at 400 Mulvaney St. was demolished during Knoxvilles urban renewal projects that decimated Black neighborhoods and businesses in the city.

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In 2023, Giovanni gave fierce words to Black Knoxvillians, reminding them to fight for their neighborhoods to avoid another urban renewal catastrophe as new developments go up in the inner city.

We need leaders in Knoxville who are going to say we arent going to let you come in here and just do what you want to do or take what you want to take. Youve got to fight back, she said.

Just before her 80th birthday, Nikki Giovanni reflected on why Knoxville remained close to her heart many decades after moving to her home near Blacksburg, Virginia. She said, Because I love it. Its where I always felt safe, welcomed and loved. Knoxville is where I became who I am. The lessons I learned there  about love, resistance, and resilience  have stayed with me every day of my life.

Despite the challenges of segregation and racism in the 1950s and 1960s, Giovanni said Knoxvilles tight-knit community was formative in shaping her understanding of justice and equality.

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In spite of her numerous accolades and lifetime achievements, Giovanni said she wanted to be remembered for her art.

Im not a legend. I dont even know what legacies mean. Im just a poet. I just hope that people will read my poetry, she said. When I write, I try to always be as honest as I can no matter what anyone has to say about it. Im not God, I just do the best I can, and Im gentle with myself. I hope thats enough.

A forthcoming book of poetry, The Last Book, will be published in fall 2025.

Giovanni is survived by her wife, Virginia Fowler, her son, Thomas Giovanni, her granddaughter, Kai Giovanni, two cousins, Haynes Ford and Allison [Pat] Ragan, and a nephew Christopher Black.

This story first appeared in the Tennessee Lookout, a member with the Phoenix in the nonprofit States Newsroom.

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The evening before Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris and recaptured the White House, a member of the United Steelworkers union representing the unaffiliated grassroots organization Steelworkers for Trump was granted a private, five-minute meeting with the former president before he walked on stage to headline a final campaign rally in Pittsburgh.

Jason Zugai lobbied Trump to support Nippon Steels pending acquisition of U.S. Steel, explaining the purchase by the Japanese firm would save thousands of union jobs in western Pennsylvania. The Republican nominee, although sympathetic, responded that he did not like the idea of a foreign country owning an American steel manufacturer. But Trump agreed to resume discussions with Zugai and his labor colleagues after the election. Satisfied with the soon-to-be president-elects openness on the issue, Zugai made one more request.

Could you please not say youre going to kill this deal in front of the thousands of steelworkers that I brought [to the Pittsburgh rally]? he asked. Trump agreed, Zugai told The Dispatch, recalling his conversation with Trump. He went out and spoke for a couple of hours, did not say he was going to kill the deal. Zugai hoped their brief meeting might eventually lead to Trump embracing Nippons proposed $14.9 billion takeover of financially strapped U.S. Steel.

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Those aspirations appeared dashed this month when the president-elect announced his emphatic opposition, saying in a social media post: I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan  I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware.

But Zugai hasnt given up. As of this week, he is seeking a second one-on-one meeting with Trump. If he gets it, such a meeting would exemplify how the first Trump administration operated, and how the second term is likely to function as well: Trump at the center of important decisions instead of passing them off to deputies or formal processes.

Mick Mulvaney, who served in Trumps first White House as budget director and acting chief of staff, experienced this firsthand. Trump is immovable on some deeply held positions, like his belief in strong border security and the economic benefits of tariffs. But the president-elect tends to talk to a wide range of people and be more personally involved in decisions made by his White House than President Joe Biden and his other predecessors, creating opportunities for personal engagement that might prompt him to consider changing course on some issues.

There are a few things that Trump is just dead-set on, Mulvaney told The Dispatch. There are other things, however, where he would absolutely be open to a reasoned discussion. Mulvaney pointed to Trumps first term and his initial intention to impose tariffs on steel imported from Australia, only to change his mind after concluding they were unnecessary. Among the reasons: The U.S. had a trade surplus with Canberra and Australia is an ally working with Washington to counter China.

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More recently, Trump has been convinced to drop his opposition to TikTok and cryptocurrency.

The battle over Nippons attempt to purchase U.S. Steel and gain a foothold in the domestic steel manufacturing market has been raging for nearly a year. Opposing it are Biden, Harris, Trump, and the national leadership of the United Steelworkers uniona motley political crew if ever there was one. Supporting Nippons acquisition are those most affected by the prospect of plant closures in Pennsylvania: the rank-and-file union steelworkers (many of whom backed Trump over Harris), local Mon Valley political leaders, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat up for reelection in 2026.

Procedurally, the fate of the acquisition is in the hands of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CIFIUS.) The interagency federal panel is chaired by the Treasury secretary (at the moment, Janet Yellen) and includes officials from other key U.S. government agencies. The committees primary responsibility is to determine if the potential foreign takeover of an American company would endanger national security, and if so, block the sale. The CIFIUS review of the Nippon-U.S. Steel deal is expected before months end.

But the lobbying effort to convince both Biden and Trump to change their mind has accelerated because some of the lobbyists, union members, and political operatives involved in the fight expect CIFIUS to make a recommendation but reserve the final decision for the president. And whether or not Biden proves inflexible, Trump takes office in less than six weeks with the authority to reverse whatever choice his predecessor will have made.

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The White House did not respond to a request for comment. But if Bidens objection to the sale holds, supporters believe Trump can be swayed with enough personal engagement.

We think this deal is very aligned with the policy priorities of the incoming administration, which is bringing in a ton of investment into a strategic U.S. industry that needs it, said an individual familiar with lobbying efforts by Nippon Steel and rank-and-file union members in western Pennsylvania. This person, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, added that tariffs are not going to be enough for U.S. Steel to compete in the global marketplace going forward. (The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment.)

The material U.S. Steel fabricates is a critical component of agricultural and construction equipment, energy pipelines, and industrial machinery. Steel generally is crucial to the manufacture and maintenance of military vehicles and other hardware. So, lawmakers worrying about the takeover of a major American corporation in such a key manufacturing sector is not unexpected. But Nippon Steel believes its case for obtaining ownership of U.S. Steel is compelling.

Japan is a close ally of the U.S. in the Asia Pacific region, hosting major American military bases and forming the bulwark of Washingtons effort to contain a rising Chinaa priority Tokyo shares. Thats among Nippons main arguments against claims that its purchase of U.S. Steel would undermine national security.

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On the homefront, rank-and-file union members who work in U.S. Steels Mon Valley plants say the Nippon acquisition is the only outcome that will save their jobs. Thats because U.S. Steel is planning to close up shop and move its headquarters to Arkansas, where it has more modern facilities and an abundant non-union (i.e. less expensive) workforce, if the deal falls through. Nippon is pledging to keep the firms headquarters in Pittsburgh and invest roughly $3 billion to upgrade outdated blast-furnace plants in the Mon Valley and Gary, Indiana.

Without Japanese investment, Steel City and its surrounding environs could soon be bereft of any steel manufacturing firms or the corporate offices of firms that do such work, proponents of the deal argue. Given what such a development would mean for union jobs, opposition to Nippons proposed purchase from United Steelworkers and its president, David McCall, has been perplexing for its supporters. Aside from Biden and Trump, McCall has been the leading public face of the opposition.

In response to questions about McCalls objections, a spokesman directed The Dispatch to a November 26 letter McCall co-wrote to rank-and-file members outlining the organizations several points of contention with the deal, and with Nippon. In particular, McCall is pushing for U.S. Steel to be purchased by Cleveland-Cliffs, a domestic manufacturer headquartered in Cleveland whose lower bid was previously rejected.

Nippon Steel declined through a U.S. spokesman to comment for this story.

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But in a letter issued to U.S. Steel employees this week, Nippon Representative Director and Vice Chairman Takahiro Mori made clear the firm is not giving up on the acquisition. Notably, the letter referred to conversations with Shapiro as constructive while not mentioning Trump or Biden at all. And Shapiro does indeed seem to be a key player in the effort to change Bidens mind.

While the final decision on this proposed deal will ultimately be made by the White House alone, the Governor will continue to be actively engaged in this process, working to bring the best offers to the table and strongly advocating for the interests of Western Pennsylvania and the workers of the region to ensure the future of American steelmaking runs through Pennsylvania, the governors spokesman, Manuel Bonder, told The Dispatch in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, Moris letter also focused on the headwinds fanned by United Steelworkers.

We had hoped that continued discussions with USW leadership would result in their support for the transaction, Mori wrote. Our goal has been to listen to their concerns and build on our commitments to spend $2.7 billion in capital investments at unionized facilities, share our world-class technological innovations, and secure union jobs so that American steelworkers at U.S. Steel can manufacture the most advanced steel products in the United States for American customers.

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In painting McCall as the main obstacle to closing the deal and declining to pin any of the blame for its potential failure on Trump, Nippon is preserving the potential to negotiate with Trump down the road. As the incoming 47th president demonstrated during his first term, critics who go public with their grievances often get punished and come up empty handed, while those who push back privately are granted a hearing, and possibly, an agreement.

Read more at The Dispatch

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TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11)  When someone is doxxed, it can be more than just a leak of their information; it can rob someone of their well-being, physically and mentally.

An Essex County woman and Rutgers graduate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told PIX11 News she has multiple times been the victim of doxxing.

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When I was 18 and I first experienced this at Rutgers, it was absolutely terrifying, the woman told PIX11 News. I was working with a nonprofit as a public advocate doing anti-hate and anti-white supremacy work. My personal information, name, home address, email, phone number, were all found in lists of people that were being targeted by white supremacists.

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She said its escalated to the point where she has received packages of feces at her door.

I think the big thing is being unsure of your surroundings in places where youre supposed to feel secure, she said.

According to lawmakers, there is no statute in New Jersey right now that specifically addresses doxxing  the act of publicly sharing someones personal identifying information, which in some cases is done with negative intentions. A bill in Trenton looks to make doxxing a crime of the fourth degree  bumping it up to third degree if it results in harm or injury.

On Thursday, the Assembly Judiciary committee is set to discuss the bipartisan bill, crafted in part by Democratic Assemblyman Gary Schaer.

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The purpose of the bill I think is very clear: people need to be protected, said Schaer (D-NJ 36th District).

Assemblyman Michael Inganamort is among several Republicans backing the bill.

This is something we need to do on a bipartisan basis, said Inganamort (R-NJ 24th District). Its a common sense law and frankly, its overdue.

Attorney and former state lawmaker John Wisniewski said he has some concern the law may interfere with the First Amendment.

I think its a noble idea, I think it is a laudable goal, I do think it needs more work, said Wisniewski. I would urge not to try to force this through in a lame-duck session. Instead lets have a little study and thought about how to do this so it does not amount to unconstitutional prior restraint on speech.

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If the bill advances out of committee Thursday, it remains to be seen if it will be fast-tracked to the floor for a vote before the legislature breaks for the holiday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
NEW JERSEY (PIX11)New Jersey lawmakers are putting pressure on the federal government to release details about the mysterious drone sightings that have been occurring for weeks across the State.

Im not asking for all the secrets, said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry. I just want to know and ensure that the safety and security of my residents is maintained.

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Several New Jersey mayors said they know just as little as ordinary citizens do about the sightings.

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The governor told me Sunday night that he has been told nothing. He doesnt have details, said Mine Hill Mayor Sam Morris. And I believe him.

Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County has reported 11 confirmed drone sightings since November 13th.

Its not the result of any Picatinny activity, said Tim Rider, Public Affairs Specialist for Picatinny Arsenal.

Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown has also confirmed at least one instance of an unidentified drone entering its airspace.

NJ Congressman Josh Gottheimer said drone activity recently prevented a medical helicopter from helping a car crash victim in Somerset County. He does not, however, believe the activity overall is nefarious.

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Based on the briefings that Ive received in a classified setting, Im not concerned about any imminent threats to public safety regarding these drones, said Gottheimer.

Retired U.S. Air Force Major General James Poss tends to agree.

Theyre flying with lights on, said Gen. Poss. Theyre flying over areas where people will see themThat tells me one of two things: either theres nothing nefarious about them, or were dealing with the worlds dumbest terrorists.

NJ Governor Phil Murphy and NJ State Police are expected to meet with a select group of mayors on Wednesday morning to brief them on the latest information regarding the drone sightings.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(NewsNation)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, but Republicans are not expecting to gain much new insight.

Blinkens appearance before the GOP-led committee comes three months after it voted along party lines to hold Blinken in contempt of Congress after he previously declined to meet with lawmakers over the withdrawal.

However, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told NewsNation that he does not expect to get much cooperation from the nations top diplomat during Wednesdays hearing.

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Donald Trump: What is planned for president-elects second term?

Theyre going to divert, delay  everything to do just to keep from taking any credit for the disaster that occurred and the disasters that will occur because of us leaving billions of dollars in armaments on the ground and not destroying them, Burchett said.

He added: There was no clear plan. They were clearly out of their league .

Thirteen Americans died during the withdrawal. Earlier this year, the White House released a 12-page summary of a classified review of the exit. CBS News reported that the report largely blamed the Trump administration for striking a deal with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

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Asked by NewsNation if there is a chance Blinken does not appear before the committee, Blinken said it would not matter. He added that the delays are a further indictment on the Biden administrations handling of the matter.

I think wed get the same answers either way, he said.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The clock is ticking to use it, or lose it for the Jackson County Legislature.

The county has had more than three years to decide how to use federal COVID relief money from the American Rescue Plan Act. Now it has just three weeks with a December 31, 2024 deadline.

If they cant reach a compromise more than $70 million goes back to the federal government. With the clock ticking a special session was held Tuesday. Though in reality not much was discussed that was on the agenda. As questions about an ordinance not on the agenda, representing a different plan to spend that money, dominated the discussion.

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Some, including County Executive Frank White, support spending part of the ARPA COVID relief money on improvements to a County building at 1300 Washington. County Legislator Manny Abarca isnt in that group.

Platte County YMCA discontinuing Blue Wave swim team

Now to audaciously demand that the new body says this is the biggest, baddest thing to spend ARPA funds on is laughable, Abarca said.

He presented 35 ordinances Tuesday totaling more than $116 million of how the $70 million could be spent. Many of the 130 groups, organizations and cities that stand to benefit made their best pitch for the money. But none of the items came up for a vote. They could be discussed when the Legislature reconvenes Monday.

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One side is not to get to everything they want that is not compromise, Legislator Megan Marsall said.

An ordinance not on Tuesdays agenda was discussed most that would use that COVID money to pay first responders salaries. Legislators and the County Administrator noted it was perhaps the quickest option under a time crunch. According to Legislator Jalen Anderson money saved in the budget could then be used to address community needs.

If were going to be honest we dont have any other choice in order to save these federal funds so we dont look like a laughing stock, Anderson said.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

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There were questions whether spending the money on salaries would be legal since the pandemic is over. County Administrator Troy Schulte said he believes it would as the state did it earlier and has yet to be audited.

The county has to make a decision and submit a plan by Dec. 31, or it loses all those funds. Theyll meet again Monday.

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BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL)  The City of Bristol, Tennessee said Shelby Street was temporarily closed from 6th Street to MLK Boulevard Tuesday afternoon as the fire department battled an apartment fire.

Crews on the scene told News Channel 11 that they worked to contain the fire in the kitchen of the loft apartment on 5th Street with the help of the Bristol, Virginia Fire Department. Fire officials said that the call came in at around 3 p.m.

Kingsport sports bar announces closure

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According to fire officials, 11 department vehicles and 26 firefighters responded to the scene. The fire was contained inside the kitchen and only affected that single apartment unit.

The resident of the affected unit was displaced, according to fire crews, and the Red Cross was not requested as of this publication.

The fire department said the incident didnt seem suspicious, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Crews cleared the scene at around 5 p.m.

WJHL WJHL Photo: City of Bristol, TN

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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (NEXSTAR) South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is on Capitol Hill meeting with Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Senate ahead of her confirmation hearings to become the next federal Homeland Security security.

Two more housing projects OKd for infrastructure aid

You know president Trump campaigned on making America great again, but also making America safe again and so thats what the majority of our conversation has been, Noem said in a press gaggle. You can watch the 2-minute interaction with reporters in Washington D.C. below.

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On X, Noem has posted about meeting Republican Sen. Rand Paul, of Kentucky, and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, of Missouri.

During Wednesdays impromptu interview, Noem was asked about a CNN story published Wednesday citing McCook Lake resident Shelly Lewis criticizing Noems response to the June flooding.

The CNN story quotes Lewis as a longtime supporter of Noem.

She was not here for us. This is my home. You ignored your state, Lewis said in the CNN story.

Noems office did not comment in the CNN story.

On Wednesday, she criticized the story for leaving out some incredibly important information on the 1,000-year flood. Noem said the story was absolutely not true whatsoever.

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She said the McCook Lake families went through something extremely tragic and the state continues to work through the FEMA process to bring them resources they need.

KELOLAND News reported how Noem flew more than 1,500 miles on June 23 while dealing with the McCook Lake flooding situation. More than 100 homes were damaged with the flooding at McCook Lake and 26 houses were total losses.

Noem has also defended her decision not to activate the National Guard to respond to the flood cleanup.

Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, of North Dakota, accompanied Noem as she made the rounds on Tuesday. He posted, Its an honor to take my friend, former House colleague, and fellow Dakotan @kristinoem around the Senate as she starts her confirmation process! Kristi is tough, determined, and ready to take charge of Homeland Security to deliver the change @realDonaldTrump promised the American people.

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President-elect Trump has chosen North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to head the U.S. Dept. of Interior.

One of the Republicans Noem met with on Tuesday, Sen. Roger Marshall, of Kansas, posted, Gov. @KristiNoem is the right choice at the right time, and I have no doubt she will be a great leader at DHS. I look forward to working with her to Make America Safe Again and SECURE THE BORDER.

Noem reposted it and added, Sen. Marshall understands how the open border impacts every state, including our Midwestern states. I enjoyed talking with him about how we will close the border and make our nation SAFE.

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, posted after meeting with the South Dakota governor, Governor Noem is dedicated to fulfilling the mission of securing the border and working with Tom Homan prioritizing the deportation of criminals and those who represent a threat to our country. She is committed to transparency and working with Congress as we fulfill our oversight responsibilities. I look forward to working with her in the next four years.

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Noem also was shown walking down a hall with Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the next Judiciary Committee chair, who posted, Welcomed Gov Kristi Noem to my office today to discuss her nomination 2b Homeland Security Scty(.) Border security & govt oversight were top priorities as Im incoming chair of judic cmte which has jurisdiction over immigration policy(.)

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Central Ohios only space for young sex trafficking survivors is looking to expand its scope.

Gracehaven is a nonprofit headquartered in Columbus that helps children from all over the state. The nonprofits developmental director Vicky Thompson said its entering its 10th year and is Ohios longest-standing therapeutic group home for trafficked teens.

Ohio State-Michigan brawl: Watch body camera footage from deputies

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Theres lots of great organizations helping adult victims of trafficking, Thompson said. But in the youth space, it is limited because its hard, its expensive. It comes with a lot of understandable regulations to care for these young people because theyre minors.

Until recently, it was the only one in Ohio. In order to serve even more youth across the state, it needs the staff and volunteers to do so.

In Ohio alone, 1,100 young people are trafficked each year. A lot of people believe child sex trafficking isnt close to them, but according to Thompson, its closer to all of us than we think.

Weve had victims from the nicest school districts in central Ohio, Thompson said.

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Gracehaven offers personalized and trauma-informed care for these victims. Its been helping young sex trafficking survivors for a decade, but now, it needs your help. Thompson said its been a challenge to find, hire and train enough staff to serve these victims.

Columbus toy inventors idea becomes thriving business, plans national expansion

Stats and reality says anywhere there are people with expendable income, child sex trafficking is happening, Thompson said. Ohio is one of the worst states in the country for child sex trafficking.

Ohio has some of the highest numbers of calls in the country to the human trafficking hotline.

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Its also a testimony to the good work our state has done in trying to get involved and battle this issue, Thompson said. We have hotlines and we have lots of education.

Gracehaven typically serves more than 100 youth survivors a year from ages 11 to 19 through its community case management team. It also has a therapeutic residential group home which is currently home to eight girls.

It should alarm you that we dont serve more than that many at a time, Thompson said.

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The biggest hurdle is staffing. Thompson said it has the capacity for 24, but a license for 12.

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I hope we get to the place where we can serve 24 girls at a time, but my ultimate goal would be to work myself out of a job, Thompson said. I wish there wasnt a need.

On top of openings at its residential campus, Gracehaven is looking for help in several areas including case management, tutoring, and community outreach.

Nothing makes it easier for staff to do their job, to do their professional job if they have some trained volunteers working alongside them to lighten the load, Thompson said.

According to Thompson, they feel great about the work theyre doing.

But when you know you are scratching the top of an iceberg and that theres a lot of girls you cant help because you dont have the staff or the case management team as big as it needs to be or the volunteer support, its challenging, Thompson said.

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Thompson said filling these roles is crucial, but finding passionate individuals is just as important because its not an easy job.

Its really rewarding to be sitting where I am and look back and say this is the difference that this team has made in the life of this young person, Thompson said.

Other ways you can help are through financial contributions and donations.

Many of the times kids come to us with not much more than whats on their backs and so they need basic things, Thompson said.

By helping one person break the cycle, she said it saves the community a lot of money.

It impacts the community by hundreds of thousands of dollars, Thompson said. Just keeping that young person out of the court systems, out of the criminal system, help them finish school.

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Each year, Gracehaven hosts an event called Over the Edge to raise money for sex trafficked youth in central Ohio. They raise about $250,000 each year. Individuals raise a minimum of $1,250 to rappel 26 stories down The Chase Tower in downtown Columbus. Over the Edge 2025 will be held on June 13. Space is limited, you can register here.

Education is also key in combatting this issue. Gracehaven is hosting an educators summit this Valentines Day for those who work with youth on a daily basis. The goal is to equip them with signs and ways to respond to human trafficking. Registration opens Saturday, Dec. 14. You can register here.

For more information on the openings and volunteer opportunities at Gracehaven, visit this link.

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.
BOURBON COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  Adapting to changes is part of everyday life, even in school.

The more and more that we move through time and changes and social changes, you know Ive got to be able to adapt myself to fit what others deem as appropriate and necessary, said Bourbon County Schools Superintendent Larry Begley.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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One of the biggest changes weve seen in the education system is the introduction of nontraditional instruction days, or NTI days.

The nontraditional part would really be probably defined as anything outside of the classroom  face-to-face instruction in any creative way that you could find to fit that model, added Begley.

School districts must apply for it by submitting an application to the Kentucky Department of Education outlining what those NTI days would look like.

We do have restrictions on it  school districts can only be approved for up to ten days per school year, so I think thats the right amount, said Fayette County Education Association President Jessica Hiler.

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Right now, the NTI days can only be used for a health concern, maybe flu or COVID, but the weather, of course too  those are the ways that NTI days would be acceptable to use, said Begley.

But, like everything, there are pros and cons.

I think NTI days are really beneficial for our kids and for our teachers. I think when it comes to the safety of our students when theres a weather event, I think its the best possible opportunity so that our kids can still have some form of instruction and for our staff as well so they can be safe as well., said Hiler.

Theres always a concern to me that I hate to leave one child out, or one teacher out, or one group out. And so the equity piece is pretty important to me because weve got to work to make sure that any system that we use, whether it be traditional learning or nontraditional learning instructions, takes into account every child and doesnt put anybody at a disadvantage, added Begley.

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Begley also said NTI ideas could cause funding issues as well.

From the administrative perspective, theres a funding issue; when were utilizing NTI days for things like food service and transportation, those costs still roll, but you dont receive funding at the same level on those days that you dont have kids actually in the building.

Both Begley and Hiler see the benefits but also agree its not a perfect system.

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I think communicating with families about the expectation, said Hiler. And sometimes thats down to the school level, not even at the district level to communicate what the expectations are for that day. I think we can always do better with that.

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I think about gifted students or students that have special needs; they get those services in school, and its very hard right now to provide some of those services. A physical therapy or an occupational therapy service, said Begley. Were working toward it and its at the forefront of what were planning on.

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.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  At the U.S. Post Office at 600 Church Street in Norfolk, the lobby was full of people Monday trying to track down mail that is not showing up to their homes.

On Tuesday, yet more people were lined up at the post office to speak with Postal Service employees who were trying to help customers find their mail.

This comes as 10 On Your Side continues to get complaints by phone and email about the slow delivery of regular mail.

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John Williams said he is fed up with late mail, and on many days, not getting any mail at all.

There were lots of people down here Monday, Williams said. It was packed. It was packed yesterday, they all are complaining about the same thing. Not getting mail in over a week.

The Postal Service said the level of employees is not the issue.

Philip Bogenberger, a USPS communications specialist, said the Postal Service is improving.

In fact, our work force is so stable and robust this year that the need for seasonal workers was fewer, Bogenberger said.

So, if thats true, WIlliams wants to know where his mail is.

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If its stable, then wheres my mail, Williams said. Thats what I want to know. Where is my mail? Stable? O.K. Then where is my mail? Is my mail in the trash?

Angela Epps said at the Church Street post office that theres a lot of people in there receiving their mail.

Her grade for the Postal Service?

Id says between A and F, probably D-, she said, but Im trying to give them a chance to improve.

Delayed mail delivery has caught the eye and ire of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine.

Ive raised those issues various times with Postmaster General DeJoy and other USPS leaders, Kaine told 10 On Your Side by email. I will keep pushing to hold USPS accountable and help ensure the millions of Americans who rely on the Postal Service.

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One of the biggest concerns involves bills that are not received in time to be returned with payment before the due dates. One 10 On Your Side viewer said it has already impacted him with fees, and some dings on his credit.

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.
The North Carolina State Capitol building in Raleigh. Credit - Arpad BenedekGetty Images

The political stakes in purple states  those with small electoral margins that can swing back and forth between the two major parties  are enormous. Unlike bright blue and red states, where one party perpetually dominates all branches of government, the party in power in the small handful of competitive states is constantly worried about losing control. That creates a temptation and an incentive for the majority in the state legislature to try to alter governmental institutions to benefit their side politically.

Nowhere is this clearer than in North Carolina. On Wednesday, the Republican supermajority in the state house will try to override the veto of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper on a bill that threatens to reduce the power of incoming Democratic officials and fundamentally shift who controls parts of the state government. This is nothing new in the Tar Heel State, and the history of these power grabs reveals that closely contested elections often lead to the rawest and most brazen form of partisanship.

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For the first three quarters of the 20th century, North Carolina  like the entire South  was rock-ribbed Democratic territory. The party controlled the General Assembly and all of the statewide Council of State offices from 1901-1972.

In 1972, voters sent shockwaves throughout the state by electing Republican Jim Holshouser governor on the coattails of Richard Nixons landslide reelection (in which the incumbent president won a whopping 49 states).

The arrival of North Carolina as a competitive state created the ideal conditions for power grabs. Late in 1973, Holshouser made what News and Observer columnist Martin Donsky described as massive personnel changes in at least two agencies. The governor dispatched surrogates by helicopter to deliver news to some Democrats that their services were no longer needed.

Not surprisingly, Democrats in the General Assembly responded by clipping Holshousers wings. As columnist Paul OConnor later noted, the Democrats stripped him of many of his powers and tried to ignore his proposals. The feuding started slowly and got progressively worse.

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Read More: Mark Robinson Loses North Carolina Governor's Race

And, with that, North Carolinians had a taste for how competition could breed animus.

In 1976, the partisan pendulum swung back. After a robust victory, Democratic Governor-elect Jim Hunt acted quickly, firing so many Republican executive branch officials during the Yuletide season that it became known as the Christmas massacre. Although Republicans were taken aback at what they viewed as a power grab, they had little power in the legislative branch, which left them unable to respond with anything other than bitterness.

During Hunts tenure as governor, patterns emerged in North Carolina politics that would persist for decades. Republicans began to dominate presidential and U.S. Senate races, even as Democrats more than held their own in state and local contests.

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Ronald Reagan was a key catalyst in this shift. As he swept to reelection in 1984, Republican Jim Martin captured the North Carolina governorship, replacing the term limited Hunt.

In April 1985, three months into Martins term, Democrats in the General Assembly capped the number of gubernatorial appointments at 325 and constrained Martins freedom to nominate election board members as he wished. Instead, they required that he follow lists given to him by the two major political parties.

One Republican senator was so fed up with the changes that he proposed an amendment dripping with sarcasm. It would have kept the executive director of the State Board of Elections, Alex Brock  a Democratic appointee  or his heirs in office in perpetuity, adding that registration as a Republican shall be grounds for removal for cause. As the amendment exposed, Republicans stewed over the changes, but, other than a sarcastic shot across the bow, their minority status gave them little power to respond.

Their predicament remained the same in 1989, when Jim Gardner became the first Republican Lt. Governor elected in the 20th century, and the Democratic majority promptly stripped the office of virtually all power over shepherding legislation through the state Senate. There was simply little Republicans could do about it.

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Instead, they had to wait decades for a chance for revenge.

The combination of a good political environment for Republicans in the 2010 midterm elections and the Redistricting Majority Project (REDMAP)  undertaken by GOP strategists to flip state legislatures across the country in time for the 2011 redistricting cycle  catapulted Republicans to majority control of both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time in 100 years.

Soon after they were elected, the Republican majority fulfilled the promise of Project REDMAP by drawing, wellred maps. These maps would secure Republican dominance for the next decade. When Democrats complained, Republicans pointed towards the sordid history of Democratic gerrymandering in North Carolina and argued, essentially, that turnabout was fair play.

Then, after the 2016 election, when Republican Governor Pat McCrory lost to Democrat Roy Cooper, the Republican-controlled General Assembly did something more drastic.

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Returning for a lame duck session after the election, the General Assembly cut the number of gubernatorial appointments from more than 1500 to 300, removed the governors appointment power over University of North Carolina trustees, and required legislative confirmation of a number of key appointments.

When Democrats howled, Republicans reminded them of their own long history of power grabs. North Carolina GOP chair Dallas Woodhouse retorted, How about when Jim Hunt tried to fire all the Republicans in the Christmas massacre? And what about the Democrats stripping the Republican lieutenant governor of all his power? Was that right? Or stripping Gov. Jim Martin of his hiring authority?

Read More: Gerrymandering Isn't NewBut Now We Have a Solution

Unlike the previous power plays, however, this particular move garnered national media attention. Tara Golshan at Vox called it a shocking Republican power grab and in the New York Times, historian Karen Cox described the state of North Carolina politics as a situation that looks akin to the South of the 1890s.

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In the context of this history, legislative Republicans current maneuvering isnt surprising. The 2024 election delivered Democratic victories for half of the council of state offices  including Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction  and broke the GOPs legislative supermajority by one seat.

In response, as in 2016, GOP leaders brought the legislature back into session. They took a bill that was initially designed to streamline licensing for dentists who do research at medical schools, turned it into one that would provide relief for Western North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Heleneand then added more than 120 additional pages of changes that removed power from positions held by incoming Democratic officials and gave it to ones held by Republicans.

Under this bill, appointment power over the chair of the states 101 boards of elections would move from the governor to the state auditor. It also would eliminate the power of the attorney general (a Democrat) to take action counter to the expressed interest of the General Assembly, while reducing the already minimal power of the newly elected Democratic lieutenant governor by taking away the offices representation on various boards and commissions. Finally, the bill stripped the newly elected Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction of some oversight authority over charter schools and the Center for Safer Schools.

Outgoing Governor Cooper vetoed the legislation, proclaiming it a sham.

Republicans in the state senate quickly voted to override the veto, but the prospects of the override attempt in the state house are murkier. On Wednesday, the GOP majority is expected to attempt to override Coopers veto, but there is some doubt as to whether they have the votes because three Republican members from Western North Carolina voted against the bill initially. Should they vote no again, Coopers veto will stand and the power grab will fail.

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While the fate of this case remains uncertain, it is clear is that rather than delivering moderation and bipartisanship, electoral uncertainty in North Carolina has created the most aggressive form of raw partisanship. For decades, both parties have refused to accept losses without trying to neuter the newly elected opposition. Given the purple nature of North Carolinas politics, the prospects of this pattern changing anytime soon are slim, and it serves as a reminder that close margins for the major parties dont necessarily produce politicians running toward the middle.

Christopher Cooper is Madison distinguished professor and director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University. His book, Anatomy of a Purple State: A North Carolina Politics Primer, is available now from the University of North Carolina Press.

Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.

Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com.
Donald Trump and Republicans walked away from the 2024 election with total control in Washington, so theres been little reason for GOP politicians to lie about Democrats stealing elections or attempt to overturn the will of the voters.

In North Carolina, Republicans mostly saw big wins. They lost a state Supreme Court race, though, so now a GOP judge is dusting off Trumps election-denier playbook and claiming that more than 60,000 votes were illegally cast in an election that he lost by less than 800 votes. He is seeking to have the election overturned in his favor.

Jefferson Griffin, a current appeals court judge, lost to Justice Allison Riggs last month in a race for a seat on the states Supreme Court. He has protested his loss despite a recount confirming Riggs victory. Griffin claims that more than 60,000 voters in the Tar Heel State didnt submit their drivers license or Social Security numbers on voter registration forms, making them technically ineligible to vote. The North Carolina State Board of Elections is set to decide on the matter on Wednesday.

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A statewide machine recount has already confirmed Riggs victory by the exact number of votes  734  as was reported on Election Night. On Tuesday, results of a sample hand recount of several counties showed Riggs won by an additional 14 votes.

Among the voters whose votes Griffin is seeking to throw out are veterans and members of the military, as well as Riggs parents, civil rights attorneys, and local Republican officials, her campaign tells Rolling Stone. Griffin hired the Republican political consulting firm Coldspark, which claims to have found some 60,000 voters who had voted in November that he is claiming were ineligible.

Last week, Griffin filed a petition asking a state court to compel the North Carolina State Board of Elections to immediately decide whether to toss out the 60,273 votes he claims came from improperly registered voters. In the petition, lawyers for Griffin used very similar language about stolen elections and voter fraud that weve heard countless times from Trump when he has argued that he should have been crowned the winner in 2020.

On the evening of Election Day, Judge Griffin maintained a sizeable lead over his opponent, Justice Allison Riggs, lawyers for Griffin wrote in a petition filed Dec. 6. However, as ballots continued to trickle in over the next week, Justice Riggs took the lead in the votes.

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A federal judge has already decided against a similar claim brought by the Republican National Committee, and sent the RNCs lawsuit back to a lower court. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which has joined Riggs in her fight to hold on to her election win, says in a statement that Griffin is trying to side-step the federal courts order in that case.

It would be fundamentally unfair to disqualify the votes of more than 60,000 North Carolinians  thereby denying them their fundamental right to vote  when each of those voters registered and voted in the manner provided by law, the Lawyers Committee argued in court.

In addition to Wednesdays decision by the State Board of Elections, Griffin has sued in state court to force the board to decide whether to throw out the 60,000-plus votes, and the matter could rise to the level of the state Supreme Court itself. Meanwhile, Republicans in the North Carolina House have introduced a bill that would strip incoming Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, of his power to appoint the fifth member of the state election board  Democrats and Republicans get two board seats each  and instead give that power to incoming state auditor Dave Boliek, a Republican.

At issue are ballots from voters living overseas, including members of the military, a category of voter known as UOCAVA, short for the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, a federal law. The Lawyers Committee, Riggs campaign, and others have argued that voters whose registrations dont include drivers license or Social Security numbers shouldnt have their ballots canceled simply because the registration forms they filled out did not ask for that information  even if those forms violated state law.

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In petitions filed in state court as well as official protests filed with the state board of elections, Griffin claims that the voters who illegally cast ballots in November consist of more than 60,000 people whose registrations do not include Social Security or drivers license numbers; 289 absentee voters who Griffin claims have never lived in North Carolina; and thousands of overseas voters whose absentee ballots were not sent in with a photo ID.

This court need not let the public trust in the electoral process crumble further, Griffins attorneys wrote in one of his petitions. Griffins campaign and his attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did Coldspark, the Pennsylvania-based consulting firm that conducted the analysis leading to the judges challenge.

Riggs campaign says there are obvious explanations for the discrepancies cited by Griffin. First, veterans and members of the military could have used their military ID or passport numbers when filling out voter registration forms. Secondly, the database that Coldspark relied on to conduct its analysis  which was provided to the firm by the state election board  was likely not fully accurate or up to date.

Still, Griffin has pressed on, filing protests to his election loss and demanding in court that the board throw out 60,273 votes  most of which are expected to be for Riggs, according to an independent analysis that shows Black voters are twice as likely to have their registrations challenged under Griffins protests.

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If Griffin succeeds in persuading the election board  which is majority Democrat  to negate the more than 60,000 votes being called into question, Griffin would become the sixth Republican on the state Supreme Court. Currently, Riggs is one of just two Democrats serving on the court.

Griffins claims of voters with improper registrations flooding voter rolls mirror those made by a Republican county election official who warned GOP legislators that ineligible voters could sway the November election toward Democrats up and down the ticket. (Trump won the state by three points.)

Prior to the election, Linda Rebuck of the Henderson County Election Board emailed three Republican members of the state legislature to express concerns about votes being illegally cast.

I want to strongly state my belief that if you do not intervene immediately either legislatively or legally, we are going to lose NC to the Dems in November which will likely mean we lost the country, Rebuck wrote in emails obtained by ABC News 13.

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Rebuck went on to make the unfounded claim that there was a statewide skyrocketing of improperly registered voters. I believe this is a concerted effort to turn Henderson County blue, she wrote. I have heard numbers as high as 300,000 statewide so far. I believe that there is a statewide effort under way (sic) to undermine the election.

Rebuck was reprimanded by the State Board of Elections, which called her emails partisan statements that undermined the publics confidence in the fair administration of elections.

In its response to Rebuck, the state board sought to allay her concerns over improper registrations, citing state law and other rules and procedures in place to prevent ineligible voters  like felons and noncitizens  from registering to vote. Griffin cited those responses in his own arguments that the 60,000-plus votes should be thrown out, setting up a possible legal fight over interpretations of state law regarding voter registration forms, as well as technical disputes over the forms themselves.

Any North Carolinian (or American) who cares about free and fair elections should be concerned by these protests. They represent an attempt to engineer a new outcome rather than accepting the will of the voters, Riggs campaign spokesperson Embry Owen tells Rolling Stone. What is even more troubling is that theyre being brought by a sitting appellate judge.

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SEOUL, South Korea  North Korean state media reported for the first time Wednesday on the political instability in South Korea, focusing on mass protests calling for the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law.

North Korea, a nuclear-armed communist state that technically remains at war with the South, had said nothing for a week after the deeply unpopular Yoon, 63, plunged the East Asian democracy and key U.S. ally into chaos with his short-lived martial law declaration.

Yoon had justified the martial law order in part by accusing opposition lawmakers without evidence of being North Korean sympathizers.

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An article published by the state news agency KCNA described social unrest in South Korea, where Yoons People Power Party says he has been effectively suspended from duty, raising questions about who is running the worlds 10th-largest economy.

The article, which relied heavily on reports from South Korean and international news media, highlighted the domestic opposition Yoon faces in a country with a long history of military-authoritarian rule.

The shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol regime, which was faced with a serious governance crisis and an impeachment crisis, suddenly declared a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielded the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship, KCNA said.

Yoon Suk Yeol, who was faced with the possibility of being kicked out, committed an insane act that was reminiscent of the coup during the military dictatorship several decades ago and that drew strong condemnation from all walks of life, including the opposition party and further ignited the public anger demanding impeachment.

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The international community is sternly watching, with assessments that the martial law incident exposed vulnerabilities in South Korean society ... and that Yoon Suk Yeols political life could face an early end, KCNA said.

The report was in line with how North Korea generally responds to unpopular decisions by South Korean leaders, said Rob York, director for regional affairs at Pacific Forum, a foreign policy research institute in Honolulu.

North Korean state media is happy to highlight the failings and dictatorial tendencies among South Korean leaders when they emerge, as well as mass opposition to them, he said.

North Korea has been accelerating weapons testing and ratcheting up its rhetoric against South Korea, the U.S. and others. But it is unlikely to take advantage of the political situation in South Korea to make any military moves, York said.

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North Korea is probably aware that the [South Korean] armed forces would be on guard for any kind of provocation, he said.

Soldiers leaving the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, after a martial law order was lifted early Wednesday.

Even more than the strength of the South Korean military  which is bolstered by the presence of nearly 30,000 American troops  North Korea would be deterred by the fact that some of its most elite forces have been deployed to fight with Russia against Ukraine, York said.

It is also likely to be focused on the ongoing turmoil in Syria; North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had a close relationship with ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad.

A motion to impeach Yoon failed Saturday when lawmakers from his party boycotted the vote. A second impeachment vote is set to be held this Saturday at 5 p.m. local time (3 a.m. ET). It is unclear whether that will pass.

Stella Kim reported from Seoul and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
North Korea has called South Korea a 'fascistic dictatorship' after its short-lived martial law.

South Korea has democratic elections, while Kim Jong Un exerts near-total control over North Korea.

An article in North Korean state media also referred to South Korea's president as a "puppet."

North Korea has called South Korea a dictatorship after the latter's short-lived attempt at martial law.

Last week, South Korea's president, Yoon Suk-yeol, declared martial law in the country in a surprise announcement, citing the need to eliminate "anti-state" forces.

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The unexpected decision was met with widespread protests, and hours later South Korea's parliament voted down the measure. Yoon's government quickly rescinded it.

In an article published by North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency on Wednesday, the situation in South Korea was characterized as "pandemonium."

It referred to Yoon as a "puppet" who proclaimed martial law "in a bid to escape from the worst ruling crisis."

Kim Jong Un exerts near-total control over North Korea's population, using extensive surveillance, state-run media, suppressing dissent, and offering no real choice in elections.

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The article also criticized South Korea as a "fascist dictatorship," which it said was under the watch of the international community.

In reality, North Korea is widely regarded as a global pariah due to Kim's authoritarian governance, whereas South Korea is recognized as a democratic nation.

According to Freedom House's Freedom in the World rankings, South Korea scores 83 out of 100. In contrast, North Korea scores just 3 out of 100 and is designated "not free."

Martial law is no longer in place in South Korea, and Yoon is now under investigation for treason, with a travel ban preventing him from leaving the country.

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But over the weekend an attempt to impeach Yoon narrowly failed after many lawmakers from his ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote. The main opposition party is expected to continue its impeachment efforts.

During the political chaos that rocked South Korea last week, there were concerns that North Korea might exploit the turmoil, using a moment of weakness to its advantage.

Business Insider reported that this could take the form of propaganda designed to erode trust in democracy in South Korea.

Read the original article on Business Insider
SKOPJE. North Macedonia (AP)  North Macedonias Constitutional Court on Wednesday postponed a ruling on a controversial law concerning the use of minority languages, triggering a new round of ethnic tensions in the tiny Balkan country.

The 2019 law made Albanian a second official language in areas with a significant population of ethnic Albanians. It faces multiple legal challenges regarding its constitutionality, some focused on specific articles and others concerning the entire law.

Court officials said the delay will allow further deliberations and input from foreign experts and could take up to three months.

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Ethnic Albanians make up roughly a quarter of North Macedonias 2 million population, in a country slightly larger than the U.S. state of Vermont.

Several hundred demonstrators joined a protest outside the court Wednesday organized by the DUI, an ethnic Albanian opposition party. The party warned that any rollback would destabilize the countrys fragile ethnic balance.

North Macedonias multi-ethnic composition was formalized in the 2001 Ohrid Agreement, which ended a brief ethnic conflict and granted broader rights to ethnic Albanians. The DUI accuses the current conservative government of attempting to undermine those gains.

Any attempt to repeal parts of the Law on the Use of Languages would be absolutely unacceptable for us, a DUI statement said. Such actions would upend the balance between communities and damage the basic pillars of the Ohrid Agreement.

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The law has drawn criticism from both domestic and international observers, including the Venice Commission, the Council of Europes advisory body on constitutional matters.

In 2019, it noted ambiguities in the law, particularly in its application to judicial proceedings.

Critics also argue that it fails to clarify whether certain provisions apply solely to Albanian or to other minority languages, such as Turkish, Roma, and Serbian.

Bujar Osmani, the DUI party's deputy leader, said he was concerned by the absence of ethnic minority judges during Wednesdays session.

Such mono-ethnic meetings or sessions have always been a harbinger of bad times in multi-ethnic states, Osmani said. This is not just a cause for the Albanian language, but for the protection of a multi-ethnic European Macedonia.

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Both the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party and the opposition Social Democrats have condemned the politicization of the issue.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski accused the DUI of exploiting ethnic tensions for political gain.

They are again abusing Albanians, Macedonians, and others, harassing everyone with attempts to divide and attract attention, Mickoski said.
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU)  On Tuesday, North Sioux City voters decided whether or not the current form of city government should be changed.

North Sioux City voters had two options on Tuesdays ballot: Yes or No. A few people told KCAU 9 they didnt want things to change.

I stand on the no vote, resident Bob Greiner said.

Today I voted no, so that we could keep the current existing government in North Sioux the same structure and style as it is, resident David Wilch said.

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Voting Yes would change North Sioux City to a five-commissioner form of government  a mayor and four commissioners  while also eliminating the citys ward system, meaning it wouldnt matter what part of the city the commissioners lived in. Meanwhile, No would leave the city government as is with four wards, two aldermen for each ward, and a mayor.

I think weve got a great setup in North Sioux, where we have representation from multiple wards across the entire city, Wilch said. I think everybodys voices get to be heard really well in that setup. I also think that weve got a great, just representation across the city from a leadership perspective.

The representation would shift more towards other areas in the central part of the city, and I believe this new way centralized as a power way too much on the mayor, Greiner said.

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The special election was started due to a petition with just under 600 signatures being submitted to the City Council in late October. It was then filed a week later on Nov. 4.

A few voters felt the process was too quick and that they were ill-informed about what they were voting on leading up to Tuesday.

We received a letter like less than a week ago saying theres the election and didnt really explain it very well, so then I researched it and found out what was going on, Greiner said.

I went over to City Hall and just asked, hey,has there been anything posted? Because I havent seen anything and we havent really received any literature on it other than this weekend, Wilch said. We just got a laundry list from one side of what the positives of this move would be if people said yes.

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Woman taken to hospital after South Sioux City house fire

Wilch was one of the many people to have signed the petition that initiated the special election, but still voted no on the matter due to little to no information of the pros and cons of changing the citys government.

I think its really important that we bring things to the open forum so that voters like myself, residents like myself, can then become informed, because youre not going to become informed just on a quick doorstep knock where theres a lot of vagueness, he said. It was alluded to that it would be a while out so that we could have a lot of discussion and so that everybody could get informed.

While speaking with voters, many said they felt the election could go either way.

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Northlight Theatre told the Tribune Tuesday that it plans finally to break ground on a new Evanston home in early March. The new theater building, which is projected to cost around $32 million, is expected to be ready in time for the 2026-27 season. Construction is expected to be substantially complete by the summer of 2026.

Northlight says it has raised $26.2 million toward that cost and plans a continued public campaign this winter to secure the remaining $6 million. Either way, enough money has been raised for construction to get underway.

Northlight Theatre has long been in residence at the North Shore Center for the Arts in Skokie, although the bulk of its audience subscriber base lives in and around Evanston. A campaign for the new building has been years in gestation, and has focused on several different Evanston addresses. In 2021, the theater finally purchased (and then razed) property at 1012 Church St. in the near northern suburb, next to the restaurant called The Barn, which will remain in place. Cost issues have meant that plans for the building were scaled down over the years.

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Nonetheless, the groundbreaking is a big win for the veteran leadership team of artistic director BJ Jones and executive director Tim Evans. Northlight is a storied name in nonprofit Chicago theater, stretching back more than 50 years to its founding as the Evanston Theatre Company. The new development (comprised of a 285-seat theater as well as a lobby, bar and rehearsal hall) is likely to be a boost for other downtown Evanston restaurants and retail businesses.

Northlight Theatre was famously rebuffed in the 1990s from moving to the nearby suburb of Wilmette and the extent of its embrace in Evanston has depended on location.

Its been an incredible journey, Evans said. We feel good that we got through all the hurdles. And we can expand the building down the road.

This allows us to return to our roots, Jones said. This allows to have control over our artistic lives and truly collaborate with Evanstons rich artistic community. We will be able to give Evanston the artistic center it has not really had before.

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Given the free parking long available in Skokie, Northlight has been quick to reassure its subscribers that the theater will be similarly convenient for arriving by car or, now, public transportation. We will have a parking lot at the back of the building, Evans said, and we are working out arrangements with the city garages that will have free or discounted parking for our patrons. And we will even have valet service for those who prefer.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com
FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his intention to resign from the bureau in an employee town hall on Wednesday.

According to NBC News, the Donald Trump appointee said he would step down at the end of President Joe Biden's administration, leaving behind a role he's held since 2017. Trump nominated loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI in November, signaling his intention to show Wray the door.

Wray said his resignation would keep the FBI out of a drawn-out political fight.

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"After weeks of careful thought, Ive decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current Administration in January and then step down," Wray said. "My goal is to keep the focus on our mission... In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work."

Though Wray was Trump's choice to replace former FBI Director James Comey, the president-elect has soured on the director following his investigations into Trump. In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday, Trump accused Wray of "invading" his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago while looking into Trump's handling of classified documents.

I cant say Im thrilled with him. He invaded my home. Im suing the country over it. He invaded Mar-a-Lago," he said. "Im very unhappy with the things hes done."

Patel's nomination stoked fears of a second Trump term focused on retribution and revenge. Patel has threatened to prosecute people who debunked Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged in favor of Democrats.

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"Were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections," Patel told Steve Bannon in 2023. "Were going to come after you, whether its criminally or civilly. Well figure that out."

During his meeting with employees on Wednesday, Wray expressed regret that his term as head of the FBI had to end this way.

"It should go without saying, but Ill say it anyway  this is not easy for me," he shared. "I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people  but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing whats right for the FBI."

Trump celebrated the news of Wray's resignation in a post to Truth Social.

"The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice. I just dont know what happened to him," he wrote. "I look forward to Kash Patels confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One by one, residents in Southeast Nashville shared their safety concerns at a Monday night meeting.

Im terrified of where I live, expressed one Southeast Nashville resident. I am terrified.

Many at the District 29 community meeting with Metro Nashville police officers on Dec. 9 agreed with that message.

MNPD to increase police presence with the hope of reducing call response times in Antioch

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In place of MNPD Chief John Drake, four officers listened to concerns and answered questions on topics ranging from license plate readers, Sky Cop cameras, and police response times.

One resident took the stand, sharing an experience where a car sped past him, and the driver fired shots into the air.

He goes past me probably at 65 miles per hour, a hand comes out, and I hear a pop pop pop, described Tom Holland. Goes on down and pops again. He was shooting exactly where I had taken my granddaughter fishing like three weeks ago.

This place is so unsafe, he added.

Another resident recalled crimes in the precinct that have occurred in recent months.

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Weve had a young 15-year-old girl murdered, Michele Vetter, a Southeast Nashville resident, said. Weve had three shootings in the Mapco parking lot.

Metros vote against Fusus reminiscent of vote for license plate readers

The majority of resident speakers expressed how they do not feel seen or heard by the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) when a crime is taking place.

You get calls about gunfire, because for a while we called every night, and then we just stopped calling because it was every night, explained Geri, another Southeast Nashville resident. I just said, Look, they do it every night. Im not going to call you every night because what I get is, Oh, you are in Antioch, arent you?'

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I do not feel safe, another resident expressed. My mother is 84. She does not feel safe.

Annette Filippone, a resident in the area, told News 2 it was distressing to hear people ask how they can collect evidence from a possible crime scene if police response is delayed.

We want to make it a very inconvenient place for a criminal to be, Filippone said. It is hard to watch my neighbors ask, How do I pick up these casings? Whats the best way to do it? How should I do it? You know, it was just so sad. Thats just the sign of the times, but it doesnt have to be that way.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

MNPD officers in attendance provided insight into what it looks like to serve and protect the precinct.

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Officers are responding, but they have to prioritize those calls for service based on seriousness, said Deputy Chief Chris Gilder.

The DAs office works with the traffic division to make sure those that are stopped are prosecuted, one of the things that they have been doing to enhance the charges for the street racers is charging them with incitement of a riot, explained Ken Walburn, commander for the Hermitage Precinct.

The Chief is getting more Sky Cops for the precincts, said Kevin Lovell, commander for the South Precinct. Once those come in, we will be able to dispatch those out to different locations and rotate them equally every two weeks.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

After hearing how police are working with limited resources, Filippone said officers are trying their best and need the communitys help, emphasizing the immediate need for license plate readers.

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We have to use the technology that is available and give our police department the best shot at helping people, she concluded. Every citizen deserves protection.

Following Monday nights meeting, Filippone created a petition pushing for the installment of license plate readers. She also told News 2 she feels confident that MNPD and council members in the room heard the communitys cries for more safety.

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CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  The teenager charged in Lily Peters death has entered a plea of not guilty. The (now) 16-year-old appeared by video and stood silent during his arraignment Tuesday morning (12/10/24) in Chippewa County Court as the pleas were entered on his behalf on all 3 counts.

The teenager is charged with 1st-degree intentional homicide and 2 counts of sexual assault in the 2022 murder of the then-10-year-old Peters. She was reported missing on the night of April 24th, 2022. The next day her body was discovered in a wooded area in Chippewa Falls.

A motion hearing was scheduled during the arraignment on Tuesday. That hearing is when the trial date could be set. In court, Judge Steven Gibbs explained, I know the court is already doing its busy calendar booking into November 2025 right now. The likelihood of this being a 2026 case is probably where its going to fall. I agree with some of the anticipated motions that I anticipate your filing may have an effect on where this trial is held. well take that up at the April 30th hearing.

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In September of this year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the case would remain in adult court. The judge also confirmed that after the arraignment, the suspects name could be released. Up until now, he has only been referred to by his initials.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Hardin County Fire Department worked to put out a fire at a hotel in Savannah, Tennessee on Wednesday morning.

The fire department said as of 7:07 a.m., the fire at the Sleep Inn hotel was under control, but the area was deemed not safe for anyone.

The 4-story hotel was under construction and was unoccupied at the time of the fire. No one was injured, officials say.

The HCFD later said that the building was ruled a total loss. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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ELKRIDGE, Md. (DC News Now)  The suspected killer of the United Healthcare CEO, Luigi Mangione, and his family have deep ties to Maryland.

DC News Now confirmed that his family owns and operates assisted living facilities across the region called Lorien Health Services.

Some people at the facility say they were surprised to hear of the United Healthcare CEOs shooting and never thought there would ever be any such connections here.

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A woman visiting her elderly family member who lives at Lorien Elkridge did not wish to be identified but said the shooting was a shame.

I think that its very scary to know that someone that has caused such an act thats linked up to, you know, a place such as this, said the woman.

Maryland Delegate Nino Mangione postpones event after Luigi Mangiones murder arrest

According to the company website, the Mangione family founded Lorien Health Services more than 40 years ago.

A former roommate of Mangione described him to NewsNation as a generous and kind person.

Shocked and crushed as I am, you know, something like this  that he went about something like this, said former roommate R.J. Martin. It really seems  from the person that I lived with. It seems unimaginable.

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Martin says Mangione came to Hawaii with a back injury and was doing everything he could to avoid being in pain.

NewsNation also spoke with a former classmate of Mangione, Freddy Leatherbury.

He said he never thought the surveillance photos of the shooting would turn out to be Mangione.

Nothing connected to me that when I saw the surveillance footage and its so impressive to me that the McDonalds worker of all people who had never seen this person in his lifepicked him out of a crowd basically and said I know that guy, hes the wanted guy says former classmate Freddy Leatherbury. That to me is crazy but I had never really drawn that connection. Now after seeing the name applied and seeing the pictures again. I definitely do see that though.

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A representative for the family released a statement saying in part: Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  NYC Health and Hospitals has over 300 jobs for multiple positions in the Bronx.

The positions, ranging from behavioral health associates to clerical associates, are scattered at several hospitals in the Bronx, such as Jacobi Medical Center, Lincoln Hospital, and community health centers.

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At Jacobi, a behavioral health associate has a salary of $57,258.

Other jobs, such as a clerical associate position, require applicants to have a high school diploma and a few months of clerical experience and pay $47,100, according to the job listing.

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Other positions, like social workers, require a masters degree and certification and pay $82,400. Another position at Lincoln Hospital has an opening for a radiologic technologist, which has a salary of $86,726.

NYC Health + Hospitals employees work together to provide comprehensive, personalized care for all New Yorkers. We are committed to providing a person-centered care environment and are looking for individuals that exemplify Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, the website reads.

According to their website, benefits for most positions include paid time off and a liberal holiday package of up to 11 days. Health and hospital employees are also eligible for other benefits, such as the New York City Employee Retirement System pension plan. Employees can also be included in the New York City Deferred Compensation Plan and the NYC Health + Hospitals Tax Deferred Arrangement Plan.

Union positions also offer additional benefits such as tuition reimbursement, life insurance, and health club reimbursements.

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For a list of the complete jobs and their requirements in the Bronx, click here.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
New York City has paid the federal monitor in charge of tracking violence and use of force in the citys jails more than $22.4 million through the end of this October, figures obtained by the Daily News show.

The total taxpayer bill for eight years of oversight is $22,496,096 starting in fiscal 2016 and extending through Oct. 31  including $535,000 from July 1 to Oct. 31, the figures show. The bill for fiscal 2024, ended June 30, was $2.3 million, according to the figures.

The head of the team, correction consultant Steve Martin, has earned $3.07 million alone over the eight-year period, while Tillid LLC, the consulting firm led by deputy monitor Anna Friedberg, has been paid $9.8 million, according to the figures.

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The monitoring team has compiled dozens of reports that have exposed problems in the management of the jails by the Correction Department.

This figure is a reminder that the staggering cost of Rikers dysfunction and brutality is not just the more than $2 billion spent on [Correction Department] operations every year, but also the cost of multiple monitors, and millions more to settle lawsuits, said Darren Mark, co-founder of Freedom Agenda, an advocacy group.

All while the same communities that have been funneled into Rikers for decades stay waiting for the investments they need to thrive.

Friedberg, the deputy monitor, did not reply to an email for comment. Under the contract with the city, the monitoring team is barred from public comment without prior approval.

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The monitoring team was appointed in 2015 in federal court as part of a settlement in the Nunez class action lawsuit, which alleged widespread violence and uses of force by staff were a result of mismanagement by the city.

On Nov. 27, Manhattan Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain held the city in contempt of multiple court orders and said she is inclined to appoint a receiver with broad powers to run the jail system.

A key difference between the monitor and a receiver is the monitor can only make recommendations while a receiver would have powers to set policy with approval from Swain.

A key hearing where the parties will lay out their proposals for a receiver is slated for Jan. 14.
Munchies, where casual dining and creative dishes served in massive proportions blended with live entertainment, is closing its doors in downtown Colorado Springs at the end of 2024.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  A major decision regarding the citys new landfill site is stirring controversy. The city has announced the location for Oahus next landfill: a site in Central Oahu. However, critics are raising concerns, saying it could put the islands aquifer at risk.

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The new landfill will be located on agricultural land, 3.5 miles northwest of Wahiawa and 1.5 miles west of the Dole Plantation, near Kamehameha Highway.

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The site was selected from six locations evaluated by the Landfill Advisory Committee.

This site is legally acceptable under federal and state laws, including Act 73, because it is away from groundwater wells and residences, its accessible by a major state highway, it has flat terrain, and we know we can build and operate a landfill here without harming the environment, said Roger Babcock, director of the Department of Environmental Services.

Oahu has a new Safehaus: Youre invited to its open house

But the decision is already proving divisive, with concerns about its potential risk to the islands aquifer. The selected site is located about 800 feet above the aquifer, raising alarms from the Board of Water Supply.

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Strong trade winds may prompt Red Flag Warnings

We need water for life. Ola i ka wai, ka wai ola. Potential threats to our water resources, you know where Ill be coming from. So, I look forward to receiving more information and details, said Ernie Lau, chief engineer with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

The city, however, said it will build the landfill with a double-liner system, using the same material that protects against leakage at current landfills.

Give the gift of the worlds rarest, most award-winning chocolates this holiday season

Were 100% confident we can design and operate the next landfill on this site and ensure the protection of the underground aquifer from contamination, Babcock said.

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Still, the decision has not been well received by Councilmember Matt Weyer, whose district includes central Oahu.

Bird flu detected at wastewater sampling site in Hilo

Im disappointed and concerned. Im going to stay in contact and continue conversations with the Board of Water Supply and the administration, Weyer said.

Others, however, are viewing the landfill as an opportunity.

The state has failed so far to address agricultural issues out there. So we look at this as an opportunity. If theyre coming into our district with a landfill, what other solutions can we bring in to address some of our communitys problems? said Hawaii State Senator Breton Awa, who represents Central and Windward Oahu.

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Beyond concerns about the aquifer, the community has raised other issues, including the loss of agricultural land and increased traffic.

How much traffic? This is our main road for tourists heading to the North Shore. Theyre coming right through Wahiawa, so between Wahiawa and the North Shore, well probably see increased traffic. These are two-lane roads, and with bigger trucks, we need more information about this, said Kathleen Pahinui, North Shore Neighborhood Board chair.

With the announcement made, the city plans to hold extensive public outreach with area elected officials and neighborhood boards as they move forward.

There is no path forward for us that does not involve the creation of a new landfill on Oahu, said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

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The city has been in contact with Dole Food Company to negotiate the purchase of 150 acres of their 2,360-acre property. We reached out to the company for comment.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

The city has a deadline to close the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill by 2028.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Dec. 10A leading supporter quietly removed the obliterated remnants of The Satanic Temple statue of an occult deity after vandals destroyed it overnight Monday at State House Plaza.

State Rep. Ellen Read, D-Newmarket, first invited the Salem, Mass.-based organization to bring its display to provide a celebration of secularism to balance out the religious holiday showings.

She came back to State House Plaza early Tuesday morning and placed what was left of the crumpled statue into the back of her red sedan.

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Read turned the remnants over to Satanic Temple executives and said the group will decide whether to bring another icon back to the property since it has a permit to display one that runs past Christmas.

Vandals had left the legs of the black Baphomet standing, but its goat head was on the ground, robes crumpled and panel of Seven Fundamental Tenets of the organization was broken into pieces.

Earlier Monday, there had been a less dramatic vandalism incident when someone had struck the panel of the tenets with an object that caused the marble to crack.

According to published reports, Concord Police have received video footage from private surveillance cameras on Park and North Main streets in its criminal investigation into the vandalism.

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Concord Mayor Byron Champlin said he'll name a committee to decide by next December whether the city will continue to approve permits for "unattended" statues or displays.

He condemned the earlier vandalism.

A Nativity scene put up by the Grange was left unharmed after the temple statue's destruction.

"My preference was to deny the permit and accept the risk of the threatened lawsuit," Champlin said at the end of the City Council meeting Monday night. "I oppose the permit because I believe the request was made not in the interest of promoting religious equity but in order to drive an anti-religious agenda."

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Statue sparked social media response

Champlin said lawsuit threats by the organization amounted to "legal extortion" that he wasn't going to accept.

"This is about an out-of-state organization cynically exploiting its national agenda at the expense of this community," Champlin said.

Champlin said the temple is not a religion, and he called any suggestion it was a "smokescreen for a deliberately provocative and disturbing effigy."

Given it came during the holiday season, Champlin said a more appropriate effigy would have been the Grinch, the green creature from Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

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Read said she was not surprised the statue would create such intolerance by some.

"Nobody would have batted an eye two months ago at a mannequin in a goat mask when it was Halloween. Nobody would have been upset," she said. "Two months later, it's the most offensive thing imaginable. They just have an emotional reaction, and their only response is 'destroy.'"

Read said the statue is meant to be "thought-provoking," but when it threatens someone's own personal view about religion and deity, "sadly some can respond with violence."

The permit approval by a majority of the Concord City Council ignored a few hundred comments on social media, some condemning, others saluting the city's decision.

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Beth Lomartire of Concord said she's a member of The Satanic Temple.

"The mayor's comments regarding The Satanic Temple's display and his LACK of comments regarding its destruction, were bigoted, unamerican, intolerant, and offensive," Lomartire wrote on Facebook.

"I wonder what he would have had to say if someone decided to vandalize the nativity display, defaced baby Jesus, or cut down the Christmas tree? Btw, Mayor Champlin, TST is legally recognized as a religious organization/church by the United States government."

Seven principles

The Satanic Temple is not the Church of Satan, which advocates devil worship. The temple is a "non-theistic religion and sociopolitical movement that promotes empathy, equity, and social justice."

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The group espouses seven principles of harmony such as, "One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason" and "The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions."

Prior to its beheading, the goat-headed icon had been holding a bouquet of artificial lilacs in its right hand and an apple in its left, the latter depicting the group's "quest for knowledge," according to a spokesman.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
While Cincinnati officials announced Wednesday the arrests of four people charged in connection with a fire that damaged Interstate 471 at the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, they presented few answers to key questions  most crucially, the why and how behind the blaze.

Despite that, they said they were certain in their theory that two of the four set the fire intentionally, and Mayor Aftab Pureval called for the four to receive the "strongest penalty possible."

Those charged are: Zachary Stumpf, 23; Terry Stiles, 39; Kaitlen Hall, 24, and James Hamilton, 26. Hall, Stiles and Hamilton live at the same address in Arlington Heights, Ohio, according to court records, while Stumpf's address is listed in Owensville in Clermont County.

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Stumpf and Stiles are accused of intentionally setting the overnight raging fire Nov. 1 at a playground beneath the bridge, which is known locally as the Big Mac Bridge. The flames grew so intense that the fire warped the metal and undermined the structural integrity of the bridge, which is expected to keep the southbound highway closed through March.

Court documents suggest there are videos and photographs, as well as witnesses, linking Stumpf and Stiles to the fire. Wednesday morning, Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Heather Russell set the men's bonds at $1 million during an arraignment of the four suspects.

Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley speaks to reporters during a Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, press conference about the arrests of four people in connection with a devastating fire at the David Carter Beard Bridge.

Hamilton and Hall face lesser charges of hindering the police investigation by refusing to cooperate when questioned and giving investigators false information. They were being held on $60,000 bonds.

"This is just the beginning of justice being served," Pureval said. "Now that we have these perpetrators in custody, now that we have them charged, it is incumbent upon the justice system and prosecutors to do everything they can to hold them accountable."

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Whether there's enough evidence gathered to implicate the foursome is unclear. Hall's public defender on Wednesday said the case against his client was "essentially ... just words."

Hourslong standoff before surrender

Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley described a dramatic scene Tuesday at the suspects' Arlington Heights home on Erkenbrecher Avenue, where fire and police investigators arrived to execute a search warrant shortly before noon. Hall was arrested without incident, McKinley said, but authorities dispatched a drone that found Stiles and Stumpf hiding in the home's attic.

Once discovered, the duo refused to come out, McKinley said. Then came an hourslong standoff, followed by the arrival of a Hamilton County Association SWAT team  though Stiles and Stumpf surrendered before the SWAT team was deployed. Hamilton was arrested soon after.

"Because this investigation is still ongoing, some sensitive details cannot be shared, including specifics surrounding how the fire started," McKinley said. His later comments suggested investigators don't know how the fire started, and he said outright that a motive is unclear.

Work continues Monday on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge over the Ohio River.

City Manager Sheryl Long lauded the fire department for its work investigating a difficult scene.

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"We're talking about 40-foot flames, temperatures that reached thousands of degrees and the complete destruction of the area under the bridge," she said.

Long lamented the havoc wreaked on motorists, who will be affected by the partial bridge closure well into 2025. She said that while the city is "working to alleviate the stress as much as possible," commuters should plan extra time when traveling in or near downtown Cincinnati for the foreseeable future.

The Daniel Carter Beard bridge carries an estimated 97,900 vehicles across the Ohio River every day. The blaze began at the Sawyer Point 1000 Hands Playground, which was full of wood and synthetic materials that served as fuel to help the flames reach several thousand degrees.

Suspects 'thought nothing of the community,' mayor says

Pureval said the four suspects "thought nothing of the community around them."

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"It is my hope they get the strongest penalty possible to make sure that justice is served and nothing like this ever happens again," he said.

Hall, Hamilton and Stumpf each appeared for their Wednesday arraignments in the Hamilton County Justice Center, but Stiles did not.

Zachery Stumpf, 23, is arraigned on aggravated arson charges at the Hamilton County Justice Center, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.

Cincinnati Fire Specialist Stephen Metz, who investigated the fire, said in court Stiles made it clear "he would never go back to jail. He'd rather die."

Stiles previously served eight years in prison after pleading guilty in 2005 to felonious assault for hitting and shaking his girlfriend's infant son, who suffered permanent brain damage in the attack. In 2019, the child, Carl Leggett Jr., died, leading Stiles to face a murder charge that was later dismissed.

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Authorities told The Enquirer that Stiles refused Wednesday to cooperate with authorities, fighting against having his mugshot taken. He was outfitted with a spit screen to prevent him from spitting on others.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Officials give few details on motive of Daniel C. Beard Bridge fire
Dec. 10OGDENSBURG  The city will be applying for federal funds to help cover the purchase of a new mini-pumper that would be used for firefighters responding to emergency calls.

According to an approved resolution that was not on Monday's City Council meeting agenda, the city will seek $452,900 in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for a mini-pumper "quick attack apparatus." If successful, the city's share would be $21,566.

The grant application is due Dec. 20.

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This is the second round of grants through the AFG this year. In March, the city sought $385,000 in funding to purchase a new boat that could assist firefighters in water rescue and firefighting operations.

Fire Chief Kenneth Stull said the AFG is highly competitive and based on firefighter safety.

With an aging fleet, the mini-pumper would allow the department's older pumpers to stay off the road when firefighters respond to EMS calls, according to the fire chief.

A bonus is that firefighters can still fight fires with the unit.

"This mini-pumper is capable of fighting fire. It will have a 300-gallon water tank, 1,000-gallon-a-minute pump and will be able to actually use it to fight a structure fire so they would always be in a truck that has firefighting capability," Stull said.

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"The objectives of the AFG Program are to provide critically needed resources that equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, outfit responders with compliant personal protective equipment to increase responders' physical protection against hazards during incident response, provide funding to retrofit or modify facilities to protect personnel from known health hazards, acquire emergency response vehicles, design and implement health, wellness and resiliency programs that prepare responders for incident response, enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience," the resolution stated.

In other business Monday, City Council agreed to allow the Ogdensburg International Airport to tie into the sewer main along Route 812.

The sewer main is owned and operated by the village of Heuvelton and is connected to the city's Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF).

A sewer service agreement between the city and village, agreed upon on April 11, 2019, requires the village to obtain the city's consent for any additional connections into the village's sewer force main. On Dec. 9, the village sought permission from the city to make the connection and the City Council obliged.

"The WPCF holds sufficient current capacity to accommodate the requirements of the Village of Heuvelton, NY, as well as the requirements of the Ogdensburg International Airport," the resolution reads.
Aerial photograph of the OVEC-operated Kyger Creek Power Plant in Cheshire. (Getty Images.)

Duke Energy is among the companies enjoying massive subsidies from 2019s corrupt-but-still-not-fully-repealed Ohio House Bill 6.

And while ratepayers are propping up two aging, uncompetitive coal plants, a new report says Duke and its predecessor companies have known for 40 years that burning coal causes climate change. It said the companies then tried to misinform the public about the threat. Then they promoted unproven, likely impractical technologies as a workaround.

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Now the utility giant acknowledges the overwhelming scientific consensus around climate change  while working behind the scenes to stifle competition from renewable sources such as solar, the report said.

In Duke Energy Knew: Documenting Duke Energys Early Knowledge and Ongoing Deception About Climate Change, the Energy and Policy Institute traced how positions on whether fossil fuels caused global warming shifted over time at Duke and its predecessor companies  Cincinnati Gas & Electric, Public Service Indiana, Duke Power and Carolina Power & Light.

The town of Carrboro, N.C., last week sued Duke, making similar claims.

We are in the process of reviewing the complaint, the company said in an email when asked to comment on the Energy and Policy Institute Report. Duke Energy is committed to its customers and communities and will continue working with policymakers and regulators to deliver reliable and increasingly clean energy while keeping rates as low as possible.

More violent storms, corrupt legislation

The utilities shifting claims about fossil fuels seem especially relevant now, after Hurricanes Helene and Milton smashed into the Florida coast in quick succession this year, doing billions in damage in Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. In an attribution study, scientists said climate change made both storms worse than they otherwise would have been.

The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina, after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately 6 feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Duke is also a shareholder in the Ohio Valley Electric Cooperative, or OVEC, which owns two 70-year-old coal plants  Clifty Creek and Kyger Creek  that are among the 100 most polluting power plants in the United States.

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As part of 2019s scandal-plagued House Bill 6, Ohio ratepayers so far have been required to pay more than $400 million to subsidize the plants, prompting the observation that because of public corruption in Ohio, ratepayers are being forced to finance global warming.

Akron-based FirstEnergy put up $60 million to be the biggest beneficiary of the $1.3 billion bailout that resulted from the bribery scheme that sent former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, to federal prison for 20 years. Testimony during his 2023 trial indicated that the OVEC subsidies were meant to gain the support of utilities that were heavily invested in OVEC.

At 9%, Duke is the third-largest shareholder in the cooperative. So that means Ohio ratepayers have given it $36 million so far to finance the old, dirty plants  including Clifty Creek, which is in Indiana, not Ohio, according to OVECs website.

Recognizing the problem

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Two generations ago, Dukes predecessor companies and some other utilities were publicly agreeing with the emerging consensus that fossil fuels such as coal were spewing heat-trapping molecules into the atmosphere in amounts that would change the climate, with all the consequences that would entail.

However, they might have had an ulterior motive. Many were investing heavily in nuclear power when in 1979 a reactor partially melted down at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station near Middletown, Pa.

In 1983, Cincinnati Gas & Electric was trying to resist proposals to convert its perennially troubled William H. Zimmer Power Station in Moscow, Ohio, from nuclear to coal so it could open. CG&E President William Dickhoner played the environmental card, saying, With coal you have acid rain and the greenhouse effect, the Energy and Policy Institute report said.

It was part of a pattern.

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During the 1980s, what are now Duke Energy-owned utilities  including Duke Power, Carolina Power & Light (CP&L), Cincinnati Gas & Electric (CG&E), and Public Service Indiana (PSI)  all proposed addressing the looming climate crisis by expanding the use of nuclear power, the report said.

Changing tunes

Perry Nuclear Generating Station. (Getty Images.)

But as the sun set on the era of building big nuclear plants, the utilities began telling a different story about the potential harm from the fossil-fuel generators they were left with. It was a story they knew was untrue, the report said.

Despite having publicly recognized the climate risks of burning fossil fuels, these same utilities would soon play a leading role in disinformation campaigns like the Global Climate Coalition that denied the human causes of climate change as part of broader efforts to oppose national and international limits on greenhouse gas emissions from their coal and gas-burning power plants, the report said.

For example, in 1991 the Edison Electric Institute  an industry group to which the Duke predecessors belonged  began a campaign to reposition global warming as theory (not fact), according to leaked documents.

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One campaign supported by the industry group operated in Bowling Green, Ky., where CG&E owned Union Light, Heat & Power Company. It financed newspaper and radio ads, one of which said, The most serious problem with catastrophic global warming is  it may not be true, the report said.

Asked to comment, a spokesman for the group said, Americas investor-owned electric companies are leading the clean energy transition, not slowing it down. Today, carbon emissions from the U.S. electric power sector are as low as they were nearly 50 years ago, while electricity use has more than doubled since then. More than 40% of all power generation now comes from carbon-free resources. The Edison Electric Institute is committed to transparency in our funding and our activities, and we voluntarily produce an annual report that is publicly available on our website .

Adjustment

According to the Energy and Policy Institute report, Duke and other utilities again shifted positions on climate change as the scientific consensus behind it became overwhelming in the early 2000s.

They then began to promote unproven technologies such as clean coal and carbon sequestration, and to focus blame for greenhouse-gas emissions on other sectors. The real goal was to forestall the day they would have to retire their fossil fuel-fired generators, the report said.

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It cited a peer-reviewed study by researchers and the University of California at Santa Barbara.

After 2000, (climate-change-denying) front groups were largely shut down, and utility organizations shifted to arguing for delayed action on climate change, by highlighting the responsibility of other sectors and promoting actions other than cleaning up the electricity system, the study said. Overall, our results suggest that electric utility industry organizations have promoted messaging designed to avoid taking action on reducing pollution over multiple decades. Notably, many of the utilities most engaged in communicating climate doubt and denial in the past currently have the slowest plans to decarbonize their electricity mix.

The same study said the industry group is guilty of duplicity.

By the 2010s and early 2020s, (the Edison Electric Institutes) public messaging recognized the reality of climate change and the need to transition to cleaner sources of electricity, including renewable energy sources like wind and solar, it said. At the same time, EEI focused its political efforts on blocking competition its members faced from the growing rooftop solar industry.

Still a heavy polluter

Even though its predecessor utilities were warning of the dangers of global warming due to fossil fuels way back during the Reagan administration, Duke continues to be one of the biggest carbon emitters among utilities.

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According to its latest report to (the Carbon Disclosure Project), Duke Energy in 2022 emitted 78.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to the atmosphere, the Energy and Policy Institute report said. An analysis of companies self-reported 2021 emissions data by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that Duke Energy was the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter in the United States overall, surpassed only by two other electricity generators: Southern Company based in Atlanta, and Vistra based in Irving, Texas.

Even if Duke keeps its promises to reduce emissions, it might be too little, too late.

The company doesnt plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions until 205o, by which time the climate crisis could cause an additional 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide, the report said.

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CARNEY, Okla. (KCAU)  An Oklahoma woman was sentenced Tuesday for the July 2023 murder of her boyfriend, a Sioux City native.

Janelle Brown, 40, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, unlawful removal of a dead body, and desecration of a human corpse on October 15, according to court documents out of Lincoln County, Oklahoma. One count of accessory to a felony was dismissed.

Janelle Brown (Courtesy: Lincoln County Sheriffs Office)

On Tuesday, the court accepted her guilty pleas and sentenced Brown. On the count of murder, she was sentenced to life in prison with a chance of parole. She was also sentenced to 10 years each on the other two counts. All sentences are to run consecutively. She must also pay court costs.

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Browns sentencing comes a week after Clyde Clayton was also sentenced for the murder of Brian Corey, 52. Clayton was also given life in prison, but he doesnt have a chance for parole.

Woman taken to hospital after South Sioux City house fire

Brown and Clayton were accused of shooting Corey to death in the home they all shared in the town of Carney, Oklahoma. The two burned Coreys body afterward, along with the recliner he was sitting in and a ceramic tile covered in blood. They were arrested on July 7, 2023.

Corey was from Sioux City, Iowa, and lived in Carney, Oklahoma. He was also a father of five. His father Nick Corey said about a month after his sons death that he stopped hearing from his son in June 2023.

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We never heard from him again, which is very unusual because he called his brothers and sisters and kids and me and my wife probably every day. You know, he was a family person, Nick Corey said.

In July 2023, court documents stated that Brown led investigators to the burn site, where they discovered burned bone, ceramic tile, and a metal knee implant similar to Brian Coreys.

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Here is a non-exhaustive list of downtown Colorado Springs business openings in 2024.

 Cinchona Coffee, which serves coffees from across the globe to its customers in Colorado Springs, opened this year at 130 E. Pikes Peak Ave.

 Urban Animal Beer Co., which opened its south-side location in Colorado Springs in September 2023, expanded to downtown in 2024. Its newest location is at 521 S. Tejon St.

 Live music venue Lulu's Downtown opened at 32 S. Tejon St. this year, on the building's second floor in the space formerly occupied by Studio 32 Discotheque. Lulu's relocated from Manitou Springs.

 Experimental arts space Boucher art + stage opened in early February at 328 N. Nevada Ave.

 Hank's K9 Social Club, a full-service dog daycare, boarding, grooming and training facility opened at 815 S. Sierra Madre Street, near Weidner Field, in February.

 Dad's Donuts opened in March at 29 E. Moreno St., known for its 109-layer "cronut," a blend of a donut and croissant. The confections take four days to make.

 The Shoppe, a local collaborative that is home to the Local Honey Co., Idyll Manor and KaMP Goods, opened its storefront in April in the Meanwhile Block, at 425 S. Sierra Madre St. The Shoppe moved after the boutique lost its previous downtown storefront in the Bijou Street fire in December 2023.

 Medical spa chain Facial Aesthetics opened a downtown Colorado Springs location at 2 N. Nevada Ave., Suite 100, in early April.

 Also at 32 S. Tejon Street, Illegal Pete's, a fast-casual Denver-area chain known for its Mexican fare, opened in late April.

 Kochi Boba & Mochi opened at 27 E. Platte Ave. April 19, serving milk tea, bubble tea, coffee shop staples and Vietnamese food favorites like pho and bahn mi.

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 The Blk Mgk (Black Magic) artisanal coffee shop opened in April inside the lobby of The Mining Exchange hotel, which recently went through a major remodel, 8 S. Nevada Ave.

 Upscale pool hall Crooked Cue opened in May at 112 N. Tejon St., in the space once leased by the Tattered Cover bookstore.

 Dueling piano bar Louie Louie's opened May 24 at 522 S. Tejon St.

 In June, Haole Hawaiian Grindz moved from the CO.A.T.I. food hall in the 500 block of South Tejon Street to 26 E. Kiowa St., in a space formerly occupied by T-Byrds Tacos & Tequila (which moved in January to nearby 218 N. Tejon St.). Haole announced on its social media accounts Oct. 30 that the restaurant was "temporarily closing" its doors on Kiowa "to undergo a management restructure" and "refine (its) operations." It is unclear when or if the restaurant will reopen.

 Azteca Urbano Mexican Grill opened in mid-June at 24 E. Kiowa St., in the location formerly occupied by The Dirty Byrd.

 Evergreen Restaurant, touting European-style cuisine, opened in July on the first floor of the Spenser Center at Colorado College, 830 N. Tejon St., Suite 110.

 Exponential Impact, a technology accelerator that works with defense and space technology companies, opened Exponential Impact Downtown this August at Weidner Field.

 Monica's Taco Shop, the Colorado Springs-based Mexican food chain opened its fourth location in September, at 331 S. Nevada Ave., on downtown's south edge.

 Gourmet ramen restaurant Night Ramen opened Sept. 20 at 324 E. Pikes Peak Ave., on downtown's east edge.

 Brakeman's Burgers reopened this year at 10 S. Sierra Madre St., in downtown's Historic Depot, after the smashed burger bar underwent a significant reconstruction.

 Superior Barbershop opened its third location this fall, at 334 N. Nevada Ave.

 Owambe African Restaurant & Lounge opened this fall at 10 N. Sierra Madre Street. It is the first Nigerian restaurant in Colorado Springs.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  One person is at a local hospital after a hotel fire Tuesday evening.

Rosie Nichols, Public Safety Communications Specialist with the City of Topeka, announced in a news release that just before 5:30 p.m. crews with the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) responded to a reported fire at Woodspring Suites at 1801 SW Westport Dr.

Once firefighters were on the scene, they found heavy smoke coming from a single room on the second floor of the hotel. According to the news release, one individual was taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

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City expects Hotel Topeka will see nearly $900,000 loss in 2025

A TFD investigator, division chief, two battalion chiefs, five fire engines, two fire truck companies and one aerial company responded to the fire, along with help from AMR, Evergy, Kansas Gas and the Topeka Police Department. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing at this time, according to the news release.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV)  One person was injured during a shooting at a Vicksburg gas station.

The Vicksburg Daily News reported the shooting occurred at the gas station at the corner of Clay and Cherry Street around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 10.

Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones said the victim was transported to a Jackson hospital for treatment. She said officers are searching for the suspect.

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Man sentenced for ammunition offense involving shooting of MHP trooper

According to Jones, the gas station has previously been the site of multiple calls for service.

We recognize the concerns many of you may have regarding these events. Please know that we are committed to the safety and well-being of our community, and we are actively working to address this situation. I want to reassure you that every incident that has occurred at this location has involved individuals who were known to each other. In fact, the two offenders today knew each and have had a previous altercation, but neither party was cooperative with the police departments investigation. These were NOT random acts of violence, and there is no indication that there is a broader threat to our community, Jones said in a statement on social media.

Jones said she met with the management of the business to implement a plan of action in order to deter future crimes in the area.

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The Onions bid to buy Alex Jones Infowars and turn it into a parody site has been shut down. For now, at least.

Ignoring the express endorsement by families of the Sandy Hook massacre victims, on Tuesday a federal bankruptcy judge rejected the deal, asserting in his ruling that it left a lot of money on the table for those very same families.

Judge Christopher Lopez said during the hearing, held Tuesday night in Austin, that The Onion parent company Global Tetrahedron, was wrongly named the winner of the auction to buy the site because it didnt submit the best offer.

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The Onions $7 million bid would have seen Global Tetrahedron put up $1.75 million; families of the Sandy Hook massacre victims were to put up the rest from a portion of their potential earnings from their defamation lawsuit victory against Jones.

I think youve got to go out and try to get every dollar, Lopez said on Tuesday. None of his remarks that have been reported include any acknowledgement that the Sandy Hook families were involved in the sale.

Lopez was appointed to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in 2019 during Donald Trumps first administration.

More than two years after earning historic verdicts in Connecticut, we are disappointed the Bankruptcy Court rejected a purchase of Infowars that the court-appointed trustee recommended as being in the best interest of the creditors. These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused. This decision doesnt change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes, representatives of the Sandy Hook families said in a statement provided to TheWrap.

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In a separate statement, The Onion said in part that it will continue to seek a path towards purchasing InfoWars in the coming weeks.

A statement from The Onion about InfoWars. pic.twitter.com/dtiQHSZ9vj  follow @bencollins on bluesky (@oneunderscore__) December 11, 2024

On December 14, 2012, 26 people, including 20 children between 6 and 7 years old, were murdered by a gunman at Sandy hook Elementary School in Connecticut. (The shooter then killed himself.) In the months and years after, Jones however became perhaps the most prominent proponent of many conspiracy theories and lies about attack, among them that it was a hoax designed to help outlaw guns and that the murdered children were actually still alive.

The families of those victims sued Jones for defamation, and in 2022, juries in Connecticut and Texas awarded them $1.487 billion in damages. Jones filed for bankruptcy two months later.

Soon after the ruling, Jones went live on InfoWars to talk about it. Watch here if you must.

The post The Onions Bid to Buy Alex Jones Infowars Rejected by Federal Bankruptcy Judge appeared first on TheWrap.
OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY)  An Opelousas deputy city marshal has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse, authorities said.

Gerald Greene Sr., 73, of Opelousas, is charged with felony sexual battery and misdemeanor sexual battery, according to Louisiana State Police, which made the arrest and is handling the investigation.

According to Opelousas City Marshal Paul Mouton, Greene is a deputy in his office and works as a liaison with the Elderly Awareness Program.

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In a news release, state police said the charges stem from an incident that occurred on or around March 27 in Opelousas.

The victim reported that Green committed the offense during a workplace interaction, state police said in the news release.

He was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on Tuesday, Dec. 10, and released on unspecified bond, officials said.

This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Anyone with information regarding this case or other potential criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Louisiana State Police via the online reporting system that can be found by visiting http://la-safe.org/ and clicking on the Suspicious Activity link.

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By Krystal Hu

NEW YORK (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump could be the "president of this AI generation" as he will take office at a time when critical infrastructure to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) is built out, OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said.

"He's going to be right there at the beginning of it, maybe even as things like AGI, we get there," she said on Tuesday, referring to autonomous systems that surpass humans in most economically valuable tasks.

She also played down public threats to the ChatGPT maker from Elon Musk, one of Trump's closest advisers.

Friar, in response to questions from Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni during an interview at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, said about Musk's threats: "We trust him...as a competitor, (he) will put first the national interest and compete appropriately."

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, has publicly opposed OpenAI's major corporate structure revamping to remove control of its nonprofit board. He now runs xAI, an OpenAI competitor, and has emerged as a close adviser in Trump's transition team.

Trump has chosen him, along with former Republican presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to head a task force aimed at slashing government spending and regulations.

Friar, who previously led social media firm Nextdoor and joined OpenAI six months ago as its first chief financial officer, said the company has seen huge demand for its video generation tool Sora, which was released this week.

Account creation has been suspended since then, and Friar did not offer a specific timeline for when it would resume.

"Some of it is just we need capacity, but a lot of it is also we want to be measured...it's only available to a very small selection of people today, because we want to listen and learn," said Friar, adding the company is taking a different release approach for Sora from ChatGPT.

"There are places where we will go a little slower to make sure that we are constantly moving safety first as well."

Besides video generation, she said she also anticipates more AI agent products  software programs that perform tasks autonomously on behalf of users  can handle day-to-day tasks to be released in the new year, with foundation models gaining better reasoning capabilities.

"I think we are going to see a lot of motion next year around agents, and I think people are going to be surprised at how fast this technology comes at us," she said.
VIDEO: DOJ announces Operation Ghost Busted (File, 2023)

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WSAV)  A Jacksonville man, one of 76 defendants indicted in Operation Ghost Busted, has been sent to prison for distributing fentanyl.

Larry Taylor, 59, received a 15-year sentence, according to U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg with the Southern District of Georgia, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.

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Steinberg said Taylor distributed more than 3 kilograms of fentanyl, which is enough to kill the entire population of Brunswick.

Operation Ghost Busted: Final defendant convicted

As described in court, he has been arrested more than 50 times and has at least 10 prior felony convictions.

Operation Ghost Busted has spanned over two years and spread across south Georgia, including in Camden, Dodge, Glynn, McIntosh, Pierce, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware and Wayne counties.

Officials said the drug conspiracy operated in and out of state prison facilities with help from at least one corrections officer. Members of the white supremacist street gang Ghostface Gangsters and affiliates of the Aryan Brotherhood, Bloods, and Gangster Disciples were also involved, according to officials.

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Its a remarkable illustration of the toll of death and destruction from Larry Taylors drug-dealing that overdoses in the Brunswick area plummeted after he and his co-conspirators were taken into custody in January 2023, said Steinberg. The investigation and prosecution in Operation Ghost Busted not only holds criminal behavior accountable  it also demonstrably saves lives.

Of the 76 original defendants in Operation Ghost Busted, 73 have been sentenced to prison terms of as much as life in prison after pleading guilty. Two are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
A Florida man convicted of distributing fentanyl as a part of Operation Ghost Busted has been sentenced to federal prison.

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Larry B Taylor, of Jacksonville FL, was one of the 76 defendants indicted as a part of Operation Ghost Busted, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Quantity of Fentanyl. He was also ordered an additional 3 years of supervised release upon his sentence ending.

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Taylor was the primary source of fentanyl throughout the Operation, distributing more than 3 kilograms - enough to kill the entire population of Brunswick.

Its a remarkable illustration of the toll of death and destruction from Larry Taylors drug-dealing that overdoses in the Brunswick area plummeted after he and his co-conspirators were taken into custody in January 2023, said U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg. The investigation and prosecution in Operation Ghost Busted not only holds criminal behavior accountable  it also demonstrably saves lives.

Of the 76 original defendants in Operation Ghost Busted, 73 have been sentenced to prison terms of as much as life in prison after pleading guilty. Two are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty, including David D. Young. Young was a fugitive until his March capture in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, a month after the case was featured on Americas Most Wanted. Another defendant died while awaiting trial.

All defendants in Operation Ghost Busted have a history of illegal drug use, including several who survived repeat overdoses

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The investigation into this operation dates back to 2020 when investigators from the FBI Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force, the Glynn County Police Department, the Brunswick Police Department, the Glynn County Sheriffs Office, and the Camden County Sheriffs Office took into account the increased amount of deaths due to drug overdose.

Through their investigation, they were able to identify a sprawling drug trafficking network in coastal and south Georgia and reach into Mexican cartels.

Traffickers operated inside and outside Georgia prisons, as corrupt prison guards coordinated with members of the violent Ghost Face Gangsters and affiliates of other gangs including the Aryan Brotherhood, Surenos, Bloods, and Gangster Disciples.

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Colorado Springs will have the No. 1 housing market in the nation in 2025, according to a new Realtor.com forecast that looks at the nations 100 largest metro areas. Some local real estate agents, however, suggest Realtor.coms forecast for Colorado Springs is unrealistic.
Ive read One Hundred Years of Solitude, the Nobel Prize-winning novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, six times: three in Spanish and three in English. Its the book that made me want to be a writer. It will always connect me to the Latin American Caribbean and, as someone who identifies with a cultural legacy beyond the borders of the United States, made me feel seen.

So, when I heard about the One Hundred Years of Solitude series premiering on Netflix on Wednesday, Dec. 11, I was skeptical. "Cien Anos de Soledad" is sacred. Its sacred to so many people, and I wasnt sure Netflix would understand that.

I dont want Netflix to tell me what Colonel Aureliano Buendia looks like. Ive always imagined he looks like my grandfather. As every Colombian has, literature professor Gustavo Arango told Vanity Fair.

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The thought of attempting to adapt its brilliance to the screen immediately gave me pause. With good reason  this is one of the most significant literary works ever written. Its layers, themes and worlds are not easily translated into visual works. Even Gabo himself, as Garcia Marquez was lovingly known, believed that no adaptation could truly capture the novels essence. It would take 100 hours to tell the story properly, he said.

But the decision wasnt his to make. After Gabos passing in 2014 and that of his wife, Mercedes Barcha, in 2020, the fate of an adaptation fell to their sons, Rodrigo and Gonzalo. Ultimately, they gave their blessing.

Remarkably, the first eight episodes of the 16-episode series succeed. Netflix and production company Dynamo must have known that the stakes were high and that adapting this cherished novel into a series was a task they couldnt afford to get wrong. Imagine the reaction if this adaptation hadnt delivered. It would have been a disaster for Netflix, and for those of us who consider Gabos work sacred, it would have felt like a betrayal.

The adaptation isnt a page-for-page interpretation of the novel, and it was never meant to be. While some will always bring up this critique as proof that the novel should have just been left alone, the Netflix series offers something else entirely: countless moments of brilliance that prove creating art from other works of art is still possible.

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One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the sweeping, multigenerational saga of the Buendia family in the fictional Colombian town of Macondo. Its a story about love, ambition, resilience and the cyclical nature of history. From the founding of Macondo by Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula Iguaran to the eventual unraveling of their family over generations, the novel, and now the Netflix series, explore themes of time, loneliness and memory, all woven together with moments that blur the lines between reality and myth. It is one of the most human works of art ever produced, in that it reveals our condition as imperfect beings trying to navigate life.

Muchos anos despues, frente al peloton de fusilamiento, el coronel Aureliano Buendia habia de recordar aquella tarde remota en que su padre lo llevo a conocer el hielo. (Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.)

That, to me, is the greatest beginning of any book ever written in either the original Spanish or the translated English. The series grounds the visual story with that opening line and draws the viewer in.

'One Hundred Years of Solitude' Review: Netflix's Gorgeous, Ambitious Adaptation Captures Some of the Novel's Magic https://t.co/SWGISflcKr  The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 10, 2024

The choice to film in Colombia and in Spanish might sound obvious, but it was a nonnegotiable. A reluctant Gabo still insisted that these two conditions would need to be met. For a viewer to truly embrace this adaptation, you have to watch it in the original language. We are talking, here, about the greatest novel in the history of the Spanish-speaking world. If youre a non-Spanish speaker, subtitles will be your friend. Watching a dubbed version would strip away something essential. Grounding the series in the land and language that birthed the story wasnt just a creative choice  it was a necessity. Its what allows the series to step into the shadow of the novel and still hold its own.

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There is no question that the Netflix series gives fans a new layer they never could have imagined. The characters in Gabos novel are iconic and deeply embedded in the culture. Seeing them come to life on screen might have felt strange, but this is where the production truly delivers. Marleyda Soto, as the older Ursula Iguaran, embodies the characters resilience and quiet strength. Claudio Catanos portrayal of Colonel Aureliano Buendia is equally compelling, capturing both the arrogance of power and the profound solitude of a man who has lost his purpose. Marco Antonio Gonzalez gives Jose Arcadio Buendia a blend of ambition and vulnerability that resonates with anyone who has dared to dream and faced the consequences when those dreams unravel. These performances, along with that of the entire ensemble, give this adaptation its heart.

Its inevitable that the adaptation of a literary work with so little dialogue would, at moments, veer away from the original. But any time the adaptation feels as if it might lose its way, the omniscient narrators voice pulls it back. Gabo is always with us in this series, reminding us that his opus is already familiar, already part of us. For my circle of friends  children of Latin America and the Caribbean  this novel unites us. Cien Anos is our oxygen. The fact that this adaptation didnt ruin that connection speaks to the care that went into its creation. Some masterpieces can thrive in new forms without losing their soul. I never thought Id say that.

As I wrote in The Latino Newsletter, after I watched the first season of the Netflix series, I began reading Cien Anos  for the seventh time.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Theres been a good bit of handwringing over President Bidens next presidential pardons. Hard on the heels of his unsurprising yet still somehow bombshell pardon for his son Hunter, the chatter has turned to who might be next. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)? former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci? Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.)? The guy who cut Kash Patel off in traffic last week?

Speculation runs rampant.

The prospects have both Democrats and Republicans all atwitter. Some are calling for blanket pardons for just about everybody, while others are lamenting the decline of standards of our civic leaders.

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Count me among the group who would love to see Biden pardon just about everybody he can imagine. I mean, give him the entire office directory for the House and Senate, and the plum book for the executive branch, and just let him go to town.

My reasoning however, is probably different from most others.

I dont fear broad criminal reprisals aimed at President-elect Trumps enemies. If Trump really wanted to do that sort of thing, he would have followed through on the lock her up mantra from the 2016 campaign.

And, as I wrote in these pages several months back, while there is absolutely nothing wrong with applying the same standards to prominent Democrats that were ostensibly used against Trump, I do think there is value in restraint. Put another way, the country is fine with charging a politician with a crime if it involves gold bars from foreign governments. We are really tired of trying to throw people in jail for bookkeeping offenses, failure to return boxes of books or for paying off bank loans early.

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So I dont really think sweeping pardons are necessary to protect anyone from undeserved criminal prosecution.

My reason for wanting to see broad, blanket immunities is entirely different. I would, for once, like to see the truth come out. And the best way to get the truth is to take away the Fifth Amendment privilege from a whole bunch of powerful and potentially culpable people. That is precisely what pardons do, since they remove criminal jeopardy.

For instance, the blanket pardon that Biden gave his son does more than just immunize him from prosecution. It also means that Hunter, if called to testify, can no longer lawfully maintain his silence about anything he did in the last ten years that could have otherwise given rise to criminal charges. Since it is literally impossible for him to incriminate himself with respect to anything that has happened since 2014, he has no basis for invoking his Fifth Amendment privileges under any circumstances.

The United States Supreme Court has made it explicitly clear that the United States can compel testimony from an unwilling witness who invokes the Fifth Amendment privilege against compulsory self-incrimination by conferring immunity.

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Hunter just got absolute immunity from his dad. So I say its time to start compelling some testimony.

Imagine what we might learn if Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) holds hearings where the witnesses, having been granted blanket immunity by virtue of a sweeping presidential pardon, are free to spill the beans  or more accurately, compelled to spill the beans.

From Hunter, we might finally learn what he was doing for Burisma. We might learn who the Big Guy is. We might finally know whether the Bidens are the crime syndicate some Republicans claim, or whether they are just doing the same thing so many other folks do in this town. The public could decide for itself the relative merit of any of those possible outcomes.

The same applies to Fauci and members of the January 6 Committee, among others.

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Of course, jail time would be off the table for everyone, even if Fauci was cooking up gain-of-function cocktails in his garage. I think we should all be good with that. If he were to go to jail for pretty much anything at this point, half the country would probably think him a political prisoner.

Besides, while blanket pardons do run the risk of obviating jail time for anyone who might truly have committed heinous crimes, public shaming can often be just as powerful a penalty.

Imagine, for example, how history might treat headiness like, Fauci admits he lied about masks, or Cheney, Johnson acknowledge destroying January 6 evidence.

Cynics, of course, will worry that not even full immunity from prosecution will encourage true and honest transparency. To those folks  and to Hunter Biden  I would point out that pardons for past behavior do not protect ones current or future wrongdoing, including perjury. So, there is at least some hope that transparency might rule the day.

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If the truth is what some on the right surmise that it might be  that Fauci hid information, that Schiff lied about the Russia investigation, or that the January 6 Committee tampered with evidence, simply hearing the truth about it might help heal the nation, even if just a little.

At the same time, if full and complete testimony  stripped of even the remotest fear of future criminal prosecution  establishes that all of those sorts of concerns are indeed false, that would also help.

Broad presidential pardons might give us a chance to get there.

Mick Mulvaney, a former congressman from South Carolina, is a contributor to NewsNation. He served as director of the Office of Management and Budget, acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and White House chief of staff under President Donald Trump.

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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 United States has a long tradition of politicians pausing on their way out the door to point out a serious problem the country is facing. From George Washington lamenting the growing power of political parties to Dwight Eisenhower warning about the "military-industrial complex" to, well, pretty much everything Mitt Romney's been going on about since he decided to retire.

The flip side of this truth-telling is that it can feel a little disappointing to the audience. You're telling us this now? Why didn't you do something about it when you were in power?

That's pretty much the reaction to the recent announcement from outgoing West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, the most consistently exasperating member of the U.S. Senate in living memory. Over the weekend, the Democratic-turned-independent senator declared his support for a constitutional amendment establishing term limits for Supreme Court justices.

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"The current lifetime Supreme Court appointment structure is broken and fuels polarizing confirmation battles and political posturing that has eroded public confidence in the highest court in our land," he wrote on X.

That's not news to anyone who's paid attention to the Supreme Court in recent years. More than half of Americans have an unfavorable view of the court, a historic low that has come about after years of decline followed by a massive drop in the aftermath of the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. Supreme Court confirmations have become mostly party-line votes. The current court is the most conservative in nearly a century and will likely remain that way for decades. The 6-3 supermajority also seems to have emboldened the justices' worst impulses, from sketchy dealings with conservative donors to the lack of an enforceable ethics code.

Even more striking is how much the public wants change. In a USA Today-Ipsos poll in August, 76% of Americans supported a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court, 70% favored a constitutional amendment essentially overturning the recent expansive presidential immunity decision, and 63% backed an 18-year term limit for justices.

It shouldn't be surprising, then, that a U.S. senator might put their finger to the wind and decide to call for change. But Manchin's announcement is still noteworthy, given that he has long played a cautious and ultimately self-defeating game on the Supreme Court.

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When Barack Obama nominated the milquetoast Merrick Garland to the high court, Manchin raised concerns and might have even voted against him had Republicans not held the seat open. He voted for Trumps first two nominees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, but objected to the rushed confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett just weeks before the election. He voted for Joe Biden-appointed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, then said he might not back a second Biden nominee if one came up.

The underlying principles behind these moves were a sense that the Supreme Court should be above politics, that senators should hold their own party accountable if their nominees are too extreme and that the norms and traditions of the Senate should be upheld. Those are all defensible ideas, but it's long been clear that they don't work when only one party upholds them.

As an embattled Democrat from a deep red state, Manchin's political logic was also defensive. But while he was hoping to avoid having his re-election torpedoed by a bruising Supreme Court fight, the GOP was playing offense.

Republican senators refused to let Garland come up for a vote based on a made-up rule about confirmations in election years before switching positions to confirm Barrett. They lowered the threshold for Supreme Court justices to a simple majority, paving the way for more partisan nomination votes. They uniformly backed Kavanaugh despite serious concerns raised during his confirmation hearings; and they've looked the other way at various scandals among other sitting justices since then.

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While Republicans lost a few Senate seats in 2022 after the court overturned Roe v. Wade, they regained the majority in 2024, and these hardball tactics over the years have given conservatives an enduring lock on the court at seemingly little cost.

It's nice to see that even Manchin now realizes the magnitude of his miscalculation, even if it comes too late to do anything about it. A constitutional amendment, as he proposes, would require a two-thirds vote of both the House and the Senate followed by ratification by 38 states. Regardless of the idea's merits or poll numbers, there's no universe where Republican elected officials will go along with the idea.

Unfortunately, the real solution will more likely be political. Before this is all over, Democrats will likely end up adopting more aggressive tactics such as refusing to hold a vote on a Republican nominee, embarrassing justices with probing investigations into ethics problems, passing gift bans or other ethics codes through Congress or even threatening impeachment over particularly egregious scandals. If they decide a more structural response is needed, they would most likely end up expanding the court, which doesn't require amending the Constitution.

This won't solve the problem either, as it would lead to Republican retaliation. But, then again, that's the reason why it's only retiring politicians who speak up on these issues. Washington and Eisenhower didn't have any realistic solutions to the issues they described, and neither does Manchin. He's done us all a favor by pointing out the problem, but the solution remains for the rest of us to find.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Senator-elect John Curtis delivered these remarks at a luncheon prior to the unveiling of the Martha Hughes Cannon statue in the United States Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Martha Hughes Cannons remarkable Welsh-American story resonates deeply in Utahs history  and personally within my family. My wife, Sue, descends from the Martha Hughes Cannon family line  and I can sense her spirit, power and gifts in my children and grandchildren.

Her list of accomplishments is long and spans from public health and education to her original glass-ceiling-shattering election to the Utah State Senate. Yet, it is her principles that have echoed longest and loudest down through the years and inspired women, and men, to live up to the principles they profess to believe, and the possibilities freedom provides.

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Marthas animating principles included being faith-filled and fearless, relentless and resilient and laser-focused on achieving the unimaginable. To her, impossible was nothing. At a time when few women had a voice and fewer still used them, Martha Hughes Cannons principles drove her to stand up, speak out and even stand alone in order to lead. She also recognized the need to stand with key allies and important alliances in her cause. Martha has inspired millions of women to recognize their principles and power, find their voice and then raise it to transform communities, states and nations.

Principles first learned in Wales and tested on the American frontier were ultimately lived as a leader in Utah. She was an authentic influencer over 100 years before social media even existed and from her new position on a pedestal in the United States Capitol, she still summons all of us to the fearless, faithful and resilient pursuit of all we can imagine and achieve  together.

One of Marthas superpowers was found in the principles of allies and alliances. I actually believe these are the vital leadership principles for the 21st century. Martha Hughes Cannon lived and leveraged them in the late 1800s. A defining moment in Utahs history and Marthas legacy occurred in the 1895 debate to include womens suffrage in Utahs state constitution. As is always the case, the day the journey began was not the day the journey began. Martha had shaped the conversation on equality over many years, while forging and fostering allies and alliances that proved prophetic and essential to the cause.

In 1895, womens suffrage was one of the most contentious issues facing the nation. Nationally, the movement faced substantial resistance. Suffragists were making progress, but opposition was widespread, especially in the Eastern and Southern states. Many states avoided the divisive issue altogether.

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Utah, however, was leading the way and demonstrating what coalition building looks like and how people of principle act together.

For decades, the women of Utah had worked tirelessly and relentlessly to build coalitions of support for equal suffrage with the women and the men of the territory. Martha Hughes Cannon and an army of suffragists had influenced the debate, not by demonizing opponents, bludgeoning skeptics or bashing men, but by engaging allies and building strategic alliances based on democratic principles and shared moral values.

Ironically, it was Utahs men who had the ultimate power to make equal suffrage a reality. Utahs 1895 constitutional convention is an extraordinary example of the critical role of allies and alliances in propelling progress toward an equal and prosperous society. Having linked and locked arms on the important principles long before the convention, the women had galvanized a coalition that created momentum and opportunity while inspiring and strengthening the men who would actually cast the votes.

Utahs women were compelling and convincing in their crusade, AND the men who shared their vision and determination became equally yoked and indispensable partners in the effort. Because of the way these extraordinary women built bridges, linked and locked arms and developed a working coalition based on principles, men in positions of power chose to stand as allies to womens equality, despite the risks and resistance that existed in 1895.

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As Utahs all-male convention of delegates convened to draft Utahs constitution, granting women the right to vote was far from a foregone conclusion. During the constitutional convention, there was passionate debate on both sides.

Some of the delegates, products of their time, doubted the value of womens suffrage. Other delegates simply argued for caution. They were not necessarily opposed to womens suffrage, but they worried that including it in the constitution might jeopardize Utahs statehood. Utah had already been denied statehood six times. They did not think it wise to address such a contentious issue in their seventh bid for statehood. And they argued passionately against its inclusion.

But there were other delegates, key allies, who fully shared the suffragists vision for a society in which women and men contributed as equal partners. Their allyship was not passive; it was principled. They understood what was needed from them: action, advocacy and the willingness to challenge the status quo. These men chose to align themselves with the women of Utah because they recognized three things: 1) women had as much right to liberty and self-government as men did; 2) the advancement of one group uplifts us all; and 3) Utah had a responsibility to lead the way.

Orson F. Whitney declared persuasively that the enfranchisement of women is not a concession. It is a right inherent, a truth eternal.

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Franklin D. Richards persuaded his fellow delegates that the work done in Utah on behalf of women would be the purest and brightest ray of Utahs glorious star, beckoning its sister states onward and upward to the higher plane of civilization and the fuller measure of civil and religious liberty.

This wasnt men speaking for women. This was the embodiment of In unity there is strength  womens voices and mens voices united in the principles of equality and opportunity for all.

In the end, Utahs leaders were bold. They saw the power of aligning our laws with our values. They felt called to lead the world to a better way  the Utah way.

By the time the convention voted, the prevailing attitude among the delegates was as bold and audacious as their pioneering vision of what the West would become: We go into the Union with our women or not at all.

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The state constitution included womens suffrage, making Utah the third state in the nation to include womens suffrage in its constitution. It was a stunning move with statehood riding in the balance. The alliance created courage for the right solution on a difficult decision and added to Utahs legacy of leadership.

That vote not only secured a fundamental right for half of Utahs population but also put a log on the fire of womens equality throughout the nation and the rest of the world. That decision reflected our states enduring values: that we rise higher when we lift everyone, and that true progress is born of pioneer values like courage. That decision set forces in motion to demonstrate what happens when barriers to opportunity are removed.

Utah women have many firsts. A quick list includes:

Seraph Young became the first woman to cast a vote under an equal suffrage law in February of 1870.

Lucy A. Clark became the first woman in the nation to vote as a delegate and give a speech at the Republican National Convention in 1908.

Margaret Zane Witcher became the first woman in the nation to serve as elector in the presidential electoral college of 1912.

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Today, we honor that legacy, not just by celebrating it, but also by each of us asking ourselves how we can emulate it.

How can we better seek to make our laws align with our values?

How can we support allies and strengthen alliances to create a world in which everyone truly has an equal opportunity to rise?

Being an ally today means listening, understanding and amplifying not only womens voices but every voice, and using our influence to create opportunities for all. It means addressing disparities in representation through education, mentoring, encouraging civic engagement and supporting women in elected office, communities and organizations. It means recognizing, as Orson Whitney and Franklin Richards did, that families, communities and societies thrive when women engage as truly equal partners and decisionmakers.

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The story of the 1895 constitutional convention teaches us that allyship is about using positions of influence to make the world a better place by providing others an opportunity to deploy their unique abilities to contribute to the common good.

Today, as we celebrate the legacy of Martha Hughes Cannon, lets recommit ourselves to the pioneer values she and the Utahns of her day believed and lived. Equally yoked in our pursuit of a more perfect union, lets commit to being the allies and forging the alliances that history demanded back then  and upon which the future of America depends, now  in our families, in the workplace, in our communities, at the ballot box, and in the halls of power.

Thank you.
Last Wednesday, amidst a national wave of animus toward health insurers, Americans turned their ire on a policy that Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield announced last month concerning a new policy planned for three states that would deny claims for anesthesia for surgeries that went longer than a time limit set by Anthem. In addition to the groundswell of furor on social media platforms, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who leads one of the states where the policy was to be launched, slammed Anthems policy as outrageous. Connecticut was one of the other states, and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., called the planned policy change appalling.

Describing it as a miscommunication, Anthem soon announced it was abandoning its controversial new rule. Janey Kiryluik, staff vice president for corporate communications at Anthems parent company, Elevance Health, told The New York Times, We realized, based on all the feedback weve been receiving the last 24 hours, that our communication about the policy was unclear, which is why were pulling back.

The news of Anthems policy proposal helped provoke another round of a longstanding debate: Who is to blame for Americas health care woes? By and large the public  sick of sky-high deductibles, haggling over the phone to fight denials and of unexpected medical bills arriving by mail while still convalescing  has directed its outrage at insurers. Voxs Eric Levitz, though, pointed a finger at doctors and argued that Anthems mistake was its retreat from what he called a prudent policy to reduce payments to well-paid specialists. Health care costs are primarily driven by providers, not insurers, Levitz argued. Thus, those providers are the reason, he said, vital medical services are often unaffordable and inaccessible in the United States.

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But Levitz and writers such as Dylan Matthews and Matt Yglesias, who made similar points, are wrong. The details of this particular episode are beside the point. (Brookings Institutions Loren Adler calls it a contract dispute between anesthesiologists and Anthem that might have had limited impacts on patients.) The publics fear of getting stuck in the middle between what doctors charge and what insurers pay was justified. Our private health insurance-based system inflates costs and denies care, and in a well-designed universal system, this episode would not even be possible.

It is often noted that most health care spending ultimately goes to health care providers  to hospitals, nurses, doctors (like me), nursing homes and so forth  and not to health insurers. This is true, but its also all but a tautology. Obviously, most health care spending goes to health care provision, just as most education spending goes to schools and most defense spending to the military. The relevant question is how to realize savings while upgrading care for everyone, and the best answer is by eliminating the gargantuan waste that is our private insurance system.

The traditional, public Medicare program spends about 2% of its total revenue on administration. Private insurers, by contrast, take 10% (or more) of your premium for administration and profit. This fivefold difference accounts for the more than $400 billion in savings that the Congressional Budget Office projects could be saved annually from eliminating private insurance and moving to "Medicare for All." Instead, were basically setting that money on fire.

But what about the unit prices for care in the U.S. that are much higher than other nations? Those prices are also inflated by our complex private insurance system. They include providers costs of dealing with innumerable insurance plans, each with its own complex payment systems and rules. Hospitals in the United States hire armies of billers and coders to bill and haggle with insurers and spend twice the share of their budgets on administration than Canadian hospitals do. Similarly, we spend more than $80,000 per physician in the U.S. just to cover the costs of their interactions with insurers, four times more than whats spent in Canada. This is yet another price we pay for the profits of insurance companies  even though it appears on the provider side of the ledger.

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No doubt there are also bad behaviors from some providers, particularly with the accelerating corporate takeover of care, including vampiric private-equity firms that strip-mine their acquisitions for profit before dumping them (whatever the consequences for patients). Private-equity-owned emergency physician staffing companies were, notably, responsible for an outbreak of devastating surprise medical bills. One study found that Wisconsin hospitals commonly and increasingly sue patients for unpaid medical bills, half the time garnishing their wages.

News reports from other parts of the country have described harrowing stories of patients aggressively targeted by hospital debt collection, which has included putting liens on homes and putting some patients in poverty. None of these behaviors should be countenanced. But they are, again, only possible because of a private health insurance system that leaves some uncovered, others with copays and deductibles, and others out of network.

In contrast, under a Medicare for All system, patients would be entirely protected from the process of care payment, eliminating the very possibility of medical debt or falling between the cracks  or of waking up from surgery with an unexpected anesthesia bill.

Still, on an even more basic level, when it comes to health care reform, theres a fundamental difference between providers  our nurses, doctors, hospitals, social workers, respiratory therapists, clinics and so on  and insurance companies. We need providers, including the anesthesiologists who ensure that we survive sometimes dauntingly complex operations. But we dont need insurers.

The public recognizes this and tends to apportion blame accordingly.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The Republic of Koreas ascent as a global beacon of liberal democracy and capitalism has been built on its robust alliance with the United States. Now this exemplary democracy faces its most significant challenge in decades. It is clearer by the day that President Yoon Suk Yeols recent failed attempt to invoke martial law was just the beginning of a major crisis that risks the collapse of the South Korean government and a politically motivated conflict with North Korea.

The United States must act decisively by unequivocally condemning South Koreas democratic backsliding, supporting its constitutional mechanisms for self-correction and strengthening regional security amid its allys internal crisis.

The situation has grown more unstable by the day.

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Read more: The biggest question in South Korea: Who is running the country?

After swiftly overturning Yoons declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, the National Assembly moved to impeach the president on Saturday. Yoon responded by announcing that he would essentially hand over the remainder of his term to members of his ruling party, the People Power Party. This prompted party members to abstain, dooming the impeachment vote, which requires a supermajority.

In the aftermath, the leader of the ruling party, Han Dong-hoon, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced their intention to jointly take over governance, a move one politician deemed a "second coup" and legal experts said wasn't constitutional.

As politicians work to revive the impeachment process, one member of the opposition party has claimed that shortly before martial law was declared, Yoon's defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, ordered strikes on North Korean balloon-launch sites meant to incite military conflict and justify the imposition of martial law. The National Assembly member cited a tip from a credible military source. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a statement to the website NK News, denied that Kim had planned a strike. Kim resigned last week as defense minister and was arrested this week on allegations of abuse of power.

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Read more: South Korean president narrowly survives impeachment attempt

Within 24 hours of the martial law order, the United States responded by reaffirming its support for the people of Korea and the two nations alliance based on shared principles of democracy and the rule of law. Now it should be much clearer: The State Department should issue a clear official statement denouncing Yoons unjustifiable actions. A unified international voice, led by the U.S., has often been crucial in countering antidemocratic moves.

During Perus 2022 political crisis, for example, the U.S. made strong public statements through the embassy, secretary of State, and State Department, rejecting "extra-constitutional" actions and advocating democratic reforms . This pressure contributed to President Pedro Castillos removal and encouraged his successor, Dina Boluarte, to engage with opposition forces and prioritize reforms. Similarly, South Korea has seen widespread protests against Yoons incompetent and irrational leadership. The United States must urge Yoon and all of South Koreas leaders to respect the will of the people and safeguard the countrys constitutional framework.

At the same time, South Koreas democratic allies, including the United States, must not cooperate in political asylum requests or escape attempts tied to the crisis. To ensure justice, all those involved in the martial law declaration must face accountability through democratic and constitutional procedures. Historically, South Korea has overcome political crises through self-correction and democratic resilience . From resisting foreign invasions during the monarchy to championing pro-democracy movements and impeaching scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye in 2017, vigilant citizens have held politicians accountable and strengthened the nations political system. South Koreas robust civil society must be honored and acknowledged by the United States and other allies.

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Read more: Ex-defense chief in South Korea tried to kill himself after being arrested over martial law

Beyond diplomatic measures, the United States should raise its military alert levels in East Asia to ensure regional stability amid the potential security vacuum created by South Koreas political crisis. Key defense institutions, such as the Ministry of Defense and the National Intelligence Service, face operational challenges because of the investigations, resignations and political chaos caused by the martial law crisis. These vulnerabilities could be exploited by North Korea or other adversaries through military provocations or intelligence operations.

South Korea is a crucial frontline defender of liberal democracy globally and a buffer against authoritarian regimes in East Asia. It also plays a vital role in Americas supply chains, particularly for semiconductors. Preserving regional stability is essential not only for South Korea but also for U.S. national interests.

This is no ordinary political crisis. Because of Yoons actions, South Korea now faces a grave threat to its political system, with risks of autocracy and conflict with North Korea. This is not only a test of political resilience but a fight for democracys survival. The United States, speaking forcefully, can help its ally rise from the brink. This crisis is a defining test of U.S. leadership, signaling whether America still champions democracy globally.

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Will Daewook Kwon and Jaemin Park are fellows at the Harvard Kennedy School. Kwon served as an intelligence analyst for the Republic of Koreas Ministry of Defense. Park has worked in diplomatic affairs in South Korea.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
While speaking at a joint Sutherland Institute/American Enterprise Institute event in Salt Lake City in 2023, AEI Senior Fellow Ian Rowe lauded Utahs ongoing efforts to maintain and strengthen upward mobility.

He also suggested there is still room to improve.

Drawing from the book Good to Great by Jim Collins, Rowe made this observation about companies that were able to continue moving toward excellence and applied it to Utah:

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These companies accepted the adjective of good, even if relative to their peers they could be hailed as great. So please dont take the description of good as undervaluing what Utah has already accomplished. Take it as the mindset that there are always higher levels of greatness, and it is within your grasp.

This good to great framing is the perfect theme with which to approach a conversation about improving upward mobility for Utahns who utilize government social safety net programs yet yearn for self-reliance through work.

In many ways Utah is already the envy of the nation when it comes to addressing poverty. A December 2023 ranking of all 50 states from the Archbridge Institute identifies Utah as having the best social mobility in the nation. The states unemployment rates and poverty rates are consistently low.

Leaders in numerous states are asking Congress for the ability to replicate Utahs one door model, wherein the Utah Department of Workforce Services provides both temporary assistance and workforce development opportunities through the same state agency.

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And the state of Utah has an established track record of continuous improvement in the administration of safety net programs, as evidenced by the years-long intergenerational poverty initiative, and ongoing proactive review and refinement of state-administered programs.

All of this positions Utah well to continue as a national leader in finding new ways to improve the prospects of families striving for self-reliance through work. It is essential that any discussion of refining the social safety net begins from the foundation of Utahs unique advantages and strengths as a place of opportunity.

It is from this foundation that we must address challenges that still create obstacles for some on government assistance programs.

Chris Robinson is a single mother of two in Utah who strives to create a better life for her family. When she willingly picked up a little extra work at her job, an extra $20 on a single paycheck led to a roughly $600 decrease in medical benefits from the government assistance program she was participating in. It prompted her to rethink whether working to earn more was worth it.

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Marcella Patino, a fellow Utahn who also raises her three kids on her own, loves working as a nail tech because of the feeling that she is charting her own course to financial independence. She does not want to rely on government social safety net programs either, and she views work and career growth as the way to accomplish that independence. But Patino has faced similar obstacles.

In recent years she stopped taking on additional clients  work that would have increased her salary and advanced her career  because she believed the additional earned income would trigger a disproportionately larger loss of food stamp benefits, a resource she and her children relied on.

There are impoverished families throughout the nation and here in Utah who feel discouraged from pursuing upward mobility through work, reacting to what they perceive as perverse incentives in the government safety net known as benefits cliffs.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, these cliffs can occur when an increase in household income triggers a sudden and significant loss of government assistance that can actually make the family financially worse off, even after accounting for the additional income  thus creating a cliff effect  or it can effectively cancel out the new income, causing the family to plateau.

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New survey data from Sutherland Institute and Lighthouse Research sheds light on the nature, scope and frequency of how this issue affects the economic decision-making of families on the social safety net in Utah, answering a crucial question: Are Utahns changing their economic behavior in response to what they understand to be benefits cliffs disincentives?

The results are both stark and encouraging.

Forty-three percent of respondents have at some point taken action that intentionally limited their household income in order to avoid losing government assistance. Twenty-six percent have lost government assistance due to earning too much, subsequently lost or quit their job, then re-enrolled in government programs. And 62% feel stuck in a low-income job and believe that earning more would trigger a loss in benefits that would make the additional earned income not worth it.

The fact that a majority of Utahns on government assistance have not actually taken economically limiting actions despite widespread perceptions of perverse incentives stands as a testament to three things: (1) the efficacy of the Utah Department of Workforce Services in helping struggling Utahns get back on their feet and move toward self-reliance, (2) the overall strength of Utahs economy and (3) the hard work and determination of Utahns who use the safety net to get back on their feet.

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Even so, the Sutherland/Lighthouse survey data shows there is room for improvement in how the state empowers these families who are eager to enjoy the blessings offered by Utahs strong economy.

While Americas social safety net has done tremendous good for millions of Americans  including many Utahns  throughout its existence, the fact that some families experience unintended consequences that discourage work and opportunity for those on the margins of society is not just economically problematic, it is morally wrong.

Utah is uniquely positioned to be a national leader in further empowering safety net participants to feel confident pursuing work and opportunity, and to share those successes with leaders at the state and federal level throughout the nation.

Fortunately, Utahs leaders have already demonstrated the track record and commitment to pursuing reforms that strengthen the American Dream for families hungry for self-reliance anchored to work. Now is the time to take the next step.

This piece was adapted from Strengthening the American Dream: Addressing benefits cliffs to empower safety net participants to pursue work and opportunity, a new report from Sutherland Institute.
President-elect Donald Trump has shaken the Canadian political establishment with his recent post threatening to enact a 25 percent tariff on all goods coming into the U.S.

The provincial premiers, already hearing earfuls from worried business leaders, immediately called for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to answer questions about how Canada was planning to respond.

The USMCA free trade deal was due to be reviewed in 2026. As such, both Canada and Mexico have had teams working behind the scenes strategizing the best way to handle the review. Trump has just thrown a spanner in the wheels of those plans, by essentially threatening to rip up the trade agreement his own administration negotiated.

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Until recently, the question in Canada was whether or not to pursue a renewal of the USMCA trilaterally, or whether Canada might be better off going it alone and aiming to secure its place in a bilateral agreement with the U.S. Certainly, reviewing an agreement is preferable to starting anew, but now Canada may not get a say in the matter. If Trump does impose tariffs, USMCA is effectively dead in the water.

Trump has threatened to impose the tariffs ostensibly in retaliation for Canada and Mexicos failure to secure their parts of the border from fentanyl traffickers and illegal migrants. While Canadian immigration policy has indeed led to a wave of migrants streaming across the northern U.S. border, its at orders of magnitude smaller than those seen at the southern border. However, Trumps vow to deport millions of illegal migrants has Canada bracing for a massive influx of people seeking to escape deportation.

Will Trump practice what he preaches and lock down the U.S. border to prevent illegal migrants from streaming into Canada? It is doubtful.

Trump is also right to be angry about illegal drugs entering the U.S., but a majority of fentanyl seized at the border is coming from Mexico. In fiscal 2024, Customs and Border Protection seized 43 lbs. of fentanyl at the Canada-U.S. border, compared to a whopping 21,000 lbs. at the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Additionally, Canada, which has not been spared from the ravages of the opioid epidemic, receives massive volumes of contraband from its southern neighbor. In addition to hard drugs, Canada is a black market haven for American guns and contraband tobacco products that now outsell legal tobacco in Canada.

So what is Trump really trying to accomplish by lumping in Canada with the Mexico tariff threat?

Trumps policy by tweet has not always come to fruition, but it often has the desired effect: fear. Negotiating when your opponents are afraid is classic Trump.

That is not to say he does not mean what he says  Trump was clear throughout the campaign that he will be slapping tariffs on foreign imports to pay for his proposed tax cuts. But already, a wedge is forming between Canada and Mexico. A united Canada-Mexico negotiating block against the U.S. would make things more challenging when reviewing the USMCA, and Trump likes to negotiate from strength.

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That said, there is reason to hope (for Canada, at least) that things will shake out favorably if Canadians can keep their cool. Canadas productivity has slipped to the bottom of the G7, putting it in a somewhat weaker position to ride out a tariff fight.

But Canada still has leverage heading into a negotiation. Canadian electricity flows through the lightbulbs in millions of American households. If Canada were to take a short vacation from exporting heavy crude oil southward, it would be catastrophic for the American oil refineries that rely on Canadas feedstock to function. A hiccup in the supply of Canadas natural gas exports would drive up the price of gas in the U.S., leading to an increase in transportation and home heating costs.

Canada also has reserves of rare earth minerals necessary for making everything from EV batteries to cellphones to F-35 parts. Even the U.S. Department of Defense has invested in Canadian critical minerals to find sources outside the Chinese monopoly. Diversifying the critical minerals market weakens Chinas stronghold, therefore threatening investment in Canadas mining sector, is counterintuitive to Americas long-term strategic and national security goals.

A reciprocal 25 percent tariff on U.S. goods imported into Canada would significantly threaten American businesses. Canada and the U.S. have deeply intertwined manufacturing sectors. U.S.-Canada trade accounted for a trillion dollars in 2023. At least 34 states count Canada as their No.1 trading partner. Trumps proposed tariff may already jeopardize jobs on both sides of the border by creating a climate of uncertainty for investment.

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Canada faces a predicament, but it has been accepted by provincial and federal ministers that a Team Canada approach is the best way to maintain strength.

Whether Canada can unite behind the deeply unpopular Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remains to be seen. Trudeau, who recently rebuffed calls from his own caucus to resign over his abysmal polling numbers, has been attempting to position himself as a veteran negotiator who has already been through a round of trade negotiations with Trump and preserved the Canadian free trade interests in the American market. Many of the premiers, however, dont see him in this light. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said, I very much (would) like to take a Team Canada approach, but I can tell you that Justin Trudeau hasnt made it easy.

One thing is sure: Trump has not yet been sworn in and is already testing Canadas position. How the countrys government reacts will set the tone for ongoing negotiations.

Jamie Tronnes is executive director of the Center for North American Prosperity and Security, a project of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. She is based in Washington.

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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.
For the last few years, a younger generation of Republicans  including Vice President-elect J.D. Vance  has tried to convince their party to (partially) rethink its traditional kowtowing to corporate interests. If they really want to be the party of the working class, it might not be enough to pour contempt on college professors and government employees. What if they combined that with a genuine skepticism of corporate power, and a willingness to use government to police monopolies and make sure markets work for everyone?

It was an interesting idea. But even if Vance and his allies were sincere  and there are plenty of reasons to doubt that  the incoming Trump White House is going in another direction. Big business will have even more influence in Donald Trumps second administration than in his first, and the dream of a Republican Party that cares about voters pocketbooks, not just CEOs salaries, will be deferred yet again. The idea that this administration will be populist in any meaningful sense looks more like a joke every single day.

Already, Trump has tapped more than a dozen billionaires and Wall Street tycoons to fill out Cabinet posts and advisory positions. He is dining with industry lobbyists and promising regulatory exemptions to big companies. And on Tuesday, he confirmed that he would replace Lina Khan, the governments most prominent fighter against corporate power, as chair of the Federal Trade Commission.Under Khan, the FTC has been at the center of some of the most important action on markets and monopolies over the last four years. Along with Jonathan Kanter, head of the Justice Departments Antitrust Division, Khan has reinvigorated antitrust enforcement, challenging giant mergers and bringing lawsuits against tech companies for their exploitative practices.

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While not all of Khans antitrust actions have been successful, she has notched some notable victories. Earlier this year, the FTC sued to block a proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, arguing the merger would raise prices and hurt workers. After a judge sided with the FTC and state regulators, Albertsons backed out of the deal.

Though wealthy donors in both parties despise Khan, her adversarial relationship with large corporations, and particularly with the tech industry, won her some fans on the right. I look at Lina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden administration that I think is doing a pretty good job, said Vance earlier this year. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said that her past criticism of Amazon was precisely why she was a good choice for the FTC.

Hawley is just one Republican who has styled himself an anti-corporate crusader; he has introduced a bill to outlaw corporate political contributions, which he says would hold Corporate America accountable for drowning out the voices of the American people. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Trump's pick for secretary of state, once endorsed a union organizing drive at an Amazon facility, though only because he thought the company was too woke and should be punished.

The support for Khan from these Khanservatives, and the forlorn hope that Trumps populism has anything to do with economics, led some to wonder if Trump might actually let Khan stay on. The conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board warned In July that Mr. Vance may lobby Mr. Trump to reappoint her in a second term. Instead, Trump has picked FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson as her replacement. In announcing Ferguson on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship. But this hostility emerges only when Ferguson believes tech companies are censoring conservatives. He recently praised X owner Elon Musk, saying that the platforms current turn toward free expression is due only to its new owners unusually firm commitment to free and open debate. In fact, Musk regularly silences his own critics on X and files lawsuits trying to quash speech he doesnt like.

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Fergusons pitch to run the agency, first reported by Punchbowl News, demonstrates that he will broadly reverse Khans robust antitrust enforcement. In the one-page document, he promises to reverse Lina Khans anti-business agenda by repealing burdensome regulations (i.e. regulations that businesses dont like) and stopping Lina Khans war on mergers. And lest Big Tech gets too worried, he pledges to end the FTCs attempt to become an AI regulator.

No one should be surprised that conservative support for Khan and opposition to Big Tech was never about the dangers of monopoly power or the well being of consumers. Republicans only get mad at companies when they perceive a threat to their partisan interests. Likewise, theyll condemn corporate wokeness when companies celebrate Pride Month, but they dont care if those same companies jack up prices, mistreat workers or pollute communities. For all the Khanservatives' claim to be reimagining their partys stance toward corporations, they lack any broader conception of how much power corporations should have, how government should ensure the proper functioning of markets, or what constitutes genuine competition in the public interest. Theyre happy to have the FTC, and the government in general, revert to a reflexive view that corporations should be able to do pretty much whatever they want  so long as its conservative officials who are determining where the lines are.

Now Vance and his allies claims to populism will be truly tested. Are the corporate-oriented officials running key agencies in the new Trump administration going to reverse the Biden administrations efforts in taking on corporate power? What about the FTCs recently finalized click to cancel rule, which will require that canceling a subscription or gym membership is as easy as signing up in the first place? What about its crackdown on junk fees, or its ban on onerous noncompete agreements? Based on Trumps actions since the election, all these moves could be at risk.

Its not just the FTC  we could see the Trump administration end the efforts to get better treatment for airline passengers that Biden started, or follow up on threats to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects consumers from financial industry scams and mistreatment (Elon Musk has said he wants to delete the CFPB). Heres the real measure of the phoniness of the Republican claim to populism: As the next four years progress, watch how often the administration takes the side of consumers when they come in conflict with corporate interests. My bet is on almost never.

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Perhaps Vance was sincere all the times he said he wanted a genuinely populist Republican Party that is skeptical of corporate power. But thats almost certainly not what were going to get. Conservative ideology, and subservience to the moneyed interests that fund the GOP, will determine what Republicans do when they take power, just as they always have.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
We try to flex our collegiate skills to examine the current questioning by national and local leaders as to the influence and effectiveness of universities and colleges.

House Speaker Mike Schultz requests Utah universities and colleges reallocate approximately 10% of appropriations to successful programs that benefit the state economy. Governor Spencer Cox recently expressed his support for such legislative efforts to reform higher ed, stating, Higher ed has lost their way. Do these Utah institutions need reform, and how can it be done?

Cowley: The Legislature is trying to renovate some of the rigid, out-of-date norms that naturally occur in higher ed with ballooning bureaucracies and budgets in the billions. Their goal is to refocus efforts on high-demand skills. The proposal is not a reduction in funding, only a reallocation to build up programs that meet the needs of a modern economy.

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There are some gems in Utahs higher ed system that legislators want to see more of. Programs like the Lassonde Institute at the University of Utah are receiving national recognition for their innovative approach to student housing, cross-disciplinary studies and modern skills training. Higher ed may need legislative support to cut through the red tape and have the latitude to try more inventive approaches to education.

My only caution to lawmakers is that the value of higher education isnt just a framed diploma on the wall. It is about the experiences, growth and lessons learned along the way  the complete collegiate experience.

Pignanelli: Now would be a good time for college faculty and administrators to revisit first principles in service of building a convincing case for the value that their institutions provide to America.  David Brooks, the Atlantic

For over seven decades, Americas universities were the powerhouse driving creativity, innovation, technological superiority, medical breakthroughs and excellence in many endeavors. They generated the majority of Nobel Laureates and recipients of other prestigious scientific awards. Our global dominance owes much to what these institutions produced.

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The challenges we face from antagonists (China, Russia, Iran, etc.), changing climate and health concerns can be overcome with robust, balanced academic research. However, the cultural aspects that diminish needed debate, push a narrow focus on special interests, protect a bloated bureaucracy and force a political agenda on instruction and interaction threaten this advantage. Therefore, reform in our universities, including Utahs institutions, is more than a lofty ideal. The continued existence of our lifestyles and the betterment of the planet depends on a readjustment of the trajectory.

Fortunately, many local university leaders are pushing hard to adapt. University of Utah President Taylor Randall views these demands as an opportunity. Reform should refocus the priorities on the principles that prioritize initiative, creativity and practical applications of research and curriculum. Politics should be relegated back to a subject of study, not the prevailing influence on campus.

Should parents, students and employers be concerned or excited by these efforts to reform higher ed?

Cowley: I attended Utah State University on partial FFA and 4-H scholarships. My blue-collar parents sacrificed to pay the rest. With the cost of tuition today, there is no way my family could have afforded to send me to school. Parents will celebrate efforts to make college more affordable, which can literally change lives. It sure did for me.

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Students today have different goals than previous generations. Few dream of becoming a doctor or lawyer; rather, they have ambitions of starting an e-commerce business, earning their drone pilot license or becoming a social media influencer. Many existing courses and degrees are out of alignment with modern professions. Without reform, potential students may have a hard time justifying the time and cost of getting a degree.

AI and other technologies could soon replace many professions. Employers need employees trained to tackle these and other new technological opportunities. Modernizing higher ed is a good place to start to meet these workforce needs.

The world is changing, and it behooves higher ed to change along with it.

Pignanelli: Despite the achievements of higher education, their reputation among the general public continues to diminish. Indeed, much of the force behind the recent election results was the educational divide among Americans. The disconnect between those possessing advanced degrees and many citizens is huge, as the institutions are viewed as elitist. Thus, most will welcome the reformers.

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Will other states follow Utahs lead in reforming higher ed?

Cowley: Utah has never been afraid to be peculiar people, buck tradition, and blaze our own trail. It may not be perfect, but the intentions are pure. Critics should remember this is a reallocation, not a cut across the board. Other states should take note of Utahs example and find ways to improve education, make it more affordable, and better serve students, employers and taxpayers.

Pignanelli: Randall and others already realized the problems and initiated incremental reforms (jolting many faculty members). So we are ahead on this critical action. Having the Governor, Schultz and Senate President Stuart Adams support these measures keeps the momentum. Especially important are the programs Renae noted  the Lassonde Institute and the new Masters in Business Creation. Once again, the Utah Way will guide the nation.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have spoken on the phone about the war in Ukraine after a request from the Hungarian side, Kremlin officials said.

Orban declared his willingness to contribute to political and diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the ongoing conflict and said he could use his contacts with Western politicians, Moscow officials said.

Putin said Kiev was pursuing a destructive approach and still ruling out any possibility of a peaceful settlement, the Kremlin said.

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Orban later posted on his Facebook page that Hungary would use all diplomatic means to bring about a ceasefire. Analysts have commented that this signals the phone call did not produce any tangible results.

Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Orban maintains close contacts with Moscow. He paid a surprise visit to Putin in July at the beginning of the Hungarian EU Council presidency, earning him criticism from EU colleagues showing solidarity with Kiev.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin for an hour on Wednesday, 11 December.

Source: Orban on X (Twitter); European Pravda reports

Details: Orban said that on Wednesday, 11 December, he had an "hour-long phone conversation" with Putin in the morning.

The Hungarian prime minister announced the "most dangerous weeks of the Russian-Ukrainian war".

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Orban added that they were taking all possible diplomatic steps in favor of a ceasefire and peace talks.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that Hungary would continue its so-called "peacekeeping mission" in Ukraine this week.

This happened the day after Orban met with US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida.

On the afternoon of 15 November, it became known that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had spoken to the Kremlin leader for the first time in two years.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, extending his latest flurry of diplomatic freelancing around the war in Ukraine following a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump.

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Orban discussed ways of resolving the conflict with Putin in the phone conversation, including the Hungarian premiers contacts with a number of Western leaders on the matter, the Kremlin said in a statement.

At the same time, Orban didnt deliver any messages from Trump to Putin during their phone call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Interfax news service. There are no preparations for a call between Putin and Trump as the American side hasnt initiated one, Peskov added.

The Hungarian prime minister will be in Ankara on Thursday to discuss Ukraine and the Middle East with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his spokesman said in a post on the X social media platform.

Orban has sought to position himself as a go-to leader for Trump in Europe, while maintaining ties with Putin. But his self-styled peace missions have upset EU allies coming at the time when Hungary is holding the blocs rotating presidency through the end of this month.

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The Hungarian premier didnt coordinate with Kyiv his visit to Mar-a-Lago to meet Trump earlier this week and isnt expected in Ukraine any time soon, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Orbans diplomatic freelancing has unnerved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who lashed out at Orban for what he said was an attempt at undermining Western unity.

No one should boost personal image at the expense of unity, Zelenskiy said in a post on X after Orbans talks with Putin. He also thanked Trump for his efforts to bring real peace.

Hungary has repeatedly sought to prevent the EU from imposing new sanctions against Russia since the Kremlin started its full-scale invasion almost three years ago. It has also opposed sending military aid to Kyiv.

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Orban surprised Ukraine and other European capitals with his trips to Moscow and Beijing in July, on the heels of a visit to Kyiv after taking over the EUs rotating presidency.

Ukraines dollar bonds saw the strongest gains across across emerging markets on Wednesday, extending the past months rally on bets Trumps presidency may bring quicker steps toward peace talks. Formal negotiations will have to wait until the US inauguration on Jan. 20, Orban said late on Tuesday.

Tusk Talks

I had an hour-long phone conversation this morning with President Putin, Orban said in a post on X. We are taking every possible diplomatic step to argue in favor of a ceasefire and peace talks.

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The Hungarian leaders diplomatic overtures follow talks that French President Emmanuel Macron convened with Zelenskiy and Trump on Saturday in Paris, where the Ukrainian leader raised the risk of a frozen conflict with Russia and pressed for security guarantees.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country will take over the EUs presidency from January, said on Tuesday that talks on halting the war might start this winter. Hes also been engaging in diplomatic efforts of his own, including with Zelenskiy and Macron, who is due in Warsaw on Thursday.

Tusk will visit Kyiv at the start of next year, he said Wednesday. Zelenskiy in turn will come to Poland at the start of the countrys EU stint in the first half of 2025.

So far, Ukraine has refused to consider territorial concessions, though Zelenskiy has signaled in recent interviews that a diplomatic solution was needed. The Kremlin on Wednesday said that Kyivs stance continues to exclude the possibility of a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

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--With assistance from Piotr Bujnicki, Daryna Krasnolutska and Aliaksandr Kudrytski.

(Updates with Zelenskiy statement in seventh and eighth paragraphs, Beijing visit in 10th.)

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is set to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkiye on Thursday, 12 December.

Source: Bertalan Havasi, head of the Hungarian Prime Minister's press service, via MTI agency, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The meeting between Erdogan and Orban will focus on the "current international situation, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, peace prospects, and several issues concerning Hungarian-Turkish relations".

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Following the meeting, Orban will attend the closing ceremony of the Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year in Ankara.

The announcement of Orbans trip comes after his conversation with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

Commenting on the conversation, Orban stated that Hungary intends to use all available "diplomatic tools to facilitate a ceasefire and peace" in Ukraine.

Background:

Earlier, the Hungarian Prime Minister met with US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida.

Afterwards, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that Hungary would continue its self-proclaimed "peacekeeping mission" regarding Ukraine this week.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  An Oregon federal judge has temporarily blocked the merger between two of the largest grocers in the U.S.: Kroger and Albertsons.

The merger was at the center of a three-week trial that started in Portland in August. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued a preliminary injunction against it on Tuesday afternoon.

Person with firearm barricaded at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley: Sheriffs Office

Although defendants may choose to abandon the merger because of the preliminary injunction, this order in no way forces them to do so, and leaves open the possibility that they may pursue the merger at a later date should it be deemed lawful in the administrative proceedings, Nelson wrote.

The Ohio-based Kroger operates 2,800 stores in 35 states, while the Idaho-based Albertsons operates 2,220 stores in 34 states. The companies first proposed the $24.7 billion acquisition in October 2022, arguing that it would help them compete with other large retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

In February of this year, Oregon was one of several states to join the Federal Trade Commissions lawsuit that aimed to block the merger. The commission argued the act would reduce competition while increasing food costs for consumers.

Port of Portland reaches tentative deal with long-term Terminal 6 operator

A Kroger spokesperson later announced the potentially-merging companies plan to divest 579 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers, including 186 locations in Oregon and Washington. Although the spokesperson stated C&S wouldnt close any stores and workers would remain employed, other organizations and leaders  including Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden  continued to argue the acquisition would hinder workers and consumers alike.

The Fred Meyer store in Canby, as seen June 2018 (Google Maps)

The Safeway at SW 10th and Jefferson in Portland, March 19, 2020 (KOIN)

The senator backed Judge Nelsons opinion in a recently-issued statement.

Im glad the court has shelved this monster deal because in addition to raising grocery prices for shoppers already tiptoeing on an economic tightrope, it would have made it that much harder for Oregonians to find a pharmacy and for workers at both supermarket chains to seek fairer wages and better working conditions, Wyden said, in part.

Gas prices in Oregon reach lowest levels since 2021, according to AAA

In a statement, several local unions with United Food and Commercial Workers Stop the Merger coalition also urged Kroger and Albertsons to re-invest in their stores instead of going forward with the merger.

According to Nelson, the injunction is pending the outcome of the administrative proceedings before the Federal Trade Commission.
A proposal for the next legislative session aims to support vulnerable pregnant people and their newborns to give them a full chance at life. (Thanasis Zovoilis/Getty Images)

Editors note: The Capital Chronicle is running an end-of-year fundraising campaign, with a $10,000 goal, to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and theres a long legislative session in 2025. Were completely dependent on donor dollars, and theyre tax deductible. Please contribute to us if you can.

The only pediatrician  and medical doctor  in the state Legislature treats vulnerable children in her practice and now shed like to help them as a policymaker.

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Sen. Lisa Reynolds wants to reverse cycles of poverty, drug addiction, illiteracy and mental illness by funding programs for vulnerable people during pregnancy and their childs first year of life.

Thats the most effective way to help children later reach their full potential, she told members of the Senate Humans Services Committee on Tuesday during a presentation of her initiative  which shes calling Momnibus  that will be introduced next session. It follows the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act that was introduced and died in Congress last year and stems from her practice at the Childrens Clinic in southwest Portland.

Research shows the brain develops in the first years of life.

If theres disruption in that time period, whether its being in a situation where a parent is not able to truly bond or attach to a child, or even in a worst-case scenario, when child is removed from their home because of child endangerment, that really interrupts human brain development, Reynolds said.

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Reynolds, a Democrat who chaired the House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services, has focused on childrens issues during her two terms representing the 34th House District in northwest Portland. In November, she easily won a third term but was sworn-in Monday as a senator, taking the Portland-based seat vacated by Elizabeth Steiner, whos also a physician and was just elected state treasurer.

Reynolds has more than a dozen children in her practice in foster care  all because their parents have a drug problem. The initiative would aim to reduce those placements by addressing drug and behavioral health problems, poverty and housing for vulnerable pregnant people and their children early in life and expand the traditional health care workforce to includes more doulas, lactation specialists and peer workers, who are trained professionals with personal experience of addiction and mental health problems.

Tackling poverty, drug addiction and homelessness in an integrated way and focusing on young children is the only way to move the needle, Reynolds said.

Building on current programs

Shes working on the initiative with Dr. Angela Zallen, a Eugene pediatrician, who told the committee that the state should expand two related programs  Project Nurture and Nurture Oregon. Project Nurture, launched in 2015 by Health Share of Oregon, a large Medicaid insurer in the Portland area, provides prenatal, inpatient maternity and postpartum care for women addicted to drugs. The program, at four sites in the Portland area, has reduced the placement of kids in foster care and decreased child neglect and abuse, according to Health Share. In 2020, the Oregon Legislature mandated that the Oregon Health Authority expand Project Nurture to focus on rural areas and it is now in five rural counties: Benton, Deschutes, Jackson, Lincoln and Umatilla counties.

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The Momnibus initiative would expand the program further and ensure five-day hospital stays during any point in a pregnancy or right after birth to support the mother during withdrawal, start drug addiction treatment and help with breastfeeding and bonding.

Another focus of the initiative is housing. It proposes funding long-term rental assistance for vulnerable families through the first year of their childs life and encouraging the building of multi-bedroom units in subsidized housing projects. Reynolds said ensuring stable housing is key to getting families off to a good start.

When we talk about the importance of being present and bonding with your baby, thats really hard to do if you are either homeless or are really in fear of losing your home, Reynolds said.

Last month, the Oregon Health Authority launched a Medicaid initiative that offers rental assistance to vulnerable patients for up to six months. The program is experimental and includes nearly $1 billion in funding for housing and other services. Most of the money comes from the federal government, and Reynolds said it could be used to help families stay housed during the first crucial months of their childrens lives.

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Were really looking at prohibiting the expulsion of a baby or a pregnant person just for lack of rent nonpayment, Reynolds said.

Tackling workforce and poverty

The initiative also includes measures to expand the perinatal workforce, establish a perinatal provider fund while setting up a task force to recommend other ways to bolster and diversify the perinatal workforce.

The last focus of the initiative is child poverty. Among a few ideas, Reynolds and Zallen said the state could expand the existing tax credit for kids for low-income parents by increasing the amount allowed and extending it to more people by increasing the income limit.

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When we talk about moving the needle on reducing child endangerment or kindergarten readiness or third-grade reading scores or preventing substance use disorder, it really comes to ending child poverty, Reynolds said.

Reynolds and Zallen have been working on the initiative for more than a year with Oregon health, social service and housing professionals. Theyve met with Gov. Tina Kotek and her staff and discussed ideas with advocates and nonprofits. The initiative has the backing of officials in Oregons Department of Human Services, the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Housing and Community Services, as well as advocates for underserved populations, members of the medical community and social service experts.

Reynolds does not know how much these measures would cost or whether shell introduce a series of measures or one big bill. But she said the initiative would flip Oregons current approach to social services by directing funding toward the start of life rather than paying after problems occur.

We need to have the courage and the will to reprioritize some of our spending streams so that were providing resources at the beginning instead of catching folks after they fall off the deep end, Reynolds said.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  If youre looking to purchase your first home, Central Pacific Bank is here to guide you. KHON2s Jodi Leong got some expert tips from Rusty Rasmussen, senior vice president, CPBs Home Loans Division:

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I would say start saving early. Know your credit score and pay close attention to your credit. You want to make sure you pay all your bills on time and dont incur any new debt either, said Rasmussen. Its good to organize your financial situation. Simple questions like  how much money do you make, how much money do you have in the bank? What are your total monthly bills  things like that, you should know. And then organize the documentation. When youre going to buy a home, theyre going to ask you for your tax returns, W2s, pay stubs, keep all of that together.

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Kickstart Your Homeownership Journey with Expert Guidance

Rasmussen said there are many affordable home programs that can guide and support future homeowners.

Many of the new projects that are out there, most of them have an affordable component, so some of the units will need to be sold to affordable buyers. They will typically have a buyback and maybe some shared appreciation on it. The buyer will need to meet certain income restrictions, they cant make too much money. But the trade-off is that theyll be able to buy the home at a much lower sales price, said Rasmussen.

For example, the Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation or HHFDC is also coming out with a new program called the Down Payment Equity program.

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Theyll provide an additional lower sales price to the buyer. There are a lot of good programs out there. This is a way most people get into the homebuying world. Theres a lot to know and theres a lot to learn, but you can talk to a CPB officer, and theyll be happy to point you in the right direction and explain all of these things, Rasmussen said.

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An Orlando doctor whose patient died from a faulty Brazilian butt lift procedure he performed in 2021 has had his Florida medical license fully revoked.

The Florida Board of Medicine revoked the license of Dr. Christopher Walker last week. Walker, a urogynecologist who worked at Beja Body Med Spa in downtown Orlando, had his license suspended in 2021 after the patients death.

At the time, Walker was under indictment for a vaginal mesh implant scheme. Walker later pleaded guilty to enticing women with such implants into removing them and suing the device manufacturers to get larger settlements. He faced up to 10 years in prison but was ultimately sentenced in a New York federal court to the two months of jail already served and fined a penalty of more than $800,000.

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Andrew Pietrylo, the chief legal counsel for the Florida Department of Health, said in a hearing on Dec. 6 that Walkers initial charges alone should have prevented him from practicing in Florida, but Walker did not disclose the guilty plea on his renewal application, and it was renewed by error or by fraud.

Pietrylo also said Walker had performed cosmetic surgery despite not being certified, leading to the death of the patient by repeatedly puncturing intra-abdominal organs and internal blood vessels during a procedure.

According to the emergency order suspending Walkers license in 2021, a 38-year-old woman had gone to Beja Body Med Spa for a liposuction of her abdomen and back and fat transfer to her buttocks, which is marketed as a Brazilian butt lift.

Doctors found the patient had multiple organ injuries, arterial bleeding, cuts to her liver and pancreas, and injuries to her stomach and colon, according to the order.

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Orlando doctor facing federal charges banned from performing liposuction after patient death

A Florida administrative law judge recommended his license be fully revoked, but Walker appeared before the board on Dec. 6 to argue for a lesser penalty.

I sit before you today completely broken, Walker said. In my eagerness to help my patients suffering from tremendous pain from the faulty vaginal mesh implants, I unfortunately, unintentionally, failed to comply with the laws governing patient travel.

Walker and others had paid kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the referral of patients across state lines for the surgeries, according to prosecutors.

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He added that he took full responsibility for his patients death.

This indescribable tragedy has left me with profound grief, Walker said. Looking back now, I see where in my distress, my judgment was flawed in my effort to survive under the weight of a criminal indictment.

Walker said he voluntarily stepped away from being a surgeon, which was my first love, and asked to be able to see patients in an office-based setting.

The doctors on the board, however, were skeptical that ending his surgical practice was the blow to his dreams he claimed it was.

Walker just told us his first love or first passion was surgery, said Dr. Scot Ackerman. He never did training in surgery. He did Internal Medicine in Jamaica. He did radiation therapy in Jamaica. He came to the United States and did OB GYN and family practice. So thats nice hearing him say that. But what hes saying is inconsistent with his history and with his training.

The board rejected Walkers request and revoked his license, and also suspended him from the Florida Medicare program for three years. It did, however, waive the $30,000 in legal costs the DOH requested from Walker.
Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

Fiscal-year 2023 was big for childrens charitable nonprofits, according to an analysis of Internal Revenue Service Form 990s.

Of the 20 charitable nonprofits with over $10 million in revenue, six saw a jump of 70% in year-over-year revenue, including every Early Learning Coalition headquartered in the region.

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Read: Facebook, Instagram outages reported

Floridas Early Learning Coalitions are nonprofits that provide school readiness programs, voluntary prekindergarten and other childcare assistance, and primarily are funded by the state.

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.




DENVER (KDVR)  A set of bear cubs who were orphaned when their mother was hit by a car were released into the wild last week after months of rehabilitation and socializing with other cubs.

On July 19, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a mother bear was hit by a car on Highway 133 north of Paonia. Her cubs were left without a mother, so CPW took them to the Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte.

Photos: CPW releases 3 orphaned bear cubs in Jefferson County

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There, the cubs spent the summer and fall bulking up and socializing with the other cubs, CPW said.

Once the cubs reached 80 pounds, CPW said they were ready to den. CPW added that GPS data suggests the cubs will find a place to den within six days of their release.

So, last week we loaded them up and drove them back to their original home habitat and let them go pick their own den for winter, CPW wrote in a post on X.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife shared photos of the release, showing a bear cub leaping from the bed of a truck into the forest.

A set of bear cubs who were orphaned when their mother was hit by a car were released into the wild last week after months of rehabilitation and socializing with other cubs at the Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte. A set of bear cubs who were orphaned when their mother was hit by a car were released into the wild last week after months of rehabilitation and socializing with other cubs at the Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte. A set of bear cubs who were orphaned when their mother was hit by a car were released into the wild last week after months of rehabilitation and socializing with other cubs at the Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte.

Theyve got enough fat to get through winter and have a head start when they come out of dens next spring, CPW said.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the goal is for the cubs to become reproducing members of the bear population and avoid conflict.

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Democratic state lawmakers are on their fourth attempt to expand the jurisdiction of the state's independent ethics commission. House Bill 1079 won a party-line vote in the House Transportation, Housing, and Local Government Committee on Wednesday.
At least 100 firefighters from the City of Pittsburgh have lost their lives in the line of duty over the course of the departments history, including one recently.

Now, theres a memorial being built to honor and educate.

When Channel 11s Jennifer Tomazic sat down with the firefighters for this story, she had no idea what was to come later that day.

After no line of duty deaths for 20 years, that night Pittsburgh firefighter and Battalion Chief John Walsh died.

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His name will appear alongside other Pittsburgh firefighters who have died at fire scenes on a new memorial, but its much more than that.

Lt. Sean OLeary showed us the unveiled plans to build a firefighters memorial at his union hall in Hazelwood. This will be the first memorial in the City of Pittsburgh honoring firefighters who died in the line of duty.

We wanted a place where other firefighters and family members could come and really see the history of Pittsburgh fire and the firefighters that made that sacrifice, OLeary said.

One firefighter statue will be in gear from back in the day and the other will be more modern. Between them, an eternal flame. And above them, names of at least 100 City of Pittsburgh firefighters who died on the job since 1870. Next to their name, a QR code.

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We could really have newspaper clippings, the career stats, the event that occurred-we could fit all that information into an almost unlimited space for that firefighters life, OLeary said.

Whys it so important that you give that context to people? Tomazic asked.

They wanted to make sure that it wasnt just a name on a wall. That it had some kind of grip to it that when somebody left there, they remembered our brothers and sisters that made that ultimate sacrifice, OLeary said.

For more than two decades, Pittsburgh Firefighters Local 1 President Ralph Sicuro has faced each call head on, well knowing the dangers. Sadly, hes now been part of planning three funerals for firefighters who have died during his 27-year career-two in the Ebeneezer Baptist Church fire, and the most recent of Battalion Chief Walsh.

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It was an up and down of emotions, recognizing that any moment we could be called to a scene and ultimately make that sacrifice. That reality sets home when you are so close to it, Sicuro said.

I never really understood the brotherhood and sisterhood of all of this until I got into this, OLeary said.

But after 11 years as a firefighter in Pittsburgh, OLeary not only understands, but wants to make sure others inside and outside the force understand. He and the non-profit Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Foundation are the force behind brining the firefighters line of duty death memorial to Pittsburgh.

The history of firefighting is what creates the future, OLeary said.

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OLeary and Sicuro hope the memorial becomes a destination for all.

Were not looking for anything fancy somewhere else, we want it to be here where we can care for it, look out for it 32 and we can always, as we enter and exit our building, remember our brothers and sisters, Sicuro said.

The Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Foundation is still fundraising for the memorial. They hope to have it done within the year. Click here to help.

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GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Greenfield Savings Banks iconic ATM Tree is now the site of a major investigation after more than $150,000 was stolen from it.

14-year-old led police on three state car chase, ending in Franklin County

Greenfield police were sent to an alarm at this unique ATM on the Mohawk Trail around 3:00 a.m. on Friday. When officers arrived, they saw an unattended Ford pickup truck with its engine running next to the tree, and the machines front had been pulled off.

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Police believe the suspects hooked chains onto the ATM and the back of the truck, to pull off the machines front and expose the money cartridges.

They also think the suspects tried to drive away in that truck, but one of the chains used got wrapped around a nearby pole and stopped the truck in its tracks.

So they bailed out of the truck, they ran. It appears they put the cash cartridges of upwards of $150,000 in duffle bags and they were seen on various surveillance cameras in the area running from the truck, said Todd Dodge, Greenfield Chief of Police.

That truck was confirmed stolen from a resident on Spruce Street, but then, camera footage revealed a second vehicle was involved.

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A second vehicle, which was rented and traced back to Texas, pulled up next to the broken-into ATM and drove off with the suspects. That vehicle was later found abandoned at Boston Logan International Airport.

Greenfield Savings Bank is deeply saddened by the events of Friday, December 6th, when our ATM at the Big Y Plaza was vandalized and damaged beyond repair. This incident is disappointing on many levels, particularly because the Money Tree ATM, with its distinctive design, has become an iconic symbol of GSBs recent history, is cherished by our community and it is during a time when it is frequently used for holiday needs. The Greenfield Police Department is conducting a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible, and we are fully cooperating with their efforts. Additionally, our insurance company is assessing the damage, and it may take time before we know the full extent of what repairs or replacements are possible. We want to remind our customers that another GSB ATM, located on the Mohawk Trail rotary near Applebees, is fully operational and available to meet their banking needs. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community during this timeit means so much to all of us at GSB. Greenfield Savings Bank

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.

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OnMonday,literary giant Nikki Giovanni died at 81. Shortly after the news of her passing became public, there was a palpable feeling of grief among Black women who loved her and the body of work she gifted us.

This loss was especially poignant for writers like myself. We carry not just interpersonal grief for a beloved role model, but also the connection of complexity. While we grieve Giovanni, we simultaneously rejoice simply because she existed. Had Giovanni not used her gifts and brilliance to pave the way for generations of poets, writers, activists and thinkers, we may never have been able to hone our crafts and share our work with the world.



Her influence was widespread; theres a good chance that hip-hop would not sound the same, since she had a profoundinfluence on the style of some of the greats. The scope of her legacy was expansive. Every Black woman who can transform her energy by reflecting on the words of Ego Tripping is tangible proof of the magnitude of Giovannis ability to empower.

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We still share, watch and talk about the legendary conversation between Giovanni and James Baldwin. In those moments, with ease and elegance, she seamlessly modeled what it looks like to be an intersectional feminist long before many of us had the language to call it such. When Baldwin discussed the way police officers brutalized Black men in the streets, Giovanni acknowledged that violence as very real  but also explained that sometimes these same men who are victims of police violence come home and behave abusively toward their Black wives (who are often victims of police violence themselves). These complicated truths have been integral to moving forward as a community. Giovanni managed to hold space for Black male trauma while acknowledging that Black women oftentimes live at the intersection of state and domestic violence. The gems and lessons were bountiful.

Giovanni gave us language in so many ways. In her transformative book, Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day, the poet and scholar showed us how to express the sorrow we feel when the work and dreams we sowed to make America the best version of herself dissolve like sugar under a stream of water. If you are a Black woman in America, you have, at some point, held that sorrow and frustration in the pit of your stomach whenever your brilliant ideas at work result in more labor and increased expectations, but not higher worth and compensation.

Regardless of how we personally feel about Kamala Harris, the fact that a highly educated Black woman with the clear qualifications to serve as POTUS lost to a twice impeached, convicted felon who was credibly accused of sexual assault, speaks to how soluble the promises of America truly are. Giovanni gave us the language to express the disillusionment we were left with.

We can never replicate her legacy, but those of us who were transformed by it owe Giovanni our commitment to continue it. As we mourn, I think about what our contribution should look like.

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For some, honoring Giovannis life means empowering, supporting and carving out a lane for the next generation of Black women and using our words to spark the imagination that will change the world.

For others, this will mean holding onto what she taught us about our relationships: Black love is Black wealth. Black love, she taught us, is far more inclusive than romantic partnership  it encompasses the way we love and engage with each other as a community, as well as the Black families we create. And, for many of us, our contribution will look like speaking the truth even when its inconvenient and uncomfortable. This particular act is challenging but necessary, especially now.

For Black poets, authors and essayists, this will mean reflecting on what she taught us about writing from a place of empathy and using our voices in a world that tries to silence us. As a collective, I hope we carry and protect her legacy by decolonizing our imaginations and dreaming of a world where Black people are our own authority on what constitutes love, joy, success, and wealth. We owe it to Giovanni to turn her words into action. We owe it to her to make sure future generations have that agency as well.

I often think about the fact that Giovanni was only 28 years old during that conversation with Baldwin, who was 47 years old at the time. She studied his work, followed his career, and was aware that she was speaking to a giant in his own right. Yet, she knew that she too carried wisdom. She seemed utterly aware of her own greatness. She would remind us again later, in Ego Tripping, of the power shed inevitably pass on to us.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  Champaigns Home Instead location officially sold Tuesday morning to new owners after a video showing the former owner restraining an ex-employee in an office went viral.

The new owners expressed their desire to get familiar with the community  and turn the page on the situation that came to light last week.

Home Instead announces new ownership at Champaign location after illegal restraint incident

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They said it all starts by caring for employees who care for seniors.

From what Ive seen, its an incredible team of dedicated caregivers who have been providing care to many seniors in the area, said Ada Christopher.

She, and her husband Aaron, completed the sale Tuesday morning.

My strategy from the very beginning when I joined Home Instead has always been focusing on delivering exceptional care, Christopher said. And I believe in doing that not just for the clients and the families we serve, but also for the caregivers.

The sale was a result of fallout from a publicized incident involving the locations former owner and an ex-employee. Former caregiver Crystal Roedl was illegally restrained on Thursday for eight minutes by the old owner Jennifer Hanna after Roedl was fired.

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Video of the incident went viral on TikTok. The situation led to Hanna facing charges of unlawful restraint and a corporate investigation.

Champaign employee said she was held illegally by her boss for 8 minutes

In a statement, the company confirmed operations in Champaign would be transferred, saying:

We hold our franchisees to the highest standards and do not condone behavior that is inconsistent with our values, including the behavior that we saw on the video posted to social media.

Christopher owns four other Home Instead locations, including three in Illinois, but Champaign marks their first franchise in central Illinois.

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Im super excited about the future. And really what were here to bring to the community, Christopher said.

She spent the first day meeting with current caregivers, including Sue Stundahl.

I feel like we need more togetherness for everybody. I feel people should be connected, Stundahl said.

Christopher said caring for clients should start by caring for employees.

Making sure that our caregivers are taken care of, supported, that they have the best training, best wages and benefits so that we could retain them because they are at the heart of our business, she added.

The new owners also said to stay tuned regarding a possible move of the current location on University Avenue to somewhere else in Champaign. As for Roedl, she hired an attorney and is exploring all options.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Bougainville must be able to fund at least half of its budget if the Pacific archipelago's aspiration of political independence from Papua New Guinea is to be a success, PNG Prime Minister James Marape said on Wednesday.

Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama is seeking international investors to re-open one of the world's biggest copper mines, with Marape backing his authority on Wednesday to make business decisions on the mine as the autonomous region travels a pathway to independence.

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Bougainville was PNG's economic powerhouse for two decades until 1989, when a bloody civil war erupted over revenue from Panguna, the world's third-biggest open cut gold and copper mine and operated by Rio Tinto.

Bougainville voted for independence under a 2001 peace process in a referendum five years ago but PNG's parliament is yet to endorse it. A New Zealand mediator was recently appointed on the matter.

"We start with economic independence as a fundamental basis, because once you have the money you are able to sustain," Marape said at a resources conference in Sydney.

Bougainville's internal revenue of 7% was not sufficient to "get up, get going", he said. "We need to raise this at the very earliest to about 50% of funding."

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Toroama said significant progress had been made this year in redeveloping Panguna, with a copper exploration licence issued in January to Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), majority-owned by the Bougainville government.

BCL has projected revenue of $36 billion from the mine over 20 years, with copper an essential input for renewable energy.

An environmental and social impact assessment on Rio Tinto's legacy mining operation delivered this month was also a key step in re-opening the mine, Toroama said.

"We have to further sign an MOU with Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Limited for commencement of works of ageing infrastructure that pose imminent and severe risks to affected communities and further the talks," he said.

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The original mine's strong revenue flows to PNG came at the expense of local communities and the local environment, resulting in civil unrest exacerbated by political factors that led to a war costing 20,000 lives, Toroama said.

"Bougainville continues to stand out as a lesson, a warning, a reminder of what not to do in resource sector development," he added.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Nicholas Yong)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)  Paine College is hosting a Hurricane Helene Helene Recovery Resource Fair on Thursday, with over a dozen organizations offering assistance.

The event is set to take place on Dec. 12 at the Candler Library on 1255 Driud Park Avenue from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Presentations are scheduled for 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and visits with organizations being held from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Attendance is free and open to the public.

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ALSO ON WJBF: Columbia County School District hosting career fair Thursday

According to Paine College, participating organizations include:

FEMA

SBA Office of Disaster Recovery

SBA  Georgia District Office

USDA Rural Development

USDA Farm Service Agency

UGa Small Business Development Center

GA Legal Services

Goodwill

Augusta Building and Planning Department

Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce

Work Source Georgia

GA Department of Labor

Salvation Army

Red Cross

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 WJBF.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Reem Ajour says she last saw her husband and then 4-year-old daughter in March, when Israeli soldiers raided a family home in northern Gaza. She is haunted by those chaotic last moments, when the soldiers ordered her to go  to leave behind Talal and Masaa, both wounded.

Eight months later, the 23-year-old mother still has no answers about their fate. The military says it does not have them. Troops leveled the house where they were staying soon after the raid.

I am living and dead at the same time, she said, breaking down in sobs.

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Ajour is one of dozens of Palestinians that an Israeli legal group, Hamoked, is helping in their search for family members who went missing after being separated by Israeli soldiers during raids and arrests in the Gaza Strip.

Their cases  a fraction of the estimated thousands who have gone missing during the 14-month-long war  highlight a lack of accountability in how the Israeli military deals with Palestinians during ground operations in Gaza, Hamoked says.

Throughout the war, the military has conducted what amounts to a mass sifting of the Palestinian population as it raids homes and shelters and sends people through checkpoints. Troops round up and detain men, from dozens to several hundreds at a time, searching for any they suspect of Hamas ties, while forcing their families away, toward other parts of Gaza. The result is families split apart, often amid the chaos of fighting.

But the military has not made clear how it keeps track of everyone it separates, arrests or detains. Even if troops transfer Palestinians to military detention inside Israel, they can hold them incommunicado for more than two months  their whereabouts unknown to families or lawyers, according to rights groups.

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When people vanish, its nearly impossible to know what happened, Hamoked says.

Weve never had a situation of mass forced disappearance from Gaza, with no information provided for weeks and weeks to families, said Jessica Montell, the director of Hamoked. Israel's High Court of Justice has refused to intervene to get answers, despite Hamoked's petitions, she said.

Asked by The Associated Press about the cases of Ajour and two other families it interviewed, the Israeli military declined comment.

4-year-old Masaa Ajour was shot, then separated from her mother

The Ajours were sheltering at a home in Gaza City that belonged to Talal's family after being displaced from their own house earlier in the war. Israeli troops raided the home on March 24, opening fire as they burst in, Ajour said.

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Ajour, who was three months pregnant, was shot in the stomach. Talal was wounded in his leg, bleeding heavily. Masaa lay passed out, shot in the shoulder  though Ajour said she saw her still breathing.

As one soldier bandaged the little girl's wound, another pointed his gun in Ajours face and told her to head out of Gaza City.

She said she pleaded that she couldnt leave Masaa and Talal, but the soldier screamed: Go south!

With no choice, Ajour collected her younger son and went down to the street. It was all in a blink of an eye. It was all so fast, she said. Still bleeding, she walked for two and a half hours, clutching her son.

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When they reached a hospital in central Gaza, doctors treated her stomach wound and found her fetus pulse. Weeks later, doctors found the pulse had gone. She miscarried.

Ajour said that several weeks later, a Palestinian released from a prison in southern Israel told her family he had heard her husbands name called out over a loudspeaker among a list of detainees.

The rumor has kept her hope alive, but the military told Hamoked it had no record of Masaa or Talal being detained.

Another possibility is that they died on the scene, but no one has been able to search the rubble of the family's building to determine if any bodies are there.

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The storming of their building came as Israeli forces were battling Hamas fighters in surrounding streets while raiding nearby Shifa Hospital, where it claimed the militants were based. Troops cleared families out of nearby homes and often then destroyed or set the buildings ablaze, according to witnesses at the time.

The military itself may not know what happened to Ajours husband and daughter, said Montell of Hamoked.

That illustrates a broader problem, she said.

Ajour and her son now shelter in a tent camp outside the central Gaza town of Zuweida.

Masaa, she said, was my first joy  with blond hair and olive-colored eyes, a face white like the moon.

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Masaas fifth birthday was in July, Ajour said, sobbing. She turned five while she is not with me.

Does the military document what troops do in Gaza?

Under a wartime revision to Israeli law, Palestinians from Gaza taken to military detention in Israel can be held for over two months without access to the outside world.

Israel says the law is necessary to handle the unprecedented number of detainees as it seeks to destroy Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 and took around 250 people hostage inside Gaza. The military has transferred some 1,770 of its Gaza detainees to civilian prisons, according to rights groups, but it has not revealed the number still in its detention.

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Milena Ansari, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, said Israel is obligated under international law to document what happens during every home raid and detention. But the military is not transparent about the information it collects on detainees or on how many it is holding, she said.

Hamoked has asked the military for the whereabouts of 900 missing Palestinians. The military confirmed around 500 of them were detained in Israel. It said it had no record of detaining the other 400.

The group petitioned Israels High Court of Justice seeking answers in 52 cases, including that of Masaa and two other children, where witnesses testified that the missing were handled by troops before their disappearances.

The judges just dismiss the cases, without even inquiring what measures might be necessary to prevent such cases in the future, said Montell.

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A court spokesperson said it often asks the military to provide additional information but isnt authorized to investigate if the military says it is not detaining them.

In the cases of three missing adult Palestinians presented by Hamoked, the military first claimed it was not holding them, then found records of them being detained after being pressed by Hamoked to double-check.

In another case, military police discovered that two Palestinians they had initially denied holding -- a father and his adult son -- had died in Israeli custody. The U.N. Human Rights Office says at least 53 Palestinians are known to have died in Israeli detention during the war.

Ailing with cancer, Mahmoud Alghrabli disappeared after raid

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The last time the Alghrabli family saw their 76-year-old patriarch, Mahmoud Alghrabli, was when Israeli troops stormed their district in Khan Younis on Feb. 4. The soldiers ordered residents out of the area. The Alghrablis had to carry Mahmoud, suffering from cancer, out of their building on a chair, his son Ahmed Algharbli told the AP.

After detaining some men, the soldiers ordered the rest to leave. Mahmoud Alghrabli made it to a sand mound near the house. Ahmed Algharbli said his brother went to help the father, but soldiers shouted at him to leave.

He left our father by force, or he would have been shot, he said.

The family returned a month later. There was no trace of Mahmoud. Ahmed Algharbli said he walked meter by meter searching for traces, finding bones but not knowing whose they were. He keeps them wrapped in a piece of cloth at home.

Hamoked was told by the military there was no indication of him in Israeli detention.

By God, I dont sleep at night, said Mahmouds wife, Sabah Abdul-Salam. Whether he was arrested or killed, she said, let us know, we will rest.

Mahmoud Almoqayed vanished while searching for his family

The only traces left of another missing man, 77-year-old Mahmoud Almoqayed, are his torn shirt and pants with his ID in the pocket. They were found in the dirt near the school where he and his family were sheltering when it was raided by Israeli troops on May 23 in the northern town of Beit Lahiya.

The soldiers released Almoqayed and sent him and other men to another shelter, said his son, Rani Almoqayed, a doctor working in Saudi Arabia who pieced together the account from witnesses and family members.

Once at the second shelter, the elderly Almoqayed immediately turned back, determined to find his wife and grandchildren left behind at the school, witnesses told his son. It was dark, well after 1 a.m., and troops were all around the area. Almoqayed was never seen by his family again.

Weeks later, his family found his abandoned clothes. They also found skulls and body parts nearby, Rani Almoqayed said.

The military police told Hamoked it had no indication Almoqayed was detained.

Rani Almoqayed believes it's possible his father was killed and Israeli troops took the body. Since December 2023, the military has returned at least 318 bodies and a sack of body parts to Gaza after seizing them to search for hostages, a senior U.N. official in Gaza told the AP, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential matters.

The bodies, with no identification and often decomposed, are buried in anonymous mass graves.

The family had Mahmoud Almoqayed declared officially dead, his son said.

But the doubt will not stop and ones heart wont ease unless they see the body.

___

El Deeb reported from Beirut, and Frankel from Jerusalem.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban.

The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9, with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions in support of the agency known as UNRWA.

The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group and demanding access throughout Gaza to address the growing humanitarian catastrophe.

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Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions. Other opposing both resolutions included Argentina, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga.

While Security Council resolutions are legally binding, General Assembly resolutions are not, though they do reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly.

The Palestinians and their supporters went to the General Assembly after the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution on Nov. 20 demanding an immediate Gaza ceasefire. It was supported by the councils 14 other members but the U.S. objected that it was not linked to an immediate release of hostages taken by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war.

The Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support for both resolutions Wednesday, saying the votes reflect the resolve and the determination of the international community.

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We will keep knocking on the doors of the Security Council and the General Assembly until we see an immediate and unconditional ceasefire put in place and until we see humanitarian assistance being distributed at scale in all corners of the Gaza Strip, he said.

The language of the resolution adopted by the assembly on a ceasefire mirrors the text of the vetoed council resolution. It demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire to be respected by all parties, while also reiterating a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

That language is much stronger than General Assembly resolutions adopted on Oct. 27, 2023  three weeks after the Hamas attack  calling for an immediate and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities and on Dec. 12, 2023, demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

The resolution adopted Wednesday also marked the first time Germany and Italy, who abstained last December, voted in favor of a Gaza ceasefire. Their support left the United States as the only member of the Group of 7 major industrialized nations still opposed.

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On the humanitarian front, the resolution rejects any effort to starve Palestinians and demands immediate access to civilians to provide aid indispensable to their survival.

The second resolution backs the mandate of UNRWA, which was established by the General Assembly in 1949.

It deplores laws adopted by Israels parliament on Oct. 28 banning UNRWAs activities in the Palestinian territories, a measure to take effect in 90 days.

It reiterates U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres statements that UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian operations in Gaza and no organization can replace it. And it reaffirms the necessity for UNRWAs continued unimpeded operation.

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The resolution calls on the Israeli government to abide by its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA" and uphold its responsibility to facilitate the unhindered delivery of aid humanitarian assistance throughout the entire Gaza Strip.

Israel alleges that around a dozen of UNRWAs 13,000 workers in Gaza participated in Hamas attacks on Israel that precipitated the war. It recently provided the U.N. with over 100 names of UNRWA staff it accuses of having militant ties.

U.S. deputy U.N. ambassador Robert Wood reiterated Americas opposition to the ceasefire resolution ahead of Wednesdays vote and criticized the Palestinians for again failing to mention Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

At a time when Hamas is feeling isolated due to the ceasefire in Lebanon, the draft resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza risks sending a dangerous message to Hamas that theres no need to negotiate or release the hostages, he said.

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The Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw another 250 abducted as hostages. Gaza militants have not returned around 100 hostages, a third of them believed to be dead, and ceasefire efforts have ground to a halt.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the local Health Ministry. It says women and children make up more than half the dead but does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count.

Wood said the U.S. will continue to seek a diplomatic solution to the war and called UNRWA a critical lifeline to the Palestinian people. But he said the UNRWA resolution has serious flaws because it fails to create a path to restore trust between the U.N. agency and Israel  despite U.S. efforts and a U.S. proposal.

Just before the vote, Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon accused the resolutions supporters of complicity with Hamas, which he said has hopelessly infiltrated UNRWA, and denounced their failure to link a ceasefire to the release of the hostages.

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By demanding a ceasefire today without addressing the hostages, this assembly will once again side with those who weaponize human suffering, Danon said. It will send a message that the lives of innocent Israelis, including children, are not worth your consideration.

This is not diplomacy, he stressed. It is appeasement. It is enabling terror and abandoning the innocent.

Slovenias U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, reflecting the views of many speakers, pointed to the tens of thousands killed in Gaza.

Gaza doesnt exist anymore, he told the assembly Wednesday. It is destroyed. Civilians are facing hunger, despair and death.
PANAMA CITY  PanCare of Florida has announced the grand opening its new primary care clinic in Panama City.

According to a press release, the new clinic, at 2235 E. 15th St., will have a grand opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13. The public is invited to attend, meet the staff, and check out the state-of-the-art facility.

Holiday Season: What restaurants will be open on Christmas Day 2024 in Bay County?

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This clinic represents PanCare of Floridas ongoing mission to keep our community healthy by expanding access to affordable, comprehensive care, the release says. We cant wait to share this space with our neighbors and show them what we have to offer.

According to its website, pancarefl.org, the organization started 21 years ago "with a vision to make primary care services accessible and affordable to medically underserved individuals of Bay County."

PanCare now has 136 access sites serving patients in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Walton and Washington counties. It provides primary care, dental, optometry, behavioral health and operates "the largest mobile healthcare fleet in the State of Florida," the website says.

"At the core of our mission is the belief that quality healthcare should be accessible to all, regardless of insurance coverage," the website says. "This vision, established through a sliding-fee scale based on income and household size, ensures essential services are within reach for every individual, while promoting health equity and inclusion."

For more information, visit pancarefl.org or call 850-747-5599.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City, Florida to get new primary care clinic
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS)Parkway High Schools Band is asking the community to help make a once-in-a-lifetime invitation come true for its talented students.

Parkway Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the prestigious Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana, in March 2025. The Music for All Concert Band Festival offers music education with professionals and network opportunities on a world-class stage.

However, the once-in-a-lifetime trip costs a hefty $85,000. According to the GoFundMe, money raised will be equally divided among each child.

To alleviate this burden, the boosters are seeking sponsors and donations. Community members and local businesses can contribute by:

The Parkway Wind Ensemble is part of the Pantherland Band, a program that trains over 150 students in musicianship, leadership, and personal growth. Their invitation to the festival reflects their dedication and excellence, as only 23 ensembles nationwide were selected.

Parkway Band Director Mark Minton says if you would prefer to send donations, you may mail them to the following address:

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Parkway High School

Attn: Bridgette Pye

2010 Colleen Drive

Bossier City, La 71112

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Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
WASHINGTON  A group of House Democrats is making moves to fill leadership roles typically taken by older and longer-serving members, a sign that some believe the message from the November elections is that Americans want fresh faces in charge.

Both parties have long stuck to a seniority system for awarding top committee posts. But younger members like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are looking to leapfrog their peers in bids to be the highest-ranking Democrats on influential committees.

Having multigenerational leadership in the party sends a strong message that we can really rely on the leadership of seasoned senior leaders and that we are also a party that cultivates a new generation of leadership to help carry that work forward, Ocasio-Cortez, who is 35, told HuffPost on Wednesday.

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Ocasio-Cortez is running for the ranking member spot on the House Oversight Committee, which Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has vacated in his run for the top Democratic slot on another committee, the House Judiciary Committee.

We are on the cusp of potentially adopting a multigenerational suite of leaders that can really speak to the entirety of the country, Ocasio-Cortez said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) agreed that theres a big shift underway while also downplaying it in the context of committees.

House Democrats have really been in the midst of a generational transition, Jeffries told reporters Wednesday.

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He noted that on several committees, such as panels focused on appropriations and energy, Democrats are keeping their long-serving ranking members.

I wouldnt read too much into the fact that committee challenges have emerged in certain quarters, he said.

House Democrats will decide who gets all of these top committee seats next week during an internal, secret-ballot election.

The push by some for a generational reshuffling follows Democrats defeat in the November election, during which President Joe Bidens advanced age and frailty were such a problem that the party abruptly switched out Biden for Vice President Kamala Harris as the partys presidential nominee in the final months of the campaign.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) leaves the U.S. Capitol after the last votes of the week on Sept. 12, 2024. Ocasio-Cortez is running for the ranking member spot on the House Oversight Committee. Tom Williams via Getty Images

Ocasio-Cortez is one of several younger lawmakers seizing this moment.

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Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), who is 45, launched a bid Monday to lead Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee. Shes vying for the seat being vacated by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), 76, who is stepping aside as he recovers from cancer treatments.

Stansbury is running against 60-year-old Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.). She has Grijalvas backing in her campaign for the top seat, as Huffman has been touting his support from various former committee members and Native American tribes.

The next four years will be a fight against Trumps drill, baby, drill plan, Grijalva, who has been in Congress since 2003, said in a statement. House Natural Resources will be the frontline of this fight, and I am confident Rep. Stansbury is the right person to lead this critical committee.

In her letter to colleagues asking for their support, Stansbury ticked off her decades of experience as a public servant  shes worked on natural resources issues as a state legislator, at the federal Office of Management and Budget, on a Senate committee, and now as a House member  but emphasized that part of what shed bring to this leadership role is a fresh face.

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I have spoken to countless members of our communities and Members of our Caucus, and I know the time to lead is now, said the New Mexico Democrat, who has been in Congress since 2021. The American people are hungry for change and are ready to make history by choosing the first woman to lead this Committee and I humbly ask for your support.

Meanwhile, Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), who is 52, and Jim Costa (D-Calif.), who is 72, are vying to replace 79-year-old Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) as the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. Craig, who just won reelection to a fourth House term, didnt say anything about age in a letter to her colleagues last November.

Right now, I worry that too many rural Americans dont trust that Democrats have their best interests at heart, Craig wrote. Its my mission to work with you to help change their minds.

The generational shift hasnt been painless.

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Scott has not said that he plans to step aside from his top seat on the committee, despite mounting health problems. And the current ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), only made way for Raskin after Raskin made it clear he was gunning for the job and would likely win support from their colleagues. Nadler is 77; Raskin is 61.

I was not-so-voluntarily pushed aside, Nadler told HuffPost on Tuesday, declining to comment further.

Top House Democratic leaders previously made room for new blood when former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), whod been in charge for 20 years, announced shed step down at the end of 2022. Jeffries succeeded Pelosi as minority leader, and House Democrats reelected him as their leader in November.

Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a former longtime member of leadership who stepped down when Pelosi did, said Tuesday that youth itself was not a qualification for leadership.

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Im 84 years old. I feel fine, Clyburn said. It always matters to have a good bench. The age thing is a distraction.

In the case of Ocasio-Cortez, shes facing off against Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) for the House Oversight Committee job. He told HuffPost he didnt think their contest was about generational differences, even as he is nearly 40 years older than her.

To me, its not generational. Its about experience and record and capability, said Connolly, who is 74. Shes a new talent and has a lot of promise, but Im the only one in the race  who, in fact, has a subcommittee. Im invested in the committee. I think thats really important.

Related...
HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  PCC GulfChem Corporation will locate its manufacturing operations to DeLisle, which is located in Harrison County.

The project represents a corporate investment of at least $540 million and will create at least 84 jobs. In addition to the direct jobs, hundreds of contractor and construction jobs also will be created during the projects initial phases.

More chronic wasting disease positives detected in Mississippi

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We are grateful for the facilitating approach and support from the State of Mississippi and the Harrison County towards PCC as a new potential investor in the region. PCC aims to contribute in a positive way to the community and to the businesses of our on-site partner Chemours, as well as to other local businesses, said PCC CEO Peter Wenzel.

The PCC Group is recognized as a manufacturer of chemical feedstocks and specialty chemicals, silicon and silicon derivatives, as well as a container logistics operator. The company is co-locating operations with The Chemours Company to produce chlorine and a number of downstream products at the Chemours DeLisle Plant.

Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. Harrison County also is assisting with the project.

PCC GulfChem Corporation expects the new plant to be operational in 2028.

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NEW BRITIAN, Conn. (WTNH)  A pedestrian was critically-injured after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning, according to New Britain city officials.

Officials said the crash happened near 61 Arch Street just before 7 a.m.

2 pedestrians injured in hit-and-run in New Britain

The driver involved remained on scene, officials said.

The pedestrian was transported to a hospital for treatment and was listed in critical condition as of 10:30 a.m.

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Two pedestrians were injured in a hit-and-run Monday night as well. Police said they were struck by a silver sedan in the area of Broad Street and Booth Street.

New Britain man charged with DUI after nearly striking troopers on I-84 in Hartford

As of Tuesday, one of the pedestrians was in critical condition, according to city officials. The other suffered minor injuries.

Police are still searching for the suspect vehicle, which they said was possibly a Toyota or Lexus that has heavy front-end damage.

This is a developing story. Stay with News 8 for more information.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A pedestrian is dead after they were hit Tuesday night near Swope Park in Kansas City.

Police said the investigation shows that the pedestrian was crossing 63rd Street from north to south around 11 p.m. Tuesday when a Chevrolet Tahoe hit them.

Independence woman killed in Liberty crash Tuesday morning

The pedestrian was in the middle of the roadway when the Tahoe hit them. The person driving the Tahoe was traveling westbound on 63rd.

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The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene, according to police. The person driving the Tahoe was not hurt.

Police said the driver of the Tahoe stopped immediately, remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The Youngstown Community Planning and Economic Development Committee met with the owners of the Penguin City Brewing Company Tuesday.

Theyre asking for a tax abatement of 75 percent for the next 10 years, opening up about $700,000 for the business to expand.

The money would help bring in three new full-time and three part-time jobs.

The amount of jobs created is a very conservative, maybe not even realistic in the fact we went really conservative because we want to be extremely honest in everything we do, said co-owner Richard Bernacki.

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Right now, Penguin City has about 20 jobs, six full-time and 14 part-time, in three departments.

Manufacturing, so youre learning manufacturing. Youre learning a trade. Theres sales so youre doing field work. Then theres service work which is the taproom so were able to have different types of jobs, said co-owner Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki.

They say they would like to work with college students.

Were going to create a biochemistry internship for biochem majors. Richard is going to create a lab that theyre going to constantly be testing beer and products with, said Lyras-Bernacki.

The $700,000 would also help with work in and around the building.

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Many members of the Community Planning and Economic Development Committee showed their support but Councilman Julius Oliver admitted the city hasnt had the best of luck with tax abatements.

What makes it different for you guys, in my eyes, is that you guys are local. Youre owners, youre on-sight, you run your business  so when you say your goal is to create three more jobs, three more full-time, three more part-time, as you expand  I can believe because Ive seen you do business, Oliver said.

Mayor Tito Brown commended Penguin City for the work theyve already done.

Its become a place of gathering, which is great but I like the way youve multitasked the space, Brown said.

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The tax abatement must still be approved by the Youngstown City Council.

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ATHENS TWP, Pa. (WETM)  A Columbia Crossroads man was arrested over the weekend after police reported he was completely naked running throughout a hotel while under the influence.

Thomas C. Stedge, 27, was arrested on Sunday, Dec. 8, on the charges of indecent exposure, a grade two misdemeanor, disorderly conduct, a grade three misdemeanor, public drunkenness, a summary offense, and harassment  physical contact, a summary offense.

On Sunday, police arrived at the Microtel Inn & Suites on Elmira Street in Athens Township around 6:25 p.m. for the report that someone was running around the hotel naked. Police found Stedge in the hallway of the first floor with the affidavit of probable cause stating he was naked and visibly impaired.

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2024 Guthrie Sayre Turkey Trot sets record

Stedge could hardly stand and smelled strongly of alcohol while using the walls and doors of the hotel rooms to keep himself upright in the hallway, the affidavit claims.

During questioning, Stedge spit on one of the officers legs and was then placed into custody and removed from the hotel and into the back of a police car, documents stated. An officer learned that Stedge was staying at the hotel and went upstairs to check if anyone else was staying with Stedge. The officer noticed Stedges hotel room was open, but no one else was inside, according to the affidavit.

Stedge was taken to the Athens Township Police Department where he was met by medical staff with Greater Valley EMS who took him to the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre for treatment, the documents said.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  The T-shaped connector found by the National Transportation Safety Board to have failed before the deadly March 2023 West Reading candy factory explosion was made of a plastic still in widespread use in Pennsylvania, the states top utility regulator said Tuesday.

And the roadmap to making Pennsylvanians safer  Steve DeFrank, chairman of the Public Utility Commission (PUC), said  will be similar to the path followed after five people died in 2011 when a natural gas explosion ripped through downtown Allentown.

And what caused that was cast iron [piping], DeFrank said. Today, 13 years later, 89% of cast iron has been removed from Pennsylvania because we focused on the material, and focused on replacement of it. We want to take that same success story and apply that to the first-generation plastics, generally manufactured and installed between about 1960 and 1982.

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Those plastics, DeFrank said, are vulnerable both because of their age and because of inferior design and manufacturing techniques compared to modern PVC piping.

In August, the PUC released a tentative order to natural gas utilities that asked companies to give us an inventory of what they have and then give us plans for how youre going to assess risk on it and how youre going to remove it based on riskiest pieces of your system, DeFrank said.

Some areas are riskier than others because of other demands placed on the piping, he said  for example, the NTSB found a confluence of other issues contributed to failure of the West Reading line which, in turn, led to the explosion at the R.M. Palmer factory.

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The reception to the tentative order among utilities has been lukewarm.

DeFrank said the findings of the PUCs own ongoing investigation will complement the NTSBs.

The NTSBs is going to be more of an industrywide review  a 50,000-foot view as opposed to a 10,000-foot view,  what their findings are for the industry nationally, DeFrank said. We will then take that and put a Pennsylvania touch and flair to it.

Separately, DeFrank also said Tuesday a dispute last year about whether (because of conflicting federal and state laws) the PUC should or could provide certain documents to the NTSB wasnt the reason he was in Harrisburg Tuesday  rather than at the hearing in Washington  and hadnt hindered the investigation.

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The boots on the ground are working together every day, DeFrank said. And thats whats important, because thats whats keeping Pennsylvanians safe.

Reflecting on the late-2023 dispute, The NTSB was looking at it, and I understand their point was, Were the federal government; we preempt state law. I certainly agree with them, DeFrank said. The problem is, [Pennsylvania law] has criminal liability for the state official [for providing the information NTSB was demanding unless ordered by a judge]. So if I give that out, I can go to jail for that. So what they needed was to go to court and get a subpoena. We settled with them on a subpoena. So it was it was sort of a process we had to take to comply with state law.

Now that the NTSB has established the incidents probable cause, Were going to take their findings and incorporate them with our investigation, DeFrank said. Typically, we have a great relationship with NTSB  a very complementary relationship.

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Russia could strike Ukraine again with its experimental Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile.

Source: Sabrina Singh, Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of Defense, during a briefing at the Pentagon, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Singh recalled that Vladimir Putin has publicly announced his intention to carry out another Oreshnik launch.

Quote: "Its possible that Russia could do it in the coming days. I dont have an exact date for you."

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Singh said that if Russia does launch Oreshnik, it will not "be a game changer on the battlefield" but rather "another attempt to inflict harm and casualties in Ukraine."

She affirmed that the United States and its allies will continue to support Ukraine, including with air defence.

Background:

On 28 November, Russia fired an Oreshnik experimental medium-range ballistic missile on the city of Dnipro during a large-scale attack on Ukraine. Russian state-owned news agencies described this as retaliation for Kyiv's long-range strikes against Russian Federation territory.

The Pentagon says that the Oreshnik is based on the Russian RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile.

Western leaders believe Russia launched the Oreshnik to send a strategic message to the West.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Vladimir Putins sabre-rattling with the Oreshnik missile is aimed solely at disrupting President Trumps efforts to end the war.

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Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Drones near U.S. military sites in New Jersey are not connected to a foreign nation or launched by an Iranian "mothership" off the East Coast, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.

"We have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Wednesday.

"We're going to continue monitoring what is happening, but at no point were our installations threatened when this activity was occurring," Singh said.

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She said the drones are not U.S. military drones and are not coming from a foreign entity or adversary.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., on Wednesday told Fox News he has confidential sources that say Iran placed a "mothership" off the East Coast and is launching drones toward the United States.

Van Drew said the U.S. military is on "full alert" and should shoot down the drones, the New York Post reported.

Singh said Van Drew's claim in incorrect.

"There is not any truth to that," Singh said. "There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States."

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New Jersey State Sen. Jon Bramnick on Tuesday said the state "should issue a limited state of emergency banning all drones until the public received an explanation regarding these multiple sightings."

Dozens of drones of an unknown origin have been reported in eight of New Jersey's 21 counties in the central and northern parts of the state since a week before Thanksgiving,

The Federal Aviation Administration has restricted drone flights while state and federal agencies investigate the matter.
The U.S. Department of the Interior's alternative proposals to guide the management of the Colorado River received mixed reactions from key negotiators and officials whose support is crucial in the river's successful operation in the years to come.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  The Peoria City Council is moving forward with plans that could bring future land-based casinos to the other side of the Illinois River.

During Tuesdays meeting, council members unanimously voted to retain a financial advisor to assist with the capital structure for that proposal and legal counsel with experience in Illinois Gambling Law and facility approvals with the Board.

The city hired attorney John Elias from Elias, Meginnes & Seghetti law firm and the investment firm Innovation Capital LLC to develop a project proposal to support a land-based casino in Peoria.

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City Hall hopes to woo Boyd Gaming, the parent company for Par-A-Dice Casino, after it announced plans earlier this year to develop a new, modern, and fresh gaming facility.

Their facility is currently on a riverboat on the East Peoria side of the river, which is supported by an intergovernmental agreement. However, Hayes said the simple and straightforward language makes it clear that any land-based casinos will be built in Peoria.

The current license thats authorized in statute for operations of a riverboat in East Peoria states right after that and with board approval. Land-based operations within the city of Peoria. So both our inter-government agreement and state law gave respect to the initial agreement of the parties that served the parties well for many years, he said.

The attorney added the facilities expansion plan for Boyd Gaming is due by March 2026, which gives the city more than a year to negotiate with the company.

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When asked by 5th District Councilman Denis Cyr if the budget will need to be adjusted to pay both the law firm and the investment firm, Hayes said he did not anticipate any major budget adjustments to be made.

The process is expected to take six months to a year, but could take longer.

Peoria City Council to hire consultants, attorney to help land casino

Fire Station 16

The council also unanimously passed plans to demolish and rebuild Fire Station 16.

The fire station is located on Northmoor Road near Richwoods High School. The city received a $4.2 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the project.

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The new fire station is expected to help the fire station better respond to emergencies in the north end while supporting the rest of the city with upgraded technology.

Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said this is a long-awaited project.

That fire station houses Engine 16 and Truck 14 Engine 16. is currently located at Station 19 and Truck 14 is responding to Station 15, which is on Detweiller Drive. Those resources are trying to stay in that Rolling Acres area so that they can keep response times where they should be.

The station was closed in May to begin construction preparations.

Columbia Park

Also at Council, $450,000 was unanimously approved in Community Development Block Grant funding to rehabilitate Columbia Park, but At-Large Councilman John Kelly sparked a conversation about the citys role in helping other taxing bodies.

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He took issue with this being the third time the city has helped fix a park owned by the Peoria Park District.

Here we are rehabilitating another park for them which is their job, he said.

Mayor Rita Ali disagreed and said it is in the spirit of collaboration, but Kelly retorted that it only seems to go one way, and that the city rarely receives anything from the park district.

Kelly said a policy session needs to take place to address what the citys role should be in helping other taxing bodies, with 3rd District Councilman Tim Riggenbach agreeing.

It was ultimately approved unanimously.

TempleLive

The council also approved a liquor license for TempleLive so they can sell alcohol from events held in the Scottish Rite Theatre.

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They are expected to begin hosting concerts and performances in March.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A Peoria man was indicted Tuesday for allegedly having sex with a minor who has since tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection.

A Peoria County grand jury indicted Corey M. Wofford, 25 on a single count of predatory criminal sexual assault. If convicted, he faces at least six years and possibly up to 60 years in prison.

Peoria man to remain in jail until trial for alleged crimes against a minor

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Police were called to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center on Nov. 27 to the report of a girl under 13 years old testing positive for chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection.

The girl had told detectives that Wofford allegedly performed sexual acts on her and had her perform acts on him as well, according to court records and the states attorneys office.

Wofford was arrested just over a week later on Dec. 5 and is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 2.

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Students at Pepperdine University were ordered to take refuge in several of the schools fire-resistant buildings early Tuesday morning, as a wildfire scorched through the area just north of its Malibu campus.

The university issued a shelter-in-place order around 1 a.m. on Tuesday. Video shared with local news channel Fox 11 showed masked onlookers watching the Franklin Fire roar just outside the schools library.

The blaze shut down stretches of Pacific Coast Highway and over 2,000 nearby structures were put under evacuation orders. Pepperdine officials urged students and employees to make their way to the schools library or student center and shelter there, rather than try to navigate the surrounding roads.

Pepperdine University students watch the #FranklinFire burn #Malibu from inside the campus' buildings https://t.co/p8n9vJHVCApic.twitter.com/nzFTiEFYdT  FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) December 10, 2024

From inside the campus fire-resistant buildings, students were able to get an alarming view of the Franklin Fires violent path.

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We saw the flames jump over the Malibu Canyon, Gabrielle Salgado, a journalism undergraduate who sheltered inside the library, told The New York Times.

The shelter-in-place order, which impacted around 3,000 students and campus employees, was lifted around 8 a.m. Tuesday. In-person classes and final exams remained canceled as power outages continued to impact buildings on campus.

Pepperdine University spokesperson Michael Friel told the Times there were no injuries and no major damage to school structures, but several smaller spot fires had burned on campus.

As of early Tuesday evening, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimated the Franklin Fire had spread to over 2,800 acres in the Malibu area.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Metro Transit police said a wanted man was arrested after boarding a public transit bus with a loaded shotgun Tuesday morning.

Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) said on X that that someone boarded an X2 route bus when an officer in plain clothes stopped them for not paying the fare.

Woodbridge man arrested for robbery, hitting employees at Jimmy Johns, police say

Police said officers were on patrol for people evading fares, after WMATA announced a crackdown on fare evaders last week.

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WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke told reporters Wednesday that 70 percent of bus riders avoid paying fares, calling it, unacceptable.

MTP told DC News Now that an officer asked 30-year-old Gerald Evans to show his ID in order to issue a citation for avoiding the X2 bus fare, at 4th and H streets Northwest around 10:30 Tuesday morning.

Police say Evans refused to comply, and was arrested and searched; locating the loaded shotgun inside his coat.

(Photo Courtesy: Metro Transit Police Department)

DC prohibits people from carrying a concealed firearm in many cases, including on public transit.

Authorities say the gun was stolen from Prince Georges County, and Evans already faced an open warrant for theft in Anne Arundel County, Md.

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Police say Evans faces three gun-related charges, an ammunition charge and for fare evasion.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Dec. 10 (UPI) -- President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees made the rounds Tuesday on Capitol Hill, where his Defense secretary choice Pete Hegseth appeared to gain ground with several key Republicans.

Hegseth has been meeting with senators to rally support for his nomination as he faces accusations -- which he has repeatedly denied -- of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement at a veterans nonprofit organization.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and a member of the Armed Services Committee, had previously said she was not ready to back Hegseth. After a second meeting Monday, Ernst said she would be "supporting him through this process."

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"As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources," Ernst said in a statement Monday.

"Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women -- based on quality and standards, not quotas -- and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks," Ernst added.

Sen. Thom Tills, R-N.C., greets Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and his wife Jennifer Ratchet at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Hegseth and other Cabinet picks of President-elect Donald Trump met with senators to shore up support ahead of confirmation hearings. Photo by Anna Rose Layden/UPI

"I appreciate the time," Hegseth told reporters inside the Hart Senate Office Building," the amazing conversation, foreign affairs, combat vet, welcomed all of her insight."

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said he and Hegseth discussed "Arkansas's national security footprint and how to approach challenges with recruiting and readiness."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., poses for a photo with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., President Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, in his office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Anna Rose Layden/UPI

I appreciated the chance to sit down with Pres. Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, @PeteHegseth. His love for our country and military community is evident as we discussed Arkansas's national security footprint and how to approach challenges with recruiting and readiness. pic.twitter.com/bQAk4fco4W Senator John Boozman (@JohnBoozman) December 10, 2024

Hegseth also met Tuesday with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who said she had a "good exchange with Mr. Hegseth," but stopped short of committing to voting for him.

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"We'll see what the process bears," Murkowski told reporters. "He's got probably at least half the Senate that he is going to visit with. He's got a process that is going to involve full vetting for the administration."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, gave his support after meeting with Hegseth on Tuesday, saying he "will support Pete Hegseth, as I always say, barring any unforeseen circumstances."

"Great catching up with Pete Hegseth," Cornyn wrote Tuesday in a post on X. "As secretary of Defense, he will disrupt the bureaucratic status quo, reestablish deterrence and help restore American leadership on the world stage."

Great catching up with @PeteHegseth. As Secretary of Defense, he will disrupt the bureaucratic status quo, reestablish deterrence, and help restore American leadership on the world stage. pic.twitter.com/B3hAX8iSmV Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) December 10, 2024

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Trump's picks for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI director Kash Patel and his choice for director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also held meetings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
Pete Hegseths mother has a name: Penelope. In a 2018 email, she  Penelope Hegseth  called out her son as a man who had abused women (belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses) throughout his life.

The woman who accused Hegseth of raping her at a fall 2017 conference, resulting in a police report but no criminal prosecution, also has a name: Hegseth paid her an undisclosed sum to make the allegation go away, his attorney currently threatening to sue her if she comes forward and repeats the claim again.

That President-elect Donald Trumps pick to lead the Department of Defense is a predator, then, is not an accusation leveled by faceless trolls on social media but one cosigned by his own parent and detailed in a 22-page write-up from the Monterrey Police Department. Republicans, however, are preparing to act as if the trail of accusations Hegesth has left in his wake  including that he was often drunk on the job while at Fox News and leading a veterans advocacy group, per his colleagues there  are mere tabloid rumors and not charges made by some of the very people who know him best.

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In a statement this week, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a survivor of sexual assault who was seen as a possible no vote on Hegseths confirmation, signaled that shes willing to support a nominee accused of abuse, dismissing the accusation as poorly sourced after meeting with him in private.

I appreciate Pete Hegseths responsiveness and respect for the process, Ernst stated, saying she had secured commitments to conduct a full audit of the Pentagon and appoint a senior official who will address sexual assault in the military. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, she added, not anonymous sources.

Ernst had previously been skeptical that Hegseth could get confirmed in the Senate, earlier this month telling reporters that she was not yet a yes herself, a fact that made her a MAGA target. According to Politico, Trumps allies knew they had to draw a red line here lest Hegseth go the way of Matt Gaetz, who is recording birthday wishes on Cameo instead of leading the Department of Justice. That meant going to war: Fix bayonets  thats what were doing here to make sure that we have the back of President Trump and his nominees, Steve Bannon said on his podcast last week. A local MAGA media personality also began publicly weighing a primary challenge in 2026.

Joni, Im told, got the message loud and clear, a Trump insider told Politico.

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There are still as many as a half-dozen GOP senators who arent there yet to vote yes, MSNBCs Jonathan Lemire reported Wednesday. They are not outright saying no, but they are also not saying yes.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, are the most likely no votes; any others would likely sink Hegseths nomination.

But the momentum now appears to be on Hegseths side, with other members of the not-fully-MAGA caucus this week removing any doubt about how they plan to vote.

Im supporting Petes confirmation and I believe ultimately he will be confirmed, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Tuesday night on Newsmax. Cornyn warned that the actual confirmation hearings would be very unpleasant, but like Ernst he downplayed the salience of the charges made against him (from his mother and a woman very much known to Hegseth, his attorneys and California police).

I know there will be unnamed accusations and some things that are going to be hurtful, not only to him and his family, but hes ready for that, his wife is ready for that, and Im confident he will be confirmed, Cornyn said. I know of no one whos said that they will vote against him.
(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines National Bureau of Investigation will proceed with probing Vice President Sara Dutertes apparent assassination threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after she failed to appear for questioning for a second time on Wednesday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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The bureau will continue with its investigation based on the information they have including the video where Duterte made the threat, NBI Director Jaime Santiago told a news briefing. The agency will submit its recommendation to the Department of Justice by early January, he added.

In a letter handed by her lawyer to Santiago, Duterte vehemently denies having made any threat, and that the content and context of the Nov. 23 online briefing during which she allegedly made the remarks will bear this out. Santiago said they had sought a sworn affidavit from her instead of a signed letter.

The vice president was first subpoenaed to appear at the NBI on Nov. 29 but it was moved to today upon her request. She was summoned by the bureau following her threat last month to kill Marcos, his wife Liza and his cousin, the House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she gets assassinated.

Duterte, daughter of firebrand former leader Rodrigo Duterte, won the 2022 elections under a joint ticket with Marcos. But disagreements over policies have led to the collapse of the alliance and have morphed into a public feud that risks causing political instability in one of Asias fastest-growing economies.

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Read: Marcos-Duterte Showdown Signals Trouble for Philippines

The vice president is also facing two impeachment complaints at the House of Representatives. The first alleges corruption, bribery and other crimes, while the second accuses her of betraying public trust over alleged misuse of public funds.

Marcos has distanced himself from the impeachment bid, saying earlier that such efforts may only slow reforms after calling his dispute with his deputy a storm in a teacup.

(Updates with VP Dutertes comments, details throughout.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  The Philippine vice president on Wednesday skipped the first hearing into threats she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying she did not believe the investigation will be fair.

Vice President Sara Duterte was subpoenaed to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation but instead sent her lawyer, who submitted a letter saying their client vehemently denies having made any threat constituting grave threat under the law.

Duterte has tried to walk back her comments in a Nov. 23 online news conference where she publicly threatened Marcos, his wife and House Speaker Martin Romualdez with death. She later said it was rather an expression of concern for her own safety, claiming to have received death threats.

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Marcos and Duterte have fallen out since winning the 2022 election. The two offices are elected separately in the Philippines, which has resulted in rivals occupying the countrys top political posts.

Duterte is the 46-year-old daughter former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is being investigated by the International Criminal Court over the killings of thousands of suspects during a crackdown on illegal drugs he had ordered.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago told reporters that the preliminary investigation of Sara Duterte will proceed with or without her presence or counter-affidavit, and that his office will submit by early January its report to the Department of Justice. The investigation was supposed to start on Nov. 29 but was rescheduled on Dutertes request.

I dont think this investigation will be fair, she told reporters Wednesday. Even if they say there is an investigation, from the very beginning they already decided to file cases.

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Duterte said she has no plans of leaving the country to hide, and the she and her lawyers were preparing for impeachment cases filed against her.

She is facing two impeachment complaints of violating the constitution, betrayal of public trust, mishandling of government funds and other crimes including the death threats she made against Marcos.

The House has been investigating the alleged misuse of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) of confidential and intelligence funds received by Dutertes offices as vice president and education secretary. She has since left the education post.
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte failed to appear on Wednesday for questioning over an alleged threat to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and said she was expecting more legal cases against her and her possible removal from office.

Duterte, an influential ally of Marcos until their acrimonious fallout earlier this year, was subpoenaed to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation to explain her remarks during a Nov. 23 press conference, when she said she had hired a hit man to kill the president, his wife and the lower house speaker, in the event that she herself were killed.

The daughter of firebrand former President Rodrigo Duterte has not detailed any specific threat to her life, while Marcos has described her remarks as "reckless and troubling".

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The investigation comes as Duterte is the subject of impeachment complaints in the lower house for alleged graft, incompetence and amassing ill-gotten wealth while in office, which she denies.

Duterte said she did not expect a fair investigation given what she called "biased pronouncements" from the president and a justice ministry official.

"We believe cases will be filed," Duterte told a press conference on Wednesday. "The worst case scenario we see is removal from office, impeachment, and then piled-up cases which the lawyers already told me to expect as well."

The relationship between Marcos and Duterte has turned hostile in recent months, a stark contrast to two years ago, when their two powerful families joined forces to sweep a presidential election.

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Riding on a wave of support at the tail end of her popular father's presidency, Duterte had initially led opinion polls on preferred presidential candidates, but opted to run alongside Marcos rather than against him.

Marcos has said he does not support the impeachment efforts.

Following her failure to show for questioning, NBI Director Jaime Santiago on Wednesday read a letter to media that he said was sent by Duterte's lawyers stating she "vehemently denies having made any threat" that could be classified as a "grave threat" under the law, or a violation of the country's anti-terrorism act.

Santiago assured Duterte a fair enquiry and said the subpoena for questioning would have been an opportunity for her to elaborate on the threats against her.

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"It would have been easier had (the vice president) appeared before us," he said, adding he would leave it to her to decide whether to face investigators before they conclude their probe next month.

Duterte said threats against her had not been investigated and she was unwilling to provide information because she did not trust authorities.

"Right now seeing they are picking out words I said and making a case out of it saying it was a threat, they should start to ask where is this coming from," she said.

She added: "I am at peace at whatever happens to me."

(Reporting by Karen Lema and Eloisa Lopez; Editing by Martin Petty)
Integrity Matters, a government watchdog nonprofit based in Colorado Springs, along with several other plaintiffs are suing Pikes Peak Library
WASHINGTON (WCBD)  U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) was seen wearing a shoulder sling on Capitol Hill one day after an alleged assault she claims came in response to her recent calls for transgender women to be prohibited from using womens restrooms on federal property.

Mace wrote in a Dec. 10 post on X that she was physically accostedby a pro-tr*ns man on Capitol grounds, causing injuries to her arm and wrist that required a brace.

Mace declined to be treated by a paramedic after her encounter with McIntyre, who was arrested Tuesday by the Capitol Police, the affidavit says.

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All the violence and threats keep proving our point, she wrote in a separate post on her official X account. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!

U.S. Capitol Police said James McIntyre, 33, was arrested and charged with assaulting a government official.

McIntyre pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to the misdemeanor assault charge.

He is the co-founder of the Illinois chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America, a national foster care advocacy group. He was reportedly in Washington to attend a reception celebrating the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999.

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Mace is a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and spoke at the event.

But, several witnesses who attended that reception are now refuting Maces accusations, according to reports from The Imprint and The Washington Post.

One person told The Imprint, a nonprofit publication that covers child welfare and youth justice, that McIntyre approached Mace after the reception, shook her hand, and made a comment about supporting transgender youth in the foster care system.

From what I saw, it was a normal handshake and interaction that I would expect any legislator expect from anyone as a constituent, Elliott Hinkle, a foster youth advocate from Wyoming, told the outlet.

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In a Dec. 11 video statement sent to News 2, Mace reiterated that she was injured and accused the witnesses of defaming her.

Theyre lying about what happened, she said. These activists are organized and theyre also dangerous, but I am not going to stop.

I am injuredI will survive like I always have, but its also not going to stop me. Im going to continue to fight for women, she continued.

House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors

Capitol Police said in a statement that an incident in the Rayburn House Office Building was reported by a members congressional office just before 6 p.m. Tuesday but did not specifically name Mace.

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McIntyre was taken into custody following an investigative interview by officers and agents with the Threat Assessment Section, authorities added.

News 2 requested further details from police, including an incident report, but those were not provided.

Mace gained national attention last month when she introduced a resolution to amend the rules of the U.S. House to prohibit members, officers, and employees from using single-sex facilities such as bathrooms and locker rooms that do not correspond with their biological sex.

Days later, she introduced another piece of legislation that would extend the ban to all federal property, defending the proposals as being about protecting women and girls.

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Democrats and LGBTQ+ rights activists swiftly rebuked Maces legislation, calling it cruel and pointing to its direct targeting of Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

Mace said during a Nov. 19 appearance on NewsNations On Balance that she received death threats amid the backlash to her proposals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN)  A dog was rescued from the cold in Butler County.

Dog wardens from the Butler County Sheriffs Office were recently called to a location on Darrtown Road in Hanover Township on a report of two loose dogs.

One of the two dogs were found in a ditch line along the nearby creek. According to the Sheriffs Office, a responding dog warden helped rescue the dog, which was later taken to have a bath.

As of date, the second dog has yet to be captured, according to the Sheriffs Office. Dog wardens have moved an already-placed trap to another spot in hopes of a successful capture.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
The Illinois Flag Commission released the top 10 finalists for the new state flag design contest on Tuesday.

Heres the meaning behind each. The public can vote starting in January.

Entry No. 1

Relationship to Illinois: Born and raised. From 1984-2002, I spent my childhood in central Illinois, Ive lived and worked in Bloomington/Normal for 26 of my 40 years of life. My dad, sister, niece, and the majority of my aunts and uncles are still here. All of my grandparents are buried here. I found out about this commission only days ago after spending two years abroad. I found this old design from 2016 just today. It needs works. It lacks our current eagle, perhaps to be placed in white silhouette above the star.

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Explain the meaning behind your flag: This slice of Old Glory is also a nod to the French flag, banners which both stood here. A single star shines our contribution to the union. Abes silhouette reminds us of our past. The red field highlights our present: Illinois most iconic border, formed by the mighty Mississippi. Its steady flow, as progress itself, cuts through our banner in white leading us ever to the future. The flag still lacks any representation of our Illiniwek and Miami heritage, which should be added by their progeny.

Entry No. 2

Relationship to Illinois: As someone born, raised, and educated in the state of Illinois, I am proud to call Illinois home and plan to do so for life. I believe strongly that my character and view of the world as a citizen and as an architect has been shaped by the cultural, geographic, economic, historic, and architectural diversity of our state.

Explain the meaning behind your flag: The four dark blue bars in this submission represent the four geographic features that hold the greatest geographic, economic, and historic significance in the creation of Illinois: Lake Michigan, the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Chicago River/ Illinois River system. The corn kernels and 21-pronged gear that form our state flower, the violet, represent the agricultural and industrial foundations of our state and its status as the 21st state admitted to the Union.

Entry No. 3

Relationship to Illinois: I am 18 years old and a lifelong resident, born in Moline and currently living in Rock Island. My parents were also born and raised in this state.

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Explain the meaning behind your flag: The flag is divided into 7 stripes, in a pattern of white and blue alternating. The biggest blue stripe represents Lake Michigan while the smaller blue stripes represent the states various rivers such as the Mississippi and the Illinois. The center blue stripe contains 20 smaller stars surrounding a center star, which represent Illinois as the 21st state. The small white stripes represent the states industry and commerce while the bigger white stripes represent the states agriculture.

Entry No. 4

Relationship to Illinois: The students who worked on this flag are high school students living in Illinois named Johnna and Spresalynn.

Explain the meaning behind your flag: The state butterfly, the Monarch, is the focal point of this flag that includes 21 stars for Illinois being the 21st state (the large star represents Illinois). The orange represents success, determination, and creativity while the blue stands for trust, loyalty, and sincerity and strength.

Entry No. 5

Relationship to Illinois: In the fall of 2004, I lived in Chicago and was studying industrial design at UIC. My great grandfather, Harry James McCartney was an engraver in Chicago. He worked downtown at the Sears, Roebuck and Co where he illustrated and engraved images of lamps, heaters, and other household accessories that were printed on the pages of the Sears mail-order catalogue. His father was James A. McCartney, a civil war veteran from Illinois. He became the IL Attorney General from 1881-1885.

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Explain the meaning behind your flag: The 21 red + white stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state of this union. The blue field with the six-pointed white star represents Chicago. The negative space between the blue and white fields form the shape of an I to represent Illinois.

Entry No. 6

Relationship to Illinois: My late wife Maureen Thomas (1952-2023) was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois.

Explain the meaning behind your flag: The idea of mine is simply an embellishment to the existing flag (helps to save money on an entire new design). Placing red and blue vertical bars on each end (with a narrow white stripe in between the colors) eliminates the seal-on-bedsheet look. Not overly imaginative, but practical and economic.

Entry No. 7

Relationship to Illinois: My connection to Illinois runs deep. My ancestors came from Ireland in the early 1900s and settled in Gridley, IL, where they farmed corn, soybeans, and raised livestock. My father grew up on that same farm, while my mother was raised in Champaign. They met at Illinois State University, where I also earned my Bachelor of Arts in graphic design. Ive lived in Illinois my entire life, and its agricultural landscapes and small town values make me proud to call Illinois home.

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Explain the meaning behind your flag: The 21 stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state and reflect its agricultural roots, resembling rows of crops and the open prairie. Three six-pointed stars represent the states three regions*northern, central, and southern*and their 18 points reference Illinois founding in 1818. A sun on the horizon, also featured on our current state flag, represents renewal. The colors  Blue for unity, Green for agriculture, and Yellow for a bright future  honor Illinois history and natural beauty.

Entry No. 8

Relationship to Illinois: Ive lived here for nearly 10 years and have grown to love this state. Its an excellent place to settle down, with welcoming people who have always made me feel at home. From stunning city views to beautiful countryside, my appreciation for this state has deepened.

Explain the meaning behind your flag: A large gold star in the center draws attention, much like the standout features of our state. Gold color symbolizes out the richness in our state, people, land and views. A horizontal blue line symbolizes lake Michigan, separating the sky from the rich land. Two smaller lines add a neat, elegant touch. The central circle abstractly represents the view from above Abraham Lincolns hat.

Entry No. 9

Relationship to Illinois: Ever since I was a kid, Ive been proud to call Springfield my home. I come from generations of Illinoisans and have chosen to raise my family here as well. Ive spent much of my life exploring the state and experiencing its wonders firsthand what Ive found is there is much to what makes Illinois great: our rich history, our landscape, our variety of people and the places they live. My designs reflect these qualities in a way that can hopefully inspire others to share my pride for my home.

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Explain the meaning behind your flag: The outline of Abraham Lincoln symbolizes liberty, opportunity and the equality of all people. The outline of Illinois symbolizes the pride we share for our state. The circle of 21 stars represents our communal togetherness and honors our state being the 21st to join the USA. The white star symbolizes Chicago and its upper-right location. Dark blue represents our blue-collar attitude and industrial power. Gold represents our prairie and agricultural history. White represents our bright spirit.

Entry No. 10

Relationship to Illinois: I have lived in Illinois for my entire life (40 years). I grew up in Naperville and then moved to Chicago where I lived for about 18 years before moving to Des Plaines.

Explain the meaning behind your flag: My flag uses a silhouette design of the state of Illinois as the focal point. I always felt Illinois had a distinct outline. 21 stars circle the state to symbolize it being the 21st state to enter the Union. Additionally, I used the circular design to symbolize Illinois being a kind of center of the country, whether it is geographically or from Chicago serving as a hub for train and air traffic. Finally, the blue edges represent the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan which flank the state.
(WGHP)  Across the nation, only 14% of police officers are women. However, a national initiative is trying to push that number to 30% by 2030.

I wanted to do something that means something, said Chief Kelly Blackwelder with the Elon Police Department.

Taking the oath to protect and serve was easy for Blackwelder, but what followed was more difficult.

We had nearly 100 officers, and I think we had eight women, Blackwelder said. I realized pretty quickly I was going to have to work twice as hard  so my male counterparts saw me as an equal not as a liability.

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Her experience is one countless women in law enforcement can relate to but also one thats worth it.

Its lonely being the only person in the room, said Assistant Chief Stephanie Mardis with the Greensboro Police Department. Creating a space where I felt comfortable and could really grow into my own skin was something I had to mature into  If I can do it, anyone can.

Both Blackwelder and Mardis say female officers serve a unique purpose and sometimes fill a void that not all male officers can.

Ive been able to walk into a situation being the only woman in that space and be able to connect and de-escalate, Mardis said.

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The personal experiences are backed up by data.

Were not about removing men from policing, but we are suggesting theres an untapped pool of qualified people that might be great police officers, said Director of Gender Equity for the NYU Policing Project Tanya Meisenholder.

Meisenholder says studies have shown women police differently. Theyre more likely to be empathetic, have fewer community complaints, have better de-escalation skills and are better at building trust.

That data formed the 3030 Initiative, which is to bring in more women and build a better version of policing overall.

Both the GPD and EPD signed on to the project in 2022, pledging to make changes to recruiting and support for officers to meet the goal of 30% women on the force by 2030.

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We implemented a lactation break policy. Thats a unique challenge for new moms coming on, Blackwelder said. We use gender-fluid language throughout all our official documentation and policies.

We hosted our first womens symposium in September, and we had 30 or 40 people show up just to learn about what its like to be a woman in law enforcement, Mardis said.

Both departments are also adjusting shifts, roles and pay to attract women who might be moms, forming support groups and wellness initiatives and changing their recruiting tactics.

And its working.

In 2022, roughly 15% of officers in Greensboro were women. Today the number hovers around 20%.

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For Elon police in 2022, the only women on the force were the chief and one other person. Today in their small department, they sit around 28% between full-time and part-time officers.

The changes open up spots for women, but these leaders say they make everyone better police officers.

Im very optimistic with the trajectory of my profession, and I know moving forward we are going to redefine what the profession of law enforcement looks like in our communities, Mardis said. The theme is, You are not alone.'

The GPD, the EPD and the Burlington Police Department are the only three signed on to the 3030 initiative in the Piedmont Triad.

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Dozens of current and former employees have accused the founder of PinkNews and his physician husband of creating a toxic work environment at the U.K.-based LGBTQ+ publication through sexual misconduct with young male employees, misogynistic jokes at the expense of female employees, and workplace bullying for all gender identities.

Employees who spoke with the BBC claimed founder Benjamin Cohen and his husband, Anthony James, who is also the PinkNews COO, committed multiple acts of inappropriate sexual behavior from 2017 to 2024. Over 30 employees told similar stories, blaming the heavy-drinking environment at the organization, Cohens difficult and abrasive managerial style, and a fear of being fired and ostracized within the industry if they spoke out about alleged abuse. Their stories were reportedly corroborated by private communications and complaints as well as external sources like doctors charting the mental stress from dealing with the alleged abuse.

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Five former employees described an incident at a London pub late one evening following an undisclosed PinkNews event. James had reportedly cornered a junior staffer against a tree after an evening of drinking. The unnamed employees described the young staffer as unable to consent and too drunk to stand or talk" but witnessed James groping and kissing the staffer.

Anthony was just forcing himself on somebody who wasnt able to make that decision for themselves because of how intoxicated they were, one former employee told the BBC.

The former employees said they were able to send the staffer home in a taxi. The BBC said it viewed the complaints filed by the staffer in question but was unable to determine what disciplinary action, if any, was taken in the matter.

Another employee claimed a drunken Cohen invited him back to his home for sex when James was out of town.

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He said something along the lines of Anthony is always getting with other men and the suggestion was we would do something sexually, the employee said.

The same employee also described Cohen as a bully who created a toxic work environment where employees lived in fear of drawing his wrath.

Support The Advocate's journalism. Find out how you can contribute here.

Other employees said Cohen and James frequently asked female employees if they would act as their surrogate birth mother. The pair claimed they were joking, but the women described their attempts at humor as demeaning and misogynistic.

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One employee who went on the record, Stephan Kyriacou, said he was slapped on the butt by Cohen during a Christmas party.

I was in shock, Kyriacou recalled. I remember turning to my friends and saying, What the hell just happened?

Overall, the employees described the pair as creepy and said they avoided being alone with them.

They also said they were fearful of pushing back too strongly against the powerful gay couple.

"None of us really felt like we could complain because we didnt know what was going to happen to us, Kyriacou said on the record. Ben is very well-known and we didnt know whether he was going to badmouth us to people.

Cohen and James appeared to deny the accusations through their representatives but declined to provide a statement to the BBC. The Advocate also requested a statement from Cohen and James but has not received a response at the time of publication.
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)A cold front will pass through Southwest and Central Virginia on Wednesday. Rain showers, gusty winds, mountain snow showers, and colder air are anticipated for the day.

Rain showers will gradually exit toward the east during the afternoon as temperatures drop into the 30s and 40s. These temperatures will continue to plummet through the overnight hours.

Snow showers are possible along and west of the Blue Ridge through early Thursday morning. A dusting is possible in some parts of the New River Valley. Higher peaks along the Blue Ridge and the Mountain Empire could receive up to an inch of snowfall. One to four inches of snow is expected for the western slopes of Pocahontas and Highland counties.

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Winds will become gusty as the cold front moves through. Wind gusts as high as 55 mph may occur at higher elevations along the Blue Ridge. Wind Advisories have been issued for counties along/west of the Blue Ridge through Wednesday night.

Although more sunshine is in the forecast, prepare for a cold and brisk Thursday. Morning lows will be in the sub-freezing 20s, but wind chill values in the single digits may occur along and west of the Blue Ridge. Afternoon temperatures will reach the 30s and lower 40s.

High pressure will keep Southwest and Central Virginia dry and mostly clear on Friday. Morning temperatures will start in the frigid teens and 20s while afternoon highs will be in the 40s.

Skies will become mostly cloudy on Saturday, but dry conditions are expected for much of the day. Morning lows will be in the 20s and afternoon highs will reach the 40s. Another storm system could bring scattered rain showers to the region Saturday night into Sunday.

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Only 18 Americans are receiving one of the highest civilian honors and one of them is from here in Pittsburgh. Deacon Clarence McCallister jumped in front of a loaded gun to save his pastors life.

On Tuesday, Clarence McCallister a husband, father and church deacon earned a new title: hero. The Carnegie Hero Fund recognized him with the highest civilian honor and medal.

>> Man arrested after trying to shoot pastor during sermon in North Braddock, state police say

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If I ever see an opportunity to help somebody, Im just built like that, thats my nature, Im going to help them, said Clarence McCallister on Tuesday morning just hours before receiving his honor.

On May 5, that opportunity came during a Sunday morning church service. McCallister was running the churchs livestream when police said a gunman walked to the front of the service, aimed his weapon at the pastor and then pulled the trigger. The gun jammed and McCallister leaped over the alter and tackled the gunman to the ground.

He didnt hesitate, and he risked his life to save another individual without obligation to do so, said Eric Zahren, the President of the Carnegie Hero Fund.

Zahren told Channel 11News McCallister was the only local honoree.

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Clarence McCallister exhibited the very best of what it means to be a Pittsburgher, a member of this community, and a member of the human race. He exemplified the idea that we are all in this together, Zahren said.

Pastor Glenn Germany whose life was likely saved by McCallisters selfless action was present at Tuesdays award ceremony to honor his friend.

To this day I really dont understand how he did it, he explained.

Germany told us he is still shocked by the incident, but he was never surprised by how McCallister rose to the occasion.

That is who he is, Germany said.

We asked McCallister if he would do it again, and his answer is what makes him a hero:

I would definitely do it again, it would be an honor, he said.

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Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARIS, La. (WGNO)  One man is behind bars after allegedly robbing a pizza delivery driver twice.

The first incident happened on Friday, Nov. 29.

Ten charged in New Orleans staged crashes including prominent lawyers, business owner

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriffs Office deputies said at 11:59 p.m., the driver was attempting to make a delivery in the 2700 block of Williamsburg Drive.

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Thats when they were allegedly approached by 18-year-old Montrell Isom who according to deputies, took the pizza without paying along with $20.

Days later on Saturday, Dec. 7, the victim was making another delivery in the 2800 block of Williamsburg Drive when Isom allegedly pointed a gun demanding pizza and money.

Isom left with the pizza and another $20.

Through an investigation, detectives learned Isom called for both orders using a phone number registered to him.

Hammond man killed after truck flips in Washington Parish: LSP

A search of his home led to the discovery of the pizza boxes in his trash cans.

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Isom has been booked into the parish jail on charges of theft and armed robbery. Bond hasnt been set.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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(FOX40.COM)  Voters in Placer County placed themselves among the highest election participation ratings for the 2024 general election when it comes to the number of registered voters and ballots cast, according to county officials.

On Tuesday afternoon, the county released several statistics related to the voter turnout for the most recent presidential election.

Placer County 2024 General Election Results

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Placer County has 294,829 registered voters, which accounts for 95% of the eligible voting population in the county.

Of those nearly 295,000 registered voters, 239,402 cast their ballots either by mail, in person, at drop boxes or at the county elections office.

With such a turnout, Placer County saw 83.4% of registered voters cast their ballot, 11.1% above the states average of 72.3%.

These two stats place Placer County in second among California counties for the highest amount of registered voters and ballots cast for counties with a population over 200,000.

Hidden Falls trails soon to connect with rarely seen Placer County wilderness

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The busiest vote center in the county on election day was the Placer County Lincoln Library in Lincoln, with 1,312 votes cast.

The most popular drop box was the Clerk-Recorder Elections Office in Auburn with 13,274 ballots returned.

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD)  A man has admitted to fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend outside her mothers apartment last year  a murder that was solved with the help of a bloody knife found in an attic.

Jeffrey Kucharski pleaded guilty to second-degree murder during a Wednesday morning appearance in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

A sentencing agreement calls for a prison term of 60 to 100 years, according to Kalamazoo County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Williams. Sentencing has been set for mid-January.

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Court docs: Stabbing suspect had bloody knife, gloves

The deadly attack occurred in May 2023 at Emerald Park Apartments in Kalamazoo.

An undated courtesy photo of Taylor Dragicevich.

Investigators say Taylor Dragicevich, 28, was stabbed in the face, head and hands. She had been in a relationship with her attacker for several years, but it ended in March 2023.

The two had a history of domestic violence, court records show, and she filed for a personal protection order shortly after they broke up. Kucharski violated that order days before Dragicevich was killed.

Documents: History of domestic violence before woman stabbed, killed

Kucharski was arrested May 21, 2023, in a garage attic at a home in Lawton, located in Van Buren County. His arrest followed a standoff that lasted several hours.

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Inside the attic, investigators found a large knife, which had human blood on it, according to court documents. Blood was also found on his shirt and pants.

A search of an SUV turned up blood stains and rubber gloves, which had suspected blood on them.

Kucharski, 28, underwent a competency evaluation to determine if he could understand the charges against him and assist in his own defense. He was deemed competent, moving the case to circuit court in September 2023.

Man found competent to stand trial in murder case

In a separate case, Kucharski earlier this year pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Van Buren County for a sexual assault that occurred in 2013.

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A judge in July sentenced him to 1.5 to two years in prison.

Kucharski is being held without bond in the Kalamazoo County jail pending sentencing.

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FILE PHOTO: U.S. Space Force members hold a pre-parade marching practice on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 during the In Their Honor Veterans Day Parade on Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs. (The Gazette, Arthur H. Trickett-Wile)
(KRON)  A Pleasant Hill man was arrested for lewd and sexual acts with minors back in October, the Pleasant Hill Police Department announced on Tuesday. Police investigating a missing juvenile responded on Oct. 21 to an apartment complex in the 600 block of Old Quarry Road.

Luigi Mangione previously reported missing in San Francisco: reports

While trying to make contact with the resident of the location, a second missing juvenile was discovered at the location. The juveniles were with an adult male, 27-year-old Alejandro Gabriel Sainz of Pleasant Hill.

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Detectives interviewed the two juveniles. Sainz was arrested at the scene and booked into county jail. He was charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney with 20 felonies, including:

Lewd acts with a minor

Possession and or control of matter depicting minors in sexual acts

Other unlawful sexual intercourse charges

Sainz, police said, has remained in custody since his arrest. Police said multiple electronic devices were recovered from Sainzs home with the assistance of the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

According to police, some of the details of the investigation are being withheld to protect the identities of the victims. Sainz, police said, initially made contact with the victims online.

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Both juveniles, who were under the age of 16, were returned to appropriate care, police said. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

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Nikki Giovanni, one of the key figures of the Black Arts Movement, has died at 81. Giovanni was a poet, essayist, childrens book author, activist and professor.

Her death in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Monday followed her third cancer diagnosis. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native was born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr., on June 7, 1943, but she grew up mostly in the Cincinnati area. The nickname Nikki came from an older sister.

She attended Fisk University, a historically Black college in Nashville, during the politically transformative 1960s. At Fisk, she nurtured her creativity, mingling with Black poets and writers such as Amiri Baraka and Margaret Walker. She also took part in civil rights activism, leading the revival of the local chapter of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which fought racial segregation and advocated for voting rights. She graduated from Fisk with a bachelors degree in history in 1967.

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The next year, Giovanni released her first poetry collection, Black Feeling Black Talk, in which she covered a range of themes  from love to loneliness. In 1969, she gave birth to a son named Thomas but did not reveal the father publicly or marry, acts of defiance during that period.

Her debut book cemented her place in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s which strove to make Black art widely accessible and promote Black empowerment. Baraka is credited with spearheading the movement, but other figures include Audre Lorde, Gil Scott-Heron, Ntozake Shange and James Baldwin, whom Giovanni appeared in conversation with on the Black arts and culture program Soul! in November 1971 shortly after she had been named Woman of the Year by the magazines Ebony and Mademoiselle in 1970 and 1971, respectively. Ladies Home Journal named her Woman of the Year in 1973.

Nikki Giovanni published a 1971 memoir on her experiences as a Black female poet and key figure in the Black Arts Movement of the time. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

In 1971, Giovanni released her memoir, Gemini: An Extended Autobiographical Statement on My First Twenty-Five Years of Being a Black Poet, weighing in on the Black Power Movement and relations between men and women. She described growing up seeing her father abuse her mother. As a teen, she moved in with her grandparents in Knoxville to escape the domestic violence in the household.

Giovanni was critical of sexism in the Black Arts Movement, which included writers, musicians, poets, visual artists and actors, among other creatives. Her love of jazz and blues music is said to have influenced her poetry and speaking style.

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In the early 1970s, Giovannis star rose considerably, with her selling out Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in 1972. Not long afterward, she sold what is now known as David Geffen Hall. In both of these appearances she set her poetry to gospel music with the backing of the New York Community Choir.

Ego-Tripping, one of her most famous poems, is an ode to Black womanhood. It includes the following lines:

I was born in the congo

I walked to the fertile crescent and built

the sphinx

I designed a pyramid so tough that a star

that only glows every one hundred years falls

into the center giving divine perfect light

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I am bad

The poem was featured on Giovannis 1971 album, Truth is on its Way, which also includes gospel accompaniment from the New York Community Choir. She wanted to set her words to gospel music in hopes that her grandmother, who enjoyed that genre, would listen. She was told that her more militant poetry  touching on horrors such as Emmett Tills lynching, the Birmingham church bombing and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination  did not have universal appeal. In fact, Giovanni said in her memoir that she formed her own publishing company to release her radical poetry because traditional publishers argued there was no market for a young Black woman examining social justice and militant politics.

Her participation in the Black Arts and Black Power movements, however, influenced some of her best-known poetry books such as 1968s Black Judgment and 1983s Those Who Ride the Night Winds.

Giovanni taught at Rutgers University and Queens College before joining the faculty of Virginia Tech University in 1987. She met her wife, Virginia C. Fowler, through the institution, but they did not marry until 2016.

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At Virginia Tech, Giovanni had a student that she warned others about. In 2007, he murdered 32 people, the largest school shooting in the nations history. Giovanni was a featured speaker at the convocation to remember the victims.

Giovanni wrote more than 30 books, with a posthumous title, The New Book: Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things, scheduled for release next year. Many of her books were for children, including an award-winning illustrated biography of Rosa Parks, simply called Rosa.

In 2009, she published the New York Times bestseller Bicycles: Love Poems. Among the many recordings she released was 2004s The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection, which garnered a Grammy nod. This year, a 2023 film about her life and writing, Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, won an Emmy for exceptional merit in documentary filmmaking.

Giovanni earned seven NAACP awards and 31 honorary doctorates.

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She is survived by Fowler; her son, Thomas Watson Giovanni; and a granddaughter, Kai Giovanni.

The post Poet and activist Nikki Giovanni dies at 81 appeared first on The 19th.

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By Barbara Erling and Justyna Pawlak

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland wants more NATO members' navies to take part in policing the Baltic Sea, including those from beyond the region, in view of the potential threat from Russia, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

Warsaw will call for wider engagement from allies at the next NATO summit in The Hague next June, he also said in an interview with Reuters.

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The importance of securing the Baltic was brought into sharp focus in November when two undersea fibre-optic cables were cut, with allied countries saying they suspected sabotage.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said that just as allies patrol and secure the air space over the Baltic states, countries beyond the region should also contribute to naval patrols in the sea.

"Those who are far from the conflict with Ukraine, those countries that are not as directly engaged as Poland, should contribute to security in this way," Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

The minister's comments reflect a view among many European leaders that the continent urgently needs to bolster its defences, driven by fears that an EU country could be Russian President Vladimir Putin's next target after Ukraine.

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The imminent return of Donald Trump to the White House and the United States' increasing focus on China have also raised concern.

When asked if Poland was ready to fight back against Russia, Kosiniak-Kamysz said: "Many of the things that are happening - these are actions that are dictated by the idea of deterrence, primarily deterrence, so that it would not be profitable for any country, in this case the one that is a precisely defined adversary, i.e. the Russian Federation, to attack Europe and attack NATO countries."

He highlighted Germany and France as countries who could contribute naval forces to patrolling the Baltic Sea.

Asked if the United States could help, Kosiniak-Kamysz said: "We are at a point where Europe needs to prove its ability to defend itself in order to keep Americans in Europe."

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The election of Trump to a second presidential term has raised questions about the U.S. commitment to supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia and about Washington's role in NATO.

But as the new administration takes office on Jan. 20, Kosiniak-Kamysz sees an opportunity for Poland.

The country has shown itself to be a good business partner and a proven ally by being NATO's biggest defence spender in terms of GDP, and a heavy purchaser of U.S. defence equipment, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

SPENDING

Because of growing threats, Poland has repeatedly raised the importance of increasing defence spending.

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Kosiniak-Kamysz said the EU must spend at least 100 billion euros on defence, because "without a shift in the European Union's approach, which today spends one and a half billion euros on the defense industry.. this will end badly".

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called on the alliance to increase military support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion in order to strengthen Kiev's position ahead of possible negotiations with Moscow to end the war.

While Norway announced the deployment of its F-35 fighters to safeguard Polish air space, Polish MiG-29 jets, which President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly requested, cannot yet be sent to Ukraine, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

"The condition that gives the Polish state the chance for complete security is not met," he said. "We need a full schedule of support."

While it welcomed the Norwegian deployment, Poland expected more from its allies and was talking to them about it, he said.

(Reporting by Barbara Erling and Justyna Pawlak, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that he is not ruling out the possibility of starting negotiations with Ukraine about the war with Russia this winter.

"Our EU Council presidency will, among other things, be partly responsible for the situation in the negotiations, which could begin this winter," Tusk said in Warsaw after meeting German opposition leader Friedrich Merz.

He added that he wants to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the matter.

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The Polish presidency of the European Council is to run from January to June 2025 under the motto "Security, Europe!"

Ahead of assuming the presidency, Tusk announced that he plans to meet a series of foreign politicians.

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected in Warsaw on Thursday, and Tusk plans to receive British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and travel to Oslo for a visit at the beginning of the Polish council presidency.

"I am in constant contact with our Scandinavian and Baltic allies, who see Poland and the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union as leaders in future action, the effect of which I hope will be peace," Tusk said.

Phone call between Warsaw and Kiev

Tusk and Zelensky spoke on the phone on Tuesday and agreed to meet soon, the Polish news agency PAP reported, citing its own sources.

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The meeting could take place this week in Ukraine, PAP reported.

"We must continue to work together to make our two countries stronger," Zelensky said in his evening video message about the conversation.

According to Zelensky, the talks also involved Ukraine's EU membership negotiations and possible Polish support in this regard.

Merz presses for European contact group on Ukraine war

Merz, a top candidate for chancellor in upcoming German elections, pressed his recent proposal for a European contact group on the war in Ukraine during his visit to Warsaw .

Merz, who is campaigning to replace Chancellor Olaf Scholz, demanded that Scholz's government adopt his suggestion, which he first detailed publicly during a visit to Kiev on Monday.

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Merz, the leader of the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), brought the idea up again during a meeting with Tusk, and Merz said that Tusk seemed supportive.

With US President-elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January, Merz has contended that a contact group format would allow key European allies of Ukraine - such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland - to jointly develop strategies.

There are concerns in Ukraine and among European powers that Trump might reduce, or even halt, badly needed US military aid for Ukraine.

Merz also urges Syria response

Merz on Tuesday also called on Scholz to "bring about a coordinated European opinion" response on rapidly shifting events in Syria "as quickly as possible."

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Syria's brutal authoritarian leader, Bashar al-Assad, fled the country over the weekend after more than a decade of bloody civil war in the face of rapid gains by a coalition of anti-government rebel forces, which include several extremist Islamist groups.

"I expect the German government to now also approach the Turkish government very quickly in order to coordinate with the Turkish government on how to assess the situation there on the ground," Merz said.

Turkey is a major backer of some of the rebel groups, and is seen as an increasingly influential regional power in the Syrian conflict.

It is probably still too early to draw any conclusions about the new situation in Syria, Merz acknowledged, as no one knows whether the civil war in Syria "has really ended or whether it will continue under different circumstances."

Election shapes travel?

Merz's CDU, and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), hold a clear lead in polls of German voters ahead of early elections, which are expected to be held on February 23.

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Merz has been an unceasing critic of Scholz, and is now widely seen as the favourite to replace the chancellor after the election.

Merz arrived in Warsaw by train on Tuesday from Kiev, where he spent Monday meeting Zelensky and underscoring Germany's support for Ukraine in the war against the ongoing Russian invasion.

Morning castle visit

In Warsaw, Merz visited the Royal Castle on Tuesday morning to see an exhibition of art works from the collection of Ukraine's National Art Museum, which had been shipped to Poland for safekeeping and conservation following Russian attacks.

The Warsaw museum is located within the Royal Castle, once the home of kings of Poland, which was almost completely destroyed during World War II. It was rebuilt after the war and is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The castle is seen as a symbol of the reconstruction of Warsaw, which was heavily destroyed in brutal fighting to drive German forces from the city during World War II.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  Power has been restored for about 3,500 Santee Cooper customers who lost service Wednesday morning in Myrtle Beach after the top of a utility pole caught fire and caused the wires to fall and knock out the breakers, a spokesperson said.

The outage was reported shortly before noon and service was restored just before 1 p.m., the spokesperson said. The outages affected customers along Highway 17 between the Intracoastal Water and Robert Grissom Parkway.

Another outage reported earlier Wednesday morning continues to affect about 300 customers in the Little River area. It began at 9:30 a.m. and initially interrupted service to roughly 1,700 customers.

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In Little River, we were able to get most people back on quickly, but there is still a tap out, leaving about 300 people without power, the spokesperson said.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  A man has been shot on Farmer Lane in Chesapeake Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Chesapeake Police are investigating a shooting after officers were called to the 2200 block of Farmer Lane at around 1:07 p.m. for a man who had been shot. Police said the man was taken to a local hospital with what is believed to be non life-threatening injuries.

Police said they have no suspect information, and the shooting is under investigation.

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Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or a tip can be submitted through the P3Tips app or via P3Tips.com.

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ATHENS, Pa. (WETM)  An Athens man has been arrested on multiple charges after police say he attempted to pose as an officer from the Athens Police Department.

Joseph R. Hall, 38, was arrested on Sunday, Dec. 8, on two counts of burglary (grade 1 felony), two counts of simple assault (grade 2 misdemeanor), four counts of impersonating a public servant (grade 2 misdemeanor), one count of disorderly conduct hazardous/physical offense (grade 3 misdemeanor), four counts of harassment  course of conduct with no legitimate pursuit (summary offense) and two counts of criminal trespass (grade 3 felony).

Pennsylvania man arrested after allegedly running naked throughout hotel

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Police report that on Sunday, officers were called to Page Manor in Athens around 7:39 p.m. for the report of a suspicious man pounding on doors on the third floor and announcing that he was with the Athens Police Department.

Upon arrival at the scene, police further report that they could hear yelling at the end of the hallway on the third floor after exiting the elevator. Police say they then saw a man, who they say they knew as Hall from a prior interaction, yelling at another resident.

Police then say that Hall stated he was trying to find his wife, to which the resident told him multiple times that she wasnt there. Police say the resident also let Hall inside his residence to look and then shut the door. Hall then allegedly returned moments later and stated that he was the Athens Borough Police Department and that he knew his wife was there.

Four arrested on fentanyl charges in Bath after traffic stop

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At this time, police say that Hall became very animated while talking to them and began yelling that he didnt mean to do this. Hall then allegedly lied about pretending to be a police officer and confessed to doing so later.

After some time, multiple residents came out of their rooms and claimed that Hall had done the same thing to them. Some residents claimed that after they opened the door in response to him, Hall then shoved them and pushed them down to force himself into their apartments. During one of these occurrences, Hall allegedly claimed that he was looking for kids.

After speaking with the other residents, police say they placed Hall in custody and brought him to the Athens Borough Police Department.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Before we know it, the capital city will officially have its new Police Chief in Chris Vallejo.

Vallejo doesnt officially start until Jan. 20 2025, but hes currently in the capital city looking to get situated before starting his role. After being named one of the final four candidates to be the next chief, Vallejo, who is coming from Austin, TX, ultimately beat out TPD major Russ Klump for the job.

While Vallejo said he understands policing, he said he wants to better understand policing in Topeka. So, for the first couple months he plans on observing, listening and learning.

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In order to develop credibility, I find its better to listen to people both internally and externally. I want to know not just whats not working, but what is working well, Vallejo said. What do we need to improve on as far as we engage to the community, what do we need to improve on inside operations and whats already working well so I dont have to worry about that.

After this, Vallejo told 27 News he wants to create some sort of long-term strategic plan starting with a violent crime plan. When asked if hes had a chance to speak with the police union here in the capital city yet, Vallejo said hes talked to union members in passing, but he looks forward to talking to them in a group.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Rockford Police arrested Geniece Birdsong, 36, for allegedly drinking alcohol and lighting toilet paper on fire inside a Swedish American Hospital restroom.

On November 30, around 10:30 p.m., officials arrived at 1401 East State Street, Swedish Americans Emergency Room, to security officers reporting Birdsong was drinking alcohol in the waiting room.

While officials were talking, a patient interrupted to tell them smoke was coming from the womens bathrooms.

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Birdsong and an officer both entered the restroom around the same time and she was seen still drinking her alcoholic beverage, according to court records.

Another patient told authorities she saw Birdsong enter the restroom shortly after the fire. Birdsong was soon after taken into custody.

Birdsong is charged with arson to property up to $150 and aggravated arson with people present.

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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  An East Providence man accused of attacking a school bus driver last month is now facing charges.

Robert McCoart, 39, has been charged with simple assault and battery and disorderly conduct, according to police.

Robert McCoart (Courtesy: East Providence Police Department)

Police said McCoart physically assaulted the bus driver, used racial slurs and threatened to harm the driver and his family.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear at this time, however, the East Providence Police Department shared security footage from inside the bus on social media Tuesday afternoon.

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In the footage, a man whos believed to be McCoart can be heard yelling and cursing at the bus driver for making his son cry.

Thats my boy, and youre threatening and yelling at him, McCoart shouted at the bus driver. Scare my son again  and Ill drag you off this bus.

McCoart could also be heard threatening to put a tracker on the bus.

Ill follow you to where you go, he said. You think Im [expletive] kidding?

This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our community, the police department wrote in the social media post. We are committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of all individuals.

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McCoart was released on $1,000 personal recognizance pending his next court date, which is scheduled for Jan. 7. He was also ordered to stay away from the driver and bus.

McCoart told 12 News the bus driver is abusive to kids and made his son sit in an uncomfortable seat.

I am apparently one of many parents [who are] tired of him mistreating our children and getting away with it, McCoart said. At no point should our children be put on a bus with a caretaker that makes them feel unsafe. I trust him to get my child to and from school safely.

McCoart also acknowledged that his emotions got the better of him and he said some things he shouldnt have while standing up for his son.

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In a statement to 12 News, the school district condemned McCoarts actions.

We understand that there are times when parents and guardians may feel frustrated or upset theyre encouraged to voice concerns, ask questions, and engage in dialogue, the district said. However, verbal abuse, threats, or behavior that is disruptive or threatening toward anyone in our district is unacceptable.

We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful environment where all students, staff, and families feel safe and supported, the statement continued. We encourage our entire school community to continue leading by example for our students, maintaining a safe and positive environment for us all.

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Police are speaking out after Hannah Kobayashi's family announced that she had been "found safe" about a month after she walked into Mexico, marking a conclusion of sorts in what authorities have previously called a voluntary disappearance.

Lt. Doug Oldfield, a member of the L.A. Police Departments missing persons unit, tells PEOPLE that they learned "Ms. Kobayashi was found" from the family's attorney, about an hour before their statement was released.

"We have not seen her and at this point we have no reason to compel her to see us," he says. "Its a big news story so she may decide to come with a lawyer, but she is not obligated to speak to us."

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"Well see what happens next. We don't have a lot of details," he adds.

Kobayashi's family released a statement on Wednesday, Dec. 11, saying that they were "incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe."

"This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through," Kobayashi's sister and mother, Sydni Kobayashi and Brandi Yee, said in a statement to PEOPLE through their attorney, Sara Azari.



Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi

"We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time," they added. "Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us."

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Azari went on to say that the family would make no further statements at this time.



Related: Before Seemingly Vanishing at L.A. Airport, Hannah Kobayashi Wanted to Disconnect from the World, Police Say

Oldfield, who tells PEOPLE that they did not learn from the family where exactly Kobayashi was found, says that when she crosses back into the United States, she will still "show as a missing person."

"We usually want law enforcement to determine a person is safe and make contact," Oldfield adds, noting that in this case, Customs and Border Protection "could provide us with that info to take her out of the system."

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.

Kobayashi, a 30-year-old photographer living in Hawaii, was reported missing on Nov. 11 after failing to make a connecting flight in Los Angeles bound for New York City. She was supposed to have boarded a flight there on Nov. 8, but never did.

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Police later determined she went to the southern border on Nov. 12 and walked on foot into Tijuana, Mexico.



Emi Ko/GoFundMe Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi

During a lengthy conversation with PEOPLE, law enforcement previously said that they devoted significant resources to untangling Kobayashis case  and that a key discovery was learning the truth about reports that she was seen in L.A. with a stranger she met at LAXs train stop while leaving the airport on Nov. 11 and struck up a conversation with.

Oldfield said investigators were able to track the man down only days after Kobayashi was first reported missing and were able to confirm his story about the time they spent together.

"We haven't spoken to her, but from what we gather is that she was looking to understand how to get to Union Station and that he was going to assisting getting her there," Oldfield said.

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For the amount of time they spent together, he pretty much was an ear to listen, added Detective Omar Franco, who heads the missing persons unit. She just spoke and talked about her life in Maui, her personal life, her love life and so forth. And he just listened to her.



Related: If Hannah Kobayashi Is Off the Grid in Tijuana, 'No One Is Looking for Her,' Official Says

Police said the man described Kobayashi as a free spirit, but said that she seemed coherent and normal, not scared. According to the man, Kobayashi said she wanted to go see the redwoods and also mentioned plans to be in New York.

Once at Union Station, Kobayashi and the man spent several more hours together and ate dinner. before going to sleep in a waiting area. When he woke up, Kobayashi  who got up by herself, gathered her luggage and walk[ed] off on her own, according to Franco  was gone.

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These things, we were able to corroborate, Oldfield said.



Related: What Happened to Hannah Kobayashi? What We Know About the Hawaii Woman Declared a 'Voluntary Missing Person' After Crossing Mexico Border

Although police have reiterated that Kobayashi is under no obligation to speak with them, they have previously said they'd like to hear from her.

Everyone else is very invested in this now, and just what her thought process through all this was and what her end game or goal was, Detective Franco told PEOPLE while she was still missing.

Added Oldfield, We don't have her side of the story.



Read the original article on People
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI)  A man is facing charges after attempting to evade Fall River detectives by hiding in a chimney Tuesday night.

Robert Langlais (Courtesy: Fall River Police Department)

Detectives were executing a search warrant at a house on Canal Street when two men reportedly fled from the home onto the roof.

Police said one man managed to escape by leaping from the roof onto a parked car, but the other, 33-year-old Robert Langlais, wound up wedged in the chimney.

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Fall River Police Lt. Matthew Mendes told 12 News that firefighters had to break the chimney to free Langlais.

Police body-worn camera footage shows firefighters disassembling the chimney brick by brick before pulling Langlais to safety.

Langlais was brought to the hospital as a precaution. Hes since been charged with drug possession, as well as several offenses tied to outstanding warrants.

Officers also arrested 32-year-old Tanisha Ibay for drug possession without incident.

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South Korean police raided South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols office as a part of the ongoing investigation into the martial law declaration on Dec. 3, Yonhap, South Korean state media, reported Wednesday.

The South Korean National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters Emergency Martial Special Consecution Team entered the seizure and search, of the Presidents office Wednesday morning local time, Yonhap reported.

PHOTO: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol answers a reporter's question during a press conference at the Presidential Office in Seoul, Nov. 7, 2024. (Kim Hong-ji/Reuters)

MORE: South Korea's president survives impeachment after ruling party lawmakers boycott vote

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South Korean Police on Wednesday morning also arrested the South Korean National Police Commissioner Cho Ji Ho and the Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong Sik as a part of the ongoing investigation into the martial law declaration.

The police action followed more than a week of political turmoil in South Korea after Yoon's brief failed imposition of a police state, a move that the president had at the time claimed necessary to protect the nation from enemies within. Yoon, a member of the conservative People Power Party, backtracked on his declaration within hours. Opposition parties then moved to impeach Yoon, but lawmakers in his party declined to join in the vote, leaving him in power.

MORE: South Korean police consider travel ban for President Yoon amid martial law inquiry

Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin Seok and several other staff members resigned soon after the martial law was lifted. Yoon soon after accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who was described as the architect of Yoon's plan.

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The former defense minister, who took full responsibility for the martial law declaration in a statement from his attorney Tuesday, became the first government official to be formally arrested for the series of events late Tuesday evening local time. He was arrested for engaging in essential activities in insurrection and abusing his power during the six hours of martial law in action.

PHOTO: People stand by a railing as the Presidential Office building in the background is raided by police from the national office of investigation, in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 11, 2024. (Kim Hong-ji/Reuters)

He had attempted suicide while he was in the bathroom before a warrant for his arrest was issued, Shin Yong Hae, the head of the South Korean Ministry of Justice's correctional headquarters, said during a public judicial committee questioning Wednesday.

"Yesterday afternoon around 11:52 p.m., one of our personnel witnessed a suicide attempt before a warrant was issued," Shin said. "He gave up immediately as personnel opened the door. He is currently being held in shelter and is reported to be in good health.

The two arrested Wednesday -- the South Korean National Police Commissioner and the Seoul Police Chief -- were arrested under insurrection charges, according to the South Korean Polices special investigation team. They are suspected of instructing police officers to block lawmakers at the National Assembly who were there to reverse the martial law decree.

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The arrests took place just one day since the two have been placed under a travel ban.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Police raid South Korean presidential office, arrest former defense minister following martial law declaration originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The police carried out searches at Ukrainian Railway's premises in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast over a suspected criminal scheme by a group of the company's officials, the police and Ukrainian Railways said on Dec. 11.

The railway employees are suspected of earning illicit gains by manipulating tickets offered for international travel.

"The actions of the defendants led to significant losses and the creation of an artificial shortage of tickets for the most popular routes on the market," the polices statement read.

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"Searches and seizures of material evidence, hearings, and detentions are being conducted," Ukrainian Railways said in a statement. The search was conducted in offices, employees homes, and trains.

Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, trains became one of the primary and perhaps the easiest means of travel both within Ukraine and abroad, as airports remained shut, ratcheting up demand for Ukrainian Railways services. Over 600 railway employees have been killed since Feb. 24, 2022.

The state-owned Ukrainian Railways has also been embroiled in a number of corruption scandals over the years. In April, anti-corruption agencies began investigating a former presidential advisor, two company top officials, a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officer, and three other people over Ukrainian Railways' purchase of transformers at inflated prices.

Read also: From strangers to friends: How Ukrainians meet and bond during wartime train travel

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
EUCLID, Ohio (WJW)  Euclid police tell the FOX 8 I-Team they are searching for a suspect after two people were shot Tuesday evening.

The shooting happened at an apartment complex on Euclid Avenue.

1 arrested, 1 hospitalized after pursuit ends on I-90

The victims were shot around 7:15 p.m. Police say gunfire erupted in a crowd of people.

Two people were shot. Both died at the hospital.

Theyve been identified as brother and sister, Antwon Grier, 20, and Mariana Grier, 21.

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Officers do not have a motive for the shooting and are investigating.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
PARKCHESTER, The Bronx (PIX11)  A 21-year-old man living in a homeless shelter is in custody in connection to the rape of a woman early Wednesday morning in Parkchester, according to the NYPD.

Police say at 3:30 a.m. Gregory Williams approached the 26-year-old victim from behind as she walked on Virginia Avenue. Williams is accused of repeatedly punching her before raping her.

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His face was caught on camera moments before the attack. Nur Ali, who owns a food truck on the corner near the attack, says Williams had been hanging out at a bus stop and then asked for a napkin. He wiped his hands and then headed towards the park before heading down Virginia Avenue and allegedly raping the woman.

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Williams was last seen fleeing south on Virginia Avenue and then east on McGraw Avenue, police say.

Police tell PIX11 News that they used multiple surveillance cameras throughout the neighborhood to track Williams movements after the rape. He was found at a homeless shelter on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx and arrested. The Parkchester Police Department aided in his arrest.

Williams was charged with two counts of first-degree rape, assault, sex abuse and harassment.

Fentanyl facility steps from NYC day care posed massive danger: DEA

The victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

The Special Victims Squad is investigating the incident. The NYPD released the following surveillance footage of the suspect.

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Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
HERMITAGE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) is asking for the publics help in identifying an alleged bank robber.

Officials said the incident happened at the Fifth Third Bank in the 5000 block of Old Hickory Boulevard on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

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Courtesy: MNPD Courtesy: MNPD Courtesy: MNPD Courtesy: MNPD

The suspect reportedly handed the teller a note demanding cash. Authorities added the man did not make any threats or indicate that he had a weapon.

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CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

According to the MNPD, the suspect left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Anyone who recognizes the man in the photos above is asked to call 615-742-7463.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
SYRACUSE, Utah (ABC4)  The Syracuse Police Department is seeking help from the public in its search for two teenagers who reportedly ran away on Dec. 9, 2024.

Cierra, 16, is from Syracuse; Jayden (also known as Jay) is also 16 years old and is from Clinton. Police said Cierras hair may be brassy blonde or hot pink, but did not provide further identifying information about either teenager.

LEARN MORE: What should you do if someone goes missing?

Cierra and Jayden (AKA Jay) are both 16 years old and reportedly ran away on Dec. 9, 2024. The Syracuse Police Department is seeking help from the public to find the teenagers. (Courtesy: Syracuse Police Department)

Please help us locate these two youth who ran away last night so they can be reunited with family, Syracuse police said on social media Tuesday.

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Anyone who has seen the teenagers has been asked to call 911. Alternatively, people can call Syracuse Police at 801-825-4400 or Clinton Police at 801-614-0800 with any information.

What to do when speaking to law enforcement about a missing person

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind if someone you know goes missing.

Utah officials suggest taking notes on interactions with law enforcement to keep track of details such as officer names, dates and times of interactions, the case number, and what the officers say.

When working with local law enforcement to report a missing person, it is recommended one shares as much information as possible about the missing person, including but not limited to:

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Full name or nicknames.

Recent photos.

Date of birth and age at the time they disappeared.

Gender/sex.

Detailed physical description (including unique scars or tattoos).

Date of disappearance.

Medical conditions.

Last known location.

Social media accounts.

Additional resources

For more information, the Department of Public Safety has a page on its website dedicated to resources for missing persons, as well as pages to view missing persons from Utah.

Additional hotlines and resources originally compiled in a 2021 guidebook are available below:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Authorities are looking to identify an individual after a theft at a local business.

According to Larceny investigators, the man in the photo (shown below) is wanted in connection with theft at a business near Reno/MacArthur.

Police seek to identify man in theft investigation, Image courtesy Oklahoma City Police Department.

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If you recognize him, police encourage you to contact Crime Stoppers at 405.235.7300.

An Anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers could earn you a cash reward.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Two of the nations larger grocery store companies are the subject of a new class action lawsuit in Colorado alleging they entered illegal no-poach agreements with each other during a union strike in 2022.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 (UFCW) on Monday filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court against Kroger and Albertsons companies alleging King Soopers, City Market (Kroger) and Safeway (Albertsons) agreed not to poach employees from each other.

The lawsuit seeks to recover lost or unsecured wages, plus other earnings, for workers due to unlawful agreements, UCFW Local 7 officials said in a news release.

No-poach agreements, verbal or written, are illegal deals between companies not to influence hiring or employment decisions with each others employees. No-poach agreements sometimes reduce a workers compensation or limit employment options.

UFCW Local 7 officials claim the no-poach agreements happened when the union participated in a strike against King Soopers in 2022 over pay and safety. The nine-day strike resulted in new contract terms, including pay raises, better health care and safety protocols across all stores.

Valerie Morgan, who took part in the UFCW Local 7 contract negotiation team then, is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Public-interest law firm Towards Justice filed the lawsuit, according to UFCW Local 7.

To counteract Local 7s negotiating leverage during the strike, Kroger asked Albertsons to enter into an illicit agreement not to hire or poach any King Soopers workers or to solicit any of its pharmacy customers, according to the lawsuit, adding the anti-competitive agreement artificially reduced the unions bargaining power during negotiations, while increasing the leverage of Krogers management.

UCFW Local 7 officials claim that a fear of lost sales during the strike led Kroger officials to ask Albertsons not to hire any of its workers during the strike or not to solicit any Krogers customers, particularly in the pharmacy departments.

The lawsuit detailed a Jan. 9, 2022, email from Daniel Dosenbach, senior vice president of Labor Relations at Albertsons, to Jon McPherson, the VP for Labor & Associate Relations at Kroger.

In that email, Dosenbach told McPherson that Safeway stores dont intend to hire any King Soopers employees during the strike.

Furthermore, the lawsuit said Albertsons Denver Division President, Todd Broderick, confirmed the agreements in an email to Albertsons Chief Operating Officer Susan Morris, which allegedly said we have agreed to not hire [King Soopers] employees and not actively solicit their pharmacy customers.

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Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, said in a statement the lawsuit has the potential to impact thousands of unionized grocery store workers.

This case is an attempt to bring light and justice to the 18,000 unionized grocery store workers, and the thousands of non-union grocery store workers, who were harmed by this hidden and illegal deal between King Soopers, City Market, and Safeway parent companies Kroger and Albertsons, she said in a news release announcing the lawsuit.

Our members went on strike and won a major new contract, but now it has become clear we could have made even more gains if these corporations had not broken the law behind our backs, Cordova said.

Krogers merger with Albertsons remains in limbo amidst three trials over its proposed $24.6 billion merger. In Colorados trial, Attorney General Phil Weiser seeks $1 million in civil penalties from alleged illegal non-poach and non-solicitation agreements between Kroger and Albertsons over their employees and pharmacy prescriptions.

UFCW Local 7 has been an outspoken critic of the merger, claiming it would lead to store closures and loss of jobs.

A King Soopers spokesperson on Tuesday denied any no-poach agreements in an email to The Denver Gazette.

There were no non-solicitation or so-called no-poach agreements between Kroger and Albertsons, King Soopers spokesperson Jessica Trowbridge said, adding that 1-2.5% of Kroger associates go to or move from Albertsons stores.

Kroger competes for talent in a broad and diverse labor market, including from non-grocery, non-union retailers like restaurants, food service companies, conveniences, warehouses and more.

The Denver Gazette also reached out to Albertsons officials for comment, but had not heard back by press time.

Denver Gazette business reporter Bernadette Berdychowski contributed to this report.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police say a man wanted for allegedly breaking through a window of a Hickory Hill home and shooting a woman last month shot himself after police chased him to an East Memphis house.

Officers surrounded the scene on Echles Street near Elliston on Wednesday afternoon.

They say the suspect, who was spotted in the 900 block of Getwell around 1:30, was wanted for Attempted First Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Domestic Assault in connection with a Nov. 24 shooting on Hickory Ridge Drive.

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A police aviation unit was used to track him to Echles.

A TACT unit approached the vehicle and located the male suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. Officers aided the man, who was taken to Regional One in critical condition.

Photos by Spencer Cheveallier

According to a police report, the suspect was wanted after a woman was shot around 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24 in the 1200 block of Hickory Ridge Drive.

The woman told police she was eating dinner with her two sons when she saw the suspect break through her front window and get inside the residence. He fired four shots at her, striking her once in the thigh.

Family of Ellie Young files lawsuit against ex-boyfriend and his mother

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The victim said she ran out of the house and into the yard, where she fell in the grass. She told police the suspect pointed the gun at her head and attempted to fire, but the gun malfunctioned.

After racking the weapon several times, the suspect got away and police were not able to find him. The woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Las Vegas Metro police arrested a woman accused of having sex with her teen sons friend who was underage, according to an arrest report.

The 8 News Now Investigators first reported on the U.S. Marshal Services search for Christina Cobb in June.

Cobb, 42, had four outstanding felony warrants, police said. She was scheduled to appear in court in January after posting bond and never showed up, according to Clark County District court records.

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Officers found Cobb near Decatur Boulevard and Flamingo Avenue before noon on Nov. 28, according to the arrest report. Officers said when they asked her for identification, she said her name was Olga, provided a California identification card and social security number for another individual named Olga, and continued to lie.

Cobb now faces five charges in three separate cases, the most recent for obtaining or using personal identification of another person to avoid or delay being prosecuted for an unlawful act.

Police first arrested Cobb on June 13, 2022. She was charged with two counts of statutory sexual seduction and one count of lewdness with a child under the age of 16. The age of consent in Nevada is 16.

The month prior, the alleged victim, a teenager, said Cobb provided him alcohol and allowed him to sleep in her bed, police wrote in an arrest report.

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The teenager also told police he suspected he had eight shots that night before he went to bed. Cobb then sexually assaulted the teen, according to police.

Cobb declined to answer investigators questions without an attorney present, police said.

A Las Vegas Justice court judge set Cobbs bail at $20,000 which she posted in February of 2023, according to court documents.

Police arrested Cobb again on August 3, 2023. She was accused of swinging a crowbar at a teenage family member, fighting with him and then lying to police about what happened. She faces two felony charges including assault with the use of a deadly weapon and child abuse or neglect.

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A Las Vegas Justice court judge ordered Cobb to be released from jail on Sept. 5 because no criminal complaint was filed for the case, according to court records. She was released on Sept. 16, police said.

A preliminary hearing for the new charge is scheduled for Dec. 17.

A preliminary hearing for the second case is scheduled for Dec. 16.

A status check for the first case is scheduled for Jan. 2.

The U.S. Marshals had circulated a wanted poster that stated, Considered a sexual predator with violent tendencies.

To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.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 KLAS.
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  A 46-year-old man was arrested Monday afternoon after attempting to rob a Chase Bank on East Towne Boulevard.

According to the Madison Police Department, officers responded to the scene shortly before 12:45 p.m. after receiving reports of a robbery in progress.

Man pulled from the Bay of Green Bay after falling through the ice dies, investigation continues

The suspect, identified as Michael C. Johnson, had entered the bank and handed a note demanding money.

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Police apprehended Johnson in the parking lot with the stolen money still in his possession. He was taken to the Dane County Jail and faces charges of robbery of a financial institution and felony bail jumping.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
During a press conference on Wednesday, 11 December, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that he would visit Ukraine early next year and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would visit Poland in turn.

Source: European Pravda, citing Polish news channel TVN24

Details: Tusk met with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal in Warsaw on Wednesday. Following their meeting, the Polish Prime Minister stated that they had discussed security matters concerning both countries and Europe as a whole in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

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"I'll be in Ukraine at the beginning of the [next] year, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will come to us at this important moment, which will be Poland's presidency of the European Union," Tusk said, without elaborating on specific dates.

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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has confirmed media reports that French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Warsaw on Thursday, 12 December.

Source: Rzeczpospolita, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Tusk confirmed that Macron would arrive in Warsaw on Thursday to discuss the results of his talks in Paris with US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He also announced a visit by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the beginning of Poland's presidency of the EU Council in 2025.

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Tusk said that during its EU presidency, Poland will be actively involved in discussions on possible options for ending the current phase of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and is already in active contact with Northern European countries and the Baltic states.

Background:

Polish media reported earlier that French President Emmanuel Macron would visit Poland and that the visit was related to Macrons meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President-elect Donald Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly considering a potential European peacekeeping mission in Ukraine as a safeguard against renewed Russian aggression. He plans to consult with Poland, which he views as a key ally for such an initiative.

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Politico has confirmed through its sources that French President Emmanuel Macron plans to discuss the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine  should the current phase of the war come to an end  with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday.

Source: Politico, citing an EU diplomat and a French official, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Responding to a report by the Polish news outlet Rzeczpospolita regarding discussions of a potential 40,000-strong peacekeeping mission for Ukraine, composed of troops from other countries, an EU diplomat said: "It is true."

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The diplomat did not specify which countries might provide troops if such a peacekeeping mission were to be deployed. Both officials commented on the matter under conditions of anonymity.

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Dec. 11POLO  As Polo works to demolish the former Congress School building, the historical society highlighted its 125-year history at Polo's sixth annual Christmas festival.

The historical tours led by Polo Historical Society members Beth Wiegmann and Mike Faivre were one of many events featured Saturday at the festival. Starting at noon, the vintage-style trolley took riders on four, hour-long trips that stopped at the sites of various schools and churches covered in the presentation.

One of the stops featured the dilapidated school at 208 N. Congress Ave. Before its closure in 1985, Congress School housed classrooms for Polo School District students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

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"We wanted to be sure to give it a really nice honor before it leaves us," Wiegmann said in an interview with Shaw Local.

The city bought the building in August 2023 for $15,000, with tentative plans to demolish it and build a senior living home in its place. That year in November, the city decided to condemn the building and search for grants to cover the $200,000 to $300,000 demolition cost, Public Works Director Kendall Kyker said in an interview with Shaw Local.

About a year later, asbestos was found in various parts of the roof and ceiling tiles so the council voted Oct. 21 to accept a $66,900 bid to abate the asbestos. That work was completed this month, according to Kyker.

"We had to jump in right away to get that out of there" because if the roof collapses, the asbestos would spread, and the cost to demolish it would double to about $500,000 or $600,000, he said.

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As of now it's a waiting game, Kyker said. The city is continuing to look for grant opportunities to move forward with the original plan.

The history of Congress School

The complete story of Congress School starts in the "way-back machine"  as Wiegmann puts it  with the formation of Polo's school district in 1857.

Back then, there were two districts  north and south. They were combined in 1867. That year, the first school was built for the new district at the corner of West Dixon Street and North Congress Avenue.

It was an eight-room blue limestone building that could accommodate 500 elementary to high school students.

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That school quickly became overcrowded and by 1899 it was torn down while a larger school was built next to it.

It became known as Congress School and opened in November 1899.

The building was designed by Joseph Lyman Silsbee, who was a prominent American architect during the 19th and early 20th centuries. He is most known for his works in Chicago as well as Syracuse and Buffalo, New York.

Initially, Congress served as Polo's high school. The high school was then moved to the building on East Mason Street  now known as Aplington Middle School  until Polo Community High School was built.

Up until Congress School closed, there were four schools in the district. They were Centennial Elementary School, built in 1957, for kindergarten to fourth-grade students; Congress for kindergarteners to sixth graders; Aplington, where seventh and eighth graders attended; and the high school.

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During those years, Wiegmann was a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Congress School and Kyker was one of her students before he graduated in 1981, Kyker said.

The main entrance to Congress School faced West Locust Street. It had a grass lawn with a walkway leading up to its front doors, which were framed by a large portico supported by four pillars, according to Wiegmann.

"The cool thing about the inside of this building is that it's on different levels," Wiegmann said.

Walking in through the main entrance, the office was on the left and there were stairs to either go up or down. The cafeteria was downstairs and classrooms were upstairs, she said.

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To get to the upper levels, the school had switchback stairs that led up half a level and then turned the opposite way and continued up to the next floor, Wiegmann said.

The entrance to Wiegmann's classroom was on one of those half levels off on the wings and to the side, she said.

In March 1985, the Polo School Board voted 4-3 to close Congress, according to Wiegmann. Later that year, the school was formally closed and put up for sale.

Over the years the building passed through many different private owners, each with their own idea of what to do with the building. Some wanted to turn it into apartments or restore it to its historical value, which would cost millions, Kyker said.

Eventually, high renovation costs and the large size of the building caused it to fall into disrepair, Kyker said.
Package thieves, often called "porch pirates," pose a growing threat to online shoppers.

Over the past year, criminals have stolen some $12 billion worth of goods delivered to people's homes, according to data from Security.org, which reviews security products. Security camera footage shows thieves running off with packages delivered to a home or even brazenly posing as a homeowner to accept an item directly from the delivery person.

"He just took your package," a Fedex delivery person said in one clip of a thief making off with a package that had been deposited on a recipient's doorstep only seconds earlier.

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"I saw a man, grabs the package, and exits stage left," Illinois resident Don Archer told CBS News of his own brush with a porch pirate. In Archer's case, footage captured by a doorbell security camera eventually led to the thief's arrest.

Not everyone is as fortunate. "I know of at least four houses that got packages taken," Archer noted.

Porch pirate insurance

That's where PorchPals comes in. For $120 a year, the company will reimburse consumers for up to three stolen packages worth as much as $2,000 each.

PorchPals CEO James Moore said the claims process is simple. Members need to answer a handful of questions, including what was stolen, and provide the company with a receipt and shipping tracking number. The coverage covers all sorts of deliveries, from groceries to furniture and electronics.

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Moore noted that it can be easier for criminals to steal from others' homes, versus stores.

"It's not always a seasoned criminal or crime ring. Sometimes it's just an opportunity  there is a Christmas gift on someone's porch, and it could be someone playing a cruel joke," he told CBS MoneyWatch. "Other times, an actual crime ring follows FedEx trucks or gets a list of Apple iPhones being delivered on a certain day to certain places."

Consumers can foil porch pirates by having their purchases sent to UPS stores, while Amazon allows customers of the e-commerce giant to have packages shipped to the closest Whole Foods location.

Some local police precincts are even accepting residents' packages, including in Washington, D.C., where people can have deliveries sent to lockers at the station provided by Amazon.

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"It's a good idea  it doesn't cost your city anything," Sylvan Altieri, assistant chief with the Metropolitan Police Department, told CBS News. "It gives a relief to the consumers and your citizens who want this, and you're not taxing manpower or anything like that."

New details on Luigi Mangione's time in prison, evidence probed

Woman whose sentence was commuted by Biden tells her story

American Airlines flight forced to make emergency landing after likely bird strike
The Federal Aviation Administration has extended a ban on U.S. commercial and cargo flights traveling to Port-au-Prince and other areas of Haiti until March 12, 2025.

The decision came on the same day that Haitian authorities officially reopened Toussaint Louverture International Airport and the Guy Malary terminal for domestic flights. Both operations were shut down last month after armed gangs shot at Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways and American Airlines as they were traveling above Port-au-Prince airspace. The Nov. 11 attack prompted a 30-day ban from the FAA, which days later amended it to exclude the Hugo Chavez International Airport in the northern city of Cap-Haitien.

The FAAs ban was set to expire on Thursday. But hours after Haitis Transitional Presidential Council released a statement on X claiming that their measures had led the FAA to lift the ban, the U.S. agency released a statement saying it will renew its Notice to Air Missions prohibiting operations below 10,000 feet in specified areas of Haiti until March 12.

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Similar bans from Canadian, French and British authorities are also set to expire between Saturday and Sunday.

Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways and American Airlines were struck by gang gunfire on Nov. 11. No passengers were hurt during the incidents, although a flight attendant on board Spirit Airlines Flight 951 out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport did sustain minor injuries after the aircraft was riddled with bullets as it prepared to land.

No passengers were hurt during the Nov. 11 incidents, although a flight attendant on board Spirit Airlines Flight 951 out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport did sustain minor injuries after the aircraft was riddled with bullets as it prepared to land.

The incident forced several aircraft en route to Haiti to be diverted, and led Haitian authorities to shut down the capitals airports for the second time this year because of gang attacks.

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The operator of Haitis main commercial airline, Sunrise Airways, has indicated that even though he is able to resume domestic flights, he is seeking assurances from local officials on measures to prevent future incidents. Airline operators also face higher insurance costs to operate flights in Haiti, another deterrent.

In a note on X, the office of the prime minister said they have taken measures to reinforce security at the airport, rehabilitate of roads around the airport.

The countrys escalating violence has left 5,000 dead so far this year, the United Nations said this week, and the situation remains volatile. On Monday afternoon, a passenger minibus traveling on a national road toward the capital was shot up, killing several people and injuring others. On Tuesday, armed gangs carried out another massacre in the countrys Artibonite region.

On Sunday, American Airlines told the Miami Herald that it was indefinitely suspending its daily service between Miami International Airport and Toussaint Louverture International Airport due to the deteriorating security situation.

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Last month, American, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines announced a suspension of all daily service into Haiti after the shooting incidents. Bahamas Air also placed its flights on hold.

American said at the time it would resume flights in early February, but a spokesperson on Sunday confirmed to the Herald that this will no longer be the case and the company would revisit the matter in late 2025. Both Spirit and JetBlue have not yet said if or when they will resume flights to Haiti.

The ban on flights and the airport closures have left Haitians stranded in and out of the country. The Hugo Chavez International Airport in the northern city of Cap-Haitien, which was exempted from the FAAs ban, remains operational but traveling from the city to other parts of Haiti has been almost impossible this week. Torrential rain over several days has grounded private helicopters charging $2,500 a seat, and dangerous mudslides and floods have blocked routes along two main highways.
WINCHESTER (KSNT)  A new post office is coming to the Jefferson County area to help residents get their mail to where it needs to be.

The office of Kansas Senator Roger Marshall announced in a press release on Dec. 11 that Winchester will be receiving a new post office. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) anticipates construction of the new post office to begin in 2025 after finalizing a new lease agreement with the City of Winchester.

The City of Winchester has waited on approval too long for its new postal facility, Marshall said. The lack of a mail service hub in this community has had far-reaching consequences, causing significant delays and frustrations for residents.

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The USPS closed the old post office in 2021 due to mold issues, forcing the city to condemn the structure. Residents were forced to drive to the nearby town of Oskaloosa to mail their letters and packages.

Meal kits sold in Kansas recalled due to salmonella risk

Last week in our USPS hearing, I called on Postmaster General DeJoy to take action and end the delays in Winchester, and I am proud to announce that from that call to action, we were able to get him to step in and get this project across the finish line, Marshall said. This is a huge development for Winchester and a positive good faith step by the USPS in working with us to restore reliable mail service for all Kansans. We will continue to address the statewide concerns at the highest levels.

The City of Winchester has a little less than 450 residents, according to The League of Kansas Municipalities. You can find a USPS post office near you by using this link.

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For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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.
The misdemeanor case of the mother of Club Q shooter Anderson Aldrich was dismissed on Tuesday due to her ongoing competency issues, more than two years after charges were first filed.

Laura Voepel, 47, was facing misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct after police told Voepel on Nov. 20, 2022, that her child, Aldrich, had been arrested hours earlier in connection with the Club Q mass shooting.

Aldrich, who killed five people at the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ nightclub, pleaded guilty to 51 charges and was sentenced to 2,208 years in prison as part of a plea agreement in a state-level case.

In June, Aldrich was sentenced to an additional 55 concurrent life sentences and 190 years in prison while accepting a plea agreement in the federal case, which included 74 charges. Notably, the possibility of the death penalty was voided by the plea agreement.

Last week at a review hearing Voepel's attorney filed a motion to dismiss due to reports from competency evaluators that Voepel is incompetent to proceed and may never be restored to competency.

Voepel's misdemeanor case lasted for more than two years because of findings by mental health professionals that she was incompetent to proceed and in need of restoration treatment.

Prosecutor Andrew Vaughan objected to the motion to dismiss at the hearing last week, arguing that Voepel's evaluations and restorative treatment in Florida have not met the standard of Colorado law, and that Voepel remains a danger to the community.

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Vaughan had argued since Voepel's move to Florida last year that her absence had caused the case to stall, and had requested in the past to have her transported back to Colorado.

Despite the objections to the dismissal last week, and a request from Vaughan to have Voepel's evaluator appear via Webex to testify, no prosecutors appeared to Tuesday's hearing to argue against the dismissal of the case.

With no presence from the prosecution, the hearing lasted for just over one minute before Judge Yolonda Fennick dismissed the case.

At the hearing last week Fennick stated that ahead of the hearing she was looking at the portion of the Colorado statute that allows for dismissal of cases due to incompetency findings in which the high charge is a level two misdemeanor, such as Voepel's.

Voepel appeared to Tuesday's hearing virtually from Florida. She no longer faces criminal charges in the state of Colorado.
Daniella Heminghaus for States Newsroom

Updated at 3:45 p.m.  12/11/24

Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-Rockford) on Wednesday announced plans to introduce a constitutional amendment in the upcoming legislative session aimed at blocking non-citizens from casting a ballot in the state.

First announced during an interview with WILS, Posthumus proposal would require voters to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote and government-issued photo identification when casting the ballot.

State Rep. Bryan Posthumus speaks to voters during a rally in Grand Rapids on Oct. 16, 2024. | Kyle Davidson

Only American citizens can vote in American elections, Posthumus, who will lead Republicans on the House floor in the majority caucus come the new session in January. Unfortunately, the current election law and framework are insufficient to safeguard this foundational principle.

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According to Posthumus office, the plan is a response to reports of a 19-year-old University of Michigan student from China casting a ballot in Ann Arbor. Under the states ballot secrecy protections a ballot usually cannot be retrieved or canceled after it is fed into a tabulator.

Not one American citizen should have their vote canceled out by a non-citizen, Posthumus said. This is not and must not be a partisan issue. I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to immediately pass this constitutional amendment.

While non-citizens are not eligible to vote in federal, state or most local elections, a handful of municipalities do allow non-citizens to vote in their elections.

Election officials have repeatedly stressed that noncitizen voting is extremely rare with safeguards in place to prevent noncitizen voting. Audits of voter rolls in Georgia, Ohio and Iowa found that noncitizens accounted for a small fraction of states total number of registered voters, according to a report from ABC.

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Additionally, a comprehensive audit of Georgias voter rolls uncovered 20 noncitizens who registered to vote among 8.2 million registered voters alongside nine instances when noncitizens actually cast a ballot. Another audit of Iowas 2.3 million voters found 87 instances where individuals cast ballots and later identified themselves as noncitizens.

In 2018, Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding voting rights in Michigan to include a right to a secret ballot, no-reason absentee voting and in-person voter registration on election day with proof of residency among other provisions. Michigan voters approved another amendment in 2022 guaranteeing fundamental right to vote and expanding access to the ballot through measures like guaranteed access to ballot drop boxes, early voting for a minimum of nine days before election day, and the use of a photo ID or signed affidavit to verify voter identity.

Jamie Lyons-Eddy, the executive director of Voters Not Politicians, a non-partisan pro-democracy advocacy group, emphasized the current law in a statement provided to the Advance.

Michigan law already requires a photo ID to vote, and federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting. Frankly, this entire narrative is nonsensical political posturing that risks disenfranchising eligible voters, Lyons-Eddy said.

Jamie Lyons-Eddy of Voters Not Politicians, speaks at a Lansing press conference for the Promote the Vote 2022 ballot initiative, July 11, 2022 | Laina G. Stebbins

Michigan voters have already made their choice very clear on this matter  they want elections that are secure, modern, and accessible. I cant understand why any elected official would want to undermine the will of Michigan voters by threatening to roll back the very same voting rights that voters across the political spectrum support, she said.

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Micheal Davis, Jr., executive director of Promote The Vote, the organization which backed the voting rights initiatives in 2018 and 2020, stressed non-citizen voting as a non-issue.



Simply put, there is no evidence of widespread issues that would justify undermining our already-proven system, a system that is both secure and protects access to the ballot for all eligible voters. Any attempt to impose additional barriers to voting will disproportionately impact already-vulnerable individuals, those who are low-income, unhoused, new voters, and seniors, Davis said in an emailed statement.

Alongside Posthumus proposal in the Legislature, an organization called the Committee to Protect Voters Rights launched a website pitching a potential petition drive to get an amendment on the ballot if lawmakers do not take up the proposal.

If pursued in the Legislature, the two thirds of the members in each chamber must vote to place the matter before voters in the next general election. If pursued through the petition process, petitioners must gather 446,198 signatures to place the matter on the ballot.

When asked to comment, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson sent the Advance the following statement:

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All eligible citizens and only eligible citizens have the constitutional right to vote in Michigan. Im always open to serious and well thought out efforts to further strengthen our secure system. But many of these proposals will prevent large numbers of eligible citizens from exercising their constitutional voting rights in the name of making it even more difficult and rare than it already is for a noncitizen to vote. We know because other states have already tried this  a similar 2004 ballot initiative in Arizona disenfranchised 47,000 eligible U.S. citizens. A federal court struck down Kansass law because it violated both the U.S. Constitution and the National Voter Registration Act. Michigans voters have overwhelmingly passed constitutional amendments in recent years to ensure that eligible citizens arent denied their right to vote. We should respect their will and focus our efforts on policies that actually improve security, such as a guaranteed source of state funding to ensure clerks have the resources they need for every election.

In a social media post, Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Twp.) offered his support for Posthumus proposal.



Only citizens should vote in our elections. Seems pretty commonsense. But when a foreign nationals (sic) vote in our elections, and our top election official brushes it off, proposals like these are needed, Nesbitt said.

Upon discovering that a non-citizen had cast a ballot in Ann Arbor, the Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office authorized felony charges against the individual, with Attorney General Dana Nessel launching an independent, parallel investigation into the incident.

This story was updated to include a statement from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

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Dec. 11The raw number of adult salmon returning to the Columbia River has increased over the past 40 years but is still not meeting regional mitigation goals, and wild fish protected by the Endangered Species Act remain at risk of extinction.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council reported Tuesday that an average of 2.3 million adult fish returned to the basin from 2014-23. That is on par with the 2004-13 average of 2.4 million but dramatically higher than the 1.3 million average recorded in the 1990s.

In some individual years, the returns were higher. For example, an estimated 4.6 million salmon and steelhead returned to the Columbia River in 2014. But in other years, like 2018 and 2019, the returns numbered only about 1.3 million fish and were reminiscent of the disastrous runs in the 1990s that prompted some wild runs being protected as threatened and endangered.

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Just as adult returns to the basin have risen, so too has the number of fish bound for areas upstream of Bonneville Dam  another council goal.

For decades the council that includes representatives appointed by the governors of Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Montana has maintained a goal of returning 5 million fish to the basin to mitigate for impacts caused by the hydropower system on the Columbia and Snake rivers. It's a broad target that includes fish harvested in the ocean, those that either spawn or are harvested below Bonneville Dam and those that swim past the dam 40 miles east of Portland, Ore.

It doesn't differentiate between wild salmon and steelhead and those that begin life in hatcheries, or break numbers down into individual species like  spring, summer and fall chinook, coho, sockeye and steelhead. Nor does it consider whether a fish is protected by the Endangered Species Act or where it might be headed after it passes Bonneville Dam.

Still, as the council prepares to update its $280 million fish and wildlife program next year, its staff and representatives look to it as a significant accomplishment both in terms of the returns themselves and because it is the most detailed data collected and reported by the group since its creation by the Northwest Power Act in 1980.

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"Increased salmon and steelhead abundance in the Columbia River Basin  especially above Bonneville Dam  over the past 40 years marks important progress," Louie Pitt, a council member from Oregon and a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, said in a news release. "These fish still face severe stresses from climate change, pressures from human population growth in the Basin, and other environmental impacts. Some stocks are struggling right now. We cannot ease up in our collective efforts to help these fish populations grow stronger and larger everywhere we can  including in blocked areas of our Basin such as above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams."

That some fish are struggling is an understatement, according to fisheries officials from the Nez Perce Tribe's Fisheries Resources Management. Department Director David Johnson and Jay Hesse, director of biological services, point out that while the council's program has helped the tribe and other fish and wildlife managers improve hatchery production, fish passage at dams and restore habitat, many wild populations are at dangerously low levels.

"Wild fish populations in the Snake River Basin are on the brink of extinction and hatchery programs are not meeting their mitigation goals," Hesse said in an emailed message to the Tribune. "About 7,500 wild Spring/summer Chinook salmon returned back to the Snake Basin in 2024; and results in about 40% of the populations having 50 or fewer wild fish  a level considered quasi-extinct."

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Johnson said the increased number of adult fish is being driven, in part, by fall chinook and sockeye that return to the middle and upper sections of the Columbia River. Tucannon River spring chinook are in such dire condition that some of those fish are held in a gene bank, he said.

Before development of the hydropower system and the earlier over-exploitation of the runs by commercial fishing in the lower Columbia, the returns were as high as 16 million fish annually.

The Northwest Power Act tasked the council with making sure the region has a reliable and affordable power supply while also protecting and mitigating fish and wildlife populations harmed by the dams. Each year it evaluates fish and wildlife projects submitted by states and tribes and recommends which of those should be funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and its ratepayers.

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Several schools are closing for the second day in a row due to public safety power shutoffs prompted by a Red Flag Warning.

The San Diego County Office of Education announced the following school districts in East County canceling classes for Wednesday:

Alpine Union School District

Borrego Springs Unified School District

Dehesa School District

Jamul-Dulzura Union School District

Julian Union Elementary School District

Julian Union High School District

Mountain Empire School District

Ramona Unified School District

Spencer Valley School District

Vallecitos School District

Warner Unified School District

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Barona Indian Charter School in Lakeside Union School District and Del Lago Academy in Escondido Union High School District will also be closed

As of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, power was restored at Vivian Banks Charter School in Bonsall Unified School District. The school will be open for classes.

What is a Red Flag Warning and why is it important?

The safety of students and school staff is of the utmost importance to San Diego County school districts, SDCOE said in a news release Tuesday.

Public safety power shutoffs are issued as a precaution to help prevent flying debris from coming into contact with power lines and potentially igniting a fire, per San Diego Gas & Electric.

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On Monday and into Tuesday morning, SDCOE confirmed the closures of several schools due to the power shutoffs.

Harrahs Resort Southern California was also forced to close its property because of the high wind warning and mandatory power outages in the area. However, as of late Tuesday morning, the casino said power was restored.

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.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  A pre-trial hearing is set in the first-degree murder trial of a former Daniels pharmacist who is accused of murdering her husband, Michael Cochran, in 2019 to allegedly cover up her involvement in a fraudulent scheme.

Natalie Cochran is set to go to trial on January 13, 2025, after multiple delays.

Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Truman said a pre-trial hearing set for Thursday, December 12, 2024, will ask Ms. Cochrans defense attorneys to stipulate whether or not Ms. Cochran made voluntary statements to police or whether a hearing should be set for a judge to issue a ruling on whether or not the statements were voluntary.

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UPDATED: New date set for Natalie Cochran trial

Mr. Truman said the hearing will also delve into whether the defense attorneys, Matthew Victor and Stanley Selden, will opt to call record keepers for the purpose of introducing records.

Prosecuting Attorney Truman said on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, that the state will also seek rulings on deadlines, defense witnesses and defense experts.

Former Raleigh County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tom Truman to try Cochran case

He added that prosecutors have agreed for certain witnesses to testify by live video, but defense attorneys had not yet issued a signed agreement.

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Mr. Victor and Mr. Selden were not immediately available for comment on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

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.
Dec. 11A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Cherokee County District Court next month for a Tahlequah woman accused of drug trafficking.

One felony count of aggravated trafficking in illegal drugs was filed March 12 against Crystal Patrice Fatheree, 59, after authorities reported they found approximately 26 grams of methamphetamine in her possession on Feb. 28, according to court documents.

Records indicate she received a $50,000 bond and pleaded not guilty to the charge April 2 during initial appearance.

The preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Jan. 27, with Associate District Judge Joshua King presiding.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday evening his nomination of outgoing Rep. Dan Bishop as deputy director for budget at the Office of Management and Budget.

Its not a well-known position within presidential administrations. The agency was first created under former President Richard Nixon, and is intended to help presidents meet policy, budget, management and regulatory objectives, according to the White Houses website.

Im so honored to be nominated by President Trump to serve in the stellar OMB team led by (Russ Vought), Bishop, a Waxhaw Republican, posted on social media shortly after Trump announced his nomination. Much work to do to fight for and implement President Trumps agenda. Im ready to get down to it. Lets go!

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Vought, who Bishop mentioned in his post, served as director of OMB during the last year of Trumps first term and is nominated to do so again. Hes also a contributor to the Heritage Foundations Project 2025, a set of policies that Democrats said during the election Trump would use to reshape the federal government.

Trump largely distanced himself from Project 2025 during his campaign, but has nominated several contributors to the policies for positions in his administration.

If Trump succeeds in getting the Senate to approve their nominations, Bishop would work under Vought.

Dan has been a tireless fighter for our MAGA Movement in the House of Representatives on the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, Trump wrote on social media. Dan will implement my cost-cutting and deregulatory agenda across all Agencies and root out the Weaponized Deep State.

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In his own post, Vought echoed Trumps warning to what they called the deep state, referring to civil servants or other officials who secretly manipulate government.

Not having Dan Bishop in the fight was too much to contemplate! he wrote. Thankful that President Trump chose him to be OMB Deputy! Look out Deep State.

Bishops career

Bishop has served three terms in Congress, but chose not to seek reelection in 2024 to instead focus on a race for attorney general. Had Bishop won, he would have been the first Republican to serve as North Carolinas top law enforcement official in more than a century.

Bishop, however, lost the attorney general race to Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat from Charlotte, who chose not to seek reelection after North Carolina Republicans redrew the congressional maps to favor their party, and all but ensured Jackson would lose.

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But losing to Jackson left Bishop without an elected position for the first time since 2015. He previously served in both chambers of North Carolinas legislature, and on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners.

Bishop is best known as the author of House Bill 2, a piece of legislation that required transgender people in schools and other government buildings to use the bathroom of the gender listed on their birth certificate. The bill was signed into law by former Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, but was ultimately repealed after the backlash caused substantial economic impact on the state.

In Congress, Bishop is a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, which has spent the past two years causing gridlock in Congress by using Republicans minuscule majority against the House speaker by forcing him to meet their demands or voting against Republican bills.

Bishops colleagues celebrated his nomination Tuesday evening.

Great choice by President Trump, making North Carolina proud, Sen. Thom Tillis replied to Bishops social media post.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Prince Georges County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) is celebrating a new milestone after sending one million free books to children across the county.

The new milestone is part of the countys Books From Birth program, which partners with Dolly Partons Imagination Library.

The program launched in July 2017 and has since become a cornerstone literacy initiative in the region. Over the last seven years, thousands of children and their families have benefitted from the free books, while helping to build their home library and establish a solid foundation for their journey in literacy and reading.

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The library also partnered with two Prince Georges County hospitals to give parents immediate access to information needed to register for the program.

Maryland News Advocates push for higher speed camera citations on Indian Head Highway

Officials said the PGCMLS has been working with the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center since December 2022, and just recently started working with the MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital last year.

On Dec. 3, leaders in the Books from Birth program, along with leaders from the PGCML, visited the MedStar hospital to present 40 early literacy baby bundles.

(Photo Courtesy: Prince Georges County Memorial Library System)

The bundles were given to the Womens and Newborn Center. Each baby bundle included items to help families get a jump start on early literacy, including a bilingual board book, an egg shaker, a finger puppet and information on local early childhood education.

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Charlene Lopez, the coordinator of Lactation Services and Child Birth Education for the hospital, helped solidify the partnership with PGCML. Lopez, who has a daughter, who is neurodivergent, said that she realized early literacy helped her daughter perform better in school.

A parent of a Books From Birth participant, who is also a public school reading teacher, recently shared: I am proud to say that my son is a strong reader with a diverse range of interests, and he is currently scoring above his grade level in reading. This achievement is a testament to the early and continued exposure to the written word that programs like Books from Birth provide.

According to officials, more than 16,000 people in Prince Georges County are enrolled in Books From Birth, and more than 19,000 children have graduated from the program.

For more information about the program, visit their website.

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PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Prince Georges County Council has voted on a date for the special election for the vacant County Executive seat, and voters are looking forward to the next person who steps into the role to bring change.

A special election is set for 2025. The primaries will take place on March 4, and election day will be May 27. Positions up for vacancy are County Executive, and the 5th district county council seat, which Jolene Ivey currently holds.

Prince Georges County Executive race heats up with more candidate announcements

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Voters said they want more things done by whoever becomes the next county executive.

More programs for seniors, this year they had like the lawn care for seniors, and I would like to see that ongoing as opposed to having to register each year. I would like to see them maintain their schools and the safety of the schools, said longtime resident Joanne Adams.

Currently, Tara Jackson, the Countys former Chief Administrative Officer is now the acting County Executive.

If you havent registered to vote, requirements include being a U.S. citizen, a Maryland resident and at least 16 years old.

To learn more, visit the Countys Board of Election website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
NEW YORK -- The 3D-printed gun found on the suspect in last week's killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson matches shell casings found at the site of the shooting, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday.

Tisch also said fingerprints belonging to Luigi Mangione, the man charged in the murder, match those found on a water bottle recovered not far from the scene.

"First, we got the gun in question back from Pennsylvania, it's now at the NYPD crime lab. We were able to match that gun to the three shell casings that we found in Midtown at the scene of the homicide," Tisch said. "We were also able in our crime lab to match the person of interest's fingerprints with fingerprints that we found on both the water bottle and the KIND bar near the scene of the homicide in Midtown."

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Mangione was arrested on Monday in Pennsylvania and charged with forgery and firearms violations, and is being held without bail. He appeared in court on Tuesday and contested his extradition to New York, where he will face second-degree murder charges.

Matches a major boon to the investigation

The gun is the first evidence tying Mangione to the crime, and the fingerprints on the water bottle are the first positive forensic match tying him to the scene where Thompson was gunned down outside the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel on Dec. 4, sources say.

Investigators believe they have also recovered a discarded coffee cup the suspected gunman may have used at a Manhattan Starbucks before the shooting, and have dusted it for fingerprints, a high-ranking police source said.

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According to law enforcement sources, police have recovered a notebook from Mangione at the time of his arrest in which he wrote that he considered using a bomb but decided on a shooting because it was more targeted and would not put innocent lives in danger.

As for how all the new evidence will impact the extradition process, CBS News law enforcement contributor Rich Esposito said, "What the evidence that is being collected now is helpful with is building the most solid case, and, believe me, they're going to need the most solid case. There's going to be quite a lot of public attention around any trial."

Read more: Luigi Mangione's motive for allegedly killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO is coming into focus, NYPD says

Mayor Eric Adams expressed his gratitude to law enforcement, saying, in part, "The number of hours they put in, around the clock, dedicated to bringing this person to justice, off the streets of America, specifically off the streets of our city, and we look forward to prosecuting him to the fullest extent of the law."

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UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed

Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, was shot and killed outside a hotel where UnitedHealthcare was scheduled to hold its annual investors conference.

Tisch called it a "premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack," saying the gunman had been lying in wait for several minutes before shooting Thompson in the back and leg.

Police launched a manhunt for the suspect and started piecing together a timeline. Investigators said he fled the scene on a bike and rode up to Central Park, where sources said they later found a backpack that contained a jacket and Monopoly money, but not the murder weapon.

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The biggest break in the case came from an Upper West Side hostel where the gunman was believed to have stayed in the days before the shooting. He was seen in surveillance images lowering his mask after sources said the woman at the front desk asked to "see his pretty smile."

Police later released more images showing him inside a taxi, which they believe he took to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Upper Manhattan and boarded a Greyhound. Investigators believe he left the city immediately after the shooting and had been traveling around Pennsylvania before he was caught.

He was spotted on Monday inside a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 300 miles away from the crime scene. A customer recognized him and alerted an employee, who called police.

Mangione was found in possession of a fake New Jersey ID, believed to be the same one he used to check into the hostel, and was initially taken into custody on a forgery charge. Police searched his belongings and found a 3D printed ghost gun consistent with the one used in the shooting, along with a U.S. passport, $8,000 in cash and a handwritten note.

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Sources tell CBS News investigators are referring to the note as a claim of responsibility. They believe the suspect's grievances toward UnitedHealthcare and other health insurance companies are what motivated the murder.

In addition to the note, sources said shell casings found at the scene had the words "delay" and "deny" written on them, believed to be a reference used by critics of the insurance industry.

Who is Luigi Mangione?

CBS News has learned the 26-year-old comes from a prominent Maryland family. He graduated valedictorian from a private high school and got his Masters in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

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"Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione. We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest," his family said in a statement after his arrest. "We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news."

Mangione had been staying at a co-living space called Surfbreak in Hawaii up until 2022, when a spokesperson for the community said he left due to a lifelong back injury that was exacerbated by surfing and hiking. The spokesperson also said they believe Mangione returned to Hawaii in 2023 and started a book club, which several members left over "discomfort in book choices."

Sources tell CBS News back pain was a major factor in his life and it appeared to be a source of frustration.

"We're learning that he did possibly suffer an accident that caused him to visit the emergency room back on July 4, 2023," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer.

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In recent months, posts tagging Mangione on social media imply he lost touch with friends, with some asking where he was and what he was doing, wishing him the best and hoping that he was OK. His mother filed a missing persons report in November in San Francisco amid concerns he was not communicating.

Extended interview: Billie Eilish

Eye Opener: UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect erupts outside of court

What to know about Luigi Mangione's court hearing after outburst outside
Colorado Springs police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old in November.

The victim, a minor whose name was not released according to Colorado law, was found dead on scene after police responded to a shooting call near the 1900 block of South Chelton Road around 10:30 p.m. Nov. 26.

The El Paso County Coroner's Office identified the victim and has not yet issued a cause of death. The Colorado Springs Police Department is investigating the death as a homicide, it said in a statement Tuesday.

Police issued a warrant for 18-year-old Mykael Weathington on Nov. 27 in connection with the death. He was taken into police custody Dec. 6 on suspicion of first-degree murder.

El Paso County jail records show Weathington is being held without bond. A preliminary court date is scheduled Friday.

According to police, the shooting death was the 38th homicide this year.
The UHC CEO killing has led to an outpouring of frustration toward the healthcare industry.

Some progressive Democrats on Capitol Hill said it was the "right time" to talk about it.

"I think for people who are surprised, it's a wake-up call," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said.

In the wake of the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , lawmakers are weighing in on the crime and the reaction to it, including expressions of frustration many Americans feel toward the healthcare system.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York told Business Insider on Wednesday that the rapturous online response to the shooting and the valorization by some of the suspect, Luigi Mangione, was indicative of a "mass bubbling of resentment around the precarity that people have been living with."

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"Of course, we don't want to see the chaos that vigilantism presents," Ocasio-Cortez said. "We also don't want to see the extreme suffering that millions of Americans confront when your life changes overnight from a horrific diagnosis, and people are led to just some of the worst, not just health events, but the worst financial events of their and their family's lives."

She added, "I think for people who are surprised, it's a wake-up call for how much of this exists in our society."

Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida, who began his political career as a gun-violence-prevention activist, told BI that he was "against gun violence in all forms" but that he understood some of the reaction.

"There's so much animosity and hatred of this system that people are looking beyond maybe their typical moral scope to meme this guy, or to praise him, because the issue is just so pervasive," he said. "That's something to take note of."

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Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told HuffPost that the shooting was "a warning" to the healthcare industry  though she later told the outlet in a statement that she "should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder." Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont told the outlet the "outpouring of anger at the healthcare industry" showed that "millions of people understand that healthcare is a human right."

Not all lawmakers on Capitol Hill are taking this approach  both Republicans and Democrats have opted to condemn the shooting and leave it at that.

"It's pretty simple to me. Nobody who commits cold-blooded murder is a hero. Period, full stop," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut told BI.

"He's the asshole that's going to die in prison," Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told NBC News about the shooter. "Congratulations if you want to celebrate that."

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For some progressives, though, the praise for Mangione and the outpouring of frustration over the healthcare industry can't be ignored, even if it's coming on the heels of a murder they condemn.

"It's exactly the right time when you've got thousands of people that are sharing their stories of frustration," Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California told BI.

In his view, it's simple enough to talk about the healthcare industry while not making excuses for the alleged murder.

"There's no linkage," Khanna said. "You condemn the murder of an insurance executive who was a father of two kids. At the same time, you say there's obviously an outpouring behavior of people whose claims are being denied, and we need to reform the system."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian forces have attacked Ukrainian fortifications west of Vidrodzhennia and south of Novotroitske (both in Donetsk Oblast). As a result of prolonged battles, two Ukrainian positions were destroyed and one was lost.

Source: Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Operational Strategic Group Khortytsia, on the 24/7 national joint newscast on 11 December

Quote: "The enemy attacked our fortifications on the Pokrovsk front west of Vidrodzhennia and south of Novotroitske. As a result of prolonged clashes, two of our positions were destroyed and one was lost. Efforts are currently underway to restore positions."

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Details: Voloshyn noted that battles are also ongoing on the southwestern outskirts of the village of Shevchenko, where the Russians are attempting to fortify their positions and deploy their sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

The officer emphasised that the strategic defensive operation conducted by the defence forces aims to exhaust Russian troops, destroy their resources and preserve the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"The enemy must first and foremost be halted and the front line stabilised," Voloshyn added.

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An expansion of coverage for fertility treatments for service members was left out of a compromise defense bill despite previous support in both chambers of Congress.

Earlier versions of this year's National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, advanced by the full House and the Senate Armed Services Committee included language that would have expanded Tricare coverage of in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments to all service members regardless of the reason for their infertility.

But the compromise NDAA that Congress is expected to pass this month dropped that language, meaning IVF and other fertility coverage will still be limited to troops with severe injuries or illnesses caused by their military service.

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Read Next: Army Secretary Fires 4-Star General Who Meddled in Promotion of Unfit Subordinate

"While I'm glad many provisions I led were successfully included in this year's defense bill, I'm disappointed that my provision -- which would have simply ensured that our service members and their families have access to the same level of coverage as members of Congress -- was removed from the final version behind closed doors, even after so many of my Republican colleagues very loudly and publicly claimed to support IVF this year," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who sponsored the provision in the Senate, said in a statement to Military.com on Tuesday.

"But let's be clear: We made it farther this year than ever before, and my work on this is far from over," added Duckworth, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel who conceived her children through IVF. "After everything they sacrifice, I'll never stop working to expand access to IVF for our service members who rely on this treatment to start or grow their families, including those whose struggle with infertility is linked to their service."

Right now, Tricare will cover IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies only if the infertility was caused by an injury or illness suffered in the line of duty that's serious enough to mean the service member is unlikely to return to duty or is likely to medically separate.

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Until recently, marital status and needing to use donor eggs or sperm were also barriers to getting Tricare coverage of IVF, but the Pentagon dropped those conditions in March after a lawsuit argued the previous policy discriminated against unmarried service members and same-sex couples.

The group that filed the lawsuit had sought for the case to continue because of the ongoing requirement for infertility to be service-connected, but a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in October. After the judge's decision, the group, National Organization for Women-New York City, wrote a letter to defense bill negotiators urging them to "honor service members' sacrifice for our country by ensuring fair and equitable access to fertility treatments."

It's unusual for language that appeared in both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA to be excluded from the final agreement, but there were warning signs about the IVF language in recent weeks.

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Last week, Duckworth sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him to convince congressional Republicans to support the IVF provision since he promised during his campaign that he would ensure the "government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment."

Duckworth's letter came after a pair of Republicans who have a history of opposing IVF over their belief that frozen embryos are children, Reps. Matt Rosendale of Montana and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, sent their own letter to NDAA negotiators calling on them to "reject any provision that leads to the destruction of innocent human life."

NDAA negotiators have not publicly commented on why the IVF expansion was left out of the compromise, but a congressional aide told Military.com on condition of anonymity that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., opposed the provision.

Asked about Johnson's opposition to the provision, his office told Military.com that negotiators were unable to reach an agreement that included "sufficient pro-life protections."

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"The speaker remains pro-IVF and has encouraged states to take up the issue responsibly and ethically," a spokesperson for Johnson added.

Access to IVF became a heated political debate over the summer after an Alabama court ruled that frozen embryos could be considered children under state law. While not outright banning IVF, covering embryos under wrongful death statutes makes the procedure unfeasible.

Democrats have argued the Alabama ruling demonstrated that all reproductive care is under threat following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to ban abortion. Most Republicans raced to declare their support for IVF after the Alabama ruling, but have often sidestepped questions about how to handle frozen embryos. Trump, for his part, declared himself "the father of IVF" even as he acknowledged he was unfamiliar with the procedure until this year.

Duckworth and Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., who sponsored the provision in the House, had urged defense bill negotiators to expand Tricare's coverage of IVF in part to ensure service members have coverage on par with other federal employees. Starting next year, all health care plans for civilian government employees will include IVF coverage.

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While the broad coverage of fertility treatments was excluded from the compromise NDAA, the bill does include a three-year pilot program to reimburse service members working in hazardous conditions for the cost of retrieving, freezing, shipping and storing sperm or eggs. Still, Jacobs said the pilot is "just a small part of what our military families need."

"Next year, members of Congress and federal staff will receive IVF coverage as part of their health care; denying that same standard to our service members is the height of hypocrisy and proves that we're not operating by the same rules as everyone else," Jacobs said in an emailed statement to Military.com. "Our military families sacrifice so much for us, and they deserve every opportunity to build their families -- whether that's through freezing their eggs or sperm, IVF, or naturally."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a statement from House Speaker Mike Johnson's office.

Related: Pair of Lawmakers Pushes Defense Bill Negotiators to Include Tricare IVF Coverage
The Owyhee Canyonlands in southeastern Oregon is known as Oregons Grand Canyon. (Courtesy of Center for Western Priorities)

Instead of implementing meaningful protections for the Oregon side of the Owyhee Canyonlands, politicians have missed the opportunity to take effective action to protect this stunning area in southeast Oregon.

Two bills introduced into Congress to protect the area, known as Oregons Grand Canyon, are shaped more by efforts to appease the livestock industry than by a commitment to conservation. They fall short of whats needed to protect the area. But President Joe Biden could consider protecting the area by giving it a national monument designation, something that Gov. Tina Kotek recently asked for again.

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The Malheur CEO Act, or Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act, which was first introduced by Oregons U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley in 2019, aims to designate over 1.1 million acres in the Owyhee Canyonlands in southeast Oregon as federal wilderness, appease public lands ranching interests and expand recreation opportunities. But it is hung up in Congress despite Wydens recent last-ditch efforts to get it over the finish line before the end of Bidens term.

Sensing a political opening, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, who represents eastern Oregon in Congress, introduced the Oregon Owyhee Wilderness and Community Protection Act last month, with the primary objective of putting ranching above other interests on Owyhee public lands. His bill, along with a slew of other livestock-related legislation, got a hearing in the House Committee on Natural Resources in mid-November.

Conservationists have raised the alarm about Bentzs bill, which proposes fewer wilderness acres in the Owyhee Canyonlands, entrenches and prioritizes livestock grazing over conservation and waters down ecological objectives. It is a livestock industry giveaway in one of the most spectacular and wild landscapes left unprotected in the Western U.S.

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Bentzs bill also does not have tribal support.

Bentzs legislation allows for flexible grazing practices and would let ranchers drive motor vehicles into wilderness areas, lands traditionally off-limits to motorized use to protect wilderness values. It is always highly suspect when an extractive industry like ranching supports wilderness designations. This land protection measure is supposed to restrict and limit extraction, not enable it. Furthermore, its cooperative monitoring and project funding provisions would give ranchers excessive influence in land management as well as monetary handouts, decidedly shifting the focus from conservation to grazing interests.

The bottom line is both Bentzs and the Senate bills are heavily weighted toward industry and do not serve the interests of the American people, who value public lands for hunting and fishing opportunities, wildlife and wildness.

Wyden could do the right thing and consider throwing his support behind the designation of an Owyhee Canyonlands National Monument, letting Biden know such a move would align with the values of the American people. The senator has worked for years to protect the Owyhee Canyonlands, and it would be a shame to let this opportunity slip through the cracks.

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In a win for free expression in Tennessee, a Smyrna man prevailed Monday against a defamation lawsuit filed against him after he protested a local business on a public sidewalk while wearing a chicken-head mask.

Judge Jo Atwood in the Circuit Court for Rutherford County dismissed the lawsuit against Daylyn Langford of Smyrna, filed against him by Jonathan Gilbert, owner of Jons Auto Service in Smyrna. The judge sided with Langford's argument that the lawsuit was a SLAPP suit, or a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.

SLAPP suits are lawsuits used to silence criticism and prevent people from exercising their First Amendment rights through the threat, or actual application of, baseless and expensive legal proceedings.

Smyrna resident Daylyn Langford won against a SLAPP suit filed against him by a local business after protesting in a chicken-head mask on a public sidewalk in July.

The $500,000 defamation lawsuit filed by Gilbert focused on Langfords two-week long protest of his business in July, which he did while standing on public property and wearing a chicken-head mask and holding signs that said Jon The Con and Worst Auto Shop in Town? SOS!!

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Langford, who described himself as a theatrical man, was protesting the business after a drawn-out dispute over a vehicle Langford had handed over to Gilbert for repairs.

I feel vindicated in that what I did, said Langford, expressing his appreciation towards the ruling. I was maybe a little bit reckless or crazy, but it was the right thing to do, to help with this continuing (anti-SLAPP) precedent. I certainly don't want anybody else feeling like the weight of being charged with hundreds of thousands of dollars of a lawsuit.

Protections against these type of cases were strengthened by the 2019 Tennessee Public Participation Act, which expanded the states anti-SLAPP law and allows judges to dispose of cases earlier in the legal process, before litigation drags on in the courts and the costs, often imposed by wealthy plaintiffs, mount to such extremes that defendants cannot pay.

The night before the hearing was scheduled to determine if Gilberts lawsuit was a SLAPP suit, Gilbert moved to voluntarily dismiss the case. The court ruled that Langford's TPPA petition had to be addressed first, and the defamation suit was subsequently dismissed after Gilbert did not file any defense against the petition.

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"Peaceful protests are a quintessential American right and enjoy the First Amendment's full protection," said Daniel Horwitz, Langford's lead lawyer. Langford should be commended for protecting that sacred right on behalf of all Tennesseans, and business owners who are so thin-skinned that they cannot handle valid customer criticism should find another line of work."

And if the criticism comes through the form of a chicken head? Well, Langford said that makes the most sense.

My grandmother had a saying that most country people around here can relate too: the chickens always come home to roost, he said. A big a**, 250-pound rooster came home to roost for two weeks.

Langford will have all court costs and attorney's fees, discretionary costs, and other expenses covered.

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G. Kline Preston, IV, Gilbert's lawyer, said he and his client stand by those allegations within the lawsuit, including that Langford defamed Gilbert and harrassed his customers, causing Langford financial damage, and called the Tennessee Public Participation Act a bad law.

We take issue with the Tennessee Public Participation Act legislation and we will continue our efforts to have this poorly-crafted, bad legislation either repealed or modified, said Preston, adding that it unfairly restricts and unconstitutionally impairs and infringes upon the rights of those aggrieved by people who maliciously attack the reputations and good names of good people.

More: Nashville lawyer G. Kline Preston, IV, who introduced Russian operative to the NRA, has ties to Blackburn

Preston added that Langford "ceased his crowing and clucking and returned to his own roost in his chicken costume."

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The case is a win for the relatively young Tennessee Public Participation Act, which took a blow in October. In a unanimous decision, the state Supreme Court ruled that defendants alleging they are victims of SLAPP-suits are not entitled to have their litigation costs covered if the plaintiff dismisses the lawsuit at the last minute.

Following that ruling, plaintiffs accused of filing SLAPP suits can continue litigation until the very last minute  until the TPPA petition hearing to determine whether they are engaged in a SLAPP suit  and then voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit, skirting the protections against SLAPP suits in the 2019 law and saddling defendants with massive court fees.

However, on Nov. 25, the Tennessee Court of Appeals confirmed in a separate case, Garramone v. Dugger, that a pending motion for summary judgment filed by one party prevents the other partys motion to dismiss. This ruling creates a small loophole for defendants facing potential SLAPP suits to prevent suits from being dropped before the TPPA hearing.

The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

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Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Smyrna man in chicken mask defends protest rights against lawsuit
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The House Foreign Affairs Committee heard testimony from Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday as he defended the Biden administration's decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021 as the government collapsed.

Thirteen U.S. soldiers were killed during the withdrawal.

Blinken told the Republican-led committee, "I firmly believe the president's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was the right one."

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His testimony was interrupted by protesters repeatedly.

Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told Blinken Wednesday, "Tragically, more than three years after this administration's disastrous withdrawal, you're finally here to take responsibility."

The House Foreign Affairs Committee heard testimony from Secretary of State Antony Blinken Wednesday as he defended the Biden administration decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021 as the government collapsed. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI

But Blinken stood by the decision and did not accept that the blame rested with the Biden administration.

He said the Doha agreement negotiated by the Trump administration with the Taliban excluded the Afghan government and created a tremendous crisis of confidence for that government.

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator interrupts U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his opening statement at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing Wednesday. Blinken testified on the U.S. Aug. 2021 deadly chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI..

Blinken said the Taliban did not honor terms of a deal signed by the Donald Trump administration to withdraw American forces by May 2021.

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He said despite the Taliban non-compliance, the Biden administration decided to withdraw forces in August 2021 in part due to the possibility that U.S. forces would again be attacked by the Taliban if troops remained as the Afghan government and armed forces collapsed.

Chair U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken's actions during Wednesday's House committee meeting. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI..

Blinken said he deeply regrets the deaths of American soldiers and others during the withdrawal. He told the committee everyone involved in the withdrawal decision wrestled with what could have been done differently.

Republicans claimed in a report that the Biden administration mishandled the withdrawal and allegedly misled the public about it.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators raise painted hands as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken enters a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing in the Rayburn House office building in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI

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Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Republicans are politicizing the withdrawal and said the GOP took "particular pains to avoid facts involving former President Donald Trump."

Republicans on the committee grilled Blinken as they blamed the Biden administration for the chaos during the withdrawal.

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., questions U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing Wednesday. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI..

American forces withdrew as the Taliban swept across the country amid the Afghan government's collapse.

The White House released its own report in April 2023 detailing what went wrong in the withdrawal but standing by the decision to pull forces out. That report put some of the blame for the deadly chaotic withdrawal on Trump's administration.

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator interrupts U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his opening statement at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing Wednesday. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI

The White House report said, "The departing Trump Administration had left the Biden Administration with a date for withdrawal, but no plan for executing it. And after four years of neglect -- and in some cases deliberate degradation -- crucial systems, offices, and agency functions that would be necessary for a safe and orderly departure were in disrepair."
Providences Central High School junior Milia Odom, left foreground, looks to hand a mic out at 'Envisioning a Youth-Led Future,' a community forum for high school students led by OurSchoolsPVD. At the podium is Nya Isom-Agazie, a junior at Providence Career and Technical Academy, discussing the history of the state takeover of Providences public schools. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Look around the room. I know you saw someone you havent spoken to before.

It was after school, but Milia Odom, a junior at Providences Central High School, was giving her peers an assignment: Talk to a stranger.

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You have one minute to say Hi to someone, Odom said, before the greetings commenced.

But the theme Tuesday night at the Elmwood Community Center was not an awkward conversation but a difficult one: Providence high school students, activists and elected officials had gathered to discuss the state and the fate of Providence schools, which have been under state control for the past five years. Rather than the old adage of merely thinking of the children, this was an attempt at hearing them out.

The nearly three-hour event was hosted by OurSchoolsPVD, a coalition of youth-led activism organizations that formed in response to the 2019 state takeover. The coalition centers its activism on specific goals  like a push for more serious ethnic studies offerings in Providence schools  as well as three overarching themes: Democracy, dollars and dignity.

Odom presented alongside her fellow emcees: Nya Isom-Agazie, a junior at Providence Career and Technical Academy, and Julianna Espinal, a junior at Classical High School.

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Event organizers plied students with dinner and bus fare to come out and break into small groups to share their views on a series of issues. Over plates of pad see ew, jalapeno chicken wings, eggplant and other delicacies served from a buffet of aluminum pans, students discussed their concerns about school, as well as their wishes for a better system.

For now, the status quo gives the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) control over the school departments budget and ultimate approval on major changes like budget matters, personnel decisions and school governance. That means the Providence School Board acts in an almost purely symbolic way  as when it passed a resolution in August approving the end of the takeover. Less than a week later, RIDE Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green suggested extending the takeover for up to three more years. The Council on Elementary and Secondary Education agreed, and stamped to approve the commissioners choice.

OurSchoolsPVD wants to solicit public feedback to help shape the citys Return to Local Control Plan. Staffers from Mayor Brett Smileys office attended the event and listened.

Have you guys ever heard of the state takeover? Odom asked the crowd. I should see all your heads nodding. And we all know the state takeover is bad, right?

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After the state emerged victorious in a court case in November, the city settled to fulfill a $15 million debt to its schools  an expensive reminder for Mayor Smiley, who took office in 2023, along with City Council and taxpayers. As Smiley put it on Nov. 22: The city and its residents will have to share this burden.

Students are getting hurt

Students got a history lesson that walked them through the takeover sagas timeline and conditions. Student emcee Espinal said she is still hopeful the takeover could end before she leaves high school. She noted that Infante-Green has suggested the takeover could end early if enough positive change occurs in the school system.

Were not sure if shes actually going to follow through with that, Espinal said.

The Providence School Board, Espinal said, has shown greater willingness to work with us [students], but because they dont have that much power, its very symbolic.

Students and organizers are seen chatting at the OurSchools community event on Dec. 10, 2024. Providence City Councilor Helen Anthony is seen at far left. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Come January, half the 10-member school board will be elected, and the other half will be appointed. The new hybrid model could be a chance for students to have their demands heard, Espinal said, especially if local control returns. Smileys office is still accepting applications for the five appointee slots until Friday, Dec. 13.

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Ultimately, students are getting hurt, Espinal said. This is a lifetime of subpar  not necessarily subpar education, but subpar treatment that were receiving on behalf of the school district. So I just think that if theres a time to think about the kids, its now.

Student emcees asked their peers to group together by the numbers on their name tags. The resulting breakout groups had two conversations  one on general feelings about school, the other on takeover-specific thoughts  and organizers wrote down the groups ideas on big pieces of paper. In between the two chats, students walked around the room and examined other students feedback, placing stickers next to the thoughts they found resonant.

Bus passes appeared in multiple groups lists. Providence high schoolers can receive Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) bus passes for free, but theres a 1-mile minimum for eligibility. In other words, students who live just under a mile from their school would not be eligible.

Other concerns voiced in the first group conversation: A lack of engagement during class time, a need for more diverse teachers and occasionally, repairs for school building  with inferior heating or cramped hallways singled out as sources of lament.

When will state control ever end?

In the second group conversation, students discussed how the state funds Providence schools. Some hadnt heard the news about the takeovers extension. Other students didnt know about the specific metrics of the Turnaround Action Plan, which is meant as the guiding document of the state takeover and has been updated several times since 2019.

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Disappointing! Confusing! Why? were the bullet points on one groups easel pad about what they learned about the extension. It was followed up by lines adding, Seems like whatevers gonna happen, will happen, and State listens to no one.

An easel pad is filled with Providence high schoolers thoughts on their public schools. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

OurSchoolsPVD organizers jotted down students ideas, which were also heard by more than a few elected officials, some of whom sat in the discussion groups. Providence City Council Councilors Helen Anthony, Juan Pichardo and Miguel Sanchez were present, as were Council President Rachel Miller and Chief of Staff June Rose. State Rep. David Morales, a Providence Democrat, and Providence School Board member TyRelle Stephens also attended.

Students arent just numbers, said one student as he presented his groups list. Were people. We have feelings. He got bashful at the resulting applause.

But how will those feelings translate into policy? Abeer Khatana, the deputy director of policy in Mayor Smileys office, was on hand to observe and answer questions. The plan for local control has been in the works well ahead of the settlement news, and is expected to arrive in April 2025.

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Were directly sharing with RIDE, Khatana told one attendee who asked about the plans next steps. But were also directly sharing with our communities.

Khatanas office is tasked with preparing the plan. But its the state education department and its K-12 council that will determine when the schools could return to local control.

Until then, Providences high school students will attend classes as usual, day in and day out. That may be easier said than done. After the first group conversations, when teens placed stickers next to other groups ideas, the most popular idea was under a heading Experience at school.

The most relatable sentiment in the room, as the kids understood it, received 14 stickers: Just trying to make it through the week.

This article was corrected to include Abeer Khatanas correct title.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Public comment period for The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Integrated Resource Plan ends on Wednesday, December 11.

According to officials, the plan, which was released in September, guides the future energy system for the next 25 years.

TVA has also shared the draft 2025 Integrated Resource Plan and accompanying draft Environmental Impact Statement.

The drafts are the result of months of planning and analysis and active engagement with stakeholders and the public to evaluate how TVA can continue to provide affordable, reliable, resilient and increasingly cleaner energy for decades to come.

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Public engagement results include the following:

Hosted 10 in-person Open Houses around the Valley and two virtual meetings  with 594 participants and 376 questions received (separate from those submitted for official comment to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

So far, the public submitted over 2,100 comments regarding the EIS, both form letters and discrete letters

Increased public engagement/involvement in Open Houses by 32% over the 2019 IRP

Generated 103+ (35 unique) IRP media stories across the region

Hosted additional engagements with customers and customer associations, community groups and elected officials

The Final IRP and EIS is planned for publication in Spring 2025. It will include the power supply mix ranges by resource type, recommended strategic portfolio direction through 2035, and key signposts and how they will influence portfolio direction from 2035 to 2050.

Anyone who would like to submit a public comment can do so by clicking here.

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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.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man who Marshals arrested in Puerto Rico on local rape charges and booked into the Mahoning County Jail had his first court appearance this week.

Read next: Youngstown News Detective gets recent tip in missing person case; daughter calls missing man determined

Isaias Colon, 34, appeared in court with an interpreter on Monday. He is charged with attempted rape and gross sexual imposition after prosecutors say he assaulted a young girl when she was 5-6 years old.

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Although US Marshals located and arrested him in Puerto Rico in October, investigators say Colon initially refused to waive indictment back to the Valley.

He was returned to Youngstown earlier this month.

Prosecutors say because of the young age of the alleged victim, Colon could face life in prison if hes convicted. Hes due back in court again in February.

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.
The heat is on this winter as increased statewide law enforcement begins Thursday to keep roads safe during the holiday party season.

From Dec. 12 through the 25th Colorado State Patrol and 75 local law enforcement agencies will increase their presence across state, county, and local roads. This is an annual campaign in response to an increase in impaired driving-related crashes and fatalities around the holidays. As of Dec. 9, 30% of all traffic fatalities this year have involved an impaired driver.

"Colorado law enforcement made 1,350 DUI arrests last December alone. Avoid a DUI this holiday season by making a plan for a sober ride," said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

If you plan to host a holiday party, make sure your guests stay safe. The Colorado Department of Transportation is suggesting some tips such as collecting your guests car keys upon arrival, encouraging them to designate a sober driver or use a service, offering them a place to stay if a sober ride home is unavailable, stop serving alcohol at least two hours before the party is over, and providing plenty of food and non-alcoholic drink options.

"If you plan to drink, plan a sober ride home. Use a rideshare service, taxi, designated driver or public transit to get home safely. Just never drive impaired," said CDOTs Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk.

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CDOT is also reminding drivers about a new law going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, prohibiting the use of a cell phone or other mobile device while driving.

The penalty for a first offense violation is a $75 fine and 2 license suspension points. The penalty increases for repeat offenders. However there are exemptions for those reporting emergencies, utility workers, code enforcement officers, animal protection officers, first responders, drivers in parked vehicles, and those with a commercial driver's license operating a commercial vehicle.

Although, first-time violators may have the charge dismissed if they provide proof of purchasing a hands-free accessory. CDOT is encouraging drivers to begin practicing hands-free driving now so they are prepared.

For yearly impaired-driving crash and fatality data in Colorado, visit www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety/data-analysis/fatal-crash-data.

For local law enforcement agency plans, visit www.codot.gov/safety/traffic-safety-reporting-portal.
Russian intelligence agents persuaded Bashar al-Assad to flee Syria with Moscow having become convinced that he would lose against the insurgents rapidly advancing on Damascus, sources have said.

Moscow offered Mr Assad a safe exit if he left the country immediately as the rebel forces led by former al-Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS) approached, leading to the toppling of 50 years of rule by the Assad family.

According to a report by Bloomberg, citing three people with knowledge of the situation, Russian agents flew Mr Assad out via a Russian airbase in Syria, with the aircrafts transponder turned off to avoid being tracked.

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The new details follow confirmation by Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, that the Syrian dictator had been whisked out of the country in the most secure way possible.

He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation, he said during an interview with US television network NBC.

On Wednesday, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said developments in Syria demonstrate that countries with a strategic partnership with Russia can rely on Moscow only as long as they are of use to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

A Syrian opposition fighter in front of a provincial government office in Hama (AP)

During a short visit to Jordan, Mr Pistorius made a stop-over at the Al-Azraq air base on his way to Baghdad where he will discuss ways to help stabilise the region in light of the fall of the Assad regime.

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Also on Wednesday, the Kremlin said ensuring the security of Russias military bases and diplomatic missions in Syria was of paramount importance.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said conventions of international law protected Russian facilities and assets in Syria.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was maintaining contacts with those in charge in Syria and that it was hopeful that stability would be achieved.

Russia, whose airforce carried out strikes against the advancing Syrian rebels, has a key air base in the Latakia province and a naval facility in the port city of Tartus.

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Asked how much the fall of the Assad regime had weakened Russias influence in the Middle East, Mr Peskov said that Moscow maintained contacts with all countries in the region and would continue to do so.

Russia helped the Syrian Arab Republic at one time to cope with the terrorists and to stabilise the situation after this situation threatened the entire region, and spent a lot of effort for this, he said.

Russia fulfilled its mission, and then the Assad leadership worked in their country, engaged in the development of their country. But unfortunately, the development has led to the situation that is now. And now we need to proceed from the realities that exist on the ground.

Moscows priority, Mr Peskov said, was the war in Ukraine.

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The comments from the Kremlin come after another of Mr Assads backers, Iran, wildly claimed that the HTS-led insurrection was being orchestrated by the US and Israeli governments.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also said Iranian intelligence had warned the Syrian government about threats to its stability over the last three months.

Irans Tasnim news agency reported the ayatollahs comments on Wednesday, adding that Damascus had neglected the enemy ahead of Mr Assad fleeing the country.
It will have been a salutary experience for Vladimir Putin to stand by impotently as his erstwhile Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad fled the presidential palace in Damascus in a desperate bid to save the lives of himself and his family.

The fundamental problem with being a despot is that you live in constant fear that, at any moment, events might conspire against you, to the extent that those you seek to repress suddenly find themselves in a position to end your tyrannical rule.

The Assad clan may have dominated Syrias political landscape for the past five decades, but they did so by resorting to some of the most monstrous instruments of repression imaginable, as the haunting images from Sednaya prison on the outskirts of Damascus bear testimony.

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The speed with which Assad made the dramatic transformation from being Syrias absolute dictator to an absconding war criminal therefore serves as a chastening lesson in how quickly the foundations on which most dictatorships rely can collapse seemingly without warning.

Assads precipitous fall reminds me of the similar fate suffered by another reviled dictator, Romanias Nicolae Ceausescu, whose overthrow I covered for The Telegraph 35 years ago this Christmas.

Like Assad, Ceausescus brutal tyranny depended on the ability of his feared security forces to suppress political dissent. When, following the collapse of the Iron Curtain, the regime could no longer control the wave of anti-regime protests, Ceausescu and his wife Elena were executed by firing squad on Christmas Day.

The Assads only managed to avoid a similar fate by escaping through an elaborate network of underground escape tunnels constructed for precisely this eventuality.

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The fact that Assad could one day be attending high-profile international summits, such as his appearance at last months Arab-Islamic conference in Saudi Arabia, and the next fleeing for his life, will not have been lost on Putin, for whom Assads fall represents a personal humiliation of catastrophic proportions.

When, back in 2015, Putin launched Russias military intervention in Syria, his goal was not merely to save the Assad regime, which had been a close ally of the Kremlin since the Soviet era and was in danger of being overthrown by Islamist rebels. By involving himself in Syrias civil war, Putin saw an opportunity to expand and consolidate Russias military presence in the Middle East, thereby presenting Russia as a viable alternative for Arab governments seeking new alliances because of their growing disenchantment with Washington.

From the moment Russian forces began deploying to Syria, Putin made it abundantly clear that Moscow expected to be rewarded handsomely for keeping the Assad regime in power.

To this end, the Russians negotiated an agreement with Damascus to be granted total territorial sovereignty over its two military bases in Syria: the naval base at Tartus and the Khmeimim air base on the outskirts of Latakia.

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Previously known as the Bassel al-Assad air base  named as a tribute to Bashars elder brother, who died in a car crash in 1994  the Russians showed their contempt for their Syrian hosts by insisting on erasing any reference to Bassel. And, for good measure, they banned the Syrians from entering what was henceforth to become a little slice of Mother Russia on the Syrian coast.

These centres have subsequently become vital outlets in Putins attempts to expand Moscows presence in the region, with the bases used to provide vital supplies  including weapons  to Russian forces operating in countries like Sudan and Mali.

For Putin, therefore, Assads overthrow is not so much a personal humiliation, given how much effort he has invested in keeping the Syrian dictator in power. It could prove to be a strategic disaster if, as now seems likely, the Kremlin loses control of its two prized military bases beside the Mediterranean, where the Russians have invested an estimated $20 billion developing the facilities.

While Moscow has moved quickly to establish diplomatic communications with Syrias new rulers, the prospects of the Russians enjoying the same freedom of operation they were granted under Assad are not encouraging. Syrias newly arrived Islamist leaders will be well aware that Russian warplanes based at Khmeimim have spent the past decade bombing the rebels who are now in control of the country.

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The loss of Russias military assets in Syria will, moreover, only add to the pressure Putin is under as a result of the terrible losses his military has suffered since he launched his special military operation against Ukraine.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin earlier this week revealed that Russia has spent $200 billion on its inconclusive military campaign and suffered an astonishing 700,000 casualties since the invasion began in February 2022.

When the Russian people eventually come to understand just how much Putins various military adventures have cost them, the Kremlin despot would be well-advised to check that his own elaborate arrangements for fleeing into exile from Moscow are in good order.

Con Coughlin is the author of Assad: The Triumph of Tyranny

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.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, said on Wednesday that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban did not pass any messages from US President-elect Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation.

Source: European Pravda, citing Russia's Interfax news agency

Details: Answering a direct question about whether Orban had passed any message from US President-elect Donald Trump to Putin, Peskov said, "No."

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Hungarian PM also said that Putin and Orban had not discussed the possibility of a meeting.

A Kremlin spokesman says that during the phone conversation, Putin and Orban discussed matters related to energy policy, Ukraine, and "Syrian affairs."

Background:

The Kremlin's press service reported the conversation between the Hungarian PM and the Russian leader earlier on Wednesday. Viktor Orban commented on the conversation and said that Hungary intends to use all "diplomatic means in favour of a ceasefire and peace talks" in Ukraine.

Viktor Orban recently met with US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that Hungary would continue its so-called "peacekeeping mission" in Ukraine this week.

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Dec. 11ANDOVER TOWNSHIP  A Pymatuning Valley High School student was honored, along with fellow students, Monday morning after earning a perfect score on an Americanism test.

Austin Dean answered all 50 questions correctly on the test, designed to determine high school students' knowledge of the country and its laws.

"I am interested in history," Dean said. "I like knowing how the world has evolved over time."

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Dean said he studied some for the test after finishing first in his class as a freshman, sophomore and junior. He said there was also an essay portion of the contest.

American Legion Percy D. Hyatt Post 226 Commander Bob Hitchcock said he has been involved in the contest for 30 years, and has never seen a perfect score.

Hitchcock and other Legion representatives provided certificates to the students with the top two scores in each grade. He said the test provides students with the challenge of answering questions about the country's government and the institutions that comprise it.

Dean said he missed four questions last year and earned a trip to Washington D.C., but did not go.

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The American Legion sponsors the trip for students who do well on the test regionally. Hitchcock said the Pymatuning Valley High School students will compete with high school students from Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties.

Dean said he used a study book provided by the legion and reviewed old tests.

"We are very proud of Austin and the work he has done, as we are with all our students who prepare for this test," Pymatuning Valley High School Principal Mark Mollohan said. He also praised the social studies department, including Dave Miller, Jerry Bales, and Dan Jackson, for their work helping students learn about the country's history and how it functions.

"It makes the Legion feel good that the Pymatuning Valley High School history department is doing a good job," Hitchcock said.

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The Legion presented a $500 check to the Pymatuning Valley music department for the work the band does at Memorial Day services and other veteran-related events.

Hitchcock said the organization wanted to provide special recognition for the program for their hard work. Pymatuning Valley High School Band Director Justin Dye said he appreciates the gift, and tries to keep community service at the front of the program's priorities.

He said the money will likely be used for extras on a band trip to Disney World in March.

Hitchcock said the post is compiling information banners honoring locals veterans. The flags will cost $150.000 and should last five years.

Applications may be obtained from Hitchcock at 440-293-7166 or William French at 440-645-8278.
Many manufacturers are questioning how to attract Gen Z talent as the industry faces labor shortages and a skills gap. In this Q&A, Emily Orwaru, an enterprise technology and performance consultant at Deloitte, describes how in-person interactions and authentic storytelling can captivate the younger workforce.

Orwaru works as a leading consultant within Deloitte's Smart Manufacturing practice and played an integral role in the launch of Smart Factory by Deloitte @ Wichita, a smart manufacturing experience center.

Orwaru's global experience includes an aerospace engineering degree in Russia, professional roles in Kenya and, now, her current role with Deloitte in Kansas.

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Nolan Beilstein (NB): Throughout your global travels, what was the best example you saw of a manufacturing company attracting a young workforce?

Emily Orwaru (EO): In-person interactions with companies tend to be the most effective, in my experience. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to work for a manufacturer as an intern, which allowed me to explore the possibilities of utilizing my skills and ultimately become more interested in a career in the sector.

For most people, especially younger people, a career in manufacturing doesnt sound very attractive, given that many view the field as gritty and involving hard labor versus the reality of working in manufacturing today, which is more about engineering and utilizing advanced technologies.

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I have also found that manufacturing companies are able to meet and energize students and recent graduates by authentically sharing personal stories about their career paths and personal journeys in the field.

Finally, reaching out to students, especially those who have gaps in access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming is vitally important in developing the workforce of the future. There is a big opportunity to build interest in the sector at an early age.

Deloitte has a program called Smart Factory Believers which aims to provide children and teachers at schools in underserved communities with access to robust STEM curriculum and technology to drive interest in STEM careers particularly those in manufacturing. As part of this program, The Smart Factory manufactures robotic toys for learning on their assembly line and ships them to schools in the U.S.

NB: What inspired your switch from aerospace engineering to smart manufacturing?

EO: Even though my childhood fascination with aircraft led me to a degree in aerospace engineering, I chose to pursue a graduate degree in industrial manufacturing engineering at Wichita State University to diversify and expand my career growth opportunities. Part of this was because I found that aerospace engineering had become a bit too routine for me.

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I felt industrial manufacturing would open new doors for employment opportunities and give me a competitive edge as I saw the significance of technology and manufacturing in todays global marketplace.

While at Wichita State, I was a part of the Universitys applied learning program, which pairs students with technology companies on the schools Innovation Campus. I landed with Deloitte, which at the time, was working on building its new immersive smart manufacturing experience center on WSUs Innovation Campus and became very involved with the project, which led to me contributing to the development and creation of The Smart Factory by Deloitte @ Wichita.

As a system integration lead on the architecture team, I helped launch the facility in 2022, an experience that helped me solidify my interest in the field.

NB: How does smart manufacturing align with Gen Zs interests and how can employers use it as a selling point to young people?

EO: There are several selling points that come to mind:

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Versatility: Smart manufacturing careers are flexible enough for Gen Z to transition from one role to another.

Flexibility: The potential to work in a field that supports hybrid working systems which enables a working-away-from-the-office model.

Tech-enablement: Most Gen Zs are tech-savvy and have a passion for advancement in technology. Smart manufacturing embraces automation, AI, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), cloud-based business models, big data analytics and cybersecurity.

Sustainability: As customers drive the need for more sustainable products with a high percentage of clients willing to pay a premium for more net-zero emission products, manufacturing is going clean, green and smart.

Purpose-driven work: More young people, especially Gen Z, prefer to work for organizations where they feel their purpose is aligned with the brand. Organizations should align their companys initiatives to a purpose that is relevant and impactful to their mission to connect with Gen Z and future consumers.

NB: How can manufacturers use storytelling to maintain Gen Zs interest and help them connect with a potential career at a company?

EO: In my opinion, there is no right way or wrong way to do this. The world is very connected, and many businesses are global. Manufacturers should use the tools that enable a global connection and provide a wider reach to meet the most talented young people where they are. Here are a few examples of how I believe that can be achieved:

Influencers: Like traditional marketing and branding, manufacturers should use more Gen Zs and young people already in the industry to help influence the talent that they would like to attract. Role models are extremely important, especially for women in STEM fields.

Social media campaigns: Many non-manufacturing organizations embrace social media marketing more than manufacturing companies do. Manufacturers need to find Gen Z where they already engage with content, and those places tend to be non-traditional channels.

Podcasts: Podcasts are a great way for manufacturers to tell their stories to the world and young talent since they are far-reaching and very popular among younger generations.

Seminars and colloquiums: Manufacturers should develop more seminars and conferences targeted at attracting young talent and use them as a platform to showcase their employees manufacturing journeys and what it is like to work in the industry.

Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.

Emily Orwaru, enterprise technology and performance consultant at Deloitte




An accused Queens gang leader pleaded guilty on Monday to ordering the murder of a 15-year-old boy on Long Island in 2016.

Junior Zelaya Canales, now 28, copped to racketeering conspiracy charges in connection with the killing of Joshua Guzman in West Hempstead, the Justice Department announced in a press release.

Zelaya Canales, also known as Terco, had been a regional leader in the 18th Street gang, whose power and control extended across the New York City metropolitan area, according to the feds.

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Todays guilty plea marks the end of a sweeping investigation into the violent and disturbing affairs of the 18th Street gang that removed some of the most influential, powerful and ruthless gang leaders and members from city streets across the country, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in the press release.

Zelaya Canales, of Jamaica, Queens, was the ninth and final person named in the indictment to plead guilty. He faces up to life in prison without parole.

According to investigators, Zelaya Canales ordered two lower-level members of the 18th Street gang to kill Guzman after the teen was perceived as being disrespectful to members of the gang.

Guzman was found dead in the early morning hours of Sept. 12, 2016, on a street near his home in West Hempstead. He was shot once in the back of the head, execution style, according to police.

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Despite its local name, the 18th Street gang is a sprawling organization founded years ago in Los Angeles and now has members across North America. Its biggest rival is the better-known MS-13.

These two gangs have turned the Central American northern triangle into the area with the highest homicide rate in the world, the Justice Department wrote in a 2013 report.
The Rhode Island Board of Elections voted 4-0 on Dec. 11, 2024, to remove No Labels from the list of officially recognized state political parties. (Jocelyn Jackson/Rhode Island Current)

No Labels Rhode Island is no more, confirmed by the state elections panel in a meeting on Wednesday.

The Rhode Island Board of Elections 4-0 vote removes No Labels from the list of officially recognized state political parties. The bipartisan group gained recognition in Rhode Island in March, after submitting more than 20,000 signatures of registered voters.

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The Republican and Democratic parties are the only other recognized political parties in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island was among more than a dozen states in which No Labels successfully petitioned for political party recognition amid plans to prop up a third-party unity ticket in the 2024 presidential election.

Gary Sasse is the Rhode Island state chair for No Labels. (X)

In April, No Labels ended its presidential bid, explaining it was unable to find a candidate to represent its platform on the 2024 presidential ballot. Rhode Island state law requires political parties to run a gubernatorial or presidential candidate, and for that candidate to receive at least 5% of votes cast, to maintain state recognition.

No Labels Rhode Island did not have any candidates for any office on Rhode Islands 2024 ballot, disqualifying the group from continued party recognition.

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It was long overdue, Gary Sasse, chairperson of No Labels Rhode Island, said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. The party was created for one thing and one thing only, and that was to support a presidential candidate. We were never interested in having it on a permanent basis.

The 1,528 Rhode Island voters still registered under the No Labels Rhode Island party will have their affiliation changed to independent, said Miguel Nunez, executive director for the state elections board.

Voter registration and election materials through the Rhode Island Board of Elections, Rhode Island Department of State and Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles will also be updated to remove No Labels from the list of recognized parties.

Board of Elections members Diane Mederos, Randall Jackvony and Michael Connors were absent from the meeting on Wednesday.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Update:

A Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Central Marion County until 11:45 a.m.

Winds are nearing 60 mph, with expected damage to roofs, siding and trees.

Ocala, Lynne, Santos, Anthony, Ocala Airport, Silver Springs Shores, and Burbank are expected to be impacted.

Previous Story:

Central Florida will see an active weather day on Wednesday.

Our area will see high rain and storm chances and falling temperatures as a strong cold front moves through our area.

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A few light showers will be possible in the morning, but the better chance for rain and storms will be in the late morning through mid-afternoon.

Some storms could be strong northwest of Orlando, with the greatest threat being lightning and gusty winds.

Read: Florida Lottery: New Scratch-Off games this December

Highs today will be in the upper 70s.

The cold front will swing through our area later Wednesday, with clearing skies late and temps falling quickly into the 50s this evening.

Overnight lows will tumble into the mid-40s, with 30s likely northwest.

A cool day is ahead for Thursday, despite plenty of sunshine.

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See: Fishermen find 25 kilos of cocaine off Brevard County coast

Highs on Thursday will only climb into the mid-60s with strong northerly winds.

The cool spell will be short-lived as warmer weather quickly returns for Friday.

Highs to close out the work week will be in the low 70s.

Read: The City of Orlando invites Central Floridas artists and creators

The mid and upper 70s return this weekend, along with a few more clouds and some coastal rain showers.

Stay with Channel 9 for the latest on the storms throughout the day.

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for updates:




The Raleigh County Public Service District has asked the Raleigh County Commission for a rate increase to accommodate increased expenses and maintenance costs.

The rate increase would be scaled based on water usage and would add an overall $2.3 million to the Raleigh County PSDs budget.

The increase, if approved, will equate to a $4.76 monthly increase for the PSDs lowest users and a $11.73 monthly increase for most families.

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Instead of voting on the rate increase presented to Raleigh County commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday, commissioners elected to table to vote until their next meeting to review the information provided by the Raleigh County PSD about its proposed rate increase.

The commissions next meeting is 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17.

While explaining the rate increase to commissioners, Zachary Dobbins, a certified public accountant with Bennett & Dobbins PLLC, said at least half of the increase is to cover costs out of the PSDs control.

Dobbins said the Beckley Water Company, which the Raleigh County PSD purchases water from, raised its rates, costing them an additional $400,000 annually.

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He added that as part of a bill passed by the West Virginia Legislature a few years ago, public service districts are required to put away 12% of their yearly operation and maintenance expenses into a reserve fund for extraordinary purposes.

For the Raleigh County PSD, Dobbins said this equates to $600,000 a year.

Dobbins said other contributors to the requested rate increase include cost of living adjustments for employees, the need for additional employees, a $60,000 increase in electrical cost, an increase to PEIA and increased maintenance costs associated with replacing and maintaining hydrants and meters.

According to documents provided to commissioners by Dobbins, the rate increase is scaled based on usage in an effort to put the least burden on the lowest users, who, Dobbins said, are typically elderly people and those on a fixed income.

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Those using 2,000 gallons of water a month or less will increase by 22.41%, raising their bills from $21.24 to $26, a $4.76 increase.

For those using 3,400 gallons of water a month, which Dobbins said is most families, their bills will increase by 32.49%, raising their bills from $36.11 to $47.84, a $11.73 increase.

Customers with monthly usage between 4,000 and 10,000 gallons of water will see a percentage increase between 34% and 42% equating to roughly a $14 to $44 increase.

For customers who use 15,000 to 500,000 gallons of water a month, the percentage increase starts at around 43% and goes up to just under 47%.

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The monthly increase for these customers varies from around $70 to over $2,400.

What the (Raleigh County PSD) board wanted to do there was to try not to raise those (lower consumption) customers as much, because we know that with the senior citizens, every year theyre getting a (cost of living adjustment) through their social security, but a lot of times that doesnt cover their Medicare and their medicines that theyre paying, Dobbins said. So what weve tried to do is put a lower rate increase burden on those folks.

The Raleigh County PSD has roughly 6,800 customers.

Raleigh County Commission President Greg Duckworth said the commission has a lot to consider with the proposed increases, which is why they did not want to rush into making a decision.

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Its a very serious issue anytime theres an increase to the citizens, Duckworth said.

The last time the Raleigh County PSD raised rates was in January 2023 by 9.14%.

This increase was also to accommodate a rate increase by Beckley Water and the states reserve fund mandate.
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL)  Hughston Homes is facing a federal investigation following the removal of a bald eagle nest from its Heritage Ridge development on November 15, 2024. The nest, located on a 75-acre site slated for a 46-home development, has sparked outrage among Auburn residents who claim it has been active since 2017 and removal may have violated federal protections.

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Tuesday, WRBL obtained the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) permit issued to Hughston Homes on October 30, which outlines what appear to be conflicting or confusing guidelines on when nests can legally be removed. While one section of the permit states the nest could only be removed if no adult eagles, eggs, or young were present; another clause suggests the adult eagle restriction applies specifically to golden eagles, raising questions about regulatory oversight.

We do not allow the nest to be taken if there are adult eagles, eggs, or young birds present, said Denise Rowell, a spokesperson for USFWS.

A resident, Jason Haynie, says video evidence shows the bald eagles at the nest just hours before its destruction. Haynie and others have pointed out discrepancies between the permits language and USFWS online guidelines, which classify a nest as in-use if bald eagles are present within 10 days during the breeding season.

The destruction of this nest betrayed the trust of the community, Haynie said, calling Hughston Homes actions morally wrong and accusing the developer of prioritizing profit over ethical considerations.

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Meanwhile, WRBL has requested an interview with a USFWS biologist to address inconsistencies between the agencys statements, online guidelines, and permit language.

Residents have rallied behind the bonded eagle pair, affectionately named Jim and Pam, who were frequently spotted hunting near Auburn Universitys fisheries. John Braswell, a videographer, captured footage of the eagles at the nest shortly before its removal.

Hughston Homes defended its actions, stating its hired biologist (who has not been named) classified the nest as alternate, and HH complied with USFWS regulations.

When we acquired the property, we were unaware of the presence of an eagles nest. We consulted with experts and followed all necessary rules and regulations upon discovery. Ultimately, U.S. Fish and Wildlife issued a permit to remove the nest, ensuring this decision was made in the best interest of the eagles, said Tyler Findley, a representative for HH.

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The developer added they paid $35,000 in compensatory mitigation to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to support eagle monitoring efforts.

The USFWS investigation to determine if the permits conditions were violated is ongoing. A timeline for completion has not been shared.

We will carry out a comprehensive review of the circumstances surrounding the nests removal to ensure that the permittee complied with the terms of its permit, said Acting Assistant Regional Director Rafael Gonzales.

Auburn Mayor Pro Tem Beth Witten, who advocated for a federal investigation, expressed her disappointment after the nest was removed and continues dialogue with residents about their concerns.

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I am devastated, angry, disappointed. Hughston Homes representative Tyler Findley deceived me into thinking the city would have an opportunity to discuss options to save the nest, said Witten.

Despite losing their nest, Jim and Pam have been spotted nearby, offering a glimmer of hope to the Auburn community. However, until the federal investigation concludes, the community remains in limbo, questioning whether Hughston Homes acted within the law or undermined federal protections for bald eagles.

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.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  On Tuesday, Kentuckys state treasurer announced a record-shattering amount of tax dollars being returned to Kentuckians.

In a news release, Kentucky State Treasurer Mark H. Metcalf announced the Treasury returned $34,048,369.20 to taxpayers in the first year of his administration.

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This historic achievement underscores the Treasurys dedication to putting taxpayer dollars back where they belongin the pockets of hardworking Kentuckians, said Metcalf. Every dollar returned represents a step toward stronger families and communities. By prioritizing efficiency and transparency, we are reinforcing trust in state government and providing real benefits to folks across the Commonwealth.

The returns were made through the Treasurys Division of Unclaimed Property. The division works with assets that owners have lost or left inactive, including bank accounts, unclaimed insurance policies, utility deposits, and safe deposit box contents.

According to Metcalf, the Treasurys Division of Accounting and Disbursements also reissued $2,840,799.54 in escheated checksstate-issued payments that were never cashed.

Metcalf said his team is committed to continuing their mission to protect taxpayer dollars and deliver results for the Commonwealth.

How to claim

According to the treasurers office, unclaimed property is typically made up of:

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Payroll checks

Unclaimed safety deposit boxes

Old life insurance policies

Stocks

Vendor checks

Claiming unclaimed property held by Kentucky is always processed for free by the Office of the State Treasurer. Assets are reported in either the name or social security number of the owner(s), along with any other owner information available.

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As required by Kentucky law, companies are required to mail letters to potential owners. If assets arent claimed within 60 days, they get reported to the Kentucky State Treasury Unclaimed Property Division.

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To search for unclaimed property in Kentucky, visit kyclaims.unclaimedproperty.com. You can also check missingmoney.com to see if you have assets outside of the state.

If youve received a letter from a company to claim funds, the treasurer said to contact the company directly.

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.
By Maya Gebeily and Timour Azhari

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - The main commander of the fighters who toppled Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday that he would dissolve the security forces of the former regime, close its prisons and hunt down anyone involved in the torture or killing of detainees.

Syrian rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa - better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani - said in a statement to Reuters he will "dissolve the security forces of the previous regime and close the notorious prisons."

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Syria ran one of the most oppressive police states in the Middle East during five decades of Assad family rule. Sharaa, whose former al Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is now the country's most powerful force, must balance demands for justice from victims with the need to prevent violent reprisals and secure international aid.

Syrians have flocked to the infamous prisons where the Assad regime is estimated to have held tens of thousands of detainees, desperately looking for their loved ones. Some have been released alive, others were identified among the dead and thousands more have not yet been found.

Sharaa said in a separate statement on the Syrian state TV's Telegram channel that people who took part in the torture or killing of detainees would be hunted down, and pardons were out of the question.

"We will pursue them in Syria, and we ask countries to hand over those who fled so we can achieve justice," said Sharaa.

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The world is carefully watching to see if Syria's new rulers can stabilise the country and avoid unleashing violent revenge, after a 13-year civil war fought along sectarian and ethnic lines.

Since Assad's fall, 27-year-old Hayat al-Turki has been searching the abandoned cells of Syria's most notorious prison, the vast Sednaya complex, for any sign of her missing relatives, including her brother who vanished 14 years ago.

"I was hopeful and optimistic to find someone from my missing prisoners - a brother, an uncle or a cousin - but I did not... I searched the whole prison," she said.

Mohammad al-Bashir, the man installed by Sharaa's fighters to lead an interim administration until March, said he aimed to bring back millions of refugees, create unity and provide basic services.

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But the new administration has scant resources, he told Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera.

"We have no foreign currency and as for loans and bonds we are still collecting data. So yes, financially we are very bad," said Bashir, who previously ran a small rebel-led administration in a pocket of northwestern Syria.

Rebuilding Syria is a colossal task following the civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people, reduced cities to ruins and left the economy gutted by international sanctions. Millions of refugees still live in camps after one of the biggest displacements of modern times.

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Foreign officials are warily engaging with the former rebels, although HTS remains designated a terrorist organisation by Washington, the United Nations, EU and others.

The new government must "uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbours," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer told Reuters Washington remains cautious.

"We have seen over the years any number of militant groups who have ... promised that they would govern in an inclusive way, and then see them fail to meet those promises," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

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In addition to terrorism bans in place against the former rebels, Syria also remains under U.S., European and other financial sanctions imposed against Damascus under Assad.

Two senior U.S. congressmen, a Republican and a Democrat, wrote a letter calling for Washington to suspend some sanctions. The most punishing war-time U.S. sanctions are up for renewal this month, and the former rebels have told Reuters they are in touch with Washington about potentially easing them.

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Luis Albares on Wednesday said at the Reuters NEXT conference that he expected the U.N. and European Union to discuss easing sanctions and removing HTS from lists of terrorist organisations.

The international community must quickly demand that the rebel forces transform into a political movement and respect human rights, he added.

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"We must move very fast because in a month, probably, decisions will have already been taken in Damascus and we will not be able to have the impact that we can have today," Albares said.

With the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden entering its final weeks in office, Blinken and U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan headed to the Middle East on Wednesday to work on a Gaza ceasefire and help ensure a smooth transition in Syria, U.S. officials said. Their separate itineraries include stops in Jordan, Turkey, Israel, Qatar and Egypt.

For refugees, the prospect of returning home has brought a mixture of joy and grief over hardship in exile. Syrians lined up at the Turkish border on Wednesday to head home, speaking of their expectations for a better life following what was for many a decade of hardship in Turkey.

"We have no one here. We are going back to Latakia, where we have family," said Mustafa as he prepared to enter Syria with his wife and three sons at the Cilvegozu border gate in southern Turkey. Dozens more Syrians were waiting to cross.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Timour Azhari in Damascus; Suleiman al-Khalidi and Firas Makdesi in Amman; Cristina Carlevaro in Rome; Ece Toksabay and Mert Ozkan in Yayladagi, Turkey; David Brunnstrom, Erin Banco and Simon Lewis in Washington and Dmitry Antonov in Moscow; Writing by Lincoln Feast, Michael Georgy, Peter Graff and Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Michael Perry, William Maclean and Rosalba O'Brien)
With the balance of power in northern Syria swinging toward the rebels who toppled the Assad regime, U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and their ability to contain ISIS may now be under threat.

The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)  which helped the U.S. beat back the Islamic State terrorist group and currently holds thousands of captured ISIS fighters  accepted a cease-fire Tuesday with the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), ceding control of the northern city of Manbij, a Kurdish stronghold.

We have reached a ceasefire agreement in Manbij with American mediation, to preserve the security and safety of civilians, the SDF's general commander, Mazloum Abdi, said Tuesday in a post on X. Fighters  will be removed from the area as soon as possible. Our goal is to cease fire throughout Syria and enter into a political process for the future of the country.

Syrian National Army soldiers celebrate victory in Manbij on Dec. 7 in northern Syria.

The takeover of Manbij, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham  or HTS, which has roots in extremist Islamist movements  reflects the rapidly shifting situation across Syria, including for Kurdish forces.

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While Israel has taken the opportunity to destroy Syrian naval ships in the west, as well as buildings linked to chemical weapons outside Damascus, the fall of Assad and the rise of HTS could scarcely have gone better for the Turkish government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan is HTSs key backer. He has long viewed the SDF as an extension of Turkeys Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and designates both as terrorist organizations. And while Syrias Kurds have, since 2011, largely defended their autonomy in the northeastern corner of Syria that borders Turkey and Iraq, the political winds have shifted against the SDF.

Suspected ISIS fighters in a prison cell in northeastern Syria in 2019.

The Kurds in Syria, after many years of autonomous rule, are in probably the most precarious and volatile environment since they developed those structures, said Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow on the Middle East and North Africa program at the London-based think tank Chatham House.

Kurdish forces have made arrangements with several different groups over the past decade, Mansour told NBC News, but this colossal change in Syria will see them have to renegotiate this, and probably negotiations will be through violence.

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It took U.S. mediation to broker an armistice between the SDF and the SNA, amid a visit from Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, and before Secretary of State Anthony Blinkens trip to Turkey.

Weve worked alongside the SDF for some time. That work continues, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Japan on Wednesday. We have a good relationship with them, and I think it will remain.

Syrian Democratic Forces said on Dec. 2 that it was seeking to evacuate Kurdish civilians around Aleppo to areas it controls.

But the words of Americas incoming president will not have escaped the attention of the SDF leadership.

Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, President-elect Donald Trump said in a post on X last week, adding in all caps: The United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. Let it play out. Do not get involved!

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The early signs from the incoming Trump administration are that there will be two schools of thought regarding Syria, Mansour said. One camp recognizes the historic fight with the Kurds against ISIS  and of course the other camp  where Trump probably lands  is to try and move out of Syria, he said.

There are thought to be thousands of ISIS fighters being held in prisons and internally displaced person camps monitored by Kurdish groups and U.S. forces in Syrias northeast  an area that used to constitute part of the Islamic States territory.

Syrian Kurds fleeing areas north of Aleppo walk to the western outskirts of Raqa, on Dec. 3.

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If a second Trump administration were to pull out of Syria, it would leave Kurdish forces without a major international ally. HTS and its allies, meanwhile, have the backing of Turkey and Erdogan, who on Monday welcomed ejection of terrorists from Manbij, according to Reuters.

There are already signals of further clashes. Kobani, to the northeast of Manbij, remains at risk of war due to continuous provocations by Turkey and its jihadist mercenaries, SDF media chief Farhad Shami told NBC News on Wednesday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A new report alleges that REI uses contractors that violate labor and human rights in Southeast and East Asia and Central America.

The investigative study was done by Students for International Labor Solidarity and the Labor Center at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The report was produced in response to complaints that were raised by workers concerning serious and pervasive violations of labor rights in the supply chain of REI. Titled, Beneath REIs Green Sheen, Union Busting, Debt Bondage and Partnership with Eco-Criminals, the report was several months in the making, according to Katie Nguyen, a national organizer for SILS.

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Poor working conditions and violations of workers rights were described as widespread at REIs supplier factories and forced labor allegations included workers from Thailand and Vietnam in a Taiwan bicycle factory paying exorbitant recruitment and anti-escape fees, which led to debt bondage. There were also claims of forced overtime in a China factory, sub-poverty wages, discrimination against pregnant and postpartum women by apparel suppliers in El Salvador.

The report also calls into question REIs partnership with the Taiwanese company Formosa Taffeta, which continues four years after the worlds largest sovereign wealth fund announced its divestment from Formosa Taffeta due to labor rights abuses.

A co-curated collection of REI x West Elm lifestyle products.

Asked to comment about the allegations in the report, a spokesperson for REI Co-op issued the following statement: We operate a large, complex global supply chain and are deeply committed to holding all our supply partners to the highest standards of accountability. When possible, issues arise, as they sometimes do in such an intricate network, we act swiftly and decisively to address them and ensure alignment with our values and expectations. We are also engaged in advocacy efforts aimed at preventing any of these practices at a systemic level.

The statement continued, REI condemns all forms of worker exploitation. We believe everyone should have a working environment that is inclusive, safe, fair, and nondiscriminatory. Our goal is to extend our values into the supply chain by working with suppliers to implement industry-leading practices.

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Asked if the company will continue to work with the suppliers referenced in the report, the spokesperson said, We regularly audit our supply chain and proactively engage manufacturers to address any issues. We are aware of and have taken action to address many of the allegations outlined in the report, some of which date back 10 years. As noted in the report, we have already ended our relationship with a number of those suppliers.

The spokesperson also highlighted REIs Factory Code of Conduct, which was first implemented in 1993. That material also flagged REI being committed to the Social & Labor Convergence Program among other things. The company also touted its commitment to continuous improvement by enhancing transparency, strengthening oversight, and ensuring robust mechanisms are in place to protect our workers and ensure all are treated with dignity and respect.

Accessories for outdoors.

Recapping some of the concerns highlighted in the research, Nguyen alleged that REI sources from factories with horrific abuses, including forced labor, sub-poverty wages, forced overtime, discrimination against women, precarious contracts, and retaliation against unionized workers. She also claimed that REI promotes itself as a socially and environmentally responsible company, and challenged its claims of domestic production as misleading, and the company has never reported a single instance of remedy for workers.

The report primarily draws upon publicly posted worker testimonies and reports. Researchers didnt set out to conduct worker interviews and dont have information for every REI supplier factory. Nguyen suggested that the cases of mistreatment that are summarized in the report are only the tip of a very large iceberg whose bulk remains hidden.

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Ngyuen criticized REIs strategic supplier partnership with Formosa, due to environmental and labor violations, fatal workplace accidents, and complicity in the silencing, imprisonment, and persecution of activists and journalists who sought accountability. Referring to the overseas supplier Giant Manufacturing in Taiwan, she claimed migrant workers face overcrowded and unsanitary housing, excessive overtime, and threats of deportation. The SILS representative also alleged that the supplier Dong-In Entech K1 in the Philippines was involved with union-busting by exploiting short-term contracts to undermine worker power, illegally transferring hundreds of workers to a new non-union facility, and ultimately firing all 132 union members, leaving them jobless and silencing organized labor, while REI continued sourcing from its replacement non-union plant.

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Doral residents gave Mayor Christi Fraga a council majority by supporting her candidate for Seat 3, Nicole Reinoso, who won the runoff election against Juan Carlos Esquivel on Tuesday.

Reinoso, 38, was part of Fragas slate alongside Councilman Rafael Pineyro. While Reinoso did not secure a majority in the general election on Nov. 5, she triumphed in the runoff with 68% of the 4,057 votes cast.

Reinoso said that she was thrilled and grateful for the overwhelming wave of support of our residents. Their confidences and encouragement inspire me as we move forward together.

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A total of 4,057 people voted in the runoff, a significant decrease compared to November, when 23,352 ballots were cast for the seat. Only 11% of registered voters participated in the runoff, which will be the last such election in Doral following the approval of a charter amendment that eliminates runoff electionsat least until a new Charter Revision Commission decides otherwise.

Reinoso currently serves as an executive director for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, holds a degree in Health Services Administration and an MBA from Florida International University, an Associate in Arts in Health Services Administration from Miami-Dade College, and a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University.

Reinoso served as a legislative analyst for Fraga during her tenure as a councilwoman in 2019.

After being elected, Reinoso said to the Miami Herald that she looks forward to join Fraga and council member Pineyro on the dais, working as a team to create the unity and collaboration our city deserves and yearns for.

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In 2024, Reinoso served on Dorals Charter Review Committee that proposed 10 amendments to the charter. However, she voted against the proposals, citing concerns about the salary increase for council members and the elimination of runoff elections, which were ultimately approved by residents in November.

Reinoso now holds the swing seat on the divided five-member council, a position that Fraga needed to regain a majority. This comes after a polarized year on the council in which Councilwoman Maureen Porras, who was part of Fragas 2022 slate, became a strong opponent.

Esquivel, 58, who was running for the third consecutive time, having lost in each of his previous attempts, said he cannot step away from politics, as he was elected in the August primary to serve on the Miami-Dade Republican Party Executive Committee for District 40. However, he remains uncertain about running for local office again.

This election felt like a David versus Goliath battle, where we took on the establishment, Esquivel told the Herald. Ultimately, voter apathy prevailed, but I am pleased that the runoff election was removed from our charter.

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His initial campaign in 2020 pitted him against Oscar Puig-Corve for the very seat he now vied for, followed by a subsequent attempt in 2022 challenging Councilwoman Digna Cabral.

Esquivel was campaigning as the most balanced candidate. He advocated for a strategic shift within the council, emphasizing the importance of establishing state and federal connections to bolster the citys financial resources. We are busy locally, but we should actively pursue additional funding opportunities to better serve our community, he said.

While Fraga secured reelection in November, voters approved several amendments that will greatly diminish the mayors power, redistributing authority to the city council.

Today is a victory not only for Nicole Reinoso, but for our entire Doral community, Fraga told the Herald. Reinosos election is a step forward for our city, and I have full confidence in her vision and commitment to serve our residents.

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In a highly competitive race with three candidates contending for the swing seat, Esquivel placed second in the general election in Nov., trailing behind Reinoso, who led with 44.6%. Esquivel secured 35.6% of the vote, while Irina Vilarino finished third with 19.7%.

Supporters of Nicole Reinoso celebrate her victory in the runoff election for Seat 3 on the Doral City Council against Juan Carlos Esquivel. Among them was Emmanuel Manny Sarmiento, CEO of the Doral Chamber of Commerce.

Seat 3 has been mired in controversy from the time all three candidates filed for the position. Vilarino faced a legal challenge to her eligibility and attempts to have her removed from the ballotan action she accused Mayor Fraga of orchestrating. Ultimately, a judge ruled in her Vilarinos favor, but she finished third in the November election.

Trump endorsement might be decisive

Reinoso was recently endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, which could have significant implications for the approval of his development project in the city. The Doral International Towers project proposes a 1,429-unit condominium complex, along with 141,000 square feet of retail space, located on the southeastern corner of the Trump National Doral resort.

In an initial city council vote in August, the proposal passed narrowly 3-2, with Fraga and Councilman Pinyero voting against. The project is set for a final vote in 2025.

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Reinoso told the Miami Herald that Trumps endorsement would not influence her vote as a council member.

Im grateful for the presidents support, but it will not affect my decision in any way, she said. No endorsement will sway my choices. I was running to represent the residents of Doral, and every vote I cast will be transparent.
Dec. 10Forget about ever having a bad day in Kim Osborne's presence.

One of her patented, droll asides would have you reduced to guffaws in about a second.

In the next second, you might find yourself corralled into karaoke ... where being off-key didn't count, because it was, well, karaoke.

And if she throttled up the ATV, forget it. It also didn't count, unless one of those wheels (at least) caught air at the cresting of the hill.

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But that was for fun.

If it got serious, and you found yourself in need of help and nurturing, the Morgantown woman would also be at your side  in one true heartbeat, her cousin Autumn Pope said.

"Well, that was Kim. She was just there for everybody."

Family ... no matter what It pains her, referring to her cousin in past tense like that, she said Monday.

On Friday, a positive identification was made of the human remains found near Indian Creek Road back in November.

They belonged to Osborne, 47, who had been missing since Mother's Day.

Shortly thereafter, police arrested her former boyfriend and domestic partner, Joseph Nevera, 51, and charged him with first-degree murder.

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The body was found in a shallow grave close to the Osborne family property, which made the act even more cruel, Pope said, since family was the foundation and the epicenter of everything that mattered in Kim's life.

"Spaghetti Sundays " were legend in that family, Pope remembers.

Her nana's house. Thirty people and one giant bowl of pasta, in one small kitchen.

"We're Italian, " Pope said. "That's what we do. Family."

On that Mother's Day when Osborne was last seen, she was on her way to her mom, Rose's, house  the woman known as "Aunt Sis " to legions of kids, grandkids and cousins.

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"She'd bring groceries and she'd just always look in on her, " Pope said.

Pope couldn't shake a chilling intuition when it became clear her cousin wasn't going to show, on that holiday of all holidays.

"That wasn't like Kim at all. I said to myself, 'She's dead.'"

For now ...

In the hours after the identification, Pope launched a GoFundMe account for funeral costs.

"I knew I couldn't bring Kim back, " she said, "but this was something I could do for Aunt Sis. I'm just trying to ease her burden."

Her aunt, she said, is a proud person who would never ask for help. A niece can, though, she added.

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For particulars and to donate, visit www.gofundme.com.

Type "autumn pope " in the search field to call up the fundraiser, named "Support Kim's Family After Tragic Loss."

'Everybody loved her'

The coming days won't be easy, she allowed.

A person the family knew, and who was part of the proceedings for a good while, is now facing trial for Osborne's murder.

The family is grateful to the police and the detectives who did their work and updated Aunt Sis daily on their progress, Pope said.

Pope is also grateful to the hunter who discovered the remains, she said. He was very gentle about that day during the one phone conversation they were able to have.

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For now, she said, she's working hard to make all the good memories percolate forth.

There's Kim, the doting mom to her own kids and her dogs (who acted like kids because she loved them and spoiled them so much).

There's Kim, the Karaoke Queen and star bartender at the various places she worked in town.

"She'd give you her last dollar if you needed it. Everybody loved her."
Tom Williams/Getty Images

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After an exhausting week of being jovially transphobic on main, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace alleged that she was assaulted by a trans rights supporter on Tuesday, an accusation which multiple witnesses say is false.

As first reported by nonprofit child welfare and youth justice publication The Imprint, the incident in question occurred after a House reception celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, during which Mace gave a speech. Three witnesses told The Imprint that following Maces remarks, she was approached by longtime foster youth advocate James McIntyre, who shook her hand and told her that many trans young people are in foster care and need your support.

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That, witnesses said, was the end of the interaction. But soon after, LGBTQ+ advocate and former foster youth Elliott Hinkle told The Imprint, a Mace staffer returned to the room and asked McIntyre to repeat what he had told Mace. Later, Capitol police arrested McIntyre outside the Rayburn House office building on one charge of assaulting a government official.

Mace then took to X, formerly Twitter, to fire off a series of posts accusing a pro-tr*ns man  which did not identify him by name, but appeared to describe McIntyre  of injuring her arm and putting her in a wrist brace. (Mace appeared at the Capitol on Wednesday with her arm in a sling.) Mace first claimed she was physically accosted and sustained injuries that required a brace and ice but would heal just fine, adding that tr*ns violence and threats on my life will only make me double down. FAFO. It was not clear why Mace censored the letter a in trans.

The representative proceeded to make several more posts insinuating that she had been assaulted for [her] beliefs, complaining of pain and soreness, and claiming the alleged assault was an example of what the Left does to women. According to Kyle Hillman, director of legislative affairs for the National Association of Social Workers Illinois (NASW-IL), Mace sent out fundraising text messages on Wednesday, again claiming to have been physically accosted and asking her supporters to fight against TRANS MOB threats. The conservative fundraising platform WinRed also distributed a fundraising message from Team Mace dated Wednesday, in which Mace again claimed a PRO-TRANS MAN chose violence and threats, costing me an injured wrist, later writing that the mob is coming for me.

Maces version of events is wildly divergent from what has been described by others who attended the reception on Tuesday. Hinkle told The Imprint that McIntyres encounter with Mace was a normal handshake and interaction that I would expect any legislator to expect from anyone as a constituent. McIntyres arrest, Hinkle added, sends a chilling effect of, youre not actually safe to go to the Capitol Hill and share an opinion [...] because right now if you do, a congressperson might say that they were physically assaulted and call the police on you. So how would a young person in care feel safe?

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Lisa Dickson, another foster youth advocate from Ohio, also roundly condemned Mace for what she called a self-serving publicity stunt in a series of Facebook posts Tuesday evening. In her speech, Dickson wrote, Mace had told advocates that it was a safe space, that they were not just a number, and that they could come to her with anything. A youth leader shook her hand, and asked her support for trans foster youth  and she accused him of assault and had him arrested by Capital police.

April Curtis, chair of the advocacy group Foster Care Alumni of America, told the Washington Post that other attendees witnessed the interaction and provided accounts matching Hinkle and Dicksons. People are told its safe to come here and educate and advocate, and you shake someones hand and youre accused of assaulting them, Curtis said.

Them reached out to Maces office for comment via email on Wednesday, but had not received a reply at the time of writing. McIntyre was held in jail overnight and was expected to make a court appearance on Wednesday, according to the Post.

Nancy Mace, a Sitting Congresswoman, Is Openly Using Slurs Online

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In recent history, Capitol Hill has had little tolerance for racial or homophobic slurs. But the self-identified "TERF" seems to get a free pass.

Although Mace claimed to be pro-transgender rights as recently as June 2023, she has since emerged as one of the Republican Partys leading dispensers of anti-trans rhetoric. Since November, Mace has been especially vocal  first introducing a proposal to ban trans women from Capitol Hill womens facilities, then in a series of X posts intentionally using a common transphobic slur. Conservatives have increasingly sought to portray trans people and advocates for trans rights as violent, and far-right actors have in recent years spread false claims blaming trans people for mass shootings.

This is not the first time Mace has been accused of pretending to be the victim of a crime in order to score political grievance points. In 2021, Mace alleged that her home had been graffitied by Antifa vandals, who she claimed had spray painted the slogans no gods, no masters, fuck you, Nancy, and all politicians are bastards  plus several anarchist A symbols  on her sidewalk. But many on social media quickly accused Mace of painting the graffiti herself, pointing out that the letters looked suspiciously like Maces own handwriting. Mace reportedly used the incident as the basis for a fundraising email.

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Originally Appeared on them.
Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, is seen here on the House floor. (Legislative Support Services)

Democrat Tina Orwall is the latest state representative to make the switch to the Legislatures other chamber.

Orwall was appointed by the King County Council on Tuesday to be the next senator representing the 33rd Legislative District, which covers communities in south King County, including SeaTac, Des Moines and Kent. Orwall replaces outgoing Sen. Karen Keiser who is retiring after 30 years in the Legislature.

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The council also approved Edwin Obras as Orwalls replacement in the state House of Representatives. Obras is the deputy division director at the City of Seattles Human Services Department.

Orwall is the eighth House member to move to the Senate following elections and appointments thus far. Hers is the first of three incoming appointments to replace outgoing Senate Democrats ahead of the January 2025 session.

Both state representatives in the district, Orwall and Mia Gregerson, were in the running for the Senate seat. Melissa Chaudhry, who ran against Congressman Adam Smith in November, was also a finalist.

Orwall has served as a state representative since 2009. During her time, she worked on clearing the rape kit backlog, improving suicide prevention measures, implementing anti-trafficking laws and expanding language access in schools. She also served as the speaker pro tempore.

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She has a masters of social work in administration and spent 20 years in the public mental health system. She also worked for Seattles Office of Housing as the state health care home coordinator for King and Pierce counties.

As a social worker and legislator, Ive had the privilege of walking beside people during their hardest times and working together to find solutions, Orwall said. Im really proud of the work and connection in my community.

As Orwall heads to the Senate, Obras will fill her spot in the state House. Obras has worked for Seattles Human Services Department for 16 years. Before his role as deputy division director, he was the departments budget and policy director and contracts manager.

He is also the board president of the Filipino Community of Seattle. He grew up in Beacon Hill in Seattle and attended the University of Washington.

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Obras told the council Tuesday that he appreciates the diversity of the 33rd legislative district residents.

I want to represent them, he said. I will wake up every morning thinking about how I can help solve their problems, and Ive been doing that pretty much all my life.

Both positions will be on the ballot in a special election next November, and the winner of those elections will serve through 2026.
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- DNA and other evidence taken from the suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson now appear to match fingerprints found at the New York City shooting scene, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

Smudged fingerprints taken from a cell phone, water bottle and remnants of a KIND protein bar in New York reportedly match prints sent from Altoona, where 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was found and later arrested Monday in north-central Pennsylvania, ABC News, CNN and NBC reported.

In addition, the ghost gun allegedly on Mangione at the time of his arrest matched the three shell casings found at the scene in Manhattan, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Wednesday.

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Thompson's death laid bear the public's deep and open disdain for the healthcare industry. The words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were written on the shell casings and are words commonly used by healthcare providers to deny coverage to clients.

Reports say Mangione suffered from a "devastating" back condition called spondylolisthesis which is caused by a vertebra slipping out of place and pressure is applied on the bones.

NYPD police officers investigate the crime scene around the New York Midtown Hilton after the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Dec. 4. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

"First, we got the gun in question back from Pennsylvania," Tisch said Wednesday afternoon, adding the weapon is now at a NYPD crime lab. The fingerprints were the first to be confirmed to tie Mangione to the scene.

Mangione was charged Monday evening by New York prosecutors with second-degree murder, three weapons-related counts and a fifth count of possession of a forged document related to the Dec. 4 killing of Thompson, 50, outside a midtown Manhattan hotel on the way to an investor meeting, according to the court docket.

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Mangione was arrested after a witness at a McDonald's in Blair County recognized him from media reports and online photos. A diner reported Mangione's presence to the McDonald's worker who then called the police.

He is currently fighting extradition back to the Empire State. A flurry of handwritten notes in a notebook is being looked at as a possible confession, according to officials, with Mangione allegedly writing in part the "parasites had it coming."

"He has constitutional rights and that's what he's doing," Mangione's defense attorney Thomas Dickey told reporters Tuesday in addressing the extradition challenge.

Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania judge on Tuesday held him without bail where Mangione reportedly will plead not guilty to gun charges. The judge gave New York prosecutors 30 days to produce a warrant for his likely New York extradition.

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Dickey indicated that Mangione -- a former class valedictorian, well-to-do Maryland native and former Ivy League student at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia -- also will plead not guilty to the New York charges.

While police escorted him into the Blair County courthouse before 2 p.m. EST Tuesday, Mangione struggled with about a half dozen officers and yelled out to media in the area.

"It's completely out of touch and is an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience!" he said.

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said it will seek a warrant to force his return with New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul saying she'll sign the request "to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable," the governor wrote in a statement.

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On Wednesday, Dickey told Good Morning America he had "not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found on his person to the crime" and cautioned the public to not speculate on possible evidence but to take it "in its entirety" and not "out of context."

"A lot of guns look the same," Mangione's lawyer said. "People put out certain things, parts of different things," he said, adding that he believes "any lawyer involved in this situation would want to see it all."
Russell Taylor spent weeks planning for chaos on Jan. 6, 2021. He recruited anti-government activists to join him in Washington, and, when he arrived, surged to the U.S. Capitol with a knife and a tactical vest as a mob of Donald Trumps supporters overran police lines.

Now Republican members of Congress are inviting him back to the Capitol to attend Trumps second inauguration, an invite that could bring him face to face with the lawmakers and Capitol Police officers who fled the melee he helped unleash that day.

He is [a] caring father and reveres his family, his faith, and his love of our Country as his highest priority in life, wrote Chris Stewart, a former Republican member of Congress from Utah, in a letter to U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth. I am honored to extend this invitation for him to attend the Inauguration as my guest.

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Stewart said three other current members of the Utah congressional delegation joined his invitation to Taylor, who must receive permission to travel to Washington under the conditions of his three-year term of probation. Stewart did not identify which of the Utah delegations six current lawmakers are welcoming Taylor back to the scene of his crime.

Nor did Stewarts letter reference Taylors actions on Jan. 6 or anything related to his role in the attack. And he didnt respond to an inquiry about whether he was aware of the details of Taylors criminal proceedings.

Still, the invitation to and praise for a former member of the mob who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding last year underscores the shifting power dynamic in Washington. Trump insists he will quickly pardon members of the Jan. 6 mob who stormed the Capitol in his name, though he has yet to clarify how sweeping his clemency will be and whether it will include people convicted of felonies. His allies on Capitol Hill have focused more recently on calls to investigate and prosecute those who investigated the Jan. 6 attack rather than those who perpetrated it.

Taylors case is a complicated one. He helped lead and organize a group of self-described fighters to attend pro-Trump events on Jan. 6. Some of those recruits were associated with the Three Percenters, which has been described as an anti-government militia movement. He advised them on the types of weapons they could carry in Washington and, after the riot subsided, told an associate that the next step would be insurrection.

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On Jan. 5, 2021, Taylor spoke at a pro-Trump rally and said in these streets, we will fight and we will bleed before we allow our freedom to be taken from us  we will not return to our peaceful way of life until this election is made right.

But since facing charges, Taylor has become more contrite. In addition to his guilty plea, he testified against another member of his group who was later sentenced to 11 years in prison. Taylor, on the other hand, received a six-month sentence of home confinement, which Lamberth said was the result of his heartfelt remorse and efforts to take responsibility for his actions. Taylor has completed his home confinement but remains on probation.

Taylors lawyer Dyke Huish pointed to his clients record of remorse in his request to the judge to allow Taylor to travel to Washington.

Counsel submits that Mr. Taylor does not pose any risk or concern for this travel request, Huish wrote. He is traveling with his family, including minor children. He is the guest of a former Congressman, and has demonstrated over and over again that he is trustworthy in his travel and compliance with Court Orders.

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Huish emphasized that Taylors trip, from Jan. 16 to Jan. 21, would primarily be spent in Maryland.

Nevertheless, Taylors attendance at the inauguration would mean that he would be processed and protected by some of the same Capitol Police officers who were once steamrolled by the mob Taylor helped encourage. A spokesperson for the department declined to comment.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger is testifying to the Senate Wednesday about his departments significant reforms since the Jan. 6 attack and planning for the upcoming joint session of Congress, which is expected to feature a massive security presence compared to the one four years ago.

A second Jan. 6 defendant, Cindy Young, who was convicted by a jury of misdemeanors in August, also asked Wednesday for court permission to attend Trumps inauguration.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina's elections board dismissed formal protests Wednesday by several Republican candidates who trailed narrowly in their races last month and had questioned well over 60,000 ballots cast this fall.

The State Board of Elections' decisions sided with the Democratic candidates, including those for a state Supreme Court seat and a key General Assembly seat. These matters are now expected to be resolved in the courts.

The board voted in favor of denying the protests of GOP Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin, who after a recent statewide machine recount trailed Associate Justice Allison Riggs by 734 votes from over 5.5 million ballots cast. No additional recounts had been ordered after a partial hand recount completed Tuesday failed to suggest that Griffin could catch up to Riggs.

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Riggs is one of only two Democrats on the seven-member court, which has been a partisan flash point in the state over the past two years in court battles involving redistricting, photo voter identification and other voting rights.

The board on Wednesday considered protests filed by Griffin, a current Court of Appeals judge, and three candidates for the General Assembly covering three categories of voting.

Those categories included votes cast by people with voter registration records lacking drivers licenses or containing partial Social Security numbers; overseas voters who have never lived in the U.S. but whose parents were deemed North Carolina residents; and military or overseas voters who did not provide copies of photo identification with their ballots.

The board is composed of three Democrats and two Republicans. In three of four dismissal motions Wednesday, the votes were 3-2 along party lines. The vote on the other motion was unanimous.

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Riggs' campaign has said that she is the winner and that Griffin should concede immediately.

Speaking after the hearing, Riggs mentioned that her parents were among the 60,000-plus voters whose votes were being challenged, and I can personally attest they are in fact lawful votes."

Griffin didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the decisions. State Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons said in a news release that the boards continued efforts to engineer political outcomes for Democrats is shameful" and suggested appeals could be ahead.

Another candidate protester is GOP Rep. Frank Sossamon, who trailed Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn. A Cohn victory would mean Republicans fall one seat short of retaining their current veto-proof majority for the next two-year General Assembly starting next month.

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The board could have ultimately ordered corrected ballot tallies, more recounts or new elections if it determined the evidence showed election law violations or irregularities called into question the results of the protested elections.

Scores of protests filed by Griffin and the legislative candidates are still being considered by county boards.

During Wednesday's hearing, attorneys for Riggs and other Democrats urged the state board to throw out the protests. They consider the protests an illegal attempt to change the election rules after votes have been cast and counted and out of line with protest rules.

The voters that protesters are challenging here today unquestionably are eligible voters, said Will Robertson, an attorney representing three Democratic legislative candidates and the state Democratic Party. These protests are not only facially invalid but theyre an affront to democracy and to the rule of law in North Carolina.

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Citing the state constitution, attorneys for Griffin argued that elections boards cannot count the ballots of people who have never lived in North Carolina. And they said the state board erred by generating voter registration forms that did not make clear that state law requires an applicant to provide one of the identifying numbers.

We filed these protests because we believe the winners of these elections should be determined by eligible voters and only by eligible voters, Craig Schauer, an attorney for Griffin and GOP legislative candidates, told the board.

In addition to the substance of the protests, Democratic board members also threw out the protests because they determined that voters did not receive appropriate legal notice that their votes were being challenged.

Griffin sent postcards to a voter or the current resident stating that your vote may be affected by a protest, according to legal briefs and evidence. It included a QR code that mobile phone users could visit to obtain information. Democrats said people may have thrown the postcard away or considered it a scam.

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The state board's decisions came days after the state Democratic Party sued in federal court to block the State Board of Elections from ruling in any way to throw out the disputed ballots.

Griffin led Riggs by about 10,000 votes on election night, but that lead dwindled and flipped to Riggs as qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals.
The News

Donald Trump wants the US to have nothing to do with the insurgency that toppled Syrias government, yet some Republicans plan to nudge him toward a more active role.

Most of them, that is.

Its a terrible idea to have any soldiers there. Soldiers serve as a target for terrorists, they serve as a tripwire to get us involved in a messy civil war, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Semafor. Paul, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, called for Trump to pull out the roughly 900 US troops stationed in Syria on Day One.

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The collapse of Bashar al-Assads regime, forced by a rebel group that the US currently designates as a terrorist organization, is sparking fresh intraparty debate over Trumps hands-off approach to the war-torn country. How to handle Syria is a critical early decision for Trump, who positioned himself as interested in avoiding overseas conflict rather than deepening it and has selected a second-term vice president who shares those views.

No matter what Trump does, hell have to navigate simmering tension in the GOP over a number of foreign policy questions, including whether to keep arming Ukraine and how to counter the influence of Iran and Russia. But Syria is the most acute right now, with non-interventionists like Paul countered by hawkish Trump allies who are subtly warning against removing US troops whose mission on the ground is focused on constraining the Islamic State.

Im worried about ISIS coming back, and thats why the troops are there  to prevent ISIS from coming back, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told Semafor. I would advise him to do everything he can to make sure ISIS doesnt come back.

Know More

During his first term, Trump expressed a desire to fully remove troops from Syria after declaring ISIS defeated there in 2018. He famously pulled back troops from northern Syria the following year, triggering some of the harshest backlash of his administration from fellow Republicans.

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The president-elect has again signaled a non-interventionalist approach in the wake of the recent collapse of the government, writing on Truth Social: THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.

One former Trump national security official said in an interview that withdrawing troops is going to be on the table.

As he prepares to enter office, however, national security-focused Republicans in Congress are urging against anything rash.

I dont think we should act too quickly. Theres a huge non-appetite for American involvement in any war, said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who will chair the Armed Services Committee next year. But we need to look at all the ramifications and not act hastily.

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Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Intelligence Committee, raised concerns about the possible release of ISIS prisoners held in jails guarded by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. He urged the incoming administration to undertake a careful review and to figure out what our involvement should look like.

The leader of the rebel group thats now leading Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS, is a former Al-Qaeda member who has since turned away from the terrorist group.

Given the instability as Syria seeks to move forward under an interim prime minister, Trump will get plenty of encouragement from Paul, and others who eschew foreign entanglements, to leave the crisis alone.

I mean, the people at home are not for having troops in Syria, the senator said.

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If Trump does scale back the US presence in Syria, though, that will also challenge more interventionist Republicans to take him on directly  and breaking with the president-elect is not easy for most lawmakers in his party.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of both the Armed Services and Intelligence panels, said he wasnt concerned about Trump making the wrong decision on troop deployments in Syria: He clearly understands the reasons why the troops are there and what needs to be addressed there in that region, Rounds told Semafor.

Sen. Thom Tillis said that the US presence [in Syria] has a broader calming effect thats worthwhile, but the North Carolina Republican left room for Trump to assert that power in ways beyond troops on the ground.

Now, does he come up with different strategies to project that power? Thats up to him, Tillis said.

The View From The Biden White House

The Biden White House sees continuing the US counter-ISIS mission in Syria as vital. While Bidens team has been in touch with Trumps advisers on Syria and other foreign policy matters, it hasnt weighed in explicitly on what the Trump team should do.

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We dont want to give ISIS an opportunity to exploit whats going on, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council declined to speculate on the incoming administrations plans but emphasized that we will maintain our mission against ISIS to prevent terrorists from resurging which we believe is critical, and will continue to protect our forces against any threats they may face.

Morgan and Burgess View

Trump is assembling an administration thats likely to be just as divided as the rest of his party over what Syria policy should look like going forward. Hes bringing on more hawkish voices, like secretary of state pick Marco Rubio, whose views run the risk of clashing with the foreign policy of the new right  best exemplified by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Washington may be in for a repeat of the tug-of-war that played out during Trumps first term. David Schenker, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East policy who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under the Trump administration, recalled the heated debate then over Trumps stance on Syria.

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There were several people who opposed a withdrawal from Syria, believing  and I think correctly so  that it was a relatively low-cost, high-impact deployment, Schenker said. But, he added, for many in MAGA world, its yet another part of the forever wars.

Ultimately, the final call is Trumps.

Room for Disagreement

Simone Ledeen, who worked on Middle East policy at the Pentagon under Trump, argued that he and his incoming team would be more or less on the same page when it comes to Syria.

Trump and the team he has assembled have spoken passionately and persuasively against open-ended military commitments, and I expect that any continued presence would be based on a defined mission and strategic purpose, she told Semafor.

Notable
If it feels as though the new Trump administration is taking shape at warp speed, that's because it is. It's unusual for an incoming administration to announce all these Cabinet and staff nominations in such rapid succession but that's part of the Project 2025 manifesto, to hit the ground running as fast as possible. And they're using the Steve Bannon tactic of flooding the zone to keep the media and the opposition off balance.

Trump's getting awards from Fox News, gallivanting around Paris with his best buddy, naming one billionaire after another to his administration and giving his family members anything they want. He has even named his son's (reportedly former) fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, as U.S. ambassador to Greece. And for any recalcitrant senators who still believe they have a say in any of it, he's bringing the hammer down.

Take for example the case of Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a former female combat officer who had serious reservations about Trump's choice to be defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. After all, as someone who has experienced sexual assault, she was logically a bit disturbed by the rape allegations against Hegseth as well as his comments that he doesn't think women should be allowed in combat.

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Well, Trump and his henchmen made sure Ernst understood that they were not going to stand for any guff from her. Politico reported:

In recent days, allies of Trump adopted an approach that is not novel for the president-elect and his followers: Make life extremely uncomfortable for anyone who dares to oppose him. The swarm of MAGA attacks that Sen. Joni Ernst has experienced is a warning of whats in store for others who express skepticism of his personnel choices. Hegseth became a cause, said a Trump ally who was granted anonymity to speak freely. Not even for the official Trump operation, but the movement who is going apeshit for him... Joni, Im told, said a Trump ally with insider knowledge of the transition process, got the message loud and clear.

On Monday Ernst said that she will now support Hegseth through the process and demanded that any of the women he assaulted come forward and testify against him or she would discount their accusations. She, of all people, knows exactly what will happen to them if they do.

Whatever resistance the Republican senators may have felt toward Trump's autocratic demands has fizzled in the face of Dear Leader deploying MAGA threats. It is a feature of Trump's Republican Party. Recall what Mitt Romney's biographer, McKay Coppins, told CNN when he was asked whether Romney was planning to endorse Kamala Harris:

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Mitt Romney knows that he would be on that enemies list. Hes worried about protecting his family. He said, "You know, I have 25 grandkids. How do you protect 25 grandkids?

Let's just say the pressure is intense and most of these GOP officials apparently value their seats more than they value their integrity in any case. The way to succeed in Republican politics these days is to follow orders, no questions asked.

So, it appears that Trump is most likely going to get his way and every miscreant nominee will be confirmed. How long they last is another story. If you recall Trump's first term, the turnover was historic. It's hard to imagine that most of them will go the distance.

From what we can tell, they plan to do as much as possible through executive orders, many of which are bound to be at least delayed through litigation. But when it comes to appropriations there's no getting around Congress. Even if Trump and his Office of Management and Budget wizard Russell Vought are able to employ "impoundment" (the currently illegal process by which the president can spend appropriated funds contrary to Congress' negotiated agreement) they still have to get the budget passed through legislation. And that may mess up Trump's first 100 days in ways they can't anticipate.

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Over the weekend, Trump's senior adviser and deportation zealot Stephen Miller appeared on Fox News Sunday where he told host Maria Bartiromo that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., promised the president they can get the full funding for his massive deportation plan done by early February, weeks before the continuing budget resolution from last year expires in March. The plan is to do two big bills through reconciliation (which means they're filibuster-proof) the first being some kind of border/energy/defense bill that could cost in the neighborhood of $120 billion and the second down the road to extend and expand the Trump tax cuts along with whatever other draconian plans they have to destroy the health, safety and economic security of the American people.

According to Axios, Thune wants this first bill to be budget-neutral or negative and is thinking about reversing the Biden administration's student loan relief to pay for it. You have to wonder if he's consulted with shadow president Elon Musk about whether that's going to be OK. After all, Musk is supposedly working on reducing government spending by $2 trillion so he probably needs to use that student loan relief for that. Who's Trump going to choose?

Meanwhile, there's the House of Representatives, which, the last I heard, still has something to say about all this and will be operating with a one-vote margin for the GOP majority during the first two months of the new administration. They are already reportedly chafing at the Musk "DOGE" contraption since budgeting really is their bailiwick and they want to do the cutting themselves. Apparently, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, insists there will be only one big reconciliation bill later in the year.

And then there's the House Freedom Caucus, which is never satisfied and almost always refuses to take yes for an answer. If there is any negotiation to be done, and one expects there will be with such a small margin and every member having leverage, we can expect them to make the kinds of demands in territory where even Donald Trump fears to tread.

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So yes, Republicans are all cowed by Trump and his MAGA army and none of them are operating out of principle. You might think that means Trump will have smooth sailing. But he is a chaos agent and it's very difficult to know if he even understands what he's saying half the time. His inner circle already has competing priorities and half the people he's chosen are without any experience while the other half have agendas that clash with one another. The two chambers of Congress are already butting heads and there is dissension brewing within each of them.

The bottom line is that when it comes to these complicated budgetary matters, this administration will have no leadership at all. I don't doubt that they are going to do a whole lot of very bad things and it's entirely possible that the very worst of them, the deportation plan, will pass early on just as Stephen Miller says. But the rest of it is going to be a mess, with possible government shutdowns and speaker challenges and the most powerful man in the world eventually facing down the richest man in the world when their egos can't fit in the Oval Office at the same time. If you have any spare change, you might want to invest in popcorn futures.
WASHINGTON  President-elect Donald Trumps pick to run the FBI, Kash Patel, has said he would wield the government as a weapon to come after Trumps enemies.

Senate Republicans, who will decide whether Patel gets the job, say he wouldnt actually do what he said.

Sometimes people make statements in a political context that on further reflection they say, Well, that was basically for public consumption, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told HuffPost last week.

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Patel previously worked on Capitol Hill as a Republican staffer and served in the first Trump administration, where he earned a reputation as a Trump loyalist. Last year, he published a book titled Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy, which included a list of deep state government officials who opposed Trump.

During an interview last December promoting the book with Trump ally Steve Bannon, Bannon said he expected Patel to be named CIA director during Trumps second term, and Patel described his vision for vengeance against Trumps enemies.

We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in the government, but in the media, Patel said. Yes, were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. Were going to come after you. Whether its criminally or civilly, well figure that out, but yeah, were putting you all on notice.

Patel has begun making the rounds on Capitol hill ahead of the confirmation process this year. Republican senators already indicated they wont support one of Trumps other nominees, former congressman Matt Gaetz, and theres no guarantee Patel can get 50 votes, either.

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Cornyn said he met with Patel and suggested Patel confirmed his view that he wouldnt vindictively prosecute Trumps enemies.

I told him I thought the task ahead was to restore the FBI to its former reputation as a nonpartisan, no political institution, and he told me he agreed, Cornyn said. I think theres a difference between the hyperbole and the reality.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told HuffPost Patel told him he would prosecute violent criminals.

I dont think youre going to see the FBI going after journalists, Hawley said.

Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the director of the FBI, attends a meeting in the office of Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Dec. 9 in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein via Associated Press

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also said he didnt expect partisan prosecutions from the second Trump administration.

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He didnt do it the first time. Hes not gonna do it this time, Scott said. (Trump actually did press for prosecutions of his enemies during his first term, such as by publicly musing there should be probes of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and he also pushed for a criminal investigation into a previous investigation of his 2016 campaign.)

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said he was skeptical of the descriptions of Patel vowing prosecutions before he was nominated and that he would ask him about the reports.

Everything I read on the internets not always true, Lankford said. Ill take the opportunity to ask him what his thoughts are.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said if Patel didnt actually mean what he said before, then that presents another problem.

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If hes not gonna do the things that he said he was going to do previously, how do we believe what hes going to tell us now?

In a February interview with NBCNews, Patel claimed his words had been taken out of context. Still, he said there should be some form of accountability for journalists supposedly coordinating with government officials to put out a false narrative about Donald Trump.

Republican senators generally seemed to agree that the Justice Department had been weaponized under President Joe Biden to target Trump, who faced two federal prosecutions for his attempt to undo the 2020 presidential election and for hoarding secret documents after he left office.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said it was tendentious to describe the list of deep state names in Patels book as an enemies list, but that Patel actually would do what he said.

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If you look at the weeping and gnashing of teeth, both from Democrats and from the corporate media about Kash Patel, its not that hes going to be ineffective, but it is rather that they believe hell do exactly what he said he would do, which is root out that weaponization and politicization, Cruz said.

Related...
A young boy was rescued after he alerted authorities he was lost in the Colorado mountains, Douglas County Search and Rescue (DCSAR) field director Dave Arnett confirmed to PEOPLE.

The 10-year-old boy embarked on an ATV ride with his family in Rampart Range, Colo. (which is around 50 miles south of Denver). Then, around noon local time on Dec. 9, he separated from his family for a very short ride and turn around and come back.

But then, around 1:45 p.m., he realized he was lost in some technical trails, prompting him to alert authorities. He stopped, stayed calm, called 911 (enabling dispatch to get his coordinates and activate DCSAR), and stayed in one place until we arrived, read a Dec. 9 DCSAR Facebook post.

Douglas County Search and Rescue/Facebook Douglas County Search and Rescue on Dec. 9, 2024 Douglas County Search and Rescue on Dec. 9, 2024

Related: 4 Children Found Alive After Weeks in the Amazon Doing 'Well' Following Hospital Release

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Once DCSAR was contacted, the office responded shortly after with 25 volunteers who helped with ATVs, UAVs (drones), or on foot.

Our drone pilot was able to fly a drone to those coordinates and actually see the young man, and we were able to follow up with our ATV team and get to him and actually rescue him and bring him out, the DCSAR rep said. The drone was used initially to communicate with the child. It was then used to deliver a plastic bag with protein bars, gel packs, water, a winter hat and a thermal blanket for him until authorities arrived at the site.

A couple hours later, around 4:30 p.m., the child was back to safety and back to his parents and his family. It was a wonderful reunion moment to bring this 10-year-old young man back to his very concerned family, Arnett said, clarifying that the boys family stayed at the search and rescue agency's command post during the mission.

Douglas County Search and Rescue/Facebook Douglas County Search and Rescue on Dec. 9, 2024 Douglas County Search and Rescue on Dec. 9, 2024

Related: 4 Children  Including 2-Year-Old  Found Alive After Going Missing Overnight in Alaska Blizzard

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Arnett explained they were able to keep the family informed with help from drone footage. They could actually see when we located, and they knew that we were in contact with him; we could relay that back.

They were kept in tune very much all the way through, Arnett continued. But, it's never done till your child's back in your arms.

Overjoyed to say it worked out well, and the young rider is ok and back with his family (a priceless reunion), read the Facebook post.

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 Douglas County Sheriffs Office also announced the successful rescue mission on Facebook.

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We are so proud of our Douglas County Search and Rescue family!! This was the first time, other than during training, that supplies had been dropped via drone. This is just another great example of the extent we will go to take care of our community," the sheriff's office wrote.



Read the original article on People
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Marble Manor has been a part of the Historic Westside for over 70 years, and starting next year, its residents will begin the moving process as redevelopment plans will soon become a reality.

The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and Brinshore Development Group want to build a mixed-use development on nearly 36 acres of land at the corner of McWilliams Avenue and H Street.

Phase one of the project would include 138 residential units with 4,500 square feet of commercial and community space. While property redevelopment is needed some residents feel as if theres been a lack of communication from the start regarding the moving process. Even though developers shared that theyve canvassed the neighborhood several times prior to now.

Marble Manor has been a part of the Historic Westside for over 70 years, and starting next year, its residents will begin the moving process as redevelopment plans will soon become a reality. (KLAS)

We have rights as residents to say what we want and it wasnt taken into account when all of this was being done, Phyllis Carpenter Marble Manor resident said.

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In addition, many residents fear they will eventually be priced out.

At the end of the day, its going to increase and things are going to change. The projects they have done in times past have caused residents to be displaced where they did not return, Madelyn Rhodes Marble Manor resident expressed.

Currently, Marble Manor has 235 units with over 450 residents. More than 600 units are expected to be built by 2033.

The next step in the process will consist of developers meeting with the Las Vegas City Council on Jan. 15 where the public can attend and comment.

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.
The News

Legislation that would limit US investment in China still might hitch a ride on a short-term government funding bill this month.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries objected to including the language in a defense bill out of opposition to that bills restrictions on transgender health care, baffling backers of the bipartisan China measure.

Jeffries office told Semafor that everyone remains at the table but added that nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson sounded more optimistic: I think we have an agreement on outbound, he said.

Proponents are keeping up the pressure: Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, spoke with Jeffries office over the weekend to push for the measures inclusion in the funding bill when it was clear it would fall out of the defense bill, a person familiar with the conversation said.
A retired Detroit Police Department sergeant is accused of fatally shooting a man during a landlord-tenant dispute on Tuesday afternoon, the department confirmed.

Police responded to a report of a man in his 40s shot multiple times at a home in the city's west side, the 15900 block of Kentfield St.

Also read: Detroit's Woodbridge Gallery building destroyed in overnight fire

A landlord-tenant dispute led to the shooting, according to Deputy Chief Jaqueline Pritchett.

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A weapon was recovered from the scene. And the accused shooter, who retired from Detroit police eight years ago, is in custody but not yet charged.

Pritchett said Tuesday that the department plans on submitting a warrant request for charges against the retired sergeant to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com or on X: @andreamsahouri.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-Detroit police sergeant accused in landlord-tenant dispute shooting
Almost five years after the COVID-19 pandemic normalized remote work, many employees are continuing to push back against their bosses attempt to pull them in the office five days a week. As companies like Amazon begin demanding fully in-person work, employees who still have the semblance of hybrid or flexible work are seemingly clinging onto it more than ever.

So finds WFH Research, a research group led by Stanford professors Jose Maria Barrero, Nicholas Bloom, and Steven J. Davis, and Shelby Buckman, in its latest report. Surveying attitudes towards remote work since the spike in working from home during the lockdown (May 2020), the authors find that the office tug of war between bosses and employees is far from over. In fact, it appears workers are becoming even less amenable to RTO compared to a couple of years ago.

By the end of 2024, just 44% of respondents said theyd comply if faced with a five-day return to office mandate. Others (41%) would rather look for a new job or quit (14%). In 2022, more than half of the workforce (almost 53%) said theyd adhere to a fully in-person mandate. Meanwhile, slightly less people reported that they would search for a new job (32.8%) and the number of those who said theyd quit remained steady (14%).

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Thats all to say, employees are more likely to look for different career opportunities when pushed into the office. It seems that RTO resistance is growing, one of the studys authors, Stanford economist Nick Bloom wrote on LinkedIn.

The rise in people saying they'd quit also might be an indicator of the holdouts from the office. "The folks that are fine to return to the office have been heading back in," Bloom told Fortune. "Those that are left are increasingly resistant. They will be people who live a long way from the office and cant move or cant easily commute," he said, pointing out that this group's situation becomes more presing as the mandates become more intense like in the case of Amazon, Dell and Salesforce.

View this interactive chart on Fortune.com

Talent flees for competitors

In the early 2020s the push and pull between employers and employees was referred to in military or chess-like Machevillian terms; referenced as a battle, war, and even truce or stale-mate in the latter years. At one point it seemed like workers were losing their upper-hand, resigning to companies bullish on mandates as they navigated a tight job market.

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But it seems as if weve just entered a new phase of the conflict employees simply leaving the battle ground all together. A separate case study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan found as much, noting that RTO mandates lead to a talent drain. Looking specifically at tech companies (including Apple, Microsoft, and SpaceX), they found that said policies are followed by an increase in departures from senior leaders, specifically to direct competitors. Flexible working arrangements have become an important tool in recruiting, with remote and hybrid companies receiving more job applications.

Indeed, after receiving another push for in-person work this past September, Amazon workers also threatened to leave.

My months of struggling to make three days a week are over, and I know that my time at Amazon has to end, Laura, a working mom who has been a remote employee at Amazon the last four years told Fortune. Honestly, Ive lost so much trust in Amazon leadership at this point, she said, adding that she was rage-applying to new jobs. Of course, that could be what the company wants, as some experts note that such RTO mandates are a covert way of issuing layoffs.

Though not all staffers have the leverage to act on their desire to leave. Very few people vote with their feet, Laszlo Bock, consultant and former Google senior executive, told Fortune. Noting that this style of leadership marks a triumph of traditional management over innovative management, he adds that the latter style requires more resources and data and therefore companies revert to past ways.

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Another potential driver for this increase in resistance towards fully in-person policies is that "hybrid has become the new norm," Mark (Shuai) Ma, associate professor of Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh told Fortune. Big corporations might be pushing five days in office but "most firms are offering flexibility," Ma notes, adding that not many companies have followed Amazon's suit just yet.

Employees are getting bolder in refusing to return to the office, wrote Bloom. He added that another potential reason for this rise in RTO pushback is that weve reached the core of the resistance, the intensely pro-WFH workers that have held out on the office for so long. Another explanation is the employees that were fine going back to the office have already done so. The folks that are left are the hard-core resisters [sic].

Either way, workers who are fully remote have less symptoms of burnout, specifically less prone to report having low energy, than their hybrid or in-person counterparts per WFHs research. And both hybrid and fully remote employees are less likely to express that they have negative feelings towards their job. Preferences remain, more or less, clear.

It's not just resistance for the purpose of feeling a lack of trust, for some it's resistance over nearly impossible life choices: my career, or my family, Brian Elliott, CEO at Work Forward told Fortune. The companies back in 2022 likely always intended and said they'd go back to the office, he notes. But in 2024, RTO mandates are characterized by a swinging of the pendulum or walking back on previously remote policies. By then, some workers have already habituated and settled down far from the office. "When they changed their minds and policies twice, that impacts and upends people's lives more dramatically," he says of companies like Dell and Amazon.

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But Amazon and other big corporations still push for said policies, despite knowing that it might lead to turnover. Is this good news to Amazon and others using a 5-day RTO to reduce headcount, Bloom mused, regarding his latest data. On the one hand yes - it means they will get more employees quitting, helping their headcount reduction. On the other hand no - the data shows the folks most like[ly] to quit are senior and high performing, damaging profitability.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. apparently wants his daughter-in-law and former campaign manager Amaryllis Fox Kennedy to lead the CIA as its second in command.

Axios reported that the Department of Health and Human Services secretary nominee has been back-channeling support to get Amaryllis nominated to a role as deputy director of the intelligence agency.

His move comes as President-elect Donald Trump looks to shake up Americas intelligence agencies. He nominated former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe to serve as CIA director, a job which must be confirmed by the Senate. However, the deputy director role requires no confirmation.

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Amaryllis is a former CIA operative who spent 10 years at the agency as an operative. She chronicled her experiences in the 2019 memoir, Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA. The book was met with controversy over reports that she didnt get the details of the memoir cleared with the CIAs Publication Review Board before publishing.

Former CIA officers also questioned the accuracy and truthfulness of Amaryllis account, reported the Daily Mail.

In 2018, Amaryllis officially joined the Kennedy family when she tied the knot with Bobby Kennedy III in a bare-foot and beachside wedding ceremony in Cape Cod.

More recently, Amaryllis served as RFK Jr.s campaign manager for his failed 2024 presidential bid.

Many of Mr. Kennedys most ardent supporters support him because they genuinely believe that he is the only candidate who can beat Donald Trump in this election, and they desperately dont want another four years of the chaos we all experienced, Amaryllis told NPR in June, amid news that RFK Jr.s campaign was struggling.
Robert F Kennedy Jrs daughter-in-law and former campaign manager, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, is reportedly attempting to join the next Trump administration as the deputy director of the CIA.

RFK Jr has been making calls to push for his daughter-in-laws possible nomination, according to Axios. The deputy director doesnt have to be confirmed by the Senate.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated John Ratcliffe, a former House member from Texas and director of national intelligence during his first term, to be the director of the CIA.

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The position of deputy director at the CIA is one of the top intelligence jobs that Trump has yet to nominate anyone for. Last month, Politico noted that Trumps FBI pick, Kash Patel, and former Trump administration official, Cliff Sims, were both attempting to get the post.

Fox Kennedy detailed her almost decade at the agency in her 2019 memoir, Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA. With the book, Fox Kennedy provided one of the most thorough accounts of working at the agency. She has said that she was recruited in her early 20s and that she was one of the youngest women officers.

Robert F Kennedy Jr has reportedly been making calls on behalf of his daughter-in-law to join the Trump administration (AFP via Getty Images)

She added that she was a nonofficial cover. This meant that she was acting as a citizen under a fake identity and that she had no diplomatic protections.

Fox Kennedy is reported to have sent in the memoir to the publisher without getting it cleared by the CIA Publication Review Board, which created a stir within the agency.

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The board usually approves material from officers before its in the public eye to make sure that important intelligence remains under wraps, journalist Yashar Ali noted at the time.

Fox Kennedy took on the role of RFK Jrs campaign manager in October last year as he attempted to get on the ballot in all states as an independent candidate.

Kennedy ended his campaign in August and endorsed Trump. Last month, the president-elect nominated Kennedy to be his secretary of Health and Human Services.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making phone calls to push for the appointment of his daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy to deputy director of the CIA  while he faces uncertain confirmation as the Health and Human Services secretary, Axios reported Tuesday.

Like RFK Jr., whom 77 Nobel Prize winners declared unqualified for the gig, his daughter-in-law carries a bit of baggage.

She submitted the eventually published memoir of her life as a CIA spy in 2019 without approval from the organization  an apparent no-no, NBC reported. And a few former CIA officers claimed some details of Life Undercover: Coming of Age In The CIA sounded false, according to the network.

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Fox Kennedy perhaps sealed her father-in-laws support by managing his independent campaign for president. She didnt escape controversy there either. She got an anonymous dunking-on by former campaign staff members, including one source who blamed her for a mass exodus of workers. Fox Kennedy countered that Team Kennedy has great folks come and go depending on the needs of each phase of the campaign.

Kennedy ditched his bid for the White House and endorsed eventual winner Donald Trump, who in turn nominated the vaccine opponent to the Health and Human Services post. Trump encouraged the political scion to go wild on the medicines.

RFK Jr. faces a potential uphill battle for Senate confirmation, but Fox Kennedy, whos apparently vying for the important intelligence post, would require only Trumps appointment.

Kennedys camp did not immediately respond to HuffPost for comment.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Amaryllis Fox Kennedy Getty

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Three years after the Rhode Island General Assembly passed a law authorizing a pilot program for harm reduction centers, construction has now finished at the states first safe injection site.

According to Project Weber/RENEW, when the site opens in the next few weeks, people will be able to test and use drugs under medical supervision, while also having access to recovery resources.

Were going to have two smoking rooms, which will accommodate four individuals for each room, Overdose Prevention Program Director Dennis Bailer said in September. Were going to have our injection space, that will be available for eight individuals for a total of 16. We decided on a staff-to-client ratio of 1-to-4.

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RELATED: Advocates showcase how a safe injection site would operate

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) reported that 404 people died from an overdose last year, marking the first decrease in four years. However, 78% of those deaths involved fentanyl.

In 2021, Rhode Island made history as the first state to legalize safe injection sites, but New York opened the first two sites in the United States that year.

Rhode Islands safe injection site has faced delays over the years, with construction beginning this fall at the Willard Avenue site next to Rhode Island Hospital.

The site will still need to be approved by state agencies. In a statement to Target 12, the Department of Health wrote Project Weber/RENEW needs approval from the states fire marshals office before it can begin its final review process.

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RIDOH Spokesperson Annemarie Beardsworth said that would include a review of the sites final operating policies to ensure that the policies meet State regulations and patient safety standards. Once they are in compliance, RIDOH will issue a license.

Some have been against safe injection sites, which are financed by state opioid settlement funds, arguing that those funds should only be used for recovery services.

Safe injection sites have been used for decades to prevent overdose deaths in several other countries, including Canada. Bailer says there have been no reported overdose deaths at any safe injection site across the globe.

Kate Wilkinson (kwilkinson@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

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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.
NANTY GLO, Pa.  Representatives of local and state organizations gathered Monday to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the last section of the largest rail-trail loop on the East Coast.

They huddled at a ribbon- cutting ceremony under the new Church Street box culvert near the North Street trailhead of the Ghost Town Trail.

The cast-in-place concrete overpass provided shelter from the elements as speakers touted the benefits of outdoor recreation in the area and what finishing the project represents for the region.

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Ghost Town Trail Phase I Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Cambria County and state officials gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Phase one of the Ghost Town Trail on Monday, December 9, 2024.

Watching the whole thing come together was so exciting, Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Executive Director Cliff Kitner said.

He said the project couldnt have gone any better from its start in September to its completion by the middle of November.

This phase of the project included construction of roughly half a mile of trail and the installation of the box culvert under the roadway. The cost of that work totaled about $900,000.

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Engineering services were provided by Keller Engineers Inc., and Cottles Asphalt Maintenance Inc. carried out the work.

Kitner credited both companies for a job well done.

Ghost Town Trail Phase I Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Director Cliff Kitner speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Phase one of the Ghost Town Trail on Monday, December 9, 2024.

Kitner also talked about the importance of outdoor recreation to the area and the state. He said that according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the outdoor industry contributed $19 billion to Pennsylvania in the past year, a 10% increase since 2022.

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A highlight of the new culvert is the use of rocks from the former Red Mill Bridge abutment that now line the path leading to and from the Church Street structure. Inside the tunnel, the concrete was colored and designed to resemble those stones.

Cambria County Commissioner Thomas Chernisky lauded the work of the CCCRA and the expansion of outdoor recreation in the county.

He said when he talks to businesses looking to expand in Cambria County, they ask about the countys success with outdoor recreation, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Centers Level 1 trauma center and public transportation.

Were winning here in Cambria County, Chernisky said.

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Ghost Town Trail Phase I Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Chairman Tom Kakabar (right) speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Phase one of the Ghost Town Trail on Monday, December 9, 2024. Looking on, from left to right, Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Director Cliff Kitner and Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Program Coordinator Caytlin Lusk.

Other speakers included state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Regional Adviser Lindsay Baer; Cambria County Commissioners Scott Hunt and Keith Rager; state Rep. Jim Rigby, R-Ferndale; state Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Richland Township; and CCCRA Board President Thomas Kakabar.

Each said that hard work goes into trail development, the CCCRA has taken leaps and bounds to improve the area, and the rail-trail loop will be a benefit to the region.

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Langerholc said that Cambria County is the best when it comes to these projects and that hes proud to support the authority and outdoor recreation development. He also vowed to continue to help pursue maintenance funding for trails, citing a $100,000 grant he delivered to the CCCRA in October to that end.

Ghost Town Trail Phase I Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

People gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Phase one of the Ghost Town Trail on Monday, December 9, 2024.

The next phase of the Ghost Town Trail expansion project includes coal refuse remediation work, similar construction to the first phase, and completion of the final 11/2 miles of trail east toward Nanty Glo, where it will meet the Ghost Town Trails C&I Extension from Ebensburg.

Kitner said the goal is to open the loop in 2025.
Senator Rick Scott of Florida is pushing to crack down on imports of Chinese garlic, claiming it poses a major threat to security and safety because it may be grown in human sewage and harvested with slave and child labor.

Scott, a Republican, sent a series of letters to U.S. trade, labor, and agriculture agencies on Monday calling for Chinese garlic to be investigated and put on U.S. trade watchlists, saying that claims of sewer garlic, if verified, would pose a significant ethical and legal issue to the U.S. supply chain.

Communist China has a clear and disturbing history of failing to meet basic standards of food safety and transparency, as well as a well-documented record of using slave labor in its supply chains, which raises red flags about the labor practices and safety of its agricultural products, particularly garlic, Scott wrote in one letter to the Department of Agriculture.

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The Senator is asking that Chinese garlic be put on the Bureau of International Labor Affairs List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor and be investigated under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington told The Independent the country emphasizes food safety and that Scotts claims are groundless accusations, which we firmly oppose.

There is no so-called forced labor [or] child labor alleged by some with ulterior motives, the spokesperson said via email. We oppose the related individuals overstretching the concept of national security, trying to abuse state power to go after and smear Chinese products and companies.

The Senator has long accused Chinese garlic of being tainted.

Sen Rick Scott of Florida has repeatedly pushed to ban Chinese garlic (Rick Scott/Twitter)

Reports indicate that Chinese garlic is grown using raw sewage, possibly including human feces, and that the garlic is then bleached to make it appear whiter and cleaner to the eye after its growth in unsanitary conditions, he said in a January video. Its also processed using slave labor. Communist Chinese uses slave labor. And these poor people are forced to peel so much garlic that their fingernails  fingernails  literally fall off so they have to use their teeth to get the job done. Its horrific. And it means that Chinese sewage, garlic should be unacceptable for human conception.

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In December of 2023, Scott asked the Commerce Department to investigate Chinese garlic and for U.S. grocery stores to stop selling it, while in January he introduced a bill to ban garlic imported garlic from China. Hes also pushed to ban the sale of Chinese garlic in U.S. military commissaries and the use of the produce in military dining halls.

As evidence for his claims, Scott has pointed to the Netflix documentary series Rotten, which features an episode accusing Christopher Ranch, a major U.S. garlic producer, of being involved in price-fixing and using garlic peeled by Chinese prisoners. The episode features what producers say is hidden camera footage of prisoners peeling garlic for the company.

They claim forced labor went into that label, company official Ken Christopher told KION in 2018. It was packed specifically for us, and we have no trademarks in China. So that couldnt be further from the truth.

He added most of the companys roughly 90 million pounds of garlic production is grown and processed in California, and that the roughly 10 percent of its product that is imported isnt processed in prison. He said the undercover video was fake.

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Zero Point Zero, which produced Rotten, has said it stands by its reporting.

There is no evidence that garlic in China is fertilized in this fashion, McGill Universitys Office for Science and Society program wrote in a 2017 article on allegations of Chinese sewer garlic.

China is the worlds biggest exporter of garlic, and the U.S. has tariffed Chinese exports of garlic since the mid-1990s to protect U.S. producers, tariffs the Trump administration increased in 2019. China is the largest supplier of garlic to the U.S., according to the Department of Agriculture.

The incoming Trump administration has signaled it will seek to raise tariffs on a variety of Chinese goods.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Amnesty International called for an investigation Wednesday into a former governor and two top army officials in Congo for possible crimes against humanity during a deadly crackdown on demonstrators last year protesting the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country.

The human rights group said in a report Congo's security forces killed at least 56 people and injured 80 more, during a protest in the eastern city of Goma in August 2023.

The protest was organized by a sect called the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith Towards the Nations and known colloquially as Wazalendo. Its supporters were demonstrating against the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, called MONUSCO.

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The MONUSCO force arrived in Congo in 2010 after taking over from an earlier U.N. peacekeeping mission to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel and to support the Congolese government in its stabilization and peace consolidation efforts. However, frustrated Congolese say that no one is protecting them from rebel attacks, leading to several protests against the U.N. mission.

Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence for decades as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources, while others try to defend their communities. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings. More than 7 million people have been displaced.

Gomas Mayor Faustin Napenda Kapend banned the protest soon after it was announced over concerns the organizers were inciting hate and violence. Amnesty International said it found no evidence of incitement to violence in the statements and messages from the Wazalendo it reviewed.

Congolese security and defense forces amassed at major intersections in anticipation of the protest when violence broke out early in the morning. Amnesty International said it saw operational plans in which the security forces were given orders to destroy isolated enemy elements.

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This massacre was not the result of a blunder by a few soldiers who intervened unexpectedly after Wazalendo followers stoned a police officer, as authorities have claimed, Tigere Chagutah, the rights group regional director for East and Southern Africa, said in the statement. It was the result of a series of deliberate, planned actions by the Congolese authorities, after MONUSCO explicitly requested they prohibit the protest.

Amnesty International said it traced the timeline and locations of the killings, identifying three top officials who should be investigated and, if evidence supports it, prosecuted for possible crimes against humanity. They include Lt. Gen. Constant Ndima, who was governor of the North Kivu province at the time, Col. Mike Kalamba Mikombe, who was head of the Republican Guard unit in Goma, and Maj. Peter Kabwe, who led the Republican Guard's Special Forces.

The rights group said Ndima had directed the army and the police to take all measures to protect MONUSCO facilities and the city, after he informed the army and police that the Wazalendo posed a serious threat.

Mikombe was accused of ordering soldiers to open fire on the protesters, who were unarmed, according to Amnesty International and two Congolese military trials, killing dozens.

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Amnesty International accused Kabwe of leading a raid on a Wazalendo radio station ahead of the protest in which six people, including a journalist, were summarily executed.

While Mikombe was convicted and sentenced to death, which the rights group said it opposed, Ndima and Kabwe have not faced justice.

The Democratic Republic of Congo authorities must reopen the investigations into this massacre, in line with regional and international standards, to establish the truth and hold all of those involved accountable," Chagutah said. He added that Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi should suspend Ndima and Kabew, further investigate Mikombe, and ban the Republican Guard and Special Forces from law enforcement operations.
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - More than 20 price comparison websites across Europe on Wednesday criticised Google's proposed changes to its search results, saying they still fail to comply with EU tech rules and urged regulators to impose charges against the Alphabet unit.

Google has been discussing with the comparison sites, hotels, airlines, restaurants and retailers for more than a year now on how to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which prohibits it from favouring its products and services on its platform.

Last month, it announced its latest proposal, which includes expanded and equally formatted units to allow users to choose between comparison sites and supplier websites.

It may also bring back its old "ten blue links" format from years ago as an alternative if it can't agree with its rivals. This format is now being tested in Germany, Belgium and Estonia.

The price comparison websites, which include Germany's Idealo and billiger.de, France's Le Guide, PriceRunner, Kelkoo and kieskeurig.nl and trovaprezzi.it, said Google has not listened to their feedback.

"Google has simply, repeatedly, ignored this feedback, and instead continued to iterate on the same non-compliant solution for months," they said in an open letter.

"If Google has not taken feedback into account after more than 100 events, it can only mean one thing: Google is wilfully not complying with the DMA."

When asked for comment, Google referred to its Nov. 26 blog post where it pointed to the many changes it had made over the past year to comply with the DMA and find a solution.

The websites called on the European Commission to act against Google.

"The Commission has opened proceedings against Google for non-compliance. It must proceed with such proceedings, issue preliminary findings, and impose fines on Google, including periodic penalty payments, to force Google to finally listen and comply," they said.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
An upstate New York man has been arrested for murder after he attempted to drop off his fathers dead body at the Livingston County Sheriffs Office, authorities announced Wednesday.

Richard Fluegel Jr., 30, of Rochester, is accused of fatally shooting his 60-year-old father, who was reported missing earlier this week.

Richard Fluegel Sr. failed to arrive home on Sunday and missed a flight early Monday morning, Sheriff Thomas Dougherty said at a press conference. An investigation into his whereabouts was launched around 11:30 a.m. after his vehicle was found parked in the Village of Dansville.

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Approximately 12 hours later, a person called 911 advising that a male was in the sheriffs office parking lot and wanted to turn in a deceased body, Dougherty said. That person was later identified as the younger Fluegels defense attorney, who pulled up to the sheriffs office in a separate car.

After a search warrant was obtained for Fluegel Jr.s vehicle, investigators found his fathers bullet-riddled body.

The 30-year-old was initially detained on a charge of tampering with evidence and later charged with second-degree murder and criminal use of a firearm.

While Dougherty didnt provide many details about the investigation, he said authorities executed a search warrant at a location on Bonner Road, in the Town of Ossian, which they believe to be the actual scene of the homicide  a conclusion reached by investigators after a lot of forensics, a lot of technicians, a lot of specialty teams, he told reporters.

Fluegel Jr. pleaded not guilty to all three charges at his arraignment on Tuesday. He was remanded back to the Livingston County Jail, where hes being held without bail. Hes expected to appear back in court on Dec. 16.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Rockford SCOPE Officers arrested Jaleel Lake, 28, and Breanna Wallace, 27, for the alleged aggravated unlawful use of a weapon among other charges.

On December 9, around 11:30 p.m., officers pulled a Dodge Charger over because it had an expired registration in the area of Auburn and Furman Streets. Police said the back window was so darkly tinted they could not see inside.

When officials spoke with Lake and Wallace they could smell raw cannabis coming from the vehicle, according to court records.

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During the search, authorities found cannabis, a loaded handgun and cocaine on Wallace, police reported. Officials also found more ammunition in the car, according to court records.

The handgun and cocaine were Lakes property, according to court documents.

Lake was convicted of possession of a stolen firearm in 2019 and aggravated battery in 2013. He is charged with possession of a firearm without a FOID, Illegal possession of ammunition without a FOID, unauthorized window tints, expired registration, felon possession of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon inside a vehicle with a previous felony conviction.

Wallace is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

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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.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romanias pro-European parties agreed Wednesday to form a majority government made up of groupings that were traditionally on opposite sides and shutting out far-right nationalists who made significant gains in the election on Dec. 1.

Pro-Western parties won the most votes, with the leftist Social Democratic Party, or PSD, topping the polls. The PSD reached agreement late Tuesday to form a grand coalition with the center-right National Liberal Party, or PNL, the reformist Save Romania Union party, USR, and the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party.

The parliamentary election came hard on the heels of a presidential vote in which the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu won the first round. His surprise success plunged the European Union and NATO member country into turmoil as allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged.

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Days before the Dec. 8 presidential runoff, the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the presidential race.

A statement from the new coalition said the parties would potentially support a common pro-European candidate in the new presidential elections. It isnt yet clear whether Georgescu will be allowed to run in the new vote.

President Klaus Iohannis, whose second term is set to expire later this month, said a new date for the rerun presidential election would be set once the new government has taken office. He signed a decree on Wednesday to convene parliament on Dec. 20.

In the coming days, the four parties and the representatives of the national minorities will work on a joint governing program, focusing on development and reforms, while addressing the priorities of Romanian citizens, the coalition statement said.

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Elena Lasconi, the leader of USR who was set to face Georgescu in the annulled presidential runoff, said after the agreement was reached that Romania is going through a very difficult period and that cutting state spending and reducing bureaucracy would be part of the governing program.

In 2021, despite historically being Romanias two main opposition parties that have dominated post-communist politics, the PSD and the PNL formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute.
The former roommate of the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has revealed that he is the one who introduced Luigi Mangione to the screed that would eventually shape his future.

A focal point in untangling who Mangione is following his arrest on Monday has been his Goodreads account, particularly a chilling review he wrote of Ted Unabomber Kaczynskis radical manifesto, Industrial Society and Its Future.

Writing on the account associated with him in January, Mangione described Kaczynskis text as prescient and noted that when all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive. Along with giving the Unabomber manifesto a 4 out of 5 star rating, sentiments from Kaczynskis text were also reportedly mirrored in the 262-word manifesto police found on Mangione the day of his arrest.

The manifesto authorities attributed to Luigi Mangione was published online on Tuesday. / Altoona Police Dept.

Mangiones former roommate, R.J. Martin, who lived with him in Hawaii between January and June 2022, detailed to Fox News on Tuesday how exactly the 26-year-old suspect in Thompsons killing got acquainted with the book in the first place.

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Speaking to Jesse Watters, Martin explained that Mangione spearheaded a book club where he suggested a bunch of interesting pieces to read. One of the earlier books the group read was Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, which profiles different success stories.

Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse for an extradition hearing Dec. 10, 2024 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Mangione has been arraigned on weapons and false identification charges related to the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Mangione is incarcerated in the State Correctional Institution in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania awaiting extradition to New York. / Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

As for how Kaczynski entered the chat, Martin said that he was actually the one to suggest reading the book.

I actually proposed that we read, kind of half joke, that we read the Unabomber manifesto, he shared. I always wanted to read it but never got around to it, so that was my suggestion.

Martin proceeded to disclose that they had a normal discussion around it. Nothing that stood out at the time. No anger. No special affinity towards it. Just, you know, thought provoking discussion, he added.

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When Watters pressed Martin on why he wanted to read Kaczynskis manifesto in the first place, Martin explained, I have an academic background and I really enjoy reading just about anything, different perspectives, right, left, middle, progressive.

He noted that he wanted to understand a little bit more about what he wrote and why he wrote it, before adding that he wouldnt say that he turned Mangione on to the essay.

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

In an earlier phone interview with NBC News , Kaczynskis brother David disclosed that he hopes Mangione didnt view the domestic terrorist as a key model and likened his siblings actions to a virus.

They could be like a virus unless they understand he was a very angry and disturbed man, David shared. It doesnt mean his ideas are ideas of a lunatic, but his behavior, I believe, is the behavior of a lunatic.

To the extent that he may have attributed at all to sort of normalizing or recasting the violent acts as beneficial to humanity is a terrible mistake, he added.
Some believe that Donald Trump only deals in brash statements, in big and bold attention and headline-grabbing acts of bombast. This isnt true. Every aspect of his persona, from the oversized ties to the dance moves, tells us something.

Nowhere is this truer than in his handshakes. Compare the WWE-style grip he inflicted on President Macron to the softer, warmer clasp he gave the Prince of Wales in Paris during the service for Notre Dames reopening.

For all the warmth there, however, something of a pall is hanging over Anglo-American relations. So high were the Labour Party on their own supply that they couldnt countenance anything other than a Harris win. The sight of the spotty, West Wing-obsessed weirdos who make up Labours activist base, handing out Harris/Walz leaflets to bemused Midwesterners has clearly stoked Trumps ire.

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He isnt the only one with misgivings. For months, Elon Musk has tweeted frequently about the free speech crisis in Britain, with a clear sense that he blames Sir Keir personally. Indeed, one under-discussed factor in Musks interest may be the fact that his grandma was a Scouser. Meanwhile the appointment of the Sage of Tottenham as Foreign Secretary, with his track record of insults and startling lack of basic geographical knowledge, has scarcely helped.

Some perceive a magic bullet to solve this dilemma. For New Labour revanchists, the type who recall the occupation of Basra with the sort of misty-eyed affection most of us reserve for our childhood Christmases, the answer is to reach for the centre-Lefts ultimate political operator, Lord Mandelson. Admittedly, the thought of the man forever associated with mistaking mushy peas for guacamole being subjected to a Trumpian family bucket feast from KFC is quite funny, but just how simpatico would the Prince of Darkness and the Donald actually be? And if competence really matters, then why replace the formidable current ambassador to Washington, Dame Karen Pierce, scourge of the Russians and previous smoother-over of Trumpian ire, at all?

For some on the Right, a more attractive possibility occurs. Nigel Farage and the president-elect share an obvious and genuine repartee.

There are issues, however. Farage may be the most accomplished political operator in recent UK history, but he is also something of a lone wolf. Its hard to imagine him as ambassador doing the bidding of the Lammy Foreign Office. And while Mr Farage may enjoy the odd Stateside jaunt, such a permanent role would involve relinquishing power over Reform UK just as it is taking off.

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President Trump is the very definition of a man for whom the personal often trumps (forgive me) the political. Thankfully, Britain has a secret weapon: the Royal family. The Paris greeting was no one-off. Trump has made no secret of his gushing affection for the Royals. The Prince of Wales is handsome and a good man, Queen Camilla is fantastic. The late Queen was someone he would always cherish and there was nobody like her. His Majesty the King is a really good person and so beautiful.

These are not mere diplomatic niceties but words from the heart of Trumps id. He articulates this attachment in a way he doesnt to any of the transient political figures he encounters among the European powers, Sir Keir and David Lammy included. A thawing in Anglo-American relations may yet be royal-led. After all, how many other heads of state can claim to be the subject of a personal scrapbook in the president-elects possession?

If the Cabinet has a shared brain cell between them, they will push for a state visit to Washington pronto, invite Trump back to Windsor or  even better, given his Scottish roots  Balmoral. This is a man who follows his emotional instincts, for whom political doors can be opened, provided respect is shown. The Royal Familys diplomatic role is nothing new: Edward VII, George V and Elizabeth II routinely out-performed their governments when it came to international relations. But in this age of fraught alliances, royal diplomacy will be more valuable than ever.

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 fishing vessel Nancy Elizabeth, a herring trawler involved in the Loper Bright Supreme Court decision in June, is seen in Cape May, N.J. The decision upheld a challenge by herring fishermen to a rule that made them pay for federal monitors and could set an important precedent for states seeking to challenge both Republican and Democratic federal rules. (Courtesy of Cause of Action Institute)

A major U.S. Supreme Court decision this summer was hailed as a conservative courts broadside against a Democratic administration, giving red states more backing to delay or overturn policies they dont like, such as transgender protections and clean energy goals.

But the ruling in the Loper Bright case, which granted courts more power to scrutinize federal rules, can go both ways. Experts say it will likely give blue states more leeway to attack any forthcoming policy changes from President-elect Donald Trump  ranging from immigration and the environment to Medicaid and civil rights.

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The decision overturns a legal concept called Chevron deference, in place since 1984 and named after a case involving the Chevron oil company. That ruling granted federal agencies wide discretion in interpreting vague laws that had been passed by Congress and sent to the executive branch to sort out the details. Generally, courts deferred to the agency regulations.

Chevron deference became a superstar of the courts, cited in more than 18,000 federal court decisions.

The latest ruling wipes that all away. Experts said it will boost blue-state resistance to Trump policies. Lawsuits already are being planned in many statehouses, as California holds a special session to set aside money for legal fights, and other states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and New York also talk court strategy. Democratic governors in Colorado and Illinois formed a coalition in November to fortify essential democratic rights nationwide.

In effect, the ruling opens more federal rules to those court challenges. Blue states now have a new weapon to fight conservative federal rules on issues such as immigration, climate change, abortion access and civil rights.

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Ironically, the original 1984 decision establishing more power for federal agencies was made by a conservative court that was paving the way for deregulation in the Reagan administration, noted Leonardo Cuello, a research professor at Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policys Center for Children and Families.

It was a case that really opened the door to Reagan deregulation, sort of untying the hands of the [federal] agencies by saying, Were going to give you a lot of slack to start doing things, Cuello said.

Fast-forward to today, and overturning Chevron really has the opposite effect, Cuello said. Youre handcuffing the new [Trump administration] agency from deregulating.

It makes it hard for an agency to build out new things and it makes it hard to undo existing things, he said. Theres some irony to the fact that a conservative majority issued that ruling just before a conservative administration took office.

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Trump appointed three of the six justices who supported the decision.

Some Trump allies still see the ruling as a weapon against excessive regulation. Vivek Ramaswamy, chosen by Trump alongside tech billionaire Elon Musk to lead an advisory body the president-elect named the Department of Government Efficiency, said in a December post on X that the decision paves the way for not a slight but a drastic reduction in the scope of the federal regulatory state.

But most experts see the change as an obstacle to a new Republican administration looking to make sweeping changes but lacking enough support in Congress to pass large-scale legislation. Any proposals restricting access to abortion or attempting to dismantle the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid expansion will be more complicated, said Zachary Baron, a director of the Center for Health Policy and the Law at Georgetown Universitys ONeill Institute.

All these new policies are going to be challenged in court, and state attorneys general will certainly be leading the way. Baron said. I think there will be a lot of big legal fights to come.

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Now, it could become harder for a Trump administration to deregulate areas of the economy, crack down on immigration, impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients, or remove protections for gender and LBGTQ+ status. The Biden administration similarly has run into roadblocks.

We have already seen conservative judges point to Loper Bright as one reason to block the Biden administrations efforts to expand the reach of nondiscrimination protections, including with respect to LGBTQ+ folks, Baron said.

All these new policies are going to be challenged in court, and state attorneys general will certainly be leading the way. I think there will be a lot of big legal fights to come.

 Zachary Baron, a director of the Center for Health Policy and the Law at Georgetown Universitys ONeill Institute

For instance, federal courts in Florida, Mississippi and Texas  in response to lawsuits brought by various Republican states  prevented an Affordable Care Act rule banning gender identity-based discrimination from taking effect in July. Each ruling cited Loper Bright as one factor.

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With Trumps election, its now blue states that have a sharper tool to combat Republican agendas.

To the extent that the Trump administration tries to radically rewrite these nondiscrimination protections again, he may well find that Democratic state AGs [attorneys general] will be able to successfully block such efforts as a result of Loper Bright also, Baron said.

Congress has not approved a major immigration or environmental law for decades. That has forced both Democratic and Republican administrations to change policy through either executive order or federal regulations that can now be more easily challenged by hostile states in the courts.

If you like the administration thats advancing policies, then Loper Bright is not a good thing for what would happen when states challenge those policies, said Nancy Morawetz, a New York University law professor who helps run an immigrant legal clinic, speaking at a September conference on immigration law.

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Trumps election does not change that, Morawetz told Stateline later.

If the administration is anti-immigrant, Loper Bright provides stronger grounds for having a court look at whether it is breaking the law, Morawetz said. The executive branch gets less deference.

The courts decision may also help immigrants themselves when they go to court to challenge federal policies on deportation and legal status, Morawetz said.

Red states looking to enact Medicaid work requirements under a more amenable Trump administration also might be thwarted by the Loper Bright decision, Cuello said. The first Trump administration lost every court challenge when it granted state requests for work requirements, he said, and Loper Bright will make it even harder this time.

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Even with the more generous standards granted to the agency [under the previous Chevron deference], those cases got shot down, and so now you would expect theyd be even more likely to be shot down, Cuello said. The win is harder.

The Loper Bright decision could also hamper promised efforts by a Trump administration to unwind environmental regulations, by making it easier for blue states to challenge any changes. That would flip the script from todays lawsuits, in which red states are fighting the stricter regulations of coal-fired power plants.

Red states have also fought new Biden administration vehicle pollution standards, and Trump allies have threatened to undermine scientific integrity policies seen as preventing deregulation by shielding scientists from political interference.

The Loper Bright decision went 6-2 in favor of New Jersey herring fishermen who opposed a 2020 federal rule requiring them to pay salaries for the third-party observers on their boats who were there to ensure compliance with regulations. The fishermen argued that the cost, up to $710 per day, had no legal justification and cut their family profits by 20%.

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Lower courts ruled against the fishermen, saying the often-cited Chevron deference principle did not allow them to challenge the federal rule. The Supreme Court struck down the principle, ruling that courts are required to exercise their independent judgment on federal rules.

Agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote.

In a dissenting opinion joined by liberal justices, Associate Justice Elena Kagan called the deference to agency interpretations part of the warp and woof of modern government, supporting regulatory efforts of all kinds  keeping air and water clean, food and drugs safe, and financial markets honest. And the rule is right.

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.

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RUSK, Texas (KETK)  Rusk Rural Water Supply has issued a boil water notice due to a Tuesday main line leak.

Boil water notice dos and donts

According to officials, customers affected include those that live on County Roads 2214, 2313, 2323 and some on FM 23. Residents of FM 23 will receive a call if they should boil their water.

Rusk Rural WSC said affected customers should boil their water before consumption, washing their hands and face, brushing teeth or cooking.

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The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes, officials said. In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Once the boil water notice is rescinded, the water supply corporation said theyll notify customers.

Anyone with question or concerns is asked to contact Rusk Rural Water Supply at 903-683-6178.

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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
The Kremlin confirmed on Dec. 11 that longtime Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad had fled to Moscow after rebels took the capital city of Damascus in a lightning offensive that shocked the world.

Assads exile in Russia comes as little surprise. The Kremlin had invested heavily in propping up the regime in Syria with military support since 2015, when Russian air raids on rebel forces helped the Assad regime to solidify its grip on power. In exchange, Russia got a staging ground for military operations, including two permanent bases.

With its military tied up in Ukraine for its now three-year invasion, Russia proved incapable of protecting Assad this time around. Russias assets in Syria, key to its projection of military force internationally, now hang in the balance.

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Ukrainian intelligence reported on Dec. 10 that Russia had begun pulling out some military equipment from Syria, particularly its only air base outside the former Soviet Union and its only warm-water port in the world.

Beyond damaging Russias international prestige, any pullout also has observers speculating on a collapse in Russias ability to continue operations across Africa.

But for now, Russian soldiers remain at the bases, ostensibly as the Kremlin waits out the formation of a new Syrian regime.

I think everyone's watching that very, very closely, Chatham House, London associate fellow Neil Quilliam told the Kyiv Independent.

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I can see this morning that there are two frigates and a submarine just about six or seven kilometers off base. So they're in the area. I think they're in a holding position at the moment, seeing how the situation will play out in Damascus.

What does Russia have at its bases in Syria?

The BBC estimated that there were around 7,500 Russian soldiers in Syria as of the beginning of 2024.

Russia always had a very limited, surgical presence in Syria, and it is easier to sustain a small presence than a large presence, Anna Borshchevskaya, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She put the likely upper limit for total Russian fighters in Syria closer to 4,500.

Speaking to the Kyiv Independent, Marat Gabidullin, Kremlin-backed Wagner mercenary from 2015 to 2019, described Hmeimim Air Base as the hub of Russias operations across Africa and the Middle East.

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All the main logistics went through Hmeimim, he said, describing it as enviably comfortable compared to temporary operations bases where he stayed while a Wagner member, particularly recalling the spartan conditions at the Hayan gas processing facility in the desert near Palmyra.

Now theyre going to have to re-build their logistics and make a bet on Libya, and Libya is a very unsettled region, said Gabidullin, noting, in particular, the difficulties of dealing with the warlord/strongman of eastern Libya.

Then theyll have to budget for (Libyan strongman Khalifa) Haftars whims, and Haftar is an unpredictable man.

While he denied knowing figures for overall Russian forces, Gabidullin said he recalls roughly 3,000 Wagner fighters in-country while he was there.

Russian soldiers are seen near armored vehicles as they enter the base at the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates, located 90 kilometers east of Aleppo in Aleppo Governorate, Syria, on Nov. 18, 2019. (Bekir Kasim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The port at Tartus held six Russian ships  three frigates, two oil tankers, and a submarine  which Business Insider showed as having been pulled out as of Monday. The air base in Hmeimim has retained an indeterminate amount of aircraft but was conducting aerial operations against the rebel advance in December.

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Borshchevskaya noted that Hmeimim served as a launch point for various Sukhoy jets  24s, 25s, and 30s  over the years in quantities unknown.

More importantly, Russia kept S-400 anti-air batteries in town, despite pulling many of the S-300s into Ukraine, which made sure that Israel was dependent on Russias goodwill to carry out its air strikes in Syria, she said, as S-400s could have shot those air strikes down.

We've seen the Russian troops withdraw primarily to the air base at Hmeimim, and then also the troops withdraw into Tartus, Neil Quilliam, an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House, London, told the Kyiv Independent.

There is a catch. At the moment, you know, they're still there, they're still present. There hasn't been an evacuation, said Quilliam.

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Russia weighs political navigation or mass evacuation

While the Russian Embassy in Syria did urge its citizens to leave the country on Dec. 6, the Russian military has yet to pull out in the chaotic fashion that some were anticipating just days ago.

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Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argued that any mass evacuation of Russian equipment will be obvious.

For the time being, its a political tightrope. While Russia is clearly hedging, it seems to be managing the handover of power successfully for the time being. That is despite the fact that up until days ago, Russia referred to groups like Hayat Tahrir ash-Shams (HTS), the driving force of the advance on Damascus, in terms of terrorism.

The Russian Air Force group based at Hmeimim Airbase in Latakia district on Dec. 7 touted it had destroyed over 300 terrorists, 55 vehicles and one warehouse in its defense of Assads regime.

HTS is an Islamist group that split from al-Qaeda more than a decade ago and remains on Western terror designation lists.

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Russias work to defend Assad may not doom it in the eyes of the new rulers of Syria, however.

A portrait of overthrown Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is pictured with its frame broken, in a Syrian regime's Political Security Branch facility on the outskirts of the central city of Hama, following the capture of the area by anti-government forces, on Dec. 7, 2024. (Omar Haj Kandour / AFP via Getty Images)

There was no great love for Russia in Syria. But Russia doesn't care about love. They care about securing influence with a ruling regime, whatever that regime might be, said Borshchevskaya.

What the fall of Assad means for Ukraine remains uncertain, but Ukrainian intelligence is delighting in Russias failure. Russia and Iran have meanwhile accused Ukraine of training and equipping the rebel groups.

Regardless of any evacuation, a collapse in Russias power in Syria undermines Putins authority in the global south.

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The Middle East, by and large, didn't really buy into the Western and Ukrainian narrative on the war. They tended to be at best neutral on Russia's war in Ukraine. The situation has the potential of changing that narrative that Russia is not the great power that so many in the so-called Global South perceive it to be, said Borshchevskaya.

The Syrian and Ukrainian theaters were always deeply connected, she said, but cautions that the Syrian bases were a logistical hub for African operations rather than anything in Ukraine.

Ramifications could play against Ukrainian interests. If they were to pull these people out of Syria they could just end up in the Donbas or elsewhere. Its a very uncertain picture.

Read also: Assad regime collapse in Syria exposes weakness of Russia, Iran, EUs top diplomat says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the U.S. transfer to Ukraine of $20 billion backed by frozen Russian assets was "simply robbery" and suggested Moscow could seize Western assets on its territory "to enhance industrial potential".

"The provision by the U.S. Treasury Department...of $20 billion using income from operations of 'frozen' Russian sovereign assets essentially stolen by the G7 countries is simply robbery," a statement on the ministry website said.

The statement said U.S. President Joe Biden's administration was trying "in a Russophobic frenzy to introduce as many anti-Russian sanctions as possible before it transfers power to D. Trump's team on January 20th".

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"No pseudo-legal machinations, abundantly seasoned with hypocrisy and double standards will go unanswered," the statement said.

"Russia possesses sufficient capabilities and levers for a retaliatory seizure of Western assets within its jurisdiction, which in such a case would be used to enhance industrial potential and implement infrastructure projects in Russian regions."

The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday said it transferred the $20 billion U.S. portion of a $50 billion G7 loan for Ukraine to a World Bank intermediary fund for economic and financial aid to Kyiv.

The Treasury Department said the action makes good on its October commitment to match the European Union's commitment to provide $20 billion in aid backed by frozen Russian sovereign assets alongside smaller loans from Britain, Canada and Japan to help the Eastern European nation fight Russia's 33-month-old invasion.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by David Gregorio)
Russian forces have incurred record-high casualties in manpower during hostilities in both November and December, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 11 after hearing a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Moscow's troops are advancing at a rapid pace in Ukraine's east, pushing back outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian defenders at the cost of staggering losses.

"As in November, the Russian military is using a record number of its men in December in battles and assaults," Zelensky said on Telegram.

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"These months  November and December  saw record Russian losses," the president noted, adding that the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors in Donetsk Oblast remain the active parts of the front.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Dec. 1 that Russian losses throughout November amounted to 45,720 soldiers wounded, killed, or captured, as well as over $3 billion worth of equipment.

November also saw the record broken for the enemy personnel losses in one day with 2,030, the highest figure since Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian and Western estimates put Russian losses at between 600,000-750,000 killed, injured, or captured, while Moscow has not disclosed the exact figures.

Despite the losses, Russia holds the upper hand on the battlefield, advancing toward key Donetsk Oblast towns like Pokrovsk and chipping away at the Ukrainian position in the Russian border region of Kursk.

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In his post, Zelensky also thanked Ukrainian forces for "tangible hits on Russian targets last night," namely "military facilities on Russian territory" and "energy and fuel facilities."

Earlier today, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported a successful strike against a Druzhba oil pipeline loading station near the Russian city of Bryansk, resulting in a large-scale fire.

Read also: Russian losses in Syria  BBC identifies 543 soldiers, Wagner mercenaries who died since 2015

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Moscow persuaded Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia with his family after realizing his regime was bound to lose to the opposition's rapid advance, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 11, citing its sources.

Syrian rebels announced on Dec. 8 that they successfully ousted Assad from power following a lightning offensive across the country, which culminated with the capture of the capital city of Damascus.

Assad was swiftly flown out of the country via a Russian airbase by Moscow's intelligence agents to avoid his capture by the rebels, Bloomberg wrote. The airplanes transponder was likely turned off to avoid being tracked, the outlet's source said.

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed on Dec. 10 that Russia is sheltering the ousted Syrian dictator.

According to Bloomberg, Russian President Vladimir Putin was questioning his security services over their failure to spot the growing threat to Assads regime until it was too late.

Moscow deployed its troops to Syria in 2015, providing support to the Assad regime against multiple anti-government forces. Damascus has been supportive of the Kremlin during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Russian forces operating in Syria have been accused by the U.N. and other organizations of committing war crimes in the country, including the intentional bombing of hospitals and the usage of "double-tap" attacks, a tactic Russia has repeated in Ukraine.

Read also: What does Assads downfall mean for Russia and Ukraine?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Russian military summarily executed at least 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) in 2024, Ukraines Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on national television on Dec. 10.

"In 2024 alone, we can confirm that Russian troops shot 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war," Lubinets said. Reports of murders, torture, and ill-treatment of POWs are received regularly by Ukrainian authorities.

The ombudsman added that 177 cases of POW executions were confirmed "during the previous years of the full-scale war."

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It is not immediately clear whether he was referring to the overall figure of 177 captives who died in Russian captivity throughout the all-out war, as revealed by Victoria Tsymbaliuk, a representative of the Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of POWs, in October.

Nevertheless, the number of POWs killed in 2024 alone underscores an increased frequency of summary executions by the Russian military. This trend coincides with an accelerated pace of the Russian advance in Ukraine.

The figures refer only to officially confirmed cases, meaning the overall numbers may be higher.

"There are Russian representatives who are now cynically and publicly showing the whole world that they do not comply with international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, they abduct children, they commit torture against the civilian population of Ukraine, they kill Ukrainian prisoners of war," Lubinets said.

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The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

The Hague court also issued arrest warrants for ex-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian army. Shoigu and Gerasimov are charged with "directing attacks at civilian objects," "causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects," and the "crime against humanity of inhumane acts."

"Unfortunately, we do not see an effective reaction from the international community. We are very grateful for the deep concern, but as the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for more than 10 years, three years of full-scale war, shows, words do not stop Russia," Lubinets said.

Read also: Ombudsman denies Russian claim that Kyiv is delaying prisoner exchanges

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Russia may launch its new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) against Ukraine for the second time "in the coming days," the Associated Press (AP) reported on Dec. 11, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

Russia launched its new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Dnipro in Ukraine on Nov. 21. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the strike was in response to Ukraine's use of American and British weapons to target deeper within Russia.

Washington still sees the experimental Oreshnik missile more as "an attempt at intimidation than a game-changer on the battlefield in Ukraine," a U.S. official told reporters on condition of anonymity, referring to a U.S. intelligence assessment.

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Russia has only "a handful" of the Oreshnik missiles, and they carry a smaller warhead than other missiles that Russia has regularly launched at Ukraine, AP reported, citing an official.

In early December, the Moscow Times reported, citing four Russian official sources, that the media blitz following the strike on Dnipro was a carefully staged stunt designed to scare off the West.

The Oreshnik is likely not a new Russian development but a modification of the RS-26 missile, also known as the Rubezh, Fabian Hoffmann, a defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told the Kyiv Independent.

"I think basically they (Russians) just took apart the RS-26 or just cannibalized it, and then put together this new missile with a couple of upgrades, and a new paint job."

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First produced in 2011, and successfully tested in 2012, the Rubezh is a 36,000 kilogram, nuclear capable, intermediate-range ballistic missile with a known range of 5,800 kilometers.

Read also: Dont overreact  Oreshnik missile isnt as new as Russia claims, experts say

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Russia is open to participating in another prisoner exchange with the U.S., Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with NBC News on Dec. 10.

The call for a prisoner exchange comes as U.S President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated in January, and following the most extensive prisoner exchange between the U.S and Russia in August

Russia will "definitely be prepared to consider" a prisoner exchange, Ryabkov told NBC News, adding that a potential exchange could mark "a healthy step forward, especially at the beginning of the next (U.S.) administration."

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Russia has long been accused of incarcerating individual in rulings that are widely seen as being politically motivated.

In August, the U.S and its allies exchanged prisoners with Russia in a transfer mediated by Turkey. 26 people from seven countries  U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus were freed.

Those released to Russia include spies, assassins, and cyber-criminals, included convicted Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov. In exchange, the U.S received three prisoners in the swap, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg in late March 2023 while working on a story about the Wagner mercenary group's recruiting methods, as well as Russian citizens' views on the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Following more than a year of pretrial detention, Gershkovich's trial finally began in June, and he was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

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No timeline was provided as to when the next prisoner exchange may be expected, with Ryabkov adding that facilitated exchanges require "a multiphased or multistep approach on both sides."

Read also: US announces $20 billion loan for Ukraine as part of G7 initiative

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Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have pointed to increasing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, with Russia reportedly transferring MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter aircraft to North Korea in exchange for the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to support the war in Ukraine.

Source: ISW

Details: Russia plans to deliver fighter jets to North Korea as part of a deepening military partnership between the two nations.

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Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), revealed on 10 December that Russia has agreed to supply MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets to North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang deploying troops to support Russias war efforts in Ukraine.

Paparo noted that the delivery of these jets would strengthen North Koreas military capabilities and suggested that Pyongyang likely expects further military assets and technology from Russia, including ballistic missile reentry vehicles, submarine technologies and air defence systems.

Paparo noted that North Korean soldiers remain in combat zones, likely in reference to Kursk Oblast, but are not yet actively fighting.

According to Paparo, North Korean forces are already present in combat zones, possibly in Kursk Oblast, though they have not yet taken part in active fighting.

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Earlier reports from South Korean network TV Chosun revealed on 21 October that North Korea sent a group of fighter pilots to Russias Vladivostok in early October, likely to train on Russian aircraft ahead of ground troop deployments.

Quote from ISW: "North Korean pilots are trained on Russian Su-25 attack aircraft (which are already part of the Korean People's Army [KPA] Air Force fleet) further indicating that a Russian delivery of fighter jets will benefit and expand North Korea's military capabilities, especially in the air domain."

Details: ISW also assessed that military ties between Russia and North Korea have deepened considerably since the signing of their Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2024, which officially took effect on 4 December.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 10 December:

Russia's force posture around Syria continues to reflect the Kremlin's current cautious and indecisive response to the fall of Bashar al Assad's regime.

Russia intends to supply North Korea with fighter jets amid a growing military partnership between the two countries.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin met with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Moscow on 10 December as India continues efforts to balance military technical cooperation with Russia and maintain good relations with key Western allies.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced on the Vuhledar front, and Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk and Kharkiv oblasts and in the Svatove, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka directions.

The Russian government continues efforts to formalise irregular Russian military units and veterans from the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics army corps (DNR and LNR ACs) and formally integrate them under the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Russia continues to utilise Western-produced high-tech components in Russian weapons systems despite Western sanctions against Russia and cobelligerent states.

A Russian insider source who has previously correctly predicted command changes within the Russian MoD claimed on 9 December that Russian leader Vladimir Putin promoted the Russian Deputy Defence Minister, Pavel Fradkov, to the rank of Major General.

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Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least eight civilians and injured at least 57 over the past day, regional authorities reported early on Dec. 11.

Russia launched a missile attack against the city of Zaporizhzhia late on Dec. 10, destroying a clinic, killing seven people, and injuring 22, officials said. At least 20 residential buildings were damaged.

Russian attacks against Kharkiv Oblast injured 19 people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

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The vast majority  17  were recorded in the town of Zlatopil after Russia struck the city with two Iskander-M missiles, according to officials. Sixteen residential buildings were damaged.

A 63-year-old man was also injured in the village of Zapadne, and a 59-year-old woman in the village of Ivashky, Syniehubov said.

In Kherson Oblast, one person was killed and 15 injured in Russian attacks, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

One civilian was injured during a Russian attack against Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Read also: Updated: Ukraine reportedly strikes industrial targets in Russias Rostov, Bryansk oblasts

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Moscow was not ready to make concessions when it came to Ukraine and that President Vladimir Putin's own proposals on how to end the conflict needed to be implemented.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made her comments in the context of a call by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end "the madness."

Zakharova said Russia was ready to engage with the new U.S. administration on Ukraine, but had not yet received any serious, workable options to address what she said were Russia's legitimate security concerns and worries about the rights of Ukraine's Russian-speaking population.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has been pushing hard for his country to be invited to join the NATO military alliance, responded to Trump's comments by saying Kyiv needed effective security guarantees.

But Zakharova said that anyone who thought Russia would make concessions on Ukraine was mistaken.

"Firstly, Russia is acting. Secondly, if someone expects Russia to make some kind of concessions, apparently these people have a short memory and insufficient knowledge of the matter," she said.

Putin's proposals for peace needed to be implemented, she said.

The Kremlin chief has said that Ukraine must not join NATO and that Russia needs the entire territory of the four Ukrainian regions he has said are now part of Russia if there is to be peace.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Georgia's Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia lost all electricity supply due to the shutdown of the only power station supplying energy to the region, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Dec. 11, citing an Abkhaz energy company.

The Enguri hydroelectric power station, partially located in Abkhazia, stopped working on Dec. 11 due to critically low water levels in a nearby reservoir.

The region has recently faced energy shortages aggravated by a growing spat with its Russian patrons. Moscow has cut almost all funding, including money crucial for the energy sector, after Abkhazia's local council voted against a controversial investment agreement with Russia.

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The full-blown energy crisis came even though the Abkhaz authorities appealed to Russia for assistance on Dec. 6.

Russia has occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia after a war with Tbilisi in 2008, backing local breakaway leadership. Both regions are internationally recognized as Georgia's sovereign soil.

Tensions arose between Moscow and Abkhazia in November following protests against a law that would permit Russians to purchase property in Abkhazia. The demonstrations culminated in the resignation of the region's head, Aslan Bzhania, and the local council voting down the law on Dec. 3.

Three days later, the Abkhaz authorities announced that nearly all Russian funding had ceased, save for pension payments.

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Read also: Despite popular uprising, Kremlins grip on occupied Abkhazia runs supreme

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Russian occupation authorities in Donetsk jailed nine Ukrainian soldiers captured after defending Mariupol to between 24 years and a life sentence, the city's exiled authorities reported on Dec. 11.

Russia often uses trumped-up charges to jail captured Ukrainian soldiers, activists, journalists, and regular civilians for lengthy terms.

Moscow's proxies in Donetsk now sentenced soldiers of the 36th Marine Brigade who fell into Russian hands after a gruesome siege of Mariupol and its Azovstal steel plant in the spring of 2022, the exiled Mariupol City Council said on Telegram.

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Andrii Shestak, Nazarii Moroz, Vladyslav Yavorskyi, Vadym Shulha, Serhii Yampolskyi, Maksym Kolbasin, Dmytro Shalara, Volodymyr Penzin, and Kostiantyn Romaniuk are to serve their sentence in a high-security prison, according to the statement.

The occupation authorities accused the soldiers of shelling the village of Staryi Krym near Mariupol in March 2022.

Ukraine's former Prosecutor General said that nine out of 10 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) are subjected to physical and moral torture. While Ukraine has managed to bring back home some of the captives, including Azovstal defenders, through prisoner exchanges, many more remain in Russian captivity.

Read also: 12 never-before-seen photos from Azovstal defense (Photos)

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Russian spies met with Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters to plan a disinformation campaign against Kazakhstan, a court has heard.

Orlin Roussev, who led a spy ring from his home in Great Yarmouth, claimed that his team had met with the climate campaigners as they plotted to douse the countrys embassy in London with blood.

The Russian security services would pass on fake intelligence about the staged protest to the Kazakh intelligence agencies in order to gain favour, jurors heard.

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Roussev and Jan Marsalek, the fugitive boss of German payments processor Wirecard, who was giving Roussev orders on behalf of the Kremlin, also discussed creating deep-fake gay porn of the presidents son or catching him in a honey trap.

When they realised that the Kazakh intelligence agencies were not taking them seriously enough, Roussev said he had lined up a peer, a baroness and two MPs to raise issues about human rights abuses in Kazakhstan in Parliament.

The pair also suggested hiring Sacha Baron Cohen to create a Borat video criticising the Kazakh regime and sending letters to EU leaders calling for them to sanction Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the president, over his support for Vladimir Putin.

The disinformation campaign, planned in the autumn of 2021, was one of six operations organised between Roussev and Marsalek which will be outlined to jurors.

Just Stop Oil are known for their dramatic protests, including throwing soup on Vincent van Goghs Sunflowers painting - AFP

Roussev, 46, and his number two Bizer Dzhambazov, 43, have already admitted to conspiracy to spy with a Russian agent using the alias Rupert Ticz, who prosecutors allege is Marsalek.

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Marsalek is wanted by Interpol in connection with a 1.6 billion fraud at Wirecard, which collapsed in 2020.

Katrin Ivanova, Dzhambazovs girlfriend, 33, Vanya Gaberova, his 30-year-old lover, and Tihomir Ivanchev, Gaberovas ex-boyfriend, 39, all deny being part of the conspiracy and are on trial at the Old Bailey.

The court was told that Ms Ivanova had taken part in the surveillance of the Kazakh embassy in London as Roussev and Marsalek put together plans to douse it in pigs blood using drones.

Dzhambazov had access to human blood samples through his job at The Doctors Laboratory, where he worked alongside Ms Ivanova, it was said.

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But the vampire team were also running tests on how to make pigs blood the right consistency to spray over the building on Pall Mall, in central London.

Bizer Dzhambazov, 43, has admitted to conspiracy to spy but Katrin Ivanova, his girlfriend, denies being part of the conspiracy - Facebook

Roussev shared links to Just Stop Oil campaigns in which they have daubed buildings with paint and in October 2021 he messaged Marsalek to say he met the Oil Protester very good.

The Bulgarian, who had EU settled status to remain in the UK, said that he was definitely impressed on their abilities.

[Sic] Amazing organisation they even have training courses how to peaceful protest and disruption, tight on the edge of the law without getting more than 1-2 weeks jail time in worst case scenario, he wrote.

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I can summarise these people as pure white KKK [Ku Klux Klan] or pure Hitler Youth they are not racist but simply only white people in their troops. I was surprised and confused at the same time

They are fearless  and pretty much have a do not care attitude that they can go to jail  and sort of Kamikaze  but wait in their ranks are very intelligent people  even teachers etc  so very interesting breed of people.

Roussev claimed that JSO are driven by pure dedication and that they like our angle for the interconnection between Human Rights Abuses and Big Oil business in Kazakhstan.

There is no suggestion that if a meeting took place the climate protesters were aware that they were talking with Russian spies.

Orlin Roussev brags in texts that Just Stop Oil is an amazing organisation that operates tight on the edge of the law - Guy Smallman/Getty Images Europe

But Roussev bragged that the team had been invited for high ranking meeting and said that it would be good to make official (not cash) donation to their cause.

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The pair also shared images of a website that they created criticising the Kazakh regime and discussed putting critical messages on a Boris bus that would drive past the embassy, the court heard.

The Boris bus refers to the bus with a pro-Brexit slogan hired by Boris Johnson during the leave EU campaign.

They set up photos of a staged meeting of Kazakh dissidents in London and Marsalek said: Russian intelligence will feed it to them through official channels as the result of a secret source in the UK spying on Kazakh opposition.

It will be the result of a super secret Russian spy operation.

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At the time, Mr Tokayev was under pressure for ordering the army to open fire on demonstrators who he claimed were part of a coup. At least 219 civilians were killed.

Orlin Roussev says in messages that Just Stop Oil activists are a very interesting breed of people - Anadolu

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Before they settled on the idea of a blood protest, Marsalek had suggested hacking Kazakh nuclear power plants, leaking sex videos, crashing the currency and creating a gay deep-fake of Tokayevs son.

He said that they should get a gay club owner to give an interview that the son of the Kazakh president is a regular (gay) customer, adding: The GRU guys are saying that it will be drama in Kazakhstan if we publish this.

The GRU is an abbreviation for the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Putins military intelligence unit.

Roussev had said that his plans were cool, adding: I know a few of the TOP UK Porn stars and the circles around them with all the elite clubs SWING etc we can check or at least create a real fake story

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Marsalek then tells Roussev: Glorious news from Kazakhstan: Kazakh intelligence is in a small panic and wants our Russian friends to investigate who this new group of activists is.

They will provide money to bribe the Russians to investigate after verifying their initial information.

Bizer Dzhambazov says he had access to blood samples at his job, where Katrin Ivanova, pictured, was a colleague - LinkedIn

A month later he said that the Kazakh intelligence agencies are not taking them seriously enough yet and suggested sending letters calling for sanctions to government officials.

Roussev assured him that he has already reached out to the MP I have as a contact and we have 4 high profile people to support our public effort: 1x Lord in the house of Lords 1x Baroness 2 x MPs.

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He said that as soon as their stunts went public, they will voice their opinions in parliament (since our cause is honourable) there is no cost they will get free Political credit and costs nothing to them as long as the cause is legit enough and Human Rights and War is good political commodity.

The jurors have also heard about plans to monitor Ukrainian soldiers training at a US airbase in Germany and to kidnap or kill an investigative journalist.

The trial continues.

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Russia hasn't mass-evacuated troops and gear out of its key bases in Syria.

A senior analyst said the signs would be clear  such a retreat would be difficult to hide.

Russia said it was trying to work out a deal for its bases with the new Syrian government.

The Russian military is still stationed at its Syrian bases after the fall of Bashar Assad's government, and analysts say an evacuation will be easy to spot.

The Kremlin has two major facilities in the country that were hosted by Assad  a naval base in Tartus and Khmeimim Air Base  which are crucial to Russian access to the Mediterranean and Africa.

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Russian state media says rebel forces now control the Latakia province, where these bases are.

With Moscow's long-term access to those bases now under question, satellite images show that its warships have vacated Tartus since Monday. Several were spotted holding positions about 15 km from the coast.

It's unclear whether these vessels will return.

But satellite images also show that a full evacuation of Tartus hasn't happened, Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the Financial Times.

"And if they have to leave Tartus, you'd actually see more ships show up to help move things out," she told the outlet.

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It's possible that Russia moved its ships temporarily out to sea to protect them while conditions in Syria remain uncertain.

At Khmeimim, which Russia uses as its primary channel for flying troops into Africa, satellite images this week showed that much of the Kremlin's equipment, including fighter jets and helicopters, remained on-site.

Russian aircraft at Khmeimim Air Base on Monday. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies

Massicot wrote in a thread on X that an evacuation of the airbase "will be obvious."

"An air evacuation would take hundreds of sorties of IL-76 and An-124, not the handful identified yesterday at Khmeimim," she wrote, referring to several Ilyushin and Antonov freight airliners spotted at Khmeimim earlier this week.

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"When Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015, they flew almost 300 sorties in two weeks, and that was before base expansion," Massicot added.

Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, DC, think tank, wrote that Russia was probably delaying a total evacuation as it tried to suss out a deal with a new Syrian government.

They said that Russia was still maintaining its assets in Khmeimim and that a "lack of a coherent Russian response" indicated Moscow was still watching the situation.

"The Kremlin is very likely hesitant to completely evacuate all military assets from Syria in the event that it can establish a relationship with Syrian opposition forces and the transitional government and continue to ensure the security of its basing and personnel in Syria," the analysts wrote.

The Kremlin hopes it won't have to evacuate

Russia is also publicly signaling that it isn't giving up on its vital bases.

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Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, told reporters that Russia had been in contact with "those capable of ensuring the security of military bases."

The Russian state media outlet TASS meanwhile cited an unnamed source in the Kremlin saying Syrian opposition leaders had guaranteed the safety of Tartus and Khmeimim.

On the other hand, Ukraine's intelligence division said on Tuesday that Russia had a plan to evacuate Khmeimim with Antonovs and Ilyushins and that Russian troops had begun dismantling equipment at Tartus under the supervision of special forces. It didn't say how it sourced this information.

Russia's future in Syria is unclear

Despite those forecasts, it's unclear how a post-Assad Syria will take shape. Rebel forces in the country were largely splintered, consisting of various separate factions sharing the common cause of toppling Assad.

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Mohammed al-Bashir, who ran rebel-held pockets of northern Syria, said on Tuesday that he'd been named interim prime minister.

The Islamist group at the helm of the rebel victory, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, a former Al Qaeda-affiliated fighter who's said to have cut ties with the terrorist organization.

But he's still listed as a terrorist by the US, with a $10 million bounty on his head. Though he has been a prominent contender for leadership, he hasn't taken an official leadership position as of press time.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rutherford County Schools confirmed that the district's recent network disruption involves cyber security concerns.

A third party made posts online pointing to a breach of employee data, the district said in a communications release.

"This morning, we were notified that the party believed to have caused the disruption has now made a post online claiming to have some employee personal data, and it appears some files were obtained pertaining to certain employees," a district email sent to The Daily News Journal said.

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"This claim is being fully investigated, and to the extent it is determined that any employee personal information was affected by this event, we will notify those employees who were affected in accordance with applicable law."

The district has about 7,000 employees and contracted bus operators and substitute teachers serving an estimated 52,000 students attending 51 schools.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation recently confirmed that the TBI is assisting the school district with the cyber security issues.

District officials first learned about the network disruption Nov. 25 while schools were closed for Thanksgiving week.

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"The school district has been working with national experts and law enforcement to fully investigate the matter, and that investigation is ongoing," the statement from the district said.

"To our knowledge, there has been no posting of student personal data, and our investigation to date has not found that student personal data has been obtained from our student information computers."The district's schools will continue to operate normally and focus on the academic goals for students, the statement said.

"Our teams have worked diligently to restore those services, and most are back to full functionality using our backup and recovery procedures."

District provides no initial details: TBI investigators assist Rutherford County Schools with network issue

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Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford County Schools confirms hacker claims to have employee data
GREEN LAKE  Ryan Borgwardt isn't facing significant jail time after staging his death and reportedly fleeing to the European country of Georgia.

The "missing kayaker" is facing a possible nine-month jail sentence and a $10,000 fine after being charged with a Class A misdemeanor of obstructing an officer in Green Lake County Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Judge Mark Slate released the 45-year-old Watertown man on a $500 bond and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during the initial court appearance.

Ryan Borgwardt

District Attorney Gerise LaSpisa requested the court seize Borgwardt's passport, but Slate determined Borgwardt was not a flight risk considering he willingly returned to the U.S. on his own accord Dec. 10.

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Entering the courtroom in the presence of his parents and several media members, Borgwardt waived the reading of the criminal complaint before telling the court he only had $20 in his pocket and couldn't afford an attorney.

Borgwardt is scheduled to return to court Jan. 13 for his second appearance.

The hearing came just one day after Borgwardt turned himself in to authorities following his plot to stage his disappearance and flee the country to meet a woman in Georgia.

According to details in the criminal complaint, Borgwardt flew to Paris from Toronto before traveling to a "country in Asia," where he spent a couple of days at a hotel with "an adult female."

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Detective Jeremiah Hanson's documented record shows Borgwardt "spent a great deal of time researching how to disappear" but did not know something such as volunteer search organization Bruces Legacy existed.

In the interview with Hanson, Borgwardt said he looked up lake deaths and how deep a body has to be without resurfacing after researching how other individuals successfully disappeared.

"Everything hinged on me dying in the lake," Borgwardt told Hanson.

To that end, Borgwardt said he purchased a life preserver from Walmart and left it on the kayak in the lake instead of wearing it to make his death "more believable."

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The story has garnered huge national interest after authorities uncovered Borgwardt's plan to fake his death when an extensive 54-day search, involving underwater drones, towable submersible sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams failed to retrieve his body.

Timeline: Ryan Borgwardt case timeline: Wisconsin man faked his own disappearance in August

Borgwardt was initially reported missing Aug. 12 when he failed to return from kayaking on Green Lake a day earlier.

But a forensic analysis of Borgwardt's laptop revealed his plan after his name had been checked by Canadian law enforcement Aug. 13 and revealed he had a second passport.

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According to authorities, that forensic analysis uncovered the following:

The replacement of the hard drive on his laptop.

The clearing of browsers on the day of his disappearance.

Syncing the laptop with iCloud Aug. 11.

Photos of passports.

Inquiries about moving funds to foreign banks.

Changed email addresses associated with financial accounts on the day of his disappearance.

Communication with a woman from Uzbekistan.

A new $375,000 life insurance policy taken out in January.

A purchased airline gift card.

At a press conference Nov. 21, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll revealed authorities were in daily contact with Borgwardt since Nov. 11, having first reached him via a woman speaking Russian.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll addressed the media Nov. 21, 2024, while playing a video of Ryan Borgwardt, a man who was reported missing after kayaking in August.

Saying a number of reasons were behind Borgwardt's disappearance, Podoll relayed how Borgwardt said he faked his death. Borgwardt's plan included the following:

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Stashing an eBike near the boat launch.

Paddling a kayak and a child-sized inflatable boat out into the lake.

Overturning the kayak and dumping his phone in the lake.

Paddling the inflatable boat to shore and then riding the eBike through the night to Madison.

Boarding a bus in Madison, going to Detroit and then heading to the Canadian border.

Continuing on the bus to the airport and getting on a plane.

Borgwardt told Hanson Canadian Customs and Border Patrol "seemed like they were suspicious of him" when he could only produce his passport and not a driver's license.

In Hanson's report, Borgwardt said he was separated from the rest of the group and asked multiple questions by customs officers after he said he didn't have a working phone.

Borgwardt was eventually allowed to go onto an airport in Toronto before he used a Western Union card to purchase Air France tickets to Paris.

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At some point in Europe, Borgwardt said he realized authorities discovered he was not deceased but added he wanted "to add as many layers as possible so he could not be found."

According to the criminal complaint, Borgwardt used a VPN to make it look like he was in Russia or somewhere else other than Georgia when he clicked on news articles relating to his story.

He said he knew Georgia would extradite him so he wanted to be informed and prepared.

Court documents did not show whether law enforcement would be seeking restitution for their search efforts.

Keith Cormican, founder and director of Bruce's Legacy, also told the Journal Sentinel he wouldn't be looking to take action against Borgwardt.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Ryan Borgwardt, Wisconsin kayaker, charged after faking death, fleeing
(FOX40.COM)  This Tuesday evening, several city government leaders will take their oath of office, some for the first time and some after having won reelection to their respective offices.

Sacramento will have a new mayor, Kevin McCarty, and two new city council members, Roger Dickinson in District 2 and Phil Pluckebaum in District 4.

Im excited to be your mayor with optimism and hope and profound gratitude for this new possession, McCarty said.

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McCartys public service career began in 2004 where he served as a Sacramento city council member through 2014. Next, he served as a California state assembly member before returning to his hometown as mayor.

Where to see Sacramento-area homes with Christmas lights and decorations

Two city council members, Eric Guerra in District 6 and Mai Vang in District 8, won reelection to their respective seats after no opponents challenged them.

Dickinson takes over for temporary Councilmember Shoun Thao, who was appointed to the seat after Sean Loloee resigned amid a federal indictment related to labor practices at his grocery businesses.

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Hidden Falls trails soon to connect with rarely seen Placer County wilderness

Pluckebaum won his race against current Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, and McCarty won against epidemiologist Flojaune Cofer.

Soon after swearing in, the new council body will consider extending the city managers contract through the end of 2025.

City Manager Howard Chans current contract lasts through the end of this month, but the previous city council and mayor opted to leave the consideration of the extension to the new city council body.

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(FOX40.COM)  On Tuesday, Twin Rivers Unified School District officially announced its plans to embark on the mission of providing affordable housing for its employees.

District Superintendent Dr. Steve Martinez said the goal of this Workforce Housing Project is to provide quality, below-market-rate housing for district employees as a way to build retention and gain a financial foothold in the hopes of buying their own homes.

New Sacramento mayor, city council members swear in

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Todays project is far more than just a housing project, Martinez said. Todays project is an opportunity for a school district to provide housing for our employees with the hope that they stay within Twin Rivers Unified School District.

The district is in the exploratory stage of the project as they research the feasibility of the project. They have not established exact plans for development and construction.

A possible location for the project is 1251 Chuckwagon Dr. The vacant Natomas area lot shares the same corner as Chuckwagon Park and is located less than one mile from Natomas High School, Rio Terra Junior High School and Strauch Elementary School.

This site is still unconfirmed, but the project will be built on district-owned land.

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Funding for the housing project will likely come from the districts capital facility fund, housing tax credits and private investors, according to the district.

On Dec. 17, the district will be holding a community meeting on the project.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was sentenced to life in prison Monday for the second-degree murder of his 6-month-old son in Salem more than two years ago.

An investigation began when officers found Edward Casians son, Ryker, unresponsive in the early morning of April 12, 2022. Paramedics on the scene determined the infants time of death was 7:45 a.m. and a medical examiner determined his cause of death was sudden unexplained infant death.

Person with firearm barricaded at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley: Sheriffs Office

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However, officers noticed Ryker had suspicious bruising on his body and continued their investigation, leading them to re-question Casian in May 2023.

Officials said Casian admitted to multiple incidents of violence against Ryker, leading the medical examiner to change the childs cause of death to asphyxia due to smothering and manner of death as homicide.

Oregon federal judge temporarily blocks proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger

Casian pleaded no contest to second-degree murder on Dec. 9, 2024.

A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea and requires agreement that the state has sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Edward Casian recklessly subjected Ryker, a child under 14, to a pattern and practice of assault and torture, according to the Marion County district attorneys office.

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A judge sentenced Casian to life in prison with the possibility of parole after a minimum 25 years.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Anyone who has purchased Gyro Family Kits from Sprouts locations is being urged to throw them out after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a recall for them Tuesday.

The affected food is labeled as follows:

Gyro Family Kit (UPC 20594800000; Use by Dates 12/29/24-01/07/25) packaged in plastic trays with clear plastic lids.

Two new Utah laws going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025 you should know

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Cucumbers within the gyro tzatziki sauce could have been potentially contaminated with salmonella. No injuries have been reported yet, the FDA stated.

The recall has been enacted in 24 states, including Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nevada.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in children, frail or elderly people, and other people with weakened immune systems, an FDA press release. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

The FDA says anyone with the product should throw it away or return it to your local store for a refund. They also said those who have used the product should consider sanitizing surfaces that may have come into contact with it.

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Customers with questions may contact Sprouts Customer Relations at sprouts.com/contact.

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Samuel Bateman, a leader of a sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was sentenced to 50 years in prison Monday in a case that involved the transportation and sexual abuse of girls he called his "child brides."

At his sentencing, U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich called Bateman, 48, "the worst kind of abuser."

With respect to the minor girls, you took them from their homes, from their families, and made them into your sex slaves, she said to him. "You raped them on a regular basis."

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The case began in Arizona when Bateman was stopped in Flagstaff by Department of Public Safety troopers while he was hauling underage girls in a wooden trailer.

Who is Samuel Bateman?

Bateman, a former machinist who later worked as a real estate agent and motivational speaker, lived with his wife and daughter in Colorado City, a town on the Utah border. In 2019, he began calling himself a prophet and told his wife he had gotten messages from God to marry his own daughter, according to court records.

In the same year, he began amassing a following and, according to court records, took the wives and daughters of his followers as his own wives."

During that time, he stopped working and relied on money from his followers and wives, the filings stated. The records also noted that Bateman used those funds to purchase luxury Bentleys.

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By 2022, his followers numbered about 50 and he had 22 "wives," 10 of whom he took while they were minors.

What led to Samuel Bateman's arrest?

In 2020, police questioned Bateman twice for taking minors to be his "wives." But in both instances, the children's guardians or parents told police that Bateman was just a family friend.

In August 2022, Bateman was driving an SUV and hauling a wooden trailer when a state trooper stopped him after seeing children's fingers sticking out of the trailer.

Troopers found three girls in the trailer and four others in the vehicle. Bateman was arrested for child endangerment but released on bond.

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Bateman returned to Colorado City. In September 2022, federal agents raided Bateman's home and he was arrested.

He initially faced charges of destruction of evidence after federal agents learned that, while jailed in Flagstaff, he instructed his followers to delete messages from their phones.

Upon his arrest, nine underage girls were taken from his property and put in the care of the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

In addition to Samuel Bateman, who else was arrested?

Bateman was the first person charged in connection with his sect's abuse of girls. Subsequently, seven of his followers were also charged by federal prosecutors.

In November 2022, Donnae Barlow, Naomi Bistline and Moretta Rose Johnson were arrested after eight of the nine girls taken by the Arizona Department of Child Safety were abducted and moved across state lines.

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In May 2023, Leilani Barlow, Josephine Barlow Bistline, LaDell Jay Bistline and Torrance Bistline were also arrested and charged in connection with transporting girls for sex.

What happened in Samuel Bateman's case?

After his arrest, Bateman faced over 50 felony counts, including transporting minors for sex.

In the spring of 2023, federal prosecutors negotiated a plea with Bateman that hinged on all other defendants in the case also pleading guilty. Bateman accepted the offer in April 2024, ultimately pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport a minor for sex and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

Prosecutor Jillian Besancon said in court that part of the plea deal's purpose was to spare the victims from having to relive their trauma by testifying.

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Nevertheless, three people connected with Bateman pled not guilty: Moretta Rose Johnson and brothers LaDell Jay Bistline and Torrance Bistline.

LaDell Jay Bistline and Torrance Bistline went to trial. In both cases, girls who had been abused took the stand. Both men were found guilty.

A jury found LaDell Jay Bistline guilty of taking receipt of child pornography, transferring the material and transporting minors for sexual activity.

Torrance Bistline was found guilty of destroying records, tampering with official proceedings and using interstate commerce to coerce minors to engage in sexual activities.

Who connected to Samuel Bateman has been sentenced?

In addition to Bateman, several people connected to him have already been sentenced.

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Donnae Barlow and Naomi Bistline, who pleaded guilty to tampering with official proceedings, were sentenced to time served and placed on supervised probation.

Leilani Barlow, who pleaded guilty to persuading or forcing someone to travel for sexual activity and helping others commit the crime, was sentenced to six years in prison and five years of probation.

Josephine Barlow Bistline, who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of forcing someone to travel for sexual activity and aiding others in the crime, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with lifetime supervised probation.

LaDell Jay Bistline was scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16, and Torrance Bistline on Dec. 20.

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Moretta Rose Johnsons case was scheduled for trial on Jan. 14, 2025. She was charged with tampering with an official proceeding, conspiracy to commit tampering, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

Reach the reporter at miguel.torres@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is Samuel Bateman? What to know about FLDS leader sent to prison
Above: FOX 5/KUSI video on what a Red Flag Warning means.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  As electricity starts to return Wednesday for the thousands put under a public safety power shutoff, some impacted San Diegans may wondering whether it will be possible to get refunded for the food they lost by days without a refrigerator.

Guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture advises households who lose power for four hours or longer to throw out any refrigerated perishable items like poultry, meat, fish, eggs and leftovers.

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Freezers can hold on a little longer, keeping food cold for about one to two days so long as the door remains closed the entire time.

What is a Red Flag Warning and why is it important?

With this round of public safety power shutoffs, thousands of San Diegans, some of whom had power cut as early as Monday afternoon, have far exceeded the criteria for when the food in their fridge becomes unsafe to consume.

So, what happens? San Diego Gas & Electric does on occasion reimburse households when they experience an outage. But in this case, the answer is a little more complicated.

SDG&E does allow for people to submit claims to get reimbursed for the costs of certain service disruptions. This could range from like property damage and bodily injury to loss of business and food spoilage.

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Although the utility company will only accept these claims when the circumstances that led to the loss of power is fully its fault, such as a SDG&E crew accidentally cutting a wire that causes a home to go dark for a period of time.

SDG&E views weather  and public safety power shutoffs during weather events  as out of the utilitys control and therefore an exception to its liability.

That is not to say all is lost. Some people may be able to recover the cost of their spoiled food through another avenue: home insurance.

According to American Family Insurance, the standard homeowners policy may be able to cover a portion of the food lost to certain kinds of power outages. Depending on the policy, this could be around anywhere from a $500 to $1,000 maximum reimbursement after paying a deductible.

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The insurance company recommends homeowners  and insured renters  check with their policy provider to see whether the circumstances from the Red Flag Warning over the last few days qualifies for this coverage.

Ramona residents question SDG&E power shutoffs as thousands remain in dark

If it is covered, those submitting a claim would likely need to make sure the receipt from the trip to the grocery store when the food was purchased is handy to provide an estimation of the cost, as well as documentation like pictures showing the food that was lost.

A full list of what to discard can be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, FoodSafety.gov.

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Before throwing out any food, it is also advised to check whether there is anything still in ones fridge that can be saved. Items like hard or processed cheeses, butter, fresh uncut fruits and vegetables, fruit juices, canned fruits, peanut butter, certain sauces and bread are safe to save.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Advocates from across the country, including here in San Diego, are fighting for important federal funding following disasters like fires and floods.

They will be holding a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, pushing for this important funding.

Dont forget us because were trying to recover from what happened in San Diego, Lahaina, and so many other communities throughout the United States, JoAnn Fields said.

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Fields, with the San Diego Loves Maui coalition, spoke with FOX 5/KUSI from Washington D.C. Monday evening. Fields and dozens of other advocates have been meeting with lawmakers.

Fields has been involved with helping those who went through San Diegos historic flooding almost one year ago and the Lahaina fire in 2023.

We know of individuals and families that still are displaced. Some are still in hotels the same with the people that we were helping in Lahaina, Fields said.

With a federal budget deadline looming on Dec. 20, advocates are pushing for permanent authorization of the community development block grant-disaster recovery program.

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There is no budget line item so thats why we are asking for a permanent CDBG disaster recovery line item so that we dont have to ask. Lets be proactive versus reactive, Fields said.

Fields and advocates are also demanding the full funding of FEMAs disaster relief efforts so its important new programs can be available for all storms since 2021.

Were very hopeful. Were hearing is that there will be inclusion, but we wont know until the vote, Fields said.

There is a formal petition asking Congress to vote yes on including disaster recovery funds.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  The sheriff of the nations fifth-largest county on Tuesday defied a new policy to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, setting up a showdown over a new obstacle to President-elect Donald Trumps mass deportation plans.

Earlier Tuesday, San Diego County supervisors voted to prohibit its sheriff's department from working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the federal agency's enforcement of civil immigration laws, including those that allow for deportations. California law generally prohibits cooperation but makes exceptions for those convicted of certain violent crimes.

We will not allow our local resources to be used for actions that separate families, harm community trust, or divert critical local resources away from addressing our most pressing challenges, said Nora Vargas, who joined two other Democrats on the board of supervisors to approve the policy.

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Shortly after, Sheriff Kelly Martinez said the board does not set set policy for the sheriff, who, like the supervisors, is an elected official. She said she wouldn't honor the new policy.

Current state law strikes the right balance between limiting local law enforcement's cooperation with immigration authorities, ensuring public safety, and building community trust, said Martinez, whose office is nonpartisan but has identified as Democrat.

San Diego County, with 3.3 million residents and its location on the U.S. border with Mexico, is one of the more prominent local governments to ramp up protections for people in the country illegally. At the same time, some states and counties are gearing up to support Trumps deportation efforts.

ICE has limited resources to carry out the mass deportations that Trump wants. For that reason, it will rely heavily on sheriffs to notify it of people in their custody and hold them temporarily, if asked, to allow federal officials time to arrest them on immigration charges.

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Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, has singled out San Diego as a place where the incoming administration's plans are complicated by sanctuary laws, a loose term for state and local governments that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. He said Sunday on Fox News Channel that that laws denying ICE access to county jails put the community at risk. In contrast to San Diego, Homan plans to meet with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who has expressed interest in collaborating.

The policy brings San Diego in line with seven other counties in California, including Los Angeles, the nation's largest, which recently adopted a policy that goes beyond state law, Vargas said.

Jim Desmond, the lone dissenter, said it will protect people convicted of violent crimes, recounting the shooting death of 32-year-old Kate Steinle in San Francisco in 2015 and other high-profile attacks committed by people in the country illegally.

These tragedies are preventable but sanctuary laws allow them to happen by allowing illegal criminals back into our communities instead of into the hands of ICE, said Desmond, a Republican.

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Vargas said a loophole in state law that allows sheriffs to work with ICE under limited circumstances for people convicted of violent crimes had resulted in the county transferring 100 to 200 people a year to immigration authorities. ICE will now need a judges order to get help from the county.

Before the vote, Martinez, who has largely avoided discussing immigration policies, took issue with Vargas' use of loophole to describe state law. She noted California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has blocked efforts to further restrict cooperation with ICE.
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  San Diego State University is hoping to expand its nursing school and other programs to the South Bay, according to a news release from the city of Chula Vista Wednesday.

The city council unanimously approved a letter of intent from the university to bring SDSU School of Nursing and the Global Campus programs into the lower level of the citys newest library in the Millenia community.

The library, which is currently being built at 1775 Millenia Ave., is the citys newest library in nearly three decades and is expected to be the largest at 168,000 square feet.

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Todd Gloria sworn in to second term as mayor of San Diego

According to the city, the letter of intent allows for a 10-year lease agreement with SDSU to bring academic programs for South Bay residents.

Under the agreement, more than 7,000 square feet on the lower level of the library building will be set aside for SDSU, with the city funding all improvements within the space.

Programs that will operate in the space are set to include the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a transfer pathway from Southwestern Colleges Associate Degree in Nursing to SDSUs BSN program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

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SeaWorld reaches $8.8M settlement with San Diego in lawsuit over unpaid rent

SDSUs Global Campus will also share the space, offering a variety of classes, seminars and programs that are geared toward off-campus and online learning.

Assemblymember David Alvarez helped secure $25 million in state funding for the construction of the Millenia Library. Senate President pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins secured an additional $5 million while Sen. Steve Padilla, who formerly served as Chula Vistas mayor and city councilmember, also helped with the universitys development efforts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the Senates most prominent progressives, says he likely wont run again for the Senate after his fourth term expires in 2030.

Asked in an interview with Politico whether this would be his last term in Congress, Sanders replied: Im 83 now. Ill be 89 when I get out of here. You can do the figuring. I dont know, but I would assume, probably, yes.

Sanders won reelection last month, defeating Republican Gerald Malloy 63 percent to 32 percent.

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Sanders has served in Congress since 1991, spending 16 years in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2006.

He finished in second place in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries and currently serves as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Sanders, who caucuses with Senate Democrats, recently criticized the Democratic Party for not putting enough emphasis on bread-and-butter economic issues.

He urged Vice President Harris during this years presidential campaign to talk more about economic inequality in the United States and declared Democrats had abandoned the working class after she lost.

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It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them, Sanders said in a statement released after Election Day.

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New homes under construction (File/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  South Carolinas housing authority is upping its aid for homebuyers.

Starting Dec. 16, qualified South Carolinians seeking to buy a home can get an additional $2,000 to put toward a down payment, SC Housing announced this week.

Its part of an effort in one of the nations fastest growing states to increase opportunities for a wide range of South Carolinians to take the step of becoming homeowners, the agency said in a release.

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The agency, across all of its home ownership programs, helped South Carolinians buy 1,743 homes last fiscal year, a record high. Those loans collectively tallied $378 million, according to the agency.

Now the agency is taking those efforts a step further.

Next week, homebuyers can start applying for up to $10,000 in a zero-interest, potentially forgivable loan for down payment and closing costs. According to the agency, those costs are often cited as the main obstacles to homeownership.

Eligibility also will be based only on the income or incomes of those listed on the loan application rather than total household income, the affordable housing agency announced. This change should help more people qualify for the program, since eligibility is based on homebuyers incomes.

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To qualify, applicants annual incomes must fall below limits that vary by county. Income caps range from $84,800 in Anderson, Greenwood, Oconee and Spartanburg counties to $127,680 in Beaufort County.

The program is available to all first-time homebuyers. In counties targeted for aid, people who have previously bought a home still qualify as long as they dont already own a home in that county. Repeat buyers in non-targeted counties qualify if they havent owned a home in those counties for at least three years. Single parents and people with disabilities are exempt from that rule.

The agency didnt have any predictions for many more people might become eligible by applying those income limits only to the applicant.

Other requirements for the aid include completing a homebuyer education course and having a credit score of at least 640. And they cant buy a home for more than $425,000. To have their loan forgiven, they must remain living in the home for at least 15 years.

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Most South Carolinians earn well below the limits. South Carolinas per capita income is $57,332, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

And most homes sell for less than the maximum price allowed. The statewide median home sales price was $340,000 in October, according to the latest report from the state Association of Realtors.

In Beaufort and Jasper counties, the median sales price was $422,500. The highest prices were on Hilton Head Island, where the median was $545,000. The most affordable homes were in the region dubbed Central Carolina, which stretches north to south between Newberry and Orangeburg counties, where the median sales price was $175,000.

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The housing authority also pointed to a homeownership program that offers up to $12,000 in aid specifically for teachers, nurses, law enforcement and military as an example of demand in the state.

In just two months, the program known as Palmetto Heroes gave out all of the $60 million in down payment assistance it had available for 2024.

SC Housing Director Richard Hutto told a legislative fiscal oversight panel last week that his agency hopes to expand that program in the coming year.

There is no better way to build wealth and to pass on wealth to future generations than to have affordable housing, Sen. Darrell Jackson said in response.

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The Hopkins Democrat shared the story of his own parents journey to home ownership more than 60 years ago, when on a pastors salary, they scraped together the roughly $70 a month they needed to pay the mortgage.

They prayed every night that they would be able to afford that, but fast forward, years later, the house is paid off. And its something that they can pass on to future generations, said Jackson, who is the senior pastor of the church his father founded.

SC Housing raises money for these programs and others through the sale of mortgage revenue bonds.

The states fiscal oversight board on Tuesday authorized the agency to sell $175 million in bonds in the coming year for its programs aimed at making single family homes more affordable. Agency spokesman Matthew McColl said SC Housing will likely seek to double that amount later in 2025. The agency expects to spend $10 million of the money it raises to help with down payments.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)  The South Carolina Supreme Court is now reviewing a decision made by a lower court in a child sex abuse case involving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.

This stems from a lawsuit filed in 2018 when a Charleston man sued the Charleston Diocese, alleging that he was sexually assaulted by two teachers in 1970 while a student at what was then called Sacred Heart Catholic School.

Former Charleston County Circuit Court Judge Bentley Price made a summary judgment in the case  meaning a decision was made without a full trial  in favor of the Diocese under charitable immunity.

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Charitable immunity is a legal doctrine that protects charitable organizations from liability, meaning they do not have to pay damages for the conduct of a staff member. However, the state Supreme Court repealed the doctrine in a 1981 ruling on Fitzer v. Greater Greenville YMCA, but the actions in the suit occurred before the 1981 ruling.

The South Carolina Court of Appeals eventually upheld that ruling, but the South Carolina Supreme Court agreed to review the case as requested by the victim. On Dec. 10, attorneys for both sides gave their arguments for and against charitable immunity being upheld in the case.

In Caughman vs. Columbia YMCA where the court was asked to consider the applicability of the workers comp statutes to charitable entities and they acknowledged that it was well settled in this state that charities are entitled to full immunity from tort liability, argued Richard Dukes, the attorney representing the Diocese of Charleston.

Both sides shared interpretations of past cases involving charitable immunity and how they believe it sets a precedent for a decision in this case.

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So your viewpoint Mr. Richardson is Jeffcoat [Jeffcoat v. Caine] really is dispositive in this case and if we adhere to Jeffcoat then you prevail and we reverse the court of appeals? Chief Justice John Kittredge asked Jim Richardson, the attorney representing the victim.

Thats the whole case, your honor  the whole case, Richardson replied.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the Supreme Court adjourned. The case is now in the courts hands for a decision.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  New scholarships are available for female college students in the Valley.

The Youngstown Business and Professional Womens Club is offering two $2,000 scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year due to an increase in donations.

We are so very grateful for the generosity of the donors to the YBPW Centennial Scholarship Fund and look forward to providing an increasing number of scholarships as the fund continues to grow, said Lisa Dickson, president of the scholarship fund board of directors.

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The recipients will be chosen based on essays, references and the impact those students can make in the Mahoning Valley. The student must be enrolled at an accredited college or university in Trumbull or Mahoning counties in Ohio or Mercer County in Pennsylvania, as well as qualifying trade schools.

The purpose of this scholarship is to advance and empower future professional women in the area.

By empowering women through education, it is our hope to ignite future women leaders in our community that will contribute to the growth of the Mahoning Valley, Dickson said.

YBPW is an organization for all working women in and around the Mahoning Valley. Its been active since 1920, making it one of the longest-surviving groups in the area. The scholarship started in 2021 to celebrate the clubs 100th anniversary.

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You can apply for the scholarship on the YBPW Centennial Scholarship Fund website.

You can also make an online donation to the scholarship fund.

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Chancellor Olaf Scholz is to make a formal application to the German parliament on Wednesday for a vote of confidence in his government to be held, paving the way for elections pencilled in for February.

Scholz has headed a minority government of his Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens in the Bundestag since he fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) on November 7.

The vote is seen as a formality, with the Bundestag certain to refuse to express confidence in the government.

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Scholz will then apply to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a dissolution. Steinmeier will have three weeks to consider the request. If he agrees, as is likely, early elections must be held within 60 days.

"Our country needs stable majorities and a government capable of action," Steinmeier has said in response to the collapse of Scholz's majority, indicating that he will approve Scholz's request.

The president has already indicated that he sees as realistic Scholz's preference for Sunday, February 23, as election day.

Parliamentary elections were in any case to have been held on September 28 if the Scholz government had served out its term.

The vote of confidence manoeuvre to force early election is relatively rare in Germany and is taking place for only the fifth time since the Federal Republic was established in 1949.
Germany stands firmly by Ukraine's side, not only in terms of military assistance but also regarding economic aid. However, state support alone is insufficient  private investment is essential.

Source: Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the opening of the 7th German-Ukrainian Business Forum, as reported by Ukrinform news agency

Details: Scholz stressed that Putin had not achieved any of his goals in Ukraine.

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"Putin won't be able to destroy Ukraine economically, despite his relentless efforts," the chancellor stated. He noted that Ukraine's GDP and exports are growing, aided in part by the "solidarity corridors".

Cooperation is not a one-way street, the chancellor emphasised. He called for the establishment of joint ventures and noted the strong interest of German businesses in Ukraine.

According to Chancellor Scholz, nearly 2,000 German companies are currently operating in Ukraine, with some of them planning further investments. He highlighted growing cooperation in the energy sector, noting "a lot of private investment" in this field. However, Scholz acknowledged the need for investment guarantees, adding that Ukraine now ranks first globally in the volume of such guarantees provided by Germany.

"Without private capital, [Ukraine's] recovery won't be possible," the German chancellor stressed.

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In his speech, Chancellor Scholz outlined three key points. The first is that Ukraine will successfully endure the winter. Germany will support this effort through both air defence  having already provided three Patriot systems and five Iris-T SLM systems, with a sixth to be delivered by the end of the year, as well as additional Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems to supplement the 50 already in service with Ukrainian forces  and assistance to Ukraine's energy sector.

The second message is that Putin is mistaken. Germany not only provides security guarantees to Kyiv but also economic support.

The third message is that if you invest in Ukraine now, you are investing in a future EU member.

Background: Germany's largest defence company, Rheinmetall, is partnering with the American software developer Auterion to create software enabling Ukraine's Armed Forces to standardise the control of various drone types.

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The Marietta School Board is meeting to discuss what a cell phone ban could look like, for high school students. The policy went into effect for middle schoolers at the start of the school year.

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Marietta City Middle schoolers began locking their phones in a pouch at the start of the school year.

Based on the feedback weve gotten from staff its a completely different school. Completely different classrooms. Completely different kids, Marietta City Schools Superintendent Dr. Grant said.

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Now, there are discussions about what the policy could look like in the high school.

For us, the success weve had with decreasing distractions and increasing engagement has led us to have a conversation about what could things look like for Marietta High School next year, Rivera told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell.

School officials will spend the next three months speaking with staff, students and parents about it.

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Do I believe as superintendent this a worth conversation to have? Absolutely. Do I acknowledge that it is not politically popular among teenagers absolutely? Of course. We are bottling an addiction with children, Rivera said.

A junior created a petition against banning cell phones in the high school.

We are not happy about it. Based on all the responses from the petition everyones really concerned about their safety because there have been gun threats. Like last year there was an incident, Madison Moreland, a junior at Marietta High School.

I welcome a childs petition. We talk as adults and educators all the time about empowering our kids voices. I want them to have a voice, Rivera said.

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Teachers can unlock the pouches and give the phones to students, only if it is safe to do such in the event of an emergency, like a school shooting.

A final decision has not been made about expanding this policy to the high school.

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FRACKVILLE  Students at the Schuylkill Technology Center will soon have access to a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning program designed to teach important skills for careers in the skilled trades.

On Tuesday, school officials at the STCs north campus celebrated a new HVAC program that will teach students how to install HVAC systems and perform basic troubleshooting.

The class, which begins Jan. 15, will be taught by Derek Bennett, a 2020 graduate of the STC.

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Underscoring a vital need for HVAC professionals, the school joined the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce for a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony in the new classroom and introduced what will be a four-level class covering various facets of HVAC work.

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Derek Bennett, instructor of the new HVAC program at the Schuylkill Technology Center North Campus, talks about the class at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. (HYUN SOO LEE/STAFF PHOTO)

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The new HVAC classroom at the Schuylkill Technology Center, as pictured Tuesday. The room will be furnished with all tools and equipment by Jan. 15, when the HVAC program begins. HYUN SOO LEE/STAFF PHOTO

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Derek Bennett, center, instructor of the new HVAC program at the Schuylkill Technology Center, prepares to cut the ribbon at a ceremony hosted by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce. Joining Bennett for the ribbon-cutting are, from left, state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Twp.; state Rep. Jamie Barton, R-124, East Brunswick Twp.; chamber President and CEO Robert S. Carl Jr.; state representatives JoAnne Stehr, R-107, Hegins, and Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp.; Shannon Brennan, director of CTE at the Schuylkill Technology Center; and county commissioner Gary J. Hess. (HYUN SOO LEE/STAFF PHOTO)

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Derek Bennett, instructor of the new HVAC program at the Schuylkill Technology Center North Campus, talks about the class at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. (HYUN SOO LEE/STAFF PHOTO)

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Robert S. Carl Jr., president and CEO of the chamber, highlighted the STCs partnership with Leibold Inc., Antz Energy Systems Inc., Groody Heating, G.M. Sadusky Plumbing and Heating, Losch Supply, Maxx Supply, Pipefitters Local Union 524 and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Northeast PA, which collectively contributed $10,000 that will be used for tools and equipment for the classroom.

Bennett said that $3,000 of that funding was provided by Leibold, while the Pipefitters union donated a set of hand tools for the classroom. The program is also being funded by state grants the STC was awarded, he said.

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By equipping the next generation of HVAC professionals, the Schuylkill Technology Center is empowering our community to thrive economically and socially, Carl said.

Shannon Brennan, acting executive director and director of CTE, said the program marks a significant milestone in preparing students for high-demand careers.

Whether its keeping homes comfortable, updating critical systems, ensuring energy efficiency, Brennan said, HVAC technicians play a vital role in our lives.

While the program will initially be for high school-age students only, Brennan said that adult students will be able to take evening classes starting sometime next year.

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Brennan thanked the STC students and staff, as well as community partners, for their efforts in developing the program and its classroom.

She also thanked county superintendents  many of whom were in attendance  who supported the program.

Bennett, currently the programs only instructor, said he looks forward to teaching students what he had learned over various years of schooling and experience in the HVAC industry.

A graduate of Tamaqua Area and the STCs plumbing and heating program, Bennett was enrolled in the HVAC program at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and has worked for HVAC companies in Schuylkill County.

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While the new classroom is still relatively spare, Bennett said it will be fully furnished with all necessary equipment by Jan. 15, thanks in part to the local companies that contributed funds and resources. A diagram of the completed classroom shows it will have worktables, heat pumps, gas furnaces, oil boilers and an oil tank, in addition to a theory room and a tool room.

State Rep. Jamie Barton, R-124, East Brunswick Twp., spoke of the importance of HVAC professionals given the critical work they do for homeowners and families.

Congratulations  were so excited for this, Barton said, and looking forward to a complete success for all of the students.

State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Twp., highlighted the need for workers in the HVAC profession and other technical fields. He said he and his fellow lawmakers, in the state budget, made it a priority to channel more funding into technical schools.

Also making remarks were state representatives JoAnne Stehr (an STC alumna) and Tim Twardzik, and county commissioner Gary J. Hess.
When coffee fans debate the optimal brew, the argument often centers on the relationship between roast strategies and caffeine levels. But after a recent gauntlet of laboratory tests, researchers believe they identified the blend of factors comprising the perfect cup balancing flavor and zingand dark roast diehards may want to finish taking a sip before finding out the results.

Over 20 years ago, I heard a barista claim that dark roasts have more caffeine, but a decade later, I was exposed to the contrasting idea that light roasts were the king of caffeine. Yet, I couldnt find any convincing data, Zachary Lindsey, an assistant professor of physics at Georgias Berry College, said in a statement.

Newsletter background image

Lindseys team recently analyzed the relationship between coffee beans chemical and physical attributes through various roasting and brewing scenarios. While their trial focused on only natural and washed processed Ethiopian beans, researchers examined five varieties of roasts across brew times of one, two, and ten minutes using a coffee machine with a 15:1 water-to-coffee ratio.

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When selecting a brew method, the main goal was to implement a procedure that could consistently produce brews within a wide range of extraction yields by only varying the brew time, said Lindsey.

The results, published in the journal Scientific Reports, offer a detailed look at 30 unique coffee combinations on microscopic and chemical levels. Lindsey and colleagues used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to assess molecular makeup of soluble compounds like caffeine and chlorogenic acids. In this process, a brews compounds are separated according to their interactions with a standard material to measure concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaged whole and ground beans to provide observers with a close look at porosity and grain size, thereby better highlighting how roasting physically affects coffee.

SEM images showing porosity evolution from green coffee (G) through R0-R7 roast batches of washed Ethiopian coffee. Credit: Scientific Reports

For the third and final tool, the team turned to refractometrythe measurement of light bendingto learn brewing extraction yields. According to the study, attributes such as caffeine content are the result of intricate relationships between how coffee is roasted, and how well its organic compounds can dissolve into water.

As Lindsey explained, During roasting, the volume and porosity of the coffee seeds increase as the roast progresses, which makes it easier for compounds to move in or out of the system.

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For example, porosity, or the measure of a coffee grounds void spaces, grows due to longer grinding times. This means that a larger amount of each coffee grounds internal surface area is exposed to water. But when it comes to caffeine, light and medium roasts on average measured higher levels than darker variants across the roasting spectrum samples. Lindseys team explained that this is due to the amount of caffeine that is lost during the process. Darker roasts, however, maintained higher caffeine levels than lighter roasts when porosity and extraction yields were uniform across all varieties.

Although the interplay between roast degree and caffeine content has been addressed over 20 times in the literature, the prevailing theory is that caffeine remains stable during the roasting process, Lindsey argues. However, we establish a clear relationship between roast degree, caffeine content, and extraction yield.

Like most preferences, your ideal coffee brew is ultimately a matter of personal taste (or access to ultrasonic frequencies). But if your main goal at the end of the day is to get a much-needed energy boost, Lindsey suggests a medium roast blend for the most caffeine per cup.
Scotlands chief medical officer when the pandemic started will not have to give evidence to the UK Covid Inquiry after being excused indefinitely.

Dr Catherine Calderwood was the countrys most senior clinician for the opening weeks of the pandemic, before she was forced to resign in April 2020 for breaking lockdown rules.

Baroness Hallett, the inquiry chairman, issued a statement saying she had decided that Dr Calderwood should be excused from further participation because of ill health.

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In December last year, she excused the doctor for up to one year from having to give evidence, a deferment that expired on Wednesday.

Lady Hallett said she had received regular updates about Dr Calderwoods health over the past 12 months, and each report had indicated that she remains unfit to provide evidence.

Dr Calderwood regularly appeared with Nicola Sturgeon during her early daily Covid briefings - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Dr Calderwoods excusal means she will not have to revisit her resignation after police issued her with a warning for twice travelling to her familys second home during lockdown  breaking the strict travel rules that she encouraged others to follow.

Neither will she have to face questions over the Scottish Governments preparations for dealing with a pandemic, nor its actions during the early weeks of lockdown.

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A report issued by the inquiry in July said Nicola Sturgeons government failed to prepare Scotland for Covid because of a lack of leadership, planning and urgency.

More than 17,000 people died in Scotland during the pandemic with Covid listed as one of the causes on their death certificate.

However, Dr Calderwoods previous year-long excusal meant she did not give evidence to the inquiry when it sat in Edinburgh at the start of this year.

Following her resignation as chief medical officer, she was appointed the national clinical director at Scotlands Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank in Feb 2021.

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In September last year she became a professor of practice at the University of Strathclyde and in May this year she joined the board of trustees of Women in Sport, a charity focused on addressing gender inequalities in sport.

But Lady Hallett said she had informed core participants in the inquiry that having taken account of the medical updates I had received, I was minded to excuse Dr Calderwood from further participation in the inquiry.

After receiving no objections, she said she had carefully considered the importance of Dr Calderwoods evidence to the issues being investigated in Module 2A of the inquiry. This relates to the decision-making and political governance during the pandemic in Scotland.

Issuing her ruling, Lady Hallett said: Having reviewed the medical evidence provided to me and having received no observations from core participants, I am satisfied that Dr Calderwood should be excused from further participation in the inquiry. I will review in the event that the situation changes.

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Dr Calderwood, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, was a close ally of Ms Sturgeon and the pair regularly appeared together during the Scottish governments early daily Covid briefings.

Error of judgment

She apologised in April 2020 after being photographed on a Saturday with her husband and three children near a coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, more than an hours drive from her main Edinburgh home.

Texts in a WhatsApp group between the UK chief medical officers, published by the inquiry, showed that she admitted to an error of judgment. However, she later added: I will try to ride it out.

Ms Sturgeon refused to demand her resignation, but Dr Calderwood quit after a painful joint press conference made clear that her position was untenable.

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In a damning initial report in July, the inquiry said both the UK and Scottish governments failed their citizens by not doing enough to properly plan for the crisis.

It concluded that Ms Sturgeons administration had adopted a UK-wide pandemic risk assessment without tailoring it for Scotlands needs.

Less mobilised for pandemic

The inquiry also heard evidence in January that Ms Sturgeons government was less mobilised for the pandemic than Boris Johnsons shortly before it started.

Notes taken by David Grieve, a senior Scottish Government civil servant who led the initial response, showed that as late as March 5 2020, few of his fellow mandarins in Edinburgh believed this is going to be serious.

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After attending a Cobra meeting on Feb 26 that year, he wrote that it was clear that all UK government departments were fully engaged and mobilised in a way that the SG [Scottish Government] simply isnt.

Dr Calderwood was approached for comment via the Golden Jubilee and the University of Strathclyde.

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A man who accused Sean Diddy Combs of drugging and sodomizing him at one of the under fire music moguls White Parties has spoken out about the alleged abuse for the first time.

The man, whose allegations date back to 2007 and which were filed as a civil suit in October, spoke anonymously to CNN at his home in New Jersey. The full gravity of it lives with me to this day, he said. It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life.

Diddy attends a White Party in St. Tropez, France in 2006 / Stuart Morton/Getty

He claimed that he worked as security at Diddys estate in East Hampton, New York, during a White Partya series of parties hosted by the producer between 1998 and 2009.

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The complaint states that drinks provided by Combs were laced with GHB and ecstasy, making John Doeas CNN call the manfeel extremely ill.

He said when he was feeling the effects of the second, allegedly laced, drink Combs approached him and despite initially thinking the music mogul was showing concern for his wellbeing, allegedly pushed him into a stationary SUV and sodomized him.

He said the rapper was waiting in the wings and watching from a vantage point before he took advantage of the situation.

I wasnt able to stand, Doe said. He added that the two drinks felt more like 15.

It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before and I felt powerless.

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He said the alleged act inside the SUV was incredibly painful and that he was screaming. He added: It was abusive beyond belief.

The lawsuit states he reported the alleged incident to his supervisor at the security firm. He allegedly said he would have a word with Combs before Doe himself was blacklisted from the firm.

He also made the bombshell claim that a big celebrity witnessed the alleged attack. There was one high-profile individual who saw what happened and found it amusing, he said.

Combs arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, August 28, 2016. / Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

In his lawsuit, the man is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. CNN pointed out a number of factual discrepancies in his story. The original suit states that the assault took place in 2006, not 2007. Doe told the publication he was assaulted in 2007.

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He also mentioned that the effects of the alleged assault affected his marriage, but the original suit says he was never married.

When CNN flagged these points, Does attorney amended the complaint with the court and said a rush to file caused the errors.

Combs reps declined to comment on Does allegations to CNN Tuesday. The Daily Beast has approached for comment.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A $5,000 reward is being offered information leading to the arrest of a suspect accused of shooting an Abilene police officer.

Police say an anonymous donor is offering the $5,000 for the arrest of James Wesley Key, 39, who has been on the run since the shooting on December 10.

STILL AT LARGE: Suspect identified in North Abilene officer shooting

Key is accused of shooting an officer, causing them to sustain minor injuries, after a traffic stop near the Impact area in northwest Abilene around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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He then fled the scene and in the hours since, officers have launched a manhunt with the aid of drones and helicopters with hopes of locating and arresting Key, who is believed to still be on foot.

Anyone who encounters Key is asked to contact 9-1-1 immediately or to remain anonymous, contact Abilene Crime Stoppers at (325)676-8477. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Abilene police say the injured officer has been treated and released from the hospital. No further information is available at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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SeaWorld Orlando announced the successful rescue and arrival of 12 of the most endangered species of sea turtles.

The Kemps ridley sea turtles were rescued after becoming cold-stunneda condition caused by sudden drops in water temperature. were rescued after becoming cold-stunneda condition caused by sudden drops in water temperature.

Kemps ridley sea turtles are the smallest sea turtle in the world.

SeaWorld welcomes 12 endangered Kemps ridley sea turtles as part of multi-state rescue effort

SeaWorld welcomes 12 endangered Kemps ridley sea turtles as part of multi-state rescue effort

SeaWorld welcomes 12 endangered Kemps ridley sea turtles as part of multi-state rescue effort

SeaWorld welcomes 12 endangered Kemps ridley sea turtles as part of multi-state rescue effort

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SeaWorld welcomes 12 endangered Kemps ridley sea turtles as part of multi-state rescue effort

SeaWorld welcomes 12 endangered Kemps ridley sea turtles as part of multi-state rescue effort

The species is named after Richard M. Kemp, a fisherman from Key West, Florida, who first submitted the species for identification in 1906.

They are primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico, but juveniles are also found in the Atlantic Ocean as far north as Nova Scotia and sometimes even occur in the eastern North Atlantic.

Read: Universal Orlando reveals specialty license plate to support Give Kids The World

The turtles will receive around-the-clock expert care to aid the turtles in their recovery and their eventual return to the wild.

The rescued turtles were part of a multi-state, multi-organization rescue effort that transported 33 cold-stunned sea turtles from Massachusetts to Georgia and Florida for continued rehabilitation.

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Read: Orange County Animal Services to waive adoption fees for older pets

This life-saving operation involved a collaboration between the New England Aquarium (NEAQ), the National Marine Life Center (NMLC) and other dedicated partners, including Turtles Fly Too, whose volunteer pilots donated their time and expertise to ensure the turtles arrived safely.

The SeaWorld team is honored to play a vital role in the rehabilitation of these turtles, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to wildlife rescue and conservation, officials said.

Read: Mega Millions jackpot soars to $670M; Florida store sells $5M winning ticket

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




Sean "Diddy" Combs - Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

A security guard who claimed he was drugged and sexually assaulted by Sean Diddy Combs at one of the music moguls White Parties has spoken out for the first time about the alleged encounter.

Nothing could give me back the person I was before that evening, the former security worker said in a sit-down interview with CNN on Tuesday night. The man, who filed his lawsuit as a John Doe in October, had his face concealed and his voice altered to maintain his anonymity.

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The man is the first accuser to give an on-camera interview about their alleged assaults. Producer Rodney Lil Rod Jones opened up to Rolling Stone earlier this year about the drugging, groping, and sexual harassment that he claimed to have experienced while working with Combs on the Grammy-nominated album The Love Album: Off the Grid.

The John Doe is being represented by attorneys Tony Buzbee and Andrew Van Arsdale, who made headlines when they announced they were representing more than 120 men and women in claims against Combs and his associates in October. As of December, they have filed 20 civil suits, including a claim from a 13-year-old who accused Combs and Jay-Z of raping her during a VMAs afterparty in 2000. (Jay-Z has vehemently denied the accusation and has filed an extortion lawsuit against Buzbee.)

https://twitter.com/EWagmeister/status/1866708183021961718

In his CNN interview, the security worker claimed for the first time that an unnamed celebrity was a witness to the alleged assault, saying they saw what happened and found it amusing.

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When reached for comment, Combs representatives referred Rolling Stone to a statement they made at the time of the mans filings, saying it was a part of an attempt to garner publicity. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone  adult or minor, man or woman, the statement added.

The New Jersey-based former security guard claimed he met Combs during the Bad Boy executives annual White Party bash in 2007. Hired through a private security firm, Doe alleged that Combs paid him special attention, offering him security work for another event and handing him two drinks throughout the event.

Doe believes those drinks were spiked with GHB and Ecstasy, according to his lawsuit. I wasnt able to stand, Doe told CNN, adding that it felt like he had upward of a dozen drinks. It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before, and I felt powerless.

Feeling extremely ill by the second drink, Doe claimed that he was leaning against his truck for support when a seemingly concerned Combs approached him and asked how he was doing. However, the mans lawsuit alleged, Combs suddenly forcibly pushed him into an open van, held him down, and sexually assaulted him. Although the man claimed he cried for help, Combs allegedly overpowered him and repeatedly tried to soothe him by saying youll be all right.

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Afterward, the man claimed that he told his supervisor about what happened, but the boss dismissed him. After that, he didnt talk to me again; he cut me out of everything, Doe told CNN. I was totally blacklisted after that. I had to find a different field.

The man said he suffers lasting trauma from the alleged assault, claiming he couldnt bring himself to tell his then-wife about the encounter due to his shame. The full gravity of it lives with me to this day, Doe said. It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life.

CNN noted that it found inconsistencies with the mans story  including that his original complaint claimed that he had never been married. An amended complaint was filed on Tuesday night, noting that while the man was married at the time, he was too ashamed to tell his wife after suffering through the assault. The mans original complaint also claimed the alleged assault took place in August 2006. However, Combs White Party was held in St. Tropez that year, not in New York. The new complaint updated the year.

Combs representatives pointed out the inconsistencies to Rolling Stone on Wednesday when asked for comment. After Buzbee was exposed this week for pressuring clients to bring bogus cases against Mr. Combs, and after public records showed that  contrary to his allegations  there was no White Party in the Hamptons in 2006, Buzbee amended this complaint to walk back the allegations and now claim a different day and wholly different year, his reps said.

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The Sea Vampire made history as the first jet-powered aircraft to land on a carrier in 1945.

The UK and US navies developed fighter jets to operate aboard aircraft carriers after World War II.

The de Havilland Vampire was adapted for naval use, becoming the aptly named Sea Vampire.

When the British experimental jet fighter touched down on the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ocean nearly eight decades ago, it wasn't just a historic landing  it was a giant leap in naval aviation.

Aircraft carriers carrying propeller planes proved to be one of the most valuable sea-based assets in World War II. After the war ended, the two largest navies at the time  the UK Royal Navy and the US Navy  fast-tracked carrier testing for the jets revolutionizing air forces.

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Some land-based fighter jets were redesigned to achieve that purpose  for the Royal Navy, it was the de Havilland Vampire, the second jet-powered aircraft to be produced and flown by Britain.

The Royal Navy modified the Vampire to make the aircraft's design more fitted for sea trials, aptly naming the naval variant the de Havilland Sea Vampire.

On December 3, 1945, the Sea Vampire successfully landed and took off from the flight deck of the HMS Ocean, becoming the first jet aircraft in history to do so, greatly expanding the combat range and speed of the carrier squadrons.

Royal Navy aircraft carrier

Sailors aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Ocean stand in formation on deck. US Navy/US National Archives

The Royal Navy Colossus-class aircraft carrier HMS Ocean was commissioned just months before it was a part of the historic carrier landing.

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Shortly after commissioning in August 1945  the same month Japan surrendered after the US dropped two nuclear bombs  the ship was upgraded to conduct night fighter operations, equipped with improved radar and direction-finding equipment.

The light fleet carrier's flight deck measured nearly 700 feet and accommodated more than three dozen aircraft. The Ocean was armed with close-in antiaircraft weaponry, including a Bofors 40 mm gun and a two-pounded naval gun known as the "pom-pom" due to the sound it makes when firing.

A renowned test pilot

Test pilot Eric Brown in the cockpit of an aircraft. Admiralty Official Collection/Imperial War Museums

The landmark landing could only be carried out by an aviator of equal renown. Capt. Eric "Winkle" Brown was the chief naval test pilot for the Royal Aircraft Establishment, the UK's leading flight research facility at the time.

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As a highly experienced test pilot, Brown already had a number of broken records under his belt  he was the first to land a twin-engine aircraft on a carrier, the first to land a tricycle gear aircraft on a carrier, and the first to land a rotary-wing aircraft on a ship at sea.

The first take-off and landing on a carrier

The De Havilland Sea Vampire prototype takes off from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ocean. US Naval History and Heritage Command

The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm developed three prototypes as part of their efforts to create a fighter jet that could operate aboard carriers, as well as new deck-landing techniques.

The flight trials for the Sea Vampire prototype took place off the south coast of England. The Sea Vampire trial planned to have the aircraft land on the Ocean's flight deck at 95 mph, though strong gusts caused the plane to land faster than anticipated.

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Due to the aircraft's tail-down angle and the pitching of the carrier's flight deck, the plane's trailing edge wing flaps hit the deck, breaking their hinges upon landing.

Brown, however, was determined to pull off a perfect landing. He made several more takeoffs and landings on the Ocean, accomplishing the feat on the fourth try despite the initial damage to the Sea Vampire.

Carrier landings were considered some of the most challenging maneuvers at the time, so demonstrating that higher-speed fighter jets could safely land marked a turning point in naval aviation. The first successful jet-powered carrier landing catalyzed the innovation of carrier technology and design to better accommodate jet aircraft, including angled flight decks, steam-powered aircraft catapults, and more advanced arresting gear.

The advancements ushered in a new era, expanding and enhancing the capabilities of both the flattops and the aircraft they carried. Jet engines have greater thrust than propellers, allowing aircraft to fly much faster and at higher altitudes. These changes led to a strategic shift in naval warfare with a greater focus on air superiority at sea.

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"The only thing we can say is, we took the bull by the horns, accepting the limitations in engine performance, to show jet propulsion was conceivable for naval operations," Brown said in a 2015 interview published in the British aviation magazine Aeroplane Monthly.

Vampire variants

A Royal Navy De Havilland Sea Vampire performs a touch-and-go landing aboard the US aircraft carrier USS Antietam. US Navy Naval History and Heritage Command

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Following the successful fight landing and take-off, the FAA ultimately decided to use the Sea Vampire as a more cost-effective training aircraft rather than a first-line fighter.

In 1947, the mass-produced version of the Sea Vampire featured the model's larger flaps and airbrakes and a modified arresting hook. The Navy ordered 30 Sea Vampires, but only 18 were actually delivered to the Royal Navy.

A few years after the 1945 carrier landing, the Sea Vampire went on to test the feasibility of landing a jet with wheels retracted on a flexible 150-foot "carpet" atop a carrier deck.

While the tests aboard the light carrier HMS Warrior were ultimately successful, wheelless aircraft couldn't land on conventional airfields or runways without the shock-absorbing "carpet," making the innovation more trouble than it was worth.

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After pilots reported issues with the Sea Vampire's slow takeoff without a catapult, the training jets were pulled in the late 1950s and scrapped by 1960.

Which came first?

A De Havilland Vampire jet lines up to land on the deck of HMS Illustrious as it recreates the first landing by a jet aircraft on an aircraft carrier. Paul Jarrett/PA Images via Getty Images

While Brown's landing and takeoff on the HMS Ocean is remembered as the first jet-powered aircraft carrier landing, some argue that the US Navy accomplished the feat a month earlier.

On November 6, 1945, US Navy Ensign J.A. West landed a Ryan FR-1 Fireball fighter jet, the Navy's first jet-engine fighter aircraft, on the deck of the escort carrier USS Wake Island using jet power after the plane's main piston engine malfunctioned.

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The Fireball was a mixed-propulsion aircraft, meaning it was powered by both a piston and jet engine. Standard takeoffs and landings from carrier decks at the time were typically powered by the aircraft's piston engines because early jet engines alone were not powerful or reliable enough for sustained flight.

While West was approaching the carrier deck, the American-made jet's main piston engine failed, causing the plane's propeller to spin out of control. In a last-ditch effort to safely land the Fireball, West switched to the Fireball's turbojet engine and successfully landed on USS Wake Island using jet power alone.

Although West's landing was ultimately successful  albeit unintentional  the credit for the first jet-powered carrier landing is more often given to Brown's pure-jet Sea Vampire, as the Fireball was a hybrid aircraft.

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Dec. 10WILKES-BARRE  State Sen. Ryan Aument on Tuesday announced that he has accepted the role of state director for U.S. Sen.-elect Dave McCormick.

Accordingly, Aument intends to officially resign from his position as Pennsylvania State Senator for the 36th senatorial district serving northern Lancaster County prior to Jan. 3, 2025. His offices will remain open and the staff serving the 36th Senatorial District will remain available to assist constituents with state-related matters throughout the transition period.

"I am humbled and honored that Sen.-elect McCormick has trusted me to lead his statewide operation here in Pennsylvania," Aument said. "Dave's transformational vision for our Commonwealth, commitment to conservative values, and exceptional leadership qualities will make him an excellent United States senator, and I am eager to begin working on building a stronger Pennsylvania with him.

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Aument said he is "tremendously grateful" for the opportunity to have served the people of Lancaster County in the Pennsylvania General Assembly for the last 13 years.

And I want to assure the residents of the 36th Senatorial District that you will continue to have access to the high-quality services my office offers up until a new senator takes my place," Aument said. "My staff remains willing and able to assist constituents with state-related matters throughout the special election cycle."

After Aument resigns, the lieutenant governor will have 10 days to declare the date for the special election to fill the seat for the 36th Senatorial District.

Services such as assistance with PennDOT paperwork and processing, Pennsylvania tax forms, applications for birth and death certificates, and more will continue without interruption to ensure that the constituents of the 36th Senatorial District have access to these vital services.

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"This is an extraordinarily consequential time in our country, and Americans need the type of strong, forward-thinking leadership that Dave McCormick brings to the table at the national level," Aument said. "It's been a blessing to serve my constituents and to work closely with my talented staff and thoughtful colleagues in the Pennsylvania Republican Caucus. I'm extremely proud of all we've been able to accomplish together on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania, and I look forward to continuing that work with Sen.-elect McCormick."

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn introduced on Wednesday a group of bills seeking to reduce federal agency spending and trim the federal workforce, relocate federal agencies outside of Washington D.C., and require federal employees to report for work in person.

Blackburn announced the legislative package last week, dubbed the DOGE Acts  after president-elect Donald Trumps proposed Department of Government Efficiency.

The American people have had enough of outsized bureaucracy and wasteful government spending, Blackburn said in a statement. The DOGE Acts are the first step to achieving government efficiency by requiring federal employees to get back in the office, moving federal agencies into the heartland of America, cutting bloated federal spending across the board, and freezing federal hiring and salaries until we can rightsize the federal government.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks during her watch party at the Hilton Hotel in Cool Springs, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, the duo Trump has tapped to lead the new DOGE agency, met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss major reform ideas.

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On social media and in interview appearances, Musk and Ramaswamy have hinted at plans for a 75% reduction in the federal workforce, $2 trillion cut to federal spending, and eliminating some federal agencies entirely.

The legislative package includes seven bills, including the following:

The Federal Freeze Act, which would implement a one-year freeze on pay increases for federal civilian employee salaries. If passed, federal agency heads would be directed to establish a cap on their agency workforce over three years, decreasing the number of federal employees. Federal law enforcement, national security, public safety, and public health services employees would not see a pay freeze.

The Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act, which would establish a plan to relocate non-national security agencies outside of the Washington D.C., based on financial efficiency, existing infrastructure, and related industries.

The Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act, seeks to establish a performance-based pay structure to incentivize high performance for federal employees. National security and public safety agencies are exempt.

The Stopping Home Office Works Unproductive Problems (SHOW UP) Act, which would require federal agencies to return to pre-pandemic telework levels within 30 days, and require agencies to submit telework plans to Congress to be certified by the Office of Personnel Management. Similar legislation passed the House of Representatives last year.

Across-the-Board Spending Cuts, a package of three separate bills that would require federal agencies to cut non-security discretionary spending by 1%, 2%, or 5%, beginning in fiscal year 2026. The Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and National Nuclear Security Administration are excluded from the bill.

U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New York, is sponsoring the legislation in the House.

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Under President Trump's leadership and a Republican-controlled Congress, we are determined to cut wasteful government spending and reduce costs for hardworking Americans, Tenney said. Congress is ready to collaborate with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to rein in bloated budgets, relocate federal agencies out of Washington, DC, reform outdated bureaucracies, and ensure bureaucrats actually work for their pay.

Presidents from both parties have contributed significantly to the national debt. The national debt increased by 40.45% during Trump's first term as his policies contributed $8.18 trillion to the debt total, according to a USA Today analysis. Through last August, President Biden had contributed $6.66 trillion to the national debt, a 23.42% increase.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X at @Vivian_E_Jones.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Blackburn introduces DOGE Acts aimed at federal efficiency
In October 2023, when Texas high school student Elliston Berry was 14 years old, a male classmate used artificial intelligence to turn innocent photos of her and her friends into "deepfake" pornography. Then, he shared the realistic-looking nude photos on the social media platform Snapchat.

"That morning, when I woke up, it was one of the worst feelings I've ever felt, feeling hopeless and feeling as if my entire innocence was stripped away," Berry, who hails from the Fort Worth suburb of Aledo, said at a Wednesday news conference on Capitol Hill. "The unknown was so terrifying, that this is my reality."

It took eight months to get Snapchat to remove the photos, Berry said  and a call to the company from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

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Cruz said Wednesday that Berry's experience, which he learned about because her mother contacted his office, led him to draft legislation to help others facing similar situations.

The "TAKE IT DOWN" Act, which Cruz introduced with Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, makes it a crime to post nude or sexually explicit imagery without a person's consent, including computer-generated photos and videos that depict real people. It also requires social media and other websites to remove such images within 48 hours after notification from a victim.

"It should not take a sitting U.S. senator or a sitting member of Congress to make a phone call to get this garbage down," Cruz said.

The Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan bill on Dec. 4. In Wednesday's news conference, Cruz, Klobuchar and leading House sponsor Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., urged the lower chamber to schedule the bill for a vote before the end of the year.

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Also urging swift passage was South Carolina state Rep. Brandon Guffey, whose son Gavin died by suicide minutes after an online scammer threatened the 17-year-old with "sextortion."

The scammer posed as a girl on the social media platform Instagram and solicited nude pictures from Guffey's son, then demanded payment to keep the images private. Within two hours of being contacted at midnight on July 27, 2022, Gavin had fatally shot himself.

"That is the hurt, that is the shame, because there is no out," Guffey said of his son's death. "The threat of these images going viral  you can't hide the amount of shame."

Klobuchar and Cruz's bill would make it a federal felony to publish nonconsensual intimate images, including deepfakes.

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The bill is among numerous solutions lawmakers have pushed in recent years to address the proliferation of nonconsensual online graphic imagery, including deepfakes and "revenge porn." The latter refers to intimate images posted by romantic or sexual partners, especially ex-partners, without an individual's consent.

There has been a "huge increase" in the number of children and teens  particularly young boys who have been threatened with sextortion in recent years, according to the FBI. More than 20 young victims died by suicide between October 2021 and March 2023, Klobuchar emphasized.

Nearly all U.S. states have laws protecting against nonconsensual intimate imagery, including the 29 states that ban "deepfake," or computer-generated, nonconsensual pornography. But penalties vary, and even with the states' laws, victims struggle to have content removed from websites that might be based in other states.

Congress in a 2022 law also created a civil cause of action for victims to sue perpetrators. However, filing lawsuits can be difficult, costly and time-consuming.

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According to Cruz's office, nearly 90 organizations have backed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, including victim advocacy groups, law enforcement and tech industry leaders.

"If this bill is on the floor of the House, this bill will pass," Cruz said. "We need to get this done now. We can't deal with this later because that means we're turning a blind eye on the victims."

More: No more social media for kids? Texas lawmakers discuss restricting students' digital spaces

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ted Cruz urges House to OK bill requiring websites to cut revenge porn
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Democrats are using their final days in the majority to probe President-elect Donald Trumps mass deportations plan.

You estimate, at least in one publication here, that the cost of massive deportation would be $316 billion? Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked.

At a minimum, American Immigration Council Senior Fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick answered.

Immigration advocates are concerned the plan could negatively impact the economy. Durbin worries it would also hit the military.

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To carry out over 13 million arrests in a short period of time would require somewhere between 220,000 and 409,000 new government employees and law enforcement officers, Durbin said.

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) agrees the U.S. needs to control its border but not group law-abiding migrants who have contributed to the U.S. with criminals.

I think the President-elect Trump has this view, that if you are here illegally, no matter how long it took for that adjudication to occur, and no matter what your roots are, then you should go back, Welch said.

Republicans say its time to take a more aggressive approach.

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American people elected a new President, in large part to secure the border and deport people who came illegally under their predecessor, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said.

Tillis and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas.) say the American people want to see the government do something about the issue.

Weve seen 12 million people come into this country illegally under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Cruz said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) promises action once President-elect Trump takes office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Senator John Thune, the chambers incoming majority leader, is reportedly working behind the scenes on a plan to block some of Donald Trumps controversial Cabinet nominees.

During an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe Wednesday, MSNBC contributor Katty Kay said that after attending an event where she spoke to a swath of Republican senators, her understanding was that Thune intends to protect some of his fellow Republicans while still opposing Trumps more preposterous picks, such as Fox & Friends host Pete Hegseth and former Democratic representative turned MAGA acolyte Tulsi Gabbard.

He cant have all the same senators go out and say no against all of the picks. And so hes coming up with some kind of rotation scheme, Kay explained. Maybe its Thom Tillis votes against one of them, maybe if Joni Ernst votes against one of themmaybe somebody else votes against one of them, the thinking is that they could probably get rid of four, and that includes Matt Gaetz.

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For his part, Thune seems to have avoided ever becoming a full Trump sycophant. When the Access Hollywood tape came out in 2016, Thune called on Trump to withdraw his candidacy in favor of Mike Pence. Thune wasnt the majority leader Trump wanted, but he was the one he got. Now, he may prevent Trump from getting his way, again.

However, MAGA activists have been quick to execute online pressure campaigns against any Republican senators who dont comply with Trumps demands for swift confirmationsrecently targeting Iowa Senator Joni Ernst after she seemed reluctant to support Hegseth.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Mobile Police Chief William Jackson has used the word senseless two days in a row to describe the recent spike in violent crime.

UPDATE: Mobile man in custody after DIP shooting, police say

With 22 days left in the year, the city has already passed last years homicide total.

Mobile police told News 5 that the latest victim is a juvenile but they did not give his age.

Chief Jackson said finding the killer is something the community can help with.

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The young gunshot victim was found dead near a vehicle that had crashed into a pole on Gayle Street near Baltimore Street.

Officers were in the area Monday night investigating a report of shots fired from a vehicle nearby on Charles Street.

Officers heard gunshots coming from the Gayle Street area and following them led to the crash and boy.

Unfortunately, another senseless act of violence in our city that shouldnt take place, Jackson said.

Mobile mayor teases potential hockey training facility

Jackson told WKRG that stopping the violence starts with the community.

Know where your children are, no one needs to be carrying and resolving disputes with weapons of any kind, much less guns,  Jackson said.

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This is the 34th homicide in Mobile this year. In 2023, there were 33 for the entire year.

Jackson told us that violent crimes in general are known to spike during the holidays.

He said these crimes are normally among people who know each other and not random attacks.

It is to be noted that only one of our homicides this year happened between parties who did not know each other,  Chief Jackson said.

Mobile Civic Center arena update: Final designs accepted this week

So far, police have not named any suspects in the Gayle Street homicide.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Dec. 10There is a significant risk of power outages on Wednesday from a storm that will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Maine, but forecasters say it will not have the same severity as the storm on Dec. 18-19, 2023, that caused widespread and devastating flooding.

The rain comes on the heels of a storm that dropped several inches of snow across the region Tuesday night.

Snow totals ranged from 2 inches in Lisbon to 3.3 inches in Cumberland Center, the National Weather Service said. About 2.8 inches was reported at the Portland International Jetport, while 1.5 inches fell in Camden.

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The weather service in Gray said heavy rain and strong winds are expected starting Tuesday night. But the storm is not expected to have as big an impact as the storm last December because winds will be focused on the Midcoast and not penetrate as far inland. There also is abundant capacity in rivers and reservoirs for runoff, and less snow melt in the mountains and less severe river rises than last year, the weather service said.

Many areas could see 2 to 3 inches of rain, with close to 4 inches possible. That could result in flash flooding with sharp rises in area streams, minor to moderate river flooding and localized ice jam flooding.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch from 1 p.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday over much of central Maine, including Kennebec, Somerset and Androscoggin counties. But forecasters say this storm will be less powerful than last December's, and the state's recent dry spell means much of the rain will be absorbed into the ground.

However, officials are keeping an eye on the Kennebec River, which can flood when a lot of rain falls in a short period. Augusta City Manager Jared Mills said in his weekly update to city councilors that most of the reservoirs that feed into the river are currently low enough that they should be able to handle additional runoff.

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Wednesday also will bring unseasonably warm temperatures to much of Maine, the weather service said. Portland, Bangor and Augusta are each expected to see highs near 54 degrees, Camden a high near 51 and Rangeley a high near 46. Things are forecast to cool slightly Thursday, but temperatures will likely stay above freezing, with highs in the 30s and 40s statewide.

Along the coast and just inland, damaging winds are possible with downed trees and power lines. There is a significant risk of power outages in those areas, the weather service said.

The foothills and western mountains have a limited risk of outages.

Workers from Central Maine Power Co. are preparing for possible outages throughout the state, but the total crew numbers had not been finalized Tuesday afternoon, spokesperson Jon Breed said in a phone call. He said strong winds from the south could blow over trees, which are accustomed to withstanding gusts from nor'easters.

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"What's significant about this particular storm are the southerly winds," Breed said. "When you have these changing wind directions pushing on the weaker sides, they uproot."

Trees that topple from outside the right of way are among the most common causes of damage to power lines, since utility companies are not legally allowed to touch them unless they become a hazard, he said.

"Maine has one of the strictest tree cutting laws in the states when it comes to trimming for power lines, which can cause problems," Breed said.

In the case of a power outage, residents should focus on their personal safety and avoid touching downed equipment or using indoor stoves and ranges as heating sources, Breed said. He also suggested residents unplug major appliances and sensitive electronics to avoid the risk of damaging them when power returns.

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Those in immediate danger should call 911, and those who may need help securing shelter or fulfilling other needs can call 211 for Maine's services directory, he said.

Outages are expected to come with the storm, beginning Wednesday and carry into Thursday, Breed said.

Kennebec Journal Staff Writer Keith Edwards contributed reporting.

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Dec. 10SANTA FE  After several years of declining, New Mexico's rate of inmates who end up back in prison after being released has climbed back up to nearly 40%, a new legislative report found.

The increased recidivism rate  well above the national rate of 27%  comes as lawmakers are grappling with how to reduce stubbornly high violent crime rates statewide.

"It still doesn't sit well with me as we continue to see people ending up back in these facilities," said Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, during a Tuesday meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee at the Roundhouse.

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"We want them to be out. We want them to be constructive members of society," he added.

The LFC report cited substance abuse as a leading cause of recidivism, despite efforts to provide drug abuse treatment and job training programs in state prisons.

Formerly incarcerated individuals released after serving time for drug-related offenses end up back in prison at a higher rate than individuals convicted of crimes unrelated to drugs, the report found.

It also found the state Corrections Department has not fully upgraded to a new central data-tracking system despite receiving $16 million in state funds for the project. Legislative analysts said Tuesday they were unable to compare data about inmate program completion rates and recidivism since the department is still using two different systems for record-keeping.

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Corrections Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero told lawmakers she's hopeful the new central data system will be fully implemented by early next year.

She also pointed out some states track recidivism differently than does New Mexico, which defines it as any former inmates being sentenced back to prison within three years of being released.

While Tafoya Lucero acknowledged the state's recidivism rate increased last year, she pointed out the rate is still lower than it was five years ago.

"That still represents an overall reduction of 10%, even including those numbers," she said during Tuesday's hearing.

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Attempts to address recidivism

High recidivism rates are not a new problem in New Mexico.

Nearly 50% of released inmates ended up back behind bars as recently as 2019. But the rate then steadily dropped for four years before increasing again this year.

In past years, state prison officials have paid inmates to move furniture, paint, help with landscaping and do other tasks at state government buildings, in part to help them build job skills. A State Forestry program also pays inmates to help fight wildfires.

Tafoya Lucero also cited the recent grand opening of a store in Santa Fe  open once a month  that sells products made by incarcerated individuals.

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"It gives inmates a really exciting thing to do," she said.

Corrections Department officials in recent years have worked to bolster programming for inmates and shift more funding to transitional housing, due to rising housing prices and scarce real estate availability in some parts of New Mexico. But, according to legislative data, cost savings generated by high correction officer vacancy rates and reduced inmate populations have generally not been pumped back into programs aimed at reducing recidivism.

Focus on substance abuse

A shortage of behavioral health providers has hampered the agency's efforts to provide more mental health and substance abuse treatment to individuals, Tafoya Lucero said.

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With about one-third of the state's roughly 5,800 incarcerated individuals in prison on a drug or alcohol-related charge, lawmakers in 2023 approved legislation requiring the state to provide medication-assisted treatment by June 2026 to all inmates who qualify for it.

Medication-assisted treatment is the use of medications, alongside counseling and therapy, to treat addiction and substance abuse disorders. In addition, a federal court settlement this year requires the Corrections Department to allow incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder to continue taking buprenorphine, an opioid medication, while in state custody.

The Corrections Department is seeking additional state funding in the coming year to accomplish those mandates, and top lawmakers signaled support for the programs.

"It's one of the things that we're being told again and again. ... This is one of the few ways to address this growing opioid use dependence," said Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, the LFC's vice chairman.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Crews are continuing to clean up overflow from a sanitary sewer manhole after thousands of gallons of waste water overflowed in a southeast Austin neighborhood, Austin Water said in a news release.

More than 100,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed into a dry tributary segment of Williamson Creek, in the 5000 block of Creek Bend Drive, the release said. That overflow was discovered around 11:53 a.m., and the agency said the overflow was stopped at 1:47 p.m.

Furthermore, Austin Water said the tributary is typically dry, no fish were present, and the initial investigation shows that spill did not reach Williamson Creek.

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Austin Water said the overflow did not affect drinking water supply, and the Texas Commission Environmental Quality (TCEQ) was notified. However, officials are urging the following listed below, as provided by the agency:

People using private drinking water supply wells who are within a half mile of the overflow site should use water that has either been distilled or boiled at a rolling boil for at least one minute. The water wells should also get tested, as well as disinfected after they are no longer distilling or boiling water, according to Austin Water.

For those who purchase water from another public water supply should contact the distributor to determine if the water is safe for personal use, the agency said.

The public should avoid any areas affected by the overflow. If the public comes in contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area that may have been affected by the overflow should bathe, as well as wash their clothes thoroughly as soon as possible, according to Austin Water.

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.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A San Francisco psychedelic church that gained national attention for its adherence to the spiritual power of psilocybin mushrooms will be closing its doors by the end of the year. Zide Door will close its location in the citys SOMA neighborhood with its pastor citing harassment from the San Francisco Planning Department.

The church, according to a press release, was the victim of a city planning department bent on expelling the institution, according to Pastor Dave Hodges.

Zide Door was opened by the Church of Ambrosia in April of 2023. The church will maintain its founding site in Oakland where it will continue to serve its 120,000 members, according to Pastor Hodges.

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The Oakland church showcases an impressive mural and other significant psychedelic art, the news release said.

According to Hodges, SF Planning Department officials have targeted the church with mandates for structural updates, some of which were not required when the church opened. Hodges also cited a political climate for psychedelics he said has deteriorated since State Sen. Scott Wieners magic mushroom bill SB1012 stalled in committee.

The bill would have allowed psychedelic-assisted therapy in California in keeping with the growing national interest in psilocybins beneficial uses, the church said, adding that the legislative setback dampened local efforts to achieve a more favorable environment for psychedelic sacraments.

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The church also accused the planning department of criticizing the church in the media. Hodges said that he is concerned that the Planning Departments targeting of the church could constitute religious discrimination.

Its obviously hostility from people in the Planning Department, Hodges said.

The structural fixes levied at the church by the planning department are in the six-figure price range, according to the church. Hodges went on to say that if tolerance toward the church improves, Zide Door could be reopened in San Francisco.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Dec. 10SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP  It has been a tradition at cemeteries across the United States since 1992, and this year, it will be coming to Allen County for the first time.

Wreaths Across America is a program dedicated to honoring the lives of deceased American service members by laying balsam wreaths at their graves. Since its beginnings, when a wreath-making company in Maine took surplus wreaths to lay at graves in Arlington National Cemetery, the program has grown to include thousands of cemeteries nationwide, according to Shawnee Cemetery Sexton Lesa Wende.

"Countrywide, there will be four million wreaths laid all on the same day," she said. "There are 255 [participating] cemeteries in Ohio. It's pretty amazing the numbers that we have here."

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The wreaths arrived Tuesday morning at Shawnee United Methodist Church, the truck receiving a police and fire escort as it arrived. Shawnee Cemetery is set to be the first cemetery in Allen County to participate in the ceremony, which is scheduled for noon Saturday. Wende hopes that other cemeteries in the area will be inspired to take part in the future. She also noted that the wreaths are not reserved solely for service members who have died in combat. Wreaths are laid at the grave of any veteran.

"In our cemetery, we have a brigadier general from the War of 1812," she said. "There's the Civil War, World War II, World War I, you name it. We also have Christian Neff, the Gold Star who was killed in action in 2007 in Iraq. If you're a veteran, you get a wreath to honor your life.

Saturday's ceremony will include remarks from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and retired Ohio National Guard Lt. Col. William Stratton.

The cemetery is looking for volunteers to help lay the wreaths after the ceremony. To learn more or to volunteer, contact Wende at 419-236-3157 or go to the Shawnee Cemetery Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3Vx0xMG.

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SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn.  WREG Investigators have found out the Shelby County District Attorneys Office has added another law enforcement officer to its Giglio list of compromised witnesses.

The list is comprised of law enforcement officers who have been found to be untruthful or had other issues calling their credibility into question. Prosecutors use these lists to determine if officers are eligible to serve as witnesses.

Through the Tennessee Records Act, WREG Investigators found out a Shelby County Sheriffs deputy had been added to the list after SCSO internal affairs opened a case in late July.

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Sgt. Matthew Nelsons decisions during a vehicle pursuit had been called into question.

According to the disciplinary action form, Nelson said he observed Millington PD in pursuit of a stolen vehicle, so he followed behind but did not get involved in the pursuit.

Nelson said Millington police later disregarded the pursuit, but he kept following. He stated the vehicle later side-swiped and rammed his car. He eventually gave up the chase when the car entered the city limits.

Internal investigators say the story didnt add up when they saw other officers in-car video. They claim Nelson violated department policies like being unauthorized to even pursue the car since the need for apprehension did not outweigh the level of danger created by this pursuit.

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They added since hes a supervisor, hes held to a higher standard and is expected to lead by example.

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They say he also violated their truthfulness policy because he said he didnt pursue the vehicle when he did. Documents state that he used excessive speed, went through a red light and entered wrong lanes of traffic all while telling dispatch he wasnt in pursuit.

Nelson received a 30-day suspension and demotion.

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The SCSO said in September, that Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner notified the district attorneys office that he should be on their Giglio List of compromised witnesses based on the laws requirement.

The DAs office confirming Nelson was added soon after.

Other names on their list include the officers charged in connection to Tyre Nichols death.

The Giglio List is a list of law enforcement personnel that we keep who if we are going to use as witnesses, then we feel the need to disclose to defense counsel that they had some sort of brush with untruthfulness in the past. Either they were disciplined for being untruthful or the court found them to be untruthful, DA Steve Mulroy explained to us in the past.

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According to Nelsons employment file, he violated department policy one other time involving, again, a vehicle pursuit.

In 2021, deputies reportedly tried to pull over a car but received a direct order from a lieutenant to disregard. The order was reportedly repeated on dispatch, but internal investigators claim Nelson didnt listen.

They say video footage shows Nelson maneuvering his patrol car and forcing several civilian motorists to the shoulder of the roadway. They stated he was told to stop three times, but followed the car to Tillman and Walnut Grove where he lost sight. He was suspended for three days without pay.

The DAs office has said their list is fluid, which means names can be added or taken off as more information becomes available. Nelson is appealing his suspension and demotion.

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GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Shelby man has been sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder for a fatal shooting in 2020 at a Gastonia gas station, according to District Attorney Travis G. Page.

Marshawn Devon Sanders, 31, was sentenced on Tuesday, Dec. 10, following a week-long trial. On June 9, 2020, he shot and killed 30-year-old Eric DeSean Glenn at the Incgo Express convenience store on Lowell Bethesda Road.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 arrested in Gastonia homicide, police say

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According to the evidence, Sanders was in a toxic relationship with a woman that ended a few months before the fatal shooting. Sanders allegedly sent multiple threatening texts to his ex and is believed to have busted out the windows of her sisters home. After the breakup, Sanders was engaged in a relationship with 38-year-old Ashely Abernathy of Lincolnton.

On the day of the shooting, Sanders and Abernathy drove to Gastonia to find his ex-girlfriend and follow through with the threats. Evidence showed they found her in Gastonia in a 2002 Honda Accord with her two-year-old son Glenn, and followed them to the Incgo Express.

When the Honda was parked at a gas pump, Abernathy circled them while Sanders leaned out of the vehicle and fired at least twelve shots. Multiple hit the Honda with one coming inches away from the two-year-olds head, according to the evidence. Another bullet hit a work van in the parking lot that was occupied by an innocent bystander who stopped at the store on the way home from work. Sadly, one of the rounds fatally struck Glenn in the chest.

Authorities say one of the bystanders was an off-duty cardiac nurse who tried to help Glenn, but he unfortunately died at the scene.

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Sanders was quickly identified to the Gastonia Police Department and witnesses at the scene gave matching descriptions of him. Soon after, law enforcement apprehended the suspects at a home in Shelby. Abernathy admitted to her being involved in the shooting and pled guilty in 2023 to accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. She was sentenced to about 7-10 years in prison.

Along with his life sentence, Sanders was given two 15 to 19-year sentences, two 29 to 47-month sentences, and a 14 to 26-month sentence for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend and her son and weapons charges. Officials say all but one of those prison terms will be served consecutively to the life sentence.

(Left to right): Ashley Abernathy, 38, and Marshawn Sanders, 31; Credit: District Attorneys Office

Todays verdict is our communitys resounding repudiation of Marshawn Sanders and his horrific conduct, DA Page said. He stole the life of Eric Glenn and endangered the lives of countless other Gaston County residents. Our office remains relentless in our pursuit of justice, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute violent offenders. We thank the jury for their service and their commitment to following the facts of this case and the rule of law.

more on qcnews.com

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ATLANTA (AP)  The Fulton County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday it will send about $1.4 million in electronic payments to a private security company by the end of the week that pulled its staff from the local jail in Georgia.

New York-based Strategic Security Corp. ended its contract with the county in August after it failed to pay money owed and let its officers walk out of the Fulton County Jail in the middle of the day. The company provided about 80 guards.

The Sheriff's office did not pay the company what it owed in any billing cycle since the start of its contract in 2023, CEO Joseph Sordi told reporters in August. Natalie Ammons, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said the office did pay some bills in full.

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Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat has come under fire from county officials for failing to address dangerous conditions in the Fulton County Jail and for mismanaging funds, including the $146 million to his office allocated this year.

Last year, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners dissolved the sheriff's inmate welfare fund after learning that money had been used for promotional events and consulting fees. The office said it took several remedial actions, including firing the fund administrator.

In October 2023, the commission rescinded $2.1 million in funding for Georgia-based jail software company Talitrix, which was supposed to provide 1,000 wristbands and monitoring devices to the jail. Only 15 were in use. Talitrix then sued the sheriff's office over nonpayment.

In Tuesdays statement, the sheriffs office said the department is underfunded by the county given its size and mandates. Underfunding has impacted not only contractual obligations but also critical operational capacities that directly affect public safety and community trust."

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Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts released a statement in August saying that funding for the sheriffs office and jail increased 66% since 2019, but the sheriff has consistently failed to demonstrate basic budget management practices."

Pitts said the sheriff's office signed the contract with Strategic Security Corp. to provide staffing for watchtowers in the jail without involving the county purchasing department. He said the commissioners allocated $1.3 million for 2024 based on the contract usage and with input from the sheriff's office.

The office waited until August to tell county management that it had already spent more than $1 million over the budgeted amount, Pitts said.

The commission passed an ordinance in July asking Labat and other constitutional officers to use the county purchasing department's procurement process when entering new contracts. Labat said he plans to sue the Board of Commissioners, which he says has gone overboard in managing how he spends money.
The Wisconsin dad who faked his own death and fled to Eastern Europe returned to the United States on his own and is now in custody awaiting unspecified charges, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said on Wed., Dec. 11.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, of Watertown, was booked into the Green Lake County Jail on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 4:56 p.m., according to Wisconsins VINELink online notification system.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 11, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll gave an update on how Borghardt ended up in custody. Though Podoll offered few details about Borgwardt's surprising return, he said the father has "cooperated with us."

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"He got on an airplane and landed in the United States," Podoll said, adding that he came "willingly."

The married father of three from Watertown went missing on Aug. 11 after he went kayaking in Green Lake.

As authorities searched for him, his wife and children mourned his loss.

On Nov. 8, Podoll held a press conference and announced that Borgwardt was actually alive and believed to be in Eastern Europe.

Podoll said he'd called off the search for Ryan in early October after he and his team learned that Canadian law enforcement had checked Ryans passport on Aug. 13  the day after he vanished. That was something we didnt expect, Podoll said.

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At Wednesday's press conference, Podoll would not answer reporters' questions about whether Borgwardt has been in contact with his wife and kids.

"That I can't release," he said.

He did say the department spoke to the family, adding, "I can only imagine how they feel."

He wouldn't say where Borgwardt was or the airport from where he flew home.

As for what compelled him to turn himself in, Podoll said, "His family, I guess."

Borgwardt was not extradited to the U.S. but "notified us" that he was returning and "came back on his own," Podoll said.

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He said, "We were in contact with him."

He said the Green Lake County District Attorney will announce charges.

There could be "a number of them," Podoll said, including obstruction.

Related: Runaway Dad: Kayaker Accused of Faking Death at a Wisconsin Lake Resurfaces in Europe

On Aug. 11, Podoll said, Borgwardt took photos of his passport, changed his email, moved money to a foreign bank  and had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan.

Related: Wisconsin Father Who Allegedly Faked Kayak Accident Was in Contact with Woman Overseas: Police

Authorities said Ryan began plotting his disappearance as far back as January, when he took out a $375,000 insurance policy  possibly to take care of his family in his absence.

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Podoll made an emotional plea to the runaway dad, asking him to contact his family. "We understand that things can happen, but there's a family that wants their daddy back."

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.

At a second press conference on Nov. 21, Podoll revealed that his department had gotten in touch with Ryan on Nov. 11, with the help of a Russian-speaking woman, possibly the woman from Uzbekistan and that he is believed to be living in Eastern Europe.

Reaching Ryan was a big turning point and our concern was that he was safe and well, Podell said.

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Ryan filmed a video of himself in what he said was his new apartment, letting everyone know he was "safe" and "secure."

Related: Dad Accused of Faking Death in Staged Kayak Accident Sends Video Confirming He's Alive

Off-camera, Ryan told the sheriffs office how he pulled off his plan to disappear, Podoll said. After stashing an e-bike near the boat lodge, Ryan paddled his kayak and a child-sized inflatable boat out into the lake and overturned the kayak, the sheriff said.

He paddled the inflatable boat to shore and got on, got on his e-bike and rode through the night to Madison. There, he boarded a bus to Detroit and then to the Canadian border. He continued on the bus to an airport and got on a plane, Podoll said.

It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.



Read the original article on People
Container ships are avoiding the threat of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, The New York Times reported.

Sailing around Africa extends journeys by up to 10 days and adds significant to fuel costs.

Sending US and EU warships to the region has done little to improve the situation for shipping companies.

Some cargo ships are extending their journeys by up to 10 days and thousands of miles to avoid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

More than a year ago, Houthi rebels based in Yemen began targeting ships and vessels in the Red Sea, which they said was in response to Israel's escalations in Gaza.

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However, the rebels have also attacked ships with no obvious connection to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Maritime historian Salvatore Mercogliano told the Times the situation was one of the most significant challenges shipping had faced for some time.

A report by the Defense Intelligence Agency said that at least 65 countries' trade interests had been affected by Houthi attacks on commercial shipping as of April.

There have been about 130 such incidents involving commercial ships since October 2023, per figures collated by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

Diverting ships around Africa's Cape of Good Hope adds thousands of nautical miles, up to two weeks of transit time, and about $1 million in fuel costs for each voyage, per the report.

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It also said container shipping through Red Sea, which typically accounts for about 10% to 15% of international maritime trade, had declined by about 90% between December 2023 and February.

The US and EU have sent warships to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to prevent Houthi attacks, but the move has had little impact.

According to Portwatch, a database run by the IMF and Oxford University, the average number of container ships passing through the Red Sea a week as of December 1 was 26, down from 73 the same time last year.

As well as longer journey times and higher costs, the management consultancy Inverto estimated that an additional 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide had been emitted since the crisis began.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A man aboard a Newark-bound flight is accused of taking off his shirt and pinning a flight attendant against an exit door while shouting epithets and threats of physical violence, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Kedus Yacob Damtew, 38, was charged in Newark federal court with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants by assault or intimidation, Philip R. Sellinger, the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, said in a news release.

The incident unfolded earlier this year, according to the criminal complaint.

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Damtew was a passenger on United Airlines flight 2732, arriving at Newark International Airport from Houston, Texas, when a conversation with a flight attendant turned violent.

Shortly before landing, Damtew allegedly removed his shirt before pushing his bare chest into the flight attendants chest and pinning the victim against the exit door.

Hes also accused of shouting at the flight attendant  at such proximity that the victims face became covered in saliva  and punching an aircraft oven, according to the affidavit.

Damtew then followed the flight attendant to the rear of the aircraft, still shouting epithets and threats of physical violence, and threw a cup of water, investigators said

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After a second flight attendant requested assistance over the planes public address system, several passengers managed to help secure Damtew in flex cuffs in the planes last row until it landed in Newark.

As a result of Damtews, conduct flight attendants couldnt properly complete pre-landing duties and the pilot was unable to complete standard safety cross-checks before landing, the affidavit further states.

Damtew was charged with interference with flight crew members by assault or intimidation, Sellinger said Tuesday. He appeared in federal court in Washington, D.C. earlier this month and was released pending a court appearance.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) announced Wednesday morning that officers were at the scene of a shooting at Farrington High School.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Farrington High School will reopen tomorrow following todays early morning shooting.

According to family, the 21-year-old security guard was working his overnight shift on the school campus around 4 a.m. when he said he heard a loud bang and realized he was shot in the thigh.

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He was taken to the Queens Medical Center in stable condition. His family told KHON he was talking was expected to be ok.

Honolulu Police were on campus for hours following the shooting. The Department of Education closed the school to faculty and students as a precautionary measure.

Missing Maui woman Hannah Kobayashi found

Our positive thoughts go out to the victim of todays incident at Farrington. You know, we definitely want to be sure; safety and security is very important for us at Farrington and at all of our schools, said Keith Hayashi, State School Superintendent.

HPD detectives were reviewing the campus security cameras to see if there was any video of the incident. But for Kalihi Neighborhood Board Chair, Amanda Ybanez, the shooting was the latest in a frustrating string of violence in her area.

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The children and our community have better things to celebrate than to be scared of going to school. the kids were denied access to their campus because of unnecessary violence, said Ybanez.

According to Farrington High Schools principal, no students or staff were involved and there is no active threat to the campus.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

The school said preliminary findings suggest the shooting was accidental. However, the school plans to have increased security presence on campus this week while the investigation continues.

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.
Though it's now been open for business for more than six months, Morgan Wallen's Broadway bar is returning to the Metro Nashville Council agenda next week.

That's because of one still-missing element that sets Morgan Wallen's This Bar apart from its honky-tonk peers: an eye-catching neon sign, or in this case a lack thereof.

On Tuesday, the council is set to consider a resolution for an aerial encroachment allowing the bar to construct and install a 20-foot sign. Council approval is required whenever a sign is constructed over a public right of way.

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This isn't the first time Wallen and TC Restaurant Group, the company managing the bar, have requested the encroachment. In May, the council soundly rejected a request for a sign of the same size and specifications. Council members voted 30-3 to reject the plans, citing Wallen's past use of a racial slur and impending court proceedings for his arrest at another Broadway bar where he was accused of throwing a chair off a six-story rooftop.

Lack of signage aside, the bar has been open since June 1. Though not explicitly linked to the council's decision, the opening previously scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend was delayed days after the council's May 21 meeting.

Wallen's case moves forward

As of earlier this week, Wallen's case continues to move forward in the court process. On Tuesday, Wallen's attorney Worrick Robinson informed a judge that Wallen was waiving his right to a preliminary hearing and grand jury presentment, meaning the case will now move from general sessions court to criminal court.

That means details of the case that otherwise may have emerged during preliminary hearing testimony might not be revealed.

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Police documents from Wallen's arrest accuse Wallen of throwing a chair over the railing of Eric Church's six-story honky-tonk, Chief's, around 11 p.m. on April 7. That chair landed a few feet away from several Nashville police officers who were standing in front of the building, according to Wallen's arrest affidavit.

Additionally, the affidavit states, security video from the bar's rooftop shows Wallen throwing an object over the roof.

Robinson on Tuesday said Wallen is seeking to settle the case with prosecutors.

What council members said last time

The group gave a full-throated denouncement the last time it considered the legislation.

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Like earlier this year, Jacob Kupin, who represents District 19 downtown, has sponsored the legislation. In May, Kupin said he voted in favor of the legislation because TC Restaurant Group "has been really a good partner in everything going on downtown" and he felt they should not be penalized for Wallen's actions.

At-large Council member Delishia Porterfield in May said she didn't want to see "a billboard up with the name of a person who's throwing chairs off of balconies and who is saying racial slurs," and District 14 Council member Jordan Huffman said Wallen's comments were hateful and his actions harmful.

Wallen, for his part, said he accepted responsibility for his behavior in the days following his arrest, and in the wake of the 2021 video showing him using a racial slur pledged to donate a total of $500,000 to organizations including the Black Music Action Coalition and the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Morgan Wallen resubmits Nashville bar sign to council
Gilbert Police Department is asking for help in locating a teen who has been missing since Thursday night.

Liam Joseph McGee, 14, is a white male with brown hair and blue eyes. He is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. When last seen, he was wearing a tan T-shirt, black Champion hoodie, dark pants, and Nike shoes.

McGee was last spotted on a security camera walking away from his home on Thursday around 11 p.m. near Higley and Germann roads in Gilbert.

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McGee has autism and ADHD with a history of running away. His medical condition requires medication.

He has typically been located in the same areas around Gilbert after running away, but his go-to areas did not give any clues about his location.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety issued a Silver Alert on Tuesday for McGee after his disappearance met the Arizona Silver Alert criteria, according to Gilbert police.

Anyone with information on McGee's whereabouts is asked to contact the Gilbert Police Department at 480-503-6500.

A Silver Alert has been issued for 14-year-old Liam McGee. After working to locate Liam since Dec. 6 and exhausting all available police resources, an @Arizona_DPS Silver Alert was issued for Liam after meeting the requirements for ARS 41-1728 - Silver Alert Notification System. https://t.co/KoikmbFE3h  Gilbert Police Dept. (@GilbertPolice) December 10, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Missing Gilbert 14-year-old Liam Joseph McGee has medical condition
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  KCAU 9s Operation Toys is underway this month, and Sioux City firefighters went out shopping for donations Thursday.

The firefighters went to a local Bomgaars Thursday afternoon to shop for toys to donate to the Salvation Army of Siouxland. Members of union Local 7 spent $530 on toys this year to help put smiles on kids faces this holiday season.

The Warming Shelter preparing for cold weather

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It feels really good to do this, firefighter Justin Oehm said. We have a longstanding relationship with the Salvation Army and Bomgaars doing this. We just want every kid to have a good, happy Christmas, and the toy drive is a good way of giving back to the community.

Anyone interested in participating in Operation Toys can visit their local Bomgaars to pick out a toy you would like to donate to help spread the holiday cheer.

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.
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP)  Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey  bridging Motown's old and new school  are lending their voices during a holiday special to honor the groundbreaking record label that changed music forever.

Robinson and Bailey will host A Motown Christmas," a special that will celebrate Motowns iconic music and influence on American culture. The show will include solo performances, duets and group medleys.

The show will include an all-star lineup including Robinson, Bailey, Gladys Knight,Andra Day, The Temptations, Jamie Foxx and Ashanti. Other performances will feature BeBe Winans, JoJo, Martha Reeves , the Vandellas, Jordin Sparks, Machine Gun Kelly, October London and Pentatonix.

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Here are some insights into the special airing Wednesday night on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock:

What were Robinson and Bailey's Motown traditions for Christmas

For years, Robinson and Motown founder Berry Gordy celebrated their success with elaborate Christmas gifts for each other. But eventually, they decided to forgo the flashy exchanges.

That's what we did a long time ago, Robinson said.

Now, their holiday tradition is simply catching up  whether it's over a call or casual hangout.

When Bailey visited South Carolina for Christmas, her grandfather filled the house with Motown music.

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One of the first songs she remembers hearing the 1965 single The Tracks of My Tears," composed by Robinson, Pete Moore and Marv Tarplin from the singing group, The Miracles. Another moment was when she and her sister, Chloe Bailey, performed The Supremes' 1964 track Baby Love during a talent show, sporting black sequin dresses while trying mimic their moves.

That's how I first started listening to it," said Halle Bailey, who starred in the Disneys live-action remake of The Little Mermaid." I remember the feeling of Christmas and the music of Motown being just the beautiful background music, anytime you're opening presents. It's just amazing.

How many songs will be performed during the special?

More than 25 Motown songs will be on display, including classics such as: ABC"; Aint No Mountain High Enough; Dancing in the Streets; I Heard It Through the Grapevine; My Girl; Reach Out (Ill be There); and Superstition.

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Robinson will sing Tears of a Clown," Being With You and Tracks of My Tears.

Bailey will be performing a medley celebrating Diana Ross and the Supremes. She'll also hit the stage to perform Stop (In the Name of Love), Baby Love and You Keep Me Hanging On.

When you grow up listening to this music, it lives inside of you forever, Bailey said. It was truly an honor to perform those songs that sang in my heart since I was a little girl.

The 11-piece live band for A Motown Christmas will be led by Emmy Award-winning musical director Rickey Minor.

NBC previously aired two Motown television specials, including Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and Motown Returns to the Apollo, which both won Emmy Awards.

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What was Motown's purpose?

When Gordy launched Motown, he gave Black musicians the platform to showcase their talents at a time when they struggled to get records played on mainstream radio stations.

Gordy's label introduced and helped launch the careers of some of the biggest selling music stars from Marvin Gaye to Lionel Richie.

The success of Gordy's label is captured at the Motown Museum in Detroit, the first headquarters of Gordys music empire where Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, the Miracles and other performers recorded hits. Motown moved to California in 1972.

How Motown lives on from Robinson's perspective

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At 84, Robinson pointed during the interview toward 24-year-old Bailey, a living testament to how Motowns magic has transcended generations.

This lady right here, shes living proof of the importance of Motown, said Robinson, who was the lead in the pioneering Motown group, the Miracles. He was once the labels vice president.

When Motown was started, she wasnt even born, he continued. And here she knows the music. She knows the artists. I think there are kids now, her son, who will grow up knowing Motown. Kids who havent been born yet will know it.

Bailey called Motown universal.

The longevity of the music, she said. The truth and honesty of the music. The stories told. You resonate with almost every song because youve been through it or youre going through it. Each song speaks to your heart. They stay with you.
You can't always count on Old Saint Nick (or Mother Nature) to make a white Christmas.

Thankfully, you can rely on the Farmers' Almanac to give their best prediction on what the weather is going to be like in Rhode Island on Christmas Day.

"Here is your Christmas forecast," the Farmers' Almanac website said. The prediction covers from Christmas Eve, December 24, until Wednesday, December 27, 2024.

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Farmers' Almanac separated its Christmas weather predictions into zones for various regions of the country. The almanac sectioned off New England and the Northeast into Zone 1, which encompasses New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington D.C.

Will it snow on Christmas in Rhode Island

2017: The Warwick Neck lighthouse is covered in coating of snow from a storm that hit the area.

"Wet snow bringing a white Christmas to the north," the forecast said. "Rain showers to the south."

The almanac is predicting that Rhode Island will see wet snow this Christmas Day, and thus a white Christmas.

New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and the other states could constitute the southern part comprised in Zone 1.

How often does Rhode Island have a white Christmas?

The chances of a white Christmas in Southern New England aren't great in any given year.

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Based on observations from 1991 to 2020, NOAA gives Warwick, specifically Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, just a 17% chance of a white Christmas in any year, according to an interactive map by the Climate Prediction Center.

Cities and towns in northwestern Rhode Island, such as North Foster, 43%, and Woonsocket, 36%, have a better chance.

What will the weather be like on New Years Eve

"Year ends on a blustery, colder note, with frequent snow showers," the almanac's detailed forecast said concerning the Northeast and New England.

Jack Perry contributed to this report.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Farmers' Almanac 2024 forecast: Will RI have a white Christmas?
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Millions of Americans rely on social security benefits to make ends meet, but for some, a series of delays and system errors have left them in financial limbo.

One Oklahoma woman says her social security benefits have hit a snag, so she turned to News 4 as she fights to get her money.

Romaine Fantroy says she relies on $943 each month in benefits in order to get by, but since October, she claims those payments have been drastically reduced or delayed.

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OKLAHOMA POLITICS: Oklahoma State Rep. files bill to eliminate personal, corporate state income tax

This has been going on since October. Now, October they did let me have $93 of my $943 in October, said Fantroy.

Fantroy says she didnt get money in November, until she went to the office in-person.

She claims the Social Security Administration told her to stop using Direct Express and to open up a checking account, but that didnt fix the problem.

Now, its December and she says she still isnt receiving benefits.

So here I am fighting for my benefits for December. Its December 10th, I cant eat, I cant clean, I cant do laundry, I cant do anything because they wont give me my benefits, said Fantroy.

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Fantroy forced to make another trip to the office.

Its been rough. I mean, like, literally rough, I cant get a haircut, I cant do anything, my routine has been completely thrown off, said Fantroy.

It turns out Fantroy isnt the only one, another viewer emailed News 4 and said he his having issues with his Direct Express card and cant access over $1,800.

He claims that every time he tries to call and activate his card, hes put on hold for hours.

These problems come amid broader concerns with the Direct Express program, managed by Comerica Bank.

Just last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Comerica Bank for systematically failing its Direct Express cardholders.

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They are accused of deliberately disconnecting customer service calls and failing to investigate account problems.

News 4 reached out to the regional office for the Social Security Administration and were told they will look into both viewers cases and work with Direct Express, as well.

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.
Keck, Girdler and Daughetee

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, left, congratulates councilors Jerry Girdler, center, and Robin Daughetee, right, for their years of service to the city. Girdler and Daughetee were presented with Keys to the City at Mondays council meeting.

It was the changing of the guard, so to speak, at Mondays Somerset City Council meeting, as the city said its goodbyes to three council members who wont be returning in the new year.

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Councilors Jerry Wheeldon, Jerry Girdler and Robin Daughetee will be replaced in the coming year by three new faces  Brannen Wheeldon, Margaret Dick and Phyllis Orwin Lawson.

Two of the three council seats changed due to their incumbents, Girdler and Daughetee, being outvoted by Dick and Lawson respectively.

The third, Jerry Wheeldon, decided before the election he was retiring, paving the way for a newcomer to take on his role. The voters chose his grandson, Brannen Wheeldon, to fill the seat.

Jerry Wheeldon was not in attendance this month, having made his official goodbyes at the November meeting.

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I want to thank the people of Somerset for letting me sit here and be a part of it for 30 years. Im ready to go.  Its been good, Jerry Wheeldon said at the time.

On Monday, it was Daughetees and Girdlers time to say goodbye, which both did near the end of the meeting.

Daughetee kicked off the meetings Council Comments, and in doing so read a prepared statement about his time on city council.

Its been an honor and a privilege to serve on the Somerset City Council all told now for 19 years, Daughetee said. I only served the city because of my love of Somerset. Ive served with several administrations, (and) the last four years working with Mayor Keck have been the most successful and open administration Ive had the pleasure to work with.

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 I want to thank all the citizens that have through the years supported and placed their confidence in me. I also want to thank and have always recognized our greatest resource, our city employees. They all serve with such great heart, he said.

While Daughetee was the first council member to speak at Council Comments, Girdler was the last of the 11 in attendance to address the crowd.

I appreciate all the fine comments that the council members made about Mr. Daughetee, myself and Jerry (Wheeldon), Girdler said. Ive been on here 22 years, and Ive served with a lot of council people over these years, and theyve all been good ones. They come and go, like Mr. Daughetee and myself are going, but were leaving it in good hands.

He added that he appreciated those who were coming onto the council, as well as those who had voted him into office and allowed him to serve.

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The longevity and experience of the councilors who are leaving was not lost on their fellow council members.

Partly as a joke, Tom Eastham asked, How many years is that? Is that like a century?

Mayor Alan Keck responded, All told, with Mr. Wheeldon, its 62 years of service.

Thats something thats really hard to find. And I just want to thank you for your service, Eastham responded.

Councilor David Godsey thanked all three who are leaving for their service to the city. I appreciate the time theyve spent. Looking forward to the new ones coming on to carry on, he said.

Swearing in

Circuit Family Court Judge Jane Venters led the swearing in of all 12 of Somersets city council members.

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Councilor Amanda Bean Bullock added, Thank you guys for your time and consideration, and (Im) looking forward to the new people.

In welcoming in the new council members, Councilor Brian Dalton said, Its a tough job, but its fun. Like Ive said before, you dive right in and you get a lot of phone calls, but you call the people in charge and you get things handled.

Keck said he wanted to reserve some of the comments he wanted to make for Jerry Wheeldon until a time he was present, other than to say Brannen, youve got some big shoes to fill.

For the other two, Keck paid tribute to them before giving them Keys to the City.

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He called Girdler the quiet giant of the council. He wont get up here and grandstand. Hes never looking for attention, but hes going to text me or call me and say, Hey, mayor, you need to take care of this. Hey, this needs to get done. Then hell be really quick to say thanks after it does.

For Daughetee, Keck noted that he had grown up with Daughetees daughter, Dana, in school, but wasnt familiar with him as an adult until they were both elected to city offices.

But when we started getting to know each other, (I learned) hes very direct, very honest, but I saw his passion. And he got very involved, very plugged in, because he cared.

As for the three new councilors coming in, Keck said, What I want you all to know, this whole council to know and those who are going to be serving along side us, is that Im excited about your alls service, because I know youre running for the right reasons.

The three new council members, along with all returning council members, were sworn into office during a ceremony that took place before the meeting.
GENESEO, N.Y. (AP)  An upstate New York man has been charged with murder after he tried to drop his father's bullet-riddled body off at a sheriff's office, authorities said.

Richard Fluegel Jr., 30, called 911 late Monday to say that he had a body to turn in at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office in Geneseo, said Sheriff Thomas Dougherty.

As far as the call into dispatch saying that they wanted to turn in a deceased body, that's very abnormal, as you can imagine, Dougherty said at a news conference Tuesday.

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Deputies met Fluegel in the parking lot and found the body of Richard Fluegel Sr., dead from gunshot wounds, in his son's car, Dougherty said.

The elder Fluegel, 60, had been reported missing on Sunday, the sheriff said.

Fluegel Jr. was initially detained on a charge of tampering with evidence and was later charged with murder and criminal use of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment late Tuesday and was being held without bail. He is due back in court on Dec. 16.

The investigation was ongoing and authorities did not immediately provide details of how or when they believe Fluegel killed his father.

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No attorney for Fluegel was listed in court papers, and the district attorney's office did not respond to questions about who was representing Fluegel.

Dougherty said he wanted to reassure the public that Livingston County in New York's Finger Lakes region is safe.

This stuff doesn't happen, he said. We don't have people just show up and say they have a dead body with them and they'd like to turn it in. It's not common.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  In her budget address, Governor Kristi Noem recommended one of the smallest increases for education funding since 2017. A 1 point 25 percent increase in education funding caught some by surprise.

South Dakota ranks 44th in expenditures per student. Since 2020 the legislature has followed the Governors recommendation for education funding except for one year.



In 2020 it was a two percent increase, in 2021 2.4, in 2022 6 percent, in 2023 Noem recommended a 5 percent increase, but lawmakers increased it to 7 percent and in 2024 the increase was 4 percent. The latest recommendation from the Governor at 1.25 percent could mean some belt-tightening.

When the CPI which is what the codified law calls for, it calls for a 2.4 or a 2.6 percent increase, and we end up getting a 1.25 if that comes to pass it really does make it difficult to make any kind of inroads, said Harrisburg Superintendent Tim Graf.

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Lawmakers like Representative Greg Jamison of Sioux Falls say its back to reality for the state budget. The Covid dollars are gone and tax revenue is flat, which means less money to allocate.

Court docs: Student catfishes, Huron teacher arrested

Overall the entire budget is lean, theres further cuts to come, said Jamison.

According to Jamison, many lawmakers will be looking for money to fund the programs they support.

All of us want to fund education fully as best we can but the money has got to come from somewhere, said Jamison.

The Governor proposed the creation of a 4 million dollar education savings account program, which she says would offer 3-thousand dollars per student toward private school tuition. Graff says that money could go a long ways in funding public education.

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I think more than anything lets not start programs at a time when funding is tight. And that 54 million on top of the 5 million while were not being fully funded in really a tough time, said Graf.

Meanwhile, Jamison says a lot can change between now and the end of the legislative session. So a funding level higher than the Governors 1.25 percent increase is still possible.

So this number could change even though the Governor is a strong opponent if the majority of the legislature wants to change that to two percent or three, it wouldnt be a surprise, said Jamison.

The 100th legislative session in Pierre begins January 14th.

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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.
ALLEN EYESTONE/THE PALM BEACH POST

(This story was updated with new information.)

RIVIERA BEACH  A Riviera Beach man is facing a murder charge after police investigators alleged that he stabbed another man to death Monday evening using a cooking utensil.

Roosevelt Johnson, 29, is facing one count each of first-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police investigators identified the victim as "John Doe," describing him as a Hispanic male believed to be in his 40s or 50s. Investigators were still attempting to confirm the man's identity and notify his family as of Tuesday afternoon, a police spokesperson said.

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During a hearing Tuesday at the Palm Beach County Jail, Circuit Judge Donald Hafele assigned Johnson a public defender and ordered that be held without bail on the murder charge. As a policy, the county Public Defender's Office does not comment on open cases.

According to Johnson's arrest report, the incident happened shortly before 6 p.m. on the 3100 block of Broadway. Witnesses told investigators that, prior to the fatal stabbing, Johnson attempted to attack two female relatives with a cooking utensil moments before leaving the family's apartment. Investigators say that after Johnson stormed out of the apartment, he approached the first random person he saw and stabbed him to death.

More: Two men dead, two more wounded in downtown Lake Worth Beach shooting

Officers find blood-covered barbecue utensil on bus stop bench

Johnson told investigators he did not know the man.

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"I just hit him. I just started hitting him," Johnson reportedly told detectives in an interview at the police station. "He was just riding on (his) bike, drinking his beer."

An officer was gathering information about what occurred in the apartment when dispatchers reported a stabbing in the vicinity. Officers responding to the stabbing call found a man bleeding and lying in the street next to a bicycle. Multiple witnesses identified Johnson as the attacker and directed officers to a bus stop where he was seated smoking a cigarette, the arrest report said.

Officers reportedly observed a barbecue fork with blood on both prongs lying on a bench at the bus stop as well as blood on Johnson's hands. The stabbing victim was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center where he died.

One of Johnson's relatives told investigators she believed Johnson was armed with a barbecue fork as he tried to attack her. The relative said all kitchen knives had previously been removed from the residence.

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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 man accused of stabbing man to death with BBQ fork
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com.

The South King Fire chief and deputy chief have been placed on administrative leave, according to Brad Chaney, community affairs officer for South King Fire.

Officials arent saying why the moves have taken place. However, separate independent investigations are being conducted.

Chief Dave Van Valkenburg and Deputy Lisa Defenbaugh are out until further notice, according to The Federal Way Mirror.

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Following a unanimous vote, Van Valkenburg was placed on leave during the December 4 Board of Commissioners meeting. Defenbaugh was placed on leave the next day.

According to his LinkedIn page, Van Valkenburg has been the chief for over two years. He was with the Washington State Patrol Fire Academy for the previous 28 years.

The board has appointed Deputy Chief Kevin Crossen to serve as acting fire chief.

Chief Crossen, a 30-year veteran of the South King Fire, is committed to providing steadfast leadership to the communities we serve, Chaney told the Mirror. To preserve the integrity of the process, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.

Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here.
SEOUL (Reuters) - Former South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of playing a lead role in the failed imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, has tried to commit suicide inside a detention centre, a justice ministry official told parliament.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
South Koreas former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered a drone deployment to North Korea to lay the ground for martial law declaration, it has been alleged.

Park Beom-kye, a lawmaker from the main opposition Democratic Party, said on Monday that Mr Kim ordered the deployment of drones to the North Korean capital Pyongyang in October, hoping to instigate a retaliatory attack from the North and use it to justify last weeks martial law declaration.

The explosive accusation came before the embattled former defence minister tried to kill himself in police custody on Tuesday. He was arrested after Yoon Suk Yeol, the president, declared martial law last week, plunging the country into a political crisis.

During a parliamentary session on Monday, Mr Park said: The Defence Counterintelligence Command, where former commander Yeo In-hyung  a junior to Kim at the same high school  was posted, appears to have planned [the drone deployment].

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He told local media separately that the drone operation appears to have been part of a larger plan, potentially tied to preparations for the martial law decree, citing what he said was a credible military source.

In October, North Korea said it discovered unmanned aerial vehicles deployed to Pyongyang by Seoul to scatter anti-North Korea propaganda over the capital.

Pyongyang also published photos that purported to show a South Korean drone that had crashed after violating its airspace.

The North vowed to retaliate if similar operations happen again.

Soldiers advance to the main building of the national assembly after Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law - YONHAP/REUTERS

At the time, South Korea refused to confirm or deny the deployment, and Seouls joint chiefs of staff has now said it has nothing to confirm following Mr Parks claim.

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Lee Ki-heon, another Democratic Party lawmaker, has also alleged that Mr Kim ordered the joint chiefs of staff to strike North Korean sites used to launch rubbish-filled balloons at the South.

According to Mr Lee, Mr Kim demanded the South Korean military fire warning shots before striking launch sites of North Koreas trash-filled balloons  a move that could easily spark a conflict between the two nations.

The joint chiefs of staff denied the claim.

The revelations come after Mr Kim tried to kill himself at a detention centre in Seoul on Tuesday night.

Mr Kim, who is facing treason charges for his role in last weeks botched martial law declaration, tried to hang himself inside a bathroom at the Seoul Dongbu detention centre at about midnight on Tuesday, South Koreas Ministry of Justice said.

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There was an immediate dispatch to restrain him [and] the medical teams treatment showed he was in stable condition with no abnormalities, and he is currently being held under normal conditions, the ministry said.

Lawmakers voted in favour of a resolution urging the president to withdraw martial law - YONHAP/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mr Kim was formally arrested on Wednesday under insurrection charges and has been brought in for further questioning at the detention centre.

If found guilty, he and others involved in the martial law declaration, including Mr Yoon, could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Meanwhile, South Korean police raided the presidential office and the police headquarters as part of the investigation into the short-lived martial law declaration.

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However, security guards tried to block the police from searching Mr Yoons office. A spokesman for the police said that the investigators had gained access to its civil services office, adding: However, we are currently unable to enter the main building due to access restrictions imposed by the presidential security guards.

There have been protests in the streets of Seoul following the presidents attempt to impose martial law - DANIEL CENG/ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES

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In addition to the presidents office, the police also raided South Koreas national police agency, the Seoul metropolitan police and the National Assembly police guards.

Cho Ji Ho, the commissioner general of the national police agency, and Kim Bong-sik, the head of the metropolitan police agency of the capital Seoul, were also arrested.

Second impeachment attempt

The Democratic Party, South Koreas main opposition, has introduced another motion to impeach Mr Yoon, which will be held by the national assembly at 5pm on Saturday. Mr Yoon narrowly escaped the first impeachment attempt last Saturday after most of the lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote.

Moon Jae-in, the former South Korean president, said on Wednesday that Mr Yoon cannot avoid impeachment, highlighting the urgent need for the country to have a legitimate acting head of state to carry out diplomatic duties and command the military.

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Impeachment has become a path that cannot be avoided. The only way for an orderly removal would be following the people and the constitutional process, Mr Moon wrote in a Facebook post.

While opposition parties are gearing up to impeach Mr Yoon, internal divisions are deepening within the ruling PPP. During an internal meeting on Tuesday, some PPP members suggested Mr Yoon should be allowed to remain in power for as long as possible and the party should seek to shorten his presidential term through a constitutional amendment instead, the Korea Economic Daily reported.

Protesters gathered in their thousands in the capital near the national assembly on Tuesday - DANIEL CENG/ANADOLU

However, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the PPP, urged party members to treat Mr Yoons original plan to arrest him and other senior politicians seriously. Mr Yoon had also reportedly told the PPP that he would rather be impeached than resign on his own.

So far, at least five PPP lawmakers have publicly said they will vote in favour of impeaching Mr Yoon on Saturday, making the passage of the motion more likely.

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The motion requires at least 200 votes to be passed and the opposition parties need eight PPP lawmakers to defect to impeach Mr Yoon.

If Mr Yoon was impeached on Saturday, the case would then move to the constitutional court where justices would determine if the president should be impeached or not.

However, the court has six justices and it needs at least another one to effectively rule on Mr Yoons potential impeachment.

As pressure mounts on Mr Yoon and the PPP, Han Duck-soo, the the South Korean prime minister, apologised to lawmakers on Wednesday for the martial law declaration, emphasising that he expressed opposition to the martial law proposal.

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During an emergency session at the national assembly on Wednesday, Mr Han told lawmakers: I made clear my opposition and made efforts to dissuade the president from his resolve. But I ultimately could not block it ... I am sorry, and I feel a lot of sense of guilt.

Plenty of will to arrest Yoon

As law enforcement and prosecution continue to investigate the martial law declaration, South Koreas anti-corruption investigation body said it would seek to detain or arrest Mr Yoon if conditions were met.

Oh Dong-woon, the chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, said: If the situation allows, we will attempt to make an emergency arrest or an arrest based on a court warrant. We will take every measure that we can.

He added that there is plenty of will to arrest Mr Yoon.

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Mr Yoon already faces a travel ban and if he was arrested before the national assembly passes the impeachment motion, he would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested in the countrys decades-long democratic history.

More than a week after Mr Yoons martial law declaration, North Korea broke the silence and weighed in on the political turmoil, characterising the situation in South Korea as chaos.

North Korean state media said in a commentary on Wednesday: The shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing impeachment and a governance crisis, suddenly declaring a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielding the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship wrought chaos across South Korea.

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By Hyunsu Yim and Jack Kim

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean police tried to search President Yoon Suk Yeol's office on Wednesday but have not been able to enter the main building, Yonhap news reported as an investigation into the U.S. ally's decision to declare martial law widened.

The attempt to search the presidential office significantly escalates the investigation against Yoon and top police and military officers over the Dec. 3 martial law declaration that plunged the country with Asia's fourth-largest economy into a constitutional crisis.

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Yoon is now the subject of a criminal investigation into insurrection allegations and is banned from leaving the country, but he has not been arrested or questioned by authorities.

A presidential security service official said earlier on Wednesday that the police raid of Yoon's office was under way, confirming media reports at the time. Yonhap later said investigators at the presidential compound had not yet entered the main building.

Yonhap said police had not managed to agree with the Secret Service on the method of the seizure and search. Police declined to comment.

"We are responding based on the law and past government cases," a presidential office official said and denied that the office was opposing the search.

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Former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a close confidant of Yoon, and two senior police officers including the national police chief have been arrested on charges of insurrection as part of the investigation.

Kim attempted suicide using a shirt and underwear late on Tuesday night at a detention centre where he is being held, a Justice Ministry official told parliament.

He was now under observation and his life was not in danger, the official added.

Kim has resigned and apologised for his part in the short-lived imposition of emergency rule, saying he alone was responsible.

Soon after Yoon's late-night declaration of martial law, lawmakers including some members of his own party voted to demand the president immediately rescind the order, which he did hours later.

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REVIEWING ARREST

The president, who has not been seen in public since Saturday, was not believed to be in the presidential compound, Yonhap said. The official residence is at a separate location from the office.

Oh Dong-woon, head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and one of the agencies now investigating the martial law debacle, said his office was "willing" to arrest Yoon if required.

Earlier on Wednesday, national police chief Cho Ji-ho became the latest top official to be arrested, accused of deploying police to block lawmakers from entering parliament, Yonhap said.

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Calls for Yoon's arrest grew after top military and government officials said he ordered troops to enter parliament on Dec. 3 and stop lawmakers from voting to reject martial law.

Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, told a parliament committee on Tuesday that Yoon had ordered troops to "break the door down right now and get in there and drag out" lawmakers.

Yoon's then-defence minister, Kim, has also been accused by military officers of issuing the same order.

LEADERSHIP CRISIS

Yoon's grip on power is looking increasingly precarious by the day. Yoon's office said on Tuesday it had "no official position" when asked who was in charge of the country.

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The leader of the president's People Power Party (PPP) said Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would manage state affairs while the party looked for an "orderly" way for the president to resign.

The constitutional legitimacy of that arrangement has been questioned by opposition parties and some legal scholars.

The opposition Democratic Party (DP) said it planned to introduce a new bill to impeach Yoon on Wednesday with a vote on Saturday, a week after its first impeachment vote was defeated.

Since then, some members of the president's party have spoken in favour of the motion. Only eight PPP members would need to vote for impeachment for it to pass with the opposition's full support.

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"The impeachment train has left the platform. There is going to be no way to stop it," DP leader Lee Jae-myung said at a party meeting.

Kim Jae-sub, a PPP member who joined his party's boycott of the first impeachment vote, said he would vote for the motion this time and urged his party to do the same.

If parliament votes to impeach, the Constitutional Court then deliberates the case and decides whether to remove the president from office.

The country's metal workers' union, including workers at the Kia Corp automakers, has declared a protest strike for Wednesday. Members of financial institutions including the Bank of Korea plan to join a protest rally on Wednesday.

(This story has been refiled to add the missing word 'and' in paragraph 6)

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim, Hyonhee Shin; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates and Timothy Heritage)
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said it has made improvements to its conflict minimization program following feedback from livestock producers, who have pleaded with the agency to delay the introduction of the next set of gray wolves.

Notably, the state is adding conflict reduction staffers and non-lethal mitigation specialists to its staff.

Up to 15 more wolves are expected to be released in Colorado early next year.

Through partnerships with the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), the Colorado Wolf Restoration Ad Hoc Working Group, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, Colorado State University Extension, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) and NGOs, we are in a position to offer Colorado livestock producers an even more robust program that includes the tools, support and resources needed to minimize wolf-livestock conflict, said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis.

The new program includes:

Free site assessments conducted by staff from CPW, CDA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assess the most appropriate and effective non-lethal tools and techniques specific to each property. According to the state wildlife agency, 22 producers have signed up to receive site assessments since October.

Additional conflict reduction staffers, including five wildlife damage specialists and a non-lethal conflict reduction program manager were hired over the summer. In addition, two non-lethal mitigation specialists have started their positions with CDA in the last month. These staff will be available to assist producers in sourcing available resources, such as equipment and site assessments, as well as filing compensation claims for killed or injured livestock.

Specific criteria for different levels of depredation response, which CPW says will assist in calculating how much time and resources will be necessary to address depredation or wolf activity that poses risk for future conflict. The level will be site-specific and dependent on staffs professional assessment, cooperation from livestock producers, and evaluation of a site assessment. This criteria will be especially critical in areas that have had multiple depredations or are close to a wolf den or rendezvous site, the agency said.

The state is launching the Colorado Range Rider Program early next year to provide range riders with specialized training and deploy them to local communities. The Colorado Range Rider program will train skilled riders who will work alongside Colorados livestock producers to mitigate conflict, expand capacity on the range, and help support resilient ranches, said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. Through CDA and CPWs partnership, this program will connect producers to state resources available to them as we work toward coexistence with wolves in Colorado.

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Carcass management best practice recommendations gathered through work with other states.

Grants of up to $20,000 are available to organizations such as livestock organizations, government entities, and tribes that provide support to multiple livestock producers. Funding from the grant program can be used to prepare, educate, and coordinate with producers to implement non-lethal conflict resolution measures, such as range riding and carcass disposal.

Continued educational workshops hosted by CDA, CPW, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, and CSU Extension across the Western Slope. The next meeting will be held on December 11 from 3-7 p.m. in Gunnison.

The wildlife agency said it will publish its full Wolf-Livestock Conflict Minimization Program Guide later this month. The agency said the guide will include a full list of conflict minimization tools and methods for producers, along with contact information for state support and funding resources.

Livestock growers earlier petitioned the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to delay the next round of wolf introductions.

The petition was initiated by the Middle Park Stockgrowers and supported by 25 other largely livestock groups. Colorado Counties Inc., which counts 63 out of 64 counties as its members, also submitted a letter seeking a delay.

Tim Ritschard, president of the Middle Park Stockgrowers, last month said the commission has the authority to delay further introductions and that its not required to do more at a certain pace. The only requirement from Proposition 114  the voter-approved measure to reintroduce the wolves  is to have the animals on the ground by Dec. 31, 2023.

That has been fulfilled, he said.

Your mandate is to adaptively manage wolves, Ritschard said. You should be willing to change your approach (as issues arise).
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- With South Korean Presdient Yoon Suk Yeol showing no indications of resigning following his failed attempt at imposing martial law, police Wednesday raided the presidential office.

But police were stymied in the raid by South Korea's presidential secret service officers who blocked them from entering Yoon's office.

They faced off in an intensifying constitutional crisis for South Korea over Yoon's martial law declaration Dec. 2.

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The martial law declaration lasted just six hours after the National Assembly, bolstered by citizens protesting the declaration, voted to end it.

Wednesday raids were also being conducted at the offices of the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the National Assembly Police Guards.

The police are investigating insurrection charges against Yoon.

He could become the first South Korean president arrested on criminal charges while in office.

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted suicide Tuesday night at a Seoul detention center after being arrested in the martial law declaration investigation. He was reported in stable condition, according to Shin Yong Hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service.

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Lawmakers in the National Assembly attempted to impeach Yoon over the martial law declaration, but his political party defended him against it.

An emergency task force of lawmakers want Yoon gone by February or March. Task force head Lee Yang-soo told reporters, "We don't know how long it will take to persuade him."

Yoon is barred from leaving South Korea as the investigation unfolds.

His political party said he was effectively suspended from duty and they are working with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to keep government operating.

On Tuesday the National Assembly voted 210-63 to name a special counsel to investigate Yoon's martial law declaration.
(Bloomberg) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol looks determined to battle on rather than step down early even as probes deepen into his martial law declaration and more members of his party say they will back impeachment.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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Yoon will likely fight any bid to impeach him and appears to have rejected the idea of quitting early in February or March, according to Kim Jong-hyuk, a senior ruling party member, speaking in an SBS radio show on Wednesday.

As the political turmoil triggered by Yoon continues to intensify, the opposition Democratic Party is preparing to file another impeachment motion in parliament that has an improved chance of passing in a vote likely to take place on Saturday.

Meanwhile, police looking to enter the presidential office as part of their investigation into Yoon have been in a standoff outside the office for hours.

Separately, arrested former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is believed to be one of the key figures in the martial law declaration, attempted suicide. Kim has no health issues following the attempt to take his life, according to Yonhap News.

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The president is fighting to stay in his role after his brief declaration of martial law last week stunned the nation and its allies. The shock move has sparked political chaos, initially spooked financial markets and fueled public outrage.

Markets have shown more resilience in the last couple of days with the Kospi equity benchmark finishing the day with a 1% gain. The Korean won edged down 0.1% against the US dollar as it was buffeted by moves in Chinas currency.

The opposition is edging closer to securing the 200 votes needed to pass its next impeachment bid in parliament. The DPs second motion to impeach Yoon will likely be filed Thursday for a vote on Saturday, according to a party spokesman.

The vote is likely to come down to the wire on Saturday, said Choi Young Jun, a professor of public policy at Yonsei University. Peoples ire is running so high the president will probably be impeached eventually whether its this week or next. Political concerns about who will replace him wont help him much.

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People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-sub said he would back an impeachment motion this time round, bringing the number of ruling party politicians who have publicly said they are prepared to vote in favor of impeachment to five. The opposition needs at least eight ruling party votes to pass the motion.

A successful motion would result in a Constitutional Court case lasting up to 180 days. If the court rules against Yoon, he would be forced out of office and a presidential election called within two months.

Yoon takes the view that even if he is impeached, the Constitutional Court only needs one of its six members to vote against impeachment for it to be dismissed, according to Kim Jong-hyuk.

The police investigation team looking into the martial law declaration arrived at the presidential office in Yongsan around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, only to be kept outside, Yonhap News reported, citing the team. Yoon wasnt present at the office, though the warrant identified him as a suspect, Yonhap added.

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The standoff had been going on for more than five hours amid disagreement over the search procedure, Yonhap reported late in the afternoon. If law enforcement personnel were to enter the grounds of the presidents office to conduct a raid, that would be the first time in history, Yonhap added.

A raid on the presidential office is quite unheard of because of laws related to military secrets, said Lee Changhyun, a criminal law professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Law School.

The opposition parties condemned Yoons office for blocking the search attempt by the police and urged the presidential office to cooperate in the police investigation and accept the lawful execution of the search warrant.

There were still few confirmed details of former Defense Minister Kims attempt on his life. His warrant for allegedly playing a key role in insurrection and abusing power marks the first approval of formal arrests in a series of investigations under way against President Yoon and his subordinates. Yoon has already been banned from traveling overseas.

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The police said earlier that it could seek an emergency arrest of Yoon, if conditions are met, following a review. Yoon has been on the lookout for a legal team, contacting a former colleague of his who previously worked at the prosecution, Yonhap News reported, citing legal and political sources.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, an independent agency under the national government, is seeking to wrest control of the case from police and prosecutors. The group has raised concerns about potential bias within law enforcement, as police may have been involved in enforcing the martial law decree, and Yoons past experience as a prosecutor might affect how his case is handled.

--With assistance from Seyoon Kim, Sam Kim, Youkyung Lee, Jaehyun Eom and Sarina Yoo.

(Adds details on defense minister suicide attempt and raid on presidential office.)

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ST. PETERSBURG  Barnali Dixon scurried across the long room, placing down yellow tablecloths and arranging platters of food.

Soon after, Erica Hall whisked into the space at the Enoch Davis Community Center in south St. Petersburg, already smiling.

The pair, and a few additional hands, set out gift baskets and plaques for the early December meeting.

We want to celebrate our volunteers, celebrate our community members, Hall said.

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The group, composed of neighborhood and community leaders, is the Storm Squad. Dixon and Hall lead the pilot program, which was born out of research conducted by Dixon, a professor at the University of South Floridas St. Petersburg campus, who found recovery disparities in low-income neighborhoods in St. Petersburg after Hurricane Irma.

Storm Squad aims to close the rift.

We were comparing a low-income community with an affluent community, said Dixon, the executive director of the Initiative on Coastal Adaption at USF. We realized through that research that peoples needs are different, and also the access to resources are different.

The group gets together several times a month, from leader-only meetings to gatherings open to the public. The goal is to connect underserved residents navigating the effects of climate change with education opportunities and resources.

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After Irma, it was felt that a lot of people in South St. Petersburg ... didnt know about services that were available, never mind being able to access them, said Mary Burrell, who works on community engagement for Pinellas Countys Emergency Management department.

Thats a gap  so how can we fill this gap?

On the early December night, members were slow to trickle in. They picked from the food platters, eating and chatting quietly.

It was a small group, Burrell said. With the holidays so close, its hard to get bigger turnouts, she said.

While Dixon set up a survey used for storm research, Hall encouraged everyone to eat.

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Hall, the chair of the board for the Florida Food Policy Council, described the group as neighbors helping neighbors.

Dixons research identified several neighborhoods in South St. Petersburg such as Bartlett Park, Childs Park and Lake Maggiore Shores that were not only disadvantaged but also at risk of flooding and storm surge.

These are primarily Black neighborhoods, Hall said. And they are particularly vulnerable to hurricanes because of their proximity to the coast, she said.

Governments have historically marginalized minority groups, breeding distrust with officials, Dixon said.

People dont necessarily trust a couple people that came from the government that just say hey, here I am, Burrell said.

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They trust their faith leaders, they trust their community leaders, they trust their neighbors, Burrell said.

Storm Squad builds upon that.

The pilot program uses storm captains  two residents from each of the identified neighborhoods  to pass along storm information.

Dixon secured funding in 2023 to give stipends to storm captains. A Childs Park flyer seeking storm captains says a stipend is available for $2,000 a year, for three years.

Grants from Duke Energy largely fund the group, Dixon said, though it will have to reapply for funding again next year. The Childs Park grant is funded by the National Science Foundation.

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The idea of storm captains is to connect them directly to local officials.

This is essentially a phone tree, Dixon said.

For example, if an area is without power, a storm captain can go to someone like Burrell and ask for a generator.

Storm captains also collect data by using an app to record flooding in their neighborhood. And additional survey data collected in the off-season helps inform Dixon and her team about what she calls hidden needs.

For example, someone may have mobility issues and cannot make it to a bus stop to get to a hurricane shelter. Or someone may need access to electricity because they have refrigerated medication.

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We can actually aggregate the data  so when the storm comes, then we know where those hidden needs are, Dixon said. Then we can build a supply system thats needed to address those needs.

By 6:30 p.m., about a dozen people had joined the meeting. Some of the groups storm captains, non-profit lawyers, USF students, advocates and a couple of citizens all sat at the long tables.

They spent the next several minutes finishing out the survey and moving onto discussing this past hurricane season.

The Tampa Bay area experienced its worst storm season in a century. Three storms Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton  dealt severe blows to the region, from storm surge and inland flooding to extreme winds that toppled decades-old trees.

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While Storm Squad has existed in some form for the past few years, major storms this year were the first to really test its capabilities.

Angel Torrens, 42, became a storm captain for the Harbordale neighborhood in 2023.

Through these three storms, it couldnt have come at a better time, Torrens said, discussing the Storm Squad. Honestly, I just wish that we would have had a little more time to get more resources.

But we did really well, honestly.

After the recent storms, Torrens spent hours a day riding his bike, documenting damage in his neighborhood. He came upon flooded streets, downed trees and peeled back signs.

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Torrens connected with people like Burrell and city of St. Petersburg leaders to coordinate supplies like meals, water and tarps for his neighborhood.

The more photos he uploaded, the more officials could see the need in Torrens community.

Gina Driscoll, a St. Petersburg Council Member, reached out to Torrens about a downed tree he had recorded after a storm.

Did they take care of that? shed asked. I just made a call.

Torrens went to the store, and by the time hed returned, the tree had been hauled away.

Its humbling to see that people are paying attention and they actually care, Torrens said. Because ... we would have gone unnoticed for a lot of things, and we have in the past.

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As the December meeting neared to a close, the group pulled out the plaques and gifts (coffee mugs filled with goodies).

The group recognized Torrens for his work during the past storms. He smiled and accepted it modestly.

Storm Squad also recognized another member, Rebekah Johnson, a storm captain for Childs Park, who wasnt there that night.

In a later phone call, Johnson, 41, said shed joined the Storm Squad after group members spoke at her church. She hadnt known about storm benefits available to her.

I missed opportunities that exist, Johnson said.

Now she takes time to canvass in her neighborhood, telling residents about Storm Squad and encouraging them to come out to meetings. Johnson said filling the knowledge gap will create more resilient neighborhoods.

You shouldnt have to wait until a storm comes up in life to have someones back, their protection, Johnson said. They should be willing to help your neighbor, just because thats your neighbor..
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A fire in southeast Austin Tuesday night left five people displaced, according to the Austin Fire Department. The fire was at a home in the 5200 block of Copperbend Boulevard, which is located near East Stassney Lane and South Pleasant Valley Road.

AFD said there was heavy fire coming through the roof upon their arrival. After the fire was under control, no injuries were reported.

Due to the damage from the fire, two adults and three children were displaced from one side of the duplex. AFD said they will provide support by the Central Texas Red Cross and the Austin Police Departments Victim Services.

A fire in southeast Austin Tuesday night left five people displaced. The fire was in the 5200 block of Copperbend Boulevard, which is located near East Stassney Lane and South Pleasant Valley Road. (Austin Fire Department Photo) A fire in southeast Austin Tuesday night left five people displaced. The fire was in the 5200 block of Copperbend Boulevard, which is located near East Stassney Lane and South Pleasant Valley Road. (Austin Fire Department Photo) A fire in southeast Austin Tuesday night left five people displaced. The fire was in the 5200 block of Copperbend Boulevard, which is located near East Stassney Lane and South Pleasant Valley Road. (Austin Fire Department Photo)

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to AFD.

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The agency said crews will remain on scene overnight to monitor hot spots.

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.
A Southern California man was sentenced to prison for sexual assault crimes that involved multiple underage victims.

The man involved was identified as Edmundo Garcia, 34, of Ontario, according to the Pomona Police Department.

On April 23, 2024, police responded to reports of a missing juvenile. Detectives later discovered the juvenile had been taken against her will by Garcia.

The kidnapped juvenile was later located and rescued from the suspect. Investigators learned Garcia had been grooming children in the area and sexually assaulting them using force and fear.

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Details on how the victims were first contacted by Garcia or the number of victims possibly involved were not released.

Garcia was arrested and charged with:

Oral copulation of a minor over 14

Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16 (2 counts)

Assault with a deadly weapon

Assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury (2 counts)

Lewd act upon a child under 14

Sexual penetration of a person under 16

Lewd act upon a child age 14 or 15 (2 counts)

Battery with serious bodily injury

Sexual penetration by use of force of minor victim over 14

Dissuading a witness from reporting a crime

Criminal threats

On Dec. 9, Garcia pleaded no contest to three counts and was sentenced to 22 years in state prison.

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Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, authorities 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 KTLA.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A Southern California water agency has approved key funding needed to support plans for a giant underground tunnel that would reroute a big part of the states water supply.

The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which along with local agencies provides water to 19 million people, voted Tuesday to allocate about $142 million for pre-construction and planning costs for the Delta Conveyance Project. State officials say the project is critical to help shore up water supplies in the nation's most populous state due to aging infrastructure and climate-change induced shifts in precipitation.

After careful consideration, our board took this step because it allows us to gather critical information about the projects benefits and costs that will allow us to evaluate whether we will participate in the full construction of the project, said Metropolitan board Chair Adan Ortega, Jr. said in a statement.

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Metropolitan is the largest of a dozen water agencies that have voted to continue funding for preconstruction and planning of the 45-mile (72 kilometer) long tunnel. A key vote is expected in 2027 on whether it should move forward.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has been advocating for water agencies to continue providing funding for what he has called the most important climate adaptation project in the country.

Nothing else comes close because nothing is more important, he said earlier this week. Because this impacts 27 million Californians.

California officials want to build the tunnel over concerns about the reliability of existing water infrastructure and say it will help capture more water during massive storms and move it from the northern part of the state to the south, where most of the states people live. But critics say the projects $20 billion price tag is too high and there are other ways to strengthen the states water system with less impact to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Deltas fragile ecosystem.

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Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, said the tunnel aims to transport too much water to farm operations that should be scaling back on water use as the state faces a potentially drier future. California grows much of the country's fresh produce.

There are certain elements that just want to build things for the sake of building things rather than doing the analysis of building the right things, she said.

The tunnel has been proposed  and disputed  for many years, earning widespread opposition from Central Valley communities that say it would harm their economies and the delta. Last year, the state completed a key environmental review for the project, but it still must pass additional review and obtain various state and federal permits.
For years, Southwest Airlines has run a special program to assist Hispanic college students living far from home. Its called Lanzate! or Take off! and it gave a select number of students free flights to visit their families as they pursued their studiesor the chance for their parents to visit them in turn.

Isabella, one of this years recipients, whose last name was withheld in publicity materials, said in a statement that the program would allow her to see family sooner than expected, adding, Im so excited to see my little cousins (and how much they've grown), my grandparents (hopefully I can convince my grandma to make mole), and of course my mom (in-person this time).

But Isabellas class of Lanzate! winners will be the last. In May, the program was targeted by conservative activist Edward Blum and his American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), which claimed that Southwest discriminated against two of its non-Hispanic members, thereby violating two civil rights laws.

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In an attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed, Southwest terminated the program and offered Blums group one cent, the amount of damages the group claimed. But a federal judge has decided that those actions wont be enough. The case against Southwest Airlines will go forward, said U.S District Judge Sidney Fitzwater, in an opinion last week.

That has the potential to create obstacles for other companies facing anti-DEI lawsuits that try to have the cases thrown out by canceling or changing the terms of their DEI programs. And attorneys say it could mean a strategy shift when it comes to the ongoing legal battle over DEI.

It reflects a new playbook by one of the key players fighting DEI programs in the courts, Lauren Hartz, an attorney at Jenner & Block and co-chair of its DEI Protection Task Force, told Fortune in an email.

Southwest Airlines declined to comment. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, which had also been a partner in the program, did not immediately respond to Fortune.

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Blum told Fortune in a statement that the Alliance is grateful that our case against Southwest Airlines' racially discriminatory program will proceed. The group issued a separate statement to the press in response to the judges ruling, saying that the decision is a powerful tool to prevent case-mooting tactics from discriminators nationwide.

A new playbook

The Southwest lawsuit is the latest in a wave of similar legal challenges brought against U.S. companies by the AAER.

Students For Fair Admission, a separate conservative group created by Blum, was behind the push that saw the U.S. Supreme Court overturn affirmative action in college admissions in 2023. In a high-profile example of his activism in the private sector, Blums AAER challenged a venture capital firm in Atlanta, the Fearless Fund, for running an annual program that aimed to support startups run by Black women. In that case, the two parties came to an agreement that saw Fearless Fund shutting down the program in question, and the case was dismissed.

Now companies that fear legal challenges from Blum or another activist over DEI efforts may not have the same option to have a case dropped by dismantling the programs at the heart of the dispute, Hartz explains. After the courts decision, its less clear if that off-ramp is available to companies, she said, and its more important that they be proactive.

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The AAER relied on legal technicalities to make the case, representing a departure, she also said. When AAER started bringing lawsuits, it was focused on making changes to targeted DEI programs at specific organizations. And when those organizations agreed to modify their programs, AAER was generally satisfied to claim victory and move on, she said. This lawsuit signals a new and more aggressive approach. AAER isnt just working to target and change particular programs; it wants to change the law itself.

The crux of AAERs complaint against Southwest Airlines, filed in a federal court in Dallas, is that the program harmed two of its members by excluding non-Hispanic students, violating a Civil Rights Act of 1866, which bars any racial discrimination in contracts, and Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial and other forms of discrimination in programs or businesses that received federal funding. Lanzate! winners signed contracts with the airline to participate, and Southwest accepts federal funds, leaving it open to such claims.

The organization states that on a FAQ webpage about Lanzate!, the airlines answer to the question, Is this program only for Hispanic students? was Yes. To be eligible, a student must identify direct or parental ties to a specific country to determine Hispanic origin. The Alliance claimed in the suit that two college students, one white and one Asian, identified only as A and B, wrote essays to apply for the free flight program but could not submit their applications because they could not agree to the stated terms around eligibility. Those two students then joined the Alliance, according to the court document.

Members A and B find Southwests discrimination against them deflating, disheartening, offensive, and hurtful, the Alliance claimed in the complaint.

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Southwests website links to a current description of Lanzate! that says it is open to students from all ethnicities. The company made that change after the AAER launched its suit, according to court documents.

Over 20 years, some 1,500 students have benefitted from the competition, which awarded honorees with four free flights.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
NEW YORK (Reuters) -The international community needs to establish "several red lines" in any talks with the new Syrian leadership and consider sanctions to ensure a peaceful future for the country, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Luis Albares said on Wednesday.

In an interview at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, he outlined the main conditions: the transformation of the rebel forces that took power in Syria this week into a political movement, respect for human rights and the rights of minorities, as well as Syria's territorial integrity.

"We must move very fast, because in a month, probably, decisions will have already been taken in Damascus and we will not be able to have the impact that we can have today" to make sure these conditions are known and met, he said.

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He added a debate on potential sanctions was "on the table".

"The first things they are doing, the first things they are saying seem fairly reasonable," Albares said.

On the other hand, he called for caution and a debate on whether to remove Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that led the rebel operation that overthrew Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, from the list of terror groups after an initial round of talks.

The world is watching to see if Syria's new rulers can stabilise the country and avoid unleashing violent revenge, after a 13-year civil war fought along sectarian and ethnic lines destroyed the country. Syria ran one of the most oppressive police states in the Middle East during five decades of Assad family rule.

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Albares urged all sides and neighbouring countries, such as Israel which has struck targets in Syria in the past few days, to show restraint so as not to fragment or further destabilise Syria, "which would be no good for anyone, including Israel".

UKRAINE

Albares said he doesn't believe it is possible to make peace in 24 hours in Ukraine, referring to pledges by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during his election campaign to end the conflict within a day of his Jan. 20 inauguration.

"I don't see that peace has any space in the mind of Vladimir Putin," he said.

"That's why I think it's impossible to make it in 24 hours."

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He warned that, if Russia wins a war of aggression, the world will be less safe, adding that, at the moment, the debate over Ukraine joining NATO is secondary as the focus is on helping the country win the war.

To view the live broadcast of the World Stage go to the Reuters NEXT news page:

(Reporting by Reuters in New York, writing by Andrei Khalip and Pietro Lombardi, editing by Toby Chopra and Alistair Bell)
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz questioned the future of Utahs vote by mail system after reviewing two legislative audits from the 2024 election cycle.

During a hearing of the Legislative Audit Subcommittee on Monday, Schultz, R-Hooper, and Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said they were concerned about the reliance of vote by mail on voter signatures.

An October audit by the Office of the Legislative Auditor General found that around 2% of signatures on primary nomination packets were incorrectly counted or rejected. An audit report released Monday found that signatures had been counted for multiple deceased voters and duplicate voters since the November 2023 election.

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I think the question comes, is vote by mail really as secure as in-person voting? Schultz said. And based off the audits we have in front of us, its clearly not the case. And thats concerning to me moving forward.

Schultz pointed to the two cases where signatures of likely deceased individuals were used to vote in recent elections as evidence that vote by mail is not every bit as secure as in person voting because it would be much more difficult to commit impersonation fraud with a fake ID than to copy someones signature.

Adams emphasized that the states shift to universal mail-in ballots has placed an undue burden on county clerks who now have to verify thousands of signatures every election and reach out to voters in instances where there is not a match. There is also more opportunity for voter fraud using signature forgery than presenting a government ID in-person, Adams argued.

State Elections Director Ryan Cowley, who reports to Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, conceded that the audit results require his office and county clerks to step up and do a better job. But he insisted that the current vote by mail system has sufficient security measures in place and argued that signature verification is accurate in the vast majority of cases.

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The Legislatures Democratic leadership expressed worry of their own that some election officials who are not completely following state law would lead to the state losing its vote by mail system.

Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said the problem is not Utahs election system  We have enough safety mechanisms within our statutes.  it is improper implementation.

House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said she appreciated the flags raised by the audit and called on the Lieutenant Governors Office to provide clearer and more forceful requirements for voter roll cleanup and post-election audits. But she worried the two audits will be used as ammunition by opponents of vote by mail.

I have concerns that people are going to use this audit to try to eliminate vote by mail, Romero said. I want to make sure we are encouraging people to vote and not discouraging people to vote. And I can tell you the way this conversation is going, I worry that were going to put barriers there so people cant vote.

County clerks react to critical audit

Mondays legislative audit, based on observations from all 29 county election offices over the course of four elections, highlighted a lack of compliance among county clerks in conducting post-election audits, ensuring adequate surveillance and maintaining proper ballot controls. It also urged the Lieutenant Governors Office to update its guidance for county election offices and to improve the accuracy of state voter rolls.

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Washington County Clerk Ryan Sullivan, who entered office in the middle of election policy changes in 2023, said the Lieutenant Governors Office has gone out of its way to provide detailed instructions and training opportunities for county clerks.

Sullivan acknowledged that confusion is possible when trying to follow a fire hose of information to make sure youre not breaking the law, particularly in counties with smaller staffs. While Sullivan said as an election administrator he focuses on implementation, not policy making, he recognizes signature verification as probably the weakest point in voting by mail.

Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie agreed that there are strengths and weaknesses to every voting system. But he also felt the need to clarify some of the statements from Mondays hearing that were critical of the vote by mail system.

McKenzie disagreed with the comparison of the two different signature verification processes for primary nominations and election ballots. A 2% error rate found in signatures on nominations  which McKenzies office processed for statewide races  does not translate to a 2% error rate for signatures on ballot envelopes because they receive increased scrutiny by election workers, McKenzie said.

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Cowley also made this point during Mondays hearing, arguing that state code requires election workers to give more deference for signatures to nominate a candidate for a primary election. However, state auditors responded by saying they had not observed any noticeable differences in the way signature verification was done between the two processes.

McKenzie also rejected the claim that vote by mail is less secure than in-person voting. Both methods incorporate two-step authentication that relies on human judgement, and so are subject to some amount of human error, McKenzie said.

Whereas vote by mail requires voters to receive a ballot envelope based on government identification and to provide a signature, in-person voting requires voters to provide their name and address and compare their picture to that found on government identification. Both methods rely on an election workers judgement, McKenzie said.

Do one of these methods provide a greater level of security over another one? The answer to that is no, McKenzie said. They provide full measures of security. The measures are just different.

Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzies views surrounding vote by mail.
Luigi Mangione receives a citation for failing to observe a posted closed-area sign in Honolulu in 2023. His spondylolisthesis became debilitating after a surfing accident in Hawaii. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via Associated Press)

What a difference a fraction of an inch can make.

Having one of the 33 bones in his spine out of alignment by less than half an inch apparently diminished Luigi Mangione's quality of life to the point that his lower legs felt like they were on fire. At other times, the 26-year-old charged with murdering the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare seesawed between pain and numbness in his lower back and genital area.

Social media posts believed to be written by Mangione indicated he was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, a back condition that emerged during childhood and became debilitating after an accident during a surfing lesson in 2022.

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My back and hips locked up after the accident, wrote a Reddit user whose biographical details align with Mangione's. The user, whose account has been deleted, also complained that intermittent numbness has become constant.

Im terrified of the implications, the user wrote, according to CNN.

Read more: Suspect in CEO killing is charged with murder. Records show he had California ties

Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel last week, and evading capture for five days. His attorney said the Ivy League graduate intended to plead not guilty to the murder charge.

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Back pain isn't the only health condition that plagued Mangione  the Reddit account included posts about brain fog and Lyme disease  but spondylolisthesis appears to have been the most taxing.

There are many reasons why a segment of the spine can move out of alignment.

Spondylolisthesis (pronounced spawn-duh-low-lis-THEE-sus) can begin before birth if the spine doesn't develop properly in utero. Or it can occur suddenly if an accident or injury thrusts one of the vertebrae out of position.

A fracture in the part of the bone that links the vertebrae together can become so big that a segment of the spine can't be held in place. A bone-weakening disease like osteoporosis or even a spinal tumor can disturb the vertebrae's alignment as well.

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Most often, spondylolisthesis is a consequence of aging. The older we get, the more the cushiony disks that separate the vertebrae thin out. When the bones aren't held as tightly in place, it's easier for one to wind up where it doesn't belong.

Read more: Luigi Mangione went radio silent, was reported missing in San Francisco. Then CEO was killed

Any part of the spine can be affected by spondylolisthesis, but it's most common in the lower back. (The Reddit user who is believed to be Mangione indicated that his misaligned bone was at the bottom of his lumbar spine, just above the pelvis.)

Wherever it occurs, having a spinal bone out of place can affect the nerves around the spine. Back pain is a typical symptom, but the pain can spread all the way down the legs and to the feet if one of the sciatic nerves is involved. The discomfort can also manifest as a pins-and-needles tingling sensation.

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In Mangione's case, the symptoms seem to have kicked into high gear while surfing in Hawaii in 2022. The Reddit user said he "experienced sciatica for the first time" while on the water, according to Business Insider, though it's not clear whether the painful condition caused his accident or resulted from it.

Things went from bad to worse a few weeks later, when he "slipped on a piece of paper," he said. "My right glute locked and right leg shut down for a week. Couldn't support any weight on it."

He also experienced a "near-constant burning/twitching in both ankles/calves."

Read more: That pain in your back? It's really a pain in your brain

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Pain isn't the only symptom of spondylolisthesis. With a part of the spine out of place, patients may have back stiffness, be unable to stand for more than a few minutes, or have trouble walking.

These problems can get worse if left untreated. Other potential complications include urinary or bowel incontinence, the Cleveland Clinic says.

Initial treatment usually includes rest to relieve stress on the spine and painkillers such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve or Tylenol to help with pain and reduce inflammation. If over-the-counter medications aren't enough, doctors may prescribe corticosteroid medications or a cortisone injection.

Once the time for rest has passed, specific exercises can strengthen muscles in the abdomen and lower back to better support the spine. A brace or corset may also be needed, especially if the problem was caused by a fracture that needs to heal.

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The only way to actually move the bone back into place is with surgery, and that may be necessary if serious problems persist.

The goal of the surgery depends on the cause of the patient's spondylolisthesis, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

If a fractured bone is to blame, surgeons can shore it up by fusing it to another vertebrae using screws and rods. Mangione had spinal fusion surgery in 2023 after living with pain for a year and a half.

He shared a picture of a post-operative X-ray with one of his former roommates from his time in Hawaii. The image "looked heinous, with just giant screws going into his spine, the ex-roommate, R. J Martin, told CNN.

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On Reddit, the user believed to be Mangione reported that the surgery was a success. "Within 7 days of the fusion I was on zero pain meds," he wrote, according to ABC News.

Read more: Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcares CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouse

If a fracture isn't the problem but a misaligned disk is compressing nearby nerves, surgeons may perform a laminectomy. That procedure removes part of the bone and nearby ligaments to create more space for the nerves.

Sometimes surgical patients have both treatments, the academy says.

Although Mangione seemed pleased with the results of his surgery, he was not happy that it took so long for him to receive it. The Reddit user said he had feared he would be "destined to chronic pain and a desk job for the rest of my life."

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He advised other Reddit users to exaggerate their symptoms  such as pretending they couldn't lift the front of their foot or urinating in their clothes on purpose  in order to get surgery sooner.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A letter expected to be shared with the St. Paul schools board of education Wednesday calls for the district to require staff training on Jewish identity and antisemitism following a resolution by a teachers union on the war in Gaza.

Organized by SPPS teachers and parents as well as the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, the letter has been signed by 531 people since becoming available on Friday, according to Sami Rahamim, spokesperson for the council. According to its website, JCRC fights antisemitism and prejudice, safeguards the Jewish community, advocates for Israel, provides Holocaust education, promotes tolerance and social justice, and builds bridges across the Jewish and broader communities.

The letter refers to a resolution passed by the St. Paul Federation of Educators in November, which the letter describes as one that erased Jewish experiences and promoted the terrorist organization Hamas narrative describing the October 7, 2023, invasion of Israel as multiple resistance organizations in Gaza revolt[ing] against Israel.

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This narrative justifies the killing, kidnapping, and rape of innocent people, normalizing the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust, the letter states. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Canada and the European Union.

Resolution

The resolution passed by SPFE in November called for its national union, the American Federation of Teachers, to sign a national arms embargo letter to President Joe Biden and resolved that SPFE would sign the letter as a local union. The embargo letter calls for the Biden administration to immediately halt all military aid to Israel as part of the work to secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza.

Before voting on the resolution, Jewish SPFE members read a response from St. Paul rabbis expressing that the resolution made Jewish community members feel less safe.

Regardless of intent, the impact of this resolution and the rhetoric surrounding it invites systemic isolation, exclusion, and dehumanization of Jewish voices and concerns in our schools, Wednesdays letter states. And while SPPS has a longstanding commitment to fostering safe and inclusive learning environments for all students and staff, the painful and insulting erasure of consensus Jewish concerns in the SPFE discourse reveals a critical gap in the protection and support for our Jewish community members.

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A representative for SPFE could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The letter urges SPPS to require staff training from JCRC on Jewish identity and antisemitism.

According to the letter, the training should Raise awareness of the complexity of Jewish identity. Increase understanding of the unique ways anti-Jewish language, symbols, and behaviors manifest, and their impact on individuals and communities. Empower educators and staff to recognize and appropriately respond to incidents of antisemitism in classrooms, hallways, and online platforms. Foster inclusive practices that create a sense of belonging for Jewish students and staff, reinforcing their right to safety and respect within our schools. And Build stronger alliances between educators, parents, and community members to proactively combat hate and discrimination in all forms.

SPPS teacher Tiffany Goldman, who signed Wednesdays letter, said as an educator she thinks enlightening people and having discussions is always positive.

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As a Jewish woman, a Jewish teacher in St. Paul Public Schools, I want the best for every student and right now, I feel like our Jewish students, theyre not getting the best because theres a lot of misinformation out there. And I think providing the training will help fill some of the holes that exist. And I think that it will support SPPS in being the best that it can be for all of our students, Goldman said.

Response from SPPS

Views expressed or actions taken by any of the districts labor unions are those of the union, according to a SPPS statement provided in response to Wednesdays letter.

The Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) is a labor union that represents Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) teachers, educational assistants, and school and community service professionals. SPFE, like all labor unions, operates independently and separately from the district, the SPPS statement said.

SPPS has clear policies and procedures in place regarding what is allowed and appropriate in the classroom. Our schools remain committed to maintaining learning and working environments that are free from discrimination, harassment, violence and retaliation. The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict brings up many strong emotions. Resources are available for any SPPS students or staff who need support at school.

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The goal of the training the letter calls for is to give SPPS staff a window into the Jewish experience and what harmful ideas are circulating now, including in the district, Rahamim said.

And what does it look like to show empathy for Israelis and Palestinians without reducing a complex, tragic conflict into a binary where one side is good and one side is evil, Rahamim said.

Goldman said throughout the process with SPFE, district members have been supportive and she said she hopes things will continue to be positive.

I feel like one thing we do as educators really well is, once we find something where we can do better, we do better, Goldman said. And so I think that thats a powerful thing for educators to hold. And I think this is a place where we can do better. We can do better for, not just our Jewish students, but we can do better for all of our students.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Springdale man has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to an attempted robbery at a Fayetteville bank in June, according to court documents.

Scott Walker, 52, changed his plea to guilty on Tuesday after being indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of bank robbery. Walker faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Scott Walker, 52 (Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center)

On June 17, Fayetteville police responded to a bank robbery involving a bomb, according to a preliminary report.

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The report said Walker placed a fake bomb on the counter at United Bank and demanded money, saying he had an earpiece in and would detonate the bomb if the police were called.

Walker was reportedly wearing a bright orange at the time of the incident and changed into a gray shirt. He rode a bike before hopping onto public transit.

An investigator on the bus spoke with Walker but was not told about his change of appearance. The investigator got Walkers name and police were able to search his home due to an active search warrant.

Springdale man accused of robbing Fayetteville bank pleads not guilty

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During the search, authorities found materials relevant to the fake bomb and clothing matching the description during the robbery.

Walker was later found by Springdale police with a bag containing a large sum of money and later admitted to robbing the bank. He was arrested on June 18.

In his federal case, Walker was indicted on September 25 and pleaded not guilty to the charge on October 11.

Walker will be sentenced at a later date and has been remanded to U.S. Marshal custody until his sentence.

He is still charged in Washington County with aggravated robbery, theft of property, threatening to create a catastrophe, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and fleeing charges. He is also facing a parole violation.

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Walker has pleaded not guilty to those charges and his next court date is set for February 14, 2025.

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A federal lawsuit alleges St. John the Baptist President Jaclyn Hotard lied in court filings and during depositions. (LAI photo illustration)

Lawyers for an environmental advocate in St. John the Baptist Parish alleged in a new court filing Tuesday that Parish President Jaclyn Hotard lied in court filings and during a deposition as part of an ongoing lawsuit related to a controversial, and now-defunct, grain terminal project.

The instances of alleged perjury came in response to requests for communications  including text messages and emails  between Hotard and her mother-in-law about the project: a grain elevator proposed by Greenfield Louisiana that drew criticism over its proximity to antebellum plantations and, opponents believed, unmarked graves of the enslaved people who once worked there.

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The project required rezoning the area for industrial use. As parish president, Hotard submitted the application in October 2023 to the parishs planning commission to rezone the property.

Hotards mother-in-law has long owned an adjacent property that was to be included in the rezoning measure and could have benefited from it. In response to requests from the plaintiff in the suit  environmental activist Joy Banner  Hotard initially claimed that no such communications existed and she had no knowledge of her relatives property.

But text messages included in Tuesdays filing show Hotard and her mother-in-law, Darla Gaudet, repeatedly discussing the property, the grain terminal project and the rezoning.

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The court filing also included texts in which Hotard insulted and used violent language about Banner  co-founder and co-executive director of The Descendants Project  calling her a bitch and saying that she wanted to choke her.

I do feel frightened. I do feel scared, and I am sad and Im upset about it, said Banner, who found out about the text messages a few days ago, in an interview. To be honest with you, Im still in a state of shock.

An Oct. 16, 2023, text exchange between Jaclyn Hotard and her mother-in-law, Darla Gaudet. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District Louisiana)

Banners attorneys, Dave Lanser and William Most, are now asking a federal judge to sanction Hotard, award Banner attorneys fees and order Hotard to appear for another deposition. Neither Hotard nor her attorney, Ike Spears, responded to requests for comment.

The lawsuit, filed late last year, stems from a November 2023 St. John Parish Council meeting at which Banner tried to give public comment.

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Prior to the meeting, Banner had filed a state ethics complaint against Hotard over her role in moving the industrial rezoning forward, which she said was a conflict of interest because of Gaudets potential financial interest.

Banner told Verite News that she wanted to give comment opposing a council motion to retain a private law firm, using taxpayer funds, to defend Hotard from any potential charges by the Louisiana Board of Ethics.

But, Banner alleges in the lawsuit that she was not allowed to speak at the council meeting and was threatened with prosecution if she continued to try to comment, violating her First Amendment rights. The suit was filed in December against Hotard, St. John the Baptist Parish and Parish Councilman Michael Wright.

When the lawsuit went into discovery, Banners attorneys asked Hotard to produce correspondence with Gaudet in which the two discussed Banner, The Descendants Project, Greenfield Louisiana, LLC or its grain terminal or property owned by Gaumet Holdings, a company owned by Gaudet.

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Hotard responded, according to the court records, that no such documents exist. She also testified during an Aug. 6 deposition that she did not know anything about her mother-in-laws property or business.

I dont know about their business or what land they purchase or dont purchase. So anything you would tell me about that company would be a [surprise] to me. Because Im just not involved at all, Hotard said during the deposition.

By that point, however, Most had already subpoenaed Gaudet for correspondence with Hotard. Gaudet fought the subpoena, but federal Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby this month ordered her to turn hundreds of text messages in which Gaudet and Hotard discussed the Greenfield Grain Terminal, the value of Gaudets land, and St. John the Baptist Parish Council votes regarding Greenfield and Banner.

These communications show that Defendant Hotard lied when she swore under oath that no such documents exist and that she was not aware of Ms. Gaudets business, Tuesdays filing says.

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Verite News reached out to Hotard and Ike Spears, an attorney representing her in the case, but did not immediately receive a response.

The filing includes text messages that show Hotard texting her mother-in-law images of Gaudets land highlighted on a map and them talking about the valuation of Gaudets land. The document also includes messages from Gaudet to Hotard before and after the parish council voted, on April 9, 7-2 in favor of rezoning. (Greenfield later canceled the grain terminal project.)

Text messages between Jaclyn Hotard and Darla Gaudet in which they discuss parish council votes on the Greenfield rezoning. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District Louisiana)

In the texts,Hotard and Gaudet also discussJoy Banner and her sister Jo, the other co-founder and co-executive director of The Descendants Project. Hotard also sent pictures of Banner to her mother-in-law and shared a screenshot of one of Joys financial disclosures.

I wanted to choke that woman, Hotard texted Gaudet in October 2023, referring to Banner.

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Banner said hearing about the text messages was highly concerning, considering how much power Hotard has as parish president.

Its very frightening to have someone like her thats at the helm of the ship in a parish like St. John that goes through emergencies, natural disasters, industrial accidents, she said. And if thats the kind of lack of levelheadedness shes displaying, I feel frightened as a citizen.

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This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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The St. Johns County school board just went over the school districts yearly comprehensive financial report, which included some numbers teachers say highlight a dire need for more instructors.

The report was put together back in June and was included in the school boards meeting agenda for Dec.10. It shares the number of instructional positions in the district from the last 10 years, ending with the number of jobs at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

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Heres what the report highlighted, which the school district confirmed with Action News Jax after first believing the numbers to be inaccurate:

Number of Instructional Positions:

- 2020-2021: 3,266

- 2021-2022: 3,499

- 2022-2023: 3,552

- 2023-2024: 3,554

The district says it only added two more total instructional jobs in just one year, after a series of much larger increases. This is how many more students were added, year by year, in the same time:

Number of Students:

- 2020-2021: 44,059

- 2021-2022: 47,892

- 2022-2023: 50,414

- 2023-2024: 52,954

The district says, in the same time it added those two instructional jobs, it added more than 2,500 students.

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Action News Jaxs Finn Carlin spoke with the St. Johns Education Association, the teachers union in the county, which says the district has 3,794 current instructional employees, including teachers, and has 85 vacancies.

Teachers say theyre watching other instructors leave the district to go to other districts for better pay.

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It is heartbreaking, said Katie Dowdie, president of the St. Johns Education Association. We need more staff in every school.

Back in October, the school district shared a presentation showing how its average teacher salaries measure up to neighboring districts. This is how St. Johns County says it compares:

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- Flagler County: $58,369 / year

- Duval County: $55,282 / year

- Putnam County: $55,000 / year

- St. Johns County: $53,484 / year

Dowdie says shes been working with the district for the last 20 years and is now seeing veteran teachers leave the classroom for higher salaries.

It makes it very difficult to want to be a teacher and to want to stay a teacher, Dowdie said.

St. Johns County superintendent Tim Forson says teachers are also both leaving the county and avoiding it during the job search because they cant find affordable places to live.

We do struggle with that, we continue to struggle with that, said Forson.

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Last month, Action News Jax told you when St. Johns County voters passed targeted tax increases designed, in part, to boost teacher pay, which Forson hopes will attract more teachers to the district.

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I think we are going to see a noticeable difference in salaries and noticeable improvements for those that are already in our system, Forson said.

Those changes arent expected to take place until July 2025. The St. Johns Education Association is set to meet with the district tomorrow to go over how the funds raised from the tax increases will be put toward higher teacher salaries.

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ST. LOUIS  St. Louis City officials are pushing a plan to put the vast majority of the Rams relocation settlement into a series of funds.

The Rams left St. Louis for Los Angeles after the 2015 season. In 2021, the city of St. Louis received $790 million in a settlement with the NFL over the move.

Mayor Tishaura Jones, Board of Alderman President Megan Green, and Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier formally introduced the plan as the Transform STL Act, during a Wednesday morning news conference. The plan being detailed Wednesday marks about $277 million from the citys share of the settlement.

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This is a once-in-a-lifetime generation opportunity that will be used to transform the lives of many generations to come and benefit St. Louisans throughout their entire lives, said Jones.

A spokesperson for Mayor Jones said the breakdown reflects the priorities laid out by city residents during the board of aldermens public input process, with the earliest discussions beginning more than one year ago.

We have taken all of your suggestions to heart, and this is what we have come up with, said Mayor Jones. Today we are showing our win is a win from everyone, from Delmar to Dutchtown and every neighborhood; they deserve to benefit from the settlement funds.

Those funds would be dedicated to street and water pipe repair, affordable housing and small business investment, and making the cost of childcare and college education more affordable for city families.

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This bill isnt about large appropriations. Its about opportunities were giving to current and future generations. Were building a government that takes care of you with safe streets, sidewalks, and drinking water. Were building a place where you dont have to go broke buying a home or sending your kids to college. Were building a place that takes care of our youth and family starting in early childhood and providing pathways to middle-class jobs. Were building a brighter future for the City of St. Louis. said Jones.

In a draft bill, which will be filed later this week, officials say the childcare and scholarship plans are a way to bring families back to the city. St. Louis lost a quarter of its school-age population in the last decade.

Here are the numbers provided to us by Mayor Jones office.

Fund Name Administrative Department Allocated Funds Citywide Water Infrastructure Fund Water Division $40,000,000 Citywide Mobility Infrastructure Fund Board of Public Service $60,000,000 Children and Families Endowment Fund City Treasurers Office $57,240,061.56 City Workforce Fund SLATE $20,000,000 Citywide Housing Fund CDA $70,000,000 Citywide Neighborhood Development Fund CDA $30,000,000

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Many want to know what caused the Malibu fire, officially known as the Franklin fire, as the blaze continues to expand on Wednesday. The status update for the Malibu fire at 11:08 AM PT on December 11 says that the incident is still active. It remains at 7% containment and has a footprint of 3,983 acres, nearly double the size of the blaze yesterday. Over 20,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate, including celebrities Cher, Mark Hamill, and Dick Van Dyke who have homes in the area. Heres what we know so far about what started the Franklin fire in Malibu.

How did the Malibu fire start?

Officials are still investigating what started the Malibu fire, at the time of writing. That said, Cal Fire states that 95% of wildfires are caused by humans, whether it is due to campfires, vehicles, equipment, debris, or more.

As of July 30, 2024, wildfires have scorched a staggering 751,327 acres across our state. This year's wildfire activity is 2,816% higher than last year, 29 times the amount of acreage burned. The numbers are a stark reminder: 95% of wildfires are caused by humans. Stay pic.twitter.com/3d38JATRGD  CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 30, 2024

Investigators urge residents not to speculate about the origin of the fire, per The Malibu Times. Theres no evidence thus far that arson caused the Malibu fire. They also remind residents that it takes time and precise analysis to figure out how any significant blaze starts. (We will update this with any new information from investigators on the cause of the fire.)

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As reported by ABC7, the Franklin Fire was first reported on Monday at around 11 PM PT in the area near Malibu Canyon Road to the north of the Pacific Coast Highway. Since flames could be seen to the north side of Pepperdine University, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the entire campus (and was later lifted).

The brush fire has exploded since Monday night and has been a challenge for firefighters to contain. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 2 PM PT today for Malibu Coast and Ventura Coastal Plain, while Santa Ana winds bring critical fire weather conditions across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

In such dangerous conditions, an incidental spark can turn into blazing wildfires. As reported by Cal Matters, 95% of the wildfires in California in 2023 were started by humans, whether its driving cars with flat tires, burning toilet paper, setting off smoke bombs, mowing the lawn, or power utility companies not maintaining power lines. While uncommon, arsons count for about 10% of California fires.

The post What Started the Malibu Fire? Officials Investigate Cause appeared first on Mandatory.
In Texas, health advocates often find themselves playing defense to encourage leaders to preserve the states relatively frugal public service offerings while also pushing for more.

Thats why a $300 million ask to lawmakers next year from the states social services agency  the Texas Health and Human Services Commission  to improve the agencys complicated Medicaid application process has thrilled the states nonprofit policy groups.

If granted, it could mean more than 1,000 new workers and millions spent upgrading a decades-old computer system to make it easier for Texans to apply for Medicaid health insurance for adults and children, food stamps and other programs.

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This move could allow vulnerable Texans to be enrolled in these critical programs in weeks rather than the months theyre experiencing now.

That very much stands out for us, said Peter Clark, spokesperson for Texans Care For Children, which advocates on behalf of Texas children and families and has put improvements to the states Medicaid eligibility system at the top of its list for state lawmakers when the Legislature convenes in January.

The agency-initiated request is a response to the incredible backlog of applications for Medicaid and food stamps after the federal unwinding of a pandemic-era policy that suspended the need for periodic renewal of benefits. Hundreds of thousands of Texans lost their Medicaid coverage because they didnt get their renewal applications filed quick enough or they were procedurally removed from the program because of paperwork issues.

In its legislative appropriations request, the agency notes that federal rules require food stamp applications be reviewed within 30 days and Medicaid applicants within 45 days. Since 2019, that has not been the case.

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As of Nov. 22, the wait time for a Medicaid application for an adult or child to be processed was 71 days and 131,869 applications were waiting to be completed. As of Dec. 5, the wait time was slightly improved at 59 days.

The TIERS eligibility system has suffered significant neglect due to the exceptional demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agencys request to the Legislature states. Fully funding this request provides the level of resourcing needed to keep up with routine demands, and allows (state tech workers) to address the backlog of modification requests targeting timeliness mandates and client experience.

Each year, there are as many as 50,000 maintenance service requests for the enrollment system filed by staff members.

The legislative request document calls for at least 1,772 new positions, but agency officials have provided specifics on what else they would spend the rest of the $300 million. If the state approves the $300 million, it could receive an additional $100 million in funding, including from the federal government.

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In the last year, the health agency employed more than 2,100 eligibility workers to help reduce the backlogs, reporting that more than 96% of eligibility workers are filled.

As a result of those efforts, the agency has eliminated the food stamp applications backlog last month, HHSC spokesperson Jennifer Ruffcorn said.

Why do Medicaid applications take so long?

When a Texan applies for Medicaid health insurance or food stamps, they can do so through the agencys Texas Benefits website or the agencys Your Texas Benefits app.

But miles away, a state worker has to take that applicants information and manually input all the data into an unforgiving 20-year-old computer system with the most bureaucratic of names: the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System, or TIERS.

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To say its a time-consuming process is an understatement.

You remember The Oregon Trail, its like that, said Diana Forester, director of health policy for Texans Care For Children, referring to the static, 1985 video game played via keyboard prompts.

When it was introduced as a pilot in 2003, TIERS was hailed as a system that would create cost savings. But from the start, there were snafus that forced the state to change contractors and pour an additional $56 million to fix some of the problems in 2006. An audit the following year found TIERS cumbersome to use.

Last year, the systems flaws were made even more apparent for low-income Texans  children, the disabled and elderly  when Texas abruptly kicked more Medicaid recipients off the program faster than any other state after keeping them on continuously through the pandemic.

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Forester, who worked for the state health agency for six years before becoming a health policy advocate in 2022, said using TIERS can be so tedious that workers must repeatedly type the same information in different places of what can be a 30-page Medicaid application for it to be successfully submitted.

The slow process is by design, said Anne Dunkelberg, who retired as health policy director for progressive policy group Every Texan earlier this year.

Texas has many decades of making enrollment and renewal difficult, she said.

The system forces caretakers to block out hours if not days to push an application into the system after gathering the required documents.

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It requires eternal vigilance, Dunkelberg said. We had some pretty bad statistics coming out of COVID. The time is ripe to upgrade some of the things to prevent losing so many eligible people, mostly kids, into the program.

What applying for help looks like on the ground

As the deputy coordinator of Mercedes-based Texas RioGrande Legal Aids public benefits group, Bernadette Segura and her team help Texans, often Spanish-speaking, apply for Medicaid and food stamps.

The delays are shorter, but there are still delays, Segura said last week. Its taking (state health agency staff) forever to make decisions.

Anyone applying for either benefits must prove they are either citizens or lawfully living in the United States by submitting birth certificates and verification of income, rent, utility bills and school enrollment for children who are old enough to attend.

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Segura often hears from clients who have to resubmit documents multiple times because the state has said it hasnt received them.

One client, a single father, waited more than a year after applying to receive food stamps, and it took an administrative appeal to do so, she said.

To apply for benefits requires a lot of patience, Segura said.

You have to have a fully charged phone and a lot of time to stay on hold, she said. It also requires a certain amount of tech savvy. If a Texas resident applies online from their phone, they have to know how to enlarge small print and know how to scan their documents into the application.

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While they wait, many rely on local food banks, many of which also assist their customers with applying for food stamps.

Another impediment, Segura noted, is the fact that Medicaid and food stamp applications come in only Spanish and English. For those qualifying non-English speakers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa who need assistance, the language barrier can act as a strong deterrent, she said.

Theres confusion based on an applicants level of English, Segura said, who added shed like to see applications available in Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese. Theres a need all the time for language translation.

Forester, with Texans Care For Children, said the system can also pepper an applicant incessantly with confusing notifications. Its not user-friendly for an applicant, she said. Go to any community center helping applicants and youll see lines of families with a stack of notifications. Some contradict each other, she said,

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Applicants get overwhelmed and they cant find out what the status of their applications is by logging in, she said.

We dont need more people, Forester said. We need better tech.

Get the data and visuals that accompany this story 

Disclosure: Every Texan and Texans Care for Children have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Dec. 10On the heels of a November report that made note of an unspent capital outlay balance approaching $6 billion, New Mexico lawmakers Tuesday were briefed on some key capital requests that will be weighed during the upcoming legislative session.

"Because of that limited capacity we have to take on a large number of new projects, this makes it extra important to prioritize funding to complete existing projects, or to thoughtfully phase or provide complete funding for large, high-priority projects," said Cally Carswell, capital outlay analyst for the Legislative Finance Committee.

The meeting follows state lawmakers in November discussing changes to the way the state handles capital outlay, as projects that have been awarded funding fail to materialize and huge sums of money that could be used for other purposes sit in the bank. Discussing the "high-level summary of requests," Carswell said $1.7 billion in projects have been requested, with executive agencies and judicial entities making requests totaling $1.3 billion and higher education institutions requested about $430 million.

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Local governments recently approved their capital outlay requests. Santa Fe is asking for substantially less money from the state this time around: just over $32 million in requests for the 2025 session compared to $150 million for 2024, of which it received just $18.9 million.

Tuesday's LFC meeting did not offer many specifics in the way of proposed projects, but one major project that came up was a $17.5 million request for supplemental funding to help build a new Magistrate Court in Santa Fe.

"I want to point out that the design is still not complete for this project and appropriations for it date back to 2021 and have totaled $33 million," Carswell said.

The Administrative Office of the Courts is overseeing plans to build a new Magistrate Court on the city's south side, behind Kohl's and near the New Mexico State Police Training Academy. The existing court facility, on Galisteo Street, has inadequate parking, had problems such as mold and a roof leak and is generally too small, an agency official told The New Mexican earlier this year.

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With balances of unspent capital outlay so high, some lawmakers pledged in November to finally take action. But there was no further discussion of that at Tuesday's meeting.

In November, lawmakers received a report prepared by LFC staff showing outstanding capital outlay balances totaled an estimated $5.8 billion across roughly 5,300 projects at the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year. The report said 277 capital outlay projects have seen "no activity, no or minimal reporting, recent reauthorization, significant challenges or delays, or significant unspent funds" since the projects were awarded funding.

Among these "red-rated" projects are the $4.9 million for midtown campus improvements in Santa Fe, the report says. A Santa Fe County Recovery Center facility purchase, funded at $1.5 million in 2022, has also not moved forward, the report states. In the case of the project, the funds are 100% "unexpended," according to the document.

The report also mentions the Santa Fe Fire Station 2 project, funded in 2023 at $3.9 million with 99% of the funds still unspent, the document states.

Staff writer Carina Julig contributed to this report.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A Peoria police officer acted appropriately when he shot and killed a man this summer who refused multiple attempts to take him into custody.

Donald Wilson, 46, was shot and killed on July 21, 2024, when he refused to submit to orders by Peoria police officers. It was his actions afterward that Peoria County States Attorney Jodi Hoos contributed to his death.

At every turn, Mr. Wilson chose to continue to argue and escalate the situation, leaving the officers no choice but to take him into custody with force. Multiple taser attempts failed to subdue and stop him.

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Once he armed himself with the shovel and charged after the officers, the only choice remaining to prevent great bodily harm or death to an officer was to use lethal force by the one officer who was assigned that role, she said in a four-page statement.

Under Illinois law, police are allowed to use deadly force if an officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another, Hoos said.

Officers had gone to 1820 W. Sherman Ave. on July 21 to arrest Wilson, who allegedly violated an order of protection during a reported incident about a violent man in a home near Sherman and Western avenues.

PPD: Man who was shot Sunday came at officers with a digging shovel

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When officers arrived at the scene, Wilson ran into the homes garage, started a fire and allegedly began swinging a shovel at officers. Two officers tried to use their taser, and one officer shot Wilson.

According to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood, Wilson died from a single gunshot wound to the chest and likely died instantly.

Immediately, the Illinois State Police, as required by law, took over the shooting investigation. They completed their investigation and then turned their findings over to Hoos who then had to decide whether the shooting was justified or whether it merits criminal charges.

She found it was.

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Therefore, upon review of the facts, it is determined that the course of conduct engaged in by the officer that resulted in the death of Donald W. Wilson III was justified, reasonable and necessary to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Illinois, himself and other officers from death or great bodily harm, she said.

The investigation, the countys top prosecutor said, revealed that Wilson had an intoxicating level of cocaine in his blood at the time of his death.

Additionally, she said, The entire encounter between the officers and Mr. Wilson was recorded on multiple officers body cameras. These recordings captured both the audio and video of the incident.

Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria said he appreciated the thorough independent investigation conducted by the Illinois State Police and the Peoria County States Attorney into an officer-involved shooting on July 21, 2024.

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As the shooting was deemed justified, the officer, he said, will return to full duty. The next step will be an internal review of the event by the Office of Professional Standards, the chief said.

We continue to share our condolences with the family of Mr. Wilson. I want to remind our community that Police officers, in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving, are often forced to make split second judgements regarding the amount of force necessary, Echevarria said.

What happened

Officers had gone to the house after the homeowner had called them to say Wilson was there, that he had a warrant and that he was involving an order of protection.

The first officer showed up in full uniform and was familiar with both the homeowner and Wilson as he had responded to calls there in the past, Hoos said.

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In fact, PPD had been called to that address involving the homeowner and Mr. Wilson at least eighteen times over the past several years. The officer verified that the homeowner did have a

valid order of protection against Mr. Wilson, but it had not yet been served. The officer also verified that Mr. Wilson had an active warrant for his arrest for Violation of an Order of Protection, she wrote in her statement.

Wilson, Hoos said, was found in the homes backyard and ran into a detached garage when he saw the officer. The officer tried to talk him out of the garage, but Wilson refused, Hoos said.

A second officer arrived and then after more fruitless minutes, more officers showed up. The homeowner gave them a key and officers opened up a side garage door, he did start to come out but then went back in when officers wanted to take him into custody.

. . . Mr. Wilson immediately backed up saying no, no, no, no and retreated back into the garage where he armed himself with a shovel. Officers tased Mr. Wilson in an attempt to take him into custody, but the taser did not make a connection, she said. Mr. Wilson was visibly angry and shouting while holding the shovel. Because of his behavior, officers decided to back out of the garage.

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At one point, at least a dozen officers were on the scene trying to get him out of the garage. He refused to obey commands, Hoos said in her statement.

Officers then observed Mr. Wilson holding up an item that was on fire. He was visibly angry and shouting. It appeared he was going to set the garage on fire, at which point officers re-entered the garage. Two officers had their tasers out and one officer who was assigned as the lethal force cover officer had his department-issued service weapon out, she wrote.

Officers again tried to use their tasers which appeared to stun Wilson, but that didnt last, she wrote. Then, Mr. Wilson picked up a shovel and charged after the officers, violently swinging the shovel towards them.

At this point, the lethal force cover officer fired his department-issued service weapon one time to stop Mr. Wilsons advance towards the officers, Hoos said.

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Officers then administered first-aid to Wilson, who was taken to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center where he later died.

Legal analysis

Under Illinois law, police are allowed to use deadly force if an officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another, Hoos said.

The decision to use force, she said, must be judged from the point of view of a reasonable officer in the same situation and based upon the totality of the circumstances.

Given that, she said, it was clear the officer acted properly. From the beginning, she said, Wilson was not cooperative, despite being given several chances to comply.

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Also, she said, when the initial taser shot didnt work, officers chose to back out of the garage doorway rather than to continue to confront Wilson, a further sign of restraint. Then, he began to swing a shovel at the officers.

The body camera video clearly shows Mr. Wilson violently swinging the shovel towards officers. One officer even indicated in his report that the shovel came close enough to his face that he could feel the wind from the swing of the shovel against it, Hoos said.

Therefore, upon review of the facts, it is determined that the course of conduct engaged in by the officer that resulted in the death of Donald W. Wilson III was justified, reasonable and necessary to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Illinois, himself and other officers from death or great bodily harm.

This story will be updated

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The Indiana State Board of Education unanimously approved the final version of the states new high school diploma standards on Wednesday, setting off a change that will become mandatory for all high schools starting with the class of 2029.

The final version of the diploma is similar to the most recent draft unveiled in August with a few minor changes, all with the ultimate goal of providing more flexibility to students, boosting work-place learning in schools and to fulfill the state's growing workforce needs.

The final version includes one base diploma that requires 42 credits to complete and then students could earn three different kinds of seals that would show if a student is ready to enroll in higher education, enter the workforce or enlist in the armed services.

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Each seal also includes a plus version that involves earning a certain amount of workplace learning hours, earning a certain kind of credential or obtaining a certain score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB.

This has been the culmination of a year-long effort at the Indiana Department of Education to beat back what they say is growing apathy among students.

Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner points to the states lagging chronic absenteeism numbers, which are worse in the high school grades, and the continuing stagnant college-going rate among high school graduates.

High Schools can start opting into the new diploma starting next school year but every school must be able to fulfill the new diploma requirements for the 2029 graduating class.

Here are the main changes to the final version of the diploma compared to the most recent draft released in August.

Enrollment seal changes

The enrollment seal, which is geared more toward students wanting to go to college after high school, requires students to earn specific amounts of credits toward world language, social studies, math and science.

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Students must also earn a C or higher in all courses and earn a cumulative B average.

One change made to the honors seal is that students can now earn a blend of AP, IB or Cambridge courses but still must earn at least 4 credits.

The second draft version: Read what the second draft version was for the diploma redesign.

Another change is that in previous draft versions, it required students to also pass the corresponding exam to their AP, IB or Cambridge courses, but now the final version only requires students to take the exam. Jenner said this is mostly due to the fact that exam results arent often released until the summertime.

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Another change in the enrollment plus seal is the requirement to have at least 100 hours of work-based learning is now changed to 75 hours.

The work-based learning can include various kinds of experiences that are paid, unpaid, in-person or simulated.

Jenner said that is because CTE educators told them the current system is set up for 75-hour increments, so the change is to better reflect that.

Employment seal changes

The employment seal is designed for students who know they want to pursue heading into the workforce immediately after high school.

Some of the changes made to the seal include allowing approved career preparation experiences that are used with the Indiana Career Scholarship Accounts program, or CSA program, to count toward the seal.

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The CSA program was established in 2023 and allows students in grades 10-12 to apply for $5,000 grants to be used for career training with outside employers.

Any IDOE-approved locally-created pathway can also count towards the seal now.

Students must also now complete 150 hours of work-based learning under the final diploma version compared to the 100 hours in the previous draft.

Enlistment seal changes

The enlistment seal, which is designed to help students who want to go into the armed services after high school, still requires students to score a 31 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB.

The change for that seal is that now the state would also allow students to complete a career exploration tool that IDOE approved, and not just complete all three components of the Career Exploration Program.

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More State Ed News: Katie Jenner will continue to head the state's education department under Braun

The change in how a student can earn the enlistment plus seal includes allowing students to show enrollment in ROTC at the collegiate level, show acceptance to a service academy, or achieve a score of 50 or higher on the ASVAB. Previously students only could earn the 50 or higher ASVAB score.

A service academy can include places like the Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy or the Military Academy.

The attendance goal that students must meet to either earn the employment or enlistment seal involves only having three unexcused absences for the school year.

Support from Universities and major state education groups

The IDOE also received many letters of support for the final diploma versions including letters of support from many state institutes of higher education including Ball State University, Indiana State University, Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue University, University of Southern Indiana and Vincennes University.

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Concerns about whether the diploma would meet university enrollment standards were a big concern with the release of the first draft of the diploma, but university leaders changed their minds once the second draft was released.

Major state education groups also gave their support including the State Superintendents Association, the Indiana School Principals Association, the Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education, the Indiana School Boards Association, the Indiana Urban Schools Association and the Indiana School Counselor Association.

Read previous feedback on the diploma: As final feedback period ends on Indiana's high school diploma redesign, concerns remain

Another major group that didnt have a letter but told reporters on Tuesday that they were supportive of the final version was the Indiana State Teachers Association, which represents almost 40,000 educators and school workers in the state, and said they were pleased that educator feedback was taken seriously.

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I think we've all learned that a high school can be a very complicated place in terms of putting all those pieces together, and they've incorporated that into the second draft, said ISTA vice president Jennifer Smith-Margraf. They really listened to educators, and that's reflected there.

Over the past several months, teachers have been one of the largest outspoken groups bringing forward criticisms on the diploma standards, many being foreign language or fine arts teachers.

Jenner also addressed the concerns that have been voiced by educators in the fine arts community on Wednesday saying that students wanting to pursue fine arts can still do that with these diplomas and should use locally-created pathway options to obtain their fine arts goals and utilize the Indiana College Core option.

Next steps for schools and students

The immediate next step that the IDOE will now start is working on creating multiple lists and guides that will go out to schools to help with implementing the work-based learning requirements and to further bolster those courses in schools.

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One of those lists will be which credentials have which value based on the states demand for that certain field, which will also determine how much a school can be reimbursed for offering those classes.

IDOE also wants to build an interactive advising tool that will help schools implement these changes and to help guide students on what path is best for them. Jenner said they plan to ask the state legislature for funds to build out this advising tool, as well as other funding needed to align with the diplomas new needs.

Keep up with school news: Sign up for Study Hall, IndyStar's free weekly education newsletter.

Schools can start implementing the new diplomas starting next school year, but schools that choose to do that must prove that students can earn a seal.

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However, next school year is also when the class of 2029 will start its freshman year of high school, which Jenner said may mean that their freshman year schedules will look similar to how they currently are, but the 11th and 12th-grade year is when schedules could start to change to fit the paths laid out in the new diploma.

Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Final draft of Indiana high school diploma redesign approved
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI)  The New York State Division of Consumer Protection is providing tips to avoid scams while on the search for a furry or feathered addition to the family this holiday season.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there are thousands of reports of consumers who lost money, never received their pet or received a sick, stolen or different animal from the one they ordered.

Avoiding online shopping scams this holiday season

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According to the Better Business Bureau, experts say a shocking 80-percent of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake. These scams often begin with an online ad with a picture of an adorable puppy or kitten in search of a new home.

Scam victims are often quickly lured with a popular breed and a low price. Some scammers even promise to deliver the animal to the airport or even the buyers doorstop. However, once payment is received the pet never arrives and the seller disappears.

To protect yourself and your loved ones from losing out on a special moment this holiday, make sure you know the warning signs of a potential pet scam and always do your research before exchanging money for a new animal companion. New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley

In New York State, pets can be adopted or purchased from the following:

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Animal shelters, humane societies, animal rescues or other not-for-profit organizations;

By direct purchase from small pet breeders (those who sell fewer than 25 pets per year); or

By direct purchase from licensed pet dealers, which includes pet breeders who sell more than 25 pets per year and other types of sellers that arent considered retail pet stores.

Effective Sunday, December 15, retail pet stores can no longer sell dogs, cats and rabbits in New York. However, retail pet stores can still partner with registered, nonprofit animal rescue organizations to showcase adoptable pets. Retail pet stores do not include licensed pet dealers or breeders who sell less than 25 pets per year. As this new law goes into effect, consumers may look to the internet or other options to find their next family pet, leaving them more vulnerable to potential scams.

New Yorks Attorney Generals Office will enforce the new law when it comes on the books.

Here are some important tips to avoid a pet scam:

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Find a registered rescue or shelter: Animal shelters, rescue organizations and other not-for-profit entities that offer animal adoptions in New York are required to register with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM). This is part of an effort to provide increased transparency to potential pet owners. Find a registered rescue or shelter by visiting the AGM database of registered organizations.

Find a reputable pet breeder or licensed pet dealer: If deciding to purchase from a breeder, do your research to ensure they are reputable. Take steps to avoid purchasing a possibly stolen pet by searching for the average price of the specific breed. Be skeptical of a purebred animal being sold for free or at a discounted price. When looking online, you may not be able to tell if animals are living in small, filthy cages. To avoid supporting cruel breeding practices, read consumer reviews. If a breeder sells more than 25 dogs and/or cats per year, verify they are a licensed pet dealer. To find a licensed pet dealer, visit AGMs database of licensed dealers.

Beware of online pet scams: Scammers often steal photos of animals from other websites to impersonate an existing seller. The Animal Legal Defense Fund recommends doing a reverse image search of the pet you are interested in. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, its likely a scam. The same goes for customer reviews. Search for distinctive text from testimonials to see if it appears on multiple websites.

Meet in person or by live video call: Insist on meeting the seller or breeder in person to verify where the pet was born and how its being raised. This may help prevent the purchase of a nonexistent, sick or different animal from the one advertised. The home visit should involve seeing the entire litter and parents. If a home visit is not possible, require a live video call to view the seller, living environment and animals.

Do your research: A responsible breeder will be knowledgeable and forthcoming with any information related to a litter. Ask questions such as: Have they been examined by a licensed veterinarian? When are their next vaccinations due? Be sure to request proof of veterinary reports and screening tests, along with photos of previous litters. A person claiming to rehome a pet should be able to describe their size, behavior, health condition, reason for rehoming and other specific details. A vaguely worded advertisement that does not include such details or an owner who seems to not know the animal well is a red flag. A responsible and caring pet seller should vet you as the potential owner as well. They should ask personal questions to ensure a good match.

Avoid unusual payment methods: Avoid sending payment in an unusual way. This includes prepaid gift cards, cash and mobile payment apps. These payment methods are untraceable and do not allow you to stop payment or reverse a transaction.

If you have fallen victim to a pet scam or believe youve come across a scammer online, it can be reported to the following sources:

For more resources on how to care for your pet, visit the NYS Agricultural and Markets website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com.
OXFORD  After six days of witness testimony, District Attorney Ben Creekmore has rested the states case against accused killer Timothy Herrington. Defense attorney Kevin Horan presented just four witnesses Tuesday afternoon before resting his case.

The Jimmie Jay Lee - Timothy Herrington timeline of July 8, 2022, according to prosecutors

2:00 a.m. - Jay Lee texted his mother Happy Birthday.

The jury will return to the Lafayette County Courthouse Wednesday morning to hear closing arguments. They will then receive instructions on what they can consider before beginning deliberations.

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Herrington, 24, is charged with capital murder in the July 2022 death of Ole Miss student Jimmie Jay Lee, 20. Prosecutors say he killed Lee, whose body has never been found, to cover up a relationship between the two men. The trial, before a sequestered jury from Forrest County, began its seventh day of arguments Tuesday at the Lafayette County courthouse.

Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said while there were more than a dozen persons of interest in Lees 2022 disappearance, there was a wealth of information tying Herrington to the case.

We found no leads of evidentiary value for all the other persons of interest, McCutchen said. We had a volume of information that implicated Timothy Herrington.

McCutchen said that evidence in Lees disappearance and presumed death  his body has never been located  included videos and conversations by phone and social media. Under cross examination by defense attorney Kevin Horn, the chief admitted there was no trace evidence implicating Herrington in a crime in this case.

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Horan pointed out that while no DNA evidence has connected his client to Lee, there are several DNA profiles that pointed to other people. A crime lab report from September also showed that several of the items collected by the Oxford Police Department and submitted were not tested.

Our intention was that everything be tested, McCutchen said. I got a bill for $30,000 and thought they were testing everything.

Horan questioned why after the September report found no forensic evidence connecting Herrington to Lees supposed death, OPD conducted searches at Herringtons former apartment complex and Grenada County property of his relatives.

Weve been looking for the body of Jay Lee for two years, and were not going to stop until we find it, McCutchen said. I guarantee you that.

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The chief admitted the search of Lafayette Place in September and a Grenada County property in November turned up nothing of evidential value.

McCutchen bolstered the states case when he interpreted one of Lees last messages to Herrington as a threat, part of the underlying felony required for a capital murder charge.

Unlike Lee, Herrington was not openly gay.

Lee said, I wanted to say I had you on the down low, McCutchen said. He wanted to out him.

Prosecutors said Herrington used the prospect of sexual favors to get Lee to return.

The defense only put four witnesses on the stand. The first was a woman who hired Herringtons moving company to haul furniture between Grenada and Batesville three days after Lee disappeared.

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Remaining witnesses included Herringtons father, grandfather and a cousin. They all described how Herrington was a hard worker who could be trusted to get the job done without a lot of supervision.

On cross examination, none of the four admitted they knew Herrington was gay and none had seen him with a boyfriend.

Herrington chose to not testify in his own defense.

Herrington is accused of killing Lee in the early morning hours of July 8, 2022. Authorities have a Snapchat conversation between the two men that details one sexual encounter that occurred around 4 a.m., an argument and then the makeup that led Lee to return to Herringtons apartment.

While the body was not found, police said video showed Lees car pulling into an apartment complex across town, followed by Herrington jogging away from the complex.
Oregon Department of Education data shows that up to a quarter of the students in the state who require special education services do not get counted in the formula that provides additional special education funding to schools. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Editors note: The Capital Chronicle is running an end-of-year fundraising campaign, with a $10,000 goal, to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and theres a long legislative session in 2025. Were completely dependent on donor dollars, and theyre tax deductible. Please contribute to us if you can.

In recent years, Oregons State School Fund has not paid for all of the special education services needed by nearly 80,000 students in the state.

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Oregon Department of Education data shows that up to a quarter of special needs students are not counted in the formula that provides additional special education funding to schools due to a 30-year-old law capping spending on special education.

Its forced schools to pull from other pots of money to meet their legal obligations to provide special education services, curtailing investment in other student measures or cutting other parts of their budgets, state education officials said Tuesday in a meeting of the House Committee on Education.

They focused on the problem of unfunded special education mandates to press upon lawmakers the need to increase spending on students with special needs.

The financial pressures on school districts to meet the needs of students with disabilities are mounting, with current funding mechanisms increasingly falling short, Kara Williams, director of inclusive services at Oregons education department, told legislators.

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In the 2022-23 school year, the state gave school districts about $696 million to meet the needs of students with special needs, such as physical, developmental and learning disabilities like autism and speech and language impairment. But the districts spent more than $1 billion to meet these students needs, according to the education department, leaving schools to cobble together the extra $375 million from other streams of funding, such as the Student Success Act meant to improve outcomes for underserved students.

Advocates urged the Legislature to increase a cap on special education funding that was implemented in the 1990s. That current cap only funds special education services for up to 11% of students in a school, even though today nearly 15% of students in the average Oregon school are enrolled in special education programs. Student and school advocates want the cap increased to 15% of a schools student population.

With the current cap, about 19,000 students with special needs among the 80,000 total dont count for additional funding under the school funding formula. The state offers a waiver for some districts with high numbers of students with special needs, but this covers only about 7,000 additional students.

In only 29 of the states 197 districts do special needs students account for less than 11% of the student body. On the other hand, more than 160 districts have more special education students than the state is funding. If the state moved the cap to 15%, according to education department data, more than 110 districts would have adequate funding for their special education students and services for nearly 16,000 more students would be funded.

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When you talk to our K-12 members across the state, the chronic underfunding of (special education) that Ms. Williams just illustrated so well, and the ways it impacts our students, is the number one concern that you will hear in the classroom today, said Louis DeSitter, a lobbyist for the Oregon Education Association, the states largest teachers union.

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ark.  An email exchange discovered from state government employees regarding the new prison plans in Franklin County has resulted in some fed-up residents.

Franklin County resident Colt Shelbys FOIA request to the state over any communication from state employees over the Franklin County prison plans resulted in more than 1400 documents.

Arkansas Board of Corrections votes to enter lease agreement for Franklin County prison land

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Shelby is one of many who live in the area who are expressing frustration over the new 3,000-bed prison set to be built in the area.

Residents found out about this at the same time as everyone else in the state, and many felt left out of the decision-making process. Among the documents Shelby received in his FOIA request was an email from an Arkansas Geographic Information Systems employee to another employee.

In the email, Jonathan Duran writes to the employee asking if she thinks the Franklin County town hall meeting would go a little like this.

The email contains a clip from South Park showing characters at what looks like some sort of town hall meeting where theyre complaining about an issue. One character is labeled as a white trash redneck conservative.

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Controversy stirring over new state prison coming to Franklin County

I was personally unsurprised that this is how the government feels about people here, Adam Watson with the Franklin County River Valley Coalition said. But it was disheartening to have confirmed.

The employee who sent the email is under the office of Transformation Shared Services, not the governors office.

KARK 4 News reached out to TSS for a statement regarding the email.

This employees correspondence displayed a level of poor judgment and unprofessional behavior that are uncharacteristic of his 14 years of public service to the State of Arkansas, the statement read. He has reached out to Franklin County Judge Bowman to apologize personally, and we have removed him from any further work on the prison project.

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Arkansas Board of Corrections approves purchase of land for new state prison amid pushback from area residents

Also on Tuesday, the Arkansas Board of Corrections voted unanimously to approve a lease where the prison is set to be built.

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 KARK.
State Rep.-elect Chad Reichard (R-Franklin) (Contributed photo)

Chad Reichard said his election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives takes his career in public service to a new level representing the southern half of Franklin County in state government.

Reichard won the Republican nomination in a primary campaign against Greencastle-Antrim School Board Vice President Janon Jay Gray and ran unopposed in the general election last month. He is taking over the 90th Legislative District seat from Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) who announced this year he would not run for reelection after five terms in the House.

With degrees in business and public administration, Reichard has served as the zoning officer and town planner for Washington Township and was elected as a supervisor. He also worked as a legislative staffer in the Pennsylvania Senate and the U.S. House. Reichard said hes drawn to public service by the ability to shape government to better serve people.

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Im from the district here, so this is where I grew up. These are people that Ive known my whole life. And if theres a way that we can work to make government work better for them, then Im all for it, and thats thats why Ive really kind of taken this career path for public service, Reichard said.

The 90th District spans Franklin County between the Maryland border and the Chambersburg area. It includes the boroughs of Mercersburg, Greencastle, Waynesboro and seven other municipalities.

Capital-Star: What would you say is unique about your district?

Reichard: Its got that small town charm  that kind of rural feel that people know each other. I could leave my house, I could go on vacation, and I know that I have neighbors that would kind of keep an eye on things.

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I think thats what attracts people to move into this area, especially from the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas, that its still one of those few places in America where you have that kind of neighborly and community feel.

Originally it was retirees, but now with COVID and how office culture has changed, more and more people are able to telework, folks can live here because the cost of living is a lot cheaper and the schools are fantastic. But if they need to be in the city a day or two a week, its not overly burdensome to drive.

We have traditional conservative values here and thats why we have low taxes and smaller government and more responsibility placed on the individuals. Folks that might be moving into the area are used to a broader range of government services. When you start wanting more services and then their taxes go up, folks start to have some heartburn about that.

C-S: What do you see as the most pressing issues for the state government to address in your district?

Reichard: We have a great shortage of skilled labor. We have a lot of manufacturing here. The statistic I heard once was for every five people retiring from a skilled labor position, theres only two going in to replace them. We need welders, we need carpet layers, we need plumbers, we need electricians, but we also need health care workers.

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If theres a way that we might be able to set up or create some sort of paid apprenticeship program that would allow folks that might already be established in one career path to explore, potentially enter into some of these needed skilled labor position, or to attract folks to the area to fill those that would certainly be something Id be interested in exploring.

Preservation is another big issue here. Weve seen a lot of solar development.

We dont necessarily want to tell the farmers and folks like that what they can and cant do with their land, but we also have some of the best agricultural land, Id argue, in the United States here. If there are ways that we can encourage farmers to explore farmland preservation over selling those lease rights to solar companies and at least making it more competitive that would be another priority.

C-S: Is there a piece of legislation that you sort of have in your back pocket ready to introduce on day one?

Reichard: I was alluding to a paid apprenticeship program. I dont believe its the governments job to create jobs, but we can certainly create the economic circumstances necessary for business to do that. And I think thats what were looking to do, is just find a way to be able to to allow businesses to take a very necessary step for them to expand their workforce.

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When you have folks that might be in an unskilled labor position, but you still have a mortgage or rent, you still have a family that you have to support, you cant necessarily stop or put that on hiatus, or run it all on a credit card until you get the certifications.

These skilled labor positions tend to be higher paying jobs. That family income will go up, but how do you bridge it in the meantime? I think that thats what this tax credit program, or whatever form it takes, would kind of help with that bridge.
a drawing of a generic schoolhouse and the words "Charter school"

Image: Adobe Stock

The North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board approved applications for three charter schools on Tuesday. The board approved Bettis Academy in Wake County, Warren Young Explorers School in Warren County, and North Carolina Connections Academy, a statewide virtual school. The board rejected the application for Virtual Horizons Charter Schools of North Carolina.

Bettis Academy, planned for Zebulon in eastern Wake County, is set to open its doors in 2026. The board had deferred a decision on the application in October to allow school officials to address several concerns it had with the application.

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This shows you that they took the feedback from us from their last meeting and then came forward and see how much growth theyve made just in two months, said one board member.

In the October meeting, Bettis Academy was praised for its budget planning and strong partnerships with existing charter schools in the region. But the board felt more clarity was needed on the schools academic program and path to providing students access to college-level coursework.

According to its mission statement, Bettis Academy will seek to educate underserved students in east Wake County by providing a small learning community, an innovative and academically rigorous curriculum, and hands-on, real-life experiences throughout their academic careers and aim to serve underserved students facing economic disadvantages, language barriers, disabilities, or homelessness.

At full capacity, Bettis Academy would operate as a K-12 school with a total enrollment of 780 students, a goal it aims to achieve within five years.

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Our board is committed to providing access to an exceptional education and a supportive community that reminds students daily that their dreams can be achieved, said Allison Brown, Chairperson of Bettis Academys board. We are a thoughtful, community-focused response to the growing needs of Zebulon and the surrounding areas.

Wake County already has one of the highest concentrations of charter schools, 26, trailing only Mecklenburg County which has 34.

Warren YES is set to become Warren Countys first charter school after the review board approved its application Monday, citing its community roots and responsiveness to previous feedback.

We are proud to call Warren County home, the schools board chair Carla Norwood said. It is a beautiful rural community, but also one with significant challenges, including low-performing public schools. We are committed to creating a homegrown option that serves our diverse community exceptionally well.

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Warren YES addressed concerns raised during a previous application by adjusting its timeline to a regular, rather than accelerated, schedule and increasing its projected opening enrollment from 104 to 204 students. The school now plans to serve grades K-12, with an ultimate goal of 504 students. We are excited. We are 100% committed to bringing Warren YES to fruition, Norwood said. We will not let you down.

The review board approved the application of North Carolina Connections Academy, a virtual school set to open in 2026 that will be run by the education corporation Pearson and serve students statewide. Pearson runs several charters across the U.S.

The decision comes after the board rejected on Monday the application for another statewide virtual reality school called Virtual Horizons Charter Schools of North Carolina.

The school proposed to utilize virtual reality headsets to create interactive, 3D learning environments for students across North Carolina, according to the schools board chair Kim Tafiti.The beauty of the virtual reality device is that it allows our students in any nook and cranny of the state to have access to the highest quality teachers and the latest innovations, said Tafiti. We can take students inside the Hoover Dam to learn about hydroelectricity or have them walk alongside the founders as they draft the Declaration of Independence.

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The school officials cited research showing virtual reality can improve student engagement and emotional connection to the material. However, some board members expressed concerns about relying solely on the technology for all subjects and grade levels. I get concerned that something that is used as a tool and does well when applied to the right setting, when we take that next step and say this tool has done well at teaching this and this, and therefore it could teach everything, thats where I have some reservations, said one board member.

The board ultimately decided not to move Virtual Horizons forward to ready-to-open status at this time, suggesting the school pilot the technology in an existing charter first. This is an opportunity for innovation, but we need to see more comprehensive research and testing before expanding this statewide, said a board member. We encourage Virtual Horizons to continue developing their model and come back for further consideration.
South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioners, from left, Chris Nelson, Kristie Fiegen and Gary Hanson participate in a meeting Sept. 6, 2023, at the Capitol in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has scheduled a series of six public input meetings in January about a companys permit application to construct a carbon dioxide pipeline.

The meetings are scheduled for Jan. 15-17 at various locations in eastern South Dakota near the proposed pipeline route.

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Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions plans a 2,500-mile, $9 billion pipeline to capture carbon dioxide from 57 ethanol plants across five states, including eastern South Dakota, and transport it to North Dakota for underground storage. The project would capitalize on federal tax credits incentivizing the prevention of heat-trapping carbon emissions.

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The purpose of the public input meetings will be to hear public comments regarding the Application and the Project, the commission said in a written order. At the meetings, Summit will present a brief description of the Project, after which interested persons may appear and present their views, comments, and questions regarding the Application.

Summit recently reapplied for a South Dakota permit after being rejected last year. The project has route permits in North Dakota and Iowa, while Minnesota is considering a permit and Nebraska has no state permitting process for carbon pipelines. North Dakota is also considering the proposed underground storage site.

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The South Dakota public meeting schedule is:
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  The director for South Dakotas only remaining horse racing meet is looking for new sources of funding.

Thats because South Dakotas last remaining simulcast site is no longer offering video feeds of races in other states that people can bet on.

Simulcast betting helps subsidize live racing in South Dakota. Triple Crown Casino in North Sioux City has stopped taking simulcast bets.

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Students catfish 28-year-old teacher in Huron

Shane Kramme manages the Fort Pierre horse races. On Tuesday, he spoke about the situation to the South Dakota Commission on Gaming that oversees horse and dog racing.

Kramme presented several ideas on revenue to possibly pursue in the 2025 legislative session that starts January 14.

Otherwise, according to a letter he sent to the commission last month, Fort Pierre might need to reduce the 2025 meet to one day from the two currently scheduled for October 4-5.

The commission in June provided for the 2024 races at Fort Pierre $168,000 from the special racing fund and the South Dakota bred fund. That was down slightly from the 2023 funding of $173,340.

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One of Krammes ideas was to ask lawmakers to shift some of the available funding around for 2025.

But commissioner Harry Christianson of Rapid City said there was too little time remaining for the commission to officially get involved.

Christianson said the commission also would need clearance from the governors legislative task force to support any legislation.

Having said that, it doesnt say you cant invite someone to sponsor and we can answer questions on it, Christianson said.

I think thats the route we would then choose, Kramme said.

Said the commissions chair, Karen Wagner of Belle Fourche, It definitely is late for us to be stepping into this process.

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Christianson said that in his opinion the commission doesnt have opposition to it. But, Wagner told Kramme, I think you need to look at alternatives.

Replied Kramme, Perhaps we will pursue that alternative.

Kramme also sought the commissions backing for what are known as historical horse racing machines as a new way to raise revenue for live races.

Historical horse racing machines are described by one betting site as electronic gaming terminals that use past horse races to generate results.

South Dakota doesnt allow them, but some states such as Wyoming do.

Kramme read to the commission an email that he had sent on Monday on behalf of the South Dakota Horsemens Association proposing that historical horse racing machines be legalized in Deadwood casinos.

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He suggested that the HHR machines not be subject to the $2,000 state licensing fee that is charged for other slot machines in Deadwood and that they be exempt from the state law limiting each casino to a maximum of 30 gambling devices.

Doug Abraham, the commissions legal counsel, acknowledged that HHR machines are legal in some states but illegal in others.

This was sort of a unique way to avoid prohibitions against gaming, Abraham said.

The Kentucky Supreme Court declared HHR machines illegal four years ago.

I believe our Supreme Court would have a similar result, Abraham said.

Larry Eliason, a horse-racing buff who was the South Dakota commissions long-time executive secretary, participated in the meeting on Tuesday and said the potential revenue from HHR machines if they were legalized here couldnt be penciled out.

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But, Eliason noted, he was at an Arkansas race track and saw only about four HHR machines amid hundreds of standard slot machines.

Chair Wagner said the topic of HHR machines would need a lot of further discussion. She asked whether the commission wants Abraham to work on it.

Christianson said the Horsemens Association should pursue legalization rather than the commission.

If they pass it, well regulate it, Christianson said.

Wagner agreed. I dont feel were in a position here today to do much more than listen to the proposal and the concept, she said.

The commissions executive secretary said the 2024 races at Fort Pierre went well.

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It was a successful and smooth process on our end, Mark Heltzel said.

There were six races on Saturday and six races on Sunday, according to Heltzel, who described attendance as solid in the thousands.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Statehouse bill to designate Sept. 19 as Stillbirth Prevention Day in Ohio is heading to Gov. Mike DeWines desk.

The legislation, Senate Bill 207, passed the Ohio House on Tuesday as part of an effort to raise awareness for mothers who have experienced that loss. Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Dublin), the bills primary sponsor, said she proposed the bill after NBC4s Jennifer Bullock experienced the loss of her son Miles, and her effort to raise awareness through Miles Mission.

Ohio teacher sues district after suspension for classroom books with LGBTQ+ characters

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Although this was a time of grief and sorrow for the Bullock family, the familys resilience provided them with a newfound purpose of helping others throughout the difficulties of pregnancy and infant loss, said Kunze when S.B. 207 passed the Ohio Senate last month. I am grateful this day will bring awareness to this cause.

About 750 babies were lost to stillbirth in Ohio during 2020, according to the states department of health. Between 2010 and 2019, the state averaged 6.4 fetal deaths per 1,000 live births.

All of us at Miles Mission are truly honored, humbled, and very appreciative of the Stillbirth Prevention Bill passing in the Ohio House, said Michael Bullock, Jennifers father and the president of Miles Mission. We want to thank the legislators for making it happen and for making it possible for families of pregnancy and infant loss to know that there are those who truly care about the welfare and health of mothers and children.

Caitlin Feldman, policy director with Groundwork Ohio, said during a Nov. 20 hearing for the bill that stillbirth disproportionately affects women from certain racial or ethnic backgrounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women experience

stillbirth at nearly twice the rate of most other racial groups.

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Columbus toy inventors idea becomes thriving business, plans national expansion

While these groups face heightened risks, it is essential to recognize that stillbirth can occur unexpectedly  even in healthy, low-risk pregnancies, Feldman said. Experts estimate that nearly one in four stillbirths are potentially preventable. Quality prenatal care, screenings, and education are essential to meaningfully decreasing stillbirths.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The News

Lindsey Graham once lamented that as long as Stephen Miller is in charge of negotiating immigration, we are going nowhere. Now he and Miller are working closely together as Republicans plan a huge border bill.

The incoming Senate Budget Committee chairman is among a growing group of Republicans aligned with Miller, who will be Donald Trumps deputy chief of staff, as the party tries to steer its agenda through next years narrow majorities in Congress. Graham said the two talk all the time, and hes not the only one coordinating with Miller.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose Republicans arent fully on board yet with Graham and Millers plan to pass a border bill before a tax bill, said he and Miller talk almost daily. Incoming Senate GOP leader John Thune and his staff are also corresponding with Miller frequently, according to a person familiar with their contacts.

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Hes a long and trusted friend, and so were talking through all the realities of getting the consensus together for the plan, Johnson told Semafor. Itll all come together soon.

Once seen by some in his party as on the fringe of GOP politics, Miller now finds himself at the center of its delicate negotiations over the 2025 agenda  and the cost of failure could be steep for Republicans, given Trumps high expectations for progress. Miller is bolstering the push by senior senators, including the incoming majority leader, to pass a border security and energy production package  before a tax bill.

But a powerful House Republican chairman who said he speaks to Trump quite often and Miller even more is making clear that hed prefer one big mega-bill.

Ive been very successful getting votes. I know the House on tax policy better than anyone else. If they want to give me the best opportunity to pass the presidents tax plan, make it all in one bill, Ways and Means Committee chief Jason Smith, R-Mo., told reporters.

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Smith may lose out; Miller is spurring Senate Republicans to move quickly on their two-step plan, which is designed to confront the more complex tax bill later next year, when three seats vacated by lawmakers joining the Trump administration are filled. Senators expect Trump will end up siding with them and are keeping Miller and the White House apprised of their moves, though Thune underscored that they cant speak for the president-elect.

A lot of the people Ive talked to in Trump world seem to be supportive of a border-then-tax approach, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. It seems to me Trump would love it.

A Trump transition team spokesperson responded to requests for comments by highlighting Millers weekend Fox News appearance, where he nudged Senate Republicans to pass a filibuster-proof border bill by February.

That would amount to a lightning-fast pace for an arduous process that requires both chambers of Congress to pass separate budgets first, with basically no margin for error in the House. The border money under discussion could reach $85 billion, paid for by new energy leases, and include other national security priorities.

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Graham said hes ready to move as fast as he can.

Lets address that, and that gives you political capital to do other things, Graham said. Its a national security problem. Tax cuts expire later in the year. We need to secure our border quickly.



Know More

Smiths Ways and Means Committee is caught between defending its chairmans interest in an all-encompassing plan without seeming to shun the Trump administration. As his allies see it, Republicans have a better chance at getting tax legislation through the House if its paired with another policy sweetener, and theyre not backing down from that perspective when talking to Miller.

Ive had good conversations with Stephen, and I value his input a great deal, House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said. But I also think he values my feedback on what the political dynamics are in our chamber  he respects and defers.

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House Republicans, while many prefer the single-package route, have also floated another option that would split their agenda into two. Texas Rep. Beth Van Duyne, in a Wednesday interview with Semafor, alluded to talks about starting with a filibuster-proof tax bill and following up with a second agenda-focused bill that includes whatever we can.

Just as House members are careful not to undercut the White House in case Trump fully backs the border-first plan, senators say they need to avoid the appearance of trying to roll Smith and the House.

With that razor-thin margin the House has, we really have to be respectful of what the House thinks it can do, said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., a former House member. And if they think they can only do a big thing, we kind of have to work with them on that.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is likely to play a role triangulating between the two chambers. Scott talks to Miller frequently, is aligned with Senate conservatives and has taken great pains to coordinate with the House Freedom Caucus at the same time.

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Ive known Stephen a long time, and Im just trying to be helpful to the White House and get their agenda done. And I think Stephens leading that effort right now, Scott told Semafor.

The View From Democrats

Democrats dont think the public likes what it hears from Miller, a border hardliner who helped craft Trumps first-term ban on immigration from majority-Muslim nations.

If the president-elect allows Stephen Miller to be dictating policy on immigration, it will be a mistake that he regrets for the country and also for his presidency, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Kadia and Burgess View

There are few people whose ascent more closely tracks with Trump than Miller, who worked on Capitol Hill for former Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. Over the past 15 years, Miller has vaulted from a congressional staffer trying to push the GOP rightward on immigration to incoming White House deputy chief of staff.

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And as he rises higher in Trumps network, his influence in the party has grown. During Trumps first term, Miller rankled Graham and other Republicans by helping kill a bipartisan immigration deal.

These days, Miller has the ears of top Republicans in Congress, and they are listening.
With help from StockX and the Detroit Pistons, Pensole Lewis College (PLC Detroit) is set to launch a free evening education program for locals.

In January 2025, PLC Detroit  the only design-focused Historically Black College and University (HBCU)  will debut PLC Light School. This free evening program, according to a statement, is open to Detroit residents and will offer the knowledge needed to increase diversity and highlight opportunities in the design industry by offering accessible, hands-on career education.

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PLC Light School, according to a statement, will offer the flexibility needed for those adults with daytime work or family commitments to gain new skills or enhance existing ones.

PLC Light School is a new initiative for PLC birthed from the Detroit communitys desire for accessible design education, PLC Detroit president Dr. DWayne Edwards said in a statement. We are excited to partner with respected Detroit organizations like StockX and the Detroit Pistons as they are committed to empowering creatives and future professionals in Detroit.

It is a seven-week, in-person program open to Metro Detroit residents who are either a high school graduate or an adult 18 or older. The program will be held Mondays and Thursdays, from 5:30 p.m. ET to 8:30 p.m. ET. It will begin Jan. 27, 2025, and conclude on March 13, 2025.

It will be led by industry experts from PLC Detroit, StockX, the Detroit Pistons, Carhartt and other Michigan-based creatives. The deadline to apply is Dec. 29 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and interested applicants can apply via PLCdetroit.com/lightschool.

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This program offers project-based curriculum, which PLC Detroit explained, is aimed at providing a learning experience focused on tangible careers and the exploration of alternative career paths through practical skills and real-world applications.

Career classes available are Accessories Design, Apparel Design, Footwear Design, Graphics, Product Marketing, Social Marketing and Web Design.

Students will showcase their final projects to representatives from PLC Detroit, StockX and the Detroit Pistons, according to a statement, and the selected projects will be considered for production and sold via StockX. The proceeds will then be reinvested into the program.

The Detroit Pistons are proud to partner with Pensole Lewis College and StockX to help launch and power the PLC Light School, Detroit Pistons vice president of brand and marketing strategy Bilal Saeed said in a statement. This initiative aligns with our commitment to foster diversity and provide opportunities for Detroit residents. By partnering with PLC Detroit to support this free, hands-on career education program, we aim to empower the next generation of creative leaders and support the unique interests of our vibrant community.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Arkansas drug agents have recovered two pricey luxury vehicles that appeared to be stolen from another state.

Sunday, agents with the Second Judicial Drug Task Force were patrolling the area of South Division near I-55 in the Blytheville area when they saw a suspicious car trailer transporting six vehicles including a Lamborghini Urus and a Porsche Panamera.

Luxury cars recovered in Arkansas. Courtesy: Blytheville PD

The agents said the vehicles were wrapped in plastic, indicating they were coming from a vehicle auction.

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Troopers with the Arkansas State Police were able to stop the transport vehicle and were given permission by the driver to look over the vehicles.

Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigations Division was also called in to assist and discovered the VIN on the Lamborghini was fraudulent.

Elderly couple scammed out of over $1K for dog they never received

Officers said a true VIN was discovered within the vehicle, and the car was confirmed to be stolen from Sarasota, Florida.

The Porsche Panorama is still being investigated. The approximate value of the property recovered is $460,000.

Investigators of the Blytheville Criminal Investigations Division also assisted with the operation and posted a photo of the Lamborghini and Porsche on Facebook.

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Police have not said if anyone was taken into custody.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  As trade winds pick up across the state, the National Weather Service (NWS) says there is concern for what could become critical fire weather into the week.

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Sustained winds are expected to be around 30 mph and gusts nearing 50 mph starting Wednesday into Thursday, according to NWS. In addition, unusually dry winter weather may prompt Red Flag Warnings.

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Typically by December, we would have had a front or two that would have brought some rain to the leeward areas and so far havent really seen that this winter, stated Tom Birchard, NWS Meteorologist. We were anticipating that wed be trending towards La Nina this winter. Now, it looks like the La Nina is going to be a little bit weaker than expected.

Margotto Hawaii features mochi pounding and holiday menu

High trade winds are also expected to bring light to moderate fast moving showers to Leeward areas statewide, said NWS.

However, it still would not be enough to significantly impact dry conditions.

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A statement sent from Hawaiian Electric (HECO) said, We are closely monitoring forecasts and info from the NWS. We will provide updates if conditions or forecasts change.

If a Red Flag Warning is issued, NWS encourages the public to avoid outdoor burning or activities that might cause sparks. Those with holiday decorations outside should consider securing them in place, per NWS.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Potentially cause some issues with peoples holiday decorations getting knocked over and stuff like that, stated Birchard.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Dec. 11The Niagara Falls City Council has agreed to push back  by one year  the enforcement of a recently approved local ordinance that will amend the city's zoning code and further restrict "group living arrangements," in residentially zoned neighborhoods.

The ordinance had been set to go into affect on June 1, 2025. It will now become effective on June 1, 2026.

The change was approved unanimously by the council.

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City officials have championed the new ordinance to address quality of life and affordability issues in the Falls' DeVeaux neighborhood. The neighborhood contains a high number of rental properties that target students at nearby Niagara University as potential tenants.

In a memo to council members, Mayor Robert Restaino wrote that the change is necessary because of a "delay in the anticipated receipt of the properties on north Main Street which will serve as the basis for new university student housing."

City Planning Director Kevin Forma said the change was "based upon delays in construction that will provide affected students with an alternative location to reside together."

In July, the council authorized the transfer of $1.5 million in tribal revenue funds to the city's Urban Renewal Agency (NFURA) to buy 38 properties  22 on north Main Street and 16 on neighboring side streets  from Blue Cardinal Capital and the Rapids Theatre. The Blue Cardinal properties include a pair of empty lots and dozens of mostly vacant commercial buildings, including the old Jenss department store in the 1700 block of Main Street.

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All of those properties are currently in bank foreclosure proceedings and are expected to be transferred to city control sometime in January.

In the last month, the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency has also authorized the transfer of the balance of the available cash in its Cataract Tourism Fund  roughly $204,000  to NFURA to assist in the property acquisitions. The Falls Water Board has agreed to an NFURA request to waive the collection of almost $100,000 in unpaid water and sewer bills to help with the property purchases.

Restaino has said that the purchase of the properties will allow the city, the state, Niagara County and the Niagara Orleans Land Bank to control future development in the blighted Main Street corridor by blocking a single developer from acquiring all or a majority of the properties.

The acquisition has been linked to plans by a Buffalo developer, believed to be Nick Sinatra, to acquire the old Jenss building from the city to convert it into student housing and plans by Niagara University to invest in new targeted student housing development in the North End/Main Street corridor of the city.

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In his memo to the council, Restaino wrote that delays in the NFURA's acquisition of the properties have been "outside the control of city government."

The zoning code changes have been unanimously recommended to the council by the Niagara County Planning Board. A divided Niagara Falls Planning Board also recommended that the council adopt the changes.

Residents of the DeVeaux neighborhood have been pleading with city leaders to address what they have described as "years of conflict over the widespread use of single-family residences (primarily in DeVeaux) as housing for students attending Niagara University."

Niagara University Vice President of Students Affairs Christopher Sheffield has previously said that the university "whole-heartedly" endorsed the zoning code changes.

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"While the overwhelming number of students (living off-campus) are respectful, we recognize a minority of students have caused disruptions in the DeVeaux neighborhood," Sheffield said.

The zoning code amendments are modeled after legislation created by the city council in Binghamton which had wrestled with issues between residential homeowners and students at the State University of New York campus there.

The proposed changes would more strictly define the terms "family," "group living" and "Duplex/Semi Detached." The zoning amendments would prohibit student housing in R1 and R2 zoned residential districts. Group homes, rectories, and specially permitted bed and breakfast uses would still be allowed in R1 and R2 neighborhoods.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Students and staff at Van Horn High School in Independence had to evacuate to the schools auditorium after a fire broke out on the roof of the school Wednesday.

In a letter to parents and staff, the Independence School District said that on Wednesday morning, workers on the roof of the high school reported a fire.

According to ISD, it is believed that the fire originated from an A/C unit which made the schools gymnasium fill with smoke.

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Pedestrian hit and killed Tuesday night near Swope Park in Kansas City

ISD said the fire was quickly extinguished by emergency responders, and students and staff have been moved to the auditorium as part of its normal safety procedures.

There have been no reported injuries and the Independence Fire Department has not confirmed if the A/C unit was the cause of the fire.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A new study has confirmed genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world that does not have a cure and is lifelong.

The burden on global health is immense. According to the most recent data from 2020, nearly 900 million worldwide are currently living with genital herpes.

That's up to about 24 percent of people under the age of 50 who are impacted by the incurable condition.

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Roughly 520 million of this cohort have genital herpes from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Around 376 million have contracted it from an HSV-1 infection.

HSV-1 usually only causes cold sores in and around the mouth, but it can be transmitted via sexual activity and cause genital herpes in people without a previous oral infection.

To put the numbers on genital herpes in perspective, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 129 million new cases of chlamydia in 2020, which is another highly common STI.

But chlamydia is curable. Herpes is not, which means that a case contracted in 2020 can still be a problem years down the road.

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"New prevention and treatment measures are needed critically to control HSV infections and reduce the associated disease burden," conclude the authors of the analysis, led by epidemiologist Manale Harfouche from the Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, a branch of Cornell University.

Where genital ulcers from herpes can appear on the body, and what they look like. ( InformedHeatlh.org

The estimates were supported and commissioned by WHO as part of a regular surveillance of STI cases worldwide, and while the data is still missing in some parts of the world and for some groups of people, the results suggest genital herpes has a vast and largely neglected impact on global health.

"Not enough has been done to address this common infection," says WHO medical officer Sami Gottlieb, an author of the new report.

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Genital herpes can be extremely difficult to diagnose and track, as infections often do not come with any symptoms and wrong results on blood tests are common. Most people are blissfully unaware they carry the super contagious virus, which is spread via contact with sores or bodily fluid.

Others experience pain and discomfort during flare-ups, which can impact their sex life and their mental well-being.

In the current analysis, the estimated number of people under 50 with at least one episode of HSV-attributable genital ulcer disease was 188 million for HSV-2 and 17 million for HSV-1.

That's 205 million people in total who are possibly suffering from genital sores each year.

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While antiviral medicine can somewhat treat these recurrent infections, reducing their length and severity, they can't cure the condition, and they don't work for everyone.

Information on genital herpes caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2. ( STD Center NY

Part of the problem is that herpes carries a heavy social stigma that makes the infection particularly difficult to study.

"Herpes can be a devastating disease. But because it's sexually transmitted, people don't want to talk about it," explained immunobiologist Akiko Iwasaki from Yale University in 2023.

Iwasaki is one of several scientists who have tested possible herpes vaccines, but they say research has stalled due to a lack of investment.

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"People used to email me all the time asking when a vaccine would be available, saying their lives had been destroyed by the virus. But without interest from pharmaceutical companies, we can't go any farther," explained Iwasaki in a press release for the Yale School of Medicine last year.

Beyond the pain and discomfort wrought by genital ulcers, the viral infection can also raise the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV), and it can put the lives of newborns at risk.

Recent evidence suggests the virus might even contribute to dementia later in life if the infection spreads inside the brain.

Nevertheless, Harfouche and colleagues say that "hardly any specific programs for HSV prevention and control exist, even in resource-rich countries, partly due to the lack of tools to address such highly prevalent, often asymptomatic, and incurable infections on a population level."

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Available treatments and screening tests, the authors say, have only had a "modest" impact on incidence rates, at best.

Herpes is an STI not going anywhere anytime soon.

The study was published in BMJ.

Related News
Next year's Sundance Film Festival will feature Jennifer Lopez singing and dancing in Bill Condons Kiss of the Spider Woman, Questlove exploring the legacy of Sly & The Family Stone and Associated Press journalist Mstyslav Chernov's latest documentary about the war in Ukraine.

The Sundance Institute on Wednesday unveiled 87 feature films set to premiere at the 2025 festival, kicking off on Jan. 23 in Park City, Utah.

Now in its 41st year, the festival remains a place of discovery for independent cinema and emerging voices. Because of its January timing, its also a gathering that arrives alongside the presidential inauguration. At the 2017 festival following Donald Trumps first inauguration, Main Street was taken over by a lively womens march full of celebrities. This year, no such plans have been announced.

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Sundance as a festival has endured as a place to gather through inaugurations every four years, through different cultural moments and political moments, said festival director Eugene Hernandez. We have a program that both engages with the world and also offers at the very same time an escape.

Narrative films and documentaries premiering this year will touch on politicized topics like transgender stories and rights, stand your ground laws, incarceration, the right to die and book banning. But Sundance doesnt program by theme or have mandates about topics, said Kim Yutani, the festivals director of programming.

I think what you see across the program are stories that are told with real authenticity. Theres an innovative quality to many of these films, Yutani said. And the idea of free expression is something that is just as important to us.

Urgent issues and familiar faces in documentaries

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Documentaries are always a highlight at Sundance, where the conversation starts and often continues through the year into the Oscar race. Chernov follows his Oscar winning20 Days in Mariupol with 2000 Meters to Andriivka, which looks at a Ukrainian platoon on a mission to liberate a village from Russian occupation. It's a joint project between AP and PBS Frontline."

Free Leonard Peltier looks at the Indigenous activist who has spent most of his life in prison since his conviction in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents in South Dakota. In July he was denied parole.

Hernandez further spotlighted Barry Levinson and Robert Mays episodic series Bucks County, USA about political divides in small town America and the friendship of two teenage girls despite their opposing views.

There are also several docs about famous musicians and actors including Ahmir Questlove Thompsons SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), Shoshannah Sterns Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, Amy Bergs Its Never Over, Jeff Buckley and Matt Wolfs Pee-wee as Himself. Elegance Bratton also looks at the roots of house music in Move Ya Body: The Birth of House.

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Star turns to watch at Sundance

Some performances that may have people talking into the year include: Benedict Cumberbatch in The Thing with Feathers, about a father processing the loss of his wife; Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones in Train Dreams about a railroad day laborer from the Sing Sing writer and director; John Lithgow and Olivia Colman as father and daughter in Jimpa; Lopez in Condons lush and vibrant musical adaptation; Lily Gladstone and Youn Yuh-jung in Andrew Ahns The Wedding Banquet; Josh OConnor in Rebuilding; and Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall in Peter Hujars Day, about New Yorks downtown art scene in the 1970s, from Ira Sachs.

New Voices

Over 40% of the films, selected from nearly 16,000 submissions, are directorial debuts, like Rachael Abigail Holder's Love, Brooklyn with Andre Holland.

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Yutani also highlighted Rashad Fretts Ricky, starring Stephan James as a man trying to rebuild his life post incarceration. Another notable debut is Sorry, Baby, which Eva Victor wrote, directed and stars in and Barry Jenkins produced.

There are scenes in this film that I have never seen before, Yutani said. It was a real revelation.

Sundance from home

Film enthusiasts dont need to make the trek through the snow to pricey Park City to engage with the festivals offerings anymore. As with the past few years, about 60% of the program will be available online starting on Jan. 30. Tickets go on sale for individual films on Jan. 16 for the general public and even earlier for members.

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It's a really a great opportunity to just get a sampling of whats to come in the new year for films that will travel far and wide to other festivals or make it into theaters down the line, Hernandez said.

Is Sundance leaving Park City?

This will be one of the last years that the festival is primarily based out of Park City. Over the past year, the Sundance Institute has been exploring options for host cities starting in 2027. Finalists include Salt Lake City, Utah (with some events still in Park City), Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio. An announcement is expected in the first quarter of 2025.
Tomato and pepper products sold in British supermarkets are secretly produced using forced labour in China, an investigation has found.

Researchers traced the supply chain of some of the worlds biggest food companies and found they were using several ingredients from the Xinjiang region of the Asian nation.

The area produces about 14 to 15 per cent of the worlds tomato paste, 10 per cent of its chilli peppers and almost two-thirds of its paprika oleoresin, a pigment used in food colouring and cosmetics.

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Xinjiang operates the worlds largest contemporary system of state-imposed forced labour, with up to 2.5 million Uyghurs and members of other ethnic groups at risk of coerced work, according to the study by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

In a 135-page, peer-reviewed academic report based on documentary evidence from China and trade records, the researchers said Xinjiangs products were directly or indirectly linked to multinational corporations including Kraft Heinz, Nestle, Del Monte, PepsiCo, McCormick, Unilever and LOreal.

They found at least one Xinjiang-based tomato producer had established a shell company with zero employees for the purpose of protecting its foreign trade and had been using this entity to ship thousands of tons of tomato products to Italy.

The report revealed that chemical testing indicated that multiple tomato products sold in British and German supermarkets not only contained Italian tomatoes, as claimed on their labels, but also appeared to contain tomatoes from China.

Supply chain slavery

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader and co-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), said: The Business Secretary [Jonathan Reynolds] said recently that he would expect and demand absolutely no slavery in any part of the supply chain of companies selling into the UK.

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He now needs to put his money where his mouth is and haul in the chief executives of these companies to account for themselves and set out how theyre going to withdraw from Xinjiang.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith called on the Business Secretary to haul in the chief executives of the companies named in the report - Carl Court/Getty Images Europe

Sarah Champion, a Labour MP and member of IPAC, added: Sadly, this investigation is just the latest in a long line of reports that demonstrate how supply chains are awash with Uyghur forced labour. Consumers have been denied knowledge about the true origins of products and deserve to know more.

We urgently need a forced labour import ban and mandatory human rights due diligence legislation to give the public confidence that they are buying goods free of slavery and abuse.

Torture and abuse

Dr Adrian Zenz, director and senior fellow at the foundation and co-author of the research, said the supply routes were obfuscated by the use of intermediary companies in India, Pakistan, or other countries, which then traded with Western firms.

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Xinjiang-based companies implicated in a wide range of rights abuses, including COFCO and Chenguang Biotech, also operated subsidiaries in Europe and the US.

Unilever Pakistan Foods purchases tomato products from COFCO, according to the researchers, who logged 33 shipments between 2012 and 2023. The company then exported the products from Pakistan to the UK, US and Canada.

Analysis of trade records showed two Chinese companies based in Xinjiang supplied paprika pigment to two Indian firms which then supplied the product to McCormick & Co in the UK and US, according to the report.

The researchers said: While only testing can confirm whether McCormick did in fact receive products made from Xinjiang-based raw materials, these supply chain relationships indicate a clear risk that this could have been the case.

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The United Nations has accused the Chinese state  which views Uyghur and other largely Muslim minorities as a security risk  of torture and abuse.

China denies that it forces people to work in the tomato industry and says workers rights are protected by law. It said the UN report was based on disinformation and lies.

Uyghurs controlled and surveilled

However, Dr Zenz and his co-author I-Lin Lin said documentary evidence supported claims that the Chinese state had pressured local Uyghur and other ethnic peasants to surrender the right to farm their land to large commercial operators.

It is then alleged to coerce them into wage labour, often in local processing bases run by these agribusinesses. Between 2001 and 2021, land-use transfer shares in Xinjiang grew almost 50-fold, with ethnic farmers left landless and pushed into state-mandated work.

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Dr Zenz and Ms Lin said: This is resulting in profound livelihood changes and tearing apart of organic communities, ensuring that Uyghurs are more easily and thoroughly controlled, surveilled, and assimilated.

McCormick told the researchers it was investigating the claims. It said it had a strict policy that prohibited the use of forced labour within its supply chain.

Kraft Heinz also said it was investigating the allegations. The company said it held its suppliers to best practices and internationally recognised standards. It said it only used COFCO tomato products in China and central Asia.

Del Monte said it prohibited the use of forced labour and had been assured by COFCO that its factories and farms did not use it.

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LOreal denied it had received any of the products from Chinese companies. Unilever and PepsiCo have been contacted by the researchers, and The Telegraph, for comment.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy said: The allegation of so-called forced labour in Xinjiangs tomato industry is totally groundless and nothing but slander. There is no so-called forced labour in Xinjiang or any place in China.

The Chinese government stands firmly against forced labour and has taken tough measures against it. Governments at all levels in Xinjiang fully respect the will of workers, and protect their rights and interests in accordance with the law.

A McCormick spokesman said: Forced labour of any kind is prohibited in our supply chain. We source the majority of our tomatoes from the US (California), Canada, Portugal, Spain and Chile for our consumers and customers globally, with the exception of a very small percentage of tomatoes sourced in China for local consumers in the region.

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Importantly, our sourcing practice includes a global supplier code of conduct that informs all our suppliers around the world of our compliance requirements in business integrity, human rights, health and safety, and environmental management.

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.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Thousands of members of youth and student bodies belonging to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday held a road march procession from Bangladeshs capital toward its eastern border with India to protest against an attack on a diplomatic mission earlier this month and alleged desecration of Bangladeshi flags in India.

They drove in cars to reach a border point at Akhaura in Brahmanbaria district to register their protest. Before starting for the border area, they rallied briefly in Dhaka where leaders criticized what they called Indian aggression against Bangladesh.

The party headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been protesting against the attack by a mob of Hindus in the northeastern Indian state of Agartala on Dec. 2.

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On the way to the border area, the entourage stopped at places where waiting supporters of Zia welcomed them and rallied briefly on Wednesday. Another rally will be held when the team reaches the border point.

Wednesdays protest came two days after the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and India held bilateral meetings in Bangladeshs capital to defuse escalating tensions between the two neighbors.

It was the first high-profile diplomatic visit by an Indian official since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is in exile in India, in August.

Bangladesh, which is predominantly Muslim, has accused a group of Hindus in India of attacking the Assistant High Commissioners office at Agartala and desecrating Bangladeshi flags in Kolkata in West Bengal state.

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India said it regretted the attacks and pledged to take action against those responsible. Bangladeshs Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian High Commissioner and formally registered its protest.

Tensions between the two neighbors also spiked over the recent arrest of a Hindu leader in Bangladesh, currently run by the interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. India stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis except for emergency medical purposes after Hasinas ouster, while many Indian nationals taking part in infrastructure projects left Bangladesh because of security threats.

Protests were also held in parts of Hindu-majority India to denounce attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Protests and counter-protests have strained the relations between the two countries.

In Bangladesh, reports of the desecration of the Indian flag, with some burning it and others laying it on the floor for people to step on, strained relations further.
Beer in the cooler of a San Rafael, California, Safeway store in January 2024. Beer and wine is currently only available at a handful of groceries in Maryland, but advocates for allowing widespread sales got an important ally when Gov. Wes Moore (D) said he would support the move. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A renewed effort to expand alcohol sales beyond liquor stores has the backing of a powerful new ally  Gov. Wes Moore (D) told Maryland Matters that he wants something on my desk at the end of the session.

The General Assembly has tried before to allow alcohol sales in grocery stores  and perhaps other retailers. Moore said that while he will not make the bill an official part of his 2025 legislative package, his office will push for passage of a bill in the coming session.

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I think its time to address this issue because its something that I have heard literally in every single corner of the state from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore. From Oakland, Ocean City, Montgomery County and everywhere in between, Moore said. This is an issue that people are asking about.

Supporters point to surveys that show overwhelming support for allowing such sales, which would bring Maryland in line with laws in Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Besides being convenient for consumers, supporters see the change as an economic benefit, an employment and revenue generator for the state and a potential solution to food deserts.

Gov. Wes Moore (D). File Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

But opponents appear steadfast in their criticism of expanded alcohol sales, which they say will further burden communities that already suffer from a disproportionate number of licensed alcohol retailers, or drive mom-and-pop stores out of business.

I know the Maryland families and small businesses that run the independent stores are going to be very disheartened to hear that the governor has sided with these big corporate supermarkets without even hearing from them directly, said Jack Milani, owner of Monaghans Pub in western Baltimore County and legislative co-chair of the Maryland Licensed Beverage Association. This is going to put some independents who put their life savings into their stores out of business, and you can bank on that.

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House Economic Matters Chair C.T. Wilson (D-Charles), long a critic of bills to expand alcohol sales, said that, Overall, bringing a vice  i.e. more liquor  into my community is never a great thing. While he understands the public support for expanded sales, and would welcome a discussion, Wilson said that anything that brings more alcohol into Black communities that for decades, have just been punished by excessive amounts of liquor remains a grave concern.

And its unclear if other lawmakers are ready to join the governor. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) said he is willing to consider a change, but that both sides need to come to a consensus and at the moment I dont see a path.

The issue, he said, is protecting existing small business license holders while opening the door to competition to larger companies with greater buying power.

The issue is the impact on small business owners in Maryland and not being overwhelmed by large corporate grocers, he said.

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Moores stance runs headlong into what has so far been an intractable debate, but he said its a debate that needs to end.

Ive asked my team, and I just continue to get, This is the way its always been, and that is never a satisfactory answer for me, Moore said.

Maryland out of step with country

Maryland is one of five states, including Alaska, Delaware, Minnesota and Rhode Island, where it is currently not legal to buy beer, wine or liquor except in a liquor or packaged goods store, according to the Maryland Retailers Association, which backs expansion.

Were out of step with the rest of the country, Moore said.

Marylands current law was implemented in 1978. At the time, some stores were already selling alcohol, including distilled spirits, and were allowed to continue to do so. Today, about 30 grocery or convenience stores continue to sell beer and wine and in some cases liquor.

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Supporters say expanding the law would be widely popular. Online polls conducted in November for Blended Public Affairs found that 60% of respondents in Prince Georges County favored expanding the list of merchants who can sell alcohol, compared to nearly 30% who opposed the idea. In Baltimore County, 66% favored allowing beer and wine sales in grocery stores while 21% opposed. The polls have a margin of error of 4.9%.

The support is absolutely there, said Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Association.

When you poll this issue, it is amongst the highest polling and support that Ive ever seen, Locklair said. When you poll and ask people, Do you want to be able to purchase beer and wine in a grocery store? its almost 80% of Marylanders across the board, demographically, age, sex, Democrat, Republican.

The debate is not new in Maryland. Over the years, lawmakers have tried and failed to make a change, but supporters are approaching the 2025 session with renewed optimism.

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Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Baltimore) was lead sponsor of a bill last year that would have let grocery stores buy existing licenses and then sell beer and wine only. While details are still being hammered out, he said he will sponsor a similar bill this year in the House. Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore) said he will sponsor companion legislation in the Senate.

Food deserts and alcohol access

Amprey said his bill can alleviate food deserts in underserved communities, by allowing grocery stores to make the profit they need to survive.

Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Baltimore), will sponsor a bill that could allow grocery stores and some other retailers sell beer and wine. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

I think the real thing this will help with is ensuring that those grocery stores in Black and brown communities and impoverished communities in those food deserts have a way to create a better profit margin so they can sustain themselves and keep fresh food available for those who need it the most, he said.

Amprey said it would help grocery stores with their bottom line, that they could have a higher profit margin and take some losses that happen in the first two or three years with fresh groceries. They can take on those losses because theyll be able to sell beer and wine.

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Traditional grocery stores were not the only retail outlets that could have qualified to sell beer and wine under the 2024 version of the bill, which would have let stores with a minimum of 3,200 square-feet  about the size of a traditional convenience store  qualify for a license.

Amprey said he wasnt prepared to discuss changes in the bill prior to drafting. He did say it was possible that one provision  requiring stores to buy existing licenses  could be replaced with another allowing for new licenses to be created.

But skeptics doubt that more liquor access can solve the problem of food accessibility in impoverished communities.

Black and brown communities are statistically awash in greater volumes of alcohol, said Raimee Eck, chair of the Maryland Public Health Associations Alcohol, Tobacco & Cannabis Network. They have greater access to alcohol, cheaper alcohol, and suffer greater harms from the alcohol thats available in their communities.

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Eck said research shows that increased availability is linked to increases in violence and emergency room visits. Increasing alcohol density is how you increase alcohol-related harm, she said.

There is absolutely no research to show that alcohol can lead to any reduction in food deserts. Its quite the opposite in that excess alcohol availability is in places where food deserts tend to be, which are lower-resource communities, Eck said. So, theres definitely no research showing that alcohol access decreases food deserts.

Wilson agrees.

I dont believe bringing more liquor into any community is a great idea. I dont believe in easier access to alcohol is a great idea, the Charles County lawmaker said.

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While I understand that this is something that obviously the public may, in fact, be interested in, Im interested in discussion. I would like my issues resolved prior to anything passing the House and hitting his [Moores] desk, Wilson said. So, the governor can make his point that thats what he desires. Well, I desire answers to make sure that were moving in the right direction.

But Moore touted the benefits of expanding access, saying it might allow stores to stay in business or expand. Allowing grocery stores to sell beer and wine is separate and distinct from the issue of communities already impacted by alcohol access, the governor said.

Allowing beer and wine inside of grocery stores is not saying that we want to have a liquor store on every single corner, Moore said. I think these are two separate issues.

I agree with the concerns that we have of not proliferating (licenses) in some of our most vulnerable communities  where youre just, youre inundating them with these measures of vice, he said. I actually understand that issue. I also dont think that the conversation around allowing beer and wine inside of grocery stores is that. I think those are two separate issues.

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Wilson rejected Moores argument.

Youre saying the areas that  are food deserts, which also happen to be areas that are high poverty, areas that already have a great deal of liquor access would be helped by even more liquor? Wilson asked. Again, that is not two different conversations. Those are the exact same conversation.

A perverse economic tool

Del. C.T. Wilson (D-Charles) said he has concerns about allowing more alcohol access in Black communities already flooded with alcohol licenses. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Moore said in an interview that he strongly supports the bill as an economic development tool.

When you think about how grocery stores operate at some of the lowest margins in the retail industry  lifting the ban will also provide more incentives for them to have growth and continued operations within our counties, and particularly in areas that have struggled to keep large-scale retailers inside of their jurisdictions, he said.

Eck called the expansion of alcohol licensees a perverse economic tool.

An economic tool is considered perverse when it goes against the goals of the sponsor of the tool, said Eck, who said studies show that the cost to the government to cover the economic harms of alcohol is larger than what is collected in taxes.

So, I look at it as being a perverse economic tool, because its not going to lead you to the outcomes that you think it should or that you would like it to, she said.

The effects on small businesses  specifically current license holders  is a mixed bag.

Small grocery stores would likely benefit from an ability to sell beer and wine, but current liquor stores and packaged goods stores might see a decrease in business, according to an analysis of a proposal in the 2024 legislative session.

That could have other impacts on communities of color, particularly immigrants, for whom beer and wine stores might be the last vestige of mom-and-pop retail in our community, Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery) said.

The Amazon effect, the giant box stores, Walmart, Target, have wiped out our mom-and-pop retail businesses, Kramer said. The last standing mom-and-pop businesses in retail are our beer and wine stores.

I dont want to see them also wiped out by having giant grocery chains shutting them down, because theres no question, they will not be able to compete, he said. It will be just a short period of time before you see them closing shop if we permit beer and wine sales and liquor, whatever it may be, alcoholic beverages in our grocery stores.

Kramer said policymakers have a responsibility to our minority community and to our small mom-and-pop business entrepreneurs to give them a chance to participate in retail business.

Theyre the ones who often  and this has been the case in many of our beer and wine stores in our community  new immigrants who go into business. Then they are able, through their hard work and their labor, to pay for college educations for their children, he said.

Maryland Senate President Sen. Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City). Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Kramer, Ferguson, Eck and the licensed beverage association all expressed concerns that big retail outlets would engage in price cutting to drive out the competition from smaller businesses.

In 2022, Colorado residents voted to allow wine sales in grocery stores over the objections of small store owners who feared they would be forced out of business. Since then, dozens of small operators have gone out of business. As many as 400 more are expected to close by the end of 2026, according to an analysis by the Denver Gazette.

Amprey said he does not believe that has to be the fate of Marylands small businesses.

We can talk about theory or we can deal with reality, Amprey said. I was in Texas recently and saw all types of beer in grocery stores and packaged goods stores. They all live together. I saw mom-and-pop stores of every variety from grocery stores to small stores. When I go to California, same thing. You can travel around the United States and see that the fears of people are just not real.

While its not part of his legislative package, Moore said his administration wont just be whipping the votes. The General Assembly will know that I want something on my desk at the end of the session.

There are members of the General Assembly who have already taken leadership on it, Moore said. Im not going to take the bill away from them, but they know they are going to have me as an ally in this work.

But Ferguson noted that the bill will face a lot of competition for lawmakers attention in the coming session.

This is a tough issue, and I would say that with all the other issues we have  balancing the budget, keeping the state competitive, energy stability in the state  thats where our attention should be, he said.
Michigan Capitol | Susan J. Demas

Members of the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee on Thursday voted to advance policy creating a state-level paid family leave program, amid frustrations with a separate paid sick leave policy put in place through a decision by the Michigan Supreme Court.

Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) offered testimony on her Senate Bill 332 and Senate Bill 333, which in their current form would allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for circumstances including maternity leave, paternity leave, caring for oneself or a family member facing a long term illness and caring for oneself or a family member who has faced sexual assault, domestic violence, or other types of interpersonal or community violence.

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House Republicans, who will reclaim the majority control of the chamber in January, have lambasted Democrats plans for a Family Leave Optimal Coverage Act, or FLOC, which would be funded through payroll contributions from employers and employees, with employers permitted to deduct up to 50% of the required contribution from their employees wages, with the employer contributing the remainder. However, Geiss noted in her testimony that businesses with fewer than 25 employees would be exempt from contribution requirements, though their employees could still contribute and access the program.

Additionally, unions with collectively bargained family and medical leave would not be required to participate in the state program, but could opt in at their next set of negotiations, Geiss said. Employers whose paid family leave and medical leave is equal or better than that established by the state would also be exempt from participation.

Geiss told lawmakers that she started writing her testimony for the meeting at one of her daughters weekly blood transfusions.

I know deeply how pivotal making FLOC law will be for so many Michiganders, Geiss told lawmakers. You all probably know many folks in similar circumstances, folks who wont tell you about the struggle to keep the lights and heat on, food on the table, gas in the car, their phones working and the roof over their heads while they care for themselves or their critically ill children or aging parents, while also worrying about losing or needing to leave their jobs. This is for whom we fight and act.

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The role of caregiver for sick children or aging parents often falls on women, mothers who have to pause or even end their careers to take care of the people they love the most, Christina Hayes of Mothering Justice told the committee.

Hayes said FLOC would allow individuals who would otherwise likely have to seek out more costly social programs to the state to be given the economic opportunity to take care of themselves and loved ones and then return to the states workforce. Families would benefit, workers would be retained and overall FLOC would foster a more loyal and productive workforce.

While covered individuals must be paid benefits equal to their average weekly wage, the bill sets the maximum for benefits at two-thirds of the state average weekly wage, with the state average across all industries coming in at $1,362.

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Over the Summer, a Michigan Supreme Court decision determined that lawmakers had subverted the rights of citizens when the 2018 legislature  held by Republicans  adopted and amended laws outlined in two ballot initiatives, effectively gutting them. Under the Supreme Courts order, both policies are set to take effect on Feb. 21, 2025, with the Earned Sick Time Act requiring businesses with fewer than 10 employees to offer up to 40 hours of paid sick leave and 32 hours of unpaid leave, while employers with 10 or more employees must offer a full 72 hours of paid sick leave.

When asked how the two policies related to one another, Geiss emphasized they were entirely separate issues, with the Earned Sick Time Act targeted at short-term concerns such as recovering from a cold or caring for a sick child, while her legislation centers on more long-term issues such as a cancer diagnosis.

Geisss proposals received supportive testimony from organizations including Mothering Justice, Better Balance, the Michigan League for Public Policy and the American Heart Association.

Additionally Luke Shaefer, faculty director for Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan pointed to a recent study examining the impacts of paid family medical leave policies in other states who have passed similar laws while testifying on the bills.

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That evidence leads us to conclude that paid parental leave, caregiving leave and medical leave have demonstrated positive economic impacts and positive health impacts for employees and their families, Shaefer said.



Studies find that paid parental leaves can support better postpartum recovery for moms, which is not only beneficial to their well being, but also contributes to longer run, improved family financial health. These policies also support a healthy start in life for babies, and thus are an important investment in the next generation, Shaefer said.

In a statement released after the bills passed through committee, Monique Stanton president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, said the leagues estimates based on an actuarial analysis of the program would put the cost of a 12-week paid leave program at $3.25 a week for workers making the states median wage and $1.48 for workers making minimum wage.

Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy discussing the Michigan Family Leave Optimal Coverage legislation during a MI Paid Leave for All Coalition virtual press call. Nov. 13, 2024. Screenshot

Under that same plan, small businesses would pay approximately $9,000 annually if they had 50 employees and the average salary of all employees was $50,000. For that low cost, working Michiganders will have the security they need to take time away from work for critical caregiving needs while still being able to pay their bills, Stanton said.

However, Republican members of the committee retained concerns about how the program, with some raising questions on how this policy, paired with the states pending sick leave policy, would impact businesses.

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Amanda Fisher, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business told the committee that 96% of its membership opposed proposals which required Michigan employers to give employees a guaranteed number of days off on annual paid sick leave.

Right now, small businesses are struggling to find workers and if you only have two or three employees, and one employee is out for a significant amount of time, that puts those small, very small employers in a very challenging position, Fisher said.

Additionally, NFIBs member businesses were concerned how a state paid family leave program would interact with the earned sick time provisions taking effect in February, Fisher said.

She also argued the legislation would place an additional regulatory burden on businesses and potentially open them up to frequent litigation by allowing employees to take civil action over violations of the law.

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The bill allows, not just for fines from the [Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity] if a small business makes an error, but also a private right of action and that that can be a real issue, especially if somebody brings a frivolous lawsuit, Fisher said. Even if the small business owner wins the lawsuit, they have spent a lot of time and resources with that.

Additionally, Wendy Block, senior vice president of business advocacy for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce said Geisss proposal, layered on top of the Earned Sick Time Act, would give employees between 14 to 17 weeks of paid time off, before raising additional concerns about the cost of the proposal and whether employers will need to pass those costs along to customers, or cut other benefits to afford their required contributions.



Members of the committee voted 8-3 along party lines to refer the bills back to the Senate floor for further consideration, where theyll have to beat out a barrage of other legislative efforts in a short amount of time before bills that have not cleared both chambers expire when the new session begins next year.

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The Supreme Court declined to hear Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence Corp. v. The School Committee for the City of Boston (Boston Parent) on Monday. The court's refusal to take up the case is bad news because it leaves unresolved a circuit split on what constitutes a violation of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.

The Boston Parent Coalition sued the city of Boston in February 2021 for changes to the admissions process for Boston's prestigious "exam schools," which they allege were intended to decrease the number of admitted white and Asian students. These allegations are evidenced by the Exam School Admissions Criteria Working Group's "Projected Shift" chart, which accurately predicted the exam schools' altered racial composition, and by a member of the group telling the Boston School Committee that the new system would "allow our exam schools to more closely reflect the racial and economic makeup of Boston's kids," per PLF's opening brief.

Evidence of the city's racial animus is referenced in Justice Samuel Alito's dissent: School Committee Chairman Michael Loconto mocked Asian names during public comments over Zoom; Vice-Chairman Alexandra Oliver-Davila texted fellow committee member Dr. Lorna Rivera that she "hate[s] WR," referring to the predominantly white neighborhood of West Roxbury; and Dr. Rivera replied to Oliver-Davila that she's "[s]ick of westie whites."

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Not only was the Committee animated by racial discrimination, but it also produced a racially disparate impact. In the fall following the admissions policy change, the percentage of white and Asian students in seventh- and ninth-grade classes dropped from 33 percent and 21 percent to 24 percent and 16 percent, respectively, according to the Pacific Legal Foundation. However, because these percentages were still above the white and Asian percentage of Boston's student population, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that there was "no evidence of a relevant disparate impact," as required by Village of Arlington Heights (Arlington Heights) v. Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation to establish an Equal Protection claim.

In Arlington Heights, the Supreme Court held that "official action is not invalid solely because it results in a racially disproportionate effect." The Court reiterated that, in addition to the racially disparate impact of an official, "proof of discriminatory intent is required to show a violation of the Equal Protection Clause."

While the 1st Circuit's interpretation of Arlington Heights and disparate impact is implausible, it's not unprecedented. In his dissent from the Supreme Court's refusal to hear Boston Parent, Alito explained that the 4th Circuit "concluded that a facially race-neutral admission policy caused no disparate impact on Asian students because they 'were still overrepresented' compared to their population level" in Coalition for TJ (TJ) v. Fairfax County School Board.

Contrary to the 4th Circuit, the relevant comparison is not between a group's share of admissions offers and its share of the population, but that group's share of admissions offers before and after the policy change. Alito emphasizes the absurdity of the 4th Circuit's comparison groups in his dissent to the Supreme Court's refusal to hear TJ, characterizing it as "effectively licens[ing] official actors to discriminate against any racial group with impunity as long as that group continues to perform at a higher rate than other groups."

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Not all Circuits have misinterpreted Arlington Heights. The 2nd Circuit recently ruled that an aggregate disparate impact is unnecessary to trigger strict scrutiny under the 14th Amendment: "When an individual of a certain race isadversely affected by a facially neutral law or policy that is racially motivated, a viable equal protection claim exists even if the individual's racial group did not suffer an aggregate disparate impact from that law or policy."

The 1st and 4th Circuit split from the 2nd Circuit not only on what constitutes the relevant comparison groups to determine disparate impact but also on whether the impact needs to be suffered in aggregate or by an individual. While those residing in the 2nd Circuit's jurisdiction are protected from facially neutral state actions motivated by unfair discrimination, those in the 1st and 4th Circuits are not.

The Supreme Court's refusal to hear Boston Parent is a missed opportunity to affirm the 2nd Circuit's interpretation of Arlington Heights to protect individualsthose to whom the Constitution appliesfrom de jure discrimination.

The post Supreme Court Punts on Racial Discrimination Case appeared first on Reason.com.
Anglers fish on the Colorado River near an idle Union Pacific freight train in western Grand County on June 12, 2023. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)

With thousands of pages of briefs filed and two hours of oral argument completed on Tuesday, Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court declared the case known as Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County formally submitted.

Now the fates of both the Uinta Basin Railway, a proposed 88-mile railroad in eastern Utah, and the National Environmental Policy Act, a landmark 1970 federal law requiring federal agencies to study the environmental risks of major decisions, are in the hands of the courts justices, who will deliberate behind closed doors in the weeks and months to come. But on both fronts, the outcome of a Supreme Court ruling may not be as clear-cut as some parties to the case had wished.

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Approved by federal regulators in 2021, the Uinta Basin Railway would connect Utahs largest oil field to the national rail network, allowing drillers there to ship up to 350,000 barrels of oil per day in tanker cars through Colorado. In some parts of the state, that would result in up to a tenfold increase in hazmat rail traffic.

Colorados Eagle County and five environmental groups sued to overturn the projects approval, alleging its environmental analyses were insufficient under NEPA, and they prevailed in a lower court. The railways proponents, with support from conservative business groups who have long targeted NEPA for reform, appealed the case to the Supreme Court, asking justices not only to declare the projects review sufficient but to impose strict limits on how the law is applied going forward.

Most controversially, the argument put forward by the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition  the group of Utah county governments backing the railway  proposes to limit the scope of NEPA reviews based in part on proximate cause principles borrowed from tort law, the area of law relating to legal liability.

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Environmental groups call that idea absolutely bonkers  and by and large, the Supreme Court showed little interest in adopting it wholesale during oral argument on Tuesday.

I have trouble seeing how this is going to work out as a practical matter, Roberts, widely viewed the most moderate of the courts six Republican-appointed justices, told Paul Clement, the attorney representing the SCIC.

The railways opponents say the projects lengthy environmental impact statement failed to properly analyze risks in multiple categories, including the upstream impacts of expanded oil and gas production in the Uinta Basin itself; the downstream impacts of increased oil refining on the Gulf Coast, where much of the basins product would be shipped; and downline impacts such as increased risk of accidents, spills and wildfires on Colorados main east-west railroad, which would carry 90% of the resulting oil-train traffic.

Under the petitioners proposed proximate cause standard, none of those impacts would be properly considered in a NEPA review, Clement said.

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Nobody in their right mind would say that a project in northeastern Utah is the legally relevant cause, or the proximate cause, of additional pollution in Shreveport, Louisiana, he said.

But under repeated questioning from justices, Clement struggled to concisely articulate the specifics of the new test the petitioners propose to replace the standard that currently governs the scope of NEPA reviews, which instructs federal agencies to study the reasonably foreseeable effects of major decisions. Clement suggested that relevant factors include whether an effect is remote in time or space, and whether its regulated by a different federal agency.

If I could give you a 10-word test that took care of every hard case, theyd give me tenure at Harvard, Clement joked.

A poor vehicle?

The Supreme Courts announcement in June that it had agreed to hear the SCICs appeal caught many observers by surprise. Ahead of Tuesdays hearing, some legal analysts and environmental advocates floated the possibility that the court would take the unusual step of dismissing the case as improvidently granted.

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Its a really poor vehicle for getting at the law, said Andrew Mergen, a Harvard professor of environmental law, who briefly worked on the case in an earlier phase before leaving the Department of Justice in 2022. I think its very surprising that the court took this case.

There was little indication during Tuesdays oral argument, however, that the court was mulling such a dismissal. Justices appeared broadly open to reining in the scope of NEPA reviews, inviting both Clement and deputy solicitor general Edwin Kneedler to articulate what sort of guidance, as Clement put it, a decision in the case should give lower courts adjudicating NEPA challenges.

By the courts taking an overly aggressive role, its in turn created an incentive for the agencies to do 3,000-page environmental impact statements, said Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

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Justice Amy Coney Barrett noted the NEPA reforms passed by Congress in 2023, including a 150-page limit on the main text of a projects environmental impact statement  the Uinta Basin Railways EIS ran to over 600 pages  and new procedural deadlines.

Its going to be impossible for agencies to consider as many downstream and upstream effects as they did in this case, just because of the procedural constraints, Barrett said. So what can we add?

The federal government has staked out a middle ground in the case, asking the court to issue a narrow ruling, arguing that the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit erred in vacating the railways approval but maintaining that the petitioners proposed reshaping of NEPA goes too far.

William Jay, a partner at the D.C.-based Goodwin Law Firm, argued the case for Eagle County, on behalf of all respondents in the case. The respondents want the court to affirm the lower courts ruling against the railways approval, and leave its interpretation of NEPA unchanged.

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The entire purpose of the Uinta Basin Railway, Jay said, is to transport waxy crude oil from the Uinta Basin to Gulf Coast refineries. That unique circumstance means impacts like expanded oil and gas development, increased refinery emissions and accident risks on Colorado railroads fit well within the reasonably foreseeable test.

The whole raison detre of this project is to transport one commodity and one commodity only, Jay said. That wont be the case in many other railroad projects. Its a little bit misleading for Mr. Clement to suggest this is (just) an 88-mile railroad, as if the train just went back and forth for 88 miles. Its a connection to the national rail network whose entire purpose was to bring this crude oil to the market.

From left, Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, formerly of Colorado, and Brett Kavanaugh attend former President Donald Trumps State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building on Feb. 5, 2019, in Washington, D.C. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

A rare recusal

Only eight justices were present for Tuesdays oral argument. The ninth, Colorado native Justice Neil Gorsuch, abruptly recused himself from the case last week.

Though Gorsuchs brief notice via a court clerk that he had determined that he will not continue to participate in this case cited the Supreme Courts recently adopted code of conduct, it did not elaborate on the reasons for his recusal. But it comes after years of scrutiny over his ties to conservative Colorado billionaire Phil Anschutz, whose oil and gas company, Anschutz Exploration Corporation, filed a brief in support of the petitioners case.

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An October letter from more than a dozen environmental and watchdog groups called Gorsuchs relationship with Anschutz a conflict of interest that was just the latest example of countless violations in the years-long Supreme Court ethics crisis.

A judicial ethics watchdog told the New York Times that Gorsuchs apparent recusal over a personal relationship was very rare.

Gorsuchs absence could be pivotal in the case, if the courts remaining five conservative members are unable to reach a consensus on a decision. In the event of a 4-4 split, the lower courts ruling would stand.

The stakes for Colorado

Underneath the thickets of federal environmental regulations and judicial precedents at issue in the case are vivid fears among many Coloradans over the increased risk of accidents, spills and fires in some of the states most fragile and scenic landscapes.

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Each train from the Uinta Basin will bring over two miles of rail cars filled with flammable waxy crude oil through (our communities) on a daily basis, more than a dozen Colorado local governments wrote in a joint Supreme Court brief in October. The risk of rail accidents will more than double on the (existing) Union Pacific Line as a result of the boards decision  including possible derailments and spills contaminating the invaluable water supplies on which western communities depend.

Anyone who has spent time along the Colorado River understands what the risks really are for our environment, our local economies, and our state, Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said in a statement at the time. Bennet wrote in a social media post Tuesday that he will continue standing with community and local leaders to oppose (the project).

As part of their petition to the Supreme Court, the railways proponents have asked justices to affirm that the projects EIS was sufficient in its entirety. Federal regulators were ordered by the D.C. Circuit to correct several other smaller deficiencies, and those proceedings will need to be undertaken regardless of how the Supreme Court rules. But upholding the EIS, rather than reopening what could become another lengthy review process, would go a long way toward putting the railways construction back on track.

In arguing its case, the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition has focused extensively on what it characterizes as the impracticability of studying more remote downstream effects like greenhouse gas emissions or Gulf Coast refinery pollution. But Eagle County and the environmental groups are adamant that the question presented to the Supreme Court by the coalition does not include the more immediate downline effects of sharply increased rail traffic in Colorado in close proximity to the proposed line.

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The agency reviewed, and found foreseeable, the downline impacts, said Jay. We obviously dont think those are within the question presented, but its striking that petitioners are taking a view of what the agency should have studied that is considerably narrower than the agency itself.

But while the federal government agrees  we didnt understand the question presented to cover the downline effects, Kneedler said  the petitioners disputed the point again during a brief rebuttal at the conclusion of Tuesdays hearing, reiterating their request for the EIS to be deemed sufficient in full.

I think the entire environmental impact statement, and whether or not you have to consider effects that are not proximate and are in the jurisdiction of another agency, is properly before you, Clement told the justices. The question presented doesnt distinguish between downline and downstream.

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(Photo: Jim Small/Arizona Mirror)

Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared generally willing to strike a blow against a key federal environmental law in a case brought by Coloradans against a controversial Utah oil-train project  but they struggled to reach a consensus on exactly how to define the new limits they might impose on the law.

Petitioners in the case, Seven County Infrastructure Coalition vs. Eagle County, are asking the justices to reverse a lower court ruling against approval of the Uinta Basin Railway, an 88-mile railroad project in eastern Utah that Coloradans and environmental advocates sued to stop.

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The railway would connect the Uinta Basin oil field to the national rail network, allowing drillers there to dramatically ramp up production of crude oil to be shipped in tanker cars to refineries on the Gulf Coast  a route that runs directly through the Colorado River Valley and the Denver metro area. The project would constitute one of the largest sustained efforts to transport oil by rail ever undertaken in the U.S., singlehandedly more than doubling the 2022 nationwide total, and resulting in up to a tenfold increase in hazmat rail shipments through central Colorado.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sided with Colorados Eagle County and five environmental groups, ruling last year that the projects approval contained numerous and significant violations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a bedrock U.S. environmental law enacted during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

But the Utah county governments behind the project successfully petitioned for a review by the conservative-dominated Supreme Court.

Paul Clement, a veteran conservative litigator who served as U.S. Solicitor General under President George W. Bush, presented arguments for the petitioners.

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Clement called NEPA a law that was meant to inform government decision-making, not paralyze it and repeatedly emphasized what he said was NEPAs role in restricting investment in large infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure requires investment, and for investors, time is money, Clement said.

The petitioners argument  supported in friend-of-the-court briefs by a long list of conservative advocacy organizations and fossil fuel industry groups  asks the court to impose new limits on the scope of NEPA reviews based on proximate cause principles borrowed from tort law. That would be the courts most drastic change to NEPA in decades.

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But under repeated questioning from justices, Clement struggled to concisely articulate the specifics of the new test the petitioners propose to replace the standard that currently governs the scope of NEPA reviews, which instructs federal agencies to study the reasonably foreseeable effects of major decisions.

If I could give you a 10-word test that took care of every hard case, theyd give me tenure at Harvard, Clement joked.

Proximate cause maybe isnt the alpha and omega, but it sure is helpful, he added.

The federal government has asked the court to issue a narrow ruling, arguing that the D.C. Circuit erred in vacating the railways approval but maintaining that the petitioners proposed reshaping of NEPA goes too far. Edwin Kneedler, deputy solicitor general, presented the governments case and asked justices to remand proceedings back to the Court of Appeals.

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William Jay, a partner at the D.C.-based Goodwin Law Firm, argued the case for Eagle County, on behalf of all respondents in the case.

The entire purpose of the project, Jay said, is to transport waxy crude oil from the Uinta Basin to Gulf Coast refineries, making impacts like expanded oil and gas development, increased refinery emissions and accident risks on Colorado railroads fit well within the reasonably foreseeable test.

The Uinta Basin Railway would accommodate an estimated capacity of up to 350,000 barrels of oil per day. Hazmat shipments from the new rail line would run through central Colorado, including environmentally sensitive regions along the Colorado River and more densely populated areas in the Denver metro area.

This case is bigger than the Uinta Basin Railway, Sam Sankar, an attorney with environmental group Earthjustice, one of the parties to the case, said in a statement ahead of Tuesdays oral argument. The fossil fuel industry and its allies are making radical arguments that would blind the public to obvious health consequences of government decisions. The court should stick with settled law instead. If it doesnt, communities will pay the price.

This story was originally published in Colorado Newsline.
SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  Surfside Beach Town Council on Tuesday approved a proposal to move forward with plans for a new municipal complex.

The plans call for a new council/court chambers building and a new police station. A previous proposal from the construction firm put the cost of the police station at nearly $8.5 million and the council building at nearly $7.5 million.

The firm is working on a switch from brick and mortar to pre-fab buildings, that would greatly reduce the cost.

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It seems like, I dont know if its yall or us dragging our feet, councilmember Chris Stamey said. It was a long, drawn-out process at that time and where were at right now, I think where were looking, what were looking for, I would appreciate it to be as quick as possible.

The council also called for smaller buildings to get rid of unnecessary space.

* * *

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
A suspect has been arrested after Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina claimed that she was assaulted.

I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women, she wrote on X on Tuesday night. Capitol police have arrested him. All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!

U.S. Capitol Police said they had detained an individual accused of assaulting a lawmaker. The police didnt mention the Republican House member in their statement, although they did say that the office of a member of Congress reported an incident shortly before 6pm in the Rayburn House Office Building.

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House Division officers, and agents with the Threat Assessment Section, tracked down the suspect, police said.

The suspect has been named as James McIntyre, a 33-year-old from Illinois, who faces a charge of assaulting a government official.

Police said that the Rayburn building was open to the public when the incident took place and that McIntyre went through a security screening before he went inside the building.

A man was arrested after House Republican Nancy Mace she claimed she was assaulted (Getty Images)

Mace has been embroiled in controversy since she introduced a bill banning transgender women from using womens restrooms on Capitol Hill. She has been the target of criticism from LGBT+ advocates because of the legislation, but she has argued that she introduced it as a way to ensure the safety of women.

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Sarah McBride of Delaware, a Democrat and the first transgender person elected to Congress, has become a target of Republicans such as Mace who argue that her use of restrooms in the Capitol would be equivalent to assault.

The Republicans are targeting a group of people making up just 1.6 percent of U.S. adults, according to the Pew Research Center.

The center found in 2022 that 64 percent of Americans support policies that protect transgender people from discrimination when it comes to jobs, housing, as well as in public spaces such as stores and restaurants.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  An attempted burglary at Nick Tahous in Rochester is under investigation.

On Tuesday night, according to the Rochester Police Department, at least one suspect broke into the upper area of the building. The suspect then cut a hole into the floor and through the ceiling of the office on the first floor.

I opened the door and there was a pile of debris on the floor, said owner Alex Tahou. The front of the safe was cut and they tried to get in there and they bent the metal back  couldnt get in there. So, they had to leave the same way.

Courtesy: Nick Tahous

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We didnt know what happened, how they got in  so we walked around the building and saw that the northeast staircase door was broken. So, we went upstairs and walked through and found that halfway through the first floor  they had actually cut the floor right out, Tahou said.

(WROC/Alec Richardson)

It was determined that nothing was taken from the restaurant.

In this world, you read it every day  this is kind of small compared to the other things happening. When people are crashing cars into buildings and a lot of damage and everything else. This is a little inconvenience, but really not bad. I dont want to say that Im used to it, but Ive accepted that thats the way it is. You cant let little things like that bother you, said Tahou.

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Tahou said proper security measures are in place with more in the works following this incident. His message for the intruder(s)?

I feel sorry for you, I hope you get what you need and hope your life gets a little better  because you had to resort to this.

The suspect in this incident has not been found. Police asked anyone with information to call 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 RochesterFirst.
Luigi Mangione, a man charged in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had a spiral notebook among his possessions that laid out plans for the shooting, according to The New York Times.

Citing two law enforcement officials, the Times reported that one passage in the notebook read: What do you do? You wack the C.E.O. at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention. Its targeted, precise, and doesnt risk innocents.

Those lines are similar to ones reported by CNN, which said that notebook writings reasoned that a shooting would be more targeted than using a bomb, as that could kill innocents.

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Mangione, 26, was arrested Monday at a Pennsylvania McDonalds after a tipster alerted authorities. Law enforcement said that he was carrying a ghost gun  a term for a privately made firearm  with a suppressor consistent with the weapon used in the murder, along with fake identification matching what our suspect used to check in to his New York City hostel before the shooting incident.

He was also said to be in possession of a written statement of around 260 words, often described as a manifesto. The statement  first published in full by an independent journalist, with law enforcement sources largelyconfirming the transcription to multiple media outlets  begins with some clarifying comments addressed to authorities, to save you a lengthy investigation.

The spiral notebook, if present, has some straggling notes and To Do lists that illuminate the gist of it, the statement allegedly read, saying that an unspecified act had to be done.

I state plainly that I wasnt working with anyone, it reportedly added.

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The statement and the spiral notebook seemed to contain similar language.

Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming, read one line in the reported statement, before going on to discuss issues with the U.S. health care system.

Thompson was shot in the back and a leg on Dec. 4 as he walked outside a midtown Manhattan hotel where an annual UnitedHealthcare investors conference was taking place.

Thomas Dickey, a lawyer for Mangione, has suggested that his client may plead not guilty to second-degree murder in New York, just as he is expected to plead not guilty to charges in Pennsylvania relating to firearm possession and fake identification.

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I have not been made aware of any evidence that links the gun that was found on his person to the crime, so these are things were looking to see, Dickey told Good Morning America on Wednesday.

Were looking forward to beginning our inquiry as to what evidence may or may not be out there, he added.

Mangiones apparent problems with debilitating back pain have started to come to light over the past two days. Friends have told the media that he fell out of touch with them over the summer; his mother reportedly filed a missing person report with San Francisco authorities weeks ago, believing that hed been working in the city.

Related...
A man wanted in a November killing in Kissimmee was arrested in Texas trying to flee the United States, according to the Police Department.

Romeo Florez-Perez, 24, was sought in a homicide investigation by the agency that began after a body was discovered near the Emory Street canal around 8 a.m. Nov. 28, according to a press release Wednesday from the agency. Police secured an arrest warrant for first-degree murder, the release said.

He was arrested in San Antonio, Texas after KPD was assisted in a multiagency search by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and San Antonio Police Department, according to the release. Florez-Perez remains in custody in Texas and will be returned to Florida and lodged in the Osceola County jail, police say.

No other information was included in the news release.
Investigations are underway after a man was shot and killed by police in Buena Park Tuesday.

Buena Park police officers responded to reports of a possibly armed suspect who was seen walking on lanes of the 5 Freeway near Artesia Boulevard at around 1 p.m.

Authorities spotted the suspect on Artesia Boulevard and, following a confrontation, police opened fire on the man.

He was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

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Details are limited and the moments leading up to the deadly shooting were not released. The case remains under investigation by the California Department of Justice and the Buena Park Police Department.

Upon completion of the investigation, it will be turned over to DOJs Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review, said the California Attorney Generals Office.

2 suspects arrested in Orange County fraud scheme investigation

The suspects name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or has information on the case is encouraged to contact Buena Park Police at 714-562-3978 and ask to speak with Detective Lowe.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
BELLMEAD, Texas (FOX 44)  The Bellmead Police Department needs your help to identify a suspect in some aggravated robberies at local convenience stores.

The department says the first incident occurred on Thursday, December 5, at the Circle K located at 110 East Loop 340. The second incident took place on Monday, December 9, at the CEFCO located at 4305 Bellmead Drive. In both cases, the suspect approached the clerk, brandished a handgun, and demanded money, fleeing the stores with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries have been reported in either robbery.

Police say the suspect has been described as an older man with a distinctive walk. Surveillance footage has been reviewed, and investigators believe the robberies are connected due to the suspects appearance and method of operation.

(Courtesy: Bellmead Police Department) (Courtesy: Bellmead Police Department) (Courtesy: Bellmead Police Department)

The department is urging the public to remain vigilant while visiting area convenience stores, particularly during late-night hours. Authorities are asking anyone with information about these robberies to come forward. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

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If you have any information or have witnessed suspicious activity in the area, you can contact Sgt. Rendon or Detective Harker at 254-799-0251.

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.
Police shot and killed a person suspected of stabbing two people late Tuesday night, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said Wednesday morning.

Oshkosh police received a 911 call to a residence in the 400 block of West 10th Avenue at about 11:10 p.m., according to a DOJ news release. The caller reported that a stabbing was occurring at the residence.

Upon arriving at the residence, officers found a victim outside who had been stabbed. Officers then entered the residence and encountered the suspect, who was armed with a bladed weapon.

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The suspect failed to comply with an officer's orders to drop the weapon, and an officer shot and hit the suspect. Officers performed lifesaving measures.

A second stabbing victim was also located in the residence. Both stabbing victims and the suspect were transported to a hospital. The suspect was pronounced dead at the hospital.

According to the DOJ, all involved law enforcement officers have been placed on administrative leave, per agencies' policies. All involved officers were wearing body cameras during the incident.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is conducting an officer-involved death investigation. DCI is assisted by a DCI Crime Response Specialist, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory and the Wisconsin State Patrol. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation, the DOJ says.

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DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over the investigative reports to the Winnebago County District Attorney's office when the investigation concludes.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh police shooting suspect in stabbings killed
The regulars began assembling in the predawn Monday at a McDonalds just off the interstate in western Pennsylvania when at some point a fellow customer caught their attention.

Dont that look like the shooter from New York? one of the regulars, who only gave his first name, Larry, recalled his friend joking.

He probably heard us, Larry said of the man seated maybe 10 feet away in the back, near the restrooms of the fast-food restaurant in Altoona.

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All joking aside, Larrys friend was correct: That man turned out to be the wanted fugitive suspected of calmly pulling out a pistol with a silencer on a Midtown Manhattan street last week and gunning down the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare in a brazen assassination that gripped the nation.

Luigi Mangione, 26, sat alone at a table with a laptop and a backpack, according to police who arrested him at McDonalds. He was wearing a medical mask, a brown beanie and a dark jacket. An image shared on social media by the Pennsylvania State Police showed Mangione, his blue mask dangling from his ear, eating what appeared to be a hash brown.

The scion of a wealthy Baltimore family who was a high school valedictorian and an Ivy League graduate was in Pennsylvania for several days, police said, after allegedly gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last Wednesday outside a Manhattan hotel about 230 miles from Altoona.

In the end, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, a combination of old-school detective work and new-age technology led to the capture of a suspect. The fatal shooting outside an investors conference sparked an exhaustive search, with New York police combing the city for evidence and poring through thousands of hours of video footage.

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Various images  from his stop at a Manhattan Starbucks before the shooting to a surveillance camera shot of him with his face uncovered and a broad smile below his distinctive dark eyes and eyebrows at an Upper West Side hostel where he stayed  were nationally circulated in the five days since the shooting.

Theres numerous linchpins in this case, and the fact that weve recovered an enormous amount of forensic evidence, an enormous amount of video, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters. I really couldnt put it on one thing, but if I had to, it would be the release of that photograph of the suspects exposed face.

Suspect became quiet and started to shake

In a new post on social media, Pennsylvania State Police shared new images of Luigi Mangione sitting inside the McDonalds in Altoona where he was captured on Monday. The images show Mangione eating what appears to be a hash brown. - Pennsylvania State Police

At the McDonalds on East Plank Road off Interstate 99, a customer alerted an employee, who called police Monday morning to say they believed the suspect was there.

About 9:15 a.m., a pair of officers found the man wearing a medical mask and a beanie sitting in the rear of the building at a table, looking at a laptop, according to a criminal complaint. There was a backpack on the floor near the table. They asked him to pull down his mask.

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Altoona Police Officer Tyler Frye and his partner immediately recognized him, the complaint said.

We didnt even think twice about it, Frye, who has about six months on the job, told reporters after the arrest. We knew that was our guy.

The officers asked the man for identification. He handed them a New Jersey ID with the name Mark Rosario, the complaint said.

When they asked whether he had been to New York City recently, he became quiet and started to shake, according to the complaint.

Police checked and found no records that matched the ID. When they told the man he was under a police investigation, he gave officers his real name: Luigi Mangione. Asked why he had used a false name, the suspect replied, I clearly shouldnt have, according to the complaint.

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Police found a black 3D-printed pistol with a loaded Glock magazine and a black silencer that was also 3D-printed in his backpack, according to the criminal complaint. Tisch told reporters that Mangione was found with a gun and a suppressor both consistent with the weapon used in the murder, referring to a device that muffles the sound of a firearm.

The fraudulent New Jersey ID, Tisch said, matched the ID our suspect used to check into his New York City hostel before the shooting. She said he was also carrying a handwritten document that speaks to both his motivation and mindset.

The document, which has also been described as the suspects manifesto, did not include specific threats but indicated ill will towards corporate America, Kenny told reporters.

These parasites had it coming, one line from the document reads, according to a police official who has seen it.

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I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done, another line reads. The document indicated the suspect acted alone and that he was self-funded, according to Kenny.

The suspect also appeared to refer to UnitedHealthcare in the document, describing United as one of the largest companies by market capitalization in the United States, according to a law enforcement source who has read the document. There was no mention of Thompson specifically.

Mangione appeared to be driven by anger against the health insurance industry and against corporate greed as a whole, according to an NYPD intelligence report obtained by CNN.

He appeared to view the targeted killing of the companys highest-ranking representative as a symbolic takedown and a direct challenge to its alleged corruption and power games, asserting in his note he is the first to face it with such brutal honesty, reads the assessment, which is based on the three-page handwritten manifesto found on the suspect as well as Mangiones social media posts.

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After the shooting, the suspect had traveled between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, making stops in between, before his capture on Monday, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

New York prosecutors have charged Mangione with murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a firearm.

On Monday, Mangione made his first court appearance in Pennsylvania. As a judge read the entire criminal complaint out loud to him, Mangione verbally pushed back against the prosecutions claim that $8,000 in cash found on him meant that he was trying to evade authorities. He said he did not know where the money came from, and suggested that maybe it was planted.

A day later, as police escorted him from their vehicle to the courthouse in Pennsylvania for an extradition hearing on Tuesday, Mangione could be heard yelling in part, Its completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people. Its lived experience!

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His attorney, Thomas Dickey, said his client will fight his extradition. Shackled at the hands and feet and wearing an orange jumpsuit with DOC emblazoned on the back, Mangione was escorted by officers out of court after being denied bail.

CNNs Ashley R. Williams, Gloria Pazmino, Mark Morales, Brynn Gingras, Dakin Andone, Zoe Scottie, Karina Tsui, Danny Freeman, Elise Hammond, Melanie Hicken, Blake Ellis, and Brian Todd contributed to this report.

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Dec. 10A suspected drunk driver crashed his Honda CR-V into the Revo Casino and Social House in Manchester late Monday, injuring one worker, police said.

The casino reopened Tuesday morning.

"He had to have gone airborne," said Dick Anagnost, co-owner of the casino and the building.

The driver, Luis Rosario Rodriguez, 41, of Manchester, sustained a small cut above his left eye and was placed under arrest for aggravated driving under the influence, according to Manchester Police.

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Officers saw a 2018 Honda CR-V that had gone through the windows on the Gold Street side of the building at 1279 S. Willow St. around 11:30 p.m. Monday, according to police.

"That building took the full force" of the crash, Anagnost said. He said the driver went over a hill containing bark mulch, suggesting the vehicle left the ground based on the area's topography.

The CR-V hit a breakroom occupied by workers. One woman received a minor leg injury and was taken to the hospital, according to Battalion Fire Chief Jon Fosher.

Anagnost confirmed the injured woman is an employee. Police said woman's age as 47.

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"Mostly the employee lounge and offices got hit," said Anagnost, who was heading to the casino Tuesday morning. "It didn't impact the public-facing portion of the building."

The casino remained open its normal time Monday night and reopened at its normal 8 a.m. start Tuesday, Anagnost said.

The Fire Department helped shore up the structure.

"That whole wall needs to be completely rebuilt," Fosher said.

"At least once a year we have a car completely enter a building somewhere in the city," Fosher said.
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa.  Over the five days after a prominent health insurance executive was shot dead in New York City, Luigi Mangione crisscrossed Pennsylvania, investigators said.

Mangione, 26, now charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, might still be at large if it werent for three attentive people at an Altoona McDonalds  a customer, an employee and a rookie Altoona cop, state police Lt. Col. George Bivens said.

A customer at the East Plank Road McDonalds recognized Mangione and alerted employees, who dialed 911, investigators said during a press conference Monday evening at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg.

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And when Altoona police Officer Tyler Frye asked Mangione if he had traveled to New York recently, he grew quiet and began to shake, according to a criminal complaint.

UnitedHealthcare-CEO-Killed

This image release by Pennsylvania State Police shows a video image of Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (Pennsylvania State Police via AP)

Frye was about six months into his time serving his fellow people here in Pennsylvania, and he acted swiftly, Gov. Josh Shapiro said, also crediting the people at McDonalds who werent afraid to speak up and report suspicious activity. (Frye) acted with smarts, and he acted with calm.

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Mangione was lodged at SCI-Huntingdon Tuesday awaiting trial on five criminal charges in Blair County, including unlawful weapon possession, and an eventual extradition to New York City on a murder charge.

Preliminary hearing set

Altoona police Deputy Chief Derek Swope said Mangione, who was wearing a medical mask covering the lower half of his face, was sitting with his laptop in a McDonalds booth when someone recognized his well-publicized face.

Mangione was taken into custody after a McDonalds employee called 911. Altoona police questioned him and discovered he had fake ID cards and a 3D-printed ghost gun, Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks said.

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UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed

Luigi Nicholas Mangione is escorted into Blair County Courthouse, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)

Mangione faces a Dec. 23 preliminary hearing in Blair County, accused of forgery, tampering with records, unlicensed firearm possession and giving police a false ID. He also is accused of possessing the instrument used to gun down Thompson  the 3D-printed handgun.

New York City investigators drove four hours west to Altoona to question Mangione.

A swarm of state and New York City police vehicles arrived just after 3 p.m. Monday at the Altoona Police Departments downtown headquarters. Some officers arrived in uniform. Others arrived in jackets, dress shirts and ties, carrying files.

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The eyes of the nation focused on Altoona even sooner, both online and on the citys streets.

Some motorists raised cellphones from their car windows and filmed as they passed Altoona Police Department headquarters Monday. One car rear-ended another before police closed part of 16th Street to traffic.

The UnitedHealth CEO killer's manhunt drew national attention to Altoona  and crowds of curious spectators outside the Altoona Police station where Luigi Mangione was being held for questioning Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.

Nearby, dozens more people gathered near reporters, livestreaming or taking photographs as police sirens blared.

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Riley DeVecchis, of Altoona, awoke to the news. Her father contacted her early Monday to tell her a man, who the public later learned was Mangione, was being taken to the Altoona police station just a few blocks from her workplace.

He couldve been anywhere

DeVecchis said she had been following the news of Thompsons shooting and the hunt for his killer for the past several days. And given that the gunman was on the run for several days, he couldve been anywhere, she said. She said she never would have imagined anywhere would be Altoona.

This is a lot for our small town, she said. I have to say Im surprised this all unfolded in Altoona.

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Nypd.jpg

NYPD investigators arrive Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, at Altoona Police headquarters in the city's downtown.

Shapiro said the attention was a chance to recognize the true heroes of Mondays arrest. Members of law enforcement and community members worked together to bring Mangione into custody.

Frye said he never imagined hed be starting my career this way. But he said that the moment Mangione removed his mask, he was sure it was the man New York City police were searching for.

We knew right away, he said.
Here's a remarkable split-screen moment in American politics, fraught with terrible timing.

Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a one-time Democratic candidate for president turned ardent supporter of Donald Trump, is meeting with U.S. senators this week to discuss his nomination for her to be the next director of national intelligence.

Six thousand miles away, in Syria, people there are rushing to prisons to search for friends and relatives unjustly jailed and tortured by the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, who fled that country over the weekend for the safety of Russian asylum after his family's half-century reign of oppression came to a sudden, startling demise.

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Gabbard has some explaining to do about her history of going to bat for Assad, including the strong doubts she expressed in April 2017 after he was accused of using banned chemical weapons against his own people.

That flew in the face of American intelligence analysis at the time. Trump, then president, insisted "there can be no dispute" in the conclusion that Assad's regime had gassed its own people.

Trump, interviewed Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press," was asked if he had concerns about a pair of secret meetings Gabbard had with Assad in Syria in 2017. Trump shrugged it off as no big deal, pivoting to old grievances about the 2016 and 2020 elections in a transparent bid to shift the subject.

Gabbard has at times been critical of Assad. And this week she said her views were shaped by her military service and "the threat of Islamist terrorism."

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Even so, that doesn't come close to explaining why Gabbard felt the need to secretly visit Assad in 2017. She should have to spell that out as the horrors of his regime come into focus after his exit.

The question that Tulsi Gabbard should be asked during confirmation

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, arrives for a meeting with U.S. senators Dec. 10, 2024, on Capitol Hill.

Wael Alzayat, who leads the Muslim American voter engagement group Emgage, has a question for Gabbard. Syria is still unstable, and he sees "legitimate" concerns for what comes next here. So he wants to know if Gabbard would like that country "to go back to Assad."

"And if the answer is yes, that's very troubling," Alzayat said. "And if the answer is no, then let's move on and let's help Syria to make sure that its people get this transition right."

I wondered if Gabbard will face that question if her nomination gets a Senate hearing.

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"We will make sure that she's asked," Alzayat said.

More than one thing can be true about Syria at the same time.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the groups that chased Assad from power, has a record of serving with terrorist organizations that targeted Americans. He was imprisoned by the U.S. military for a time in Iraq and still has a $10 million bounty on his head. For all his rebranding efforts as a Syrian nationalist, that's all still very troubling.

Opinion: US has $10 million bounty on Syrian rebel leader al-Golani. Now we need his help.

Nevertheless, none of that changes the terrible pain and strife Assad imposed on his people, with help from Russia and Iran, in a civil war that stretched for 13 years.

Gabbard's history of distrust for agencies she now wants to run

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard campaign for his reelection in La Crosse, Wis., on Aug. 29, 2024.

Gabbard has a history of distrusting American intelligence agencies, so it is on-brand for Trump to try to have her lead them. Trump's nominee for secretary of Defense, former Fox News talking head Pete Hegseth, has an open animosity toward the Pentagon, along with a troubled history that includes an accusation of sexual assault.

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NBC News on Tuesday reported that Trump is keeping Hegseth's scandal-snagged nomination moving forward in part to keep scrutiny off of Gabbard and her record, a claim Trump's transition team denied to NBC News.

And scrutiny is coming for Gabbard.

Nearly 100 former officials with experience in intelligence and national security sent a letter last week to U.S. Sen. John Thune, the new Republican majority leader in the Senate, and U.S. Sen Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, calling for a closed-door hearing on Gabbard's record, suggesting that her "past actions call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress and to the entire national security apparatus."

Opinion: RBG's granddaughter wants to ask Musk why he needed lies to help Trump

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Trump's team responded Monday by touting a letter from more than 250 military veterans, along with statements from 13 Republican current or soon-to-be senators, all singing Gabbard's praises.

Gabbard, who represented a district in Hawaii for four terms in Congress, is still a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve.

Gabbard has the support of Russian propaganda outlets

It's not just Assad. Like Trump, Gabbard seems to be captivated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. And the feeling is apparently mutual.

Russia's state-controlled media outlets, like RT (formerly known as Russia Today) and Sputnik International, have been promoting Gabbard's nomination through their accounts on X, the social media platform now deeply devoted to disinformation.

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Curious fan club, no? State media for a major geopolitical adversary are firmly in support of the person who would supervise American intelligence operations. Why would they be rooting for her?

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

Three former Gabbard aides told ABC News last week that their former boss eagerly consumed and shared Russian propaganda as news, including reports from RT. So the admiration flows both ways.

Which, of course, raises more questions for Gabbard about her view of the world, her distrust for American institutions, her apparent reliance on foreign propaganda and her penchant for dictators.

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Will we get answers? I have my doubts.

Gabbard is likely to deploy the Trump playbook here, to assail every question as some unjust political attack, to dismiss every accurate quotation of her past statements as some distorted smear on her history.

Senators should ask anyway. They should demand explanations. And they should pick apart in public any attempt to dodge responsibility for her past positions.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Should Assad control Syria? Senate needs to ask Gabbard | Opinion
WASHINGTON  From the White House, President Joe Biden called the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads brutal regime a moment of historic opportunity for the countrys long-suffering people.

What he didnt say: It also could be good news for the United States.

Assads fall not only ends his familys bloody half-century reign, but it also weakens Russia and Irans standing in the Middle East, provides the U.S. with another possible partner in its campaign to contain the Islamic State, and opens the door for the U.S. to finally secure the release of missing journalist Austin Tice, who was captured more than a decade ago in Syria.

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This is definitely a golden opportunity, said Qutaiba Idlbi, a Middle East expert at The Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington.

Biden and his administration have signaled that the U.S. is ready to work with a new government in Syria but insist that the future of the country will be determined by the Syrian people.

There are risks involved, however.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the main Islamic rebel group that toppled Assad and is setting up a transitional government, was designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization in 2018. The FBI has offered $10 million for information leading to the capture of the groups leader, Abu Mohammad al-Golani, who was once linked to al-Qaida but has since sought to distance himself from the militant organization.

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Now that HTS is in charge, the Biden administration is in the awkward position of dealing with an organization it considers a terrorist group. NBC News reported Tuesday that the administration was considering lifting the groups foreign terror designation.

Regardless, the administration says that it has channels to communicate with groups in Syria and that it has been in touch with those groups to support the Syrians through their transition.

We believe it is in our interest, our national security interest, that Syria be stable and secure, and that, again, the Syrian people are able to determine their future, John Kirby, the White House spokesman on national security issues, told reporters Tuesday.

A man walks on a poster of Bashar al-Assad as a sanitation worker removes it from the street downtown, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria December 10, 2024.

Still, as Biden noted in his remarks Sunday, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses, though al-Golani has spoken in recent days about protecting minority rights.

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Theyre saying the right things right now, Biden said. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions.

Assads fall was a serious blow to Russia, and anything bad for Russia will be good for the United States, said Steven Simon, a senior director at the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton who also held senior positions at the State Department under President Barack Obama.

Revo9lution in the Middle East: How Syria rebels' stars aligned for Assad's ouster

Russia, as part of the Soviet Union, backed the former Syrian leaders father during the nearly 30 years he ruled the country. Russia continued its political and military support for Syria when the country dissolved into an internal conflict in 2011 that turned into civil war.

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When Assads regime appeared near collapse in 2015, Russia intervened by sending in fighter planes while Iran provided ground forces. When Assads reign ended on Sunday, the dictator fled to Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him asylum.

Assads downfall was an embarrassment for Russia because it showed the limits of Moscows power at a time when it is at war with Ukraine, said Simon, who is now a professor at Dartmouth College and a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washinton-based think tank specializing in foreign policy.

Israeli response: Israel denies pushing past Syria buffer zone, blasts the country's navy

Though the U.S. has had mostly limited interest in Syria, it has in recent years worked to contain the influence of the Islamic State group, or ISIS, which seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. The U.S. has had troops in Syria over the past decade to help contain ISIS, and most of the territory it controlled had been liberated by 2017.

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The U.S. still has 900 troops in the northeastern part Syria to keep Islamic State militants in check. Though severely weakened, the group is still active in Syria.

A regime's collapse: Graphics track changes, uncertainty in Syria after rebels banish Bashar al-Assad

The collapse of Assads government should make it easier to contain the terror group, Idlbi said. Neither the Syrian Defense Forces nor the rebel groups that overthrew Assads regime seem to have any interest in the organization regaining strength, he said.

No one is interested really in keeping ISIS as a card on the table, so I think there are more partners for the U.S. to work with on this issue, Idlbi said.

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After Assads fall, the U.S. carried out dozens of airstrikes targeting Islamic State camps and operatives inside Syria. U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, said it had struck more than 75 targets to make sure the terrorist group doesnt try to take advantage of the end of Assads reign.

There should be no doubt: We will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who heads the Central Command. "All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way."

The group is unlikely to disappear, Idlbi said, but with this transition, I dont see ISIS as a major threat.

Liberated: Thousands walk out of Syrian prisons as families search desperately for the disappeared

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The fall of Assads government gives the U.S. a new opportunity to learn the fate of Tice, the freelance journalist who disappeared in Syria in August 2012 while reporting on the countrys civil war.

Tice, a former U.S. Marine from Houston, has not been seen or heard from since the release of a 43-second video five weeks after his disappearance. In the video, he was blindfolded, surrounded by armed men and being led away by his apparent captors on a rocky hillside.

Biden had accused Assads regime of detaining Tice. Syria denied it was holding him.

Biden said Sunday that the U.S. believed Tice was still alive, but he had no direct evidence of his status.

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Idlbi said authorities have a list of locations where Tice could possibly be held and, now that Assad is out of the picture, are working to secure those locations to see if he is there.

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Syria and Assad's ousting: Good or bad for the United States?
By Sabine Siebold

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Developments in Syria show that countries that have a strategic partnership with Russia can rely on Moscow only as long as they are of use to President Vladimir Putin, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday.

During a short visit to Jordan, Pistorius made a stopover at the Al-Azraq air base before reaching Baghdad, where he will discuss ways to help stabilise the region after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

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Pistorius said Putin was "only reliable as long as it serves his interests" as Western countries battle Russia and China for influence and raw materials in Africa.

Russia did not immediately comment on his remarks.

Pistorius did not specify what the developments in Syria would mean for Germany's involvement in the region but said that its military missions in the Middle East, which include some 600 troops, would rather be stepped up than reduced.

"This is an extremely important opportunity that we should make best use of," the minister said, warning against raising expectations too much.

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"Syria must not become a puppet of external powers such as Russia, Iran or (Lebanese armed group) Hezbollah again. This will not be a short or easy way but we should support Syria on its path to a peaceful future for its people and to more stability in the region."

As part of a U.S.-led coalition of some 70 countries, Germany has had troops in Iraq since 2015 to assist local forces trying to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, which in 2014 seized large swaths of Iraq and Syria but was later pushed back.

The Jordanian base Al-Azraq is used as a logistics hub for the mission, and the German air force launches air-to-air refuelling missions from there.

The mission in Iraq will end by September next year.

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Germany has also deployed some 300 troops to the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission that monitors the demarcation line with Israel, an area that has seen more than a year of hostilities between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Writing by Kirsti Knolle, Editing by Madeline Chambers, Thomas Seythal and Timothy Heritage)
(Bloomberg) -- The United Nations atomic watchdog said a probe into potential Syrian nuclear-weapons activities was interrupted by the ouster of President Bashar Al-Assad, just as monitors closed in on a breakthrough in the long-running investigation.

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Syrias ousted ruler had given the International Atomic Energy Agency permission to visit and collect fresh environmental samples from suspected sites in recent months, according to Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. With Assad now gone IAEA inspectors are facing new delays and uncertainty, he said.

We are still assessing what we found there and we have a big question mark in front of us because we dont have an interlocutor, Grossi said on Wednesday during a presentation in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.

The IAEA began its investigation of a Syrian nuclear reactor destroyed by Israel in 2007. Western intelligence agencies said the facility was being built with the help of North Korean engineers and that the plutonium it was designed to produce were destined for weapons.

While Syria has always maintained the destroyed facility was non-nuclear, IAEA inspectors detected uranium particles on the site. The case was referred to the UN Security Council in 2011. Syrias ensuing civil war interrupted the IAEAs investigation until earlier this year.

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Grossi said hes increasingly concerned by the chaos spreading across the Middle East. The absence of a functional state administration also potentially exposes Syrian nuclear material to looting or theft at places like the Al-Hadjar Nuclear Research Center, where small amounts of highly-enriched uranium are located.

According to Grossi, the IAEA is also worried that the smoldering tensions that have ignited between Israel and Iran could spillover and prompt the Islamic Republic to pursue nuclear weapons.

Last weeks announcement by Tehran that it would increase production of near bomb-grade uranium was a power gesture that warrants early engagement from the incoming administration of Donald Trump, Grossi said.

It is imperative that we work with Iran and that we try to create a new framework, he added.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
CAIRO (Reuters) - The U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian forces (SDF) and Syria's Turkey-backed rebels reached a ceasefire agreement in the northern city of Manbij through a U.S. mediation "to ensure the safety and security of civilians," SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said early on Wednesday.

"The fighters of the Manbij Military Council, who have been resisting the attacks since November 27, will withdraw from the area as soon as possible," Abdi added.

(Reporting by Enas Alashray; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Syrian opposition fighters have taken full control of the major eastern city of Deir al-Zour from Kurdish-led forces, a monitoring group said on Wednesday.

The fighters are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group which spearheaded the ouster of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Damascus.

Local fighters in Deir al-Zour, who were once loyal to al-Assad, have joined up with the HTS-led opposition coalition.

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The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have now withdrawn from Deir al-Zour, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said.

The SDF forces have taken positions in several villages east of the Euphrates River, which were once controlled by Iran-backed militias who supported al-Assad, said the Observatory, which relies on a network of contacts inside Syria.

Al-Assad, who ruled Syria for more than two decades, fled the country as rebels advanced on Damascus on Sunday after making major territorial gains in a lightning offensive.

His abrupt fall is having ramifications across the war-shattered country, where various rebel factions hold sway with the help of external backers.

Kurdish militias agree to leave Manbij

Syria's Kurdish militias, which are supported by the United States, said on Wednesday they would leave the northern Syrian city of Manbij to Turkish-backed opposition forces under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

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Mazloum Abdi, a senior commander in the SDF, said on X that the agreement aims to protect civilians in the city.

The Kurdish fighters had captured the city from Islamic State militants in 2016.

Turkey considers the SDF militia to be an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it sees as a terrorist organization.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed that the Syrian National Army (SNA) militia, which is supported by Turkey, has now taken control of Manbij.

The SNA is part of the HTS-led rebel alliance that ousted the regime.

Qatar to reopen embassy in Damascus

Qatar said on Wednesday it will reopen its embassy in Syria, more than 13 years after it was closed. Doha will reopen its embassy in Syria soon after finalizing the necessary arrangements, Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said.

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Since 2011, ousted president Bashar al-Assad's allies kept their embassies operating in Damascus - mainly Iran and Russia - while most Western counties and some Arab states closed theirs.

The United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in 2018.

Several Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, followed after the 2023 earthquake that hit Syria, in which thousands died. Many Arab governments reached out to al-Assads government with aid and support as top diplomats visited Damascus.

Qatar closed it embassy in July 2011, after a pro-al-Assad group attacked the building to protest the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera networks coverage of al-Assads crackdown on protests, which turned into a civil war.

In the following years, Qatar supported opposition rebels in their fight against al-Assad.
Syrian rebels selected a new caretaker prime minister on Tuesday as the nation remains roiled by conflict after the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad. Mohammed al-Bashir assumes office on an interim basis amid ongoing fighting in parts of the country and as Israel and the U.S. take advantage of the post-Assad power vacuum in the form of mass airstrikes.

Bashir is a provincial leader aligned with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former al-Qaeda-linked group that led the lightning 11-day offensive that toppled Assad. He will serve until March 1, 2025, Al Jazeera reported. His appointment was announced after meeting with members of the old Assad government.

Today we had a meeting for the cabinet and we invited members from the old government and some directors from the administration in Idlib and its surrounding areas, in order to facilitate all the necessary works for the next two months until we have a constitutional system to be able to serve the Syrian people, he told Al Jazeera.

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First meeting of the HTS-led transitional government with ministers from the Salvation Government and ministers from the former regime government pic.twitter.com/zBOKy6pibm  Aaron Y. Zelin (@azelin) December 10, 2024

Bashir headed the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) in Idlib province before the rebel offensive and has close ties to HTS.

A Facebook page of the rebel administration says al-Bashir was trained as an electrical engineer, later received a degree in sharia and law, and has also held posts in education, Al Jazeera explained.

HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani met outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali on Monday to discuss the transition to a caretaker government.

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However, the peace Syria will need to establish a cohesive, inclusive government seems elusive.

Israel on Tuesday said it had largely completed its campaign of air and naval strikes on Syrias air defenses, missiles and ships it dubbed internally Bashan Arrow. However, Jerusalem has created what Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday was a sterile buffer zone with ground troops in Syria. He later said it would be a temporary presence, though he offered no end date to the operation.

Situation in the port of Latakia after the Israeli strikes. https://t.co/LNFVszUNkP pic.twitter.com/bEsn5tbcK1  Clash Report (@clashreport) December 10, 2024

As we previously reported, Israeli ground forces advanced beyond the demilitarized zone on the Israel-Syria border over the weekend. It is a roughly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) section of the Golan Heights that was established after the 1973 Mideast war. The push marks Israels first overt entry into Syrian territory since then.

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New reports emerged on Tuesday claiming that Israeli forces in Syria have reached about 25 kilometers (16 miles) southwest of Damascus, The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday, citing two regional security sources and one Syrian security source.

The Syrian security source said Israeli troops reached Qatana, which is 10 kilometers into Syrian territory east of a demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, the publication reported.

Israeli officials denied those claims, saying that they are completely incorrect. IDF forces are present inside the buffer zone and at defensive points close to the border in order to protect the Israeli border.

Like Katz, the IDF spokesman offered no timeline for when Israel will withdraw its ground forces from Syria.

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The reports circulating in the media about the alleged advancement of Israeli tanks towards Damascus are false.



IDF troops are stationed within the area of separation, to protect the State of Israel.  LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) December 10, 2024

#                    .



                    (@AvichayAdraee) December 10, 2024

Regardless of how far Israel has pushed into Syria, its actions have been widely condemned by the U.N. and neighboring nations.

Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have condemned Israels incursion, accusing it of exploiting the disarray in Syria and violating international law, The Associated Press reported.

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Turkey, a major backer of anti-Assad forces, also condemned Israels advance. The Turkish Foreign Ministry accused Israel of displaying a mentality of an occupier at a time when the possibility of peace and stability had emerged in Syria.

On Monday, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Israels incursion constitutes a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement and called on both Israel and Syria to uphold it.

Meanwhile, Israel released new details and video on Tuesday of its air and naval offensive against the remnants of Assads military.

Within the last 48 hours, the IDF struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria, preventing them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements, the IDF said on Telegram.

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IAF and the Israeli Navy carried out over 350 strikes during the operation, Times of Israel military reporter Emanuel Fabian stated on Twitter.

The military estimates that it destroyed 70-80% of the former Assad regimes strategic weapons, he reported.

The waves of airstrikes carried out by IAF fighter jets and drones hit Syrian air defense systems, airbases, weapon depots, and weapon production sites in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra, he explained. The IDF says the airstrikes destroyed many long-range projectiles, Scud missiles, cruise missiles, coast-to-sea missiles, air defense missiles, fighter jets, helicopters, radars, tanks, hangars, and more. The Israeli Navys strikes at the Minet el-Beida bay and Latakia port on the Syrian coast destroyed 15 Syrian naval vessels. You can read more about the Navys assault in our story here.

The IDF releases footage from its 48-hour bombing campaign against the former Assad regime's military, destroying advanced weaponry Israel fears could fall into the hands of hostile elements including Hezbollah.



The military says the Israeli Air Force and Israeli Navy carried pic.twitter.com/WGEIqOWKd2  Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) December 10, 2024

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In addition to actions taken by Israel, the new Syrian government is also faced with the protracted fight between Turkey and Kurds taking place in the north near the Turkish border.

Turkish proxies, with support from Turkish airstrikes, advanced today toward the town of Kobani, AL Monitor reported. They began their push after seizing control of Karakozak, a bridge that connects the western and eastern banks of the Euphrates River, despite fierce resistance from Kurdish forces.

The attacks come as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed vows to crush terrorist organizations such as ISIS and the [Kurdish Workers Party] PKK/PYD in other parts of the country as soon as possible, AL Monitor explained.

Breaking: the Turkish army and the SNA have launched a comprehensive military operation against Kobani

Source: @barzaniso  Wladimir van Wilgenburg (@vvanwilgenburg) December 10, 2024

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Meanwhile, about 20 miles to the south, the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have withdrawn from Manbij in their ongoing fight against the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), the Kurdish Rojava Information Center (RIC) stated on Twitter Tuesday.

Turkey and its militias are now trying to reach the Tishreen dam, RIC explained. There are a lot of attacks against Tishreen and the dam, with SDF fighting the SNA outside Tishreen at present. They are using heavy weapons and there are Turkish drones in the air.

Manbij update from source on the ground:



"SDF have withdrawn [from Manbij]. Turkey and its militias are now trying to reach the Tishreen dam. There are a lot of attacks against Tishreen and the dam, with SDF fighting the SNA outside Tishreen at present. They are using heavy pic.twitter.com/Ru7uLctapp  Rojava Information Center (@RojavaIC) December 10, 2024

The U.S-Backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have begun to withdraw from the West Bank of the Euphrates River and the City of Deir ez-Zor in Eastern Syria, following a Series of Protests over the last 48 hours by Anti-Kurdish and Pro-Turkish Actors in the Deir ez-Zor pic.twitter.com/Ew3mIlTLDj  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 10, 2024

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SDF released video of drone attacks on Turkish forces.

SDF-linked Manbij Military Council releases a video showcasing drone attacks on Turkish-backed groups. pic.twitter.com/0odGpA3tdd  Wladimir van Wilgenburg (@vvanwilgenburg) December 10, 2024

The group also claims to have shot down a Turkish uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), which you can see in the following video.

SDF Press: Footage shows a Turkish AKSUNGUR UCAV falling in the Dirbesiye after it was shot down by our SDF forces  pic.twitter.com/PmnqQHeINr  Rojava Network (@RojavaNetwork) December 10, 2024

The fighting there may be drawing to an end.

The SDF Syrias Turkey-backed rebels reached a ceasefire agreement in Manbij through a U.S. mediation to ensure the safety and security of civilians, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said early on Wednesday local time.

The fighters of the Manbij Military Council, who have been resisting the attacks since November 27, will withdraw from the area as soon as possible, Abdi added.

How long that ceasefire holds remains to be seen.

Fighting rages on between Turks and Kurds in the northern Syrian town of Kobani. (Google Earth image)

In addition to the fights up north, ISIS continues to present a deadly threat.

The terror groups cells executed 54 members of regime forces near Kaziya in Al-Sukhna area in Homs Desert, SOHR reported.

The ISIS cells also arrested members who fled from the military service in the desert and Deir Ezzor after the regime of Al-Assad fell, according to SOHR.

As we previously reported, over the weekend, the U.S. launched a massive series of airstrikes against ISIS, hitting more than 75 targets using multiple U.S. Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s, according to U.S. Central Command.

Deeply disturbing: "Islamic State forces on Tuesday killed 54 people in the Homs region in central Syria who had been part of the Syrian governments military and fled during the collapse of the Assad regime, says the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. https://t.co/2gVCPSeUzt  Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) December 10, 2024

Claims are now emerging about how Assad fled the country with a fortune.

We recently told you about Assads massive bunker and huge car collection, riches he amassed while his people starved. Now that he is supposedly in Russia, claims have emerged that Assad transferred $135 billion in assets during his escape, the Turkish Turkiye Gazetesi news outlet reported on Tuesday.

The Assad family transferred the nations resources into their own pockets during the years of civil war, former intelligence officer Khalid Beyye told the publication. As the regime collapsed, they took a large portion of the countrys economy with them.

The former Syrian dictators flight to Moscow spurred the mocking ire of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is defending a nearly three-year-old full-on invasion by Russia that contributed to Assads demise.

The brave Assad ran away to Putin, Zelensky chided on Twitter. Where will Putin run away?Assad and Putin are more than just vassal and lord. They are accomplices in violence. Dictators like Assad cannot survive without dictators like Putin. And Putin will try to get revenge for Assads fall.

The brave Assad ran away to Putin. Where will Putin run away?



This year's Human Rights Day is marked by heartbreaking images of Syrian prisons and torture chambers, which were opened after Assad ran away. People have been humiliated there for many years. Men and women. They pic.twitter.com/Dr3fHTk6pw  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) December 10, 2024

Zelensky noted that his message came on Human Rights Day and was quick to point out the horrors of the deposed Syrian dictators infamous prisons, which were opened after Assad ran away. People have been humiliated there for many years. Men and women. They were beaten, tortured, raped. Thousands upon thousands of people have passed through this violence factory.

Terrible scenes emerged as people arrived at the Saydnaya Prison to rescue inmates, many political opponents imprisoned for years.

After much effort, the rebels managed to reach the basement of the prison in #Saydnaya #SaydnayaPrison

Living prisoners who had been in the secret basement for years were discovered, as were the remains of bodies dissolved in acid. Some of the prisoners had lost their minds. pic.twitter.com/gUSTD4wnzi  Mahalaxmi Ramanathan (@MahalaxmiRaman) December 10, 2024

Administrators, guards, judges, and prosecutors who worked at the prisoner were rounded up. Their fate remains unknown.

 The administrators, guards, judges and prosecutors working at #Saydnaya Prison are gathering from their homes. They will give an account of the torture they have inflicted on innocent people. pic.twitter.com/v1YwE7Y54v  Maryan (@mari_ah) December 10, 2024

The Assad regimes collapse has raised hopes that more information could come to light on the whereabouts of journalist Austin Tice, believed to be alive more than 12 years after his kidnapping.

Tice, a Marine veteran and freelance journalist, disappeared on Aug. 14, 2012, while he was reporting on the Syrian civil war. Weeks later, a short video appeared online that showed a distressed Tice blindfolded with his apparent captors. It was the last time he was seen.

President Joe Biden expressed optimism that Tice could be returned to the U.S. in the wake of Assads fall.

We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet, Biden said at the White House Sunday. We have to identify where he is.

Biden previously said the U.S. knows with certainty that he has been held by the Syrian regime.

On Tuesday, White House National Security Advisor John Kirby cautioned that the U.S. has no additional information on Austin Tice.

This development could present an opportunity for us to glean more information about him, his whereabouts, his condition, but as you and I are speaking here this morning, I cant report that we have any additional context, Kirby told reporters, including from The War Zone, at a press briefing.

Austin Tice disappeared in 2012 while reporting on the Syrian Civil War. Now, as relatives search for their loved ones in Syrias most-feared prisons following the governments collapse, Tices parents, Debra and Marc, are confident that hes alive and hopeful that he will come pic.twitter.com/AMBBMYwifU  CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) December 10, 2024

Despite the major setback Assads fall represented to Iran, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) maintains his forces are unbowed. Tehrans power is impervious to the Syria situation, the official Iranian Press TV news outlet reported Tuesday on Telegram.

Hossein Salami says Iran is vigorously pursuing the downfall of the occupying Zionist regime, stressing that Iranian Armed Forces have the enemies strategic and vital interests in West Asia in the crosshairs, according to Press TV.

As fighting rages elsewhere, HTS placed billboards up around Aleppo, the first city captured from Assads forces. The billboards serve as a reminder of the force trying to establish a government.

New billboards put up by HTS's Salvation Government in Aleppo. Creating facts on the ground fast. pic.twitter.com/wIdtVS3p2h  Aaron Y. Zelin (@azelin) December 10, 2024

Meanwhile, as al-Bashir settles into his first day in office, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out four conditions the Biden administration has for recognizing Assads successor government.

The transition process and new government must also uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that any chemical or biological weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed, Blinken said in a statement on Tuesday.

NEW: For the first time, @SecBlinken says explicitly the US will recognize a Syrian government if it adheres to four principles: respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a pic.twitter.com/xbXgtbtpxM  Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin) December 10, 2024

However, barring any serious outbreak of violence or assassination, al-Bashir will outlast the Biden administration. U.S. relations with Syria will be in the hands of Donald Trump by the time Damascus transitions to more permanent leadership.

While Trump, as we have previously reported, wants the U.S. to stay out of Syria, recent events offer him an important geopolitical moment to seize upon.

President-elect Donald Trump has an opportunity to find ways of working with [the new Syrian government] to gain leverage against Iran and Russia, Joshua Landis, head of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, recently told Politico. America has wanted a Sunni-led state in Damascus in order to hurt Iran. And Russia. And its now got it, right? So you know  why bite the hand that you wanted now?

We will know more about how Trump plays this hand after his inauguration.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Ukraine supplied Syrian rebels with drones and experienced operators in the weeks before they defeated Bashar al-Assads army, The Washington Post has reported.

David Ignatius, a Washington Post columnist, quoted knowledgeable sources that said 20 Ukrainian drone operators and 150 drones had been sent to the rebels.

Ukraines motivation is obvious: facing a Russian onslaught inside their country, Ukrainian intelligence has looked for other fronts where it can bloody Russias nose and undermine its clients, he said.

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The claims cannot be independently verified but Ukrainian intervention against Russian allies in Syria would match a pattern.

Syrian rebels celebrated taking control of the city of Hama - Ugur Yildirim/Getty Images Europe

Ukraine has been arming rebels fighting Russian forces and its proxy allies in Africa for the past couple of years.

When a combined Jihadist and Tuareg group of fighters defeated a Malian-Russian convoy in the Sahara Desert in July, killing dozens of Russian mercenaries, the government in Mali was quick to blame Ukraine for helping the rebels, although this claim was never proved.

Ignatius said the Ukrainian drones and operators arrived in Idlib, Syria, four or five weeks ago, but only played a modest role in overthrowing Assad, who fled to Moscow on Sunday  marking the collapse of his 24-year blood-soaked reign.

Rebel forces celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Umayyad Square, Damascus - Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images

Syrians living in Turkey celebrated the fall of Assad from Istanbul - Burak Kara/Getty Images Europe

Russian forces helped Assad defeat Syrian rebels in 2015 by launching a massive carpet-bombing campaign on Aleppo. In return, Assad gave Putin an airbase and allowed him to strengthen Russias naval base in Syria.

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This, Ignatius said, encouraged Ukraine to supply weapons and drones to Syria.

It was notable as part of a broader Ukrainian effort to strike covertly at Russian operations in the Middle East, Africa and inside Russia itself, he said.

Ukraine is considered to have developed one of the worlds most sophisticated military drone units in the world since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022.

A Ukrainian soldier carried a Furia drone near the frontline in Donetsk - Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

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Despite some initial reports, rebel forces in Syria have not attacked the Russian bases with drones or artillery. The Kremlin has said it is negotiating safe passage for its forces in Syria. Satellite photographs have shown the Kremlin has evacuated its naval base in Syria entirely and almost all of its air base.

In his column, Ignatius said Ukraines GUR military intelligence unit has also openly discussed its operations in Syria. He referenced an article in the Kyiv Post from June quoting a GUR agent as saying that this year Syrian rebels, supported by Ukrainian operatives, have inflicted numerous strikes on Russian military facilities.

The rebels speedy advance on Damascus took Russia and its Iranian allies off-guard. Russian warplanes bombed rebel forces but failed to stop them marching into Damascus on Sunday after the collapse of Assads army.

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By Karolina Tagaris, Edward McAllister, Riham Alkousaa

ATHENS/BERLIN (Reuters) -Najem al-Moussa was delighted when news of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's overthrow first beamed from the television in his tiny Athens apartment.

Then came a dreaded thought: what if Assad's fall meant he and his family would be forced to return to the devastated country they had fled nine years before?

Events in Syria took a seismic turn on Sunday when rebels poured into Damascus after a lightning offensive that forced Assad into exile in Russia and raised hopes of an end to a 13-year civil war that has left the country in ruins.

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Now, as European countries rethink their asylum policies for Syrians in the light of developments, many fear they will have to go back.

"I consider my life to be here. Not just me but my children," said al-Moussa, a lawyer by training who works as a cook in Athens and has been transfixed by the television news for days. "The life that was provided in Greece, my country was not able to offer."

Hundreds of thousands of people have died in Syria's war, which began in 2011 and pitted Assad's army against various rebel groups. Whole cities have been flattened by bombing. Millions fled or are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Thousands of civilians who moved to neighbouring Turkey and Lebanon rushed back into Syria this week, their cars filled with people, luggage, and hope of a peaceful homecoming.

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But 10 Syrian refugees who spoke to Reuters in Europe and the United Kingdom thought differently. Returning would mean an end to a new life they have risked everything to build.

Al-Moussa and his wife Bushra al-Bukaai fled Damascus in 2015 after the birth of their second child. They spent everything they had on a two-year journey that took them to Sudan, Iran, Turkey and eventually Greece.

They now have five children who are all in school and speak fluent Greek. None speak the Arabic of their parents' homeland.

"When we talk, they ask: 'Daddy, can we really go back to living in these areas? How did you live there before?'," Al-Moussa said.

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His wife agrees. "I cannot imagine my children building their future in Syria. Not at all," she said, their youngest son in her lap.

JOY AND DESPAIR

First-time asylum applications by Syrians to the EU were highest in 2015 and 2016 - more than 330,000 in each of those years - before dropping off significantly in the next three years, EU data show. But applications trebled between 2020 and 2023 after a devastating earthquake and as violence and economic hardship persisted.

Thousands of those applications are now on hold after several European countries including Greece this week suspended asylum applications from Syrians while they consider if Syria is safer now that Assad has gone.

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It is not clear if asylum seekers will be forced home. ProAsyl, a German NGO providing legal help to asylum seekers, said cases would be in limbo until the foreign ministry publishes its updated security assessment report on Syria, which could take months.

ProAsyl spokesperson Tareq Alaows told Reuters the decision could face legal challenges as authorities in Europe must decide on asylum applications within three to six months of their submission.

Still, Al-Moussa's Greek residence permit is up for renewal and he is worried. He is not alone.

Syrian vet Hasan Alzagher was in a German language class in the city of Erfurt on Monday when he heard that his asylum application for Germany, which he hoped would be finalised by the end of the year, was put on hold.

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"This is mentally devastating. It's difficult that after you set your mind to live here, build a new life here, learn the language and integrate in this country, you now have to return to your homeland where basic necessities are still missing," he told Reuters by phone.

In fear of being recruited into the army or a militia group, Alzagher, 32, said he fled the city of Raqqa in 2018. He spent time in Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey before heading to Germany in 2023.

"The fall of Assad is a huge joy for all Syrians, but we who came here and went into debt to finance this journey, every time we arrive in a new place, we have to start over again. It's difficult to think about returning to Syria now."

Alzagher's worries were echoed by Syrians in the United Kingdom, which has also paused decisions on asylum claims.

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Syrian refugee Zafer Nahhas applied for a British PhD programme just two days before the fall of the Assad regime. Nahhas, 34, from Aleppo, said he was a wanted man in Syria after participating in an anti-government protest there. His grandfather was jailed for 13 years and many of his friends have been detained and tortured, he said.

He has been granted asylum in the UK, but is nervous now, especially as his wife is pregnant.

The "possibility that they (UK authorities) could blindly reverse some decisions without any personal circumstances being factored in" was worrying, he said by phone.

"It's a whirlwind of thoughts, uncertainties and unnecessary additional concerns in our lives."

(Reporting by Karolina Tagaris and Edward McAllister in Athens, Riham Alkousaa in Berlin and Sachin Ravikumar in London; Editing by Angus MacSwan, William Maclean)
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was overthrown Sunday after more than 24 years in power. Assad, 59, fled to Russia as Syrian rebels seized control in Damascus, ending the five-decade rule established by his father, Hafez al-Assad.

Both the Syrian opposition's offensive in Damascus and the near-lightning speed with which the Assad regime collapsed were surprises in the extreme. Despite nearly 1,000 U.S. troops in eastern Syria and presumably border-to-border surveillance of the country by outside powers including Russia and Iran, all failed to detect the attack or anticipate the outcome. How?

The history of surprise attacks includes many instances where the instigators succeeded in at least initially fooling and gaining the upper hand on the target. On June 22, 1941, Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, despite the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The campaign's early success so astonished Hitler that he was reportedly catatonic for days.

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Nearly six months later, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched its infamous sneak attack on Pearl Harbor early in the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. The attack targeted the U.S. Navy's battleship fleet, with seven ships sunk or badly damaged. Only the USS Tennessee escaped with minor battle damage.

A litany of other surprise attacks supports a record of initial success. The Arab-Israeli wars all began with surprise attacks: in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and more recently, on Oct. 7th, 2024. Only the "Six-Day War" initiated by Israel in 1967 was successful in the long term, with Israel retaining Syria's Golan Heights and Jordan's West Bank.

In 1982, Argentina surprised Britain by invading and occupying the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, deep in the South Atlantic. Britain responded by launching Operation Corporate, which routed the Argentine army after a long and testing 8,000-mile transit from home waters. To a much lesser degree, the U.S. invasion of Grenada the next year came as a surprise to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

More examples include North Korea, goaded on by Soviet leader Josef Stalin, attacking and capturing the South Korean capital of Seoul in June 1950 with no warning. Moreover, China's intervention that November caught the United States and General Douglas MacArthur completely unaware.

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The Soviet Union marched into Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968, surprising the global community. While Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was far from a surprise, its annexation of Crimea in 2014 came as a shock.

One conclusion might be that predicting or anticipating a surprise attack has proven impossible. And while all of these examples succeeded in exploiting surprise, it hardly assured overall victory, as Nazi Germany and fascist Japan learned. Still, what, if anything, might be done to improve the ability to predict or anticipate surprise?

The U.S. military has long relied on "war games" to anticipate how battles might unfold. Today, war games no longer are confined to the military. Also called "red teaming," the private sector has made full use of these techniques in planning and analyzing options for prevention and response.

What might make a profound change in the ability of war games to analyze, evaluate, compare and predict attacks is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI has two potentially revolutionary advantages: First, along with quantum computing, AI might simultaneously model orders of magnitude and more scenarios than can be done today. This alone expands the universe for evaluation. And AI can prioritize these scenarios according to probabilities.

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Second and even more dramatic, AI produces answers and solutions that human intelligence cannot. Simply put, AI operates along lines that are contrary to and different from how humans think and reason. Humans still do not fully understand how AI arrives at its results and does its "thinking." While AI has a potential dark side, as long as humans control ultimate decision-making authority, this need not be an unacceptable risk.

Of course, without sufficient data and information, AI cannot be assumed to function as a crystal ball or tarot deck. Separating reliable data and good information from massive amounts of random noise is a non-trivial challenge. And another potential problem looms: groupthink.

Today, many members of Congress view China as the greatest threat to U.S. security. If AI derived a set of contradictory conclusions about the Chinese threat, would groupthink ignore or reject these findings? The same problem would have applied to the George W. Bush administration invading Iraq in 2003 to destroy weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which ultimately did not exist. If AI had established Iraq no longer possessed WMD, would that have impacted groupthink at the time?

Trillions are being spent on AI. The Department of Defense has a long relationship with AI and Machine Learning, setting up its first AI-specific office in 2018. Whether the DoD or the private sector is in charge, someone must lead these efforts to use AI in thinking about the future.

Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist, a senior advisor at Washington's Atlantic Council, the prime author of "shock and awe" and author of "The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large." Follow him @harlankullman. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Crying men and women have rushed to the Damascus hospital morgue in search of their missing relatives who disappeared during the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Dozens of disfigured, decomposing corpses were found by rescuers hunting for hidden prison cells inside Sednaya, Assads most notorious jail, which was liberated by Syrian rebels as his regime collapsed on Sunday.

After the rebels took Damascus, reports quickly emerged of underground cells existing underneath the prison, which was once described by Amnesty International as a human slaughterhouse. None were found.

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Torture devices, including body-crushing iron presses and red ropes, were found scattered throughout the complex instead, where thousands of civilians were abused and killed.

Dozens of photos of people allegedly tortured and killed under Assads regime are pinned up in the Al-Mujtahid Hospital morgue - Ugur Yildirim/Getty Images

Some 35 bodies that had been visibly tortured were discovered in the search for missing prisoners, according to Ahmad Shouman, a local official.

Theyre disfigured, cut up. We cant tell who is who, he said from the Damascus morgue, which has been affected by power outages because of fighting in the capital.

Mr Shouman was surrounded by distraught Syrians who had witnessed the brutality of Assads regime first hand.

Look, his right hand is gone! one man shouted as he searched inside a body bag. Another asked: What did all these people do wrong to die?

A man walks next to bodies believed to have been taken from Sednaya prison at the Al Mojtahed hospital - Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

People looking for relatives talk to sanitary workers at the morgue of a hospital in Damascus - Omar Haj Kadour/AFP

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Rima al-Turk, a Syrian woman, entered the morgue looking for her brother, who she said was taken by the regimes intelligence agency from outside their family home with no charges against him in 2013.

We didnt find [his body], she said, although it was difficult to determine the identity of some because of how intensely they had been tortured.

Zaher al-Taqesh, a mortician, said several of the bodies were recognisable by distinguishing features, such as a tattoo or a wound, and others could only be identified by their teeth.

The Damascus hospital morgue was one of multiple locations in the Syrian capital hosting bodies found after the fall of Assads regime.

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Bodies showing signs of torture were also housed at the Harasta Hospital, a member of the emergency response team associated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which seized power from Assad, told Reuters.

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DAMASCUS (AP)  Mohammad Chaeeb spoke softly into his phone, telling a relative the grim news: He found his brother at the morgue.

I saw him and said my goodbyes, he said. His gaze lingered on the blackened body of Sami Chaeeb, whose teeth were bared and whose eye sockets were empty. It looked as if he had died screaming. He doesnt look normal. He doesnt even have eyes.

The dead man was jailed five months ago, disappearing into a dark prison system under the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. His body is just one of many found in Syrian detention centers and prisons since Assad's government fell last weekend.

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Some of the prisoners died just weeks ago. Others perished months earlier. Syrians across the world are now circulating images of the bodies in hope of seeing slain loved ones whose fate had been a mystery.

At the morgue visited by The Associated Press on Wednesday in Damascus, families flocked to a wall where some of the pictures were pinned in a haunting gallery of the dead. Relatives desperately scanned the images for a recognizable face.

Mohammad Chaeeb never knew why his brother had been imprisoned. We heard stories  cannabis, organ trafficking, drugs, weapon trading. But he had nothing to do with any of that, he said.

He rushed to the morgue after another brother living in Turkey sent him a photo of a body that looked familiar. He was able to identify his brother by a mole under his ear and a half-amputated finger, an injury from when he was 12.

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Standing over the body, he lifted the drape and gently pulled out his brothers left hand, examining it closely. Here, he said, pointing to the stump.

Nearby, forensic workers worked rapidly to identify the bodies and hand them over to relatives.

Yasser Qasser, a forensic assistant at the morgue, said they received 40 bodies that morning from the hospital that were being fingerprinted and having DNA samples taken. The staff had already identified about eight, he said. But dozens of families are arriving, and the numbers dont match.

Some bodies came from the notorious Saydnaya Prison, still dressed in prisoner uniforms, Qasser said.

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His colleague, Dr. Abdallah Youssef, said identifying all of them would take time.

We understand the suffering of the families, but we are working under immense pressure. The bodies were found in salt rooms, exposed to extreme cold, he said.

Morgue officials who examined the corpses have seen bullet wounds and marks that appeared to be the result of torture, he added.

An estimated 150,000 people have been detained or reported missing in Syria since 2011. Under Assads rule, any whiff of dissent could send someone to prison immediately. For years, it was a sentence akin to death, as few ever emerged from the system.

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Citing testimony from freed prisoners and prison officials, Amnesty International has reported that thousands of Syrians were killed in frequent mass executions. Prisoners were subjected to constant torture, intense beatings and rape. Inmates frequently died from injuries, disease or starvation. Some fell into psychosis and starved themselves, the human rights group said.

Among the bodies at the morgue Wednesday was Mazen al-Hamada, a Syrian activist who fled to Europe but returned to Syria in 2020 and was imprisoned upon arrival. His mangled corpse was found wrapped in a bloody sheet in Saydnaya.

As they searched the morgue, some families moved among the bodies, weeping quietly and pausing to look for familiar features. The bodies lay covered in white shrouds, each marked with a number and some bearing the label unknown.

Hilala Meryeh, a 64-year-old Palestinian mother of four, stood in the dingy identification room, bags of bodies all around her. She had just found one of her sons.

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She paused, screwed her eyes closed and turned her face toward the ceiling, murmuring a prayer. Her four boys were arrested by the former Syrian regime in 2013 during a crackdown on the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk. She still needed to find three.

I dont know where they are, she said. Give me my children, search for my children!

Why did he do this to his people? Meryeh cried out. Imprison them, we wouldnt have objected. Try them, but to slaughter them?

Other Syrians, like Imad Habbal, stood motionless in the morgue, coming to grips with the reality and injustice of their loss.

Habbal gazed at the body of his brother, Diaa Habbal.

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We came yesterday, and we found him dead, he said. They killed him. Why? What was his crime? What did he ever do to them? Just because he came back to his country?

Diaa Habbal, a Syrian who had been living in Saudi Arabia since 2003, returned to Damascus in mid-2024 to visit his family, his brother said. He was arrested by the Syrian military police six months ago on charges of evading military service.

With trembling hands, Imad Habbal lifted the covering, his voice breaking as he wept and spoke to his brother.

I told you not to come, he said. I wish you didnt come.

___

Associated Press writers Julia Frankel in Jerusalem and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.
Syrian rescuers search the Saydnaya prison in Damascus, looking for loved ones, on Tuesday. The search comes after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted over the weekend.
Overthrown Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is in Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed on Dec. 10 in an interview with NBC News.

This comes as the first official confirmation of speculations that Assad and his family fled to Moscow following the collapse of the dictator's regime in Syria.

"He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation," Ryabkov said in the interview with NBC News.

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Syrian rebels announced on Dec. 8 that they successfully ousted Assad from power following a rapid offensive across the country. The opposition established control over the major cities of Aleppo and Hama before reaching the nation's capital, Damascus.

A key ally of Assad's regime, Moscow was unable to support him because of the "massive damage" the Russian army incurred in Ukraine, U.S President Joe Biden said on Dec. 8.

Russia maintains military bases in Syria, at the moment it is unclear what Assad's ousting means for Russian military activity in the country.

Moscow deployed its troops to Syria in 2015, providing support to the Assad regime against multiple anti-government forces. Damascus has been supportive of the Kremlin during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

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Russian forces operating in Syria have been accused by the U.N. and other organizations of committing war crimes in the country, including the intentional bombing of hospitals and the usage of "double-tap" attacks, a tactic Russia has repeated in Ukraine.

The ousting of the Assad regime is seen as a strategic blow to Russia after years of backing.

Read also: What does Assads downfall mean for Russia and Ukraine?

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Syria's new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, is calling on Syrian refugees around the world to return to their homeland following the toppling of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"My appeal is to all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has regained its pride and dignity. Come back!" al-Bashir said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera published on Wednesday.

After the end of the decades-long rule of the al-Assad family, security and stability must now be restored in all Syrian cities so that people can return to normal life, al-Bashir said. He is currently scheduled to remain in office until March.

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He said that one of his most important goals would then be to help the war-ravaged country recover, and returning Syrian refugees could play an important role with their experience gained abroad.

"We have to rebuild our country and get it back on its feet, and we need everyone's help," he said.

Al-Bashir was previously the head of the government in the rebel stronghold of Idlib. It was from there that the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who used to go by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Joulani - launched the offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

Al-Bashir tried to dispel critics' fears that the HTS could exert too much Islamist influence on the rest of Syria. "The wrong behaviour of some Islamist groups has led many people, especially in the West, to associate Muslims with terrorism and Islam with extremism," he said.

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He described this as a false characterization, and affirmed that he wanted to guarantee the rights of all people in Syria.

Asked about foreign policy, al-Bashir said that he and his transitional government had "no problems with states, parties or sects that have distanced themselves from al-Assad's bloodthirsty regime."

Asked whether this meant that he wanted to distance himself from Iran, Russia and Hezbollah and make peace with Israel, al-Bashir did not answer.
Kobane, Syria, was home to one of the most famous military turning points in history. A small force of Kurdish guerrillas, pressed between the advancing Islamic State group and the Turkish border, was supposed to have fallen quickly in a tragic last stand. Obama administration officials said as much. Instead, the Kurds of Kobane successfully held out for six months, enough time for the cavalrythe U.S. Air Force and rebels from elsewhere in Syriato arrive.

Yesterday, Kobane came under attack again. With the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in Damascus and the uncertainty over what comes next, Turkey has been seeking an opportunity to wipe out its Kurdish opponents and carve out a puppet state in Syria's north. With air cover from the Turkish Air Force, militias known as the Syrian National Army (SNA) overran the nearby city of Manbij and marched toward Kobane.

"In the last war, the people fled to Turkey. This time, it will be a genocide," Berivan Hesen, a member of Kobane's local government who lived through the Islamic State group's siege, said via text message on Tuesday. "They are all ISIS by a different name." Hesen notes that many of the people living in Kobane now had fled from other parts of Syria under Turkish and SNA control, such as Afrin, where the same forces have committed looting, rape, and torture since occupying it in 2018.

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The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to "American mediation" with Turkey, the SDF's Gen. Mazloum Abdi announced on Tuesday night, withdrawing forces from Manbij in hopes that Kobane would be spared. (The next day, Turkey launched drone strikes across North and East Syria.) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be traveling to Ankara, the Turkish capital, this week. The United States has troops embedded with the SDF and controls much of the airspace over eastern Syria. But the Biden administration has remained vague about what its goals really are.

Syria's "Kurdish revolution," which started in Kobane, is no longer just a Kurdish one. After the defense of Kobane, the U.S. military helped Kurdish rebels create the SDF alongside Arab, Assyrian Christian, and other militias. These forces eventually captured a third of the country, establishing the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, also known as Rojava, run on an eclectic mix of feminist and libertarian ideas.

The non-Kurdish areas of North and East Syria are filled with "women who chose to take advantage of new freedoms and opportunities, with all the risks they came with," says Meghan Bodette, research director at the nonprofit Kurdish Peace Institute, where I used to be a nonresident fellow. "A small constituency, all things considered. But I've never seen people who believed in freedom more."

North and East Syria, however, always rested on a delicate political balance. Both Russia and the U.S. restrained Turkey, which fears Kurdish unrest within its borders, from advancing into Syrian Kurdish territory. Now that Assad is gone, so are the Russian forces. Turkey may be betting that the SDF has outlived its usefulness for the U.S., too. And the Turkish attacks on Kobane coincided with a mutiny of Arab tribes against the SDF in the oil-rich region of Deir el-Zour. Arabs who grudgingly sided with the SDF against Assad now want to go their own way.

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If the Kurdish-Arab alliance unravels, the U.S. military may decide to directly back Arab tribes as a bulwark against Iran and the Islamic State, according to Nicholas Heras, who has advised the U.S.-led military coalition in Syria and is now senior director for strategy at the nonprofit New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington. In 2019, when former President Donald Trump wanted to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, the Trump administration considered a strategy of letting the Kurdish forces fall to Turkey and buying off Arab tribes.

"The U.S. has essentially sub-contracted out engaging with the local Arab tribes to the [Kurdish-led rebels], which is a method that is likely unsustainable now," Heras says.

Before Assad's fall, the SDF had controlled the parts of Deir el-Zour province east of the Euphrates River. Assad loyalists controlled the western half of the province. As government forces withdrew last week, the SDF moved in. But they weren't necessarily welcomed as liberators. Protests broke out in the newly captured areas, and the SDF reportedly killed at least one civilian.

Muhammad Dakhil, the Arab co-president of the SDF-aligned administration in Deir el-Zour, downplayed the unrest in a phone interview with Reason on Monday. "Let's say you're in a city where the authorities arrived three days ago. They're not going to be governing it in three days," he said. "We've been here for 48 hours." Dakhil chalked up the outbursts of "small groups" in the streets to "sabotage" by Assad loyalists.

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The next day, things got much more serious. Several Arab units in the SDF announced that they were defecting to the new Islamist government in Damascus. (Dakhil declined to comment, writing in a text message that "it's a military matter, soldiers have the details, and I'm not a soldier.") The SDF retreated back east across the Euphrates.

A civil society mediator in Deir el-Zour, who goes by the name of "Shimayan," agrees that Assad loyalists had been responsible for sabotage and looting. But he blames the SDF's failures, and believes that it may have to leave the province as a whole.

"The truth is that the people of Deir el-Zour want someone to maintain security and protect their property and public property. If the SDF could do the job, nothing would happen," he tells Reason via text message. "If the SDF cannot completely impose its control over areas west of the Euphrates where the regime was, things will not be stable east of the Euphrates."

The dilemma is partly because of U.S. policy. To a large extent, the SDF was reluctant to go into Deir el-Zour in the first place, as it meant pulling troops away from Kurdish areas to try to control hostile territory. But the U.S. military pushed its Kurdish partners to take over the province, partly to finish off the Islamic State group and partly to keep Iran and Russia out of the strategic region.

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A major question is whether this split will lead to a broader Kurdish-Arab conflict. One of the mutinying commanders in Deir el-Zour called on all Arab leaders in the SDF to rise up against the group's "terrorism" and "oppression." During the battle for Manbij, some SDF fighters switched to the Turkish-backed side, according to Sihem Hemo, a Kurdish official there.

After taking Manbij, SNA fighters filmed themselves shooting wounded fighters from the SDF in their hospital beds. Hemo tells Reason that there was "torture and pillaging" in the city, especially targeted at Kurds. The Zenobia Women's Gathering, an Arab feminist organization, also announced that three of its members were killed during the fall of Manbij.

The United States has, directly and indirectly, backed all sides of the fight. Turkey is a NATO ally. Some of the SNA units now attacking Kobane had received weapons and training from the CIA and the U.S. military. (After the Trump administration cut off support, a U.S. official condemned these same factions as "thugs, bandits, and pirates that should be wiped off the face of the earth," and the Biden administration imposed human rights sanctions.) Meanwhile, several hundred U.S. troops are embedded with the SDF.

Washington has so far taken a vague, noncommittal public stance on the struggle between its partners. The Pentagon's deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Monday that "we want to see the protection of civilians, escalation management, and the management of risk to U.S. forces and partners through the Defeat ISIS mission." She declined to answer specific questions about U.S.-Turkish conversations.

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Asked on Tuesday about foreign interference in Syria in general, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller gave a long-winded nonanswer: "All of the actors in Syria, all of the actors inside the region have to deal with what came before. There's been a very brutal civil war in which you had a number of internal actors, at times supported by external forces as well."

Dakhil, the official in Deir el-Zour, seemed himself confused about what U.S. policy was. "I want to ask you a question. The role of our partners, where are they on this matter?" he asked over the phone. "Manbij surrendered, went away, almost. But our partners, the Americans for example, what is their role in this matter?"

In his Sunday victory speech about the fall of the Assad government, President Joe Biden said that he wanted to support an "independent, sovereignan independentindependentI want to say it againsovereign Syria." But U.S. policy at the moment seems to be creating the opposite: a Syria chopped up by foreign powers.

The post Syria's Rojava Revolution Is in Grave Danger appeared first on Reason.com.
No other building in the war-torn country of Syria symbolizes the sheer horror of the al-Assad family regime more, its former inmates say, than the Sednaya prison - so much so that they adopted a special nickname for it: slaughterhouse.

There officers from the now overthrown government of Bashar al-Assad are said to have tortured and killed on an "industrial scale." Before Bashar, his father Hafez al-Assad imprisoned people there under harsh conditions, former prisoners say.

Now - after the lightning offensive by the insurgents, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - thousands of people are being released from Sednaya and are relaying the horrors they had to endure.

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Civil defence workers from the White Helmets estimate that 20,000 to 50,000 prisoners were rescued from the building complex north of the capital Damascus in just one day. Up to 150,000 could have been imprisoned there - many are still missing.

With the liberation, new details have come to light about the conditions in Sednaya, where, according to estimates by the White Helmets, 50 to 100 people were probably executed every day and then burned in ovens.

Search for a 'spark of hope'

For the relatives, a feverish search begins for clues about imprisoned or missing relatives whom they have not heard from for years or decades. Mohammed Abel Asis, who came to Damascus from Aleppo, was looking for his father in Sednaya. When the security forces arrested him in 2000, Mohammed was seven years old.

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"We were looking for a spark of hope," he told dpa - in vain. Some who return empty-handed from prison then hold symbolic funerals and memorial services for their relatives who are probably lost forever, according to eyewitnesses.

Others wander into unexpected freedom like shadows of their former selves, sometimes after decades in prison.

The news channel Al Jazeera aired footage of a man who cannot remember his own name after allegedly being tortured to the extreme. Others who were imprisoned during the reign of Assad's father Hafez are now learning that he died in 2000 and that his son Bashar, who has now been deposed, took power.

According to the Guardian, one of those freed is an ex-pilot who refused to bomb the city of Hama during an uprising against Hafez al-Assad in the 1980s - and who is now entering a completely different Syria after 43 years.

'Industrial-scale killings'

The methods used by army and security officers must have been so brutal that the lawyer and former UN chief prosecutor David Crane, who viewed torture images of the Syrian defector "Caesar," compared them to Nazi rule. In 2014 he spoke of "industrial-scale killings."

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According to Amnesty International, Sednaya had a room with 30 nooses for hanging prisoners, and according to the US government, a crematorium next to the main building for burning bodies. White Helmets leader Raid al-Saleh also says he and his team discovered bodies in ovens.

Prisoners must have died countless more deaths before they eventually died in the complex. Survivors and former guards told Amnesty International about a human press known as a "flying carpet" and the "tire" method, in which victims were forced into a car tire with their heads between their knees and then beaten.

Prisoners were raped and beaten, others fell into psychosis and died in their cells. Since the 1970s, there have been prisons in Syria in which opposition members disappeared as if into black holes.

Arrested 30 years ago - liberated as a grandfather

The al-Assad government had described the allegations as "baseless" and false. Human rights activists nevertheless estimated that between 2011 and 2018 alone, more than 30,000 prisoners in Sednaya alone were either executed or died after torture, denial of medical care or from starvation.

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Civil defence workers and relatives who are currently searching for allegedly hidden underground cells could make further gruesome discoveries.

Those released are trying to rebuild their lives. Suhail Hammuoyi was arrested more than 30 years ago and spent about half of that time in Sednaya. "We lived hour by hour. The biggest concern was staying alive," he told dpa in his house in northern Lebanon after returning to his home country. "When I went to prison, I had a 10-month-old son. Now that I've returned, my son is married and I'm a grandfather."
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  If you cant beat them join them?

A Florida lawmaker is causing controversy following a big switch. State Representative Susan Valdes says she is flipping from the Democratic party to the Republican party.

Valdes just won re-election for a fourth term last month as a Democrat. Political experts say a decision like this isnt unheard of in Florida, but its a move that will follow Valdes throughout her entire political career.



The news also comes one week after Valdes lost in the race for chair of the Hillsborough Democratic party.

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Valdes shared in a post on X with the announcement sharing, I am tired of being the party of protesting when I got into politics to be part of the party of progress.

Leaders from across the aisle reacted, with some showing support and others disappointment.

Representative Berny Jacques, R-Pinellas, says Valdes is just doing what many other Floridians have done in recent years.

Valdes now joins the countless of Floridians that have made that switch. If a lot of people will recall before Governor DeSantis came into office, there were more registered Democrats than Republicans, and now we stand at a point where there are over 1,000,000 more Republicans than Democrats registered here in the state, and now we can count Representative Valdes as one of those, said Rep. Jacques.

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Democratic Representative Dianne Hart, D-Hillsborough, shares her sorrow but respects Valdes and her wishes. However, Rep. Hart believes the party needs to stand together and understand how some constituents feel abandoned by the decision.

When you leave, you abandoned a party. The party didnt abandon you, said Rep. Hart.

Representative promises she will continue to fight for the Democratic party and will never waiver from her party.

I will stand on my democratic values, period, said Rep. Hart.

St. Pete political analyst Tara Newsom says the real question is, how will Valdes align with her constituents come March?



How is she going to navigate the will of the people in her district with the GOP knowing that the GOP is going to demand loyalty? This is going to be a tough pill for her to swallow, and her constituents might be the ones that really lose out, said Newsom.

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While the transition between parties will raise questions, University of South Florida Political Professor J. Benton adds that it will be welcomed by many.

If she wants to make an impact, given the strong Republican dominance and the legislature, shes going to have to work the confines of the Republican Party, and not as an outsider in the Democratic Party, said Benton.

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.
Taco Bell is branching out into beverages.

Last month, the Tex Mex-inspired chain opened a new drink-focused spinoff restaurant called Live Mas Cafe, as first reported by Nations Restaurant News. It celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 9.

Live Mas Cafe will offer specialty drinks including Coffee and Churro Chillers, agua frescas and specialty coffees, alongside fan-favorite food items.

Is Taco Bell trying to be ... Erewhon? Starbucks? A combo?

One drink item of note is called the Dirty Baja Blast, which appears to be a riff on the dirty soda trend that took over TikTok in 2022 and recently enjoyed a resurgence in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

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Other drinks the cafes Bellristas (Taco Bell baristas) will make customers, according to promotional material provided by Taco Bell: Cinnavanilla Coffee Churro Chiller, Cinnabon Caramel Iced or Hot Coffee, Vanilla Crema Iced or Hot Coffee, Limonada Iced Tea and more.

The new concept was developed with Diversified Restaurant Group, one of Taco Bells largest franchisees. Its first location is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. in Chula Vista, California at 1548 E. H Street.

Live Mas Cafe interior.

Taco Bell says Live Mas Cafe is part of its plan to disrupt the beverage industry. (That means you, Starbucks and Dunkin.)

Scott Mezvinsky, Taco Bell president, International and North America, says that the chain is always looking for new ways to elevate the Taco Bell experience and its new cafe concept is just one example of that.

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This innovative pilot concept is all about expanding the boundaries of what Taco Bell can be, creating a dynamic space where guests can experience our bold flavors in new and exciting ways, Mezvinsky tells TODAY.com in an emailed statement.

Live Mas Cafe menu.

This isnt just a menu update message  its a movement, added Diversified Restaurant Group CEO, SG Ellison, in a statement. The new beverage platform will empower consumers to live bold and live beyond, and Taco Bell has allowed us to help write the book on this exciting new concept.

Live Mas Cafe comes a year after McDonalds debuted its own drinks-focused spinoff restaurant, CosMcs, in December 2023. The concept, which has since opened six more locations across three states, offers a similar assortment of customizable beverages, as well as some of the Golden Arches signature food items.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Dec. 10SOUTH PORTLAND  Taco Trio, a popular traditional Mexican restaurant in the city's Knightville neighborhood, will return in January to its original location on the rotary at Ocean and E streets.

The move two blocks down Ocean Street will realize the wishes of founder Manuel "Manny" Pena Cerrito, who died in October at age 60 following a 10-year battle with metastatic prostate cancer. It also will fulfill more recent efforts by his wife and business partner, Karen Rasmussen, to preserve his legacy as a dedicated restaurateur and community member who loved his adopted Maine home.

A year ago, the couple sold the building at 60 Ocean St., where Taco Trio has been located since May 2021, and set their sights on renovating and moving back to its smaller previous storefront spot at 119 Ocean St.

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"It just never felt like Taco Trio," Rasmussen said of 60 Ocean St. "It always felt like what that space was meant to be  a pub or a nightclub. And we just missed our old place."

Cerrito and Rasmussen purchased 60 Ocean St. from the builder, Ginger Cote, who had developed the property to be a restaurant, pub and music venue with six apartments upstairs. It's the former site of The Griffin Club, a longtime favorite watering hole that closed in 2017.

The pandemic hit less than two months after Cote opened Big Babe's Tavern in January 2020, forcing her to shut down at a critical time. The financial challenges that followed led her to sell the modern, two-story property.

Although Cerrito and Rasmussen initially saw potential for growth at 60 Ocean St., it soon became clear that the modern, two-story property wasn't well suited for the traditional Mexican street food served at T3, their nickname for Taco Trio.

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"It was more (space) than we needed and it wasn't designed for our needs," Rasmussen said. "The prep kitchen was in the basement. It wasn't designed for a restaurant that does everything from scratch. But mostly he and I just wanted to be small again and be back here."

MEETING A NEED

Cerrito, who left Mexico in 1988, met Rasmussen in 2006, when she was doing a two-year, post-doctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for board certification in clinical genetics. She frequented his food truck and mutual friends encouraged them to get together. Now 63, she works half-time as a geneticist with South Portland-based Spectrum Healthcare Partners.

The couple moved to Portland in 2007 and together began renovating and managing rental properties. He saw a need for traditional Mexican food in Greater Portland, but the food truck scene had yet to develop here. So they opened Taco Trio at 119 Ocean St. in 2011 and later purchased the property.

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Plans to expand Taco Trio to locations in Portland and Saco were scuttled when Cerrito was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2014. He fought the disease bravely through surgeries, chemotherapy and clinical trials that often took them to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. The last trial didn't take.

"He just got so sick so fast," she said.

In September, a Food & Wine article said Knightville is "Maine's next big dining destination," with a growing number of bakeries, craft brewers and restaurants.

"When we opened here, there wasn't much else for restaurants," said Rasmussen, who lives in the neighborhood and still owns several apartment buildings there. "Now, there are lots of places."

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LESS SEATING, EXPANDED HOURS

The building at 60 Ocean St. is currently on the market for $3.4 million and the restaurant space is available for lease at $120,000 annually, according to Moody's listings by Thomas Gadbois, an agent with F.O. Bailey Real Estate.

Rasmussen said rental costs didn't play a role in the decision to move Taco Trio, but operating rent-free at 119 Ocean St. will help trim costs overall. So will reducing seating from more than 70 to 24, including several stools at a new white-tiled bar that's been installed, plus some outdoor seating.

Despite a smaller footprint, hours at the original location will be expanded, so Rasmussen intends to retain the current staff, which is 80% Hispanic, she said.

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The menu will remain the same  tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, sopes and tamales filled with chicken, pork, beef or vegetables. The margarita selection and challenging-to-choose-from salsa bar also will continue. In the future she may try regional specials.

"Some people will be disappointed that (the original location) is smaller," she said, "but we hope most of our customers will be happy."

Her husband definitely would be pleased.

"He'd be really excited that it's finally happening after two years of talking about it," she said. "He loved this place. He loved Knightville."

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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwan demanded Wednesday that China end its ongoing military activity in nearby waters, which it said is unilaterally undermining peace and stability and disrupting international shipping and trade.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website that it was responding in part to the activities of a large number of Chinese ships in the first-island chain, the Pacific archipelago off the Asian continental mainland that includes Japan, Taiwan and part of the Philippines.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly demands that the Beijing authorities immediately stop military intimidation and all irrational activities that endanger regional peace and stability, the statement said.

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Taiwans military has detected Chinese ships since Monday, both off Taiwan and farther out along the first-island chain, Defense Ministry officials said this week. They described the formations as two walls designed to demonstrate that the waters belong to China. Taiwanese media, citing an unnamed national security official, have said that 90 ships  60 from the navy and 30 from the coast guard  are involved overall.

An analyst said the participation of the coast guard, which also took part in drills in May and October, is new this year and part of a blockade scenario in which the coast guard would block Taiwans ports while the navy would form an outer barrier out at sea.

They were practicing to seal off Taiwan, Kuo Yujen, an Asia-Pacific security expert at the National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Taiwan's military had been expecting drills following stops by its president, Lai Ching-te, in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam during an overseas trip last week. China claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory and opposes any official contact with America and other foreign governments.

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China restricted airspace off its southeast coast from Monday to Wednesday, an indication that it was planning to hold drills over those three days, but the countrys Peoples Liberation Army has not confirmed whether it is doing so.

The low-key approach may be intended as a warning to both Lai and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Kuo said.

Lai, who took office in May, angered China by visiting Hawaii and Guam, but unlike other new leaders, he has so far refrained from going to the U.S. mainland, Kuo said. The analyst added that if China held a high-profile exercise around Taiwan, it wouldn't have a card to play if Lai visits the continental U.S. next year.

China must reserve strategic maneuvering room for itself, he said.

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Kuo also believes the military activity is a very important strategic communication to Trump. They intentionally let Trump know that this is the red line, he said. "If the new U.S. administration allows President Lai to transit (the mainland U.S.), then China will react even more strongly. By then, it would be a large-scale military drill.

The Chinese military held major exercises around Taiwan following both Lais inauguration in May and his national day speech in October. It also held a major drill after Nancy Pelosi, then the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Taiwan in 2022.

A Chinese spokesperson didn't comment directly on any ongoing exercises but said in a statement posted online Wednesday that the government would not let provocations by Taiwan in collusion with external forces go unchecked.

"We will take necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and safeguard the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the government's Taiwan Affairs Office.

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The Taiwan Strait is a 160-kilometer (100-mile) wide body of water between China and the island of Taiwan.

___

Moritsugu reported from Beijing. Associated Press researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report.
The Talibans minister for refugees has been killed in a suicide bomb attack believed to have been carried out by the Islamic State.

A senior Taliban official confirmed to The Telegraph that Khalil Rahman Haqqani was killed in an explosion at the refugee ministry building in Kabul on Wednesday.

Khalil Rahman Haqqani has been martyred, and the cabinet is holding an emergency meeting, the official said.

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Six others were believed to have been killed in the blast in the Afghan capital.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Talibans official spokesman, said in a statement that the Islamic State (IS) was behind the cowardly attack on a great fighter.

The terror group later claimed responsibility for the blast.

A global terrorist

Haqqani, 58, became a minister in the Talibans interim government after international forces withdrew from the country in 2021.

He was a leading member of the powerful Haqqani network, an Afghan Islamist terror group built around the family of the same name, which allied with the Taliban in the 1990s.

Washington classified Haqqani as a global terrorist in 2011 and offered a $5 million (3.9 million) reward for information leading to his capture.

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He is the most senior official killed since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, marking a significant blow to both the Taliban and the Haqqani networks leadership.

He fought against two empires for the sake of Islam and freedom, said Anas Haqqanai, his nephew and senior Taliban official, referring to the Soviet Union and the United States.

His role at the ministry involved trying to secure international aid, especially in the past two years after Pakistan and Iran started deporting Afghan refugees.

Haqqani was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the late founder of the Haqqani network, known for its violent attacks during the Talibans insurgency after the 2001 US-led invasion.

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He was also the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the current leader of the network and Afghanistans interior minister.

IS has carried out a series of similar bombings and assassinations since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan.

In 2022, a blast took place near the interior ministry killing four people. In 2023, IS claimed an attack outside the Taliban-run foreign ministry that killed at least five people.

Rifts in the regime

Both the Taliban and the Haqqani network are designated as terrorist organisations by the UK.

While they overlap and hold key positions in the Taliban regime, they are also engaged in their own internal power struggle.

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The Telegraph revealed last week that the harsh crackdown on women by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Talibans supreme leader, has caused rifts within the clerical regime.

In a rare move, Sirajuddin Haqqani recently criticised Akhundzada for his total grip on power following the revelations.

He said: You should not think that because you are in power from now on, everyone must accept what you say, and if someone disagrees, nothing will happen.

No, you are responsible and God will ask you.

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.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The year for lawmakers is winding down and there is still a lot to do including keeping the government open. That deadline is next Friday.

There is still not a clear plan from lawmakers to fund the government however, Republicans released their plan to fund the military.

House Republicans are moving forward with a bill to fund the military, known as the National Defense Authorization Act.

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Includes critical wins for our troops and for our country, said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

The bill includes a 14.5% pay raise for service members and better housing for military families.

While we plussed up those other accounts, we cut $31 billion in bloated Pentagon spending, said Johnson.

What wont be in the bill, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, are programs that include DEI.

It also prevents the militarys health insurance program from covering transgender surgeries for minors.

New Mexico Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez pushed back on the cuts.

The NDAA is attacking a family members right to choose the healthcare they need for their kids, said Leger Fernandez.

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Another task for Congress is keeping the doors of government open.

The country is set to run out of money on December 20th.

Right now, Congress is leaning toward a short-term spending deal.

A CR keeps spending at this level; it is better than it being higher, said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas.).

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer says he wants disaster relief to be included in the funding bill.

We on the Democratic side, have been persistent in getting as many dollars as possible to help both blue and red states affected by the disaster, said Schumer.

Members on both sides of the aisle expect the government will stay open past the Dec. 20th shutdown deadline. Negotiations on how to do that are still underway.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Some home and business owners in Tampa could be forced to tear down everything and rebuild after the recent hurricanes.

The City of Tampa is sending out more than 1,900 letters to property owners in designated flood hazard areas like Davis Islands, Palmetto Beach and Westshore.

City of Tampa begins mailing substantial damage determination letters

The water basically came up here, not quite two feet, said Rudolph La Russa Jr.

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La Russas family home on Davis Islands was damaged by both hurricanes.

Itll change you. It really does. You dont know until youve lost 45 years of stuff, said La Russa.

La Russa cares for his 90-year-old dad, who owns the home. He said repairs are out of the question because they know it could flood again.

How can you go through this again? La Russa added.

Brooksville couple discovers they are barred by law from building home on new property

Many homes in his neighborhood were damaged by floodwaters and now sit empty. Some could be forced to tear down everything and rebuild.

The city is sending the letters to neighbors who live in designated flood hazard areas.

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If you receive a letter, the cost to repair your home or business is more than half of its value. That means it cannot be repaired unless there are major changes, like elevating your home.

Its tearing your house down to raise it. You dont just put an airbag under it and lift it, said La Russa.

Florida State Rep. Susan Valdes, representing parts of Hillsborough County, switches political parties

We want our community to know if they receive this letter, the next step is to fill out the attached Substantial Damage Determination form, Development and Economic Opportunity Administrator Abbye Feeley said. If the structure is deemed substantially damaged, you may need to elevate your home or floodproof your business.

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The city said the letter is not the final say. They want residents to fill out the forms that come with it because the determination could change.

Once they fill out the form they may not impact be substantially damaged, said Feeley.

La Russa expects to receive a letter, but instead of rebuilding, he plans to sell the home as-is.

Were going to wait for the market to come back and get out of here. We cannot go through that again, La Russa said. Once you go through it once, youll never want to go through it again.

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.
Tanya Chutkan once thought she would spend much of 2024 presiding over an iconic moment in American history: the criminal trial of Donald Trump for conspiring to derail the transfer of power. Instead, the federal judge spent Tuesday afternoon in an empty courtroom with John Banuelos.

Banuelos, a chatty Chicagoan with a long rap sheet, is charged with firing a gun into the air while dangling from Joe Bidens Inauguration Day scaffolding during the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He is the only person known to have fired a gun that day other than the police officer who shot and killed a rioter attempting to breach the speakers lobby. Now, Banuelos is hoping for a pardon from Trump, though he says even if he doesnt get one at least the guys hes been in jail with since his arrest will go free.

For 45 minutes, Banuelos appealed to Chutkan for a break, perhaps a release from pretrial detention in time for Christmas, and for her private advice about his case  a proposition she rejected as unethical. He bashed his court-appointed lawyer as a public pretender, suggested the cases lead prosecutor was just pursuing him for a paycheck and entreated Chutkan to help him escape further punishment.

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Chutkan responded with a hint of knowing irony: Federal judges have far less authority than you think.

Judges are not kings, she said, adding quickly, Neither are presidents. It was an echo of the most famous line from a ruling she issued in 2021, when she permitted Jan. 6 investigators to access Trumps White House records. That investigation helped lead to special counsel Jack Smiths criminal charges against Trump  charges that Smith has now dropped in light of Trumps imminent return to the White House.

Chutkan has said little since Trump prevailed in the 2024 election and Smith reluctantly asked her to dismiss the case. She has for months acknowledged that the fate of the case was almost entirely out of her control; it was at the mercy of appellate courts and, ultimately, electoral politics.

Last month, Chutkan quickly signed the paperwork granting the dismissal. She opted against any unorthodox tactics that might have prolonged the outcome or forced further public explanations.



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Now, Chutkan is one of many federal trial judges in Washington who are presiding over cases in which Jan. 6 defendants are trying to escape consequences for the attack by invoking Trumps pledge to pardon many of them. Chutkan once said the rioters stormed the Capitol in loyalty, to one man  not to the Constitution.

Banuelos used his rare face-time with the judge to air a long list of grievances about the court system, saying he viewed Chutkan as a kindred spirit who is interested in justice rather than politics. He said he could tell she was a reader of philosophy and treatises by Marcus Aurelius, and that she had his best interests at heart.

I believe in you for real, Banuelos said shortly after getting Chutkans permission to seek a new public defender.

For Chutkan, the boisterous hearing also seemed like a return to normalcy. She jousted with Banuelos, keeping pace with his rapid-fire complaints. She noted that she, too, was once a former public pretender and defended the attorneys whom Banuelos maligned. She used his gripes to attempt to educate him about the role of judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers in the system.

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My job is to administer justice. Im the umpire, she said. Your lawyer  represents you and only you.

She couldnt take a private meeting with him, she noted, just like she wouldnt take one with the prosecutor except in exceptional circumstances that are first explained and justified publicly. Ultimately, Chutkan reminded Banuelos, it was her decision to put him in jail while awaiting trial and that his lawyer had zealously advocated for his release.

When Banuelos complained that the lead prosecutor in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebekah Lederer, didnt factor in my kids or my dog in their efforts to detain him before trial, Chutkan told him it wasnt Lederers job.

Her job is to prosecute you, Chutkan said.

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Chutkan ended the hearing with a warning to Banuelos to give his next appointed attorney a chance without making snap judgments about people.

You dont have to share the same political beliefs as your lawyer, Chutkan said. Your lawyers political beliefs have no bearing on how hard theyll fight for you.  Its not some kind of political litmus test.

Chutkan noted that Banuelos happiness appeared to stem from a belief that the 2024 election results should result in some kind of relief for him from his prosecution.

Even if I dont get pardoned, theyre going to free the guys, Banuelos said. A nation divided cant stand. Enough is enough.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director David Rausch described new details on the rise of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TDA).

In a recent conversation with Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on her Unmuted with Marsha podcast, Rausch explained TDA gained prominence in Venezuelan prisons under the Venezuelan government.

The [Venezuelan] government ultimately embarrassed by what was going on  went in to take the prisons back and then they claimed that [TDA] all escaped when they went back in to take the prisons back, Rausch said. And now, we know where theyve escaped to. Most of them have transferred to other countries.

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RELATED | They are in numbers here: TBI director warns of violent Venezuelan gang resurfacing in Tennessee

Rausch said TBI agents first noticed TDA in Tennessee two years ago while investigating a human trafficking case. Intelligence information indicated the gang left for a short period.

All of a sudden now, weve seen in the past few months a resurgence, Rausch added.

According to Rausch, intelligence information showed TDA established their presence in the U.S. and other countries through human trafficking. Eventually, Rausch said they moved on to other types organized crime, such as retail theft and drug trafficking.

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Thats the next phase for them once they get established, Rausch said. After they do that, then they move into the drug trade, and they actually take on the cartels at that point, he said.

Rausch said some gang members bring women into the United States by claiming they are fleeing from the Venezuelan government.

Some of them are coming in that way, but the majority of them are being smuggled in, Rausch explained.

PREVIOUS | Gallatin police arrest five in connection to area gang and drug activity

Rausch said some TDA members have taken over apartment complexes in other major cities across the U.S., but that hasnt happened in Tennessee.

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Were not there yet, but we dont want to get there, Rausch said.

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UPDATE: According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Bradford and Joles have been found safe.

SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Sullivan County Sheriffs Office (SCSO) and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) are asking for the publics help locating two 13-year-old students who left school on Tuesday.

According to the SCSO, Sophia Bradford and Gene Ernest Joles left Sullivan Central Middle School on Tuesday afternoon.

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Shortly after the SCSO sent a news release asking for assistance locating the pair, the TBI issued its own Endangered Child Alert.

Photo: Sophia Bradford and Gene Ernest Joles. (Courtesy of the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office) Photo: Missing teenager Sophia Bradford. (Courtesy of the TBI) Photo: Gene Ernest Joles. (Courtesy of the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office)

Efforts were made to find the juveniles, including a search of the area by deputies.

The sheriffs office stated that a reverse 911 call was sent out to the area around the school to tell people to call if they saw Bradford and Joles.

Both juveniles were wearing black clothing and are described as a white female and male.

The TBI describes Bradford as 5 feet 2 inches tall, roughly 135 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Joles is 5 feet 4 inches tall, about 145 pounds and has blonde hair and hazel eyes, according to the TBI.

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As of Tuesday evening, the SCSO is continuing to search for the pair. Anyone with information or who may have seen them is asked to call the sheriffs office at 423-279-7330, the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or dial 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
AKRON (WJW)  The Akron Education Association alleges the District Superintendent is hiding public records by using emails that disappear, so the Fox 8 I-Team went to Dr. Michael Robinson with a camera rolling, and he refused to answer any of our questions.

Man arrested after shooting near Alliance business: Police

When the I-Team first asked to discuss the allegations about the emails, Robinson walked away, stepped into an elevator and pushed the I-Team away. A short time later, he walked into the Akron School Board meeting, and we asked more questions. Again, he refused to answer any questions.

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Pat Shipe, president of the AEA, says Robinson is tampering with public email records by sending emails that disappear under his control .

This superintendent has a problem with the truth, Shipe said.

She added that the messages are sent in confidential mode, allowing the emails to disappear on a certain date. The confidential mode emails also do not allow anyone to copy or download them, Shipe said.

This confidential mode that the superintendent is using is patently illegal, said attorney Don Malarcik. We have public records for a reason in Ohio, so we have accountability, and transparency, and honesty.



The I-Team filed a public records request for emails sent by the superintendent in recent weeks using the confidential mode. The District gave us about 30 emails, but stated some of our request was denied. The district cited attorney-client privilege. Some of the emails we did get appeared routine, talking about district spending.

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Child accidentally shot self, dies: Local PD

A taxpayer attending Mondays board meeting said she is concerned about the emails.



I want the proof of what happened, said Kaylah Lutz. Nothing should be disappearing when it pertains to our city and our school district.

The AEA is planning to file a lawsuit over the matter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Washington is about to confront a cabal of outsiders  the tech billionaires, investors and Silicon Valley celebrities like Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen, whose ideas are suddenly central to the Trump transition.

Sometimes, outsiders are a true unknown, and its a puzzle for the capital to suss out what they want from politics, how theyre planning to approach it and what even inspired them to get involved in the first place.

Not this time.

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Unlike wealthy power players of another generation, whose ideas and influence were often cloaked and exercised through backroom deals, these tech moguls tend to talk about their policy preferences in public  a lot.

Whether on podcasts, lengthy posts on X and Substack, or through influential self-published manifestos, the tech characters now heavily involved in President-elect Donald Trumps transition have a clear track record of demands, expectations and ideas, all delivered with the classic Silicon Valley confidence that they can run the government better than the government itself.

The picture that emerges is one of a sweeping deregulatory agenda touching everything from crypto to artificial intelligence to fields like the defense industry and health technology.

Their goals might not be uniform, but on the whole they see their innovations as dragging a moribund America into the future, with the governments role either to help them do it or get out of the way entirely.

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Andreessen  founder of venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz, or a16z for short  is best known in tech-policy circles for his 5,000-plus-word techno-optimist manifesto, which made a searing case that regulators bent on stifling industry are killing Americas entrepreneurial spirit. In it, he nodded to an eclectic pantheon of heroes including free market economist Friedrich Hayek, transhumanist theorist Ray Kurzweil and Italian futurist Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Now hes started to lay out even more specific policy thoughts: Today Andreessen appeared on the podcast of Free Press founder Bari Weiss, envisioning Trumps second term as a direct rebuke to what he views as a hostile, anti-tech Biden administration.

When we endorsed Trump, we only did so on the basis of tech policy, Andreessen said. The crypto war, we were on the receiving end for four years and it was incredibly brutal, incredibly destructive; AI, we had meetings in D.C. in May where we talked to them about this and the meetings were absolutely horrifying and we came out basically deciding that we had to endorse Trump.

This first appeared in Digital Future Daily, POLITICOs afternoon newsletter about how tech and power are shaping our world. Subscribe here.

Andreessen claimed that representatives of the Biden administration said that they would work to close off AI development and research to smaller actors, citing safety concerns  a life-or-death scenario for Andreessen, whose entire career and fortune are built on investing in startups. (White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson denied that assertion, telling POLITICO President Bidens landmark executive order on A.I. explicitly calls for increasing competition in the sector and that the administration worked with companies of all sizes to deepen U.S. leadership in AI.)

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That focus on opening up the economic playing field to all comers is what unites Andreessen and the more politically outspoken startup ecosystem with Big Tech, the established giants like Google and Microsoft, which have traditionally sought to stay politically neutral but have plenty to gain from a GOP-led deregulatory agenda.

Both sides said as much in a preelection blog post jointly written by Andreessen, his founding partner Ben Horowitz and Microsoft chair Satya Nadella, who wrote of a policy opportunity for AI startups that includes investment in AI resources, support for open-source development and a skeptical eye toward new regulation of the technology.

The trio said new tech regulations should be evaluated by how much they would benefit start-ups. Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs, the trio wrote, elaborating that In accounting for costs, policymakers should include an assessment of possible costs associated with unnecessary bureaucratic burdens to startups.

That skeptical, pro-growth approach to government action dovetails nicely with the mission of Musk and entrepreneur (and former GOP presidential primary candidate) Vivek Ramaswamys DOGE, a committee outside government that will identify and recommend opportunities for Trump and Congress to downsize the federal government.

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Its goal, they say, is to aggressively liberate individuals and businesses from illicit regulations never passed by Congress and stimulate the U.S. economy.

With Musk allies interviewing candidates for positions at departments as disparate as State and Defense, as The New York Times reported on Friday, tech moguls could have allies in place no matter where their increasingly powerful tools overlap with policy.

One example of how the tech rights sweeping deregulatory agenda tends to encompass, well, everything, is energy. Many right-leaning tech thinkers see boosting Americas energy output as an imperative for reducing the cost of living, powering AI development and competing with China  and theyve made common cause with mainstream Republicans to pump up growth by maxing out energy production.

David Friedberg, a venture capitalist and co-host of the All In podcast, said on an episode Friday that More electricity means more automation means more AI means more things are being done  in factories, are being done by machines.  The regulatory structure prohibits our ability to actually expand electricity production capacity.

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So, to review: Crypto foes like Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler are out; podcasters/VCs/Trump allies like venture capitalist and Musk pal David Sacks are in. Biden environmental regulations perceived as blocking Americas energy production are out; more fossil fuel production as well as new energy sources like nuclear and geothermal are in. Safety-first AI regulations are out; competition among AI startups is in.

As ambitious as the tech rights goals are, they might meet resistance to some extent even from  within the tech right.

One of the big arguments is emerging around antitrust: Vice President-elect JD Vance, a Peter Thiel protege, has supported the antitrust crusade waged against Big Tech by Joe Bidens Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. Some in the tech world have also cheered these developments, viewing the tech giants as complacent, excessively social justice-oriented dinosaurs that need to be brought to heel.

Trump has already tapped Vance ally and Big Tech foe Gail Slater to oversee the Department of Justices antitrust efforts, seen as a nod in favor of antitrust enforcement and setting up potential conflict within the administration.

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But Khan and her view of how government should relate to industry are extremely unpopular with other large parts of the tech world, including venture capitalists who have widely derided her and the Biden administration for policies they say make the economy less dynamic by freezing mergers and acquisitions. At a San Francisco conference of the tech right DFD covered earlier this year, the atmosphere palpably chilled when her name was invoked.

Theres also immigration, which could be a point of tension between the tech right and the MAGA right, with the tech world largely supporting increased immigration for high-skilled workers. But as POLITICOs Brendan Bordelon reported earlier this month, that view clashes with the MAGA call for a widespread crackdown on all immigration. Will Musk prevail, or Trump adviser Stephen Miller? When it comes to achieving their priorities in Washington, Silicon Valley mavens could find themselves face-to-face with a very familiar dynamic from the private sector: What the boss says, goes.

On one hand, if [Trump is] surrounded by deregulatory tech types, then his administration will probably favor a deregulatory agenda, simply by osmosis, Jeremiah Johnson, co-founder of the center-left think tank the Center For New Liberalism and author of the Infinite Scroll Substack, told POLITICO.

But his one consistent point is that he really, really hates immigration and trade.  Thats the obvious point of tension, he noted, warning that the Silicon Valley right is placing a major bet on its ability to guide the president-elect in their preferred direction, and that a trade war is bad for tech, as is a broad crackdown on legal immigration.
A culture clash is headed for Washington that will pit the risk-embracing, fast-first nature of Silicon Valley against the lumbering bureaucracy of the countrys largest federal agency.

Donald Trump has already tapped billionaire finance executives to be Navy secretary and the Pentagons No. 2, and startup world successes are in the running for other Pentagon posts. If they all make it, the long-frustrated kings of the Valley who bristle at the doddering pace of Pentagon decision-making could force real change in the building  and benefit themselves while trying.

Theyll be tasked with building weapons faster, fixing a broken shipbuilding system and matching Chinas tech prowess. And while every new administration tries to clean up the Pentagon, this crew of outsiders has animated the tech sector.

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A lot of us are hoping there's a revolution coming, Joe Lonsdale, founder of software company Palantir and startup investor said at a recent defense forum, where we hold the bureaucracy accountable, where we shock the bureaucracy.

The Trump team has worked to fill the Pentagon with picks such as Stephen Feinberg, a wealthy investor with no experience inside the building, as deputy secretary of Defense. Palantirs chief technology officer, Shyam Sankar, is being considered for the Pentagon's top research and engineering job, as POLITICO first reported. Trae Stephens, co-founder and chair of Anduril Industries, is also in the mix for a high-ranking job at the Pentagon.

The executives all have investments and stakes in multiple companies working with the Pentagon and will need to determine how they detangle a web of potential conflicts of interest  such as Andurils drone development or Palantirs software platforms the Pentagon is helping fund.



Several other serial investors with deep interests in defense companies  such as SpaceXs Elon Musk and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen  are close to Trump and playing a role in putting the new administration together.

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Many in the Valley cheered Trumps picks, especially those frustrated that the Pentagon hasnt more fully adopted their tech despite years of conversations and pledges of more cooperation.

Im hoping the new administration realizes that they have a blank slate and that we're in a crisis, said Steve Blank, an entrepreneur who was one of the pioneers of the Silicon Valley tech explosion in the 1980s. If you want to respond to a crisis, you can't keep appointing the same people you did 10 years ago, you can't have the same organizations you had 10 years ago, and you can't have the same processes.

But any significant changes to how the Pentagon does business wont come at the commercial tech industrys breakneck pace. This is especially true of a sprawling bureaucracy built on institutional practice.

Theyre going to have to learn how to speak the same language, and even that will take some time, said one entrepreneur who has had success in getting small contracts with the Pentagon and, like others, was granted anonymity to avoid blowback from the incoming administration.

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The tension between the startups and the institution was on display recently at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. The annual event, once a gathering of Republican lawmakers and defense industry executives, has over the past two years been dominated by startup investors looking to elbow their way into defense contracting with drones, lasers, software solutions and other new weapons developed outside of the traditional government-controlled process.

Sen. Deb Fischer, (R-Neb.), a top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, offered a warning to the newcomers.

When you look at any kind of efficiencies or cuts to any government program or any government spending, each and every one of us, each and every one of you, needs to propose a program that you personally benefit from that youd be willing to cut.

Others also questioned whether the break things mentality of Silicon Valley can work in an organization with 3 million employees and layers of process.



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The hardest problem by far will be, can they redirect enough money with enough flexibility into next generation programs to move the needle, one tech executive said. That's like number one.

Several billionaires with Trumps ear have already called for the F-35 fighter jet and Abrams tank to face the chopping block in favor of drones. Such a move would upend tens of billions of dollars in contracts not only in the U.S., but with dozens of close allies.

Many generals and other Pentagon leaders arent bristling at change. But theyre still cautious about moving too fast to alter weapons that, despite their flaws, are effective on the battlefield.

Warfare is always a human endeavor, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said at the Reagan forum. My own belief is that the future is really about the most effective human-machine teaming.

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And many legacy weapons systems, while expensive, have proven that they work against the Russian army in Ukraine, or in shooting down ballistic missiles and drones built by Russia, Iran and North Korea.

There are a number of tech leaders who say, If I parachute inside of these buildings, I can break things loose, said Klon Kitchen, managing director at Beacon Global Strategies, a national security advisory firm. This will be the closest Washington and the Valley have been latched up to this point.

Even outspoken billionaires already working with the Pentagon such as Musk  at least so far  have had limited success. Musk did not respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. government wants it all, big programs, little programs, Kitchen said. What the Valley wants is a customer who can actually buy stuff.
Press Release

December 11, 2024 Bato hails third reading passage of Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said that the passage on third and final reading by the Senate of the proposed Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act sends a strong message to the international community that the Philippines is "one with its pursuit towards a world free of chemical weapons." Senate Bill No. 2871, which was co-authored by Dela Rosa, was approved on Monday with 22 affirmative votes, zero negative and zero abstentions. The bill aims to ban the development, production, possession, transfer, and the use of chemical weapons in the country. "In this day and age where anything is possible through the rapid technological advancements and scientific developments, from the proliferation of the cyberattacks to chemical security threats, to say that it is imperative for our country to boost our legislative efforts through measures that will ensure prosecution against those who violate the Convention, is an understatement," Dela Rosa said during his co-sponsorship speech. "The passage of this measure, Mr. President, is also a timely tribute to the victims of chemical warfare as the international community recently observed the day of remembrance for all victims of chemical warfare just a few days ago, last November 30," the senator added. SBN 2871 also explicitly prohibits the financing of activities related to the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, use, or transfer of chemical weapons. Those involved in financing the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, or use of chemical weapons shall be meted out the penalty of 20 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment, and a fine ranging between P500,000 to P1 million. Meanwhile, those who engage in the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, or use of chemical weapons shall be penalized with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and a fine of not less than P2 million but not more than P5 million. Penalties for other prohibited acts include imprisonment ranging from six years and a fine of up to P2 million. The former chief of the Philippine National Police said that one law "may not be enough to ensure universality in collective efforts against chemical attacks, but it is one step closer to our pursuit towards international peace and security." The Philippines was one of the first signatories of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1993, with the Senate concurring in the Convention's ratification in 1996.
CHICAGO  A Chicago teen is facing a slew of felony charges in connection with a string of robberies and attacks that allegedly unfolded on CTA train platforms.

According to police, the 16-year-old boy, who has not been identified due to his age, has been charged with three felony counts of aggravated battery to a transit employee or a transit passenger, three felony counts of robbery and one felony count of armed robbery with a firearm.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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The charges stemmed from the teens alleged role in four robberies and batteries on CTA train platforms, which unfolded over a period of about a month and a half.

Chicago police provided the following list of dates and locations where the alleged incidents occurred:

July 31, in the 100 block of West Cermak Road, on the Near South Side. Police said the victim was a 24-year-old man.

Sep. 17, in the 3900 block of North Sheridan Road, in Lakeview. Police said the victim was a 34-year-old man.

Sep. 17, in the 1100 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue, in Edgewater. Police said the victim was a male whose age was not determined.

Sep. 18, in the 1200 block of North Clark Street, on the Near North Side. Police said the victim was a 30-year-old man.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

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Authorities eventually caught up with the teen on Monday and said he was taken into custody in the 1100 block of South Hamilton Avenue, on the Near West Side.

Police said the teen was identified as one of the offenders who allegedly participated in the robberies and batteries, but it is unclear if charges have been brought against anyone else involved in the case.

Authorities did not provide a booking photo of the teen due to his age.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A 15-year-old juvenile was charged with making a threat of mass harm after an online threat toward Dunkirk High School was posted to Snapchat, the Dunkirk Police Department announced.

Police said they were made aware of the threat on Sunday, Dec. 8. Dunkirk officers collaborated with Dunkirk school officials and the local FBI office in an investigation. The 15-year-old Dunkirk boy was charged as a result.

He is set to appear in family court at a later date.

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If you are a witness of suspicious activity in the area, you are encouraged to report the activity to Dunkirk police at (716) 363-0313.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Authorities in Cass County are searching for an 18-year-old man who disappeared Monday after an ATV he was traveling on fell through lake ice.

The Cass County Sheriff's Office said the incident happened around 6 p.m. on Blackwater Lake near Longville.

At the scene, responders traced a 911 call and found a 20-year-old man in the water.

Ice stock image via Unsplash.

He was rescued, brought to shore and treated by paramedics for exposure and hypothermia before being airlifted to a hospital in St. Cloud.

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The second ATV occupant, an 18-year-old man, was not located, authorities said.

The search effort is continuing Tuesday, with assistance from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota State Patrol and various local agencies.
Two teenagers have been charged with shooting a young girl in the face as they fired off a series of bullets outside an Uptown, Minneapolis apartment complex this past July.

Warrants were issued on Friday in Hennepin County District Court for the arrest of a 17-year-old boy and 18-year-old man, who have been charged in juvenile court with 1st- and 2nd-degree assault over the July 19 shooting outside the Revel Apartments, which left a young girl with severe injuries.

Responders arrived at the scene to fire a series gunshots had been fired outside the complex, one of which had struck the girl who had been attending a party in the building. The warrant says that the bullet had entered near her nose and left out of the back of her neck.

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The victim was among a group standing on the sidewalk when she was shot. Officers found around 28 discharged cartridge cases (DCCs), and surveillance footage from the area shows a car parked in an alley near this intersection, with four people exiting the vehicle.

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The warrant says the group walked to the corner of Lake Street and Fremont Street and began shooting in the direction of the people congregated on the sidewalk. The group then runs back toward the parked car and leaves the area.

Officers matched the car through DVS records with a known St. Paul woman, and on July 25, 2024, found the vehicle in St. Paul and executed a traffic stop. One of the boys was found to be in the front passenger seat and another in the rear passenger-side seat, with a .40 caliber Glock 22 semiautomatic handgun under his seat.

Forensic testing revealed that 14 of the recovered casings from the scene were consistent with having been fired from the recovered weapon.

The registered owner of the car told investigators that the 17-year-old was her boyfriend and that he had her car on the evening of July 19.

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Cell phones were taken from both suspects and examined, which revealed text messages between the two boys appearing to discuss a shooting.

Due to the two boys being 17 at the time of the shooting, they are currently being tried in juvenile court. However, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports that the Hennepin County Attorneys Office told the court that it intends to have their cases moved to adult court.
Palm Beach County can expect a dramatic decrease in temperatures overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning.

A cold front associated with a frontal boundary is expected to move across South Florida on Wednesday afternoon and into the evening. While temperatures are expected to be warm during the day on Wednesday (high of 85 degrees), temps by Thursday morning will drop into the lower 50s for coastal Palm Beach County and in the upper 40s in communities near Lake Okeechobee. Lows are expected to be somewhere in the low 40s across Hendry and Glades counties, the National Weather Service in Miami said.

There is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Wednesday.

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It also will get windier Wednesday night into Thursday, with northwest winds from 15 to 25 mph overnight Wednesday. Thursday should be mostly sunny with a high near 71 and winds 22 to 24 mph with gusts as high as 28 mph.

The chill is not expected to last long.

Expect a dramatic drop in temperatures overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

Past coverage: 'Falling iguanas?' Will West Palm get cold enough this week to 'freeze' these reptiles?

"There will be a very brief cooldown period," National Weather Service meteorologist Ana Torres-Vazquez said. "After that, conditions begin to warm up gradually as we head into the weekend. This front will not be as strong or impactful as the one we had a few weeks ago. "

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There will be enough moisture associated with the front to support scattered showers and thunderstorms. However, most areas will see less than one-quarter inch of rain, the weather service said.

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: South Florida temperatures expected to drop overnight
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)Four temporary substations for the Shreveport Police Department were approved during Tuesdays city council meeting, and residents will see an increased police presence around the city.

The goal is to provide SPD with better working conditions while adding security layers for residents.

One substation is a former Willis-Knighton doctors office near the KTAL/KMSS news station on North Market Street. It will serve as a temporary location until the completion of the permanent substation in the 1500 block of North Market Street.

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The Shreveport City Council unanimously approved the lease agreements for the four temporary substation locations across the city. The agreements ranged between $3,000 and $20,000 a month with the lessors. The locations for other temporary substations will be inside buildings on Kings Highways, Texas Street, and West Canal Boulevard.

The council has been making an ongoing effort to relocate Shreveport police from their old headquarters, which council members agree is outdated and structurally failing.

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I think the ultimate goal was always to get our officers into a safer environment. Every council member here played such an integral part in moving this forward. Im just very grateful in moving this forward and this is the last piece of this puzzle, said Councilman Grayson Boucher, District D.

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We spoke to Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor about a larger police presence at night when KTAL/KMSS employees leave the station. Taylor said the police department was anticipating the temporary substation passing the city council and has been scoping out the area while also trying to make an impact in deterring crime in north Shreveport overall.

Citizens have been asking for more of a police presence. I am giving kudos to the NAT team and Community Oriented Policing for their presence into the neighborhoods because we want to build that neighborhood capacity. I think this is an excellent step in the right direction because we have heard the cries of the community. From MLK to North Market to Allendale. We also want to build back that level of trust within our police department, Taylor said.

Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark said citizens can expect to see officers moved into the substations from January through March. Officers will move into the former Willis-Knighton doctors office in January.

The council will also vote on the permanent substation in January after approving amendments to the original donation agreement by the North Shreveport Business Association.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Sen. Ken Yager's recent arrest in Georgia while driving a car paid for out of his campaign account sheds light on the pitfalls that come with the practice. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Tennessee Sen. Kenneth Yagers recent arrest while driving a campaign-funded car on a Georgia vacation sheds renewed light on the pitfalls of lawmakers not-uncommon practice of dipping into campaign finances to lease or purchase vehicles.

State law doesnt prohibit this, but does require lawmakers to keep records of vehicle use and reimburse their campaign accounts for any mileage payments they receive from the state and any personal use of the vehicle.

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The Tennessee Lookouts review of campaign finance and state mileage reimbursement records for Yager found that since he began leasing a vehicle in 2017, he has simultaneously collected more than $20,000 in mileage from the state while using his campaign account to pay for gas, maintenance, insurance and other costs typically meant to be covered by mileage reimbursements.

Reached through a Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus spokesperson Friday, Yager said the state mileage reimbursements were an oversight paid to him despite him marking no mileage on his legislative per diem forms. State lawmakers are paid a per-diem rate intended to offset the costs of traveling to and staying in Nashville during legislative session and official legislative business. The spokesperson said any mileage reimbursements from the state were received inadvertently and unknowingly to Sen. Yager.

To correct this, I will promptly reimburse my campaign account for the mileage discrepancy in question, Yager wrote in a statement to the Tennessee Lookout.

The exact amount of overlap is difficult to calculate because gas expenses could be used for other trips on official business outside of the legislative session. Since January 2017, he logged nearly $21,500 in gas expenses paid by his campaign account, in addition to oil, maintenance, insurance and other charges typically covered by mileage reimbursement.

Yager, a Kingston Republican, was arrested Dec. 3 in popular tourist town Jekyll Island and faces charges of DUI, hit and run, and failure to stop at a stop sign after hitting another vehicle, police say. He was driving a Ford Edge that appears to bear his Tennessee Senate license plate, according to the Georgia State Patrols incident report and footage of Yagers field sobriety test.

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In a previous statement, Yager said the arrest was an unfortunate incident and he will cooperate fully with authorities to bring (it) to an appropriate conclusion.

Yager said he used his campaign-funded vehicle for the vacation because his personal vehicle was not in working order for the longer journey (to Georgia). He plans to reimburse his campaign account for the cars December lease payment in compliance with ethics rules, he said.

Bill Young, the executive director of the states Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Ethics Commission, said candidates and elected officials are permitted to lease or purchase vehicles and pay for gas and upkeep with campaign funds, so long as the car is used for campaign or officeholder purposes.

But he doesnt recommend it.

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Because of the documentation required and the difficulty of ensuring no personal use of the car, I have discouraged this type of use of campaign funds, Young wrote in an email to the Tennessee Lookout. But again, Tennessees statutes do not prohibit this scenario.

Car expenses paid from campaign coffers

Since 2017, Yager has paid nearly $65,312 total to Ford, Lincoln Automotive Financial Services and Harriman-based Jerry Duncan Ford.

He has leased three vehicles, never more than one at a time, according to a spokesperson. He stopped using his campaign account to reimburse himself for mileage when he began leasing his first vehicle, records show.

In total, Yager has spent about $115,345 in campaign funds on the lease and upkeep of those vehicles over the last decade. His car-related expenses include:

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$21,491 for gas

$15,828 in reimbursed mileage

$9,194 for car insurance

$2,441 for oil changes, maintenance and repairs

$344 for SiriusXM Radio

$105 for car washes

Yagers district includes parts of nine counties stretching along the states northern border from the outskirts of the Nashville Metropolitan area to counties on the outskirts of Knoxville.

Tennessee Senate District 12 contains Campbell, Clay, Fentress, Macon, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Roane and Scott Counties. (Photo: Tennessee General Assembly)

He said he obtained approval from the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance to lease a vehicle to cover extensive travel required to serve constituents.

As the representative of one of the largest geographical districts in the General Assembly, which extends from the exurbs of Nashville to my home in East Tennessee, I sometimes travel up to 1,000 miles per week for both campaign and official state purposes, Yager said.

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Other lawmakers have cited similar reasons for using campaign funds to pay for vehicles.

Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, spent almost $50,000 in campaign funds to purchase a new car  his third campaign vehicle purchase in the last 10 years, The Tennessean reported in July. He averages 40,000 miles per year in driving related to state business, he told the publication.

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Tennessee State University interim President Ronald Johnson announced his resignation Wednesday as tensions over the school's finances remain high, saying the decision takes effect Friday. The development is the latest in a rapid-fire series of leadership changes at the public, historically Black university in Nashville.

Johnson took office on July 1 after the TSU board of trustees appointed him to a one-year term. His appointment came after years of scrutiny over the school's finances and leadership by state leaders. Lawmakers ultimately ousted the previous board in March. Gov. Bill Lee swiftly appointed a new board, which took its seats in April. Longtime President Glenda Glover then retired in June  a move she said lawmakers also encouraged.

"As the appointed Board of Trustees for Tennessee State University, our job is to ensure the future strength of the school through thoughtful and decisive governance," TSU Board Chair Dakasha Winton said in a statement released Wednesday. "In service of this commitment, and as board chair, I spoke with interim president Dr. Johnson on Tuesday about separating from the university. He has chosen to resign and tendered his resignation this afternoon."

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The board will have a special called meeting on Friday at 8 a.m. to discuss appointing a new interim president, according to Winton.

Ronald Johnson started his one-year term as interim president at Tennessee State University on July 1, 2024. He was photographed Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

A spokesperson for TSU did not reply to an emailed request for comment from The Tennessean. Instead, the school made a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, saying Johnson announced his resignation "after over 120 impactful days of leadership" and said his goal was always to foster a brighter future for the university.

"President Johnson's love for TSU and its community has inspired us all, and we are grateful for his service and commitment during this transitional period," the statement on Facebook read. "Lets come together to honor his contributions and continue to support our university as we move forward."

The post also included a letter from Johnson, addressed to the TSU community. In the letter, he expressed gratitude to the dedication and passion of those around him at the school and expressed hope that TSU would overcome the challenges in front of it.

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He also pointed to his work during his short tenure, including securing emergency state funding that helped avoid a payroll disruption, reducing expenses at TSU through "workforce realignments" and raising money for the university. He also wrote about his strategic plan for improving TSU's enrollment, finances, partnerships and academics.

"I came to Tennessee State University because I believe deeply that TSU matters," Johnson wrote. "It is not just an institution of higher learning, it is a beacon of opportunity, innovation and equity."

Financial turmoil at Tennessee State University

In September, Johnson's leadership team revealed years of financial mismanagement at the hands of previous leaders. The school then instituted layoffs, budget cuts and a freeze on hiring and nonessential spending. As of October, the university had laid off more than 100 employees.

Earlier this month, Johnson's team presented a plan to avoid a $46.1 million shortfall to the board. While the plan only gets the university through the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, Johnson assured concerned board members that his team is working on plans for what comes next. The discussion grew tense at times between board members and Johnson's team.

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Board member Dwyane Tucker said the lack of financial information is frustrating and makes it hard for the board to make decisions that support what university management wants to do.

"Part of our job is making sure we dont continue to go off the cliff," Tucker said, referring to the schools financial shortfalls. "Weve got to close that gap."

Meanwhile, advocates have continued to call for the restoration of $2.1 billion in underfunding by the state to TSU, which they say hobbled the university's ability to thrive. That figure was revealed by the federal government last year.

Glover contracted for $1.7M with TSU after retirement

Board Chair Dakasha Winton gives her remarks during the TSU Board of Trustees meeting at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.

Documents obtained by The Tennessean showed that Glover was set to receive two $425,000 payments in an $850,000 transition agreement with the university. Additionally, she was set to draw $212,500 a year for four years in an advisory role for the school.

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Winton said Johnson signed the advisory role agreement. That salary covers what remained on Glover's presidential contract with the university and totals $850,000.

Winton said that, as of Nov. 23, Glover had been paid $425,000 as part of the transition payment, along with $85,746.11 from her advisory salary  or roughly five months of pay. Glover told The Tennessean she postponed the second $425,000 transition payment because the university was pressed for cash.

Tennessee State University President Dr. Glenda Glover announces her upcoming retirement during a news conference Monday, August 14, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.

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"Please note that this board has not approved any agreements with the immediate past president," Winton said during the Nov. 23 board meeting. "Full transparency on these matters is essential for restoring trust. We are entrusted with life-changing decisions for TSUs students and faculty."

The board unanimously voted on Nov. 23 to urge Johnson to end the contract with Glover, along with the employment of the university's now-resigned general counsel, Laurence Pendleton.

It's not clear if the school will make any additional payments to Glover, or if her contracts are still active. Winton said on Wednesday that Glover's contracts are being litigated. She referred questions on both Glover and Pendleton's contracts to the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, which declined to comment on the matter.

This story has been updated to add more information and to clarify when Johnson's resignation will take effect.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee State University interim President Ronald Johnson resigns
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Terre Haute Regional Airport officials said that this year was one of their best years ever and that their future projects are going to keep them on that upward trajectory.

Its executive director Craig Maschino said that they have a lot to proud of when looking back at 2024 with it being headlined by the Terre Haute Air Show. He was happy to announce that the Terre Haute Air Show will be making its return in 2026.

We are going to have another air show on 22-23 August, said Maschino. It will be in the fall and not the spring so it will be nice weather wise, be dryer, and have better weather for both days of the show. The most exciting part is that we are bringing the Air Force back, the Thunderbirds.

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Another item on the agenda was the boards announcement that the bidding process will begin next week for six new hangers with hopes of starting construction in the spring. Also Wednesday, Indiana State Senator Greg Goode was named Aviation Indianas Senator of the Year.

Indiana National Guard helps out Jasonville area amid water problems

Maschino said that Goode has been nothing short of a great ally for them in the state house, helped pass numerous positive initiatives, and helped save airports across the state thousands of dollars.

Originally these things werent included for airports, but he made that happen, said Maschino. These initiatives alone we are talking multiple thousands of dollars on these things that he has saved for communities.

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Maschino said the thing he is most excited about is the fact that the airport got a $500,000 grant from the state to build a solar farm. He added they will use revenue earned from that to launch aviation classes through the Vigo County School Corporation.

We are looking at those classes starting in the fall of 2025, said Maschino. High school juniors and seniors will be able to come out to the airport and take classes in aviation.

He said that he hopes this program will grow the aviation field in the community.

We want those young men and women going to those classes and bringing business here so we can grow the airport and create more good aviation jobs, said Maschino.

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Maschino added that the airport has a budget of $18,000,000 over 5 years for these projects.

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 MyWabashValley.com.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Testimony began Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in the case of a Campbell man accused of raping a child in 2022.

Samuel Aponte Rodriguez, 26, is on trial before Judge John Durkin on two counts of rape, a first-degree felony and a single count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony.

Opening statements were held before Judge Durkin after jurors were selected Tuesday.

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Aponte Rodriguez is accused of inappropriate conduct with a child twice in November and December 2022.

A grand jury secretly indicted him on May 5, 2023.

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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Abortion laws in Texas are stressing the states already overworked womens health care workforce and depleting numbers of doctors entering and staying in the state, according to a study by Manatt Health.

More than 70% of practicing OB-GYNs in Texas feel the near-total ban is prohibiting them from providing high-quality, evidence-based care for patients and negatively impacting their ability to practice, according to the study released in October.

OB-GYN survey results, with data from the Manatt Health Study. (KXAN Graphic/Gracie Kirschner)

In 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Texas banned all abortion from conception, except when the mothers life was in immediate danger. Under the law, a doctor convicted of providing an illegal abortion in Texas can face up to 99 years in prison, a $100,000 fine and lose their medical license.

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But some say it remains unclear what constitutes an illegal abortion. Almost a third of OB-GYNs in Texas do not have a clear understanding of the law, and 60% are fearful of legal repercussions, according to the Manatt Health study.

When we drafted the Heartbeat Law, we did not want to risk confusing medical providers by changing the definition, so we kept the language that had been in Texas law for years  language that physicians and hospitals should be familiar with, said Sen. Bryan Hughes, the author of the Texas Heartbeat Law, in an opinion piece written for the Houston Chronicle.

One in five OB-GYNs have considered leaving the state, and recruiting new talent to take their place is also proving difficult. OB-GYN residency applications in Texas dropped by 16% for last years admission cycle. Those who are already practicing in OB-GYN residency programs in Texas say that new abortion laws are a major factor when deciding whether to stay in Texas after their programs end.

Why stay in Texas?

Liza Meyer, a medical student born and raised in Texas, had never envisioned her life elsewhere. Meyer had always dreamed of being an OB-GYN but says the legislation in the field has her rethinking her future.

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I am scared to want to go into this field, Meyer said. I just remember that moment of hearing Roe v. Wade was overturned, and I was thinking, Oh my God. What am I going to do with my whole future?' Meyer said.

Meyer said shes considered applying into different specialties for residency but she cant shake her passion for womens health care.

Liza Meyer developing her passion for medicine in high school. (Courtesy Liza Meyer)

I love Texas but I also love maternal fetal medicine, and its becoming a really bad place for that, which sucks, Meyer said. I want it to be a safe place for everyone.

Learning lapse in Texas OB-GYN residencies

Another factor that Meyer and other potential OB-GYN residency applicants have to consider is that they may not be receiving the full scope of abortion education through programs in Texas.

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The difficulty with having an obstetric residency or fellowship in Texas is that in order to provide that comprehensive care that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires, programs literally have to send their residents to other states to get the rest of that comprehensive care, said Dr. Emily Briggs, an obstetrician and family physician in New Braunfels.

Briggs said she doesnt think that sending people out-of-state to learn the proper care is feasible for the state in the long run.

If youre already guaranteeing three plus years of your life to doing something where youre not really paid for it, and youre putting your whole family, your life on hold, why would you then also make it set up that you have to go live somewhere else for a few months and then come back? Briggs said.

Briggs said she thinks that outside of concerns about practicing within the legislations limits, this presents an additional logistical loophole for potential OB-GYNs coming to the state.

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Its a really good reason for people to not do an obstetric fellowship or obstetric residency in Texas, she said.

Meyer said she cant wrap her head around why programs in Texas arent able to teach her the comprehensive care required by the ACGME.

Why am I being taught this out of state in order to practice it in Texas? Meyer asked. I feel like that just doesnt make sense. Why would you teach me to do something in another state so I can be certified to do it in this state, but it doesnt happen here?

Potential patient care impacts

Dr. Anitra Beasley, a Houston OB-GYN and assistant dean of academic and faculty affairs at Baylor College of Medicine, says she worries this training is not enough.

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I think when the residents are going there, theyre getting a really good experience, but theyre getting a really good experience for three to four weeks, and that does not substitute for the comprehensive, longitudinal experience that they would get if abortion care were available in Texas, Beasley said.

An operating room technician performs an early detection ultrasound on a patient. (AP Photo/Ted Jackson)

Beasley said that she worries this lapse in education will have an impact on the quality of patient care in the state.

If were thinking about the number of procedures that residents are exposed to, when youre thinking about abortion, an experience that includes abortion care and miscarriage management, there just arent enough, Beasley said.

Beasley said that on top of a lack of exposure, these restrictions prevent her from teaching proper doctor-patient conversations and decision-making.

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She said she is less worried about the drop in application numbers because Texas residency positions typically tend to fill but more about the caliber of the residents themselves.

Are we going to have more applicants who dont think that comprehensive reproductive health care is important? Are we going to get to the point where we are actually not filling our residency spots because people dont want to come to Texas because theyre not getting a comprehensive education? Beasley said.

Impact outside of rural areas

In 2024, more than 45% of Texas counties are considered maternity care deserts, meaning theres no doctor to see during pregnancy and no hospitals in which to give birth. As the number of doctors continues to diminish, Texas is expected to have 15% fewer OB-GYNs than is needed to keep up with demand by 2030, according to the Manatt Health study.

This map displays which Texas counties have access to labor and delivery care and which are maternity care deserts. (Courtesy Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals)

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Right now, a majority of rural counties struggle to access proper maternal care, according to March of Dimes. As more doctors leave the state, Beasley worries the problem will spread into more urban areas.

Report: Almost 47% of Texas counties are maternity care deserts

I dont think that this is going to be an issue that is only being seen in rural areas, Beasley said. If the workforce continues to dwindle, there will be less physicians to take care of patients, period.

This means that doctors may have to take on more patients to satisfy demand in their communities. But, the workforce may not be equipped to handle such an influx.

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I think were going to have a greater load individually, but were an aging workforce. I think about half of OB-GYNs are over 55, so were aging out, and if we dont have young new docs coming to the state, were going to have a serious crisis, said Dr. John Thoppil, an Austin OB-GYN and former president of the Texas Association of OB-GYNs.

Current state of womens health care in Texas

Womens health care in the state is already struggling. Texas ranks 50th among states and the District of Columbia for womens health, according to The Commonwealth Fund which measured health care quality, outcomes, coverage, access and affordability.

From 2019 to 2022, the rate of maternal mortality cases in Texas rose by 56%, compared with just 11% nationwide during the same time period, according to an analysis by the Gender Equity Policy Institute.

Doctors attribute this increase to the fear associated with practicing under the Texas law.

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Practicing medicine in the reproductive health field really is like having someone looking over your shoulder when you are talking to a patient, when you are coming with a plan of care. You really should be thinking about that patient and only that patient. You and the patient should be coming up with a shared plan of care that works for them. We have lost the ability to do that with so many things, Beasley said.

Briggs says she feels like the law prevents her from the full scope of practicing evidence-based care.

We want to do everything based on what is medically appropriate, but these laws fly in the face of that, because they say that we cannot intervene in a case where its clearly necessary to anybody whos practiced medicine. We know where we need to intervene and what we need to do to intervene, and were just not allowed to. Our hands are tied, Briggs said.

A group of 111 other OB-GYNs agree. They sent a letter to elected state leaders in November urging them to change abortion laws that they say have prevented them from providing lifesaving care to pregnant women. Thoppil was one of those doctors.

Im honored to have signed on with 110 other courageous OB-GYNS. Our job is to educate because I really do think the law has a lot of unintended consequences and the legislature is somewhat ignorant about some of those consequences. Its our job to help them see that this goes beyond what they think, Thoppil said.

Sen. Hughes said he understands the need to clarify the law but believes that doctors are misinterpreting its intentions. He said the law was never meant to stand in the way of their ability to care for patients.

More needs to be done to make sure that doctors and the hospitals know the law: When a mothers life or major bodily function are in jeopardy, doctors are not only allowed to act, but they are legally required to act. The standard of care as well as their moral and ethical duty compel them to act, Hughes wrote in the Houston Chronicle.

Moving forward

Rather than letting the states alarming numbers deter her, medical student Meyer is motivated.

I just see potential to make the greatest change here, Meyer said. Also being from Texas, I would hate for other Texans to not be able to receive care in their own home state. I think thats a concern that Americans shouldnt have to carry.

Doctors hope other students echo her sentiment.

The women of Texas need you, so dont double punish them by abandoning them just because our legislators have, Thoppil said.

Briggs said she stays for her community  one in which access to womens health

care is already limited.

If we are not here, whos going to be here to help the community? There needs to be somebody, and they need to follow evidence-based care, Briggs said. So please dont leave us. Please, please come back. We are here fighting this fight.

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.
A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill that would ban dildos and vibrators from pharmacies across the state, arguing that children should not be exposed to obscene devices while visiting drugstores.

H.B. 1549, authored by newly-elected state Representative Hillary Hickland, a Republican representing Temple, seeks to prohibit the sale of sex toys in businesses unless they are sexually oriented.

If passed, the bill would enable county or district attorneys to sue businesses in their jurisdictions if theyre caught violating the legislation. Officials could also bring $5,000 civil penalties against offenders. The act would take place immediately if it received two-thirds of the votes. If it does not, it will take effect on September 1.

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The bill was pre-filed ahead of the 2025 legislative session and lawmakers have not been able to act on it. The legislation appears unlikely to advance considering a federal appeals court overturned a state statute outlawing sex toy sales in 2008, ruling it unconstitutional.

After introducing the bill, Hickland said: I will always fight to protect our children, in a statement posted to X.

Youre right. When it came up a few months ago I hadnt actually read the obscenity statute. Now I have. And its still ridiculous. Makes me want to go to CVS, buy 7 dildos and show up at the sheriffs office and ask him to charge me with intent to distribute. https://t.co/DoJuCahlwz  Sarah Stogner (@Sarah4Texas) November 24, 2024

Sex toys are sold at major retailers, including CVS, Walmart, Target and Walgreens. The global sex toy industry was valued at $34.95bn in 2021 and is expected to be valued at $75bn by 2030. According to Statista, Amazon and online sex shops were the most popular for sex toy purchases in 2022.

Retail sex shops ranked third with 31 percent of sales.

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Last month, another newly elected official, Sarah Stogner, a Republican District Attorney for the West Texas District, called the proposed legislation ridiculous. And said it made her want to go to CVS, buy seven dildos and show up at the sheriffs office and ask him to charge me with intent to distribute.

She made the remarks in a heated exchange on X with State Republican Executive Committeewoman Christin Bentley, who praised Hickland for bringing the bill forward.

Sex toys have no place on the shelves of family-friendly markets, Bentley said on the platform. These are simple, common-sense principles that align with the fundamental goal of protecting children.

In response, Stogner wrote: I see youre still obsessed with dildos. Perhaps you should buy one and try it. Might make you less uptight.

Alabama is currently the only state that bans the sale of sex toys except for limited purposes.
A 32-year-old school teacher in Bangkok has been sentenced to 111 years in jail for grooming and sexually abusing an underage boy.

He has also been ordered to pay 1.5m baht (34,700) in damages to the victim and 650,000 baht (15,000) to his mother for the serious crimes he committed while teaching at a school in the Phitsanulok province in northern Thailand.

The man has been sentenced to 111 years for grooming and 18 years for sexually abusing the underage boy. Since the two terms run concurrently, he will serve the longer sentence of 111 years.

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Thailands Department of Special Investigation said on Tuesday that the teacher, identified by only his first name Tee, was arrested on 24 June as part of its inquiry into a modelling agency in Pathum Thani, which was suspected of grooming and sexually abusing children.

The department determined that Tee had conspired with Danudet Saengkaew, 28, owner of the Nene Modelling Agency, to groom children.

According to the department, evidence indicated that the pair may have sexually abused over 1,000 victims.

Danudet admitted to the crime earlier this year after police discovered more than 500,000 images of child sexual abuse in his possession, The Nation Thailand reported.

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He was convicted of nearly 60 offences and sentenced to 121 years and 223 months in prison on 11 February. Danudet was also ordered to pay 2.1m baht (48,000) in compensation to eight victims identified by the Department of Special Investigation from the photos.

According to a Thai outlet, Thairath, Tee targeted male students. The boy he was found guilty of sexually assaulting was under 15 at the time.

Tee admitted to abusing children at various locations within the school, including restrooms and the audiovisual room, as well as in his car.
A Maryland mental health professional is charged with murdering her 3-month-old daughter in what police allege was a murder-suicide plot against her family.

Mackenzie Rose Colgan faces a first-degree murder charge related to the Sunday, Dec. 8, death of her infant, the Montgomery County Department of Police said in a press statement on Monday.

Around noon on Sunday, emergency personnel were notified by Colgan, 37, that she had drowned her child, who was not named by authorities, while giving her a bath, police said in the statement.

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After officers responded to the Chevy Chase, Md., residence, the victim was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead, per police. Colgan was arrested on the spot.

Colgan recounted that she woke up on the day of the murder with a plan to end everything by killing her family of four, including herself, according to unspecified court documents and investigators accounts cited by NBC 4, The Washington Post and FOX 5 DC.

She allegedly told family members that she was taking the child for a bath before the drowning, per court documents, the outlets reported.

Once on the second floor of their residence, she allegedly filled the bathtub with water, placed a smaller baby bathtub inside and placed the child in the smaller tub, per court documents cited by NBC 4 and the Post.

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Colgan reportedly admitted to turning the child's face away from her as the infant drowned, per court documents, the Post reported.

Following the alleged drowning, she told police, she pondered jumping out the window but instead told her husband what she'd done, the three outlets reported, citing unnamed court documents. The husband ran to the bathroom to administer CPR and asked her to call 911.

Colgan is a licensed therapist, the Post reported, citing state records. According to court documents cited by the outlet, she was unemployed at the time of the incident.



A website identifying a therapist by her name in Silver Spring, only a few miles from Chevy Chase, says she works with children and families.

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Police had been called to the residence on two occasions in the past few months, per the Post. According to a police spokesperson, a client requested a welfare check on her in July. Later, in October, Colgan called 911 to report her baby was not breathing.

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On both occasions, when police got to the residence, she said everything was fine.

Online court records reviewed by PEOPLE show she is being held without bond. Court records did not indicate any plea information, and her attorney was not immediately available for comment.

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.



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Jim Troupis, the former Trump campaign lawyer from Dane County swept up in charges over an alleged fake elector scheme, spoke out about the case and the prosecution in a radio interview two days before his first court appearance.

"There isn't a single morning or a single night since early in 2021 that I have not worried about this case, that I have not thought about it," Troupis, a former Dane County circuit judge, told conservative radio host Vicki McKenna on WISN-AM Tuesday afternoon. "They're coming after me and every member of my family. They're coming after my law license. They're coming after my bankers."

Jim Troupis, a former Dane County Circuit Court judge hired by Trump's campaign to oversee recounts, is shown during arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Dec. 12, 2020.

Charged alongside Troupis is Kenneth Chesebro, a Wisconsin native and alleged lead architect of the 2020 elector scheme, and Mike Roman, a former Trump aide who allegedly delivered Wisconsin's slate of false elector paperwork to a Pennsylvania congressman's staffer in order to get them to Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021. The three face 11 felony charges, brought by Attorney General Josh Kaul's office, alleging forgery to defraud the Republican electors who cast their ballots for Trump in 2020, even though Joe Biden won the state.

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Defense for the civil case cost "well more than half a million dollars," Troupis said on WISN, adding he had to get a lawyer from Kansas City. "If you don't think they were trying to bankrupt me, you don't understand what's going on."

Troupis encouraged people to show up at the Dane County Courthouse Thursday morning when the defendants are scheduled to appear. He said the fellow judges he served with are "good judges" and "honest people" who are "put in a very difficult political problem."

"It's not laughable to me, because I can go to jail for six years. And I don't doubt they would love to do that, to make me that poster child," Troupis said.

Each of the 11 charges leveled against the three carries the same maximum penalty of six years in prison, in addition to a $10,000 fine. Kaul's office added 10 charges to the initial single count against each defendant on Tuesday.

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According to the complaint, most of the electors said they did not consent to having their signatures presented as if Trump had won the state without a court ruling saying so. The complaint also describes how Chesebro, Troupis and Roman allegedly created a fake document that said Trump won Wisconsin's 10 Electoral College votes and then attempted to deliver it to then-Vice President Mike Pence for certification.

More: What to know about the new fake elector charges in Wisconsin against Trump associates

Biden beat Trump by about 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. Trump sought recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties, which confirmed Biden's win. Trump sued and the state Supreme Court upheld the results on a 4-3 vote on Dec. 14, 2020. Troupis represented the Trump campaign in the case.

Less than an hour later, Democrats met in the state Capitol to cast the state's 10 electoral votes for Biden.

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At the same time, the Republican fake electors gathered in another part of the Capitol to fill out paperwork claiming Trump had won. They submitted their filings to Congress, the National Archives, a federal judge and then-Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette. Chesebro was in the room during the meeting.

At the time, the fake electors said they held the meeting only to ensure the state's electoral votes were cast for Trump if a court later determined he was the true winner of the state.

The 10 electors have not been charged criminally related to the fake documents. Last year, the group settled a lawsuit filed by the real Biden electors against them over their role in the scheme. As a part of the settlement, the false electors acknowledged their actions were used in an attempt to overturn an election.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jim Troupis, lawyer charged in fake elector scheme, rails against case
With two judges ruling against its merger proposal Tuesday, Krogers $25 billion bid to take over rival Albertsons was delayed at least a year and possibly forever, legal experts said.

A federal judge in Oregon and a Washington state judge both issued court orders barring the Cincinnati-based supermarket giant from acquiring its next largest competitor headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Separately, both judges agreed with regulators the merger posed a risk to reducing competition and also expressed doubts that Kroger's divestiture plan would alleviate the loss of a strong rival.

Both decisions are subject to appeal and both Kroger and Albertsons issued statements admitting disappointment but saying they were evaluating their next options.

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Antitrust experts said the rulings were major setbacks but Kroger and Albertsons could continue to fight in court.

It looks bleak  in any other merger, the companies would have abandoned it already, Christine Bartholomew, a law professor at the University at Buffalo, told The Enquirer. So, is the merger dead? Beats me.

What legal appeals would look like

To reverse the rulings, Kroger and Albertsons would have to appeal both decisions in separate courts.

First, the federal case would be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit based in San Francisco, where a panel of three federal judges could overturn the ruling. The FTCs lawsuit to kill the merger would still be tried in the agencys in-house administrative court before the FTCs commission members would issue a final ruling.

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If Kroger and Albertsons lose the FTC decision, which most experts believe is likely, the grocers could appeal again in federal court to overturn that decision. If that appeal were unsuccessful, Kroger and Albertsons could appeal again to the U.S. Supreme Court.

To fight the Washington state decision, the two supermarket chains need to file an appeal to the states Court of Appeals. However that decision is reached, it could be further appealed to the states Supreme Court.

Further legal battles could last months, create risk

Sounds involved?

Thats because it is. And time-consuming. And very expensive  the two retailers have already spent a combined $1.2 billion in their legal fight to merge, according to their latest financials.

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Appeals will add a year or more to a merger deal that was first proposed more than two years ago and that Kroger and Albertsons originally envisioned would be completed at the start of 2024. Besides the uncertainty of persuading multiple judges, antitrust experts predict the months of litigation threaten to distract the grocers from day-to-day operations. Thats why most companies walk away from protracted antitrust battles.

Do they see any options beyond the ray of light that is very far? Douglas Ross, an antitrust law professor at the University of Washington, asked. I think this merger is dead.

Ross estimated it would take about a year to get through the FTC trial and get a ruling that will likely have to be appealed. He added the state appeal in Washington, which would have to be pursued at the same time as the federal appeal, would take about the same amount of time. Further appeals would take additional months.

William Kovacic, the director of the Competition Law Center at George Washington University, guessed Krogers likelihood of winning regulatory approval for the merger dropped from about 50% to 10%-20% with the two rulings on Tuesday. He added that he wouldnt be surprised if Kroger announced next week it was dropping the fight to buy Albertsons.

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This type of defeat usually means you throw in the towel, Kovacic said. The hard call is: Are you willing to spend another year on this and what are your prospects of success?

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kroger, Albertsons merger blocked: What's next?
U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, a Republican, is a new member of the House Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency caucus. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  A third Kansas Republican lawmaker is set to join a caucus supporting president-elect Donald Trumps Department of Government Efficiency.

U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann represents Kansas largest congressional district, the 1st District, and he joined the House Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency, or DOGE, caucus in late November.

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The House DOGE caucus and its companion panel in the Senate are intended to give lawmakers a way to pitch budget cuts under Trumps new department, which doesnt technically exist without an act of Congress.

Mann, who recently won reelection, was not a part of the original list of caucus members. Congressmen from Florida and Texas launched the House caucus Nov. 19, selecting Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican serving Kansas 4th District, as a member.

The Senate DOGE caucus launched days later, and Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall was selected as a member.

Mann also met last week with the Trump allies selected to lead the new department, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and tech billionaire Elon Musk, according to a representatives for his office.

Following the meeting, Mann said in a statement that he discussed ways we can work with President Trump to hold our agencies accountable and get our fiscal house back in order.
DES PLAINES, Ill.  The annual Catholic Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be held in Des Plaines starting Wednesday.

Thousands are expected to visit the shrine of the Virgin Mary located at 1170 North River Road over the next two days.

Beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday and running through 7 p.m. pilgrims from the Chicago-area and beyond are expected to arrive at the Shrine to pay homage to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared to Saint Juan Diego on Dec. 12, 1531.

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Temperatures are expected to be very cold Wednesday and overnight into Thursday so a warming tent will be available on site.

The inaugural Mass is set for 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Archbishop-designate Jeffrey Grob, former Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, will serve as the main celebrant.

A complete schedule and list of activities follows.

Wednesday, Dec. 11 (Ninth day of the Novena) For the pilgrims and immigrants

12 p.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Plaza)

7 p.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Plaza)

8 p.m. Solemn Opening Mass (Plaza) (Bilingual) (Celebrant: Most Rev. Jeffrey Grob, Archbishop- designate of Milwaukee)

9:30 p.m. Fireworks after Mass (Plaza)

10 p.m. Guadalupe Torch Run (Plaza)

11 p.m. Serenade (Mananitas) (Plaza) (Bilingual)

Thursday, Dec. 12

12 a.m. Solemn Midnight Mass (Plaza) (Bilingual)

1 a.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Plaza)

5 a.m. Solemn Mass (Chapel of Saint Joseph) (Bilingual)

7 a.m. Serenade (Mananitas) (Chapel of Saint Joseph) (Bilingual)

8 a.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Chapel of Saint Joseph)

9 a.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Chapel of Saint Joseph)

10 a.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Chapel of Saint Joseph)

11 a.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Chapel of Saint Joseph)

12 p.m. Solemn Mass (Chapel of Saint Joseph) (Bilingual)

1 p.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Chapel of Saint Joseph)

2 p.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Chapel of Saint Joseph)

3 p.m. Solemn Mass (Chapel of Saint Joseph) (Bilingual)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available in the Marian Chapel from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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4 p.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Chapel of Saint Joseph)

5 p.m. Prayer of the Holy Rosary (Chapel of Saint Joseph)

7 p.m. Solemn Closing Mass (Chapel of Saint Joseph) (Bilingual)

 Reenactment of the Guadalupe Apparitions

 The announcement of the winners for the Grand Raffle



The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in the Plaza starting at 7 p.m. and will remain exposed throughout the Mass.



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.
CHEYENNE  The former housekeeping manager of the historic Plains Hotel in downtown Cheyenne has been charged with felony theft.

Rene Manzanares, 46, could face up to 10 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine for allegedly stealing roughly $26,000 worth of coins from a guests room, according to court documents.

Additionally, Manzanares is accused of involving two other individuals in the sale of the coins to coin dealers for cash.

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The coins were stolen in 2022 and resurfaced in May when Cheyenne Police Department Detective Matthew Freeman was contacted by a local coin dealer.

According to the dealer, two women  one identifying herself by a fake name  had come to his shop two weeks prior with a tote full of silver and gold coins to sell.

Freeman was able to identify the suspects as Candace Miller and Martha Salazar, both of whom now face theft charges, according to court documents. Manzanares and Miller were arrested on separate dates in early November, while Salazar was arrested in May.

The dealer purchased $600 in silver proof quarters from Salazar, who allegedly possessed approximately $20,000 worth of gold coins. According to the arrest affidavit, the dealer didnt have the cash to purchase the gold coins and suspected they may be stolen property.

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The two women returned on May 7, and the dealer purchased a $20 1908 U.S. gold piece and a $5 U.S. gold piece for approximately $2,900 from Salazar.

The dealer again lacked the funds to purchase more coins, so the pair left the store with the understanding that Salazar would be contacted when the dealer could afford more coins.

The dealer stated that although he suspected the coins to be stolen property, he did not know for sure and thus continued to do business with Salazar, according to the affidavit.

Freeman learned from an online database that Salazar had additionally sold $850 in gold and silver coins to City National Pawn at 1312 South Greeley Highway.

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Freeman interviewed Salazar after she was pulled over by another CPD officer for driving under a suspended license and driving with an expired registration.

In that discussion, Salazar initially claimed to have bought the coins from another woman, who was recently arrested in a non-related burglary, according to the affidavit. Salazar showed the detective her remaining gold coins in her purse, where the officer also found about $7,000 in cash.

Freeman interviewed Salazar, who later admitted that rather than purchasing the coins, they had come from Miller, who is her cousin. According to the affidavit, Miller had gotten the coins from her girlfriend, Manzanares.

Manzanares claimed in a later interview that she had found the coins in the hotels lost and found, stating that theyd been there for several years.

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Manzanares claimed that the coins had been under her desk for two years, and when no one came to collect them from the lost and found, she took it upon herself to give the coins to Miller in exchange for $500.

Miller and Salazar made multiple sales, making $3,600, $3,400, $1,000 and $7,425 on four separate occasions, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Miller claimed that her cousin sold the remaining coins. Additionally, she claimed that she had spent her profits on bills and gambling, according to the affidavit.

While reviewing phone calls placed by Salazar from the Laramie County jail, Freeman determined that Miller and Salazar were discussing how to get Salazar out of jail in order to keep Miller and Manzanares names out of it.

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Within those calls, Miller said she didnt have the money to bond Salazar out.

According to the affidavit, Salazar asked Miller, Do you know the rest of those things? Where are those at? and Why dont you go get rid of them? Not here in town, but somewhere, during the calls.

Freeman confirmed with Astrid, the owner of the Plains Hotel, that Manzanares had no permission to take anything from the hotels lost and found and should have reported any valuable items upon finding them. Manzanares no longer works for the hotel.

Finally, on Aug. 5, the suspected owner of the allegedly stolen coins and friend of Astrid spoke with Freeman. Being from out of state, the suspected owner of the coins stated that she had been at the hotel during the 2022 Cheyenne Frontier Days, helping Astrid.

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According to the affidavit, she stored the silver and gold coins under her bed, believing until recently that she had lost them when later moving hotels.

The suspected owner of the coins told the detective that she had asked Manzanares if shed left anything in her room. According to the affidavit, Manzanares had told her that nothing was left behind.

Trusting Manzanares, she assumed she had left the coins at a property in Colorado. However, she was unable to find them there later on.

She concluded that Manzanares stole the coins while cleaning her room. Some of the coins stolen aligned with an inventory the suspected owner provided to Freeman, however not all of the coins found were in the inventory.

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Based on independent online research, Freeman valued the coins at an estimated $26,000; however, that could vary greatly depending on years and conditions.

Manzanares preliminary appearance has yet to be set, while Miller will appear in court on Dec. 30.
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  Three men who pleaded guilty to running a multi-state, multi-million-dollar jewelry theft ring were each sentenced to more than 10 years in prison in Muskingum County court.

Pedro Garcia, 44, of Los Angeles, was sentenced on Dec. 5 to 14 years in prison; Rafael Flores Hernandez, 39, and Reyes Higuera, 51, were each sentenced Monday, with Hernandez ordered to spend 16  years in prison and Higuera 14 years. All three men previously pleaded guilty to felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and felony aggravated theft.

Rafael Flores Hernandez, 39 Reyes Higuera, 51, Pedro Garcia, 44

According to the Muskingum County Prosecutors Office, the three mens crime spree began in May 2023 when they broke into an Illinois jewelry store, smashing cases and using large plastic totes to steal jewelry. Between then and August 2024, the men hit more stores in six other states including Ohio, with each robbery lasting about two minutes.

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The Muskingum County Sheriffs Office was contacted by a Geogia detective in July about the three suspects and that they were in Zanesville, the prosecutors office said. Over a two-week period, sheriffs deputies and officers from the Zanesville police department tracked the suspects until, on Aug. 1, the three men broke into a city jewelry store, smashing display cases and taking more than $170,000 in jewelry. The suspects were then taken into custody.

In total, the men stole more than $3 million in jewelry from 20 thefts across the southeast and midwestern United States.

Hernandez and Higuera were in the country illegally and had been deported from the U.S. multiple times.

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.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Three popular Colorado Springs businesses announced their closures on Dec. 9 and 10, marking the latest in a tough year for small businesses in Southern Colorado.

Mountain Shadows Restaurant, Mark Anthonys Pretzels, and FH Beerworks have all announced they are closing their doors.

Downtown business closures, openings this year

Mountain Shadows Restaurant

The west sides Mountain Shadows Restaurant, which has been featured on Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, announced its closure, effective immediately, on Dec. 9 on Facebook. The restaurant cited difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic as a contributing factor in the closure.

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I want to thank you all for your support. It meant the world to me, and I truly appreciate it, said owner Kasie Swain. Im gonna miss you guys tons; most of you know me better than I know myself!

Swain mentioned in her Facebook post that she hopes someone who loves the restaurant buys it, so it can continue serving the west side community and beyond.

Courtesy: FOX21 News Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe Courtesy: FOX21 News Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe Courtesy: FOX21 News Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe Courtesy: FOX21 News Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe

Mark Anthonys Pretzels

Mark Anthonys Pretzels, which has been serving the Colorado Springs community for 13 years, also announced its closure on Dec. 9. The pretzel shop on Dublin Boulevard has been providing its pretzels to the community as well as local eateries like Phantom Canyon and the Ivywild School, and said it does mostly wholesale business to other restaurants around town. However, wholesale business has been down due to so many other restaurants struggling, Mark Anthonys said.

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The last 13 years have been so great, wrote owner Mark Anthony in a Facebook post. Everyone has done so much for me and my family when we lost everything in a fire you guys helped so much. Years before our oven broke and you guys bought gift cards so we could get new ones.

Mark Anthonys thanked the community for its years of support, and said it looks forward to upcoming opportunities in the coming months. The last day of operation at Mark Anthonys Pretzels is Dec. 20.

FH Beerworks

FH Beerworks has been pouring brews for the east side for 10 years along with its cocktail partner NEAT Whiskey House. The two announced their closure on Dec. 10, citing the state of the industry and family wellbeing.

This decision was not made lightly, FH Beerworks said in its announcement on Facebook. We are profoundly grateful for the unwavering support, friendship, and memories you have shared with us over the years. To anyone who has ever been part of this chapter of our story, we cannot even begin to thank you enough. You have made this journey truly unforgettable.

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FH Beerworks encouraged fans of the brewery to continue supporting the owners other small businesses, which you can learn more about by messaging FH Beerworks Facebook page.

The last day of operation at FH Beerworks is Dec. 21. The brewerys beer can be found on liquor store shelves until its sold out.

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.
ST. LOUIS  The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit focused on historic preservation, has named three St. Louis-area sites among the states most endangered historic places.

Missouri Preservation released its 2024 Places in Peril list earlier this month, calling attention to several culturally and architecturally significant sites across the state in need of stronger preservation efforts.

The latest declaration of endangered places included the following in the St. Louis region

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Jeff-Vander-Lou Green-Board Buildings in St. Louis City

Marycliff in Wildwood

Anna Bell Chapel in New Haven

The future of many green-boarded buildings in St. Louis Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood is uncertain. Dating back to the late 19th century, these buildings are among the last original structures still standing in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood.

Originally developed under the leadership of housing activist Macler C. Shepard of Jeff-Vander-Lou Inc., the buildings were initially part of an initiative to provide affordable housing. Missouri Preservation notes these were among the first buildings in the St. Louis area where African-American families could own real estate.

The buildings underwent several renovation projects and ownership changes over several decades. However, since their most recent sale in 2020, the buildings have been vacated and now suffer from significant structural damage, including roof and wall deterioration. Many potential entry points have been boarded up by green playwood.

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Missouri Preservation hopes that new developers or plans will emerge to rehabilitate the green-board buildings, preserving their historical and architectural significance.

First built in 1905 as a summer home, Marycliff is a sprawling 12,000-square-foot estate that evolved into a longtime retreat center for Marianists, a Catholic religious order dedicated to education and spiritual renewal.

For decades, Marycliff served as a place of reflection and community for priests and brothers of the Society of Mary, hosting conferences and other large-scale events. In 2016, remaining community members relocated to other Society of Mary facilities.

The building has sat vacant for nearly a decade. Missouri Preservation notes that efforts to repurpose the venue into a larger family retreat center gained momentum in 2018, but were ultimately stalled after pandemic-related setbacks in 2020.

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Since then, the estate has deteriorated, with reports of missing structural elements and brickwork damage raising concerns about its future.

Earlier this year, the City of Wildwood denied an application to demolish the building. Missouri Preservation hopes that Marianists will explore alternative options to save the century-old landmark with profound spiritual significance.

The Anna Bell Chapel served as a vital cornerstone of the African-American community for more than a century, founded in 1865.

Nestled near the Missouri River, the chapel began as a modest log cabin church and later adopted its namesake to honor Anna Bell, whose tireless advocacy made the chapel possible. In 1995, a few remaining elderly congregants made a difficult decision to close doors.

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For the next 25 years, New Haven resident David Smith diligently cared for the chapel, covering utilities and basic maintenance. In 2020, he turned over responsibilities to the New Haven Preservation Society.

Significant restoration work is needed to preserve the chapel. Weather damage has taken its toll on windows and doors, and the chapel will also require extensive foundation repairs and utility upgrades to support original furnishings.

Missouri Preservation hopes advocates can revive the chapel as a community and cultural center in memory of Anna Bell and her contributions.

Also worth noting

The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation also identified the DeLozier Building of Franklin County in its 2024 Places in Peril list.

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Missouri Preservation has been working to identify the states most endangered sites since 2000. While some sites have eventually been demolished, others have been saved and improved, or at minimum have regained new attention.

Buildings with the most endangered or places in peril designation are nominated by concerned community advocates before being recognized as a site in need by a preservation committee.

To learn more about Missouris endangered places, check out this interactive map on Missouri Preservations 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 2.
Dec. 10AUSTIN  The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced Tuesday three of Texas' 10 Most Wanted are back in custody following their recent arrests. Authorities arrested Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives Christopher Garay on Nov. 29 and Johnny Wilson on Dec. 2. Michael Petterson, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender, was arrested on Nov. 27. Crime Stoppers rewards will be paid in Garay's and Wilson's arrests.

According to a DPS news release, Christopher Joshua Garay, 35, was taken into custody in San Antonio. Following up on tip information, members of the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force  including DPS Special Agents  and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Office of the Inspector General (TDCJ OIG), located and arrested him.

In 2011, Garay was convicted of five counts of aggravated robbery and subsequently sentenced to 18 years confinement for each count. In 2018, he was released on parole from TDCJ. Garay had been wanted since January 2024, when a warrant was issued for his arrest out of Bexar Co. for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Additionally, in February 2024, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a parole warrant for his arrest. More information on Garay's capture can be found here.

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Johnny Leon Wilson, 54, was taken into custody in Grand Prairie. Following up on tip information, members of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force  including DPS Special Agents  Fort Worth Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Mansfield Police Department and TDCJ OIG, located and arrested him.

In 2019, Wilson was arrested by the Houston Police Department for murder. He subsequently bonded out with an ankle monitor, which he later either damaged or removed. Wilson had been wanted since February 2023, when the Harris County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for his arrest for murder. More information on Wilson's capture can be found here.

Michael Wayne Petterson, 55, a high-risk sex offender, was taken into custody in Dayton. Working off investigative information, DPS Special Agents and Troopers, along with the Chambers County Sheriff's Office and members of the U.S. Marshals Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force, located and arrested him.

In 1991, Petterson was convicted of aggravated sexual assault following an incident with a 17-year-old female. He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years confinement. In 2003, Petterson was convicted of harassment. In 2008, he was convicted of failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and subsequently sentenced to five years probation. In 2014, he was convicted of assault of a family/household member by impeding breath/circulation and subsequently sentenced to five years probation. Petterson had been wanted since November 2023, when the San Augustine County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for his arrest for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. More information on Petterson's capture can be found here.

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Funded by the Governor's Public Safety Office, Texas Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of Texas' 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders or Criminal Illegal Immigrants. So far in 2024, DPS and other agencies have arrested 44 Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders and Criminal Illegal Immigrants, including 16 sex offenders, 10 gang members, and 4 criminal illegal immigrants  with $32,000 in rewards being paid for tips that yielded arrests.

To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of the following three methods:

 Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).

 Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about then clicking on the link under their picture.

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 Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the "SUBMIT A TIP" link (under the "About" section).

All tips are anonymous  regardless of how they are submitted  and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name.

DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders and Criminal Illegal Immigrants Lists. You can find the current lists  with photos  on the DPS website.

Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.
Happy Tuesday! Heres your Tuesday Tech Drop, a curated collection of the past weeks top stories from the intersection of tech and politics.

TikTok hangs its hopes on Trump and SCOTUS

TikTok, in its current state, might be on its last legs in the United States. After a federal judge declined to block a law that would ban the app in the U.S. unless its Chinese owners sell it, TikToks legal team petitioned for injunctive relief, asking a federal court to suspend the law until Donald Trumps administration  and the conservative-heavy Supreme Court  have a chance to look at it.

This  paired with a Wall Street Journal report, citing anonymous sources, that TikTok CEO Shou Chew reached out to Elon Musk to make inroads with MAGA last month  suggests that TikToks leadership may be taking Trump at his word that he would save the app, which has become a hotbed of MAGA disinformation and propaganda in recent years.

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All this has me thinking about the perverse incentives that could potentially be in play for a social media platform that sees Trump and powerful conservatives as its last hope for survival.

Read the Washington Posts report on TikTok hanging its hopes on Trump and the Supreme Court.

Ted Cruz throws a tantrum over AI

U.S. officials are working with officials from numerous other countries to devise ways to curb some of the more dangerous misuses of artificial intelligence technology  and GOP Texas Sen. Ted Cruz isnt happy about it.

Read my report on Cruzs letter to the attorney general here.

Star disinformation researcher offers guidance

Disinformation expert Kate Starbird, who has come under fire from right-wingers for her work, recently sat for an interview with the outlet Tech Policy to discuss the differences between the left and right media ecosystems" in the United States and her teams efforts to study the spread of baseless claims online.

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Check out the Tech Policy interview.

Spotify plans shindig for Trumps inauguration

Following an election that, unfortunately, saw candidates and voters turn to podcasters for their political news, the streaming platform Spotify is reportedly planning a podcaster celebration centered around Trumps inauguration.

Read more at Bloomberg.

YouTube feeding harmful content to young girls

A new study out of the Center for Countering Digital Hate argues that YouTubes algorithm can steer young girls to harmful content about eating disorders, including videos promoting extreme calorie restriction, emaciated bodies and meanspo, or bullying as a way to encourage weight loss.

YouTube declined to comment to CBS News when asked about its algorithms recommendations, saying it continually works with mental health experts to refine [its] approach to content recommendations for teens.

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Read the Center for Countering Digital Hates report.

Metas data center

Last week, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that it intends to build a massive data center in Louisiana to help power its artificial intelligence project. The data center is meant to compete with another data center Elon Musk opened in Tennessee. The centers have raised local concerns over the potential environmental impact and whether the economic impact will benefit neighboring residents.

Read The Associated Press report.

Trumps AI and crypto guy

Trump has tapped right-wing tech oligarch and podcaster David Sacks to lead his administrations artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy. Theres ample reason for concern about potential conflicts of interest.

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Read my blog to learn more about Sacks here.

Hackers hit major U.S. companies

Federal officials said at least eight American telecommunications companies, including AT&T, Verizon and Lumen technologies, were hit by a Chinese hacking campaign that got access to call records and, in some cases, specific phone calls. The feds dont think the hackers have been booted from these companies systems yet.

Read NBC News report.

D.C. AG sues Amazon

Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwab is suing Amazon over allegations the commerce platform and delivery company is excluding two largely Black zip codes from its Prime delivery service. Amazon called the claims categorically false.

Read NBCs Washington affiliates reporting.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
TikTok has challenged a Canadian government order to shut down the Chinese video-sharing app's business operations in the country that was imposed over national security concerns.

The company said Tuesday that it filed an application for a judicial review with the Federal Court in Vancouver on Dec. 5, which seeks to set aside the order for TikTok to wind-up and cease its business in Canada.

The Canadian federal government last month announced it was ordering the dissolution of TikTok Technology Canada Inc. after a national security review of its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd.

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The government is not blocking access to the TikTok app, which will continue to be available to Canadians. TikTok said it has 14 million users in Canada, which is about a third of the population. It has offices in Toronto and Vancouver.

The wildly popular platform is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020, but is under increasing pressure in the West. It's facing a possible ban in the U.S. and intensifying scrutiny in Europe over issues including election influence campaigns allegedly coordinated by Moscow.

TikTok argues in its court application, which was posted online, that Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne's decision was unreasonable and driven by improper purposes. It says the order is grossly disproportionate and the the national security review was procedurally unfair.

The review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate foreign investment with potential to harm national security.

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Champagne said in a statement at the time that the government was taking action to address specific national security risks, but did not elaborate. His office said in response to the filling that the governments decision was informed by a thorough national security review and advice from Canadas security and intelligence community.

TikTok said Champagne failed to engage with TikTok Canada on the purported substance of the concerns" that led to the order.

It argues the government ordered measures that bear no rational connection to the national security risks it identifies" and that the reasons for the order are unintelligible, fail to reveal a rational chain of analysis and are rife with logical fallacies.

The platform says there were less onerous options than shutting down its Canadian business, which it said would eliminate hundreds of jobs, threaten business contracts and cause the destruction of significant economic opportunities."
TikToks not-so-secret weapon to grab new users ahead of its looming U.S. ban: money.

The popular app has started offering existing users $50 to recruit new users to TikTok, and up to an additional $350 in bonus bucks if theyre able to convince more friends to join. Some TikTok users have seen the limited time offer promo under their for you tab on the app.

Bloomberg was the first outlet to spot the cash-for-recruitment plan on Tuesday.

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The promo comes as TikTok is scrambling to remain active in the States. TikTok is set to be banned from the U.S. on January 19, 2025  one day before president-elect Donald Trump retakes office  unless Bytedance, its China-based parent company, divests from its American operations. The TikTok ban was initially floated during Trumps first administration, before ultimately being passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden earlier this year.

On Monday, TikTok and Bytedance filed an emergency injunction, calling for an appeals court to temporarily block the law that is set to ban the app.

The delay, TikTok argued in its filing, would create breathing room for the U.S. Supreme Court to conduct an orderly review of the law, as well as give the incoming Trump administration time to evaluate the matter. TikTok pointed to president-elect Donald Trumps comment earlier this year that he was going to save TikTok in its filing.

TikTok, via its cash offer for existing users, may believe boosting its user count as much as possible in the weeks ahead will make it tougher to ban. The app has 170 million monthly users in the U.S., according to its Monday filing.

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The chief concern U.S. lawmakers have with TikTok is that it doubles as a spyware app for the Chinese government; TikTok, according to Chinese law, is required to share user data with Chinas communist government, if it is asked to.

TikTok has previously argued the ban would trample the First Amendment right to free speech of its users.

Most Americans dont seem to be too concerned with Chinas government having easy access to their data, though. Only 32% of Americans are in favor of the U.S. government banning TikTok, according to a Pew Research Center survey in September of 10,678 respondents aged 18 and older. Thats down from 50% who supported a ban in March 2023  and TikToks users are even less inclined to support a ban, with 61% of U.S. users opposing it. (Among those surveyed, 51% leaned towards Democrats politically, while 46% said they were Republican-leaning.)

The post TikTok Offers Cash to Users to Recruit Friends Ahead of US Ban appeared first on TheWrap.
The claim about Chick-fil-A sandwiches supposedly containing avian contraceptives first appeared in 2023 after Moms Across America, a nonprofit organization that claims to warn parents about alleged health risks in food and medicine, claimed one of the restaurant's sandwiches tested positive for "low" levels of Nicarbazin, a common veterinary drug.

The group conducted the test itself, and no other studies have detected the drug in the restaurant's products.

The CEO of the Health Research Institute, which provided lab resources for Moms Across America to conduct the study, confirmed the experiment's findings, though he said its sample size  one sandwich  was not large enough to support the claim that all Chick-fil-A sandwiches contain Nicarbazin.

Snopes reached out to Moms Across America and Chick-fil-A for this report and is waiting for responses from both parties.

While Chick-fil-A's website claims the company does not add hormones or additives to its chicken, it does not mention whether the animals used for its sandwiches have consumed veterinary medicine such as Nicarbazin.

We presented Moms Across America's findings to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the agency said it does not comment on specific studies.

Multiple videos on TikTok are attempting to warn against an alleged risk of eating Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches: You could be ingesting an avian contraceptive.

A TikTok user responded to the claim, "I'm gonna pretend I never saw this." A different person joked, "Listen  if any food is going to take me out, best believe it'll be a #2 with a large Coke. Thank you!"

The claim  which is also circulating on Instagram and Facebook  first surfaced online in October 2023 with a blog post by Moms Across America, a nonprofit organization that claims to warn parents about alleged health risks in food and medicine. Zen Honeycutt, the founder and executive of the organization, later claimed on a podcast: "We found an aviary contraceptive, Nicarbazin, in Chick-fil-A sandwiches. So we are extremely concerned about people who have been eating Chick-fil-A. We know it's quite addictive."

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The claim was based on a test conducted by Moms Across America that found traces of the veterinary medicine in one Chick-fil-A sandwich  a sample size that is too small to provide sufficient evidence of a widespread health risk. No other studies have detected the drug in the restaurant's products. We've reached out to the nonprofit, as well as the restaurant chain, for more information, and we're waiting for responses.

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), Nicarbazin is primarily "used for the prevention of faecal and intestinal coccidiosis [a parasitic disease] in chickens, as well as in some other poultry species. Nicarbazin is used as a feed additive or as a veterinary drug for oral use in feed."

Per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the drug also "interferes with the formation of the vitelline membrane, separating the egg yolk and egg white," which helps with population control of species including Canadian geese. Federal regulators have allowed poultry farmers to use the veterinary drug since 1955, according to the EPA. There's no evidence of Nicarbazin being detected in other food.

Chick-fil-A's website claims the company does not add hormones or additives to its chicken. There is no mention of it testing for or investigating whether the animals used for its sandwiches have consumed veterinary medicines such as Nicarbazin.

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In spring 2024, the company updated its steroid and hormone policy for chicken suppliers, publishing on its website:

All our chicken is real breast meat with no fillers or added hormones or no artificial or added hormones are allowed in the production of any poultry in the United States. Chick-fil-A restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico transitioned to chicken raised with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM) in the spring of 2024. NAIHM restricts the use of those antibiotics that are important to human medicine and used to treat people. Animal antibiotics are used to address sickness and protect overall animal health. In accordance with FDA requirements, all antibiotics must be cleared from the chicken's system before it is considered available for the chicken supply. The United States Department of Agriculture audits and verifies that suppliers are meeting the requirements of the Chick-fil-A NAIHM commitment.

Snopes reached out to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for comment on the validity of the allegations involving Chick-fil-A. We also asked if the agency had done independent studies on this claim or Nicarbazin in food products in general and whether it had more information to share. A representative said the agency does not comment on specific studies but rather evaluates such research as part of a "larger body of evidence to further our understanding of a particular issue and assist in our mission to protect public health."

According to the EPA, someone would need to "consume prohibitively large amounts" of Nicarbazin for it to pose a toxic risk. The agency said in a 2005 report on Nicarbazin:

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Nicarbazin has been a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved veterinary drug for use as an anticoccidial agent in broiler chickens since 1955. FDA has established a tolerance of 4 parts per million for Nicarbazin residues in uncooked chicken muscle, skin, liver, and kidney (21 Code of Federal Regulations 556.445). FDA has established a feed 3 additive tolerance of 125 ppm in chickens (21 Code of Federal Regulations 558.366) for use of Nicarbazin in feed to prevent outbreaks of faecal and intestinal coccidiosis  The potential for human exposure and mammals (e.g. dogs) is anticipated to be low from the use of Nicarbazin fed to resident Canada geese. The WHO studies indicate that non-target mammals (including humans) would have to consume prohibitively large amounts of the product to produce any toxic effects.

Claim Based on Purported Test of One Sandwich

Moms Across America, which has a history of spreading misleading claims about vaccines, claimed in the blog post:

A Chick-fil-A sandwich tested positive for a veterinary drug, Nicarbazin, an antiparasitic which is also a known aviary contraceptive. While the levels were low, no reliable assumptions or predictions can be made regarding the accumulation and effects of such a contraceptive drug when consumed on a daily or weekly or even monthly basis by potentially millions of Americans.

Moms Across America also published a detailed run-down of the test's findings. That full lab report did not include specifics on the amount of Nicarbazin that was supposedly detected in the chicken sandwich, describing it only as having "low levels."

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Also unknown was the specific Chick-fil-A location from which the sandwich was purchased.

Moms Across America performed the test at the Health Research Institute. In an interview with Snopes, the institute's chief research scientist and CEO, Joe Fagan, confirmed the group's findings (that Nicarbazin was detected in a sandwich) while also highlighting the small scope of the study. He said a single sandwich is not a large enough sample size to make a claim about all of the restaurant's sandwiches. Fagan said:

We can't really tell that [presence of Nicarbazin] from testing one sample. If we had tested samples from five different establishments in five different states, and they all came up with Nicarbazin, then you would be able to ask the question, is this a Chick-fil-A wide problem? It begins to look like that. But we did not make such a claim. We make a claim about the sample delivered to us. That's all we do. And the fact that that particular pesticide was in that particular sandwich is an indication that it can happen, but it doesn't prove that it's everywhere.

In our interview request to Moms Across America, we asked for its response to the assertion that the test is not sufficient evidence to claim that all Chick-fil-A sandwiches could test positive for traces of the veterinary medicine. We also asked if the group had conducted other studies, possibly using a larger sample size, and for the exact amount of Nicarbazin found in the one sample tested.

The Moms Group Behind Chick-fil-A Rumor

According to its website, Moms Across America aims "to educate and empower mothers and others with actions and solutions to create healthy communities."

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But the nonprofit has faced scrutiny for making sweeping claims without sufficient evidence to support them. Groups that have accused Moms Across America of spreading misinformation include Impossible Foods, a meat substitute manufacturer. In 2019, Impossible Foods offered a point-by-point rebuttal to the nonprofit's claims that its burgers tested positive for carcinogens.

Moms Across America's "About Us" page lists Stephanie Seneff, a noted purveyor of pseudoscience who has argued that certain herbicides cause autism, as a current adviser. In 2020, the McGill Office for Science and Society, a publication with "a mandate to demystify science for the public and separate sense from nonsense," posted an article criticizing Seneff's authority on herbicides and autism, noting that she is "an MIT computer scientist with no expertise in agriculture, chemistry, toxicology or the biological sciences."

Moms Across America said the Chick-fil-A test was supported by other organizations such as Children's Health Defense and the Centner Academy, both of which have a history of promoting misinformation about science and medicine. (The Children's Health Defense website prominently features anti-vaccination and COVID conspiracy theories and touts Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as its chairman  while the Centner Academy is a Florida-based private school whose policies declare, "We do not support the mainstream COVID narrative, critical race theory, and gender fluidity.")

Snopes has fact-checked many food-quality claims in the past, including allegations that pet food includes the remains of euthanized pets, McDonald's food doesn't rot and mRNA from COVID-19 vaccines is in the food supply.

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Senior Staff Reporter Alex Kasprak contributed to this story.

Sources:

Check, Reuters Fact. "Fact Check: COVID-19 Vaccination Does Not Increase Risk of Miscarriage." Reuters, 10 May 2022. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/covid-19-vaccination-does-not-increase-risk-of-miscarriage-idUSL2N2X2251/.

"Does Chick-Fil-A Use Hormones or Antibiotics in Your Chicken?" Chick-Fil-A, https://www.chick-fil-a.com/customer-support/our-food/quality-ingredients-and-sourcing/do-you-use-hormones-or-antibiotics-in-your-chicken. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Evaluation of Certain Veterinary Drug Residues in Food. World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2022, https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/363426/9789240057586-eng.pdf?sequence=1.

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Foods, Impossible. "Setting the Record Straight: How 'Moms Across America' Lies to Promote a Dangerous, Fundamentalist." What IF?, 6 May 2022, https://medium.com/impossible-foods/setting-the-record-straight-how-moms-across-america-lies-to-promote-a-dangerous-fundamentalist-bea50822605a.

"Glyphosate and COVID-19: Dr. Stephanie Seneff Strikes (Out) Again." Office for Science and Society, https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-pseudoscience-environment/dr-stephanie-seneff-strikes-out-again-glyphosate-and-covid-19. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Honeycutt, Zen. "Chick-Fil-A." Moms Across America, https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/chick_fil-a-petition. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

---. "National Health Billboard Campaign." Moms Across America, https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/national_health_billboard_campaign. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

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---. "What Parents-to-Be Need to Know About the COVID Vaccine." Moms Across America, https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/facts_about_the_covid_vaccine. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Nutrients in Drinking Water. World Health Organization, 2005, https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/43403/9241593989_eng.pdf?sequence=1.

Senapathy, Kavin. "Moms Across America Sponsors Bogus Organic Billboard Lobbying Blitz." Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/kavinsenapathy/2016/05/04/moms-across-america-sponsors-bogus-organic-billboard-lobbying-blitz/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

US EPA - Pesticides - Fact Sheet for Nicarbazin. Environmental Protection Agency, Nov. 2005, https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-085712_01-Nov-05.pdf.

WHO | JECFA. https://apps.who.int/food-additives-contaminants-jecfa-database/Home/Chemical/3216. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.


MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX)  Happiness, joy, a day of celebration! On Monday, community members like the chamber of commerce groups from Palisade, Grand Junction, Fruita and the Western Colorado Latino Chamber gathered to celebrate this milestone of 20 years of business on the Western Slope.

Kayla Bowers, executive director for the Fruita Chamber of Commerce, states, Timberline Bank has really set the standard for what it means to be a part of your community. Their employees are involved in boards. One of their business bankers is on our board of directors, and has been for almost six years.

Starting as a condo on Patterson Road in 2004, co-founders Jim Pedersen and Jeff Taets have watched their bank start as a seed and sprout into a beautiful tree, spreading its branches into the community.

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Loise Goodman, Grand Junction branch president for Timberline Bank, states, I was employee number five back in 2004 so I have been with the bank ever since and I feel like I have grown up with Timberline, as has the community. It is amazing how much has changed in Grand junction since the day we opened our doors.

As the bank begun spreading its branches into the western side of Colorado. From Grand Junction to Aspen to Montrose, Pedersen and Taets looked to make a difference in those communities.

Candace Carnahan, president and CEO at the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, states, Timberline understands that being a great cornerstone of our community means that they arent just successful at business, but they give back in impactful ways.

Bowers explains, Community impact is so important locally, and especially to help keep those dollars local.

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To give back to the community, the bank also supports and sponsors nonprofits. Hosting community events and work closely with CMU to train students in bank. Goodman tells WesternSlopeNow when they built the new building back in 2020, 30% of the space was for the community alone.

Bowers states, Theyve been such a huge asset in our community. Theyre actually one of our founding partners for our womens conference the Fruita chamber hosts annually. So were really excited about the impact they bring and all of the local businesses and nonprofits that they support.

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 WesternSlopeNow.com.
The U.S Capitol Building is prepared for the inaugural ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden as American flags are placed in the ground on the National Mall on January 18, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images).

For the past few years, the U.S. military has had difficulty filling its ranks. Due to recruiting challenges, the Army is now the smallest it has been since 1940.

For those interested in joining the military, all are required to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which is a standardized test that helps to determine whether one is qualified to join. Additionally, the ASVAB helps to identify which military careers would be a good fit for potential recruits.

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Unfortunately, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the push for more remote learning, ASVAB scores have plummeted which has negatively affected the militarys ability to meet it recruiting targets.

To make matters worse, youth obesity has risen and so has drug use. Missouri voters, for instance, legalized recreational marijuana via ballot initiative in 2022. Despite its legality at the state level, marijuana use disqualifies applicants from joining the military.

In short, young people in America are more mentally and physically unfit to serve in the military than at any other point in recent memory. Today, only 23% are qualified to enlist  and among those that are eligible, few view the prospects of a military career as appealing.

Despite offers of big bonuses, most of todays youth are not interested in military service. This year, for the first time, the majority of young Americans report that they have never even considered joining the military.

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A possible solution to this recruitment problem could be allowing foreigners to enlist, which is a model that many countries have successfully adopted.

The Legion etrangere  or French Foreign Legion  is arguably the worlds most famous foreign legion. It was created in 1831, and since its formation, legionnaires born in more than 140 countries have fought under the French flag in a variety of conflicts throughout the world, including those in Afghanistan and in the Sahel region of Africa.

French legionnaires are often among the first French troops sent into a dangerous environment. Yet each year, volunteers still travel to France in hopes of enlisting. Many Americans have served in the French Foreign Legion, including Peter Ortiz who later joined the U.S. Marine Corps and today is recognized as one of the most decorated Marines of World War II.

Part of the appeal of joining the French Foreign Legion is that a legionnaire can apply to become a French citizen after only three years of service. Additionally, anyone wounded in action is Francais par le sang verse  or French by spilled blood  and can immediately apply for French citizenship.

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Many countries have taken a page from Frances playbook by allowing foreigners to serve in their armed forces. For example, in 1920, Spain founded its own foreign legion.

After Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a Ukrainian foreign legion was established. Many U.S. citizens have joined.

Some countries do not have a separate foreign legion, but still allow foreigners to enlist. For instance, citizens of the European Union can join the Irish Defence Forces, and citizens of the Commonwealth can join the British Army. Starting next month, Americans, Brits, Canadians, and New Zealanders will be able to join the Australian Defence Force, which has been experiencing its own recruiting shortfall.

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As of last year, there were more than 10 million undocumented immigrants in America. President-elect Donald Trump has promised that on his first day back in office, he will launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history.

State lawmakers are also looking at ways to crackdown. For example, incoming state Sen. David Gregory, a Republican from St. Louis County, has proposed paying a $1,000 bounty to those that help to find and detain undocumented immigrants in the state.

Of the millions of undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S., I wonder how many could do well on the ASVAB. I wonder how many are physically fit enough to do well at boot camp. I wonder how many could pass a drug test. Might some prefer to join the military and be offered a path to citizenship, rather than be deported?

Creating an American Foreign Legion could help play a role in addressing both our undocumented immigration problem as well as our military recruitment problem.

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For the record, foreigners fighting for America is not a new concept. During the American Revolution, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the Marquis de Lafayette, and others, made vital contributions to the struggle for independence. Without the assistance of foreign fighters, it is quite possible that the American Revolution would have ended with a different outcome.

Also, it is worth pointing out that under certain circumstances, foreigners are already allowed to join the U.S. military. Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau can enlist, as can foreigners who possess a green card. Perhaps it is time to consider allowing others to join as well.

If an undocumented immigrant can pass the mental and physical requirements to join the military, if they enlist, and they serve honorably, shouldnt they be given the opportunity to make this land of immigrants their new home?
Time Magazine has released its nominees for Person of the Year 2024. The list features some of the most influential individuals from various backgrounds, and fans are eager to find out if their favorite celebrities have made the cut. So, who are the nominees for Time Magazines Person of the Year 2024?

Here is the complete list of all the public figures being nominated for the annual issue.

List of Time Magazines 2024 Person of the Year nominees

Time Magazines Person of the Year 2024 features numerous personalities from President Donald Trump to Vice-President Kamala Harris.

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Donald Trump

Trump was one of the most talked about personalities in the country given the 2024 presidential elections. He became the president for the second time with the inauguration scheduled on January 20, 2025.

Kate Middleton

The Princess of Wales dominated the headlines due to health concerns. She stepped away from the spotlight till easter following her hospitalization for planned abdominal surgery. After months, it was revealed that Middleton had been diagnosed with cancer and completed her chemotherapy in September.

Yulia Navalnaya

The Russian economist was in the news following her husband Alexei Navalnys death in prison. She accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for his death. Additionally, Navalnaya met with numerous world leaders, including former President Joe Biden.

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Elon Musk

The TESLA CEO and the owner of X grabbed eyeballs for supporting President Trump during the election campaigns.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The Prime Minister of Israel has been one of the most talked-about persons of interest. He sparked several controversies amidst the countrys war against Palestine.

Joe Rogan

Rogan enjoyed a successful year with his popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience and remained the top podcast on Spotify.

Jerome Powell

He is the chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve and was also in the limelight this year due to the election debates.

Claudia Sheinbaum

The Jewish leader made history by emerging as the first female President of Mexico.

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Mark Zuckerberg

The businessman was in the headlines with his Meta platforms going under government observation amidst the debate of social medias impact on young minds.

Kamala Harris

The Vice president had a remarkable year as she vouched to become the first-ever female president of the country. However, she ended up losing to her rival Donald Trump who claimed the position for the second time.

Originally reported by Ritika Singh on ComingSoon.net.

The post Time Magazines Person of the Year 2024 Nominees Revealed appeared first on Mandatory.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Michigan could soon start requiring tobacco licenses for anyone selling cigarettes or vapes, as a select few bills in the state legislature start seeing motion Tuesday.

If all of these bills were to pass, it would mean you could not buy any flavored nicotine products, including certain types of vapes, mini cigars, and hookah.

The legislation would also shift criminal prosecution away from the minors who buy tobacco and start punishing the stores that sell it to them even harder.

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RELATED: Tobacco regulation bills spark debate at House hearing

Opponents of these bills see them as an extra layer of regulation on an already overburdened industry, and cigarette sellers pointed out that they already have strict policies against selling to minors. Others took issue with the bans of flavors like menthol, worrying it was just another way for the legal system to target Black people.

However, supporters of the legislation say it could make a huge impact on the number of people who get addicted to nicotine, especially kidsand that it would be a net benefit to the community.

Tobacco has become so trendy now with the flavors and the marketing to kids. You have bubblegum flavor, vapes and you have blue raspberry-flavored vapes and you have green apple and theyre kind of like cotton candy, says Michael Emanuel Smith, an activist and supporter of the bill. They kind of attract kids as older menthol smokers that smoke cigarettes die off. You have to replace these menthol smokers. Its not racist. Whats racist is to continue to fill black lungs and minorities lungs with tobacco products.

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The committee only had enough time in Tuesdays schedule to pass a portion of these bills on to a full house voteincluding the ones that have to deal with penalties for selling to minors, and potential tobacco licenses.

The other bills on the list are going to need more time in committeebut if the legislature wants to pass them, they have only a few more legislative meetings before the new year begins to do so.

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.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Todd Gloria has been sworn in to office as he begins his second term as mayor of San Diego.

Gloria was first sworn in as the mayor of San Diego in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. When he took office, he was the first person of color and the first LGBTQ+ person to be elected as the Citys mayor.

Mayor Gloria highlights progress on road repair projects

Mayor Gloria was sworn in to his second term in office on Tuesday alongside his family, part of the City of San Diegos 75th Inauguration Ceremony held at the Jacobs Music Center at Copley Symphony Hall.

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City Councilmembers for Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, and City Attorney Heather Ferbert were also sworn in on Tuesday.

San Diego General Election 2024 results

This morning, I stand before you deeply humbled and profoundly honored to be sworn in for a second term as your Mayor, said Mayor Todd Gloria during his inauguration address. The past four years have been among the most challenging in our history. Yet, through it all, we rolled up our sleeves, focused on what mattered, and made real progress.

Gloria defeated Larry Turner in the November 2024 Presidential General Election to become mayor of San Diego once again.

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Turner concedes to Gloria in race for San Diego mayor

The announcement by the city stated over the course of his first term, Gloria was able to accomplish the following:

Doubled the number of options for people experiencing homelessness to get off the streets;

Cracked down on street encampments and reduced the number of tents in Downtown San Diego by 80%;

Enacted pro-housing policies and cut bureaucratic red tape to build or permit more than 20,000 homes, including over 3,700 rent-restricted affordable homes;

Repaired 25% of the Citys total road network;

Presided over an 11% reduction in crime.

I take this oath today with a simple but firm commitment: There will be no second-term slowdown. Instead, this will be a second-term double-down, Mayor Gloria told the crowd at the Jacobs Music Center. The challenges ahead will be formidable, but my faith in us is unshakable. I believe in our ability to rise to the occasion, make tough choices, and move forward.

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Gloria noted his priorities for his second term include addressing homelessness and ending the era of encampments, building more housing, fixing roads and other city infrastructure, and ensuring San Diego remains one of Americas safest big cities.

Mayor Gloria unveils proposed 2025 budget

These are not just prioritiesthey are our responsibility, Gloria continued. You have given us a mandate to keep moving San Diego forward, and I will honor that trust by working tirelessly to do just that.

Mayor Glorias oath of office was administered by the Honorable Judge David Rubin. After the Inauguration Ceremony, the Office of the City Clerk hosted a community celebration and resource fair.

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Ed Lenderman 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
President-elect Donald Trumps picks to serve in top jobs in his next administration have generally stayed off the airwaves to avoid any verbal slipups that might jeopardize their chances at getting confirmed by the Senate.

Not so with Tom Homan.

Homan, who was the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trumps first term in office, has been tapped to be the new White House border czar. The job does not require Senate confirmation, meaning Homan has the freedom to go on cable news and conservative media and promote Trumps agenda.

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A former border patrol agent, Homan led ICE during the Trump administrations Zero Tolerance policy, which was widely criticized for its family separations.

In the past month, he has done at least 20 interviews, which have all been reviewed by NBC News. Tasked with coordinating Trumps core campaign promise of a mass deportation, Homan has used the appearances to begin detailing how the efforts might take shape and how the administration will move its plan forward. While they are far from painting a complete picture, the interviews have given more specifics than have been offered about the deportation policy in the past.

Representatives for Trumps transition did not respond to a request for comment about Homans interviews.

Using the U.S. military to help with mass deportation

Over the course of the election, Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, often faced questions about how Trumps future administration would implement and fund a deportation program seeking to repatriate potentially millions of undocumented migrants but regularly offered few details.

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Homan, who was frequently asked during his appearances to explain how and with whom the repatriations will begin, echoes one of the few details of the plan that Trump has offered publicly himself: The deportations will begin with undocumented migrants who pose threats to either national or public security.

President Trump has made it clear we will prioritize public safety threats and national security threats first and thats what the focus would be, Homan said of the deportation plan in an interview on Fox News Hannity program on Nov. 11. Theres thousands of gang members, illegal alien gang members were going to be looking for. Now, Im going to say if youre in the country illegally, you shouldnt feel comfortable, absolutely not. I wont feel comfortable.

We have ways of finding people, he said in a separate interview on the networks Ingraham Angle on Nov. 20. Im not going to explain it here on national TV because of law enforcement sensitivity, but we will find many of these folks. They will be arrested, theyll be detained, and they will be removed.

One area in which Homan has expanded on how the operations will work is how the military might be enlisted to add manpower to the operation.

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Using the military domestically that way would be a significant step  one that two Democratic senators recently warned against in a letter to President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, asking the administration to issue a policy directive before Biden leaves office that would require state or local officials to request assistance before federal military forces are deployed. (Trump could overturn the directive once he is back in office.)

During the campaign, Trump suggested that his administration could use the military for the deportations, and he has considered moving U.S. troops from overseas to station them at the southern border. Homan has not been as direct as Trump has about how he sees the militarys role in the operation he will oversee.

In an appearance on SiriusXMs The David Webb Show on Nov. 12, Homan said he sees the potential role of service members as most helpful with tasks that do not require explicit immigration authority.

The Defense Department has helped several administrations on the border. They could be a force multiplier, Homan said. The military, he continued, could be used to help relieve law enforcement officers from administrative duties so they can get on the street and do what theyre supposed to be doing.

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For instance, DOD could help with transportation. They could help ground transportation; they could help with air flights out. They can help with infrastructure building. They could help with intelligence, things that dont require immigration authority. So if DOD can help me, great, he said.

Tom Homan, who doesn't have to face Senate confirmation, has been going on Fox News and other conservative outlets to talk about Trump's plans on immigration.

Leaning on that logic, Homan has also suggested that the administration will contract out work that does not require law enforcement credentials, like administrative duties or transportation services.

But my plan is, and Ive been very vocal about this, were going to contract as much work out as we can, work that doesnt require a badge and a gun, because I need badges and guns on the street to do the deportation operation, Homan said Nov. 29 on Fox News.

The contracting could include help from the private sector, too, he has suggested.

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Ive been meeting with these tech companies the last couple weeks to find out whats the latest and brightest technology available, so were already working on that plan, he said in a podcast interview with Phil McGraw, the media personality known as Dr. Phil, which was published Tuesday.

Later in the same interview, he told McGraw that the federal government will also set up a phone line for members of the public to alert immigration authorities to undocumented people in their communities.

Im hoping people start calling ICE and reporting because we have millions of people in this country that can be forced multipliers for us if they just call us with information, he said.

Funding mass deportation

A major outstanding question, however, remains how the incoming Trump administration would fund a deportation scheme at that large a scale. Homan, who will have no official authority over how much funding he will have for his efforts, has said that Trump has pledged the financial support needed to execute on his promise but that funding would most likely have to come from Congress for a long-term operation.

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Well, $86 billion is the minimum, Homan said Sunday about the cost of the deportation on Fox Business Sunday Morning Futures, noting that the administration would need an assist from Congress for the funding.

This operation is going to be expensive to begin with, but in the long run, theres going to be huge tax savings for the American taxpayer, he added, without providing further details about how exactly the funding would be spent or distributed to federal and local agencies or whether allies in Congress have assured the incoming administration that the sum is feasible.

We have to, because weve got to have the resources to do the job, Homan said of working with Congress to secure the proper funding in another interview on Fox News on Nov. 18. Theres a lot of what-ifs. I dont know what the current budget is right now. I dont have insight into what currently ICE and CBP have for budget. How much money can be reprogrammed? I can tell you this, President Trump is committed to whatever he can to get us the money we need. (CBP is Customs and Border Protection.)

Cooperation (or lack thereof) with local officials

Given the immense scope of the operation Trump seeks, Homan has expressed a need for support from local authorities to carry out their immigration plans. With weeks still to go until Trump enters the White House once again, however, several Democratic leaders have already signaled their intention to resist and inhibit agencies like ICE from operating within their jurisdictions.

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As Homan has often been pressed in his appearances on television to respond to those promises of non-cooperation, a pattern has emerged in how he signals the administration will handle resistance: promises to ramp up deportation efforts in the face of opposition and threats of consequences, including prosecution, for those who impede the administrations efforts.

Law enforcement should work with law enforcement, Homan said in an interview on Fox News on Nov. 11, the morning after Trump announced his appointment on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Ive seen some of these Democratic governors say theyre going to stand in the way. Theyre going to make it hard for us. A suggestion: If youre not going to help us, get the hell out of the way, because were going to do it, he said.

The potential for lack of cooperation, Homan often says, will only force the agencies he will oversee to double down on their efforts to identify and deport undocumented migrants.

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Heres the thing: They dont let us in the county jail to arrest a bad guy, which means theyre going to release the bad guy back in the community, he said on Jesse Watters Fox News prime-time show eight days later.

So what theyre saying is going to force us into neighborhoods to arrest more illegal aliens than what we originally planned to do. So their idea just  its ridiculous.

In his most pointed comments to detractors, Homan has gone as far as to suggest that Pam Bondi, Trumps pick for attorney general, could prosecute those who impede their efforts.

It is a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien from immigration authorities. Its a felony to impede a law enforcement officer in the performance of their duties. Dont cross that line, because there will be consequences, and thank God we got a strong attorney general coming in. Pam Bondi and I will push those prosecutions, Homan said Dec. 3 in a prime-time appearance on Fox News. You can sit there and watch us do it, but do not cross that line. There will be consequences.

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Homan has been getting support from many Republican governors.

He has made several trips during the transition, including a late-November visit to Eagle Pass, Texas, with Gov. Greg Abbott, who is a staunch Trump ally, particularly on the issue of immigration. That cooperation has included Trump transition officials eyeing a piece of land the state recently bought as a site for new immigration detention centers, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Homan likewise touts meetings and phone calls with local officials and leaders, particularly along the border and in major cities like New York and Chicago  even as high-ranking as Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino. Homan, for instance, disclosed on Fox News early this month that New York Mayor Eric Adams had directly asked for a meeting. (In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson did not directly confirm Adams had been in contact with Homan but wrote that Adams has repeatedly said he hopes to work with the incoming Trump administration to improve the lives of New Yorkers.)

Homans in-person meetings have not been limited to local elected leaders, either. On Monday, he traveled to Chicago, where he spoke before a gathering of local Republicans.

Chicago is in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks, Homan said, according to Politico, and he repeated an oft-used line telling officials that those who do not wish to help with the deportations should get the hell out of the way.

Before the meeting, in an interview on Fox News, Homan appeared remotely from Chicago, where, he said, he was also set to meet with Black pastors to assuage concerns about what the deportations could do to their communities.

Were not waiting for Jan. 20. Im working now, Homan said.

A brash spokesman for the Trump agenda

Without the threat of a Senate confirmation fight, Homan frequently seems uninhibited  and often brash  in his media appearances.

Whats cruel about it? Homan asked in an interview on The Ingraham Angle on Nov. 26 when he was asked to respond to critics who question the ethics of a mass deportation operation.

Homan, who said in an interview with CBS News 60 Minutes in the final weeks of the election that mixed-status families can be deported together, has also continued to promote that logic in several of his public appearances.

Trump, who is a noted avid fan of cable television, deployed the same line of reasoning when NBC News Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker pressed him in an interview about whether he would reinstate the family separation policy from his first term.

Well, that way you keep the  well, I dont want to be breaking up families, so the only way you dont break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back, he said.

In some of his more animated comments, particularly responding to opponents of the incoming administrations immigration proposals, Homan has called on elected leaders who have vowed noncooperation to resign for not adequately protecting their constituents.

For those governors and mayors who are saying theyre going to stop Tom Homan, theyre going to stop President Trump: Shame on you, Homan said on Fox News on Nov. 20.

And for any governor or mayor who doesnt want public safety threats taken out of their communities, he added, you should resign your office, because your No. 1 responsibility is to protect those communities.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
TOOELE, Utah (ABC4)  On Tuesday, Dec. 10, Tooele School District board members unanimously voted to include the Ten Commandments in the districts history curriculum.

The first reading of the revised policy was scheduled for the Dec. 10 meeting. However, board members elected to skip a second reading of the policy and move ahead with a vote, after which the policy passed with no audible dissenting votes.

Unified Fire board approves $11M tax increase for 2025  heres what that means

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In Tooele, the Ten Commandments will be joining a list of historical documents and principles  including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Pledge of Allegiance, among others  to be taught in classes such as American history.

The move to implement this revised policy came after House Bill 269, or Public School History Curricula Amendments, went into effect on July 1.

The bill was proposed during the 2024 general legislative session and signed by Gov. Spencer Cox in March. H.B. 269 proposed adding the Ten Commandments and Magna Carta to Utahs public school curricula to be taught in history courses.

The Ten Commandments are considered to be a list of religious rules that were divinely revealed to the prophet Moses and engraved on stone tablets. The policy passed by Tooele also allows the Magna Carta  a charter that provided the foundation for individual rights, according to Britannica  to be taught in history classes.

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No indication was made about when the revised policy would take effect in the districts history classes.

Background

Proponents of H.B. 269 previously argued that the Ten Commandments provide a basis for U.S. law. Critics, however, argued the Commandments were not fundamental to understanding American history.

Sen. Kathleen Riebe debated on the Senate floor earlier in 2024, saying that adding the Commandments to the list of approved historical documents and principles would bring religion into Utahs public schools. Rep. Angela Romero voiced concerns it could serve to alienate students who arent of the Christian faith.

Rep. Michael Petersen, the bills chief sponsor, argued that the Commandments historical significance would be the focus of study, rather than the religious aspects.

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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.
By Simon Lewis and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's top aides were heading to the Middle East on Wednesday seeking to advance efforts to reach an elusive Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal and help ensure a smooth transition in Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to visit Jordan and Turkey, while U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan planned stops in Israel, Qatar and Egypt in coming days, U.S. officials said.

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The high-level tours could help shape Biden's legacy in the turbulent Middle East in the final weeks of his term before former President Donald Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20. But it is unclear whether Biden has enough leverage in the region to secure major agreements before he leaves office.

Biden administration officials have kept Trump's aides updated on their diplomatic efforts, though they insist they are not directly coordinating with the incoming administration.

High on the agenda for Biden's aides will be the future of Syria, where opposition militias overthrew Assad over the weekend, ending a 50-year family dynasty in a shockingly fast takeover after 13 years of civil war.

Blinken, who will visit Aqaba in Jordan and Ankara through Friday, will "reiterate the United States support for an inclusive, Syrian-led transition to an accountable and representative government," the State Department said.

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The Biden administration, along with governments in the region and the West, has been scrambling to find ways to engage with the Syrian rebel groups including leading rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group formerly allied with Al Qaeda and which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., European Union, Turkey and the U.N.

Blinken and Sullivan will also try to make progress toward a deal to end the 14-month war in Gaza and win the release of the remaining hostages held there by the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Such an agreement, which has involved mediation by Qatar and Egypt, has hit one obstacle after another.

Trump warned last week there would be "hell to pay" in the Middle East if hostages held in Gaza were not released before his January inauguration. A U.S. official said the threat was not necessarily counterproductive or helpful to the process.

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SEEKING TO BUILD MOMENTUM

The Biden administration hopes that the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon as well as the ouster of Assad, a close ally of Tehran, could help build momentum toward a Gaza accord.

"Hamas has got to be looking out at the world today and realizing that the cavalry is not coming to rescue them," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday. "One would hope that recent developments in Syria reinforce for them that they are just increasingly isolated and ought to take a deal."

Still, the prospects for progress remain tempered after months of unsuccessful diplomacy.

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Sullivan's trip is not meant "to suggest that were near completion or have something we can lock down" but the aim instead is to move forward as much as possible," a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Sullivan will meet Israeli leaders on Thursday and then travel to Qatar and Egypt.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin in a phone call that there is a "now a chance" for a deal that will free all of the remaining hostages, Katz's office said in a statement.

A Palestinian official close to the talks described "intensive contacts" but "nothing concrete yet." The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pressure from Trump and his camp "gives the talks a boost," but did not elaborate.

"We are keeping them informed," the U.S. official. "Making sure nothing we say or do is a surprise to them."

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Trump's incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, met in late November with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in a push for a Gaza deal before the U.S. inauguration, a source briefed on the talks has previously told Reuters.

Trump's pick for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was due to meet families of the remaining American-Israeli hostages on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Sullivan held his latest in a series of meetings with hostage families on Tuesday, U.S. officials said.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Matt Spetalnick, additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Alexandra Hudson and Deepa Babington)
The Town of Flora in Carroll County will use a $7,282,000 loan and a $1,000,000 grant to update and rehabilitate the towns wastewater treatment plant and collection system.

The funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced by Rural Development Indiana Acting State Director Curtis Johnson, is part of $76,571,000 in investments in Hoosier rural communities to expand access to a reliable electric grid, safe drinking water and good-paying jobs.

These projects are about more than just infrastructure; theyre about empowering our communities from the ground up, Johnson stated. By investing in sustainable technologies and vital resources, we are fostering a brighter future for Indianas rural areas, making them more resilient and attractive for families and businesses alike.

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The Town of Flora has been on a sewer ban imposed by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) since 1974. A sewer ban prohibits new sewers from connecting to the Utility.

The projects primary purpose is to improve the wastewater utility system so it will comply with todays health and sanitary standards. This will allow the town to attract new residents and new businesses.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Cuyahoga Community College is guaranteeing access to higher education for Cleveland Metropolitan School District students during the fall of their senior year.

More than 450 CMSD students were welcomed on Monday and Tuesday to learn more about the new partnership that will benefit thousands of students over the years.

Where the winning Powerball ticket was sold

Easing the access for the application for admission, so removing that barrier for students automatically admitting students who are interested in coming to Tri-C, Vice President of Enrollment Management Angela Johnson said. So, about 2,100 students that are graduating this year, seniors from CMSD will be automatically admitted to TRI-C.

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Johnson said this is a very important step for students to know they have a guaranteed path forward to continue learning, hopefully leading to a successful career.

Its not just important for what theyre doing right now, but its important for their future, she said. And its also important for the region and northeast Ohio and our economy.

The students were also led on a tour of campus including different educational departments to get a first-hand looks at what classes might look like.

So, it looks like a great program for me to be able to branch out and meet new people and figure out what I want to do in life, because at the moment, Im kind of undecided with what I want to do, Bard High School Senior Jazzlynn Smith said.

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Smith and fellow graduating senior Cassidy Kang said they feel a lot more confident after visiting and look forward to potentially attending.

After seeing what they have, like the programs that you could do, and just them showing what you could do here, honestly, it really opened my eyes, Kang said.

Browns announce development partner, release new renderings for Brook Park stadium district

Both Smith and Kang said going to college would be a huge step to make their families proud.

I would be a first-generation college student, Smith said. So being able to go to college and start my own journey and be successful would be great and mean a lot to me, honestly.

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Students also were provided information on how to keep college affordable through the Say Yes Scholarship program and Federal Pell Grants.

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.
Navajo Technical University Chinle Academic Facility (photo: Navajo Technical University Facebook)

The Tribal College and University (TCU) Building Bridges Grant Program has awarded more than $400,000 in its second funding cycle. Established through a partnership between the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and NASAs Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) for American Indian Alaska Native STEM Engagement (MAIANSE), the program aims to expand TCU student involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. The grants support initiatives that enhance course and curriculum development, foster research activities, and increase student engagement in STEM education.

Our Tribal Colleges and Universities have put together some inspiring projects that will not only engage students but give them practical real-world experiences in STEM, said Ahniwake Rose, AIHEC President & CEO, We are grateful that the partnership with NASA made these opportunities possible and we are excited for the potential outcomes for the students, faculty, and the TCUs.

In response to a request for proposals released in September 2024, AIHEC selected the following Tribal College & University projects centered around STEM enrichment:

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Dine College: Redesigning First Year Writing for STEM Success: Data Sovereignty, Peer Mentorship, and Internship Support

This program partners with NASA and AIHECs Building Bridges initiative to support Dine College students in developing academic writing and research skills essential for STEM fields.

College of Menominee Nation: STEM Academy: Inspiring Tribal Youth through Drone Technology and Virtual Learning

This project introduces a STEM Academy, which will support an initiative designed to inspire Indigenous youth through immersive experiences in drone technology, virtual reality, and career exploration within NASA-related STEM fields.

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Nebraska Indian Community College: Empowering STEM Pathways: Engaging NICC Students in NASA-Focused Research through Experiential Learning

This program aims to develop real-world research skills and stimulate STEM career interests by providing hands-on experience in identifying extremophilesorganisms capable of thriving in harsh environments similar to Mars.

Navajo Technical University: Inspiring American Indian Students in STEM Education Through Robotics

This program aims to engage and empower Indigenous students in the Navajo Nation in STEM education through an integrated approach involving robotics-related projects, research, curriculum development, and partnerships with NASA for internship opportunities.

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Red Lake Nation College: Establishing Weather Stations at Red Lake Nation College

This project will partner with consultants from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) to establish and analyze data from weather stations on the Red Lake Reservation.

Salish Kootenai College: Identifying survival enzyme genes in Hanensula anomala at Salish Kootenai College

This program aims to identify the enzymes that are involved in H. anomalas metal specific growth patterns.

Red Lake Nation Colleges Director of Sponsored Programs and Research, Dr. Wendy Greenberg shared, Our TCU Building Bridges grant to support research internships with the Red Lake DNR will dramatically increase the number of Red Lake Nation College students who have opportunities to engage in locally relevant STEM experiences and research. Her project Natural Resources Research Internships at Red Lake Nation College was awarded a grant in Round One funding.

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The MAIANSE Tribal College and Universities (TCU) Bridges Grant with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) was created to build capacity at TCUs. The second cycle of selections reaffirms our shared commitment to fostering innovation and expanding access within the STEM ecosystem, stated Keya T. Briscoe, Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Manager NASA Office of STEM Engagement.

NASA MAIANSE and AIHEC will implement another round of grants through the Tribal College and University (TCU) Building Bridges Grant Program in early 2025.

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
The people of Terre Haute are destined to experience one of what will be many benefits of the presence of a casino in their community when the city institutes fare-free bus rides in 2025.

Mayor Brandon Sakbun announced the plan last week, saying tax revenue from the Terre Haute Casino Resort will largely cover the funds previously collected from bus fares. His hope is that it makes bus transit more affordable for a larger segment of the community and increases overall ridership.

The mayor is right to be enthusiastic about the plan. It provides better access to an important service that reaches into portions of the community that sometimes come up on the short end of public commitments.

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This decision reflects our belief that access to affordable transportation is a cornerstone of a thriving, connected community, the mayor said.

Sakbun underscored the value of the service for what it brings to those who need it most.

For some folks, this is their car to work, the mayor said. Transportation is a huge, huge component of a strong quality of life.

The plan for free fares on city buses is a wise move that demonstrates the citys willingness to use casino tax funds to extend services and make them more valuable to residents and visitors. The transit department has an annual budget of just over $3 million, most of which comes from state and federal funds. Fares only accounted for a little less than 6% of total revenue.

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Other communities of similar size in Indiana offer free bus service. Doing so in Terre Haute was probably long overdue. With enhanced funding sources from entities such as the casino, the timing of such a plan makes sense.

Sakbun said 2025 will be a trial period. He hopes the new approach will increase ridership and improve service quality. The city will track ridership metrics in order to gauge overall success of the program.

Indiana State University, which has a transit partnership with the city that gives students, faculty and staff access to buses, is providing its own boost for the system, raising its contribution to funding the service by 10%.

We applaud the decision to provide free bus service for the community. Its more evidence that leaders are determined to make Terre Haute a city on the move.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believes that Donald Trump's future administration will not change the US$20 billion loan granted to Ukraine, which will be paid at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets, and that the loan does not involve the use of American taxpayer funds.

Source: Yellen in an interview with Bloomberg TV, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "These loans will be paid off over time by the extraordinary windfall revenues that are being earned in Europe at Euroclear on the Russian assets that are being frozen there."

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As a result, she believes that in this way Russia is literally assisting Ukraine in its military efforts.

"So I feel confident that this [loan - ed.] is something that can stay in place," Yellen added.

"And what were really trying to do is to strengthen Ukraines situation, its ability to defend itself, and, hopefully, at some point to come to the table to bargain with Russia for a just peace," she said.

Background:

On 10 December, the US Department of the Treasury announced the allocation of US$20 billion for Ukraine as part of the G7 initiative to utilise frozen Russian assets.

This is part of the G7 plan to provide Ukraine with 50 billion using Russian assets. The funds will formally be provided as loans but will be repaid through a tax on excess profits derived from frozen Russian assets.

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Donald Trumps MAGA allies are racing to put down the last vestiges of Republican resistance to him in the Senate.

Following her initial hesitance toward Pete Hegseth, Trumps embattled Defense Secretary pick, Sen. Joni Ernst came in for a raft of criticism from Republicans in her home state of Iowa. Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of four remaining senators who voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial, just drew a formal primary challenge. And moderate Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are already starting to catch some heat from party activists.

Among Trumps MAGA faithful, the hunt for what they derisively describe as RINOs  Republicans-In-Name-Only  is in full swing.

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The pressure valve is now pointed in the direction of the Senate, said Steve Deace, an Iowa-based radio talk show host who is considering challenging Ernst. The tea party was not nearly as organized as the Trump movement is.

Despite Republicans winning united control of Washington, the nomination process has been marked with Republican infighting and purity tests. Thats in part because of Trumps unorthodox picks, including Kash Patel for FBI director and Tulsi Gabbard for intel chief, who have tested the willingness of the Senate to indulge Trump.

Now, Trumps allies are fighting back in Washington and in the states. Ernst, a member of the Armed Services committee, was the first put under the spotlight. But Trump acolytes are closely watching others for signs of disloyalty  especially if they are up for reelection in 2026, such as Collins and Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

MAGA activist Charlie Kirk issued a warning to Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) for simply saying he had no complaints against the current FBI director that Trump wants to oust. Billionaire Elon Musk piled on, writing that those who oppose reform will lose their primary/election. And Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) openly suggested that colleagues opposing Trump may not belong in the Senate.

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Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski vowed: "There will be no resource that we won't use to target senators who stymie Trumps nominations.



Any Senate bloodletting wont be easy. Much of the current MAGA-fication of the chamber has come through retirements. No elected incumbent senator has lost a primary challenge since 2012. And some senators bristle at the threats and say the prospect of political consequences alone may not produce the desired results.

I don't think it makes more loyal senators out of people. Senators are not slouches. I don't know many wimpy senators, said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who had previously raised concerns about Hegseths drinking. We got elected, too. And in a case like Susan Collins, she wins overwhelmingly in a state that Donald Trump doesn't carry. You know, how do you not give her that room?

But Trumps allies arent letting up on Republicans they view as disobedient. In addition to trolling Ernst on social media, they recruited Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to write an op-ed about why senators should back Trump's nominees  a name that may seem obscure to some people but wasn't for those familiar with Iowa politics. Bird, unlike Ernst, backed Trump through the primary process  and Trump allies were eager to send a not-so-veiled threat that they'd run Bird against her in 2026 if she didn't get in line.

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The goal of it all wasn't just to get Ernst to comply, but to make an example of her to other senators so they think twice about sinking Trump's nominees.

Ernst may have gotten the message. An Army National Guard veteran and survivor of sexual assault, she first signaled that she had serious concerns about Hegseth, who is facing sexual assault allegations and has opposed women in combat. But days later, she struck a different note, vowing to support him through the process and calling their meeting encouraging.

She also posted her support of Patel and a photo with Gabbard.

Republicans should understand Trump also has a much more professional political operation around him, and that Trump himself, I think, is a lot more willing to use his own political power this time, said one longtime Trumpworld adviser, granted anonymity to speak candidly. In his first term, he was new to politics, and I think he was a lot more deferential to people in the Senate, and I don't think that's going to be the case this time around.

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Hegseth will still have to convince the rest of the GOP conference, including moderates like Collins and Murkowski.

Murkowski was reelected in 2022 despite supporting his impeachment thanks in part to her states ranked-choice, all-party primary system. Collins will face the voters in 2026. Rejecting Trumps nominees would not hurt her in a general election in a blue state  something that insulates Collins from some political coercion.

The possibility of a primary challenge will not influence my carrying out my constitutional duties, Collins said about the pressure tactics. I get criticism from the far right and the far left all the time  its not new.

After Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) retires, Murkowski, Collins and Cassidy will be the three remaining senators who voted for conviction in Trump's second impeachment trial.

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Cassidy did so in early 2021 when Trump had been voted out of office. Four years later, Louisiana state Treasurer John Fleming, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, launched a bid against him.

And in another blow to Cassidy, at the behest of Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana did away with its jungle primary system where the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff, regardless of party, if no one clears 50 percent. That means Cassidy will have to win a primary consisting of only GOP voters, rather than a broader electorate.



It really dealt a huge challenge to Cassidy. And quite frankly, I think that was intentional. I think the governor likely did that intentionally, said Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), who predicted a tough road ahead for Cassidy. Bill's got a great heart, but the reality is you've got a job to represent the state. And I just think that he got out of sync on that.

Cassidy on Tuesday said he is hardly thinking about his challenger and of the closed primary, It is what it is, and well deal with it.

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Trump has been excising Republicans he deems insufficiently loyal from the ranks since his first inauguration in 2017. Hes found resounding success in the House, installing fervent acolytes to replace those who defied him.

Of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, only two remain in office. Four retired, and four lost primaries to Trump-backed challengers, including a high-profile win against then-Rep. Liz Cheney in Wyoming.

Now, as Trumps allies zero in on the Senate this year, they have a blueprint to follow from his House impeachment revenge tour. Anoint a candidate early and nudge the other ones out to avoid splitting the anti-incumbent vote.

Some early challenger names have cropped up in key states. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has suggested he could run against Cornyn.

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When asked about Paxton considering a challenge, Cornyn responded on Tuesday, Who?

Of threats of political retribution, he said, I think this has gotten a little out of hand. The senators have a responsibility under the Constitution to do advice and consent, and really it's not just to protect the Senate's prerogatives, it's to protect the president against surprises that don't come up during the vetting process.

But that line of thinking isnt slowing the MAGA army down. In Iowa, Deace said hes received numerous calls about his possible challenge to Ernst but declined to specify if any of those calls were from people in Trump's orbit. He said he would support the candidate Trump chooses if he decides to back an Ernst challenger.

"There's very few Iowans that have the name ID to do this," he said. "I'm one of them."

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Rachael Bade contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report inaccurately described Senate votes in 2021. Four Republican senators still in office today voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial that year.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump doesn't think much of Joe Biden's foreign policy record. The Republican president-elect frequently casts the outgoing Democratic president as a feckless leader who shredded American credibility around the world during his four-year term.

But a funny thing happened on Trump's way back to the White House: The Biden and Trump national security teams have come to an understanding that they have no choice but to work together as conflicts in Gaza, Syria and Ukraine have left a significant swath of the world on a knife's edge.

It's not clear how much common ground those teams have found as they navigate crises that threaten to cause more global upheaval as Trump prepares to settle back into the White House on Jan. 20, 2025.

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There is a deep conviction on the part of the incoming national security team that we are dealing with ... and on our part, directed from President Biden, that it is our job, on behalf of the American people, to make sure this is a smooth transition, Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during a weekend appearance at a forum in California. And we are committed to discharging that duty as relentlessly and faithfully as we possibly can.

To be certain, Trump and his allies haven't let up on their criticism of Biden, putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of Biden and Democrats for the series of crises around the globe.

The president-elect says Biden is responsible for the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, arguing that policies under his watch led to Hamas and Russia becoming emboldened. And shortly before Syria's Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed last week, Trump blamed Biden's old boss, former President Barack Obama, for failing to enforce his own red line in 2013 after Assad deployed chemical weapons that killed hundreds of civilians, and laying the groundwork for Islamic militants to establish a beachhead in the country.

But amid the hectoring of Biden, Trump team officials acknowledge that the Biden White House has worked diligently to keep Trump's circle apprised and help ensure there is a smooth handoff on national security matters.

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For our adversaries out there that think this is a time of opportunity that they can play one administration off the other, theyre wrong, and we are  we are hand in glove," Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for national security adviser, said in a Fox News interview last month. We are one team with the United States in this transition.

While Trump rarely has a good word for the Democratic administration, there's an appreciation in Trump world of how the Biden White House has gone about sharing critical national security information, according to a Trump transition official who was not authorized to comment publicly.

The coordination is precisely how lawmakers intended for incoming and outgoing administrations to conduct themselves during a handover when they bolstered federal support for transitions. It's already the most substantive handoff process since 2009, aides to Biden and Trump acknowledged, surpassing Trump's chaotic first takeover in 2017 and his wide refusal to cooperate with the incoming Biden team in 2021.

Trump's pick to serve as special envoy to the Middle East, Florida real estate developer Steve Witkoff, consulted with Biden administration officials as he recently traveled to Mideast to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatars Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Sullivan, who was to travel to Israel on Wednesday for talks with Netanyahu, has in turn kept Waltz in the loop about the Biden administration's efforts at getting a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before Trump's inauguration.

Biden administration officials say that the two national security teams have also closely coordinated on Ukraine and Syria, though they have provided scant detail on what that coordination has looked like.

Let me put it this way: Nothing that were doing and nothing that were saying are coming as a surprise to the incoming team, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. "They will decide for themselves what policies they might want to keep in place, what approaches they might want to continue and which ones they wont."

Trump made clear during his campaign that he would move to end the war in Ukraine quickly once he came to office. He called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin earlier this week to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine.

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But the Biden White House has begun gently  and publicly  making the case for how continued support for Ukraine lines up with Trump's priorities.

On Saturday, Sullivan pointed to comments made by Trump on social media to buttress the case that Bidens push for continued support of Ukraine falls in line with the incoming presidents thinking.

Trump earlier that day had noted that Assads rule was collapsing because Russia lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever.

Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success, Trump said in the posting on Truth Social.

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Sullivan underscored that Biden and Trump are in agreement that there should be no American boots on the ground in Syria and that the war in Ukraine was a major factor in Assads fall.

I was a little bit struck by it  earlier in the post, he said part of the reason this is happening is because of Russias war against Ukraine, Sullivan said of Trump. And I think he even referenced the sheer scale of the casualties that Russia has suffered in Ukraine, and for that reason, theyre not in a position to defend their client, Assad. And on that point, were in vigorous agreement.

Two days later in Washington, Sullivan made the case that Trump should bolster the little-known U.S. International Development Finance Corporation that was created during the Republicans first term.

The push for reauthorizing the foreign aid agency comes as Trump has promised to make massive cuts to the federal bureaucracy.

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Trump signed into law the agency's authority -- tucked into a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration  to provide $60 billion in loans, loan guarantees and insurance to companies in developing nations.

Sullivan called the agency an effective tool for private-public partnerships, before allowing that maybe I shouldnt be the one making the case since Im leaving, but I will give my advice anyway.

It was created as weve all noted, under the Trump administration, Sullivan said in remarks at the agencys annual conference. It has been strengthened under the Biden administration. And as we look to DFC reauthorization next year, it has to remain a bipartisan priority.

After Assad's government fell, the Biden administration issued a warning to Iran not to speed up its nuclear program after one of its closest allies was toppled, declaring thatll never happen on our watch. The U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic, hinted at coordination on the matter with the Trump team.

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The official said there had been good discussions with the incoming administration on the matter and there was an expectation the same policy would carry over.

Biden has also approved a new national security memorandum that is meant to serve as a road map for the incoming Trump administration as it looks to counter growing cooperation between China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the White House announced Wednesday.

Biden administration officials began developing the guidance this summer. It was shaped to be a document that could help the next administration build its approach from Day 1 on how it will go about dealing with the tightening relationships between the United States most prominent adversaries and competitors, according to two other senior administration officials.

One of those officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, sought to assure the incoming Trump team that the Biden White House effort isn't trying to box them in or tilt them toward one policy option or another.

Instead, the official said, it's about helping the next administration build capacity as it shapes its policies on some the most difficult foreign policies it will face.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump doesn't think much of Joe Biden's foreign policy record. The Republican president-elect frequently casts the outgoing Democratic president as a feckless leader who shredded American credibility around the world during his four-year term.

But a funny thing happened on Trump's way back to the White House: The Biden and Trump national security teams have come to an understanding that they have no choice but to work together as conflicts in Gaza, Syria and Ukraine have left a significant swath of the world on a knife's edge.

It's not clear how much common ground those teams have found as they navigate crises that threaten to cause more global upheaval as Trump prepares to settle back into the White House on Jan. 20, 2025.

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There is a deep conviction on the part of the incoming national security team that we are dealing with ... and on our part, directed from President Biden, that it is our job, on behalf of the American people, to make sure this is a smooth transition, Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during a weekend appearance at a forum in California. And we are committed to discharging that duty as relentlessly and faithfully as we possibly can.

To be certain, Trump and his allies haven't let up on their criticism of Biden, putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of Biden and Democrats for the series of crises around the globe.

The president-elect says Biden is responsible for the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, arguing that policies under his watch led to Hamas and Russia becoming emboldened. And shortly before Syria's Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed last week, Trump blamed Biden's old boss, former President Barack Obama, for failing to enforce his own red line in 2013 after Assad deployed chemical weapons that killed hundreds of civilians, and laying the groundwork for Islamic militants to establish a beachhead in the country.

But amid the hectoring of Biden, Trump team officials acknowledge that the Biden White House has worked diligently to keep Trump's circle apprised and help ensure there is a smooth handoff on national security matters.

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For our adversaries out there that think this is a time of opportunity that they can play one administration off the other, theyre wrong, and we are  we are hand in glove," Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for national security adviser, said in a Fox News interview last month. We are one team with the United States in this transition.

While Trump rarely has a good word for the Democratic administration, there's an appreciation in Trump world of how the Biden White House has gone about sharing critical national security information, according to a Trump transition official who was not authorized to comment publicly.

The coordination is precisely how lawmakers intended for incoming and outgoing administrations to conduct themselves during a handover when they bolstered federal support for transitions. It's already the most substantive handoff process since 2009, aides to Biden and Trump acknowledged, surpassing Trump's chaotic first takeover in 2017 and his wide refusal to cooperate with the incoming Biden team in 2021.

Trump's pick to serve as special envoy to the Middle East, Florida real estate developer Steve Witkoff, consulted with Biden administration officials as he recently traveled to Mideast to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatars Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Sullivan, who was to travel to Israel on Wednesday for talks with Netanyahu, has in turn kept Waltz in the loop about the Biden administration's efforts at getting a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before Trump's inauguration.

Biden administration officials say that the two national security teams have also closely coordinated on Ukraine and Syria, though they have provided scant detail on what that coordination has looked like.

Let me put it this way: Nothing that were doing and nothing that were saying are coming as a surprise to the incoming team, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. "They will decide for themselves what policies they might want to keep in place, what approaches they might want to continue and which ones they wont."

Trump made clear during his campaign that he would move to end the war in Ukraine quickly once he came to office. He called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin earlier this week to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine.

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But the Biden White House has begun gently  and publicly  making the case for how continued support for Ukraine lines up with Trump's priorities.

On Saturday, Sullivan pointed to comments made by Trump on social media to buttress the case that Bidens push for continued support of Ukraine falls in line with the incoming presidents thinking.

Trump earlier that day had noted that Assads rule was collapsing because Russia lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever.

Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success, Trump said in the posting on Truth Social.

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Sullivan underscored that Biden and Trump are in agreement that there should be no American boots on the ground in Syria and that the war in Ukraine was a major factor in Assads fall.

I was a little bit struck by it  earlier in the post, he said part of the reason this is happening is because of Russias war against Ukraine, Sullivan said of Trump. And I think he even referenced the sheer scale of the casualties that Russia has suffered in Ukraine, and for that reason, theyre not in a position to defend their client, Assad. And on that point, were in vigorous agreement.
President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social to react to FBI director Christopher Wray announcing that he plans to resign once Trump takes office, saying he doesnt know what happened to Wray.

The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice, Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. I just dont know what happened to him. We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans.

Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America, he continued. They have used their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them.

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Trump continued, writing that Kash Patel, whom Trump plans to nominate for the position when he takes office, is the most qualified to lead the FBI because he is committed to helping ensure that law, order and justice will be brought back.

As everyone knows, I have great respect for the rank-and-file of the FBI, and they have great respect for me, Trump wrote. They want to see these changes every bit as much as I do but, more importantly, the American People are demanding a strong, but fair, System of Justice. We want our FBI back, and that will now happen. I look forward to Kash Patels confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin. Thank you!

Wray still had three years left in his 10-year term, but after Trump announced that he would nominate Patel for the position, Wray announced he would resign.

Ive decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down, Wray told FBI staffers.

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He continued: In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.

Wray took the job after Trump fired James Comey in 2017.

In 2019, Trump criticized Wray after the Justice Department said that the FBIs decision to surveil Carter Page, a former policy adviser to Trump, was legal. Trump called it a major spy scandal.

A few days ago, Trump said he was unhappy with Wray after the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago, where agents discovered classified documents, leading to federal criminal charges against Trump.

Related...
Donald Trump went on a wild social media tirade Wednesday after FBI Director Christopher Wray resigned from his position.

The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice, Trump wrote on Truth Social. I just dont know what happened to him.

What happened to Wray was actually really simple. Last week, Trump nominated Kash Patel, a sycophantic fascist eager to go after a list of the president-elects deep state enemies, to lead the FBI. Rather than be formally dismissed or chased out by the president-elect after he was sworn in, Wraya Trump appointee who was slated to hold the position for three more yearsresigned Wednesday.

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We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans. Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America. Trump wrote. They have used their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them.

Trump was referring to the 2022 FBI raid of his residence at Mar-a-Lago, which was part of the investigation and eventual indictment into his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Judge Aileen Cannon tossed out the 42 felony charges against the president-elect in July, ruling that special counsel Jack Smiths appointment to the case was unconstitutional, a decision criticized by legal scholars as unprecedented.

Trump continued, Kash Patel is the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agencys History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon. As everyone knows, I have great respect for the rank-and-file of the FBI, and they have great respect for me. They want to see these changes every bit as much as I do but, more importantly, the American People are demanding a strong, but fair, System of Justice. We want our FBI back, and that will now happen. I look forward to Kash Patels confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin. Thank you!

Wray announced his decision to step down Wednesday, telling his FBI employees that resigning was the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work. He will leave his position once Trump takes office in January.
Floating cages with fish by the thousands may be popping in the Gulf of Mexico under a controversial plan that was backed by President-elect Donald Trumps administration four years ago and is likely to gain traction again after Trump begins his second term next month.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, recently identified five areas in the Gulf that the agency says strike a balance between the needs of the growing aquaculture industry and the potential impacts on the marine environment and elements of the seafood industry that depend on wild fisheries.

Identifying these aquaculture opportunity areas is part of a decade-long federal plan to open the Gulf and other offshore areas to aquaculture. The plan got a strong push from Trump but slowed under President Joe Bidens administration, which concludes next month.

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Three of NOAAs preferred aquaculture areas are off the coast of Texas and one is south of Louisiana. Each area ranges from 500 to 2,000 acres and could total 6,500 acres. A fifth area, considered a possible alternative, has been identified near the mouth of the Mississippi River, but it would likely conflict with shipping traffic and shrimping in that area.

The areas would open the Gulf for the first time to the large-scale cultivation of shellfish, finfish, and seaweed. Seafood companies have long expressed interest in raising large, high-value species, including redfish and amberjack, in floating net pens several miles off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, and Florida.

A locator map showing four preferred and one possible alternative offshore aquaculture farm locations in the Gulf of Mexico (as identified by NOAA). The alternative location is off the southeast coast of LA, while the preferred locations are off the east coast of TX.

Opponents say fish poop, fish feed, and other organic debris that often swirls around offshore aquaculture operations will worsen the Gulfs massive dead zone, a New Jersey-size area of low oxygen that pushes away fish and suffocates slow-moving crabs and other shellfish. Fish that escape from floating farms can spread diseases and parasites, gobble up food that supports other species, and potentially mate with their wild counterparts, introducing their domesticated genes, which tend to produce slower, dumber fish.

When you think of all of these environmental impacts, its pretty concerning, said Marianne Cufone, executive director of the New Orleans-based Recirculating Farms Coalition, a group opposed to offshore aquaculture. Plus, we get super violent storms in the Gulf of Mexico. I dont know how these [farms] wont be damaged with fish escaping.

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But the planets already-taxed wild fish stocks cant meet the worlds expanding appetite for seafood alone, said Neil Anthony Sims, CEO of Ocean Era, an aquaculture company that hopes to develop a floating redfish farm 40 miles from Sarasota, Florida. His assertion is backed by a 2021 Stanford University study that predicted global fish consumption is likely to increase by 80 percent over the next 25 years.

We cant feed a planet with wild fish anymore than we could feed a planet with wild antelope, Sims said.

Many fish, including tilapia and catfish, are raised in ponds and other land-based facilities. Floating fish farms in state-managed waters are increasingly rare. In 2022, Washington state effectively banned its once-thriving salmon farming industry after about 260,000 non-native Atlantic salmon escaped from a net pen north of Puget Sound. Hawaii still hosts a floating fish farm that raises Hawaiian kampachi, a fish related to amberjack.

Read Next

A ship approaches several large ring-like structures used for fish farming in the middle of a blue body of water

The world is farming more seafood than it catches. Is that a good thing?

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Frida Garza

Deeper waters managed by the federal government have remained aquaculture-free.

Like Trump, Biden backs opening federal waters to fish farming, but his administration has taken a more methodical approach, directing NOAA to study various areas that may be environmentally, socially, and economically viable for supporting offshore aquaculture.

Trump was more forceful during his first term, signing an executive order in 2020 that was aimed at breaking through the regulatory barriers that have long impeded fish farming in federal waters. The Trump administration backed offshore aquaculture as a way to create jobs, broaden markets for U.S. companies, and help meet growing demand for seafood.

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A 2020 federal appeals court ruling blocked new regulations allowing offshore fish farming under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary law governing fisheries since 1976. But other laws, including the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1980, give NOAA the authority to develop aquaculture opportunity areas and conduct environmental impact permitting for offshore farms.

The opportunity areas unveiled by NOAA last month set the stage for a final green light by Trump or Congress. The public can comment on the opportunity areas until February 20. NOAA will host the first of three virtual meetings to gather feedback on the areas on December 17.

Read Next

An underwater photo of rocky nodes on the sea floor

Humans know very little about the deep sea. That may not stop us from mining it.

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Gautama Mehta

NOAA is also considering aquaculture opportunity areas in Southern California, but opposition is likely to be stiffer there than in the Gulf, where residents are already accustomed to heavily industrialized coastal waters, with thousands of offshore oil and gas structures near Louisiana and Texas and pipelines crisscrossing the seafloor.

But adding more industrial infrastructure will further crowd the Gulfs first industry: fishing.

Were already dealing with the rigs and oil wells and all kinds of debris, said Acy Cooper, president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association. And you want to put more out there? Itll be our downfall.

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The Gulfs shrimping industry has been losing ground to imported shrimp, which is typically raised in farms in Asia and South America and is far cheaper than the wild-caught varieties.

Cooper, a third-generation shrimper in Plaquemines Parish, said Americas desire for seafood should be met by fishers rather than farmers.

If you want fish, theres a lot of fishermen here for you. Were ready, he said.

But NOAA isnt so sure the U.S.s wild fisheries can support the demand for seafood alone. About 80 percent of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, and about half of the imports are produced via foreign aquaculture. Thats giving rise to a seafood trade deficit that had grown to $17 billion in 2020, according to NOAA.

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As much as U.S. fishers may want to meet demand, wild stocks are under increasing threat by climate change, which is altering marine species reproduction, feeding habits, and distribution.

Offshore fish farming can help the U.S. adapt by producing seafood in a more controlled environment, according to NOAA.

Aquaculture offers a pathway to grow climate resilience, said Janet Coit, NOAA Fisheries assistant administrator. Identifying areas suitable for sustainable aquaculture is a forward-looking step toward climate-smart food systems.

But fish farms will likely worsen the dead zone, one of the Gulfs main climate-related problems. The dead zone is fueled by agricultural runoff and other nutrient pollution that flushes into the Gulf from the Mississippi River. Rising temperatures speed the growth of algae that feeds on the nutrients. When the massive algal blooms die, their decomposition robs the Gulf of oxygen.

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Developing floating farms in and around the dead zone will add even more nutrients from poop and fish food that will nourish bigger blooms, Cufone said.

We have warmer waters and all of the difficulties our fisheries are having because of climate change, but none of that supports an argument for factory fish farms, she said. If we care about climate change, we shouldnt have them in our oceans.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline How Trump could bring fish farms to the Gulf of Mexico on Dec 11, 2024.
During an interview that aired Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump declared he would end birthright citizenship on Day 1 of his presidency. A debate among legal scholars quickly followed, questioning whether Trump has the authority to do so.

In an interview with NBCs Meet the Press, Trump said he is absolutely planning to terminate birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized immigrants. He said he hopes to do so through executive action.

Well, were going to have to get it changed, Trump said. Well maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.

What does the Constitution say?

The Citizenship Clause in the 14th Amendment states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

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Congress passed the 14th Amendment just after the Civil War, extending civil and legal rights to freed slaves. This section of the Constitution grants citizenship to all individuals born within the U.S., including the children of unauthorized immigrants, with only limited exceptions, said Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia and an expert on immigration and citizenship law.

The 14th Amendment, as currently interpreted and as been interpreted since it was ratified in 1868, is that it grants citizenship to everyone born in the United States, regardless of who their parents are, with only a couple of narrow exceptions, and those narrow exceptions fall within the language of the 14th Amendment, Frost said. The exceptions included children of foreign diplomats and children born into Native American tribes.

That second caveat is no longer a meaningful constraint, added Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University, because in the 1920s Congress gave citizenship to all Native Americans who living on tribal land who previously did not have it.

The groups that were supposed to be excluded were groups that were not subject to U.S. law, Somin said.

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On the other hand, unauthorized immigrants or immigrants of every kind are subject to jurisdiction of U.S. law, and therefore they do qualify (for birthright citizenship), Soman explained.

Can Trump end birthright citizenship?

The short answer repeated by every legal scholar interviewed for this story when asked whether Trump has the power to unilaterally end birthright citizenship: No.

He doesnt have that authority, in a legal sense, said Ediberto Roman, a law professor at Florida International University.

What Trump would attempt to do, via an executive order, is not changing the meaning (of the 14th Amendment), but rather adopting or putting into effect what he thinks the interpretation should be, Frost said.

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However, Trump  or any president  is unable to repeal any part of the Constitution via executive action, explained Carolina Nunez, a law professor at Brigham Young University and an expert in immigration law and citizenship. An executive order cant abolish a constitutional provision, which is what the 14th Amendment is, Nunez explained. So certainly, I would imagine that that would be challenged fiercely in court.

What has the Supreme Court said?

In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court established precedent in interpreting the 14th Amendment. In its United States v. Wong Kim Ark ruling, the Supreme Court declared that a California-born son of Chinese parents was a U.S. citizen at birth.

The Supreme Court rejected the governments attempt to argue that children of foreign-born non-citizens were not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the court said, no, the language is very clear and broad and universal, and it applies to them, Frost said.

That ruling has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in at least two different decisions that recognize birthright citizenship, Roman added.

What did Sen. Mike Lee say?

In a series of social media posts on Sunday, Sen. Mike Lee argued that Congress could reinterpret the 14th Amendment.

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Congress could pass a law defining what it means to be born in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, excluding prospectively from birthright citizenship individuals born in the U.S. to illegal aliens, Lee wrote.

Lee referenced a 1993 bill, the Immigration Stabilization Act, that would have limited birthright citizenship only to those born to citizens or lawful permanent residents. That bill never received a vote.

Those who suggest Congress is somehow powerless to limit birthright citizenship ignore important constitutional text giving Congress power to define who among those born in the United States is born subject to the jurisdiction thereof, Lee wrote.

Legal scholars suggested that Lee is misinterpreting the 14th Amendment and misjudging the role of Congress.

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Lees claim that unauthorized immigrants and their children are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States would be a perversion of what the intent was behind the passage of the 14th Amendment, Roman said.

That argument runs afoul of what what the intent of Congress was at the time of the passage of the 14th Amendment, Roman explained. It is a revisionist attempt to put a qualification on the birthright citizenship. Its just not there.

The only exceptions to that clause in the 14th Amendment were the children of diplomats and children of Native Americans, not unauthorized immigrants, Roman said. The Congressional Record with the passage of the 14th Amendment squarely addressed this point, and thats what that language was about, Roman said. At no point was it ever discussed, or did it ever come up, any qualification to anyone else born in the United States.

Further, an attempt to allow Congress to interpret the Constitution would violate the U.S. governments separation of powers. Ultimately, the court interprets the Constitution, Nunez said.

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If Congress had power to interpret the Constitution, Somin noted, it would have essentially defeated the whole purpose of overturning the Dred Scott decision by passing the 14th Amendment.

If that was true, then it would essentially gut the the provision, because the Congress could have just said, Well, you know, Blacks do not count, because the recently freed Black slaves had not previously been citizens, Somin said. So Congress could limit it by saying only those who are born citizens qualify. ... That would have just enabled Congress to bring back Dred Scott under another name, or under a slightly different guise.

Is ending birthright citizenship possible?

Legal scholars noted two unlikely paths Trump could take to end birthright citizenship.

The first would be by passing a constitutional amendment, which would follow an arduous process, Roman said: two-thirds of state legislatures would need to support it, after which a supermajority of Congress  two-thirds of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate  would be required to do the same.

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Those processes are very, very difficult to pass, Roman said. It takes usually years, if not decades.

The second would be to basically create a test case, Roman said, by attempting to deport a U.S.-born child of an unauthorized immigrant. The case would be challenged in court, and the Supreme Court would eventually be required to interpret the 14th Amendment.

How would the Court rule? Obviously, I cant be completely certain, but I think  I believe that there will be a majority for reaffirming Wong Kim Ark, should the case come before the Supreme Court again, Somin said.
The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Christopher Wray, resigned from his post on Wednesday.

Its been less than two weeks since Donald Trump announced his intention to replace Wray with Republican operative Kash Patel in a statement that failed to acknowledge the incumbent directors requisite exit. Trump appointed Wray to the position seven years ago after ousting James Comey amid an investigation into whether the forty-fifth presidents advisers colluded with the Russian government during his 2016 presidential campaign. Wrays term wasnt slated to end until 2027.

This is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work, Wray told FBI employees.

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Wray said he will serve until the end of the current administration and then leave once Trump takes office in January.

The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice, Trump wrote on Truth Social following Wrays announcement. I just dont know what happened to him. We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans.

The 10-year term minimum for FBI directors is designed to insulate the position from the sway of political influencebut Wray will mark Trumps second firing of the bureaus top official during his time in power.

Speaking with NBC Newss Meet the Press, Trump said he wasnt thrilled with Wrays job at the countrys top law enforcement agency, suggesting that the FBIs role in repossessing sensitive and classified documents from Trumps Florida estate had marred his opinion of his appointee.

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He invaded my home, Trump said on Sunday. Im suing the country over it. He invaded Mar-a-Lago. Im very unhappy with the things hes done, and crime is at an all-time high. Migrants are pouring into the country that are from prisons and from mental institutions, as weve discussed. I cant say Im thrilled.

Of course, the FBI did not invade Mar-a-Lagorather, the agency executed a court-approved search warrant to reclaim documents that Trump had taken from the White House after the end of his last presidency.

Patel, a Trump loyalist, hasnt yet dished details on how he intends to change the FBI, though he has promised that sweeping reforms are on the way. Former intelligence officials have warned that Patels appointment could strip the FBI of its independence and that his leadership could oversee an era in which the agency is tasked with politically motivated investigations from the Trump administration.

Kash Patel is the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agencys History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon, Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday. We want our FBI back, and that will now happen. I look forward to Kash Patels confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin.

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Patel himself has demonstrated a propensity for politically charged witch hunts. The nominee has promised to go after 60 people named on a so-called enemies list who he believes are members of the executive branch deep state. They include President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Comey, Hillary Clinton, and Obama-era FBI Director Eric Holder.

This story has been updated.
Republicans are expected to rescind the Biden administrations contentious nursing home staffing rule before it is set to take effect.

The move would come as a relief for the nursing home industry, which has argued the mandate doesnt appropriately address current workforce challenges. But consumer advocates and public health experts who have fought to protect the rule fear repealing it will harm residents and long-term care facility workers alike.

More than 200,000 nursing home and long-term care residents died during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the spread of the virus and resulting deaths linked to staffing shortages.

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In response, the Biden administration proposed three reforms to nursing homes, including setting a national minimum staffing requirement.

As part of the rule establishing that requirement, which was finalized earlier this year, nursing homes would be required to provide every resident with at least 3.48 hours of nursing care a day, including at least 0.55 hours of care from a registered nurse and 2.45 hours of care from a nurse aide.

It also would require nursing homes to have a registered nurse on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that critical care can be given to residents at any time.

The rule has faced bipartisan opposition, with Republicans pushing particularly hard against the staffing mandate.

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Lawmakers in both the House and Senate introduced joint resolutions under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the rule in the months after it was finalized.

Severe workforce and nursing shortages have already hampered access to care. The Biden administrations rule would only make it worse, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, said in statement after co-sponsoring the Senate measure introduced by Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.). We are pushing to ensure seniors can rest easy knowing they can access quality care when they need it.

Neither of the resolutions has passed, and the rule is currently set to take full effect for urban facilities in 2027 and for rural nursing homes in 2029.

GOP lawmakers proposed fully repealing the rule as part of a preliminary offer for health care policies to be added to the continuing resolution Congress is working to pass by Dec. 20 to avert a government shutdown.

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And there are multiple ways it could be blocked from being implemented or undone entirely under the incoming Trump administration.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate, both of which will soon be controlled by narrow GOP majorities, could pass legislation like the Midnight Rules Relief Act, which would amend the CRA to allow Congress to overturn federal regulations enacted during the final year of the current administration instead of the current 60-day look-back period, according to Leading Age, a nursing home industry group.

Congressional lawmakers could also use the budget and appropriation process to stop the implementation of the rule.

On top of this, the Trump administration could issue a new rule to roll the current one back or eliminate it, according to health policy nonprofit KFF.

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This would have to go through the rulemaking process but could ultimately undo the provisions in the rule, said Priya Chidambaram, senior policy manager on Medicaid and the uninsured at KFF.

Beyond the incoming Republican trifecta, the court battles currently playing out over the rule also provide a potential avenue for it to be overturned.

Its defeat would mark a victory for the nursing home industry, which has urged Republican lawmakers  along with some Democrats  to scrap the rule, arguing that it sets an impossible, and pricey, standard for facilities to meet that will ultimately worsen care for residents and cause closures.

Instead, nursing home industry groups like the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (ACHA/NCAL) have called for targeted investments to increase the long-term care workforce.

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One proposed strategy to help attract more caregivers to the profession is to offer financial assistance for current or future caregivers as well as training and educational opportunities, according to the groups website.

Nursing homes will struggle to find qualified caregivers and be forced to limit admissions, downsize, or close altogether, a spokesperson for the AHCA/NCAL wrote in an email to The Hill.

The organization was one of two industry groups that filed a lawsuit earlier this year in an attempt to block the rule.

Less than 20 percent of nursing facilities in the country currently meet all three of the minimum staffing requirements in the rule, according to an analysis from KFF. And most of the facilities that are not meeting those requirements are for-profit nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

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According to the analysis, 11 percent of for-profit facilities can meet the staffing minimums, while 41 percent of nonprofits and 39 percent of government facilities can.

The AHCA/NCAL estimates that the nursing home industry would need to hire roughly 100,000 more nurses and nursing aides to ensure that every facility meets all three of the rules requirements. That bump in staffing would cost $6.5 billion a year, the organization said.

The federal government, meanwhile, estimates the cost of implementing the final rule would be $43 billion over 10 years.

But however costly or illogical opponents of the rule believe it to be, labor unions, consumer advocates and public health experts have contended it would ultimately help improve the health and safety of nursing home residents and staff.

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We have minimum staffing standards for doggy day cares, we have minimum staffing standards for child care centers, said Sam Brooks, director of public policy at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. Its absurd to think that this is some burden that is going to undo the industry.

Brooks told The Hill that the rule is designed to raise the standard of care at the worst-performing nursing facilities in the country and that it is not a one-size-fits-all mandate.

One 2024 study found that fewer nursing home residents are hospitalized or visit emergency rooms at facilities with more registered nurses. Another 2024 study from the University of California, San Francisco shows that nursing homes with higher numbers of certified nursing assistants improve the quality of care residents receive.

Sherry Culp, the long-term care ombudsman at Kentuckys Cabinet for Health and Family Services, recalls how the importance of staffing at nursing and long-term care facilities was repeatedly underlined at 20 nursing home resident forums she and her colleagues hosted across the state.

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Staffing was the thing that came up at every forum, and the negative impacts of being short-staffed, said Culp. She added that she recently received a report of how a rapidly declining nursing home resident was left grossly unattended to due to understaffing.

The residents decline was discovered after a family member visited them and found them unable to speak with multiple trays of untouched food around their bed and their shoes filled with urine, she said.

If there were sufficient staff, would someone not be coming in to check and see if this person was able to eat  or to come in to see if that resident needed assistance to go to the toilet or needed to be changed?

Experts, advocates and unions are fighting to keep the rule from being overturned. In a joint letter to congressional leadership last week, they urged lawmakers to oppose any legislation or end-of-year deal that derails or postpones it.

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Industry opposition makes little sense when many facilities already meet or exceed specific components of the staffing rule and when the rules total ratios are less than current national averages, the letter reads.

There is virtually universal agreement that facilities should employ registered nurses around the clock. Fundamentally, it is a rule designed to address the poorest-performing homes in the country.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Congress members might soon come face-to-face with one of their attackers.

Republican members of Congress have invited Russell Taylor, a January 6 protester who stormed the Capitol with a tactical vest and a knife strapped to his chest, to attend Trumps second inauguration, Politico reported Wednesday.

Taylor pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months home detention and three years probation in May for his role in ransacking the building. Ahead of the riot, Taylor organized a group of fighters to attend pro-Trump events, planning for chaos. Some of Taylors fighters included individuals who identified as Three Percenters, or people who subscribe to the Three Percent ideology, which the Southern Poverty Law Center identifies as an antigovernment militia movement.

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At the time of Taylors sentencing, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said that he believed Taylor had testified truthfully and expressed sincere remorse, noting that the Californian could become a poster child for how January 6 cases should be done.

Chris Stewart, a former Republican representative from Utah, also asked that Taylor be allowed to attend the ceremony. He is [a] caring father and reveres his family, his faith, and his love of our Country as his highest priority in life, Stewart wrote in a letter to Lamberth. I am honored to extend this invitation for him to attend the Inauguration as my guest.

Stewarts letter did not refer to Taylors actions on January 6 or their effect in delaying the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. It did, however, make mention of three other Utah lawmakers who are requesting Taylors presence at Trumps inauguration, but did not specify which ones.
When an appellate court on Tuesday got its hearing of the major emergency room abortion case the Supreme Court sent back down last term, the liberals painted a grim picture of womens suffering under an anti-abortion regime that the conservatives quickly sought to sanitize.

Your argument is: If the mother wants to kill the baby even though its not necessary to prevent [her death]  then they have to be airlifted, Judge Lawrence VanDyke, a Trump appointee and former solicitor general of Nevada and Montana, asked the lawyer for an Idaho hospital system after she explained that patients had been airlifted out of the state because they might need what Idaho classifies as a criminal abortion.

The case, now before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, centers on whether federal emergency room mandates  enshrined in EMTALA, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act  preempt state abortion bans when they conflict. EMTALA requires that emergency rooms stabilize patients in crisis. Idaho maintains that they dont overlap, that the bans exception for preventing the womans death covers all emergencies. The Biden administration and the hospital system counter that pregnant women can experience a range of medical emergencies that put them on the path to permanent injury or illness, if not death.

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Judge Milan Smith, a George W. Bush appointee, underscored the extremity of what the Idaho abortion ban demands.

A woman comes into the emergency ward and in the physicians good faith opinion, the woman, unless she has an abortion, is going to lose a leg, he said.

So here you have a physician who is gonna lose his or her license if they treat the person, and the woman might lose her leg otherwise? he asked incredulously. You dont think thats in conflict with the purposes of EMTALA and a natural reading of it?

Smith, along with the liberals on the court, pushed back on the anti-abortion fantasy that state laws can ban virtually all abortions without having a devastating effect on womens health. (Idahos legislature allowed the committee tasked with tracking and investigating pregnancy-related deaths to shutter in 2023, a year after its ban took effect.)

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Judge Salvador Mendoza brought up Sandpoint Idaho, where the OB-GYN ward shut down after Idahos trigger ban took effect.

There are no services available for women who have a situation where theyre bleeding out, he said.

What if its not catastrophic but its resulting in serious injury to the woman  what do we do in that circumstance? he asked the lawyer for Idahos legislators. Does she have to then rely on a hopefully working vehicle to drive across the border to Spokane, Washington to get services there?

VanDyke and the other Trump appointees painted the case as federal government overreach by the Biden administration, which is seeking to enforce the commonly held interpretation of EMTALA. How is this not regulation of the practice of medicine? Judge Daniel Bress asked. VanDyke mused about whether ethics have a place in medicine, and why it shouldnt be left to the states to decide what they are.

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Judge Consuelo Callahan, a George W. Bush appointee, cut through the attempts to accurately depict an anti-abortion regime to ask: Is this an exercise in futility?

She pointed out that a new administration is coming in, and asked whether the judges should just send the case back down to the district court.

The Supreme Courts delay  incurred by preemptively taking the case from the 9th Circuit, getting fully briefed and hearing arguments, then deciding that it intervened too early and sending it right back  has made it near-certain that the case will still be percolating when Joe Bidens Department of Justice becomes Donald Trumps. Its very unlikely that Trumps DOJ will share the Biden ones interest in preserving abortion rights in emergency rooms, likely ending the case at least in its current posture.

The Supreme Court majority Trump crafted ended abortion rights across the United States. Now, indirectly, itll likely have ended that care for women in red state emergency rooms too.
Donald Trump still doesnt understand why U.S. Sen. John McCain saved the Affordable Care Act in 2017, even though the senator (battling brain cancer at the time) explained his reasons in a statement.

McCain cast the vote that saved Obamacare, and Trump (who has rented space in his head to McCain for years) said in a TV interview recently, When John McCain let us down by voting, and Murkowski and Collins, and whoever it was that voted against, but they really let us down. They did us a great disservice.

Its too bad that they voted no. I wish John McCain, I wish  he fought for 10 years on repairing, replacing Obamacare. For 10 years. And then he voted against. Nobody understands it.

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Really? Because McCain said exactly why he voted the way he did.

In a statement he said in part, While the amendment would have repealed some of Obamacares most burdensome regulations, it offered no replacement to actually reform our health care system and deliver affordable, quality health care to our citizens.

There was no replacement plan, then or now

Thats it. No replacement.

Even now, as Trump promises to use his majorities in the House and Senate to kill Obamacare, the best he can come up with in terms of replacing a health care system used by millions of Americans is to say he has concepts of a plan.

Thats what he told Kristen Welker of NBC News. Concepts of a plan.

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In other words, what caused McCain to cast a vote saving the Affordable Care Act in 2017 would probably cause him to cast that same vote today.

Because without a solid plan in place to make sure people have health care coverage, killing Obamacare will kill people.

Without affordable health care, people will die

How many Arizonans would die is unknown.

What we do know, according to studies done by nonprofit foundations like the Commonwealth Fund, is that repealing Obamacare would leave about 24 million Americans without health care.

We know that roughly 350,000 Arizonans are covered by the Affordable Care Act.

Opinion: How Arizona can help lower Obamacare premiums

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We know from nonpartisan policy institutes like the Center for American Progress that taking away that care will lead to higher insurance costs, higher prescription drug costs and a decrease in available preventive care.

And put health care out of reach for many vulnerable people.

If Trump wants to replace Obamacare, explain how

And we know if that happens, people will die. Older Americans. Individuals with chronic conditions. Individuals from families struggling to make ends meet.

In one of his many unhinged, late-night social media screeds, Trump said, I dont want to terminate Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE. Obamacare Sucks!!!

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No solid replacement plan as ever been presented, however. Which leaves us with two completely reasonable requests.

Either spell out exactly how and when and what will replace Obamacare.

Or tell us how many people that killing Obamacare will kill.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump says he wants to replace Obamacare, but he has no plan | Opinion
MADISON, Wisconsin  Wisconsin prosecutors filed 10 additional felony charges Tuesday against two attorneys and an aide to President-elect Donald Trump who advised Trump in 2020 as part of a plan to submit paperwork falsely claiming that the Republican had won the battleground state that year.

Jim Troupis, who was Trumps attorney in Wisconsin, Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who advised the campaign, and Mike Roman, Trumps director of Election Day operations in 2020, all initially faced a single felony forgery charge in Wisconsin. Those charges were filed in June.

But on Tuesday, two days before the three are scheduled for their initial court appearances, the Wisconsin Department of Justice filed 10 additional felony charges against each of them. The charges are for using forgery in an attempt to defraud each of the 10 Republican electors who cast their ballots for Trump that year.

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Each of the 11 of the felony charges they face carries the same maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Attorneys for each of the defendants did not immediately reply to emails seeking comment.

The state charges against the Trump attorneys and aide are the only ones in Wisconsin. None of the electors have been charged. The 10 Wisconsin electors, Chesebro and Troupis all settled a lawsuit that was brought against them in 2023.

There are pending charges related to the fake electors scheme in state and federal courts in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Georgia. Federal prosecutors, investigating Trumps conduct related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, said the fake electors scheme originated in Wisconsin.

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Electors are people appointed to represent voters in presidential elections. The winner of the popular vote in each state determines which partys electors are sent to the Electoral College, which meets in December after the election to certify the outcome. Two states, Maine and Nebraska, allow their electoral votes to be split between candidates.

The Wisconsin complaint details how Troupis, Chesebro and Roman created a document that falsely said Trump had won Wisconsins 10 Electoral College votes and then attempted to deliver to to then-Vice President Mike Pence.

In the amended complaint filed Tuesday, prosecutors said the majority of the 10 electors told investigators that they were needed to sign the elector certificate indicating that Trump had won only to preserve his legal options if a court changed the outcome of the election in Wisconsin. A majority of the electors told investigators that they did not believe their signatures on the elector certificate would be submitted to Congress without a court ruling, the complaint said.

Additionally, a majority of the electors said that they did not consent to having their signatures presented as if Trump had won without such a court ruling, the complaint said.

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Troupis filed four motions to dismiss the charge against him ahead of Thursdays hearing and before the amended complaint was filed. He argues that having Republican electors meet and cast their ballot was done to preserve their legal options in case the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Trumps favor in a lawsuit challenging the Wisconsin vote. No crime was committed by that action, therefore the complaint must be dismissed, Troupis contends.

In another motion to dismiss, he argues that federal law should take precedence in this case, and that such charges therefore cant legally be brought in state court.

In a third motion, Troupis argues that the case should be dismissed because facts that showed no crime was committed were left out of the complaint. In a fourth motion, Troupis argues that it should be dismissed because prosecutions for election crimes can only be brought by the county district attorney, not the states attorney general.

The Wisconsin charges were brought by Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat. They were filed in June, five months before Trump carried Wisconsin in November. He also won the state in 2016, but lost it in 2020.

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The fake elector efforts were central to a 2023 federal racketeering indictment filed against Trump alleging he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. But special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon that case last month, acknowledging that Trumps return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him.

Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Trump is trying to get that case dismissed, arguing that state courts wont have jurisdiction over him when he returns to the White House next month.
Donald Trump may be off the hook for his criminal trials, but that doesnt mean his associates are getting equal treatment.

Dozens of the president-elects aides and allies are still facing the music in five statesArizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Michiganfor their involvement in Trumps 2020 election conspiracy.

Our job is justice and that job does not change depending upon who wins the presidential election, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford told Politico. The rule of law does not cease to exist because [Trump] has won the presidency.

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Eighteen of Trumps associates are on the hook in Arizona, where theyre accused of orchestrating a scheme to use fake electors to flip Arizonas 2020 election results over to Trump. They include Rudy Giuliani, Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and attorneys John Eastman and Christina Bobb. Two of the charged individuals have already pleaded guilty, including former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, who arranged a plea deal with state prosecutors in exchange for dismissed charges.

The rest of the lot are slated to start trial in January 2026. All of the indicted individuals in Arizona face the same slew of charges, which include counts for conspiracy, forgery, fraudulent schemes and practices, and fraudulent schemes and artificesthe last of which holds a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.

I have no intention of breaking that case up. I have no intention of dropping that case, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes told MSNBC last month. A grand jury in the state of Arizona decided that these individuals who engaged in an attempt to overthrow our democracy in 2020 should be held accountable, so we wont be cowed, we wont be intimidated.

Eighteen people close to Trump are charged in Georgia for their participation in the fake elector conspiracy, including some who overlap with the Arizona case, such as Giuliani and Meadows. Four individuals have already pleaded guilty, including the architect of the scheme Kenneth Chesebro, though he has since attempted to withdraw his plea.

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In Wisconsin, Chesebro, Trump campaign operative Michael Roman, and veteran Wisconsin lawyer James Troupis have been charged with forgery in the alleged fraud. In Nevada, 21 GOP activists still face prosecution for their role in the scheme. And in Michigan, 16 GOP electors have been charged with felonies, though one has since been let off the hook through a plea deal.

But Trumps return to the White House and his ability to suddenly walk free will put jurors and prosecutors deliberating the case in a strange position: identifying guilt in Trumps allies as they dance around the soon-to-be presidents role at the epicenter of the vast conspiracy.

The criminal cases against Trump died overnight after the MAGA leader won the presidential election, effectively allowing him to skirt all responsibility by resuming an office that cannot be criminally prosecuted. Trump faced 91 criminal charges across four cases that prosecutors waited years to take to court. Separately, he was convicted on 34 criminal counts relating to covert hush-money payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 electionbut that sentencing dissolved just days after Trump won the election.

However, hes still on the hook for eight civil cases relating to his involvement in the January 6 attack. The cases, which come from congress members and injured police officers, could be the last bastion in holding Trump to account for failing to intervene as his supporters ransacked the U.S. Capitol.
As soon as its first day in office, the incoming Trump administration is reportedly planning on rescinding a 2011 immigration policy limiting deportation arrests in sensitive locations like schools, churches, and hospitals.

Instead, the administration plans to let Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents make arrests in these locations if theyre related to national security concerns, the arrest of a dangerous felon, or risks of imminent danger or the compromising of a criminal investigation, according to NBC News, which first reported on the alleged plan, citing three anonymous sources familiar with the new administration.

The new brief would also apply to arrests made in other locations like colleges and at events like protests, which could hamper the kind of large-scale pro-immigration protests seen during the first Trump administration.

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Since 2011, ICE has limited arrests in these locations without approval from more senior officials, though the previous Trump administration carried out at least five so-called exigent ICE arrests between October 2018 and 2020.

Immigration enforcement has always required a balance. In the past, presidents of both parties have recognized that merely because it may be lawful to make arrests at hospitals and schools doesnt mean its humane or wise public policy, Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, told the outlet.

The Independent has contacted the Trump transition team for comment.

Immigrant advocates warn arrests at sensitive sites will push vulnerable people further into shadows (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The incoming administration has vowed to pursue the largest mass deportation campaign in U.S. history and end core parts of U.S. immigration policy like birthright citizenship, while invoking emergency law to use the military to assist immigration arrests.

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The threats have prompted so-called sanctuary jurisdictions to emphasize that they wont deploy local government resources to assist in the federal immigration arrests.

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 that all of a sudden they have to retreat into the shadows, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said last month in an interview with WCVB.

During the first Trump administration, some undocumented migrants took shelter in religious facilities based on the 2011 policy.

Aura Hernandez, a mother from Guatemala who arrived in the U.S. in 2005 fleeing violence and domestic abuse, lived inside a Unitarian church in Manhattan, where her U.S. citizen children visited her.

He always tells me he doesnt want to leave on Sunday nights, she told The Independent at the time through a translator of visits from her son. He doesnt want to leave because hes afraid the police will come to the church and take me away.
NEW YORK  President-elect Donald Trumps election victory doesnt wipe the slate clean in Manhattans courthouses, legal officials said Tuesday.

In new court filings, the Manhattan district attorneys office asked state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to reject Trumps bid to toss the verdicts in his hush money case, and to dismiss the underlying indictment. They claim his legal arguments  which include that the decision by voters should override that of a jury  were based on nonexistent law.

There are no grounds for such relief now, prior to defendants inauguration, because President-elect immunity does not exist, Assistant District Attorney Chris Conroy wrote. And even after the inauguration, defendants temporary immunity as the sitting President will still not justify the extreme remedy of discarding the jurys unanimous guilty verdict and wiping out the already-completed phases of this criminal proceeding.

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At most, defendant should receive temporary accommodations during his presidency to prevent this criminal case from meaningfully interfering with his official decision-making.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the New York attorney general rejected a request from Trump lawyer John Sauer to stop pursuing their civil fraud case and the $454 million judgment they won against him earlier this year.

They also argued Trumps team had provided no legal basis for the request.

Mr. Trumps upcoming inauguration as the next President of the United States has no bearing on the pendency of defendants appeal in this action, Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale wrote, noting the case was \unrelated to his presidency.

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Presidents do not have immunity from civil lawsuits arising from unofficial conduct, and such lawsuits may proceed while the President is in office.

In May, Trump was found guilty of committing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to hide lurid information about his past from 2016 voters.

The historic case designated Trump as the first and only U.S. president to be found guilty of breaking the law. It went on trial several months after Trump, his sons, Don Jr. and Eric, and former top company executives Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney were found civilly liable for falsely inflating the value of Trumps namesake properties by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Trump is awaiting a mid-level appeals courts decision on his appeal of his civil fraud case outcome.

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He cant appeal the verdicts in his criminal case before sentencing, which has been postponed three times. Before and after his election win, he asked Merchan to throw out the case based on the Supreme Courts ruling on presidential immunity  which grants presidents sweeping protections from criminal prosecution for official acts  in still-pending requests.

Trump has claimed the continuance of the criminal proceedings will impact his ability to govern, among other arguments  like comparing his plight to that of recently pardoned Hunter Biden.

In their opposition to his post-election dismissal motion, prosecutors reiterated that Trump is not immune from prosecution for the hush money scheme that related to his personal life. Granting his requested relief, they said, would effectively give him immunity beyond his presidential term for his unofficial criminal conduct.

They said Merchan had several options to keep the conviction intact, including postponing sentencing until after Trumps second term or agreeing to take jail off the table.

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Merchan could also adopt the so-called Alabama rule, prosecutors wrote, by proceeding as the court typically does when a defendant dies between being found guilty and sentenced. In such a case, a judge will place in the record a note communicating the conviction removed the presumption of innocence but was neither affirmed nor reversed on appeal because the defendant died  or in Trumps case, became president.

On the one hand, this remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding, Conroy wrote. On the other hand, this remedy would not precipitously discard aspects of this criminal proceeding that predated defendants presidency, including the meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.

Prosecutors also argued overwhelming evidence of Trumps guilt and his conduct during the case which is consistent with his long history of threatening, abusing, and attacking participants in other legal proceedings in which he is involved  weighs heavily against dismissal.

Its not clear when Merchan will rule.

_____
President-elect Trump announced Tuesday that Ron Johnson, his one-time ambassador to El Salvador, will serve as ambassador to Mexico in the upcoming administration.

Johnson, who shares a name with the GOP senator from Wisconsin, will take on one of the highest-profile diplomatic posts in the incoming Trump administration. Trump has already threatened Mexico with tariffs if it does not crack down on the flow of immigrants and drugs at the U.S. border, and he spent much of his first term sparring with Mexican leaders regarding the border.

Ron will work closely with our great Secretary of State Nominee, Marco Rubio, to promote our Nations security and prosperity through strong America First Foreign Policies, Trump posted on Truth Social.

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Prior to his stint as ambassador to El Salvador for the final 17 months of Trumps first term, Johnson served for more than 20 years in the CIA. He is an Army veteran, having served as a Green Beret.

Johnson beat out Trump ally and former Arizona Senate and gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake for the Mexico ambassadorship.

In his first term, Trump appointed Christopher Landau, a lawyer with little diplomatic experience, as ambassador to Mexico.

Landau, whose father was a longtime U.S. diplomat with extensive Latin American experience, was well-received in Mexico as a serious interlocutor, even amid tensions over Trumps policies toward the country.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Kimberly Guilfoyle has been nominated to serve as United States ambassador to Greece, President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday.

Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host now deeply enmeshed in the broader Trump orbit, was married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco. The former prosecutor announced her engagement to Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. in 2022, though questions about the couple's current relationship status made tabloid headlines on Tuesday.

Guilfoyle was a prominent surrogate for Trump during the 2024 campaign.

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"For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally," Trump said in a social media post, praising her "extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics" and her "sharp intellect."

Read more: Trump's own unorthodox rise, focus on loyalty loom large as nominees face headwinds

The position, which requires Senate confirmation, is currently held by Biden appointee George Tsunis.

Guilfoyle said Tuesday on X that it "was the democratic values born in Greece that helped shape the founding of America," adding that she looked forward "to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity."

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She also once worked in the San Francisco district attorney's office with future Vice President Kamala Harris, and the rumored frosty relationship between them was the topic of San Francisco gossip early in their careers.

Guilfoyle and Newsom  who famously posed together on a rug in a glamorous Harper's Bazaar profile that declared them "the New Kennedys  divorced in 2006, the same year she joined Fox News.

The former first lady of San Francisco was one of several high-profile appointees announced by Trump this week. The incoming president also nominated Ronald Johnson to serve as ambassador to Mexico, Federal Trade Commission member Andrew Ferguson to replace Lina Khan as FTC chair, and Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a billionaire with deep California ties, to be ambassador to Turkey.

Johnson served as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first term. Ferguson previously worked as chief counsel to outgoing Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and as a counsel to GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to his FTC biography.

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Barrack, a longtime Trump ally, was indicted but later acquitted on charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the United Arab Emirates.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President-elect Trump named Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece in his upcoming administration.

Guilfoyle is a former Fox News personality and has been a staple of the Trump family for years since she previously was in a relationship with Donald Trump Jr. The two reportedly have broken up.

For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally. Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad, Trump said Tuesday in a post on Truth Social.

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He added, Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation.

Guilfoyle spoke at the Republican National Convention in July and has been a staunch ally of the president-elect. She began dating Trumps son in 2018 after his divorce from his ex-wife, Vanessa Trump. Guilfoyle previously was married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), and the two got divorced in 2005.

During the 2020 campaign, she was national chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee, which was the joint fundraising effort between the campaign and the Republican National Committee. She also served as a senior adviser for the campaign.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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President-elect Donald Trumps choice to be NASAs next administrator, Jared Isaacman, said Wednesday that as the U.S. establishes more of human presence in space, it will eventually need Space Force guardians stationed in the domain to protect its economic interests.

I think it is absolutely inevitable, Isaacman said at the Space Force Associations Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Florida. If Americans are in low Earth orbit, theres going to need to be people watching out for them for all the reasons we described before.

Isaacman, a tech billionaire who has traveled to space twice on commercial missions, said exploration and economic ambitions will drive more commercial and civil activity in space in the coming years  from space mining to NASA discovery missions. While some of that work will be done by robotic probes or remote operators, some of it will also require human input, he said.

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Isaacman is CEO of Shift4 Payments, a payment processing company based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In 2012, he co-founded Draken International  a firm that trains pilots on its own fleet of privately owned military fighter jets. He links his interest in space to his own background as a jet pilot.

In 2021, he self-funded a mission to space aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, the first-ever spaceflight crewed only by civilians. In September, he took his second trip to space as part of a SpaceX program called Polaris. During that mission, he and three crewmates performed the first commercial spacewalk.

Isaacman is not the first to suggest that the military may one day have troops in space. The former second in command at U.S. Space Command, retired Lt. Gen. John Shaw, said in 2020 that the Defense Department would one day send guardians to operate command centers or perform other missions in the domain.

Other military officials have suggested it could be several decades before Space Force personnel deploy to orbit.

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Isaacman didnt offer a timeline for his prediction but suggested that a military presence in space could coincide with future NASA moon and Mars missions.

This is the trajectory that humankind is going to follow, Isaacman said. America is going to lead it and were going to need guardians there on the high ground looking out for us.
Despite Donald Trumps Houdini act, the criminal cases against his allies are not disappearing.

Dozens of Trumps top aides and political allies are still on the hook in five states where prosecutions are pending over the bid to subvert the 2020 election  and a presidential pardon cant help them.

So while Trump himself has largely succeeded in outrunning prosecutors, his second term will nonetheless feature a split-screen with state investigators who hope to weave a narrative for jurors that puts Trump at the center of a vast conspiracy.

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The two most broad and perilous cases, in Arizona and Georgia, allege Trump helped direct a sweeping plot to overturn his loss to Joe Biden. Dozens of alleged co-conspirators face wide-ranging felony counts in those two states. In Wisconsin, prosecutors have charged three allies who did critical work for Trump to develop and implement his fake elector scheme. And in Michigan and Nevada, more than 20 Republicans who acted as fake electors for Trump face fraud charges.

Our job is justice and that job does not change depending upon who wins the presidential election, said Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford. The rule of law does not cease to exist because [Trump] has won the presidency.

Despite expectations that Trump will wield his pardon power liberally to protect himself and allies from criminal exposure, that power doesnt extend to state cases, meaning theres little he can do to intervene.

Heres a look at the lingering cases and how theyre likely to unfold over the course of Trumps second term.

Arizona

Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, is continuing to pursue the prosecution of a long list of close Trump allies for their role in the then-presidents effort to corrupt the 2020 election results in Arizona. In April, a grand jury indicted 18 people, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorney Rudy Giuliani and longtime adviser Boris Epshteyn, who is playing a central role in shaping Trumps incoming administration.

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Already, the state has netted the guilty plea of a GOP activist who posed as a legitimate presidential elector despite Joe Bidens victory in the state  the first such plea for any of the dozens of false electors facing criminal charges across the country. A second defendant, former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, entered a cooperation agreement with the state in exchange for dismissing the charges.

But the remaining 16 defendants  including former state party chair Kelli Ward, attorney John Eastman, Trump campaign operative Michael Roman and RNC official Christina Bobb  are set to go to trial in January 2026.



I have no intention of breaking that case up. I have no intention of dropping that case, Mayes said in an MSNBC appearance last month. A grand jury in the state of Arizona decided that these individuals who engaged in an attempt to overthrow our democracy in 2020 should be held accountable, so we wont be cowed, we wont be intimidated.

Like all of the Trump-related prosecutions, the Arizona case has hit stumbling blocks. The original judge overseeing the case, Bruce Cohen, recused himself last month after defense attorneys discovered emails he sent to colleagues decrying some of the rights gender-based attacks on Kamala Harris.

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Trump was never charged in the case despite some interest from members of the grand jury to indict him alongside his associates. But prosecutors labeled him an unindicted co-conspirator and described him as the key instigator of the election plot. A trial there could lead to high-profile testimony that once again shines an unflattering spotlight on Trumps bid to throw out millions of votes to maintain his hold on the White House.

Cohens successor as presiding judge, Sam Myers, is weighing efforts by defendants to dismiss the case under a state law that prohibits prosecutions geared toward criminalizing First Amendment-protected speech. Mayes prosecutors have sharply opposed that effort. The judge is also weighing a bid by Meadows to suppress reams of information obtained from search warrants served on his phone and email providers.

Georgia

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis case against Trump and his co-defendants is a mess. Her own position as lead prosecutor is in jeopardy as an appeals court weighs whether she should be disqualified over an alleged financial conflict of interest stemming from her romantic relationship with an outside lawyer she hired to help run the case.

Trump is seeking to have the charges against him thrown out  or at the very least put on hold until his presidency ends in 2029. But theres a better likelihood the case will survive against his co-defendants.

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Prosecutors charged 19 people in the case, including three participants in the scheme to send false electors to Congress and a handful of lawyers and campaign operatives who helped implement the plan, such as former Georgia GOP chair David Shafer. Trump allies Meadows, Giuilani, Eastman and former Justice Department lawyer Jeff Clark are also charged. Four defendants  Kenneth Chesebro, an architect of the fake elector plan; Trump attorney Sidney Powell; GOP operative Scott Hall; and Ellis, the former Trump attorney  have already pleaded guilty for their purported role in the effort, though Chesebro is seeking to withdraw his plea.

The slow slog means that the case could suddenly shake loose in the middle of Trumps second term, right around the time Arizonas is heading for trial as well. But its also possible that the courts will conclude it is too much of a morass to advance against any of the remaining defendants.

The appeals court is currently weighing Trumps motion to drop the charges against him, and it must separately decide how it will handle the case if Trump is removed from it in the short-term.

Wisconsin

Three architects and implementers of Trumps 2020 plot are facing charges for their involvement in the fake electors scheme  a key component of Trumps effort to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn Bidens win.

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Roman, Chesebro and veteran Wisconsin lawyer James Troupis have all been charged with forgery for their role in organizing a false slate of presidential electors there. The three men, initially charged in June, are due to make their first appearances in the case Thursday.

An updated charging document filed by Wisconsin prosecutors Tuesday indicates that the majority of these false electors said they were told to sign the certificates as part of a necessary legal contingency in case a court agreed to reverse the results of the election.

Instead, their signed documents were packaged and delivered to Congress and presented as legitimate elector certificates meant to be considered by Pence and lawmakers as they certified the results of the election.



A majority of the false electors said they did not consent to having their signatures presented as if they conveyed Wisconsins electoral votes without a court ruling to that effect and didnt think they would be submitted to Congress, prosecutors noted in the updated charging document.

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Troupis is hoping to make his involvement in the criminal matter brief. He has filed motions to dismiss the case, arguing that he never engaged in stoking any of the false claims of fraud that others in Trumps camp did throughout the post-election period in 2020.

Troupis noted that Trump campaign officials who balked at efforts by Giuliani, Powell and others to sow distrust about the election results considered his work to be legitimate and rooted in genuine questions about Wisconsin law. And Troupis said the work by Team Giuliani never intersected with the more legitimate work done by Trump campaign lawyers that he described as Team Normal.

As Team Giuliani spread claims of fraud, Team Normal did not embrace them, or expound on them, Tropuis wrote in one of four motions to dismiss the charges hes facing.

If the case advances, it is likely months away from resolution.

Nevada and Michigan

Two other long-running state prosecutions remain against 21 GOP activists who carried out the Electoral College plan concocted by Chesebro and other Trump allies. They signed paperwork claiming to be legitimate presidential electors, which the Democratic attorneys general in their states say amounted to fraud.

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Some of those activists say that, like the electors in Wisconsin, they were told by Chesebro and others that their signatures on the Electoral College paperwork was meant to be contingent on the outcome of longshot lawsuits Trump had filed to overturn the results. But prosecutors say the effort crossed legal lines when those documents were delivered to Congress as part of the scheme to pressure Pence.

In Nevada, a case against the states six false electors was thrown out by a Las Vegas-area judge on technical grounds. The charges, she said, should have been brought in Carson City, rather than Las Vegas.

Ford, the attorney general, is appealing that ruling, but hes also preparing to file new charges in Carson City later this month  an effort to get them in ahead of the statute of limitations in case the venue issue lingers into 2025.

These six fake electors attempted to undermine  and, in fact, did undermine  the integrity of our elections, Ford said. They also violated state law, criminal laws, and they will be prosecuted pursuant to the justice that is required in circumstances like this.

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Among those charged is state GOP chair Michael McDonald. McDonald and seven others facing felony counts in Michigan and Nevada are about to take their place as legitimate electors for Trump, who won their states last month. This year, the Electoral College slates meet in their respective capitals on Dec. 17 to finalize Trumps election to a second term.

In Michigan, all 16 false GOP electors were charged with felonies for their efforts. Charges were dropped against one, James Renner, after he entered a cooperation agreement with Attorney General Dana Nessels office. Though pretrial proceedings have been extensive, including public testimony from key witnesses and state investigators, who said they consider Trump an unindicted co-conspirator, a judge is unlikely to decide whether to move the case to trial until next year.
Donald Trumps nominee to oversee the federal governments enforcement of civil rights has spent the last year leading a legal crusade against transgender Americans, signaling where Trump could start with his day one pledge to roll back discrimination protections.

Harmeet Dhillon, founder of the Center for American Liberty, has filed a barrage of attention-grabbing lawsuits on behalf of right-wing activists against gender-affirming healthcare and school policies and state and local laws designed to protect LGBT+ people across the country.

Dhillon also supported efforts to reverse election results in states Trump lost in 2020, and she steered the Trump campaigns 2024 election integrity team in Arizona, a hotbed for bogus election conspiracy theories in the wake of Trumps loss.

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Dhillon and attorneys at her firm have been involved in at least 16 lawsuits across seven states and Washington, D.C. to defend Trump and challenge voting rights laws and election rules.

Dhillon  whose firm has received more than $8 million in legal fees from Trumps team  is yet another attorney who has represented the former president or joined in his legal battles before receiving his nomination for a top post at the Department of Justice.

If shes confirmed to lead the civil rights division, she will be in a uniquely powerful position to reshape, and reverse, critical protections for LGBT+ Americans while keeping Trumps election denialist movement alive at the top of the Justice Department.

Dhillon has focused her career on diminishing civil rights, rather than enforcing or protecting them, said Maya Wiley, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

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Rather than fighting to expand voting access, she has worked to restrict it, she added. Instead of defending election results and demonstrating concern for free and fair elections, for example, she helped fuel the big lie in many forms, challenging election results on several occasions based on misrepresentations and outright lies.

Trump-allied attorney Harmeet Dhillon has launched a prolific legal campaign targeting state and local policies intended to protect transgender people (AFP via Getty Images)

Trump also shares Dhillon with far-right billionaire Elon Musk, who hired her firm Dhillon Law Group for Xs lawsuit against a group of advertisers who are boycotting his platform.

Harmeet is one of the top Election lawyers in the Country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted, Trump said in a statement announcing Dhillons nomination on December 9. In her new role at the DOJ, Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights, and will enforce our Civil Rights and Election Laws FAIRLY and FIRMLY.

Dhillons Center for American Liberty has filed several medical malpractice lawsuits on behalf of so-called detransitioners who now argue against access to gender-affirming healthcare for trans minors by speaking publicly about their regret.

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The group also threatened legal action and sued several schools over policies that could be used to forcibly out LGBT+ students  policies that Dhillon argues are causing irreparable harm to children by violating parents rights.

One lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District accuses schools of hiding classroom curriculum on transgenderism and critical race theory.

The group also sued teachers and schools in Maine on behalf of a right-wing activist who opposed school policies that allow trans students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.

The Center for American Liberty also sued the YMCA on behalf of an 82-year-old woman who claimed she saw a grown man wearing a womens bathing suit and talking to two young girls in a changing room.

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That grown man was a transgender YMCA employee escorting the girls to the bathroom. Julie Jaman asked her if she had a penis and was then asked to leave. The Olympic Peninsula YMCA later told Jaman that she was banned for life due to a pattern of code of conduct violations.

Harmeet Dhillon delivered an opening Sikh Ardas prayer at the Republican National Convention (AFP via Getty Images)

State laws that protect transgender care and abortion providers and patients from out-of-state prosecution are horrifying and super extreme measures that will turn states into a refuge for child mutilation, according to Dhillon and her Center for American Liberty.

More than a dozen states have enacted so-called shield laws, but anti-trans and anti-abortion activists are demanding federal government pre-emption that would outlaw affirming care and abortion access despite state and local projections.

The Biden administrations expanded anti-discrimination protections for LGBT+ students under Title IX  which prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools  are a slap in the face to women and girls, according to Dhillon.

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Congress intended Title IX to protect women, not feelings or caricatures of women, she said. But the Biden administration just robbed women of equal opportunities  taking from women and giving to men.

Harmeet Dhillon appears next to former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel and election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell in 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

On November 5, 2020, as votes were still being tallied in several states, Dhillon appeared on Fox Business to baselessly suggest election workers in Biden-Harris masks were manipulating ballots in Philadelphia.

Were waiting for the United States Supreme Court, [in] which the president has nominated three justices, to step in and do something, she said. Hopefully, Amy Coney Barrett will come through and pick it up. Theres no guarantee  so we have to fight this on the ground and make sure that we challenge every place and we are.

She later joined Trumps legal team to defend him against legal challenges to his ballot eligibility in Colorado, a case that did make its way to the Supreme Court.

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A group of Colorado voters argued that Trump is ineligible for the presidency under the scope of the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office. Similar challenges were filed in a dozen states.

The Supreme Court ultimately reversed a Colorado court decision that found Trump unconstitutionally eligible for the president because of his role surrounding the Capitol attack on January 6, what Dhillon called dangerous overreach that, if left unchallenged, could have set a perilous precedent for future election.

During midterm elections in 2022, election-denying conspiracy theorists Kari Lake and Abraham Hamadeh hired Dhillons firm to contest election results in Arizona, where Lake and Hamadeh lost their campaigns for governor and attorney general, respectively. Dhillon was later named to run the Trump campaigns election integrity team in that state.
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trumps proposed candidate to lead NASA, Jared Isaacman, has twice flown on SpaceX missions, poured money into research and development for the companys Polaris program and as recently as November praised the Elon Musk-led space startup as one of the greatest American success stories.

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No other pick to head NASA has been so entrenched in such an indispensable contractor like SpaceX, the only real US option for sending people to space at the moment.

Isaacman, the 41-year-old billionaire entrepreneur and tech executive, will bring an impressive space-related resume to the job. He holds a bachelors degree in aeronautics and has extensive experience with astronaut training and aviation. He flies fighter jets, owned a fleet of planes and founded a military training company.

Unlike Trump, Isaacman isnt overly effusive about Musk in public, but he will come to NASA with a SpaceX-friendly mindset.

If you can disassociate Elon with it and his personality and the controversy associated with it, SpaceX is one of the greatest American success stories, Isaacman told Bloomberg News in November, prior to his nomination.

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SpaceX is the most innovative, literally impressive organization that Ive ever seen, and theyve done things that no one else has done, he added.

As head of NASA, Isaacman would oversee a nearly $25 billion dollar budget, of which SpaceX has become a major beneficiary. With the space agency facing a shrinking budget for the first time in over a decade, the new administrator will likely have to make cuts. Isaacman has openly expressed his disdain for slow and costly government programs, including those at NASA, some of which provide billions of dollars to SpaceXs biggest rivals.

Virtually everything we want to buy as a nation that we need takes longer and costs more than what is expected, Isaacman told Bloomberg News.

Hes criticized the Boeing-built Space Launch System rocket thats designed to propel future astronauts to the vicinity of the moon as part of the Artemis program as too expensive. He has also lambasted NASA for funding a second lunar lander, which is being built by none other than Musk rival Jeff Bezos Blue Origin.

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Boeing declined to comment. Representatives for Blue Origin and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment.

SpaceX also has contracts under Artemis, but Musk has promised that his rocket can do what Boeings can for far less money, which likely appeals to Isaacman said Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut and SpaceX director.

Hes a huge fan of how SpaceX goes about doing their business, and the quality of the engineering, how fast they move, how fearless they are," Reisman said. Hes not at all a fan of the traditional aerospace mentality, which is going slow, doing an abundance of analysis and delaying hardware testing.

A representative for Isaacman didnt respond to a request for comment. NASAs current chief, Bill Nelson said last week he wasnt concerned that the new administration would axe SLS in favor of SpaceXs Starship, which is still in early development.

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Isaacman has before said that he believes in a diverse space industry.

I dont want SpaceX to ever give up the edge, the nominee told Bloomberg in November. The only way that theyre going to keep that edge sharp is by feeling like somebody is coming up right behind them.

A Fateful Phone Call

Isaacmans first major partnership with SpaceX began during a call shortly after the entrepreneur became a billionaire when he took his payment processing company, Shift4, public in the summer of 2020.

I just missed the window on a funding round that closed, he told Axios in 2021. And I was talking to people there, and I was trying to just do anything I could for them to let me invest in it, because Im like, a big believer in SpaceX.

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In that conversation, Isaacman mentioned that hed like to fly to space with the company someday. The next year, he announced he purchased a trip for a crew of four on one of SpaceXs Dragon capsules. While wealthy thrill seekers had purchased rides to orbit for themselves before, it was the first time an individual had purchased a whole flight of a vehicle, with the promise of bringing other private astronauts along for the ride.

Within a year, he flew with SpaceX on Inspiration4  the first all-civilian astronaut mission to orbit. Isaacman has repeatedly declined to say how much he spent on the seats, but told Axios it was less than $200 million. One seat on the four-person SpaceX Dragon capsule is estimated to cost NASA roughly $55 million.

Since then, Isaacman has become something of a personal financier for SpaceX. In 2021, Shift4 made a $27.5 million investment in SpaceX. The next year Isaacman announced that he was funding a research and development program at the company called Polaris, which would cover three missions aimed at advancing human spaceflight at the company.

The initial launch took place in September, in which Isaacman performed the worlds first commercial spacewalk in orbit with a newly designed SpaceX space suit. The second and third missions have yet to be announced. The final flight is supposed to be the first crewed mission of SpaceXs Starship rocket, the behemoth vehicle the company has been developing to get to the moon and, eventually, to Mars.

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Avoiding Bias

NASA administrators have had varying resumes, including a mix of former astronauts, career politicians and longtime civil servants at the agency. A few have also come from the space industry before.

Daniel Goldin, for instance, was a vice president at defense contractor TRW Space and Technology Group when he was appointed to be NASA administrator in 1992. Goldin divested his shares in TRW before taking the role. Its unclear if Isaacman has any shares in SpaceX.

Beyond that, NASA is bound by procurement laws meant to ensure fairness when picking contractors for jobs. Some administrators have gone beyond that to avoid perceived politicization.

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When Lori Garver worked as a deputy administrator for NASA under President Barack Obama, she would sometimes avoid being briefed on contract selections to evade any potential bias, she told Bloomberg.

Still, most major decisions ultimately do make their way to the boss, meaning Isaacman would have to make calls that impact one of his most-championed companies.

The administrator, ultimately, is the leader who determines the agenda, Garver said.

For Isaacman, making hypothetical cuts  like proposing to cancel the Boeing Space Launch System  may prove difficult. The rocket has received substantial political support, particularly from Republican lawmakers in Alabama and elsewhere where its development supports thousands of jobs. Congress has before blocked efforts to cancel the vehicle and have provided consistent funding for it.

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While critics may decry a NASA official for having such deep ties to SpaceX, Isaacman told Bloomberg that other dominant government contractors often go unchallenged.

We have one company that makes our aircraft carriers, he said. Congress will buy Tomahawks every year from the same company whether we need it or not. No one cares, because its not Elon's company.

--With assistance from Paige Smith.

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By Jody Godoy

NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump tapped Federal Trade Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to lead the consumer protection and antitrust agency, Trump said on social media on Tuesday.

Ferguson, one of two Senate-confirmed Republican FTC commissioners appointed by President Joe Biden, will be "the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country's History," Trump said.

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"Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said in a separate post that he would nominate Mark Meador, a partner at law firm Kressin Meador Powers and former antitrust counsel to Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee, to become an FTC commissioner.

Lee previously proposed legislation that would remove federal antitrust authority from the FTC, which shares it with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Once confirmed, Meador would fill the spot currently occupied by FTC Chair Lina Khan, whose term on the commission has expired.

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Ferguson, Virginia's former solicitor general, wants the FTC to investigate censorship of conservative viewpoints online. If social media platforms collaborate to suppress such views or advertisers coordinate pulling business from platforms such as Elon Musk's X, they should be charged with violating U.S. antitrust law, Ferguson has said.

"We must vigorously enforce the antitrust laws against any platforms found to be unlawfully limiting Americans' ability to exchange ideas freely and openly," Ferguson said in a recent statement.

Ferguson previously served as counsel to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell and clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

The agency became a political flashpoint under Khan, who promoted antitrust enforcement as a check on corporate power. Her efforts won fans among some Republicans, including incoming Vice President JD Vance, but drew criticism as overly aggressive from some antitrust lawyers and business groups.

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Ferguson would inherit a full slate of cases against Big Tech companies, a lawsuit against the three largest pharmacy benefit managers, and at least a half-dozen lawsuits by companies arguing the FTC has outstripped its authority.

It is unclear whether he would continue with unfinished probes, including into practices at Microsoft that competitors have complained keep customers from switching to other cloud service providers, and potential privacy concerns involving OpenAI.

In other enforcement matters related to AI and privacy, Ferguson has said he believes Khan and the FTC's Democratic majority have sometimes led the agency to overstep its authority.

A Republican-led FTC could also shift course in two major cases against Amazon.com. One targets tactics the agency says keep sellers bound to its platform and help Amazon unlawfully dominate the landscape for online marketplaces, and another over practices allegedly meant to trick Prime subscribers out of cancelling service.

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Ferguson would also oversee a case brought against Meta Platforms, then known as Facebook, in 2020, during Trump's first term.

The agency is seeking to unwind the tech company's acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp. But the judge overseeing the case has cast doubt on whether the agency can prevail at trial in April.

Trump said last week that he would appoint Vance adviser Gail Slater to lead the DOJ's antitrust division, which is overseeing cases against Google.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien, Matthew Lewis and Saad Sayeed)
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump said he would name Ronald Johnson as his ambassador to Mexico, selecting a former appointee to manage one of the most important US relationships through escalating tensions over immigration and trade.

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Ron will work closely with our great Secretary of State Nominee, Marco Rubio, to promote our Nations security and prosperity through strong America First Foreign Policies, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform Tuesday night.

Johnson, an Army veteran who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, served as US Ambassador to El Salvador during Trumps first term. He will have to navigate a complicated relationship between the US and its southern neighbor, as Mexico has long been a punching bag for Trump on issues such as immigration, trade and drug smuggling.

Yet Mexico is under new management, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaums election this year portending a cordial but firm stance with her incoming counterpart to the north. Or, in her own words: coordination without subordination.

The Mexican president  a climate scientist whose views often clash with Trumps  surprised the American president-elect in their first telephone call in November by speaking in fluent English, an ability that sets her apart among her contemporaries in Latin Americas largest economies. Trump called it a wonderful conversation.

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Earlier: Sheinbaum Shows Off English to Build Rapport With Trump

Still, tensions have flared from the outset. Trump claimed that Sheinbaum agreed in the phone call to close the US-Mexico border. Sheinbaum said she agreed to no such thing.

Trump has threatened to use tariffs as leverage, saying he will impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico as soon as hes inaugurated until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country.

Sheinbaum has countered by promising a response in kind, but said that a tariff war would only hurt US companies  like General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis NVs Chrysler brand  that have major assembly plants and suppliers in Mexico.

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Sheinbaum said shes negotiating an agreement that would have her country take back deported Mexican nationals, while deported non-Mexicans would not travel though the country.

Trump highlighted the importance of Mexico to his foreign policy agenda when he picked Christopher Landau, his former ambassador to Mexico, as the No. 2 diplomat at the State Department. In choosing Landau for deputy secretary of State, Trump said he worked tirelessly with our team to reduce illegal migration to the lowest levels in History.

The ambassador to Mexico usually comes from the ranks of career foreign service officers, but political appointees have also served. The present ambassador is Ken Salazar, a former Interior secretary and Democratic senator from Colorado.

Johnson retired from the Army with the rank of colonel in 1998. He held various roles at the CIA, including special adviser to the US Southern Command in Miami managing collaboration among various federal agencies.

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Kimberly Breier, who served as assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the first Trump administration, called Johnson deeply knowledgeable on the region and will be excellent in recalibrating the US-Mexico bilateral security relationship that is urgently in need of a refresh. This is a great pick.

--With assistance from Eric Martin.

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President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would nominate former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle and his longtime billionaire friend Tom Barrack to be ambassadors to Greece and Turkey, respectively.

Trump made the announcements in a pair of social media posts.

"For three decades, Tom successfully managed a global private equity firm," Trump wrote of Barrack on Truth Social. "He is a well respected and experienced voice of reason to a wide range of thought leaders in both political and business circles."

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Barrack, who founded the private equity firm Colony Capital and chaired Trump's 2017 inaugural committee, was acquitted in 2022 of charges that he acted as an unregistered foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates during the Trump administration and then made false statements to the FBI.

In a separate post announcing his selection of her for ambassador to Greece, Trump referred to Guilfoyle, who announced in 2022 that she was engaged to his son Donald Trump Jr., as a yearslong close friend and ally.

"Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation," Trump wrote.

Both positions require Senate confirmation. Guilfoyle said Tuesday that she looked forward to securing that support.

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"As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity," Guilfoyle wrote on X.

Trump also named Ronald Johnson  not the senator  on Tuesday as ambassador to Mexico.

"Ron will work closely with our great Secretary of State Nominee, Marco Rubio, to promote our Nations security and prosperity through strong America First Foreign Policies," Trump said on Truth Social.

Johnson was ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration, from 2019 until 2021.

Before he took on that role, he was the CIAs science and technology liaison to U.S. Special Operations Command and served in the Army and the Alabama National Guard.

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Last month, Trump said he would nominate Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to be ambassador to France in his incoming administration.

He also named Massad Boulous, whose son is married to Trump's younger daughter, Tiffany Trump, as a senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump said he is tapping Tom Barrack, the founder of Colony Capital LLC, to serve as ambassador to Turkey, elevating a longtime friend to a crucial diplomatic post.

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Trump made the announcement in a post to his Truth Social account on Tuesday, calling Barrack a well respected and experienced voice of reason to a wide range of thought leaders in both political and business circles.

If confirmed by the US Senate, Barrack would be the top envoy to a NATO ally and a nation that has played a critical role in flash points in the Middle East.

A private equity investor, Barrack has known Trump for decades and was an adviser on his 2016 presidential campaign and a chair of the inauguration committee.

That role drew scrutiny from prosecutors who tried him on charges that he tried to influence the campaign and administration of Trump as an agent of the United Arab Emirates.

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A jury in 2022 found Barrack not guilty of all nine counts against him, including failing to register as a foreign agent, obstructing justice and lying to federal agents. Barrack took the stand in his own defense during the trial, saying that he had sought to steer the Trump administrations Middle East policy in a more positive direction.

Trump on Tuesday also announced that he was tapping Kimberly Guilfoyle as the US ambassador to Greece. A onetime lawyer and television personality, Guilfoyle has been close to the Trump family and is another case of the president-elect tapping people in his personal orbit for posts. Trump has also said he will nominate Charles Kushner, his son-in-laws father, as US ambassador to France.

Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

--With assistance from Chelsea Mes, Lauren Dezenski and Meghashyam Mali.

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(Updates throughout)

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By Steve Holland, Gram Slattery and Alexandra Ulmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump is planning a blizzard of more than 25 executive orders and directives on his first day in office on Jan. 20 as he seeks to dramatically reshape U.S. government policy on issues from immigration to energy.

Two sources familiar with the effort said Trump has told his team he wants to make a "big splash" with the Day One orders, looking to exert his executive power with greater scale and speed than he did during his first term. The number of planned orders has not been previously reported.

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The Republican issued only a handful of such orders on the first day of his 2017-2021 presidency. In contrast, Democratic President Joe Biden issued 17 executive orders on his first day in office in 2021, many of which were aimed at rolling back Trump's policies.

"The American people can bank on President Trump using his executive power on day one to deliver on the promises he made to them on the campaign trail," Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said when asked about the executive order plans.

U.S. presidents frequently issue executive orders to make good on campaign pledges and quickly establish their policy objectives without going through the lengthy process of getting legislation through Congress. The orders can be subject to court challenges, however, and typically any money set aside to carry out the mandates of the orders has to be approved by Congress.

One of the sources familiar with the Trump team's plans said there was recognition internally that each action required an enormous amount of coordination among the affected government agencies, potentially slowing things down and reducing the overall number of Day One orders.

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More orders and directives will be issued in the days and weeks afterward, the sources told Reuters.

The effort is being coordinated by Stephen Miller, a long-time Trump aide who will be a top White House adviser when Trump begins his second term, four sources said.

The Trump team is working from lists of draft orders provided by groups such as the America First Policy Institute, a think tank founded in 2021 to promote Trump policies and ideas, as well as the Conservative Partnership Institute and the Heritage Foundation, two other right-leaning organizations.

FIRST WAVE

Trump's post-inaugural orders on the first day are expected to mostly focus on rolling back what Trump views as Biden's overly permissive border policies and preventing new surges of migration along the U.S. southern border with Mexico, two sources said.

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He is expected to sign executive orders that give immigration officers more latitude to arrest people with no criminal records, send more troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and restart construction of the border wall, three separate sources with knowledge of those draft orders said.

The orders will also include a drive to increase energy production and follow through on Trump's oft-stated campaign vow to "drill, baby, drill" and "frack, frack, frack," the sources said.

While some of the moves would face stiff court challenges or would require legislation or new agency regulations - which can take many months to implement - there are dozens of actions that Trump can in fact take with the stroke of a pen.

Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press" in an interview broadcast on Sunday that he plans to take executive action on his first day in office to try to end birthright citizenship, which confers citizenship on anyone born in the U.S. regardless of their parents' immigration status.

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Trump advisers say they are prepared for court challenges to this move.

On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to sign a Day One order stripping federal funds from schools teaching critical race theory, an academic concept - rarely taught in public schools - that rests on the premise that racial bias is baked into U.S. institutions.

He has said he would issue an order on the first day that would remove some anti-discrimination protections the Biden administration had afforded to transgender students. Trump also promised to sign an executive order designed to stop federal contractors from carrying out certain diversity training programs.

One source who has worked on transition matters for Trump's incoming State Department described helping to prepare an executive order that would determine whether any hiring decisions at the agency have been made for race or gender-based characteristics rather than merit.

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It was not clear if that order would be rolled out on Day One, and Trump could always decide against issuing it.

The work on various executive orders appears to be diffuse, according to several people with knowledge of the transition's internal workings, with some orders being drafted up at Trump's de facto base in Palm Beach, Florida, and others at the think tanks in Washington.

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Gram Slattery and Alexandra Ulmer; additional reporting by Helen Coster, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Rosalba O'Brien)
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump has selected Mark Meador, a former staffer to Utah Senator Mike Lee, to be a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, the agency responsible for competition and consumer protection enforcement.

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Meador is a veteran of both the FTC and the Justice Departments antitrust division, and spent three years advising Lee, the ranking Republican on the Senate antitrust subcommittee, before starting a law firm with a former colleague of the departments outgoing antitrust head, Jonathan Kanter. Meador also worked with Kanter at the Paul Weiss law firm.

Meador was in the running to be a minority party member on the FTC under President Joe Biden.

Meador is seen as a pro-enforcement, populist Republican, particularly when it comes to the technology industry. He drafted a bill for Lee that would have forced the breakup of Googles ad tech business, an issue currently being litigated in a DOJ antitrust case.

Early in his career Meador spent about five years working on antitrust cases at the FTC. He later served at the Justice Departments antitrust division for more than two years before moving to Lees office.

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In private practice Meador has advocated for clients with issues against larger competitors, including work for conservative social media platforms like Rumble.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump selected Andrew Ferguson, a Republican member of the FTC, to serve as the agencys chair, a politically charged role currently held by Lina Khan.

--With assistance from Lauren Dezenski and Se Young Lee.

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President-elect Trump is signaling he wants to completely reshape the nations immigration laws starting Jan. 20, the day he officially takes office.

Immigration has always been Trumps core issue, and he has made clear he plans to follow through on sweeping promises he made on the topic throughout the 2024 campaign.

Hes announced appointments on immigration that reinforce those intentions, and he signaled in a weekend interview he intends to push for mass deportations and an end to birthright citizenship.

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While much of what Trump will try to do will be through executive action, allies have also indicated they will push for Republicans in Congress to prioritize border security measures and changes to immigration law as part of a budget reconciliation package in the early weeks of Trumps second term.

It underscores how Trump enters office with a clearer vision and plan for carrying out policy than his first term, and his allies have argued he also has a clear mandate for taking sweeping action.

They seem to have a plan in place for when they assume office, and theres every expectation they are going to carry it out, said Ira Mehlman, media director with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws.

They have some experience. They have four years under their belt, Mehlman added. And theyve put in place people like Tom Homan who really understand the issue and how to deal with it. This term he begins with an American public that understands what the consequences of having an open border are.

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Trumps key appointees on immigration  Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff, Homan as border czar  have maintained a frequent presence on cable television in recent days to outline their vision for how the incoming administration will enact a sweeping crackdown on immigration.

Miller, in a Sunday interview with Fox News, predicted Republicans in Congress could get a budget reconciliation bill to Trumps desk by the end of January or early February.

The reconciliation package, which would not require Democratic support, would include increases in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as it carries out mass deportations, more money for barriers and technology at the border and an increase in the number of border agents.

Additionally, Trump is expected to sign a slew of executive orders on his first day in office. One, Miller said, would effectively seal the border.

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This is something that Republicans have been talking about for decades, but with Donald Trump, this is something that is going to happen, Miller said, touting it as the most important and significant domestic policy achievement in half a century.

Trump allies have in recent days increasingly signaled optimism that Republicans can move quickly on a reconciliation package that focuses on investments in border security while addressing tax cuts in a second piece of legislation later in the year.

Tax cuts Trump signed into law in 2017 are set to expire in the fall of 2025. But advisers to the president-elect argued it will take more time for Republican lawmakers to get on the same page and work out the details of tax legislation.

Keep in mind that with the tax cuts, we had a lot of new promises that were made on the campaign trail that we have to incorporate, Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, said in a recent interview. Trump on the campaign trail called for a lower corporate tax rate, as well as the elimination of taxes on overtime, tipped wages and Social Security benefits.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a staunch Trump ally who is slated to lead the Senate Budget Committee beginning in January, said his top priority would be to secure a broken border through the reconciliation process.

The bill will be transformational, it will be paid for, and it will go first, Graham posted on the social platform X.

Trump made clear during an interview with Meet the Press that his vow to deport millions of individuals in the country illegally and, more broadly, reshape the immigration system, was not idle talk on the campaign trail.

You have no choice. First of all, theyre costing us a fortune. But were starting with the criminals, and weve got to do it. And then were starting with others, and were going to see how it goes, Trump said.

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The president-elect echoed comments from Homan, saying families with mixed immigration status could be deported together to avoid being separated. Trump said he still intends to end birthright citizenship, something he previously listed as a task for his first day in office, and he is expected to resume construction of a wall along the southern border.

Trump did signal an openness to finding a way for Dreamers, people who were illegally brought to the U.S. at a young age, to stay in the United States. Homan has since suggested a legislative solution for Dreamers would require Democratic concessions on border security measures.

Immigration advocacy groups are expected to push back hard against mass deportation efforts, and there will certainly be legal challenges to any attempt by Trump to unilaterally end birthright citizenship.

Democratic governors in Illinois, California and elsewhere have signaled they are prepared to fight Trumps policies in court.

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Homan, speaking at a GOP event in Chicago on Monday, said the citys mayor should either help federal efforts to deport immigrants in the country illegally who have further criminal records, or get the hell out of the way.

In a sign of how the fight over immigration policy may play out in the years to come, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday held a hearing on the potential consequences of mass deportations.

GOP witnesses included Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, a young woman who was allegedly killed by a man who entered the country illegally.

Democratic witnesses cited concerns about the separation of families and ramifications for the economy, as millions of workers in the agricultural industry and other areas could be targeted for deportation.

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It would cost hundreds of billions of dollars to deport every undocumented immigrant in our country, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the committee, said at the hearing. It would damage our economy and separate American families. Instead, we should focus on deporting those who are truly a danger to America, and we should give the rest a chance to earn legal status.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump is slated to ring the New York Stock Exchanges opening bell on Thursday, presenting a president-elect who has vowed to rejuvenate the US economy a celebratory photo opportunity at an iconic symbol of American capitalism.

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Trumps plans for the NYSE visit were shared by people familiar with his schedule, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that were not yet public. A representative for Trump did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

The NYSEs trading floor is a fitting venue for a president-elect who has often looked to the stock market to validate his economic policies. Trump during his first term presided over rapid rises in stock prices, which he credited to his sweeping tax cut legislation.

Polls show that voters this year favored Trump based on his pledges to expand the economy through deregulation and additional tax cuts.

Even though markets continued to perform well under President Joe Biden, Trump frequently claimed on the campaign trail that those gains were because traders believed that the Republican would return to the White House.

Investors have seen the S&P 500 rise since the election as they cheer the president-elects plans to cut taxes and deregulate. Still the market run threatens to be tested by Trumps threats to impose sweeping tariffs on major trading partners.

The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and corporate leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening of trading, particularly to mark anniversaries and initial public offerings. During Trumps first presidential term, his wife, then-first lady Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her Be Best initiative to combat childhood bullying.

The tradition dates back to 1956, when Leonard Ross, a 10-year-old television quiz show winner was invited to ring the bell after correctly answering questions about the stock market, according to the NYSE.

Trump has spent much of his time since winning the election at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, where hes been moving quickly to nominate and appoint figures for his new administration and meet with foreign leaders.

The president-elect is already looking to make his imprint on policy, including threats of tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, unless they crack down on the flow of illegal drugs and undocumented migrants into the US. On Tuesday, he also offered to expedite permits for companies that invest at least $1 billion in the US.
Donald Trump has appointed former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle as his ambassador to Greecejust hours after pictures published by the Daily Mail showed her fiancee, Donald Trump Jr., hand-in-hand with another woman.

For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally, the president-elect said in his announcement, which he posted to Truth Social.

Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad. Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation.

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Guilfoyles nomination requires Senate confirmation and would see her handling foreign affairs.

The announcement hit conspicuously soon after Trump Jr., 46, was pictured cozying up with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, 38.

Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle, 55, have not officially splitthough the eldest child of the president-elect has reportedly made it no secret in Florida circles. Guilfoyle was previously married to California Governor Gavin Newsom before moving onto Trump Jr. in 2018.

Im honored to accept President Trumps nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate, Guilfoyle said in a statement on X.



President Trumps historic victory is bringing hope and optimism to the American people and to freedom-loving allies across the world. It was the democratic values born in Greece that helped shape the founding of America. And now, we have an opportunity to honor that history by bringing better days here at home and abroad.



As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity.

Im honored to accept President Trumps nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.



President Trumps historic victory is bringing hope and optimism to the American people and to freedom-loving allies across pic.twitter.com/ThyyDwOTNk  Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) December 10, 2024

The former first lady of San Francisco expressed a vision to combat foreign aggressors at the Republican National Convention in July.

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In our vision, America will combat foreign aggressors and ensure our service members are protected, not abandoned, as they carry out their dangerous missions abroad, she shared during her speech. We know we can only have peace through strength.

Trump has also named another family member to lead foreign relationsnotably nominating his daughter Tiffanys father-in-law, Massad Boulos, as his senior adviser to the Middle East.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is one of the first items on the Trump Justice Departments chopping block. And theyre willing to destroy the Civil Rights Division to do it.

Trumps nominee to lead the key division, conservative San Francisco lawyer Harmeet Dhillon, is expected to do a clean sweep of DEI initiatives in universities, government jobs, and other public organizations, sources familiar with the plans told CNN. And if there was any doubt about the DOJs new priorities, Trumps announcement of her nomination put that to rest.

Harmeet has stood up consistently to protect our cherished Civil Liberties, including taking on Big Tech for censoring our Free Speech, representing Christians who were prevented from praying together during COVID, and suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their workers, Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. Harmeet is one of the top Election lawyers in the Country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted.

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Dhillon, yet another faithful MAGA soldier in the rights broader culture war, will likely overturn Biden-era policies regarding transgender rights, critical race theory, police behavior, and voting.

Book banning, genitalia policing, and censoring American history to make white people feel better will now all be on the table for a Civil Rights Division that is historically known for fighting discrimination and enforcing protective policies like the Voting Rights Act. Under Biden, the Civil Rights Division opened civil rights investigations into countless police departments for brutality and discrimination. The Division usually quiets down during Republican presidencies, but under Trump, it could become an anti-wokeism attack dog.

The Civil Rights Divisions historical mandate from the beginning was to help fight against othering, was to help fight against societal branding of certain Americans as other, Justin Levitt, Obamas deputy attorney general for the division, told CNN. And I am concerned the prospective nominees approach has been to lean into branding people as other rather than fighting against it.
Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House will not affect his $454 million civil fraud judgment, a lawyer for New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote in a letter to attorneys representing the president-elect Tuesday.

Trump and his two adult sons, Don Jr. and Eric, owe $490 million in total, including interest, to the state of New York after a judge ruled that they repeatedly lied about Trump's net worth to gain an advantage in loan negotiations. While criminal cases targeting Trump over covering up hush-money payments, election racketeering and other charges have been dropped due to the election results, presidents do not have immunity from civil litigation.

"The ordinary burdens of civil litigation do not impede the President's official duties in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution," New York Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale wrote in the letter to D. John Sauer, the Trump lawyer who has been nominated to serve as U.S. solicitor general.

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James will continue defending the judgment against Trump as he appeals the case, the letter continued.

Sauer had requested James drop the case after Trump's victory, to no avail.

"In the aftermath of his historic election victory, President Trump has called for our Nation's partisan strife to end, and for the contending factions to join forces for the greater good of the country. This call for unity extends to the legal onslaught against him and his family that permeated the most recent election cycle," Sauer wrote in an earlier letter that Vale said was based on claims that had "no merit."
President-elect Donald Trump picked FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to head the Federal Trade Commission, he announced Tuesday on Truth Social.

Ferguson will inherit the independent agency from progressive leader Lina Khan. He will assume various antitrust lawsuits and investigations against the tech industry and other sectors that are already underway. Ferguson would coordinate the handling of these antitrust probes with Gail Slater, a veteran conservative lawyer who Trump recently named to lead his Justice Departments antitrust division. Ferguson recently lauded Slater, who must be confirmed by the Senate, as a perfect pick for that role.

Trump on Tuesday also picked antitrust lawyer Mark Meador to be the third Republican on the FTC. Meador is a former staffer for Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committes antitrust subcommittee.

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Meador will need to be confirmed by the Senate, but Ferguson can assume the role of FTC chair immediately following Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20 since he is already a commissioner. He was nominated in July of 2023 and confirmed by voice vote this past March to a term running through Sept. 25, 2030.

His confirmation was delayed due to a monthslong block from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who was worried about Fergusons ties to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his views on Big Tech. Ferguson previously served as solicitor general of Virginia and did stints as chief counsel for McConnell and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

When lifting his hold in March, Hawley said he was pleased to hear [Ferguson] express strong support for robust antitrust enforcement.

Ferguson has taken a tough line on tech platforms in recent weeks. The FTC must protect Americans' freedom of speech online, he wrote in a statement early in December. If platforms or advertisers are colluding to suppress free speech in violation of the antitrust laws, the FTC must prosecute them and break up those cartels.

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Brendan Carr, Trumps incoming Federal Communications Commission chair who has pledged to smash Big Techs censorship cartel, recently shared Fergusons comments on social media with a bulls eye emoji. Nathan Leamer, a Carr ally and former FCC official, recently teased the possibility of Fergusons pick, suggesting shared ideological commitments unite Carr, Slater and Ferguson.

Fergusons agenda will initially be limited by the lack of a Republican majority at the five-member trade commission. Trump will have to nominate a new Republican commissioner, who will require Senate confirmation.
President-elect Donald Trump has picked Federal Trade Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to lead the consumer protection and antitrust agency as chair.

Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country, Trump wrote of the current FTC commissioner on Truth Social on Tuesday.

Ferguson (R), one of two FTC commissioners appointed by President Joe Biden, will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Countrys History, Trump said. The commission currently has three Democrats and two Republicans serving as commissioners.

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Ferguson is expected to be more pro-business than current FTC chair Lina Khan, and has stated that the agency should investigate apparent censorship of conservative viewpoints online, according to Reuters.

We must vigorously enforce the antitrust laws against any platforms found to be unlawfully limiting Americans ability to exchange ideas freely and openly, Ferguson said in a recent statement.

These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, wrote last month. Historically, the FTC has acted in an apolitical manner and has not been philosophically extreme one way or another  As the Khan tenure demonstrated, those days are gone, and the election results with Trump as president and the Congress in full control by Republicans will have a significant impact on the FTC.

Fergusons current role as the newest FTC commissioner began in April.





The post Trump Taps Andrew Ferguson to Lead Federal Trade Commission appeared first on TheWrap.
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump has selected Andrew Ferguson, a Republican member of the US Federal Trade Commission, to serve as the agencys chair, a politically charged role currently held by Lina Khan.

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Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country, Trump said in a statement posted to his Truth Social network on Tuesday evening. Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Countrys History.

Ferguson, one of two Republicans at the five-member antitrust and consumer protection agency, joined the FTC in April. Before that, he served as Virginias solicitor general, representing the state in key lawsuits.

As an FTC commissioner, Ferguson has dissented from several of Khans rulemaking efforts, including a ban on non-compete clauses in employment contracts and rules to make it easier to cancel subscriptions.

The FTC is one of two enforcers, alongside the Justice Departments antitrust division, responsible for overseeing federal competition law and policy. It is the countrys leading consumer protection agency and de facto technology regulator, taking action against digital privacy abuses, advertising fraud and other deceptive conduct. The two government bodies share jurisdiction over reviewing mergers and investigating and acting against companies regarding monopolistic practices.

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Under President Joe Biden, the FTC and the antitrust division faced intense criticism from much of corporate America for what it saw as hindrances to making deals.

At the same time, Khan and her Justice Department counterpart Jonathan Kanter were cheered on by progressives including Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, as well as some on the right such as Vice President-elect JD Vance, over their aggressive stance against concentrated corporate power, particularly in the technology industry.

While a second Trump administration may be friendlier to mergers and acquisitions, it is likely to keep up the aggressive pursuit of antitrust cases targeting tech giants. Major cases against Alphabet Inc.s Google and Meta Platforms Inc. that are now winding their way through the courts were filed in the first Trump administration, while investigations started then also yielded lawsuits against Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. as well as financial services companies such as Visa Inc.

A Republican-led FTC is likely to pull back on the agencys rulemaking efforts, a priority under Khan that GOP members have opposed. Though it would be a drastic and unlikely move, a Trump administration could simply drop any Biden-era cases it doesnt like.

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On Tuesday, Trump also selected Mark Meador, a former staffer to Utah Senator Mike Lee, to be an FTC commissioner. Meador is a veteran of both the FTC and the Justice Departments antitrust division, and spent three years advising Lee, the ranking Republican on the Senate antitrust subcommittee. Meador also worked alongside Kanter at Paul Weiss.

Earlier: US Antitrust Watchdog Launches Broad Microsoft Investigation

Khan, a Columbia University law professor and former congressional staffer, has held the job since spring 2021 and proved a hard-driving progressive champion. Now, Ferguson will have to navigate between competing interests within the Republican Party, with populist regulatory hawks like Vance pitted against establishment conservatives in business groups like the US Chamber of Commerce. Antitrust has been a key part of that clash.

Last week, Trump picked Gail Slater, an economic policy adviser to Vance, to head up antitrust enforcement at the DOJ.

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Ferguson has been highlighting in recent FTC actions his adversarial stance to perceived censorship by large tech companies. In an opinion supporting a settlement over an online sneaker sellers misleading terms of service, he called for an investigation into tech platforms for banning users and censoring content.

In that opinion he expressed support for Elon Musks ownership of the social media platform X, saying its current turn toward free expression is due only to its new owners unusually firm commitment to free and open debate. He added that if an investigation reveals anti-competitive cartels that facilitate or promote censorship, we ought to bust them up.

Musk, the worlds richest person, is a prominent Trump supporter and has been tapped by the president-elect to lead an effort to cut government spending alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Before becoming Virginias top appellate lawyer, Ferguson was an aide to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, where he was responsible for judicial confirmations, including that of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. He previously worked for Republican Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

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After law school, Ferguson clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

--With assistance from Lauren Dezenski and Airielle Lowe.

(Updates to add additional details, background throughout.)

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President-elect Donald Trump often said during the 2024 presidential campaign that he plans to launch the nations largest-ever mass deportation operation in his second term.

Trump has pledged to carry out this work by using an obscure 18th-century law called the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

The act empowers presidents to apprehend and remove foreign nationals from countries that are at war with the United States. U.S. presidents have issued executive proclamations and invoked this law three times: during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II. All three instances followed Congress declaring war.

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Why bother dusting off a 226-year-old law?

Invoking the Alien Enemies Act could make it far easier for the Trump administration to quickly apprehend, detain and deport immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization. Thats because the law lets presidents bypass immigration courts.

In my view, if Trump uses the Alien Enemies Act to carry out his mass deportation plans, it almost certainly would trigger major court battles in which the text, early history and previous uses of this antiquated law take center stage.

Guatemalan immigrants arrive in Guatemala City on an ICE deportation flight in February 2017, during the first Trump administration. John Moore/Getty Images

Repressive origins and populist backlash

The Alien Enemies Act traces back to the late 1700s, when the Federalists, an early political party, controlled Congress. The Federalists wanted strong national government as well as harmonious diplomatic and trade relations with Great Britain.

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The Federalists became outraged when the French government began seizing U.S. merchant ships in the Caribbean that were trading with Britain, which France was waging war against at that time.

The opposing Democratic-Republican Party, led by Thomas Jefferson, supported France in its fight against Great Britain.

The Federalists in Congress considered Jeffersons pro-France position against the U.S. interests. They also were troubled that the Democratic-Republicans were backed by thousands of French and Irish immigrants who had some political clout in big cities such as Philadelphia and New York.

So in 1798 the Federalists tried to quell domestic opposition by passing the Alien and Sedition Acts, a series of controversial laws that banned political dissent by limiting free speech. The laws also made it harder for immigrants to become citizens.

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One of these laws was the Alien Enemies Act, which gave presidents broad authority to control or remove noncitizens ages 14 or older if they had ties to foreign enemies during times of a declared war.

The Alien and Sedition Acts elicited a firestorm of criticism soon after they were passed, including from Jefferson and James Madison, who asserted that states have the right and duty to declare some federal laws unconstitutional. The populist backlash against the Alien and Sedition Acts helped propel Jefferson and Democratic-Republicans to victory in the 1800 presidential election. Nearly all of the Alien and Sedition Acts were then either repealed or allowed to expire.

Only the Alien Enemies Act, a law enacted without an expiration date, survived.

The history of the Alien Enemies Act

Madison, the fourth U.S. president, first invoked the Alien Enemies Act during the War of 1812 with Great Britain, which was sparked for several reasons, including trade and territorial control of North America.

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Madison invoked the Alien Enemies Act in 1812 by proclaiming that all subjects of His Britannic Majesty, residing within the United States, have become alien enemies.

But rather than imposing mass deportations, Madisons administration simply required British nationals living in the U.S. to report their age, home address, length of residency and whether they applied for naturalization.

More than 100 years later, President Woodrow Wilson invoked the Alien Enemies Act during World War I in April 1918.

Wilson used the Alien Enemies Act to impose sweeping restrictions on the residency, work, possessions, speech and activities of foreign nationals from places that the U.S. was at war with  Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. U.S.-born women married to any people born in these places were also deemed enemy aliens.

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The U.S. Marshals Service carefully monitored about half a million Germans in the U.S. to make sure they followed Wilsons restrictions.

Another 6,000 German enemy aliens were arrested and sent to internment camps in Georgia and Utah, where they were confined until after an armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany in November 1918.

Two decades later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt notoriously used the Alien Enemies Act in World War II.

In 1941, Roosevelt authorized special restrictions on German, Italian and Japanese nationals living in the U.S. More than 30,000 of these foreign nationals, including Jewish refugees from Germany, spent the war imprisoned at internment camps because the government considered them potentially dangerous. The U.S. government released these detainees after World War II ended.

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The vast majority of the 110,000 Japanese American men, women and children interned during the war were not held under the Alien Enemies Act. The government used a separate executive order during World War II to intern most people of Japanese descent, some of whom were born in the U.S.

Donald Trump speaks about immigration at Montezuma Pass, Ariz., along the U.S.-Mexico border, on Aug. 22, 2024. Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images

Whats very old is new again

Civil liberties and immigrant rights groups have pledged to fight back by filing legal challenges if Trump forges ahead with plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act for the fourth time in U.S. history.

The Alien Enemies Acts text and history present formidable legal hurdles for the Trump administration.

The 1798 law is clear that an invasion or predatory incursion must be undertaken by a foreign nation or government in order for it to be invoked.

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Yet Congress has not declared war on any country in over 80 years, nor has another government launched an invasion against U.S. territory.

And drug cartels are not actual national governments running Latin American countries, so they dont meet the criteria in the Alien Enemies Act.

Trumps senior advisers, meanwhile, say with no clear evidence that the administration can justly claim that some Latin American governments, such as Mexico and Venezuela, are run by drug cartels that are attacking U.S. security. These officials also allege that these criminal organizations are launching state-sanctioned invasions of narcotics and unauthorized migrants.

Whatever the argument, the tenacious problem that the Trump administration will face is that neither the letter of the law nor historical precedents support peacetime use of the Alien Enemies Act.

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None of these textual and historical realities will matter, however, if the courts choose not to intervene on the grounds that a president simply saying that the country is being invaded by a foreign nation is sufficient and is not subject to judicial review.

This possibility makes it impossible to automatically dismiss blueprints for using an 18th-century law, however dubious. If Trump succeeds at invoking the Alien Enemies Act, it would add another chapter to the Alien Enemies Acts sordid history.

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: Daniel Tichenor, University of Oregon

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Daniel Tichenor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
When considering a president during the 2024 election, many voters stated that the economy was a main concern. Gas prices were too high, eggs were too expensive and people wanted a change.

Donald Trumps handling of the economy during his first term helped convince many voters to give him a second term, as well. This time, hes pledged to make tariffs a centerpiece of his management of American interests, despite pushback from economists and business leaders across the aisle.

Trump is targeting Mexico and Canada for his tariffs, as well, and that could directly impact Arizona as a border state as well as those who make their living off the international supply chain.

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But will they help or hurt Arizonans?

This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by two guests to discuss what impact Trump's proposed tariffs on Mexico will have on Arizonans.

First, George Hammond joins the show. Hes an economist at the University of Arizonas Eller College of Management. He works with the universitys Arizona-Mexico Economic Indicators data center, focusing on Arizonas trade with Mexico.

Later in the episode, Republic reporter Laura Gersony talks to The Gaggle about how Arizona business owners feel about the potential change.

Listen to the episode

The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you also can stream the full episode below.

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Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.

Follow The Gaggle and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter and on Instagram.

Listen to The Gaggle : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher

Have a question or comment about Arizona politics?

You can share your thoughts with us at 602-444-0804 or via email here.

Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto.

Catch up on previous Gaggle episodes here:

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What Trump's tariffs with Mexico could mean for Arizona
Donald Trump has reshaped the Republican Party to embrace a brand of populism that prioritizes its working-class base and is at least outwardly skeptical of corporate power.

But since his second election last month, Trump has leaned heavily on aides and Cabinet picks who share a distinctive characteristic with him: wealth from complex business entanglements.

Trump has appointed a raft of rich business people and investors  including several billionaires and multiple Wall Street executives with complex financial interests  to fill out top roles in his administration, raising a vast array of potential conflicts of interest that could span the federal government and complicate Senate confirmations.

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The billionaires set to join the second Trump administration include Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street CEO who Trump tapped to be Commerce secretary; Warren Stephens, the CEO of an Arkansas financial services firm who he picked to be ambassador to the United Kingdom; presumptive NASA administrator nominee Jared Isaacman; and deputy Defense secretary Steve Feinberg.

It opens up the door for there being a lot more possible conflicts of interest because their personal wealth is so vast, said Delaney Marsco, director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center.

The potential for conflicts cover a wide variety of industries from health and defense to the financial and cryptocurrency sectors.

The selections exemplify how Trumps brand of economic populism has still carved out room for the ultra-wealthy. Despite running as a critic of corporate power and economic elites, several of the people Trump has chosen and considered for top roles come from backgrounds in business and finance.

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With so many nominees presenting such conflicts of interest  and the general indifference from both Trump and his supporters  the ho-hum response to a new administration populated with so many ultra-wealthy picks is yet another example of how Trump has shattered the Overton window on ethics.

Morgan Ackley, a spokeswoman for the transition team, defended Trumps appointments and said delivering on the campaigns promises means appointing respected professionals and industry leaders to usher America into a new Golden Age. These highly qualified men and women have the talent, experience, and necessary skill sets to Make America Great Again."

To be sure, the president-elect is expected to pursue policies from trade to labor to antitrust that align with the populist vision he ran on. Some selections  like presumptive Labor secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is seen as an ally to unions  represent shifts from the pre-Trump GOP orthodoxy.

The wealthy picks and their potential conflicts have become an early focus for the left, including Democratic lawmakers who are fighting the nominees.

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One target: Trumps pick to run Medicare and Medicaid, heart surgeon and TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz. Democrats argued in a letter Tuesday to Oz that he has many conflicts of interest, including deep financial ties to private health insurers  documented in the disclosures he filed in his failed 2022 Pennsylvania Senate bid  and previous advocacy for Medicare privatization. The lawmakers asked him to provide assurances that he will commit to fully divesting of any and all financial holdings related to the insurance industry if you are confirmed.

Trumps economic picks are also expected to face scrutiny. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who is poised to become the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, has criticized Treasury pick Scott Bessent, a hedge fund executive, as having expertise [in] helping rich investors make more money, not cutting costs for families squeezed by corporate profiteering.

Lutnick, the Commerce pick who also co-chairs the Trump transition team, has said he will step down from his companies and divest his interests upon Senate confirmation. He has close ties through his firm Cantor Fitzgerald to a controversial foreign cryptocurrency firm called Tether. The connection could become a focus given Trumps pledge to overhaul crypto regulations in his second term.

And then theres Elon Musk, the worlds richest man with a net worth now estimated at more than $400 billion, who could have an opportunity to shape regulations, contracts and budgets in a way that benefits his own interests. Because his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, will be set up outside of the federal government, the Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink CEO wont be subject to conflict of interest laws. But by deploying his own wealth to serve as the presidents political enforcer, Musk may be able to maintain his proximity to the president for some time  and to push policies that could improve his own bottom line.

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Still, while several of Trumps picks are facing questions about whether they can be confirmed by a GOP Senate that includes several moderates who will be up for reelection in 2026, conflict of interest issues havent been a major focus.

Sen. Mike Rounds, a moderate Republican from South Dakota who is seen as a swing vote on some controversial nominees, said Trumps wealthy picks have been successful and they have a different way of looking at things outside of government.

The founding fathers wanted folks coming from the business communities to be a part of this process, and thats healthy, he said. You want individuals that get it from the inside, that understand it, and can see whats going on in the industry. So no, I dont have a concern in that regard.

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President-elect Donald Trump's decision to put the Department of Justice's civil rights division under the leadership of Harmeet K. Dhillon, a staunch loyalist who has participated in lawsuits against states over antidiscrimination and voting rights laws, has provoked a broadside of criticism from advocates who say that her right-wing ideology will be the dominant factor in her decision-making.

Dhillon, a former attorney and GOP official, has also championed right-wing campaigns against diversity initiatives, transgender rights and COVID-19 lockdown policies. In 2020, she served as a legal advisor for the Trump campaign and called on the Supreme Court to overturn the election results in several swing states.

There is a wholesale ignoring of laws passed by legislatures  a few unelected bureaucrats, or elected perhaps, who change the outcomes of the election in a few counties and that changes the outcome of the national election  thats what happened in 2020, Dhillon said on an October 2024 podcast hosted by Nicole Shanahan, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s former running mate. Statements like those have raised the alarm among activists who say that her views and actions are anathema to the original purpose of the department, which was founded in 1870 to protect newly-enshrined Black voting rights.

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Dhillon has focused her career on diminishing civil rights, rather than enforcing or protecting them, Maya Wiley, president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said in a statement. Rather than fighting to expand voting access, she has worked to restrict it. Instead of defending election results and demonstrating concern for free and fair elections, for example, she helped fuel the big lie in many forms, challenging election results on several occasions based on misrepresentations and outright lies.

For Dhillon's supporters, her history and loyalty to Trump is the very reason she should be in charge. In announcing her nomination on Truth Social, the president-elect touted her work suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their workers."

Though Dhillon has faced pushback within her own party over her Sikh faith, she can count on the friendship of prominent right-wing figures like activist Charlie Kirk, GOP money-man Leonard Leo and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who she represented in a gender discrimination lawsuit brought by his former producer, Abby Grossberg. In the ensuing settlement, Fox paid Grossberg $12 million.

In 2018, Dhillon founded the Center for American Liberty, a legal organizations that claims to defend the civil liberties of Americans left behind by civil rights legacy organizations" and has spent much of its resources in suing states over trans protection laws, or in one case, a school that used a transgender student's preferred name. In 2023, she ran an insurgent campaign against then-RNC chair Ronna McDaniel largely on the grounds that she would carry even more water for Trump on his efforts to cast doubt in the 2020 election, including a proposal to hire an army of lawyers to challenge the election process.

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NAACP President Derrick Johnson said Tuesday that Dhillons shots at "legacy" organization amounts to "gaslighting."

I am concerned with the approach this nominee will take as it relates to protecting the rights of all communities and ensuring equal protections to all sides, not only the majority, Johnson told The Washington Post. If confirmed, she will be sitting in a seat in which Americans would hope she pursues issues based on facts that are aligned with our Constitution and are squarely within legal precedents and not go and stretch that notion as the top person in the civil rights division. We dont need to manufacture issues.
President-elect Donald Trump has picked Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to take over for Lina Khan as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, in a blow to major technology firms.

The nomination is a big promotion for Ferguson, a former law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and former advisor to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. He was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as one of the FTCs Republican commissioners in July 2023 and was confirmed by the full Senate in March.

As FTC chair, Ferguson is expected to continue Khans history of taking on major tech corporations, which won her praise from both Republican and Democratic members of Congress, including Vice President-elect J.D. Vance.

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In a statement posted to his Truth Social on Monday night, Trump touted Fergusons proven record of standing up to Big tech censorship and protecting Freedom of Speech.

In his own statement posted to X, Ferguson said the FTC will focus on ending Big Techs vendetta against competition and ensure that America is the worlds technological leader. That won him a quick congratulations from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has become a major player in Trumps transition team, often weighing in on decisions and attending various meetings with foreign leaders.

Mark Meador, a partner at boutique antitrust law firm Kressin Meador Powers and a former counsel to Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, has also been nominated to serve as a Republican commissioner. According to his biography on the firms website, he was deeply involved in the FTCs efforts to deal with product hopping in the pharmaceutical industry during his time as an attorney for the agency.

Its unclear whether the Trump administration will continue Khans aggressive actions against corporate mergers  including the $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, which was blocked on Tuesday by a federal judge  or its various ongoing antitrust cases.

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Punchbowl News reported that a proposal advocating for Fergusons appointment cited his intention to reverse Lina Khans anti-business agenda, fight wokeness, and fight back against the trans agenda. Two Democratic FTC commissioners sent Ferguson a letter on Tuesday asking him to clarify his priorities, noting that the word fraud is absent from the proposal reported by Punchbowl.

We urge you to correct the impression created by this document, wrote Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya.

But Fergusons appointment, as well as Trumps nomination of Vance advisor Gail Slater to oversee the Justice Departments antitrust division, signals somewhat of a continuation of the current FTCs charge against major tech firms.

Khan, who gained notoriety criticizing Amazon, led the FTC to take on Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. According to Bloomberg News, the agency is investigating whether Microsofts multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI violated consumer protections, along with a $650 million deal between Microsoft and Infelction AI. The FTC is also taking on Apples iPhone dominance, while Google is waiting for a federal judge to rule on the agencys recommendation it should be forced to sell its Chrome business.

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We expect Ferguson to continue to have a keen eye on the tech world and antitrust swirls, however he will clearly roll back Khans head scratching anti-tech agenda including ending efforts to regulate AI and abandoning a brutal standard for any merger of any size for the tech world, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives wrote Wednesday, proclaiming that Christmas came early for the tech world.

He also expects the Justice Departments aggressive stance against Big Tech will end up being more bark than bite, and touted the benefits of a pro-innovation FTC chair.

Trumps nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, challenged Apples e-book pricing, Facebooks social media dominance, and Googles dominance in search as Floridas attorney general. However, after leaving office in 2019, following her second term, she became a lobbyist for several companies, including Amazon, Uber, and General Motors.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
President-elect Donald Trump says the special tariffs he has threatened to impose on goods imported from China, Canada, and Mexico are aimed at stopping illegal drugs from entering the United States. The federal government has been trying and failing to do that for more than a century, and there is no reason to think this puzzling tactic will be any more successful.

Trump complains that Canada and Mexico are not doing enough to prevent drugs from crossing the northern and southern borders. "Drugs are pouring in at levels never seen before, 10 times what we had," he told Kristen Welker on Meet the Press last Sunday, explaining the rationale for the punitive tariffs. "They're just pouring in. We can't have open borders."

Last month, Trump said he would encourage Canada and Mexico to crack down on those borders by imposing a 25 percent tariff on "ALL products coming into the United States." He said the tariffs, which he plans to impose on his first day in office, "will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!"

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If stopping the flow of illegal drugs is as straightforward as Trump implies, one might wonder, why didn't he do that during his first term? "I'm going to create borders," he promised during his 2016 campaign. "No drugs are coming in. We're gonna build a wall. You know what I'm talking about. You have confidence in me. Believe me, I will solve the problem."

Trump did not, in fact, solve the problem. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual number of drug-related deaths in the United States rose by 44 percent between 2016 and Trump's last year in office.

As drug warriors have been discovering since Congress banned nonmedical use of opiates and cocaine in 1914, prohibition creates a strong financial incentive to evade any obstacles that the government manages to erect between suppliers and consumers. That problem is compounded in the case of fentanyl, which is cheap to produce and highly potent, making it possible to smuggle large numbers of doses in small packages.

"At present," the Congressional Research Service (CRS) noted last March, "most U.S.-destined illicit fentanyl appears to be produced clandestinely in Mexico, using chemical precursors from China." Although "some fentanyl precursors are subject to international controls," the report explains, "others may be produced and exported legally from certain countries, including China. Mexican customs officials reportedly have struggled to detect the illicit diversion of these chemicals."

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Mexican drug cartels "move illicit fentanyl into the United States, primarily across the southwestern border, often in passenger vehicles," the CRS reports. "The U.S.

Department of Homeland Security asserts that 90% of [seized] fentanyl is interdicted at ports of entry, often in vehicles driven by U.S. citizens. A primary challenge for both

Mexican and U.S. officials charged with stopping the fentanyl flow is that [the cartels] can meet U.S. demand with a relatively small amount."

Finding those small amounts among the hundreds of thousands of cars and trucks that cross into the United States from Canada and Mexico each day is a daunting task. Even attempting it in a serious way would impose intolerable burdens on international travel and trade. And although vehicular transportation across the southern border currently seems to be the main route for fentanyl, that is not the only option. Fentanyl also enters the United States by mail, and it is impossible to intercept all of those shipments, especially given their small size and the enormous volume of packages.

Even if the U.S. "managed to stop 100 percent of direct [fentanyl] sales to the US, enterprising dealers [would] simply sell into nations such as the UK, repackage the product, and then resell it into the US," economist Roger Bate noted in a 2018 American Enterprise Institute report. "Intercepting all packages from the UK and other EU nations to the US will not be possible." And "whether or not drugs are available to the general public via the mail," Bate added, "drug dealers have domestic production and overland and sea routes and other courier services that deliver the product to the US."

In March 2021, two months after Trump left office, the Drug Enforcement Administration reported that "availability and use of cheap and highly potent fentanyl has increased." It also noted that methamphetamine's "purity and potency remain high while prices remain low" and that "availability of cocaine throughout the United States remains steady."

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That was after Trump had four years to deliver on his promise that "no drugs" would be "coming in" during his administration. Yet he now claims that Mexican and Canadian officials could accomplish what he manifestly failed to do if only they tried harder.

Trump also faults China for its lack of diligence. "I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States," he said on the same day that he announced the 25 percent tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico. "But to no avail. Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America."

Trump is enthusiastic about killing drug dealers, a position he has had trouble reconciling with his intermittent complaints about excessively harsh U.S. drug penalties. As Trump himself has admiringly noted, the Chinese government has already deemed fentanyl-related crimes worthy of death. "In China, unlike in our country, the highest level of crime is very, very high," Trump said in 2019. "You pay the ultimate price. So I appreciate that very much."

Contrary to what Trump implied, U.S. law does authorize the execution of drug traffickers in certain circumstances. Drug offenders eligible for the death penalty include leaders of criminal enterprises that sell 60,000 kilograms of marijuana, 60 kilograms of heroin, 17 kilograms of crack cocaine, or 600 grams of LSD.

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That provision has been on the books since 1994, but it has never been carried out. It probably never will, since it seems to be unconstitutional under a 2008 decision in which the Supreme Court said the Eighth Amendment requires that the death penalty be reserved for "crimes that take the life of the victim." While deadly violence committed "in aid of racketeering activity" or "during and in relation to anydrug trafficking crime" would qualify for that description, nonviolent drug distribution seemingly would not.

China, by contrast, does periodically execute people for nonviolent drug offenses (and a long list of other crimes). If it did so more often, Trump seems to think, the flow of fentanyl into America would "stop." That assumption is hard to credit given the economics of prohibition, which creates a "risk premium" that is demonstrably large enough to compensate for the chance that any given trafficker will be apprehended and punished.

Even if severe legal penalties were enough to deter all Chinese suppliers of fentanyl precursors, that would not be the end of the story. As The New York Times recently noted, Mexican cartels already have a backup plan: They are recruiting "chemistry students studying at Mexican universities" so they can "synthesize the chemical compounds, known as precursors, that are essential to making fentanyl, freeing them from having to import those raw materials from China."

The post Trump's Plan To Fight Illegal Drugs With Punitive Tariffs Makes No Sense appeared first on Reason.com.
LOS ROQUES ARCHIPELAGO, Venezuela (Reuters) - A push by Venezuela to attract tourists and boost its flailing economy by building infrastructure including runways and hotels is doing environmental damage to ecologically-delicate areas, especially fragile Caribbean coral reefs already threatened by climate change, conservationists, scientists, government sources and locals say.

The government of President Nicolas Maduro, who blames U.S. sanctions for his country's economic crisis, has called tourism the economy's "secret weapon".

The push has so far failed to attract foreign investors, sources say, despite a tourism ministry meeting with French businesspeople and public overtures from Maduro to investors as recently as this month.

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But the infrastructure effort is already drawing criticism from biologists, activists and locals, with one conservation group alleging at least one major infrastructure project is illegal.

The runway at the main airport serving Los Roques National Park - an archipelago of 45 islands, cays and crystalline waters spread over 550,000 acres in the Caribbean and recognized by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands - was expanded to 1,300 meters this year from 800 meters, allowing larger planes to land.

The extension destroyed coral, mangroves and a nesting beach for the critically endangered Eretmochelys imbricata turtle, covering it with asphalt and rocks, "among other disturbances that will affect the natural resources of the park," the Venezuelan Ecological Society said in a report.

Maduro, who has also promoted foreign investment in a project to construct 10 hotels on the nearly virgin La Tortuga Island, says his plans respect the environment.

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"Important investors from all over are coming, many from the Arab world, many from Turkey, many from Iran, from China, from India, from Brazil to invest in tourism," he said on state television in November, hailing "the growth of hotels, guesthouses and tourist services across the country."

Maduro reiterated the call to investors in early December: "Tourism is already a great motor, but it still must cover a lot of ground to become the secret motor of the new economy."

The government has signed tourism deals with Nicaragua, Cuba and Syria, tourism minister Leticia Gomez said during the same broadcast, without giving further details.

She hailed a 69% increase in tourism through November, compared with the same period a year earlier, saying 1.8 million international tourists visited - including from Russia, Poland, Iran, Cuba and neighboring Colombia.

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By comparison, more than 3.1 million visitors entered Colombia in the first six months of 2024.

The plans for La Tortuga, 53 miles off the country's northern coast, also include an airport and port.

"There is a master plan ... by transnational companies that are experts in these types of islands and who have done major developments in Qatar, in the Maldives, in French Polynesia and in Hawaii," Nicolas Maduro Guerra, Maduro's lawmaker son, told Reuters in May, without naming the companies.

The plan is "ecologically stable and friendly to the island, keeping part of the island virgin," Maduro Guerra said.

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Environmental permits are not public and Venezuela's environment and tourism ministries did not respond to requests for comment, but two government sources said impact studies were not conducted for the runway extension in Los Roques, where one conservation group says the work violates a 2004 law.

"The national park has become a disaster," said retired Los Roques park ranger and conservationist Toribio Mata, who still lives on the archipelago, saying turtle hunting, spearfishing and visits by the public to restricted areas have all risen over the decade since his retirement because of lack of enforcement.

National parks institute Inparques is responsible for managing the parks, sanctuaries and reserves that make up about a third of Venezuela's territory. It did not respond to a request for comment.

WASTE AND SEWAGE WORRIES

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Upon arrival at Gran Roque, Los Roques' largest island, about 88 miles north of the mainland, visitors pay an entrance fee and receive a wristband and a glossy pamphlet showcasing protected areas, recreational activities and places to stay.

The pamphlet does not mention trash and sewage problems recounted by residents, who mostly live off fishing and tourism.

Reuters witnesses saw what appeared to be sewage being dumped into the sea in a remote area of Gran Roque. Residents, who asked not to be named, said they fear increased tourism will worsen waste issues.

La Tortuga has no capacity to process waste, environmental advocates say.

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Governance of that island, as well as of Los Roques and other islands, is the purview of government minister Anibal Eduardo Coronado, who is also the head of the department that monitors implementation of Maduro's policies.

The communications ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The United Nations and coastal countries have warned coral reefs are being devastated by the effects of warming oceans, experiencing their worst bleaching on record.

Los Roques' already-damaged reef and coral on La Tortuga are important incubators for coral and fish species present in other reefs in Curazao and Aruba, and also sustain fishing families in neighboring coastal states.

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Mata, the son of a park ranger, joined the service in 1979 at 22 and has kept years' worth of drawings of migratory birds and notes from 3 a.m. conservation missions.

"The park was conserved because we were paying attention, we conducted rounds to protect turtles in the park, marine species, to prevent construction on the cays," Mata said.

Inparques now rotates rangers in monthly from Caracas.

Mata's worries about faltering conservation were echoed by other residents.

Three local fishermen told Reuters they have noticed a reduction in marine species including lobster and octopus, which they blame on over-fishing in protected areas and a lack of enforcement of regulations within the park.

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Fishermen told Reuters that illegal fishermen use chlorine to startle octopus out of reefs and capture them, also damaging the coral. Some tourists ignore warnings not to use sunscreen, which can harm reefs, and leave behind trash including cigarette butts.

The local trash incinerator is broken, according to residents.

The environment ministry did not respond to questions about park management, the destruction of coral and mangroves due to infrastructure construction or over-fishing.

'CONSTRUCTION BRINGS CONSEQUENCES'

The archipelago's reef suffered a bleaching in November 2023, according to biologist and university professor Angel Farina, and another bleaching began in October this year.

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"We have the highest temperatures registered for Caribbean sea water and our coasts," he said, citing climate change but also use of the chemicals for fishing and the presence of sewage.

Construction of more infrastructure would "obviously bring consequences," he said. "Construction creates pollution, it creates sedimentation that can affect reefs temporarily or permanently ... deforestation of mangroves is harmful anywhere because they are nurseries for diverse species."

A resort constructed before Maduro's tourism push has already put pressure on La Tortuga's delicate ecosystem, the Venezuelan Observatory of Political Ecology said.

"It's a jewel, an ecological jewel," said a scientist who worked at a now-shuttered research station in Los Roques and who asked for anonymity, referring to the archipelago. "The regulations of the national park are not being respected, it's being pushed toward commercialization, toward mass tourism."

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Julia Symmes Cobb and Daniel Wallis)
Tucson is suing the federal government, claiming forever chemicals released from an Air Force base are causing ongoing contamination of the citys drinking water supply.

In a lawsuit filed Monday, the city said it wants compensation for the damages caused by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl-based substances released at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The city also wants the Air Force to pay or reimburse the cost of a treatment system to remove PFAAS from incoming untreated water.

The Air Force base has taken inadequate action to stop or mitigate the ongoing migration of its PFAS contamination into Plaintiff's water supply and any assistance (financial or otherwise) it has agreed to provide will not continue for as long as necessary, the city alleges in court documents, which name the United States of America as the defendant in the case.

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The U.S. Attorneys Office did not respond to requests for comment.

Read the document: City of Tucson vs. U.S. for PFAS contamination

Tucson has been reporting PFAS contamination for more than a decade

PFAS are long-lasting chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in a wide range of industries and products  from fire retardants and popcorn bags to personal care items and clothing  that can now be found globally in water. PFAS are considered hazardous substances that can cause severe health issues with long-term exposure, even in low traces.

Studies show PFAS exposure can negatively impact the bodys immune and cardiovascular systems, as well as vaccine response. Studies have also linked oral exposure to PFAS to adverse health effects on the liver, the kidneys, and the immune system, and cancer, according to the EPA.

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The city first reported the chemicals in 2013 after it found an average of 28 parts per trillion of PFAS in a well Tucson relied on for its water. By January 2017, the contamination reached 79 parts per trillion. Later that year, contamination levels increased to 133 parts per trillion, and 97 parts per trillion in March the following year. The recommended level of PFAS is between 4 parts per trillion and 10 parts per trillion.

That well was taken offline and has been unused ever since. Thirty other wells were also removed from service because of the contamination. The city also said it invested in specialized laboratory equipment to analyze over 1800 samples for PFAS each year.

Tucsons water utility, Tucson Water stopped serving water treated at the Tucson Airport Remediation Project, or TARP, to residents in 2021 when increased PFAS levels caused the plant to temporarily shut down as the filter system sequestering the contaminants could not handle the increase.

While Tucson maintains the water it serves to the public is safe to drink, it also notes the contamination has impacted trust in the city's water supply. The water treated at the TARP facility isn't served as drinking water, it is instead it to the Santa Cruz River to maintain water levels and help with riparian habitat restoration.

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Tucson alleges it has spent a total of $71.1 million on remediation costs and blames the Air Force for using PFAS-based aqueous firefighting foams to extinguish fuel-based fires for decades, releasing contaminants into the environment. Other damages Tucson says it has incurred include loss of water production capacity and diminished consumer confidence in the citys water.

The Air Force knew of the contamination of its groundwater with PFAS and consciously disregarded a known risk that the contamination had already migrated off-site and into Plaintiffs wells, or that such risk was imminent, alleges the city in its complaint.

The city claims the Air Force is creating a public nuisance by failing to mitigate the PFAS contamination from the soils and groundwater into city wells. Tucson attorneys also allege the Air Force breached its duty to warn the city that hazardous chemicals would likely be released. The attorneys also claim that the migrating contamination onto Tucson property constitutes trespassing.

EPA ordered the Air Force to clean up contaminated groundwater

In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered the Air Force and the Arizona National Guard to take action as PFAS continued to contaminate Tucsons water supply. The cleanup was ordered for properties near the Tucson International Airport at the National Guard base, and a property owned by the U.S. Air Force. The EPA gave the Air Force 90 days to design a long-term water treatment method.

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The Air Force sent a letter in July asking the EPA to withdraw the order, noting the order "cannot result in the elimination of PFAS contamination in the aquifer any faster" than the federal cleanup process already taking place, nor any faster than Tucsons project to build a PFAS pretreatment plant.

The Air Force maintained it was fully committed to its ongoing PFAS response, including restoration of the Tucson aquifers. The Air Force pointed to a $25 million federal grant from the state to build a new PFAS pretreatment plant for the TARP. The letter also highlighted funds it has paid to TARP, including millions of dollars for the initial plant in 1991 and $17 million in 2016 for the new Advanced Oxidation Process facility.

In October, the EPA determined the Air Force complied with the May order after the military branch outlined a plan to take action, including collecting data to determine the extent of contamination, conducting pilot studies for possible cleanup and working with Tucson Water to cover past and future costs for PFAS treatment at TARP.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson sues feds over PFAS contamination at Air Force base
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Tulsa, Oklahoma man is sentenced for beating a man outside a Kansas City hotel in May 2023, causing the victim to die two months later.

A Jackson County judge on Tuesday sentenced Andrew Wilson, 32, to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

KCPD Helicopter Unit helps catch multiple suspects in one night

In October, Wilson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement. A sentencing range of 20 years up to life in prison with the possibility of parole was also part of the agreement.

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In Missouri, a life sentence is defined as 30 years unless the charge is first-degree murder.

According to court documents, on May 1, 2023 at about 2 a.m., officers responded to a hotel on Blue Parkway not far from Eastwood Trafficway on a reported disturbance outside.

When they arrived, they found a man  now identified as 68-year-old Rajesh Patel  in the parking lot suffering from unknown injuries.

Medics took Patel to a local hospital where he fell into a coma. He died from his injuries on July 17 at the age of 69.

Surveillance video captured the assault, with punching and kicking lasting more than 10 minutes.

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Wilson was arrested on May 1, 2023. He still had the victims blood on his shoes, and told the arresting officer he beat the man.

An assault charge was then upgraded by prosecutors to second-degree murder.

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Turkish-backed fighters have been accused of carrying out a brutal execution of wounded soldiers in a military hospital in northern Syria.

In a gruesome video circulated online, injured men in hospital beds covered in bandages and wires are questioned by men in military fatigues, who then open fire on them.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) reported that dozens of wounded soldiers from the Manbij Military Council, part of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were executed after the area was besieged and evacuation routes out of the city closed.

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Factions under the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom on Dec 1 against the SDF to counter what Turkish state media calls the establishment of a terrorist corridor stretching from the Syria-Iraq border to the Mediterranean.

Ankara sees the Peoples Defence Units (YPG), which leads the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has staged a decades-long insurgency against Turkey.

The PKK is listed as a terror group by the US, UK and EU.

Mazloum Abdi, the SDF commander, said his fighters in Manbij continue their resistance to halt the expansion of attacks west of the Euphrates - Baderkhan Ahmad

A ceasefire in Manbij mediated by the US was announced on Wednesday morning after it fell to the SNA, although small clashes are reportedly still taking place.

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Mazloum Abdi, the head of the SDF, said in a statement that his fighters in Manbij continue their resistance to halt the expansion of attacks west of the Euphrates but will withdraw from the area as soon as possible.

He said that the SDFs goal is to achieve a ceasefire across the whole of Syria to initiate a political process for the future of the country.

The SDF, which holds Syrias north east, played a vital role in the fall of Islamic State (IS) and is backed by the US in continued efforts to counter remnants of the Jihadist group.

They have controlled Manbij for more than eight years after taking it from IS to cut the group off from the Turkish border.

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The executions were carried out by Fajr al-Hurriya, according to the SOHR, which is part of the SNA, an umbrella term for a number of disparate militias backed by Turkey.

Kurdish channels said Fajr al-Hurriya also looted homes, burned them down and killed at least three people, while 10 civilians were killed in artillery shelling by Turkish forces east of Manbij.

The SNA is now advancing on Kobane, a symbol of Kurdish resistance when the town was besieged by IS in 2014. A year later, the SDF claimed full control in an important symbolic victory.

Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), which led the rebels who took control of Syria in a lightning offensive, said on Tuesday that it had also wrested control of the eastern city of Deir Ezzor from the SDF.

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Deir Ezzor is home to Syrias largest oil field and the SDF took over as regime forces fled last week.

The collapse of Bashar al-Assads decades-long regime has created a new reality on the ground for the SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias formed in 2015.

The US has vowed to continue its support for the SDF in the fight against IS but continued fighting as Syria transitions to a new government risks further destabilisation of an already volatile situation.

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) developed a Rapid Rebuilding Assistance initiative to assist businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Businesses in the TVAs service area, including Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties in Tennessee and Lee, Scott, Washington and Wise counties in Virginia will be eligible for the program.

Avery, Cherokee, Clay and Watauga counties in North Carolina are also eligible.

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VIDEOS: TWRA bodycam footage shows harrowing rescues during Sept. 27 flooding

Through the TVA EnergyRight Rapid Rebuilding Assistance program, projects to replace damaged technologies and appliances undertaken by eligible businesses in those counties will be expedited so customers can receive critical funds for efficient replacement of lighting ($0.10 per kWh), HVAC ($80-$250 per ton) and refrigeration ($100-$200 per linear foot of reach-in cases) equipment in their facilities, the TVA said in a news release.

Below are the eligibility requirements for the assistance program, according to the TVA:

Must be located in a FEMA-declared disaster county within the TVAs service area completing qualifying projects on or after the disaster date of Sept. 1, 2024

Incentive application must be received within 24 months of the disaster date

Purchased equipment must meet minimum efficiency requirements

Provide invoices, specification sheets and proof of event insurance claim

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No pre-inspections are required, the TVA stated. Equipment ordered and installed after applications are approved will be covered.

Business owners interested in the program can click here or call 866-233-0450. Emails can also be sent to TVAbusinessincentive@tva.gov.

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LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Two Lancaster City men and a juvenile have been charged in connection to the fatal shooting of a man during a failed handgun robbery in 2022.

According to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office, on Dec. 9, 2022, the then 17-year-old juvenile shot and killed 30-year-old James Diggs in self-defense during a failed robbery in the 400 block of Ruby Street at 11:30 p.m.

The shooting occurred during an altercation where the juvenile attempted to trade a stolen handgun with Luis Rivera, Jorge Luis Santiago, and Diggs.

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The DAs Office said Diggs had shot the juvenile twice while attempting to steal a handgun that the juvenile had previously stolen. The juvenile returned fire, shooting Diggs five times. As a result, the juvenile will not be charged with homicide due to it being a justified act of self-defense.

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According to the DAs Office, police arrived on the scene to find Diggs dead and the juvenile with gunshot wounds in both legs. He was transported to Lancaster General Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

The DAs Office said the juvenile admitted to stealing the handgun from a vehicle he was a passenger in earlier that day. He then arranged with someone on social media but was instead attacked by three men and pistol-whipped in the head as the assailants attempted to steal the weapon.

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Investigators were able to find the stolen weapon during a search of the juveniles residence. Police determined it had been stolen from the juveniles court-appointed counselor.

The juvenile, now 19 years old, has been charged in the juvenile system with theft from a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a minor, carrying a firearm without a license, and criminal use of a communication facility, per the DAs Office.

Rivera and Santiago have been charged with aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, robbery, and other related charges.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Two Second Judicial District Court judges are set to retire at the end of this year. Judge Stan Whitaker will retire from the bench on December 20, and Judge Debra Ramirez will retire on December 30.

Judge Ramirez moved to New Mexico in 1991 after earning her degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and practicing law in Colorado. She joined the Second Judicial District Court in 2009 as Special Commissioner of the Family Court Division and then took the bench in 2014.

2 Metro Court judges to retire

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It has been an honor to work with such incredible judges and staff over the years. I feel truly blessed to have had such a successful career, said Judge Ramirez. I will certainly miss my time with the court.

Judge Whitaker was appointed to the Second Judicial District Court in 2006 after working as a Domestic Violence Special Commissioner in the Family Court Division and an assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorneys Office. He served as Chief Judge of the court from 2018 to 2021.

I am honored to have worked alongside Judge Whitaker, said Chief Judge Marie Ward. His

dedication to justice and service has been a true asset to this court. His leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact, and his service will be greatly missed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Hurricane Michael passed directly over Tyndall Air Force Base in 2018, destroying almost every facility. The total rebuild thats currently underway, allows the base to utilize some of the latest technology.

Personnel has been shopping for that new technology during annual technology expos, which began in 2021.

Local mother details how The Salvation Army program saved her life

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So some of the companies here are recurring, but they normally bring different products every year depending on the need and what the base wants. And then some of the businesses are new and they basically our sales team works with our previous vendors who want to come back to ensure that theyre bringing new technology to the base, Wesley Parker, 325th Communications Squadron Commander explains.

Tyndall personnel visit the vendors, looking for items that can be used in a multitude of situations.

By providing a wide variety, were hoping that whatever it is that somebody needs to help them get their job, mission, or requirements completed, we can provide that here today, Parker said.

Drones are among the technological advances showcased during the expo. Drones provide an added layer of base safety.

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To point out one key technology that would help us as anything that would be in the realm of counter drones, drones flying on to the unauthorized, drones flying on Tyndall Air Force Base. They create a safety issue and a flight safety issue, Parker added.

Robotic dogs are also part of the cutting-edge technology in use at Tyndall.

A bomb robotic dog, which is pretty interesting. And theres also the aspect of using robotics to counter drones as well. So essentially drone versus drone, but they use robotics to either disable or capture the drones, Parker said.

Walton High School custodian always goes the extra mile

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Some of the natural disaster recovery division technology not only provides safety but also assists during natural disaster recovery efforts.

Rebeka Ogren, the Event Marketing Manager explains, Having that division specifically here, I think goes to show kind of how involved the base is in not just the immediate vicinity, but in the towns surrounding and just like the general area. And I think a lot of their technologies are applicable to things like natural disasters and how they can help rebuild.

Tyndall officials are already looking ahead to next years technology expo.

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CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  The next phase of a space manufacturing project called Mission Illinois is set to launch in December.

According to the University of Illinois News Bureau, the project will send construction equipment to the International Space Station for space-based or on-orbit manufacturing for the summer of 2026.

U of I team develops Nanorobot hand to diagnose, block viruses

Mission Illinois is supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and completing the manufacturing and structural designs at the University of Illinois.

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The goal of this project is to test an energy-efficient chemical process that transforms a liquid material into a solid material  known as curing  to enable on-orbit manufacturing and construction of large space structures such as new space telescopes, radio frequency antennas and other sensors with high-dimensional and mechanical precision and mass efficiency over massive sizes, some more than 300 meters in diameter, project lead and mechanical science and engineering professor Sameh Tawfick said. We manufacture carbon fiber composite tubes that can then be assembled into space trusses on-demand, rapidly and with minimal energy use.

The study is entering phase three. Its a part of DARPAs Novel Orbital Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass Efficient Design program that began in 2021. The Illinois-led portion of the project uses Illinois experience in composite materials. Jeff Baur, Philippe Geubelle, Jeff Moore and Nancy Sottos are all a part of the current study.

Over the next 18 months, the team will work to complete their mission. The last six months will be spent sending the equipment into space, connecting it to a module outside the International Space Station, and then astronauts will perform the experiments.

The material curing process we are using is well tested and understood here on Earth, and the challenge will be to see if we can manufacture it on-orbit  in microgravity, radiation, vacuum and all of the complex conditions in the space environment, Tawfick said.

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Mission Illinois development is being supported with over $4 million.

This will be the first demonstration of manufacturing in space, Tawfick said. Realizing such structures will enable the next stage in humanitys space utilization and a future beyond our imagination.

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 WCIA.com.
Update 12/10 6:05 p.m.

According to the Elko County Sheriffs Office, Venstra will be extradited to Nevada where he will face trial for his criminal allegations.

Original Story

HOOPER, Utah (ABC4)  Chase Venstra, a man wanted in multiple states including Nevada, Montana, and Utah, was arrested in Hooper early Tuesday morning after he appeared on a security camera in West Point last week.

Along with James Brenner, Venstra was once tied to the 2022 disappearance of Dylan Rounds, but was cleared of any wrongdoing. Brenner pleaded guilty to the murder of the 19-year-old earlier this year.

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Utah federal agent allegedly used informant to illegally sell bath salts

The 43-year-old was wanted in Utah on firearms charges. He was also wanted in Nevada on three additional warrants in Elko County, and one in Montana. Elko County Sheriffs Office did not explicitly say what charges he was wanted on.

According to Mark Thomson of the U.S. Marshals Office, the Marshals had been working on Venstras case for some time.

Marshals say Venstra might have been hiding out in an abandoned home in the area.

Thomson says through the investigation, the Marshals confirmed that he was staying in Hooper, near 5100 West and 5100 South. According to the Marshals, they had set up surveillance in the area to try and catch Venstra.

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Authorities say they saw Venstra walking in the area and attempted to arrest him, they were able to successfully arrest Venstra around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Dec. 10. Marshals arrested Venstra on outstanding warrants. They say he is being screened for additional charges at this time.

Venstra was booked into the Davis County Jail.

No further information is available at this time.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sorina Trauntvein contributed to reporting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Press Release

December 11, 2024 Soft Power for a Planet at Risk:

Legarda Champions for Cultural Diplomacy and Climate Action Senator Loren Legarda emphasized that the strategic use of soft power--rooted in cultural identity, creative expression, and ecological stewardship--enables the Philippines to influence the global stage, foster international collaboration, and address pressing global challenges during her speech at the Department of Foreign Affair's Foreign Policy Address. "Our culture and environment are intertwined wellsprings of strength," Legarda said. "Together, they form a power that transcends boundaries, builds connections, and influences the world--not through coercion but persuasion and attraction. This is soft power, and it rests on our cultural identity, creative expression, and ecological stewardship." Legarda recounted her advocacies and initiatives in advancing the country's cultural diplomacy, including the Philippines' historic return to the Venice Biennale in 2015 after a 51-year absence, which she championed as the prime mover. "Our reentry into the Venice Biennale redefined global engagement by centering on human stories and sparking collective action for positive change," she said. The senator also highlighted the Philippines' forthcoming role as Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest literary event. Legarda worked tirelessly to secure this prestigious participation, driven by a vision to elevate Filipino ingenuity and storytelling on the global stage. "If other nations have carved their place on this prestigious stage, why not the Philippines? Why shouldn't our luminous literary heritage be celebrated alongside the world's greatest voices?" she shared, emphasizing her belief in the brilliance of the Filipino. Legarda shared how the Philippines will showcase the richness of Filipino imagination under the theme, "The Imagination Peoples the Air," inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal's ideals of enlightenment and empowerment. She also reflected on her visit to Wilhelmsfeld, Germany, where Rizal stayed in 1886, and wrote the last chapters of Noli Me Tangere. The four-term shared a significant milestone in cultural diplomacy by announcing that the historic vicarage of Pastor Ullmer in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany--where Dr. Jose Rizal stayed for three months--will soon belong to the Philippines. Upon learning that the property was placed on the market, she took decisive steps to secure it for the nation. "This vicarage stands as a testament to Rizal's ability to transcend barriers through the brilliance of his mind and the humanity of his spirit amidst a time of oppression and discrimination," she said. The acquisition ensures that this symbol of Filipino cultural diplomacy will be preserved as a vital connection to the country's rich heritage. Beyond cultural diplomacy, Legarda stressed the strategic role of soft power in driving urgent climate action. A steadfast leader in climate advocacy, she initiated the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change, led the Philippines' efforts within the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), and played a key role in securing the Paris Agreement. Legarda also highlighted her ongoing efforts to address climate challenges, such as advocating for the Senate's concurrence on the High Seas Treaty and funding key activities leading to the 2025 United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, France. She expressed pride in the Philippines hosting the Fund for Loss and Damage Board, recognizing the country's commitment to equity and climate justice. "Soft power is anything but soft," Legarda, the UNDRR Global Champion for Resilience, asserted. "It reshapes perceptions, transforms societies, and fosters collaboration. When wielded with purpose, it allows us to lead by example and offer the world a model for resilience, sustainability, and harmony." With her visionary leadership in cultural and climate diplomacy, Legarda continues to redefine how the Philippines navigates and influences the global stage, bridging divides and championing shared aspirations for a sustainable future.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The U.S. Marshals are offering a $5,000 reward for information to the whereabouts of the inmate that escaped from CDCR custody over a week ago in Delano.

Hernandez is described as standing at 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs around 160 pounds. He has ties to Kern, Los Angeles and Riverside Counties.

Cesar Hernandez, 34, was serving a sentence of 80 years to life for first degree murder in 2019 out of Los Angeles County. He escaped from CDCR custody at the Delano court house on Dec. 2. His criminal history also includes possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.

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The cash reward is available for information leading to an arrest.

If youve seen him or have any information on his whereabouts, call or text the U.S. Marshals at 661-979-1187. All information about Hernandez will remain confidential.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The U.S. Postal Service and its leader are taking heat from lawmakers. On Tuesday the House held a hearing where they expressed concerns about mail service and questioned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

At one point during the hearing, Congressman Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) got into a tense exchange with DeJoy.

You are responsible for the fall of the postal service, and the lack of accountability, McCormick said.

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No, this Congress is responsible for the fall of the postal service. I am trying to fix the postal service, DeJoy responded.

Youre worse than if I took a horse and picked up the mail and delivered it two miles down the road, McCormick said.

Then DeJoy covered his ears, eliciting a frustrated response from the lawmaker.

This is the response that the postmaster just gave Congress when he doesnt like what he hears, literally covered his ears, McCormick said.

Millions of Americans depend on the postal service to deliver essentials like medicine, bills, and Social Security checks.

Lawmakers say the service is becoming slower and less reliable.

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Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) also says DeJoy is to blame.

Under Mr. DeJoys leadership, Americans are paying higher prices for worse service, Raskin said.

Plus USPS is spending far more taxpayer dollars than it is bringing in, with a $9.5 billion net loss in 2024.

DeJoy defended his performance, arguing mail service is improving.

50% of first-class mail, of market dominant mail gets delivered a day in advance, 85% on time. 95%, within three days, which is better than the service was when I got here and we are making dramatic change, DeJoy said.

Now hes planning an overhaul of USPS to save billions in costs by consolidating mail processing centers.

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We need to reshape the postal service, because were losing a lot of money, DeJoy said.

However, the proposal could mean slower delivery times in rural areas. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) says that possibility is a big concern for her constituents.

Changes cant be made on the backs of rural America, Budzinski said.

USPS insists the plan would have no impact on 75% of first-class mail.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  Its an uncertain time for Syria after the fall of the Assad regime.

Rebels swiftly took the capitol this past weekend after 13 years of civil war and former president Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in the aftermath. Now, the country is without a government and looking towards whats next.

Nicholas Grossman is a professor of international relations at the University of Illinois. He said it is impossible to say what comes next for the country.

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U of I Syrian student celebrates fallen Assad regime

He also said the leader of the HDS, the rebel group that overthrew the Assad regime, has been acting as the leader of the country. However, it is unclear what the group can control, how other rebel groups could impact that and what other countries might do in response.

Now, people left in Syria and around the world are wondering whats next. Grossman said whatever the future holds, it will likely affect places far outside the countrys borders.

I think the real answer is nobody knows, Grossman said. If anyone is expressing confidence about it, they are probably wrong. We will likely see echoes of this in many different regions of the world in Asia, Africa and Europe.

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WCIA asked Grossman if it could be possible for Syria to adopt a democracy, and he said its not something to rule out completely. Building that kind of infrastructure from scratch, however, would take a lot of work and time, Grossman said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  University of Illinois scientists have engineered a potato to be more resilient to global warming.

The scientists involved in the project said this adaptation may provide greater food security for those who depend on potatoes in areas where the changing climate has already impacted multiple crop seasons.

We need to produce crops that can withstand more frequent and intense heatwave events if we are going to meet the populations need for food in regions most at risk from reduced yields due to global warming, Katherine Meacham-Hensold, scientific project manager for the Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) at Illinois, said. The 30% increase in tuber mass observed in our field trials shows the promise of improving photosynthesis to enable climate-ready crops.

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The challenge facing the team stemmed from crops engaging in the process of photorespiration. Its a light-dependent process that can inhibit photosynthesis, according to Merriam-Webster. Photorespiration occurs in higher temperatures and has been shown to decrease the yield of soybean, rice, and vegetable crops by up to 40%.

U of I to launch $4M Mission Illinois; explore space-based manufacturing

During photorespiration, plants have to use more energy to metabolize the toxic byproduct created. The researchers said that this energy could have been used for greater growth.

Photorespiration is a large energy cost for the plant, Meacham-Hensold said. It takes away from food production as energy is diverted to metabolizing the toxin. Our goal was to reduce the amount of wasted energy by bypassing the plants original photorespiratory pathway.

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Previous research by RIPE has shown that adding two new genes to model plants pathways could improve the efficiency of photosynthesis. The toxin would be metabolized in the chloroplast (the leaf compartment responsible for photosynthesis) instead of needing to move it through other parts of the cell.

The researchers found that the energy savings increased the growth in the model crop, especially under heatwave conditions.

U of I Syrian student celebrates fallen Assad regime

In 2022, a heatwave kept temperatures above 95 F for four days in a row while the potatoes were still in an early growth stage.

Researchers werent sure how the potatoes would respond to the high temperatures, but harvest showed the modified potatoes grew 30% more mass than the control potatoes.

The potato plants with an engineered photorespiratory bypass were started in a greenhouse before being transplanted into the field, where they were subjected to triple-digit temperatures.

Instead of succumbing to the heat, the modified potatoes increased in size by 30% more than the control group potatoes.

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Another important feature of this study was the demonstration that our genetic engineering of photosynthesis that produced these yield increases had no impact on the nutritional quality of the potato, Don Ort, Deputy Director of the RIPE project, said. Food security is not just about the amount of calories that can be produced but we must also consider the quality of the food.

While more trials are needed to confirm the findings, the team said that the results found in potatoes could indicate that other root tuber crops could have similar results. Cassava is a staple food in Sub-Saharan African countries and is expected to be impacted by rising global temperatures.

Meacham-Hensold led the project for RIPE, aiming to increase food access by developing food crops that turn the suns energy into food more efficiently. From 2017-2023 Ripe was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Its currently funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations.

To learn more about the teams findings, you can check out their research, published in Global Change Biology.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has struck a trade deal with Russia, just days after Sir Keir Starmer sought to charm the Gulf state on a visit this week.

The UAEs deal with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which includes Vladimir Putins regime, was announced immediately after the Prime Ministers return to Britain and is a potential embarrassment for Downing Street.

Russia is subject to a wide range of economic sanctions imposed by the West, with the aim of curtailing its access to crucial war materials and undermining its ability to sustain its invasion of Ukraine.

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But the efforts to isolate Moscow have been partially undermined by the willingness of other nations to continue dealing with the country.

The UAEs new agreement, which also encompasses Belarus  itself subject to sanctions as a close ally of Russia and the launchpad for much of the invasion  Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, reduces tariffs on trade between the countries.

Analysts have noted a large spike in exports from Western nations to many of Russias allies, indicating that some trade is being diverted through those countries to evade sanctions.

Rich seam of opportunity

Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAEs trade minister, said: With a combined population of some 200 million people and a gross domestic product approaching $5 trillion (3.9 trillion), the EAEU offers a rich seam of opportunity for our private sector.

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Russian exports to the UAE have more than doubled since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, rising from $5.2bn in 2021 to $10.9bn last year, according to the UAEs economics ministry.

That is almost three times the total of $3.7bn in 2019, before Covid.

Relations with Britain have been strained in the past few years. Disagreements have ranged from discussions on Sudan at the United Nations to the ownership of Manchester United and the sale of the Telegraph Media Group  which the UAE was blocked from buying by the previous government.

Sir Keir met the UAEs president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on his visit this week.

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The Prime Minister used the trip to court the countrys powerful financiers, seeking investment from the sovereign wealth fund bosses into British infrastructure, including the Sizewell C nuclear power plant on the Suffolk coast.

Mubadala, one of the funds which Sir Keir is courting, manages $330bn of assets for the UAE, investing on a grand scale across the world as the Gulf state seeks to preserve and grow its oil wealth, and to exert influence on the global stage.

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A new dashboard launched by the University of Hawaii at Manoa offers insights into the pressing social, economic and health issues affecting state residents.

The, which went live Tuesday, offers data from a survey of more than 8, 000 adult residents conducted earlier this year. It offers snapshots of how residents from a broad range of demographics felt about their neighborhood, workplace, housing, mental and physical health and other factors affecting quality of life.

It also delves into how prepared residents are for natural disasters, and their significant sources of stress, which appear to stem mostly from the high cost of housing and living.

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The 2024 Hawaii Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard is more than a collection of statisticsits a call to action,  said lead researcher Jack Barile in a news release. By making this information publicly available, we hope to inspire collaborative efforts to tackle the challenges facing our state.

While the dashboard shows many residents are feeling economic strain and stress, he noted, it also shows Hawaiis communities are strong and resilient.

Barile, also a professor of psychology and director of UH Manoas Social Science Research Institute, said results also highlight the unique needs and strengths of different communities, such as those with lower incomes and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents.

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The survey results can guide policymakers, community leaders and employers toward targeted actions that can improve well-being across the state, he said.

Among the dashboards key findings :Economic stress. Most significant stressors for residents include the economy (73 %), personal finances (73 %) and housing costs (64 %), particularly for households with incomes below $50, 000.Moving from Hawaii. Among those surveyed, 40 % considered moving out of the state in the past year due to high living costs. The rate is even higher, at 47 %, among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.Health disparities. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents experience notably higher levels of stress and unhealthy days compared with white and Asian residents. Residents also cited challenges to accessing affordable health care, with 19 % reporting medical debt over $500.Community strength. Despite hardships, 67 % of residents said they feel safe in their neighborhoods, with a similar percentage reporting that neighbors are willing to help each other.Positive workplaces. 83 % of employees felt respected by their employers, while 78 % felt their contributions are valued. Employees looking to change jobs cited flexible work schedules, paid family leave and telework options as priorities.Disaster preparedness. Only 12 % of respondents said they were well or very well prepared if there was a disaster in their community.

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In February, Hawaii became a trauma-informed state upon Gov. Josh Greens signing of an executive order directing all state departments to collaborate with the Office of Wellness and Resilience to integrate principles of safety, transparency and peer support into workplaces and services.

The UH College of Social Sciences launched the dashboard in partnership with the governors Office of Wellness and Resilience, which is funding the project.

The surveys, to be conducted regularly, are the first step toward helping Hawaii become a trauma-informed state.

The hope is that the data informs policy initiatives that address Hawaiis unique challenges, said Barile, such as addressing barriers to affordable housing, as well as improving access to health care with a focus on NHPI communities, and the need for better disaster preparedness.

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The data in this report shows that we must continue to increase the economic opportunities for our residents, so they can remain in Hawaii,  said state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz in a statement. Diversifying our economy in the areas of creative industries, agriculture, and technology must be paired with investments in workforce development so our residents can fill the good-paying jobs here in the state.

Significant sources of stressOverall : The economy (73 %), money (73 %), housing costs (64 %).Medical debt : Over 81 % owe $500 or less.Access to health care : 12 % said there was a time they needed to see a doctor but could not afford it ; 20 % said they delayed medical care due to the cost.Economic stability : 44 % are worried about not having enough income to pay normal monthly bills ; in the previous seven days, 10 % reported sometimes not having enough to eat.Moving : When asked whether they had plans to move out of state, 40 % responded yes. Of those who said yes, 65 % said cost of living is lower elsewhere, 41 % cited economic concerns, as reasons.

Source : Hawaii Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard. Find the dashboard at.
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This article mentions suicides of transgender young people.

Puberty blockers have been indefinitely banned in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland for treating gender dysphoria in transgender youth, officials from both countries confirmed this week.

U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the Department of Health and Social Care announced on Wednesday that both the National Health Service (NHS) and private doctors would be banned from selling or supplying blockers through 2027. Puberty blockers may only be prescribed to a minor through an NHS research study, if they are prescribed to treat gender dysphoria.

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In Northern Ireland, where puberty blockers were temporarily banned in August through an extension of the U.K. ban, officials also agreed to an indefinite ban on Tuesday, as The Telegraph reported. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly wrote in a statement on Facebook that the ban was the right approach, informed by medical and scientific advice. But Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn told the BBC NI he was disappointed by the announcement, particularly the participation of Sinn Fein and Alliance Party leaders, who he said gave much lip service to LGBTQ+ equality but have yet to use their 26 years in government to improve our lives in any meaningful way.

The bans primarily target new prescriptions and those issued by a doctor outside the U.K.; existing NHS blocker prescriptions for gender-dysphoric youth will still be filled, according to an overview of the proposed changes published by the U.K. government Wednesday. The bans would still allow blockers to be prescribed for precocious puberty, for which they have been prescribed uncontroversially since the 1990s.

The U.K. ban went into effect this May, when the U.K.s previous Conservative government instituted a ban on new prescriptions and reclassified puberty blockers as controlled Schedule 2 drugs. A High Court decision in July upheld the ban over a challenge from the U.K.-based advocacy group TransActual. The ban was extended to Northern Ireland in August.

Streeting and other DHSC representatives argued in their statements that the blocker ban is justified by two recent reports, both of which have faced significant public criticism. Streeting specifically cited the Cass Review, released in April, which concluded that evidence for the efficacy of puberty blockers and hormone therapy was shaky and urged extreme caution when treating trans youth. Following its publication, health experts and trans advocates heavily criticized the Cass Review for anti-trans bias and numerous, repeated inaccuracies in its analyses and terminology. Still, Streeting appeared to cite the review as factual, writing that it raised safety concerns around the lack of evidence for these medical treatments.

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Officials also approvingly cited a July DHSC report this week by Prof. Louis Appleby, who conducted an analysis of suicide statistics among under-18 patients at the U.K.s now-defunct Tavistock gender clinic. Appleby claimed in his report that there was no evidence that suicides among affected youth rose after Tavistock was closed and that fluctuations in the data were statistically insignificant. His analysis also implied that online rhetoric about the harms of denying gender-affirming care was overblown, saying they are insensitive, distressing and dangerous; and recommending that causal attributions of suicide to denial of care be avoided.

But Applebys review has also faced criticism from some who allege it was rushed and did not consider all available evidence. On Bluesky, Caroline Litman  whose daughter Alice died by suicide amid a five-year wait for gender-affirming care in 2022  published screenshots of two emails on Wednesday, both dated December 11, which appear to show an NHS worker confirming that Alices data was not included in the audit. Litman called Applebys report a proven sham, adding that the puberty blocker bans were unconscionable and a death sentence for some particularly vulnerable trans youth.

Trans Teens Stage Die-In to Protest the UK's Puberty Blocker Ban

The demonstration started at a metro station, and protestors then made their way to the Department for Health and Social Care.

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U.K.-based trans writer Gemma Stone called Applebys report bizarre in an editorial published in July, alleging the report used a very limited dataset and failed to consider any cases  like Litmans  involving young people who were denied access to care altogether. Stone called the Appleby report an attempt to cover up for a government [...] that will cause them harm and has, objectively, already done so, accusing Appleby of ignoring the U.K.s recent political history of anti-trans policies and rhetoric.

Since the U.K.s blocker ban was first set in place this year, a group of trans youth in the region calling themselves Trans Kids Deserve Better have organized several public protests and acts of civil disobedience, most recently holding a die-in at Londons Victoria train station, which is close to the DHSC offices. The activists carried cardboard headstones and coffins bearing slogans and warnings, some addressed to Streeting personally.

You can throw away a reminder of our death, but that wont change the truth, one sign read. Kids are dying, Wes. Accept it.

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Originally Appeared on them.
The UK army has tested a new laser weapon capable of destroying a flying drone.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the UK Ministry of Defence

Details: The UK Defence Ministry reports that the military has conducted a successful test of the new laser weapon system.

It works by directing an intense beam of infrared light towards its target, using advanced sensors and tracking systems that maintain lock-on and real-time accuracy.

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The laser was mounted on a Wolfhound protected armoured personnel carrier, allowing soldiers from the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery to track and shoot down a flying drone. The tests took place at the Radnor Range in Wales.

"This ground-breaking technology demonstrates Britains commitment to staying at the forefront of military innovation," said Maria Eagle MP, Minister of Defence Procurement and Industry.

The MP said the successful test of this system is a significant step forward in developing the country's defence capabilities and demonstrates the superiority of UK engineers.

The Ministry of Defence also noted that laser weapons have virtually no restrictions on the number of rounds of ammunition and can be a cost-effective alternative to some types of weapons.

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The laser was developed by the US Defence Equipment and Support Directorate of the US Department of Defence in collaboration with Team Hersa, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and an industry consortium led by Raytheon UK.

Background:

A rocket engine exploded during a test at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland in the summer, which last year became the first licensed vertical rocket launch site in the UK.

On 17 November, it was reported that the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy pilots would be equipped with a new advanced cruise missile  after the first successful test of the SPEAR missile.

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Ukraine has enough funds and ammunition to continue resisting Russia at least throughout the first half of 2025, even if U.S. assistance dries up, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said in an interview with the El Pais newspaper published on Dec. 11.

Marchenko's comments come amid growing concern that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump might withdraw Washington's crucial support for Kyiv after he takes office in January.

"I believe that we have enough funds, enough weapons, missiles, and artillery shells to resist at least during the first half of 2025," Marchenko said. Ukraine is allocating necessary funds from its budget to purchase equipment and continues to receive U.S. arms, the minister explained.

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"This means that at least during the first half of the year and beyond, we will be well-equipped to resist this aggression," he added.

The outgoing Biden administration has accelerated its weapons deliveries ahead of Trump's inauguration, announcing an arms package worth nearly $1 billion on Dec. 7. Washington has provided Ukraine with over $60 billion in arms and equipment since the outbreak of the full-scale war, making it by far the most important military donor.

The flow of supplies may soon dry up, as Trump recently said that Kyiv could expect a reduction of U.S. assistance after he takes office.

Marchenko noted that the possibility of Trump cutting aid is a "challenge." It is, therefore, in Kyiv's interest to "create the necessary conditions" for cooperation with the new administration, he added.

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"We want to build a good relationship," Marchenko said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met Trump in Paris on Dec. 7 for the first time since the latter's reelection. Reuters wrote that the two did not discuss the specifics of any concrete peace plan, but the Ukrainian president stressed the need for security guarantees.

Marchenko expressed his belief that full NATO membership remains the best possible guarantee to deter Russian aggression, with the "modern and strong Ukrainian military" as the only alternative.

Read also: US announces $20 billion loan for Ukraine as part of G7 initiative

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Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko believes that Ukraine has "enough funds and weapons to resist at least until the first half of 2025", even if Washington stops providing aid.

Source: Marchenko in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Marchenko was asked what would happen if the US stopped providing aid to Ukraine.

He stated that the potential cessation of aid is a serious challenge to Ukraines defence capability, but not an inevitable collapse.

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Quote: "We must have a plan to create the necessary conditions for cooperation with the new administration. It is in Ukraine's natural interest to build trust for cooperation. I think this should be a priority strategy both for Ukraine and for Europe."

More details: Marchenko pointed out that attitudes could change and Ukraine needs to "use the time wisely and be able to hold talks with the new administration" to handle this uncertainty.

"I believe we have enough funds, weapons, missiles and artillery shells to resist at least until the first half of 2025. We will ensure sufficient budget allocations for the purchase of ammunition and necessary military equipment in 2025," he stated.

Marchenko noted that Ukraine is currently receiving the necessary weapons from the US.

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"This means that we will be well-armed to resist this aggression at least for the first half of the year and beyond. Ukraine must use this time very wisely to hold the necessary talks with our main allies in the US," the minister concluded.

Background:

Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor, promised to provide Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of additional artillery shells, thousands of missiles and hundreds of armoured vehicles by mid-January.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured NATO and Kyiv of Washington's readiness to fully utilise the funding for Ukraine authorised by Congress.

On 7 December, the US Department of Defense announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth US$988 million.

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MILAN  The Russian and Ukrainian militaries are moving to transform their soldiers rifles into weapons capable of countering exploding drones, experimenting with different ammunition types to determine the best shot, according to experts and reports posted on social media sites.

The renewed push to transform soldier weapons into desperate defenses of last resort against explodable first-person view drones represents a more systematic approach to a problem that has cost countless lives on the battlefield.

FPV drones have become much more effective via technical improvements and pilot skills, as well as many tactical EW and jamming systems dont work effectively or as intended all the time  this forces soldiers to develop methods to shoot down drones in the last 100 meters of their flight, Sam Bendett, advisor at the Washington-based Center for Naval Analyses, said.

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The effectiveness of using small arms to counter these types of drones remains uncertain at best, depending largely on luck and drone pilot skill, Bendett noted.

Russian Telegram channels recently published footage showing Russian soldiers making DIY anti-drone ammunition by using the pellets taken from buckshot rounds and repurposing them to be used in normal 5.45x39mm rounds used in assault rifles.

Even if a shot goes on target, pellet size and drone construction determine a successful intercept.

Larger pellets offer more mass but the energy is delivered over a bigger surface area  the larger the pellet, the less density you have in the air, this is known as pattern, said Paul Bradley, a ballistics expert at Hexagon Ammunition, a company owned by Beretta Holding. A dense, wide pattern increases hit probability but smaller pellets reduce terminal effect.

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In early November, the German military-news website Hartpunkt reported about a document from the Ukrainian Special Forces Command that examined Russian troops use of 12-gauge shotguns to counter small drones.

According to the analysis, the threat associated with FPV drones is deemed so grave that it recommended placing a dedicated shooter at the back of every military vehicle near the frontlines in case electronic warfare systems fail to disable the flying explosives.

It also reported that Russian troops track the departure points of Ukrainian drones and place ambushes with several of their drone shooters to attempt to hit them.

According to Bradley, hobbyist quadcopter drones, like those made by Chinese maker DJI, tend to have a body made out of thin plastic as well as rigid but flimsy propellers in order to keep their weight down. That makes them very easy to damage with widely available 12g sporting rounds, he added.

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In contrast, first-person view drones are generally built with thick carbon fiber frames and softer plastic propellers more resistant to impact, reflecting their heritage as machines designed for high-speed racing. Sporting ammunition typically cannot damage FPV sufficiently at almost any range, according to Bradley.

Drones require more energy on target when they are in the air, he explained. When they are hit they simply move as they have very little inertia  the movement robs the pellets of kinetic energy, rather like punching something in zero gravity, less energy is transferred to target as it is used up moving it backward.

The Ukrainian Third Assault Brigade demonstrated these challenges as part of an experimental shooting conducted earlier this month, simulating an FPV drone attack to test which kind of bullet is most effective. Soldiers compared shooting standard cartridges and specific anti-drone ammunition using different types of guns, including shotguns.

In the majority of cases, not only was the FPV not downed, but even when it was damaged, the system kept flying as the shot was too weak. In the one instance where the target was hit with an anti-drone charge, it crashed and caught fire near the shooter, barely missing him.

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Some of the short-range drone defense tactics that have emanated from Ukraine have caught the attention of Western gun and ammunition companies.

Among them is the Swedish cartridge manufacturer Norma, also part of Beretta Holding, which has developed and tested its Anti-Drone Long Effective Range (AD-LER) against FPVs. In testing, the munition managed to catastrophically down six out of seven drones deployed at up to 50 meters away, according to Bradley, who said he observed the trials.
By Yuliia Dysa

(Reuters) - Russian troops destroyed or captured several Ukrainian positions near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, Kyiv's military said on Wednesday, as Moscow bears down on the strategic logistics hub that is home to a unique Ukrainian coking mine.

After months of accelerating advances towards Pokrovsk, Moscow's forces are now as close as 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) from the southern outskirts of the city, according to Ukraine's DeepState, which maps the front lines using open sources.

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"As a result of prolonged clashes, two of our positions were destroyed, one was lost. Currently, measures are being taken to restore positions," Nazar Voloshyn, Ukraine's military spokesperson for the eastern front, said in televised comments.

The fall of Pokrovsk, an important logistics centre for the Ukrainian military, would amount to the biggest military setback for Kyiv in months. The city also hosts a mine which is Ukraine's only domestic coking coal supplier for its once-giant steel industry.

Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said he had visited a marine unit in the Pokrovsk sector and noted the conditions servicemen faced against "an enemy superior, primarily, in terms of manpower".

"Unconventional decisions must be made to enhance the resilience of our defence and ensure more effective destruction of the occupiers," he wrote on Facebook, without mentioning when the visit took place.

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"The battles are exceptionally fierce. The Russian occupiers are throwing all available forces forward, attempting to break through our troops' defences."

Pokrovsk, situated about 18 kilometres (11 miles) from the boundary of Ukraine's Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, has for months been the area of the fiercest battles in Russia's 33-month-old full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In October and November, the Russian military advanced towards the city at its fastest rate since the early months of the war, analysts said. Ukraine, which has been on the back foot since its failed 2023 counteroffensive, says Russia has been sustaining some of its heaviest losses of the war to date.

Both Ukraine and Russia have their eye on the growing prospect of a push for peace talks, with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump preparing to enter office on Jan. 20, having called for an immediate ceasefire and a swift end to the war.

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Kyiv has urged its allies to get it into the strongest possible position on the battlefield before any talks do happen.

Russia, which Ukraine says has over 70,000 troops on the Pokrovsk front, has rapidly advanced towards Shevchenko, a village to Pokrovsk's south, in recent weeks.

Its forces are trying to gain a foothold in the village and are sending in reconnaissance and sabotage groups, spokesperson Voloshyn said. Ukraine is holding them back for now, he added.

The coal mine, which was still operating as of Dec. 6, lies 10 km (6.2 miles) west of Pokrovsk, on the far side from where Russian troops have been advancing.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; editing by Ron Popeski and Stephen Coates)
UK intelligence notes that the overall pace of naval operations in the Black Sea remains low, particularly due to Ukraine's actions.

Source: UK Ministry of Defence's review on Twitter; European Pravda

Details: As noted by the Ministry, Ukraine continues to successfully restrain Russian naval operations in the eastern part of the Black Sea.

The fact that the Russian navy perceives the threat of attacks from Ukraine is evidenced by frequent dispersal exercises, as well as exercises to counter surface and conventional drones in the city of Novorossiysk and its surroundings, the review says.

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Ukraine continues to undermine the authority of the Russian Black Sea Fleet by targeting naval infrastructure and ships in the Black Sea.

The intelligence service added that Russia's massive missile attack on 28 November on critical infrastructure in several oblasts of Ukraine included launches from Russian navy ships.

Ukraine's Air Force reported that 28 surface-to-surface cruise missiles were fired, and that air defence systems were able to intercept a large percentage of the missiles fired by both the navy and strategic aviation.

On Monday, UK intelligence said that on 29 November, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed components of an S-400 air defence system in Simferopol.

The UK intelligence service noted in early December that in November, the average daily losses of Russian forces in Ukraine (killed and wounded) reached a new record.

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Ukraine sent drones and drone operators to Syrian rebel forces, The Washington Post reported.

Groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham overthrew Bashar Assad's decades-old rule on Sunday.

The Ukrainian aid played a modest role in toppling him, Western intel sources told the outlet.

Ukrainian intelligence supplied Syrian rebels with about 150 drones and 20 drone operators last month, shortly before the offensive that toppled Syrian dictator Bashar Assad last week, The Washington Post reported, citing sources familiar with Ukrainian military activities.

Ukraine's aid was sent four to five weeks ago by Ukrainian intelligence operatives as part of efforts to weaken Russia and its Syrian allies in the region, sources familiar with Ukraine's operations abroad told the Post.

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Business Insider was unable to independently verify the report.

The military aid played a modest role in ousting Assad, Western intelligence sources told the outlet.

On Sunday, Syrian rebels led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham overthrew Assad after a lightning two-week campaign that caught the world off guard and ended Assad's 24-year rule.

The Post's report would be in keeping with Ukraine's efforts to undermine Russia's influence abroad.

Earlier this year, The Kyiv Post published videos that it said showed Ukrainian special forces interrogating Russian mercenaries in Sudan, and special forces fighting side by side with Syrian rebels against Russian mercenaries and Assad's forces.

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A source within Ukraine's military intelligence agency told the outlet in June that since the start of the year, Ukrainian operatives had supported Syrian rebels in inflicting "numerous" strikes on Russian military facilities in the region.

In September, the Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported comments from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said Ukrainian intelligence emissaries in Idlib, in Syria's northwest, were conducting "new dirty operations" and recruiting rebel fighters there.

Last month, Alexander Lavrentyev, Russia's special envoy to Syria, told Russian state news agency TASS that Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence was arming "terrorists" in Idlib and that Ukrainian specialists were present there.

Ukraine's intelligence services didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from BI.

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Alexander Libman, a professor of Russian and East European politics at the Free University of Berlin, told BI that if Ukraine is confirmed to have sent drones and drone operators to Syria, it would be surprising given how "problematic" the situation is in eastern Ukraine.

"I am not sure Ukraine can gain a lot by engaging in these types of operations," Libman said. "Rather, it will simply waste resources it needs to fight the war on Ukrainian soil itself."

The collapse of Assad, however, could jeopardize Russia's military footprint in Syria, where it could lose control over the Hmeimim air base and the Tartus naval base.

Russia has used those bases to project power in the Mediterranean and into Africa, and as a counter to NATO's southern flank.

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Satellite images taken earlier this week by Maxar Technologies, obtained by BI, show Russian aircraft still present at Hmeimim, but Russian warships no longer present at Tartus.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Washington Post reports that Ukrainian intelligence handed over drones and operators to the Syrian rebels of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime on 8 December, to threaten Russian interests in the region.

Source: Washington Post, citing its own sources

Details: Washington Post's sources report that about 4-5 weeks ago, Ukrainian intelligence sent about 20 experienced drone operators and about 150 First Person View (FPV) drones to the rebel headquarters in Syria's Idlib.

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Washington Post states that the aid of the Ukrainian military played a minor role in the downing of President Bashar al-Assads regime. However, it is seen as an important element of Ukraine's broader strategy of conducting covert attacks against Russian operations in various parts of the world, including the Middle East, Africa, and even within Russia itself.

For reference:

Bashar al-Assad's regime had held power in Syria for 24 years and collapsed after a 12-day rebel offensive on 8 December, which ended with the capture of Damascus, the country's capital.

The Institute for the Study of War reports that the loss of military bases in Syria could significantly hinder the Kremlins ability to conduct operations in Africa. This setback would weaken Russias influence in Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa while also raising doubts about its sway over authoritarian regimes across the continent.

Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti reported that Bashar al-Assad and his family were in Moscow and that Russia had granted them asylum.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russia's leader, stated on Monday, 9 December, that the Kremlin is working to get in touch in Syria with those who can provide security for military bases.

On 10 December, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported that the Russians had used ships and military transport aircraft to load remaining troops, weapons and equipment and return from Syria to Russia.

On 11 December, Reuters reported that the White House got in touch with the Syrian rebels who downed the regime of Bashar al-Assad and called on them to organise an inclusive transitional government for the country.

Background:

The rebel offensive began on 27 November. On 30 November, the Syrian military confirmed that the rebels had entered the city of Aleppo. In response, Russia promised Assad additional military aid to stop the rebels.

On 3 December, anti-government armed groups in Syria approached the city of Hama.

Overnight on 8 December, the main rebel group in Syria announced the liberation of the city of Homs, north of Damascus. This happened two days after the capture of Hama, located north of Homs.

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Key developments on Dec. 11:

Russia continues to suffer record losses in December, Zelensky says

Ukraine has arms to resist at least until mid-2025 if US cuts aid, finance minister says

Russian proxies sentence 9 Azovstal defenders to 24 years, life in prison

Russia may launch new Oreshnik missile against Ukraine in 'coming days,' US intelligence says

Russian forces have incurred record-high casualties in manpower during hostilities in both November and December, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 11 after hearing a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

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Moscow's troops are advancing at a rapid pace in Ukraine's east, pushing back outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian defenders at the cost of staggering losses.

"As in November, the Russian military is using a record number of its men in December in battles and assaults," Zelensky said on Telegram.

"These months  November and December  saw record Russian losses," the president noted, adding that the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors in Donetsk Oblast remain the active parts of the front.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Dec. 1 that Russian losses throughout November amounted to 45,720 soldiers wounded, killed, or captured, as well as over $3 billion worth of equipment.

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November also saw the record broken for the enemy personnel losses in one day with 2,030, the highest figure since Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian and Western estimates put Russian losses at between 600,000-750,000 killed, injured, or captured, while Moscow has not disclosed the exact figures.

Despite the losses, Russia holds the upper hand on the battlefield, advancing toward key Donetsk Oblast towns like Pokrovsk and chipping away at the Ukrainian position in the Russian border region of Kursk.

In his post, Zelensky also thanked Ukrainian forces for "tangible hits on Russian targets last night," namely "military facilities on Russian territory" and "energy and fuel facilities."

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Earlier today, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported a successful strike against a Druzhba oil pipeline loading station near the Russian city of Bryansk, resulting in a large-scale fire.

Ukraine has arms to resist at least until mid-2025 if US cuts aid, finance minister says

Ukraine has enough funds and ammunition to continue resisting Russia at least throughout the first half of 2025, even if U.S. assistance dries up, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said in an interview with the El Pais newspaper published on Dec. 11.

Marchenko's comments come amid growing concern that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump might withdraw Washington's crucial support for Kyiv after he takes office in January.

"I believe that we have enough funds, enough weapons, missiles, and artillery shells to resist at least during the first half of 2025," Marchenko said. Ukraine is allocating necessary funds from its budget to purchase equipment and continues to receive U.S. arms, the minister explained.

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"This means that at least during the first half of the year and beyond, we will be well-equipped to resist this aggression," he added.

The outgoing Biden administration has accelerated its weapons deliveries ahead of Trump's inauguration, announcing an arms package worth nearly $1 billion on Dec. 7. Washington has provided Ukraine with over $60 billion in arms and equipment since the outbreak of the full-scale war, making it by far the most important military donor.

The flow of supplies may soon dry up, as Trump recently said that Kyiv could expect a reduction of U.S. assistance after he takes office.

Marchenko noted that the possibility of Trump cutting aid is a "challenge." It is, therefore, in Kyiv's interest to "create the necessary conditions" for cooperation with the new administration, he added.

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"We want to build a good relationship," Marchenko said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met Trump in Paris on Dec. 7 for the first time since the latter's reelection. Reuters wrote that the two did not discuss the specifics of any concrete peace plan, but the Ukrainian president stressed the need for security guarantees.

Marchenko expressed his belief that full NATO membership remains the best possible guarantee to deter Russian aggression, with a "modern and strong Ukrainian military" as the only alternative.

Read also: As military options dwindle, US support is key to Ukraines peace talks

Russian proxies sentence 9 Azovstal defenders to 24 years, life in prison

Russian occupation authorities in Donetsk jailed nine Ukrainian soldiers captured after defending Mariupol to between 24 years and a life sentence, the city's exiled authorities reported on Dec. 11.

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Russia often uses trumped-up charges to jail captured Ukrainian soldiers, activists, journalists, and regular civilians for lengthy terms.

Moscow's proxies in Donetsk now sentenced soldiers of the 36th Marine Brigade who fell into Russian hands after a gruesome siege of Mariupol and its Azovstal steel plant in the spring of 2022, the exiled Mariupol City Council said on Telegram.

Andrii Shestak, Nazarii Moroz, Vladyslav Yavorskyi, Vadym Shulha, Serhii Yampolskyi, Maksym Kolbasin, Dmytro Shalara, Volodymyr Penzin, and Kostiantyn Romaniuk will serve their sentences in a high-security prison, according to the statement.

The occupation authorities accused the soldiers of shelling the village of Staryi Krym near Mariupol in March 2022.

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Ukraine's former Prosecutor General said that nine out of 10 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) are subjected to physical and moral torture. While Ukraine has managed to bring back home some of the captives, including Azovstal defenders, through prisoner exchanges, many more remain in Russian captivity.

Read also: 12 never-before-seen photos from Azovstal defense (Photos)

Russia may launch new Oreshnik missile against Ukraine in 'coming days,' US intelligence says

Russia may launch its new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) against Ukraine for the second time "in the coming days," the Associated Press (AP) reported on Dec. 11, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

Russia launched its new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Dnipro in Ukraine on Nov. 21. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the strike was in response to Ukraine's use of American and British weapons to target deeper within Russia.

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Washington still sees the experimental Oreshnik missile more as "an attempt at intimidation than a game-changer on the battlefield in Ukraine," a U.S. official told reporters on condition of anonymity, referring to a U.S. intelligence assessment.

Russia has only "a handful" of the Oreshnik missiles, and they carry a smaller warhead than other missiles that Russia has regularly launched at Ukraine, AP reported, citing an official.

In early December, the Moscow Times reported, citing four Russian official sources, that the media blitz following the strike on Dnipro was a carefully staged stunt designed to scare off the West.

The Oreshnik is likely not a new Russian development but a modification of the RS-26 missile, also known as the Rubezh, Fabian Hoffmann, a defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told the Kyiv Independent.

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"I think basically they (Russians) just took apart the RS-26 or just cannibalized it, and then put together this new missile with a couple of upgrades, and a new paint job."

First produced in 2011, and successfully tested in 2012, the Rubezh is a 36,000 kilogram, nuclear capable, intermediate-range ballistic missile with a known range of 5,800 kilometers.

Read also: Dont overreact  Oreshnik missile isnt as new as Russia claims, experts say

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Ukraines air defence forces were deployed in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the morning of 11 December.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipro Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Air defence was deployed in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The defenders of the skies shot down two missiles.

Thank you for your protection!"

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Two mainline locomotives burned down in a fire at a railway depot in Bryansk, Russia, on 5 December.

Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) on Telegram

Details: DIU reported that the locomotives were used to supply the Russian army.

Quote: "The mysterious destruction and disruption of facilities used by the aggressor state in the genocidal war against Ukraine continues."

Background: Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in Russias Bryansk Oblast on the night of 1011 December, causing a fire.

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha believes that more stringent Western sanctions against the Kremlin could encourage it to negotiate a just peace in Ukraine. He specifically points to sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet and the metallurgy sector.

Source: Sybiha in an interview with LB.ua news outlet, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sybiha also drew attention to Russia's banking sector and welcomed the United States' decision to impose sanctions on this area.

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"We are closely monitoring the increase in trade in third countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia, particularly in [relation to the rise in trade of] dual-use products," he added.

In addition, the foreign minister emphasised that using frozen assets is another lever to pressure Russia into a just peace. Kyiv seeks to utilise these assets to compensate for losses, purchase weapons and support recovery efforts.

Background:

After Donald Trump's election as US president, Kyiv stressed the need to use the "peace through strength" approach to force Russia to end the war.

Sybiha's statement came on the eve of the EU ambassadors' approval of the 15th package of sanctions against Russia, which provides for stricter measures against Russia's shadow fleet.

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A recently signed tax hike and parts of the G7's $50 billion loan will be sufficient to cover Ukraines defense expenses included in the 2025 budget, the Finance Ministry said on Dec. 11.

For the next year, Ukraine allocated 26.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense and security expenditures, including Hr 740 billion ($17.7 billion) for arms purchases and Hr 50 billion ($1.2 billion) on the production and purchase of drones.

Ukraine began actively developing its defense production after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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To cover the growing defense expenses, Ukraines government raised the war tax on personal income from 1.5% to 5% and introduced a war tax on small businesses and individual entrepreneurs.

Separately, the G7's Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative is expected to bring an additional $50 billion to Kyiv's coffers. The loan will be covered by proceeds from the roughly $300 billion of frozen Russian assets, which amount to roughly $3 billion annually over 30 years.

The U.S. announced on Dec. 10 the disbursement of $20 billion for Ukraine as part of the loan. The EU is expected to contribute $20 billion, Canada $3.7 billion, and Japan and the U.K. $3 billion each.

Only a part of these funds, namely those provided by the EU and the U.K., can be used directly to cover defense needs.

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These funds "will allow to fully finance all planned expenditures of the Defense Forces in 2025, the ministry said, adding that "meeting the needs of the security and defense sector is an undisputed priority for the Finance Ministry."

Speaking to El Pais, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said that Ukraine has enough arms and funds to continue resisting Russia at least until mid-2025 and possibly longer if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump cuts support after taking office.

Read also: US announces $20 billion loan for Ukraine as part of G7 initiative

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SkyUp Airlines has announced the launch of a programme of direct scheduled flights for Ukrainians  from Chisinau (Moldova) to popular European destinations.

Source: the SkyUp Airlines company release; Ekonomichna Pravda reports

Details: The flights are scheduled to start in April 2025, and tickets are already available for booking from 11 December 2024.

The list of routes includes cities in Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, and Cyprus. Among them: Paris, Lisbon, Barcelona, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Larnaca, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion.

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Due to the closure of Ukrainian skies to civil aviation, SkyUp has chosen Chisinau Airport as the closest international hub to Ukraine.

Background:

Civil aviation flights over Ukraine were fully suspended on 24 February 2022.

In April 2023, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) estimated in its 2023-2029 forecast that the restrictions on flights in Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian and Moldovan airspace would remain in place.

Boryspil International Airport announced in October 2023 that it would be ready to handle flights within one month of the war ending.

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, said in November 2023 that one of Ukraine's civilian airports will most likely resume operations even before the war ends.

Supernova Airlines has been granted permission to operate Lviv-Prague and Kyiv-Prague flights with a frequency of seven flights per week for a regular international air service.

Ukraines Ministry of Community Development, along with the directors of international airports, has presented a roadmap for reopening Ukraine's airspace during wartime.

Flights to one of Ukraine's airports  Lviv or Boryspil (Kyiv)  could restart by the end of January 2025.

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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A Ukrainian missile struck a boiler plant in Russia's Rostov Oblast overnight on Dec. 11, damaging critical infrastructure in the city of Taganrog, local Russian officials claimed.

Separately, Ukrainian forces struck a Druzhba oil loading pipeline near the city of Bryansk, setting it on fire, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

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Yury Slyusar, the acting governor of Rostov Oblast, claimed that an overnight Ukrainian missile attack struck an "industrial facility" in Taganrog, damaging the facility as well as 14 cars in the parking lot.

Taganrog Mayor Svetlana Kambulova later reported that heating supply had been disrupted in 27 apartment buildings in the city following an attack on a boiler plant within the city.

Videos posted on social media capture a series of loud explosions in Taganrog around 3:30 a.m. local time. Taganrog lies on the Azov Sea coast, roughly 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the front line.

A "production facility" also caught fire in the city of Bryansk after Russian air defenses downed 14 drones over the region, Russian authorities claimed. Governor Alexander Bogomaz later said that the fire had been extinguished.

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The NP Bryansk loading station of the Druzhba oil pipeline was targeted in a joint operation by the Unmanned Systems Forces and military intelligence, resulting in a massive fire, the Ukrainian military said.

The pipeline is used to "receive, store, and distribute diesel fuel for tankers and cargo trains" and is "actively used to supply Russian occupation forces," according to the General Staff.

Bryansk lies around 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Ukrainian border in Sumy Oblast.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify any of the Russian claims, and Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the alleged attack.

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The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear, although Slyusar claimed that there were no casualties as a result of the alleged attack. No additional details were provided by Russian officials.

The alleged attack on Russian critical infrastructure comes as Russia continues to increase its onslaught of attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities, as it seeks to plunge the country into another harsh winter aimed at testing Ukrainians' resolve.

In the most recent mass aerial attack on the country on Nov. 28, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia struck a "massive blow" to the nation's power grid.

Situated on the Russia-Ukraine border, Rostov Oblast has become a regular target of Ukrainian attack since the start of the full-scale invasion.

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Read also: Russian drone hits IAEA service vehicle near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Syrian fighters received about 150 drones as well as other covert support from Ukrainian intelligence operatives last month, weeks ahead of the rebels' advance that toppled Bashar al-Assad over the weekend, according to the Washington Post.

Citing unnamed sources familiar with Ukrainian military activities, the Post late on Tuesday said Ukrainian intelligence sent about 20 drone operators and about 150 first-person-view drones about four to five weeks ago to aid Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Russia's foreign ministry had earlier said, without providing evidence, that the rebels had received drones from Ukraine and training in how to operate them, an accusation that Ukraine's foreign ministry at the time said it "categorically" rejected.

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A former al Qaeda affiliate, HTS has moved to install an interim administration after Syria's 13-year civil war fractured the country amid one of the most oppressive police states in the Middle East under five decades of Assad family rule.

Russia, which is locked in its own conflict with Ukraine after invading the country in February 2022, is a key ally of Assad and stepped in to provide him military support in the country's civil war in 2015.

The Russian military had helped Assad's forces launch air strikes against the rebels earlier this month. But Russian war bloggers had warned that the toppling of Assad threatened not only two strategically-important Russian military facilities in Syria but also Moscow's very presence in the Middle East.

(Writing by Susan Heavey, editing by Deepa Babington)
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Wednesday, 11 December.

Source: Shmyhal on Telegram

Details: Shmyhal and his governmental team are in Berlin for the day.

The schedule includes meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck and participation in the Ukrainian-German Business Forum.

Ukrainian PM exits a plane

Photo: Telegram

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Shmyhal stressed that the Ukrainian delegation plans to discuss cooperation with German leadership across various sectors, including defence collaboration, energy support, reconstruction efforts, reforms, and attracting investments.

Background:

Recently, Friedrich Merz, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc's candidate for chancellor, visited Kyiv. He assured President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Germany would do everything possible to support Ukraine.

Merz also stated that he would provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles only after consultations with the United States.

At the beginning of his visit to Kyiv, he remarked that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would engage in negotiations only when Ukraine could effectively defend itself.

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday said his country sees great opportunities to co-operate with Germany on defence, as he attended a German-Ukrainian business forum in Berlin.

"With Germany, we have the largest joint companies in the defence sector," Shmyhal said, highlighting projects to repair and maintain tanks, the production of modern infantry fighting vehicles, and air-defence systems.

"We also have projects in the production of anti-tank missiles and anti-tank mines," he said.

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Shmyhal said the Ukrainian defence industry, which is growing rapidly due to the Russian invasion, already employs more than 300,000 people in around 800 companies.

"Our defence production is picking up speed and will already be worth around $30 billion by 2024," he added.

The prime minister expressed his gratitude that not a single German company left the Ukrainian market after the start of the war in 2022.

In terms of his country's economic potential, he also emphasized the reserves of rare earths and metals as well as large storage capacities for natural gas.

"We have the largest underground gas storage facilities in Europe, with over 30 billion cubic metres, which could become Europe's gas safe," Shmyhal said.
Ukrainians who have survived sexual violence during the war have sent a collective letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, requesting that Russia be added to the UN's "list of shame" of perpetrator countries.

Source: media briefing at the Ukraine Media Centre

Details: Adding Russia to the UN's list of shame is considered a mechanism to hold it accountable for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

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Quote from Iryna Dovhan, Head of SEMA Ukraine, the Board Member of the Global Survivors Fund for survivors of CRSV : "Every word in this letter embodies our pain and our hope for justice. It is a collective cry, a plea for accountability that everyone can read and hear.

We demand the inclusion of the Russian Federation on the list of shame for systematically committing crimes through the JCCC against Ukrainian citizens. We have the evidence, the names of perpetrators, and all the necessary information for global human rights organisations to act."

Details: Kateryna Levchenko, the Ukrainian Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, noted that the UN might address this issue in April-May 2025.

Quote from Levchenko: "Its important to understand that while this report is informed by numerous experts and data from various countries, the final decision to include Russia on the list lies with the UN Secretary-General. That is why survivors are addressing him directly through this personalised letter."

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More details: Ludmyla Huseinova, member of the Supervisory Board of the Urgent Interim Reparations for CRSV survivors pilot project, founder of the Lets Go, Sisters NGO, mentioned plans to develop a strategy for disseminating the letter and gathering as much support for it as possible, both within and outside the country.

Background: Over 300 Ukrainians have already received payments under the interim reparations project for conflict-related sexual violence. The highest number of applications has come from Kherson Oblast.

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A pair of high-flying ultra-luxury real estate brokers, along with their brother, are facing federal sex trafficking charges over a string of violent rapes and sexual assaults prosecutors believe has gone on for two-plus decades.

Oren Alexander and older brother Tal, along with Orens twin Alon, were arrested in South Florida on Wednesday, according to court filings unsealed today in Manhattan. The three are too dangerous to release on bail, Assistant US Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo, Andrew Jones, and Elizabeth Espinoza argued in a detailed detention motion filed alongside an eight-page indictment containing gutwrenching details of the siblings alleged crimes.

Oren (left) and Tal Alexander are facing 15 years to life behind bars (Getty)

As set forth above, the Alexander Brothers serial sexual violence began far earlier than the period of the charged conspiracy  the Governments evidence shows that they have been raping girls and women alone, together, and with other men, over a period of at least 20 years, the detention motion states. Already, the Government has identified dozens of victims of the Alexander Brothers sexual violence, and the evidence indicates that there are more.

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The criminal charges follow a series of lawsuits filed earlier this year, in which three separate women said they had been drugged and brutally raped by the Alexander brothers. Dozens of victims have since accused the Alexanders of assaulting them as part of what prosecutors called their sadistic sex trafficking scheme.

One of the harrowing assaults took place in the Mexican resort town of Tulum, according to prosecutors (Getty Images)

The indictment accuses the three of using their wealth and positions in the real estate industry to facilitate their illegal activities, recruiting women at industry parties, clubs, and elsewhere. The Alexanders allegedly flew women to exotic locales they used as bait, and pretended they were interested in developing relationships with their unwitting victims. Instead, according to the indictment, the brothers sexually assaulted them, at times within hours of their meeting.

Immediately following the sexual assaults, the defendants sometimes offered the victims material items, including travel, concert tickets, and other luxury experiences, the indictment states.

According to the detention motion, the Alexanders began engaging in acts of sexual violence, including gang rapes, while still in high school in Miami, Florida.

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The Government has interviewed multiple women who report being raped by at least one of the Alexander Brothers in the early 2000s, including victims who were raped by groups of boys including the Alexander Brothers, the motion states. ... Each of the victims that the Government has interviewed from this period reported hearing that individuals involved  including Tal Alexander  talked about the assaults at school, boasting about running train on their victims and saying that they wanted to do it again.

When women resisted, the Alexander brothers ignored their victims distress, and physically restrained them in what their accusers have described as aggressive and violent rapes.

The Alexanders planned out some of their rapes in WhatsApp group chats, prosecutors allege (AFP via Getty Images)

Multiple women described being terrified that the Alexander Brothers were going to hurt or even kill them  these victims only goal in that moment became to survive, the detention motion states. ... Indeed, multiple victims required medical assistance in the hospital after their encounters with the Alexander Brothers.

In one example included in the detention motion, the Alexanders arranged in October 2016 to transport multiple women to Tulum, making plans with a group of other men in a WhatsApp chat titled Lions in Tulum. They discussed plans to import their victims, along with a plethora of drugs such as cocaine, psilocybin, and GHB, a so-called date rape drug, in order to facilitate their intended assaults, according to the motion:

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Male-1 (4:17 PM): Going to start collecting for the pot to fly bitches down.

ALON (4:20 PM): There should be a fee per bang and after bang 

Male-1 (8:23 PM): Starting to collect venmo for girls flights

OREN (8:23 PM): O yea. Whats the lineup. Need to pick winners.

OREN (8:24 PM): Cant be sponsor girls like Isis

Male-1 (8:24 PM): Lol. Its gonna be hard to get girls up to your standard

OREN (8:27 PM): Just warn him ur boys are hungry

TAL (10:23 PM): Girls look fresh

When victims spoke up, the Alexander brothers managed to shut down further reporting of their alleged actions  in one instance, filing a police report for harassment against one woman who had been sexually assaulted by Tal while Oren was in the room, the detention motion contends. Tal further threatened the victim with a defamation lawsuit if she did not stop telling people that he and Oren had sexually assaulted her, it says. Another victim claimed Tal made threatening statements to her after she told other people that he drugged her, the motion continues.

The Alexander brothers are charged in Manhattan federal court (Getty Images)

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Following the lawsuits filed against them, Alon Alexander began compiling files on each publicly identified victim (and several who had not made public accusations) as part of an apparent attempt to discredit their accusers, the detention motion alleges.

The Alexanders are also facing state felony charges of sexual battery, for three individual assaults, according to arrest warrants reviewed by The New York Times.

Prosecutors have asked a judge to keep the brothers behind bars to ensure the safety of the general public, and to prevent the three from fleeing, as their ample financial resources create significant risk of non-appearance.

Tal and Oren are successful real estate agents in the luxury market, have significant professional and social ties to other high-powered individuals, and regularly close large transactions that result in significant commissions, the detention motion states. ... Alon and Oren even live in private residences with direct water access to the Atlantic Ocean. All three defendants regularly fly on private jets, a means of travel that is more difficult for law enforcement to track. In short, if the defendants wanted to flee, they have the means to do so quickly and without detection.

The Alexanders do not yet have attorneys listed in court records, and were not able to be reached for comment on Wednesday. If convicted, all three face prison sentences of 15 years to life.
By Nellie Peyton

PRETORIA (Reuters) -United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there were signs of hope in Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces over the weekend.

"As we speak, we are witnessing the reshaping of the Middle East. ... We also see some signs of hope, and signs of hope namely coming from the end of the Syrian dictatorship," Guterres said during a visit to South Africa on Wednesday.

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Syria was one of the most oppressive police states in the Middle East during five decades of Assad family rule.

Guterres said after meeting South African foreign minister Ronald Lamola in the capital Pretoria that the United Nations was committed to a smooth transition of power in Syria.

"It's our duty to do everything to support different Syrian leaders in order to make sure that they come together, they are able to guarantee a smooth transition, an inclusive transition in which all Syrians can feel that they belong," Guterres told reporters. "The alternative doesn't make any sense."

(Reporting by Nellie Peyton;Additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya;Writing by Tannur Anders;Editing by Alexander Winning, Mark Heinrich)
Human rights experts have once again raised serious allegations against Israel and countries that support the government there in its fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"Germany and the United States supply 99% of the weapons exported to Israel," Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on the observance of human rights in the fight against terrorism, said on Wednesday in Geneva. "They could end this conflict overnight by stopping the weapons that kill Palestinians."

Saul warned that the supply of weapons to actors who might use them to commit human rights crimes could also have legal consequences.

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The rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council who express their opinions on specific topics in reports and interventions. Their reports have no immediate consequences.

Francesca Albanese, the special rapporteur on the human rights of Palestinians residing in the occupied territories since 1967, called for an end to arms deliveries to Israel from Germany and other countries.

She again accused Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity, though only courts of law can determine whether such crimes have been committed.

Albanese also renewed her call to suspend Israel's membership of the United Nations. A country that violated the UN Charter to such an extent should not have a voice in the United Nations, she said.

Israel, in particular, regularly criticizes Albanese sharply, rejects her reports and assessments as unacceptable and accuses her of bias against Israel.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted on Wednesday to demand an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the immediate release of all hostages.

The ceasefire demand in the resolution - adopted with 158 votes in favor in the 193-member assembly - was expressed in more urgent language than one urging an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza that the body "called for" in October 2023 then "demanded" in December 2023.

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General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war. The United States, Israel and seven other countries voted against the ceasefire resolution, while 13 countries abstained.

The world body also threw its support behind the U.N. Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, adopting a second resolution with 159 votes in favor to deplore a new Israeli law that will ban UNRWA's operations in Israel from late January.

It demanded that Israel respect UNRWA's mandate and "enable its operations to proceed without impediment or restriction." The U.S., Israel and seven other countries voted no, while 11 countries abstained.

"The messages we send to the world through these resolutions matter. And both of these resolutions have significant problems," Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood told the assembly.

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"One rewards Hamas and downplays the need to release the hostages, and the other denigrates Israel without providing a path forward to increasing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians," he said.

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon last week accused the U.N. of having "an obsession with vilifying Israel," while Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour described Gaza as the "open, painful wound for the human family."

'HUNGER, DESPAIR, DEATH'

Israel says UNRWA staff took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza. The U.N. has said nine UNRWA staff may have been involved and had been fired. A Hamas commander in Lebanon - killed by Israel - was also found to have had an UNRWA job.

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"By voting for these resolutions, you are not voting to protect humanitarian values, but to protect an organization that has become a haven for terror," Danon told the assembly on Wednesday before the vote.

UNRWA was established by the General Assembly in 1949 following the war surrounding the founding of Israel. The U.N. has repeatedly said there is no alternative to UNRWA, which provides aid, health and education to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

"Gaza doesn't exist anymore. It is destroyed. Palestinians are facing hunger, despair and death," Slovenia's U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar told the assembly. "There is no reason for this war to continue. We need a ceasefire now. We need to bring hostages home now."

The war in the Palestinian enclave began after Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7, 2023, stormed into Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back to Hamas-run Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

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Since then, Israel's military has leveled swathes of Gaza, driving nearly all of its 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing more than 44,800 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, who do not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Ismail Shakil, Franklin Paul and Cynthia Osterman)
A man in San Pedro shouted a racial slur and chucked a glass bottle at a Black bus driver on her break. A trans woman getting off the Metro in Koreatown was told she belonged in hell. A father on his way to a Tarzana synagogue was interrupted by a man threatening to kill all of you Jews.

The grim encounters were among the record-breaking number of hate crimes reported across L.A. County last year, an increase fueled by an onslaught of harassment directed at Jewish, Black and LGBTQ+ people, according to a county report released Wednesday.

The report from the countys Commission on Human Relations found 1,350 reported hate crimes  up 45% from the year before. Its the highest level since the commission began counting in 1980.

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I will tell you, I was shocked to learn that, said Robin Toma, the commissions executive director, at a news conference Wednesday announcing the findings.

Toma called the figure historic, and said it was potentially a result of better outreach by the commission and rising levels of vitriol directed at the countys minorities.

Hate crimes across the county have been trending up since 2014, but the commissions tally of more than 1,300 incidents last year marked a significant jump. In 2022, 930 incidents were recorded.

The previous high was 1,031 reported hate crimes in 2001, the year of the Sept. 11 attacks.

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It is unacceptable, Sheriff Robert Luna said of the latest numbers. I promise you as the sheriff of this county that we are going to respond.

Nathan Hochman, who was elected district attorney last month after campaigning on improving public safety, rebuked his predecessor, George Gascon, saying hed failed to prosecute hate crimes. Hochman pledged to send an increasingly clear message to the hate criminals.

I dont see prosecution here, he said. I dont see consequences.

Jewish and transgender people saw some of the most significant increases. The report counted 99 anti-transgender hate crimes  a 125% jump. Nearly all were violent.

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The incidents included an assault against a trans woman by two men who called her a slur as she was carrying her groceries in South Los Angeles, and a physical attack on a trans woman in Koreatown.

This is obviously unacceptable, said Bamby Salcedo, a transgender activist whose organization, TransLatin@ Coalition, received multiple bomb threats earlier this year.

Hate crimes against Jewish people nearly doubled, to 242 incidents. Many were cases of vandalism, such as swastika graffiti. The county has seen a number of Jewish-owned businesses vandalized since the eruption of the Israel-Hamas war 14 months ago.

Anti-Muslim crimes increased from seven to 19, according to the report. The authors also noted that 5% of all hate crimes involved language regarding conflict in the Middle East.

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Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism and a member of the California Commission on the State of Hate, said the findings match up with what he saw in big cities across America last year, all of which saw jumps in hate crimes against Jewish people, Muslims, Latinos and LGBTQ+ people.

For the first time, Levin said, Jewish people had become the most targeted group in several U.S. cities.

He said the new data provided by the commission could force the state to change findings released this summer that hate crimes in California had decreased by 7.1% in 2023 from 2022 levels.

The state had used incomplete data from the Los Angeles Police Department, Levin said, noting that the new county report includes nearly 700 more hate crimes than the attorney generals report took into account.

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With the new incidents factored in, Levin said, overall hate crime in California didnt drop, but instead increased by about 25%.

Ive been waiting months for this to happen, said Levin. The headlines were all 7.1% decrease  I said No, no, no.

The attorney generals office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There were small silver linings buried in the findings. Speakers at Wednesdays news conference said the increase in hate crimes was probably due in part to a county campaign to encourage people to report such incidents. And a smaller portion of the hate crimes was violent  65% compared with 72% in 2022.

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All five county supervisors denounced the overall increase. Supervisor Hilda Solis, who helped create the reporting campaign, called the data a sobering wake-up.

Im not proud of the metro center I represent, where many of these crimes have centered, Solis said at the news conference, noting that the region will be flooded with visitors from across the globe during the fast-approaching 2028 Olympics.

The countys metro area, which stretches from West Hollywood to Boyle Heights, had the most reported hate crimes, followed by the San Fernando Valley, according to the report. Many of the crimes took place in schools  about a tenth of the total  or on public transit.

Nearly half of the total hate crimes were racial, with Black people disproportionately targeted. Despite making up about 9% of the countys population, they were the targets of half of the racial hate crimes reported. There were 320 crimes against Black people  a new high and an 8% increase from 2022.

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Holly Mitchell, the only Black woman on the Board of Supervisors, said that she was discouraged by the report, and that she experiences a microaggression every single day.

I am deeply concerned that the next report will be even worse, she said. We know the polarization of all things related to wokeness or DEI is front and center in our national discussion, she said, referring to programs encouraging diversity, equity and inclusion.

Hate crimes against Latino people increased by 19% to 144  another new high. After a dip in 2022, anti-Asian crimes rose again, with 80 victims targeted  the second-highest number on record.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) speaks alongside state House Democrats in support of legislation to expand Michigan's unemployment benefits on Dec. 10, 2024 in the Michigan Capitol Building. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

The Michigan House cleared legislation Tuesday night that will now head to the Governors desk to expand Michigans eligibility for unemployment benefits to 26 weeks and steeply increase maximum payments, though the bills that cleared the state House Tuesday passed with strong opposition from Republicans.

I have a personal interest in this bill not passing, yes, but for all businesses in the state, this is going to be a major cost increase that they have to incur, Rep. William Bruck (R-Erie) said as an owner of home health care offices. Im not against individuals making or getting more money, but when it comes to the unemployment, unemployment is not meant to be a living wage, it is not meant to be an amount that someone can function on and not have to worry about getting another job.

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Currently, the max weekly benefit a person can collect on unemployment in Michigan is $362 with Senate Bill 40 seeking to bump that maximum to $614 over a three-year span.

Even if a person collected the absolute maximum in payments for the current 20-week maximum eligibility, which most people dont, Rep. Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit) pointed out its not even close to a living wage.

To think that someone would walk away from a job to live in poverty is insulting to them, Carter said alongside other House Democrats during a news conference after votes on unemployment bills.

Amongst other unemployment measures passed out of the House Tuesday other bills would allow victims of domestic violence to receive benefits even if they voluntarily left work for their own safety and others aim to tackle issues with applying and receiving benefits.

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Also opposed was the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), which said doubling the weekly benefit over three years goes too far too fast and will put the unemployment trust fund at risk.

It is always important to remember that the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program is 100% employer funded. And because of actions taken in 2011, including limiting duration of benefits, the UI Trust Fund was able to weather the pandemic, but was decimated in the process. Increasing benefits adds extra pressure to a system that has not yet recovered and would make weathering another economic downturn difficult, said Amanda Fisher, NFIB Michigan State Director.

Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit), meanwhile, noted that unemployment compensation does not act as a handout but rather a hand up to help people who are out of work due to no fault of their own. Tate said increasing benefits, which havent been adjusted for more than two decades, will help keep individuals from having to rely on more taxpayer assistance to keep them from slipping into poverty.

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Before he was arrested Luigi Mangione walked into the Horseshoe Curve Lodge in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday looking for a room, according to the desk clerk who greeted him and noticed what he described as the man's shifty behavior.

"He basically just walked in kind of cagey, just looking around, making sure he wasn't being watched, asked if he could get a room here," the hotel clerk, John Kuklis, told ABC News.

But that wasn't the reason Kuklis had to turn the man away. They didn't have a clean room available at that early hour, he said.

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"I told him that he wouldn't be able to get one right now, that our housekeeper hadn't cleaned the rooms yet, that he had to come back at one o'clock. He asked if he could wait here. I told him no, because at the time, I didn't know that I could just allow him to wait for, you know, half the day. And he said, 'OK.' And he turned around and just left. Didn't say nothing. Never took his mask down," Kuklis said.

PHOTO: John Kuklis, a clerk at the Horseshoe Curve Lodge in Altoona, Penn., is seen on 'Good Morning America,' on Dec. 11, 2024. (ABC News)

MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO killing latest: Lawyer's seen 'no evidence' linking gun to New York

Mangione's arrival on Monday, the morning he was later arrested, came days after last week's fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan. Mangione faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with that killing. His defense attorney, Thomas Dickey, said he anticipates that Mangione will plead not guilty.

The Horseshoe Curve Lodge is roughly a 17-minute walk from the McDonald's where authorities would later confront Mangione, and take him into custody. Rooms at that hotel cost around $60 a night, according to a review of online price quotes.

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At first, Kuklis thought the young man might be a veteran just returned to civilian life -- there are "a lot of vets that stay here," Kuklis said, and thought that might perhaps be why the young man was acting somewhat circumspect.

He added, "When [vets] come back, they have -- anybody that walks up behind 'em, or you feel a little shadow, or you hear a specific noise, you just kind of look over your shoulders, watch yourself, and he just, he was like, wouldn't turn his head, but his eyes were constantly looking like, is there somebody coming behind me, watching his surroundings?"

PHOTO: Luigi Mangione, 26, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, is escorted after an extradition hearing at Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, Dec. 10, 2024. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

MORE: Executive 'hit lists' and wanted posters: NYPD warns about threats to executives

Had Mangione been able to get a room, Kuklis said, he would have been asked to show ID -- but that didn't happen. Mangione has been charged with falsely identifying himself to police, according to a complaint filed in Blair County, Pennsylvania.

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Tuesday, officers called the hotel, asking if the suspect had stayed there, the clerk said.

"They called this morning and asked if he had stayed here, I says, no," Kuklis said, but mentioned to police the young man's earlier attempt to book a stay. "The officer goes, 'did he have a mask on? Did he ever take a mask off?'" Kuklis said, realizing in real time to the officer, "No, he never did take the mask off.'"

"Next thing I know there's three Logan Township police cars pulling in the parking lot. I'm like, holy crap" Kuklis said. "We pulled up our surveillance stuff, they go, 'Yeah, that's him.'"

Looking back, Kuklis said he "didn't even realize" that furtive young man might have been carrying the very weapon allegedly used to gun down the CEO. "I mean, theoretically, I guess he could have just pulled it out and shot me."

UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: Hotel clerk says 'cagey' suspect sought room originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The ghost gun allegedly in Luigi Mangione's possession when he was arrested in Pennsylvania has been matched to three shell casings recovered at the scene of Brian Thompson's murder in New York City, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday.

Fingerprints recovered from a water bottle and a Kind bar near the crime scene have also been matched to Mangione, she said.

PHOTO: A member of the New York City police department's Crime Scene Unit at the scene where UnitedHealthcare's CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in in New York, Dec. 4, 2024. (Justin Lane/EPA via Shutterstock)

PHOTO: This is an image of the ghost gun recovered from Luigi Mangione in Altoona, PA, law enforcement sources told ABC News. (Obtained by ABC News)

Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, is accused of gunning down Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO, outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4.

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Written on the shell casings were the words "deny," "defend" and "depose," according to police sources.

Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday after nearly one week on the run.

PHOTO: Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse for an extradition hearing Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

MORE: What we know about Luigi Mangione, Ivy League grad charged in CEO's murder

Mangione allegedly had a spiral notebook detailing plans about how to eventually kill the CEO, according to law enforcement officials.

One passage allegedly said, "What do you do? You whack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention," the officials said.

PHOTO: This undated photo provided by UnitedHealth Group shows UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson. (UnitedHealth Group via AP)

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MORE: 'Shocked': Family, friends react to Luigi Mangione's alleged role in CEO killing

The writings said using explosives in the attack could "risk innocents," according to the officials.

Detectives are still examining Mangione's writings but are considering the contents of the notebook to represent a confession, sources said.

Investigators have started interviewing members of Mangione's family, according to sources.

PHOTO: Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, arrives for an extradition hearing at Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pa, Dec. 10, 2024. (Matthew Hatcher/Reuters)

MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: Hotel clerk says 'cagey' suspect sought room

A judge in Pennsylvania ordered Mangione held without bail on Tuesday. In Pennsylvania he faces charges including allegedly possessing an untraceable ghost gun.

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Mangione plans to challenge his extradition to New York, where he faces charges including second-degree murder.

"He has constitutional rights and that's what he's doing" in challenging the interstate transfer, defense attorney Thomas Dickey told reporters on Tuesday.

Mangione is "taking it as well as he can," Dickey added.

PHOTO: Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson departs after an extradition hearing at Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pa., Dec. 10, 2024. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect inspired by Unabomber: NYPD analysis

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said it will seek a governor's warrant to try to force Mangione's extradition. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that she'll sign a request for the governor's warrant "to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable."

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Mangione's attorney told ABC News' "Good Morning America" on Wednesday that anyone speculating on the case should take the potential evidence "in its entirety," not taking pieces of writing or other evidence "out of context."

"People put out certain things, parts of different things," he said. "I think any lawyer involved in this situation would want to see it all."

Mangione plans to plead not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania, Dickey said. Dickey said he anticipates Mangione would also plead not guilty to the second-degree murder charge in New York.

ABC News' Sasha Pezenik, Mark Crudele, Luke Barr, Peter Charalambous and Josh Margolin contributed to this report.

UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: Luigi Mangione's gun matches shell casings from crime scene, NYPD says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(NewsNation)  A judge denied bail for Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as he and his attorneys contested efforts to extradite him to New York from Pennsylvania.

Mangione is facing a murder charge in New York in connection with the shooting. Pennsylvania is seeking a governors warrant to transfer him and has 30 days to obtain one.

Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks said both Pennsylvania and New Yorks governors feel confident they can get the warrant before the deadline.

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In the meantime, Mangione will remain in the State Correctional Institution Huntingdon.

Family of suspect speaks out after his arrest in UnitedHealthcare CEOs murder

Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Benjamin B. Braun/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)

As he was escorted into a Pennsylvania courthouse Tuesday afternoon, Mangione shouted to reporters gathered outside about injustice in the system.

Its completely an injustice and an insult to the American people, he said.

Alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO shooters lawyer speaks

Mangiones lawyer, Pennsylvania defense attorney Thomas Dickey, told NewsNation that he hasnt seen any evidence that says [Mangione] is the shooter.

I dont want people to jump to these prejudgment things because nobody would ever want that if they were accused, or one of their loved ones were accused, Dickey said exclusively on CUOMO Tuesday.

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In Pennsylvania, Mangione was charged Monday with forgery, carrying firearms without a license, having instruments of a crime, tampering with records or information and false identification to law enforcement.

We have plead[ed] not guilty to those charges, Dickey said, adding that hes not aware of any actual charges in New York.

However an online court docket obtained by NewsNation shows that Manhattan prosecutors have filed a second-degree murder charge, among others, against Mangione.

Doctor calls out claim denials amid UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

Dickey said that, when he does see charges from New York, his expectation is for Mangione to plead not guilty, saying, That certainly would be my advice.

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He also pointed to Pennsylvania law that classifies most crimes  except for capital punishment cases, which Mangiones is not  as bailable offenses.

I believe that bail shouldve been set, he said, explaining that while bail couldve been an unrealistic number in the millions, it still shouldve been set.

Dickey refused to discuss Mangiones state of mind, their conversation or previous extradition protests, telling reporters that he and his client will take one step at a time.

I think weve made a strong bond, and Im looking forward to, moving forward, helping him out, Dickey said.

Dickey, who took on the case Tuesday, refused to clarify who hired him.

UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

Thompson was killed while walking to the companys annual investor meeting. Police say they believe the attack was targeted and not a random act of violence.

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The words deny, depose and defend were written on the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting, police sources said to NewsNation local affiliate WPIX.

This undated photo provided by UnitedHealth Group shows UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson. (AP Photo/UnitedHealth Group via AP)

The words appear to be a possible reference to a book titled Delay, Deny, Defend, which details the ways insurance companies use to reject requests for medical coverage deemed necessary by doctors.

UnitedHealthcare has the highest claim denial rate among insurance companies, rejecting 32% of submitted claims compared to the industry average of 16%.

Thompson, 50, was a father of two. He became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021 and helped the company bring in $281 billion in profits in 2023. Between salary and other benefits, he was estimated to have more than $10 million in compensation last year.

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Earlier this year, Thompson was sued by the Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund for insider trading and fraud. Executives at United Healthcare were being investigated by the Department of Justice over allegedly running a monopoly and unfairly blocking out competitors.

The Department of Justice also launched an antitrust investigation into the UnitedHealthcare Group following a cyberattack on a subsidiary that handled health care payments. During the attack, many patients were forced to pay out of pocket for care and medications or were unable to get them because medical facilities were unable to process payments.

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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The 26-year-old man arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is alleged to have had a type of homemade weapon known as a ghost gun. These types of weapons have surged in popularity in recent years.

The New York City Police Chief said the weapon may have been made on a 3D printer. Without serial numbers, the firearms are incredibly difficult to trace.

There are multiple reasons why these ghost guns are so dangerous, said Former Police Chief Brian Dugan, Tampa Police Department. You look at the simple fact that they are nearly impossible to trace.

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Five days after Thompson was gunned down on the streets of Manhattan, authorities said Luigi Mangione ended up 280 miles away in Altoona, Pennsylvania. A McDonalds employee recognized him and called the police. Investigators said in his possession were several fake IDs as well as a gun with a suppressor.



The gun appears to be a ghost gun, may have been made on a 3D printer, the capability of firing a nine-millimeter round, said Joseph Kenny, NYPD Chief of Detectives.



Ghost guns can be assembled at home. The parts can usually be obtained without background checks and do not have serial numbers, which makes them difficult to trace.



We dont know where theyre made, how theyre made, who made them, the quality of that gun comes into question, said Chief Dugan.



Chief Dugan served the Tampa Police Department for 31 years. He said when he was chief, ghost guns werent as prevalent as they are now.



I look back to 2017 in the Seminole Heights killer, said Dugan. We knew exactly what type of gun he used, what type of caliber it was, we had all that information, and once we caught him we were able to piece together within minutes the entire crime, a series of them.



Dugan said criminals make mistakes and thats often how theyre caught.



This person made a mistake, he said. Why would they keep that gun and keep that ID with them when theyve already made it back to Pennsylvania?

The Justice Department said from January 2016 to December 2021, ATF received approximately 45,000 reports of suspected privately made firearms recovered by law enforcement in criminal investigations, including 692 homicides or attempted homicides.

No federal law bars ghost guns, but ATF said that it is illegal to make them for sale without licenses and they must be detectable by metal detectors and X-ray machines. More than a dozen states have passed laws regulating ghost guns.

The nations highest court is still considering whether self-assembled ghost guns can be regulated by law. A hearing was held in October and a decision from the Supreme Court is expected next summer.

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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.
Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images; Jeff Swensen/Getty Images; Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

It was a big Monday for the news: The same day a jury decided that Daniel Penny would go unpunished in the killing of an unhoused, mentally ill man named Jordan Neely, the New York Police Department (NYPD) took into custody a 26-year-old suspect, Luigi Mangione, in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

What wasnt on the news was an identification of the killer of 17-year-old Yeremi Colino, who was stabbed to death the day after Thompson was shot. Initial reporting found Colino and another teen were stabbed after saying that neither of them spoke English; police now claim the killing was gang-related. Unlike the killings of Thompson or Neely, though, Colinos death has yet to be made into a culture war story.

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According to reporting by Mediate, as of Monday, the New York Times had run zero stories on Colino, in contrast with the dozens of stories it had run related to the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting. Colinos killers are, almost a week later, still at large after stabbing someone on the street. If NYPD officers were busy finding Thompsons killer, they werent doing a very good job of it, as the suspect was ultimately apprehended in Pennsylvania.

Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take.

Let's break it down: The life of a health insurance CEO who raked in $10 million last year is worth a media brouhaha and consuming the focus of a police force bigger and more well-funded than a large majority of the world's militaries. But the lives of Colino and Neely were up for grabs; the penalty for killing them is apparently walking free (at least for now, with Colinos killers still wanted).

The New York Post took it a step further with its Tuesday cover, saying Penny had protected subway riders while teasing the chilling manifesto of the health insurance boss killer under a cropped version of Mangiones Twitter/X profile picture.

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Zeteo reporter Prem Thakker pointed out that Mangione and Penny, who was acquitted of manslaughter for choking Neely to death in 2023, are both 26-year-old men. Just last month, everyone was totally up in arms about the threat of radicalized young men, arguing that Donald Trump and the right had entirely captured the disillusioned group, as well as those who consider themselves anti-establishment. (If Mangione is indeed Thompsons killer, his politics, based on his alleged online posts, can only be categorized as broadly anti-establishment rather than left- or right-wing, roving from podcasters like Joe Rogan to his own bizarre ramblings.)

Writer Luke ONeil aptly described the portrait of Mangione that the internet has pieced together as among the type of wayward young men who have been drifting further right in recent years that we were all psychoanalyzing in the media after the election. ONeil, seemingly like Mangione, suffers debilitating chronic back pain that hes unable to get covered by insurance. (Given Mangiones significant family wealth, its unclear if his resentment comes from an insurance denial expense.)

In a note on Bluesky, ONeil observed how back injuries in particular sort of [f*ck] with men in terms of masculinity, affecting how they participate in an archetypal kind of manliness, one based on physical strength. According to the New York Times, Mangione had told a friend he was living with in 2023 that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasnt possible.

The possibility that Mangiones physical pain under our dehumanizing health care system may have driven him away from intimate relationships could be further evidence that trying to cater to a bygone conception of masculinity continuously harms men. But toxic masculinity is just one of the many norms failing us.

Jordan Neely Killing in NYC Subway Shows No One's Safe Unless We All Are

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In this op-ed, news & politics editor Lexi McMenamin connects recent killings to the targeting of progressive movements.

In the weeks after Neely died, I connected his killing to the crime wave propaganda that swept American cities after the mass protests of 2020, used to justify boosting police budgets (while decrying the defund the police talking point). These narratives distract from the reality of reduced social services for populations like the unhoused and mentally ill. At the time I feared Neelys killing was a signal of how deeply the resentment against leftist and progressive campaigns was felt by those in power who feel threatened by them.

In the year and a half since  in the wake of Pennys acquittal and the killing of Colino  the power of that resentment seems to have gathered force. In that time, the United States has openly funded warfare killing scores of thousands, as pointed out by Thakker and The Guardians Arwa Mahdawi. Meanwhile, last week, Mayor Eric Adams seemed to praise Pennys actions as doing what we should have done as a city.

Without legitimizing the UnitedHealthcare CEO killers actions or endorsing violence, it needs to be acknowledged that, as Thakker wrote, A gun killed Thompson. Paperwork has killed thousands. According to reporting in The Guardian, UnitedHealthcare denied roughly one in every three claims it received in 2023, while making significant profits.

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The internet is demanding acknowledgment that the American health care system kills people by proxy every day, but health insurance companies are now reportedly looking at private security to protect their executives, as noted by Mahdawi. Like Penny, private security staffers have killed people with little legal consequence, such as in the case of 24-year-old San Francisco resident Banko Brown, shot to death days before Neely was killed. I am reminded of a quote from abolitionist Ruth Wilson Gilmore: Where life is precious, life is precious.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

News and Politics: Mid Hero
Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was discovered with a brutal manifesto in which he admitted to the crime and apologized for the strife he caused, but stated plainly that these parasites simply had it coming.

Mangione was arrested Monday at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, carrying a 3-D printed gun similar to that used in the killing, several fake IDs, and the following manifesto. While sections of the manifesto have already been published, it was published in full on Tuesday by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein.

To the Feds, Ill keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasnt working with anyone, Mangione wrote.

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This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, a lot of patience. The spiral notebook, if present, has some straggling notes and To Do lists that illuminate the gist of it. My tech is pretty locked down because I work in engineering so probably not much info there, he wrote.

I do apologize for any strife of traumas but it had to be done, Mangione wrote. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.

A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy. United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but [h]as our life expectancy? No the reality is, these [indecipherable] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it, he wrote.

Obviously the problem is more complex, but I do not have space, and frankly I do not pretend to be the most qualified person to lay out the full argument. But many have illuminated the corruption and greed (e.g.: Rosenthal, Moore), decades ago and the problems simply remain, Mangione wrote.

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Mangione was likely referring to filmmaker Michael Moore, a staunch critic of the U.S. health care system who made the 2007 documentary Sicko, and Elizabeth Rosenthal, who wrote the 2017 book An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back.

The reality of the U.S. health care system is somehow even more grim than Mangione described. The U.S. was ranked sixtieth in the world for life expectancy per the most recent data from 2021, according to the U.S. News & World Report, and among its wealthy peer group in the OECD, the U.S. ranked 30 out of 38.

The U.S. does have the most expensive health care system in the world. Health care costs in the U.S. tallied up to an average of $12,318 per person in 2021, while in Germany, which has the second-most-expensive system, costs amounted to an average of $7,383 per person, according to the World Economic Forum.

It is not an issue of awareness at this point, but clearly power games at play, Mangione concluded. Evidently I am the first to face it with such brutal honesty.

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Mangione appeared in Blair County Court in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, Tuesday, where he was denied bail. On his way into the courtroom, Mangione could be heard shouting, Its completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience!

Mangiones lawyer, Thomas Dickey, said that he would challenge his clients extradition to New York.
While many social media accounts belonging to Luigi Mangione, the man charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, have been taken down since he was identified by police Monday, his X account remains online after a brief suspension.

Mangiones X posts indicate engagement with center-right thought, self-improvement, and pop psychology and critiques of modern technology, consumption, and wokeness. Deleted posts from Mangiones account reported by Business Insider Tuesday shed further light on the 26-year-olds political views.

According to Business Insider, Mangione reshared a post in which Edward Snowden advocated for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be named the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee. Darkly amusing to watch panicked dems suddenly searching under the couch cushions for a candidate when kennedy is literally standing right there, Snowden posted in early July, as Biden faced increasing pressure to drop out amid concerns about his age and mental acuity.

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Another post shows that Mangione viewed both Biden and Trump disapprovingly. Both partiesTrump with his refusal to accept the results of an election, and Biden with his refusal to accept his age and step downare simultaneously proving how desperately individuals will cling to power, Mangione wrote in a reply to political writer and analyst Nate Silver, according to Business Insider.

Business Insider also uncovered that Mangione reposted a tweet from a self-described fascist hipster, which said: My experience with the medical professionand yours is probably similaris that doctors are basically worthless unless you carefully manage them, and 2/3 of them are worthless even in that case.

Mangione reportedly suffered from severe back pain and underwent back surgery. His manifesto, published by journalist Ken Klippenstein Tuesday afternoon, condemned companies that he said abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has [allowed] them to get away with it.
BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  One was killed, two were injured in a Bossier Parish crash Monday evening.

According to the Louisiana State Police, Troop G, police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Chalmette Loop near Creole Circle. The crash claimed the life of 35-year-old Maria Lopez of Shreveport.

LSP says their preliminary investigation shows that a 2012 Nissan SUV, driven by Lopez, was traveling north on Chalmette Loop. For unknown reasons, Lopezs vehicle exited the roadway and collided with a residence.

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Pedestrian fatally injured on Mansfield Road, Caddo coroner says

Police say Lopez was unrestrained at the time of the crash and sustained fatal injuries. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. They also say a passenger, who was unrestrained in the front passenger seat, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

A 15-year-old juvenile, who was unrestrained in the rear passenger seat, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The residence had a single occupant inside who was not injured.

Although police do not suspect impairment on the part of Lopez, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis.

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This crash remains under investigation.

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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  In the heart of downtown Scranton, an industrial-chic space is redefining the traditional workspace.

Urban Co-Works celebrates its first year in the Electric City. Since its doors opened last December, Urban Co-Works has become a hub for diverse professionals

Weve had a lot of people come and go but weve had a lot of people stay, were probably at 50 percent occupancy and we have a variety of companies here that include engineering firms, law firms, creative firms, said Jeffrey Goronkin the CEO of Urban Co-Works.

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Unlike traditional office leases, urban co-works provides month-to-month memberships with high-speed internet, fully furnished offices, and a host of other amenities

Theres a lot of companies that come in from outside the area and they need an office for maybe five or six months and thats it. You can come here for a limited period of time or you can make this your permanent office, added Goronkin.

Jersey Mikes Subs coming to Mountain Top

For Nicole Atherholt, her space at co-works is ideal for her work

It offers great flexibility, and just the dynamic of our job and what we need to do hereEverything is taken care of, I dont have to worry about administrating an office I can just get to the task at hand and get to work, stated Atherholt.

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The space includes a dedicated training room, conference rooms, and privacy pods for quiet work or Zoom calls, Urban Co-Works is designed to foster productivity and collaboration for all types of jobs

Theres a lot of people that may be working from home that need to get out maybe just once a week or even a couple times of the month I encourage them to come in and check out Urban Co-Works if theyre working out of coffee shops or things like that, we offer a very professional environment, explained Goronkin.

Urban Co-Works offers tours as well, if you or your business is interested in setting up a space there visit their website.

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For the second time in 10 days, the U.S. military said it defeated attacks by Houthi militia on American-flagged merchant and naval vessels.

Destroyers USS Stockdale and USS OKane turned back a range of Houthi missiles and drones Dec. 9-10 in the Gulf of Aden, United States Central Command said in a release.

The Gulf is south of the Red Sea and Suez Canal, a region where Iran-backed Houthi attacks have disrupted commercial shipping since late 2023 in support of forces battling Israel in Gaza and Lebanon. While the route still hosts heavy local vessel traffic, major container lines earlier this year diverted most services from Asia to the Mediterranean and United States on longer voyages around the Horn of Africa.

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The added operational costs passed onto shippers have turned into windfall profits worth billions of dollars for liner operators.





The destroyers successfully engaged and defeated multiple one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel, as well as civilian vessels and their crews, CENTCOM said Tuesday. No other details were provided.

The same warships defeated a Houthi barrage Nov. 30-Dec. 1 while escorting U.S.-owned and -flagged merchant ships.

The Houthi militia on Tuesday confirmed it carried out military operations against three American supply ships and two U.S. warships in the Gulf of Aden.

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Houthi media said the qualitative operations by the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted the vessels after they departed Djibouti and included naval craft, drones and missiles.





It has been several months since a civilian vessel was damaged by Houthi attacks.

Elsewhere, there is increasing concern over how the rapid collapse of the Assad regime in Syria could affect the shipping crisis in the Red Sea, and overall stability in the region. The Houthis this week criticized Saudi Arabia for providing material support for Israel in its war against Hamas.

Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

Related coverage:

Container imports to surge ahead of strike, tariffs, NRF predicts

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The post US again defeats Houthi attacks on American cargo, military ships appeared first on FreightWaves.
The State Department approved a $266 million foreign military sales package for Ukraine on Dec. 10, enabling the sustainment of services as well as repairs necessary for the upkeep of the country's F-16 fighter jets.

The proposed sale, which has not yet been formally finalized, includes key support systems for Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets, including the Joint Mission Planning System, weapons software, training equipment, as well as spare and replacement parts for the jets, the State Department said.

The announcement of the sale package comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Dec. 7 that Denmark has transferred a second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, further bolstering the country's air defense capabilities.

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The sales package "will improve Ukraines capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability," the State Department said in its statement announcing the sale.

Ukraine received its first F-16s at the beginning of August, a year after its allies formed the fighter jet coalition at the NATO summit in Vilnius to support Kyiv with training and aircraft.

Ukraine's limited number of F-16 fighter jets have continued to shoot down Russian aerial targets, despite concerns over the pace of training provided for Ukrainian pilots. These concerns were amplified following the deadly crash of an F-16 jet during efforts to repel a massive Russian attack.

Despite the incident, hundreds of Ukrainian pilots have received F-16 training from a number of Western allies, including the United States.

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In late August, the White House rejected a proposal from the U.S. military to send civilian contractors to Ukraine to maintain F-16s and other equipment, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The sales package comes as the Biden administration rushes to deliver additional aid to Ukraine ahead of the January inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, amid concerns that a future Trump administration would halt military aid to Kyiv.

On Dec. 7, the U.S. announced its latest $988 million military package to Ukraine, including ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as new drone deliveries. The latest aid package will be supplied through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative  a Pentagon-led program for supplying arms to Ukraine through contracts with U.S. defense companies.

Read also: US announces $988 million military aid package for Ukraine

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The U.S. is communicating with rebel groups inside Syria amid the search for missing American journalist Austin Tice, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday, as the prisons of former President Bashar Assad empty and more evidence of alleged atrocities emerges.

Miller told journalists at a Tuesday briefing, "We do continue to believe that he is alive and we continue to make clear in all of our conversations, either with entities on the ground in Syria or with entities that may be in communication with those on the ground in Syria, that we have no higher priority than the safe return of Austin Tice to his family."

The U.S. has expressed its desire to find Tice to the lead Syrian rebel group now guiding the transition of power in Damascus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham -- led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, real name Ahmed Al-Sharaa -- Miller said.

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"It is a message that we have sent to HTS," Miller told reporters. The group has its roots in Al-Qaeda and is a designated terrorist organization in the U.S. and the European Union. Jolani himself is still the subject of a $10 million U.S. bounty.

PHOTO: This file photo shows U.S. journalist Austin Tice who went missing in Syria in 2012. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

MORE: Assad's infamous Syria prisons empty as rebel leader vows 'just punishment'

"We have sent very clearly the message that as they move through Syria liberating prisons, that our top priority is the return of Austin Tice," Miller continued. "We want anyone who is operating on the ground in Syria to be on the lookout for him and if so -- if they do find him, to help return him to us safely and as soon as possible."

Tice went missing while reporting in Syria in 2012. The journalist is believed to have been kidnapped at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus. His whereabouts and the identity of his abductors is unknown, though U.S. officials have previously said they believe Tice was being held by Syrian government forces.

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The collapse of the Assad regime raised hopes that Tice would be found. "We believe he's alive," President Joe Biden said on Sunday. "We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet."

On Monday, the State Department increased its reward for information on Tice to $10 million. The State Department also offered relocation for anyone with information that helped find and recover Tice.

Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, also traveled to the Middle East to hold talks with regional officials to "get him home as soon as possible," Miller said on Monday.

PHOTO: Marc Tice (L) and Debra Tice (R) -- the parents of Austin Tice, a journalist who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 -- are pictured during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 6, 2024. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

MORE: Inside Syria's notorious Saydnaya prison, families search for the lost: Reporter's notebook

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Debra and Marc Tice -- Austin's parents -- released a statement urging "anyone who can do so to please assist Austin so he can safely return home to our family" following the collapse of the Assad government.

"We are watching the events unfold in Syria and seeing families reunited with their loved ones after years of separation," said a statement released via the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club.

"We know this is possible for our family, too," they added. "Austin Tice is alive, in Syria, and it's time for him to come home. We are eagerly anticipating seeing Austin walk free."

Tice is one of the 157,000 people disappeared into the bowels of Assad's totalitarian state between 2011 and 2024, per an estimate by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

PHOTO: This aerial photo shows people gathering at the Saydnaya prison in Damascus, Syria, on Dec. 9, 2024. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Syria live updates: Famous Syrian activist found dead in Saydnaya

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Rebel fighters surging south from Idlib and north from Daraa emptied government prisons as they advanced on Damascus at the close of an 11-day surprise offensive.

There, the infamous Saydnaya prison -- once described as the "Human Slaughterhouse" by Amnesty International -- became a rallying point for the hopeful family and friends of the missing.

Rebel fighters and Damascenes rushed through the facility, freeing groups of men, women and children from cells.

The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, said that rumors of hidden underground cells proved unfounded. But rescuers said they found evidence of the regime's vast torture apparatus as well as the bodies of those who did not live to see its fall.

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Among them was famed anti-government activist Mazen Al-Hamada, who had been held in Saydnaya since February 2020.

PHOTO: Syrian opposition fighters sit for ice cream in the old part of Damascus, Syria, on Dec. 10, 2024. (Louai Beshara/AFP via Getty Images)

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MORE: Former prisoner at Syria's Saydnaya prison recalls inhumane treatment

ABC News' Dee Carden and Camilla Alcini contributed to this report.

US asked Syrian rebels to look for Austin Tice as they empty Assad's prisons originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
American warplanes pounded Syria with airstrikes as the Assad regime fell on Sunday.

They hit dozens of targets in support of the anti-ISIS mission, which officials say will continue.

The US isn't the only military conducting strikes amid the uncertain situation in Syria.

The US military has carried out extensive airstrikes in Syria since the Assad regime collapsed over the weekend, and it's not the only country on the hunt for targets in this uncertain moment.

American, Israeli, and Turkish forces have all been involved in bombing targets across Syria over the past few days in actions said to be in support of their respective national security interests.

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For the US, this means continuing to go after the Islamic State, as it has done for years, but with an intensity to keep the group at bay. The Biden administration has stated that this mission will continue despite uncertainty about the future of Syria's leadership.

The US has repeatedly said that it is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS. "We don't want to give ISIS an opportunity to exploit what's going on," White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday, adding, "They love nothing more than ungoverned space."

Widespread military action in Syria

As rebel forces reached Damascus on Sunday and Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country, US Air Force B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, and A-10 attack aircraft bombed ISIS targets in central Syria. The widespread strikes hit the terrorist group's leaders, operatives, and camps, said US Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations.

F-15 Strike Eagles, like the one pictured above, took part in the widespread strikes against ISIS over the weekend. US Air Force photo

A senior administration official, speaking to reporters, described the combat operation as "significant" and said the American warplanes dropped around 140 munitions to hit 75 targets. The US military said the goal of the strikes was to prevent ISIS from reconstituting in central Syria.

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Jonathan Lord, a former political-military analyst at the Pentagon, told Business Insider the US military is "rightly worried that ISIS could slip through the cracks in the chaos," so it is hitting as many targets as possible.

Retired Gen. Joseph Votel, who oversaw US military operations in the Middle East in the 2010s as the Centcom commander, told BI that it's "good" the US is sending a clear message and taking action to prevent ISIS from exploiting the void in central Syria.

He added that it's important for the US to maintain a small presence in eastern Syria, calling it "a very effective and efficient way to keep tabs on this threat."

The widespread bombing since Sunday has, however, not been limited to just US actions. Israel has carried out over 300 airstrikes across neighboring Syria, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor.

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Israel has targeted the remnants of Assad's former military, including aircraft, ammunition depots, weapons storage facilities, warships, radar systems, and additional assets, the SOHR said. Israeli officials have said these strikes are intended to prevent weaponry from falling into the hands of potential foes.

A Syrian naval ship, destroyed in an overnight Israeli attack, is pictured in the port city of Latakia on December 10. AAREF WATAD/AFP

"Israel is taking no chances with their security and not waiting to find out if the new Syrian government is friendly or hostile," said Lord, who is now the director of the Middle East Security program at the Center for a New American Security think tank.

The Israeli military has also sent its ground forces across the Syrian border beyond a United Nations-monitored buffer zone that separates the two countries. The UN has criticized the move, which Israel said is a measure to protect its citizens amid the uncertainty in Damascus.

Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, told BI that the actions are a "combined effort to try to minimize as much as possible the risk of growing military challenges following the current situation in Syria."

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He said the Israeli approach likely includes diplomatic efforts to complement the airstrikes and buffer zone operation.

Meanwhile, a Turkish drone attacked a military site in an area held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the SOHR said on Tuesday. Ankara, which views the nearby SDF as a terror group, has targeted Kurdish forces for years. The US frequently works closely with the SDF on counter-ISIS operations.

Turkish military armored vehicles arrive at a checkpoint at the Turkey-Syria border on December 9. AP Photo/Metin Yoksu

"The Turks have a legitimate counter-terrorism threat that they, too, have a right to deal with," Kirby, the White House spokesperson, said in response to a reporter's question about action against Kurdish groups.

The widespread military actions come on the heels of the shock collapse of the Syrian Army amid a stunning, only dayslong rebel offensive that removed Assad from power. The longtime dictator had relied extensively on military support from Russia, Iran, and Lebanese Hezbollah to keep opposition forces in check.

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US officials are blaming the fall of the Assad regime on the reality that these three actors have been weakened and distracted lately by their respective conflicts with Ukraine and Israel. Russia, in particular, used to exercise significant control over Syrian airspace, but the future of Moscow's military footprint in the country is now unclear.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON (DC News Now/WGN)  The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) arrested an Illinois man who allegedly assaulted a U.S. Representative Tuesday evening.

USCP said the alleged assault happened just before 6 p.m., when the Member of Congress office reported a situation that happened in the Rayburn House Office Building.

House Division officers and agents from the Threat Assessment Section found the suspect accused of assaulting Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.)

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Officers conducted an investigative interview and arrested 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois.

Illinois Flag Commission announces Top 10 designs for new state flag

USCP said he is facing an Assaulting a Government Official charge.

At the time of the assault, the Rayburn House Office building was open to the public and McIntyre was allowed into the building after going through security screening prior to entering the Congressional buildings.

Mace posted on X that she was physically accosted because she was trying to fight to protect women.

All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women! Mace stated in her post.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) arrested a man who they believe assaulted a U.S. Representative Tuesday evening.

USCP said the alleged assault happened just before 6 p.m., when the Member of Congress office reported a situation that happened in the Rayburn House Office Building.

House Division officers and agents from the Threat Assessment Section found the suspect accused of assaulting Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).

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Prince Georges Community College chief of police arrested for alleged DUI resulting in serious crash

Officers conducted an investigative interview and arrested 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois.

USCP said he is facing an Assaulting a Government Official charge.

At the time of the assault, the Rayburn House Office building was open to the public and McIntyre was allowed into the building after going through security screening prior to entering the Congressional buildings.

Mace posted on X that she was physically accosted because she was trying to fight to protect women.

All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women! Mace stated in her post.

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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.
The News

US Sen. Amy Klobuchar chairs her last Rules Committee hearing on Wednesday before handing the gavel to incoming chair Sen. Mitch McConnell  with a very important guest.

The Minnesota Democrats panel will host US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, and she expects Manger will say hes implemented all of the 103 bipartisan recommendations to shore up the Capitol after the security lapses on Jan. 6, 2021.

Its a culmination of a lot of hard work, Klobuchar told Semafor. It was an all-out reform of some of these systems.

Among the big changes: Hiring hundreds more police officers (including Manger, who came out of retirement), installing a new architect of the Capitol, and boosting police morale. The changes have put us in a better place, not just for January 6s, but for any large-scale event, Klobuchar said.
By Nivedita Balu

TORONTO (Reuters) - A former TD Bank employee based in Florida was arrested and charged with facilitating money laundering to Colombia, New Jersey's attorney general said on Wednesday, in the first such arrest since the Canadian lender paid a $3 billion fine.

TD Bank's U.S. arm pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to commit money laundering, becoming the first bank in the U.S. to do so. It also is the largest bank to plead guilty to U.S. Bank Secrecy Act program failures.

Regulators levied hefty fines, an asset cap and asked to install government-ordered monitors for, among other things, failures in TD's compliance system that enabled laundering of up to $670 million from the sale of narcotics.

Dozens of people have been arrested or charged in the U.S. in connection with money laundering involving TD in recent years.

In the latest case, Leonardo Ayala, 24, who worked at a TD Bank outlet in Doral, Florida between February and November 2023, is accused of assisting a money laundering network by issuing dozens of debit cards for accounts opened in the names of shell companies in exchange for bribes, court documents show.

Those accounts were used to launder proceeds from narcotic trafficking through cash withdrawals at ATMs in Colombia, according to a statement by New Jersey's attorney general.

"The investigation has revealed that millions of dollars were laundered to Colombia through accounts Ayala serviced," the statement said.

Ayala could not immediately be reached for comment.

"We identified the activity, reported it, and cooperated closely with authorities in their investigation. We continue to actively support their efforts," a TD spokesperson said.

In October, U.S. officials said TD bank employees received at least $57,000 in gift cards in 2020 and 2021 from one criminal who moved more than $400 million in transactions through the bank.

In one case, money laundering networks deposited funds in the U.S. and quickly withdrew them using ATMs in Colombia, ultimately laundering millions, the U.S. Justice department said in October. Five TD employees conspired with the network, the Justice Department said.

The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Paul Simao)
Policymakers in Beijing are watching closely for clues on how the coming Donald Trump administration will roll out its China policy in its first six months or so, a prominent China expert in the US said on Tuesday.

That would make 2025 crucial for both Beijing and Washington to manage their tensions and avoid a military confrontation over Taiwan, considered the most dangerous flashpoint between the two nuclear powers.

"The overall take I have is that we are very likely to see the worst and the most dangerous deterioration in the coming years, especially the first year," said Minxin Pei, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College in California.

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Minxin Pei is a political scientist affiliated with Claremont McKenna College in California. Photo: Winson Wong alt=Minxin Pei is a political scientist affiliated with Claremont McKenna College in California. Photo: Winson Wong>

"The question is how low the relationship between the two countries can sink and whether tensions will spiral out of control and trigger a direct military confrontation," said Pei.

If the two sides could manage their tensions in the first year, he added, particularly on Taiwan, "we should all celebrate".

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The assessment by Pei, an expert on Chinese governance, comes as policymakers in Beijing prepare with a mix of caution and anxiety for what is expected to be a harsh reset of the two countries' already fraught relations.

Since the US elections in early November, there have been few clear signs as to the precise path the Trump administration will take in its China policy.

The former and future president has filled his cabinet with a mix of hawkish voices and those harbouring close ties to Beijing.

They include Marco Rubio, a US senator from Florida sanctioned by Beijing, selected to be US secretary of state, and Mike Waltz, a US congressman also from Florida critical of many of Beijing's policies, chosen as national security adviser.

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Trump further named Peter Navarro, widely regarded as be the mastermind behind America's trade war with China who has been sanctioned by Beijing since 2021, as senior counsellor for trade and manufacturing.

The president-elect has vowed from his first day in office to impose additional 10 per cent tariffs on China, citing Beijing's role in the illicit drug trade.

Yet throughout his 2024 election campaign, Trump forged a close relationship with billionaire Elon Musk, the SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO who has extensive business ties in China and with some of Beijing's most senior officials.

Last week, Trump surprised many by announcing his nomination of businessman and former US senator David Perdue as ambassador to China.

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While Perdue has voiced tough views on China, he also possesses decades of experience doing business with the country as an executive for Reebok and Dollar General, both of which he led as CEO.

Even though Trump speaks very little about Taiwan, the self-ruled island remains a dangerous flashpoint between the rival superpowers, Pei said, because his hawkish nominees were likely to "test" Beijing's boundaries.

"The level of diplomatic exchange between China and the US is unlikely to function well with the hawks in charge," explained Pei. "But Musk has a direct line to Trump's ears, so he can ... probably give Trump some less hawkish advice."

Pei added that Beijing would like to hear directly from Trump whether he would adhere to the one-China policy and see what his nominees to lead the State and Defence departments have to say about Taiwan during their Senate confirmation hearings.

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Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary.

Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins conducts a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on September 20, 2024. Washington is committed to supplying Taiwan with weapons. Photo: US Navy alt=The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins conducts a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on September 20, 2024. Washington is committed to supplying Taiwan with weapons. Photo: US Navy>

In addition, Beijing would be "eager" to establish contact with the Trump administration after US Inauguration Day, January 20, Pei believed, particularly holding a meeting with Waltz.

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"If such a meeting takes place in the first three to six months, I think we should breathe some sigh of relief," he said.

"[Chinese President] Xi [Jinping] and Trump will not have a chance to meet until the fall, so if things do not get out of control before the fall, then that is a good sign."

As Trump's inauguration looms, Beijing has signalled its readiness to deal with potential challenges from the US.

Earlier this month, a day after the Joe Biden administration unveiled new restrictions on selling China chip technology, Beijing responded by blocking sales to the US of gallium, germanium and antimony.

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The critical minerals are essential to a range of civilian and military uses, from semiconductor manufacturing to advanced weaponry.

On Monday, the ruling Communist Party's Politburo, its major decision-making body, said in a statement that a "moderately loose" monetary policy would be adopted to expand domestic demand, the first time such a phrase has been used since 2009.

By attempting to shore up its domestic economy, Beijing seeks to bolster its position vis-a-vis Washington, Pei said.

"China is in a weakened position, mostly because their economy is stuck ... and that would not give them a lot of bargaining power," the professor explained.

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While it is widely expected that the US-China trade war will escalate after Trump takes office, Pei called hopes for a deal between the two sides optimistic and believed the worst scenario would be if tensions escalated beyond control.

For Beijing, a "black-swan scenario" could be an agreement reached between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war, Pei said.

During his campaign, Trump boasted about his friendship with the long-time Russian leader, claiming he could end the nearly three-year armed conflict "within 24 hours".

Following his recent meeting in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump on social media called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

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But Trump in an interview with NBC on the same day also suggested he would be open to reducing military aid to the war-torn country.

Pei said Trump could end US sanctions against Russia for a potential deal with Putin and that would create a "huge headache" for China.

This was so "because what Xi will be facing will be two challenges" in such a scenario. "One is that the US will shift attention to China, but at the same time ... Putin would move closer to the US."

In that case, Pei said, "tensions between the US and China could come via Moscow".

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.
The United States has condemned the Russian drone strike on a car belonging to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Source: US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink on  (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Brink noted that a Russian drone hit an IAEA car near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday, 10 December.

No one from the team inside the car was injured as a result of the attack.

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Quote: "The team, which survived, was there to ensure nuclear safety amid Russias takeover of Europes largest nuclear power plant. We condemn such attacks which endanger global nuclear safety."

Background:

In August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russians had started a fire on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and urged the IAEA and the international community to respond to the incident.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that the threat of an accident at the ZNPP would remain a serious reality until Ukraine regains control over it and its territorial integrity.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer called for de-escalation and talks amid a fire incident at the ZNPP.

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The Biden administration is considering implementing new, harsher Russian oil sanctions ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 10, citing its sources.

Oil revenues are a crucial source of funding for Russia's war machine, and have been repeatedly targeted by Western sanctions since the start of full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Although no concrete decisions have been made on the potential sanctions, sources familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg that a number of avenues are being explored, including sanctions on Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet.'

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The additional sanctions, targeting Russian oil tankers that carry billions of dollars worth of oil and oil products, may be unveiled in the coming weeks, the sources said.

The new sanctions are expected to be announced ahead of the January presidential inauguration, amid uncertainty over a future Trump administration's handling of peace negotiations.

While Trump has pledged to get the U.S. "out" of Russia's war and negotiate a quick peace deal, Ukrainian officials have urged the president-elect to maintain support and adopt a "peace through strength" approach in dealings with Russia.

As the White House prepares for a transition and President Joe Biden's influence diminishes in the lead-up to the inauguration, the new sanctions are under consideration amid declining oil prices, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.

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Following the U.S. presidential election, Biden has continued to implement hardline foreign policy decisions much to the detriment of Russia, including authorizing Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles for strikes inside Russia

On Nov. 21, the Biden administration imposed harsher sanctions on dozens of Russian banks, including Gazprombank, Russia's main conduit for energy-related payments  sinking the Russian ruble to levels it has not seen since March 2022, following the full-scale invasion.

The decisions to sanction Gazprombank stirred blowback from some Western allies, namely Hungary and Turkey  with officials fearing that similar strict future sanctions may drive up oil prices.

The latest discussions on additional sanctions comes the Biden administration rushes to deliver the remaining approximately $5 billion in military aid to Ukraine ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, amid concerns that a future Trump administration would halt weapons shipments before they reach Kyiv.

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Two administration officials told Politico on Nov. 6 that the White House plans to expedite the weapons delivery ahead of the January inauguration, as Trump has previously said he would cease military aid to Ukraine unless it agrees to hold peace negotiations with Russia.

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CAMP ASAKA, Japan (AP)  U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed confidence about enhanced military capabilities among the United States, Australia and Japan as he observed joint exercises Wednesday showcasing their closer cooperation as tensions grow in the region.

Austin is in Japan to reaffirm the importance of their alliance and Washingtons commitment to regional security.

Austin noted as he observed the trilateral Yama Sakura 87 exercises held at the Japanese armys Camp Asaka on the outskirts of Tokyo that the necessary equipment, munitions and people are in place and these are the things that will guarantee success if we ever get challenged on the battlefield.

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Japan, under a security strategy introduced in 2022, is pursuing a rapid military buildup to increase its deterrence against growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia, and has bolstered defense cooperation, especially with the United States and Australia.

On Tuesday, during talks with Japanese officials, Austin praised the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance at a time of rapid global political change, including unrest in South Korea and Syria.

He stressed that U.S. cooperation with Tokyo and Seoul is crucial for regional stability.

The scenario-based command post exercises began last Friday and are combined with the U.S. Armys Warfighter command post exercise for the first time, making it the largest since they began in 1982, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

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More than 7,000 servicemembers from the three countries are participating at multiple locations including Camp Kengun in southwestern Japan to simulate operations on remote islands as well as cross-domain operations including space and cyber defense, according to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The exercises end on Saturday.

___

Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.
TOKYO  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with officials in Japan on Tuesday to reaffirm the importance of their alliance and Washingtons commitment to regional security as threats rise from China and North Korea.

Austin also stressed that U.S. trilateral cooperation with Tokyo and Seoul is crucial for regional stability even as South Korea is in political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeols short-lived declaration of martial law last week.

Austins visit also came amid growing concerns over the safety of Osprey military aircraft, which have been grounded in the United States following a near crash at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico last month. The incident, caused by weakened metal components, was similar to a fatal crash off southwestern Japan last year.

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The U.S. measure prompted Japan to also ground its Ospreys. After confirming details with the U.S. military, Japans Ground Self-Defense Force has suspended operations of its 17 Ospreys, except for possible disaster relief and other missions, beginning Tuesday to prioritize safety, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

During their meeting, Austin and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba noted the collapse of the Syrian government and praised the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance at a time of rapid global political change.

The world can change drastically in a week, Ishiba told Austin, referring to political unrest in South Korea and Syria.

The U.S. defense chief, whose term ends in January when President-elect Donald Trump takes office, told Ishiba that he appreciated the steady alliance with Japan during very dynamic times and that he was proud of the modernization of alliance command and control, strengthening of force posture and deterrence capabilities over the past several years.

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Austin later met with Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani and noted Chinas coercive behavior in the East and South China Seas and North Korean support for Russias war in Ukraine as growing challenges.

Austin underlined U.S. commitment to advancing our historic trilateral cooperation" with South Korea. Washington's commitment of extended deterrence, including its nuclear umbrella, to Japan and South Korea is iron clad, he added.

Nakatani earlier told reporters that cooperation between Japan and the U.S., as well as with South Korea and other partners, is important as tensions escalate in the region.

The trilateral partnership between Japan, the U.S. and South Korea has significantly strengthened under President Joe Bidens administration, but faces new uncertainty amid ongoing political unrest in South Korea, which already led to the cancellation of Austins planned trip to that country.

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On Monday, Austin greeted crew members of the George Washington, a nuclear-powered flagship aircraft carrier docked at the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, near Tokyo.

Austin stressed the importance of U.S. cooperation with allies and partners in the region as he singled out China as the only country in the world with the intent and capability to change the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

We want to see this region remain open to freedom of navigation and the ability to fly the skies in international airways, Austin was quoted as saying on the Defense Department's website.

We will work with allies and partners to ensure we can do just that," he added.

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The U.S. carrier, which is under maintenance in Yokosuka, will carry the advanced F-35C stealth combat aircraft squadron currently based in the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Yamaguchi.

Mayuko Ono contributed to this report.
The News

The US gave Ukraine a $20 billion loan, funded by seized Russian assets.

The cash is a significant chunk of a planned $50 billion package agreed by G7 nations, and Washington said the idea was to make Russia bear the costs of its illegal war, instead of taxpayers. Outgoing US President Joe Biden is keen to back Kyiv before the accession of President-elect Donald Trump, who has described funding Ukraines defense as a drain on resources.

Washington is also mulling further sanctions on Russian oil, but other countries are apparently skeptical that the new administration will stay the course: Polish President Donald Tusk, usually ultra-hawkish on Moscow, acknowledged that peace talks could start as soon as this winter.
By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives passed a defense policy bill on Wednesday, governing a record $895 billion in annual military spending, despite inclusion of a controversial policy targeting gender-affirming care for transgender children.

The tally was 281-140 in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, sending it for consideration by the Democratic-led U.S. Senate.

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In addition to the typical NDAA provisions on purchases of military equipment and boosting competitiveness with archrivals like China and Russia, this year's 1,800-page bill focuses on improving the quality of life for the U.S. military.

It authorizes a 14.5% pay increase for the lowest-ranking troops, and 4.5% for the rest of the force, which is higher than usual. It also authorizes the construction of military housing, schools and childcare centers.

The bill bans the military health program, TRICARE, from covering gender-affirming care for the transgender children of service members if it could risk sterilization.

Including the provision in the bill, which sets policy for the Department of Defense, underscored how much attention transgender issues have gotten in U.S. politics and indicated Republicans plan to continue to highlight the politically polarizing topic.

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President-elect Donald Trump and many other Republicans blasted Democrats for supporting transgender rights during the 2024 election campaign, which ended with Republicans keeping control of the House and taking control of the Senate and White House starting next month.

'WOKE IDEOLOGY'

After it passed, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the measure as refocusing the military on its core mission. "Our men and women in uniform should know their first obligation is protecting our nation, not woke ideology," he said in a statement.

The measure did not include some other Republican proposals on social issues, including an effort to prohibit TRICARE from covering gender-affirming care for transgender adults and a measure that would have reversed the Pentagon's policy of funding travel for abortion for troops stationed in states where the procedure is banned.

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The massive bill is one of the few major pieces of legislation that Congress passes every year and lawmakers take great pride in having passed it every year for more than six decades.

The bill is a compromise between Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, reached during weeks of negotiations behind closed doors. House passage sends the measure to the Democratic-led Senate. Passage there would send it to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign into law or veto.

The NDAA authorizes Pentagon programs, but does not fund them. Congress must separately pass funding in a spending bill for the fiscal year ending in September 2025. That bill is unlikely to be enacted before March.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and David Gregorio)
The Associated Press (AP) has reported that US intelligence has determined that Russia may use its new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine "in the coming days". This has also been mentioned by Bloomberg.

Source: AP, citing a US official who provided this information at a closed briefing; Bloomberg; European Pravda

Details: The source noted that the United States views the Oreshnik missile more as an attempt at intimidation rather than a weapon that could alter the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine.

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They added that Russia only possesses a limited number of these missiles, and they carry a smaller warhead compared to other missiles Moscow frequently launches on Ukraine.

The official said that, according to US intelligence, Russia could launch the Oreshnik missile on Ukraine once again in the "coming days".

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By Gerry Doyle, Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa and Arathy J. Aluckal

(Reuters) - An SM-3 interceptor erupted into the night sky over Guam late on Tuesday, its engine briefly illuminating the northeast corner of the island as it accelerated toward its target: a ballistic missile.

U.S. Missile Defense Agency and military personnel monitored the radars and telescopic cameras tracking both projectiles; this was not an attack, but a complex test.

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Within minutes, the ballistic missile - air-launched from a U.S. Air Force C-17 - was pulverized by the kinetic energy of the SM-3.

(To view the graphic, click on )

The collision more than 600 kilometers (370 miles) up was a violent milestone in the United States' multibillion-dollar plan to turn its Western Pacific territory, closer to potential adversary China than any U.S. state, into one of the most heavily defended places on earth.

"We need the capability to deter the PRC from an attack on sovereign U.S. territory," said a U.S. defense official, referring to China by the initials of its formal name, the People's Republic of China. "The goal of whatever capability we put on Guam is defense of the homeland."

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Over the next decade, the U.S. government plans to emplace missile defenses at 16 sites around the island. They will use the best hardware in the country's arsenal, including the SM-3 Block IIA and SM-6, Patriot PAC-3 MSE, and THAAD missile systems, and a new, advanced radar, the AN/TPY-6, and short-range air-defense system, the Indirect Fire Protection Capability.

Linked to sensors on Guam and around the region, the batteries are meant to engage whatever China might throw at the island, home to crucial U.S. Air Force and Navy facilities, which the Pentagon sees as vital to projecting power into East Asia and the South China Sea.

That's the plan.

Reuters interviews with more than two dozen people, including analysts, government officials, civic leaders, senior U.S. military officers and technical experts, alongside planning and budget documents, show the project's impact will balance on a knife edge: complicating Chinese planning without simply turning the island into a missile magnet.

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The plan - a cornerstone of the U.S. Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which seeks to counter China in the region - faces headwinds as tensions tick upward. Building the island's missile defenses as envisioned will cost about $10 billion over the next decade. China will soon field the DF-27, which carries a hypersonic glide vehicle to evade interception. On Guam, residents worry that additional personnel will worsen a housing shortage, and strain infrastructure and public services. And a new administration in the White House may change the system's requirements or architecture.

At stake in the Dec. 10 test was a simple question of feasibility. A ballistic missile had never been shot down from Guam. Could an interceptor designed for ships be fired from land, guided for the first time by a new type of radar and hit a fast-moving target?

Although that question was answered, a thornier one remained: If China launched an all-out attack on Guam, home to more than 170,000 people, would a missile-defense system matter?

"If the Chinese are serious about taking out Guam  and if there's a war in Asia, I think they have to be  I don't see what the value of an air and missile defense system would be," said Leland Bettis, director at the Pacific Center for Island Security in Guam. "It is not a shield for Guam."

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GUAM'S IMPORTANCE

Guam is home to Andersen Air Force Base, whose runways can handle America's heaviest military aircraft, including nuclear-capable B-52 and B-2 bombers.

The base also houses the largest U.S. munitions storage area in the Air Force, according to the 36th Munitions Squadron, amounting to nearly 20 million pounds (about 9 million kg) of explosives.

Down the coast on the opposite side of the island from Andersen is Naval Base Guam, which serves five Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, and the U.S. Navy's only two specialized ships for tending subs at sea.

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Other military facilities include radar installations, facilities for communications and maintenance, and housing.

All of that supports forces that can project power into the South China Sea. Other U.S. military units are based closer to China, such as in Japan and South Korea. But Guam is part of the United States.

"Anything we are trying to get from the U.S. to INDOPACOM is going to land in Guam," said a senior U.S. defense analyst, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, referring to Indo-Pacific Command, which controls U.S. forces in the region. "It is the only reliable place that we can operate out of in a Taiwan Strait scenario or a conflict in the South China Sea."

The PLA could use a wider variety of weapons to hit American bases in countries closer to China, and may see that as less risky than striking U.S. territory on Day One of a conflict, said Oriana Skylar Mastro of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. She added that Guam, being more-distant, would be ideal for staging operations or regrouping for counterattacks.

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THE THREAT

Chinese military planners are well aware of Guam's significance, said Tong Zhao of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the People's Liberation Army has an enormous stockpile of weapons with which to attack it.

Many, however, require launch platforms: cruise missiles such as the YJ-63 and CJ-20, with ranges that can exceed 1,000 km, must be carried by aircraft or ships that are vulnerable to attack.

That leaves ballistic missiles as China's most likely option to strike the island. It has two conventional types that can do so: the DF-26 and DF-27.

The DF-26, nicknamed the "Guam Express," can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. The PLA Rocket Force has more than 250 launchers and 500 missiles, according to the most recent Pentagon estimates. It is accurate enough to hit a medium-sized building at a maximum range of 4,000 kilometers with more than a ton of high explosives.

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The DF-27 is not yet in service, according to the Pentagon. It is designed with a hypersonic glide vehicle warhead that can maneuver to the target, complicating matters for missile defenses.

The worst-case scenario, according to a missile defense program director granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, is a simultaneous attack involving all of the Chinese weapons that can strike Guam.

Many experts think that is unlikely. Besides the risk to Chinese ships and aircraft, the United States is working to ensure that its forces can be distributed around the region - investing in upgrades to Australian bases, for instance - so strikes cannot focus on a single location.

China's defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment about how the Guam project might affect Beijing's military planning, whether it would make the island more of a target or under what circumstances U.S. territory might be attacked. Last year, a ministry spokesperson said, "If Guam were to be an outpost to wage wars, it would not be secure even if it were armed to the teeth."

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MISSILE DEFENSE

Swatting down ballistic missiles is difficult. The targets and interceptors are moving at many times the speed of sound at altitudes ranging from a few thousand meters to above the International Space Station.

But missile defense technology has matured in recent years, some analysts say, pointing to successes in Ukraine and the Middle East. The Guam Defense System project will link the most modern U.S. equipment, creating a "layered" network.

"This is the hardest thing Missile Defense Agency has ever done in terms of complexity," said a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the program.

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At the heart of the system will be a ground-based version of the Aegis fire control used on U.S. Navy ships. Linked to Lockheed Martin AN/TPY-6 radars - as well as other radars and sensors around the region and in space - it can spot inbound missiles early in flight and, working with the Northrop Grumman Integrated Battle Command System, determine the optimal way of defeating them.

Challenges include limited ammunition, and modern ballistic missiles carry decoys and other countermeasures, which mean they may take several shots to destroy.

Stopping every missile in a massive attack is not realistic. But increasing the number China must fire to do meaningful damage - limiting what is available elsewhere and increasing the risk of unwanted escalation - complicates Chinese planning, said Sidharth Kaushal, a senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute in Britain.

"A credible missile defense system would not be one that intercepted every missile but stopped enough of the salvo to prevent the destruction the planner was hoping for," he said.

U.S. Rear Admiral Gregory Huffman, commander of Joint Task Force Micronesia, said that would "enhance the deterrent effect" and give pause to adversary strike planners.

ON THE GROUND

The 550-square-kilometre island is going to be a target no matter what, said Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. Adding missile defenses only makes it safer, she said.

"We realize the importance of a military presence here in the defense of the nation and the defense of our civilian population," Leon Guerrero said. "We are a peaceful island ... But deterrence is also very important in defense."

Others worry that fortifying Guam will make it more of a target. More than half of the 136 public comments on the plan submitted to the MDA last year involved concerns the defenses would invite a strike or be ineffective.

Guam's relationship with the U.S. military stretches back to the late 19th century. Since World War II, it has seen repeated military buildups; in 2012, before the missile defense project was proposed, the United States and Japan agreed to transfer 5,000 U.S. Marines to Guam from Okinawa, the first of whom were due to arrive in December.

Construction means more work for the island's companies, and a larger population means more spending. But Guam's construction workers are already fully occupied, said Catherine Castro, president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, estimating that the number of foreign workers would double to about 10,000 in coming years.

That's in addition to the estimated 1,000 U.S. personnel and 1,300 dependents associated with the missile defense program who would need housing, according to MDA estimates.

Such an influx would pile strain on an already severe housing shortage. The mean income on Guam is about $42,000, according to government data. The median home price is over $400,000, said Robert Underwood, Guam's congressman from 1993-2003 and former president of the University of Guam.

Because of Guam's status as a territory, its residents and government cannot reject any federal government plans for the island. So the question becomes what the island may get out of a military project, including investment in hospitals, education, emergency services or infrastructure, Underwood said.

"Inevitably there is sort of logic here: we are going to leverage the government interest and get something else," Underwood said. But, he added, that would not change "the overall direction of the plan."

Although all of the proposed sites for the system are on military property, explosions or debris could affect nearby civilian areas, Bettis said.

The MDA's draft environmental impact statement classifies ordnance risks as "long term, moderate and less than significant."

THE FUTURE

A key aim of the Guam Defense System project, planners say, is to prevent a conflict: if it is never used, it will be a success.

"This is trying to enhance deterrence by communicating to potential adversaries... that we would consider an attack (on Guam) an attack on the U.S. homeland," Skylar Mastro said.

The only way to know for sure whether the system works against a major missile attack is a scenario everyone on Guam hopes will never unfold. For now, a regime of regular flight tests will benchmark how well the missiles, radars and control systems work.

The project calls for up to two tests a year.

(Reporting by Gerry Doyle, Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa and Arathy J. Aluckal; additional reporting by Adolfo Arranz and Sudev Kiyada; editing by David Crawshaw, Rebecca Pazos and Simon Scarr.)
(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration is weighing new, harsher sanctions against Russias lucrative oil trade, seeking to tighten the squeeze on the Kremlins war machine just weeks before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

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Details of the possible new measures were still being worked out, but President Joe Bidens team was considering restrictions that might target some Russian oil exports, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

That step was something Biden had long resisted over fears it could trigger a spike in energy costs, especially in the run-up to last months presidential election. But with prices for oil slipping amid forecasts of a global surplus in 2025 and fears growing that Trump may seek to force Ukraine into a quick deal with Russia to end its nearly three-year-old war, the Biden administration is now open to more aggressive action, the people said.

The deliberations highlight how Bidens team is more willing to take risks in confronting Russia as it prepares to depart, especially with previous efforts to choke the Kremlins energy revenues yielding mixed results and average US gasoline prices hitting their lowest level since mid-2021. In its waning weeks, the administration has also moved to surge military and financial support to Ukraine amid questions about Trumps commitment to continued US support.

The US already bans imports of Russian oil but new restrictions on the exports of one of the worlds largest producers  which could involve singling out foreign buyers of its crude  would upend more than two years of policy set after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

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The administration was also weighing fresh sanctions aimed at the tanker fleet that Russia uses to transport its oil, the people said. The new limits on the so-called shadow fleet could be be unveiled in the coming weeks, according to the people.

The European Union is planning similar measures on Russias shadow fleet before the end of the year. The bloc also is expected to target individuals involved in the trade.

Spokespeople for the National Security Council and the Treasury Department declined to comment on Tuesday.

Its clear the departing Biden administration will try to leave a difficult legacy in US-Russia relations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday, in response to a question on the prospect of tougher oil sanctions, the Interfax news service reported.

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Oil prices barely budged on the news, underscoring the fact that Trump  who takes office on Jan. 20  may want to avoid inflation catalysts in the same way that Biden did.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine began, Moscow has by and large managed to keep its oil flowing  albeit to customers in Asia rather than Europe where it mostly went before the attack.

For most of this year, prices for the nations crude have also held above a Group of Seven-imposed cap that only permitted western services for cargoes purchased at $60 a barrel or less. That is in part because Russia turned to shadow-fleet tankers, often operating with unknown insurers or owners.

The price cap has tried to simultaneously restrict the flow of oil revenues while maintaining supplies, two goals that are in conflict with one another.

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One model for broader US sanctions could be to impose restrictions similar to those on Iranian oil. In that case, buyers of the oil face US punishment. Such a move would be fraught with risk, given that powerful countries including India and China are major consumers of Russian crude.

Most immediately, such limits could spike oil prices, causing global economic strain. Crude futures have held to a tight range since mid-October, with international benchmark Brent trading below $75 a barrel, compared with more than $120 in the months after Russias invasion.

It would also inflame tensions with adversaries and partners alike, whose help the US wants to limit exports of sensitive goods such as chips and other technology that fuel Russias war machine.

While the moves would seek to capitalize on a softer oil market, they would also be aimed at ratcheting up the pressure on Russia before Trump takes office. The president-elect has pushed for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, and current officials say they want to give the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as much leverage as possible heading into any talks.

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With that in mind, squeezing President Vladimir Putins finances even further could strengthen Ukraines negotiating hand. Theres a chance Trump could unwind measures if he felt they had inflated oil prices, but that risks the potential political cost of looking weak or offering Russia concessions too soon.

Russia has confounded predictions of an economic collapse after the US and its allies imposed unprecedented sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. After slumping initially, the economy rebounded strongly amid huge state spending on defense and measures to help shield domestic businesses from the sanctions. The economy may expand by 3.5% in 2024, according to a survey of 24 economists by Bloomberg News in November.

Still, Russia faces deepening challenges, with the ruble on the slide and the central bank hiking its key interest rate to a record 21% in October to try to curb inflation running at more than twice the 4% target. The bank has warned of the risks of stagflation as growth slows amid labor shortages while inflation remains high.

The latest move would follow restrictions the US rolled out last month on Gazprombank, the last major Russian financial institution that had been exempt from penalties. The Biden administration had previously decided not to levy sanctions against the bank, which European nations use to pay for the gas they still buy from Russia, for fear of causing turmoil in global commodity markets.

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Already, Hungary, as well as other countries that rely on Russian gas imports, have warned the US decision poses a potential risk for energy security. Turkey has also sought a sanctions waiver.

--With assistance from Daniel Flatley, Alaric Nightingale and Julian Lee.

(Updates with Kremlin comment in the ninth paragraph, additional details starting in the 10th.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
More than a year after Yemen-based Houthi rebels began an onslaught of missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea, the U.S. Navy is still fending off attempted strikes in the region.

U.S. Naval ships successfully resisted two instances of Houthi-launched attacks in the Gulf of Aden in a two-week span. The two destroyers, USS Stockdale and USS OKane, defeated a range of weapons launched at them, once during a Nov. 30-Dec. 1 transit bound for the Port of Djibouti, and again during a Dec. 9-10 voyage departing from the port.

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In both attacks, the Stockdale and OKane were escorting three U.S. owned, operated and flagged merchant vessels, according to statements from U.S. Central Command.

The attacks on the ships resulted in no injuries and no damage to any vessels, civilians or U.S. Naval members.

Overall, there have been 136 attacks on commercial vessels since last November, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a crisis monitoring organization. The attacks have lingered for so long that American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) president and CEO Steve Lamar recently penned a letter to President Joe Biden calling on the federal government to bolster efforts to protect commercial shipping in the conflict-ridden waterway.

The Iran-backed militant group has claimed the attacks will be maintained until Israel ends its war with Hamas, although many incidents have had no ties to Israel or its allies.

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Ocean carriers at large have still not committed to bringing container vessels back to the Red Sea until safety in the waterway is guaranteed. The most public stance has come from Gemini Cooperation partners Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, which are officially debuting their new vessel-sharing alliance on Feb. 1 without returning to the Suez Canal.

Maersk has said separately that it doesnt expect to return to the Suez until well into 2025, but at this point, industry analysts seem to believe any timetable is anyones guess. Maritime research consultancy Drewry isnt expecting full-scale Suez Canal transits to resume until 2026.

According to data from supply chain visibility provider Project44, 115 container vessels passed through the Suez Canal in November, a full 72 percent drop from the 422 that passed through in the year-ago period.

As the Red Sea crisis carries on, container ships at large will continue to take the long route around southern Africas Cape of Good Hope, which is tacking on an average of seven to 14 days of travel time and roughly 3,500 extra nautical miles.

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Shipments from southeast Asia to the U.S. East Coast now take 47 percent longer, says Project44, while shipments to Europe take 33 percent more time to arrive. Transit times from China to Europe have risen by 25 percent.

These container lines are burning through emissions for the effort. Supply chain consulting firm Inverto calculates that the Red Sea crisis has led the industry to pump out an extra 35.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in the past 12 months, equivalent to the emissions of 7.8 million cars.

While Hapag-Lloyd benefited from 5 percent more cargo volume in the first nine months of 2024, the longer voyage distances increased the liners total fuel consumption by more than 17.5 percent.

Maersk saw the same 5 percent boost in loaded volumes for the nine-month period, along with 15.7 percent more fuel consumption.

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According to Hapag-Lloyd chief financial officer Mark Frese in a November earnings call, the companys fuel costs increased following the inclusion of the shipping sector into the E.U.s emissions trading system (ETS).

Under Europes ETS in 2024, ocean carriers are being taxed on 40 percent their carbon emissions. That number will increase again to 70 percent in 2025 and will jump to 100 percent by 2026.

Frese said costs from the EU ETS get passed on to customers at a separate surcharge of $8 per 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU).

Passing on these costs to consumers via surcharges is ultimately how carriers will be able to navigate such rapid year-over-year increases in added taxes.

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Ironically, container shipping firms have been the biggest beneficiary of the Red Sea crisis due to the ensuing elevation in ocean freight rates throughout 2024. As of Dec. 5, ocean spot freight rates have soared 142 percent to $3,533 per 40-foot container, according to the Drewry World Container Index (WCI).

According to container shipping expert John McCown, the industry generated a total net income of $26.8 billion in the third quarter, up a whopping 856 percent from the $2.8 billion profit raked in during the year-ago period.
WASHINGTON (AP)  US officials warn Russia may use lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again in coming days.
By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday rejected Democratic President Joe Biden's nomination of a U.S. labor board official for a new term, giving President-elect Donald Trump a chance to cement Republican control of the agency soon after taking office.

The Senate voted 50-49 against holding a confirmation vote on the nomination of National Labor Relations Board Chair Lauren McFerran, whose term expires next week. Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, both Democrats who left their party during Biden's term after repeatedly bucking his legislative priorities, provided the decisive votes.

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Democrats could make another attempt to hold a vote, but it would likely be futile.

McFerran's nomination was strongly opposed by business groups and many Republicans, who cited a series of recent NLRB decisions and rules that they say unfairly favored unions.

The NLRB generally has three members from the president's party and two from the opposing party. Because their terms are staggered, control of the agency typically does not change hands for a year or two into an administration.

Without McFerran, Democrats will hold a 2-1 majority at the NLRB, which enforces workers' rights to join unions and advocate for better working conditions. That means Trump, who takes office next month, could move quickly to shepherd two nominees through the Senate.

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The Senate vote was praised by business groups. McFerrans tenure has been characterized by contentious decisions and legal challenges that have drained NLRB resources and overturned established legal precedents, said Glenn Spencer, vice president of employment policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the country's largest business lobby.

"The NLRB should be focused on promoting fairness, not tipping the scale in favor of a select few in organized labor at the expense of workers and businesses alike," he said.

The Chamber and other opponents of McFerran's nomination have criticized several recent board rulings, including ones that created a path to unionize outside of the longstanding secret ballot election process and made it more difficult to classify workers as independent contractors who cannot join unions. Trump's appointees to the board are widely expected to reverse those decisions.

The White House and an NLRB spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Biden had also nominated Joshua Ditelberg, a labor lawyer who represents companies, for a Republican seat on the board. Senate Democrats withdrew a motion to hold a vote on Ditelberg after the vote on McFerran.

Along with appointing new members, Trump is expected to fire NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, a Biden appointee who has aggressively pushed a number of legal arguments favored by unions since she was confirmed in 2021.

The general counsel acts like a prosecutor, bringing cases alleging illegal labor practices before administrative judges and then the five-member board, whose decisions can be appealed in federal appeals courts.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Daniel Wallis)
The US Department of State has approved the sale of F-16 aircraft maintenance services to Ukraine for a total of US$266.4 million.

Source: website of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Quote: "The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of F-16 Sustainment Services and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$266.4 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress."

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Details: The document states that official Kyiv requested the necessary services and equipment to support the operation of the F-16. These include, in particular:

Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS);

AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders (SKL);

certain modifications and maintenance support;

Engine Component Improvement Programme (CIP);

spare parts for aircraft and their engines;

support for repair and return of equipment, consumables and accessories;

software, weapons software support equipment, and classified and unclassified software and delivery support;

personnel training and training equipment;

technical and logistical services of the US government and contractors;

other related logistical support elements.

It is noted that this package of assistance will improve Ukraine's ability to counter current and future threats through a more powerful air defence system for self-defence and regional security missions.

The main contractors are Sabena (Charleroi, Belgium), Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (Fort Worth, Texas, USA), and Pratt and Whitney (East Hartford, Connecticut, USA).

Background: On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the second batch of F-16 aircraft from Denmark had already arrived in Ukraine.

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The Kurdish-led force controlling north-east Syria says it has reached a ceasefire with Turkish-backed fighters after the US stepped in to mediate a deal.

The Syrian National Army (SNA), a Turkish-backed coalition of disparate groups, attacked the city of Manbij, about 40km from the Turkish border, soon after the fall of the Assad regime.

At least 218 people have been killed in clashes between its fighters and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has occupied Manbij for eight years since taking it from Islamic State (IS).

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On Wednesday, Mazloum Abdi, the head of SDF, said that his fighters would withdraw from the area as soon as possible as their goal was to achieve a ceasefire across the whole of Syria.

We have reached a ceasefire agreement in Manbij via US mediation, he said.

Turkish state media published a video on Wednesday of what it claimed was a Manbij tunnel network large enough for vehicles, and said a drone attack was launched on a vehicle being used by reporters from its state broadcaster.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Turkish-backed factions had looted and burned homes in Manbij, and executed wounded soldiers in a hospital.

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The collapse of the Assad regime has sparked fears of a fresh outbreak of civil war between Turkish-backed rebels and Kurdish groups.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, considers the Kurdish enclave in north-east Syria, known as Rojava, as a safe haven for PKK insurgents who have carried out a decades-long insurgency against Ankara.

A top US Air Force general spoke with his Turkish counterpart to discuss the evolving security and efforts to promote peace and stability.

And Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defence, told reporters in Japan on Wednesday that Washington will continue to work with the SDF.

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On Wednesday Annalena Baerbock, Germanys foreign minister, urged Ankara as well as Israel not to jeopardise a peaceful transition in Syria.

We must not allow the internal Syrian dialogue process to be torpedoed from the outside, she said.

Syrians who had taken refuge in Lebanon have begun to return since the fall of Assad, despite the countrys future still hanging in the balance - Bilal Alhammoud/AFP via Getty Images

This week, Israel has launched strikes on military sites in Syria, ranging from weapons depots to naval vessels, and sent troops into a buffer zone east of the Golan Heights.

On Tuesday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that led the ousting of the Assad regime, said that it had taken control of the eastern city of Deir Ezzor from the SDF. Deir Ezzor is home to Syrias largest oil field and the SDF took over as regime forces fled last week.

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Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, arrived in Amman, the capital of Jordan, on Wednesday, and is preparing to travel to Turkey for talks over the future of Syria. Washington supported the SDF to destroy ISs caliphate a decade ago and continues to back its fighters to mop up any resurgence.

On Wednesday, Mr Mazloum warned that IS was exploiting the chaotic fall of the Assad regime.

ISIS is now stronger in the Syrian desert, the SDF leader told Sky News. Previously, they were in remote areas and hiding, but now they have greater freedom of movement since they face no issues with other groups and are not engaged in conflict with them.

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 could soon launch another attack against Ukraine using an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), according to a U.S. official.

The official said that Russia could fire its Oreshnik IRBM at Ukraine in the coming days in an attempt to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters.

We assess that the Oreshnik is not a game-changer on the battlefield, but rather just another attempt by Russia to terrorize Ukraine, which will fail, the official said.

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Russia only has a handful of the Oreshnik missiles, which carry a smaller warhead than other missiles that are regularly fired at Ukraine, the person added.

Ukraine has withstood all of Russias previous missile attacks, and Ukraine will withstand any future use of Oreshnik, the official said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last month that his forces had fired Oreshnik for the first time, a move that came just days after the U.S. allowed Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia.

The missile launch struck a military command center in Ukraine, Putin claimed, saying the missile could reach speeds of Mach 10, or more than 7,000 mph.

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IRBMs can reach targets up to 3,500 miles away.

The Biden administration is pushing to get Ukraine the last of some $5 billion into Ukraine before President-elect Trump takes office in January.

The official said Wednesday that they were focused on shipping more air defense missiles to Ukraine so Kyiv can respond to the full range of Russian missiles and drones.

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.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Russia could launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again soon, the Pentagon said Wednesday, as both sides wrestle for a battlefield advantage that will give them leverage in any negotiations to end the nearly 3-year war.

Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters in a briefing that an attack could be carried out in the coming days. She added that the U.S. does not consider this missile  called the Oreshnik  a game changer on the battlefield, but that the Russians are trying to use every weapon that they have in their arsenal to intimidate Ukraine.

She said the U.S. is basing its warning on a new intelligence assessment, but she couldn't provide any other details, including where Russia may strike.

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U.S. officials said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. was seeing the Russians make preparations for another launch of the missile, which was used for the first time last month. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive information.

The threat comes as President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and Western allies suggest that negotiations to do so could begin this winter.

Singh said the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine, including with additional air defense systems designed to protect the country against air assaults. Just days ago, the U.S. promised close to $1 billion in new security aid to Ukraine, including munitions for air defense.

The Russian Defense Ministry also suggested that Moscow is prepared to retaliate because Ukraine used six U.S.-made ATACMS missiles to strike a military air base in Taganrog in the southern Rostov region on Wednesday, injuring soldiers. It said two of the missiles were shot down by an air defense system and four others deflected by electronic warfare assets.

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This attack with Western long-range weapons will not be left unanswered and relevant measures will be taken, the ministry said in a statement.

This isn't the first time that U.S. officials have warned of potential Russian action or strategic moves, in part as a diplomatic effort to message Moscow and possibly sway decisions.

In the run-up to Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. openly discussed intelligence that Russia was readying troops to move on Kyiv. And later publicly said Moscow was positioning operatives in eastern Ukraine to conduct a false-flag operation that would create a pretext for its troops to invade.

According to the U.S. officials, Russia has only a handful of the Oreshnik missiles and they carry a smaller warhead than other missiles that Russia has regularly launched at Ukraine.

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Russia first fired the missile in a Nov. 21 attack against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Surveillance camera video of the strike showed huge fireballs piercing the darkness and slamming into the ground at astonishing speed. It was the first time the weapon was used in combat.

Within hours of the attack on the military facility, Russian President Vladimir Putin took the rare step of speaking on national TV to boast about the new, hypersonic missile. He warned the West that its next use could be against Ukraines NATO allies who allowed Kyiv to use their longer-range missiles to strike inside Russia.

The attack came two days after Putin signed a revised version of Russias nuclear doctrine that lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons. The doctrine allows for a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.

That strike also came soon after President Joe Biden agreed to loosen restrictions on Ukraines use of American-made longer-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory, and just one day after the U.S. said it was giving Ukraine antipersonnel mines to help it slow Russias battlefield advances.

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We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities, Putin said at the time.

He also warned that the new missile could be used against other Ukrainian sites, including the government district in Kyiv, and last month said the General Staff of the Russian military was selecting possible future targets, such as military facilities, defense plants or decision-making centers in Kyiv.

The Russian president declared that, while selecting targets for strikes with such systems as Oreshnik on the territory of Ukraine, we will ask civilians and nationals of friendly countries there to leave dangerous zones in advance.

Putin has hailed Oreshniks capability, saying its multiple warheads that plunge to a target at Mach 10 are immune from interception and are so powerful that the use of several of them in one conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack.

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Speaking Tuesday, Putin charged that a sufficient number of these advanced weapon systems simply makes the use of nuclear weapons almost unnecessary.

The Pentagon said the Oreshnik was an experimental type of intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, based on Russias RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM. They have said it is not technically a hypersonic missile as it does not have a hypersonic glide vehicle that propels the missile for most of the launch and re-entry.

Intermediate-range missiles can fly between 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,400 miles). Such weapons were banned under a Soviet-era treaty that Washington and Moscow abandoned in 2019.

Fighting has escalated in the grinding war as both Russia and Ukraine scramble to get an upper hand in any coming negotiations. Trump's inauguration next month has also raised questions about how much support the U.S. will continue to provide to Kyiv.

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Trump has insisted in recent days that Russia and Ukraine immediately reach a ceasefire and said Ukraine should likely prepare to receive less U.S. military aid. Writing on social media last weekend, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would like to make a deal and stop the madness.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, announced a $988 million long-term aid package last weekend. That funding is on top of an additional $725 million in U.S. military assistance, including counter-drone systems and HIMARS munitions, announced early last week that would be drawn from the Pentagons stockpiles to get them to the front lines more quickly. The U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $62 billion in military aid since Russias invasion in February 2022.
(Reuters) - The U.S. government is weighing new, harsher sanctions against Russia's lucrative oil trade, seeking to tighten the squeeze on the Kremlin's war machine just weeks before Donald Trump returns to the White House, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.

The details of the new measures are not yet finalized but President Joe Biden's team was considering restrictions that might target some Russian oil exports, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

(Reporting by Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Five men were indicted on several charges in connection to three murders and a drive-by shooting that happened in Washington, D.C., according to the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia (USADC).

On Monday, Dec. 9, the attorneys office announced that 21-year-old Dionzai Parker, also known as Moneybag Jefe, was arrested by the United States Marshals Service on a bench warrant.

Officials said this came after a grand jury returned a third superseding indictment which charged Parker with, among other counts, conspiracy and the first-degree murder of 37-year-old Brice Djembissi, of Hyattsville, Md.

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On Feb. 25, 2023, Parker was inside a stolen Jeep Compass in the 2200 block of Savannah Street SE when he and two others fired about 70 rounds from a rifle in the direction of Shipley Market, according to the indictment.

Montgomery County restaurant manager charged after using customers credit card, police say

The USADC said that during the shooting, Djembissi, who was a Prince Georges County Public School teacher and part-time Uber driver, was struck while dropping off a customer, and two other bystanders were hit. Djembissi died from his injuries days later.

The same indictment also charged four men from D.C. and Maryland: Derrico Johnson, 20, Ronald Henderson, 19, Daveon Robinson, 18 and Demarco Robinson, 20, according to officials.

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The group was indicted on charges in connection to three homicides: the April 12, 2022 murder of Clayton Marshall, the May 26, 2022 murder of Justin Johnson, and the murder of Djembissi. The men were also indicted on a fourth drive-by shooting that took place at the Alabama Convenience Store.

The 33-count third indictment charged the group with conspiracy along with the following charges:

Derrico Johnson with two counts of first-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from the murder of Marshall and the May 26, 2022 murder of Justin.

Ronald Henderson with one count of first-degree murder while armed and four counts of assault with intent to kill stemming from the murder of Justin and the drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store.

Daveon Robinson with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from the drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store;

Takoma Park mother mourns son who died after being stabbed in DC

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According to the attorneys office, in April, Johnson exited a stolen car in the 220 block of Savanah Street SE and began shooting toward Shipley Market. Officials said during the shooting, Marshall was killed and was not believed to be the intended target.

On May 26, Johnson, Henderson and another person walked to Savannah Terrace Circle after Justin, also known as 23 Rackz, posted his location on his Instagram page. According to the indictment, they fired 11 shots, and two bullets hit Justin.

Justin died a few minutes later inside an apartment building. He was 16 years old.

The USADC said on Jan. 2, 2023, Henderson, Robinson and Parker were riding in a vehicle with another unnamed teen when the group approached the Alabama Convenience Store, and Henderson and Robinson began shooting toward the store, injuring two people, according to the attorneys office.

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Officials said the five men are members of the Get Back Gang, which is associated with the Henson Ridge neighborhood. Over the past several years, the five men and others have participated in several homicides and non-deadly shootings, according to the USADC.

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.
The welcome screen for the OpenAI ChatGPT app is displayed on a laptop screen in a photo illustration. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.)

Across the U.S. and worldwide, energy demand is soaring as data centers work to support the wide and growing use of artificial intelligence. These large facilities are filled with powerful computers, called servers, that run complex algorithms to help AI systems learn from vast amounts of data.

This process requires tremendous computing power, which consumes huge quantities of electricity. Often, a single data center will use amounts comparable to the power needs of a small town. This heavy demand is stressing local power grids and forcing utilities to scramble to provide enough energy to reliably power data centers and the communities around them.

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My work at the intersection of computing and electric power engineering includes research on operating and controlling power systems and making the grid more resilient. Here are some ways in which the spread of AI data centers is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry is responding.

Upsetting a delicate balance

Electricity demand from data centers can vary dramatically throughout the day, depending on how much computing the facility is doing. For example, if a data center suddenly needs to perform a lot of AI computations, it can draw a huge amount of electricity from the grid in a period as short as several seconds. Such sudden spikes can cause problems for the power grid locally.

Electric grids are designed to balance electricity supply and demand. When demand suddenly increases, it can disrupt this balance, with effects on three critical aspects of the power grid:

Voltage can be thought of as the push that makes electricity move, like the pressure in a water hose. If too many data centers start demanding electricity at the same time, its like turning on too many taps in a building at once and reducing its water pressure. Abrupt shifts in demand can cause voltage fluctuations, which may damage electrical equipment.

Frequency is a measurement of how electric current oscillates back and forth per second as it travels from power sources to load demand through the network. The U.S. and most major countries transmit electricity as alternating current, or AC, which periodically reverses direction. Power grids operate at a stable frequency, usually 50 or 60 cycles per second, known as hertz; the U.S. grid operates at 60 Hz. If demand for electricity is too high, the frequency can drop, which can cause equipment to malfunction.

Power balance is the constant real-time match between electricity supply and demand. To maintain a steady supply, power generation must match power consumption. If an AI data center suddenly demands a lot more electricity, its like pulling more water from a reservoir than the system can provide. This can lead to power outages or force the grid to rely on backup power sources, if available.

Peaks and valleys in power use

To see how operating decisions can play out in real time, lets consider an AI data center in a city. It needs 20 megawatts of electricity during its peak operations  the equivalent of 10,000 homes turning on their air conditioners at the same time. Thats large but not outsize for a data center: Some of the biggest facilities can consume more than 100 megawatts.

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Many industrial data centers in the U.S. draw this amount of power. Examples include Microsoft data centers in Virginia that support the companys Azure cloud platform, which powers services such as OpenAIs ChatGPT, and Googles data center in The Dalles, Oregon, which supports various AI workloads, including Google Gemini.

The centers load profile, a timeline of its electricity consumption through a 24-hour cycle, can include sudden spikes in demand. For instance, if the center schedules all of its AI training tasks for nighttime, when power is cheaper, the local grid may suddenly experience an increase in demand during these hours.

Heres a simple hypothetical load profile for an AI data center, showing electricity consumption in megawatts:

6 a.m.-8 a.m.: 10 MW (low demand)

8 a.m.-12 p.m.: 12 MW (moderate demand)

12 p.m.-6 p.m.: 15 MW (higher demand due to business hours)

6 p.m.-12 a.m.: 20 MW (peak demand due to AI training tasks)

12 a.m.-6 a.m.: 12 MW (moderate demand due to maintenance tasks)

Ways to meet demand

There are several proven strategies for managing this kind of load and avoiding stress to the grid.

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First, utilities can develop a pricing mechanism that gives AI data centers an incentive to schedule their most power-intensive tasks during off-peak hours, when overall electricity demand is lower. This approach, known as demand response, smooths out the load profile, avoiding sudden spikes in electricity usage.

Second, utilities can install large energy storage devices to bank electricity when demand is low, and then discharge it when demand spikes. This can help smooth the load on the grid.

Third, utilities can generate electricity from solar panels or wind turbines, combined with energy storage, so that they can provide power for periods when demand tends to rise. Some power companies are using this combination at a large scale to meet growing electricity demand.

Fourth, utilities can add new generating capacity near data centers. For example, Constellation plans to refurbish and restart the undamaged unit at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania, to power Microsoft data centers in the mid-Atlantic region.

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In Virginia, Dominion Energy is installing gas generators and plans to deploy small modular nuclear reactors, along with making investments in solar, wind and storage. And Google has signed an agreement with California-based Kairos Power to purchase electricity from small modular nuclear reactors.

Finally, grid managers can use advanced software to predict when AI data centers will need more electricity, and communicate with power grid resources to adjust accordingly. As companies work to modernize the national electric grid, adding new sensor data and computing power can maintain voltage, frequency and power balance.

Ultimately, computing experts predict that AI will become integrated into grid management, helping utilities anticipate issues such as which parts of the system need maintenance, or are at highest risk of failing during a natural disaster. AI can also learn load profile behavior over time and near AI data centers, which will be useful for proactively balancing energy and managing power resources.

The U.S. grid is far more complicated than it was a few decades ago, thanks to developments such as falling prices for solar power. Powering AI data centers is just one of many challenges that researchers are tackling to supply energy for an increasingly wired society.

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Anurag Srivastava, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The Journal Sentinel reported on Nov. 3 that a committee of 18 people recommended that the legislature split off UW-Madison from the states public university system.

The vote by the committee was partisan. The Republican legislators on the committee and their supporters voted to recommended the split. The Democratic legislators on the committee and their supporters voted against it.

The dispute goes back to 2011 when former Gov. Scott Walker proposed splitting off UW-Madison, along with imposing a significant budget cut for the University. He also opposed existing tenure provisions and shared governance.

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It was a bad idea then  and now.

Idea to break off UW-Madison began under Scott Walker's administration

The move was billed by Walker as a shift of resources to workforce development. That is a distraction. Wisconsin was and is fifth in the nation in per-student spending on vocational and technical education.

The UW System was created to increase access to higher education across the geography of the state and across the income divide. It provided an array of two and four- year campuses. In addition, it added UWM as the urban doctoral campus akin to UCLA in the California University System.

Opinion: UW-Milwaukee won't retain top status with more cuts. Wisconsin could fall behind.

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This array of campuses joined the outstanding campus at UW-Madison, akin to U.C. Berkeley. The stakeholders in the strong research faculties include students, but also businesses, professional and cultural enterprises and advanced manufacturers. UW-Madison and UWM are the two research institutions in Wisconsin recognized by the Carnegie Commission as Research One, their highest designation.

Under the Walker plan pushed by the committee, UW-Madison would have its own Board of Regents, while the collection of relegated campuses would have a separate Board of Regents. These boards would fight each other for resources from the Legislature.

In addition, the exiled campuses would lose the UW brand, which has been essential for UWM and the other campuses to hire more qualified faculty, and to compete more effectively for grants, contracts and other outside money and special assignments. The UW brand is also essential to attract students, who benefit from graduating from a UW institution.

First step in split came with rebranding 'The Universities of Wisconsin'

A divisive step to impose this plan has already taken place. The Madison campus will now be labeled as The University of Wisconsin, while the rest of the campuses, including UWM, are rebranded as The Universities of Wisconsin.

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Opinion: UW is running campuses like corporations. Wisconsin colleges are suffering.

This is no time to be downgrading one of the worlds most important systems of public universities. UW System President Jay Rothman, UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, and Gov. Tony Evers have all publicly opposed this splitting off of UW Madison, a fugitive relic of the Walker years.

Everyone else should too.

William Holahan is an emeritus professor of economics and former chair of the Economics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Matthew Flynn is a retired attorney and member of the Board of Visitors of UWM.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW System would suffer from plan to break apart colleges | Opinion
Shield AIs novel vertical take-off and landing V-BAT drone is growing in stature, with steadily increasing orders, a new variant, and most notably with a recent series of successful missions flown over Ukraine. While in that war zone the drones were able to deliver reliable effects despite operating in the most dense electronic warfare combat environment in the world.

V-BATs were initially tested in Ukraine in June 2024 to evaluate how they performed in the face of just this kind of enemy interference. According to a Ukrainian report the V-BATs were able to operate unhindered, even when they flew very close to Ukrainian jamming systems. A follow-up battlefield experiment in Ukraine in August saw V-BATs locate Russian surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries before relaying targeting data back to Ukrainian forces so that M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HiMARS, could attack and destroy the SAM sites.

V-BAT trials in Ukraine proved extremely successful. Shield AI

The Ukraine experiments clearly demonstrated how V-BAT is able to operate in a highly complex modern battlespace, with its embedded artificial intelligence working hand-in-hand with its suite of onboard sensors. As a package, the V-BAT offers a relatively low-cost unmanned aerial system (UAS) capability with significant endurance that can take off and land nearly anywhere and can operate in cooperative swarms to tackle complex missions. These include intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and targeting tasks in higher-threat environments.

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Armor Harris is Shield AIs vice president of aircraft engineering, where he leads the development of V-BAT. Harris came to Shield AI from SpaceX, where he was the responsible engineer for developing the propulsive landing capability on Falcon 9 and was also head engineer for the Starlink satellite constellation.

In Ukraine, there has been a massive emphasis on a fourth-generation fighter capability in the form of the F-16, yet F-16s cant get anywhere close to the front-line because of the surface-to air-missile [SAM] systems that are prevalent here, Harris says.

V-BAT is able to operate without GPS in a hostile communications-jamming environment. It can fly into an area, locate and identify targets, and fly missions way out ahead of fighter aircraft. Historically, the suppression of enemy air defense [SEAD] mission has been considered to be a role for fighter aircraft, but now weve proved in Ukraine that a V-BAT in the danger zone can team with a stand-off weapon such as HiMARS to execute the mission, which is a very effective strategy.

Shield AIs Armor Harris, pictured in the center. Shield AI

The V-BATs ability to persist in areas where GPS isnt reliable is a key part of its effectiveness, according to Harris. Part of being able to fly without GPS is about knowing where you are without GPS. If youre able to do that, you just need to refine that position estimate enough to generate target quality grids and tracks, and then pass that data back. V-BAT has a navigation system that doesnt require GPS, and a communications system thats able to operate in that highly jammed environment. Weve put it up against the best jammers that Russia has, and its been able to take those head-on.

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We see a lot of small, one-way attack drones in Ukraine, but what makes V-BAT unique is that theres nothing else in the theater that is comparable in its size category, that can be driven around in a truck, can launch vertically from pretty much anywhere, and carry sensors that are comparable with those carried on much larger aircraft.

The small drone with big missions

Technological advances mean that mission payloads are shrinking in size. What 40 years ago may have required a U-2 Dragon Lady, or 20 years ago may have needed a large UAS to carry them, can today be accommodated by a drone as small as the 9-feet-long V-BAT. From a sensor standpoint, theres a wide variety of electro-optical and infrared sensors that are carried in the nose of the V-BAT, explains Harris. We can carry a couple of different models of Synthetic Aperture Radar [SAR] on the belly of the aircraft and a SIGINT [signals intelligence] payload that can be carried with antennas distributed across the aircraft. We also carry a wide area visual camera search system known as Visual Detection and Ranging, or ViDAR. You can read more about Shield AIs ViDAR system here.

Shield AI has also developed a sensor payload known as Sentient Tracker, which combines artificial intelligence with Shield AIs (formerly Sentient Vision Systems) moving target indicator. Its AI-enabled tracking allows operators to automatically detect moving objects within electro-optical (EO) or infrared (IR) full-motion video.

During a recent demonstration, the Shield AI team performed a search over an area twice the size of Dallas, in about 90 minutes, explains Harris. That demonstration enabled us to get an image file of every person and every single vehicle in that entire area. Comparing that to a moving target indicator radar image, for example, where you get loads of little dots on a map, with our system you get an actual image.

A V-BAT launches for a maritime mission. Shield AI

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The camera array on the V-BAT feeds raw data into a processing algorithm thats running onboard. The AI software sifts that data and downloads pertinent information to the ground station, along with the coordinates, says Harris. This means theres no requirement to transmit five different feeds of 8K video that would blow your bandwidth, youre just sending the things you really need to see. For example, you might see a vehicle driving down a street and with this system you have the resolution to decide if its weaponized or not.

While the V-BAT carries a smaller camera than some of the bigger platforms, and therefore it cant see as far, V-BAT is a one-million-dollar-class aircraft, so you can afford to procure and operate many more of them. Now you have a swarming team of four V-BATs monitoring that same area, which is a very powerful tool.

The V-BATs weapons capabilities elevate it from a versatile uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to a powerful tactical asset. For example, in May 2023 during the U.S. Army Futures Commands EDGE exercise, V-BAT successfully delivered a live glide munition known as Hatchet, a miniature precision strike weapon with GPS and laser guidance. This showcased its potential to deliver kinetic payloads with precision and efficiency. Configured with a belly bay for payload delivery, and with a new generation of V-BAT being equipped with wing hardpoints for external payload carriage, the V-BAT offers the flexibility to serve as a long-range, reusable loitering munition capability, further enhancing its battlefield utility.

Armor Harris inside the V-BAT production facility. Shield AI

Superiority through mass

Intelligent teams of drones are being developed to tackle a range of modern-day missions. A team of V-BATs not only offers a versatile range of mission roles, but also adds a level of survivability.

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There are three basic methods that we consider relevant in terms of survivability in a contested environment, Harris explains. The first is to be faster than everybody else, which is what the SR-71 Blackbird did  it could outrun the interceptors. The west has also invested heavily in stealth designs to avoid a platform being targeted by radar, but that has resulted in platforms becoming dramatically more expensive over time. The third way, and part of the rationale behind V-BAT, is to be more numerous than your opponent.

Harris says if you can beat the cost curve, you can operate greater numbers of platforms, and therefore potentially operate in a denied environment just as effectively as the exquisite platforms. Weve seen genuine realization that you can in many instances achieve the mission of a multimillion-dollar-class super exquisite aircraft with a team of much cheaper, more numerous, drones. Sure, some of them might get shot down, but those that survive will be able to complete the mission. Theres also the matter of getting them to where you need to launch them. V-BAT doesnt require a huge airfield and doesnt need a complex refueling operation to get to where it needs to be.

In the Cold War it was all about mass. Then it evolved to be about exquisite capabilities. Now, the technology has evolved again, and we are right back at mass again, and thats really been enabled by autonomy. The fundamental limiters were cost and the number of trained pilots, and not wanting to put those highly trained pilots at risk. Today, with the ability to operate autonomous aircraft, it unlocks mass once again.

V-BATs ready to be shipped. Shield AI

V-BAT on the rise

Shield AI has delivered about 250 V-BATs to date, which are in service with a range of operators in the U.S. and around the world. In some cases they have replaced legacy unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms of various sizes, and in others they have been used to establish completely new drone programs for customers.

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U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the U.S. Marine Corps have now been joined by the U.S. Coast Guard as a third domestic V-BAT operator. We will start flying with the Coast Guard in 2025, says Harris. Operators are realizing that V-BAT is quite unique. It can do much of what an MQ-4 or MQ-9 can do, but they can launch it anywhere and carry it around on the back of a truck or on a ship.

During the recent operations in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy has been launching waves of fighter aircraft, burning a lot of gas, operating fully loaded and waiting for Houthi targets to appear. Theyve been bottlenecked by the ability to find, fix, and engage these fleeting targets quickly, because theyre up against a smart adversary. The Houthis are popping up, launching, and quickly going back into hiding. You actually need a persistent, wide area search capability to pinpoint these kinds of targets fast.

We see the targeting mission as being extremely critical. If we can target, we can support a stand-off weapon as a far more effective combination. V-BAT operations are highly automated, and Harris says its as simple as touching on a digital map where you want it to operate. We have settled on four aircraft as a V-BAT team, partly because of what we have seen during operations in the Red Sea. The Houthis have been able to down some of the larger drones, so four V-BATs give us some redundancy while being able to cover the same search area as a single larger Group 5 drone.

Shield AIs facility in Texas is the heart of V-BAT production. Shield AI

The Batcave

Shield AI manufactures V-BATs at its plant in Dallas, Texas, known affectionately as the Batcave, and Harris says the company can easily build one V-BAT per day, and that the facility is capable of supporting a daily production rate of six-to-10, or more.

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We manufacture approximately half of the components in house and the other parts that are supplied to us are mainly machine parts, composites, as well as cast and forged parts. Our new generation of V-BAT that we are launching soon is the first to field a heavy-fuel [JP-5 and Jet-A] engine, where the previous engine ran on gasoline. From a logistics standpoint this will make a huge difference with integration to militaries around the world.

Harris says the new V-BAT iteration also provides fully autonomous launch and landing, which will be entirely without operator intervention. The current V-BAT requires a groundcrew to set it up, to stabilize it ready for launch, and to control it for initial take-off and landing. The new version does away with all of that, you can just stand it up on its small launch pad and literally press go.

V-BAT has a huge throttle range, which makes the powerplant pretty challenging to get absolutely right, because its a big beast to get vertically off the ground, but then once its airborne you want maximum endurance, that means burning as little fuel as possible while in the air.

V-BATs on the production line in the Batcave. Shield AI

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The priority for V-BAT employment is to stay on station for as long as possible, which can be in excess of 12 hours. It actually wants to fly very slow, around 50 knots in loiter mode, but it can also dash at a faster speed, Harris explains. It will also generally sit up at around 15,000 feet, which is a big advantage as its away from a lot of the ground threats.

The new variant is slightly bigger, and its take-off weight has increased from 130 pounds to 155 pounds. So, you can carry more fuel, more payload, and it has longer endurance. Having a lot more computer power onboard is also going to open up all kinds of missions that current V-BATs arent undertaking today.

The level of expertise and technological knowhow at Shield AI is a critical enabler of the types of advanced capability that the company is developing. It places huge emphasis on the quality of its engineers, who are working at the bleeding edge of drone and AI technology.

In the U.S. over the last 20-30 years, too few talented young people in technology and engineering have considered working in defense. With the global situation, even a small percentage of these engineers could make a significant impact.

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This is technology that drives the outcome of conflicts, making it critical to attract more talent to this space. At Shield AI, the best ideas win, whether they come from an intern or the CEO  its the ultimate meritocracy.

Contact the author: jamie.hunter@teamrecurrent.io
Vandals attacked a Jewish area of Sydney overnight, torching a stolen car and scrawling antisemitic words on walls, prompting a swift response from authorities who say antisemitism has no place in multicultural Australia.

The attack in the eastern suburb of Woollahra comes as police search for three suspects over an arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Friday and follows other antisemitic attacks by vandals in Sydney.

The spate of attacks has prompted authorities to set up a special task force, Operation Avalite, to tackle antisemitism and increase patrols of Jewish sites including schools and synagogues.

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Speaking Wednesday alongside the New South Wales Police Commissioner and Jewish community leaders, state Premier Chris Minns said the latest vandalism was a deliberate attack designed to put fear into the hearts of the people that live in Sydneys east.

He said hed spoken to Israels Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, on Wednesday and assured him that authorities took the matter very seriously.

I made it very clear to him that we regarded this as a disgusting display of antisemitism, and that the vast, vast majority of people that live in New South Wales are horrified by it and recognize Israel as an ally and friend of Australia, Minns said.

Maimon also took to social media platform X to condemn the attack. This rising tide of antisemitism must end now, he said.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack had no place in Australia.

Australians want to live peacefully side by side and Australians reject this abhorrent criminal behavior, he told ABC Radio National. This is not a political act. This does not change anything that is occurring on the ground in the Middle East. This is an attack against their fellow Australians.

The destroyed interior of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne. - Amir Maimon/X (formerly Twitter)

Rising antisemitism

Australias Jewish community has reported thousands of antisemitic incidents in the past year, as tensions rise over Israels unrelenting offensive in Gaza following Hamas October 7 attack.

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 taken hostage by Hamas fighters on that day, according to Israeli authorities. In the year since, Israel has bombed the coastal strip in pursuit of Hamas and the return of the hostages, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

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The conflict has spilled onto Australian streets in the form of pro-Palestinian rallies, including at university campuses that mirrored student protests in the United States.

At the same time, the Jewish community has reported a rise in antisemitic incidents that include a previous attack in Woollahra in November when 10 cars were damaged and graffiti was scrawled on nearby buildings. Two men ages 19 and 20 have been charged with multiple offenses.

Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), said the most recent Woollahra attack was completely predictable because authorities had failed to adequately respond to previous incidents.

Weve seen a progression from increasingly aggressive and hateful street rallies, the burning of flags, slogans daubed on public buildings and graffiti, the intimidation and vilification of individuals, a surge in online hatred to now this, he told CNN.

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Its predictable It moves from the online space and from words to actions, and the fear in the community now is that someones going to get killed very soon.

Ryvchin said the deployment of extra police to Jewish sites is necessary in the circumstances, but the Jewish community does not want more guards, more fences, higher walls.

None of that makes anyone feel safer. It makes people feel more insecure, more vulnerable, he said.

Ryvchin said a longer-term solution lies in education to teach people about this form of hatred and what it does to communities and what it does to society and humanity.

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Later Wednesday, Albanese said 8.5 million Australian dollars ($5.4 million) would be spent on redeveloping Sydney Jewish Museum to promote greater understanding of Jewish culture and the contribution of Jewish Australians to the country.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Francis presided over his weekly general audience Wednesday alongside a Palestinian-crafted Nativity scene that was missing its eyebrow-raising signature element: a keffiyeh-draped manger holding the infant Jesus.

The wooden Nativity scene in the Vaticans main audience hall had generated headlines when it was unveiled Dec. 7 because of the presence of the keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered headscarf that has become a potent symbol of the Palestinian cause.

Pope Francis had prayed before the creche briefly that day when he greeted the artists and donors responsible for all the Vaticans Christmas decorations this year, which include various depictions of the manger in a Bethlehem stable where Jesus is said to have been born.

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This year, the Nativity scenes were made by Bethlehem-based artisans. Representatives of the Palestinian Embassy to the Holy See, as well as special representatives of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, had been on hand at the Vatican that day for the unveiling.

By Wednesday, when Francis was seen again in the audience hall, the keffiyeh, manger and infant Jesus had been removed from the Nativity scene, while the figures of parents Mary and Joseph remained. While it is tradition in the Vatican for the infant Jesus to only be placed in the manger on Dec. 24, when Catholics celebrate the birth of Jesus, often the mangers remain in the scenes empty until that date.

The Christ figure had apparently been placed in the manger on Dec. 7 to show off the finished product while the donors, artisans and pope were there to see it.

A Palestinian official said the Vatican had removed the keffiyeh without explanation, and it was unclear whether it would be restored on Dec. 24. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.

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The official Palestinian news agency WAFA, in its report on the unveiling, noted the significance of the Jesus figure being wrapped in a keffiyeh.

During the encounter with the Christmas donors, Francis again referred to the martyred Palestine and, noting the broader conflict, repeated his call for an end to war. The Holy Land, including Bethlehem, is home to a small Christian community.

Let us remember the brothers and sisters who, instead, right there and in other parts of the world, are suffering from the tragedy of war," he said. "With tears in our eyes, let us raise our prayer for peace. Brothers and sisters, enough war, enough violence!

Francis has called for Hamas to release hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but he has long been sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. He recently caused an uproar when he called for an investigation to determine if Israel's attacks in Gaza constituted genocide.

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Two Palestinian children presented the pope with a Bethlehem Star award, which WAFA said was a powerful reminder of the suffering and sorrow endured by Palestinian children amid the ongoing Israeli war and blockade in Gaza.

The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See declined to comment on whether it had complained about the keffiyeh creche or asked for it to be removed. Vatican officials merely recalled Vatican tradition that calls for the infant Jesus to only appear in the manger on Christmas Eve.

PLO executive committee member Ramzi Khoury who attended the unveiling, expressed deep gratitude for what he said was the popes unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and his tireless efforts to end the war on Gaza and promote justice, WAFA said.

Coincidentally, Francis on Thursday is due to meet Abbas, the Palestinian president, at the Vatican.

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___

Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
EL RENO  Handcuffed and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit while slumped in a Canadian County Courthouse witness stand, admitted murderer Vaughn Cannon bowed his head and uttered three words when a prosecutor asked him to look at the nearby image of his dead wife on their bed. He had shot the woman in the face a dozen times.

I will not, he said.

Cannon, a 42-year-old former Cleveland County sheriffs deputy, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2023 shooting death of Jordan Cannon, 40, who also was a deputy in Cleveland County.

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Vaughn Cannon previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder without a plea agreement in place. He waived his right to a trial. Canadian County District Court Judge Paul Hesse imposed the sentence.

In asking for the sentence, Nathan Rusty Pyle, Jordan Cannons father, told Hesse it had been 466 days since his daughter was murdered.

Every night before I go to bed, its the last thing that goes through my mind, he said.

Pyle said he had reservations about their marriage but knew his daughter would marry Vaughn Cannon with or without his blessing. He asked Cannon to never raise a hand to his daughter, and recalled Cannon saying he would never do such a thing.

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With Cannon seated just steps away, Pyle told him:

No, you just shot her 12 times in the face.

What happened to Cleveland County Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Cannon?

Jordan Cannon was found shot to death just before 2 a.m. on Aug. 30, 2023, at her home in the 10900 block of SW 30 in Yukon. Police arrested Vaughn Cannon at the scene.

Detective John Revel, of the Oklahoma City Police Department, investigated the case.

Revel testified he interviewed Cannon, who explained that he and his wife earlier ran errands, had dinner at a restaurant and finished the night having drinks at a local bar, which they left about midnight. Revel also testified that Vaughn Cannon told him he only saw flashes of the fatal gunfire and didnt recall much else.

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The investigation turned up video from the bar. Jordan Cannon appeared to be lethargic after several drinks. Vaughn Cannon could be seen helping her.

Cleveland County sheriff's deputy Jordan Cannon was murdered in 2023 by her husband, Vaughn Cannon

Revel testified Vaughn Cannon didnt appear to be intoxicated.

Police body camera footage and still images of the murder scene in the master bedroom were shown in the courtroom.

Vaughn Cannon is heard behind the bedroom door calling his uncle for help. Officers are heard telling him they were there to help, but he needed to not have a weapon on him. They eventually handcuffed him.

Assistant District Attorney Austin Murrey showed the courtroom a still image of Jordan Cannons dead body. Cries could be heard, and some left the courtroom.

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Murrey showed another still image. Some in the courtroom gasped when they saw Jordan Cannons face.

Police recovered a dozen 9 mm shell casings, Revel testified. He told the court it appeared Vaughn Cannon at one point reloaded his weapon to continue shooting his wife.

Revel, who has served on the police force for about 15 years, said by far it's probably the worst murder he has ever seen.

Jordan Cannon remembered as dedicated public servant

In June 2021, Jordan Cannon started with the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office as a school resource officer before moving to the patrol division.

She later served on the crisis intervention team, later becoming an instructor.

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She also served with the sheriffs office honor guard.

Jordan Cannon was remembered by colleagues as a courageous and compassionate person and a dedicated public servant.

Her obituary states she enjoyed photography, cooking and decorating.

She enjoyed giving people a hard time and was fluent in sarcasm, her obituary states.

Jordan Cannon enjoyed traveling to Alaska and photographing nature and wildlife.

Vaughn Cannon started with the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office in March 2021.

His ex-wife, Yvonne Goettsch, described him as an abusive husband who once pointed a gun at her.

I was shocked that this incident happened, but I was not surprised he was capable of that, Goettsch said of the murder.

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Entered into evidence were journal writings by Jordan Cannon.

I find myself really conflicted. I know that I should go, she once wrote.

She wrote of wanting Vaughn Cannon back without his drunkenness and meanness. She also wrote of her terror at his hands when he once pushed her through a mirror.

One of Vaughn Cannons sons, who counts Jordan Cannon as his stepmother, took the witness stand.

The son scolded his father, saying he robbed Jordan Cannon of attending events during his senior year of high school. He recalled Vaughn Cannon hardly being there for him as a kid. The son told Vaughn Cannon he was a disgrace to their family and did not deserve the title of father.

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Staring directly at Vaughn Cannon, the son said:

I (expletive) hate you.

No explanations given in murder of Jordan Cannon

The packed courtroom was filled with Jordan Cannons family, friends and former co-workers. Many wore a purple ribbon with a button featuring a photo of her.

Murrey played the 911 call of Cannons 17-year-old natural son calling for help. Breathing heavily, he was frightened at what he heard.

A child should not have to report that his mother was slaughtered 20 feet away, Murrey told Hesse.

Defense attorney Zac Ramsey offered no excuse for Vaughn Cannons deadly actions.

In asking for life with the possibility of parole, and a partially suspended sentence at the judges discretion, Ramsey explained that Vaughn Cannon grew up with parents who used drugs, and his client struggled with alcohol abuse.

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Ramsey described Vaughn Cannon as a Marine who deals with depression and anxiety. His client called a mental health hotline in the weeks leading up to murdering his wife, Ramsey said. After the mirror incident, Vaughn Ramsey went into rehab.

The murder was not premeditated, Ramsey argued.

It wasnt in anybodys plans for this to happen, he told Hesse.

In a turn that shocked those in the courtroom, Ramsey told the judge Vaughn Cannon wanted to read from a prepared statement.

The judge warned Ramsey that if his client read a statement, he likely would face cross-examination from Murrey, the prosecutor.

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Cannon took the witness stand and read from a yellow piece of paper.

I will always hold myself accountable, he read from the statement.

At times raising his voice, sometimes speaking in hushed tones, and sounding as though he was sniffling, Cannon spoke of his marriage as a struggle among two hard-bitten law enforcement officers who self-medicated but dedicated themselves to staying together.

He said his wife told him she had rheumatoid arthritis and worried he would leave her. Cannon said he told her would never leave her no matter how hard it got.

Those in the courtroom grew agitated by the statement with each passing minute. Some shook their heads. Others sighed or groaned.

Undeterred, Cannon continued, saying he understood everyones pain.

It feels much worse for me, he said.

Murrey was unrelenting in his questioning of Cannon.

He repeatedly asked Cannon how he could expect the state to believe he was emotionally and mentally capable to be on the front lines of law enforcement, yet ask for leniency in the names of anxiety and depression.

I will accept what the court sentences me to, Cannon said.

Murrey asked Cannon to explain how he could remember the last night with his wife  dinner and drinks  but couldnt recall the deadly shooting.

Cannon, who said earlier in the hearing he was more than 6 feet tall and weighed about 250 pounds, explained that he blacked out on eight beers and four whiskeys. He said he recalled hearing five gunshots.

Where were you for the other seven, Murrey asked.

Asked if his life was more valuable than his wifes, Cannon said:

I dont have value anymore.

Before announcing the sentence, Hesse called the murder senseless, saying that Cannon treated his wife like an animal.

Hesse told Cannon that he was still left wondering why he murdered his wife. It didnt appear to be in the heat of passion or fueled by drugs and alcohol, Hesse said.

I have no evidence before me that explains why you did what you did  put 12 bullets in your wifes head, the judge said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former Oklahoma deputy gets life without parole for wife's murder
EL RENO, Okla. (KFOR)  Vaughn Cannon will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of ever getting out. In September, he pled guilty to the murder of his wife, Jordan Pyle, after initially pleading not guilty.

Both Cannon and Pyle were former Cleveland County Sheriffs deputies.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former deputy pleads guilty to shooting, killing wife

Tuesday was an emotional day as Jordan Pyles family and friends filled a Canadian County courtroom.

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Her family and friends wore homemade pins to remember her during the sentencing.

Family and friends of Jordan Pyle make homemade pins to honor her (KFOR)

Multiple people took the witness stand, including Cannons ex wife.

During her testimony, she became emotional as she told the judge she was abused during her previous marriage with Cannon.

An investigator with the Oklahoma City Police Department also took the stand. He broke down the body camera footage and also said evidence showed Pyle was shot 12 times in the face in August 2023.

The investigator also broke down journal entries written by Pyle.

LOCAL NEWS: OKCPD: Cleveland Co. deputy shoots, kills wife/fellow deputy

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One entry said, I miss him. Not the drunk one, the one I love. Another one said, He pushed me into a mirror.

Multiple victim impact statements were read, with one from Cannons son, who told his dad, You are a disgrace. What you did to us is unforgivable.

Pyles dad also got emotional thinking about his little girl.

Even though we didnt go to trial, there was still a lot of evidence there today that we saw that we were hoping we didnt have to see.thats my baby girl, said Rusty Pyle, Jordan Pyles dad.

As the state shared their closing arguments, Cannon sat with his head low. His hands covered his ears as the state went into detail on Pyles death.

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Later, Cannon took the stand and told the state he wouldnt look at the last photo of Pyle after the shooting.

In a statement, Cannon talked to his wifes family and friends. He said, Grief is brutal, and I especially failed my beloved wife, Jordan.

I think it was only just that he spent the rest of his life in prison. You know, take his freedom away from him like he took her life away from her, said Rusty Pyle.

The judge sentenced Vaughn Cannon to life without the possibility of parole. Cannon can choose to appeal the sentence in 10 days.

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.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  After months of discussion, Virginia Beach City Public Schools has a cell phone-free policy that helps them adhere to Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order to provide a cell phone-free education.

VBCPS board members discuss cellphone-free classroom policy

Youngkins policy comes as he has asked state lawmakers to raise the age limit for minors to use social media platforms. The Virginia Department of Education unveiled its final policy on cell phone-free education in September.

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VBCPS discusses cell phone policy day after governor issues executive order

Hampton Roads largest school division isnt changing its cell phone policy much, however. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to keep elementary and middle school students without cell phones from the start of the school day to the end.

But high school students who otherwise cannot use their cell phones during the school day can use them during lunch  that part, board members said, was key.

As the policy was first presented to the board, high school students would not have been allowed to use cell phones at lunch. Many parents, and even board members, voiced concerns over taking away phones during lunch, saying it would be crucial for students to have it during that time.

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And there are certain families within our district who are going to be disproportionately impacted by the lack of being able to communicate during that lunch break hour, VBCPS Board Member Jessica Owens said.

Parents like cell phone ban, with reservations

Educators, parents weigh in on Virginias proposed cell-phone free classrooms

The board said it plans to revisit the policy in the next school year after new board members are seated.

But for now, the current board felt that this was the best decision moving forward to help students adjust. They had discussed whether to move the cell phone-free policy to the 2025-2026 school year last month, but ultimately ratified a new policy that is not much of a change from whats currently in place.

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The new rule takes effect Jan. 1, and students will be expected to follow it or face disciplinary action.

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.
Germany's Verdi union is warning against large-scale repatriations of Syrians from Germany following the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad there.

Verdi leader Frank Werneke, in a video interview with dpa, said that large repatriations are "against the interests of the people and, incidentally, also against the interests of the labour market, at least in parts of Germany."

He advised "approaching the situation with a cool head."

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"Many are integrated and established in the labour market here and are also important for us," the labour leader said.

Syrians work for instance in retail, delivery services, or in care sectors. Many have become Verdi members.

Werneke urged the German government and European Union to closely monitor the situation in Syria. When forming a transitional government, ethnic and religious groups should be considered.

"As democratic conditions as possible" should be organized, Werneke said. "This is crucial for the many people who are refugees in Germany regarding their future prospects."

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From his own conversations in recent days, he is aware of various reactions from Syrians in Germany. They closely observe the situation in Syria and generally are very pleased about al-Assad's overthrow, emphasized Werneke.

"Many are also considering if and when they might return to Syria," he said. However, he noted that it is crucial for everyone to first see what actually happens in the country now.

Verdi, others could help Syria establish unions

In establishing democratic conditions in Syria, unions play an important role. "There have been no free unions in Syria for many, many decades," the Verdi leader said, noting that free unions are part of a democratic state.

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"Therefore, I see it as our responsibility, together with the international union federations of which we are members, to help establish free unions there, " he said.

In Germany, union rights are anchored in the country's constitution.

Syria, which has been severely torn apart by civil war, is experiencing massive destruction and a significant decline in production capacities in manufacturing and agriculture. Even before al-Assad's overthrow, costs for goods and services had risen sharply.
WILBARGER COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL)  A Vernon man gets a 30-year prison sentence after his plea of guilty to the sexual assault of a young girl.

Toby Don Wages, 43, pleaded guilty in 46th District Court to aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Former Camp Chaparral assistant director indicted for sex crime against teen staffer

The case was opened last February when authorities said Wages wife contacted the Vernon Police Department to report her husband had admitted assaulting an 11-year-old girl.

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The victim was then interviewed at Patsys House Childrens Advocacy Center in Wichita Falls. She said Wages had purchased alcohol and vapes for her, and as she was trying to go to sleep, he began touching her and then assaulted her.

46th District Attorney Staley Heatly said a Texas Ranger interviewed Wages in the jail, and he admitted to the victims allegations.

Heatly credited the joint efforts of law enforcement and the team at Patsys House for the successful conclusion of the case and lauded Patsys House for supporting all victims of sexual crimes through the process of justice and recovery.

He said the victims family approved the final resolution, which spared the girl the additional trauma of having to testify.

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Wages must serve a minimum of 50% of his sentence before being eligible for parole, but Heatly noted that in most cases, sex offenders serve 85-100% of their sentences.

Wages has several previous convictions in Childress County and two prior prison sentences.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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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.
Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has helped NEXTDC (ASX: NXT) unlock new digital opportunities for Australias Pilbara region, delivering robust power and cooling infrastructure to its Port Hedland data centre. The new deployment supports the regions need for robust data centre support to allow local government and industry to continue digitalization growth and the adoption of AI.

NEXTDC provides colocation and connectivity services to Australian and international organisations. The company operates 16 data centre facilities throughout the country, with another five sites currently in the planning and development stages. NEXTDC is a leader in the industry in edge computing, extending sophisticated data centre capabilities beyond major urban areas and delivering foundational digital services to remote regions.

PH1 Port Hedland is NEXTDCs Port Hedland data centre, located in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia, which services the port operations of local mining, oil and gas, and Federal Government sectors. Within the facility, Vertivs integrated modular data centre solutions operate close to the regions Vocus telecommunications fibre network, helping to make cloud-based servicesincluding AI and machine learningavailable to NEXTDCs PH1 Port Hedland customers.

Before NEXTDCs PH1 Port Hedland facility opened, data generated in the Pilbara often travelled 1,600 kilometres to Perth for processing. The high latency introduced by this extensive route introduced challenges for major resource organisations and other local industries, said Adam Gardner, head of product at NEXTDC. Innovative solutions, including those enabled by AI, frequently require low latency, reliable connectivity with real-time data access. These major Australian organisations turned to complex, bespoke point solutions to partially alleviate the digital proximity challenges, often at a significant cost to backhaul the data.

NEXTDCs PH1 empowers the regions businesses and allows them to innovate and optimise like never before. Vertivs strength in Edge data centre buildsparticularly in far-flung locations like Port Hedlandmeant they were an ideal partner for NEXTDCs in-house expertise. The Vertiv prefabricated infrastructure solution at PH1 optimised build time and was a great fit to service the regions operational, safety, and productivity needs, Gardner continued.

Vertiv designed, procured, and implemented a complete prefabricated modular, rugged data centre for Stage 1 of the facilitys total capacity. The prefabricated approach allowed NEXTDC to overcome logistical issues because of the areas remoteness, using capital city-built pre-engineered components and on-site standardised construction processes to reduce remote assembly costs and speed time to deployment. As a scalable, modular solution, the Vertiv deployment can be rapidly expanded to support additional growth. Meanwhile, the solutions ruggedised design is tailored to withstand the Pilbara deserts harsh environmental conditions.

Standard data centre equipment isnt usually specified for these conditions. Vertiv knew and understood this, and together, we made sure to use condensers appropriately rated at 55 degrees Celsius, said NEXTDC project manager Mark Hamilton. Plus, we considered the facilitys resilience in the event of a cyclone. So, PH1 Port Hedland has tie-downs to steel fixings, appropriate to withstand high wind pressures, and includes substantive protection around critical equipment to endure a flying tree, should an event occur.

The modular solution is Tier III Uptime Institute-certified and uses refrigerant-based air cooling. It also promotes scalability, should NEXTDC introduce increasingly popular alternative liquid cooling methods. Other features include a high-efficiency UPS system, which supports the environments high-density power requirements, and lithium-ion batteries for longer-lasting power.

Were excited to have delivered a robust facility that will offer the Pilbara region access to technologies that improve how industries operate. Mining and oil and gas are big power consumers. As AI becomes more commonplace, these businesses can draw real-time data from their site operations and use it to identify more efficient methods of extracting resources or using trucks, said Hamilton.

The enablement of AI-driven, real-time data processing will play an even more prominent role amid NEXTDCs second edge data centre build in the Pilbara region. NEXTDCs NE1 Newman facility also leveraged the strong partnership between Vertiv and NEXTDC. Located 600km from Port Hedland and near several mines, the NE1 facility is almost identical to the PH1 facility with additional Stage 1 capacity. Hamilton noted, This approach perfectly represents the modular and flexible nature of Vertivs prefabricated solutions: they are ready and able to service autonomous mines and other advanced programs.

NEXTDC is bringing metro-level compute modular data centres, complete with all the security, safety, low-latency, and uptime resilience that you would expect of a large data centre in a major city, to geographically dispersed and previously-isolated locations, said Tony Gaunt, vice president of Asia at Vertiv. Together, were making access to the major cloud providers the new status quo for Australias most prominent and founding industries and allowing local businesses to capitalise on AI technologies with high-speed connectivity.
World Food Program

The coarse paste of crushed peanut shells called ombaz is normally considered waste, and only fit to feed cattle. But for many in Sudans Zamzam camp it is now all they have to stave off hunger pangs.

Food shortages are so severe that this residue left after oil has been pressed from the shells has become a staple food for survival. Others are eating grass.

Hunger is so bad that by some estimates a child was dying every two hours from the lack of food earlier this year and if anything malnutrition is thought to have got worse since then.

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Such conditions mean that the camp in North Darfur earlier this year achieved the grim distinction of being formally declared the first famine in the world for seven years.

Cut off by front lines where gunmen will not allow aid to pass and often unreachable by phone or internet, the disaster in Zamzam is unfolding largely unseen and beyond the reach of aid agencies.

We have many people dying from hunger, especially the children and the elderly, said Ibrahim Ahmed, one resident reached by the Telegraph.

At the famine-struck Zamzam IDP camp, people are surviving on crushed peanut shells typically used to feed animals - Mohamed Galal/WFP

Zamzams plight is all the more unthinkable because the people dying could easily be saved. Only 260 miles away, lorries full of food have for months been queuing up trying to reach the camp, but have been held back by the warring sides in Sudans catastrophic civil war. Only a trickle of aid can get through.

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The camp is also a no mans land between warring factions, where the situation worsened last week when the camp came under shelling killing at least 24 people.

Another resident, who gave his name only as Imran, said: The precise death toll is unclear, but hundreds have died due to famine and violence.

Until recently, the camp was estimated to hold around 400,000 people, but its numbers have ballooned as people have fled fighting elsewhere. Some agencies now estimate it could be holding as many as a million.

Hundreds of thousands in Zamzam camp are teetering on the edge of survival, without regular access to food, clean water, or medical care, says Alex Marianelli, deputy Sudan director for the World Food Programme (WFP).

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As someone who has worked for WFP for decades, I am deeply shaken by stories of mothers mourning children lost to malnutrition and families eating peanut shells usually used to feed animals, just to dampen the pain of hunger.

Refugees collect food aid from WFP - Mohamed Galal/WFP

Videos from the camp show massive overcrowding. The camps established buildings and shelters are being swamped with new shacks and rudimentary shelters.

I can only describe the situation as a crisis, says Mr Ahmed. Everyday we receive people displaced from different areas of Darfur and the capacity of the camp is very small to host all these people.

There is a critical lack of toilets and sanitation, leading to fears water-borne diseases like cholera are on the way.

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There is food for those with money, but with no work, most go without, or eat millet or ombaz if they are lucky.

Another resident, called Mohamed Adam, said: People are looking for tree roots and peanut shells, locusts, and types of grass.

Nour Abdallah, who also lives there, said: There is a lot of hardship and suffering in this place; one of the things is that people here are eating ombaz.

Zamzam provides shelter for around half a million people and is only 13kms away from the embattled city of El Fasher, where fighting has been raging since April - Mohamed Galal/IDP

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Humanitarians usually try to steer clear of what they call the f-word. They argue that overuse of the word famine degrades the term, and it should be reserved to bring attention to the very worst hunger catastrophes.

A rigorous assessment means famine is only declared in areas where at least one-in-five people or households have an extreme lack of food and face starvation and destitution, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death.

They have no equivocation about using it to describe what is happening in Zamzam.

An independent panel of experts in late July formally declared a famine in Zamzam for the first time anywhere in the world since 2017.

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The need really is unimaginable, says Melanie Kempster, global health and nutrition director at the Relief International aid charity which runs clinics and malnutrition centres in the camp. Famine is not declared easily.

She went on: It is the only location in the world where there is a declared famine at the moment, so it is extremely severe.

World Food Program

If anything, aid sources believe the situation is even worse than declared. Conditions are also said to be dire in other north Darfur camps, such as Abu Shouk, but aid workers cannot reach them to assess the situation.

One diplomat told the Telegraph: We should be taking it as read that the situation is much worse than the situation we are seeing.

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The medical aid charity Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, at the start of this year estimated a child was dying every two hours due to causes linked to malnutrition.

The numbers going without food have risen since then.

What we are finding is that the levels of malnutrition are increasing month by month and they are at a really worrying level, says Ms Kempster.

Sudan has become the worlds worst humanitarian crisis since the country was plunged into civil war 20 months ago.

In April 2023, simmering rivalry between the de facto president, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, erupted into open war.

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Clashes between the army and Hemdetis Rapid Support Force (RSF) militia have since turned much of the country of nearly 50 million into a war zone.

In the western area of Darfur, the fighting has been reminiscent of the genocide that swept the region two decades ago. As the RSF and its allies have captured towns and cities, thousands of civilians have allegedly been killed in an attempt to ethnically cleanse the region of the black African Massalit people and other non-Arab communities.

The city of El Fasher, Darfurs administrative hub, is now the besieged last holdout of the Sudanese government.

Living conditions at the camp are dire - Mohamed Galal/WFP

Zamzam, sits around half an hour away, on a dusty plain. The camp was set up to house those who fled the conflict 20 years ago and many have lived there ever since. Its numbers have swelled in recent months as people have fled from elsewhere in Darfur.

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Aid agencies have been working in Zamzam since it was founded, but since the war erupted, both sides have been accused of blocking supplies from moving across the front lines.

Humanitarians desperately want to open a humanitarian corridor from Adre on the border with Chad in the west, and to Port Sudan in the east.

Malnutrition is treatable, says Ms Kempster.

All we need are the correct supplies, but we are unable to meet our needs because of these access issues.

WFP was late last month able to get 15 lorries into Zamzam. These were the first the agency had managed to get through since April.

WFP trucks deliver food aid for more than ten thousands families - Mohamed Galal/WFP

Mohamed Abdiladif, Sudan director for Save the Children, said this week: The suffering endured by people in this camp is beyond comprehension.

Save the Children is calling on parties to the conflict to protect civilians and humanitarian aid workers, to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access and to uphold the international humanitarian law.

Kashif Shafique, Sudan director for Relief International, said this weeks shelling had made conditions worse.

He said: It has been estimated that over 1 million displaced people are sheltering in the camp for safety, having already fled violence in their home towns.

The situation in the overcrowded camp was already at breaking point  cut off from critical humanitarian supplies, a state of famine has been declared, and rates of severe malnutrition and disease are soaring.

Now, widespread panic and despair have taken hold, as innocent civilians are coming under direct fire.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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The Vigo County Council on Tuesday granted Sheriff Derek Fells request to provide funding for at least three additional deputies.

The vote was 4-2, with Travis Norris and David Thompson voting no.

Last week, Fell, a 20-plus-year veteran of the Sheriffs Office, told the council, Weve been understaffed ever since Ive been here.

The Sheriffs Office currently has 42 deputies, so the addition will bring the workforce to 45.

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Fell said he would not be able to extend the Community Oriented Policing Services grant his office had been receiving. Without the grant, it became a sizeable request. With salary and benefits considered, adding three deputies would cost somewhere around $300,000 and $330,000.

The budget committee met in July and that same ask was requested at that time, Thompson said. The budget committee voted 3-0 not to add the deputies and gave them a higher pay increase.  That request should have been pulled once the grant was denied.

Norris said, I had a few concerns. I think safety is extremely important. I think we need to put more reserve deputies in before we make a decision to put more of an expense on the county taxpayer.

He added, I think we also need to take into consideration that we have a federal lawsuit going on for the jail that could cost us more money. We also have a  lawsuit going on with the judges thats going to cost us more money.

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Norris expressed concern over whether the county will be able to afford the tab for the new deputies.

Mr. [Kevin] Gardner with the assessors office has said that with the new laws in the state of Indiana, that the county will probably be down somewhere between $300,000 and $600,000 in tax revenue next year, he said.

I dont want to see staff get cut, so keeping the staff you have and adding in some reserve deputies and doing things like that for right now and also reapplying for the grant, he added.

If you can reapply for the grant and get the grant, then come back to the council, Norris said.

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Fell also received permission to reallocate $2,500 from the sheriffs offices animal control budget to purchase training gear.

Chances and Services for Youth Chief Operating Officer Brandon Halleck received $73,273 for CASYs in-progress childcare facility.

Thacker reminded the council, If we dont take action on this tonight, were giving the money back to the state.

Councilwoman Vicki Weger noted that since Hamilton Center recently announced that it was closing its daycare, meaning a further depletion of 59 daycare spots, an critical need would become greater.

Thompson, who last week said he thought the council had given CASY plenty of ARPA money already, voted against the measure. The vote was 5-1 vote.

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The council voted to modify salaries in the Health Department and an office manager for the Vigo County Parks Department, money augmented by the Health First Indiana initiative.

Vigo County Clerk Brad Newmans department received $130,000 in overtime payroll expenses during the general election.

Other appropriations represented cleaning up sundry year-end salary issues, such as employees and their insurance benefits coming and going.

Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer presented outgoing council members with plaques honoring their service.

Thacker and Marie Belzile-Theisz both lost their elections, Aaron Loudermilk (who was absent) did not seek to run for re-election and Norris was voted in as Vigo County Coroner, a job hell start in 2025.

Norris said he will probably announce his resignation from the council on Dec. 31.

Im going to hold out until the end, he said.
After hearing concerns about mid-year rule changes, the Virginia Beach School Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a cellphone policy that allows high school students to use their phones during lunch. The vote goes against Gov. Glenn Youngkins order to ban cellphones during the school day beginning Jan. 1.

Virginia Beach officials said in an emailed statement Wednesday the General Assembly grants school boards the authority to regulate portable communication devices, whereas the governors order is not law.

The School Boards definition of instructional time may be inconsistent with the governors Executive Order, but it is not out of compliance with applicable law, the statement reads.

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Superintendent Donald Robertson assured the board Tuesday that the division intends to move to a complete ban by the 2025-26 school year. Robertson said implementing new rules mid-year is always difficult, especially for high school administrators.

They are incredibly concerned about the number of referrals and whats going to occur as these kids make these adjustments in the middle of the year, he said. This policy allows for time to wean students off their lunchtime phone use.

Virginia Department of Education spokesman Todd Reid said in an email Wednesday that most districts across Virginia have implemented the bell-to-bell bans. Divisions have been changing policies after Youngkin issued an executive order in the summer calling for cellphone bans because of distraction issues and mental health concerns. While his order gave a Jan. 1 deadline, final guidance from VDOE was issued in September, after most schools were in session.

The research, statistics, and, most importantly, the real-life experiences of parents, teachers, families, and children across the Commonwealth stress the importance of taking meaningful action as soon as possible to begin reversing the negative trends we are seeing, he said.

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Robertson and many board members support a bell-to-bell ban but said the timing was not right. Virginia Beach was the first division in Hampton Roads to limit cellphone use two years before the state order. But their rules allowed for phone use during breaks and lunch.

Some divisions, including Portsmouth, changed their policies before the school year to avoid mid-year changes.

Hampton schools changed their policy last week to comply with the state. The Norfolk School Board is expected to vote next week. Several board members are concerned about the changes, especially not allowing phones at lunch, but noted that they recognized the need to follow state guidelines.

The Prince William County School Board also voted earlier this month to delay implementation of the ban until August 2025.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
Rep.-elect John McGuire (R-Va.-5)

Courtesy

Date of Birth / Aug. 24, 1968

Residence / Goochland County, Va.

Occupation / Small business owner, SEAL Team PT Inc.

Family / Married to wife Tracy with five children and a dog named Remi

Rep.-elect John McGuire (R) will represent Virginias 5th Congressional District after unseating Rep. Bob Good in one of this cycles most hotly contested GOP primaries.

President-elect Trump endorsed McGuire in the primary, and he went on to beat Good by a narrow 374-vote margin, a victory upheld after a recount.

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McGuire has said he attended the Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, but did not storm the Capitol that day.

The district is solidly Republican, and McGuire defeated Democratic candidate Gloria Witt in the general election.

McGuire spent 10 years as a Navy SEAL and later founded the fitness company SEAL Team Physical Training. He has been a member of the Virginia state Senate since 2023 and previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates.

He grew up in central Virginia and spent his early childhood years in the foster system, attending nine elementary schools before his grandparents were able to raise him and his older sister, according to his campaign website.

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 Taylor Giorno

Rep.-elect Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-7)

Jay Paul, Associated Press

Date of Birth / June 6, 1975

Residence / Woodbridge, Va.

Occupation / Attorney

Education / Binghamton University

Family / Married to Cindy with son Max and daughter Madi

Democrat Eugene Vindman is set to represent Virginias 7th Congressional District, succeeding Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who stepped down to pursue a bid for governor.

Vindman came to national attention in 2019, along with twin brother Alexander Vindman, as a whistleblower in then-President Trumps national security council (NSC) who raised the alarm over the presidents call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, leading to the former presidents first impeachment. The brothers were fired from the NSC by Trump in the aftermath of the impeachment trial.

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Vindman was born in Soviet-era Ukraine to a Jewish family and came to the U.S. as a refugee in 1979. He served in the Army and became a prosecutor in the JAG Corps. He said he was motivated to run for Congress to combat Trumps Make America Great Again base.

Vindman also described the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade as a key factor in his decision to run for Congress, saying he is concerned that his teenage daughter has less rights than women have enjoyed for decades.

 Laura Kelly

Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.-10)

Mark Miller, The Washington Post via Associated Press

Date of Birth / Sept. 26, 1986

Residence / Loudoun County, Va.

Occupation / Attorney, Virginia state senator

Education / B.A., Tulane University; J.D., Northwestern University

Family / Married to Miranda Pena Subramanyam with two daughters.

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Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) will succeed incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) in Virginias 10th Congressional District.

Wexton was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy in 2023 and announced she would not seek reelection for health reasons. She endorsed Subramanyam ahead of the Democratic primary, giving him a boost that helped him beat out a crowded field of contenders.

Subramanyam, a first-generation Indian American and a volunteer firefighter, has been a member of the Virginia state Senate since January and was previously a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

He was previously a White House technology policy adviser to then-President Obama and clerked for the Senate Judiciary Committee under Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

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His policy priorities include protecting womens health care, supporting responsible gun ownership and safety laws, promoting environmental protections and renewable energy and getting money out of politics, according to his campaign website.

 Taylor Giorno

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.
OAK PARK, Ill.  Law enforcement officers from Chicago, the suburbs, even Springfield and northwest Indiana gathered Wednesday to honor the life of Detective Allan Reddins who was killed in a shooting in late November.

Together in mourning, dozens of officers gathered at Leak and Sons Funeral Home to support the family of the Oak Park police detective, whose loss marks the first line of duty death in Oak Park since 1938.

Its tough coming to these funerals because it hits us all, River Forest Officer Luis Tagle said.

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Tagle trains new officers in the field and this sobering part of the job is the most important lesson he teaches.

You got to make it home at the end of your shift, Tagle said.

Detective Reddins went to work on Black Friday and didnt make it home.

The father, son and brother was shot and killed by a suspect after he and a sergeant responded to a call about a man with a gun at a bank branch.

Authorities responded to the scene and encountered the suspect outside the library. Officers said they ordered the suspect to show his hands, but he allegedly reached into his jacket, pulled out the gun and fatally shot Reddins.

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Im here to say thank you, former Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb said. There is not many people in the world who would put their lives on the line every day to protect others.

Another officer shot the suspect, 37-year-old Jerell Thomas, who was treated at the hospital and, last week, ordered held in jail until his trial. The judge called the allegation against him the worst of its kind.

Thomas has since been charged with first-degree murder in the detectives fatal shooting.

Neighbors say Detective Reddins was the best of his kind, and showing up for him was the least they could do.

He gave his life for us and so its just to pay respects, Sean Taylor, an Oak Park resident, said.

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Detective Reddins will be laid to rest on Thursday in a private burial after an 11 a.m. funeral service at the Apostolic Church of God, located at 6320 South Dorchester Avenue.

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.
Dec. 10Volodymyr Zhukovskyy returned to court Tuesday, again asking to get his driver's license back.

Zhukovskyy, who was acquitted of manslaughter in the 2019 deaths of seven motorcyclists, had his driving privileges suspended in New Hampshire for seven years. In July, a judge upheld the suspension, which dates back to June 24, 2019, three days after the crash on U.S. Route 2 in Randolph. Zhukovskyy cannot resume driving until 2026 unless the suspension is overturned.

Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Martin Honigberg heard arguments during the hearing, but did not issue a ruling. Zhukovskyy appeared via video for the hearing.

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Zhukovskyy's lawyer, Nicholas Brodich, said the lead motorcyclist in the crash was intoxicated, statements from eyewitnesses who didn't actually see the crash were given too much weight and crash analysis shows his client was not at fault. He also said Zhukovskyy's use of heroin and cocaine about 12 hours before the crash played no role in the tragedy.

Brodich said the argument that drug addiction, in and of itself, equates to negligent driving is absurd, considering investigators tested Zhukovskyy's blood and did not enter the results as evidence. The state argued that Zhukovskyy was driving erratically and wasn't feeling well because he was experiencing withdrawal.

"It's really a stretch. I think anyone reading the report will realize what a stretch it is to try to call this impairment," he said. "If you use drugs, well, then you're under the influence. And if you don't use drugs, you're, you know, you're a distracted driver."

Brodich placed the blame on Al "Woody" Mazza's blood-alcohol concentration of .135, which he called "outrageously high." And his motorcycle was too close to the double-yellow line, if not partially hanging over the line.

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Senior Assistant Attorney General Christina Wilson said even if Zhukovskyy was only partially responsible for the crash, the Division of Motor Vehicles has the right to suspend his license, as it has in other cases when more than one driver shares blame.

"Maybe they were both at fault, but it doesn't mean that one isn't responsible under the statute to the extent to have the license suspended simply because someone else's fault can be attributed to it," Wilson said.

At a minimum, she said, Zhukovskyy and Mazza met on the center line.

Brodich asked if the motorcyclist was 95% at fault and Zhukovskyy was 5% at fault, does that mean that he was negligent when he was "completely sober"? He called the suspension of Zhukovskyy's license "pure retribution."

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Wilson said Zhukovskyy admitted causing the crash, but Brodich said the truck driver was in shock after the crash.

In May, Administrative Law Judge Ryan N. McFarland found Zhukovskyy drove in an unlawful or reckless manner, contributing to the crash that killed Mazza; Danny "Danny Boy" Pereira; Ed "Taz" Corr and his wife, Jo-Ann Corr; Michael "Fritz" Ferazzi; Aaron "Stitches" Perry and his girlfriend, Desma Oickle.

Zhukovskyy was headed west on Route 2, hauling a 42 1/2 -foot trailer when he encountered an eastbound group of members and supporters of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club.

In August 2022 after a 12-day trial, it took less than three hours for a Coos County Superior Court jury to find Zhukovskyy not guilty on seven counts of manslaughter, seven counts of negligent homicide and one count of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.

dpierce@unionleader.com
A volunteer search and recovery expert says he will not seek compensation for his organization's extensive search efforts in the case of Ryan Borgwardt, the kayaker from Watertown who police believe faked his death and fled the country in August.

Keith Cormican is the founder and director of Bruce's Legacy Search and Recovery, a volunteer organization that assists in the search for and recovery of possible drowning victims. The organization was named after Cormican's brother, Bruce, a Black River Falls firefighter who died searching for a drowning victim in 1995.

Bruce's Legacy volunteers, the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources teamed up to search for Borgwardt after he was reported missing on Aug. 12. Borgwardt, a 44-year-old husband and father of three, was believed to be missing after a kayaking trip on Green Lake. But, in the fall, he was located alive in Europe. On Tuesday, Borgwardt was taken into custody at the Green Lake County Jail. He had flown back to Wisconsin and turned himself in.

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Cormican said he spent over a month searching for Borgwardt, supported in part by donations from Green Lake County and Watertown community members. He said he spent 23 days  some 10-to-12 hours long  searching the lake on his boat with another Bruce's Legacy volunteer and sheriff's office or DNR personnel. The search team used underwater drones, towable submersible sonar and other high-end technology that Cormican said would have found Borgwardt's body within two days if he'd been in the lake.

Over an additional 10 days, Cormican reviewed sonar images in his office in hopes of bringing closure to Borgwardt's family.

Cormican said he's "thought about" taking action against Borgwardt for the time and money wasted but does not plan to because he does not want to burden Borgwardt's family.

"He cost me a lot of money and probably the sheriff's department a lot of money. It'd be nice to be compensated, but I don't think that's going to work. ...," Cormican told the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday morning. "If he were filthy rich or something, I guess then I wouldn't have a problem with it, but that's not the case here."

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"In my belief, I wouldn't seek out restitution. I think it's just going to create more burden on the family. ... They're the ones that are going to live through this, and this has just got to be unbearable to try to figure out this mess he created."

Ryan Borgwardt, who has been missing since August, appears in a video shared by the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Search teams were suspicious of Borgwardt's story

As the search for Borgwardt became weeks and then months long, Cormican said he began to question whether the kayaker was even in the lake. After a few days, he encouraged the sheriff's office to interview some of Borgwardt's family members.

"They came back and didn't feel that anything was out of the ordinary, so we kept plugging away," Cormican recalled. "And then, it was toward the end of our 23 days there, I had a conversation with the sheriff and explained that this is very rare. With as thorough as we covered it and with the information that we had on him, ... we should have found him within the first day or so."

Cormican again pressed the sheriff's office to "search a little further" into Borgwardt. Cormican said this is the first time he knows of someone faking a drowning death.

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"It's a pretty ... self-centered thing that he did," Cormican said. "He didn't realize how many people would get involved in something like this. We poured our hearts into it because we wanted to help his family get closure. That's what we do. We know the importance of getting that closure."

Ryan Borgwardt is believed to have faked his death

At around 10:49 p.m. on Aug. 11, Borgwardt, who was kayaking on Green Lake, sent his final text to his wife, telling her he was heading to shore. When Borgwardt failed to return from his kayaking trip, he was reported missing. Authorities began searching for him early on the morning of Aug. 12.

On Aug. 13, Borgwardt's name was checked by Canadian law enforcement while he was passing through customs using a second passport he apparently obtained after reporting the first one lost. Meanwhile, the search continued in Wisconsin for the husband and father. With help from Bruce's Legacy, the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office reported on Aug. 20 that Borgwardt's kayak, life jacket, water bottle, tackle box and fishing rod had been found.

Still, an extensive search involving underwater drones, towable submersible sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams did not turn up Borgwardt's body.

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On Oct. 7, a new investigation was opened into Borgwardt's disappearance. Later, the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office publicly stated it believed Borgwardt staged his disappearance and had likely fled to Europe. On Nov. 21, the sheriff's office revealed it had been in regular communication with Borgwardt since Nov. 11 and shared a video Borgwardt had sent investigators showing he was safe.

The Sheriff's Office also revealed the following details about how Borgwardt staged his death: He stashed an eBike near the boat launch. He paddled a kayak and a child-size inflatable boat out into the lake. He overturned the kayak and dumped his phone in the lake. He paddled the inflatable boat to shore and then rode the eBike through the night to Madison. He boarded a bus in Madison going to Detroit and then headed to the Canadian border. He continued on the bus to the airport and got on a plane.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said authorities were able to first reach Borgwardt via a "woman speaking Russian." A digital forensic analysis of Borgwardt's laptop revealed he cleared his browsers on the day of his disappearance, replaced the hard drive, inquired about moving funds to foreign banks and had constant communication with a woman from Uzbekistan. Borgwardt had also taken out a new $375,000 life insurance policy in January.

Brandon Reid, Lynne A. Fort and Justin Marville contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Volunteer search team says Ryan Borgwardt wasted their time and money
Volunteers and deputies with the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office fed hundreds of first responders Wednesday morning.

The group provided an early Christmas meal to those who have been helping with the recovery efforts in Avery County.

Organizers said residents and businesses across the county donated money to provide 380 meals.

ALSO READ: Orphanage needs help bringing Christmas to foster kids after Hurricane Helene

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Channel 9s Dave Faherty spoke with volunteers as they cooked barbecue chicken and ribs.

This is a Merry Christmas to the community of Avery County from ... from Cleveland County, one organizer said. Thats what counts; it comes from the heart of everybody.

Organizers said they plan to provide meals throughout the afternoon.

VIDEO: Orphanage needs help bringing Christmas to foster kids after Hurricane Helene












As we approach the busy December and January shopping period, retailers and banks are bracing themselves for a surge in financial fraud. Last year, Australians lost a staggering AU$2.7 billion to scams , according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). This figure is expected to rise as Generative AI (GenAI) and other advanced technologies provide scammers with increasingly sophisticated tools.

The adoption of GenAI means these scammers are becoming more adept at creating convincing phishing emails and fraudulent websites. According to ACCC data, scams are particularly prevalent during the holiday season when consumers are inundated with promotional emails and are more likely to let their guard down. Threat actors exploit the increase in sales emails, with 48% of consumers reporting they have been targeted by a scam while shopping online during the peak holiday sales period.

The importance of trusting your data

As all retailers know, maintaining trust is crucial in the customer-retailer relationship to ensure repeat sales and referrals. Given most transactions with customers are now managed electronically using a bank card or via an online payment app there is extra responsibility on retailers to ensure their customers data remains secure. Maintaining a comprehensive data privacy and governance policy has never been more essential and is even more critical now GenAI tools have been added to the mix.

While Gen AI tools help retailers improve operating efficiencies and better understand customer buying behaviour, they are also being used by scammers to lure unsuspecting shoppers.

By maintaining stringent data governance practices, organisations can safeguard sensitive information, ensuring that any AI models used are trusted and operate with the highest level of integrity. Effective data governance involves setting clear policies and procedures for data management, ensuring data accuracy, and maintaining data security.

With peak shopping season upon us, there are some key steps retailers and financial services organisations can take to keep customers safe and prevent online fraud and scams:

Robust Encryption: Ensure all sensitive data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. This means that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable to unauthorized parties. Access Controls: Implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information. This minimizes the risk of internal data breaches and unauthorized access. Real-Time Monitoring and Analytics: Utilize real-time monitoring and analytics to detect and respond to suspicious activities immediately. This proactive approach helps identify potential threats before they can cause significant harm. Compliance with Regulatory Standards: Adhere to various regulatory standards such as GDPR, CCPA, and PCI DSS. This ensures that data handling practices meet the highest standards of privacy and security. Data Governance Tools: Use comprehensive data governance tools to maintain data accuracy, integrity, and security. These tools include data lineage, auditing, and policy enforcement, which are crucial for maintaining trust and compliance. Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities. This continuous improvement process ensures that data privacy measures are always up to date with the latest security practices.

As the holiday shopping season approaches, the retail and financial sectors must be vigilant in protecting themselves and their customers from the growing threat of data breaches and scams. By leveraging real-time data analytics and implementing robust data privacy and governance practices, businesses can reduce the risk of fraud and build trust with their customers, delivering a seamless and secure shopping experience.
Volunteers gathered on Wednesday morning to put together warmth kits for Atlantas homeless population as temperatures are expected to drop on Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

Channel 2s Steve Gehlbach was at Hope Atlantas Shelter and Community Kitchen as Georgias Own Credit Union employees packed bags of food and essential items for a family of four like hats, gloves, scarves and hand warmers.

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Holidays are a time when a lot of families are in need, so we thought this was a great time to pool our resources and come together, Georgias Own Foundation Director Marin Kraushaar said.

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Georgias Own donated $6,000 to build 90 kits, representing the credit unions 90th anniversary this month.

The City of Atlantas latest count found more than 2,800 people experiencing homelessness. More than 1,000 of them are not in shelters or transitional housing.

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Right now, were doing collections for blankets, hats, glovesMake sure people are staying safe on the street, said Hope Atlanta Chief Development Officer Kellie Glenn.

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Glenn says extra resources help year-round, but these kits are going to emergency services and outreach teams to be put to use immediately.

Troops on the ground going out to under bridges, abandoned houses, the MARTA, the airport, providing necessary items for them so they can have comfort, can have food, can stay warm, Glenn said.

Over the last decade, Georgias Own has sent volunteers to Hope Atlanta every month.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to visit Turkey for discussions on Syria, she posted on X on Tuesday evening following a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"Well meet early next week in Turkiye to discuss what this development means for the region and beyond," she posted, using an alternative name for Turkey.

Von der Leyen emphasized the importance of maintaining Syria's territorial integrity and protecting minorities.

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Both the European Union and Turkey hope for stability in Syria after the fall of leader Bashar al-Assad, with expectations that more Syrian refugees will return to their homeland voluntarily.

However, uncertainties persist as the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), designated a terrorist organization by the United Nations, led the overthrow of al-Assad.

The new EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warned members of the European Parliament on Tuesday about potential risks of sectarian violence, extremism resurgence and a governance vacuum in Syria.

Kallas stressed the need to prevent a recurrence of the horrific scenarios seen in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan.

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She highlighted the fact that the situation in Syria reflects the weakened state of al-Assad's long-time allies in Russia and Iran, who are preoccupied with other conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

For Putin and the Iranian regime, the fall of al-Assad is a heavy blow, said Kallas, who is a former prime minister of Estonia. She underscored the importance of regional and international cooperation to support Syria.
WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  The Waco Independent School District (ISD) has been hard at work on a series of extensive construction projects, with the longest underway since 2022.

The three major campuses currently under renovation  Waco High School, Kendrick Elementary School, and South Waco Elementary School  are all seeing substantial progress, with improvements aimed at enhancing student safety, boosting learning environments, and providing new opportunities for staff and faculty.

Waco High School started its renovations in 2022, while both Kendrick and South Waco Elementary schools began their transformations earlier this year.

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The district is excited for what they call new beginnings, as construction continues to move forward on each campus.

From the planning, to the execution, to the drawings, and then to all the construction folks that are out here bringing this thing to life  its a process that takes so many hours and fingerprints and sleepless nights, said Jonathan Grant, Waco ISD School Board Trustee. Today we get to see the fruit of that.

Construction at Kendrick Elementary is progressing rapidly, and the campus is now expected to be completed ahead of schedule. Originally projected for completion in May 2025, the school is now expected to open a month earlier, in April 2025.

Grant emphasized the transformational impact the new campus will have on students. The facility is going to blow your socks off, he said. Its going to allow you a place to be creative, allow you a place to create an environment where your students can dream, be inspired, but frankly, a place they deserve.

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Kendrick Elementary have been placed in a temporary school building until their original location is complete.

Meanwhile, South Waco Elementary is also progressing with its renovations. Principal Amy Atnip said teachers will be transitioning into the new wing of the building before the Christmas break, with renovations on the older section of the campus set to begin soon after.

Both Kendrick and South Waco are expanding as theyre expecting more students this year due to the closing of Alta Vista Elementary.

We are busy packing the teachers that are going to be moving over, right before Christmas break, Atnip said. Then that old part of the building will begin renovations.

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Angelo Ochoa, a Waco ISD School Board member, is particularly excited about the new Waco High School building, as he has children attending the school.

Ive got two kids at Waco High right now, so knowing that theyre going to get to enjoy this space and my younger kids are going to get to enjoy this space, its very exciting, Ochoa said.

These renovations are part of a larger district-wide effort to improve educational environments for students. Each of the campuses is set to open in time for the 2025-2026 school year, providing upgraded facilities and enhanced learning spaces designed to support students and foster new opportunities for the Waco ISD community.

The district remains committed to creating safer, more inspiring places for students and teachers to thrive, and it looks forward to the completion of these projects in the coming months.

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WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  A Waco man was sentenced to life in federal prison on Wednesday, for one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, 25-year-old Bailey Warren Lowe used a Snapchat account to request sexually explicit images from a 13-year-old girl on multiple occasions. If she acted slowly or the photos did not meet his expectations, Lowe would become angry and threaten to expose her.

The Department of Justice says on one occasion in early 2022, Lowe drove the minors residence, where they engaged in sexual activity in his vehicle. Lowe did not use a condom, and when the minor repeated that she was 13 years old, he demanded she not tell anyone about them because he was 22 and could get in trouble. Lowe was enlisted in the Navy at the time.

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Bruceville-Eddy children left alone, their mom arrested

An FBI investigation revealed multiple chat conversations and instances of sexual exploitation between Lowe and additional victims between the ages of ten and 15 years old. He was arrested on July 28, 2023 and pleaded guilty on December 5, 2023.

The Department of Justice says U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made this announcement. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gloff prosecuted the case.

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ST. LOUIS  Gateway Stem High Schools library was overflowing for Tuesday evenings SLPS board meeting, as attendees eager to understand the systems current progress as they rebuild after a year that dismantled the establishment.

School officials say growth and achievement are all moving in the right direction, with increased MPI and DESE scores for some student groups in all areas: English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.

Another major challenge for St. Louis educators to tackle: 1-in-4 students are missing a significant portion of school days; overall, an improvement from the pandemic eras 30% that were chronically absent, but the system claims theyre on the right track.

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Many schools are still working on attendance post-COVID. We are still working on that as well, Dr. Allison Deno, chief of schools for SLPS, said.

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An independent audit recently exposed otherwise while investigating the finances of former Superintendent Keisha Scarlett after the board discovered alleged secret raises approved by her. And this was confirmed, finding 637 questionable transactions under Scarlett, totaling approximately 60% of those charges.

Graduation rates were also questioned, but the numbers were not on hand.

St. Louis Public Schools does a really excellent job with that and DESE continues to tell us to keep it up because we are doing a great job of following up with our students after they leave. Added Dr. Deno.

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SLPS also plans to implement new learning technologies for students, with Microsofts Reading Progress among the ones proposed. And beginning in January, the Saturday Success Academy will offer critical interventions, tutoring, and support for high school students who need extra help staying on track for graduation.

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Dec. 11Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday announced $4.5 million in grants for 46 law enforcement agencies in Minnesota, including Freeborn County, to support officer training and recruitment.

The governor made the announcement alongside cadets and police chiefs from across the state at Hennepin Technical College, which is one of two locations that will provide training for law enforcement candidates.

"Police departments of all sizes are feeling the pinch of fewer officers," Walz said. "We're investing in building strong, well-trained law enforcement agencies that are fully staffed and ready to answer any call that comes in."

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The agencies receiving this funding will sponsor 94 candidates with two- and four-year degrees who want to make a career transition into law enforcement. All candidates will attend an intensive, comprehensive training program at Alexandria Technical & Community College or Hennepin Technical College where they will go through the same training that traditional peace officer students complete.

"The incentives of this training program are plentiful," said Intensive Comprehensive Grant Administrator Mary Vukelich. "But this isn't a free ride. Students will have to fully commit to this intensive and comprehensive curriculum that will give them the skills to become a licensed officer."

DPS' Office of Justice Programs has approved $4.5 million in grant funding to the agencies. $50,000 is available for each candidate. The funding covers their salary and cost of education.

The Intensive Comprehensive Grant Program enhances existing law enforcement recruiting programs. The ideal candidate is a non-traditional student who wants to work in law enforcement, but who faces challenges committing to the traditional 1.5 year-long education timeline. The program reduces the learning period to eight months or less.

"This has been a game-changer," said Tony Paetznick, director of public safety for the city of New Brighton. "If not for the program and commitment from the state, it would be difficult for any of us to fund an initiative like this. Additionally, the training the candidates get while earning a salary for their classroom time opens doors for quality people who might not otherwise consider careers in law enforcement."
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  The Zachary Police Department arrested an accused drug dealer after an attempted traffic stop led to a police chase.

Donald McDonald, of Zachary, had arrest warrants from a previous traffic stop by the East Feliciana Parish Sheriffs Office. The Zachary Police Department located McDonald and attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop at Pride Port Hudson Road near Lemon Road but McDonald reportedly has a history of fleeing from authorities.

Police say in his attempt to flee, he crashed his car into a ditch, which disabled his vehicle. McDonald then attempted to flee on foot before being apprehended.

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In McDonalds car, police found the following:

26.3 grams of Heroin

85.7 grams of Methamphetamine

18 suspected pressed pills

101 Sildenafil pills

drug paraphernalia

two firearms

$474

McDonald was taken into custody on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute Schedule I drugs, possession with the intent to distribute Schedule II drugs, possession with the intent to distribute Schedule IV drugs, possession of a firearm with CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of fugitive charges.

This arrest was a joint effort by the Zachary Police Department, East Feliciana Sherriffs Office and the Louisiana State Police. I am extremely proud of our Detectives Division and the commitment to remove drugs from our City and keep our neighborhoods and community safe, said Chief Darryl Lawrence, Sr.

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NEW YORK CITY (PIX11)  Videos circulating on social media show wanted posters in New York City with photos of health care CEOs a week after the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown.

The posters were spotted near Canal and Centre Streets in Lower Manhattan but have been taken down as of Wednesday afternoon. A video posted to TikTok shows the posters adhered to an electrical box with photos of Thompson and two other health care CEOs.

Who was Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO?

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The posters read Healthcare CEOs should not feel safe, and the words deny, defend, and depose, which were found on bullet casings at the scene of Thompsons shooting, according to police sources.

The NYPD told PIX11 News it is aware of and investigating the posters.

The wanted signs come a week after Thompson was fatally shot outside a Hilton hotel in what law enforcement officials have called a premeditated, targeted attack. A 26-year-old from Maryland, Luigi Mangione, faces murder and other charges related to the shooting.

NYPD officials said there has been an increase in threats to some companies, and the NYPD is working with health care companies to address potential copycat threats.

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he has no tolerance for violence such as the New York City shooting.

In a civil society, we are all less safe when idealogues engage in vigilante justice, he said.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Earlier this fall, there was concern that The Warming Shelter would not be open to assist the homeless population during cold winter days. After expedited fundraising, though, the shelter is in fact open and is preparing to meet the needs of those without a place to call home.

Workers are gathering winter clothing, including hats, coats and gloves, as well as food. Dozens of cots also are in place.

Sioux City to host IHSAA State Baseball Tournament in 2025

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As temperatures continue to drop, the need for a warm place to stay will likely grow. But for now, workers say there is some good news.

We are averaging about 95 to 100 people per night, executive director Shayla Moore said. That is actually a little bit less then last year  we were averaging about 110 to 115 around this time  so I mean, that is a good sign.

The Warming Shelter also said that they are extremely low on hand warmers and gloves. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter on 910 Nebraska Street.

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Macao diversifies its industrial structure

08:21, December 11, 2024 By Zhang Yi, Wang Jing ( China Daily

Macao is no longer a city driven primarily by its casino gaming industry, as the special administrative region is making efforts to diversify its industrial structure to reduce reliance on a single industry, said Ho Iat-seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, who will complete his term at the end of this month.

Last year, the gaming industry recovered to about 75 percent of its 2019 level and, yet, it accounted for only 37.2 percent of Macao's GDP, while the non-gaming sector exceeded 60 percent, Ho told China Daily in a recent interview. "It means that we're shifting away from a gaming-dominated economy," he said.

Ho, who took office in December 2019, made the promotion of economic diversification a top priority in governance during his five-year tenure, as the city realized the risks associated with relying on a single industry.

"Macao is a very small city, and due to historical reasons, the economy has been predominantly driven by the gaming industry. In the face of uncertainties, such as the pandemic, our economic structure found it difficult to withstand risks," he said.

Following the revision of gaming laws in 2022 to better regulate the industry, Macao's casino operators committed to investing a total of 118.8 billion Macao patacas ($14.8 billion) over 10 years, with the investment in non-gaming projects being 10 times that in gaming projects. The objective aims to support the diversification of Macao's economy, Ho said.

A formal plan for Macao's economic diversification from 2024 through 2028  the first such systematic industrial development plan in the city  was issued in November 2023. The goal is to allow the non-gaming sector to contribute about 60 percent of GDP until 2028, while the gaming industry continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19.

The document outlines specific plans and arrangements for sectors that Macao will focus on, including tourism and leisure, traditional Chinese medicine and healthcare, modern finance, new and high technologies, and conventions and exhibitions.

Ho said the SAR government is also promoting the development of performing arts, which has not only strengthened the hospitality industry, but also certain segments of the casino gaming industry.

"Many international performers enjoy participating in shows in Macao. We are committed to showcasing the city's unique charm, which includes the blend of Chinese and Western cultures, the rich cuisine, and more. We encourage visitors to delve deeper to understand Macao, and not just see it as a destination for casino gaming," he said.

The pandemic was among the greatest challenges for Macao since its return to the motherland 25 years ago. Although the city grappled with one of the most severe impacts of COVID-19, which involved three years of Ho's five-year tenure, the SAR government maintained stability and ensured people's livelihoods.

Every permanent resident of the city was made eligible to receive an annual cash handout of 10,000 Macao patacas, boosting the SAR's overall economic recovery, Ho said.

He noted that significant efforts have been made to advance the city's infrastructure development. For example, the construction of the Macao Medical Center of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, an elite healthcare facility on the Chinese mainland. The Macao Medical Center started trial operation last year, aiming to improve the level of critical care treatment in the city.

"The 'one country, two systems' policy gives Macao a high degree of autonomy. With the strong backing of the central government, Macao managed to overcome three years of pandemic, while also promoting economic development," he said.

In the future, Macao will continue to leverage its unique advantage as a platform for cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and make greater contributions to promoting the country's high-level opening-up, Ho said.

Macao's history of over 400 years under Portuguese administration has enabled it to play a unique role, with advantages including the availability of talent familiar with the Portuguese language and Portuguese laws, Ho said.

Macao invites people from Portuguese-speaking nations, especially those with connections to the city, as well as their descendants, to visit, understand its development, and use their voices to tell the stories of China and the SAR, he added.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
KOKO TO DA: FILE CASES AGAINST COMPANIES BLACKLISTED FOR SMUGGLING AND PRICE MANIPULATION

While the Department of Agriculture's blacklisting of 10 companies involved in illegal agricultural trade is commendable, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III urged the department to file criminal charges with urgency to ensure accountability.

"Hindi sapat ang pagbablacklist lamang. Kailangan maparusahan ang mga nagkasala. Dapat may pananagutan ang mga kumpanyang ito sa kanilang mga ginawa," Pimentel said.

The DA, through its Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), blacklisted these companies for engaging in smuggling and other unlawful agricultural trade practices.

The blacklisted companies include LVM Grains Enterprises, Kysse Lishh Consumer Goods Trading, JRA and Pearl Enterprises Inc., Betron Consumer Goods Trading, RCNN Non-Specialized Wholesale Trading, and Golden Rays Consumer Goods Trading.

Of these, Kysse Lishh, RCNN, Chastity Consumer Goods Trading, and Golden Rays are not licensed importers.

Additionally, La Reina Fresh Vegetables Young Indoor Plants Inc., Vegefru Producing Store, and Yom Trading Corp., all licensed importers, were blacklisted for engaging in anti-competitive practices such as price manipulation and collusion.

"Make an example of these 10 companies para huwag nang tularan. This, however, will only be meaningful if the wheels of justice move swiftly," Pimentel stressed.

"This is a clear message that the government is serious about protecting our farmers and consumers from unscrupulous traders," he added.

Pimentel also urged the DA to continue its crackdown on agricultural smuggling and other illegal activities.
Obsidian Security today announced the successful completion of the Snowflake Ready Technology Validation, and achievementSnowflake Ready Technology Validation, and achievement of the Snowflake Partner Network Financial Services Industry Competency. These milestones mark significant progress in Obsidian Securitys product integration and collaboration with Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company. Through this integration, Obsidian Security customers can strengthen the security of their critical data and applications on the Snowflake AI Data Cloud.

The Snowflake Ready Validation Program recognises partners that have completed a third-party technical validation to confirm their Snowflake integrations are optimised with an emphasis on functional and performance best practices. Obsidian Security provides identity threat protection and posture management for SaaS and PaaS applications. Through its integration with Snowflake, Obsidian Security will enable joint customers to configure their applications and protect their data in Snowflake to further enhance their ability to conform to compliance standards like NIST and CIS Snowflake Foundations Benchmark best practices.

The Snowflake Partner Network Competency Program validates Snowflake partners for their commitment to driving customer impact across the Data Cloud ecosystem. Obsidian Security protects SaaS and PaaS applications from identity threats and third-party integration risks (including AI applications) and secures data movement between SaaS applications, resulting in automation of SaaS security posture management and compliance. As a Snowflake Premier Partner, Obsidian Security enables shared customers to confidently increase their adoption of the Snowflake AI Data Cloud.

"We have observed sophisticated attackers frequently target organisations through their data stores, said Iulia Stefoi-Silver, VP Alliances at Obsidian Security. This collaboration leverages Obsidian Securitys advanced SaaS security solutions to protect customers from these escalating threats.

The collaboration between Obsidian Security and Snowflake offers customers a streamlined process to better secure their Snowflake environment. Automated workflows for configuring posture controls enable fast and comprehensive adherence to Snowflake's configuration best practices. In addition to posture management, Obsidian Securitys advanced threat prevention and detection capabilities are more readily available, powered by SaaS security insights enriched from the worlds largest repository of SaaS breach data. Customers also benefit from Obsidians seamless integration with security logs in Snowflakes AI Data Cloud, accelerating incident investigation and response.

Obsidian Securitys Technology Ready status reflects the companys continued investment in providing data security solutions to our joint customers, said Tarik Dwiek, Head of Technology Alliances at Snowflake. We look forward to continuing to witness Obsidians commitment to ensuring a seamless user experience for our joint customers through their SaaS and PaaS posture management and threat prevention and detection solutions.

Ensuring the security and availability of our data has become absolutely essential, said Obsidian Security customer Ravi Chinni, Global Head of Identity and Access Management at S&P Global. Knowing our data is now better protected on the Snowflake AI Data Cloud with Obsidian Security is a strong endorsement for growing our adoption of Snowflake.

Obsidian Security was founded with the goal of tackling the unaddressed blind spot in SaaS and PaaS security. Trusted by leading Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 enterprises, Obsidian shields SaaS and PaaS applications from identity threats, 3rd- and 4th-party integrations and data movement risks, and automates SaaS security posture management and compliance.

Learn more

To become a Snowflake partner and get access to Snowflakes self-service partner resources, please click here.

Read this blog to learn how Obsidian Security has helped organisations automate their workflows and secure their Snowflake environments.

About Obsidian Security

Obsidian Security is the premier security solution designed to drastically reduce the attack surface area of SaaS applications by 80% on average. With contextual user activity data, configuration posture, and a rich understanding of 3rd-party integrations in SaaS, the Obsidian platform reduces incident response times by 10x and streamlines compliance with internal policies and industry regulations. Notable Fortune 500 companies trust Obsidian Security to secure SaaS applications, such as Salesforce, GitHub, ServiceNow, Workday, and Atlassian. Headquartered in Southern California, Obsidian Security is a privately held company backed by Menlo Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, IVP, GV, and Wing. For more information, visit www.obsidiansecurity.com
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a staunch critic of the U.S. health care system, offered a blunt assessment of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsons assassination and the discourse that followed.

The visceral response from people across this country who feel cheated, ripped off, and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the health care system, Senator Warren said in an interview with HuffPost Tuesday. Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far.

This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change, Warren continued. [They] lose faith in the ability of the people who are providing the health care to make change, and start to take matters into their own hands in ways that will ultimately be a threat to everyone.

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Luigi Mangione, 26, from Baltimore County, Maryland, was apprehended at a Pennsylvania McDonalds on Monday for Thompsons murder. Mangiones motives seem motivated by personal trauma, as he suffered a significant back injury that he sought serious relief for. After his arrest, police reportedly found a notebook explaining Mangiones rationale for the shooting, including a manifesto citing the exorbitant costs of health care in the United States.



Warrens comments immediately drew criticism from some Democrats and Republicans, forcing her to clarify.

Violence is never the answer. Period, Warren told HuffPost. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.

Senator Bernie Sanders, who also initially spoke with the publication, echoed Warren.

I think what the outpouring of anger at the health care industry tells us is that millions of people understand that health care is a human right and that you cannot have people in the insurance industry rejecting needed health care for people while they make billions of dollars in profit, he said.


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Prince Louis may be young, but he already knows that the holidays are all about spending time with family.

The six-year-old prince joined his family last Friday for Princess Kates annual Together at Christmas carol service. Arriving at Westminster Abbey alongside his siblings, 11-year-old Prince George and 9-year-old Princess Charlotte, the young royal participated in a holiday-themed activity that involved writing a note of gratitude and attaching it to an outdoor Christmas tree.

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Louiss note read: Thank you for Granny and Grandpa because they have played games with me.

While Louis didnt specify which set of grandparents his message was directed to, some royal fans have assumed that he was referring to Kates parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, who were also in attendance at the service. The Middletons were previously seen playing card games with the Wales children in a family video released this past September.

Samir Hussein - Getty Images

JORDAN PETTITT - Getty Images

Louis, Charlotte, and Georges attendance at the carol service marks their first public appearance in six months. They were last seen at Trooping the Colour this past June.

Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Samir Hussein - Getty Images

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Kates Together at Christmas event returned for the fourth year in a row, capping off a particularly turbulent year for the royal family amid cancer diagnoses for King Charles and Kate.

The theme of the 2024 service subtly acknowledged Kates personal experiences. This years service provides a moment to reflect upon the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives, Kensington Palace said in a statement shared last month. The service will shine a light on individuals from all over the UK who have shown love, kindness and empathy towards others in their communities.

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WASHINGTON  Two of the biggest critics of the U.S. health care system condemned the assassination of UnitedHealthcares CEO Brian Thompson while calling out vile insurance company practices aimed at maximizing profits.

The visceral response from people across this country who feel cheated, ripped off, and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the health care system, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told HuffPost in an interview on Tuesday when asked about the cold response to Thompsons death, which included celebratory posts on social media.

Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far, Warren added. This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change, lose faith in the ability of the people who are providing the health care to make change, and start to take matters into their own hands in ways that will ultimately be a threat to everyone.

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After drawing some criticism for her remarks, Warren clarified her comments in a statement provided to HuffPost on Wednesday.

Violence is never the answer. Period, the senator said. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called Thompsons killing outrageous and unacceptable before similarly criticizing insurance company practices.

I think what the outpouring of anger at the health care industry tells us is that millions of people understand that health care is a human right and that you cannot have people in the insurance industry rejecting needed health care for people while they make billions of dollars in profit, Sanders said.

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Both senators have long advocated for a single-payer system like Sanders Medicare for All proposal to address the high cost of health care in the U.S., which has left many families struggling with unmanageable hospital bills.

The motives of the suspect in Thompsons death, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who was charged with murder Tuesday, remain unknown, but police found shell casings at the scene inscribed with the words deny, defend, and depose, possibly a reference to health insurance industry practices aimed at stalling insurance claims.

The killing has prompted an outpouring of glee from some who suggested Thompson, who is survived by two teenage children, got what he deserved. It also inspired people to share their own horror stories of having coverage denied, either for themselves, for family members, or for their patients.

The number of people I personally hear from, both in my official capacity and as somebody who stops and talks to people in the grocery store about how hard it is to get medical care that people have paid their insurance companies for over and over and over, is a reminder that this system is just broken, Warren told HuffPost.

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Democrats have sought to shut down efforts to glorify the killing, despite the anger toward the health care industry.

Hear me on this  he is no hero. ... In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to express policy differences or a viewpoint, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) said in a Monday news conference detailing the latest developments on the case after Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) also criticized vile social media posts for celebrating an asshole thats going to die in prison.

Congratulations if you want to celebrate that. A sewer is going to sewer, Fetterman told HuffPost.

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If you gun someone down that you dont happen to agree with their views or the business that theyre in, hey, you know, Im next, theyre next, he added. And people want to celebrate it. Its twisted.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Warren man who was part of a 2021 investigation into dog fighting there pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to charges that he kept a dog to fight, as well as drug and gun charges.

Read next: Man pleads guilty to child endangering after dog attack

Stanley Redd Jr., 46, entered guilty pleas before U.S. Judge Donald C. Nugent in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio to charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and sponsoring or exhibiting animals in an animal fighting venture.

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He is expected to be sentenced on March 5 before Judge Nugent. He is presently in federal custody.

Redd was originally indicted on July 11, 2023, then was issued a superseding indictment on Sept. 7, 2023.

He pleaded guilty to having fentanyl on May 18, 2021, as well as having a .38-caliber revolver despite several drug-related convictions from Trumbull County Common Pleas Court dating back to 2002.

The indictment also says that Redd had a tan pit bull named Niko on May 18, 2021, when an Austin Avenue SW home he was at was searched by authorities.

The indictment said that Redd was having the dog fight in various dog fights from December 2020 to the day the dog was found.

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Authorities were serving a search warrant at Redds home as part of a drug investigation when they found the dog. Reports said they also found equipment that led them to believe dog fighting was taking place there.

There were several other dog fighting-related counts in the superseding indictment but they were dropped in exchange for Redds plea.

The gun and drugs in the indictment were found the day the search warrant was served.

Authorities found a total of seven dogs at the time during their investigation and they were all taken by the Animal Welfare League. Most of the dogs were males 2 years old and under.

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Warren police, at the time, said the fighting setup they found was one of the most elaborate they had seen.

In February 2023, Redd was sentenced to three years in prison in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to an unrelated possession of fentanyl charge, which was a second-degree felony charge, and a third-degree felony charge of escape.

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Warren man found guilty of hitting a woman with a gun when he legally wasnt allowed to have a firearm was sentenced Tuesday.

Standing before Judge Ronald Rice, 34-year-old William Brown III waited to learn his punishment.

Ill just apologize for acting poorly in a real bad situation, Brown said.

Last week, a jury found Brown guilty of felonious assault and unlawfully carrying a gun as a convicted felon. It stems from an incident at a Warren apartment complex in June 2023. Prosecutors say he put a gun to a womans head and later pistol-whipped her as she walked away.

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I believe Mr. William Brown has absolutely no remorse for all the devastation he has caused me and my two young daughters. It has been a psychological, economic and almost daily trauma for us, said the victim Kashae Smith.

This was a reaction, this was something that was done under provocation by the victim, said Browns attorney Aaron Meikle.



Judge Rice sentenced Brown to eight to nine years in prison. Court records show Brown was previously convicted of having weapons under disability in Trumbull County.

We have a lot of people upset about gun crimes in this country and theres people like you who refuse to follow the laws and carry guns around and commit crimes with them, said Judge Rice.



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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), one of the staunchest critics of the American health care system writ large among U.S. lawmakers, condemned the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Tuesday  but added that people can be pushed only so far, in an interview with the Huffington Post.

The visceral response from people across the country who feel cheated, ripped off, and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the healthcare system, Warren said, pointing to the outcrying of support from people online in support of Luigi Mangione, who is a suspect in the killing.

Violence is never the answer, Warren added. But people can only be pushed so far.

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In a statement to POLITICO after this report published Wednesday, Warren said, Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.

Mangione has been charged with multiple counts in connection with the killing of Thompson, including one count of second-degree murder. On Wednesday morning, multiple outlets reported that fingerprints taken from the 26-year-old graduate of the University of Pennsylvania matched some of the prints found at the midtown Manhattan crime scene.

Written on the bullet casings at the crime scene were deny, defend, and depose, a possible nod to former Rutgers Law professor Jay Feinmans 2010 book, Delay, Deny, Defend: Why insurance companies dont pay claims and what you can do about it.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who, like Warren, is a steadfast critic of the health care industry, also put the murder in the larger context of Americans frustration with the system.

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Thompsons murder was outrageous, Sanders said Tuesday, according to the Huffington Post. He added that what the outpouring of anger at the health care industry tells us is that millions of people understand that healthcare is a human right and that you cannot have people in the insurance industry rejecting needed health care for people while they make billions of dollars in profit.

At least one Democrat was much more blunt in their condemnation of Mangione. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman called him an asshole thats going to die in prison, also in an interview with HuffPost.

Congratulations if you want to celebrate that, he added. A sewer is going to sewer.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said in a new interview that the visceral response to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson should serve as a warning to everyone in the health care system, adding that people can be pushed only so far.

The visceral response from people across this country who feel cheated, ripped off, and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the health care system, Warren told HuffPost.

Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far. This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change, lose faith in the ability of the people who are providing the health care to make change, and start to take matters into their own hands in ways that will ultimately be a threat to everyone, added Warren, a vocal critic of the U.S. health care system.

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Her comments come after Thompson was shot and killed last week outside a midtown Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual investor conference.

Some on social media have responded by expressing frustration with the health care system and celebrating or mocking the killing. Rolling Stone published a report detailing social media posts from users attempting to get the suspects attention. USA Today also reported that the shooting became a source of ridicule.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) on Monday condemned such reactions that he described as showing a lack of sympathy for the chief executive.

In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this: He is no hero, the governor said.

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Violence is never the answer. Period, Warren said in a statement to Politico after her initial remarks were published. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspected of killing Thompson, has been charged with murder in New York City. He faces five counts, including murder in the second degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, an arrest warrant showed. Mangione reportedly said in a handwritten note that he acted alone.

Mangione was arrested Monday on gun charges in Altoona, Pa., according to New York City police, who described him at the time as a person of interest in last weeks shooting.

Police said a ghost gun, silencer and writings expressing ill will toward corporate America were found on Mangione, which linked him to the crime.

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Updated on Dec. 12 at 7:34 a.m. EST

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Dec. 10The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is suing Inland Power and Light over costs the department incurred from investigating the Gray fire, a blaze that devastated the West Plains last year.

The lawsuit, filed by the Washington State Attorney General's Office in Spokane last week, claims the power company was "negligent" and the department should be paid following its large-scale investigation, which concluded this year that sparks from an Inland Power security light caused the fire.

The fire spread to 10,000 acres, burned 240 homes, displaced thousands of people and killed an 86-year-old man.

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Inland Power's attorney Scott Cefriese was not immediately available for comment Tuesday, but typically does not comment on pending litigation. Inland Power has denied liability for the fire in a previous case, previous reports from The Spokesman-Review say, arguing that the fire was caused by an unavoidable accident or "act of God," which Inland Power couldn't have predicted.

According to the lawsuit, DNR submitted a written demand in October for Inland Power to reimburse the state of Washington for almost $936,000. The amount is reduced from the original cost, partly because of federal grant money the agency received.

Inland Power "refused" to reimburse DNR, the lawsuit states. It also says Inland Power should have shut off the power light that caused the fire and been aware of the fire danger posed from the windy and dry conditions that day, calling the light company "negligent."

Thomas Kyle-Milward, the communications manager for DNR, previously told The Spokesman-Review that DNR will often forward the results of an investigation to the attorney general for review. The attorney general's office represents state departments during litigation.

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DNR spokesperson Jessa Lewis declined Tuesday to give a statement on the lawsuit but instead pointed to the report for any further clarification.

A group of 44 Medical Lake residents sued the company last year, claiming the faulty light that was never replaced was the cause of the blaze.

Inland Power has not responded to the complaint as of Tuesday.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Officials reported that a 34-year-old Washington man has been sentenced after traveling to Oregon to sexually abuse an underage victim he met online.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Oregon, Seth Lee Fabry was sentenced to 188 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release on Tuesday.

13-year-old Oregon student arrested over sex abuse allegations involving another student

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The Attorneys Office cited court documents that showed Fabry met the minor on social media platform MeetMe in April 2022, before messaging them through Discord.

The agency reported that the man engaged in explicit discussions with the minor and persuaded them to send sexually explicit images despite knowing their age.

Officials alleged Fabry sexually abused the minor after traveling to Oregon twice in May 2022, and attempted to do so a third time but was met by the victims mother. He was arrested at their residence.

A federal grand jury in Eugene indicted Fabry with sexually exploiting a child and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct in October 2022.

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The catch of a lifetime -- thats how one local fisherman described the Great White Shark he reeled in Tuesday while fishing on Amelia Island.

Action News Jax spoke with the fisherman Wednesday, who believes this might be the first Great White to ever be caught by a beach fisherman off the East Coast of Florida.

Theres something jumping out there, Alberto Vanegas can be heard saying on a cell phone video as he worked to reel in something on his line.

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That was the moment the veteran shark fisherman and owner of Amelia Island Land Based Shark Charter knew hed hooked something special.

The size of the tuna head, I was like theres no way thats a Black Tip, but in my mind I wasnt thinking a Great White, Vanegas said.

What a day. Lets us know if you want a chance to catch your fish of a lifetime. Posted by Amelia Island Land Based Shark Charter on Wednesday, December 11, 2024

RELATED: Local fishermen reel in whopping 12-foot long Tiger shark in Jacksonville Beach waters

After a half-hour fight, he was able to haul the Great White Shark, which measured between 9 and 10 feet, into the shallows.

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As soon as it came on shore, the first thing I was thinking is, How fast can we get it back in the water? With it being a protected species, thats what you want to do, Vanegas said.

A few quick photos were snapped and the shark, aptly nicknamed Jaws, was released back into the ocean, per state regulations.

RELATED: Great White Shark Bob being tracked off Florida/Georgia coast

I salute the fisherman for quick catch and release, Dr. Bob Hueter, Senior Science Advisor at OCEARCH, said.

Hueter told Action News Jax Great Whites arent uncommon off Floridas East Coast during the winter.

In fact, one tagged by the research group was also in the area when Vanegas made his catch.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

But the fact the Great White reeled in Tuesday wasnt tagged, suggests to Hueter that the Great White population may be healthier than researchers believed.

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We have tagged 92 White Sharks so far in our studies in this part of the world and the fact that this was an untagged one just shows you there are many of these animals out there. Weve probably barely scratched the surface, Hueter said.

Vanegas said in his 15 years of shark fishing, he never dreamed he would hook an elusive Great White Shark.

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Now, hes hopeful his thrilling experience will help the scientific community better protect the critically endangered species.

I feel completely honored, completely blessed that I had the opportunity. Its right place right time, Vanegas said.

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Vanegas said he did contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission immediately after the catch and release, to ensure he did everything by the book, which he said the agency confirmed.

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Cybercriminals never rest and company data is an increasingly valuable target. Yet many small to medium enterprises don't have data classification in place, nor might even recognise the value of doing so. The Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C) is partnering with the CSIRO and Australian Governments Department of Home Affairs to establish a voluntary data classification framework (VDCF) and is running workshops to help define and establish it. Matt Salier speaks with iTWireTV to explain it all.

The Voluntary Data Classification Framework (VDCF) is all about helping organisations of all sizes be more secure; part of the problem identified by the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C) is that people often don't know how to begin.

Here's where Aus3C comes in! Working with the CSIRO's Data 61 and the Department of Home Affairs, the collaboration centre is holding workshops with businesses around Australia to help inform, guide, and structure the VDCF.

Aus3C CEO Matt Salier explains the project, and what it really means, to iTWireTV and how you can get involved.

See our conversation here:

To read more about the VDCF, and to contribute either by a survey or in-person workshop, click here.

At the time of publishing, coming workshops are:
Welcome back to Waste Watch with Dia Chakravarty.

The increasingly curious case of the Chagos Islands threatens to commit British taxpayers to paying huge sums of money to Mauritius for the next hundred years.

It is a rare deal where the side which stands to lose territory (and face) is also the side which willingly takes on a long-term obligation to pay an enormous amount in compensation.

To add to the absurdity of the situation, it is the same losing side which is desperate to consolidate its losses and to get the deal over the line, while the newly-elected Mauritian government demands more time to review the agreement before finalising it.

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The Government has declared it would not disclose the cost of the deal with Mauritius.

Nobody therefore knows exactly how much money the whole affair is going to cost British taxpayers. But we know for certain that a great deal of money - in the guise of addressing wrongs of the past - is expected to be paid out of Treasury coffers. Last year, it was reported that the UK would be looking at a bill of up to 2 billion.

A package of financial support awarded to Mauritius is to herald a new era of economic, security and environmental partnership. This would include, but would not be restricted to, an indexed annual payment for the duration of the agreement, which is an initial period of 99 years.

Persistent attempts by the Conservatives - under whom the negotiations were first opened by the Foreign Office back in 2022 but were shut down by Grant Shapps and Lord Cameron - to force the Government to address the issue of costs have failed.

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Not just on the matter of the agreed settlement, any attempt at scrutiny, including through a series of parliamentary questions raised by the Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel - be it on the timeframe of the negotiations, the cost of travels of government officials or details of their meetings - has had little success.

This government has been avoiding scrutiny and transparency at every turn, a Conservative source told me.

But the British taxpayer deserves to know what this mad rush to surrender the Chagos Islands will cost them.

The Prime Ministers mad rush to have his treaty signed off before Donald Trump becomes US President was reported by this paper amidst Downing Streets concerns that the new administration in White House might block a deal which had received President Joe Bidens backing.

This government has been avoiding scrutiny and transparency at every turn

To understand Downing Streets urgency one must consider the significance of this treaty to Sir Keir Starmer: it is the embodiment of his political philosophy. The ideologies of the Prime Minister, the Foreign Office and the countrys legal class, all obsessed with their image on the world stage, are perfectly aligned in this case, where the deal they have negotiated serves the highest moral purpose imaginable to them: Decolonisation.

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In an article titled The Reset: how Britain can restore its global reputation, Philippe Sands, the Kings Counsel who advised Mauritius on this deal, provides a window into the world view that currently governs this country. I found it most revealing.

He starts with effusive praise for his fellow Kings Counsel the Prime Minister whose manifesto repeatedly invoked respect for international law and who would once again stand strong on the world stage convincing its allies that Britain now wishes to re-engage.

To Mr Sands, Britains leadership on Ukraine against Russia or on offering citizenship to up to three million Hong Kongers under Boris Johnson does not qualify as this countrys wish to engage with the world.

Mr Sands goes on to declare that [m]ore than any other modern British prime minister, Starmer has actual experience of engaging with the world. In this world view, that means the International Court of Justice.

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Next, mentioning apartheid in South Africa - along with colonial rule in Hong Kong and elsewhere in one breath, he chides his younger, simpler self for his past failure to see the double standard of the West, until he encountered the real world of law and diplomacy and learnt to recognise Britains air of entitlement and hubris and its peoples persisting sense of continuity with a colonial past.

Britains failure to have a judge elected to the International Court of Justice for the first time since 1922, making way for an Indian judge to be voted to the ICJ, appeared to have hit Mr Sands particularly hard, though that in itself seems to me to be an expression of the entitlement and hubris he so despises in his fellow citizens.

He blames this embarrassing failure of the state on Iraq, Brexit, Chagos and articles by Boris Johnson that were disrespectful of Black people and Muslims combined which crush[ed] British hopes.

Is Mr Sands teasing us, or could this hugely intelligent man genuinely believe that the same China which has declared Islam a Contagious Disease and put Muslims in concentration camps, and other Asian countries whose own endemic and sometime violent racism towards black people is well documented, would vote against Britains place on the ICJ to punish Boris Johnson for writing articles disrespectful of Black people and Muslims combined?

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I fear this is the exact same world view which drives our Prime Minister and much of his Cabinet. Britain to them is a country so beyond redemption because of a multitude of sins - Iraq, Brexit, Empire, Boris Johnson - that no amount of harm inflicted on our country and its citizens is too much in the service of attempting to correct those transgressions.

On this noble crusade it must seem almost vulgar to spend a moments thought on how punishing these policies might prove to British taxpayers.

The question is, how much more flogging can the taxpayer take?

Please share share examples of public spending in your personal and professional lives which you consider to be a waste of taxpayers money. You can email us your stories  either in writing or as voice notes  at wastewatch@telegraph.co.uk

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Tensions are rising in Arlington as residents express growing concerns about the future of Regency Square Mall. A proposed development plan, which includes a gas station and a convenience store, has sparked a debate about how best to revitalize the nearly 60-year-old shopping center.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The proposed project involves constructing a gas station and a 5,200-square-foot convenience store on a portion of the malls parking lot. The project is currently under review by JEA, which is assessing the service availability for the site. Titled CK Atlantic Blvd & Monument Rd, the development has led to speculation that the project could be a new Circle K gas station, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

The proposed project involves constructing a gas station and a 5,200-square-foot convenience store on a portion of the malls parking lot. The project is currently under review by JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority), which is assessing the service availability for the site. Titled CK Atlantic Blvd & Monument Rd, the development has led to speculation that the project could be a new Circle K gas station, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

The proposed project involves constructing a gas station and a 5,200-square-foot convenience store on a portion of the malls parking lot. The project is currently under review by JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority), which is assessing the service availability for the site. Titled CK Atlantic Blvd & Monument Rd, the development has led to speculation that the project could be a new Circle K gas station, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

Residents are speaking out against the proposal, arguing that a gas station is not the solution Arlington needs. With several gas stations and convenience stores already in the area, many feel the space could be better utilized for purposes that would better serve the community.

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I think thats a wasteful use of space, said Arlington resident Antonio Miller-Jones, expressing his frustration with the plan.

Others, like Lee Thai, also believe the site could be repurposed in ways that would have a greater benefit for the neighborhood.

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I dont know why they dont turn it into a variety of food stores, Thai suggested, proposing an alternative that could bring more diverse options to the area.

Miller-Jones also pointed out that the land might be more profitable if left as an open lot, rather than being developed into a gas station and convenience store.

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A site plan of the proposed redevelopment shows that only the eastern portion of the mall is being considered for redevelopment. However, beyond the gas station, the plan does not clarify what other developments could take place on the property. Additionally, it is unclear when demolition or construction might begin, leaving residents uncertain about the timeline for the project.

This latest proposal follows ongoing concerns about the malls deteriorating condition. Regency Square Mall has been racking up fines for code violations, including issues with mold, roof leaks, and a lack of air conditioning. The once-popular shopping destination has fallen into disrepair, leading to growing concern from the community about its future.

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In response to these concerns, District 1 City Councilman Ken Amaros office issued a statement acknowledging the proposal and its potential impact on the area.

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Our office is aware of the proposal, and as this is a very fluid situation with the potential development of Regency Square Mall, we cannot discern whether this will be concretely a part of the plans to redevelop the property, the statement read. It continued, Whatever ends up going in there should benefit not only the immediate community, but all of Jacksonville, and I am confident that this will be the case.

While the future of Regency Square Mall remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the community is divided on what the redevelopment should look like. Many residents are calling for a redevelopment plan that not only addresses the immediate needs of the local community but also takes into account the long-term vision for Arlington.

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President Biden and first lady Jill Biden held the first White House conference centered on womens health research on Wednesday morning.

Business and philanthropic leaders, academic researchers, womens health advocates, investors and federal agency representatives discussed scientific innovations in womens health care and the business of investing in womens health, a White House official told The Hill.

The conference came after the Biden administration launched an initiative last year aimed at closing the decades-long gap in womens health research. Biden also issued an executive order early this year directing agencies to accelerate or expand research on womens health and strengthen their data collection to prevent, diagnose, and treat conditions that affect women uniquely or differently than men.

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Watch the video above.

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference Wednesday morning as Democrats in both chambers of Congress prepare for Republicans to take full control of government following last months election.

His remarks followed the Democratic leaders announcement of a new Steering & Policy Committee for the 119th Congress, to ensure that every Democratic Member of the House is fully engaged and empowered to serve America. They also come as lawmakers are under the pressure of another shutdown deadline.

Jeffries, who was reelected earlier this month to retain his leadership position, vowed in a conference last week to seek bipartisan solutions with Republicans and putting people over politics in the next term.

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Watch the video above.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning, over three years after the Biden administrations chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

The hearing also came just a few months after House Republicans unveiled their long-awaited report analyzing the event that led to the deaths of 13 service members and an estimated 100,000 partners of U.S. government efforts being left behind. The report painted President Biden as being determined to leave the country but fumbling preparations that set the stage for the deadly exit from Americas longest war.

Blinken was unable to make a hearing earlier this year, citing his commitment to attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Due to his absence, the GOP-led committee moved forward with an attempt to hold the secretary of State in contempt of a subpoena to appear.

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Late last month, committee chair Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) announced he had secured Blinken to testify.

Watch the video above.

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NILES, Ohio (WKBN)  Warren Police have released body camera video showing the incident where an officer was attacked by a man accused of robbing a Niles business less than an hour before.

Police body camera video shows the man identified as Erick Rivers swinging a metal pole at a police officer.

Police say Rivers attacked the officer who was responding to a crash at the intersection of Mahoning Avenue and Northwest Bridge Road.

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Rivers is charged with felonious assault stemming from the ordeal. Hes since pleaded not guilty in Warren Municipal Court.

A judge set bond at $100,000. Rivers is scheduled to be back in court on Thursday.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  KeyBank Foundation has recently donated $10,000 to Way Finders to support their implementation of its Ready to Work: My Story, My Goals program.

Tickets on sale now for Springfields 2025 LEGO convention at MassMutual Center

This program is a six-week employment readiness course that consists of in-class instruction and one-to-one support for up to 15 low- to moderate-income residents with limited or no documented work experience, according to Way Finders.

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In Holyokes and Springfields underserved neighborhoods, 35 percent to 80 percent of residents identify as people of color and/or Latino/Latina. At the end of the Ready to Work: My Story, My Goals program, each participant will have a resume, cover letter, and the understanding of how to translate their life experiences into marketable skills, improve digital literacy skills, conduct job searches, and complete an application.

Taking the first step on the journey to employment can be intimidating, especially if you are missing important things like a valid ID, a resume, interview clothes, or the ability to access and use the internet, says Bea Dewberry, Director of Community Building and Engagement at Way Finders. This KeyBank funding allows us to work hand-in-hand with Holyoke and Springfield residents, helping them ready themselves for employment, and ultimately securing a more stable future for themselves and their families.

KeyBank is proud to support Way Finders Ready to Work program, as it aligns with our commitment to helping individuals achieve financial stability and independence, said Matthew Hummel, KeyBank Market President and Regional Commercial Banking Executive for Connecticut and Massachusetts. By investing in workforce development, we aim to empower residents with the skills and resources needed to sustain employment, obtain affordable housing, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

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.

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Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nations top private universities.

Man accused of killing UnitedHealthcares CEO shouts on way into courthouse, fights extradition

Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a great guy, and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties.

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Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street.

The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer.

But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangiones arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonalds restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police.

In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero, Shapiro said. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonalds this morning.

Mangiones family and upbringing

Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978.

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The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangiones parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance.

The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons  including Luigi Mangiones father, Louis Mangione  to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfathers obituary.

Luigi Mangiones grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangiones wifes death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts.

One of Luigi Mangiones cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmakers office confirmed.

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Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigis arrest, Mangiones family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.

Mangiones education and work history

Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press.

He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication.

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His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations.

The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimores elite prep schools. The children of some of the citys wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington.

In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.

Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees.

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He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP.

Time in Hawaii and reports of back pain

From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu.

Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin.

Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints, Ryan said. There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes theyre saying he committed.

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At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said.

He went surfing with R.J. once but it didnt work out because of his back, Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym.

Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someones lower spine.

Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago.

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An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

Police report a darker turn

Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called parasitic health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP.

He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while our life expectancy does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspects handwritten notes and social media posts.

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He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the first to face it with such brutal honesty, the bulletin said.

Mangione called Unabomber Ted Kaczynski a political revolutionary and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said.

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Former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) launched an exploratory committee to potentially run for New York City Council, 13 years after resigning from Congress amid a sexting scandal.

Weiner, 60, registered his political action committee (PAC), Weiner 25, last Friday and filed to run for a city council 2nd District seat on Tuesday with the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

The former House lawmaker, who served seven terms in the lower chamber, told The Hill that the Tuesday filing is an exploratory committee and that he will be posting my latest idea book sometime in the coming days, 25 ideas for 25 and see how it goes.

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He said he had to set up the exploratory committee to participate at the Downtown Independent Democrats forum on Thursday.

Weiner previously hinted at making a city council run, saying on his weekly radio show on 77WABC in early November, Im thinking about it. Im wrestling with it. I love doing this job on the radio, but I want to be of service.

The term-limited Carlina Rivera currently holds the 2nd District spot.

In mid-June this year, he expressed doubt about running for office again but said that politicians can still gain the trust of the American public despite being embroiled in scandals.

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I think fundamentally still Americans are forgiving people, he said on NewsNations Dan Abrams Live.

Weiner resigned from the House in 2011 after he admitted that he was sending lewd photos to several women. Two years later, he was unsuccessful in his New York City mayoral run.

He started his 21-month sentence after pleading guilty to sending sexually explicit material to a minor in November 2017. In February 2019, Weiner was released from federal prison.

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Salus Ventures , Australias largest venture capital fund with a focus on national resilience, has launched its Strategic Advisor Program, making three significant appointments to its team. These include:

These three highly credentialed and influential strategic advisors will help Salus Ventures unlock opportunities for promising portfolio companies and conduct due diligence in ways others cannot, and in doing so, help bolster the nations national security and resilience.

Salus Ventures supports aspiring Australian founders solving critically important national challenges in the areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, automation, defence and national security, social cohesion along with other emerging technologies.

Were delighted to have three highly influential and respected individuals join our advisory, each providing a unique pathway to further our mission to support deep technology in Australia, said Dan Bennett, Salus Ventures General Partner and Co-Founder.

These critical appointments add to our connective tissue in Canberra and Washington DC, to our ability to provide unique portfolio company support, facilitate AUKUS specialised opportunities and enable Salus to marry public and private sector efforts to achieve better outcomes for Founders and Australia as a whole.

Focused on Pre-Seed and Seed investment, Salus Ventures reviewed more than 1000 companies in 2024. To date the fund has made 10 investments in promising Australian startups and plans to deploy more than $250 million over the next five years.

Were focused on building key technology competency with speed to capability, adds Marten Peck, Salus Ventures General Partner and Co-Founder.

There has never been a more important or impactful time for founders and private sector investors to contribute to and uplift capability in Australia and for our allies, which is why we are looking forward to the unique contributions that each of these strategic advisors can make.

Salus Ventures team has decades of domain experience, having raised and invested more than $600 million into global deep technology investments, primarily in the US, Europe, and Australia. Enhanced by its network of strategic advisors, the funds unique understanding of procurement and capability requirements, along with strong relationships into government, will continue to unlock opportunities for Australias most promising founders.

About Salus Ventures

Salus Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to backing mission-driven founders building world-class technologies to tackle problems at the intersection of enterprise and national security. The firm invests primarily at the seed-stage across technologies supporting the creation of sovereign capabilities that will provide lasting positive impact for Australia and its closest allies.

Salus is led by an experienced team with unique and relevant domain expertise across both industry and government and is backed by highly influential and purpose-driven investors and has an exceptional advisory board  all working together towards the success of its portfolio companies.

Salus VC Pty Ltd and certain related entities are corporate authorised representatives (CAR) of Boutique Capital Pty Ltd (BCPL) AFSL 508011. Any information in this article is not intended to promote or recommend any particular product or services offered by CAR. It does not consider the objectives, financial situation or needs of any investor. Before making an investment decision, investors should read the relevant offer document and (if appropriate) seek professional advice to determine whether the investment is suitable for them. This information is intended only for wholesale clients within the meaning of s761G and s761GA of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa  Police have released the names of the people involved in a fatal crash on I-35 Monday morning in West Des Moines.

A news release from the West Des Moines Police Department says 45-year-old Jamie Alertsen of Pleasantville died in the crash.

Two vehicles were involved in the collision, which happened around 6:00 a.m. in the northbound lanes of I-35 at Mills Civic Parkway.

Sgt. Dan Wade of the WDMPD said 19-year-old Natalie Alertsen, also of Pleasantville, was the driver of one of the vehicles. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the collision.

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The driver of the other vehicle, 27-year-old Junior Sabillon-Ramos of Des Moines, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the incident.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the West Des Moines Police Department.

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Luigi Mangione remains held in Pennsylvania and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson.

Former Manhattan prosecutors predict the extradition process could take months.

Once in New York, he'll stay in the city's most notorious jail and could pursue a psych defense.

Since his arrest on Monday in the Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione has been held in Pennsylvania's oldest jail.

The State Correctional Institution at Huntington, a sprawling red brick structure on the edge of the Allegheny Mountains, opened in 1889 as a reformatory for delinquent boys, and still features its original Queen Anne-style architecture.

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Mangione will remain at that maximum-security jail as he fights extradition  a process that Manhattan defense lawyers and former prosecutors predict will take months.

"Whatever it is, it's going to be better than Rikers, and he'll be in no hurry to leave," veteran New York defense lawyer Ron Kuby told Business Insider, referencing Mangione's likely next placement, the city's notorious Rikers Island. Two weeks ago, a federal judge complained that court-ordered safety and use-of-force reforms at Rikers have proceeded at a "glacial pace."

Here's what longtime Manhattan attorneys predict will happen behind the scenes as Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland real estate family, waits for his case to proceed from indictment to extradition and beyond.

Luigi Mangione is being held in the State Correctional Institute in Huntington. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

First, a grand jury

Mangione is being held without bail on two felony complaints.

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The first was drafted by police and prosecutors in Pennsylvania's Blair County. It alleges that on Monday, after being recognized by an employee at an Altoona McDonalds, he gave cops a fake ID and possessed in his backpack an unlicensed firearm  a part-metal, part 3-D-printed weapon described as a possible "ghost" gun.

The second complaint, drafted soon afterward by the NYPD and Manhattan prosecutors, also charges him with possession of a false ID and weapons possession but adds the top charge of second-degree murder.

Longtime Manhattan attorneys say a secret grand jury is likely already hearing evidence in Lower Manhattan on those charges.

Manhattan prosecutors will likely conclude their grand jury presentation against Mangione by the end of the week or by early next week at the latest, they said, estimating based on their own previous murder cases.

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"They won't have full DNA and ballistic results yet," said one longtime defense attorney. The attorney asked to speak anonymously because they said they are under consideration to represent Mangione at his New York arraignment and in future proceedings.

At this early stage, prosecutors may not know for sure if the bullets fired at Thompson match the gun possessed by Mangione when he was arrested, the attorney said.

"But so far, they appear to have a ton of at least circumstantial evidence," they said. "But prosecutors only need to present a minimal amount of evidence" at this stage, to show that there is reasonable cause to believe Mangione committed the murder, they added.

Any indictment would remain sealed until Mangione faces a judge at his Manhattan arraignment.

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A spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to confirm if a grand jury is hearing evidence or to comment on this story.

Once extradited, Luigi Mangione's New York City placement may be Rikers Island pending trial. Associated Press/Bebeto Matthews

Next, an extradition battle

Meanwhile, Mangione is fighting extradition to New York, a process that will spool out over the course of many weeks, the legal experts predict.

On Tuesday, a Blair County judge got the ball rolling.

He gave local prosecutors 30 days to obtain what's called a governor's warrant, in which New York Gov. Kathy Hochul would request Mangione's return to New York.

"Once the indictment is voted, which could be very soon, they'll ship that paperwork up to the governor's office, where I"m sure it will be expeditiously processed and sent to Pennsylvania," said Daniel Bibb, a former Manhattan homicide prosecutor now in private practice.

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"There has to be an indictment for there to be an extradition," Bibb said.

Hours after Mangione's arrest, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday that the Commonwealth will cooperate in Mangione's extradition, and Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks told reporters that he recognized New York's murder case takes precedence over his own forgery and gun-possession case.



Mangione's Pennsylvania attorney, Thomas Dickey, told Good Morning America on Wednesday that he will demand an extradition hearing so that Manhattan prosecutors will be required to begin divulging their evidence.



Dickey has repeatedly maintained his client's innocence in statements to reporters this week. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this story.

A formal extradition hearing, which has not yet been scheduled, will not focus on whether Mangione committed the murder, Bibb said.

"The issue in Pennsylvania will be whether the person named in the New York indictment is him. And that's pretty much the only inquiry," he said.

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"I pretty much guarantee that you'll be seeing Mr. Mangione in New York within the next couple of months," Bibb predicted, depending on how much delay the Blair County judge is willing to tolerate.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot on December 4 outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan. UnitedHealthcare

An extradition battle could take months

Kuby, who has practiced criminal law in New York for more than 40 years, said that a creative defense lawyer could use appeals to drag an extradition battle on for many months.

"You hold the extradition hearing. You lose? You appeal to Pennsylvania's intermediate appellate court," he said. "You lose that, and you apply to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to hear the case."

In the early 1990s, Kuby and his partner, William Kunstler, were able to delay the New York-to-Florida extradition of Frank Strahan  a Harlem man arrested in the cold-case, 1946 shooting death of Miami's first black police officer  for nearly two years.

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A defense lawyer can try to appeal an extradition all the way up to the US Supreme Court, Kuby said.

A potential psych defense

Once brought back to New York, Mangione would be quickly arraigned. The ensuing prosecution, however, could extend years if he decides to use a psychiatric defense and fights the charges at trial, experts said.

Given what investigators have described as the evidence implicating him in the shooting  including extensive surveillance video footage and what the NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described as "anti-corporatist sentiment" in a hand-written document recovered at his arrest  Mangione's best chances at trial may be what's called an extreme emotional disturbance defense, they said.

Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two sons from Minnesota, was fatally shot on the sidewalk outside a UnitedHealthcare shareholders meeting, where he'd been set to speak.

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In his online posts, Mangione, the scion of a wealthy and prominent Baltimore family, had complained about his chronic back pain and the healthcare system.

A so-called EED defense would ask jurors to find Mangione guilty of a lesser charge of manslaughter, arguing he was so emotionally disturbed at the time that he believed he had to kill Thompson.

"It might be a long shot," said the attorney who requested anonymity due to their potential connection to the case.

"But by all accounts, he went off the grid six months ago, and that was uncharacteristic of him, as was any act of violence," they said.

"He may well have had a psychotic break."

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Womens Health Research on Wednesday.

Today, we are saying to women everywhere, we hear you and we will get you the answers you need, the first lady said during remarks from the East Room.

The conference brought together researchers and advocates as well as policymakers to discuss ways to advance womens health research.

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Just over a year ago, the Biden administration announced the initiative to fund and invest in research for things like ovarian cancer, menopause and high blood pressure in pregnant women.

The United States has the best health research in the world. Yet, womens health is under studied and research is underfunded, Jill Biden said.

Over the past year, the first lady has traveled across the country to meet with researchers, visit universities and connect with leaders across industries to further the initiative.

Together weve laid down a new line, a marker of our progress toward closing the gaps in womens health, she said.

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President Biden said his administration has invested nearly $1 billion in research on womens health, and in March he signed an executive order directing federal agencies to further expand research.

The work were doing on womens health research is some of the most important work this administration has ever done, Biden said. Theres literally never been more of a comprehensive effort from the federal government to spur innovation in womens health research in our entire history.

The president and first lady said that although they are leaving the White House next month, they hope to continue their work to improve and advance womens health research.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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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!



Jourdan Bennett-Begaye

ICT



WASHINGTON  Elizabeth Rule summed it up succinctly in her book, Indigenous DC.



Nowhere in the world is the essence of the nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship shared between sovereign tribal nations and the US federal government more readily apparent, she wrote. In this way, too, Washington, DC, exists as the political capital of Indian Country as a whole.



This frame of thought and fact comes to mind at every White House Tribal Nations Summit.



Its a sight to see when you approach the U.S. Department of the Interior, the spot where the Bureau of Indian Affairs takeover happened in 1972 and where now the department is led by the first Native American in the presidents cabinet.



As many know, its the very department that set out to destroy Native people.



Thats a different story now.



Youll find Indigenous leaders (and security guards) flooding the lobby. Inside the Sidney R. Yates auditorium, more leaders and so many Native people are walking around as federal officials, advocates and press make sure everything is set in place for the day and catch up with one another.



For the entire day  and only day of a summit that had stretched over two days the last two years  the mood took on a unifying, reflective, and appreciative tone.



Early on in my tenure as secretary, when this building was unfamiliar and the road ahead packed full, I knew one thing for sure, that while my role as secretary was new, my intentions for Indian Country were not, said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo. I knew that it was my job, our job, to achieve enduring progress for our people with the time we were given.

Tribal leaders and attendees of the White House Tribal Nations get ready for the big day on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Bay Mills Indian Community, sings with the drum group at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

Tribal leader recording Vice President Kamala Harris' remarks at the White House Tribal Nations Summit on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, speaks at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

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Really, everyone tried their best to instill hope for the future, from Vice President Kamala Harris to Haaland.



This is my last year to address this audience as Secretary of the Interior, and I want you to know that I leave here inspired, Haaland said in her opening remarks at the summit on Monday, Dec. 9.



I leave empowered by all that we have accomplished together, she said. Everything that we accomplished was real and tangible. A transition was inevitable and even though some of the future seems uncertain at this point  one thing is certain: were not going anywhere!



One tribal leader, Doreen Blaker, president of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians in Michigan, described changing administrations as its always been like a swinging pendulum in Indian Country, using with her hands to imitate the pendulum itself, referring to the changing cultural, emotional, and policy shifts that come with each new administration or even within one administration itself.



Such is true.



We heard a couple of people say very forcefully that Joe Biden's administration was as friendly to Indian Country as ever. And I heard chants of, Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe, from the audience here, she said.

Before Biden gave his remarks to the crowd, Haaland and Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland, Bay Mills Indian Community, gave the president a blanket from Eighth Generation, a Native-owned business, for his big investment in Indian Country. Haaland said she had the blanket embroidered with the words, Joe Biden, Champion for Indian Country, 2021-2024.



While wrapped in the blanket, Biden joked that he couldve used the blanket in the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lightning Ceremony on Dec. 4. He said it was freezing.



Tribal leaders and other attendees held up their phones for photos and livestreamed his remarks back to their communities.



This is my final White House Tribal Nations Summit as your president, Biden said to the room full of people and to the hundreds of viewers on YouTube. Its been an honor of a lifetime, ushering in a new era of tribal sovereignty and self-determination, a new era grounded in dignity and respect.



To the surprise of the room and his security, President Biden didnt leave right away as usual. He walked off stage to the barricade that separated him from the audience to shake hands, take photos, and talk with attendees for about 15 minutes.



(Related: Joe Biden's tribal summit raises expectations_

United States President Joe Biden took photos, shook hands, and took photos with attendees at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, and Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Bay Mills Indian Community, gave the president a blanket from Eighth Generation, a Native-owned business, for his big investment in Indian Country. Haaland had the blanket embroidered with the words, Joe Biden, Champion for Indian Country, 2021-2024. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

Dancers perform at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

L to R: Rodney Loonsfoot and Doreen Blaker. Loons foot is vices president and Blaker is president of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians in Michigan. Both stand at the White House Tribal Nations Summit on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

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Haudenosaunee Confederacy Faithkeeper Oren Lyons, Onondaga and Seneca Nations, stands up in the crowd at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

While much of the mood in the auditorium was celebratory, not all tribal nations felt the same.



The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians in Oregon said in a press release with more than 30 tribal nations that the Biden administration betrayed tribal sovereignty. Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, the California governor and senators, and 20 other congressional members also stand behind the Cow Creek Band.



It is performative to celebrate an Administrations contributions to Indian Country when the actions tell a very different story, said Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal Chairman Carla Keene in a news release. We have been dismissed and ignored about policy that will devastate our social, cultural, and economic livelihood. There is time to do the right thing and put a stop to the pending decisions that will irreversibly harm Tribes across the Pacific Northwest and West Coast, which is a backwards step in American History, not forward.



The tribe has been urging Haaland and the Biden administration to reverse their decision to approve the state's first off-reservation casino and many others on the West Coast.



This end of the pendulum also saw the Biden-Harris administration appoint more than 80 Native people in federal government roles. The most in any administration that ICT could calculate.



Other announcements that came from the summit included:

The establishment of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

69 new co-stewardship agreements in 2024 alone. The department has entered into 400 co-stewardship agreements with tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and consortiums

A partnership between the Interior Department, Library of Congress, and the Smithsonians National Museum of American History to preserve these survivor stories and experiences and share them through far reaching resources, such as online and both traveling and long-term exhibitions, Haaland said

A 10-year language revitalization plan.

Related: Honoring the children: Biden proclaims new national monument at Carlisle

While there were once hundreds of thriving Native languages in the U.S., over three quarters of the remaining 190 languages spoken today are now endangered. Studies indicate fewer than 20 languages will exist by 2050 if no action is taken, according to a White House press release.



The 10-year Native language revitalization plan was published by the departments of Interior, Education, and Health and Human services and the White House Council on Native American Affairs.



The plan lays out a long-term, all-of-government strategy that works with Tribal Nations, the Native Hawaiian Community, urban Native communities, Native language experts, schools, community organizations, and the philanthropic sector for the protection, preservation, reclamation and revitalization of Native languages, read the White House press release.



The plan would expand access to immersion language environments, support community-led revitalization efforts, and develop, grow and sustain Native language support networks, according to the release.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Cherokee Nation Congressional Delegate Kim Teehee, and Anthony Morgan Rodman, senior policy advisor for Native Affairs on the domestic policy council, at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

A tribal leader sits in the crowd at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

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Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Bay Mills Indian Community, speaks on a panel at the White House Tribal Nations on December 9, 2024, at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

Tribal leaders gather for a group photo with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, and Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Bay Mills Indian Community, in front of the Department of Interior at the White House Tribal Nations Summit on December 9, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Taylor Bennett-Begaye)

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said he was glad theres a language revitalization plan out.



Indigenous languages are continuing to be depleted, especially on Navajo. Even though there's thousands of Navajo speakers, but they're mainly elders over their 60s, he said. The younger generation, my generation, we've got to somehow come up with a way that we can save our language because the most spoken Native language, which is Navajo, in 50 years it could be gone.



Besides the Biden-Harris administration efforts from the last four years and this year being highlighted at the summit, much of the conversation has been about continuing the work in the next administration.



Transitions are disruptive, regardless of how we might feel about one leader or another. That's true on tribal councils and it's true in Washington, Haaland said.



Deborah Parker, Tulalip and chief executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, said she hopes that incoming Donald Trump administration honors tribal sovereignty and looks to tribes for some creative solutions for future generations.



Working together is something thats critically important for us, she said, for all of us who reside here in the United States.



ICTs Stewart Huntington contributed to this report.

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With Luigi Mangione officially in custody, everyone is trying to figure out exactly who the 26-year-old alleged shooter is and what led him to murder the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in broad daylight.



His digital footprint has been raked through with a fine tooth comb, and to everyones surprise, hes not who the media thought he was. In fact, between Mangiones Goodreads account, social media posts, and the manifesto found during his arrest, the suspected shooter is actually opposite of the radical leftist he was expected to be.

He Read a Murderers Manifesto and Books on Hitler and JD Vance

Through a Goodreads account believed to belong to Mangione, his book choices paint a very interesting picture. His favorites list is full of popular right-leaning nonfiction such as Atomic Habits and The 4-Hour Work Week.

Decided to take a peek at Luigi Mangiones Goodreads account, and Id say this about sums it up. #luigimangione pic.twitter.com/bbFkSdBRUD  olive (@olivia314512) December 9, 2024

In one of Mangiones bookshelves notably titled ceo-down theres one book about Big Pharmas affect on democracy and public health. Additionally, the UPenn graduate read multiple books on Elon Musk, JD Vance, Adolf Hitler, and J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb.

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In a review of Ted Kaczynskis manifesto, notoriously known as the Unabomber, Mangione wrote He was a violent individual  rightfully imprisoned  who maimed innocent people. He continued saying, While these actions tend to be characterized as those of a crazy luddite, however, they are more accurately seen as those of an extreme political revolutionary.

Social Media Posts Praise Elon Musk and Condemn Wokeism



The internet continues to praise Mangione for being a anticapitalist and a freedom fighter for his radical act against the health insurance industry. But, on social media, the alleged shooter condemned DEI and reposted tweets praising Musk for his commitment to long-term civilization success.

Your commitment to long-term civilizational success, Elon, is not universally shared



It's not even the majority position



What you call the "woke mind virus" cares about one thing only: equality



The levelers want to destroy everything because in the rubble we will all be equal https://t.co/HKwSs9gDIm  Jash Dholani (@oldbooksguy) March 21, 2024

According to a writer who corresponded extensively with Mangione, He was left-wing on some things and right-wing on others, Gurwinder Bhogal told the New York Post. The writer continued saying Mangione opposed wokeism because he didnt believe it was an effective way to help minorities.

The suspect also shared content praising former CEO of PayPal Peter Thiel, who famously introduced JD Vance to Donald Trump back in in 2021. In a video shared by Mangione, Thiel said theres a strange phenomenon in Silicon Valley where great startups seem to be run by people who suffer from a mild form of Aspergers, according to NewsWeek.

A Shooters Manifesto

When he was arrested, Mangione had whats believed to be a personal manifesto. It began with a brief address to investigators. To the Feds, Ill keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country, he wrote. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasnt working with anyone.

Luigi Mangione's manifesto refers to Michael Moore's Sicko documentary on the for-profit US healthcare system. In one part of it Moore takes abandoned 9/11 first responders to Cuba to get healthcare there, to show just how sick and depraved the US is by comparison: pic.twitter.com/IfdYswtlyH   (@zei_squirrel) December 10, 2024

Mangione continued by apologizing for any strife of traumas but it had to be done, Mangione wrote. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.

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The manifesto released to the public notably alludes to a potential motive behind the CEO killing. He wrote A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy.

He continued saying, United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but [h]as our life expectancy? No... these [indecipherable] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it.

Mangione continues to be held in Pennsylvania awaiting extradition procedures which would send him back to New York City to stand trial.

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Official photo of former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge

Originally published by The 19th

The Democratic Party has been wringing its hands and debating a course for its future. It also needs a new leader.

Current Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison isnt seeking another term, and the party is preparing to select his replacement. In the month since Democrats lost the 2024 election, several names have emerged as contenders, including Ben Wikler, current head of the Wisconsin Democratic Party; Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party Chair Ken Martin; and former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley  all of whom have announced their candidacies for the role. Even veteran Democratic strategist Rahm Emanuel, the current U.S. ambassador to Japan, has been suggested to fill the position.

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Largely left out of the conversation: Black women, the backbone of the Democratic Party, and the staunchest supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris campaign, backing the nominee at a rate of 92 percent in November. Given their outsized performance in the election and their exhaustion in the wake of a disappointing result, I wondered whether their absence was intentional on their part, the partys  or both.

I reached out to Marcia Fudge, an ally of Harris who worked on her campaign, who also noticed the omission. She said that while there were other Black people in senior leadership in the party who had asked her to consider running, she ultimately decided shes not interested in the role. Still, Fudge said she was saddened that I havent heard any other Black names mentioned.

There should never be a conversation in the Democratic Party that does not include a Black woman, Fudge said.

A national political party chair is not always a household name, but the role is an important one, particularly in years where the party is out of power in the White House. They are the partys standard-bearer, its public face, its primary fundraiser, cheerleader and messenger.

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Black women have long been regarded as the Democratic Partys most loyal and consistent voting bloc. But in recent years, Black women have increasingly demanded that they be valued not just for their output, but for their input, and have fought to claim their seat at the table and to help set the partys agenda.

A record seven Black women were state party chairs this election cycle. As of this writing, none have announced their interest or intent to succeed current chair Jaime Harrison, only the second Black man to chair the committee. Donna Brazile is the only Black woman to serve as acting chair of the committee.

Elections for the next chair are scheduled for February 1.

Two meetings with implications for the future of the party were held this week on opposite ends of the country: Power Rising, a group of politically active Black women including activists, politicians, and business leaders, met in Florida as the state party chairs gathered in Arizona.

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Georgia Rep. Nikema Williams, who chairs her states Democratic Party, skipped the convening in Arizona this week, choosing instead to tend to congressional and family business in Washington.

But she was also frank about feeling jilted by the party. Donald Trump flipped Georgia back to a red state four years after President Joe Biden and Democrats won there for the first time in a generation in 2020, but Harris won nearly 75,000 more votes in Georgia in November. (Trumps total in the state increased by more than 200,000 votes.)

Still, there have been calls for Williams to step aside as party chair as Democrats look to the 2026 midterm elections.

Ive made a lot of sacrifices for a party I dont always feel the same reciprocal love from, Williams told me this week. Georgia performed better than every battleground state in the country, but Im being asked to resign and other people are being floated for DNC chair.

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South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain was in Arizona this week and said that while she was surprised that no one has mentioned a Black woman to lead the DNC, shes not surprised that Black women arent stepping up to run after a hard-fought race. Spain said she hasnt gotten a call about running, but added shes also not interested in the job.

Being chair of the DNC is an absolutely thankless job, Spain said. Being a Black woman in these types of leadership roles requires a lot of support.  You have to know going in that youre going to be supported. I dont know if thats the hesitation with Black women stepping up to run.

Spain said that Harris historic run that ended in defeat felt like a slap in the face to many Black women, including those who worked to get her elected. To them, she said, the loss makes you think about what that glass ceiling is.

Its double-paned for Black women, Spain said.

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She said she doesnt want to see a leadership void of Black women among Democrats and said there are many qualified Black women who could do the job of mobilizing the party and shaping its future.

Why not a Black woman? Spain asked. I dont want to see the Democratic Party make America great again by not having any representation in response to whats happened.
ALEXANDRIA, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A more than two-hundred-year-old tale about a circuit-riding preacher named John Shrock proves that some Americans in the Red River Valley during the early 1800s had the nasty habit of terrorizing Protestant preachers.

And though this tale doesnt necessarily end well for anyone involved, the story of John Shrocks response to bullying does give modern Americans the opportunity to understand a little more about Northwest Louisianas Protestant history.

But before we get started, its important to understand that the lower Red River Valley (below the Red Rivers sharp bend at Fulton, Arkansas) was settled thousands of years ago by Native Americans, more than 400 years ago by (Spanish and French) Catholics, and a little more than 200 years ago by Protestants who were allowed to settle in the region after the land became a part of the United States.

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Were not going that far back into history, though. Instead well be looking at the controversial case of John Shrock, a Protestant preacher who basically became the Billy Jack of circuit-riders in rural NWLA just after the Louisiana Purchase.

Who was John Shrock?

John Shrock was a South Carolinian who came to Louisianas Red River Valley to help spread the Baptist faith in the area. He was not the first Baptist circuit-riding preacher in Louisiana, but he was certainly one of the firsts.

Baptist and Methodist circuit-riding preachers are a part of local history and lore in portions of the American South. These circuit-riding preachers could easily bite off more than they could chew, so to speak, when they took to Southern swamps to teach morality to settlers who had intentionally left behind society to carve out for themselves a place in the wilderness.

And in decades after the Louisiana Purchase, much of Northwest Louisiana was still a swamps swampland were a part of the newly established Rapide Circuit.

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Rapide was the French term for rapids, and there were rapids in the Red River at that time. In fact, Rapides Parish in Louisiana is named after those Red River rapids, though modern locks and dams raised water levels on the river and covered the rapids in the mid-twentieth century.

John Shrock became a circuit-riding Baptist preacher in the newly established Rapide Circuit in 1814. And within a couple of years, his charismatic preaching had captured the attention of a group of ruffians in Alexandria.

Circuit-riding Baptist preachers typically entered old Spanish territories just after American flags were planted. They established, or tended to, multiple congregations across a large region and they typically rode the circuits on horseback. Circuit riders often pastored one congregation in one region on one Sunday and rode on horseback throughout the week until they reached another congregation the next Sunday. Some early circuit riders had such widespread flocks that they spent most of their days on the saddle, not in the pulpit.

Circuit-riders werent in it for the money. Records show that Henry P. Cook, who helped organize the Methodist church in Florida, was paid less than $75 for the entire year in 1825.

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, trying his best to mind his own business and trying his best to bring people into the church via his charismatic preaching.

But Shrock wasnt doing his preaching in an area of the Red River Valley that welcomed such exhortations. Many of the settlers of the region, who mostly lived in the wilderness or the early form of future cities, loathed the idea of religion.

Thats when things got a bit screwy.

The preachers were not only subjected to the most trying hardships in the way of long rides, ferryless and bridgeless streams, bottomless mud, and bad accommodations generally, but they were constantly exposed to the insults of rude and wicked men, wrote the Rev. John G. Jones in 1866.

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Shrock knew the story of Drury Powell, a pioneer preacher in the region that was beset by a company of lewd fellows, who gave evidence of an intention to mob him, but who quailed away when Powell presented a bold front, and said to them that if they were indeed a set of ruffians, and would give him a ruffians change by attacking him one at a time, he would whip the whole of them.

Down in St. Martinsville, a rough group of men were trying to drown Richmond Nolley, a preacher, until a woman of color attacked the attackers with her hoe and saved the preacher.

And so the scene was set for the arrival of one John Shrock, who felt that he had been called both my his Maker and by his friends to become a preacher.

Shrock had been in Alexandria for less than a year, and was preaching in the Courth House on a Sunday, when a group of troublemakers tried to disturb Shrock while he was preaching.

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Shrock stared directly at the men and said that if they didnt repent of their evil ways they would catch something hotter than boiling soap one of these days.

Nowadays that particular sentiment means nothing. But in those days, it was directly related to a well-known story that circulated in Alexandria for generations.

The goes that a woman and her two daughters lived alone, and the rebel-rousing group of men that liked to pester preachers also enjoyed peeping through a little hole in the ladies chimney to get glimpses of them. The ladies didnt much care for the peeping Toms, per say, and threatened to throw a gourd full of soap into the face of the next peeper that peeped.

The fella that wandered up, unknowingly about the ladies plan, got a faceful of soap and was partially blinded for a while. He became the laughingstock of the town, and so when Shrock mentioned the episode, he immediately aroused even more hatred from the group of men.

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The group of men then swore lustily that they would duck him in the Red River if he ever attempted to preach there again.

The whole thing didnt sit well with Shrock, who had arrived in the territory within living memory of the Spanish Inquisition. The next time he rode up to the courthouse to preach a sermon, he took his horse whip into the courthouse with himjust in case.

On his way through the crowd, he invited the gentlemen to come in, as it was near time for service to commence.

He kept the whip near his hand, sang hymns, prayed with his eyes open, and told the congregation that he had been informed of the threats made against him, and he was fully prepared to meet any attempt to execute them.

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The preacher rolled up his sleeve and showed his arm. Then he told everyone that the was brought up a blacksmith, and knew the strength of his own arm.

He also pointed out that his short, thick neck indicated a spinal column of corresponding strength.

Shrock had heard tale of what happened to his predecessor, Drury Powell, and he wasnt willing to travel down the same road.

After the service ended, Shrock said that he understood he probably wouldnt be allowed to preach in the courthouse anymore, but that large cottonwood tree on the commons, near the bank of the river, would answer his purpose, and he would preach there.

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Many members of the congregation became instant friends with the feisty preacher, assuring him their loyalty because of his iron-fisted actions. One man even told Shrock that he could have free room and board in his home for as long as hed like.

Sources:

Frazier, Norma Goolsby (1995) Circuit Riding Preachers: They Sowed the Seed, Sunland Tribune: Vol. 21, Article 6. Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/sunlandtribune/vol21/iss1/6

A Concise History of the Introduction of Protestantism into Mississippi and the Southwest, by Rev. John G. Jones of the Mississippi Conference of the M. E. Church, South, 1866.

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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 KTALnews.com.
Israel has launched more than 350 air and naval strikes against Bashar al-Assads military since he was toppled on Sunday, destroying about 80 per cent of Syrias military capabilities.

The co-ordinated attacks across the country targeted Assads naval fleet, air bases, chemical weapons, long-range missiles, helicopters, anti-aircraft batteries and other military sites.

Why did Israel strike Assads army?

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, said he approved the bombing of strategic military capabilities left by the Syrian military so that they will not fall into the hands of the jihadists.

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He compared the attacks to the British bombing of the fleet of the Vichy regime which was co-operating with the Nazis, so that it would not fall into the Nazis hands during the Second World War.

Giora Eiland, the former head of Israels National Security Council, told The Telegraph that one of the nations main strategic priorities was to make sure the next leader of Syria would not have the ability to attack Israel.

He said: There is no army to stop us. So its a very easy mission to destroy Syrias strategic capabilities.

Dror Doron, a senior adviser at United Against Nuclear Iran and a former Israeli government senior analyst, told The Telegraph that Israel was implementing lessons from the collapse of Libya.

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He said this included preventing heavy arms from falling into the hands of groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which he described as extremely unpredictable.

Smoke rises from the Golan Heights following an Israeli bombardment on Monday - JALAA MAREY/AFP

What does Israel want in the Golan Heights?

Controlling its borders has always been a vital strategy for Israel, but the Oct 7 massacre only increased the awareness and importance of the issue.

On Sunday, Israel took control of two new areas on its northern border; the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and a buffer zone separating Syria from the Israel-annexed Golan Heights.

Amos Yadlin, the former head of Israels military intelligence, called the presence of Hamas special forces on Israels border with Gaza an important lesson in an analysis for the countrys Channel 12. He urged the army to keep jihadists away from the border with the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

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Mr Eiland said that the most strategically important area Israel had taken control of was Mount Hermon, because it overlooks Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

The remains of Syrian naval ships following an overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia - AAREF WATAD/AFP

What has it done to secure the new territory?

Israel Katz, Israels defence minister, announced on Tuesday that his country had created a new demilitarised zone beyond the already existing buffer zone, but said it would be without a permanent Israeli presence.

The location and size of the new zone is unclear, but tanks, soldiers and special forces are now placed on Syrian soil to prevent jihadist rebels from positioning themselves close to the Golan Heights.

There were reports that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops were approaching Damascus on Tuesday, but the IDF told The Telegraph that the reports were false.

Is Israel likely to give back the ground it seized?

Mr Eiland said Israel needed to continue controlling the buffer zone and Mount Hermon until a new Syrian government is formed.

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He said: If the new government says it will respect the agreement between Israel and Syria from 1974, including the demilitarised [buffer] zone and presence of the UN, it would give Israel an excuse to withdraw.

However, while Gideon Saar, Israels foreign minister, has stressed that his countrys control of the Syrian buffer zone was temporary, Mr Doron said that temporary in Israel can mean a long time.

It is unlikely that Israel will withdraw until a new government is formed in Syria. However, it is unclear at this stage how long that will take.

As for the Golan Heights, a region which was annexed by Israel in 1981, Mr Netanyahu said earlier this week that Israel would remain in the region for eternity.

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What is Israels view of HTS?

Israel is keeping a close eye on the main rebel groups in Syria, particularly HTS. Israel is no stranger to radical Islamist groups who would like nothing more than to see the Jewish state cease to exist. Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Houthi rebels and al-Qaeda, of which HTS is an offshoot, are just a few examples.

A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Telegraph that Israel was watching the rebels in Syria, making sure they did not start working with Iran, which remains a key concern for Mr Netanyahus government.

However, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Mohammed al-Jolani, addressed Israels concerns in a statement on Wednesday. He said Syria was not ready to enter wars and has no intentions to enter wars in the future.

He added: On the contrary, the source of concern was the presence of Iran and Hezbollah.

The Barzeh scientific research centre in Damascus was among the buildings targeted in the strikes - OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP

Why does Israel want to protect the Kurds?

As it carried out strikes in Syria, Israel is showing its full support for the Syrian Kurds.

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Mr Saar lauded the Kurds who fought bravely against Islamic State in Turkey, while calling on Turkish rebel groups to stop its attacks on them in northern Syria.

Its also a commitment to the future of Syria because the Kurds are a stabilising force in this country, Mr Saar added.

The Kurdish community and Israel have shared good relations for years, with Mr Netanyahu stating in 2017 that Israel supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to achieve their own state.

Israel is also using the opportunity to call out hypocrisy on the international stage, where few nations support the establishment of a Kurdish state, in stark contrast to the overwhelming support for a Palestinian state.

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Turkeys assault on Syrias Kurds, even after the toppling of Assad, is yet another reason for Israel to call out the double standards, with the UN remaining silent. Most of the worlds attention continues to be on Israels airstrikes and control of the Syrian buffer zone.

What are the risks of Israels strategy?

It is unclear if Israel will begin arming the Kurds. This could result in a backlash, with HTS and other rebels potentially seeing it as interference with Syrias internal affairs.

Islamist rebels could also use it as an excuse to launch retaliatory attacks against Israel.

However, Israels vocal support of the Kurds and harsh criticism of Turkeys assaults will likely further derail the relationship between Jerusalem and Ankara. It is at yet another low point following support from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, for Hamas after Oct 7 and his comparison of Israel with Nazi Germany.

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However, Israel is on the same side as the US when it comes to supporting the Kurds, continuing their close cooperation on most matters in the Middle East.

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 future of Fox News grew murkier over the weekend when a Nevada commissioner blocked Rupert Murdochs effort to adjust his succession plan.

The ruling, if ratified by a district court judge, will prevent Murdoch from amending a family trust to give his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, clear control over Fox News editorial vision and the power to preserve the networks right-wing perspective, according to The New York Times, which obtained a sealed court document.

As it stands, Lachlan and Murdochs second, third and fourth children  James, Elisabeth and Prudence  will all inherit an equal portion of Murdochs voting shares, as well as a financial stake in the Murdoch media empire.

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Under the trust, (Rupert Murdoch) retains control over the business until his death, at which point his voting shares will be distributed equally among his four oldest children, The New York Times reported.

The 93-year-old patriarch has been working to adjust the part of the trust dealing with voting power, not the financial stakes, the article said.

Rupert Murdochs children

The legal battle over the Murdoch family trust pits Rupert and Lachlan against James, Elisabeth and Prudence.

Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch are pushing for the changes to future voting power, and their lawyer told The New York Times that they plan to appeal this weekends decision.

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They argue that the proposed changes will benefit the whole family by keeping Fox News and other companies strong.

James, Elisabeth and Prudence, on the other hand, are fighting against their fathers effort to give Lachlan more power to steer Fox News and other Murdoch media properties.

But they said in their own statement that they hope this weekends ruling will allow the family to move forward together.

We welcome Commissioner Gormans decision and hope that we can move beyond this litigation to focus on strengthening and rebuilding relationships among all family members, their statement said.

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Murdochs two youngest children, Grace and Chloe, are not affected by the current legal battle because they will not inherit voting power, The New York Times reported.

Who controls Fox News?

The Nevada commissioner does not have the final say on Rupert Murdochs succession plan.

His decision from over the weekend has to be ratified  or rejected  by another judge.

And even if that new judge signs off, the losing party is free to challenge the determination, which could precipitate an intensive new round of litigation, The New York Times reported.

The ultimate outcome of the legal battle will affect not just the future of Fox News, but also the rest of Murdochs media empire, which includes The Sun and The Times in the United Kingdom, per Yahoo Business.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Ryan Borgwardt is paddling into more potential legal troubles.

Four months after police say the dad of three faked his drowning during a kayaking trip in Wisconsin over the summer, authorities revealed why more insight into his decision to return to the United States.

"His family is here," Green Lake County Sheriff Mark A. Podoll said of Borgwardtwho is in police custodyduring a Dec. 11 news conference. "He has cooperated with us. He came back on his own."

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The official noted that they would not be shedding more light on why he returned to the United States.

"That's going to be up to him someday," he explained. "We're not going to release that. We brought a dad back on his own."

As for what Borgwardt may deal with legally? Podoll said he expects the 44-year-old to face a number of charges, including obstruction.

The latest update comes over a month after officials first shared that they believe he faked his death after taking out a life insurance policy and beginning a relationship with a woman from Uzbekistan.

More from E! Online

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At the time of his disappearance, Borgwardt had left his kayak capsized and his vehicle parked at the lake, Podoll shared at a press conference last month. After authorities spent weeks canvassing Green Lake, which included the help of cadaver dogs, they were unable to locate him.

Chief Deputy Matthew L. Vande Kolk shared during the news briefing in November that their department "learned that he reported his original passport lost or stolen, and obtained a new passport." So, while Borgwardt's wife was able to "easily" provide authorities with his original passport, Kolk noted, "We suspect he traveled on the 'new' passport."

Green Lake County Sheriff

The pieces of the Borgwardt's disappearance were coming together and proving a vastly different theory than a drowning. In fact, Podoll said that along with moving funds to a foreign bank account and changing his email address, Borgwardt also took out a $375,000 life insurance policy in January.

Ultimately, Borgwardt made his way back to the United States, with Podoll adding at the most recent news conference, "We can stand here feeling relieved."

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Animal cafe Moff (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Dogs, cats and other cute animals can provide stress-relief thanks to their lovable faces and gestures. When I see my Russian tortoise Su-chan at home in the evening, his large black eyes and innocent face always makes my fatigue from my two-hour-plus train commute to and from work just melt away.

While I know many arent as lucky as I am to have Su-chan to come home to, Moff, an animal cafe near Cam Zama, offers the opportunity to spend some quality time with members of the animal kingdom. At the cafe you can meet owls, chicks, marmots, rabbits, tortoises, snakes and lizards. You can also feed the chicks, owls and turtles.

Take photos with the sloth and iguanas, but visitors are not allowed to touch them.

The cafes modern interior was cozy and the lizards and iguanas welcomed me with a close gaze. However, as soon as I spotted the large African Spurred Tortoise walking about the room, I made a beeline for it. As an owner of a tortoise myself, I couldnt help but be drawn to the one at Moff.

Visitors around me were being assisted by staff to hold a parakeet or owl on their shoulders. Others were enjoying spending time with the fluffy, yellow chicks.

Next, one of the staff members encouraged me to touch a large Carpet Python snake. I was reluctant but the dry, smooth python reminded me of touching a Persian carpet. The python usually enjoys a dinner of frozen mice, the staff member said, but I didnt dare feed it and moved on to check out the other areas of the cafe.

You can spend unlimited time at the cafe. If you get thirsty, soda and tea are available from a vending machine. Most of the other customers were enjoying playing with the animals instead.

I spent 30 minutes there visiting with all the animals and was glad I did. The cafe is inside BiNAWALK shopping mall, only within a couple of minutes from Odakyu Ebina Station. Plan a visit and get ready to meet some cute animals and reptiles!

Moff is a pet cafe chain and has dozens of shops throughout Japan. Find the nearest one to you online.

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Things to know
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As of next month, were going to have a president in the White House who has been uniquely hostile to the press. Donald Trump has threatened to take cable networks who are too critical of him off the air, and to jail reporters who dont give up their sources.

In the weeks before the presidential election, the billionaire owners of two of the nations biggest newspapersseemingly anticipating a Trump win and wanting to get in his good gracesmade some troubling moves. Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos demanded that the paper, for the first time in decades, not endorse anyone for president. It will also cease offering endorsements in future presidential races. And the owner of the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Soon-Shiong, killed an already-drafted endorsement of Kamala Harris at the last minute.

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Soon-Shiong and Bezos both defended their decisions by arguing that this will allow readers to make up their own minds about candidates while also helping their papers mitigate a perception of bias. However, Bezos has a clear conflict of interest. His space company Blue Origin has been competing for government contracts, and Bezos himself spoke with Trump days before his paper announced it would no longer be issuing presidential endorsements. Meanwhile, Soon-Shiong has been making controversial changes at the Times since the election. He said he plans to introduce a bias meter, powered by A.I., to accompany stories in the news and opinion sections, and he hired conservative commentator Scott Jennings to sit on the papers editorial board.

In response, tens of thousands of readers of both papers ended up canceling their subscriptions. Several frustrated journalists have been resigning.

Harry Litman is an opinion columnist who worked at the L.A. Times for over 15 years and was also a contributing columnist at the Post from 201820. Hes one of many journalists who have quit recently over the newsrooms decision to no longer publish presidential endorsements. After explaining his resignation on his Talking Feds Substack, Litman spoke with Slate about his decision and how he sees the future of journalism under a second Trump administration.

Heres our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Shirin Ali: At what moment did you decide you wanted to leave the L.A. Times?

Harry Litman: Like a lot of people, including people who read either the Washington Post or the L.A. Times, I was struck and unnerved by the decision to pull the plug on the endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and to do it in a pretty brutal way. The papers editorial page has been giving all kinds of arguments and covering different angles of the political landscape for a couple years, and they led pretty naturally to an endorsement of Harris. But to just decapitate an already drafted endorsement for one candidate struck me as pretty unusual and alarming, especially when it was done around the same time as it happened with the Washington Post, so two of the most prominent papers in the country had done it. This didnt seem to be motivated by particular policy positions or thinking that the editorial boards had been biased or negligent in some way. It was the fact that we got a president-elect who was threatening the mediathreatening pretty much all the guardrails of democracy, the media being a really important one.

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So it struck me that the media, at least those papers, blinked at a really important time. From there, there were additional moves by the L.A. Times ownership, and it was obvious that the owner wanted to move the editorial direction of the paper, which he characterized expressly on Fox News as fair and balanced. It seemed to me that the notion was to curry favor with TrumpI thought the papers movements toward Trump werent about being more accurate, but rather being more pleasing to the would-be autocrat, and that struck me as really pretty bad, especially in tandem with the other things that Trump is doing.

How do you think newsroom executives should be operating under a second Trump presidency?

On the one hand, it seems very simple to me. Id be very happy if there was a robust media in the country just playing its traditional role, telling the truth about whats going on through reporting and uncovering news. On the other hand, its an extraordinarily complicated problem. The legacy media is facing all kinds of financial reversals, and I think its tied up in the ownership of a lot of papers by big corporate consortiums who have to worry about their shareholders.

And maybe in the case of the two billionaires, their papers are a small part of their holdings, but if Trump wants to go after them, then they have other larger holdings that stand to be really impacted and vice versa. Traditional media hasnt succeeded in responding to the exodus of so many readers in favor of things like YouTube, and theres the problem that, ultimately, the shots are called from higher levels for reasons that have to do with more than just editorial policy. I would also add in the terrible ravaging of local newspapers, so many of which did great jobs sounding the alarm in individual communities. Those are now drying up.

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In one sense, God bless Jeff Bezos, God bless the owner of the L.A. Times for stepping up and trying to revive a paper with failing fortunes. But when these benevolent billionaires acquire papers, whats the best thing to do? Its sort of what Bezos had been doing beforeI worked at the Post, and we used to say, Our billionaire is better than their billionaire. Thats because Bezos was hands-off. If newspapers are a kind of trophy in an overall business empire thats meant to serve the civic function that a great paper serves, whats the best thing to do? Keep your hands off and just let the paper flourish as it did before. Another way of saying that is: Keep putting money in and subsidizing what is a commercially losing proposition. I think, in a very elementary sense, newspapers have to keep as their North Star facts, reporting, and whats happening out there.

Trump has been criticizing the press for a long time, but after his decisive win in this years presidential election, those threats have taken on a darker tone. Do you think the media is seriously in danger under a Trump presidency?

I come from a law background, and in that world, Trump has been absolutely teeth-bared, savage. Hes been eager to mow down norms within our justice system that are completely integral, for justice without fear or favor, which has got to be a hallmark of democracy. I believe we are at a real crisis point here.

I see the stakes for the media as super high, because I survey a landscape where [norms] you would never have thought could be mowed down, the way Trump is bidding to do, are in big danger. If you think its unduly alarmist or crazy, then the stakes for the media become less, including for newspaper owners.

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Democracies do erodethey can become greatly compromised, and I dont think theres been such a tangible risk of it since the Civil War, or maybe ever. Trumps saying what hes doing and doing it. Certainly one thing hes saying is that hes going to make life miserable for and go after the media, whom he feels aggrieved by. That really is his whole platform. Hes especially mad at Liz Cheney, and she didnt do anything different from the other House Select Committee membersah, but she was supposed to be loyal.

Theres a sort of third grade mentality at play. Trump will exercise the power of the most powerful position in the world to not just go after enemies, but I think he also has a broader agenda of rewriting history in a way that the media should be standing up against. Just over the weekend, Trump refused to say he lost the 2020 election. He really means to lionize and make heroes of the marauders whom we saw storm the Capitol and threaten democracy. It really seems like a very serious time, and without the media there, we become like autocratic societies. So, Im pretty nervous.

In your Substack, you argued: The idea of balance is fundamentally misplaced when on one side of the balance is a sociopathic liar like Donald Trump. Can you explain that?

I think this dovetails in an interesting way with the proposal that the owner of the L.A. Times has just advanced to use A.I. to calibrate bias, which assumes somehow that what his reporters are doing is inherently biased. I think reporters should try to be objective and the media should try to be objective. I understand the view that political preconceptions and prejudices can seep in, so I have nothing against the idea of turning the ship more toward the center. Its just so plain to me that thats not what this is about. When you are trying to call out whats happening under a president-elect who gets up lying, and lies all day, the medias role then cant be balancedbecause to be balanced is to abandon [newspapers] most critical, axiomatic, democratic function of informing their audience.

Everything Im sayingall my objections, the reason I resigned instead of just keeping onis because I take us to be at a moment of extraordinary peril. Instead of just hanging in there, I wanted to stand up and try to say something that feels like a canary in a coal mine. Facts matter so much, and the media has to be accurate. Thats why I took this opportunity to bring some attention to an overall problem. Not even so much the owner of the L.A. Times, but just legacy media and its potential contribution to an autocratic agenda. When you really push on it, its about truth vs. lies, and the media has got to stand up for the truth.
Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A fast-moving brush fire in Malibu exploded to 2,800 acres along the southern California coast Tuesday as most of the city has been ordered to evacuate.

The Franklin Fire, which started Monday night and is still under investigation, is being fueled by strong Santa Ana winds. The winds are pushing the flames through the Santa Monica Mountains and toward the coast in Malibu.

"The fire is burning so hot that it is modifying the local winds, bending them towards and into the fire," the National Weather Service in Los Angeles wrote Tuesday.

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"The combination of winds, very low humidities and dry fuels make for an explosive fire environment," the NWS added.

As of Tuesday night, the fire had no containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu remained closed, except to evacuees.

Remnants of a home burned in a brush fire, dubbed the Franklin Fire by authorities, burns in Malibu, California on Tuesday. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Franklin Fire has burned more than 2,800 acres and prompted thousands of evacuations. Photo by Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE

The National Weather Service earlier issued a rare red-flag warning of a "particularly dangerous situation" for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as gusts reached 75 mph in the mountains and 60 mph at lower elevations. The Santa Ana winds combined with dry vegetation as the area has received "less than a quarter-inch of rain over the last six months."

"Widespread Red Flag conditions across much of southern California due to Santa Ana winds will continue to be a threat to residents and property throughout the week," CalFire warned Tuesday in a post on X.

Widespread Red Flag conditions across much of Southern California due to Santa Ana Winds will continue to be a threat to residents and property throughout the week. The Franklin Fire in L.A. County has already consumed over 2200 acres this morning, forcing many evacuations. For... pic.twitter.com/7diQcNdi6B CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) December 10, 2024

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for areas east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road, as well as the Serra Retreat area. The evacuation area covers about 6,000 people and more than 2,000 structures.

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"It's certain some number of homes are definitely going to be badly damaged," said Matt Myerhoff, a Malibu city spokesperson.

Among the evacuees was actor Richard Van Dyke, 98, who told fans in a post that he and his wife had "safely evacuated."

An additional 12,500 people have received evacuation warnings covering about 6,000 structures, according to fire officials.

Utility companies shut-off power to the Malibu area to prevent additional brushfires. Monday night, Pepperdine University reported power outages and activated a shelter-in-place order, which was lifted Tuesday morning.

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"Despite any evacuation orders from Malibu city or surrounding areas, the university community should follow university instructions," Pepperdine told students.

"We do not evacuate the campus even when surrounding areas might. This shelter-in-place protocol is approved by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and was executed with their cooperation," the university added.

There are approximately 800 students on campus. Classes and finals were canceled Tuesday at Pepperdine, as other area schools also shut down.

"I urge all residents in affected areas to stay alert and follow evacuation orders," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement Tuesday, as he announced the state had secured federal assistance for the Franklin Fire.

"Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property. California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts."
Dec. 10MINNESOTA CITY, Minn.  The Winona County Sheriff's Office is investigating an abduction in Minnesota City, after law enforcement says two men forced a 13-year-old into their car and released her eight hours later.

The Winona County Sheriff's Office received a report of a 13-year-old girl walking along Highway 61 near the intersection of County Road 9 around 1:50 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.

According to a release from the sheriff's office, the girl told deputies she was taken from an address in Minnesota City around 5:30 a.m. that day.

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While she was outside of the Minnesota City residence, the release said, the girl was approached by a white man. She said the man was 25 to 40 years old, 5-foot-10 or taller, had short brown hair and patchy facial hair. He was wearing a T-shirt and baggy shorts.

The girl was then reportedly forced into a silver car by the man, the release said.

The girl told deputies that another man was inside the vehicle. She described him as a Black man, aged 25 to 40 and wearing a black sweater and baggy jeans with cargo pockets.

The girl reported that she was driven around in the car for some time until she was pushed out of the car. When she was pushed out of the car, she told law enforcement it was traveling around 5 mph.

The girl sustained a cut on her head after being pushed out of the car and hitting her head on the ground.

According to the WCSO, she did not know either of the men.
As snow and below-freezing temperatures move into western North Carolina, the needs of Helene survivors continue to grow.

And unfortunately, the winter weather is making it more difficult for people like him to offer help.

Channel 9s Eli Brand spoke with one local man who said he has been driving a truck full of supplies west almost daily. However, he is finding it difficult to continue offering aid.

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Joe Stull has been using his truck for months to do whatever he can for those recovering from the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene.

He said he has been a part of crews that have built over 20 tiny homes for victims, donated 12 campers, provided over 500 heaters, and given $48,000 worth of supplies.

ALSO READ: The Great Toy Convoy is bringing gifts to western North Carolinas kids after Helene

75 days, I believe it has been since the storm, and I have put 11,000 miles on this truck, Stull said.

But winter weather in the area has made Stulls two-wheel drive useless in the harsh temperatures and snow on the mountains.

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And his story isnt a unique one. He said overall volunteers have had major struggles trying to reach mountain-dwelling residents because of the weather.

We have people that want to volunteer and want to come, but they might be from Florida; they might be from Texas. Theyve never seen snow, Stull said.

He said he plans to try and get a new four-wheel-drive diesel truck that will let him get around safely. It would also allow him to pull supplies up the mountains.

I cant risk my life or anybody elses life, or Im no good to nobody, Stull elaborated.

Stull has set up a GoFundMe for the new truck. You can find that link here.

VIDEO: The Great Toy Convoy is bringing gifts to western North Carolinas kids after Helene
WEDNESDAY, 12/11/2024  6:16 a.m.

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV)  The subject of an officer-involved shooting in Oshkosh has died, authorities say, and two stabbing victims have been hospitalized following a late Tuesday night incident.

According to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), its Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating the incident that began around 11:10 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10.

Online records show Green Lake County kayaker who faked his death is in custody; press conference set for Wednesday

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Officers arrived at the 400 block of West 10th Avenue and reportedly found a stabbing victim outside of the home. Officers then entered the residence where they found the subject allegedly armed with a bladed weapon.

The release notes that the subject failed to comply with orders to drop the weapon, leading to one Oshkosh PD officer firing their gun, and hitting the subject.

While lifesaving measures were being performed on the person, authorities say they found a second stabbing victim inside the residence.

Both stabbing victims and the subject were taken to a local hospital, however, the subject was pronounced dead at the hospital.

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Man pulled from the Bay of Green Bay after falling through the ice dies, investigation continues

According to the DOJs release, involved law enforcement officers have been placed on administrative leave, and all involved law enforcement officers were wearing body cameras during the incident.

DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over the investigative reports to the Winnebago County District Attorneys office when the investigation concludes. Wisconsin DOJ

No additional information was provided.

Original story: Police presence on Oshkoshs 10th Avenue following officer-involved shooting

WEDNESDAY, 12/11/2024  5:40 a.m.

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV)  There is currently a police presence on West 10th Avenue in Oshkosh following an officer-involved shooting that happened while authorities were responding to a stabbing.

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According to the Oshkosh Police Department, officers responded to a reported stabbing late Tuesday night around 11:10 p.m. at a residence in the 400 block of West 10th Avenue.

Police in Wisconsin arrest man in Chase Bank robbery attempt

The release notes that around 2 a.m., officers are currently in the immediate area and will be conducting an investigation for the next several hours. They say that the scene is secure and that there is no threat to the public.

The investigation is being handled by the Division of Criminal Investigation.

No additional information is available. Local 5 will update this story when more details are released.

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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.
A Wisconsin man who officials say faked his own death and fled to Eastern Europe was charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer Wednesday after he turned himself in to authorities.

Ryan Borgwardt, who was reported missing in August, flew back to the United States willingly, arriving Tuesday, said Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll, who remained tight-lipped on why the man left his wife and three children by allegedly staging a kayaking accident, and where exactly hes been for the past four months.

He came back on his own, said Podoll during a news conference Wednesday. When asked by the media why Borgwardt decided to return, Podoll added, His family, I guess.

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Borgwardts wife filed a petition for legal separation on Thursday, Dodge County court documents show. In Wisconsin, a legal separation does not end a marriage, unlike a divorce, but allows the court to rule on the same issues that come up in a divorce proceeding.

In her petition, Borgwardts wife is requesting sole legal custody of their three teenage children, claiming the 22-year marriage is irretrievably broken.

Borgwardt appeared in court Wednesday and said he could not afford an attorney and offered to represent himself. Circuit Court Judge Mark T. Slate reminded the defendant he has the right to a court-appointed attorney and could request one if needed.

Slate entered a not guilty plea on Borgwardts behalf and ordered a $500 signature bond. Borgwardt has since bonded out of jail and is expected back in court on January 13, online court records show.

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If convicted of the obstruction charge, Borgwardt faces a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and nine months in jail, Judge Slate said.

At the request of the prosecutor, Slate did not order but instead requested the media not share images of Borgwardts family members. He denied requests for a gag order in the case and for Borgwardt to surrender his passport.

Ryan Borgwardt's booking photo - Green Lake County Sheriff

Podoll declined to share details of Borgwardts time away or whether he has been in touch with his family. The investigation involved a number of state and federal agencies including the FBI and Homeland Security, he added.

Borgwardt, 45, was reported missing August 12 after failing to return from a fishing trip on Green Lake, about an hour north of his home in Watertown, Wisconsin.

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For seven weeks, the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office searched for Borgwardts body with the help of trained volunteers but found only the mans kayak and a tackle box containing a set of keys, a wallet and his license. Eventually, officials uncovered evidence that Borgwardt had fled to Europe by way of Canada.

Investigators made contact with the father of three on November 11, when they say they learned he executed a plan to fake his own death for a number of reasons unknown to the public.

Authorities communicated with Borgwardt almost daily, Podoll said during a news conference in late November, adding that Borgwardt appeared to be safe but had still not spoken to his family.

How Borgwardt disappeared

On the day he vanished, Borgwardt traveled to Green Lake  one of Wisconsins deepest inland lakes  with a plan to fake his own drowning, according to Podoll, who detailed the mans scheme.

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The experienced kayaker paddled out onto the water where he deliberately overturned the vessel, tossed his phone and returned to shore in a child-sized inflatable boat, Podoll said.

Borgwardt then rode an e-bike through the night about 80 miles to Madison, Wisconsin, where he then boarded a bus to Detroit, eventually crossing the Canadian border and flying to Europe, Podoll said.

Before his disappearance, Borgwardt transferred funds to a foreign bank account, changed his email and communicated with a woman in Uzbekistan, according to Podoll. A criminal complaint filed Wednesday said Borgwardt brought approximately $5,500 in cash with him.

Investigators were ultimately able to contact Borgwardt through a Russian-speaking woman, Podoll said, though he declined to say whether she was the woman he had been communicating with in Uzbekistan and whether he was with her.

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Borgwardt told police he heavily researched how to disappear by looking up previous cases, and that everything hinged on me dying in the lake and the whole idea was to sell the death, the complaint said.

In January, Borgwardt took out a $375,000 life insurance policy, which Podoll said was intended to help his family.

In our communications, we are expressing the importance of his decision to return home and clean up the mess that he has created, Podoll said. Borgwardt has expressed regret for how he has hurt his family and also feels bad about the amount of hours that we have put in the community, the sheriff said.

The long, expansive search for Borgwardt was a costly and emotionally taxing endeavor for both his family and search crews, Podoll said.

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Borgwardts family has experienced emotional whiplash after mourning him for weeks and then coming to terms with his purported abandonment, the sheriff said on CNN News Central last month.

Borgwardt previously told investigators he thought they would stop searching for him after about two weeks, officials said.

He picked the wrong sheriff and the wrong department, Podoll said.

The search for Borgwardt

On the morning of August 12, Borgwardts capsized kayak was found in the lake and his vehicle and trailer were found at a nearby park, Podoll said.

The following day, two fishermen casting along the lake found a fishing rod that belonged to Borgwardt, his wife told officials. A tackle box was found later that day with several of Borgwardts belongings: a set of keys, a wallet and his license.

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In October, investigators learned from Canadian officials Borgwardt had entered the country on August 13.

Borgwardts passport was found at the family home, but learning he left the country gave investigators a break in the case and prompted them to search his computer and dig deeper, according to Podoll.

Investigators found Borgwardt had replaced the hard drive on his laptop and cleared his browser history on the day of his disappearance, Podoll said. He had also reported his passport stolen and obtained a replacement last spring.

Though the county will seek restitution for the taxpayer-funded search efforts, that does not include the thousands of dollars spent by the non-profit Bruces Legacy, which helped in the underwater search for Borgwardts body. Borgwardt told police he didnt realize organizations like that existed, the complaint says.

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Keith Cormican, director of Bruces Legacy, told CNN he spent nearly 30 days working on the case. The first two weeks of the search alone will cost him about $10,000 due to damaged equipment and other expenses, he said.

My success rate is pretty good, Cormican told CNN. To not be able to find him  really had me questioning my abilities. And I lost a lot of sleep over it.

CNNs Elizabeth Wolfe and Bill Kirkos contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
GREEN LAKE, Wis. (CBS) - A kayaker accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe was back in Wisconsin and in police custody on Wednesday.

According to court records, Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was booked into the Green Lake County Jail late Tuesday afternoon. Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll confirmed Wednesday morning that Borgwardt returned to the U.S. "on his own" after apparently faking faking his death and fleeing to Eastern Europe.

"He got on an airplane and landed in the United States," Podoll said.

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Borgwardt went missing on Aug. 12 while kayaking in Green Lake, about 50 miles northeast of Wisconsin Dells. Crews spent 54 days searching the lake  which is more than 200 feet deep at points  expecting to find a body.

No body was ever found, but investigators did find evidence that Borgwardt had moved money into foreign accounts and ended up in Europe.

Ryan Borgwardt, in a mug shot released by the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin. / Credit: Green Lake County Sheriff

Podoll said last month that Borgwardt had admitted to staging his disappearance by overturning his kayak, and then padding back to shore in a child-size inflatable boat, riding his e-bike to a bus station, bussing from Detroit to Canada and then flying to Europe.

Podoll said investigators discovered in early October that Borgwardt had entered Canada a day after his disappearance. He synced his laptop to the cloud a few days earlier, swapped out his hard drive and cleared his search history.



Authorities also determined that Borgwardt had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy for his family in January, transferred money into a foreign bank, set up a new email address and purchased airline cards. Podoll said Borgwardt had been in contact with a woman living in Uzbekistan, and they were eventually able to contact him via a Russian-speaking woman.

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At a news conference Wednesday morning, Podoll declined to provide any further details on the investigation, other than to say Borgwardt had returned to the U.S. on his own, and was cooperating with police.

"We brought a dad back on his own accord," Podoll said.

Podoll declined to say if Borgwardt has been in contact with his family since returning to the U.S., but the sheriff said authorities have spoken to the family.

"I can only imagine how they feel," he said.

Podoll said Borgwardt was to make his first court appearance as soon as Wednesday on charges including obstruction. The sheriff said authorities also would seek to have Borgwardt reimburse Green Lake County for the cost of the search.

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Hollywood has conjured plenty of myths about the battles waged between cyber crooks and cyber heroes.

The hacker/bad guys are typically lone wolves in hoodies spreading global high-tech mayhem from basements and shadowy warehouses.

And the good guys are usually toiling in clandestine government agency buildings  pounding away on keyboards while dispatching top-secret data to tuxedoed field agents driving Aston Martins and playing baccarat in exotic lands.

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In reality, black-hat hackers come from all walks of life. They live in all areas of the world and often work for legitimate companies. For cyber criminals, blending is a prized skill. That middle-aged woman in the pea coat sitting across from you on the train is likely not a hacker.

But she could be.

Meanwhile, cyber security specialists  the guys and gals in the white hats  look pretty much like the faculty and students at Utah Valley Universitys Center for National Security Studies.

Theyre your Utah neighbors, friends and classmates.

They are very average, everyday people who have dedicated their lives to address national security issues  and they very rarely see the limelight, said Brandon Amacher, a cybersecurity professional and instructor at the center.

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Established in 2016, the Center for National Security Studies has grown to approximately 400 students, offering UVU students hands-on technical training in subjects such as national security, intelligence and emerging platforms such as AI.

But the centers instruction stretches beyond information technology. Degree-seeking students are also educated in cyberethics, history, civil liberties and international law. Theyre also discovering teamworks essential role in almost all aspects of national security.

Despite being relatively new, UVUs Center for National Security Studies has become one of the countrys premier national security programs  vaulting graduates into a wide range into high-demand security careers in the public and private sectors and academia.

Faculty member Brandon Mead and student Ian McDonald listen as student Camden Mead makes a comment during a discussion at Utah Valley University's national security studies program on campus in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

John McClure listens to Brandon Amacher, another faculty member at Utah Valley University's national security studies program, as they join with fellow faculty and students talking about the program in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

John McClure, a faculty member at Utah Valley University's national security studies program, talks about the program along with other faculty and students in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Clocks on a wall at Utah Valley University's national security studies program as faculty and students gather to talk about the program on campus in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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Flags and other items on a shelf in the office of Ryan Vogel, director of the Center for National Security Studies and associate professor at Utah Valley University, in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Ryan Vogel, director of the Center for National Security Studies and associate professor at Utah Valley University, talks about the center and its program on campus in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Some of Utah Valley University's national security studies program faculty and students gather to talk about the program on campus in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Student Hope Fager makes a comment as she and other students and faculty talk about Utah Valley University's national security studies program on campus in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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Mary Kent, a faculty member, makes a few comments as she joins other faculty and students of Utah Valley University's national security studies program to talk about the program on campus in Orem on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

All are at risk for cyber mischief

Today, highly-trained, ethical cybersecurity professionals are in greater demand than ever before, said Ryan Vogel, who directs UVUs Center for National Security Studies.

In the past, a cyberthreat from, say, Iran was typically a federal government concern.

But in todays world, a small business could be hit with an Iranian cybertool, said Vogel. Those threats are everywhere. Its non-state actors. Its terrorist groups. Its organized crime groups. Its rogue actors like Russia, Iran or Venezuela.

The good guys, he added, are vital in anticipating, identifying and ultimately combating the daily cyber threats to individuals, businesses, governments and the international community.

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Vogel and his fellow security educators say UVU is already an industry-recognized training ground for women and men eager to fight cyber roguery. Were trying to be a talent pipeline to all areas in need of security professionals.

The states largest university, UVU offers bachelors degrees and a minor in NSS, along with a certificate of proficiency for college graduates looking to enter security careers.

The universitys national security education program is grounded in practical learning, said Vogel. We allow our students to do actual work in the classroom.

Meanwhile, all of the programs faculty and staff are security practitioners or former practitioners.

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Vogel, for example, established his security bona fides at the U.S. Defense Department. The programs emerging tech policy lab director, Amacher, is a cybersecurity professional, while Open Source Intelligence Center program director Mary Kent is a U.S. Army veteran and an analyst who works with Utah law enforcement agencies.

We bring that (experience) into the classroom, allowing our students to do briefings, professional writing and assisting on actual cases, added Vogel. Its hands-on learning  which leads to industry-ready professionals.

Given cybersecuritys ever-changing profile, the centers curriculum is always being updated in real-time. There are no 20-year-old national security textbooks on the shelves.

Vogel noted that if an instructor is teaching, say, national security during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or the law of war during the ongoing Israel/Palestinian conflict, you have to shift because you have to take advantage of things that are happening to point out how systems, processes and actors are all working together.

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Such experiential learning draws job recruiters from both traditional government agencies such as the CIA or FBI, along with private security firms, such as Utahs Strider Technologies, who recently announced a scholarship program for UVU and Utah States Center for Anticipatory Intelligence.

UVUs national security studies grads, said Vogel, understand how to work in a professional environment and how to brief from day one.

No surprise, the Center for National Security Studies is drawing students to Orem from far outside the Beehive State. That interest is a recognition that no one is doing what were doing, said Vogel, pointing to the hands-on learning programs offered at UVU.

The centers mission to partner students with private and public institutions prior to graduation is harmonious with Utah lawmakers push for better industry-job-alignment from the states colleges and universities.

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If the Legislature is looking for examples of higher ed doing what (they envision), they could look at our program, said Vogel, adding the centers graduates are critical to all of the other industries in play in our state.

I knew this was where I was supposed to be

The Deseret News spoke with a collection of UVU students and faculty members at the schools Center for National Security Studies to discuss the programs charge to produce dynamic security specialists in todays global security ecosystem.

North Carolina native Hope Fager enrolled in UVU to be closer to extended family  but as soon as I found the center, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.

Fagers interest in a cybersecurity career is driven by patriotism and her affinity for computers. This was a perfect mesh between all of the things that I love, she said.

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Fagers classmate, Camden Mead, said he was drawn to the program because of its pragmatic curriculum. You can find international relations or political science majors at almost any university around the country, but what makes this program different is that we take a practical approach to talking about these issues.

Mead added that the soft skills hes learning at the center, such as briefing, will serve him well in the national security industry. Were also really good at teaching intel analysis  just being able to process information.

Amacher noted that the industry experience that teachers bring to the center is invaluable. We already know where the forefront of (security fields) are, so we monitor all of them independently and bring that to the classroom.

Amacher stays connected with his industry sources to stay up on trends and issues to keep instruction timely and relevant.

Students at the center share their instructors passion for national security, added Kent. Were very invested in what we do and improving the lives of our students, the lives of our citizens and protecting the nation.

Understanding and operating within ethical industry boundaries remains a guiding element of the centers student-development mission, she added.

The centers day-to-day challenge is to mold national security students into national security practitioners, said assistant director John McClure.

We prepare students to be masters of their craft upon graduation  so when they enter the workforce or go on to advanced education, theyre ready. They have the skill sets they need.

The centers growing alumni community, added student Ian McDonald, offers essential networking and mentoring opportunities. I still keep in touch with people who are UVU alumni who are helping to prepare us to become young professionals.

Student Henry Wolthuis said learning from active industry experts is already proving invaluable to his own career development.

Last year, Wolthius interned at the Idaho governors office, corresponding with the governors constituents and writing memos and briefs. His seasoned writing and briefing skills caught the attention of the governor.

I was prepared for those assignments because in this UVU program Im often asked to take specific data and make policy recommendations; and we also practice briefing and writing memos and making presentations, he said.
A woman who was abducted as a baby from a U.K. hospital has died at 30 following a brain cancer diagnosis.

Abbie Humphries was kidnapped by a woman pretending to be a nurse three hours after she was born at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, England, in July 1994. She was found and returned to her family 17 days later, per the The Nottingham Post.

Humphriess husband Karl Sundgren announced on Facebook on Monday, Dec 9, that she had died in New Zealand after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020.

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Our beautiful Abbie peacefully passed away yesterday, surrounded by loved ones, he wrote. She fought so hard with so much strength and grace for over 4 years and can finally rest.

According to her Facebook page, Humphries lived with her husband in Auckland, New Zealand. She moved to the country with her family as a 10-year-old, according to The Nottingham Post.

Press Association via AP Abbie Humphries reunited with her parents Karen and Roger Humphries in 1994 Abbie Humphries reunited with her parents Karen and Roger Humphries in 1994

Related: Where Are Jaycee Dugard and Her Daughters Today? A Look at Their Lives After Abduction

Alongside his message, Sundgren shared photos of Humphries which included an image of the pair walking down the aisle on their wedding day. Other photographs included scenes of her posing with family members and throwback snaps of Humphries as a young child with her parents.

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In July 1994, Humphries was abducted by 22-year-old former dental nurse Julie Kelley, who had recently been pregnant at the time. She was later found at a property in the Nottingham village of Wollaton and returned to her parents, Roger and Karen Humphries, the BBC reported.

Kelley later pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and was put on probation for three years after she was diagnosed with a personality disorder, per the outlet.

PA Images via Getty Abbie Humphries with her mom Karen Humphries before she was abducted Abbie Humphries with her mom Karen Humphries before she was abducted

Related: As a Parent, Elizabeth Smart Says She's 'on the Paranoid Side of Things' Because of Her Abduction (Exclusive)

Humphries was not told about the adduction as a young child and only discovered she'd been kidnapped at age 10 after she found press cuttings about the incident, reported The Nottingham Post and BBC.

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That's when I realized what a huge deal it was," she told the outlet at age 16. "But it didn't stir up any emotions of horror or anything. To be honest, I thought it was rather cool.

"My parents told me all about it as I grew up, but not all in one go. It came out in bits and pieces, she explained.

Abbie Sundgren/Facebook Abbie Humphries Abbie Humphries

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Humphries was diagnosed with a 5cm (2 inch) brain tumor in November 2020, the BBC reported.

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Speaking about her diagnosis in 2021, Humphries told The Mail on Sunday, There is no point feeling angry or blaming anything. We have just had a terrible amount of bad luck. I usually choose to look at the positive side of everything. It makes everyone feel better, reported the BBC.

A memorial is being held for Humphries in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Read the original article on People
Dec. 10A woman who allegedly fought with cops after her arrest in connection with a string of incidents in various stages of undress last year has received a pair of suspended sentences in Flathead County District Court.

Ashley Lynn Dryden, 33, faced charges of felony assault on a peace officer and misdemeanor driving under the influence and assault with bodily fluids following her run-in with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office on April 17, 2023. Deputies began searching for her after receiving reports of a woman walking around Martin City nude from the waist down and yelling obscenities.

While arriving deputies were unable to locate the partially nude woman in Martin City, they received subsequent reports of a theft at a gas station near the intersection of U.S. 2 and Montana 40. The suspected shoplifter was described as a shoeless or barefoot woman, court documents said. One witness described her as pushing a red Ford Escape.

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Deputies identified Dryden as the woman after arriving at the intersection, according to court documents. Smelling the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her and spotting an empty vodka bottle on the passenger seat of the Escape as well as two suspected marijuana pipes, they sought to put her through a field sobriety test, court documents said.

When she allegedly refused, deputies arrested her and planned on getting her blood drawn at a Kalispell medical facility.

Dryden became violent during the trip to Kalispell, kicking the cage of the law enforcement vehicle she was riding in and slamming her head against it, according to court documents. When deputies stopped to reseat her, she allegedly tried to kick them.

Once in Kalispell, Dryden began yelling and cursing at deputies, at one point getting onto the roof of a law enforcement vehicle, court documents said. A deputy suffered injuries to his knee, elbow and lower back in the ensuing scuffle.

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She later allegedly spat on a detention center officer after deputies took her to the county jail.

Although initially maintaining her innocence, Dryden took a plea deal in February 2024 that saw prosecutors agree to drop the assault with bodily fluid misdemeanor.

She pleaded guilty to assault on a peace officer and driving under the influence before Judge Dan Wilson on Feb. 22.

At her April 11 sentencing, Wilson handed down a four-year suspended sentence for the felony and a six-month sentence to county jail with all, but 7 days suspended on the misdemeanor. Dryden was given credit for 16 days of time served and ordered to undergo a chemical dependency evaluation.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.
A woman arrested for kidnapping a 3-year-old girl at a Puyallup hospital is scheduled for a competency evaluation to determine her ability to stand trial.

According to court documents, Sharie April Atkins, 45, is accused of kidnapping a little girl at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup on Monday afternoon.

Puyallup police said Atkins sat down in the emergency room lobby, near the 3-year-old child, her mother and her moms friend.

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According to surveillance video KIRO 7 News obtained, Atkins snatches the child and walks around the lobby. Moments later, she grabs her purse and tries to get away with the child, as the mother and other witnesses jump in to save the child.

Detectives said the child suffered minor injuries, including red marks on her stomach and back, caused by Atkins squeezing her arms around the girl.

Atkins did not appear in court Tuesday as her defense attorney requested that her mental health be evaluated to see if she can stand trial.

Atkins was not given bail at the prosecutors request.

She has been charged with second-degree attempted kidnapping and second-degree assault.

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We reached out to Good Samaritan Hospital, which shared the following statement with us:

Tuesday afternoon around 1 p.m. security and emergency department staff at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital intervened in an alleged child abduction. The child was safely returned to their mother and the alleged abductor was arrested and removed from the hospital.

The safety of our employees and patients is our highest priority. We commend the members of our hospital staff who helped bring this situation to a quick and safe resolution.

MultiCare is working closely with local police as they continue their investigation.

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KIRO 7 News obtained court documents, which indicated that Atkins was involved in a prior incident in December of 2023, involving an axe.

Witnesses reported to Pierce County deputies that a woman had smashed their car and house windows with an axe.

A huge axe. Had I came out three seconds earlier, I could have been hit with an axe, said Skyler King, a neighbor.

King told KIRO 7 News that Atkins smashed the windows of his two vehicles, and tried breaking into his house while his family was inside preparing for dinner.

She threw the axe from the sidewalk one handed, and threw it through the window, came and grabbed it and smashed out all the other windows, he added. The aftereffect was worse, knowing she lived a block and half behind us, literally right down the street.

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Across the street, a neighbor shared surveillance video with KIRO 7 News capturing the moment when a woman smashed their vehicles windshield with an axe, and pointed, what appeared to be a gun, at a nearby neighbor.

Pierce County detectives said they later found a lighter in the shape of a pistol during her arrest.

That same night, Puyallup police said Atkins also caused more than $5,000 worth of damage at a nearby elementary school using a metal bowl.

Atkins had been charged with attempted residential burglary and malicious mischief.

She was held at a hospital for 45 days where health professionals had determined that she met the criteria for schizophrenia.

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She was later released on a $35,000 bail.

King told KIRO 7 News that had Atkins received more serious consequences last year, he believes Mondays incident wouldnt have happened.

I dont think it wouldve happened, he said. Something needed to have been done, whether itd been probation, whether itd been follow ups, or whether itd been seeking mental help, he shared.
WINNSBORO, Texas (KETK)  An East Texas woman is accused of stealing pieces of pipe valued at about $49,000 from her husbands business partners, arrest documents said.

Mountain lion killed in early-morning crash with Longview patrol vehicle

Kattie Steele, of Winnsboro, is facing charges after material was reportedly stolen from her husbands drilling company and was placed behind bars on Monday.

Mugshot of Kattie Steele, courtesy of the Wood County Jail.

According to the arrest affidavit, the drilling company filed bankruptcy while business partners were in the process of dividing the property when 107 pieces of pipe went unaccounted.

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On Nov. 1, a person said they saw Steeles vehicle leaving 4690 Hwy 37 pulling a trailer with the pipes and reported it to one of the owners. The witness said Steele called them and said they had paid for the pipes although the arrest documents say the victim provided investigators a receipt for the property.

Henderson teacher accused of inappropriate relationship with student arrested

The Wood County Sheriffs Office tried to contact Steele but instead reached her husband who denied knowing the location of the pipes and how they went missing.

At this time the location of the pipe is still unknown however, it is believed to have been sold by [Steele] and her husband to unknown parties, the affidavit said.

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Steele was booked into the Wood County Jail on Monday and charged with theft of property. She bonded out after paying a $15,000 the same day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo.  On Tuesday, investigators identified a woman found dead inside a pickup truck after Crystal City police officers shot and wounded a man this past weekend on a Jefferson County highway.

She has been identified as Clara B. Blaxton, 45, of northeast Arkansas.

Blaxton is believed to have been in a relationship with the suspect.

According to Grant Bissell, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, her cause and manner of death are still under investigation.

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Festus Police Chief Doug Wendel said they first received word of shots fired near a White Castle on Highway A near Interstate 55 around 11:10 a.m. on Sunday. Officers from Festus and the Crystal City Police Departments found the suspects truck attempting to turn south from Highway A onto Highway 67.

Festus and Crystal City officers tracked down the suspects truck, which they say crashed into a concrete median on Highway 67 before spinning into the northbound lanes outside of an Aldi and Dollar Tree. The chief said the driver stepped out of the truck wearing body armor and was armed.

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Two Crystal City officers shot the suspect.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was taken to an area hospital where hes listed in critical condition.

Bissell said the countys investigation is continuing with assistance from law enforcement in Arkansas and the FBI.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
CHICAGO  Authorities are seeking help from the public in the search for a woman who has been missing for nearly a month and may need medical attention.

According to Chicago police, 42-year-old Erika Marquez went missing on Nov. 14, and has not been contacted since. She was last seen in the 400 block of South Clark Street in the Loop.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Marquez, who stands 5-foot-2 and weighs around 145 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. She is also known to have tattoos on her left shoulder and back, officers said.

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Chicago police notified the public about the womans disappearance in a news release that was sent out on Monday evening but did not provide details on what she was last seen wearing.

Authorities are seeking help from the public in the search for a woman who has been missing for nearly a month and may need medical attention.

A photo provided by Chicago police shows the missing woman with bright red hair, but it is unclear if it was that color at the time of his disappearance.

Officers said the missing woman may be in need of medical attention, but did not provide specific details about why.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 42-year-old Erika Marquez is asked to contact the CPD Area Three SVU at 312-744-8266 or dial 911.

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Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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 Kansas City, Mo. woman who was arrested after telling the police she accidentally placed her infant child into an oven instead of its crib months ago is now facing a new, much more serious charge in connection to the incident.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said police responded to home in Manheim Park after receiving a report of a non-breathing infant back in February. One witness said Thomas frantically called them to back to the house, where they lived, and was greeted with the smell of smoke, per the Kansas City Star.

Officers found a 1-month-old child with apparent burns and clothes that appeared to be melted off. The child was declared dead later that day.

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Police said the mother of the child, 26-year-old Mariah Thomas, told them she was placing the child down for a nap and accidentally put the child in the heated oven instead of the babys crib.

She was originally charged with endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree and death of a child. However, in bond review hearing Thursday, Thomas came into the courtroom shackled on her wrists and ankles to find a Jackson County grand jury decided to add first-degree involuntary manslaughter to her charges, per the Kansas City Star.

We appreciate all first responders who worked this scene and the prosecutors who went to the scene in order to issue these charges. We acknowledge the gruesome nature of this tragedy and our hearts are weighted by the loss of this precious life. We trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances, said Prosecutor Baker following the incident.

Thomas pleaded not guilty to the charges, per KMBC. Her trial begins January 13, 2025. Shes being held on a $100,000 bond according to jail records.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- A Youngstown woman was sentenced to 14 months in prison on Tuesday for felony drug charges.

Read next: Man sentenced to 25 years in prison for rape

Stephanie McCourt was sentenced on an amended charge of illegal conveyance of weapons (F3).

McCourts charges of aggravated possession of drugs, possession of drugs, and drug paraphernalia were dismissed, according to court staff.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  A woman who is connected to a 2023 drug raid in Boardman turned herself in to police.

Read next: Man sentenced to 25 years in prison for rape

Jamie Hernandez, 37, turned herself in to Boardman police Tuesday on a warrant charging her with drug possession, a fifth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor count of drug paraphernalia.

Hernandez pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge and no plea was accepted on the felony charge. Bond was set at $5,000. She has been released from jail. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Jan. 7.

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The charges are connected to a December 2023 drug raid at a house on Maple Drive where investigators say they found cash, fentanyl, xylazine and other drugs.

A man was arrested six months after the raid on felony drug charges, but those charges were dismissed; however, the prosecutor reserved the right to refile charges against the man for lesser offenses in the case, according to court records.

Over $1,800 in cash that was seized in the raid was forfeited to Boardman police, according to court records.

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.
The death of a woman this week in a car crash involving a police officer who was responding to a bomb threat against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's Georgia home demonstrates the growing danger of swatting, police and experts said.

Swatting refers to when a false threat is made to draw police and first responders to a location.

The woman, identified by police as Tammie Pickelsimer, was killed after crashing into a bomb squad member who was responding to the call, according to a statement from the Rome Police Department.

PHOTO: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to members of the press at the U.S. Capitol, on Dec. 5, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

According to police, the threat was sent by email to them last week, but it was re-routed to a junk folder. Police on Monday discovered the email which correctly listed the congresswoman's home address.

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Greene was not home at the time, but the message from the email specifically targeted the congresswoman's mailbox, Greene posted on X.

The email spurred a response from police who then sent an officer to monitor the mailbox while waiting for the bomb squad.

MORE: Massachusetts congresswoman says family was targeted with a bomb threat

Rome police sergeant and bomb squad member David Metroka was en route to join the bomb squad at their headquarters when he crashed into the 66-year-old Pickelsimer, Georgia State Patrol said.

Picklesimer suffered significant injuries and later died at the hospital, according to GSP. The officer had minor injuries and was later released from the hospital.

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Police did not find a bomb at Greene's home. In a statement, the Rome Police Department addressed the dangers of swatting incidents.

"The Rome Police Department continues to work closely with Congresswoman Greene's staff to address the growing concern of swatting incidents and has implemented protocols to ensure that emergency responses are only triggered when truly necessary," the police department said in a statement. "This particular situation did not require an emergency response."

The police department added, "The Rome Police Department extends its heartfelt condolences to the Pickelsimer family during this difficult time. The department holds the individual responsible for sending the threatening email fully accountable for setting this tragic chain of events into motion. In collaboration with Congresswoman Greene's office, the Rome Police Department is working with federal authorities to ensure the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to justice."

The Rome Police Department told ABC News the email had an IP address linked to Russia.

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Greene said she "felt heartsick," and expressed her concern over violent political threats in a statement on X.

"These violent political threats have fatal consequences," she said. "Its an undue strain on our law enforcement who must treat them seriously. The officer was responding to protect my life. And now, a woman has lost her life because of this despicable act."

MORE: Democratic members of Congress get bomb threats on Thanksgiving

According to John Bandler, an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, swatting is a harassment tactic used to dispatch an "arm of government" for emergency services.

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Bandler believes the uptick in swatting stems from cyber crimes allowing criminals to commit a crime against someone else without having to get close to it, he said.

"It is a way people can do a crime and they think they won't get caught doing it," Bandler said. "And it seems much more an indirect way of doing it."

Most people are never going to be swatted, Bandler said. But he notes it will be hard to protect yourself from this sort of crime, just like it is to protect yourself from all crime, he said.

Bandler calls for all swatting attempts to be prosecuted as a felony in every state and on the federal level. Swatting becomes a felony on the federal level when it crosses state lines.

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He said swatting is extremely dangerous and scatters police efforts.

"Not only are you wasting law enforcement's time, but you're triggering that emergency response and that is always going to be dangerous," Bandler said.

Greene said her office is cooperating with local law enforcement and the FBI as they investigate the threat.

Woman's death as officer responded to Marjorie Taylor Greene threat highlights growing swatting issue originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Shortly after Clemmons Mayor Michael Rogers spoke out against a rezoning proposal that would allow for storage of chemicals near Clemmons Peppertree neighborhood, the village council unanimously passed a resolution in opposition to the measure.

My concern is that its not congruent with our vision for that area, said councilmember Michelle Barson.

The case is being considered by the Forsyth County commissioners, who will have a public hearing on the rezoning and the final say during their Dec. 19 meeting.

The 5.49-acre location, 6220 Clementine Drive, is a warehouse property within an existing industrial business park close to the intersection of Idols and Hampton Roads. Its been vacant for more than a year.

Petitioners for the rezoning, who own the property, are hoping to lease the land to Master Builders Solutions, a manufacturer of construction chemical products and special building solutions.

The Winston-Salem Forsyth County planning staff previously chose not to recommend the rezoning in a report which said they had not seen any evidence suggesting the petitioners took sufficient safeguards to prevent off-site impacts to the neighborhood.

Planning director Chris Murphy later said at a county briefing that the planning staff was concerned about the precedent the rezoning could set in the area by placing a special manufacturing use so close to a neighborhood, meaning that it could set up the area for future requests of similar uses.

Master Builders Solutions

Up until Tuesday, the petitioners had been slow to release the list of chemicals that would be used on the property and the identity of the prospective tenant because they deemed it proprietary information amid an active lease negotiation.

The city/county planning board ended up approving a recommendation for the rezoning on Nov. 14 in a 5-2 vote, with the two dissenting board members saying they felt uncomfortable allowing unknown chemical storage near the neighborhood.

On Tuesday, the petitioners attorney Marsh Prause sent the Journal an informational packet distributed to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners which included information about Master Builders Solutions, the potential use of the property, and a list of chemical materials to be stored and used on site.

In the packet, Master Builders Solutions states that it has 35 production sites in multiple countries, 1,600 employees, and U.S. based sites in 10 different states.

The company names itself as a leading manufacturer of concrete admixtures, substances added to concrete during mixing to improve its properties and make it better suited to a project.

Master Builders Solutions contends that its finished products are made using a cold blend method, a combination of materials and mixing at room temperature with no chemical reactions involved.

No heating, cooling or pressure is used in the manufacturing of concrete admixtures, the company said. All mixing, blending and storage operations will take place inside the facility.

In a storage and logistics section, the company states that it will expect 6 to 10 trucks to come in and out of the site on an average day. Master Builders Solutions also claims that the mixing process doesnt generate dust, vapor plumes, or noise pollution, and that no materials used at the site pose a hazard to neighbors.

Our admixture manufacturing sites have an excellent safety track record, some operating for over 40 years without a lost-time incident, the company stated. At no time have federal/state agencies been required at any of our sites for any spill/clean-up activity.

Clemmons objections

In interviews with the Journal, Rogers and Barson both said that it was a priority to protect the area around the property from a high-intensity use. The villages Monday night resolution, Rogers said at the meeting, was made to agree with the assessment of the planning staff, who denied a recommendation of the rezoning.

It sets a precedent for the rest of the (industrial) park, Barson said Tuesday. If they back out anyone else can come into that less stringent zoning.

During Monday nights meeting, Barson said that the rezoning proposal sounded like contract zoning, which refers to an agreement between a property owner and a local government where the owner promises to carry out a specific use of the land if the government rezones the property to a specified new zoning district.

Rogers said Tuesday that the villages resolution was in lockstep with the planning staffs recommendation for reasons that included that the rezoning would create an unwanted precedent for land use in the area.

Clemmons resolution document states that the specific uses of chemical manufacturing and nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing are high intensity, and that the category of Manufacturing C could introduce the possibility of additional public health impacts not currently accounted for.

Prause told the Journal Saturday that he disagreed that Master Builders Solutions would put a high intensity use to the property.

The issue here is, this is not a high intensity use, Prause said. Its lumped in with high intensity uses because of the way the development ordinance is written. But once you get an understanding of this, its not a high intensity use. As a matter of fact, compared to other things that could go there with the current zoning like a truck terminal that would generate a lot more noise and pollution, for instance.

Barson said Tuesday she is placing her confidence in the expertise of the countys planning staff, who denied a recommendation.

The countys board of commissioners are set to vote on the rezoning proposal at their Dec. 19 meeting.
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  The Womens Fund of North Carolina awarded thousands of dollars in grants to groups focusing on housing security for women. Two of those groups are in Eastern North Carolina.

The Coastal Womens Shelter and Tried By Fires My Sisters House were both awarded grants. WNCT spoke with the community foundations Vice President of Philanthropic Service. She said Tried by Fire was chosen for its unique mission of helping post-incarcerated women.

Coastal Womens Shelter was chosen for being a staple in the community when it comes to domestic and sexual violence services. Only five organizations throughout the state were chosen.

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Housing security is important for everyone and we really feel strongly that it is particularly important for women, as they are often single mothers and providing support to their children and often caretakers for other family members and having secure housing really sets them up for success outside of just where they live, NCCF Vice President of Philanthropic Services Kathryn R. Holding said.

The selection committee focused on funding groups led by women of color or who are a part of a marginalized population.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A woman who pleaded guilty to shooting at a car on the West Side was sentenced Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to 21 months in prison.

Prosecutors have agreed not to oppose a motion for early release after a year in prison for Phillysha Cummings Wesson, 20, who was sentenced by Judge Anthony Donofrio.

Cummings Wesson pleaded guilty Oct. 15 to a charge of discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises, a third-degree felony. She had been free on bond pending sentencing.

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Cummings Wesson is accused of firing several shots at the car of a man she was arguing with at about 8:30 a.m. Dec. 4 at an apartment complex on Tyrell Avenue. They say she blocked his car to prevent him from leaving. Two other women then supplied her with a gun, which she used to fire several shots at the man when he was finally able to drive away.

Prosecutors have agreed not to oppose a request for early release as long as Cummings Wesson stays out of trouble while she is in prison.

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A former personal chef of Woody Allen and wife Soon-Yi Previn has filed a lawsuit alleging they fired him for taking time off to train in the U.S. Army Reserves and then questioning payment improprieties upon his return.

In a complaint filed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, professional chef Hermie Fajardo said that defendants Allen, Previn and their private home manager Pamela Steigmeyer violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA), Internal Revenue Service tax codes and New York State labor and tax laws.

He alleged he was let go soon after asking why they underpaid him during his service, failed to withhold taxes and initially paid him via bank-to-bank transfer without a pay stub or tax withholding.

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Steigmeyer and Allens accountant repeatedly rebuffed his efforts to correct these issues, provide an explanation as to why this happened or when there would be a resolution, Fajardos attorneys, Joseph & Norinsberg LLC, said in a statement.

According to the complaint, Steigmeyer told Fajardo that taking time off for reservist training would be no problem and promised him full pay. But after he had to stay an extra day, he was met with resentment and hostility when he returned and his check was $300 short, according to his attorneys.

When Fajardo pressed for answers, Steigmeyer allegedly responded abrasively, saying, I hope it will not affect your job in the future.

On his first day back from training, Fajardo said he made lunch for Allen and Previn, then Steigmeyer took him aside and abruptly fired him. He was told the couple didnt like his cooking, despite offering him effusive praise for his culinary prowess during his employment, demonstrating pretext and proving defendants obvious discriminatory and retaliatory animus, the complaint states.

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Fajardo is seeking unspecified damages for economic harm as well as mental anguish, emotional distress and humiliation, and damages caused to his personal and professional reputations, in addition to legal fees.

They need to be held accountable in a court of law as an example to others who would seek to take advantage of their employees, especially those who serve in our armed forces, attorney Jon Norinsberg said in a statement.

Allens representatives did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily News.
Nevada already has a well-documented shortage of home care workers, and unless addressed the deficit is expected to worsen as the overall population ages and the demand for elder care services rises. (Getty Images)

Two Las Vegas home care agencies hired an anti-labor consultant to pressure workers and thwart ongoing attempts to unionize, according to local organizers.

SEIU Local 1107 in late November alleged that two home care agencies, A Helping Hand and Everyday Miracles, hired Las Vegas-based anti-union consulting firm H. Sanford Rudnick & Associates to spread fear, lies and division among workers in an attempt to stop them from voting to join a union.

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Home care workers at both agencies had requested union elections through the National Labor Relations Board.

The Nevada Current reached out to A Helping Hand and Everyday Miracles for a comment on the accusations of attempted union busting. Everyday Miracles in a brief email Tuesday did not directly respond to any accusations but said the company let Sandy go, referring to Sanford Rudnick, who goes by Sandy. The statement did not elaborate but acknowledged that the union vote is forthcoming.

Everyday Miracles employees will be sent ballots this week, according to a NLRB notice, with ballots due back in early January. The NLRB lists Everyday Miracles as having 184 employees, though the union being sought would only include personal care assistants.

A Helping Hand did not respond to the Currents requests for comment. Employees there were sent election ballots via mail Thanksgiving Week, according to a NLRB notice, and ballots are due back next week. The company employs 75 people.

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Rudnick, the consultant, did not respond to a request for comment on his association with the home care agencies. But the firm boasts on its website of having defeated more than 1,000 union elections across four decades and promises it can provide clients with a video to convince your employees to vote against a union in 15 minutes.

The Economic Policy Institute estimates that employers nationwide spend at least $433 million annually on union-busting efforts. One common strategy used is to hold coercive one-on-one or group captive audience meetings, wherein employers, managers or high-priced consultants express anti-union sentiments, such as issuing hyperbolic warnings that a union will cause the entire business to collapse or misleading workers about the cost of union dues.

The NLRB last month ruled that captive audience meetings are now prohibited when employees are required to attend them under threat of discipline or discharge. Requiring attendance demonstrates the employers economic power over its employees and reasonably tends to inhibit them from acting freely in exercising their rights, read a NLRB release summarizing the ruling.

Employers can still hold meetings to encourage the rejection of union representation but such meetings must be voluntarily attended by workers with no threat of adverse consequences for not attending. Workers are also supposed to receive reasonable advance notice of the subject of any such meeting, and employers are prohibited from keeping attendance records of such meetings.

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SEIU claimed the home care agencies have distributed misleading flyers to workers.

Its so frustrating to see home care agencies spending precious resources on a poisonous anti-union campaign instead of listening to workers who want a union, said Regina Brown-Ross, a home care worker who voted in favor of union representation last year, in a statement.

Over the past year, more than 1,000 home care workers in Nevada have voted to join SEIU Local 1107, according to the union.

Brown-Ross added, Home care agencies should be working with us, not against us, to achieve our shared goals of improving funding and building a solid workforce. Instead, some very bad apples are holding the entire industry back.

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Nevada already has a well-documented shortage of home care workers, and unless addressed the deficit is expected to worsen as the overall population ages and the demand for elder care services rises.

SEIU last year successfully lobbied lawmakers to establish a $16 minimum hourly wage for home care workers and increase the states Medicaid reimbursement rate for employers by 42%.

NLRB filings suggest that, in addition to A Helping Hand and Everyday Miracles, formal steps to organize workers have been taken at several other home care agencies in Las Vegas.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Save Our Tips was the message from hundreds of Michigan restaurant workers who rallied at the Capitol Tuesday. They gathered to show support for a bill that would add an exception to Michigans new minimum wage lawallowing restaurants to keep tip systems the way they are.

By February 2025, Michigan restaurants will have to start paying their workers the general minimum wage, and the servers and bartenders who gathered at the Capitol Tuesday were not happy about it.

Workers told 6 News that if restaurants started adding a service charge, it would bring an end to tips, and that would mean a lot less money for them at the end of the day.

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Theyre here because theyre about to lose most of their income. If a law that goes into effect in February is not altered by the legislature here during what we call the lame duck period, says John Sellek, a spokesman for Save MI Tips. Theyre gonna all be turned into minimum wage employees.

Hundreds of people felt the issue was important enough to take a day off work to come and meet with lawmakers and tell them how this is going to impact their lives.

The majority of my servers and bartenders are single parents, going to school. They work 20/25 hours a week, right? And they make 40k a year. In what industry can you do that unless youre making tips? said Melissa Agar, General Manager of an Appleblees.

Others say tips are a big motivator for workers to give their best service at your favorite restaurants.

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Ive seen a significantly higher amount of tips that Ive received based off of being attentive, continuously checking back on them, making sure they hit refills whenever they wanted, write in my notes, talking to them, said Angelo Hawkins, a Server/Bartender at Buffalo Wild Wings.

There are other groups in Michigan, like One Fair Wage, that say the move away from tips is a good thing because people should get paid the same for equal workeven servers.

Its a fair wage for the people that want it and the people that earn, said Agar. And they wouldnt do it if it wasnt. 15 an hour is crazy, its just crazy and I would do anything else other than this.

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.
A world-renowned poet, activist and writer has died from cancer. Nikki Giovanni was 81 years old and many say her work will last forever.

She left us with so much. Like, I dont think we could pull or extract anything else from her, Emory University associate professor Bettina Judd said.

Judd was just a Spelman college student when she was pictured with Giovanni, a literary legend, who spent her life uniting folks with her words as a poet, writer and activist.

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Shes quite often attributed as saying Black love is Black wealth, Judd said.

Judd is now an associate professor of African Studies at Emory University, and she credits Giovanni as a mentor.

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I think of her truly as a giant and expansive in the ways that she has been able to bring in multiple generations of folks into a kind of legacy of traditional Black poetry and I think she speaks across generations, Judd said.

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Judd believes Giovanni did that when she was a professor at Virginia Tech and spoke to students after a shooting on campus in the early 2000s.

Giovanni had a way with words that won her a Grammy and an NAACP Image Award.

But what Judd will miss most, is how down to Earth she was while willing to help the next generation of writers.

You know, shes gonna stop and take a picture with you. Shes gonna talk with you a bit. Thats not always the case and particularly with our most beloved luminaries. And I think that kind of generosity is lost in the way we think of our writing careers or writing life and I hope we dont lose that. I know we will miss that, Judd said.

Giovanni had suffered from cancer. This was her third time with it. She died at age 81.
WASHINGTON  FBI Director Chris Wray on Wednesday became the latest part of institutionalist Washington to act in the interest of the institution he led even as incoming President-elect Donald Trump makes clear he intends to burn them all to the ground.

Like parents modeling good behavior to a toddler, President Joe Biden and members of his administration have been performing the rituals of a democracy going through a normal transfer of power to benefit a man who tried to end that democracy just four years earlier.

Vice President Kamala Harris conceded her election loss and congratulated Trump. Biden invited him to the White House in the following days and pledged a smooth transition. Special counsel Jack Smith last month dismissed dozens of felony charges that could have put Trump in prison for decades because of standing Department of Justice policy that doesnt allow it to prosecute a sitting president.

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And, Wednesday, Wray  who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and has more than two years to go in his 10-year term  told his colleagues that he would resign before Trump takes office in January, given Trumps desire to install loyalist and fellow conspiracy theorist Kash Patel in that job.

This is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important in how we do our work, Wray said in a video released by the FBI of his remarks. This is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission and I love our people.

FBI Director Christopher Wray appears before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on July 24, 2024. CHRIS KLEPONIS/AFP via Getty Images

Whether the strategy of teaching the value of American institutions by example will work with Trump remains to be seen.

Bradley Moss, a lawyer in Washington who specializes in national security work, has his doubts, and said Wray should have forced Trump to fire him, given the man Trump wants to replace him with.

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Utterly spineless. By doing this, Director Wray has guaranteed the very thing he was supposed to avoid: the FBI becoming a politicized institution, Moss said. If there was any question that going forward the position of director will change every time the party in power changes, something the Watergate statutory reforms were supposed to prevent, that idea is dead.

FBI directors serve 10-year terms as a result of a post-Watergate reform implemented after President Richard Nixon tried to use both the FBI and the CIA to cover up his attempts to cheat in the 1972 election by spying on the Democratic Party.

Not long afterWray announced his decision, Trump  a convicted criminal who eluded federal charges by winning back the presidency  continued lying about his prosecutions and the FBIs role in them.

Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America, Trump posted on social media.

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In fact, the search of Trumps South Florida country club was approved by a federal judge. Agents who executed the warrant found dozens of secret documents that Trump had refused to turn over despite a subpoena demanding that he do so.

Further, Wray had nothing to do with either of Trumps impeachments  the first in 2020 for his attempt to extort Ukraine into smearing Biden; the second for his Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt. Both impeachments were carried out by the House of Representatives.

In May 2017, Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey after he refused to pledge Trump his personal loyalty. Trump replaced him with Wray, who at the time was in the private sector after having served in the Justice Department under President George W. Bush.

Mark Warner, a Democratic senator from Virginia who will soon go from chair to ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he was sorry to see Wray step down. I understand that Director Wray is simply trying to do what he has always done  which is act with integrity  and I thank him for the principled leadership he brought to the FBI and for his service to the country, Warner said in a statement.

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Patel, who worked in Trumps first administration in various roles but seemed most interested in undermining evidence that Russia had helped Trump win in 2016, said in an interview last year that he would go after Trumps critics if Trump returned to the White House.

We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in the government, but in the media, Patel said. Yes, were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. Were going to come after you. Whether its criminally or civilly, well figure that out, but yeah, were putting you all on notice.

In fact, no one helped Biden rig any election. Biden beat Trump by 7 million votes in 2020.

Nonetheless, in a book he wrote called Government Gangsters, Patel laid out in an appendix the names of 60 people who may need going after. They include former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr, former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham, former Trump Defense Secretary Mark Esper as well as Biden, Harris, and Trumps 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton. Patel made clear that his list was not exhaustive.

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Moss said that if Wray had stayed on and Trump had fired him, the courts likely would have backed Trump. But it would have come with a political cost. And the legal fight over the ability to fire Wray given the statutory protection instituted post-Watergate would have been bloody, he said.

Mike Davis, a former Senate lawyer who has been working on Trumps transition team, said Wray was smart to step down. My best guess: Chris Wray would have been fired, publicly humiliated and legally defeated.

Related...
The West Virginia Department of Education's five-year school closure map count. (Amelia Knisely | West Virginia Watch)

The state school board on Wednesday approved another round of school closures in West Virginia after county superintendents repeated a similar problem: student enrollment is rapidly declining and causing financial distress.

Seven schools throughout Clay, Preston, Wetzel and Wood County will close in the next few years. Impacted students will be moved into already-existing schools.

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Most towns die after a closure of a high school, said Charles Goff, mayor of the town of Hundred in Wetzel County. He spoke to board members in Charleston ahead of the vote. [Towns] lose incorporated status, lose elected officials in town, and it leads to fire departments closing and town charters being revoked. That includes losing EMS. We are an hour away from the hospital, and fire and EMS are crucial in our community.

There has been a wave of proposed school closures this year as counties are faced with budget holes spurred by student population loss. West Virginias overall population is declining. Roughy 4,000 students left public schools this year; some of those students left to attend private and charter schools or to be homeschooled.

Under the current school funding formula, counties receive state funding based on the number of students.

Fifty-three schools have closed in the previous five years, and counties this year have proposed or been approved to close 25 schools. In November, the state school board voted to close or consolidate six schools in Kanawha County as the district has lost thousands of students over the last few years.

Debra Sullivan

Its a difficult time and the problems that  counties are facing are financial and its bringing us to this day, said Debra Sullivan, a state school board member. We need to focus on strengthening our public school system.

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More than 10,000 students statewide opted this year to use the Hope Scholarship, the states broad education savings account program that gives roughly $4,400 per student in taxpayer money to families to use for private school, homeschooling and more.

Wood County has more than 300 students using the Hope Scholarship this year, which meant the district didnt get $1 million in state funding because those children were no longer counted in the enrollment-based formula. In Clay County, dozens of students are using the scholarship, equating to $157,000 in state funding no longer available to the county.

Several members of the West Virginia Board of Education have called the GOP-heavy Legislature to revise the states school funding formula. Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, said he plans to expand school choice in the state, where the vast majority of students in the poor state attend public schools.

The state needs to revise the funding formula for these schools. It hasnt been done for years and years, said state school board Vice President Victor Gabriel. We just dont have the people and money, and its getting worse. Every time we lose students we lose dollars.

Victor Gabriel

Counties are required to keep balanced budgets.

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Were a poor county, so we have to live within the state aid formula. We reduced our personnel by about 10% last year, 26 [people]. That includes positions that were paid for by COVID dollars, Clay County Superintendent Philip Dobbins told board members.

The board voted to close Clay County Middle School, the countys only middle school, due to declining student population and the age of the building. Sixth grade students will attend the elementary schools; seventh and eighth grade students will attend Clay High School. It will take effect at the end of the 2026-27 school year.

The county has less than 8,000 people, down from 10,000 a few years ago, and there has been a 31% decline in students since 2016. More

Thats several million dollars were down. Thats significant, Dobbins said.

Superintendents say school closures necessary for finances

Like Dobbins, superintendents from Preston, Wetzel and Wood said funding woes were the driving reason for the closures. Some of the schools that will close need millions of dollars in repairs that dont make sense for older buildings.

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Wetzel County Superintendent Cassie Porter said the closures of Hundred High School and Paden City High School were necessary as the countys population continued to decline. The district has lost 800 students.

She said her district couldnt offer the rigorous courses needed at all the high schools in its current situation.

Our test scores rank very, very low. We need to pull our resources together, in our opinion, Porter said.

Several parents, students and community members attended the meeting to voice opposition to the closures.

Austin Hayes, a freshman at Hundred High School, said his small school had offered him a chance to participate in many different learning activities. He asked the board to reconsider closing his school.

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Just this year, I was part of the culineering team that got first in the state. In a larger school, these opportunities would be much harder to come by with more students vying for limited spots, he said. At Hundred, every student gets a chance to shine.

The board voted to consolidate Hundred High School into Valley High School. Paden City High School, which already faced a possible temporary closure due to environmental concerns, will be consolidated into Magnolia High School.

In Preston County, schools Superintendent Brad Martin said Fellowsville Elementary School in Tunnelton has seen a 50.8% decrease in student enrollment over the last 10 years. There are 59 students enrolled in the school this year. The school needs $2 million dollars in repairs; Martin said that closing it would save around $684,000.

County-wide enrollment is down with a decline in local coal mining jobs, Martin said, spurring a drop in state funding for schools. County residents opted not to approve two different excess levies that could have provided extra money.

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Based on this year, the district will be required to eliminate 12 professional positions and 16 service positions. We made substantial cuts in positions last year, Martin said.

Fellowsville will be consolidated into South Preston School at the end of this school year.

The board also approved consolidating Rowlesburg School, an elementary school also in Preston County, into Aurora School at the end of this school year due to a drop in students and the price tag of building maintenance.

Fairplains Elementary School in Wood County will be closed and merged into Martin Elementary School at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

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The immigration policy debate has been around a long time, but it was given a jolt of notoriety with this repugnant line delivered in New York City nine years ago: Theyre sending people that have lots of problems, and theyre bringing those problems with us. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. But sure, some, I assume, are good people.

The debate over immigration hasnt slowed down since. In the subsequent nine years Congress has done diddly squat to remedy the situation. As a state senator, I certainly dont have any influence on the federal-level issue. I dont have a vote on border security legislation. But as a citizen and constituent of Congress, my opinion matters, as does yours.

I believe national security is paramount. We must ensure we keep out those who would either do us harm or help others who might. We must hasten both the deportation and lawful immigration process. I have no patience for those who desire to come here only to leech off the rest of us who are hard at work providing for our own and keeping the economy running. We have no home for those here. Likewise, I have no time or sympathy for those who arrive only to break our laws. In these two scenarios the process for extradition must be much quicker.

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As a prosecutor I recall being told by an employee of an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) office that there was a huge delay in deportations. There are criminal defendants who would sooner serve the entirety of their sentence, on each Kentucky taxpayers dime, in state prison facilities that are overcrowded and understaffed than they would be deported. This is unsustainable.

Many immigrants long to be here to be free

But there are many people longing to be here to contribute, and many whove risked life and limb for the chance to be free.

Security and deportations aside, at the heart of my position is a singular truth that I cant shake: Im a descendant of immigrants. You, dear reader, almost certainly are as well. Our ancestors far enough back did little more than sign their name to a ledger book to begin living their new American dream.

Opinion: Democrats, don't use Trump's nonsense to justify nonsense of your own

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As long as the people who come here desire to participate in and contribute to the culture and economy of America, and as long as we maintain our security and infrastructure  and I realize those are tall orders  why would we inhibit that? Improving and quickening the process would undoubtedly also relieve the pressure felt by so many border communities and states.

Obviously, the border situation requires nuance. Regrettably, the rhetoric from neither party is known for that. We must find a way to properly balance our need for security with our foundational goal of freedom. Are we permitting terrorists (from any nation) unguarded entry? Are we removing any such terrorists, or criminals, swiftly once found? We cant be doing whats best for immigrant children by detaining them, but is sending them back worse? If the children stay, where do they live?

Undocumented immigrant children in Kentucky

I asked the Cabinet for Health and Family Services recently how many undocumented immigrant children, if any, were in the care of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services, and the cabinet reported back there are 84. If released, who houses, clothes or feeds them? If theyre sent home, will they actually get to go home? Are their parents there? As terrible as we may feel it is for a parent to send a small child or teenager alone on an illegal trip across the border, can we be certain it wasnt for the best? Perhaps those kids are facing a much harsher reality at home.

What about Dreamers, who didnt choose to come here, but have only ever known life as an American. A responsible, functioning Congress would be asking these questions to find solutions. But Congresses led by both parties have been irresponsibly dysfunctional for decades, refusing to fix an obvious problem, cruelly because theyd rather keep the issue alive for the next election.

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Gerth: If Daniel Cameron runs for McConnell's seat, pressure on Beshear will rise | Opinion

Werent our ancestors often fleeing horrid conditions in the hope of finding greener pastures? Assuming weve satisfied our legitimate security and infrastructure concerns, how can we turn anyone away from the nation that welcomes all comers, especially those in search of hope?

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp! cries she With silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

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That sonnet, containing that famous phrase, appears on a plaque at the Statue of Liberty, greeting citizens and immigrants alike. However, as we as a nation respond to immigration policy, I believe we would do well to remember these words, bearing in mind where we came from and what makes our nation so great.

Whitney Westerfield

Whitney Westerfield is an evangelical Christian, a three-term Republican state senator and attorney from Christian County. He and his wife live in Western Kentucky and have five children.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The border crisis remains due to a dysfunctional Congress | Opinion
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  The New York State Attorney Generals Office is closing its investigation into the night two police officers were murdered in the Town of Salina, determining officers were justified at firing back at the gunman.

Onondaga County Sheriffs Lieutenant Michael Hoosock and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen were shot and killed by 33-year-old Christopher Murphy on April 14.

After shooting Lt. Hoosock in the backyard and Officer Jensen in the front yard, Murphy was killed by other responding officers.

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In addition to newly-released moment-by-moment details, the report names the officer who eventually took down Murphy.

The report reads: OSI concludes that Officer (John) Canestrare should not be charged with a crime, because a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that his actions were justified.

The officers responded to Murphys home at 945 Darien Drive in Salina after he had sped away from police hours earlier in the City of Syracuse.

Moments after the officers arrived, Murphy began firing an AR-15 in the direction of police from his front porch.

The Attorney Generals Office of Special Investigation (OSI) is required to review any case in which an officer may have caused the death of a person. If appropriate, the office will file charges and prosecute officers.

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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.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office urged a New York judge not to throw out President-elect Donald Trump's criminal conviction in his hush money case, offering a variety of suggestions about how the case could proceed without interfering with his presidential duties.

One suggestion was for the judge to assure Trump that he will be spared jail time, which could help alleviate his "concerns" while he's in office, they said in the filing made public Tuesday. But, they argued, there's no reason to dismiss the case or vacate the verdict in May.

The overwhelming evidence of defendants guilt and the critical importance of preserving public confidence in the criminal justice system, among many other factors, weigh heavily against dismissal, the prosecutors from DA Alvin Braggs office contended.

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They also knocked Trump's claim that the case should be "immediately" dismissed because he's already protected by presidential immunity.

"President-elect immunity does not exist. And even after the inauguration, defendants temporary immunity as the sitting President will still not justify the extreme remedy of discarding the jurys unanimous guilty verdict and wiping out the already-completed phases of this criminal proceeding," the filing said.

"[N]o principle of immunity precludes further proceedings before defendants inauguration. And even if judgment has not been entered at the time of defendants inauguration, there is no legal barrier to deferring sentencing until after defendants term of office concludes," it said.

In a statement, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung called the filing "a pathetic attempt to salvage the remains of an unconstitutional and politically motivated hoax."

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Trump's attorneys have argued he already has immunity because there is no material difference between President Trumps current status after his overwhelming victory in the national election and that of a sitting President following inauguration. They say the indictment on felony criminal charges and his subsequent jury conviction should be thrown out on immunity grounds.

Judge Juan Merchan indefinitely postponed Trump's sentencing last month so both sides could present their arguments.

In Tuesday's filing, the district attorney's office said, "At most, defendant should receive temporary accommodations during his presidency to prevent this criminal case from meaningfully interfering with his official decision-making."

Prosecutors presented a number of possible ways forward, including staying Trump's sentencing until after he's out of office.

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"To be sure, the People do not dispute that presidential immunity requires accommodation during a Presidents time in office. But the extreme remedy of dismissing the indictment and vacating the jury verdict is not warranted in light of multiple alternative accommodations that would fully address the concerns raised by presidential immunity," their filing said.

A stay, they said, would exempt Trump "from any immediate obligations in this case during his time in office, while at the same time respecting the public interest in upholding the rule of law and preserving the meaningful aspects of the criminal process that have already taken place."

The DA's office also noted that Trump has already said he'd appeal any sentence and that in New York, "it is routine for appeals to be decided years after sentencing even without a formal stay of proceedings."

Prosecutors also noted that Trump has already gotten the sentencing postponed for several months.

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"Here, defendant can hardly complain about a delay in sentencing when he has affirmatively sought such delay  both before and after his reelection," the filing said.

The judge could also alleviate some of Trump's worries by deciding he won't sentence him to any time behind bars, prosecutors said.

The filing said "many of defendants concerns stem from the possibility that he will face 'potential incarceration.' Here, however, because defendant has no prior criminal convictions and was convicted of Class E felonies, this Court is not required to impose a sentence of incarceration at all, and could even impose an unconditional discharge."

That type of "limitation on the range of available sentences would further diminish any impact on defendants presidential decision making without going so far as to discard the indictment and jury verdict altogether," the filing said.

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The DA's office also presented a novel alternative, suggesting Merchan could use a mechanism known as abatement that is practiced in Alabama and some other states when defendants die before sentencing.

Under the so-called Alabama rule, "when a defendant dies after he is found guilty, but before the conviction becomes final through the appellate process, the court places in the record of the case a notation to the effect that the conviction removed the presumption of innocence but was neither affirmed nor reversed on appeal because the defendant died," the DA's office said, saying it essentially "abates the criminal proceedings without vacating the underlying conviction or dismissing the indictment."

Although abatement isn't used in New York, prosecutors argued it presents a solution in which, as here, there are concerns about finality and punishment.

It's unclear when Merchan will rule on the motions to dismiss.

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Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment his then-lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 election.

Daniels claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which he denies.

In their court filings, Trump's attorneys said the DA should follow the lead of special counsel Jack Smith, who moved to dismiss his two federal criminal cases against Trump after he won the election.

The prosecutors' filing noted there are significant differences between their case and Smith's cases, including that Smith's cases hadn't gone to trial.

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Cheung, the Trump spokesman, said, "This lawless case should have never been brought, and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed, as President Trump must be allowed to continue the Presidential Transition process, and execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this, or any other, Witch Hunt."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (PIX11)  A woman was accused of running a dentists office out of her Hempstead one-bedroom apartments kitchen without a license, according to the Nassau County District Attorneys Office.

Gladys Serrano, 70, allegedly extracted five teeth from someone on July 26, officials said. The victim had gone to Serrano based on a referral for a single tooth extraction.

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The victim was given paper towels to clean large amounts of blood and was told to rinse her mouth with salt water, according to officials.

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Photos of Serranos apartment showed a curtain dividing a patients chair from the rest of the kitchen. There were also extraction tools, used impression molds, tartar scrapers, used dental needles, Amoxicillin, Relaflex and Lidocaine found in the apartment, officials said.

A curtain divided the patients chair from the rest of the kitchen, officials said. (Credit: Nassau County District Attorneys Office) A curtain divided the patients chair from the rest of the kitchen, officials said. (Credit: Nassau County District Attorneys Office) A box of Amoxicillin found in the suspects home. (Credit: Nassau County District Attorneys Office) Dental instruments found in the suspects home. (Credit: Nassau County District Attorneys Office) Dental instruments found in the suspects home. (Credit: Nassau County District Attorneys Office)

The victim then visited Serrano several times after the initial visit to be fitted for a bridge, according to officials. Serrano was accused of taking multiple molds of the victims mouth, but the victim never got a bridge that fit properly.

The victim paid $1,950 to Serrano for dental services, officials said.

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Records show Serrano is not licensed to practice dentistry in New York, according to officials. She was charged with unauthorized practice of a profession and could face four years in prison if convicted.

Serrano pleaded not guilty and is expected back in court on Jan. 8.

Anyone who believes theyve been victimized by Serrano can contact the Nassau County District Attorneys Office of Immigrant Affairs at 516-571-7756.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. 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 PIX11.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Youngstown man will be serving more time in prison after he was indicted on another drug charge out of Struthers.

On Tuesday, Judge Anthony DApolito sentenced Jose Luis Valentin to six- to eight-and-a-half years, as well as an additional nine months in prison.

Sentencing was previously delayed this summer after Valentin had pleaded guilty to a felony possession of fentanyl charge. According to reports, Valentin was arrested in August by Struthers police on a second-degree felony count of possession of fentanyl.

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Regarding the previous case, Valentin was arrested on May 17, 2023, by Boardman police while serving a warrant at an apartment connected to him in the 100 block of Shields Road during a drug investigation.

Reports said Valentin was in a bedroom when officers went inside and he slammed the door shut. He came out a short time later without incident. Reports said police found 3,700 pills and a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun while serving the warrant.

In the previous case from 2023, Valentin was indicted on felony charges of trafficking in fentanyl, and having weapons under disability (F3). He was also indicted on an amended charge of possession of a fentanyl-related compound.

Joe Gorman contributed to this report.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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New Zealand plans to ban greyhound racing.

The New Zealand government's decision comes in response to an "unacceptably high" rate of injuries, per the BBC. The sport, which has already been outlawed in most countries, has long been contested within the country.

"Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals," Racing Minister Winston Peters said in a statement on Tuesday.

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Related: Fla. Animal Refuge Rescues 21 Horses from 'Heartbreaking Conditions' with 'Ribs and Hip Bones Protruding' (Exclusive)

The government aims to have the practice of greyhound racing banned by Aug. 1, 2026. The sport will be phased out to make time for industry employees to find other work and for the dogs to find permanent homes, the Associated Press reported.

Sandra Mu/Getty Greyhound racing Greyhound racing

The sport has already grown unpopular in the country, according to the AP. Some breeders have been accused of mistreating the dogs or doping them.

"This is not a decision that is taken lightly but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs," Peters said.

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Racing greyhounds are often euthanized, either due to injuries sustained in races or because no one will take them in, per the AP.

In 2021, 900 greyhounds were reportedly injured and 232 died, according to local media reports, cited by the BBC. In the two-and-a-half years since, there have been another 2,500 injuries and 30 deaths, according to the animal rights group Safe.

Sandra Mu/Getty Greyhound racing Greyhound racing

Related: Rescue Group Shuts Down Animal Testing Lab and Plans to Make It a Sanctuary for Former Lab Pets

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The next task is to find homes for the estimated 2,900 greyhounds in the country. An advisory committee has already been assigned to work on the process, Martin said.

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The Committee members are Heather Simpson (Chair), Murray Johnson and Lindsay Burton. They will provide advice on ensuring animal welfare, and support for those involved in the industry," Martin's statement read. Keeping unwanted dogs safe is a priority. The Government is working with animal welfare organisations to establish programmes to support rehoming,

Commercial greyhound racing remains legal in four other countries: Australia, Ireland, the U.K. and the U.S. In the U.S., only two greyhound race tracks remain active, both in West Virginia.

Read the original article on People
By Yuliia Dysa

(Reuters) -Ukraine blasted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for undermining Western unity by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, criticism that Budapest said showed Kyiv was not interested in a "Christmas ceasefire" in the war.

Orban, who has had closer ties with Putin than any other European leader during Russia's 33-month-old war in Ukraine, said they spoke for an hour and that he believed the fighting was now in its "most dangerous weeks" to date.

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With Donald Trump set to return to the White House next month vowing to rapidly end the fighting, the war is at an uncertain juncture, making Kyiv even more sensitive to moves it sees as reducing Putin's pariah status in the West.

"No one should boost (their) personal image at the expense of unity," Zelenskiy wrote on X after the Orban-Putin call, appearing to mock the Hungarian's self-styled attempts to launch a peace mission to end the war.

"We all hope that Orban at least won't call Assad in Moscow to listen to his hour-long lectures as well," Zelenskiy said, referring to Russia's decision to grant overthrown Syrian President Bashar al-Assad political asylum.

Responding in kind with a statement on X, Orban hit back, saying that Budapest had "proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange. It's sad that President Zelenskiy clearly rejected and ruled this out today."

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The Hungarian leader did not spell out exactly when or how he had proposed such a truce, or whether the same offer was made to Putin over the phone. There was no mention of a ceasefire in the Kremlin's readout of the call.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said there had been no advance warning or communication from Hungary, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, before Orban calling Putin.

"We need just peace, not PR," he said in a written statement adding that Hungary did not discuss any ceasefire with Ukraine.

Orban himself has repeatedly made calls for a ceasefire.

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Kyiv officials have consistently said that would play into Russia's hands, as it could freeze the current front lines with Russia holding nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Kyiv has insisted that it also needs security guarantees, namely membership in the NATO military alliance that would prevent Russia using a ceasefire to prepare for another invasion. Moscow sees Ukraine joining NATO as unacceptable.

The Kremlin said Putin told Orban during their phone call that Ukraine's stance excluded the possibility of a peaceful settlement to the war.

Putin has said Ukraine must not join NATO and that Russia should be left in full control of four Ukrainian regions his troops partially control currently for a peace deal to be done.

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Orban is not the first leader to be criticised by Kyiv for calling Russia's leader.

Zelenskiy criticised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for speaking to Putin in November, saying their conversation had opened a Pandora's box that undermined efforts to end the war and would only lead to more similar calls.

"There can be no discussions about the war, that Russia wages against Ukraine, without Ukraine," Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Alex Richardson, Timothy Heritage and Alistair Bell)
By John Irish, Tom Balmforth and Gram Slattery

PARIS/LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy used his first meeting with Donald Trump since the U.S. election to explain Ukraine's need for security guarantees in any negotiated end to the war with Russia, two sources familiar with the Dec. 7 discussions said.

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the meeting in Paris during which Ukraine's leader sought to build a rapport with Trump, whose promise to end the conflict swiftly has raised concerns in Kyiv that it could be largely on Moscow's terms.

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Reuters spoke to a total of nine people who were briefed on the meeting.

The three leaders, who talked for 35 minutes without advisers in the Elysee's Golden Room, did not discuss specific details of any vision for peace, but Trump repeated that he wanted an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to end the war quickly, four of the people said.

The meeting offered some early clues as to how negotiations on ending the conflict might play out, although the process that would involve Russian President Vladimir Putin is fraught with difficulty and the role of the United States as yet unclear.

"President Trump has repeatedly stated that a top priority in his second term will be to quickly negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war," said Trump's transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

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Trump behaved in a friendly, respectful and open manner and appeared to be in listening mode, one of the sources said.

Neither Trump nor officials close to him dealing with Ukraine have been forthcoming on how exactly they envisage a solution to the war and to Ukraine's insistence that it has to receive security guarantees as part of any settlement.

That has created a mounting sense of uncertainty in Kyiv that has been compounded by months of steady Russian territorial gains in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and nightly drone attacks on cities far behind the front lines.

"Some key points were mentioned during the meeting  for example, it was said that peace needs guarantees because a ceasefire alone isn't enough, Putin could break it again, as he has done before, without proper guarantees," a source in the Ukrainian president's office said.

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Asked how that was received, the source said, referring to Trump, "He's thinking about all the details."

One of Trump's advisers told Reuters that Zelenskiy may be "overplaying his hand" to an extent, given the perilous position Ukraine faces on the battlefield.

Kyiv has been pushing the outgoing U.S. administration for an invitation to join the NATO military alliance, having long made the case that it will need security guarantees to prevent any new Russian invasion later on.

The latter message has been consistent even as Zelenskiy has recently acknowledged that a diplomatic end to the war would save lives, softening his earlier insistence that all Moscow's forces must be expelled from Ukraine in order for peace to be achieved.

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BUILDING A RAPPORT

Several officials close to Trump have said he has geared his meetings to building a personal rapport, which is key to how he conducts diplomacy, and that he will ultimately make the call on how to proceed.

The generally cordial nature of Trump's direct dealings with Zelenskiy differs from some of his public pronouncements about the Ukrainian leader on the campaign trail, including calling him "the greatest salesman on Earth" for having solicited and received billions of dollars of U.S. military aid.

Macron and Zelenskiy were on the same page at the Paris meeting, but were careful not to seem like they were cornering Trump, one official said.

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The French leader - who over the years has developed a knack for using personal relationships to advance his diplomatic efforts - and Zelenskiy worked in synergy to outline how they viewed the situation, while underscoring that without U.S. support it would be very difficult for Kyiv, the official added.

Macron's pitch to Trump was focused on the message that a defeat for Ukraine would reflect badly on America and be taken by U.S. rivals across the globe, including China, as a sign of American weakness, two sources familiar with the meeting said.

"There is no scenario in which Ukraine loses and America wins," Macron told Trump. "The world is watching," he said, according to the two sources.

Zelenskiy believes Putin fears only Trump and possibly China in the international arena and that any lasting peace would require Washington to be "truly strong," the Ukrainian official said.

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Trump has regularly accused European powers of not pulling their weight in NATO security issues on the continent.

Macron used the meeting to make the case that Europeans have done a lot already to support Ukraine and that they were also willing to share the security burden more evenly with the United States, four of the sources said.

Another official said Macron and Zelenskiy explained to Trump that Putin in 2024 was not the same as he was in 2017, when the U.S. president-elect previously dealt with the Kremlin leader while in the White House.

The same official added that the rapid fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the setback that has dealt to his close ally Russia was also used as an argument for a tougher stance on Moscow in future peace efforts.

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"It was about explanation without pushing Trump into a corner."

(Reporting by John Irish and Michel Rose in Paris, Tom Balmforth in London and Gram Slattery in Washington; Additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau in Paris; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Matthew Lewis)
President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump did not discuss specifics of any concrete peace plan during their talks with Paris, with Trump calling for an immediate ceasefire, Reuters reported on Dec. 11, citing undisclosed sources.

Trump was "friendly, respectful" and in a "listening mode" during their 35-minute meeting on Dec. 7, the news agency wrote after talking with five people familiar with the matter.

Trump and Zelensky met in Paris as world leaders gathered to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the two for their first in-person meeting since Trump won the reelection in November.

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"Some key points were mentioned during the meeting  for example, it was said that peace needs guarantees because a ceasefire alone isn't enough, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin could break it again, as he has done before, without proper guarantees," Reuters source in Zelensky's office was quoted as saying.

U.S. military support for Ukraine hangs in the air as Trump prepares to take office on Jan. 20, 2025.

The Republican politician vowed to bring a quick end to Russias war in Ukraine. Frugal with details, he hinted at reducing U.S. aid and bringing both sides to the negotiating table as quickly as possible.

Sometimes using tough rhetoric toward Zelensky during the presidential campaign, the Paris talks painted a slightly different picture of Trump. The U.S. president-elect behaved in a "friendly, respectful, and open manner and appeared to be in listening mode," Reuters source described.

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Following his meeting with Zelensky, Trump said the Ukrainian leader is ready "to make a deal and stop the madness" and that Putin should do the same after incurring staggering losses in Ukraine.

"Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse," Trump wrote on Social Truth on Dec. 8.

Zelensky addressed Trump's post on his Telegram channel on Dec. 8, saying the war "cannot be ended simply with a piece of paper and a few signatures," warning that "a ceasefire without guarantees can be reignited at any moment, as Putin has already done in the past."

The Ukrainian president has signaled openness to a diplomatic end to the war as the Russian advance picked up pace in the east while Ukraine's resources grow thin.

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Read also: Zelensky tells Trump Putin fears only him and, perhaps, China

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Dec. 11 following his hour-long call to Russian President Vladimir Putin during which the two discussed the war in Ukraine.

The call occurred earlier in the day after Orban's visit to Mar-a-Lago and meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Orban said on X that the call with Putin lasted an hour. The prime minister also mentioned that these weeks are the war's "most dangerous," adding that the parties are taking "all possible diplomatic steps" to promote a ceasefire and peace talks.

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In response, Zelensky called for "not playing on one's own image at the expense of unity" but "for the common success." He added that discussions about the war in Ukraine cannot occur without its representatives.

"It is absolutely clear that achieving real peace and guaranteed security requires American determination, European unity, and the commitment of all partners to uphold the goals and principles of the U.N. Charter," the president added.

"We all hope that Orban at least won't call Assad in Moscow to listen to his hour-long lectures as well," Zelensky wrote on Telegram, referring to ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who fled to Moscow after rebels took over the Syrian capital Damascus on Dec. 9.

Zelensky also thanked Trump and European leaders with whom Ukraine "is already working together to find the right and strong solutions for real peace."

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Orban responded to Zelensky's criticisms, claiming on X that Hungary had allegedly proposed "a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange" to Zelensky, but that the Ukrainian president had ruled it out.

Hungary has retained warm diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow even after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, refusing to send military aid to Kyiv and vocally opposing EU sanctions on Russia, albeit eventually voting for every one of the packages.

Hungary's prime minister was the first EU leader to visit Putin in Moscow in July after taking the helm of the EU presidency despite Western attempts at isolating the Russian leader.

Read also: As military options dwindle, US support is key to Ukraines peace talks

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with the American broadcaster CBN, has stated that the West has not responded decisively enough to the situation in Georgia and Russia's efforts to establish control over the country.

Source: European Pravda, citing CBN

Details: The president emphasised that Ukraine's defeat would lead to "explosions of war" in other parts of the world, both in Europe and beyond, citing Georgia as an example.

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Quote from Zelenskyy: "Americas actions regarding the situation in Georgia today, I believe, are weak. Its very similar. Part of Georgia was occupied [by Russia  ed.]. Nothing has happened to it; its just a dead part of Georgia. Theres nothing alive there. No civilisation, nothing."

More details: Zelenskyy added that Moscow deliberately created a frozen conflict to prevent Georgia from developing and joining the European Union or NATO.

"And today, Georgia, which was free and democratic yesterday, is usurped by oligarchs. All power belongs to businesses directly connected to Moscow, to the energy sector, and so on," Zelenskyy stated, adding that Georgias government is now "completely under the political control of the Russian Federation".

Quote from Zelenskyy: "What strong measures have the United States taken? What strong measures have European countries taken? I dont see them; Im telling you frankly. The same thing will happen in Moldova; the risks are high."

Background:

Since 28 November, mass protests have been ongoing in Georgia due to the decision by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, to halt progress towards EU membership until 2029.

During the protests, both demonstrators and journalists covering the events in Tbilisi have been subjected to violence by law enforcement and hired provocateurs.

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Reuters has reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has used his first meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump following the US elections to emphasise Ukraine's need for security guarantees in any negotiation process aimed at ending the war with Russia.

Source: Reuters, citing sources familiar with the discussions on 7 December

Details: Reuters sources stressed that the meeting in Paris between the three leaders  Trump, Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron  did not cover specific details of any peace plan. However, the US president-elect reiterated his desire for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to bring the war to a swift end.

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One source noted that Trump was friendly, respectful, and open during the discussions and appeared willing to listen.

Nevertheless, Reuters highlighted that neither Trump nor officials close to him working on Ukraine-related matters have provided a clear answer on how they envision ending the war. Nor has there been any response to Ukraine's insistence on receiving security guarantees as part of any settlement.

This has created a growing sense of uncertainty in Kyiv, further heightened by Russia's capture of new territories in Donetsk Oblast and its continued drone attacks on cities far beyond the front lines.

A source within the Ukrainian president's office said that the Paris meeting underscored that peace requires guarantees and that a mere ceasefire would be insufficient, as Putin could violate it again, as he has done in the past.

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Reuters sources stated that Trump is currently "thinking about all the details".

Several officials close to Trump mentioned that he focused his meetings on building personal relationships, a key aspect of his diplomatic approach, and that ultimately, he alone would decide the course of future actions.

Quote from Reuters: "The generally cordial nature of Trump's direct dealings with Zelenskyy differs from some of his public pronouncements about the Ukrainian leader on the campaign trail, including calling him the greatest salesman on Earth for having solicited and received billions of dollars of US military aid.

Macron and Zelenskyy were on the same page at the Paris meeting, but were careful not to seem like they were cornering Trump, one official said. The French leader and Zelenskyy worked in synergy to outline how they viewed the situation, while underscoring that without US support it would be very difficult for Kyiv, the official added."

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More details: Ukrainian sources cited by Reuters noted that Zelenskyy believes that out of all the international political actors, Putin fears only Trump, and perhaps China. He also thinks any lasting peace will require Washington to be "truly strong".

Two other sources noted that Macron used the meeting to emphasise that Europeans have already done a great deal to support Ukraine and are prepared to share the security burden with the United States more evenly.

Another official said Macron and Zelenskyy explained to Trump that Putin in 2024 is not the same as he was in 2017 when Trump last dealt with him.

The same official added that the rapid decline of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the setbacks faced by his close ally Russia were also presented as reasons for adopting a tougher stance on Moscow in future peace efforts.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasised that the primary objective of Ukraine's defence forces is to reduce Russia's military capabilities to the greatest extent possible.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Details: Zelenskyy said that he had been briefed by Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who provided an update on all major front-line areas.

The most intense fighting, as is known, is taking place in Donetsk Oblast, particularly on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts, where severe battles continue.

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Zelenskyy highlighted that the Russian army suffered record losses in November and December. He expressed gratitude to all Ukrainian soldiers for their resilience. Additionally, the president noted that Syrskyi briefed him on the situation in the areas of the Kursk operation.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Minimising Russia's military potential to the greatest extent possible  this is our main objective right now."

Details: The president also expressed his gratitude to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for delivering powerful strikes on Russian targets on the previous night. Military facilities in Russia were hit, along with energy infrastructure that fuels the aggression against Ukraine and its people.

Zelenskyy said that the growing range and accuracy of these strikes are steadily bringing Russia closer to reality which says that this war must end.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that an invitation to join NATO should encompass all of Ukraines territory, while the Alliance can initially operate only in areas under Ukrainian control.

Source: Zelenskyys interview with CBN

Details: Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine does not seek to involve NATO or the militaries of other countries in the war but places trust in security guarantees.

Quote: "We know that NATO will not accept us during wartime. But if we truly want to end the war, Ukraine should be invited to join NATO. The invitation must apply to all of Ukraines territory, within its internationally recognised borders () The Alliances actions, however, could initially be limited to the territories under Ukrainian control, with future expansion."

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Background: At the end of November, Zelenskyy suggested that a ceasefire agreement with Russia could be reached if Ukraine's non-occupied territories under its control were placed under NATO protection.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Source: Zelenskyy on social media

Quote: "We all hope that Viktor Orban at least wont call Assad in Moscow to listen to his hour-long lectures as well.

Its absolutely clear that achieving real peace and guaranteed security requires Americas determination, Europes unity, and the unwavering commitment of all partners to the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter.

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No one should boost personal image at the expense of unity; everyone should focus on shared success. Unity in Europe has always been key to achieving it. There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine."

Details: Zelenskyy thanked US President-elect Donald Trump and many European leaders with whom Ukraine is working to find right and strong solutions for real peace.

Background:

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban shared that he spoke with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin for an hour on 11 December.

"We are taking every possible diplomatic step to argue in favour of a ceasefire and peace talks," Orban stated.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that Ukraine cannot legally recognise the temporarily occupied territories as Russian.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with CBN

Quote: "We cannot legally recognise the territories occupied by Russia as Russian. Under the Constitution of Ukraine, this is not possible, and internally, it would lead to a division within Ukrainian society. Our strongest weapon during this full-scale invasion is the unity of our people So, we cannot play with things that would split our society."

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Details: The president emphasised that if Ukraine had more equipment and support from its partners, Ukrainian forces could exert greater pressure on the Russians on the battlefield. However, if these resources are insufficient, the issue may be addressed diplomatically. Nonetheless, Ukraine will not legally recognise the territories occupied by Russia.

"If we legally recognise certain temporarily occupied territories as Russian, it means we have forgiven them [Russia  ed.], it means the world has calmed down," the president stressed.

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The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch Gen 9 is modestly priced, but offers solid productivity performance.

This Chromebook has a slim build with a small, but usable keyboard and trackpad, and a sharp display.

Perfect as a second device, but extended sessions or using it on your lap can be frustrating.

The 11-inch form factor is a tricky one, landing somewhere between the ideal size for a tablet and a laptop. Like its predecessors, the Gen 9 Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch addresses this problem by checking boxes, and its yet again proved a winning combo.

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Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-Inch Gen 9

7/10

The Gen 9 Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch may not be the most powerful laptop, but its MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor and Mali-G57 MC3 GPU can handle everyday tasks with ease, and with up to 8GB RAM available, you have plenty of space for open tabs.

Pros

Impressive performance for the price

Software and UI feel fluid

Good battery life

Physical shutter on front-facing camera for privacy

Cons

Using in laptop mode on your lap isn't easy

Undersized trackpad is tough to get used to

How We Test and Review Products

Price and Availability

Regardless of which version of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 you buy, youre getting an 11-inch display size with a MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor and Mali-G57 MC3 GPU. The 2-in-1 starts at $359.99, and that gets you the version with 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage. This is the version I reviewed.

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The step-up version sells for $399.99 and features the same display, CPU, and GPU. The differences come in the RAM, which has been bumped up to 8GB, and the storage, which is 128GB on this model.

Both of the models on the website appear to include the Lenovo Digital Pen 2, which fits neatly into a built-in cradle on the back of the Chromebook. My review unit did not arrive with one in the box.

Specifications

Operating System

Chrome OS

CPU

MediaTek Kompanio 838

GPU

MediaTek Mali-G57 MC3

RAM

4GB, 8GB

Storage

64GB, 128GB

Battery

28WHr

Display (Size, Resolution)

10.95-inch WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) IPS

Camera

8MP rear, 5MP front

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Speakers

2W stereo

Colors

Luna Gray

Network

Wi-Fi 6

Weight

2.08 lbs (with case)

Form

2-in-1

Price

$359

Brand

Lenovo

Model

Duet 11-inch Gen 9

USI Compatibility

Yes

Slim Build and a Surprisingly Sleek Design

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

Pull the Chromebook Duet Gen 9 out of the box, and it looks like youd expect a Chromebook to look: moderately chunky, but otherwise relatively sleek and professional. This chunky look is due entirely to the folio-style keyboard and rear case, both of which are removable. With both removed, the Duet is only slightly thicker than an iPad.

Take a peek at the back of the unit, and youll see why Lenovo wasnt afraid to cover it with a piece of plastic: between the branding and the stickers, it looks more like the bottom of a laptop than the back of a tablet. The back cover also holds an angled kickstand and features a slot for the included pen.

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Unlike many built-in kickstand designs, this one works well for placing the Duet at an angle in both landscape and portrait orientations. Portrait mode can be tricky with certain 2-in-1s, so if you plan to do a lot of reading on your Chromebook, this could be a key feature for you.

On the other hand, while the built-in stand excels at keeping the Chromebook upright in tablet mode, it doesnt work as well when you actually want to use it as a laptop. On a table its fine, but due to the general design as well as the strength of the magnets, using the Duet on your lap is an exercise in frustration.

I was once a full-time Microsoft Surface user, so Im used to this particular frustration, but it still got the best of me with the Lenovo.

Small But Usable Keyboard and Trackpad Included

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

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The ability to easily remove the keyboard when youre not using it is handy, as it adds a significant amount of weight to the Duet. There is a small battery built into the case, so you dont need to worry about extra battery drain when the keyboard is attached.

If youre sensitive to the feel of a keyboard, you likely wont find much to love about the keyboard here. Its perfectly serviceable, and I found no major faults with it, but it was far from my favorite typing experience. The keys are decently sized, but the travel I appreciate in Lenovo laptop keyboards is missing here.

The keyboard case also features a trackpad, and the small size of the pad will likely be a bigger problem for more people than the keyboard. The ability to simply tap the screen helps to make up for it, but the trackpad feels too small. Even after using the Duet for a few days, I hadnt gotten used to it.

Sharp, Crisp-Looking Display

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

The pro-level looks you get from at least most of the chassis continues as you turn your attention to the display. The glass here is from Corning, the makers of Gorilla Glass, though Lenovo never says that Gorilla Glass itself is used. That said, the look is as sleek as youd expect.

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Beneath the glass lies a 10.95-inch, WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS display. This features a claimed brightness of up to 400 nits, average for most laptops. Turning to colors, Lenovo claims a 72% NTSC color gamut, which is roughly equivalent to 99% sRGB. Not perfect for all-day color grading, but more than accurate enough for most workflows.

While Lenovo may not have equipped the Duet with the brightest or sharpest display, its certainly no slouch, especially in a device priced this affordably. Youll notice a bit of reflectivity under direct sunlight, but I had no problems using the Duet in front of a large window on a sunny day.

The speakers that accompany the display, on the other hand, arent great. Theyre fine in a pinch for videos or calls, but youd be well-served to keep a set of wireless earbuds handy.

Software: Keeping the Web Front and Center

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

One of the best compliments I can give to Chrome OS is that I constantly forget about it, even while using it. This means its staying out of my way, running in the background and letting me use the apps and services I care about, instead of demanding that I engage with something else.

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Chrome OS also feels quick, even on relatively modest hardware like that powering the Gen 9 Duet 11-inch. While opening up too many apps or browser tabs will slow things down eventuallymore quickly on the 4GB model, mind youI was surprised at just how smooth the overall experience of using the Lenovo was.

Rather than a general slowing down over time, I encountered the occasional web app that would slow things down. Once I closed the app, that missing performance seemed to return. This could speak more to a poorly optimized app than the Chromebook itself, but either way, it was a fairly rare occurrence.

Surprising Performance for the Price

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

The Lenovo Duet 11-inch is a standard Chromebook, not a Chromebook Plus model, which offers more power. Those plus models also feature support for Gemini and other AI features.

Thanks to the lower price point and the non-Plus nature, I wasnt sure how well this model would perform. Then theres the difficulty of measuring a Chromebook's performance. In the case of the Duet, I turned to Geekbenchs Android app, considering some potential buyers may be weighing the Lenovo against a standard tablet.

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For CPU performance, I came away with a single core score of 937 and a multicore score of 2,226. Using the Vulkan API, the GPU score landed at 1,833. Not the most impressive scores weve seen, but considering the price and the fact that this is the lower-end model, its still fairly impressive.

As mentioned above, productivity and web apps generally work great. Even when I encountered something that bogged the Lenovo down slightly, it was a heavier web-based integrated development environment or similarly heavy app. This Chromebook is far from a gaming powerhouse, but its certainly capable of running a casual game on your lunch break.

Decent Front and Rear Cameras

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

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Given the way youll be using the Lenovo Duet 11-inch most of the time, the 5MP front-facing webcam-style camera is the real star of the show here. Like most webcams, the quality isnt anything to write home about, and is really more of a product of your lighting conditions than the quality of the camera. That said, Ive seen worse webcams on far more expensive laptops.

Close-up sample from the rear-facing camera of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch

One nice touch about the front-facing camera is the built-in privacy shutter. On many webcams, this is a hardwired electrical switch. That means it should be impossible to hack, but it can still fail. The privacy shutter here is a physical shutter that slides over the camera lens, so if it breaks, youll be well aware.

The Duet also comes with an 8MP rear-facing camera, and again, the quality is fine. The difference here is that you likely already have a better camera built into your phone, and its probably easier to use.

Plenty of Battery Life

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

I didnt run any standardized battery tests, using streaming video or otherwise, to get a feel for the Duet 11-inchs battery. Instead, I simply tracked battery usage as I was going about my usual testing and use of the Lenovo. On multiple occasions, I found myself easily getting over nine hours of use in a day.

Bear in mind, I wasnt specifically trying to save battery in these situations, and if Id been more battery conscious, I likely could have stretched things further. Pack a decent USB-C power brick (or power bank) alongside it, and this Chromebook could easily be the ideal computing companion for a weekend getaway.

Both USB ports support charging, so youre not limited to which port you can use. On the other hand, neither port supports faster charging, so youre limited to the base speed.

Should You Buy the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch?

The Gen 9 Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch has plenty going for it, so instead, well start with where its lacking. The folio keyboard didnt provide the best typing experience, and the trackpad was just small enough that I never felt comfortable using it. This, combined with tricky lap usage means it isnt the perfect laptop replacement.

On the other hand, the Duet 11-inch is perfect as a second device or as an alternative to an iPad or Android tablet. Chrome OS works well on this hardware, as long as you keep your expectations within check, and as long as most of what youll be using the Duet for involves web apps, you wont find functionality lacking.

One note: if you plan to use the Chromebook Duet 11-inch for more than occasional web browsing, youll be much better off opting for the version with 8GB RAM. Not only will it add some longevity to the device, but your overall experience with the device will be that much smoother.

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Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-Inch Gen 9

7/10

The Gen 9 Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch may not be the most powerful laptop, but its MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor and Mali-G57 MC3 GPU can handle everyday tasks with ease, and with up to 8GB RAM available, you have plenty of space for open tabs.
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Mike Harris using his Nikon Z8 and Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR at Thruxton Race Circuit . | Credit: Future

Nikon Rumors has published an updated list of Nikon hardware and its country of origin, but if youve not kept tabs on the legendary Tokyo-based brands movements over the past few years, you might be a little surprised to learn that the Big N decided to stop making cameras in Japan a few years ago and that only a select few lenses are still manufactured domestically.

The lions share of Nikons mirrorless hardware is made in Thailand  including all of its Z-Series cameras  but an increasing number of lenses (18 to be exact) are being manufactured in China, too. And if you've been surprised by the quality of optics from Chinese brands such as 7Artisans and Viltrox, you won't be surprised to hear that Nikon optics made in China still boast the Big Ns legendary quality.

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I bought my beloved Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR  one of the best lenses for bird photography  without any thought as to where it was made, and its quality is hard to beat. The zoom ring and control ring move fluidly, nothing rattles and the whole thing feels solid as heck, especially thanks to that premium-feeling internal zoom.

Nikon Z lenses

And while you can moan about Nikon gear losing some of its mojo by being manufactured outside of Japan, you cant argue with the prices. The Z 180-600mm is an incredible deal for a full-frame, super-telephoto lens in 2024. I think it's revolutionized the quality of long-range lenses that are an achievable purchase for the average enthusiast, besting the already very good Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR.

Chinas churning out some serious S-Line optics, too. The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S is a simply sublime-quality lens, as is the mammoth Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S. I always thought it was a slight shame that the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S isnt made in Japan (its made in Thailand) given that the rest of the S-Line 'holy trinity'  Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S  is constructed there. But Thailand churns out top-quality optics, too.

It did initially surprise me that Nikon decided to move all camera manufacturing to Thailand  even the flagship Nikon Z9 is made there. But it doesn't seem to have hurt camera sales and it certainly didn't stop me from picking up my Nikon Z8. Overall, the manufacturing shift hasn't impacted my day-to-day as a Nikon photographer.

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And Nikon isn't the only brand to do this. The Fujifilm X-T5 and Fujifilm X100VI are made in China, most of the best Sony cameras are made in Thailand and many Apple products are made in China, too.

If I'm being entirely honest, I can't help but feel that a camera or lens made in Japan  the undisputed king or queen of photographic manufacturing  has that little bit of extra pizazz. But does it pain me to be using pro-grade Nikon kit manufactured in Thailand and China? No, not at all.

Its still fantastic, its still reliable and its still Nikon.

You might also like...

See our guide to the best Nikon Z lenses, and the best lenses for sport photography
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Press Release

December 11, 2024 Sponsorship Speech - Meralco's Franchise Renewal

Senator Joel Villanueva Mr. President and distinguished colleagues: It is with great honor and an even greater sense of responsibility that we rise to sponsor House Bill No. 10926 under Committee Report No. 427, renewing for another twenty-five (25) years and strengthening the franchise granted to the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), one of the foremost powerhouses in providing electricity to our country and a household name to more than seven (7) million families[1]. This renewal will mean the continuance of delivering service to end-users in the cities and municipalities of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal, and certain cities, municipalities, and barangays in Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, and Pampanga. We thank the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, Senator Raffy Tulfo, for including our bill, Senate Bill No. 2824, in the initial public hearing and entrusting to us the herculean task and duty of studying the technicalities surrounding the renewal of the franchise as the Subcommittee Chairperson of this important piece of legislation. The Committee Report also considered Senate Bill No. 2876 filed by the gentleman from Bukidnon, Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri. Ginoong Pangulo, ang isa sa ating pangunahing layunin sa pagsulong ng panukalang ito ay ang pagtiyak na ginagampanan ng Meralco ang kanilang mga obligasyon sa ilalim ng kanilang prangkisa, at tinutupad nila ang kanilang mga pangako sa taumbayan. Higit sa simpleng pagpapatuloy ng prangkisa ang panukalang ito. Kinakatawan nito ang ating responsibilidad sa pagtataguyod ng tiwala ng publiko sa mga public utility tulad ng Meralco, nang masiguro nating mangingibabaw ang kapakanan ng sambayanan sa kanilang mga operasyon. Mr. President, we recognize that public utilities like Meralco are given a unique privilege to operate their franchise. Ika nga - with great privilege comes great responsibility. With such privilege comes the obligation to deliver equitable and efficient service to the people. In the case of Meralco, its franchise privilege comes with the responsibility to supply electricity to its captive market in the Least Cost Manner, as stated under Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).[2] This obligation ensures that consumers are protected from unnecessarily high rates while maintaining the quality and reliability of power supply. Layunin nating tiyaking sa susunod na dalawampu't limang taon, ang Meralco ay magdadala ng higit pang maaasahan, abot-kaya, at tuloy-tuloy na serbisyo sa bawat konsyumer. This representation is aware of this august body's mandate to conduct a rigorous, truthful, and fact-based scrutiny of the franchise grantee to validate whether it has fully and faithfully fulfilled that responsibility. Mr. President, upon assuming as the Subcommittee Chairperson at the technical working group level, we considered it our highest priority to ensure robust representation from various sectors, especially consumers, who are the end-users and ultimate beneficiaries of Meralco's services. For us, Mr. President, the perspectives of these groups are crucial in shaping a franchise that truly serves the public interest. We were very much dedicated to hearing from groups such as the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) and providing as many opportunities as possible for their meaningful participation to contribute to the refinement of this very important measure. In our review of the submissions of the franchise grantee and after due consideration of position papers submitted by stakeholders, we find that Meralco has complied with its legal mandate to the best of its ability. Mr. President, we must acknowledge Meralco's proactiveness in navigating uncertainties in the regulatory landscape--a testament to its commitment to serving consumers despite external challenges. For example, in 2015, even amid the absence of updated rules for rate setting, Meralco took the initiative to file an application for an Interim Average Rate (IAR) of 1.3939/kWh with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC),[3] ensuring that its operations would remain financially viable without compromising consumer interests. Meralco likewise faithfully adheres to the Department of Energy's (DOE) Competitive Selection Process for the procurement of its power supply agreements (PSAs). This transparent bidding mechanism encourages generation companies to submit their most competitive rates, ensuring consumers benefit from cost-efficient and reliable energy. As three of Meralco's four currently negotiated PSAs approach expiration by 2027--agreements established prior to the current management[4]--this presents an exciting opportunity for Meralco to further demonstrate its commitment to transparency, innovation, and delivering the best value to its customers. While we laud these efforts, we recognize that for many Filipinos served by Meralco, their electricity bills remain high. Samu't-sari ang dahilan nito, Ginoong Pangulo, kasama na ang mataas na convenience fees, mataas na bill deposit, at iba pang konsiderasyong nagpapabigat sa bulsa ng karaniwang Pilipino. Rest assured that this representation hears and empathizes with the plight of our countrymen. It is with this understanding that we have introduced key safeguards in the bill to address these concerns and enhance consumer protection, such as: Mandating that only just and reasonable electricity rates are charged by Meralco to its consumers; and

Requiring Meralco to establish an electronically or digitally accessible platform where consumers can address their concerns promptly and effectively. Through these provisions, we aim to provide Filipino households with much-needed relief and empower them with greater transparency and accountability from their electricity provider. This is our way of ensuring that no Filipino is left in the dark--both literally and figuratively--when it comes to their electricity bills. And speaking of the dark, Mr. President, we understand the importance of holding Meralco to the highest standards when it comes to reducing power interruptions or the dreaded brownout. Pinakita po ng Meralco na patuloy silang umaabot, at madalas ay lumalampas pa, sa mga pamantayang itinakda ng mga regulator. In key metrics like systems loss,[5] SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index), at SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) ratings,[6] Meralco has consistently demonstrated its capability to deliver reliable service. With efforts to minimize power interruptions, Meralco has ensured that consumers can depend on a steady and efficient electricity supply - a lifeline for households and businesses alike. During the technical working group meeting chaired by this representation, we were happy to hear about Meralco's plans to invest ?24 billion over the next five years (2025-2029) to improve service reliability by strengthening its power distribution system.[7] This includes replacing over 45,000 aging poles, upgrading 2,800 km of power lines, weatherproofing infrastructure, and installing 6,000 remote-controlled devices to minimize outages and speed up power restoration.[8] We join our countrymen in the hopes that these investments will make Meralco's power supply even more reliable. Ginoong Pangulo, dahil milyon-milyong Pilipino ang umaasa sa Meralco, nasa interes din nating tiyakin ang mabuting pamamalakad ng kanilang korporasyon. To improve corporate governance and accountability, the bill introduces a requirement for Meralco to appoint independent directors to its Board of Directors, ensuring impartiality and aligning corporate strategies and policies with public and shareholder interests. This representation also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that Meralco's various business pursuits and activities complement its primary responsibility of delivering reliable and affordable electricity under its core franchise operations. To foster workforce development, the bill also requires Meralco to establish enterprise-based education and training programs, including apprenticeships, in accordance with Republic Act No. 12063, or the "Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act." To ensure accessible employment opportunities, Meralco will be required to regularly report job opportunities to the Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs). During the process of developing this bill, it was this representation's priority to ensure that every concern is addressed and every stakeholder is heard. As we proceed to the period of interpellations and amendments, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to maintaining an open, inclusive, and continuous dialogue with all stakeholders, recognizing that their insights are invaluable in shaping a franchise bill that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of the public whom the franchise grantee is entrusted to serve. Sa pamamagitan nito, masisiguro nating ang panukala ay patas, epektibo, at higit sa lahat, nakaugat sa tiwala at pananagutan sa publiko. Mr. President, Meralco has long been a partner in our nation's progress, but with that partnership comes accountability. This bill ensures that Meralco continues to meet the needs of our people while preparing for the challenges and opportunities of the future. Thank you, and may God bless us all. ****** [1] MERALCO (2022). Sikat - Shining Brighter Than Ever - 2022 Combined Annual and Sustainability Report, p. 14. Available at https://meralcomain.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/2024-04/casr_full_apr_19-2024-reduced.pdf (last accessed December 10, 2024). [2] Republic Act No. 9136, sec. 23(3). [3] Inquirer (July 2024). The elephant in the room: The Meralco refund ruling. Available at https://business.inquirer.net/466964/the-elephant-in-the-room-the-meralco-refund-ruling (last accessed December 10, 2024). [4] Rep. Salceda's presentation on HB 9793 (copy provided to OSJV by Meralco), slide 11. [5] MERALCO's Distribution System Losses as reported to ERC were found by the ERC to be compliant with the 5.50% total feeder loss cap set by ERC for 2021 (see ERC Certification, Annex B, p. 1). [6] MERALCO's SAIFI and SAIDI values were found by the ERC to be within the standards of 20 occurrences per year SAIFI and 2700 minutes per year SAIDI (see ERC Certification, Annex B, p. 3 - p. 72 of MERALCO's Submission to the Committee dated February 2, 2024). [7] Meralco December 4, 2024 submission to OSJV entitled "MAIN ISSUES RE: MERALCO'S FRANCHISE", p. 8. [8] Id.
Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Mainly sunny. High 73F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
"Blackmailers" have failed to obstruct the work of the Defence Procurement Agency (VBU), the defence minister told parliament's defence and law enforcement committee on Tuesday, adding press reports suggesting that procurements had faltered as a result were wrong.

Socialist lawmaker Tamas Harangozo and Jobbik MP Laszlo Gyorgy Lukacs initiated the hearing of Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Norbert Tajti, the director-general of the Military National Security Service, pointing to press reports that the VBU had suffered an "unprecedented attack constituting a severe risk to national security".



Harangozo complained that the committee had not been briefed on the attack.



Fidesz MP Lajos Kosa noted that the national security committee has been briefed on the case.



Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that cyberattacks were a frequent occurrence, and the group that attacked VBU had recently obtained similar data from the authority's Czech counterpart.



As an independent company, VBU is responsible for the security of its own IT system, which was not connected to that of the Armed Forces, the Defence Ministry or the Military National Security Service, he said.



This, Szalay-Bobrovniczky added, was a guarantee that no data pertaining to military capacity or national security had been divulged.



An assessment of the exact data stolen is under way, he said, adding that the data on procurements leaked so far had been in the public domain before the attack.



"The government neither negotiates with criminals nor pays them," he said, adding that an international investigation is under way.



He noted that he had also launched an inquiry and removed the then-head of the agency. The new head of VBU, Major General Attila Simon, has a background in special operations, he added.





DefMin: Aim is to build high-readiness military with high operational value

Hungarys goal is to build a high-readiness, digitalised, nationally minded defence force with a high operational value, Defence Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky told parliament's defence and law enforcement committee on Tuesday.



Szalay-Bobrovniczky told the committee at his annual hearing that the countrys military had already taken big steps towards achieving this goal.



He said the world had entered an era of dangers, and the coming period before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office in late January would be particularly dangerous.



Concerning the war in Ukraine, the minister said only peace talks and a ceasefire could guarantee that the situation doesnt slip out of the hands of pro-war decision-makers.



As regards the situation in Syria, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said it was unacceptable and unfathomable amateurism that a part of the press and certain politicians wanted to gain a domestic political advantage out of a situation that is dangerous to us.



Concerning Africa, the minister said Hungary was committed to addressing problems where they arise. The country therefore devotes special attention to the Sahel region and has provided complex aid that includes diplomacy, developments and support for the defence forces in Chad, he said.



The minister added that preparations were complete, and Hungarys mission could get under way once it is approved by Chads parliament.



As regards the Western Balkans, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said European Union membership would help ease tensions in the countries in the region, but Ukraine is more of a priority for the EU in this regard.



He said Hungarys goal was to build a high-readiness, digitalised, nationally minded defence force with a high operational value, adding that the government had taken a number of measures in order to achieve this goal.



Now is the time to be a soldier, the minister said, noting pay rises in the military and that military personnel older than 55 have to be employed in public administration.



Hungary is constantly procuring new military equipment which are being entered into service, he noted.



As regards the recruitment campaign launched by the Hungarian Armed Forces in the summer, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said 3,500 young Hungarians have been recruited and their training is ongoing.



Hungarian forces are serving in observer, training and peacekeeping missions in eight countries on three continents, he said, adding that the country hit its target of 2 percent of GDP defence spending in 2023.



MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only



Source:

MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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Hungarys government believes the European Unions proposal to impose sanctions on Georgias interior minister and two police officials is nonsensical and uncalled for, and will veto the motion if necessary, Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister, said on Tuesday.

Hungary and Georgia are both led by patriotic governments against which the liberal mainstream has launched serious ideological and political attacks, Szijjarto said at a joint press conference with Georgian counterpart Maka Botchorishvili, according to a ministry statement.



The minister said Botchorishvilis first foreign visit was to Hungary, which had come at a time when both countries constantly have to fight to preserve their sovereignty amid the current extraordinary security challenges.



Szijjarto congratulated Georgias ruling party on its recent election victory, saying the electorate in the South Caucasus country had made its will clear.



They elected a pro-peace, pro-family, patriotic conservative government, and as it usually happens in a case like this, the liberal mainstream got upset over this, Szijjarto said. Because typically, if an election is won by a conservative, patriotic party, the liberal mainstream immediately questions the democratic nature of the political system, and if its won by a liberal party, they celebrate the fantastic rule of democracy.



He said the situation was the same in Georgia, arguing that if the opposition had won Brussels would be saying that democracy has never been in better shape. But now, he said, theyre trying to ignore the will of the people and are questioning the outcome of the election.



This is a very repulsive, transparent, and now a very boring game of the liberal mainstream, which we reject," he said.



Szijjarto expressed his support for Georgias European Union aspirations, underlining that Budapest would provide all the help it could to speed up the process, but Brusselss approach, he added, was alienating the country.



He criticised a recent resolution approved by the European Parliament concerning Georgia, which, he said, took a humiliating tone towards an entire nation.



We reject this... The European Parliament has a pro-war, liberal, left-wing majority which constantly attacks those who speak openly about peace, Szijjarto said.



He also said that minutes ago, Brussels had put forward a proposal to impose sanctions on Georgias interior minister and two of its police officials.



This is nonsensical, outrageous and totally uncalled for, Szijjarto said. Hungary firmly opposes placing Georgian government officials on sanctions lists, and if such a proposal is drafted, we will, of course, veto it.



He encouraged Georgians to continue to stand up for themselves and their national sovereignty.



As regards bilateral relations, he welcomed the progress made on the implementation of a strategic partnership agreement signed two years ago.



Bilateral trade turnover is up 34 percent this year, and Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air remains a market leader in Georgias air travel sector, Szijjarto said. Hungarian pharmaceutical exports to Georgia are on the rise, Hungary offers university scholarships to 80 Georgian students each year, and the two countries are working to enable the central European import of green energy, he added.



Meanwhile, Orban and Szijjarto meet Trump and Musk in Florida

Prime Minister Viktor Orban met US President-elect Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on Monday. Elon Musk and Michael Waltz also attended the meeting, the PM's press chief said.



Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and 4iG chief executive Gellert Jaszai was also present, Bertalan Havasi said.



Szijjarto: Hungary-US political relations set to enter 'golden age'

Hungarian-American political relations are set to enter a "golden age" with the election of Donald Trump as the next US president, and relations between Hungary and the US could be better than ever before, the foreign minister said on Tuesday.



The ministry cited Peter Szijjarto telling a joint press conference with his Georgian counterpart in response to a question about his US visit on the previous day that they had held lengthy talks with President-elect Trump, designate National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and designate Co-Chair of the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk lasting about three hours.



"Of course we also congratulated the president-elect because this was the first in-person meeting between the prime minister and the president-elect since the election," he added.



"The prime minister and the president-elect maintained relations also during the time when Donald Trump was not the president, during the election campaign, and they have talked on the phone several times since," Szijjarto said. "It is completely natural that they hold consultations regularly."



Szijjarto said that what further increased the importance of the meeting was that as a result of the transformation of the global economy, digitalisation and AI could play crucial roles in determining a country's future place in the global economy. Musk and the global empire of companies linked to him play a serious role in spreading new technology, he added.



Szijjarto also said that currently there was an opportunity for better than ever political relations to develop between Hungary and the US.



He added that it was important that until January 20, 2025, nobody in the US or Europe should make irresponsible decisions that could make it impossible to create peace and that would set off irreversible developments.



Considering that the war is still ongoing, the efforts of Hungary's peace mission must be enhanced, he said. "Last week the prime minister visited the Holy Father. I was in Moscow, in Washington, and held meetings in Malta. Now we travelled to Florida with the prime minister and at least two more events will take place this week that form part of the peace mission, one tomorrow and another one the day after tomorrow," he said.



Szijjarto tells journalists, politicians 'who spread fake news' to stop

Peter Szijjarto has told journalists and politicians who "spread fake news" of a plane landing in Budapest should show self-restraint, saying the reports were completely untrue and could put Hungary in danger in the current febrile atmosphere. "Some politicians pounced on this news and created a huge fake news tsunami from it," the foreign minister said.



Szijjarto said "political profiteering" from the fake news soon caught hold in Hungary, according to a ministry statement on Tuesday.



Fake news connected to the "struggle" in the Middle East "involving terrorist organisations" could put the whole country "in very serious danger", he said, adding that the false reports started spreading on Sunday and peddled distortions over the evacuation of Hungary's embassy in Syria.



The Syrian embassy in Budapest could have been targeted by terrorists, he said, adding that it was also possible that terrorist attacks may be mounted against Hungarian interests, people and communities "anywhere in the world" if they terrorists were to act on information that "justify their way of thinking".



Szijjarto called on "Hungarian journalists and all Hungarian politicians to exercise self-restraint ... and try to behave a little responsibly".



Luckily a tragedy had not occurred this time, "but it could have", he said.



Meanwhile, Fidesz group leader Mate Kocsis said in a post on Facebook that the leader of the opposition Tisza Party, Peter Magyar, had "crossed every threshold" by spreading "irresponsible, unscrupulous" lies, thereby "endangering the lives and safety of our compatriots".



He said it had been obvious over the past few days that the plane carrying Assad had not landed in Hungary and the photo of the plane was fake. Whereas the media outlet Magyar Hang had deceived the public, it then issued a correction. The Tisza Party leader, however, failed to do so or apologise, he added.



Kocsis insisted that Magyar himself had concocted and spread the story, adding that he had done so by "slavishly" satisfying "demand from abroad", without paying heed to the risks to Hungary.



Source:

MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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Rock and roll legends Guns N Roses return to Europe in summer 2025. They return to Budapest on 15 July at Puskas Arena with public enemy as a special guest.

Guns N' Roses are perhaps the most successful and rock band in the world, known even to those who know nothing about rock music.



The name Guns N' Roses has become legendary since its formation in 1985. The rock icons returned to Budapest last year after 31 years, but luckily we won't have to wait that long for their next show, as Nightrain will be back in Budapest on 15 July 2025 to rock the Puskas Arena.



Guns N Roses are Axl Rose (vocals, piano), Duff McKagan (bass), Slash (lead guitar), Dizzy Reed (keyboard), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Frank Ferrer (drums), and Melissa Reese (keyboard).



Source and tickets:

Livenation.hu
By Mr Ben Turner, Principal, The British International School Budapest (BISB): As a premium British International School you can expect an education that equally values academic, social and personal learning.

We view academic outcomes as essential, providing our students with opportunities, but it is also important that we ensure our students are set to thrive socially and personally preparing them for the world they will enter as adults.



At BISB we are extremely proud of the academic outcomes our students receive. Our students consistently exceed global averages, achieving alongside the best globally.



They succeed across a broad range of subjects and disciplines, accessing the very best universities. However, great schools are about a lot more than good academic grades. We are firmly committed to an education that extends beyond academic outcomes. Complementing academic learning with the development of cognitive, social and emotional skills and dispositions is essential to personal wellbeing and professional success and fulfilment.



As a British International School, character education has always been part of our identity but, over the last two decades societal forces, including the rapid development of communication and information technologies have further reinforced the need for this broader view of education.



The World Economic Forums (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2023 highlights the need for analytical and creative thinking, curiosity, resilience, flexibility and agility, motivation and self-awareness. The WEF concludes that these skills are considered important and are increasingly in demand.



The OECD also has a view on this with their Learning Compass 2030 recognising the continued importance of core competencies such as literacy, numeracy (including digital literacy); but, supplementing this with cognitive and metacognitive skills (creative and critical thinking) and social and emotional skills (empathy, self-efficacy, responsibility and collaboration).



At BISB, our commitment to meet this mandate starts with our mission statement. Our five imperatives lie at the core of what we do and how we do it. We expect our students to aspire to excellence, act with integrity, embrace diversity, cultivate responsibility and nurture ambition.



We hold ourselves accountable to create the conditions to design learning that supports our students to do this. In addition to these imperatives, we have a vision. Our vision is to empower students in a sustainable school. We empower students through learning, values and action. This Mission and Vision guides our approach to all aspects of our educational provision.



In classrooms our approach encompasses our pedagogy - the way we teach and our curriculum - what we teach. Beyond the classroom our students engage in co-curricular learning designed to demand commitment, these activities can span the creative pursuits such as the performing arts, competitive and recreational sports, global mindedness, social impact, journalism or certified programmes such as the Duke of Edinburghs International Award.



As students progress and mature we also encourage the assumption of responsibility with a range of student leadership opportunities. This allows them to hone their leadership skills through authentic learning in a range of positions representing the varied international community they belong to.



We also design our approach to position the inevitable mistakes young people make as learning opportunities. As a restorative justice school our approach to supporting personal and social learning is one where students are forced to reflect deeply on their choices and the impact on others. This ensures that students develop a deep understanding of the impact of their own actions, nurturing empathy and compassion and creating young people who can establish and maintain positive relationships.



BISB students engage in a broad range of social impact projects working to have a positive impact on their communities at local, national, regional and global levels. Helping young people understand their place in the world and the positive impact they can have on it through opportunities to act is the final component of our vision to empower them. Developing a sense of agency, skills and values ensures that our students are empowered to act and make a positive impact on their world.



As a member of the Nord Anglia Education family of schools each of these aspects of our provision is amplified by the opportunities the group offers. Through partnerships with Juilliard (Creative and Performing Arts), MIT (STEAM programme) and UNICEF (Social Impact), we enrich our curriculum and pedagogy learning from the worlds experts.



Our students can engage with their peers on a global level through NAE Global Campus and events such as World Childrens Day.



Our commitment to supporting students to act is well supported through the NAE Social Impact Distinction where we are focused on school development in line with the United Nations Charter for the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As a silver accredited school, we have already made strong progress and this year we will be working with our student body to make a bid for Gold.



Our teachers can benefit from the latest educational research around the development of skills and dispositions carried out by our central education team alongside academics around the world. The NAE Learner Ambitions project focuses on six ambitions: creative, critical, curious, collaborative, committed and compassionate. These align well with those identified by the WEF and OECD and our schools Mission and Vision.



The NAE Learner Ambitions project involves teachers and researchers within NAE working alongside universities and educational research institutions on curriculum and pedagogy that best develop these. This project ensures that we remain at the forefront of educational thinking and our teachers benefit from a suite of professional development and opportunities to engage in ongoing research into how schools can best support this rich and varied learning.



I am proud of our school and the work we do to equip and enable our students to grow academically, personally and socially. Through building academic foundations, developing cognitive and metacognitive skills, instilling a strong values framework and nurturing a sense of agency we ensure that our students thrive as learners within and beyond their time at our school.



Mr Ben Turner, Principal, The British International School Budapest (BISB)



Click here to virtually visit The British International School




KOLKATA: Flight operations at NSCBI airport in Kolkata were disrupted for some time on Wednesday morning as visibility turned low due to dense fog, officials said. At least 24 flights were affected by the phenomenon. According to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials at the Kolkata airport such a dense fog happened at the airport for the first time this winter season.

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose's visit to Farakka in Murshidabad district in a BSF helicopter was also cancelled due to poor visibility, Beuria said. The departure of 18 domestic flights and two international ones from Kolkata to various destinations were also delayed, Director of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport, Pravat Ranjan Beuria, said.

Besides, four flights to Kolkata  three domestic and one international  had to be diverted to other airports. A Bangalore-Kolkata flight and two Mumbai-Kolkata flights were diverted to Hyderabad and to Bhubaneswar, respectively.

The fourth one, a flight from Bangkok to Kolkata was diverted to Bhubaneswar. Flight operations did not take place to and from the airport between 4.18 am and 6.16 am on Wednesday, the director said, adding, that low visibility procedures (LVP) were declared at 4.38 am.

The LVP procedures were withdrawn at 10.22 am after the weather condition improved, airport sources said. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) declares LVP when visibility falls below 800 metres, and Follow-Me' vehicles guide aircraft to their stands when visibility is extremely poor.

The LVP is also activated when the cloud ceiling is below 200 feet. The procedure involves coordination among the airport operator, air traffic control and pilots to manage flights safely and minimise disruptions, Beuria said.

These ensure that aircraft are able to land, taxi and take off safely, using advanced navigation systems and ground lighting, he said.
New Delhi: Anil Sharma's family extravaganza Vanvaas, slated for a Christmas release, has already begun creating waves. In a rare public appearance, Vijaypat Singhania attended a special screening of the highly anticipated film.

Utkarsh Sharma starrer 'Vanvaas' delves into themes of familial betrayal and personal resilience, delivering a powerful narrative that deeply resonated with Singhania, leaving an emotional impact on him.

Vijaypat Singhania, 84-year-old Indian businessman, aviator, and former chairman of the Raymond Group, was once a leading figure in one of Indias most iconic textile empires. Known for his low-profile lifestyle, he rarely makes public appearances at events.

Have A Look At The Post:

Moreover, Vanvaas is directed by Anil Sharma, who is known for blockbusters like 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha', 'Apne', and 'Gadar 2.'

Anil Sharma who has not only directed the film but also produced and written it expressed that the film is close to his heart and explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the true essence of family.

Earlier Actor Sunny Deol attended Vanvaas grand trailer launch event. The powerful trailer struck an emotional chord with him, leaving the actor teary-eyed.

Vanvaas stars Nana Patekar and Utkarsh Sharma in lead roles, is set to hit theaters on December 20th, will be released worldwide by Zee Studios.
The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established on December 11, 1946, initially as a relief organization to assist children affected by the aftermath of World War II. It became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953. UNICEF's main mission is to provide humanitarian aid to children worldwide. UNICEF Day is observed to raise awareness about the global challenges children face and to advocate for their rights and well-being, emphasizing the importance of securing a better future for all children. As we commemorate this day on December 11, it is a chance to reflect on its history and importance.

UNICEF Day 2024: History

Following World War II, the United Nations formed the International Childrens Emergency Fund to help children whose lives and futures were at risk, regardless of their involvement in the conflict. The focus was on enhancing children's well-being by addressing their needs in areas such as health, education, nutrition, and general welfare.

UNICEF was officially created by the UN General Assembly on December 11, 1946. It became a permanent agency of the United Nations in 1953, with the term "International" and "Emergency" being dropped from its name, though the acronym remained the same.

UNICEF Day 2024: Significance

UNICEF Day aims to raise awareness about how individuals can help children in need, highlighting the importance of children for the future of our world and our responsibility to improve their lives. The day also brings attention to the global issues that make children's lives difficult, such as food and water scarcity, lack of healthcare, and limited access to education.
New Delhi: Shares of six Adani Group firms, out of 11 listed companies, declined in the mid-session deals on Wednesday, with Adani Green Energy falling more than 2 per cent.

The scrip of Adani Green Energy slipped 2.46 per cent to Rs 1,147.30 apiece, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone was down by 1.13 per cent, Adani Power (down 1.05 per cent), Adani Energy Solutions (down 1.11 per cent) and Adani Total Gas skid by 0.33 per cent on the BSE.

The flagship firm Adani Enterprises dipped 0.38 per cent to Rs 2,456.65 per piece.

On the other hand, shares of ACC rose 1.42 per cent to Rs 2,281.70 apiece, Ambuja Cements appreciated by 1.16 per cent, Sanghi Industries by 1.09 per cent, NDTV 0.69 per cent and Adani Wilmar edged up 0.20 per cent on the bourse.

The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 125.97 points or 0.15 per cent to 81,636.02 in the mid-session trade.

Billionaire Gautam Adani-led conglomerate on Tuesday said it will use its own resources to fund a Sri Lankan port project and not seek US funding.

In an exchange filing late on Tuesday, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd said the project "is on track for commissioning by early next year" and added that the company will fund the ongoing project through "internal accruals", aligning with its capital management strategy.

The company said it has withdrawn its 2023 "request for financing from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)".

The US International Development Finance Corp, in November last year, agreed to provide a USD 553 million loan to support the development, construction, and operation of a deep-water container terminal called the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The CWIT is being developed by a consortium of Adani Ports, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

Shares of most Adani group firms ended lower on Tuesday with Adani Green Energy dropping more than 3 per cent amid a subdued sentiment in the stock market.

Of the 11 listed Adani companies, 10 stocks settled lower while one closed in green.
New Delhi: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced a significant amendment to the Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (ALMM) Order, 2019 which will have far-reaching implications for Indias solar power sector and its clean energy transition . This amendment, set to take effect from 1st June 2026, introduces the long-awaited List-II for solar PV cells under the ALMM framework, marking a major step towards boosting domestic manufacturing and fostering self-reliance in Indias renewable energy industry.

Introduction of ALMM List-II for Solar PV Cells

The introduction of List-II, , is a response to the countrys rapidly growing solar manufacturing capabilities. Until now, the absence of List-II was due to a limited domestic supply of solar cells,. However, with substantial growth in Indias solar cell production capacity anticipated over the next year, this amendment is poised to change the dynamics of the industry. From 1st June 2026, all solar PV modules used in projects  including government-backed schemes, net-metering projects, and open access renewable energy initiatives  will be required to source their solar cells from ALMM List-II, ensuring quality and reliability in solar PV cells used in Indias energy infrastructure.

Exemptions for Existing Projects

For projects that have already been bid out but whose last date of bid submission is before the issuance of this order, an exemption will apply, allowing them to proceed without the requirement to use solar PV cells from List-II, even if their commissioning date is post-1st June 2026. However, for all future bids, the requirement to source both solar PV modules and cells from the respective ALMM lists will be mandatory, marking a decisive shift towards quality assurance and sustainability in Indias solar power sector.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

This policy enhancement is expected to have profound economic and environmental benefits. By mandating the use of solar PV cells which will be included in the ALMM List-II following a rigorous procedure to verify the quality and reliability, the government aims to foster a robust domestic solar PV supply chain, reduce the carbon footprint associated with solar module imports, and bolster Indias energy security. This move aligns with Indias broader goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2030 and making substantial strides in its commitment to clean energy.

Stimulating Domestic Manufacturing

The amendment will not only strengthen Indias position as a global leader in renewable energy but will also accelerate the growth of Indias solar manufacturing sector. The increased demand for solar PV cells in India is expected to stimulate innovation, create new job opportunities, and attract investments in high-tech manufacturing. It will also enhance the overall quality and reliability of solar products used in India, ensuring that projects meet the highest standards.

Promoting Thin-Film Solar Technology Innovation

The government has also recognized the role of thin-film solar technology in Indias renewable energy future. Under the new amendments, thin-film solar modules manufactured in integrated solar PV module manufacturing units will be considered in compliance with the requirement to use solar PV cells from List-II, further driving technological innovation and diversification within the sector.

In the coming months, the MNRE will issue detailed procedural guidelines for the enlistment of solar PV cells under ALMM List-II, providing clear instructions for manufacturers and project developers on how to comply with the updated requirements. This is part of the governments ongoing efforts to simplify the regulatory process and ensure that India remains at the forefront of global clean energy development.

By prioritizing solar PV cell manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports, this amendment lays a strong foundation for Indias clean energy future. It supports the growth of the solar power industry, generates economic opportunities, and makes a meaningful contribution to the countrys climate goals. With this move, India is set to strengthen its energy independence, support sustainable development, and become a global hub for solar energy innovation.

The amendment has been approved by the Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi and underscores the governments commitment to advancing Indias renewable energy agenda and ensuring a greener, more sustainable future for all.
SSC GD Constable Result 2024: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will announce the SSC GD Final Result 2024 soon. Candidates who appeared in the recruitment process for Constable (GD) positions in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), SSF, and Rifleman (GD) in the Assam Rifles can check their results on the official SSC website at ssc.gov.in once released. The recruitment process includes a Computer-Based Examination (CBE), Physical Standard Test (PST), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Medical Examination, and Document Verification.

The PST/PET events, followed by Document Verification (DV), Detailed Medical Examination (DME), and Review Medical Examination (RME) for candidates shortlisted in the CBE, began on September 23, 2024, for the CT (GD) exam in CAPFs, SSF, Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles, and Sepoy in NCB. Through the SSC GD recruitment process, a total of 46,617 vacancies will be filled, including 12,076 posts in the BSF, 13,632 in the CISF, 9,410 in the CRPF, 1,926 in the SSB, 6,287 in the ITBP, 2,990 in the AR, and 296 in the SSF.

SSC GD Constable 2024: Steps to download here

Step 1: Visit the official SSC website at ssc.gov.in.

Step 2: Navigate to the Result section on the homepage.

Step 3: Click on the link labeled SSC GD Constable Final Merit List 2024 when it becomes available.

Step 4: In the newly opened PDF file, search for your roll number and verify your details.

Step 5: Download the file and keep a printed copy for future reference.

The SSC GD written examination was held from February 20 to March 7, and again on March 30, 2024. The results were announced on July 11, 2024. Candidates who qualified in the written test advanced to the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) rounds.

According to the official SSC GD notification, candidates in the general category or ex-servicemen must score at least 35 percent to qualify. For candidates from SC, ST, or OBC categories, the minimum qualifying mark is set at 33 percent.
GUWAHATI: In an attempt to link the Aadhaar Card with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Assam government on Wednesday decided that all applications to get the unique identity card will be rejected if the applicant or the family had not applied in NRC. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting in view of an infiltration attempt by citizens of trouble-hit Bangladesh, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press conference here.

"Scores of infiltrators have been nabbed by Assam Police, Tripura Police and BSF in the last two months. That is why infiltration from Bangladesh is a concern for us. We need to strengthen our system and that is why we decided to toughen the Aadhaar Card mechanism," he added. From now on, the General Administration Department of the state government will be the nodal agency to carry out the verification of the Aadhaar applicants and one Additional District Commissioner will be the concerned person in every district, Sarma said after the Cabinet meeting.

"After the initial application, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will send it to the state government for verification. The local Circle Officer (CO) will first check if the applicant or his parents or family had applied for inclusion in the NRC," he added. If there was no application for the NRC, then the Aadhaar request will be immediately rejected and a report will be submitted to the Centre accordingly, the CM said.

"If it is found that there was an application for NRC, the CO will go for field-level verification as per Supreme Court directives. After the officer is fully convinced, the Aadhaar will be approved," he added. Sarma, however, said this new directive would not be applicable to the central government employees, who were working in other states and did not apply for the NRC.

"In this way, we will enforce a strict mechanism to strengthen our Aadhaar issuance system so that no doubtful people can get this identity card," he added. According to the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Cabinet, the state government will verify the submitted documents and return them to UIDAI online within 45 days of receipt.

The final NRC was released on August 31, 2019 by excluding 19,06,657 persons. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants.

On the other decisions taken by the Cabinet, Sarma said the manual system of accepting land revenue has been reintroduced in view of difficulties faced by small landholders in the state.

"We had made all land payments digital last year. However, farmers and many poor landowners faced difficulties in paying taxes online. So, the manual system will continue along with the digital mode," he added. The Cabinet also approved waiver of renewal fees under the Societies Registration Act to facilitate application for allotment of land under Mission Basundhara 3.0 scheme for social institutions like 'Namghar' (a place of worship for Vaishnavite followers), religious establishments, clubs and other centres, the CM said.

The Assam government in February launched the third phase of Mission Basundhara, which will ease rules for providing land rights to indigenous communities, give land ownership to organisations and provide settlement of land acquired from religious institutions, among others. "The requirement of chartered accountant certificate for audit of last three years is also waived in such cases," he added.
The family of Nikita Singhania, the wife of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, has publicly expressed regret over his tragic death but maintains their innocence.

According to areport by CNN-News18, they stated their intent to provide evidence to prove they are not at fault.

"We Are Not Guilty," Says Singhania Family

In a statement, the Singhania family said, "We regret Atuls death, but we are not guilty of what happened. We will soon come out with all the proof to show we did nothing wrong."

Their response comes amid public outrage over the death of 34-year-old Atul Subhash, an engineer who took his life on December 9 in his Bengaluru apartment. His death has sparked debates about alleged misuse of dowry laws.

Allegations of Harassment

Subhashs suicide has been linked to allegations of harassment by his estranged wife, Nikita, and her family. According to reports, Atul documented his grievances in a 90-minute video and a detailed 24-page suicide note. In these, he accused his wife of filing nine cases against him, which he claimed had pushed him to despair.

FIR Filed

Following Subhashs death, his brother, Bikas Kumar, lodged a complaint with the police. The complaint was later converted into an FIR, naming four individuals: Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha Singhania, her brother Anurag Singhania, and her uncle Sushil Singhania. They have been charged under Sections 108 and 3(5) of the Bengaluru Narcotic Substances Act (BNS).

In his video and note, Atul Subhash also criticized the justice system, expressing frustration over its failure to provide him relief. He alleged that the multiple legal cases filed by his wife were an attempt to extort money.

Growing Debate on Dowry Law Misuse

Atul Subhashs death has reignited discussions around the alleged misuse of dowry laws in India. Critics argue that such laws, while essential for protecting women, are sometimes weaponized in marital disputes.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday emphasized the importance of exercising caution in dowry harassment cases. The court highlighted the need to prevent the misuse of the law and avoid unwarranted harassment of innocent family members.

The bench observed an increasing tendency among some wives to use the judicial system as a "means to pursue personal vendettas against their husbands and their families."

(Discussions on suicides can be triggering for some. But suicides are preventable. If you are looking for help, some suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-40769002 from Sanjivini (Delhi-based, 10 am - 5.30 pm) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Foundation (Chennai-based, 8 am - 10 pm), +91 9999666555 from Vandrevala Foundation (Mumbai-based, 24x7).
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday, demanding the removal of derogatory comments against him from the House records. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Gandhi said, "I held a meeting with the Speaker. I told him that derogatory comments against me should be expunged. The Speaker said he would look into it."

Gandhi emphasized the Opposition's focus on ensuring parliamentary discussions take place. "Our aim is that the House must run, and debates must happen. No matter what they say about me, we want a discussion on December 13. They don't want a debate on Adani. In the end, we will not leave this issue," he said.

#WATCH | Delhi | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "I held a meeting with the Speaker. I told him that derogatory comments against me should be expunged. The Speaker said that he would look into it...Our aim is that the House must run and discussion should happen in the House. No pic.twitter.com/XEpqlUywJS  ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024

The comments came amid ongoing disruptions in Parliament, with Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned until 2 pm following uproar by Opposition members demanding a discussion on allegations involving industrialist Gautam Adani.

Manipur Crisis Raised in Lok Sabha

Earlier in the session, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi highlighted the deteriorating situation in Manipur, stating, "People are suffering, basic services are collapsing, and the impact on ordinary citizens is devastating." Gogoi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from Manipur and demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah address Parliament about measures being taken to address the crisis.

He also accused the BJP of using distractions, like raising the issue of George Soros, to shift focus from the government's shortcomings.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal countered the allegations, stating that the government is taking appropriate steps to address the Manipur situation. Goyal alleged a "nexus between Congress and external forces," hinting at links between the Congress and George Soros. "Why does George Soros have such a close relationship with their leader?" Goyal asked.

Rajya Sabha Faces Off Over No-Confidence Motion

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha remained adjourned for the day amid a standoff between the BJP-led government and the Opposition over a no-confidence motion submitted against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The motion, spearheaded by the Congress-led INDIA bloc, was submitted on Tuesday and accuses Dhankhar of "partisan" conduct.

The Winter Session of Parliament, which began on November 25, has been marred by disruptions over demands for discussions on the Adani issue, the Manipur crisis, and allegations involving George Soros. Both Houses have witnessed repeated adjournments, with the Rajya Sabha set to reconvene on December 12.

Oppositions Protest Over Adani Issue

The INDIA bloc continues to demand a debate on allegations involving Gautam Adani and held a protest in Parliament premises earlier in the day. On Tuesday, chaos erupted in both Houses, forcing early adjournments.

Rahul Gandhi reiterated the Oppositions resolve to raise the Adani issue, stating, "They will keep leveling allegations against us, but the House must function."
The Maharashtra cabinet expansion is likely to happen this week and the series of meetings have already started between the top leaders - Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. According to reports, while the BJP has almost finalized names of its MLAs likely to make it to the Maharashtra Cabinet while the Shiv Sena is likely not to field three of its leaders who were ministers in the previous cabinet. On the other hand, Ajit Pawar met Praful Patel to discuss the ongoing developments. Patel is likely to get a berth in the Modi cabinet whenever the next expansion takes place at the centre.

The Shiv Sena is likely to decide in view of complaints about their performance and inaccessibility, a party leader told PTI. The party is likely to induct fresh faces in their place. An aide of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and party MLA said several legislators raised concern regarding certain ministers. They said the three former ministers - one each from Konkan, western Maharashtra and Marathwada - were inaccessible even to the party MLAs.

"We have raised this issue with the deputy CM (Shinde) and demanded that they should not be inducted in the new cabinet. These ministers did not even meet their own party MLAs," the aide said. This development reflects the churn within the Shiv Sena which has 57 MLAs. In a related development, Shinde's office said he has not gone to Delhi to hold talks on cabinet expansion.

Shinde was not scheduled to go to Delhi, his office added. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis left for the national capital on Wednesday, his office said, adding that it was a courtesy visit, the first after taking over the reins of the state again. He was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The aide also said that the cabinet expansion of the new government is likely to take place by December 14, just before the winter session of the state legislature commences. Shiv Sena MLA and spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said CM Fadnavis has made it clear that the cabinet expansion will take place before the winter session of the state legislature which begins from December 16. On complaints and possible exclusion of some former ministers in the previous government, Shirsat said, "Such grievances must have reached Shinde saheb. He is the chief leader of the party and he will decide on it." (With PTI inputs)
Bijapur: Naxalites have killed a 35-year-old BJP worker in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district while claiming he was acting as a police informer, an official said on Wednesday.

This is the fifth murder of a civilian by Naxalites in the district in the last seven days.

The latest incident took place on Tuesday night when the deceased, identified as Kudiam Mado, was at his house in Somanpalli village under Farsegarh police station limits, the official said.

A group of Naxalites stormed into Mado's house, dragged him outside and strangled him to death, the police official said.

In a pamphlet found at the spot, a national park area committee of Maoists took responsibility for the murder and claimed Mado was acting as a police informer, he said.

After being alerted on Wednesday morning, a police team rushed to the spot and the body was sent for post-mortem, the official said.

A search operation has been launched in the area to trace the assailants, he added.

On December 4, two former sarpanchs, one of them a BJP worker, were killed by Naxalites at separate places in Bijapur district.

On December 6, Naxalites killed a woman anganwadi assistant in the district.

Another woman was strangled to death by Naxalites here on December 7.

With Tuesday's incident, more than 60 persons have been killed in Naxal violence so far this year at separate places in Bastar division, which comprises seven districts including Bijapur, according to police.

Notably, nine BJP leaders were killed between January 2023 and April 2024 in separate incidents in the division.
An assistant sub inspector of traffic police died and six others were injured when two vehicles of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's carcade met with an accident in Jagatpura area here on Wednesday.

Sharma was going to attend a programme of Laghu Udyog Bharti in which Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was the chief guest.

Seven persons -- five policemen and two others-- were injured in the collision near Akshaya Patra Chauraha on Jagatpura road.

Sharma stopped and rushed a critically injured man to the hospital in his car and other injured were also admitted in the hospital.

Ramnagaria Police Station SHO Arun Kumar said the CM's carcade was moving on Jagatpura road when a car came from the wrong side and collided with an escort vehicle.

Another vehicle in the carcade also was hit.

The SHO said that five policemen and two other persons were injured. The injured were admitted to different hospitals, he added.

I Surendra Singh, who was controlling traffic at the intersection, succumbed to critical head injury during treatment.

A taxi car did not stop despite indication by theI and entered the road from the wrong side and collided with the escort vehicle. The vehicles got damaged.

The chief minister later met the injured and enquired about their well-being. He did not attend the programme.

Four police personnel -- ACP Traffic Aamir Hassan, constables Balwan Singh, Rajendra Singh and Devendra Singh -- and two other persons Pavan Kumar and Amit Kumar Aulia were also injured.

A case has been registered with the Ramnagaria Police Station in connection with the incident.

The chief minister expressed his condolence on the ASI's death.

"The death of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shri Surendra Ji and injuries to other citizens in an unfortunate vehicle accident in Jaipur today is extremely sad," Sharma said.

"In this hour of immense grief, our sensitive government stands with the family of the deceased and the injured. After this accident, the concerned officials have been directed to ensure proper medical treatment of the injured," he posted on X.
In a first, opposition parties of the INDIA alliance, led by the Congress, submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday to initiate a no-confidence motion against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The opposition accused Dhankhar, who also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, of being "extremely partisan" in his role, undermining the functioning of the Upper House.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge stated on Wednesday that the opposition was compelled to introduce a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing him of actions that have "damaged the pride of the nation."

He said, "He (RS chairman) does schooling like a headmaster... From the opposition side, whenever important issues are raised as per rules - the chairman doesn't allow to have a discussion in a planned way. Time and again opposition leaders are stopped from speaking.

His (RS Chairman) fidelity is towards the ruling party instead of the Constitution and constitutional tradition. He is working as a spokesperson of the govt for his next promotion. I have no hesitation in saying that the biggest disruptor in Rajya Sabha is the Chairman himself..."

To succeed, the motion would require a simple majority in the 243-member House, a majority that the opposition currently lacks. However, opposition leaders emphasized that the motion was primarily intended to send a strong message in defense of parliamentary democracy.

Alleged Bias and 'Headmaster' Approach

The opposition's criticism was centered on claims that Chairman Dhankhar had been biased in his management of the House. According to opposition members, the Chairman's approach resembled that of a "headmaster" rather than a neutral presiding officer.

They alleged that Dhankhar frequently blocked discussions on crucial matters, thereby hindering opposition leaders from participating in debates in a structured and meaningful way.

Additionally, they accused him of favoring the ruling party, alleging that he acted more like a government spokesperson, driven by personal ambitions, rather than adhering to the constitutional principles of neutrality and fairness.

BJP's Response

In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the opposition's actions, accusing them of deliberately disrupting parliamentary proceedings. The BJP also took aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, criticizing his protest tactics and labeling his behavior as "unbecoming" of an opposition leader.

The BJP's stance reinforced the government's position that the opposition's disruptions were part of a broader strategy to undermine parliamentary functioning.
NEW DELHI: In a crackdown on the terrorist-gangster nexus case, the National Investigation Agency conducted searches on the premises of the alleged operatives of the proscribed Khalistan Terrorist Force and those connected to Canada-based Arsh Dala, in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday.

The NIA sleuths swooped down at the premises of suspects linked to arrested accused Baljeet Maur and those connected with Dala and Khalistan Terrorist Force (KTF) in Bhatinda, Muktsar Sahib, Moga, Ferozepur, Sangrur and Mansa in Punjab and Sirsa in Haryana, officials said.

"The investigations so far have revealed attempts by foreign-based main accused and handlers of terrorist outfits to carry recruitment of cadres in India for carrying out terror acts on Indian soil," the NIA said in a statement.

During the searches, the NIA seized mobiles, digital devices and incriminating documents, which are being examined by it. The case was registered earlier this year by the NIA on the directions of the Union Home Ministry, the agency said in a statement.

"NIA has been investigating various terror outfits engaged in criminal conspiracies to recruit India-based associates to carry out criminal terror acts, raise funds through large-scale extortions, smuggle terrorist hardware into India and facilitate the movement of such illegal arms and ammunition through the dead drop model," the probe agency said.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged caution in dowry harassment cases. It highlighted the need to prevent misuse of the law and unnecessary harassment of innocent family members. The bench noted a growing trend of using the judicial system as a "tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family" by some wives.

The remarks come amid a heated debate on misuse of dowry laws following a Bengaluru man's suicide. Atul Subhash, 34, recorded an 80-minute video before his death, accusing his estranged wife Nikita Singhania and her family of filing multiple cases to extort money. In a 24-page note, he also criticised the justice system for withholding justice.

The apex courts remark came as it overturned a Telangana High Court order. The High Court had refused to dismiss a dowry harassment case against a man, his parents, and other family members. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh stated that simply naming family members in a criminal case from a marital dispute, without clear proof of their involvement, should be stopped early.

"It is a well-recognised fact, borne out of judicial experience, that there is often a tendency to implicate all the members of the husbands family when domestic disputes arise out of matrimonial discord. Such generalised and sweeping accusations unsupported by concrete evidence or particularised allegations cannot form the basis for criminal prosecution," PTI quoted the justices' observation. The top court asserted that courts must exercise caution in dealing with such cases of unnecessary harassment.

The Supreme Court stated that Section 498A of the IPC was introduced to tackle cruelty faced by women from their husbands and in-laws. "However, in recent years, as there have been a notable rise in matrimonial disputes across the country, accompanied by growing discord and tension within the institution of marriage, consequently, there has been a growing tendency to misuse provisions like Section 498A (cruelty by husband or his relatives against wife) of the IPC as a tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family by a wife," the bench said.

However, it added, "We are not, for a moment, stating that any woman who has suffered cruelty in terms of what has been contemplated under Section 498A of the IPC should remain silent and forbear herself from making a complaint or initiating any criminal proceeding."

The Supreme Court dismissed the FIR, stating it was filed by the wife to settle personal grudges against her husband and his family. The court noted the complaint was driven by ulterior motives.

"A bare perusal of the FIR shows that the allegations made by the wife are vague and omnibus. Other than claiming that the husband harassed her and that appellant in-laws instigated him to do so, the wife has not provided any specific details or described any particular instance of harassment. She has also not mentioned the time, date, place, or manner in which the alleged harassment occurred. Therefore, the FIR lacks concrete and precise allegations," the bench stated.

(With PTI inputs)
Officials said here on Wednesday that a two-member team of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) met the members of the Rohingya community staying illegally in J&K's Jammu city. A two-member team of UNHCR met Rohingya Muslims at a slum here on Monday, officials said. The meeting took place in the aftermath of a heated controversy over the continuation of basic amenities like water and electricity to these illegal settlers.

Senior Protection Officer, Tomoko Fukumura along with Protection Associate, Ragini Trakroo Zutshi on Monday met the Rohingya Muslims and some local residents in the Kiryani Talab area of Narwal in Jammu City. The head of the team said they would return to Delhi Wednesday evening as their attempt to meet some police officials had failed.

On December 7, Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Minister Javed Rana said the water supply would not be snapped to the slums housing the immigrants pending a call from the Centre on their deportation. Ranas statement came after Rohingyas living on three plots of land in the Narwal area of Jammu claimed that their power and water supply were snapped recently despite being registered with the UNHCR.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Centre should decide the fate of the Rohingya population settled in Jammu asserting that they could not be allowed to die of starvation or cold.

It is a humanitarian issue. The central government should decide about them (Rohingyas). If they are to be sent back, do that. If you can, send them back. If you cannot send them back, we cannot starve them to death. They cannot be allowed to die of cold. The Government of India should tell us what we have to do with them. As long as they are here, we need to take care of them, the CM said.

The former chief minister and president of National Conference (NC), Dr Farooq Abdullah said on Tuesday that the Government of India had brought the Rohingyas to JK and it is the duty of the local government to provide them with basic amenities of life.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has, however, demanded a CBI probe into the settlements of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Jammu calling it a political conspiracy.

The BJP has also questioned the sympathy of the J&K government towards these settlers alleging that had the settlers belonged to some other religion, the J&K government would have behaved differently. Official records reveal that there are around 14,000 Rohingyas settled illegally in Jammu city.
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi took a symbolic approach to the ongoing protests outside Parliament on Monday by presenting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with a tricolour card as he entered the main Parliament building. This marked the latest in a series of unusual demonstrations by the Congress-led Opposition, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue.

Opposition MPs, including members from the Congress, DMK, JMM, and the Left, stood at the Makar Dwar steps, holding tricolour cards and red roses. Placards with slogans like "Dont let the country be sold" were also visible. This creative protest followed Tuesday's demonstration, where MPs carried caricature-laden blue bags with "Modi-Adani Bhai-Bhai" written on them.

VIDEO | Winter Session: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi gifts national flag to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as he arrives at the Parliament.#WinterSession #RahulGandhi #RajnathSingh pic.twitter.com/iJcIM0jNqr  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 11, 2024

Addressing reporters, Rahul Gandhi said, "We are urging the government to let the House function and hold discussions on the Adani matter." The Congress and other INDIA bloc parties have intensified their demands for a JPC investigation, citing allegations of financial misconduct involving the Adani Group.

Earlier, the Opposition had staged a mock interview in Parliament premises, where Congress leaders, wearing masks resembling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani, highlighted the alleged nexus between the two.

The protests stem from recent developments in a US court that indicted Adani and company officials, which the Congress claims validates its allegations. Gandhi has called for Adani's immediate arrest, while the Adani Group has dismissed the charges as baseless.

This week has seen a variety of creative protests by the Opposition. On Monday, members donned T-shirts and masks, while Tuesdays protest featured bags emblazoned with caricatures. Wednesdays gesture of tricolours and roses aimed to underscore the Opposition's demand for parliamentary debate on the issue.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also participated in Wednesdays protest. She stood alongside MPs, reinforcing the partys stance on transparency and accountability in the Adani case.
President-elect Donald Trump has named Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent Republican Party activist and legal powerhouse, as his choice for the position of assistant attorney general for civil rights. Known for her bold stances and unwavering advocacy, Dhillon has also made headlines for her vocal support of the Indian farmers' protest and allegations regarding "Indian death squads" targeting Sikh activists in North America.

Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, praising Dhillon as a "tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights" and a "respected member of the Sikh religious community." If confirmed by the Senate, Dhillon will become the second Indian American to hold this key civil rights position, following Vanita Gupta under the Obama administration.

Dhillon's legal career has been defined by her defense of conservative causes and civil liberties. She has taken on cases against Big Tech, accusing them of censoring free speech, and fought COVID lockdown rules that restricted religious gatherings. Her high-profile lawsuits include suing the University of California Berkeley for barring a right-wing activist from speaking, challenging corporations for discriminatory "woke policies," and suing Antifa for allegedly attacking a journalist.

During the pandemic, Dhillon also represented Christians barred from praying together and a White man who alleged wrongful termination by Google for criticizing diversity programs. Her portfolio demonstrates a commitment to amplifying marginalized conservative voices.

Connection to India and the Farmers Protest

Born in Punjab and descended from an agrarian family, Dhillon has publicly supported Indian farmers protesting controversial agricultural reforms. She posted on social media, As the Punjab-born descendant of farmers, my heart breaks to see Punjabi farmers assaulted for protesting Indian governments pro-big-corporation farm bill that will destroy their farms, way of life, and culture. She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet with the protesters and seek a compromise.

Dhillon also sparked controversy by referencing Indian death squads operating in North America targeting Sikh activists, echoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegations against India. While the conspiracy case involving Khalistani activists does not fall under her purview at the Department of Justice, Dhillon's outspoken stance has drawn attention to her ties to the Sikh community and her broader political engagement.

Legal and Political Credentials

A seasoned lawyer, Dhillon served as a legal adviser to Trumps 2020 campaign and co-chaired Women for Trump, mobilizing female voters. She has been a member of the Republican National Committee and delivered Sikh prayers at the Republican National Conventions in 2016 and 2024. Despite her unsuccessful bid for RNC chair in 2022, Dhillon remains a significant figure in Republican circles.

Trump highlighted her track record of holding powerful entities accountable, saying, Harmeet is one of the top Election lawyers in the Country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted.
New Delhi: Actress Sapna Singh held a protest in Bareilly after her 14-year-old son Sagar was found dead, reportedly. According to Times Of India report, the 90-minute long protest was ended on Tuesday after cops assured of action will be taken against the crime. Fresh FIR and murder case has been registered at the Bhuta police station.

It has been learnt that police have arrested 2 of Sagar's friends so far in connection with the suspicious death. "The postmortem report could not confirm the exact cause of death, but indications of poisoning or drug overdose have been found. Viscera samples have been preserved for further examination," Circle Officer (Fatehpur) Ashutosh Shivam told TOI.

Further, the report quotes Bhuta Police Station Inspector Sunil Kumar as saying, "Anuj and Sunny confessed during questioning that they had consumed drugs and alcohol with Sagar. The overdose caused Sagar to collapse. Panicking, they dragged his body to a field and left him there."

The 14-year-old Sagar was studying in class 8 and stayed with his maternal uncle in Bareilly.

Sagar's body was identified and CCTV footage revealed Anuj and Sunny's involvement in the incident. Sapna was in Mumbai and discovered about her son's death only after reaching Bareilly. She has worked in shows like Crime Patrol and Mai Ki Banno among others.
Mumbai: Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun, has been marred by tragedy as two fans have lost their lives during screenings of the film in separate incidents. These unfortunate events have led to police investigations and public concern over crowd management and safety at film screenings.

Second Death in Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, 35-year-old Harijana Madhannappa was found dead after attending the matinee show of Pushpa 2 on Monday. Kalyandurgam Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ravi Babu revealed that Madhannappa, a father of four and known alcohol addict, attended the screening in an intoxicated state and consumed more alcohol inside the theatre. His body was discovered by the theatres cleaning staff at around 6 pm.

DSP Ravi Babu stated, It is not clear when he died, but the cleaning staff found him dead after the matinee show. A case has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, and the police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Hyderabad Incident Sparks Outrage

Earlier, on December 4, a female fan tragically lost her life during a stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad, where Allu Arjun attended the premiere with co-star Rashmika Mandanna and wife Sneha Reddy. The stampede also left the victims son critically injured, leading to widespread criticism of the events crowd management.

Following the incident, the police arrested Sandhya Theatre owner M Sandeep, senior manager M Nagaraju, and balcony in-charge Gandhakam Vijay Chander. Cases have also been registered against Allu Arjun and his security team under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, including Sections 105 and 118(1).

Reacting to the tragedies, Allu Arjun and director Sukumar issued an apology to the victims family. The actor promised to cover medical expenses and provide additional support to the bereaved family.
Shraddha Kapoor recently set social media abuzz as she posed with Hollywood star Andrew Garfield at the Red Sea Film Festival.

The unexpected duos appearance on the red carpet delighted fans, and now Andrew Garfield has added to the excitement with his sweet remarks about the Stree 2 actress.

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Garfield was asked about his interaction with Shraddha. Reflecting on their brief meeting, he said, We had a lovely, very brief meeting at the red carpet. She seems very, very lovely and kind and gentle.

andrew garfield and shraddha kapoor. pic.twitter.com/8XoKFAtKMs  pop culture gal (@allurequinn) December 9, 2024

Shraddhas fans have been thrilled by this cross-continental appreciation and eagerly anticipate her next move in Bollywood.

On the professional front, Shraddha Kapoor was last seen in the blockbuster horror-comedy Stree 2, opposite Rajkummar Rao. The film received rave reviews and further solidified Shraddhas position as one of Bollywoods top actresses.While Shraddha has yet to officially announce her next project, rumours suggest exciting prospects. She was reportedly in talks for a special dance number with Allu Arjun in Pushpa 2, but the song ultimately went to Sreeleela.

Theres speculation that she might star alongside Ranbir Kapoor in Dhoom 4, continuing the iconic franchise. Shraddha also has confirmed projects like Nikhil Dwivedis supernatural film Naagin and Chaalbaaz in London on her slate.

Fans are now eagerly waiting for more updates, especially after her delightful interaction with Andrew Garfield, which has left Bollywood and Hollywood fans hoping for potential collaborations in the future.
Mumbai: Actor Mushtaq Khan, known for his role in the Stree 2, Welcome and many other films endured a harrowing experience after being kidnapped from the Delhi-Meerut highway and tortured for 12 hours. The incident unfolded when Mushtaq, invited to an event with confirmed flight tickets and an advance payment, landed at Delhi airport. Upon arrival, he was taken in a car that drove him to an undisclosed location near Bijnor.

Shivam, Mushtaqs business partner, revealed to India Today Digital, that the kidnappers demanded Rs 1 cr as ransom and forcibly withdrew over Rs 2 lakh from Mushtaq and his sons accounts. During his captivity, Mushtaq reportedly endured mental and physical torture.

In the early morning hours, upon hearing the Azaan, Mushtaq realized there was a mosque nearby. Using this as his chance to escape, he ran from the location, sought help from locals, and contacted the police to return home.

Shivam later traveled to Bijnor to file an FIR on Mushtaqs behalf. He confirmed that they have crucial evidence, including flight tickets, bank transaction details, and CCTV footage near the airport. Mushtaq also remembers key details about the neighborhood and house where he was held, which may help the police identify the culprits.

Shivam highlighted that this wasnt an isolated incident, as another comedian celebrity Sunil Pal reportedly faced a similar ordeal. Its shocking that public figures are being targeted in this manner. We hope this raises awareness and prompts better security measures for everyone, Shivam stated to India Today Digital.

Mushtaq Khan is said to be recovering from the traumatic experience and is expected to address the media soon.
New Delhi: Apple on Wednesday announced the release of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, with a new set of Apple Intelligence features that will elevate users experience with iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Now, users can explore creative new ways to express themselves visually with Image Playground, create the perfect emoji for any situation with Genmoji, and make their writing even more dynamic with new enhancements to Writing Tools, the company said in a statement.

Building on Apple Intelligence, users with an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro can instantly learn more about their surroundings with visual intelligence with Camera Control. And now with ChatGPT integrated into Writing Tools and Siri, users can tap into ChatGPTs expertise without having to switch between apps, helping them get things done faster and easier than ever before.

Apple Intelligence also begins language expansion with localised English support for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. Additional languages, including Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese will be coming throughout the year, with an initial set arriving in a software update in April, said the tech giant.

According to the company, the Image Playground experience allows users to easily create fun and unique images, with concepts like themes, costumes, accessories, and places. Users can add their own text descriptions, and can even create images in the likeness of a family member or friend using photos from their photo library. \

Image Playground generates images in distinct styles, including Animation  a modern, 3D-animated look  and Illustration, which offers images with simple shapes, clear lines, and colourblocking, said Apple.

With the power of Apple Intelligence, emoji is taken to the next level with Genmoji, making conversations with family and friends more fun and playful, and opening up entirely new ways to communicate.

The Notes app gets new tools to make note-taking more visual and dynamic. With Image Wand in the tool palette, users can quickly create images in their note using the written or visual context already captured within the note.

Writing Tools build on the existing options of Rewrite, Proofread, and Summarise with the new ability for users to specify the change theyd like to make, using the new Describe Your Change option, according to Apple.
KYIV: Rescue crews pulled two women from rubble several hours after a Russian missile struck a medical clinic in southern Ukraine, killing nine people and wounding 22 others, authorities said Wednesday. The women called rescue services to say they were buried by debris for seven hours after the attack late Tuesday in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine's Emergency Services said, as deadly Russian strikes on civilian areas continue in the almost three-year war.

Meanwhile, the United States warned that Russia may be poised to launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic Oreshnik missile against Ukraine again soon. Ukraine's Western allies are sending more aid to help it keep fighting Russia's invasion, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Zaporizhzhia strike showed that his country still needs more air defence systems.

He urged Western partners to send weaponry they are holding in their arsenals. Air defence systems that Ukraine's allies possess should save lives, and not gather dust in storage bases, Zelenskyy said late Tuesday in his daily address to the nation. Ukraine kept up long-range attacks on areas behind Russian lines that are supporting its war effort.

A Ukrainian drone attack caused a blaze at an industrial facility in Russia's Bryansk region, Gov. Alexander Bogomaz said. Air defences downed 14 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region early Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

Also, a Ukrainian missile attack on the city of Taganrog in the Rostov region early Wednesday damaged an industrial plant, regional Gov. Yuri Slusar said. Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian forces for hitting what he called military facilities on the territory of Russia, as well as facilities of the fuel and energy complex. It is precisely such long range and accuracy that step-by-step bring Russia back to reality  to the reality that the war must be ended, he said on Telegram.


Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Afghan Taliban's acting minister for refugees, was killed in a blast in Kabul. The incident was confirmed by his nephew, Anas Haqqani, on Wednesday.

Key Role in Talibans Interim Government

Khalil Haqqani had been serving as a minister in the Talibans interim government since the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in 2021. His appointment was part of the administration formed after the Taliban regained control of the country.

In addition to his ministerial role, Khalil Haqqani was a senior figure in the Haqqani network, a militant faction linked to several major attacks during the two-decade-long war in Afghanistan. The group has been described by the U.S. State Department as a key player in militant operations.

The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of foreign troops, promising to bring stability to the country. However, urban areas have continued to experience attacks.

In 2022, a bombing occurred near the interior ministry, under the leadership of Haqqani network figure Sirajuddin Haqqani, resulting in four fatalities.

The following year, in 2023, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack outside the Taliban-controlled foreign ministry, which left at least five people dead.

Khalil Haqqani, designated by the U.S. Treasury as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" in 2011, has a $5 million reward offered by the State Department for information leading to his capture.
DAMASCUS: The jihadist rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad say they want to build a unified, inclusive country. But after 14 years of civil war, putting that ideal into practice will not be easy. For Syria's Kurdish minority, America's closest ally in the country, the struggle for a new order is entering a potentially even more challenging phase.

Over the course of Syria's civil war, Kurdish fighters have fended off an array of armed factions, partnered with the US to rout the Islamic State group and carved out a largely autonomous region in the country's oil-rich east. But the gains of the non-Arab Kurds are now at risk. The ascendance of the Sunni Arab rebels who overthrew Assad  with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the Kurds  will make it hard for the Kurds to find a place in the new Syria and could prolong the conflict.

The jihadist rebels who rode into Damascus over the weekend have made peaceful overtures to the Kurds. But the rebels violently drove Kurdish fighters out of the eastern city of Deir al-Zour days after government forces abandoned it. To the north, a separate opposition faction backed by Turkey that has been battling the Kurds for years seized the town of Manbij. And Turkey carried out airstrikes on a Kurdish convoy it said was carrying heavy weapons looted from government arsenals.

The Kurds have long counted on US aid in the face of such challenges. Around 900 American troops are in eastern Syria, where they partner with Kurdish forces to prevent an Islamic State resurgence. But the future of that mission will be thrown into doubt under president-elect Donald Trump, who has long been sceptical about US involvement in Syria.

Here's a closer look at the predicament the Kurds find themselves in. Who are the US-allied Kurdish fighters in Syria? The Kurds are among the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world, with some 30 million concentrated in a territory straddling Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. They are a minority in each country and have often suffered persecution, which has fueled armed Kurdish uprisings.

In Syria, they carved out an autonomous enclave early in the civil war, never fully siding with the Assad government or the rebels seeking to topple him. When the Islamic State group seized a third of the country in 2014, Kurdish fighters  who are secular and include women in their ranks  proved their mettle in early battles against the extremists, earning support from the U.S.-led coalition.

They formed a group known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, which also includes Arab fighters, and drove the Islamic State group out of large areas of Syria with help from U.S.-led airstrikes and American special forces. In 2017, the SDF captured Raqqa, the capital of the extremists' self-styled caliphate.

Why is Turkey fighting the Kurds?

Turkey has long viewed the SDF as an extension of the decades-old Kurdish insurgency within its own borders. It considers the main Kurdish faction a terrorist group on par with IS and has said it should have no presence in the new Syria. In recent years, Turkey has trained and funded fighters known as the Syrian National Army, helping them wrest control of territory from the Kurds in northern Syria along the border with Turkey.

The SNA has portrayed itself as part of the opposition against Assad, but analysts say the fighters are largely driven by opportunism and hatred of the Kurds. With IS mostly defeated and an unspoken truce with Assad, the Kurds have been able to focus on battling the SNA in recent years. But the new leadership in Damascus, which also has longstanding ties to Turkey, could open another, much longer front.

How do the Syrian rebels view the Kurds? The main rebel faction is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a former al-Qaida militant who cut ties with the group eight years ago and says he wants to build a new Syria free of dictatorship that will serve all its religious and ethnic communities.

Nawaf Khalil, head of the Germany-based Center for Kurdish Studies, said the early signs were positive. He said the rebels steered clear of two SDF-controlled enclaves of Aleppo when they stormed the city two weeks ago at the start of their rapid advance across the country. It is also positive that they did not speak negatively about the Syrian Democratic Forces," he said.

It remains to be seen if those sentiments will endure. After sweeping into Deir al-Zour this week, a fighter from al-Sharaa's group posted a video saying they would soon advance toward Raqqa and other areas of eastern Syria, raising the possibility of further clashes with the Kurds. The rebels could still seek some kind of agreement with the Kurds to incorporate them into the post-Assad political order, but that would likely require accepting a degree of Kurdish autonomy in the east. It would also risk angering Turkey, which now appears to be the chief power broker in Syria.

Will the Trump administration support the Kurds? The top US military commander for the Middle East, Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, met with SDF forces in Syria on Tuesday, in a sign of the Biden administration's commitment to the alliance post-Assad.

But things could change on January 20.

Trump has provided few details about his Middle East policy, aside from saying he wants to end the region's wars and keep the United States out of them. In a social media post shortly before Assad was overthrown, Trump wrote that Syria is a mess, but is not our friend; THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. During his previous term, in 2019, Trump abandoned the Kurds ahead of a Turkish incursion, casting it as the fulfilment of a campaign promise to end US involvement in the region's endless wars. The move prompted heavy criticism, including from prominent Republicans who accused him of betraying an ally. Trump backtracked weeks later, approving a wider mission to secure oil fields in the east.
TALLINN: A Belarusian journalist has been sentenced to four years in prison for her critical reports chronicling a sweeping crackdown on dissent launched by the country's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The Minsk City Court convicted Volha Radzivonava on Tuesday on charges of insulting the president and discrediting Belarus and sentenced her to four years in prison. Radzivonava, who worked for KYKY.Org news portal and freelanced for other news outlets, has been in custody since her arrest in March.

The Viasna human rights group said that while in custody Radzivonava was sent to a psychiatric clinic for evaluation. Belarus responded to massive protests that were sparked by the widely disputed 2020 vote that gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office with a brutal crackdown in which about 65,000 people were arrested.

Leading opposition figures were either imprisoned or fled the country. Human rights activists say Belarus is holding about 1,300 political prisoners and that many of them are denied adequate medical care and contact with their families. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said 35 Belarusian journalists are currently in custody on politically-driven charges.

The authorities are intensifying repressions against the media ahead of January's presidential election, making the profession of journalist one of the most dangerous in the country, said the association's leader Andrei Bastunets. The exemplary cruel sentence handed to Radzivonava is intended to scare all others and make them silent. Belarus' law enforcement agencies have launched a new wave of arrests in recent months seeking to uproot any sign of dissent ahead of January's election in which Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term.

Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for over 30 years relying on Kremlin subsidies and support, has allowed Russia to use his country's territory to send troops into neighbouring Ukraine in 2022 and to host some of its tactical nuclear weapons.
India successfully evacuated 75 of its citizens from conflict-stricken Syria on Tuesday, following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assads government by rebel forces. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the operation on Wednesday, ensuring the safe exit of Indian nationals amid escalating tensions in the region.

Among those evacuated were 44 zaireen (pilgrims) from Jammu & Kashmir stranded in Saida Zainab, a prominent pilgrimage site. "All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return via available commercial flights to India," the MEA stated.

Coordinated Evacuation Efforts

India's embassies in Damascus and Beirut worked in close coordination to prioritize the safety of its citizens. "The Government of India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad," the statement read, reflecting New Delhi's commitment to protecting its diaspora in crisis zones.

Indian nationals still in Syria were urged to stay in contact with the Embassy in Damascus for updates. The MEA provided an emergency helpline number (+963 993385973) and email address (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in) for assistance.

Fallout of Assads Overthrow

The evacuation followed a rapid escalation of the situation in Syria. On Sunday, the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus, ending Assads nearly 14-year authoritarian rule and the Assad familys five-decade dominance. Reports indicate that Assad has fled to Russia seeking asylum.

The MEA earlier called for a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria. "India will continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for a resolution led by the Syrian people," it emphasized.
Israel has intensified its military operations in Syria, carrying out over 350 airstrikes in the past 48 hours and advancing into a buffer zone, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Israeli officials confirmed Tuesday. The strikes targeted strategic weapon stockpiles, air defense systems, military airfields, and missile depots across Damascus and other cities. This aggressive push follows the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad's regime by rebel forces.

Strikes Target Syrian Navy

The Israeli military confirmed that its naval forces struck two Syrian naval facilities, destroying several vessels. "We have neutralized most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria to prevent them from falling into extremist hands," said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. A private security firm, Ambrey, reported evidence of at least six Soviet-era missile ships destroyed.

Speaking from a navy base in Haifa, Katz announced plans to establish a demilitarized zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria to ensure regional stability. Whoever follows Assads path will end up like Assad. We will not allow an extremist Islamic entity to act against Israel, Katz warned.

Buffer Zone Controversy

Israel acknowledged moving into a 400-square-kilometer buffer zone inside Syria, a territory established after the 1973 Mideast War. Israeli officials emphasized that the incursion aims to prevent potential attacks on its citizens and is not a move to occupy new territory. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, denied reports that Israeli forces were advancing toward Damascus, stating troops remain stationed within the buffer zone for defense purposes.

The buffer zones proximity to Damascusjust 40 kilometers (25 miles)has heightened tensions. The region has historically been a flashpoint, and Israels previous annexation of the Golan Heights remains internationally disputed, except by the United States.

How Rebel Group HTS Reacted?

There was no immediate response from the insurgent groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which have taken control of much of the country. Their lightning advance ended the Assad family's half-century rule after nearly 14 years of civil war, raising many questions about what comes next.

The incursions have drawn sharp criticism from neighboring countries and international organizations. Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia accused Israel of exploiting Syrias chaos and violating international law. Turkey, a key supporter of Syrian opposition forces, labeled Israels actions as occupational and counterproductive to emerging prospects of peace in Syria.

The United Nations also weighed in, with spokesman Stephane Dujarric urging Israel and Syria to adhere to the 1974 disengagement agreement. The incursion constitutes a violation of the agreement and risks destabilizing the region further, he said.

Post-Assad Power Vacuum

The fall of Bashar al-Assad has left Syria in disarray. Rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) now controls much of the country, but questions loom over Syrias political future. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the strikes targeted the former governments military capabilities and expressed willingness to establish relations with the new Syrian administration.
This article is sponsored by Microsoft.

Over the past few months, weve asked hundreds of physicians about their feelings toward and experiences with health care AI.

Weve found much optimism around AI adoption, with physicians anticipating improvements in everything from patient care to workflow efficiency. When we asked physicians how they saw AI impacting health care, the vast majority said only positive things (Sermo RealTime Insights, 300 physician survey responses).

However, some of the physicians we spoke with told us their own professional goals felt far removed from those of their organizations. If these physicians are to gain buy-in from decision-makers for the AI tools they believe will help their patients and transform their workflows, theyll need to include their leaderships objectives in their proposals.

Why some physicians feel out of step

Microsoft and Sermo conducted two surveys three months apart. Each survey targeted a range of specialties and was completed by hundreds of physicians based throughout the U.S.

Almost half of the physicians who participated in our second survey hold a position of leadership within their organization, and yet, 29 percent said the goals of their organizations decision-makers dont align with their own.

These physicians overwhelmingly made the same point:

They care about the bottom line.

Patient care isnt their top priority.

Their goals are to reduce costsmy goals are to care for patients.



Its easy to understand how physicians and business decision-makers can have very different sets of prioritiesand how this lack of alignment can feel like an insurmountable barrier to a physician advocating for fresh investment to improve patient care.

However, the priority differences arent always difficult to move beyond, especially when it comes to health care AI.

The potential to meet multiple needs, at once

In many of its health care applications, AI is that rare thing: a technology that helps to address what physicians care about, like improving patient care and achieving a healthy and sustainable work/life balance, and what business decision-makers care about, such as patient throughput and reimbursement, and ultimately, their organizations bottom line.

One of the most popular use cases, using AI to create better clinical documentation faster and streamline workflows beyond just clinical documentation, is a prime example of how AI meets the priority needs of all.

A case-in-point: AI-assisted clinical documentation

Most physicians we asked about clinical documentation told us they still manually typed up their own notes. According to the Sermo survey, almost a third (32 percent) spend over three hours documenting care every clinic day, and 60 percent devote at least 60 minutes to the task outside of working hours.

This documentation workload is a mental and physical burden, capable of diminishing a physicians energy levels and their ability to deliver the best possible care. It also reduces the time physicians can devote to the more rewarding parts of the job, like face-to-face interactions with their patients.

Today, this is a burden AI is helping to shoulder.

Using AI to address physicians priorities

An AI-powered clinical documentation copilot can capture conversations with patients and their families at the point of care and summarize them for the physician to review after the encounter. It can identify potential opportunities to add more detail and then automate the next stepsgenerating a referral letter or an after-visit summary that helps patients understand and adhere to their care plan.

All this reduces the amount of time physicians need to spend on documentation and administrative tasks while freeing physicians to focus on the patient in front of them rather than on a screen.

The impact can be huge. In a recent Microsoft survey of 879 clinicians across 340 health care organizations using DAX Copilot involving 340 health care organizations, clinicians using a clinical documentation copilot saved an average of five minutes per encounter. 70 percent found it improved their work/life balance and reduced their feelings of burnout and fatigue, and 77 percent reported it improved documentation quality.

Using AI to address business needs

These outcomes are great news for physicians and patients as well as business leaders at health care organizations currently keeping a close eye on finances.

When physicians save this much time on every encounter, organizations can increase patient throughput while still alleviating the pressure on physicians themselves. Similarly, even as higher quality documentation enables better patient care, it supports more accurate reimbursement.

In a study conducted by the University of Michigan Health-West, AI-supported physicians experienced less burnout, but also saw 12 additional patients per month and increased their wRVUs. The revenue this generated not only covered the cost of the solution but generated an extra 80 percent ROI.

Where physicians see AIs potential to improve the care they deliver but face opposition from leaders focused on business outcomes, these are the key points they need to include in their proposals.

Saving time translates into many benefits.

We asked physicians who were already using some form of health care AI what they believed to be its main benefit. They said the same thing over and over again: It saves them time.

In health care, time is an incredibly precious resource. When theres more of it, throughput can be increased, enabling patients to access the care they need faster. Physicians can better focus on patients AND get time back in their day to spend on other tasks or time outside of work. This results in happier clinicians and patients, which can translate into decreased clinician churn and patient leakage and additional revenue from increased throughput and incremental services  all of which improve health care organizations financial outcomes.

Time is one of the gifts that AI can give most readily by assisting with, automating, and accelerating everyday tasks. If physicians can show their organizations how saving time supports everyones objectives, everyone stands to benefit.

Meet DAX Copilot

Thousands of clinicians use DAX Copilot to automatically document patient encounters and streamline workflows. Discover more about this award-winning clinical documentation and workflow solution.

DAX Copilot by Microsoft is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentationmaking it available in the EHR within minutesand clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more.

70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences.

Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo.
Most Texas politicians balk at even discussing Medicaid expansion. They fear the wrath of state leadership and the threat of being primaried by someone further to the right.

The expansion of Medicaid to the full extent permitted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is both an ethical and financial imperative. From a moral standpoint, expansion would provide health care coverage to a significant number of low-income individuals who are currently unable to afford private insurance or qualify for Medicaid, thus falling into the coverage gap. Expansion would help ensure that all US citizens have access to essential health care services, regardless of their income level. Leading Texas economists estimated expansion would in-net generate savings for the state government, draw down billions in federal dollars every year, and reduce both uncompensated care costs and the need for expensive emergency services.

Fourteen years after the ACA became law, the word expansion remains politically charged. Aversion to the term is so pronounced in the Texas Legislature that it borders on the absurd, hindering open advocacy for commonsense reform. Straightforward discussions about a policy that would save lives and alleviate suffering are met with fierce resistance. The same politicians who ridicule snowflakes, safe spaces, and political correctness appear frightened by a single word: expansion!

While Texas politicians are busy closing their ears, their constituents continue to suffer. What about Alex? A 49-year-old without insurance who, despite having a strong family history of cancer, had no way to access lifesaving screening procedures. He died of metastatic colon cancer. And Louise? A 38-year-old mother of three who ended up in a wheelchair, her joints destroyed by untreated, excruciating rheumatoid arthritis. Ashley, 52 years old, lost her job and her health insurance. She couldnt afford to pay for her annual mammograms and found herself ensnared by the death grips of breast cancer and mounting medical debt. Or 58-year-old Paula whose diabetes and hypertension went untreated for decades, leading to a devastating stroke that took away her speech and left her unable to walk. Paula would still be a productive and happy member of our society. Instead, shes doomed to a life of sickness, disability, and overwhelming medical debts.

These stories are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of neglect that affects thousands of Texans.

Money is not the reason Texas is holding out on Medicaid expansion. Our leaders understand that Texans are bankrolling Medicaid expansion in other states, while refusing to accept our $5 billion annual share of the pie. Texas refusal to expand Medicaid stems from a deep-seated and stale opposition to the ACA and an irrational scorn for the most vulnerable members of society.

Maybe if we gradually introduce the terms Medicaid and expansion opposing political leaders will build up their immunity and not react so strongly to a policy favored by 70 percent of their constituents. By normalizing the discourse around Medicaid expansion, we can create an environment responsive to the needs of our citizens.

Texas is one of only ten states that has refused Medicaid expansion. Consequently, we have the largest number of uninsured in the nation, and our residents are among the least healthy by most measures. Medicaid is good for our health and economy. Lets talk about expansion.

David M. Auerbach is an internal medicine physician. Alex Gajewski is an internal medicine resident. Fabrizia Faustinella is an internal medicine physician.
A poster for "Ne Zha 2." [Photo courtesy of Coloroom Pictures]

As the countdown to Lunar New Year begins, one thing is certain: China's Spring Festival box office is gearing up for a spectacular showdown. With a lineup featuring cinematic heavyweights, the holiday season in the world's second-largest film market promises an epic clash of the titans.

The release date for "Ne Zha 2," the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2019 animated blockbuster "Ne Zha," has officially been set for the Spring Festival, also known as Lunar New Year's Day, which will fall on Jan. 29 in 2025.

The announcement was made through the film's official Weibo account on Tuesday, accompanied by a promotional video featuring a battle-ready Nezha, signaling the beloved character's triumphant comeback.

Directed by Yang Yu, widely known as Jiaozi, "Ne Zha 2" is the result of a five-year endeavor to build on the original film's unprecedented success. "Ne Zha" not only became a cultural phenomenon but also secured its place as China's highest-grossing animated film of all time, earning over 5 billion yuan (695 million U.S. dollars).

The sequel joins an already formidable lineup for the 2025 Spring Festival, which includes Tsui Hark's adaptation of Louis Cha's wuxia classic "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," Wuershan's epic fantasy sequel "Creation of the Gods II," and the family-friendly "Boonie Bears: Future Reborn," the latest installment in the long-running animated franchise.

"Dimensional upgrade"

The producers of "Ne Zha 2" are touting the film as a "dimensional upgrade" from its predecessor.

The sequel aims to captivate audiences with a grander narrative and cutting-edge visual effects, particularly in its complex water animations. From Nezha diving into the sea to parting the waters in a dazzling display of power, the film raises the stakes in both scale and ambition.

Retaining the franchise's signature blend of humor and emotional resonance, "Ne Zha 2" aligns with the Spring Festival themes of reunion and celebration.

"Five years after the release of 'Ne Zha,' audiences are finally getting the sequel," wrote one enthusiastic Weibo user. "This installment is bound to deliver a grand spectacle -- a blockbuster made for the big screen."

High stakes

The Spring Festival holiday, set to run from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 in 2025, remains China's most lucrative moviegoing window. The 2024 festival set the bar high, generating a record 8 billion yuan in box office revenue, with four of its releases ranking among the year's top five earners.

Yet, the stakes are even higher for 2025 as the industry looks to rebound from a challenging 2024. Partly due to disappointing summer and October holiday seasons, China's year-to-date box office revenue experienced a 21 percent year-on-year decline, according to box office tracker Maoyan.

Chen Jin, an analyst at film data platform Beacon, has underscored the significance of this period. "Since 2021, box office revenue during this holiday has consistently exceeded 6 billion yuan annually, with 2024 surpassing 8 billion yuan. We're optimistic that the upcoming lineup will maintain this momentum," he told Xinhua.

Lineup poised for breakouts

The 2025 Spring Festival lineup also promises variety and star power.

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes" brings martial arts nostalgia to the forefront, while "Creation of the Gods II" offers an effects-heavy spectacle that has drawn comparisons to Hollywood blockbusters. And "Boonie Bears," which is celebrating its 11th annual installment, is guaranteed a steady turnout of families seeking light-hearted entertainment.

"The Spring Festival is not just a revenue generator -- it sets the tone for the entire year," Yin Hong, vice chairman of the China Film Association and a professor at Tsinghua University, said in a report that the association and Beacon released on the sidelines of the 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.

"During this holiday, moviegoing remains a key entertainment choice for families, creating robust demand," Yin noted. "If 70 percent of the lineup meets audience satisfaction, we could see two or three major hits -- or even more."

Yin emphasized the importance of the season as a bellwether for the broader industry: "We hope the 2025 Spring Festival will lay a strong foundation for the year ahead, signaling vitality and inspiring anticipation among moviegoers."
On 10 December the president of Ecuadors national assembly,, announced that she will file a constitutional appeal against new money laundering legislation which was promulgated by Presidentdespite having been archived by legislators.

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On 10 December Mexicos Presidentcalled on the governors of the countrys northern states to prepare for a potential wave of deportations of Mexicans from the US as threatened by President-elect, who is due to take office on 20 January.

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In the Education Tips series, education experts in the United States give you tips about how to improve your English skills. This week, Suzanne Meyer, the assistant director at the English Language Institute at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, discusses question-asking and the development of critical thinking skills.

For VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report.

Suzanne Meyer, the assistant director of the English Language Institute at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, says that many students need to develop critical thinking skills.

In other words, students need to learn how to collect information, and then evaluate the information and apply it to a new context.

She says:

"We need to get students actively engaged in inquiry, from the beginning levels on, into those levels where they really are close to professional and university contexts."

One way to develop critical thinking skills, Meyer says, is to teach students to be creative about the types of questions that they ask.

Benefits of question-asking for English learners

Meyer says that there are many benefits to using question-asking activities with English learners. Question-asking activities help students to become better language learners.

She says:

"Question-asking overall helps students be better language learners. Not for the obvious, because you ask a question you get an answer. Often, questions are the first point of contact. And so if my question is not good, then that's going to direct the level of our conversation."

Meyer also says that question-asking may help develop critical thinking skills by allowing for more interactions:

"People who can ask questions are very confident. And when you are confident, you can have more interaction. That extra interaction might lead to critical thinking. Because you are more likely to actually integrate in some fashion into a new setting if you are in an ESL scenario. So, I think overall, just the whole question-asking idea has so many benefits."

How can you practice asking questions?

There are many strategies to improve question-asking and develop critical thinking skills. One possible strategy, says Meyer, is to use question-asking patterns that start with concrete questions and move to abstract questions.

SOURCE: SUZANNE MEYER

So, for example, if students were reading a new text, they would design a series of questions using three different steps.

In the first step, students create questions about information in the text that they are reading.

In the second step, students create questions about how the information in the text connects to their own life.

In the third step, students create questions about abstract ideas  ideas that came up in the questions about themselves.

If students follow these three steps, they have not only practiced creative ways to ask questions, they have also started practicing critical thinking.

Example of a question-asking activity

Meyer gave an example of what this activity could look like:

SOURCE: SUZANNE MEYER/Text is from Zwier, Lawrence J. Fat for Brains. Inside Reading 2. 2nd ed. Ed. Cheryl Boyd Zimmerman. Oxford: OUP, 2012.

In the activity, students read part of a story. In this case, the story is about how different foods affect a person.

In the first column there are questions about information in the text. One example of a question is this: How can food help a person's performance?

In the second column, there are questions about how the information in the story connects to students' lives. For example,

"how do I feel and act when I don't eat well?"

"how do I feel and act when I don't eat well?" In the third column, there are questions about abstract ideas that build on questions in the second column. The question "Even though people know some foods are unhealthy, why do they eat them?" is one example.

These questions, and other questions listed in the table, are examples of how to develop questions. You should, of course, create your own questions!

Practical tips:

Meyer says that when teachers tell students which questions to answer, students are less likely to be creative about the types of questions that they ask.

So, practice developing your own questions! Try making a list of questions that go from concrete to abstract, like the steps outlined above. Check with your teacher to make sure that your grammar is correct, and try to practice in the classroom.

You can also write us your questions about this story in the comments section, or on our Facebook page. Give question-asking a try, and let us know how it works for you!

I'm John Russell.

John Russell wrote this lesson for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

critical  adj. using or involving careful judgment about the good and bad parts of something

evaluate  v. to judge the value or condition of (someone or something) in a careful and thoughtful way

context  n. the group of conditions that exist where and when something happens

inquiry  n. the act of asking questions in order to gather or collect information

benefits  n. a good or helpful result or effect

interaction  n. talking with other people

strategy  n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time

concrete  adj. relating to or involving specific people, things, or actions rather than general ideas or qualities

abstract  adj. relating to or involving general ideas or qualities rather than specific people, objects, or actions
In Ecuador, power outages threaten ice cream businesses in the small town of Salcedo in the countrys central highlands.

Ice cream production in Salcedo began in the middle of the 1900s. Women working in a Roman Catholic religious center there would make a fruit drink with milk from the area's dairy farms. One of the female religious workers, called nuns, began collecting the unused drink mixture. She turned it into creamy popsicles, frozen treats that quickly became popular.

The nuns sold the popsicles in town to gather money for the poor. But the people of Salcedo saw a business opportunity and began trying new flavors and methods. Soon ice cream lovers came to support the industry in the town.

However, a recent wave of power outages is threatening Salcedo's ice-cream industry. The daily loss of electrical power, began earlier this year. Each outage can last up to 14 hours. The problem is a long period without rain. Ecuador gets much of its power from hydroelectric centers which depend on lakes and rainwater.

Gabriel Pumasunta is part owner, with his two brothers, of the Polar Bear ice-cream factory. He said that if the power outages continue this month, they will have to shut down the factory. Pumasunta said that much of his product has melted because of power outages.

Before September, Polar Bear was producing 60,000 popsicles per month. Now, the small company makes 10,000 popsicles per month. The business has been forced to let go of eight of its 10 employees. Pumasunta is spending the company's savings and those of his family. He now works on the plant's machines himself. His parents are helping to run the factory.

Severe business losses from power outages

Ecuadors President Daniel Noboa has not been able to solve the electricity crisis. The chamber of commerce in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city, estimates that power outages are creating weekly losses of $700 million for Ecuadorian businesses.

German Soria is president of the association of artisanal ice-cream makers. He said that before the power crisis, Salcedo had 80 small- and medium-sized ice-cream makers and three large factories. Now, 30 of these smaller businesses have had to close. Even the large factories are slowing production.

Soria's own ice-cream business is no longer operating. He said he stopped production three weeks ago and had to sell some equipment, as well as some land to pay his debts.

He said that the outages happen at unexpected times. That means buyers, like small stores, are unwilling to purchase ice cream because they are unsure whether it will melt.

Local officials say the power crisis has cost 300 jobs in Salcedo. The town is known for its fruit-flavored ice-cream, including flavors such as blackberries and taxo, a kind of tropical fruit.

New sources of power

The Ecuadorian government has bought some large electric generators that run on oil or gas. But as Marco Acuna, the president of Ecuador's national guild of engineers, said: "They do not have the capacity to make up for the current deficit."

In Salcedo, the collapse of the ice-cream industry has hurt the local economy. Dairy farms, fruit growers, transporters and small stores that sell popsicles all feel the effects.

"Before (the power cuts) we would buy up to 150 popsicles a day," said Maria Juliette Lopez, who owns a small store on the Panamerican highway where tourists and truck drivers stop to buy snacks. "Now we can only take up to 40 popsicles a day, because any product that is left over will melt, she said.

Im Jill Robbins.

Gonzalo Solano reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

treat  n. something that tastes good and that is not eaten often

flavor  n. the quality of something that you can taste

artisanal  adj. made by a person who is skilled at making things by hand

generator  n. a machine that makes electricity by burning gas or oil

capacity  n. the ability to do something

tourist  n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure

snack  n. a small amount of food eaten between meals

What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.
Over the last 20 years, the number of stranded sea turtles has increased in the waters off the northeastern coast of the United States. As a result, special animal hospitals in the New England area are now treating many sea turtles. Some kinds of these animals are highly endangered.

The turtles enter waters such as Cape Cod Bay when the weather is warm. But when temperatures drop, they cannot escape to head south, said Adam Kennedy. He is the director of rescue and rehabilitation at the New England Aquarium.

The aquarium operates a turtle hospital in Quincy, Massachusetts. On December 3, Kennedy said more than 200 young turtles needed to be treated there. The animals had been stunned by the cold.

The cold-stunned sea turtles wash up on the shores of Cape Cod every fall and winter. Kennedy said aquarium workers expect the number of turtles that they rescue to climb to at least 400. He said the average in 2010 was 40.

Kennedy said, Climate change certainly is allowing those numbers of turtles to get in where normally the numbers werent very high years ago. He added that high winds and falling temperatures caused the recent strandings.

In the early 2010s, the five-year average of cold-stunned sea turtles in Massachusetts was around 200. In recent years, that number has grown to more than 700. These numbers come from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

All the turtles at the New England Aquariums hospital are young. Most are the highly endangered Kemps ridley turtles. The migration of these turtles often causes them to become stranded in the New England area. But some are green turtles or loggerheads which are not as endangered.

Kemps ridley is the worlds smallest sea turtle. The turtles mostly live in the Gulf of Mexico. But they travel into the northern Atlantic Ocean when young. A 2019 study in the scientific publication PLoS One said ocean warming increases the chance that turtles will become stunned by the cold in the waters of the Northwest Atlantic. The study said warmer water might push the turtles north in a way that makes stranding more likely.

Melissa Joblon is director of animal health at the New England Aquarium. She said most turtles that arrive at the center are sick: The majority of the turtles arrive with serious ailments such as pneumonia, dehydration, traumatic injuries, or sepsis.

The turtle hospital treats the animals so they can be returned to the wild. Kennedy said they are put in local waters or even taken south to warmer waters. He said about 80 percent survive.

At the end of the day," Kennedy said, "getting these turtles back to the wild is what we are doing and what we want. We want them back in the ocean.

Im Anna Matteo.

Patrick Whittle reported this story for the Associated Press from Portland, Maine. Anna Matteo adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

___________________________________________

Words in This Story

stranded adj. to be unable to leave a place

rehabilitation n. the process of bringing a person or any living thing back to health after an accident or sickness

aquarium n. a place that shows and takes care of fish and other sea life

stun v. to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow

allow v. to let something happen

migration n. to regular movement of animals from one place to another to find food or better weather conditions

ailment n. a sickness or condition that causes pain or poor health

We want to hear from you. Our comment policy is here.
This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2024 shows a marble sculpture of Aphrodite at the National Museum of China in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)



For as long as I can remember, I've been captivated by the allure of museums and inspired by the rich tapestry of mythology they house. So, when the National Museum of China recently unveiled a dazzling collection of ancient Greek treasures, I knew I had to go.

Meandering through the exhibition, one piece bathed in a halo of light was particularly mesmerizing: a masterfully crafted marble sculpture of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

She stands on a pedestal, exuding ethereal grace, her wavy hair elegantly pinned up and her eyes seeming to peer beyond time. In her hand, she clasps the golden apple from Homer's epics, a symbol of unparalleled beauty.

Little did I know that this divine work of art, created two millennia ago, would accompany me home -- albeit as a fridge magnet! The memento was sculpted so meticulously and vividly that it's nothing less than a miniature masterpiece.

It was no easy task securing something to take home with me: A sea of visitors had already formed a queue at the gift shop when I arrived, all eagerly waiting for a chance to take home a souvenir inspired by the gods and goddesses of ancient mythology. Scented candles, fridge magnets, silk scarves and other accessories -- you name it. It was as if the gods themselves had suddenly become retail icons.

The museum has proudly announced that five months of meticulous planning went into the design of over 50 cultural products inspired by the artworks on display as well as their timeless tales.

It was with an amused look that a staff member told me, "Just 10 days after the exhibition opened, more than 10 designs had already sold out. It seems even the gods can't keep up with demand!"

The tour takes me back to a course on ancient Greek mythology I took at the university. While roaming the divine realms of these otherworldly beings, my classmates and I, as Chinese students majoring in English literature, were fascinated to discover striking parallels between Chinese and Greek mythology.

Nyuwa, the Chinese goddess who molds humanity, finds her counterpart in Prometheus, the Greek Titan who fashions humans from earth and endows them with life. Yue Lao, the god who controls lovers' destinies, mirrors Eros, the God of Love. And Hou Yi, the heroic archer who shoots down nine suns, echoes the legendary feats of Heracles.

Whether by mere coincidence or according to Carl Jung's concept of the "collective unconscious," the resonance between these two great civilizations in the East and the West speaks to something intrinsic in human nature. Despite vast cultural differences, humanity shares a fundamental need to understand the world and our place within it. Themes of love and beauty, as well as sacrifice for the greater good, are common threads that weave through these tales.

Interestingly, ancient Chinese and Greek philosophies also share some intriguing parallels. Plato extolled the pursuit of wisdom as a high form of love, a concept that finds similarities in Chinese thought. Zhuangzi, for example, marveled at the silent beauty of nature, saying, "The heavens and the earth have great beauty, yet say nothing." And Lao Tzu described "supreme goodness" as being like water -- flexible, nurturing and unassuming.

These ideas reveal a shared view that true wisdom is the pursuit of harmony and humility -- qualities that transcend cultural boundaries.

Although these myths are thousands of years old, their relevance endures. The tale of Chang'e's flight to the moon, one of the most iconic myths in Chinese folklore, has taken on new meaning in the modern era, especially in light of China's tremendous achievements in space exploration.

Similarly, "the sword of Damocles," a famous symbol from Greek mythology, was referenced just last week when the Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng remarked that the trade war initiated by the United States had become a sword of Damocles hanging over American companies.

Even the word "museum" could trace its roots to the ancient Greek "Mouseion," a sacred space devoted to the Muses -- those divine goddesses who inspired creativity, art, and knowledge in Greek mythology.

These myths are far from mere relics of the past; they remain vibrant symbols and metaphors in contemporary discourse. As one visitor wrote in the exhibition guestbook, "One can see as far into the future as one can into the past."
Germany and Italy have announced they are at war with the United States. America immediately responded by declaring war on the two Axis powers.

Three days ago, US President Franklin Roosevelt announced America was at war with Japan, the third Axis power, following the surprise attack on its naval base at Pearl Harbor.

Today Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, made his declaration first  from the balcony over the Piazza Venezia in Rome  pledging the powers of the pact of steel were determined to win.

Then Adolf Hitler made his announcement at the Reichstag in Berlin saying he had tried to avoid direct conflict with the US but, under the Tripartite Agreement signed on 27 September 1940, Germany was obliged to join with Italy to defend its ally Japan.

After victory has been achieved, he said. Germany, Italy and Japan will continue in closest co-operation with a view to establishing a new and just order.

He accused President Roosevelt of waging a campaign against Germany since 1937, blamed him for the outbreak of war in 1939 and said he was planning to invade Germany in 1943.

Over in Washington, President Roosevelt told Congress the free world must act quickly and decisively against the enemy.

The forces endeavouring to enslave the entire world now are moving towards this hemisphere.

Delay invites danger. Rapid and united efforts by all peoples of the world who are determined to remain free will ensure world victory for the forces of justice and righteousness over the forces of savagery and barbarism.

Resolutions against Germany and Italy were passed without debate. The only person who did not vote for war was pacifist Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin who had also voted against war with Japan.

In the Senate the vote was unanimous.

Both Democrats and Republicans have agreed to adjourn politics for the duration of the war and focus on national defence.

They have passed a new law which allows US servicemen to fight anywhere in the world.

Following the shock of Pearl Harbor, American citizens are flocking to volunteer for the US Navy and Marine Corps which do not take conscripts.

The US Army has already grown tenfold since the draft was introduced last year.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Ten days later, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived in Washington for the so-called Arcadia conference which resulted in the decision to pool British and US resources and develop a strategic policy that would win the war for the Allies.

They also agreed to dispatch US troops to Northern Ireland and Iceland, and finalised the United Nations Declaration which was issued on 1 January 1942.

In retrospect Hitlers decision to declare war on a major world power such as the US seems like a major strategic error.

But he could no longer ignore the amount of economic and military aid America was giving the UK and the Soviet Union via the lend-lease programme.

The German Navy had even fought US warships protecting British supply ships in the Atlantic. The US destroyer Reuben James was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine U-562 on 31 October 1941.

Hitler had been hostile to the USA since the early 1930s. He saw USA as an ideological enemy , racially mixed and therefore inferior.

He also assumed America would be busy fighting Japan while Germany concentrated on taking over the USSR. He would then tackle the British and Americans.
Guangdong Province plans to strengthen trade and industrial integration with the SAR, as trade between Guangdong and Macau reached 15.88 billion yuan in the first 10 months of this year, surpassing the total for all of last year.

Economic ties between Guangdong and Macau have deepened significantly, with trade experiencing a remarkable 25.7% year-on-year increase during this period. Zhang Ke, deputy director of Guangdong Customs, noted in a press conference earlier this week that this growth reflects the positive momentum in Guangdong-Macau economic integration.

According to customs data, total trade between Guangdong and Macau from 1999 to 2023 has reached 307.29 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 5.9%, as reported by Zhang.

This rapid growth stems from the accelerated integration of Macau with the Greater Bay Area, said Liang Haiming, chairman of the Hong Kong-based China Silk Road iValley Research Institute, in an interview with the Global Times.

Zhang outlined several initiatives to strengthen trade and cooperation between Guangdong and Macau, highlighting the implementation of a five-dimensional integration regulatory model designed to streamline customs processes. This includes innovations such as the Cross-Border One Lock project, which allows for seamless customs clearance across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau.

The new one order, two reports system simplifies documentation for businesses, reducing costs and improving efficiency. The customs authority has also focused on enhancing food safety and security for Macau residents, who rely heavily on mainland imports. About 80% of fresh produce in Macau comes from Guangdong, with customs facilitating the safe delivery of over 4.7 million tons of fresh goods since 1999.

Meanwhile, since the new customs management system was implemented in March, trade between Hengqin and Macau has reached 750 million yuan, marking a 32.8% increase. Zhang emphasized that this accelerated industrial integration establishes a solid foundation for a unified development framework between Hengqin and Macau.

According to Liang, these developments strengthen Macaus role as a hub, providing key support for its economic diversification while attracting more tourists, talent, and investment, and promoting growth in industries such as tourism, exhibitions, and finance. Nadia Shaw
Travel agencies are seeing an uptick in international travel for the Christmas season.

This increase reflects a growing desire among travelers to explore global destinations during the holiday period.

As cited in a Macao Daily News report, travel agencies have reported that popular destinations this year include Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, with Japan emerging as the most sought-after location for group tours.

The most popular Japan tour ranges from MOP10,000 to MOP13,000.

Currently, airfare from Macau to Tokyo and Osaka is around MOP6,000.

Despite the high ticket prices, seats are in high demand. It is estimated that one-third of local residents will join group tours via Hong Kong this year.

In past peak seasons, there were package tours from Macau to destinations beyond Tokyo and Osaka, but this year, due to airline flight arrangements, additional routes could not be added, preventing some tours from forming.

Meanwhile, the trend is further supported by an increase in interest in mainland China as a travel destination.

Reports indicate a 43% rise in locals utilizing travel agency services for trips to hotspots like Harbin and Yunnan.

Meanwhile, outbound travel has rebounded significantly, with recent reports indicating a 45% increase in trips taken by residents during the first 10 months of this year.

This surge brings travel numbers back to levels not seen since before the pandemic, marking a notable recovery for the regions tourism sector.

According to data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), approximately 473,000 residents sought outbound travel services from agencies between January and October.

The Public Security Police Force noted that as of Dec. 7, Macau residents accounted for over 72 million of the record-breaking 200 million border crossings this year.

While November and December statistics are still pending, the current data suggests a robust recovery in outbound travel.

Airport passenger rates have also improved, with a 57% increase compared to last year, although they remain at about 80% of pre-pandemic levels.

As a busy holiday season approaches, local tourism industry representatives are optimistic about its continued growth. Nadia Shaw
Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country, drawing to within 25 kilometers of the capital, a Syrian opposition war monitor said yesterday. Israel denied its forces were advancing toward Damascus.

Associated Press reporters in Damascus heard heavy airstrikes overnight and into yesterday on the city and its suburbs. Photographs circulating online showed destroyed missile launchers, helicopters and warplanes.

There was no immediate comment from the insurgent groups  led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS  that have taken control of Damascus.

Israel had earlier seized a roughly 400-square-kilometer buffer zone inside Syria that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war, a move it said was taken to prevent attacks in the aftermath of the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

Israel has also said it is striking suspected chemical weapons sites and heavy weapons to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israeli officials rarely acknowledge individual strikes.

Israel has a long history of seizing territory during wars with its neighbors and occupying it indefinitely, citing security concerns. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has closely tracked the conflict since the civil war erupted nearly 14 years ago, said Israel has carried out more than 300 airstrikes across the country since rebels overthrew Assad over the weekend, ending his familys half-century rule.

The Observatory, and Beirut-based Mayadeen TV, which has reporters in Syria, said Israeli troops are advancing up the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon. It was not possible to independently confirm the reports.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said the reports circulating in the media about the alleged advancement of Israeli tanks towards Damascus are false. He said Israeli troops are stationed within the buffer zone in order to protect Israel.

Israels military had previously said troops would enter the buffer zone and several other places necessary for its defense.

Israeli media meanwhile reported that the air force was methodically destroying Syrias military assets to ensure whoever rules the country next would have to rebuild them.

The operations have been systematically destroying all that remains of the escaped tyrants military, wrote Yossi Yehoshua, the military correspondent for Israels largest daily, Yediot Ahronot.

Dozens upon dozens of targets, including arms depots of various kinds, have been hit in waves of attacks so as to prevent them from falling into hostile hands and from posing a threat to Israel. The air force currently enjoys complete freedom of action, he added.

Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have condemned Israels incursion, accusing it of exploiting the disarray in Syria and violating international law.

The assaults carried out by the Israeli occupation government, including the seizure of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights, and the targeting of Syrian territory confirm Israels continued violation of the principles of international law and its determination to sabotage Syrias chances of restoring its security, stability and territorial integrity, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

Saudi Arabia has been in talks with the United States in recent years over normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for a U.S. defense pact, American assistance in establishing a civilian nuclear program and a pathway to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

But the kingdom has also repeatedly condemned Israels actions in the Gaza Strip, where it is at war with the Hamas militant group. Last month, Saudi Arabias crown prince and day-to-day ruler Mohammed bin Salman accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, allegations Israel adamantly rejects. SARAH EL DEEB, BASSEM MROUE & MELANIE LIDMAN, DAMASCUS, MDT/AP
AMemorandum of Understanding for the implementation of Hengqin Upstream Cargo Terminal Project was signed earlier this week, according to the Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM).

CAM executive committee chairman Chan Weng Hong said demand for air cargo is increasing alongside rapid development of e-commerce, the same statement read.

Since September 2022, CAM has cooperated with COSCO Shipping Logistics & Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd., later establishing a joint venture company Guangdong Hengqin Macau International Airport Logistics Co., Ltd.

A Four-Party Agreement was signed after the first capital injection into the joint venture, and several key agreements for the project were also signed successively this year.

In November, the joint venture company successfully bid for a 66,700 square meter land for logistics use, upon which a new cargo terminal will be built for the project.

Predicted to start construction in early 2025, the project aims to enhance local aviation logistics capabilities and to actively develop the regional economy.

The acquisition of the land parcel costs approximately RMB129 million. Staff Reporter
The 8th UNESCO UNITWIN Conference, themed, World Heritage as Resilience for Tourism Recovery, recentlu took place in Zhuhai, marking the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. Organized by the UNESCO UNITWIN Network and several universities, the conference gathered global scholars to discuss how heritage can foster resilience and sustainable tourism. Key discussions emphasized interdisciplinary approaches to heritage management, showcasing successful case studies and innovative strategies for revitalizing local communities through cultural resources.

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This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2024 shows the 100,000th China-Europe freight train at Duisburg Intermodal Terminal (DIT) in Duisburg, Germany. [Photo/Xinhua]

For much of 2024, electric vehicle (EV) disputes have weighed heavily on the economic and trade ties between China and the European Union (EU).

The "love-hate" relationship, marked by both friction and interdependence, has left the two powers navigating a precarious path -- seeking common ground even as uncertainty looms.

Uncertainties cloud cooperation

What started as an EU investigation in late 2023 spiraled into a year-long clash with additional tariffs imposed by the EU on Chinese-made EVs. However, with negotiations still ongoing, it is clear that neither side is ready to give up on finding a way forward.

Chinese car manufacturers once viewed Europe as an open and promising market. The EU's "non-market" measures are eroding their trust and confidence.

A report published Monday by the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU), in partnership with global consultancy Roland Berger, paints a sobering picture of strained ties and growing unease among Chinese businesses operating in the bloc.

The report, based on a four-month survey and in-depth interviews with around 200 Chinese businesses in the EU, underscores that "uncertainty" has become a defining factor for Chinese enterprises operating in the EU.

Chinese businesses have expressed concerns about the growing politicization of commercial sectors and urged the EU to create a fair, transparent, and predictable market environment for foreign enterprises, the report says.

Meanwhile, Brussels-based economic think tank Bruegel has said in a different report that the EU's punitive tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles are a mistake, which will do more harm than good.

Trade disputes also tend to have spill-over effects, it said, and such disputes between the EU and China will strain overall bilateral relations.

High tariffs on Chinese EVs are harmful to the future of the European economy, Croatian analyst Mladen Plese said in an interview with Xinhua in September. Europe should be ready for healthy competition with China, and must not follow the United States' lead when it comes to tariffs on EVs, he said, adding, "It is in the interests of everyone in Europe to cooperate with China."

Beyond the EV sector, other industries critical to Europe's green transition such as battery manufacturing, solar panels, wind turbines, and hydrogen technology, have also faced various challenges from the EU.

The economic relationship between China and Europe is indeed facing new challenges, Denis Depoux, global managing director at Roland Berger said, noting that the EU's complex positioning of China forces businesses to navigate an unpredictable and delicate balance.

Continued economic resilience

Despite increasing challenges, trade between China and the EU demonstrated its resilience in 2024.

China's foreign trade with the EU amounted to 4.18 trillion yuan (576.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of 2024, up 0.9 percent year-on-year, statistics show. According to data from the CCCEU, since 2024, the average daily bilateral trade volume has surpassed 2 billion euros (2.1 billion U.S. dollars).

The China-Europe freight train service characterizes this resilience. As of July 10, China-Europe freight train trips in 2024 had surpassed 10,000, reaching this number 19 days earlier than last year. The freight train service's network currently reaches 224 cities in 25 European countries.

Moreover, by Nov. 15, cumulative China-Europe freight train trips had surpassed 100,000 since its inception 13 years ago, underscoring the enduring strength of this economic link between the two sides.

"Despite disruptions from geopolitical dynamics, economic fluctuations ... China-EU bilateral ties and economic and trade cooperation continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience, immense potential, and vibrant vitality amidst turbulent times," said CCCEU Chairman Liu Jiandong.

Chinese investments in the EU remained a spotlight. More than 2,800 Chinese enterprises operate across Europe, employing over 270,000 local workers, according to CCCEU data.

Chinese battery giant CATL and renewable energy firm Envision Energy have established factories in European countries like Germany, Hungary, and France, bolstering local clean energy infrastructure.

According to a survey released by the German Chamber of Commerce in China, a significant majority of German companies plan to maintain their operations in China, with many intending to increase investment within the next two years.

The Business Confidence Survey Report for 2024/25, conducted between Sept. 3 and Oct. 8 with 546 member companies, revealed that 92 percent of German firms intend to continue their operations in the country. Despite market challenges, only 0.4 percent are considering an exit.

Clas Neumann, chairperson of the board of the German Chamber of Commerce in east China, said, "German companies are addressing current market challenges and mitigating risks while positioning themselves to take advantage of the opportunities at hand."

More than 5,000 German enterprises have taken root in China, and the Chinese market is of great significance to them, said Maximilian Butek, chief representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce Shanghai.

Looking forward to enhanced collaboration

China-EU relations are strategically significant and hold broad development prospects. China is the world's largest developing economy, and the EU is the largest union of developed countries. China-EU cooperation has served as a stabilizer for a long time in a turbulent world, injecting many certainties into the global system.

The two sides also have deeply integrated industrial and supply chains. As Cai Run, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, said at an EU-China Forum held last month in Brussels, the EU and China should position themselves as partners rather than rivals. They should strengthen pragmatic cooperation instead of pursuing "decoupling," and work together to bring greater stability and certainty to the world rather than adding complexity.

Despite challenges, there are reasons for optimism as 2025 approaches. Next year's 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties is an important node of connecting the past with the future, an opportunity to boost mutually beneficial cooperation.

As 2024 draws to a close, the challenge now for the two sides is to find a way forward together.
The Specialized World Stamp Exhibition will take place in Macau for the first time in 2026, and will be held at Venetian Macao Conference & Exhibition Centre. Regarded as one of the worlds major philatelic events, the exhibition will feature around 50 booths and will run from June 26 to July 1 of that year. Postal administration representatives, stamp dealers, and philatelic experts and enthusiasts across the world are expected to display their collections and compete for awards at the event.

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An aerial drone photo taken on March 20, 2024 shows a container ship berthing at the Tianjin Port in Tianjin, north China. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's total goods imports and exports maintained steady growth in the first 11 months of 2024, expanding by 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms, official data showed Tuesday.



Goods trade value expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

China's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during this period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data revealed.

In November alone, goods imports and exports saw a year-on-year increase of 1.2 percent to total 3.75 trillion yuan -- maintaining growth for an eighth consecutive month.

Specifically, exports of mechanical and electrical products accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total during the January-November period, with exports of containers, ships and motorcycles increasing by 108.7 percent, 65.3 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively, the data showed.

During the first 11 months, agricultural products reached a broad overseas market, as exports of dried and fresh fruits and nuts, vegetables and edible fungi, and alcohol and beverages increased by 22.2 percent, 11.4 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.

Among various market entities, private enterprises in this period saw their foreign trade increase by 8.7 percent year on year -- remaining the leading force in terms of China's foreign trade. Meanwhile, imports and exports of foreign-invested firms increased by 1.1 percent.

Market diversification also sustained momentum. In the first 11 months of 2024, China's trade with traditional partners such as the European Union, the United States and the Republic of Korea achieved growth of 1.3 percent, 4.2 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.

China's trade with countries participating in Belt and Road cooperation during this period saw a year-on-year increase of 6 percent, while that with ASEAN countries rose by 8.6 percent.

In this period, China's foreign trade with Latin America and Africa increased by 7.9 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

The State Council recently issued a package of policy measures aimed at promoting the stable growth of foreign trade, while the Ministry of Commerce, the GAC and other departments also launched specific measures to accelerate the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, further optimize the business environment at ports, and promote the convenience of customs clearance for enterprises, said Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis.

"With the concerted efforts of both stock and incremental policies in the field, China is expected to end the year with a smooth performance in foreign trade and achieve the goal of stable quality and quantity," Lyu noted.
Cairo, EgyptSudan has become the biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded after 20 months of devastating war between rival generals, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said in a report released Wednesday.

The country accounts for 10 percent of all people in humanitarian need, despite being home to less than one percent of global population, the New York-based organization said in their 2025 Emergency Watchlist.

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Since April 2023, a war between the Sudanese regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted 12 million.

Nearly nine million of those are displaced within Sudan, most in areas with decimated infrastructure and facing the threat of mass starvation.

Across the country, nearly 26 million peoplearound half the populationare facing acute hunger, according to the United Nations.

Famine has already been declared in the Zamzam displacement camp in the western Darfur region, and the United Nations has said Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in recent memory.

IRCs report highlights the 20 countries at greatest risk of humanitarian deterioration, with Sudan ranking highest on the list for the second year in a row.

They said a total of 30.4 million people were in humanitarian need across the northeast African country, making it the largest humanitarian crisis since records began, the IRC said.

There is no end to the war in sight, with both parties intensifying strikes on residential areas in recent weeks.

The IRC warned of total humanitarian collapse, as the health crisis was set to worsen and both sides continued to choke humanitarian access.

Around 305 million people worldwide are in need of humanitarian support, according to IRC, with 82 percent of them in watchlist areas such as the occupied Palestinian territories, Myanmar, Syria, South Sudan and Lebanon.

It is clear that the world is on fire is a daily reality for hundreds of millions of people, IRC chief David Miliband said.

The world is being cleaved into two camps: between those born in unstable conflict states, and those with a chance to make it in stable states.
Protests have rocked the Georgian capital of Tbilisi for eight days straight, with angry crowds surrounding the parliament building, bearing Jersualem Cross and EU flags and hurling fireworks at police lines. The opposition at the head of the movement denies the legitimacy of the pro-Russian Georgian Dream regime. Meanwhile, western politicians lavish praise on the protestors and threaten sanctions, seeing an opportunity to drag Georgia firmly under their sphere of influence  all (naturally) in the name of upholding democracy.

Like many former Soviet countries, Georgian politics is divided between competing blocs of oligarchs, distinguished only by their degree of subservience to the West. On paper, both Georgian Dream and the opposition (headed by the pro-western liberal United National Movement, ENM) are committed to joining the EU. Georgian Dream even enshrined this objective in the countrys constitution in 2017.

Nevertheless, the rabidly pro-European, right-wing opposition (which ruled from 2003 to 2012) accuses Georgian Dream and its influential founder (Georgias richest man), Bidzina Ivanishvili, of being too pro-Russian for attempting to mend relations with Moscow following the 2008 war, in which Georgia was soundly defeated.

The question of Georgias relations with Russia has erupted into periodic protests outside the parliament building over the past several years. The leadership of these protests is wholly reactionary, consisting of petty-bourgeois nationalists and anti-Russian liberals. Although in these large crowds, there is no doubt a layer of workers drawn in with illusions that EU integration will improve the economic and social problems that plague Georgian society.

Historically, Georgian Dream has always denied allegations of favouring Russia, and asserted its commitment to joining the European Community  in a bid to secure western investments. In 2016, then-Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili called the USA a strategic partner of Georgia and one of the main international guarantors of its sovereignty. The party even pledged its commitment to joining NATO.

But the current Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, is charting a different path. He accuses western European leaders and the opposition of belonging to a Global War Party that is hellbent on turning Georgia into a new front in the Ukraine War. When that conflict began in 2022, he initially expressed support for Kiev, but has since changed his tune, condemning NATOs role in provoking the war and accusing Ukraine of trying to drag Georgia into the fray. Relations with Ukraine soured further in February after Georgian authorities seized what they said was a truck loaded with explosives intended for terrorist activity in Russia, a claim the Ukrainians did not outright deny.

This year has also seen deteriorating relations between Georgia and the West. In May, the government passed a foreign agents bill, which requires non-governmental and media organisations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from outside Georgia to register as bodies pursuing the interests of a foreign power. This was aimed at the many foreign NGOs in Georgia, which the government accuses (correctly) of being vectors of western power and influence. Kobakhidze and Ivanishvili both threatened that the main opposition parties could be banned under these laws. Georgian Dream also passed a bill in October that severely limits democratic rights for LGBT people, leaning on backward sentiments to shore up their support.

The opposition decried these new laws, which they called anti-democratic and imitations of Russian legislation. It is rather ironic that the ENM is trying to position itself as a champion of democracy, given its record of viciously repressing protest during its last stint in power. This brutality, coupled with a reactionary economic policy of cuts and privatisations, rampant corruption, and dragging the country into a losing war, is what led to them being booted out in 2012. The unofficial leader of ENM, former President Mikheil Saakashvili, is in jail for abuse of power during his time in office.

Georgian Dream is also a reactionary bourgeois party, and Kobakhidze is a demagogue who frames the geopolitical situation in a crude fashion, claiming the Global War Party exists as a literal, Illuminati-style entity. What he presents in the form of a conspiracy theory is nothing more nor less than the encroachment of Western imperialist interests on Georgian affairs.

The question of Georgias relations with Russia has erupted into periodic protests / Image: Jelger Groeneveld, Flickr

But we must say, when it comes to his warnings about the danger of provoking Russia  he has a point! The aggressively pro-western policy pursued by the United National Movement led Georgia to the 2008 war, egged on by EU and US imperialists, and ended in a swift defeat and the loss of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Kobakhidze has clearly looked at the situation in Ukraine and recognises that his interests might be better served by a course correction.

Kobakhidze is also not wrong that efforts are underway from abroad to drag Georgia westwards. This became clear following the October elections, in which Georgian Dream held onto power with over 50 percent of the official vote. Several months prior, opposition forces fragmented into two main blocs, one led by the ENM (Unity  National Movement) and a grouping of smaller parties organised as Coalition for Change. These divisions resulted from petty factionalism rather than any point of political principle, and both blocs presented a functionally identical programme defined exclusively by enthusiasm for the EU and hostility to Moscow. Both received roughly the same vote (10 and 11 percent respectively).

By contrast, Kobakhidze turned his fire on western meddling in Georgian affairs and accused the opposition of risking conflict with Russia. It is not hard to imagine how this message carried the day over a divided opposition.

Afterwards, the opposition accused Georgian Dream of manipulating the vote, though they did not explain how, nor present any proof. They made the same claim in 2020, triggering large protests in the capital. International observers, including the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) agreed there had been vote manipulation but have not released any report and refused to be drawn on whether this materially affected the outcome.

The squabble over the results did not immediately trigger protests. These came a month later, when the European Parliament passed a resolution citing significant irregularities in the October vote, claiming they were neither free nor fair and should be re-run under international supervision! In other words, the EU did not like the result and is now demanding new elections, presumably until its favoured party wins.

This is a scandalous move, which amounts to an attempt by a foreign body to overturn an election result, in the absence of any hard proof of manipulation. In response, Kobakhidze shelved talks on joining the EU until at least 2028, accusing some European leaders of blackmail. Despite the outrage over this move, the EU had already suspended this process in the Summer, citing the foreign agents bill and new anti-LGBT laws.

Emboldened by their western European allies, the opposition declared the election results null and void, refused to take their seats in parliament, and called for mass protests outside the parliament building. They also accused Georgian Dream of conducting a power grab with its plans to change the (largely ceremonial) office of the President from an elected position to one chosen by a government committee.

The current President, Salome Zourabichvili, whose tenure is due to expire in a month, has pushed herself to the forefront of the protest movement, calling Georgian Dreams win part of a special Russian operation, again, with absolutely no evidence of Russian interference. She has already held talks (behind closed doors) with French President Macron, and claims to have consulted Donald Trump about the countrys future. Clearly, she imagines herself as leading a new government.

While actual violence has up to now been limited, the government has clamped down on the protests, alleging the presence of foreign trainers and arresting about 100 people, as well as raiding opposition offices. This has all been met with a hail of condemnation from western imperialist institutions. Washington has already imposed a series of travel restrictions on Georgian Dream politicians, and on Saturday, the US Department of State said in a statement:

By suspending Georgias EU accession process, Georgian Dream has rejected the opportunity for closer ties with Europe and made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin We reiterate our call to the Georgian government to return to its Euro-Atlantic path, transparently investigate all parliamentary election irregularities, and repeal anti-democratic laws that limit freedoms of assembly and expression.

If you remove the cynical references to democratic rights, the statement can be summed up in this one sentence: we reiterate our call to the Georgian government to return to its Euro-Atlantic path. In plain English, this means: we are your bosses and we are telling you to submit to our imperialist domination rather than Russias.

British Foreign Minister David Lammy sternly warned that [t]he shocking scenes of violence towards protestors and journalists by the Georgian authorities are unacceptable and must stop. He added that the UK would immediately suspend all programme support to the Georgian government, restrict defence cooperation, and limit engagement with representatives of Georgian Dream government until there is a halt to this move away from European democratic norms and freedoms. The US and EU are also drawing up a list of possible sanctions to pile pressure on Tbilisi.

We really must pause and admire the brazen hypocrisy of these ladies and gentlemen, who have not issued a single sanction against their genocidal Israeli allies; who sent in state authorities to crush peaceful domestic student protests in solidarity with Gaza; and who enjoy cordial relations with head-chopping despots like the House of Saud.

The likes of Lammy and the EU issue homilies on the rules-based order and democratic values, while nakedly conspiring with the opposition  which was rejected in the elections  to engineer regime change in a sovereign nation. The western press is awash with glowing headlines about the protests in Georgia, where, they say the people are fighting for their democratic European dreams. They conveniently ignore the fact that the opposition was just defeated in an election, which everyone claims was rigged, but which nobody can prove.

We have seen similar manoeuvres this week in Romania, where Calin Georgescu, an anti-NATO, anti-EU, anti-Ukraine war candidate, won the first round of the presidential election, to everyone's surprise. Then, as he was about to win the runoff by a large margin, a court decided to annul the first round. The EU cheered this farce on, as it alleged "Russian influence" had swayed the electorate in the first round.

Here and in Georgia, we see the real value of so-called democratic principles. If the peoples of Eastern Europe  or anywhere else for that matter  happen to elect the wrong candidate, from the perspective of western imperialism, then this mistake must be undone or else they will be subject to diplomatic strong-arming, colour revolutions, sanctions or even military intervention.

The whole situation carries echoes of the Euromaidan in Ukraine in 2014 / Image: DrewPavlou, Twitter

The whole situation carries echoes of the Euromaidan in Ukraine in 2014, in which Washington and its allies helped engineer an uprising that removed one oligarch which was seen as not pliable enough and installed a wing of the oligarchy much more closely aligned to their interests. The consequences of this manoeuvre, including a civil war in 2014-15 and the rise of armed neo-Nazi gangs, can be seen today in Ukraine, which has been laid low by years of war, with hundreds of thousands of its people slaughtered in Washingtons proxy war against Russia.

Moscow has for now been circumspect about the situation in Georgia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Russia was interfering in Georgian politics, and drew parallels between the current protests in Georgia and the Maidan protests in Ukraine, saying: Georgia is moving rapidly along the Ukrainian path into the dark abyss, adding that this would end very badly. Even if it is true that Russia is influencing the policy of Georgian Dream, this has not been nearly so explicit as Western support for the opposition.

The situation in Georgia, as with so many other countries in Eastern Europe, is a tragic product of the collapse of the USSR, which opened the floodgates to gangster capitalism, with gangs of oligarchs carving up the remnants of the planned economy for themselves, with the backing of imperialism. What the democratic West envisions for Georgia is not freedom for its population, but merely to open up the countrys labour and resources for exploitation; and to push back against their main geopolitical rival in the region.

We condemn the rank hypocrisy of the western imperialists, who preach democratic values while maneuvering to place their allies in power over the heads of the people, who risk plunging millions into the hell of war to preserve their control over markets and spheres of interest. A decent existence for the people of the former USSR does not lie under the yoke of western domination, nor that of capitalist Russia, but through completing the great historic tasks begun by the Bolsheviks in 1917.
A human rights organization has demanded a thorough investigation into senior officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo for what it describes as deliberate and coordinated violence against protesters. Last August, security forces in the eastern city of Goma used lethal force to quash demonstrations organized by a local sect known as Wazalendo, who were rallying against the long-standing U.N. peacekeeping mission.

According to the groups findings, Congolese military and police units killed at least 56 individuals and wounded dozens more. Evidence reviewed by the rights advocates suggests this was no accident; internal directives reportedly encouraged soldiers to destroy isolated enemy elements. Among those implicated are a former provincial governor and two top-ranking military officers. While one commander has already been sentenced to deathan outcome the advocates oppose on principleothers have yet to face any accountability.

The deadly response highlights the entrenched frustrations in the region, where ordinary people feel unprotected against armed groups and rebel factions. Protesters had long accused U.N. forces of failing to safeguard communities, which have endured decades of violence and displacement. Observers now call on Congolese authorities to ensure impartial inquiries that adhere to international standards. They urge the suspension of senior officials allegedly involved and an overhaul of security measures so that demonstrations are met with dialogue and restraint, not deadly force.
In Nairobi, hundreds took to the streets to decry a relentless wave of femicides, only to be met with tear gas and brutal police dispersion. Rallying under the cry of Stop femicide, demonstrators aimed to draw attention to an alarming rise in the killings of women and girlsacts often committed by intimate partners. Yet, instead of dialogue, security forces responded with force, shattering the hope of peaceful assembly and leaving scores injured.

Activists expressed profound frustration. Some pointed to a constitution that guarantees freedoms of assembly and speech, accusing authorities of disregarding basic rights. Others pleaded for a genuine commitment to halting gender-based violence. Womens groups insist that the government must do more than pledge funding; it must deliver concrete policies, reliable protections, and swift accountability for perpetrators.

Recent statistics paint a grim picture: nearly a hundred women killed between August and November 2024, and a notorious case in which a confessed murderer of dozens of women escaped custody. These events fuel widespread disillusionment. Many wonder whether Kenyas position on the U.N. Human Rights Council is more symbolic than substantial.

The protesters marched to mark not only their ongoing sorrow, but also to spotlight the lack of meaningful reforms. As tear gas fades, one message remains clear: Without tangible action, the cycle of violence and injustice continues, and the lives of women remain at grave risk.
Death toll has surpassed 104 in post-election protests in Mozambique amid escalating lawlessness on the part of civilian and security forces

The Mozambican police forces fired several shots again on Monday (9 December) to disperse demonstrators in a neighborhood at the outskirts of Maputo city.

Apart from those killed, also around 350 others were reportedly injured in the east African country since 21 October following disputed results of the presidential elections. The escalating violence coincides with fresh allegations of an attempt to assassinate Venancio Mondlane, leader of the PODEMOS opposition party and the runner-up in last months disputed presidential election, who is disputing the results.

Demonstrations began on 24 October when Mozambique electoral authority declared the long-time ruling party Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) candidate Daniel Chapo the winner with 70% of the votes cast, while Mondlane came in second with 20%, prompting him to challenge the vote as being fraudulent and call for protests. Meanwhile, the antigovernment demonstrations have also forced the shutdown of two power stations near the border with South Africa, causing electricity shortages across the south of the country and in neighboring Zambia. South Africas transport minister has said that Mozambican authorities plan an indefinite closure of the border due to civil unrest.
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A view of the general Hospital Panzi in southwestern Congo, Thursday, Nov 5, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Lucien Lufutu

The mystery flu-like illness that has killed dozens of people in southwest Congo in recent weeks might be malaria, according to results from laboratory samples of infected people, authorities said Wednesday.

"Of the 12 samples taken, nine were positive for malaria but these samples were not of very good quality, so we are continuing to research to find out if this is an epidemic," Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, director-general of the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, told The Associated Press.

"But it is very likely that it is malaria because most of the victims are children," he added.

On Tuesday, the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also said most of the samples tested positive for malaria, but noted it is possible that more than one disease was involved. He said further samples will be collected and tested.

In recent weeks, there were 416 reported cases of the mystery disease and 31 deaths from it in hospitals, WHO director-general said. There were another 44 deaths in the community, Congo's health minister Roger Kamba said last week.

Most of the cases and deaths are in children under 14 in the remote Panzi health zone in Congo's western Kwango province, according to the WHO.

Panzi resident Ezekiel Kasongo said his 9-year-old son was just released from the hospital after he fell sick two weeks ago.

"He had a high fever, a headache and was very weak," Kasongo told the AP. "We were very worried because of the number of deaths, especially among children, but God be praised, he is out."

The symptoms include fever, headache, cough and anemia. Experts from the National Rapid Response Team and WHO were in Panzi last week to take samples and investigate.

The Panzi health zone, around 435 miles (700 kilometers) from the capital, Kinshasa, is hard to access. The experts took two days to arrive, according to Congo's health minister.

Because of the lack of local testing capacity, samples had to be taken to Kikwit, more than 500 kilometers away, the head of the National Institute for Public Health, Dieudonne Mwamba, said last week.

Panzi was hit by an epidemic of typhoid fever two years ago, and there is currently a resurgence of seasonal flu across the country, Mwamba added.

The area also has high levels of malnutrition and low vaccination coverage, leaving children vulnerable to a range of diseases including malaria, the head of the WHO said Tuesday.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Public health authorities are seeking to determine if a Marin County, California, child stricken with flu could have potentially contracted the illness by drinking infected raw milk that was subject to a recall.

The presumptive bird flu case was announced on Friday, in a Dec. 6 Marin County health newsletter, which provided few details about the case or the county and state's investigation.

"Since announcing multiple recalls of raw milk due to contamination with bird flu, state and local public health experts have received reports of illnesses from 10 individuals who reported drinking raw milk," said Ali Bay, spokeswoman for the state's public health department.

She said that initial county and state public health laboratory testing had not identified any positive bird flu infections in these individuals, but that one Marin County child who tested positive for it had recovered.

H5N1 bird flu is classified as an Influenza A virusa group that includes most human seasonal flu viruses as well.

Additional testing is being conducted to assess whether the child was infected with bird flu or seasonal flu.

Bay said the state, along with Marin County Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are working collaboratively on this investigation and "will provide updates as they are available."

Lisa Santora, Marin County's public health officer, didn't immediately respond to emails and calls from The Times.

In the last two weeks, state health and agriculture officials suspended and recalled infected raw milk that had made its way to grocery store shelves throughout the state.

It is unclear if people can get bird flu by consuming the virus in milk. It is thought that acids in the stomach denature the virus, said Michael Imperiale, a virologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

However, scores of barn cats, mice and other animals have been sickenedand have diedby drinking infected raw milk. Imperiale and others note that most mammals consume food differently than people, often putting their mouths and noses into their food, potentially exposing themselves via respiratory routes, as opposed to becoming infected through the gut.

It is presumed most infected dairy workers were exposed to H5N1 via milk spray in the eye or in the nose, not as a result of drinking it.

However, handling infected raw milkwiping it on one's hands and then nose or eyescould provide a potential route for infection.

Since H5N1 bird flu was first identified in 1996 in birds in China's Guangdong province, there have been few, if any, reports of people becoming sick with the disease as a result of eating or drinking it.

Irrespective of the route of infection, Bay noted that "pasteurization kills bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk" and that choosing pasteurized milk and dairy products "is the best way to keep you and your family safe."

Cooking meat and eggs thoroughly will also inactivate virus.

If confirmed, the Marin County case would be the 59th human case of H5N1 in the U.S. since the outbreak started in dairy cows in March.

It would also be the second case in California in which the source of infection has not been determined. A child in Alameda County was diagnosed with the disease last month. Genetic sequencing of that child's virus indicates it has similarities to the strain circulating in dairy cows, known as B3.13, as opposed to the strains now moving in migrating birds.

Both strains belong to the strain of H5N1 known as 2.3.4.4b, which has infected roughly 50 species of mammals and killed millions of wild birds and commercial poultry.

2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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For patients undergoing liver resection, hypovolemic phlebotomy reduces perioperative red blood cell transfusions compared with usual care, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Guillaume Martel, M.D., from the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues conducted a superiority, randomized controlled trial to examine whether hypovolemic phlebotomy before liver resection is superior to usual care for reducing red blood cell transfusions. A total of 486 patients were randomly assigned to receive hypovolemic phlebotomy (removal of 7 to 10 mL/kg of whole blood without volume replacement) or usual care (245 and 241 participants, respectively); 22 and 18 patients, respectively, were excluded from the primary analysis population as they did not undergo liver resection.

The researchers found that 8 and 16 percent of patients assigned to hypovolemic phlebotomy and usual care, respectively, had a perioperative red blood cell transfusion by 30 days (difference, 8.8 percentage points; adjusted risk ratio, 0.47). Overall, 17 and 16 percent of patients allocated to hypovolemic phlebotomy and usual care, respectively, had severe complications to 30 days; overall complications to 30 days occurred in 61 and 52 percent, respectively. No postoperative mortality was seen to 90 days.

"Use of hypovolemic phlebotomy before liver transection resulted in significantly fewer perioperative red blood cell transfusions than with usual care," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

More information: Guillaume Martel et al, Hypovolaemic phlebotomy in patients undergoing hepatic resection at higher risk of blood loss (PRICE-2): a randomised controlled trial, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(24)00307-8 Journal information: The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology

 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Axial CT image with i.v. contrast. Macrocystic adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. Credit: public domain

Cancer researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia see promise in personalized medicine to help crack the code on improving diagnosis and treatment options for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer accounts for 3% of all cancers and a disproportionate 7% of cancer deaths. That's partly because there's no routine screening to test for the disease whose symptoms can be mistaken as indigestion or the flu. As a result, pancreatic cancer is often not detected until it has spread to other organs and become more difficult to treat.

But researchers are increasingly learning how each person's cancer is unique and how to tailor treatment to their disease's profile. They are also finding genetic links to pancreatic cancer that could help detect it sooner and lead to new treatment options.

For instance, researchers are learning that the BRCA gene mutations most commonly associated with breast cancer also increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Understanding the role of genetics in pancreatic cancer could help doctors monitor for the disease more vigilantly, and influence the treatment approach they recommend.

Sanjay Reddy, division chief for surgical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center and co-director of Fox Chase's pancreatic cancer institute, spoke with The Inquirer about the latest in pancreatic cancer treatment and research. The interview has been edited lightly for length and clarity.

What are the screening and preventive care options for pancreatic cancer?

There's really no screening test that we have available for pancreatic cancer for the general population.

In pancreatic cancer, there are oftentimes few symptoms, or when symptoms end up arising, it's almost to the point where the cancer may have metastasized. Simple things like weight loss, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain can all be symptoms, but those are things anyone can have.

You have to be really attentive to your body and seek out preventive medicine. Go to your primary care, get some labs.

Some families may be at higher risk genetically, and in those situations you can justify imaging or more regular monitoring. This is one of the reasons it's important for you to know your family history.

What should people know about BRCA gene mutations and pancreatic cancer?

The BRCA mutation has historically been associated with breast cancer, but what we've learned is that there are other cancers that you may be susceptible to with that mutation, and pancreatic cancer is one of them.

What we know about that disease is that when you have that mutation, certain chemotherapies, particularly platinum-based chemotherapies, are particularly sensitive to those types of patients.

One patient had a BRCA mutation and we knew that she was sensitive to platinum drugs. So, before we did any sort of surgical intervention, she underwent chemotherapy with a three-drug regiment with platinum. She had a marvelous response. When we took out her tumor, we calculated how much dead tumor there is versus live tumor, and there was like 100% tumor kill.

Those are the patients that will ultimately have, we hope, the longest survival.

Are you seeing any diagnosis trends in pancreatic cancer?

This is a disease that really affects a wide range of patients, age-wise. I've seen patients as young as their late 20s, early 30s, to patients as old as into their 80s. I think that genetic predisposition is potentially playing a role in detecting patients earlier.

At the same time, what I think has been the biggest help in diagnosis is spreading awareness. There have been so many more high-profile people in the news who have been willing to share their diagnosis and their journey, and I think it's bringing to light a lot of these subtle symptoms for patients to be more proactive in thinking about.

What's new and exciting in pancreatic cancer research?

There's a lot of emerging thought and excitement about biomarkers [molecules, proteins or bits of genes that can be linked to a certain cancer] and figuring out ways to detect pancreatic cancer earlier.

We have a very old blood test that we've been using forever, CA 19-9, [which measures a protein that, in high amounts, could be a sign of pancreatic cancer]. That alone is not a marker for pancreatic cancer, but that's one test we have in our arsenal.

The hope is we can develop better circulating type blood tests that may detect cells much earlier.

2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Canadian Journal of Cardiology

A new study assessing provincial and territorial variations in reimbursement criteria of drug coverage for patients covered by Canada's public pharmacare programs for two common cardiovascular conditions revealed significant inequities and deficiencies in access to medications and treatment.

The article appearing in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology exposes the complexities of the Canadian drug review process and makes a case for a unified framework to improve the present infrastructure, moving towards ensuring the best care for patients with cardiovascular disease.

Canada has been praised for its universal health care system and low drug prices, yet it is the only country with universal health care that does not provide global coverage for prescription medications. Only a third of Canadians are eligible for publicly funded drug plans.

Current Canadian drug review decisions are complex, and coverage decisions vary widely across the country. Reimbursement decisions are often discordant with Canadian guidelines, resulting in an inability to provide guideline-recommended cardiovascular evidence-based care.

"Can the Present Canadian Health Care System Provide Evidence-Based Pharmacare? Consideration of Two Important Cardiovascular Clinical Contexts" compared all provincial drug formulary reimbursement criteria for medications recommended to treat heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction and antiplatelet therapies in acute coronary syndromes, two common cardiovascular conditions, based on the most recently updated Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) guidelines.

The study assessed whether reimbursement criteria were concordant with listing recommendations from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (CADTH) and with CCS cardiovascular therapy guidelines.

Commenting on the findings of the study, co-lead investigator Morgane Laverdure, MD, Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, says, "Our study showed that CADTH recommendations were only followed 33% of the time in the 24 medications reviewed, and that almost a quarter of reimbursement approvals (23%) were discordant with Canadian guidelines.

"Furthermore, novel drugs disproportionately carried the highest discordance with evidence. No systematic process exists for formulary updates based on new evidence, changes in guidelines, or drug pricing."

In an accompanying editorial "Bureaucratic Dissonance and Inertia: Barriers to the Effective and Equitable Implementation of Cardiovascular Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Canada," Jafna Cox, BA, MD, FRCPC, FACC, Dalhousie University, and Division of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center, notes, "Canada's publicly funded health care system is not a monolithic entity.

"All 13 provinces and territories have their own health care insurance plans, with unique priorities. But the federal government has set national standards on key aspects of care through the Canada Health Act. These include comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility.

"Whereas patients in some provinces (or regions within provinces) might experience relative delays owing to resource constraints, all residents of Canada ultimately have reasonable access to medically necessary physician and hospital services without out-of-pocket costs. Access to prescription drugs is entirely another matter, and many Canadians are likely unaware of the implications."

The study identified several key findings:

There is substantial redundancy with multiple tiers of agencies in drug approval processes across provinces and territories.

Despite the initial common Health Technology Assessment in all provinces but Quebec, there are significant interprovincial variations in final drug reimbursement approvals.

There are no protocols in place in any province to permit timely updates of formularies to account for novel evidence in cardiac drugs or change in pricing.

23% of all formulary decisions in the study are discordant with guideline-based recommendations.

Formularies are also discordant among themselves, highlighting the complex and inconsistent process for reimbursement decisions.

Based on the two commonly encountered cardiovascular scenarios in this study, no current drug formulary permits complete evidenced-based cardiovascular care.

The Non-Insured Health Benefit federal plan and the Quebec plan, the only one not relying on CADTH's recommendations, were the two plans most concordant with current CCS and its affiliate societies' guidelines and best evidence.

Dr. Cox comments, "Wherever we live in Canada, we pay similar taxes in the expectation of receiving comparable health care. While this is largely the case concerning physician and hospital services, Laverdure and co-authors have clearly shown that drug coverage is entirely another matter.

"Not only can access to basic guideline-directed medical treatment become restricted especially for older and lower income patients dependent on public drug plans, there are clear inequities across the country depending on the plan providing drug coverage."

Provinces use different criteria to determine which patient populations are eligible for public drug plans. Most provinces rely on income-specific and/or age-specific eligibility. Some provinces also include disease-specific eligibility, for example, allowing patients in palliative care to be covered regardless of their age or socioeconomic status.

Co-lead investigator of the study, Derek Y.F. So, MD, Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, concludes, "The current system leads to significant inequities, with Canadians residing in different provinces having varied access to different evidence-based medications and treatment.

"While solutions are being explored, the limited and inconsistent provincial drug formularies may compromise the health of many Canadians, especially for the most vulnerable groups relying on publicly funded drug plans. Future plans for universal pharmacare should consider timely and systematic triggers for updates of formularies to account for novel evidence.

"A simplified and consistent process can ensure that the same patient populations are covered and have access to the same medications regardless of their place of residence. By enabling access to evidence-based medications, the health of Canadians can be better addressed."

Dr. Laverdure adds, "The situation of fragmented pharmacare within the same country is not unique to Canada. Indeed, several other countries such as Sweden and Norway have a similarly decentralized health care system with strong regional control over services. The findings of our study, as well as the potential solutions explored, can therefore be of interest for other international jurisdictions."

More information: Can the Present Canadian Health Care System Provide Evidence-Based Pharmacare? Consideration of Two Important Cardiovascular Clinical Contexts, Canadian Journal of Cardiology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2024.09.014 Jafna L. Cox, Bureaucratic Dissonance and Inertia: Barriers to the Effective and Equitable Implementation of Cardiovascular Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Canada, Canadian Journal of Cardiology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2024.10.019 Journal information: Canadian Journal of Cardiology
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

EU researchers are unlocking the secrets of the human eye, creating cutting-edge digital models that are transforming the quality of eye surgeries.

For 89-year-old Mercedes Alvarez from the northern Spanish city of Gijon, cataract surgery was more than a routine medical procedure, it was a life-changing experience.

"At first, I didn't want to do it, even though I had trouble seeing anything," Alvarez said. "I spent sleepless nights worrying because, at my age, even a simple procedure felt risky."

However, after doctors reassured her that age was not a barrier to treating cataractsa clouding of the lens of the eyeshe decided to go ahead. Delighted with the result, she can now appreciate life's small details again, such as reading the newspaper every morning.

"I put on my glasses, and I can read even the small print!"

Alvarez is one of more than four million people who undergo cataract surgery in the EU every year, according to Eurostatthe EU's statistical office.

Her experience is a testament to the major advances in cataract surgery and eye care in recent years, driven in part by international collaborative research.

Optical illusion

Dr. Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Meijome, founder and coordinator of the Clinical and Experimental Optometry Research Lab at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal, coordinates one such research initiativea four-year project called OBERON that will conclude in 2025.

The OBERON research team brings together eye experts from universities in Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, along with non-academic partners from the Netherlands and Spain.

Combining optics and biomechanics, they are developing state-of-the-art computer models of the eye that will help make eye surgery safer and more accurate. The team also educates 15 young researchers, helping them to embrace the latest interdisciplinary advances in eye structure, function and treatment.

Gonzalez-Meijome, a professor of optometry and vision science at the University of Minho, describes the eye as a biological tissue with both optical and biomechanical properties interacting between them.

The computer models developed are able to faithfully mimic these properties, providing valuable guidance to vision scientists, optometrists and eye surgeons on predicting the behavior of eye tissues under normal development and different clinical conditions.

Delicate procedure

To help understand the surgeon's task, Gonzalez-Meijome explains that a human eyeball weighs only about 7.5 grams and measures around 2.3 centimeters.

"It's incredibly small and complex and the surgeon must navigate inside without harming the different layers, while for vision scientists in general, it is critical to understand how all those structures interact as the eye develops," he said.

During cataract surgery, doctors remove the cloudy eye lens and replace it with a clear, artificial lens. According to Eurostat, it is the most common surgical procedure in the EU. In 2021, France recorded the highest number of these procedures per capita, followed by Austria, Estonia and Luxembourg.

Modern modeling techniques, such as those being developed by the OBERON researchers, enable a shift from traditional trial-and-error methods to personalized and more precise treatment plans for each patient.

Their approach allows surgeons to tailor surgical solutions to each patient based on their specific anatomical characteristics rather than relying on generic averages, which results in a much better outcome for the patient.

On top of that, the researchers are also developing new treatments that will be able to reduce or even prevent eye lens malfunction, which usually develops with age, thus removing the need for surgery. This is increasingly important, given Europe's aging population.

An increasingly short-sighted world

Gonzalez-Meijome and the OBERON research team are also addressing eyesight issues that affect younger people, such as myopia, or short-sightednessa condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry. This is becoming increasingly common among children in Europe.

According to Gonzalez-Meijome, short-sightedness is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Recent studies have shown a link between higher education levels, increased screen time and the rising incidence of myopia in children in Europe.

"While intensive near-work tasks seem to increase myopia development, we can't tell children not to studywe usually advise the opposite," said Gonzalez-Meijome. "So we need to better understand how to manage excessive eye growth despite the tasks posed on our children's visual system."

As a result, myopia is unlikely to disappear in the foreseeable future and there will be an increased reliance on vision scientists and eye care practitioners to mitigate the problem by reducing myopia onset and slowing its progression through better optical and surgical options.

The modeling techniques on eye optics and function, laser refractive surgery or cataract surgery developed in OBERON can help to ensure that optical and surgical interventions are as accurate and safe as possible.

Mathematical precision

Part of the important advances being made in eye surgery comes from applying mathematical precision to the biological and physiological workings of the eye.

From 2014 to 2017, Professor Hrvoje Sikic, a professor of mathematics at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, led a research project called MOLEGRO which developed the world's first mathematical model of eye lens growth.

Successfully blending mathematical theory with biological insights made it possible to decode the complex biology of how the eye lens develops. For Sikic, this interdisciplinary approach presented an intriguing challenge.

"At first, I wasn't sure, but then I realized there would be some interesting mathematical challenges to work on," said Sikic, who had limited prior experience in applying mathematical models to biology.

The idea came from a friend of his, US biologist Dr. Steven Bassnett, a renowned leader in the field of lens cell biology.

The challenge, says Sikic, was to set aside the typical lone-wolf mentality of the mathematician, used to working in the abstract world, and learn to work as part of a larger team operating in the real world.

Unique growth process

The joint venture created the first mathematical model of lens growth that shows how cells in the eye lens change over time, as the lens evolves throughout a person's lifetime.

The eye lens is unique in that it grows by adding new cells inside the capsule, an elastic membrane surrounding the lens. The old cells are not discarded, but are packed into the center of the organ.

The findings of Sikic's team have been helpful in guiding cataract surgery techniques.

The team has also identified how the eye's growth process contributes to the development of cataracts in combination with known risk factors, like exposure to ultraviolet light. This provides insights into how we could delay or prevent the development of eye problems.

"The impact of cataracts remains quite significant worldwide, especially in developing countries, where they continue to be a leading cause of blindness," said Sikic.

Cancer proof

Together with Bassnett, Sikic is now investigating one of the more surprising aspects of their research: why the eye lens appears to be cancer-proof.

"In itself, there's nothing special about the lens cells that would stop cancer, the tissue is similar to skin," Sikic explained. "We are currently investigating whether the absence of cancer in this tissue is linked to its unique growth process."

"The idea came to us as we were working in MOLEGRO. It is intriguing and new and will certainly be met with skepticism. That's why it must be really well argued. But we are analyzing various concrete models and believe that within two years, we should have the work completed and sent for review."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A Rutgers Health survey of LGBTQ+ individuals in New York and New Jersey reveals that cisgender men, gay individuals and full-time employees had the highest rates of vaccination for Mpox, a viral disease formerly known as monkeypox.

The study in the Journal of Community Health sheds light on vaccination behaviors and access during the 2022 Mpox outbreak.

The results from 2022 appear as health officials warn of a potential resurgence of Mpox cases.

In 2022, the disease disproportionately affected men who have sex with men, leading to a targeted vaccination campaign that appears to have maximized vaccination among those who faced the highest infection risk.

"We were able to add questions about whether or not people had heard about Mpox, how concerned they were, and then when the vaccine became available that July [2022], we added a couple of additional questions about whether they were vaccinated," said Kristen Krause, an assistant professor at Rutgers University's School of Public Health and lead author of the study.

The research team surveyed 253 LGBTQ+ adults in New York and New Jersey, with a subset of 144 participants answering additional questions about vaccination status and access. The study population was predominantly white, full-time workers who identified as gay or lesbian.

Their answers showed that 90.9% of cisgender men and 95.1% of gay-identified participants had either received at least one dose of the Mpox vaccine or intended to get vaccinated. Full-time employees also reported an above-average vaccination rate of 81.6%.

The study also found that HIV-negative individuals were more likely to report difficulty securing a vaccination appointment. This supports previous research suggesting people living with HIV often have easier access to care because of established relationships with health care providers.

"If you're already connected to care, it's typically a little bit easier to access," Krause said.

Overall, two-thirds of participants reported they would likely or very likely get vaccinated if the vaccine was easily available, but slightly more than half of all participants found it moderately or very difficult to secure a vaccination appointment.

"A lot of the anecdotes that we'd hear in the city suggested that if appointments were available, they weren't always easily accessible, or they filled up really quickly," Krause said. "People didn't necessarily know where to go. They were only during working hours, which was a problem for some people."

The researchers found no evidence of racial disparities in vaccine access, which is unusual in a public health study and may have been because of the limited sample size.

Pharmaceutical companies have yet to develop an Mpox vaccine, so the vaccination campaign relied largely upon the smallpox vaccine Jynneos. Health officials hoped the close relationship between the smallpox and Mpox viruses would allow Jynneos to provide cross-protection against Mpox.

However, the sudden global demand for the vaccine led to supply shortages. To stretch the limited supply, health authorities in the U.S. adopted a dose-sparing strategy in August 2022. Instead of the standard subcutaneous injection of the full two-injection dose, they authorized intradermal administration of one-fifth of the regular dose.

While this approach allowed for more vaccinations, it also raised questions about efficacy. Preliminary studies have shown promising results, though, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that unvaccinated individuals were about 14 times more likely to get Mpox compared to those who received the vaccine.

As Mpox cases begin to rise again, questions about long-term immunity have emerged. Krause and her colleagues are now calling for research into the durability of vaccine protection, especially among different populations.

"Are those people who got vaccinated in 2022 still enjoying some level of immunity there?" Krause asked. "That's a critical question right now."

More information: Kristen D. Krause et al, Health Behaviors and Experiences of LGBTQ + Individuals during 2022 Mpox Outbreak: Findings from the QVax Study, Journal of Community Health (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10900-024-01383-0
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Ligand and receptor analysis of JNK signaling in NICD-TZ tumors. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads4229

A study by Tulane University researchers has uncovered new insights into how biological sex differences can influence tumor growth. The findings, published in Science Advances, could lead to a better understanding of cancer development and potentially boost efforts to identify a method to stop tumors in their tracks.

The study found that tumors in female fruit flies grew 2.5 times larger than tumors in male fruit flies over the same time period.

Fruit flies are an often used biological research model due to their genetic similarity to humans. In this study, researchers found that the female fruit flies had a stronger innate immune response to the tumors than the males. This response accelerated the growth of tumors by triggering a signaling pathway between cells.

"It was a surprise to see females having such a difference in tumor size. The question now is, do we see this same difference in humans?" said corresponding author Wu-Min Deng, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and the Gerald & Flora Jo Mansfield Piltz Endowed Professor in Cancer Research at Tulane University School of Medicine.

"Genetically, many of these signaling pathways are well preserved between mammals and insects so this finding is highly relevant to our knowledge of cancer development."

The study found that once a tumor formed, female fruit flies' immune cells (hemocytes) produced more of an inflammatory response signal than their male counterparts. This signal protein, called Eiger, is comparable to a similar protein in mammals, which also regulates immune system and inflammatory responses.

While inflammation is often effective at combating outside invaders, too much inflammation can create an environment that allows tumors to thrive.

"We found that in female fruit flies, their stronger immune response caused a downstream cascade of events, culminating in the release of insulin-like peptides which allowed the tumors to accelerate their growth," Deng said.

Questions about how cancers develop remain abundant, and researchers are only beginning to scratch the surface of how sex differences impact different cancers.

"Cancer is a systemic disease that affects the entire body," said first author Xianfeng Wang, Ph.D., instructor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Tulane School of Medicine. "Our work has uncovered a mechanism involving the local tumor microenvironment and multiple organs that regulate the sex-specific differences in tumor growth at the systemic level."

Deng said the next step is to determine if the bias in tumor growth is regulated by hormones or sex chromosomes, work that may shed further light on why and how tumors grow.

"Hopefully, by understanding this difference, we can learn how to control this tumor growth and how tumors work to kill their hosts," Deng said. "And if we can find a way to block that process, we can hopefully find clues as to how to prevent and potentially cure cancer."

More information: Xianfeng Wang et al, Sex-dimorphic tumor growth is regulated by tumor microenvironmental and systemic signals, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads4229 Journal information: Science Advances
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Credit: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2024). DOI: 10.1172/JCI180157

Postprandial hypoglycemia is one of the main complications of bariatric surgery and can affect up to 30% of patients. Unlike ordinary hypoglycemia, in which low blood sugar is usually associated with little food, postprandial hypoglycemia occurs after meals and causes symptoms such as sweating, tremors, weakness and even mental confusion.

A study conducted at Harvard University in the United States has identified the central role of serotonin (a hormone involved in mood regulation) in the development of post-bariatric hypoglycemia. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and, according to the authors, point the way to possible treatments.

"We identified that this type of hypoglycemia is associated with the dysregulation of serotonin levels in the blood, a hormone that, in addition to controlling mood, is also capable of stimulating the secretion of the hormones insulin [in the pancreas] and GLP-1 [an acronym for glucagon-like peptide-1, produced in the small intestine in response to food intake] in the body," says Rafael Ferraz-Bannitz, who conducted the research during an internship abroad.

"We observed that in individuals with post-bariatric hypoglycemia, serotonin levels are low when they're fasting. However, after a meal, they increase significantly, unlike patients without symptoms or people who've not had bariatric surgery, whose serotonin levels decrease after a meal," adds Ferraz-Bannitz, who is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School.

According to the researcher, although the problem is commonin the United States, the country with the highest number of bariatric surgeries in the world, it is estimated to affect up to 30% of those who undergo surgerylittle was known about the mechanisms that trigger postprandial hypoglycemia.

"It's extremely debilitating. Patients even concentrate their food in just one meal a day because they know they're going to be very sick. Many are unable to work, drive or have even the slightest quality of life. And it's a problem that can affect up to 83,000 people every year in the United States alone. In Brazil, the number is likely to be high as well, since it's the country that performs the second most bariatric surgeries in the world," the researcher emphasizes.

How it was done

The researchers analyzed 189 metabolites (compounds produced by the enzymatic reactions of the metabolism) in the blood of three groups of individuals: 13 patients with post-bariatric hypoglycemia; 10 who had undergone surgery but had no symptoms; and eight individuals who had neither undergone surgery nor had hypoglycemia.

Blood was taken while the participants were fasting, 30 minutes after taking a shake (made up of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids), and two hours after drinking the drink (the time when patients with postprandial hypoglycemia usually show signs).

The analysis showed changes mainly in the serotonin pattern. "For many metabolites, we noticed significant differences between the group that developed hypoglycemia and those who were asymptomatic.

"However, the difference in the serotonin pattern was what most caught our attention. Individuals with post-bariatric hypoglycemia had very low fasting serotonin levels. Curiously, in response to the meal, there was a fivefold increase in the levels of this hormone in these individuals," Ferraz-Bannitz told Agencia FAPESP.

The researchers also found other important metabolic alterations. "In the fasting state, these individuals showed a decrease in the levels of ten amino acids, including tryptophan [a precursor of serotonin], as well as biomarkers related to diabetes. On the other hand, we noticed an increase in the levels of ketones, bile acids, and some metabolites from the Krebs cycle [which is part of the energy production process in cells]," he reports.

There is a relationship between serotonin and the secretion of insulin and GLP-1. According to Ferraz-Bannitz, previous in vitro studies had already shown that serotonin is able to stimulate the secretion of insulin in pancreatic beta cells and GLP-1 in intestinal neuroendocrine cells.

It is worth noting that insulin is responsible for transporting sugar from the blood to the body's cells, where it is used as a source of energy. GLP-1, on the other hand, is a hormone that is released in the presence of glucose and provides a sense of satiety by signaling to the brain that the individual is full.

"In this study, we've demonstrated in vivo that serotonin administration in mice was able to induce hypoglycemia by increasing the endogenous secretion of insulin and GLP-1," comments the researcher.

Thus, the results suggest that the post-meal increase in serotonin observed in individuals with post-bariatric hypoglycemia may contribute to the increase in insulin secretion and, consequently, the development of hypoglycemia and symptoms such as dizziness, tremors, and mental confusion.

Serotonin blocker

To better understand the role of serotonin in the development of post-bariatric hypoglycemia, tests were conducted on mice. "When serotonin was injected into the animals, they suffered a dizzying drop in blood glucose, inducing hypoglycemiaa condition very similar to that of patients.

"When we evaluated the plasma of the mice, we observed that the injection of serotonin increased the secretion of insulin and GLP-1, the same hormones that are elevated in individuals who've developed postprandial hypoglycemia," he says.

The researchers then decided to test the use of serotonin antagonists as a treatment strategy in mice. "The use of ketanserin, a well-known serotonin receptor 2 blocking drug, proved to be very effective in the experiments. It was able to block serotonin-induced hypoglycemia in the animals and promote a reduction in insulin and GLP-1 secretion. This is a promising result that suggests a potential therapeutic target for individuals with post-bariatric hypoglycemia," he concludes.

With the results, the group, coordinated by Mary-Elizabeth Patti, professor at Harvard Medical School and senior investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center, plans to conduct new clinical trials to prove the effectiveness of this potential treatment for people suffering from postprandial hypoglycemia.

Although they have shown that serotonin may be responsible for triggering the entire hypoglycemia process in people who have had bariatric surgery, the researchers still do not know what causes this difference in the pattern of the hormone.

"This is one of the acknowledged limitations of the study, as we didn't have access to biopsies of the intestines of these individuals to assess the amount and activity of serotonin-producing cells. However, one of the hypotheses we raised is that hypoglycemia may be associated with some alteration in the microbiota, bile acids, or other factors in the intestinethe organ that produces 90% of the body's serotonin. Future studies in Professor Patti's laboratory could answer this question," says Ferraz-Bannitz.

More information: Rafael Ferraz-Bannitz et al, Postprandial metabolomics analysis reveals disordered serotonin metabolism in post-bariatric hypoglycemia, Journal of Clinical Investigation (2024). DOI: 10.1172/JCI180157 Journal information: Journal of Clinical Investigation
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

Australia has a successful adolescent immunization program, routinely achieving high vaccine coverage for teenagers.

However, recent data shows the number of Australian teens receiving the recommended vaccines for their age group has fallen over three years during the COVID pandemic.

So how much have adolescent vaccination rates dropped, and why might this be? And how can we get back on track?

The vaccines teens needand why they need them

The National Immunization Program provides a series of free vaccinations for Australian teenagers. These are:

a booster vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa), usually offered in year 7

the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, also usually offered in year 7

a meningococcal ACWY vaccine, offered in year 10.

These vaccines are primarily delivered through school-based immunization programs and health services such as general practices.

They protect teenagers themselves from diseases, but also help reduce the spread of these diseases in the community.

For example, 2024 has seen a surge in whooping cough (pertussis) cases nationally. Although adolescents won't necessarily get very sick with whooping cough, they can spread the disease. So the dTpa vaccine helps to protect vulnerable populations, including young babies.

HPV is a leading cause of genital warts and cervical cancer. Giving the HPV shot to young teenagers, before they might be exposed to the virus through sexual activity, provides the best protection against cervical cancer.

And older teenagers and young adults are among those at highest risk of meningococcal disease, which can be fatal. They're also most likely to carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat, and to spread it to others.

A modest but concerning decline

The most recent Annual Immunization Coverage Report from the National Center for Immunization Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) shows a drop in vaccination coverage among teenagers between 2022 and 2023, while the previous report shows a drop from 2021 to 2022.

For example, the proportion of teens who had received their adolescent dose of dTpa in the year they turned 15 decreased from 87.3% in 2021, to 86.9% in 2022, to 85.5% in 2023.

Meanwhile, the proportion who had received one dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine by age 17 fell from 76.1% in 2021, to 75.9% in 2022, to 72.8% in 2023.

Vaccination coverage among Indigenous teenagers dropped by similar amounts. For example, the proportion of Indigenous teens who had received one dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine by age 17 fell from 66.7% in 2021 to 65.6% in 2022 to 62.3% in 2023.

Overall, in 2023, around one in four 18-year-olds hadn't received all three of the nationally recommended adolescent vaccines.

These figures show a decline in vaccination coverage among teenagers over three years. This comes after several years of generally increasing coverage before the COVID pandemic.

While the decline has been modest, the downward trend is concerning. It leaves more teenagersand members of the wider communityvulnerable to serious infectious diseases.

Why is vaccination coverage decreasing among teenagers?

There are likely to be many contributing factors.

Although extended school closures and consequent disruption to school vaccination programs at the height of the pandemic likely played a role, these occurred almost exclusively in Victoria and New South Wales. So they can't fully explain the ongoing drop in adolescent vaccination coverage across the country.

We don't have good published data on what influences vaccine acceptance among teenagers. But given parents or guardians need to complete a consent form for their child to get vaccinated at school, we may be able to extrapolate from some of the challenges relating to childhood vaccination uptake.

The trends among teenagers have been consistent with a fall in the rates of younger children who are fully vaccinated. In 2023, 92.8% of one-year-olds were fully vaccinated, down from 94.8% in 2020. At five years old, the coverage rate in 2023 was 93.3%, down also from 94.8% in 2020.

A recent survey into barriers to childhood vaccination in Australia indicates a high proportion of parents who choose not to vaccinate young children have concerns about vaccine safety (48%) and effectiveness (40%). It's possible the COVID pandemic has hindered vaccine acceptance.

Practical access barriers may also be hampering adolescent immunization coverage. These might include lack of knowledge among parents about vaccines or immunization schedules, complicated parental consent processes, school absenteeism, and lack of awareness of immunization services outside school-based programs.

The NCIRS report for 2023 showed low HPV coverage for adolescents living in socioeconomically disadvantaged and remote locations. This suggests logistics such as transport may also play a role, especially for teens who miss vaccination during the school-based program.

How can we improve things? And what can parents do?

We need research to better understand the factors influencing vaccine uptake among adolescents. This can help us design and implement strategies to improve vaccination coverage in this age group.

For example, understanding the factors influencing HPV vaccination uptake among Indigenous adolescents and ensuring equitable access to targeted and culturally appropriate HPV vaccine education strategies has significantly improved vaccination coverage for this group. HPV vaccine coverage for Indigenous women aged 17 to 25 is now higher than for the general population.

Parents can support their teenagers by talking to them about the importance of immunization, listening to their concerns and answering any questions they may have. Consent forms will generally include information about the vaccine and the disease it protects against.

If your child misses out on receiving their vaccinations at school or doesn't attend school, families can access free National Immunization Program vaccines from their GP, pharmacy, local council or other health services.

Specialist immunization services are also available in most states and territories. These services are for children and adolescents who are in high-risk groups or for families who are concerned about vaccinating their children.

Teenagers are the next generation of parents, and their attitudes towards immunization will influence coverage rates of their children in the future. This is yet another reason we need to successfully address any concerns or barriers for this group around vaccination.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
China's export of semiconductors tops 1 trillion yuan in first 11 months despite US curbs

Global Times) 08:25, December 11, 2024

Chips are displayed at the exhibition area of central China's Hubei Province of the second China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, China, Nov 27, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)

China's export of semiconductors grew by 20.3 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, thanks to the country's strenuous efforts to climb up the technological ladder, despite the mounting suppression by the US to slow down China's tech rise.

Semiconductors export reached 1.03 trillion yuan ($142.17 billion) during the first 11 months of 2024, marking a 20.3 percent year-on-year increase, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Tuesday.

The figure surpasses automobile and mobile phone exports, and matches apparel exports, which also posted a value of 1.03 trillion yuan.

China's semiconductor industry has displayed a remarkable surge in homegrown innovation and output in recent years, despite facing rising sanctions and export restrictions imposed by the US, according to a Chinese analyst.

Ma Jihua, a veteran telecom industry observer, told the Global Times on Tuesday that China's semiconductor sector has shown remarkable vitality and resilience, amidst cascading containment and suppression led by Washington.

"The homegrown tech advance is marked by the increase of types of semiconductors now manufactured by domestic companies, non-stop breakthroughs across the manufacturing process from upstream to downstream, and the new height made in self-reliance," Ma said.

"Many of the semiconductor exports are driven by the robust growth of Chinese-made smart and internet-connected vehicles, smart home appliances, and digital gadgets around the world - as a lot of these were manufactured overseas by Chinese plants," he added, noting that this trend is just unstoppable due to the economics of scale and comparative cost advantage enjoyed by Chinese chip manufacturers.

In 2023, global sales of automotive semiconductors grew by 23.7 percent year-over-year, hitting $42.2 billion, according to US-based industry body the Semiconductor Industry Association.

China's semiconductor output now accounts for 7 percent of the global total, marked by steadily rising exports and a growing position in the global semiconductor supply chain, Ma said.

"The US push for decoupling and severing the supply chain from China looks increasingly precarious, as the importance of the Chinese semiconductor industry continues to grow," Ma said.

The robust growth of high-tech products shows that China's industrial transformation and upgrading efforts are starting to yield results despite the US' technology containment of China, and China will continue to build up its technology competitiveness and enhance self-sufficiency in high-tech products, Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Beijing-based Information Consumption Alliance, told the Global Times.

Chinese chip exports are expected to continue to register fast growth in the coming years, Xiang predicted.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
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South Korea's National Assembly lawmakers vote on a resolution in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 10, 2024. [Photo/NEWSIS via Xinhua]

South Korea's National Assembly Tuesday passed a bill to appoint a permanent special counsel to investigate insurrection charges against President Yoon Suk-yeol, as well as a resolution calling for Yoon's immediate arrest over his botched martial law declaration.

The bill, which was finally approved in a 210-63 vote with 14 abstentions, calls for an investigation into the embattled president, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who had been named to lead the martial law command, and other officials involved in imposing martial law on Dec. 3.

Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party also cast their vote. Earlier, the party decided not to choose whether to vote for or reject the bill.

The list of those subject to the independent counsel investigation also includes Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung and Choo Kyung-ho, former floor leader of the ruling People Power Party.

Unlike a regular special counsel probe, the president cannot exercise the right to veto a bill over a permanent special counsel. The president, however, can delay the appointment of the counsel.

The National Assembly also passed a resolution Tuesday calling for the immediate arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol and seven other officials over last week's botched martial law declaration.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea stated in the explanation of the resolution that President Yoon had the intention to subvert the National Assembly or make it unable to perform its duties, and could be listed as the ringleader of the insurrection, and it is necessary to arrest him promptly.

Meanwhile, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Tuesday sought a preliminary arrest warrant for the former defense minister over his role in the short-lived martial law declaration by Yoon.

The investigative body said it filed for the arrest warrant as part of its own probe, in case a similar request by the prosecution gets rejected by a Seoul court, which is expected to make its decision as early as late Tuesday night.

A separate investigation team led by the prosecution is seeking a court warrant to formally arrest Kim, who allegedly proposed the martial law declaration to Yoon.

The court has begun its arraignment hearing to decide whether to issue the arrest warrant, without Kim's presence, after Kim said that he would forgo the hearing.

"I deeply apologize for causing great anxiety and inconvenience to the people," Kim said in a statement released by his legal counsel.

"All responsibility for this situation lies solely with me. My subordinates were simply faithful in following my orders and the missions that were given to them. I ask for leniency for them," he said.
President William Rutos Economic Advisor, Moses Kuria, has called on President Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to initiate a new constitutional review process.

Kuria made the remarks on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the nations political divisions and challenges through the infamous Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

In a personal statement, Moses Kuria commended President Rutos recent diplomatic efforts and former President Kenyattas willingness to engage in reconciliation and consultation to address the countrys pressing issues. Despite these gestures of statesmanship and patriotism, Kuria stressed that Kenya cannot rely solely on political handshakes to resolve its challenges.

Kuria explained that Rutos outreach to Raila Odinga was aimed at ending anti-government protests, while his recent engagement with Uhuru Kenyatta sought to address administrative and political challenges facing his administration.

Kuria emphasized the need for a constitutional review to tackle the nations emerging issues effectively. He suggested that the three leaders could build upon the foundation of the failed Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) to create solutions for the countrys challenges.

Firstly, we can no longer depend on handshakes and personal meetings to make us feel safe in our country. The frequent handshakes and artificial formations have vindicated President Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila on the BBI initiative, Kuria stated.

He admitted, They were right and we were wrong. I urge President Ruto, President Kenyatta and Prime Minister Odinga to close ranks and lead the nation in picking from where BBI flopped and give this country a Constitution that speaks to the emerging realities of our nation and our society. BB1 Season 2 is urgent and can not wait.

Mt Kenya Political Future

Kuria also highlighted political tensions in the Central region following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua. While acknowledging the political heat surrounding Gachaguas removal, Kuria noted that it has raised vital questions about the political future of the Mt. Kenya region.

To strengthen the regions political influence, Kuria stressed the need for Mt. Kenya to establish a strong and united political voice. He further admitted that leaving the Jubilee Party was a mistake but assured that it is not too late to unite political parties under its umbrella.

Secondly Mt Kenya region, like all other regions deserves a strong political voice. It is our imaginable right. For all the good and bad lessons we have learnt, it was a mistake to leave the Jubilee Party. However, it is not too late, Kuria stated.

Kuria revealed that Mt. Kenya leaders would soon begin lobbying to form a new political outfit under the leadership of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

We will now embark of bringing all the political parties with a footing in the region together under the Jubilee Party. We did it in 2015 when we dissolved parties to form Jubilee. We will do it again. Jubilee under President Kenyatta as the Party Leader is the way to go. Chama Cha Kazi and myself will devote all our energies to that endeavour, Kuria announced.

Kurias call signals a new political realignment as Kenyas political leaders rush to form coalitions ahead of the next General Election in 2027.
Chief Justice Martha Koome revealed on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, that she is a victim of cyberbullying amid increasing calls for her resignation.

Speaking at the inaugural High Court Human Rights Summit, Koome described the online harassment as a form of technologically facilitated gender-based violence.

The Chief Justice questioned the motives of those using online platforms to target her. She emphasized that their actions appear to be driven by a business-oriented agenda.

When I speak, I always confess that I am a victim of cyberbullying or it is called technologically facilitated gender-based violence. However, I understand their intentionsits a business model. Im unsure what they aim to achieve, perhaps to scare, disrupt, defame, or force me out of office. But they can try something else, Koome declared.

CJ Koome Vows to Fight Corruption

Despite the criticism, CJ Koome reaffirmed her commitment to upholding integrity in the Judiciary. She acknowledged that corruption remains a significant challenge but vowed to lead efforts to eradicate it and promote transparency.

It is corruption that has eaten the fabric of our society and we in the Judiciary occupy a special role in ensuring that we protect our society from these corrupt practices and deal with those matters that come before us firmly, she asserted.

Her remarks came after she announced plans to meet with Prof. PLO Lumumba to discuss allegations of corruption within the Judiciary. The meeting, scheduled to include representatives from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Senior Counsel Bar, members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and court heads, will focus on addressing integrity concerns.

In a statement issued on Monday, December 9, 2024, Koome outlined the agenda for the meeting. She highlighted plans to review ongoing complaints before the JSC and discuss mechanisms the Judiciary has adopted to combat corruption and enhance accountability.

I have accepted and convened a consultative meeting to comprehensively discuss concerns regarding integrity within the Judiciary and the legal profession, Koome confirmed.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has condemned the Law Council of Ugandas decision to deny Martha Karua a temporary practicing certificate, preventing her from representing Kizza Besigye before Ugandas General Court Martial in Kampala.

In a press statement on December 10, 2024, LSK President Faith Adhiambo described the decision as derogatory and high-handed.

We strongly disapprove of the derogatory, contemptuous, and authoritarian decision made by the Law Council of Uganda, Adhiambo said. This action undermines the mutual cooperation between the Kenyan and Ugandan bars, and the reasoning provided is both ludicrous and offensive.

Adhiambo emphasized that it was incomprehensible for the Law Council of Uganda to treat Kenyan practitioners, especially a reputable senior counsel like Karua, with such disregard.

The LSK president further pointed out that Kenyan courts have consistently supported cross-border legal practice, welcoming advocates from Uganda and other countries.

Odhiambo announced plans to escalate the matter to the Attorney General, urging swift intervention to resolve the issue. Cognizant of our mandate under the Law Society of Kenya Act to protect legal practice in Kenya, it can no longer be acceptable or commonplace that we check outright this respect lying down, she said.

LSK will engage the Attorney General immediately to bring the longstanding issue of cross-border practice to a decisive end.

In conclusion, Odhiambo called for mutual respect and dignity in regional legal practice. We must either find a symbiotic, reciprocal, and formal engagement that promotes the interests of all parties or preserve the dignity of Kenyan legal practice by withdrawing from lopsided arrangements marred with non-committal and disingenuity, she added.
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China has decided to impose visa restrictions on U.S. personnel over interference in Hong Kong affairs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the announcement at a regular press briefing in response to the recent U.S. announcement to impose visa restrictions on officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

"We have already expressed our firm stance over U.S. moves," said Mao, adding that by abusing visa restrictions on Chinese officials under the pretext of Hong Kong-related issues, the United States has grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously violated the principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Law on Foreign Relations of the People's Republic of China and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China has decided to impose visa restrictions on U.S. personnel who act maliciously in regard to Hong Kong-related issues, Mao said.

The spokesperson emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs.

"We urge the United States to genuinely respect China's sovereignty, respect the rule of law in Hong Kong, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any manner," said Mao.

China is determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, committed to implementing the "one country, two systems" policy, and remains unwavering in opposing any external forces interfering in Hong Kong affairs, Mao noted.
President William Ruto has affirmed that the planned nationwide livestock vaccination will proceed, despite opposition from certain groups. He stressed that the initiative is vital for ensuring the countrys livestock are free from diseases, which will open doors for Kenya to export more animal products to international markets.

We want to create a disease-free country so we can market our livestock products to destinations where we have been denied access due to inadequate disease control, he said.

The president strongly criticized critics of the vaccination program, calling anyone opposing the initiative to eliminate Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) mad and unreasonable.

Anybody opposing vaccination to eliminate FMD and PPR is simply mad and unreasonable and possibly stupid.

Honestly, how else can you explain it? Perhaps they dont have cattle, or maybe they dont understand the importance of this initiative, Ruto remarked at the annual pastoralists leadership summit in Wajir.

Ruto condemned leaders who continue to mislead the public about the vaccination drives purpose. He described such actions as misguided and emphasized that the governments goal is to vaccinate 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep nationwide, starting in January.

Ruto assured farmers that the vaccines to be used will be produced locally by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI). He urged farmers to prepare for the vaccination and ignore the false narratives spread by some leaders.

As a cattlekeeper himself, Ruto expressed his full support for the initiative. He pointed out that the country has been battling livestock diseases for years.

It is the right to do, so if you are used to planting things you dont know about livestock, shut up, at least for those of us who keep cattle, he said.
Stakeholders in Kenyas livestock industry have endorsed the governments controversial plan to vaccinate 72 million animals across the country.

Allan Azegele, the Director of Veterinary Services, led the endorsement, highlighting the vaccination drives role in combating livestock diseases, improving the quality of animal products, and safeguarding both animal health and the national food supply.

As global demand for animal products such as meat, leather, and milk rises, the government stresses the importance of ensuring the health of the countrys livestock. Kenya is a key exporter of animal products, especially to European and Western markets.

Speaking at the Kenya Veterinary Associations end-of-year awards ceremony, Azegele explained that the initiative, which is set to begin in January, aims to tackle transboundary diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease. The vaccination drive will span all counties, targeting the dairy sector and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Achieving such widespread vaccination requires a collective effort. Veterinary professionals across the country must work together to drive this initiative with the ultimate goal of eradicating diseases that hinder livestock production, Azegele emphasized.

Transparent Vaccination Exercise

He dismissed objections to the vaccination drive as unfounded and malicious, assuring that vaccine distribution will be handled transparently through the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI).

Jim Tozer, the managing director of Kenchic, echoed Azegeles sentiments, stressing the importance of the initiative in improving farmers livelihoods and ensuring the long-term sustainability of livestock production.

I fully support the vaccination drive. It will make a significant impact on the livelihoods of farmers and contribute to the economic development of the country, Tozer said.

Joan Magero, the chairperson of the Kenya Veterinary Board, reassured Kenyans not to be alarmed, emphasizing that the vaccination process would be closely monitored by local veterinarians to ensure the supplied vaccine meets high standards. She also dismissed claims that the government was allowing international research institutions to test vaccines on Kenyan livestock for foreign interests.

Kelvin Osore, National Chairman of the Kenya Veterinary Association, acknowledged that while the vaccination initiative will help position Kenya to export animal products, it must be implemented lawfully and with transparency.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen at the Tel Aviv courthouse in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 10, 2024. [Photo/Reuven Kastro/JINI via Xinhua]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified for the first time on Tuesday in his long-running corruption trial, marking a pivotal moment in the case as he manages a war in Gaza and faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes.

Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. According to an indictment filed more than five years ago, he is accused of advancing favorable regulations for a telecommunications mogul in exchange for positive media coverage of himself and his family. He is also alleged to have accepted luxury gifts, including cigars and champagne worth tens of thousands of dollars, from a billionaire Hollywood producer in return for assistance with personal matters.

Netanyahu arrived at the Tel Aviv courthouse around 10:00 a.m., where he was met by a mixed crowd of protesters and supporters. Some expressed support, while others urged him to intensify efforts to secure the release of approximately 100 hostages still held in Gaza. Coalition ministers and lawmakers, responding to a call from Netanyahu's office the previous night, also attended to show support.

At the start of the session, Netanyahu's attorney, Amit Hadad, criticized the Israeli judicial system, calling the trial "political persecution." Hadad described the indictment as "flawed and invalid" and argued that the case should have been dismissed.

Netanyahu began his testimony at approximately 11:30 a.m., opening with the statement, "I have waited eight years for this moment to tell the truth as I remember it." He described his testimony as "an opportunity to puncture the baseless accusations" against him.

Netanyahu, who has served as Israel's prime minister for more than 17 years, holds the record as the country's longest-serving leader.
Renowned historian Deborah Lipstadt, who currently serves as the U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, will return to Emory later this academic year as University Distinguished Professor.

Lipstadt served on the Emory faculty for nearly 30 years before her confirmation as special envoy, a position in the State Department that holds the rank of ambassador. One of the worlds foremost experts on the Holocaust and modern antisemitism, she made international headlines as an Emory professor when she was sued in British court by a Holocaust denier and won.

I am excited to bring what I have learned during my time with the State Department back to Emory to help teach the next generation of scholars and leaders, Lipstadt says. When my nomination was announced, I said that the one thing I would miss was being in the classroom with my Emory students. Now, I look forward to returning to campus to resume the crucial task of supporting students as they learn to evaluate evidence and think critically.

Lipstadt will be only the fourth person to hold the rank of Emory University Distinguished Professor, an honor designated for select members of the Emory campus community and societal leaders whose groundbreaking careers and societal contributions are defined by excellence and a staunch commitment to serving humanity. U.S. President Jimmy Carter was appointed as University Distinguished Professor in 1982, the same year he founded The Carter Center in conjunction with Emory. In addition, University Distinguished Professorships were held by author Salman Rushdie from 2011 to 2015 and poet Kevin Young from 2017 to 2020.

When she returns to Emory, Lipstadt will also retain her appointment as Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies in the Department of Religion, the position in Emory College of Arts and Sciences she held prior to taking a leave of absence to join the State Department.

Across generations, Deborah Lipstadt has served our nation and society at the very highest level, says Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. Whatever her title has been  professor, teacher, author, ambassador  Dr. Lipstadt has combatted hate through scholarship and education. She is courageous, brilliant and an Emory legend through and through. I am proud that she will return to Emory holding the title of University Distinguished Professor.

Fighting antisemitism around the world

The U.S. Senate confirmed Lipstadt as special envoy in March 2022 and she was sworn in that May. During her confirmation hearing, she pledged to fight antisemitism worldwide, without fear or favor, and with  one goal emblazoned before me: to make a difference.

As special envoy, she has traveled to more than 30 countries in service to that goal. In July, in a speech in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she introduced the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, an international framework endorsed by dozens of countries and multilateral organizations.

In May, she hosted the first-ever Symposium to Combat Online Antisemitism, which included government representatives, non-governmental organizations and technology executives from companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and X.

Last year, she was named to Time magazines 100 Most Influential People of 2023, where each listing included a short essay about the honoree written by an expert in their field.

Deborah has aptly noted that antisemitism might start with the Jews, but it never ends with the Jews, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote about Lipstadt. And so her work  fearlessly calling on the international community to ensure that Jews everywhere can live safely and practice their faith freely  is critical not only for Jewish people, but also for ensuring a society free of bigotry and intolerance for all people.

Teaching and defending history

As University Distinguished Professor, Lipstadt will give an annual public lecture and will engage directly with undergraduates in a classroom setting or in a lecture format at least once per semester. She will also serve as an adviser to Emorys president and the dean of Emory College.

I am thrilled to welcome Professor Lipstadt back to Emory, where she has enjoyed a highly productive and successful career as a scholar and teacher. Her recent service as U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism is a singular achievement, says Emory College Dean Barbara Krauthamer.

Emory undergraduates will have the unique opportunity to learn from a leading scholar whose research and public service have illuminated both the enduring legacies of the Holocaust and current manifestations of antisemitism in the United States and the world.

In 1993, Lipstadt came to Emory to teach in the Department of Religion, where she would eventually serve as the founding director of the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies, devoting countless hours to creating undergraduate and graduate curricula focused on the interdisciplinary study of Jewish civilization and culture.

The same year, she published her award-winning book, Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory, the first full-length study of those who attempt to deny the Holocaust. She made history in her own right when she was sued for libel by David Irving, a Holocaust denier from Britain. The case, which was filed in England and lasted six years, resulted in a 10-week trial, which Lipstadt and her legal team won, proving her accusations against Irving were true.

When Lipstadt had to take up temporary residence in England during the trial, it was with Emorys support and reassurance that the courtroom will be your classroom. She documented the trial in her book History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier (2006), and her landmark stand inspired the 2016 motion picture Denial, which starred Academy Award-winning actor Rachel Weisz as Lipstadt.

Her latest book  Antisemitism: Here and Now (2019)  is an examination of the resurgence of antisemitism across Europe and the U.S. An analysis of what she calls the longest hatred, the book unfolds as a series of conversational letters written by Lipstadt to two fictional acquaintances: an inquisitive college student and a campus colleague, composites of people shes known across her decades of teaching.

For her work with students, Lipstadt received Emorys 2020 Exemplary Teacher Award, the most recent of her teaching awards from the university, which also include the 2019 George P. Cuttino Award for Excellence in Mentoring and the 1997 Emory Williams Award for Distinguished Teaching.

A widely respected public scholar, Lipstadt has served as an adviser on a myriad of national and international projects. She was a historical consultant to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and helped design the section of the museum dedicated to the American Response to the Holocaust. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, on which she served two terms.

From 1996 through 1999, she served as a member of the United States State Department Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad. In 2005 she was tapped by President George W. Bush to be part of a small delegation that represented the White House at the 60th anniversary commemoration of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

On April 11, 2011, the 50th anniversary of the start of the trial in Israel of Nazi Adolph Eichmann, she gave a public address at the State Department on the impact of the trial. Her book on the topic, The Eichmann Trial, was released just prior to the anniversary. The Holocaust didnt happen to numbers or just a large group, Lipstadt said at the time. It happened to people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024 via video conferencing on Wednesday. According to the Prime Minister's office, PM Modi will join the event at 4.30 pm today via video conferencing. The Prime Minister, in a post on X, expressed his delight in joining the event and said, "I am looking to join a very special programme today at 4:30 PM via video conferencing - the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2024. It will be a delight to interact with pioneering young innovators who will surely enhance India's growth trajectory in the times to come." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1866694922176430099 "Over the years, the Smart India Hackathon has emerged as a vibrant forum of encouragement for our youth," he added. During the event, the Prime Minister will interact with the participants and address the gathering, offering encouragement to the next generation of problem-solvers, as per the PMO. This marks the 7th edition of SIH, a flagship initiative designed to empower students to tackle real-world challenges through innovation. The Software Edition of the Grand Finale will be an intensive 36-hour nonstop competition, while the Hardware Edition will span five days, ending on December 15, 2024. The event will take place across 51 nodal centres nationwide, featuring over 1,300 student teams competing in various domains of national importance. This year's hackathon has set a new benchmark, recording a 150 per cent increase in institute-level internal hackathons, growing from 900 in 2023 to an impressive 2,247 in 2024. This expansion has made SIH 2024 the largest edition to date, with over 86,000 teams participating at the institute level. From these, around 49,000 teams, each comprising six students and two mentors, have progressed to the national-level competition. Participants will tackle more than 250 problem statements submitted by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and industries. These challenges span 17 themes linked to sectors of national importance, including Healthcare, Smart Technologies, Heritage and Culture, Sustainability, Water Management, Education, and Disaster Management. Some of the notable problem statements include enhancing images of darker regions on the moon, presented by ISRO; developing a real-time Ganga water quality monitoring system using AI, satellite data, IoT, and dynamic models, presented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti; and creating a smart yoga mat integrated with AI, presented by the Ministry of AYUSH. The Smart India Hackathon has become a platform for young innovators to collaborate with government and industry stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions to pressing challenges. By fostering a culture of creativity and problem-solving, SIH continues to nurture India's future innovators and reinforces the country's position as a global hub of technological advancements and talent. (ANI)
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to John Dramani Mahama on his election as president of Ghana.

Noting that Ghana is one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China and is also an important strategic partner of China in Africa, Xi said that the China-Ghana friendship has a long history and has been strengthened over time.

In recent years, bilateral relations have enjoyed a sound momentum of development, with fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, Xi said.

Also in the message, Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Ghana relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Mahama to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and promote the China-Ghana strategic partnership to be deeper and more solid, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 11: Canarys Automations Limited (NSE: CANARYS), a trailblazer in DevOps consulting with over 20 years of experience, joined hands with Technophiles India to host Dine with DevOps II 2024, the largest DevOps conference of the year. Held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Mumbai, the event focused on Decoding the Complexity of DevOps and DevSecOps Across the Industries, offering a platform for insightful discussions and innovative ideas shaping the future of the industry. As the proud "Powered By Partner" of the event, Canarys played a pivotal role in fostering meaningful conversations around the future of DevOps. One of the standout moments was Canarys' session, "Development to Deployments: What Not to Do - Distilling 20 Years of DevOps Experience," which delivered actionable insights and best practices, resonating deeply with attendees from various industries. The Canarys booth was a hub of vibrant discussions, featuring solutions that showcased how businesses can transform their DevOps practices through cutting-edge automation and tools. Delegates explored practical applications of technologies like GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps, and Kubernetes, highlighting Canarys' expertise in driving impactful DevOps and DevSecOps transformations. "We are thrilled by the success of Dine with DevOps II 2024 and deeply grateful to Technophiles India for creating such a memorable event. The enthusiasm and engagement from the delegates inspire us to continue shaping the future of DevOps together," said Selza Noronha | Vice President - Solution Sales at Canarys. Canarys Proven Expertise Canarys Automations Limited is Advanced Specialization Partner on DevOps with GitHub on Microsoft Azure, GitHub Verified Partner, Snyk Partner, GitLab Certified Professional Services Partner (PSP) and GitLab Open Partner, and Atlassian Silver Solution Partner. Canarys DevSecOps experts are certified professionals with deep technical expertise in tools and technologies such as Azure DevOps, GitHub, Snyk, GitLab, Terraform, Atlassian, Kubernetes, Docker, Ansible, Jenkins, and more. With over 1,000 customers across India, APAC, and the USA, Canarys provides solutions and services around DevSecOps platform Implementation, Pipeline Automations, End-to-End DevOps adoption assistance, Containerization of applications, Agile Process workflow automation and customization, Integrations & Migrations between various DevOps tools. About Canarys Automations For more than 30 years, Canarys Automations has been at the forefront of digital transformation, delivering innovative and customized software solutions. With a dedicated team of over 500 professionals, Canarys enables businesses to accelerate their digital journey through expertise in DevOps, automation, and cloud technologies. Winner of GitHub APAC Channel Partner of the Year Award in 2024, Canarys has also been recognized as Finalist for Microsoft DevOps Partner of the year Award at Microsoft Inspire for 2018 & 2017. Canarys is one of the authorized License & Solutions partner for GitHub,Snyk, Atlassian, GitLab andMicrosoft Qualified DevOps FastTrack Partner. For further details, visit www.ecanarys.com. Media ContactBharath+91- 9916220147sales@ecanarys.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2577628/Canarys_Automations.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], December 11: MoU signed between Russia BRICS Project Office and BRICS Youth Alliance to further educational and cultural ties between India and Russia The three-day BRICS Educational Expedition (BEE) held at the Gujarat University (GU) campus concluded on Monday with signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Russia. The MoU, signed between the Russia BRICS Project Office for International Youth Cooperation, the BRICS Youth Alliance and the Creative Industries Foundation of the Ulyanovsk Region was done to further cultural and educational ties between India and Russia. The three-day expedition held training and collaborative sessions aimed to create a community of young leaders committed to promoting the values and principles of BRICS. The BEE was a collaboration with the Project Office for International Youth Cooperation "Russia-BRICS", the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), Russia, BRICS Youth Alliance India, Gujarat University and GUSEC. Diana Kovela, Head of the BRICS Education Expedition, who is in India and signed the MoU on behalf of Russia said, "We are here to celebrate the creation of BRICS Educational Expedition called BEE. We already share very close ties with India and this MoU is another attempt to further boost cultural and educational ties between Russia and India." "The BRICS Educational Expedition is an attempt to foster ties among BRICS nations. Through BEE, we are trying to bring the youth on one platform to increase the understanding about member countries of BRICS and support youth initiatives" - Madhish Parikh, Head of the BRICS Youth Alliance in India said. Gujarat University Vice Chancellor, Dr Neerja Gupta, Srinivasa Rao Sureddi, CEO of GUSEC, Madhish Parikh, Founding Director of the BRICS Youth Alliance and International BRICS Experts were present during the opening ceremony of the event on Saturday. BRICS is a collective of countries -Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Expanding its footprints, BRICS added Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt to the grouping last year. For queries, contact: Madhish Parikh BRICS Youth Alliance, India Mob: 9016558924 (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)
VMPL New Delhi [India], December 11: In a groundbreaking move poised to transform the intersection of artificial intelligence and holistic well-being, DeepakChopra.AI (www.deepakchopra.ai), an initiative by Cyberhuman.ai, co-founded by Poonacha Machaiah and globally renowned wellbeing pioneer Dr. Deepak Chopra, shared their vision for democratizing wellbeing with AI at the prestigious TiE Global Summit 2024 in Bangalore. DeepakChopra.AI represents a revolutionary leap in personalized well-being solutions. Leveraging advanced AI technology, the platform creates a "digital twin" of Dr. Chopra, providing users with instant access to his decades of wisdom on mindfulness, meditation, stress management, and holistic health. A Digital Guide to Holistic Living Through DeepakChopra.AI, individuals worldwide can access personalized insights, guided meditations, and actionable health recommendations curated by Dr. Chopra's expertise, powered by Cyberhuman.ai's cutting-edge AI engine. This platform embodies a mission to make well-being universally accessible, particularly in a fast-paced, stress-filled world. Dr. Deepak Chopra, MD, co-founder of Cyberhuman.ai, expressed his excitement: "With DeepakChopra.AI, we're bringing centuries of ancient wisdom into the digital age, democratizing access to tools for mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. This platform is not just about technology--it's about empowering humanity to create a more conscious and connected future - elevating spiritual intelligence and personal well-being". Supporting Entrepreneurs and Corporate Well-being in India Recognizing the unique challenges entrepreneurs and corporate professionals face in India, DeepakChopra.AI is tailored to meet their well-being needs. Entrepreneurs often navigate high-pressure environments that demand resilience, creativity, and focus, while corporate professionals strive to balance demanding workloads with personal health. Poonacha Machaiah, CEO and co-founder of Cyberhuman.ai emphasized the importance of this focus: "India is home to some of the world's most innovative entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. Yet,the intensity of their work often takes a toll on their health and well-being. DeepakChopra.AI is designed to provide these change-makers with the tools to build successful ventures and healthier, more balanced lives. Well-being is no longer a luxury--it's a necessity for sustained success and peak living." Deepak Chopra, MD, will be the keynote speaker, and Poonacha Machaiah will speak in the AI and Deep tech track at the TiE Global Summit in Bengaluru from December 10-12th. Sharing DeepakChopra.ai at the TiE Global Summit signifies a global call to action for startups, innovators, and health-tech enthusiasts to embrace AI-driven well-being solutions. Join the Movement DeepakChopra.AI invites individuals and organizations to explore the future of well-being. Visit www.deepakchopra.ai for more information and embark on a transformative journey toward self-discovery, resilience, and balance. About Cyberhuman.ai Cyberhuman.ai (www.cyberhuman.ai), co-founded by Poonacha Machaiah and Dr. Deepak Chopra, is an AI-powered platform focused on holistic health and well-being. By integrating advanced diagnostics, predictive analytics, and personalized AI-driven experiences, Cyberhuman.ai empowers individuals to live healthier, more conscious lives. Cyberhuman.ai has partnered with Supertab.co to further enhance the accessibility of DeepakChopra.AI. Through Supertab's innovative pay-as-you-go approach, the platform removes barriers to access, ensuring affordability and simplicity for everyone. This collaboration underscores Cyberhuman.ai's commitment to democratizing well-being and ensuring that cost is never a barrier to achieving better health. Media contact: - USA: Aaron Marion (aaron@marionpr.com) - INDIA: Chandrani Pal (chandrani2exp@gmail.com) (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)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 11: NMMC Government Hospital and Medical College, Vashi, is a renowned institution offering quality medical education and healthcare services. Located in Navi Mumbai, it is equipped with modern facilities and experienced faculty, providing comprehensive training for future medical professionals.

The college offers four undergraduate (UG) programs:

1. MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery): A premier course for aspiring doctors, emphasizing clinical and theoretical expertise.

2. BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery): Focuses on traditional Ayurvedic practices integrated with modern medicine.

3. BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery): Specializes in homeopathy and holistic treatment methods.

4. BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery): Prepares students for a career in dentistry with in-depth knowledge of oral health sciences.

With robust academic and clinical training, the institution ensures students are well-prepared for successful medical careers.

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N Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday discussed various potential areas for collaboration between the state and tech giant Google and overviewed the company's operations in India. Following the recently concluded memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Andhra Pradesh Government and Google, the CM met a Google delegation led by VP, Bikash Koley, in Amaravati today; he posted about the meeting on the social media platform X. Sharing about the meeting, he added, "During the meeting, we also discussed various potential areas for collaboration. I am confident that collaborations with global technology leaders such as Google will empower our state, ultimately contributing to India's digital growth story. Looking forward to working together to bring these initiatives to fruition." He further stated that the state government's new progressive industrial policies have created a business-friendly ecosystem that is attracting investors and paving the way for employment opportunities. Google, on December 5, announced a strategic collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to accelerate the deployment and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across the state. This collaboration will drive the development and implementation of AI solutions, focusing on key sectors like healthcare and sustainability, while also prioritising digital infrastructure enhancements, AI skills development, and support for the local startup ecosystem, the company had said in a release. Under the MoU, Google will collaborate with the Andhra Pradesh government to integrate AI and ML solutions in critical areas such as healthcare and environmental sustainability. The collaboration will also focus on promoting skill development and bridging the digital divide by providing citizens with the necessary training and resources to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Additionally, Google will collaborate to support the state's startup ecosystem to fuel innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of AI. The key initiatives under the move include skill development and education, startup ecosystem enablement, sustainability, healthcare, and AI pilots. Google had said that it will offer 10,000 certificates for the Google AI Essentials course, a foundational course that teaches people how to use AI in their work and everyday lives to increase productivity and efficiency. Google Cloud will also collaborate with the government to provide skilling programs for government agencies, including Google Cloud Certifications and Skill Badges in areas like cybersecurity, data analytics, and generative AI. Additionally, Google will offer resources and support to educators to meet the growing demand for computer science education. Google will work with the Andhra Pradesh startup ecosystem to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, providing mentorship and networking opportunities and access to Google for Startups Accelerator programs. In addition, eligible AI startups will receive cloud credits, technical training, and business support, the company had stated. (ANI)
Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], December 11: Renowned medical specialist Dr. Arpit Chopra Jain has been awarded the prestigious Bharat Vibhushan Award 2024. The honor was presented during a grand ceremony held at the CM Conference Hall of the Delhi Assembly Building.

The event was organised by the Institute for Social Reforms and Higher Education (ISRHE) and graced by several dignitaries, including Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Shri Ram Niwas Goel, who presented the award to Dr. Jain.

Dr. Jain received this recognition for his exceptional contributions to "modern alternative medicine" in the treatment of critical illnesses. His pioneering efforts have established new benchmarks in addressing severe diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, and aplastic anemia.

Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Jain stated, "This honor is a matter of immense pride, and I dedicate it to the field of medicine. My dream is to bring global recognition to India's modern alternative medicine system."

Dr. Atul Kumar Sharma, President of the institute, lauded Dr. Jain's contributions and wished him continued success. Adding to his accolades, Dr. Jain was also honored with the United Nations Global Excellence Award by the United Nations Global Peace Council in a grand ceremony held in Dubai. Alongside this, he received an honorary doctorate from the USA International University.

These prestigious awards celebrate his groundbreaking contributions to the medical field and his efforts to combine traditional and modern alternative medicine for treating complex diseases. Dr. Jain's achievements mark a proud moment for the medical fraternity and India on the global stage.

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PNN New Delhi [India], December 11: For novices, the stock market frequently feels like a maze, full of stories about financial errors and scams. The intricacy of trading and investing deters many people and exposes them to false information. Zero to Hero Stock Market, an educational platform devoted to demythologising stock market concepts and equipping people with the information and confidence necessary to succeed, is tackling this difficulty. Sujit's Inspiring Story The incredible journey of Zero to Hero Stock Market's founder, Sujit Singh, is the driving force behind its success. Due to deceptive schemes and a lack of knowledge, he suffered large losses, including Rs2.5 crore, during his first entry into the stock market. Sujit decided to keep on in spite of these obstacles."I lost everything property, gold, and savings--because I was unaware and trapped by a 99% fraudulent system," Sujit says. But rather than giving up, he turned his mistakes into teaching moments. Sujit redesigned his strategy and started sharing his knowledge to assist others steer clear of similar problems by embracing concepts like patience, discipline, and risk management. His frank narration strikes a chord with many others who have encountered similar difficulties in the marketplace, establishing a platform based on relatability and trust. Simplifying Stock Market Education Zero to Hero Stock Market is a revolutionary movement that aims to demystify the intricacies of the stock market, not merely an educational endeavor. The platform's goals include educating users about the dangers and rewards of trading, uncovering dishonest scams, and making complex stock market ideas easier for novices to understand. It gives people the skills they need to effectively navigate the market by encouraging long-term success strategies based on discipline and risk management. Zero to Hero Stock Market makes sure that everyone, regardless of location or experience level, has access to high-quality education through digital platforms, including YouTube videos, blogs, and webinars. Breaking down Barriers To make sure that stock market education is simple to comprehend and interesting for all students, Zero to Hero Stock Market employs a multifaceted strategy. While more experienced students can delve into strategies like swing trading and technical analysis, beginners can learn the basics through YouTube courses, including how to register a Demat account and comprehend market jargon. Furthermore, the platform provides both free and paid interactive courses with live Q&A sessions that give students individualised advice and the chance to get their questions answered. Additionally, Zero to Hero creates a vibrant community where traders and students can work together, exchange tactics, and support one another as they pursue financial success. Lessons from Failure The significance of choosing a learning mindset over a recovery attitude is a pillar of Sujit's instruction. "No one is perfect in the market, but I respect my level and follow patience, discipline, and risk management," he says. According to his ideology, students should prioritise their education, refrain from making rash decisions, and adhere to long-term plans. Sujit's story serves as a reminder that obstacles can present worthwhile teaching moments. His focus on perseverance and self-control gives novices the skills they need to comfortably handle market swings and steer clear of typical mistakes. What Sets Zero to Hero Stock Market Apart The Zero to Hero Stock Market is unique for a number of important reasons. First of all, learners are drawn to its relevant storyline and Sujit's openness about his own struggles, which builds trust. Additionally, the site maintains moral standards by highlighting fraud and encouraging honest, environmentally friendly trade methods. Furthermore, it provides extensive content that is tailored to a broad spectrum of learners, from novices to seasoned traders, guaranteeing that there is something for everyone. Thousands of people attribute their increased trust in the stock market and improved financial literacy to the platform, which has demonstrated outcomes. A Platform for Growth and Success From Zero to Hero The stock market is about turning fear into confidence and confusion into clarity, not just about trading stocks. By tackling the difficulties encountered by novices, it establishes a strong basis for long-term expansion. At the heart of the platform is Sujit Singh's inspirational journey, which continues to help others become financially literate and achieve long-term success. Zero to Hero Stock Market is a ray of hope, wisdom, and empowerment for everyone wishing to start their stock market adventure. (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)
NewsVoir Gurgaon (Haryana) [India], December 11: In line with its commitment to nurture talent and foster a culture of meritocracy, Paisabazaar, India's leading consumer credit marketplace, has launched the Propelling Advisors Towards Career Excellence (PACE) program. Built on the robust Assessment Centre/Development Centre (AC/DC) HR model, the initiative is designed to accelerate the professional growth of Sales Advisors and provide a structured pathway to leadership roles. The AC/DC model combines rigorous evaluation with targeted development for the career progression of employees. Assessment Centres involve systematic evaluations through structured simulations and exercises to measure employees' skills, competencies, and potential. Development Centres build on these insights, delivering customised training programs that empower employees to enhance their capabilities and prepare for higher responsibilities. PACE Program is tailored specifically for Paisabazaar's Sales Advisors, with a focus on roles ranging from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to Team Leaders (TLs). It aims to remove bias in the system and is purely based on meritocracy. This will also help retain and increase the vintage of employees, which remains critical for the business in terms of higher productivity. Commenting on the initiative, Dhiraj Kalra, CHRO & Head - Customer Service and Training at Paisabazaar, said, "This is more than a professional development strategy for us, it is a testament to our belief in the potential of our workforce. This initiative empowers our Sales Advisors by providing them with a clear and structured career progression path. By equipping our employees with the skills and support they need to thrive, we aim to build a culture of excellence that benefits individuals and the organization as a whole." PACE employs a transparent, metrics-based framework to address growth barriers, reduce attrition, and build a robust talent pipeline. By offering equal opportunities for professional advancement, the program seeks to empower employees from varied socio-economic backgrounds. Over 3000 employees are expected to benefit from the PACE initiative at Paisabazaar. Under this program, employees will undergo a comprehensive six-month training regimen structured in quarterly batches. The eligibility criteria for selection into the Assessment Centre is based on vintage and consistent performance. The Development Centre component then provides targeted training based on the assessment outcomes, focusing on areas such as interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, stress management, leadership, technical proficiency, and decision-making abilities. This initiative underscores Paisabazaar's dedication to fostering employee growth through structured and innovative frameworks. By leveraging the AC/DC model, the organisation aims to empower its workforce, cultivate talent, and drive excellence across all levels. - Paisabazaar is India's largest marketplace for consumer credit and free credit score platform. It is part of the PB Fintech Group (listed on Indian stock exchanges since 2021) - Over the last decade, Paisabazaar has earned the trust and goodwill of over 45 million consumers from 823 cities and towns across India. - Every month, the platform receives over 20 lakh enquiries from more than 1000 cities. - Paisabazaar over the years has built deep partnerships within the lending ecosystem, partnering with 60+ Banks, NBFCs, NBFC fintechs, to offer wide choice - Paisabazaar has been running India's largest credit awareness initiative, by offering consumers their credit score from the credit bureaus for free - Paisabazaar's co-created strategy helps meet consumer need gaps, through a robust array of exclusive, first-in-market and best-in-class digital products, built with partner Banks and NBFCs - Paisabazaar is also an ISO (27001: 2013) certified organization with industry-best controls, to safeguard the best interest of consumers. We are also a PCI DSS certified organization (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)
PRNewswire Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 11: CEAT Specialty, a global leader in off-highway and agricultural tyres, is launching new range of OTR tyres at bauma CONEXPO India 2024, the premier trade fair for the construction and mining industry. The event will take place from December 11-14, 2024, at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR. bauma CONEXPO India is a dynamic platform bringing together industry leaders to showcase groundbreaking innovations. CEAT Specialty will proudly exhibit its new range of specialised tyres designed to tackle the most challenging construction, mining, and industrial applications. A key highlight of the event will be the unveiling of MINEMAX X3, an advanced tyre range meticulously designed for the demanding requirements of the mining segment, along with the innovative I-Tyre, featuring cutting-edge technology for real-time performance monitoring. Additional lineup includes ROCK XL R 21 and LXLM31 radial tyres, designed for earthmovers and cranes and manufactured with a special cut-resistant compound to endure harsh operating conditions. CEAT Specialty also highlights its innovative solid tyres for forklifts, aimed at providing operational comfort while ensuring minimal downtime. Featured products include the ELEVETA X3, a forklift tyre with deep non-directional treads and enhanced sidewall protection for industrial environments; the LOAD XL, a backhoe loader tyre offering superior heat resistance and durability for tough terrains; the ROCK XL, a mining tyre with cut-resistant compounds, self-cleaning lugs, and a robust casing; and the PORT PRO RX TL 40PR E4, a tyre built for port applications with extra-deep treads, heat-resistant compounds, and strong bead construction for high-load operations. Commenting on the occasion, Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty, remarked, "bauma CONEXPO is an important platform for showcasing our internationally acclaimed OTR tyres. This year, we are proud to launch advanced products like the MINEMAX X3 which demonstrate our commitment to meeting the evolving demands of the industry. Additionally, we have ambitious plans to introduce innovative products over the next few years that will raise the standards of performance and durability in the OTR segment." Visit CEAT Specialty at Hall No. 11, Booth No. O 01 to explore these innovative solutions and find out how their premium tyres can help optimise operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall efficiency. About CEAT Specialty Founded in 1924 in Italy, CEAT is a leading tyre manufacturer with a strong presence in over 110 countries. Headquartered in Mumbai, India, CEAT is the flagship company of the RPG group. It produces more than 41 million high-performance tyres, catering to various segments like 2-3 Wheelers, Passenger and Utility Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles and Off-Highway Vehicles. CEAT is the first tyre brand in the world to receive the prestigious Deming Grand Prize from the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), for outstanding achievement in the field of Total Quality Management. It is also the first tyre brand in the world to be awarded Lighthouse Designation by the World Economic Forum for its use of fourth industrial revolution technologies CEAT Specialty is CEAT's division for off-highway (OTR and Agricultural) tyres. To learn more about CEAT Specialty, please visit https://www.ceatspecialty.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceat-specialty-tyres-indiahttps://www.instagram.com/ceatspecialtyindia/https://www.facebook.com/CEATspecialty.India Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578712/CEAT_Specialty_at_bauma.jpgPhoto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578713/CEAT_MINEMAX_X3.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2400010/CEAT_Specialty_Logo.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)
Dilip Kumar, the 'Tragedy King' of Indian cinema, continues to be remembered for his unmatched contributions to Bollywood. Born on December 11, 1922, as Muhammad Yusuf Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, he ruled the silver screen with his impeccable acting skills, emotional depth, and charisma. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, let's take a trip down memory lane to revisit some of the most iconic roles that made Dilip Kumar a cinematic legend, a man who left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. 1. 'Andaz' (1949) In 'Andaz', Dilip Kumar shared the screen with Nargis and Raj Kapoor. The film not only showcased his powerful acting range but also introduced him as the 'Tragedy King' to the world. His portrayal of a man caught in a love triangle was heart-wrenching, and his ability to balance romance with emotional turmoil set the stage for his future roles. 2. 'Devdas' (1955) No list of Dilip Kumar's most iconic roles would be complete without 'Devdas'. Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel, Kumar's portrayal of the self-destructive, tragic hero struck a chord with audiences. His vulnerability, longing, and tortured love story became a benchmark for future portrayals of the character, and his performance remains unparalleled to this day. 3. 'Mughal-e-Azam' (1960) In 'Mughal-e-Azam', Dilip Kumar played Prince Salim, a role that required both regal dignity and intense emotional depth. This film, one of the most celebrated in Indian cinema, saw him deliver a performance that was both commanding and deeply compassionate. The iconic song, "Jab pyar kiya toh darna kya," continues to resonate in the hearts of Bollywood fans worldwide. 4. 'Naya Daur' (1957) In 'Naya Daur', Dilip Kumar showcased his versatility by playing a man who fights against the forces of modernization threatening traditional ways of life. His powerful portrayal of a man caught between the old and new, with a mix of resilience and compassion, made this film one of the defining movies of the 1950s. 5. 'Karma' (1986) In the 1980s, Dilip Kumar still commanded the screen with his performances. 'Karma' saw him in a role showcasing his action-packed avatar while retaining his classic gravitas. The film combined action with drama, and Dilip Kumar's portrayal of both a compassionate doctor and a tough warrior was another testament to his acting range. 6. 'Ganga Jamuna' (1961) In 'Ganga Jamuna', Dilip Kumar played the role of Gangaram, a man caught between two worlds - the rural heartland and urban struggles. His nuanced portrayal of a man torn by loyalty to his brother and the law was a masterpiece of the 1960s, demonstrating his ability to carry films with emotional depth and complexity. 7. 'Shakti' (1982) In 'Shakti', Dilip Kumar starred alongside Amitabh Bachchan in a gripping tale of father-son conflict. The emotional struggle between the two, compounded by intense performances from both stars, is one of the defining moments in Kumar's career. The film remains a classic of its genre and further solidified his place as one of Bollywood's greatest actors. 8. 'Saudagar' (1991) 'Saudagar' was a film where Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar came together after years to portray old foes whose rivalry transcends generations. As the elder statesman of Bollywood, Kumar delivered a performance that was both commanding and reflective, proving that even in his later years, he could hold audiences spellbound with his depth and charm. Dilip Kumar's career spanned over five decades and he played the lead role in about 60 films. He is not only remembered for his stellar performances but also for the grace and dignity with which he carried himself both on and off the screen. His ability to portray complex human emotions with depth and authenticity made him a beloved figure in Indian cinema. Dilip Kumar's cinematic legacy continues to influence and inspire generations of actors and filmmakers. From his groundbreaking roles in tragedy to his versatility across genres, his contribution to Indian cinema remains unmatched. On his birth anniversary, the world of cinema celebrates an artist whose immense talent and dedication to his craft made him a timeless icon. (ANI)
Renowned celebrity chef Vikas Khanna recently hosted Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan for a special celebration at his New York restaurant, Bungalow. The event was a momentous occasion for both the chef and the actor, as they shared heartfelt conversations about life, legacy, and their shared connection to Indian culture. The luxurious Bungalow, which opened in March 2024, has already made a significant impact in the NYC dining scene, offering an innovative twist on traditional Indian cuisine and has recently won the Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award. Since its inauguration, the restaurant has become a favourite destination for some of India's biggest stars, including Mukesh Ambani, Priyanka Chopra, and now, Shah Rukh Khan. Chef Vikas, whose culinary expertise and vision for modern Indian fine dining have earned him widespread acclaim, shared his joy at hosting the superstar. In an emotional reflection, Khanna revealed that Shah Rukh's visit left him deeply grateful and honoured. In a heartfelt social media post, Chef Vikas Khanna shared a beautiful throwback picture from the day and expressed his admiration for Shah Rukh, whom he regards as a lifelong hero. Khanna recounted how, as a young boy, he would watch SRK's films like 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' (DDLJ) with his sister, and how the actor's charisma, confidence, compassion, and friendship left an indelible impression on him. "SRK has been my hero for many reasons," Chef Vikas Khanna wrote, adding "His voice, his persona, and the way he treats everyone with respect--he is a true icon." He added that hosting his idol at Bungalow and serving him his culinary creations was a moment he would cherish forever. "To hold back my tears, I looked up at the glass ceiling and saw the clear crescent of the moon watching over me," Khanna shared, capturing the emotion of the moment. https://x.com/TheVikasKhanna/status/1866563791602978916 During their meeting, Shah Rukh Khan also shared a touching message with the chef. "Bungalow represents us. Our parents, our ancestors, our India," Chef Vikas Khanna revealed. Chef Vikas Khanna, who has become a household name through his culinary shows and global initiatives, including his role as a judge on MasterChef India, continues to break boundaries. On December 10, he took to his Instagram handle, shared his picture with the Tricolor and wrote, "260 days of Bungalow and today we received the Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award. While I've previously received the Michelin Star 8 times, today felt different. I felt that it was for some higher purpose, it was like a tribute, it was like a promise to my land and to my people. To my sister." He added, "This is just the beginning. We will work harder & harder everyday to give our guests an experience that will be a testament to Indian hospitality." The comment section of his post is filled with congratulatory wishes. "Happy tears... immmmmmmense love to you chef," a netizen wrote. "Heartiest congratulations," another wrote. Set in the bustling culinary hub of New York, Bungalow has managed to become an audience favourite in a short span of time. It was opened in March 2024. Recently, global star Priyanka Chopra was spotted enjoying enjoying the restaurant's culinary delights. Priyanka shared a glimpse of the restaurant and thanked the chef for offering her a taste of home. She visited the Indian restaurant with her husband Nick Jonas, manager Anjula Acharia, and friends. Vikas Khanna's culinary journey is truly inspiring. From his humble beginnings in Amritsar to becoming a chef who introduced Indian cuisine to the United States and cooked for people like Barack Obama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Dalai Lama, Khanna has reached several milestones in the world of cooking. (ANI)
On the 102nd birth anniversary of Bollywood's legendary "Tragedy King," Dilip Kumar, his beloved wife, veteran actress Saira Banu, paid a heartfelt tribute to the actor, recalling the special moments they shared together. While the world recognized Dilip Kumar for his larger-than-life persona and unmatched acting skills, Saira fondly remembered the simpler, carefree side of him that he reserved for their personal moments. Taking to social media, Saira shared a touching video montage of the unforgettable times she spent with her late husband. Dilip Kumar, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 98, had left an indelible mark on Indian cinema, but for Saira, he was much more than a legend. In her Instagram post, Saira reflected on how Dilip Kumar's presence transformed her life. "A few people walk into your life to stay, becoming a part of you in every possible way. That's what happened when Dilip Sahib entered my life to stay with me forever. We are one in our thoughts and being," she wrote, capturing the depth of their bond. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDbUK7OogYy/ Saira continued, expressing how, despite his legendary status, Dilip Kumar would shed his iconic aura whenever they were together. "To the world, he was the epitome of mannerisms, poise, chivalry, and a presence that could silence a room," she wrote. "Yet, whenever he was around me, he became something else entirely. He shed the aura of a legend and let the child within him emerge playful, carefree, unburdened by the weight of worldly chaos," she added. Saira shared a special anecdote about the actor's spontaneous nature. "One thing I can say for certain about Sahib is that he could never sit still. He loved to travel. Whenever he had days off from shooting, he would ask us to accompany him to beautiful destinations. My brother Sultan's children, others in the family, and I would often join him on these trips, creating some of our fondest memories together," she recalled. She went on to narrate an unforgettable story from their life. "I had gone to the airport just to see him off. When I mentioned my shoot had been cancelled, Dilip Sahib took me by surprise. He sent his secretary to secure a ticket for me, and before I knew it, I was travelling with him to a grand wedding. I was dressed in a simple cotton salwar kameez, with no preparation, yet Dilip Sahib's simplicity allowed him to bring me into his world effortlessly." Saira also shared her amusement at Dilip Kumar's generosity, revealing, "As meticulous as I am, I would spare no effort in making his birthdays special. Yet, he would give away the gifts--fine sweaters, cufflinks, watches--without hesitation to anyone who admired them. I soon realized that he was so fulfilled within himself, that material possessions held no real value for him. His art, his family, and the love he gave and received were all that mattered to him." In her tribute, Saira reflected on Dilip Kumar's ability to remain unaffected by material desires, a trait she noticed not just in him but in many of the greats of Indian cinema. "Dilip Sahib embodied this rare quality, a man so enriched by the intangible, so unaffected by worldly possessions," she shared. Concluding her tribute, Saira expressed her deep love and reverence for the man behind the legend. "The world may revere him as its Kohinoor, but to me, he was simply the man who made the ordinary extraordinary. Happy Birthday, Yousuf Jaan!" Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu's on-screen and off-screen chemistry is legendary. Films such as 'Gopi', 'Bairaag', 'Sagina Mahato', and 'Duniya' continue to be cherished by fans. While Dilip Kumar may no longer be with us, his legacy in Indian cinema and the hearts of his admirers remains eternal. (ANI)
Acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee will be honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards, set to take place on February 8, 2025. Lee, the Academy Award-winning director behind masterpieces such as Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi, will become the 37th filmmaker in history to receive this distinguished honour. The news was announced by the official social media handle of the Directors Guild of America. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDaR4XmuB8a/?img_index=1 The award, presented at the discretion of current and past DGA presidents, celebrates an individual's exceptional contributions to the world of cinema. Lesli Linka Glatter, the current president of the DGA, lauded Lee as "truly a master filmmaker," highlighting his impressive and diverse body of work, as per The Hollywood Reporter. She described Lee's career as one that "boldly cuts across genres," noting his fearless exploration of themes ranging from period drama and comedy to superhero epics and martial arts. Glatter continued, saying, "For over 30 years, he has consistently challenged himself, never repeating himself, and always achieving cinematic excellence." The DGA president also emphasized Lee's ability to create films with complex characters and unforgettable stories. "Through his films, Ang invites his audiences to explore complex characters that linger in your heart and mind long after the screen has gone dark," Glatter said, adding, "His work is consistently recognized by critics, festivals, and audiences for its brilliant storytelling and technological innovations," as per The Hollywood Reporter. Lee's career began in the early 1990s with films like The Wedding Banquet, but he became a global sensation with his films 'Crouching Tiger', 'Hidden Dragon', 'Brokeback Mountain', and 'Life of Pi'. The latter earned Lee an Academy Award for Best Director. A member of the DGA since 1996, Lee has earned multiple nominations and awards from the guild. He has been nominated for the DGA Award for Feature Film four times, winning the honour in 2000 for 'Crouching Tiger', 'Hidden Dragon' and in 2005 for 'Brokeback Mountain'. Lee's contributions to the film industry were also celebrated by the DGA in 2018 with a special recognition for his support of American culture through his work in film and television. Expressing his gratitude for the honour, Lee remarked, "I am honoured to be recognized in such an incredible way by my beloved Guild. To be given the DGA lifetime achievement award is a momentous achievement for me personally and an opportunity to reflect on what my work has meant to this amazing community of my fellow filmmakers," reported The Hollywood Reporter. The DGA Lifetime Achievement Award, which was first presented to Cecil B. DeMille in 1953, has since been bestowed upon numerous legendary directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and most recently, Spike Lee. The award recognizes directors who have made extraordinary contributions to the art of filmmaking. (ANI)
The Kapoor family met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to invite him to the celebration of legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor's 100th birth anniversary. The family is organizing nationwide screenings of Raj Kapoor's iconic films as part of the tribute. PM Modi had a warm interaction with the Kapoor family. Actor Ranbir Kapoor shared an anecdote that left PM Modi smiling. Ranbir's aunt, Reema Kapoor, mentioned how Ranbir experienced the enduring legacy of Raj Kapoor during an overseas trip. She said, "Ranbir ke sath hua hai. Vo car mein baitha tha. Ek Russian taxi driver tha usne bola ki are you from India? And he was singing a song...Are you Raj Kapoor's grandson?" Ranbir then shared his experience of being recognized because of his grandfather's legacy. He added with a laugh, "Maine unse kaha main unka (Raj Kapoor) pota (grandson) hun, toh aise hamesha mujhe free taxi ride mil jaate hai." During the brief conversation with the Kapoor family, PM Modi shared his admiration for Raj Kapoor's lasting influence on Indian cinema and spoke about the power of films in their era. He recalled an incident involving veteran leader LK Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee: "I remember the impact of films in those days. It was during the Jana Sangh era, and there was an election in Delhi. After the party lost, Advaniji and Atalji said, 'What should we do now?' Then they decided, 'Let's watch a movie.' They went to watch Raj Kapoor's 'Phir Subah Hogi.'" PM Modi also fondly recounted another memory involving Ranbir Kapoor's father, late Rishi Kapoor. "When I was in China, a song by your father was being played. I told my colleagues to record it on their phones, and I sent it to Rishiji. He was so delighted by it." The Prime Minister also spoke about Raj Kapoor's role in establishing Indian cinema's global influence long before the term "soft power" became popular. "In 1947, we had 'Neel Kamal,' and now as we approach 2047, it reflects the immense contribution of such a vast nation. Today, there is much talk about soft power in diplomacy, but back then, Raj Kapoor had already showcased India's strength in this area to the world," he said. Members of the Kapoor family, including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, were present during the interaction. The video shared by PMO also showed the Kapoor family sharing their experiences after meeting the Prime Minister. "This is a special day for us. We enjoyed the conversation. We also asked him many personal questions. He spoke to us in a friendly manner. He made all of us feel very comfortable. We are grateful to him," said Ranbir Kapoor. "It was my dream to sit next to PM Modi and talk to him. His energy is so positive and he is truly a global leader," Kareena shared. Meanwhile, the festival will celebrate the centenary of Raj Kapoor, one of the most iconic figures in Indian cinema, who passed away in 1988. It showcases 10 iconic Raj Kapoor films across 40 cities and 135 cinemas, with a ticket price of Rs 100. The announcement of the film festival, which will include screenings of classics such as Aag, Barsaat, Awaara, Shree 420, and Mera Naam Joker, has sparked excitement among cinema lovers. Raj Kapoor's films are renowned for their storytelling, timeless music, and social relevance. His legacy continues to influence generations of filmmakers and audiences. Known as "India's Greatest Showman," Raj Kapoor's career spanned several decades, from his early days as a child actor to his later success as a director and producer. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary on Wednesday watched the film The Sabarmati Report with his party workers in Lucknow. The film is based on the 2002 Gujarat Godhra incident, a tragic event that remains a topic of intense discussion in India's recent history. After watching the film, Chaudhary shared his thoughts on X. He wrote: "Today in Lucknow, I watched the film The Sabarmati Report based on the 2002 Gujarat Godhra incident with party officials and workers. This film brings the truth of a horrific event in our history to the people of the country. It was a dark deed carried out by a selfish group driven by political greed. Everyone should watch this film. It is an emotional tribute to all the innocent lives lost in that incident." https://x.com/Bhupendraupbjp/status/1866811244193202414 Earlier this month, producer Ektaa Kapoor and the team behind The Sabarmati Report attended a special screening of the film with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. PM Modi praised the filmmakers for their efforts, stating, "Joined fellow NDA MPs at a screening of The Sabarmati Report. I commend the makers of the film for their effort," in a post on X. The Prime Minister not only watched the film but also interacted with the team. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, and several other ministers also attended the screening. The film's lead actor, Vikrant Massey, described attending the screening as the "highest point" of his career. After the screening, Vikrant shared his experience with the media, saying: "I watched the film with the Prime Minister, all cabinet ministers, and many MPs. It was a special experience. I still can't fully express it in words because I am so happy... This is the highest point of my career, that I got to watch my film with the Prime Minister." Raashii Khanna and Ridhi Dogra also attended the screening. (ANI)
The Kapoor family met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in Delhi, for a special meeting related to the upcoming Raj Kapoor 100 Film Festival. Members of the Kapoor family, including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, were present during the interaction. A video shared by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) also showed the Kapoor family sharing their experiences after meeting the PM. During the meeting, a light-hearted conversation between actor Alia Bhatt and PM Modi turned into a delightful moment when the 'Jigra' actress asked if the Prime Minister listens to music. "Kya aap gaane sun paate hain?" (Do you get time to listen to music?), Alia inquired. PM Modi responded with a simple yet adorable answer, "Main sun pata hoon kyunki mujhe achha lagta hai. Kabhi mauka mil jata hai toh main zaroor sun leta hoon." (I do listen because I enjoy it. Whenever I get the chance, I listen). The 'Jigra' actress also told PM Narendra Modi that she had recently seen a clip of him in Africa, standing with a soldier, who was singing her song. "I think aap Africa gaye the. Maine wahan pe bhi ek clip dekha tha kuch jawan ke sath khade the aur vo uss time mera gana gaa rahe the. But maine vo clip dekha tha. Kafi logo ne mujhe bheja tha aur sab log bahut khush ho gaye." (Recently, I think you went to Africa. I saw a clip where some soldiers were singing my song. Many people sent me that clip, and everyone felt so happy)," said Alia. Meanwhile, the festival will celebrate the centenary of Raj Kapoor, one of the most iconic figures in Indian cinema, who passed away in 1988. It showcases 10 iconic Raj Kapoor films across 40 cities and 135 cinemas, with a ticket price of Rs 100. The announcement of the film festival, which will include screenings of classics such as Aag, Barsaat, Awaara, Shree 420, and Mera Naam Joker, has sparked excitement among cinema lovers. Raj Kapoor's films are renowned for their storytelling, timeless music, and social relevance. His legacy continues to influence generations of filmmakers and audiences. Known as "India's Greatest Showman," Raj Kapoor's career spanned several decades, from his early days as a child actor to his later success as a director and producer. (ANI)
Dilip Kumar, the "Tragedy King" of Indian cinema, remains an enduring icon in Bollywood for his extraordinary performances and transformative impact on the film industry. On his 102nd birth anniversary, veteran actor Dharmendra shared a throwback photo of the actor. Taking to Instagram, Dharmendra wished Dilip Kumar 'happy birthday' and called him his 'loving brother.' In the throwback photo, the 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat' actor was seen hugging Diilip Kumar as they shared a happy moment. "Dalip saheb, Happy Birthday to you. I miss you my loving brother. You are the Best," wrote Dharmendra. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDccrVXosTh/ On the 102nd birth anniversary of Dilip Kumar, the film fraternity took to social media to wish the actor 'happy birthday.' His beloved wife, veteran actress Saira Banu, paid a heartfelt tribute to the actor, recalling the special moments they shared. While the world recognized Dilip Kumar for his larger-than-life persona and unmatched acting skills, Saira fondly remembered the simpler, carefree side of him that he reserved for their personal moments. Taking to social media, Saira shared a touching video montage of the unforgettable times she spent with her late husband. Dilip Kumar, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 98, had left an indelible mark on Indian cinema, but for Saira, he was much more than a c In her Instagram post, Saira reflected on how Dilip Kumar's presence transformed her life. "A few people walk into your life to stay, becoming a part of you in every possible way. That's what happened when Dilip Sahib entered my life to stay with me forever. We are one in our thoughts and being," she wrote, capturing the depth of their bond. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDbUK7OogYy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading Dilip Kumar's career spanned over five decades and he played the lead role in about 60 films. He is not only remembered for his stellar performances but also for the grace and dignity with which he carried himself both on and off the screen. The Tragedy King's cinematic legacy continues to influence and inspire generations of actors and filmmakers. From his groundbreaking roles in tragedy to his versatility across genres, he made huge contribution to Indian cinema. (ANI)
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) National spokesperson Kovai Sathyan launched a scathing attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, labelling him as a "pathological liar." This comes after Stalin rejected his allegations that he had a meeting with Gautam Adani. Reacting to this, the AIADMK national spokesperson claimed that Adani met Stalin and his family members at the CM's residence on a personal visit. Stalin denied he met Adani because it was not an official visit, Sathyan added. "MK Stalin is not only a habitual but a pathological liar. The whole of Tamil Nadu witnessed how he lied in the assembly that AIADMK supported (tungsten) mining at Madurai. Adani met MK Stalin at his residence, but he denied it because it was a personal visit, not an official one. It was in the news and everyone knows that Adani met with MK Stalin and the family members of MK Stalin at his residence," AIADMK National spokesperson Sathyan told ANI. The AIADMK leader held the Tamil Nadu government responsible for auctioning of tungsten mining in Madurai, saying that the DMK was enacting a drama just to hide the issue. Sathyan said that it was Stalin's sister Karunanidhi who first posted about this on social media. "DMK's incompetence, inaction and inability led to the auctioning of tungsten mining in Madurai. DMK is enacting a drama just to wrap it under the carpet as if nothing has happened... Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MK Stalin's sister was the first to let this news out. MK Stalin then hurriedly wrote a letter to the PM on the 28th, 8 days after Kanimozhi's tweet. So far, neither his government nor the government officials have shown what DMK claims to have sent to the central government and their response. The auction started on 24 February and it was awarded in November. For 10 months, these people were quiet.... Now, having been caught red-handed, they are levelling false allegations against AIADMK that we supported the mining of tungsten. In the August 2023 Amendment Bill, there is no such statement..." Sathyan added. Earlier, Tamil Nadu BJP hit out at DMK and AIADMK for posing "unfounded" allegations against the tungsten mining project in Madurai and accused them of "misleading" the people in the state. Tamil Nadu BJP state spokesperson ANS Prasad termed the protest in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as "drama" and "political theatre." He added that the two parties won't succeed in creating the impression that the Centre is "imposing" the project on the state, as the Modi government always prioritizes agricultural welfare. This comes amid the row between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over the tungsten project in Madurai. Earlier on Monday, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution opposing the project. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said that as long as he is the Chief Minister of the state he will not allow tungsten mining at Melur in Madurai district. (ANI)
Members of the Hindu community held a protest march against the 'targeted attacks' on minorities in Bangladesh in Jammu on Tuesday. Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP, SP Vaid, also joined the protest march that was took out by Hindu community, including those from ISKCON, in Jammu today against targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Speaking to ANI at the protest site, DGP SP Vaid stated that the attack on Hindus in the neighbouring country should be made an international issue and taken up before the United Nations. "People have gathered here, and they want to send a message to the government of India, to PM Narendra Modi. He sent the foreign secretary to Bangladesh yesterday over this matter. This should be made an international issue and taken up before the United Nations and UNHRC," he said. The former Jammu and Kashmir DGP suggested sending a UN peacekeeping force in case Bangladesh failed to protect the minorities. "If Bangladesh fails to protect the lives and properties of minorities, an international peacekeeping force should be sent, and they should be protected. International sanctions should be imposed on Bangladesh,"he said. "If needed, there should be an intervention by Indian armed forces so that minorities in Bangladesh can be protected," former DGP Vaid added. Earlier, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi expressed his disillusionment at the ongoing atrocities on minorities, especially Hindus in Bangladesh. On Human Rights Day, Satyarthi said that an attack on human rights is an attack on the conscience. "I am deeply troubled by the alarming situation unfolding in Bangladesh. I have been associated with several governmental and non-governmental organisations on the issues of education and child rights in Bangladesh for more than four decades. And I've always cherished the trust and communal harmony amongst the people. Recent attacks on minorities and acts of vandalism of religious places, particularly temples, have left countless people living in fear. Their fundamental rights are under siege. If the volatile situation is not addressed with urgency, the repercussions will extend far beyond Bangladesh, threatening the stability and peace in the entire South Asian region," he said. He also called on his fellow Nobel laureate, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, to address the situation. (ANI)
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday called for a compassionate and humane justice system by simplification and decolonisation of laws. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) celebrated 'Human Rights Day- 2024' under the theme 'Every Right, Every Life' at the Supreme Court of India. Addressing the event, CJI Sanjiv Khanna termed Human Rights as the bedrock of human society which is an imperative for ensuring global peace. Quoting President of India Droupadi Murmu and citing the need to counter the 'Blackcoat System', which arose because of deep-seated fear and sense of alienation among the common man towards the criminal justice system, CJI Sanjiv Khanna called for a compassionate and humane justice system by simplification and decolonisation of laws. CJI Khanna also said that criminal courts require reform and a lot of laws have been decriminalised but a lot of work remains to be done. "Laws require a change and this becomes important when one looks at the number of undertrials," the CJI said. The event was graced by Supreme Court Judge Justice B.R. Gavai, Executive Chairman, Chairman, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee Justice Surya Kant, and Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal, among others. This year, December 10 marks the 76th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)- a document that has been the beacon of hope globally, documenting the international commitment to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all human beings, regardless of their race, religion, gender or background. Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister for Law and Justice, stated in his address, "Human Rights are not merely abstract ideals but they are the foundation upon which we build a just society. Today, as we celebrate this day, we honour the work done by Organizations, Institutions and Individuals, who have worked tirelessly to bring these rights into the lived experiences of the most vulnerable and marginalised". Justice Surya Kant, who is also the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee commended NALSA for coming up with a special campaign for Old prisoners and terminally ill prisoners. He stated that there was a thin line of difference between appropriate and inappropriate detention and no matter who the incarcerated person is, he should be provided adequate and competent medical care and attention. Thus, a consideration on compassionate grounds is necessary to protect their dignity at this stage of their lives. Justice BR Gavai, Executive Chairman, NALSA, in his address, spoke of the constitutional guarantees and promises about Human Rights and stated that Legal Aid is the cornerstone of a just society and urged the Legal Services Authorities and functionaries to work together to uphold the cherished constitutional principles to ensure that every person can seamlessly access justice and live with dignity. He ended his address with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, "Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. ... Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world." To promote Human Rights and ensure access to justice for all, NALSA also launched a "Special Campaign for Old Prisoners and Terminally- ill Prisoners", on this momentous occasion. This three-month-long campaign will be carried on by Legal Services Institutions across the country from December 10 to March 10, 2025. The underlying objective of this Campaign is to expedite the release of old prisoners and terminally- ill prisoners by providing them with effective legal aid services, keeping in mind the individual vulnerabilities and needs of such prisoners. It aims to identify such prisoners; move appropriate applications for their release and for ensuring humane treatment for such prisoners who cannot be released; and facilitate the societal and familial reintegration of old prisoners and terminally- ill prisoners after their release. The immediate spur for this campaign was the recent case of a 93-year-old woman prisoner confined in a prison in Karnataka, who was released on parole after quick intervention pursuant to the Legal Services Institutions in Karnataka. The program also witnessed the virtual release of Awareness Material prepared by NALSA, such as a poster on free legal services, beneficiaries of legal services, and the Schedule for the conduct of the Quarterly Meetings of the Under Trial Review Committees in 2025. An Awareness Video enlisting the rights of suspects and arrested persons was also released at the event. The video outlines in a simplified way the rights at the stage of arrest which every individual should be aware of. (ANI)
Thiruvananthapuram (kerala) [India], December 11 (ANI)): The government of Kerala has urged the 16th Finance Commission to increase its share of the divisible tax pool from the 41 per cent recommended by the 15th Finance Commission to 50 per cent. The request comes as the state seeks a larger share of the Rs 616.41 crore divisible pool, with recommendations for adjustments based on population, area, and demographic performance. Arvind Panagariya, the Chairman of the Central Finance Committee, on Tuesday deliberated on the ongoing discussions regarding the Finance Commission's recommendations for dividing the divisible tax pool between the central government and the states. Regarding Kerala's plea, Panagariya said that the state is seeking a larger share from the divisible pool. "Till date, we have visited 14 states, including Kerala. The state (Kerala) pleads that from 41 per cent, which is what the 15th Finance Commission had recommended, the 16th Finance Commission should increase it to 50 per cent," Panagariya added. He also revealed that Kerala's plea is for a reduction in the income-based share of the divisible pool. "Kerala's recommendation is that the portion of the divisible pool divided among the 28 states based on income differences should be only 30 per cent, compared with 45 per cent in the case of the 15th Finance Commission," he said. Panagariya also discussed Kerala's suggestions regarding the factors used to allocate the divisible pool. He explained, "The 15th Finance Commission has said that 15 per cent of the divisible pool should be divided based on the share of each state in area. The larger the area, the larger the devolution of this part of the divisible pool." However, Kerala is asking for a smaller share. "Kerala says that from 15 per cent, that should come down to 5 per cent," he added. Additionally, Panagariya said that Kerala is advocating for a higher share of the divisible pool to be based on the state's demographic performance. "Kerala recommends that the share of the pool divided based on demographic performance should increase from 12.5 per cent to 22.5 per cent," he stated. He also mentioned that Kerala has suggested changes in how the Finance Commission allocates funds based on forest cover. "The 15th Finance Commission had recommended 10 per cent of the divisible pool to be divided based on forest cover. Kerala's recommendation is that only 7.5 per cent should be divided based on forest cover," Panagariya said. Moreover, he noted that Kerala has requested the removal of the tax and fiscal effort criterion from the allocation formula. "Kerala suggests removing the criterion for tax and fiscal effort, reducing its share from 2.5 per cent to 0 per cent, and advises including population density as a criterion, allocating 2.5 per cent of the divisible pool for this measure," he added. Speaking to the media, Panagariya explained that the Finance Commission, under the constitution, is responsible for making recommendations every five years on how the divisible tax pool should be shared between the central government and the 28 states. He said, "Under the constitution, the central government is supposed to appoint a Finance Commission every five years, which makes recommendations for five-year periods regarding how the divisible tax pool will be divided between the centre and the states, and then among the 28 states." He further explained the broader scope of the Commission's role, which also includes making recommendations for grants to local bodies. "There are two other areas the Commission makes recommendations, basically grants. These grants, all of them, come from the consolidated fund of India, meaning they come from the budget of the union government. These grants are for the local bodies, both panchayat and municipal bodies--urban and rural local bodies," he added. "Then, there are also some grants that the Commission recommends for disaster relief, in particular, the SDRF, the State Disaster Relief Fund." Panagariya pointed out that the 15th Finance Commission had recommended that 41 per cent of the divisible pool should go to the states, with the remaining 59 per cent going to the central government. "This commission, the base is 15 final solutions, which had recommended that 41 per cent of the divisible pool should go to the states and the remaining 51 per cent to the centre," he stated. He also stressed that the commission has until October 2025 to submit its final report. (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday clarified the situation regarding the cotton bomb incidents that occurred in Sector-29, Gurugram. The CM stated that the youth involved in the incident was intoxicated when he threw two cotton bombs in the area. "The youth was intoxicated. He threw two cotton bombs. He was arrested, and an investigation is ongoing," CM Saini confirmed during a statement to the media. Earlier in the day, Gurugram Police arrested a man named Sachin, who was caught in the act of throwing a cotton bomb earlier in the morning. Preliminary investigations revealed that he was intoxicated at the time of the incident. "The accused had already thrown two cotton bombs and was about to throw two more when police intervened and arrested him along with the bombs," stated Gurugram Police. Vikas Arora, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, personally inspected the scene. Following his instructions, the police bomb disposal team was called in to secure the area. "Two live cotton bombs recovered from the accused were defused by the bomb disposal team," the police added. According to an official statement, Gurugram Police also recovered a country-made weapon from the accused's possession. Further investigation is underway, and the Crime Branch and STF teams are interrogating the suspect intensively. Any new facts uncovered during the interrogation will lead to appropriate legal action. The incident caused minor damage to a scooter and a board, but no casualties or injuries were reported. Gurugram Police are continuing their investigation to determine the motive behind the act. (ANI)
BJP MP Sambit Patra on Tuesday slammed the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) for fielding former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain as its candidate in the upcoming Delhi elections, calling the move part of a deliberate attempt to polarise the elections along Hindu-Muslim lines. Hussain, who is currently in judicial custody, is accused of being a key conspirator behind the deadly 2020 Delhi riots. Patra said, "Tahir Hussain was a conspirator behind the deadly 2020 Delhi riots and is behind bars now. Such a person has been given a ticket by Asaduddin Owaisi's party AIMIM for the Delhi elections. This is a conspiracy to polarise the elections on the lines of Hindu-Muslim." He further questioned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had initially defended Hussain. "What does AAP think of this, the party who was defending Tahir Hussain initially?" Patra asked. Earlier, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar accused the BJP of using AIMIM and other parties to divide votes after AIMIM on Tuesday announced former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain as its candidate for the upcoming Delhi elections. AAP claimed that this strategy has historically benefited the BJP in past elections. Kakkar said, "It's a part of the BJP's negative strategy. Wherever BJP starts losing, they bring more parties to contest elections. They (BJP) brought BSP and AIMIM in the Lok Sabha elections. When you see the data, it shows that whenever AIMIM fielded its candidates, it has benefited the BJP." Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told ANI, "Regarding AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, we neither fielded him in elections nor supported his actions. His political moves often end up benefiting the BJP. Looking at past data, his involvement in elections has frequently polarised voters, indirectly aiding the BJP." BJP's Delhi chapter has condemned AIMIM's decision to field former MCD Councillor Tahir Hussain, who is currently in judicial custody for his alleged role in the 2020 North East Delhi riots, from the Mustafabad Assembly seat in the upcoming Delhi elections. Delhi BJP Vice President Kapil Mishra on Tuesday said the decision to field Hussain was an attempt by AIMIM to promote divisive politics. In a post on the social media platform X, Mishra said, "Tahir Hussain, who had plotted the murder of hundreds of Hindus in Delhi, in whose house bombs, stones, and slingshots were kept to kill Hindus, and who killed IB officer Ankit Sharma by stabbing him 400 times and throwing his body in the drain, is now being fielded in the election. An attempt is being made to challenge the Hindus of Delhi by fielding such Jihadis. If any attempt is made to start riots in Delhi again, your seven generations will bear the consequences." Mishra accused AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi and his party of promoting divisive politics by nominating Hussain, who is an accused in multiple 2020 riot-related cases in the National Capital and the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma. "The announcement of Hussain's candidacy was made earlier in the day by Owaisi in a post on X. "MCD Councillor Tahir Hussain joined @aimim_national & will be our candidate from Mustafabad Assembly Constituency in the upcoming Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections. His family members and supporters met with me today and joined the party," Owaisi wrote. Hussain remains in judicial custody and is likely to contest the elections from jail. (ANI)
Assam's Implementation of Assam Accord Minister Atul Bora expressed concern on Tuesday over the persecution of minority Hindus in Bangladesh and emphasized the need to address border issues effectively. Speaking to ANI, Bora, who is also the President of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), highlighted the sacrifices made by India during Bangladesh's liberation. "What our nation did for the freedom of Bangladesh, it should not be forgotten. It is unfortunate, the incidents happening in Bangladesh against the Hindus. Our senior official has visited Bangladesh, and I hope the issue will be resolved soon," he said. Bora stressed the need to strengthen border security, noting the Assam Movement's origins in opposition to Bangladeshi infiltration. "We must stop infiltration. Border fencing works are ongoing," he added. Reflecting on the Assam Accord, signed in 1985 after the six-year-long Assam Movement, Bora criticized previous governments for failing to implement its provisions. "After Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, the central government constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma. The state government has decided to implement most of the committee's recommendations," he stated. Bora assured that both the state and central governments are committed to fulfilling these recommendations. He also accused the Congress of weakening border security for electoral gains. "Under the Modi government, the border is totally safe. Earlier, Congress had opened the border to strengthen their vote bank," he claimed. The Assam government observed Swahid Divas (Martyrs Day) on Tuesday to honor the 860 people who lost their lives during the Assam Movement. A program was held at Swahid Smarak Park in Boragaon, attended by Bora, Tourism Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass, and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary. "Today, we honor the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Assam. The government is constructing a Swahid Smarak Udyan at Pachim Boragaon. The first phase is complete, and plans include an auditorium, light and sound system, and a cycle track. This project will be inaugurated next year," Bora announced. He also acknowledged the government's initiatives to support martyrs' families. "On this holy occasion, I pay my tribute to the martyrs whose self-sacrifice will always inspire us," he said. (ANI)
Assam Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) President of Atul Bora on Tuesday expressed hope that the 'atrocities' on minorities in Bangladesh will get resolved soon. Speaking to ANI, Atul Bora said, "...Bangladesh shouldn't forget what our country has done for them. Whatever is happening there....atrocities on Hindus is very saddening. A senior official of the (central) government went there; I hope things will get resolved soon... He further said that the borders should be guarded to stop the infiltration from Bangladesh. "Congress, during its tenure, has done nothing but since PM Modi assumed power, things have changed," he added. Earlier, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi expressed his disillusionment at the ongoing atrocities against minorities, especially Hindus in Bangladesh. On Human Rights Day, Satyarthi said that an attack on Human rights is an attack on the conscience. He called on his fellow Nobel laureate, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, to address the situation. "The suppression of minorities and the violation of human rights anywhere is an attack on our collective conscience. In these challenging times, I call upon my fellow Nobel Laureate, Muhammad Yunus, to address this evolving situation without any delay. I am sure he will rise as a beacon of moral courage and compassionate leadership to control the ongoing violence that is denying the human rights of millions of people," he said. Satyarthi said he believed that with compassionate leadership, the situation would improve. Meanwhile, India's former High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Veena Sikri, has said that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's statement on India's ties with Bangladesh clearly highlights that New Delhi is prepared to work with the interim administration in Dhaka and speak to them on continuing cooperation. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, called on chief advisor to the interim government in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus on Monday, who called the relationships between Dhaka and New Delhi as "very solid" and "close," according to a statement released by his office. He also told reporters in Dhaka that he had a frank, candid, and constructive exchange of views with his interlocutors in the neighboring country. Misri said he discussed the entire gamut of issues in the "extremely important bilateral relationship." (ANI)
The case of Bengaluru Techie Atul Subhash who died by suicide citing alleged harassment by his estranged wife has opened up a debate on misuse of ant--dowry lawy. Mumbai-based lawyer Abha Singh described the case as a 'gross misuse of law,' stating that false charges and harassment led to the death of the victim, suffering from harassment from his wife and in-laws. Lawyer Abha Singh also emphasized that the misuse of dowry laws could ultimately deny justice to those who genuinely need protection. "Dowry laws, being made to protect women should not be misused because if some women are going to misuse these laws, then it will directly deny justice to women who need them," said the lawyer. Speaking to ANI, Mumbai lawyer Abha Singh said, " A 34-year-old young techie Atul Subash committed suicide in Bengaluru and he has left behind a suicide note. He has mentioned that 9 Police complaints have been registered against him, there are false charges of murder, dowry harassment and domestic violence. The suicide note says that it was not true and the man was paying his wife Rs 2 lakhs and despite that she was not letting him see his son and his son was being used as a tool of blackmailing him." "The suicide note says that he was forced to give expensive gifts to not only his wife but also to his wife's mother and brother. A case of abetment to suicide must be registered against the wife and her relatives. They should be arrested," said Singh. "These false cases were registered in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. An FIR should be registered against the police officers as well for making false cases. This is because the wife has accepted that her father had died of a heart attack and not murder. So a person dying of a heart attack and the police writing down murder clearly shows that this is a travesty of justice and a gross misuse of law," she added. The lawyer further said, "Blackmailing a person to commit suicide is deplorable, and shameful. My heart goes out to the mother of the deceased who lost her son and his 4-year-old child, who will not know his father, just because his greedy mother had other plans for him." "Dowry laws, being made to protect women should not be misused because then if some women are going to misuse these laws, then it will directly deny justice to women who actually need them," said Singh. [{6d70a08c-4012-40a9-a5bb-ceea0ca6de90:intradmin/ANI-20241211035539.jpg}] Meanwhile, Delhi-based men's rights activist Barkha Trehan said that Atul Subhash had been failed by the system, ultimately leading him to dying by suicide. "Atul Subhash is not the first man, lakhs of such men have died. 34-year-old Atul Subhash was compelled, the system failed him. There is a lot of biasedness in the system, only women are heard and not men. Men are tortured and threatened. All this, also from educated women. There is nobody to listen to their plights," said Trehan. "Cases under (IPC) section 498 are deliberately registered against men and the Supreme Court has observed that 95 per cent of these cases are fake. Laws made for women's safety are being used as weapons," said the activist. Meanwhile, an FIR has been filed against 4 people in connection with the suicide of a 34-year-old deputy general manager of a private firm, Atul Subhash, who died by suicide, accusing his wife, her family members, and a judge of harassment, extortion, and corruption. The FIR based on a complaint by Atul's brother Bikas Kumar was lodged at the Marathahalli police station in Bengaluru. The FIR has been filed under section 108 (abetment of suicide) and section 3 (5) (establishes joint criminal liability when two or more people act with a common intention) of the BNS. The FIR is filed against the techie's wife Nikita Singhania, his mother-in-law Nisha Singhania, his wife's brother Anurag Singhania and his wife's uncle Sushil Singhania. As per the complaint filed by the brother of Atul, the FIR mentions that Atul Subhash married Nikita Singhania in 2019 and had a child together. The complaint alleges that the four accused filed a false case against Atul Subhash after their divorce and insisted on paying Rs 3 crore for the settlement of the case. The complaint also alleges that Atul Subhash's wife had demanded Rs 30 lakh to allow him to visit his son who is now four years old. The complaint alleges that Atul had died by suicide as he was harassed mentally and physically. Based on the complaint, the case has been registered and an investigation is underway. According to a statement released by the police, the victim was a resident of Uttar Pradesh who was living in Bengaluru. The police stated that the Hoysala Police Control Room received a call at 6:00 am on Monday about the suicide in a flat at Bengaluru's Manjunatha Layout in the Delfinium Residency. The statement further stated that when the police went to search the place, the flat was locked from inside, and the lock was broken, following which they went inside and saw Atul hanging from a ceiling fan by the support of a nylon rope. The police stated that he was found dead upon arrival. The police informed the incident to the brother of the deceased, Bikas Kumar, who later filed a complaint against Subhash's wife, his mother-in-law, his brother-in-law, and his wife's uncle, accusing them of filing a false complaint against Subhash and demanding Rs 3 crore money for the settlement, which led to his mental and physical harassment, following which he had to take the step. In his suicide note, Subhash called for justice, stating, "Justice is Due" on every single page of the 24-page note. Along with his wife and her family members, Subhash also accused a family court judge in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur of not hearing him out, and an officer in the court, accusing him of taking bribes in front of the judge. Subhash further described the instances that instigated him to take such a step. Subhash recorded a video describing his alleged harassment and asking his family members not to immerse his ashes till justice is served to him. His suicide note also had a message for his four-year-old son who he claimed had been kept estranged from him. The note also called for his parents to be given custody of his child. The note and the link to the Video were sent to the WhatsApp group of an NGO, to which he was connected. Subhash alleged in his suicide note that his wife had filed nine cases against him, including murder, sexual misconduct, harassment for money, domestic violence, and dowry. (ANI)
Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday targeted the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), asking whether the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party will have the courage to support the opposition's motion seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. "Will Jagan party have the courage to support the opposition's motion on the Rajya Sabha Chairman issue, or will he stay loyal to Modi and Shah while making empty statements?" Manickam Tagore said in a post on X. He was reacting to a YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijayasai Reddy's post on X where he supported the proposals of several leaders of the parties in the INDIA bloc for West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee to take over the leadership of the Opposition bloc. "Hon'ble West Bengal Chief Minister Didi Mamta Ji is an ideal candidate to lead the INDIA alliance as she has the required political and electoral experience to head an alliance. Didi is also the CM of a large state with 42 Lok Sabha seats and has proven herself time and again," Vijayasai Reddy said in the post. NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar first supported Mamata Banerjee after she showedf interest in leading the INDIA bloc. After Pawar, many leaders of the alliance including RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav backed Banerjee. The Opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to the Secretary General of the Upper House. In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the INDIA group had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha Chairman for the extremely "partisan manner." "ALL parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the learned Hon'ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the extremely partisan manner in which he has been conducting the proceedings of the Council of States. It has been a very painful decision for the INDIA parties to take, but in the interests of parliamentary democracy, they have had to take this step. The motion has just been submitted to the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. TMC leader Sagarika Ghosh said, "TMC has walked out of the Rajya Sabha. In pursuit of our constitutional rights, in order to protect constitutional parliamentary democracy, we have given in our resolution of no-confidence. We have given it because the Modi government is murdering Parliament. The opposition is not being allowed to raise people's issues." (ANI)
Congress Lok Sabha MP Vijay Vasanth on Wednesday gave a notice to move an adjournment motion to discuss the urgent need for improving tourism infrastructure in Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu. "I rise to draw attention to the urgent need for improving tourism infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, especially in Kanniyakumari, as well as across India. The tourism sector is a key contributor to our economy and the lack of adequate infrastructure hinders its growth potential. Tamil Nadu, known for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty attracts millions of tourists each year," Vasanth stated in the adjournment motion notice. Further, he added that the current infrastructure was inadequate to handle the growing number of isitors. "However, the current infrastructure, including transportation, accommodation and basic amenities is insufficient to handle the growing number of visitors. To capitalize on Tamil Nadu's tourism potential, I urge the central government to allocate funds for improving transport links, such as air, rail and local buses, connecting the key tourist spots. Additionally, public amenities including sanitation facilities, tourism information centres and accessible infrastructure must be upgraded to ensure a better experience for visitors," the notice further read. Vasanth requested the Central government to take immediate action to address the issue and ensure the growth and sustainability of India's tourism sector. "With number of tourists and revenue growing steadily, urgent investment in infrastructure is necessary. I request the Central government to take immediate action to address the issue and ensure the growth and sustainability of India's tourism sector," he added. Meanwhile, Congress MP Manickam Tagore also gave a notice to move an adjournment motion to discuss the issue of the auction of tungsten mines in Madurai. "Hon'ble Speaker Sir, I rise today to bring your attention to a pressing matter that requires our urgent consideration. The auction of tungsten mines in Madurai, Tamil Nadu has sparked widespread concern among communities, and I stand in solidarity with them to demand the cancellation of the project. This move aims to protect approximately 5000 acres of land in the region," the adjournment motion notice read. Tagore in his notice stated that the state government's notice to pass a resolution in the Legislative Assembly to cancel the mining rights was a testament to protecting the rights of the environment. "The Tamil Nadu government yesterday passed a resolution in the Legislative assembly, urging the Union government to cancel mining rights granted to Hindustan Zinc. LTD. This resolution is a testament to the state's government commitment to protecting the environment, biodiversity and livelihood of the citizens," he stated in the notice. Tagore demanded the Union government respect the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and cancel the mining rights. "We demand the Union government respect the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and cancel the mining rights granted to Hindustan Zinc ltd. We also demand that the state government's permission be made mandatory for granting mining licenses in the future," he mentioned. 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)
On the birth anniversary of former President Pranab Mukherjee, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge paid glowing tributes to the statesman, recalling his immense contributions to India's democracy and development. Kharge took to social media to share a heartfelt message, quoting one of Mukherjee's profound observations: "India's true story is the partnership of the people. Our wealth has been created by farmers and workers, industrialists and service-providers, soldiers and civilians." Reflecting on Mukherjee's legacy, Kharge stated, "We remember the contribution of Former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, to nation-building. A vital figure in national life and the Congress party for over five decades, he brought his wisdom, experience, and profound understanding of diverse subjects to every Constitutional position he held." The Congress party also paid tributes to the former President who had served as Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister in the UPA governments. "Our humble tribute to Pranab Mukherjee, the former President of India and a visionary leader. Renowned as a key architect of India's economic reforms, his exemplary service in various ministerial roles significantly contributed to the nation's progress," the party posted on X. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid his tributes to Pranab Mukherjee calling him "statesman par excellence" and highlighting his extensive contributions to the country's political landscape. "Paying homage to former President of India Pranab Mukherjee Ji on his birth anniversary. A statesman par excellence, Pranab da played a significant role in national administration," Shah wrote Pranab Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. Known for his exceptional administrative skills and political acumen, Mukherjee spent over five decades in public life, holding key portfolios such as Finance, Defence, and External Affairs in the Union Cabinet. A Bharat Ratna awardee, Pranab Mukherjee, born on December 11, 1935, in Mirati village, Birbhum District, West Bengal, to freedom fighters Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee and Rajlakshmi, passed away on August 31, 2020, at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in Delhi. In 2019, Mukherjee was honoured with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. (ANI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at nine locations in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday as part of its ongoing investigation into the gangster-terror nexus case. The raids are underway at eight locations in Punjab and one in Haryana since early Wednesday following a tip-off against suspects linked to the case. The raids are reportedly aimed at cracking down on individuals and networks suspected of facilitating criminal activities linked to terrorist organizations. This follows the agency's intensified efforts to curb the growing nexus between gangsters and terror groups operating in the region. Last month, the agency in a massive crackdown on the terror-gangster nexus case had also conducted extensive searches at premises linked with associates of the Davinder Bambiha syndicate at nine locations in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. NIA teams then conducted searches at the premises of suspects in the terror-gangster syndicate case in Palwal, Faridabad and Gurugram districts of Haryana, Jalandhar district of Punjab, and Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. A host of incriminating materials, including mobiles and digital devices, banking transactions and property-related documents, were seized during the searches. The searches were part of NIA's continuous crackdown on terror outfits engaged in criminal conspiracies to smuggle terrorist hardware, such as arms, ammunition, narcotics, explosives etc, into India. NIA investigations in the case registered on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, further show large-scale attempts by these organisations and terrorists to raise funds for carrying out terror acts on Indian soil. (ANI)
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday reiterated the party's request for a ruling in connection to 'defamatory' remarks made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the Zero Hour Session in the ongoing Parliament Winter Session on December 5. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Gaurav Gogoi said, "As highlighted in my previous letters to you on December 5-6, 2024, we remain deeply concerned about the defamatory remarks made by Member Parliament Nishikant Dubey against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Member of Parliament from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the Zero Hour Session on December 5, 2024." "I implore you to announce your decision to examine our complaint and remove all defamatory and unparliamentary remarks from the record. After your decision, the Congress Party is keen to participate in the Legislative Business listed for the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament," said the letter. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to his official handle on X and said, "My colleague Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of INC India in the Lok Sabha, has written to the Speaker reiterating the INC's commitment to ensure Parliament functions smoothly. He has suggested a way forward to resume proceedings. But does the Modi Govt want both Houses to function?" Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi earlier said that the party moved a privilege motion against BJP leaders Nishikant Dubey and Sambit Patra for their 'derogatory remarks' against Rahul Gandhi. Congress MP KC Venugopal said that the central government is trying to suppress the move of the opposition. On December 5, a war of words broke out between BJP leader Nishikant Dubey and Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi after BJP alleged Congress' hand in 'attacks on national interest from abroad. He raised questions over some of Rahul Gandhi's meetings in the US, amid constant sloganeering by opposition members. "I want to ask the Leader of the Opposition only 10 questions about your relation with Salil Shetty of the Open Society Foundation who participated in the Bharat Jodo Movement. Did he give money to the Bharat Jodo Movement? Rahul Gandhi went to America and met Mushfiqul Fazal, who was responsible for the genocide of Bangladesh. Rahul Gandhi met Ilhan Omar, Ro Khanna, and Barbara Lee who opposed PM Modi's programme in the US. You (Rahul) met those who want to create Khalistan, who wants to separate Kashmir. What are your relations with them?" he added. On Thursday last week, Sambit Patra termed Rahul Gandhi as the "traitor of the highest order." Addressing at a press conference in the capital, Patra said, " We are going to talk about this dangerous triangle which is trying to destabilise India. In this triangle, on one side is George Soros from America, some agencies of America, another side of triangle is a big news portal named OCCRP. The last and the most important side of the triangle is Rahul Gandhi, 'traitor of the highest order'. I am not scared to say this word. I don't have any hesitation to call LoP Lok Sabha, a traitor. Both houses faced brief sessions in the past week following a ruckus amid the opposition's demand to discuss Adani indictment. (ANI)
Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh on Wednesday said that his government destroyed 45 acres of illegal poppy cultivation at Mapithel hill range in Kamjong district. Two individuals, Letkhohao Haokip and Hegou Khongsai were arrested for their involvement in the cultivation, CM Singh said. "War on Drugs Intensifies; 45 Acres of Illegal Poppy Cultivation Destroyed Commendable work by Ukhrul police, the forest department, BSF, and the district administration in destroying 45 acres of illegal poppy cultivation at Mapithel hill range, Phungyar. The combined team also arrested two individuals, Letkhohao Haokip (37) and Hegou Khongsai (30), from the spot for their involvement in the cultivation," Manipur CM said on X. https://x.com/NBirenSingh/status/1866672826847219915 On December 10, Manipur Police destroyed 14 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in Kangpokpi district. "I appreciate the combined team of Kangpokpi district police and 90 CRPF personnel, led by Additional SP (L/O) under the supervision of SP Kangpokpi, for destroying 14 acres of illegal poppy plantations near Thonglang Akutpa and registering an FIR for further investigation. I also thank the CRPF for their exceptional contributions. These actions reaffirm the State and the Union government's unwavering commitment to eradicating drug threats and advancing the War on Drug campaign," CM Biren Singh said on X. On December 6, Manipur Police apprehended four individuals involved in poppy cultivation spanning approximately 30 acres in the Ukhrul District. "Kudos to the Manipur Police for their unwavering dedication to the "War on Drugs" campaign. On the night of December 6th, Manipur Police achieved a significant milestone in the fight against drugs menace by apprehending four individuals involved in poppy cultivation spanning approximately 30 acres in the Khamason range, Ukhrul District," CM Singh said. On December 5, Manipur Police destroyed 8.6 acres of poppy fields along the border of the Makuilongdi jungle, Senapati district. "I appreciate the combined team of Forest Department, Police, and District Administration of Senapati for successfully destroying 8.6 acres of poppy fields along the border of the Makuilongdi jungle, Senapati District, today. The poppy plants, which were found to be in the initial stage of flowering, have been destroyed and a case has been registered at Senapati Police Station for further investigation," CM Biren Singh said on X. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday raised concerns alleging that the ties between George Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family extend beyond Sonia Gandhi's role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP). The BJP levelled allegations saying that the Nehru-Gandhi family may have compromised India's strategic interests to benefit their extended family's financial and entrepreneurial ventures, as well as align with global power networks. Citing newspaper reports on social media handle X, the BJP posted, "The connection between George Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family runs deep, extending beyond Sonia Gandhi's role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP)." "Fori Nehru, a Hungarian like Soros, was married to BK Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru's cousin, making her the aunt of Rahul Gandhi, former Congress President and Leader of the Opposition. Soros is documented to have visited Fori Nehru and maintained extended correspondence with her. Their association traces back to the time when BK Nehru served as India's ambassador to the United States," said the post. The post further read, "This raises questions about the extent to which the Nehru-Gandhi family may have compromised India's strategic interests, over the decades, to benefit their extended family's financial and entrepreneurial pursuits, as well as the interests of the Deep State, they have been aligned with." Earlier on Tuesday, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra responded to a BJP charge that claimed that Congress is associated with George Soros. She added that the BJP is allegedly rerouting the debate around George Soros because they do not want to bring up the Adani issue in parliament. "It is the most ridiculous thing they could come up with. They are talking about some 1994 thing; no one has any record of it. No one knows what they are talking about. The only reason they are doing this is because they don't want to discuss the Adani issue.," she said. "We try every day to have a discussion, but they don't want to have a discussion. That's why they get the House adjourned through any reason," she added. After sloganeering and disruptions by the Opposition leaders, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha JP Nadda on Tuesday attacked the Congress and sought to know about the "relationship" between George Soros and the Congress party, whereas the Opposition demanded a discussion on the Adani issue. As soon as the Rajya Sabha session reconvened at noon following an adjournment, Opposition leaders began raising slogans, sparking a massive uproar in the House. "Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project is one of the organizations that is being tried to destabilize the government. We all know that the reports which were released by OCCRP, and the opposition leaders have raised those issues in the House. The Opposition leaders trying to bring instability in the country. I want to ask what is the relationship between George Soros and Congress. We are answerable to the common man. The common man is asking us (the government) whether we stand for the security of the country in such a situation or not. I want to assure them that BJP is always there," Nadda said. The Chairman asked Congress leader Pramod Tiwari to speak in the House on which he said that "whatever JP Nadda said is wrong and it's a cheap accusation. I refute all the allegations. Please start the discussion on the Adani issue, we will present all the facts." Following protests from the Opposition, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar was forced to adjourn the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday urged the Members to ensure that the dignity and decorum of the Parliament is not compromised. Birla highlighted the importance of articulating differences respectfully, noting that over the past 75 years, Parliament has been a platform for constructive debate. The session was marked by accusations from both sides. The Winter session of 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)
According to Bijapur Police, a pamphlet issued by the banned CPI (Maoist) National Park Area Committee was recovered from the scene of the crime.

The pamphlet alleged that Kudiyam Madho was targeted for being a police informer. The body was discovered by locals and has since been taken into custody by the Farsegarh police.

"We have recovered the pamphlet and taken the body into custody. Necessary legal actions are being taken," a police official confirmed.

Such incidents also pose significant hurdles for law enforcement and development initiatives in the area.

Earlier on Saturday, a woman also from Bijapur was strangled to death by naxalites in Bijapur on suspicion of being a police informer.

The woman was later identified as Laxmi Padam, an Anganwadi worker. A similar pamphlet was found at the spot by the police. (ANI)
Opposition MPs on Wednesday staged a unique protest outside the Parliament against the government, giving a rose flower and Indian flags to NDA MPs. Both Houses of Parliament have seen stormy sittings in this winter session with the Opposition MPs wanting to raise the issue of alleged charges against industrialist Gautam Adani and the BJP accusing the Congress of having links with US billionaire George Soros to destabilise the country. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the protesters. Rahul Gandhi was seen giving rose flower and Tiranga to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the latter entered the Parliament building. Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the BJP government of turning Parliament into the ''Lajvanti'' (shame plant). "The BJP government has turned the Parliament into the ''Lajvanti'' (shame plant). The House gets adjourned the moment Adani''s name comes up... We are distributing the National Flag following the Parliamentary decorum," Bhagat told ANI. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said, "We have distributed the national flag and have requested them to not sell the country and take the country forward. Unfortunately, we are seeing that Adani is running the country these days... Everything is being given to him and the voice of the poor is being suppressed. We are against the conspiracy to sell the country." Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that he was constantly being disrupted by the Opposition members in the House. "The Opposition is not letting me speak. This is the fourth day that my Zero Hour has been wasted. They are suppressing my voice. I have never seen an Opposition that stopped so low," Dubey told ANI. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday raised concerns alleging that the ties between George Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family extend beyond Sonia Gandhi''s role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP). Citing newspaper reports on social media handle X, the BJP posted, "The connection between George Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family runs deep, extending beyond Sonia Gandhi''s role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP)." "Fori Nehru, a Hungarian like Soros, was married to BK Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru''s cousin, making her the aunt of Rahul Gandhi, former Congress President and Leader of the Opposition. Soros is documented to have visited Fori Nehru and maintained extended correspondence with her. Their association traces back to the time when BK Nehru served as India''s ambassador to the United States," said the post. The Winter session of 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)
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday slammed Congress over the no-trust motion against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and said that if the opposition attacks the dignity of the Chairman, "we will protect". Soon after the house met for the day, Kiren Rijiju said the son of the farmer has become Vice President and the entire country has seen he has kept the dignity of the House. He also slammed the opposition saying, "You have no right to be members if you can't respect the Chair. We have taken an oath to protect the sovereignty of the country," he said. Rijiju also raised the issue of alleged links between American billionaire George Soros and the Congress claiming that the Congress was standing with anti-India forces. "You stand with forces who are against the country. Notice has been given against the Chairman. It is difficult to find such a Chairman. He has always talked of the welfare of the poor, protected Constitution. We will not allow the drama of notice to succeed. What is the relationship between Soros and Congress? This should be revealed...Congress should apologise to the nation," he said. Opposition members led by the Congress stood up to oppose the minister's speech and amidst the din the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon. The Opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to the Secretary General of the Upper House. Congress led by the INDIA bloc has been demanding a discussion over the Adani issue and also held a protest in the Parliament premises. Earlier, Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said that the No Confidence motion is being moved against the Speaker for the first time in history. She also accused the BJP-led central government of not wanting parliament to run. "It is going to be for the first time in history that a No Confidence motion is being moved against the Speaker. They have not left any options for us. It looks as if they are making the members of the ruling party stand and make noise so that the House may be adjourned. The Opposition should have some respect. They should be given a chance to debate. There are so many issues but they don't want the House to run," Ranjeet Ranjan said. Congress Leader Manish Tewari said that if the opposition had moved an impeachment motion agains the RS Chairman it raised questions on his impartiality. "The Vice President is not an elected or nominated Member of the Council of States . He is ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha by being virtue of being Vice President as he is elected by MP's both of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. If the opposition is constrained to move an impeachment motion against him on grounds of partiality and bias it raises larger questions about selection of impartial presiding officers for our legislatures," he said "Parliament must seriously address itself itself to this question for no house can run if the concerned Presiding officer's conduct is actuated with alleged bias or prejudice," he added. On Tuesday, the Winter Session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after unruly scenes broke out during the proceedings. Members of Parliament from both the opposition and treasury benches exchanged heated remarks, leading to a disruption in the day's schedule. 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)
On November 25, the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved PAN 2.0.

Speaking about the PAN card upgrade, Vaishnaw said, "The PAN card is an integral part of our lives, especially for the middle class and small businesses. It has undergone significant upgrades, and PAN 2.0 has been approved today. The existing system will be enhanced, and a robust digital backbone will be introduced."

The Cabinet also approved three major railway projects aimed at improving connectivity and operational efficiency.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved Atal Innovation Mission 2.0, designed to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among youth.

"The Atal Innovation Mission was launched to empower youth in innovation and entrepreneurship. Today, the Union Cabinet has approved Atal Innovation Mission 2.0 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,750 crore," Vaishnaw said.

Another notable decision was the introduction of the 'One Nation, One Subscription' initiative, aimed at making high-quality research materials accessible to students and researchers nationwide.

"For students and researchers, one of the most significant decisions taken today is 'One Nation, One Subscription'. High-quality publications necessary for research are often expensive. PM Modi has transformed this by ensuring that universities will now share resources collectively," Vaishnaw said.

On October 16, the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a new rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga River, connecting the Varanasi and Chandauli districts in Uttar Pradesh. This project will include a six-lane highway on the upper deck and four railway lines on the lower deck, with an investment of Rs 2,642 crore.

On October 3, the Union Cabinet granted classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. The Government of India established the classical language category in 2004, beginning with Tamil. To qualify, languages must have a rich history, ancient literature, and an original literary tradition. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday accused the Opposition MPs of not letting him speak in the Lok Sabha. "The Opposition is not letting me speak. This is the fourth day that my Zero Hour has been wasted. They are suppressing my voice. I have never seen an Opposition that stopped so low," Dubey told ANI. He termed the Opposition MPs protest outside Parliament distributing roses and Indian flags to the NDA MPs as "drama" and "childish". "Is this not a drama that they are doing here? These are childish ways. Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have also been Leaders of Opposition but were they ever seen making videos like this? These are children," he said. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the protesters. Rahul Gandhi was seen giving rose flower and Tiranga to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the latter entered the Parliament building. Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the BJP government of turning Parliament into the 'Lajvanti' (shame plant). "The BJP government has turned the Parliament into the 'Lajvanti' (shame plant). The House gets adjourned the moment Adani's name comes up... We are distributing the National Flag following the Parliamentary decorum," Bhagat told ANI. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said, "We have distributed the national flag and have requested them to not sell the country and take the country forward. Unfortunately, we are seeing that Adani is running the country these days... Everything is being given to him and the voice of the poor is being suppressed. We are against the conspiracy to sell the country." "You have no right to be members if you can't respect the Chair. We have taken an oath to protect the sovereignty of the country," he said Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday raised concerns alleging that the ties between George Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family extend beyond Sonia Gandhi's role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP). Citing newspaper reports on social media handle X, the BJP posted, "The connection between George Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family runs deep, extending beyond Sonia Gandhi's role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP)." "Fori Nehru, a Hungarian like Soros, was married to BK Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru's cousin, making her the aunt of Rahul Gandhi, former Congress President and Leader of the Opposition. Soros is documented to have visited Fori Nehru and maintained extended correspondence with her. Their association traces back to the time when BK Nehru served as India's ambassador to the United States," said the post. The Winter session of 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)
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice to the CBI and other respondents and sought a reply. The next date for hearing is January 21, 2025.

Dalvin Suresh has sought a direction to cancel of order granting interim bail to CEO Abhishek Gupta and Deshpal Singh.

They were granted interim bail by the trial court on September 23, 2024.

Advocate Abhijit Anand, counsel for Dalvin Suresh, submitted that the interim bail was granted without considering all facts and without mentioning any reason.

It was also submitted that the interim bail is granted against the various directions of the Supreme Court. It can be granted only in the rarest of rare circumstances. Interim bail cannot be a substitute for regular bail.

Their interim bail was recently extended by the court.

Abhishek Gupta and Deshpal Singh are accused and charge-sheeted in RAU's IAS Study circle case. The Court has taken Cognizance of the charge sheet and summons have been issued to all six accused.

This case is related to the deaths of three UPSC aspirants due to drowning in the basement of RAU's IAS Study circle at Old Rajender Nagar on July 26. (ANI)
Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva on Wednesday said that it doesn't matter if Congress and AAP form an alliance for the Delhi assembly polls, as the BJP will form the government in Delhi. His remarks came after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the Congress. In a post on X, Kejriwal said, "Aam Aadmi Party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress." Speaking to ANI, Virendraa Sachdeva said, "Who trusts Arvind Kejriwal's point of view, we do not know. Arvind Kejriwal and the lie are friends of each other. Whether the (Congress-AAP) coalition will happen or not, does not matter to Bharatiya Janata Party. The Bharatiya Janata Party is going to form the government in Delhi." The statement comes after reports suggested that Congress and AAP were in the final stages of talks for a Delhi election alliance. Earlier on December 7, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Devendra Yadav had criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, for being responsible for the "deteriorating" law and order situation in the national capital. Devendra Yadav also demanded that Kejriwal should ask for the resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, the same way he asked for the resignation of former CM Shiela Dixit during the Nirbhaya case. The Delhi Congress president further alleged that the women are facing the brunt of increasing crimes, including gang wars, firing, murder, rape, harassment and snatching incidents. Congress, which was in power in Delhi for 15 successive years, has performed poorly in the past two assembly polls, failing to win any seat. The Assembly polls in Delhi are expected to be held in early 2025. AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eighth seats. (ANI)
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday slammed the ruling BJP for politicizing the proceedings of the House, amid the Opposition's no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Speaking to ANI, Kapil Sibal said, "The point is that what we are seeing is played out in the House is politics. We really don't have to go to what one party said over the other. We only have to see the proceedings of the House. What is happening in the House is only politics. The people of India should know where the Rajya Sabha Chairman stands. For it, you just need to see the proceedings of the Parliament. They (BJP) will not allow it (Opposition's no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman) to be moved. They will reject it. And that is politics." His remarks came after Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Wednesday for the day amid a faceoff between the BJP-led central government and the Opposition over the no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The house will reconvene on December 12. CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar supported the no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar, said that it is evident he was favouring the ruling front and violating all democratic norms. "It is not a question of majority or minority. The point is that we are constrained to move such a resolution against the chairman of the Rajya Sabha because it is evident that he was helping the ruling front and all democratic norms were violated. One-sided approach by the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, always helping the ruling front and denying the genuine rights of the Opposition. He should not be part of any front," he said. Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said that the opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar due to his partisan attitude. " It is going to be for the first time in history that a No Confidence motion is being moved against the Speaker... They have not left any options for us... It looks as if they are making the members of the ruling party stand and make noise so that the House may be adjourned... The Opposition should have some respect. They should be given a chance to debate. There are so many issues but they don't want the House to run," she said. The Opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to the Secretary General of the Upper House. Congress led by the INDIA bloc has been demanding a discussion over the Adani issue and also held a protest in the Parliament premises. 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)
Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice, Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said that the SARTHIE 1.0 campaign aims to empower marginalized and vulnerable individuals of society. Athawale said this in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. The initiative aims to empower marginalized and vulnerable individuals of the society including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Transgender Persons, Senior Citizens, Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), sanitation workers, waste pickers, victims of substance abuse, and persons engaged in the act of begging, through a combination of awareness programs and legal assistance, to avail benefits and entitlements guaranteed by social welfare legislations and other enactments as well as administrative programmes of the Government, Athawale said. "SARTHIE 1.0 campaign is a joint initiative of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), Government of India and the National Legal Services Authority, India (NALSA)," as per a Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment release. It aims to empower individuals by raising awareness on, and providing legal assistance for availing, their rights, benefits and entitlements. The initiative seeks to bridge the awareness gap among these groups regarding their legal rights, welfare entitlements, and government schemes, Athawale added. Athawale further said that the initiative is designed to 'empower' individuals through 'awareness' and 'assistance', in order to achieve a dynamic balance of social, educational and economic empowerment of the vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society. The activities undertaken under this campaign shall act as a platform for disseminating vital information on social welfare schemes and policies, assisting individuals in accessing benefits and entitlements and exchanging good practices, in both urban and rural populations. NALSA's existing nationwide network in States, districts and talukas, will facilitate the organising of awareness camps and seminars for the marginalised and vulnerable sections of society and providing legal assistance for availing, their rights, benefits and entitlements, Athawale said. (ANI)
In a significant crackdown on the use of modified bike silencers, Indore traffic police destroyed over 1,000 such silencers using bulldozers on Wednesday, an official said. The officer stated that action against modified silencers has been ongoing for some time, with numerous bikes fined and silencers confiscated. These confiscated silencers were destroyed during Wednesday's operation. Traffic Inspector Rekha Singh personally operated the bulldozer to destroy the silencers. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Arvind Tiwari, told ANI, "The issue of modified bike silencers is directly related to the safety of women, children, and senior citizens. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding their safety. Many people modify bike silencers, causing them to emit loud, cracker-like noises, which pose a safety risk and increase the likelihood of accidents." "We have been running this campaign from the beginning and have fined over 2,000 bikes so far. Additionally, we have seized numerous modified silencers, and today, over 1,000 of them have been destroyed," he added. When questioned about action against manufacturers and sellers of modified silencers, DCP Tiwari said, "We are compiling a list of individuals involved in the manufacturing and sale of modified silencers, and appropriate legal action will be taken against them." Last month, the Indore traffic police had similarly destroyed around 350 modified silencers using a bulldozer. At the time, officials had reiterated that the use of such silencers posed a threat to public safety, and the campaign to eliminate them would continue. (ANI)
In the wake of the tragic suicide of a Bengaluru tech professional, criminal lawyer Advocate Vikas Pahwa on Wednesday called for urgent reforms to curb the misuse of Section 498A, which deals with dowry harassment. Speaking on the issue, Pahwa described the case as "very serious" and highlighted how the law has been exploited over the years, particularly by disgruntled individuals looking to extort money from the husband's family. As a criminal lawyer with over three decades of experience, Pahwa recounted how he has personally witnessed the abuse of Section 498A by some within the legal fraternity, police machinery, and those filing false cases. He emphasized that while there are genuine instances of dowry harassment, a large number of cases are filed with the ulterior motive of pressuring the husband and his family into settling matters financially. "The misuse of this law has a profound impact on the social fabric of society," Pahwa said, pointing out that not only the husband, but also the father-in-law, mother-in-law, and other family members are often falsely implicated. "Most of these cases are baseless, and it is time serious action is taken to prevent such exploitation of the law," he added. Pahwa's comments have drawn attention to the growing concern about the abuse of dowry laws in India, and he believes that the current legal framework needs to be overhauled to ensure that only genuine cases are pursued. The lawyer concluded by stressing the need for reforms to protect families from wrongful legal action and to preserve the integrity of the justice system. In an interview with ANI, Advocate Sumit Gehlot, known for defending criminal cases, expressed his deep concern over the tragic Bengaluru techie suicide case. He stated, "This is indeed a very unfortunate incident. From a legal perspective, it highlights critical issues concerning mental health, legal harassment, and the misuse of the legal system." Gehlot acknowledged that while the Dowry Prohibition Act and Section 498A of the IPC were designed to protect women from domestic violence and dowry-related harassment, these laws have unfortunately been misused in some instances. I've witnessed numerous cases where these provisions have been weaponized to harass not just the husband but his entire family. This misuse can cause immense psychological distress, financial strain, and, as seen in this case, tragic outcomes. The law must be used for its intended purpose--to protect genuine victims--but safeguards must be put in place to prevent its abuse. Addressing the issue of false legal cases, Gehlot emphasized that individuals who are victims of such actions have legal recourse. Those who have been falsely implicated can file counter-complaints for defamation or malicious prosecution. They can also seek damages for defamation and harassment. In extreme cases, if false allegations lead to severe consequences like suicide, there could be grounds for criminal charges against those responsible, including for harassment or even abetment of suicide. Gehlot also stressed the need for greater accountability in the legal system. Recently, in a case, quashing of FIR registered under Section 498A matter Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra of the Supreme Court have stressed that Police machinery should be resorted to as a measure of last resort and that too in a genuine case of cruelty and harassment and the law commission and law ministry should take a relook at the provision. Cruelty in matrimonial homes is defined under Sections 85 & 86 of BNS, which are nothing but verbatim reproduction of Section 498A of IPC. Courts should approach cases involving serious allegations, like dowry harassment, with greater caution and conduct thorough investigations before proceeding. Mediation and counselling should also be encouraged as preventive measures to resolve disputes. Furthermore, law enforcement and legal professionals need better training to distinguish between genuine and false cases. Criminal lawyer Ashish Dikshit stated that the legal system, in many cases, has created an environment where failed marriages do not simply end in divorce, but often lead to prolonged misery for the husband. "I am not generalizing, but the data suggests that when a marriage isn't working out, the husband is often the primary sufferer," he said. He explained that in most instances when a husband files for divorce on the grounds of cruelty or an irreparable marriage, the wife often retaliates by filing multiple cases against him and his family. "I have termed these cases a 'bouquet of cases', where multiple claims are made in domestic and matrimonial matters, leading to prolonged legal battles," he added. Dikshit emphasized that the process of litigation itself becomes a punishment in India, where lengthy court proceedings and legal costs can put immense strain on the husband and his family. "Especially for those in the working class, employed in the service sector, they often see a significant portion of their salary going towards maintenance payments. Additionally, hefty alimony demands add to the burden," he pointed out. He described a troubling scenario where husbands who have been married for only a few months are faced with exorbitant alimony demands, further complicating their lives. Dikshit concluded by calling on both the legislature and the judiciary to take cognizance of the issue and implement reforms to prevent such misuse of the legal system. "It's a tricky situation, but the law must evolve to protect not just women, but also men who are unfairly dragged into such legal battles," he said. Echoing these concerns, Criminal lawyer Juhi Arora also highlighted that courts, including the Supreme Court, have repeatedly expressed concern over the misuse of dowry laws, particularly in cases where false accusations lead to the harassment of entire families. She pointed out that the misuse of these laws has become so prevalent that it sometimes leads to tragic consequences, including suicides. Arora called for stricter scrutiny and clearer guidelines to ensure that dowry laws are applied fairly and only in legitimate cases of abuse. She stressed the importance of providing proper legal counsel to individuals involved in such cases to prevent them from becoming victims of legal harassment or extortion. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Whitefield, Shivakumar on Tuesday confirmed that Bengaluru-based techie Atul Subhash committed suicide in the early hours of December 9 following harassment from his wife and her family. Speaking to ANI, the DCP said, "Atul Subhash committed suicide during the early hours of 9th of December. A complaint has been lodged at the Marathahalli police station in Bengaluru regarding this. Multiple cases were running against him in Uttar Pradesh." "His wife and her family members demanded money from him to settle this issue and harassed him. For those reasons, he died by suicide. Based on this complaint, we registered an FIR against the accused. An investigation is underway," said the official.According to a statement released by the police, the victim was a resident of Uttar Pradesh who was living in Bengaluru. The police stated that the Hoysala Police Control Room received a call at 6:00 am on Monday about the suicide in a flat at Bengaluru's Manjunatha Layout in the Delfinium Residency. The statement further stated that when the police went to search the place, the flat was locked from inside, and the lock was broken, following which they went inside and saw Atul hanging from a ceiling fan by the support of a nylon rope. The police stated that he was found dead upon arrival. The police informed the incident to the brother of the deceased, Bikas Kumar, who later filed a complaint against Subhash's wife, his mother-in-law, his brother-in-law, and his wife's uncle, accusing them of filing a false complaint against Subhash and demanding Rs 3 crore money for the settlement, which led to his mental and physical harassment, following which he had to take the step. In his suicide note, Subhash called for justice, stating, "Justice is Due" on every single page of the 24-page note. Along with his wife and her family members, Subhash also accused a family court judge in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur of not hearing him out, and an officer in the court, accusing him of taking bribes in front of the judge. Subhash further described the instances that instigated him to take such a step. Subhash recorded a video describing his alleged harassment and asking his family members not to immerse his ashes till justice is served to him. His suicide note also had a message for his four-year-old son who he claimed had been kept estranged from him. The note also called for his parents to be given custody of his child. The note and the link to the Video were sent to the WhatsApp group of an NGO, to which he was connected. Subhash alleged in his suicide note that his wife had filed nine cases against him, including murder, sexual misconduct, harassment for money, domestic violence, and dowry. (ANI)
As the debate over Mamata Banerjee's potential leadership of the INDIA Bloc intensifies, Haryana Minister Anil Vij stated on Wednesday that Rahul Gandhi has failed, and the alliance's plan to change its "engine" will not yield any benefits. "From the first day, we have been saying that 'Pappu fail ho gaya'. Now his friends have admitted the same. No one can drive their (INDIA Bloc) car. They want to change the engine again, but it will not work," said Vij. Sharad Pawar recently highlighted the leadership potential of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, describing her as a prominent national leader and commending the competence of her party's representatives in Parliament. Expressing his support last week, Pawar said, "Yes, certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance). She is a prominent leader of this nation... she has that capability. The elected leaders she sent to Parliament are responsible, dutiful, and well-informed. Therefore, she has the right to stake her claim." Earlier, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Yadav sparked a political stir by endorsing Mamata Banerjee for the leadership of the INDIA Bloc. Speaking to ANI in Patna, Yadav remarked, "Congress's objection means nothing. We will support Mamata. Mamata Banerjee should be given the leadership (of the INDIA Bloc). We will form the government again in 2025." Congress, a key player in the INDIA Bloc, has yet to officially respond to Lalu Yadav's suggestion, fueling speculation about internal divisions within the alliance. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee also criticised Congress, claiming that the INDIA Bloc has "failed" under its leadership and proposed that Mamata Banerjee take charge of the coalition. Notably, the INDIA Bloc, formed ahead of the general elections, exceeded expectations by securing 234 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, reducing the NDA's tally to 293. However, subsequent assembly elections have failed to deliver satisfactory results for the opposition. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday paid his last respects to former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also paid his respects to the former Chief Minister at his native place in Mandya. The Karnataka government has declared three days of mourning following his demise. According to an official notice, "His last rites will be performed with full state honours. No functions or celebrations will be held during the mourning period from December 10 to December 12." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his condolences on the passing of the former Chief Minister and External Affairs Minister. Taking to social media platform X, Modi wrote: "SM Krishna was a remarkable leader, admired by people from all walks of life. He always worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others. He is fondly remembered for his tenure as Karnataka's Chief Minister, particularly for his focus on infrastructural development. SM Krishna was also a prolific reader and thinker." Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his shock at the loss and said that the state would always remain indebted to Krishna for his contributions to the growth of the IT and BT sectors. In a post on X, Siddaramaiah wrote, "I am shocked by the death of former Chief Minister SM Krishna. Krishna's service as a State and Union Minister and Chief Minister is unparalleled. Karnataka will always be indebted to him for his contribution to the growth of the IT-BT sector, especially during his tenure as Chief Minister." Krishna, 92, served as Karnataka's Chief Minister from October 11, 1999, to May 28, 2004. He was also the External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2009 to 2012 and served as the Governor of Maharashtra. In March 2017, Krishna joined the BJP, ending nearly 50 years of association with the Congress. He retired from active politics last year. (ANI)
The Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC)-151 for NCC girl cadets of the 60 Assam Girls Battalion and other units under NCC Group Headquarters, Guwahati, commenced on December 9 and will continue until December 18. According to the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO), the camp aims to promote leadership, discipline, and national pride. The PRO's statement read: "The Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC)-151 of NCC cadets of 60 Assam Girls Bn NCC, Guwahati, and other units of NCC Group Headquarters, Guwahati, under NCC Directorate NER, Shillong, began on 9 December 2024 and will continue until 18 December 2024 at SaruSajai Stadium, Guwahati. The 10-day event brings together enthusiastic cadets from various units and institutions, aiming to foster leadership skills, discipline, and a sense of national pride among the youth." As per the PRO, the camp will feature various competitions, including volleyball, debate, painting, elocution, firing, tug-of-war, drill, and line area events. Guest lectures by experts are also planned on topics such as "How to Be a Good Citizen of India," "Know Your Army," and "Traffic Management." Representatives from the NDRF and NEDFi will deliver additional lectures, while former NCC cadets (EXPA) will conduct workshops on soft skills. Army officers, Army staff, and Associate NCC Officers (ANOs) will also contribute to the sessions. Brigadier Ajit Kumar Borah, VSM, Group Commander of NCC Group Headquarters, Guwahati, visited the camp on December 11. He interacted with the cadets and inspected the administration and training schedule. During his visit, the senior Army officer encouraged the cadets to maintain discipline and sincerity in their approach to life, the statement noted. In the days ahead, the camp is expected to enhance the cadets' skills while instilling the values of discipline, camaraderie, and service. The 10-day CATC camp at SaruSajai Stadium promises to be an enriching experience, equipping cadets with invaluable skills and creating lasting memories. This event aims to be a transformative experience, empowering the National Cadet Corps cadets to become the vanguards of a brighter future, the statement concluded. (ANI)
Fire tenders have been dispatched to the spot, they said. Flames were spotted at the building, as shown in a video.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Further details are awaited (ANI)
Amid the ongoing debate surrounding the suicide of Bengaluru-based techie Atul Subhash, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya on Wednesday called for the introduction of gender-neutral provisions to protect both partners in a marriage. Speaking to ANI, Surya emphasised the importance of the family as a fundamental institution. "I think the time has come for us to review many family-related legislations and, wherever possible, introduce aspects of gender neutrality to protect both partners in a marriage. The family is a very important institution--it is the foundation of society. Legislations that can be misused by one partner can harm the institution of the family and have serious social repercussions if not addressed," he said. However, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut expressed a different perspective, asserting that men are at fault in the majority of marriages. "I am shocked. His video is heart-wrenching. This case is infested with communism, socialism, and feminism. The extortion of crores, which was beyond his capacity, is condemnable. Nevertheless, we cannot use the example of a wrong woman to victimise other women. In 99 per cent of marriages, men are at fault," Ranaut said. Meanwhile, BJP leader Jagdish Shettar called for a thorough investigation into the matter. "This case must be thoroughly investigated. The state government needs to take it very seriously, and the culprits should be punished. The judiciary must take note of all these issues," Shettar said. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Whitefield, Shivakumar, confirmed that Atul Subhash died by suicide in the early hours of December 9 due to alleged harassment from his wife and her family. Speaking to ANI, the DCP said, "Atul Subhash died by suicide during the early hours of December 9. A complaint has been lodged at the Marathahalli police station in Bengaluru regarding this incident. Multiple cases were pending against him in Uttar Pradesh. "His wife and her family demanded money from him to settle these cases and harassed him. For these reasons, he took his own life. Based on the complaint, we have registered an FIR against the accused, and an investigation is underway," the official stated. The case of Atul Subhash has sparked a wider debate on the misuse of dowry laws. The Supreme Court has previously expressed concern over the growing tendency to misuse Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalises cruelty by husbands and their relatives against married women. While dismissing a Section 498A IPC case against a husband and his parents, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh noted that the provision had sometimes been used as a tool for personal vendetta against the husband and his family. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the leaders who have backed her for a leadership role in the INDIA bloc, amid growing discussions about a change in the alliance's leadership. Addressing a gathering in Purba Medinipur, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief extended her good wishes to the leaders and their respective parties, emphasizing unity and well-being. "I am grateful to all the leaders who have honoured me. I wish good health to all of them. May they be well, may their party be well. May India be well," she said. Earlier, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar had expressed his support for Mamata Banerjee to take up a leadership role in the INDIA bloc, saying, "Yes, certainly (she is capable of leading the alliance). She is a prominent leader of this nation... she has that capability." "The elected leaders she sent to Parliament are responsible, dutiful, and well-aware people. Therefore, she has the right to say so," Pawar had added. Former Bihar Chief Minister and Union Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had also backed Mamata Banerjee for the leadership role in the INDIA bloc. "Congress' objection means nothing. We will support Mamata. Mamata Banerjee should be given the leadership (of the INDIA Bloc). We will form the government again in 2025," he said. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary criticized RJD chief Lalu for backing Mamata Banerjee for a leadership role in the alliance. Chaudhary claimed that Lalu's comments were politically motivated with an eye on the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. "West Bengal elections are approaching. That is why Lalu Prasad Yadav is trying to highlight Mamata Banerjee. She will lose the elections in 2026 and Rahul Gandhi will lose as well," the BJP leader had told ANI. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also suggested that the INDIA bloc would benefit from Mamata Banerjee's leadership, saying that the alliance has struggled under Congress' stewardship. "We had said earlier that Congress should understand that the INDIA bloc has failed under its leadership. It will be good if Mamata Didi is brought in for leadership (of the INDIA bloc). Out of all the leaders, Mamata Didi's name is on top when it comes to fighting politically," Kalyan Banerjee said. (ANI)
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari announced the launch of a new tourism unit policy and stated that the government plans to offer more incentives to the tourism sector. "Many investors attended and a lot of MoUs were signed. The entire focus will be on making sure all MoUs are on the ground... We have launched a tourism unit policy as well... We want to give more incentives to the tourism sector," Kumari told ANI. "Our team focus would be on the Viksit Rajasthan as envisioned by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is striving to approach this target," she added. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of over Rs 35 lakh crore during the 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Summit 2024, stated the state's Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on the last day of the summit. Speaking at the summit on Wednesday, Rajasthan CM Sharma announced that the state government will present the status of works signed under the MoUs during the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit 2024. CM further mentioned that the status of the initiatives will be reviewed on December 11, marking one year since the summit. During his speech, Rajasthan CM highlighted the importance of the Rising Rajasthan summit in elevating the industrial agenda of the state, which will have a far-reaching effect in shaping the state's business environment. "Through this summit, the Rs 35 lakh crore worth of memorandum of understanding (MoUs) that have been signed will be implemented with full force, ensuring that they contribute to the development of Rajasthan. This summit will mark a new chapter in the state's development, helping Rajasthan move forward rapidly on the path of progress," he said, addressing the gathering at the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit. "I want to assure you and give you confidence that with the development of 53,000 kilometres of roads, 9 greenfield motorways, and a progressive startup ecosystem, we are working with full seriousness and speed to transform Rajasthan into a major economic and business power within the next four years," Rajasthan CM added. The Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024, which concluded on Wednesday, attracted global investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and government officials. The summit features an array of thematic and sectoral sessions organised by various state government departments. Prominent industrialists such as Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries; Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Group; Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group; Kumar Mangalam, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group; and Karan Adani, MD of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., attended the three-day summit in Jaipur from December 9 to 11. On Monday, Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal announced plans to invest Rs 1 lakh crore to boost the production of zinc and oil. While Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., unveiled an ambitious Rs 7.5 lakh crore investment plan for Rajasthan at the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit. (ANI)
According to the ministry, the Women Helpline (WHL) scheme has been operational since April 1, 2015.

"It is a component of the Sambal vertical under the umbrella of Mission Shakti. It aims to provide a 24x7x365 emergency and non-emergency response via the telephonic short code 181 to women in both public and private spaces by connecting them with appropriate authorities such as the police, One Stop Centres, hospitals, and legal services authorities. Additionally, it provides information about women's welfare schemes and programmes," the release stated.

"Currently, WHL is operational in 35 States and Union Territories, and over 81.64 lakh women have been assisted since its inception up to October 31, 2024," the ministry added.

The government of West Bengal is not implementing the WHL scheme, it further noted.

As per Mission Shakti Guidelines, the States and Union Territories are responsible for implementing the scheme. The respective State or Union Territory conducts public awareness activities as needed, the release added.

This information was provided by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. (ANI)
Women Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju against TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee for making controversial comments about Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. They also urged Rijiju to take strict measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Earlier in the day, a heated argument in Parliament between BJP MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and TMC's Kalyan Banerjee during a discussion on the Disaster Management Bill led to chaos in the Lok Sabha and forced a 30-minute adjournment. The controversy began when Banerjee made personal accusations, including a controversial remark about Scindia, which outraged BJP women MPs. They immediately demanded Banerjee's expulsion from the House. Andhra Pradesh BJP President Daggubati Purandeswari criticised Banerjee's repeated offensive remarks about women parliamentarians. She said, "The repetitive comments that Kalyan Banerjee of TMC has been making against women in Parliament - this is not the first time. He has commented, pointing out to Jyotiraditya Scindia that he is a..." "Even earlier, he had said there are so many beautiful women in the House, but my attention is not distracted. I think this is very unbecoming of a parliamentarian who hails from a state led by a woman - Mamata Banerjee leads West Bengal - and it is very unbecoming of him to pass such comments on women," Purandeswari added. Purandeswari further condemned Banerjee's behaviour, calling his remarks offensive and disrespectful. She said, "He is repeatedly habituated to making comments like this, which are very offensive to women. The women parliamentarians of the Lok Sabha have met the Speaker and Kiren Rijiju, requesting them to take harsh action against him so that he does not repeat such behaviour. This should also serve as an example to other parliamentarians, emphasising the need to respect women." (ANI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed confidence that the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, which concluded on Wednesday, will prove to be a milestone for the people of the state. Rajasthan Chief Minister informed that the summit saw participation from 32 countries. "Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit has concluded today. Under the leadership of PM Modi, people's attraction towards Rajasthan has increased, people from 32 countries participated in it, and industrialists participated in large numbers... Looking at these possibilities, today we have signed MoUs worth Rs 35 lakh crore...," CM Sharma told ANI. "I want to thank everyone on today's closing occasion... This summit will definitely prove to be a milestone for the people of Rajasthan," he added. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) of over Rs 35 lakh crores during the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit 2024, stated the state's CM Sharma on the last day of the summit. Speaking at the summit on Wednesday, Rajasthan CM announced that the state government will present the status of works signed under the MoUs during the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit 2024. CM stated that the report card of the works will be presented on 11 December, on the completion of one year of the summit. During his speech, Rajasthan's CM highlighted the importance of Rising Rajasthan in elevating the industrial agenda of the state, which will have a far-reaching effect in shaping the state's business environment. "Through this summit, the Rs 35 lakh crore worth of memorandum of understanding (MoUs) that have been signed will be implemented with full force, ensuring that they contribute to the development of Rajasthan. This summit will mark a new chapter in the state's development, helping Rajasthan move forward rapidly on the path of progress," he said, addressing the gathering at the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit. "I want to assure you and give you confidence that with the development of 53,000 kilometres of roads, 9 greenfield motorways, and a progressive startup ecosystem, we are working with full seriousness and speed to transform Rajasthan into a major economic and business power within the next four years," Rajasthan CM added. The Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024, which concluded on Wednesday, attracted global investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and government officials. The summit features an array of thematic and sectoral sessions organised by various state government departments. Prominent industrialists such as Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries; Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Group; Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group; Kumar Mangalam, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group; and Karan Adani, MD of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., attended the three-day summit in Jaipur from December 9 to 11. On Monday, Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal announced plans to invest Rs 1 lakh crore to boost the production of zinc and oil. While Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, unveiled an ambitious Rs 7.5 lakh crore investment plan for Rajasthan at the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit. (ANI)
Following directions from Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena, Delhi Police officials conducted a special drive in the Kalindi Kunj area on Wednesday to verify the documents of residents. On Tuesday, the LG Secretariat had written to the Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner, instructing them to initiate "strict action" against Bangladeshi migrants residing illegally in the national capital. A team of police personnel carried out door-to-door checks in the area to verify the documents of all residents. This directive from the LG's office comes in response to a 'representation' from Ulemas and Muslim leaders, who raised concerns over the increasing presence of illegal infiltrators and called for urgent measures to address the issue. The drive will aim to "remove encroachments, cancel illegally obtained government documents, and ensure that these individuals are sent back to Bangladesh." Earlier on Saturday, a delegation of Ulemas and Muslim leaders from Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin and Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin met LG VK Saxena to express their 'deep concern' over attacks on Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh. They also demanded strict action against Bangladeshi infiltrators in the national capital, according to a letter from the LG's office. The letter further stated, "Prominent Ulemas and Muslim residents have requested that illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators should neither be provided houses on rent nor employment by any establishment. Additionally, they have requested that their children should not be granted admission to any government or private school. The Muslim leaders have also demanded the removal of illegal infiltrators from roads, footpaths, parks, and other government lands that they have unlawfully encroached upon. Any documents such as Aadhaar Cards, Voter IDs, or other government identification obtained illegally by Bangladeshi infiltrators should be cancelled immediately. They have also called for a special drive, similar to previous efforts, to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in Delhi." The LG's Secretariat acknowledged the gravity of the issue, stating, "In light of the seriousness of the matter, the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor has directed a two-month special drive to take stringent and time-bound action, as demanded by the Muslim community. Weekly progress reports are to be submitted to the Secretariat." (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and took some decisions towards the all-round development of the state. During the cabinet meeting held in the Secretariat, decisions were taken on 22 different important points towards the all-round development and public welfare of the state. Meanwhile, CM Dhami on Wednesday approved financial allocations totalling over Rs 3.6 crore for various development and beautification projects across the state. These initiatives encompass the beautification of several temples, the construction of key roads, and the establishment of community centres aimed at boosting tourism and improving local infrastructure in the Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, and Dehradun districts. Notably, Rs 50.27 lakh has been sanctioned for the construction of a boundary wall for Guru Nanak Public Women's Inter College in Dehradun under the Minority Development Fund scheme. An official statement outlined the specifics: "Under the Chief Minister's announcement, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has approved Rs 45.06 lakh for the beautification of Maa Hiramani Temple and the Dharamni Community Site in Malari village of the Badrinath Assembly Constituency in Chamoli District, and Rs 57.64 lakh for the beautification of Maharishi Agastyamuni Temple in the Kedarnath Assembly Constituency of Rudraprayag District." The statement further detailed, "Rs 40.96 lakh has been allocated for the construction of the Chaltha Kholban horse route from Kalipatal Phapa in the Dharchula Assembly Constituency of Pithoragarh District, Rs 21.09 lakh for establishing Jan Milan Kendra in Kanalichhina village, Tundi Tehsil of the Dhat Assembly Constituency in Pithoragarh District, Rs 51.36 lakh for developing a CC road and fair site from Dobari to Vega Devi Temple in the Pithoragarh Assembly Constituency, Rs 51.36 lakh for beautifying the famous Thama Devi Temple fair site in Gram Sabha Salmoda of Pithoragarh Assembly Constituency, and Rs 45.33 lakh for the construction of an access road and passenger shed." Additionally, the release stated, "Under the Minority Development Fund scheme, the Chief Minister has approved Rs 50.27 lakh for the construction of a boundary wall for the Kida Ground of Guru Nanak Public Women's Inter College (opposite Bannu School) at Race Course, Dehradun." (ANI)
On December 12, 2024, Gujarat will celebrate two successful years of good governance under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The foundation of Gujarat's holistic development was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development-centric approach, which has been further strengthened by the unwavering trust of the people in CM Bhupendra Patel's leadership. With this public support, the government led by the CM assumed office on December 12, 2022, according to a release. As per the release, under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has achieved significant progress and delivered outstanding results through various public welfare schemes, steering the state's development journey in a new direction. Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, which focuses on four pillars--Garib (Poor), Yuva (Youth), Annadata (Farmer), and Nari Shakti (Women Empowerment)--Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and 'Team Gujarat' are committed to realizing this resolution through Viksit Gujarat, the release said. The state government has embraced a 'GYAN'-centered approach, placing Garib, Yuva, Annadata, and Nari Shakti at the heart of all development plans and initiatives. Under the guidance of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, the state government has exemplified the principles of service, determination, and dedication throughout its two-year tenure. As Gujarat embarks on its third year of governance on Thursday, December 12, 2024, a robust and inclusive 'GYAN'-based Vikas Utsav is planned to celebrate and further its developmental vision, the release mentioned. According to the release, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state cabinet ministers will participate in a series of programs aligned with the 'GYAN' initiative to commemorate the beginning of the third year of the current state government. On the day of the celebration (December 12), the Chief Minister will inaugurate the Shramik Suvidha Kendra in Naroda, Ahmedabad. Built on 300 square meters by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, this initiative is part of the 'Garib Utthan' program and marks the commencement of the day. At 11:00 AM, the Chief Minister will present appointment letters to 580 youths selected for various state government departments during a program at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. This initiative highlights the government's commitment to empowering the youth, a key pillar of 'GYAN', the release added. As per the press release, the Chief Minister, later in the day, will host a 'Samvad' Program with members of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) at his residence. This program focuses on boosting agricultural growth by guiding FPOs in maximizing production, value addition, branding, and marketing of agricultural produce while promoting natural farming practices. In the evening, the Chief Minister will interact with approximately 300 women entrepreneurs and innovators at i-Hub, Ahmedabad. Thanks to the state government's encouragement, women-led startups in Gujarat have increased by 52%. Through this interaction, the Chief Minister aims to inspire and strengthen the role of women in driving innovation and entrepreneurship, reinforcing their importance as a pillar of 'GYAN'. December 12, 2024, will stand as a landmark day, celebrating the inauguration of the third year of governance under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's leadership, dedicated to advancing development through the 'GYAN' initiative, the release added. (ANI)
After taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that a seven-month-old baby was allegedly abducted from a footpath and sexually assaulted by some miscreants in Kolkata, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, West Bengal for a detailed reported within two weeks. "The report is expected to include the status of the FIR, the health of the baby victim, and compensation, if any provided to the aggrieved family," the NHRC said in its statement on Wednesday. The commission said, "The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a seven-month-old baby was allegedly abducted from a footpath and sexually assaulted by some miscreants in Kolkata, West Bengal on November 30. The girl is reported to be the daughter of a homeless couple. She was seen lying on the pavement when some people spotted her and informed the police." "The Commission has examined the news report's contents, which, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the infant's human rights. The incident indicates sheer lawlessness. Antisocial elements roam freely and indulge in any unlawful activity without fear," it said. "Therefore, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, West Bengal calling for a detailed report within two weeks," it added According to the media report, carried on December 5, the baby victim is undergoing medical treatment at a Government Hospital in Kolkatta, the commission further said. (ANI)
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday highlighted the importance of preserving India's maritime legacy for future generations at the inaugural session of the India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024 (IMHC 2024). The event, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), was held at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi. According to an official release, the conclave brought together key ministers, renowned speakers, maritime experts, and thought leaders from across the globe. It showcased India's rich seafaring legacy, its crucial role in facilitating cultural and economic exchanges worldwide, and its vision for sustainable maritime innovation, cementing its position as a rising maritime powerhouse. Speaking at the event, Vice President Dhankhar remarked, "India stands today as an emerging maritime powerhouse, strategically leveraging its geographical location and advanced infrastructure to spearhead global maritime initiatives. Through sophisticated maritime diplomacy, particularly initiatives like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), we are fostering robust international partnerships and ensuring regional stability across the Indo-Pacific. A rule-based order is the quintessence, and India is taking the lead in ensuring broader adherence to such a regime at sea." He expressed optimism about the conclave's impact, stating, "I am confident that this two-day Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024 will renew our collective dedication to honouring our maritime legacy while advancing sustainable innovation." Prime Minister Narendra Modi also delivered a special message, underlining India's strategic location in the Indian Ocean and its legacy of trade and cultural exchange. He noted, "As we march towards realising the vision of building Viksit Bharat by 2047, strengthening the maritime framework for the 21st century is integral to our efforts. I am confident that the deliberations at this conclave will not only enable India to take pride in its rich maritime heritage but also draft a futuristic blueprint to become a global maritime hub and leading player." The India Maritime Heritage Conclave promotes collaboration across ministries, including Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs and Education, and Culture and Tourism, focusing on skill development and sustainable livelihoods. It encourages youth to explore maritime careers and integrates heritage into education. In partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the event also highlights India's maritime legacy as a driver for cultural preservation and tourism, fostering a unified framework for national development, youth empowerment, and global engagement. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the conclave, reaffirming India's commitment to preserving and promoting its maritime heritage. "Our rich maritime heritage is not merely a story of the past but a beacon for the future. Under the visionary guidance of our hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal is a step in this direction. It will bring our maritime past to life for future generations, showcasing the brilliance of our ancestors while inspiring young minds to carry forward this legacy," he said. Sonowal added, "The ocean is not just a resource; it is a legacy--a bridge connecting the past and the future, uniting civilizations, fostering innovation, and shaping our identity as a maritime nation. By preserving our maritime heritage, we honour our ancestors and unlock immense potential for tourism, education, and youth engagement." Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel emphasised that India's maritime future aligns closely with the government's vision of achieving a self-reliant India. He noted, "Maritime development and heritage go hand in hand, and this conclave is a step towards bridging the past and the future. Let us work to ensure India's maritime legacy thrives for generations to come." The conclave saw the participation of state ministers from Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. It also marked the inaugural meeting of the Apex Committee for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Conclave. An exhibition featuring over 20 stalls showcased India's shipbuilding techniques, navigation systems, and historical trade routes, inaugurated by distinguished dignitaries. (ANI)
A grand event was held on Wednesday at Luhnu Ground in Bilaspur to mark two successful years of the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government in the state, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office said. According to the release, freedom fighters Bhag Singh, Sahaj Ram, and Premi Devi, wife of Narottam Shastri, were honoured for their invaluable contributions to the nation. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu unveiled Vikas Sankalan, a comprehensive publication by the Information and Public Relations Department that highlights the achievements and initiatives undertaken by the government over the past two years. While presiding over the event, the Chief Minister stated that the current state government is committed to ensuring overall and equitable development in Himachal Pradesh, following the principles laid down by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership. "We will not let the state's wealth be misused and will ensure its equal distribution among all sections of society. This is Rahul Gandhi's vision, and our government is steadfastly working towards it," he said. The Chief Minister noted that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh was formed two years ago with the support and blessings of the people, as well as the extensive efforts of leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Rajiv Shukla. Reflecting on his 40-year journey in public service, he expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided by the Congress party. "On December 11, 2022, the son of a farmer and a government employee took the oath as Chief Minister. This is not just a celebration of two years but a reaffirmation of our mission. Our true celebration will be in 2027 when Himachal Pradesh becomes self-reliant," he said, according to the release. CM Sukhu highlighted that the state government implemented the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for 1.36 lakh employees despite facing pressure from the central government. He added that during last year's monsoon season, Himachal Pradesh experienced an unprecedented disaster. However, the government successfully evacuated 75,000 tourists and provided a special relief package of Rs 4,500 crore to affected families. He stated that the government revised the disaster relief manual, increasing compensation for affected families from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. However, the central government has yet to release the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) funds to Himachal Pradesh, the release noted. The Chief Minister also referred to a challenge made by Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, who claimed in the Assembly that "even God cannot save this government." CM Sukhu said, "With the blessings of the people and the deities of Himachal, we succeeded in saving our government from the conspiracies of BJP leaders." He further mentioned that after attempts to destabilise the government, the Congress party emerged stronger, increasing its vote share by 14 per cent in the Lok Sabha elections. He expressed gratitude to the people of Himachal Pradesh for electing 40 Congress MLAs and showing faith in the policies and programmes of the Congress government. CM Sukhu stated that the government is focusing on strengthening the rural economy and increasing the price of milk. The price of cow's milk has been raised to Rs 45 per litre, and buffalo's milk to Rs 55 per litre. The daily wage under MNREGA has been increased by Rs 60, bringing it to Rs 300. Additionally, the state government has purchased 4,000 quintals of maize grown through natural farming. Next year, the government plans to purchase wheat grown through natural farming at Rs 40 per kilogram, aligning the prices of wheat and apples. He said the upcoming budget would prioritise strengthening the rural economy, according to the CMO. (ANI)
The 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024 concluded successfully with its valedictory session and MSME conclave, held in the esteemed presence of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and other dignitaries, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, CM Sharma announced that the government would publicly disclose the progress on investment proposals signed during the 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024 on December 11, 2025. He also revealed that the next edition of the summit, RRGIS 2026, would be held on December 9, 10, and 11, during which a detailed update on progress over the next two years would be provided. The valedictory session and MSME conclave were attended by several prominent figures, including Rajasthan Deputy Chief Ministers Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, Industries and Commerce Minister Col Rajyavardhan Rathore, and Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant, alongside business leaders, bureaucrats, policymakers, and other stakeholders. At the valedictory session, CM Sharma reiterated the government's commitment to transparency and progress. He stated, "On 11th December 2025, the government will publicly disclose the progress made on the signed investment proposals during the 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024. Two years from now, on December 9, 10, and 11, 2026, the government will host the second edition of the summit and provide a detailed response on the progress made in two years. This will address any doubts about our intent towards the state's well-being and development." Highlighting key initiatives for the MSME sector, Sharma noted, "The recently launched RIPS 2024 offers interest subsidies on loans for purchasing machines and equipment, alongside incentives for employment generation and electricity duty exemptions. Additionally, the MSME Policy 2024 provides further interest subsidies for MSMEs in manufacturing and services." Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised CM Sharma's leadership, stating, "The unprecedented investment proposals secured during this summit reflect the bright future of Rajasthan under the dynamic leadership of CM Bhajan Lal Sharma." Pradhan also announced plans to establish advanced technological labs at premier institutions such as IIT Jodhpur to enhance the global language skills of Rajasthan's youth. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating the summit, describing Rajasthan as "reliable and receptive" and capable of driving growth towards the goal of a 'Viksit Rajasthan.' In his vote of thanks, Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa said, "This summit marks a milestone in the social, economic, and cultural development of Rajasthan, firmly establishing the state as a key global investment destination under CM Bhajan Lal Sharma's leadership." Industries and Commerce Minister Col Rajyavardhan Rathore emphasised the vital role of MSMEs, saying, "MSMEs contribute 25% to the state GDP and have played an instrumental role in Rajasthan's development. Prominent MSMEs in textiles, handicrafts, tourism, and ceramics have generated jobs and upskilled the workforce." The MSME conclave explored the sector's growth opportunities, challenges, and policy landscape. Business leaders shared experiences and discussed issues such as operational challenges, skill development, employment potential, and the importance of a conducive policy environment. A short film showcasing the history and journey of Rajasthan's MSMEs, along with the regulatory environment, was presented. The event featured panellists such as Auguste Tano Kouame, Country Director for India, World Bank; Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory; Rajesh Bansal, CEO of RB Innovation Hub; and others. Earlier, on Day 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit and the Rajasthan Global Business Expo. A record Rs 35 lakh crore worth of investment proposals were signed during the event. (ANI)
The last rites of former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna were performed with full state honours in Mandya district on Wednesday. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar were among those present at the ceremony. SM Krishna, 92, passed away on Tuesday, promoting the Karnataka government to declare three days of mourning in his honour. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the death of the former CM of Karnataka. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi described Krishna as a "remarkable leader" and was admired by people across the country. "SM Krishna was a remarkable leader, admired by people from all walks of life. He always worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others. He is fondly remembered for his tenure as Karnataka's Chief Minister, particularly for his focus on infrastructural development. SM Krishna was also a prolific reader and thinker," the post read. Karnataka CM Siddaramiah also expressed his shock at the demise and said that the state would remain indebted to Krishna's contribution to IT-BT's growth. In a post on X, Siddaramiah said, "I am shocked by the death of former Chief Minister SM Krishna. Krishna's service as a state and union minister and chief minister is unparalleled. Karnataka will always be indebted to him for his contribution to the growth of the IT-BT sector, especially as Chief Minister." Furthermore, Siddaramiah also fondly recalled Krishna's guidance, stating SM Krishna was also his guide in the early days of his political career. "Krishna, who was a secretive politician, was an enemy of Ajatasatru. Krishna, who was my guide in the early days of joining the Congress party, was always my well-wisher. Krishna's foresight, disciplined life, gentlemanly demeanour, and studious attitude are role models for budding politicians. I also share in the grief of his family and fans who are saddened by his passing away. I pray to God that his soul rest in peace," the post read. Krishna served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka from October 11, 1999, to May 28, 2004, and was later appointed as the External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2009 to 2012. He also served as the Governor of Maharashtra. In March 2017, Krishna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ending a nearly 50-year-long association with the Congress. He retired from active politics in 2023. (ANI)
Following the detection, security forces destroyed the explosives, they said.

In a post on X, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps said, "IED recovered at Langate, Kupwara, on the Baramulla-Handwara road. Chinar Warriors and @JmuKmrPolice averted a major terror incident today by recovering and destroying an IED at Langate, Kupwara."

"Indian Army remains resolute in its commitment to keep Kashmir terror-free," it added.

Earlier on Monday, a soldier was killed in a mine blast while patrolling in J-K's Poonch district.

The Army paid tribute to Havaldar V. Subbaiah Varikunta of the 25 Rashtriya Rifles.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps and all ranks paid tribute to the deceased soldier, who was part of an area domination patrol (team) in the area of Thandar Tekri in the Poonch district. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday highlighted the issue of infiltration and announced that the state government will tighten the Aadhaar verification process to ensure that no unauthorised individuals obtain Aadhaar cards. Addressing a press conference, CM Sarma stated that many infiltrators from Bangladesh have been apprehended by the authorities. "Assam Police is acting as the second line of defence along the Indo-Bangladesh border in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF). Many infiltrators from Bangladesh have been apprehended by the BSF, Assam Police, and Tripura Police," he said. The Chief Minister added that the Assam cabinet has decided to designate the General Administration Department as the nodal agency for Aadhaar card verification. "At the district level, the Deputy Commissioner will appoint one ADC for Aadhaar enrolment verification. We will strengthen the Aadhaar verification process to prevent suspected individuals from obtaining Aadhaar cards," he said. CM Sarma also announced that 15 lakh new ration cards would be distributed on December 15. Additionally, the Assam Chief Minister shared plans for an upcoming visit to Bhutan. "I will visit Bhutan from December 16 to 18 to attend their National Day celebrations. During my visit, I will discuss various matters, including hydropower, with the Bhutanese government," he said. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma attended Swahid Divas, organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, at Jamurihat in Sonitpur District. Speaking on the occasion, he affirmed that the state government is working tirelessly to preserve the identity of the people of Assam while ensuring their development. "The government is also undertaking delimitation efforts to minimise the influence of infiltrators. Furthermore, the state government has reclaimed 10,000 hectares of encroached land," he said. The Chief Minister further noted that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the delimitation exercise across Assam's 126 Legislative Assembly constituencies has secured at least 105 constituencies for indigenous people. (ANI)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday emphasised strengthening the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) by expanding its reach to every corner of the state. The JMM, after forming a coalition government in Jharkhand, organised its Central Committee meeting today. In a post on X, CM Hemant Soren highlighted that the JMM is a party "born out of struggle" and reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening the organisation in the coming times. "Today, I attended the extended meeting of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Central Committee in Ranchi. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is a party born out of struggle. That is why we have always fought for our rights. We have won through our battles and have never accepted defeat. In the last assembly elections, due to the hard work of our dedicated leaders and workers, and the blessings of millions of people in the state, we formed a strong government in Jharkhand," CM Soren stated. "Hearty congratulations to all of you for this achievement. In the coming times, we must strengthen the roots of the JMM family by reaching every corner of the state. We must work to ensure the rights of all sections of society, including the deprived and the exploited. Long live Jharkhand Mukti Morcha! Long live Dishom Guru Shibu Soren! Hail Jharkhand!" he added. Following the meeting, JMM leader Manoj Pandey noted that the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to party workers. "Today's extended meeting was a gratitude meeting. The Chief Minister expressed his thanks to all the workers. Discussions were held on how the organisation can be further strengthened. Preparations for the Maha Adhiveshan were also discussed, and everyone was urged to get involved in these efforts," Pandey said. Party leader Mahua Maji stated that preparations for the next elections, scheduled five years from now, must begin immediately. "There was a productive discussion today. The CM expressed his gratitude to everyone, and in the coming times, the organisation will be expanded more rapidly and strongly. A membership campaign will also be launched. To win more seats in the next elections, we must start working for the people now," Maji said. The Hemant Soren-led JMM spearheaded the INDIA bloc's victory in the Jharkhand assembly elections, securing 56 seats in the 81-member assembly. The JMM won 34 seats, while its allies secured 22 seats. Among the allies, the Congress won 16 seats, the RJD secured four, and the CPI-ML won two seats. The BJP-led NDA managed only 24 seats in Jharkhand. The BJP itself won 21 seats, while its allies--the AJSU Party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and JD-U--secured one seat each. (ANI)
Following the passage of a special resolution in the Tamil Nadu assembly opposing the tungsten mining project, farmers and members of the Anti-Tungsten Mining Project Association welcomed the move and reiterated their demand to declare 48 villages, including Arithapatti, in Madurai district as a protected biodiversity and agricultural zone. Arithapatti was declared Tamil Nadu's first biodiversity heritage site in 2022. The region, which encompasses seven hills, is home to numerous ancient monuments, including the Samanar Parai rock-cut temple and Vatteluttu inscriptions. It also hosts rare bird species, such as the Rasaali Parrot. Despite this, Hindustan Zinc Limited, a subsidiary of the Vedanta group, has secured a tender to initiate tungsten mining in the region, which has been approved by the central government. This move has sparked strong opposition from the residents. The locals have been protesting against this project, and a special resolution was passed in the state assembly yesterday opposing the mine. However, the people of 48 villages, including Arithapatti, are demanding that their region be declared a protected biodiversity and agricultural zone. They urge the government to issue a formal order to safeguard the area from the mining activities. Partipan, a local villager and a farmer said that the government passed a resolution but they are doubtful about the effectiveness of the resolution in protecting villages from the mining. "The Tamil Nadu government has passed a resolution in the assembly against the tungsten mining project. However, we are unsure how effective this resolution will be in protecting our village. In the past, when there were protests against hydrocarbon projects in the Delta districts, the Tamil Nadu government declared those districts as protected agricultural zones, which helped safeguard them," he said. "Similarly, we request the Tamil Nadu government to declare our villages as protected biodiversity and agricultural zones, which will help protect them from the mining project," he added. Apart from that, Kumaran, a member of the Anti-Tungsten Mining Project Association, further emphasised their demands and stated that they would want the Centre to cancel the auction completely. "The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution opposing the tungsten mining in Melur. This resolution has been supported by all parties in Tamil Nadu, which is a welcome move. Our complete demand is that the central government should cancel the auction completely. During the hydrocarbon project in the Delta districts, the government declared the area a protected agricultural zone and issued a government order, following which the project was abandoned," he said. Kumaran also pointed out the potential environmental and agricultural impacts of the mining project. "The villages surrounding Melur are Mullai Periyar irrigation agricultural lands, and Arithapatti village has ancient Tamil inscriptions and Jain worship sites. If mining activities are carried out in this area, agriculture and natural resources will be destroyed. The central government should withdraw this announcement, and the Tamil Nadu government should declare this area a protected agricultural zone and save it," he added. As protests continue, villagers remain hopeful that their demands will be heard and acted upon to prevent any damage to their heritage, biodiversity, and agriculture. (ANI)
They said that the operation led to the interception of two consignments of smuggled gold and the arrest of six individuals, including three airport employees.

As per DRI officials, specific intelligence was received that a syndicate of airport staff employed at food court at the international airport, Mumbai was involved in smuggling of gold by retrieving it from International transit passengers and delivering it outside the airport.

Acting on the intelligence, the officers of DRI Mumbai maintained surveillance at the airport and intercepted two such consignments of smuggled gold when they were being delivered outside the airport. 3 airport staff members who were delivering the gold and three receivers were also apprehended, they said.

On examination, 24 oval-shaped balls of gold dust in wax form, weighing 12.5 kg and valued at Rs 9.95 crore, were recovered, they said, adding that the gold was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

With the apprehension of 6 persons, including 3 persons working at the airport in various capacities, a very big syndicate involved in gold smuggling has been busted, they added.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
The World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) has strongly refuted claims by some opposition parties in Bharat that its upcoming conference, WHEF 2024, is 'divisive'. It also dismissed the controversy surrounding the invitation extended to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as a keynote speaker, according to a release issued by the forum. "WHEF invited 24 Chief Ministers on June 28, excluding the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Jharkhand, who are facing corruption allegations, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, whose party DMK has endorsed anti-Hindu hate speech. This includes his son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, comparing Hindu Dharma to diseases like dengue and malaria at an 'Eradicate Sanatan Dharma' conference. We also extended invitations to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, requesting them to serve as keynote speakers. However, we did not receive any response from them," said Swami Vigyananand, the founder of WHEF. "When a global Halal economy exists, why are some people uncomfortable with Hindus worldwide collaborating for mutual benefit? There are numerous faith-based economic forums, business networks, and professional organisations formed by Muslims and Christians in Bharat and abroad, such as the Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Christian Business Mentors Council of India, The Muslim Chamber of Commerce India, Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Association of Muslim Doctors, All India Catholic University Federation, and the World Islamic Economic Forum (wief.org). Why not have a World Hindu Economic Forum, based on the universal idea of Dharma, which upholds society and embraces pluralism?" said Ravikant Mishra, Secretary of the Organising Committee for WHEF 2024. "A Congress spokesperson suggested that the country should progress only with Gandhian thought, implying our conference is 'divisive'. While there is no doubt about Gandhiji's significant role in the independence movement, we must embrace responsible industrialisation and scientific innovation," said Shailesh Trivedi, Joint Secretary of the Organising Committee for WHEF 2024, who is leading the WHEF Launchpad programme. This initiative offers a platform for start-ups to pitch their ideas during the conference. The aim of the World Hindu Economic Forum is to unite financially successful individuals to share knowledge, resources, and mentorship with budding entrepreneurs. The presence of Chief Ministers from certain states does not indicate a focus solely on those regions. The goal is to encourage Hindu businesses worldwide to collaborate and grow, fostering wealth creation and sharing in the process, the organisers stated. WHEF is not confined to the geographical boundaries of Bharat but connects Hindus across 60 countries. This includes the Bharatiya-origin Hindu diaspora and Hindus from South America, Africa, Nepal, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, who, while not Bharatiya, proudly identify as Hindus. A notable example is Tulsi Gabbard, an American politician and former nominee for US Intelligence Chief under Donald Trump, who spoke at WHEF 2016 in Los Angeles, the release mentioned. Hindus, who once contributed over 35% of the global economy, lost their wealth and self-confidence due to centuries of colonial plunder. One of WHEF's objectives is to revive awareness of this legacy of economic excellence, wealth creation, and innovation. A dedicated forum for the economic upliftment of Hindus is essential, the release emphasised. The Vedic wisdom of Sat Hasta Samahara, Sahastra Hasta Sankira encourages Hindus to earn with 100 hands and share with 1,000 hands, reinforcing the belief that the prosperity of Hindu society will benefit the entire world. WHEF is committed to working in a spirit of harmony and mutual respect with all. While the forum is specifically for Hindus, individuals and organisations aligning with its objectives are welcome to collaborate. For instance, Israeli speakers will address a special session on Bharat-Israel collaboration at WHEF 2024. In the past, WHEF held a bilateral conference with representatives of New Zealand's indigenous Maori community. Similarly, government bodies from the Netherlands, Kenya, South Africa, the UK, and Australia have partnered with WHEF to host economic conferences, the release added. (ANI)
Heated arguments between Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee during a discussion on the Disaster Management Bill led to repeated adjournments of Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Both of them accused each other of making personal comments. Kalyan Banerjee expressed an apology for his remarks but Jyotiraditya Scindia said that he is not accepting the apology and that the remarks "were an attack on women of India". The controversial remarks were expunged by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Minister of State for Home moved the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. In his remarks, Banerjee alleged non-cooperation by the Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. The remarks were rebutted by Rai with Scindia also supporting the minister. Kalyan Banerjee took a jibe at Scindia over his belonging to an erstwhile royal family but the BJP member said that he has risen due to his hard work and people's blessings. He also said that Trinamool Congress member can criticise BJP for its policies but any personal remark will invite a response. Kalyan Banerjee later told ANI that his remarks were not against any woman and he had apologised. "I haven't said that for any woman but for Jyotiraditya Scindia. I have said sorry for that," he said. Women MPs of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lodged a complaint with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju over Banerjee's controversial remarks. They called for Banerjee's expulsion and strict measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Andhra Pradesh BJP chief D Purandeswari lashed out at Kalyan Banerjee over his remarks. "The repetitive comments that Kalyan Banerjee of TMC has been making against the women in Parliament - this is not the first time that he has commented, pointing out to Jyotiraditya Scindia that he is a ladykiller. Even earlier, he had commented that there are so many beautiful women in the House, but my attention is not distracted," she said. "I think this is very unbecoming of a parliamentarian who hails from a state led by a woman - Mamata Banerjee leads West Bengal - and it is very unbecoming of him to pass such comments on women...He is repeatedly habituated to passing comments like this, which are very offensive to women. So, the women parliamentarians of Lok Sabha have met the Speaker, and we have met Kiren Rijiju and made our request for them to take harsh action on him so that he does not repeat it again," she added. The BJP leader said it should also serve as an example to other parliamentarians that they should learn to respect women. The House saw two adjournments due to verbal clash between Kalyan Banerjee and Scindia and was later adjourned for the day. (ANI) .
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday engaged with members of civil society during a meeting in Jammu. CM Omar Abdullah stated that the purpose of the meeting was to gather feedback from members regarding government decisions. "Being in power, it is impossible to have information on every matter. The government makes decisions that impact the people. It is essential to seek feedback on these decisions," CM Omar told reporters. "...Obtaining accurate feedback within the government system can sometimes be challenging. However, in a civil society meeting like this, people often come without any agenda and provide their feedback and suggestions, which benefits us. The purpose of this meeting was to sit together with civil society members and gather their input," he added. Earlier in the day, CM Abdullah reiterated his commitment to restoring the now-defunct Darbar Move. He also questioned why the Darbar Move issue gained prominence only after the assembly elections. "I don't understand why this issue didn't come up during the elections. The Darbar Move only started making headlines after the elections. However, we have consistently assured in meetings that the Darbar Move will be restored," CM Omar said. He further emphasised the importance and uniqueness of Jammu, stating, "Jammu has its own significance, its own speciality, and we will not let it diminish." The Darbar Move refers to the biannual relocation of the secretariat and all other government offices of Jammu and Kashmir between the two capital cities. From May to October, government offices operated in Srinagar, the summer capital, while for the other six months, they functioned in Jammu, the winter capital. In April 2021, for the first time in history, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir decided to defer the Darbar Move due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI)
China's foreign trade shows steady growth in first 11 months

Xinhua) 08:30, December 11, 2024

Trucks and engineering vehicles wait to be loaded at Yantai Port in east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's total goods imports and exports maintained steady growth in the first 11 months of 2024, expanding by 4.9 percent year on year in yuan terms, official data showed Tuesday.

Goods trade value expanded to 39.79 trillion yuan, or 5.6 trillion in U.S. dollar terms, in the January-November period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

China's exports rose 6.7 percent year on year during this period to 23.04 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 2.4 percent to 16.75 trillion yuan, the GAC data revealed.

In November alone, goods imports and exports saw a year-on-year increase of 1.2 percent to total 3.75 trillion yuan -- maintaining growth for an eighth consecutive month.

Specifically, exports of mechanical and electrical products accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total during the January-November period, with exports of containers, ships and motorcycles increasing by 108.7 percent, 65.3 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively, the data showed.

During the first 11 months, agricultural products reached a broad overseas market, as exports of dried and fresh fruits and nuts, vegetables and edible fungi, and alcohol and beverages increased by 22.2 percent, 11.4 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.

Among various market entities, private enterprises in this period saw their foreign trade increase by 8.7 percent year on year -- remaining the leading force in terms of China's foreign trade. Meanwhile, imports and exports of foreign-invested firms increased by 1.1 percent.

Market diversification also sustained momentum. In the first 11 months of 2024, China's trade with traditional partners such as the European Union, the United States and the Republic of Korea achieved growth of 1.3 percent, 4.2 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.

China's trade with countries participating in Belt and Road cooperation during this period saw a year-on-year increase of 6 percent, while that with ASEAN countries rose by 8.6 percent.

In this period, China's foreign trade with Latin America and Africa increased by 7.9 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

The State Council recently issued a package of policy measures aimed at promoting the stable growth of foreign trade, while the Ministry of Commerce, the GAC and other departments also launched specific measures to accelerate the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, further optimize the business environment at ports, and promote the convenience of customs clearance for enterprises, said Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis.

"With the concerted efforts of both stock and incremental policies in the field, China is expected to end the year with a smooth performance in foreign trade and achieve the goal of stable quality and quantity," Lyu noted.

Containers are unloaded at Qingdao Port, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by Yu Fangping/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows vehicles to be loaded for export at Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a view of the international container terminal at Yantai Port in east China's Shandong Province. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a view of the international container terminal at Yantai Port in east China's Shandong Province. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a cargo ship loaded with containers leaving Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 10, 2024 shows a container terminal of Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
The police officer further mentioned that there have been no reports of any casualties so far in the fire incident.

While speaking to ANI, KJ Zala, Deputy Superintendent of Police, stated, "... Today a fire incident took place at a Gopal snacks factory...There is no report of any loss of life so far in the fire incident."

The police officer also mentioned that the firefighting operations are underway.

Furthermore, the police officer mentioned that the firefighting teams are on-site, and a police team is monitoring the situation. He further assured that there had been no significant loss of property damage due to the incident.

Flames were spotted at the building, as shown in a video.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Further details are awaited (ANI)
Nikhil Kumaraswamy, State President of Youth Janata Dal, paid his final respects to former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday at Somanahalli village in Maddur Taluk. Following the ceremony, he shared a heartfelt tribute to the late leader, recalling personal memories and highlighting Krishna's impact on his life. In his tribute, Nikhil described SM Krishna as a towering personality known for his simplicity, kindness, and humility. "He was someone I deeply admired on a personal level. When I lost the election, he offered me courage and solace," Nikhil wrote, reflecting on the deep personal admiration he held for Krishna. Sharing a personal memory, Nikhil recalled how, after his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Mandya constituency, SM Krishna had not only noticed Nikhil's heartfelt post on Twitter but had also taken the time to call him. Krishna had praised Nikhil's open expression of his emotions, stating, "I saw your tweet, Nikhil. It's very well-written and heartfelt. Sharing your emotions so openly is a rare quality. Accepting defeat and congratulating the victor are both equally important. I appreciate your demeanour; it reflects your good character. You have a bright future ahead. Move forward courageously; God will bless you with success," Krishna had told Nikhil during their brief conversation. Nikhil further stressed how deeply Krishna's words had impacted him, providing him with strength and inspiration. "To see such magnanimity and character that transcend political boundaries is rare in today's politics. SM Krishna was an ideal figure of generosity and humane relationships," Nikhil wrote. He also highlighted SM Krishna's immense contributions to Karnataka, particularly in putting Bengaluru on the global map as the "Silicon Valley of India." Nikhil praised Krishna for transforming Bengaluru through the promotion of the IT and BT sectors, attracting global companies to the city, and building its reputation. "As I stood before his mortal remains today and bowed my head in respect, memories of those moments came rushing back to me. Though he is no longer with us physically, his invaluable contributions will remain eternal and continue to inspire us forever," Nikhil concluded. He ended his tribute with a heartfelt note, saying, "Om Shanti." Earlier in the day, the last rites of former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna were performed with full state honours in Mandya district on Wednesday. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar were among those present at the ceremony.SM Krishna, 92, passed away on Tuesday, promoting the Karnataka government to declare three days of mourning in his honour. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the death of the former CM of Karnataka. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi described Krishna as a "remarkable leader" and was admired by people across the country."SM Krishna was a remarkable leader, admired by people from all walks of life. He always worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others. He is fondly remembered for his tenure as Karnataka's Chief Minister, particularly for his focus on infrastructural development. SM Krishna was also a prolific reader and thinker," the post read. Karnataka CM Siddaramiah also expressed his shock at the demise and said that the state would remain indebted to Krishna's contribution to IT-BT's growth. In a post on X, Siddaramiah said, "I am shocked by the death of former Chief Minister SM Krishna. Krishna's service as a state and union minister and chief minister is unparalleled. Karnataka will always be indebted to him for his contribution to the growth of the IT-BT sector, especially as Chief Minister." Furthermore, Siddaramiah also fondly recalled Krishna's guidance, stating SM Krishna was also his guide in the early days of his political career."Krishna, who was a secretive politician, was an enemy of Ajatasatru. Krishna, who was my guide in the early days of joining the Congress party, was always my well-wisher. Krishna's foresight, disciplined life, gentlemanly demeanour, and studious attitude are role models for budding politicians. I also share in the grief of his family and fans who are saddened by his passing away. I pray to God that his soul rest in peace," the post read. Krishna served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka from October 11, 1999, to May 28, 2004, and was later appointed as the External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2009 to 2012. He also served as the Governor of Maharashtra. In March 2017, Krishna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ending a nearly 50-year-long association with the Congress. He retired from active politics in 2023. (ANI)
The delegation from Darul Uloom Deoband has strongly opposed the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. According to sources, Maulana Arshad Madani, who spoke for nearly two hours during a meeting with the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Wednesday, expressed serious concerns about the bill's implications. He warned, "If these amendments are implemented, the safety of Muslim places of worship will be at risk." According to sources, the delegation of Darul Uloom Deoband also presented a 22-point suggestion to the committee outlining the reasons for their rejection of the bill. The scholars of the 150-year-old Darul Uloom Deoband presented their views before the JPC, which was formed to deliberate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The meeting marked the JPC's first session following the extension of its term. Earlier, committee chairman Jagdambika Pal highlighted the significance of Darul Uloom Deoband, stating, "It has produced Islamic scholars not only in India but also around the world. Today, Maulana Arshad Madani and Vice Chancellor Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani attended the meeting. We have taken their opinion on the proposed bill." Pal added that the scholars had submitted their suggestions in writing and explained the concept of Waqf to the committee members. During the meeting, Maulana Arshad Madani raised grave concerns about the proposed amendments, particularly their impact on historical and religious landmarks. "India is home to many ancient mosques and places of worship, and after several centuries, it is now nearly impossible to ascertain their original donors or Waqifs (those who endowed them). The proposed amendments have significant flaws, raising doubts about the intentions behind them," he said. The discussions centred on the potential risks the amendments pose to religious and cultural heritage, with the delegation urging the committee to reconsider the bill in light of these concerns. (ANI)
The logjam over BJP's demand for a discussion on alleged links between Congress and George Soros led to adjournments in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju slamming the INDIA bloc parties over their no-confidence motion against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Lok Sabha passed the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and took up discussion on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024. However, the House faced adjournments after heated arguments between Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House and Union Minister JP Nadda alleged that a senior Congress leader had links with US billionaire George Soros and these should be discussed in the House because it is a matter related to India's sovereignty and its security. He alleged that INDIA bloc allegations against the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar was a design to deviate from the issue "In the last two days we have been raising the issue of the connection between George Soros and the senor leadership of the Congress. What is the relation between Sonia Gandhi and George Soros? This is the matter of nation's internal and external security. This also the matter of India's sovereignty. This is the question on the sovereignty of the country and the major opposition party and the relationship between George Soros should be discussed," Nadda said in the Rajya Sabha. The Union Minister alleged that Congress is becoming tool of external forces. Its allegations and remarks against constitutional authorities should be condemned by all. "Our members (MPs) have been raising the issue of the connection between Sonia Gandhi and Soros. This is a question about the sovereignty of the country.... Bringing a no-confidence motion against the Chair is a design to deviate the attention of the nation from the issue of the sovereignty of the country...It should be condemned by one and all. They have never respected the Chair," he said. Earlier, Rijiju slammed Congress over the no-trust motion against Dhankar and said that if the opposition attacks the dignity of the Chairman, "we will protect". Soon after the house met for the day, Kiren Rijiju said the son of the farmer has become Vice President and the entire country has seen he has kept the dignity of the House. He also slammed the opposition saying, "You have no right to be members if you can't respect the Chair. We have taken an oath to protect the sovereignty of the country," he said. Rijiju also raised the issue of alleged links between American billionaire George Soros and the Congress claiming that the Congress was standing with anti-India forces. "You stand with forces who are against the country. Notice has been given against the Chairman. It is difficult to find such a Chairman. He has always talked of the welfare of the poor, protected Constitution. We will not allow the drama of notice to succeed. What is the relationship between Soros and Congress? This should be revealed...Congress should apologise to the nation," he said. A day after they submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, INDIA bloc parties held a joint press conference and said they were forced to resort to the step to "safeguard the democracy and Constitution". The leaders made allegations about the manner in which the proceedings have been conducted by the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, accused Dhankhar of behaving like a "spokesperson of the government for his next promotion". He alleged that the "biggest disrupter" in Rajya Sabha is the Chairman himself. "He (RS chairman) does schooling like a headmaster... From the opposition side, whenever important issues are raised as per rules - the chairman doesn't allow to have a discussion in a planned manner. Time and again opposition leaders are stopped from speaking. His (RS Chairman) fidelity is towards the ruling party instead of the Constitution and constitutional tradition. He is working as a spokesperson of the government for his next promotion, it is visible to us. I have no hesitation in saying that the biggest disruptor in Rajya Sabha is the Chairman himself," Kharge said. He said it is the first time in the history of Rajya Sabha that a no-confidence motion has been brought against the Chairman, who is also the country's Vice President. "Vice president is the second biggest constitutional post in India... Since 1952 - there has been no resolution brought to remove the Vice President as they have always been unbiased and beyond politics. They always ran the House as per the rules. But, today, there is more politics than rules in the House," he said. Kharge said that the Chairman's behaviour in the House has damaged "the dignity of the country". "He has brought such a situation in the history of parliamentary democracy that we had to bring this notice for the resolution (of no confidence). We have no personal enmity or political fight with him. We want to tell the countrymen that we have taken this step to safeguard the democracy, constitution and after giving a lot of thought to it," he said. DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said the ruling party members make baseless and wild allegations and are allowed to speak and parliamentary conventions are not being respected. "There's a blatant attack on the democracy of this country in the parliament by the ruling party and they are guarded by the Chair is a very sad thing... We have experienced in the past when the BJP was in the opposition and when Congress was also in the opposition - whenever the Opposition Leader stands up to speak or offers to speak immediately, the floor will be given to the Opposition Leader and no one will interrupt... What is going on in the country, we are not at all allowed to speak, means it is a blow to parliamentary democracy and the democracy of this country," he said. RJD MP Manoj Jha said it is not about an individual but it's about the restoration of the core principles of the democracy. "If you have seen the proceedings of the last 2 days - the language a few people have used for whom we had respect - it not only pains but we also think that if there would be a regime change in the days to come, will we be able to repair and restore the democracy?".he asked. Answering a query about the opposition parties not having numbers to get the motion adopted, Kharge said that numbers will come once their notice is admitted. The INDIA bloc submitted the no-confidence motion on Tuesday to the Secretary-General of the Upper House. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it has been signed by 60 members. The Winter Session of Parliament has seen frequent adjournments with opposition members seeking discussion on Adani issue, Manipur situation and Sambhal violence. The treasury benches have been seeking a discussion on alleged links between Congress and George Soros. In the Lok Sabha, heated arguments between Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kalyan Banerjee during discussion on Disaster Management Bill led to repeated adjournments of Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Both of them accused each other of making personal comments. Kalyan Banerjee expressed apology for his remarks but Jyotiraditya Scindia said that he is not accepting the apology and said his remarks were attack on women of India. The controversial remarks were expunged by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Minister of Stater for Home moved the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. In his remarks, Banerjee alleged non-cooperation by the Centre government during the COVID-19 pandemic which was rebutted by Rai. Scindia stood up to support Rai. After Kalyan Banerjee took a jibe at Scindia over his belonging to an erstwhile royal family, the BJP member said that he has risen due to his hard work and people's blessings. He also said that Trinamool Congress member can criticise BJP for its policies but any personal remark will invite a response Kalyan Banerjee later told ANI that his remarks were not against any woman and he had apologised. "I haven't said that for any woman but for Jyotiraditya Scindia. I have said sorry for that," he said. Women MPs of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs lodged a complaint with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju over Banerjee's controversial remarks. They called for Banerjee's expulsion and strict measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Andhra Pradesh BJP chief D Purandeswari lashed out at Kalyan Banerjee over his remarks. "The repetitive comments that Kalyan Banerjee of TMC has been making against the women in Parliament - this is not the first time that he has commented, pointing out to Jyotiraditya Scindia that he is a ladykiller. Even earlier, he had commented that there are so many beautiful women in the House, but my attention is not distracted. "I think this is very unbecoming of a parliamentarian who hails from a state led by a woman - Mamata Banerjee leads West Bengal - and it is very unbecoming of him to pass such comments on women...He is repeatedly habituated to passing comments like this, which are very offensive to women. So, the women parliamentarians of Lok Sabha have met the Speaker, and we have met Kiren Rijiju and made our request for them to take harsh action on him so that he does not repeat it again," she added. The BJP leader said it should also serve as an example to other parliamentarians that they should learn to respect women. The House saw two adjournments following the clash between Kalyan Banerjee and Scindia and was later adjourned for the day. (ANI)
The US Indo-Pacific Commander, Admiral Samuel Paparo, expressed confidence in the US military's ability to defeat China in the Pacific. However, he warned that the US technical advantage over China is rapidly shrinking, Taipei Times reported citing The Washington Post report. While addressing the Reagan Defence Forum on Saturday, Paparo emphasised the need for the US to maintain its technical lead over China. He highlighted two key areas for improvement: enhancing missile technology and developing a secure communications network that can withstand cyber attacks. Further, he said, "Although the US is able to hit long-distance and difficult targets with its advanced cruise missile system, each launch costs more than USD 1 million. By contrast, drones, which are relatively cheap to build and develop, can be remotely controlled to fight on the front lines through a computer." As per The Washington Post report, Paparo stated that "Russia and North Korea had reached an agreement on Moscow providing fourth-generation Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets in exchange for Pyongyang sending troops to help in the fight against Ukraine." Pyongyang, rather than Moscow, proposed sending North Korean troops to Ukraine, Paparo said, adding that the condition was set so that Pyongyang could also obtain ballistic missile re-entry technology and submarine-related technology from Moscow, as per Taipei Times. According to Paparo, North Korea on October 31 tested an intercontinental ballistic missile that reached an altitude of 7,000km. "Even though Pyongyang continues to test long-range missiles with adequate range to reach the US ... the US has not yet seen evidence that North Korea has mastered the difficult task of building re-entry vehicles that could contain nuclear warheads, and that could withstand atmospheric resistance and heating when returning from space at a speed of 7km per second. This may help explain why the testing continues," he said. "Chinese President Xi Jinping had given his military leaders the task of being ready to take Taiwan by 2027, even in the face of US military involvement, but it does not represent a decision to attack that year or any particular year," he said. (ANI)
In a bold display of military might, China has deployed approximately 90 naval and coast guard vessels in waters stretching from islands in the south of Japan to the South China Sea, this massive deployment is the largest in nearly three decades, VOA reported citing Taiwan defence officials. Further, the Taiwan officials stated that this move 'appears to be a military exercise.' However, China has not yet commented on the movements or confirmed it is conducting exercises, as per VOA. While addressing the regular press briefing on Tuesday, Taiwanese defence officials said "Beijing's operation is not only targeting Taipei but aimed at demonstrating its ability to prevent regional countries, including Japan and the Philippines, from coming to the island's defence." "The current scale is the largest compared to the previous four [Chinese war games]," Taiwanese Defence Ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang stated. In addition to honing its capabilities to deny access to a broad swath around the island, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said China is also forming two "walls" in the western Pacific, deploying large numbers of vessels to the eastern end of Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone and an area further out in the Pacific. "With these two walls, they are sending a clear message: The Taiwan Strait is their internal waters, and cross-strait issues should be handled by the People's Liberation Army [PLA] and the People's Republic of China," Taiwanese defense official Hsieh told journalists. Taiwan has been preparing for a potential Chinese military exercise around the island since President Lai Ching-te set off on his first overseas trip to the Pacific region, which included stopovers in the U.S. territory of Guam and state of Hawaii, on November 30. Notably, China claims that Taiwan belongs to it, and has not ruled out using force to make Taiwan a part of China. However, the people of Taiwan strongly oppose becoming part of authoritarian China. There is very little support in Taiwan for unification with China. In recent days, Taiwan's defence ministry said it has detected 21 Chinese vessels and 47 Chinese military aircraft operating in the immediate vicinity of the island. In response to the PLA's activities, the MND initiated war-preparedness drills at strategic locations across the island and is closely coordinating with the Coast Guard Administration to implement appropriate countermeasures. The Taiwan-China issue is a complex and longstanding geopolitical conflict centred on Taiwan's sovereignty. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), operates its own government, military, and economy, functioning as a de facto independent state. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the "One China" policy, which asserts that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital. This has fuelled decades of tension, especially since the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China. Beijing has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally. Meanwhile, Taiwan, supported by a significant portion of its population, continues to maintain its independence. (ANI)
Members of the Indian delegation had the honour of meeting Pope Francis at Vatican City, presenting two books, Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery and Mann Ki Baat @100: Igniting Collective Goodness. BJP Spokesperson Anil K Antony posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Very blessed to meet Holy Father Pope Francis at Vatican City as a part of the Indian delegation. Presented two books 'Modi@20 , dreams meet delivery' and 'Mann Ki Baat @100, igniting collecting goodness' to His Holiness during my interaction with him." https://x.com/anilkantony/status/1866428144984469975 Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance and leadership, the books were offered as a gesture of cultural and diplomatic exchange during the interaction. The BlueKraft Digital Foundation, responsible for publishing the works, expressed pride in this significant moment. In a post on X, the foundation wrote, "A moment of immense pride for Bluekraft Digital Foundation as 'Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery' and 'Mann Ki Baat: Igniting Collective Change'--two seminal works reflecting the governance & leadership of PM Narendra Modi were presented to His Holiness Pope Francis." https://x.com/BlueKraft/status/1866429570486014321 Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his pride and joy over the elevation of George Jacob Koovakad as a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. In a message posted on X, PM Modi stated, "A matter of great joy and pride for India! Delighted at His Eminence George Jacob Koovakad being created a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church by His Holiness Pope Francis." He added, "His Eminence George Cardinal Koovakad has devoted his life in service of humanity as an ardent follower of Lord Jesus Christ. My best wishes for his future endeavours." Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, George Kurian, who led the official Indian delegation, highlighted the significance of this event for India's Christian community. In his post, Kurian remarked, "PM Narendra Modi's vision of equal rights and opportunities for all religions has made India the safest country for minorities. Honoured to lead Official Delegation to Vatican for ordination of Cardinal George J. Koovakad, reflecting Modi Ji's love for Kerala & Christian community." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also lauded the occasion, sharing on X, "Delighted that the Indian delegation led by Minister George Kurian could visit the Vatican on this auspicious occasion." (ANI)
The US has no immediate plans to reopen its embassy in Syria which was closed in 2012, said US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller during a press briefing on Tuesday (local time), Al Jazeera reported. Miller's statement came in response to a question about plans to reopen the embassy, following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad three days ago. "It's not something we have immediate plans to do, but we have made clear the steps that we want to see the government of Syria take," Miller said Since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad days ago, the US has repeatedly said that it is waiting to evaluate the actions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main victorious opposition group in Syria, before making a decision on how to engage with it, as per Al Jazeera. "Should we see a process that follows those principles, we are prepared to recognise a Syrian government that does so, and of course ... the opening of an embassy is the type of step that follows such recognition," Miller said. Following, the deteriorating situation, the US government warned of a "volatile and unpredictable" security situation throughout the country, the X account of the US embassy, which suspended operations in 2012, urged the US citizens to leave if they are able, according to Al Jazeera. "The US government is unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to US citizens in Syria", its post read, urging those who plan to leave to contact the US embassy in the country they plan to enter. The main option it gave to citizens was fleeing through the Turkish border but added that the US embassy in Turkiye must facilitate this transfer. "If you are in Syria, be prepared to shelter in place should the situation deteriorate," the post says. The situation in Syria remains a focal point after Syrian rebels on Sunday entered Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee from the country, ending his over two-decade rule in the country. Russia has granted asylum to Assad and his family, TASS reported citing a Kremlin source. The source confirmed that Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and Russia has granted asylum for them, being driven by "humanitarian considerations." (ANI)
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh engaged in discussions with German Parliamentarians in the national capital on Tuesday, highlighting the ties between India and Germany. The delegation, led by Andreas Schwarz included rapporteurs of Germany's budget committee on defence. Sharing details of the interaction, the Ministry of Defence posted on X (formerly Twitter), "Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh interacted with German Parliamentarians, the rapporteurs of the budget committee of defence led by Mr Andreas Schwarz, in New Delhi today." https://x.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1866454382365266272 Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a meeting with members of the German Parliament in the national capital on Tuesday and emphasised the significance of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership. During the meeting, he discussed global issues of mutual importance with German lawmakers - Andreas Schwarz, Ingo Gadechens, Gesine Lotzsch, Sebastian Schafer. The engagement is seen as part of continued efforts to strengthen ties across various sectors, reflecting the mutual respect and collaborative aspirations shared by both countries. India and Germany have maintained strong relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1951. The partnership was elevated to a 'Strategic Partnership' in May 2000, further deepened by the Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) framework launched in 2011. The IGC enables high-level reviews of cooperation and identifies new areas of collaboration. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany engages through such a mechanism. The 6th IGC took place in Berlin in May 2022, and the 7th IGC is scheduled later this year. Germany remains one of India's most critical partners in Europe, given its influential role within the European Union. The bilateral relationship also benefits from a thriving Indian diaspora in Germany, which numbers approximately 2.46 lakh as of December 2023. This includes professionals in IT, banking, finance, and healthcare, as well as researchers, students, and entrepreneurs, who play a vital role in fostering connections between the two nations. (ANI)
The Ministry of Construction and Housing, and the head of the headquarters for combating crime in Arab society in the Prime Minister's Office, Rui Kahlon, have promoted legislation that will grant significant powers to the Registrar of Contractors to combat corporations and contractors that operate on behalf of criminal organizations.

The Registrar of Contractors will be able to delete a contracting corporation from the Contractors Register for the first time based on intelligence information from the Israel Police that links the company to criminal organizations. This step constitutes an economic crushing blow to the criminal organization, which relies on the corporation to finance its criminal activities.

Additional significant steps being promoted as part of the reform will be announced soon. (ANI/TPS)
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is fighting his extradition to New York, as per CNN. Mangione, who was denied bail in a Pennsylvania court on Wednesday, yelled at the media, "It's completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people. It's lived experience!" as per CNN. The 26-year-old accused appeared at an extradition hearing today at the Blair County Courthouse in Pennsylvania after New York prosecutors charged him with murder, among other counts. New York prosecutors charged Mangione, who was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday, with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as per CNN. Court documents show that Mangione was found with "a black 3D-printed pistol and a black silencer", according to the complaint. Detective Yousef Demes of the Midtown North Detective Squad showed evidence that proves Mangione is the person depicted in surveillance video fatally shooting Thompson outside of a Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, CNN reported. As per CNN, because Mangione is fighting extradition, Pennsylvania court gave him 14 days to file for writ of habeas corpus, and a hearing will be scheduled if he does. Mangione will stay at Huntingdon State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors have 30 days to obtain a governor's warrant, which New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she will work with prosecutors to sign. Defense attorney Tom Dickey said he anticipates a not guilty plea for Mangione's murder charge. "From what I've seen, up to this point, he hasn't been charged with that," Dickey said, as per CNN. "I don't really want to speculate, but if in fact that would happen, I would anticipate a plea of not guilty." Dickey also said it's "a possibility" he could represent Mangione in New York, CNN reported. (ANI)
Canadian Hindus on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Bangladeshi Consulate in Toronto to seek justice and protection of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Despite the cold winter weather, a significant number of Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Bangladeshi consulate to voice their concerns. The protesters chanted slogans with banners in their hands written: "Shame Shame Bangladesh", "Mohammed Younus A Murderer", "Hindu Lives Matter and 'Stop Hindu Genocide.' The protesters urged the Canadian and Indian governments, and the international community to press the Bangladeshi Government to protect Hindus and other minorities. Speaking to ANI, a protester said, "What's happening is in Bangladesh they're genociding Hindus, they're assaulting our women, they're raping our children, they're doing whatever they can because the Hindus are a minority and they're trying to overrun the Hindu minorities. That's what they have done in Pakistan, they have done in Afghanistan, now they're trying to do in Bangladesh. We are here to support our brothers and sisters all over the world to unite and show our concern." Another protester stated, "Today is also World Human Rights Day. And we as a united Canadian Hindus have been gathered here as a protest in front of the Bangladesh Council in Toronto, Canada. We are protesting because what we have seen, what's going on in Bangladesh since August 3, 2024," "We want Bangladesh to stop killing minorities. We want Bangladesh to stop killing Hindus, stop burning worship places, stop raping women, abducting women. And we want peace in Bangladesh," he added. Further, a Bangladeshi-origin Hindu woman also spoke to ANI, and expressed her concern about the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. "Being a Bangladeshi origin, my heart goes out to them. So this needs to be stopped," she said. Highlighting the historical presence of Hindus in Bangladesh, stating, "We are vanished from Afghanistan. We are vanished from Pakistan. This is the high time. If we are not saved now, we will be vanished from Bangladesh as well. This was our land. Our 14th generation was born over there. People of Bangladesh need to stay back in their own homeland. They are not invaders. They are not Britishers. They are the son of the soil of that land. " "They (Hindus) need to be protected. Their rights need to be protected. And they should be saved in their own home country. And stop killing them..If you do not take care of Hindus today, tomorrow there will be no Hindus in Bangladesh," she added Notably, there have been multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There also have been cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples. The arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Chittagong on October 25 on sedition charges led to heavy protests. Another Hindu temple was allegedly set on fire in the outskirts of Dhaka. The Mahabhagya Lakshminarayan Mandir, at Dhor village, in the north of Dhaka, also came under attack. India had on November 26 noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. India had urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. (ANI)
All 75 Indian nationals evacuated from Syria including 44 'Zaireen' from Jammu and Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab, have now reached Beirut, a statement by the Indian embassy in Lebanon said. The statement added that Noor Rahman Sheikh, Ambassador of India to Lebanon received them in Beirut. The statement added that the passengers will return by available commercial flights to India. In a post on X, the Embassy said, "All 75 Indian nationals evacuated from Syria including 44 'zaireen' from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab, have now reached Beirut. Ambassador Noor Rahman received them upon their arrival in Beirut. They will return by available commercial flights to India." https://x.com/IndiaInLebanon/status/1866593951181844542 https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1866553977736741244 The evacuation, coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut, was put into effect following our assessment of the security situation and requests from Indian nationals in Syria, as per a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs. The Government of India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. Indian nationals remaining in Syria are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973 (also on WhatsApp) and email ID (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in) for updates. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely, as per the MEA statement. India has evacuated 75 nationals from Syria, where the rebel forces led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham wrested power, ousting Bashar al-Assad's regime. The situation in Syria remains a focal point after Syrian rebels on Sunday entered Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee from the country, ending his over two-decade rule in the country. Russia has granted asylum to Assad and his family, TASS reported citing a Kremlin source. The source confirmed that Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and Russia has granted asylum for them, being driven by "humanitarian considerations." (ANI)
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu, in association with the Nepal Tourism Board organized the 1st India-Nepal Tourism meet focusing on promotion of Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1866533643256041537 https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1866533665456472337 The event organized with an aim to create B2B connections to foster implementation of circuit tourism between India and Nepal was attended by Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal Arun Kumar Chaudhary as Chief Guest. Deputy Chief of Mission from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu- Prasanna Shrivastava, along with Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board inaugurated the session on Tuesday, a release from Indian Embassy stated. https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1866533691721150924 https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1866533718397210923 In his remarks, Prasanna Shrivastava, Charge D' Affairs, Embassy of India, underscored the developments in physical and digital connectivity that are driving higher tourism flows between India and Nepal. He also stressed on continued joint efforts of both sides to fully leverage the India-Nepal tourism potential, including through promotion of religious and cultural circuits involving places in Nepal and the neighboring states of India. https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1866533752941264901 https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1866538005655326777 In his opening remarks, Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board appreciated that India was the biggest source of foreign tourists visiting Nepal and highlighted the various initiatives taken by the Nepal Tourism Board to foster India-Nepal tourism. https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1866538013305581990 Chief Guest Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Arun Kumar Chaudhary in his remarks mentioned that cross border tourism especially through land routes is a big contributor to tourism in Nepal even though not totally captured in formal statistics. He also suggested that both sides need to focus on cross border connectivity particularly in remote areas such as in the Sudurpaschim Province. Tourism Officer from Government of Uttar Pradesh, Kirti, delivered a resentation on Mahakumbh 2025 that showcased the importance of the event especially for Nepalese devotees. The event concluded with a mesmerizing Kathak dance performance by an eight-member troupe from India supported by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). The B2B event at the Meet was attended by 13 delegates from India and 60 tour operators from Nepal. The discussions focused on promoting cross-border tourism especially through the land route. Tour operators from both sides deliberated on possible travel plans for visitors from both sides including in the context of Ramayana and Buddhist circuits. As part of the program, Nepal Tourism Board had organized a familiarization trip for visiting delegates and tour operators from the state of Uttar Pradesh to Janakpur and Kathmandu from December 8-9. (ANI)
On Human Rights Day, marked on December 10, a scientific-practical conference in Astana evaluated Kazakhstan's progress in human rights protection and addressed the challenges that remain. Organized by Kazakhstan's Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, the Commission on Human Rights under the President of Kazakhstan, the General Prosecutor's Office, Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Information, the conference aimed to strengthen the involvement of governmental and non-governmental structures in human rights activities. Kazakhstan's Human Rights Commissioner Artur Lastayev said that in recent years the country has taken comprehensive measures to improve the legal status of citizens and strengthen democratic institutions. "Kazakhstan has recognized the competence of six UN treaty bodies on human rights - the Human Rights Committee, the Committee against Torture, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Rights of the Child and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A huge and serious step in strengthening human rights was made in the last two years, when the constitutional court was resuscitated, allowing every citizen of our country to file complaints directly for the protection of their constitutional rights. Our institution was seriously reorganized and strengthened, and a separate article in the constitution appeared," said Lastayev. In recent years, Kazakhstan has enacted a series of laws that enshrine certain fundamental rights. "This year, a law protecting women's rights against domestic violence was adopted and came into force. It criminalizes specific actions that civil society and international organizations have long advocated for, emphasizing the need for legislative measures. Other steps have also been taken. In particular, last year, the penalty for torture was significantly strengthened with up to 12 years of imprisonment. The exclusive jurisdiction for their investigation was defined, which inevitably had an impact on the increase of the investigation effectiveness of such crimes, as well as a sharp and directly proportional reduction in complaints of torture," said Lastayev. His office received over 6,000 appeals in the first 11 months of 2024, reflecting a 15 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Kazakhstan Aleska Simkic highlighted that the EU works closely with Kazakhstan on human rights protection. "Kazakhstan is our trusted partner, and we are bound by the bilateral enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement, the first of such kind in Central Asia, which regulates 29 areas of our cooperation. I'm happy to say that we are also having fruitful conversations with Kazakhstan on the rule of law and human rights in this framework," said Simkic. Kazakhstan and the EU are cooperating in multiple areas of human rights protection, including freedom of media, freedom of association, the fight against gender-based violence, the rule of law and the issue of torture. "Then, we are working very closely with Kazakhstan in the international arena, where we count on partners that are also respecting human rights and the rule of law. When we talk about the United Nations Human Rights Council, when we talk about the General Assembly of the United Nations, the overall respect for the United Nations Charter - that's where we find Kazakhstan's stance quite strong and that's where we look for cooperation," said Simkic. Katarzyna Wawiernia, Resident Representative of the UNDP in Kazakhstan, expressed her appreciation for Kazakhstan's collaborative efforts. "As the United Nations Development Program, we express our gratitude to Kazakhstan for joining the UN Human Rights treaties since the country's independence. We also appreciate the invaluable efforts of the human rights activists that monitor their implementation and raise an alarm whenever human rights are under threat. We are pleased to see that many human rights defenders are present here today, which demonstrates that there is an ongoing dialog between the authorities and the civil society sector," said Wawiernia in her speech. "In Kazakhstan for over 20 years, UNDP has been supporting the rule of law initiatives of the government. We have been witnessing transformations in judicial and law enforcement systems, enhancement of the Bar Association and National Human Rights institution, greater engagement of civil society in monitoring the effectiveness of law enforcement and judiciary," she added. According to her, UNDP is supporting initiatives on institutional strengthening, enhancing and increasing the effectiveness of the judicial system, police and law enforcement. UNDP also works to broaden the stance of the government, private sector and civil society on the issue of human rights in business and institutionalization of human rights policy in the private sector. "A special focus is made on environmental justice issues, where UNDP calls for the human rights-based approach in the work of police and judiciary to ensure citizens' rights for a clean environment," said Wawiernia. (ANI)
Kashif Ahmed Abbasi, Press and Media Coordinator for the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) UK Chapter, addressed a protest organized by Pakistan Oppressed Nations at 10 Downing Street in London, expressing strong solidarity with those fighting against the ongoing oppression and human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied areas. Abbasi underscored the crucial need for unity among oppressed nations. He said, "It is essential for all oppressed nations to stand together in the face of oppression and brutality. I welcome each of you who is fighting for freedom and basic human rights. First, I would like to greet everyone here and extend my gratitude to those standing up for their brothers, sisters, and loved ones. We have long spoken of our freedoms, global peace, and justice. Regrettably, some deep-state forces have stripped us of our rights and freedoms," he said. Abbasi demanded that UK must work with Pakistan to help release political prisoners there. He said, "Our freedoms have been taken from us. Those who seek freedom have been silenced. Today, standing outside 10 Downing Street, we are submitting a memorandum demanding that the Government of the United Kingdom work with Pakistan to immediately release all political prisoners. As a representative of the Kashmiri people and a resident of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, I call for this action." In a statement on behalf of UKPNP, Abbasi expressed unwavering support and solidarity with marginalized nations and communities struggling for their rights and the right to self-determination. He urged the international community, especially the United Kingdom, to play an active role in pressuring Pakistan to uphold human rights, end enforced disappearances, and meet international standards and obligations. Abbasi concluded, "I want to convey to all of you that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are an oppressed nation. But they do not stand alone. For your freedom and your rights, we stand with you. And wherever there is injustice in the world, we and our party, the United Kashmir People's National Party, stand for justice and with you." The event brought to the fore the struggles of various oppressed nations and called for urgent global attention to ensure justice and accountability. (ANI)
Palestine embassy Charge de affairs Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer said he met Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at her residence to congratulate her on her victory in Waynad Lok Sabha seat. Jazer said that Vadra assured him of her support for Palestine's freedom. "I met Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi at her residence to congratulate her on her victory as a member of the Indian parliament in the 18th Lok Sabha (Wayanad) constituency. Mrs. Priyanka affirmed her support for the Palestinian people's struggle to achieve their aspirations of freedom and independence," the statement said. Jazer said that Vadra recollected meeting Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as a child when he visited India to meet Former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi. "She added that she had lived the Palestinian cause since childhood and believed in its justice. moreover, she mentioned meeting the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat multiple times as a child during his visits to India to meet with either the former prime minister- Mrs. Indira Gandhi, or Mr. Rajiv Gandhi," he said. "Mrs. Priyanka recalled the friendly, historical relations between the Palestinian and Indian people and also condemned the continuation of the Israeli war upon Gaza along with the silence of the international community. She regretted and grieved the scenes of destruction and devastation in Gaza including the targeted attacks on civilians and the fall of children and women. She offered her condolences to every mother who has lost her child," Jazer said. The Palestinian charge de affairs in the meeting, affirmed the importance of India's role in the West Asia region especially for reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as Delhi's support for the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and stability. Jazer also recalls the friendly, historical relations of Palestine with the Indian Congress Party and all other Indian political parties, as per the statement. Jazer also urged India to play a prominent developmental and political role in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip by supporting many vital projects needed by the Palestinians in Gaza along with the international community due to the high appreciation of the people of Palestine towards India, its international status and the historical relations between the two nations and their leaders, the statement added. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat vacated by her brother and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, after he retained Rae Barelli. The by-poll for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat was held on November 13. (ANI)
In observance of International Human Rights Day, a large-scale protest took place outside the UK Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street in London. Organized by the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement on Tuesday, the demonstration was titled "Protest Against Pakistan's Occupation and Human Rights Violations in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Seraikistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir." The rally drew participants from various organizations, including the Baloch National Movement, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, United Kashmir People's National Party, Hindu Forum Europe, and numerous human rights advocates representing the Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun, Kashmiri, and other marginalized communities. The protest centred around condemning Pakistan's continued occupation of several regions, with the main banner prominently opposing the repression in these areas. It featured images of Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun martyrs, along with those who have gone missing due to enforced disappearances by the Pakistani state. Demonstrators chanted slogans demanding an end to Pakistan's oppressive policies and called for the recognition of their right to self-determination. Sherbano, a leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), condemned the brutal killings of Pashtuns in Wana, Waziristan, and Afghanistan, calling for accountability from the Pakistani authorities. PTM UK leader Salim Zaib highlighted the wrongful imprisonment of political leader Ali Wazir and demanded the release of all political prisoners and missing persons in Pakistan. Notably, this protest marked a historic milestone as, for the first time in its 52-year history, the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement witnessed the participation of a nationalist Sindhi political party in a demonstration outside of Pakistan, offering an international platform to their cause. Kashif, a leader of the United Kashmir People's National Party UK, condemned the recent presidential ordinance imposed by the Kashmiri government under Pakistan's direction, calling the oppression faced by Kashmiris unbearable. He emphasized that their fight for Kashmir's freedom would persist until they achieved self-determination. The event was led by Sohail Abro, Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement. Numerous speakers addressed the crowd, shedding light on the ongoing atrocities and oppression faced by their communities under Pakistan's rule. Jasim Baloch, a leader of the Baloch National Movement UK, spoke about the thousands of Baloch individuals killed or disappeared by the Pakistani state. He asserted that the Baloch struggle, now at a critical juncture, would be strengthened through unity with Sindhudesh and Pashtunistan in their shared quest for freedom. Qambar Baloch, leader of the Baloch Human Rights Council, emphasized the importance of solidarity among oppressed nations and called for the international community to recognize the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan and other occupied regions. Muhammad Ibrahim Ghafuri, a leader of the PTM UK, spoke out against the massacres of Pashtuns along the Durand Line and stressed the necessity of a united struggle against the common enemy, Pakistan. Human rights advocate Rahul Jesrani denounced religious extremism in Pakistan, particularly the persecution of the Sindhi Hindu community. He accused the Pakistani state of supporting religious extremists and pointed to the forced conversions of Sindhi Hindu girls and the attacks on Hindu religious sites. Jesrani urged international human rights organizations to take action to address these pressing issues. The protest concluded with a memorandum being submitted to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's residence, calling on the British government to take a firm stand against Pakistan's human rights abuses and to support the rights of the oppressed nations within Pakistan. Bharati Taylor, former President of Hindu Forum Europe, expressed her solidarity with the oppressed communities of South Asia and condemned the widespread human rights violations in the region. This event represented a pivotal moment for the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement, as it raised global awareness about the ongoing struggles of the Sindhi people and the broader fight for justice and self-determination for all oppressed communities under Pakistan's rule. (ANI)
A spokesperson for the Department of Political Affairs in Damascus in Syria on Wednesday issued a statement urging unity in the country as it transitions away from the Assad government's administration of Syria, as per Al Jazeera. The spokesperson said that Syria needed efforts of its people in the times to come. "Syria needs the efforts of all its people in the coming period. The revolution has many cadres," the spokesperson said, as per Al Jazeera. "We do not accept a divided Syria, and everyone must prepare themselves for the change that has occurred. There will be no room for carrying weapons outside the state," Al Jazeera reported. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz affirmed his support for the people of Syria in a video address. "Today we stand alongside all Syrians who are full of hope for a free, just and safe Syria," he said in a post on X. https://x.com/Bundeskanzler/status/1865819482897138135 Meanwhile, Mohammed al-Bashir, who was appointed Syria's new Interim Prime Minister on Tuesday until March 1, 2025, with members of the country's former government to facilitate a political transition, as per Al Jazeera. The Israeli military said that it conducted about 480 strikes over the past 48 hours on strategic military sites in Syria, including airports and infrastructure in the capital, Damascus, as per Al Jazeera. https://x.com/IDF/status/1866559502100861115 A spokesperson for the Department of Political Affairs in Damascus has issued a statement urging unity in the country as it transitions away from the al-Assad government's administration of Syria. Hezbollah group from Lebanon, which fought in Syria's war in support of their President Bashar al-Assad, expressed hope that Syria's new rulers would reject the "Israeli occupation" of their land. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the new rulers in Syria not to be like Assad and allow Iran to "re-establish" itself in the country, following large-scale attacks across the country, as per Al Jazeera. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the US fully supports Syria's political transition process and wants it to lead to a credible, "inclusive", and non-sectarian governance that meets international standards of transparency and accountability, Al Jazeera reported. Qatar condemned Israel's 'exploitation' of the situation in Syria, to occupy the country and violate its sovereignty, while Turkey said Israel's actions in the country "once again display its occupying mentality", Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
On International Human Rights Day, the European Union (EU) issued a strong statement expressing deep concerns over ongoing human rights violations in China, particularly about civil, cultural, economic, social, and political rights. The EU urged China to uphold the fundamental rights of all individuals, including ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities. The EU highlighted serious human rights violations in Xinjiang, where reports of mass detentions, widespread surveillance, forced labour, and systemic abuses, such as torture, forced abortion, and sterilization, continue to emerge. The EU also expressed concern over restrictions on religious freedoms, the use of birth control policies, and sexual and gender-based violence. These abuses, they said, contribute to cultural erasure, particularly for minorities in the region. The statement stressed the importance of the rule of law, accountability, and justice, urging China to engage constructively with international human rights bodies, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The EU called for a comprehensive approach to addressing these issues and for China to fully cooperate with the United Nations' Special Procedures. The situation in Tibet also remains dire, with reports of escalating repression since 2013. The EU expressed alarm over the severe restrictions on freedom of expression, movement, and assembly in Tibetan areas. Authorities have imposed tight controls on passports, restricted the movement of Tibetan Lamas, and forced the alignment of Tibetan Buddhist practices with the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, the EU noted that the setup of compulsory boarding schools for Tibetan children and the closure of Tibetan-language schools are alarming developments. Concerns were also raised about the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, where there has been a noticeable decline in the preservation of ethnic minority rights, particularly among the Mongolian community. The EU pointed out that changes in the education system, such as the reduction of Mongolian as a language of instruction, are eroding the cultural identity and heritage of the Mongol people. The EU reiterated its call for the abolition of the death penalty in China, urging the country to introduce a moratorium on executions, ensure transparency in death penalty cases, and work towards the complete abolition of capital punishment. Despite the EU's stance, China continues to apply the death penalty in cases of non-violent offenses. Further, the EU voiced strong support for human rights defenders, journalists, and anyone facing repression for advocating for fundamental rights. The statement condemned the harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary detention of individuals who speak out against the government. The EU also called for the immediate release of numerous individuals, including dissidents, lawyers, journalists, and activists, who have been wrongfully detained or sentenced, such as Gulshan Abbas, Ilham Tohti, and Gui Minhai. The EU also addressed the issue of freedom of expression, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Dong Yuyu, sentenced to seven years in prison for his reporting. They emphasized the need for Chinese journalists and media workers to operate freely, without fear of harassment, arrest, or prosecution. Additionally, the EU condemned the ongoing suppression of peaceful protests in China. Gender equality and the protection of women and LGBT rights were also central to the EU's message. They called on China to take more decisive action against gender-based violence and to protect women activists who have suffered human rights abuses. Lastly, the EU expressed its ongoing concern over the situation in Hong Kong, where the use of national security laws has undermined fundamental freedoms. The EU called on both the Chinese central government and Hong Kong authorities to restore respect for the rule of law, preserve the region's autonomy, and ensure the protection of democratic principles. The EU's statement underscores its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights globally, urging China to engage meaningfully with international human rights mechanisms and uphold its obligations under international law. (ANI)
Lauding progress being made against malaria in WHO South-East Asia Region, the World Health Organization on Wednesday emphasized on continued concerted efforts by Member countries, focusing on the vulnerable population, to ensure equitable access to malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment, as per an official statement. As per the World Malaria Report 2024, estimated malaria cases in the Region fell from 22.8 million in 2000 to 4 million in 2023 - a reduction of 82.4 per cent. The Region, home to a quarter of the world's population, accounted for 1.5 per cent global malaria cases in 2023. Estimated malaria deaths in the Region fell by 82.9 per cent, from 35,000 in 2000 to 6,000 in 2023. More than 270 million malaria cases and 4,20,000 malaria deaths have been averted in the Region between 2000 and 2023, as per the statement. "The progress follows highest ever political commitment by Member countries, matched by tangible actions and unstinted efforts over the years down to the sub-national level. However, accelerated efforts against malaria must continue- to eliminate the disease in countries where malaria persists, and to sustain the progress in countries where the disease is on the decline or has been eliminated," the statement quoted Saima Wazed, the Regional Director WHO South-East Asia, as saying. In 2022-2023, four countries in the Region achieved reduction in their malaria caseload- Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Nepal. Three countries saw increase in cases- Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Thailand and Myanmar. Timor-Leste and Bhutan reported zero indigenous cases of malaria. Overall, the Region remains on track to reach the WHO's Global Technical Strategy (GTS 2016-2030) targets to reduce malaria case incidence and deaths by at least 90 per cent by 2030. Since 2015, the baseline of the WHO global malaria strategy, estimated case incidence and death rates have fallen in the WHO South-East Asia Region by 61 per cent and 73 per cent, respectively. Two countries in the Region - Maldives and Sri Lanka were certified malaria-free by WHO in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Timor-Leste has not reported any case of indigenous malaria for three years. Bhutan reported zero indigenous cases for the second consecutive year in 2023, and Nepal reported only 15 indigenous cases. Cautioning against any complacency, the Regional Director said, "We must not forget that the risk of malaria not only persists but could increase due to factors such as climate change. We must continue to do all we can to accelerate our progress against malaria," as per the statement Continued strong political commitment; strengthening health systems; enhancing surveillance and ensuring strategic use of data for action; improving coordination between global, regional, and country partners; ensuring accessibility and quality of existing interventions and their acceptability with greater community ownership, and advancing an inclusive, whole-of-society approach are key to achieving a malaria-free future for all, the Regional Director said, the statement added. (ANI)
A parliamentary delegation from New Zealand and Fiji on Wednesday highlighted their solidarity with the Tibetan people's ongoing struggle for freedom. The event, which was held on Tuesday, followed the Central Tibetan Administration's official commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the Dalai Lama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The delegation, which included New Zealand Members of Parliament (MPs) Joseph Mooney, Ingrid Leary, and Helen White, along with Fiji MP Rinesh Sharma, visited a Tibetan settlement for the first time. This visit marked a significant moment of support for Tibet, especially as the delegation participated in the anniversary celebrations of the Dalai Lama's Nobel recognition. A joint press conference in Himachal's Dharamshala, Joseph Mooney, an MP from New Zealand, emphasized the historic nature of the visit, calling it a pivotal moment in expressing New Zealand's unwavering commitment to human rights. Mooney expressed particular pride in joining the Dalai Lama's 35th-anniversary commemorations, reflecting on the importance of the occasion. Fiji's MP Rinesh Sharma also expressed his enthusiasm for his first visit to the Tibetan settlement. He shared his interest in learning about Tibetan culture and pledged to act as a bridge between Fiji and the Tibetan administration, further strengthening the ties and support between the two nations. The delegation members unanimously voiced their support for Tibet's struggle for freedom. Ingrid Leary, a New Zealand Labour Party MP, stated that despite political differences, all members of the delegation stood united in their respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and commitment to defending human rights. Leary stressed the importance of protecting these fundamental values. Helen White, also a Labour Party MP from New Zealand, expressed grave concern over the coercive enrolment of Tibetan children into state-run residential schools. White vowed to continue advocating for children's rights and called for more dialogue on the issue. The delegation also announced plans to raise awareness about Tibet's human rights situation within their respective parliaments. Mooney reaffirmed New Zealand's strong stance on human rights, while Sharma promised to bring the urgent concerns regarding Tibet to the Fijian Parliament. The visit, though not an official government mission, was a personal commitment to human rights, reflecting a collective stance in support of the Tibetan cause. The press conference, held on the 76th Human Rights Day, underscored the delegation's dedication to global human rights issues. (ANI)
Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to India, Herve Delphin met with the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. He described the discussions with Gandhi as "dense and lively" focussing on topics relevant to the Europe-India relations. Sharing a post on X, Delphin wrote, "Dense and lively discussion with @RahulGandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Indian Parliament @LokSabhaSectt, covering a broad range of topics of relevance for the Europe-India relations and the future of our democracies in a world of challenges, geopolitical tensions & crises." https://x.com/EUAmbIndia/status/1866731916063543424 On Tuesday, Delphin met Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and discussed Indian geopolitics and perspectives on China, Russia, South Asia, Middle East and Europe with him. "Rich & candid evening exchange with @ShashiTharoor Chairman, External Affairs Cttee of #India Parlt @LokSabhaSectt at #EU Residence with European #TeamEurope Ambassadors, covering Indian geopolitics & perspectives on China, Russia, South Asia, Middle East & Europe. Learning from each other," he wrote in a post on X. https://x.com/EUAmbIndia/status/1866553399669350814 Earlier in October, Delphin, emphasised that India's geostrategic and geo-economic importance is "more manifest," with growing business opportunities. Speaking at the launch of the Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) in Delhi on October 11, Delphin highlighted the steady growth of EU-India trade and called for stronger trade ties between the two economies. "The geostrategic and geo-economic importance of India had become more manifest, the opportunities for business more tangible. This has been reflected in the constant sustained growth of EU-India two-way trade, at an average rate of over 10 per cent a year," he had said. The event was attended by key figures, including Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, ambassadors, and industry leaders. "Today the EU is the largest trading partner of India in goods, accounting for 12 per cent of India's total trade. The EU block is one of the leading trading partners in services. It is also one of the main sources of FDI in this country, representing 21 per cent of total FDI to India," Delphin had said at the time. He further noted that European companies play an increasingly important role in India's economy. There are about 4,500 EU companies present in India, which directly or indirectly give jobs to 6.7 million Indians. (ANI)
On International Human Rights Day, a protest was organized outside the Chinese Embassy in Vienna, as Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Chinese Christians came together to demand an end to systemic oppression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Organized by theTibetan Community Organisation in Vienna, the demonstration brought attention to the ongoing human rights violations carried out by the Chinese government against these marginalized communities. Tibetan diaspora members led the protest, waving Tibetan flags and holding banners that condemned the CCP's ongoing actions in Tibet.Among the key issues raised were the destruction of Tibetan monasteries, forced relocations of Tibetan children into state-run colonial boarding schools, and what many described as a cultural genocide in Tibet. Protesters called for global recognition of the atrocities and for international pressure on China to halt its repressive policies.Uyghur activists joined their Tibetan counterparts in solidarity, holding banners denouncing the religious and cultural persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. They highlighted the Chinese government's ongoing crackdown on Uyghur Muslims, including the mass detention of Uyghurs in "re-education camps," forced labor, and the destruction of Uyghur religious and cultural sites. Chinese Christians also participated in the protest, raising their voices against the CCP's increasing control over religious practices in China. They denounced the demolition of churches, the removal of crosses, and the harassment of religious leaders. Protesters specifically decried the CCP's imposition of state-approved versions of Christianity, which they see as an infringement on their right to worship freely and practice their faith without interference. The protesters' messages were clear: they demanded an end to the CCP's oppression and called on the international community to hold China accountable for its human rights abuses. The demonstration was a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by these communities and their resilience in the fight for freedom and justice. The event, held on December 10th, marked a significant moment in the global effort to raise awareness about human rights violations in China and to show solidarity with those who continue to suffer under authoritarian rule. (ANI)
The US Embassy on Wednesday hosted an education fair at the American Center in New Delhi, aiming to inspire Indian students to pursue higher education in the United States. Adelle Gillen, Public Diplomacy Officer, US Embassy, emphasised the strong academic ties between the two nations and said that in 2024, more than 3,30,000 Indian students are studying in the US and one gets to "build global competencies by studying in the US." Speaking at the event, Gillen said, "We have organised this fair because the US welcomes Indian students. we are so proud that This year, more than 3,30,000 Indian students are studying in the US..." She added, "You get to build global competencies by studying in the US. It's an extremely globalised world. Anyone who wants professional success needs to be able to communicate with people from different cultures." Meanwhile, EducationUSA Regional Manager (REAC) for South Asia, Lewis Cardenas said that the universities in the United States provides programmes in several subjects, ranging from Information and Technology to Arts, Humanities, and Sciences. He said, "Education USA is the official source of information on the graduate and undergraduate study options in the United States.... The universities here offer programmes for all passions and interests, from Information and Technology to Arts, Humanities, and Sciences..." On the sidelines of the fair, Adelle Gillen while speaking with ANI said that the fair consisted of a Counselor team to explain the VISA process to the students as well. She said, "We want more Indian students to study in the US and that is why we are talking to High School students and others to encourage them to think about the US and understand the process to apply." "We have people from our Counselor team to explain the VISA process.... Everyone can attend the fair.... The public is welcome as well to come to EducationUSA Advising at the American Centre," she added. (ANI)
Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday attacked the United States and Israel of orchestrating the ongoing conflict in Syria, describing it as a "joint plot" aimed at destabilising the region. Khamenei further asserted that a "neighbouring country" is also playing a significant role in the unrest but emphasised that the primary conspirators are the US and the "Zionist regime." Sharing a post on X, he said, "No one should doubt that what has taken place in #Syria is the product of a joint US-Israeli plot." "A government in a neighboring country of Syria has played and is still playing a clear role in what's happening. However, the primary conspirators and control room are in the United States and the Zionist regime. We have evidence of this that leaves no room for doubt for anyone," the post added. Khamenei further expressed confidence that Syrian territories currently under occupation would ultimately be liberated by the nation's youth. "Each of those attackers in Syria have different goals. Some are seeking to occupy land. The US aims to strengthen its foothold in the region. Time will show that none of them will achieve these goals," Iran's Supreme Leader said. "The territories that have been seized in Syria will be liberated by the brave Syrian youth. Have no doubts that this will happen. The US won't be able to strengthen its foothold in Syria, and the US will be expelled from the region by the Resistance Front," he added. The situation in Syria remains a focal point after Syrian rebels on Sunday entered Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee from the country, ending his over two-decade rule in the country. Russia has granted asylum to Assad and his family, TASS reported citing a Kremlin source. The source confirmed that Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and Russia has granted asylum for them, being driven by "humanitarian considerations." (ANI)
Retired employees of Radio Pakistan in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) staged a strong protest on Wednesday, demanding the release of their pending retirement benefits and pensions. Organized by a group of former staff members, the demonstration saw protestors raising slogans and displaying banners to highlight their grievances, as reported by WTV. "We, the pensioners of Radio Pakistan across the country, including those in PoGB, are peacefully protesting for our rights. As retired employees from PBC Gilgit, we have gathered here to convey our demands to the government through your platform," one of the protesters said. The retired employees, many of whom had served for decades in various roles at Radio Pakistan Gilgit, expressed frustration over the non-payment of their pensions, gratuities, and other retirement benefits, despite repeated assurances from authorities. "Since January 2020, our retired colleagues have not received any payments," said another protester. "Additionally, the increased pension amounts announced in the annual budget for 2023 and 2024 have not been disbursed to us, leaving pensioners deprived of their entitlements." The protestors also highlighted the lack of adequate medical facilities. "The medical services for pensioners have been absent for a long time, and since 2017, our medical bills remain unpaid," said another retiree. "This has created significant hardship for many of us who are in urgent need of medical care." The retired employees called on the Ministry of Information, the Secretary, and the Director General to address their demands. They also appealed to the President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance to ensure that their rights are fulfilled, especially in 2023-2024, so that pensioners can receive the necessary support and facilities during their later years. The situation of Radio Pakistan employees highlights the government's continued failure to address the needs of its workforce, particularly those employed in struggling state-run institutions. Critics argue that this neglect of employee welfare is part of a wider pattern of mismanagement and indifference, which erodes public trust in government institutions. (ANI)
General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepali Army met with General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, in Delhi on Wednesday, during his official visit to India. During the meeting, they discussed enhancing the strategic partnership between the two nations, boosting regional security, and deepening defence cooperation to bolster India-Nepal relations. Sharing a post on X, Integrated Defence Staff, a part of the Ministry of Defence wrote, "General Ashok Raj Sigdel, COAS, Nepali Army and Hony General of #IndianArmy called on General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff #CDS, India." The post added, "Discussions focused on enhancing the #StrategicPartnership between both nations and strengthening #RegionalSecurity. Deepening #DefenceCooperation - boosting #India - #Nepal relations." https://x.com/HQ_IDS_India/status/1866799548955340987 General Sigdel also called on several other senior Indian defence and foreign officials, further strengthening the ties between the two countries. He met with Ajit Doval, NSA, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary and Vikram Misri, Indian Foreign Secretary. These meetings provided an opportunity for the exchange of views on broader defence and security issues, focussing on matters of mutual interests and further strengthening of friendship. The COAS, Nepali Army also interacted with representatives of Indian Defence Industry and appreciated "Atmanirbharta" efforts being undertaken, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said in a press release. General Ashok Raj Sigdel on Wednesday also paid tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country. This moment of remembrance was a poignant start to the day's engagements, reflecting Nepal's commitment to honouring the shared values of courage and sacrifice. Following the wreath-laying, General Sigdel was given a formal Guard of Honour. The ceremonial event, attended by senior officials of the Indian Army, marked a significant gesture of respect and a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations. The Guard of Honour was followed by General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS of the Indian Army welcoming General Sigdel to the South Block. In a post, the Indian Army wrote, "Suprabal Janasewashree General Ashok Raj Sigdel, #COAS, #NepaliArmy, in a solemn ceremony, paid tributes to the #Bravehearts by laying a wreath at National War Memorial, #NWM, #NewDelhi. He also reviewed an impressive Guard of Honour at #SouthBlock. The General is on a four-day visit to #India." https://x.com/adgpi/status/1866776763189145768 General Sigdel's day continued with a series of high-level meetings designed to enhance strategic collaboration between the two armies. He engaged in an in-depth interaction with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, where they discussed various aspects of bilateral defence cooperation and regional security concerns. During the Call-on, General Upendra Dwivedi announced the handing over of a Target Practice Drone and Medical equipment relating to Field Hospitals. Later, General Sigdel was briefed on India's security perspective and on matters of mutual interest with the Army Design Bureau by senior Army officials. These sessions provided valuable insights into India's current and future security strategies, highlighting areas of potential collaboration between the two nations, the MOD said. The day's activities will culminate with a Banquet hosted in General Sigdel's honour by General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS of the Indian Army. The Banquet will provide a platform for informal discussions and further cemented the strong personal rapport between the two senior military leaders, fostering mutual trust and understanding. General Ashok Raj Sigdel's visit to India is marked by a series of productive engagements, aimed at furthering the defence relationship between Nepal and India. The visit not only highlights the commitment of both nations to strengthening their military ties but also underscores their shared focus on regional security and peace. General Sigdel's interactions with senior military and government officials are expected to pave the way for enhanced defence cooperation and strategic partnership in the future, the MOD added. Notably, General Ashok Raj Sigdel commenced his official visit to India on Tuesday, marking a key step in further strengthening the defence relations between Nepal and India. According to a press release by the Ministry of Defence, the visit will run from December 11 to December 14 and aims to enhance bilateral military cooperation and explore new avenues for defence collaboration between the two nations. On Thursday, General Ashok Raj Sigdel will attend the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, wherein, as per the unique tradition between the Indian Army and the Nepali Army, he will be conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by President Draupadi Murmu. The Nepali COAS would also interact with other dignitaries during high tea at Rashtrapati Bhawan and would also call on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. A reciprocal lunch will also be organised by the COAS of the Nepali Army at the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi. Later in the day, General Ashok Raj Sigdel will plant a sapling at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, following which he will depart for Pune. On December 13, the Nepali COAS will visit Defence Industries and witness a static equipment display in Pune and will engage with representatives of the Indian Defence Industry. Thereafter, he would depart for the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, where he will attend the Reviewing Officer's Dinner in the evening. On December 14, General Ashok Raj Sigdel will review the parade of the Gentleman Cadets and will take the reviewing officer's salute and will sign the visitors book, present awards to the Colour Party and Cane Orderlies, and would present the Reviewing Officer Plate and Sword. He will also participate in Pipping and Oath Taking and interact with the newly commissioned officers, which includes two Nepali Army Gentleman Cadets, who are getting commissioned.General Ashok Raj Sigdel will thereafter depart for Ayodhya, wherein he will pay obeisance at the Ram Mandir, and in the evening, he will depart for New Delhi and would be hosted for dinner by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff. COAS, Nepali Army, will depart for Kathmandu on December 15. The visit by General Ashok Raj Sigdel aims at strengthening military cooperation between the militaries of India and Nepal, besides exploring new avenues of collaboration between the two nations. (ANI)
A federal court in Hammond, Indiana, unsealed an indictment on Tuesday, charging Guan Tianfeng, a citizen of the People's Republic of China (PRC), for his role in a 2020 conspiracy to hack firewall devices worldwide. Guan, along with his co-conspirators, exploited a previously-unknown vulnerability in certain firewalls manufactured by UK-based Sophos Ltd., a cybersecurity company, the Office of Public Affairs of the US Department of Justice said in a press release. According to the indictment, Guan and his team worked from the offices of Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd. to discover and exploit the zero-day vulnerability. The malware they created was designed to steal data from infected computers and encrypt files if victims tried to remedy the infection. In total, the conspiracy infected around 81,000 firewall devices globally, including a device used by a US agency. The malware's impact was mitigated when Sophos quickly identified the breach and deployed fixes within two days. However, the conspirators attempted to modify their malware to deploy ransomware encryption when victims tried to remove it, although these efforts ultimately failed. The Justice Department has made it clear that it is committed to holding accountable malicious cyber actors, particularly those based in China, who pose a threat to global cybersecurity. "Today's indictment reflects the Justice Department's commitment to working with global partners to detect and hold accountable malicious cyber actors," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Guan and his associates worked for Sichuan Silence, a PRC -based company with ties to the PRC Ministry of Public Security. The company has been involved in developing tools to scan and obtain intelligence from overseas network targets, raising concerns about its association with Chinese government interests. In a separate report, Sophos revealed the "Pacific Rim" investigation, which details PRC-based hacking groups targeting its networking appliances over several years. One of the attacks identified in this report involved the CVE-2020-12271 vulnerability. In response to the indictment, the US Department of State has announced rewards of up to USD 10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Guan. The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has also imposed sanctions on Sichuan Silence and Guan. This indictment serves as a reminder of the increasing threats to cybersecurity and the ongoing efforts by the US government to address these global challenges. The case is being prosecuted by the National Security Division's National Security Cyber Section, and the FBI continues to investigate related activities. (ANI)
Syria's newly appointed Prime Minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, has prioritised the repatriation of Syrian refugees living abroad as one of his main objectives, according to a report by Al Jazeera. He said that one of his first goals is to "bring back the millions of Syrian refugees who are abroad." Al-Bashir emphasised the need for "stability and calm" in Syria and stated that he is collaborating with officials from Bashar al-Assad's former regime to restore public services and institutions. In a separate incident, the tomb of Hafez al-Assad, the late father of Bashar al-Assad and Syria's former ruler, was set on fire. Social media video showed extensive damage to the mausoleum that contains the grave of Hafez al-Assad in the family's ancestral village of Qardaha in the western Latakia province, according to a report by CNN. Notably, Hafez al-Assad died in 2000 after ruling Syria for 30 years. Bashar al-Assad succeeded him and ruled the country for more than 20 years. Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for the Department of Political Affairs in Damascus in Syria issued a statement urging unity in the country as it transitions away from the Assad government's administration of Syria. The spokesperson said that Syria needed the efforts of its people in the times to come. "Syria needs the efforts of all its people in the coming period. The revolution has many cadres. We do not accept a divided Syria, and everyone must prepare themselves for the change that has occurred. There will be no room for carrying weapons outside the state," the spokesperson said, Al Jazeera reported. Mohammed al-Bashir was appointed Syria's new interim Prime Minister on Tuesday until March 1, 2025. Hezbollah group from Lebanon, which fought in Syria's war in support of their President Bashar al-Assad, expressed hope that Syria's new rulers would reject the "Israeli occupation" of their land. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the new rulers in Syria not to be like Assad and allow Iran to "re-establish" itself in the country, following large-scale attacks across the country, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI)
Kurram district in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is facing severe shortages amid an ongoing security crisis. The Kohat Grand Peace Jirga, which convened to address the escalating situation, was unable to reach an agreement on December 10, Geo News reported. The discussions, which have been ongoing for nearly a week, will continue today, with a focus on restoring peace and reopening the region's main highway, which remains blocked due to security concerns. The deteriorating security situation in Kurram has significantly disrupted daily life. Residents are struggling to access essential services as the region faces a severe shortage of food, petrol, and medical supplies. Gas shortages have led to the closure of tandoors and restaurants, further exacerbating the hardships faced by the local community. During his address at the grand jirga, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif called for unity and cooperation to restore peace in the region. "Hatred must be eliminated for peace to prevail," he stated. Saif assured attendees that the provincial government was taking steps to address the crisis, such as delivering medicines by helicopter and exploring the possibility of restoring air travel services to the region, reported Geo News. He emphasised the urgent need to remove private bunkers from the central highway and disarm the area of heavy weaponry. Saif also pointed out that while both tribes in the region seek peace, some groups have vested interests in sustaining the conflict. He argued that these interests could only be uncovered with public cooperation. He committed to taking strong action against those obstructing peace efforts and urged the participants to work toward a lasting solution to the conflict. Saif expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement would hold in the long term. The KP Chief Minister's aide also highlighted the establishment of a committee, led by CM Ali Amin Gandapur, to oversee the peace process between the warring tribes. District Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud outlined ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and assist the affected residents. However, locals stressed the importance of a sustainable resolution, particularly advocating for the permanent reopening of the Peshawar-Parachinar highway to ensure lasting peace. Following last month's violence, which claimed over 130 lives, elected representatives from Kurram district called on the government to initiate a de-weaponisation campaign in both lower and upper Kurram, Geo News reported. Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has provided relief supplies worth PKR 150 million to the deputy commissioner of Kurram for distribution among victims of the violence. The All Parties Conference (APC) last week raised concerns about the worsening law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing more than 200 deaths in Kurram unrest this year. The APC criticised ineffective governance at both the federal and provincial levels and demanded urgent actions, including the release of funds allocated for tribal districts under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, which has been stalled for over two years. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday briefed members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on the 'Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship' and conveyed that the neighbouring country has assured action against perpetrators of violence against minorities, sources said. The sources said Misri, who visited Dhaka on December 9, provided a detailed briefing on Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary is learnt to have told the committee that, contrary to media reports, the Yunus administration did not discuss reviewing any agreements. Sources said most members, cutting across party lines, enquired about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's stay in India. During his visit to Bangladesh, Misri told the media that India desires positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship and that the relationship is people-centric. The Foreign Secretary told reporters in Dhaka that he had a frank, candid, and constructive exchange of views with his interlocutors and discussed the entire gamut of issues in the "extremely important bilateral relationship". He raised the issue of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, with Bangladesh leaders and officials. "We also discussed recent developments and I conveyed our concerns including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.. We also discussed regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural and religious properties... I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. I have underlined today India's desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh Authority," Misri told reporters in Dhaka. He highlighted India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. During the visit, Misri called on the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain. He held Foreign Office Consultations with the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Jashim Uddin. It was the first high-level visit from India to Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina was deposed as Prime Minister in August this year and since the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, assumed office. There have been multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There also have been cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples. The arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Chittagong on October 25 led to protests. India had on November 26 noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. India had urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. (ANI)
Jerusalem [Israel], December 11 (ANI/TPS): Visiting Paraguayan President Santiago Pena received a standing ovation at the Knesset, telling lawmakers on Wednesday he fully supported Israel's war against Hamas and insisted that opening an embassy in Jerusalem was vital to bilateral ties. Pena said he wanted to make it clear "to tell the criminals, 'you did not win.' "There are moments when you must take a stand," he said. The South American leader, who will inaugurate his country's embassy in Jerusalem on Thursday, drew another standing ovation for calling the city, "the eternal capital of Israel." "The decision to open the embassy in this city is based on the values of solidarity and brotherhood," Pena said. "Without an embassy in Jerusalem, diplomatic ties will not be with true heart and soul. With this transition in our friendship, there will be a beating heart, and I hope we can inspire other countries to do the same." Paraguay will be the sixth country to open an embassy in Jerusalem, joining the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo and Papua New Guinea. In 2018, Paraguayan president Horacio Cartes announced plans to move the country's embassy to Jerusalem, but that was reversed by his successor, Abdo Benitez. Most countries do not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv. Several countries, mostly European, have consulates and lower-level trade missions in the Israeli capital. Pena also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and is scheduled to visit Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust memorial and museum. (ANI/TPS)
Jerusalem [Israel], December 11 (ANI/TPS): Israel eliminated the head of Hamas's paragliding unit and a commander in the terror group's elite Nukhba Force, both of whom participated in the October 7 attacks, the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday. The IDF said it killed Salah Dahham, the head of Hamas's paragliding unit, in the area of Jabaliya, an area of northern Gaza where Hamas has been trying to regroup. During the October 7 attack, Dahham led Hamas's aerial infiltration into southern Israel. A separate airstrike eliminated Fehmi Salmi, a Nukhba Force commander. The army said he was operating inside a building previously used as a school. On October 7, Salmi led an attack on an IDF outpost on the Gaza border in which 14 soldiers were killed. He led numerous attacks on soldiers inside Gaza since then. At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 97 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014. (ANI/TPS)
Dubai [UAE], December 11 (ANI/WAM): Celestyal, the award-winning cruise company renowned for offering comprehensive travel experiences, has announced the arrival of its maiden voyage to Dubai. The Celestyal Journey, the company's newest vessel, entered the emirate's waters accompanied by traditional dhow boats and hosted a special onboard ceremony for exchanging commemorative shields. A star-studded event also marked the launch of the week-long Desert Days programme, which includes round-trip cruises from Dubai with stops in Bahrain, Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Island, and Abu Dhabi. This programme stems from a partnership between Celestyal, a Greek company, and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. The collaboration aims to share the region's unique attractions with the global community. As part of the agreement, the Celestyal Journey will homeport in Dubai for the next three years, offering travellers the opportunity to book cruises aboard the ship. Celestyal's maiden Gulf voyage will continue until March next year. Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer of Celestyal, commented, "Today marks a milestone in our history as we celebrate our arrival in Dubai for our inaugural season. The traditional dhow boats escorting our ship to port created a magical moment and a perfect way to officially begin our long-term relationship with this captivating destination." Haslett expressed gratitude to regional partners and looked forward to a successful first season and beyond. He highlighted Dubai's inclusion in the Desert Days programme as a testament to its status as an iconic city, offering Celestyal guests a perfect blend of culture, exceptional experiences, and unique moments. Saud Hareb Almheiri, Cruise Tourism & Yachting Lead at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), noted that Celestyal's decision to launch cruises from Dubai and make the Celestyal Journey a key homeport underscores Dubai's position as a leading cruise hub in the region. He emphasised that this new partnership aligns with Dubai's visionary leadership and supports the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to solidify the emirate's standing as a global hub for business and leisure. He added, "Celestyal's confidence in selecting Dubai as a destination reflects the city's unique attributes, from its strategic geographical location and advanced maritime infrastructure to its extensive network of destinations accessible through the emirate. These factors contribute to offering an exceptional experience for all guests." He also acknowledged the strong collaboration between public and private sectors as well as the continued support of stakeholders, which have been instrumental in Dubai's growing status as a cruise destination. Harib looked forward to welcoming travellers aboard the Celestyal Journey to experience Dubai's renowned hospitality and diverse offerings. Saleh Mohamad, General Manager of Elevate Cruises, remarked, "This moment marks a historic occasion not just for Celestyal but for the entire cruise industry in the region, which has witnessed extraordinary and rapid growth in recent years. The Arabian Gulf has long been a significant hub for culture, trade, and tourism. With Celestyal's cruise operations, the region is now even better prepared to welcome travellers from across the globe." Saleh Mohamad expressed delight at being part of this venture and looked forward to working closely with Celestyal to deliver premium hospitality experiences. He highlighted that the partnership underscores a commitment to providing exceptional guest experiences and represents a unique opportunity to achieve shared objectives in creating innovative, tailored travel experiences. Next winter, the Celestyal Discovery will join the Celestyal Journey, docking in Abu Dhabi to commence its own three-year itinerary. The Celestyal Discovery will offer three-night Iconic Arabia weekend cruises round-trip from Abu Dhabi with stops in Doha, Bahrain, and Dubai, alongside four-night Iconic Arabia midweek cruises from Abu Dhabi, featuring visits to Fujairah, Muscat, and Khasab. (ANI/WAM)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday condemned human rights violations in Afghanistan and criticised the Taliban's policies against Afghan women and girls. He further said that their participation in society is not only a matter of equality but is essential. In a post on X, Blinken wrote, "The US condemns the Taliban's discriminatory edicts, which jeopardize the rights and lives of Afghan women and girls." "Women's full, equal, and meaningful participation in society is not merely a matter of equality; it is essential. We resolutely support Afghan women and girls," the post added. Meanwhile, the US Department of State in a press statement condemned Taliban's decision of banning women from receiving medical training. "United States strongly condemns the Taliban's recent decision to suspend medical education for women. This directive, the latest in a series of efforts that jeopardize the rights and lives of Afghan women and girls, is an unjustifiable attack on women's access to education and healthcare," US Department of State said. "In August, the Taliban issued the 'Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' edicts, a new law that aimed to completely erase Afghan women and girls from public life. Previously issued restrictions have prevented women from both seeking health services from male providers and traveling without a male guardian. These directives, now coupled with excluding women from obtaining a medical education, further jeopardize the health, well-being, safety, and lives of not just Afghan women and girls, but all Afghans," the press statement added. The statement further said that the United States remains resolute in its support for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and will continue to stand with all Afghans in advocating for their full, equal, and meaningful participation in all aspects of society. It added, "The international community must be united and unequivocal in condemning these actions and in supporting the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, whose rights are being systemically abused. We call on the Taliban to rescind this directive and all previous directives denying women the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including their right to education, and their access to essential services." Blinken also called on Azerbaijan to cease its crackdown on media and civil society, urging respect for international human rights obligations. In another post, he wrote, "The United States calls on Azerbaijan to end its intensifying crackdown on media and civil society. We urge Azerbaijan to respect its international human rights obligations and release those unjustly detained, including Rufat Safarov, Sevinj Vagifgizi, and others detained for their work on behalf of human rights." Notably, last month, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) published its quarterly report on the situation in Afghanistan, covering incidents from July to September. As per Tolo News, the UN Report addressed various topics, including the law of the Vice and Virtue Ministry, women's and girls' rights, civilian casualties, border incidents, freedom of expression, corporal punishment, and judicial actions. Last month, former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai also met the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Roza Otenbayeva and stressed the urgent need for reopening schools and universities for girls in Afghanistan. On X, Karzai reiterated his call for the reopening of educational institutions for girls, emphasising the importance of education in empowering girls and women and fostering a more inclusive society in Afghanistan. "Their constructive role in society demanded more cooperation in this matter. The former president considered national understanding to be essential for lasting peace and stability in the country and emphasized the reopening of schools and universities for girls," read the post. (ANI)
PANAMA CITY  For George Roberts, it feels "incredible" to help shelter disaster victims this holiday season.

As the owner of Roberts and Roberts Inc, a Panama City-based construction company, Roberts said he and a couple of other local business owners are working together to deliver a handful of insulated sheds to North Carolina.

From there, they will be transported by all-terrain vehicles into mountain ranges for those still displaced by Hurricane Helene, which brought catastrophic rainfall to the state in September.

George Roberts, owner of Roberts and Roberts Inc, is spearheading a local effort to send insulated sheds into the mountains of North Carolina for Hurricane Helen victims.

"To be able to help somebody else is incredible," Roberts said. "Not only do they (still) not have power, they don't even have a place to live, and they're in the cold. It's already 35-40 degrees where they are, and they're living in dang tents."

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He noted eight sheds have been built so far. The first four were delivered to North Carolina on Monday, and the remaining four will be taken sometime next week.

The sheds, which span eight feet wide by 10 feet long, include foam insulation, a door, window, bed and wiring to be hooked up to a generator.

Roberts said he got the idea for the sheds after talking with a friend who lives in North Carolina named Adrain Parker, who told him about the living situation of nearby residents.

"All their houses are devastated  they're gone completely," Roberts said. "There's nothing left there but the foundation."

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Roberts contacted two Bay County business owners: Duane Phillips, owner of Atlas Portable Building; and Greg Abrams, owner Greg Abrams Seafood. Phillips agreed to build the sheds, and Abrams agreed to transport them to Parker's business, Temple Furniture in Maiden, North Carolina.

According to Roberts, each insulated shed costs about $2,800. All of the initial eight were paid for by himself, Phillips and Abrams.

Looking back: Panama City Beach business collecting supplies for Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina

Local donations are being collected to help fund additional sheds. Those interested in helping can contact Roberts and Roberts Inc. at 850 215-8001 or Greg Abrams Seafood at 850 769-4658.

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"We're going to just keep sending them as much as we can," Roberts said. "They could use every one of them. ... It all came about because a good friend of mine in North Carolina was just telling me what they needed, (and) we want to help.

"We're helping those who have nothing."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County locals help shelter Hurricane Helene victims in N. Carolina
ST. PETERSBURG  As cars whizzed by and construction workers hammered away at building projects in downtown St. Petersburg, an 80-year-old Danish fishing boat was hauled through the streets on Tuesday. The odd sight stopped in front of the Florida Holocaust Museum on Fifth Avenue S, where it will soon be on display.

The boats remarkable story started in 1943, when Germans decided to deport Jewish people from Nazi-occupied Denmark. With just a few hours notice, a flotilla of 300 Danish boats  everything from kayaks and rowboats to cargo vessels and fishermen  showed up on the docks to rescue Jews and take them to neutral Sweden. In about three weeks, the Danes ferried more than 7,000 Jews and close to 700 of their non-Jewish relatives to Sweden.

The Germans intercepted a few, and seized about 500 Jews in Denmark and deported them to a ghetto in Bohemia. But the vigor of Danish protests perhaps prevented their deportation to the killing centers in occupied Poland, historians say.

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The 34-foot, 10-ton wooden vessel that will be on display in the museum is named Thor, and it was purchased from a boat broker who obtained it from the family of the fisherman in Denmark.

We talk a lot, rightfully so, that the Holocaust showed the worst in people, but it also showed the best in humanity and this story is one of them, said Mike Ingle, the interim CEO of the Florida Holocaust Museum and chairman emeritus of its board.

The primary donors for the project, Irene Weiss of Palm Harbor and Margot Benstock, both had parents who were among those ferried from Denmark on a fishing boat. Weiss, 71, was there as the boat arrived in downtown St. Petersburg on Tuesday, and she marveled at the symbolism.

When you multiply by generations, she said, the ripple effect is that her family of 18 kids and grandkids and fellow donor Benstocks family of 17 would not be here but for the acts of these people.

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The refugees were stowed at the bottom of the ship, and sometimes the fishermen would put fish down on top of them to hide them in case Nazis were patrolling the water, historians say. The journey was a few hours between the two countries.

Its a wonderful story, Weiss said. If they can touch this boat, they can see and feel that they can go out and make a difference in the world one person at a time.

The museum is undergoing extensive renovations and in early 2025 will reopen to showcase the boat alongside its longstanding exhibit of a railroad boxcar, one of the few remaining types used by the Nazis to transport Jews and other prisoners.
The Biden administrations challenge to Idahos strict abortion ban divided a federal appeals court that heard arguments Tuesday in an emergency abortion care case that has already reached the Supreme Court once.

Multiple judges on the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals raised the possibility that President-elect Donald Trumps incoming administration would drop the case. John Bursch, an attorney for Idaho who was urging the appeals court to lift a preliminary order pausing aspects of the states ban, said it wasnt clear what the Trump Justice Department would do and that courts shouldnt just wait in such an uncertain situation.

An attorney for St. Lukes, a large medical system in the state that is supporting the administration as a so-called friend of the court, suggested the hospital might seek to keep the lawsuit alive if the Trump DOJ drops the suit.

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Several judges on the appeals court appeared inclined to leave the order in place and return the case to the trial court for additional proceedings. However, at least a handful of the judges  most of them appointees of Trump  expressed skepticism of the Biden administrations arguments.

The Biden administration claims that federally funded hospitals are obligated to provide abortions when pregnancy complications are jeopardizing a womans life or her health, even in states that prohibit the procedure.

Idahos abortion ban  which was partially blocked and reinstated multiple times over the course of the litigation  has an exemption for when a womans life is at risk, but not for when her health is imperiled in a way that stops short of being life-threatening.

Judge Milan Smith, put on the court by former President George W. Bush, grilled Bursch on Idahos claim that there is no conflict between the abortion law and the relevant federal statute in the case, posing a hypothetical in which a woman might lose a leg if an abortion is not performed for a pregnancy complication that is not yet life-threatening. Judge Salvador Mendoza Jr., a Biden appointee, questioned a lawyer for the Idaho Legislature on the lack of effort by state lawmakers to amend the abortion law to make clear that the bans exemption covered the specific types of medical emergencies that are in dispute.

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However, Trump-appointed Judge Lawrence VanDyke zeroed in on a states ability to make ethical choices in how it regulates medicine within its borders. He posed a scenario to Justice Department attorney Catherine Carroll in which a doctor was faced with a medical emergency that could be treated with an unethically harvested organ in a state that barred the use of such organs.

The Biden administration is pointing to a 1986 law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, which requires hospitals that accept Medicare to treat patients in medical emergencies regardless of their ability to pay for services.

Idaho counters that the Justice Department is overreaching in its claims that the law could require the provision of abortion, with the state pointing specifically to the laws references to unborn child when an emergency patient is pregnant.

I dont think Congress, when they enacted EMTALA, or President Reagan when he signed it into law, anticipated an interpretation that required the childs life to be taken, Bursch, a senior counsel for the conservative legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, said in an interview with CNN last week.

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The Supreme Court took up the case in January when it was at a preliminary phase, reviving the full law at the time, only to decide after hearing arguments months later that it had granted the case prematurely. The high court in a 6-3 June decision restored an order pausing the ban in medical emergencies while the litigation played out back in lower courts. Medical providers said in court filings that they were forced to airlift women out of state to receive emergency abortions in the six months that the Supreme Court allowed the Idaho ban to be fully enforced.

What is more clear now more than ever before is that the stakes in this case could not be higher, said Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, the deputy director of the Reproductive Freedom Project of the ACLU, which is supporting the Biden administration in the case.

If Trump DOJ drops lawsuit, others can try to keep it alive

Its not clear when the 9th Circuit  where Democratic appointees outnumber Republican appointees by a small margin  will issue its ruling. But if it rules against Idaho, that will create a so-called circuit split that will make it more likely the Supreme Court will grant the case for review again.

In a separate dispute concerning emergency room abortion care, the conservative 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Biden administration, finding that EMTALA did not require hospitals to offer abortions in states that banned them.

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Its possible that in the Idaho case, the Trump Justice Department will opt to drop the lawsuit, and anti-abortion groups are advocating that his administration do so. However, an outside party  such as patients in Idaho or medical providers affected by the abortion ban  can seek to intervene to keep the lawsuit alive.

St. Lukes, the states largest not-for-profit health system, argued Tuesday as a friend of the court. (Its lawyer declined CNNs request for comment.)

In a brief, it argued the bans life-of-the-mother exemption is not enough to assure doctors they can provide abortions in medical emergencies without fear of prosecution, warning of concerns that a prosecutor could second guess physicians good faith medical judgments that an abortion was necessary to prevent the death of a pregnant patient.

Because a physician administering an emergency termination in Idaho would be risking their professional license, livelihood, personal security, and freedom, it is only natural that physicians may hesitate and seek assurance, to the extent possible, before proceeding, St. Lukes said. In the meantime, their patients may suffer, and their conditions may deteriorate, perhaps materially.

A roadmap for Idaho

When the case was previously before the Supreme Court, several justices signed on to dissents and concurrences that gave insight into how they were thinking.

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The parties have picked up on those cues in their latest round of appellate briefs, emphasizing points made by justices that support their positions. For Idaho, thats meant expanding upon arguments the state made about the significance of the term unborn child in the law, which was a focus of a dissent written by Justice Samuel Alito and joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch.

Bursch, speaking to CNN, described Alito as leaning into Idahos arguments about how the unborn child is a separate patient that EMTALA requires to be stabilized.

The Justice Department, in a point adopted by some of the liberal justices when they wrote about the case this summer, counters that Congress added the language to the federal law to ensure emergency rooms treated patients who faced no risks to their own health but whose pregnancies were in danger. The Justice Department declined CNNs request for comment.

Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch essentially provided a roadmap to just how they would strip pregnant women of their right to stabilizing emergency care, said Kolbi-Molinas. Idaho is doing its best to follow it.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

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WARWICK  A federal office that processes travelers' applications to speed up immigration checks at ports of entry to the United States has reopened after closing more than four years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All four members of the state's congressional delegation heralded the reopening of the Global Entry Enrollment Center near Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport.

While the enrollment center was closed, from July 6, 2020, until this fall, Rhode Islanders had to travel out of state to other enrollment centers to process their applications, which require an in-person interview. Centers are available in most states and in overseas U.S. territories. Because of delays in renovating the Warwick office during the closure, most Rhode Islanders went to an enrollment center near Boston's Logan International Airport.

What does Global Entry do?

Global Entry is a U.S Customs and Border Protection program that allows travelers who have passed a rigorous background check to speed up processing through immigration when entering the United States, allowing them to bypass long lines at airports or other ports of entry.

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Global Entry is a critical program for frequent travelers and the ability to conduct the required interviews in-state will help reduce the burden on new and renewal applications," Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo said in a joint statement Tuesday. "Today, as we celebrate the centers reopening, we stand ready to assist our constituents to make their international travel as safe, reliable, and convenient as possible.

Rhode Island's enrollment center is at 300 Jefferson Blvd., about a mile north of the Bruce Sundlun Terminal at T.F. Green. Applications processed there are good at any port of entry, and those processed at any enrollment center are good for entry at Green.

Does T.F. Green handle international flights?

While Green currently does not have scheduled international flights, it does hope to have them soon, and international charter flights, considered a separate category from scheduled flights, do stop at Green, which is equipped to handle them with an international arrivals facility and staffing from Customs and Border Protection.

Breeze Airways announced this year that it plans to offer international service to Green in a future expansion of its network.

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JetBlue offers daily flights from Puerto Rico, but flights from the U.S. territory are treated as domestic in terms of immigrations regulations.

This story was updated to add additional information.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Global Entry center at T.F. Green airport reopens after four years
Editor's note: This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy

WARWICK  The former deputy chief of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation Police Department lost her bid to keep her job last week, when a Superior Court judge ruled that the corporation had complied with state law whenmoving to fire Helen Z. Ricci in 2023.

The long-running case began in 2020, when the airport corporation first fired her, but it lingered for several more years as Ricci appealed to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

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The corporation first fired her on Nov. 10, 2020, after the former police chief, Leo Messier, retired in July of that year. At that point, Dennis Greco, the airport corporation's vice president for public safety, became the top supervisor of the department. But, the department said, Ricci held herself out as acting chief and disregarded direct orders from Greco.

More: A RI man was wrongfully convicted and served prison time. Now, the state will pay him for it.

After being fired, Ricci appealed, arguing that she had been deprived of a hearing, which is required before termination under a state law called the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights. The corporation argued that, as deputy chief, Ricci was not covered by the Bill of Rights law. The Supreme Court agreed with Ricci, and the process of firing her started again, this time with a hearing.

On Nov. 28, 2022, the corporation notified Ricci that it intended to fire her for insubordination. The hearing, before a panel including a police officer, took place over 20 separate days, from Feb. 13 to Sept. 5, 2023.

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On Oct. 4, 2023, the hearing panel sustained the insubordination charge but reduced the penalty, from termination to demotion to patrolperson.

More: TF Green execs said they were investigating employees. Now, they want to fire the union head.

Ricci and the corporation each appealed the panel's decision to the Superior Court.

On Dec. 3, Superior Court Judge Brian P. Stern dismissed Ricci's appeal and ruled in favor of the corporation's request to overturn the panel's order requiring the corporation to continue to employ her.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Judge: Former RI airport police deputy chief can't get job back
(This story was updated for clarification.)

Paul Pierrilus, the Rockland County man deported to Haiti even though he is not a Haitian citizen, has hit yet another wall in his attempt to return to the U.S., where he had lived since he was 5 years old.

Pierrilus' application for humanitarian parole was recently denied.

His last likely pathway home: President Biden can step in.

Pierrilus and his team see precedent. After all, President Joe Biden pardoned his own son, Hunter Biden, for actions that the family has long maintained are part of a drug-scarred past.

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Pierrilus' deportation appears to be linked to a drug offense more than 20 years ago.

Gov. Kathy Hochul recently issued a pardon for that.

I am asking for the same empathy and care to allow me to benefit from my pardon and to live in safety and dignity, said Pierrilus in a message to the USA Today Network.

That would happen if Biden used his power to grant the humanitarian parole Pierrilus needs.

Danger in Haiti: Armed gang violence escalates including gunfire aimed at Spirit and JetBlue planes

Pierrilus pointed to Bidens oft-cited belief in redemption and fairness. The president expressed compassion for his own son, Pierrilus said. Pierrilus, a 43-year-old financial planner, is someones son and brother, too.

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Pierrilus' efforts have been supported by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the National Immigrant Justice Center and the Haitian Bridge Alliance, as well as his family and home church, the French Speaking Baptist Church of Spring Valley.

"The Biden admin through (U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro) Mayorkas at any time could grant humanitarian parole to this person, said Sarah Decker of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. The issue is the will of them to actually do that.

Deportation to Haiti, and efforts to return home

Pierrilus is literally a man without a country.

He was born in Saint Martin, a French territory in the Leeward Islands. He wasn't automatically a citizen because his parents werent French nationals, but were citizens of Haiti at the time. He did not automatically inherit Haitian citizenship through his parents.

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Meet Paul Pierrilus: New York man deported to Haiti, though he's not a Haitian citizen, tells his story

His family settled in Spring Valley, which has the second-largest Haitian population, per capita, in the U.S. His parents eventually earned U.S. citizenship.

In 2003, Pierrilus plead guilty to a drug charge and was given a stint in a minimum security "boot camp" that focuses on treatment and skill-building. Pierrilus went to college and became a financial consultant.

Paul Pierrilus in an undated photo around Christimastime in the family's home in Spring Valley.

Meanwhile, he remained under supervision from U.S. Immigration and checked in periodically. His file contained documentation from both the French and Haitian governments that confirmed he was not a national of either country.

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In January 2021, during what appeared to be a routine check-in at the ICE field office in Federal Plaza in New York City, Pierrilus was taken into custody. On Jan. 19, in the dwindling hours of the Trump administration, Pierrilus was walked toward a plane at JFK before being led away on the tarmac, with no explanation, and sent back to a holding facility in Louisiana.

Weeks later, on Feb. 2, with Biden now in the White House, Pierrilus was loaded onto a deportation plane headed to Haiti.

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Hochul pardoned Pierrilus on long-ago drug conviction

In May of this year, Hochul granted Pierrilus a pardon for the 2003 conviction, citing his good works after what has been described as a one-time mistake for which he took responsibility and served his time.

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His case has gotten support from various elected officials, including direct contact with federal officials on Pierrilus' behalf.

Congressman Lawler and our office stand ready, willing, and able to assist in Pauls case," said Nate Soule, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-Pearl River.

Lawler and the RFK Human Rights team have had some contact but it appears meetings have not recently progressed. Soule said Lawler endeavors to "fix our broken immigration system," pointing to his work on the proposed DIGNITY Act and support for H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, has made several inquiries with federal authorities on behalf of Pierrilus, Gillibrand spokesman Evan Lukaske said. "Our office will continue to explore options to remedy this unfair situation.

A message from man in hiding

Pierrilus was sent by the U.S. to a country in the throes of chaos. The U.S. State Department has had a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory the entire time Pierrilus has been exiled there. He speaks very limited Haitian Creole and no French.

Paul Pierrilus of Spring Valley was nearly deported to Haiti in January 2021, even though he is not a Haitian citizen and has never been to the country.

Pierrilus, in communications with the USA Today Network, called his deportation "both cruel and inhumane."

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Ive dodged gunfire multiple times, my home was burned down in an arson attack, and Ive had neighbors that were both kidnapped and murdered, Pierrilus said.

He had previously told the USA Today Network that he remains inside most of the time, because as a clearly Americanized person, he is a kidnap target. He's had to relocate several times, moving on when the nightly gunfire draws near.

This isnt just exile," he said. "Its a death sentence.

Pierrilus, who said he always followed the financial advice he gave to clients and then some, has gone through extensive savings, nearly four years in, and now scrimps by with support from friends and family in the U.S.

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Decker, staff attorney for U.S. advocacy & litigation with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, said there really aren't mechanisms to appeal a humanitarian parole denial. But Pierrilus' legal team is trying to find a pathway.

It is an unusual and pretty rare form of relief, Decker said. But we think Paul warrants it.

What happens when Trump takes office

Pierrilus' deportation started during the Trump administration. But it was finished under Biden.

Still, the rhetoric that Trump espoused during the campaign and after, including plans for large-scale deportations, and the end to programs like Temporary Protected Status that have helped Haitians establish themselves in the U.S., do not harken well for Pierrilus' chances, Decker said.

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What's next on immigration: Trump has promised mass deportations. Can he do it in his 2nd term as president?

"What we know the incoming administration has planned, it seems the window is ever narrowing," Decker said. "It seems like now is the only chance for next four years."

But, she said, "We will continue to pursue that in this new administration."

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY man Paul Pierrilus deported to Haiti seeks pardon like Hunter Biden
The power dynamics of the Middle East have been profoundly shaped and reshaped in the past year and a half by Iran and its so-called Axis of Resistance.

This network, spanning state, semi-state and non-state actors, has demonstrated unprecedented geographic and military coordination through attacks against Israel, U.S. forces and international shipping lanes. The drastic degradation of Hezbollah and the subsequent and sudden collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has now introduced a seismic shift in this axis, leaving Iran at a critical crossroads.

Examining the ripple effects of this collapse reveals the growing likelihood of Tehran pursuing nuclear breakout, with consequences that could irreversibly alter the global balance of power.

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Over the last year, Irans Axis of Resistance showcased its operational reach and resilience. From Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen, and the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, these entities orchestrated a series of attacks against Israel, the U.S. and global assets, testing the limits of Western resolve. Notably, Iran itself crossed a significant threshold, directly launching strikes on Israel  escalating its engagement to levels only rhetorically engaged to date.

Despite the firm warnings of U.S. President Biden, the American administration largely refrained from substantive direct retaliation against Iran or even strategic deterrence against her proxies. This perceived inaction emboldened Irans proxies, even as Israeli operations earlier in the year inflicted significant damage on infrastructure and personnel, including the high-profile assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran itself in early summer 2024.

Irans apparent durability led to a recalibration of regional dynamics. Some Middle East and North Africa countries, wary of escalating regional violence and unconvinced of Washingtons commitment, took steps to improve relations with Tehran. This strategic hedging reflected broader concerns over the U.S.s diminishing role in the Middle East.

The balance began to shift dramatically in late 2024 when Israel launched, after over a year of rocket fire from Hezbollah, a decisive counteroffensive in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollahs senior leadership with pinpoint strikes, field commanders via the now-famous pager incident, and dismantling its strategic arsenal. This operation, marked by surgical precision and relentless tempo, crippled Hezbollahs command structure and forced the group into a state of surrender within months. During this time Israel also conducted precision airstrikes against Iranian air defenses, leaving her vulnerable to further attacks.

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Syria, long a linchpin of Irans regional strategy and home to critical supply lines for Hezbollah, was the next domino to fall. The Assad regime, weakened by years of civil war and unable to withstand the ripple effects of Hezbollahs collapse, disintegrated rapidly. A coalition of opposition forces, bolstered by murky regional support, swept through key territories. The rapidity of Bashar Assads fall underscores how integral Hezbollah and Irans backing had been to his survival  and how fragile Irans regional strategy truly is.

This collapse leaves Iran with a fractured axis. Hezbollah, once the crown jewel of Irans regional proxies, is significantly weakened. The Houthis in Yemen, still capable of regional disruption, now face the looming threat of more robust Israeli retaliation for their aggression. Iran is increasingly isolated, facing not only the loss of its strategic depth but also the diminishing credibility of its deterrence posture.

In the twilight of the Biden administration, Tehran faces a strategic dilemma. On the one hand, it must contend with the prospect of an unpredictable Trump administration, potentially dominated by hawkish figures eager to reverse Biden-era policies. On the other hand, Iran is acutely aware that its conventional deterrence, anchored by Hezbollah and Assad, is eroding  or even for all intents and purposes already gone.

If history offers any lessons, it is that despotic regimes under existential threat often seek asymmetric means of ensuring their survival. For Iran, this could mean the completion of their pursuit of nuclear weapons. North Koreas nuclear program serves as a compelling case study: a regime once vulnerable to external threats has secured itself against invasion through nuclear deterrence. Irans leadership has likely internalized this lesson.

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With the global spotlight distracted by the unfolding political transitions in Washington, Tehran has a narrow window of opportunity to accelerate its nuclear ambitions. A nuclear Iran would not only secure its regimes survival but also restore its deterrent power, even as its Axis of Resistance falters.

The collapse of the Assad regime marks a pivotal moment in the Middle East, but most of all a moment of reckoning for Irans defense posture. Facing the disintegration of its regional axis, Iran may be more likely to pivot toward nuclearization as its ultimate guarantor of power.

For those who truly seek to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, the window to act may be mere weeks, for once the nuclear threshold is crossed, there is no turning back.

Eitan Charnoff is the CEO of Potomac Strategy, a Middle East and North Africa-focused consultancy specializing in public safety and international relations.

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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.
Prince Harry has lost another staffer after the CEO of his childrens charity Sentebale has stepped down.

Chief executive Richard Miller, who was based in London, quit his post after five years in the role at the youth-focused organization Harry co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, founded his charity, which translates to forget me not, to honor his late mother, Princess Diana, whose favorite flowers were forget-me-nots. The charity helps disadvantaged children.

Prince Harry has lost another staffer after the CEO of his childrens charity Sentebale has stepped down. Getty Images for Sentebale

The organization has confirmed Millers departure, saying he will be replaced by an interim executive director, Carmel Gaillard, who is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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This shift reflects our continued commitment to being guided by voices from within the region we serve, Harry and Seeiso said in a statement.

We sincerely thank Richard for his pivotal role in steering our organization toward this important evolution.

Chief executive Richard Miller, who was based in London, quit his post after five years in the role. REUTERS

In his own statement, Miller said that his replacement is the logical next step for the charity, adding that the time is right for this shift to local leadership.

Carmel is an incredible asset to position Sentebale further as a leader in the region, Miller added.

Millers departure comes just one month after Andrew Tucker stepped down from his senior position at Sentebale after almost a decade.

In his own statement, Miller said that his replacement is the logical next step for the charity, adding that the time is right for this shift to local leadership. Getty Images for Sentebale

That same month, Baroness Lynda Chalker quit as a director after 18 years at the organization.

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Last year, the charity underwent a major change after advertising guru Johnny Hornby quit last year. Hornby served as a trustee for 11 years at the organization, spending five as chairman.

Earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were dealt a fresh blow after their chief of staff, Josh Kettler, quit after just three months on the job.

The reason for Kettlers departure was revealed in August  just one day before he was due to accompany the Sussexes on their trip to Colombia.

We sincerely thank Richard for his pivotal role in steering our organization toward this important evolution, Harry and his co-founder said in a statement. Getty Images

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With his resignation, Kettler became the sixth staff member to leave the Archewell team since they established their organization in 2020, which followed their sudden retirement from life as royals.

The couples revolving door of staffers drew criticism as royal experts suggested that something is wrong behind closed doors.
More than four in 10 adults enrolled in job training, English language, citizenship, and other classes through the Rhode Island Department of Education didnt have a device to participate in remote learning in a 2021 survey. (Getty image)

High-speed internet access only matters when you have the devices and knowledge to use it.

Which is why the Biden administration is giving $4.5 million to Rhode Island to help bridge the digital divide for its most vulnerable residents, including seniors, racial and ethnic minorities, and those in rural areas. The funding announced in a virtual press conference on Wednesday morning comes from a $1.44 billion federal grant program  one of three created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  aimed at helping improve internet access and literacy nationwide.

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The Internet has become the essential tool for communications in our modern world, Alan Davidson, assistant secretary of commerce and administrator for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), said in a Zoom call with reporters. And yet, here we are today in 2024, and there are still thousands of families in Rhode Island, and millions of people across the country who still lack access to high-speed internet connections, or lack the tools or the skills or the means to use it.

The new federal funding is separate from NTIAs Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which funneled $108 million to the Ocean State in July to improve broadband access infrastructure. The equity grant program instead focuses on training, skills and partnerships with institutions that help underserved demographic groups to take advantage of high-speed internet access. Funding has been doled out on a rolling basis, with all eligible states and territories expected to receive their awards within the next six weeks, Davidson said.

In Rhode Island, the money will be spent in a five-pronged approach, outlined in the 203-page state digital equity plan formally adopted in March. The plan acknowledges that while Rhode Island enjoys better broadband access than other states, its residents  particularly those in low-income and rural communities, along with people of color, seniors, veterans and those with disabilities  dont have the devices or skills to use the internet to its full potential.

For example, 11% of Rhode Island residents surveyed in 2021 relied on a smartphone as their sole way to access the internet, according to data included in the report. Meanwhile, more than four in 10 adults who take job training, English language, citizenship, and other classes through the Rhode Island Department of Education dont have a device to participate in remote learning.

Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner, left, and Alan Davidson, assistant secretary of commerce and administrator for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, right, are shown during the Zoom call Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, announcing $4.5 million in new federal funding to improve broadband access for underserved Rhode Island residents. (Screenshot)

The federal funding, which will be administered by Rhode Island Commerce as the state broadband coordinator, will pay for free training, technical assistance, and devices for these target groups, while helping improve partnerships with libraries, universities and other institutions that offer public internet access.

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This is a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner said.

Both Tanner and Davidson remained optimistic that the Internet for All initiative started by the Biden-Harris administration would survive the incoming presidential administration.

Were full steam ahead, Tanner said.

Meanwhile, a legal challenge to the separate but tangential, federally-funded broadband access plan remains unsettled. Cox Communications first challenged the accuracy of the maps used to create the state broadband plan in a lawsuit filed in Providence County Superior Court in September. A Providence County Superior Court judge dismissed the complaint in November, ruling it was better-suited to federal court. Cox appealed the decision on Monday, asking the Rhode Island Supreme Court to consider its case, according to court documents.

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The states highest court has not weighed in as of Wednesday.

Matt Touchette, a spokesperson for Rhode Island Commerce, reiterated in an email response Wednesday that the agency is pleased with the Superior Court decision.

The Corporation will proceed with implementing this important project in accordance with guidelines and approvals by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Touchette said. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and its funding for Rhode Island is a transformative opportunity designed to close the digital divide in our state by ensuring everyone has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet, regardless of income and zip code.

Updated to include a response from Rhode Island Commerce.

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The Scoop

Somaliland, a self-governing region within Somalia, will be much closer to being recognized by the United States as the worlds newest country when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.

Support for the region has grown strong among Republican US-Africa policy leaders on Capitol Hill, right-leaning Washington DC think tanks, and likely Africa advisors of Trumps incoming White House. Many of these people told Semafor Africa they would encourage Trump to recognize Somaliland even if it wasnt on Day One.

Recognizing Somaliland could enable US intelligence to set up long term operations to monitor the movement of weapons in a volatile region as well as keep an eye on Chinese activity. China already has a permanent military base in neighboring Djibouti. It should allow the US to better monitor Houthi activity in Yemen.

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Last month the territory held its sixth successful election since reclaiming independence from Somalia in 1991, bringing opposition leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to office as president. Republicans and other supporters have been encouraged by Somalilands democratic strides with a one-person, one-vote system even as conflict-ridden Somalia struggles to organize any elections.

Peter Pham, a former Africa envoy in Trumps first term, said Somalilands democratic process had demonstrated its attractiveness as a partner for the United States and other countries.

Somalilanders who spoke with Semafor Africa from the capital Hargeisa soon after the Nov.13 election said they were confident Trumps return to the White House will boost their aspirations for independence. We have a golden opportunity to be closer if not for full recognition but much closer engagement with the US, said Bashir Goth, who heads the Somaliland mission in Washington DC.

Know More

If Trump does recognize Somaliland it will likely be disruptive to the Horn of Africa region  which includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea  say US-Africa watchers, including some who support the idea.

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I support recognizing [Somaliland] because theyve fundamentally proved they can run their own country and theres no plausible scenario where theyd willingly return to Somalia, said Joshua Meservey, an analyst at the Hudson Institute think tank. While Somalias leaders would likely be displeased with such a decision, Meservey said they hadnt done enough for the US to not prioritize its own interests in the sub-region.

Recognizing Somaliland would undoubtedly rattle the rump state of Somalia, further destabilize the Horn, and elicit a sharp rebuke from the African Union, argues Ken Opalo,a political science professor at Georgetown University.

Yinkas view

The support for recognizing Somaliland from Africa watchers on the US right is ostensibly about long-term relations with people in the territory. But its also about strategic military and shipping interests in the region, as well as countering China. In particular, the Bab-el Mandeb strait in the Gulf of Aden between Somalilands Berbera port, Djibouti and Yemen is a critical shipping choke point for moving goods and military wares in the sub-region.

Based on conversations Ive had with likely advisors to Trump, Hargeisa shouldnt expect an easy ride with the Trump White House. As weve noted previously, this is going to be a very transactional administration which will want to be sure theyre getting something in exchange for official support.

The View From Ethiopia

Ethiopia has already made a big bet on Somaliland by signing a controversial maritime agreement with the territory. Africas second most populous country is landlocked and very keen to have access to Somalilands Berbera port for trade and much more.

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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds stance with Hargeisa has sparked diplomatic tensions with Somalias leaders in Mogadishu and even some mutterings of potential conflict. But if Trump was to recognize Somaliland, Abiys gamble could pay off.

Room for Disagreement

Republicans are particularly critical of a so-called One Somalia policy which has been supported by the US State Department under President Joe Bidens administration. The basic policy supports the idea that Somaliland is fully part of Somalia. American Enterprise Institutes Michael Rubin argues that even if the US isnt about to recognize Somaliland the State Department should revert to the policy of the past and treat it in a way that is parallel to its approach to Taiwan.
YAMAGATA, Dec 12 (News On Japan) - A strong winter cold front has blanketed Japan, bringing snow to eagerly awaited regions. At the Zao Onsen Ski Resort, located at an altitude of about 1,300 meters, snow continues to fall daily after significant snowfall last weekend.

The resort opened a week early on December 7th, attracting about 200 skiers and snowboarders on weekdays. Zao Central Ropeway Station Chief Takayoshi Abe expressed his delight, noting the positive response to the snowfall, which is especially welcome after last years snow shortages.

Hotels in snow-covered areas are seeing a surge in demand. For instance, Lake Hibaras surrounding hotels are experiencing increased reservations, especially from international tourists. Foreign staff members are helping accommodate the influx. The Rikugawa Lake Resort reported a 2030% increase in bookings for the year-end and New Year period, thanks to inbound tourism and the long nine-day holiday.

The hotel, typically fully booked from New Year's Eve to January 2nd, will be almost fully booked from December 27th to January 4th this year. Guests can enjoy snow views, nearby ski resorts, and the scenic Goshikinuma ponds, where clear weather reveals breathtaking blue or emerald green water surfaces.

Source: ANN
By Ezie Lewis

Notable skit maker, Mark Angel reveals that the teen comedians Emmanuella and Success are no longer being managed by him.

This development comes after Denilson Igwe, a former crew member, publicly accused Mark Angel of exploiting him financially during a podcast in August.

The Patagonia Desert- A 4k Aerial Film of Argentina

Mark Angel has since confirmed in a TikTok live session that he is no longer managing the careers of Emmanuella and Success.

He said

I no longer manage Emmanuella and Success. They are now being managed by a professional agency because Im too busy to manage them. But I still work with them.

Watch video below
By Adam Mosadioluwa

President-elect Donald Trump has announced the nomination of Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and fiancee of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, as the next United States ambassador to Greece.

In a statement late Tuesday, Trump announced the nomination and described her as a close friend and ally of many years.

He said, For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally. Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defence cooperation to trade and economic innovation.

Guilfoyle, who became engaged to Donald Trump Jr in 2020, has been a prominent supporter and fundraiser for Trumps political campaigns.

Despite her visibility within Trumps circle, she has no prior experience in foreign policy or diplomacy. She worked as a prosecutor in California before transitioning to television.

Reacting to her nomination on X, Guilfoyle described the nomination as an honour, adding that she looks forward to delivering the presidents agenda in Greece.

She wrote, Im honoured to accept President Trumps nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.

President Trumps historic victory is bringing hope and optimism to the American people and to freedom-loving allies across the world.

It was the democratic values born in Greece that helped shape the founding of America. And now, we have an opportunity to honour that history by bringing better days here at home and abroad.

As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity.
Muslims in Indonesia on Sunday (Dec. 8) prevented Christians from holding a Christmas service at a pastors home, sources said.

At the Cipta Graha Permai housing complex on Tegar Beriman street in Cibinong, West Java Province, Muslim residents blocked the road to the house of the pastor of the Pentecostal Church in Indonesia (GPdI) Tegar Beriman, keeping church members from attending a Christmas service, according to local media citing a video on an X post by John Sitorus (@JhonSitorus_18).

The Muslims claimed the site was not officially approved by the government, but church Pastor Nicky Jefta Makary said he had given prior notice of the 3 p.m. Christmas service to the neighborhood association, the head of the residents association, the local police chief and a Military Unit Command, according to news outlet Kilat.com.

A meeting in a private home does not require permission in Indonesia, and Pastor Nicky said he knew the regulations governing Christmas services.

I remind you that this country is a country that upholds human rights, he told Kilat.com. Why are we being hindered, when we want to do something good?

After tense conversations with the local officials, the pastor changed the venue for the Christmas service to an open field in front of the Cipta Graha Permai Housing marketing office, but the residents also blocked them from accessing the new site by installing an iron bar at the entrance of the complex.

Kefas Hervin Devananda, chairperson of the West Java Province Branch of the Indonesia Christian Journalists Association (Persatuan Wartawan Nasrani, or PEWARNA), said the state should intervene when minorities experience such persecution.

The state should be present if there are acts against the state constitution, Kefas told Kilat.com. There should be no one in any name to prevent other people from carrying out their worship according to their religion and beliefs on the grounds of permission, and law enforcement officers should act firmly if there are parties who try to carry out persecution by preventing others from worshiping according to their beliefs, because that is against the law and must be processed according to applicable law.

The chairperson of the Setara Institute, Hendardi, who goes by a single name, said issues related to prohibition of worship, intolerance and religious freedom violations do not appear to be a priority for the new administration of President Prabowo Subianto, who took office on Oct. 20.

Indonesia ranked 42nd on the Christian support organization Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Indonesian society has adopted a more conservative Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to the WWL report.
French military forces have begun pulling out of Chad, marking the end of a long era of defense cooperation in the region. The withdrawal process, which started with the departure of two Mirage fighter jets, follows Chads sudden decision to terminate its defense agreement with Paris. Although details about the timetable and the fate of remaining personnel are yet to be finalized, both sides have acknowledged that French forces will soon conclude a decades-long military presence.

This move comes on the heels of Frances withdrawal from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeractions prompted by a changing regional landscape marked by military coups and widespread anti-French sentiment. Once deeply involved in counterterrorism operations against Islamist militants in the Sahel, Frances influence in the region has waned. With foreign forces stepping back, local authorities now face the challenge of confronting extremist threats and stabilizing their security apparatus on their own terms.

For years, Chadians witnessed French troops on their soil, offering strategic support and playing a direct role in combat missions. As the jets lift off and equipment begins its long journey back to Europe, many questions linger: What will security look like without French backing? How will the government handle the enduring militant threats, and what will the future hold for a once-firm alliance now at its end?
Morocco will spend 1.4 billion dollars next year to promote employment, including through different training programs and measures in the countryside, the head of the government said.

Unemployment has surged in Morocco in recent years to hit an unprecedented 13.6% as drought forces the farming sector to shed more jobs in the countryside.

The budget would help address some issues facing employment including water management as the government also plans practical measures benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises, which are a lever for job creation, while emphasizing training to accelerate integration into the job market, the head of the government said in a statement following a cabinet meeting.

Agriculture and fisheries offers most jobs in Morocco, followed by services and the industry.
A Moroccan company has produced Africas first Mpox test, as the continent struggles to contain the spread of the virus, AP reported.

The jabs are being produced by Moroccan startup Moldiag after the virus was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization.

The company last month began accepting orders from Burundi, Uganda and Congo and has also sold them to Senegal and Nigeria as well, AP said.

Moldiag was founded out of Moroccos Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research, a university-affiliated nonprofit whose research has received funding from the European Commission and Moroccos government. The startup previously developed similar genetic tests for COVID-19 and tuberculosis.
As Morocco expands its rail network, it also works to become a manufacturing hub with the first Morocco-made trains expected to be on the market in 2030, Mohamed Samouni head of Morocco Train Industry Cluster said.

Speaking to Medias24, he noted that Moroccan train exports will have to wait until 2035.

Samouni, who is also vice director general of Moroccan train operator ONCF, said Morocco wants to emulate the success of the automotive industry in the rail sector.

Morocco has already launched a tender to set up a train-manufacturing industrial plant that is planned to start at a local sourcing rate of 30% before scaling that up to 70%.

The winners of the bid will be revealed between December and February next year, he said.

Morocco has an ambitious rail expansion plan that would require 40 billion dollars in investments by 2040.

The country plans to expand its high-speed train network to Marrakech and Agadir and will increase the number of cities served by the train to 43.
The Cairo Institute for Human Rights (CIHRS) joined a long list of rights watchdogs that alert to the growing repression of the Algerian regime against peaceful dissidents abroad after a brutal crackdown on criticism at home.

In a report dubbed The Noose is Tightening Around Us: Algerias Use of Transnational Repression to Crackdown on Dissent, the Cairo-based institute details a series of rights breaches against Algerian opposition figures abroad, such as Slimane Bouhafs, an Amazigh Christian activists who was kidnapped from Tunisia in connivance with authorities there in 2021, despite having a UNHCR refugee status.

The report sheds light on Algerias transnational repression from 2020 to 2024, based on 19 in-depth interviews with 21 exiled activists, as well as insights from their legal representatives and family members.

The Algerian government is increasingly pursuing activists abroad, targeting individuals who advocate for democracy and human rights. This isnt just an isolated strategy; its part of a comprehensive campaign to suppress calls for change and impose strict control over narratives about dissent in the country, Amna Guellali, Research Director at CIHRS.

After increasingly closing all spaces for dissent within Algeria since the suppression of the Hirak popular uprising in 2020, authorities have expanded their repressive reach to target dissidents and journalists abroad.

Recently, journalist Hichem Abboud was abducted in Spain and rescued in extremis by the Guardia Civil there.

Another dissident journalist Abdou Semmar was attacked by pro-regime agents in France and sentenced in absentia to death by an Algerian court in 2022.

Anwar Malik, another opposition figure, was intimidated by the arrest of his brother in an attempt by the Algerian regime to blackmail and silence his critical voice.

The dissidents who venture to return to the country face a similar fate to that of writer Boualem Sansal who was thrown in jail right after his arrival from France where he had given an interview questioning the regimes narratives and criticizing its oppressive methods.

The regime sought to quell dissent by resorting to conspiracy theories accusing human rights defenders and activists of serving a foreign agenda and indicting them on the basis of a penal code that criminalizes opposition to the regime.
Former Janjaweed leader Ali Mohammed Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, faces charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The alleged crimes were committed in 2003 and 2004 during the Darfur conflict in Eastern Sudan. This landmark case marks the first trial of a Sudanese official for atrocities in Darfur.

Over three days, beginning December 11, the prosecutor, representatives of the victims, and the defense will present their closing arguments. These final pleas will conclude a nearly three-year trial involving 78 days of hearings. During the proceedings, Ali Kushayb portrayed himself as a reluctant participant in the wara simple pharmacist from Garsila who claimed to be a man of peace thrust into conflict.

However, the prosecution paints a starkly different picture. According to the ICC prosecutor, Ali Kushayb was a Janjaweed leader allied with Sudans Khartoum government to suppress the Darfur rebellion. This counter-insurgency campaign led to devastating consequences: 300,000 deaths and 230,000 refugees, primarily fleeing to neighboring Chad, according to United Nations estimates.

The prosecution accuses Ali Kushayb of recruiting, arming, financing, and commanding Janjaweed militias while personally participating in attacks against civilians. To substantiate these claims, the prosecution presented testimony from 56 witnesses, many of whom testified anonymously or under pseudonyms to protect their identities. The defense called 18 witnesses to challenge these allegations.

As the trial wraps up, the judges will deliberate on the evidence presented. Ali Kushayb is not the only Sudanese official indicted for crimes in Darfurthree other former officials from Omar al-Bashirs regime, including al-Bashir himself, remain fugitives. This trial represents a pivotal moment in seeking accountability for the atrocities committed in Darfur.
A testimony of transformation through trial

My name is Lilly Nassar, and Im a mother of three from Bethlehem. Im a licensed tour guide who speaks English, French, and Spanish, leading tours around Bethlehem and the West Bank. With most of my family involved in tourism, studying tour guiding at Bethlehem Bible College felt like a natural step. The college is renowned for its professional teaching and for deepening our understanding of the historical and biblical sites in the Holy Landplaces we visit often but dont always fully know.

I began my studies in 2015, balancing the course schedule with my responsibilities as a working mom. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. The warm, family-like atmosphere made me feel at home, and the support I received stayed with me for years. That sense of belonging drew me back when I decided to pursue further education. Seven years after graduating, Im once again a student at Bethlehem Bible College, now enrolled in the Biblical Studies Program.

When the war began, tourism came to a standstill, and I lost my job as a tour guide. The war deeply impacted me, especially financially. Tourism, the lifeblood of Bethlehems economy, had already been weakened by COVID-19. Just as we began to recover, the war halted everything once again. Many people in the tourism sector have left the country, seeking stability elsewhere.

The past few years have been extremely challenging on a personal level also. After the pandemic, I was diagnosed with cancer and spent a year and a half undergoing treatment. When I was finally ready to return to work, the war started, and everything stopped again.

Instead of feeling defeated, I saw it all as an opportunity.

Instead of feeling defeated, I saw it all as an opportunity to pursue the biblical studies dream I had held for years. Going back to college felt like coming homereconnecting with familiar teachers and being welcomed by that same nurturing environment. The faculty at the college is exceptionalhighly qualified and deeply committed.

One of my proudest moments recently was helping organize a summer camp called Little Tour Guide. This project had been a dream of mine ever since I graduated from the tour guide program. I wanted to introduce children to the cultural richness of our country, something that is often overlooked in school curricula. The camp was a great success, combining my two passions: tour guiding and theology. We took children to historical and biblical sites around Bethlehem, teaching them about their heritage and identity.

Though my heart will always belong to tourism, as I continue my Biblical Studies degree Im also exploring teaching as a possible career path. I come alive when sharing my culture and experiences with others. Being both Palestinian and Latina, thanks to my mothers Latin American roots, allows me to connect with people in unique ways. However, the constant uncertainty in Palestine makes it difficult to thrive.

I dont know what the future holds, but I trust the One who holds it. For now, Im living one day at a time, hoping for peace and better days and staying open to whatever tomorrow may bring.

Originally published by Bethlehem Bible College. Republished with permission.
The collapse of Assad dictatorship opens a new chapter in the Moroccan-Syrian relationship after the toppled regime supported for decades the Polisario separatist group and the Algerian junta against Moroccos territorial integrity.

In November 2011, the Moroccan embassy was attacked by pro-Assad protesters in Damascus, prompting the ambassadors recall and the closure of the premises. In December 2012, Marrakesh hosted the fourth meeting of the Friends of Syria group supporting the Syrian opposition

Following the fall of Assad dynasty, several Syrians posted videos on social media networks expressing gratitude to the Moroccan Monarch for his unwavering backing for their just cause to achieve legitimate aspirations for freedom, democracy and dignity.

The Syrian people and especially the opposition and refugees pay tribute to King Mohammed VI for his political support and humanitarian assistance provided to alleviate their sufferings from one of the most brutal dictatorships in the Middle East.

They commend the Sovereign for ordering the Royal Moroccan forces to set the first military medico-surgical field hospital in Zaatari Camp in Jordan in 2012. The hospital served for eight years Syrians fleeing civil war with professionalism, dedication and a high sense of responsibility.

The Monarch visited in 2012 the 60-bed hospital which was operated by 125 medical staff, including 27 military doctors covering nearly twenty specialties.

The Syrians also look back with pride when Morocco welcomed 54 Syrian migrants who were expelled in 2017 by Algerian authorities to the Moroccan border town of Figuig in blatant violation of international laws.

Morocco had denounced the expulsion by Algeria of Syrians in vulnerable conditions describing the actions of Algerian authorities as immoral and unethical.

Over 5,000 Syrians have gone through a migration regulatory process in Morocco, with several hundred receiving refugee status, while in Algeria Syrian migrants (which include women and children) suffered inhumane treatment and were abandoned in a desert border zone in searing heat.

Morocco had repeatedly decried the atrocities and war crimes committed by the Assad regime in Syria and called for a political settlement that preserves the territorial integrity of Syria.

Following the collapse of Assads regime, the opposition forces caught a nearly one thousand Algerian soldiers, including 300 Polisario fighters, who were participating in the bloody repression and massacre of Syrian people.

An Algerian General is among the captured warmongers supporting Assad military regime. Algerian authorities have sent a top intelligence official to Turkey and Doha to negotiate their release but to no avail.

Few days ago, Algerian foreign ministry described Syrian opposition actions as terrorist threats but changed afterwards its stand after the spectacular collapse of Bachar Assads regime, showing their predicament and deceitfulness.

According to some analysts, the fall of Irans Axis of Resistance will bring down with it the Algerian regime which has been caught up in their destabilizing schemes.

Thanks to the royal wisdom, leadership, and far-sighted vision, Morocco is listed among winners of the geopolitical global shifts. Building on its international partnerships and credibility, the North African Kingdom is set to strengthen further its regional and international influence.
The Executive Office of Arab Information Ministers Council hailed the efforts made by Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency, the executive arm of Al-Quds Committee chaired by King Mohammed VI, for supporting the Palestinian people and preserving the Arab and Islamic identity of the holy city.

In a resolution adopted at the end of its meetings, held in Abu Dhabi, the Executive Office called on the Arab media to highlight the Agencys efforts in defending the Palestinian cause and its support for Al-Quds inhabitants.

The Moroccan delegation that took part in the 102nd session of the Permanent Committee for Arab Media played an active role in the debate of the items on the sessions agenda, and stressed the need to boost joint Arab media cooperation, by stepping up joint efforts and promoting coordination, consultation and the exchange of expertise in order to transcend the enormous challenges posed and promote media capable of consolidating Arab identity and meeting the aspirations of the regions peoples.

Participants stressed the importance of intensifying and unifying efforts to improve and develop Arab media, and of continuing to upgrade them to keep pace with developments in their environment, advocating media as an effective player in the defense of common Arab issues, the promotion of societies, and the development of countries in the region.

The meetings of the Permanent Committee for Arab Media and the Executive Office of Arab Ministers of Information covered several key topics, including the evolution of the action plan for media abroad, the Arab Electronic Media Committee and the role of Arab media in fighting terrorism.
Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters

By now, the details are familiar: Minutes before sunrise on December 4, a man wearing a hooded jacket, a gray backpack, and a mask over the bottom half of his face fired three shots from a silenced pistol at the back of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, outside the Hilton Hotel on West 54th Street. Thompson stumbled forward, turned to face the gunman, and collapsed. The shooter appeared to point the gun at Thompson a final time before walking away. The gunman escaped through Central Park, possibly by bike; Thompson was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. The NYPD recovered shell casings at the scene imprinted with the words DENY, DELAY, and DEPOSE  references, it seemed, to the tactics insurers use to avoid paying medical claims.

Homicides in America are often described as senseless. As in, a senseless killing; a senseless act of violence. In general, we prefer it that way. After a mass shooting, we quietly hope to find out the killer was mentally unwell, deprived of his senses. (The other form of senseless we can tolerate is evil, but that is harder to come by.) In the days since Brian Thompsons murder, we have seen, by contrast, a surfeit of sense-making from across the political spectrum. Almost immediately, the brazen, targeted attack, as the NYPD termed it, was interpreted as an act of retribution against the for-profit health-care industry, of which Thompson  who had raised UHCs profits from $12 billion to $16 billion since 2021, earning $10 million in 2023 for his trouble  was a prominent beneficiary and potent symbol. Vitriol against the insurance industry, and UnitedHealthcare in particular, flooded social media. The shooter was celebrated as a folk hero. Macabre jokes multiplied. Unfortunately, thoughts and prayers are out-of-network, someone quipped. Pre-authorization for our condolences required. In response to one New York Times story headlined, A Torrent of Hate for Health Insurance Industry Follows CEOs Killing, reader comments teemed with health-insurance horror stories: denied claims, byzantine appeals processes, bankruptcy, misery, death. As one Times reader put it, You get what you pay for  or in this case, what you dont.

On Monday morning, law enforcement detained a man matching the shooters description at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The suspect, police say, had a gun, a silencer, and fake identification in his possession. Also: a handwritten manifesto criticizing the health-care industry. (These parasites had it coming  it supposedly reads.) For as long as he evaded capture, the shooter had remained the anonymous author of a very short story, one whose parsimonious symbolic logic was impossible to ignore. Now, assuming the police have their man, bits of biography, political sympathies, medical records, and other details will complicate the plot, adding friction to its brutally elegant conceit. Much of the media seems pleased, as of Wednesday morning, to note the suspects privileged background; his Ivy League degree, it is presumed, will diffuse any remaining sympathies. Americans may love an underdog, but they always hate an ingrate.

In the meantime, the question remains: what to make of the publics initial response. Anger, Schadenfreude, cynicism, glibness, bloodlust  what does it say about our country that a murderous spectacle was greeted this way? Had a latent appetite for vengeance, for coercive violence, for revolution even, been revealed? Experts wondered. Its being framed as some opening blow in a broader class war, Alex Goldenberg, an intelligence analyst, told the Times. Which is very concerning as it heightens the threat environment for similar actors to engage in similar acts of violence. And what about plain hard-heartedness? Thompson was a human being, with a wife and two children. Did we not endanger our souls, if not our social order, by justifying their suffering?

It is a rare thing for an American CEO or other public figure to be targeted in this manner. But the structure of feeling it unleashed did not seem novel to me. Americans have a great deal of recent experience assessing the worthiness of strangers for execution. Its one of the things we do together online: when someone is killed by a cop or vigilante; when a protester is mowed down by a car; when a Palestinian child is killed by an Israeli sniper or an Israeli civilian by Hamas. Arguing about whose lives are expendable is one of Americas favorite pastimes.

What about our bloodlust? Should we be concerned that Americans have betrayed an appetite for political violence? Perhaps. But the flip side of appetite is metabolism: not what we want, but how we bear what we are given. Americans, we might say, have a prodigious capacity for metabolizing brutality and death  we have been conditioned for it. As the writer and gun-violence expert Patrick Blanchfield put it to me, This event gives us something fairly rare: a situation where a person victimized by a distinctively American system of normalized human liquidation  i.e., gun homicide  is also representative of that other distinctively American institution for disposing of human life, our for-profit health-care system, a key function of which is determining how much individual human lives are worth, and enforcing those assessments with ruthlessly incentivized efficiency. For Blanchfield, Thompsons murder, and the system of mechanized cruelty from which he profited, are part of the same regime of human disposability  a system in which human life, instead of being precious and priceless, is a fungible commodity like anything else.

I sense the readers trepidation: Does acknowledging this link implicitly ratify the killers logic? Violence, we intuit, is not something that should be reasoned about. To tolerate  let alone celebrate  the elimination of one life for the sake of a political message feels like a perilous surrender, a step on a path toward routinized horror. Humans are too fragile and various to be reduced to such ruthless arithmetic.

But why should our moral intuitions stop there? Ruthless arithmetic already governs our world. We are always subject to a regime that reduces people to numbers, and disposes of them as means to ends. In the larger social order, death and reason are wed. Our military bureaucracies, arms industries, police departments, hospital systems, and, yes, private insurers, agree: The expendability of human lives can and must be rationally decided. Every day, powerful individuals make calculations about who should live and who should die, guided by assessments of relative value  sometimes by ideas of safety and who deserves it; often by the aim of keeping shareholders happy.

The shooter claimed this prerogative for himself without a corporate bureaucracy, an algorithm, or a system of laws to authorize the privilege. It is a terrible thing to destroy a human life for the sake of propaganda, and a terrible thing to do so for the sake of profit. (There is hubris in both.) We will not be able to disrupt our metabolism for social suffering by indulging our appetite for political violence; we cant kill our way out of a society premised on human disposability. But it must be said that violence finds more purchase, seduces more persuasively, in the absence of other obvious and meaningful pathways for registering discontent. Americans are dying, going bankrupt, and wallowing in despair under a health-care system that prioritizes the profits of some over the basic needs of others: Where should they turn? Who is listening?

In Stephen Sondheims bleak musical satire Assassins, the ensemble cast is composed of presidential killers and aspirants (e.g., John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley Jr., etc.). Each is depicted as some variety of loser or freak; their motives, if political, are also conflated with a generalized sense of dissatisfaction, the feeling that the American right to be happy has proven as hollow as it was tantalizing. (Hey, kid, failed your test? Dream girl unimpressed? Show her youre the best / If you can shoot a president ) For Sondheim, violence makes sense  a very American sort of sense  in this way. If America is a land of opportunity, it remains so only because, in the last instance, when your life has failed to turn out, and your portion of happiness has been distributed to somebody else, you can always claim your consolation prize  spectacle, celebrity, fame  and shoot the president.

Like America, Sondheims play wears its cynicism on its sleeve, but only to guard against a naked sincerity beneath. We are sardonic about Americas promises because its too painful to face our feeble faith that they are real. (Only a true believer is capable of blasphemy.) What the play suggests, at least to me, is that political violence isnt incompatible with democracy; it feeds on the despair that democracy, in its crippled form, produces. Democracy cultivates in us moral impulses, imagination, and desires that demand satisfaction. Violence is alluring when they can find no plausible outlet, when the systems that govern our lives are overzealous in containing our fugitive hopes. As a pair of Sondheims assassins sing:

And all you have to do

Is squeeze your little finger

Ease your little finger back 

You can change the world

Whatever else is true

You trust your little finger

Just a single little finger

Can 

Change the world
Joni Ernst toeing the party line. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Less than a week ago, the most common descriptor you heard among Washingtonians about Defense-secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was toast or dead man walking. Many cited Senator Joni Ernsts skepticism as a sign that even a Republican-controlled Senate would not confirm him. As Politico noted, the Senate Armed Services Committee member all but held her nose when talking about the former Fox New anchor:

Ernst (R-Iowa), who had a frank and thorough conversation with the Defense Department pick on Wednesday, was asked on Americas Newsroom if shes not ready to vote yes on Hegseth  She replied: I think you are right.

A number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared and thats why we have to have a very thorough vetting process, Ernst said. The vetting will continue, I am certain, through the next month or so until we approach that hearing date.

Thats Beltway talk for hes in big trouble. Ernst is a veteran, and when Trump selected Hegseth, his opposition to women serving in combat roles was well known. Then Hegseth was accused of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct; it seemed that did not sit well with Ernst, a survivor of sexual assault who has crusaded for years to address sexual misconduct in the military.

Beyond the implications for Hegseth, Ernsts arms-length attitude toward one of Trumps key nominees was interpreted as sign that the Senate would maintain its independence under the next administration, despite Trumps insistence on loyalty. The Iowan was emblematic of the Senate conservatives from Trump country whose own elections predated Trumps and who thus presumably had their own solid constituencies back home.

Now Ernst appears to have experienced a real attitude adjustment about Hegseth, as the New York Times reported:

Only days after emerging from a private meeting with Mr. Hegseth sounding unconvinced about his fitness to lead the Pentagon, Ms. Ernst, the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate and a survivor of sexual assault, indicated that a second sit-down had allayed her concerns.

And she suggested that a torrent of allegations against Mr. Hegseth that had put his candidacy in jeopardy  including sexual assault, sexual impropriety in the workplace, public drunkenness and fiscal mismanagement  might not be disqualifying unless his accusers came forward publicly.

I appreciate Pete Hegseths responsiveness and respect for the process, Ms. Ernst said in a statement after their meeting, adding that she had had encouraging conversations with Mr. Trumps pick.

Ernst has some additional encouragement in that direction from Trump supporters and advisers, the Times observed:

Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, signaled on Monday that she would not oppose Pete Hegseths bid for defense secretary, hinting at a turnabout after days of hectoring and threats by President-elect Donald J. Trumps hard-right supporters who threatened political retribution if she failed to fall into line.

The hectoring and threats were a national MAGA phenomenon, and included some voices from Ernsts home state, as the Iowa Democratic Party observed with glee:

Iowa attorney general Brenna Bird, the first and most prominent statewide elected official to endorse Trumps 2024 comeback bid, also penned a piece for Breitbart News that could be interpreted as a shot across the bow at Ernst, who is up for reelection in 2026:

[O]n election night, Iowans delivered Trump the largest margin of victory in the Hawkeye state since 1972, even after being told by the fools gold standard pollster that Trump would lose the state. It was as clear of a message as possible, or so I thought.

In recent days, its become clear that D.C. politicians think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years 

Trump has been building a qualified, talented, and powerful team to lead his America First agenda 

What were witnessing in Washington right now is a Deep State attempt to undermine the will of the people. We must not let Washington kill nominations before the Constitutional confirmation process even begins.

I dont think its a stretch to think that this kind of pressure helped generate Joni Ernsts new tone in talking about the Pentagon nominee. And more generally, whatever Trump himself is or is not saying or doing on behalf of his Cabinet nominees, his MAGA army online and all over the country is demanding a confirmation sweep by the Senate. They can afford a few defections from the likes of Susan Collins or Lisa Murkowski, who rely on non-Republican voters to keep them in office. But for the bulk of Senate Republicans, independence is just a term for self-sabotage, particularly so soon after Trumps election win.
Trumps plans dont end with deporting criminals. Photo: Brandon Bell/Reuters

The mass deportation of undocumented immigrants was one of Donald Trumps principal campaign promises in 2024. There has been a lot of debate about whether he will actually attempt to expel all of the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the country or whether hell focus on those convicted of serious crimes other than entering the U.S. illegally (an estimated 8,400 people). But as Inauguration Day rapidly approaches, a whole new question has arisen: Will the 47th president also go after major restrictions in legal avenues for immigration, including the bedrock principle of birthright citizenship?

Reducing all forms of immigration has been an abiding goal of Stephen Miller, Trumps longtime immigration adviser and future White House deputy chief of staff for policy. And as The Wall Street Journal noted recently, the first Trump administration made numerous attempts to reduce legal immigration (though many were thwarted in the courts):

In 2017, [Trump] held an event at the White House to honor the introduction of a bill known as the Raise Act, which would have cut legal immigration levels roughly in half and ended the system allowing U.S. citizens to sponsor their parents and siblings for green cards, which conservatives refer to as chain migration. The bill failed to advance through Congress. 

Overall, an analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy, a pro-immigration think tank, found that Trumps administration adopted 52 policies to restrict access to visas and green cards for highly skilled workers, and didnt put in place any policies to ease their access.

So it was always safe to assume that a second Trump administration would attempt to reduce various forms of legal immigration. But now Trump himself has pledged to do something far more sweeping on his first day in office: issue an executive order eliminating birthright citizenship. In an interview with Meet the Press last weekend, Trump called birthright citizenship ridiculous, adding, We have to end it.

This would presumably expose millions to deportation from the land where they were born. As Christian Farias noted in New York Magazine when Trump threatened to end birthright citizenship in 2018, this issue would certainly wind up in the courts, as it exceeds Trumps authority as president and violates a constitutional right:

The framers of the slavery-ending, post-Civil War amendments may have made grand pronouncements about due process and equal protection of the laws in the text of the 14th Amendment, which courts have interpreted expansively. But they left no ambiguities when they wrote the amendments citizenship clause: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

Since a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1898 struck down openly racist anti-Asian immigration policies, its been clearly understood this clause applies to the children of non-citizens born in the United States under any circumstance. Nativist politicians have periodically bridled at this idea as an invitation to illegal immigration by those who want their children to gain citizenship, but the courts havent agreed. An executive order ending birthright citizenship would test whether the recently Trumpified federal judiciary  and particularly a conservative Supreme Court majority that has been so accommodating to Trumps needs  might reconsider precedents and open the door to the most fundamental change in the very idea of what constitutes an American since the 19th century.

Even if that doesnt happen, raising the question of birthright citizenship right off the bat could benefit Trump strategically in two ways. First, challenging this right might make it more politically palatable to separate the estimated 4.3 million U.S. citizens whose parents are undocumented from their soon-to-be-deported family members. Even though the Trump administration cant deport these citizens, it could accuse them of causing their own family separation if they choose not to self-deport. Second, Trump and Miller may simply want to begin their nativist crusade with the most expansive and audacious proposals in their arsenal. Perhaps they believe that once eliminating birthright citizenship is on the table, their more legally defensible plans will seem less draconian.
7 items in this article Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

For this weeks Dont Dillydally, weve rounded up a range of newly released products were particularly excited about, including a limited-edition drop of our favorite water bottle, handcrafted light shades and rugs, and a teen-favorite moisturizer.

Fragrance by Sabrina in Me Espresso

The Pleasing x JW Anderson Logo Hoodie in Grass Green $280 On the Strategist Slack channel, were still not entirely sure who Pleasing is for (rich millennials who loved 1D as teens and are also very into fashion? wonders Strategist writer Katherine Gillespie). Ill admit that this collaboration with JW Anderson is one of the brands better ones, though. Available are mesh tops, (overpriced) crewnecks, and four metallic shades of the nail polish the Harry Stylesowned brand was founded upon. $280 at Pleasing Buy

Revival Triplo Strato Hand-loomed Wool Rug $899 Some nice 70s patterns in this new Revival Rugs collection. The vintage-inspired grid design is available in three shades  and the brand is offering a buy one, get one half-price deal until Christmas Day, with the code RUGBOGO50. $899 at Revival Rugs Buy

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You can stop it,Shawn. We all know what you are.

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there are not enough "fuck you"s in the world

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we're gonna need a music industry Luigi here

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proof that incels are worthless that they just let these music Chads run amok

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Fucking foul

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"Fair is fair"

Get fucked! She was 13!

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So she can be harassed by thousands of his fans? How about no.

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Hell is not hot enough for him

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every time I see a picture of him I'm freshly shocked by how ugly he is. driver roll up the partition please and let me get in the passenger seat.

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Hes a fucking ghoul.

The judge in diddys case ordered the reveal of one of the plaintiffs name so this will probably happen. Same thing happened in Garth Brooks case. I am very worried because some of the beyhive actually seem like they could be homicidal and they think they need to defend the ugly husband of the woman they stan. This poor woman.

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i realized after this news came out just how much of her legacy is built on him as a subject and how hollow most of it is after she stayed with him post-lemonade. like it's bad enough she read him to filth and then just stuck around. depending on how this plays out in the press she's going to tank all of her biggest songs because no one wants to listen to a woman at the top of her game sing about going down on her (alleged) child rapist husband. to say nothing of her image as a "feminist" and powerful woman. that shouldn't be the focus here and i don't mean to make it. i hope the judge sides with the victim and she gets to keep her privacy.



Edited at 2024-12-11 12:37 am (UTC)

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The fact she kept singing love songs about him post Lemonade is... a choice.

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I would hope most of the Beyhive hate him, but I know stans/fans are not the most intelligent group of people when their fave (Beyonce, not him) is threatened.

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the phenomenon of going to bat for the spouse of someone you stan is not something I understand

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most of the BeyHive actually hates him from what I know

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She never asked to be put into this awful situation and she never asked to be made a public figure if not for what he did, he and his lawyer can go to hell.

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Fuck off

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Yes, he has a right to confront his accuser but this isn't a matter of justice. This blatantly attempting to intimidate this woman before he's even been ~formally accused so she'll back down.

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They want to make her identity known so she's forced back into silence for her own safety. It's disgusting.

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I need someone with an ontd university law degree to explain what criteria needs to be met for an accuser to have anonymity. Also Ive seen conflicting info on statutes of limitations for the crime and something being tried in criminal court vs civil? Ive been googlin but its hard to get any cohesive insight



Still shocked at the photos of him with Beyonce and his daughter (and mother in law? I think) yesterday. My Cowboy Carter vinyl is giving me the ick now, whyd you put his name on it girl 



Edit: also I preordered and got the one thats missing a ton of tracks that was final sale , now Im downright pissed lol)



Edited at 2024-12-11 12:43 am (UTC)

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I'm confused too - I thought anonymity in these types of cases meant her name was hidden from the public but was known to the person she's suing.



But this statement "Mr. Carter deserves to know the identity of the person who is effectively accusing him" suggests he doesn't?



I'm really surprised that's allowed since it seems difficult to build a defense if you don't know the identity of the person suing you.

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also lol at them being ~ooh be fast and get the special edition~ that are still for sale as I speaketh.



Probably just end up using it to balance a table in the future





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Im a very casual listener but I respect her artistry and wanted to support incredible talent in a genre thats racist af



And all of that is still true but also I have a half album from a whole billionaire who said no returns xoxo knowing her biggest fans were the ones that would support her with preorders and scammed them anyway and *also* it has an alleged child rapists name on the cover



I dont want to center beyonce in her husbands crime, i just need to learn from this lol

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i'm still following my train of thought from my earlier comment. i can't stand that it's named cowboy carter. she could have been making moves to de-center him from her music with renaissance but then she went and put his name on an album about growing up in a place that he had nothing to do with. it's especially "??" to me after putting such effort to address her mother's correct maiden name  which gave her her own name  and putting it in such a place of honor with the album. like the way she tells it, her husband has nothing to do with her literal motherland but it's her married name on her work.

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Courts weigh the risk of harm to the accuser against the defendants right to a fair trial when deciding on motions to reveal an accusers identity. In high-profile cases like Diddys and Garth Brooks, motions to reveal the accusers identity were granted, both argued that transparency was necessary for a fair defense.



Jay-Zs legal team is likely using similar reasoningthat anonymity could impair their ability to investigate the claims or challenge credibility and therefore impeding their ability to build a case.



However, the accuser can push back by demonstrating a credible risk of harassment, intimidation, or harm if her identity is made public.

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OSHA Finds Lack of Training Among Causes of Forklift Operators Death

OSHA has fined Mitchell Industrial Tire Co. for $288,299 following a forklift operator's death due to safety violations.

A forklift operator's death in June 2024 at a tire distribution center in Elm Mott, Texas, has led to significant fines and citations against Mitchell Industrial Tire Co. Inc. A subsequent OSHA investigation revealed unsafe practices, including improper training and inadequate storage measures, contributed to the fatal incident.

According to a recent release, the operator was killed when a pallet loaded with industrial truck tires fell from a three-tier storage system. OSHA discovered the system was compromised due to damaged vertical supports and missing horizontal beam locks. Proper training and compliance could have prevented the incident, inspectors said.

Mitchell Industrial Tire Co. Inc. now faces $288,299 in proposed penalties for one willful and 11 serious violations. These include failure to train forklift operators adequately and storing unbanded pallets higher than 16 feet, a practice OSHA says violates workplace safety standards.

Neglecting to train forklift operators properly can lead to devastating consequences, as seen at Mitchell Industrial Tire, OSHA Area Director Timothy Minor in Fort Worth, Texas, said in a statement. The company must comply with safety requirements to protect workers from the many hazards present in warehouses and manufacturing facilities, in line with industry best practices and federal regulations designed to prevent serious injuries and fatalities.

Mitchell Industrial Tire Co. manufactures solid tires for material handling equipment at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, facility and operates three distribution centers nationwide. The company has 15 business days to comply with the citations, request a conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before an independent review commission.
Back in 2020, the European Union gave the go-ahead to a project looking into the viability of extracting geothermal energy from oil wells. The idea: diversify low-carbon energy sources beyond wind and solar. Now, they are doubling down on heat from the ground.

Reuters reported this week that the 27 members of the bloc had drafted a document demanding a commitment to the reduction of emissions from cooling and heating systems, and with it, a commitment to explore the potential of geothermal energy as a replacement for hydrocarbons in power generation and heating.

The use of geothermal energy contributes to the strategic objectives of the European Union by decreasing energy dependence and fossil fuel imports, the draft reads, according to the report. The document also suggests that utilizing geothermal energy could bring down electricity costs, which, in the past couple of years, have caused a cost-of-living crisis and set in motion a deindustrialization trend in European economies.

On paper, it sounds greatjust ask Iceland, which gets a solid portion of its energy from subterranean heat wells. In practice, it is a little bit more complicated, as evidenced by the fact that there has been a lot of talk about geothermal energy in the EU but little action. The draft document cited by Reuters was not the only attempt to put geothermal in the spotlight this year. In July, EUs energy ministers made another attempt that ended with nothing specific because of what appeared to be an absence of immediate access to sufficient funding.

Now, geothermal energy is back on the table, and maybe this time, it will be granted some of the preferential treatment that wind and solar energy have enjoyed for years. That treatment would address the two biggest problems with geothermal expansion: high upfront costs and a complicated permitting process.

Geothermal resources are abundant everywhere: the Earths core radiates heat outwards into the mantle and the crust. Oil and gas drillers are familiar with this heat and know that the deeper you drill, the hotter it gets. That heat is the goal of geothermal drilling. However, because heat makes drilling trickier at greater depths, geothermal drilling is an expensive undertaking; the deeper the well, the more expensive it becomes.

Related to this problem is the fact that while geothermal energy is abundant, access to it is not equally easy. In Iceland, the heat is closer to the surface, which makes it cheaper to tap. In other parts of the world, you need to drill much deeper to get to that heat, which makes the endeavor more expensive. There is another risk, too, as evidenced by Icelands electricity crunch from the winter of 2021/22. Following an extra dry summer, the countrys hydropower resources were depleted and geothermal could not be scaled up to absorb the demand that hydro could not meet.

Yet no source of energy is without risk and that particular risk could be quite manageable if geothermal is used selectively, when and where it is most appropriate. A recent deal between Germanys BASF and Australia-based Vulcan Energy could be one such instance. The two said in November that they would explore the possibility of tapping geothermal at a BASF site in order to supply it with baseload electricity with no emissions. The companies estimated the potential of geothermal resources at the site to be up to 300 MW.

Geothermal certainly has a substantial potential to complement the energy mix of any country as long as the drilling is cost-effective and that cost-effectiveness is prioritized over the amount of emissions that could be removed by using that source of energy for a specific location. Prioritizing emissions above all other considerations, such as affordability, reliability, and, indeed, cost, has not been particularly productive for the EU.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The biggest solar equipment manufacturers in China, which have been grappling with overcapacity, very low prices, and losses for more than a year, have taken a leaf out of OPECs market-management book in their efforts to curb excess capacity.

OPEC has perfected the art of supply management through the decades to influence market conditions and sentiment. Whenever they feel they need to restrict supply to boost oil prices, OPEC producers  and in recent years, several non-OPEC producers led by Russia  agree to reduce production and allocate quotas to each member of the OPEC or OPEC+ pact.

Most of the time, this has worked, at least in changing the markets perception of near-term supply balances.

OPEC-Style Production Quotas

Now Chinas embattled solar equipment manufacturers are betting on overcoming the current oversupply in the domestic market by agreeing to OPEC-style quotas, Bloomberg reports.

The Chinese solar industry has dug itself into a position similar to the one OPEC has frequently found itself through the yearsoverproduction depressing market fundamentals and oil prices.

Chinas relentless growth of solar equipment output began to bite last year when demand couldnt absorb all the supply. As a result, prices for solar PV cells, panels, modules, and wafers sank and dragged down with them the profits of the companies, including of the biggest producers.

Related: China's Export Ban Sends Antimony Prices Soaring 40% in One Day

Despite what will be another record-breaking year for solar capacity additions in China, domestic solar equipment manufacturers are far from cheering this featmany of them, especially the smaller ones, may not be around in a few months to continue contributing to the Chinese renewables boom.

The existential threat to the solar equipment sector was the main reason why more than 30 of Chinas biggest companies in the industry signed a pact to have production quotas in 2025 based on current market shares, individual output capacity, and expected demand for solar products, according to reports in Chinese media.

The agreement was signed at the annual meeting of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association last week.

The production quotas are the latest attempt to curb excess supply in China and save many of its solar equipment manufacturers, as very low prices have resulted in massive losses, threatening the survival of many firms.

Fight for Survival

A considerable number of smaller companies wont be able to survive the first half of next year, Xu Xiaohua, chairman and chief executive officer of the privately held Anhui Huasun Energy, said at the BloombergNEF Summit in Shanghai last week.

The latest move to curb overcapacity, a page taken out of OPECs playbook, is expected to ease the pressure on the Chinese solar equipment sector next year. Executives say that the industry could need another year or two to go through the oversupply and emerge in a healthier financial and market position.

The booming solar panel manufacturing in China has led to losses for producers who have been forced to sell their products at below-market prices.

However, the Chinese boom  supported by cheap materials and policy support from the central and local governments  has started to bite into the profitability of manufacturers.

The Chinese solar panel market remains oversupplied, and this glut could last up to two more years, one of the top manufacturers, Longi Green Energy Technology, said earlier this year.

Longi reported last month a loss of $174 million (1.261 billion Chinese yuan) for the third quarter and said that it has adapted market strategy and implemented measures to successfully counter industrys collective loss.

In 2024, a supply-demand imbalance in the photovoltaic (PV) industry and intensified price competition have led to the industrys first collective loss since 2016, the company said.

Earlier this year, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association said that China urgently needs consolidation in the solar manufacturing industry as overcapacity and price wars are leading local companies to a race to the bottom.

The OPEC-style self-discipline from producers is the latest attempt in China to lift solar manufacturers out of the hole they had dug themselves.

Last month, China tightened the investment criteria for solar products manufacturing in a bid to rein in the overcapacity that has plagued the sector in recent months.

The industry has been calling for government intervention to curb the booming solar manufacturing.

The Chinese government now wants a minimum capital ratio of 30% for solar PV projects, up from 20% previously. This ratio typically refers to the share of total investment shareholders invest with their own assets.

The government and industry hope that all these regulations and the self-imposed production quotas will help the solar equipment manufacturing sector ride out the worst of the glut. Next year will be crucial and will show how successful all these policies will be.

The keyword for next year is surviving, Xing Guoqiang, chief technology officer at Tongwei Co., said at BloombergNEFs event in Shanghai last week.

2025 will be very important for many companies to survive this cycle.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil production from all OPEC members rose by 104,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November compared to October, the organizations Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) showed on Wednesday.

Total OPEC-12 crude oil production averaged 26.66 million bpd last month, as output in Libya, Iran, and Nigeria increased, according to OPECs secondary sources used to track supply to the market.

Of the three countries where production rose the most in November from the previous month, two  Libya and Iran  are exempted from the OPEC+ production cuts due to political instability and Western sanctions, respectively.

In November, Libyas crude oil production jumped by 141,000 bpd to 1.238 million bpd, according to OPECs secondary sources.

Recently, Libyas oil output hit an 11-year high of over 1.4 million bpd, after recovering from the dip in September due to the field blockades over a row about the leadership of the Central Bank of Libya, the only internationally recognized depository of Libyas oil revenues.

Production in Iran rose by 37,000 bpd to 3.323 million bpd in November, per OPECs secondary sources.

The third OPEC producer exempted from the cuts, Venezuela, saw its output decline by 20,000 bpd.

Among the biggest OPEC members, the top producer and de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, continued to keep its pledge to pump around 9 million bpdits oil production averaged 8.963 million bpd in November, down by 10,000 bpd from October.

OPECs second-largest producer, Iraq, saw its output drop by 45,000 bpd to 4.043 million bpdreflecting efforts to fall in line with its quota, which is 4 million bpd.

The rise in OPECs production for November comes as the OPEC+ group, comprising OPEC and a dozen non-OPEC producers led by Russia, last week decided to delay the start of the easing of the 2.2 million bpd cuts to April 2025, from January 2025. The group also extended the period in which it would unwind all these cuts into the following year, until September 2026.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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China's strategic focus on EVs and low-cost lithium ensures continued mining, while a potential restocking phase could eventually boost prices.

The global lithium market remains oversupplied, with UBS forecasting imbalances until at least 2027 despite recent production cuts.

Lithium prices have dropped sharply, prompting production curtailments in Australia and China but not in Africa, where Chinese-owned mines maintain output.

This years plunge in lithium prices has forced curtailments in production in China and Western Australia as lithium miners look to limit losses and reduce the oversupply hanging over the market and prices.

However, the lithium glut has not gone away and the market could remain oversupplied until 2027, analysts say.

One of the reasons for a persistent glut could be the fact that while producers in Australia and, to some extent, in China, are curtailing output and delaying project ramp-ups, lithium mines in Africa owned by Chinese battery makers are not reducing supply.

The mines, especially those in Zimbabwe, continue to operate as Chinese battery makers continue mining operations to have low-cost lithium supply and maintain market share, industry insiders and analysts have told Reuters.

As a result, the market will continue to be oversupplied for the next two years, and not find balance until 2027, according to UBS.

The bank still expects lithium supply to have increased by 25% this year and to rise by 15% next year, according to its estimates cited by Reuters.

The supply boost is expected despite the recent curtailments at lithium mines in Australia.

Global lithium miners have moved to curtail production and shrink their workforceat least until market conditions improve.

Last month, Australian miner Mineral Resources said it was shutting down its Bald Hill lithium mine amid a crash in lithium prices in another project curtailment in the industry.

The low lithium prices have hit other producers and projects, too.

Australias Liontown Resources said it would reduce production from its Kathleen Valley lithium project, to prioritise higher margin ore at reduced costs to adapt to the low-price lithium environment.

Pilbara Minerals has also announced a suspension of a lithium processing plant in Western Australia.

The worlds largest lithium producer, North Carolina-based Albemarle, booked a net loss of $1.1 billion for the third quarter amid lower pricing in the lithium value chain.

As part of measures to reduce costs and operations, Albemarle will be reducing its global workforce by an expected 6-7% and is slashing its 2025 capital expenditures by around 50% versus 2024 to an anticipated range of $800 million to $900 million.

The reduction in some Chinese lithium supply is being replaced by output in Africa, which is serving the growing Chinese market, Albemarles chief commercial officer, Eric Norris, said on the companys Q3 earnings call last month.

It is a fragmented market. It is a market with significant Chinese presence today. And it's a market where you have a lot of young companies whose sole reason for existing is to raise a lithium project, Norris said, commenting on why more supply hasnt been curtailed.

It could take longer for this market to rebalance, he added.

Many mines supplying Chinese battery makers wouldnt close amid the price plunge because they are integrated into downstream supply chains, analysts told Reuters.

EV manufacturing and sales is a strategic priority for Chinas government, which would like to have cheap lithium supply flowing.

And Chinas electric vehicle sales are surging. November marked the fifth consecutive month in which battery electric vehicles and plug-in vehicles outsold gasoline passenger cars.

Chinas most recent rebound in demand has pushed local lithium prices higher. But the fundamentals of the global lithium market havent changed muchsupply continues to outpace demand, setting the stage for at least another year of oversupply and depressed prices, analysts say.

However, an expected phase of restocking of processed lithium for batteries could rebalance the market faster, according to Will Adams, head of base metals research at Fastmarkets, a commodity price reporting agency.

Were probably going to be stepping in and out of deficits for a while, but as the deficits get closer, look out for the restocking phase as that can really give prices a boost, Adams said on a recent webinar on the global outlook for the battery raw materials market in 2025.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Carbon could become a trillion-dollar asset class by the middle of the next decade, as governments and companies increasingly turn to market mechanisms to control greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

The Middle East, which produces some 30 percent of the world's petroleum, is increasingly taking notice. As carbon becomes an important factor in global trade, the regions governments and companies are turning to markets to help them meet targets and transform their economies.

Inevitable expansion

Carbon is traded in national or regional compliance markets, in which companies must comply with emissions limits by purchasing or trading allowances. There are also voluntary markets, operating mostly over the counter, where companies buy credits to offset their emissions. Credits come from carbon avoidance or reduction projects that are verified by a few recognized standards organizations worldwide.

There are 30 compliance markets now trading carbon allowance instruments valued at over $800 billion annually, covering approximately one-fifth of global GHG emissions, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).

The total value of carbon credits produced and sold in voluntary markets is much smaller. Carbon credit prices reached a peak of just over $2 billion in 2022, when the number of credits sold also peaked, according to data from MSCI as reported by Bloomberg News. The market has since declined, largely due to rising concerns over the real worth of carbon credits; whether the projects generating credits actually avoid or remove the amount of emissions they claim (1 metric ton per credit).

Oil companies, airlines, and others that have bought credits for years as part of their emissions reduction strategies have greatly reduced or stopped purchases. Still, the value of traded credits was $723 million last year and carbon credit issuances continue to generate interest worldwide. Companies continue investing in credits sourced from technological, nature-based and community-based projects, but theyre waiting for stronger standards and clearer regulatory regimes. Related: Putin's Gazprombank Move Creates Ripple in EU-U.S. Sanctions Strategy

The much-needed scrutiny is laying the basis for better markets, which many industry stakeholders are working on now. Important global leadership came in a breakthrough at COP29 last month, when countries agreed on rules for a new global market for carbon credits with strong quality standards. A centralized UN-backed carbon market could begin soon, providing funds for projects to reduce GHGs worldwide.

Although much work remains to be done, the UN standards should help allay concerns about credit quality. The general consensus on carbon markets remains bullish, with many companies continuing to invest in credits and the likelihood of further growth as reforms occur.

Growth estimates vary widely but share a positive outlook. The Boston Consulting Group sees the voluntary market growing to $10 billion or more in 2030, while investment manager Morgan Stanley forecasts it to reach $100 billion in 2030 and approximately $250 billion in 2050. In one scenario, BNEF forecasts a reformed voluntary market to reach nearly $1 trillion in value in 2037.

Middle East exporters need carbon price

The Middle East, like other exporting regions, is turning to carbon markets in response to an imminent new factor in world trade. The EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will put a tax on carbon emitted from production of goods imported into the EU, will enter into force in 2026.

The EUs ETS, the first compliance model to put a price on carbon going back 20 years, has a central place in its effort to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The price of emission allowances trading on the ETS has averaged Euro 65 per metric ton in recent weeks. The high carbon prices of recent years have generated significant revenue, up to Euro 37 billion in 2022, providing funding for low carbon energy initiatives in member states.

Now, with CBAM, importers must purchase certificates linked to the weekly average auction price of EU ETS allowances, for carbon-intensive imports including cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilizers, electricity and hydrogen. CBAM will increase the cost of heavy goods that countries export to Europe by 10 per cent on average according to estimates. It is possible the tariff will be extended to oil and gas in coming years.

Countries and companies in the Middle East want to avoid these carbon tariffs as they position themselves as suppliers of low-carbon energy and industrial products. Therefore energy exporting countries in the Gulf and the broader Middle East are beginning to embrace carbon pricing mechanisms, to capture and reinvest this carbon revenue themselves.

Creating carbon trade

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as Egypt, are putting the infrastructure in place, setting up regulated voluntary markets for credits to offset emissions. These schemes will lay the basis for future mandatory markets.

In 2022, Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Tadawul Group, the stock exchange operator, established the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company (RVCMC).

Last month, RVCMC announced that it had established an exchange platform for regular auctions of high quality carbon credits. This follows two pilot auctions hosted by RVCMC during 2022-23, with purchasers including Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company and ENOWA (subsidiary of NEOM).

For its part, the UAEs Federal Decree on climate change, coming into force in May 2025, mandates monitoring and control of GHG emissions across sectors while incentivizing companies to participate in emission trading schemes and carbon credit markets. The Dubai Financial Market is now assessing its carbon credit trading pilot launched late last year.

Meanwhile, some of the UAEs most high profile companies are making carbon trading a main business strategy. ADNOC is setting up a carbon trading desk. Companies such as the utility Tabreed, airline Etihad, and bank Emirates NBD are showing the breadth of this commitment across sectors.

Egypt this year launched the African Voluntary Carbon Market (AFRICARBONX), making itself a center of carbon credit trading for projects throughout Africa. The new market, supported by the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), provides a central database for carbon reduction projects with a platform for certificate trading.

While voluntary markets are being installed, countries are also introducing carbon compliance regulations for eventual compliance markets.

Saudi Arabia is working on a pilot phase of a national carbon emissions compliance model. The government is currently studying the EU ETS and other compliance regimes as it implements the 2-3 year pilot phase.

For its part, Dubai has established a National Register for Carbon Credits to ensure the trade of high-quality instruments.

The ongoing pilots and initiatives across the Middle East, especially within the GCC, clearly demonstrate the region's serious intent to scale carbon markets in the near future, says Andrew Cullen, Vice President Institutional Sales at AirCarbon Exchange (ACX) in Abu Dhabi.

The pilots, including those in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, are crucial steps toward understanding how carbon markets can be structured, regulated, and scaled, he says.

ACX, backed by investment from the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala, is the worlds first fully-regulated carbon exchange, licensed under the regulatory regime of the Abu Dhabi Global Market. While the lower trading volumes of the past two years has led ACX to concentrate its exchange operations in Singapore, it continues building its business in the Middle East and remains bullish on the region.

As the region develops its carbon trading infrastructure and compliance schemes, we expect significant opportunities to emerge, not only in the voluntary space but also as mandatory compliance mechanisms come into play, says Cullen.

From voluntary to compliance

We need to focus on the structure of voluntary markets and their eventual progression to compliance markets, says Jan Haizmann, CEO, Zero Emissions Traders Alliance, based in Dubai.

Only mandatory compliance markets have triggered significant carbon-reducing effects whereas voluntary markets may be seen as a step towards the creation of mandatory ETS schemes.

For the Middle East, Haizmann emphasizes the importance of regional markets across borders with a carbon trading hub in Saudi Arabia as the largest economy in the region.

"The UAE market, for example, is too small, he says. In carbon we need regional, not national concepts.

In reality what is needed is a GCC corporation in which the countries work together to establish markets where carbon credits are mutually accepted and tradable across the region, he says.

Middle Eastern countries are now working on the new fuels, technologies, infrastructure, and efficiency improvements that will be required to achieve an energy transition. But increasingly they are looking to the trade of carbon as an important, indeed indispensable, lever to accelerate it.

By Alan Mammoser for Oilprice.com

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The fall of the Syrian regime highlights the weakening influence of Russia and Iran in the region.

China's support for Assad stemmed from fears of domestic unrest and the spread of Islamic extremism.

The full effects from the swift collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria is still playing out on the ground, but his sudden fall is set to shake up the Middle East and beyond.

Here's what it means for China.

Finding Perspective: China has been aligned with Assad since Syria's civil war began in 2011 but largely through its close ties to Russia and Iran, which backed the Syrian leader.

At the United Nations, Beijing has often voted with Moscow, blocking condemnations of Assad as well as cross-border aid. Beijing supported the Assad regime with eight vetoes at the UN, which is half the total vetoes China has ever used.

Beijing significantly reduced its presence in Syria amid the conflict, though it kept building close ties with Assad, eventually culminating in his state visit to China in 2023.

Chinese investment in Syria was scarce, and beyond a strategic partnership agreement and a pledge to join the Belt and Road Initiative there has been essentially no Chinese investment in Syria and no major contracts with Chinese firms in the country since 2010.

So why did Beijing throw its weight behind Assad?

Revisiting The Arab Spring: For Beijing, the biggest issue was the symbolism and appearance of stability that Assad represented, especially given he was first threatened by a popular uprising that then set the Syrian civil war in motion.

The spread of revolutions in the Arab world in 2011 was alarming for the Chinese Communist Party.

Inside China at the time, popular grumbling with corruption at various levels of government was common, and the party was concerned the protests across the Middle East could inspire its own population, especially given simmering tensions in Tibet and Xinjiang at the time.

Added to that was the rise of the Islamic State in Syria. The war led to thousands of Uyghurs, the predominantly Muslim group from western China, traveling to Syria to fight against the Syrian government.

Many of those fighters said they were there to learn how to use weapons and then return to China, and fears over the return of battle-hardened fighters to Xinjiang was one of the pretexts Xi expressed to top party brass to launch the crackdown and camp system in western China that targeted the Uyghur population, according to a set of leaked internal government documents obtained by the New York Times.

Why It Matters: From this logic, Beijing's support for Assad makes sense, but it's a big bet that hasn't paid off.

The fall of Assad is also a reflection of the weakened regional power of two of its main partners: Iran and Russia.

Their inability to prop up Assad indicates they've been consumed by the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine, which may be a concern for Beijing looking ahead.

The rapid collapse of the Syrian government is also an unwelcome message at home for Beijing, which was reflected in the way Chinese media covered the events for Chinese viewers.

As images circulated around the world of jubilant crowds and the toppling of statues, Chinese state media's coverage on CCTV mostly centered around a fixed live shot of Damascus without a crowd in sight.

By RFE/RL

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U.S. oil and gas giant Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM) has unveiled plans to increase spending to $28-$33 billion annually with a goal of lifting oil and gas output by 18% by 2030. Exxon has set a target to increase overall oil and gas output to 5.4 million bpd by 2030, up about 18% from 4.58 million bpd currently. According to Exxon CEO Darren Woods, the increased project spending is expected "to generate returns of more than 30% over the life of the investments."

Woods says that Exxon is focusing on growing production from low-cost fields because they offer it a "competitive advantage we think is unique in the industry."

Exxon aims to more than triple its production in the Permian to 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030 and pump 1.3 million bpd from its lucrative Guyana operations.

Last month, Exxon announced it has reached 500M barrels of oil produced from Guyana's offshore Stabroek block, just five years after it kicked off production at the location. According to the company, the first three projects--Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2 and Payara--are already pumping more than 650K bbl/day. The Exxon-led consortium which includes Hess Corp. (NYSE:HES) and China's Cnooc (OTCPK:CEOHF) have set a target to reach production of at least 1.3M bbl/day of oil by year-end 2027, a feat it hopes to achieve when six approved offshore projects come online.

Data by the Guyana government has revealed that the consortium's agreement generated $6.33B for the partners last year, with Exxon netting $2.9B, Hess earning $1.88B, while Cnooc amassed $1.52B from Stabroek. Exxon Mobil owns 45% of the Stabroek block; Hess 30% while Cnooc owns a 25% stake.

Exxon will soon start generating natural gas at its Guyana assets. Netherlands-based SBM Offshore (OTCPK:SBFFF) (OTCPK:SBFFY) has completed the $1.23B sale of its fifth floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit to Exxon for use in offshore Guyana. With a production capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil per day, the FPSO Jaguar has a daily associated gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet and a water injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. ExxonMobil is progressing with plans to build a Gas to Energy Project in cooperation with the Government of Guyana, with start-up expected by the end of 2024.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Intraday power prices in Germany jumped and natural gas-fired electricity generation rose to a two-year high this week as low wind speeds continue to depress wind power output.

Natural gas use for power generation rose on Wednesday to its highest level since December 2022, as a wider power supply gap had to be filled by fossil fuels amid very weak wind power generation.

Intraday power prices have jumped for the peak Wednesday hours, according to EEX data cited by Bloomberg.

Germanys power margin, the available electricity supply to meet demand, has dropped this week to the lowest level so far this winter, as low wind speeds and colder weather are straining the power system.

This week, wind speeds in Germany have dipped again, while colder-than-usual temperatures have settled over much of northwest Europe.

Since early November, the so-called Dunkelflaute, German for dark wind lull, have often resulted in wind farms in Europes biggest economy generating only a fraction of their nameplate capacity, leading to day-ahead electricity prices for peak demand hours to high levels not seen since the peak energy crisis in 2022.

Near-term power prices have increased as supply has been fluctuating while demand has been growing with the colder temperatures. Germany has had to import more electricity from France and rely more on fossil fuels for power generation during periods of low wind speeds.

The wind speeds will only pick up this coming weekend, according to Bloomberg modeling.

This means that Germany has to grapple with higher hourly power prices and increased gas demand until at least Friday.

Gas-fired power generation in Germany jumped in November from October by the largest-ever monthly increase, according to data from energy think tank Ember cited by Reuters last week.

That was mostly because of the 25% lower wind power generation in October and November compared to the same two months of last year.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Russian pipeline natural gas supply to Europe via Ukraine remained stable on Wednesday, three weeks before the deal for transiting the gas via Ukrainian territory expires on December 31.

Gazprom is sending 42.4 million cubic meters of gas to Europe via Ukraine on Wednesday, flat compared to Tuesday, Reuters quoted the Russian gas giant as saying.

Gas supply to Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic remains stable compared to the previous few days.

The volumes Gazprom has been sending to Europe via Ukraine have been more or less flat since the Russian firm cut off supply to Austrias OMV in the middle of November.

The Austrian firm said last 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 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 and other buyers have stepped in to fill the void left by OMV.

All these supplies could sharply end three weeks from now, 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.

Last week, Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR started supplying natural gas to Slovakias state-owned energy operator SPP, a month after the Slovakian firm signed a short-term pilot contract to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan as it prepares for a halt to Russian supplies via Ukraine.

By Chares Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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(MMA Fight Night at Camp Foster)

Watch competitors battle it out on the mat at Camp Fosters MMA Fight Night on Dec. 14.

So far, 17 bouts between local and American fighters ranging a variety of weight classes are planned MMA Fight Night at Foster Fieldhouse. According to MCCS Okinawa, the number of bouts may vary on the day.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and fighters will hit the mat starting at 5 p.m.

Special guests include Anna Supergirl Jaroonsak and Nat Wondergirl Jaroonsak. The One-champion sisters from Thailand are also expected to host workshops on Camp Hansen and MCAS Futenma on the eve of the MMA event. Spots for this workshop are limited to 120 people at each camp, so sign up now.

Admission is free for both the workshop and fight night main event. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, but only credit card payment is accepted.

Dont miss an exciting evening of strength, stamina and endurance at Camp Foster!

MMA Fight Night

Date: Dec. 14 (Sat)

Time: 5  9 p.m.

Venue: Foster Fieldhouse

MMA Workshop with Supergirl and Wondergirl

Date: Dec. 13 (Fri)

Time: 8  10 a.m. (Hansen), 1- 3 p.m. (Futenma)

Venue: House of Pain North Gym 2nd Floor MMA Room (Hansen), Futenma Semper Fit Gym (Futenma)

For more info, check out MCCS Okinawas website at MCCS MMA Fight Night and Facebook page.